Disclaimer

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Dan and Casey are walking through the newsroom and headed toward their office.

Dan: The Orioles at the Red Sox.

Casey: Tonight.

Dan: A six-o-five start and plenty of time to get back.

Casey: So you are going to catch a plane, fly to Boston, watch a game, fly back, and then do our broadcast?

Dan: That is the plan.

Casey: Wouldn't it be easier to sit in the office, flip a channel, and watch it from the comfort of your own chair?

Dan: You're missing the point.

Casey: You would not be at Fenway.

Dan: I would not be at Fenway, and-

Casey: There's more?

Dan: Jo is off today and she really wants to go.

Casey: To the game?

Dan: As friends.

Casey: Of course.

Dan: Of course.

Dan and Casey walk into their office.

Casey: Does Dana know?

Dan: Does Dana know what?

Casey: About your plan?

Dan: Dana has enough to worry about today.

Casey: Because you know she will say 'no.'

Dan: Among other things.

Casey sits at his desk, while Dan grabs hold of a baseball bat.

Casey: And I suppose Isaac or Sam would be a bit out of your way to inform them of your plans?

Dan: Well, Isaac is in meetings all day today, and Sam... well Jeremy said he was going to be hanging around Sam today.

Casey: So you wouldn't want to take a moment to notify them of your plans?

Dan: I could.

Casey: But?

Dan: This is where my plan becomes a little cloudy.

Casey: More like a dense fog.

Dan: But I have a plan.

Casey: So you have a plan on top of the plan?

Dan: I have a plan- small p- on top of the Plan- capital p.

Casey: And that is?

Dan: You make something up.

Casey: You are entrusting me to make something up.

Dan: Yeah.

Casey: Why don't I tell them the truth?

Dan: I'm just saying... we have an understanding here, right?

Casey: What understanding is that?

Dan: You cover for me, and I'll continue to cover for you.

Casey: And what is it that you are covering for me?

Dan: You know... your secret.

Casey: My secret?

Dan: Yes.

Casey: Which is?

Dan: Your secret.

Casey: Back to square one.

Dan: Casey.

Casey: Danny.

Dan: You know... that... that thing-

Casey: You have no idea what you are talking about.

Natalie walks into their office.

Dan: Natalie knows.

Natalie: Know what?

Dan: Somebody here has a secret.

Natalie: Casey, here's the background on the Estoril Open.

Natalie places a folder on Casey's desk.

Casey: Thanks, Natalie. (to Dan) Natalie doesn't know a secret because there isn't a secret to be known.

Natalie: But I do know.

Dan sets the bat down.

Dan: How do you know?

Natalie: What?

Dan: The secret!

Natalie: I just know.

Dan: And?

Natalie: Oh, yeah. I almost forgot.

Dan: Thank god.

Natalie: Here's the background on the WORLDCOM Classic in Hilton Head.

Natalie hands Dan a folder.

Dan: Fine, thank you, Natalie. So, tell me- what's the secret?

Natalie: It would not be a secret any longer if I told you.

Dan: That's beside the point.

Natalie: Which is?

Casey: Dan wants to do something, and he think he can get away with it by blackmailing me and fooling the rest of the staff.

Dan stares at Casey in astonishment while Natalie shakes her head.

Natalie: I can't believe you, Danny.

Dan: I wasn't trying to blackmail Casey!

Natalie: You thought you could fool the rest of the staff.

Dan: Well, ye... no! There is no such foolery going on in this office.

Casey: (sarcastic) Uh-huh.

Dan: But wait a second. Natalie, you know there are consequences for not sharing.

Natalie: I know.

Dan: And?

Natalie: And I know they don't apply to me in this case because this is something that cannot be shared.

Dan throws his arms in the air.

Dan: I give up.

Casey starts to laugh at Dan's frustration while Natalie grins and leaves the room.

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Natalie enters Dana's office and closes the door behind her. Natalie leans her back against the door. Dana takes her glasses off while she sits behind her desk.

Dana: Yes, Natalie?

Natalie: Dana?

Dana: Natalie?

Natalie: You know what happens when people don't share?

Dana: Yes, people lose their pants.

Natalie: That's right.

As she makes her way toward Dana's desk, Natalie raises her eyebrows for a moment.

Dana: What?

Natalie: Dana, Dana, Dana...

Dana: I'm wearing a skirt, Natalie!

Natalie: That still doesn't make you exempt.

Dana: What makes you think I have a secret?

Natalie: Casey and Dan were talking about it.

Dana: They were talking about it?

Natalie: Just now. In their office.

Dana: What is it?

Natalie: The secret?

Dana: What is it?

Natalie: You tell me.

Dana: Natalie, I don't have time for these games. Especially not today.

Natalie: You're nervous.

Dana: Well, today is my review with the top brass.

Natalie: But you shouldn't be nervous.

Dana: Yet, here I am, my palms sweating, my teeth are chattering, me contemplating the purchase of a cute little lamp which could set on the corner of my desk...

Natalie: You're in the best position anyone could be in, Dana. You've won some awards, gained some recognition- you are a hot commodity right now.

Dana: You know, I should get the free-standing lamp and set it next to here. Right over here.(points to a spot next to her desk) Natalie, why am I nervous?

Natalie: Because you worry.

Dana: What am I worried about?

Natalie: Dana, you always worry. If it wasn't the fact you have a review today, you would be worrying about something else.

Dana: Which would be?

Natalie: The NHL playoffs, the NBA playoff run, baseball highlights, opening weekend for the MLS, the upcoming NFL draft, how my senior associate producer is so clever- she might figure out my secret.

Dana rolls her eyes.

Dana: Thank you, Natalie.

Natalie: No problem. Is there anything else?

Dana: No, Natalie.

Natalie: Okay then. I've gone ahead and outlined all the press conferences taking place later today.

Natalie sets a folder on Dana's desk.

Dana: Thank you very much. Thank you for taking control, because I feel I will not have my full attention on the show.

Natalie smiles.

Natalie: I know. I'll keep you posted throughout today.

Dana: You're the best, you know that?

Natalie: I know that, too.

Natalie leaves the office.

-----

Jeremy and Sam are walking through the newsroom.

Jeremy: So, if you don't mind, I'd like to kind of follow you around for a while to see how you do what you do.

Sam: Isn't that what you're doing now?

Jeremy: Well, yes technically, I am following you. I mean for the next week or two, I would like to study your methods- exactly how is it that you figure out what is going on around here. How do you walk in and immediately have an effect on the ratings. Why are you so good.

Sam: I do my job. By the way, don't you have a job, Jerry?

Jeremy: Jeremy. I can learn from you and still do my job - quite effectively I might add.

Sam: How's the big football thing you've been working on for the past few weeks?

Jeremy: Ah yes, my football free agency paradigm. The polemic results surprised me about the economics surrounding professional football. In fact-

Sam: Are you finished?

Jeremy: Almost.

Sam: Shouldn't you go and finish it?

Jeremy: I probably should. But barring any major calamity, I should be able to have it completed later today.

Sam: Kim? Could you cut 30 seconds off from the LPGA preview at Wilshire?

Kim: Sure can.

Kim, with tape in hand, gets up and leaves the newsroom. Jeremy and Sam continue to walk.

Sam: Je... Jeremy? Jeremy. I'm not interested in teaching anybody anything. I don't need to be a mentor. I don't need to be spending charitable time trying to explain to someone how my instincts lead me to do my job. It's more complex than saying 'do this' and 'do that.'

Jeremy: That's what I'm trying to tell you. You don't have to teach me, I'll learn just by watching you.

Sam: And following me.

Jeremy: And following you.

Sam stops.

Sam: No.

Sam resumes walking toward the corridor to Isaac's office and leaves Jeremy behind. Jeremy quickly catches up.

Jeremy: Look, you're here to improve the ratings and not make any friends. Fine. But after you've done your job, you'll be gone and we'll all still be here. Next time there is a ratings slump, we should be able to pick things back up for ourselves. Why do we need to call you back to redo what you've already done? I'm just looking for a way to guarantee that your work lives on after you've left us. A maintenance plan if you will.

Sam stops outside of Isaac's office.

Sam: A maintenance plan.

Sam smiles as he looks at Jeremy. He then shakes his head and enters Isaac's office as Jeremy is left behind.

-----

Dan and Elliott are looking at a weather radar image on a television screen.

Dan: Chance of showers?

Elliott: She did say sixty percent.

Dan: It can't rain in Boston today. They can't have any delays.

Elliott: With everything happening today, I think a rainout would be beneficial.

Dan: You're no help.

Elliott: What?

-----

Casey walks into Dana's office and closes the door behind him. Dana notices him and straightens herself up behind her desk.

Dana: Yes, Casey?

Casey: Hey.

Dana: Hey.

Casey: How's it going?

Dana: You know, Case, you should bring in something. You should be carrying a tape or some print outs or something. You shouldn't just meander in here whenever you feel like it. People will become suspicious.

Casey: Can't I come in here and see how you are doing?

Dana: No you cannot. (whispers) Especially with our relationship going on. Natalie is starting to suspect something.

Casey: You're being paranoid.

Dana: Oh yeah? Remember a couple of weeks ago? When you decided we should meet at Tony Anthony's after work? Who shows up at the bar? Jeremy, that's who.

Casey: It was a mere coincidence. Plus, Jeremy thought we were talking about my contract.

Dana: Which is the story I came up with.

Casey: He bought it. Plus, Natalie had just broken up with him. I don't think his mindset was on what we were doing at that time.

Dana: I know- but how long will it be before he figures something out?

Casey stands silently for a moment.

Casey: You look beautiful today.

Dana: Casey, please leave me... wait, wait- thank you. Thank you very much, Casey.

Casey: If there is anything I can do for you to make it easier for you today- let me know.

Dana: Thank you, Casey. It may be best if you leave me alone for today.

Casey thinks about it for a second.

Casey: Okay.

Dana: Thanks... for understanding.

Casey leaves the office.