The Newsroom: Word Salad

Jim wants to talk to Lisa about why she won’t go out with him and she sadly says that Maggie’s her best friend, maybe her only friend. Man, will she feel like crap when she finds out how much Maggie shit talks and slut shames her. Oh, she also thinks that Don’s not in love with Maggie (How did Maggie’s self-absorption become Don’s fault?) and Maggie knows it and that’s why she won’t break up with Don but keeps stringing Jim along? That somehow makes her desirable? Upshot is, Lisa thinks Jim’s “on deck.”

He gets all butthurt and tells her that he’s been “on deck” for a year and he’s no one’s second choice. Well, at the moment he’s no one’s first, either but Lisa throws it back at him that she isn’t, either, then Princess Moonface shows up to hand off the talking points because everyone really stands by their ethics on News Night. With her job cockblocking done, Maggie leaves. Jim tries to continue his conversation with Lisa but she understands girl code for “back off” and says she wants to study. Then he thanks her and tells her she doesn’t have to say anything she doesn’t want to. Where was Mr. Understanding when he was browbeating her at the store? Oh, that’s right. He hadn’t gotten what he wanted, yet.

On set, Will introduces Lisa who snots at him that she didn’t know Casey well and that while she may have had a temper in high school it’s not like they all thought she was going to kill her daughter because of it. Will’s all patronizing and smarmy so Lisa launches into reading some facts off the note card, so Sorkin can buffer himself from claims that he doesn’t have the best diversity record, either.

You, sir, are a douchebag.

Lisa’s being a good little do-bee and reading the Maggie-approved statistics and everyone’s so proud of her for doing as she’s told, until she asks to make her own point. What if Casey Anthony had wanted an abortion.

Maggie’s freaking the fuck out because this was all about her. Still, Mackenzie can’t read cues and asks if she put that in there while Lisa keeps making her pro-choice point. Will’s all disappointed Daddy and wants to get back to fluff while Mackenzie whines about having a power outage and Jim and Maggie exchange looks like they can’t believe this happened. If you’d just learn to take no for an answer.

Later that night and Jim’s sleeping like a homeless guy, lying in his bed on top of the covers and in his clothes while surrounded by books and papers. The late night phone call and urgently tinkling keyboards says something’s wrong.

Lisa’s store’s been vandalized because it was on her Facebook page. Jim doesn’t think to ask why she and Maggie are there since Lisa’s just a soon-to-be-fired employee, he’s more interested in knowing why Will’s also there and walking through shadows and steam. That’s just too Night Ranger. Oh, and Lonny’s not there so Will’s in mortal danger. Even though he’s pro-life, he’s also everyone’s Big Daddy so he’s there to talk to the store owner and deus ex machina away Lisa’s problems.

You’re motoring…