----- Dan listens to the phone ringing on the other end, while Casey looks at the note and dials from his phone. Dan: (on phone) Jo, hey, it's Dan. (listens) Yeah, yeah. Do you have plans for this evening? (laughs) No, not a date. Just dinner. (listens) Okay. How about 8? (listens) Okay, 9 it is. See you later. Bye. (hangs up phone) ----- Natalie stands next to the newsroom window and watches the rain pour down against the glass. Jeremy walks up from behind and places his hands on her shoulders. Jeremy: I'm sorry, Natalie. Natalie: Fine. Jeremy: I'm just not ready for us to move in together. Natalie: We practically live together as is. Jeremy: That's a big commitment. Natalie: One that I'm willing to take and you are not. Jeremy: This doesn't mean I love you any less. Natalie: I'm fine. Jeremy: You're hurt. Natalie: I'm fine. Jeremy gently turns Natalie around and they face each other. Jeremy: I love you, Natalie. I want us to take our time. I really want this relationship to work. Man, I really do. A small smile appears on Natalie's face. Jeremy: I just feel that having the option of living with you or not dating you at all is very unfair. It hurts me because you want me to make a decision in which the choices would not make me happy, thus not making us happy. Natalie's smile disappears. Natalie: You chose. Jeremy: I didn't choose to break up with you. I chose not to move in with you. There is a huge difference. Natalie: I gave you a choice, and you made it. You didn't even hesitate. Jeremy: I was scared. Natalie: You need to overcome your fears. Jeremy: No. Natalie: Yes. Natalie turns away. Jeremy: Natalie. Natalie look at me. Natalie doesn't budge. Jeremy: Look at me, dammit! Everyone in the newsroom stops for a moment, looking at Jeremy, reacting to his raised and angered tone. Natalie looks at Jeremy. Jeremy: I don't know what it is going to take, Natalie. I can't move in with you right now. I want this to work. I want us to work. No, I cannot make a commitment like this to you right now. But what I can promise you, I can promise you this. I will treat you better and love you more than any other man on this planet. I will do this because I want to do this. I am a man and I will make mistakes, Natalie. I can't promise you I will be perfect, because there will be times when I will hurt you. But my heart will always be with you because I love you, Natalie. I love you, I love you. That's my commitment to you. My enduring and everlasting love is my commitment to you, Natalie. Tears start to form in her eyes. Natalie: Thank you. Jeremy: You're welcome. The two hold each other in a tight embrace as Natalie's tears run down her face and onto Jeremy's shirt. ----- Dan and JoAnne come through a revolving glass door and enter the lobby of their building. Each of them are wearing jackets and closing a dripping umbrella. Dan: Thanks again, Jo. JoAnne: A girl's gotta' eat. Dan: You know what I mean. JoAnne: What do you mean? Dan hesitates for a moment. Dan: Being there and everything. JoAnne: Being a substitute girlfriend. Dan: (defensive) No. JoAnne: It's okay. JoAnne flashes her trademark smile and skips ahead of Dan and past concierge desk. Dan: Wait up. Dan hurries to catch up to JoAnne. JoAnne: You better hurry. Dan: I know. It's hard to keep up with you. JoAnne: No. The time. Dan: What time is it? JoAnne: It's almost time for your meeting. Dan looks down at his watch. Dan: Oh, man. It's almost time. JoAnne: That's what I said. Dan: I better hurry. The two continue to make their way toward the elevator. They wait in the back of about a dozen people, also waiting for the elevator to the top half of the building. Dan looks over the crowd. Dan: A lot of people are working on election night. JoAnne: Including us. Dan: But you're done for the night. JoAnne: I may have had other plans for tonight. Dan looks hurt. Dan: What? JoAnne: Dan. JoAnne lets out a laugh and teasingly slaps Dan's biceps. Dan: Thank you. JoAnne: For what? Dan: Being you. Dan initiates a quick hug with JoAnne. They break their hug, but Dan's hands remain around her waist. They hug again, this time they embrace longer. The elevator doors open and people start to get in. Dan: This is good. JoAnne: Yes, it is. Dan: Have you ever thought if the opportunity ever existed- Rebecca: Daniel. The color drains from Dan's face as he slowly spins around and notices Rebecca standing right behind him. JoAnne, Dan, and Rebecca stand outside of the elevator door as a 'ding' is heard from inside the elevator. Dan: Hi. Rebecca: I thought I'd come by and surprise you. Dan: Surprise. Rebecca: I bet you are. Dan: Listen- Rebecca: I know how it is. I bet you've been doing this to me while I've been busting my ass eighty hours a week for the last month. I was coming by to see you and to see if there were any opportunities available at CSC. I guess there won't be an opportunity for us to work together. Dan: I haven't... Rebecca: I'm glad this happened. Dan: ...been seeing someone else. What?! Rebecca: Nothing. I thought you loved and trusted me. Dan: I do! JoAnne: He isn't cheating on you. Rebecca: Shut up. JoAnne: All he talks about is you! He talks about how he is calling you all the time, how he wishes he could be with you, and how other people suggest he should break up with you. He really does love you. Rebecca: Which people? ----- A number of people are seated at the conference room table. Around the table are Dana, Natalie, an empty seat for Dan, Casey, Jeremy, Kim, Elliott, Chris, Will, Dave, and another empty chair for Isaac. Everyone present start to take their seats. Dana: Where's Isaac and Dan? Casey: Dan's probably still at dinner. Isaac walks in. Natalie: Your premonition came true. Dana: Which one? Natalie: The one about Jeremy. Jeremy: What premonition? Dana: I have my own tarot cards, Jeremy. (Dana points to her head) Isaac: Is he still acting like a jackass? Dana and Natalie turn and look at Isaac in disbelief. Jeremy: (defensive) No. Natalie: How did?! How did you know- Dana places her hand on Natalie's arm to interrupt her. Dana: How did you know that Isaac? Isaac takes a seat. Isaac: It's common knowledge. Natalie: No, it's not. Dana: I had a dream you thought Jeremy was acting like a jackass. Isaac: Is he? Natalie: He was. Isaac: See? Jeremy: (defensive) Hey. ----- Back to the lobby with JoAnne, Dan, and Rebecca. JoAnne is standing off to the side, away from Dan and Rebecca. Rebecca: I can't believe you are that selfish. Dan: Me? How about you?! JoAnne: I think I better leave. Rebecca: Fine. Dan: Fine. JoAnne: I'll talk to you later, Dan. JoAnne presses the elevator button. Rebecca: I bet you will. JoAnne ignores Rebecca's comment. ----- The ten o'clock run down continues. Dana: Okay, I'm ready to start a search party. Casey: He said they were going to Tony Anthony's. Dana: Good. Since you seem to have the most clues, Sherlock. Follow his trail. Casey gets up to leave. Dana: I want him back dead or alive. Casey: Yes, ma'am. Casey leaves the conference room. Dana: Okay, Jeremy. Talk to me about the Coyotes and Kings. Jeremy: Coyotes have the unbeaten streak coming into tonight. Hopefully, they can finish in time before the end of the broadcast. Dana: Or we'll get it definitely on the West Coast Update. Natalie: We? Dana: Sally and the crew will probably, hopefully, be rolling in around 1. The weather is adding more delay. Everyone in the room lets out a collective groan. Dana: I know, I know. But we do what we have to do. We'll follow Phoenix-L.A. with highlights from the Rangers and Islanders. Elliott: I thought they weren't playing each other tonight? Kim: They're playing separate games, but both of them are home tonight. ----- The elevator doors open to the lobby and Casey steps out. Casey looks surprised to see Dan and Rebecca fighting. Rebecca: You need to be in counseling! Dan: Oh, yeah. You too! Casey: Whoa, whoa. What's going on here? "Shut up!" Casey: Don't yell at me, I just got here. Dan, you need to be at the run down. Dan: Later. Casey: Dana said 'right now.' ----- Back in the conference room, Dana is looking down at her watch. Dana: Okay, it's been fifteen minutes. I can't wait any longer. Isaac: Let's wrap this up. Dana: Okay. Natalie, go hunt those two down. Everyone starts to get up from the table. Natalie: Sure. Natalie gets up to leave. SELECTION NUMBER TWO: Does Dana: |