The Morning Show – S04E03 – Tipping Point | Transcript

The Morning Show
Season 4 – Episode 3
Episode title: Tipping Point
Original release date: September 30, 2025

Plot: Alex is blindsided by a surprise reunion when she attends a conference on climate change. Bradley meets her source. Mia interviews for a promotion.

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The Morning Show – S04E03 – Tipping Point | Transcript

[“Nemesis” playing]

[music ends]

[panting]

Accuracy. Integrity. Trust.

As Head of UBN, I would be the…

Fuck!

UBN News. As Head of UBN News.

As Head of UBN News.

[“Work It” (Soulwax Remix) playing]

[sighs]

[joggers panting]

[phone buzzing]

[sighs]

[Mia] Bradley.

Yes.

Bradley, you’re on in five.

Were you, uh…

No, I was not.

Okay, because, uh, I need you with me.

Okay, I’m with you.

You’re with me?

Mmhmm.

Are you sure?

Yes.

Okay, this is gonna be a what show?

It’s gonna be a great show.

It’s gonna be a great show.

Let’s go.

It is so lovely to have you here talking about your new Broadway musical.

I am such a huge fan of Waitress.

Oh, thank you.

[Bradley] Tell us about your new show.

It’s about growing up.

It’s about the questions that you just live with, the questions that you may never quite get the answers to.

Hmm. Wow. That is…

Come on, girl. Stay in it.

[inhales sharply] I look forward to sobbing to the soundtrack in my car.

All right, that’s it for us here at The Morning Show.

We will see you bright and early tomorrow morning, America.

Friday. Bradley, it’s Friday.

Oh, wait.

[chuckles] Where’s my head? It’s Friday.

Have a great weekend.

We will see you Monday.

And we’re out.

Jesus Christ.

Do I need to say it? Or

No, we all saw it.

Is it too early in the morning for cocaine?

For us or for her?

Right. Take a look at the…

Sir, they’re waiting for you.

[phone buzzes]

[crew chattering]

[Mia] Now what?

Are we going over this week’s segments or–

Yeah, yeah. One second.

Okay, I’m on my way.

Bradley, what’s going on?

Yeah?

We were supposed to be reviewing your segments for next week.

[inhales sharply] Oh, yeah. Right.

I’m sorry. I just…

I’m late for an appointment.

We should talk.

Yes, of course.

My office, 11:30. Okay?

Yeah, I’ll see you then.

[Mia] Did you watch?

Uh-huh.

Yeah. She was, um…

Not good.

It was terrible.

So, I’m gonna talk to her later and we’re gonna get to the bottom of it.

I told Stella this was a terrible idea.

If it doesn’t get better soon, we’re gonna discuss other options.

Okay. Thank you.

And, Mia, I know you wanted this to work. I really do.

I want the show to work.

That’s what matters.

I know.

I’ll see you this afternoon.

You have nothing to worry about.

But I heard that they’re interviewing some heavy hitter from outside the network.

Please. Nobody knows this place like you do. Not even close.

And if Celine or any of them try to say otherwise, Stella and I are gonna be there to set ’em straight.

Thanks, Alex.

[Bradley] Are you sure she’s here?

That’s what they told me.

Hope they didn’t process her yet.

Maybe I should go in there.

Wait, is that… Claire?

Holy Klute.

Hey, Claire.

Fuck.

Hey. I know it’s you. You’ve been sending me all those messages.

He’s helping me. He’s-He’s on our side.

Then where was he when UBA killed the Wolf River story?

I was blowing the whistle on Mitch Kessler like you.

Not fast enough.

Look, if you want me to do this, he’s along for the ride.

[sighs]

I came back because you asked me to, but I need your help.

I need to talk to you.

Okay, well, not here.

Look at International Allied Petroleum.

Their CEO, Zeke Pemberton, hides his company’s pollution behind these sham summits.

Their stock price gets a bump, and he takes home over a hun–

We both got calls from Pemberton last night, furious that the only headline about his sustainability conference is that it’s crawling with oil lobbyists and smells like corruption.

Well, he didn’t deny it was true.

International Allied Petroleum has been a key sponsor for years.

Zeke claims you’ve done irreparable harm

to the relationship.

[scoffs] He’s threatening to not reup their ad contracts.

If reporting the news is gonna make him throw a fit, then maybe he shouldn’t be advertising on a news network.

Extinction Revolt is using your greenwashing story to call for his arrest.

[sighs]

They… So they called for his arrest.

That is not my problem.

I’m a reporter. I was just doing my job.

You’re also an executive.

It changes things.

[inhales sharply] Okay.

All right, I’ll call the asshole.

Alex, I think we’ve hit in-person, public apology territory.

We can’t afford to lose him.

Okay. All right.

I will go down to the conference so that Zeke Pemberton’s billionaire buddies can see me kneel before the king.

Miles is friendly with Zeke.

He can make the introduction.

Miles?

He helped Zeke’s wife buy some art for their place in Palm Beach.

They hit it off.

Okay. [inhales sharply] All right.

I’ll be back by lunch.

[Celine sniffs]

Celine, one more thing.

What is it?

I’m considering a deal with an independent producer to help us shore up our film division.

Huge pain in the ass, but massive potential upside.

Who is this?

Cory Ellison.

[laughs]

Oh, you’re serious.

He’s got a few interesting projects.

It would be a good investment.

I thought you wanted to stay clear of Cory.

Now you want him back?

Let’s talk about it later.

I know the schedule is fucked. And I know we’re losing our window to reshoot.

I’m just finishing up the details on my paperwork and once that’s done, we will nail down the schedule, we’ll get the crew back and I will post up outside the Soho Malibu with a fishing rod to hook our actress.

[caller speaks indistinctly]

Yeah, I’ll call you back.

Come on, Stella.

[phone chimes]

[groans, inhales deeply]

Okay.

Kyle, hi.

What do you know about art?

[phone ringing, chimes]

Hey.

Zeke Pemberton. Your idea?

Celine asked me this morning.

Miles, do you think she has any idea about us?

No.

Are you sure about that?

Would it be the worst thing if she did?

I’m sorry. I just…

You know what I’m trying to accomplish and how hard I’ve worked to get here.

And I’m making it more difficult.

We’re making it more difficult. I know.

Are we bad people?

Me? I don’t know.

You? No, you are undeniable.

You know, I tried to ignore you at that party.

That party was so boring.

[laughs] Well, you weren’t.

[sighs] Miles.

Yeah.

I don’t know.

You know, I think about you…

When I wake up.

When I go to bed.

Pretty much all the time.

[chuckles] Okay.

Okay. [chuckles]

[Bradley] All right. Come in.

Okay.

Have a seat.

Um, can I get you anything?

Phones.

Uh, really?

Shouldn’t we record this conversation?

Chip.

You can’t…

Here.

[Claire] Thank you.

Okay.

Are you okay, Claire?

Where are you staying?

We move around a lot. It’s safer.

How long have you been part of this group?

What do you want?

I already told you everything I know.

We can’t find any connection between Wolf River and UBA.

There’s no money trail, nothing.

We don’t know why the network would kill this story.

Who wanted it gone?

I don’t know.

That’s why I reached out to you.

You’re the journalist.

Come on, you brought us into this.

You must know something.

She is an ecowarrior with a trust fund and a bone to pick with the network.

Okay? I’m skeptical.

I understand.

Do you have any food?

What?

Do you have food? I’m-I’m starving.

[protestors chanting] Hey, hey!

Ho, ho! Fossil fuels have got to go!

Hey, hey! Ho, ho!

Fossil fuels have got to go!

Jesus. God. It’s our fan club.

It’s like a red carpet where everyone wants you to die.

So a regular red carpet.

[laughs] Let’s get this shit over with.

Oh, there he is. Smile.

[Alex] Oh, that guy.

You know him?

From the upfronts a few years back.

It’s nice to see that his plugs have finally settled in.

Yeah, maybe don’t lead with that.

Zeke.

Miles, how are you?

I was thinking of you the other day.

A friend was getting rid of a Rauschenberg.

Hmm.

I wasn’t sure about the color.

Send me a pic.

Zeke, you remember Alex Levy?

Mmhmm.

Hello, Zeke.

I’m surprised you’re not out front with your friends.

You do realize how much trouble you’ve put me through?

I actually wanted to extend an apology.

Is Alex Levy causing trouble again?

And I was–

Careful. Don’t stand too close to her.

It’ll cost you a billion dollars.

[Zeke] It nearly has already.

Paul.

Alex.

What are you doing here?

Trying to find a solution to the climate crisis, I think.

What are you doing here?

She was just in the middle of her apology.

Oh, right. I saw your protest on TV.

Mmm, not my protest.

[Paul] Hmm.

Not my protest.

Well, not all of us are here pimping oil contracts.

Uh, speaking of, uh, where are you on direct ocean capture?

[fading] Because I just acquired a startup off the coast of Oregon.

What they’ve done with gas hydrates…

The creation of them has taken carbon capture 35% more…

[Paul] I will, I will, I

Will you excuse me for a second?

I’ll be right back. Excuse me.

[Zeke] Rallies all of us with this whole carbon expansion.

That’s, uh, I think, uh…

Yeah.

Fucking God.

You fucking kidding me.

[inhales deeply] Oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.

[sighs]

Alex?

Yes.

Ava Carillo.

Uh, we did a panel a few years ago.

Yes, of course. Um…

Davos, 2018.

You remember.

Yes. I do.

Are you doing okay?

I’m doing great. I am. I’m doing great.

I just don’t understand why we need oil when we can just power the world with billionaire big dick energy.

[laughs]

So, what are you doing here slumming it with these puffer jacket, jerkoff fuckheads, huh?

Well, I am giving the keynote tonight.

Oh. Wow. Sorry about that. [laughs] It works out for everyone.

They use me as a cover and I get them to commit to an abatement fund for climate refugees.

Don’t mind me. I’m just the cleaning lady.

Put the money on the dresser while I greenwash up.

Well, I don’t know how you do it.

Well, let’s just say I learned early to put my personal feelings aside to get things done.

[inhales deeply] Yes.

[sighs]

I first heard about Wolf River at UBA right before the Mitch stuff.

Then last month, we got a tip.

Someone had information.

They wanted to come forward.

Whistleblower?

I don’t know. Maybe.

They disappeared. Gone.

Is that why you reached out to me without telling me who you were?

Or did you think we wouldn’t bite if we knew it was you?

What, you think I’m just some rich girl begging for attention?

You saw what they did.

What… Dead birds, black teeth.

Cancer spikes. Do the fucking math.

The EPA investigated.

They cleared that chemical company.

I’m sorry, but I just don’t think anyone killed the story.

Bethanne Hines did.

Bethanne Hin… Really?

The most conscientious Head of News we’ve ever had.

Oh. “Conscientious.” Right.

Claire, what are you not telling us?

I know you wanna stay anonymous, but I need everything you have.

Any connection to UBA.

I’m not gonna burn you, I promise.

You don’t understand. If any information is traced back to me, I am fucked.

Can I talk to you for a second?

I’ll be right back.

Look, that lawsuit that Hannah’s dad filed against UBA?

Yeah.

Claire basically funded that.

Okay? And it failed.

She’s just cooking up this whole conspiracy theory, trying to rope you in.

Did this Bethanne…

Did she tell you why she left UBA?

I think it was Mitch Kessler shit.

You know?

Like, itit happened on her watch and the network tried to cover for him.

That’s what she said to you?

Those exact words?

Not those exact words, but…

I think you have to talk to Bethanne.

We’re never gonna get to Fred.

He’ll just hide behind his lawyers.

Bethanne might tell you what really happened.

Bradley, I don’t think you’re seeing this.

This is a personal vendetta.

She’s rich and she’s bored and she has

I don’t agree. I think she’s…

Shit.

Claire.

Claire?

Claire!

Shit. Fuck. We scared her off.

Wait, wait, wait. Come here.

She sent something.

What’s this?

Wait, these are the payouts to the victims.

They all have the same code.

Look.

Except for Bethanne Hines.

Look at that.

Two million dollars.

Yeah, she got her money the minute the Wolf River story was killed.

Look, the date.

Look, look.

That’s the firm that Hannah’s dad used for the lawsuit.

Claire must have got this in discovery.

[phone buzzing]

[sighing] Oh, I’m late.

I gotta go back to work, but, um…

but Bethanne trusts you, right?

Just follow up with her and see if she admits to the payout.

Uh, I-I think she lives in Connecticut now or something.

Well, then drive up there, Chip.

There’s something here. Come on.

Okay. Yeah, all right.

Hi, how are you?

Oh, God.

Hey, you okay?

Yeah.

Yeah?

Okay.

[sighs]

[inaudible]

What’s the deal with you guys?

There’s no deal.

Does he still have a thing for you?

Miles, I just wanna get out of here as fast as we possibly can, so, um…

Oh, hi. Hello. Hi.

I’m gonna say hi to those two people, and then I will take another run at Pemberton, and then we will leave.

Mmhmm. That sounds good.

Thank you.

[Celine] How did you hear about this?

[Cory] My friend is head of private sales.

I remember when Miles painted this.

He didn’t leave his studio for weeks.

I tried to buy the whole series, but…

Hmm.

…he needed to prove something.

That he didn’t need me.

Or my money.

[Cory] Since this one’s going up for sale why don’t I see what I can find out about the competition?

Thanks, but as much as I love this painting, it’ll take a little more for me to support your production deal.

What would it take?

What do you have to offer?

[inhales sharply]

It’s something to do with Stella. Yes?

Almost seems like you want your CEO to be compromised.

I like to know who’s an ally and who’s a liability.

Well, I could be an ally.

Could you?

Make my deal and find out.

[chuckles]

You would sell out your protégée?

For 30 pieces of silver, inflation adjusted, I’d think about it.

Celine, you know me. Miles knows me.

I am the guy you want next to you in the foxhole.

Or you are the fox.

And there’s the Bradley Jackson problem.

There’s no Bradley Jackson problem.

What happens when your deal is announced?

The press will lap it up.

They’ll ask her, “How do you feel about this after what happened between you two?”

She’ll be fine.

Are you sure?

I am sure.

Send me what you can find about this painting.

And I’ll think about your deal.

À bientôt.

Hey. I’m so sorry I’m late.

My meeting ran over and then I couldn’t find a cab, but I…

There were just none.

But I’m here, so let’s talk.

And I wanna just start by saying I know that I need some coaching.

Bradley, you know that today is my final interview for Head of News?

No, I had no idea. That’s amazing, Mia.

It could be the most important day of my professional career, but instead of practicing what I’m going to say, I’m working on Monday’s TMS copy trying to figure out which segments you can and you cannot do.

Well, look, I can…

I can do anything you need me to do.

Can you, Bradley?

Because lately you haven’t been.

I’ve been…

I’ve got stuff going on, but I-I don’t care about what you’ve got going on.

You have done nothing but let me down since you got back.

Alex was right, and it pains me to say it, but she was.

I think maybe you should’ve stayed in West Virginia.

So if you’ll excuse me, I’ve gotta work on this now.

[phone buzzes]

[Alex] Oh, yeah. I saw that article.

Hey, can I, uh, borrow you for a minute?

Right now?

Yeah.

Sure. Uh, would you excuse us for a moment?

So, Zeke apprised me of your situation…

Mmhmm.

…and I guess he’s pulling all of his advertising dollars.

I’m assuming you’re here to try to clean up your mess.

It’s not my mess.

Of course it’s not your mess.

It’s not your protest.

It’s not your mess. I get it.

[inhales deeply] He has a proposal.

Are you his errand boy now?

I told him I would run something by you, given our history.

Well, maybe if he knew how things ended between us he would have delegated a different emissary.

Would you like to hear this proposal or not?

Just talk. Just talk.

Zeke has a file on your eco-friends out there, tying them to a gas rig explosion in Mexico a couple years back.

A couple people died.

A couple million dollars in damages.

Thought that if, uh, UBN were willing to report on this, that might help balance the scales.

I’m sending you the file right now.

A propaganda smear campaign?

Is this your idea?

They’re pretty sure someone in that group had something to do with it.

They’re pretty sure?

Okay, we don’t do pretty sure.

If-If he had anything real on this, he would have released it by now.

Well, so do your job.

Verify it.

Oh, my God. [stammers] All of a sudden, now you’re interested in the integrity of my job?

Alex, if this checks out, it’s win-win.

What’s your angle here?

Why are you doing this?

I’m simply trying to get a deal done with him.

I could use a win myself.

Ah, okay. There it is.

Look, Alex, I’ve had a lot of shit that I’ve had to rebuild in my life since the last time we saw each other.

You and me both.

It’s not a competition.

I’m not saying it’s a competition.

I’m not here to be antagonistic…

I’m just…

Paul, do you have my glasses?

Yeah, I have ’em somewhere.

Oh… [stammers] Uh…

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.

No, no, no. It’s fine.

It’s not a problem. You know Alex Levy.

Alex, Ava Carillo.

Hey, uh…

Yes. We just, um… We’ve met.

Nice to see you again. [chuckles] Okay, I’ll talk to you later.

It’s good to see you.

Okay. And the Pemberton thing though.

You’re-You’re thinking about it?

Yes, I-I… [stammers] I am.

I will and I… I am think… I’m thinking.

Glasses. Um…

[sighs]

[phone chimes]

Shit.

[groans] Oh, my fucking God.

[inhales deeply, sighs]

[phone ringing]

Hey, hey. Just about to head upstairs.

Mia, I am so sorry.

I’m stuck at this conference, and I can’t get out.

I’m just not gonna make it back in time.

Yeah, I see.

Mia, you’re gonna kill it.

You got this.

Yeah. Thanks, Alex.

[exhales deeply]

[Ava chuckles] He wanted to sell me a Cybertruck.

[chuckles] I just laughed.

[exhales deeply]

[elevator bell dings]

[exhales deeply]

[exhales deeply]

Head of News, motherfuckers.

People need to feel that UBN is gonna have it first and they’re gonna have it right.

And that’s across all platforms.

TMS. Evening News.

International and digital.

Do you think our news is entertaining?

Uh… I-I… I… I th–

[Celine] I don’t think it is.

We bend over backwards not to offend, and it makes our audience reach for their phones.

I think the news is an incredible tool.

But we need more circuses and a little less bread.

Content that grabs anyone on earth with a screen.

I’m asking you to think in global terms, Mia.

Be bold. Be incendiary.

Tell me something I haven’t heard.

My point is…

I…

I appreciate your commitment to this company, but I’m not sure I see a greater vision here.

I’m interested in breaking the kind of stories that drive national conversation.

That’s the core mission of the news.

And I think if we do that right, the audience will follow.

A nice idea.

But it’s not sexy.

We are in an unprecedented era.

Journalists used to have to watch their backs in war zones.

Now they’re attacked at school board meetings, on campuses, in their own homes.

A rape takes place at a Colorado police chief’s home, and someone steals every copy of the newspaper that dared to report it.

A county administrator in Las Vegas doesn’t like the kind of press coverage he’s getting, so he just goes to the journalist’s house and stabs him seven times.

A BBC anchor quits her job, goes into hiding after her stalker is plotting to kill her.

These are the top three most shared stories on our website.

The truth is incendiary and it’s under attack.

That’s the headline.

Is that sexy enough for you?

[Paul] Hey.

Hi.

Sorry about that.

What?

Ava.

Oh. [stammers] Please, I-I wasn’t even…

I know it was awkward.

No. You know what?

[stammers] She’s so lovely.

And she’s very impressive. I’m…

I’m really happy for you.

I really am.

Alex. Come on.

I guess I’m just a little surprised.

It’s been two years.

I know, which is why I’m surprised I’m surprised.

[exhales deeply, sighs]

I just don’t think you know how much that hurt…

[stammers] Oh, I don’t wanna do this.

Hey, hey. [stammers] Can we please do this now?

‘Cause I want you to explain to me how I became the bad guy in this when I left this relationship with nothing but embarrassment, and the federal government on my ass, and you left with a media empire.

I’m not talking about what I got.

I’m talking about what I lost.

[breathes shakily]

You lied to me.

You humiliated me.

[stammers, groans]

We were supposed to be a team.

We were a team.

[sighs] You don’t seem to do anything unless there is an agenda.

I was just a stop on the way to buying a network.

Today, you needed a win with Zeke.

What’s Ava?

Is she some paragon of goodness to help rehabilitate Paul Marks’s reputation?

You’ve already found a way to indict her already?

I’m not indicting her.

I’m not indicting her.

I’m indicting you.

For what crime?

You use people.

I was trying to help you with Pemberton.

Help you.

Because you are gonna get something out of it.

Alex, will you just admit it?

You’re angry because I found someone.

First. Yes.

Why did you have to find somebody first?

[inhales deeply] Ah, God.

[exhales sharply]

[chuckles] Well.

Do we have a deal, Alex?

[sighs] Zeke.

All right, your story still needs to be confirmed.

That’s how news works.

Well, I-I want it out by the end of tonight.

Otherwise, I’m gonna have to pull my company’s support of UBN.

[clears throat] Remy, I am sending you something.

Please have research vet it ASAP.

And tell digital to be on hold.

We may have to run it tonight. Thanks.

[phone chimes]

Oh, hi. Sorry.

Hey.

I didn’t, uh, mean to, uh…

Um…

[stammers] Hi.

Hi. Um… Come in.

Uh… Yeah.

[both chuckle]

[stammers] This looks…

Wow. This is… really nice.

[chuckles] Well, thanks.

It’s a sublet.

You should see my place in LA.

Killer view.

On a clear day you can see the Scientology Celebrity Center.

Every… Everything okay?

I know it’s been a while.

Oh, no, it’s just work stuff.

Oh. Oh, okay. All right. Um…

Well, do you want a drink? Or a bombolone?

There’s, uh, an Italian pastry shop on the corner I’m singlehandedly supporting so it doesn’t become a Chipotle.

[chuckles, inhales deeply]

Um… I’ll have a glass of wine.

Okay, all right. Make yourself at home.

[Stella] We promised real change.

Hiring Mia would send a signal that we’re serious.

She’s already been doing 80% of the job while we’ve held the role open.

She’s an amazing leader.

The staff loves her.

Do you think she actually believes in your AI initiative?

She’s still wrapping her head around it.

I’m confident that she’ll come around.

But what if she doesn’t?

Will she be able to make the hard choices when the time comes?

Could she fire people she’s worked with for the past ten years?

We agreed to stop layoffs.

And there’s no one, no one, more qualified than Mia Jordan.

What about Ben?

He reinvented the Olympics.

He’s brilliant.

We know sports programming is key to long-term sustainability.

Exactly.

That’s, um…

Yeah. Let’s take five.

Good idea.

I know Ben’s your guy, but hiring is my prerogative.

The Board’s only here in an advisory capacity.

I just wanna make sure you’re weighing the pros and cons.

Thank you. I am.

And I’m just looking for the best outcome for all of us.

Your deal with Cory, for example.

What about it?

You’re right.

His projects are compelling.

I’d like to support him, but it can’t look like favoritism.

We’re old friends.

He was your mentor. It’s tricky.

[inhales sharply] But if we bring Ben in as Head of News, it might be the right balance.

An old hand, new blood. What do you think?

Oh, it’s your decision.

But I’d like to put out a press release by the end of the day.

Chip.

[Chip] Hello, Bethanne.

[sighs] You look rested.

It’s the, uh, joys of unemployment, actually. [chuckles] Um, you look great.

It’s good to see you.

I heard you made a movie?

I did. I made a movie and I’m actually working on a new project now.

I’m not, uh, totally sure what it is yet.

Still trying to figure it out.

But I was hoping I could ask you a few questions.

About what?

UBA.

Mmm. Sure.

I don’t know how helpful I can be, but go ahead.

Well, I guess…

I mean, I’ve always been curious why you left.

Oh, a hundred reasons.

Mmhmm.

And it was time to go.

Was it Mitch? Or…

I’m sorry.

I wish I could be more specific but I signed an NDA.

We all had to in those days.

I need to show you something.

Um…

Where did you get this?

So I reached out to Fred Micklen to ask him about it, but he didn’t get back to me, so I…

I haven’t talked to Fred in a long time.

I got the sense you didn’t want me to come to your house.

What’s going on?

Chip, I left the network because I was ready to retire.

That’s it. I should be getting back.

I want to make sure I have your cell number.

I’m not sure. This might be an old one.

So, yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Is that it?

Yeah, that’s it.

I’m sorry you had to come all this way.

But there’s nothing I can do for you.

It was nice to see you again.

Take care of yourself.

You too.

How does it feel being back?

It’s different.

Different how?

A lot of people are gone.

Hmm.

Maybe I’m the one that’s different.

It’s like I’m there, but I’m on the outside.

How about you?

Do you miss it?

What, having all that influence?

Shaping the world and getting paid a gazillion dollars to do it?

Nah, totally overrated.

Hmm.

Yeah. All it costs is your privacy, your friends.

And any chance at having a regular relationship.

[chuckles]

Right, so, almost nothing.

[Bradley chuckles]

Do you have any more wine?

I was thinking the same thing.

By the way, you wanted to ask me something?

Um, yeah.

So, there’s this thing…

It’s early, but before I chase it for real, I just need to make sure my side of the street is clean.

Okay. Yeah.

I mean, I told you I cleared you with HR.

I just mean with the Feds.

You wanna know if I told them about you.

Because I should be in jail and I’m not.

Crossed my mind.

I gave them something.

But I never mentioned you.

You’re safe.

Okay.

That’s… That’s good.

And you’re okay with all that?

Yeah. I’m good.

[sighs] Okay.

But I should have called you.

So you didn’t have to wonder.

And you didn’t have to call me to ask if I’d fucked up your life again.

You didn’t fuck up my life.

[chuckles]

Are you sure?

Bradley, my life is…

Well, hey, did I sell my house in the Hamptons for sixty cents on the dollar? I did.

Did I bankrupt myself to make half a movie?

Pretty much.

Did I leave all of this behind to move to the loneliest, sun-filled city on planet Earth?

Yes.

But none of that had anything to do with you.

I had convinced myself that you hated me.

I didn’t.

I don’t.

Well, everybody else does. Alex, Mia.

I’m not exactly employee of the month.

Bradley.

I don’t want anything from you.

It’s just that it, um…

Yeah, tell me.

This thing, this job?

I’d be around again, in the building.

Oh. Oh.

We wouldn’t be working together, obviously.

But, um… [clicks teeth] Yeah, well, I guess it’d be different.

What is it?

I… When I last…

I just didn’t think I would see you again.

I know.

And here we are.

Here we are.

I just… I need to know that if I was around, um, would you be okay with that?

Yeah. I think so.

You know people are gonna…

Wonder.

Yeah.

People would definitely wonder.

I wouldn’t want to do anything that could make things more…

We would have to be really clear…

If… you wanted me to, you know… keep my distance…

Keep your distance?

I could do that.

I’ll let you know.

You’d never have to…

Um…

Yeah.

And you would…

Yes.

…tell me.

[breathing heavily]

Hey.

Hey.

Thanks for stopping by.

I’m gonna give you a raise.

I want you to stay on, hold the new guy’s feet to the fire.

He’s so green, he’s gonna flame out, and in six months the job will be yours.

Who is it? Someone from outside?

Uh… Ben.

Ben? He’s… he’s in Atlanta.

Did he even interview?

Before he left.

That was last week so… [stutters] …what?

What was today? It was a… a formality or–

No. And I did fight for you.

Is it the sports thing? ‘Cause I can do…

He doesn’t have the staff.

They don’t respect him.

How could they?

[chuckles] He’s never actually done real hard news.

Much less the whole news division.

You’re right. You are absolutely right.

And like I said, he’s gonna flame out, and when he does I promise you, the job will be yours.

[sighs]

Like you promised me two years ago?

No more corporate bullshit, that’s what you said.

When we talked about what we were gonna do here.

The changes we were gonna make.

Yeah.

I thought we were fucking friends.

We are. [stammers] We are friends.

I didn’t ask you for this job.

I didn’t even dream of it.

Until you dangled it in front of me like a fucking carrot.

And ever since then you’ve been telling me, “Just be patient. Your time is coming.”

I am fighting for my life here, Mia.

Those changes that we talked about, I can’t make them if I’m out on my ass.

This decision was…

Oh, my God, it was so hard.

It was the hardest decision I…

[stutters] I… I am…

I am so sorry that it was so very, very hard for you, Stella.

It must be difficult to, um, get to make all the choices and have to feel bad about them afterwards without it touching your actual fucking life.

Whatever Celine is offering you…

I hope it’s worth it.

Okay, fine.

Ben is better.

He has an actual vision for where the company is headed and I really wanted to protect your feelings, but I also…

I have to do what’s best for the network.

Because I am your friend, but I’m also your fucking boss.

You’re not my friend.

Or my boss.

Because I quit.

[sobbing]

[sighs]

[Ava] Someone asked me today why I’m still here.

Given the recent media coverage of this conference, why would I choose to stay to speak to you all tonight?

As a child of refugees, I learned early on that choices are not distributed equally among us.

[phone buzzes]

And it’s as a child of refugees that I speak to you tonight.

On behalf of the millions who have already fled their homelands due to climate change.

Who have no choice.

And whose numbers are rising.

Reality is inconvenient that way.

It demands a reckoning, one way or another.

There are choices to be made.

Costs to be paid.

And those choices, those costs, will test us.

So much more than we want them to.

We tell ourselves we’re in control.

We can manage all of this.

But we know, deep down, how much is at stake.

And it’s everything.

All that we love and care about.

Hey. How’d you do it?

Hey.

[Ava] So we have a choice.

Do what?

Zeke said Paul talked to him, convinced him to be reasonable.

So you don’t have to run the story.

[Ava] Do we pay that cost now?

Did you make some kind of deal or…

[Ava] Or do we turn our backs and hope it goes away?

No, I… I didn’t.

Whenever you’re ready.

[Ava] But if we do turn our backs, what happens when they come knocking on our door?

When we reach the point where it’s impossible to look away…

What will happen then?

This is the question of our time.

And the answers will rest largely on everyone in this room.

[“If the World Falls to Pieces” playing]

[Ava] Thank you.

[audience applauding]

[song continues]

[inaudible]

[song continues]

[song continues]