Informed insiders have been alerting us for some time to many of the facts contained herein, but this is by far the most detailed account of “The West Wing” season finale offered to date.
The death of a major character is revealed. Need we add there are major spoilers ahead? Didn’t think so.
I work at a certain Washington, DC, landmark, and the West Wing came here to film a crucial scene in its season finale episode set to air May 16 at 9 pm. My boss was cast in the episode in a small role, and he let me read the entire script. I was an extra in the funeral scene for Mrs. Landingham, who dies in a terrible car accident caused by a teenage driver. The episode deals with how the President is handling the death of his beloved secretary and close friend.
During the funeral, he flashes back to when he is a teenager at the Deerforth school. His father is the headmaster, and young Jed is a bright, precocious young fella. He meets Mrs. Landingham, who is about nine years older than he. They forge a friendship because she uncovers that the female staff members of the school are being paid significantly less than the men. Because of her friendship with Jed, she asks him to talk to his father about rectifying the situation. It is like she is an older sister to him, and he really looks up to her. The script hints that he may also have a crush on her or be in love with her somehow. He asks her about her husband (Because she is called Mrs. Landingham, he assumes she has one.), and she brushes his questions off.
When we were filming the funeral, the director, Tommy Schlamme, told us that we were to look sad because we were her friends. She had very little family. All of the major cast members were at the funeral: Martin Sheen, Stockard Channing, John Spencer, Rob Lowe, Richard Schiff, Bradley Whitford, Janel Moloney, Allison Janney, Dule Hill.
The script also deals more with the President's MS and the circumstances of what will happen to the young girls who were in the car that caused the accident that killed Mrs. Landingham. Since I am not a regular viewer of the show, a lot of the script didn't make sense to me. I just wanted to pass along the scoop. Incidentally, all the actors on the show could not have been nicer or more gracious to us extras. Martin Sheen is an absolute gentleman. I had an awesome time. I am definitely watching the West Wing from now on!
If you walk without rhythm, you won’t attract the worm!
