Disclaimer

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The scene opens with Dan and Casey sitting at their desks in their office. Dan starts slapping the side of his computer. Casey looks over toward Dan and is slightly amused.

Dan: Case, your computer working okay today?

Casey: Just fine.

Dan gets up and walks to the doorway. He looks out and yells out, "Jeremy?" but he does not get a response or see any sign of him in the newsroom.

Dan: Where's Jeremy?

Casey: What time is it?

Dan: (looking at his watch) It's after seven.

Casey: Probably still at dinner.

Dan: He should be back by now. He's late.

Casey: Unless he brings more food.

Dan: (turns to Casey) My computer's not working. I can't write, Case!

Casey: I can't finish up my writing either when you keep talking.

With that, Dan takes a hint and wanders out to see whom he can bother to help him out. He soon runs into Isaac.

Isaac: Good evening, Daniel.

Dan: Isaac, I'm having a crisis.

Isaac: A real crisis or a Dan-special crisis?

Dan stares him in the eye while pushing back quips about the many 'Dana-Special crises,' 'Natalie-Special crises,' and 'Casey-Special crises' that he and the others have been through, and finally comes up with, "My computer isn't working right - and Jeremy's not here to fix it."

Isaac: Actually, Dan, Jeremy is never here to fix it. He's an associate producer, not your own personal technical support.

Dan: Whatever. He usually fixes things, and he's not here, so I need it fixed.

Isaac starts heading toward the elevator in the newsroom.

Isaac: So do what the rest of us do.

Dan: What's that?

Isaac: Call tech support. (steps into the elevator)

Dan spins back around and heads back to his office to bother Casey once again.

Dan: Tech support.

Casey: Yeah.

Dan: You ever called them?

Casey: When I need support in the technical area, yes... I've called down there. They're very helpful. You should try it.

Dan: And they can send someone to fix my computer... now, like right now, because I have a lot to do tonight, and I'm just sayin' I can't wait around for some computer nerd with a pocket protector and bad breath to finish playing computer games to come up here and fix my computer.

Casey: (speaking slowly) Tell them it's important; they'll send someone up. You might want to refer to them in a nicer way though, might help the quality of service you receive.

Dan: Hey, I'm Dan Rydell! Everyone loves me. (walks over to his desk and picks up the phone) What's the extension?

Casey: Look it up.

Casey buries himself back in his work as Dan flips through his rolodex, then dials. He tunes out Dan's pathetic plea for help, and hopes this is the end of it. Dan hangs up his phone and looks disgusted.

Dan: Joe's coming. They're sending some guy named Joe. Probably in an hour. Probably. Do you know Joe- is he good?

Casey: (chuckles to himself) I know no guy named Joe.

Dan: Case, I need to write my thirty seconds on Anna Kournikova. I need to write!

Dan flops down onto the couch and starts dramatically flipping though Casey's newspaper.

Casey: Finished.

Dan: Good for you, Mr. Technology-Superior Man.

Casey: Need something to write with, like a pencil and paper?

Dan: I need a computer. I can't wait an hour.

Casey: Listen. You can use my computer. I have other things to do, and if I need a computer, I'll just use the one in Dana's office.

Dan: Why didn't you say so?

Casey: There are times when I enjoy watching a 'Dan-crisis.'

Elliott enters their office.

Elliott: Hey, guys. Casey, I need to speak with you.

Casey: About?

Elliott: Something.

Dan moves next to Casey's chair, so he can gain access to Casey's computer.

Dan: Move, please.

Casey: Something? (gets out of his chair)

Elliott: Yeah.

Casey: Okay.

Dan settles into Casey's chair.

Dan: He wants to speak with you in private, and I'm not moving because I need to write.

Casey: Yeah?

Elliott: Yeah.

Casey: Okay.

Dan: Remember, no secrets.

Casey and Elliott leave the office and walk into the newsroom, while Dan types away at Casey's computer.

-----

Elliott and Casey walk through the newsroom, while Elliott shares his new-found information.

Elliott: I got the scoop on the incident.

Casey: What incident?

Elliott: The six people, including three Orioles, who got arrested in Baltimore.

Casey: What happened?

Elliott: They were busted doing drugs in a hotel room. So far, it's possession, but the police are looking into possible additional charges.

Casey: Like?

Elliott: Intent to sell. They had illegal narcotics.

Casey: Who are the people?

Elliott: The three Orioles are Mike Ward, Rafael Hernandez, and... (whispering) Rojas.

Casey: Dan's favorite player, Orlando Rojas?

Elliott: Shhhh.

Casey: (whispering) Orlando Rojas?

Elliott: Yeah.

Casey: But the Orioles are playing... like right now?

Elliott: All three are in jail, so they are not playing. As for the rest of the Orioles, yes, they are playing right now.

Casey: Rojas was contending for the Cy Young Award.

Elliott: I know.

Casey: Dan doesn't know.

Elliott: So far, only you and me know.

Casey: Oh, man. (runs a hand through his hair and grabs the back of his neck) I'll break it to him.

Elliott: Thanks.

Casey: I need to let Natalie know.

Elliott: I think she was hanging out in Dana's office.

Casey: Okay. Thanks, Elliott.

Elliott: Sure.

-----

We are inside Dana's office. The lights are out, the door is closed, and the only light coming into the room is from the small window on her door and from the edges of the closed window blinds.

There is a knock on the door, and the door handle slowly turns. The door opens part of the way and a mysterious head pops inside the room. "Natalie?" whispers the head, which is Casey's.

Natalie: sniff... Yeah, I'm in here.

Casey: Natalie?

The door opens and Casey walks in, flipping on the light switch. Natalie covers her eyes, not yet adjusted to the sudden burst of light and to hide her crying.

Natalie: Hey, Casey... sniff.

Casey: Oh, sorry. You okay?

Natalie: I'll be fine.

Casey closes the door, then sits on the edge of Dana's desk, next to Natalie, who is sitting in Dana's chair.

Casey: It will be all right.

Natalie: I know. (starts wiping the tears from her eyes) I'm sorry for the way I yelled at you and Dan earlier, and I'm sorry for the way I've been treating everybody lately.

Casey: It's okay. I know.

Casey takes hold of Natalie's tear-stained hand.

Casey: I really wanted to go to Sydney, too.

Natalie: I know. (starts to giggle)

Casey: I don't understand some of the choices made recently. We've got all these new people and they pieced togther our Sydney coverage team.

Natalie: Dana got to go there.

Casey: Yeah.

Natalie: I wish I could have gone with her. I wish I was there.

Casey: Somebody had to stay behind to be executive producer of 'Sports Night.'

Natalie: And I needed anchors for the show.

Casey: Yeah. I really wanted that job.

Natalie: 'Sports Night'? (giggles)

Casey laughs with her and nods his head.

Casey: That, too. I really wanted to be the lead anchor for the 'Summer Games Report.'

Natalie: And they sent Bobbi and that new guy, Marcus Young.

Casey: I can understand Marcus because he covered Atlanta really well four years ago, but I'm disappointed with Bobbi being chosen over me.

Natalie: I know.

Casey: I thought I had earned it. I thought I deserved that job. I deserved to go to Sydney.

Natalie: Me, too.

Casey: Everyone around the world is focused on these games. It would have been an honor to cover the highlights and do stories on our present and future heroes.

Natalie: Yeah. How did you cope?

Casey: A few months ago, I was really disappointed. Then I saw Charlie hit a game-winning home run.

Natalie: I remember you bragging about it.

Casey: It was unbelievable. It made me realize there are great things happening everyday. Everyday, there are new heroes.

Natalie: Huh. (nods her head in agreement) Yeah.

Casey: People have put time, effort, and dedication into going to Sydney, and this is their time. This is their spotlight. Also, there are people who have the same dedication, the same effort, and use the same amount of time, but they never see the spotlight. Sydney's important, don't get me wrong. I just take solace in the fact there are things which are just as important to other people. I wish you did get to go to the Summer Games, Natalie. You have more spirit-

Natalie: Olympic fever.

Casey: Yeah, more Olympic fever than anyone else. You deserved to go there. If I could have sent you, I would have done so.

Natalie: Thank you, Casey.

Natalie gets up and hugs Casey.

Natalie: Salt Lake City?

Casey: Yeah, Salt Lake City.

-----

We are in the middle of the show, and Casey is just wrapping up the American League baseball highlights.

Casey: (on-air) ...were mathematically eliminated from the postseason with their loss earlier tonight. Dan.

Dan: (on-air) Now updating you with a story we broke to you earlier this evening. Three members of the Baltimore Orioles were arrested and jailed this afternoon. Cy-Young-candidate and starting pitcher Orlando Rojas, outfielder Rafael Hernandez, pitcher Mike Ward, and three others were arrested by Baltimore police inside a hotel room during a drug bust. They were taken into custody, and, we have just learned, the three Orioles have posted bail and been released. Spokespeople for the players and the Orioles have refused to comment on the incident, and stay tuned to CSC for we will keep you informed of any late-breaking news on this story. Casey.

Casey: (on-air) Anna Kournikova is known to draw attention to her looks. The tennis star and part-time model has made more money from endorsements than any other female tennis player in the history of the game. A week from this Thursday night, CSC will present a closer look at this tennis phenom, and how she has been battling her way to the top of the tennis rankings.

Dan: (on-air) We will examine how she fought her way from being a skinny girl with potential, training in Florida, to becoming today's superstar and current fifteenth best female player in the world. We will see how she has become a role model to many young women out there, and we will see how she has dealt with success. We will take a look at how she has coped with the thousands of male fans, and how she has dealt with reported jealousies in women's tennis.

Casey: (on-air) The focus of the season-premiere of 'Heroes of the Game' is going to be Anna Kournikova, which will air a week from this Thursday night at 10 P.M. Eastern, 9 Central right before 'Sports Night' on CSC. And we will be back right after this.

We look into the control room and see everyone wrapping the last segment up. We can see Dave say "Back in sixty," and Natalie asks if "Sydney is up?" Isaac is sitting quietly next to Natalie and he seems to be pleased with the way the show is going this evening. Natalie balls up a piece of paper, destined to be trash. She takes the ball, throws it across the room, and bounces it off the side of Jeremy's head. Jeremy, who was focused on the work in front of him, looks up and around, and yells "Hey. Who did that?" No one confesses to the crime. Jeremy takes the trash and tosses it into the can, but as he does, he is hit in the back of the head with another piece of trash. Jeremy turns around and looks at Natalie, and she flashes a huge smile at him.

In the studio, we see Casey laughing aloud, and Dan is waving his arms in the air, like he is flapping his wings. The two are sharing a good joke as we close out the scene.