The Morning Show (2019) s04e02 Episode Script

1
["NEMESIS" PLAYING]
[MUSIC ENDS]
[CAR HORNS HONKING]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Bradley, I'll see you in five.
Yeah.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
- [EMPLOYEE] Bradley, hi.
Hi.
[MIA] If he keeps
tweeting about that judge,
be prepared to cut to the courthouse.
Jury selection's the boring part.
Iran just attacked Israel, ugly stuff.
Let's give the people some soap.
Okay. Hey, great to see you.
- Yeah.
- Hey, how are you?
- I'm good. Yeah.
- Great.
- Did you review the January 6th copy?
- I did.
All good. I think it's good to
address the elephant in the room,
- you know.
- Hey. Shoot it, bag it.
Finish talking about treason by 7:30
and then on to the climate conference.
- Okay.
- It's all gonna be on the prompter.
- Yeah.
- Okay?
Listen, I'm so glad you're back.
- Thanks.
- She's alive.
- Look at her. Look at her. She's
- Yanko.
- Oh, my God. Oh. You look great.
- Hey.
- You too.
- Thank you. Are you excited? You know.
- Nervous? You know?
- I'm like You know.
- Yeah, don't be nervous.
- I'm not I'm not nervous.
Yeah? If you are, just use
it. It works for me, all right?
Hey, so listen, I, uh I was
watching old tapes of you last night.
Oh, you gotta get some hobbies.
[CHUCKLES] It's It's
prep, you know. Because we
- It's our first time cohosting.
- Oh, yeah.
Well, we gotta figure out the dynamic.
- Of course, yeah.
- Who's the actor, who's the reactor.
- 'Cause with Chris
- Mm-hmm.
I don't know if you
noticed, I'm-I'm the reactor.
But then with Alex and Laura,
I noticed you were the reactor.
I was? I'm not sure that's totally true.
Well, we can't both be reactors, okay?
- Tapes don't lie.
- I thought that was hips.
Look at that banter. I like it.
Oh, my Had a little moment there.
- Yeah. Totally.
- You felt that?
- It's gonna be great.
- Yes. Super stoked.
- Big first day.
- Okay, yeah, no, save it, okay?
- Okay. Preset, camera four ready.
- [EMPLOYEE] I need a clear shot of Chris.
Camera two.
And where is Bradley?
Do we have eyes on Bradley?
- She's traveling. Held up in hair.
- [JAMAL] It's always hair.
Fingers crossed, she brings that
Jackson magic and we get a bump.
Ah, pretty blonde ladies
always seem to make it work.
- Sixty seconds.
- Have a great show, Yanko.
- Hey, hey, hey.
- Hey there.
- Hey.
- Saved you a seat.
- Thank you.
- You ready?
It's like riding a bike, you know?
Yeah. Well, actually,
you know that's a myth.
You know? Yeah, yeah, they people
They often do forget how to
ride a bicycle because you're
[CHRISTINA] Yanko.
[YANKO, INDISTINCT]
And in five, four, three
Welcome to The Morning Show.
Did y'all miss me? 'Cause I'm back.
[CHUCKLES] You are back. We're
so happy to have you back.
- Thank you for having me.
- There's been a vacancy here.
- Aw. That's so sweet of you to say that.
- Major vacancy.
- I've been watching you every morning.
- Thank you so much.
- You guys are incredible.
- Suck it, Eagle.
We're no Bradley Jackson.
So fill us in on what you've
been up to these last two years.
Yes, well, I've been dealing
with some family stuff
and I've been spending a
lot of time in West Virginia.
Let's go, Mountaineers.
And you've been doing some
babysitting for your little niece?
I have the most precious niece, Taylor.
She is three years old and so smart.
- Aw.
- That's really sweet. That's sweet.
Um, your your brother Hal,
um, fair to say he got caught
up on the wrong side of things
on January 6th at the Capitol.
Uh, can you tell us about that?
[BRADLEY] Yes, absolutely.
Um, unfortunately my brother Hal
got radicalized online
during the pandemic,
which so many folks did,
and he made a big mistake.
Push in.
He realized what he did was wrong
and he turned himself in and
he is now serving prison time.
Um, I was there too.
Uh I mean, I was there at the FBI.
Um
I-I was also at the Capitol.
But I was I was
reporting, as you know.
You saw my report.
And, um
um
um, I mean
And what I really wanna say is I'm
a firm believer in second chances.
Oh, Jesus, Bradley.
And when family calls, you
gotta you gotta show up.
- You gotta listen.
- [YANKO] Yeah, absolutely.
- Fuck.
- Take it, Yanko.
Yeah, you know, family and
forgiveness, we know, it's complicated.
It's com But we're so happy
that you could be there for them.
This week, New York City hosts
- the Global Climate Strategy Summit
- [PHONE BUZZING]
so governments and private
companies from around the world
they're gonna gather right here in
Manhattan for three days of talks
to discuss best practices
and decarbonization
and energy and industry
and manufacturing.
I really hope they discuss
Thank you.
I know I stumbled a bit up there.
- No.
- I promise I will get my sea legs soon.
It's fine.
Hey, who knew I was coming back?
Everybody.
Well, I mean, before it was announced.
Um, it was discussed internally
if that's what you're asking.
The assistant text thread was popping.
- Oh, really?
- Hmm. They love to gossip.
Oh, okay.
- Yeah, more to come.
- More to come.
- I'll get better.
- Yeah, yeah.
[PHONE CHIMES]
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
- Oh, hold the door.
[GROANS]
Oh. It's like the first
act of a romantic comedy.
Or a slasher film.
You know, the way you
pretend you don't want me
is actually part of the rom-com trope.
You know what? I'm actually
not that good of an actress.
Invitation's still open.
Come on my show. Capitalize
on our simmering chemistry.
Oh, my God, that's such a hard pass.
I-I report actual news.
Hmm. Yeah, I'm a menace
to journalism, democracy
and what's left of the American way.
You said it, not me.
I'm embarrassed to share
the planet with you,
let alone a streaming service.
You know, it's sweet when you neg me.
You know what, Bro,
your clown show is really
good for our network,
but our streams will never, never cross.
So maybe?
Wow. You really just hear
whatever you wanna hear
in spite of actual words being spoken.
Oh, my God, what are you, 12?
[BRO] Hmm.
- Oh, gosh.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
Fuck it. I'm taking the stairs.
Well, look at that talent.
Oh, my God. Anybody hear that?
- What?
- Nope. Me Too moment.
It's all over.
Good morning, Alex.
Hey.
John, right? From legal?
Yes, good to see you.
Yeah. Alex, have a seat.
- Ooh. Okay.
- [STELLA SIGHS]
[ALEX] Is this about Bradley?
I'm gonna ask you a question, and
I need you to answer honestly, okay?
Okay.
The Iranian athlete and her father
Roya.
Did you collude with the
Nazeris or their representatives
to secure them asylum?
Was the interview
arranged for that purpose?
Of course not.
We went over this.
And you didn't know that her father
was a nuclear scientist, right?
Not until you told me.
Um, I'm sorry, what is this?
We reviewed security footage
in anticipation of any questions
from the State Department.
This is from our CCTV and
it picked up the audio.
All right, so you got
the layout that I sent?
All right, my car is waiting
downstairs just like we planned.
- What?
- And believe me
Believe me, your father's
doing the right thing.
[JOHN] Sounds premeditated.
Apparently you had talked to
the girl about this before.
What else did you promise her?
- Come on.
- Easy, John.
That is That's not what happened.
It's not. I never met Roya before.
- I've never met her father.
- We We can all hear it.
Oh, God, please. Play it back.
- Play it back.
- Go ahead. Play it again.
All right, so you got
the layout that I sent?
All right, my car is waiting
downstairs just like we planned.
And believe me believe me, your
father's doing the right thing.
I did not say that.
- Okay.
- [STAMMERS] I'm sorry.
I don't know what the hell
that is, but I did not say that.
Okay? This is just crazy.
This is crazy. That Someone
has fucked with that tape.
- Who? How?
- I don't know, but that is not real.
That's bullshit.
I mean, come on, you have AI software
that has me speaking
40 fucking languages.
Anyone with access could have done that.
I was there. I know what happened.
I don't Maybe this is
some kind of a a deepfake.
And who would do that?
Well, that is exactly the
question that you should be asking.
They wanted asylum.
I had five seconds to
make a judgment call.
She was in danger.
Jesus.
- Okay, there's something else.
- [SCOFFS]
[JOHN] Your father
has ties to the region.
He was a key consultant
on the constitutional
referendum in Iraq in 2005.
You know that Iraq and Iran are
actually different countries?
[JOHN] But close allies.
And Martin Levy helped to
relocate a translator, a dissident.
That was 20 years ago, and
I barely speak to my father.
[JOHN] You visited your
father after the interview.
Did you talk about what happened?
Are you having me followed?
You went to a lecture full
of students with cell phones.
What?
[STELLA] We agreed to
keep the defection quiet.
Tell absolutely no one.
Okay, I'm sorry, I just didn't
realize I was going to be interrogated
about private family conversations.
When you were in Zürich
to close the Olympics
Mm-hmm. Yes, we both were there. Yes.
But you had the meeting with
officials from Tehran on your own.
[SIGHS] To negotiate the
terms of the interview.
Everyone was fully aware.
And it was your fucking
idea to feature Roya.
And this is really starting
to feel like a witch hunt.
- I don't know what's happening right now.
- Alex,
we're just trying to understand.
Who had access to that footage?
That's the only question
you should be asking
because I didn't say those things.
Not one word of it.
Okay.
Okay, um [CLEARS THROAT]
We'll talk to the security
team, review the files.
I'll have my AI people
look at the audio.
- Mm-hmm.
- I would cancel all interviews
and public appearances at this time.
Oh, my God, are you k
You're silencing me for
something I didn't do?
It's a matter of national security.
Please help us help you.
[SIGHS] You don't believe me.
We want to believe you.
We'll review the findings by Friday
and figure out the best way forward.
We're all on the same team here, Alex.
Yeah.
All right, so you got
the layout that I sent?
All right, my car is waiting
downstairs just like we planned.
So you got the layout that I sent?
All right, my car is waiting
downstairs just like we planned.
And believe me
Believe me, your father's
doing the right thing.
Okay. Just go. Go.
Go.
I am right here and then
I said, "You wanna defect?"
- She said
- Yes.
[ALEX] You got the layout that I sent?
- This means everything to my daughter.
- I said why here? Why not Paris?
[ROYA] Too much security.
My car is waiting downstairs
just like we planned.
Are you sure you want to do this?
We are not going back.
[MEHDI SPEAKS FARSI]
There is a freight elevator
at the end of the hall.
I said to call the State Department.
Black SUV outside. Just go.
Just like we planned. Your
father's doing the right thing.
- I never I didn't say it.
- Believe me.
- Believe me. Believe me.
- I didn't say it.
Alex, is everything okay?
Oh, fuck. Jesus Christ.
Yes. No. Will you look
at something for me?
Okay. Hold on. Oh, shit.
All right. Just look at that
screen. Okay? Right there.
- Okay, just ignore that.
- Hmm. Mm-hmm.
Roya, I understand it was your
father who introduced you to fencing.
That look like I was meeting
her for the first time?
Wh-What?
Does it look like I was acting like I
was meeting her for the first time?
Um, I guess it would look the same.
- It would look exactly the same.
- Yeah. Right.
Exactly right. It would look
exactly the same either way.
This is the mindfuck
of this entire thing.
- Oh, my God.
- Mmm.
This is such a This is so fucked up.
Yeah, um
- Alex?
- Yeah?
Evening needs the room.
You've been in here for hours.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
[ALEX] What do you mean you
don't have any answers yet?
- [STELLA] Alex, we're trying, okay?
- [SIGHS]
I know [STAMMERS] Just
Stella, just call me the minute
you know a fucking thing, please.
- Fuck. Oh, shit.
- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
- Cory. Hi.
- Hi.
I brought world-class sushi from Tomoe
and a bottle of Shuzo Junmai Daiginjo.
- Hmm.
- It's, uh, made from a unique yeast
discovered a hundred years ago.
They only grow it in their brewery.
- It's a peace offering.
- Oh. Of course.
Of course you brought
this. That's so sweet.
- For vanquishing Paul Marks
- Oh.
and preserving the honor
of my former media fiefdom.
You know, the enemy of my
enemy gets overpriced sake.
- Sweet.
- So, you wanna hug it out or
- I'm just gonna get some plates for this.
- Okay.
- So Bradley Jackson back in the building
- [SIGHS]
saying the worst possible thing
at the worst possible time live on air.
- You know.
- I know.
Kind of wish she'd go off
the rails and quit again.
[CHUCKLES] You and me both, you know.
Because I'm finally getting
out of producer jail,
and I'm about to go to real real jail
for obstructing a federal investigation.
I'm sure the finance guys for
my movie are gonna love that.
- Yeah. I think it's
- Alex.
You w-with me on this?
Cory, I'm so sorry. I'm so distracted.
I'm really distracted.
I just I wish Brad Bradley
was my only problem right now.
Oh. Okay, wow.
- Yeah.
- Um, all right.
Do Do you wanna talk about it?
- I'd love to talk about it.
- All right. Let's talk.
I just can't talk about it.
- Okay.
- Can't legally talk about it.
[CORY] Hmm.
So
All right, you know what, I've
been I've been deepfaked.
Okay? There it is. I said it.
There is audio of me saying
something that I did not say.
But I can't prove that I didn't say it.
And if I did say it, it
would be so, so bad if I did.
And And absolutely
no one believes me.
Stella, Celine, none of them believe me.
I can't prove it. It's not real.
And I'm kind of losing my fucking mind.
[SIGHS]
You're being gaslit.
Yes.
That's what it is.
Mm-hmm.
[SMACKS TABLE]
Wow. Someone's really
trying to fuck with me.
- Hey.
- Bradley Jackson.
- Aw. Hey, Chip.
- Wow.
- [GROANS]
- I'm so glad you came to meet me.
Well, I was a little surprised to
hear from you, if I'm being honest.
- That's fair.
- Hmm.
You seem different.
Well, I left the corporate grind
and I got half my soul back.
- Thanks for noticing.
- Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
No, I know what it is.
- What?
- You've gone Brooklyn.
I went Brook What
are you talking about?
Yeah, that's it. It's
just a Brooklyn vibe.
Okay, so I'm I'm
I'm brining artisanal
pickles back in my apartment.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
What about you?
I hear that you've gone back
to the scene of the crime.
The rumors are true.
- Hmm.
- Yes. Let's get a drink.
Let's do that.
[CORY] So who would wanna set you up?
[STAMMERS] I mean, who wouldn't?
I had to fire so many people
just to keep the lights on.
Oh.
Fuck.
What does Celine think?
Celine, she's saying
all the right things,
but, you know, I know
she doesn't believe me.
Well, she can be [CHUCKLES]
she can be tough.
I know her from LA back in the day.
Her family, they exiled her
from the empire for dating Miles,
so she married him to spite them,
and I mean, for love, of course.
Well, she's not a big
fan of mine right now.
Nobody really is, but anyway,
she said she was gonna look into
it, and then come Friday they just
[STAMMERS] move on it,
whatever the fuck that even means.
That means she's gonna
bring it to the board.
That fucking firing squad.
They hold emergency board
meetings on Friday nights
before taking a long
weekend on Martha's Vineyard.
- Believe me, I have been there.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
- Oh, my God.
- Yeah.
- Fuck.
Mm-mmm. What am I gonna do?
- What am I gonna fucking do?
- Hey-oh.
- This is
- Hold on. Let's focus.
Okay.
The Reynolds' family still
owns 20% of the company.
How are you with Leslie Reynolds?
- Cybil's spawn?
- Mm-hmm.
Not great since you ousted her mom.
Okay, well, Leslie
still runs the table
- Mm-hmm.
- so I would kiss the ring if I were you.
Because if it comes to a vote,
you're gonna need her help.
Or you-you know
Say it. Just say it.
Fired.
Yeah.
- [CHIP] All right. Yeah, it's
- Upsetting, right?
- Yeah.
- Disturbing.
That's our entire
communication thus far.
So this is why I'm here.
My source is somewhere
inside the network.
They knew that Mia was coming
to recruit me before I did.
For some reason, this Wolf
River story got killed at UBA.
- I'm gonna figure out why.
- Bradley
- Work with me.
- Wait, what?
I think we could break this together.
You and I are such a good team.
We dug up so much shit on Paul Marks.
Yeah, and we also lost our jobs.
I have gotten a million tips
like this over the years, okay?
Any true crime obsessive
with Wi-Fi thinks
they've just uncovered
the Zodiac Killer,
but it's really all just Reddit junkies
and people who are desperate
for podcast material.
I'm telling you there's something there.
- Here you go.
- Thank you.
- Enjoy.
- Thank you.
Looks great.
I'm meeting my informant
in Central Park.
- Okay.
- You have to help me do this.
Whatever happened at UBA, you
were there when it happened.
Bradley, you don't really
know what this is, okay?
I've finally made my
peace with that place.
I can't go back in.
I'm sorry.
Hey, did you hear from Leslie Reynolds?
No.
Then I think we should try her again.
It feels a little thirsty though.
- Does it?
- Hey, got a second?
Hi. Yeah, sure.
- Thanks, Remy.
- Hey, Remy.
You okay?
Uh, well [SCOFFS] no.
But, you know.
I just wanted you to
know they questioned me.
Oh, okay. So you told
them what happened, right?
- I mean
- [STAMMERS] It wasn't a plan.
- It just happened.
- I told them what I saw.
- But, um
- I'm being so set up, Mia.
And now this, like this fake
recording is just fucking with my head,
so I-I actually don't even
remember what I did say.
Like it's just gone.
Well, you'll get through this.
You You thrive in persecution.
Oh, God, let's just put
that on my tombstone.
[CHUCKLES]
You're the only person I know
who got an Emmy by getting COVID.
And that Mitch and Fred shit show?
You walked right through
the fire, live on air, so
Put me on TMS.
- Uh
- Put me on TMS.
I'll talk about deepfakes,
and I'll tell my story,
you know, a cautionary tale,
and if the viewers believe me,
the board's got to believe me.
Alex, I can't.
- There is a lot of heat on me.
- Really, Mia?
Celine and Stella
gave a clear directive.
You know I'm trying
to close Head of News.
Alex, I'm sorry.
Okay. But All right. You're right.
You're right. I get it.
Okay. All right.
- All right. I'll see you later.
- I'm sorry.
[SIGHING] Oh, God.
I've got it.
Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay.
[SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
[SLURPS]
Oh, God. Are you eye fucking me?
[SCOFFS] I was just thinking
- Um
- [BRO] Easy.
Don't hurt yourself.
Oh, what's wrong?
[SIGHS] I think you're right.
I think it-it's time
that I come on your show.
Hmm. What's with the 180?
Super sus.
I wanna talk about deepfakes.
Do not google "Alex Levy deepfakes".
It's Pandora's box.
If Pandora was into
bukkake and foot play.
Oh, God, you're human trash.
- Oh, you called me human.
- Hmm.
It's debatable. Um
Why are you here?
Well, you have a huge platform and
I thought I was a conspiracy monger,
a-a blight on the Fourth Estate.
Oh. Yeah. Oh, you are.
Um, but you also have, you
know, zero editorial oversight.
Mm-hmm.
What's the angle?
Something's got you all turned around.
Never mind.
Wednesday night.
We can share the hour.
Thank you.
[SIGHS]
["L'INDIEN" PLAYING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
What's wrong?
Um, it's nothing.
Mm-hmm. Doesn't seem like nothing.
[CELINE] It's Alex.
Mmm. It always is.
Mm-hmm. [SIGHS DEEPLY]
Should I, um Should I get some wine?
No.
I have some things to do.
It could be a long night.
[SIGHS]
Then maybe I'll head to the studio.
I feel vaguely inspired
that I might get inspired.
[CELINE CHUCKLES]
It'll come to you. It always does.
Yeah.
I'll see you later.
[TYPING]
[SIGHS] Okay.
Jesus.
- Oh, my God.
- [MOUSE CLICKING]
[WHIP CRACKS ON SCREEN]
[ALEX] I know I've been a bad girl.
[LATEX SQUEAKING]
[WHIP CRACKS]
[ALEX] I deserve this.
Oh, my God.
["BROKEN BONES" PLAYING]
- I'm sorry I'm late.
- Oh.
There's a lot going
on, as you can imagine.
Well, I don't have to imagine.
I'm the only other person on
the planet who actually knows.
[CHUCKLES] I only have 20 minutes.
- Uh, martini, two olives, up.
- You got it.
Thanks. [SIGHS]
- Okay, I'll make it quick.
- Okay.
Uh, I'm making a film.
Oscar bait, fancy writer
I'm so glad you landed
on your feet, Cory.
Yeah, I just I need
some finishing funds.
- [SCOFFS]
- [CHUCKLES]
Uh, maybe you could sell a kidney.
- Right?
- [LAUGHS]
No. Uh, Stella, this could
be good, uh, for both of us.
If your movie's so great, how
come no one else has ponied up?
One fucking workplace
misconduct investigation,
- and suddenly I'm Harvey Weinstein.
- [LIGHTER CLICKING]
- You know that's not me.
- [CHUCKLES]
You take up smoking?
The job shreds you. Believe me, I know.
Cory, I can't help you.
After two rounds of layoffs,
your stock prices are more precarious
than a deep dive on the Titan sub.
You can survive those god-awful
quarterly earnings calls
with some draconian belt tightening,
but your actual
constituents, the audience,
they want to be numbed from the
hellscape that is America 2024.
They don't want content.
They want a fucking escape hatch,
and I am offering you
the kind of event movie
that drives subscriber
numbers and parks eyeballs
in front of the last fledgling embers
of a formerly great media empire.
- [GLASS CLINKS]
- [BARTENDER] Martini.
Thank you. [CHUCKLES]
Mmm.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Mmm.
Thanks, but I'll pass.
Everything at UBN is copacetic, okay?
[CHUCKLING] Oh. Okay.
Careful, 'cause your nose is
growing. I saw Alex yesterday.
It sounds like the drama
at the network is juicier
than the drama on the network.
Hmm.
I can help you, Stella. I could
be a sounding board, discreetly.
[WHISPERS] Alex just
ran to Daddy because
she's internalized the patriarchy.
You only have that job because of me.
And if [WHISPERING]
you want to keep it,
maybe you should listen to me.
It hurts, doesn't it?
That the whole world
keeps spinning without you.
[SIGHS]
You're played out, Cory.
Everybody knows it
but you.
Hey, that was not 20 minutes.
I got bored.
[MUSIC ENDS]
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
Alex went to see Cory.
She knows she could be
out by the end of the week.
She's scared.
Now Cory's breathing down my neck.
He wants money for his movie.
It's so exhausting managing
these rich white people.
How do you do it?
10,000 hours, I married in.
[SIGHS]
Look, I can't fix racism.
But, uh,
I might be able to
get Cory off your ass.
- How?
- Trust me.
We go way back.
I know where all the bodies are.
["LONELY RIVER" PLAYING]
[MUSIC STOPS]
Yeah, she didn't eat all her breakfast,
and she had night terrors again.
After you left.
Did you have a bad dream? Sweetie?
[MARCUS] Yeah, I think
she was missing you.
Mommy is going to your recital.
I am so excited to see you sing.
[MARCUS] She's just tired.
Okay, blow Mommy a kiss.
[KISSES]
Love you.
Sweetie, I promise I'll see you later.
[MARCUS] All right,
see you at the recital.
Thank you, baby. [KISSES]
You ready?
[GRUNTS] All right, let's go.
[ELEVATOR DINGS]
Okay.
- Don't go in there.
- What?
What? What the fuck's happening?
They're taking your computer
for the investigation.
Are you k Call my lawyer immediately.
- What the [SIGHS]
- Oh, I have a lead on Leslie Reynolds.
- Where is she?
- She's in the city for a few hours.
I don't know her exact location
yet, but I'm tracking her socials.
Great. Okay. Wait, what
else did they fucking take?
- Ms. Levy?
- Wh Yeah?
Uh, Justice Briggs. I'm here
to do the story on your father.
Oh, fuck. Was that today?
Oh, my God, I'm so sorry. We're gonna
[STAMMERS] This is such bad timing.
We're gonna have to reschedule.
Oh, Leslie's downtown.
Uh, Harry's steak house.
- Okay, call the car.
- Okay.
I'm on my way.
Uh, I'm on a deadline.
If we don't do this now,
- I can't use you in the piece.
- God.
Um, maybe I could tag along.
- I won't be in the way.
- Mm-mmm.
Um, I could ride along in the
car, maybe ask a few questions?
Not today.
- [SIGHS]
- [SIGHS]
Yeah, your father said
you might try to back out.
- You have five blocks.
- [ELEVATOR DINGS]
Five.
So, we're setting up
interviews in Winston-Salem
with your old coach and teammates.
Show the viewers a behind-the-scenes
view of your own Olympic journey.
Yeah, I don't wanna do that.
The last time I went home,
half a dozen friends I haven't spoken
to in years had their hands out.
Fine. 86 Winston-Salem.
- Thank you.
- [SIGHS]
Okay, so we'll do remotes on TMS
on Tuesdays and Thursdays
in the fourth block.
Chris, we're trying to work here.
This is work. My children's book club.
Teaching literacy, emotional regulation.
Some people think that that's important.
I have to go. My kid has
her recital. Remember?
- Uh, we're gonna shoot in 30 minutes.
- It'll be in and out. Car's waiting.
Where's she going?
They still have to light.
Forty-five minutes tops.
She's saving your ass
with these interviews.
So chill.
She's the boss.
[GROANS]
Hey, the streets are
shut down. Some protest.
- Del says he can't take you.
- You're kidding.
- Sorry, don't shoot the messenger.
- Shit.
[SIGHS]
- [CHIP] Bradley.
- Hey, you're here.
- Yeah, look, um, there was a meeting.
- What?
Yeah, in 2019 about Wolf River.
I-I went through my old messages.
It was Fred Micklen,
Bethanne Hines and me at TMS.
Bethanne?
Yeah, she was the Head
of News before Cory.
I'm just, like, remembering it now.
Yeah. Okay, so what happened?
Well, the EPA put out a report
clearing that chemical company,
and Fred told us to spike the story.
Well, if that's true, was
there really even a cover-up?
Maybe. I-I don't know,
I just feel like
[SIGHS] I'm missing
something, you know.
And I'm Or maybe I, like,
let something happen and
I didn't even know it.
But I [SIGHS]
I really wanna meet this source
and see what they have to say.
Okay, yeah. Great. Um, they
should be here any minute.
- [PROTESTERS SHOUTING, CLAMORING]
- [CAR HORNS BLARING]
[ALEX] Come on. Jesus, what's going on?
We gotta get to that restaurant.
It's that Earth activist
group, Extinction Revolt.
- They're protesting the climate summit.
- Jesus.
The ones that messed with
the Broadway show last month?
- And threw paint on the Mona Lisa.
- [BANGING]
[YELPS] Jesus, this is fucking crazy.
- You I'm curious.
- [SIGHS]
You didn't say much about
your father in your book.
- I mean [SIGHS]
- Ms. Levy?
What? I'm sorry, what was the question?
Uh, do you think Martin Levy
will be a good law school dean?
[GROANS] Well, Lord
knows he's ready for it.
He's only been chasing it for 30 years.
- He's like the Joe Biden of academia.
- [CHUCKLES]
- I wouldn't put that on a T-shirt.
- [SIGHS] God,
when that man wants
something, he just digs in.
Price of Freedom was
rejected by 12 publishers.
Didn't stop him.
His seminal work.
I mean, nobody thought anyone would care
about a doorstop on the First Amendment,
but he just stuck it out and he just
kept rewriting it and rewriting it
until it was a bestseller.
He always gets people to do
whatever it is that he wants.
Okay, that didn't
come out exactly right.
What the hell is happening, Charlie?
I gotta to get downtown
or I'll lose Leslie.
I'm sorry, we're stuck.
- There's nowhere to go.
- [SIGHS] I'm walking. Okay.
[CAR HORNS HONKING]
[PROTESTERS CHANTING] Keep
your carbon in the soil!
No more coal! No more oil!
Keep your carbon in the soil!
No more coal! No more oil
Fucking circus. I'm never
gonna fucking make it.
Excuse me! I'm never going to make it.
[CHANTING CONTINUES]
I am at 23rd and Broadway,
where traffic is at a standstill,
where the city has come to a standstill
as the radical Earth
activist group Extinction
- [GASPS]
- [PROTESTOR] Fuck the media!
- Revolt. Please keep filming. I'm live.
- Iconic.
- Alex Levy! It's Alex Levy!
- Extinction Revolt
- Hey. And who are you?
- A warrior for truth.
And what are you doing
here? Why are you doing this?
This summit is a front for Big Oil!
[PROTESTORS CHEERING]
It's a cover to sell drilling contracts!
Look at International Allied Petroleum.
Their CEO, Zeke Pemberton,
hides his company's pollution
behind these sham summits.
Their stock price gets a bump,
and he takes home over
a hundred million a year.
But this is a summit
for renewable energy,
so where are you sourcing
your greenwashing claims?
- What is your evidence?
- We have receipts.
There are internal documents.
Well, then, why are you
shutting the entire city down?
Why don't you just
publish the documents?
Because no one believes
us. No one fucking listens.
- [OFFICER] This protest has been
- Alex, watch out.
declared unlawful assembly.
- Oh, give give me the Give it.
- [OFFICER] You must disperse now.
[CHANTING CONTINUES]
[OFFICER CONTINUES INDISTINCTLY]
- [NOISE FADES]
- [DRAMATIC PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
- Oh, my God, I made it. [PANTING]
- Hey, ID?
Oh [CHUCKLES] Sorry, I just ran here.
- I don't have my wallet.
- I can't let you in without ID, ma'am.
I promised my daughter.
It's her recital.
[PANTING] And it's starting right now.
And I need to see some ID.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
She needs to see my face. My
daughter, she needs to see me.
- I have to be there.
- Ma'am, you need to settle down.
No, no, no, no. I have got to get
in. I can't let my daughter down.
- [PIANO MUSIC CONTINUES]
- [PROTESTORS CLAMORING]
[CAN HISSES]
[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
[MUSIC FADES]
Ah, it is insane out there today.
Uh, streets are all shut down.
Chris, you can't blow off a promo shoot.
Budgets are tight. We
had to pay that crew.
I'm about to leave for two months.
I made one little promise to
see my daughter sing a song.
- Marcus couldn't go?
- He did go.
[SIGHS]
I am her mother.
Yeah.
They didn't even let me in.
So you wasted everyone's
time and money for nothing?
I'm not gonna apologize
for showing up for my kid.
But you could apologize for
making me look like an asshole.
I am a good soldier
for you.
I give everything to this place.
Everyone's really happy
that my children's books
- take up an entire aisle in Target.
- [GROANS]
Nobody gives a shit that I
can't even get home in time
- to read to my own daughter.
- I did not ask you
- to have an aisle in Target.
- [SCOFFS]
I didn't ask you to have a kid.
Wow, really?
I have a show to deliver.
And in my book, recitals
don't trump promos.
Don't ever lecture
me about how I parent.
I have relationships that
matter to me more than this job.
Well, our guest tonight was
supposed to be Alex Levy,
but she stood us up.
I don't know. It sounds
more like we got Bro-balled.
Huh. To be fair, she's recovering.
- Mmm.
- Tear-gassed on the job.
[GROANS] And the story about the
lobbyists infiltrating the eco summit,
that checked out.
These fucking grifters.
She had the documents,
and they've been verified.
Yep, she is a badass, straight up.
So for breaking this story,
- Alex Levy gets the coveted
- [IMITATES FANFARE]
- Bro-Mo of the week.
- [FANFARE PLAYS]
- Nice.
- Alex Levy made big news.
She went from news
breaker to news maker. Hmm.
Brotallion, she's
starting to grow on me.
All right, one day
older, one day bolder.
- Sayonara, Brotallion.
- [THEME MUSIC PLAYING]
[LO-FI HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYING]
Huh.
It's interesting.
[BOTH CHUCKLING]
I think I responded more
to the moodier stuff.
- I'm in a lighter period.
- Mmm.
- Maybe it's the Zoloft. [CHUCKLES]
- Oh, man.
Remember when we did real drugs?
A different time, different ocean.
- We did a lot of things. [CHUCKLES]
- Mm-hmm.
Drink?
- Uh, Campari.
- Campari.
Why am I here?
Heard you were in town. Wanted
to catch up with an old friend.
Hmm. And who did you hear that from?
People talk, Cory.
It's no secret you've
been banging on doors
begging for money to finish your movie.
Wowee, we gonna get to second base here?
- [CHUCKLES]
- I don't bang or beg.
I'm doing just fine.
How much do you need?
Ten million.
[MILES] Um
I know a buyer who's always
looking to clean cash.
Or you could whisper in Celine's ear.
I think you should keep
this one clear of UBN.
Hmm. And why is that?
They chased you out, Cory, it's
I don't know. I think it's a
bad look asking to get back in.
Why do I get the feeling I'm
being handled here, Miles?
Come on.
Let me get that drink.
- Just think about it.
- Mmm.
[SIGHS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
What?
Oh. Uh I don't know, it's this one.
It's growing on me.
There's a lot going on. You
just can't quite figure out what.
- [CHUCKLES]
- [CHUCKLES] Cheers.
Here you go.
So sorry, I'm not dressed.
Oh! [CHUCKLES]
- Just wasn't expecting you.
- Thank you.
[SIGHS] Okay, just tell
me. Tell me the bad news.
Well, it's good news actually.
The security team
reviewed the media files.
There was a breach.
The audio was tampered with.
- I knew this.
- I know. I
I said this.
Alex. I am so sorry, so sorry.
- Oh, my God.
- It must have been awful
to be doubted like that.
You have no idea what the last couple
of days have been like, honestly.
Oh, my God. [SIGHS]
Wow, Jesus. I mean,
you-you hear your voice,
but it's not your voice.
And none of you believed me.
Wow.
Who did I hurt this badly
- that they wanted to destroy me?
- [GROANS]
It doesn't matter. It's done.
No, Celine, you gotta tell me.
- Please.
- Alex.
We think it may have been the Iranians.
Retaliation for helping Roya defect.
God.
It's being handled.
Our cybersecurity is on it.
- Oh, my God.
- Mmm.
Oh, my God.
In a world of deepfakes, conspiracies,
and corporate propaganda machines,
I mean, we have to question
everything that we see and we hear
- now more than ever.
- Mm-hmm.
And that's what these
protesters were doing.
Look, I'm just going to say
this, and you both know me,
I've been shouting about
climate change for years now.
But I mean, come on, Alex, I mean
stopping traffic and
vandalizing property,
that can't be the answer, right?
Understood, but when no
one is taking real action,
is breaking the law justifiable
for the greater good? I mean
So the ends justify the means? Uh.
Let's take a look at what
happened yesterday, okay?
And look, I see what you mean.
No, it's a complicated situation.
- There it is.
- Mm-hmm.
where traffic has
come to a standstill
- So it started out peacefully, right?
- It was.
- Yes. Oh.
- Whoa.
Obviously it escalated very quickly,
right? That's something else.
- You were caught right in the cross fire.
- Yes, and I can tell you firsthand
This summit is a front for Big Oil!
[CROWD CHEERS]
It's a cover to sell drilling contracts!
- [CROWD CHEERS]
- We are being lied to!
[SOUND FADING OUT, DISTORTING]
[JULIA, NORMAL] And we're clear.
Four minutes, people.
- Hey, chime in anytime.
- What?
To the conversation.
We're talking.
That's why they call it a talk show.
Sorry.
[SIGHS]
[SIGHS]
[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
[BRADLEY] Holy shit.
[PHONE BUZZES]
Hey.
- [CHIP] She spells "valor" with a "U".
- What?
The informant in the messages.
It's "valour" with a U,
"theatre" with an "R-E".
- She's English. I know who she is.
- Wait. She?
Yes, she was in the room
with Fred and Bethanne.
She was just bringing coffee,
so I didn't pay attention.
I mean, I-I didn't even think of her.
Okay [STAMMERS] who is it?
Claire. It's Claire Conway.
What?
[STAMMERS] Claire? My assistant Claire?
Yanko's Claire?
[CHIP] Yes, she is on the
assistant's text chain still.
- That thing goes back years.
- [BRADLEY] Oh, my God, of course.
And she sued UBA for Hannah's
death, so she has an ax to grind.
[CHIP] Yeah, and she's
got the resources to do it.
And she is a true
Bradley Jackson believer.
She was the one who
discovered you online.
Of course she picked you.
I just don't know why she
didn't show up at the park.
I think maybe she has something
to do with Extinction Revolt.
She might have been
arrested. We have to find her.
I'm on it.
[PHONE LINE RINGING]
Cory, it's getting
kind of sad, actually.
You scratching at the door
just begging to be let back in.
Hey, before you finish that thought
I know you're fucking Miles.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
As in the husband of the president
of the board of the company
for which you serve as CEO.
I've got your lighter. [SIGHS]
You left it at the loft.
I also cornered the building super.
He said he's seen you
there a dozen times.
I'm gonna take your
silence as confirmation.
I had your back
when Paul was coming after
you. Does that mean anything?
Oh, that was a long time ago.
What do you want, Cory?
Money for your movie?
[LAUGHS]
Oh, no, Stella. My price has gone up.
I want an overall deal at UBN.
Development money, office
suite, a whole slate.
[SHAKILY] Jesus Christ.
[SIGHS]
He is risen.