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The following morning inside the newsroom, Jeremy is speaking with an intern.

Jeremy: So, I need you to splice together a small package and incorporate the footage from these two tapes.

Jeremy hands two videotapes to the intern.

Jeremy: The tape with the blue label is from last night's game. The tape with green label is from highlights of the current season. Just follow the outline I gave you, and you should be just fine.

The intern begins to walk away.

Jeremy: Wait. I should also let you know that if you do have any questions, feel free to come by and ask me anything. Anything at all.

The intern nods and takes another step.

Jeremy: Wait. I did mention the green and blue labels, correct? You may need to double-check those tapes. Check them before you begin putting together the package, just in case I'm wrong about their content.

The intern stands in anticipation of another comment from Jeremy.

Jeremy: Okay. You may go now.

The intern walks past Jeremy and heads in the direction of the editing room.

Jeremy remembers another "word of caution" and spins around to shout toward the intern. Jeremy finds himself face-to-face with Natalie.

Jeremy: (startled) Ah!

Natalie: What are you doing?

Jeremy: I was having one of the interns cut a small segment- a small, very insignificant segment.

Natalie: It's time for the meeting.

Jeremy: May I grab something from the vending machine-

Natalie: Right now, Jeremy.

The two start walking toward the conference room.

Jeremy: But I need sustenance.

Natalie: We're all hungry. The meeting will be short, and we can grab some food later.

Jeremy: There are official studies stating that a person partaking in a snack or a meal before taking an exam is more likely to achieve a higher score when that person is compared with another who is also taking the same exam, but is famished.

Natalie: Yeah. I'm sure all those Ding-Dongs and Kit-Kats substantially increase your brain power and ability to reason.

Jeremy: Natalie.

As Jeremy and Natalie reach the entrance to the conference room, they are met by Dana.

Jeremy: Dana? Please tell Natalie we need to eat in order to have a clear and precise thought process.

Dana: We need to eat in order to have a clear and precise thought process.

Jeremy: See?

Dana: It's too early to be thinking clearly and precisely. We can eat after the meeting.

Jeremy pleads his case as the trio enters the room.

Jeremy: During this meeting, I should be exempt from any possible admonishment for saying something which will clearly be caused by the fact I am half-starved.

Dana: I'm sure we'll keep that into consideration.

The three take their seats at the conference room table. Elliott and Kim enter the room.

Elliott: Dana, could we please order something to be delivered?

Kim: Restaurants don't do deliveries this early in the morning.

Dana: No deliveries.

Chris, Will, and Dave enter the room.

Dana: We've got a minute before the meeting begins.

Dave: What's this meeting about?

Dana: I don't know. Isaac called this one.

Elliott: He's not seriously considering leaving the network?

Kim: Unless they offer him a hefty raise.

Elliott: In that case, would I be allowed to go with Isaac?

Dana: No. Nobody is going anywhere. Isaac has assured me he is going nowhere.

Chris, Will, and Dave each take a seat around the table as Bobbi Bernstein enters the room.

Jeremy: Has anyone else been recently questioned by Isaac?

Natalie: How recent?

Jeremy: Within the last day or two.

Natalie: I had a small conversation with him a couple of days ago.

Elliott: He asked me about my professional goals.

Kim: He asked the same from me.

Jeremy: We talked about tennis- competing against a competitor who is stronger, quicker, and faster than one's self.

Dana looks at Jeremy as everybody else takes a seat.

Dana: Isaac doesn't play tennis.

Chris: I heard he got a new tennis racket.

Will: An excellent tennis racket.

Dave: Why would he get a tennis racket if he doesn't play tennis?

Dana: He used to play tennis. He used to play tennis with a former colleague when they worked at CNN.

Bobbi: Is that who sent him the racket?

Dana: It was his colleague's son.

Kim: Maybe he hadn't heard about Isaac's stroke.

Elliott: Maybe he didn't realize Isaac is getting pretty old.

Dana: Hey.

Elliott: Sorry.

Dana looks around and spots Chris taking a bite from a half of a bagel.

Dana: Chris? We're going to eat after the meeting.

Chris: I'm sorry. I'm hungry.

Jeremy: See?

Dana: Did you bring enough to share with everybody?

Chris: Excuse me?

Dana: Is it possible for you to divide that up into equal portions for everybody to share?

Chris: It's a half of a bagel.

Dana: Yeah, but we're all hungry.

Chris: I didn't bring a knife.

Dana: Oh, fine. Go ahead and eat your bagel while the rest of us sit here and slowly starve ourselves and wait for the meeting to finally conclude so we can garner up the strength to drag ourselves to the cafeteria.

Chris looks at Dana, hesitates, and reluctantly takes another bite from his bagel.

Will: What are you doing?

Chris: Dana said I could eat my bagel.

Will: She was being facetious.

Dana: I was being facetious.

Chris: Oh.

Chris quietly wraps up his bagel in a napkin and then places it in his pocket.

Isaac slowly enters the room. He uses his cane to balance himself and makes his way over to his chair.

Isaac: Good morning, everybody. I appreciate the effort everybody made to be in attendance this early in the morning.

Halfway to his seat, Isaac walks by an empty chair.

Isaac: Where's Danny?

Dana: Does anybody-

Natalie: He's running late.

Dana looks to Natalie for information other than the obvious.

Natalie: I spoke with him on the phone. He's on his way here.

Isaac: Dana? What time do you have?

Dana looks at her watch.

Dana: 9 A.M. on the dot.

As Isaac takes his seat, Dan bursts through the door. He's still bundled up in his winter coat, and he carries two paper bags.

Dan: I'm sorry I'm late.

Isaac: We were just getting ready to begin.

Dan sets the two bags on the center of the table.

Dan: I figured everybody would like some fresh bagels this morning.

Jeremy reaches for a bag and immediately opens it.

Dana: After the meeting, Jeremy.

Jeremy: They're still warm- even with the cold outside.

Everyone is intrigued by the prospect of fresh, warm bagels.

Isaac: I promise, I'll keep this short.

Jeremy slowly places the bag back on the table. Dan slips off his jacket, places it around his chair, and takes his seat.

Isaac: Our workplace and environment are constantly changing. Three days ago, there was an announcement of a new competitor in the form of a sports network. A few weeks ago, we were served with a lawsuit because somebody was doing what they thought was right. Yesterday, I had a meeting with Donna Kendrick to discuss the budget regarding the next quarter. This morning, I read where the network's overall ratings are up five-tenths of a point over last year, and we are currently on track to finish only behind ESPN for the second time ever, but also the second time in the last four weeks. There is constant change.

In the next coming weeks, there will be several changes with "Sports Night," and I hope everyone here will keep an open mind and embrace the changes. They are meant to strengthen and solidify this network. They are, in no means, a form of punishment, demotion, or promotion. They are meant to keep this network strong and competitive. I have complete faith in everyone that we will continue to do an exemplary job after these changes have been implemented. That is all.

Everyone pauses for a moment.

Isaac: Your bagels aren't going to stay warm forever.

Jeremy and Will each grab a bag and begin to distribute their contents.

Dana: Hold on. I have one question.

Everyone freezes.

Dana: Okay, go ahead and eat your bagels while I ask my question. Isaac, are you leaving?

Nobody moves in anticipation of Isaac's answer.

Isaac: No, I'm not leaving to go to another network.

Everybody breathes easier and begins to move around once more. Isaac stands up from his seat. He begins to walk across the room toward the entrance into the newsroom.

Dana: Isaac, don't you want a bagel?

Isaac: No, thank you. I'm all right.

Jeremy: Oh! May I have Isaac's bagel, if he's not going to eat it?

Isaac: Sure.

Jeremy reaches across and grabs a second bagel.

Dan: Are you off to play tennis with your new friend, our new competitor?

Isaac: I have no intentions of playing tennis or considering David Brackens, Junior, to be a friend.

Dan: Junior? Does he have a nickname like, "Little B"?

Isaac: He just happens to be the son of a former colleague.

Jeremy: How are you planning on using your racket? If you don't mind me asking.

Isaac: I think I'll use it to drain spaghetti.

Chris: I heard it's an excellent racket.

Will: It's one of the best on the market.

Jeremy: Have you seen the specs on the Mega Power P3?

Isaac looks at Jeremy.

Isaac: And it has a fancy name, too.

Jeremy: The Mega Power P3 has a composition of 60% graphite, 20% high modulus graphite, and 20% hyper carbon. It's very light weight and durable. It has a fabulous head size to go along with a very high power level. Plus, it has unbelievable string tension.

Technology may not be able to give one increased reaction time, a more powerful serve, or a quicker step, but it certainly can give one a racket to make up for any declining skills.

Isaac: (pointing at Jeremy) You've been snooping around my office.

Jeremy: Oh no, sir. We were curious about it... and it kinda' magically appeared in the newsroom. Technically, it didn't appear like Russ Walsh making a cane magically appear before our eyes, but I'm sure you can't fault us for having some curiosity.

Isaac: You were admiring my Super Duper Power 3.

Jeremy: The Mega Power P3.

Isaac: With a name and features like that, I bet it could drain two pounds of spaghetti.

Isaac grabs hold of the door and prepares to exit.

Isaac: Danny? At your earliest convenience, I would like to see you inside my office.

Dan looks side-to-side and wonders why he is being called out.

Dan: Oh-kay.

Isaac: You're not in trouble.

Dan: Am I supposed to be in trouble?

Isaac: No.

Dan: Okay.

Isaac opens the door and leaves the conference room.

Natalie: You're in trouble.

Dan: Isaac just said I'm not in trouble.

Dana: Isaac's definitive tone hints your interpretation may be wrong.

Natalie: Yeah. Maybe you shouldn't have been late to this meeting.

Dan: I was here on time. Besides, I brought bagels.

With their mouths stuffed, Chris, Will, Dave, Kim, Elliott, and Jeremy collectively muffles out a "thank you."

Dan: See? I brought bagels. I'm not in any kind of trouble.

Dan folds his hands and mentally convinces himself he is in the clear. He smiles as he looks around the table. Once he comes to Bobbi, he notices she is sitting quietly while eating her bagel.

Dan: Hi.

Bobbi looks at Dan from the corners of her eyes.

Bobbi: Good morning.

Bobbi's tone makes Dan feel uncomfortable.

Dan: I'm in trouble.