01x02 - A Seat at the Table

[bunniefuu]

[PANTS] Fred, what happened?

[ALARM BEEPS]

[ALEX] Good morning. Mitch Kessler,
my cohost and partner of years,

was fired today for sexual misconduct.

My on-air partner, my TV
husband, is a sexual predator now?

I didn't r*pe anybody!

[PANTING, GRUNTS]

[CLAIRE] Hannah, you said you
were looking for stories

about strong women tomorrow.

Well, check this out.

Yeah?

[HANNAH] You know you have over
a million views on your video?

We wanna interview you about
why the video is going viral.

The Morning Show?

I'm exhausted!

You seem a lot more relaxed today.

Yeah, well, this is a whole lot
nicer than a coal mine protest,

I'm not gonna lie.

I think people want to
trust that the person

that is telling them the truth
about the world is an honest person.

This is Cory Ellison. I'm the
president of the UBA network.

How would you like to come
and meet me for a drink

and talk about your future?

Alex, they were going to replace you.

- What?
- He came to me.

They said they wanted to make a change.

I don't believe you.

[MUSIC ENDS]

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

[SINGING ROCK BALLAD]

Bradley Jackson.

Thank you so much for coming to
meet me on such short notice.

Come on. You're the head of
two divisions of a network.

You don't have to
pretend to appreciate me

dropping everything to show up.

- [CORY CHUCKLES] Mmm.
- You expect that, right?

I'll have bourbon on the rocks. Thanks.

So, what's this about? Late
night meeting at a hotel...

Oh. [LAUGHS]

No, you see, sorry, I'm
one of those strange guys

who only likes sleeping with women
who are actually attracted to him.

So, no, I'm not hitting on you.

- You see that woman over there?
- Yeah.

That's Cecily. She's
my New York assistant.

I'm sleeping with her.

Okay.

That was a joke.

Ha-ha.

I'm not worried. I don't scare easily.

- Well, that's abundantly clear.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.
- I guess they know you here.

Yeah, I come here a lot.

So, Bradley, what is your story?

- My story?
- Yeah.

Who knows? I mean, it's probably the
same as a lot of people's stories.

Kid grows up in the country around
a bunch of cows and cornfields

and dreams of a life that's less
about manure and more about ideas,

things that matter.

Only to grow up and realize
manure matters a whole lot.

Actually, I don't think that's the
same as a lot of stories at all.

- What's your story?
- Um...

I'm probably not supposed
to ask you questions

'cause you're technically important,
but... What the hell? You know?

Wow, being "technically important"
is about the best description

of a network executive I've ever heard.

What is my story? Smart kid,
dad left, I took care of my mom,

I vowed to own the world one day and

kick everyone's ass into submission.

How's that working out for you?

Pretty well, actually.

Well, cheers to that.

Hell, yeah.

So, what do you want from me?

Do you treat every business meeting

like you're being
interrogated by an enemy camp?

If you're even a little smart,

you know that's what all
business meetings are.

Then why aren't you further
along in your career at this point,

if you're so savvy?

"At this point"? You mean I'm too old

to be the young, feisty journalist?

I should have landed somewhere
more substantial by now?

Maybe.

You're incredibly smart,
you're interesting,

you've got that "it" thing we're
always looking for in this business.

What is it? What's held you back?

I don't know.

I mean, probably what you
see as something "fresh" in me

is probably what held me back.

I don't think like other people.

I say whatever I mean. I don't
play games. I don't fit the mold.

What mold is that?

Any mold, really.

Oh, right. A weirdo.

- What?
- I don't mean that in a bad way.

You just wanted to meet me in
person to see if I was crazy or not.

I can see why you do good interviews.

Thanks, I do.

So, aside from wondering
if you were crazy,

here's the other reason
that I wanted to meet you:

I think we might be able to use you as a

field correspondent on The Morning Show.

What, you might be able to?

Well, I've looked into
your past a little bit.

- You have moved jobs a lot.
- Yeah.

You have a bit of a
colorful local history...

Okay, Two-Fucks Jackson
is... I can explain that...

"Two-Fucks" what?

- What?
- What? No, I said it first.

No, I was just kidding.

I definitely wanna hear
about Two-Fucks Jackson.

But right now...

right now I'm just trying to decide
if I should give you a chance.

I wanna use this Mitch Kessler
scandal to reinvent ourselves.

I want smart people
with fresh perspectives.

Are you offering me a job right now?

Well, I don't wanna step
on my producer's toes,

but I have arranged a meeting for
you with Charlie Black tomorrow.

He's the executive producer
of The Morning Show.

- I know who he is.
- Course you do.

Can you be ready for a :
meeting tomorrow morning?

I can do that.

- Good.
- Mm.

Thank you for this.

That's it? I don't get to
hear about Two-Fucks Jackson?

Another night. I gotta start prepping.
I take my work really seriously.

- I knew I liked you.
- Hey.

You don't know me.

[SIGHS]

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

[GASPS]

Jason.

What are you doing here?

You cannot just come
over like this anymore.

Alex, for f*ck's sake,

I have had our daughter
on the phone, freaking out,

asking if I know where you are.

Okay, well, here I am.

I'm home, and I'm fine.

I'll call Lizzy, and I'll tell
her that I'm fine. Thank you.

Where have you been?

I was just... I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't sleep, so I just
went for a walk in the park.

[SCOFFS]

You went for a walk in the
park in the middle of the night?

- Yeah.
- In the rain?

Well...

- What is going on with you, Alex?
- What...

- Are you okay?
- Yes. I'm okay.

I went for a walk in
the middle of the night.

When else can I go for a walk in the
park without anybody bothering me?

Why are you looking
at me like that? I...

Please, I've had the
worst day of my life.

I haven't had a chance
to process anything.

So I went for a f*cking walk.

- Okay, okay. Good. Yes.
- It's fine.

I will see you tomorrow
night for the event.

The f*cking event.

Yes. I'm looking forward to it as well.

- Are you?
- Yeah. Good night.

[SNORING]

[SNORING CONTINUES]

[MITCH SIGHS]

[GROANS]

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[BEEPS]

[RAPIDLY BEEPING]

[CLATTERING]

[MUTTERS]

[SOBBING]

Okay.

[CLATTERING]

Oh, f*ck.

[BEEPS]

[MACHINE WHIRS]

Oh, God.

[CRYING]

I pushed all your calls
because after the show

you'll meet with the UBA PR team
to review your speech for tonight.

- They reviewed that last week.
- It's from Fred's office.

Can't wait to see you get that
award. I just got a new dress for it.

I can't wait to see it.

Hair and makeup at your house at
: . I put it in your calendar.

I don't care if it
came from Fred's office.

I know what I wanna say, and I
don't need them rewriting it today.

Please go call them.

You can't blame them for being a
little nervous about your speech.

This is the first time you're in
public since this whole thing happened.

Wait. What? You mean
you think accepting an

award for leadership in journalism

two days after my cohost of years is

fired for predatory behavior is touchy?

That event is gonna be a roomful of

vultures waiting for you to f*ck up...

Why are you stressing me
out like this? Honestly.

Why don't you just give me a stroke
by : ? Then I won't have to go.

I need to get out of this!

- I understand. But I...
- [PHONE BUZZING]

- I need this.
- Okay.

[GREG GROANS]

Hey, Sarah.

Did you call me at : this morning?

I just woke up and saw
this message flashing.

Yeah.

Okay... I need to ask you something.

In your opinion,

the way that the network
has been dragging

their feet on closing my new deal...

does that suggest...

anything unusual going on?

Like what?

Um, like, um...

them trying to replace me?

Or thinking about replacing me?

Well, it's never a good thing.

But it doesn't necessarily
mean anything like that.

The good news is you have
them by the short hairs now.

They need you in a big way.

Mm-hmm.

Okay, you gotta get that deal closed.

And I want every single
thing we asked for.

Are you all right?

I'm fine. I'm fine.

Why does everyone keep asking me that?

I just want what I asked for.

And the most important
thing is cohost approval.

Sarah, I just need to be
able to control the narrative

so that I'm not written out of it.

Alex, why are you afraid
of this all of a sudden?

It's just a feeling.

But it is really, really important.

Cohost approval.

You gotta push that
through. And I mean it.

Get that.

And I wanna hear the minute
that you hear back from them

and not when you feel
that I can hear it.

Okay?

Okay.

[EXHALES]

Yeah. Right.

I never sent a message that
I thought was inappropriate.

These women who have come forward
did think it was inappropriate.

Do you think that that's valid? Do
you think their response is valid?

[SIGHS]

Of course.

But these women never complained
to me about this behavior.

Yes, but you were their boss.

You were in a position of authority.

Do you think that you
created an environment

where they felt
comfortable coming forward?

[KNOCKING]

Hey. What are you... No, no.

- We can't do this here.
- But, Daddy, I want it now.

- Come on, no.
- Give it to me, Daddy.

- Please, Daddy.
- Come on, no Veruca Salt today. Not here.

- Come on.
- Give me what I want. Give me...

- Oh! [MOANS]
- Claire.

- You don't get to say no, remember?
- Claire, please.

You want me to stop, you're
gonna have to use the safe word.

Okay, "climate change."

Huh.

- You are serious.
- I am. I'm dead serious. All right?

[CLAIRE MOANS]

Okay. Come on.

No locked doors, okay? You know
how bad that would look with you...

Couldn't we be having
a private conversation?

- Come on.
- You know, I need advice about my career.

You don't need a locked door for that.

You don't need a locked
door except for one thing.

You know you and I are something
different from... Right?

I know that, and you know that.
Nobody else would know that.

Come on, we have to
be so f*cking careful.

Or we go to HR right
now and just tell 'em.

Well, that would be mortifying.

I mean, what would it look like?

You mean that I'm having
a serious relationship

with a woman half my age who is the PA?

You think that might seem bad?

What are you saying?

[KNOCKING]

- Hey. What's up? Good morning.
- Morning.

- You ready for me?
- Yeah, of course. Come on in.

Come on and get... Thank
you. You can leave that here.

Oh, yeah. Of course.

Thanks for researching the volcano
info. I really appreciate that.

Yeah, cool. Let me know if anything else

erupts that you need
me to do research on.

- Will do. You got it.
- Good.

But more importantly,
and most importantly,

we want to ensure a
safe working environment

for everyone who works
on The Morning Show.

No one here knew what was
going on right under our noses.

The next few weeks are gonna be
rough. We are clearly in triage.

We need to be stabilized by the
time sweeps start. That's in...

- Three weeks.
- Right.

I won't lie to you,
we are in a bad place.

Jobs, the show,

the network itself literally
hang in the balance.

- It's not, though.
- These guys, Your Day, America...

Dangerously close to us in the ratings.

And that isn't bullshit,
that is ad money.

Ad money that supports this
network, supports your jobs...

supports your families.

We're gonna be working round the clock at

the network to find America's new family,

and I expect all and everything
from each one of you in the meantime.

Great, thank you so much, Fred. All
right, everybody, let's get to it.

[CHATTERING]

Where are we with her deal?

She's holding on cohost
approval. But we're handling it.

Jesus. She's delusional.

Start putting together a list of names,

men who can sit next to Alex for now

and also work with someone
younger once she's gone.

Maybe a couple of women too,
for optics in case it leaks.

Couple of days ahead of you.
The list is already in progress.

Anything else?

You know, when you were
assigned the news division,

we didn't know we would be facing
the biggest crisis in our history.

Some people would say
maybe you should have.

I know what you're doing.

The fact that you just started here

doesn't give you the leverage you think.

I'm not looking for leverage,
Fred, I'm just stating the obvious.

It would have been better if we
knew, so we could have stopped it.

But we didn't know. Right?

Right.

- Fucker.
- Hey, I got something good.

Yeah? What's up?

I got some insider info.

YDA booked one of Mitch's
victims for next week.

- Who?
- Ashley Brown.

Ashley in sound tech?
Jesus, it's been a while.

You think you can get her
back here after all that?

I'm gonna pull out all the stops.

I know this is huge for us.

You have no idea what
I already did to get this info.

You know what? Please don't tell
me that. I really don't want...

Okay, fine. I found
it in a fortune cookie.

Sorry. You're right.
This is obviously huge.

YDA can't be booking one of our
victims for a million f*cking reasons.

Do whatever you have to do.

I'm on it, boss.

- Rena.
- Yes?

Where is today's schedule?

I'm looking for it...

You mean this one that
says "today's schedule"?

- Yes. f*ck you very much.
- No problem.

Thank you.

"Seven..." Why are we
doing this in sev...

Rena, can you get Mia?

Only seven f*cking minutes to do this...

Hey, how you hanging in there?

Um, I can't feel my
body I'm so stressed out.

I'm like a brain floating in
space with a phone in my hand.

That sounds about right.
Listen, I want you

to meet Bradley Jackson today.

Wait. Bradley Jackson who did the
show yesterday? What the hell for?

We're gonna be grooming some new
people, trying different things.

It is a good time to start
grooming some new people,

and I think she'd be a good
correspondent, possibly.

Yeah. No, I understand it's always
good to be grooming people, but...

I mean, right now?

Plus, you saw her viral video, right?

I mean, a correspondent? I don't...

I did see it.

I saw it, and so did
five million other people,

because it was incredibly
f*cking entertaining.

She also went toe-to-toe with Alex Levy.

Not easy to do. We need
to open our minds, Chipper.

Come on. What's worked in
the past isn't working now.

My office set it for : .
Let me know how it goes.

- Great.
- Good.

[PHONE BUZZING]

Yep.

No.

Push back.

No coanchor approval.

It's never gonna happen.

No. We're still on schedule. I'm gonna get
your car to take you for your mani-pedi.

- Okay, good.
- You like Julie, right?

- Yeah, she's fine.
- She does great work.

And is Lizzy all set for after school?

Yes, she is. She's gonna meet
you there and she's very excited.

Okay, good.

- Last looks!
- Hi, good morning.

Revised pages. Here.

- Sarah calling. Now? No?
- Thank you.

- Sorry?
- Here's Sarah.

Oh, yes, now.

Sorry. Thank you.

Hey, Sarah, I'm just about
to go on air. Did they cave?

No. They're sticking to their g*ns.

No cohost approval.

I'm gonna call you back after the show.

Can you hold that?

Alex, where are you going?

Alex, do you need something?

- Is everything okay?
- I'm all good.

- Okay, well, he can't go from...
- Hey.

What are you doing?
We're live in seconds.

I need to talk to Chip.
I need to talk to you.

What is happening? 'Cause you're supposed

to be on the air in, like, a minute.

- Yeah, listen. Hey, hey...
- What?

I need your word that you
will wrap up my negotiation.

I know you're scared, okay.

The whole Mitch thing has
turned everything upside down...

Can I... Why does no one get this?

The Mitch days...
They're over, all right?

I would like hands-on
control from this point on.

- I want cohost approval.
- Mm-hmm.

Otherwise, I'm not going on the air.

Let's walk to the
stage. We'll just walk.

- We can walk.
- We'll walk, okay?

But I'm not going on air
unless you promise me.

- Can I explain something to you?
- Sure.

You pulling this stunt,
with the network right now,

is not gonna make them
promise you anything.

It's gonna make them think
you are f*cking losing it.

Well, maybe you have to lose it sometimes

to get people to take you seriously.

I've known you years, Chip.

We came up the ranks together.
For better, for worse.

Lately it's been for
worse, but whatever.

You are the only person that I know
that can push this through for me.

And I know if you
promise me, you'll do it.

So, you've gotta promise me, Chip.

Thirty seconds, guys.

I am trying to protect you,

but you are putting me
in an impossible situation.

I can't promise you I can push
this through! I can't. I just...

You got Alison and
Yanko. Let them go on.

I'm not going on.

And I don't want you to protect
me, I'd like you to respect me.

What, did you read this
on a card? What are you...

Twenty seconds.

I'm ready to fill in.

- There, Alison. There you go.
- No.

[WHISPERING] They're... They're
gonna think you are crazy.

I'm not going on air.

Ten seconds.

- [CHIP TAPPING FEET]
- Nine...

eight...

seven...

All right, I promise... Fine,
fine! Go! Sit, butt in chair!

Five, four, three, two...

Good morning. I'm Alex Levy.

And I'm Daniel Henderson.

And here are our top stories.

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

Hey, Bradley Jackson.

Uh, have a meeting with Charlie Black.

Does he go by Chip, or Charlie, or?

Well, Charlie is his professional
name, but he does go by Chip.

Okay, okay. Well, then I have
a meeting with Charlie Chip.

[RECEPTIONIST CHUCKLES]

Hey. Hey, Chip, you looking for me?

Uh, yeah. Can you walk with me?

Second day in the anchor chair,
I think it went pretty well.

I'm really excited
about The Twist today.

- Can I give you some advice?
- Sure.

- There are opportunities opening up here.
- Yeah.

You know what Mitch had going for him?

He was that guy you didn't mind being

stuck at the DMV next to, you know.

Easygoing, light touch,
smart, yes, but easy.

Now, I think you're great.

Probably the best real journalist
we have in the building.

But I overheard you having
this debate in the hall.

I know how you feel about
the Gilmore Girls musical

being neo-pro-life rights
propaganda, and I get it.

All I'm gonna say is,
don't f*cking say it.

That sh*t is not gonna get
you the coanchor chair, okay?

You got a lot going for
yourself in this race.

The brass is looking
at everybody closely.

Don't ruin it for yourself
by being too serious, okay?

Try being a little... softer. A
little more accessible, you know?

You telling me to be less black?

Jesus, that's what you
just heard? Really, Daniel?

- That's basically what you're saying.
- f*ck...

You don't even know you're saying it.

This is what I had to
deal with my whole life.

Don't be smarter than other people.

Don't come off too
strong, too opinionated.

Daniel, that's not being black.

It's being f*cking
Morning Show, Daniel, okay?

Jesus, I'm on your side here.

This has nothing to do
with you being black.

- That's what you guys always say.
- [PHONE BUZZING]

sh*t, okay. You know what?

Just do yourself a favor
tonight at the event.

Press the flesh.
Schmooze the executives.

Pretend you're the dad
that everybody wants

and don't go after the
beloved Gilmore Girls.

Hey, hey, this chair could be yours.

Okay?

- I hear you.
- Thank you.

- Thank you. Thank you.
- You're welcome. You're welcome.

Yes.

The coal woman is here.

Jesus. Do we have to do
this meeting right now?

Like I don't have a million
more important things to do.

Is Cory Ellison f*cking this woman or...

f*cking waste of time. That's it.

I wanna thank you for
taking the time to see me.

I know you've got a lot going on.

Sure, it's no problem. Not busy at all.

- Ah, I looked at your reel. It was good.
- Thank you.

I noticed you have moved
around last couple of years.

Three years at SENN, then
BDC six months before that...

Yeah, yeah. I understand.
I've been some places.

But really, I'm looking for a platform
where I can get my ideas across.

- Speaking of which, I brought some today...
- Wait, I'm sorry. What do you mean ideas?

I've worked up some stories I think
would be good for The Morning Show.

I'm sorry. I'm maybe a little confused.

You're interviewing to be a
correspondent, right? Not a producer.

'Cause correspondents normally just

present the ideas that producers wrote.

Yeah, I like to do my own producing,

and I think I have some stories
that would do really well on TMS.

So, why don't I just jump in?

Sure, yeah. Okay.

So, there's a mom-and-pop
store in Chicago.

It's about to be replaced by a Target.

The historical society
is trying to block it.

But here's the twist.

The mom and the pop are angry
at the historical society

because they're getting in the way
of them amassing a small fortune.

So, I have a source on the
inside that can tell me...

It's okay. I get the concept.

[KNOCKING]

Okay, well, college admissions.
Not the diversity angle...

f*ck me.

[RENA SCOFFS]

- Sorry.
- College admissions.

But not the diversity
angle, the money angle.

No.

No? Okay, um...

You know, right here in New York City

they are trying to dedicate a memorial

to the immigrants who d*ed
in the Triangle Fire in .

And the thing about
dedicating it this summer...

You said ?

Yeah, that's when it happened, .

Okay.

I don't know how to say
this without being rude,

but you're wasting your time here.

Your stories aren't right for us.

It's not even ostensibly what
you're here to discuss anyway, so...

The stories aren't right for you?

I'm... [CHUCKLES] I'm sorry.

Were you even listening?

'Cause you look like you
were distracted the entire time.

You didn't even ask me a question.

How are they not right for you?

Are you... You're
being serious right now?

Yeah.

Okay.

They're not interesting.
This meeting is over.

Oh. You mean they're
not interesting to you?

- Have you seen your show lately, sir?
- Please.

I'm sorry, but this week alone, I
think I saw twins who met on Bumble,

a woman got busted for selling fake
emotional support animal licenses.

And how many ice-cream flavors
are there really? Need I go on?

No, you need to leave.

- Your show sucks.
- Thank you! Thank you.

It's barely news.

You have downgraded it to try and get

some of the Your Day, America audience,

to your own detriment.

You really think this is
gonna help you get a job?

The stories that I brought you are good.

They're human, they're
political, they're engaging.

The Triangle Fire story
is so timely right now,

with immigration issues
that are going on.

I'm sorry if lives of teenage immigrant

girls burning alive in a sweatshop

holds no current value to you,

but it might lead you to
do an actual news story

about the sweatshops that exist
all over the city right now.

But God forbid you
do that at Morning Show.

It's not feel-good bad news, is it?

You want me to call security?
That's what you want me to do?

- Why? Are you scared of me?
- I want you to leave!

You know what? People like you are the

reason broadcast news is what it is.

Thanks for your time, Chip Charlie
Chip. Whatever your f*ckin' name is.

You sound like an ice-cream flavor.

Hey, why don't you put that
in your hard news exposé?

[LAUGHS]

What the f*ck?

[SOBS]

[MITCH SIGHS]

I'm gonna be straight with you, Mitch.

Financially, this is gonna be tough.

It's okay. It's fine. I can
tighten my belt a little...

It kind of goes beyond that.

UBA is not going to pay out
the rest of your contract.

- They said that?
- Yes.

Legal sent a violation of
contract document this morning

that made it very clear.

How can I be in
violation of my contract?

It was consensual.

- All I can say is that for the...
- Lisa, it was consensual.

For the foreseeable future,
you're not gonna have any income.

Okay.

All right.

Well, what do you propose I do?

You're gonna have to
start making choices.

You got the Southampton house,

the Aspen property, your
New York apartment. Which...

I'm not giving up that apartment.

You could probably keep it going
at this level for two years, tops.

How is that even possible? I've
made more money than God. Right?

God didn't violate his morals clause.

Morals clause, really?

Oh, wow!

f*ck.

That. What a crock of sh*t.

Morals clause!

These people back up the Brinks truck

and give you everything that you've
always wanted except for one thing:

there's gonna be a morals
clause in your contract.

Okay. Well, you're not an idiot.

And everybody's telling
you they won't trigger it.

They never trigger it.

That's not even... They're
just covering their asses.

And these guys? You've
known them forever.

You have worked with them. And they

more than approve of your behavior.

It's fine with them, as
is evidenced by the fact

that they just gave you the most lucrative

deal in the history of morning news.

And you don't want to
be that guy who says,

"No, take the morals
clause out, then I'll sign it,"

'cause that sends a bad message.

You know what a morals clause is?

It's a moving f*cking target!

It's anything they want it to be!

Yeah? It's as the wind blows.

Oh, wow. [SIGHS]

Mitch, I'm your business
manager, not your lawyer.

[LAUGHS]

Morals clause. Morals clause.

r*pist!

What did you say to me?
What did you call me?

Don't walk away from me.

You're calling me a ra...? I'm
not even accused of r*pe.

Sexual misconduct is
what I'm being accused of.

Don't you wave your f*cking hand at me!

Have a nice day, you f*cking assh*le.

Yes?

Hi, Ashley. I'm Hannah Shoenfeld.

I'm with The Morning Show.

Don't worry. It's nothing bad.

We think it's great
you want to tell your story.

Then why are you here?

Can I come in? I promise
I'll be real quick.

- I really don't think that's a good idea.
- Five minutes. You can time me.

Look, you have a story to tell.

The entire country needs to hear it,

and we want to give you the platform.

On The Morning Show?

Yes.

Why would I ever go back
there? That place is...

The scene of the crime.
I know. And going back,

that takes real f*cking courage.

Which you have. Or you wouldn't
be speaking out in the first place.

Look, I find stories for
a living. That's what I do.

And when I look at you,
I can see that story.

The brave woman knocked
back by a powerful man,

reclaiming her power on national TV.

But if you go on YDA, that's
not the story that'll be told.

Yes, it is. It doesn't
matter where I tell it.

I am done with this conversation.
I'm not going back there.

Do I have to call security?

Fine. I'll leave.

But it does matter where you tell it.

You're making a huge mistake.

Why?

Because this is television, not a
women's studies seminar at Vassar.

A lot of people watching are gonna
have ignorant, knee-jerk reactions.

How you tell the story is
the whole f*cking ball game.

And if you do it on YDA,
you'll be the angry woman.

Why?

Because YDA's our enemy,

and everyone who watches
these shows knows it.

They'll see you as a bitch,
scorned by a powerful network,

rejected by a powerful man,

bitter about her career, her life,

looking for a payback,

desperate to hurt the
people who hurt her,

manipulated by a rival show that just

wants to f*ck over their opponent,

trotted out like a piece of meat,

and then discarded when
you aren't needed anymore.

And then it's done, and nobody cares.

On to the next story.

No, I can't do this. I mean, I
shouldn't be doing this at all.

Yes, you should.

But if you are gonna do it...

if you are gonna blow
the whistle on Mitch Kessler

for being the predator he is...

you have to have the balls
to do it in his own house.

It won't mean anything otherwise.

Come on The Morning Show.

Come back to the k*lling floor.

Show everyone you have the nerve...

but especially him.

[ELEVATOR BELL DINGS]

Thanks.

[PHONE BUZZING]

- Hello?
- Hello, Bradley.

This is Cecily from
Cory Ellison's office.

Cory would like for you to be at the

Leadership in Journalism event tonight.

It's black-tie.

That's really nice, but
I'm headed to the airport.

We'll take care of
rearranging your flight.

A car will pick you up at your hotel.

Okay, I didn't pack anything I
could wear to a black-tie event.

We're sending a few gowns over.

Okay, Cecily, I'm confused.

I had a meeting with Chip Charlie
Black, and it did not go well.

I'm pretty sure he's not hiring me.

All I know is Cory asked me to call you.

So, between you and me, I'd show up.

Okay, yeah. I'll be there.

Fantastic.

[CAMERA SHUTTERS CLICKING]

[REPORTER] Go around the side.
Get the sh*t. Come out this side.

- [REPORTER ] Why are you here?
- [REPORTER ] Is he going back on air?

[REPORTER ] What's the
latest news on Mitch?

Hey, Mitch.

To what do I owe this pleasure?

Is it already time for
my chemical castration?

No, I got that slotted
in for next Thursday.

Oh, yeah.

Maybe we can fit it in
between my tar and feathering

and being burnt at the stake.

[SCOFFS] You got it.

And by the way, f*ck you.

Mitch, you gotta stop calling reporters.

Looks like somebody got an
illegal wiretap kit for Christmas.

No, somebody got slipped the information

that Mitch Kessler has been calling
reporters all over New York City

looking for someone to
tell his side of the story.

What the f*ck, Mitch? I mean,
you know you can't do that.

You're toxic, and you're
gonna be for a while, so...

How long do I have to sit around
while I take my punishment like a man?

I don't know. I don't know
what the half-life is on this,

but it's not a day.

It's years.

So, you need to hibernate.

I have covered enough of these
stories over the past couple of years

to know that when the Me Too
mob comes knocking at your door

you have two choices.

You can either be contrite and
cry puddles of crocodile tears

and pray till you're blue in the balls

that it'll just magically disappear,

or you can fight back.

And that's what I intend to do, Chip.

I think that's my best course of action.

I'm going to hire a new attorney,

I'm going to get my face out there,

and I'm not gonna hide in shame.

It's gonna work.

Do not show your face tonight.
Do not do that to Alex.

My tux is pressed.

- I can't unpress my tux.
- Yeah.

So, I'm going. And those g*dd*mn
two-faced New York reporters...

I'm gonna walk in there and look those

m*therf*ckers in their beady little eyes,

and I'm gonna say, "I'm
here. I can see you."

Mm-hmm. Yeah, that's su1c1de.

And by the way, did I see you
yelling at some woman on the street?

Because it's on Twitter. You
can't f*cking do this sh*t, man!

I have to fight back!

I'm not going to let somebody
slander me again in public.

I get it! You're angry! You're
upset! You're defensive, okay?

But I'm telling you,

you are way too emotionally
volatile to walk in there

and make a convincing argument, okay?

And you need to drop this innocent
act, at least in front of me.

I am as innocent as any straight,
middle-aged man there is.

The only problem is, that
seems to be illegal these days.

This is McCarthyism, you know it.

Everybody knows it

but people just don't have the
intestinal fortitude to say it out loud.

I'll say it. We're being too fast to

judge men in the court of public opinion.

I agree with you, okay?

The whole Me Too movement
is probably an overcorrection

for centuries of bad behavior

that more enlightened men like
you and me had nothing to do with.

But, Mitch, do you really want a
detailed probe into your private life?

You think that's gonna exonerate you?

- At first they came for the rapists.
- What are you...

And I did not speak up
because I am not a r*pist.

And then they came for the powerful men,

and you did not speak up because
you are not a powerful man.

But what are you going to do

when they come for the
ordinary, everyday,

run-of-the-mill creep like you, Chip?

Who's gonna be left to speak up for you?

Um...

I'm gonna go now, okay?

Do not show up tonight.

Stop talking.

Start f*cking listening,
and do it from home.

Who leaked this to the Times?

Stop talking, Mitch.

And who did you have to
blow to keep your job?

All right. See you in a couple of hours.

I need this. I need my makeup so I
can look like a princess all night.

That's not gonna fit. I need
my mints. I need my phone,

and I need my eye drops, none of
which fit in this teeny little thing!

I can take your phone.

Why would you take my phone?
That's ridiculous, Jason.

You're getting worked
up about nothing...

Really? About nothing? I'm sorry.
I need all this stupid sh*t.

Alex, it's fine. Let
me just... Give me...

- I said I would get it. I can shut it.
- Jesus Christ.

Thank you.

- Mom?
- What?

- It's gonna be okay.
- No, it's not, honey.

Okay, it's just an event.

Really? Just an event? Only
with the worst timing ever.

I would rather stick
daggers into my eyeballs!

- Alex. Alex.
- What?

How about you pretend to have
food poisoning and just don't go?

I cannot do that.

Everyone in there
will know that I'm lying,

that I'm uncomfortable and afraid.

That I'm afraid of what's
gonna happen to me on the show

in the wake of Mitch.

Everyone in there is press.
They think they know everything.

Half of them hate me
because I'm too successful,

and the other half hate
me because, I don't know,

their hearts are at
home in a f*cking jar!

Oh, God!

Oh, Jesus, I can't cry!

Jesus!

Oh, God.

- No, stop it, stop it!
- Mom.

- Yeah, well, you can't go out like this.
- I know that!

[REPORTERS SHOUTING]

- [REPORTER] Alex, Alex!
- [REPORTER ] Ms. Levy! Right here!

Hi.

[SHOUTING CONTINUES]

- Okay?
- Yep.

Let's go do this f*cking event
so I can go home and just die.

[REPORTERS SHOUTING]

I really appreciate it.

[NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

Hey, Alex. Congratulations
on being honored tonight.

- Thank you.
- How does it feel?

It's so meaningful to be honored
by such prestigious company,

and I'm thrilled to be here to support

quality journalism in this day and...

May I just add The Morning
Show is very important.

It's iconic and beloved, and
it is about real journalism

and no one person can change that.

We will survive this disgrace,

and we're gonna help America
get through it like a family.

- Thank you.
- Thank you.

Hey, let's get a picture.

You forgot the part about how I'm the one

that will be pulling America through this.

Well, I think that was implied.

- Mm.
- [CORY CHUCKLES]

You think a lot is implied.

That's where you hide.
In the implications.

I'm really honored.

Who are you?

Being this personable is exhausting.

I don't think I can keep
doing it for much longer.

Let me take you to the bar and
give you a minute to be an intense,

overly educated, sexy grouch, huh?

I'm feeling good. I'm starting to feel

like I might really have a sh*t at this.

Keep pressing that flesh.

Hey, Cory?

So, your friend... Bradley
Jackson, bit of a train wreck.

You're gonna be sorry if you go down

this road. I'd like to report otherwise,

but that's my gut feeling.

Fine.

Okay, good.

Mom, did Hal go to his meeting?

He was supposed to call me after,
and I haven't heard a word from him.

I don't know. He's not home yet.
He left about : to go to it.

He's been out for seven hours?

Well, he said he was gonna
go by Brandon's afterwards.

Mom, you can't let him see Brandon.

That's like putting heroin
right in front of him.

Bradley, I'm worried now.

I'll call you later. I just
have to do one stupid thing

and then I'm gonna come home,
and I'll deal with this myself.

Okay, I gotta go. All right, bye.

- Hey!
- Glad you could make it.

I'm going to show you to your seat.

You got demoted to usher?

No, I just moved you to a
different table. It'll be fun.

Well, it is thrilling to be here
to support Alex Levy tonight,

even though our shows
are ratings rivals.

I mean, when it comes to
supporting women in this business,

we're all in the same boat.

What happened to her was humiliating.

I could never show up
at an event like this.

I mean, to work with
a sexual predator...

[GROANS] I don't know what I would do.

Thank God that's not me. [CHUCKLING]

- This is my mom.
- Hi.

- Congratulations. Very nice to meet you.
- Thank you. Real nice to meet you.

For the Gram. It's a boomerang.

It is, yeah. That's so cute.

That's fine. It was great.

- Hi, thank you for coming.
- You look gorgeous.

Thank you, so do you.

Congratulations. How are
you, honey? Good to see you.

We should probably take a seat.

- Thank you.
- There we go.

Okay, and you guys are here.

- Yeah. Lizzy's there, and that's where...
- Okay. And you're here.

- I think that's Chip, right?
- I think so.

Chip. Come here.

- What?
- Hi.

- That your seat?
- Yeah. Why?

There's two extra seats here.

Do you think that they forgot
to take away Mitch and Paige?

I hope that's the worst
of our problems tonight.

Why? Why do you say that?
What are our problems?

Nothing, don't worry. I got it.

Chip, you have to...

Hi, g*ng. You remember Bradley Jackson?

Here's your seat.

This can't be right.

Last I checked I was the head
of the network. It's right.

- Oh, my God.
- [CORY] Have a seat.

Okay.

Hey.

I'm not with him, with
him, to be very clear.

Well, that's good news for you.

I actually don't even
know what I'm doing here.

Well, that makes two of us.

I didn't wanna bother you. The...

What are you doing at this table?

I don't know. Cory Ellison sat me here.

[ALEX GIGGLES]

Okay.

- Double? Got it.
- Mm-hmm.

[ALEX CLEARS THROAT]

Cory, did we not just, moments ago,

talk about how Bradley
Jackson is a disaster?

- We did. That's correct.
- Mm-hmm.

So why is she sitting at that
table over there with our people?

I just thought it might be a
good little wake-up call for Alex.

- I see.
- Hmm.

Take me home, please.

[EXHALES]

[CLEARS THROAT]

[DOOR OPENS]

Oh.

- Alex.
- Hi.

Congratulations. You look gorgeous.

Thank you, Audra. Thank you.

And I'm so sorry about everything.

Why, Audra? I didn't f*ck anyone.

Looking forward to your speech.

[CHUCKLING] Thank you.

[SIGHS]

Oh, God.

[SIGHING]

Look, I know it's weird that I'm
at the table with you guys. I...

I don't know what Cory's
doing, but I feel really stupid,

and I feel like I've been thrown around

like a yo-yo by these guys all day.

What guys?

Cory Ellison. I met with him last night

and he wanted me to meet Chip Black

about a correspondent position today,

and now I'm here, for what reason,

I don't know, and then
they sat me at your table.

He sat you at my table to f*ck with me.

Me f*ck with you?

- I don't think so. That's just funny.
- Mm-hmm.

Yeah, it's funny. They're funny.

Um...

Let me ask you a question.

- Yeah?
- Why did you stay?

- Stay where?
- At the table.

If it was so uncomfortable
for you, why didn't you leave?

You're an adult, you have
agency. Why did you stay?

I don't have the right to tell the
head of the network to f*ck off.

I'm a nobody.

I'm not you.

Well, hello, Alex. Are you
ready for your big speech?

You know what, Cory? Let's just cut
through the second-party bullshit.

I know we're supposed to go
through our agents and legal

and s*ab each other off-screen,

but I just wanna say this to your face.

I'm not closing without cohost approval.

Well, I'm sorry to hear that,
because you're not getting it.

We're not breaking precedent.

I'm not putting the network
at risk for future deals.

Then I'll walk.

Then walk, Alex.

I don't want you to be unhappy.

By the way, we bought
this award for you.

[EXHALES]

[SIGHS]

Alex Levy is synonymous with integrity.

She embodies the vital
role of our profession,

not just in the politics of the
nation or the business of the nation,

but in the everyday lives
of the American people.

Ladies and gentlemen, the
star of The Morning Show

and this year's recipient of the

Leadership in Journalism Award, Alex Levy!

Come on up. Whoo!

Thank you. Thank you, Maggie, for
those kind and beautiful words,

and thank you to the
New York Media Foundation

for this tremendous, tremendous honor.

But first, I want to
take this opportunity

to apologize to all of the women who

were victimized at The Morning Show.

I am so deeply sorry that we
did not see what was happening,

and truth be told,
it feels a bit strange

to be accepting an award
for leadership in journalism

when apparently this was
going on right under our noses.

To that end,

I would like to dedicate
this award to those women.

[CHEERING]

And secondly, secondly,

this is gonna be a new
era for The Morning Show

and for women, for all
women, and unheard voices.

Things are going to be
quite different from now on.

So, I have some exciting news
to share with all of you tonight.

Get out your phones.

[MURMURING]

I would like to take this moment

to announce my new
Morning Show cohost...

Bradley Jackson.

[APPLAUSE]