Disclaimer

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Isaac is quietly doing paperwork at his desk until Jeremy knocks on his door. Isaac is visibly annoyed. As Jeremy picks up on Isaac's demeanor, he decides to only stand inside the doorway.

Isaac: What is it, Jeremy?

Jeremy: Excuse me, Isaac. Do you have a minute?

Isaac: If I listen your concerns, will your questions give me the desire to jump out this window?

Jeremy: That would not be my intentions.

Isaac: I'm happy to know you have different intentions.

Jeremy: Yes, sir.

Isaac finally gives in and Jeremy enters the room.

Isaac: What are your concerns, Jeremy?

Jeremy: I am weighing my options over joining Sally's crew for the new show.

Isaac: Sally came to me and expressed her interest in you. She asked for permission to make you an offer to join her staff with the explicit instructions that it not affect your responsibilities with "Sports Night." After those guidelines were set, I gave her my blessing.

Jeremy: So you were aware that Sally was going to ask me to join her staff?

Isaac: I thought I stated that pretty clearly, Jeremy.

Jeremy: You did. I have some concerns over what some of the reactions might be if I were to join the show as an associate producer.

Isaac: You're worried your association with Sally may create some strain in your relationships with those on "Sports Night."

Jeremy: Strain could be putting it mildly, sir.

Isaac: Do you want to know what I'd tell them?

Jeremy: What's that?

Isaac: Deal with it.

Jeremy: I think they might deal with it by getting some thick rope and tying me to my chair or, worse yet, berating me.

Isaac: You taking on extra responsibilities isn't cause for some kind of meltdown on their part.

Jeremy: So you think I should accept Sally's offer?

Isaac: Please listen to me. You should be honored to be considered for the job. You should place into careful consideration what you would like to do and where you would like to go with this network. Disregard any notion that people won't like you because they didn't agree with your decision. If them not liking you is a result of your decision, then they were never in your corner in the beginning.

Jeremy: Yes, sir.

Isaac: Does that help you in any way?

Jeremy: I think I'm going to have to buy something to treat my future rope burns.

-----

Sam is at his desk and typing on his laptop when Sally struts in.

Sally: Good afternoon, Sam. I just came by to personally thank you for giving me the opportunity to be the executive producer of "Replay."

Sam: Yes. You may have mistaken me for someone who actually gave you the opportunity.

Sally: You mean you didn't have any input in my selection to run this show?

Sam: It's kinda' funny in a strange sort of way, don't you think?

Sally: Well, yes. Anyway, I just wanted to thank you. I'll look forward to working with you.

Sam: No you won't.

Sally: I'm sorry?

Sam: You won't look forward to working with me. Again, Suzie, you have mistaken me for someone who will be working with you as opposed to working over you.

Sally: I'm sorry. It's Sally Sasser. I don't go by Suzie.

Sam: Okay.

Sally: I believe we, as a network in whole, have a common goal to make this show succeed. I also believe you are not an immediate supervisor, so you'll have to forgive me when I don't understand how you will be working over me.

Sam: That's easy. If your ratings stink, that's when I'll come in. The better your show does, the less you will see of me. The worse your show does...

Sally: The more I'll see of you.

Sam: You won't look forward to working under me, Suzie.

Sally: It's Sally. Sam, I sense you have a weakness in remembering names.

Sam: I suppose if you showed a little less cleavage, you would have more room to wear a name badge.

Sally: I think we have a distinction of meeting at the wrong time.

Sam: I thought you were coming to thank me for something I had absolutely no part in doing.

Sally: Yeah. I think I'll be going now.

Sally exits, leaving Sam and her self-confidence behind.

-----

Casey walks into Stan's office. Stan completes a phone call as Casey patiently awaits for news.

Stan: I've got some good news, better news, and excellent news, McCall.

Casey: That all sounds good to me.

Stan: First, I've decided to replace the person in charge of your wardrobe.

Casey: Stan? That person would be me.

Stan: You? Okay. Since I'm not going to fire you, I suggest you improve your wardrobe. Better yet, are you living with someone?

Casey: Huh?

Stan: I don't care if you're living with a woman or one of those queer guys for the straight eye. If you're living with someone, have them choose your attire. They're known to be good when it comes to matters like that.

Casey: And what news category does this fall under?

Stan: This is the good news.

Casey: I'm happy to know the news is going to be progressively better.

Stan: Next, I just got off the phone with an inside source. A source who works closely with the Sports Emmy Awards.

Casey: Okay.

Stan: That piece you did on that college scandal has propelled you to the top of the heap. You are just about a lock for a nomination.

Casey: A nomination.

Stan: See? You should have believed me when I said you had one of the great series of its kind. This is what all the hard work is about.

Casey: I can't wait for them to announce the nominations.

Stan: And now here's the kicker. You are such an asset to this organization, we have decided to use and feature you on several of our continuing series.

Casey: I'll take the increased workload.

Stan: You'll be working with Gumble and Costas. You'll continue to do boxing, other sports specials, and we even want you to contribute to our NFL show. You're going to be a busy man, McCall.

Casey: Gumble, Costas, boxing, the NFL, and my show.

Stan: And sports specials, McCall.

Casey: That's six.

Stan: Yeah.

Casey: You said five shows.

Stan: With your body of work, you needed more exposure. That means taking you off your show. It is going to be excellent, McCall.

Casey: Wait. You're taking me off my show? My show has my name on it.

Stan: We've decided to dissolve your show into these other showcases.

Casey: You're cancelling my show?

Stan: In order to feature you more, my friend.

Casey: You were right about something, Stan. This is certainly the kicker.

-----

Isaac is pleased he is making headway in his paperwork. He sets a completed folder on the edge of his desk.

"Isaac?"

Isaac: Go away.

"Have you seen Jeremy?"

Isaac finds Elliott and Kim standing outside his door.

Isaac: I spoke with Jeremy earlier today, but that was a little while ago.

Elliott: Okay.

Kim and Elliott enter the room.

Elliott: If I have to work for Sally, does that mean I'll have to give up my upcoming vacation time?

Isaac: No.

Elliott: I turned her down to be one of her associate producers.

Isaac: Good. (to Kim) Yes?

Kim: If Elliott had changed his mind and decided to work for Sally, I was wondering if that was going to cut into my time of stripping Elliott of his manhood.

Isaac: That's it.

Isaac gets up from his desk and takes a piece of paper with him.

Isaac: Come with me.

Elliott: Haven't we done this before?

Isaac: And I'm sure it won't be the last time.

Kim and Elliott follow Isaac from his office.

-----

Dana, Lorie, and Jarrod are standing in the middle of the newsroom.

Dana: My advice to you is to expect the unexpected.

Jarrod: Be prepared for the unexpected.

Dana: Yes.

Lorie: I have a question. If it is better to be prepared, wouldn't determining the unexpected be a part of us preparing ourselves? That way, the unexpected wouldn't be the unexpected because we prepared for it.

Dana: That's... uh... that's a very good question. That's one best suited-

"Dana, Natalie, Danny? In the conference room now."

Dana: Oh. Got to go.

Isaac leads the march to the conference room, with Kim and Elliott continuing to follow close behind.

Isaac: And somebody get Jeremy.

As the "Sports Night" crew converges into the conference room, Lorie and Jarrod are left abandoned. Sam Donovan walks by and stops in front of the two.

Sam: Okay. You two are smiling.

Jarrod: We're just happy to be here.

Lorie: Yeah, we're happy to be here.

Sam stares at the ignorant duo.

Sam: Just wait.

The smiles disappear as Sam walks away.

-----

Isaac leads the crew into the conference room, only to discover Jeremy is already seated at the table.

Isaac: Good. I'm glad you're here, Jeremy. This will only take a minute.

Kim, Elliott, Dana, Natalie, and Dan enter the room. The door has barely enough time to close just as Isaac begins his lecture.

Isaac: I'll dispense with the pleasantries because I know most, if not all, of you are having a lousy day. This network has added a new show to its weekly schedule. The Continental Sports Channel has a new show. Notice that this network isn't "Sports Night" every hour of every day of every week - even though I'm certain that would make some of you very satisfied. This network has a variety of programming, much in the same aspect as this crew has a variety of strengths and weaknesses. I didn't hire you because you were weak in brains and strong in paranoia. I hired you because you have the abilities to put together a great show and also lead by example. No one here has anything to do with this "Replay" show.

Jeremy: Uh-

Isaac: Except for Jeremy.

Natalie: Traitor.

Isaac pulls out his sheet of paper.

Isaac: And Jeremy's not a traitor because he chose to assist this new show. In fact, let me read you the official press release concerning this new program:

"Replay" is a fast-paced weekly show taking a refreshing look at sports. "Replay" will feature interviews with the hottest rising athletes, take a look at their lives in and out of the arena, and showcase talents the casual fan might not have known. "Replay" will recap the week in sports with a highlight package spirited by music from the hottest people performing today. "Replay" will give you free access to celebrities, V.I.P. parties, and sporting events which would normally require you to spend thousands of dollars to attend. "Replay" airs Sundays at 10 P.M. Eastern and is hosted by feature cover-model Lorie Allen and hot, action movie star Jarrod Burke.

Isaac sets the paper down.

Isaac: So whose job is in jeopardy because of this new competition?

Dan: I have a question.

Isaac: Go ahead, Danny.

Dan: Who writes these things? Hot action movie star? The dude steals two hours from your life with every starring movie you watch.

Isaac: Danny.

Dan: No seriously. And what V.I.P. parties are we going to have access?

Jeremy: The circus is coming to town.

Dan: Yeah. Like I want to get up close and personal with a monkey.

Jeremy: Hey.

Isaac: Stop the infighting.

Dana: Isaac's right.

Isaac: Thank you, Dana.

Dana: It helps us that a new show and some new people are coming in. They are going to work hard putting this show together, and their hard work should drive us when we do "Sports Night." Let's lead by example, and kick everybody's asses.

A smattering of laughter and clapping come from the group.

Natalie leans over to Dana.

Natalie: (whispering) You've read the press release.

Dana: (whispering) And tweedle-dee and tweedle-dumb told me about their first feature.

Isaac: I'm happy everybody realizes this program does not fall under my category. They can take the fluff-

Natalie: And we can take the tough... stuff.

Isaac: Are there any more pertinent questions?

Jeremy adamantly nods his head.

Jeremy: I have one.

Could somebody please untie me from this chair?