The Morning Show (2019) s04e01 Episode Script

1
["NEMESIS" PLAYING]
[MUSIC ENDS]
[FANFARE PLAYING]
Hello, I'm Alex Levy.
And you're watching
the Paris 2024 Summer Games only on UBN.
give you a front-row seat
for the most heart-stopping
Olympic moments
[IN FARSI, MANDARIN] and spill the
tea with all your favorite athletes.
[VARIOUS LANGUAGES OVERLAPPING]
world, wherever you call home.
Welcome to the future.
This generative AI system can
reproduce any anchor's voice,
capturing every inflection and
emotion in over 40 languages.
Ben, get out here.
Talk about how we'll
be using it in Paris.
Sure. So, over three billion
people watch the Olympics.
The problem is that they watch it
in their own language, and not on UBN.
With this tech, we could reach a massive
audience that speaks only Mandarin,
or Japanese, or Arabic.
And what you're seeing
today is only a beta test,
but it's the first step towards
total content personalization.
- Yeah.
- [RENA] What about us?
Are we all gonna get replaced by AI too?
Can't wait to train my avatar.
No, no, no. No one here
is gonna be replaced by AI.
- [JULIA] Really?
- Nope.
What about the layoffs?
You know, we've lost over half
of our crew on The Morning Show.
- It's like we're still in the pandemic.
- [SIGHS]
I know, I know. It's been a
very challenging two years.
[STELLA] Right. But we're
done with layoffs and buyouts.
As CEO, I promise you, we're
through the worst of it.
And
And the Olympics will
be our victory lap.
These town halls are really
starting to feel like The Lottery.
We're a stone's throw from mutiny.
We just need to make it to Paris.
As soon as that Olympic flame is lit
Then the staff can torch both of us.
[SIGHS] The future sucks.
Mr. Sports Guy creeps
me out. He's too perfect.
Everyone from NBN creeps me out.
Oh, fuck the merger. At
least the billionaire was hot.
[BRO] Guys, let's be honest. Men
are facing a major mojo crisis.
I don't know. You seem
a little fired up, Bro.
Yeah, I'm fired up, Sunny.
People are asking, "Aren't
you going to Paris in '24?"
What? You don't want in on that?
Well, here's the real deal. The
first Olympics had chariot races.
- [CHUCKLES]
- They competed naked
and fought to the death.
The games lasted six months.
And when they were over, they sacrificed
a fuck-ton of goats and had an orgy.
Right, so your 40th?
[CLICKS TONGUE] But now what do we have?
Uh, synchronized Excuse
me, artistic swimming
- Yeah.
- freaking horse dancing, ping-pong,
that thing with the ribbons. Come on.
Where's the danger? The stakes?
Where's the glory?
But, hey, I'm trying to
decenter my masculinity,
- checking my heteronormative bias.
- [SCOFFS] Oh, God.
"Will you consent to a kiss?"
But seriously, bro to bro,
the American sperm count's dropping
faster than Biden's poll numbers.
That's why you need to head over to my
website and order a tub of Bro Greens.
My own personal daily supplement
to get those T levels on track
to get you back in the sack. Oh
Please, God, do not let
this man spread his seed.
Do you believe this guy?
I mean, 50 million other people do.
Get used to it. He's here to stay.
- Like a hemorrhoid?
- I think he's kinda funny.
That explains so much.
Hold the fort for me, will you?
I'm telling you, Remy, whatever
you do, do not become an executive.
- Oh, don't worry. I wanna direct.
- [SIGHS]
So, for the interview tomorrow,
they're arriving at 8:00.
- How's 6:00 for hair and makeup?
- Uh, 5:30.
5:30. Oh, and they mentioned
something about a beret for the promo.
Oh, God. Fuck that. No
way. No fucking beret.
- Yeah, that is stupid.
- So stupid.
- Hey, Jeremy. What's up? [LAUGHS]
- Hey.
Oh, it's Lady Guillotine.
How many heads rolled today?
[SCOFFS] Do you know how badly
I wish I could've fired you?
- You seen my numbers this week?
- I did not.
Number one on the streamer.
Number one in my heart.
Fuck off, Bro.
She loves me.
She really loves me. [SIGHS]
[PHONE BUZZING]
[GRUNTS]
All right, what happened? Who's dead?
[ASSISTANT] We are. We
can't shoot downtown today.
And don't ask me when we can shoot.
Wait, did the city
pull our permits again?
Have you been outside? Actually,
never mind. Don't go out there.
[SIGHS]
Orange smoke?
What, did they make Trump the Pope?
It's that fire up north.
- The wind's changed
- Oh, fu
which means no
location work, no aerials.
- [HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING IN DISTANCE]
- Okay.
We'll move the stunt inside,
shoot it on the stage.
Uh, can we afford that?
Kyle, the movie does not
work without the stunt.
[EXHALES SHARPLY] Come on!
First the strike, now I'm
cockblocked by this shit.
Just tell me what you want me to do.
Pray for rain.
A biblical fucking flood.
[REMY] Hey, there. The Iranian team
is on their way. Ready to head out?
[ALEX] Jesus, Chip looks ridiculous.
What is he, a J.Crew model now?
[REMY] Wait, what?
His documentary is screening at Cannes.
Isn't that cool?
Did you already know that?
Oh, um Honestly, it's kinda good.
And you've seen it?
All right. Why haven't you told me that?
Oh, well, I-I didn't think you'd want
to know, like, you might feel triggered.
Why wouldn't I wanna know?
I like to know everything.
I care about poll
workers being threatened.
I care about the
integrity of the election.
I mean, these are things I'd like to
know, especially if Chip's, you know
Yeah. No, it was like a free screening,
but I can get you a
copy if you wanna see it.
No, I don't have time. I
don't have time to see it.
And I was not triggered.
Jesus.
All right, we got about ten
more minutes. Let's do this.
The Olympic dream, hope
and the human spirit.
We've got the real-life Rey Skywalker.
Come on, people. This is gold.
- Will you grab my questions for me?
- [REMY] On it.
Can't believe we pulled this off.
I've covered peace
talks less contentious.
Yeah. Do you wanna go
over the questions again?
- They warned me about going off script.
- No. I'm good.
Let's just make sure this
doesn't turn into a promo
- for the Morality Police in Tehran.
- Oh,
- the one Dick Wolf show that didn't work.
- That's right.
- Hey, hi.
- [GASPS] You're here late.
Well, you moved heaven and
earth to make this happen.
- [ALEX SIGHS]
- I wanna see this phenom up close.
- Thank you, honey. [GROANS]
- Yes, of course.
- Hello, hello. There's our Olympian.
- [ALEX] Wow.
Miss Nazeri, this is Alex Levy.
Alex, meet Roya.
Thank you so much for agreeing to
do this interview. We are so honored.
[CHUCKLES] Hello.
And I hear your father will
be translating when needed?
Yes. Hello. Arsham Nazeri. Pleasure.
Pleasure. When did you all get in?
This morning.
Ah. Have you had a
chance to see the city?
Uh, a little. Uh She wanted
to see the Brooklyn Bridge.
Nah, you wanted to see the bridge.
- I want to see the Brooklyn.
- [CHUCKLES]
Oh, what's in Brooklyn?
Uh Timothée Chalamet.
- Oh. [LAUGHS]
- [CHUCKLES]
[CLEARS THROAT] Uh
If we could begin
Of course.
Right, uh, shall we get you
mic'd up? Right over here.
[ARSHAM SIGHS]
Thank you again. This means
everything to my daughter.
[ALEX] Aw
Roya, I understand it was your
father who introduced you to fencing.
- [ARSHAM SPEAKS FARSI]
- [CHUCKLES]
[SPEAKS FARSI]
I love The Three Musketeers.
- [ALEX] Ah, I see.
- [CHUCKLES]
And you have devoted your
entire life to this sport.
Why do you love it?
What does it give you?
Hmm.
[SPEAKS FARSI]
you can be anyone you want to be.
Mmm
And that must feel liberating.
Yes. It makes me feel
[INHALES DEEPLY]
free.
[BREATHES HEAVILY]
[SMACKS LIPS, SIGHS]
Um
Nobel Prize winner Narges Mohammadi
is currently in a prison in Tehran
for championing women's rights.
- What would you s
- Stop the interview right now.
I'm sorry, is there a problem?
No politics. We agreed.
We'll cut the question, keep
it strictly to sports. All good.
[STAMMERS] I am sorry.
I completely understand.
[SPEAKS FARSI]
parameters were very clear.
- [BEN] Okay, okay.
- [BODYGUARD SPEAKS FARSI]
we just sneak over
there while they figure this out, okay?
- Okay, let's Let's talk this through.
- [CLAMORING]
I'm sure we can find
a way to move forward.
We were really excited
to have Roya here
- You wanna defect?
- Yes.
- Why? Wh-Why here? Why not Paris?
- There's too much security.
You are absolutely sure
you want to do this?
We are not going back.
[BREATHES SHAKILY] All right.
I can call the State Department,
- but that's all that I can do.
- Thank you.
- Shit.
- [BODYGUARD] We're leaving. Now.
[ALEX] One second, please.
[SIGHS]
Mmm.
Okay. Um
There is a freight elevator
at the end of the hall.
There is a black SUV outside.
That is my car. I'll text my driver.
Just go, go, go. You gotta go.
I think our best option is
to reschedule for tomorrow.
We can take a step back, and
- [FIRE ALARM WAILING]
- [BEN] Oh, Jesus.
- [PEOPLE CLAMORING]
- Do you think that's real?
At this hour, it's not a drill.
All right. We need to get
everyone out of the building.
Guys, downstairs, now.
- What's going on?
- Uh We don't know yet.
Okay, there's a freight
elevator at the end of the hall.
There's a black SUV across the
street. She's on her way. Go, go, go.
[SPEAKING FARSI]
- Come on.
Roya! [SPEAKS FARSI]
- [ALEX] Shit.
- Oh, Jesus. What the
- [SPEAKING FARSI]
- [ROYA SPEAKS FARSI]
- [BODYGUARD SHOUTING IN FARSI]
- [ROYA SCREAMS]
- [ARSHAM GRUNTING]
- [ROYA SHOUTS IN FARSI]
Jesus.
[TIRES SCREECH]
[TIRES SCREECH]
[SCREAMING]
- Oh, my God.
[ROYA PANTING, SPEAKS FARSI]
Hey, you okay? Can you
turn off the engine?
You pulled the fire alarm.
They needed a way out.
[ELEVATOR CHIMES]
[SIGHS] Sorry to hijack your evening.
Please, I hate the Hamptons.
No one dances at parties.
So, how exactly did this happen?
Ask Alex, our resident freedom fighter.
[CLICKS TONGUE] Funny, yes?
You survive the rapist,
chase away the billionaire,
then a teenager walks
in and we lose our heads.
Celine, believe me. If I had any
idea that this was going to happen
It doesn't matter. You
know what you have to do.
If I ask Alex to step
back from the Games,
we will never hear the end of it.
And if you don't, the blame for
this little incident lands on you.
People would love that. It's
model minority hunting season.
Well, what do you expect?
You chased away the old guard,
bit the hand that fed you,
and now they come for your neck.
Why do people hate it
when women run things?
Stella.
They don't care about our vaginas.
They care about our eight-billion-dollar
investment in the Olympics.
And if that tanks,
you'll take the hit, not me,
or anyone else on the board.
What a fuckcluster.
It's actually "clusterfuck".
My way's better.
I spoke to the FBI.
Roya and her father will
be moved to a safe house.
Oh, my God. I have to interview
them as soon as possible.
Oh, and say what? That you supplied
the getaway car? Absolutely not.
Stella, come on! A-A
sit-down with a defector
choosing to leave her own
country right before the Games?
Roya's father works for
Iran's nuclear program.
He's the one they care
about. Not the girl.
What?
- Oh, shit.
- [STELLA] Total press blackout
until we hear otherwise. The only
interview you need to worry about
is you sitting down
with the Feds next week.
I had no idea her father
was involved in any of this.
Yeah, nobody did.
Great, so we caused an
international incident.
We need to tell the Olympic Committee.
That should be fun.
We promised them objectivity.
The whole point of this interview was to
show our coverage could be apolitical.
And given the Iran-Israel
standoff in Gaza,
if this goes to shit, we lose
our sponsorship, ad money
Or just start World War III.
Fuck. Could the IOC
re-open our contract?
Like, would they take away the Games?
[STAMMERS] I don't know.
Probably not this year,
but it's the first year of a
12-year deal, so it's possible.
We did a fan dance up and down
Wall Street to borrow money.
Then we went on a shopping spree
to buy the biggest
sports event on earth.
I swam in the Seine,
and literally swallowed
shit to close this deal.
We're out of money and favors.
If we lose the Olympics,
we lose the network.
They were asking for my help. You
would've done the exact same thing.
I just don't want us to fail.
- I understand.
- [STELLA] Okay.
I need you to back away from
these Olympics prep interviews.
- What?
- We need to calm the waters,
ensure that you can still
host the Games with Chris.
- Yes. We need you in Paris.
- All right?
Oh, my God. I can't
fucking believe this.
- I wanna put Chris on these interviews.
- Oh No. Wait.
Chris is stretched too thin as
it is. She does five days on TMS.
- She is prepping for Paris. We can't
- So take her off of TMS
- for the time being.
- Stella. We can't
We need to prioritize the
Games, whatever it takes.
Ben, talk to the crew. No one can tell a
fucking soul what happened here tonight.
We are the home of the Olympics.
We're fucking Switzerland.
We don't take sides.
Kyle, how bad?
He's done 36 takes.
Apparently the video wall isn't right,
and he doesn't like how
she's holding the umbrella.
Right, and I guess
She's, uh Where?
Yeah. Refusing to come
out of her trailer.
- Right.
- It's a nightmare.
A nightmare? No, Kyle. No, no, no.
We're making dreams here.
We're the luckiest people
in the world, right?
- A Tomoko massage, a bottle of chilled
- [PHONE BUZZING]
skin contact wine, something
beautiful and useless waiting for her
in her car by the time
we wrap, okay? Go, go, go.
- Hey.
- [DIRECTOR] Cory, I'm fucked.
- Yeah.
- We had the most perfect location
with a stunning view. And now, the most
important scene in my fucking movie
looks like some shitty ass screen saver.
Will, buddy, Mother Nature
had other plans for us, okay?
Relax. I'm gonna talk to her. You go eat
some almonds and scroll your Letterboxd.
And, how hard is it to
hold a fucking umbrella?
- I know. Actors, right? [GROANS]
- God.
Hey there. It's Cory.
I'm sorry about all this. [CHUCKLING]
You know directors. They're
fickle fucking creatures.
[SIGHS]
Uh One Criterion Closet visit
and an ayahuasca retreat in Malibu
and suddenly he thinks
he's David Fincher.
But
you are the star of the movie.
Your expressive, extraordinary face
that the world can't get enough of
Our first meeting,
what did I say to you?
People are done with
green screen bullshit.
They're done with movies you forget
the moment you leave the theater.
I believe in this film.
I believe in the unifying
power of great storytelling.
I believe in your
talent, and your passion,
and your ability to transport people and
make them feel like human beings again.
We are making Chinatown
for the post-truth era.
It's relevant.
It's elevated.
It's essential.
Hello?
You in here?
[ASSISTANT] Cory.
That was her agent. She quit.
[SIGHS]
[GROANS]
Rats.
["DANCE APOCALYPTIC" PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
[SONG CONTINUES]
[PHOTOGRAPHER] Perfect. Can
you hold out your two medals?
Awesome. And the doll
up a little bit more.
- [CHRIS] Whoo! [LAUGHS]
- A little bit more profile.
[CHRIS] So, is Mini-Me
gonna get some other outfits,
like a power suit or something?
Maybe a bikini.
'Cause God knows she's never
been pregnant. Have you?
Let's do a series by the teacup.
- Wanna break for a few?
- Yeah, great. Thank you.
[SIGHS]
Wait a sec. No, thank you, thank you.
Are they good?
- Ooh, I like the first one.
- Yeah, it's good.
- Wow. [LAUGHS]
- [SQUEALS]
Say hello to my little friend. [LAUGHS]
You're in a good mood.
Olympic road trip here I come.
- Mm-hmm. Mmm.
- And it's such a good warm-up for Paris.
But you know, you're stretched
a little bit thin here.
Prep for the games, DNC in August.
I don't know if you should go.
Marcus makes a call,
you can stay right here.
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
I'm good. I wanted these
interviews from jump.
I just deferred to
Alex because I had to.
And you said you wanted to
spend more time with family.
- Mm-hmm.
- You know, Chris.
We really can find somebody else.
I feel like you're managing me.
Okay, so I was thinking,
whoever sits in for me on TMS
- Yep.
- could transition to full time.
I could expand my horizons.
I've been talking to Stella
- about a news magazine show and
- Really?
adapting my book club
selections for UBN Plus.
You sound like Alex five years ago.
Yeah. I'm going to do everything
she did without making a mess.
- You ready?
- Ready when you are.
[CHRIS] Okay.
It just might be time to move on.
You know.
[MIA SIGHS] Hi, Mae.
- Ms. Jordan.
- Hi.
I-I think Ms. Bak is on a call,
so if you could Miss Jordan?
It's okay.
Seriously, two minutes. I have to
kiss up to the French ambassador.
Okay, well, then, I just
gotta fucking say it.
This whole situation is bullshit.
- Chris drives TMS.
- Mmm.
Okay? And taking her off
for even a couple of months
is gonna sink our ratings, which
is gonna reflect poorly on me,
which is gonna keep me out
of the Head of News chair,
which you promised me two
years ago when you got this job.
- Do you remember that?
- Mm-hmm.
Back when you and, um,
Marie-Antoinette pitched UBN
as a feminist utopia where
women lift each other up.
Don't blame Celine. I know.
I know it's been a process.
A pro [STAMMERS] That's cute.
- A process.
- Mm-hmm.
Come on, Stella. You know
I've had other offers.
I want you in the job.
But given our Iranian problem,
things are a little chaotic right now.
So let's just get through
the next few weeks,
preferably without losing the
Olympics or any more TMS viewers.
Okay.
Chris and Yanko are good.
They're a nice TV couple
that make America
feel better about their
deeply ingrained fear of Black women,
but they are no Alex and Mitch.
I mean, they're not
even Alex and Bradley,
which I will remind you,
was the biggest audience
That was the biggest
audience we ever had.
Mm-hmm.
[MIA] Um
- Okay, I'm just going to say it.
- Say it.
What do you think she's doing right now?
I don't know. But if
she was doing anything,
- we would know about it.
- Mm-hmm.
People would watch, right?
I mean, they'd be curious.
- Yeah.
- Or is she too controversial?
- You're talking about the Cory of it all?
- Mmm, and her brother.
Ooh, but maybe that works for us.
Really?
Because she's a woman
who refuses to be defined
by the fucked-up men in her past,
coming home to the place
that made her a star, y'all.
In an election year when, frankly,
we could use a red
state-friendly face on TMS.
Ratings would kill.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
Yeah, okay, great. Okay,
just-just e-mail me a list, okay?
- [DOUG] I mean, sure, but you got
- Doug. And no, it cannot be Bro Hartman.
- Oh. Okay.
- So don't even go there.
- Swear to God.
- [STELLA] Do you have a minute?
- Yeah.
- All right.
So Doug is, uh, gonna send
over some names for TMS.
Oh, anybody interesting?
Yeah. He said Ali Wong
might be up for it,
- considering it's just two months.
- Yeah, I love Ali.
I love her too. I
think it could be great.
Mm-hmm. Uh What about Bradley?
Mia and I were just talking about it.
- Oh, no. Mm-mmm.
- And I'm just curious
- what you think about that.
- No, I-I wouldn't. I wouldn't.
- Yeah.
- Considering how she left.
- Right. Mm-hmm.
- And everything with Hal.
I just don't think we
should go anywhere near that.
Okay. Well, I do think the tide
is turning with the Jan 6th stuff.
And honestly it's a demo we've been
trying to reach for quite some time now.
The The alternative facts crowd?
- [CHUCKLES]
- Alex. Like it or not, the center moved.
We need to get the biggest
tent for the biggest audience.
And if half the country thinks we're
just a mouthpiece for the Democrats,
then this merger really
doesn't work. Just doesn't.
Okay. Okay, you know what?
- I'll do it. I'll just do it.
- Huh.
We'll just send Chris on the road.
I'll sit at the teacup
until we're all in Paris.
- Mmm.
- Voilà, done.
I appreciate the offer, I really do.
But actually Mia just
left for West Virginia.
- [STAMMERS] She
- Mm-hmm. Thank you.
[ALEX MUMBLES]
I-I
["ALLIIGATOR TEARS" PLAYING]
Why are you the one to tell this story?
What do you see that no one else does?
And why should I care?
Why should I read your
op-ed instead of, say,
watching Real Housewives
of Salt Lake City?
[STUDENTS CHUCKLE]
[BRADLEY] No, but in a
world of conspiracy theories,
where algorithms just
tell us what we wanna hear,
how do you get anyone to listen?
[SONG CONTINUES]
[SONG STOPS]
How's teaching? You loving it?
You know what they say. Those
who can, do, and those who can't,
try to convince
twentysomethings that our
institutions aren't
fundamentally corrupt
- and irredeemable.
- So you're enjoying it then, huh?
[CHUCKLES]
[CHUCKLES] How are you? How's André?
Oh, uh
You know,
two months in Yemen, then Gaza.
- Oh.
- Kind of on a break. It's fine.
And then, how's UBA? Um UBN.
UBN. Things are good, Bradley.
Really good, actually.
NBN News spun off. I was
able to keep most of my team.
Alex is wrangling talent, God bless
her, on top of everything else.
- [STAMMERS] It's good.
- Yeah, I saw that.
I also saw you inherited
the, um, NBN podcaster guy,
who's trying to convince the world
that Bill Gates invented Ebola.
Bill Gates invented COVID.
- Right. Yes. I forgot.
- And the CIA invented Ebola.
All we're missing is a Southern
girl who likes to say it straight
and blow things up.
Well, that would be déjà vu.
You're not serious.
Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Chris is out in the
field for two months.
Road to the Olympics thing.
You want me to fill in on Morning Show?
You know the job, you know how it works.
- You've done it. It's an election year.
- [SCOFFS]
- There's so much to talk about, Bradley.
- Right.
With everything that's
happening overseas.
- Come on.
- [SIGHS]
Wh-What does Alex say?
- She's excited.
- She is?
Yeah, to have you back.
- Yeah.
- [CHUCKLES] Yeah.
- Really?
- We're all excited.
[BREATHING SHAKILY]
Uh, I It's really
flattering, Mia, I
But I-I don't think that's
- Listen. The old UBA is gone.
- Mm-hmm.
Cory's gone. Laura's gone.
I know. It's not about that.
[STAMMERING] I just don't know
if I'm ready to go back there.
Right now.
We would really love to have you back.
If you change your mind,
let me know?
I'll let you know.
["PERFIDIA" PLAYING]
[PHONE BUZZES]
From the gentleman.
Tell him, "No thanks".
Um, what's this?
Also from the gentleman.
[MOANING, BREATHING HEAVILY]
["SHOOTING STAR" PLAYING]
[COMPANION SIGHS]
[STELLA CHUCKLES]
- What?
- What's with the face?
- [SIGHS]
- Work shit?
Olympic shit. Levy shit.
- What did she do this time?
- Mmm.
That's classified.
- Mmm.
- [STELLA] Mm-hmm.
I-I thought I was your biggest secret.
[CHUCKLES]
You're my biggest mistake.
- Mmm.
- [STELLA CHUCKLES]
Hey.
Stay.
And do what?
I don't know. We could, um
[INHALES DEEPLY] order in.
- [SIGHS]
- Oh.
Or there's a really great
pizza joint in Tokyo.
- Tokyo.
- Yeah.
There's only two pies on the
menu, so it's super easy to choose.
[CHUCKLES]
[ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYS]
That sounds so nice.
- Mm-hmm.
- I'm just gonna get my passport
- and cancel all my meetings.
- Right.
[STELLA] And, uh, we can get out of town
and, you know, leave
the world behind us.
So [LAUGHING]
You always say that.
[REPORTER] Early voting kicks
off tomorrow across West Virginia,
and we've got all of your
updates here on Decision 2024.
Just last night WRPV hosted its
Republican gubernatorial forum
giving voters a chance
to hear directly
- [PHONE CHIMES]
- from the candidates on the state's
most urgent concerns.
Over the next hour we'll be
breaking down the candidates' answers
and verifying the facts
behind their claims.
First in the spotlight, current
Secretary of State, Mac Warner.
One of his most important answers
was in response to a question
on the future of air
travel in West Virginia.
Reporter Tanya Sanchez takes a closer
look at Warner's
comments, and unpacks
[CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
[PHONE CHIMES]
[SIGHS]
[SINISTER MUSIC PLAYS]
[BIRDS TWITTERING LOUDLY]
Oh.
Oh, shit.
[SINISTER MUSIC INTENSIFIES]
[SCOFFS]
[SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
You think this is a
disaster? Bill, Billy.
Dating in LA is a disaster.
Thirty-dollar juice from
Erewhon, also a disaster.
My movie? My movie is an opportunity.
We've got a window to reshoot.
We've got the role of a lifetime.
Off the record, strictly between
us, when I first read the script,
the only person I could think to
play the part? [WHISPERING] Sandy.
I'm telling you, Ari. It is
and it always has been Halle.
I said it from the start.
I screamed it from the top of Runyon.
Cate!
Not available?
Well, thanks for hearing me out.
[SIGHS]
[INHALES DEEPLY, EXHALES SHARPLY]
Kyle, I need you to call
your friends at the agency.
Get me Doug Klassen's
calendar for the week.
Yeah.
Anything where he's out of the office.
- Oh. Hi. I was just looking for you.
- [MIA] Hey.
- Walk with me. Okay.
- Okay. How did it go with Bradley?
Honestly, she seemed a little gun-shy.
I don't think she's ready
to come in from the cold.
Mm-hmm, that's That's okay.
That's okay. We'll find somebody.
God, Mia, this whole
thing is so fucked up.
I know. We're right at the finish
line. We can't quite get there yet.
Yeah, you know what doesn't help?
Spending all morning at the fucking FBI.
Uh, what did they say?
Just took my statement,
showed me the door.
Nothing from Roya or her father?
They're still debriefing.
Literally. And the Feds won't
let me anywhere near them,
and I can't get her out of my mind.
She was just so terrified.
Oh! Do you know anyone
at the State Department?
This asylum just has to happen,
- and it has to happen really fast.
- Uh
Alex, I think this is out of our hands.
- UBN is under a microscope.
- I know.
- No one here can touch this.
- I know, I know, I know, I know.
- Look, I gotta go to this meeting.
- Okay.
- We'll talk TMS hosts later.
- Mm-hmm.
- Alex, let it go.
- Mm-hmm.
Okay.
Fuck.
[SIGHS]
[CLEARS THROAT] Remy,
clear my afternoon.
I will be out of the office, period.
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
Fuck.
[INHALES SHARPLY] I can do this.
Sullivan v. The New York Times.
Ring any bells?
Who amongst you can
summarize the ruling? Hmm?
Somebody. Come on.
Good God. [SIGHS]
For a generation obsessed with
the sound of its own voice,
you're all remarkably silent.
Uh.
Rebecca Hanson.
Miss Hanson,
brighten my day.
That's the girl.
[HANSON CLEARS THROAT]
New York Times v. Sullivan
- limits the ability
- Speak up a little, Miss Hanson.
You've got the court's attention.
They won't be impressed by a mouse.
[HANSON] New York Times v. Sullivan
limits the ability
to sue for defamation.
[PROFESSOR] Right.
[HANSON] So, um,
unless the plaintiff can show that
an accusation was a true threat,
- then they can't
- [PROFESSOR] No, no, no.
The specific phrase you're looking
for is "actual intended malice".
Those are the magic words.
Thank you, Miss Hanson.
[CLEARS THROAT]
- Next week, Roth v. the United States.
- [SIGHS]
- [PROFESSOR] Well
- [SIGHS]
- this is unexpected.
- Ha.
The prodigal daughter
makes a surprise appearance.
- Yes.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Look at you.
- Mmm.
Lizzie put you up to this?
No. Why would she?
Oh
- I see her from time to time in London.
- Oh.
In fact, I introduced her
to a couple of my colleagues.
They were mightily impressed.
That's great.
I'm so glad Lizzie's
not a disappointment.
Oh, Alexandra, please. Look, sit down.
You know, not a term goes by
without one of my students asking me
about Mitch, um What's his name?
- Kessler.
- Kessler,
Paul Marks,
your frequent appearances
in the tabloids,
- and [CHUCKLES]
- I'm okay.
Oh.
And I tell them that at one point
you actually studied
to be a real journalist.
Mm-hmm. [INHALES SHARPLY]
Yes, I know. I'm aware that you
think what I do is of no value.
Well, let's just say that I was hoping
you'd use your talents
for something more
significant than daytime television
- [INHALES SHARPLY]
- Right.
but, uh water under the bridge.
So, I thought we were not talking.
Why are you here?
- Somebody tell you I was dying?
- [CHUCKLES]
- I came to ask you a question.
- Ah.
That Iraqi translator
that you helped out.
Do you remember what
ever happened to her?
Well, that was years
ago. Why do you ask?
Well, hypothetically speaking,
if someone were seeking asylum,
say an Iranian scientist,
and there was a child involved
This all sounds a little
above your pay grade.
[SIGHS] The scientist.
What happens when the government
is done questioning him?
He gets a new identity.
- Right.
- Or, worst case, they send him back.
Mmm. Which would leave the
daughter all on her own.
Do you still have friends
in the State Department?
Do you think there's anyone
that you could call, off
clearly, off the record, of course,
- that could help out in this situation?
- I was helping the Iraqis
draft their new constitution. I
wasn't running an exfiltration team.
- No, I understand that.
- In any case,
I think the State Department
is a little busy at the moment.
No, no, no, no, no. This sounds
No. If you came here for
my advice, then this is it.
Keep out of this, whatever it is.
Don't become involved.
[SIGHS]
- Hmm?
- [ALEX] Mm-hmm.
Look, since you've crossed the
Maginot Line to come see me,
let me tell you my good news.
Okay.
They're making me
dean of the law school.
- Mmm. Wow.
- I was in the running years ago,
but of course they hired a woman.
But now she's "retiring," so
[BREATHES DEEPLY]
They'll be announcing
it in the next few weeks.
- Wow.
- Hmm?
That's very impressive.
Congratulations, Dad.
Ah
In fact, there's something
you could do to help me.
And that is, one of the students is
writing a profile for
the alumni magazine.
Maybe you could talk to her,
give her a few anecdotes.
A few anecdotes? What do you As in
Well, just about us.
You know, about family.
Something frothy and light, you
Just the sort of thing [STAMMERING]
you're good at, you know.
Mm-hmm.
[UNSETTLING MUSIC PLAYS]
[DOORBELL CHIMES]
Hi, there. Come in.
How long will you be gone?
Just two months.
I know I have to let you know
when I'm gonna be out of state.
- So
- What's in New York?
A job. I'm gonna be filling
in on The Morning Show.
Oh, you're gonna be
reporting again? On TV?
I'm not sure that's
gonna fly with my bosses.
No, no, I don't I wouldn't
exactly call it reporting.
It's more like we're
swapping chicken recipes.
That's all you're gonna be doing?
- Yeah.
- Talking about chicken?
Mmm, that's it.
I was told I could
work still, a-and, um
I-I need the money.
If you ask me, the information that
you gave us on Paul Marks two years ago
does not merit a free pass.
So let's get one thing really clear.
You are only free right now by
the grace of the US government.
We didn't prosecute you, and we
kept your name out of the press.
But, if you fuck up,
if you lie to us, if you
so much as even jaywalk,
we won't hesitate to rethink
the terms of our agreement.
And if you come across
anything in New York
that may be of interest to the
Bureau, we expect you to let us know.
Understood.
[STELLA] All hands on deck.
Bradley's arriving tonight.
How soon can we get going?
Okay, we need to hit the ground running.
Wardrobe test, photo shoots,
an exclusive with Variety.
Make it big.
UBN's brightest star back in orbit.
Let me know.
Nice work landing Bradley Jackson.
Mia Jordan made it happen.
- You should congratulate her.
- Mm-hmm.
- Hey. Am I late?
- Hey.
Miles, how are you?
Stella, good to see you.
I'm starving.
Let's get some dinner on the way home.
Yeah, what do you think? Italian?
[CELINE] Um, oysters and champagne.
Let's celebrate.
Good night, Stella.
- [STELLA] Enjoy.
- Bye.
[SOFTLY] Bye.
["UPSIDE DOWN" PLAYING]
[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]
Oh, wow.
- [LAUGHING] Sorry. Doug!
- Cory.
I swear I almost didn't recognize
you with your LA glow-up. Hot.
Is that, um, vitamin D or
teenage blood infusions?
- [BOTH CHUCKLE]
- I need to make a call.
Oh, okay.
Who crapped in his khakis?
Really?
You wanna do this in public in
front of everybody I work with?
One drink.
You're gonna stalk me
until I say yes, huh?
Like a leopard.
I flew too close to the sun.
[CHUCKLES] But, uh the smell
of burning wings, you don't forget that.
You can scrub yourself
clean, change zip codes,
but the memory is still there,
and every so often you
get a reminder, a whiff,
and it drives you, Doug, to work harder,
to never fail again.
I don't mean to be
rude, but is there any
way that you can just shut the fuck up?
Douglas, what happened?
You used to love it when I called.
Well, yeah. When you were
signing Alex's checks.
I mean, eight figures, you
can read me the phone book
and work my nut sack like
a speed bag for all I care.
Oh, yeah, wow. That's your kink?
What do you want, Cory?
This about your movie?
Why? Did you hear something?
Do you or do you not need an actress?
I need Julia.
- You need Julia.
- I need Julia.
- And Doug
- [LAUGHS] Okay.
you get me a meeting with her
and I will I will
name my firstborn Doug.
[SCOFFS, LAUGHS]
Look.
Even if I wanted to help you,
first Bradley Jackson,
and now your actress,
they're both talking about
an unsafe work environment
Unsafe?
You know, I was gonna dangle
her over an actual building
before some gender reveal
gone wrong blew out the sky.
I never said it was fair. But, hey.
So you do your time, you lay low,
and eventually the statute
of limitations will pass.
[WHISPERING] I was
cleared of any wrongdoing.
The investigation was
fucking definitive.
Dude, your golden parachute
was shot full of holes,
and you crash-landed in
cancel city. It sucks,
but get off the grid for
a bit and then we can talk.
- Okay?
- Bradley Jackson? Jesus.
People don't even fucking remember her.
You know, it was two years ago.
That is a millennium
in entertainment years.
It would take a team of
archaeologists to find her career.
So unless she's dating Taylor Swift or
discovered that she's
a minor Kardashian,
the world does not give a fuck!
Wow. She really got to you, huh?
Help me with my movie, man.
Let's prove to the world that we're
still capable of making good things.
That's why you got into this
business in the first place, isn't it?
We both know there's a thousand
better ways to make a buck.
[DOUG INHALES DEEPLY, SIGHS]
Send me your script, and
I'll see what I can do.
- [TENDER MUSIC PLAYS]
- [PATS LAP]
[SIGHS]
[ELEVATOR DINGING]
- Hey, you. [CHUCKLES]
- Hey.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
- Hi.
- Yeah, hey.
Come on in.
- I'm glad you stopped by.
- [LIQUID POURING]
I can't remember the last
time I had a real conversation.
[CHUCKLES] Same.
Try making small talk at a
faculty meeting in West Virginia.
It was like screaming into the void.
Oof. God, sounds like my love life.
[CHUCKLES] So you're not
seeing anybody either?
Oh, I see people.
I see bean counters who tell
me how much debt we're carrying.
I see HR. They tell
me who I get to fire.
[SIGHS]
But I did not think I
was going to see you.
- Hmm. Cheers. [CHUCKLES]
- Cheers.
- Mmm.
- I know. You know,
it's moving a little bit fast,
- but it feels right.
- Mmm.
'Cause if I'm being totally honest, um,
I was going a little bit
crazy out there on my own.
- Yeah.
- So
- Yeah, no, I-I bet. Um
- [SIGHING] Yeah.
But honestly, I-I was
told that you had said no.
And now you're here, so I'm
just I'm a little surprised.
Uh Okay?
Do you really think this is a good idea?
I mean, coming back here with, uh
Uh, Mia and Stella
think it's a good idea.
They told me that you were on board
and that you were excited about it.
No, I never said that.
- Okay.
- But you know [STAMMERS] Bradley,
they they don't know what you did.
They don't know the real
reason that you left.
They think Hal's the
only one who overstepped.
Maybe this is an opportunity for
me to make it right this time.
Okay, I get that.
I do. I-I just don't
I just don't think UBN is the
place for you to be right now.
- I see.
- You know?
So, where exactly is
the place for me, Alex?
Is it back in West Virginia,
- or is it in prison with my brother?
- Oh, please.
Bradley [STAMMERING]
who walked you to the FBI?
I was there for you.
- Come on, remember that.
- Yeah, and now you want me
- as far away as possible.
- That's not what I said.
- That's not what I meant
- What? What did you mean?
I just don't think you should
be reporting the news right now.
- You crossed a line.
- [SCOFFS]
How many lines have you crossed, Alex?
And I guess I'm the
one with the gag order?
'Cause it was really clear that
you wanted me to keep my mouth shut
when you called me after Hal's
sentencing to check on me.
I didn't want to carry this.
I wanted it to be out in the open.
- I would have told everybody.
- Listen, I'm sorry.
I just didn't think it was the time to
tell the entire world what you had done.
You were protecting yourself,
because you didn't
want to seem complicit.
Oh, my God.
Bradley. Okay, you
just don't understand.
You don't understand how hard the
last two years have been, okay?
UBN cannot afford one more fuckup.
We are literally bailing
water as fast as we can.
And what you did
If that fucking comes
out, we are fucked.
It just sinks us.
Deleting footage,
- lying about your brother
- I know what I did. And you know what?
Paul Marks has done way worse
shit than me to a lot more people.
And from what I can see,
he's living pretty great.
[STAMMERING] I P What
What does Paul Marks
have to do with anything
- that you and I are talking about?
- I've never understood why you didn't run
everything we had on him.
But I guess that's your MO.
Some people get a pass,
- and some people don't.
- Oh, my God.
You've gotta be fucking kidding me.
- No, it's real clear.
- I'm just trying to be honest with you.
Well, I have to get up early, so
let me be honest, I'm gonna go.
I'll see myself out.
Okay. Sorry about that.
[FOOTSTEPS DEPARTING]
Mmm.
["HOLD YOUR BREATH" PLAYS]
[SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
Fuck off, New York.
Ah, thank you. Thank you. Yes.
- [PHONE BUZZING]
- Mmm.
Well, now this is unexpected.
Alex Levy. How the fuck are you doing?
I'm good, Cory. How are you?
Great, actually.
Uh, I'm just wondering
if if you've heard.
Heard what?
Bradley is back and, um,
starting TMS Monday morning.
You and I are overdue for
a catch-up, don't you think?