The Morning Show (2019–…): Season 2, Episode 10 - Episode #2.10 - full transcript

Breaking news.
After days in limbo, a cruise ship

with at least 21 coronavirus patients
has finally docked.

All on board are facing
federal quarantine.

Washington state
announcing five new deaths just today,

all associated with nursing homes
and long-term care facilities.

The CDC now says

there are more than
420 confirmed cases nationwide…

New York State sets up a containment zone,

and more schools across the country
send students home…

Alex is taking a personal day today.

We are aware of her statements made
at Mitch Kessler's memorial.



We are also aware
that they were filmed surreptitiously

and without consent.

We have heard the public outcry
and appreciate your concern

on behalf of Alex's coworkers
who had contact with her

following her return from Italy.

UBA will be investigating.

If we can get the eyeballs,

I'm telling you,
this event is going to blow minds.

Uh, the point of the event
is getting the eyeballs,

getting the subscribers.

Do we have any idea
what it would cost to postpone?

- Jesus.
- We're not postponing.

This is a launch event,
and we launch tomorrow.

I am asking what will it cost
to postpone the whole launch?



If you want those numbers,
we'd have them get into...

Actually, can you all give Cybil and me
a minute alone?

We are not gonna postpone the event.
We are not.

Cory. We see the iceberg.

It doesn't make you brave
to steer the ship right into it.

We're not the Titanic, Cybil.

We're not a luxury liner
across the Atlantic.

We're a rocket ship to the moon, okay?

We're Apollo 13,

if they hadn't whined to Houston
and just landed on the damn moon.

Don't you think
you're more Icarus than Tom Hanks?

We have Tom Hanks.

Why are we gonna cancel the event?
Do you want me to fail?

No, of course not.

I just think you will fail.

The market seems to agree unfortunately.

- The whole market is down.
- Not as much as we are.

People are opening huge short positions
against us. But I am pulling for you.

Then just let me get this off the ground.

If we postpone the launch
and postpone the launch event,

who knows when we'll have another window?

Let me ask you something.

Is this about the streaming service?

Or is it about you?

They are one and the same.

- You're leaving?
- I shouldn't have come in at all.

I'm not gonna risk getting sick

just because
our prized feminist morning anchor

was horny for Chester the Molester.

Not blaming you. You didn't know.

Do we know everyone
who came into contact with her?

It's gonna be
everybody on my show basically.

They're all waiting to hear what to do.

I mean, if Alex even has COVID,

which I'd like to point out
is statistically unlikely.

We've got people threatening
advertiser boycotts.

I'm not sure what to say to anyone

because it's not like
it's just one thing she can apologize for.

Well, after speaking with Doug,

it looks like
Alex is gonna leave on her own.

So... Oh.

Actually, can I have everyone hold on?

Hi, Alex.

Is your head feeling any better?

Um, you know what? Thank you.

I'm actually... I'm okay.
I'm... I'm home. Um…

But I tested positive for COVID.

Shit.

Get everyone home, all of us. Go.

Stella? Did you hear what I said?

I'm so sorry. That's awful.
Uh, is there anything we can do?

I'm... I don't think so.

Um, but do, uh...
do I have to announce this?

We need to let people know
that they've been exposed,

but we won't tell them that it was you.

I hope you feel better.

And also, I...

I gotta go,
but we need tests for everyone.

See what's even possible right now.

Stella! Hey, hey!
We have to maintain employee privacy!

What the hell can be going on?

Hi, everyone.

Uh, come... come together. Can we, please?

Thank you. Quickly, quickly.

All right, yep. Thank you.
Thank you so much.

Quickly, quickly. Thank you.

Thank you for your patience.
Um, you should have received an email...

- Someone's got COVID?
- Yes, unfortunately, and we're...

- Oh, my God! Oh, my God.
- Oh, holy hell.

Does someone have COVID?
Or does Alex have COVID?

We can't divulge
private employee health information.

Alex wasn't in today.

- Bradley wasn't in today.
- It's not Bradley.

Did she have a head injury,
or was she hospitalized because of COVID?

Or did she hit her head because of COVID?

I can't believe she would do this.

- It's pretty damn careless.
- It's not careless. It's malicious.

- We're gonna...
- Are we not asking very strange questions?

Do we not want to wonder
if Alex is gonna be okay?

- Did you know?
- I'm sorry?

Guys, guys, guys!

I see that you have strong emotions,
but for your own safety

and the safety of everybody
who wasn't around this person,

I need for you to go home.

We don't yet know enough
about how this thing is transmitted.

Those of you who can work remotely,
that's what we'll do.

- What does that mean for me?
- We're figuring that out.

We will have a show,
but we don't have all the answers yet.

But this is really about your health.

So for now,

I need for you to go straight home
and wait for further instructions, okay?

Hey, Daniel. I need you a second.

You're going to anchor TMS
for the next few weeks.

From home, at least at first.

No, I'm not. Is Alex fired?

Daniel, I can't speak to that.

Or are we waiting
for someone to die first?

Actually, let me put it this way.

If Alex wasn't a pretty white woman...

Daniel, look at me. Look at me.

I see you, Stella.

I get that you'd like me
to pick up the pieces for you

because everybody else fucked you over.

But right now,
I gotta take care of my own.

My grandfather is in a home.

He's not safe.

I need to go get him out of there
and bring him back with me.

I gotta find a way to get to LA
and make sure I don't catch this thing,

which means no planes, no hotels.

Do you get the picture?

And good luck to me,
a Black man sleeping in his car.

But I gotta do it.

We can help. Let us help.

But I need you here.

Daniel, I know you felt sidelined,
and that's not okay.

Show us how wrong we were.

If you don't know already,
then you're never gonna know.

And I'm done
trying to prove myself to you.

It's not about proving yourself.
You were in China, use your expertise.

This could be one of
the biggest news stories of our lifetimes.

You're the right person
at the right place.

- People need the news right now.
- Okay, this... This is the news, okay?

Everyone's carrying around the news.

We're just the news
for people who have too much time.

Daniel, you can't just leave.
You're under contract.

So... So everybody else can
just do what they want,

but I'm under contract?

Well, not anymore.

I quit.

And by the way, my grandpa thinks
I do have the "it" factor.

You didn't.

- Does Cory know about Alex yet?
- Shit.

Would you consider
upping the trial to six months free?

What about six years, Glen?

- Kyle, what's the rest of my day?
- Uh, last thing you have is, uh,

Paola... Sorry, I can't pronounce
her last name, in an hour.

- Who?
- Uh, filmmaker. It's a favor to Alex.

I don't have time to do Alex a favor.

Just apologize, get a reel, take a look
at it and let me know if it's any good.

- Got it.
- Thank you.

Cory,
I think we've built something special,

but we knew another streaming service
was gonna be a tough sell.

- What is your point, Glen?
- Maybe we should push.

People are gonna be glued to the news.
News is not UBA+.

- Hey, Stella.
- What up?

You, uh, ready for the news onslaught?

Oh, yeah. I was born ready.

I'm excited for Plus. Yeah.

- Good, good.
- Yeah.

We should talk about, um, uh,
doing a collab on a docuseries maybe.

Mmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's a great idea.

Let's set up a meeting
in the next little bit.

Glen, uh, would you give Stella and I
a minute alone, please? Thank you.

Yep.

And would you mind getting the door?
Thank you.

Oh, my God.

Well, Jesus. Is she okay?

I don't... I... I think so.

I mean, she sounded okay.

God.
If anyone has ever dug their own grave...

- She dug a triple wide.
- Made space for us.

- Yeah. And I... What?
- Uh, Stella, are you...

- Are you a little close?
- Am I... What?

Are you a little close? Right now?

- Oh, my God. Fuck. Shit.
- I know. I don't know.

It feels better.

Okay, so, uh,
I guess we have to scrap another statement

and move on to version three of
our response to Alex face-fucks us again.

Who else knows?

Mia knows. HR knows.

- All right.
- Yeah.

We're gonna do that, um...

We're gonna do the contact tracing,
whatever that is.

- Is that something we do?
- I don't know!

I don't know what that...
What's a contact trace?

Who the fuck knows what that is?
I don't know!

Trying to do all of this by myself.
Nobody knows anything.

Stella, we need to sit on this news
as long as we can.

Yeah. Okay.

I told the whole staff and crew
that we had a positive test.

Everybody assumed.
The whole world will assume.

Reasonable doubt.

She got back from Italy, uh...
almost 14 days ago?

If she got it there... Reckless fool.

But if she got it here, then she is, uh,

an unlucky grieving woman
who deserves our sympathy.

Oh.

Oh, shit. Oh, shit.

Oh.

Mm-mmm.

What?

Oh, God.

Oh, shit.

Okay.

Oh, God.

Okay. Gary.

Good afternoon, Ms. Levy.

Gary? Gary, how'd my dog get here?
Where was he?

Charlie Black dropped him by.

He took him home
when you went to the hospital.

You feeling okay?

I'm feeling okay. Better, thanks.

But it's ready to go, right?

There cannot be any outages on launch day.

Yeah, okay.
The rest we can figure out later.

I'm signing off for tonight.
Call me if anything comes up.

Okay.

It's Dr. Botz.
How are you doing, Alex?

I'm just awful. I feel awful,
and I don't know what this is,

and I think I should go to the hospital.

Are you having trouble breathing?

No, not really.

Okay. Not really, or no?

- No.
- Then you should stay home.

I am literally on fire
from the inside out.

Tylenol.

And for the breathing, get a spirometer.
It'll help you know.

But if you can breathe,
don't go to the hospital.

All you'd be doing is
putting more people at risk.

There are no treatments yet.

There's not really anything
they can do for you,

unless you need to be intubated
and put on a ventilator.

But you should keep those available
for people who need them.

Mom?

You know you called Chip, right?

I know.

Alex, I heard.

I'm gonna die.

You're not gonna die.

You don't know this.

And I don't wanna be alone.

Okay, well, let's just keep talking.

But I should be sleeping. And I can't.

And I can't. Talking is... It's too hard.

Then we don't have to.

Put your phone on a pillow or something
right next to you, and…

we can just leave it open.

Really?

Really.

Oh.

Oh, I see.

Oh, God.

Hi.

I don't know
if I'm gonna get through this, Chip.

I really don't know if I can…
…get through this.

Okay, well, you know, you just…

You need something to focus on, okay?
Can you focus on something else?

Do I focus on my eyes being on fire
or that I'm getting canceled?

It's all I got.

Alex, if I didn't cancel you,

you've at least got a chance
with everyone else.

Did they fire me?

Can you fire a person with COVID?

Well, if I infected everybody...

I mean... Oh, my God. Who the hell am I?

Alex, do not go down this road, okay?

I promise you, you're just gonna
end up back at original sin.

Look, just close your eyes.

No. No.

It's gonna be okay.

I don't think I'll be able
to close my eyes, but I'll try.

All we can do is try.

Mmm.

I'm not going anywhere.

I'm right here.

Yes, I know. I...

D... Detective Grant, I get that.

But isn't the first 48 hours
the most important?

Sure, it's obviously better.

Yes, the trail can go cold
after a few days,

but he's a person, not a statistic.

Not yet. Thanks a lot for your time.

…loudly enough
or clearly enough or often enough,

all countries can still change the course
of this pandemic.

Some countries are struggling
with a lack of capacity.

Some countries are struggling
with a lack of resources.

Some countries are struggling
with a lack of resolve.

And that is your eight o'clock news update
for Wednesday, March 11th, 2020.

I never thought that would be
something I'd ever have to say.

"The WHO declares a pandemic."

And today finally marks
the launch of UBA+.

All your favorite shows and stars,
new and classic,

coming to you this evening
at 8:00 p.m. Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Pacific.

You'll be able to stream everything…

Cory, I gotta talk to you about something.

- Good God.
- Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.

You want me to reach for the sky?

No, I wanna pitch you a show
with, uh, this stupid bandana on my face.

- Can we schedule this?
- It's kinda time-sensitive.

I got a lot of time-sensitive stuff
going on right now, buckaroo.

There's no instruction manual

for doing what I'm doing
during a pandemic.

Nobody knows what's going on
or how to handle this.

That's what this show is.

All right. What, what, what?
What is the show?

Look, a few hundred people have COVID.
A lot more people are gonna get it.

What could be more informative
or more comforting to a scared nation

than watching Alex get through it?

What if she doesn't get through it?

Cory, she's gonna get through it.

So, I'm guessing
this is a limited-run series, either way?

I mean, she's sick. Now's the time.

And you know what?

It's already being politicized,
and Alex appeals to everyone.

Alex is kinda persona non grata, Chip.

No, no, no. Alex is everyman.

She doesn't always get it right,
but at her core, she's a good person,

and she wants to get it right
before it's all over.

This... I mean,
what is more relatable than that?

This makes it real.
Someone that they know has COVID.

Just give her an hour on UBANC tonight.
She needs this.

But we're not telling people
she has COVID.

We're trying to protect her.

What are we protecting?

She's got COVID. She's...
She's practically canceled.

This is only going one way for her.

- I'm going in. I'm going in.
- Oh. Okay.

- What the...
- Yeah.

- Are you kidding me?
- Yeah, it's, um, you know, to...

- Fucking kidding me? Who's your guy?
- You know. HR insisted.

- I mean, when's the feeding?
- For the... You know. You don't...

Do you want my routing number?

- I mean, sorry. I'm just... This is...
- Just... Back, back.

Sorry. This is... This is...
This is insane. This is crazy.

Um, look.

You want me to clear
an hour of prime time tonight, for Alex?

I do. The money is already spent on Alex.

Stella,
let's try to get something out of it.

Cory, you're going to lose sponsors
if you put Alex on UBANC.

It doesn't matter
if it's for some altruistic reason

like, um,
informing the country about COVID.

Okay. It'll go on UBA+ then.
No sponsors to lose there.

You're not worried about
losing subscribers?

Nobody has subscribed.

So, I'll put on what I wanna put on.
It's Cory+.

I subscribed.

- Anyway.
- Kyle, we got one, okay?

Put it on the Big Board.

- Yes, sir.
- Thanks, Stella.

Lizzy?

Lizzy!

Lizzy, you cannot be in here.

- It's Chip.
- Oh, God.

- Why do you keep thinking I'm a woman?
- Oh, my God.

Oh, my God, Chip.

I... I... I have COVID.
Are you out of your fucking mind?

- No, Al... Alex. Alex, it's okay.
- I have COVID.

- Oh, no.
- Sorry, I should've called first.

No, no, no.

- I'm sorry. Oh, I'm so sorry.
- No, no, no, no, no. It's okay. It's okay.

No, no, seriously. No, look, look.

- This... This is fine. I'm fine.
- How do you feel? How are you feeling?

- I actually don't feel that bad, okay?
- Really?

Seriously. I might be asymptomatic, okay?

- Oh, I hope so. I so hope so.
- Yeah.

I swear I was... I thought
that's what it was for me too at first,

but then it just... This... It hits you.

It's so awful.

But we're gonna...
We'll help each other through.

Yes, that sounds really good.

I also have some good news.
The network wants you on the air tonight.

Are you joking?

Mm-mmm.

- I'm sick.
- I know. That's the point.

What, so people can just watch me suffer?

Uh, I mean, sort of,
but without the sadistic overtones.

No. You know...

- I'm barely hanging on right now.
- No, no.

Like, I'm barely... I'm barely hanging on.

I... I understand. But that is the point.

You need something to focus on,
like we discussed. Alex, this is it.

I'm feeling sick.

Alex, I know.
But this show will matter, okay?

Hopefully, show people
they need to take it seriously.

Keep them from getting it. Or if they do,
at least help them get through.

We can help people.

I know. I know.

It sounds a little preachy,

and I don't like
doing the whole rah-rah thing.

It's a...

Okay.

Ugh. Save some for the big show.

- It's not funny.
- Sorry.

Oh, God.

Thank you.

Okay. Okay.

Okay.

You're gonna have to leave at 2:15 to ring
the bell at the Stock Exchange at 3:00.

You've got a phoner with Wired at 6:00.

- Your car's picking you up after that…
- What are you looking for?

…to head to MSG for the event.
Denzel's office called.

- He left it here. His favorite...
- Excuse me.

Uh, can I help you?

You canceled our meeting yesterday.

I spoke to your assistant.
He was very rude.

- I just said...
- No.

He said you had to cancel
and to send a sample of my work.

I said I cannot do that,

but I still would like a meeting
before I go back to Italy.

He said no, you're too busy,
to call when I'm back in New York.

So I drove to New Jersey, and I came back.

Well, I don't know
what to tell you. I'm on my way out.

Oh, I... I brought a sample.

I thought you said
you didn't have a sample.

Yeah, that's what she said. She said...

No. I said I didn't have a sample
I could leave.

- I have to stay and watch it with you.
- He has to leave.

Please, just watch two minutes.

- Do you want me to get security?
- Oh, shut up.

Alex Levy got me a meeting with the CEO.

I never even had a meeting.

So now I want you to watch my work.

Look, I need you to watch this
because, uh…

because it's really good.

I watched it again last night,
and I was blown away.

Oh, you were blown away?

You're damn right.

And why can't you just leave it?

I can't let it out of my hands.
I promised.

Two minutes.

One year ago, Mitch Kessler
had an audience of six million.

The last two weeks of his life,
he had an audience of one.

I didn't wanna be this person.

I didn't wanna hurt anyone.

I didn't want people to think

I was the kind of person
that could hurt someone.

And now one of those women is dead.
Hannah Shoenfeld.

Hey, Alex. How are you?

Well, you know…

bad.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

It's okay. It's a step up from dead.

It's actually not why I'm calling.

Okay.

I wanted to say thank you.

I asked you to keep your distance from me,
and you certainly did not do that.

And I just... Means a lot to me.

You can't worry about that right now.
You need to focus on getting better.

Why did you do it?

Because I gave you the job?

No. No, Alex.

I did it because it's true.

And relationships don't have to be
transactional.

I... I... I did it because we're friends.

Not good ones, but important ones.

But good ones isn't out of the question.

I'd like that.

I'll do better.

You're too good for me, Bradley.

Please, I'm just as disappointing
as everybody else.

What do you mean?

Well, when I...
I dumped my brother off at rehab,

I told him that I was done with him.

I... He wasn't going in,
and I... I said, "Go in if you want to."

But I left him there,
and... and now he's missing.

Well, where is he?

Alex, I don't know. He's missing.

He came back to the city
a couple of days ago,

and I just don't know where he is.

And I don't even know if he's alive.

Oh, my God. I'm so sorry.

I've been off social for obvious reasons,
but it...

Do you need me to retweet anything?

Um, I didn't post about it.

What?

I know, I-I know. It's just...

Look, you weren't there that...
My... My brother is...

My brother's having a really hard time,
and... and it's my family.

Oh, come on, Bradley. Stop it.

Families are fucked up.

You know why they're fucked up?
Because they're full of people.

If you wanna cut somebody off,

then just cut them off
and be done with it.

But if that is not an option, then…

you've gotta own them.

I mean,
I think it's why you stuck up for me,

because you're owning me and my shit.

Don't let your shame of
what other people think run your life.

I know. You're right.

I'm always right. God.

Finally.

All right, I have to go.
I just wore myself out yelling at you.

Well, thank you for using
your energy for that.

And listen,
I'm not gonna stop calling you.

I'm really worried about you.

Thank you.

My brother, Hal Jackson,
has been missing for two days.

Uh, he was last seen
somewhere in New York City.

Uh, the New York police know.
They're aware.

Um, but I've been looking
in all the hospitals,

and… I just...
I haven't been able to find him.

Um, I've just been exhausting myself
trying to look for him, and I...

It's really, particularly concerning

because of everything that's going on
in the world right now.

Um…

His safety is just
the most important thing to me right now.

This is what he looks like.

If you see him,
will you tell him that I love him,

and I just want him to come back safe?

I'm... Um... Or... Or you can also DM me
if you have any information.

There's a hotline below.

Uh, just please... please let me know
if anybody has seen him.

I, um...

He's just a really...
He's a really good person.

He's just really struggling right now.
So, I need your help.

And I really hope to see you soon
at The Morning Show again.

And I want everybody to stay safe.

Please, everybody.

Uh, this really is, uh, very good.

That's what I said, isn't it?

You did. Congratulations.

I just want a job.

Documentary, doing news pieces. I'm open.

I understand, but I think there may be
an audience for your documentary.

Oh, I'm sure there is,

but, um…
…I'm not gonna betray him.

I... I do not think
you would be betraying him...

I promised him.

I could have done something
that good before I met him,

but I didn't.

So I owe him.

- Cory, you...
- Uh, Kyle, I need another minute.

Okay, but you have to go
back to the Archer Gray,

and if you don't go now,
you'll be late to Madison Square Garden.

Okay, got it. Thanks.

Listen.

Mitch didn't say anything in there
that doesn't make me think he wasn't...

uh... Well, I'm just gonna say it,
a scumbag.

But maybe, maybe,
the very existence of your documentary,

and what it did for you…

is a living monument
for humanity's capacity for good.

Anyway, food for thought.

I gotta go.

You've got my number.

Mamma mia.

Oh, my God.

Ow, ow. Ow.

Yeah!

Vitamin cocktail goes here.

- Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Please, Chip.
- Sorry. Sorry. What?

Fuck.

Okay.

God.

Okay.

Okay.

Oh, there's nothing taking this away.

- Streaming in three, Chip.
- Oh, shit.

Okay, Alex, we are live in three minutes.
Come on. Let's do this.

- Good to go here.
- Ready.

Oh, shit.

- What do you mean, "oh, shit"? What?
- Take that shit. Fuck.

What... I-It's not that bad. Don't tell me
you're not up for this, please. Please.

No, I'm not, but isn't that the point?

Ch... Who's gonna be watching this,
by the way? Oh, what do I mean?

Everybody's gonna wanna watch me die.

No one wants to watch you die.
Just sit. Nope, nope.

Oh, you have no idea
how mean people are, Chip. Swear to God.

- What they say is unbelievable.
- Gonna put this wire on you.

- Hands are a little cold. Sorry.
- I love the cold.

Please, cold. Love it for a second.

- Two minutes.
- I can't even... I'll show you my tweets.

- The people say things...
- Those people are mean.

- We don't care about them, okay?
- All right.

- They don't know you.
- Well, neither do I.

- Oh! Shit. That's not helping.
- Yes, you do. And you're gonna tell them.

Guess what? You got this, okay?

- Jesus, relax.
- Okay. Come on!

Okay, give me a quick level check, please.

Oh, God.

I hope I don't die doing this.

Okay, level sounds good.

Also, you're not gonna die, not right now.

Chip, honestly, I really feel like
I'm having trouble breathing.

It's just nerves. I get it. It's fine.

It's not nerves. It's fucking COVID.

Alex,
you're gonna have to trust me on this.

Read the copy I wrote.
Be yourself. You're gonna be great.

One minute, we're live.

Wh... Wh... Wh...

Hey, no, no, no, d... don't drink that.
Don't drink that shit.

Excuse me?
Do you want me to get through this?

Because I need help. And saying,
"Just be yourself" is not doing it.

There she is, America's sweetheart.

- Cue the music. Roll A.
- All right, here we go. Here we go. Ready?

- Oh, God.
- Ten, nine, eight, seven, six.

It's gonna be awesome. Four, three…

Oh, God. Hmm.

Good m... Welcome.

I'm so used to saying, "Good morning,"
but it's not morning.

Or maybe it is where you're watching this.

That is the beauty of streaming.

But actually, for the last day or so,
time has had no meaning at all for me.

One moment, 2:00 in the afternoon.
Next moment, 1:00 at night.

I find myself on something…
of a strange journey.

A journey that, unfortunately,
many people either have already

or soon will embark upon.

Because I learned
the difficult news yesterday

that I tested positive
for the n... novel coronavirus.

I hope you'll join me
from a safe and streaming distance

as we talk about it.

You got it. You got it.
Just follow the script.

I wish I could tell you
I wasn't scared, but I am.

Already my symptoms are more excruciating
than anything I've ever experienced.

And I don't say that...
I really don't say that to scare you.

But if that's what it takes
for people to take this seriously,

then I'm happy to scare
the hell out of all of you.

But my main concern is what I may have
put my... on my coworkers.

That is hurting me
more than anything a virus can do.

Really, I'm very sorry
for how this all played out.

But in my defense,
and maybe it doesn't matter,

I was tested after I returned from Italy
and received a negative result.

But they're telling us that
the incubation period is up to 14 days,

and I really... I don't know
if I even got it there.

I don't... I don't know.

But I have to take
responsibility nonetheless.

I owe a particularly big apology
to my producer, Charlie Black,

who has tested positive for COVID himself.

But he's a fighter
who most definitely has a spine.

One of the best spines out there.

Fuck.

And I know he's gonna make it through.

You're listening to 96.8 WLFN,

Cincinnati's only all-music,
all the time station.

I'm Dennis.
I'll be spinning until the sun comes up.

Here's Mark Mallman.

Hey, Mia.

Hey! How's your grandfather?

One of the nurses is sick.

- Don't know with what.
- So sorry to hear that.

How long until you're, um...

A few days. I'm only in Ohio.

Well, uh, about yesterday...

Honestly,
I really don't wanna talk about it.

I'm really not at peace
with the situation,

but I'm at peace with my decision.

Daniel, I hear that.

Um, but I wanna talk about
what went down. It was...

Mia, can we just be friends
and not talk about work for once?

How you holding up?

Uh…

Uh, Daniel, all I do is work. I don't have
things to talk about that aren't work.

But having you here makes it bearable, so…

I really need you to come back.

Okay. Well, that's very sweet,

and very stupid,

and very much appreciated, but…

I quit.

I'm not coming back.

Is it that you can't,
or you don't want to?

Both. Not the way things are.

I gotta start building
my own opportunities.

Otherwise, I'll just keep languishing,
waiting for a seat at their table,

when I can make a table of my own.

Otherwise,
we'll all just keep languishing.

Okay, Daniel. Here's my pitch.

I get why you left The Morning Show,

and if you come back
it's not gonna get easier

because The Morning Show is broken.

I get that.

The night
before Maggie Brener's excerpt came out,

I didn't sleep.
I thought... I did the math,

and I figured out that it doesn't matter
where you go as a Black person.

You're gonna deal with some bullshit.

It's fucked up, but it's true.

And you could leave, but right now,

right now, so many people will benefit

by you sitting in the chair
that Alex Levy takes for granted.

Your face as the lead anchor on the most
valuable news asset at UBA will mean

more than you could ever imagine.

No one is offering me that seat.

You think it's gonna be different
someplace else?

It's fucked up everywhere.

We are here now.

We can keep pushing. We can keep pushing.

Please don't give up on that.

Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.

Tomorrow will come, someday.

Well, that remains to be seen.

Thanks, Mia. I'll call you.

Wait. Wait. I wanna hear from Grandpa.

Okay. All right. Bye.

Bye.

And thank you, Mia.

It means the world to me.

Bye.

Right now, I feel like, um...

like I'm cooking, you know,
from the inside out.

In my body trying to kill this virus,
it's gonna kill me too.

And the hotter I get, the...
the more I feel out of my body.

A million more symptoms,
but I'm not gonna get into all of them.

And at this point,
there's really no treatment.

I called my doctor,
a great doctor, Dr. Vincent Botz,

and he told me to get a spirometer,

and that... he said, uh, unless I really,
really can't breathe that…

… I just have to stay home
and suck it up.

So in short… …it's hell.

Yeah?

Cory, it's Glen.
I have Brian conferenced in with me here.

Hey, what's going on?

I just got word from Australia.

Tom and Rita have COVID.

Oh, shit. Oh.

Fu... All right, um…

Okay, so what do we do?

Well, we could go on
from our other locations,

but… …people are getting skittish.

He's being kind. People are freaked out.

For Christ's sake,
it's Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson.

If they can get it, no one feels safe.

Brian, tell him
what Peter Bullard said to you.

He said there was
no way in hell he was coming.

They just canceled the Jazz/Thunder game.

My buddy in Adam Silver's office says
they're shutting down indefinitely.

Is it safe to do this event?

I don't feel comfortable.

All the people gathered
at these places, I mean…

Shut 'em down.

Glen, you'll put out a release.

Of course.

Hey, everybody.
I know that you haven't seen me

for the past couple of days
on Morning Show.

Um, and, you know, we... we try to share
as much of our personal lives as we can.

And so now, that spiky little fucker...

- Can I say that?
- You just did.

That spiky little fucker i-is
in a race with you, the American people,

to see who can cancel me first.

You know where my money is? My money
is on the spiky little fucker, that...

Whoo! Corona piece of shit.

Because they're real.
That's real. That's ver...

- Hey.
- Hey.

I s-saw your post. I'm here to help.

Oh, y... yeah. I...
Shouldn't you be at your event?

You didn't hear? Canceled.

Um, I-I was getting ready to go now.

I'll join you.

Okay.

But the legions of people
who want me gone? They're not real.

Those people are not real.

Maggie Brener's book is gonna sell what,
like…

I don't know, 40...
30,000, 40,000 if she's lucky.

But I'm meant to believe that

the whole world is gonna be
outraged about my behavior.

Right! I believe that.

Okay, we're cuing Fauci clip.

That was really, really fucking good.

…what you see now in an uncontained way,

and although we are containing it
in some respects…

…getting people coming in
from the country that are travel related.

Mmm.

Oh, shit! Chip.

- …when you get community spread…
- Fuck.

…it makes the challenge much greater.

Oh, God.

- Chip, I'm gonna need a fan.
- I'm… …on fire.

Can you elaborate?

The seasonal flu
that we deal with every year…

Hey, this is Charlie Black.

Hi, Charlie.
This is Marcy from Titanium Health.

We finally got
a new batch of COVID tests in.

Or did you find one somewhere else?

Uh, no, I didn't.

Oh, great. Let me schedule one for you.

Uh, actually, you know, I...
I-I-I don't need it. Um…

Uh... I'm confused. Did you get tested?

Yes, I did. I'm negative.

At least, I was.

Thank you anyway.

…brings the mortality rate
down to somewhere around 1%,

which means it is ten times
more lethal than the seasonal flu.

Ten times more lethal than the flu.

Yes. What Dr. Fauci says
seems to be accurate.

You never like to say this,
but many people will die.

Are you afraid of dying?

Afraid of dying from COVID?

No, just afraid of dying.

COVID, heart attack,
hunting accident, anything?

I think it's natural
to be afraid of death.

No. Are you afraid?
You personally, are you afraid of dying?

I wouldn't say "afraid," no.

As a doctor of infectious disease,
you learn to come to terms with death.

What do you think happens… when we die?

You kn... Do you believe that
we carry on in any way?

Well, medically, it's currently unknown.

But I do have faith,
and I believe this is not the end.

Yeah, see, I don't think we go anywhere.

I mean, if you have faith,
death shouldn't be scary.

What I think
when we die is that that's it.

Oh, that's so scary, you know.

It's scary to be faced with something

that is just beyond the mind
to understand.

What does it feel like
to not even know nothingness?

But you can't even feel that
because it's just, like…

it's the absence of... of anything.

The world does go on.

I don't think so.

I think the world will stop existing
when I die.

I know everyone already thinks that
I'm self-centered, and, yeah, I am.

Is there anyone out there
who is perceiving the world

from somewhere other than
inside their own body?

Beyond that, it's a matter of faith for me
to even believe that you exist, Peja.

I-I... Well, I do exist, Alex.
I mean, this I know.

I don't know, Peja.

I hope you do. I really do.

I think all you can do is act like…

you believe it matters.

You know, treat people
like you'd like to be treated

and hope that it matters.

Hope that you're wrong about
there being no next plane of existence.

Hope you can reach enlightenment
and know the unknowable.

And stop being…

afraid.

Excuse me. I'm sorry.
Have you seen, uh, that man?

- Have you seen this man? He's my brother.
- Okay.

If you see him, will you call
the number on the sheet? Thank you.

Excuse me. Have you seen this man?

Cory, I don't know what to do.
He's not here.

I feel like I've looked in every alley,
every street. I don't know what to do.

- You'll find him.
- I'm starting to get hopeless.

Don't. Don't, don't, don't. Don't.

- It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
- Fuck.

- Just take a breath, a big br...
- God.

- Laura's in Montana? Okay, super.
- Yes.

- Right.
- Shit. It's probably best she's not here.

She's...

She thinks my family's crazy.

She just doesn't like chaos.

Um, and… …I don't know.

I... I miss her though.

I wish she could help. I...

Fuck, I...

Bradley, I have to tell you something.
This is ba... terrible timing.

- I have to tell you something.
- What?

It's just... It's been eating at me.
It's something that I did,

and I feel, uh...
I'm not happy that I did it.

It seemed like a means
to a justifiable end at the time.

But now this pandemic has hit,
everything seems… totally different.

All the things I thought were
really important, the...

You know, like...

I had things I had to win at
or die trying, you know?

I may have just lost
a company a billion dollars. Oops.

It all seems irrelevant,
and I just feel like I have this need...

That I gotta go to, uh, confession

and get my soul straight
with you about this...

- You don't have to confess to me.
- It's about you.

I trust you.

Wh... Y...

I love you.

It... Um…

I don't know what that means really.

I had this feeling, uh...
I'm not able to identify it exactly,

you know, or give it... give it a name.

But I... I have this sixth sense
that it is, uh…

I love you.

Um… So, you know,
do with that, uh, what...

You know what? Fuck it.

I want that recorded
in the annals of time.

I don't know what's gonna happen, okay?
Now the universe knows that I said that.

I really love you.

I love you.

Um… Oh, shoot.

Hi, this is Bradley.

Hello.
I'm a nurse at Antioch Hospital.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I shouldn't be doing this,
but I saw your post.

We have a patient without ID
who I think is your brother.

You should get down here soon.

- Oh, my God. Okay, thank you.
- What?

Come on. We gotta go.
They found my brother.

During the course of this broadcast,

my fever has gone up quite a lot.

And I know there's those of you out there
who would be saying I deserve this.

"You deserve this, Alex Levy."

And, you know, you might be right.
I don't know. You probably are.

But my response to you is,
what's... what's your point?

Is it that if I deserve it,
it allows you to enjoy someone else's pain

while feeling morally righteous?

And by the way, the world's not fair.
Fair is just a man-made concept.

So why... why do you have this opinion?

Why do you have an opinion on this?

Mind your own store.

Did I bring this scrutiny on myself
by putting myself in the public eye?

I mean, I... You know, I-I, uh...

I know that makes sense
to some of you, but…

Jesus.

Just remember…

I was a kid like anyone else.

I took my first steps like anyone else.

Had my first love, my first heartbreak.

Mmm.

I just had the audacity to wanna be on TV
and try to entertain and inform you.

What? Why would...
So stupid.

I didn't realize…
…when I made that choice

that the thing people would find
most entertaining is not even

the thing that I do that I'm good at.

Mm-mmm.

That I'm... have risen
to the highest levels of.

I didn't realize that the most
entertaining thing about me would be

just batting me around
like a freaking piñata

while… digging around,
asking questions about my sex life.

God, why do I even bother doing the news?

Who's your tailor sleeping with?

Is he a good guy?

Huh?

Does it matter if your pants fit?

I'm done apologizing for myself.

Either get on the Alex Levy train,
or just stay at the station.

Can I get some assistance, please?

- Yes, what?
- Man, what's with the wait?

- I mean, come on.
- Yes.

Would I be waiting this long
if I had insurance?

I told you that has nothing to do with
the wait time. We're grossly understaffed.

- Sorry, we need your assistance.
- I'll be with right you.

- I was here first.
- I-I understand.

She needs to find her brother.

We have new visitor restrictions,
but I will help you when it's your turn.

I don't think you understand.
Somebody called and said

he's in the emergency room,
and I don't know if it's him.

I have to see him
to see if it's really him.

I need you to wait.
Wait or leave. Those are the choices.

Hey. If... If my wife didn't have
COVID before, she probably has it now.

I mean, we've been here forever!

- This is ridiculous!
- Sir, I will get to you...

- Excuse me. What are you doing?
- I'm looking for my brother.

No, you can't be here.
You have to leave.

- Get security!
- Oh! Hal!

I didn't use.
I swear to God, Bradley. I didn't use.

Thank God you're okay.

- What happened?
- I got in a fight.

I got beat up.

I'm so mad at you,
but I'm glad you're okay.

- I'm so sorry.
- I'm not gonna leave you, okay?

I promise.

I love you, B.

Oh, you motherfucker.
You scared the shit out of me!

God.

I think we can all agree that
the world seems to be at a turning point,

and, uh, life right now is presenting me
with some adversity.

Um,

I'm... I'm looking inward and asking myself

who is it that I actually wanna be?

And then I'm looking in the mirror,

and I'm asking if that's actually
who I am.

I think a lot of people are going
to be doing that.

At least, they should be.

The world's never gonna b... be
finished piling on.

Shit's always gonna be coming at you.

But life is, um... It's life, you know?

And I'm alive.

I mean, at least I think I'm alive.

I really...

Stay tuned.

Um, and if... You know,
if you're watching this and, uh...

Maybe... I hope you're alive too.

I mean, I really believe we won
the cosmic lottery, you guys, you know,

just to be here right now, you know?

And I hope...
I hope we figure it out, whatever "it" is.

You've all meant
a lot to me over the years,

and I wanna thank you for that
from the bottom of my heart.

So stay safe and stay sane.

And, um, I'll…

see you later.