The Morning Show

I would like all you summa cum laude needle dicks

to stop headfucking the deal points and start closing.

Close, close, close, like your life depends on it.

You're a primordial man on the savanna. It's hot.

That antelope is faster, but you are fucking ravenous, and you can smell it.

The antelope is getting tired, and you've got a rock in your hand.

All that's left to do is bludgeon that poor beast to death.

So, I don't want to hear any more about preferred stock or debt assumption.

I want death in the afternoon.

Cory, I need a word.

I know you reached out to her. And I'm not blaming you, she is a legend.

- What are we talking about? - Don't play coy.

This is a serious fuckup. She's been calling the Justice Department every day.

The IG is spooked now, and… …if this doesn't stop,

they... they're gonna put us under review.

It's fine, I'll talk to her.

Shut her down. We don't need this kind of scrutiny. Not right now.

- I said I'd handle it. - Good. Do that.

Uh, your two o'clock is running late.

Uh, cancel my afternoon and have my car pulled around, okay?

- Got it. Should I send your tux somewhere? - No, it's a quick trip.

Oh, wait, uh, Bradley wanted to talk to you. She's in your office.

Bradley Jackson, to what do I owe the pleasure?

Hey. Uh, yeah, I just wanted to see if you got the text that I sent you about Hal.

I... I... I just didn't hear back from you.

But needless to say, it's all taken care of,

and he's really getting his shit together

and, um, just really focusing on being a good dad.

A-And you're, uh, Aunt Bradley now.

Yeah, that's right. It's kind of amazing.

But I... I just wanted to say sorry about the other day,

'cause I know when he is here, it can be a little hectic.

Hey, uh, I have to head up to Connecticut for a quick meeting.

Why don't you come up with me? We can talk about it in the car.

Uh, yeah, I just have to be back here by 5:00 p.m. to do the news.

It won't take long. I'll have you back in time for the news and the party.

Well… …what's in Connecticut?

Well, it's not a what, it's a who.

A political strategist with connections to the DOJ.

She's making calls, uh, about the deal, and we need her to stop

before she blows up the whole goddamn thing.

- - Whoa. Yeah, okay.

But why don't you just call her?

Uh, yeah, 'cause she needs a little handling.

And if you're there, she will be on her best behavior. We will be in and out.

Okay.

There's a couple options, uh, for breakfast that we can order from the...

Okay, well, why don't you put that away? I am making you a frittata.

Well, sh... should I make some toast?

Toast is already toasting.

Hmm.

Maybe some fruit. I'll cut up a little bit of this cantaloupe.

Or, Alex,

you could just sit back and relax and let me make you breakfast.

Okay.

- Okay. Coffee's ready. - Thank you.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

- -

Pretty nice, huh?

Well, that's an understatement.

Did you know that you talk in your sleep?

I absolutely do not.

Oh, okay.

Okay. What... What did I say?

Oh, you were saying something about, um, Dana.

Ah, yes, Dana.

So, is that an ex-girlfriend?

- - Favorite stripper?

Well, I could never have a favorite stripper.

- My gosh. -

No. Dana was the love of my life. She could do no wrong.

Oh. The one that got away?

Yeah, you could say that. She was my dog that I had growing up as a kid.

- Oh. A dog... Dana? -

Hey, listen, I just wanted to say that it has been a long time

since I've done anything like this.

I don't date a lot of people.

Come on. I call bullshit.

Really?

- Divorced, workaholic, control freak. -

How appealing does that sound?

- That sounds very, very, very familiar. -

Scared my daughter all the way back to England to live with her father.

So, that says a lot about… …me.

Well, I don't know. I mean, 20 years of marriage.

You lasted a lot longer than I did.

No, well, it was over way before we... The divorce was final.

It was just... I was afraid of what people would think.

I just didn't want to hear the noise.

I think it's why I packed that part of me away a long time ago.

You know, you do get used to it though. Being alone.

Mm-hmm. I think it's why this is a little terrifying. Just a little bit.

Yeah.

Right?

I get it.

Well… …I don't wanna stop.

Do you?

Hello?

Pavlo, you're a difficult man to get a hold of.

- I'm busy. - Okay, then I'll make this quick.

That... That photographer, André, did you get him out of Mariupol two weeks ago?

Who?

The hospital bombing.

We paid you to get André in and out, remember?

So, did you get him out?

He risked his life to get that footage. Do you understand?

I don't know where he is.

So, find him!

Amanda, hi.

Paul looped me in on the conversation you had last week

and asked that I deliver this in person.

Yeah. Um, about that. I'm gonna need my team to look it over.

They can reach out to me directly, but there are no surprises in here.

Thanks. I'll take a look.

Paul is very excited to be back in business with you.

Wait, we're not going to an office?

Nope, this is it.

Okay.

Cory?

All right, just one sec.

Okay, let's go.

Okay.

Hi, Mom.

That's Bradley.

- - Hello.

Hi.

Oh. Where are you going?

Well… …I thought you said I had to, uh, scoot.

Well, that was a terrible idea.

- I think so too. - I mean... Okay.

- So then I'll see you tonight. - Yes. Yeah.

Speaking of, uh, you and me and this whole...

Mmm, terrible look. Press will not like it.

Neither will the board. So, at the party, we will be cordial.

Mm-hmm. Friendly.

- Yes. Not too friendly. - No, appropriate amount of friendly.

Right, just appropriate.

Yeah.

- Too much? - Feel like that's...

- Just a... Just a tiny bit. - Too much. Okay. I'll go. I'll get going.

Hey, there. Still works.

I was looking through your SEC filings.

You love a bit of light reading, don't you? What'd you think?

Surprised at how low your content library's valued.

- You have very strong franchises. - Well, that's the way the bankers play it.

They undervalue the library, so the shareholders are thrilled

that Paul Marks is paying a premium.

Your business, it's all smoke and mirrors, isn't it?

Media is politics by another name.

Mom is a genius. You wanna win votes, you talk to her.

I'm happy that you made the time to see us.

I know that you've got a couple of things cooking in DC.

Please. You know I don't do much.

Just a little consulting.

It's a lot more than that.

Hey, why don't you show Bradley your office?

Oh, wow.

Oh, yeah. Mom was, uh, Ferraro's press secretary.

Really?

I loved her. She got a little kooky towards the end,

but that's what happens when you're a woman in politics.

It breaks everyone.

You'll see, when you get to my age, how far you've come

and how far you have to go.

The current is so strong, you wonder if you're swimming forward at all.

There. Honorary campaign member.

Are you sure? I mean, she's such an icon.

You're an icon, Bradley Jackson.

True feminist. Cory was smart to bring you in.

Well, we're all fighting the good fight.

It was a proud moment for women everywhere

when you told the world on live TV that you had an abortion.

Oh, thank you for saying that, Martha.

So many of us didn't have a choice.

Not that I don't love my boy…

but it would have been nice to have had a choice.

It's okay, Mom. I know that you can hold both things in your heart.

Speaking of your illustrious career, I wanted to bend your ear

- about something... - Oh, no, no. I'm not listening.

No more business till after we eat.

I bought some lobster.

Oh, wow. Thank you. Uh…

Yeah, I-I'm not sure we're gonna have time to have a meal.

Only because I have to do the news.

I see.

A short visit.

Well, we'll just have to make the best of the time we have.

Will you excuse me for a moment?

Why'd you do that?

What about the money? It's low for a Fortune 500 CEO.

I could quibble with the stock package, but the fact is, you have no quotes,

and the base plus the bonus comes to 14 million a year.

I feel like I'm in The Twilight Zone.

Like, this doesn't happen, right? This isn't normal.

- It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. - And you think I should take it?