Disclaimer

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Dan enters the newsroom at a brisk pace. He walks with a purpose.

Jeremy: Hey, Dan.

Dan: Hey.

Dan walks by Jeremy.

Jeremy: Don't forget about the college bowl game spots!

Dan waves Jeremy off.

Elliott: Dan? Dana said we were dropping Alabama down to the forties because of the developments at Nebraska.

Dan: Okay.

Elliott checks something off his clipboard as Dan continues walking.

Kim: Dan? Who's going to do the NBA Eastern Conference tonight?

Dan: Bobbi.

Kim: Is it alright if I have the taped segments kick it back to her?

Dan: Sure.

Dan maneuvers around two people.

Natalie: Dan!

Dan: Give me a few minutes, Natalie!

Dan exits the newsroom and down the corridor toward Isaac's office.

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Isaac is sitting at the desk and is on the telephone.

Isaac: (into phone) So, we'll have three temporary locations? (listens) Uh-huh. Right. (starts writing some notes) Salt Lake City, Provo, and Park City. Got it.

Dan bursts open the door and walks in. He walks right to Isaac's desk.

Isaac: (into phone) Hold on a second.

Isaac places his hand over the mouthpiece.

Isaac: I'm almost done here, Daniel.

Dan: Don't worry. I've got time.

Isaac: (into phone) Yeah, I'm still here.

Dan stands in front of Isaac's desk. He rocks slightly back-and-forth, and Isaac can see through Dan's cool demeanor.

Isaac: (into phone) I hate to cut this short, but something has come up with one of my anchors. We'll talk later.

Isaac hangs up the phone.

Dan: You didn't have to do that.

Isaac: You're literally standing over top of me. What's wrong?

Dan: Nothing's wrong. Maybe a little emergency.

Isaac: What did you want to talk about?

Dan momentarily looks distracted.

Isaac: Is it about the show?

Dan paces across the office.

Isaac: Danny?

Dan is lost in deep thought.

Isaac: The show is doing fine. The audience has adjusted to you and Bobbi anchoring the show.

Dan: This isn't about the show.

Isaac: What is it?

Dan: It's about me and JoAnne.

Isaac looks at Dan.

Isaac: Get out.

Dan's jaw drops as he pleads with Isaac.

Dan: Isaac, listen-

Isaac: I just broke from a conference call, Danny. I would certainly expect that this kind of emergency would somehow involve the network and our show.

Dan: I need to make it up to Jo.

Isaac: If I sent you to Salt Lake City, would you leave me alone?

Dan: Probably not.

Isaac: If I sent the both of you, would you leave me alone?

Dan: That's the problem- we might not be together.

Isaac: And that constitutes an emergency?

Dan: Isaac, today I realized one of my problems, and I need to make it up to her. I need some advice.

Isaac: So you came to me?

Dan: Yes.

Isaac: Where's Casey?

Dan: He hung up on me.

Isaac: Lucky him.

Dan: Isaac-

Isaac: I'm trying to run a show here. Instead, I've got satellite dishes falling, people coming to me with their problems, and employees jockeying for consideration for the Winter Game assignments. You're going to need to take a number.

Dan: I'll just be one minute.

Isaac: One minute?

Dan: Yes, then I will leave you alone.

Isaac: Forever?

Dan: For today.

Isaac: Deal.

Dan sits in front of Isaac's desk.

Dan: Great. I didn't take Jo with me to Connecticut.

Isaac: Okay. How was your trip?

Dan: It was a good trip. Anyway, Jo wanted to come with me.

Isaac: Why didn't you take her?

Dan: I have some emotion problems.

Isaac: Some?

Dan: And I realize that there are times when I put my personal feelings ahead of other people's.

Isaac: You don't say?

Dan: And there are times when I want my issues to take precedence over more important matters.

Isaac: And you are learning from your mistakes?

Dan: Of course.

Isaac looks at his watch in slight disgust.

Isaac: Go on.

Dan: This realization has allowed me to see Jo's perspective. I should have considered her feelings and what she wanted.

Isaac: But you didn't.

Dan: And it's only proper that I admit I was wrong and offer my regrets.

Isaac: Are you truly sorry?

Dan: Yes.

Isaac: Then tell her that.

Dan: I need to do more.

Isaac: If you are thinking of something materialistic, you can't buy back affection.

Dan: I'm not sure expressing regret and asking for forgiveness is enough.

Isaac: If you admit your mistakes and ask for forgiveness, and she believes you are truly sorry-

Dan: Yeah?

Isaac: -and you are willing to learn and grow from your mistakes and become a better person-

Dan: Absolutely.

Isaac: -then I see no reason why you two shouldn't be together.

Dan: Great. Anything else?

Isaac: Groveling and flowers couldn't hurt.

Dan: Okay.

Isaac: Time's up.

Dan: One minute, huh?

Isaac: Not a second more.

Dan: What if I sent somebody here with more questions?

Isaac: You would send a representative for yourself?

Dan: Yes.

Isaac: Then I'll have to direct you to my representative.

Dan: Who is?

Isaac: Santa Claus.

Dan: But there is no such thing-

Isaac: Exactly.

Dan: Okay.

Isaac: Have a good day, and good luck.

Dan: Thanks.

Isaac picks up the phone as Dan leaves the office.

-----

Natalie and Elliott are inside the control room.

Natalie: Here's the plan: if I go to Salt Lake, I'll need to have an associate producer with me.

Elliott: So I could go?

Natalie: Or Jeremy.

Elliott: He can't go. He would need to replace you on the show.

Natalie: Nobody can replace me, but he could try.

Elliott: You and I could go.

Natalie: Unless Isaac selects someone from Sally's staff.

Natalie and Elliott cringe as they look at each other. Chris and Will enter the control room.

Natalie: Hey guys.

Will: We've come to apologize.

Natalie: For what?

Chris: Some things were said in haste.

Will: Really for selfish reasons.

Natalie: What did you say?

Will: Remember that piece you did a few weeks ago on the decline of ACC basketball?

Natalie: Yeah?

Elliott: Isn't that the one where Dana threatened to burn the tape?

Will: And then burn you?

Chris: But we had nothing else to air.

Natalie: Yeah?

Will: We sort of reminded Dana about it.

Natalie: Why?

Chris: We thought you had a good chance of going to Salt Lake.

Will: And we felt you might outshine our individual job performances, thus eliminating the possibility of us being nominated.

Natalie: Guys!

Natalie throws a pen toward Chris and Will. Will moves to the side and Chris ducks as the pen flies by them.

Natalie: I'm trying to recover from a mistake I made earlier today!

Elliott: What did you do?

Natalie: I gave her a piece of cheese as a joke.

Elliott: For what?

Natalie: That doesn't matter. What matters is that hurt my chances of going- and I didn't need anyone trying to bring me down further.

Elliott: I guess that improves my chances of going... no offense, Natalie.

Everyone stands quietly for a moment.

Elliott: What?

Natalie: I reminded Dana that you're very new in your position.

Chris: You're a greenhorn.

Will: I said greenhorn. You said novice.

Chris: You said novice.

Will: No, I didn't.

Natalie: Wait, guys. So we've been hurt a little bit by this negative campaigning. We all took shots and each other, and we've all been hit and affected by it. That means, we should still be on an even playing field.

Elliott: True.

Natalie: So we still have very good chances for getting the assignments.

Chris: Yeah.

Natalie: If I get to go, I can take Elliott with me.

Chris: Will and I could prep three weeks worth of graphics for "Sports Night."

Will: That way, they have to just plug them in. All they would have to do is work on the audio.

Elliott: And with our technology, you guys could work on it from Salt Lake.

Natalie: Or they could have you work on the audio for the Winter Games from right here.

Chris: Let's not mention our technical capabilities.

Will: Yeah.

Natalie: Good idea.

Dave enters the control room.

Dave: What are you guys doing?

Natalie: We're figuring a way on how all four of us can go to Salt Lake.

Dave: That's cool.

Elliott: We can figure out a way you can go, too.

Dave: Oh, I'm already going.

Natalie: What?!

Dave: Didn't they tell you?

Natalie: I thought they didn't make the final decisions for a few more days.

Dave: Isaac told me a little while ago. It seems I was recommend by several producers.

Elliott: How?

Dave: Isaac also mentioned that I was the one of the few people who wasn't jockeying for position. I just came in and did my job quietly.

Natalie, Chris, Will, and Elliott shake their heads in disbelief.

Natalie: You mean none of us are going?

Dave: I wouldn't say that. I was just the first one selected.

Elliott: So there's still a chance?

Dave: Yeah, but you won't find out for a few more days.

Will: Why did you get selected so soon?

Dave: Probably because I'm the best- and probably because nobody had anything negative to say about my job performance.

Natalie, Chris, Will, and Elliott look at each other.

-----

Isaac is sitting at his desk. Jeremy knocks on his open door.

Isaac: Hey, Jeremy.

Jeremy: Hey, Isaac.

Isaac: Before you enter, I have one question to ask?

Jeremy: Sure.

Isaac: Does this have anything to do with the show?

Jeremy: Yes.

Isaac: Come in.

Jeremy enters.

Jeremy: I have an inquiry to make.

Isaac: Okay.

Jeremy: I want to see if it is feasible for the show to be run with the absence of Dana and Natalie.

Isaac: Tonight?

Jeremy: No! Around Christmas. You see, Dana is on vacation around that time, and I thought it would be a nice gesture to send Natalie home for the holidays.

Isaac: This is her first Christmas since her father passed away.

Jeremy: Exactly, and I thought I could get her plane tickets home- just for a couple of days.

Isaac: Have you discussed this with Natalie?

Jeremy: No.

Isaac: Have you discussed this with Dana?

Jeremy: No.

Isaac: You know, in a world with e-mail, telephones, faxes, and overnight deliveries, I've never seen an organization which communicates less.

Jeremy: Did I miss something?

Isaac: Apparently.

Jeremy: I'm completely missing your point.

Isaac: The point is, Natalie needs to come to me or Dana if she wants time off. I don't need you or Dana suggesting it; I need Natalie to request it.

Jeremy: I'm her secret Santa.

Isaac: Yeah?

Jeremy: I thought it would be great surprise to give her plane tickets home.

Isaac: You can purchase plane tickets this late?

Jeremy: I'm going to try- with your approval, of course.

Isaac thinks for a moment.

Isaac: Who would produce the show?

Jeremy: Elliott and I.

Isaac looks at Jeremy, and Jeremy realizes that idea will not work.

Jeremy: And I'm sure anybody else willing to help produce the show.

Isaac: This is your plan, so you need to consult with Sally and Kim.

Jeremy: Thank you, Isaac.

Isaac: Don't thank me just yet.

Jeremy: What is it?

Isaac: You have my approval to do this for Natalie. But, you need to make sure they are willing to help out, and they need to come to me and let me know they will help produce the show over Christmas.

Jeremy: Okay.

Isaac: That's all.

Jeremy: Thank you, Isaac.

Isaac: You're welcome.

Jeremy notices something on Isaac's desk.

Jeremy: Is that a block of cheese on your desk?

Isaac: It's a wedge of Bel Paese.

Jeremy: I see its from Italy.

Isaac: It's from the Lombardy region.

Jeremy: Didn't Antonio Stoppani write a book called "Il Bel Paese"?

Isaac: Yes.

Jeremy: And as I recall, the book deals with the geology and physical geography of Italy and not about cheese.

Isaac: You're correct.

Isaac notices Jeremy looking at the cheese.

Isaac: Would you like a piece?

Jeremy: If it's no trouble.

Isaac: Inside my bar, there should be something to cut this.

Jeremy: Okay.

Jeremy walks over to Isaac's bar. As Jeremy looks around for a knife or sharp instrument, Isaac unwraps the cheese.

Jeremy: There's an ice pick, some tongs, and a foil cutter. There's nothing to really cut this... unless you would like to use the handle to your cocktail strainer?

Isaac: That'll do.

Jeremy brings the cocktail strainer to Isaac. Isaac begins cutting the Bel Paese with the handle.

Isaac: I can cut this because it is semi-soft and made from cow's milk. You should notice the light, milky aroma of this.

Jeremy: Okay.

Isaac: It's been matured for about six to eight weeks. The American version of this will have a map of the Americas on it, but this one has a map of Italy.

Jeremy: Because it was made in Italy.

Isaac: Yes. The name Bel Paese can be translated into "beautiful land."

Jeremy: Like the book.

Isaac: And you can also use this in place of mozzarella.

Jeremy: You are certainly proficient in your knowledge of cheese.

Isaac stops cutting.

Isaac: If you want a piece of this, you are going to have to listen to my little speech about cheese.

Jeremy: Yes, sir.

Isaac continues cutting the Bel Paese.