Disclaimer

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Dana, Natalie, Dan, Casey, Isaac, Jeremy, Kim, and Elliott are in the conference room for the run down meeting.

Dana: Okay, folks. First of all, I would like to announce that Natalie will be running the show next week. So, if any of you have any features for that time period, you need to speak with her.

Natalie: And there's plenty going on next week. We have the French Open in Paris. Dana? What do you think about Paris?

Dana: Moving right along- there's a breaking story that two Missouri basketball players have been dismissed from the team for rules violations.

Dan: Men's or women's?

Dana: Men's basketball team. The school isn't commenting, but the initial rumors sound serious. Elliott, do some research and see what you can come up with. If the rumors are true, we'll need to move it up to the twenties. Otherwise, we'll keep it in the forties.

Elliott: Got it.

Natalie: We need to do a feature on Beijing and their bid for the Olympics. I think we need somebody right there to gather all the breaking news.

Dana: Tonight, we're going to need to put a little life into the baseball games. Looking at the schedule, we have the Red Sox and Yankees, and the rest of the schedule looks weak.

Dan: I'm taking the American League.

Casey: And I have the National League.

Dana: Good. Also Casey, you and Kim are working on the realignment of the NFL.

Casey: I have four interviews scheduled in the next two hours.

Kim: And the feature on the history of realignment is ready.

Dana: Great. The Senior PGA Championship starts up tomorrow.

Natalie: I'm on top of it.

Dana: Good. Make sure we dot our t's and cross our i's-

Everyone looks at Dana.

Dana: You know what I mean. We have the championship coverage this week, so we need to plug it and make sure everything is in order.

Dana gives Jeremy a sympathetic look.

Dana: Jeremy, anything on Rasmussen?

Jeremy: Unfortunately, they had to call off the search due to darkness. They haven't heard anything in the last eight hours.

Dana: I'm sorry to hear that. We'll probably put the update in the thirties, right before we go to commercial.

Dana looks around the table.

Dana: Anything else?

Nobody answers.

Dana: Great. We'll see you later.

Everybody gets up to leave. Natalie grabs Dan on their way out.

Natalie: Dan, here is what I got.

Dan: You're not going to intimidate me, Natalie.

Natalie: Whatever. I got Trish McCullough to agree to do it under certain circumstances.

Dan: Which are?

Natalie: If she makes five-for-five, during the broadcast, the WUSA gets a feature each night on one team.

Dan: That will cover a week.

Natalie: And a half. There are eight teams. Eight features.

Dan: Okay.

Natalie: And highlights from every game.

Dan: Wait a second. Are they trying to dictate that they deserve more air-time?

Natalie: It's sports.

Dan: Barely. What else do I get if I win?

Natalie: I don't know. I never even considered it.

Dan: Natalie, we're putting ourselves on the line here. I need a little more incentive than not having to do soccer highlights again.

Natalie: I'll admit to everybody that you are the most athletic, god-like, studly man on the planet.

Dan: What about Jeremy?

Natalie: What about him?

Dan: Wouldn't he be jealous?

Natalie: Why should he?

Dan: Because you're dating him.

Natalie: I'm not dating Jeremy.

Dan stops walking as Natalie continues. Natalie stops and Dan catches up to her.

Dan: You're not dating Jeremy?

Natalie: Don't rub it in.

The two continue walking.

Dan: I'm not.

Natalie: Okay.

Dan: Why?

Natalie: The timing isn't right, he says.

Dan: But you were dating before. You two were engaged.

Natalie: I am well aware of that.

Dan: Are you all right?

Natalie: Yeah.

Dan: Are you sure?

Natalie: Yeah. You know, my mom has been talking about me working for FOX Sports Ohio.

Dan: Did you get an offer?

Natalie: No. I was just thinking it would be nice to be near home again. It would only be a few hours drive away.

Dan: You can fly there in a few hours from here.

Natalie: I know.

Dan: You're not thinking of leaving, are you?

Natalie: I don't know. It's nice to dream, sometimes. My father used to do a lot of work in the community, and I admired that. I still do. I sometimes wish I could go back and carry it on- make it a tradition.

Dan: You can always do community work here.

Natalie: Then it wouldn't be a tradition.

Dan: It would be a tradition in your family.

Natalie: It wouldn't be a tradition in the community.

Dan: I don't think it matters which community you do the work in.

Natalie: Oh, I forgot to tell you. I'm arranging the competition at the practice facilities for the Power.

Dan: Okay.

Natalie: This is going to be great. You're going down.

Dan stops walking as Natalie speeds ahead.

Dan: Yeah.

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Isaac and Donna are in an executive suite.

Donna: I'm not going to put money into the pockets of drug dealers.

Isaac: I know you are not.

Donna: He didn't seek treatment during his suspension, and he made a deal to receive probation. I don't need that with this network.

Isaac: I understand where you are coming from.

Donna: Yet, you want to keep Marcus.

Isaac: I have a difficult time grasping his opinion. He tries to justify his use, but I can't see his side in the argument.

A buzz goes across the intercom. Donna reaches across and pages her secretary.

Secretary: (over intercom) A Marcus Young is here to see you, Miss Kendrick.

Donna: Yes, Dolores. Please send him in.

The door opens, and Marcus walks in.

Marcus: Good afternoon, Miss Kendrick. Afternoon, Mr. Jaffee.

Donna: Good day, Marcus. Come and have a seat.

Marcus sits in a chair next to Isaac.

Donna: Marcus, it is unfortunate that our first meeting together has to be over this.

Marcus: It's unfortunate, indeed.

Donna: Of course, we are all concerned about your health and well-being, and we are happy to see that the judge saw that you were not a danger to society and decided to give you only probation.

Marcus: Yeah. I have to go back to Philadelphia once a week.

Donna: Okay. I just wanted to see what you have learned from this ordeal.

Marcus: Well, Miss Kendrick-

Donna: Please, you may call me Donna.

Marcus: Okay. Donna, I've learned that doing drugs is an illegal act, and that no matter what one's beliefs in limited drug use is, the law must be upheld.

Donna: Good. So, you've learned a valuable lesson?

Marcus: Yes.

Donna: And you won't be doing drugs any longer?

Marcus sits quietly.

Donna: Marcus? You won't be doing drugs any longer?

Marcus: I can't honestly say that, Donna. There may come a day when the temptation is too great. A day when someone isn't there to support me. I can't promise you I will ever do drugs again.

Donna: Could you please tell me why you never admitted yourself into a drug-treatment program?

Marcus: I was hoping to join an out-patient program, but our insurance doesn't cover it.

Donna: Oh. Well, I'm sure we can make arrangements.

Marcus: I also want to apologize to you Mr. Jaffee. I know I disappointed you because you had such high expectations for me. Donna, I want to apologize to you and the network because this isn't the type of image you want portrayed for the Continental Sports Channel.

Isaac: Marcus, we want you to be healthy.

Marcus: Thank you.

Donna: Okay, Marcus. You may serve out your suspension, then you will be reinstated as long as you are in the out-patient program and keep in good standing with the courts.

Marcus: All right. Thank you. Thank you, very much.

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Jeremy is sitting in the newsroom and watching the television. Dan comes up and sits next to him.

Dan: How's it going, Jeremy?

Jeremy: Rangers are up 4 to 2 in the fourth, and the Red Sox and Yankees are scoreless in the fifth.

Dan: Thanks. Have you heard anything-

Jeremy: About Rasmussen?

Dan: Yeah.

Jeremy: No.

Dan: Sorry.

Jeremy: Tonight's piece is ready. I can't worry about it any longer tonight.

Dan: But...

Jeremy: But I feel ashamed because I am being selfish. Here I am disappointed because I might not have a great story, when there is a team of six climbers trapped on top of a mountain, and there only hope for survival lies in a group only 800 feet below.

Dan: It's okay, Jeremy.

Jeremy: Yeah. (pause) You know Natalie is thinking of moving back to Ohio.

Dan: I heard.

Jeremy: So much for timing.

Dan: Yeah, what's up with that?

Jeremy: With what?

Dan: You and Natalie. You're not dating her because the timing isn't right?

Jeremy: Dan, you don't understand. Natalie and I have had relations since our breakup, and... let's just say it feels different.

Dan: The sex?

Jeremy: The relationship.

Dan: Oh, because if you were talking about the sex-

Jeremy: Yeah, yeah, Dan. I'm being serious here.

Dan: What is it?

Jeremy: It's one of those feelings that you are together for the sake of being together, but you feel like she can do better and that you can do better.

Dan: You and Natalie?

Jeremy: Yeah.

Dan: Do you really think you can do better?

Jeremy: You see, Natalie and some of her friends went out one night. Natalie met a gentleman. An Englishman in town to visit. They talked about sports and science fiction. He bought her drinks and they danced a little bit. He even kissed her hand when they went their separate ways.

Dan: So, she met somebody and made a friend. The last I checked, there wasn't a crime in that.

Jeremy: No, it was what I saw. There is a sparkle in her eye when she talks about him. Her voice picks up a notch. There is something there. Something that I haven't been able to supply for a long time.

Dan: Love?

Jeremy: I don't know. Hope. Fun. Something different. I just don't know, but it was there.

Dan: Maybe you're just trying too hard.

Jeremy: It's difficult working here and trying to figure things out at the same time.

Dan: So, that's why Natalie is thinking of leaving?

Jeremy: And probably why I was hoping to be let go.

Dan: What?

Jeremy: When Isaac told me I was staying at CSC, I was relieved, yet a part of me felt disappointed.

Dan: Because of you and Natalie.

Jeremy: Because of me and Natalie.

Dan: Have you talked?

Jeremy: It's all we do nowadays. We talk about our feelings. It's like we make certain not to hurt each other's feelings.

Dan: Hmmm. You got any vacation time?

Jeremy: I still have two weeks worth of time.

Dan: I may suggest taking some time off and going somewhere. Get away and relax. Go some place where you can clear your head out.

Jeremy: Yeah, I should do that.

Dan: Good.

Jeremy: But I need to make sure my work is completed.

Dan: There's sporting events happening everyday.

Jeremy looks at the television.

Jeremy: Oh, Ramirez just knocked in a run. I'll find a lull in the future, and then I'll take my vacation.

Dan: Okay.

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Sam walks into Dana's office.

Dana: Good evening, Sam.

Sam: Yeah, could you tell me what we are plugging tonight?

Dana: Good evening, Sam.

Sam: You already said that.

Dana: I know.

Sam: Look, if you want to play games, I could send somebody else in here. I've got work to do.

Dana: We're plugging Spurs-Lakers, the upcoming NHL finals, and ballet.

Sam: Cute. Which performance?

Dana: I don't know. I've always had a fondness for the hippos in 'Fantasia,' so I think we'll go with them.

Sam: All right.

Sam turns to leave.

Dana: Sam?

Sam stops and turns around. When Sam does stop, a huge smiles comes across Dana's face.

Sam: Yes, Dana?

Dana: It's nothing.

Sam: I'm leaving.

Sam takes a step out the door.

Dana: Why are you trying to destroy my career?

Sam comes back into the office.

Sam: Excuse me?

Dana: I just want to know what right you have to carefully examine my personal life like I am a frog in a biology class.

Sam: I'm not

Dana: Oh yeah? Then why go to Isaac and accuse me of seeing Casey?

Sam: I made an assumption.

Dana: And how did you come up with this assumption?

Sam: Are we going to talk about this right now?

Dana: I think we should.

Sam takes a deep breath.

Sam: You wear perfume, right?

Dana: Yeah, but-

Sam: Why?

Dana: Why do I wear perfume?

Sam: Yes.

Dana: Because I like to smell good. It makes me feel attractive.

Sam: It's animal instinct.

Dana: I beg your pardon.

Sam: It's animal instinct to be attracted to somebody who smells good.

Dana: What are you trying to say?

Sam: Animals naturally release chemicals called pheromones. The opposite sex will pick up these scents and determine if that animal is a viable mating partner. Men and women also release these chemicals, but we humans like to accentuate them by wearing something else. Women like to wear perfume, and men like to wear cologne. Why? They want to feel attractive to the opposite sex.

Dana: I'm not sure where you are going with this.

Sam taps the side of his nose.

Sam: The thousands of sensors in my nose help distinguish different scents. For instance, you like to wear two different perfumes: Eternity and Amarige.

Dana: That's correct. How did-

Sam: I just know. Does Casey where cologne?

Dana: I guess so.

Sam: He wears cologne and not perfume?

Dana: Technically speaking, there isn't a difference between either.

Sam: In a number of run down meetings, I sit next to Casey. I can distinctively pick up either Eternity or Amarige coming from him. Sure, it can be a mere coincidence, but you two seem to be wearing them on the same days.

Dana: Oh-kay.

Sam: When animals mate, their own pheromones rub off onto each other. It's kind of like marking one's territory.

Dana: Oh my god.

Sam: When I could smell perfume on Casey, I just figured you were marking you territory.

Sam smiles and walks out of the room, leaving Dana dumbfounded.