Written by:
Jim Hamilton
Lyrics from:
"Zippity Do Dah" written by Joel Chandler Harris
Estimated Run Time:
21:21
Disclaimer
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Dan walks outside of the studio while still wearing a winter jacket. He has a skip in his step as he enters the newsroom.
Dan: Zippity-do-dah, zippity-eh. My oh my, what a wonderful day. Plenty of sunshine... got-my-tickets-today... zippity-do-dah, zippity-eh.
Natalie notices Dan singing to himself, so she grabs a pile off her desk which consists of an information packet, several folders, various notes, and a couple of video tapes, and she heads toward him. The two meet in the center of the room.
Natalie: You're in a fine mood today.
Dan: A fine mood? Why, I am better than fine. And do you want to know why I am better than fine?
Natalie: Fine.
Dan: Guess what I got in the mail.
Natalie: A letter saying that you could become the next millionaire?
Dan: Nope.
Dan reaches inside his coat pocket and whips out two tickets.
Dan: Two tickets to the post-fight party.
Natalie: Cool.
Dan: Cool? This is better than cool. This is way better than cool.
Natalie: I know.
Dan and Natalie spot Jeremy sitting at his desk.
Dan: Zippity-do-dah, Jeremy.
Jeremy: Hey, Dan.
Dan: Guess what I got today.
Jeremy: Two tickets to the post-fight party?
Dan: Two tickets to the post fight party. News spreads quickly around here.
Jeremy: I've been sitting here the whole time.
Dan: Anyway, there are a very limited number of tickets to this event; and I have two of them.
Jeremy: Who are you going to take to the party?
Dan: My father, of course. We could hang out, eat a little food, drink a little wine-
Natalie: They serve wine?
Dan: Oh do they ever. Eat a little food, drink a little wine, relax, hang out, and maybe even shake hands with the heavyweight champion of the world.
Jeremy: Okay.
Dan: Better than okay-
Natalie: I've got some information for you on the championship bout.
Natalie unloads all the paperwork into Dan's arms.
Natalie: I've got backgrounds on Rivera and T.J. Clay.
Dan: I already know all about Rivera: fighting professionally for seventeen years, has successfully defended his title over the last six bouts-
Natalie: It's just a refresher, Danny.
Dan: I've been following this guy since I was a kid.
Natalie: And I'm just giving you some information.
Dan: I'm just saying I know all I need to know.
Natalie: And I'm just giving you some information. Plus, there's some info on T.J. Clay.
Jeremy: You know, the opponent?
Dan: I know who he is fighting. I am already prepared on Rivera. I just need to do a little more work on Clay, but I need to get a hold of my father and give him the good news.
Jeremy: Zippity-do-dah?
Dan: Zippity-eh.
"Natalie, Jeremy, and Danny."
The three turn to find Dana standing before them and holding a clipboard.
Dana: I've got some great news. This network has landed a live interview with Rivera and Clay.
Natalie: When?
Dana: This Friday night.
Dan: I've got even better news.
Dana: What could be better than this?
Dan: I've landed two tickets to the post-fight party. You know, the private party after the fight?
Jeremy: Thus the term, "post-fight party."
Dan: Mock me if you must, but there are a very limited number of tickets available to this event, and only V.I.P.'s are invited. So, to receive two tickets has to justify my status, not only as a sports personality, but as a true fan of this sport.
Dana: You are certainly excited over this party.
Natalie: Danny's taking his father.
Dan: I am taking my father.
Dana: Good for you, Danny.
Jeremy: Where is the interview?
Dana: Friday night, live in our studio. Danny, I need you to prepare some questions-
Dan: You mean-
Dana: Yes, you are doing the interview.
Dan pumps his fist.
Dana: Natalie, I need you to produce this interview. We're going to make it an hour-long special, so we're going to need-
Natalie: Background pieces, interviews with trainers and the sort, and have a talk with the fight promoter.
Dana: Myself and Isaac are meeting with the promoter tomorrow to discuss some minute details over the interview. Natalie, I'm going to need you there. This is a huge victory for us.
Jeremy: Excuse me, but aren't we already airing the championship fight?
Dana: Yes.
Jeremy: How can it be a huge victory to interview the fighters when we are already showing their match?
Dana: Yes... well... Natalie.
Natalie: It helps promote the fight.
Dana: Yes, it helps promote the fight.
Jeremy: And showing five commercials an hour promoting the fight isn't already doing enough?
Dana: Jeremy, you're turning this into a real downer.
Jeremy: I'm just trying to give an accurate perspective on the magnitude of this so-called victory.
Dan: Jeremy's right. The magnitude of this interview is only eclipsed by one other thing.
Jeremy: Yes, the fight itself.
Dan: No, the fact I received two tickets to the post-fight party.
Dana: Danny-
Isaac enters the newsroom.
Isaac: Dana, Natalie? Oh good, you're all together.
Isaac walks over to the group.
Isaac: I'm sure you're telling everybody the good news.
Dana: Yes, I am.
Natalie: But Jeremy is trying to kill the excitement.
Jeremy: I am not. I think you're blowing this interview thing out of proportion.
Isaac: Jeremy may be right.
Jeremy: Thank you, Isaac.
Isaac: But we need to be excited about anything that has to do with this match. This fight is going to be huge.
Dana: Thank you, Isaac.
Natalie: This is the biggest thing this network's aired since...
Dan: Since we last aired a championship fight?
Isaac: How are you doing, Danny?
Dan: Couldn't be better. Zippity-do-dah, Isaac.
Isaac: (to Dana) Is there something wrong with him?
Dana: Danny received his two tickets to the post-fight party.
Dan: Two of a very limited number of tickets.
Isaac stares at Dan.
Isaac: Okay.
Dan: Now before you start jockeying for position on my extra ticket, Isaac, the ticket is already reserved for somebody else.
Isaac: Good.
Dan: It's reserved for my father.
Isaac: Does it look like I asked?
Dan: I just thought you would like to know.
Isaac: Okay.
Dan: I've got to go call my father.
Isaac: Please do.
Dan: Zippity-do-dah.
Isaac: Would you stop that.
Dan leaves the group and heads for his office while singing his song.
Dana: What's up, Isaac?
Isaac: Rob Williamson has asked for us to move up the meeting.
Dana: To when?
Isaac: From tomorrow to this afternoon.
Dana checks her notes.
Dana: I can make arrangements. We'll have Sarah make some adjustments in order for Natalie to be present.
Isaac: Good.
Natalie: And if Rob Williamson is already going to be here, I could get an interview on tape with him.
Isaac: Who do you have available?
Natalie: We could probably have Danny, or even Bobbi conduct the interview.
Isaac: Have Bobbi put it together.
Natalie: Great. I'll get right on it.
Natalie briskly exits the room.
Jeremy: I'll check with Sarah and see what I can pickup to lighten Natalie's load.
Isaac: Good. You do that.
Suddenly, Dana and Isaac find themselves to be the only ones remaining in the group.
Dana: We're not being overly excited about this interview are we, Isaac?
Isaac: No. We need to be excited over anything which can improve the network's image.
Dana: Then why does something not feel right?
Isaac: They need to sell tickets and we need to get ratings.
Dana: The feeling of desperation?
Isaac: It's the pressure of having to succeed.
Dana: You're feeling the pressure?
Isaac: Aren't you?
Dana: Well... no... I guess... I'm not letting it get to me.
Isaac: Good.
Isaac leaves Dana standing alone in the middle of the newsroom. Dana has the look of concern as she realizes the amount of pressure the network is under.
Dana: Zippity-do-dah.
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