Disclaimer

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We see a waiter refilling a glass with wine. As we pull back, we notice the waiter works for one of the finer restaurants, and the glass he is pouring wine into is Rebecca's. The waiter finishes his pouring and places the chilled bottle into a stainless steel wine bucket.

Rebecca: (to waiter) Thank you. (to Dan) Anyway, I'm surprised how you have been taking it.

Dan: How was I supposed to take it?

Rebecca: I just didn't imagine you reacting the way you did.

Dan: Well, I wasn't going to let it be.

Rebecca: I didn't think you would get rid of all the memorabilia you had collected over the years.

Dan: I didn't expect him to be arrested.

Rebecca: But Dan, he made a mistake. There's something to be said about forgiveness.

Dan tosses his fork down and it rattles onto his plate.

Dan: Forgiveness should only be asked when there is some sort of remorse.

Rebecca: I just thought, you, of all people, would be the most understanding.

Dan: You thought wrong.

Rebecca: But he's someone you've admired for years. He's your favorite player.

Dan: I don't admire him nor condone what he did.

Rebecca: You're just disappointed.

Dan: Am I disappointed? Yeah, I'm disappointed. I watched him since the minors and I saw his career grow. This season was his season. This year, he finally, or I thought he finally, got his game together. He was pitching this beautiful season. He was a favorite to win the Cy Young Award. He was the shinning star in this dismal Orioles' season.

Rebecca: I didn't expect you to drop him because he made one mistake. It must be embarrassing for you to have admired an athlete who made a horrible judgment call.

Dan: I am not the least bit embarrassed by his arrest. Orlando Rojas is the one who should be embarrassed because not only did he disappoint me, he disappointed thousands of fans, his teammates and coaches, and many other followers. He actually has the audacity to stand in front of everyone and not accept responsibility for what he did. He still holds his head high, not even acknowledging in his own warped reality what really happened. What really happened was he disappointed everyone and embarrassed himself. He has proven he cannot be respected because he has respected neither anyone nor himself.

Rebecca: Oh.

Dan: Once he accepts responsibility, he then can ask for forgiveness. He can be forgiven, but it will take much longer to build back trust and respect.

Rebecca: Wow. I didn't expect you to have that much resentment toward him.

Their waiter approaches their table.

Waiter: Would you care for dessert this evening?

Dan: Um-

Rebecca: No, thank you.

Dan glares at Rebecca.

Waiter: Er... would you care for something, sir?

Dan: No, nothing for me. Just the check, please. We're finished.

The waiter opens a little book, flips through a few receipts, and pulls out Dan and Rebecca's. He places it on the table.

Waiter: I can take that whenever you are ready.

Dan: Wait.

Dan reveals a money clip and pulls out four of five bills.

Dan: This should cover it, and keep the change.

The waiter looks surprised and pleased as he picks up the cash and the bill.

Waiter: Why thank you very much, sir. You have a good evening, sir. And to you also, ma'am.

Dan and Rebecca get up from their table. Dan walks Rebecca to the front of the restaurant. Not one word is said between the two.

Rebecca hadn't picked up on it. The situation with Orlando Rojas was more than that. It wasn't just Rojas. It was Rebecca. The hostilities and frustrations he had toward his favorite player grew out of the seeds Rebecca had planted.

Rebecca came back to me over four months ago, and I agreed to have dinner with her. Some dinner. We just ordered room service. We ate and we talked. She wanted it to be the same, but I knew it would never be the same. She never knew how much she had hurt me, and she never acknowledged the pain she created. I need to forgive her, but the only way I can forgive her is if she admits her mistakes. Steve Cisco, for god's sake! She was married to Steve Cisco! She thought those divorce papers would have immediately made everything better, but she was wrong. I loved her so much, but the only way I could ever have the chance forgive her is to be with her. We need to build trust and respect in our relationship, and it takes time. It's taking longer than I imagined because I cannot get her to admit she is truly sorry. I would have done anything to be with her, but it seems the better days are now a part of the past. All I feel is hope, and people cannot build a relationship from just hope. There needs to be trust, respect, and love. I don't know if that will ever come.

Dan and Rebecca come to the front of the restaurant, and he hands the coat man a ticket. The coat man goes behind a curtain, and within seconds he comes back with Rebecca's coat. Dan takes her coat and places it over her shoulders. Rebecca gives Dan a "thank you" and Dan replies with a little smile.

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It's the next day, and Casey and Jeremy are in the studio. A large television is next to a chair- the chair where Casey will conduct his interview with Jenny Thompson.

Jeremy: You look good.

Casey: Do I?

Jeremy: Don't worry about it.

Casey: Then why am I?

Jeremy: You're a professional.

Casey: Right, professional.

Jeremy: And who does Jenny Thompson give an interview to?

Casey: Yeah.

Jeremy: She doesn't go to ESPN, she doesn't go to Fox Sports, she goes to CSC. And you know why she goes to CSC?

Casey: Why?

Jeremy: Because of Casey McCall. She knows Casey McCall is one helluva' reporter. She knows he's respected. She's knows she will be treated fairly. She knows you have integrity. Casey, you never won an award you didn't work your ass off to win.

Casey: Yeah!

Jeremy: Ready?

Casey: Yeah!

Jeremy: Then let's do it!

Casey takes his seat and he starts attaching a microphone and an ear piece to himself. Alyson does one last touch-up on his make-up and hair, and she darts off the set. Jenny Thompson appears on the screen, smiling and very happy. She's ready for the interview to begin.

Jeremy: Okay, Sports Night's Athlete of the Week interview, take one.

The cameras begin to roll and tape their interview.

Casey: Eight gold medals, ten overall, has made Jenny Thompson become a household name among athletes. America's greatest female swimmer, and in some opinions, the greatest swimmer ever, is here with us as our Athlete of the Week. Thank you for joining us from Sydney, Jenny.

Jenny Thompson: It's great to be here, Casey.

Casey: Let's start off with...

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We see Dan in the elevator.

Dan: Second-floor: the home of pocket-protected geeks and game players.

Dan steps out and wanders down the corridor. He follows the sound of music playing and loud talking. He finds JoAnne sitting on top of her desk with a laptop perched on her lap, and that same gorgeous broad smile across her face. The two guys in her office, Dan recognized as Paul and Allen, were lightheartedly arguing over some techie stuff Dan didn't understand, nor care too. As soon as JoAnne sees Dan, she turns down the volume of the music and talks to the guys.

JoAnne: Paul, go do it now. I'll buy you lunch if you finish by one. Allen, you get help desk tickets today.

They get up to leave, but not before they have one final dig at their boss.

Paul: I think I'm gonna be hungry for a really big, really expensive lunch-

Allen: Dan Rydell! Wonder what brought him all the way down here.

Paul: Probably the same thing that took Jo up there yesterday!

JoAnne: One more word and lunch is off!

Paul and Allen leave the room, and JoAnne and Dan are alone.

Dan: We... uhh... we have two like that too, Good guys.

JoAnne: Chris and Will, right?

Dan: Yeah... well, I found myself free for lunch today, and I was going to ask you to join me, but I guess you have plans...

Dan starts to nod, telling himself to go.

JoAnne: Too late. Maybe some other time.

Dan: Yeah, some other time...

Dan starts to head back to the elevator, and then he turns around.

JoAnne: I'm glad we finally met, Dan.

Dan: Me too. Inevitable I guess... that we'd meet eventually.

JoAnne: We know the same people.

Dan: Yeah, right. You're right. (pause) I need to ask you something about our e-mail system.

JoAnne: Ask away.

Dan: I don't understand these different e-mail accounts and stuff.

JoAnne: Well, Dan, one server is for the internet. That is where you get e-mail from the outside world. That's where you get e-mail from your fans.

Dan: Okay.

JoAnne: The other server is for our intranet. That is where you get e-mail and memos from anyone working for CSC. Only CSC employees can access it, so everything you get there is from inside. It's from here.

Dan: Okay. But what about my accounts?

JoAnne: For instance, if a fan were to e-mail you- they would send it to your internet address, which would be... 'd', 'rydell,' at continental sports dot com.

Dan: I follow you.

JoAnne: But if an important memo or a fellow employee wanted to write to you- they would send it to your intranet address which would be... Dan Rydell at continental sports dot com, with no space between Dan and Rydell.

Dan: Got it. And how would I e-mail you?

JoAnne: I hardly ever check my internet address because not many people would e-mail me there anyway. I always check my intranet address account all the time, so you should send it to that address.

Dan: Which would be?

JoAnne: Jo Galloway at continental sports dot com. With no space-

Dan: Between Jo and Galloway.

JoAnne smiles and winks at Dan.

JoAnne: Exactly.