Disclaimer

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It's the next day, and Natalie is in the editing room. Jeremy walks in.

Jeremy: Can we talk for a minute?

Natalie: No.

Jeremy: Tough.

Natalie turns and looks at Jeremy in disbelief. Jeremy, scared by his sudden assertiveness, backs off a little.

Jeremy: Natalie, don't say anything. Just listen to me, please.

Natalie: Okay.

Jeremy: I don't want to go into a long drawn out speech.

Natalie: No problem.

Sweat starts to form on Jeremy's head to go along with his sweaty palms.

Jeremy: I'd rather just keep this short.

Natalie: Too late.

Jeremy wipes his hands off on his slacks.

Jeremy: I agree.

Natalie: So, make it quick!

Jeremy: No. I mean I agree.

Natalie: You just said that.

Jeremy takes a deep breath.

Jeremy: I mean I agree; I think we should move in together.

Natalie looks shocked for a moment. A small smile comes across her face.

Natalie: Really?

Jeremy walks over and wraps his arm around Natalie's shoulders.

Jeremy: Yes. Yes, I do.

Natalie reaches up and holds his hand.

Natalie: That's sweet, really it is. But I'm sorry, I can't.

Jeremy: Come again?

Jeremy withdraws his arm from Natalie's grasp. Natalie turns to face Jeremy. She reaches out with both of her hands and grab onto his hands.

Natalie: Well, see, I was thinking, and you know how you said, that we already spend most of our time together anyway. Why ruin something that's going so good?

Jeremy: I said that?

Natalie: Jeremy- why rush things?

Jeremy pulls away his hands.

Jeremy: We've been going out for three years!

Natalie: Two.

Jeremy: It seems like three years.

Natalie: Tell me about it.

Jeremy: Natalie-

Natalie: Jeremy, do you think you would have agreed to move in with me, if you hadn't talked to Isaac?

Jeremy: Number one, we'd move in to my apartment, not yours... number two, I think not. (pause) And number three, Isaac talked with you?

Natalie: Okay, number one, it would so be my apartment. Number two, I thought so, and that's why I don't think we're ready. Number three, I went to Isaac.

Jeremy: My apartment's bigger!

Natalie: You're apartment's a hole!

Jeremy: It is not!

Natalie: Jeremy, your landlord is a woman named Large Marge. Come on.

Jeremy: She's a big woman! You can't hold that against her.

Natalie: I can hold her prison record against her.

Jeremy: Understandable, but-

Natalie jumps up and gives Jeremy a kiss on the cheek.

Natalie: Jeremy, we got to get back to work.

Jeremy lets out a smile.

Jeremy: Okay.

-----

Dan is walking through the newsroom. He goes to Jeremy's desk and sits down. He picks up the phone and dials. He hangs up. He picks up the phone again, and he hangs it up again. He folds his hands and places them on top of his chin and mouth. He thinks for a moment. He picks up the phone and dials once again. He listens and waits for an answer.

Dan's eyes flicker for a moment, but quickly turn to disappointment. He listens for a few more seconds.

Dan: (into the phone) Hey, it's me. I was hoping to catch you, but I guess you're out of the office again. I guess you can't turn me down for dinner tonight, huh?

Dan scrunches his face, realizing the mistake he has just said.

Dan: (into the phone) Sorry. I'm sorry. I just miss you. I'll talk to you later. I love you.

Dan hangs up the phone, and he thinks for a few more seconds. He turns around to see if Casey is in his office, but the office is empty. Dan picks up the phone and dials.

Dan: (into the phone) Hi. It's me. (listens) Oh, nothing much. (listens) How about dinner, tonight? (listens) I've never been there before. (listens) Sure, I'll try it. What time? (listens) Great. I'll meet you downstairs then. Talk to you later, Jo. Bye.

Dan hangs up the phone.

-----

Dana walks into Dan and Casey's office. She sits down on their couch. Casey and Dana are the only ones in the room. Casey comes over and sits next to Dana.

Dana: What's happening?

Casey: You didn't know?

Dana: Know what?

Casey: About Lisa.

Dana: You didn't say anything to me. How was I supposed to know? From Natalie?

Casey: From Natalie, yes. I thought she would have let it leak out.

Dana: She's good at keeping important secrets.

Casey: I guess so.

Dana: What's going on with Lisa?

Casey: She... (stands up and puts his hands in his pockets) She wants to get back together again.

Dana: Oh. (looks shocked) Oh.

Casey: She thought the song I sang was for her.

Dana: Was it?

Casey pauses for a long moment.

Casey: No.

Dana: Did you tell her it wasn't?

Casey: No. (lowers his head)

Dana stands up and walks over to Dan's desk. She looks down and shifts some papers on his desk.

Dana: Are you going to do it?

Casey: I don't know.

Dana: It's important because... you know... Charlie. You wouldn't want to lead him on.

Casey: Yeah. I don't want to lead him on.

Dana: It would be horrible if you two were believed to be separated, and then decided to get back together again. It would hurt him.

Casey: You mean the opposite.

Dana: Huh?

Casey: If Lisa and I were to get back together, it wouldn't hurt Charlie. He would be happy to have his parents together.

Dana: Yeah, that's what I meant.

Tears start to form in her eyes.

Casey: Dana.

Dana: You know, I think it would be good for the two of you to give it another shot. (laughs) It would be just like the old days.

Casey: I didn't say 'yes.' I'm just considering it.

Dana: You really should give it another shot. It would make Lisa and Charlie happy. Charlie would be happy. (wipes her eyes)

Dana maneuvers around Dan's desk and attempts to leave. Casey stands between Dana and the door.

Casey: Dana. The song wasn't meant for Lisa.

Dana: I know. I'm leaving.

Casey grabs onto Dana's shoulders.

Casey: It was meant for you.

Dana laughs.

Dana: (sarcastic) The song was meant for me?

Casey: Yes.

Casey then takes Dana's face into his hands. He looks deeply into her eyes. Heart beats begin to race. Casey moves his face closer to Dana's, aligning his lips with hers. He closes his eyes and moves forward.

The two kiss. They share a passionate, dreamy kiss. When they break, both of them are left breathless.

Dana: Casey. No.

Casey: Dana.

Dana: Casey.

Casey: Dana, let it happen.

Dana: I'm weak.

Casey: I want you. I've always wanted you.

Casey holds Dana close to his chest.

Casey: I've consider it. I've made my decision.

Dana: Casey.

Casey: I'm not going back to Lisa. It would bring back too many bad memories.

Dana: Listen-

Casey: I'm going to tell her the song was meant for someone else.

Casey rubs Dana's back.

Casey: The song was meant for someone so beautiful, so smart, and so loving. She makes me a better person because I will do just about anything to let her know I love her. I love you. You make me a better man.

A smile comes across Dana's face. She gazes up into Casey's eyes.

Dana: Casey, I love you, too.

Casey: Let me take care of you.

Dana: Oh... okay.

Dana pulls away from Casey and wipes the tears from her eyes.

Dana: I've got a ratings meeting to attend. With Isaac. He wanted me to tag along.

Casey: Good.

Dana: I'll see you later.

Casey: See you later.

Dana twirls her hair in her fingers and leaves the room, turning around and watching Casey watch her every move.

-----

The ratings meeting is going on in the executive conference room. It is a large room with a window at the end, which overlooks the city. A number of executives are seated at the table, while Dana and Isaac sit side-by-side also at the table. The only executive talking is a shadowy figure standing in the corner-obscured by the absence of light.

"The ratings are not impressive."

Two small booklets are tossed on the table toward Dana and Isaac.

"A thirteen percent drop in ratings since March. A ten percent drop since the Sydney Games."

Dana: I thought we were doing well.

"The numbers don't lie."

Dana starts flipping through the pages in the booklet.

Dana: I saw other numbers. We were doing well. We were improving.

"You have been failing."

Dana: No. No. Isaac? What's going on?

Dana turns to Isaac, but he just sits there quietly.

"There's going to be changes taking place immediately."

Dana: What? What's going on?

"Isaac, you're out."

Dana: No!

"Do you wish to follow him, Ms. Whitaker?"

Dana shakes her head.

Dana: No, no. I can't believe this.

"Believe it."

Dana: I can't do it without Isaac.

"And how are we going to handle your pregnancy?"

Dana: What? How did-

"Never mind. You work best with Isaac, right?"

Dana: Ye.. yes.

"Fine. You're out, too."

Dana sits looking stunned. Tears start to run down her face.

"You two can collect your things and leave immediately."

Dana throws her head on top of her arms and starts crying aloud.

Dana: No, no, no, no.

Isaac stands up.

Isaac: I bid you a good afternoon, gentlemen. And I hope you all burn in hell.

The fire alarm suddenly goes off and Isaac turns and leaves the room.

Dana: No, no, no, no. (throws her body up in the air) No!

-----

Dana: No!

Dana sits up in her bed, her body covered in sweat as her alarm clock goes off. She realizes it was all just a nightmare.

Dana: God, it was all a dream.

Dana feels her head, checking for the bump she previously received from being hit with the door. When she can't find or feel the bruise, she breathes a sigh of relief.

Dana: I guess the past two days were a dream.