The Morning Show
Season 4 – Episode 9
Episode title: Un Bel Di
Original release date:Â November 12, 2025
Plot: A night at the opera provides cover for a secret rendezvous.
* * *
The Morning Show – S04E09 – Un Bel Di | Transcript
[“Nemesis” playing]
[music ends]
[announcer speaking Belarusian on PA system]
[officer speaks Russian]
[announcer continues on PA system]
[officer speaks Russian]
[announcer 2 speaking Russian on PA system]
[speaking Russian]
Okay.
[officer speaking Russian]
[in English] Uh… Okay.
[Bradley] Um…
[speaking Russian] [in English] Okay.
Hey, uh, they just pulled me out of the security line.
And, uh, they’re going through my bag right now. Oh, shit.
I-I uploaded, um, some of the files to the drafts folders so they should be coming through now. But… Fuck.
Wait. They took my computer.
Hey, um… That’s…
[officer arguing in Russian]
I need my computer. That’s… I’m a journalist and I can’t work without my computer. I’m gonna miss my plane.
I need to get back to New Yo
Stop! You’re hurting me.
[officer speaking Russian]
[in English]
Where are you taking me? I’m a journalist. Stop it! Stop!
[John] Thanks for sharing this, Alex.
They claim they found a suspicious hard drive in her luggage.
What’s the State Department saying?
Oh, they’re reviewing her case to see if she qualifies as unlawfully detained.
It could take weeks.
The Belarusians haven’t charged her officially.
But what does that mean?
Char-Charged with what?
Espionage. Conspiracy against the state.
It could be anything.
Espionage? She was chasing a story.
What story?
Something that happened before the merger.
[stammers] A pollution coverup in Ohio.
A place called Wolf River.
[Ben stammers] If the story’s in Ohio, what’s she doing in Belarus?
[Alex] She was meeting a source. Someone who worked for the chemical company.
I don’t… I don’t have all the details because she and Chip were still putting all the pieces together.
[stammers] Wait. Chip Black?
Oh, God. She asked for institutional support and cover for her travel.
And I said no.
Uh… [sighs] This isn’t your fault.
You… There’s no way you could’ve known.
All right. What is happening?
Do… Am I getting on a plane?
Uh… The last thing we need is more eyes on this.
We have to go through the State Department.
If this blows up, it’ll only be harder to get her back.
We need to talk about news coverage.
[stammers] I know, but this is going to leak at some point.
And we need to be ready to run something.
Also, what do we tell staff?
Nothing yet.
Not until we know more.
I’ll speak to the State Department.
And I wanna see any Bradley Jackson package before it runs.
Nothing goes out until we’re ready.
Okay.
[Ben] Of course.
Okay, we’ll figure it out.
Oh. I’ll call you back.
Hey. Quick question.
You should’ve stayed gone. You were free.
Well, then I wouldn’t get to bother you.
[chuckles] So, why is Chris on call for TMS all week?
I was supposed to have her clear for the next few days.
Oh, someone should’ve told Bradley.
Why? What’s she doing?
She’s sick.
So sick she couldn’t even send a text.
Seriously?
Yeah, Ben said to roll with it.
I’m about to roll my ass to the bar if you wanna get a drink.
[scoffs]
I don’t care if it’s unconfirmed.
Just on background, give… give me your best guess.
[sighs]
All right, all right.
Thanks. I appreciate it.
Oh, God.
What?
[sighs] They’re gonna press charges against Bradley.
[sighing] Oh, shit.
I’m gonna fucking throw up.
[stammers] Lying to government officials, at a minimum.
My friend at the IMF said that they’re planning to move her end of day tomorrow.
Alex, if that happens
Yeah, I know.
And everybody that I’ve been speaking to in D.C. is saying just what Celine says, which is just let the State Department handle it.
I-I just started going through the documents Bradley sent over.
So we don’t know what-what she found.
We don’t know what they think she found.
And if Belarus says that this is espionage…
Exactly. I mean, these are the people that dragged an activist off a plane.
Their-Their top ally locked up that Wall Street Journal reporter and threw away the key.
If we don’t get her back now, she could be locked up for fucking years.
Okay. What are we not thinking of, Chip? Come on.
[stammers] Who are we not thinking of?
Who could help? Come on.
There’s gotta be somebody we can call.
[sighs]
Okay, look, uh…
Belarus is like Russia, right?
[stammers]
It’s a shit show run by oligarchs.
So we need someone who can interface with the actual power brokers.
You have an idea.
Um… No, I don’t.
Yes, you do. Yes.
Fuck me. [breathes heavily] What?
[sighs]
Hi. Thanks for meeting me.
You said it was an emergency.
Come on. Sit down.
Talk to me.
What can I do for you?
Bradley’s being detained in Belarus.
What?
I know how you feel about her. I do.
But, Paul, I really need your help.
Well, she’s on-air talent.
I mean, she’s way too high-profile.
They’re gonna let her go.
They’re about to file charges.
What do you want me to do about it?
There’s someone you know who could
[Amanda] Alex Levy.
[sighs] Every time I see your highlights I know the sky’s about to fall.
Can you just give us a couple minutes, please?
I… I’m in between meetings.
And I have an event tonight, so…
Okay. If I wanted to get in touch with Dmitri Ivanov…
Jesus, Alex.
Or maybe you could talk to him and see if he would be willing to lean on some government official to release her?
You want me to broker a deal with a sanctioned Russian oligarch?
Go through the White House.
Or-Or better yet, call your friend Celine Dumont.
Her whole family owns half of France.
She must know someone.
She’s deferring to the State Department.
Paul.
One… One second.
Trust me, Paul. I hate this.
I hate that I have to come here and ask for your help.
I really do. I’m very sorry.
But all they keep telling me is that I have to sit tight and be patient and let the professionals handle it.
But they’re not handling it.
And if she gets thrown in prison and stuck there, it’s my fault.
You’re not the reason she’s over there.
Well, I am. Essentially.
More or less.
[whispers] God.
I’m sorry.
Alex… [stammers] …there’s nothing I can do.
Yeah.
[sighs] Okay.
[clicks tongue] Bye. Thanks. Bye.
Yeah.
You cannot get involved with her.
I know. I know.
[Marcus] I know this is gonna be hard.
I couldn’t do this without you.
We can watch it later together.
You, me, and Naima.
Mmhmm.
Mmhmm.
I love you.
I love you too.
[sighs]
Ready?
Let’s do this.
[chuckles] These medals represent integrity, sportsmanship and excellence.
And I’m proud to finally be able to give them to their rightful owner.
Elaine, these belong to you.
[staff chattering]
In celebration of your achievement.
[chatter continues]
Thank you. This is an incredible honor.
Can I? [chuckles]
Mmhmm.
Um… Oh, thank you for understanding, for accepting.
And, um… they look good on you.
[both chuckle]
Uh, we will be right back after this break.
[Celine] Thank you for coming in on such short notice.
I’m sure you understand time is of the essence.
Of course. Um, I do want to say that Alex gave us the go-ahead to investigate this story.
So if there’s any question of liability, or UBN’s legal exposure–
[Celine] There isn’t.
Bradley is one of ours.
Why don’t you start from the beginning?
How did you get onto the story?
Well, Bradley got a tip from an old colleague.
She was busy on The Morning Show, so I said I would go to Ohio and do some legwork.
We eventually made contact with a source.
Someone from inside Martel Chemical.
And she said she would only meet face-to-face, so…
This source…
[Chip] Mmhmm.
She’s a whistleblower?
Uh, I mean, that’s what we assumed. Yeah.
But you’re not sure?
Uh, I mean, she was a little cagey, but…
What if she’s not a whistleblower at all?
What if she set you up?
This woman told Bradley to come to a hostile country.
She did.
And now she’s been taken.
Bad luck?
Or was that her plan all along?
What? Uh, hold on.
That’s not what happened.
Did Bradley actually meet with her?
In the video she mentioned some files.
Look, if she did send something, um, I wouldn’t be able to share it.
Not without Bradley’s permission.
I think, given the circumstances, she might make an exception.
Well, uh, nothing came through, you know.
There was the, uh, video from the airport that went to the cloud but that-that’s… that’s it.
Sure.
Just let us know if you think of anything else.
Absolutely. I will.
[elevator dings]
[people chattering]
Hey.
Hey.
What are you doing?
Uh, Bradley asked me to come by to just, uh, grab some stuff for her, so…
Oh. Great. You talked to her.
Yeah.
She’s feeling better?
Uh, yeah.
Yeah, I mean, she’s not out of the woods yet, but she’s… you know, she’s getting there.
[chuckles]
What… What’s up?
I don’t know. I’m just wondering why, if Bradley is sick, people keep coming around here digging through her dressing room?
Peop… What? Like Celine’s people?
I don’t know. Maybe.
Yeah, yeah.
What do you, uh, think of her?
Celine?
Yeah.
Uh…
Wouldn’t wanna get on her bad side.
Yeah, I’m starting to feel the same way.
Anyway, I should probably get going.
It’s good seeing you.
Yeah, it’s been… Well…
Uh… yeah.
Bradley’s not sick.
What’s going on, Chip?
I don’t… I don’t know what you mean.
Okay.
Well, then maybe I’ll go up to Celine and tell her that I found you digging around in Bradley’s dressing room.
Yeah, you wouldn’t do that.
I just leveraged the Head of News for a pod deal.
My villain era is in full swing.
So?
[phone buzzing]
[inhales sharply]
[groans]
[grunts]
Cory Ellison’s office.
[Celine] Did you just wake up?
[grunts] Well, I felt winter coming, so I thought I’d try hibernating. It didn’t work. I don’t know how the bears do it.
Ah, no more cocaine for you.
Aw. That was the best part of my week.
Has anyone come to check on you?
Have you heard from any friends?
Just you. Nice to hear another voice.
[clicks tongue]
You were funny the other night.
[chuckles]
And you were fun. Thanks.
Are you feeling any better?
Not sure I’m feeling anything.
You shouldn’t be alone. Not now.
Well, then I should’ve made different life choices.
Ugh. Fuck.
Self-pity.
The least interesting of all the pities.
Don’t be so hard on yourself.
You’re mourning.
It’s funny, though, you know.
I was with her.
I was there.
And… I still don’t really believe it.
Her lawyer dropped by a box of shit, and he was all solemn and, “Mr. Ellison, I’m sorry for your loss.
She was a good woman.”
And I thought, “Who in the fuck is he talking about?
My mom is in Greenwich.
She’s fine. She’s doing…”
I’m coming over.
Hey. You don’t have to do that.
I’ll bring you dinner.
You can talk about her till you’re green in the face.
Blue.
Blue in the face.
Yeah. Blue.
[sighs]
[elevator dings]
[door opens] Hey.
I just found a document in the reports that Bradley sent.
And one of them is from Wolf River.
Chip?
Just roll with me.
André is four hours outside of Minsk.
He’ll help with Bradley as soon as he’s on the ground.
I know everything.
Well, you got me beat.
[phone buzzes]
Uh… One second.
Hey. What do you got for me?
Can we please talk?
I should’ve made sure you got Head of News like I promised.
[Mia] So why didn’t you?
Because I was focused on advertising dollars and sponsors and proving that I could do this executive job that I fought so hard to get.
And…
I’m just so sorry.
Well, you should be.
But… thank you.
[phone buzzes]
Hello?
I talked to Ivanov.
We’re going to the opera.
[gasps]
[Paul] Dmitri Ivanov almost closed a deal with a friend of mine, but he was sanctioned before it went through. He’s a piece of work, but he has real influence in Minsk. And he has two soft spots… his Russian mistress and Puccini. As it so happens, an acclaimed soprano is doing a series of recitals here in New York. I’ve arranged to fly him in as my guest for the night.
I’ll make introductions during the concert and then you can talk to him about Bradley.
[Alex] What does he want in exchange?
[Paul] His mistress Nadzeya is an actress whose series has been put on indefinite hiatus because of the situation in Ukraine.
Maybe you can be of some help.
With any luck, he’ll make some calls, talk to his friends in the government, and we can start working on a solution.
Obviously, no one can know we’re doing this. We’ll arrive separately, keep as little contact as possible. And you should bring a date.
[Mia sighs] Okay.
André’s at Minsk airport, ready and waiting.
[Alex] Okay.
You all right?
I’m a little nervous.
I don’t see why.
It-It’s just a secret rendezvous with my ex-boyfriend, making a deal with a sanctioned oligarch, trying to keep our friend from being thrown indefinitely into a foreign prison.
Well, when you say it like that.
No big deal. [chuckles]
[chuckles]
[gentle music plays]
[announcer] Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to this evening’s performance. We kindly ask you to take your seats.
The show will begin shortly.
[Alex] There he is.
Where’s Ivanov?
[opera singer singing]
[singing continues]
What is going on with you and Miles?
[Celine scoffs]
[chuckles] You mean are we still together?
Well, yeah. But I mean…
I’ve always just wondered what it is about him for you.
‘Cause you could have anyone.
[chuckles]
Could I?
Um…
[jazz music playing]
Why do you ask?
I’m curious.
Really?
Mmhmm.
Um…
There’s something that ties us together.
Even when we’re apart, even when he breaks me.
I try to hate him.
I try to let him go.
But I can’t because I’m weak.
And… [sighs] [chuckles] I don’t want to be alone.
I think if it was me, I wouldn’t have gone behind your back.
I think I would’ve done everything in my power to keep you.
[chuckles]
But you never made a move.
In Los Angeles I could feel you circling.
Getting closer.
But every time I looked, you stepped back.
Did you ever imagine that?
What it would be like, you and me?
It’s crossed my mind.
Me too.
[sighs]
Um… [clears throat] When you imagine it, what… what do you see?
We’re in bed.
We never leave.
We stay there day and night.
And we fuck until we die of thirst.
[both moaning]
[phone buzzing]
[Cory groaning]
[Celine panting] Michael, hey. Hi.
[grunts]
Yeah?
White. They have to be white.
They have to be white.
No, there has to be 200.
That’s what she wanted.
Well, if she already ordered them, then why in the fuck did you just call me?
My mom’s florist. She planned everything.
I’m a fucking producer and I’ve got nothing to produce.
Cory.
Yeah?
It’s okay.
No, no, I’m fine. I…
Really. It’s okay. [chuckles]
[chuckling]
Oh, my head. [sniffles]
[sniffles]
She was alone.
She was alone in her house the last days of her life.
And I was on a fucking movie set playing make-believe.
She wanted that for you.
She wanted you to have everything.
I don’t know what she wanted.
And I’ll never get a chance to ask.
All I have left is a fucking box.
[sniffles]
Totems for the sarcophagus.
Do you want to look through it?
We can do it together.
[opera singer continues]
[music stops]
[crowd applauding, cheering]
There they are.
All right. Let’s go.
Yep. Let’s go.
Thank you.
It’s great to see you again.
[people chattering]
Paul.
[Paul] Alex.
Hey.
You remember Mia Jordan?
[Paul] Of course. Hey. How are you?
Ready to do this?
[Paul] All right.
Uh, well, they’re just waiting inside.
Let’s go.
All right.
[Paul] Uh, Dmitri, Nadzeya.
Uh, allow me to introduce Alex Levy and her colleague Mia Jordan.
Hi.
It’s a pleasure.
We have a great appreciation for your work.
Oh, that’s very kind. Likewise.
And we saw your show, Nadzeya.
It was very compelling.
The romance and the scale.
It’s big, it’s bold, it’s what everyone wants to see.
That is very kind of you.
Mia’s one of our biggest producers at the network.
And I have some great ideas.
I would love to talk to you about it if you have a moment?
Or I can just tell you all my favorite scenes.
[Mia chuckles]
[chuckles] Please.
Why don’t we step outside for a second?
Yes. Of course.
Thank you.
[Ivanov, Nadzeya chatter]
[Ivanov] Ah, she is so happy.
But, you know, sometimes I feel like she cares more for her work than she does for me.
[chuckles] I know the feeling.
Where is your lovely girlfriend tonight?
Is she, uh, still saving the earth from all the ravages of capitalism?
[chuckles] I wouldn’t know. Uh…
We’re no longer together.
Oh. Well, uh, things change so quickly, don’t they?
Well, I’m glad you called me.
It was getting a bit cold out there, being cut off from all the action, huh?
But, uh, you had a favor to ask.
[Alex] Yes.
I have a friend in Minsk.
And she’s, uh, an American journalist.
And there’s been a slight misunderstanding.
And she’s stuck at an airport.
No charges have been filed yet, but we would really like to get her out of there before they decide to make things more difficult.
She doesn’t have any ties to Belarus.
She’s just a TV anchor chasing a story.
Mmhmm.
And you want… what?
You want me to negotiate her release?
We would be really, really appreciative if you could… if you would help us.
All she has to do is walk down a hallway and get on a plane.
That is not possible.
Dmitri, all we’re asking you to do is make a phone call.
In the middle of the night? To the regime?
[Paul sighs]
That… What do you think is gonna happen?
They’re gonna grant your wish and she’s gonna come home?
No. That… That’s not how it works. That…
It’s a lot of calls. It’s a lot of favors.
I’m sorry.
[Paul stammers]
Uh, Dmitri, can you… [sighs] What…
What was that?
Yeah, just… Give me a sec.
Let me… Let me…
Let me work on it and I’ll…
Oh, God. Okay.
All right. I’ll, uh…
[Ivanov, in Russian]
There’s a problem with the deal…
Then why did you bring me all this way?
I’m the one at risk.
[in English]
Uh, Mia, would you terribly mind, um…
Oh, of course.
…giving us a few minutes?
Thank you.
[in Russian] If the Feds know I’m here, you and I are going to have a big problem.
We should leave?
Not quite yet.
He has more to offer than a TV show…
Really?
What about my show? You promised me.
Babe…
Get off me!
[Ivanov speaking Russian]
Get off me!
Stop touching me!
[Alex sighs]
[huffs, speaks English] Unbelievable.
He said it’s not possible.
He’s not gonna help us.
He’ll do it. He’ll do it.
I just spoke to him.
He can make a call.
He just needs something more than a TV show for his side piece.
[Alex] How do you know that?
‘Cause I just heard him fucking say it.
Senator. Hi.
Hi.
What?
Come with me.
Where are we going?
Okay, okay. Um…
[announcer speaking]
Hello. Good evening.
Come here. Come here.
Where are we going, Alex?
What is happening?
Alex, what is going on?
Okay. Your friend… Your friend that was making the deal with Ivanov, the one that fell through, what was Ivanov after?
Was it some kind of tech?
[sighs]
AI software.
My friend is a direct competitor in the space.
We’re both developing…
[stammers] …language protocols that can transform generative speech.
Okay. Well, Mia just overheard him talking to his girlfriend and he will make the call to Minsk.
He just wants more out of the deal.
And maybe it’s your software.
Maybe that’s what he thought we were offering him.
After he’s been sanctioned by the United States treasury?
I don’t… I… [chuckles] He knows I would never do that.
Oh, fuck.
Bradley has 12 hours before she gets charged with some bullshit.
And shipped… I don’t know fucking where.
[inhales sharply] There’s gotta be something that we can do, you know.
[sighs]
What if I give him the software?
It’s a little crazy but–
You can’t give away something that you don’t have.
Wait. Hold on though.
UBN’s AI initiative completely stalled.
I could license your software through the network.
And then I could… I could get it to Ivanov and your hands are completely clean.
I am not gonna let you do that.
There’s a million different ways that could blow up in your face.
Oh, but with our European platforms, and the Olympics, there’s gotta be a way I can get it to him without there being a digital footprint.
If the Feds found out about this, we would both be supremely fucked.
I know. I know.
I know. But we just… Can we please try?
We’re so close.
I’ll talk to him.
[sighs]
Thank you.
We are licensing our AI software to UBN.
Once Bradley’s released, Alex will get it to Ivanov.
So you wanna launder a tech deal through your ex-girlfriend?
Wow. I did not have that on my bingo card.
It won’t touch us.
What’s the endgame here? Run off with Alex?
Boar hunting with Vladimir Putin?
Look, I am trying to put my life back together here, okay?
There’s a karmic debt that needs to be repaid and it is collecting interest.
You know you’re the only man I’ve ever met who impressed me. But when you’re around her, you lose it.
You have all the power in the world and you still can’t let her go.
Maybe that’s true, but we’re doing this.
[sighs]
I’ll make some calls.
[Cory chuckles] This was my dad’s.
I thought my mom got rid of all his stuff.
Maybe it’s some kind of peace offering.
I always thought she was hard on me because of him.
‘Cause we look the same and she was afraid that I was gonna leave her too.
But she was just giving me the tools, teaching me to survive.
[chuckles]
[Cory] I’m the last one left.
End of the line.
Well, I’ll join them soon enough.
Just a matter of time.
Then let’s… let’s not waste it.
I’m gonna be right back.
[door closes]
[phone buzzing]
Hey. Where are we?
It’s happening. It’s happening.
Tell André to go to the drop-off point and to call you the minute he has Bradley.
Uh… [chuckles] I’m in awe.
Okay. I gotta go.
Okay. Hopefully the next time I call you it’ll be with Bradley.
I know. I’ll be waiting. I’m waiting.
[sighs]
[sighs]
[phone buzzes]
I’m sorry, Cory. I’ll have to leave you.
Oh.
Family matter.
Okay. All right. Well…
Uh, to be continued?
I’d like that.
[chuckles]
[opera singer continues singing]
Okay.
[phone buzzes]
Bradley?
Bradley?
Honey, are you there?
Honey, just say something.
Just say anything so I know you’re okay.
I’m sorry, uh…
I-It didn’t work.
[breathes heavily]
What do you…
What do you mean it didn’t work?
Chip?
The trade fell through and they won’t release her.
She’s gone.
[gasps]
[sighs] Paul, thank you for this.
We have to go.
[stammers] Are we good?
Dmitri.
[crowd cheering]
[cheering continues]
Excuse me. Excuse me.
What just happened? They just left.
Something went wrong.
They moved her from the airport.
[stammers] I don’t understand. What…
I don’t know. I don’t know.
I, um… I have to go.
If-If you hear anything, just please
[stammers] I’ll let you know.
Okay.
[sighs]
What do we do now?
I don’t know.
[Ben] The truth is dangerous.
And what we do here matters.
And no amount of artificial intelligence or social media can replace that.
When a journalist is imprisoned, it’s because someone wants them silenced.
We will not let that happen to Bradley.
We will keep this story on the air for as long as it takes.
This is day one.
We don’t stop reporting until she comes home.
Let’s go make a show.
So folks, before we start the show, uh, there’s something thatthat Chris and I have to talk about.
[stammers]
It’s a news story that affects all of us, but particularly those of us here in the UBN family. Earlier this week our cohost, Bradley Jackson, traveled to Belarus to do research for a story. And while she was at the Minsk airport, she was detained by the authorities. Now, despite attempts by the US State Department to secure her release, Bradley is being charged with conspiracy against the state of Belarus. UBN rejects all claims that Bradley was working as a foreign agent. These charges are false and we have full faith that she will be exonerated.
[phone buzzes]
[Amanda] Are we good? The State Department has no idea what they tried to do.
He put me in an impossible position.
You had to protect Paul.
I had to protect Alex. What’s my level of exposure?
My family made the call to stop the trade.
All through intermediaries.
It won’t blow back on you.
And what happens with Bradley Jackson?
This is a government negotiation.
I’m… I have faith she will be returned.
Yeah. I guess we’ll see.
Yes. We will see.
[in French] An exciting news day.
Leave it.
[sibling] Of course.
You want me to clean up your mess and be on my way.
You could show more gratitude for my help with Minsk.
Thanks for your help.
You’re welcome.
I know you think it should be you.
That you should be the one to run things.
But there’s a reason it’s me.
I will do anything to protect our family.
You think I won’t?
They’ll keep trying to get her back.
They can try.
