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Dan and Bobbi are at the anchor desk in the midst of a broadcast.

Dan (on-air): ...and his 238 rushing yards was only surpassed by the great Heisman Trophy winner...

Dan glances over to Bobbi, but she doesn't say anything.

Dan (on-air): ...Hershel Walker. Don't expect the Crimson Tide defense to give up those kind of numbers this Saturday. For more insights into this weekend's Top 25 action, here's Stan Meyer.

The taped segment starts up as Dan takes a drink of bottled water. He looks at Bobbi as he puts the bottle back.

Dan: You missed your cue.

Bobbi: Dan-

Dan: I'd say, "great Heisman Trophy winner," and you'd say, "Herschel Walker."

Bobbi: Aren't all Heisman Trophy winners great players?

Dan: Yes, but out of those selected few, Herschel was truly one of the best. But the point is that you missed your cue.

Bobbi: I said I don't do this.

Dan: Come on, Bobbi. It shows we interact and have a little fun on the set. Loosen up a little.

Bobbi: Dan, I don't mean to sound harsh when I say this, but back off.

Dan: Okay, people. I've been getting a strange vibe around women lately, and I'm thinking it has got to stop.

Dan looks around the studio.

Dan: Dana?

Dana leans over to the microphone.

Dana (into mic): Danny, did you know about Casey?

Dan: What about Casey?

Dana (into mic): About his college credit discrepancy?

Dan: I had no prior knowledge of it.

Dana (into mic): Then you are all right with me.

Jeremy (into mic): If it's any consolation, Dan, I've been receiving the same vibes myself.

Everyone in the control room looks at Jeremy.

Dan: For that, you are my brother.

Inside the control room, everyone continues to work while the Stan Meyer segment continues playing.

Natalie: And when tonight's broadcast is over, everyone be sure to give me tonight's tapes. I will file them away properly.

Dana: Don't you usually give them to the "West Coast Update" staff?

Natalie: I need to make sure they are not misplaced for their broadcast.

Dana: This little organizing bit really isn't you, Natalie.

Jeremy: She read words of wisdom from the "Old Black and Gold."

Natalie: It's the "Old Gold and Black."

Jeremy: I am mistaken.

Dana: What about these words of wisdom?

Natalie: If I were you and I read the article, I would be very angry.

Jeremy: But because Natalie is Natalie, she's just very, very angry.

Natalie: Shut up.

Dana: Are you talking about the Sally article?

Natalie: You've seen it?

Dana: Yeah. Sally's just being Sally.

Natalie: And it's about time somebody put a stop to it.

Dana: What are you doing? Are you responsible for the lost segments for the "West Coast Update"?

Natalie: Jeremy has helped me.

Jeremy: For the record, I am an unwilling participant. I only do it because I fear for my safety.

Dana: We are going to talk about this after the show.

-----

Isaac and CSC executive Donna Kendrick are walking through the newsroom.

Isaac: I assure you everybody has been doing everything in their power to rectify the situation.

Donna: We've got a shareholders meeting coming up, and I don't want to disappoint them with this quarter's earnings. I need to reassure them that the shows are headed in the right direction.

Isaac: More live sporting events should help that.

Donna: It is costing us a lot of money to buy these rights, and we must do everything in our power to help promote these events.

Isaac and Donna notice Dana, Natalie, and Jeremy arguing on the other side of the room.

Donna: What are they doing?

Isaac: I am sure it must be some creative differences. They'll work it out.

As their argument continues, Jeremy quickly walks over to his desk. Dana and Natalie follow. Jeremy opens up the bottom drawer as Isaac and Donna walk over.

Jeremy: You want evidence?! There! Look inside the drawer! I am cleansing my hands of the situation!

Isaac: Good evening, Jeremy, Dana, Natalie.

The three look surprised to see Isaac and Donna standing there.

Donna: What's going on?

Jeremy closes the drawer with his foot.

Jeremy: Nothing... nothing at all, sir... ma'am.

Isaac: You three having a creative discussion again?

Dana: Yes, we are.

Natalie: You're right.

Jeremy: I couldn't have said it better myself.

Isaac: Would you three mind continuing it inside the conference room? And maybe do it a little more quietly this time around.

Dana: We certainly will.

Isaac: We're going to check with Mark and how he is doing with Sally's show tonight.

Natalie: Sally's off tonight?

Isaac: Yes, she is. Anything wrong with that?

Natalie: Nothing at all.

Isaac: Good.

Dana, Jeremy, and Natalie watch Isaac and Donna leave the newsroom.

Natalie: Okay- change of plans. I'm going to need a Sharpie and some new labels.

-----

Jeremy, Dan, and Casey are sitting inside of Anthony's. Each of them are finishing their beers.

Dan: Nothing like finishing the day with some friends and a nice, cold beer.

Casey: Yeah.

Jeremy: Is it me-

Dan: Yeah, it's you.

Casey plays with his napkin/coaster.

Casey: A couple of reporters called me today.

Dan: What happened?

Casey: They asked about my resumé and my reasoning for deceiving my employers and viewers.

Dan: Did you tell them to go to hell?

Casey: I chose to make no comment.

Dan: I would have told them to go to hell.

Casey: But you have a college degree, and I don't.

Dan: A proud Dartmouth grad can still tell reporters to go to hell.

Casey: How's your fingers?

Dan: Doing better. Anything bad happen to you lately, Jeremy?

Jeremy: I think Isaac and Donna found out about me and Natalie.

Dan: What? You two having an affair?

Jeremy: No. We've been making it harder for Sally to produce her show. We've been doing little things like hiding tapes and turning off the LC wire. Little stuff like that.

Casey: What did Isaac say?

Jeremy: He didn't say anything. I'm not even sure if they saw the stuff in my drawer.

Dan: You had stuff in your drawer?

Jeremy: It was some tapes, a copy of a rundown, little stuff. I had it open when they walked by.

Casey: And you just said, "hey, look at what I got"?

Jeremy: Not exactly, but pretty close.

Dan: With the days we've been having, I think we need a second round of beers.

Casey: You're on.

Dan: I've got it.

Dan throws some cash on the table.

Casey: What's this?

Dan: Jeremy, go get us another round.

Jeremy: Why me?

Dan: Because I'm buying, and I'm still unable to use my fingers.

Jeremy: You were holding your beer pretty good there-

Dan: Okay, only because I'm buying.

Jeremy takes the cash and heads toward the bar.

-----

Jeremy holds up his hand with some folded dollar bills between his index and middle fingers. He catches the attention of the bartender, Jack.

Jack: What can I get you?

Jeremy: Three beers.

Jack: I'll have them in a few minutes.

Jeremy: No problem.

Jack walks away to finish a previous order. As Jeremy looks around, he recognizes someone sitting alone at the bar. Sally is sitting by herself, eating her meal, and drinking a glass of white wine.

Sally notices Jeremy standing at the bar. Jeremy nods his head and gives Sally a little wave. Sally smiles at the familiar face.

Jeremy walks over to Sally.

Jeremy: Hey.

Sally: What brings you here tonight, Jeremy?

Jeremy: I'm with Dan and Casey over on the other side. (points to their table)

Sally: That's good.

Jeremy: What brings you here?

Sally: Oh, I'm just having a meal and a drink. Actually, I'm having several drinks.

Jeremy: I see.

Sally: I'm off tonight, so I can afford to do things like go out and eat and meet people.

Jeremy: Yeah.

Sally: I was supposed to be out on a date, but he never showed.

Jeremy: I'm sorry.

Sally: It's okay.

Jeremy: I've heard men can be real jerks sometimes.

Sally: Thanks.

Jeremy looks away and catches Jack's attention.

Jeremy: I'm down here.

Jack walks over and places three beers on the bar. Jeremy hands Jack a wad of cash.

Jeremy: Keep the change.

Jack: Thanks.

Jeremy looks at Sally.

Jeremy: I've got to be going.

Jeremy grabs two beers in one hand, one in the other, and turns to leave.

Sally: You're single right now, aren't you, Jeremy?

Jeremy stops and turns around. He sets the beers back on the bar.

Jeremy: Yeah.

Sally: Have you been seeing someone?

Jeremy: No... you're not asking me out, are you?

Sally: No. On the contrary, I'm wondering how you are handling it.

Jeremy: Handling what?

Sally: Being single.

Jeremy: I'm fine with it.

Sally: Well, I'm not.

Jack brings another glass of wine over to Sally.

Jeremy: I'm sorry.

Sally: Here I am, I'm 35 years old, and I have no one interested in me.

Jeremy: I'm sure there are lots of men-

Sally: There's no one. Tonight was going to be my first date in four months. It's been lonely.

Jeremy: Don't sell yourself short.

Sally: I'm keep telling myself that, but... it just seems that the only thing I have going for me... is the "West Coast Update."

Jeremy catches Sally tearing up.

Sally: It's like the only thing I have... it's the only thing I'm good at... and I've been doing it forever. I need to be great at this job. I want to move up and have more challenges, but it's difficult keeping a brave face while hitting obstacles along the way.

Sally grabs a napkin and wipes her eyes.

Sally: If I fail at this job, I don't know if there is anything I can be successful at. I mean... look at Dana. She's got the best job, she's got Casey, she's got friends, and she's got everything. She has to be extremely happy with her life, and I'm really jealous of her. I shouldn't be because she has earned it, but I am jealous.

Jeremy: Well, maybe you haven't seen everything from Dana's perspective.

Sally: Are you saying that she's not happy?

Jeremy: What I'm saying is that people don't know what's happening in Dana's life and people don't know what's happening in your life. We're all busy just trying to lead our own lives.

Sally: I guess so.

Jeremy: I've got to get going, Sally.

Sally: Yeah... thank you, Jeremy.

Jeremy: No problem.

Jeremy grabs the beers and walks away.

-----

Dan is walking through the newsroom. As he enters his office, there are boxes stacked everywhere from floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. Dan barely has enough room to walk.

Dan: Natalie!

Dan races from his office. He urgently looks around the newsroom for Natalie. He walks over to Dana.

Dan: Have you seen Natalie?

Dana: No, I haven't.

Dan: She's stacked all these boxes in my office.

Dana: She did?

Dan: Yes. I'm telling you something has to be done about her. She's going to start cutting the cables to the elevator pretty soon if she keeps this up.

Dana: Okay, but do me a favor a little bit later.

Dan: What is it?

Dana: The next time you leave your office, bring me a box of pens.

Dan: Excuse me?

Dana: I heard you've been wanting to share your office. I figured you could share your office with the supply closet.

-----

Jeremy enters Isaac's office.

Jeremy: You wanted to see me, sir?

Isaac: Come in, Jeremy.

Jeremy: What is this all about?

Isaac: Have a seat.

Jeremy cautiously walks over and sits in a chair.

Isaac: What's this about you sabotaging Sally's program?

Jeremy: It's not like... I mean... it's not as bad as it first sounds.

Isaac: Make it sound better.

Jeremy: It's not like I cut the satellite feed for the network.

Isaac: Jeremy? I just want you to know that we work as a team. That means working well with each other on your show as well as anyone else's show. If you have your own agenda here, then you are not welcome here.

Jeremy: Are you firing me?

Isaac: You tell me.

Jeremy pushes up his glasses.

Jeremy: I'll get my things.

Jeremy gets up from his chair.

Isaac: Sit your butt back down!

Jeremy: But I thought you were firing me.

Isaac: Sit down!

Jeremy sits back in the chair.

Jeremy: But what about Marcus? When you found out that he was making up a story, you fired him.

Isaac: That was a different situation.

Jeremy: How much different?

Isaac: He put the reputation of this organization at stake. He had his own agenda of wanting to cover big stories. Since big stories weren't coming his way, he thought he could make them up and cause controversy. I don't like people who are taking shortcuts to the top. They don't last, and Marcus didn't last.

Jeremy: Isaac?

Isaac: You don't strike me as one to cause trouble, Jeremy. You come in early, stay late, and help out wherever it is needed. You've done more for CSC than you'll ever be credited for.

Jeremy: Thank you, sir.

Isaac: I'm not finished being angry with you.

Jeremy: Yes, sir.

Isaac: I don't care what Sally says or does. I don't care what she says in some college newspaper. What I care about is the product on-screen. If my name is on there, it better be a good show. If you try to obstruct the success of the network, I'll be sure to obstruct any chance of success you might have in your career. Understand?

Jeremy: Yes, sir.

Isaac: Good.

Jeremy: I accept full responsibility for what transpired.

Isaac: All right.

Jeremy: I do have one question, though.

Isaac: What is it?

Jeremy: What if that success comes at a cost? What if that success costs us our jobs?

Isaac: There will always be other jobs.

Jeremy: This is the job I plan on retiring from. This has been my dream job from day one. The network has to see that Sally isn't as great as they think she is or as great as she says she is. I understand she is ambitious, but she's going to cost a lot of good people their jobs if she is successful.

Isaac: And you were trying to stop her from being successful.

Jeremy: In a matter of speaking.

Isaac: Don't let it happen again.

Jeremy: Yes, sir.

Isaac: That's all.

Jeremy gets up to leave.

Isaac: One more thing, Jeremy.

Jeremy: What's that, sir?

Isaac: We're you acting alone in this?

Jeremy: Yes, sir.

Isaac: You did this all by yourself?

Jeremy: I will take all the blame for it, sir.

Isaac: So if I spoke with everybody else, they would either have no knowledge of it, deny that it happened, or support what you've told me?

Jeremy: Some may accept responsibility, but I assure you, that all the responsibility lies on me.

Isaac: Okay. Have a good day.

Jeremy: Thank you, sir.

Jeremy exits the office. Once Jeremy leaves, Isaac smiles to himself.

Isaac: That boy will do whatever it takes for this bunch. That's some kind of loyalty.