The Ainsley Incident | The West Wing

“When I write something, I sign my name.”
Season 2 Episode 5: And It's Surely To Their Credit
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[@dirdib69]

I loved that Tribbey backed Sam up without hesitation.

[@caitlyn5834]

I was just thinking about that! There's no way Tribbey knows about the bouquet. At best he heard "harassment suit" and knew everyone's personalities. Yet no hesitation.

[@terrygracy8345]

@user-xh9dd1pn7gI was going to type that. It is spectacular

[@Ganurath]

It probably helps that those two were the idiots who gave false testimony about a memo that Tribbey was complaining about when he was introduced.

[@rafezetter8003]

Lionel was head counsel for a reason, if Sam is firing somebody, Lionel is smart enough to know whatever the reason was - it's valid - Sam Seaborne "doesn't do stupid".

[@jonnnyren6245]

He is Dan Fielding. Sexiest New York DA and sure as hell would defend any decent co-worker in a giffy.

[@paulwilliams6913]

Ainsley’s “Can you be rude to me tomorrow” and the fact that Sam follows up has stuck with me for a long time. It’s stylized but I think it’s an impressive example of mindfully taking accountability while also advocating for herself. It’s an impressive example of conflict resolution through deescalation and connection, and worth emulating.

[@thomasfucillo]

The “I’m having an emotional breakdown have sympathy for me” tactic only works if you’re a woman. Fair warning. If people - women included - already don’t respect a man, they will just think he’s weak and further disrespect him if he feigns a breakdown like Ainsley.

[@user-tj7ek8bs7x]

there is no doubt that waiting until tomorrow is a good choice, i'm impressed by the compassion

[@SiavashAgharazi]

The way John Spencer says "I know" to Ainsley's confession about the op-ed is genius acting.

[@RandalBauer11]

John Spencer had a way with dialogue, where he could tell an entire dramatic story with throwaway lines like that.

[@2centschange]

Leo was an old hand on the hill. He knew how things operated and tried very hard to never take things personally. Also, she got a white house job, the back ground check on her would have been EXTENSIVE.

[@cdjhyoung]

@@RandalBauer11 Combine excellent writing with the perfect actors and this is what you get. I agree with you about John Spencer, he was great. But if you see the actress that played Ainslee Hayes in some of the roles she had later in her career, you could tell she couldn't over come poor scripts. Directing, writing and acting. When they are all top notch you get West Wing. They come together too seldom.

[@user-lr9yu3pe7z]

@@2centschange You would think so, but then I see the cast of characters working for Mango Mussolini and I'm not so sure anymore!

[@papasquat355]

Ainsley and Leo had the sweetest relationship. She was a great character.

[@philread6981]

If you think that's cute listen the West Wing podcast interview with Emily Proctor and how John Spencer helped her rehearse.

[@Grubnar]

"It's time for both of you to write your book now." That is not a "burn", that is an immolation!

[@r.c.auclair2042]

That was a not-so-subtle signal that not only were they fired, but they had no future left in the public sector. Nobody writes a book about their government career until they've retired, or just before.

[@Grubnar]

@@r.c.auclair2042 Good point!

[@chamberlainalex1]

Also super accurate. That's how 99% of the low level operatives make real money. You get big enough you get insider trading info or you get cushy "consulting," jobs or lobbying. But most of the low level people just write a book for a 6 figure advance. Weird thing is, no one actually buys these books either, if anything of interest is in them, the press just reports on it so you don't need to read it. I don't get why publishers keep paying for these books but they do. The Trump Admin was a fucking gold rush for these types of books. The economy for low level Trump Admin staffer tell alls could probably have funded a small country.

[@r.c.auclair2042]

@@chamberlainalex1, not to mention that administration's turnover was higher than that of McDonald's, so the market was flooded with a good deal more books than in previous years.

[@Linawouldrathernot]

Nowadays would it be 'It's time for you to start a KZbin channel now"?

[@avi8r66]

Ainsley was a terrific addition, though underused. The entire cast was top notch, and Sorkin gave them amazing words and situations.

[@Vesperitis]

Leo was not exactly kidding when he said that when Sam gets mad he leaves a Sam-shaped hole in the wall.

[@mikeoh712]

109%❤

[@JB-xl2jc]

I really would love a West Wing reboot/spinoff with Sam coming back to run for the presidency. It's hinted at repeatedly in the main show. And sadly, there's a..... lot of material, in modern politics.

[@FlameKoRn]

@@JB-xl2jc He already went to California and become a Congresman on another show

[@Chimera-lx5zg]

I was going to say that this is one of the best scenes in that entire series...and then I realized that *every* scene is one of the best scenes!!! There are no bad scenes.

[@GrecoRomanNinja]

One of my favourite subplots in The West Wing. Emily Procter was great and really held her own when acting with the main cast.

[@Dirk-van-den-Berg]

Too bad she wasn't in more episodes, I guess the writers couldn't find any more subplots to include Emily.

[@mollylea2643]

@@Dirk-van-den-BergAaron Sorkin really wanted her to join the cast, but thought it would be one too many people.

[@markdiaddario6398]

She was fantastic

[@derrickstorm6976]

John Spencer had a smile to light up the world ❤

[@peternolan4855]

Emily Procter is so great here. She immediately recognizes the privilege of working in the White House outweighed her office in the steam trunk pipe distribution venue.

[@mhoffman52]

I think she recognized that Leo was welcoming her and giving her a complement that room IS her office. Its not everyday that the Chief of Staff for the President walks you to a basement office

[@roselojrvalera2588]

I can work in the steam trunk pipe distribution venue.. no problemo..

[@timeodaneosetdona]

This would have been even better with the Gilbert and Sullivan “He is an Englishman” scene when Ainsley returns to her office greeted by Sam and CJ.

[@calliestephen]

And Toby and Josh

[@voltair42]

Little umbrellas!

[@merlinshouseoffreereadings4641]

Best writers. Best actors. Great show.

[@FutureReverberations]

With little umbrellas!

[@Narbaculus]

Shish kebab!

[@jasonreid9267]

The President of What?

[@gabe2349]

I love that Leo doesn’t hold to op-ed against her. He’s not mad because she was doing her job. He might have done the same thing in her position. Now, he expects her to continue doing her job for her new team.

[@RandomCarrot2806]

Yeah, it really shows his maturity and respect for the public debate so necessary for a working political system.

[@timsmith1125]

Don’t recall all the details about the role, yet think part of the backstory was that Leo served as a fighter pilot in the USAF. Regardless of the branch, teamwork and doing the job were core principles. These values are accurately represented here as noted above.

[@Vesperitis]

It also shows his respect for her integrity. He knows that she has always fought for what she believes in, even if those things are what he's in total opposition to, and that is something they both have in common.

[@secretsquirrel4642]

I miss television like this!

[@RandomCarrot2806]

I really missed Ainsley after she was gone from the show.

[@debrashort2265]

It was such a nice touch that she came back for Leo's funeral.

[@Swimdeep]

This show during the Sorkin years was flawless.

[@kevinobrien9626]

Yes, Sorkin's Democrats were invariably brilliant, high-minded and competent, driven to serve, not a petty bone in their body. One Republican in a thousand distinguishes himself from the snooty, supercilious, unlikeable and unsympathetic pack. Realism like we have not seen before or since.

[@anthonyfrench9931]

​@@kevinobrien9626Yup

[@mscout1]

@@kevinobrien9626 It's not supposed to be realistic. It's supposed to be modeling the way politics could and should be. While also hiding civics lessons in a digestible form. And it's not about the democrats being flawless it about people raising above their flaws. The encounter with Sam starts with him being petty. And then realizing he was being the asshole.

[@timweaver7826]

Well, except for Mandy. She was horrible....and why she was dropped and never mentioned again.

[@Swimdeep]

@@timweaver7826 So true, I forgot about her completely.

[@specialk9424]

Every time I see this, in my head, the second Sam turns around, I hear the glass shatter, and Stone Cold Steve Austin's music start. Cause Sam is going upstairs to whip a man's ass! And rightfully so!

[@Vesperitis]

Arrive. You're Fired. Leave.

[@debrashort2265]

The elevated, thoughtful, and intelligent comments found here are testaments to the caliber of West Wing viewers and fans. And, all of you know exactly what I mean . . .

[@thejackdaddy1975]

Everything about this show was perfection. It will never be bettered.

[@Coco-qz7fn]

Ainsley should have been in every episode after her intro...she was awesome!

[@joemckim1183]

They weren't ready to offer her to being a main character but CSI Miami was apparently.

[@Namath1000]

She was so good, she got a starring role in another show.

[@joemckim1183]

@@Namath1000 Emily Procter did 232 episodes of CSI Miami when the entire run of The West Wing was 154 episodes for some perspective.

[@RandomCarrot2806]

@@joemckim1183 Yup, it's hard to argue that she didn't make the right decision for her own career but I would have loved to see how the dynamic between the main cast and Ainsley would have evolved over time. She played really well off both Sam and Leo, it's a shame we never really got to see her interact much with Toby, Josh and C. J.

[@donaldbutcher1260]

One of my all time favorite scenes 😊

[@chewy739]

Went from wanting to fight her to then fighting for her.

[@charlestwisted9890]

I love Sam’s moment, after Ainsley asks him to be “rude to me tomorrow”, where he do clearly acknowledges to himself: “I was just a total jerk.” Rob Lowe WAS Sam.

[@Michael-dy2lb]

I don't care about Sam going down and yelling at the assholes and firing them. I don't care about Tribby. The scene with Sam and Ainsley, Ainsley's obvious passion for her work about to break and then Sam's realization and coming to apologize, and then maybe the beginnings of his rage. That was absolutely perfect. It was perfect writing and perfect execution by the actors.

[@davidlee2438]

someone needs to make tv shows like this again...

[@marcussabom2696]

There's only one Aaron Sorkin, and sadly he doesn't want to do TV again. He said he's sticking to movies from now on. But, from a lighthearted perspective, Amy Sherman Palladino comes close with her rapid fire wit and sharp writing.

[@kenherrera2819]

I love this scene, especially when Sam pauses and realizes he needs to apologize to Ainsley and heads down to her office. You can see it in his face, the sudden realization that something had gone horribly wrong for Ainsley that day and he had only piled on. He didn't know exactly what went wrong, but knew it immediately when he saw the dead flowers and the card "Bitch".

[@saberridge6867]

Emily does a great job acting the part of someone who respects the idea of working for her govt and people, even though it means working for her complete opposite political party. I sort of identify in that I don't like most of the politics in the show, but I love to rewatch because of how well written, acted, and directed the series shows.

[@adamwells715]

I know exactly what you mean...

[@hexistenz]

Oh, you have no idea how much that warms my heart ❤️ I’ve been a huge admirer of The West Wing for 20 years now. Besides the fact that I’m generally on the same line politically and socially, more than anything it’s the quality of the writing and the acting that deeply touches me. The idealism and the intelligence of the whole cast of main and supporting characters are just beyond compare. And seeing someone who appreciates this, whether you agree with the policies or not, is very encouraging 🙏🙏🙏

[@CBDuRietz]

On top of that, it shows a world in which people can have opposing ideas but still keep a civilized discussion.

[@JB-xl2jc]

@@CBDuRietz It was a lot more believable when the show was coming out that this was something we could do, and if not, at least work towards. Sadly since then, I think the divide has become a chasm, and the civilized discussions have become brawls. Regardless of where anyone is along the political spectrum, I believe that hurts all of us.

[@NerkTwin9]

Ainsley was so great ❤

[@Vares65]

Leo and Sam were straight up class all the way.

[@lazaruslazuli6130]

"OH.... YES he can."

[@18Hongo]

Tribbey was probably thinking "I heard 'harassment suit', Sam is furious, and I REALLY hate these two chucklefucks".

[@mortelpaolo]

One of my favorite characters. I remember seeing the actress for the first time on 1999's Body Shots.

[@lancer525]

This version hits a lot differently than the other ones floating around KZbin. There's a lot more gravitas to this one.

[@marilynmonroe6130]

Now I have to go look up 'gravitas'😶

[@Elthenar]

Those guys were defiant with Sam but wanted absolutely no smoke from Tribbey

[@masterofdesaster8]

Have you seen that man's cricket bat?

[@roughrider6129]

@@masterofdesaster8 Presented to him by the Queen herself

[@timweaver7826]

Sam would have kicked their butts if they didn't leave. At that moment, Emily was his little sister.

[@Elthenar]

@@timweaver7826 Not in a literal sense. Sam was a lawyer, that would have been his avenue of attack. In that sense, Tribbey was still far more dangerous. Plus, he does have a cricket bat

[@Scorpio.1989]

I'm kinda surprised that Ainsley and Sam didn't end up dating... They had the chemistry...

[@rileyoreilly9353]

I think that would have been way too predictable

[@rcslyman8929]

I actually liked that they didn't use her in a romantic entanglement. They made her a highly intelligent, very capable lawyer, while at the same time being an attractive woman... yet not falling into that "The Girlfriend" trope that happens in so many of these roles. It's not always a bad thing, but it can really diminish a character when they're relegated to being the romantic interest. And that would have absolutely been the case with Ainsley.

[@Potionsmaster]

I miss everything about this show. Sam, Josh and Ainsley talks a brilliant story

[@joec9693]

"Sam I don't know who you think you are around here but you can't fire us" Sam: "I'm the Deputy Head of Communications and you work(ed) in the Communications department....so yes I can. But if you prefer I can call Toby and Leo in here and they can do it too."

[@dh3279]

One of the most perfect scenes I’ve ever seen in film or television!

[@donkeyears4704]

while not all offices in the white house are created equal, an office in the white house is still an office in the white house. i'll start in the steam trunk pipe distribution venue and say thank you, just like she did. ainsley was a great character.

[@GopherBaroque61]

*_IT WAS PENZANCE_*

[@roughrider6129]

It's the one about duty

[@debrashort2265]

​@@roughrider6129They're all about duty. 😆

[@marcussabom2696]

LITTLE DRINKS I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HAVING RIGHT NOW! SHISH KABOB!

[@danwallach8826]

Ainsley Hayes was great. Leo is a keen judge of talent.

[@nuschlerclark895]

Rob Lowe had been chosen to head up this show... HIS starring role. That's why he was the first actor in the opening credits. But then Martin Sheen took over as main subject.

[@MIGBMWLOVER]

Martin Sheen took over the moment he ousted that fringe "church" group in the pilot, can you blame him for his charisma?

[@danwallach8826]

Presidents tend to take up a lot of the available air.

[@ReelMeurik]

To be fair, if your show is called "The West Wing", you damn well better show the President. From my understanding, Sheen was only supposed to be a guest actor in a handful of episodes. BIG mistake if they had followed through on that. That said, they had a stellar cast overall.

[@quarf53206]

look at that cast. even if martin sheen didnt join full time they still would have abandoned rob lowe as the head of the show

[@dx7689]

They should've made Ainsley a main cast member she was so great.

[@rafezetter8003]

One of my favorite Ainsley related lines is when she meets Bartlett, but is hiding in the closet and Bartlett says "they don't allow me to smoke in here but she gets to pee in Leos closet" (or something close to that)

[@susanr5546]

I so admire the mutual respect that develops between the characters, Sam and Ainsley and Leo and Ainsley. Opposite political views and honorable people. I wish Ainsley had stayed in the series. I could also imagine Tribey coming in with his cricket bat! That would have been fun.

[@bored1ca]

I had forgotten that John Larroquette had guest starred on The West Wing.

[@nonedo1121-kk5fh]

Oliver Platt is great, but I wish John had stayed around longer. He's such a great actor.

[@aspetty]

Imagine the parallel universe where it was him in charge of going over the exposer of the President having MS

[@alfye7647]

The 1 downvote is one of the chooches that got fired. EDIT: 27 Chooches

[@terrygracy8345]

😂. Absolutely

[@SarahRenz59]

@alfye7647 "Chooch" really needs to be a part of more people's vocabulary. Such a great word!

[@shaunig6716]

I loved Ainsley’s character, shame she wasn’t in it for long🙁

[@user-ht4ef4hi7m]

I wish there would be a follow-up series with Sam in the White House

[@845835]

Greatest office ever. I would love it.

[@bridgecross]

That office has more square footage by far than most white house offices.

[@JJZephyr374]

Lionel Tribby was one of my favorite characters.

[@burneggroll]

Thanks for the clips. I really love your edits. But, why is the tail piece so loud? The ending is too loud.

[@donkeyears4704]

i know some people will say sam was white knighting, which perpetuates that a woman needs a man to stick up for her, but while it is true that women don't need men to stick up for them, it doesn't negate the fact that a man should stick up for a woman, especially against other men. sam was really just sticking up for a coworker who had taken just a couple too many blows that day. sam went and blew those guys away.

[@saquist]

Let's take the identity politics out of the equation....please. let's not tell anyone to not...stick up for others. No man or woman is an island. White-Knighting is a terrible misnomer for being a Good Samaritan. Don't demonize a good deed unless you don't want people to do good things. It takes great character to stand up for another and put your skin on the line. Trvializing that virtue is sign of the decline of civilization.

[@teresabenson3385]

Sometimes women do need men to stick up for them. And vice-versa.

[@charlieboy6315]

Yeah, except that a number of those 'blows' had been inflicted by Sam himself - he'd been hostile and aggressive towards her on a number of occasions at that point because she'd put his nose out of joint by making him look bad on TV (note the way in which he approaches her). To suddenly get righteously indignant because a couple of subordinates were following his lead shows a unpleasant hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness on his part. In the WW world you get a pass on being an a-hole if you're senior/important enough (e.g. Toby routinely treats people far worse than those 2 guys treated Ainsley and never faces any consequences). Seems that in Sorkin's mind, rules of civility only apply to the 'little people'.

[@saquist]

@@charlieboy6315 imagine that...a character that isn't perfect.

[@charlieboy6315]

@@saquist Flawed characters are interesting, but Sorkin here portrays Sam as holding the moral high ground and totally blameless, despite imo being just as abusive towards her as anyone else - that's what pisses me off. I like the WW, but Sorkin here sells a line that it's fine if the 'big boys' (Sam/Josh/Toby/etc) abuse people but woe betide any 'grunt' who follows their example.

[@markdiaddario6398]

Emily Proctor is such a good actor, and did a great job although brief.

[@bobcat081754]

Ainsley was smart, but sometimes got obsessed. She needed to hear Leo tell her to overlook small stuff.

[@McRocket]

Way to go, Sam. ☮

[@A_A_J.]

I wasn’t expecting nicer Gollum to show up at @4:30

[@Wherethehellarewegoing]

This is as about as inappropriate as you can be without being physical in *any* workplace. Forget fiction, this is purely unacceptable!!! But in this drama series where a woman has dreamed of this place, gets shot down a thousand times, then this...I feel so sorry for her. She's a wonderful, sadly underused character

[@marty2327]

I started watching West Wing because of the scene with Sam firing those two.

[@ronsindric4241]

Most American TV is a triviality with a few exceptions. This series and NEWSROOM are exceptions ! Looking at out-takes from this series in light of the current political environment in our capitol makes me- Sad, Angry, Affraid, Apprehensive, and wanting to find a different planet to move to :-( Nevertheless, I KNOW THE UNITED ETATES OF AMERICA will win through the day. In addition, I have great respect for our Founding Fathers because of the way they set things up to ensure that chaos and dire times in this country only makes us stronger. THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS THE GREATEST NATION THAT EVER EXISTED AND CURRENTLY EXISTS ON THIS EARTH. THIS COUNTRY MAY ALSO PROVE TO BE THE GREATEST IN THE GALAXGH AND PROBABLY FAR, FAR INTO THE FUTURE !

[@JnEricsonx]

Oh, trust me, Will would have needed to be on medication today.

[@SignoftheMagi]

Sam and Josh were such polar opposites. Josh Lyman was the attack dog, the guy that would loudly and publicly cut your balls off if you pissed him off. But Sam Seaborn was the quiet crusader. If he saw something wrong, he never hesitated. No matter what it may cost, he would fight it...and the madder he was, the quieter he got. He did not just fight. He eliminated.

[@tmage23]

1:40 Leo should have said "No. You're working in the White House"

[@Macintosh1001]

Saying "office" is more personal. It implies that it is something that she can claim as her own. It grants her a moderate of self-respect. Not everyone who works at the White House can claim they have their own office.

[@rockinrj87]

I always wondered if they were intending to have a romantic relationship between Sam and Ainsley

[@gerardhunt1890]

I'd be insulted. Giving her this "office" is obviously meant to be an insult.

[@user-cn1yp3gv4q]

Whoever assigned it to her, yes they intended it that way. But Leo gave it respect.......

[@marilynmonroe6130]

STEAM PIPE TRUNK DISTRIBUTION VENUE is that a real thing or Sorkin genius?😮

[@Orgel56]

It would be real; was a contractor in numerous government buildings during the late 1970's

[@MrGigaHurtz]

Can someone help clarify for me how did Sam know those guys sent the bouquet? Is there something missing? They were just the last people she talked with

[@julietchristen]

Because he knows those guys....maybe even went out and had a beer with them at one point...and they were the only people he asked Ainsley to talk to that day...

[@stephenmason9527]

Those two other guys took their tips on how to treat women from how the Clinton administration treated Bill's accusers.

[@wilakt4fud]

Cregg/Seaborn 2024

[@jrrpjrrp5202]

Please upload Democratic Women's Caucus scene from WW S4e09 Swiss Diplomacy.

[@catherinewilliams9680]

I have often wondered how Ainsley would view the MAGA led GOP of today. Would she have been a Never Trumper? Would she have become an independent?

[@Mybpeterson]

She'd be a never Trumper. She'd be appalled at what Trump has done to her party but she wouldn't be a hypocrite, unlike many Republicans who support Trump knowing who and what he is.

[@flamingmonkeyxii]

"No, because I am not a woman." -Lionel Tribbey Ah yes, white knighting, feminism and misogyny all in one episode... it was fantastic!

[@pinverarity]

Some really dumb writing in the Tribbey speech. IMO it’s Sorkin at his worst, producing dialogue that sounds zippy and significant at first, but which falls apart if you think about it for even a second. Never mind that there is no world in which Speechwriter Sam could fire governmental affairs staffers. It’s the clangingly egregious “and never, ever come back” that is just absurd. What does it even mean? Do fired staffers still enjoy WH access?

[@charlieboy6315]

Total hypocrisy from Sam here: he'd been consistently rude and hostile towards Ainsley a number of times at this point because she bruised his ego by making him look bad on TV. Those 2 other a-holes are just following his lead - frankly he's in no position to start getting high and mighty about workplace abuse. "She works here" - yeah Sam that didn't stop you behaving like a dick to her, but apparently the rules of civility only apply to subordinates not big-wigs like you...

[@ronaldjones398]

Wow, a democrat with honor---- who would guess

[@PassiveAgressive319]

Ainsley was such a great character, I wish she was in more episodes but left early on to star in CSI Miami🥹

[@gigibluestockings5168]

This rips me apart because I know how their storyline ends. 😢🥲

[@LeaveChildrenAlone]

I enjoyed the show but lost all respect for the actors who pushed for liberal agenda. The episode where they did for the election i totally lost my respect for each one of those actors.

[@mrl22222]

because they had an opinion? This scene, hell the entire show sometimes is literally about respecting someone despite the fact they do not share all of your opinions.