02x02 - It's Like the Flu

[bunniefuu]

["Nemesis" playing]

[music ends]

[footsteps echoing]

You're in my way.

I know you're angry. That's
why I wanted to talk to you.

- You're not gonna fix this.
- You're right.

But I better tell you something now,

um, because you're already angry,

and I want you to know
this right from the outset.

- No secrets here.
- [scoffs]

Yep, no secrets.

I think you'll be happy
about it eventually.

It's gonna be good for
you and good for the show.

I reached out to Alex to coanchor
with you, and she wants to do it.

We're gonna hammer out a deal and
get her on air as soon as possible.

I see.

That's it.

Go upstairs and get some rest.

You did an amazing job tonight

conducting this televised
symphony of drunks.

Don't worry. It's all gonna work out.

- What?
- It's gonna work out.

Don't tell me it's gonna work out.

You've lied to me enough.
You know, it's funny.

Life just turns out to be
a series of disappointments

with just enough time in between them

for the next one to
catch you by surprise.

I'm your boss. I'm gonna
make sure it works out.

Oh, you're my boss? I
thought you were my friend.

Well, f*ck you.

You know, I think I'm
coming down with something.

Standing out all night in the
cold, doing this stupid job for you.

I don't think I'm gonna
make it in the morning.

[footsteps departing]

[breathing heavily]

["Brother, Can You
Spare a Dime?" playing]

[sighs]

[sighs]

[scoffs] f*ck.

[song continues]

[chattering, indistinct]

Okay.

[cell phone ringing]

[sighs]

[ringing continues]

[song fades]

[woman] Godspeed privately
arbitrating a wrongful death allegation

based in sexual as*ault.

[man] It's a PR issue as
much as it's a legal issue.

- I promise you that.
- [Richard] Look. Hey.

There's no way Shoenfeld's father's
gonna wanna take this to trial.

[woman] Okay, so let's talk settlement.

[Richard] They're reaching
with all this crap.

Negligent hiring, negligent retention,

negligent supervision, duty to rescue.

Cory, help me out here.

Their lawyer's in over
her head with all this.

- We'll put the fear of God into them.
- End it.

Give 'em whatever they want. Pay 'em.

We can't undo any of
it, so make it go away.

The press is k*lling us.

All the stuff with Ray, Bradley
not showing up, the stock price,

the stink of Fred in the upholstery.

There's an easy answer to
this one. Pay them and end it.

We'll have to coordinate
with Fred's and Mitch's teams.

They'll agree. We just need an NDA.

You know, I wouldn't
normally give this advice,

but things are so weird these days.

Maybe we shouldn't
have them sign an NDA.

The bad actors are all gone, anyway.

And it just makes things
sound worse than they are.

[chuckles] How much worse can they be?

Look. It's a terrible thing, but...

And I hate to say this, there's
a kind of a built-in NDA anyway.

[smacks lips] Pardon?

I mean, uh...

[chuckles] She's not talking.

That's it. Turn out the lights. The
party's over. You're fired, Richard.

Go ahead. Get out. Vamoose.

Skedaddle. Got another
meeting in a few minutes.

He's the only one fired, but
I do need all of you to leave.

Keep me updated on the settlement.

♪ And did he ever return?
No, he never returned ♪

♪ His fate is still unlearned ♪

[no audible dialogue]

- [sighs]
- [man] Well, let's just get in

and out as quickly as possible.

What does it matter if people see
me? Huh? I worked here for years.

I could just be stopping
by to say, "Hello."

Yeah. Well, of course.

It's just that the network
is spending a lot of money

to make a big event out of
announcing your homecoming.

And the deal's not done.

Well, then get the deal done, Doug. Huh?

I've been waiting... I've waited
for this my entire career, okay?

[stutters] I would like to see
my office on the executive floor.

- This is not the anchor floor.
- Mm-mmm.

This is where decisions get made.

- I control my own fate.
- [Isabella] It's just around the corner.

- [Doug] Just keep your head down.
- Alex Levy.

Hi.

Well, Alex is just making the rounds,
saying hi to some old coworkers.

- Like you, apparently.
- [Alex] Yeah.

Oh, no, I don't know her.
Thank you for what you did.

[Alex] Oh, it...

Oh, my gosh.

Stop it.

Please. Thank you. Sweet.

- Hi.
- You're a hero.

[chuckles] Shut up, Doug.

[gasps] Oh, my gosh.

- Hot damn.
- Oh, my God.

Oh.

Look, just because we chose
a subscription model for UBA+

does not mean there
won't be opportunities.

The game's changing.

And that's what you do.

I mean, Dorexer changed the game
in treating rheumatoid arthritis.

My mom's got a spring in her
step again. Renewed vim and vigor.

She's here.

"Here" here? Did anybody see her?

Guess we'll find out.

I'm so sorry. I'm gonna
have to call you back.

Cybil on two, says it's
urgent about Bradley.

Ah, man. She's blowing it.

Yeah, Bradley's really pushing it.

I'm talking about Alex. Is
the release ready to go out?

We're gonna be ready for Monday.

Bradley better be
game once press starts.

The clock's ticking. Ticktock.

[phone rings]

- [chuckles]
- Okay. Yeah, um, it's open.

Alex Levy.

[chuckles] Welcome back.

- Hey, hey, hey.
- No, don't get up.

Please. You look so comfortable.
You can get up, Doug.

- Uh... You know what? Floor's good.
- [Cory chuckles]

Please have a seat if you
can find a chair anywhere.

- Got one built right in. [sighs]
- [Alex] Oh. [chuckles]

This, of course, is the new...

Well, new to you anyway...
President of UBA News, Stella Bak.

Oh, hi. Yeah, it's... It's
great to meet you in person.

Oh, my God. You're a baby.

Look... That's a compliment.
I would k*ll for that skin.

- Thanks.
- [Cory] Uh...

I think we can all leave
with the flesh we came in.

- [Alex chuckles]
- We just came by to say hi.

And if I had known you were coming
in, well, I would've told you not to

until we make the big announcement
that you're coming back.

But I would have given you flowers.

- Uh-huh. Well.
- And you know what?

Sorry about that. We know that
you want to announce Monday.

But Alex is just so just
ready and raring to go

that wild horses wouldn't
have kept her away.

Oh, wow. Original.

Um, so you got some new thoughts

about what Alex Levy in
prime time is gonna look like?

We, uh... We were just
talking about that, actually.

And we're kicking
around some good ideas.

- Oh, awesome.
- [Doug] Mm-hmm.

I mean, we really
can't wait to hear them.

Well, they're very early
stages. So, you know,

we'll bring you the full
pitch when we're there.

k*ller. Okay. Producers?
What are you thinking?

- Let's close the deal first, huh?
- [chuckles]

Oh, my God, Alex. Go down to the
studio. They put in a new kitchen.

- Do not go to the studio.
- Yeah.

- Don't go to the studio.
- I... [stammers, chuckles] Excuse...

- [Doug] It's okay.
- You're okay, Isabella.

- So sorry.
- [Cory] It's fine.

Uh, I think the thing is,

if I can be honest, Alex,

you are our one unqualified
good thing right now.

When we announce your return,
it is going to be huge news.

And that's gonna be a majorly
good thing for you, for me,

the network and The Morning
Show. You're our returning hero.

And we just don't wanna...

We don't wanna blow the PR blitz
that's gonna start on Monday.

Again, assuming we'll close.

Oh, we're gonna close, Doug. Yeah.

Wait, so should Bradley and I
meet to plan about this PR blitz?

I mean, I know there's issues.

No, we're just hammering
out some things with her.

But it's gonna be fine.

I think what might be good is if you

reached out to her and let her know

that you're so excited to be back
in the Alex and Bradley business.

Well, yeah. Is she excited?

- She's so excited.
- Mm-hmm.

We just wanted to stop
by and say hi. So, hi.

- Say hi, Stella.
- [Alex] Hmm?

- Hi.
- [Alex] Hello.

- [grunts]
- Okay.

You know what? I'll tell you
what. Why don't the three of us

have dinner at my place
together tomorrow night?

You know, and we'll talk
about what Alex Levy,

uh, her big return to The
Morning Show is gonna look like,

and how we're gonna transfer you
to the... Your new prime time show.

Uh...

Y... [sighs] I'd love to keep
it intimate. No offense, Doug.

Oh. None taken, Cory.

That's great. Works for me.

- Good.
- [Alex] Great.

- Good? Good.
- Good.

[Alex] Great.

[door closes]

[chuckles] Wow.

Oh, wow.

You could not have
planned that any better.

Just all your hard work, and
then stepping away when you did,

and it just put you in this plum
position. And it's... it's brilliant.

[stammers] I was broken, Doug.

Yeah.

Well, at least it paid off. All right,

I'm gonna head down to business affairs.

I will see you later. Mazel tov.

Thank you. Oh, wait, Doug.

Did you happen to get your hands on an

advanced copy of Maggie Brener's book?

Yeah, they're really keeping
that thing under lock and key.

- But you'll be fine.
- Mm-hmm.

All right? And screw Maggie's
book. You got your own book.

- Mmm.
- People want the truth,

they can get it straight
from the horse's mouth.

Right.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

I'm aware that you didn't think
bringing Alex back was a good idea,

but it is your job to make sure
that you're wrong about that.

Alex is in the Alex
business, and so are we.

Fine.

But Bradley better get on board
in the next couple of days,

or we got some hard decisions to make.

Hard for you, at least.

Yeah, I'll handle that.

By the way, we should also
invite Mia to the dinner.

- It's her show.
- Yeah, okay. But no one else.

I wanna keep it intimate. And
these things have a way of growing.

Uh, Cory's office just called. [sighs]

They want you to join
a dinner tomorrow night

with him, Stella and Alex.

Cory, Stella, Alex. Okay.
Have we heard from Bradley?

We haven't.

[sighs] Okay. Well, she should
probably be at that dinner.

So clear it with Cory's office
first, and then invite her.

Okay. Does this mean
she's feeling better?

- Guess we'll find out.
- [phone rings]

[sighs]

That's a bullshit offer.
They're not giving me anything.

A % bump with incentives
is not a bullshit offer.

That's basically inflation.

A prime time special.

That they're probably gonna
air opposite the Super Bowl.

- Bigger wardrobe budget.
- [Bradley] That's for them.

And they promised you
a personal apology.

That is not easy to get.

That they negotiated with my agent?
Wow, that seems really sincere.

Okay. If we can get what you
want, how soon you going back?

I'm not going back until Eric's gone.

- Bradley.
- Jeff.

- I understand. They mistreated you.
- They didn't mistreat me.

Mistreating is what assholes do to dogs.

They hurt me.

I... I worked every
day, day in and day out.

I-I... I gave them my... my whole life.

I understand that you don't feel valued.

But you being out like this is
making the network look foolish.

They look foolish?

They made me look foolish.

Is this about Alex?

Because it's understandable you'd
be apprehensive about going back.

No, this isn't about Alex.

This is... This is about them
doing things behind my back.

Okay. Either way,

you're in a bit of a precarious
position to be asking more,

what with the ratings situation
and the way you've been testing.

- Let's not blow it all up.
- [cell phone buzzing]

I think you should get that.

Is that your professional advice, Jeff?

[buzzing continues]

Clearly, this is not the best of times.

So, let's, uh, just double
back to this a little bit later.

Oh, no, no, no, no. You don't get to

do the whole condescending, paternal,

"You're out of control" move.

Let's not forget who
pays who in this room.

Please have a seat.

[Jeff clears throat]

[Bradley] I realize you've only
been working with me for eight months

and that you have a long
relationship with this network.

I'm sure you golf with
all those m*therf*ckers.

And I know you have other clients
that... That work there too.

But I don't give a sh*t.

They need me.

The fact that they have not fired me,

and I've been gone out
sick for three weeks,

tells you everything you need to know.

They have two reasons
they cannot fire me.

The first of all

is they have a wrongful death
lawsuit hanging over their heads.

And in case you forgot,
I was the whistleblower.

Remember that? It would
make them look really awful.

And second of all,

they're about to roll out
a big... big announcement

that Alex and Bradley are back.

And I am Bradley.

You know what? I get to say
when this meeting's over.

This meeting's over.

You can squeeze people
when you have leverage,

but they're not gonna forget it.

When they have the upper hand,

- they will squeeze you back.
- [Bradley] Squeeze this, Jeff.

[door slams]

Give her a minute.
She'll be back. [grunts]

[phone buzzes]

- What?
- [man] It's RJ.

- Oh, hey.
- Okay.

Well, I hope you're feeling better.

Yeah, yeah. What's going on?

You got an invitation to dinner
tomorrow night at Cory Ellison's.

Cory's? Why?

They didn't say why exactly.

I know Alex Levy is supposed to be there.

It's her, Stella, Mia and Cory.

[sighs] Okay, well, I'll
go if I'm feeling better.

But they need to invite
Daniel and Alison. Everybody.

All the anchors. 'Cause
they have to be inclusive.

Okay. I'll talk to Cory's office.

Do you think you might be
feeling better tomorrow?

I might have to be.

Thanks, RJ.

[dings]

[sighs] Oh, sh**t.

- [beeping]
- Damn it. Damn it.

Oh, well. [sighs]

[beeping continues]

[dings]

[sighs]

[breathing heavily]

[woman] Hey!

[chuckles] Alex?

- What are you doing here?
- Shh. I'm not here. I'm not here.

Oh, God.

Oh, sorry. Excuse me.

I'm sorry.

[woman ] Alex? You're back? Oh, how...

Um...

Oh, sorry. Excuse me.

[sighs] Oh, God.

- Of all the dressing rooms...
- [gasps] Oh, geez. Oh, my God.

...in all the world. Alex Levy.

No, I'm, uh... My apo...
This is your dressing room.

I... [stammers] I'm so
sorry. Uh, old habits.

No, no, no. I was just
keeping it warm for you.

It is the least I can do for a legend.

I would not call me a legend.

But I am going to
retreat to the hallway.

You'll never know I was in here.

- I apologize. Back to the hallway...
- No. You gotta stay.

Just for a minute. Please?

- [stammers]
- This is a big deal for me. I insist.

- Yes.
- Chair's the same.

- Wi-Fi password, same.
- Okay, I'll stay a minute. Sure.

Um...

Oh, wow. Oh! My... Yes.

Congratulations on evenings.

Thank you. What about you?

How does it feel to be
reuniting with Bradley Jackson?

Um, geez. [chuckles] No one
is supposed to know that.

Most people don't.

I guess you and Bradley didn't
exactly end on good terms.

Um, did she tell you that?

No, it's just the sense that I got.

Mmm. Yeah. No, we're good.

Look... [sighs] ...I'm
probably just projecting here,

but I'm not sure she's
ever gonna talk to me again.

I don't suppose you have
any advice on that front?

Mmm.

Yeah, I'm gonna think you would
know more about that than I would.

Yeah, well, she makes it
sort of hard to be her friend.

It's damn near impossible.

Oh, my God. You know what?

I don't know who the hell
you think you're talking to,

but I would learn to keep a
thought like that to yourself.

Bradley and I are not close,

but we worked together
for all of three weeks.

Probably the three most difficult
weeks of our entire lives.

Which I'm sure you know

because I'm sure Bradley
would've shared that with you.

That's what friends do.

You've worked with
Bradley for six months?

If you guys aren't friends
yet... [stammers] I...

The problem here most likely is you.

I hope you enjoyed meeting me.

[door slams]

[sighs]

What are you still doing here?

Things were supposed to get better.

Well, some things have.

Oh, is this about Alex?

[scoffs]

[chuckles]

Hey, did you see that someone in the US

has this novel
coronavirus in Washington?

And now they're admitting
that it can be transmitted

- person-to-person.
- Yeah, I saw that.

- How much time are we giving it tomorrow?
- A minute.

But you try finding the time between

a bunch of septuagenarian millionaires

and billionaires fighting over
who's gonna lead us into the future,

Harry and Meghan renouncing the throne,

the president of the United
States being impeached.

How about Monday then?

I don't know yet. It's MLK Day.

We got that, um, Michael
Eric Dyson interview.

Look, I get it. The whole world is sick.

Some people are just
worse off than others.

The information's out there

- for anyone who cares to look.
- Ha ha.

You going to that dinner
tomorrow night though, right?

- Do I have a choice?
- No.

- Wouldn't miss it.
- [chuckles]

[bell tolling]

[people speaking Italian]

This is not okay.

I'm sorry?

You think you can just pull that sh*t,

fly halfway across the world and
inv*de my favorite f*cking gelateria?

I'm sorry. Could you, uh, just
maybe keep your voice down?

No, I will not lower my voice.

This man wants me to shut up.

Well, I'm sorry your fragile,
straight white male ego

can't handle someone
eviscerating it with the truth.

- Pathetic.
- No. I'm... I'm not asking you to shut up.

I was just asking you to talk directly
to me in a normal tone of voice

so we don't spoil
everybody else's gelato.

Well, you spoiled my gelato.

- Go away.
- [diners gasp]

Like "away" away.

Stop harassing this man, will you?

- You don't have to go.
- [woman] Excuse me.

If you had any idea who this
scumbag was, you'd understand.

You mean, if I knew this was Mitch
Kessler from The Morning Show,

I would agree he
shouldn't have the nerve

to breathe the same
air as someone like you,

who I'm sure has done so much for
the world in her long years?

Oh, okay. I get it.

Well, I'm sorry I have some self-respect

and I'm not just gonna put up with
entitled male behavior anymore.

It's called feminism. Look it up.

Would it say, "Feminism is
whining and throwing tantrums

until you don't have to
feel uncomfortable anymore"?

Because your comfort is the most
important thing in the universe?

Your constant, all-day, everyday comfort

is what we should all be bending down

and grab our ankles to accomplish.

That's what it is?

He's right here, eating his gelato.

I didn't see him coming and
try to grab you by your p*ssy.

- Then you would have a complaint.
- [chuckles] Okay.

Or does kicking this guy when he's down

makes you feel better about
your sad, miserable life?

- I think this is about you.
- Yeah. Okay, Mussolini. That's enough.

The world has passed you by.

- Ha! Mussolini. Yeah!
- Okay. You know what?

Thank you for your help.

- But I actually have to go home.
- You have nowhere to be.

Stay.

I want to talk to you all
about my friend, Mussolini.

[singing in Italian]

- Whoa.
- Look what you've done.

You've scared off the celebrity.

And what about your friend over
there? Did she get all that?

- My friend?
- Yeah, your friend over there

who you had filming this whole
thing to post on social media.

I'm sorry.

I hope I didn't spoil your
minutes as an Instagram feminist hero.

And by the way,

I fought for your right
to be an assh*le, bitch.

Don't make me regret it.

[speaking Italian]

[continues speaking Italian]

Grazie. [breathes heavily]

Oh. No, the grazie is all yours.

- Paola Lambruschini.
- Mitch Kessler.

Thank you for trying to help back there.

Oh, I enjoyed it.

Remember when getting angry was fun?

Uh, vaguely.

Nowadays, people get so
angry when they're angry.

Not to criticize, but isn't
it generally frowned upon

to sing about Mussolini
on the streets of Italy?

I frown upon Americans

who call anything Italian
they don't like "Mussolini."

Those two will dine out on that
story for the rest of their lives.

The crazy, backwards Italian woman
and the famous American scofflaw.

I think they would call me
something worse than a scofflaw.

Well, sure.

But we can't live our lives worrying
about what children think of us.

That girl was just smart
enough to be stupid.

- She doesn't know what she wants from you.
- Mmm.

If you apologize, she
says it's insincere.

If you try to do good for
the world, it's self-serving.

If you dare live your life, "the gall."

If you choose to die, then you're
taking the coward's way out.

You must live and suffer.

But you mustn't do it in front of us,

and you mustn't try to learn from it.

I just wanted some gelato.

I guess there's no place that's
a safe space from safe spaces.

Aren't you gonna ask me why I did that?

- Uh, no. I wasn't planning on it.
- Why not?

[chuckles] Because... Because
every version of that answer

is some subset of "You're crazy."

Finally being crazy is paying off.

How's that?

Well, I don't meet other
people in the media very often.

I'm not really in the media.

No, me neither. I'm
taking a little break.

As am I.

I was hoping to pick your brain.

- I actually need to get home right now.
- It doesn't have to be now.

Uh... [stutters] It's
not a good idea. Sorry.

That's how you repay me for helping you?

All due respect, I
didn't ask for your help.

You have to pay tax
when you win the lottery.

[sighs]

[chuckles] Come on. I'm just
trying to pick your brain.

- Come on. I just wanna pick your brain.
- Okay, fine. Yes. Yes. Yes.

You can pick my brain
at some future date.

Okay.

Put your number on my phone

so we can set a date.

You know, I'm gonna call that number

- as soon as...
- No, no.

That's my real number. You can call me.

[cell phone rings]

[Paola sighs]

[cell phone ringing]

[ringing continues]

What the f... Ah.

Bradley?

Chip. It's a blast from your past.

Yeah. Um...

What, are you calling me
from your hospital bed?

Oh, my God. How'd you hear about that?

Well, I run a news program,
and you are the news.

That place is insane, Chip.

I thought I might miss it.

But the years that I've been gone

have been some of
the happiest in my life.

So life goes on?

That's the part they
don't tell you, you know?

It's like they don't want you to
know life can be simple and normal.

My job is manageable,
I actually have a life,

and I'm engaged.

Wait, what? Congratulations.

I don't know what to say. She's amazing.

I mean, sh... It sounds corny,

but she's genuinely helping me become

the person I always wanted to be,

and, um, I'm happy.

That's great.

What's going on with you?
I mean, besides the obvious.

Have you done anything interesting
with your sort of downtime?

Mmm, not really.

I mean, I guess I went to
get ice cream yesterday.

Well, that's cool.

Anyway, the... The
reason I'm calling you is

they're making a deal
to bring Alex back.

What? Uh... Uh...

I see. Uh, wow. Okay.

And from my understanding, they're
giving her everything she wants.

- How do you feel about that?
- Well, not great.

And I feel really shitty
for not feeling great.

Like I failed somehow,

and they're bringing in my big
sister to clean up my f*cking mess.

That's not on you, though.

You know UBA's been a
sh*t show for a while.

Yeah, but, um... Just, you know,
you know Alex better than anybody,

and I feel like maybe you
could give me some insight.

I feel like I just
don't know her at all.

Like sometimes she's... she's so open.

And then other times, she's
just completely shut off.

And I would just... I don't know,
what is she like under all that?

I mean, wouldn't that be
nice to know? You know?

So, any... anything about Alex?

I don't... I mean,

I guess the one thing I would say
is you have to watch out for her.

You know, she can make
you feel like you are

the most important
thing in the universe.

So connected.

And then you turn,

and then she will push
you off of the cliff.

And she will justify it in her head too.

But she is in it for
Alex. Make no mistake.

You know, everybody wants to
win, not everybody can win.

It makes you competitive.

I understand that. But
it's different with Alex.

I mean, if I ever see her again,
and I... I'm not sure I will. Um...

[sighs]

I will have words for
her. Let me just say that.

Yeah. [sighs]

[knocks]

- Welcome.
- I brought wine.

Wine. Ah, I knew I forgot something.

This place is amazing.

- Hey there. [chuckles]
- Oh, hi.

- [Yanko] That together is really good.
- [Daniel] Yeah.

- We gotta add it to the rounds. Hey.
- Yo.

So, Alex Levy.

- Mmm.
- Does she like to make people wait on her?

Uh, you mean wait on her like a
servant or wait on her to arrive?

- Um. [chuckles]
- [stammers] Of course...

I mean, no. Look, Alex? She can be...

- She can be a little bit... No.
- Entitled.

- No. No.
- Entitled? Really?

- No. She's a straight sh**t.
- Entitled.

- No. She can be...
- Straight sh**t.

- She can be a little bit prickly.
- Stop that word two letters sooner.

[chuckles]

That's... That's a little
rough. Little rough.

- It's the truth.
- I'll keep that in mind.

How cool is it to live in a hotel, Cory?

I hear the rates here are great.

I would just want room service
to have the martinis handy.

[whispers] Okay.

Shouldn't Bradley and
Alex be here by now?

- Mmm. Excuse me.
- [cell phone ringing]

Cybil. Sorry. Hey.

I know we've been trading
calls. I apologize. How are you?

I've been better.

There are pictures in Page Six
of Bradley out getting ice cream.

She doesn't look too sick.

This is just embarrassing.
She's making us look like idiots.

Well, uh... Hmm. Well, you... I...
You can be sick and want ice cream.

She couldn't be bothered to come
in for the better part of a month.

And now she's parading around like
she hasn't a care in the world.

Like she's footloose and fancy-free.

Well, Cybil, maybe she was just, um...

Whatever you're going to say,

I don't exactly give a f*ck.

I know you don't want to get
into a pissing match with me.

All I do is piss.

Fire Bradley.

I don't even know why we have
to have a conversation about it.

Fire her.

Okay.

[knocks]

[sighs]

- Hey. Coming upstairs?
- Why?

Because you were invited.
It's the right thing to do.

What do you know about
the right thing to do?

Looks like you were getting dressed.

So I'm gonna assume you were coming.

- Were you getting dressed?
- You're not allowed to know that.

Okay. Well, if you are getting dressed,

then you need to put
your big-girl pants on.

You think you're
sticking it to everybody,

but you're only sticking it to yourself.

'Cause at a certain point,
this is only going to hurt you.

And also, I went
through a lot of trouble

to get Alex back, in part, to help you.

I know you don't believe
that, but it's true.

And if you could just clear the
smoke from your angry, angry heart,

you'd see that Alex coming back
is gonna be good for the show,

good for ratings and good for you.

Because it's gonna be
incredibly successful.

And you're gonna be a
part of that success.

That success is gonna
give you the green light

to do all the things you wanted to do.

Everything you've been asking for,

including covering
your beloved hard news.

I know you think I'm a bad guy,
and I know you don't trust me.

But I am telling you right now,

if you don't make this work for
you, you are only f*cking yourself.

Is this the personal apology
that my agent negotiated?

'Cause it sucks.

No.

[sighs] Bye, Bradley.

[clinks]

I'm not so sure Bradley's gonna make it.

What about Alex?

Oh, I'm not worried about
her. She's just late.

[knocks]

Mmm. There she is.

- [Yanko] Oh, my God.
- [Alex] Yanko.

- [Yanko chuckles] Oh, man.
- Hi.

- It's so good to see you.
- So good to see you.

- Hi.
- You look great. Everybody's in there.

- Hello. Oh.
- Ma'am.

Thank you very much. Thank you.

[gasps] Cory.

- [chuckles]
- Mmm.

Oh. I see it's very intimate.

- Yeah. You can't offend anyone anymore.
- Mmm.

- There she is.
- Hi, Alex!

- Welcome back. Hi. [chuckles]
- [Alex] Oh, hi, Alison.

Oh, so good to see you.

- Hi, Stella. Hello.
- Hey.

- It's good to have you back.
- [Alex] Ah, it's so good to see you.

Daniel.

How have you been?

You mean since you
f*cked me over? I'm great.

- Hello.
- [sighs] And who are you?

And how did you get in here?

That's Ty Fitzgerald. He's on the show.

I know who that is.

[all chuckling]

- You're terrific.
- [Ty] Oh.

I'm so looking forward
to working with you.

Well, I'm really excited
to be worked, uh, with.

- Worked with.
- Yes.

- So it works out.
- Okay. Yes.

[inhales deeply] Where's Bradley?

Should we eat?

[knocks]

Long time no see. [sighs]

- [Yanko, Stella] Hey.
- [Mia] Oh, hey.

Oh, Bradley. I'm so happy
to see you're feeling better.

Do we have to keep
pretending she was sick?

Uh, dealer's choice.

Yes. Thank you.

- Alex.
- Hi.

Wow.

It's so good to see you.

It is so good to see you too.

Okay. Now, these are two
people who missed each other.

[all chuckling]

The best friends together again.

Talk amongst yourselves.
I'm gonna go check on dinner.

It should be ready soon.

- Your hair.
- Thank you. Yes. [chuckles]

Good to see both of you. Hope
you're ready to get back to work.

Oh, I'm so excited. I'm excited.
I'm getting ready to get ready.

- That's how exci...
- [Bradley chuckles]

Um, I'll be right back.

- Yes, of course.
- [Mia] Oh.

- Hi.
- [Yanko] How are you doing?

- So, you're not sick anymore?
- [clicks tongue]

I'm getting there. [sighs]

Glad to hear it. Hope you
didn't catch it from me.

I don't know, but I'm
gonna push through.

Hey.

I don't know what to
say. That was awful.

I'm a different person now.

It doesn't matter the person you are.

You're the person who
f*cked me over, Alex.

I turned down coanchor at YDA

because we made an agreement
that suited you in the moment.

I did not tell you to do
that. I didn't know that.

Okay, what difference does that make?

How does that make it any
better that the next morning,

you decide to go on an impromptu crusade

with a woman that you were f*ring,

and then suddenly she's not
fired? And then you quit.

Would it have been better

if I never told the
truth about Fred on air?

Okay, it's not about that.

I get why you did it.
I'm glad it got said.

But I didn't need to
become collateral damage

- in order for it to happen.
- [sighs]

You could have done it
without offering me the job.

Or you could have not needed
a really exemplary woman

to die to wake you up.

[inhales sharply]

[clears throat]

Oh.

Um, I'm really sorry, Daniel.

Sorry is what people say

when they want permission
to stop feeling bad.

Anything I can do to help you
move forward, I will do it.

You deserve better than you've gotten.

But I can't turn back time.

All I can do is promise
that I'll do better

and tell you what's in my heart.

And what's in my heart
is that I am sorry.

Apology not accepted.

[Yanko] Oh, yeah, I'll have another
one. Thank you. Mmm, that's good.

Dinner is ready.

And you two are sitting together.

Great.

[chattering]

[Alison laughs]

Oh, please. It's like having the flu.

Yeah. I don't want
to get the flu either.

I don't know. I had
SARS. It was wonderful.

Hey, I don't think we
should joke about it.

People are getting sick.

People will get sick whether
we joke about it or not.

And if a person gets
coronavirus , miles away,

- does it make a sound?
- I don't know.

- I think Daniel's right.
- Someone should cover it.

Well, then let's get you on a plane.

Me? [scoffs] I'm going to Iowa.

Well, Bradley's back.

- She can do the caucus.
- Now you're volunteering me?

You wouldn't want to cover
the caucus for some reason?

No... [sighs]

Look, I'm not necessarily saying
that I need to cover coronavirus.

I'm saying that we
should cover coronavirus.

Uh, well, watching a disease
spread isn't exactly exciting TV.

You know what? There's a lot
going on, but Daniel is right.

Let's figure it out.

There is a lot going on.

But maybe if we can get this
sham impeachment trial over with,

we can actually clear
up some screen time.

Are you joking?

- No. It's a sham.
- In... In what sense?

You think Tr*mp is innocent?

That's not the point. The
point is that it's a charade.

[glass clinking]

Everybody.

I'm making a toast.

[Alison] Mmm.

[Cory clears throat]

- Well, I wanna welcome back Alex Levy.
- Thank you, Cory.

Alex, one of the most beloved, incisive,

radiant, groundbreaking journalists

and television personalities
ever to grace the TV screen.

- [Alex] Come on.
- Sorry.

- I'm just so excited.
- [Bradley chuckles]

- I am really happy.
- [Alex chuckles]

These two women,

they... they changed the course
of human history for the better.

Um, and we've got 'em.

And we will be spending more than
the GDP of a small island nation

to make sure everyone
knows it, I guarantee it.

Everybody is going to be watching
Alex and Bradley week on UBA,

culminating on a Sunday night prime

time retrospective
of their time together

we're calling the Three Weeks of Spring,

which leads into a UBA
interview special

that puts each of you one-on-one with

the one, the only, Laura Peterson.

And it all crescendos into a moment
the whole world will be watching,

the moment our heroes reunite.

Monday morning, : a.m.,

together on air for the
first time since that...

That wonderful and shocking
day nine months ago.

So everyone, please,

- let's raise a glass...
- [Yanko] Yeah.

...and toast to Alex
Levy and Bradley Jackson.

- Cheers.
- [all] Cheers.

Hey there. Is everything okay?

Okay?

Yeah. Are you upset
with me for some reason?

Mmm. No, I'm good.

Okay. Well, great.

Um, I was thinking,

you and I, why don't we get together

and just sort of work on some ideas?

Sure. Just call RJ.

- Who's RJ?
- That's my assistant.

I prefer to do my
scheduling through him.

[chuckles]

Whoa. Okay.

Just... Okay.

Yeah.

- [clears throat]
- You're not leaving, are you?

Listen, everyone. I just want
to say I had a great evening.

Um, I have a dog now. So, I
gotta go take him out for a walk.

But I just wanted to say how great
it was to see all of you tonight.

And I know I come with
a history attached to me.

And it's not a history that
all of you love. I know that.

But I left this job for a reason.

And I've done a lot of work on myself.

I've had a lot of therapy.

Never intended on coming back
to this place, but you're...

Truth is, I missed it,
and I missed it a lot.

So... [sighs] I want it.

So let's focus on the future, huh?

- Right?
- Mm-hmm.

Because I'm back.

And I'm not going anywhere.

So, just all have a good night, okay?

- Thanks for everything.
- Mmm.

[Alex] Thank you.

Bradley. Let's be smart about this.

Get out of my way.

Alex.

Things are gonna have to be different

if we're gonna resume
this "partnership."

You need to know that.

Oh, I would expect things to be different.

I've been gone for eight months.

It's actually nine months. And
things have already changed.

First of all, I really want
this, and I'm good at this.

And I've been holding up this show

ever since you decided
to erratically leave

without telling me.

I told you. I remember calling you.

You called me a week
after you told the network.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I was having a meltdown.

I'm sorry I didn't do
it in the perfect order.

You talked to me for one f*cking minute.

The whole f*cking world
changed in a minute.

And then I got the whole responsibility

of the show dumped on my shoulders,

and I'd only been doing it for a month.

- Mmm.
- And you said,

"I'm gonna check on you
and I'm gonna call you."

And that is the last time I
f*cking heard from you, buddy.

Buddy? Okay, apologies.

You know, there are
people with real problems.

[scoffs] Like you have real f*cking
problems in this world? I'm sorry.

Not all of us get to run off
to a f*cking country house

when the going gets tough.

Some of us had to sit in
the sh*t and deal with it.

And, by the way, Miss
Feminist-f*cking-hero,

I was the one who was
exposing the network,

and I decided to include you.

And meanwhile, you were just
trying to get me f*cking fired.

Behind my back!

Well, I'm really sorry I failed at that.

Oh, are we being honest
with each other now?

- Yeah, we're being honest!
- All right.

When I came to this show,
I was a f*cking baby.

I... I did anything anybody wanted me

to do to just get along and make nice

because I thought we were a team.

We're not a f*cking team.

Every single person in
there is out for themselves.

- So if we're gonna do this...
- Oh, God.

...I want you to know I'm not
gonna be your f*cking sidekick.

I am your equal.

And I'm gonna go toe-to-toe with you

- for all the best stories...
- Great.

...screen time, and
I'm not rolling over.

- I'm gonna compete with you.
- Do it!

That's what you should do.

Compete. Don't roll over.
You should never roll over.

That's the job. Think
you can do the job?

- Can you even hear yourself?
- I can hear myself fine.

You're taking what I said to
you and then turning it around,

making it seem like you're
telling me what I said to you!

Oh, my God, Bradley.

Honestly... [stammers]

A friendship with you sounds
like a really bountiful journey.

I'm sorry I didn't call you.

We worked together for one month.
We don't owe each other a thing.

Well, what about Chip?

What about Chip?

Do you owe him anything?

'Cause I talked to him today,

and he says he hasn't
heard from you either.

And how long did you work
together? Fifteen years?

Sounds like a great thing to
have a friendship with you.

But congratulations
on your megadeal, Alex.

I'm gonna go now, Bradley.

Of course you are.
That's what you always do.

The gloves are coming off.

- Alex!
- I hear it. I got it.

[dings]

[groans]

[shrieks]

[sighs]

Give me paw. Give me your paw.

[news anchor speaking Italian on TV]

[knocks]

[groans] f*ck off.

- Jesus.
- I come in peace.

- The network paid $ . million.
- Jesus.

$ . million for you to go away.

Well, it's a golden parachute.

How much will it cost for you
to get off my f*cking front step?

Mitch, we need to talk. Mitch!

[air hostess speaking
Mandarin on intercom]

Thank you.

[air hostess] Your flight time
from New York City to Wuhan, China

is hours and minutes.

[speaking, indistinct]

All right. As long as everybody
in the studio and everybody at home

promises to turn around.

All right, everybody?
[chuckles] All right. Yeah.

[Kyle] Mandy, Washington on one.

So where are we? How much do they want?

[Mandy] They won't settle.

The dollar figure they
gave was so out of sight,

they know we can't agree to it.

. million? It was so specific.

They're clearly trying to
send some sort of message.

But they want this to go to trial.

[Chip] Hey, have you seen my keys?

Oh, my God. Where have
my keys gone? [chuckles]

- [Madeleine] They were there.
- This is insane.

[doorbell rings]

- [sighs]
- I can drop you, but I'm late.

- Did I leave them in my car? Oh, sh*t.
- [Madeleine] Maybe.

Alex.

Hi.

I saw Bradley last night.

What did she s... [stammers]

I don't care about any of
that stuff. It's in the past.

- No, no.
- The job...

That's not why I'm here.
I... [inhales deeply]

I want you to come back to
the show and be my producer.

It would mean the world to me.

When do I start?