Disclaimer

-----

Dan is standing outside looking through the crowd. A police line had been setup a block away from the building, and police and other officials could be seen running around the building and surrounding street. The crowd is eerily quiet, some look on in shock while others make every effort to leave the area.

Natalie taps Dan on his shoulder. As Dan turns around, he's greeted by Natalie and Jeremy.

Dan: What happened? We got separated.

Jeremy: The police made us leave the area quickly.

Natalie: What do you think happened?

Dan: I don't know. I think we need to find everybody and get out of here.

Jeremy: Do you think somebody said something derogatory about Jerry Falwell?

Dan: As we speak, there is possibly a bomb in the building, and we don't know where everybody else is located. What could possibly be funny right now?

Jeremy: Sorry.

Dan: Have you seen anybody else?

Jeremy: We got split up getting out of the building.

Dan: Is everybody out of the building?

Jeremy: It looks like the building is empty except for the police.

Dan: That means Jo got out.

Jeremy: We got split up getting out of the building.

Dan: Let's start walking.

The three start walking up the street. Jeremy and Natalie stop walking as Dan continues straight ahead.

Natalie: Don't you want to go around the area?

Dan: No. I'm heading in one direction.

Jeremy: You've got your cell?

Dan: Yeah.

Jeremy: Who's number do you have?

Dan: I don't know. I've got Jo's, Dana's, and Isaac's. Hey! I'll call them to see where they are located.

Dan starts dialing as he continues to walk away. Natalie and Jeremy follow.

Jeremy: I don't think it's that serious. I don't see the bomb squad.

Dan: Jo's number is busy. Why would it be busy?

Jeremy: Well, try Isaac or Dana.

Dan dials again and listens.

Dan: It's still busy.

Jeremy: Who did you call?

Dan: I tried calling Jo again.

Natalie: Why?

Dan: I didn't think it would still be busy.

Natalie: Call Isaac or Dana.

Dan starts dialing for a third time.

Dan: I'm trying another number this time. I hope you are all satisfied. (into phone) Isaac? It's Dan. Where are you? (looks around) I'm about two blocks north of the building. (listens) I'm not taking any chances. But you're all right? (listens) Well, do me a favor, be cautious, and head toward safety. Have you seen Jo? (listens) I know 5,000 people work in the building. Okay. Talk to you later.

Dan turns off his cell phone.

Natalie: Well?

Dan: He hasn't seen Jo.

Natalie: Dan!

Dan: He's on the other side of the building. He's there with Sam and Kim.

Jeremy: Anything about the others?

Dan: No word on everybody else.

A slow-moving cab comes to a stop and Casey jumps out.

Casey: I came as soon as I heard.

Dan: What did you hear?

Casey: They're evacuating the building. The news didn't say why.

Dan: Did you see Jo?

Casey: What?

Dan: Did you see her anywhere on your way here?

Casey: I didn't even see her. What about everybody else?

Dan: Isaac, Kim, and Sam are on the other side of the building.

Casey: Where's Dana?

Dan: We haven't seen her. Call her on your cell.

Casey grabs his phone and begins dialing.

Casey: (into phone) Hello? Who's this? Officer Bryant of the N.Y.P.D.? I'm calling for Dana Whitaker. You're on her cell phone. Is everything all right?

Dan's cell phone rings. He quickly answers it.

Dan: (into phone) Hello? Jo! Where are you?

Casey: (into phone) I don't understand.

Natalie: Casey, what's wrong?

Dan: (into phone) Thank goodness you're okay.

Casey: (into phone) Is she safe? (listens) Is her health good? (listens) Okay. I'll be there later. Thanks.

Casey turns off the phone.

Jeremy: What's wrong, Casey? What happened to Dana?

Dan: (into phone) I'll see you later. Take care.

Dan turns off his phone.

Casey: Dana's been taken into police custody.

Dan: Good news people. Jo's alright.

-----

Jeremy is carrying a video tape while walking through the newsroom. He sees Dan walking toward him, so Jeremy decides to turn around.

Dan: Jeremy, my man! Not so fast there.

Dan catches up to Jeremy.

Jeremy: Hey, Dan. I'm almost through with this.

Dan: Good, very good. We've got those promo spots we need to cut.

Jeremy: As soon as I'm done with this.

Dan: Where are you headed?

Jeremy: To my desk.

Dan: But your desk is in the opposite direction.

Jeremy: I'm taking the scenic route.

Dan: Okay.

The two start walking toward Jeremy's desk.

Dan: Did you give Stacey a call?

Jeremy: No.

Dan: Why not?

Jeremy: Because I haven't had time?

Dan: You're asking me?

Jeremy: I'm judging if it is a suitable excuse.

Dan: It's not.

Jeremy: I'm working here.

Dan: And what are you working on?

Jeremy:I'm finalizing the correlation between free-throw percentage and teams winning close games. I think I've got it figured out.

Dan: What did you determine?

Jeremy: In games where the deficit is five points or less with four minutes to go in regulation, it looks like the teams who shoot better than 75 percent at the free throw line are 8 times more likely to win the game.

Dan: What if the team with the better free-throw percentage is trailing?

Jeremy: That's what I'm finishing up.

Dan: Did you develop some kind of mathematical formula to come up with that?

Jeremy: Yeah. I open a book, watch some video tape, and record the results. In the business, we like to call it research.

The two reach Jeremy's desk. Jeremy immediately starts typing as Dan watches.

Dan: If you don't want to call Stacey, you can call somebody else. If not, you can always rely on Casey and myself.

Jeremy: You're suggesting I date you two?

Dan: What I am proposing is that you allow us to set you up on a blind date.

Jeremy: Why are you doing this for me?

Dan: Because Jeremy, there are a lot of women- single women- who do not know Jeremy Goodwin. They don't know the brilliance you exude, and the fact you are a very eligible bachelor.

Jeremy: I work for a cable sports network. I don't drive a BMW or Mercedes. I still wear tennis shoes to work. I still eat beanie weenies.

Dan: I wouldn't reveal any of that on a first date.

Jeremy: I'm fine Dan, really.

Dan: I just want you to find that perfect woman.

Jeremy: I suppose you're going to set me up with a supermodel who will pamper me with lavish gifts and be familiar with the works of Chaucer.

Dan: I'll work on that.

Jeremy: Have you proposed to Jo?

Dan: Not yet.

Jeremy: I hear you've been going around asking for advice.

Dan: I've spoken with a few people. Natalie, Kim, and Elliott.

Jeremy: Okay.

Dan: And Dave and Will.

Jeremy: I'm sure you've received plenty of good advice.

Dan: They all pretty much said the same thing.

Jeremy: Which was?

Dan: That I should hold off.

Jeremy: It certainly wouldn't hurt.

Dan: That's why I need your help.

Jeremy: You don't need my help.

Dan: You've known Jo since college, and I was hoping you could gage her interest in marriage.

Jeremy: You know, you could be just as inquisitive by going to her yourself.

Dan: Then it would be obvious.

Jeremy: Nothing like letting a woman know you are interested in marrying her.

Dan: I want to surprise her. I don't want her expecting an engagement ring.

Jeremy: I don't think she wants to go through an engagement.

Dan: Could you just gage her interest?

Jeremy: I could try.

Dan: Thanks.

Jeremy: Hmmm... I think I've got the answer.

Dan: About Jo?

Jeremy: There's a fifty-fifty chance.

Dan: It's either 'yes' or 'no.'

Jeremy: Actually, I'm referring to free throw percentage and trailing by five.

Dan: Fifty-fifty chance they might win.

Jeremy: Yeah.

Dan: And I don't know why women don't find that sexy about you.

-----

Isaac is sitting at his desk while Sam stands by his window.

Sam: I've got to hand it to her. One week she tells us she's pregnant. The next week, she's threatening to blow up the building.

Isaac: I know.

Sam: The network will probably want to do something about it.

Isaac: I am doing something about it.

Sam: What are you doing?

Isaac: I am showing restraint and patience.

Sam: She sat in a jail cell for three hours.

Isaac: Security overreacted. It's better to err on the side of caution, and this is what happened.

Sam: She evacuated the whole building.

Isaac: I know. I was there. I do recall a period when I once had a prized employee who went through some problems. Everyone would tell me he needed to leave or be fired. As I recall, he ended up seeking treatment after receiving some good advice from me.

Sam: I can think of a number of employees who fit that description.

Isaac: You know of whom I am thinking.

Sam smiles.

Sam: They were going to have your head at the London bureau if you didn't fire me.

Isaac: They didn't know how good you were. They only judged you by your misdeeds.

Sam: I would show up drunk.

Isaac: That, too.

Sam: I appreciate what you did for me.

Isaac: And I appreciate what I got in return.

Sam: Yeah.

Sam starts to leave.

Isaac: Sam?

Sam: Yeah.

Isaac: Dana's scared. She hadn't given much thought to having children until she found out she was pregnant. It's a lot of responsibility, much more responsibility than running a show. She's probably feeling uncertain about her future, but she knows that her child is coming whether she's ready or not, whether we like it or not.

Sam shakes his head in agreement as he leaves the office.

-----

JoAnne is piecing together a computer on her desk. Pieces are strewn about as she concentrates on placing a chip with a pair of tweezers. Jeremy watches from a distance. The chip falls inside its casing.

JoAnne: Dag-gum.

Jeremy: I like that. Instead of using actual profanity and smashing the computer, you politely call out "dag-gum."

JoAnne: What's up, Jer-bear?

Jeremy: Are you busy?

JoAnne: I'm just trying to upgrade this computer.

Jeremy: Aren't the cards usually bigger?

JoAnne: It all depends on what you are trying to upgrade.

Jeremy: Going for the gusto, as they would say.

JoAnne: It keeps me sharp. What's up?

Jeremy: Dan gave me a gift the other night.

JoAnne: Oh.

Jeremy: Actually, he passed it down to me.

JoAnne: He left you something in his will.

Jeremy: No. He gave me this.

Jeremy pulls out the little black book. When JoAnne sees it, she laughs.

JoAnne: What's that? His little black book?

Jeremy: Yes.

JoAnne: I better be in there.

Jeremy starts flipping through the book.

JoAnne: And there better be a million stars by my name.

Jeremy: You're not in here.

JoAnne: So my name didn't grace the pages of his book? Well, I'll be sure to have a talk with Danny and dish out a proper punishment for my absence.

JoAnne lets out a bigger laugh.

Jeremy: He's getting pretty serious about you, Jo.

JoAnne: I'll bet. What did he say?

Jeremy: Nothing.

JoAnne walks over to Jeremy.

JoAnne: Danny hasn't said anything.

Jeremy: I just have an inclination that he is becoming serious.

JoAnne: He said something.

Jeremy: No, he didn't.

JoAnne: You're going to tell me.

Jeremy: Dan didn't-

JoAnne grabs Jeremy's ear and begins to twist it.

Jeremy: Ow, ow, ow. Pain, pain-

JoAnne: What did Danny-boy say?

Jeremy: Ow. Nothing. Jo, pain. Let go.

JoAnne reaches over and grabs Jeremy's other ear.

Jeremy: Ow! Pain!

JoAnne: Jeremy.

Jeremy: Ow! He talked about engagement!

JoAnne quickly lets go of Jeremy. As Jeremy tends to his head, JoAnne walks over to her desk with a serious look and she bites her lip.

JoAnne: Engagement. Okay.

Jeremy: Just "okay"? I know what you must be thinking.

JoAnne: That was years ago, Jeremy.

Jeremy: But the hurt is still there. I understand.

JoAnne: How serious is he?

Jeremy: He's talked about the possibility- or probability- of an engagement.

JoAnne slumps into her chair.

Jeremy: I don't want him to surprise you with it because I think you'll react unfavorably.

JoAnne: Do you mean uncontrollable crying?

Jeremy: And not because you are happy.

JoAnne: I feel I've dealt with Jim's death, but I don't know if I've completely accepted it. I love Danny with all of my heart, but I don't know if he understands what I'm feeling.

Jeremy: Longing of the heart isn't going to bring Jim back.

JoAnne: It was just so... unresolved. I had bugged him to mail out the invitations... I finally pushed him out the door that night...

Jeremy: I know. That's when the accident happened coming back from the post office. You can't hold yourself responsible for that happening.

JoAnne: Everything was planned out. We had picked out a house. We picked our honeymoon. We had picked out our wedding rings. We were ready. We were more than ready.

Jeremy: Do you want me to say anything to Dan?

JoAnne: I really want to be with Danny, but I don't know if I could go through another engagement.

Jeremy: Is that what you want me to say?

JoAnne: Yes. No. No, don't say anything to him. It isn't right to unfairly punish him for my past.

Jeremy goes over and hugs JoAnne.

Jeremy: You need to stop unfairly punishing yourself.

-----

Dan, Jeremy, and Casey sit at the bar inside Anthony's.

Dan: We're going to set you up on a blind date.

Jeremy: No.

Casey: We'll search for prospective dates, and we'll narrow the list down.

Dan: Give us a list of the criteria you look for, and we'll take care of the rest.

Jeremy: Why do I feel like I'm in the middle of a remake of "Bye, Bye Birdie"?

Dan: Jeremy? We don't want you to be alone.

Jeremy: But I'm not alone.

Dan: When was the last time you went on a date?

Jeremy: It depends on what is your definition of a date.

Casey: Jeremy.

Jeremy: There was this nice girl from R and D whom I gave a ride home. She was articulate and very appreciate of what I did for her.

Dan: How appreciative?

Jeremy: She thanked me.

Casey: Come on, Jeremy.

Jeremy: I am perfectly fine with dating no one.

Dan: We just want you to find someone and be happy.

Jeremy: But I am happy.

Dan: You're not making any effort to date.

Jeremy: That's the point. I don't need a girlfriend to fill a void in my life. Some may accuse me of being a recluse because I don't go out with them on their dates, but I don't want to interfere by being the odd man out. I am perfectly happy with the status quo, and I think others should try to achieve such happiness.

I appreciate what you're trying to do for me because you think I'm a swell guy. You want somebody to love me, but love doesn't come in the form of an injection or a little blue pill or a preconceived amorous arrangement. Love comes naturally, and I will be perfectly happy if it finds me or not. I have so much satisfaction in all the other things I do, I don't need to find someone or something to validate my existence and my right to be happy.

Dan and Casey watch Jeremy drink the rest of his beer. He slams the empty glass down on the bar.

Jeremy: There.

Casey: You're right.

Dan: Yes, you are.

Jeremy: But if I would like some assistance in finding someone, I will turn to you two.

Casey: Thanks.

Dan: So that's a definite 'no' on calling Stacey?

Jeremy: You are correct.

Dan: Validating my existence... Do either of you think I'm rushing into this wedding proposal?

Jeremy shrugs his shoulders as Casey takes a sip of beer.

Dan: Everyone is saying I need to hold off. Guys?

Casey: Danny, I think we've all given you some advice- biased as it may be. If it makes you happy, then go for it.

Dan: I want to do it. Jeremy?

Jeremy: You need to talk to Jo.

Dan: What happened? What did you learn?

Jeremy: Well, I learned not to stand so close to her. It is better to keep her within ear shot instead of letting her get an ear shot.

Dan: She would actually turn down my proposal?

Jeremy: I can't answer for her, Dan. You two just need to talk and see where each of you stand.

Dan: Okay.

-----

Dan stands outside of JoAnne's apartment. He looks down at the engagement ring inside its velvet box. He knocks on her door. He focuses back on the ring.

Dan: Maybe another time.

He closes the box and slips it inside his pocket.

JoAnne is standing at the entryway as the door opens.

JoAnne: Hey you.

Dan: Hey.

The two share a kiss as Dan enters the apartment and the door closes behind them.