All language subtitles for Murphy Brown s03e04 Strike Two

Working in a coal mine, going down,
down, down. Working in a coal mine,

slip down.

Working in a coal mine, going down,
down, down. Working in a coal mine,

slip down.

Five o 'clock in the morning, I'm
already up and gone.

Lord, I'm so tired.

How long?

Well,

what do you know?

Here it is, 10 o 'clock, and Murphy's
late for another story meeting.

It's my fault. I let her get away with
too much.

Hey, you know what we should do?

Let's all go stand by the elevator just
looking at our watches. That way, when

she gets here, she'll feel really
humiliated. Come on.

This will be good. Come on.

Okay, let's go. It's after ten. I
thought we were supposed to have a

Some of us have been working on a story
since seven.

You know, you really should do something
about your lateness problem, Miles.

We'd least just start the meeting.
Right, let's start the meeting because I

the greatest... Why bother? There isn't
going to be a show. We're going on a

strike. I just know it. You don't know
it, Frank.

The networks will do everything they can
to keep the on -camera personnel from

walking out. Now we have to keep
positive thoughts and proceed as usual.

proceed with my story. My fabulous
story. Well, nobody... hate me for this,

I would mind a little strike.

I've been under a lot of stress lately,
and I could use a paid vacation.

Corky, when people go out on strike,
they don't get paid.

Oh, sure, Frank.

Now that I have your attention,

I'd like to tell you about my story
idea.

I have landed an interview with James
Chandler.

You're kidding!

To the track! To the wall!

It's a home run!

Chandler has to talk to reporters since
his savings alone went belly up. It was

the biggest bankruptcy in American
history. There's just one thing.

Chandler's trial starts next week and
the judge will probably impose a gag

order. So I have to do the interview on
this week's show. I'm telling you, there

is not going to be a show. There's going
to be a strike.

Then the network is going to start
rerunning all the old FYI broadcasts,

sooner or later, they're going to get to
the one where my toupee blew into a

sewer grate.

How could we not get paid?

I don't know why you're wasting all this
time talking about a strike. Let's not

forget who's a negotiator for our side.

Jim the Killer Dio. He's been at the
bargaining table around the clock since

yesterday morning. We've got nothing to
worry about.

Strike. Toad!

Maybe this is just a temporary impasse.

I bet negotiations will pick up any
minute. I mean, these are all reasonable

people, right, Jim?

Oh, yes, very reasonable.

At 6 a .m., a fistfight broke out over
the last raisin bagel.

I feel to everyone to put aside petty
differences, but soon things

to the point where grown men and women
were resorting to name -calling. I've

never been so frustrated in my life.

Good morning, everybody.

And here's the head weenie now.

I'm so sorry. I haven't slept. I'm
wearing yesterday's socks. No, that's

right. No need to apologize. I
understand.

Emotions are running high.

As a matter of fact, kids, that's the
reason I stopped by. It's important for

to remember that no matter what, we're
family.

Well said. You know, people's strikes
happen. We've been through all of this

before. You have a little piece of
raisin in your teeth, Jean.

Well, I've never been in a strike
before.

There's so many things I don't know.
Questions about ethics and behavior.

How do we deal with a violence issue?

And what about protection on the picket
line?

Do they provide sunblock or do we bring
our own?

Let me help you with this, Corky. First
lesson, do not talk to management.

We are going out in support of our
brothers and sisters in the smaller

who don't have the same benefits we do.
That's called solidarity. A proud

tradition of labor whose blood and sweat
made this country great. Oh, come on,

Frank. You know Gene doesn't want this
strike any more than we do.

Thank you, Brownie. You're welcome,
Gene.

But we do have a problem. Because of the
strike, we're going to lose an

interview with James Chandler. Now, I
don't have to tell you that the S &L

crisis affects the entire country.

You have James Chandler? Well, this is a
whole new ballgame. I mean, we don't

want to jeopardize that. Brownie, thank
you for bringing this to my attention.

No problem, Gene.

I was hoping I wouldn't have to do this,
but looks like I'm going to have to

hire substitute anchors.

Excuse me? No, no, you're absolutely
right, Brownie. This is too important an

interview to lose.

But I want you all to understand,
there's nothing personal in this. This

purely a business decision.

Of course, Gene, we understand.

Oh, and by the way, is that your head or
is your neck blowing a bubble?

Well,

if that's the way you want to play it,
let me just remind you all once again,

this is my property, and you all have to
get off. You have until noon.

I had a hard time getting through the
picket line.

Morley Sabre was lying in the street
blocking the main entrance.

Yeah, I just stepped on him.

Well, Silverberg, I got big news, but
all in due time. First, let's order.

Phil, my good man, I will have a
Philburger.

I'm sorry.

Those are our regular menus.

This is what you gentlemen will be using
today.

Chopped steak on a bun, executive style.
Now, what's the difference between this

and a Philburger?

Five bucks.

You're ordering from our management
menu.

Oh, jeez, Phil, I thought this bar was
neutral territory.

You have Phil's confused with
Switzerland.

I'll speak executive style.

Make it two. Two executive burgers.

Would either of you gentlemen care to
purchase some ketchup for that? No,

you.

All right, Silverberg, let's get down to
business here. Now, do you remember

last year when Jim was in Libya on
assignment and we had a guest anchor

for him? Do I ever.

Miller Redfield. What a clown.

Arrogant, incompetent. And very much in
demand because he's willing to cross the

picket line.

And that's why we've hired him to
replace Murphy.

With all due respect, Mr. Kinsella, the
man was a

disaster. He froze on the air. His
questions were incoherent. He still run

highlights of it on Letterman.

Well, he's mature now.

Yes, a year with our bureau in Kuala
Lumpur did him a world of good.

But, sir, the pressure of carrying a
network show, a live show. Well, that's

where you come in, Silverbird. You'll
work with him. You'll make him great.

And besides, I'm not asking him to go on
the air by himself and fly solo. No,

no, no. I plan to take over Jim's anchor
spot myself.

You?

Gee, how about that?

You on the air, Mr. Godzilla.

I never would have thought of that.
Nope.

Never in a million years?

Well, looks like taking away our jobs
wasn't enough. Now they want our table.

Miles? Gene?

Hey. Hello. How you guys doing? You
holding up okay? I miss you.

Pete's sick, Miles.

It's only been one day.

Not that it's been particularly
enjoyable walking on the picket line.

Sam Donaldson brought his dog.

I've always hated Chester.

Try to march in circles with a lonely
cocker spaniel attached to your leg.

We will. For too long, we proletarians
have toiled and struggled so that you

capitalist pigs can live off the sweat
from our backs.

We're throwing off the shackles of
servitude.

Power to the people.

So tell us, Gene, how's the great FYI
talent surge coming?

Well, actually, we've been very
fortunate in that regard. Right,

Oh, not that we could ever replace you,
Murphy.

But as luck would have it, I was able to
convince a rising new star to join our

family.

Well, there he is now.

Hey, over here.

Good to see you, guys.

I believe you all know Miller Redfield.
Miller, you remember Miles Silverberg?

Sure do.

Hiya, boss.

Hello.

These unemployed people look familiar,
too.

After the way you ran me off the air
last time, you probably thought I was

finished. I told you I'd be back.

Everything that goes around comes back
to Capistrano.

Gee, Miller, we are surprised to see
you. Who's covering the news in Kuala

Lumpur? What if there's a four -donkey
pileup during our show?

Mr. Redfield, I've been in the union for
almost 30 years. I've fought long and

hard to bring a degree of credibility to
our profession, so when I see someone

like you cross the picket lines, I'm
reminded of Judas at the Last Supper.

at least somebody's on my side.

No!

Excuse me, but as much as I've enjoyed
our little reunion, I have a new show to

plan.

Gene, you mentioned something on the
phone about a hot interview I'm supposed

do? Hey, I'm always ready for a scoop.

So who is this James Chandler guy?

Oh, my God!

You're giving my interview to Miller?

What happened? You couldn't get Mr. Ed?

You have nothing to worry about,
Brownie. Nothing to worry about. I've

journalist who can rise to the occasion.
Right, son?

You bet.

I suddenly lost my appetite. Come on,
guys, let's go.

Did you strike over yet?

Nope.

Are you going to get dressed today?

I'm just trying to keep myself busy
taking care of some chores around the

I don't know why you'd have a problem
with that. You painted the laundry room.

wanted to do that.

Oh, and am I supposed to guess these
things?

You know, we never talk anymore, Eldon.
You notice that?

You know, we've had this problem before.
Now, maybe we're just one of those

couples that can't spend a lot of time
together now.

I hate to admit that's true, but maybe
we just have to accept that.

I'll get it.

Yeah, it could be your picket, Captain.
He called earlier.

He said there wouldn't be any picketing
today. I suggested maybe he wants to

take you out of town for the weekend.

Well,

hey, Murphy.

You're home.

What you doing? Something fun?

I'm putting identification stickers in
every one of my books.

It is fun and practical, too.

Speaking of fun...

I just stopped by to tell you about some
of the hilarious goings -on over at

FYI.

Oh, where to start?

Miller Redfield.

Murphy, I think Miller Redfield is an
even bigger idiot than we thought.

Not possible.

Oh, you'll like this.

He smokes a pipe now.

He just walks around the office smoking
his pipe.

I've coached him on the entire SNL
issue. The Justice Department won't

the case, and the Senate Subcommittee
report doesn't come out for another two

weeks. We've basically got nothing, and
it's all on my shoulders, and I feel

like I'm drowning.

Not much to go on without that Senate
report.

It really nailed Chandler.

How do you know?

I read it over the weekend. I've got a
mole in the Senate, and he finds the

darndest things lying around the Xerox
room.

Yes! Oh, I'm saved! I'm saved! I knew
you would crack that story.

Boy, too bad I'm on strike.

Right. I realize that.

And I would never ask you to compromise
yourself in any way.

I know that.

But if you had suggestions for one or
two questions... Because these strikes

aren't personal?

Right. No, Miles, I think they're very
personal. It's my profession, and I

make a joke of it by writing questions
for you to give to a guy who thinks

Nelson Mandela is a country western
singer.

You know, Murphy, the only reason I came
to you is because you're the best.

No one else can touch you, and I'm just
blessed to have been born in the same

lifetime as you. Goodbye, Miles. I never
should have gone the flattery route.

Dumb, dumb, dumb.

You know, someday you're going to want
something from me, and then we'll just

see.

You're never going to need anything from
me. Stupid, stupid.

Life? Man, I feel something great in the
air.

Electric.

Silverberg, let me ask you your advice.

For my sign -off, I was thinking of
saying, be well, be wise, be with us

week.

If you think that's too wordy, I could
just say, harmony. What do you think?

Gee, gee, it's so hard to choose.

We usually rely on John for these kind
of decisions, John.

I think Harmony's funnier.

I'd go with Harmony.

Hello, everybody. Hey, best crew in
television.

Good to see you again. Hi, Bill. John.

Exactly right. Good to be back.

Hey there, hairbrush lady.

Okay, cameras.

Let's have a good show. Now, who's got
my close -up?

That would be me.

I just want to say one thing.

Three -quarter shot, this side of the
face, and never, never a profile.

And I just want to say one thing.

I didn't like you the last time you were
here, and I don't like you now.

You're taking the bread right out of my
Murphy's mouth, and that's the same as

taking it out of mine.

Well, from where I'm standing, it looks
like you could do with a little less

bread.

Pretty mouth.

Do you know how big those lips will look
with a fisheye lens?

Two minutes, people.

Hi, Miller.

This is it.

Are you ready? Do you have your material
straight in your mind?

As a matter of fact, Miles, I've been
doing a lot of thinking about this

and loan business.

I mean, all this mumbo -gumbo about
bankruptcy and the Justice Department.

it's boring.

So, I've come up with a whole new line
of questions.

Listen to this.

Tell me, Mr. Chandler.

Why is it that when a savings and loan
validates your parking, they rarely give

you more than 20 minutes?

Are you serious?

You can't ask him that.

Hey, I know it's tough, but I think it's
fair. Okay, all right. Let's listen to

this one.

Why are the lines so long on Friday
afternoons and at lunch, too? I'm really

going to nail him with that. All right,
one minute to air.

Let us pray.

You know, Phil, Down at Chad's, they
have one of those big screen

TVs. They also have a two -drink minimum
instead of letting people sit around

and nurse one beer for five hours like
you, Frank. Any other comments?

Nice reception.

This podcast is a difficult and nerve
-wracking job.

He deserves our respect for giving it
his best effort.

For your information on tonight's
show... For your information on

show... For your information... Ah, spit
it out, you old fool!

Spit some more, you look like the
exorcist!

I don't care. What happened to Miller?

Hey, everybody.

It's Miller time.

Give me six drinks. They don't all have
to be the same.

Sorry, no shirt, no shoes, no frames, no
service.

Miller, don't tell me this time you got
fired before you opened your mouth.

Boy, you must feel really bad.

Go ahead and laugh.

The Redfields have been laughed at for
generations.

And we're still here.

And we'll be here till the end of time.
Just us and the cockroaches. You'll see.

Oh, no, you won't. You won't be here.

Well, look who's come crawling back.
Murphy. I need to talk to Murphy.

Murphy, may I have about 1 minute 47
seconds of your time? Why, of course,

Miles. Whatever can I do for you?

This is serious. When I came to you
before, I know you didn't want to help

pups. Well, that putz is now this putz.
Murphy, the show's in trouble. You have

to tell me. What does the Senate report
say?

Now, don't do this to me.

You're putting me in a terribly
difficult position.

You're in a difficult position? I have
to get up in front of 24 million people

and exactly... Oh, God! Oh, God!

Murphy.

Murphy. I know that you're dedicated to
this strike, and I respect that. I

really do. You said that you take these
things personally.

Well, so do I.

I'm your friend. I need your help.

That's the Senate report. Would you?
Because if I did, I... Because if I did,

then you'd know to ask Chandler
questions like why did he double bill

company for every business trip he took
over the last seven years.

Thank you.

Well, Murphy, you're nothing but a
stinking collaborator. And you know what

do to collaborators?

We shave their legs.

Their heads. We shave their heads.

Look, you guys, what else could I do?
Miles is a friend and he's in trouble.

How many times has he been there for us?
It wouldn't kill us to return the favor

just once.

But it won't be just once. Miles is
going to keep coming back to you for

And the more you help him, the longer
this strike is going to last.

That's not helping anybody, Murphy,
including Miles.

Oh, that's not going to happen. Frank,
Miles knows how hard this is for me.

not going to ask me for my help again.

All right, we're coming back from
commercial.

Four, three, two... Hi.

Welcome back to FYI.

I'm Miles Silverberg, here with James
Chandler.

Mr. Chandler, I think we can all agree
that an executive can expect to be

reimbursed for his legitimate expenses.

However, while your institution was
falling into the largest bankruptcy in

American history, you were charging your
impoverished company for twice your

actual expenses.

and simply embezzling the difference.

Is that how you run a savings and loan?

No comment.

No comment.

No comment you say.

So let me just get this straight.

You're not going to make a comment.

No comment at all.

That's correct.

Okay.

So, maybe we want to throw this open to
the rest of our team. Mr. Kinsella.

lost him. He had the perfect opening to
nail the guy and he missed it.

Ask him about parking validation. That's
what America wants to know.

Murphy!

He didn't answer the question.

I think he senses I'm a rookie.

He's going to stonewall me through the
whole interview. Now, I've seen you

these guys before. You have to tell me
how you do it.

Wait a minute, Miles.

Let me just understand this.

Are you asking me to help you again?

Again? Yes, Murphy, I need this, please.

Please. I'm dying out there.

Okay, Miles, here's what you do.

When you're back on the air with
Chandler, ask him the question again.

Then just look at him. Don't say a word.

What are you saying? Just sit there
staring at him? Well, he just sits there

stares back. We'll have nothing but dead
air. Not for long.

This will take a tremendous amount of
self -control on your part, but

the silence will get to him and he'll
talk.

You'll see.

everything you want to know will just
come pouring out of him.

Really? It's an old reporter's
technique. I learned it from Mike

probably shouldn't even be giving it to
you. Murph, what are you helping him

for? Why don't you just tell him all our
secrets? Thanks for nothing, Murphy.

Oh, God!

I give this strike another 20 minutes.