Murphy Brown (1988–2018): Season 1, Episode 2 - Devil with a Blue Dress On - full transcript

Murphy's animosity towards Corky grows when she's forced to take her on to help with an important story.

Isn't this a hoot? Can you believe it?

Covkv. remember that memo
I sent out last week?

The one about how no one should
talk to me in the morning until atter 3:00?

Oh. Murphy. you're such a kidder.
What a hoot!

Ms. Brown. Hi. I'm your
new secretary. Megan Reynolds.

I was just going over your calendar tor
the day. and updating your phone log.

-And I watered your plant.
-Well. nice to meet you.

I'll need phone numbers tor these people.
Xerox this letter. six copies...

-...and type up the notes trom the--
-Wow. it‘s really her.

She looks just like on TV.

You gotta introduce me.



Hi. I'm Megan Reynolds.

I never miss your show. Ever.
What a great dress.

Well.

Aren't you sweet.

I'll need that letter by noon.

-Can I have your autograph?
-Sure.

That was close.
I almost wore my blue dress today.

Yeah. How come I didn't get to do
the tootball story?

Well. because it was my idea.
And because you throw like a girl.

Bull. Bobby. go deep.

All right!

Hey. now. Hey. now.

This isn't a playground.
Someone could get hurt.

Fontana spots Dial streaking downtield.
They're blitzing.



He's all alone in the end zone.

Could I have everyone's attention?

Thanks. Gather around the table.
We've got a lot to cover at this meeting.

Hate to break it to you.
It isn't the Redskins‘ year.

Not our year? I'm wounded.

-Let's take our seats.
-It's too hard to repeat as champs.

-Their linebackers stink.
-Let's start.

-No running game.
-At all.

Criticize. criticize.

This what you call a meeting. Miles?
Let's get going.

Thank you.

First.

Now. this isn't on the agenda.
but I can see the question coming.

I'll have to say no
to the dress-alike thing.

Now.

Big Jim.

Big Jim. There's an idea we've been
kicking around at the network.

It's kind ol an
upper-management thought.

The point being that maybe you...

...when you're on the air...

...you could possibly be a little...

. . .warmer.

Warmer?

Right. You know...

...Dan Rather tried it.
he's getting beat up a lot less lately.

What I thought is that perhaps you could
actually smile during a broadcast.

Just once. Give it a shot.
see how it feels.

-I'm sorry?
-I said I'd do my best.

Right. Frank. your segment
on the Redskins.

Three weeks sounds like
plenty ol time to research a story.

Come on. Miles. I need more time.
Piece isn't complete.

-He didn't get to the cheerleader interviews.
-Exactly.

-It airs this week. Frank.
-So. Enough small talk.

Months ol badgering and
cajoling have paid olt.

The boy wonder ol the corporate world has
finally agreed to let me do a protile on him.

-Edward Moorehouse?
-You got it.

Way to go. Murph. He doesn't let
the press near him. How'd you do it?

My usual M.O.
I just kept at him. always there.

Sticking like a wad ol gum
to the bottom ol his shoe.

He just finally decided
it was easier to give in.

Is there any chance you could have
this piece ready for next week's show?

Yeah. sure. if I had a clone.

I've got interviews with his family.
his friends. lawyers. accountants.

I'll be following him night and day.

In fact. what am I doing here?

-Class dismissed.
-Just one minute. I'm getting an idea here.

Murphy. follow me on this.

What if I put Corky to work
on the story with you?

Help out with the research.

Miles. could I see you in my office?

No.

But I have something to show you.

-What?
-It's a surprise.

No. thank you.

Do you want me
to surprise you out here?

I won't do it. Miles.
I will not work with her on my story.

I'm an only child.
I never learned to share.

You said it yourself. This is a big story.
It'll take too much of your time.

I exaggerated. I do that sometimes.
I hate myself for it.

We both know
she needs seasoning as a reporter.

We can't have her asking the secretary of
state where he learned shorthand anymore.

Besides. she's got the time
to work with you this week.

She's already finished her piece
on health spas for pets.

Miles. let me ask you a question.

If I say no to this...

...are you gonna keep coming at me...

...acting like a wad of gum
stuck to the bottom of my shoe...

...and generally making
my life miserable until I give in?

I learn from the best.

Send her in here.

Corky.

Well. I guess we're a team.

Oh. Murphy!

I never thought anything
could top being Miss America.

And this doesn't.
but it comes really. really close.

Thanks so much.

I wanna be fair. Miles.

You've got legs like a dachshund.
so I'll give you a head start.

I know it works.
I can hear it from my office.

Now I've lost
my entire train of thought.

Oh. you're answering fan mail.
Looks like a lot this week.

-Tons.
-These are all addressed to Corky.

Yeah. Her secretary couldn't keep up.
so I said I'd help out.

—Hi. Jim.
-Hi.

What's wrong with your face?

Muscle spasm.

Can't you take something for--?

-Looks really nice.
-Thanks.

-Hi.
-Hi.

You just get back from the dentist?

Yes.

Well. I told the team we'd only have
three more days together.

Don't fool yourself. offensive tackles
can get pretty emotional.

I know you're disappointed
about the way this is working out.

You wanna talk about it?
Better yet...

...how about we forget about work
and see a movie.

Where's a paper? There's a new movie about
people or something. I'd like to see that.

-You're having trouble with your story.
-Major.

-What's the problem?
-Edward Moorehouse.

A 34-year-old man turns around
six corporations in two years...

...and he doesn't say one revealing thing.

Ask him a personal question. he changes
the subject. Everyone around him...

...sounds like
they're reading a press release.

What kind of a story am I doing?

I don't know.
What can I do to make it better?

You've heard all my usual pep talks.

I'm fresh out of funny faces.
and I left my saxophone at home.

I'll tell you what.

Here's a dollar.
Buy yourself something nice.

Corky signs her name with
a happy face in the O.

And take everything of yours out of
this desk. put it in your car. and drive away.

Hello. Murphy.

Miles. what's wrong?
You look worse than a dead guy.

You know. I knew you were upset when
I assigned Corky to work with you.

But I never expected you to sink
to such a childish level.

I'm a busy woman. What's your point?

Between midnight and 5 a.m. last night.
14 pizzas were delivered to my house.

That's a pizza every 22 minutes.

Only it wasn't regular so I'd plan for it. Like
the 48 minutes between number 11 and 12.

God. Miles. that's terrible.
Who would do such a thing?

You know. at a certain point
I stopped tipping them.

That's on your conscience.

Nobody panic. I'm all right.

-What happened?
-Murphy.

I did what you said.

I spent the day at the mechanic's where
Moorehouse got his car worked on.

They only had one toilet.
and it didn't have a seat.

Corky. sometimes these leads
just don't work out.

And I couldn't find a thing
in his garbage.

I only got through six bags
before that truck came.

I never thought somebody that rich
could eat so many Hungry-Man dinners.

Corky. I think we'd all understand if you
decided not to work on this story anymore.

No one would scorn you
if you move on to something else.

You gonna scorn her
if she moves on to something else?

-No. Absolutely not.
-No.

Move on?

Give up?

Not in a million years.

I discovered something today.

You're not a real journalist
unless you've got some dirt and...

...a little Salisbury steak
under your fingernails.

Is that a noodle on your skirt?

You're damn right it is.

I'm going to keep this skirt forever.

Oh. good. you're home.

I thought I'd bring some food
and we'd work here.

We really should catch up
on each other's notes.

You know. Corky...

...the truth is I just found out I'm dying.
and I'd like to be alone.

Well. then it's a good thing
I came over here.

Because someone sounds
a little down in the dumps.

You know. when I was in the
Miss America pageant we paired up.

I can't tell you how many times it saved
one of us to have a partner to say:

"Come on. Don't give up.
Just one more hot ro||er."

Doesn't it smell good?

Actually. it does.

You know. Murphy. I have to tell you.
This has been the greatest week for me.

When I think back on everything
I've learned. it's really amazing.

You know. I saw parts of Washington
I never thought existed.

I think I'm perfecting
my interviewing skills when--

You know. Corky. sometimes it's nice
just to enjoy a meal silently.

But you've really inspired
the reporter in me.

I wanna know all about you.
Every detail.

How you got started. how when other
stars fade. you always stay at the top.

Well. I guess a little conversation
never killed anybody.

So how do you do it. Murphy?
What's the secret of your success?

It's not that complicated. really.
Never be afraid to take a chance.

When you see that brass ring. go for it.
And never let anything get in your way.

That's it? What about voice lessons?

Why don't we go for our notes.

Great. See?
You're ready for more work already.

Nothing really came of my phone call to
his old Cub Scout troop leader. He's dead.

Then I talked to the man
in charge of washing his private jet.

Oh. you'll love this.

Moorehouse sends his plane filled with food
and clothes to the poor in South America.

I know.

But he never has to go through customs
when he gets back.

Wait a minute.

He flies back from South America. and no
one from customs goes through the plane?

Yes. I wish I knew
somebody at customs like that.

The last time I came back from Paris they
kept me in customs for over four hours.

And the worst part is how they touch
everything in that way that they have.

Hey. do you think this is something?

No.

Well. back to the drawing board.
Now. I talked to Moorehouse's barber....

I'll tell you what it is. Jim.

Somebody like Miles is jealous
of a natural athlete like me.

He gets yelled at by some gym teacher
for crying during dodge ball...

...so now I have to rush
my story for tonight's broadcast.

Hi. Phil.

You look like a ferret there. Jim.

That the look you're going for?

-Close the door!
-Hi. guys.

So. what was it. Murph?

Getting worried my piece on the Redskins
is gonna steal the show tonight?

So you go and break
the biggest story of the year?

-Well. sometimes you get lucky.
-Luck. my foot. Attention to detail.

A fine job of investigative reporting.

Hey. Miles. are those bags under your eyes?
They're so puffy and dark.

I want you to know how much
I enjoyed that polka band...

...underneath my window
at 3:00 this morning.

Big hit with the neighbors too.

"Roll Out the Barre|" has been going
through my head all day.

Close the door!

Well.

Looks like I finally
tracked you down. Murphy.

Oh. hi. Corky.
I missed you at the office today.

When I realized what you'd done with that
piece of crucial information I gave you...

...l was stunned.

There it was. the perfect example
of what makes you the best.

Imagine. Edward Moorehouse
using his relief planes to smuggle drugs.

I missed the brass ring. Murphy.

But you saw it.

I have learned so much from you.

And I have so much respect for you.

Thank you...

...for allowing me to have worked
by your side.

Close the door!

Miles. don't go away. okay?

Why? What's next?
A fat lady strip-o-gram?

I need to have a personal chat
with somebody.

You wanna have
a personal chat with me?

We never chat personally together.

Not that I don't want to.
I'm not usually first choice--

-Miles. could you just accept this. please?
-Let's chat.

What would you say if I told you Corky
uncovered the lead on the drug smuggling?

You're kidding.
And you didn't credit her?

-You must be feeling guilty.
-I don't feel guilty. I don't believe in guilt.

If you don't believe in guilt.
why confess?

I'm not confessing. I'm chatting.
I specifically stated that from the beginning.

You know. Murphy...

...sometimes a way of dealing with guilt
is to make it up to the person.

Miles. do you have any idea
what it's like to do what I do?

To go for 36 hours without sleep...

...because you were in an editing room
trying to make a deadline?

To travel all the way to Abu Dhabi. not
knowing if the emir feels like talking today?

And then half of America writes in to ask
where Corky Sherwood buys her lip gloss.

I shouldn't have to feel guilty
about anything.

Okay. But someday you'll have to
tell me how you do it.

Hey there. Murphy.

That was some story you cracked.

Phil.

I stepped all over somebody
like they were a cheap carpet...

...just to enhance my
professional standing...

...and didn't say a word while they thanked
me for doing it. Right now I feel like dirt.

Come on. now. Murphy.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

It's like I told Nixon when
he was feeling a little guilty.

"Take it easy. Dick." I said.

''I don't know what you've done. but
whatever it is. it's not like you're a crook."

I should be used to it.

It's been happening to me my whole life.
Guys who aren't jocks hate guys who are.

It's a basic animal thing
of feeling threatened.

I'm preparing.

Corky.

I was thinking that since you
helped break the story that...

...probably I should say something like
"Thanks a lot.''

-Oh. no. Murphy. I should thank you--
-Will you please stop it.

Anyway. maybe it would be the right thing
to do if you introduced the segment.

-You're kidding.
-I set it up with Miles. the crew and Jim.

This will come up on the Te|ePrompTer.
You do the first part.

"Successful tycoon. philanthropist.
family man. Edward Moorehouse....

But FYI has discovered
there is quite a bit more to this story.

Here with the report is Murphy Brown."

Corky.

Thank you.

All right. Places. everybody.
Five seconds till airtime.

In five. four. three....

Good evening and welcome to FYI.

For your information tonight...

...Frank Fontana brings us an in-depth
look behind the scenes at Redskins football.

And Corky Sherwood
looks at health spas for your pet.

But first. here's Corky to update us on
an exclusive FYI investigation. Corky.

Thank you. Jim.

Successful tycoon.
philanthropist. family man.

This is the image of
Edward Moorehouse.

But FYI has discovered there is
quite a bit more to this story.

A private jet
from the Moorehouse fleet...

...used to fly relief supplies
to South American villages...

...has been on more
than a mission of mercy.

On the return...

...the cargo bay was frequently filled
with millions of dollars‘ worth of cocaine.

This operation succeeded for months...

...until I was able to uncover
the evidence that eluded the FAA...

...Federa| Drug Administration
and the U.S. Customs Department.

And you know what
a pain customs can be.

And that's why you should always
investigate thoroughly to find a health spa...

...with veterinarians who are trained
in CPR. Back to you. Jim.

Thank you. Murphy.

Ouite helpful.

This has been another edition
of FYI. Good night.

And we're clear.
That's a wrap. everybody.

Corky. could I talk to you?

You're upset.

You know. a lot of things went through
my head in the last 56 minutes.

But the same thought
kept coming back to me.

You saw your brass ring and you went
for it. It took a lot of chutzpah.

I have to respect a person for that.

Gee. Murphy. I'm so glad
you feel that way.

I should mention
one other thing. however.

Do anything like this again
and you're dead.

-Okay.
-No. understand this.

It's not just an idle threat or
a colorful exaggeration. I know people.

It would happen. It could be fast.
or painful and lingering.

Water. cement. Without a trace.
or well-placed bits and pieces.

All my choice.

I understand.

So. what do you say we put all
this behind us. Shake?

Shake.

I'll meet you and the gang at Phil's
in 10 minutes. You can buy me a burger.

You've got it.

Hello. I was reading your pamphlet...

...and I was wondering if your
missionaries could come to my house...

...and tell me more about
my personal salvation.

Great. My name is Corky Sherwood.

S-H-E-R....

[ENGLISH]