08x24 - Miles Away

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Murphy Brown". Aired: November 14, 1988 – May 18, 1998.*
Watch/Buy Amazon


Murphy Brown is the star reporter of "FYI," a newsmagazine series.
Post Reply

08x24 - Miles Away

Post by bunniefuu »

The prison
overcrowding piece

Will be ready for our
: broadcast tonight.

Splendid work, matthew.

Make sure to get
the tape to editing before...

Already taken care of.

In fact, when I pulled up
in front of the building

I personally handed the camera
with the tape in it to spider.

Spider?

Yeah, our production
assistant.

Our production assistant is jed.

We don't have an
assistant named spider.

So the five guys with him
weren't taking the news van

To get it washed
and detailed?

No.

Oh, man, todd's going
to k*ll me.

And why is that?

He was in the back
of the news van.

Hey, who do you have to know
to get a job around here?

Well, well, what
a pleasant surprise.

To what do I owe this visit?

We were in
the neighborhood

It seemed like
the natural place to be...

After we quit!

You the man!

It's a bloodbath
over there.

They're slashing budgets,
cutting departments.

They were even going
to fire frank and corky.

Mr. Dial, todd's calling
from a chop shop!

He wants you to know
he's okay

And he has the tape with
the prison stuff on it.

Tell him
we'll pick him up.

Okay, but he's
sort of a hostage.

Oh, god, mr. Dial.

The computer ate my story
on the state department

And we go on the air
in an hour.

Oh, god!

What are we going to do?

Matthew, remember
the first rule
of journalism.

You're testing me now?

Okay, I'll be right there.

I realize you
were joking earlier

About the job application

But as you can see

We could use a few
experienced hands around here.

You know,
it could be fun.

And it would
let us stay together

For a little while
longer, anyway.

Although it would
tick stan off

If he found out
we were helping jim.

You the man!

Fine.

Internal bleeding.

Hey, there, miles.

Sorry I'm late

For the story meeting.

What?

Story meeting.

It's that time, isn't it?

Yes, we still have a show to do.

Shows require stories--

Stories require meetings--

Story meeting, yes.

Good.

Sit, sit, sit.

Great.

Okay...

Item one...

What is it, miller?

Where is everybody?

They're gone.

Moving on.

Item one...

Yes, miller?

Gone where?

They quit.

Now, as
you can see

We're a little
shorthanded right now.

So you will be opening
the broadcast.

After which you will throw
the show over to...

You.

Then you will introduce

This week's commentary...

By you.

Winding up with some
insightful banter

Between you...
You... And you.

Oh, yeah, this is really
going to work.

Wow. I can't believe it.

They're really gone.

I need a minute, miles.

I think I know

What you're going through,
miller.

Your heart is saying,r
"go, be with your friends."

But your head is saying,
"no. Don't desert the ship."

You know

Maybe the best thing
for both of us

Is just let these
feelings out.

Okay.

I'm looking around
this empty office

And I'm really confused.

I mean, my head says,
"paint it navajo white"

But my heart says,
"cerulean blue."

What?!

You're right.

I hadn't even considered
sunflower yellow.

Oh, god! I hate this!

Miller,fyi is
crumbling all around us.

Doesn't that mean

Me office?
A little bit more to you
than grabbing so

Yeah, sure.

Look, I know
I didn't get along

With those guys
when I first started

But lately I feel like
we've really been connecting.

Now that they're gone

Well, my feelings
are hard to measure.

Hard to measure.
Really

It's x .

Cool. Thanks, man.

Miles, mr. Lansing called.

Wants to see you-- now.

Oh, god. Lansing.

You haven't told him?

My head said
not to tell him

And my heart said
not to tell him

So I didn't tell him.

I'm a dead man...

And now I'm walking.

I'm a dead man walking.

Relax, paul.

, There may be some cutbacks
yeah

But we wouldn't think of doing

The letterman show without you.

What?

Oh, that.

I was misquoted.

I did not say
that you could be replaced

By a monkey blowing
into a jug.

Got to go, paul.

I see you're busy.

Silverberg, get back here.

We have to talk about things
at fyi.

Oh, so... You know.

Of course. Did you actually
think I wouldn't know?

How do you know?

I was there when...

Forget about it.

A bad diaper.
This place leaks
like

So fontana and sherwood
are gone.

It's not the end
of the world.

As a matter of fact,
it might be better

That you're not working
with your wife.

Keep a little mystery
for the weekend.

Yes, sir. But now that
murphy's gone...

Wait a minute.

What do you mean
murphy's gone?

She quit.
I thought you knew.

I didn't know.

How would I know?

Murphy quit?

My god. That's terrible.

Fyi is doomed.

On the other hand,
with murphy gone

Then fontana and sherwood
could come back.

Fyi is saved.

And it's really better

If you work with
your wife every day

Because I'm telling you

Nothing keeps
a marriage fresher

Then a little midday
nookie in the xerox room.

That's very... Romantic, sir.

But after frank
and corky quit...

Wait a minute.

You're telling me
we don't have any of them?

They're all gone?

They all quit?

Anything else
you feel like telling me?

Corky and I were planning
on taking some vacation days

But this doesn't seem
like the right time.

Silverberg, get back here.

Okay, fine.

There's no need to panic.

This network
you think I remained head
of

All these years
by panicking?

Absolutely not, sir.

Not you.

So what's your solution?

My solution is
that you're going to panic.

Fix it,
silverberg.

Get anchors, get anybody

Ext week's show.
But get them
by n

Now if you'll excuse me,
I have to call letterman

And tell him that we're
replacing paul shaffer

With a jug-blowing monkey.

No.

What?

I can't make it work.

I won't.

Fyi is not some toy
with replaceable parts.

They're people

Who pour their heart and soul
into their work every week.

They are the show, sir.

Without them there is
no fyi.

What exactly
are you telling me here?

I am telling you,
either you bring them back--

Every single one of them--
or...

Or what?

Are you threatening me?

I do not respond nicely
to being threatened.

Adrenaline makes me crazy.

So I'm going to say it
one more time, slowly.

Are you threatening me?

Well, that's our report.

Thank you for watching
the icn evening news.

For myself and the entire
icn news staff, good night.

And we're clear.

(Cheering)

Oops! Oh, god, wait.

No, we're not!

Oh!

Okay,now
we're clear.

Well, we are.

Well, that went
better than usual.

Wow. I am really tired.

I don't remember
being this tired

After fyi.

Tell me about it.

I'm actually sore.

You didn't have to wrestle

That matthew guy to the ground
till he stopped flailing

And screaming about losing
his state department story.

I actually had to use

My leslie stahl
sleeper hold on him.

Well, all the same

Thank you
for making this

The best
icn broadcast ever.

?
The be@st broadcast ever

Jim, there was a fire.

Yes, but only one this time,
and it was quickly contained.

We're a damn good
team, aren't we?

Hmm.
Hmm.

The best.

Well, I guess
it couldn't last forever.

It doesn't have to end.

Well, face it,
corky--

Jim's already
at icn.

Miles is staying
at fyi.

Pretty soon, we're going to have
to figure out what to do next.

It's over.

But it doesn't have to be.

I mean, we could...

I don't know, we could...

We could what?

I don't know.

It's weird, isn't it?

You show up one day
at a new job

And before you know it

You spend the next years
with a bunch of people

Who become the best friends
you ever had.

Can't even
really imagine

What your life
would have been like

If you hadn't met them.

You know, I regret
a lot of things in my life

But not a second of the time
I've spent with all of you.

That's
so sweet.
Hear, hear.

That's not entirely true.

You know that time..?

(Others complaining)

Hey, everybody.

Oh, my god,
it's miles!

Hi, honey.

I mean, oh, it's you,
mr. Kiss-up company man.

So, what are you
doing here, miles?

Well, I just... Came by

To see if there was any way
to convince you

To come back to fyi.

Forget it, miles.

I can't believe
I married you.

Okay. Look, I understand
how you feel, but...

What would you say
if I told you that...

Frank and corky's jobs
were safe?

We're not going
anywhere without murphy.

Okay.

But what would you say
if I told you

That murphy's job was safe too?

I'd say I'm not going
back without jim.

Well, thank you,
slugger

But you know
my feelings.

I cannot
and will not return

Until the network runs
that stuart best tobacco story.

Good enough.

Oh! What would you say if..?

Oh, come on, miles,
they're not going to run

The toba..

Tobacco story?
They're going to run
the

You're kidding.

Oh, my god!

Well, what do
you think, jim?

Well, i...

I, I can't leave icn.

These young people need a mentor
and I can't just...

What would you say if I told you
I talked to charlie kurault

And he said he would be thrilled
at the prospect

Of taking over your duties
at icn?

Well, then, I'd say...

I'd say we're a team again!

(All cheering)

I married
a miracle worker.

What the hell
happened, miles?

How did you pull this off?

It was pretty
simple, really.

I just told lansing
that the four of you

Were the heart
and soul of fyi

And without you,
there was no fyi.

And he agreed.

Unbelievable.

Did he happen
to mention

A pay raise for us?

No.

So this is great.

Ted.
We got everything
we wan

You're all
back together again.

We're all back together again.

Yeah. Well...

Well, what?

What's going on?

Uh...

W-well, after, um...

Lansing got through
screaming and shouting

And throwing pieces of his
programming board at me

He... Sort of, uh...

He fired you?!

No, no.

He... Didn't fire me.

He promoted me.

What?

Actually, I was hoping
we could talk about this

At home tonight.

Lansing was
so impressed

With the way I
stood up to him

That he wants me
to go to new york

And oversee the entire
network's news operation

And help create
a -hour news service.

In new york?

Are you taking it?

I... I don't know.

We have to talk.

Um, he wants an answer
by tomorrow.

We really have to talk.

Uh, look,
I should go...

Should go...

And...
I can think.

We should talk.

I'll see you guys
tomorrow, okay?

(Miles laughs nervously)

I must say I'm delighted
I could persuade you two

To return with me to fyi.

I know you're used
to the chaotic frenzy at icn

But I think you'll find
the quiet hum and buzz

Of a seasoned newsroom
to be a revelation.

Hello, everyone!
I'm back.

Oh, mr. Dial...

It's like a sanctuary.

Yes, well...

Would you be so kind

As to unpack the boxes
in my office.

Turn right.

It's just down the hall.

Matthew...

Your other right.

Sorry. I'm left-handed.

Ah.

Murph, if you
think miles is

Going to pass
up this job

You're just
deluding yourself.

And I say he's not leaving.

I'd ask you to put money on it

But I know you'd just mumble
something about a point spread

And refuse to pay up
when you lose.

Ah, there you are.

Where is everyone?

Uh, well, jim, at first

We thought they were planning

A big surprise party for us
to welcome us back

But it turns out the network
suspended production

Until this situation
gets resolved.

Unless they just
didn't hear us come in!

Jim, it's great

To have you back.

Place hasn't been the same
without you.

Thank you, slugger

Although I wish
I were returning

Under more joyous
circumstances.

See that?
You
jim agrees.

Murphy doesn't think
miles is leaving.

Excuse me for doubting
the resolve of a man

Who polls the office
before deciding

Whether he wants a piece of
cheese on his turkey sandwich.

Face it, murph,
he's out of here.

(Knock at door)

Hey, guys.

Oh, hey, miles.

So?

So?

So?

So...

So?

So...

So what the hell are you doing

Going or staying?

I've decided to take
the job in new york.

What? Wait. How c...

How can you do that?

How can you
just leave us here?

What are you talking about?

You said he was leaving.

I was just trying
to protect myself

So I wouldn't get all emotional

When he really
told us.

So, you're...

Really going.

What about... The two of you?

Well, we...

Stayed up late last
night talking.

And crying.

She was talking,
I was crying.

But we both agreed

That this was too
good an opportunity

For me to pass up.

And if our relationship

Has been able to withstand
all it has so far

A little distance won't k*ll it.

Won't help it...

But it won't k*ll it.

(Laughs)

You're not really going.

Yes, murphy,
I really am.

No, no, no.

I see what this is about.

We all got the chance to quit

So you want the chance to quit.

Okay, miles,
you've done it.

Oh, please, don't go.

We'll miss you so much.

(Fake crying)

There. Are you happy now?

Let's get to work...

No, murphy,
I really am going.

To be
I've got

At the airport
in an hour.

It's true, murphy.
He does.

See?

Plane ticket.

Well, I guess
this is good-bye then.

I guess it is.

This is all happening
way too fast.

First jim's gone,
then we're gone.

Then everyone's back,
now you're gone.

I get this kind of upheaval
in my social life.

I don't need it here at work.

Now listen, miles,
you might want

To just think
about this a little.

It's hard enough, frank.

I think I've got
to just go with
my gut here.

I'm sure
it's the right thing to do.

You know, miles

When doris and I
first got married

We made a decision
not to have children.

We thought it would be

Too many headaches,
too much work, and...

You never know who
they'll grow up to be

But I'd like to think
if I had a son

He'd turn out to be
a lot like you.

Good luck, my boy.

And thank you for allowing me
to come back to this place.

Means more to me
than I could ever tell you.

Thanks, jim.

And uh...

If rather acts up

You're my new
evening anchor.

Oh! Oh...

No.

Boy, it's not
going to be easy

Letting you
just walk out of here.

Aw, come on, frank,
we'll still be friends.

You can still call me
in the middle of the night

When you wake up convinced

That everybody's going
to come in to work the next day

And realize
you're a fraud.

I know,
but now it's a toll call.

Aw, geez, this place--

It's not going
to be the same without you

But you're going
to do great.

Well, we'd better
get to the airport

If you're going to make
your flight on time.

Okay, I'll be
there in a second.

And listen--

If, you know,
if rather acts up

Job
and jim doesn't want the

You know...

You know, murphy,
for what it's worth

This was not
an easy decision.

In fact...

Miles...

I want to tell you I'm sorry.

You don't have to apologize,
murphy.

No. I want to tell you
I'm sorry.

I want to make amends.

And not just for
the last

Couple of days.

For everything.

I'm not sure I understand.

From the second you arrived here

I did my best
to make your life a living hell.

I questioned you,
I threatened you

I ridiculed you,
I challenged your authority

Every step
of the way

D you put up with it.
An

You put up with it,
and you thrived in spite of it

And you got the best work
out of me

Any producer ever has.

And I never thanked you
for anything.

Or apologized for anything

(Voice breaking):
and I never told you how much
your friendship

Means to me.

You don't have to.

You don't think I've known?

I've known.

You know, when
I first got here

I really didn't know

What I was doing.

I know.

And you let me
know you knew

And you could've
had me fired

But you didn't.

Instead, you subjected me

To your endless
reign of terror

But you were
also teaching me

And even though
your lessons

Were sometimes
difficult

And occasionally
gratuitously painful

I've never had a
better teacher, murphy.

So you can make
your amends

But you got nothing
to be sorry for.

You made me
what I am today...

A nervous wreck

Getting in way, way,
way over his head.

Hey, you're going
to be fine.

And uh...
If rather acts up

I'm just a phone call away.

And I got dirt on him.

Okay, miles, if I'm
such a good teacher

Name three songs
by diana ross and the supremes.

"Baby love,"
"you can't hurry love"

And "love child."

Four tops?

"Bernadette"

"Standing in
the shadows of love"

And "reach out
and I'll be there."

Murphy, I really
got to go.

Miles, jr. Walker's
real name.

(Exasperated sigh)

Autry dewalt.

Yes!

Damn, I'm good.

(Elevator bell rings)

Oh, well, I guess this is it.

I am really going
to miss this place.

It's given me a wife,
three great friends

And a lifetime of memories.

I love you guys.

Bye.

Wow. That's it.

Guess he's...

Really gone.

Eight years since he arrived
and it seems like yesterday.

He'll be back.

Oh, give it up already, murph.

What makes you so sure?

The elevator was going up.

(Bell rings)

Hello.

Good-bye... Again.

What I said before.

You know, again.

Hold the doors, miles.

We'll ride down
with you.
Post Reply