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Monica, Tess and Andrew sit on a Chicago park bench reading the
Chicago Daily Guardian, a tabloidesque newspaper with the motto: "If
It's The Truth, It's News." The angels cringe at the sensational
headlines and Tess notes that there is more to the truth than just
the "facts" these articles portray. According to Tess, Liz Bradley,
the editor of the Guardian, is suffering from a contagious disease
-- cynicism. She is Monica's assignment. When Monica arrives at the
Guardian to interview for a reporter job, she meets eager young Ray,
who works as a gofer while awaiting his big break as a reporter. Liz
is impressed with Monica and hires her, assigning her a story about
possible shady dealings between Mayor Hunley and some Taiwanese
officials. Liz teams Monica with the Guardian's star reporter
Lauren, who is also Liz's younger sister whom Liz raised. Lauren
feels that Liz is too obsessed with her work, and as a result, the
sisters fight frequently. Soon after Lauren and Monica begin the
assignment, they split up, because Lauren thinks they will be able
to cover more ground that way. When Monica returns to Liz with a
soft story about a Taiwanese dance troupe, Liz is furious. Ray,
wanting to help Monica, tails the mayor and sees him discreetly
entering a hotel room. He gives Monica the tip, and when she arrives
at the hotel, she meets Andrew who informs her that the mayor has
died of a heart attack. When Liz finds out about the mayor's death,
she encourages Monica to stall the police and look for the story.
Monica finds a glass with some lipstick on it, along with a strange
manuscript, leading her to believe that a woman was with the mayor
when he died. Lauren arrives on the scene soon after the police to
"help" Monica with the story -- instead she "accidentally" breaks a
glass. Back at the Guardian, Liz hopes to headline the morning paper
with a story about the "mystery lover." Monica and Lauren object.
Ray, following up on the story, learns that Lauren's fingerprints
are on the manuscript. Monica remembers that Lauren never touched
the manuscript, and realizes that Lauren is the mystery woman.
Monica confronts Lauren about the affair, and insists that Lauren
come forward with the truth. Lauren refuses, not wanting to hurt the
mayor's family or endure the scorn of Liz. Meanwhile, Liz insists
that Monica reveal the mystery woman's identity and Monica is forced
to tell the truth. At first, Liz thinks Monica is lying, but Lauren
finally confesses. Liz, angry at her sister's transgression and
reckless in her pursuit of truth, publishes the story humiliating
Lauren. Ray investigates further and writes a story about some
suggestive phone calls on tape between Lauren and the mayor. Liz
reads the story, is furious, and fires Ray. Monica reveals to Liz
that she is an angel, that God loves her, and reminds her to speak
the truth in love. Liz realizes that she has been using the "truth"
for harm rather than for good. Liz finds Ray and apologizes,
rehiring him to be a reporter in training. Liz tearfully admits to
Lauren that in her desire to protect and prepare her little sister,
she failed to be the one thing Lauren really needed -- a friend.
Lauren forgives Liz and the sisters make amends.
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