In the Shadow of Two Gunmen: Part I 

The President is rushed to hospital following a shooting; staffers field questions on protection measures and executive authority. Flashbacks show how key staff members joined the Bartlet campaign.

Director:

Thomas Schlamme

Writers:

Aaron Sorkin (created by), Aaron Sorkin

Stars:

Rob Lowe, Dulé Hill, Allison Janney

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Rob Lowe	...	Sam Seaborn
Dulé Hill	...	Charlie Young
Allison Janney	...	C.J. Cregg
Janel Moloney	...	Donna Moss
Richard Schiff	...	Toby Ziegler
John Spencer	...	Leo McGarry
Bradley Whitford	...	Josh Lyman
Martin Sheen	...	President Josiah Bartlet
Stockard Channing	...	Abbey Bartlet
Timothy Busfield	...	Danny Concannon
Tim Matheson	...	Vice President John Hoynes
Elisabeth Moss	...	Zoey Bartlet
Michael O'Neill	...	Secret Service Agent Ron Butterfield
Jorja Fox	...	Secret Service Agent Gina Toscano
Anna Deavere Smith	...	Nancy McNally

Storyline

A pair of skinheads open fire as the President leaves a lecture theater, causing panic, chaos and injury. As the drama at the George Washington Hospital unfolds, C.J. and Leo field questions about exactly who is in charge while the president undergoes surgery, and Toby is asked about Secret Service protection measures. Flashbacks show the birth of the "Bartlett for America" campaign: Josh is courted by Leo; on his way to see Bartlett speak in New Hampshire he stops off to visit Sam at his Manhattan law firm; Toby is drinking at a bar, convinced he will be fired for advice he's given Bartlett.

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Plot Keywords:

man wearing a hospital gown | falling into a swimming pool | flashback | multiple sclerosis | campaign issue | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bartlet (Martin Sheen)'s assassination attempt is almost identical to that of President Ronald Reagan's assassination attempt. Both Presidents are shot when leaving an event where they made a speech, both are waving at supporters, both are pushed into the car when they're shot, both don't realise they've been shot until they're in the car and the Secret Service Agents notices blood coming out of their mouths, and both make jokes to family, friends, and doctors to lighten up their critical situation, and both survive their attempts.

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Goofs

Josh is unloaded from the ambulance head first. Patients are always placed in an ambulance so that their head is closer to the front, and would therefore come out feet first.

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Quotes

Josh Lyman: If I see the real thing in Nashua, should I tell you about it?
Sam Seaborn: You won't have to.
Josh Lyman: Why?
Sam Seaborn: You've got a pretty bad poker face.

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Connections

Referenced in Entourage: The Sorkin Notes (2009)

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Soundtracks

West Wing Main Title
(uncredited)
Written by W.G. Snuffy Walden
Performed by Pete Anthony

User Reviews

Sam's hair

When season 1 ended, with Sam's hair being short, as season 2 opens with the shooting, Sam's hair is magically longer than the entire season 1

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 October 2000 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 23, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros. Television, John Wells Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1