Programma Televisivo: Pepper Dennis - 1x7
We're standing outside the Chicago Banner Herald waiting for mayoral candidate Curtis Wilson...
...who started this race as a dark horse but has recently eked out a slight lead over incumbent Michael Whitiker.
Curtis Wilson est ampliamente reconocido como la nueva esperanza de Chicago.
With only two days left until the election, the Banner Herald has given its endorsement to Curtis Wilson, a rising star in local politics.
What a story this man has.
The son of a single mother, he rose from a life of poverty to the top of his class at the University of Chicago Law School.
He's the people's candidate, to be sure.
With your eye on the election, I'm Pepper Dennis, WEiE News, Windy City News now.
And we are clear.
Pepper, that was great.
Listen, my mom wanted to know if we have time, if we can get Curtis Wilson's autograph?
Has this guy seduced everybody?
My mom wants one, too.
Hey, there's more to being mayor than just looking good in a suit.
Wilson's still got tough questions to answer.
And I've got 'em all right here.
Everything from potholes in the street to budget deficits.
Oh...
sorry, Dennis.
Campaign manager says Wilson's only got time for one question.
It's gonna be mine.
Shove over, Powers.
You can rub your boobs on me as much as you want, I'm not moving.
Don't pretend like that's not the only action you've had in months.
Okay guys...
Here's the deal.
We go to get to Wilson first.
Chick, you stay with me.
Garfield, you block.
And keep your eye on the NPR girl.
She tried to bite me once.
There he is!
Run!
Mr.
Wilson, how do you plan to effectively combaturb an poverty?
I'll go get the crowbar.
Morning.
Well, hello.
Who are you?
Where's your mommy?
Hello.
Brianna, hi!
It's Kathy, remember me?
I filled in for you when your water broke.
She is gorgeous.
Don't touch her.
Don't you know how harmful germs can be to a newborn?
Chloe's already a little sick.
That's why I brought her into work.
I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
I didn't know that you were going to be here.
Did I?
Don't talk baby talk to her.
What are all these files doing in here?
I created a new system.
I assigned each employee a color, and then I gave them a corresponding file.
Everybody seems to really like it.
I put all of their mail and messages in those files...
What are you doing?
This is my snack drawer.
Your snack drawer?
Yes.
Mine.
I work here.
Remember?
I'm back from my maternity leave.
Hope you didn't get too comfy in my chair.
But...
what am I going to do?
Whatever it is, do it somewhere else.
Pss-pss-pss!
Here's my favorite part, coming up right here.
Let me just walk you through this.
Okay, it's not the full-body slam, although that's priceless...
No, it's this part here that kills me.
Watch.
She actually tries to conduct the interview from inside the revolving door.
It's pure Pepper Dennis.
It's even funnier in reverse.
Watch this.
Okay, that's enough.
What's so funny?
Uh, nothing worth mentioning, boss.
So!
Should we just jump right in?
The election's the day after tomorrow.
This is the closest race we've had in a long time, and I want to be all over it.
I'm voting for Curtis Wilson.
Oh.
You like his policies, Blanca?
I think he's hot.
Ladies, "hotness" has nothing to do with his qualifications as a candidate.
We should all want to know more.
Like where he stands on the issues.
Wherever it is, he'll be standing there looking hot.
They're right, Pepper.
Election platforms and campaign promises?
Snooze-fest.
Hot single mayor with bedroom eyes?
Now I'm interested.
Remember our new mission statement.
News-a-tainment equals ratings.
Ratings equals money.
And the wheel goes...
And the wheel goes...
'Round!
That's right.
I still plan to hit Wilson with the tough questions.
Which is why you're off that beat.
What?
That door you broke this morning cost the station $7,000.
You'll be covering the porn star candidate, Astrid Ramstein, instead.
Absolutely not!
I'm giving Curtis Wilson to Charlie.
Sweet!
Babcock doesn't know anything about Chicago politics.
He's a Canadian.
And proud, eh.
He can't even vote here.
Pepper, everybody loves a porn star.
Okay...
tomorrow, WEiE is hosting a town hall style debate.
It's the last one before the election.
Charlie is moderating.
Wilson and Mayor Whitiker are both here right now with...
Very good, people!
I like that hustle!
Oh!
Mr.Gaye?
Hey, Kathy.
How are you?
Fine.
I think I'm really connecting with the staff.
That's wonderful.
Um, Mr.
Gaye...
Call me Les.
Seriously.
Okay, Les.
Um, Brianna, the receptionist that I replaced, she's back from maternity leave.
She brought her baby in.
An adorable little girl named Chloe.
I'm assuming you don't need two receptionists.
Are you suggesting that I fire her?
No.
No, she's a single mother.
I would never dream...
Because legally we can't.
But I think I have a solution you'll be happy with.
Do you like mail?
H ello.
Hi.
I'm Kathy Dinkle.
Reporting for duty.
Oh...
my...
God.
Curtis Wilson is even cuter in person.
I don't have time for this right now, Kimmy.
Since when are you too busy to drool over a hot guy?
Babcock got the Wilson beat, and my new boss has the intellectual depth of a teenage girl.
I have more important things to worry about right now.
His ass is like two perfect cantaloupes.
His ass isn't going to be running the city.
I mean, sure, Wilson's got a smile that could light up a dark cave, shoulders like an Italian butcher, glutes you could eat ice cream off of, but...
He's right behind me, isn't he?
An Italian butcher?
I don't know what that means.
Pepper Dennis.
Nice to meet you.
Everything starts with education.
Excuse me?
To answer your question from this morning-- about combating urban poverty.
You heard me?
You were a little muffled through the glass, but yeah, I heard you.
As I was saying, everything starts with education.
From pre-K on up.
I'll tell you what, I'll have my office send over the comprehensive plan.
Thank you for your response, Mr.
Wilson.
It's my pleasure.
I probably should be going.
Nice talking to you.
Good luck.
Would you like to have dinner sometime?
I'm a reporter, Mr.
Wilson.
Right now, you're the story.
You can't have too much journalistic integrity these days.
That's probably true, but you can't blame a guy for trying.
I tell you what.
Let me give you my cell phone number.
And if you have any questions-- you know, about the issues-- you call me.
Okay, great.
Did you hear that?
He wants to discuss the issues with me.
This is perfect.
Right.
That's what he wants.
I was crystal clear.
He didn't give me his number until after I said no to a date.
You know what I'm sick of?
You and all your crap.
That guy is a stone fox babe, and you and your journalistic integrity just flushed him down the toilet.
I can't go out with a subject.
Okay, then who can you go out with?
I don't know if you've noticed, but your dating pool is shrinking.
There may be like one Eskimo guy in Alaska you can date.
I hope you'll be very happy together eating seal blubber, or whatever the hell it is that Eskimos do.
The correct term for Eskimo is Inuit.
Oh, don't even try to change the subject by making it like I'm dumb.
There is a larger point here, and you know it.
You need to give me Curtis Wilson back.
I have an in.
You had your chance, Dennis.
Now it's my turn.
This is Gaye.
No offense, Babcock, but you're a pretty boy, and pretty boys can get hurt when they wade into the choppy waters of Chi-Town politics, so just step aside.
Let a pro handle this.
Yeah, that looked real professional this morning in the revolving door.
Heads up.
Channel 8 has dirt on Curtis Wilson.
They're going live with it at 7:00.
I want it first.
I'm on it.
No, I'm on it.
You know, back when I was young, my stepfather, Wes Brinkman, CEO of the Brinkman Media Group-- a.k.a.
our boss-- was a huge believer in competition as a motivational tool.
As children, we would race to see who could fill Daddy's scotch tumbler the fastest.
Who could make Daddy's martini the coldest.
Who could roll Daddy into bed without waking Mommy. "
Faster, Les!
Faster!
What, you got cement in your shoes?
Shut up and go get me my pipe!"
Memories.
Anyway, you both want the story?
May the best man win.
He's trying to divide and conquer, making us compete for a story.
He thinks we're easily manipulated.
Besides, it's absurde to think you could beat me, Babcock.
I'll scoop you in my sleep.
Anywhere, anytime.
Can you keep it down?
This is my office.
I'm legally entitled to a quiet, comfortable place for feeding and expressing during my lunch break.
Pepper Dennis, surprised to see you here.
Thought you were gonna fast track it to fame as a network anchor.
Guess it didn't work out.
But dreams are nice, huh?
So you're back.
With spawn.
If you're nice to me, I'll let you hold my baby, since you'll never have one of your own.
She's not latching on properly.
You need to bring the baby to the breast, not the other way around.
Use the left hand in the C hold like this, and, with the right hand behind the neck, just bring her in.
She's doing it.
I'm a licensed lactation consultant.
My mother led the Ottawa chapter of La Leche League.
She always taught me, "Breast is best."
Well, here's something else you can suckle on.
I'm going to slaughter you, and I won't even have to leave my desk to do it.
Wanna bet?
500 bucks says I get the story first.
I don't want your money, Dennis.
That's too easy.
No, I want...
The Cronkite picture.
The Cronkite picture.
Not so confident all of a sudden, are you, Dennis?
Okay.
Fine.
But, if I win, you have to push around the bagel cart...
in women's underwear.
It's on.
50 bucks on Babcock.
I want a piece of that.
$100 on Pepper.
Okay, but I got to tell you, Kimmy.
I'm not like all those other collection agencies.
You can't hide from me.
I will turn you upside down by your ankles and shake out your gold fillings if I have to.
Don't worry about me.
I've got a secret weapon.
Why aren't you at your desk?
I have 100 bucks on you.
You don't have 100 bucks, Kimmy.
You're still paying off that pashmina you bought in '95.
Oh, yeah.
You're gonna lecture me on how to live my life, lonely lady?
How about getting to work on smearing hottie Wilson's good name instead?
I thought you were in love with that guy.
Please.
I'd sell Orlando Bloom down the river for 100 bucks.
Have you called him yet?
Who?
Who?
Curtis Wilson.
He gave you the number to the Bat phone.
The assignment is to look for dirt, Kimmy.
I can't just call him and ask him to hold the dustpan while I sweep.
This whole package was wasted on you.
It's like you have a Porsche, and you won't take it out of second gear.
Use your feminine wiles.
Flirt with him.
Get him drunk.
I don't care.
I need that 100 bucks!
Where's that card?
No!
Absolutely not.
Come on!
Give it!
Kimmy...
Do you want to win?
Do you?
Do you want to beat Babcock?
Better not.
I have Pepper Dennis calling for Curtis Wilson.
Just one moment, please.
I hate you.
Seriously.
Hate.
Hello.
Hi!
How are you?
How would you feel about giving me an exclusive?
Um...
Tonight?
Sure.
Your headquarters are at the Chaplin Hotel, right?
Okay.
See you then.
Where you going?
To my desk.
Do some investigative reporting on this guy just in case your completely idiotic plan doesn't work.
I'll help.
Um...
Brianna?
Shouldn't you answer the phone?
Oprah's on.
Yes, but, um, all these calls.
What if it's someone important?
They'll call back.
Close your mouth.
Don't you have mail to deliver?
We got it.
We're done.
Mr.
Rising Star Politician Curtis Wilson got a D in American Government his junior year in high school.
High five!
That's not it?
No, that's not it.
Well, what do you have?
Well, not that much.
Anybody who's ever met the guy loves him.
His resume checks out, so do his college transcripts.
The only slightly suspicious thing about him is he spent six months in Europe during his sophomore year of college.
Europe.
I don't like the sound of that.
Uh, a lot of people go to Europe during college.
No.
They go to France.
Or to Spain.
Or Prague.
You ever notice when someone's lying, they get all vague?
I do it all the time.
Right.
Europe.
Big, vague Europe.
You know what I'm thinking?
I'm thinking Amsterdam.
I'm thinking hash.
I'm thinking dead hooker.
Mull that over.
I'll be back in a sec.
Dennis, how's it going?
Got any leads?
Got a bushel of 'em, Babcock.
Hmm.
Me, too.
By the way, your picture's gonna look perfect sandwiched between my Emmys.
I mean, once I've Photoshop-ed you out, put myself in.
Don't count your chickens.
Oh, you might want to think about getting a bikini wax.
I like my trannies smooth.
Hey, Powder Puff.
My boy's on the verge of uncovering the story.
You're bluffing.
Oh, and by the way, bad news.
Pepper's all over it.
Are you as confident as you sound?
Okay.
I just doubled down.
What do we got?
Kimmy.
I don't need this added pressure.
Garfield had me backed into a corner.
I was defending you.
Who are you calling?
Wilson's college roommate.
I just talked to a source in the passport office.
Curtis Wilson's never had a passport, which means he's never been to Europe.
Hello, this is Pepper Dennis with WEiE News.
I understand you lived with Curtis Wilson at U of C?
I'm interested in the second half of 1992.
According to Mr.
Wilson's bio, he spent several months in Europe, but...
Really?
Would you be willing to go on camera with that?
Although candidate Wilson's resume mentions a visit to Europe, his college roommate, David Kessler, has a very different take on that trip.
Well, I dropped him off right here.
From what I heard, he stayed for six months.
The Hidden Hills Psychiatric Hospital.
Mr.
Kessler, do you know what the nature of Mr.
Wilson's breakdown was?
He wouldn't eat, couldn't sleep.
I don't know what happened to him.
I just know that two guys in white coats met him at the curb.
A startling new discovery.
One we're sure to be following as this story develops.
For WEiE News, I'm Pepper Dennis.
Back to you, Charlie.
Thank you, Pepper.
When we return, salmon could unlock the cure to obesity.
Stick with WEiE, and we'll tell you how.
Hey, Babcock, want me to hit a Victoria's Secret for you on the way back?
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
Thanks.
Nice work.
I thank you.
My creditors thank you.
Any time I can help out my best friend while showing Charlie Babcock how it's done is a good day.
Way to go, Dennis.
Curtis Wilson's a total nut job.
Just like that, the man's career goes up in smoke.
Babcock, you're just mad because you lost a bet.
Curtis Wilson's a political pro.
He'll spin this and bounce back faster than a super-ball.
Just got the flash poll numbers.
Curtis Wilson's down eight points and dropping!
Nice work, Pepper.
You swift-boated the guy!
Who's got the scoop?
Who's got the scoop?
Swift-boated?
No, I didn't.
Yes, you did.
Wilson's campaign is calling a press conference.
You and your team get down there right now.
Wait a second...
I'm telling you, stick a fork in him.
He's done, and you lit the grill.
Stop saying that.
It's not just me.
Channel Eight would have covered it if I hadn't.
That was some top-notch reporting, Dennis.
All we had was this dumb story about how he got a D in American Government when he was in high school.
Oh, no.
Chick, what have I done?
Pepper, the guy's got a political machine behind him.
Watch, he'll handle it.
Good afternoon.
All I am going to say regarding the story that broke today concerning my mental health is that it's a private matter.
It's a one-time incident, and it has nothing to do with my ability to be an excellent mayor.
Now, I'm more than happy to take any questions regarding the issues.
Was it some kind of psychotic break?
As I said before, it's a private matter, and I have reasons for not discussing it.
Were you institutionalized due to a substance abuse problem?
Come on.
Fight back.
No comment.
Do you think voters can trust a candidate who is this evasive about his mental health history?
No comment.
What are you hiding?
Are you on any anti-depressants?
Are you stable enough to be mayor?
Hey, take this out to the trash.
Actually, I'm a little busy.
You think you can just cop a feel and then walk away like nothing happened?
Excuse me?
You touched my boob earlier.
In your office.
I was demonstrating proper nursing technique.
We could let the lawyers hash that out.
Or, you can take this diaper out to the Dumpster.
Your choice.
You're so precious.
Yes, you are.
Guys, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm really starting to think that Brianna's...
not a very nice person.
Or a good receptionist.
You're kidding right?
She's Satan with a breast pump.
Then why don't they fire her?
Oh!
Keep it down.
Keep it down!
She might hear you.
The station's been trying to get rid of her for years.
Every time they get close, she falls off a stool, or files a sexual harassment claim.
We were hoping the baby would soften her up.
We have to do something.
We can't.
No.
She's got something on everyone here.
Like she caught poor Chick taking home some old tape stock three years ago.
He's been ordering office supplies for her ever since.
I was going to record The Sopranos!
It was just one tape!
Well, you know, sometimes when people act out, it's just because they're feeling insecure.
Maybe she thinks nobody likes her.
Nobody does.
Nobody does.
All right...
then it's time for a "carefrontation."
Okay.
Brianna's gonna eat her for breakfast.
That's a really dumb place to put a cactus.
Nobody answered when I knocked, so I found another way in.
Where is everybody?
Morale was shot, so I sent everyone home.
And I thought it went without saying: the date's off.
You let those reporters eat you alive this afternoon.
Well, I guess I have you to thank for that, don't I?
Hey, I was just doing my job.
Why the hell aren't you doing yours?
You want a drink?
Can I ask you a personal question?
Sure.
How much does your office pay for your insurance?
No, I'm serious.
I mean, between the revolving doors and my poor cactus over there, you must have a pretty high deductible by now.
There are perfectly logical explanations for all of the...
hundreds of mishaps that I've had.
That's good stuff.
Yeah, well, I was saving it for the victory party.
Right...
Tell me, how'd you dig up my old roommate?
I called the registrar's office down at the university.
Took me five minutes.
Yeah, I beat him out for student government president that year.
He's had it in for meever since.
I guess he was the wrong guy to ask for a ride to the crazy house.
I owe you an apology.
I did something I never do, which is report a story before I have all the facts.
It's just there's this guy down at my station who makes me crazy, and we got into this stupid wager...
and I let my competitive nature take over, and I...
I reported half a story.
Want to tell me the other half?
It's off the record.
I lost someone.
Someone close to me.
It was a long time ago.
I'm so sorry.
But that's what I'm talking about.
Fight back.
Come clean.
Bring the voters in.
There are other people involved, and I don't want to drag them through this again, just so I can win an election.
You say "an election" like it's not important.
But it is.
Why do you care so much?
When this campaign first started, I had a lot of skepticism about you...
but I was wrong.
I did a lot of checking up on you.
You're the right guy for the job.
You're the real deal.
You have a plan, you're driven, you're smart and you're principled.
Well, I'm doing pretty well here.
I'm serious.
Chicago needs a guy like you; a guy who has passion.
A guy who won't give upon the city, just because it's not perfect.
It's been a long time since such a nice guy came along.
For the city.
What are we talking about here, Pepper?
I think this interview's over.
What did you do to your wrist?
Hey, Pepper, I'm not asking you as a reporter, I'm asking you as a human being.
Now, this isn't about politics, this isn't about some news story, this is about protecting someone.
I'm asking you, please, let this go.
For me.
Oh, thanks.
I buttered your bagel.
You know, the pantyhose I could do without, but the slip, it's kinda hot, gotta say.
Hey, what's the matter?
Thought you'd love this.
Wilson's behind 18 points in the polls.
Now the wrong guy is gonna win.
You don't know that.
He's a one-eyed puppy in a high-kill shelter, Babcock, and I put him there.
There's my red-hot chili pepper.
Everybody wants to know what sent Curtis Wilson over the edge?
I'm saving five minutes at the top of the 11:00 news for your follow-up.
There is no follow-up!
We buried him.
Dig him back up, so we can bury him again.
Why are you wearing that?
Bagels and lingerie-- WEiE tradition.
Go get 'em, Pepper.
I can't do it.
Why not?
It's not news, it's a witch hunt.
And Curtis Wilson asked me not to.
Whoa-ho!
Whoa, whoa!
He's running for mayor of Chicago.
He doesn't get to tell reporters what they can and can't report.
Babcock...!
I feel bad.
The public has a right to know if a candidate has a history of mental health problems.
It's the truth, it's relevant, it's news and it's your job.
To ruin his life?
You're the reporter who wanted the guy to answer the tough questions in the first place.
Why would you stop now?
All right...
here's the deal: Wilson mentioned someone close to him who died.
He was a little fuzzy on the details, but you could tell the wounds were still fresh.
Maybe there was an accident and he was somehow responsible.
Oh, Babcock, I have to stop digging.
The truth could do more damage.
Or it could set him free.
It's Dennis.
I need you to please raid the archives and pull up all the photos you can find of Curtis Wilson and send them up to the conference room ASAP.
Hey, and put some pants on.
You look like a whore.
Hi, Brianna.
I was hoping that we might have a little chat.
I'm busy.
My People magazine come?
Brianna...
I think that you should know that people are talking about you.
And they're saying that you're not very good at your job-- now, I know that might be hard for you to hear...
You know, when I left this desk, it was a cake walk, which is just the way I wanted it.
And you come along, start doing all this above-and-beyond stuff.
People appreciate it when you go the extra mile.
Let me clue you in, Little Miss Perky Smile.
Whenever you do something that's outside of your job description, it becomes part of the job description.
Don't you want to be loved and respected by your coworkers?
Hell, no!
This dump is just a stepping-stone.
I'm gonna work at Oprah.
Winfrey?
No, Oprah Delvekio.
Of course, Oprah Winfrey, dummy!
Do you really think that you're qualified for that?
You're really starting to bug me.
Huh...
What's this?
A certified letter to Les?
Looks important.
No!
No!
No!
Whoops!
Hope he doesn't find out about that.
Why don't you get on back to work?
What's all this?
Why aren't you sneaking into that psych ward in a nurse's outfit and digging up Curtis Wilson's file?
I'm playing a different angle-- on that'll shine the light on what really happened to Wilson.
Any progress?
How old would you say this girl looks?
I don't know-- 22?
You think?
I don't know-- I want salaciousness.
That means pictures of Wilson in a tin-foil hat building popsicle-stick forts during craft time.
See, this woman's in all these pictures with him, from 1987 to 1992.
I figure she's his girlfriend.
Why are you not listening to me?
I am the boss.
She must be the one who died.
Which might've triggered Wilson's breakdown.
I will not run some softsob story...
Les!
When a reporter this good is going with her gut, get the hell out of her way.
You have two hours to put this together.
And it better knock my socks off.
I am so screwed!
No, you're not.
Deceased girlfriend sends Curtis Wilson off the deep end.
That's a good start.
Babcock, I don't even have her name!
The debate's in two hours!
What am I gonna do?
Hmm...
a mayor hip enough to have a tattoo.
Could've been good.
Tattoo?
Right there on his forearm.
But I didn't see any...
He had it removed.
That explains the scar. "
Julia."
Where's the 1992 yearbook?
Julia Garcia.
Senior.
This book is dedicated to her.
It's after Wilson graduated.
I didn't think to look.
Bingo.
Thank you.
Hey, is that another letter from Brianna to Oprah?
It's to "Oprah's Wildest Dreams Come True."
It's full of spelling errors.
Yeah, I know.
We keep 'em down here.
They're fun to read when you get baked.
So you don't send them?
She puts the wrong address on them.
We consider it a small bit of karmic justice.
Anything from Dennis?
No.
Hello?
Isabel Garcia?
I'm Pepper Dennis with WEiE News.
I got your address from Randolph High School.
I was wondering when someone would show up.
Good evening, Chicago.
Let's welcome our two mayoral candidates.
Mayor Michael Whitiker, and the challenger, Mr.
Curtis Wilson.
She was a beautiful girl.
She was my one and only.
Not a day passes that I don't miss her.
I know this is difficult, Mrs.
Garcia, but can you tell me what happened to Julia?
I told her she wasn't to see Curtis anymore.
He was older, he came from a very bad part of town...
But she was in love.
If she hadn't snuck out to meet him that night, she never would have come across those men.
They shot her for $7.00 she had in her pocket.
It almost killed me.
Sometimes, I wish it had.
I can't even imagine.
It wouldn't have happened if it weren't for Curtis Wilson.
I think he thinks that, too, Mrs.
Garcia.
He's being attacked from all sides, and he's going to lose the election.
He could stop it by talking about Julia, but he won't.
I thought he was protecting her memory, but he's protecting you so you won't have to relive the pain.
What is it that you want, Ms.
Dennis?
I want you to tell the whole story.
And the voters of this great city will not put their faith in a man who's mentaly unstable.
We have time for one more question from the audience.
This woman has a question.
Ma'am, you have a question?
Don't you think it's about time these people know the truth?
This man was in love with my daughter.
She was murdered 13 years ago when she snuck out of the house to meet him.
She loved you so much, Curtis.
I don't know why I couldn't accept that.
Go to commercial and you're fired.
This man checked himself into a mental healthcare facility because he was consumed by grief.
This is ridiculous.
Shh!
He took the blame for her death.
And I let him.
But it was my fault, too.
If I had just let her see you.
It wasn't your fault.
It wasn't your fault, either.
It was just something that happened.
Can we say that, after all these years?
I know you're going to make a wonderful mayor.
I got it.
Yes, I wrote that it was urgent.
Okay.
I'm sure Chick will be ecstatic that an actual girl is calling.
Fine.
Evil is a 90-pound single mother.
It's taken care of.
Did she get the father of her baby to come back and marry her or at least learn her name?
Better.
Brianna!
Yeah?
Hi, I'm Paula Dover and I'm a producer with The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
Okay, okay, now calm down.
Where is Kathy Dinkle?
Oh, right here.
We get thousands of letters every day from viewers hoping to have their wildest dreams come true, but we have never seen anything like that giant red velvet sheet cake that Kathy delivered to our office this afternoon.
Piped on it in chocolate ganache was a letter that really got our attention.
Kathy, will you share?
Oh, oh, thank you. "
Dear Oprah, I'm writing to tell you about the bravest woman I know, my friend Brianna.
Brianna's a busy single mother who always finds time to make everyone at the office feel special.
She's never too busy to go the extra mile or put in that extra bit of effort to make a difference.
Her dream, Oprah, is to work for you.
She's a go-getter, she's got great people skills and she's breast-feeding.
Oprah, please make Brianna's wildest dream come true."
Well...
Guess who's punching in at Harpo!
We're going to take you down for a tour of the office.
Come on.
Let's go, girl.
Oh, wait, can you just hold on one sec?
I forgot something.
Oh, sure, sure.
So long, suckers!
Have fun rotting in this hellhole!
I cannot believe you did that.
Neither can I.
Harpo is a holy temple.
Brianna's a cancer.
I have to catch them!
No, no!
Wait!
Oh, God, what have I done?!
Oh, God!
Please, please!
Paula!
Paula!
Oh, wait!
Paula, I made a terrible mistake.
Oh, my God, Grandma, you're not going to frickin' believe what's happening.
Brianna's not who I made her out to be.
She's a horrible person.
Gayle will hate her.
She'll make Nate cry.
Hey, Jeeves, would you dock this boat at the nearest drive-thru?
I'm starving.
Don't worry, honey.
She's with the Angel Network now.
God bless Oprah Winfrey.
Good evening, Chicago.
We're coming to you live from the Curtis Wilson campaign headquarters at the Chaplin Hotel.
What you see behind me is a victory celebration for the new mayor of Chicago, Curtis Wilson.
Our own Pepper Dennis has been following the Wilson campaign and she's here now to talk about the day.
And what a day Curtis Wilson has had.
Exit polls show he took an unprecedented 89% of the women's votes and easily beat Mayor Michael Whitiker.
What do you think did it?
Honesty, Charlie.
Curtis Wilson's heartfelt revelation obviously struck a chord.
Indeed.
When we come back, my interview with the Mayor-elect.
And we've gone to commercial.
I got you something.
Oh, yeah?
I know you can't, but this way you can pretend.
Thanks, Dennis.
No, thank you.
For encouraging me to keep asking the tough questions.
Anyway, I'm gonna grab my stuff from next door and head home.
So good night.
Good night.
I've been looking for you.
Oh, hi.
Congratulations.
I asked you to stay out of my business.
I know, but...
You know, that could have gone a whole different way.
But did you consider that?
No, 'cause you're Pepper Dennis and you know what's best for everyone, right?
Look, I'm exhausted and I'm sorry you're mad, but I have a half a can of tuna and a beer waiting for me at home, so unless there's anything else...
Yeah, there is.
Hey, hey, where'd Wilson go?
I wanted to run something by him before our interview.
He's in his office.
But we're on in like 40 seconds.
All right, all right.
Charlie, we're on in ten seconds.
Where the hell's the Mayor-elect?
We're on in five, four, three...
Mr.
Mayor, congratulations on your win.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Transcript: Raceman - Synchro: Amariss www.forom.com -
...who started this race as a dark horse but has recently eked out a slight lead over incumbent Michael Whitiker.
Curtis Wilson est ampliamente reconocido como la nueva esperanza de Chicago.
With only two days left until the election, the Banner Herald has given its endorsement to Curtis Wilson, a rising star in local politics.
What a story this man has.
The son of a single mother, he rose from a life of poverty to the top of his class at the University of Chicago Law School.
He's the people's candidate, to be sure.
With your eye on the election, I'm Pepper Dennis, WEiE News, Windy City News now.
And we are clear.
Pepper, that was great.
Listen, my mom wanted to know if we have time, if we can get Curtis Wilson's autograph?
Has this guy seduced everybody?
My mom wants one, too.
Hey, there's more to being mayor than just looking good in a suit.
Wilson's still got tough questions to answer.
And I've got 'em all right here.
Everything from potholes in the street to budget deficits.
Oh...
sorry, Dennis.
Campaign manager says Wilson's only got time for one question.
It's gonna be mine.
Shove over, Powers.
You can rub your boobs on me as much as you want, I'm not moving.
Don't pretend like that's not the only action you've had in months.
Okay guys...
Here's the deal.
We go to get to Wilson first.
Chick, you stay with me.
Garfield, you block.
And keep your eye on the NPR girl.
She tried to bite me once.
There he is!
Run!
Mr.
Wilson, how do you plan to effectively combaturb an poverty?
I'll go get the crowbar.
Morning.
Well, hello.
Who are you?
Where's your mommy?
Hello.
Brianna, hi!
It's Kathy, remember me?
I filled in for you when your water broke.
She is gorgeous.
Don't touch her.
Don't you know how harmful germs can be to a newborn?
Chloe's already a little sick.
That's why I brought her into work.
I'm sorry.
I didn't know.
I didn't know that you were going to be here.
Did I?
Don't talk baby talk to her.
What are all these files doing in here?
I created a new system.
I assigned each employee a color, and then I gave them a corresponding file.
Everybody seems to really like it.
I put all of their mail and messages in those files...
What are you doing?
This is my snack drawer.
Your snack drawer?
Yes.
Mine.
I work here.
Remember?
I'm back from my maternity leave.
Hope you didn't get too comfy in my chair.
But...
what am I going to do?
Whatever it is, do it somewhere else.
Pss-pss-pss!
Here's my favorite part, coming up right here.
Let me just walk you through this.
Okay, it's not the full-body slam, although that's priceless...
No, it's this part here that kills me.
Watch.
She actually tries to conduct the interview from inside the revolving door.
It's pure Pepper Dennis.
It's even funnier in reverse.
Watch this.
Okay, that's enough.
What's so funny?
Uh, nothing worth mentioning, boss.
So!
Should we just jump right in?
The election's the day after tomorrow.
This is the closest race we've had in a long time, and I want to be all over it.
I'm voting for Curtis Wilson.
Oh.
You like his policies, Blanca?
I think he's hot.
Ladies, "hotness" has nothing to do with his qualifications as a candidate.
We should all want to know more.
Like where he stands on the issues.
Wherever it is, he'll be standing there looking hot.
They're right, Pepper.
Election platforms and campaign promises?
Snooze-fest.
Hot single mayor with bedroom eyes?
Now I'm interested.
Remember our new mission statement.
News-a-tainment equals ratings.
Ratings equals money.
And the wheel goes...
And the wheel goes...
'Round!
That's right.
I still plan to hit Wilson with the tough questions.
Which is why you're off that beat.
What?
That door you broke this morning cost the station $7,000.
You'll be covering the porn star candidate, Astrid Ramstein, instead.
Absolutely not!
I'm giving Curtis Wilson to Charlie.
Sweet!
Babcock doesn't know anything about Chicago politics.
He's a Canadian.
And proud, eh.
He can't even vote here.
Pepper, everybody loves a porn star.
Okay...
tomorrow, WEiE is hosting a town hall style debate.
It's the last one before the election.
Charlie is moderating.
Wilson and Mayor Whitiker are both here right now with...
Very good, people!
I like that hustle!
Oh!
Mr.Gaye?
Hey, Kathy.
How are you?
Fine.
I think I'm really connecting with the staff.
That's wonderful.
Um, Mr.
Gaye...
Call me Les.
Seriously.
Okay, Les.
Um, Brianna, the receptionist that I replaced, she's back from maternity leave.
She brought her baby in.
An adorable little girl named Chloe.
I'm assuming you don't need two receptionists.
Are you suggesting that I fire her?
No.
No, she's a single mother.
I would never dream...
Because legally we can't.
But I think I have a solution you'll be happy with.
Do you like mail?
H ello.
Hi.
I'm Kathy Dinkle.
Reporting for duty.
Oh...
my...
God.
Curtis Wilson is even cuter in person.
I don't have time for this right now, Kimmy.
Since when are you too busy to drool over a hot guy?
Babcock got the Wilson beat, and my new boss has the intellectual depth of a teenage girl.
I have more important things to worry about right now.
His ass is like two perfect cantaloupes.
His ass isn't going to be running the city.
I mean, sure, Wilson's got a smile that could light up a dark cave, shoulders like an Italian butcher, glutes you could eat ice cream off of, but...
He's right behind me, isn't he?
An Italian butcher?
I don't know what that means.
Pepper Dennis.
Nice to meet you.
Everything starts with education.
Excuse me?
To answer your question from this morning-- about combating urban poverty.
You heard me?
You were a little muffled through the glass, but yeah, I heard you.
As I was saying, everything starts with education.
From pre-K on up.
I'll tell you what, I'll have my office send over the comprehensive plan.
Thank you for your response, Mr.
Wilson.
It's my pleasure.
I probably should be going.
Nice talking to you.
Good luck.
Would you like to have dinner sometime?
I'm a reporter, Mr.
Wilson.
Right now, you're the story.
You can't have too much journalistic integrity these days.
That's probably true, but you can't blame a guy for trying.
I tell you what.
Let me give you my cell phone number.
And if you have any questions-- you know, about the issues-- you call me.
Okay, great.
Did you hear that?
He wants to discuss the issues with me.
This is perfect.
Right.
That's what he wants.
I was crystal clear.
He didn't give me his number until after I said no to a date.
You know what I'm sick of?
You and all your crap.
That guy is a stone fox babe, and you and your journalistic integrity just flushed him down the toilet.
I can't go out with a subject.
Okay, then who can you go out with?
I don't know if you've noticed, but your dating pool is shrinking.
There may be like one Eskimo guy in Alaska you can date.
I hope you'll be very happy together eating seal blubber, or whatever the hell it is that Eskimos do.
The correct term for Eskimo is Inuit.
Oh, don't even try to change the subject by making it like I'm dumb.
There is a larger point here, and you know it.
You need to give me Curtis Wilson back.
I have an in.
You had your chance, Dennis.
Now it's my turn.
This is Gaye.
No offense, Babcock, but you're a pretty boy, and pretty boys can get hurt when they wade into the choppy waters of Chi-Town politics, so just step aside.
Let a pro handle this.
Yeah, that looked real professional this morning in the revolving door.
Heads up.
Channel 8 has dirt on Curtis Wilson.
They're going live with it at 7:00.
I want it first.
I'm on it.
No, I'm on it.
You know, back when I was young, my stepfather, Wes Brinkman, CEO of the Brinkman Media Group-- a.k.a.
our boss-- was a huge believer in competition as a motivational tool.
As children, we would race to see who could fill Daddy's scotch tumbler the fastest.
Who could make Daddy's martini the coldest.
Who could roll Daddy into bed without waking Mommy. "
Faster, Les!
Faster!
What, you got cement in your shoes?
Shut up and go get me my pipe!"
Memories.
Anyway, you both want the story?
May the best man win.
He's trying to divide and conquer, making us compete for a story.
He thinks we're easily manipulated.
Besides, it's absurde to think you could beat me, Babcock.
I'll scoop you in my sleep.
Anywhere, anytime.
Can you keep it down?
This is my office.
I'm legally entitled to a quiet, comfortable place for feeding and expressing during my lunch break.
Pepper Dennis, surprised to see you here.
Thought you were gonna fast track it to fame as a network anchor.
Guess it didn't work out.
But dreams are nice, huh?
So you're back.
With spawn.
If you're nice to me, I'll let you hold my baby, since you'll never have one of your own.
She's not latching on properly.
You need to bring the baby to the breast, not the other way around.
Use the left hand in the C hold like this, and, with the right hand behind the neck, just bring her in.
She's doing it.
I'm a licensed lactation consultant.
My mother led the Ottawa chapter of La Leche League.
She always taught me, "Breast is best."
Well, here's something else you can suckle on.
I'm going to slaughter you, and I won't even have to leave my desk to do it.
Wanna bet?
500 bucks says I get the story first.
I don't want your money, Dennis.
That's too easy.
No, I want...
The Cronkite picture.
The Cronkite picture.
Not so confident all of a sudden, are you, Dennis?
Okay.
Fine.
But, if I win, you have to push around the bagel cart...
in women's underwear.
It's on.
50 bucks on Babcock.
I want a piece of that.
$100 on Pepper.
Okay, but I got to tell you, Kimmy.
I'm not like all those other collection agencies.
You can't hide from me.
I will turn you upside down by your ankles and shake out your gold fillings if I have to.
Don't worry about me.
I've got a secret weapon.
Why aren't you at your desk?
I have 100 bucks on you.
You don't have 100 bucks, Kimmy.
You're still paying off that pashmina you bought in '95.
Oh, yeah.
You're gonna lecture me on how to live my life, lonely lady?
How about getting to work on smearing hottie Wilson's good name instead?
I thought you were in love with that guy.
Please.
I'd sell Orlando Bloom down the river for 100 bucks.
Have you called him yet?
Who?
Who?
Curtis Wilson.
He gave you the number to the Bat phone.
The assignment is to look for dirt, Kimmy.
I can't just call him and ask him to hold the dustpan while I sweep.
This whole package was wasted on you.
It's like you have a Porsche, and you won't take it out of second gear.
Use your feminine wiles.
Flirt with him.
Get him drunk.
I don't care.
I need that 100 bucks!
Where's that card?
No!
Absolutely not.
Come on!
Give it!
Kimmy...
Do you want to win?
Do you?
Do you want to beat Babcock?
Better not.
I have Pepper Dennis calling for Curtis Wilson.
Just one moment, please.
I hate you.
Seriously.
Hate.
Hello.
Hi!
How are you?
How would you feel about giving me an exclusive?
Um...
Tonight?
Sure.
Your headquarters are at the Chaplin Hotel, right?
Okay.
See you then.
Where you going?
To my desk.
Do some investigative reporting on this guy just in case your completely idiotic plan doesn't work.
I'll help.
Um...
Brianna?
Shouldn't you answer the phone?
Oprah's on.
Yes, but, um, all these calls.
What if it's someone important?
They'll call back.
Close your mouth.
Don't you have mail to deliver?
We got it.
We're done.
Mr.
Rising Star Politician Curtis Wilson got a D in American Government his junior year in high school.
High five!
That's not it?
No, that's not it.
Well, what do you have?
Well, not that much.
Anybody who's ever met the guy loves him.
His resume checks out, so do his college transcripts.
The only slightly suspicious thing about him is he spent six months in Europe during his sophomore year of college.
Europe.
I don't like the sound of that.
Uh, a lot of people go to Europe during college.
No.
They go to France.
Or to Spain.
Or Prague.
You ever notice when someone's lying, they get all vague?
I do it all the time.
Right.
Europe.
Big, vague Europe.
You know what I'm thinking?
I'm thinking Amsterdam.
I'm thinking hash.
I'm thinking dead hooker.
Mull that over.
I'll be back in a sec.
Dennis, how's it going?
Got any leads?
Got a bushel of 'em, Babcock.
Hmm.
Me, too.
By the way, your picture's gonna look perfect sandwiched between my Emmys.
I mean, once I've Photoshop-ed you out, put myself in.
Don't count your chickens.
Oh, you might want to think about getting a bikini wax.
I like my trannies smooth.
Hey, Powder Puff.
My boy's on the verge of uncovering the story.
You're bluffing.
Oh, and by the way, bad news.
Pepper's all over it.
Are you as confident as you sound?
Okay.
I just doubled down.
What do we got?
Kimmy.
I don't need this added pressure.
Garfield had me backed into a corner.
I was defending you.
Who are you calling?
Wilson's college roommate.
I just talked to a source in the passport office.
Curtis Wilson's never had a passport, which means he's never been to Europe.
Hello, this is Pepper Dennis with WEiE News.
I understand you lived with Curtis Wilson at U of C?
I'm interested in the second half of 1992.
According to Mr.
Wilson's bio, he spent several months in Europe, but...
Really?
Would you be willing to go on camera with that?
Although candidate Wilson's resume mentions a visit to Europe, his college roommate, David Kessler, has a very different take on that trip.
Well, I dropped him off right here.
From what I heard, he stayed for six months.
The Hidden Hills Psychiatric Hospital.
Mr.
Kessler, do you know what the nature of Mr.
Wilson's breakdown was?
He wouldn't eat, couldn't sleep.
I don't know what happened to him.
I just know that two guys in white coats met him at the curb.
A startling new discovery.
One we're sure to be following as this story develops.
For WEiE News, I'm Pepper Dennis.
Back to you, Charlie.
Thank you, Pepper.
When we return, salmon could unlock the cure to obesity.
Stick with WEiE, and we'll tell you how.
Hey, Babcock, want me to hit a Victoria's Secret for you on the way back?
Thank you.
Thank you, thank you.
Thanks.
Nice work.
I thank you.
My creditors thank you.
Any time I can help out my best friend while showing Charlie Babcock how it's done is a good day.
Way to go, Dennis.
Curtis Wilson's a total nut job.
Just like that, the man's career goes up in smoke.
Babcock, you're just mad because you lost a bet.
Curtis Wilson's a political pro.
He'll spin this and bounce back faster than a super-ball.
Just got the flash poll numbers.
Curtis Wilson's down eight points and dropping!
Nice work, Pepper.
You swift-boated the guy!
Who's got the scoop?
Who's got the scoop?
Swift-boated?
No, I didn't.
Yes, you did.
Wilson's campaign is calling a press conference.
You and your team get down there right now.
Wait a second...
I'm telling you, stick a fork in him.
He's done, and you lit the grill.
Stop saying that.
It's not just me.
Channel Eight would have covered it if I hadn't.
That was some top-notch reporting, Dennis.
All we had was this dumb story about how he got a D in American Government when he was in high school.
Oh, no.
Chick, what have I done?
Pepper, the guy's got a political machine behind him.
Watch, he'll handle it.
Good afternoon.
All I am going to say regarding the story that broke today concerning my mental health is that it's a private matter.
It's a one-time incident, and it has nothing to do with my ability to be an excellent mayor.
Now, I'm more than happy to take any questions regarding the issues.
Was it some kind of psychotic break?
As I said before, it's a private matter, and I have reasons for not discussing it.
Were you institutionalized due to a substance abuse problem?
Come on.
Fight back.
No comment.
Do you think voters can trust a candidate who is this evasive about his mental health history?
No comment.
What are you hiding?
Are you on any anti-depressants?
Are you stable enough to be mayor?
Hey, take this out to the trash.
Actually, I'm a little busy.
You think you can just cop a feel and then walk away like nothing happened?
Excuse me?
You touched my boob earlier.
In your office.
I was demonstrating proper nursing technique.
We could let the lawyers hash that out.
Or, you can take this diaper out to the Dumpster.
Your choice.
You're so precious.
Yes, you are.
Guys, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm really starting to think that Brianna's...
not a very nice person.
Or a good receptionist.
You're kidding right?
She's Satan with a breast pump.
Then why don't they fire her?
Oh!
Keep it down.
Keep it down!
She might hear you.
The station's been trying to get rid of her for years.
Every time they get close, she falls off a stool, or files a sexual harassment claim.
We were hoping the baby would soften her up.
We have to do something.
We can't.
No.
She's got something on everyone here.
Like she caught poor Chick taking home some old tape stock three years ago.
He's been ordering office supplies for her ever since.
I was going to record The Sopranos!
It was just one tape!
Well, you know, sometimes when people act out, it's just because they're feeling insecure.
Maybe she thinks nobody likes her.
Nobody does.
Nobody does.
All right...
then it's time for a "carefrontation."
Okay.
Brianna's gonna eat her for breakfast.
That's a really dumb place to put a cactus.
Nobody answered when I knocked, so I found another way in.
Where is everybody?
Morale was shot, so I sent everyone home.
And I thought it went without saying: the date's off.
You let those reporters eat you alive this afternoon.
Well, I guess I have you to thank for that, don't I?
Hey, I was just doing my job.
Why the hell aren't you doing yours?
You want a drink?
Can I ask you a personal question?
Sure.
How much does your office pay for your insurance?
No, I'm serious.
I mean, between the revolving doors and my poor cactus over there, you must have a pretty high deductible by now.
There are perfectly logical explanations for all of the...
hundreds of mishaps that I've had.
That's good stuff.
Yeah, well, I was saving it for the victory party.
Right...
Tell me, how'd you dig up my old roommate?
I called the registrar's office down at the university.
Took me five minutes.
Yeah, I beat him out for student government president that year.
He's had it in for meever since.
I guess he was the wrong guy to ask for a ride to the crazy house.
I owe you an apology.
I did something I never do, which is report a story before I have all the facts.
It's just there's this guy down at my station who makes me crazy, and we got into this stupid wager...
and I let my competitive nature take over, and I...
I reported half a story.
Want to tell me the other half?
It's off the record.
I lost someone.
Someone close to me.
It was a long time ago.
I'm so sorry.
But that's what I'm talking about.
Fight back.
Come clean.
Bring the voters in.
There are other people involved, and I don't want to drag them through this again, just so I can win an election.
You say "an election" like it's not important.
But it is.
Why do you care so much?
When this campaign first started, I had a lot of skepticism about you...
but I was wrong.
I did a lot of checking up on you.
You're the right guy for the job.
You're the real deal.
You have a plan, you're driven, you're smart and you're principled.
Well, I'm doing pretty well here.
I'm serious.
Chicago needs a guy like you; a guy who has passion.
A guy who won't give upon the city, just because it's not perfect.
It's been a long time since such a nice guy came along.
For the city.
What are we talking about here, Pepper?
I think this interview's over.
What did you do to your wrist?
Hey, Pepper, I'm not asking you as a reporter, I'm asking you as a human being.
Now, this isn't about politics, this isn't about some news story, this is about protecting someone.
I'm asking you, please, let this go.
For me.
Oh, thanks.
I buttered your bagel.
You know, the pantyhose I could do without, but the slip, it's kinda hot, gotta say.
Hey, what's the matter?
Thought you'd love this.
Wilson's behind 18 points in the polls.
Now the wrong guy is gonna win.
You don't know that.
He's a one-eyed puppy in a high-kill shelter, Babcock, and I put him there.
There's my red-hot chili pepper.
Everybody wants to know what sent Curtis Wilson over the edge?
I'm saving five minutes at the top of the 11:00 news for your follow-up.
There is no follow-up!
We buried him.
Dig him back up, so we can bury him again.
Why are you wearing that?
Bagels and lingerie-- WEiE tradition.
Go get 'em, Pepper.
I can't do it.
Why not?
It's not news, it's a witch hunt.
And Curtis Wilson asked me not to.
Whoa-ho!
Whoa, whoa!
He's running for mayor of Chicago.
He doesn't get to tell reporters what they can and can't report.
Babcock...!
I feel bad.
The public has a right to know if a candidate has a history of mental health problems.
It's the truth, it's relevant, it's news and it's your job.
To ruin his life?
You're the reporter who wanted the guy to answer the tough questions in the first place.
Why would you stop now?
All right...
here's the deal: Wilson mentioned someone close to him who died.
He was a little fuzzy on the details, but you could tell the wounds were still fresh.
Maybe there was an accident and he was somehow responsible.
Oh, Babcock, I have to stop digging.
The truth could do more damage.
Or it could set him free.
It's Dennis.
I need you to please raid the archives and pull up all the photos you can find of Curtis Wilson and send them up to the conference room ASAP.
Hey, and put some pants on.
You look like a whore.
Hi, Brianna.
I was hoping that we might have a little chat.
I'm busy.
My People magazine come?
Brianna...
I think that you should know that people are talking about you.
And they're saying that you're not very good at your job-- now, I know that might be hard for you to hear...
You know, when I left this desk, it was a cake walk, which is just the way I wanted it.
And you come along, start doing all this above-and-beyond stuff.
People appreciate it when you go the extra mile.
Let me clue you in, Little Miss Perky Smile.
Whenever you do something that's outside of your job description, it becomes part of the job description.
Don't you want to be loved and respected by your coworkers?
Hell, no!
This dump is just a stepping-stone.
I'm gonna work at Oprah.
Winfrey?
No, Oprah Delvekio.
Of course, Oprah Winfrey, dummy!
Do you really think that you're qualified for that?
You're really starting to bug me.
Huh...
What's this?
A certified letter to Les?
Looks important.
No!
No!
No!
Whoops!
Hope he doesn't find out about that.
Why don't you get on back to work?
What's all this?
Why aren't you sneaking into that psych ward in a nurse's outfit and digging up Curtis Wilson's file?
I'm playing a different angle-- on that'll shine the light on what really happened to Wilson.
Any progress?
How old would you say this girl looks?
I don't know-- 22?
You think?
I don't know-- I want salaciousness.
That means pictures of Wilson in a tin-foil hat building popsicle-stick forts during craft time.
See, this woman's in all these pictures with him, from 1987 to 1992.
I figure she's his girlfriend.
Why are you not listening to me?
I am the boss.
She must be the one who died.
Which might've triggered Wilson's breakdown.
I will not run some softsob story...
Les!
When a reporter this good is going with her gut, get the hell out of her way.
You have two hours to put this together.
And it better knock my socks off.
I am so screwed!
No, you're not.
Deceased girlfriend sends Curtis Wilson off the deep end.
That's a good start.
Babcock, I don't even have her name!
The debate's in two hours!
What am I gonna do?
Hmm...
a mayor hip enough to have a tattoo.
Could've been good.
Tattoo?
Right there on his forearm.
But I didn't see any...
He had it removed.
That explains the scar. "
Julia."
Where's the 1992 yearbook?
Julia Garcia.
Senior.
This book is dedicated to her.
It's after Wilson graduated.
I didn't think to look.
Bingo.
Thank you.
Hey, is that another letter from Brianna to Oprah?
It's to "Oprah's Wildest Dreams Come True."
It's full of spelling errors.
Yeah, I know.
We keep 'em down here.
They're fun to read when you get baked.
So you don't send them?
She puts the wrong address on them.
We consider it a small bit of karmic justice.
Anything from Dennis?
No.
Hello?
Isabel Garcia?
I'm Pepper Dennis with WEiE News.
I got your address from Randolph High School.
I was wondering when someone would show up.
Good evening, Chicago.
Let's welcome our two mayoral candidates.
Mayor Michael Whitiker, and the challenger, Mr.
Curtis Wilson.
She was a beautiful girl.
She was my one and only.
Not a day passes that I don't miss her.
I know this is difficult, Mrs.
Garcia, but can you tell me what happened to Julia?
I told her she wasn't to see Curtis anymore.
He was older, he came from a very bad part of town...
But she was in love.
If she hadn't snuck out to meet him that night, she never would have come across those men.
They shot her for $7.00 she had in her pocket.
It almost killed me.
Sometimes, I wish it had.
I can't even imagine.
It wouldn't have happened if it weren't for Curtis Wilson.
I think he thinks that, too, Mrs.
Garcia.
He's being attacked from all sides, and he's going to lose the election.
He could stop it by talking about Julia, but he won't.
I thought he was protecting her memory, but he's protecting you so you won't have to relive the pain.
What is it that you want, Ms.
Dennis?
I want you to tell the whole story.
And the voters of this great city will not put their faith in a man who's mentaly unstable.
We have time for one more question from the audience.
This woman has a question.
Ma'am, you have a question?
Don't you think it's about time these people know the truth?
This man was in love with my daughter.
She was murdered 13 years ago when she snuck out of the house to meet him.
She loved you so much, Curtis.
I don't know why I couldn't accept that.
Go to commercial and you're fired.
This man checked himself into a mental healthcare facility because he was consumed by grief.
This is ridiculous.
Shh!
He took the blame for her death.
And I let him.
But it was my fault, too.
If I had just let her see you.
It wasn't your fault.
It wasn't your fault, either.
It was just something that happened.
Can we say that, after all these years?
I know you're going to make a wonderful mayor.
I got it.
Yes, I wrote that it was urgent.
Okay.
I'm sure Chick will be ecstatic that an actual girl is calling.
Fine.
Evil is a 90-pound single mother.
It's taken care of.
Did she get the father of her baby to come back and marry her or at least learn her name?
Better.
Brianna!
Yeah?
Hi, I'm Paula Dover and I'm a producer with The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Oh, my God!
Oh, my God!
Okay, okay, now calm down.
Where is Kathy Dinkle?
Oh, right here.
We get thousands of letters every day from viewers hoping to have their wildest dreams come true, but we have never seen anything like that giant red velvet sheet cake that Kathy delivered to our office this afternoon.
Piped on it in chocolate ganache was a letter that really got our attention.
Kathy, will you share?
Oh, oh, thank you. "
Dear Oprah, I'm writing to tell you about the bravest woman I know, my friend Brianna.
Brianna's a busy single mother who always finds time to make everyone at the office feel special.
She's never too busy to go the extra mile or put in that extra bit of effort to make a difference.
Her dream, Oprah, is to work for you.
She's a go-getter, she's got great people skills and she's breast-feeding.
Oprah, please make Brianna's wildest dream come true."
Well...
Guess who's punching in at Harpo!
We're going to take you down for a tour of the office.
Come on.
Let's go, girl.
Oh, wait, can you just hold on one sec?
I forgot something.
Oh, sure, sure.
So long, suckers!
Have fun rotting in this hellhole!
I cannot believe you did that.
Neither can I.
Harpo is a holy temple.
Brianna's a cancer.
I have to catch them!
No, no!
Wait!
Oh, God, what have I done?!
Oh, God!
Please, please!
Paula!
Paula!
Oh, wait!
Paula, I made a terrible mistake.
Oh, my God, Grandma, you're not going to frickin' believe what's happening.
Brianna's not who I made her out to be.
She's a horrible person.
Gayle will hate her.
She'll make Nate cry.
Hey, Jeeves, would you dock this boat at the nearest drive-thru?
I'm starving.
Don't worry, honey.
She's with the Angel Network now.
God bless Oprah Winfrey.
Good evening, Chicago.
We're coming to you live from the Curtis Wilson campaign headquarters at the Chaplin Hotel.
What you see behind me is a victory celebration for the new mayor of Chicago, Curtis Wilson.
Our own Pepper Dennis has been following the Wilson campaign and she's here now to talk about the day.
And what a day Curtis Wilson has had.
Exit polls show he took an unprecedented 89% of the women's votes and easily beat Mayor Michael Whitiker.
What do you think did it?
Honesty, Charlie.
Curtis Wilson's heartfelt revelation obviously struck a chord.
Indeed.
When we come back, my interview with the Mayor-elect.
And we've gone to commercial.
I got you something.
Oh, yeah?
I know you can't, but this way you can pretend.
Thanks, Dennis.
No, thank you.
For encouraging me to keep asking the tough questions.
Anyway, I'm gonna grab my stuff from next door and head home.
So good night.
Good night.
I've been looking for you.
Oh, hi.
Congratulations.
I asked you to stay out of my business.
I know, but...
You know, that could have gone a whole different way.
But did you consider that?
No, 'cause you're Pepper Dennis and you know what's best for everyone, right?
Look, I'm exhausted and I'm sorry you're mad, but I have a half a can of tuna and a beer waiting for me at home, so unless there's anything else...
Yeah, there is.
Hey, hey, where'd Wilson go?
I wanted to run something by him before our interview.
He's in his office.
But we're on in like 40 seconds.
All right, all right.
Charlie, we're on in ten seconds.
Where the hell's the Mayor-elect?
We're on in five, four, three...
Mr.
Mayor, congratulations on your win.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Transcript: Raceman - Synchro: Amariss www.forom.com -