Will McAvoy quotes from The Newsroom

It's after midnight now and I feel like I can ask a question.

Sloan

Sure.

I meant to Will.

Will

Yes.

Who did you vote for today?

Will

You know I'm not answering that.

I thought you might because you revealed your party affiliation on the air last year.

Will

I did. I identified myself as a Republican because I thought it was fair to give to the viewer given the commentary I was delivering.

A commentary that ended with you calling the Tea Party the American Taliban.

Will

Yes.

And in the body of the commentary - was a blistering indictment of Republicans.

Will

Exactly the opposite. It was a blistering indictment of people who aren't Republicans.

Well, who's to say who is and who isn't?

Will

On that night, I did.

I want to remind you you asked me to pursue this area.

Will

I understand.

And I'm wondering, with all respect, do you call yourself a Republican so you can make a claim to credibility when you attack the GOP?

Will

No, I call myself a Republican 'cause I am one. I believe in market solutions and I believe in common sense realities and the necessity to defend ourselves against a dangerous world and that's about it. Problem is now I have to be homophobic. I have to count the number of times people go to church. I have to deny facts and think scientific research is a long con. I have to think poor people are getting a sweet ride. And I have to have such a stunning inferiority complex that I fear education and intellect in the 21st century. But most of all, the biggest new requirement, really the only requirement, is that I have to hate Democrats. And I have to hate Chris Christie for not spitting on the president when he got off Air Force One. The two-party system is crucial to the whole operation. There's honor in being the loyal opposition. And I'm a Republican for the same reasons you are. So I hope your voice gets louder in the next four years.

Well, I don't like losing, so count on it.

Charlie

You ever read Jedediah Purdy, For Common Things?

Will

No.

Charlie

He talks about cynical times. People having terminal irony with a studied refusal to hope or care openly. Does that sound like us?

Will

No.

Charlie

No. Have you asked yourself tonight why we never reported the Petraeus story?

Will

The Petraeus?

Charlie

Remember? David Petraeus is resigning on Thursday.

Will

We didn't report it.

Charlie

That's funny.

Will

I forgot. Yeah.

Charlie

It's because we never made the trade. The decision was that the other story had information voters needed, the Petraeus story didn't. Not that many voters. It would have affected maybe a few thousand, tops. In one district, one seat. As opposed to breaking two days early what will be a giant story. Breaking it in front of an Election Night audience. And the decision to decline the trade was made instantly and unanimously. Don pushed back reflexively, but he came around in seven seconds. Don. We've come a long way. I'm not resigning. And neither are you. What, are we out of our fucking minds? Dantana doctored the tape. That's what happened, Will. We know the truth and the mob doesn't. When did we decide it was an institutional failure? We waited 11 months. We know people who would have gone after the second red team meeting or even the first. You agree with what I'm saying?

Will

I believe, except for the things we did wrong, we did everything right. And I can't live with Mac taking the blame for--

Charlie

We'll get the audience's trust back. Like Leona said, we're gonna overcome the terminal irony. And the laundry list of embarrassing things in the complaint? I've got to tell you, I'm not embarrassed. The Zimmerman tape, Jim going to New Hampshire, Sloan punching a guy in arbitrage-- I actually like that one. [pause, he notices Will is staring off into space] I can't tell what you're thinking. [pause] Will? It's gotten strange now. Are you able to hear me speaking? She--

Will

Except for the things she did wrong, she did everything right, too. The rest was me.

Will

There's a story about a little kid who keeps shredding paper and his parents take him to all kinds of doctors to get him to stop shredding paper. And finally they take him to the most expensive doctor in the world who turns to the kid and he says, "Kid, if you stop shredding paper, your parents will stop dragging you to doctors." And the kid turns to his parents and says, "Why didn't you just say so?"

Mac

Well, all right, then.

Will

The point of the story is that the kid could make himself happy by just stopping. I think that's the point. I don't know. I've been trying to figure it out. But I didn't return it. Because I'm in love with you.

Mac

What did you say?

Will

And because of-- Will you marry me?

Mac

Wait.

Will

I said will you marry me? And before that, I said I'm in love with you. That's-- that's-- That's what I'm getting at. I feel like I can do this so much better if I can have a second.

Mac

What in the fuck is happening right now?

Will

If-- if I-- I don't ever want to not be-- No. I love you. I'm gonna go back to that. And will you marry me? And let me just say I really think you should. I think you should say yes. But no matter what you say, there's no chance I am ever gonna hurt you again. And no matter what you say, I'm gonna be in love with you for the rest of my life. There's no way out of that. That's just a physical law of the universe. You own me. No matter what you say--

Mac

Yes.

Will

I will never stop--

Mac

Yes.

Mac

I'm saying yes.

Will

You're saying yes?

Mac

Yes.

Will

Thank God.

Mac

Took you long enough.

Will

How often are you sleeping when I'm talking to you at night?

Mackenzie

I really have no way of knowing that.

That's right, you play guitar on the side.

Will

I'm a news anchor on the side.