Disclaimer

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Dana is sitting at her desk and Natalie is sitting in the chair on the other side of it. Both of them are listening to J.J. make a presentation.

Dana: Good. So we got David Chapman.

J.J.: How 'bout we take the athlete's side for once. This is a sports program.

Dana: It's a news program, we don't take anybody's side.

Natalie: Are you suggesting we congratulate David Chapman for beating a man over the head with a bottle?

J.J.: I'm suggesting, Natalie, that a man's just played and won a college basketball game against a state rival-

Natalie: Yes...

J.J.: -he goes to local bar to have a few beers-

Natalie: Yes...

J.J.: -it's a drunken, hostile crowd who's team was just upset at the buzzer-

Natalie: Right...

J.J.: -there's some taunting, some words are exchanged. Our guy grabs a bottle and hits somebody.

Natalie: That's where I get tripped up.

Dana: When did he become our guy?

Natalie: He's not our guy.

J.J.: Is there a law against going to a bar?

Dana: Nope. No law against getting drunk. No law against calling somebody a redneck. No law against breaking a bottle over their head. No, wait, it's that last one again.

J.J.: No one's saying he didn't break the law.

Dana: Well, it's still pretty early.

Natalie: May I make a suggestion?

Dana: Sorry, Natalie. I'm going to take it from you. J.J., your idea is stupid.

Natalie: Thank you.

J.J.: The guy called him a redneck and probably called him worse. What would you do, Natalie, what would you do if a guy walked up to you on your date last night and called you a Midwestern bitch?

Dana: All right, c'mon-

Natalie: Well so far, he hasn't insulted me. I can be pretty bitchy at times. I like screaming at people. It's a positive trait.

J.J.: Yeah, but he won't get off of you. He knows everything about you, or he thinks he does 'cause he reads the papers and listens to the call-in shows, and he's in your face and he's drunk and you're with this guy and he won't let up. What do you do, Natalie? What does your boyfriend do?

Natalie: I show some discretion. (slaps her hand on the chair arm) This is a twirpy little man who's showing off in a bar. He's embarrassing himself and he's embarrassing his friends. If his girlfriend didn't break up with him yesterday, she's going to tomorrow. This is a loser. It doesn't take a lot of wit to overcome that obstacle. I, along with my hero boyfriend, show some discretion, J.J. And we show some class. And if we don't, I would expect, in some measure, the wrath of a civilized people.

J.J.: Just listen to me on this.

Dana: J.J., you're insane and I can't believe this conversation's gone on as long as it has.

-----

Dan sits on a couch, leaning forward with his hands folded in front of him. He is sitting inside of Abby's office.

Abby: Are you happy with that?

Dan: I... I don't know.

Abby: Does your uncertainty give you your answer?

Dan: I thought you were supposed to be telling me what to do.

Abby: I only help you find the answers you have inside you, Dan.

Dan: I don't know what to do.

Abby: Let's review it again.

Dan: Okay.

Abby: You have been having problems with Rebecca. You two have been fighting for the last month, but you still keep holding on.

Dan: I love her.

Abby: Do you love her or love the challenge?

Dan: What challenge?

Abby: Have you considered Rebecca may be just out of your reach?

Dan: She's not out of my league. She's not better than me.

Abby: I didn't say she's better than you. I'm merely suggesting that it's possible you may love Rebecca because this is a challenge.

Dan: I don't understand.

Abby: What are you two fighting about?

Dan: I said we've been fighting about everything.

Abby: You said you had thought she may be having an affair. On the other hand, she is assuming you are consumed by your own selfishness.

Dan: Yeah.

Abby: I hear assuming and thinking. I haven't been hearing talking or discussing.

Dan: Yeah. She's hiding something. I know it.

Abby: Are you hiding something from her?

Dan looks up directly at Abby.

Abby: Have you two considered joint counseling?

Dan: No.

Abby: It might help your relationship. It might help improve your communication skills.

-----

Natalie is walking outside of the editing room, when the door opens and Jeremy comes out holding a tape in his hand.

Jeremy: Natalie.

Natalie: Jeremy.

Jeremy: Could I have a word with you?

Natalie: I'm a little busy right now.

Jeremy: It will only take a minute.

Natalie looks at her watch.

Natalie: I have about forty-five seconds available.

Jeremy: Deal.

Jeremy opens the door to the editing room, and Natalie walks in, followed by Jeremy.

Natalie: So what's the word?

Jeremy: I just want to say that I am all right with it.

Natalie: All right with what?

Jeremy: You and Marcus.

Natalie: What are you talking about?

Jeremy: You have a crush on him.

Natalie: I do not have a crush on him.

Jeremy: Come on, Natalie. Admit it.

Natalie: I do not have a crush on Marcus.

Jeremy: You laugh at his jokes.

Natalie: He's funny.

Jeremy: Even the really bad ones.

Natalie: So?

Jeremy: You've been spending a lot of time with him this past week.

Natalie: I been helping train him.

Jeremy: You get that glazed over look whenever you are around him.

Natalie: I do not.

Jeremy: Yes, you do.

Natalie: No, I do not.

Jeremy: No need to be defensive. I am all right with it.

Natalie: I do not have a crush on Marcus.

Jeremy: He is a handsome man, I'll give him that.

Natalie: Jeremy.

Jeremy smiles.

Jeremy: What? It's all right, Natalie.

Natalie gets right up in Jeremy's face.

Natalie: He's a friend, Jeremy. He's just a friend. And I don't need your permission to choose my friends. Yes, he's funny. Yes, I've been spending a lot of time training him. And God knows, he is very good-looking. Damn good looking. But I don't need you to pull me aside to make me think I am easing your conscience by you saying 'it is all right.'

Jeremy: I... I was just meaning-

Natalie starts to walk away.

Natalie: Jeremy, grow up.

Natalie leaves the room, closing the door behind her.

Jeremy: (to himself) That went well.

-----

Isaac is sitting at his desk and talking on the phone, when Casey walks in.

Isaac: (on phone) Thanks for the info. I'm going to have to talk you you later. Goodbye. (hangs up phone) What can I do for you, Casey?

Casey takes a seat in front of Isaac's desk.

Casey: Am I famous?

Isaac looks at Casey strangely.

Isaac: Yes, you are King of the World.

Casey: No, seriously.

Isaac: Casey, you are on television. You've signed autographs. You get fan mail. I would assume you know the answer.

Casey: I'm not famous enough.

Isaac: Something happened that I'm going to hear about.

Casey: My friend from Indianapolis called me up and told me that I needed to call this radio station's morning crew. For Thanksgiving, they wanted celebrities to call up and talk to them for a few minutes. The radio station would then donate a thousand dollars to that celebrity's charity.

Isaac: You called and they didn't think you were a celebrity.

Casey: I called and they were talking with Martin Sheen.

Isaac: He's more famous than you. What do you think they were going to do? 'Mr. Sheen, we've got a cable sportscaster on line five, we've got to let you go.' Click.

Casey: No, not that.

Isaac: Then what's the problem?

Casey: They kept me on terminal hold. They talked with Martin Sheen, and then they talked with some actress who plays a secretary on a show about an Irishman living with his elderly father and teenage son.

Isaac: Who was the actress?

Casey: I had never heard of her before.

Isaac: Then they talked with you.

Casey: Yes.

Isaac: Good. You got one-thousand dollars donated to charity. End of story. Happy Thanksgiving.

Casey sits there, still looking distraught.

Isaac: It's not the radio station. It's something else.

Casey: It's Lisa.

Isaac: No intimate details.

Casey: She's invited all the families over for Thanksgiving dinner. She says it's going to be 'like the good ol' days.'

Isaac: She thinks you two are together for good, while you still aren't sure.

Casey: It's frustrating.

Isaac: And you didn't object because she's Lisa and you're Casey.

Casey: Yes.

Isaac: If you know the problem and you know the answer, then why am I involved in this?

Casey: I don't know. I guess I'm not being very thankful this holiday season.

Isaac: Casey, look. Count the blessings you have in front of you. Count the blessings you will have. Be thankful for the position you are in. Everything will work out for the best.

Casey: Thanks, Isaac.

Casey gets up to leave, and as he reaches the door, he turns around.

Casey: Isaac, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Isaac: Hosea Williams.

Casey: The civil rights leader who just passed away?

Isaac: Yes. The Reverend Hosea Williams. He did so much for the civil rights movement. It was Dr. King, Hosea, and Andrew Young. They helped make the world a better place. Did you know he also fought in World War II? He's a great man. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be here today.

Casey: Really?

Isaac: He helped open the doors for so many of us. That helped me get my first break in Atlanta. That's where it all began.

Casey: I guess then- god bless Hosea Williams.

Isaac: Yes, god bless, indeed.

-----

The scene shifts to the outside of a coffee shop. As you look inside the front window, you can see some customers standing in line and making their orders while other customers are sitting and chatting with each other or reading alone- and all drinking their style of coffee.

You go inside the coffee shop, and off in the corner, you see Dan and Rebecca sitting, having a conversation, and both looking somber. You move closer to listen in on their conversation.

Rebecca: This is a civilized conversation we've been having.

Dan: Yes it has.

Rebecca: There's no need to beat around the bush. I know what you have been trying to say.

Dan: I'm sorry.

The two sit silently for a moment.

Dan: It's just-

Rebecca: I know.

Dan fiddles with his napkin.

Dan: I still love you.

Rebecca: I love you, too.

Rebecca moves her coffee from her left hand to her right hand.

Dan: This is hard.

Rebecca: Yes, it is.

Dan: You still won't consider joint counseling?

Rebecca shakes her head.

Rebecca: I can't.

Rebecca takes a sip of her coffee.

Rebecca: I need... I need to work on myself before we can work on our relationship.

Dan: I'll say I understand, but inside, I really don't.

Rebecca gets up from her chair. Then Dan gets up from his chair.

Rebecca: Let's give it a break. After a little while, let's get back in touch.

Dan nods his head in agreement.

Rebecca gives Dan a kiss on the cheek.

The two hug, and then give each other one last passionate kiss.

Rebecca: Goodbye, Dan. Take care.

Tears start to form in Rebecca's eyes as she walks away.

Dan: (choked up) Goodbye, Rebecca.

You pull away and watch Rebecca walk out the door of the coffee shop while Dan stands and watches her walk away. You see her walk by the front window- she is composing herself and you know if she looks in the window, she will completely lose it. She gets by the window without looking inside or looking back.

Dan takes a deep breath and stands there, while you move away and out of the coffee shop. As you go by the front window and look inside, you can see Dan still standing there- but you can see him wipe his cheek, most likely wiping a tear away.

-----

Natalie is sitting at her desk, busily working away. Kim comes up and hands her a tape and you can see Natalie thanking her. Natalie gets up and walks through the newsroom. You break away from Natalie, and move over to Jeremy's desk. Jeremy is watching Natalie walk across from the other side of the room. After she exits the newsroom, Jeremy picks up his pen and continues writing- probably writing another letter to his sister, Louise.

-----

Casey is sitting at his desk with his hands folded. He is deep in thought. Elliott comes in and hands Casey a note. Casey begins to focus back on his work.

-----

We close out the episode by finding yourself inside of a busy, casual restaurant. You go by a server who is taking an order from a family of four. Moving your way around, you go by another server who is placing some hot dinners in front of a couple. You swing by another couple who are putting on their coats as they are leaving their table. Finally, you reach a corner table and see Dana and Kevin having an animated conversation. Dana is laughing, and you can tell the two are enjoying themselves. Their server comes back with some ice cream and chocolate cake. He places the dish of ice cream in front of Kevin and the chocolate cake in front of Dana. Each of them take a bite of each other's dessert before starting on their own.