| Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid |
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Dana is sitting alone in the control room, and tonight's show is getting ready to start soon.
Dan walks into the room, and Dana doesn't acknowledge his entrance by turning around.
Dan: Dana--
Dana: Dan, if this about 'what's romantic?' then leave. If it's about why John Rocker has been moved up to the twenties and we have an open sixty at the end, talk to me.
Dan: It was Casey's idea.
Dana: What's he putting in?
Dan: God only knows.
Dana: Dan--
Dan: He first asked me to move it to tomorrow.
Dana: We can't.
Dan: Then we agreed to move it up.
Dana: You have to shave 20 seconds off of Penn State.
Dan: Done.
Dana: Good.
Dan starts to leave and opens up the door.
Dana: Dan.
Dan stops.
Dana: He better not be screwing up my show.
Dan: Okay. (leaves room)
Kim: (over intercom) Five minutes to air. First team to the studio, please.
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The studio is alive with excitement as people hustle taking care of the last-minute details. Dan is seated at the anchor desk putting in his microphone and ear piece. Casey walks up to join him.
Dan: Casey, about this secret plan of yours.
Casey: Yes?
Dan: I don't think you should do it.
Casey: Any particular reasoning?
Dan: Yes. It's because your plans suck.
Dan starts flipping through his script.
Casey: Anything else?
Dan: Dana doesn't want you screwing with her show.
Alyson finishes putting some last-minute touches on Casey.
Casey: Thanks, Alyson. Anything else?
Dan: Yes.
Casey: Do tell.
Dan: This time, you would be bringing me down with you.
Casey: That's okay with me.
Dan: Just make sure you get it right.
Casey: I've got a plan and I've got the nerve.
Dan: Let's just hope there isn't any late-breaking news during the broadcast. (smiles)
Casey casts a glare over Dan.
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We are in the control room.
Dana: Listen up, Kim, I need to see Bonnie on screen 3.
Natalie: Preview 6 and 13.
Kim: Bonnie is up.
Will: 6 and 12 ready.
Natalie: I said 6 and 13.
Chris: I'm on it.
Dave: 1 minute to VTR, 2 minutes live.
Natalie: Dana.
Dana: Natalie.
Natalie: I know your secret.
Dana: You do?
Natalie: Yes, I do.
Dana: How?
Natalie: I have my sources.
Dana: Liar.
Natalie: No, and frankly, I am surprised you didn't confide in me earlier.
Dana: Liar!
Natalie: Dana.
Dana: Let me hear Sarah in St. Louis.
Natalie: Dana.
Dana: (into mic) Dan. It's promptness.
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Dan: Huh?
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Dana: (into mic) Promptness. Promptness is romantic, Daniel.
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Dan: Thanks.
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Natalie: Dana.
Dana: Natalie!
Natalie: I have my hunches.
Dana: Good.
Natalie: I'm just saying that if you need anyone to come to--
Dana: Natalie.
Natalie: --you can come to me.
Dana: Now is not the perfect time.
Natalie: So there will be a perfect time?
Dana: There is no perfect time.
Natalie: But there will be a time?
Dana: Some things are better left unsaid, Natalie.
Natalie: Look, I'll share right now.
Dana: Natalie.
Natalie: Everybody listen up! Dana is hiding something from me because she doesn't trust me!
Dana buries her head in her hands.
Dana: Oh God.
Natalie: So to prove the trust I have for Dana, I am going to share a secret with everyone!
Kim: This better be good.
Natalie: It's great. In fact, it happened earlier today!
Jeremy: Natalie.
Natalie: Earlier today, in fact, right where Kim is sitting--
Jeremy: Oh no.
Natalie: Me and Jeremy were making out! And I grabbed his butt!
Jeremy blushes and slouches in his chair.
Kim: Ugh! Gross!
Kim stands up and kicks her chair out of the way.
Kim: I need a new chair.
Dave: Roll VTR.
Dana: Thank you for sharing, Natalie. Somebody get Kim a new chair.
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Dan: So how do you feel?
Casey: I feel good.
Dan: Really?
Casey: Dan.
Dan: You could ditch it right now.
Casey: Danny.
Dan: No seriously, it's at the end of the show, during a commercial break, I could think of something quick to throw in, no problem.
Casey: Not happening.
Dan: Please.
Casey: No.
Dan: Pretty please.
Casey: No.
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Dana: Does anyone know if Casey put anything at the end of the script?
Will: No.
Kim: No.
Chris: No.
Elliott: No.
Natalie: No.
Jeremy: No.
Dana: (into mic) Dan, do you know if Casey put anything at the end of the script?
Dan: I'll pass that on to Case.
Dana: (into mic) Casey?
Casey: (smiles) I have a plan.
A look of dread comes across Dana's face.
Dana: Oh God.
Dave: And in 5, 4, 3... (motions)
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Dan: (on-air) Good evening from New York. Along side Casey McCall, I'm Dan Rydell. Those stories plus the Sharks in San Jose, the Dolphins in Miami, and the Mariners in Seattle.
Casey: (on-air) For that and news on other creatures of the sea, stick around- you're watching Sports Night on CSC.
Dave: We're out.
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We skip forward to the end of the show.
Casey: Thank you, A.J. Shepherd, reporting live from Joe Louis Arena. (face to the front, toward a different camera) Here on Sports Night, those of us behind the scenes do have personal lives. Just in case that surprises you, in fact, many of us have extremely personal lives. And while I usually like to keep my problems secret, I don't think this is the time.
Dan sits in his chair and looks extremely worried.
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Dana: Tell him to stop. Tell him to stop now.
Dana suddenly realizes that she can do it herself.
Dana: (into mic) Casey, please, whatever you're doing, stop. Stop right now, abort.
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Casey: (on-air) As Daniel here can vouch for, I am an idiot. Not by your usual standards. Let me explain why. See, I had this beautiful woman, whom I was in love with. And I ruined it. I did. I just totally ruined it. And well, to that special lady, here you go....
Casey starts to sing.
I don't know what it is that makes me love you so,
I only know I never want to let you go
Dan is laughing hysterically in the background.
Uhh... something, something, something,
Can't you see,
That ever since we've met
You've had a hold on me,
It happens to be true
I only want to be with you
It doesn't matter where you go or....or....Jeremy?
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Jeremy: Or what you do.
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Thank you.
Or what you do
I wanna...
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Everyone is laughing in the control room, except for Dana- who has a stunned look on her face and tears forming in her eyes.
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...It's crazy but it's true,
I only want to be with you.
Casey stops singing.
Casey: (on-air) Dan.
Dan tries to contain himself and not burst out laughing.
Dan: (on-air) That's all for us here tonight, and don't let Casey scare you away. After tonight, it's possible, he won't be here tomorrow. You've been watching Sports Night on CSC. Good night.
Dave: We're out.
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Everyone erupts in applause and continued laughter. Casey stands up and takes a bow. While everyone in the control room wraps the credits up, Dana throws down her headset and runs out of the room. Natalie quickly does the same, following Dana.
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Dana runs into her office and slams the door shut. Her emotions are escaping her, and she has a look of panic. She talks to herself over her tears.
Dana: Oh God. Oh God. I can't believe it. No. No. No.
Dana throws herself into her chair and cradles her head with her arms on her desk. She starts uncontrollably sobbing.
Dana: No. No. No.
Natalie runs into her office, looking very concerned for her best friend.
Natalie: Dana, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Dana.
Natalie crouches down by Dana's chair and wraps both of her arms around her.
Dana pulls up her head.
Dana: He shouldn't have done that. sniff He can't do that to me. sob
Natalie: It's all right, Dana. He loves you. He really loves you, Dana.
Dana: No. I don't deserve him.
Natalie: Dana.
Dana: No. Not after...
Dana's voice trails off and she starts crying harder.
Natalie: What? Pixley? Tell me, Dana.
Dana: I sob I betrayed him.
Natalie: What? It's not like you're dating anybody or you're having an affair.
Dana looks up into Natalie's eyes, silently confirming what Natalie suggested.
Natalie: Oh, Dana.
Dana: I sob was lonely. sniff I was there for over a month.
Natalie: No, Dana.
Dana: During my vacation sob I met this guy. A charming guy. sniff One night, we got drunk, and sniff one thing led to another...
Dana's voice trails off as she buries her head into Natalie's shoulder.
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Dan looks inside the window of Dana's office. Natalie motions Dan to go away, and he nods in agreement. He turns and heads back away from Dana's office. Casey is heading toward her office, but Dan grabs his arm and turns him around.
Casey: What?
Dan: Don't go in there.
Casey: Was it--
Dan: Don't go in there.
Casey: But Dan--
Dan: Casey, trust me on this. Absolutely do not go in there. Dana is very upset.
Casey: I didn't mean to--
Dan: Extremely upset. She's crying and Natalie is in there.
Casey drops his head, disappointed in himself.
Casey: I never meant to hurt her. Hurt Dana. I never meant to hurt Dana.
Dan: It will be okay. Come on.
Dan and Casey head toward their office.
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We're back in Dana's office.
Dana: I was drunk. (throws her arms down) I didn't know what the hell I was doing.
Natalie: Have you been tested?
Dana: Tomorrow. I have an appointment tomorrow. Then I'll have to get tested again in a couple of months.
Natalie: Good.
Dana: I can't believe I betrayed him.
Natalie: It's all right. You didn't betray him.
Dana: His e-mails. All those e-mails he sent me.
Natalie: The ones you didn't pick up until you got back?
Dana: Yeah. They're beautiful. I read them when I got back yesterday. They are so beautiful and warm and touching, Natalie.
Natalie: Casey loves you.
Dana: But he was writing these when I was doing... (waves her arm in a small circular motion)
Natalie: You didn't know. He didn't know.
Dana: But I know now. (starts to cry again)
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We're back in Casey and Dan's office. Casey is sitting in his chair, looking distraught. Dan is sitting on the corner of Casey's desk, comforting him.
Casey's phone rings and Dan picks it up.
Dan: Hello? (listens) Yeah, this is Casey McCall's desk. (listens) No, he's busy right now. Can I- may I take a message? (listens and looks startled) Oh, really. I didn't recognize you at first. I'm sorry. Let me put you on hold.
Dan pushes a button to place the caller on hold and sets the phone down.
Dan: Casey. It's Lisa. (pause) She says it's important.
Casey: Oh. Okay.
Casey picks up the receiver and pushes a button to talk to Lisa.
Casey: Yeah. (pauses) Hi Lisa. (listens) Yeah. Uh-huh. (listens) Yeah. How's Charlie? (listens) Yeah. (listens)
Casey jaw drops and has a dazed look on his expression as his face loses all of its color.
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We go through the newsroom, and it is virtually empty. We go by a clock which says the time is 2:28. We continue heading down toward Dana's office. Inside her office, we see all of the lights are off, but the blinds are open- the city lights the only thing slightly illuminating the room. We see Dana standing next to the window staring out into the city skyline.
There are three small knocks on the door, and the door slowly opens. We see a silhouette of Casey against the light of the hallway. Dana turns around and sees Casey walking in very slowly. She walks over to meet him. Casey holds out his arms and Dana puts her face into his chest. Casey wraps his arms around her and Dana begins to cry once again. Not one word is spoken between the two.
We can feel their thoughts....
...I don't believe it. I betrayed my Casey. What was I thinking? I can smell the cologne off his shirt as he wraps me with his warmth. I can hear his heart beating amidst my tears. Does he know? No. He doesn't know. He wouldn't be so forgiving, and Natalie wouldn't be so telling. His reassuring, gentle hands rub my back. I need him to hold me for just this one moment. Hold me, Casey. Hold me. For just this one moment, make everything all right....
....I sang. I sang a song on the air. I just need to hold Dana. I need to feel her body against mine. I need her to forgive me for being a fool. I messed up her show tonight. And I messed up my life. Her hair feels so soft. This was my plan. My goal was to be holding her at the end of the night. I reached my goal, but I didn't achieve it the way I wanted it. It didn't go as planned. Let me hold you, Dana. Let me hold you. For just this one moment, make everything all right....
