| Feet of Clay |
-----
Back in current time...
As Jeremy continues his letter to Louise, Dan approaches from behind.
Dan: Hey, Jeremy. Whatcha' doing?
Jeremy: I'm writing to Louise.
Dan: Is she back?
Jeremy: Just got back today.
Dan: That's good.
Jeremy: She wants to take a year off to find herself.
Dan: Oh. How are your parents handling that?
Jeremy: Not very well.
Dan: I know my parents wouldn't handle it well if I announced that I was taking a year off after graduation.
Jeremy: I guess that is to be expected.
Dan: Are you all right with it?
Jeremy: You know me. If the consequences don't affect me in some way, I'm pretty indifferent about it.
Dan: And it's not affecting you?
Jeremy: Well, my parents are still talking to me.
Dan: I see. To change the subject, are you coming to the surprise party after the show?
Jeremy: Of course.
Dan: I told Bobbi about the party, and she didn't seem interested.
Jeremy: Well, Bobbi and Casey aren't exactly close.
Dan: They were colleagues. They both worked together in the past. There's no animosity between the two-
Jeremy: They just worked together.
Dan: Exactly. And with that kind of relationship, you would think she would be interested in coming. It's not like she has to bring a present. She could just show up, say "hi," have some cake, and be on her way.
Isaac walks by Dan and Jeremy.
Isaac: Do either of you know why Natalie is calling places a little early tonight?
Dan: I guess because Dana told Natalie to tell everybody.
Isaac: And I suppose she told each of you.
Dan: Yeah. She grabbed me in makeup.
Jeremy saves his letter and closes his laptop.
Isaac: And you're still here.
Dan: Well... I had to go back to the office and grab my jacket.
Jeremy gets up from his chair.
Isaac: And Jeremy?
Jeremy: I'm on my way, sir.
Jeremy takes his laptop and hurries toward the control room. Isaac walks through the newsroom, following Jeremy's path. Dan starts to follow Isaac, but he sees Casey walking into the newsroom. Dan changes course and heads toward Casey.
Casey: Don't you guys have a show to do?
Dan: We've still got time.
Casey: Isn't it early-
Dan: Natalie called places.
|
Dan and Casey meet halfway and give each other a manly hug and a pat on the back. Casey asks Dan how he is doing, and Dan says he is doing as well as to be expected. Casey says he is doing good and things are progressing as planned. ----- Casey is packing up his things into a small box as Dan watches. Dan: Is that all? Casey: I guess so. Dan: I thought you had more stuff. |
The transition from "Dan and Casey" to "Dan and Mystery Anchors X, Y, and Z" has been strange. Casey comes to visit often, so it feels like he is just on vacation even though he's been gone for two months. |
Casey: Nah. Most of this stuff stays here. Just remember I am lending you my books. They are not to leave this office, be used as food trays or drink coasters, or be dog-eared or inscribed in any fashion. They are resources, and they need to be treated as such.
Dan: What if-
Casey: Nothing happens to them.
Dan: Okay.
Casey: Okay.
Dan: Where's the basketball?
Casey: At home.
Dan: Good.
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: So, you're going to write a book?
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: How much does that pay?
Casey: Not as much as a television gig.
Dan: Are you hurting for money?
Casey: No.
Dan: You sure?
Casey: If I don't blow it all on cheap wine and cheaper women, I'll be fine.
Dan: Seriously-
Casey: I have some money stashed away in stocks and bonds. I'm rolling my 401K into an IRA. I am financially sound.
Dan: Good.
Casey: Good.
Dan: What kind of book?
Casey: Excuse me?
Dan: What kind of book are you writing?
Casey: I'm writing a book of nursery rhymes.
Elliott walks into the office.
Dan: So you're going to write something like "Green Eggs and Ham"?
Elliott: That's already been written.
Casey: And it's not a nursery rhyme.
Dan: It's not?
Elliott: It has.
Dan: Huh?
Elliott: What?
Casey: You know, Elliott, this conversation was going just fine until you jumped in.
Elliott: You know what they say: conversation means being able to disagree and still continue the discussion.
Elliott hands Dan a memo.
Elliott: They signed Sutherland to a four-year deal worth 4.6 million dollars.
Dan: Thanks, Elliott. What were you saying?
Elliott: Sutherland's been signed-
Dan: I got that, I mean before Sutherland.
Elliott: I don't know.
Dan: Great.
Elliott: I try my best.
Casey: That's fine, Elliott.
Elliott leaves the room.
Dan: Where were we?
Casey: You were showing concern over my book, my finances, and my mortality.
Dan: Your mortality?
Casey: Yes. Subconsciously, you are worried because you see what is happening here, and you figure that something like this could happen to anybody. So, by showing your concerns toward me, you are revealing your insecurities about yourself.
Dan stares at Casey.
Dan: Am I paying you for this?
Casey laughs.
Casey: No.
Dan: Because, for a second there, I thought you sounded a lot like my therapist.
Casey: Maybe I know my next career move.
Dan: Let me tell you, Abby has plenty of problems besides having to solve mine.
Casey: She's solving your problems?
Dan: Not really.
Casey: So you continue to pay somebody who is problematic and not solving your problems?
Dan: Yeah.
Casey: Okay.
Casey closes a picture frame and puts it inside the box.
Dan: My mortality?
Casey: Yeah.
Dan: How so?
Casey: I think this whole situation has showed that anybody is vulnerable. We like to think things will stay the same, but they are always changing.
Dan: You need to copyright that last quote.
Casey: Funny.
Dan: I think so.
Casey: Anyway, I remember when I heard this Hall and Oates song, "Say It Isn't So." After they released the single, they announced they were breaking up.
Dan: Hold on there, partner. Hall and Oates? What are you listening to?
Casey: I've dabbled a little in the 80's music scene.
Dan: Okay, just a little. And they broke up? I thought they were always together.
Casey: Are you admitting you know some information about Hall and Oates?
Dan: I read the news.
Casey: I see. Anyway, they went their separate ways for a few years, but they got back together in the late 80's.
Dan: What does that have to do with my mortality?
Casey: It has more to do with the things changing part. Things change and you get a different perspective on life. Then they can revert back, if things happen right.
Dan: So?
Casey: They got back together.
Dan: So you're saying we need to write a book together?
Casey: I'm not saying that.
Dan: I don't know what you're saying.
Casey: Don't worry about this. We worked well together, we're separating right now, and I have a feeling we will be working together again in the future.
Dan: So I shouldn't worry about this?
Casey: Yes, that's what I said.
Dan: Okay.
Casey: Good.
Dan starts to type on his laptop as Casey opens a drawer to make sure all his personal belongings have been removed.
Dan: We're all human. That's what you mean by my mortality?
Casey: I guess so.
Dan: It's like we have feet of clay, and our personal and professional success is based on what we do with them.
Casey: Right.
Dan: You know what you need to do?
Casey: With what?
Dan: Your feet of clay.
Casey: Kick people?
Dan: Yes! You need to kick some ass and let them know that Casey McCall will be back!
Casey: I think I have all my stuff.
Dan: Seriously. You need to kick around some stuff.
Dan and Casey leave their office and start walking through the newsroom.
Dan: Attention everybody! This man, Casey McCall, has feet of clay!
Casey: And you know what I am going to do with my feet of clay?!
Dan: He's going to kick some ass!
Casey: Some serious ass!
Dan and Casey walk by Dana and a couple of staffers.
Dana: What if they kick back?
Dan and Casey stop to look at Dana.
Casey: Huh?
Dana: I'm saying, what if they kick back?
Dan: Casey? What if they kick back?
Casey: Kick them again?
Dan: Yeah!
Dan and Casey continue walking.
Dan: If they kick back, he is going to kick them again!
Casey: And kick them harder!
Dan: Yeah!
|
Dan and Casey leave the newsroom as everybody watches. You can hear them ranting inside the studio. Sam Donovan walks into the newsroom and is looking toward the studio to see what all the commotion is about. Sam: Dana? Dana: Yeah? Sam: I've got the latest numbers. Dana: Okay. (to staffers) Are we set here? The staffers nod in agreement. Dana: Good. As the staffers leave to do their tasks, Sam opens a binder and starts discussing the recent ratings for the show. Dana asks a question about the change in demographic numbers, and Sam gives an explanation. ----- Sam walks into an executive's office. Already seated at a table are J.J., Ray Mitchell, and Billy Tasker. Sam: You wanted to see me? J.J.: Yes, have a seat, Sam. |
As for Sam Donovan, he has remained with CSC, even though he has expressed his displeasure about being the ratings expert for the network, and not just "Sports Night." I think he is a person that likes to be in control, but he doesn't appreciate being forced into a position where he has control. The good news about Sam Donovan is that we see less of him, which means there is less pressure to perform immediately. Don't get me wrong, Lou. We do work really hard, but it is hard to work for someone who is constantly breaking things down and trying to figure out how to make them better. The thing is that Isaac really likes him and has stated that Sam has done more for the show than anyone knows. What he has done? I don't know, but Isaac said Sam has supported the show throughout all the changes- from the old regimen of J.J. and the boys to the new leadership with Donna. I am almost afraid to know what Sam has done to support the show because I don't think I'd like to see how this show operates without his backing. |
Sam sits at the table. J.J., Ray, and Billy all have notes placed out in front of them.
Sam: I was led to believe this was going to be an informal meeting.
J.J.: I'm sorry you had that misconception, Sam. Is it all right if we begin?
Sam: Sure.
J.J.: Since Isaac has brought you in to improve the ratings for "Sports Night," we wanted to get your input on the ratings and profitability of the show.
Sam: I don't have the numbers in front of me-
Ray Mitchell: That's all right. We've made copies.
Ray hands everybody a copy of the latest numbers.
J.J.: I'll be honest with you, Sam. "Sports Night" has not performed to our expectations.
Billy Tasker: It has performed well below our expectations.
J.J.: Correct, and we wanted to know what are your plans to remedy this situation we now find ourselves in?
Sam: What situation is that?
Billy Tasker: We're considering canceling "Sports Night," and bringing in a new show which is hipper and faster-paced.
Ray Mitchell: It would be targeting a younger audience.
Sam looks at the three.
Sam: You're not considering changing the show, are you?
J.J.: A fresh, new show would debut at 10 PM daily.
Sam: Why are you telling me this?
J.J.: We want you to know the severity of the situation you are in.
Billy Tasker: We feel "Sports Night," doesn't have a profitable future on this network, and we would like you to focus on this new program.
Sam: Isaac Jaffee is the one who hired me. He's my boss, and you need to discuss this with him.
J.J.: Sam? When there is no "Sports Night," you won't have a boss.
Sam: So what you're saying is that I need to focus on the success of this new show, so I can continue to work for this network. If I focus on attempting to make "Sports Night" a success, I'll find myself without a job when the show is canceled.
Ray Mitchell: That's correct.
Sam: Why?
J.J.: Excuse me?
Sam: If I cannot make "Sports Night" a success, why should I be employed here? Why would you want me to help this new, sleek, Nintendo-geared, skateboarding-generation show, when I would have obviously failed at my last show?
J.J.: Sam, I'll admit that our personalities have differed-
Sam: They've been abrasive.
J.J.: Okay, but despite our differences, you ultimately get the results we want. And if word leaked out about this new show in development, we may have to scrap the whole idea.
Sam: You want me to keep quiet?
Billy Tasker: Please.
Sam: I can keep quiet.
Billy Tasker: Thank you.
The room is silent for a moment.
J.J.: Good. I'm glad we can reach an agreement. I've taken the liberty of preparing a contract for you-
Sam: What about everybody else?
J.J.: Well, they'll be out of a job when "Sports Night" is canceled.
Sam: No, I mean you guys.
J.J.: What about us?
Sam: I mean, if you are going to threaten my job if word gets out about this new show, what disciplinary action will be taken if any of you leak information about it?
Billy Tasker: We're not going to say anything.
Sam: Just like your not saying anything to Isaac about this meeting?
J.J., Billy, and Ray stare at Sam.
Sam: And who is to say that you haven't had this meeting with other people? Maybe you've been interviewing people outside of this network to help produce this show.
J.J.: I see now this has been a mistake.
Billy Tasker: J.J., I said he couldn't be trusted.
Ray Mitchell: I think this meeting is over.
Sam: These are legitimate concerns. So are you going to fire me over this?
J.J.: No, not over this. In fact, this meeting never happened.
Ray Mitchell: I have no recollection of this meeting.
Billy Tasker: What meeting?
Ray, Billy, and J.J. get up from the table.
Sam: I see. So you are going to let "Sports Night" fail because you want to promote something else?
J.J.: Well, you are a part of "Sports Night," and you haven't exactly brought its ratings up.
Sam gets up.
Sam: That's fine. I'll take responsibility for not increasing the ratings. But what are you guys going to do?
J.J.: About?
Sam: Your jobs?
J.J.: What about them?
Sam: You remember when I first came here? Isaac had just come back after suffering a stroke and you offered me his job?
J.J.: I think I recall.
Sam: Did you ever check around?
Ray Mitchell: Check for what?
Sam: My reputation.
Billy Tasker: Are you threatening us?
Sam: No, I'm not threatening you. What you needed to do is check the list of people whose careers I've destroyed because of attitudes similar to your's. If you checked with them, you would have known not to come in here and threaten my job along with all the other jobs on "Sports Night."
Billy Tasker: I think we need to call security.
Ray goes over to pick up a phone.
Sam: You can call security, if you like, but that is not going to change the outcome. We're all standing together right now, and I guarantee you, six months from now, you'll wish you never heard of me because I'll still be the one collecting a pay check while you guys might as well be bagging groceries at Piggly Wiggly.
Sam opens the door to leave.
Sam: You know what? Maybe you're right. That is a threat.
Sam leaves the office.
