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| ==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
| After a death penalty appeal is rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, one of the attorneys ] reaches out to ] for help. The case involves a drug dealer who killed two other dealers and is eligible for capital punishment under a new omnibus crime bill. The court renders its judgment on a Friday, and the execution is to take place at midnight on Monday. The convict's only hope is to have his sentence commuted by ] |
After a death penalty appeal is rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, one of the attorneys ] reaches out to ] for help. The case involves a drug dealer who killed two other dealers and is eligible for capital punishment under a new omnibus crime bill. The court renders its judgment on a Friday, and the execution is to take place at midnight on Monday. The convict's only hope is to have his sentence commuted by ]. | ||
| Sam makes an effort to persuade ] to help convince the President to commute the sentence; he gives the convict's attorney the location of Toby's synagogue and the rabbi in turn delivers a sermon condemning vengence. The issue is later laid before the President, who is incredibly conflicted. | |||
| Meanwhile, ] |
Meanwhile, ] has a meeting with an irate woman named ], who proceeds to berate him for cutting her Congressional candidate's funding. Josh is taken aback by both Joey's brilliance and beauty, and surprised by the fact that she is also deaf. | ||
| ⚫ | Bartlet continues to agonize over the death penalty issue and asks for guidance. While he is personally opposed to the death penalty, he recognizes that most Americans support it and does not feel that his personal beliefs can legitimately overrule the wishes of the American public. ] advises the President that for once, the issue should be the next guy's problem. | ||
| Joey later tells Josh that she knows her candidate is worthless but that it is hard to find people who will work with her. Josh responds that the President is serious about supporting Lucas if she brings forward a better candidate. When she asks if the President has anyone in mind, Josh surprises her with the news that the President thinks she should try a Congressional run herself. | |||
| Despite Sam's protests, the president ultimately chooses not to commute the sentence. | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| Despite Sam's pained protests, President Bartlet ultimately chooses not to commute the sentence. The President has invited his parish priest from his youth in Manchester to the White House. In frustration, Bartlet tells the priest that he asked God for guidance but received no response. Quietly but pointedly, his priest replies that God sent him a rabbi, a Quaker (in the form of Joey Lucas) and a priest. The clock strikes twelve, and both men know that the execution has been carried out. The priest asks if the President would like him to hear his confession, and Bartlet kneels, saying, "bless me father, for I have sinned..." | |||
| ==Title== | ==Title== | ||
Revision as of 12:57, 14 July 2008
Television episode| "Take This Sabbath Day" |
|---|
"Take This Sabbath Day" is the 14th episode of The West Wing.
Plot
After a death penalty appeal is rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court, one of the attorneys Noah Emmerich reaches out to Sam for help. The case involves a drug dealer who killed two other dealers and is eligible for capital punishment under a new omnibus crime bill. The court renders its judgment on a Friday, and the execution is to take place at midnight on Monday. The convict's only hope is to have his sentence commuted by the President.
Sam makes an effort to persuade Toby to help convince the President to commute the sentence; he gives the convict's attorney the location of Toby's synagogue and the rabbi in turn delivers a sermon condemning vengence. The issue is later laid before the President, who is incredibly conflicted.
Meanwhile, Josh has a meeting with an irate woman named Joey Lucas, who proceeds to berate him for cutting her Congressional candidate's funding. Josh is taken aback by both Joey's brilliance and beauty, and surprised by the fact that she is also deaf.
Bartlet continues to agonize over the death penalty issue and asks for guidance. While he is personally opposed to the death penalty, he recognizes that most Americans support it and does not feel that his personal beliefs can legitimately overrule the wishes of the American public. Leo advises the President that for once, the issue should be the next guy's problem.
Despite Sam's protests, the president ultimately chooses not to commute the sentence.
Title
The title of the episode is a reference to the bible, in which God instructs, "Observe/Safeguard the Sabbath day," in the Ten Commandments, Deuteronomy 5:1-22. It references the scene in which Sam explains to Leo, "We don't execute people between sundown Friday and sundown Sunday" because of the Sabbath.
Emmy Awards
- Nominated
- Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (nominee: Martin Sheen)
Notes
- This is one of only four episodes (the others being the Pilot episode, The Stormy Present and Access) which do not feature a "Previously on The West Wing" segment.
External links
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