Disclaimer

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Isaac is standing behind his desk and he is watching a basketball game on the monitor. He is watching it very attentively and he stands there with his arms crossed.

There is a knock on the door. Isaac presses a button on the remote, stops the video, and turns the monitor off.

Isaac: Come in.

The door opens and Dan walks in.

Isaac: Daniel, welcome. What brings you in here today?

Dan: Got a minute, Isaac?

Isaac: Sure. Sit down.

Isaac sits in a chair in front of his desk, and Dan takes a seat in the chair next to him.

Isaac: I was watching a tape of the game you did last week.

Dan: Yeah.

Isaac: You did a pretty good job.

Dan: Pretty good, huh?

Isaac: Yes, a pretty good job for not announcing a game in years.

Dan: Thanks.

Dan looks glum.

Isaac: I'd thought you'd be happy. What's up?

Dan: It's not the game.

Isaac: It's not another Secret Santa gift?

Dan: I got another one today, but that's not it.

Isaac: You came in here for a reason, Daniel. What's going on?

Dan: Have you heard anything about... you know... contract negotiations? How they're coming along?

Isaac: Which one?

Dan: Our show.

Isaac: No. I haven't heard a thing.

Dan: Oh.

Isaac: Have you heard something?

Dan: Well, um. I'm just concerned about it.

Isaac: Daniel, all I know is that you guys have contracts set to expire this summer. As for me, I'm here until they fire me, I retire, or I end up dead.

A smile comes across Dan's face.

Isaac: Did you receive an offer?

Dan nods his head in agreement.

Isaac: Good. I'm glad to have you back.

Dan sits there in silence.

Isaac: Casey hasn't received anything.

Dan: Right.

Isaac: Don't worry. Things take time. Casey will re-up and you two will be working together for years to come. (pause) You don't look convinced.

Dan: I don't want to take it if Casey isn't going to be here.

Isaac: They're going to give him a contract. It would not be a good business decision not to make an offer. With all the money invested in CSC, you two are the foundation to build up from.

Dan: I'm just not so sure.

Dan gets up.

Isaac: Well, I am. And you know I will fight for both of you.

Isaac gets up. Dan reaches out and they shake hands.

Dan: Thanks.

Isaac: You're welcome.

Dan leaves his office and closes the door behind him.

Outside of Isaac's office, Dan reaches inside his jacket pocket and pulls out a set of sheets stapled together and folded into thirds. He opens it up and looks at the front page.

Dan: Three years, a ton of money, and no guarantee of Casey.

Dan shakes his head, folds the contract back up, places it back in his jacket, and walks down the hall.

-----

Kevin hands the bouquet of flowers over to Dana. She gives him a hug and she kisses him on the cheek.

Dana: They're beautiful. Thank you.

Kevin: I thought I would give you a surprise before tonight.

Dana: Well, I'm surprised.

Kevin pulls Dana gently over to himself and slowly kisses her. They were forced to part by the sound of Natalie's voice.

Natalie: You should give those flowers to me. I'll get something to put them in.

Kevin: You must be Natalie.

Natalie: Yes, you must be Kevin. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Dana smiles as Kevin and Natalie shake hands. Dana hands the flowers over to Natalie and she takes them out the door. As she leaves, Natalie turns around and gives her a look which said, "I want details." Kevin and Dana are standing face-to-face, while Casey stands behind and between them.

Casey: Ahem. Kevin. Casey McCall.

Kevin briefly makes eye contact with Casey, and they shake hands. Kevin returns his focus to Dana.

Kevin: Casey, how come you never told me you worked with such a beautiful executive producer?

Casey: Probably because she's married and she just had a baby a couple of months ago.

Dana lets out a nervous laugh.

Dana: Casey. Out.

Dana comes over and starts gently pushing Casey out of her office.

Casey: If you're nice enough, she'll show you the tattoo on her inner thigh.

Dana: That's enough Casey.

Dana pushes Casey completely out of the office.

Casey turns around and attempts to say one more thing.

Casey: Oh and watch out for-

SLAM!

Dana slams her door in Casey's face, effectively cutting him off. She leans her back against the door.

Dana: Hi.

Kevin smiles as Dana plays coy.

Kevin: I never knew you had such a secretive and adventuresome life.

Dana: It's something to do in my spare time.

Kevin: Could I see the tattoo?

-----

Dan is sitting on the couch in his office. He stares at a little package wrapped in colorful Christmas wrapping and sitting on his desk. He's so preoccupied, he doesn't even notice Jeremy standing in the doorway. For a few moments, all was silent, Dan staring at the present, Jeremy staring at Dan.

Suddenly, as if he was knocked out of his trance, Dan sat up.

Dan: I think I saw it move.

Jeremy enters the office.

Jeremy: What? (looks at the box)

Dan: It moved, the box moved.

Jeremy: Are you sure?

Dan: Yeah.

Dan stands up and hesitantly approaches the package. He looks down at the mysterious gift.

Dan: I wonder what's in it.

Jeremy: Maybe you should open it.

Dan: Oh no!

Dan backs away from his desk.

Jeremy: Come on, at least take off the wrapping!

Jeremy picks up the present and tries to hand it to Dan.

Dan: Don't!

Jeremy shakes the package and nothing can be heard rattling around in the box. He puts the box back down on the table.

Jeremy: What's wrong with you?

Dan: Me? Nothing! It's that thing. (points at the box) It's her!

Jeremy: Who?

Dan: Her. My 'Secret Santa'. She's deranged!

Jeremy: Deranged? Dan.

Dan: She some sort of psycho or something, and she's out to get me. Look at those.

Dan points to the far corner of the office as Jeremy looks over his shoulder.

Dan: Take a look and tell me I'm not crazy!

Jeremy walks over to the pile and fingers a piece of fabric. He picks it up. A pair of men's leopard print briefs. Another item catches his eye. A whip. Jeremy dropped the underwear and turned to his friend.

Jeremy: Dan...

Dan: No kidding.

Jeremy: She gave you all of these?

Dan: Yeah.

Jeremy: And that?

Jeremy points at the latest gift which remains unopened.

Dan: Yeah.

Jeremy: Dan.

Dan: No kidding.

Jeremy: Who is she?

Dan: I don't know.

Dan sits on the couch again and lays his head back in exasperation.

Jeremy: What are you going to do?

Dan: I'm going to find out who she is, Jeremy.

Jeremy: Are you sure that is a wise decision?

Dan: What would you do?

Jeremy: Well, in my case, the better question would be, what would Natalie do?

Dan: And?

Jeremy: She'd want to know who this crazy woman is.

Dan: Well I'm stuck.

Jeremy: Do you know anything about her?

Dan: Nope. She doesn't sign the cards.

Jeremy: Rebecca?

Dan: Nope.

Jeremy: Do you think your 'Secret Santa' friend works here?

Dan: I have no idea Jeremy. I'm not even sure that it's a woman.

Jeremy: Dan?

Dan: Yeah?

Jeremy: The office holiday party is tonight.

Dan: I know.

Jeremy: Are you scared?

Dan: Jeremy, I'm a grown man. I have faced dozens of situations with adoring fans- many of them being women.

Jeremy: Dozens? Really?

Dan: Ok, maybe not dozens, but there have been one or two occasions, and I have dealt with them in my own suave style, as I will with this.

Jeremy: Yes, but are you scared?

Dan is silent for a moment. He then hangs his head.

Dan: I'm petrified.

Jeremy: Good luck.

Dan: Thanks.

Jeremy turns to leave the office.

Dan: Jeremy?

Jeremy: Yeah?

Dan: What did you want?

Jeremy: Uh, nothing. You just do what you have to do.

Dan: I will.

-----

You are going down a hallway. People are going about their business, when you notice Jeremy and Isaac turning down the hallway and walking toward you. They are in the middle of a conversation.

Jeremy: I'm telling you, Isaac. It was something. It was a second chance. It was a miracle. It was a gift.

Isaac: Take it easy, Jeremy.

Jeremy: Almost being run over has given me a new perspective on life. I want to take chances. I want to be happy.

Isaac: And you think this 'gift' has given you a better perspective?

Jeremy: Yes. Something subtle would not have been as effective.

Isaac: So you think you should have been hit by that car?

Jeremy: We were in the path, and somehow, it missed us. We should have been hit.

Isaac: What if it wasn't a miracle? What if it wasn't meant to happen?

Jeremy: No, Isaac. We would have been hit.

Isaac: That's not what I am saying. What if you weren't meant to be hit?

A confused Jeremy looks at Isaac.

Isaac: Would it have been a miracle if you had been hit? Would you appreciate things more if you had to suffer injuries? Take and learn your lessons from life, Jeremy. Do not deem it a blessing until you have had a chance to live out the results.

Jeremy nods his head, understanding what Isaac meant.

Jeremy: So you're saying we were not supposed to get hit?

Isaac: I would like to believe so.

Jeremy: There was not necessarily a miracle? Not a majestic blessing?

Isaac: There was a lesson to be learned, Jeremy. I hope you can learn from it. What happened yesterday was life. Life continues, and you adjust and learn.

Jeremy: Well, I learned a lesson.

Isaac: I'm glad you did. And I'm glad you are still here.

Jeremy: Thanks, Isaac.

-----

Lisa and Casey are in the living room of her house. Lisa has pulled a drape aside and is excitedly looking out the window.

Lisa: They're here!

Casey: Good.

Lisa: Be sure to give them a hand with their luggage.

Casey: I will.

Lisa shouts toward another room.

Lisa: Charlie! Grandma and Grandpa are here!

Charlie can be heard shouting "Okay," from the other room.

Lisa goes over to the front door as Casey follows behind her. Lisa opens the door and her parents walk to the front stoop and into the atrium.

Lisa: Mommy! Daddy!

Lisa gives a big hug to her father.

Lisa's Dad: How's my baby girl?

Lisa: Great, Daddy.

Lisa goes over and hugs her mother.

Lisa: Mommy, how are you?

Lisa's Mom: Oh, I'm doing fine. The drive was longer this time because your father got lost... again.

Lisa: Well, everybody's here and together for Christmas.

Charlie comes running down the steps.

Charlie: Grandpa!

Charlie runs over to his grandfather and gives him a hug.

Lisa's Dad: How's my little man?

Charlie: Great! How about you? How was the trip?

Lisa's Dad: Fine. Fine, Charlie.

As Charlie goes off to be with his mother and grandmother, Lisa's father walks over to Casey.

Casey: Merry Christmas, Mr. Parson.

The two shake hands.

Lisa's Dad (Mr. Parson): Merry Christmas, Casey.

Casey: Let me get your bags from the car.

Mr. Parson: I'll give you a hand.

The two go outside to get the Parson's luggage.

Mr. Parson: Lisa says things have been going well for you two.

Casey: I'd like to think so.

Mr. Parson: You two are back together, and I hear you are going to be getting a huge contract.

Casey: That's still up in the air.

Mr. Parson: A move to Bristol might be in order for you three.

Casey: We'll have to see how things turn out.

Casey and Mr. Parson reach the back of the rental car. Mr. Parson pops open the trunk and Casey starts grabbing some bags.

Mr. Parson: I'm happy to see you two back together again. I know me and my baby were heartbroken when you two separated. I'm glad you have been able to change and work it out with her.

Casey stops for a moment.

Casey: Lisa and me.

Mr. Parson: What?

Casey: It sounded like when you said the only person who had changed was me. I thought we both had changed.

Mr. Parson: Oh. I thought you were the one to change, Casey.

Mr. Parson grabs a few bags and walks toward the house, while Casey stands there with the bags in his hands.

Casey: Oh.

...to be continued...