The Morning Show (TV Series)

Strict Scrutiny (2023)

Greta Lee: Stella Bak

Photos 

Quotes 

• Stella Bak : So, what happened at Hyperion?

  Kate Danton : Um... Paul and I had a, uh... a philosophical disagreement.

  Stella Bak : Hmm.

  Kate Danton : Been there for 12 years. You'd think my opinion would mean something. And then I just walk in one day and my badge stopped working. I called you.

  Stella Bak : I know. I was gonna call you back. There's just, um... There's been a lot going on.

  Kate Danton : Yeah, that's the thing with the news, right? There's more every day. I saw the, uh... the promo for the interview.

  Stella Bak : Yeah, you should watch it. Alex didn't hold back.

  Kate Danton : So, it's actually happening, huh? He's buying UBA? That's fucking crazy.

  Stella Bak : Mmm. Yeah. Well, uh, the DOJ still has to approve it. The shareholders have to vote. So, you know, it's still a ways off.

  Kate Danton : Stella, what did he offer you?

  Stella Bak : What?

  Kate Danton : Must be pretty fucking good if you're running cover for him.

  Stella Bak : I'm sorry, "running cover"?

  Kate Danton : You should be investigating him. You should be looking into what he's doing. But you're never gonna do that now, are you?

  Stella Bak : Our legal team has peeked at every piece of paper, every asset. If there was anything to worry about...

  Kate Danton : Jesus, Stella. Listen to yourself. The man just walks in here and makes you do whatever the fuck he wants. This is how you are with him. This is how you're always gonna be. He owns you. You just can't fucking see it.

  Stella Bak : He's down the hall right now. Let's go talk to him. Sorry you lost your job. I really am. But you need to stop blaming everybody else for all of your shit. There's nothing I can do for you.

  Kate Danton : Right. I guess maybe you two do belong together. Maybe you should take over the world together, you know? Who gives a shit if the rest of us get fucked over in the process, right?

  Stella Bak : Kate.

  Kate Danton : You know that night, when you got your stomach pumped? I just sat in that waiting room. I kept thinking over and over and over, "Please don't let my best friend die. Please just let her live. 'Cause I just wanna go back to... us being in our dorm rooms and playing video games and being stupid with each other." And then, after all that, you just stopped talking to me. You even blew me off in Texas. So I don't have a fucking clue why I'm still trying to help you. You will always choose him. Goodbye, Stella.

• Stella Bak : [into phone]  Look, of course I'm thinking seriously about Paul's offer. So, let's go back at them on a couple of deal points, but you're right, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I just need a little more time.

  Jimbo : Was she expecting you?

  Kate Danton : No, she's not. I'm an old college friend.

  Jimbo : I'm not sure where she's at.

  Kate Danton : There she is.

  Stella Bak : [hanging up]  I gotta go.

  Kate Danton : Surprise.

  Jimbo : Uh, Ms. Bak. She... she says she knows you.

  Stella Bak : Yeah, yeah. It's fine. Sorry.

  Jimbo : Sure. Uh, no problem.

  Kate Danton : Hey. Uh, sorry, I guess I'm underdressed.

  Stella Bak : Hey, Kate. How are you?

  Kate Danton : Um, well, I just got fired. So, I'm great. Um, can we talk? I... I mean, I know you're busy. I-it won't take long.

  Stella Bak : Of course. Let's talk.