Disclaimer

-----

Dan takes a deep breath and backs away from his desk. He walks over to his doorway.

Dan: Hey, Jeremy?! I thought you said tech support was here and I could write my show?!

At his desk, Jeremy turns around with a phone receiver stuck to his ear.

Dan: Nothing's working!

Jeremy: (into phone) Thanks for the update. (hangs up the phone and jots down a note) Did you check to see if it's plugged in?!

Dan shakes his head at the absurdity of the question.

Dan: Of course, I did! And it was only one time that occurred!

Dan takes a quick glance over to make sure his computer is plugged in before turning back to Jeremy.

Dan: What am I supposed to do?!

"Stop shouting."

Dan: Dana.

Oblivious to Dan, Dana has made her way over to his office.

Dan: My computer isn't working.

Dana: You can still write your show. Your word processing application is recently installed and should be functioning.

Dan: I can't even get that far. It doesn't start up.

Dana: Well. You certainly have a problem.

Dan: I need to get copy to Natalie pretty soon. You know how she's been lately with the demands and deadlines.

Dana: What do you expect me to do?

Dan: Fix it?

Dana: You want me to fix your computer? I've got bigger problems than having to fix your computer.

Dan: I'm not asking you to fix my computer. I'm asking you to fix the situation.

Dana: Grab a pen and a pad of paper.

Dan: What? I already did that last night and two nights before that.

Dana: Good. You should be familiar with the routine. Besides, I'm fixing the situation. Grab a pen and some paper, write your show, and get it to Natalie. She will check it and pass it onto the interns, who, in turn, will enter it into the TelePrompTer.

Dan: That's going to take some time.

Dana: I didn't say the solution was a timesaving one. Grab a pen and some paper.

Dan begins to sulk as he walks over to his desk and grabs a notepad.

Dan: I have a girlfriend who can fix these things.

Dana: So where is your girlfriend, the one who could possibly end this ordeal?

Dan: She's away. Out of state and visiting family. She's having a really good time.

Dana: Doesn't do you a bit of good, does it?

Dan: And speaking of adjusting, what's with Natalie constantly adjusting the schedule and sending memos correcting previous memos?

Dana: She's doing her job.

Dan: She's been like a boot camp instructor since Rivera-Clay.

Dana: There's nothing wrong with Natalie being focused on her job.

Dan: It's all she has been focused on.

Dana thinks for a moment.

Dana: I've spoken with Natalie several times, and other than some unfound paranoia, she is doing fine.

Dan: Are we cool?

Dana: Cool? Yeah, we're cool.

Dan: Could I please get a working computer?

Dana: No.

Dana exits the room.

-----

Jeremy is typing on his computer while Dan stands lurking over his shoulder.

Dan: Just take a look at it.

Jeremy: I really would like to, but- (points at his monitor) -I have work to do.

Dan: Uh-huh.

Jeremy: Really. The system is back up and functioning, but for how long is unknown.

Dan: Just take a look at it.

Jeremy: There are other people in tech support who are more than qualified to repair your computer.

Dan: But I trust you. I have confidence in you. You are way, way, way more talented than those tech guys down there. You're so good-

Jeremy: Your attempt to induce me with flattery isn't succeeding.

Dan: I'll leave you alone.

Jeremy: Thank you.

Dan: I completely understand where you are coming from.

Jeremy: Good.

Dan: I'm leaving now.

Jeremy: Okay.

Dan: I can accept the fact you are just plain chicken.

Jeremy: You're trying to bait me.

Dan: No, I'm not. I'm just aware you are using the problems with the wireless system as an excuse. It's just an excuse instead of admitting you lack confidence and, quite possibly, the skills to fix my computer.

Dan smiles as Jeremy stands up to the challenge. Jeremy follows Dan into his office.

-----

Dan continues to smile as Jeremy sits in front of the disabled computer. Jeremy takes a quick look under the desk.

Dan: It's plugged in.

Jeremy: Just checking.

Jeremy pushes the power button. It starts immediately. A joyous Dan raises his arms in the air.

Dan: You're the man! The man, Jeremy!

Jeremy: I just pushed the button.

Bobbi appears in the doorway.

Bobbi: What's going on?

Dan: Jeremy is a genius. He just repaired my computer. (snaps his fingers) Just like that.

Bobbi: Good.

Jeremy: I just pushed the button.

Dan: No time to be humble, Mr. Man. It was a pure stroke of genius.

Jeremy: All I did-

Bobbi: Maybe Jeremy could repair my computer.

Jeremy: I don't have time.

Dan: This took you one second to fix. You could fix Bobbi's in two or three seconds. I had confidence in you, and you exceeded my expectations.

Bobbi: If Jeremy doesn't have time, I could just call tech support.

Jeremy: Yes.

Dan: Nonsense.

Jeremy: Look! All I did was push the button! I pushed the on-off button and it went from being off to being on! A monkey, a bird, and maybe even a sloth could have done what I just did!

Bobbi and Dan look at Jeremy.

Dan: Stroke of genius.

A frustrated Jeremy gets up and storms out of the office. Dan walks over to his computer and begins to open an application.

Dan: What brought you in here?

Bobbi: I was hoping to borrow your computer, that is if you weren't using it.

Dan: I am.

Bobbi: I see.

Dan: Okay.

Bobbi: I could just call tech support.

Dan: Or Jeremy.

Bobbi: Whoever fixes it, it may take a while for it to be fixed, so please let me know when you are not using the computer. I'd like to write my portion of the show.

Dan: I had to do my portion on pen and paper last night.

Bobbi: You could have used my computer.

Dan: You never offered.

Bobbi: You never asked.

Dan: Well... yeah. In retrospect, I may not have asked, but you were aware of my predicament.

Bobbi: Whatever.

Bobbi exits the room.

-----

Isaac is walking through the newsroom with Sam.

Sam: I received the overnights.

Isaac: How are we doing?

Sam: The network is trending nearly fifteen percent higher compared with last year's numbers.

Isaac: How are we doing as compared with last week?

Sam: Down nearly a point.

Isaac: Okay.

Sam: It still places the network in a position to finish second for the week.

Isaac: Where do we stand currently?

Sam: In third-place.

Isaac: You don't need to sugarcoat things for me, Sam.

Sam: I know.

Isaac: But you still do it.

Sam: It's what I do.

Natalie walks by the two.

Natalie: Isaac? We received word a press conference will be held in Provo later this afternoon. It's speculated they will be announcing some coaching changes on the football team. We can pick up the press conference off the satellite, which will protect us in case the system goes down.

Isaac: Good job, Natalie.

Natalie: Thanks.

Natalie heads off in one direction, while Sam and Isaac head in the opposite direction.

Sam: How's the girl doing?

Isaac: Natalie?

Sam: Yeah.

Isaac: She's doing a great job.

Sam: Okay.

As the two exit the newsroom, they are approached by Dana.

Dana: I have a serious concern.

Isaac: It wouldn't be a normal day if you didn't have at least one.

Dana: I just got back from Peter Sadler.

Isaac: Yeah. I'm sure he told you not to worry about the lawsuit.

Dana: He said not to worry.

Isaac: Good.

Dana: The preliminary hearing was today.

Isaac: We didn't need to be in attendance, Dana.

Dana: We're defendants in the case, Isaac. We're the ones who will be in trouble.

Isaac: Let's take this somewhere private.

The trio step inside the empty control room.

Dana: Peter and the rest of legal didn't feel it was necessary for us to be in court today.

Isaac: It wasn't necessary.

Dana: We are charged with a crime.

Isaac: Are you thinking of fleeing the country?

Dana: No. No.

Isaac: Then you have nothing to worry about.

Dana: That's what Peter said.

Isaac: It was good advice.

Sam: It's not a felony charge.

Dana: Excuse me?

Sam: If it was a felony charge, you would be required by law to be in attendance.

Dana: It's a serious charge.

Isaac: I would think so.

Dana: Violating a constitutional amendment should carry some serious consequences.

Isaac: They are not going to lock us up in prison, if that's what you're thinking.

Dana: That's exactly what I'm thinking.

Isaac: Didn't Peter Sadler tell you not to worry about this?

Dana: Yes, but-

Isaac: Don't worry about it.

Dana: Why would they do this? We legally won the right to cover and broadcast the fight. If they had purchased the rights to cover the fight, we would have respected their agreement. Instead, they tie up the judicial system over something we did, which was brought about because they were doing something illegal.

Sam: You're right.

Dana: Why would they try to knock us down?

Sam: Because we have to be standing pretty tall in order for them to make an attempt to knock us down.

-----

Bobbi is sitting at the editing machine and running some tape. Dan stands behind her and attempts to offer some assistance.

Dan: Now watch this helmsman on this turn. This guy is spectacular. His experience spans over two decades, not to mention competing in three America's Cups. Watch how quickly he is able to hoist the sail as they make the turn. See how quickly they are pulling away? They beat their competitors by two seconds hoisting the sail for the change in direction, and now they are at least six or eight lengths ahead. That's the ball game.

Bobbi: I see.

Dan: Great.

Bobbi: I am perfectly capable of handling this assignment. Trying to capture these highlights doesn't require complex play calling. All the viewers are going to see is the turn, the finish, and the time.

Dan: So if I were to report the final score on the Cincinnati-St. John's basketball game and barely mention a triple-double or the Redmen's stifling defense, that would be sufficient enough for the viewers watching our program?

Bobbi: Dan? I believe are viewers are going to have a little more interest in college basketball as opposed to yachting off the coast of New Zealand.

Dan: Aren't you the least bit interested in understanding this sport?

Bobbi: I have plenty of sports experience. Just because I don't know how to shoe a horse doesn't mean I can't cover horse racing.

Dan: The point is we are always in such a hurry to get to the finish. All some people care about is who won and lost, and that's fine. But something has to be said for journey of witnessing a turning point in the game. Learning not only why a certain team won, but how they won creates beauty no score, no time, and no graphic could depict. That's the beauty and glory of sports.

Bobbi: Does that also speak of soccer, the world's most popular sport?

Dan: Okay, I can see where this is a double-edged sword.

Bobbi: Soccer isn't just about people running around and trying to kick a little ball into a net.

Dan: That is what soccer is about.

Bobbi: Something has to be said about the beauty of soccer: the passing, the defense, the strategy, players covering land larger than a football field with very few substitutions.

Dan: Okay. I'll make an attempt to have a better understanding of soccer, but you need to make an attempt to have a better understanding of yachting.

Bobbi: You're not really going to make an attempt to better understand soccer, are you?

Dan: Yes, I am because I can change.

Bobbi: You just want to see me get excited over this tape.

Dan: That would be a start.

Bobbi: I'm not going to get excited over yachting off the coast of New Zealand.

Defeated, Dan begins to slowly exit the room.

-----

Natalie is walking toward the conference room. She pushes open the door to find Dave, Chris, Will, Jeremy, Elliott, and Kim already seated around the conference room table. Several staffers are also present and stand next to the walls.

Natalie: Guys? Make a note. At 3 P.M. our time, the athletic director and football coach in Provo will be holding a press conference reportedly to announce some changes to the coaching staff.

Jeremy: Changes with Brigham Young?

Natalie: If you're referring to the person, Brigham Young, he's been dead for over a hundred and twenty-five years. There will be no change in his status. There will be changes with the university football team, one rumored to be the promotion of the linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.

Jeremy: I was just trying to confirm what you just said.

Natalie: Yeah.

Jeremy: Would it be easier if you just sent a memo?

Natalie: Shut up.

Jeremy: Could I please have a word with you?

Natalie: Outside?

Jeremy: Yeah.

Natalie: Sure.

The staff give each other looks and small snickers as Natalie and Jeremy leave the room.

Outside of the conference room, Jeremy and Natalie begin to talk with hushed tones.

Jeremy: What's going on?

Natalie: Nothing's going on.

Jeremy: You jumped on me for no apparent reason other than jumping on me for no apparent reason.

Natalie: Maybe you shouldn't be making jokes behind my back at my expense.

Jeremy: What jokes?

Natalie: Then why are people snickering at me?

Jeremy: Maybe its because of the amount of needless paperwork you've been sending out most recently.

Natalie: It's not because of that.

Jeremy: I'm sorry about your breakup.

Natalie: Excuse me?

Jeremy: You breakup with Michael, and to compensate for your loss, you bury yourself in your work.

Natalie: My breakup has nothing to do with this. You may not notice this, Jeremy, but not all women have adverse reactions after breaking up with their boyfriends. We don't crumble or alienate or even try to extract revenge. We get over it, move on, and concentrate on better things.

Jeremy: I apologize for making an incorrect analysis.

Natalie: You want to know why I've been busting my tail here, why I've been working overtime creating memos, scheduling interviews, and making future segments? It's because I was a disappointment.

Jeremy: Nobody thinks you're a disappointment.

Natalie: No. The championship fight was our biggest night. Last week was our biggest week, ever. Everybody came ready to take the ball and score. Everybody except me. I had my ex-boyfriend swing by and create a public spectacle. My head was in a fog over that relationship, it allowed me to become a disappointment.

Jeremy: You're not a disappointment, Natalie. Sure, Isaac took you back and talked with you after the fight over what happened here with you and Michael, but he let you out of the proverbial penalty box days ago.

Natalie: Isaac doesn't believe I'm a disappointment. I believe I'm a disappointment. I didn't do my job to the standards which are demanded to work here. I can have a great future here, but I have to exceed the network's standards along with my core standards. That means busting my tail and doing the best job any associate producer could ever do.

Jeremy and Natalie spot Dana walking down the corridor towards them.

Dana: Let's go, you two.

Dana, Natalie, and Jeremy enter the conference room. Inside the room, the crew is having small talk with the exception of Elliott, who is on the telephone. Natalie and Jeremy notice Bobbi and Isaac are now seated at the table, obviously entering while they were having their conversation outside.

Dana: Okay people. Let's get this rundown started.

Elliott calls Kim over to him as he hangs up the phone. Dana notices the look of concern in Elliott's eyes.

Dana: Is there a problem?

Elliott: Just something Kim and I need to confirm.

Dana: Okay. Keep us posted.

Elliott and Kim quickly leave the room as Dana and Natalie take their seats at the table.

Dana: Where's Danny?

Natalie: Oh, he's paying technical support a visit. He should be here shortly.

Dana: We need to get started with this meeting.

Dan enters and is noticeably irritated.

Dan: I am having some serious problems.

Dana: I see the last member of the "happy brigade" has arrived.

Dan: They are serious problems.

Dana: Danny, get over the yachting in New Zealand.

Dan: I'm over that. My computer doesn't want to work. It was working earlier, but now it doesn't do anything.

Jeremy: Did you check the connection points-

Dan: It's plugged in, Jeremy, and I'm beginning of have a little less faith in you.

Jeremy: So I lost the title of "Mr. Man"?

Dan: Yes. You're still considered to be a genius, but not in such high regard.

Dan takes a seat at the table.

Dana: Okay, people! Let's settle down and conduct our rundown meeting in a polite and concise manner. Natalie?

Natalie: Yo.

Dana: What do you have?

Natalie: Detroit is looking at the possible loss of their starting outside linebackers for next week's game after their injuries last week against New England. There may be a delay in the stadium referendum in San Diego, which may cause some uncertainty in the pro franchises demanding the new stadium. There is a chance Mississippi State's starting power forward may be declared academically ineligible, and Brigham Young will be holding a press conference to announce some changes in the coaching staff on the football team.

Jeremy: Just to clarify, that's the university and not the actual person.

Dan: You got all this... this morning?

Natalie: You betcha'.

An exasperated Elliott enters the room.

Elliott: The system is down again.

Dana looks frustrated.

Dana: Why?!

Elliott: I don't know why it's down.

Dana: I just want an explanation why this is happening!

Jeremy: Okay. We're guinea pigs.

Dana: Excuse me?

Elliott: Jeremy said we're guinea pigs.

Dana: I heard him. Are we some sort of high school science experiment?

Jeremy: Maybe. Quo Vadimus is one of the leaders in high-speed internet service, mostly because of their acquisition of Continental Corp and the coaxial cable which went along with the purchase. In order to stay competitive, Quo Vadimus has been developing a wireless system. If people want internet access, they can either go with a high-speed ground connection or they can go with the new wireless connection. Either way, Quo Vadimus gets their business and, hopefully, profits from it. The problem with wireless connections is that it becomes slower when there is an increase in the number of users and when there are obstacles in the way- like tall buildings, of which there happens to be quite a few here in New York City.

A wireless hub which can stretch for 3000 feet out in the country is limited to about 300 feet inside the city. Add the radial limitations of our wireless hub along with the number of people using it, and it could cause quite a conundrum.

Everyone stares at Jeremy.

Dana: Okay. So you're saying there are too many people using the system.

Jeremy: Actually, no.

Dana: Then why are we listening to you?

Jeremy: I'm explaining why the system has been inconsistent and slowing down.

Dana: The system is out.

Jeremy: Ah, yes. An outside source is taking out the system making it irrelevant.

Dana: And I would suppose another wireless hub or a bad satellite connection or the weather is causing all these problems?

Natalie: It could be an asteroid.

Dana looks at Natalie. Natalie shrugs her shoulders.

Jeremy: Actually, it could be something quite simple.

Dana: Like what?

Jeremy: Somebody reheating a large burrito in a microwave.

Isaac: You're saying somebody using a kitchen appliance could completely wipe out our system?

Dana: Somebody reheating a burrito?

Jeremy: A large burrito. Anyway, we are a guinea pig until Quo Vadimus figures out a way to make the wireless system just about fail proof.

Dana: We can still use the phones without causing any more catastrophes, right?

Jeremy: Sure.

Dana: In the meantime, Natalie has prepared some segments we can work on. We've got a few extra days to work on these, so the workload shouldn't be as hectic.

Natalie: We've got the previews ready for the college and pro football weekend. We've got a good weekend slate of games in the NHL and NBA. Plus, Danny's got the finals of the preseason N.I.T., which is right down the road at The Garden, so we should be in pretty good shape.

Dana: Okay. Everybody, let's get working, get your notes and updates to Natalie, and keep it tight. That's it.

Everybody gets up and begins to leave.

-----

Isaac is sitting at his desk doing some paperwork when Dana knocks on his door.

Isaac: Yeah?

Dana: Isaac, I was wondering what you said to Natalie after the fight.

Isaac: After the fight? A week ago?

Dana: Yeah. She has been on a tear since then. It's like you put the fear of god in her.

Isaac: She realized she wasn't putting in the proper effort, and she stated that to me before I could even get a word out edgewise.

Dana: Okay.

Isaac: Natalie reminds me of Florence Chadwick.

Dana: She reminds you of the first woman to swim the English Channel in both directions?

Isaac: Not because of swimming the English Channel, but because of her swim from Catalina Island to the California coast.

Dana: She swam the distance, I assume.

Isaac: On first attempt back in 1952, it was a numbingly cold. The water was frigid, but the air was even colder.

Dana: It must have been foggy.

Isaac: It was so thick, she couldn't even see the boats in her party. She was surrounded by fog, water, frigid temperatures, sharks, and the voices of people encouraging her to continue on. After more than 15 hours, she asked to be taken out of the water. She gave up less than a half-mile from land. Chadwick never said it was the fear or the cold or even the exhaustion which prevented her from reaching the coast. She said it was the fog preventing her from seeing the land.

Dana: She made no other excuses than the fog?

Isaac: Two months after her failed attempt, she walked off the same beach into the same channel taking the same course. This time, she succeeded and set a new speed record. This time, she could see the land.

Dana: No fog allowed her to swim the distance.

Isaac: You and I know we can trust Natalie, and she can do the job. She just has to go out and do it. Natalie felt disappointed over the fight because she let her self down. She didn't feel that way because she failed at her job, or she gave into network pressure, or because she was afraid of a personal breakup. She felt that way because she lost sight of her goal. She wants to succeed at this network, under her terms. Natalie's lifted the fog, and she can see the land.