| Feet of Clay |
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Casey is sitting in the green room as Dana enters.
Dana: Hey.
Casey: Hey.
Dana: Whatcha' doing?
Casey: I'm sitting here watching the show. Aren't you supposed to be producing it?
Dana: They'll be fine.
Casey: Dan just missed his cue.
Dana: What?!
Dana turns toward the television.
Casey: Gotcha'.
Dana breathes a sigh of relief.
Dana: Very funny, smarty pants.
Casey: Have to keep you on your toes.
Dana: Yes, you do.
There is a moment of silence.
Casey: You're not getting into trouble again, are you?
Dana: No, no.
Casey: Because they said I couldn't hang out in the studio or the control room, but I could be in the green room.
Dana: You're fine. I'm fine. Watch the show.
Casey: But?
Dana: But you need to go.
Casey: Why?
Dana: I need you to go grab a table at Anthony's.
Casey: They're fine.
Dana: Casey, please go.
Casey: They're not packed at this time of night. We can easily walk in and be seated at a table.
Dana: They're busy tonight.
Casey: They are?
Dana: Yeah. I checked with them earlier.
Casey: And they're busy?
Dana: People are having to wait thirty minutes for a table.
Casey: You called to ask how business was doing, and they said customers were having to wait a half an hour to get a table.
Dana: Yes.
Casey: And you didn't make a reservation?
Dana: Well, I didn't think of it at the time.
Casey: But you called-
Dana: Casey, please just go and grab a table down there.
Casey starts to laugh.
Casey: You're serious about this?
Dana: I'm hungry... really hungry. And tired. I'm really hungry and tired. Go down, get a table, and I'll meet you down there after the show.
Casey: Okay.
Dana: Thank you.
Casey gets up out of the chair.
Casey: Danny just missed his cue.
Dana: Ha, ha, you're so funny... Oh God! That's the wrong graphic!
Dana jumps ahead of Casey and runs out of the green room.
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Dan: (on-air) We'll have highlights from the Giants and Diamondbacks on the West Coast Update- coming up at 11 PM Pacific. That is going to do it for this edition of Sports Night. Tomorrow night, I'll be partnered with Tina Lake. For Bobbi Bernstein and the rest of the CSC gang, I'm Dan Rydell. Racing from the Poconos is next. Have a good night.
Will: Roll credits.
Chris: Roll audio.
Dave: Out in thirty.
Kim walks into the control room.
Kim: How's the old gang doing?
Everybody in the room greets Kim.
Elliott: The show's not the same without you here.
Kim: Well, everybody is welcome to come work for me. I'm not as pushy as some executive producers.
Dana: I'm not pushy.
Natalie: Actually, Dana, there are times-
Dana: Natalie.
Natalie: I'm just saying-
Dana: There are times when people need to be encouraged to do something. I am not pushy.
Kim: I wasn't suggesting you, Dana.
Dana: Thank you, Kim.
|
Dave counts out the credits, and tonight's show is complete. Dana takes off her headset and congratulates everybody on a job well done. Isaac walks in to the control room to congratulate the crew, and he is also happy to see that Kim has rejoined the gang for this moment. Jeremy finishes typing his paragraph and saves his letter. He turns off his laptop and closes it. Natalie asks Elliott to collect the final transcript and check with the floor manager. Chris and Will make a note that camera three needs to have a slight adjustment, and since it won't hinder the 2 AM show, the problem can wait until tomorrow. Other staffers collect their notes and belongings and leave through the control room. |
With four shows being aired every day, the network made Isaac the managing editor of all four. It isn't as overwhelming as it sounds, since the only thing changing on each show is any updates in scores or events. Plus, it has given the executive producers more authority to make decisions. So far, everything has been going smoothly. The 12 noon show has struggled, which isn't surprising considering the time slot, but the 6:30 show has pleasantly surprised everyone. Kim has done a great job as executive producer and shown her promotion wasn't a mistake. |
Dan is walking off the set alongside Bobbi Bernstein.
Dan: Would you care to join us, Bobbi?
Bobbi: No thank you, Dan.
Dan: Come on. It's Casey.
Bobbi: I'm sorry, but I can't attend his party.
Dan: Casey would be happy to see you. We could go down, have a few drinks, and have a good time.
Bobbi: Danny, I can't go.
Dan: Are you sure?
The two stop walking.
Bobbi: Danny, tell me something. Are you hitting on me?
Dan: Me? No. Why?
Bobbi: Because it sounds like you just asked me out.
Dan: I didn't.
Bobbi: And you know that I'm already seeing somebody.
Dan: I am also.
Bobbi: So I would appreciate it if you would stop asking me out.
Dan: But I'm not.
Bobbi: You're not going to stop?
Dan: I'm not asking you out. I can't stop because I haven't even started.
Bobbi: Don't even think about starting.
Dan: But-
Bobbi: I know how it gets into men's heads that they want to conquer something that they cannot have, so I'm making sure you understand that I cannot be conquered.
Dan: I'm not surprised.
Bobbi: Good.
The two start walking again.
Dan: You're sure you don't want to come to the party?
Chris, Will, and Dave have just entered the newsroom.
Dave: You guys coming?
Will: I'll be there.
Chris: You guys go ahead. Melanie said she was going to meet me here.
Dave: Chris? Are you two going to get married, or what?
Chris: She keeps talking about it.
Will: It's about time for you to start considering it.
Chris: When the time is right, I'll ask her.
Will: Now would be a good time.
Chris: Now wouldn't.
Dana races up from behind.
Dana: Hey, guys. You coming to the party?
Dave: I'm coming. I just need to grab my jacket.
Will: I'm going down with Dave.
Chris: My girlfriend is meeting me here, and we'll be down in just a bit.
Dana: Great. Now remember: try not to spook Casey.
Dave: Are we dressing up as monsters?
Dana: No. It's just that Casey isn't suspicious. He still thinks he is having dinner with me- just the two of us.
Will: Are we going to jump out from behind columns or walls?
Chris: Like an ambush.
Will: Just like an ambush.
Dana: No, it's not an ambush. Just give me a few minutes to get there first, then everyone can follow.
Dana looks around the newsroom.
Dana: Does everybody know the plan?!
A chorus of "yeah's" and "yes's" are called out.
Dana: Great!
Natalie comes over and hands Dana a note.
Natalie: Jack just called from downstairs. Casey's birthday cake has arrived.
Dana: Good. Wait. Oh no. Did Casey see it?! Please tell me-
Natalie: They brought it in from the back door.
Dana: Are you sure Casey didn't see them bringing in the cake?
Natalie: Jack assured me it is hidden safely in the back. In fact, Casey hasn't arrived yet.
Dana: What?! I specifically sent him down there early to get a table. He should be down there and ready. The show is over and he needs to be there and we need to be there.
Natalie: Well, it's after the show and Casey isn't there. And, oh yeah, you're still here too.
Dana: Okay. That's all right. Let's start heading down and I'll lead the way.
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Casey is sitting at a table and drinking a beer. Dana sneaks up from behind and covers his eyes. Casey smiles and correctly guesses it is Dana. The two share a quick kiss, and Dana wishes him a happy birthday. Suddenly, they are surrounded by friends, and some small presents appear on the table. Everybody is there to celebrate Casey's birthday. Casey looks around and is surprised. He says "hello" to everybody. Natalie pushes a few presents toward Casey, and Casey grabs the one closet to him. He looks at the flat gift box, pulls off the bow, and sticks it on his shirt. He then opens the box- which is from Jeremy- and pulls the tissue back. The gift consists of a ream of unlined paper, a dictionary, a thesaurus, and a couple of nice binders for Casey to use while he is writing his book. Casey holds them in the air for everybody to see, and the crowd applauds. Casey sets the gift off to the side and reaches for the next gift. He rips off the wrapping paper from the gift. Underneath the paper is a shirt box, and Casey carefully opens it. He pushes the tissue paper aside and looks inside. His eyes light up as he carefully pulls out a lace negligee. Casey smiles as he looks toward Dana to see her jaw drop in shock. Natalie starts applauding. The crowd begins to whistle, hoot, and holler. With her mouth wide open, Dana looks over and sees an evil grin on Natalie's face. |
I thank you for keeping me up to date on your journeys throughout Europe, and I look forward to hearing the stories you were not able to fit on a postcard. As for your decision to take a year off, try not to be devastated by Mom and Dad's reactions. They're only doing it because they love you, and they want to see you succeed. As for Mom saying that the whole family is against you, I don't believe she speaks for the whole family. There are people who support you, Lou, and you can count me as one of them. Finally, at Casey's party, it felt like we were sharing old times while celebrating new ones. We all worked together on "Sports Night," and we have become our own family. One learns that family is neither limited to people sharing your surname, nor is it limited to people working in the same building. It is limited by only the number of people one lets into their heart. Stay out of trouble, Louise. Jeremy |
Dana: Natalie!
Dana reaches over to try and grab Natalie, but she darts out of the way. Dana attempts to chase after Natalie, but their speed is hindered by the size of the crowd.
Dan and Jeremy bring a lit birthday cake and slide it onto the table and in front of Casey.
Casey takes his finger and runs it across the chocolate icing. He licks his finger and approves the choice of cake.
Dan: Okay everybody! Let's sing "Happy Birthday" on three! One!... two!... three!...
