| Indiscretions |
-----
Isaac is doing some paperwork at his desk when Dan knocks on his open door.
Dan: Isaac?
Isaac: Danny.
Dan: Got a minute?
Isaac: The question should be this: can you spare a minute?
Dan: Isaac, can you spare a minute?
Isaac: Danny, with a full slate of games, can you spare a minute?
Dan nods his head.
Dan: I think I can spare a minute or two.
Isaac: What is it?
Dan enters the office.
Dan: I've got two issues, one more important than the other. Which would you like to hear first?
Isaac: Neither, in actuality.
Dan: Okay, I'll start with the most troublesome. Would you allow Esther to roam around the house wearing whatever she pleases?
Isaac: I'm not her wardrobe manager, if that's what you are asking.
Dan leans over Isaac's desk.
Dan: I mean, if she was wearing something people would consider provocative, and a little revealing, wouldn't you put your foot down and say, "hey, I don't like what you are wearing because it embarrasses your image."
Isaac: It embarrasses my image?
Dan: Her image. Esther's image.
Isaac: What image are you referring to?
Dan: This image of your wife. This wholesome, pure, perfect image of her.
Isaac leans back in his chair.
Isaac: Danny?
Dan: Yes, sir.
Isaac: Have you been eying my wife?
Dan: No, sir.
Isaac: Because what you are saying either doesn't make any sense or it makes perfect sense.
Dan stands upright and thinks about it for a moment.
Dan: What do you want it to be?
Isaac: I think you are speaking nonsense.
Dan: Okay. Forget what I said.
Isaac: I hope so.
Dan: Now, my second issue-
Isaac: Oh dear god.
Dan: I think I would look great with a goatee.
Isaac stares at Dan.
Isaac: Get out.
Dan: I'm just saying that we need some sort of policy. We need a policy where men can have facial hair, or men cannot have facial hair.
Sam knocks on the door.
Isaac: Sam! Just in time. Come on in.
Dan: Of course, Sam would be exempt from that rule.
Sam: Am I interrupting something?
Isaac: Nothing at all.
Sam enters the office.
Dan: Sam? Don't you think I would look good with a goatee?
Sam: Compared with what?
Dan: Compared... what? Compared with me, the clean-shaven Dan Rydell.
Sam: It depends.
Dan: Depends on what?
Sam: How long this conversation lasts.
Dan: So you're saying that your judgment is based on the length of this conversation?
Sam: Yes.
Dan: What would you say right now?
Sam: No.
Dan: How about... right now?
Sam: No.
Isaac: Daniel, there are 44 college football games, 12 baseball games, the PGA, LPGA, the ATP, WTA, and soccer taking place right now. I think there are more important issues.
Dan starts backpedaling.
Dan: I beg to differ that soccer is a more pressing issue.
Isaac: Have a good day, Daniel.
Dan: Okay. So I can check back with you later?
Isaac: Please don't.
Dan leaves the office.
-----
Dana is walking through the newsroom, when she is met by Natalie. They continue walking through the newsroom.
Natalie: We're in line for a great show.
Dana: Good.
Natalie: Miami, Oklahoma, and Texas are looking good today. Great footage.
Dana: Okay.
Natalie: Venus Williams made an unbelievable volley in the semi-finals toady. She saved the set, then won the match.
Dana: Great.
Natalie: Jeremy's cutting the Big 10 right now. We'll probably cut 15 seconds off that and use it on the Big 12.
Dana: Okay.
Natalie: Oklahoma and Texas are looking really good today.
Dana: You already said that.
Natalie: Yes, I did. But they really look good-
Dana stops Natalie.
Dana: What's bothering you?
Natalie: Men are jerks.
Dana: Okay. What brought this about?
Natalie: Nine days. It took him nine days to write me. No explanations, no apologies, just "how are you doing?" and things are great out here in California.
Dana: So you are no longer fine.
Natalie: I am no longer fine.
Dana: Well, Casey's coming in later tonight, so I'm also having issues with his recent covert operations.
Natalie: Give him hell, Dana.
-----
Kim is working inside the editing room. She takes some notes as she cuts a highlight tape. Dan walks by the room and quickly enters.
Dan: Kim!
Kim: Hey, Danny.
Dan: You're a woman.
Kim: I'm glad you noticed.
Dan: Why is everyone coming back with that?
Kim: It's the obvious answer.
Dan: Right. You know Jo and you know Connor.
Kim: Another keen observation.
Dan: I know, another obvious answer. I'm just wondering that if you were in a serious, committed relationship with someone, you would try to avoid giving wrong signals.
Kim: Like what signals?
Dan: I don't know. Signals to other single men that you were available.
Kim: But I am single and available.
Dan: I'm talking about Jo.
Kim: You're afraid Jo is giving Connor the wrong signals.
Dan: Right. The other week, she was wearing a loose tank top and tight shorts. The other day, I saw her in just her bath robe.
Kim: Wow. And Connor responded to it?
Dan: How could he not?
Kim: Did he respond to it?
Dan: I don't know.
Kim: He respects your relationship with Jo. He wouldn't do anything to jeopardize it.
Dan: I just get the feeling that he's just lurking in the woods and is ready to pounce.
Kim: Lurking in the woods?
Dan: Like a tiger.
Kim: They lurk in the jungle.
Dan: This is my imagery here.
Kim: So you think Connor is ready to pounce because Jo is sending the wrong signals?
Dan: Exactly.
Kim: Well, just be sure to let him know that he can pounce on me if he does desire.
Dan: Good idea.
-----
Down in the lobby of the building, Dana greets Casey. She gives him a hug, while Casey barely raises his arms.
Dana: I'm so glad you're back.
Casey: Me, too.
Dana: What's wrong?
Casey: I'm just tired from the flight. I got the first half of a game, then drove to New Orleans to catch the flight back here.
Dana: So you were in New Orleans?
Casey: Just for the flight.
Dana: Where did you go for your hush-hush story?
Casey: I've been to Pappadeaux, Louisiana, home of the Legionnaire of Central Louisiana.
Dana: So, that was why you were so quiet?
Casey: Quiet?
Dana: You wouldn't tell me where you were located, remember?
Casey: I thought I was on the trail of a big story.
Dana: You thought?
Casey: It fizzled out.
Dana: I'm sorry to hear that. I know you've been working hard with your show. It's hard working on a struggling show.
Casey: Yeah. You know, I've got to go back and cut tape from the trip.
Dana: I thought you didn't have a story?
Casey: Well, I do have some sort of a story.
Dana: Okay.
Casey: I'll catch you later.
Dana: Okay.
A disappointed Dana watches Casey leave the building.
-----
Jeremy is typing on his computer. Dan walks over and sits on the corner of his desk.
Dan: Jeremy?
Jeremy: Dan.
Dan: You look good.
Jeremy: Thank you.
Dan: That goatee looks really good on you.
Jeremy stops typing and picks up a tape.
Jeremy: You want something.
Dan: I really don't want anything.
Jeremy and Dan start walking through the newsroom.
Jeremy: Don't you have a show to write?
Dan: I'm more than half-way through.
Jeremy: How much more?
Dan: A smidge more.
Jeremy: What is it you want from me?
Dan: Nothing of material value at all.
Jeremy: What is it?
Dan has a look of desperation.
Dan: Just some information.
Jeremy: It's 3Com Park.
Dan: What?
Jeremy: The 49ers still play at 3Com Park.
Dan: I'm not looking for that.
Jeremy: Or, if you ever find yourself short on time, you could go with the more formal name, 3Com Park at Candlestick Point.
Dan: You hung out with Jo in college.
Jeremy: Yeah.
Dan: Was there ever the time when you would see Jo in something revealing?
Jeremy: How revealing?
Dan: Near nudity.
Jeremy: Dan, you've slept with her. I think you've already seen her naked.
Dan: What I'm saying is, around other people.
Jeremy: Wearing something revealing?
Dan: Maybe something like... I don't know... just a single, thin, article of clothing which is separating her bare flesh from the eyes of strangers.
Jeremy smiles.
Jeremy: Ah, yes.
Dan: I don't like that look.
Jeremy: The summer of '94.
Dan: Jeremy?
Jeremy: We stayed at the beach for a week.
Dan: You and Jo?
Jeremy: And about ten other close friends.
Dan: Okay.
Jeremy: She pretty much wore a yellow bathing suit the whole time.
Dan: Well, that's not so bad.
Jeremy: A very tight-fitting one, I might add.
Dan: Hey, now.
Jeremy: It was a two-piece. It was very nice. The trip, I mean.
Dan: This is retribution.
Jeremy: Yes, it is.
Jeremy starts walking down a corridor.
Jeremy: Did I also mention that it was a bit chilly there?
Dan: No more!
Dan covers his ears and heads back into the newsroom.
-----
Natalie is giving instructions to Chris, Will, and Dave inside the studio.
Natalie: And make sure 34 is a wash.
Will: Got it.
Dana walks over and pulls Natalie away from the group.
Dana: Natalie, I need you to do something.
Natalie: Did you make Casey pay?
Dana: No, I didn't.
Natalie: Dana.
Dana: Natalie, this is more important. I need to pull you away and make some phone calls.
Natalie: What's wrong, Dana?
Dana: I need for you to check into Central Louisiana.
Natalie: What's going on down there?
Dana: I don't know. Casey just got back from down there-
Natalie: He told you.
Dana: Yes, he did. Anyway, he said he didn't have a story, but he still needed to go back to HBO and cut footage for his show.
Natalie: That doesn't sound too big of a deal.
Dana: Dan told me that Casey was checking into some college infractions, and Casey was at their football game earlier today.
Natalie: Do you need Elliott?
Dana: I just want you because you are very thorough. And you have to make sure any information you get comes directly to me.
Natalie: Okay. It sounds serious.
Dana: It is. If something is going to break out of there, I need for us to be right on top of it. It will definitely help us out with the network.
Natalie: I'll get right on it.
Natalie hurries out of the studio as Dana goes off into deep thought.
