| Phoenix |
-----
Dan is walking down the hallway of a hospital. He stops at the check-in station.
Dan: Hi. I'm Dan Rydell of CSC. I'm here to see Tim Howell.
Nurse: I.D. please.
Dan shows the nurse his CSC badge and his driver's license.
Nurse: He's in Room 417- down the hall, around the corner, third door on your right.
Dan: Thank you.
Nurse: Morning visiting hours will be ending in about 45 minutes.
Dan: Okay. Thanks.
Dan starts walking down the hall. He passes a few doctors, nurses, and technicians. The hall is void of any patients.
Dan turns the corner and he sees the third door on his right. He walks up to the closed door and knocks. He peeks through the small window and opens the door. He walks in and closes the door behind him.
Dan: Tim? Tim Howell?
Tim Howell: Over here.
Dan takes a few steps inside. He sees a bed surrounded by machines and holding various restraints. A technician is recording some information off one of the machines. As Dan walks closer, he notices the tennis star immobilized in the bed.
The technician notices Dan.
Technician: Good morning.
Dan: Hi. Good morning.
Tim's eyes move toward Dan.
Tim Howell: Dan Rydell of Sports Night. Boy, this must be big news if they are sending you here to interview me.
Dan: Well, the network is a little... yeah... it's big news.
The technician closes the chart.
Technician: I'll be back in a little while. Take it easy, Tim. Good day, Mr. Rydell.
Tim: See you later, Leslie.
Leslie, the technician, leaves the room.
Tim: Hey Dan? Watch this.
Dan glances down to the bed and to Tim's right arm. Tim bends his fingers slightly.
Dan: That's good.
Tim: It sure is.
Dan: Yeah.
Tim lets out an airy laugh.
Tim: You don't sound like you're happy.
Dan: Well...
Tim: It's because I'm in this bed, huh?
Dan: We just... I'm here to do an interview to see how you have been dealing with this.
Tim: I'm doing fine.
Dan: I remember watching your powerful serve.
Tim: One-hundred and twenty-seven miles per hour at the U.S. Open.
Dan: Yeah. And now to see you... I'm just sorry- really sorry.
Tim: Thanks.
Dan pulls out a notebook and a tape recorder. He turns on the tape recorder.
Dan: I have some questions for you.
Tim: I'm not dead.
Dan: I can see that.
Tim: You sound like I am.
Dan: With everything going on, I'm just saying that it's very unfortunate that you are in this state. It's just not your situation- everything else going on.
Tim: Kind of feel numb, huh?
Dan: Exactly. This is all like a dream, and I have yet to wake up. Plus, with your accident and seeing you like this...
Tim: I moved my fingers today.
Dan: You are... were... the nineteenth ranked player in the world.
Tim: Two weeks ago, I couldn't move my arms. Today, I can bend my fingers.
Dan looks at the bed for a moment.
Dan: I'm just surprised that you sound so optimistic.
Tim: I'm making progress and I'll take any victory I can get.
Dan: I expected you to be down.
Tim: I was for the first few days. I cried. I felt like dying. I questioned God. Why would he let this happen to me? I was a great tennis player. I had a bright future.
Dan: Yeah.
Tim: I had to stop feeling bad for myself.
Dan: I just remember-
Tim: Let it go. Stop giving me your pity. I'll call this interview off.
Dan: You're very strong-willed.
Tim: Hey, when thousands of fans are screaming between games and there is just this silence... it's just you, your opponent, and the ball. You race and move and cut- just to hit the ball back to the other side of the net. You realize that your coach can't help you and your fans can't scream at the opponent. You have to do it yourself. I can do this Dan. I won't walk again; I know that. I've been told I can regain the use of my arms, and that is what I am working on.
Dan: How long will it take?
Tim: We're taking it day-by-day. There is the possibility of setbacks, so the doctors are reluctant on setting a time table just yet.
Dan: You've been dealing with this very well.
Tim: I have no choice.
Dan: You haven't blamed anybody for the accident.
Tim: The other vehicle lost control while it was speeding.
Dan: You haven't mentioned the other driver.
Tim: I guess he's okay. He's the one who is going to have to deal with what he has done.
Dan: So tell me, what allows you to have this positive outlook?
Tim: What's happened in the past, I cannot control. I can only control what is happening in the present. Other things will happen, but how I deal with it is what will determine my future. I'm living with this body, and I'm doing everything I can. It's all I can do.
Dan: Great.
Tim: You're sounding better.
Dan: I am doing better.
Tim: See? You're handling the situation the best way you can.
Dan nods and laughs.
-----
A basketball is seen going through the hoop.
Casey: What's that?
Dan: I'm up. 10-4. Check ball.
Dan and Casey are playing basketball on an outdoor court. Dan is wearing a t-shirt and shorts, while Casey is in a sweatshirt and sweatpants.
Casey: So the interview went well?
Casey checks the ball to Dan.
Dan: Yeah. It was great.
Dan dribbles the ball to his left and takes a shot. CLANG Dan races and gets the rebound, but misses the lay-up. Dan gets the ball back and makes the shot.
Dan: 12-4. Boy, you've lost it.
Casey: I haven't lost anything.
Dan: That's right. When you've got no game, you can't lose it.
Casey: Just wait. Check?
Casey checks the ball. Dan dribbles once and shoots. SWOOSH
Dan: Ooohhhh! 14 to 4! Aaawwwhhhh! Fire, baby! I'm on fire!
Casey grabs the ball, and the two walk back to the top of the key.
Casey: Speaking of fire, Charlie said he wants to become a firefighter.
Casey passes the ball to Dan.
Dan: Seriously?
Casey: Yes.
Dan: That's great. That's admirable.
Casey: I told him he can become anything he wants to be.
Dan: Ready?
Casey: For what?
Dan fakes a pass to Casey.
Dan: Ready to get beat?
Casey: Not yet.
Dan dribbles and takes a shot. BONK Casey gets the rebound and takes the ball back.
Dan: So tell me Casey.
Casey: Yeah?
Dan: You and Dana.
Casey takes a shot and misses. Dan grabs the rebound.
Casey: What about me and Dana?
Dan: You two doing well?
Casey: Yeah. We are.
Dan: Can she handle it?
Casey: Handle what?
Dan takes a shot. SNAP
Dan: Handle dating a looooooser? That's sixteen to four, baby!
Casey: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm just lulling you into a false sense of security.
Dan: That's what you said the last game.
Casey: So?
Dan: And you lost! I'm feeling pretty secure right now.
Casey tries to steal the ball away from Dan, but he fails. Dan goes in for the easy lay-up.
Casey: Danny, could you take it easy on this old man here?
-----
The show is almost ready to begin.
Dave: Sixty seconds live.
Dana picks up the phone, then sets it back down. Natalie notices Dana's actions.
Natalie: It's okay. Don't worry about it.
Dana: I'm fine. Let me hear, Janie.
Natalie: Chris? Can you preview 7 and 8?
Chris: Previewing 7... and now 8.
Dana: Looks and sounds good. Good show everybody.
Dana looks at her shot sheet, then looks at the phone.
Natalie: We're about to go on.
Dana: I know.
Natalie: Don't worry about it.
Dana: I know. But I remember Gordon and then Kevin criticizing me for spending too much time here.
Natalie: Has Casey criticized you?
Dana: No.
Natalie: Is Casey named Gordon or Kevin?
Dana: Natalie-
Natalie: I rest my case.
Dana: I just worry.
Natalie: Take solace in the fact that Casey is Casey and he loves you for who and what you are.
Dana: I'm a mess right now.
Natalie: And see? He still loves you for that.
Dana: I guess you're right.
Natalie: I know I'm right.
Elliot peaks his head into the control room.
Elliot: Bonds just hit another home run.
Dana: Oh! Work the footage in.
Elliot: Already working on it.
Dana: Thanks, Elliot.
Dave: In 5, 4, 3, 2...
Dan: (on-air) Good evening. From Rockefeller Plaza, you are watching Sports Night. I'm Dan Rydell sitting besides nobody, so you'll be seeing twice as much of me tonight.
I have Bonds, Barry Bonds. He is the man with the golden bat, and we'll see if he went deep again in the home run chase. Kelly Kirkpatrick has a dissection of the Rams offense, and what defenses can do- besides crying 'uncle.' Finally, we will have the inspirational story of Tim Howell, and how he is overcoming personal tragedy and proving a car accident cannot stop his resolve.
Tonight, let's start off with the pennant races in the National League...
