The Morning Show (2019–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Chaos Is the New Cocaine - full transcript

...cohost approval.

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.

Rapist!

Sexual misconduct
is what I'm being accused of.

Don't you wave your fucking hand at me!

- Your show sucks.
- Please.

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

People like you are the reason
broadcast news is what it is.

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

My tux is pressed.



I can't unpress my tux.

Cory would like for you to be at the
Leadership in Journalism event tonight.

I'm confused.
I had a meeting with Chip Charlie Black,

and it did not go well.

You remember Bradley Jackson?

Oh, my God.

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

He sat you at my table to fuck with me.

Me fuck with you?

I'm not closing without cohost approval.

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

Then I'll walk.

Then walk.

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



I would like to announce
my new Morning Show cohost...

Bradley Jackson.

I would like to take this moment to
announce my new Morning Show cohost,

Bradley Jackson.

Don't look too surprised.

- All right, stand up. Up.
- Okay.

- Bradley!
- Bradley!

- Miss Jackson!
- Bradley, how are you feeling?

- Smile. Smile.
- How do you feel right now, Miss Jackson?

Is she drunk?

That would make sense.

Get her to the studio.
Don't let either of them make statements.

She is the perfect person for the job,
and you will see what I'm talking about.

Yeah.

Hope you had fun up there.

Oh, I'm really excited too.

- Are you both gonna be lead anchors?
- Bradley.

Let's go. Let's go.

Bradley, Bradley,

- Maggie Brener, New York Magazine.
- Hi.

- Congratulations on...
- Maggie, my love. Tonight is a tease.

But, Cory, how'd you manage
to keep such a delightful secret?

Well, you guys are only interested
in the obvious choices.

Bradley Jackson isn't obvious.

After Mitch, we felt we needed
a big change and quickly.

One that makes a statement
about where we intend to go.

Where is that?

If you guys wanna know more...

tune in on Monday
for Alex and Bradley's first show.

Bradley.
Bradley, how excited are you?

How long are you gonna be
with this network?

What are you fucking doing?

Congratulations, Bradley Jackson.

Your life just took off.

Don't say anything to anyone
and meet me at the studio.

You're changing the game.
How does it feel?

- Bradley! Bradley.
- Are you excited to work with Miss Levy?

What is the statement that you would like
to make to young women?

- I don't...
- Hey, let's get you outta here.

They're looking at you
like you're raw meat.

- Okay.
- Okay. We're going this way.

- Bradley!
- Excuse me.

This way.

Oh, my God. What the hell just happened?

They'll have answers for us at the studio.
Chip knows we're on our way.

Oh, no, no. I'm going to LaGuardia.
LaGuardia, please.

- We're not going to LaGuardia...
- Yes.

And with all due respect, who the hell
are you to tell me what to do?

Do you have a cigarette?

Twenty bucks.

Bravo, buddy.
Way to take advantage of a woman in need.

Do you have $20?

Yeah. Cory put it on public record
that the show is launching on Monday.

Yeah, well, he's insane too.

Agreed. But let's for one moment
assume you are the coanchor.

You can assume that.
I don't want to assume that.

I'm going to LaGuardia.
I don't wanna be the coanchor.

Why the hell not?

Because they're gonna use me
to try and get an Eagle News audience

that I won't attract
because I'm not that kinda conservative.

But you don't know that,

because there's no way in hell
that I have been vetted.

And I am being set up here
to be some sort of fall guy,

and I am not interested in that.

Not interested.

Do you have a light?

No smoking, ma'am.

You've gotta be kidding me.

What the hell were you thinking?

Why would you back that unhinged woman
to a room full of reporters?

You were given clear instructions.

Why would you box us in
to a Monday launch with that nobody?

I feel it's a bit dismissive to refer to
them as "unhinged woman" and "nobody."

Don't fuck with me. I need to understand
how you plan to fix this.

Or explain to me
why I shouldn't fire you along with Levy?

Well, because that "unhinged woman"
did us a serious favor.

Look, this show slipped in the ratings,
Fred, because the show is stale.

Alex Levy, her sell-by date,
it expired years ago.

She needed to go.
Everybody knew we were gonna fire her,

but Mitch fucked that up
by fucking everything.

So, now, everybody's curious.
What are we gonna do?

So what we're gonna do is,
we're gonna give her this victory.

A Pyrrhic victory.
Make her think that she's won.

But really, we're gonna let
this "nobody" in to freshen the show.

Juice the ratings for sweeps and finally
push Alex Levy off the shelf for good

when it is convenient for us

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

That doesn't explain
why we have to rush them out for Monday.

Well, the streak.

If we don't do something next week,
the streak is over.

YDA is not sneaking up on us,
they're breathing down our fucking necks,

in spite of our "Mitch is a predator"
boost. It feels old.

People are getting too used to their
favorite cuddly men turning into monsters,

but watching a beloved woman's breakdown

is timeless American entertainment.

The Morning Show audience
values stability.

When has it been the case that a morning
audience prefers fighting over family?

I don't know. Families fight, Fred.

Look, all right, hey, give me a month
of "The Alex and Bradley Show,"

either they work well together,
or it's horrible.

Regardless, putting Bradley in
lets us get back to replacing Alex.

And it'll be interesting
and fun, fresh, you know,

which is imperative right now.

I'm gonna make something clear.

I have an easy fall guy
when all this goes to shit.

Oh, we're talking about me, right?

Chaos, it's the new cocaine, Fred.

You screwed yourself.

Committed a fireable offense,
overtly in breach of contract.

We'll be lucky if the network
even continues negotiations.

You need to go in and find Fred
and apologize tonight.

Right, right.
Is there an alternative option?

Not unless you wanna pull the rehab card.

We could say you were emotional
about Mitch.

But I'm not emotional about Mitch.

I was emotional because
no one's fucking listening to me!

Mom! What's going on? Are you? Are you...

- Yes, I'm fine. Sorry.
- Let's just take a beat here, please.

- Sarah, listen. I'm going to handle this.
- It's okay. It's okay.

Then put on your apology face
and fucking mean it.

- Absolutely. I completely understand.
- Do you understand?

Guys, guys.

Listen, don't...
Honey, baby. Honey, listen to me.

Sometimes women can't ask for control.

So, they have to take it, okay?

Okay.

I want you to remember that. Okay, baby?

- Okay.
- Okay.

Okay. Everybody knows you're here.
They want you to sit tight for 15 minutes.

I will not sit tight.

There are some snacks. Some TV.

There's definitely some booze
around here somewhere.

They're deciding my life out there.

Yes, and I know that's insane,
but Alex is meeting with the CEO.

Chip is gathering the staff, and if you're
even remotely considering doing this...

I don't know what this is.

You need to let them come to you.

You need to let yourself take a breath.
Have a fucking drink.

Think about what you want.

Consider this the start
of me being a great producer.

- You're not my producer.
- Yet.

Oh, my God.

Hal, where have you been?

You cannot seriously
be making this about me right now.

Okay? Can we please talk about you?
You're all over the news.

This is so weird.

Yeah, no kidding. Is Mom okay?

She's pissed at me.

She said you embarrassed her with
her friends because you didn't tell her.

I didn't know.

Is this even real?

Fuck, Hal. I hope not.

- Hey. She's waiting in the green room.
- You're a god.

- Is this for real? Or are...
- Fucking hope not.

What the hell was she thinking?
It's a room full of press, and she just...

I think she was thinking
it would be effective.

- Yeah, well...
- So?

Wait till she finds out Bradley Jackson
is a fucking raving lunatic. Jesus.

- Chip.
- What?

I wanna produce her.

Why?

Because I've been in purgatory.
I'm too good for that.

If this is real,
you should put your best person on it,

and you know that's fucking me,
and, honestly, I like her,

which could go a long way
to making this work.

If this works,
it's gonna be a fucking disaster,

and you're gonna be tied to it.

Yeah, I've been tied to disasters before.

I want this, Chip.

Hold on. Let's just get some quiet.
Can I get quiet for two seconds, please?

I refuse to accept any of this as reality.
Fuck. Jesus.

Who died?

Ideally, not my show.

Come on, Chip. Cheer the fuck up.

We're in the middle of an epic rebirth.

So, this is happening?

Look, I do know that this comes
as a bit of a surprise.

Alex jumped the gun a little bit
on the announcement,

but we've been quietly vetting Bradley
for a while now,

looking for someone with
that kind of unpredictable energy.

And I know Monday feels fast.
That's why we hired a veteran.

Not an anchor veteran.
Zero anchor experience, in fact.

But she has got raw talent
coming out of her pores.

And you know it.

So, let's get moving, people.

We've got 48 hours to define
the character of Bradley Jackson.

I want wardrobe tests, screen tests,
makeup tests.

I wanna have those tests focus-grouped.

We need a contract. Where's legal?

I'm telling you,
it's not a given she'll go on air Monday.

Are you legal?

I'm Mia Jordan, Bradley's producer.

Well, that happened fast.

Yeah, I felt I was a few steps behind,

so I wanted one of my best people
to manage the circus.

Well, just make sure
that she can read a teleprompter.

I don't want to rain on the parade,
but I snaked a Mitch accuser from YDA.

- You got a Mitch accuser?
- Yeah.

Not great optics to launch a new anchor

next to a sexual assault victim's
brave return.

Are you kidding me? That's perfect.

What is your name?

- Hannah. I'm head booker.
- Hannah.

Hannah nailed it,
'cause we're creating a safe space here.

It's a feminine space.

This is an era for The Morning Show

where women make the rules
and give voice to the silenced.

Speaking of which,
nobody says a fucking word to the press.

They're gonna be circling us
like vultures.

So, anyone who leaks will be murdered...

career-wise.

Okay. I'm gonna run upstairs
to the public spanking of Alex Levy.

Neal, I have an idea.

I know it's only been a few days,

and I know that you're gonna tell me
it's too soon,

but let's just for a second,
look at the larger context of #MeToo.

It's been, what? Two years?

We're two years in.

I feel that people are screaming
for an honest conversation.

And what do I do?

What do I do best?

I am a journalist.

I can feel when the world needs me
to articulate something for them.

To help them understand.

And believe me, I know this is gonna
require a high degree of sensitivity.

But I fucking love a tightrope. I love it.
It makes me feel alive.

You know what?
Maybe all of this happened for a reason.

Because I think that if I can get
in there, and I can show my face,

and I can look and address
the darkness that exists within...

You're gonna answer...

Fuck.

Who is Bradley Jackson?

Mitch, I love you.

I mean, you know that's true.

You're a fantastic talent.

But the fact of the matter is that
a working relationship is based on work,

and that's not gonna
be happening for a while.

Are you dropping me, Neal?

We have a lot of female clients
that are journalists that we represent.

You understand?

There are certain pressures
brought to bear on us.

Believe me, I wish it was different
than the way it is,

but this is the reality now.

Maybe you should sign Bradley Jackson,

whoever the fuck that is.

Would you like me to leave?

Yes.

I don't feel I need to remind you

that this network has been
very good to you over the years.

We have always shown you
personal and professional respect.

I never anticipated we would be met
with such utter disrespect

and insubordination in return.

This network has every right
to terminate you immediately.

You have placed us
in an impossible situation.

You have embarrassed yourself.

You have done something
unforgivably selfish.

And for what? To what end?

I find myself wondering if we can
even trust you with the privilege

of being on air for The Morning Show.

Are you done?

I'm sorry?

The part you guys never seem to realize
is that you don't have the power anymore.

The news division is held up by my show.

And the only thing keeping us afloat
is me.

Because guess what?

America loves me.

And therefore, I own America.

It seems pretty fucking simple,
but so easy for you guys to forget.

Are you actually trying
to justify your action...

You're not listening!

I don't need to justify anything.

You all are so convinced that you are
the rightful owner of all of the power

that it doesn't even occur to you

that someone else
could be in the driver's seat.

And so, we have to just gingerly step
around your male egos

in order to not burst
this precious little bubble.

Well, surprise!

I'm bursting it.

We are doing this my way.

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

Not the apology you were expecting?

Wanna take a seat?

Is that an invitation or a command?

You sound a little pissed off.

I don't like surprises.

Come on. That was a pretty good surprise.

No. You don't get to make this about me.

You dropped a bomb, and I don't know why.
Maybe you're trying to blow up your life.

Maybe you were angry, which I get,

but you don't have the right
to fuck with me.

Fuck with you? How?

By offering you
the most coveted anchor job in the world?

I don't want your job.

Oh, honey, bullshit.

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

I know you're going to do this.

I don't have a contract.

Well, great. I just put you
in a great spot to negotiate.

This job is yours.

I'm welcoming you with open arms.

I'm giving you the biggest news platform
you could ever have.

If you're a true journalist,
you don't say no to this.

I'm not sure
this is considered true journalism.

And how many current or former presidents
have you interviewed?

This job requires
a certain kind of positivity.

I'm not a perky person.

I don't care.
I don't want us to be the same.

I'm not looking to groom my replacement.

I want a partner.

Do you?

Or do you want somebody
who's beholden to you?

Somebody who's grateful
that you plucked them from obscurity?

Because if that's what you're hoping for,
I will give you serious buyer's remorse.

You are convinced that you know me.

I can guarantee that you are
underestimating me.

And I am really fucking over
people doing that.

I want you here at 7:00 a.m. tomorrow.

I suggest that you get up at 5:00.
4:00 on Sunday.

Start getting yourself conditioned.

Alex...

I don't like being used.

Oh, my God.

Could you just try, like, taking advantage
of the situation presented?

That sounds like something
you might enjoy.

Come on. See you tomorrow.

We're gonna hit up
a lot of the nitty-gritty today,

because being a morning show anchor
is the hardest job on television bar none.

So, we're gonna meet with makeup,
wardrobe, we'll do some screen tests.

We'll meet with marketing,
publicity, research.

We're gonna drill transitions.

Look, the other thing is that,
and don't shoot the messenger,

the show will be heavily scripted.

What do you mean by "heavily"?

Completely.
It's gonna be completely scripted.

No, I'm not a novice. I don't like
things to be overtly scripted.

It sort of eliminates any possibility
of something truthful happening.

Plus, I have a habit
of going off-script sometimes.

Two-Fucks Jackson.

Well, I see the research
has finally begun.

I can relate to a good self-sabotage,

but it cannot happen on The Morning Show.

Okay, Mia, listen. I get that you're
excited and y'all want this to work out.

I just don't know how I feel about being
forced onto national television

just to make an ass of myself.

I wanna be clear, by showing up today,
I'm not agreeing to this,

and I'm not signing a contract, okay?

Baby steps, okay?

You know who's the most excited?

- Who?
- Alex.

Seriously.

She's gonna be shepherding you
through this entire weekend,

along with me, of course.

Okay? She really wants
to take a firm hand in this.

- She really cares.
- She does?

Absolutely.
This whole weekend is about you.

Getting to know Bradley Jackson,
who you are, what's important to you.

Really? You think I can define myself?

Absolutely.

This is gonna be fun. Watch.

Can't wait.

You guys, thank you. Thank you, but no.

Fucking no. I'm sorry.
I know you're tired,

and I know you hate me right now,
but I really don't give a shit.

All we have to do is figure out
who Bradley Jackson is next to Alex Levy.

Who do you partner with a 24-karat bitch?

That's actually really funny. Don't...

Good morning.

Oh, good to see you're all
in such good spirits today.

Milk Bar for the writers.

Yes, I'm shamelessly bribing you
with sugar for working overtime.

So, you're joining us?

Absolutely.

We were just discussing the enigma
that is Bradley Jackson.

Fabulous.

So, if you'd give us a few minutes...

No, I'd actually like to get in on that.

- It's actually why I'm here.
- To discuss Bradley?

Among other things.

Look, guys, this is a pressure-cooker
moment, all right?

This is a massive transition.

We are redefining ourselves,

and I need to make sure
that we are all on the same page.

So I'm gonna be here all weekend.

- All weekend?
- Yeah, all weekend.

Sean typed up a schedule. Sean.

So, I spoke to wardrobe,

and they're going to screen test some
looks that will appeal to her demographic.

And then I want us to bang out some copy

so that we can talk about what segments
that we will be giving to Bradley.

What time does Ashley Brown get here?

- Around 10:00.
- 10:00. Okay, great.

I'll do her pre-interview then.

Sorry, should I know who Ashley Brown is?

Mitch's victim.

No, let's not call her a victim.

Okay, what should we call her then?

I think "accuser" feels more appropriate.

Look, if she wants to call herself
a victim, we can take our lead from her.

But I think it's important
that she feels in control of it.

In control of the language used.

So, just to be clear,
and I appreciate the typed-up schedule,

you're doing the Ashley Brown interview?

Yes, I am, Chip.

What?

Okay. All right, team.

I will address the elephant in the room.

Yes, yes. I worked side by side with Mitch
for 15 years.

God knows he was not perfect.

I felt it daily.

But I didn't know he was that guy.

And that's a problem.

I fell asleep at the wheel.

But I want you to know that I am here now.

And I'm here for Ashley,

and I'm here for you.

I'm available, I'm accessible,
and I'm awake.

So, shall we?

Stay on two. As we said, go with Yanko.
Go with Yanko.

If you live in New England, not so fast.

You'll be seeing one last snowfall
of the season.

We do have some exciting wind blowing
our way down here in New York City too,

and she goes by the name
of Bradley Jackson.

- See what I did there?
- Very smooth.

Welcome to command center.

I may be stating the obvious, but it's
a pretty exciting weekend here at TMS.

We have our new Morning Show cohost,
Bradley, in the halls,

and she and Alex are prepping a really,
really amazing show for this Monday.

That's right, Daniel.

And that includes an interview with our
very own former colleague Ashley Brown,

who has bravely agreed to return and talk
about her experience with Mitch Kessler.

That's going to be something.

- Yeah. It's very, very brave.
- Yeah. Big stuff.

We hope you spend
your Monday morning with our new family.

I'm Daniel Henderson.

I'm Alison Namazi.

I'm Yanko Flores.

And this was the weekend edition
of The Morning Show.

- Ready, four?
- Until next time.

Take four. Insert. Roll credits.

'Cause America loves a good Cinderella
story, just as long as she's a white girl.

Please. Disney got you a black princess,
like, what, 2008?

He's not wrong.

- I don't recall that.
- You didn't see it. There was a frog.

Bradley. Hi. Claire. We met the other day.

- Yeah, yeah. I remember.
- I'm with the digital team today.

If it's cool, I'm gonna shadow you
while we do your screen tests.

Give people a front-row look
on how we make a star.

Sorry, they told me to say that.
Stupid. Let's go.

Okay.

Fuck me.

Tell me why
I shouldn't hand in my resignation now.

Daniel, I could write you a fucking book.

Yesterday,
you said it was my chair to lose.

And I don't recall fucking up the pass.

So why am I out there previewing
a conservative beauty queen?

You know, she's not a beauty queen,
and she's actually more of a libertarian,

so I don't know.

- Chip, I'm out.
- Daniel, come on. Hold on.

Take a breath, take a breath,
take a breath.

I have been told to take deep breaths
my whole life.

I can't do it anymore.

Daniel, I'm telling you,

you walk out that door, you're never
gonna get back in when the chair opens up.

And when will that be?

Because women live longer than men,

and those two
look like they do a lot of Pilates.

Read the tea leaves!
Bradley Jackson is a nobody.

Alex is... clearly struggling, you know?

It was a desperate move from someone
who had their fucking ego bruised, okay?

This will fail.

And, when it does,
maybe two chairs are gonna open up.

Okay? So, please, I'm begging you,

ride with me through this shitstorm,

and I promise you
the show will be yours in the end.

Here we go.

Yeah!

Here's the thing.

Everything can be recontextualized.

They take my movies that I directed,

and they pervert them
to fit a convenient narrative.

Hugging and Loving, right?

That's a veiled portrait

of my grandmother's assimilation story,
for God's sake.

That is a terrific film.
That's my mom's favorite film.

So, now, it's about what I apparently did
to all my leading ladies.

Well, when did hugging become a sin?

Fuck it. I love to hug.

Huggings are nice.

Yeah. Jeez. That is crazy.

No, no, no. Crazy is how they loved
the title Jessica Over Easy

and then, of course, now they just
rip me to shreds over it.

God damn it. You know what?
They just twist everything.

I don't even understand
what their message is they're sending out.

That women are not allowed to be
in possession of their sexual choices?

When they fixate on us,
they lose sight of the issues.

I actually feel bad for the kids.

'Cause there's nothing sexy about consent.

Well...

That came out wrong, and that was creepy.

I guess what I'm saying is...

humanity happens in the unspoken moments,

and I just feel badly for a generation
that loses that.

Wow. That's really well said.

Fuck it.

Fuck it.

We're not in prison.

Prison of public opinion.

That's exactly what I wanna talk about.

The discussion, this whole Me Too thing,

it is so fucking puritanical and myopic.

No one is addressing it.

A woman can say one thing about you.

It doesn't matter what her motivation is.

And everything you've done in your life...
gone.

Your career erased.

You deserve better, buddy.

You deserve better.

I have an idea.

We do a documentary.
You direct it. I do the interviews.

We make them look at it.
We make them look at us.

We ask to be a part of the conversation.

I mean...

we did something wrong, okay.

What?

If that's the way you feel, fine,

but explain it to me,
'cause I don't fucking get it.

A conversation with the victims.

Yes. And I think we can do it
in a really smart way.

I don't think we refer to them as victims.

I think...

that's a concess... I don't think
it's something we want to concede.

No, no, we do call them victims,

and then we prove why they're not.

I'm not sure that we should use gotcha
journalism with the women who accused us.

Oh, fuck that! Jesus. They did it with us.

"Gotcha!

I'll fuck you for the role,
and then I'll win an Oscar."

And then, "Oh, now I'm 50 and irrelevant,

so I'll scream 'rape'
and then I'll force a settlement."

You know,
as if that lazy lay deserves a cent.

No, no, you're wrong.

Wow. Is that real?

"Gotcha!

I said I was 20. I was only 15."

Bullshit. "Then why do you look
like a tired old bag?"

And yeah, I'd love...
I'd kill to see her birth certificate.

How come I never heard about that one?

'Cause she's going the legal route.

Big fucking chance.

Statute of limitations, babe.

You know, sometimes you gotta say,
"God bless America."

Finally protected.

Yeah, well,

maybe we should just interview the men,

because it might be naive to think
that the women would want to participate.

Do you think we could get Cosby?

No, let's... No.

No. I think another smart idea would be

to talk about the specificity
of the Me Too movements.

There was the first wave of guys
who were accused,

and then there was a second wave,

and we could talk about the nuance
between the two.

I don't think I follow.

Well, the first wave was... really bad.

And then the guys accused
in the second wave was just different,

and I don't think
we should be scared to talk about it.

Spell it out for me, won't you, Mitch?

Well, you are actually a predator.

And people are gonna want you to own that.

As opposed to...

What are you exactly, Mitch?

Not you.

The organization has now raised
over $80,000

to help end sexual assault
on college campuses.

Pace it down. You have time.

Okay.

And educate students on consent.

Really inspiring to see these young women

working together to effect change,
isn't it, Alex?

Fast learner, our Bradley.

Well, it's Saturday night,
and she has the stage to herself.

Let's not do the hora just yet.

Coming up after the break,
we have one of my personal favorites,

The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.

Alex, growing up on the farm, my mama made
the best grits in all of West Virginia.

Let's see how Ree compares.

Seriously, you guys? This is garbage.

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

I hear you, Bradley.

Do you?

Yeah. We're taking notes.
We're making changes.

How about I do it for you?

Please welcome The Pioneer Woman,

who somehow manages to idealize an era

when women birthed babies
in covered wagons

and died from cholera before
they even had a chance to nurse 'em.

Something like that?

Yo, Jackson. God here.
Let's fix that wardrobe.

Whoever's picking these outfits
should be fired.

Alex picked 'em.

All right, next up,

Lizzy has her mock trial semifinal
on May 3.

Yeah, it's an all-day thing.
I'll cover it.

No. I wanna go to that.

Yeah, it's at Wolcott's.

I refuse to have boarding school mean
that I don't get to see my fucking kid.

I'm gonna get more wine.
Would you like some?

Sure. Why don't you switch to white?

Isn't that stuff giving you headaches?

If I don't take an Advil, okay, Jason?

- Jesus.
- Okay. Jesus Christ.

God.

- Al, Al, Al.
- What?

Oh, God. What is going on?

I just think it's weird that we have to
make a fake family calendar. That's all.

We've always done it.

No, but now it just is...
feels like a game.

Lizzy's stuff is real,

but coordinating my events and you having
to pretend. Come on. It feels weird.

Yes, obviously. It's fucking bizarre.

But, you know, we'll figure it out.

Lizzy's at boarding school now.
She'll be at college in a minute.

Yes, I know. I know.
And I'm thrilled for her.

We raised a beautiful, independent kid,

but would it kill her
to need us a little bit more?

Oh, come on.

Is that really what's bothering you?

Come on.

Page Six thinks I'm crazy.

Page Six thought you were pregnant
ten times last year. Who cares?

Well, I very well might be.

- Excuse me?
- Crazy, not pregnant.

Crazy. I'm...
This article came up the other day.

I googled "Alex and Bradley" 'cause...
I'm fucking human and curious,

and this article popped up

that said I was "wandering the halls
of TMS in the middle of the night."

Were you?

Yes.

But that means that my coworkers
are leaking stories about me.

Mitch is going down,

and somehow stories about me
being crazy are popping up.

How the fuck does that track?

- All right, it's a big change.
- Yes.

You're allowed to feel it.

I know, but I'm the one
who made this big, stupid

Bradley-Jackson,
whoever-the-fuck-that-is move.

I mean, it is crazy.
It's absolutely crazy.

But at first it felt like "I'm in control.
This is a power move."

But I just... This stupid shitshow,
I'm just... I'm exhausted.

I'm just so exhausted.

Would it really be so bad
if it all went away?

What?

Oh, come on. A part of you
is trying to blow it all up. Admit it.

Now, come on. I know you.

I get it.

But you've had this
unbelievable run, Alex.

You've earned your freedom.

You've earned your family their freedom.

So, I don't know, maybe this is the moment
you get to choose to stop.

We'll be fine.

Wait. Are you saying that if I quit,
we would be...

Fuck, no, no, I'm...
No, I was not making this about me. Sorry.

Okay.

Thank you for that.

- Thank you.
- Sure.

Am I supposed to be impressed
you can open Barneys?

You're supposed to be impressed
that I've got $30,000

for you to spend on whatever you want.

Do you have a favorite silhouette?

Pants.

Pencil, cigarette, flared,
high-waisted, gaucho, drop-crotch...

You know what? Just bring us a variety.
We trust you.

And throw in some dresses too, please.

I get you're not a typical woman, but
try to see the joy in a wardrobe upgrade.

What is a typical woman?

You know, not everything is a challenge.

People usually say that
when they don't wanna be challenged.

Wow. You're fun.

I'm tired.

And I don't feel like pretending
Pretty Woman is my favorite movie.

What is your favorite movie?

What do you want my favorite movie to be?

I'm beginning to sense
that you're very frustrated.

Look, I don't wanna sound ungrateful.

New clothes are fun. They're...

You know what's even more fun?

Having your image
workshopped by a focus group.

I can't wait to hear
how I'm gonna alienate Americans.

I've been contending with the misogynistic
world of journalism for 15 years.

I've only been told
about a thousand different ways

I'm too liberal,
too conservative, too in-between.

"You've too much chin.
You're not smiling enough.

You're too brunette.
Do you wanna go blonde?

Where are your boobs?

Quick, put your boobs out.
Wait, put your boobs away.

You're attracting men.
You're scaring women.

Try not to be so confrontational.
Men don't wanna fuck you.

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

But here, no, no,

here I'm gonna transform into
the aspirational, inoffensive dream girl.

Here I'm gonna become
the Mother Teresa of the morning news.

Though I'm pretty sure that Mother Teresa
had too many fucking wrinkles for HD.

All right, are we doing this? Let's go.

I'm trying on a lot of clothes
for someone without a signed contract.

It'll be ready tomorrow.
You need a better agent.

My agent is fine.

He's an idiot if he closes at $700,000.

I thought you were trying
to get me on the cheap.

I don't mind paying someone
what I think they're worth.

You're single, right?

Single.

What's that got to do with my contract?

So, you are? That's great.

Good. Keep it that way.

American women, they're getting married
later, often not at all.

Eggs frozen to be used another day,
if at all.

Men to be fucked
but not needed for fulfillment.

That's exciting, that's reality,
and that is not on morning television.

Okay. What do you think of this?

Oh, yeah. Right.

Very Pantsuit Nation.

Fuck off.

No, I love it.

I'm serious. It just, it...
It reminds me of my mom.

Seriously?

My mom is awesome,

and she is gonna love you.

Martha has never seen herself reflected
on The Morning Show.

Is this the mom you took care of
after Daddy left?

Oh, I see. You think of her as, like,
a sad, weak, abandoned woman?

Hey, I didn't say that.

I took care of my mom, in the cooking
her dinner and giving her hugs sense.

Telling her to put her work away
and go to bed.

And I was, you know,
a terrific 12-year-old mom to my mom.

What does she do?

Retired now.

She was a campaign organizer
for progressive women who usually lost.

Martha loved a easy sell.

Like mother, like son.

How so?

Peddling out to America a 40-year-old,
single, childless woman

who's a political independent?

I don't think you're a tough sell.

We already have the housewives
watching TMS.

If we want to win the ratings war,
we need the women who aren't watching,

the ones that don't see themselves
reflected in Ice Queen Alex.

So... be messy.

Let's do segments
on the ways that you haven't "lived up."

Be the narrative real women are living.

There is no way that Ashley
is only one fucking segment.

That's plenty of time
for a good interview.

It is completely disrespectful
to the seriousness of the subject.

I get it. But Ashley is not good.

Oh, my Go... Okay, hold on a second.

Did you seriously just call her
"not a good victim"?

Look, I read the transcript.

She's superficial, she's inconsistent
in her recounting of the story...

She's completely preoccupied by Mitch,
how he might feel about it.

Okay, so did you bring her in for backup?

- Is that what Mia's doing here?
- I am nobody's backup.

I read the transcript
from your pre-interview.

- I came to my own conclusions.
- Why are you reading my transcripts?

Hey, hey, hey.

Mia's in charge of our Me Too coverage.
She gets what works.

This is not about Me Too, Chip.

This is about us. This is about our show,

how we will be judged by the public.

And if you cut that down, it's gonna look
like a dodge. It just fucking is.

So get this
into your little fucking brains, okay?

I'm doing the interview my way,
and if you have a problem with it,

and if you have a problem with it,
then fucking quit.

Just let her deal with it.
Fuck it. Fuck it.

I'll be on stage in a minute!

You shouldn't do the interview
with Ashley.

Why wouldn't I?

I don't know.

Seems like you wanna create this narrative
about how you're taking control,

how you've been powerless, but...

that's pretty convenient.

What's convenient about it?

You've always had power,

and you know exactly what it looks like
when a woman doesn't.

Mia, I don't think
we've ever known each other that well.

Maybe not,

but it hasn't stopped you
from making assumptions about me.

Yeah. I've made assumptions
about you and Mitch.

I did not approve of that relationship.

Not one bit.

Completely inappropriate.

And I think the world is making that
pretty clear right now.

But what I don't understand
is why is this my fault?

It's not.

But you're not impartial on this subject.
You knew what Mitch was doing.

And you're impartial?

You're producing the person
who'll be doing the interview.

- That's pretty fuckin' transparent.
- This isn't about that.

Well, then what is it about, Mia?
'Cause I'm getting really confused.

I don't ever remember you
confiding in me about Mitch,

asking me for help.

I remember you being pretty capable
of taking good care of yourself.

Do whatever you wanna do with Ashley,

but I'm telling you,
she's enamored of you.

You'll never get to something honest.

And then
you're gonna get crucified for it.

God.

So, one big happy family.

Yeah. With an absent mother.

I, honestly, was shocked
that she agreed to a run-through.

Not exactly a team player?

Alex requires
a fair amount of personal space.

It's just who she is.

Okay, so, Alex is in a meeting.

We're gonna mark some transitions
without her.

Daniel,
do you mind playing Alex for a bit?

- Don't mind at all.
- Okay.

This way.

Okay.

Speaking of family,

we know how hard it is to make
your kid's lunch quick and healthy,

but luckily, multitasking mom Margaret M...

multitasking mom Margaret Mapel...

Okay. Can we run that back?
That's a lot of alliteration.

- I'm not looking for sympathy.
- I'm not offering any.

All right. Going again,
let's take it from the top.

Here we go.
Starting with Bradley's line.

Everyone quiet, please.

You're doing great.
Just take a deep breath.

Mia, thanks for showing up.

Sorry. Dealing with some changes.

You are doing the interview with Ashley.

We've pushed it to the end of the week
so we can prepare.

Wait, what?

Yeah. Alex just told me on her way out.

On her way out?

What, she's leaving?

Yeah.

Wait, when is she gonna rehearse
with me? On air?

Bradley, this run-through is going well.
Just push through.

Oh, hell no! No, no, no.

I'm not going on tomorrow
if we don't rehearse.

Bra... Hey!
Don't let her walk out of this...

Great.

Great.

Hey! Alex!

Hey! Alex. Alex.

Why are you not going through
the run-through?

We moved the Ashley interview
to the end of the week,

so I gotta go home and prep a new story.

Why are you giving me the interview?

Because it's better for the show.

Why are you doing this to me?

Doing what?
Handing you an amazing opportunity?

No. You're making no sense.

You're not being present.

What the fuck?

I don't have all the answers.

And why does this have to be about you?

'Cause I'm a woman who has a life.
You realize that?

I have people I'm responsible for,

and I have career aspirations
that don't involve being your sidekick.

You are not my sidekick. You're my cohost.

Well, you have barely acknowledged me
all weekend.

I didn't know that you needed me
to hold your hand.

I need a partner.

Sometimes partners hold hands.

Oh, Jesus.

Okay.

Bradley...

I don't have a fucking clue
what I'm doing.

- You don't?
- Nope. Not a clue.

Running on instinct.

But I know that I need a second

so I can get my shit together
to go on air tomorrow.

And I know I have to not be in that
building with those fucking people

who are constantly judging my choices.

I honestly don't know why I picked you.

Okay? That's the truth.

Just an impulse, and I went with it.

But I do know that I think I like you.

Just go sign your contract.

All right.

Okay.

Watch your step.

Don't fuck it up.