“This guy’s walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can’t get out.” A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, ‘Hey you. Can you help me out?’ The doctor writes a prescription, throws it down in the hole and moves on. “Then a priest comes along and the guy shouts up, ‘Father, I’m down in this hole can you help me out?’ The priest writes out a prayer, throws it down in the hole and moves on.” Then a friend walks by, ‘Hey, Joe, it’s me can you help me out?’ And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, ‘Are you stupid? Now we’re both down here.’ The friend says, ‘Yeah, but I’ve been down here before and I know the way out.'”
Leo McGarry (John Spencer) in the highly-acclaimed political drama The West Wing (1999 – 2006). The quote is taken from Noël, an episode that deals with one of the character’s problems with PTSD. You can find another example of the show’s wonderful dialogue here.
Alex Raphael 
Great quote and show
It really was a wonderful shoe. Especially in the first 4 years.
What a great quote! Surely one of the best shows to ever hit the small screen. I wasn’t the biggest fan after Sorkin and Rob Lowe left, but it’s brilliance can not be ignored.
RIP John Spencer.
It did take a dip after series 4 for sure. The guy who replaced Rob Lowe wasn’t as likeable which was a pity. John Spencer is a sad loss.
This was incomparable television series. 🙂
It was. I remember every time they introduced a new character even for one or two episodes, I wanted them to stay. Incredible writing.
They definitely were ahead of their time in the balancing act of serious drama with some light hearted, straight shooting (conversations) and character development, Alex.
Sorkin has done several shows since, but still for me, nothing anywhere near as close as this .
You’re right, “West Wing” was fantastic.