Added: 1 year ago
From: crashrus
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  • I can't help but look at this scene, with the interaction between Toby and the Pres, and mourn the delicate relationship Sorkin fostered between the two characters. The West Wing is, as far as I'm concerned, one of the greatest shows ever made; but its one abject failure lies in the expulsion of Toby, in the final season, from not only the Bartlett administration, but from the show itself.. Imagine how great TWW could have been if Sam or Sorkin never left..

    Here's to Toby and Jed, and RIP TWW

  • I missed the West Wing pilot, and ignored it until this episode, when Toby says, "I can only hope so". I've been kicking myself ever since, but proud there was a government of intelligence, of respect and of idealism that helped me through the Bush years.

  • the gun salute reminds me of my dads funeral eight months ago I guess it will always make me cry.

  • first time i saw this episode I bawled like a baby. The part when Toby says "I can only hope so" sets me off. Every time.

  • That is one smoking hot choir director at :37. Just sayin'

  • This scene never fails to get me choked up. Great use of music and imagery.

  • Our Men & Women of our Military....to whome we OWE alot. And for EVERYTHING from D-day to Iraq/Afganistan, Be DAMNED politics....they diserve tons more than they get now. From good Meals (that may or may not be given to contractors), Bulletproof vests, GREAT Benefits, and of course our thanks. If you don't agree, REMEBER Toby said: 1 hour and 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive. *yes it's a drama tv show*

  • @VegasRolo30

    But it makes the right point. Our veterans deserve all of those and more.

  • : "I can only hope sir."  Best line ever

  • this is what makes the west wing a true classic, no need for anything over the top just subtle facial gestures and you know everything you need to.

  • "I can only hope, sir"

    That line alone justifies the whole series.

  • war is hell

  • Thank you for posting this.

  • I used to live in NY (Long Island) and would gladly have gotten together fr a day anywhere within driving distance to watch and discuss episodes of TWW. I now live in the sticks of KY and it you would be hard pressed to find anyone who ever watched the series.

  • Ever since fist viewing this episode 12 years ago, this has become my favorite Christmas song...and it always makes me teary.

  • In the years since I first saw this episode, I don't think I've been able to hear "The Little Drummer Boy" once without getting teary-eyed.

  • Perhaps many don't understand that Toby is a vet himself?? And the president despite circumventing protocol approved of what he did?? The president's secretary who went to the ceremony lost two sons who served?. Moral?? veterans who serve deserve ALL our respect.

  • "This I will defend"-Motto of the Army Training Corp

  • This is one of the best scenes in TV ever.

  • someone, who saved the world atleast twice..now a combat vet; knowing what it's like to be

    a decorated soldier without any soapboz or will to ask for help, that someone played on this show as a secret service agent on many occasions...met the actors above and shared things with them. someone is very happy to be that man and still an actor in Hollywood.

    Great 2011 christmas present...thank you. : someone.

  • This episode was amazing. Thanks for posting this clip. As a member of HM armed forces, I like to see a fallen soldier given the respect and proper send off he would no doubt have earned. On a side note, I HATED Mandy's character throughout her time on TWW. Moira Kelly is a fine actress but her character on this was horrible. :-)

  • @sarnieken I agree with all three of your points.

  • @sarnieken I love this scene and I love how how they all stand by each other as the song goes on. What an amazing team. I had to laugh when I read your Mandy comment as it is sad but so true.

  • It's also the episode in which it was revealed that Mrs. Lanaham was a Gold Star Mother, thus the reason she requested to attend the ceremony in Arlington. It provided her with closure.

  • God I miss this show! I live in Plymouth, MA...who wants to get together within a 50 mile radius 1 day a month and watch 4 episodes that day all as a group? I own the box set and will welcome anybody who loves the show and or has not seen it to enjoy it with me and others! Such a great show! Bartlett 2012!

  • @bsgtrekfan88 if only Obama could take some of the morals from this series and use them for his own benefit,that way we can keep right wing psychos like Gringrich and Mitt Romney out of the White House

  • just another example of top quality west wing drama.... in all 7 series there are only about a dozen episodes that i wouldnt give 10 out of 10 to... the rest of them are all, well, simply perfect :-)

  • this is not "In Excelsis Deo", this is "The Little Drummer Boy".

  • @unoJustAJ The title of the episode is in fact, "In Excelsis Deo". You are correct that the music being performed in and over these scenes is 'The Little Drummer Boy".

  • I wonder if the cast and crew get to read these posts? I would think it would do them each good to know the effect their work has had on so many.

  • Thanks for posting to begin with, crashrus -- if this isn't my all-time favorite scene from the whole series, it's darned close.

  • FOR OUR VETERANS. Happy Veteran's Day. We are grateful! ♥

  • Thumbs up if you're watching this on Veteran's Day.

  • It's actually "In Exclesis Deo" -- Glory to God in the highest, as in the Christmas carol "Angels We Have Heard on High."

  • @SabrinaStranger Thanx - updated.

  • 2011 I have only just watched the series of this amazing show.

    As a British Subject I was stunned by the truly magnificiant acting by all the cast in the West Wing, Prix D'excellence to the whole show, Producers, Directors, Writers, Camera men.

    I doubt if there is a NATION in the world that would not carry this show in its HEART, emotioanlly brilliant, Mr Martin Sheen would get my vote anytime as PRESIDENT, or indeed as an actor.

    Oscars to all in THE WEST WING

    Clive & Pamela (France)

  • @clivemainwaring an absolutely fantastic episodeI cried like a baby

  • @swoop1963 Many thanks for your resopnse, sleep warm

    Clive & Pamela.

  • "I can only hope so" Fucking win. I don't know this show but I'm already starting to like it :D

  • @b33p3rz You really should watch it. It touches on a lot of "sensitive" issues, and I can not speak to what you will think of it politically, but it is an amazing series, more than worth the price to buy it.

  • @b33p3rz order the first season dvd and you'll be hooked

  • It was a tragedy what the post Sorkin writing staff did to Toby. He never in a million years would have betrayed the president in such a way. And the Military shuttle storyline? Please!!!!

  • "Toby if we start pulling strings like this, you don't think every homeless veteran will start coming out of the woodwork?"

    "I can only hope, sir."

    Aaron Sorkin has this amazing talent for writing dialogue which, with the shortest possible lines, illustrates the soul of a character. That answer is so perfectly Toby. I can't even imagine anything better.

  • One of my absolute favorite moments in the series.

  • I get all choked up in this scene. And it;s just a TV show. I love it when Toby says "I can only hope so, sir."

  • Powerful!

  • Just watch the series.There are many moments..

  • Thank you.

  • I have never watched this show and this scene brought me to tears. Very moving.

  • I don't find it sad, I find it inspiring

  • If a tear does not shed from your eye on this scene . . . you're not human.

  • As they used to say in the navy..... ' make it so '.

  • @clive3262 They still on Star Trek

  • i own this episode of West WIng and cant count how many times i ve seen it. I cry like a baby each time. Wonderful

  • The west wing Christmas episodes were always great. I loved "Noel" when Josh suffers from Post traumatic stress after his shooting. The Christmas music playing in the White House reminds Josh of the sirens. Watching him lose it at the president over the petroleum reserves was amazing acting.

  • It get's to me every time, and I'm not even an american, or living in America...or generally a fan of the USA. But this is POWERFUL because the ideas behind it are GOOD and TRUE.

  • It's good to cry.

    It is what makes us human.

  • This always rips my guts out. *sigh*

  • The blonde woman, Nancy, who says Merry Christmas is Martin Sheen's daughter. 

  • There are so many wonderful scenes from the West Wing I could not count them all. This show was a part of my life and I adored, respected and appreciated the actors themselves as well as the characters they portrayed. A finer TV show has never been aired and I miss it with all my heart. The kindness and intellect of so many is evident in this clip.

  • @pulidogs Amen to that

  • @pulidogs DVD of the entire series is still available.

  • My father was buried here with the same kind of honor guard. This clip brought tears to my eyes.

  • I can only hope, sir.

  • What an amazing act of kindness.............semper fidelis

  • What an amazing act of kindness.............semper fidelis

  • Amazing, like every minute of this series, this was beautifully done and with the dignity such a 'real' situation carries for so many families of soldiers who gave their lives. Must have watched this clip a hundred times and it never loses it's impact.

    Is this the absolute best television program ever made?

  • We live because they die..... UK/USA.

  • Watch this with subtitles on so you can follow along with the words of the Little Drummer Boy.  Adds another dimension to the scene.

  • I hope when Fred Phelps dies that wiser veterans will give him an honorable funeral. Maybe his family will remember it and grow up to be like Toby instead of their insane grandfather.

  • Every time I see this, it kills me.

    "On behalf of the President of the United States, the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation, please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to Country and Corps."

  • "I can only hope so"... such wonderful words...

  • this was the greatest...........

  • Wow....what a scene, one of the best ever on TV

  • I'm a member of the military, and a big fan of West Wing.

    And this is definitely not only my favorite episode, but my favorite scene in the entire series, if not my favorite scene in all of television.

    Thank you.

  • One thing not mentioned, as the Toby and Mrs. Landingham were at the cemetary, the rest of the cast is lined up, with the assumption that they are listening to the children's choir. What the cast was actually watching was the actual footage of the cemetary scene which was already shot, but only the producers and director had seen it.

  • The pat in the shoulder is so powerful!!!!! Great show.

  • I can only hope so.......

  • I think that it's one of the most incredible and moving moments in television. Being a veteran myself I could not have been more proud of my country and service than the first time that I saw this show/

  • As ever the music is wonderful.

  • One of the most moving and powerful scenes and television history!

  • Merry Christmas all vets and their families.

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  • God bless all our soldiers, marines, sailors, airmen and coast guardsmen for the sacrifices they make to serve and protect our country. God bless the USA!

  • I was lead here by an msn "Top 10 best christmas tv moments" (or something like that). Wow. I never watched The West Wing...but this scene alone makes me want to borrow the DVDs from someone! I got goosebumps immediately which quickly turned to tears....beautifully done!

  • @homefromaway -The best writing in the history of television

  • This episode moved me then and it's still as touching as ever. There are so many returning vets that have become homeless. May we NEVER forget the honorable service for our country that so many have made; for some, the price of their service was wounded in action, for others ~ PTSD, others ~ loss of life; and others ~ homelessness.

    I miss West Wing. Time to pull out the DVD's.

  • Of all the television ever produced, this is perhaps some of the most potent. The Drummer Boy music with the USMC detail can be representative of so many sacrifices made by so many much greater than I.

    I always think of a dark, dusty, night in Baghdad. A Blackhawk, a squad of young men, all saluting with rifles, all in tears, and somehow I am supposed to help move our fallen brother through those most honoured of honour guards. That image, and this music always comes to mind when I see this cl

  • This is the best 5 minutes in television ever IMO. The editing is excellence personified. I miss the WW so much. I had to dig out my DVDs of the series to feel hope since I am feeling a bit disappointed of late.

  • I'm a brit and I love this program - this particular scene gets me every time.

  • I wish this great Sorkin video would haven shown the Marine saying "On behalf of a grateful Nation" when he was kneeling to give the folded flag to his brother.

  • The marines who participated in this episode are part of the Marine Corps Ceremonial Guard Company stationed at the Marine Barracks 8th and I, Washington DC. This unit is wearing their distinctive summer Blue and White uniform. It was an honor to have served with this unit that has the privilege to honor our brother MARINES.  "SEMPER FIDELIS"

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  • @ioannini It's The Little Drummer Boy. This is a particularly beautiful performance of it. After seeing this episode I can't ever hear this song without getting teary-eyed.

  • whats the name of the song? it´s beautiful.

  • Toby was always the jiminy cricket of the west wing...Great character, brilliantly played by schiff

  • Technically, they made a continuity error. During the conversation with the President, the choir sings the first verse more than once and repeats phrases, probably to kill time during the conversation. The timing, however, was perfect. When Toby exits the room, they’d just finished the 1st verse and the music score now starts to accompany them (they'd previously been a capella). Hearing the song with the accompaniment, along with the honor guard, was inspirational.

  • I loved how She nods her head in affirmation while saying " you should not have done that." I so love subtle.

  • i would have loved it if Bartlett had said 'sod it' to the press coverage in the next room and gone with him.

  • Thank you for NOT leaving out the "back story" which is often cut. After scolding Toby for using the President's name, Mrs Landingham, having lost two sons in Vietnam, is in coat and hat ready to go along. Her approval seems to me even more important tha the shoulder touch by the President. My eyes leak through this clip from start to finish.

  • @jhaseman Leaked? I was in floods, although I am every time I watch this.

  • @jhaseman

    Yes, indeed.

  • My favorite moment from season 1. Thanks for posting this.

  • This has been said in other copies of this video, but the only actors in the funeral scene are Toby, Mrs. Landingham, and the veteran's brother. The Chaplain and the Marine honor guard were all active duty, and the 3rd man in civilian clothes was the Superintendent of Arlington Cemetery at the time. The Pentagon read the script when Sorkin asked for permission and was so moved that they provided an authentic funeral.

  • @mzupon29

    Yes, thank you for the extra info/backstory. You just made an incredible scene even more poignant.

  • @mzupon29 The Chaplain is an actor named Keith David. Freeze the video, then look him up. Same guy.

  • @hugesfan The Superintendent was John C. Metzler, Jr., who unfortunately did not end his tenure on such a noble note.

  • i agree-very moving

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