In fast speech, “do you” can blur; stress “what” and “got”.
So, what do you got?Bombshell · 2019 — Chapter 9 of 12 · 2'09" · B2
No One From Fox Came Forward, Explained: jump off a cliff
A meeting turns into a count of who at Fox might come forward against Roger, and the answer keeps coming back empty: “no one from Fox has come forward.” The talk sounds like strategy, but the real subject is fear — of a boss who, one line claims, “plays his women off against each other.”
What happens
A group gathers, trading names. Word comes back that nobody currently at Fox has come forward; the only name offered is someone no longer there. Talk turns to Megyn Kelly's unusual silence, her contract talks, and whether she might be worth calling. Later, someone arrives home calling for Mom, and a voice says they'll get him.
Listen for
come forwardshare the spotlightplay someone off against someonescrewing
00:00 / 02:09Space play · ← → lines · R repeat
Now
Phrase of the scene
jump off a cliff
to take a reckless, all-in gamble
After it becomes clear that nobody joined in, one line calls the risky move a jump off a cliff: a deliberate leap taken in the hope that others would follow.
Quitting with no savings can feel like a jump off a cliff.
Also in this scene
- come forward
to volunteer information or support
- share the spotlight
to let someone share public attention
- play someone off against someone
to set people against each other for one's own gain
- screwing
having sex with someone (vulgar)
- renegotiate a deal
to negotiate the terms of an agreement again
Everything marked in this scene
29 notes across 44 lines
what have you got — Casual way to ask for updates; too loose for a formal meeting.
So, what do you got?to volunteer information or support
One line uses come forward to report that nobody inside Fox is willing to speak up, like reading from a bad-news list.
So, no one from Fox has come forward.relative clause: The relative clause narrows “no one” to people still at Fox.
But no one who's still there?only praise, nothing else
There's been nothing but praise for Roger.Keep “but” weak; the stress belongs on “nothing” and “praise”.
There's been nothing but praise for Roger.silent in a way that stands out
She's been unusually silent.modal perfect: It marks a strong deduction about the past, not an obligation.
Right. Well, something must've happened to Megyn in the past with Roger.“must've” is light and slides into “happened”; don't give it two full beats.
Right. Well, something must've happened to Megyn in the past with Roger.far too ambitious
She's way too ambitious not to support him.too...not to pattern: The pattern flips the negative: her ambition makes support almost inevitable.
She's way too ambitious not to support him.willing to share something
Tell her this is a spotlight you'd be happy to share?to set people against each other for one's own gain
Someone explains how Roger manages the women around him: he lets them suspect and fight each other, then steps in as referee.
I mean, Roger plays his women off against each other.to take over your slot or job In TV, a “spot” is airtime or a job slot
He's always done it. He'll say, Megyn thinks that Lisa should get your spot.job slot or airtime — TV-industry jargon for a slot; outsiders may hear it as a place.
He's always done it. He'll say, Megyn thinks that Lisa should get your spot.having sex (vulgar) — Vulgar and gossipy; avoid it at work or in formal settings.
Or, Megyn suspects that you're screwing Cal.to retaliate against someone
And then he'll offer advice on how to get back at her, as if you brought it up.to raise a topic first
And then he'll offer advice on how to get back at her, as if you brought it up.to suggest how to do something
And then he'll offer advice on how to get back at her, as if you brought it up.as-if clause: The past form makes it hypothetical: he acts as though you raised it, but you did not.
And then he'll offer advice on how to get back at her, as if you brought it up.to negotiate the terms of an agreement again
Someone explains Megyn's silence as deal math: she is renegotiating her contract and has too much money at stake to take a risk for someone else.
She's renegotiating her deal.reasons to keep silent
I can think of roughly 15 million reasons to stay quiet.inquiries about jobs from outside
Well, we've not had, a lot of incoming job interests from them.the first rule of a world
Rule number one of corporate America, you don't sue your boss.to take your boss to court
Rule number one of corporate America, you don't sue your boss.to take a reckless, all-in gamble
After it becomes clear that nobody joined in, one line calls the risky move a jump off a cliff: a deliberate leap taken in the hope that others would follow.
I jumped off a cliff.to support someone publicly
This is the softest line in the scene: stand with someone is used to admit expecting at least one other person to side with them, and the letdown is stated without accusation.
I thought one of them would stand with me.Let “one of them” run together, with a light “of” and soft “th”.
I thought one of them would stand with me.take him down — Fine as a promise to allies; in public it can sound like a threat.
We're gonna get him.No One From Fox Came Forward, explained
What's really going on
This conversation sounds procedural — who's willing to talk, who's still there — but nearly every line is about fear and money. One line notes there's “been nothing but praise for Roger,” while another says Megyn Kelly has been “unusually silent”; the silence is treated as a price, not doubt. She's “renegotiating her deal,” and the line that follows supplies the punchline: “I can think of roughly 15 million reasons to stay quiet.” The unwritten rule is spelled out plainly — “Rule number one of corporate America, you don't sue your boss.” Even the offer of a shared spotlight is dismissed: “Megyn, share?” and then “No. She wouldn't do it.”
Theme
PowerThe talk shows a boss's power through fear: people are afraid of Roger, and silence has a price in the millions.
SecretsThe scene turns on who will not speak — a name offered, a silence noted, a rule everyone already knows.
Listen for
- do you — In fast speech, “do you” can blur; stress “what” and “got”.
- nothing but — Keep “but” weak; the stress belongs on “nothing” and “praise”.
- must've happened — “must've” is light and slides into “happened”; don't give it two full beats.
- one of them — Let “one of them” run together, with a light “of” and soft “th”.
I jumped off a cliff.Describes taking a huge risk with no safety net: a deliberate leap, not an accident, and no way back.
I thought one of them would stand with me.The speaker expected at least one other person to publicly back them — the line makes clear that nobody did.
I can think of roughly 15 million reasons to stay quiet.A dry, ironic way of saying money is the reason someone keeps quiet: “15 million” stands in for a huge sum, not a literal count.
Rule number one of corporate America, you don't sue your boss.The unwritten rule stated plainly: suing your boss is not something you do.
We're gonna get him.A short promise that they intend to bring him down.
Questions about this scene
Why won't anyone at Fox come forward?
The dialogue points to fear: one line says “They're afraid of Roger,” and another states the rule plainly — “Rule number one of corporate America, you don't sue your boss.”
Why do they assume Megyn Kelly will stay quiet?
Because she is “renegotiating her deal,” and one line counts off “roughly 15 million reasons to stay quiet” — the money at stake is the reason given for silence.
Why is the offer of a shared spotlight treated as a joke?
The reply is “Megyn, share?” and then “No. She wouldn't do it.” The offer is dismissed outright: sharing attention is not something she is expected to do.
Why does Rudi Bakhtiar's name not settle the question?
Her name is offered, but the next question asks whether anyone who's still there has come forward — which suggests Rudi Bakhtiar is no longer at Fox.
Bombshell · 12 chapters
All chapters →
Up next · Chapter 10play by old rulesKayla and Megyn Discuss Roger
Chapter 1only rains on womenOnly Rains on Women Lawsuit
Chapter 2perpetual outrage machineKayla's Fox News Interview
Chapter 3thrive in toxic environmentsDrunk Confessions About a Hillary Poster
Chapter 4give me a twirlKayla Pitches Herself to Roger Ailes
Chapter 5cut both waysAiles Tests Kayla's Loyalty
Chapter 6complaint box in occupied ParisCoworkers Debate the Harassment Hotline
Chapter 7political footballRoger Ailes Faces Harassment Charges
Chapter 8sweep something under the rugSilence Gets Noticed in the Hallway
Watching · Chapter 9jump off a cliffNo One From Fox Came Forward
Chapter 10play by old rulesKayla and Megyn Discuss Roger
Chapter 11gave in toKayla Calls From a Date
Chapter 12come to thisRoger's Exit NegotiationChapter 9 of 12 · about 8 min to go