Disclaimer

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Isaac is walking through the newsroom and he enters the conference room.

Dana: And a good day to you, Isaac.

The conference room is full of people. Chris, Will, Dave, Bobbi Bernstein, Jeremy, Elliott, Natalie, and Dana are seated.

Isaac: Am I late?

Dana: Nope. You're right on time.

Isaac: What time is it?

Natalie: It's a couple minutes until noon.

Dana: Isaac? Do you know what today is?

Isaac: It's Wednesday.

Dana: Yes, but do you know what else today is?

Isaac turns to Natalie.

Isaac: Is she on something?

Dana: Come on, Isaac. The skies are clear, the sun is shining, and I'm in too good of a mood today.

Isaac: Is it contagious?

Dana: It could be.

Isaac: Keep it to yourself.

Dana: Oh, Isaac. Play along.

Isaac: I am just going to sit over there, and you can run your meeting from here.

Isaac walks to the other side of the conference room.

Dan enters.

Dan: The greatest game ever played!

Dana: Good afternoon, Dan.

Dan: Fifty years ago, some say the greatest game was played. It was played in this town- this bustling city. Fifty years ago today in Manhattan.

Isaac takes a seat.

Dana: Have a seat, Danny.

Dan: Isn't everybody excited?

Dana: I'm excited.

Dan: See?! Dana's excited!

Dana: But not because of the anniversary. It is a beautiful day-

Isaac: Can we please begin the meeting?

Dana: Well, it looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

Isaac glares at Dana.

Dana: Okay. Let's get started. It looks like were going to be leading off with the Giants and Astros along with the Phillies and Braves.

Jeremy: We're going to have two features originating from Houston.

Dana: Right. We'll get the first one right after the first highlights, and we'll work the second one into the thirties.

Dan: I could listen to it all day.

Dana: The feature?

Dan: Huh?

Dana: You said you could listen to it all day.

Dan: Oh. Yeah. I could listen to that game all day.

Dana: Okay, Danny. Let's beam on back here.

Natalie: Michael Jordan is going to have another press conference today at 2.

Isaac: The network is going to cut-in and run the press conference live.

Dan: What's he going to say today?

Natalie: Actually, it's about what he is going to do.

Dan: He's already coming out of retirement.

Natalie: He's going to be trying on a Wizards jersey and showing it off to the media.

Dan: Well, I hope it fits, and they give him the right number.

Dana: Okay. After baseball and Jordan, we're probably going to cut back to baseball, but we're still deciding. We may bump back Jordan, and move up Dan's feature.

Natalie: We can't do two features back-to-back.

Dana: We're not.

Dana shows Natalie her note pad.

Natalie: Okay. Astros-Giants, Bonds feature, Phillies-Braves highlights, Colorado-Arizona highlights, and then Dan's feature.

Dan: Yes!

Everyone looks at Dan.

Dan: It's perfectly all right to be excited. People who have a passion for baseball are extremely happy today.

Jeremy: It's Dave Winfield's birthday.

Dan: It is?

Jeremy: Yes, baseball Hall-of-Famer Dave Winfield was born on this date fifty years ago in Minneapolis.

Natalie: That's right.

Jeremy: And not only was he an excellent baseball player, but he also excelled at football and basketball. He was drafted by the Padres, but he was also drafted by the Vikings and by both the NBA and ABA.

Dana: Jeremy? Are we doing a feature on Dave Winfield?

Jeremy: It might be nice.

Dan: Did you know that the original ticket stubs to that game are estimated to be worth over a thousand dollars each?

Natalie: Well, if I had those tickets, I'd sell them to you Dan.

Dan: Thank you. That would be a friendly gesture-

Natalie: I'd only be doing it for the money.

Dan: Okay, I'd still buy the tickets from you. Anybody got any tickets?

Isaac closes his eyes for a moment.

-----

The sky is overcast and it looks like there is a threat of rain. The sound of thousands of people can be heard below. A fence is standing with people lined up on the other side. They are waiting to enter. Most of the fans are dressed very casually: in a dress shirt, slacks, a tie, and a hat. There are a few kids in the crowd- and most of them are each holding a New York Giants pennant. At an opening in the fence, two men stand and accept tickets. They tear off the stub and allow each fan to pass through the turnstile as they hand them their ticket back.

"Programs! Get your programs here!"

Further down the fence, there is another opening. This line has fewer people, but it moves at a slower pace because the ticket-taker is the slowest one on the staff. This is the entrance for the African-Americans, designated by the sign reading: "BLACKS ENTER HERE."

The slow ticket-taker takes the ticket from one man, inspects it, tears off the stub, hands it back to the man, and lets him enter. He does the same for a second man, and then a third. A boy hands him a slightly different ticket.

Ticket-taker: Hold on there, boy.

"Yes, sir."

The ticket-taker closely examines the ticket. He looks at the boy and then back at the ticket.

Ticket-taker: This says 'Media Pass.'

"Yes, sir."

Ticket-taker: You're supposed to enter through the south gate.

"They wouldn't let me. They told me I had to enter down through here."

Ticket-taker: Is this really you? You look like you're eight or nine.

"It is me, sir."

Ticket-taker: I need something that says you are who this pass says you are.

The boy pulls out a folded piece of paper and hands it to the ticket-taker. The paper is unfolded and closely checked.

Ticket-taker: I need my superior to check this out.

The crowd waiting in line begins to groan and complain.

Ticket-taker: Hey! Shuddup! I'm doing my job here!

The ticket-taker waves a superior over. The superior comes over and the ticket-taker explains the situation. After checking the press pass, the identification, and the boy, he nods his head and never says a word.

Ticket-taker: Here you go, Isaac Jaff. How do you pronounce that?

Isaac takes his items from the ticket-taker.

Isaac: It's Jaffee, sir.

Isaac walks inside and looks around. He checks his pass and looks for some directions.

"Hot dogs! Get ya' hot dogs here!"

Isaac walks a small distance. As he is walking, he pays more attention to what is happening around him instead of what is in front of him. He runs into a janitor.

Janitor: Hey dare little man.

Isaac: Oh, excuse me, sir.

Janitor: Are ya' lost, Isaac?

Isaac: How do you know my name?

Janitor: It says so dare.

The janitor points to the tag pinned on Isaac's shirt. It says, "Isaac Jaffee, St. Louis Dispatch."

Isaac: Yes. I'm trying to find the press section.

Janitor: Well, you be out of your way here. All the way from St. Louis.

Isaac: Yes.

Janitor: My name is Otis.

Isaac: Good afternoon, Otis.

Otis, the janitor: Just look at you. All dressed up in a little suit and tie. You got a nice hat, too. Criminey, you have come so far. I'm gonna' tell my family 'bout you. A few years ago we got in the majors, and now we are here and gonna' write about da' games.

Isaac: Thank you, sir. The press section?

Otis: I'll take you dare.

The two start walking outside of the stadium.

Isaac: How long have you worked here?

Otis: Here, the Polo Grounds? I guess I be working here for fo' years. We moved here about nine or ten years ago. I walk here about I reckon fo'ty or fifty blocks. It be a good job. How 'bout you?

Isaac: This is the first time I've been to New York City.

Otis: You don't mind me askin' about your age, Isaac?

Isaac: No, sir. I'm nineteen.

Otis: Criminey. You be nineteen? Then I be one-hundred twenty years old. You look like you could be seven years old.

Isaac: I have a paper which says I'm nineteen.

Otis laughs.

Otis: Okay, okay. I believe you. Good ol' Satchel isn't true 'bout his age. Only he says he be younger. You say you be older.

"Peanuts! Get your hot, roasted peanuts!"

Isaac: My boss promised me I could come with the reporter and write about the series. Mr. Morris promised me he would get me a press pass if the series went to three games.

Otis: You be here the whole time?

Isaac: Yes, sir. I had a ticket for the first game here. I had a ticket for the second game at Ebbets Field.

Otis: You happy you get to go up dare today, ain't you?

Isaac: Yes, sir. I am looking forward to it. I brought my notebook on the trip, and I've been writing everything down.

Isaac pulls out a little notebook from his jacket. Otis looks at it and smiles.

Otis: Can I look at it?

Isaac: Sure. Just be careful.

Isaac gives his notebook to Otis. Otis stares at it and carefully opens it. He smiles and nods his head as he reads from it.

Otis: Some of deese words I don't know, but I am happy you be doin' dis. I can't wait to get home and tell my family.

Isaac: Thank you.

Otis: You welcome.

Otis closes the notebook and hands it back to Isaac. Isaac tucks it inside his jacket.

Otis: We be here.

Isaac: Where?

Otis: Da' press section. Go in da' door right here.

Isaac looks at the door. The door opens and a man walks out just as several men walk in.

Isaac: Thank you, Otis.

Otis: My pleasure, Isaac. Make us proud back in St. Louis.

"Isaac?"

Isaac starts walking to the door as Otis watches with glee.

"Isaac?!"

-----

Isaac opens his eyes.

Dana: Are you all right?

Isaac: I'm fine.

Dana: I've been calling you.

Isaac: I'm sorry. I've been awake all night.

Dana: Is something wrong?

Isaac: Nothing's wrong.

Natalie: Isaac, we can help you if you need it.

Dan: Just let us know.

Isaac: I'm tired. There's nothing to it.

Dana looks around the room.

Dana: All right. Okay. We'll meet back here at 6.

Everybody gathers their notes and leaves the conference room.

Dana walks over and places her hand on Isaac's shoulder.

Dana: I'm available for you if you need anything.

Isaac reaches up and grasps Dana's hand.

Isaac: Thank you, Dana. I appreciate it.