| Season 1.11: The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee |
[Nov. 3rd, 2008|01:42 pm] |
Final draft (Yellow), dated 3 November 1998 (the episode aired on 15 December 1998). There are a great many lines and parts of scenes in this draft that were omitted from the broadcast episode, much to its detriment. Aside from all else, we learn Kim's last name here.
"The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee"
by Aaron Sorkin and Matt Tarses& David Walpert & Bill Wrubel
Directed by Robert Berlinger
Final Draft - 11/3/98 (Yellow)
SPORTS NIGHT
"The Six Southern Gentlemen of Tennessee"
#N311
Cast
Dan ................................................ Josh Charles
Casey ................................................ Peter Krause
Isaac ................................................ Robert Guillaume
Dana ................................................ Felicity Huffman
Jeremy ................................................ Josh Malina
Natalie ................................................ Sabrina Lloyd
Kim . ......................................................... Kayla Blake
Elliot ................................................ Greg Baker
Chris ................................................ Timothy Davis-Reed
Will ................................................ Ron Ostrow
Dave ................................................ Jeff Mooring
Joy Behar ................................................ Joy Behar
Meredith Vieira ................................................ Meredith Vieira
Debbie Matenopoulos ................................................ Debbie Matenopoulos
Star Jones ................................................ Star Jones
Monica ................................................ Janel Moloney
Roland Shepard ................................................ Doyle Holman
Sports Night
(TEASER)
FROM THE DARKNESS WE HEAR:
(Dana (VO))
DANA (VO)
Dan/Casey, it's less than five minutes
to air. In fact it's two minutes past
the time I said it was five minutes to air.
FADE UP ON:
INT. DAN AND CASEY'S OFFICE/NEWSROOM/CORRIDORS/
BACKSTAGE/CONTROL ROOM/STUDIO-NIGHT-(NIGHT 1)
(Dan, Casey, Isaac, Dana, Jeremy, Natalie, Kim, Elliot,
Chris, Will, Dave, Monica, Atmosphere)
DAN IS IN THE OFFICE MAKING LAST MINUTE PREPARATIONS. HE'S
ALREADY FULLY DRESSED. CASEY IS WEARING PANTS AND A WHITE
TEE-SHIRT
DAN
Making it what?
CASEY
Three minutes to air.
DAN
Excellent.
CASEY
No paper. No pencil.
DAN
(CALLING) Kim, what's going on with
Kansas/Missouri?
KIM
Missouri's down by four, with a minute
and a half to play, but I think they're gonna win it?
DAN
You think they are?
KIM POPS IN --
KIM
I have a feeling.
CASEY
You have any other feelings you'd like
us to report on the news? You think
it's gonna be a long winter?
DAN
You think the market's gonna rebound?
CASEY
"This just in, our production
associate Kim Cornell has a very
strong feeling that tomorrow's winning
lottery number will be --"
KIM
Don't get persnickety.
CASEY
I'm not getting persnickety.
DAN
(TO CASEY) You were getting a little
persnickety.
CASEY
Then you were too.
DAN
I was sweetly teasing.
CASEY
So was I.
KIM
You were persnickety.
CASEY
I can't even spell persnickety.
KIM
I have no doubt about that.
CASEY
Now you're being persnickety.
KIM
Three minutes.
KIM EXITS --
DAN NOTICES THAT CASEY'S NOT DRESSED.
DAN
You know, I think for that look to
work you need to roll a pack of
cigarettes in your sleeve.
MONICA ENTERS AND PUTS A SHIRT AND TIE ON THE CHAIR. CASEY
GRABS THE NEW SHIRT AND BEGINS PUTTING IT ON.
CASEY
I spilled coffee.
DAN
Vanilla hazelnut?
CASEY
I didn't really get a chance to taste
it.
DAN
I like it.
CASEY
The vanilla hazelnut?
CASEY AND DAN HEAD TOWARD THE STUDIO AS WE:
RESET TO:
INT. NEWSROOM/CORRIDORS/BACKSTAGE - CONTINUOUS - (NIGHT 1)
DAN
Rich, full-bodied blend.
CASEY
Whatever.
DAN
We really have nine hockey segments
tonight?
CASEY
Three shootouts, two penalty shots,
Stefan LeCourier --
DAN
Jerome'll be happy.
CASEY
Who's Jerome?
DAN
Jerome.
CASEY
Right.
DAN
He'll be happy.
CASEY
Yeah.
DAN
Sure.
INT. CORRIDOR:
CASEY
Who is he?
DAN
Jerome?
CASEY
Right.
DAN
I'm talking about Jerome.
CASEY
You can say his name as many times as
you like, I'm still not gonna know who he is.
DAN
Camera two.
CASEY
What about it?
DAN
He's the camera operator.
INT. BACKSTAGE:
CASEY
Who?
DAN
Are you prepared to do a broadcast
right now?
CASEY
Yeah.
DAN
The camera guy!
CASEY
What about him?
DAN
Is Jerome. Jerome is the operator on
camera two.
CASEY
And he likes hockey.
DAN
Now you're with it.
IN THE CONTROL ROOM --
DAVE
60 seconds to VTR, two minutes live.
DANA
Alright, here's a change. We're flip-
flopping the Virginia Slims quarter-
finals and the IOC meeting. Kill 23.
ELLIOT
I never had 23.
DANA
Then you won't miss it much.
ELLIOT EXITS TO THE STUDIO AS JEREMY ENTERS THE CONTROL ROOM --
DANA (CONT'D)
Jeremy, tell me what's happening in
Chattanooga. Tell me quickly, tell me
succinctly. Bullet points. We're on
the air in less than two minutes, so
don't give me a valedictory address.
Talk to me as if I'm a small child.
Tell me what's happening in
Chattanooga.
JEREMY
I don't know what's happening in
Chattanooga.
DANA
(BEAT) Okay. Tell me a little more
than that.
IN THE STUDIO --
DAN
I think, as a New Year's resolution,
you should re-dedicate yourself to the
idea that this is a team. You play for
a team. A team with many players.
CASEY
And you think I should learn their names.
DAN
I think it'd be nice.
CASEY
I agree.
DAN
See a team's made up of a group of
individuals --
CASEY
You're gonna keep talking anyway?
DAN
Individuals who forsake their own
individual needs to pursue a common
goal. The team goal. In our case --
CASEY
Jerome. See? I know his name.
DAN
In our case the goal's a nightly
national television show.
CASEY
I'm sayin' I know the guy's name now.
IN THE CONTROL ROOM --
DAVE
Roll VTR. Show the chyron on
four.
WILL
Four's up.
CHRIS
You've got Tokyo.
NATALIE GETS OFF THE PHONE --
NATALIE
That was Brian in Chattanooga.
DANA
Alright, tell me what he knows. Bullet
points. I can feed it right to Casey
and get it in the tease. (INTO
HEADSET) Casey stand by, I'm gonna
fill the tease. (TO NATALIE) What does
he know?
NATALIE
He doesn't know anything.
DANA
Stop standing by, Casey.
CASEY
What's going on?
DANA
There was an incident at Tennessee
Western involving some black athletes
and a Confederate flag.
CASEY
What happened?
DANA
We don't know.
DAN
Imagine if you might, an image
appropriate for this time a year. I'm
speaking, of course, of a jolly fat-
man riding a sled laden heavy with
gifts.
CASEY
Jerome. I know his name.
DAN
That sled has to move or nobody gets
their gifts. It has to move, and it's
not gonna move by magic, Casey.
CASEY
It's gonna be pulled by a team of
flying reindeer.
DAN
Right, so it is gonna move by magic,
but my point is --
DAVE
In three, two --
CASEY
Good evening, from New York City I'm
Casey McCall alongside Dan Rydell.
Those stories plus we'll head out to
the Hoosier Dome where Bobby Knight's
done a little interior decorating and
we'll leave room for more hockey than
you can shake a big stick at.
DAN
We'll bring you the thrill of victory,
the agony of defeat, and, because
we've got soccer highlights, the sheer
pointlessness of a zero-zero tie.
You're watching Sports Night on CSC,
so stick around.
DAVE
We're out.
ISAAC ENTERS --
KIM
Back in sixty.
ISAAC
What's going on in Chattanooga?
DANA
We don't know.
ISAAC
We don't know?
DANA
We don't know.
ISAAC
We don't know anything?
DANA
We don't know much.
ISAAC
But, fundamentally, we're still a news-
gathering organization, right?
DANA
Sure.
ISAAC
Then what's the problem?
DANA
We're not very good.
ISAAC
That's what I thought.
DANA
Stand-by 10.
(END OF TEASER)
ACT I
(A)
INT. CONTROL ROOM/STUDIO/BACKSTAGE/CORRIDOR/NEWSROOM/DAN AND
CASEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT - (NIGHT1)
(Dan, Casey, Dana, Jeremy, Natalie, Kim, Elliot, Chris, Will, Dave, Atmosphere)
DAVE
Comin' back to Dan in three...two--
DAN
Thank you. Kelly Kirkpatrick in Green
Bay. You look cold, put some clothes
on. Hey folks, look outside. Tinsel,
mistletoe, it can only mean one thing.
Casey?
CASEY
Play of the Year.
DAN
Play o' the Year. Our crack staff has
been debating the subject and we'll
bring you our choice on New Year's
Eve, but we wanna hear from you, so if
you've got a play of the year, you can
contact us at CSC-slash-Sportsnight-
dot-com, or just go on over to Casey's
apartment and knock on the door
anytime.
CASEY
That's all for us. You've been
watching Sports Night on CSC, we'll
see you tomorrow.
DAN
G'night.
DAVE
Music
CHRIS
Go.
DAVE
Animation.
WILL
Go.
DAVE
We're out.
KIM
Camera wrap 12:06.
DAN AND CASEY ARE UNPLUGGED
DAN
Hey, what are you planning on cooking
tomorrow morning?
DAN AND CASEY BEGIN THEIR WALK BACK TO THEIR OFFICE.
RESET TO:
INT. BACKSTAGE/CORRIDOR/NEWSROOM - CONTINUOUS - (NIGHT 1)
CASEY
I'm not cooking. It's not a cooking
show.
DAN
Are you sure?
CASEY
It's a news show.
DAN
"The View"?
INT. CORRIDOR
CASEY
Yeah.
DAN
The one with Barbara Walters and the
four women who cook?
CASEY
They don't cook. It's a news show.
DAN AND CASEY ENTER THEIR OFFICE AS WE:
RESET TO:
INT. DAN AND CASEY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS - (NIGHT 1)
DAN
Who are the other guests?
CASEY
It's just me and another guy.
DAN
Who's the other guy?
CASEY
You're havin' a good time, aren't you?
INT. NEWSROOM
DAN
Who's the other guy?
CASEY
It's Wolfgang Puck, you want a piece
of me?
DAN
No, but thanks.
CASEY
You know, it wouldn't kill you to get
out there and do a little press.
DAN
I've been grounded, remember?
CASEY
How long's the network got you in the
penalty box?
DAN
No public statements for six months.
CASEY
You want me to talk to somebody?
DAN
No.
CASEY
I can.
INT. DAN AND CASEY'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS - (NIGHT 1)
DAN
I'm perfectly happy just doing my job
and keeping my mouth shut. I don't
need to give interviews. I don't even
want to give interviews. I'm happy for
the chance to not give interviews.
CASEY
You don't want me to talk to 'em?
DAN
No.
CASEY
Okay.
DAN
Talk to 'em.
CASEY
Danny --
DAN
I need to give interviews. I like to
give interviews. It's the only chance
I get to talk to a huge group of total
strangers.
CASEY
Except for the hour every night you're on
television.
DAN
That's right.
CASEY
I'll talk to 'em
DANA POPS HER HEAD IN --
DANA
Hey. Knock 'em dead on the cooking
show tomorrow.
CASEY
Thank you.
CUT TO:
PREVIOUSLY SHOT
ACT I
(A)
INT. THE VIEW SET - DAY - (DAY 2)
(Casey, Joy Behar, Meredith Vieira, Star Jones, Debbie
Matenopoulos)
JOY BEHAR, MEREDITH VIEIRA, STAR JONES AND DEBBIE
MATENOPOULOS ARE INTERVIEWING CASEY.
MEREDITH VIEIRA
Welcome back to The View, we're
talking with Casey McCall, co-host of
Sports Night, which can be seen every
night at eleven pm on CSC.
CASEY
Yes, with my partner, Dan Rydell, who
couldn't be here this morning.
JOY BEHAR
Well, I hope he has a good excuse.
CASEY
Yes, he likes to sleep late.
JOY BEHAR
Good enough. Now before we went to
commercial, you were saying that you
and Dan write your own scripts.
CASEY
Yes.
STAR JONES
How does that work?
CASEY
I take the nouns and verbs, Danny
handles the adjectives and
prepositions. Anything with an umlaut,
we toss a coin.
DEBBIE MATENOPOULOS
Now, Casey, we can't let you go
without talking about the neckties.
CASEY
Ah, the neckties.
STAR JONES
The famous neckties.
MEREDITH VIEIRA
I tell my husband every night, "look
at his neckties, that's a man with
good taste."
CASEY
And I'll bet your husband just loves me for that.
MEREDITH VIEIRA
He loves you for many reasons, as do
I, but mostly I love you for the
neckties.
CASEY
I'll take what I can get.
STAR JONES
Now ladies, listen up here. You're
single, is that right?
CASEY
I'm recently divorced.
STAR JONES
Well I think you should know that a
man who knows how to dress himself is a very sexy thing.
CASEY
Which is why so many of us are drawn
to Carrot Top.
STAR JONES
Alright. If you're a sports fan or
just like neckties, don't miss Sports
Night with Dan Rydell and our guest,
Casey McCall, every night at eleven on
CSC. We'll be right back after this.
CUT TO:
ACT I
(C)
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM/NEWSROOM/EXECUTIVE CORRIDOR/ISAAC'S
OFFICE - DAY - (DAY 2)
(Dan, Isaac, Dana, Jeremy, Natalie, Elliot, Chris, Will,
Dave, Atmosphere)
ALL THE USUAL SUSPECTS EXCEPT CASEY
DANA
By the way, in the memos that are
circulating, we're spelling
Chattanooga about 14 different ways,
now what do we know?
JEREMY
Two "o"'s, three "a"'s.
DANA
That's it?
JEREMY
No, there are other letters too.
DANA STARES AT JEREMY
JEREMY (CONT'D)
But surely that's not what you meant.
DANA
No.
JEREMY
Roland Shepard is a tailback from a
small town in western Tennessee called
Tipolo. One "t", one "l".
He rode the bench for two years and
then two weeks ago won the starting
job when Lillias went down with a torn
ACL. He rushed for 218 yards in his
first game, 273 in his second.
NATALIE
That two game total's a conference
record by the way.
JEREMY
He scored four touchdowns on the
ground, two of them against the third-
ranked rushing defense in the nation.
NATALIE
He also caught a pass for a touchdown
and ran a punt back for a touchdown.
JEREMY
No kidding, Isaac, I saw the film, he
can play.
NATALIE
Plus, this guy came to get smart.
JEREMY
He's carrying a 3.3 GPA with a major
in chemical engineering, and the
Engineering Department at Tennessee
Western is for real.
DAN
So what's going on?
JEREMY
They're gonna kick him out of school.
ISAAC
They're threatening to kick him out of
school.
DANA
The Confederate flag?
JEREMY
Yeah, there's gonna be a press
conference in Chattanooga at 3:00. The
rumor is --
NATALIE
And it's pretty solid.
DAN
They fly the flag outside the stadium?
JEREMY
Yeah.
NATALIE
Also, students wave 'em in the stands.
DANA
Nothing you can do about that.
ISAAC
Yeah, but outside the stadium, that's
the school.
JEREMY
Anyway, there'll be a press conference
at three o'clock, we've got it on
satellite. The rumor is that Roland
won't play unless the school takes the
flag down. The school's gonna announce
that Roland's been suspended from the
team, as a result of which his
scholarship will be revoked, as a
result of which, Roland will go back
and pump gas in Tipolo, Tennessee.
DANA
Dan, be on the press conference.
Meantime, I need to hear some plays of
the year by the end of the day. Thank
you.
EVERYONE GETS UP--
NATALIE
Back here at six.
PEOPLE ARE EXITING--
ISAAC
Danny, I need to talk to you.
DAN
Good, 'cause I need to talk to you
too. Who should go first?
ISAAC AND DAN BEGIN WALKING TO ISAAC'S OFFICE AS WE:
RESET TO:
INT. NEWSROOM/EXECUTIVE CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS - (DAY 2)
ISAAC
Well since I don't really care what
you have to say, I think it should be me.
DAN
Fair enough.
ISAAC
Luther Sachs has taken a special
interest in the situation in
Chattanooga.
DAN
He's an alumnus.
ISAAC
He's got a couple of buildings named
after him.
DAN
Yeah, he's a helluva guy.
ISAAC
He's a Southerner.
DAN
Luther Sachs is German.
ISAAC
He's a Southerner for three
generations.
DAN
Faulkner was a Southerner.
ISAAC
Faulker was a Southern Gentlemen.
DAN
There's a difference?
ISAAC
The difference, Danny, is all the
difference.
DAN AND ISAAC ARRIVE AT THE OFFICE AND GO IN AS WE:
RESET TO:
INT. ISAAC'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS - (DAY 2)
DAN
What does Luther want?
ISAAC
A piece on Southern gentlemen.
Southern tradition. The Southern
tradition in sports, in culture, in
history.
DAN
All symbolized by the Confederate
flag.
ISAAC
You learn fast.
DAN
You really wanna do this?
ISAAC
No.
DAN
Then don't.
ISAAC
Danny, there are days I'm just too
tired to fight with that man.
DAN
Well you gotta tell us when it's one
of those days and we'll fight him for you.
ISAAC
You've gotta stop thinking of me as
the champion of all things black.
DAN IS MOMENTARILY STUNNED BY THIS
DAN
If I do his frat boy piece, does he
let me out of the penalty box?
ISAAC
Danny --
DAN
I want to do interviews. I like
talking to people.
ISAAC
It was a six month suspension. You've
got three months left.
DAN
I want time off for good behavior.
Tell him I'll whistle Dixie if he
lets me do my thing.
ISAAC
I'll tell him.
DAN
I never think of you as the champion
of all things black, Isaac. I think of
you as the champion of all things
good. But what do you say we drop it.
ISAAC
That's fine.
DAN
Anything else?
ISAAC
That's all.
DAN LEAVES...
END OF ACT I
ACT II
(D)
FROM THE DARKNESS WE HEAR:
(Casey (ON TAPE), Star Jones (ON TAPE))
STAR JONES (ON TAPE)
Now ladies, listen up here. You're
single is that right?
CASEY (ON TAPE)
I'm recently divorced.
STAR JONES (ON TAPE)
Well I think you should know that a
man who knows how to dress himself is
a very sexy thing.
INT. DAN AND CASEY'S OFFICE - DAY - (DAY 2)
(Casey, Monica)
CASEY IS WATCHING A TAPE OF HIMSELF ON THE TELEVISION.
CASEY (ON TAPE)
Which is why so many of us are drawn
to Carrot Top.
MONICA, A VERY SWEET 25-YEAR-OLD, APPEARS AT THE DOOR.
SHE'S HOLDING SEVERAL DRESS SHIRTS OVER ONE ARM AND
SEVERAL NECKTIES OVER THE OTHER. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT
SHE'S HAD TO SUMMON MOST OF HER COURAGE FOR THIS MOMENT.
MONICA
Excuse me, Mr. McCall?
CASEY
Yeah.
CASEY TURNS OFF THE TV.
MONICA
I'm sorry, is this a bad time?
CASEY
For what?
MONICA
I'd like to ask you a question, but if
you're preparing the show, if this is
a bad time, I can come back.
CASEY
What's your question?
MONICA
What's my name?
CASEY
(BEAT) What's your name?
MONICA
Yes.
CASEY
What are we doing right now?
MONICA
If this is a bad time --
CASEY
I'm sorry, I'm not very good at
remembering names.
MONICA
Who was the number two man on the
Boston Red Sox staff in 1977?
CASEY
It was Ferguson Jenkins.
MONICA
My name's Monica. I'm the assistant
wardrobe supervisor for Sports Night
as well as two other shows here at
CSC. I think you hurt the feelings of
the woman I work for. Her name is
Maureen and she's been working here
since the day you started.
CASEY
I know Maureen.
MONICA
Can I ask you another question?
CASEY
I'm sorry I didn't know your name.
MONICA
(HOLDING UP A NECKTIE) Do you know
what color this is?
CASEY
It's grey.
MONICA
It's called gun metal. Grey has more
ivory in it, gun metal has more blue.
Can you tell me which of these shirts
you should wear it with?
CASEY
I don't know.
MONICA
No you don't. There's no reason why
you should. You're not supposed to
know what shirt goes with what suit or
how a color in a necktie can pick up
your eyes. You're not expected to know
what's going to clash with what Dan's
wearing or what pattern's gonna bleed
when Dave changes the lighting. Mr.
McCall, you get so much attention and
so much praise for what you actually
do, and all of it's deserved. When you
go on a talk-show and get complimented
on something you didn't, how hard
would it be to say "That's not me.
That's a woman named Maureen who's
been working for us since the first
day. It's Maureen who dresses me every
night, and without Maureen, I wouldn't
know gun metal from a hole in the
ground." Do you have an idea what it
wouldn've meant to her? Do you have any
idea how many times she would've
played that tape for her husband and
her kids?
(BEAT) I know this is when it starts
to get busy for you, and I hope I
didn't take up too much of your time.
Please don't tell Maureen I spoke to
you, she'd be pretty mad at me.
CASEY
(PAUSE) I won't, Monica.
MONICA EXITS--
CASEY SITS ALONE FOR A MOMENT BEFORE WE:
CUT TO:
ACT II
(E)
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - EARLY EVENING - (DAY 2)
(Jeremy, Natalie, Kim, Elliot)
NATALIE, JEREMY, ELLIOT, AND KIM ARE SITTING AROUND
THE TABLE
NATALIE
Here's what we're gonna do. We're
gonna make a list of all the sports
moments that are potential plays of
the year. Then we're gonna list the
"pros", and then we're gonna list the
"cons".
JEREMY
Why do women like making lists?
NATALIE
Women don't like making lists.
JEREMY
Yes they do. They're never quite so
happy as when they're making
themselves a little list. You ever
think about why you make lists?
NATALIE
It's so I can cross things off it. You
ever think about why you've got so
much crap in your wallet?
JEREMY
I save my receipts.
NATALIE
You save fortunes from Chinese
restaurants.
ELLIOT
Can we work now?
JEREMY
I think we should, but Natalie's gonna
wanna list the pros and the cons.
KIM
Women's ice-hockey.
JEREMY
You're kidding.
KIM
The U.S. women's team won the first
Olympic Gold Medal in ice hockey and
there were over 4000 fans in the arena
to see 'em do it.
JEREMY
They beat a team of Slovakian cocktail
waitresses and there were over 4000
people at my cousin Jacob's bar
mitzvah.
ELLIOT
(TO JEREMY) What do you got?
JEREMY
Mark McGwire hits 70.
KIM
It's a little obvious.
JEREMY
Our goal isn't to be cunning, is it?
NATALIE
Can we keep this organized? Pros and
cons.
JEREMY
Well, the pro is that he broke an
unbreakable record, and the con is Kim
likes women's ice-hockey.
NATALIE
What's next?
JEREMY
Jeff Gordon.
KIM
No.
JEREMY
Why?
KIM
'Cause it's NASCAR and who gives a
damn.
JEREMY
Who gives a damn?
KIM
How many people give a good damn?
JEREMY
Well, it's the most popular sport in
the world, so probably more than 4000.
NATALIE
Next.
JEREMY
Alright. Austrian skier Herman Meier
NATALIE
Pros.
JEREMY
He got up from one of the most
horrific accidents in Olympic history
and won the Gold Medal two days later.
NATALIE
Cons.
KIM
It's downhill skiing.
JEREMY
And?
KIM
Who gives a damn.
JEREMY
You're just orange juice and sunshine
today, aren't you, Kim?
CUT TO:
ACT II
(H)
INT. ISAAC'S OFFICE - NIGHT- (NIGHT 2)
(Dan, Isaac, Roland Shepard (On-Tape), Atmosphere)
ISAAC IS WATCHING A TAPE OF A PRESS CONFERENCE. ON THE
TELEVISION, A YOUNG BLACK FOOTBALL PLAYER, ROLAND SHEPARD,
STANDS AT A SMALL BANK OF MICROPHONES DELIVERING A STATEMENT.
ONE SHOULDN'T GET THE IMPRESSION THAT THIS IS THE WORLD'S
MOST IMPORTANT PRESS CONFERENCE.
ROLAND (ON TAPE)
It was very important to my parents,
and to their parents, that I be the
first in my family to attend college.
But I can't imagine that any of them
would feel anything but shame and
humiliation at the sight of me playing
football under that flag.
DAN (OS)
What's gonna happen to him?
ISAAC IS SURPRISED TO SEE DAN STANDING IN THE DOORWAY. HE
TURNS OFF THE TELEVISION.
ISAAC
I keep watching it over and over. I
think it's all I've done today.
DAN
Shepard'll get picked up by another
school.
ISAAC
I'd imagine. The thing is, six of his
teammates stepped down too. Six of
them. Two of them white. None of them
starters. They're the ones who are
gonna have some trouble. What'd you
come in to tell me?
DAN
I wrote the piece.
ISAAC
I'll tell Luther to watch it.
DAN
It takes the position the Confederate
flag is a symbol of a culture. A
culture with a great tradition of
literature and art, music and
architecture, great statesmen...
ISAAC
That's crap.
DAN
Is it?
ISAAC
It is.
DAN
The South doesn't have a tradition of
great art, literature and
architecture?
ISAAC
Yes, and the symbols of that are the
paintings, the books, and the
buildings.
DAN
What do you say to the First
Amendment?
ISAAC
I'm not suggesting it should be
illegal. It's still wrong, though.
DAN
You ready to join the thought police?
ISAAC
Don't give me that, Danny, this is
serious.
DAN
I know it's serious, so what're you
doin'? Why are you telling me to
write this garbage?
ISAAC
I'm not telling you to do anything.
DAN
I think we're all pretty surprised
that you're not doing a commentary
yourself. What's going on?
ISAAC CLOSES THE DOOR.
ISAAC
I don't want to make this into a big
deal.
DAN
You don't want to make what into a big
deal?
ISAAC
Luther's looking for an opportunity to
fire me. (BEAT) He has been for about
six months.
DAN
Are you sure?
ISAAC
No.
DAN
'Cause I think you're wrong.
ISAAC
I'm not.
DAN
He has a lot of respect for you,
Isaac, and while I may not like the
guy, he's sure no idiot.
ISAAC
I like my life right now. I've never
been happier. I used to pick fights
with management twice a day, just like
you. They wanted to fire me, that was
fine, there was always someone who
wanted to hire me. That's not the way
it is now. Luther can hire a guy half
my age to do my job. I like my life
right now. I'm proud of this show.
DAN
I can't believe it. I come in here
with you talkin' about those six
players who stood by Roland Shepard,
and you don't have the same respect
for the people who work for you? You
think if Luther ever showed you the
door there wouldn't be about a hundred
people who'd walk out right behind
you?
ISAAC SAYS NOTHING...LOOKS DOWN...
DAN (CONT'D)
There's something real bad goin' on in
Chattanooga, Isaac. And Luther can fix
it. And you know it.
Tell Dana to throw this one out of the
run-down. Tell her you're gonna do a
two minute editorial.
ISAAC
Not this time.
DAN
(BEAT) Okay.
ISAAC
Yeah. (BEAT) Danny, don't tell anyone
about what I said.
DAN
Sure.
DAN STARTS TO LEAVE, THEN STOPS...
DAN (CONT'D)
You know, Isaac, I've never been to
your house. I was just wondering.
(BEAT) Where do you keep your Pulitzer
Prize?
DAN LOOKS AT ISAAC FOR A MOMENT LONGER... THEN LEAVES.
ISAAC STANDS ALONE AS WE
CUT TO:
ACT II
(J)
INT. CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT - (NIGHT 2)
(Isaac, Dana, Jeremy, Natalie, Kim, Chris, Will, Dave)
THE USUAL PRE-SHOW ACTIVITY--
DAVE
60 seconds to VTR. Two minutes live.
JEREMY
The Yankees win the World Series.
DANA
That came as a big shock after they
won 114 games.
JEREMY
What is it with this element of
surprise you people are looking for?
DANA
You know what we're forgetting?
JEREMY
What?
DANA
Michael Jordan and the Bulls win the
NBA championship.
JEREMY
Yeah, there's something that doesn't
happen a lot.
DANA
(TO DAVE, CHRIS AND WILL) What do you
guys think?
DAVE
Us?
DANA
Yeah, what do you think?
DAVE
About what?
JEREMY
Play of the year.
DANA
We're eight days away.
DAVE
Ah.
NATALIE
What do you think?
WILL
We're studio technicians.
DANA
Yes I know.
CHRIS
These are editorial questions.
DANA
Yes, but we want to hear what you have
to say.
CHRIS
Really?
JEREMY
Go ahead. There are no wrong answers.
KIM
Nothing's too stupid to suggest.
JEREMY
Except women's ice-hockey, but Kim
pretty much has that covered.
NATALIE
So what do you think?
DAVE
You really want to know?
DANA
Absolutely.
DAVE
Mark O'Meara winning two majors.
CHRIS
Cal Ripken ending the streak.
WILL
Peyton Manning.
DANA, NATALIE, JEREMY, ELLIOT AND KIM JUST LOOK AT THEM FOR A
MOMENT...
DANA
Well that was a colossal waste of
time.
ISAAC ENTERS...
ISAAC
Good evening.
DANA
Isaac, I haven't seen you all night.
ISAAC
Dana, I'm sorry to do this to you on
such short notice, but I'd like two
minutes of air-time tonight.
DANA
(STARTING TO BEAM) Really?
ISAAC
If you need to make some room, I
believe you can dump the piece Danny
was planning on doing. I don't think
he'll mind.
DANA
(BEAT) No I don't believe he will.
ISAAC
(STUDYING DANA) He said something to
you, didn't he?
DANA LOOKS AT ISAAC FOR A LONG MOMENT BEFORE...
DANA
Will, would you get Isaac wired up,
please.
WILL
Sure.
CUT TO:
ACT II
(K)
INT. STUDIO/CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT - (NIGHT 2)
(Dan, Casey, Isaac, Dana, Jeremy, Natalie, Kim, Elliot,
Chris, Will, Dave)
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BROADCAST. AS CASEY ADDRESSES THE
CAMERA, WE CAN SEE THAT ISAAC IS SEATED IN DAN'S CHAIR, AND
DAN IS OFF TO THE SIDE WATCHING.
CASEY
...accounting for the Bengals' record
against division opponents. Don't
forget, the single most important stat
in predicting success in football is
what? It's yards gained per pass
attempt. Earlier in the show, we told
you about Roland Shepard and the six
other players who were dropped from
their team and then their school for
refusing to play football under the
Confederate flag. Here's Isaac Jaffee,
managing editor of Sports Night, with
an editorial comment. Isaac?
ISAAC
Thank you, Casey. Exaudio, Comperio,
Conloquor. That's a Latin phrase that
translates: To Listen, To Learn, To
Speak.
Thos words are carved into the stone
arches that form the entrance to the
undergraduate library at Tennessee
Western University. The stones
themselves were hauled to the site by
an elite delegation from the Army
Corps of Engineers. What made this
group elite was that its members were
drawn from the Delaware 44th Rifle
Battalion and the Tennessee 14th: The
Tennessee Volunteers. They worked
together on one of the first post-war
restoration projects. The building of
a college. This afternoon, an
extraordinary young man named Roland
Shepard made what had to have been an
excruciating decision. He said he
wasn't playing football under a
Confederate flag. Six of his teammates
then chose not to let Shepard stand
alone. I don't know how many people
witnessed this spectacle, but it was a
sight to see. Seven men, the oldest of
them not yet 21 and all of them
knowing full well the potential
consequence of their actions. And I
choose to join them at this moment.
In the history of the South, there's
much to celebrate. And that flag is a
desecration of all of it. It's a
banner of hatred and separation. It's
a banner of ignorance and violence and
a war that pitted brother against
brother, and to ask young black men
and women, young Jewish men and women,
Asians, Native Americans, to ask
Americans to walk beneath its shadow
is a humiliation of irreducable
proportions. And we all know it.
Tennessee Western has produced some
outstanding alumni in the last hundred
years. People of wisdom and vision.
Strength and compassion. One of them is
Luther Sachs. Luther Sachs owns
Continental Corp, which owns the
Continental Sports Channel, which you're
watching right now. Luther Sachs is a
generous alumni contributor to Tennessee
Western with a considerable influence
over its Chancellor, Davis Blake, and
its Board of Trustees. Luther, you've
got a phone call to make.
You've got to call Chancellor Blake and
tell him to take down that flag or he
can stop looking for your checks in the
mail. You've got to put these young men
back in a classroom, and I mean pronto.
These boys are gonna make you proud one
day, Luther. I challenge you to do the
right thing. Not an unreasonable request
to make of a man whose alma mater
declares Exaudio, Comperio, Conloquor.
To Listen, To Learn, To Speak. In the
meantime, God go with you, Roland
Shepard and you six Southern Gentlemen
of Tennessee. God's not done with any of
you yet.
CASEY WAITS A MOMENT OR TWO BEFORE...
CASEY
That was our managing editor, Isaac
Jaffee. We'll be back.
DAVE
We're out.
CASEY
You can bring it, boss.
DAN'S ABOUT TO HAVE KITTENS --
DAN
You know I could kiss you on the mouth
right now, right?
ISAAC
Then stay over there.
DAN
I could get very physical with you
right now.
ISAAC
Danny --
DAN
I'm having some very kooky thoughts.
DAN FOLLOWS ISAAC INTO THE CONTROL ROOM. AS SOON AS THE DOOR
OPENS, EVERYONE STANDS AND BEGINS APPLAUDING.
ISAAC
Thank you all.
DANA
Isaac, I can't even...that was...I
mean...you were...I'm serious--
ISAAC
Alright, we've lost radio contact with
Dana.
JEREMY
Isaac.
ISAAC
Yeah.
JEREMY
No kidding. Play of the Year.
ISAAC
Thanks Jeremy.
KIM STEPS IN FROM THE SOUND ROOM--
KIM
Isaac?
EVERYONE QUIETS DOWN...KIM IS LOOKING AT ISAAC...
ISAAC
Showtime?
KIM
(QUIETLY) Luther Sachs on line 4.
ISAAC NODS, THEN STARTS TOWARD THE SOUND ROOM...
DAN
Isaac?
ISAAC TURNS AROUND...
DAN (CONT'D)
Right behind you.
ISAAC NODS AGAIN, THEN STEPS OUT OF THE ROOM.
DAVE
Back in 10.
DAN HEADS BACK OUT TO THE STUDIO AND TAKES HIS SEAT...
DANA
It was... I've never... I mean, I'm
serious... that was just--
DAVE
In three...two--
CASEY
That's all for tonight, but before we
sign off, we felt that with Christmas
only a few days off and people making
up lists and checking them twice, it
was as good a time as any to mention
some people who are important to us
here at the show. It seems that quite
a few of you, for instance, like the
way Dan and I dress on the air, and
you should know that we're dressed by
Maureen Gates and Joseph Roveto.
Maureen and Joseph are assisted by a
young woman named Monica Brazelton,
and Monica is not to be trifled with.
DAN
Our camera operators are Ray, Wayne,
Bruce, John and Jerome, who wishes
we'd do more features on hockey.
CASEY
Not gonna happen, Jerome. Every time
I pick up a pencil or put down a
coffee mug, that's Jodie Mann, and her
trusty aide John Frantz, and if you've
ever wondered what a gaffer was, or a
best boy, you should ask Keith and
Mark.
DAN
We've got some people who don't get
paid much, but that's okay, 'cause the
hours are terrible. They're our PA's,
and their names are Lauren, Victoria,
Jake, Lee, Ashley and Brad.
CASEY
This is a script. Dan and I write it
and then two people come along and put
it together so that we can also read
it. Their names are Joan and Chris and
they, us and everyone else here are
pretty much at the mercy of the script
supervisor, Carol McKechnie, who's got
a little thing for me, and I think
it's time she admits it.
DAN
Keri McIntyre--
CASEY
Nicole Burke--
DAN
Shawn Manley--
CASEY
Jeff Wheat--
DAN
Mark Johnson--
CASEY
Cajun!
DAN
Cajun.
CASEY
How 'bout Skip Cook--
DAN
How 'bout Phil Heath--
CASEY
How 'bout Karen, Julie and Angela in
make-up--
DAN
How 'bout Brenda, Cammy and Jody in
hair--
CASEY
We've got music on this show. You know
who writes it?
DAN
Snuffy Walden. You know who edits it?
CASEY
Stuart Goetz.
DAN
We've got film on this show. You know
who cuts it?
CASEY
Janet Ashikaga. You know who her
assistant is?
DAN
Laura the Wonderful.
CASEY
We've just named a small fraction of
the people who put this show on
television, which means we've left out
many more and we'll try and rectify
that as we head toward December 25th.
But for now, I'm Casey McCall
alongside Dan Rydell, wishing everyone
in your home, along with everyone here
at my home a happy Chanukah and a very
merry Christmas.</i>
DAN
G'night everyone.
FADE TO BLACK.
END OF SHOW |
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