Disclaimer

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Elliott, Chris, and Will are standing around the reference table in the newsroom.

Elliott: So, I think we all deserve the opportunity.

Chris: We work hard.

Elliott: We're a talented group and we should be considered the front-runners.

Will: You don't think we've become invaluable to the point where we have to stay here and produce the show?

The three look at each other as Dana walks by.

Dana: What are you guys working on?

Chris: Baseball.

Will: Football.

Elliott: Baseball and football.

Dana: I didn't know anything was happening with baseball.

Elliott: We're doing research to see if we can come up with something.

Dana: Well, we've got plenty of material for tonight's show, so I wouldn't waste too much time in it.

Elliott: Anyway, we were debating-

Will: More like wondering.

Chris: Just out of curiosity.

Elliott: We were wondering when the assignments for the Winter Games will be handed out.

Dana: I'm compiling a list of recommendations for Isaac. I'll give him the list today, and he'll get final approval in the next few days.

Chris: Do you think we'll get to go to Salt Lake?

Dana: There's the possibility.

Will: So you think we're pretty good.

Dana: At your jobs?

Will: Yes.

Dana: I think all of your are the best at your positions.

Elliott: Thank you.

Dana: You're welcome.

Elliott: But what exactly does that mean?

Dana: It's means you three are really good. That's what it means.

Will: But it doesn't mean that "Sports Night" would be crippled without us.

Dana: Are you guys going on strike?

Will: No.

Chris: We're just curious to know if we are very valuable.

Will: If we were so valuable, the show wouldn't function properly without us.

Dana laughs.

Dana: Do you think the show couldn't be produced if you three weren't here?

Dana looks at the three.

Elliott: Yeah.

Dana: I could afford to lose one or two of you, but not every one of you.

Elliott: So you only want to send the best.

Dana: Yes.

Elliott: And you consider us to be some of the best.

Dana: Yes.

Elliott: And Dave?

Dana: Dave, too.

Elliott: And Kim?

Dana: Kim also.

"What about me?"

Kim overhears the conversation and joins the group.

Kim: What am I included in?

Chris: Possible recommendations for the assignments in Salt Lake.

Will: I thought we were talking about who's good at their jobs.

Chris: But that leads to recommendations for these assignments.

Kim: Ooo. Can I go?

Chris: If it helps, I have relatives who live in Utah.

Dana: People, please!

Everyone turns their attention toward Dana.

Dana: These are just recommendations. I don't make the final decision on this.

Kim: Isaac also asked me to recommend a few people.

Chris: Kim, I have relatives who live in Utah.

Elliott: Kim, remember that PGA assignment I did for you?

Kim: I can't recommend myself, I need somebody else to recommend me.

Dana: Oh god...

Dana spots Natalie walking through the newsroom.

Dana: Wait. I got to go and... do something with Natalie.

Dana scurries over to Natalie. She latches onto her and begins whispering.

Dana: (whispering) We need to go talk in my office.

Natalie: About?

Dana: I don't know.

Natalie: What were you guys talking about?

Dana: Shh.

Natalie leans over and speaks toward Kim, Elliott, Will, and Chris.

Natalie: What were you guys talking about?!

Elliott: The assignments for the Winter Games!

Natalie looks at Dana.

Natalie: I'm going to Salt Lake?!

Dana: Hold on, Natalie. I haven't made my final recommendations.

Natalie grabs hold of Dana's hands and takes off. Dana jerks from her standing position to follow Natalie.

Natalie: Let's talk in your office.

Natalie and Dana start heading out of the newsroom.

Chris: I put in a good word for you, Natalie!

Will: No, you didn't.

Elliott: Suck up.

-----

Natalie leads Dana into her office. Natalie closes the door and leans back against it.

Natalie: So?

Dana: Natalie this isn't about the assignments. I haven't even turned in the list to Isaac.

Natalie: I thought you did.

Dana: No, I haven't.

Natalie: So there is a chance you might change your mind on some of the assignments.

Dana: Possibly.

Natalie: Come with me.

Natalie grabs hold of Dana's arm, but Dana pulls it away.

Dana: Natalie, you can't lead me around like I'm on a leash.

Natalie: Could you please come with me?

Dana: Where are we going?

Natalie: To the control room.

Dana: What for?

Natalie: I think they may have reprogrammed the phones.

Dana: No, they didn't.

Natalie: I think they did.

Dana: Call technical support to confirm if they did.

Natalie: I need you to try it out.

Dana: Later.

Natalie opens the door and motions Dana to leave.

Natalie: Jeremy needs you!

Dana: For what?

Natalie: I don't know. He just said that he needs you.

Dana: He can find me in here.

Natalie: Oh! Did you tell Isaac about the satellite dish?

Dana: Not yet.

Natalie: Why not?

Dana: I haven't found the time.

Natalie: Well, no time like the present. Let's go. Scoot. Scoot.

Dana: Fine. You're in such a hurry for me to do something.

Natalie: Good, good, good. Go tell Isaac what happened, and explain in detail.

Dana: Okay.

Dana steps in the doorway while Natalie is right behind her. Dana turns around.

Natalie: What?

Dana: I need my notes.

Natalie: I can get them.

Natalie blocks Dana from re-entering her office.

Dana: This is my office, Natalie.

Natalie: And as your associate producer, one of my responsibilities is to take care of some of your responsibilities.

Dana: Natalie, move. It's right there.

Dana tries to maneuver around Natalie, but Natalie mirrors Dana's movements.

Dana: Natalie!

Natalie: I'll get it!

Dana finally peaks over Natalie's shoulder and catches a glimpse of her desk.

Dana: What's on my desk?

Natalie: That? It's nothing.

Dana: No. It looks like there is a wedge of cheese on my desk.

Natalie: It should be there when you get back.

Dana: Natalie.

Natalie: Hmm?

Dana: GET OUT OF THE WAY!

Natalie reluctantly moves out of the way and lets Dana back in her office. Natalie races ahead of Dana and grabs the cheese. She rips off a small card and tosses Dana the wedge.

Natalie: There you go.

Dana looks at the cheese.

Dana: What is this for?

Natalie: I don't know. I bet it could go with a good chardonnay.

Dana: What did you just rip off?

Natalie: Hmm?

Dana: You pulled something off before you tossed this to me.

Natalie: It was just the label. I want you to guess what kind of cheese it is.

Dana looks at the cheese.

Dana: It's Bel Paese. It's printed on the label.

Dana shows Natalie the label.

Natalie: Good guess.

Dana: Natalie.

Natalie: It was just a small, insignificant card. It doesn't mean anything.

Dana: So, you are behind this?

Natalie: Kinda, yes. I thought it would be a nice gift.

Dana: Thank you, Natalie.

Natalie: You're welcome.

Dana: I'd like to see the card.

Natalie: It's just a cheap little card.

Dana: I would still like to see it.

Natalie: Dana.

Dana: Natalie, go tell Isaac about the satellite connection.

Natalie: Okay.

Natalie starts to leave.

Dana: Give me the card.

Natalie: Dana.

Dana: Give me the damn card!

Natalie looks at the crinkled card in her hand. She hands the card to Dana.

Natalie: You're going to laugh when you read it.

Dana: I don't understand what the big deal is.

Dana reads the small card.

Natalie: Don't you think it's funny?

Dana: "Here's some cheese to go with your wine." What's so funny about that?

Natalie: Nothing.

Dana examines the card further.

Dana: You spelled 'wine' wrong. You added an 'h'. w-h-i-n-e.

Natalie: Silly me.

Natalie starts to leave once again.

Dana: Hold on there a minute, lady.

Natalie: Yes?

Dana: What does this mean? "Here's some cheese to go with your whine."

Natalie: Nothing.

Dana: Is this about me going to see Casey's family for Christmas?

Natalie: I don't know.

Dana: You wrote the message. This is your handwriting.

Natalie: I don't remember.

Dana: You're tired of hearing me complain about going to Indianapolis.

Natalie: Maybe.

Dana: You are!

Natalie: Just a little.

Dana: You certainly have a knack for being subtle.

Natalie: It's good cheese.

Dana: I can't believe you don't understand the position I am in.

Natalie: You should be looking forward to this. Instead, you are dreading it.

Dana: I am not dreading it.

Natalie: You've been dreading it all day.

Dana: I have some reservations.

Natalie: Why?

Dana: This... is just strange. I am walking into someone's house, and it has to be tough on Casey's family because Casey is expecting them to embrace me as his girlfriend.

Natalie: Listen, I'm staying here for the holidays. It is going to be rough because this is the first Christmas since my father passed on.

Dana: Yeah. If you need a friend-

Natalie: It's okay. I'll be fine.

Dana: I can stay here with you, Natalie.

Natalie: You should be with Casey.

Dana: My family is important to me, Natalie. And I am closer to you than to Casey's family.

Natalie: You need to create new memories.

Dana: I just wish I could create them with my family.

Natalie: You're not going to change the assignment suggestions, are you?

Dana: Why?

Natalie: Because of the cheese-thing.

Dana: I can be objective, Natalie.

Natalie: Good.

Dana: I'm not going to hold the fact that you resent my opinion on going to Indianapolis.

Natalie: Good.

Dana: Or the fact you have to express your opinion through gifts.

Natalie: Okay.

Dana: I just hope you can respect my recommendations and not hold them against me.

Natalie: Are you going to recommend me for Salt Lake?

Dana: It depends. Is this cheese going to spoil?

Natalie: It's aged cheese. It's been sitting around for 8 weeks already.

Dana: Good.

Natalie: Okay.

Dana: I'm going to see Isaac now.

Natalie: About the recommendations?

Dana: About the recommendations and the satellite feed for Utah-Boise State.

Natalie: Okay.

Natalie leaves the office.

Dana reviews her list of recommendations and starts to leave her office. As she reaches the door, she stops to look back at the cheese on her desk. She goes back and takes the cheese along with her list.

-----

Abby is sitting in her office. Her note pad and pen are still resting on her lap.

Abby: So we've gone through the drive to Connecticut, the fact your brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first child, your mother is doing well, and you received some very nice gifts.

Dan: And you haven't found anything important to write.

Abby looks at Dan and then picks up her pen and writes something on her note pad.

Abby: Happy?

Dan: What did you write?

Abby: It's confidential information.

Dan: I'm your patient.

Abby: And I'm your doctor.

Dan: What did you write?

Abby: You don't want to know.

Dan: Come on.

Abby: You'd be disappointed.

Dan: Let me see.

Abby: So you won't be disappointed if I show you?

Dan: I won't be disappointed. What did you write?

Abby holds up her note pad toward Dan. He leans over and reads it.

Dan: You just doodled on it.

Abby: Yes.

Dan: I'm paying you to draw squiggle lines and circles.

Abby: Among other things.

Dan: Wait. All those other times I've been talking and you've been writing- have you just been doing some drawings?

Abby: No.

Dan: Because I don't want to walk into an art gallery and see drawings by Abby Jacobs.

Abby: I write down important information and possible ways to treat you- to help you get better.

Dan: So doodling is important?

Abby: My doodling shows you've been wasting time.

Dan: I'm... I'm...

Abby: You're what?

Dan leans back on the couch.

Abby: Disappointed?

Dan: Yeah.

Abby: Because you expected more from me.

Dan: Of course. You're my shrink.

Abby: You thought I would have the answers to make you happy.

Dan sits quietly.

Abby: You expected more from me much the same way your father expects more from you.

Dan slumps his shoulders.

Dan: All this comes back to my father.

Abby: He's not the source of your pain, just one of the sources.

Dan: You always do this.

Abby: What?

Dan: Turn something good into... into this.

Abby: I'm helping you uncover what you really need to focus on. You want to focus on the good times, and that is healthy. But you also need to focus on healing yourself, Dan.

Dan: I had a good trip.

Abby: You didn't take your girlfriend.

Dan: Yeah.

Abby: Have you two spoken since you got back?

Dan: I just got back yesterday.

Abby: Have you two spoken since you got back?

Dan: No.

Abby: You still care about her?

Dan: Of course.

Abby: You didn't take her up there because you thought she was an embarrassment.

Dan: No.

Abby: You have problems with your father because you don't meet his expectations.

Dan: So there have been times he hasn't agreed with my decisions.

Abby: Because you feel you don't meet your father's expectations, you are afraid JoAnne wouldn't be what your father expected in a girlfriend for you. You would be hurt- maybe even devastated- if your father thought JoAnne wasn't good enough for you.

Dan stares at Abby. She reaches back and pulls out another note pad. She flips a few pages and hands it to Dan. He looks down and reads it.

Dan: "Dan fears never being accepted by his father. He feels he doesn't meet his father's expectations."

Dan hands the note pad back to Abby.

Dan: I may have underestimated your abilities as a doctor and as a trained professional.

Abby: It's okay.

Dan: I'm truly sorry.

Abby: We've got a few minutes left. Let's make a plan of action.

Dan: Okay.