- Les Nessman: [about why not to hire Bailey for the new news position] Now, wait a minute, Travis. She's young, and inexperienced, and she's a wo...
- Andy Travis: A what?
- Les Nessman: A wo...
- Andy Travis: What?
- Les Nessman: A wo...
- Andy Travis: What?
- Les Nessman: A wo...
- Andy Travis: What?
- Les Nessman: A wo...
- Andy Travis: A woman, Les?
- Andy Travis: [about Les' argument about there being good reason for no women in the on-air news business] What about, uh, what about Barbara Walters.
- Les Nessman: I west my case!
- Les Nessman: [about Andy's decision to hire Bailey for the on-air news position] Over my dead body!
- Andy Travis: [rolling up his sleeves and approaching Les] All right! If that's the way you want it.
- Les Nessman: Wait a minute. What are you doing?
- Andy Travis: [grabbing Les by his shirt collar] Stand still now and don't squirm...
- Bailey Quarters: Look, Herb. Did you know that it's against the law to discriminate on the basis of sex?
- Herb Tarlek: I do *everything* on the basis... of sex.
- Andy Travis: [in his argument with Les about hiring Bailey for the on-air news position] Mr. Carlson, I need to know where you stand on this issue.
- Arthur Carlson: [getting up from his desk] Okay. The buck's gotta stop somewhere. Man can't stand the heat, shouldn't go into the kitchen. When the going gets tough, the tough get going...
- [Mr. Carlson opens the door and exits his office leaving Andy, Les and Bailey still inside the office wondering where he's going]
- Arthur Carlson: [out in the lobby quietly to Jennifer, who is reading a book] Bailey Quarters.
- Jennifer Marlowe: [barely glancing up from her book] Right.
- Arthur Carlson: Know the situation?
- Jennifer Marlowe: Roger.
- Arthur Carlson: On the air, or off?
- Jennifer Marlowe: On.
- Arthur Carlson: [turning to go back to his office] Uh-huh. We never had this conversation.
- Jennifer Marlowe: I don't remember it.
- Arthur Carlson: [back in his office to Andy, Les and Bailey] I've given this a lot of thought. Really struggled with this one. Hey, who's kidding who. I lost weight over it. But the bottom line is, Bailey goes on.
- Bailey Quarters: [walking into the bullpen with Jennifer to find Les rummaging carelessly through the papers on her desk without asking] Hey buster, what the heck is going on here?
- Les Nessman: My sports update is missing.
- Bailey Quarters: [ultimately taking the sports update from the corner of her desk and placing it deliberately in front of Les] You don't tear around with *my* desk. It's right here. I thought maybe you wanted me to proofread it for you.
- Les Nessman: No one has to proofread my copy!
- Jennifer Marlowe: Now, come on you two. Let's all be friends.
- Les Nessman: [looking up at Jennifer after reading the copy] She's changed this, Jennifer.
- Bailey Quarters: [dismissively] Oh, just a little.
- Les Nessman: No, you changed the meaning completely.
- Bailey Quarters: [pointing at the copy] It just does not make any sense. It is a "swimming meet", not a "swim meeting". Right, Jennifer?
- Jennifer Marlowe: [stumbling over her words in trying to be diplomatic] Uh, I think it probably could go both ways.
- Bailey Quarters: [pointing at the copy] And reporting that "the swimmers swam in water" is a bit unnecessary.
- Jennifer Marlowe: I don't know...
- Bailey Quarters: [pointing back at the copy] And it is the breast stroke, Les, not breast stroking!
- Jennifer Marlowe: [nodding positively to Les] That does sound wrong.
- Les Nessman: Bailey, what are you saying.
- Bailey Quarters: [about the news department job] I'm saying that I quit, Les.
- Andy Travis: [interjecting in overhearing the conversation] What?
- Bailey Quarters: That's right, Andy.
- Andy Travis: Oh, Bailey. I went to the wall for you on this one.
- Les Nessman: Uh, now mind your own business, Andy. Uh, she knows what she wants.
- Andy Travis: [to Bailey] Do you know?
- Bailey Quarters: [slightly hesitant] Sure. If what I wanted to do was be a news reporter, I'd give it my best shot. But that's not what I want to do.
- Andy Travis: [pointing at Bailey's desk] What do you want to do? Do you want to sit at this desk and, and schedule commercials the rest of your life?
- Bailey Quarters: No! I thought I'd be in upper management.
- Andy Travis: What do you mean. You want Carlson's job?
- Bailey Quarters: No. I thought I could have yours!
- Les Nessman: [excitedly seeing the tables turned on Andy] Ooooo. You'd be very good at it, Bailey.
- Andy Travis: Now look here, Les...
- Bailey Quarters: [eagerly] Okay, Les, would you just tell me when I get to go on the air?
- [giggles]
- Les Nessman: [in his recalcitrant way] When you're ready.
- Bailey Quarters: Soon?
- Les Nessman: I'll know.
- [sly smile]
- Les Nessman: Trust me.
- Bailey Quarters: [as he opens door to leave] But when?
- Les Nessman: I don't know.
- [slams door shut, is gone]
- Bailey Quarters: [complaining to Mr. Carlson] For three days,
- [holds up three fingers]
- Bailey Quarters: three days, I have changed ribbons, sharpened pencils, filed stories, rewritten copy and any other silly thing he had me do!
- Les Nessman: There is nothing silly in The News.
- Bailey Quarters: [exclaims] And every time I ask him when do I get to go on the air, he says
- [mimics:]
- Bailey Quarters: "Wait and see" or "i'll know when she's ready". I think that's enough! I just wanna know when!
- Andy Travis: Bailey, I was just telling Mr. Carlson here what a fine job you did last night.
- Bailey Quarters: Oh, thank you, Andy.
- [chuckles]
- Andy Travis: So we have decided... Get out of the way, Herb... We have decided to give you... two newscasts of your own each day.
- Bailey Quarters: [elated] Oh, God, really?
- Arthur Carlson: I beg your pardon?
- Bailey Quarters: Oh, excuse me, Mr. Carlson, I meant, "Oh, good golly, really?"
- [chuckles]
- Arthur Carlson: Thanks.
- [shakes his head]
- Andy Travis: Bailey, we think you deserve it.
- Herb Tarlek: [scoffs] Oh, brother.
- [goes off]
- Andy Travis: [correcting himself accordingly] Many of us think you deserve it.