Capitulation; Chapter One – The Lady's Not For Turning

A/N: Hello, welcome to my first Newsroom fanfic. Most of this chapter is taken from dialogue from the episode The Blackout Part I – Tragedy Porn, where Will, Mac and Charlie are discussing Casey Anthony and then Mac does the unexpected. Most of this is dialogue but should be simple enough to follow.

"It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends." – Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

"You're going to cover Casey Anthony." Charlie announced.

"Bullshit we are." Mac exclaimed.

"We have the three-day weekend to gear up for it."

"Charlie."

"Starting Tuesday, you'll lead with her in the A block. Give it 15 minutes and a five-minute reset on the half hour."

"Seriously, I can't tell if you're joking or-"

"Did you just hear those numbers?"

"Yes."

"Half our audience changed the channel in one week."

"I understand."

"Do you?"

"Do I understand math?"

"Do you understand that it's unprecedented?"

"I'm not going to argue with you when Will can do it for me. He's never going to go for this. Tell him."

"Have marketing promo the living shit out of Casey Anthony," said Will simply.

"Oh, my God." Mac was dismayed.

"Rename the show Casey Anthony Night with Casey Anthony," he continued

"Will, hang on."

"Right here on the Casey Anthony Network."

"Mac."

"Because any second I'm going to wake up and be back in a room with Don Quixote and the mission to civilize."

"Listen to me."

"No."

"How many drinks were thrown in your face because you didn't think people should be watching The Real Morons of South Beach or whatever the hell it's called?"

"It's not the same thing."

"It's exactly the same thing. It's just worse. A child is dead. A very troubled young mother either did or didn't murder her. Her parents are waiting to find out if their daughter's going to get the needle. So thank God for TiVo, otherwise we wouldn't be able to sit down"

"It's news."

"Yeah, say that three times and click your heels. It's entertainment. And it's just-just this side of a snuff film."

"Sit down, Mac."

"No, I don't want to sit."

"Do it anyway, please."

"15 at the top, that's a quarter of the show." Mac was outraged.

"Mac."

"And five at the bottom for a reset?"

"Please sit! Think I like it? I know you don't."

"It makes me sick. There isn't enough bourbon in Kentucky."

"Okay? We're in the same place on this."

"So let's be in the same place on this."

"We've had ratings dips before."

"First of all, not like this."

"Nothing like this."

"Second, I want the debate."

"The three of us have talked about a new debate format for months and we're not going to be able to do it if they don't give us a debate."

"I just really"

"They're not going give us a debate if we're in fifth place. I want the debate. I want to fundamentally change the way we interview presidential candidates for their job. If that means we have to be Jerry Springer for a few weeks, I'm willing to pay that price."

"When the going gets tough, the two of you really man up."

"Then go with your principles, Mac."

"Fine I will. You'll have my resignation on your desk in an hour. I'm not going to stand by and see all we have done go to waste."

"Mac-," Will began, shocked at the turn of events.

"No, you can go and cover Casey Anthony all you like. Blitz the hell out of the story, but you won't be doing it with me as your EP."

"Mac, we need the debate."

"No we don't, and we probably won't get it. Why would the RNC give a Republican Primary Debate to the network who just lost half of its viewers overnight?"

"They wouldn't."

"Exactly."

"Mac-"

"I'm resigning. I will not capitulate to the ratings."

"Mac-"

"What was the first point I made when pitching 2.0?"

"Mac-"

"Is this information we need in an election booth?"

"Mac-"

"Casey Anthony is in the grand scheme of things inconsequential to what happens in the mid-terms."

"We need to run Casey Anthony to get the debate which will provide information to the voter in the booth."

"So will every other network that has a debate and once we start covering Casey Anthony we lose our reputation for being a serious news network and fall in the gutter like the rest of them. We lose our integrity."

"Mac, this rating drop gives Leona every right to fire Will." Charlie said desperately.

"Well it won't be any great loss seeing as you both immediately capitulate to the ratings. We were supposed to put what the people need to hear on the air, not what they wanted to hear."

"Every primetime show is doing something about Casey Anthony. We can't compete."

"Well turn if you want to but I'm not turning. Now if you don't mind, I've got an office to clear and a letter of resignation to write."

"She'll come around." Charlie said confidently.

"What if she doesn't?" Will was worried, completely taken aback by the turn of events.

"She'll come around." Charlie reiterated.

"Mac, what are you doing?" asked Sloan.

"Packing."

"Why?"

"I just resigned."

"What? Why?"

"They want us to cover Casey Anthony. They want to dedicate over a quarter of the show to it and it isn't really newsworthy. Its entertainment."

"Do Will and Charlie know you're resigning?"

"Yeah."

"And you're still resigning."

"Yeah. I'm not going to capitulate to the ratings. I'm going on principle."

"Jim! Get in here will you?"

"What's going on?"

"Short story is that I am taking a break, I won't be here tonight. Look after Will. He wants to lead with Casey Anthony. Try and dissuade him, I'll be back in a couple of days."

"Why is your office packed up?"

"Because my break has a slightly more permanent nature."

"Will fired you?"

"No I resigned."

"Why exactly-"

"It's a long story, one I don't have time for right now. Now, look after him. You know where to call if you want help."

"Mac-"

"You're in charge now. Knock them dead!"

Dear Will and Charlie,

This is in now in writing. I'm resigning. You know why. I've left Jim in charge but feel free to change things around here. You know my reasons for resigning, I don't think I need to explain them further. Good luck with Newsnight, I wish you all the best.

Mac.

"Jim, where's Mac?"

"Gone. She resigned, as I'm sure you already know. The letter is on her desk."

"Ms. McHale, if I could ask you to stop right there. Charlie Skinner and Will McAvoy want to see you upstairs." Security in the lobby called out.

"Well you can tell Charlie and Will that as of 10:41 this morning, I no longer work for them, neither do I answer to them so I won't be see them." Mac called back over her shoulder as she made her way to the glass doors.

"Ma'am-"

"If they want to get in touch, they know where to find me. And tell them from me; 'good luck with the show because they will need it.'" Mac walked briskly through the door and out on to the busy New York Street outside. She looked back at the ACN and wondered whether she had done the right thing.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Please leave a review. Until next time...