----- WEDNESDAY, 2 P.M. Dan is sitting on the couch and reviewing what he had just written. The Avalanche open up the second-half of the season on top of the Western Conference... Casey walks in and he doesn't look like he is in a good mood. Casey: You would think somebody would fix the vending machine to where it would take dollars. Dan: It's broken? Casey: Again. A frustrated Casey sits down and lets out a sigh. Something's up. Dan: You wanna' talk about it? Casey: It's just the stupid vending machine... and everything else. Dan: I've noticed- you've been sulking all day. Casey: Ever have one of those days, actually one of those weeks, where everything seems to be spinning out of control? Dan: Yeah. But it's usually five minutes before the show and something doesn't go right: camera's not working, we lose a satellite feed, the script is in the wrong order, stuff like that. But we pull together and make it work. Casey: And you, trying to help me with my personal life. Jeremy walks into the office. Here we go again. Dan: You know I regret what happened. Casey: A computer personal ad under the wrong category doesn't help. Dan: It was an understandable mistake. Jeremy, tell Casey it was an understandable mistake. Don't take it out on me, Casey. Jeremy: I can't help you there, Dan. Dan: So, I thought the "women seeking men" section was the section where men, who happen to be seeking women, would place their ads. Jeremy: You failed to recognize the importance of the hyphen. Casey: Yes! The hyphen! There was no hyphen. There's a big difference between "women seeking men" and "women hyphen seeking men." Back to proper English grammar. Dan: I said it was an accident. Casey: I received fifteen e-mails from men wanting to go out on a date! Fifteen? Ha! Wait, don't laugh, Danny. Don't laugh. Jeremy: Fifteen? Casey: Yes, fifteen men found my personal ad attractive enough to ask me out. Dan: But that's the wrong section. Casey: I still received fifteen e-mails. Jeremy: I'm surprised. Casey: What? Only fifteen men in the tri-state area find me attractive? What the hell is Casey doing? Jeremy: Yes. Dan: You're going to argue this, Casey? Casey: Yes! I'm darn attractive. Got to make him realize he's making an ass of himself. Dan: So you're saying more gay men should be sending you e-mails? Casey: Well... well, yes. Jeremy: But you're not gay. Dan: It's the irresistibility of something impossible which should draw them toward Casey. Casey shrugs his shoulders while looking at Jeremy and Dan. Dan: You've fallen off the loony bin. Jeremy: Let me say, Casey- if I were gay, and I'm not- Dan: You're not remotely gay. Casey: I couldn't picture you being gay. Dan: Or trying to act gay. Jeremy: -I would find you attractive Casey. And I'm not gay. The three look out the door, and notice Isaac standing there. Isaac: Is this a bad time? Because I can leave and try to erase the last thirty seconds from my memory banks. Casey: No, no Isaac. We were just having a discussion. Dan: Casey was pointing out he should be more attractive to gay men. Jeremy: And that I would find Casey attractive... if I were gay. Isaac: This is what you are discussing? Dan, don't you have a photo shoot you should be attending? The photo shoot? Dan looks at his watch. The photo shoot! Dan: Oh! I'm late! Jeremy: Which is why I came in here in the first place. Isaac: But you got sidetracked into talking about Casey and his problems? Jeremy: Yes. Dan gets up and sprints from the office. He runs through the newsroom and to the elevator. He quickly pushes the button several times, hoping the elevator doors open soon. ----- FRIDAY, 6:15 P.M. Dan and Natalie are standing inside the atrium of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Natalie is wearing a long burgundy dress, while Dan is wearing a sports jacket with a tie. Hundreds of people are gathered with them inside the room. Natalie: This is great. Dan: Thanks for coming on such short notice. This is such a great exhibit. Natalie: Thanks for thinking of inviting me. I know you really wanted to attend this with Jo. Dan: It's all right. They're still doing the computer hook-up thingy, and she had to stay late. We'll make it up later. Natalie will do when Jo isn't available. Natalie: I think I'm going to need a program for this. Dan: Sure, Natalie. Dan points to his left. Where is it? There it is. Dan: If you look over there, a gentleman is selling programs. I think they are about two dollars. Here, let me get it for you. Dan reaches into his pocket. Natalie: No, no. I've got a couple of bucks in my purse. I've got it. Oh, okay. Dan: It looks like they are going to be getting people in line soon. How about this? You go get your program, and I'll go stand in line over there. Natalie: Great. I'll be right back. Natalie walks through the crowd and toward the gentlemen selling the programs, while Dan moves to his right and gets line. Take a deep breath, Daniel. This is vibrant. This is life. This is New York. As the line begins to form, Dan stands quietly as the people around him carry on their own conversations. Suddenly, a hand reaches up and taps Dan on the shoulder from behind. Dan turns around and discovers it is a woman. Woman: Excuse me, sir. But would you happen to be Dan Rydell of "Sports Night"? Dan: Yes, I am. Hey, a fan. Woman: Oh, wow. Can you believe this? I'm standing next to Dan Rydell. Dan: I can sign an autograph if you like. A very beautiful fan, on top of that. Woman: Oh, I would love to have one. Would you sign my program? The woman hands Dan her program. Dan reaches inside his sports jacket and pulls out a pen. Dan: Who would you like to make it out to? Woman: Oh, me. Wait... you want my name. It's Jaime. Dan starts to sign the program. Jaime, enjoy the arts of New York... Jaime: Oh, how rude of me. This is my friend, Danielle. ...Dan Rydell Dan: Good to meet you, Jaime and Danielle. Two beautiful fans. Danielle: Do you come to these events often? Dan: Sure, all the time. I own a season pass here. They have some enlightening exhibits here at the Met. Dan hands the program back over to Jaime. Jaime: This is our first time here. We live up in Boston. Dan: So, this is a part of your experience? Jaime: Definitely. We're here for three days. Earlier, we checked out Grand Central Terminal. Dan: They did a beautiful job restoring it. Danielle: It was gorgeous. Jaime: Did you come to this event alone? Is she hitting on me? Dan: Me? No. I came with a friend. She's the senior associate producer of my show. Jaime: That's great. Be a gentleman. Dan: She's getting a program right now as we speak. Say, you wouldn't mind joining us for the exhibit? Danielle: Would we? Jaime: We would love to. Natalie comes back over with her program in hand. Natalie: I'm back. I see you've made some new friends. Dan: Sure. This is Danielle. Natalie: Good to meet you. Natalie and Danielle shake hands. Danielle: It's a pleasure. Dan: And this is Jaime. Natalie and Jaime shake hands. Natalie: Jaime, good to meet you. Jaime: My pleasure to meet you. Dan: They're from Boston and here for the first time. Natalie: You two are in for a real treat. Dan: And they'll be joining us, if it's no problem. Natalie: No problem. Dan, you should be so lucky. You get to escort three beautiful women tonight. Dan: I should be so lucky. For I am Dan, doer of all things good. Select another one of the characters below to start "their story": |