Ep309

[Disclaimer: �Sports Night� and it�s characters are the property of Aaron Sorkin. No copyright infringement is intended.]

Episode 3.09
�Too Many Martinis to Ride a Tricycle�
Story by Kasey Dunton
Written by Melanie Sidorow

Teaser
(We open with the Sports Night logo as we hear)

(VO) DAVE:
Three minutes VTR, four minutes live.

(Fade into the studio. Night I. Dan and Casey have just sat down at the anchor desk and are being made up by Allison and her assistant.)

DAN:
I�m just saying, it�s possible.

CASEY:
It is not possible.

DAN:
Yes.

CASEY:
No.

DAN:
(To Allison) Tell him it�s possible.

ALLISON:
No.

DAN:
Why not?

ALLISON:
Because I don�t know what you�re talking about.

DAN:
(beat) Oh. (beat) Right.

(Casey grins and swivels partway in his chair as we cut to the control room. Everyone is sitting in their respective places. Pan to Natalie who leans towards Dana, who looking at her clipboard.)

NATALIE:
So we�re really going to do this?

DANA:
Yes.

NATALIE:
You and me?

DANA:
You and I. (beat) Show me 20.

NATALIE:
Tonight?

CHRIS:
Here�s 20.

DANA:
Well, technically, it�ll be tomorrow morning.

NATALIE:
Dana�.

DANA:
(still looking at her clipboard) Natalie�..

NATALIE:
No chickening out.

DANA:
(looks at Natalie with feign shock) Who me? Natalie, I�m hurt. (looks back at her clipboard) Elliot, what�s the final score on the Michigan-Texas game?

ELLIOT:
45-34 for Michigan.

NATALIE:
I�m giving up something good to do this tonight.

DANA:
Tomorrow morning.

NATALIE:
Whatever. I�m giving up something good.

DANA:
You�re giving up Conan and sex with your boyfriend.

NATALIE:
Exactly.

JEREMY:
(looks straight up from his laptop at no one in particular.) I�ll take the compliment. Thanks.

NATALIE:
(smiles) Anytime, babe.

(Cut back to studio. Allison and her assistant have left. Dan and Casey are putting on their earpieces and adjusting their scripts.)

CASEY:
You have plans with Rebecca after the show?

DAN:
No. Boston.

CASEY:
You have plans with Boston?

DAN:
(annoyed) Rebecca�s in Boston.

CASEY:
(nods) Ah� Wait, still?

DAN:
Yes.

CASEY:
(leans towards Dan)You miss her?

DAN:
Yes.

CASEY:
Want to talk about it?

DAN:
No.

CASEY:
Ok then� (straightens) I�ll just be sitting over here, you know� When you do.

(Cut back to control room).

DAVE:
60 seconds to VTR, two minutes live.

NATALIE:
Will, let me hear the sound on 36.

WILL:
We dropped 36.

NATALIE:
No.

WILL:
I think we did.

DAVE:
We did.

NATALIE:
When?

DAVE:
Eight o�clock.

NATALIE:
Really?

WILL:
Yes.

NATALIE:
Huh. (beat) Jeremy?

JEREMY:
(looks up from laptop at Natalie) Hello.

NATALIE:
We dropped 36.

JEREMY:
Yes. We dropped 24, 47, 49 and 67 as well.

NATALIE:
We did? Dana?

DANA:
(exasperated) We did.

DAVE:
Roll VTR, 60 seconds till air.

NATALIE:
Really?

WILL/DAVE/JEREMY/DANA:
Yes!

NATALIE:
Huh. And where exactly was I when all this dropping happened?

DANA:
We�re still trying to figure that one out.

(Cut back to studio. We hear the Sports Night theme in the background.)

CASEY:
So� After the show we�ll go get a drink.

DAN:
What about Charlie?

CASEY:
I got him a fake I.D. (laughs) He�s sleeping over at a friend�s place.

DAN:
Ah. Ok. Sure.

CASEY:
Dude�. You�ve really got it bad!

DAN:
What?

CASEY:
(laughing) Nothing.

DAN:
What?

(VO)DAVE:
In 3, 2, 1.

(Casey composes his laughter and Dan breaks out in his charming on-air grin.)

CASEY:
Good evening from New York I�m Casey McCall alongside Dan Rydell. Those stories plus we�ve got the NFL, downhill-skiing and the scoop on what some of the Yankees are doing in the off-season.

DAN:
We�ve got Tigers down under and �da Bears in the east. And for my Mom, we�ve got Michelle Kwan doing what she does best. All that and more. You�re watching Sport Night on CSC, where it�s all possible, �So stick around.

(Fade to commercial. End Teaser)

Act I
(Night I- Newsroom �Right after the show, as the team is heading out of the control room and into the newsroom. We see Casey and Danny walking towards their office, and miscellaneous crew milling around.)

DAN:
It�s totally possible, my friend.

CASEY:
(loosening his tie.) No way.

DAN:
Way.

CASEY:
Says who?

DAN:
Says me and my panel of experts. (laughs and walks into their office) Look, it�s obvious that we�re never going to get anywhere with this, so why don�t you just give in and agree with me.

CASEY:
(sits down at the desk and leans back in his chair, laughing) Oh, yeah. You�d really like that wouldn�t you?

DAN:
I say it�s the least you could do for our friendship.

CASEY:
(looks as if he�s thinking about it) Forget it.

DAN:
Hey, can�t blame me for trying.

CASEY:
Oh I can. (pause) So is Anthony�s ok?

DAN:
Is it ever not ok?

(Cut to newsroom � show Dana walking through picking files off of desks. Natalie is hot on her heels.)

NATALIE:
So, like �. When do we get this party started?

DANA:
(looks at Natalie, surprised) Wow� For someone I had to practically beg to stay around tonight, you sure do seem rather eager now.

NATALIE:
(smiles) Maybe it�s because I am!

DANA:
Good. Just let me get rid of this stuff, ok? (starts to walk away)

NATALIE:
(calls after her) Well hurry! I�m not getting any more sober here.

JEREMY:
(walks up from behind Natalie) You�re not?

NATALIE:
(spins towards the voice) Hey! I�m not what?

JEREMY:
You�re not getting any more sober.

NATALIE:
(nods) So you noticed that too. (her face turns serious) You�re ok with this, right?

JEREMY:
Why wouldn�t I be?

NATALIE:
Well, I know how much you look forward to our nights together.

JEREMY:
(teasingly) Eh.

(Natalie glares at Jeremy)

JEREMY:
Of course I do� You know that. (pause) I think I�ll survive one night though.

NATALIE:
(smiles) Good. (her smile quickly fades and she looks at the ground) Look, I�m sorry about the past few days. I know I�ve been kind of moody.

JEREMY:
It�s ok.

NATALIE:
No, no it�s not ok. I hate that I�m taking out all my frustrations on you.

JEREMY:
You haven�t. (Natalie looks at him with an unconvinced look) Ok, maybe you have been. (puts his arms around her and pulls her close) Natalie, it is ok.

NATALIE:
(pulls out of the embrace and smiles weakly) Yeah.

JEREMY:
(smiles) You have fun tonight.

NATALIE:
Are you leaving?

JEREMY:
Well, I was thinking I might stay and work on a feature for Thursday�s show�.

NATALIE:
Good. (thinks) You know, you should go and see what Casey and Dan are doing. I think they were talking about going to Anthony�s.

JEREMY:
Really? Well, I just might.

(Natalie smiles. We cut to Dana�s office. She standing over her desk arranging some papers with her back to the door. Casey shows up in the open doorway � now dressed in his casual clothes � and knocks lightly.)

CASEY:
Hey.

(Dana whirls around to greet her visitor, a smile on her face. When she realizes it�s Casey, she frowns and turns back to her desk.)

DANA:
Hey.

CASEY:
(enters the office) Ok� Stop this. Dana, what�s wrong?

DANA:
(turns again and is startled to find Casey standing directly behind her) What�s wrong?

CASEY:
(raises his eyebrows) Yes.

DANA:
(a little annoyed) You should know. (turns back to her desk)

CASEY:
(surprised) I should know?

DANA:
Yes, you should, Casey. Although it doesn�t surprise me that you don�t.

CASEY:
If it doesn�t surprise you then how come you won�t tell me what it is?

DANA:
(turns to face Casey again) You�ve got some nerve.

CASEY:
Excuse me? Wait�. Are you mad at me?

DANA:
How brilliant of you to notice! (She shifts past him and goes to place some files in her bag.)

CASEY:
Why?

DANA:
(straightens and crosses her arms) Why?

(Casey stares at Dana and jerks his arms out in front of him in a �proceed� motion.)

DANA:
Well, if you don�t know, I�m not going to tell you.

CASEY:
What? Dana�.

DANA:
(comes around the side of her desk, shaking her head) Sorry Buster. No freebies.

CASEY:
(frowns) Can I guess?

DANA:
(standing in front of the doorway, glaring at Casey) If you must.

CASEY:
Does it have something to do with the show? (Dana shrugs) Does it have something to do with you and me? (Dana shrugs) Are you going to help me out here? (Dana smiles and shrugs. Casey shakes his head and throws his hands up in frustration.) Fine, if you�re not going to tell me anything, I guess I�ll just leave.

DANA:
Oh, please do!

(Dana steps out of the doorway and swings her arms to show him the way out. Casey walks out the door without a word, and Dana lets out a sigh and starts back to her desk. A moment later Casey pokes his head back into the office.)

CASEY:
Hey.

DANA:
What!?!?

CASEY:
Some of us are going to Anthony�s� Want to come?

DANA:
(icily) What do you think?

CASEY:
(dumbfounded) Uh� Right. Never mind. (Casey disappears from the doorway. Dana shakes her head.)

(Meanwhile�. Cut to Dan and Casey�s office. Dan is sitting on the couch tossing a football up in the air and waiting for Casey to come back. Elliot pokes his head in the door.)

ELLIOT:
Hey man. You coming to Anthony�s?

DAN:
(toss) You bet.

ELLIOT:
Alright, the ladies man at ladies night!

DAN:
(stops tossing and sits up) Ladies night?

ELLIOT:
(enthusiastically) Every Tuesday Baby!

DAN:
Since when?

ELLIOT:
Since tonight.

DAN:
(nods) Ah. (beat) But I�ve got Rebecca.

ELLIOT:
Is she coming?

DAN:
(dully) No. She�s in Boston.

ELLIOT:
Still?

DAN:
Yes!

ELLIOT:
Well, you can still come and have a few beers� Right?

DAN:
Yeah, sure. (thinks) Did you just call me Baby?

ELLIOT:
When?

(Casey walks into the office.)

ELLIOT:
Ladies night, Casey!

CASEY:
(distracted) Yeah, yeah. Do you guys know why Dana�s mad at me?

DAN:
Dana�s mad at you?

CASEY:
She just verbally accosted me in her office, so I�d say yeah.

ELLIOT:
Again?

CASEY:
Yes.

DAN:
What�d you do?

CASEY:
I don�t know!

ELLIOT:
(shakes his head and pats Casey�s shoulder) Rough, man. You know I�d love to stay and figure this mystery out, but if I don�t go down there now, the other guys are gonna get all the women. I�ll see you down there, right?

CASEY:
Yeah. Who�s all going?

ELLIOT:
Chris, Will, Dave, Rick, Stanley�..

DAN:
Kim?

ELLIOT:
(nods) It�s ladies night.

CASEY:
If it�s ladies night, then why are we going?

ELLIOT:
(laughs) Because it�s ladies night. Bye guys. (exits)

DAN:
(gets up) So you ready to go?

CASEY:
Yeah�. Yeah.

DAN:
Why isn�t Dana coming?

CASEY:
Because she�s mad at me.

DAN:
Too mad for cheap drinks?

CASEY:
(depressed) I guess so.

(Dan tosses Casey his jacket and grabs his own.)

DAN:
She�ll get over it.

(They walk out into the newsroom and see Jeremy sitting at his desk working.)

DAN:
Jeremy Good Man!! Come out with us!

JEREMY:
I�d love to guys�. I really would. But I want to get a head start on this feature.

CASEY:
What feature?

JEREMY:
This one.

CASEY:
(laughs) I mean what�s the feature about?

JEREMY:
(smiles) I�m glad you asked. It�s about ancient civilizations and how they inspired the activity of sport. I found some great resources from the Historical Society. Did you know that the Mayans were actually the first to play field hockey using sticks and the dried out skulls of their prey? It�s really quite interesting. I�ve been wanting to do a piece like this for a long time. What do you think?

(Casey and Dan just stare at Jeremy for a few seconds.)

DAN:
Sounds� Great.

CASEY:
Yeah, you just keep on trucking there�

JERMEY:
Thanks, I will.   I might join you later.

DAN:
(looks around) Where�s Natalie?

JEREMY:
Oh, she�s in Dana�s office.

CASEY:
(interested) Really? Wha-�. What are they doing in there?

JEREMY:
Dana invited her for drinks.

DAN:
In her office?

JEREMY:
Yeah. You didn�t see the big stash she brought in this morning?

CASEY:
Uh, no. So they�re drinking in there?

JEREMY:
Yeah.

CASEY:
Are they�. Are they talking?

JEREMY:
I�m sure they are exchanging words.

CASEY:
About what?

DAN:
Casey�.

JEREMY:
Gee Casey, it�s kind of hard to tell without actually being in the room.

CASEY:
(thinking) Yes.   (turns to Dan) What do you think they�re talking about?

DAN:
Oh, the usual, probably. Cars, sports and women.

(Casey and Jeremy give Dan looks.)

DAN:
Ok, so maybe not.

CASEY:
No. (looks towards the hallway)

DAN:
Hey Casey, remember Anthony�s? Our beers are getting warm. I hate warm beer.

CASEY:
(not entirely paying attention) Yeah.

DAN:
You and me, bonding, just like old times�.

CASEY:
Yeah.

DAN:
Casey!

CASEY:
Yeah?

DAN:
(sighs) We�re not going, are we?

CASEY:
No.

(Cut to Dana�s office. Dana�s sitting behind her desk, which has been cleared of paperwork and now displays an array of bottles. Two martini glasses are standing in the center of the desk, and have just been filled. Dana picks up one glass and hands it to Natalie � who�s sitting across from her, and takes the other glass for herself.)

DANA:
(raising her glass in toast-like fashion) To friends!

NATALIE:
(grins and imitates gesture) To friends!

DANA:
To us!

NATALIE:
To us!

DANA:
To you!

NATALIE:
To me! To you!

DANA:
Natalie?

NATALIE:
Yeah?

DANA:
Let�s drink.

NATALIE:
Yes m�am!

(Both women proceed to take sips from their glasses. They sit back in their chairs holding their drinks and are silent for a few moments. Dana cuts the silence with her laughter, and Natalie just looks at her with an amused expression.)

NATALIE:
Well, that didn�t take long. What?

DANA:
(laughing) This is so silly.

NATALIE:
What is?

DANA:
(waves her free hand around in front of her) This� You and me holed up in my office with enough alcohol to quench the office Christmas party. It�s silly.

NATALIE:
(raises her glass to Dana) Just so long as you know it.

DANA:
(laughs) Yes. (pauses in thought and then raises her glass again) Here�s to being holed up in my office with enough alcohol to quench the office Christmas party!

NATALIE:
Here�s to it!

(They laugh and continue their drinks and we pan out past the closed door of Dana�s office. We see Casey and Dan standing in the hallway with their backs against the wall on either side of the doorframe.)

DAN:
Now what?

CASEY:
Uh� I�m not sure.

DAN:
Great. (leans his head against the wall) It�s going to be a long night�.

(Fade to commercial. End of Act I.)

Act II
( Night I � Dana�s office. We see that Dana and Natalie have moved from their previous positions. Natalie is now the one sitting in Dana�s desk chair, and Dana�s sitting on the couch with her feet up, her back to the door. Both women are laughing.)

NATALIE:
So what did you say?

DANA:
I looked at him and I told him he looked absolutely gorgeous.

NATALIE:
(giggling) No way, you did?

DANA:
Yes. I mean, he�d put all that work into his make-up. (smiles) And to be honest, the dress did look better on him than it had on me.

NATALIE:
(trying to compose herself) That�s not something I�d be bragging to my friends about.

DANA:
Are you kidding? We were in college. I was mortified that my boyfriend liked to dress up in drag.

NATALIE:
(nearly chokes on her drink)You mean he did it more than once?!?!

DANA:
I caught him once. But there were rumors.

NATALIE:
So how did you break up with him?

DANA:
I took the vain approach. I told him I couldn�t go out with a man who was prettier than I was. I think he was better off without me in the long run. I don�t think we had the same fashion sense.

NATALIE:
And that was your worst boyfriend?

DANA:
Well, maybe not my worst. Definitely the strangest.

NATALIE:
So who was your worst? Gordon? Sam?

(Dana stares at Natalie for a few moments at the shock of hearing the two men�s names. She looks down at her drink quietly and thinks before looking back up at Natalie.)

DANA:
Are those the only two choices I get?

NATALIE:
You mean there have been worse?

DANA:
Maybe. Or maybe I can�t decide which of them was worse than the other.

NATALIE:
I suppose that�s true. And what about Casey?

DANA:
(sharply) What about him?

NATALIE:
What category does he fall into? Best? Worst? Strangest?

DANA:
(frowns) Casey is not my boyfriend.

NATALIE:
No? Because you two seem to have been getting-

DANA:
(cuts Natalie off, firmly) He�s not.

NATALIE:
(recedes) Ok. Sorry.

(Dana nods in acceptance and swigs back the last of her martini. She gets up from her spot on the couch and goes over to the desk for a refill.)

DANA:
Ok, your turn. Strangest boyfriend.

NATALIE:
Oh, that would be Timmy. Definitely.

DANA:
Timmy?

(Pan out of Dana�s office as Natalie starts to explain her strangest boyfriend. Out in the hallway we see Casey sitting on the floor with his head very close to Dana�s office door. He�s straining to try and hear what�s going on inside. Dan sits across from him, leaning his head against the opposite wall, staring at the ceiling and sighing very loudly every few seconds.)

DAN:
Casey�..

CASEY:
Shh! I think I heard my name.

DAN:
(sighs again and looks at Casey) You did.

CASEY:
(looks at Dan) What?

DAN:
We�ve been sitting out here for a half-hour.

CASEY:
So?

DAN:
So?? Casey, don�t you think this is�. Just maybe� A little childish?

CASEY:
Hey! Did I complain when you were pining away for Rebecca?

DAN:
Yes.

CASEY:
Oh.   Well. You don�t have to stay here, you know.

DAN:
Thank you. (starts to get up)

CASEY:
So what�s up with you and Rebecca?

DAN:
(halts in mid crouch) Excuse me?

CASEY:
You and Rebecca. She�s been in Boston for a few days.

DAN:
Yeah. And?

CASEY:
A few more days than planned.

DAN:
She�s working hard. So?

CASEY:
So, you miss her.

DAN:
(sits back down) Nice try, Casey.

CASEY:
What? I�m just saying�. You miss her.

DAN:
Yes, I miss her.

CASEY:
You two are getting pretty serious.

DAN:
Maybe. What�s all this about?

CASEY:
Nothing. I�m just saying.

DAN:
You�re just saying what?

(Casey opens his mouth to answer when a sudden burst of laughter emerges from inside Dana�s office. Casey head snaps back towards the door to hear what they might be talking about, leaving Dan staring at Casey with an expectant look on his face.)

(Cut to Dana and Natalie in the office. Dana�s sitting back on the couch, and Natalie is now sitting on the floor, leaning back on Dana�s desk. )

(laughter subsides)

DANA:
So, I suppose that Jeremy is the best boyfriend you�ve ever had?

NATALIE:
(smiles coyly) Maybe.

DANA:
Maybe?

NATALIE:
What�s wrong with maybe? It was the same answer you gave for your worst boyfriend.

DANA:
I guess it was. Ok, I�ll give you that.

NATALIE:
Thank you. And is Casey the best boyfriend you�ve ever had?

DANA:
(glares at Natalie) Natalie�..

NATALIE:
Ok, ok�. But I thought things were going really good for the two of you.

DANA:
(sadly looks down at her drink) So did I.

NATALIE:
What happened?

DANA:
I saw him flirting with another woman.

NATALIE:
What? I mean� Really? Are you sure?

DANA:
Am I sure that he was flirting? Yes�. I mean� I think so.

NATALIE:
You couldn�t have just misinterpreted it? Casey isn�t exactly the most suave when it comes to flirting.

DANA:
Tell me about it. I don�t know, Natalie.

NATALIE:
Well�. Who was it? Someone from the newsroom?

DANA:
No. It was� It was Charlie�s teacher.

NATALIE:
When did you see Casey flirting with Charlie�s teacher?

DANA:
A few days ago. She was here on Friday.

NATALIE:
(frowns) Friday? I don�t remember�. (realizes) Oh.

DANA:
Yes.

NATALIE:
(silent for a few moments) So� Have you talked to him about it?

DANA:
He doesn�t think he�s done anything wrong.

NATALIE:
Well, of course he doesn�t� He�s Casey! (serious) You need to talk to him, Dana.

DANA:
I know.

(Both women sit in silence.)

(Cut back to Casey in the hallway. He�s now alone. He sighs, shakes his head and leans it back against the wall.)

(Cut to newsroom. Dan walks in and sees Jeremy working at his computer. Grabbing a swivel chair, Dan straddles it and sits across from Jeremy.)

DAN:
How�s it going?

JEREMY:
(typing furiously) Oh! Great. Really great. (stops typing and hangs his head) Bad. Really bad. I�ve been playing solitaire for the last twenty minutes.

DAN:
(laughs) What? You mean the Mayans weren�t boring enough?

JEREMY:
(pained) Why didn�t you tell me?

DAN:
(shrugs) You looked like you were having fun.

JEREMY:
Thanks for letting me have my moment. I really thought this was going to be great. I mean, think of it, Dan. The history of sport being traced back to ancient civilizations. Did you know that some sports were actually used as defense tactics in war?

DAN:
Jeremy?

JEREMY:
(sighs) Moment�s over, I know. (looks around) Hey, where�s Casey?

DAN:
Guess.

JEREMY:
Sitting outside Dana�s office door?

DAN:
Bingo.

JEREMY:
And you�re still here because�..

DAN:
Because I need someone to talk to.

JEREMY:
What�s up, Dan?

DAN:
Rebecca�s in Boston.

JEREMY:
Still?

DAN:
Yes.

JEREMY:
Oh. Ok. (thinks) And how does that make you feel?

DAN:
Well you see, Dr. Goodwin�. I miss her.

JEREMY:
Completely understandable.

DAN:
I mean, I really miss her.

JEREMY:
You�re in love with her.

DAN:
Yes.

JEREMY:
And how does that make you feel?

DAN:
(smiles) Incredible.

(Jeremy smiles)

DAN (cont�d):
(smile fades) And scared.

JEREMY:
Why?

DAN:
Because I loved her before, and she left.

JEREMY:
Do you think she�s going to leave again?

DAN:
No. I mean, I hope she doesn�t. I just can�t stand it when she�s not around.

JEREMY:
I know how you feel. Trust me.

DAN:
(smiles) I do. Thanks, Jeremy. (looks towards the other end of the newsroom) Now do you want to help me get Casey off the hallway floor?

JEREMY:
Not really.

(Dan laughs.)

(Cut to Dana�s office. Natalie is now sitting on the couch, facing the door. Dana can be seen lying with her back on the floor and her feet up on the couch. The glasses have been placed back on the desk, and the two women are in deep conversation.)

NATALIE:
Have you ever wondered what your life would have been like if you�d done one thing different? How much that one little decision or move could have affected your entire future?

DANA:
All the time.

NATALIE:
Like what if you�d gone to school out west?

DANA:
I was accepted to UCLA.

NATALIE:
See? What if you�d come to UCLA to study Communications�. Or maybe not Communications. Do you think you�d be happy?

DANA:
I� I don�t know. I mean, I don�t think I would be working here. I�d probably still be out west� or anywhere else.

NATALIE:
Exactly. And you never would have met Casey.

DANA:
(sadly) Yeah.

NATALIE:
I mean, you might have eventually�. But who knows?

DANA:
Yeah.

NATALIE:
Have you ever wondered what it would have been like if Casey had never met Lisa?

DANA:
He wouldn�t have Charlie.

NATALIE:
Well, yeah. But what if you�d met Casey and Casey had never met Lisa? Do you think you and Casey would have had a chance?

DANA:
Who says Casey and I don�t have a chance now?

NATALIE:
No one. Dana� I�m just saying.

DANA:
I know what you�re saying. And I don�t know. Things would have been different.

NATALIE:
Yes. And if Jeremy had never come to Sports Night. Or if I�d never come to Sports Night.

DANA:
Yeah.

NATALIE:
(begins to ramble) Or what if you�d found out something about your life that you never thought was imaginable and yet it�s reality and you don�t know what to think about it or how you can deal with it or�.

DANA:
(sitting up) Natalie? What�s wrong?

NATALIE:
(quietly) I�m adopted.

DANA:
You�re what?

NATALIE:
Adopted.

DANA:
Adopted?

NATALIE:
(drops her head into her hands, sighing) Yes, Dana.

DANA:
Adopted�. In what sense?

NATALIE:
(looks back at Dana) Adopted in the sense that the two people that raised me� The two people who I grew up believing were my biological parents are not� in fact, my biological parents.

DANA:
Oh�. Oh, Natalie! I�m sorry.

NATALIE:
What for? It�s not your fault.

DANA:
(places a hand on Natalie�s arm) When did you find out? How long have you known?

NATALIE:
On Friday. There was a letter in that box of my grandmother�s stuff. It said I was adopted.

DANA:
Are you sure?

NATALIE:
Well, I wasn�t at first. But I called my parents�.

DANA:
And?

NATALIE:
And they said it was true� That I am adopted.

DANA:
Wow. Why didn�t they tell you this before?

NATALIE:
Well, they said they were going to tell me when I was eighteen, but I moved away to go to school, and then got this job at Sports Night. They said they didn�t want to ruin what I had by telling me I was adopted.

DANA:
Has it?

NATALIE:
Ruined anything? No. I�m just�. I don�t know. Confused, angry� Scared. My life is a lie, Dana.

DANA:
No it�s not. You are the same person you were yesterday, the same person you were Friday. You are Natalie, and nothing has changed.

NATALIE:
Except now I know I am adopted.

DANA:
Well, yes. But that doesn�t change who you are. It doesn�t change the fact that your parents love you, that your friends love you, that your boyfriend loves you. All thing best things in your life are still here, regardless of whether you are adopted or not.

NATALIE:
I know.

DANA:
We�re here for you, Natalie. Always. Nothing changes.

NATALIE:
You are right. You and Jeremy. You�re both right. (smiles) Thanks, Dana.

DANA:
(smiles) It�s ok. (pause) So�. Do you know who they are?

NATALIE:
My biological parents?

(Dana nods.)

NATALIE:
(shakes her head) No. Not yet. But I�m working on it. I want to know.

DANA:
Good.

NATALIE:
(takes a deep breath) Yes.

DANA:
(shakes her head) Wow�. I mean�. Wow.

NATALIE:
Tell me about it.

(Cut to hallway. Casey is still sitting outside the door. He doesn�t look like he�s even trying to listen anymore. He�s just sitting there, thinking. Suddenly he snaps out of his trance. He begins to get himself up off the floor�. )

(Cut back to Dana�s office. Natalie and Dana have finished their conversation, and Natalie gets up off the couch. As she does, she sees Casey standing in the hallway, stretching as if he�s been out there awhile. She frowns as she watches Casey turn around towards the window. Casey looks inside the office, and sees Natalie staring back at him. He panics when he notices Dana starting to get up off the floor, and makes a hasty disappearance. Natalie laughs.)

DANA:
(straightening, looks at the window) What?

NATALIE:
(smiles) Oh, nothing.

DANA:
(frowns) Ok. So�.

NATALIE:
You gotta go talk to Casey.

DANA:
Natalie�

NATALIE:
Dana. You do.

DANA:
(looks at her watch) It�s a quarter to two in the morning!

NATALIE:
I have a feeling he�s still around.

DANA:
You think?

NATALIE:
Yes.

DANA:
Well� (looks around the room a little and then back at Natalie) You�ll be ok?

NATALIE:
(smiles) Always. Thanks again, Dana. I really needed this.

DANA:
Anytime, you know.

NATALIE:
I know. Go find Casey.

DANA:
Yes. (grabs her jacket from the back of a chair and heads out the door)

(Natalie is left standing in the middle of the office. She looks around, smiles to herself, sighs and walks towards the door.)

(Cut to newsroom. Jeremy and Dan are still sitting at Jeremy�s desk.)

DAN:
So I�m saying� it�s possible.

JEREMY:
I don�t know, Dan�

DAN:
Hey, I let you have your moment.

(Dana enters the newsroom from the hallway. She is in the process of putting on her jacket, but stops in her tracks when she sees the room is still occupied.)

DANA:
Dan?

DAN:
(looks at Dana) She emerges!

DANA:
I thought you guys were going to Anthony�s.

DAN:
So did I. But Casey had a better idea.

DANA:
(looks around) Casey?

(Dan gestures to the office he shares with Casey. The lights are out, but it�s obvious someone is in there. Dana approaches the doorway, just as Natalie emerges from the hallway.)

NATALIE:
What�s going on?

(Jeremy and Dan indicate the office, and Natalie nods.)

(Cut to Dan and Casey�s office. Dana is standing in the doorway, and we can see Casey sitting in the armchair, staring out the window a la �Special Powers�.)

DANA:
Hey.

CASEY:
Hi.

DANA:
Can I come in?

CASEY:
(looks at Dana) Sure.

DANA:
(enters the office and sits on the couch) I thought you were going to Anthony�s.

CASEY:
I didn�t feel like it.

DANA:
Oh. (takes a deep breath)

DANA:/CASEY:
Casey, I �/ Dana, you �

(Dana laughs)

CASEY:
You go.

DANA:
Casey, I�m sorry about what happened earlier. I wasn�t fair to you.

CASEY:
No, it wasn�t. (pause) I don�t understand, Dana� Why didn�t you come to me before?

DANA:
Before what?

CASEY:
You know.

DANA:
I do. I don�t know, Casey�. I really didn�t know what to think.

CASEY:
And what do you think now?

DANA:
Were you flirting with Charlie�s teacher?

CASEY:
No.

DANA:
It looked like you were.

CASEY:
I wasn�t.

DANA:
Really?

CASEY:
Would I lie to you?

DANA:
(sadly) I don�t know.

CASEY:
Well then, I think we need to work on this trust thing. (shifts forward in his seat) Dana, you have to know that I would never do anything to jeopardize my relationship with you.

DANA:
Ok.

CASEY:
I want this to work as much as you do. But if you�re having doubts�.

DANA:
I�m not having doubts.

CASEY:
Well, good. But if you did have doubts, I�d like to think that you would come to me and we would talk about them. Instead of putting up a wall and shutting me out.

DANA:
I know.   (looks down at her hands) I�m sorry, Casey.

CASEY:
I know. And I�m sorry too.

DANA:
(looks back at Casey) For what?

CASEY:
For not saying all of this sooner.

(Casey gets up from his chair and stands in front of Dana. He reaches his hands out and Dana takes them, and he slowly pulls her to her feet.)

DANA:
Yeah. I just�. I don�t know. I don�t want to be hurt again.

(Casey sighs and strokes the side of Dana�s cheek.)

CASEY:
You won�t be.

DANA:
Don�t make promises you can�t keep, Casey.

CASEY:
(looks shocked) What do you mean?

DANA:
Don�t say you won�t ever hurt me. It�s bound to happen someday.

CASEY:
(thoughtful) Ok� Then how about this. I promise I won�t hurt you today, tomorrow, or the day after that.

DANA:
Sounds like a goal you might be able to achieve.

CASEY:
I�m hoping to work my way up.

DANA:
(laughs softly) Ok.

(Dana and Casey stand there, letting the silence linger between them. Casey leans over and gives Dana a kiss on her forehead.)

(Cut to newsroom. Jeremy and Dan are still sitting at Jeremy�s desk, Natalie is perched on the side. She�s watching Dana and Casey share a moment in the next room. She looks back at Dan and Jeremy with a big grin on her face.)

NATALIE:
I just love watching those two.

DAN:
(smiles) We noticed.

JEREMY:
(to Natalie) So� How are you doing now?

NATALIE:
(thinks) I�m good. Very good.

JEREMY:
(takes her hand) Well then, me too.

(Natalie smiles at Jeremy and squeezes his hand. Dan clears his throat.)

DAN:
I�m good too, know you.

NATALIE:
(laughs) Good!

(There�s movement on the other side of the newsroom, and a bunch of the crew can be seen coming in from the studio. They�re jackets are still on, and they�re talking up a storm as they enter.)

ELLIOT:
I�m telling you, she was going for me!

WILL:
Sure, sure.

ELLIOT:
Hey, just because she�d rather be with me doesn�t mean you have to be so bitter.

WILL:
No bitterness here� She was obviously drunk.

ELLIOT:
Hey!

KIM:
Would you two knock it off!?!

(Dan, Jeremy and Natalie laugh at the sight of their friends � obviously a little inebriated � bickering. Dana and Casey return to the newsroom to see what all the noise is about.)

DAN:
What happened? I thought it was ladies night.

CHRIS:
It was.

NATALIE:
So why are you back so early?

ELLIOT:
Because it seems as if every guy this side of town heard it was ladies night.

DAVE:
The place was packed with men.

DANA:
You mean, men like you?

(Elliot, Chris, Will and Dave exchange guilty glances. Kim laughs.)

ELLIOT:
That�s not fair. It was our bar.

KIM:
So now you�re laying territory?

DAVE:
You bet!

KIM:
(laughing) You guys are pathetic.

JERMEY:
(to Kim) Wait a minute, if the bar was full of men, why did you leave?

KIM:
I have my standards. Even I can�t handle that much desperation in one room.

(everyone laughs)

CASEY:
So now what do we do?

DANA:
Well, I know I�m not ready to go home yet.

NATALIE:
(to Dana) And you do have enough alcohol in your office to quench the office Christmas party.

DANA:
(smiles) That I do.

CASEY:
Well, go get it!

(Dana pulls away from the group and starts towards her office.)

DAN:
Dana! Hang on a sec, would ya?

(Dana turns back.)

DANA:
What would you like, Daniel?

DAN:
I want everyone to be witness to this. Casey and I have been having a little disagreement.

CASEY:
Ah, you mean the one where you think you�re right and you don�t want anyone else telling you that you are not right?

DAN:
I am right. And I�ll prove it.

(Dan dashes into his office. Some rummaging noises can be heard, and the rest of the group exchange looks. Casey laughs to himself and shakes his head. A moment later Dan emerges from the darkness carrying a mid-sized tricycle)

NATALIE:
(laughing) What is that?

DAN:
It�s a tricycle.

JEREMY:
Why do you have a tricycle in your office?

DAN:
You wouldn�t believe the crap we�ve got in there.

CASEY:
He�s not kidding.

DANA:
So what exactly is the point of this�(gestures to the tricycle with her hands)�. Thing.

DAN:
I want to prove to Casey that it is possible to ride a tricycle when you are drunk.

ELLIOT:
Hey man, I can�t even ride a tricycle when I�m sober.

DAN:
Neither can I. That�s my point, that when you�re drunk you can do odd exercises that you can�t do when you�re sober. You�re never too drunk to ride a tricycle.

NATALIE:
Really?

CASEY:
Is there such a thing as being too nuts to ride a tricycle? �Cuz if there is, you�re in trouble.

DAN:
We�ll just see about that. Dana, go get the drinks.

(Dana gives Dan a skeptical look before she disappears to her office.)

JEREMY:
(stands) Ok, let me see that thing�.

(Dan hands Jeremy the bike, which he sets down on the floor in front of him. Placing his feet on the pedals as best he can, he tries to make the toy move. It doesn�t budge, and a few seconds later Jeremy looses his balance and falls off. Everyone laughs.)

CASEY:
(gestures to Jeremy) See, he can�t do it!

DAN:
Jeremy, how much have you had to drink tonight?

JEREMY:
(getting up) Not a drop.

ELLIOT:
So you�re saying that if we get Jeremy drunk, he�ll be able to ride the tricycle?

DAN:
Indeed he will.

ELLIOT:
Well then, let�s put this theory to the test!

(Dana comes returns to the newsroom with an armful of bottles. She sets them on a desk and everyone grabs cups and mugs off of neighbouring desks.)

CASEY:
(picks up a full bottle) Wow. (to Dana) How much did you and Natalie have tonight?

DANA:
Not much. (looks at Natalie) We were too busy talking.

(Natalie looks at Dana and smiles. Casey notices the look the two women exchange.)

CASEY:
Ahh, well�. (smiles at Dana) Good.

(Dana smiles up at Casey and holds out her cup to for him to pour into. He does so. Everyone else fills up their mugs.)

NATALIE:
We have to toast to something.

JEREMY:
What?

CASEY:
(thinks, raises his glass.) To Jerry Falwell!

(Everyone stares at him.)

CASEY:
Maybe not.

DAN:
(raising his glass) To friends!

ALL:
To friends!

NATALIE:
To good times!

ALL:
To good times!

DANA:
To the future!

ALL:
To the future!

(The scene pulls back as the group laughs, clinks glasses and drinks.)

(Fade to logo. End of Act II.)