The Indians in the Lobby

"The Indians in the Lobby"

"The Indians in the Lobby" is the 51st episode of The West Wing.

Plot

It is the day before Thanksgiving and the President is rather disgruntled that the family must spend Thanksgiving at Camp David, rather than his New Hampshire farm, because a poll suggests that Americans would prefer that the President spend the holiday at Camp David. Although the President has told Bruno that he and the family are "off limits," Bruno tells the President that they cannot afford to lose even a small advantage with the voters on any issue.

An underlying Thanksgiving storyline revolves around Bartlet's affirmation that stuffing should be cooked inside the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. This results in one of the more comical moments of the series in which the President telephones the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line. (Referred to in the episode as the "Butterball Hotline.") Not wanting to reveal his true identity, he claims to be a citizen named Joe Bethersonton of 11454 Pruder Street, Apt. 23-R, Fargo, North Dakota, 50504.

Meanwhile, two Native Americans of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community (Gary Farmer and Georgina Lightning) are encamped in the lobby. C.J. is told to make the problem go away. She is waiting to go home, and is initially dismissive of them — a young, articulate woman and an older man. Eventually, however, she warms to their cause and promises action on several issues. Leo refuses to see them as they are camped in the lobby, and C.J. comes up with a compromise to which they finally agree.

Josh is busy sorting out the problems caused by a young boy who shot his teacher, and who was then assisted by his parents to escape to Rome. Now, Josh needs to get him extradited but the Italians are not keen on returning him to Georgia as the state practices capital punishment. Sam deals with a new economic formula for poverty that will classify millions of Americans as below the margin of being impoverished.

Notes

While speaking to the Butterball Hotline, Charlie hands Bartlet a note indicating the zip code of Fargo, ND as 50504. This zip code does not actually exist.

The scene in Georgia is set in Dekalb County, which they pronounce in the show with the "l." Local pronunciation of the county, in the Atlanta metropolitan area, omits the "l," and as such, should be pronounced deh-kab, not deh-kalb as in the show. DeKalb County, Illinois, by contrast, is pronounced with the "l" sound.

External links

• The West Wing Episode Guide