Episode 9 of *The Paper* Season 1 kicks off with Ken and Travis handing out mini peppermint-scented toilet paper to a group of delighted kids. Ken divulges that Marv has placed him in charge of salvaging the Softees brand image following the fallout from the "Man Mits" controversy. But, as fate would have it, things take a disastrous turn, leaving Marv fuming at Ken. In a desperate attempt to deflect blame, Ken points the finger at Nicole.
Marv, not one to mince words, demands that Ken appear on a popular talk show to restore the company's tarnished reputation. Later that same day, Ken seeks out Nicole, hoping she'll assist him in preparing for the high-stakes interview. In a mischievous twist, Nicole convinces Ken to don an outrageously tacky outfit, effectively forcing him to withdraw from the show at the last minute.
Seizing the opportunity, Nicole steps into the spotlight and delivers a stellar interview that leaves a lasting impression. Marv, watching from the sidelines, is thoroughly impressed by her poise and eloquence.
Meanwhile, Esmeralda stumbles upon an old photograph of Barry that sets her heart aflutter. She confesses to dreaming of him every night and can't resist sitting directly across from him, drawn by an inexplicable force. Determined to break free from what she perceives as a curse, Esmeralda embarks on a quest to find a solution. She experiments with various methods, but ultimately, she decides to take a bold step: she leans in and kisses Barry, leaving him utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events.
Simultaneously, Oscar receives a scathing comment on one of his articles from a user named Gomudhens10. The other writers brush it off, explaining that the commenter is a notorious troll who leaves negative feedback on every article published by *The Thunderous Times* (TTT). However, Oscar finds it difficult to let go of the harsh critique.
His colleagues suggest that Oscar track down the IP address of the commenter to uncover their identity. Following their advice, Oscar discovers that the troll works in the same building and is none other than Anne, Marv's secretary.
Oscar shares this revelation with the team, who then confront Anne. Anne, caught off guard, becomes defensive and launches into a self-berating tirade. In a surprising twist, Oscar and the writers find themselves compelled to apologize to Anne—a move that was, in fact, Anne's carefully orchestrated plan from the very beginning.
In stark contrast, Detrick informs Mare that he won't be able to accompany her in investigating a new story about a cult. Sensing an opportunity, Ned steps in and offers to join Mare instead. Ned is taken aback by the clutter strewn across Mare's car but, with a hint of hesitation, climbs in. During the ride, an unexpected bond begins to form between the two. As Mare drives, she receives a call from a fellow magazine writer eager to interview her about her recent stand against corporate interests. While Mare tries to navigate the road and respond to the probing questions, Ned is engrossed in a battle of his own—trying to evade a spider that has found its way into the moving car. Throughout the interview, Mare sings Ned's praises but is quick to clarify that Ned isn't particularly invested in the content she writes. This comment strikes a chord with Ned, prompting him to request a look at Mare's questions and offer to edit them himself.
Mare picks up on the shift in Ned's demeanor and attempts to smooth things over. Upon returning from interviewing the cult members, Mare and Ned find themselves locked in a heated argument. Their bickering continues at a diner on the way back to the office, with Ned expressing his desire to be taken seriously as the boss. Mare, however, counters by claiming that Ned lacks trust in her abilities.
The episode concludes with Ned receiving a call from Detrick, who informs him that Ned, Mare, and the Toledo Truth Teller have all been nominated for the Ohio journalism awards.
