| The Meaning of Life |
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Natalie and Jeremy run into each other on the set.
Natalie: Hey.
Jeremy: Hey, Natalie.
Natalie: Are you ready?
Jeremy: Yeah.
Natalie: I think everybody is ready, and we've got over thirty minutes until the show begins.
Jeremy: Yeah.
Natalie: Did you hear about Marcus?
Jeremy: Checked into a rehab program.
Natalie: Yeah.
Jeremy: It's good he is responsible enough to take the first step to recovery.
Natalie: Isaac's getting the final report.
Jeremy: I know.
Natalie: This could be the last time we are together.
Jeremy: You know, I'm on the road starting tomorrow.
Natalie: The Stanley Cup, yeah. I'm running the show next week.
Jeremy: That's right. That will be good for you.
Natalie: Thanks. Did you ever find an answer to your question?
Jeremy: Which one?
Natalie: What is the meaning of life?
Jeremy: No. I've looked in books, but I can't seem to find the answer.
Natalie: Don't worry too much. Knowing you, I'm sure you'll find the answer.
Jeremy: Thanks.
Natalie: Have you seen Sam?
Jeremy: Sam asked to be off of the next few days. You hear they want him to be the ratings consultant for the network?
Natalie: Yeah, I heard.
Jeremy: I believe Sam is pondering whether to accept the position.
Natalie: Yeah.
The two are quiet for a second.
Natalie: I guess I'll see you later.
Jeremy: Yeah.
Natalie and Jeremy start walking in opposite directions. Jeremy stops and turns around.
Jeremy: Natalie?
Natalie stops and turns back toward Jeremy. Jeremy walks up to Natalie.
Jeremy: What happened to us?
Natalie: I don't know.
Jeremy: You think we are trying too hard?
Natalie: Yes.
Jeremy: You do?
Natalie: I really do.
Jeremy: I'm going to say this because it needs to be said. We need to see other people. We need to date other people. We can't carry on like this.
Natalie: We can't decipher if we are lovers or just friends.
Jeremy: Exactly.
Natalie: We need a clean break.
Jeremy: That's precisely what I was thinking.
Natalie: I'm not going back to Ohio.
Jeremy: And I'm not going to quit this job.
Natalie: Let's just keep our relationship on a professional level.
Jeremy: I'm with you.
Natalie: Once we sort things out, we'll notify each other.
Jeremy: Perfect.
Natalie and Jeremy walk away in opposite directions. Both of them are happy with their decision, but uncertain of what the future may bring.
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Isaac is sitting at his desk while Donna, James, and Richard are going over the final report.
Donna: So this is what we are proposing for the next six months.
Isaac glances at the pages.
Isaac: This isn't what I asked for.
Donna: I understand, but it is only for six months. We'll reevaluate it when the time comes.
Richard: The financial numbers don't justify an increase right now.
James: And with the recent ratings dip, we are hesitant before expanding the budget.
Isaac: I feel that all this work has been for naught.
Donna: No, no Isaac. You have helped up immensely with your insight and information. That has helped us comprehend a clear picture of where we need to go with Sports Night.
Isaac: And we're still keeping Marcus Young- correct?
Donna: If it wasn't for the fact he is attempting to overcome his habit, I would have fired him. As long as he doesn't regress, I see no reason to dismiss him.
Isaac: What about Casey McCall?
Donna: It's unfortunate that we do not have the funding to keep him. It's a shame we have to lose such a good person, but we have all the anchors signed and there is no room for him. I guess you could say Marcus' recovery unfortunately pushed Casey out.
Isaac: And these other job proposals? Or shall I say reductions?
Donna: We will become more efficent and stronger by it.
Isaac: So this is your final recommendation?
James: We feel it is an adequate proposal.
Isaac: I feel like I've been kicked in the gut. These are people's jobs at stake. What if I decide not to go along with your recommendations?
Richard: Then we will have to find somebody who will.
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Dan, Casey, and Dana are sitting inside Dan and Casey's office.
Casey: Jeremy has got you going, doesn't he?
Dana: Oh, I can't get it out of my head.
Dan: It's a game.
Casey: It's a cereal.
Dana: Shut up, guys.
Natalie walks into the office.
Natalie: What's going on in here?
Dan: Natalie? Do you know the meaning of life?
Casey: And we've already said it is a cereal and a board game.
Natalie: It can be a prison term.
Dan: An adjective! Good!
Casey: Noun and adjective! Noun and adjective!
Jeremy walks into the office.
Jeremy: What's all the commotion about?
Dan: And now the question has come full circle.
Jeremy: What is the meaning of life?
Casey: Yes.
Dana: Guys, let's be serious here. I think if we put our heads together, we can come up with an answer.
Casey: Okay.
Dana: Seriously.
Dan: We'll try.
Dana: Okay. What is the meaning of life?
Natalie walks over to their bookcase and pulls out a dictionary. She looks up the definition.
Natalie: Life. A noun. That property or quality of plants and animals that distinguishes them from inorganic matter or dead organisms.
Natalie looks up.
Natalie: Do you wish for me to continue?
Jeremy: That's not necessary.
Dana: We'll take it from there. So what separates us from the dead?
Dan: We eat.
Casey: We move around.
Natalie: We do things and learn.
Jeremy: We breathe.
Dana: Is that it? Is that the meaning of life? Just to exist and eat and breathe and do things? There's something not right about that.
Casey: Some people live for sports.
Dan: Some people live for work.
Jeremy: Some people just live.
Natalie: Isaac!
Dana: Isaac is the meaning of life?
Natalie: No, he's in the newsroom. Isaac?!
Isaac stops, turns around, and slowly walks into the office.
Isaac: What's going on in here?
Dana: We're trying to determine what is the meaning of life, and we are hoping you can give us something that we haven't already examined.
Isaac: It's a cereal.
Casey: I said that.
Dana: And Dan said it was a board game, and Natalie said is was a prison term.
Jeremy: We've talked about eating, breathing, doing things, and working. We need some of your wisdom to help complete the puzzle.
Isaac laughs.
Isaac: You really want to know the meaning of life?
"YES!"
Isaac: Okay, then. I assume everyone in here was born to a set of parents.
Everyone nods in agreement.
Isaac: Christians believe in everlasting eternal life because their savior died for them. A couple tells each other, 'till death do us part.'
Jeremy: Is death the meaning of life?
Isaac: No, nowhere near death. Look, in an ideal world, a child is created because two people love each other. Christians believe Jesus died because he loved his people. People get married because they love each other. Take the fundamental root of all this, and you have your answer.
Isaac taps his chest.
Isaac: The meaning of life is love.
For a moment, everyone takes in the answer.
Dana: A child is born because that child is a product of love.
Casey: People have eternal life because they are loved by their god.
Jeremy: I think Isaac has the answer.
Kim: (over intercom) Five minutes to air. First team to the studio.
Casey, Dan, Dana, Natalie, and Jeremy do a group hug around Isaac. After they break, they leave the office.
Isaac: Dana?
Dana: Yes, Isaac.
Isaac: If you don't mind, I think I am going to call it an evening.
Dana: You do that Isaac. You've been working really hard lately. How did the final meeting go?
Isaac: We'll talk about it tomorrow.
Dana: Okay. Have a good night Isaac, and sleep well tonight.
Isaac: Thank you, Dana.
Dana: Okay everybody! We've got a show to do!
Dana starts looking around for the rest of the crew.
Dave walks into the newsroom and joins the group. Chris and Will emerge from a hallway and enter the newsroom. Chris and Will are disagreeing over something, and all Dave can do is shake his head.
Casey and Dan slap each other a high-five and then do a chest bump. Dan immediately rubs his chest, slightly aggravating his soccer injury.
Jeremy hands Natalie her clipboard, and Natalie thanks him. Natalie pats Jeremy on the back, momentarily breaking their promise for a clean break.
Kim walks into the newsroom and bumps into Casey and Dan. She takes her hand and gently touches Casey's cheek. He winces slightly, but smiles at the friendly gesture.
Elliott hangs up a telephone and can be saying, "Wait for me!" Elliott hustles and joins everybody at the end of the newsroom.
Everybody walks together into the hallway.
JoAnne is spotted with her tool box. She has just finished fixing a security system in the wall, just as the group walks by. Dan reaches out and puts his arm around Jo. Jo reacts by pushing Dan away with both arms. The push almost knocks Dan into the wall. Jo bursts out laughing, and Dan starts to laugh at his near-mishap.
Everybody walks into the control room. The crew take their positions while Dan and Casey continue to the studio set.
Dana: (into headset) Okay. Let me hear Philly. Great.
Natalie: (into headset) Kelly? Yeah, you're coming in clear.
Jeremy: I'm going to get the updates from the three games on the West Coast.
Jeremy gets up from his chair and leaves the control room.
Kim: Okay, Jeremy. (into headset) Let me see graphics three through five, and seven through nine. Thank you.
Elliott notices two people run by the control room. He leaves to do further investigation.
Dave: Camera check. Huey. Duey. Louie. You're all clear.
Chris: Loading audio 1, 1a, and 1b.
Will: Video one is set. Two is on stand-by.
Dan and Casey are having their make-up touched up by Alyson. Dan puts on his microphone, while Casey finishes putting in his earpiece.
Casey starts to mimic Dan's reaction when he was earlier shoved by JoAnne. Casey gives a look of surprise and throws his arms out, pretending to brace himself against an invisible wall. Dan tries to deny it, but he giggles at Casey's imitation.
Dan then tries to physically show Casey his side of what really happened.
Elliott runs back into the control room.
Elliott: Dana?!
Dana: What is it, Elliott?
Elliott: Isaac's just collapsed in the hallway!
Dana: Isaac has collapsed?!
Everyone stops working.
Elliott: They're calling an ambulance.
Everyone sits in shock. Jeremy walks into the control room and immediately picks up the mood. Dana stares at the monitors. Dan and Casey stare straight ahead, unsure of what to do.
Natalie turns toward Dana.
Natalie: I'll take the wheel, Dana. Go be with Isaac.
Dana throws off her headset. Elliott and Dan run out of the control room. People try to resume their duties.
Natalie: Everything will be all right. Isaac will be fine.
Dan and Casey look at each other.
Casey: Time for a prayer?
Dan: Yeah.
Dan and Casey bow their heads in prayer.
