Disclaimer

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Isaac is walking through the newsroom when he looks through the window into the conference room. He notices somebody sitting alone in there. Out of concern, Isaac goes into the conference room.

Isaac: Jeremy? Is everything all right?

Jeremy is seated at the head of the conference room table.

Jeremy: No, Isaac. Everything is not all right.

Isaac: What is the matter?

Jeremy: Earlier today, the rescue team climbing Mt. Everest found Eric Rasmussen and the five other members of his team. At some point during Rasmussen's descent, they fell into a hundred-foot crevice. None of them survived. The rescue team was able to recover the bodies and they brought them back to the base camp.

Isaac: I'm terribly sorry, Jeremy.

Jeremy: It's strange isn't it? Man strives to achieve what very few have reached before. Go farther, go faster, go higher than anybody has ever done. You know they spent three years training for this climb? The chance to climb the beast known as Everest and to stand on top and look into the heavens, and maybe even touch the hand of God. They made it to the summit, Isaac. They made it to the top. Yet, God decided to take them- prohibit them from telling others what they saw and what they felt. Instead, God sent everyone a message that there are times when man cannot achieve his dreams. There are things that we are not able to do. There are things we cannot share with fellow man.

Isaac: It's not going to keep us from trying, Jeremy. We all want to do something that has not been done before.

Jeremy: It just makes me ponder the meaning of life. Why are we here? What are we supposed to do? Do we take control of our lives, or has our destinies already been determined?

Isaac: The meaning of life. Jeremy, that is something I think everyone has wondered about at some point in their lives.

Jeremy: I guess my time is now.

Isaac: Jeremy? If you like, I could get Kim to delegate some of your workload for toady. Don't spend too much time thinking about life today, Jeremy. I can ease your burden, but I do need you to do some work.

Jeremy: Thank you, Isaac. I appreciate that. I'll get my work done.

Isaac: Okay. I'll leave you alone in here. Take it easy, Jeremy.

Jeremy: Thanks, Isaac.

Isaac leaves the conference room as Jeremy leans back in his chair and looks up at the ceiling.

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Dan and Casey are walking side-by-side on a soccer field. Casey is in a t-shirt and blue jeans while Dan is in proper soccer attire: spiked shoes, shin guards, shorts, and a bright yellow jersey. A crowd of a few hundred people have gathered, and as they walk across the field, a chorus of boos can be heard.

Casey: Are you ready?

Dan: I didn't know people were going to be here to watch.

Casey: Don't be nervous.

Dan: My coach told me-

Casey: You have a soccer coach?

Dan: He coached me for an hour earlier this morning. He told me that he had never seen anybody with my soccer ability.

Casey: He was trying to build up your confidence.

Dan: He told me I sucked. He kept kicking the balls into the net. I managed to stop 3 shots.

Casey: That's good.

Dan: Out of 100.

Casey: Okay. That's not so good.

Dan: Yeah.

Casey: At least you have some fan support.

Dan: Where?

Casey: Well, Jo came with you, didn't she?

Dan: Yeah. She's over there standing next to Natalie. She's the one holding the pennant which says 'New York Power.'

Casey: Okay, maybe not.

Dan: You support me, don't you?

Casey: Yes, I do support you.

Dan: But you think I don't have a chance.

Casey: If I were a betting man, my money would be on Trish McCullough.

Natalie comes running over.

Natalie: Ready to have your butt kicked by a girl?

Dan: Bring it on, Natalie. I'm ready for this. Did you bring plenty of tissues? Because you are going to be crying by the end of the competition.

Casey: Yeah. Dan's coach said he had never seen anybody with Dan's ability. Dan was even stopping shots.

Natalie: Casey? Are you on Dan's side?

Casey: Yes, I am supporting Dan.

Natalie turns around and faces the crowd.

Natalie: Everyone boo Casey! He's rooting for Dan!

A loud roar of boos come from the crowd.

Dan: It's just you and me, Casey.

Casey: Uh, Dan? You're the one with the yellow jersey. You're the one standing in the goalie box.

Dan: You're right. But your support is right there with me, and we shall win this competition.

Casey: Okay.

Dan, Casey, and Natalie meet Trish McCullough and a referee next to the goal.

Referee: Good day, everybody. Dan Rydell, Trish McCullough. Trish, Dan.

Dan and Trish shake hands.

Trish McCullough: Good to meet you Dan.

Dan: Same here.

Referee: Here are the rules. Trish is going to get to take five penalty shots. The ball will be placed twelve yards away from the goal. Dan? You cannot cross this line until the ball has been touched. The competition is over when Trish makes five consecutive goals, Dan stops one shot, or Trish completely misses a shot. Any questions?

Dan: Are there any do-overs?

Referee: No do-overs. Are both of you warmed up?

Trish McCullough: I'm ready.

Dan quickly jogs in place.

Dan: Ready.

Referee: Okay. Players take your positions, and on my whistle.

Casey stands off to the side to watch Dan. Trish spots herself a few feet away from the ball. Natalie runs back into the crowd and stands next to JoAnne.

The referee blows the whistle.

"THUMP!" Trish kicks the ball.

"thock" The ball hits the back of the net.

"YYYAAAAAYYY!!!" The crowd goes wild.

The referee grabs the ball and places it at its spot.

Dan turns to Casey.

Dan: What happened there?

Casey: You just stood there.

Dan: Oh.

Casey: Bend your knees and move your feet.

Dan: Okay.

The referee blows the whistle.

"THUMP!"

Dan goes to his left.

"thock" The ball hits the net to his right.

"YYYAAAAAYYY!!!"

The referee grabs the ball and places it at its spot.

Dan: Wrong side.

Casey: It's okay. She's got three more shots.

The referee blows the whistle.

"THUMP!"

Dan goes to his right.

"thock" The ball goes past his hand and into the net.

"YYYAAAAAYYY!!!"

The referee grabs the ball and places it at its spot.

Casey: Okay, Danny. You almost had that one. She's getting tired. I can see it.

Dan looks over at Casey.

Dan: I'm getting tired.

Casey: Dive for it. She keeps kicking them low.

Dan: Okay.

The referee blows the whistle.

"THUMP!"

Dan dives to his right.

"thock" The ball goes past him as he hits the ground hard.

"YYYAAAAAYYY!!!"

The referee grabs the ball and places it at its spot.

Dan lies stretched out on the grass. Casey and the referee walk over to see Dan.

Casey: Are you all right?

Dan: gasp

Casey: Danny?

Dan: gasp I can't breathe. gasp

Referee: Do you wish to forfeit?

Dan: I think... gasp I think I punctured a lung. gasp I think I punctured both of them.

Casey: Are you okay?

Dan: Do I look okay? gasp

Natalie and JoAnne are standing next to each other.

Natalie: Do you think he is all right?

JoAnne: He'll be fine.

Natalie: He's just lying there and not moving. Wait. He's in the fetal position now.

JoAnne: Man, he is such a wuss.

Natalie: Yeah, he can't stand getting beat by a girl, so he is going to chicken out with some lame injury.

JoAnne: Wuss, wuss, wuss, wuss, wuss.

Dan rolls over on the grass.

Referee: He just has the wind knocked out of him.

Dan: Casey? Ca-sey?

Casey: You're not dying. I'm right here.

Dan: You have to carry on for me.

Casey: What?

Dan: I'm... I'm in no condition to take the last shot. You need to take it for me.

Casey: You can't drag me into this.

Dan: Please, Casey? Save me from eternal purgatory by taking the last shot and blocking it. Do it for me? Please, Casey? Oh please?

Referee: It's your call, Casey. If neither one of you take the shot, you forfeit.

Dan: cough Please, Casey?

Casey takes one last look at Dan.

Casey: Okay. I'll do it.

Referee: All right. I've give you a few minutes to warm up.

JoAnne starts laughing.

JoAnne: What is Casey doing?

Natalie: I think he is stretching.

JoAnne: He's going to take the last shot?

Natalie: I guess so.

JoAnne: He can't take it until Dan pulls himself off the field.

Natalie: Wait. He's rolling off the field now.

Casey looks over at Dan and his grass-covered body.

Casey: Look what you get me into.

Dan: Thank you, Casey. Good luck.

Referee: Are you ready, Casey.

Casey: I guess so. I just want to let you know that I've never had any formal training.

Referee: Did Dan?

Casey: An hour's worth.

Referee: Well, you can't do any worse.

Casey: Thanks.

Referee: Ready?

Casey: Yup.

The referee blows the whistle.

"THUMP!"

Casey dives to his right.

"SMACK!"

"OOHHH!!!" The crowd is in shock.

Casey slumps to the ground as he stops the shot... with the side of his face.