Change and Consequences

Disclaimer


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Dana, Isaac, Sam, and Donna Kendrick are in Isaac's office.

Dana: What changes?

Donna: We feel it is necessary to ask Casey to no longer visit the set.

Dana: What?

Donna: We don't want to give the impression that he is getting advanced copies of features from us.

Dana: Everybody covers the same events. If another network covers the Super Bowl, am I going to be reprimanded because the network thought we should have it all to ourselves?

Donna: This was an exclusive interview for us.

Dana: And Casey's show had been working on it, too. I can't stop other networks from reporting the news- especially when they want to cover the same topic.

Donna: The coincidence is too much to accept and ignore, Dana.

Dana: Hold on a minute, there. Do you think I handed over Hammerin' Hank to Casey?

Donna: No, we don't.

Dana: You do think that. You think that because I am his girlfriend that I would resort to some sort of cheap tactics- not to mention that it is totally unprofessional.

Isaac: I have to vouch for Dana. She's worked hard on this and she has a great professional reputation. She wouldn't sacrifice that reputation for the sake of her boyfriend.

Donna: Casey is a former employee of this network. Sometimes employers lay-off people. Some of those laid-off become resentful toward their former employer.

Dana: Casey didn't do this to get back at CSC.

Donna: Stealing an interview from his former employer in order to premiere it on his brand new series? It doesn't take a stretch of the imagination to think of that one.

Dana: Casey's a good man!

Donna: Your opinion of him is biased. You're dating him, so you obviously have some feelings toward him.

Isaac: This has gone far enough. Casey knew his contract with CSC was expiring, and he did his job with dignity. He's one of the best people- much less, anchor- I've ever had the pleasure to associate. I can't imagine he would purposely do this.

Donna: I'm sorry, Isaac. I'm going to have to ask Casey not to visit this network again.

Dana: Fine.

Dana storms out of the office.

Donna: I'm sorry it had to come to this, Isaac.

Isaac: I did notice one flaw in your observation.

Donna: What's that?

Isaac: You naturally assume the worst in people instead of looking for what makes them good.

Donna: I'm just doing my job, Isaac.

Isaac: And I'll continue to do mine.

Donna and Sam leave the office.

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The show has concluded and everyone is leaving the studio and control room. Dan sees Jeremy throw a wrapper in a trash can.

Dan: What was that?

Jeremy: What was what?

Dan reaches into the trash can and pulls out a used muffin cup.

Dan: What was in this?

Jeremy: A chocolate cupcake. Natalie gave it to me.

Chris: Actually, Natalie gave all of us cupcakes.

Will: They were really good.

Dan: These muffin papers look exactly like... the ones... I... uh-oh.

Jeremy: What?

Dan: It's nothing. Just don't be alarmed.

Jeremy: What?

Natalie: Thanks for the cupcakes, Dan.

Dan: How did you know they were from me? The card said they were from Jeremy.

Natalie: Jeremy doesn't own a muffin pan. Nice try, Daniel.

Dan: Wait. Did you have one, Natalie?

Dave walks out of the control room.

Dave: Guys, I'm not feeling so well.

Natalie: I decided to share them with everybody else. Besides, if I eat too much cake, I might become fat.

Dave runs down the hallway.

Jeremy: What did you do to these?!

Dan: Well, I did the same thing Natalie did with her cake.

Elliott walks out from the control room.

Elliott: I think that cupcake is making me sick.

Jeremy: Dan?!

Dan: I only added some laxative to it.

Natalie: Well, I guess becoming fat won't be a problem, will it?

Jeremy grabs his stomach and then runs for the nearest restroom.

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Casey is in his apartment. He is sitting on his couch and reading a book.

There's a loud pounding on his door.

An alarmed Casey gets up and runs to his door. He looks through the peep hole. He opens his door and Dana storms in.

Dana: How dare you!

Casey: What?

Dana: I told you not to pursue it!

Casey: The interview?

Dana: No! You're dream of becoming an astronaut! Of course, the interview!

Casey: Calm down, Dana. Alexis called earlier tonight. I was told we got an interview with Hank.

Dana: And sacrificed our exclusive at the same time!

Casey: They never said-

Dana: Now, I'm going to have to fill fifteen minutes with highlights from a local snooker tournament!

Casey: I didn't know, I'm sorry.

Dana: Or better yet, I could have you come onto the set and have them film me kicking your ass!

Casey: Take it easy, Dana.

Dana: I worked damn hard on this Casey, and for you :::sniff::: and for you to swoop :::sniff::: down...

Casey: Take it easy.

Casey hugs Dana as she begins to cry.

Dana: :::sniff::: I can't take it easy, Casey. I've got to make myself in... :::sniff::: invaluable over the next few months.

Casey: You're already invaluable.

Dana: I thought the same thing of you, Casey. Before the network let you go.

Casey: It's all right. Everything will be all right.

Dana: I can't do this.

Dana breaks away from Casey and walks into his living room.

Casey: What do you mean?

Dana: I'm not ready. I haven't prepared for this. I'm not ready to have a baby.

Casey: If it helps, I have some experience.

Dana: I'm in the middle of my career, and I'm in no shape for this.

Casey joins Dana in the living room.

Casey: You'll be fine. You'll be an excellent mother.

Dana: No, I won't.

Dana sits on the couch. Casey sits next to her.

Casey: I'm here for you. We're going to have our baby, Dana. You've got a little life inside of you right now.

Dana: I don't know if I can handle this.

Casey: We'll take it moment by moment.

Dana: This isn't a good moment.

Casey: We'll be all right.

Dana: I... I haven't told anybody. I haven't told my mom, I haven't told the network. God knows if I told Natalie, the whole world would know.

Casey: Have you thought about when you are going to tell them?

Dana: Probably when my water breaks in the middle of a broadcast.

Casey: How would you explain your extra... um... girth?

Dana: I'll just tell them I've been eating a lot of chocolate cake.

Dana sets her head on Casey's chest. Casey starts to run his hand through Dana's hair.

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Isaac is doing some paperwork at his desk. There's a knock on his door. The door opens and Dan walks in. Dan walks up to Isaac's desk.

Isaac: Come in.

Dan: Thanks. I've got something to tell you- and you'll probably laugh when you hear this.

Isaac: Is this going to be long?

Dan: No.

Isaac: I'm trying to finish up this paperwork.

Dan: Okay. I'll make it quick.

Isaac: Do you mind if I have a snack while you tell me your funny, little story?

Dan: No. Go right ahead. Okay. Give me a second here.

As Dan turns his back to compose himself, Isaac pulls out his snack: a chocolate cupcake. When Dan faces Isaac, his eyes light up as he sees Isaac ready to take a bite from the cupcake.

Dan: Put that down!

Dan swats the cupcake down onto Isaac's desk. Dan's follow-through makes him smash the cupcake into Isaac's paperwork.

The two look at the smashed cupcake.

Isaac: Was that the story?

Dan: Kinda'.

Isaac: You notice I'm not laughing?

Dan: Yeah, but let me explain.

Isaac: You're going to have to explain to Esther why you smashed her homemade cupcake into my desk.

Dan: Wait. Esther made that for you?

Isaac: Yes.

Dan: Oh... sorry.

Isaac: I'm sure you are.

Dan: Um... you know... that paperwork... it wasn't too terribly important, was it?

Isaac: Not really.

Dan: Okay.

Isaac: It was just your annual performance review.

Dan: Okay. All right. Great.



Sports Night



"On the next Sports Night..."

Dana walks into the filled conference room.

Dana: Okay. Anthony?

Three men reply, "Yes?"

Dana looks around the room, mesmerized by unanticipated replies.

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Jeremy is on the phone in a hotel room.

Jeremy: Yeah. We're at the Winter Games, and Natalie has a fever. (listens) No, an actual 101-degree fever.

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Dan and Casey are eating lunch in a restaurant.

Dan: I don't know. I don't approve of her befriending a male stripper.

Casey: They're just friends, right?

Dan: Yeah.

Casey: Didn't you and Jo start out only as friends?

Dan begins to cough and choke on his food.