Another Aaron Sorkin creation, Dan Rydell of Sports Night, dubbed himself the "Doer of Good Things Where Women Are Concerned." I have now crowned Sam Seaborn with that title as well. I'm sure Mr. Sorkin would approve.

Laurie

Yes, Sam did accidentally sleep with a call girl, but we won't hold that against him, since it is through Laurie that we first discover Sam's chivalrous tendencies.

Josh: You wanna call her again, don't you?
Sam: Look, I really like her and she's not what you think.... I just think I left abruptly. I think it was rude.
Josh: Oh, you're gonna try and reform her, aren't you?
Sam: No....
Josh: You are.
Sam: ...I just want to say a proper goodbye that, you know, shows a little respect.

Sam: I'd like to call her just to say we can be friends. I don't see the danger in that.
Toby: No, no, Sam, no. You're not going to try and reform her.
Sam: No.
Toby: I think you are.
Sam: I think she shouldn't have to feel like trash because I have a job where adults aren't given the benefit of the doubt.

After tracking Laurie down in a bar, Sam follows her outside.

Sam: You're gonna freeze out here.
Laurie: I don't care.
Sam: Take my coat.
Laurie: No.
Sam: Come on.
Laurie: Give it to me.

Laurie: I don't need saving, Sam.
Sam: Yeah, you do.

(Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc)

While out at lunch with Laurie...

Laurie: ...because of my night job, Sam. You're not afraid of being seen with me?
Sam: No.
Laurie: Okay.
Sam: Your night job's crummy.
Laurie: Yes, I know.

Sam is shocked to meet Laurie with one of her clients at a state dinner.

Sam: I'll give you $10,000 not to go home with that guy tonight.

(The State Dinner)

Sam continues to defend Laurie to Toby.

Toby: They know who this girl is. They know she's graduating law school tomorrow. They know it's someplace you're likely to be. Maybe they want to snap a picture, maybe....
Sam: Laurie.
Toby: What?
Sam: You called her "this girl."
Toby: Sam, you can't.
Sam: I said okay, Toby. Do you see me arguing with you?
Toby: No.
Sam: Anything else?
Toby: No.
Sam: Biggest day of her life. Huge day. She put herself through law school, and I know that there are people in South Carolina that don't like how she did it....
Toby: Not just South Carolina, Sam.
Sam: Well then, both Carolinas, Toby, though I've never understood what the hell business it is....
Toby: You can't go, Sam.
Sam: I'm not going.
Toby: Thank you.

Sam tells Laurie that he cannot attend her graduation.

Laurie: That's okay.
Sam: Not, it's not okay, but...
Laurie: Baby, don't guilt yourself over this. I know you'll be thinking about me.
Sam: I will. You go knock 'em dead tomorrow.
Laurie: Okay.
Sam: Okay.

Sam meets Laurie outside her friend's apartment to give her a gift, risking his own career in the process.

Sam: Happy Graduation, counselor.
Laurie: Thank you.
They hug.
Sam: Way to go, Laurie
Laurie: Thank you.

(Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics)

Zoey

The President asks Josh to take Charlie out for a drink. Word spreads, and pretty soon Sam, Mallory, Zoey and C.J. have joined the party. When Zoey goes to the bar to get C.J.'s drink, a group of college punks start to hassle her. Charlie is the first to notice, but Sam is directly behind him. Without hesitation, Sam gets right in the guys' faces and confronts the situation. Whether or not he could have actually taken any of the guys in a fight is a discussion for another time, but he was willing to step up to the plate.

(Mr. Willis of Ohio)

C.J.

Sam rides to the rescue during the shooting at Rosslyn.

C.J.: The real reason I couldn't go on the morning shows and give a firsthand account of what happened was I couldn't remember what happened. I remember walking out of the building, I remember somebody knocking me down, I know my necklace came off, and I know a police car window exploded over my head. All night long I've been doing my press briefings using notes from other people's accounts, but it's morning now, and I listened to you on the morning shows, and I know what happened.
Sam: C.J....
C.J.: Sam, I think you have my necklace.
Sam: I didn't want you to feel beholden to me. I didn't want it to be like an episode of I Dream of Jeannie where now you gotta save my life and the time-space continuum...
C.J.: Sam?
Sam:...with you following me around with coconut oil and hot towels.
C.J.: Coconut oil?
Sam: I'm just saying....
C.J.: Sam, I don't feel beholden to you.
Sam: Why not? I saved your life.
C.J.: Can I have my necklace back? (Sam gives her the necklace.) Thank you.

(In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Pt. 2)

The press briefing gets away from her, and C.J. uses some wording that she shouldn't. The staff is not happy with the mistake, Sam included; but, he is quick to explain that there was a "ramp up" to the question that prompted her comment. Sam also tries to defend her to Leo, explaining that like everyone else, she was tired, and she had not had a lot of time to process all that had transpired. His defense of C.J. is particularly sweet, considering that just a short time before, she had not been very responsive to his ideas regarding the President's press conference.

(Manchester, Pt. 1)

Stephanie

Donna asks Sam to help her friend Stephanie, who would like to get a presidential pardon for her grandfather, Daniel Gault, who was accused of being a spy in the 1950's. Sam learns that Gault actually was a spy, and he thinks Stephanie should know the truth. Looking at Stephanie's face, Sam stops himself and instead tells her that he couldn't get access to the people he needed to in order to get the pardon considered this time around. He says they can try again in three months. Though struggling with a recent betrayal by his own father, Sam chooses to protect Stephanie and her father from the pain of the truth.

(Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail)

Ainsley

Ainsley took Sam down a peg or two on Capital Beat, so Sam was less than thrilled when Leo hired her for the counsel's office. But not even political affiliation can stop Sam from being the white knight.

After Sam has chastised Ainsley for taking the initiative to talk to Steve Joyce and Mark Brookline, she leaves for her office, and he follows.

Sam: Ainsley? Look--can I talk to you for a minute? All I was really trying to say....
Sam pauses when he sees a vase of dead flowers on her desk with a card that reads "Bitch."
Sam: Who did this? Who did this?
Ainsley: I don't know.
Sam: Yes, you do.
Ainsley: Don't worry about it.
Sam: Who sent you this?
Ainsley: Don't worry about it.
Sam: Ainsley?
Ainsley: Sam....
Sam: How did your meeting end up going with Brookline and Joyce?
Ainsley: It went great, Sam. I talked to them for a couple minutes and I think that....
Sam storms out of the office.
Ainsley: Sam!

Sam bursts into Joyce and Brookline's office.

Sam: You know what, guys, when I write something I sign my name. Here, I'll show you.
Sam grabs the desk blotter off of Joyce's desk, sweeping everything else onto the floor in the process.
Joyce: Sam!
Sam: You have any idea how big a harassment suit you just exposed us to? She just...she works here. Which is more than I can say for either one of you.
Sam writes on the back of the blotter, holds it up and reads what he has written.
Sam: You're fired. S. Seaborn.
Brookline: Sam, I don't know who you think you are around here, but you can't fire us.
Tribbey Oh, yes, he can. Leave here and don't ever come back. It's time for both of you to write your book now.

(And It's Surely To Their Credit)

Sam pages Ainsley to go over a speech to the United Nations. She arrives at the White House in evening wear, having just left a social function. Sam is impressed and makes a comment about her appearance. Celia, an office temp, overhears and chastises Sam for demeaning Ainsley. A bit surprised, Sam explains that he and Ainsley are friends and his intent was to pay her a compliment. Knowing his intentions were good, Sam wants to be certain Ainsley knows as well.

Sam: Let me ask you something. Before when I said that you were enough to make a good dog break his leash, you understand that men--we're the dog, right? I was the dog.
Ainsley: I understood the metaphor.

Ainsley returns to talking about the speech, but Sam can't let it go.

Sam: I meant it to make you feel good.
Ainsley: It did.
Sam: Although I certainly meant it.
Ainsley: I appreciate it.
Sam: I didn't mean to demean you.

Still concerned, Sam interrupts again.

Sam: I was told that I demeaned you.
Ainsley: You didn't.
Sam: I was told that I did.
Ainsley: By who?
Sam: By someone named Celia.
Ainsley: She's mistaken.
Sam: You're sure?
Ainsley: If I felt demeaned, I'd be among the very first people to know it.
Sam: Terrific.

Not quite convinced, Sam asks Charlie for his take on the situation.

Sam: Listen, I can tell you're down in the dumps, but let's talk about me.
Charlie: Okay.
Sam: If your sister was getting ready for a night out, and I said, "Deanna, you're enough to make a good dog break his leash," would you think I was a cad?
Charlie: I'd think you were a hick.
Ainsley: (entering) Sam....
Sam: Hang on. (to Charlie) Because of the sentiment or the expression?
Charlie: It's my sister?
Sam: Yeah.
Charlie: I'd beat you up.
Sam: You and how many Girl Scouts?
Charlie: If I could stand up....
Sam: But if it wasn't your sister?
Charlie: Then you're fine.
Sam: He says I'm fine.

Ainsley agrees that Sam is fine and tells Celia so, much to Sam's relief. His concern that he might have demeaned Ainsley once again displays his chivalrous tendencies.

(Night Five)

Donna

After having a meeting at Josh's request, Donna learns that the man ran for Governor of California as a member of the Communist Party. Sam's campaign staff is concerned about how this will reflect on him. Sam is more concerned about Donna.

Sam: Donna, did anybody see you having coffee?
Donna: Yeah.
Sam: Who?
Donna: A photographer.
Scott: Oh, my God.
Aide: Honest to God, lady, how stupid can you be?
Sam: Hey! Out of here. You're fired.
Scott: I need him.
Sam: I don't care. He's out of here.
Aide: You're going to get creamed.
Sam: Like I'm not used to that.

(The California 47th)

Teleplay credits: Aaron Sorkin (Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc, Mr. Willis of Ohio, Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics, In the Shadow of Two Gunmen, Pt. 2, And It's Surely To Their Credit, Night Five, The California 47th), Aaron Sorkin and Paul Redford (The State Dinner, Somebody's Going to Emergency, Somebody's Going to Jail),