Edison King leads a newsroom assault on Senator William Monkton, the subject not only of Redmond and Anne's investigation in "D C Tree" but also of an investigation into, amongst other things, Junk Bond fraud and keeping a mistress on political funds. Edison hopes to force the Senator to resign. When Anne and Redmond return from Texas with more information on the "Houses for Favours" fraud Edison hijacks Anne from the Metro section to write up the story for National. Redmond is unimpressed with that and with Anne's apparent ambition as he is more concerned with the human interest story. He sets out to get Mr Rodriguez a loan to enable him to return home and put a deposit on a house.
Miles helps Todd spice up his story with some juicy information on the Senator's mistress.
Senator Monkton's wife approaches Jo Jo, a family friend, to intervene on his behalf. Jo Jo agrees but instead of asking Edison to back down on the story he instead speaks to the Senator and encourages him to resign with the majority of his dignity intact.
Cassy, who had been involved in the Monkton story, feels uneasy about the methods that the paper employed and the fervour with which it pursued an elderly and confused man, but Edison manages to pursuade her that they are merely a part of a process that was begun by Monkton himself.
Clay's ex-wife, Shelley and his son, Clay Junior, move away from D.C. and all of them find the move harder to deal with than they possibly imagined.
Meanwhile Dory's concern over the closeness she perceives in Anne and Redmond's professional and personal relationship comes to a head when she overhears a comment that leads her to believe the relationship may have become physical while they were away in Texas. She rashly searches through Redmond's luggage for any evidence (hotel bills etc) but is caught in the act. Redmond is both angry and confused by her actions and when he tells her that he and Anne have not slept together he is just as confused and concerned when she uncharacteristically breaks down in front of him.
