Disclaimer

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Dana opens the door to the conference room and walks in. Already seated at the table are Isaac, Sam, Donna Kendrick, and a couple other CSC executives.

Dana: Good afternoon, everybody. I was told this meeting was about improving my show. Is an agenda printed?

Dana takes a seat and starts reading over the agenda.

Dana: Good. I was going to bring this up.

Isaac: What was it?

Dana: Hiring another permanent anchor for my show.

Donna: I'm glad we have the same thought process.

Isaac: Let's get started.

Donna: Okay, Isaac. We need to establish some consistency on your show, which leads us to hiring an anchor to join Dan.

Dana: Are we looking outside the network?

Donna: Yes, we are including some people outside of the network on our list of candidates. We are also looking within the network, and they may have a better chance of being selected.

Dana: Of course.

Sam: I have preliminary figures stating we need to attract more male viewers.

Dana: Isn't the majority of our audience male?

Sam: Yes.

Dana: Then what's the problem?

Sam: We need more of them.

Dana looks at Sam.

Dana: What are you suggesting?

Sam: We may lean toward hiring a female anchor.

Dana: What?

Sam: We want somebody who is intelligent, articulate, and quite possibly female.

Dana: Uh-huh.

Isaac: We're not going to limit our candidates to females, are we?

Donna: No, not in the least. We would like to have the best candidate take the position.

Dana: Which would be a woman.

Sam: Possibly.

Dana: To attract more male viewers.

Sam: Possibly.

Donna: On our list of candidates, we have included Bobbi Bernstein, Jennifer Atwater, Deborah May, Tina Lake, and Cally Geathers- who are currently with the network.

Dana: They're all women.

Sam: Everyone agrees on that.

Dana: This just sexist.

Donna: Excuse me?

Dana: You want to put somebody on the screen who looks good. Why don't we put her in a g-string, and prance her around doing highlights? That's what you want.

Sam: We never said that.

Dana: If a woman gets the job, I want it because she has earned the position.

Sam: I think you'll notice the absence of the cast members of 'Baywatch.'

Dana: I do not want them to be put into a position where men will look at them first, drool second, and barely translate the show while thinking dirty thoughts.

Isaac: Dana? You'll notice that of the four shows I oversee, three of the executive producers are women. We have female associate producers, anchors, and reporters. None of them got here by looks alone.

Donna: I know you and I got here through hard work, determination, and overcoming any resistance to women working in sports.

Dana: I don't want to shortchange these women. Lists come out with the 'Hottest Women in Sports Television' and magazines celebrate the female athlete one month while parading them around in skimpy outfits the next month. Sex sells, and this should not be the case. We need to sell sports. We need to sell intelligence. These women have worked hard, and I don't want people thinking they got the job because of their looks. I want the job to go to the person with the best merits.

Sam: Dana, this is also a business and its money comes from advertisers. Higher ratings translate into higher dollars in advertising.

Dana: I am familiar with the business aspect of the network.

Sam: It doesn't hurt to show off a little femininity. If it attracts male viewers, great. That's what we want- more viewers. We don't want people tuning in to watch a gorgeous body not do her job.

Isaac: We want to be a respected sports and news agency. Attracting the right kind of viewers will do that. I want to have someone who will succeed, and this list has many qualified candidates.

Dana: I don't want people questioning how they got their jobs.

Sam: We're not going to let that happen. With the rotation of anchors, we've been able to get a feel of who does and who does not have good chemistry with Dan. We want the anchors to come across genuine and natural.

Dana: Like Dan and Casey?

Isaac: Casey's no longer here.

Dana: And they came across as genuine. They're still great friends. How natural can that be?

Donna: The network chose to go in a different direction. This is the direction we are taking.

Dana: Promise me you will never let one of these potential anchors do something which only refers to their sex appeal.

Donna: I am curious about you mentioning the 'Hottest Women in Sports Television.' Is all of this related to Sally Sasser?

Dana: If you would like to bring that up, yes.

Donna: The network was approached by the magazine. We asked them who they had in mind. They suggested Sally because she's made so many contacts in the business. We went to her, and she thought it was a great idea.

Isaac: Sally is not a bad as you think.

Dana: I can't believe she would let something be published... actually, I can believe that.

Isaac: Dana? Sally may not be as talented as you, but she is constantly working and trying. I can't fault somebody for always trying their best.

Dana: Okay... but promise me you won't coerce someone into doing something just to boost ratings. With all these women, it has taken years to build up a solid reputation; and it only takes a moment to destroy it.

Donna: You have my word, Dana.

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Dan and Casey are seated at a restaurant and eating sandwiches.

Casey: They've made a commitment for thirteen shows in the season.

Dan: You only have to do thirteen show for the entire year?

Casey: Well, they're one-hour specials.

Dan: We did a one-hour show every night.

Casey: Yeah, but I have more responsibility because I'm doing the show all by myself.

Dan: It should be easy since you only have to do- what- a show a month, plus an extra-special special.

Casey: Something like that.

Dan notices Casey flexing his right hand.

Dan: What did you do?

Casey: What?

Dan: To your hand.

Casey: It's been cramping up.

Dan: So many books and so many signatures, huh?

Casey: The publicity and book signings have been nice.

Dan: Nothing too crazy?

Casey: I had a woman who wanted me to autograph my book to her dog.

Dan: That isn't so bad.

Casey: Yeah.

Dan: Did you have to sign any body parts?

Casey: No. I've never had to sign a body part- unless you count signing casts. In that case, the cast is merely an outer protective covering.

Dan: Okay.

Casey looks on as Dan takes a bite of his sandwich.

Casey: Have you had to sign any body parts?

Dan: A few.

Casey: Danny.

Dan: It's all part of the job. And I've signed a few casts, also.

Casey: What body parts have you signed?

Dan: A signed a guy's arm once.

Casey: Okay.

Dan: Yeah.

Casey: What else?

Dan: There have been a few women.

Casey: Okay. How come I've never heard of this before?

Dan: Because I know you've never had to sign body parts.

Casey: You said something about women.

Dan: Just a few.

Casey: What parts? Was there anything that had to do with the removal of undergarments?

Dan: No.

Casey: Okay.

Dan: They weren't wearing undergarments anyway.

Casey spits out his sandwich.

Casey: Danny.

Dan: Just a few upper body parts around the torso region and a few on the backside. Nothing too bad.

Casey: You're just going to let me suffer, aren't you?

Dan: I don't want to take away any of the mystery and excitement of signing bare flesh.

Casey: Danny, I don't care about the mystery. Tell me.

Dan: No.

Casey: Please.

Dan: You know you're pathetic.

Casey: What are you? Some kind of moral switch? Sometimes you live by morals and ethics, other times you don't?

Dan: I take it on a case-by-case basis.

Casey: And you're not going to tell me about it?

Dan: Right.

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Elliott and Natalie are in the editing room.

Natalie: You have nothing to worry about.

Elliott: But Dana threatened Jeremy.

Natalie: Was anything mentioned about being set on fire?

Elliott: Yeah.

Natalie: She always threatens to set people on fire.

Elliott: But has she?

Natalie: No. But it might be interesting if she saw Sally walking with a full gas can.

Elliott: By the way, have you seen-

Natalie: The list?

Elliott: Yeah. Sally looks pretty good.

Natalie: Why?

Elliott: What do you mean?

Natalie: What makes her so attractive to men?

Elliott: Well... she's tall... and she's got those legs-

Natalie: See? We were right.

Elliott: We?

Natalie: Dana and I. We thought she would look more respectable in a pants suit.

Elliott: I think she looks good. Do you know... if she is seeing anybody?

Natalie: She sees everybody.

Elliott: Oh.

Natalie: And if you tell me "Sally looks good" one more time, I'll set you on fire.

Elliott: A man's entitled to his opinion.

Natalie: It doesn't mean it's right.

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Casey is standing by Dana's desk. He is holding a paper bag in one hand and flipping through a magazine on her desk with his other hand.

Dana walks in.

Dana: Hey.

Casey: Hey.

Dana: What are you doing here?

Casey: I stopped by. Have you seen this magazine?

Dana: Yes.

Dana snatches the magazine from the desk.

Casey: I didn't know Sally-

Dana: Shush.

Casey: Okay.

Dana: Not one word of Sally in my office. It's tough enough knowing that I wasn't good enough to make the cut, especially with everyone reminding me that pretty, little, good-looking, smiley-faced Sally made the list.

Casey: I'm sorry.

Dana: It's not the best of days, Casey.

Casey: Just because Sally-

Dana: They're picking your successor.

Casey: To what?

Dana: They're picking Dan's new partner. A list of candidates have been made and they will select one from the list.

Casey: I'll take that as a compliment because it took them five months to come up with a list of candidates.

Dana: Take it whatever way you want.

Casey: I brought you dinner.

Casey sets the bag on her desk.

Dana: Thank you.

Dana opens the bag and looks inside.

Dana: You needed to stand up for yourself.

Casey: What?

Dana: You needed to let them know what you wanted.

Casey: I'm sorry, the restaurant didn't have an Italian meatball sub. I got you Italian sausage instead. I thought it would be all right.

Dana: I'm not talking about the sandwich.

Casey: Then what are you talking about?

Dana: I am upset that they are picking someone to permanently replace you. This shouldn't be happening. You should have gone in there and told them you are the best damn anchor this network has ever seen, and that you deserve that job. You deserve that job because you are very good at what you do. We raised our budget to hire an anchor. Walk in Isaac's office right now and demand your job back.

Casey: Just like that.

Dana: Just like that.

Casey: I have a contract.

Dana: Screw the contract. Go back and demand your old job back.

Casey: That's not me. That's not my way.

Dana: Casey, you are such a wuss.

Casey: If this network couldn't appreciate and recognize my talents and contributions, then they didn't deserve me. I like to let my body of work speak for itself. If it wasn't good enough for them, I'd rather just move on.

Dana: So you let them treat you like crap instead of letting them know what you want?

Casey: I think I've become pretty successful at getting what I want, and doing it my way.

Dana: You are doing one show a month, and you're not getting paid your worth.

Casey: I've got you.

Dana: We're not talking about me.

Casey: I got you. I waited forever to try and get you, and my patience paid off. I didn't have to double-cross anybody or payoff anybody. I was patient and a gentleman, and I got you doing it my way.

Dana slumps down into her chair.

Dana: There are moments when I want to hurt you and hug you at the same time.

Casey: I'm lovable.

Dana: I just... I just want it to be like it used to be. I would produce the show, and you and Dan would anchor it. It worked so well.

Casey: Yes, it did.

Dana: What happened?

Casey: Change.

Dana: I don't like change.

Casey: Change helps keep life moving. It keeps it interesting. That's why we get up each morning; there's a new challenge with each day.

Casey walks over and hugs Dana, who is still slumped in her chair.

Dana: You think I'm hotter than Sally, don't you?

Casey: Absolutely.

Dana: Good. Time to eat.

The two break their hug, and Dana digs into her dinner bag.

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Dan is finishing up a show.

Dan: (on-air) And that's going to do it for tonight. Tune in tomorrow night where we will have the same teams playing different games, and hopefully with different scores. I'm Dan Rydell, and that's Tina Lake. Good night.

Chris: Roll audio.

Will: Roll closing.

Dave: We're out.

Dana: Good show, everybody.

Everybody takes off their headsets and gathers their belongings.

Dana: Elliott, you did a very nice job on your two pieces.

Elliott: Thank you.

Jeremy: How were mine, Dana?

Dana: Is that shirt flammable, Jeremy?

Jeremy: Okay.

Jeremy quickly leaves the control room.

Dan catches up with everybody outside of the control room.

Dan: And everyone shall notice that I did not mess up a single college football reference.

Jeremy: Uh...

Dan: What?!

Jeremy: Colorado is in Boulder.

Dan: Actually, the city of Boulder is in Colorado. It's an entire state.

Jeremy: The University Colorado is in Boulder.

Dan: Where did I say it was located?

Jeremy: Denver.

Dan: No!

Jeremy: Gotcha.'

Dan: You played a joke on me? My boy played a joke on me?

Jeremy: Yes, and I deem it a successful one.

Dan: Wait until I get my hands...

Dan begins chasing Jeremy through the newsroom.