- Brian Lewis: So, I'm talking to Gabe Sherman over at New York Magazine. He wants to write a book about Fox.
- Roger Ailes: Huh.
- Brian Lewis: Well, I think we should control the story. I think you should sit down with him, off the record, charm him, push the narrative we want.
- Roger Ailes: I'd rather go down on a five-dollar whore.
- Brian Lewis: Roger, we have to get ahead of these kinds of things, this is...
- Roger Ailes: I don't want anybody poking around. Period.
- Roger Ailes: You talk to Gretchen lately?
- Brian Lewis: Not if I don't have to.
- Roger Ailes: She's gonna guest-host "The View".
- Brian Lewis: I didn't know that.
- Roger Ailes: Exactly. I think she's getting too big for her britches. She doesn't appreciate what I've given her.
- Brian Lewis: You want me to call over there, work some magic?
- Roger Ailes: Already did that. Called the EP. I said just make sure he allows extra time for makeup, use the calmest wardrobe person you have, expect lateness, and don't make things too complicated because she doesn't respond well to that.
- Brian Lewis: Perfect.
- Roger Ailes: Put a little stink on that pretty face.
- Beth Ailes: [after the newspaper staff all quit] Let them quit. We don't need them if they can't support what we're doing. We will hire new staff.
- Joe Lindsley: Sure. I guess so, right?
- Beth Ailes: People will betray you, Joe. They will work against you, they will fight to keep the status quo. Roger and I are prepared for that fight. We have to be. You can't let moments like this bring you down. And you must always truly prepare for the worst.
- Roger Ailes: Come on, let's you and me talk breathing techniques.
- Gretchen Carlson: Oh, come on, Roger.
- Roger Ailes: Get up. Come on. This is gonna be great.
- Gretchen Carlson: I know... I know how to breathe.
- Roger Ailes: That's what they all say 'til they meet an expert. Yeah. Okay. Now...
- Gretchen Carlson: [he puts his arms around her waist] Oh.
- Roger Ailes: [moving them to her diaphragm just under her breasts] Just breathe into my hands. Come on, right where...
- Gretchen Carlson: Roger...
- Roger Ailes: Right where my hands are. Just breathe into my hands. Come on, I want to feel it. Breathe.
- [she inhales and exhales]
- Roger Ailes: And again. Uh-huh. Breathe into my hands. Now, what we have to work on...
- [moving his hands lower]
- Roger Ailes: Is rhythm, relaxation... and control. Breathe into my hands.
- Gretchen Carlson: Roger, I...
- Roger Ailes: Breathe into my hands. You know, in television, the audience, they want you to be their friend, their mother, and their lover all at the same time. And you've got to give all of that. You know, I think we should spend more time together, you and me. You need some one-on-one mentoring, maybe over a bottle of wine.
- Gretchen Carlson: You know, I know how busy you are. I wouldn't want to take up your time.
- Roger Ailes: No, no, no. Come on, it's no trouble. Anything for my people.
- Kat Lindsley: [as Roger and Beth prepare dinner] Are you sure there's nothing I can do to help?
- Beth Ailes: That's sweet of you, but we're almost ready.
- Roger Ailes: Young lady, why don't you tell us a story about when Joe was a young man?
- Beth Ailes: Oh, something we don't know.
- Joe Lindsley: I don't think there's...
- Beth Ailes: Shh.
- Kat Lindsley: [thinking] Um... oh! In high school, Joe broke the state record in the mile. Close to four minutes.
- Roger Ailes: I was a runner, too.
- Beth Ailes: Joe, that's amazing.
- Joe Lindsley: Well, not really.
- Roger Ailes: Joe. Don't denigrate yourself. Celebrate your accomplishments. Be proud.
- Beth Ailes: You won. That's the important thing.
- Joe Lindsley: Honestly, I wasn't the best runner. I could just tolerate more pain.
- Roger Ailes: Join the club, son. Join the club.
- Roger Ailes: Are you happy here, Gretchen?
- Gretchen Carlson: Yeah. Of course I am.
- Roger Ailes: Sure. Do "The View". All right?
- Gretchen Carlson: Okay.
- Roger Ailes: That make you happy?
- Gretchen Carlson: Hmm.
- Roger Ailes: Great. At the very least, you know, we'll learn something. You know, it could well be you fit in better over there. I have a lot of people saying to me all the time, they say, "Gretchen, she's not really a Fox girl. She's a little too smarty-pants," and, you know. I mean, I've always believed in you. Always. But they might be right. I don't know.
- Gretchen Carlson: Well, I could try harder to connect, then.
- Roger Ailes: Your voice. I can help you with that. You know, help you keep it in a more attractive tonal range. Yeah. You know I was a Broadway producer, right? "Hot l Baltimore," that was my show. It was a big deal at the time. It was a big success. I learned a lot about breath control. And I have helped actors and political candidates harness that power, you know?
- Brian Lewis: So, Gabe, what can I do for you?
- Gabe Sherman: I'm doing a book about Fox News.
- Brian Lewis: Book? Isn't that something.
- Gabe Sherman: I'd really love the opportunity to interview Roger.
- Brian Lewis: [on the phone with someone] Call you back.
- [hanging up]
- Brian Lewis: Gabe, I know your work. We both know you're not exactly a fan of what we do here.
- Gabe Sherman: I want this to be well-rounded. The rise of Fox, from fighting underdog to cable behemoth. Tell it from all sides, all perspectives, hence Roger. It's not Fox's story without Roger's story.
- Brian Lewis: You know how many people want to write about Roger and Fox?
- Gabe Sherman: Look, I'm not a hack, Brian. I'm gonna do a real book, and a real book is good for both of us.
- Brian Lewis: Gabe, we both know there is no book without Roger.
- Gabe Sherman: Absolutely. That's why I'm here.
- Brian Lewis: There would have to be ground rules.
- Gabe Sherman: Of course. Understood. Bu... but you can't vet it. I write what I write.
- Brian Lewis: All right, let me talk to Roger, see what I can do.
- Laurie Luhn: Roger was thrilling. From the moment that I introduced myself to him on the Bush campaign in '88, he... he listened to me, gave me advice. He got me a job at Fox. Booking. It was exciting. I was at the center of everything. It was a great opportunity for me.
- Jill Arthur: Well, sounds like he was your mentor.
- Laurie Luhn: That's what I wanted him to be. You know, I... I shouldn't be talking about any of this. None of it.
- Jill Arthur: That's what therapy is for. To talk about it.
- Laurie Luhn: That would... that would make Roger very, very angry.
- Jill Arthur: Roger's not here.
- Laurie Luhn: You don't know that. You do not know that.
- Jill Arthur: What about this? Write it down. Like, uh... like a letter to Roger. All the things you feel you can't say out loud, just write it down. The point is to bring all that darkness out into the light. Can you do that?
- Gretchen Carlson: Hey, Roger. I was just, uh, getting ready to come see you.
- Roger Ailes: Yeah, well, I thought I'd come and see you first. What did you want to talk about?
- Gretchen Carlson: Uh, well, uh... I was thinking I'd like to branch out a little. You know, polish the brand. I feel like I could do better.
- Roger Ailes: What does that mean?
- Gretchen Carlson: Well, I... I don't mean better...
- Roger Ailes: You know, "Fox & Friends" is the golden ring of breakfast television. You should be very, very grateful you got a hand on that coattail.
- Gretchen Carlson: Oh, I am. You see, it's just, um... "The View" called me...
- Roger Ailes: Hmm.
- Gretchen Carlson: Asked if I'd like to guest-host, so...
- Roger Ailes: Mm. Hmm. Let's not be naive about this. That's how they audition for new people, right?
- Gretchen Carlson: Well, I... I don't want another job, Roger. Just a chance to build my profile.
- Casey Close: [Gretchen watches the episode of "The View" she guest-hosted] Oh, you gotta stop watching that. I know how much you wanted it.
- Gretchen Carlson: Yeah. My agent talked to every outlet in town, and nothing.
- Casey Close: Gretchen, you can't go there.
- Gretchen Carlson: Roger made me toxic. Poisoned the well.
- Casey Close: Babe, you gotta let it go. You're on the highest-rated morning show on cable. You make great money. You are a success.
- Gretchen Carlson: At Fox, and only at Fox.
- Roger Ailes: You know, Beth says I should only eat at mealtimes, but a man's got to eat when a man's hungry. I like that, uh, editorial you did on Romney. Liked it a lot.
- Joe Lindsley: Thanks.
- Roger Ailes: But I think it's time to back off. You know? He's our guy now.
- Joe Lindsley: Our guy? You hate Romney. You called him a "blow-dried Mormon cult leader."
- Roger Ailes: Well... he is. He is. He's our only chance of getting that Muslim out of the White House, so let's not make perfection the enemy of the good, Joe.
- Beth Ailes: [showing Joe a bomb shelter in their basement] You see? We're prepared for whatever happens. Natural disaster, political turmoil, terrorism. We need to be protected, we need to be safe.
- Joe Lindsley: So you're just gonna hide out here and wait?
- Beth Ailes: Of course not. There's a tunnel that leads straight to the Hudson. Quick getaway. Roger... has enemies, Joe. People hate him. Al-Qaeda targeted him for assassination, did you know that? Our CIA source told him.
- Joe Lindsley: Well, sure, there are people who don't like Roger and what he does, but isn't this a bit much? I mean, they're not gonna come at the house with fire and pitchforks.
- Beth Ailes: They're out to get us, Joe. You see that. Um, liberals, welfare cheats, jihadists. They want what we have. And one day, they're gonna try and take it. And until then, we need your help to reclaim this country for the real Americans. Don't you want that, too?
- Joe Lindsley: Of... of course.
- Beth Ailes: Roger believes in you. And so do I. And when he's gone, you're gonna have some awfully big shoes to fill, Joe.
- Joe Lindsley: You know, I... I've been working 24/7. I was thinking about taking some time off, going to see my sister.
- Roger Ailes: That's a great idea. Yeah. You know, family is the most important thing. You know? The absolute foundation of our society.
- Joe Lindsley: Mm.
- Roger Ailes: Hmm. Why don't you invite her to come stay here? Beth and I would love to meet her. It's a much better idea.