Original subtitles

- [MAN] It's all set, ready to go. - [WOMAN] Hold on. Wait for me.

- Is Guy Fieri in the greenroom? - Mm-hmm.

- Grab him. Don't let him go. - Got it. Straight to rerun or…

- I wanted to hear from upstairs. - Go to The Twist!

Alex, what you did is amazing but we need to deal with this. Let us in.

- Twitter's going fucking nuts. - Oh, God.

[SIGHS] Does the room feel like it's turning white?

- [ISABELLA] Alex. Alex. - Oh, gosh.

- Just one second, please! - [CELL PHONE CHIMES]

- [SEAN] Open up. - [ALEX] Those UBA fuckers,

they're going to fight to keep their credibility,

and that means some version of dragging us through the mud.

Fred has to go. They have to understand that.

We crossed a line,

and they're not gonna do what we want them to do because of that.

[ISABELLA] Alex, everything is gonna be fine.

- We love you. - [EXHALES] Okay. Okay! Okay!

- I have to let them in. - Okay. I understand.

- Listen. I... - Wait, wait, wait. Before you do,

we have to stay together on this.

And whatever you do, don't mention Hannah by name.

She didn't want that.

- Okay. - Okay.

- [BILL] Alex, I will break down the door... - Okay, okay, okay.

[BILL] Oh, my God. Thank God.

- How are you? - Oh, my God. I just needed a second.

- Amazing what you did. - We're fine.

- Uh, where's the phone? Where's the phone? - Where's the phone? Get the phone.

[BILL] Let's not say anything to anybody.

- I'm not talking. - Open our mouths, we weaken our position.

- Left, left. - So we're gonna keep our mouths shut.

- [CLAMORING] - Alex!

Wait, Brad.

Just keep your phone on and near you, okay?

- I'll... I'll call you. - Yeah, no, I'll take care of it. Come on.

- Give me my jacket. - Hold the elevator doors. Jim...

- Hold the doors. - [BRADLEY SIGHS]

- [CLAMORING CONTINUES] - [FOOTSTEPS DEPARTING]

You're a dead man.

Said the corpse.

[CHUCKLES] No. Wait… [CLEARS THROAT]

Um…

You're firing me?

You put Fred Micklen on administrative leave,

and you're firing me?

Did you not hear what was said on our airwaves this morning?

We heard. Loud and clear.

Uh, s... What, do you not believe the victim?

Or do you just not care?

'Course we believe the victim.

We believe all victims, every last one of them,

forever and ever until the end of time.

And if we are proven correct in that belief,

Fred will be terminated as well.

But none of us were in those rooms,

none of us can say with any certainty at this moment

what happened, except for Fred.

That's because the other person, Hannah Shoenfeld,

- died this morning. - E... Except for Fred.

Who steadfastly maintains his innocence.

If we find evidence that any of that was true,

we will extend zero tolerance.

Okay, well, that's horseshit, but okay.

Well, you can't terminate my contract without just cause,

and all I did was give the truth some oxygen.

The truth? Look, here's the truth.

We suspect Fred might not be innocent,

but we know you're guilty of taking over UBA's airwaves,

of allowing wild allegations to be made against the CEO of the network,

and of physically locking him out of his own control room.

Which, by the way, is also a serious fire hazard.

[CHORTLES] The fire hazard.

That was pirate television, and it has no place on our network.

This really is the land that time forgot.

All right. Well, I did my best,

but I cannot drag you idiots kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

You're just so caught up in ruling over your rotten little fiefdom

that you don't even see the world that has sprouted up all around you.

All right. Well, enjoy broadcasting your cave paintings

to the last remaining savages who are still watching over-the-air broadcasting.

The rest of the world,

they've moved to the cloud, and it is fucking gorgeous up there.

Cory, if you'll excuse us,

we have a television network we need to fix.

Well, get out that superglue. [CHUCKLES]

Do you really think that's what all this is about?

Your little television network?

This is a battle for the soul of the universe.

Advertise your product or brand here contact www.OpenSubtitles.org today

["NEMESIS" PLAYING]

[MUSIC ENDS]

["RETURN TO ME" PLAYING]

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[JAZZY MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ Maybe it's much too early in the game ♪

♪ Oh, but I thought I'd ask you just the same ♪

♪ What are you doing New Year's ♪

♪ New Year's Eve? ♪

[CAMERAMAN] Great move. Widen out.

And you didn't think we'd get her to sing.

Mm-hmm.

[MIA] Eric talked her into it.

[ERIC] ♪ Welcoming in the New Year ♪

[CAMERAMAN] Standby, camera two. Take it, camera two.

Keep it fun, Bradley.

- ♪ Maybe I'm crazy to suppose ♪ - Camera two, zoom on Bradley. Take it.

♪ I'd ever be the one you chose ♪

- ♪ Out of a thousand invitations ♪ - [CELL PHONES CHIME, BUZZ]

♪ You'll receive ♪

Did you know that this is actually about making New Year's Eve plans way too early?

All I know is we're gonna freeze our balls off

- tomorrow night in Times Square. - ♪ …stand one little chance ♪

♪ Here comes the jackpot question In advance ♪

[MOUTHING WORDS] Yes, we are.

[BOTH] ♪ What are you doing New Year's ♪

- Oh, shit. - [CELL PHONE CHIMES]

- [CAMERAMAN] Beautiful. Four. - ♪ New Year's Eve? ♪

- [BRASS INSTRUMENTAL PLAYS] - [CAMERAMAN] Two, ready? Take it, two.

- [CELL PHONES CHIMING] - [STELLA] Yeah, I just saw.

Another one bites the dust.

Multiple current and former employees have come forward

with allegations of emotional abuse

and are calling for the public to…

Times asking for a comment on one, Maggie Brener on three, said she'd hold.

- Media Relations left a word. - [PHONE RINGS]

They need to know what they're saying about Ray.

Is he still on a scheduled vacation, or can we announce anything?

And what's the board doing?

Emergency meeting to discuss Ray's replacement for the evening news chair.

Call back the Times,

give me Maggie Brener first and assemble the team,

Mia Jordan, Stella Bak, Vince Fontana, Legal, ASAP.

[NEWS ANCHOR] Additionally, one of Marcus's former assistants…

- Is she on? - [KYLE] She's on.

…that when she requested time off to attend

- her mother-in-law's funeral, Marcus… - Maggie,

I hope we gave you enough time to include this in your book.

♪ What are you doing New Year's? ♪

♪ What are you doing New Year's Eve? ♪

[BRADLEY LAUGHS]

All right, don't forget,

Bradley and I will be hosting UBA's New Year's Eve Extravaganza

tomorrow night live from Times Square.

Andrew W.K., Drake, Lauren Alaina, actual musical guests.

- No singing from us, thank goodness. - Hey, come on, I saw you having fun.

Is that what fun looks like to you?

Well, it looks like what you'll be seeing here on UBA

- starting at 8:00 p.m. eastern… - That's right.

…tomorrow night.

- We hope you can ring in 2020 with us. - Eric and I will be looking for you.

Now stay tuned for The Twist.

- And we're out. Good job, you guys. - [CREW CHEERS, APPLAUDS]

- Whew! - [CHUCKLES]

Twitter's loving it.

- Really? - I told you.

All right, it was more fun than I thought.

Oh, Jesus.

Did you see this about Ray?

- Emotionally abusing his staff? - What?

- God. - No.

[BRADLEY] Gayle.

I pushed the issue, all right?

This is coming from Mia?

Mia wants to do "Nutrition in the New Year"?

Well, I think it has less to do with "Nutrition in the New Year"

and more to do with, you know, bumming everybody the fuck out.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day are two of the deadliest days of the year.

Alcohol consumption goes up, drug use rises, people die.

It's a fact. I'm sorry it's a bummer.

Okay, I was trying to give it to you easy, but, um, we weren't given an option.

I'm gonna go talk to her.

Bradley.

Ratings are down. Pick your battles.

You know, if they don't value me around here,

I have a feeling there's gonna be an opening on the evening news very soon.

That seems like a safe bet.

And I seriously doubt

Vince would tell me to do "Nutrition in the New Year"

on the evening news.

And by the way, Gayle,

you told me all this singing and dancing and playing along

was gonna buy me some freedom around this place.

I mean, I dyed my hair, I hosted their celebrity bowling show,

I... I did stupid TikTok dances on TV.

I did everything short of tattooing UBA on my ass, and for what?

You've gotten to do most of the stories you wanted to do.

[SIGHS]

If we stay the course, people will catch up.

I hope you're right.

I'm gonna talk to Cory about the evening news.

- He values integrity. - [CORY] We need to get out ahead of this.

Bradley Jackson isn't gonna find out on Twitter

that we're poaching her partner for evening news.

When are we ready to make the switch with Eric?

- [RICHARD] He's ready to close, almost. - [CORY] Well, close the deal.

We were supposed to have time to ease her into this idea.

You know, this is making my life difficult to fire him, so maybe we don't.

Yelling at a PA isn't exactly the same thing as sexual assault.

I had a boss throw a pineapple at my head when I was a PA, and here I am.

We've heard that story before, Vince. This network needs to clean up its act.

[CORY] Let me make this simple.

The press release announcing Ray's firing and Eric's move to evening news

is being drafted now,

but we're not gonna release it till everything else is in place.

The timetable has changed

now that somebody has decided to leak the information to the press,

so we have to move expeditiously.

Let's just concentrate on who we're pairing with Bradley.

Stellar. Our short list is down to Mickey and Aaron.

- What the fuck happened to Miguel? - He declined.

He... He declined The Morning Show?

He wasn't excited about working with Bradley.

[CORY SIGHS]

Listen, what about keeping Eric on TMS, moving Bradley to evening?

- You know she loves her news hard. - [LAUGHS]

Okay, should we have the conversation about Bradley

- that I think we're all thinking? - What?

Is she really cutting it?

[CHUCKLES] That seems extreme.

Ratings have been down. Her contract is up in a few months.

Yeah, Bradley was poised to become some sort of feminist superhero,

but she couldn't capitalize.

No, wait. She refused to capitalize.

Well, I kind of admire that she didn't just jump on the Me Too bandwagon

and fill up her grocery cart with free prizes and fake goodwill.

Yeah, but she went out of her way not to fill up her cart.

She called that women's club out on the carpet...

For underpaying staff.

Listen, you know I love Bradley,

but she really needs the poise and polish and gravity of a seasoned anchor like Alex

to balance her out.

- Fine. - Okay then,

we have a list of potential partner combinations

- that are ready to go... - What? No, I said fine. Fine, fine.

- "Fine," what? - We get Alex back.

- No, no. I didn't... I didn't mean... - [STELLA] What? No.

- I don't think that's an option. - Why, have you talked to her?

Uh, she publicly left the show. It was a big deal.

Did she personally tell you no?

Yes, emphatically,

when she left the show eight months ago.

That's why we went out and spent all that money on Eric.

But who else is a story like Alex is?

Who else can distract us

from the burning trash barge that we are currently floating

right down the center of the city? No one.

I don't know that bringing her back is the event that you think it is.

She's a feminist icon.

Maybe. But I also don't love the idea

that she's another white woman as co-anchor, feminist icon or not.

And especially one who admitted to doing a lot of questionable shit.

And personally, I think Alex is done.

[ALEX] The thing people don't realize is that there is a cost to success and fame.

There's a story by Hans Christian Andersen.

A young woman becomes enamored with these fabulous red shoes

that are more attention-grabbing and exciting

than the humble brown shoes she wears.

- [TYPING] - In a moment of bad judgment,

she succumbs to their charms and wears them to church.

And lo and behold, her feet start moving

and she is dancing, and she can't stop.

And she dances for hours and days and weeks

until she is bloody and bruised

from dancing like a whirling dervish through the countryside and towns,

unable to stop.

She finally dances so much and so hard, faster and faster,

that she knows she is going to bleed to death.

So in a desperate attempt to stave off death,

she finally implores a woodcutter to cut off her feet.

And he does.

Then she dies.

- [TYPING STOPS] - [SIGHS]

[GROANS, MUMBLES]

Times were different back then.

And I'm sure there's some patriarchal message in this

to women who wanted to step out of their role.

However, I always took away from it as a kid...

And it probably says something about me as a kid...

Is the idea that the world might have you running so hard

that rather than running one step more, you would cut off your own feet.

[WHISPERS] Never…

And I never... I never forgot that image.

I think success in the modern world demands a similar dance...

Soul-sucking, grueling, never ending.

- [WHISPERING] Just wanted it to end. - And I just wanted it to end.

I wanted it to end so I could begin to live.

[INHALES DEEPLY, EXHALES]

- I'll let you know how it goes. - [MURMURS]

Stay tuned for The Twist.

[MUTTERING] End manuscript.

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

You want a hundred million a year to buy back

the streaming rights for Hampton?

[GROANS] Well, Bruce, normally I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news,

but with you, somehow, I love it.

We're not gonna renew the deal for Apocalypse 13. How's that?

So if you wanna see it,

you're gonna have to do like everybody else and subscribe to UBA Plus.

And don't worry, there's a free trial if you can't swing the $7.99.

[BRUCE ON PHONE] I guess anger issues are endemic over there.

[CHUCKLES] Nah, this isn't anger.

You'll know when I'm angry. I'll make sure of that.

- Kyle, who's holding on three? - That's Ivy. You told me to get her.

No, tell her I'll call her back. I need Pete Freeman.

Keep rolling through the call sheet. I need to get outta here soon.

- Hey. Should I come back later? - [KYLE] Yeah, hi. Sorry…

Hi. Uh, no, no.

- [KYLE] Pete Freeman on two. - Uh, tell him I'll call him back.

- Look what the cat dragged in. Hi. - [CHUCKLES] Hey.

[CORY SIGHS] Been a while.

- Yeah, I've been a little busy. - Yeah.

- Can... Can you talk for a second? - Uh, yeah.

- Oh, great. - Yeah.

Thanks.

[GROANS] What a morning.

[GROANS]

Are you gonna have to fire Ray?

Well, I mean, I can't tell you that, but yes.

So, who are you gonna get to replace him?

Uh, yeah, I... Um… [SIGHS]

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

Um, in fact, if you find out, please tell me

because I'm dying to know.

- Well, you would be my first call. - I appreciate it.

And if you can't find anybody good, there's always me.

Well, I thank you for that selfless offer.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Okay, you owe me, buddy.

Remember you were fired around here, don't forget. And I got you un-fired.

I... Uh, yep.

- And obviously, I... I thank you for that. - I'd do it again.

I really need you on The Morning Show. I need that stability.

When people turn on The Morning Show, they're gonna see Bradley Jackson.

And by the way, you have been killing it this week.

- Just this week? I mean… - Oh. Don't do that to me.

[CHUCKLES] No, I... Look, I get it,

and I know that the ratings have gone down a little bit since Alex left,

and I'm not oblivious,

I just think evening news,

uh, it just might be a better fit for my talents.

And Ray leaving creates this square hole that's perfect for a square peg.

And I know... I know that I would kill it.

Oh, abso... Of course you would. What are you talking about?

You would absolutely crush that.

But, you know, my problem is I like to fit square pegs into round holes…

[LAUGHING] …'cause it's really hard,

but when you can make it fit, like, perfectly, actually make it fit,

it's magical. It's totally magical.

Feels like magic. And not like magic tricks, like actual sorcery.

And of course, of course the ratings took a dip there for a while,

but that's what's gonna make the ta-da moment so exhilarating.

So I can't move you before the ta-da.

Okay.

Okay. [CHUCKLES]

Well, you know, and I kinda feel like I've been finding my groove on the show.

- [INHALES DEEPLY] Yeah. - And Eric,

he and I just complement each other really well.

Well, that's you, you complement anyone well.

I don't know about that.

I mean, I think he and I are a good match. It's much better than the last situation.

Oh, come on, you and Alex, you had something special too.

For five minutes.

I mean, that's the most I ever felt like we had a relationship. [STAMMERS]

But, I mean, she left, and I... I haven't even heard from her.

Well, yeah.

It was a hell of a five minutes.

And who knows what would've happened if you'd had a chance to build on 'em.

That's true. I guess we'll never know. [CHUCKLES]

Anyway, it's better this way.

Well, I have learned never to say never.

Except when I'm saying never to say never,

in which case I say it twice in one sentence.

[CHUCKLES] I miss you.

Yeah, you know, we got busy, a lot happened.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, yeah.

It feels like that was a million years ago.

- [SIGHS] - And yet it was still 2019.

Yeah, tell me about it. [SNICKERS]

And the Hannah stuff has, you know, been hard and on my mind.

I...

[SIGHS]

That stuff, I guess it just takes time.

But we'll get there. We will. We'll get there.

[ON PHONE] Hi, this is Shirlee Alpert, from Horseheads.

I want to nominate my grandson, Zack, for Hero of the Day.

Yesterday at the park, he and a child he didn't know were eating candy canes,

until the other child dropped his on the ground

and started crying like the dickens.

Well, Zack really has the Christmas spirit in him, we've made sure of that.

And he offered to share his candy cane.

I have got photos of the two of them licking it.

I just thought it was the sweetest thing,

and maybe you could do a story about that on the news.

- My number is 607-433-2... - [DIAL TONE]

It cut off.

I know, we just missed it. It was right there.

You want me to pursue it?

It's sort of gross.

Two kids licking one candy cane.

Yeah, but you know, kids need germs, kinda bolster the immune system.

I say you track her down.

It's gonna be six months before we do another Christmas story.

Actually, that's not true around here, but you should track her down anyway.

[WHISTLING "CAROL OF THE BELLS"]

Oh, my God. What are you doing here?

- Hi. - Hi.

Mmm.

I got done at the school and thought I'd swing by

and see my very successful producer boyfriend.

- Really? Where is he? - Mm-hmm.

- I'll tell him you're here. - You're funny.

Well, I better be 'cause you're not dating me for my looks.

- [CHUCKLES] - How we doing on the New Year's plans?

- Are we good? - Yeah, you think you can get away?

Uh, I think so. This place runs itself.

Hey. The phones aren't working.

Um, have you called the phone company?

The phones are out.

Cell phone?

Hmm. Mmm.

- It doesn't like totally run itself. - [GIGGLES]

But turns out either it doesn't matter, or I don't care,

- or I just wanna be with you. - Yeah?

- Yeah. - Okay.

I'll see you tomorrow then.

- Oh, yeah, you'll see me tomorrow. - All right. Bye.

[INHALES DEEPLY]

[SIGHS]

[ALEX] Come on, baby. Oh, good boy.

[BREATHING HEAVILY]

- [CELL PHONE RINGING] - [GRUNTS]

Did you read it already?

I just finished it. It's really good.

[STAMMERS] So what's not working for you?

Jesus, Alex, I said it's really good.

[ALEX] Yeah, okay, come on.

I know what "really good" means on feedback, okay?

It means "not great," "you didn't like it,"

"not out of the park," what? Don't bullshit me.

Let's not go off the deep end here, okay?

It's really good. That's not bullshit.

You have lived an amazing life.

You've brushed elbows with some of the most influential people on the planet.

You've carved out a place as a woman in that business

that few have even come close to.

You started a UBA revolution.

The events are all amazing. It's raw, it's real.

S... So... So what's wrong?

[SIGHS]

I just think you need to go back and dig a little deeper in certain areas.

Oh, my gosh! Come on.

I talked about… [STAMMERS] …uh,

my insecurities and my divorce and... I mean…

About Mitch.

I'm not interested in talking about Mitch.

People are gonna be buying it for that.

Nothing against you, but that shit sells books.

And not only that, Alex, it's an important piece of a movement.

Yeah, I know. I know the fucking movement.

I've destroyed my entire career over the movement.

Please don't make me go back in there. Come on.

I'm saying this as a friend, Alex.

We don't know what's gonna be in Maggie's book.

[ALEX GROANS]

That sounds like you do know what's gonna be in Maggie's book.

No, I don't.

I know her editor, but she won't tell me.

But whatever it is,

this gives you the opportunity to go in there and respond

without looking like you're responding.

- To defend yourself. - Jesus!

What am I defending myself about

that I didn't already admit on national television?

Alex, all I'm saying is,

if there is any history with Mitch, any personal history,

this is your chance to put your own narrative on it.

Well, there isn't!

[WIND WHISTLING]

I'll go back and look at the manuscript

and see if I can dig up any salacious bits about Mitch.

Keep the, uh, sharks fed.

Just think about what I'm saying, all right? You'll get there.

Yeah, all right, Adelle. Thanks, bye. Bye.

Fucking Mitch.

- [SIREN BLARING] - Mo... Mommy, you...

You gotta stop pressing the button, okay, Mommy? [STAMMERS]

[SPEAKS SPANISH]

The ambulance is coming because you're pressing the button, okay?

It doesn't turn it off.

But it... Ma, it's not on until you press it.

I promise you, no one's listening to your conversations

- through your Life Alert, okay? - Yanko?

[SPEAKING SPANISH]

Okay, bye, bye.

Oh, my God. So good to see you, Meredith.

Oh, my God. It's... It's been a while, yeah.

Yeah.

- Uh, have you heard anything from Claire? - Uh, yeah.

- She's studying for her GRE. - Oh, wow. She's bouncing back.

- That's so good to hear that. - Yeah.

I think it was good for her to get away after all of that unpleasantness.

Oh, yeah. No doubt. Yeah.

- Uh, well, good seeing you. - So great seeing you.

When I talk to her next, I'll tell her that I ran into you.

Sure, sure. Yeah. Take care.

Hey, Yanko. What's the weather, man?

Uh, well the earth's gonna crash into the sun, but, uh,

tomorrow night you'll need a fucking sweater.

[GRUNTS, PANTS]

F...

[GRUNTS, PANTS]

[SHOUTS]

[PANTING] Shit. Oh, God.

Oh.

Chopping wood. Alex. Hello.

Cory Ellison?

What the fuck are you doing in Maine?

Well, what the fuck are you doing in Maine?

- [ALEX] You really do need something, huh? - Huh?

And I can't imagine that it's anything that I have to give.

I need you to come back for a year.

Bradley's... She's doing okay, but she's not testing great,

and we're taking Eric for the evening news.

Yeah. [SIGHS]

Wow.

Um, Bradley upset?

Well, she will be.

She will be.

God, you know what? Same old UBA.

- You... You guys. - Alex, business is business.

Those things don't change.

My job is to ensure the stability of UBA. I do what I have to do.

- Uh-huh. - Just to be clear,

I'm not talking about coming back the same as before.

I am talking about a whole new deal.

You partner with the network.

You become a powerful voice in the rebuilding

and the rebranding of a... a toxic empire that...

It... It's gonna rise.

It's gonna rise from the ashes like... Like Venus out of the clamshell.

And you are Venus.

I need you.

UBA needs you.

You were all we ever needed, and we were too stupid to realize it.

Please come back to us, Alex.

You are the only thing that can save us.

[ALEX SIGHS]

I agree with every single thing you just said.

Every single thing you just said.

I j... I can't come back. [CHUCKLES]

Not e... Even if I wanted to come back, I just couldn't.

I-I... I would look flaky.

- W-Wishy-washy. Mm-mmm. - No, no, no, no.

When your new deal got announced, you would look smart as fuck.

[CHUCKLES]

- [TAPPING] - I don't want to.

- I don't want to. I'm done. I'm done. - [CORY SIGHS]

You know what, Cory... I think it's... I think you better go.

I mean, you're not a horrible person.

I thoroughly enjoy you.

I mean, maybe you are actually a horrible person, but...

But I... I... I still find you entertaining.

You're a little... You're a little crazy.

- [SIGHS] - And it… it scares me.

Look, I don't wanna harass you.

- Uh… - Okay.

I've said my piece.

I'm begging you to come back to me, Alex Levy, on bended knee.

And if you do, I will support this union at all cost.

You will be my first priority, always. You have my word.

I'm not coming back. I'm really happy.

Okay, I'm just asking you to think about it.

- I don't wanna think about it. - You can tell me tomorrow.

- Think about it for a day. - I'm telling you no now.

I don't want it.

I hate it.

I would rather die than go back there, okay?

Well, think about it.

Oh.

[SIGHS]

[SIGHS]

[TY] Oh, no, Yanko.

Twitter user Simplybarnaby has taken issue with your weather report,

- I'm afraid to say. - [YANKO] Oh, my God.

He said, and I will quote him,

- "@yankofloresuba owes me $500." - [YANKO LAUGHS]

"No rain in the Pacific Northwest? Well, tell that to my suede Ferragamo loafers."

I am sorry about the shoes, Barnaby,

but I think you need to take this one up with the spirit upstairs.

Oh, so is that where Barnaby should send the bill?

Well, he's definitely got deeper pockets.

You take your life in your hands when you leave the house with suede loafers.

Hey, Mia, you still need to approve the year-end clip package for tonight.

Right, uh... Donny, take it.

- Where we going? - Joel's in the bullpen.

And remember you have a one o'clock and you have a two o'clock.

- What's my two o'clock? - Uh, your favorite head of news.

- Hey, Joel. - [LINDSEY] Hey, Mia.

Can you weigh in on stories for tomorrow?

- [MIA] I... Ugh. - It'll only take a second. Pick two:

"Pakistan issues health ID cards to trans people to reduce discrimination."

"China investigates respiratory illness outbreak, sickening 27."

And, "Eighty people in the Bahamas tested positive for tuberculosis

in storm shelters after the hurricane."

- Pakistan, Bahamas. - Thank you.

- Walk with me. Rena, are you good? - [SIGHS] Yeah, I'm just walking. For two.

Joel, give me what you got for the year-end review, quick.

Okay. Uh, Mueller Report. Uh, perfect Ukraine call.

Uh, impeachment...

Stick to the Trump highlights or that thing is gonna be four hours.

- Non-Trump? - Uh, college admission scandal.

Uh, Brexit.

Uh, Notre-Dame burned down, Australia burned down, the Amazon burned...

Stop. Let's give the people some hope.

Let's give me some hope. Did anything good happen?

[JEFFREY] Uh, the US won the Women's World Cup.

- Jesus, 2019 sucked! - Um, hey.

I really don't wanna be this person,

but do we need to include ourselves in a packet about 2019?

Yeah, let's include Alex and Bradley's moment.

Choose that clip wisely.

Play it as a triumphant send-off to our departing hero, Alex Levy.

No Mitch. At all.

And what about the Hannah of it?

Uh, dedicate the broadcast to Hannah.

Archie was born this year, the royal baby. Uh, that's optimistic.

- Mmm, babies are great! [CHUCKLES] Yeah. - Right?

Oh, hey. What are you still doing here?

- You should be at home taking a nap. - Yeah, I will. I will.

It's gonna be a long night. Get some rest.

Hey, Mia, um, I've just been thinking, taking stock.

And… [SIGHS] …I realize sometimes I can be difficult,

but you have always looked out for me.

And even when we were dealing with some crazy shit.

And if I... If I wasn't grateful enough,

I just wanna let you know that I... I am really grateful.

And I just wanna say thank you.

[MIA] Mmm. Oh.

Mmm.

I think he's the right call.

He does well with our old and young demos,

men and women, and non-gender conforming people.

Yeah, Aaron is great.

I don't know if he'll be enough to move the needle with the press.

No, but you're not gonna have any issues with him

like we've had with some of our other talent, you know?

Aaron's solid.

Let's hope so.

We close down again today.

But, hey, let me know before we announce officially?

Okay, why? 'Cause Bradley still doesn't know?

Yeah, mostly that. I'm gonna tell her after the broadcast tonight,

so hold off any press until after I've told her.

Okay.

[SIREN WAILING IN DISTANCE]

[CROWD WHISTLING, CHEERING]

[BRADLEY] Check, check.

Okay. All right, okay. Great. Thank you.

Thank you.

[CHEERING CONTINUES]

[CHUCKLES]

[BRADLEY CHUCKLES] This is crazy. It's so huge.

I mean, it looks huge when you see it on TV from home,

but when you're in the middle,

it feels like this huge responsibility that everybody has fun.

- Do you think we're gonna make it fun? - Um, I know I will.

I don't know about you.

- You are just something else. - I'm gonna make it fun.

Hey, I've got a little something here, and I want to make a toast.

- Okay. - To you.

Uh-oh.

Because you came in at a really difficult time

and you just really pulled me through it.

You've been, sincerely, an amazing partner,

and I just... I just wanna thank you.

Means a lot. Honestly. And, uh, you've been a great partner too.

- Well, here's to the year ahead for us. - All right.

[AIR HORN BLOWS]

- I got to? [SCOFFS] - Yeah. Go, go, go.

- Quick. - When in Rome.

Okay, we're back in seven seconds. Good show, everybody.

Five, four, three.

Camera two, get the both of them, two-shot.

Onward and upward.

- [FANFARE PLAYS ON SPEAKERS] - It's December 31st, New Year's Eve,

and all eyes are on Times Square in New York City

as Baby New Year is starting to crown.

But we have got a lot of fun in store for you before the ball drops

and 2019 gives way to 2020.

The excitement here is so thick you can hang your laundry on it.

And why are we so excited, Bradley? Who are we gonna be seeing tonight?

Well, we got performances by Drake, Ariana Grande,

and the Radio City Rockettes. And that's just the beginning!

We'll be checking in throughout the night with Daniel Henderson and Alison Namazi

down on Bourbon Street, New Orleans.

Ty Fitzgerald at the Hollywood & Highland complex

in Los Angeles.

Yanko Flores is gonna be down in the streets,

and Penn & Teller from the strip in Las Vegas.

So get ready. Figure out who you're gonna kiss.

Because we've got four hours until the ball goes down.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

Oh, God.

Okay.

Hi. How are you? Hello.

Hi.

[MAN] Is that her?

[EXHALES]

She showed up.

[MAN] Oh, my God. It's Alex Levy.

Oh, my God. It's Alex. Hi.

[MOUTHING WORDS] Hi. Hello.

[MOUTHS WORD] Hi.

[GUESTS CHATTERING, LAUGHING]

[ARIA] Alex?

- [GASPS] Hello. - I thought you were gonna be in New York.

I know, I had a change of plans.

Lizzy ended up having a party tonight at the place,

and I just didn't wanna be the lone mom at a prep school party. [CHUCKLES]

- I'm so glad you're here. - Me too.

A lot of the people you know from the book readings are here.

- Yes! Oh, hi. - Yes.

- Oh, also, Sylvia Portman is here. - Yes.

- Sylvia... Yes. - The psychic.

- Right. - Her new book's coming out.

- She's doing a signing at the shop. - Good.

- She is doing readings for everybody. - Really?

- Sure she'd give you one if you'd like. - Oh, fun.

- Let's get you a drink. - Mmm, yes.

[CARS HONKING]

What are we looking at here, Frank?

I'd say maybe a half hour at this rate,

- but it's just a guess. - [SIGHS] Got it.

- Just sometime this year would be great. - [CHUCKLES] Yes, sir.

- [HONKING CONTINUES] - [SNIFFS, CLEARS THROAT]

[CELL PHONE CHIMES]

[SIGHS] Oh.

[SIGHS]

[LINE RINGS]

[ON VOICE MAIL] This is Alex.

- Please leave a message. - [BEEPS]

So there's this poem.

[INHALES] Okay. Mmm. All right.

Ah.

Your parents have passed on?

Not that I'm aware of. Should I give 'em a call?

[CHUCKLES]

- Ah, well, you have a child. - I do.

A son?

No, but I'll give you another guess.

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

- [CROWD CHEERING] - [BRADLEY] I know y'all are having fun,

but New Year's Eve is just getting good.

Ladies and gentlemen, Lauren Alaina.

- [CROWD CHEERS] - [UPBEAT POP MUSIC PLAYING]

Thanks.

[ALAINA] Put your hands together.

Hey, slow down there. You got anything for me?

Don't be crazy now. I know how much is in there.

[LAUREN ALAINA SINGING "ROAD LESS TRAVELED"]

Mmm. Oh, my God.

This is unreal. I mean,

if I told my ten-year-old hot-mess self that this is what I'd be doing,

she would've never believed me.

But it's so fun. I'm so glad I'm doing it with you too.

Isn't this magical?

Bradley, I gotta tell you something.

- Okay. - Look, I'm not supposed to tell you this,

but I just don't feel right keeping it from you.

You all right?

And you're gonna find out soon, anyway.

I'm leaving the show.

Wait, are... Did they fire you?

- Look, I'll talk to Mia. - No, no, no, that's not it.

They offered me evening news.

Oh.

Does everybody know?

Yeah.

I'm really sorry.

[SONG FADES]

Well, this card shows a young man who is or will be very important in your life.

Ooh, gosh. No one that I'm aware of.

But you are in a serious relationship?

No, I'm... I'm not.

You know, sometimes you have to be willing to just dig around a little deeper

to let the cards reveal what they're trying to tell you.

Oh.

But, wait, I thought that was your job.

- I don't wanna scare you. - I'm pretty sure that's impossible.

Well, I know you don't believe in what I'm doing.

[STAMMERS] I kind of think you're right.

I mean no disrespect.

You know what? Let's just shake hands

- and call it a night. - Okay.

- That was fun. - That was fun.

- Thank you. [CHUCKLES] - Mm-hmm.

To be honest, Alex, I feel a lot of resistance in you.

What do you mean resistance? What am... What am I resisting?

I came for a drink, to see my neighbors, have some good cheer,

what the fuck am I resisting?

You are carrying around a paralyzing amount of guilt.

No, I'm not.

Is that what you're running away from?

I'm not running away from anything.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON SPEAKERS]

- Hey. - Hey.

- Have you seen him? - Seen who?

Tell him I'm looking for him.

Hey. It's going great so far.

You're killing it.

How about I take you out for a celebratory drink afterward?

[BRADLEY] What happened to you?

Well, um, a miracle named Bradley Jackson walked into my life?

No, no, no. I mean, like, w... Who the fuck are you?

Because you're not the same person that I thought you were

when all the Alex shit went down.

What's going on, Bradley?

- What's going on? - You lied to me.

You put Eric in the evening news.

And apparently, everybody here knows that except for me.

Seriously? What the fuck, Cory?

You're just gonna have to trust

- that I have your best interests in mind. - My best interests in mind?

If you had my best interests in mind, you would've told me the truth.

Goddamn it, I'm doing the best that I can here. Okay?

- [TITTERS] This job is hard. - Oh, really?

- Everybody's job is fucking hard. - It doesn't seem that way to you

because I walk in and out of a room grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

But it is fucking hard, 'cause when I took over,

they didn't give me the keys to a new car,

they gave me a raft that's so riddled with holes,

and is so crudely patched over and over a...

There's not even a raft left.

It's just a million patches, held together by a million more.

And I know you know how that is because you're the patch

that holds together another patch every morning at 7:00 a.m.

And I am trying to conjure Noah's Ark out of thin air.

And I... Frankly, I think I'm doing a pretty decent job of it,

- all things considered. - Are you? Really?

Actually, a pretty great job of it. And I had hoped, frankly, you and I?

We would be able to walk on together, two by two.

Is this the part where I'm supposed to thank you

for saving me from some sort of flood?

Because you only have this job because of me.

Man, you're just so certain you know how the world works, huh?

You know, most people in the world don't give a fuck about anybody else.

They don't care if you live or die. I'm not talking about you personally.

Most people don't care if anybody lives or dies

who doesn't answer to the name of "me."

But you, you seem to think somehow that your friends, your fucking friends,

and I am counting me here,

- are somehow out to get you. - Oh, oh, let me clarify.

You are not my friend.

You could've been my friend, but that did not happen.

And I am so glad it did not.

Because all you had to do was be honest with me.

But it turns out you're just the weasel that everybody said you were.

It's just never occurred to you that I obviously, obviously, obviously

can't tell you everything

'cause you're so obsessed with telling the truth,

I can't be sure any secret is safe with you.

And also, by the way...

- So this is my fault? - Pretty much.

'Cause I also can't tell you how people feel about you

'cause your ego is too damn fragile

to be able to process the information into something constructive.

- Go to hell. - There you go, proving my point.

- I told you the truth, proved my point. - You know what?

Fuck you. My ball's about to drop.

[ROCK MUSIC CRESCENDOS]

Come on, man. [SIGHS]

Fuck it.

Okay.

Jesus.

[CLATTERING]

[SIGHS]

Oh, shit.

[SIGHS]

[CORY ON VOICE MAIL] There's this poem that I've been thinking of.

Uh, I had to take a test on when I was in school.

Most of it doesn't really apply.

It's about the death of this guy's best friend and he's missing him.

But there... there's this one line.

It keeps rattling around in my head.

One line that specifically... It reminds me of you, right now.

"Fame is no plant that grows on mortal soil."

You are not mortal soil.

Whether you like it or not.

And you can't just throw away non-mortal soil. That's a sin.

And, I know, you think you're meant to slow down.

I don't think that's right.

You have yet to do your greatest work.

[EXHALES SHAKILY]

That non-mortal soil's more fertile than it's ever been.

I believe that, Alex.

And somewhere inside yourself, I think you believe that.

- [WHIMPERS, SNIFFLES] - So, if I am right,

I need you to call me back in the next hour and tell me you agree.

- [SIGHS] - And if I'm wrong,

well, go and have a drink and a laugh at my expense

- and enjoy your new year. - [CHUCKLES, SNIFFLES]

[SIGHS, SNIFFLES]

[BREATHING SHAKILY]

And here it is, the great countdown! Count with us.

- Sixty. - Fifty-nine.

[ERIC LAUGHING] Fifty-eight.

- [BRADLEY] Fifty-seven. - [ERIC] Fifty-six.

- [CELL PHONE RINGING] - [BRADLEY] Fifty-five.

[ERIC] Yanko, what are you doing there, man?

- [BRADLEY CHUCKLES] - [RINGING CONTINUES]

- He's counting. - He's counting down there? Okay.

All right, I hope he's not bothering you.

Alex?

- Hi. Hi. - [CORY] Hi. Did you get my message?

[SNIFFLES] I did.

[CROWD CLAMORING]

- And? - And?

It was really nice.

- You okay? - [SIGHS]

- I'm g... I'm great. - Okay, listen.

You know we wanna be in the Alex Levy business

no matter what, Alex.

And I know you got a million problems that are more important than mine.

Our deal fell through on Eric's replacement.

We're in a hell of a bind.

You've done The Morning Show, you've graduated.

You've earned the right to move on.

- [CROWD CHEERING] - Could you please…

Come back and fill in…

Until you're ready to launch your new prime-time show?

[WEEPS, SIGHS]

[SNIFFLES]

[CLEARS THROAT] Okay, listen, Cory? Let's talk tomorrow, okay?

I will call you tomorrow. Alex, you won't be sorry.

Cory, can I trust you?

[CROWD] Six.

[ALL] Five. Four.

- Three. - Yes.

- [ALL] Two. One. - [CROWD CHEERS]

[BOTH] Happy New Year!

- [PARTY HORNS BLOWING] - [ALL CHEERING]

["AULD LANG SYNE" PLAYING]

[FIREWORKS POPPING]

- ["AULD LANG SYNE" CONTINUES] - [GUESTS SHOUTING]

[CHEERING, EXCLAIMING]

- [AUDIO FADES] - [MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC CONTINUES]

[MUSIC ENDS]

[CELL PHONE RINGING]

[STELLA] Uh, hey, what's up?

Kill the deal with Aaron. I'll explain tomorrow.

It's a new year, Stella. Things are looking up.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[WOMAN SNEEZES]

Ah, fuck!

["NEW YORK, NEW YORK" PLAYING]

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