01x06 - The Pendulum Swings

[bunniefuu]

["NEMESIS" PLAYING]

[MUSIC ENDS]

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]

[MALE REPORTER] A state of emergency
has been declared in California.

Just outside Los Angeles several
fires are wreaking havoc,

destroying homes

and sending residents fleeing to safety.

[FEMALE REPORTER] The biggest
blaze is the Huntley Fire

just outside the wealthy
community of Malibu

which authorities are now
likening to a w*r zone.

[MALE REPORTER ] Fire
crews are battling flames

in three different counties.

[MALE REPORTER ] ... residents
who were in tears

as they were unable to return...

Destroying everything in its path.

[FEMALE REPORTER ] It's
happening as tension rises

and tragedies mount.

[BIRD CHIRPING IN DISTANCE]

[PHONE RINGS]

[MAN] Hey, Fred, we're
evacuating. It's mandatory.

[GENEVA] Make sure they
get all the animals.

- The horses, the little burro.
- Get the f*cking animals.

[MAN] On it, boss.

God.

I did not need this. TMS
should go to LA to cover this.

Get those f*cking women to stop
talking about Me Too for five minutes.

[DIALING]

Hey, Cory. Listen, I got an idea.

Can you get ahold of Bradley?

You know, we're
staying in the same hotel,

so let me see if I can connect with her.

All right, I'll call Chip
on the way to the airport.

Get the girls to LA
to cover these fires.

Okay.

[PARADE MUSIC PLAYING ON PHONE]

What is happening right now?

Um, Lucky Lindy landed
safely in Paris, maybe?

- [CHUCKLES]
- Whoa.

Yes, I know my face can be
startling in an intimate setting.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

I feel so awful.

- I'm so sorry. I was a f*cked-up mess.
- Oh, no. No, no.

Please, don't be.

We laughed, we cried,
we ate grilled cheese.

It was all good. [TYPING]

I actually did sleep in the living room.

I was a little concerned you
might choke on your own vomit.

The grilled cheese
didn't go down so well.

[GROANS] Please just sh**t me.

[CHUCKLES]

- Hey, Bradley. Bradley?
- What?

- What?
- Bradley?

It's really all good. I was glad
that I could be here to help.

I wouldn't have wanted
you to be alone last night.

Thank you, Cory.

Being alone is highly overrated.

You're awfully nice for the head
of a... President of a network.

Yeah, I'm actually really
not. I just like you.

Here, have some toast.

- Hey, you got me toast?
- Mm-hmm.

- And coffee.
- Oh, I got coffee. Thank God.

- Yeah, there you go.
- Thank you.

In other exciting news,

we're gonna be covering
the wildfires in LA.

So I need you to get on a plane ASAP.

Chip has been calling your phone.

Oh, my G... Holy sh*t!

Yeah. But don't worry. He
doesn't know that I'm here.

Um, you can call him from the car.

[SIGHS] Okay. Even though I feel
like crap, this is great news

'cause I just need to
get boots on the ground.

That's what I'm good at.

I actually have to go back to
LA. Pilot business, you know.

Upfronts are biting at
my heels. So I'll go up.

I'll pack. I'll get you some Advil.

And then I can take you
to the airport with me.

Thank you. That is so nice.

But wouldn't it be a little bit strange

if we came to the
airport in the same car?

That's a good point.

I'll get you some
Advil, put you in a cab.

- [BRADLEY LAUGHS]
- [MUGS CLINK]

- To LA!
- LA!

Open space and Santa Anas and wildfires.

Anything can happen! Especially
when it's burning down!

[SIGHS]

Oh, my God.

[DOOR CLOSES]

It's the grilled cheese.

[PHONE BUZZES]

You know it's Sunday, right?

Hey, good morning. We gotta
go to LA to cover these fires.

YDA is f*cking k*lling it
with Jimmy and his tearful nonnies.

Whoa. Chip, Chip, please. It's
really early. Just slow down.

Oh, it's early? I'm sorry.
Yeah, we're all hungover.

But I gotta get you on a
plane in a few hours. Come on.

Seriously? Fires in LA. [STAMMERS]

That sounds a little desperate.

It's not like it's / or something.

No, no, no, no. You don't
get it. This is massive, okay?

We got multiple fires raging here.

We've got evacuations, homes lost.

People are dying in their f*cking
cars trying to escape the fires.

Oh, Jesus.

Besides, the show could use
a little narrative shift.

Come on. Let's do this.

These orders are coming straight
from the f*cking Death Star.

Chip, I'm not... I'm not
covering a f*cking fire, okay?

Just send Bradley. Get her
off my ass for a few days.

I am trying to reach
her. But, come on, Alex!

This has got to ha... Hold on a second.

What are you...

Yes, yes, I know I'm not supposed
to enter here unannounced.

Just give me that.

Hey! What...

[CALL DISCONNECTS]

All right, f*ck you too.

I can't do this anymore, Alex.

I was up all night
after you abandoned me,

left me to host your
f*cking fund-raiser.

Okay. Look, I... I was upset...

Yes, but you're always
upset or stressed,

and I just cannot take it anymore. Okay?

I love our daughter.

But years of having a relationship
with a charming narcissist

is f*cking k*lling me.

You're not in love with me.

And... And I am not in
love with you anymore.

And?

I want a divorce.

Well, no.

[LAUGHS] It's not entirely
up to you, believe it or not.

Jason, this is why we
are separated. Because...

Listen, we don't have to
do the family calendars.

- No, no, no.
- You don't have to host

- my fund-raisers with me anymore.
- No, Alex.

We separated... We separated

because we argue
constantly just like this.

- Mm-hmm.
- Yes, we do. And because, deep down,

I am furious with you for
never putting me first,

and you are furious with me
because I am angry about it,

and because you believe
you have a God-given right

to always have the
most important problem.

[PHONE BUZZES]

Alex, I swear to God,
if you answer that,

I will never speak to you again...

ever.

Fine. Fine.

Okay, um, look.

We can't get a divorce.

- I'm already on thin ice with America.
- Oh, God.

A divorce will just... put
me over the edge. And I can...

This is happening, Alex.

We have to tell Lizzy, you
have to tell your PR people.

Because like everything
else in our personal life,

it needs to be f*cking handled.

But make no mistake, this is happening.

I've spoken to my lawyer. I'm
gonna drive and tell Lizzy tonight.

If you wanna come, you should.

[WHIMPERS]

- No, I... No! No!
- I'll meet you at : . We'll go together.

No, Jason... Jason,
I'm sorry I did that.

I'm sorry I left you at the party alo...

- We cannot tell Lizzy.
- Why?

Because. Because...

I have to go to California today.

We're covering the fires. That's
why Chip has been calling me.

Alex.

Please. Jason, peoples' homes
are burning to the ground.

- [ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]
- Bodies are being pulled out of cars.

This is important. Jason.

We'll tell her when I get back.

Fine. As soon as you are
back, we will tell her.

But I am not f*cking around, Alex.

I'm not gonna cool down
and suddenly change my mind.

I'm not... I'm not thinking that.

I just have to cover the fires.

It's not my fault. I didn't light them.

[SIGHS]

- [LINE RINGING]
- [SIGHS]

[CHIP] Yes?

Hey, so sorry. I was
sound, sound asleep.

Um... you're right.

It's... It's important.
Of course, I'll be there.

Fantastic. Thank you.
Plane can leave at : .

Okay, I'll see you then.
Oh, um, don't bring Bradley.

You just f*cking told me to bring...

You know what? It doesn't matter.

She's already going. Fred wants
her there. You're both going.

It's gonna be a ratings bonanza.

Pack your stuff.
Car's coming in an hour.

Oh, f*ck, fine!

[BASS RHYTHM STARTS]

["JUMP INTO THE FIRE" PLAYING]

[CHATTERING]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

All right, I'm here. Let's go.

[ENGINE WHIRS]

[SEAT BELT CLICKS]

[MUSIC FADES]

[MIA] Copy just came in.

[BRADLEY] Oh, thank you.

I'm glad we're getting
out of town for a few days.

Yeah, we could definitely
all use a change of scenery,

even if it's a deadly fire.

Which is saying something.

I'm glad you were there last night.

- You were?
- Yeah.

I also didn't know half
the staff doesn't trust me.

Oh.

Do I smell like tequila?

Let me smell.

Oh, wow. Nah, I'm just
playing. You're fine.

Look, the staff, they barely
know you. It's only been a week.

Give them some time. Okay?
You're pretty likable.

Thanks.

I need some coffee. You want some?

Nah, I'm all good.

It's the travel booker.

What?

Apparently most of the
hotels near the fire are full

because of the mandatory evacuations.

And the only one that's
available doesn't have any suites.

Well, can't they kick out
some of the displaced families?

I do need room for my diamonds.

- So that's a "yes". Got it.
- Jesus.

Who's telling people that I
need all these things? Hmm?

This is why celebrities get
really crappy reputations.

And by being difficult to work with.

It's been two days since
the Ashley Brown interview.

What's your point?

What are we doing? You have to
talk to Bradley at some point.

Or... Or make some eye contact.

Chip, I don't give a f*ck. Just
leave me alone on it, all right?

I have this other natural
disaster I have to deal with.

Okay. I'm sorry. I'm just...

[MALE PILOT] All right, folks, we
have just about another hour to go

before we touch down in Burbank.

I hope you guys are having
a good time back there.

It's been a pleasure serving you.

[SIGHS]

[SIRENS WAILING]

[CHILD] Mommy!

[SIRENS CONTINUE IN DISTANCE]

[WOMAN] Let's go, come on.
Hold my hand. Don't let go.

[SIRENS CONTINUE]

[MAN] Water... Here if you need 'em.

Sorry this took so long.

Jesus.

[CHIP] Any port in a storm, huh?

You sure about that?

Okay, guys, clock's
ticking. Let's get set up.

Yanko, can you meet
the helicopter, please?

Yeah.

- Alex Levy?
- Hi there.

Hi. [CHUCKLES]

Oh. Thank you.

We're working on the press
conference with the Malibu fire chief.

Then we have the children who
survived in the swimming pool.

The climate change expert. Do we
have anyone from the hospital yet?

The nurse is a little
skittish. I'm working on her.

I'll have a backup too.

Okay. We still need an
upbeat story to wrap up with.

I'm leaning towards the Good
Samaritan who rescued all the dogs.

Oh, uh... don't you think
that's a little bit soft?

I mean, I like dogs.
But just to end the show?

Well, maybe one of the
dogs had an abortion.

Um, what'd you have in mind, Bradley?

I don't know, maybe something
about the allocation

of firefighting resources,

how they prioritize which
homes they wanna save.

- Hmm.
- The numbers seem to show an imbalance

towards richer neighborhoods
over poor neighborhoods.

And maybe that's an unconscious bias,

and maybe it's outright corruption,

but either way, it's wrong.

Claire actually found
a video on Twitter.

Some celebrities hire private
firefighters to protect their mansions.

Oh, that's kind of an interesting take.

All right, can you send me the link?

[HANNAH] Yeah.

All right, it is interesting. Um...

it might look like we are
denigrating first responders.

Uh, so I'm not sure it's
the right tone for us.

I mean, we're a news program.

I think our tone is the
truth, even when it's ugly.

Oh, my God! Are you going
to do this every day?

Do what?

This I'm-so-down-with-the-people,
superior journalist bullshit.

- It's really obnoxious.
- Wow.

You have no respect for our
show or the work that we do here.

[SCOFFS] Well, I don't
need to lie to myself

about the quality of the show

that you've been producing for years.

Okay, respectfully,

we are the number-one morning
news program in the country.

Which is why you're an incredible
platform to open people's eyes

to what's really happening in the world

instead of force-feeding
them a bunch of glossy garbage

that sedates them into
thinking their lives are great

'cause they saved some dogs.

Why? So we can all just
f*cking k*ll ourselves?

- [CHIP] Okay, all right.
- Let's give that to the people!

- [CHIP] Okay, look.
- Jesus.

We're all a little
tired, a little hungover.

You cannot begrudge people
for wanting to feel better.

It's part of the job, truth
teller. Like it or not.

[DROPS PHONE, SIGHS]

- Well, with all due respect, Alex...
- Mm-hmm.

I think you and I have different
ideas about what this show means.

Okay, I think that we're gonna
run with the dog story for today.

We will dig in deeper on the private
firefighters for tomorrow's show.

Great, thank you.

Okay, great. We gotta
get home base locked up.

Let's get moving, everybody. Thank you.

Just try to get some rest.

[MIA] We're gonna need a bigger trailer.

We're gonna sh**t the whole
show out here, whole show.

[YANKO] Well, you can
see the devastation.

Just miles and miles of scorched
earth and remnants of homes.

And this, by the way, is only miles away

from the terrible Woolsey Fire

from the fall of .

And meanwhile, the Santa Anas are...

They're relentless, and the
blaze is only % contained.

Hello, Mrs. Rosen? Wait, I lost you.

Hello? Hello? Mrs. Rosen?

Oh, f*ck.

Oh, there you are.

Yes, yes. We were so
deeply moved by your story.

We would love to...

Mrs. Rosen? Are you still there?

If winds pick up, there's a chance
we'd have to drop signal

and go to New York.

Uh, how big of a chance?

In the mythology of
most ancient cultures,

fire was imbued with magical properties.

It's referred to as a
creature to be tamed.

You understand that when
you see a fire like this,

I mean, the way it moves,

it seems deliberate,

like it's something with a
mind that can think and plan.

Are you just telling
me about the mythology,

or you want that in the copy?

No, I'm not just telling you,
Joel. I want that in the copy.

[SCOFFS] Claire, give me
the keys to this thing.

- Yeah. Will do.
- Mrs. Rosen!

I won't pretend to know the
pain you're feeling right now.

All I wanna say is, I think
your story could bring awareness,

so that no other family ever has
to suffer the way that yours has.

Yes, please take your
time to think about it.

I'll check in with you soon. Okay. Bye.

[CHATTER]

[FIREFIGHTER] Keep that area clear.

[FIREFIGHTERS SHOUTING]

God, how are you so good at that?

Speaking to people that have
had these terrible traumas.

You basically just don't avoid the pain.

My mom d*ed when I was
ten. It was pretty sudden.

I guess you could say
I'm smart at tragedy,

which helps booking a morning news show.

But there's basically nothing
anyone can say that makes it better.

Just a lot of things you
can say that make it worse.

I just try not to make it worse.

By the way, we're about to
be up for the next hours.

I have Adderall if you want some.

Yeah. Okay.

Also, remotes are a good opportunity

to make an impression on higher-ups.

Smaller crew, more face
time. People are jacked up.

There's an excitement in the
air. Stuff happens on remotes.

Man, I wish this wind would die down.

- [PHONE BUZZES]
- [SIGHS]

Mrs. Rosen. Yes.

Yes, we're on our way.
We'll be there soon.

[MUSIC PLAYS IN THEATER]

It doesn't work.

I think they did a great job of...

Putting what was on the
page up on the screen.

That is an accurate representation
of what was on the page.

And it doesn't work.

But you greenlit the pilot.

That's true. I did.

So why would you do it
if you hated it so much?

You follow baseball, Kate?

Do I look like I follow baseball?

Yes.

We're talking baseball.

Sometimes a guy, he
bounces around the minors,

he's barely hitting his own weight,

and everybody has called him a washout.

But you, you see something
in him, so you empower him.

You call him up to the majors, and
the first f*cking pitch he sees,

he crushes a -foot towering
home run over the center-field wall.

It's beautiful. He's a gamer.

So when this guy or gal makes good,

it renews your faith in the game.

And in news. And in life. It
puts a spring in your step.

It makes you wanna come
back to the park again

'cause it may happen again.

And guess what? It does happen again,

and everything is right in the world.

Famine, poverty and pestilence
are a thing of the past.

A tree grows in Brooklyn. Rainbows...

Are we still talking about the pilot?

What else would we be
talking about, Kate?

Sometimes, you give a guy an at bat

to show him that baseball
is just not his sport.

You knew it already.
But he didn't know it.

He got a big head when he was
putting up decent numbers in Triple-A.

And what do you know? He strikes
out on three straight pitches.

And then it happens again.
And then it happens again.

So now he knows. He's just
not a big-league hitter.

But more importantly, the scout,

who had been championing this
guy from here to kingdom come...

knows it too.

And that's money well spent.

So, no, I'm not picking it
up. And I'm okay with it.

Charlie Black just showed
up. He wants to talk to you.

Okay. Class dismissed. [LAUGHS]

Chipper. What's up? What
can I help you with?

It's a little weird seeing you
here with your other hat on.

[CHUCKLES] Well, hats look
weird on me in general. I get it.

In addition to which,

my heart is fully in the
news division right now,

for better or worse.

Well, good luck with that.

She can be a cruel
mistress, as they say.

Um...

speaking of which, um...

look, you know, I do understand
what's happening here.

You know, if push comes to shove,
I'm gonna be the first one to die.

You're not wrong. Sorry.

And maybe I shouldn't
be bringing this to you,

but I have very few options
and increasingly less to lose.

So, f*ck it, here goes.

Look, TV, at this level, is...

It's like the Mafia, you know. Um...

We got a don in a precarious position,

and, as a result, he's
gonna have me whacked.

And, you know, I need protection.

So you're coming to the
underboss to propose a coup?

[CHUCKLES] Somehow, you have
come out of this pretty golden.

And I am sure it has crossed your mind

that, uh, Fred's left holding the bag,

and you're kicking ass,

then you could quickly find
yourself in Fred's seat.

Crossed my mind.

So here's the thing. I
wanna help put you there.

How would that happen?

To be honest, I've never done
anything like this before, okay?

But these things have a way of
becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You know, they... People
hint at a shake-up.

They hint that young
hotshot Cory Ellison

is going to succeed Fred Micklen.

And before you know it, you
know... I like your chances.

We are the press. You know?

And while I can't have the story
placed at our show, obviously,

I've been around a while, I do
have clout, I do have credibility.

And I got a lot of
political capital saved up,

and I can spend that sh*t
getting the story placed...

at any number of outlets.

It's intriguing.

But I don't see Fred getting taken out

unless something
specific comes out on him.

- Like what?
- I don't know, Chip, like what?

[CHUCKLES]

I gotta be honest with
you, man, I don't know.

I'd have to think about that.

Organized crime is harder
than it looks, isn't it?

Yeah, it is.

Think about it.

All right. Um...

Thank you for talking to me.

Yeah. Good luck with that
moral compass of yours.

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]

- [MIA] Copy that.
- [YANKO] Yeah.

[MIA] That's on the C
block. That's C block.

You don't have to wear the
mask, but you have to take it.

- Just take it.
- Yeah.

Oh, I'll help.

Take these and pass them out.

Hey, can you give one of these
to Bradley? She's in her trailer.

Then we can put that in. That'll
fit. Does that work for you, Yanko?

It's not about me.

- It's about the fires.
- Apparently you minded about... What?

- [MIA] That looks good. I like that.
- [YANKO] Okay. All right.

That's all I can do.

[CLAIRE SIGHS]

Mask.

Um, Bradley, I'm supposed to give
you a mask. It's network policy.

Oh, hey, thanks.

Did you find this
article about the actor

that hired the private firefighters?

Yeah, that was me.

This is great stuff.

This is fascinating. Really
f*cked-up, but fascinating.

Thanks.

Yeah, if you find another
f*cked-up story like this,

don't hesitate to bring it to me.

- Oh. Okay. Yeah.
- Okay.

- I will.
- Thanks.

- Claire?
- Yes.

What are your goals around here?

Oh, uh, well, to be completely
honest, I'm still feeling it out.

I mean, I'm fascinated by so much of it.

Like, maybe on-air, maybe an EP.

I mean, also I can just see
myself running an entire network.

Okay, well, um, I've been
interviewing assistants.

How's that going?

You know, to be honest, not great.

They just keep sending me the
same cookie-cutter, Ivy League...

Hire me! I'm extremely smart.
I'm incredibly hardworking.

I already know everything about
the show and how to get sh*t done.

But mainly, I really
want to learn from you.

I realize you maybe weren't
remotely going to offer me the job,

and I apologize if I
just mortified myself.

But I really do mean all of that.

Did you see how many
bridges I b*rned last week?

Yeah, and I really admire it.

Okay. You're funny, and
you have questionable taste,

but I like that you just come
out and say what you want.

So I think I wanna offer you the job.

- Really?
- Yeah, if you want it.

Yes! Should I just start now?

I would pass out the face
masks, then come back

and we can start talking about work.

Amazing. Thank you. I
will not let you down.

I know you won't.

- Guess what?
- Hey.

I just got promoted.

What? You did?

You are now having an affair

with Bradley Jackson's
executive assistant.

Come on, Claire. Come on. Please.

Look, it's great news,
no, but use your head.

Okay. I understand. I do. [CHUCKLES]

I'm proud of you.

Me too.

Oh.

Yes. Yeah.

You look very sexy out here
in the wild, you know.

It's unbearable.

- Go away. Now.
- [GIGGLES]

Look up. Close your eyes.

Look, Alex, I get that
you're upset at me

ever since that Ashley interview.

Oh, God, Bradley. My
life is not all about you.

I'm sorry if what I asked you was rude.

- [MAN] Guys, I got Mike from an old...
- Rude? Rude?

[GREG] Clear the set, please!

Implying that I'm part of
a conspiracy of silence?

How could that be rude?

Fine. I got all heated
up. It was a question.

My journalistic instinct
told me to ask you.

Oh, that's so grand. Your
curiosity just thrills me.

And I'm in awe of your instincts.
Can we just be honest?

Please.

- I don't like you, and you don't like me.
- I like you.

Oh, come on. Why? Why are
we p... Stop pretending.

Because we have to work together.

Yes, I know we are in this mess now.

But doing this job well requires
us to act like best friends

for exactly two hours a day.

The rest of the time, we just
have to be professional adults

who can tolerate being in the same room.

And I think we can both
handle those boundaries.

I know I can. See if you can.

Come on, Greg! What's happening?

Yeah, we're live in seconds,
everyone. Quiet on the set.

[ALEX] sh*t.

[ALEX] Okay, come on,
sound, mikes, let's go.

Here. Who's taking my coat?

We're live in ten.

Jesus, you can't buy this kind
of production value. Holy sh*t.

- [BRADLEY] Which camera do we start with?
- Standby, two.

- [ALEX] Oh, my God.
- Take it, two. Cue her.

In three, two...

Good morning, and thank
you for joining us.

We're coming to you live
from both coasts this morning

with special coverage
of the Huntley Fire

that has devastated
California this week.

Alex, Bradley.

Good morning, guys. Bradley
and I are currently standing

in the Santa Monica
Mountains near Huntley Canyon,

where the blaze began, and
the destruction is devastating.

Here's what we know right now.

Seven people are confirmed
dead and dozens are injured,

including four firefighters who
are being treated in area hospitals.

At least , acres have b*rned,

and local officials estimate that
close to , homes have been lost.

[ALEX] And those numbers
are still going up

as the fire continues to rage,

only % contained at this hour.

, residents have been
forced into mandatory evacuations.

It's difficult to wrap your
mind around the human toll.

It really is, Alex.
It's... It's harrowing.

Wow. So awful.

Well, we hope that both of
you are staying safe out there.

Thank you, guys.

It's intense being here
in the middle of all this,

but we're watching out for each other.

Yes, we are. Now let's go
to a live news conference

with Los Angeles County Fire
Chief, Captain Graham Sealy,

for an update on the rescue effort.

- And we're out.
- All right. It's good.

Mm.

Here.

- Oh, thanks.
- You okay?

Yeah. I'm fine. It's
just the smoke. It's...

It's the smoke. I'm fine.

Okay. All right.

Uh, dog guy's on next,
all right? Five minutes.

Okay.

Oh, come on. Okay. You
gotta really get there, okay?

[GREG] All right, everyone,
we're live in five, four...

We are here live with Tim Eavers.

Welcome to The Morning Show, Tim.

Thanks so much for
being here with us today.

Oh, it's my great pleasure.

I've been watching you for
the past years through

every major emergency,

and, uh, I'm a huge fan.

I watched your daughter
grow up on the show.

- Oh, that's great. Thank you.
- Yeah.

She's quite the grown woman these days.

- Color me an empty nester, you know?
- [TIM CHUCKLES]

[BRADLEY] So, Tim, this is
an incredible act of heroism.

How many dogs have you
rescued altogether now?

- Uh, eighteen. And two cats.
- Wow. That's incredible.

Wow. So, Tim, take us
back to that moment.

So once I realized that

my wife had picked up
my daughter from school,

and they were safely
situated in a motel,

- I went home to get treasured items...
- This guy Tim is great.

And to pick up our,
um... our two family dogs,

Marge, who's an old Lab, and
Tilly, who is her own puppy.

Oh, that's so sweet.

So you kept the mother-daughter
relationship intact.

Oh, yeah, you don't wanna
be busting up a family.

[WHIMPERS, COUGHS]

The smoke is really... Excuse me.

What... What was that?

Yes, there is a lot of smoke out here.

So, Tim, once you got the dogs
in the car, then what happened?

Uh, well, so at that point, you
know, the fires were pretty close,

so there was a lot of sirens.

And dogs were just barking everywhere.

And that's when I realized,

man, there was a lot of people
like my wife and my daughter

- who were at work and at school.
- [ALEX SNIFFLES]

So I just started driving
around the neighborhood

and checking all these different yards

and finding all these
dogs that got left behind.

[SOBS]

Oh, hey, Greg, let's
move on to the strays now.

Okay, and now the strays.

Yes. Okay.

So, Tim, we have four of the dogs
here today that you've rescued.

Let's... Tell us a little
bit about these big guys.

Okay, so these guys are
from a family who, sadly,

their home burnt down.

I know that nobody likes
feeling alone, you know?

So, if someone out there is suffering

or in emotional pain, or needs a family,

they might want to adopt
one of these little angels.

I wanna give you a home.

Greg, what the f*ck
is happening right now?

She's about to lose it.

It looks like this one might
have found a home already.

- Isn't that right, Alex?
- It's just so emotional, everything today.

What you're doing, it's
just... it's beautiful.

- We're gonna get through this together.
- Mm-hmm.

- And God is gonna help us.
- Donny, no more close-ups on Alex.

- Go right to Bradley. Stay on her.
- And cut off her mike.

[CHIP] Wrap it up, now. Wrap it.

If you're interested in adopting
one of these incredible dogs,

you can find all of
that info on our website.

Unless Alex beats you to it, of course.

Stay with us for more special
coverage of the Huntley Canyon Fire,

here on The Morning Show.

Okay, and we're clear.
We're clear. Clear.

[WHISPERS INDISTINCTLY, SNIFFS]

Oh. Thank you.

Uh, excuse me.

She doing okay?

- That was great, okay? Thank you.
- Can I get that...

Can I get that picture with her, or...

- What's going on?
- [CHIP] You gotta get in there,

- you gotta do something.
- I think she just needs five minutes.

- I don't have five minutes!
- Where is she?

She's in the trailer.

- [CLATTERING]
- Jesus.

Alex, open the door.

I literally need her on
camera in, like, eight minutes.

[GRUNTS, SNIFFLES] I'm
fine. What is the problem?

- You think she's fine?
- She said she was fine.

No, she's not f*cking fine.

- I'm going in.
- Wait, you're going in there?

Yes, trust me.

I am very well-versed with
people on the verge.

[SIGHS]

[DOOR OPENS]

Oh, my God, what is wrong with you?

Honestly. I don't want you in here.

I don't want anyone in here.

What are you trying to prove? Jesus.

[GAGS] Oh, Jesus.

[GROANS]

[BRADLEY] Okay. Okay. Here.

I got you. I got you.

[COUGHING]

Just let it out.

[VOMITS, COUGHS]

It's okay.

Come here. Come here, come here.

Come here.

- Okay.
- [SOBS]

It's okay.

You're gonna be okay.
You'll be all right.

[WHIMPERS]

[SOBBING]

Here.

Okay, breathe. Just breathe.

[SIGHS]

Okay. Oh.

[GROANS]

Okay.

You can go now. I'm fine.

You can go now.

All right, I'm just gonna
stick around for a minute.

No, no. Bradley, please.

I want you to leave now. Okay?

You got to see that.
You got to see me break.

Whoo-hoo! You got a really great show.

All right? So, come on.

Please, just go.

Please, get out of here!

Okay. All right.

Yeah, I und... I need
somebody on standby, so...

Hey, uh, what's going on?

She's calming down.

Just give her a few minutes and
then send in hair and makeup.

I'll go cover the next segment.
Beyond that, I don't know.

Okay. Um... thank you.

Yeah. Of course.

- [ALEX SIGHS]
- [KNOCK AT DOOR]

- Hey.
- [ALEX] Mm-hmm.

Hi.

Oh, yeah. Thanks.

So. What the hell?

[GROANS]

Jason and I are getting a divorce.

Oh, my God. I'm so sorry.

No, you know, it's been
coming for a really long time.

We haven't been in a
good place for years.

But just...

It's Lizzy.

That's my family, and I
don't know what else I have.

Anyway, I'll handle it

so that it doesn't hurt the
show any more than it has to.

I'm sure there's gonna be
some fallout, of course,

but, you know, we were America's family.

f*cking bullshit.

[SIGHS]

That's good. Push that.

Hey, uh, the press is putting
out all kinds of feelers

about the Alex meltdown
from this morning.

Nope. No. Do not let them
make a big deal out of this.

Alex Levy is not having
an emotional breakdown.

She is simply moved by the fire

and the victims and all
the sweet puppy dogs.

- Stick to that.
- Right, copy that.

- [PHONE BUZZES]
- [SIGHS] Oh, sh*t.

Hey, Fred.

g*dd*mn it, Chip.

Why the f*ck is my property manager

telling me that there are
investigators from TMS

trying to interview the hired
firefighters working to save my home?

Yeah, that's a story that
Bradley's doing tomorrow.

We didn't know one of the
locations was your property.

Fred! Fred, Loki's been b*rned.

Look. I'm in hell here.
My home might burn down.

I gotta find somewhere to
put Geneva's f*cking horses.

k*ll the g*dd*mn story.

[LINE DISCONNECTS]

[SIGHS]

f*ck.

[SIGHS]

[VEHICLE APPROACHES]

Oh, Jesus.

Everything I brought smells like smoke.

I know. It's sexy, isn't it?

[BOTH LAUGH]

[BRADLEY] Oh, my God. Fires.
Fires take it out of you.

I just gotta see what Chip
wanted then I'm gonna pass out.

- [MIA] Good night.
- [BRADLEY] Night.

[SCOFFS]

[CHIP] I hear you. It's not my decision.

[SIGHS] But you're the producer.

Yeah, but it's Fred's network.
There's very little I can do here.

What kind of news organization is this?

I don't f*cking know,
to be honest with you.

I wish I had a good answer
for that. But I... I...

I know I'm an annoying
pain in your ass, okay?

But if it makes you feel any better,

I've been an annoying pain in the ass

to pretty much everybody
I've ever worked with.

I push. It's just my nature.

And, and... Jesus, I wish
to God sometimes it wasn't.

But I've realized I can't change it,

and I guess I just... I learned
to just lean into the f*cking turn.

Look, I get it, okay. You
don't have to apologize to me.

I'm not apologizing. I
was just explaining it.

I understand, okay.

I see you in that room
today, pitching me that story.

- It's a f*cking good story.
- It's a great story!

It is. And I'm the f*cking
assh*le who has to shut you down.

And I used to be you.

That's what I used to do.
I used to push.

But now I'm in this position
where I can't push anymore

because I have to hold the middle

from being pulled to the other side

and keep the whole f*cking thing
from falling down the mountain.

And then you wake up
one day and you're like,

"Did I used to push?

What direction did I push in
when I was even a pusher?"

I don't know why I keep
saying pusher right now,

but it's f*cking...

Let's just be clear. You're
not talking about dr*gs, right?

Oh, no, I was a drug dealer. That's
what I was trying to tell you.

You're pretty funny for a broken person.

That's the sweetest thing
you've ever said to me.

- Well...
- I want that on my tombstone.

- [DOOR OPENS]
- That's...

Wind's shifted, guys, and we
need to pack up the site and move.

- Right now.
- Okay, okay.

[RENA] Right now. Come on.
Cars are waiting outside.

- Hey, Bradley.
- Yeah.

What if we said, "f*ck Fred"
and ran the story anyway?

Can you be ready in time?

Yeah. Yeah.

- Let's do it.
- Okay.

[SHOUTING]

Hey. Excuse me, guys. Sir, can
you talk to me for just a second?

I'm with The Morning Show.

How long have you and your
team been working here

to save this private estate?

Since last night.

And do you think it's fair

that certain wealthy people
can afford private firefighters

to save their homes while others
are forced to brave the elements?

There is no "fair" here.

People are desperate
to save their homes.

You can't blame them
for doing what they can.

On the way here, I saw
a whole neighborhood

very close by was b*rned to the ground.

Small homes, there weren't
nearly as many firefighters.

People picking up the
pieces of their lives.

What do you think about that?

I wish everybody had extra
money to hire extra help.

We're just doing what we can here.

This is America. Money matters.

Thank you, sir.

From Malibu, I'm Bradley Jackson.

["LET'S BURN DOWN THE CORNFIELD" PLAYS]

f*ck you, Fred.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[PHONE CLICKING]

[CHATTERING ON TV]

[PHONE BUZZES]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

Claire.

You felt too far away.

[CLAIRE LAUGHS]

What are you doing?

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

Coming.

[MUSIC FADES]

Hey.

Hi.

Um...

I just wanted you to know

that I know that I've
been really erratic today.

Okay.

Um...

There's more, um...

Also, the reason that I lost
my sh*t earlier is that, um...

I'm getting a divorce.

Oh.

I'm sorry.

It's okay. I'll live.

Is there anything I can do?

No, don't... No.

It's just, uh...

my daughter.

I don't want to lose her.

I know she is gonna blame me,
and she's going to blame my job.

And...

I just can't stand the
idea of my daughter...

thinking badly of me.

That's a lot to carry.

Yeah.

Okay, good night.

- [SIGHS]
- [DOG BARKS]

[SIGHS]

[BRADLEY] Alex!

- Hey.
- Yeah?

Uh...

Look, life is messy. Everybody's
life is messy and complicated.

Parents and kids, it's a lot.

And my... my mom is a f*cking mess.

I don't know what to do
with her half the time.

And it's probably because...
my dad was a real bad drunk,

and... and... one time he was
driving the car, and he k*lled a kid.

And I only say that because
I was furious with my dad.

And I pushed him out of my life.

But I never stopped loving him.

And that's just how it
is with parents and kids.

And I guarantee, no matter what
you didn't do for your daughter,

that you think you didn't
make some perfect life,

whatever the f*ck that is, for her,

she loves you so much.

Thank you.

You're actually pretty lovable

when you're not acting like a wet cat.

[LAUGHS]

And I want you to know
that you can trust me.

You can tell me things. You
can be vulnerable. It's okay.

Okay. Thank you.

- Night.
- Good night.

[SLOW GUITAR RIFF STARTS]

[INHALES]

[SIRENS WAIL IN DISTANCE]

["I FEEL LIKE I'M DROWNING" PLAYS]

[PHONE LINE RINGS]

Hey, Cory. It's Chip.

What's up?

I think I'm ready to talk.

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC STOPS]