Murphy Brown (1988 version) by Diane English (outline)

They are re-launching this series this year. We read this script years ago though. Just never got around to posting the outline. Remember thinking it was a great pilot. 

​Outline on next page. 

ACT ONE

SCENE 1: A succession of quick cuts establishing Murphy as the ultimate female reporter and interviewer. Ending with a headline that asks the question “Who is man enough for this woman?”
 
SCENE 2: First everyone is talking about Murphy. She’s clearly a legend in the office. Then Murphy rolls up and it’s clear that she’s back from rehab and ready to get back to work. Then she meets her new boss – a 25 year old kid. She’s clearly not happy about it.
 
SCENE 3: The new boss — Miles — follows Murphy into her office. They spar as Murphy piles boxes of cigs on her desk (all retrieved from hiding places throughout the office). She refuses to do a big interview with her hands tied. He leaves. Her new secretary comes in and tells her it was a mistake to pass it up. Also somewhere in there we learn that the beauty queen is a permanent part of the team now.
 
SCENE 4: That last secretary was fired and now a man is doing the job. Murphy hangs up on the sec. of state to yell at her house painter on the other line
 
SCENE 5: Murphy once again affirms that she won’t do the interview. But then the beauty queen says she would have made the exact same decision and Murphy reconsiders…
 
SCENE 6: Murphy at the bar in order to take the pre-liminary meeting her young boss set up with the possible interviewee – Bobby Powell. It doesn’t go well. He storms out. But then Murphy spots the beauty queen signing graphs and feels threatened, so she says she’ll do it. (also cuz she kind of relates to what Powell was saying.)
 
ACT TWO
 
SCENE 1
Murphy and gang anticipating interview ratings etc. Murphy seems a little nervous but no one offers much help.
 
SCENE 2
In the studio. Getting ready for the interview. Murphy is not gonna ask the question. Then she sees what a douche Bobby really is (bringing agents, lawyers, wanting publicity). Then she asks the forbidden question!!
 
Note: Interesting gender stuff here. Male receptionist. Murphy playing against the beauty queen. Interviewing a guy who had sex with a married woman who is also a female presidential candidate.
 
SCENE 3: Miles and Murphy make up, even though she brought a lawsuit onto him and the station. He’s young but promising and she’s gonna help him fight for his job.
 
SCENE 4:
Murphy sings along to Aretha Franklin as the painter that she’s had a running conflict emerges from the kitchen. She tells him to keep painting and goes to bed (after being embarrassed when she’s discovered).