Disclaimer

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Everybody inside the control room continues to watch the events unfold.

Ted: (on-air) Nothing much happened in the first round.

Ray: (on-air) Yes, the fighters were feeling each other out. The tempo was dictated by Rivera, who will surprise his opponents when they least expect it.

Ted: (on-air) What would T.J. Clay's trainer be telling him right now?

Ray: (on-air) It's early in the fight, but he needs to keep up his defenses. Clay has nearly twenty years on Rivera, so endurance may be his biggest asset.

Ted: (on-air) Rivera did come out with a surprise barrage at the beginning of the fight. Rivera landed fourteen more punches in the initial round.

Ray: (on-air) Rivera has certainly worked on his mobility, as he was able to dodge quite a few punches from Clay.

Ted: (on-air) The second round is about ready to begin.

The bell rings to signal the beginning of the round.

There is a knock on the window of the control room. Everybody turns around and sees Michael motioning Natalie to come out. Natalie apologizes to Dana with her eyes, and she gets up and leaves the control room.

And Rivera comes out with another barrage of punches.

Those punches now will definitely take a toll, especially in the later rounds.

Do you think the champ is going for the early knockout?

Most definitely.

Natalie: What is it?

Michael: I need to talk with you.

Natalie: Can't it wait?

Michael: No.

Natalie: This network is in the midst of its biggest broadcast ever. More people are watching this network right at this moment, than at any other moment in this network's history. I'm kinda' busy right now.

Michael: It will only take a minute.

Natalie: Michael.

Michael: Only a minute, lamb chop.

Natalie lets out a frustrated, but concessionary sigh.

Natalie: Fine.

Michael: Are you going to move to Los Angeles?

Natalie: Is this the time to be asking that question?

Michael: I've been asking you for a while. I've been waiting for your answer, and I would like an answer now.

Natalie: I can't give you an answer right now.

Michael: I, at least, want an answer tonight.

Natalie: I'm in the middle of the biggest broadcast of my career. Are you trying to get me fired by showing up and causing a scene?

Michael: I'm not trying to get you fired and I'm not causing a scene. Your boss allowed you to leave the room during your broadcast and you are here with me, right now.

Natalie and Michael are interrupted by a cheer from the newsroom. Natalie looks over to a monitor.

That's seven consecutive punches landed by the champ.

Natalie: So I have to make a decision on whether or not I should move to L.A.?

Michael: Natalie, I love you. I want you to be with me. I can help you get away from this job and land another out there.

Natalie: I love this job.

Michael: And I love you. I've been able to buy a house with the money I've been making writing movies. Did you receive your set of house keys I sent you?

Natalie: Yes, I did, but I shouldn't have to make a decision.

Michael: I can't move forward unless you are there with me. I can't wait forever for you to leave New York. You have to see the house I bought. It overlooks this gorgeous view into the valley. I couldn't afford something overlooking the ocean, but who knows? Eventually, we may be living along the ocean. You have to see the view and the beautiful weather.

Natalie: You flew all the way here to tell me this?

Michael: I flew from London, all across the Atlantic, just to prove to you how much I love you.

Natalie: Why... why do you need to constantly prove your love to me?

Michael: Because I want you to truly understand how I feel. I've never felt this way about a woman, and I appreciate every single day I get to spend with you.

Natalie: I appreciate the time we get to spend together, too.

Michael: Wonderful.

Natalie: But not right now because you are screwing up my career.

Michael: I can get you a job out in L.A.

Natalie: Michael.

Michael: How about this? I'll give you some more time to think about it. Why don't I go down and grab something to eat? By the time I get back, you should be almost done with your fight. After that, we can talk. Is that okay with you?

Natalie: Okay.

Michael: I'll see you in a bit.

Michael walks down the corridor as Natalie reenters the control room.

Rivera has pulled back a bit. He's been confusing Clay with the change in tempo.

Natalie calmly walks over to her chair and takes her seat. She puts on her headphones and acts as if nothing has happened.

Ted: (on-air) Rivera comes with another succession of punches.

Ray: (on-air) Clay is doing an admirable job of blocking them. Right now, he looks a little overmatched. His trainer has done an excellent job of preparing him for this fight.

The bell sounds signaling the end of the round.

Ted: (on-air) And that's the end of the second round-

Dave: Going to Tina in 10.

Dana: Elliott? How are the scores?

Elliott: The three West Coast basketball games are in the first quarter and updated to the moment.

Dana: Great. Preview 14, over the shoulder.

Chris: Previewing 14.

Will: Over the shoulder.

Ted: (on-air) Let's go to Tina Lake inside the "Sports Night" studio.

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Dan sits quietly at his remote set. He has taken his jacket off and it is lying across the table. He takes a drink of bottled water as he notices something in the crowd. He takes a closer look and sees a vendor handing over two boxes of popcorn- one to a grown man, and the other to whom it appears to be the man's excited 10-year old son. Dan clenches his jaw when he sees the happiness being shared by father and son. He takes another drink of water and screws the cap on very tightly.

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Elliott is handing a recent update to Tina at the anchor desk.

Elliott: Webber scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in the first quarter. The Kings are up by seven in the second quarter.

Tina Lake: Thanks.

Elliott leaves the anchor desk and walks into the control room.

Ted: (on-air) The sixth round is almost set to begin. Boom Boom, how have you scored this fight?

Ray: (on-air) I personally have Rivera winning the first two and fourth rounds, Clay winning the fifth round, and both fighters drawing even in the third round.

Ted: (on-air) There's the bell.

The crew inside the control room begin to wear down from the consecutive hours of work teamed with the draining excitement from the match. They work relatively quiet as the two fighters bob and weave around the ring. Natalie happens to look outside the control room, and she sees Michael leaning against a wall. Their eye contract causes Natalie to leave the room.

Dana shakes her head as she watches Natalie.

Clay comes out on the offensive to begin the sixth round.

Natalie: You're back.

Michael: Yeah.

Natalie: I've been thinking.

Michael: Great.

Natalie: Do you respect my job?

Michael: Huh? It's a good job. I respect that.

Natalie: Then why did you come here and interrupt me during work?

Michael: I was just standing here. You made the decision to come out and talk with me just now.

Natalie: I'm talking about the first time, 30 minutes ago.

Michael: I love you so much. I couldn't wait to tell you.

Natalie: You couldn't wait to tell me?

Michael: I flew over the Atlantic to come and tell you.

Natalie: But you also want me to give you an answer?

Michael: Yes, I need to know if you are as crazy about me as I am about you.

Natalie: So moving to L.A. would prove I'm just as crazy as you?

Michael: Crazy in love.

Natalie: What's crazy is the fact you flew over here to make this ultimatum.

Michael: I've been waiting weeks and weeks for your answer.

Natalie: I can't give you an answer right now. I'm working. If you respect me, you respect my profession.

Michael: I highly respect your profession.

Natalie: Then we'll talk after my work is done.

Michael: Do you want me to fly back to London? I can leave right now. In fact, do you want to call everything off right now?

Natalie: What? No. Just give me another hour. I was hoping to take you to the post-fight celebration, but we can skip it and talk about everything, if you like.

Michael: I just want you to move in with me.

Natalie: And leave New York?

Michael: The house is outside of Los Angeles. I think you would have to leave New York.

Natalie: What about my friends here?

Michael: You don't have to lose your friends. You have the telephone, e-mail, and you can always visit them. Plus, with your personality, you're bound to develop new friends on the Pacific Coast.

Natalie: What if I wanted to remain in New York?

Michael: Lamb chop, there are statistics showing how difficult it is for long-distance relationships to work. I don't know if this would work if we lived on opposite coasts.

Natalie: Well, couldn't you move back here? Couldn't you write in New York? You could send your scripts through e-mail.

Michael: I have to meet with agents, producers, and production companies on a daily basis. They're based in Hollywood and it isn't like I can commute across the country every single day.

Natalie: Plus, my family lives in Ohio. Right now, I can be there in a few hours.

Michael: You have to fly to Ohio from New York or Los Angeles, either way.

Natalie thinks for a moment.

Natalie: How much do you love me?

Michael: I... I can't put it into words.

Natalie: Please try.

Michael: I've been thinking... and if you move out to L.A., we might be able to do some ring shopping.

Natalie: You're talking about marriage?

Michael: I'm that serious about you. I love you so much.

Natalie: How much?

Michael: I've never felt this deeply for a woman. The moment I met you and the moment we kissed, I knew we were meant to be together.

Natalie: I've been engaged before.

Michael: That's all in the past. The future is all about us.

Natalie: All I have to do is leave New York, leave my career, leave my friends, and move in with you?

Michael: It's that easy.

Natalie: What are you going to do?

Michael: I'm going to take care of you and love you forever.

Natalie: What are you going to give up?

Michael: I gave up being a playwright in order to secure financial stability for us. Screenwriting and teleplays are the way to go.

Natalie: It's a very difficult profession to get into. Job security isn't the greatest in Hollywood.

Michael: That's why I've been saving my money. I've invested in a house where we can always be together.

Natalie: Michael.

Michael: Come out with me, lamb chop.

Natalie: What if I asked you to come back to New York? What if I asked you to come back and give up the money? What if I said I could accept you with debt piled up to our eyeballs?

Michael: But we don't have to live that way.

Natalie: But we could do what we love.

Michael: And live miserably.

Natalie: Wouldn't love sustain us?

Michael: I wouldn't be able to afford you presents. I couldn't get you little surprises. I couldn't get you the things you deserve.

Natalie: What do I deserve?

Michael: Everything under the sun, moon, and stars. I can give that to you. All you have to do is come out with me.

Natalie: What about the special moments?

Michael: They're great. Especially when I see your face after I've given you a surprise, whether it be a gift or just showing up at your workplace.

Dana knocks on the window at the end of the sixth round.

Natalie: I've got to go.

Michael: I'll be waiting here.

Michael reaches over and kisses Natalie on her forehead, over her right eye. The two briefly hug.

Natalie goes back into the control room.

Dana: Is it resolved?

Natalie: It will be after the fight.

Dana: You've got something over your eye.

Natalie reaches up and wipes her forehead. She looks at her hand.

Natalie: I think it's ketchup. Michael just got done eating.

Dana: I'm not going to ask.

Natalie: Okay. What happened in the sixth?

Dana: Clay came out really strong. Rivera changed the tempo around and landed a few more punches. Clay got a cut over his right eye.

A monitor shows the Clay team doctors working on closing the wound.

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In between rounds, Dan once again takes notice of the father and son. He notices them with their souvenir cups. The son has a clear cup, which either contains soda or root beer, while his father's cup is still nearly full of beer. Dan notices the son is now in possession of a championship t-shirt and program. The two laugh, carry-on, and enjoy the fight. Dan's sorrow begins to turn into anger and resentment.

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Elliott enters the control room.

Elliott: The Kings are up by 26 in the fourth. Webber just got a triple-double with his tenth assist.

Kim makes a note to pass along to Tina inside the studio.

Dana: This is it. I can't believe the fight is going to go the distance.

Jeremy: The final round.

Ted: (on-air) Tenth round. What do you expect?

Ray: (on-air) I think they have to fight like there's no tomorrow.

Ted: (on-air) Do you think the fight is too close to call?

Ray: (on-air) This round may be the deciding round of the fight. I believe whoever wins this round will win the title. Clay has fought back brilliantly in the last two rounds to make this an extremely close fight.

Ted: (on-air) Both fighters are ready to go.

The bell rings to begin the final round.

Dana: This has been amazing.

Jeremy: It's certainly living up to its billing.

There is a knock on control room window. Natalie looks surprised to see Michael as the one doing the knocking.

Dana: Natalie, this has got to stop now.

Ted: (on-air) Oh!

Everyone turns to the monitor.

Ted: (on-air) Rivera lands a right!

Natalie: I'm... I'm sorry, Dana.

Dana: Do something. Do whatever you need to do.

Natalie: Okay.

Natalie leaves the control room and walks over to Michael.

Natalie: The fight is almost over. What is it?

Michael: I can't go on like this anymore. I need to know. What do you want to do?

Natalie: What do I want to do? Can't it wait ten more minutes?

Michael: I feel like my heart could explode.

The heart of a champion emerges from Rivera. The champ has controlled the tempo throughout the fight, and he comes out strong in the final round.

T.J. Clay is looking worn down.

Rivera connects with a couple of jabs. Great block by Clay. Oh! Rivera nailed him with another right hook.

Michael takes Natalie's hand and gets down on one knee.

Clay is wobbly.

The two men clench each other. The referee separates the two fighters. Rivera goes in.

Michael pulls out an engagement ring.

A right-left-right combo, but Clay is still standing!

Unbelievable! The punishment Clay is enduring!

A great block by T.J. He takes a couple steps back.

Clay needs to be careful.

Here comes Rivera. He has Clay against the ropes!

Natalie shakes her head "no."

Where did that left come from?! Rivera is knocked back! Is Clay going to capitalize? Another left! The crowd is going crazy! T.J. Clay is backing Rivera to the center of the ring! He lands several body shots. Rivera lands a right. Clay counters. What a brawl!

Michael stands up. Natalie begins to make her case.

Clay is showing some energy in the final moments. He's dancing around. Rivera misses twice. Whoa! He misses badly that time.

Michael argues with Natalie, not wanting to accept her rejection.

Rivera lands another right! Clay's cut over his right eye has reopened. The two men clench and the ref quickly breaks it up. Is the ref going to stop the fight? He lets them continue.

Natalie becomes angry with Michael. Michael pleads and begs.

Rivera tries to land a hook, but Clay avoids it. He's trying to take advantage of Clay's injury and lack of visibility.

Rivera needs to be watch out.

The champ tries a couple of left jabs; now a couple of rights.

Rivera is setting him up. He's going to try to get Clay over his injured eye.

Natalie pulls something from her pocket: her new set of house keys. She throws them at Michael, nailing him in the chest.

Out of nowhere! Clay connects with a right! The champ is dazed! Clay closes in! Another right! A left-right combo!

Natalie angrily points at Michael and tells him to get out.

Clay lands an uppercut! The champ is down! The champ is down! The champ is down!

He didn't see it coming!

Michael picks up the house keys.

Clay goes to a neutral corner. The referee begins his count.

Michael begins to leave, turns his shoulder to see if Natalie changes her mind, and is disappointed and heartbroken when she turns her back on him.

It's over! It's over! Rivera has been counted out! We have a new champion!

The new champ is too exhausted to raise his arms in celebration!

A physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted Natalie staggers into the ecstatic control room.