01x04 - That Woman

Episode transcripts for the TV show "The Morning Show". Aired: November 1, 2019 - present.*
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Inside look at the modern workplace through the lens of the people who help America wake up, pulling back the curtain on early morning television.
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01x04 - That Woman

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You are so cocky. You just
think I'm gonna do this?

I know you're going to do this.

[ALARM BEEPS]

We're gonna make her
think that she's won,

but we're gonna let this "nobody" in

and finally push Alex
Levy off the shelf for good

when we don't have to
look like the bad guys.

We are doing this my way.

Because, frankly, I've let you
bozos handle this long enough.

Not the apology you were expecting?

So, people, we've got hours

to define the character
of Bradley Jackson.

Seriously, you guys? This is garbage.

I don't call my mother "Mama,"
and she's also a terrible cook.

"Try not to be so confrontational.
Men don't wanna f*ck you.

Don't be so angry.
Women feel criticized."

But here, here I'm gonna become the
Mother Teresa of the morning news.

I snaked a Mitch accuser from YDA.

Come on The Morning Show.

Show everyone you have the
nerve, but especially him.

- You are doing the interview with Ashley.
- What?

Why are you giving me the interview?

Because it's better for the show.

Why are you doing this to me?

Bradley, I don't have a
f*cking clue what I'm doing.

- You don't?
- I honestly don't know why I picked you.

But I do know that I think I like you.

Don't f*ck it up.

["NEMESIS" PLAYING]

[MUSIC ENDS]

Good morning. Welcome back
and thank you for joining us.

While we are still reeling
from the shock of last week,

today is a very special
day here at The Morning Show

because of this gal
sitting right next to me.

Uh-oh. Wait, wait, hold on
a second. Where is she? Bradley?

- ["STRONGER" PLAYS]
- [DIRECTOR] Send her in. Take four.

Now. Go, go, go.

Oh.

- [DIRECTOR] Stand by, one. Take it, one.
- [ALEX] Bradley Jackson.

You're not going to have
a heart att*ck. You're not.

I feel so empowered.
Do I look empowered?

- I feel empowered.
- You look great.

- Hello, Bradley.
- Hey there. [LAUGHS]

"God grant me the serenity to
accept the things I cannot change."

- Oh, my gosh. Wow!
- Come on. Sit up on your throne.

- [BOTH LAUGH]
- This is amazing. Okay.

Something about Kelly's pipes makes

you feel like you can
do anything. Am I right?

You are absolutely
right. I love me some Kelly.

But, listen, Miss Bradley,
this is about you right now.

You have arrived.
Welcome, Bradley Jackson.

Thank you so much, Alex.

Wow, I can't even begin to express

how thrilled I am to be sitting
in this iconic studio next to you.

- Aww.
- Talk about dreams come true.

I am living proof that
that is more than just a cliché.

I've been watching this show

since I was toddling around in a onesie.

[ALEX] Oh, my gosh.

To be sitting side-by-side with
you. I mean, somebody pinch me.

Oh, well, let me just tell
you the feeling is mutual.

When we did our interview last week,

I just felt this instant connection.

f*cking bitch.

- [BRADLEY] Yes, I had the same feeling.
- [ALEX] Yeah.

Journalistic kismet or something.

Oh, I like that. Yes.

Like when you go on a first date
and it just sparks so easily...

Does this feel like total,
bland bullshit to you?

You mean, does it feel
like the show? Yes.

- [ALEX] Oh.
- Very single.

Not for long. Not for long.

So, what would
we consider this to be?

I guess our... Would
this be our second date?

Well, I don't want to scare you, Alex,

but I think we've already moved in.

- Oh, my gosh, that was fast.
- [BOTH LAUGH]

[CHUCKLES] Well, here's hoping
you get to the bedroom soon.

We have a little
surprise for you, Bradley.

- You do?
- Yes, we do.

- All set with the feed?
- Ready to go.

And for our audience,

Bradley's mom is checking
in on us from West Virginia.

Sandy Jackson, are you there?

Hi there. Hello, everybody.

Hello, Sandy.

Hi, Mom. I'm on The Morning
Show. How about this?

I'm just so proud.

Well, as you should be.

Bradley is pretty amazing.

What was it like
watching her grow up?

Oh, it was just wonderful.

She was always so smart and
sassy and funny and just so much fun.

It was a wonderful time for our family,

and so much love and happiness.

And we always knew that
Bradley was something special.

- You were always a great mom.
- Aww.

Sandy, when did you first
start seeing Bradley's potential?

Oh, very early on.

She was always the smartest in her class

and worked so hard at everything she did.

She wrote for the school
paper. Won every spelling bee.

Helped out at the soup kitchen.

And was always ready to lend me a hand.

We cooked together every night.

Just such a happy
time for our family.

You better get your sh*t together, girl,

or you're gonna end up sucking
dicks under the promenade.

[ALEX] Well, family is
everything. Isn't it, Sandy?

Family is a whole lot of things.

Oh, hey, and I hear that you
put together a little clip

of Bradley growing up that
you would like to share.

Yes, I did. I worked
on it really late last night.

- [DIRECTOR] Ready X.
- Should we roll it?

Let's do it, America.

- [DIRECTOR] Roll X, take X.
- Let's do it.

[UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS]

[ALEX SNIFFS, CLEARS THROAT]

- I feel like I'm at my own wake.
- Mm.

Producers did a really
good job with this.

They changed the script on my mother.

Did they?

Yes. The one they showed me
reflected some sort of reality.

This is just based on a snow globe.

It was flat.

- Do not overreact. Just go with it.
- [FLOOR DIRECTOR] And we're back.

- Five, four...
- You'll get used to this.

[FLOOR DIRECTOR] ...three, two...

So great to meet your mom, Bradley.

And what an amazing place you grew up in.

Yes, West Virginia is amazing.

You know, it wasn't all as
perfect as that made it seem.

She's going off script.

Well, that's what America
loves about you, Bradley.

You're real.

Yeah, just to be real,

I don't want young women out
there watching the show to think

you have to have some

- perfect childhood to be successful.
- Right.

[BRADLEY] There were hard times,
and I did a lot of stupid things.

Oh, of course. We all did.

Yeah, yeah, no. I'm not talking about

just accepting a dare to
jump off the roof of a barn,

'cause I did that.

You know, I got
suspended multiple times.

I cost my high school
track team a championship

because I got caught with alcohol on me.

Heck, had an abortion
when I was years old.

I...

- Oh, she did not.
- Oh, my God.

I...

Mother of f*ck!

Yes.

Bradley had an abortion?

Oh, Jesus.

That's a lot... for a -year-old.

Yeah, it was. It was.
And that's what I mean.

Life is hard and people
get through things and...

Let's go to weather. We're
evacuating this shitshow.

Somebody get Yanko to the
stage right f*cking now.

It's not just sunshine and roses.

Get me Cory Ellison!
Get me Charlie Black now!

- But you can grow.
- Mm.

- Twitter's f*cking blowing up.
- Should we cut it for the West Coast feed?

We can't. The women's groups are
going to skewer us if we cut it.

What do we do?

Leave it in.

Go to Yanko now.

What shaped me and gave
me my view of the world.

Because this is my day to
introduce myself to America, right?

Yes.

I just thought I should be
transparent with them, with you guys.

[ALEX] You certainly have been.

And thank you for opening up, Bradley.

Yanko. Go, go! Okay, throw to Yanko.

All right, let's get an
update on the weather, Yanko.

What is today looking like?

Amazing. Amazing.

Grab the kids. Head to
the park this week.

It is gonna be sunny days, folks.

It's gonna be beautiful. But don't forget

to put a sun hat on that baby, okay?

And lather up that sunscreen.

SPF and over, especially
for the little ones.

Somebody get in Yanko's ear and
tell him no more kid references.

Entire weekend.

If you don't have kids, you
should also wear sunscreen.

Can you pull something out
from later in the week

and fill the time with it?

Let's put Alison and the
Marcus Samuelsson

cooking segment along with Alex,

and you guys just rework it.

Make it work. Lighten it up.

Chip, maybe it was a
slipup. It's her first day.

That was not a slipup.
That was deliberate.

We are minimizing her for the
rest of the show. No more risk.

I do not want Bradley Jackson near

anything where she can say anything

about anything that
isn't air f*cking tight!

- Chip!
- What?

I have Fred on the phone and
he says he needs to talk to...

Tell Fred to go f*ck himself! Thank you!

As most of you in DC know.

This year, I'm happy to report,
the festival will go on sans rain.

And to all my sailor
friends, down in Norfolk,

if you're gonna throw
a few back this weekend,

make sure you throw on that zinc.

Friends in the south, on the other hand,

they're gonna be seeing clouds rolling

in throughout the entire weekend.

It looks like the sun won't be showing

itself there till Tuesday morning.

And that's what's happening
across the country, folks.

Let's see how it's
looking where you live.

And we're out.

Did you f*ck up just now,
or was that intentional?

[BACKSTAGE CHATTER]

I don't actually know.

[CHATTER CONTINUES]

She's a Category Five.

I think she's amazing.

[CHATTER]

[SIGHS]

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

I'll come back in a bit.
We're gonna have a talk.

[BRADLEY] Okay.

[FRED] It's been less than a minute,

we've already had two advertisers call

and pull their spots for tomorrow.

I know. It's a mess.

We'll have to figure out
how to manage the fallout.

No. You have to figure out how
to manage the f*cking fallout!

This is on you, Cory! It's
your failed g*dd*mn experiment!

I said she was a mistake.

She was untested and unpredictable
and unvetted, and I was right.

She barely made it ten
minutes without announcing

her teenage f*cking
abortion to Middle America.

[FEMALE REPORTER] Bradley
Jackson's revelation has gone viral

and sparked a national firestorm.

The Pro-Life Action League
issued a condemnation of UBA

and The Morning Show, while
Planned Parenthood tweeted that...

- Okay, can you just turn that off, please?
- [DRIVER] Sure.

[GROANS]

Oh, God. Oh, f*ck, f*ck, f*ck me.

f*ck me. f*ck, f*ck, f*ck. sh*t, sh*t.

Okay, okay.

Well, I'm sorry. It's the truth.

[SANDY] I can't believe that
happened when you were .

Did you just make that
up to be controversial?

No, I didn't make it up!
Jesus, why would I do that?

You should have told me.

I could have had a grandchild.
I could have raised it.

Oh, 'cause you did such a
great job with me and Hal?

You think I'd bring that kind of
problem into our crazy environment?

Our house? You think I
would possibly do that?

- You don't understand!
- [LINE DISCONNECTS]

f*ck.

[SIGHS]

[INHALES SHARPLY]

[CRYING]

f*ck.

[ALARM BEEPS]

Oh, my God.

[SIGHS]

Oh.

Oh, God.

[SIGHS]

Good morning, Bradley.

Get in the car.

Okay.

[BRADLEY] So, is this the part where you

take me out to a warehouse and sh**t me?

[ALEX] Worse.

I'm taking you down to the studio.

You're gonna get back on that horse,

and you're gonna do the show
like yesterday never happened.

This is a really f*cked-up job.

Yeah. All jobs are f*cked up.

You do things you don't
necessarily choose to do

in exchange for relevance and money,
and you cannot let it k*ll you.

Why are you even
talking to me right now?

I am talking to you, Bradley,
because I have to make this work.

I chose you, and everything
is on the line for me.

And I-I can't let this b*at me.

"This" meaning me? My mouth?

Who I am at my very core?

- Those things?
- Yes.

If you want to put it that way,
you can put it however way you want.

But we are gonna win this.

You can escape. You know that, right?

The people in America don't
know that you chose me.

They can just blame the
network when I get fired.

No. Mm-mm. People on the inside know.

Chip knows. Cory Ellison
knows. Fred Micklen knows.

m*therf*ckers.

Those m*therf*ckers.

And I am not gonna let them walk
away thinking they were right.

I would die first.

[SIGHS]

Okay.

I understand.

I'll try.

Good. Thank you.

Okay, before we jump
into today's top stories,

Bradley, I know that you
wanted to address America yourself.

- Yes. Thank you, Alex.
- Of course.

I understand that many
of you were insulted yesterday

when I referenced an
abortion I had as a teen.

While I am not sorry
for the life choices I've made,

I'm very sorry for so
casually discussing an issue

that is so personal
to many Americans.

I promise that as I
embark on my new role here,

I will work hard every day
to earn your forgiveness,

as well as your trust and support.

Thank you.

Thank you. Well said, Bradley.

Well, it comes from my heart.

[FLOOR DIRECTOR] And we're
out. Back in two minutes.

No. No, she is not
interviewing the Mitch victim.

[CORY] Well, Fred, that's
an extreme reaction.

She's popping. You can't deny
that. Her ratings for Monday...

Of course the ratings were strong.
We promoted the sh*t out of it.

But after what she did yesterday? No.

I would like to point out that no one

is talking about Mitch right now.

Oh, that's our standard?

Getting f*cked by a new scandal
so the old one pulls out?

What Bradley did
yesterday was core shaking.

It undercuts our integrity in an

entirely different way than Mitch did.

UBA has a reputation as a fair and

impartial actor in the news business,

and in one f*cking
sentence she politicized us.

Bradley is interviewing
Ashley Brown on Friday.

- I beg your pardon?
- We have already run the promos.

We did a big end-of-the-week blitz.

That's got a hook. It's compelling.

Bradley will bring authenticity,
transparency, to the interview,

which is what we need right now.

We cannot look like we
just changed our minds.

We've got to stay bold. God.

[ALEX SIGHS]

We can respond to what
happened yesterday

by taking the interview away.

It'll actually look like
someone's running things.

[CORY] All right, Fred,
here it is. Listen.

Half the country hates her,
but half the country loves her.

We pull her from the Ashley
interview mid-promotional stream,

those lefty blogs are gonna sh**t their

condescending, politically correct wad

all over the Internet's f*cking face.

Before you know it, we become an example

of everything that they stand against.

The powerful patriarchy silencing a
woman for talking about her uterus.

And Woke Twitter will never forgive us.

You sound like an assh*le
when you say "Woke Twitter."

- You know that?
- [LAUGHS] I did. I heard it. I know.

Look, Fred, we have already
course corrected here.

Why don't we just give
this a chance to work?

Because we're still
bleeding advertisers.

They'll come back. They always do.
Especially if the ratings are up.

[CORY] It's the beauty
of capitalism, right?

In one day,

Bradley Jackson re-branded

morning news as personal,
unexpected, exciting.

You should be thanking
her. And you will be.

Now let's just everybody calm
down and get on this ride.

It's gonna be a good one. Bradley
Jackson is going to save us.

That's why I picked her.

You're welcome.

[MALE ANNOUNCER] Friday,
a Morning Show exclusive.

Former TMS staffer, Ashley Brown,
sits down with Bradley Jackson live

to discuss Brown's
accusations against Mitch Kessler.

A no-holds-barred
interview you don't want to miss.

Only on The Morning Show.

Mia.

Bradley's still doing the interview,

but let's prepare our contingency plan.

- Fred is like a ticking b*mb right now.
- [RENA CLEARS THROAT]

- What?
- She's here.

- She's here. Great.
- Wait, who's here?

It's the investigator that the
network hired from Stern and Young.

Can't we delay that? This
week is already insane.

It's optics. We can't wait.
Look, it's gonna be fine.

We just need to be careful.

More is gonna come out about
Mitch. That is inevitable.

And we need to have each
other's backs so we can survive,

then we will right the ship.

We need to... protect that.

Protect the show.

Yes. "Protect the show." Thank you.

My name is Vicki Manderly.

I'm from Stern and Young

and I'm going to be heading up
the investigation on Mitch Kessler.

I will be having private conversations
with you all, individually.

I don't want you to feel scared
or anxious about any of this, okay?

We're just talking. It is all
confidential. You are safe.

I'm only here to try and understand
the culture at The Morning Show

that allowed Mitch Kessler's
inappropriate behavior to go unchecked.

We want to find out
where the blind spots are.

So we can work together

to make this a safe, highly-functioning
workplace for everyone.

So whatever you can do to
help facilitate this process

would be greatly appreciated.

You got it, Vicki. We're here
to help, so... whatever you need.

[CHUCKLES]

The fact that he actually screwed
around with people on the show?

I mean, yes, there was gossip,

but I never let myself believe
that it was actually true.

[VICKI] Mm.

What about now, post Mitch?

Do you think this is an environment
that condones sexual misconduct,

inappropriate sexual relationships?

Do you know of any misconduct?

No, God, no. No, not at all. None.

[MAN] They actually did a good
thing for once and hired a conservative.

But now, of course, they're
just using her to push their agenda.

[WOMAN] How? She just
stated that she had an abortion.

[WOMAN ] They're sending
the message that Planned Parenthood

and other organizations that
are funded by our government...

They're completely missing the point.

She's not a conservative or a liberal.

No. No, she's a performance artist.

It's like watching somebody burn

the American flag every single morning.

But less political
and more controversial.

I know. Isn't it great?

[LAUGHS]

Well, yeah, if you think watching
a star explode into a supernova

and leave a black hole
in its place is great.

- I do.
- Well, yeah, of course you do.

[LAUGHS] You get me,
don't you? I love that.

[CLAIRE MOANS]

- Hey, hey.
- Mm-hmm.

Claire, wait, wait.

- What?
- Did I do those things to you?

What things?

You know, those... Like what
Mitch did. Did I do that to you?

Oh, God.

You think because you're older than me

and technically my superior at work,

I can't have decided to f*ck you
without being taken advantage of?

What, because you're the
big, powerful weatherman,

I lose all agency in my sexual choices?

I don't know.

I mean, I know what I
feel when I'm with you.

I know what I feel when
it's just you and me.

I don't need anything but you, so...

- Are you answering your own question?
- I'm not.

Claire, the investigator kept
talking about power imbalances

and inequitable sexual dynamics.

- That's this... That's us.
- Yanko, darling.

My family could buy and sell
you and your entire family tree

a dozen times over.

My father has nothing to do with UBA,

but he could still have you
fired with one phone call.

If there's a power imbalance
in this relationship,

it's the one I have over you.

[GIGGLES]

And I don't plan to stop taking
advantage of you anytime soon,

so you better find another outlet
for this bullshit you're peddling.

[LAUGHS]

Okay.

It's just you and me, okay?

- Okay.
- Yeah.

[ALARM BEEPS]

[SIGHS]

[EXHALES]

And when we come back,

W Magazine accessories director of our

favorite sunglass guru, Delilah Frye,

shows us the hottest
new trends for summer.

I am so excited for that.

I moved here, and I forgot my sunglasses.

- What were you thinking?
- I don't know.

Don't worry. Delilah's
gonna take care of that for you.

Well, I can't wait.

And later in the hour, Alison
and I will sit down with the author

of the newest "ya" sensation.

[CHUCKLES]

Excuse me. I meant
to say "YA sensation."

Okay there, Bradley?

I know I'm "ya."

I'm okay, but I'm sorry
'cause I'm so tired right now,

I can barely see straight.

[ALEX] All right, we're a mess.

We need to sleep tonight so we can

pull it together for Kelly Clarkson tomorrow.

Oh, my gosh, Kelly
is going to be here.

- What doesn't k*ll you makes you stronger.
- That's right.

- I'm the biggest Kelly Clarkson fan.
- I know you are.

- I'm probably not gonna sleep tonight.
- You need to sleep.

We'll cover your sleepy eyes
with Delilah's sunglasses.

She'll take care of that.

Her summer styles are up next.

And later, Alison and I are going to talk

to Allegra Jameson about her new book.

So don't go away.

- My body, my choice!
- Abortion stops a b*ating heart.

Oh, my God, this isn't
going away, is it?

Two news cycles and counting. The
moon landing only gets one in .

She'll be the death of us
all. Or at least Alex and Chip.

Over my dead body.

Actually, nobody up there
would even notice my dead body.

They'd just have to step over
my rotting corpse to do the show.

This place runs on human sacrifice.

We'll all end up on the altar eventually.

No. No, I never saw or heard anything.

Why? Did someone say that I did?

I never slept with him. That
Page Six article was bullshit.

Mitch was a flirt, pretty good one.
I am too, to be fair. So is Alex.

Mm, I've only been here about months,

so I'm probably not the best
person to speak to the culture

over a long period of time,

but everything I've
observed has been aboveboard.

Honestly, I liked having him
around. He was fun. I miss him.

[MALE ANCHOR] Next, we
have an inspiring story

coming out of Mississippi,

where high school girls are
walking out of class today

to show their support for Bradley Jackson,

the new coanchor of The Morning Show,

after the governor tried
to reintroduce legislation

- that would ban abortions after six weeks.
- [STUDENTS CHANTING]

This action comes after a controversial

comment he made earlier this week

calling The Morning Show's
Bradley Jackson

"a dangerous thr*at to America."

Mississippi already has some of
the nation's strictest abortion laws.

In southern parts of the state,
walkouts have lasted nearly six hours,

which represents how long
it would take a student

to drive to the state's only
remaining abortion clinic.

[FEMALE ANCHOR] This
footage is remarkable.

[MALE ANCHOR] The power
of social media on display.

[FEMALE ANCHOR] Not to
mention Bradley Jackson.

Her comment has lit a fire under
the abortion debate nationwide.

[MALE ANCHOR] And the
governor's attempt to use Jackson

as a lightning rod to push his
agenda appears to have backfired.

[FEMALE ANCHOR] I agree.

I'd also argue that these walkouts
go beyond just the abortion bill.

They're happening because people
heard Bradley's story and thought,

"That could be me.

And I want to make my own choice
about my future like she did."

[MALE ANCHOR] Okay, we're now getting

word from our source on the ground

that a staggering school...

[ALARM BEEPS]

["HEAT" PLAYS]

[KELLY CLARKSON SINGING]

Stand by, three. Take it, three.

[BRADLEY LAUGHS]

Come on. Bradley
Jackson, get on over here.

- Oh, my God, me?
- Go, yes. Go, go.

- [CHEERING]
- Okay. Coming.

All right, girl, I know
that it has been a crazy week.

- Oh, my gosh.
- All right?

But you are a truth
teller, Bradley Jackson.

You're honest, I love
you, and I stand with you.

[KELLY] All right, come
on. Dance with me. Whoo!

- [KELLY CLARKSON SINGING]
- [ALEX] Whoo!

[MAN] We've been growing
steadily all week,

especially in the -to- demo,

which is hitting live numbers
we haven't seen in years.

[BOTH SINGING]

Kelly Clarkson, everybody!

[BRADLEY] Thank you so much
for being here. You made my day.

Thank you, everyone.
That's our show for today.

Stay tuned for The Twist.

The culture is fine.

And as for Mitch,
everyone loved him here.

He lit up the room. He made
everyone feel like family.

Well, I don't have a whole
ton to say about Mitch.

He was the king of the
world, and he knew it.

I saw the way he talked to
people, how he hugged women hello.

Yeah, he just thought
he's pretty untouchable.

There she is. Kelly
Clarkson's truth teller.

[SIGHS] This is all just
so weird. Why are you here?

I've got a meeting with Fred upstairs.

I just wanted to stop in and say hello.

You going to join the chorus of people

telling me to keep behaving myself?

Have you met me?

Yes, I have.

You know you're k*lling this, right?

- Am I?
- Mm-hmm.

I don't know.

Right now I'm just prepping for
this Ashley interview tomorrow.

Mm.

God, is it ever strange being
in his old dressing room?


I hardly have a chance
to get used to it, but...

yeah, sometimes it's weird.

I wonder what happened in
here on a regular basis.

Yeah, I wonder that.

Between us, I also wonder who knew.

All right, I'll leave
you to it. [CHUCKLES]

[EXHALES]

[ALEX] Come in.

Hey, you got a minute?

Sure.

- I just wanted to say that...
- Oh, God, I'm fine.

You don't have to do this.

I literally didn't do anything yet.

We've known each other
long enough, Chip.

I know you know me.

Kelly Clarkson likes Bradley
more than she likes me.

- I'm gonna live.
- [CHUCKLES]

You know, obviously she's new.
She created a stir this week.

- It's gonna die down soon.
- Why? We don't want it to die down.

It's great.

I mean, I made her, right?

Yeah.

I'm her Dr. Frankenstein.
She's my monster.

And if I'm being honest, she's
actually exceeding my expectations.

And listen, would I
like a little credit?

Sure.

But that's also not surprising,
'cause people are disappointing,

and you just can't let it get to you.

- [SIGHS]
- Well, that is... I'm really proud of you.

Oh, my God, stop.

- What?
- It's embarrassing.

You really don't do sincere
emotion well. It's kind of painful.

Okay. All true.

Yeah.

Still, I'm...

proud of you.

Thank you.

There's one little thing
I do want to run by you.

- Um...
- Go on.

- New York Magazine called.
- Mm-hmm.

Maggie Brener wants to do
a feature piece on Bradley.

Maggie Brener?

- [ALEX] Hm.
- Mm-hmm.

That's good. That's good.

Mm-hmm.

It really takes the focus
off Mitch being gone, huh?

- Yeah, that's true.
- Yeah.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Well, okay.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[VICKI] So, he seduced you?

It did not feel that way at the time.

Uh, we had this easy
working relationship

where we could almost finish
each other's sentences.

He could read my mind.

It became very attractive.

And then he started to talk
about his marital issues.

He and his wife fought all the
time. It was hard raising kids.

They never had sex. On and on.

Mitch was genuinely lonely.

So was I.

Our world was this job.

[SIGHS] And he let me in.

He created this intimacy
where I felt seen.

Respected. I admired
him so much. He knew it.

He knew it. And then...

uh, we didn't sleep together
until right before the election.

How long did it last?

The affair? About a year.

- And which one of you...
- Me. I ended it.

Why?

It got too complicated.

And what about after?

- "After?"
- After you broke up with him.

What was it like for you?
Were there any repercussions?

No. Not at all. We were
perfectly professional.

This is a lot to carry with you.

I understand why you
decided to tell the Times.

What? No.

No. I did not leak it to the Times.

Oh. You didn't? Oh, I'm sorry. I just...

Since you made the complaint to
HR a week before his termination,

the one that the network was
investigating, I assumed...

I made a complaint
'cause I couldn't stand

watching Mitch report on Me Too anymore

with that empathetic,
dad-next-door smile.

That had to end.

But it was never my
intention that he get fired.

[VICKI] I won't get into
specifics over the phone,

but, so far, you're safe.

Nobody's implicated the
show or the network yet.

Just Mitch.

Okay, good. What's the next move?

I conduct my investigation.
Talk to everyone.

Find out where you're vulnerable.
You're not out of the woods yet.

- All right. Keep me posted.
- Mm-hmm.

[MALE ANNOUNCER] Tomorrow.
Bradley Jackson's live sit-down

with former TMS
staffer Ashley Brown.

The painful truth about
the Mitch Kessler no one knew.

The interview everyone
will be talking about.

- Only on The Morning Show.
- [EXHALES]

Well, sh*t. That feels sort
of incongruous, doesn't it?

What? What's incongruous?

What they're selling
and what we're prepping.

No. Marketing is doing
their job. We need eyeballs.

I just hope we don't
disappoint a lot of eyeballs.

This thing could
backfire on us, you know.

This is a strong interview,
Bradley. Ashley is ready.

Which is not something
I could say a week ago.

We have done good work.

Yeah. I guess so.

I just can't help but feel
like it's a little bit safe.

"Safe"? What are you... It's not "safe."

Yeah. Safe. Soft.

Ashley and Mitch have this
flirtatious workplace dynamic.

Mitch pushes it too far.

It never crosses the line,

but Ashley feels all this
pressure, and she quits.

- That's it?
- Yeah, that's not nothing.

No, it's not nothing. It's awful.

And I give her so much credit
for coming back on the show.

I just can't help but feel like
I'm pushing someone else's agenda.

No, no, no. You're helping to
tell Ashley's story. Her truth.

Well, it's a truth.

It's a truth that's been
poked and prodded and vetted

by rooms full of lawyers and executives

and crisis management specialists,

all trying to minimize
the damage to the network.

And, you know, UBA's
exposure here is very low.

Otherwise they would never
let this interview happen.

- You and I know that.
- Okay, okay.

It's like the illusion of transparency
without any of the actual risk.

Okay, fine. You're not wrong.
UBA is a business. Right?

They're not gonna s*ab themselves
in the face for the greater good.

- Right.
- But

it doesn't mean this
interview isn't important.

Ashley's experience is common.

It's, um, sexual misconduct at
an insidiously routine level.

That sh*t matters.

It's relatable.

It's gonna mean
something to our audience.

Okay.

- I hope you're right.
- No, look. I'm totally right.

Look, you had a long week.
It's been a bumpy ride.

But you've done great.

You're coming out of this strong
as sh*t, so let's just focus.

Bring this one home. Okay?

Okay.

I hear you.

[ALARM BEEPS]

[DIRECTOR] Let's go right to camera two.

- [CHIP] So, just, no jib.
- [DIRECTOR] Yeah.

- [CHIP] I'm fine with that.
- [CORY] Hi, everybody.

Wow. TGIF, am I right? What a week! Oof.

Look who it is. It's Cory.

Big, big day. I wanted
to catch the show live.

- How are you doing?
- Oh, yeah. Welcome.

- Thank you.
- Yes.

Did you know he was coming?

No f*cking clue. [LAUGHS]

And when we come back,
I sit down with Ashley Brown,

a former Morning Show staffer
with an emotional story to tell

about her experiences
with Mitch Kessler.

Stay with us.

[FLOOR DIRECTOR] And we're
out. Back in two minutes.

- [ALEX SIGHS]
- [SIGHS] All right. Here I go.

Hey, um, you're going to
be great. You're ready.

Just stick to the script, okay?

And just remember, I'm
with you the whole time.

- Okay.
- Okay?

- Thanks, Alex.
- Yeah.

[SIGHS]

We're back in .

[BRADLEY] Hi, Ashley.

Bradley Jackson. So nice to meet you.

[ASHLEY] I'm so nervous. I
hope my mike doesn't pick it up.

Oh, it's gonna be okay.
We're in this together.

- Okay.
- All right?

You want to take a seat?

- And we're back in four, three, two...
- [ALEX SIGHS]

Cue her.

So, by this point, you were
working in the audio department.

Yeah. So, I was the
person who miked everyone.

It's a quick but intimate job.

So, of course I was
around Mitch every day.

And he liked to tease me when
I would slide the mike down his shirt.

You know, flirty stuff.

And I guess I
thought he was fun...

and I liked the attention
from the star of the show.

If I'm honest, I flirted back.

But I never intended for
it to take the turn that it did.

And when did that happen?

I'm... sorry. This is all just...

It's okay. Take your time, Ashley.

It was , and there was
a big production meeting.

Everyone was there.

I wound up sitting next to
Mitch, which... he made sure of.

And he sat down next to me.

So, we were all in this meeting,

and I felt a hand on my
thigh, under the table...

and it was him.

His hand lingered there.

Then I felt him squeeze my
thigh in a way that felt...

Loaded. Sexual.

[BRADLEY] And what was going
through your head when that happened?

If I'm honest with
myself, it was exciting.

Really exciting.

But also shocking and overwhelming.

Confusing.

How did you react in the moment?

I didn't. I should have.

But it all happened so
fast, and it was so public.

I didn't have time to
think, and so I did nothing.

And that opened a door.

And that flirty thing
that we had, it increased.

A lot. And it became... consuming.

"Consuming"?
Describe what you mean.

I couldn't focus on my job.

All I could think about was what sexual

innuendo Mitch would throw my way.

And... I knew what he wanted.

There was a question in my
head of, "Should I give it to him?"

Or what would
happen if you didn't?

Yeah. That crossed my mind.

But I never did. But I was still scared.

I felt like my entire career was
in the hands of this one person.

I was very confused. I didn't
know how I felt about anything.

And eventually it just became too much.

And so I quit.

Did you ever open up to anyone,

tell them what you were going through?

No, I didn't.

Did you report to HR?

About Mitch? No.

Why didn't you?

I guess I just... felt embarrassed.

I didn't want Mitch to
know that I was complaining.

So you felt it would
somehow get back to Mitch.

No, I...

Wait. That question wasn't vetted.

I guess that...

- Where are you going with this, Bradley?
- It's okay, Ashley.

I know it's uncomfortable being back here

with all the people you used to work with

in the studio and...

I guess what I'm asking is:

Was there something about the
culture at this network, at this show,

that made it feel
impossible to complain?

No.

What the hell is she doing?

No, I...

I didn't say anything because
I didn't want anyone to know.

Know what?

[EXHALES]

People had to know Mitch
was flirting with you.

You said he did it publicly.

I'm not talking about flirting.
I'm talking about what happened.

Did she hint at this during prep?

- No. She never...
- Tell her to stop.

- Bradley.
- Mia. Don't stop her.

[BRADLEY] Ashley, I'm here.

You're safe.

I don't want you to say anything that

you don't feel comfortable saying.

- Bradley.
- But the truth matters.

[ALEX] Pull it back.

Sometimes it's the
only w*apon that we have

against the powerful men
who are trying to shut us up.

Bradley, stop this right now.

And your truth, Ashley. Your truth
could help so many other women.

Fred is on the phone.

Mitch and I did cross the line...

a few times.

In his dressing room.

He would call me
in. We would start kissing.

I would give him oral sex.

[PHONE BUZZES]

He never forced me, ever.

But I guess I...

I still just...

didn't really know how
not to go through with it.

And I never told anybody, but...

everybody knew.

He's not picking up.

f*ck!

[ASHLEY] I could feel it.

I could feel...

these people that I... respected
looking at me different.

Losing respect for me.

That must've been so hard for you.

It was.

I felt like I was... watching
myself from the outside.

And I saw myself the
way everyone else saw me.

This... slut sleeping with
Mitch to help her career.

And I didn't... know
who that person was.

I didn't recognize myself.
And he did that to me.

He branded me.

He stole my confidence, my self-worth.

And then I was... drowning,

and there was no one
to throw me a lifeline.

No one.

I was alone. So alone.

Surrounded by people, but...

Isolated.

Thank you so much, Ashley. Thank
you for telling us your truth.

You're an incredibly brave woman.

[EXHALES]

We'll be right back.

[CORY EXHALES]

And we're out.

[CHATTER]

Thank you. Can I give you a hug?

- [BRADLEY] Can I get you a tissue?
- [ASHLEY MURMURS]

I'll be right back.

What the f*ck was that?

I brought you in. I bet on you.

I dragged you up out of nowhere

and gave you the opportunity
of a f*cking lifetime.

What you just did was reckless.

You just put this show and
everyone who works here at risk.

Did you know?

Excuse me?

About Mitch.

About what was going
on in his dressing room.

Did you?

How dare you?

Excellent interview, Chip. I can't
wait for the rest of the show.

I'm gonna grab some more tea.

["STRONGER" PLAYS]
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