Murphy Brown Season 5 Episode 4 Black, White & Brown
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00:00Hi guys!
00:02Hey Murphy!
00:03How you doing, Miles?
00:04Copy for my campaign story.
00:06Sorry I'm a little late, but there was a power failure
00:09and the traffic lights were out outside of Clinton headquarters.
00:12Lord has it that Bill, Al, Hillary, and Tipper
00:15all turned on their blow dryers at the same time.
00:18Hey Murphy, how's the baby?
00:21Come up with a name yet?
00:23Well Phil, I'm kind of leaning toward Gandhi.
00:25Gandhi, that's an interesting choice for a little boy.
00:28Why don't you just name him Throw the Volleyball at My Head Brown?
00:37Yeah, alright Miles, I'm really going to listen to a man
00:39who's named after a unit of measurement.
00:41I'll have a chooser over here.
00:43Murphy, Murphy, Murphy, splurge a little.
00:47We've been working double time on this election,
00:50so I'm charging lunch to the network.
00:52Okay, okay, okay, so technically this isn't a worky lunch,
00:56but I think after four years of producing this show,
00:59I can pick up a check without having to run to someone for permission.
01:02Phil, pie for everyone.
01:03No, no, no, no, no.
01:05Oh God, it's Mr. Kinsella.
01:06No pie, no pie.
01:07Get away from here, Phil.
01:09Go!
01:10Okay, that's one cheeseburger for Murphy
01:12and a Valium shake for the big shot.
01:15Wait, wait, make it look like we're working.
01:17Everybody scroll down work notes on your placemats,
01:19names of countries, world leaders, anything.
01:21Oh, relax Miles, he's not coming over.
01:24Why would he? The man hates me.
01:26Honestly, Frank, why do you think every little thing is about you?
01:30Maybe he's just waiting for a proper invitation.
01:33I think somebody should go over and ask him to join us.
01:36Anyone but Frank.
01:38Oh, for him's sake, I'll go.
01:40No, Jim, Jim, I need to do this.
01:42It's time I finally broke through that barrier between boss and friend.
01:46In fact, maybe I won't even call him Mr. Kinsella.
01:49How's this sound?
01:50Hey there, Gene.
01:52What's up, Gene?
01:54Genie, my man.
01:58He's right behind me, isn't he?
02:03Hi, Gene.
02:04Mr. Gene.
02:05Mr. Kinsella.
02:06Mr. Gene Kinsella.
02:07What's up?
02:08Silverberg, do you have some sort of arterial flow problem?
02:12I don't know, sir.
02:13Just overworked.
02:14See?
02:15Zimbabwe.
02:17Hello, Brownie.
02:18Jim.
02:19Quirky.
02:20Montana, you have ketchup on your face.
02:23Gene, join us.
02:24Miles is charging everything to the network.
02:26Ho, ho.
02:27That'll be the day.
02:29Well, if you don't mind, I have something I'd like to discuss with Silverberg privately.
02:32Uh, executive matters, certainly.
02:34We were just leaving.
02:35Yeah.
02:36After I do my famous ketchup on the face pit, we usually head back to the office.
02:41Right, guys?
02:42Frank, where'd you sit at?
02:47Murphy.
02:48Executive matters.
02:49Get real, Miles.
02:50I've got a cheeseburger coming.
02:52Well, you'll hear the news later today, anyway, Brownie.
02:55That's twelve-year-old Scotch there, Silverberg.
03:00Oh, thank you, sir.
03:01I'm not much of a Scotch drinker.
03:02They're both for me.
03:06Mmm.
03:07Well, I had a call from New York this morning.
03:12I'm being promoted from Vice President of News to Senior Executive News Consultant.
03:19Congratulations, sir!
03:21That is so exciting!
03:22What exactly does a Senior Executive News Consultant do?
03:25Nothing, you fool.
03:26It's a bold, think, do-nothing job created by the network to get me out of the way.
03:31They want to replace me with this high-tech hot shot from Chicago.
03:35Are they out of their minds?
03:37The news division ratings are through the roof.
03:39Well, looks like I'll have to pay the network brass a little visit.
03:43Don't worry, Gene.
03:44I'll have this cleared up in no time.
03:46Oh, forget it, Brownie.
03:47It's a done deal.
03:48Believe me, this is bigger than you.
03:51Gene, how could it be bigger than me?
03:55I don't understand how they could do this to you.
03:58They're vicious, greedy, miserable swine.
04:01And believe me, I know I've been one of them for forty years.
04:06Well, uh, look, Gene, I know you have a lot on your mind,
04:09but if we could just get back to this bigger-than-me thing, Murphy.
04:12Mr. Kinsella, if-if you feel this way, how can you possibly continue working here?
04:19Well, I can give you the answer in one word, Silverberg.
04:23Pension.
04:24I've got a year and a half to retirement, and they're-they're trying to humiliate me into quitting.
04:29Well, if they think I'll choose dignity over money, they don't know Gene Kinsella.
04:35You see this grin here? Huh?
04:37Well, every time you see it, you'll know that while my body's here,
04:40my mind is sinking a putt on the 14th green.
04:45Uh, Gene, point of clarification.
04:47When you said bigger-than-me, was that just a colorful phrase or was it-
04:50Murphy!
04:51Good. You're all here.
05:01Except Murphy.
05:03Okay, that's not a problem.
05:05If she gave me her word, she'd be here to meet Mr. Kinsella's replacement.
05:08And we all know that when Murphy Brown gives her word, she's not coming, is she?
05:11Uh-uh.
05:12She's in editing.
05:13Uh-huh.
05:14And she said she'd never leave just to bow down to the new network mouthpiece stoogy boss corporate oppressor.
05:21Uh-uh.
05:22Did she?
05:23Look, I'm the executive producer.
05:25And when I send a message for her to come out here, oh, she will come out here.
05:29Mark, call down to the editing and tell them there's a fire drill.
05:32I don't blame her, Miles.
05:33Once again, it's the old network shuffle.
05:36Experienced men like Gene Kinsella are cast aside, and suddenly people like Stone Phillips are doing the news.
05:43I always like to get my news from igneous rock formations.
05:48Well, I'm sorry, but I'm glad Gene's out.
05:52Not once did he acknowledge my contribution to FYI.
05:55It's gotta be better with the new guy.
05:58Unless it's worse.
06:00What if he doesn't like me either?
06:03At least Gene tolerated me.
06:05This guy could fire me.
06:07God, I miss Gene.
06:10I don't want Mr. Kinsella to go either.
06:13Although, for the past four years, I've lived in fear that I'd blurt out the fact that he's bald right in front of him.
06:21I don't know why, but when someone has an obvious physical thing they might be touchy about, I'm afraid I'll just blurt it out.
06:30Corky, is there any reason you're staring at me?
06:35I don't think so.
06:41Hey!
06:43Hey!
06:44Come on, get back here!
06:45It isn't even a real fire drill!
06:47Listen, there isn't even an alarm!
06:50Well, well, well...
06:53If it isn't little Fire Chief Silverberg...
06:56You make me do these things.
06:58Thanks to you, I have a highly paid editing staff running down 17 flights of stairs feeling doors for heat.
07:04Now, I want you to stay here and meet our new VP of News.
07:06Oh, why bother?
07:07I've met his type a thousand times.
07:09Arrogant little white thread Ivy Leaguers who think they were born to run the world.
07:13Here, here.
07:14Leave it.
07:15Oh, hey, now, now.
07:17Let's not get excited.
07:18We don't know anything about this guy.
07:19Oh, no?
07:20He sends a memo inviting us to this little roll call.
07:23It's a power play, pure and simple.
07:25Well, maybe I'll just stick around and show him a power play of my own.
07:29You're a power slugger.
07:30Okay, fire drill's over.
07:32Back to work, Murphy.
07:33Hey, hey, hey.
07:34Oh, no.
07:35You wanted me here, you got me.
07:40Well, everybody's here and all's right with the world.
07:45Goodie.
07:48I'm extremely happy to introduce the newest member of our happy little news team, Mitchell Baldwin.
07:53Nice to meet you, Mr. Baldwin.
07:55Miles Silverberg, executive producer of FYI.
07:58Let me introduce you to, uh, let's see, clockwise.
08:02Corky Sherwood Forrest.
08:03Nice to meet you, Corky.
08:04I believe you're the very first Corky I've ever met.
08:08Nice to meet you, Mr. Bald.
08:10Wynn.
08:11Bald Wynn.
08:12I don't know why I said that.
08:14You're not bald.
08:18Jim Dyle, senior anchor.
08:20Welcome.
08:21From the Windy City, isn't it?
08:22That's right, Jim.
08:23And between the weather and the Cubs, I'm very happy to be here.
08:25Sure.
08:26Hell, why not?
08:27It's a happy, happy place.
08:31And, uh, this is Frank Fontana.
08:34Frank, a pleasure.
08:35I'm a big fan.
08:36Have been ever since your story on Three Mile Island.
08:38It's my kind of report.
08:40Well, thanks.
08:42I, uh, I don't know your work, but I'm sure I'll like it.
08:47Hey, I like it already.
08:48Frank, that's Frank.
08:49Frank, that's Frank.
08:50So, that's everyone.
08:51Actually, I think you're forgetting someone, Miles.
08:52No, no, no, no.
08:53Who can I be forgetting?
08:54There's, uh, Jim Porky Frank.
08:55Oh, Murphy.
08:56I forgot Murphy.
08:57What is wrong with me?
08:58Murphy Brown.
08:59It's a pleasure.
09:00Now, let me say right up front that I know you're probably thinking a new guy is going to come in and start making big, drastic changes.
09:16I don't think that's...
09:18Well, that's exactly what I'm going to do.
09:20Right now, FYI is good.
09:23But, from the hip, you've gotten a little lazy, a little soft.
09:26Don't worry, I've got lots of ideas.
09:28I'm not one of those guys who sits up in his office all day daydreaming about sailing or golf.
09:36Bottom line, I'm here to bring FYI into the 90s and up to its full potential.
09:41Any comments?
09:42Well, I'm certainly open to hearing your ideas.
09:50I think you'll find we're adapting it.
09:53Good.
09:54Now, Miles, why don't you show me around so we can let these busy people get back to work.
09:58Oh, sure.
10:03Gene, are you coming?
10:04I'd be happy to.
10:06Playing through.
10:08So, that's Gene's replacement.
10:13The new network honcho.
10:15The man Murphy was going to rip to pieces.
10:18Oh, come on. I gave him a break. It's his first day on the job.
10:22Jeez.
10:23That must be some kind of mistake.
10:30Are you sure Mr. Baldwin ordered the donut area removed?
10:34It's the center of the newsroom.
10:36It's where we put our Christmas decorations.
10:39Where am I supposed to put the nativity scene?
10:42On top of the hot syrup machine, the three wise men will melt all over the baby Jesus.
10:46Is that what you want?
10:47You know what I'm thinking?
10:52Baldwin used me.
10:53He only said he liked my work to win me over.
10:56Then he figured I'd get the rest of you to go along with his changes.
10:59I wouldn't worry about that, Frank. Baldwin strikes me as a man with keen judgment.
11:02I'm sure he knows we don't listen to you.
11:04Oh.
11:05I'm sorry, but I rocked my donut area.
11:10People, we need to.
11:14Where's the water cooler?
11:15Where's the donut area?
11:17Oh, God! Where's FYI?
11:23Didn't you get Baldwin's latest memo?
11:25If you keep pushing us like this, something is going to explode.
11:28Boom.
11:33Attention! Attention!
11:34I have lost another baby pound.
11:37Donuts for everyone.
11:39All right.
11:45Very good, Frank.
11:47Really funny.
11:49Where'd you put the donut counter?
11:51It's in my office, right?
11:53I didn't take it, Murph.
11:55I hate to have to tell you this,
11:57especially when you're armed with cream-filled pastries.
12:00The Baldwin ordered it ripped out in order to put in a videotape library.
12:08Oh.
12:09Well, you could use a little less coffee.
12:12And water.
12:14After all, our bodies are already 65% liquid.
12:17You keep adding to that, you're just asking for trouble.
12:23Good morning, everyone.
12:25Well, things are progressing nicely down here.
12:27Oh, yeah. You meant old-fashioned glaze?
12:30No, thank you.
12:31But as long as I have you all here, you'll be getting a detailed memo on this later.
12:35But in a nutshell, I've decided to cut the length of your individual stories from 12 to 10 minutes.
12:41Excuse me, did you say cut as in shorter?
12:44That's right.
12:45I'd like to use the time of working locations, montages, giving this show a more visual impact.
12:51Interesting idea.
12:52It's very interesting.
12:53But we already find it difficult to tell a complete story within the limited amount of time we have.
12:59Right, guys?
13:02Good job.
13:06Maybe there's another solution.
13:08No, Murphy.
13:09I'm convinced that this is the way to go.
13:11All right, then?
13:12Good job.
13:13All right, then.
13:16Good job.
13:17Oh, Murphy, I don't believe we've heard from you.
13:26Um...
13:28Um-hum?
13:32Um-hum?
13:37Did you say...?
13:39I'm fine with it.
13:42Trust me on this, everyone.
13:44I'm sure you'll come around.
13:46Thank you. I'm late.
13:51Ah, Frank.
13:52Saw a rough gun of your piece on helicopter paramedics.
13:55Nice work.
13:56Really?
13:57Thanks a lot!
14:00Ah, I'm easy.
14:01I'm easy.
14:07Hi, there.
14:10Murphy, I think when you've hit the gold band before the eraser, that's as sharp as it's gonna get.
14:15Did you have a reason for coming in here other than that helpful hint, O Wizard of Lead?
14:22No.
14:23No reason.
14:24It's just that I seem to remember you once telling Gene Kinsella that if he ever cut our stories,
14:28you'd fill his Lexus with two-day-old squid.
14:31What's your point, blue BMW license plate number 189347?
14:36I was just wondering.
14:37You know, in a curious, wondering way.
14:40Why are you back down from Baldwin just now?
14:42I did not back down, Miles.
14:43I simply gave him the benefit of the doubt.
14:46It's his first week on the job.
14:47Now, if you'll excuse me, I have...
14:50The first day I worked here, you put my silk tie through a three-hole punch.
14:53I just couldn't help noticing that you seem to treat Baldwin differently.
15:00And I was just wondering if maybe it's because he's...
15:08You know.
15:10What?
15:11He's what?
15:14You know.
15:15No.
15:17I don't know.
15:18What are you talking about?
15:19Yes, you do.
15:22I think you didn't yell at Baldwin out there because he's...
15:27Black.
15:29What?
15:30You actually think I care that Baldwin is black?
15:33No.
15:34No.
15:35I didn't say you care.
15:36I know you don't care.
15:37And I certainly don't care.
15:38What I said was that perhaps you treat him differently because he's black.
15:41That's ridiculous.
15:44Baldwin's being black is not even an issue here.
15:48Then why are we whispering?
15:49Murphy, you hate it that he's cutting these stories, but you didn't even confront him.
15:53That's not like you.
15:54I think you didn't yell at Baldwin because he's black.
15:58That's crazy.
15:59My yelling has nothing to do with anything.
16:01I yell at you all the time.
16:02Does that make you think I'm anti-Semitic?
16:04Well, on some level, yes.
16:05Miles, be honest.
16:11Do you think my paramedic's rough cut was really good?
16:14Frank, come in here.
16:15Come in.
16:16Close the door.
16:17We want to ask you something.
16:18No, we don't.
16:19Frank, do you think that maybe we've been acting differently around Baldwin because he's,
16:28You know.
16:29Complimentary?
16:30No.
16:31Because he's black.
16:32Well, now that you brought it up, don't you think it's weird that he's been here for
16:49a week and not one of us has even mentioned it?
16:52What is this, 1954?
16:54I can't believe we're even having this conversation.
16:57Last month, I came to work with a sty.
17:00You called me sty boy for a week.
17:03Corky posted sty updates on the bulletin board.
17:07We are not the type of people who let things go by unnoticed.
17:10Now, maybe no one mentioned it because we were afraid people might think we have a problem
17:16with it.
17:17Okay, that's it.
17:18This conversation will help us.
17:19What are you all doing in here?
17:20What are you all talking about?
17:22The fact that our new boss is black.
17:25There.
17:26I said Baldwin is black.
17:28Not that it means anything one way or the other, his being black, but he is black.
17:32Actually, Miles, I think the correct term is African American.
17:38Oh, God, I'm politically incorrect.
17:41Excuse me, but my coffee mug is missing.
17:45It's pink and blue, shit like a fish.
17:47I'm offering a small reward.
17:49Jim.
17:50Jim, we want to ask you something.
17:53Oh, come on.
17:54Leave Jim out of this.
17:55Leave Jim out of what?
17:56Jim, what do you think it means that no one has even mentioned the fact that Baldwin is
18:00black?
18:01He is?
18:02I haven't noticed.
18:03Oh, come on, Jim.
18:04You don't expect us to believe that you haven't noticed.
18:05That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
18:06No.
18:07Will you excuse me?
18:08We shouldn't be having this conversation.
18:09What is the big deal about this conversation?
18:10The man is black.
18:11It's just an observation.
18:12No judgment.
18:13No prejudice.
18:14Now, come on, everyone.
18:15Admit it.
18:16When he first walked off that elevator, what is the first thing you noticed?
18:20That Mr. Cancelo was bald.
18:21I noticed that Baldwin was black.
18:22It took me by surprise.
18:23I mean, let's face it.
18:24There are not a lot of blacks at the network corporate level.
18:25Is that why Murphy's been afraid to stand up to him?
18:26Why are you all putting this on me?
18:27This is not an issue with me.
18:28This is not an issue with me.
18:29It's not an issue with me.
18:30It's not an issue with me.
18:31It's just an observation.
18:32It's just an observation.
18:33No judgment.
18:34No prejudice.
18:35No prejudice.
18:36Now, come on, everyone.
18:37Admit it.
18:38When he first walked off that elevator, what is the first thing you noticed?
18:39That Mr. Cancelo was bald.
18:40I noticed that Baldwin was black.
18:41It took me by surprise.
18:42I mean, let's face it.
18:43Is that why Murphy's been afraid to stand up to him?
18:46Why are you all putting this on me?
18:48This is not an issue with me.
18:50I don't remember having any difficulty expressing my anger to Idi Amin or Al Sharpton or Lionel Richie.
18:59You all think there's some sort of white liberal guilt at work here?
19:02Maybe you should just take a closer look at yourselves.
19:05I simply came in to look for my fish mug.
19:08Murphy!
19:09Don't be silly.
19:11We can't stand up to him.
19:13I'm from the South.
19:15Miles has a problem with authority figures.
19:18Jim is in denial.
19:20And Frank's just happy somebody likes his work.
19:23But Mr. Baldwin is the first person I've ever seen you back down from.
19:30Ah, he's making sense!
19:32What is this?
19:33For you right now, I am not going to fold on this.
19:36I'll wait.
19:38Murphy, what a nice surprise.
19:40Well, something came up I wanted to talk to you about and I thought, hey, I don't need an appointment.
19:45Wrong.
19:46Absolutely unacceptable.
19:47Sorry.
19:49No, Bob.
19:50Not now.
19:52I'm backed up.
19:53Make an appointment with my assistant.
19:56Good.
19:57Now, Murphy, what can I do for you?
19:59Uh, would I be out of mind if I asked you to take off the headset?
20:03I once had a nasty run in with Julie, the time-life operator.
20:06Oh, please.
20:07Have a seat.
20:08So.
20:09Let's see where to start.
20:12Starting's always the hard part.
20:14I always find it best when starting to get right to the point.
20:15Ooh, that's a nice award.
20:18It's from the National Association of Black Journalists.
20:19I know.
20:20I have one.
20:21What's on your mind?
20:22We have a problem.
20:23I don't know any other way to say this, so I'll just say it.
20:24I have been behaving differently.
20:25Let's see where to start.
20:26Let's see where to start.
20:27Starting's always the hard part.
20:28I always find it best when starting to get right to the point.
20:31Ooh, that's a nice award.
20:34It's from the National Association of Black Journalists.
20:37I know.
20:38I have one.
20:39What's on your mind?
20:44We have a problem.
20:46I don't know any other way to say this, so I'll just say it.
20:51I have been behaving differently toward you because you are black.
20:58I see.
21:00Behaving differently how?
21:03I have been open, attentive, and very supportive.
21:14And you've been open, attentive, and supportive because I'm black?
21:19Well, I don't have a problem with that.
21:22You try to keep up the good work.
21:25No, no, no.
21:26You don't understand.
21:27That's not our problem.
21:28Our problem is that's not who I am.
21:30Murphy, are you telling me that you usually have a problem with black people?
21:34No, I'm telling you I usually have a problem with all people.
21:37Regardless of race, creed, or color, that's who I am.
21:41But, as much as I'm ashamed to admit it, when you stepped off the elevator last week, I treated you nicely.
21:53Murphy, as soon as I took this job, people started calling me to warn me about how impossible you are to work with.
22:00I got calls at the office. I got messages at home. I even got a sympathy card from President Bush.
22:07Oh, great. The country's falling apart and he's browsing at Hallmark.
22:11My point is that I was expecting the worst.
22:18When I stepped off that elevator and walked into the middle of all of that white liberal guilt, I thought,
22:25Peter, I better make my changes while I can.
22:30Wait a minute. Are you saying you knew what was going on and you used it?
22:35Sure. Wouldn't you?
22:39You're good.
22:41Well, I have to be murdered. Because of who I am and where I am.
22:45I have so many obstacles thrown in front of me that when I see an opening, I have to go for it.
22:50Bottom line, you saw black. I saw white. We both reacted.
22:56But it shouldn't matter.
22:57That I'm black? Murphy, being a black man has everything to do with the way I do my job.
23:03It should. It's who I am. Much like being a woman must influence you.
23:09Okay. Maybe what you say is true.
23:12But I'd like to think that one day people won't be judged by the color of their skin or by their gender,
23:18but by the things that really matter. Like their taste in music.
23:25Motown.
23:26Country western.
23:27All right. I guess that's just about everything.
23:32Okay.
23:33I just thought it was only fair to let you know I've worked through my niceness problem.
23:36Well, I figured that you might. But you have to admit, I got a lot done in my first week.
23:44You know, that reminds me. There's no way I can live with only ten minutes for my stories.
23:52Ten minutes, no budging.
23:54Eleven and a half.
23:55Eleven.
23:56Eleven and the donut area.
24:01Nice working with you.
24:03Nice meeting you, Murphy.
24:05Oh, just out of curiosity, you drive the Green Range Rover, right?
24:12That's right.
24:13And you're the white horse, right?
24:16You are good.
24:18I'm good.
24:19I'm good.
24:20I'm good.
24:21I'm good.
24:22I'm good.
24:23already, you're good.
24:24Nothing.
24:26It's my home Debbie.
24:30It's my home where I'm a red cho館 whose thanks and bijou us, alguns告ites are here.
24:34You see your home and your byиш Mile's Witch and Dad hair.
24:39I'm bad, but you're very bad.
24:42I'm good.
24:44I'm good.
24:45You saw Warum?
24:46I know why I'm good.
24:47I ta'叟 the Spaß
24:47Great、 Korea.
24:48My doctor Grace Hunt.
24:49And Scotland.
24:50My dad has a nice magnet師.