Disclaimer

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Marcus knocks on Isaac's door.

Isaac: Come in.

Marcus opens the door, walks in, and is greeted by Isaac and another gentleman.

Isaac: Marcus- thanks for taking a minute from your busy schedule to speak with us.

Marcus: Certainly.

Isaac: Marcus, have you met Peter Sadler from legal?

Marcus: Not formally.

Peter Sadler: How are you doing, Marcus?

Peter and Marcus shake hands.

Marcus: Doing well, sir. Thanks.

Isaac: Please, you two have a seat.

Isaac sits in his chair, while Peter and Marcus sit in chairs in front of Isaac's desk.

Marcus: Is something wrong?

Peter: Nothing is wrong.

Isaac: Don't worry, Marcus. (pause) Is everything working out fine?

Marcus: Yes, sir.

Isaac: Any problems or concerns outside of work?

Marcus: None that I can think of.

Isaac: How about your workload?

Marcus: Is this about Coach Bradley?

Peter: Somewhat.

Marcus: I'm sorry I haven't been able to get my questions answered. I'm trying really hard, and I'll continue to give my best effort for the network.

Peter: An issue was pointed out to the network, and it has generated some concern.

Marcus: If they don't want me in the locker rooms-

Isaac: Marcus- comments have been made about the possibility of you using drugs.

Marcus looks at Isaac, then at Peter, and then back at Isaac.

Marcus: Nothing is new about that. It's part of my past history.

Peter: Marcus, we were told by an assistant at another school that they, and I quote, "didn't want some pot-smoking reporter having contact with their student-athletes," unquote.

Marcus: But this is old news. I've been clean.

Isaac: The comments were made about possible recent abuse.

Marcus: What?

Peter: Marcus, it's been about six months since you checked in to a treatment facility, and we hope you haven't-

Marcus: 161 days.

Peter: Excuse me?

Marcus: I've been clean and sober for 161 days- since the day I entered the program.

Peter: Okay. It's been 161 days, and we have a record of attendance at your recovery meetings.

Marcus: I attend every week. Sometimes even twice a week. I haven't missed a meeting.

Peter: And we also understand that under stressful times, one may be inclined to take shortcuts or even revert to previous habits. If you feel too much pressure, you have a good support team here and we're here for you

Marcus: Do you think I'm taking drugs?

Isaac: No. The rumors are just rumors.

Marcus: You're right, and they are just coming from one guy.

Isaac takes a deep breath.

Marcus: They are coming from just one guy, right? Isaac?

Isaac: Marcus, several schools have made reports to the network.

Marcus: Six other schools?.

Isaac: Yes. Six other schools have addressed their concerns.

Marcus: Which is why they don't want to speak to me. Isaac, they are lying.

Peter: In order to halt the rumors, we would like for you-

Marcus: Oh no.

Peter: -to take some tests.

Marcus: You want me to take a drug test?

Peter: Actually, two. We would like to take a blood and a urine sample.

Isaac: It will substantiate that your recovery is legitimate, and it will help your reputation.

Peter: We want to have irrefutable evidence that you are clean and sober. We can inform teams that you have recently been tested because they are concerned about it.

Marcus: They're not concerned about drug use. They're trying to keep me from doing my job. I'm a reporter for pete's sake.

Marcus looks at Peter Sadler.

Marcus: No offense, Mr. Sadler.

Peter: None taken.

Marcus: If someone starts talking to me, I'm not going to stop them. The coaches, the players- they all talk to me. I ask questions, and they give me answers. It shouldn't be a big deal that I discovered and reported some new plays teams were working on. It isn't like I'm in disguise and hiding in the stands or in some tree with a camera taking pictures of their practices. I was allowed at those practices. I sought and received permission to attend those practices. I have credentials to cover their games.

Anything I reveal can be researched by any team on their schedule. If they're foolish enough to let me see and sometimes even tell me about strategies while on-the-record, then they need to blame themselves. They can't be allowed to make up lies to cover up their mistakes.

Peter: We've considered all of that. Still we need something to prove them wrong. Plus, in your contract-

Marcus: Oh man. You're going to bring that up?

Peter: -in your contract it states that you are subject to random drug screenings, up to ten screenings in a 30-day period.

Marcus: I know what it says.

Isaac: Marcus, please try not to make this difficult. Our insurance carrier will cover the costs. We just need you to go down to the medical center and take the tests.

Marcus: I'm not being difficult.

Marcus gets up to leave.

Marcus: I just thought you would have supported and believed me.

Marcus leaves the office.

-----

Dana is in the newsroom and passes a note to Elliott. Elliott checks the note and leaves the newsroom. Natalie approaches Dana from behind.

Natalie: I have a suggestion, Dana.

Dana: I can't give you more than 30 seconds for the race in Rockingham.

Natalie: Okay.

Dana: NASCAR has to take a backseat for tonight. Maybe we can give you more time tomorrow.

Natalie: Okay.

Dana: Good.

Natalie: But my suggestion wasn't about the race.

Dana begins walking through the newsroom. Natalie follows along.

Dana: What's your suggestion?

Natalie: It's about our budget increase.

Dana: Okay. Write down your suggestion on a piece of paper and set it on my desk.

Natalie: As opposed to?

Dana: As opposed to what?

Natalie: Just telling you.

Dana: Natalie? I don't know if you noticed, but there is a lot going on today. I'm having a hard enough time remembering my own name, much less having to remember your budget suggestions.

Natalie: Dana.

Dana: What?

Natalie: Your name is 'Dana.' I'm here to remind you your name is 'Dana.'

Dana: Thank you.

Dana and Natalie head toward Dana's office.

Natalie: Could I tell you my suggestion and write it out?

Dana: I guess so.

Natalie starts writing on a piece of paper on her clipboard as the two enter Dana's office. Natalie rips off the piece of paper and sets it on Dana's desk. Dana picks it up and reads it aloud.

Dana: "Not taking out personal frustrations on your trusted associate producer will help morale and improve the quality of work." What is this?

Natalie: Don't worry about Casey's book.

Dana: I'm not worried about it.

Natalie: You have a lot going on right now.

Dana: I know that.

Natalie: Well, don't worry about it.

Dana turns and looks out her window.

Dana: I'm not worried about it.

Natalie: You were being persnickety with me.

Dana: I was not.

Natalie: There you go. You're being snippity and persnickety.

Dana spins around and faces Natalie.

Dana: Is snippity really a word?

Natalie: Probably.

Dana: You know, it would have been nice for Casey to come in and give me a copy of his book.

Natalie: I know.

Dana: How do you know?

Natalie: Jeremy told me. Casey gave Dan a copy of the book. If you got a copy, you would have told me.

Dana: Natalie, there are times when Casey is just... just... what's the word?

Natalie: Insensitive.

Dana: Yes. Yes, that's it. He can be insensitive.

Natalie: Unreceptive.

Dana: I mean, I'm his girlfriend and that should mean something.

Natalie: Irresponsible.

Dana: You can stop there.

Natalie: Uncaring.

Dana: Natalie, that's enough.

Natalie: Okay. Did you tell him?

Dana: Who?

Natalie: Casey.

Dana: No.

Natalie: Why not?

Dana: Men are supposed to know these things. I shouldn't give him a rule book on what-to-do and what-not-to-do in our relationship. It's his responsibility to be sensitive to my needs and wants.

Natalie: He's been divorced.

Dana: Yes.

Natalie: He dated that Pixley girl.

Dana: Yes.

Natalie: Maybe he needs a little... guidance?

Dana thinks about it for a second.

Dana: You're right.

Natalie: I know.

Dana: And I'm sorry about being persnickety.

Natalie: Okay.

Dana: And snippity.

Natalie: Good.

Dana throws the piece of paper with Natalie's initial budget "suggestion" in the trash.

Dana: What is your real suggestion?

Natalie: I need a new chair.

Dana: Excuse me?

Natalie: I need a new chair. Jeremy got a new chair when he asked for one.

Dana: There was a problem with his. There was a spring popping out-

Natalie: On the right side, about three inches from the back.

Dana: Oh gosh. That's right. I'm sorry about that.

Natalie: About what?

Dana smiles and rubs Natalie's shoulder.

Dana: I completely forgot.

Natalie: What?

Dana: When Jeremy got his new chair... I decided to play a little joke... and I sort of... switched your chair with Jeremy's old chair. It was meant in good fun.

Natalie: Oh. Really?

Dana: Yes. I'm sorry- again.

Natalie: Well, I have a confession, too.

Dana: You were the one who broke all the tips on my pencils and took the blades out from my pencil sharpener.

Natalie: That wasn't me.

Dana: It wasn't you?

Natalie: It was Casey. He came in one day and did that.

Dana: Then what are you confessing to?

Natalie: I had switched Jeremy's chair.

Dana: What?

Natalie: My chair had the spring popping out. I switched my chair and Jeremy's. Jeremy came to you complaining about his chair. He got a new chair. I thought you two figured it was my chair, and you gave it back to me.

Dana: Let me get this straight. You had the broken chair. You switched chairs with Jeremy. I got Jeremy a new chair. I gave Jeremy's broken chair to you as a practical joke.

Natalie: Yes.

Dana: This is funnier than I initially expected.

Natalie: In hindsight, yes.

Dana: I'll see what I can do.

Natalie: Okay. Great.

Natalie leaves the office.