Lisa's Date with Density a child from Josh Weinstein's school days who everyday would get onto the bus with a piece of toast, which had Vaseline on it. A majority of the story is a reference to the film "Rebel Without a Cause". Lisa remarks that Nelson is "like a riddle wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a vest", a reference to "a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma"; this was Winston Churchill's opinion of Russia at the outbreak of the World War II. In its original broadcast, "Lisa's Date with Density" finished 63rd in ratings for the week of December 9–15,
The Riddle of the Sphinx (Inside No. 9) creature without hospital building" results in "ARCHITECTURE", which Simon studies. They turn to the clues for the next day, beginning to fill a large grid. Squires uses the name of the Sphinx because she would asphyxiate and consume those who failed to answer her riddle: she was, he says, "devious and deadly". Squires makes tea, as Nina looks to his trophies. A picture of Squires with his late wife draws her attention, and they discuss the cut-throat world of competitive crosswording. Nina has answered "DOWNANDOUT" and "WRAP"; Squires answers "DESI" and helps with "TRENT". Squires asks about Simon, but catches