Episode 8 of *The Paper* kicks off with Ned discovering that Mare has been holed up in the office storage room, her refuge from a plumbing catastrophe that has engulfed her building. With a touch of chivalry, Ned extends an invitation to Mare, offering her the use of his apartment for a much-needed shower.
Later that fateful day, Oscar, Nicole, and Mare embark on a fact-finding mission, only to uncover that Mare's plumbing predicament was merely the tip of the iceberg—a full-blown water crisis had crippled Mare's entire neighborhood. Meanwhile, Esmeralda gets wind of a new addition to their toilet paper company's product line: disposable toilet paper mitts dubbed "Man Mits." Ken spills the beans that an advertising agency is scouting for child actors to star in the "Kid Mits" commercial, prompting Esmeralda to seize the opportunity and have her son audition for the coveted role.
Ken also sheds light on Ned's steadfast refusal to give "Kid Mits" the TTT (presumably a media outlet) seal of approval. As Mare and Nicole delve deeper into their investigation, they stumble upon a startling revelation: the sewer system had been clogged by an avalanche of "Man Mits," triggering the widespread plumbing chaos. Sensing an opportunity to expose the truth, Ned gives Mare the green light to pen a damning exposé on Softees, despite TTT being under the same corporate umbrella.
Nicole, however, balks at the idea, fearful of jeopardizing her job security. Mare, undeterred, presses on, attempting to engage with Softees employees to gather complaints about "Man Mits." Ned summons Nicole, Adam, and Adelola to his office, deliberately excluding Travis due to his Softees affiliation.
Ken, sensing trouble, tries to dissuade Ned from publishing the article, resorting to veiled threats. But Ned stands his ground, unyielding. In a bold move, Ken storms into the room, coercing most of the team to retreat to their desks, leaving Ned isolated with Nicole, Mare, and Barry.
Simultaneously, at the audition venue, Esmeralda adopts a cunning strategy, attempting to discourage other parents and children from competing, hoping to pave the way for her son's success.
Ned and Mare journeyed to Enervate Labs to delve deeper into the mysteries surrounding Man Mits, only to discover the unsettling truth that the product was neither disposable nor safe to flush down the toilet. As whispers and rumors about Man Mits swirled through the air, the sales of Softees began a steady decline. Ken, sensing the impending storm, grew increasingly anxious, fearing he would be held responsible for the downfall of his beloved product. In a desperate bid to erase any incriminating evidence, he sought Travis's assistance in eliminating the paper trail.
Travis, ever the loyal accomplice, took Ken on a clandestine canoe ride, where they disposed of the email printouts by tossing them into the serene lake. Meanwhile, Esmeralda, attempting to take charge of an audition, ended up making a fool of herself in front of the advertising agency, adding another layer of chaos to the already tumultuous situation.
Back at the office, Ken and Ned continued their heated debate over the controversial article. Ned, resolute in his stance, threatened to resign if he was barred from publishing the truth. In a dramatic flourish, he tendered his resignation and promptly appointed Mare as the new Editor in Chief. The TTT team, however, remained largely indifferent to the news, their attention focused elsewhere.
Travis, in a cunning move, secretly slipped some of the email printouts he had pilfered from Ken to Mare. Armed with this evidence, Mare confronted Ken, accusing him of approving the ill-fated Man Mits and blackmailing him into allowing the TTT team to publish the explosive news article. Together, they managed to persuade Ned to lend his support to the company, recognizing the need for damage control.
Motivated by this newfound unity, Ned embarked on a rebranding campaign, transforming Man Mits from flushable toilet gloves into kitchen wipes that could be safely discarded in the trash. Detrick watched in awe as Ned, with unwavering determination, made sale after sale, eventually reaching the coveted sales goal. Mare, meanwhile, continued to pursue the article with unrelenting zeal, as the episode drew to a close, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats, eager to see what would happen next.
