
Mike and Kate are invited to Columbia University for a moderated discussion, also invited is Murphy Brown. She and Mike know each other and have had a once-a-year relationship for quite a while now. A relationship that Kate knows nothing about. After the discussion Mike and Murphy go for a drink, to talk about getting together for their yearly dalliance. The problem is that every time they do so a major disaster occurs somewhere in the world.
When Kate accepts a job offer that's just too good to pass up, she becomes the first female managing editor of the New York Sun—and she's now Mike's boss as well.
Leo, the head of business affairs and known as the Angel of Death, comes down to tell Kate to cut her operating costs by 5%. This is because of increased charges from the papers insurance company, caused by the number of lawsuits filed against the contents of Mike's columns. She works out that the only way she will be able to do this is to fire someone.