Plot Synopsis:
Gary's curiosity is starting to drive him crazy. After some weeks dealing with the paper, he still has no idea where it comes from. Then he gets a tip at McGinty's that leads him to the archives of the Sun-Times in search of information on the mysterious type-setter whose photograph is in his copy of Lost Chicago. At the Sun-Times, he runs into investigative reporter Meredith Carson, whose own curiosity is piqued when Gary mentions a case detail from a union-related murder she's currently covering - a detail that has not yet been published.
Morris, the elderly gentleman in charge of the archives, recognizes the cat in Gary's picture and gives him a name - Lucius Snow. Morris relates that Snow was legendary for setting headlines a day in advance. But before Gary can question Morris further, Meredith interrupts, demanding to know how Gary knew about the detail from her story. Gary hems and haws for a bit, unsure how to cover for his mistake, while Morris goes upstairs in search of Meredith's cigarettes. When he opens Meredith's desk drawer, he is injured by a letter bomb. Clearly, someone thinks Meredith is a threat.
At the hospital, Meredith confronts Gary again about his inside knowledge, but Gary stonewalls her. Meredith then offers to allow Gary access to the Sun-Times personnel files in the hopes of persuading him to talk. Back at the Times, Gary unearths Snow's file - then distracts Meredith and flees. He goes to the address noted in Snow's folder, but finds an empty lot. Also in the folder are a baggage claim ticket and various physical and personal facts - including the date of Lucius Snow's death. Marissa points out to Gary that Snow died just one day before he started to receive the paper. Gary is spooked.
When Gary returns home, he finds Meredith in his room. She asks Gary about his big secret, but Gary kicks her out. When she gets into her car, her contact on the Red Cooper story, Richie, sits up in the back seat and tells her he wants to meet with her at a Motel 9 the next morning.
When morning arrives, Gary reads in his paper that Meredith will disappear under suspicious circumstances. Alarmed, he tries to track Meredith down at the Times, but she's already left. Gary finds the name of the motel on Meredith's desk and follows her there in a rental car. He helps her to escape before hit men take her down, and she's forced to hide out in Gary's hotel room for the night. Whilst there, Meredith once again tries to figure out Gary's secret. She and Gary get into a tussle that ultimately culminates with a kiss.
The next morning, Gary is quite happy - up until Meredith gets a hold of his paper. Gary, afraid of what Meredith might do if she knew his secret, tells Meredith he can't pursue their odd little relationship any further. Then, in frustration, he pitches the paper over the balcony wall onto the street below. Getting rid of the paper turns out not to be a simple as that, however: when Gary leaves the hotel, he finds the paper lying, intact, in the street. It reports that Meredith and an unnamed man will be found dead in the Sun-Times basement.
Meanwhile, at the Sun-Times, Meredith heads downstairs to see about a message from "Richie" and finds the hit men instead. They take her down to the basement and try to question her. Before they get very far, however, Gary arrives and helps her to escape again. They run into a small closet and shut the door. As the hit men try to pry open the door, Gary considers his options. He ultimately decides to set his paper on fire in the hopes of setting off the smoke alarm. Meredith by this point has already put two and two together and knows that Gary's paper is miraculous, but she is more concerned about her life at the moment and allows Gary to go through with his plan. When the alarms go off, the hit men flee and are apprehended at the stairs. Meredith and Gary are freed.
Outside, Meredith asks Gary about the paper. Gary, disappointed that her earlier claim of apathy was not entirely honest, leaves her to file her story and goes to visit Morris, who tells Gary that in the last year of his life, Snow moved to the Blackstone. Gary takes the claim ticket in Snow's folder to Boswell, who gives him the key to a beaten up old trunk in storage. Gary, with Chuck and Marissa, opens up the trunk and finds a note inside: "Live your life."
Later, we see Gary bring Meredith Chinese. He is finally confident enough to give a relationship a try.
Overall: 7.5 - The relationship between Meredith and Gary is amusing, but a little lacking in depth.
Writing: 7.5
If I recall correctly, Meredith was well-liked back in the 90's when this fandom was active; indeed, out of all of Gary's love interests, I believe she was second only to Brigatti (4th season) in popularity. I understand why; I've loved a few adversarial pairings myself. But as I get older, I find my preferences shifting to Gary/Marissa. Why embrace a pairing that was almost universally considered heretical in the show's time? Because in my observation, relationships grounded in friendship are the ones which truly endure. Which is not to say that I don't laugh at the comic moments in this episode; I certainly do, as the junior high bickering is hilarious. On reflection, though, the relationship between Gary and Meredith doesn't hold a candle to the depth of feeling and compassion that will come to exist between Gary and his closest female friend.
Acting: 8
Kyle Chandler and Leslie Hope do play off each other pretty well, however, which likely accounts for the popularity of this particular pairing. It's funny - Kyle has such a sweet demeanor, but it turns out (harmless) arguing with women is one of his strengths - at least if certain highlights on his resume are any indication.
Message: 7
This episode - like the last - is also light on the message front. One refreshing bit should be noted and celebrated, though: when Meredith spends the night at Gary's, she sleeps on the couch. In a media universe in which tussle-tussle-kiss is generally followed up with an encounter between the sheets, this nod to chastity should be hailed with much squeeing and the dancing of jigs.
The Benevolent Hand:
Lucius Snow makes indirect or direct contact with Gary at suspiciously opportune times throughout the series, and The Paper features the first such moment of contact. In this episode, we again hear Gary complain that the paper has rendered impossible a normal life. In response, the Benevolent Hand guides Gary to a very timely piece of advice left behind by his predecessor: "Live your life." God does not intend for Gary to face his burden alone - nor does He intend to rob Gary of life's enjoyments.
Highlights:
CHUCK: Hey, buddy. What happened? You smell like a Chinese restaurant. Moo Goo Gai Pan - my favorite.
GARY: The paper said Wu Ling's kitchen was going to explode.
CHUCK: And?
GARY: Wu Ling's kitchen exploded.
(After Morris is injured by the bomb...)
MEREDITH: Wait up! It was my office. It was meant for me.
GARY: Talk to the police.
MEREDITH: I'm too close to finding something out.
GARY: Then you better look out for yourself. See ya.
MEREDITH: Is that a warning? Did you just threaten me?
GARY: What?
MEREDITH: You know things that aren't even in the paper yet - and now this happens.
GARY: (sarcastic) Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a hit man for the mob.
MEREDITH: You think that's funny? Red Cooper is dead. Morris is in the hospital.
GARY: They'll send me to Sicily for a year until things cool off. Goodbye.
MEREDITH: I'm going with you.
GARY: I don't think the don would allow that. Goodbye.
MEREDITH: (relenting) Alright, maybe I don't believe you'd hurt anybody, but you did know about the plates.
GARY: A guess.
MEREDITH: There are 50 states.
GARY: When in doubt, just guess New Jersey.
MEREDITH: You'd be a funny guy if you weren't a problem I'm having.
(At the Motel 9...)
MEREDITH: Come on, Richie. Where are you?
(There's a knock at the door. Meredith goes to answer it and finds Gary on the other side. Instantly, she tries to slam the door shut, catching Gary's hand.)
GARY: OW! My hand!
MEREDITH: What are you doing here? Go away!
GARY: (while Meredith is speaking) My hand, my hand, my hand!
MEREDITH: (losing patience) All right, come in!
(Meredith pulls Gary in and shuts the door.)
MEREDITH: Who sent you here?
(She pokes Gary in the shoulder.)
GARY: Nobody sent me here.
MEREDITH: How did you know I was here?
(She pokes him again.)
MEREDITH: What have you done with Richie?
(She pokes him one more time. Gary gets annoyed.)
GARY: (poking Meredith back) DON'T. POKE. ME.
(After Meredith snatches Gary's copy of Lost Chicago...)
GARY: Give it back!
(He chases Meredith around the couch.)
MEREDITH: Nope.
(Gary catches hold of her wrist.)
GARY: Let it go.
MEREDITH: Or what?
GARY: Just let it go. (Meredith drops the book defiantly.) You just dropped my book.
MEREDITH: So?
GARY: So pick it up!
MEREDITH: Don't tell me what to do! It's your book. You pick it up!
(They kiss suddenly.)
GARY: What are you doing?
MEREDITH: What do you mean?
GARY: I mean, what are you doing?
MEREDITH: I kissed you.
GARY: I know you kissed me. Why'd you stop?
MEREDITH: I didn't stop. You stopped.
GARY: I didn't stop. Kiss me again! - Junior high sex at its finest.
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