S1E1 · Pilot — Episode — The West Wing

S1E1 · Pilot

In the series premiere, the White House staff is being called into work in the early hours of the morning to the news that the President of the United States has crashed his bicycle into a tree, much to the enjoyment of the press. The staff must run damage control on this and a gaffe by Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman who, after provocation by Christian activist Mary Marsh on a televised debate, quips "Lady, the God you pray to is too busy being indicted for tax fraud." Also, Deputy Communications Director Sam Seaborn meets and spends an evening with Laurie (Lisa Edelstein), not knowing she is a call girl, and then accidentally tells White House Chief of Staff Leo McGarry's daughter, Mallory O'Brien, about it.

Plot summary and ending

Spoilers ahead. Coverage follows the scope labeled below.

Complete story — includes the ending

The senior staff is called back to the White House as " POTUS " (President of the United States) Jed Bartlet is injured, having ridden his bicycle into a tree. Josh Lyman, the Deputy Chief of Staff, is in trouble after a television appearance in which he makes an insulting comment to a representative of a political-connected Christian group; and Sam Seaborn, the Deputy Director of Communications, spends a night with a woman who turns out to be a prostitute. Another subplot is 1,200 Cuban boat refugees, 137 of whom arrive in Miami and request asylum, while 350 are missing in a storm and presumed dead. Bartlet speaks bluntly to the Christian group Lambs of God. Note: Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Writing and Directing for a Drama series. Also submitted as one of the package of episodes for The West Wing ' s first of four consecutive Outstanding Drama Series wins.

Sources and content license

Source and revision history · Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, The West Wing season 1. HTML formatting and reference markers removed. · Content license