The Morning Show (2019) s04e03 Episode Script

1
["NEMESIS" PLAYING]
[MUSIC ENDS]
[PANTING]
Accuracy. Integrity. Trust.
As Head of UBN, I would be the
Fuck!
UBN News. As Head of UBN
News. As Head of UBN News.
["WORK IT" (SOULWAX REMIX) PLAYING]
[SIGHS]
[JOGGERS PANTING]
[PHONE BUZZING]
[SIGHS]
- [MIA] Bradley.
- Yes.
Bradley, you're on in five.
- Were you, uh
- No, I was not.
Okay, because, uh, I need you with me.
- Okay, I'm with you.
- You're with me?
- Mm-hmm.
- Are you sure?
- Yes.
- Okay, this is gonna be a what show?
- It's gonna be a great show.
- It's gonna be a great show.
Let's go.
It is so lovely to have you here
talking about your new Broadway musical.
I am such a huge fan of Waitress.
Oh, thank you.
[BRADLEY] Tell us about your new show.
It's about growing up.
It's about the questions
that you just live with,
the questions that you may
never quite get the answers to.
Hmm. Wow. That is
- Come on, girl. Stay in it.
- [INHALES SHARPLY]
I look forward to sobbing
to the soundtrack in my car.
All right, that's it for
us here at The Morning Show.
We will see you bright and
early tomorrow morning, America.
- Friday. Bradley, it's Friday.
- Oh, wait.
[CHUCKLES] Where's my head? It's
Friday. Have a great weekend.
- We will see you Monday.
- And we're out.
Jesus Christ.
- Do I need to say it? Or
- No, we all saw it.
Is it too early in the
morning for cocaine?
For us or for her?
- Right. Take a look at the
- Sir, they're waiting for you.
[PHONE BUZZES]
[CREW CHATTERING]
[MIA] Now what?
Are we going over this
week's segments or
Yeah, yeah. One second.
Okay, I'm on my way.
- Bradley, what's going on?
- Yeah?
We were supposed to be reviewing
your segments for next week.
[INHALES SHARPLY] Oh, yeah.
Right. I'm sorry. I just
- I'm late for an appointment.
- We should talk.
- Yes, of course.
- My office, 11:30. Okay?
Yeah, I'll see you then.
- [MIA] Did you watch?
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah. She was, um
- Not good.
It was terrible.
So, I'm gonna talk to her later
and we're gonna get to the bottom of it.
I told Stella this was a terrible idea.
If it doesn't get better soon,
we're gonna discuss other options.
Okay. Thank you.
And, Mia, I know you wanted
this to work. I really do.
I want the show to work.
That's what matters.
I know.
- I'll see you this afternoon.
- You have nothing to worry about.
But I heard that
they're interviewing some
heavy hitter from outside the network.
Please. Nobody knows this place
like you do. Not even close.
And if Celine or any of
them try to say otherwise,
Stella and I are gonna be
there to set 'em straight.
Thanks, Alex.
[BRADLEY] Are you sure she's here?
That's what they told me.
Hope they didn't process her yet.
Maybe I should go in there.
Wait, is that Claire?
Holy Klute.
Hey, Claire.
Fuck.
Hey. I know it's you. You've been
sending me all those messages.
He's helping me. He's-He's on our side.
Then where was he when UBA
killed the Wolf River story?
I was blowing the whistle
on Mitch Kessler like you.
Not fast enough.
Look, if you want me to do
this, he's along for the ride.
[SIGHS]
I came back because you asked
me to, but I need your help.
I need to talk to you.
Okay, well, not here.
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 hun
We both got calls from
Pemberton last night,
furious that the only headline
about his sustainability conference
is that it's crawling with oil
lobbyists and smells like corruption.
Well, he didn't deny it was true.
International Allied Petroleum
has been a key sponsor for years.
Zeke claims you've done irreparable harm
- to the relationship.
- [SCOFFS]
He's threatening to not
re-up their ad contracts.
If reporting the news is
gonna make him throw a fit,
then maybe he shouldn't be
advertising on a news network.
Extinction Revolt is using your
greenwashing story to
call for his arrest.
[SIGHS]
They So they called for his
arrest. That is not my problem.
I'm a reporter. I was just doing my job.
You're also an executive.
It changes things.
[INHALES SHARPLY] Okay. All
right, I'll call the asshole.
Alex, I think we've hit in-person,
public apology territory.
We can't afford to lose him.
Okay. All right.
I will go down to the conference
so that Zeke Pemberton's
billionaire buddies
can see me kneel before the king.
Miles is friendly with Zeke.
- He can make the introduction.
- Miles?
He helped Zeke's wife buy some
art for their place in Palm Beach.
They hit it off.
Okay. [INHALES SHARPLY] All right.
I'll be back by lunch.
[CELINE SNIFFS]
- Celine, one more thing.
- What is it?
I'm considering a deal
with an independent producer
to help us shore up our film division.
Huge pain in the ass, but
massive potential upside.
Who is this?
Cory Ellison.
[LAUGHS]
Oh, you're serious.
He's got a few interesting projects.
It would be a good investment.
I thought you wanted
to stay clear of Cory.
Now you want him back?
Let's talk about it later.
I know the schedule is fucked.
And I know we're losing
our window to reshoot.
I'm just finishing up the details
on my paperwork and once that's done,
we will nail down the schedule,
we'll get the crew back
and I will post up
outside the Soho Malibu
with a fishing rod to hook our actress.
[CALLER SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]
Yeah, I'll call you back.
Come on, Stella.
[PHONE CHIMES]
[GROANS, INHALES DEEPLY]
Okay.
Kyle, hi.
What do you know about art?
[PHONE RINGING, CHIMES]
- Hey.
- Zeke Pemberton. Your idea?
Celine asked me this morning.
Miles, do you think she
has any idea about us?
No.
Are you sure about that?
Would it be the worst thing if she did?
I'm sorry. I just
You know what I'm trying to accomplish
and how hard I've worked to get here.
And I'm making it more difficult.
We're making it more difficult. I know.
Are we bad people?
Me? I don't know.
You? No, you are undeniable.
You know, I tried to
ignore you at that party.
That party was so boring.
[LAUGHS] Well, you weren't.
[SIGHS] Miles.
Yeah.
I don't know.
You know, I think about you
When I wake up.
When I go to bed.
Pretty much all the time.
[CHUCKLES]
Okay.
Okay. [CHUCKLES]
[BRADLEY] All right. Come in.
- Okay.
- Have a seat.
Um, can I get you anything?
- Phones.
- Uh, really?
- Shouldn't we record this conversation?
- Chip.
You can't
- Here.
- [CLAIRE] Thank you.
Okay.
Are you okay, Claire?
Where are you staying?
We move around a lot. It's safer.
How long have you been
part of this group?
What do you want? I already
told you everything I know.
We can't find any connection
between Wolf River and UBA.
There's no money trail, nothing.
We don't know why the
network would kill this story.
Who wanted it gone?
I don't know. That's
why I reached out to you.
You're the journalist.
Come on, you brought us into
this. You must know something.
She is an eco-warrior with a trust fund
and a bone to pick with the network.
- Okay? I'm skeptical.
- I understand.
Do you have any food?
- What?
- Do you have food? I'm-I'm starving.
[PROTESTORS CHANTING] Hey, hey!
Ho, ho! Fossil fuels have got to go!
Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Fossil
fuels have got to go!
Jesus. God. It's our fan club.
It's like a red carpet where
everyone wants you to die.
- So a regular red carpet.
- [LAUGHS]
Let's get this shit over with.
- Oh, there he is. Smile.
- [ALEX] Oh, that guy.
- You know him?
- From the upfronts a few years back.
It's nice to see that his
plugs have finally settled in.
Yeah, maybe don't lead with that.
Zeke.
Miles, how are you? I was
thinking of you the other day.
A friend was getting
rid of a Rauschenberg.
- Hmm.
- I wasn't sure about the color.
Send me a pic.
Zeke, you remember Alex Levy?
- Mm-hmm.
- Hello, Zeke.
I'm surprised you're not
out front with your friends.
You do realize how much
trouble you've put me through?
- I actually wanted to extend an apology.
- Is Alex Levy causing trouble again?
And I was
Careful. Don't stand too close to her.
- It'll cost you a billion dollars.
- [ZEKE] It nearly has already.
Paul.
- Alex.
- What are you doing here?
Trying to find a solution to
the climate crisis, I think.
What are you doing here?
She was just in the
middle of her apology.
Oh, right. I saw your protest on TV.
Mmm, not my protest.
- [PAUL] Hmm.
- Not my protest.
Well, not all of us are
here pimping oil contracts.
Uh, speaking of, uh, where are
you on direct ocean capture?
[FADING] Because I just acquired
a start-up off the coast of Oregon.
What they've done with gas hydrates
The creation of them has taken
carbon capture 35% more
- [PAUL] I will, I will, I
- Will you excuse me for a second?
I'll be right back. Excuse me.
[ZEKE] Rallies all of us with
this whole carbon expansion.
That's, uh, I think, uh
Yeah.
Fucking God.
You fucking kidding me.
[INHALES DEEPLY] Oh, fuck, fuck,
fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.
[SIGHS]
Alex?
- Yes.
- Ava Carillo.
Uh, we did a panel a few years ago.
Yes, of course. Um
Davos, 2018.
- You remember.
- Yes. I do.
- Are you doing okay?
- I'm doing great. I am. I'm doing great.
I just don't understand why we need oil
when we can just power the world
with billionaire big dick energy.
[LAUGHS]
So, what are you doing here slumming it
with these puffer jacket,
jerk-off fuckheads, huh?
Well, I am giving the keynote tonight.
Oh. Wow. Sorry about that. [LAUGHS]
It works out for everyone.
They use me as a cover
and I get them to commit to an
abatement fund for climate refugees.
Don't mind me. I'm
just the cleaning lady.
Put the money on the
dresser while I greenwash up.
Well, I don't know how you do it.
Well, let's just say I learned early
to put my personal feelings
aside to get things done.
[INHALES DEEPLY] Yes.
[SIGHS]
I first heard about Wolf River at
UBA right before the Mitch stuff.
Then last month, we got a tip.
Someone had information.
They wanted to come forward.
Whistleblower?
I don't know. Maybe.
They disappeared. Gone.
Is that why you reached out to me
without telling me who you were?
Or did you think we wouldn't
bite if we knew it was you?
What, you think I'm just some
rich girl begging for attention?
You saw what they did. What
Dead birds, black teeth.
Cancer spikes. Do the fucking math.
The EPA investigated.
They cleared that chemical company.
I'm sorry, but I just don't
think anyone killed the story.
Bethanne Hines did.
Bethanne Hin Really?
The most conscientious
Head of News we've ever had.
Oh. "Conscientious." Right.
Claire, what are you not telling us?
I know you wanna stay anonymous,
but I need everything you have.
Any connection to UBA. I'm
not gonna burn you, I promise.
You don't understand. If any information
is traced back to me, I am fucked.
Can I talk to you for a second?
I'll be right back.
Look, that lawsuit that
Hannah's dad filed against UBA?
- Yeah.
- Claire basically funded that.
Okay? And it failed.
She's just cooking up this whole
conspiracy theory,
trying to rope you in.
Did this Bethanne Did she
tell you why she left UBA?
I think it was Mitch
Kessler shit. You know?
Like, it-it happened on her watch
and the network tried to cover for him.
That's what she said to
you? Those exact words?
Not those exact words, but
I think you have to talk to Bethanne.
We're never gonna get to Fred.
He'll just hide behind his lawyers.
Bethanne might tell you
what really happened.
Bradley, I don't think
you're seeing this.
This is a personal vendetta.
- She's rich and she's bored and she has
- I don't agree. I think she's
Shit.
Claire.
Claire?
Claire!
Shit. Fuck. We scared her off.
Wait, wait, wait. Come here.
She sent something.
What's this?
Wait, these are the
payouts to the victims.
They all have the same code.
- Look.
- Except for Bethanne Hines.
- Look at that.
- Two million dollars.
Yeah, she got her money the minute
the Wolf River story was killed.
- Look, the date.
- Look, look.
That's the firm that Hannah's
dad used for the lawsuit.
Claire must have got this in discovery.
[PHONE BUZZING]
[SIGHING] Oh, I'm late. I gotta
go back to work, but, um
but Bethanne trusts you, right?
Just follow up with her and
see if she admits to the payout.
Uh, I-I think she lives in
Connecticut now or something.
Well, then drive up there, Chip.
- There's something here. Come on.
- Okay. Yeah, all right.
Hi, how are you?
- Oh, God.
- Hey, you okay?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
- Okay.
- [SIGHS]
[INAUDIBLE]
- What's the deal with you guys?
- There's no deal.
Does he still have a thing for you?
Miles, I just wanna get out of here
as fast as we possibly can, so, um
Oh, hi. Hello. Hi.
I'm gonna say hi to those two people,
and then I will take
another run at Pemberton,
and then we will leave.
- Mm-hmm. That sounds good.
- Thank you.
[CELINE] How did you hear about this?
[CORY] My friend is
head of private sales.
I remember when Miles painted this.
He didn't leave his studio for weeks.
- I tried to buy the whole series, but
- Hmm.
he needed to prove something.
That he didn't need me.
Or my money.
[CORY] Since this
one's going up for sale
why don't I see what I can
find out about the competition?
Thanks, but as much as
I love this painting,
it'll take a little more for me
to support your production deal.
What would it take?
What do you have to offer?
[INHALES SHARPLY]
It's something to do with Stella. Yes?
Almost seems like you want
your CEO to be compromised.
I like to know who's an
ally and who's a liability.
Well, I could be an ally.
- Could you?
- Make my deal and find out.
[CHUCKLES]
You would sell out your protégée?
For 30 pieces of silver, inflation
adjusted, I'd think about it.
Celine, you know me. Miles knows me.
I am the guy you want
next to you in the foxhole.
Or you are the fox.
And there's the Bradley Jackson problem.
There's no Bradley Jackson problem.
What happens when
your deal is announced?
The press will lap it up.
They'll ask her, "How do you feel about
this after what happened
between you two?"
- She'll be fine.
- Are you sure?
I am sure.
Send me what you can
find about this painting.
And I'll think about your deal.
À bientôt.
Hey. I'm so sorry I'm late.
My meeting ran over and then
I couldn't find a cab, but I
There were just none.
But I'm here, so let's talk.
And I wanna just start by saying
I know that I need some coaching.
Bradley, you know that today is my
final interview for Head of News?
No, I had no idea. That's amazing, Mia.
It could be the most important
day of my professional career,
but instead of practicing
what I'm going to say,
I'm working on Monday's TMS copy
trying to figure out which
segments you can and you cannot do.
Well, look, I can I can
do anything you need me to do.
Can you, Bradley? Because
lately you haven't been.
I've been I've got
stuff going on, but I
I don't care about what
you've got going on.
You have done nothing but let
me down since you got back.
Alex was right, and it pains
me to say it, but she was.
I think maybe you should've
stayed in West Virginia.
So if you'll excuse me,
I've gotta work on this now.
[PHONE BUZZES]
[ALEX] Oh, yeah. I saw that article.
Hey, can I, uh, borrow you for a minute?
- Right now?
- Yeah.
Sure. Uh, would you
excuse us for a moment?
- So, Zeke apprised me of your situation
- Mm-hmm.
and I guess he's pulling
all of his advertising dollars.
I'm assuming you're here to
try to clean up your mess.
- It's not my mess.
- Of course it's not your mess.
It's not your protest. It's
not your mess. I get it.
[INHALES DEEPLY] He has a proposal.
Are you his errand boy now?
I told him I would run something
by you, given our history.
Well, maybe if he knew
how things ended between us
he would have delegated
a different emissary.
Would you like to hear
this proposal or not?
Just talk. Just talk.
Zeke has a file on your
eco-friends out there,
tying them to a gas rig explosion
in Mexico a couple years back.
A couple people died. A couple
million dollars in damages.
Thought that if, uh, UBN were
willing to report on this,
that might help balance the scales.
I'm sending you the file right now.
A propaganda smear
campaign? Is this your idea?
They're pretty sure someone in that
group had something to do with it.
They're pretty sure?
Okay, we don't do pretty sure.
If-If he had anything real on this,
he would have released it by now.
Well, so do your job.
- Verify it.
- Oh, my God. [STAMMERS]
All of a sudden, now you're
interested in the integrity of my job?
Alex, if this checks out, it's win-win.
What's your angle here?
Why are you doing this?
I'm simply trying to
get a deal done with him.
I could use a win myself.
- Ah, okay. There it is.
- Look, Alex,
I've had a lot of shit that
I've had to rebuild in my life
since the last time we saw each other.
You and me both.
- It's not a competition.
- I'm not saying it's a competition.
- I'm not here to be antagonistic
- I'm just
Paul, do you have my glasses?
- Yeah, I have 'em somewhere.
- Oh [STAMMERS] Uh
- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.
- No, no, no. It's fine.
It's not a problem. You know Alex Levy.
Alex, Ava Carillo.
Hey, uh
Yes. We just, um We've met.
Nice to see you again. [CHUCKLES]
Okay, I'll talk to you
later. It's good to see you.
Okay. And the Pemberton thing though.
You're-You're thinking about it?
Yes, I-I [STAMMERS] I am.
I will and I I am
think I'm thinking.
- Glasses. Um
- [SIGHS]
[PHONE CHIMES]
Shit.
[GROANS] Oh, my fucking God.
[INHALES DEEPLY, SIGHS]
[PHONE RINGING]
Hey, hey. Just about to head upstairs.
Mia, I am so sorry.
I'm stuck at this conference,
and I can't get out.
I'm just not gonna make it back in time.
Yeah, I see.
Mia, you're gonna kill it.
You got this.
Yeah. Thanks, Alex.
- [EXHALES DEEPLY]
- [AVA CHUCKLES]
He wanted to sell me a Cybertruck.
[CHUCKLES] I just laughed.
[EXHALES DEEPLY]
[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
[EXHALES DEEPLY]
[EXHALES DEEPLY]
Head of News, motherfuckers.
People need to feel
that UBN is gonna have
it first and they're
gonna have it right.
And that's across all platforms.
TMS. Evening News.
International and digital.
Do you think our news is entertaining?
Uh I-I I I th
[CELINE] I don't think it is.
We bend over backwards not to offend,
and it makes our audience
reach for their phones.
I think the news is an incredible tool.
But we need more circuses
and a little less bread.
Content that grabs anyone
on earth with a screen.
I'm asking you to think
in global terms, Mia.
Be bold. Be incendiary. Tell
me something I haven't heard.
My point is
I
I appreciate your
commitment to this company,
but I'm not sure I see
a greater vision here.
I'm interested in breaking the kind of
stories that drive
national conversation.
That's the core mission of the news.
And I think if we do that
right, the audience will follow.
A nice idea.
But it's not sexy.
We are in an unprecedented era.
Journalists used to have to
watch their backs in war zones.
Now they're attacked at
school board meetings,
on campuses, in their own homes.
A rape takes place at a
Colorado police chief's home,
and someone steals every copy of the
newspaper that dared to report it.
A county administrator in Las Vegas
doesn't like the kind of
press coverage he's getting,
so he just goes to the journalist's
house and stabs him seven times.
A BBC anchor quits her
job, goes into hiding
after her stalker is
plotting to kill her.
These are the top three most
shared stories on our website.
The truth is incendiary
and it's under attack.
That's the headline.
Is that sexy enough for you?
[PAUL] Hey.
Hi.
Sorry about that.
- What?
- Ava.
Oh. [STAMMERS] Please,
I-I wasn't even
I know it was awkward.
No. You know what?
[STAMMERS] She's so lovely.
And she's very impressive. I'm
I'm really happy for you.
- I really am.
- Alex. Come on.
I guess I'm just a little surprised.
It's been two years.
I know, which is why I'm
surprised I'm surprised.
[EXHALES DEEPLY, SIGHS]
I just don't think you
know how much that hurt
- [STAMMERS] Oh, I don't wanna do this.
- Hey, hey. [STAMMERS]
Can we please do this now?
'Cause I want you to explain to
me how I became the bad guy in this
when I left this relationship
with nothing but embarrassment,
and the federal government on my ass,
and you left with a media empire.
I'm not talking about what I got.
I'm talking about what I lost.
[BREATHES SHAKILY]
You lied to me.
- You humiliated me.
- [STAMMERS, GROANS]
- We were supposed to be a team.
- We were a team.
[SIGHS] You don't seem to do
anything unless there is an agenda.
I was just a stop on the
way to buying a network.
Today, you needed a win with Zeke.
What's Ava?
Is she some paragon of goodness to help
rehabilitate Paul Marks's reputation?
You've already found a
way to indict her already?
I'm not indicting her.
I'm not indicting her.
- I'm indicting you.
- For what crime?
- You use people.
- I was trying to help you with Pemberton.
Help you.
Because you are gonna
get something out of it.
Alex, will you just admit it?
You're angry because I found someone.
First. Yes.
Why did you have to find somebody first?
[INHALES DEEPLY] Ah, God.
[EXHALES SHARPLY]
[CHUCKLES] Well.
- Do we have a deal, Alex?
- [SIGHS] Zeke.
All right, your story
still needs to be confirmed.
That's how news works.
Well, I-I want it out
by the end of tonight.
Otherwise, I'm gonna have to
pull my company's support of UBN.
[CLEARS THROAT] Remy, I
am sending you something.
Please have research vet it ASAP.
And tell digital to be on hold. We
may have to run it tonight. Thanks.
[PHONE CHIMES]
- Oh, hi. Sorry.
- Hey.
I didn't, uh, mean to, uh
- Um
- [STAMMERS] Hi.
Hi. Um Come in.
Uh Yeah.
[BOTH CHUCKLE]
[STAMMERS] This looks
Wow. This is really nice.
[CHUCKLES] Well, thanks.
It's a sublet.
You should see my place
in LA. Killer view.
On a clear day you can see the
Scientology Celebrity Center.
Every Everything okay?
I know it's been a while.
Oh, no, it's just work stuff.
Oh. Oh, okay. All right. Um
Well, do you want a
drink? Or a bombolone?
There's, uh, an Italian
pastry shop on the corner
I'm single-handedly supporting
so it doesn't become a Chipotle.
[CHUCKLES, INHALES DEEPLY]
Um I'll have a glass of wine.
Okay, all right. Make yourself at home.
[STELLA] We promised real change.
Hiring Mia would send a
signal that we're serious.
She's already been doing 80% of the
job while we've held the role open.
She's an amazing leader.
The staff loves her.
Do you think she actually
believes in your AI initiative?
She's still wrapping her head around it.
I'm confident that she'll come around.
But what if she doesn't?
Will she be able to make the
hard choices when the time comes?
Could she fire people she's
worked with for the past ten years?
We agreed to stop layoffs.
And there's no one, no one,
more qualified than Mia Jordan.
What about Ben?
He reinvented the
Olympics. He's brilliant.
We know sports programming is
key to long-term sustainability.
Exactly.
That's, um
- Yeah. Let's take five.
- Good idea.
I know Ben's your guy, but
hiring is my prerogative.
The Board's only here
in an advisory capacity.
I just wanna make sure you're
weighing the pros and cons.
Thank you. I am.
And I'm just looking for the
best outcome for all of us.
Your deal with Cory, for example.
- What about it?
- You're right.
His projects are compelling.
I'd like to support him, but
it can't look like favoritism.
We're old friends. He was
your mentor. It's tricky.
[INHALES SHARPLY] But if we
bring Ben in as Head of News,
it might be the right balance.
An old hand, new blood.
What do you think?
Oh, it's your decision.
But I'd like to put out a press
release by the end of the day.
Chip.
[CHIP] Hello, Bethanne.
[SIGHS] You look rested.
It's the, uh, joys of
unemployment, actually. [CHUCKLES]
Um, you look great.
It's good to see you.
I heard you made a movie?
I did. I made a movie and I'm
actually working on a new project now.
I'm not, uh,
totally sure what it is yet.
Still trying to figure it out.
But I was hoping I could
ask you a few questions.
- About what?
- UBA.
Mmm. Sure.
I don't know how helpful
I can be, but go ahead.
Well, I guess
I mean, I've always been
curious why you left.
- Oh, a hundred reasons.
- Mm-hmm.
And it was time to go.
Was it Mitch? Or
I'm sorry.
I wish I could be more
specific but I signed an NDA.
We all had to in those days.
I need to show you something.
Um
Where did you get this?
So I reached out to Fred
Micklen to ask him about it,
but he didn't get back to me, so I
I haven't talked to Fred in a long time.
I got the sense you didn't
want me to come to your house.
- What's going on?
- Chip,
I left the network because
I was ready to retire.
That's it. I should be getting back.
I want to make sure I
have your cell number.
I'm not sure. This might be an old one.
So, yeah, yeah.
- Yeah.
- Is that it?
Yeah, that's it.
I'm sorry you had to come all this way.
But there's nothing I can do for you.
It was nice to see you again.
- Take care of yourself.
- You too.
How does it feel being back?
- It's different.
- Different how?
- A lot of people are gone.
- Hmm.
Maybe I'm the one that's different.
It's like I'm there,
but I'm on the outside.
How about you?
Do you miss it?
What, having all that influence?
Shaping the world and getting
paid a gazillion dollars to do it?
- Nah, totally overrated.
- Hmm.
Yeah. All it costs is
your privacy, your friends.
And any chance at having
a regular relationship.
[CHUCKLES]
Right, so, almost nothing.
[BRADLEY CHUCKLES]
Do you have any more wine?
I was thinking the same thing.
By the way, you wanted
to ask me something?
Um, yeah.
So, there's this thing
It's early, but before
I chase it for real,
I just need to make sure my
side of the street is clean.
Okay. Yeah.
I mean, I told you I
cleared you with HR.
I just mean with the Feds.
You wanna know if I told them about you.
Because I should be in jail and I'm not.
Crossed my mind.
I gave them something.
But I never mentioned you.
- You're safe.
- Okay.
That's That's good.
And you're okay with all that?
Yeah. I'm good.
[SIGHS] Okay.
But I should have called you.
So you didn't have to wonder.
And you didn't have to call me to
ask if I'd fucked up your life again.
You didn't fuck up my life.
- [CHUCKLES]
- Are you sure?
Bradley, my life is
Well, hey, did I sell
my house in the Hamptons
for sixty cents on the dollar? I did.
Did I bankrupt myself
to make half a movie?
Pretty much.
Did I leave all of this behind
to move to the loneliest,
sun-filled city on planet Earth?
Yes.
But none of that had
anything to do with you.
I had convinced myself
that you hated me.
I didn't.
I don't.
Well, everybody else does. Alex, Mia.
I'm not exactly employee of the month.
Bradley.
I don't want anything from you.
- It's just that it, um
- Yeah, tell me.
This thing, this job?
I'd be around again, in the building.
Oh. Oh.
We wouldn't be working
together, obviously.
But, um [CLICKS TEETH]
Yeah, well, I guess it'd be different.
What is it?
I When I last
I just didn't think
I would see you again.
I know.
And here we are.
Here we are.
I just I need to know
that if I was around,
um, would you be okay with that?
Yeah. I think so.
You know people are gonna
Wonder.
Yeah.
People would definitely wonder.
I wouldn't want to do anything
that could make things more
We would have to be really clear
If
you wanted me to, you know
keep my distance
- Keep your distance?
- I could do that.
I'll let you know.
You'd never have to
Um
Yeah.
- And you would
- Yes.
tell me.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
- Hey.
- Hey.
Thanks for stopping by.
I'm gonna give you a raise.
I want you to stay on, hold
the new guy's feet to the fire.
He's so green, he's gonna flame out,
and in six months the job will be yours.
Who is it? Someone from outside?
Uh Ben.
Ben? He's he's in Atlanta.
Did he even interview?
Before he left.
That was last week so
[STUTTERS] what?
What was today? It was
a a formality or
No. And I did fight for you.
Is it the sports thing?
'Cause I can do
He doesn't have the staff.
They don't respect him.
How could they?
[CHUCKLES] He's never
actually done real hard news.
Much less the whole news division.
You're right. You are absolutely right.
And like I said, he's gonna flame out,
and when he does I promise
you, the job will be yours.
[SIGHS]
Like you promised me two years ago?
No more corporate bullshit,
that's what you said.
When we talked about what
we were gonna do here.
The changes we were gonna make.
- Yeah.
- I thought we were fucking friends.
- We are. [STAMMERS] We are friends.
- I didn't ask you for this job.
I didn't even dream of it.
Until you dangled it in front
of me like a fucking carrot.
And ever since then
you've been telling me,
"Just be patient. Your time is coming."
I am fighting for my life here, Mia.
Those changes that we talked about,
I can't make them if I'm out on my ass.
This decision was Oh,
my God, it was so hard.
- It was the hardest decision I
- [STUTTERS] I I am
I am so sorry that it was so
very, very hard for you, Stella.
It must be difficult to, um,
get to make all the choices
and have to feel bad
about them afterwards
without it touching
your actual fucking life.
Whatever Celine is offering you
I hope it's worth it.
Okay, fine.
Ben is better.
He has an actual vision for
where the company is headed
and I really wanted to protect
your feelings, but I also
I have to do what's
best for the network.
Because I am your friend, but
I'm also your fucking boss.
You're not my friend.
Or my boss.
Because I quit.
[SOBBING]
[SIGHS]
[AVA] Someone asked me
today why I'm still here.
Given the recent media
coverage of this conference,
why would I choose to stay
to speak to you all tonight?
As a child of refugees,
I learned early on that choices are
not distributed equally among us.
- [PHONE BUZZES]
- And it's as a child of refugees
that I speak to you tonight.
On behalf of the millions who
have already fled their homelands
due to climate change.
Who have no choice.
And whose numbers are rising.
Reality is inconvenient that way.
It demands a reckoning,
one way or another.
There are choices to be made.
Costs to be paid.
And those choices, those
costs, will test us.
So much more than we want them to.
We tell ourselves we're in control.
We can manage all of this.
But we know, deep down,
how much is at stake.
And it's everything.
All that we love and care about.
- Hey. How'd you do it?
- Hey.
[AVA] So we have a choice.
Do what?
Zeke said Paul talked to him,
convinced him to be reasonable.
- So you don't have to run the story.
- [AVA] Do we pay that cost now?
Did you make some kind of deal or
[AVA] Or do we turn our
backs and hope it goes away?
No, I I didn't.
Whenever you're ready.
[AVA] But if we do turn our backs,
what happens when they
come knocking on our door?
When we reach the point where
it's impossible to look away
What will happen then?
This is the question of our time.
And the answers will rest
largely on everyone in this room.
["IF THE WORLD FALLS TO PIECES" PLAYING]
[AVA] Thank you.
[AUDIENCE APPLAUDING]
[SONG CONTINUES]
[INAUDIBLE]
[SONG CONTINUES]
[SONG CONTINUES]