Sports Night episode 3.3: "The Night The Lights Went Out" - Mythical Airdate: October 25, 2000

Open on Dan and Casey's office. Dan and Jeremy are both sitting in chairs, Dan has a bowl of popcorn in hand and they are both looking at the television in the corner by the door.

Dan: "Can you believe this?"

Jeremy: "This sucks! I've been looking forward to this game all week."

Casey walks in

Casey: "What's the score?"

Dan: "The power's out in Chapel Hill, there is no score, the game hasn't even started yet."

Casey: "The game hasn't started yet?"

Jeremy: "Well, Casey, it's kinda hard to play in the dark."

Casey: "Really Jeremy? Thanks for the tip. So, is it the whole city or just the stadium?"

Dan: "Just the stadium."

Casey: "So, are they going to fix it anytime soon?"

Dan: "Why are you so worried about it? We're the ones that wanted to watch the game."

Casey: "What I'm saying is if the game hasn't started yet, it's not going to end on time, is it?"

Jeremy: "So?"

Casey shakes his head

Casey: "What's on after the game?"

Dan: "Our show. You know that."

Casey: "And..."

Dan: "Suddenly your point has materialized."

Jeremy: "Oh, Dana's going to be thrilled about this."

Casey: "Tell me about it. So, what's the deal, are they going to fix this problem? Because, if they don't restart the game, we don't have anything to worry about."

Dan: "They said they're working on it."

Jeremy: "Who's going to tell Dana?"

Casey and Dan look at each other and then slowly turn to Jeremy

Jeremy: "Oh no! No way!"

Casey: "You're a producer Jeremy, you have to handle these things. We're on-air talent, we've got a show to write."

Dan: "That's right!"

Jeremy: "And a fine job you seem to be doing."

Dan: "We're getting mentally prepared Jeremy, this isn't a quick process."

Jeremy: "Right."

Casey: "So...go tell Dana."

Jeremy: "I've got a better idea."

Casey: "Like what."

Jeremy heads out of the office

Jeremy: "Elliot!"

Dan and Casey both shake their heads

Casey: "Ah yes, passing the torch."

Dan: "A real smart move."

Casey: "Hard to argue with that plan."

Dan: "Oh yeah, because we all know Elliot's not going to do the same thing."

Casey: "Elliot is very responsible, I'm sure he'll have no problem telling Dana."

Dan: "Right, so now that it's just the two of us..."

Casey: "Why do I get the feeling you're about to hound me about something?""

Dan rolls his chair over in front of Casey

Dan: "I've come up with a plan, a plan to get over Rebecca."

Casey: "Oh really? This should be good."

Dan: "Could you can the sarcasm for a minute?"

Casey: "Fine, what's the plan."

Dan: "I'm going to ignore women."

Casey: "Oh yeah, that's a great plan."

Dan: "Well, maybe ignore them isn't the right word. Let me go ahead and spread this out for you in a nutshell."

Casey: "Danny..."

Dan: "Works every time. Listen, I'm the type of guy who goes up to women, I approach women, I talk to them, am I wrong?"

Casey: "So far, I'd say you're 100 percent correct."

Dan: "Okay, well, I'm not going to do that anymore. I'm going to lay back and I'm not going to worry about such things any longer."

Casey: "Okay...keep going."

Dan: "That's it, that's the whole plan."

Casey: "That's it? Wow, Danny, you must have really had to think this one out."

Dan: "Casey, I'm not saying it's fool-proof, but hey, if I can keep my mind of women for awhile, I can keep my mind of Rebecca."

Casey: "Ya know what, as crazy as it sounds, you might be onto something."

Dan: "So you're with me on this?"

Casey: "With you all the way, my friend."

Dan: "Good."

Dan rolls back over to his desk as Casey begins typing on his computer. Dana then walks in.

Dana: "Hey Danny."

Dan: "Hey."

Dana: "Casey, Elliot said you had something you needed to tell me?"

Casey looks up and sighs as Dan chuckles and the show goes to commercial

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Open on the conference room, Dana, Casey, Dan, Jeremy, Natalie, Kim, Will, Chris, and Dave are sitting around the table. Elliot is standing in the corner as are a couple of other unidentified staffers.

Dana: "All right, I just got off the phone with Sally in Chapel Hill and here's the situation. It's currently after ten PM and the lights are going to be back on in the stadium any minute. So, they're going to play the game. It should kickoff at 10:30, which means it's going to wrap close to 2 am. Now, as you already know, with Sally and her crew in Chapel Hill for College Football Tonight, we were going to be producing West Coast Update. However, we're going to run Sports Night after the game with our usual crew in the control room and Peter and Paul at the desk."

Dan: "Hang on, Peter and Paul at the desk? What about us?"

Dana: "Danny, the network is already flying them in from their assignment in Los Angeles. They don't want to pay to fly them in here and then not use them."

Casey: "So, instead they're not going to use us?"

Dana: "This isn't my call Casey, it's coming from the network."

Casey: "I thought we were the 'A' team."

Dana: "You are...just not tonight."

Dan: "So, let me get this straight, as of right now, we're done for the night."

Dana: "Basically, yes."

Casey: "So, we're free to go?"

Dana: "Yep."

Dan and Casey look at each other

Dan: "Okay, that works for us."

Casey: "Hey, when exactly is Isaac supposed to be getting in?"

Natalie: "He's supposed to be meeting with us right now Casey."

Casey looks around, fake confused look on his face

Natalie: "He's running late."

Dan: "Ya know, I still don't get it. He tells Jeremy he's retiring, instead of all of us, and then he takes a week off. It's almost like he's afraid to face us."

Jeremy: "Dan's got a point."

The door opens and in walks Isaac, in khaki pants, a Hawaiian print shirt, and a straw hat. Dan immediately begins laughing.

Casey: "What are you supposed to be?"

Isaac: "I just got back from Hawaii, Casey. I came straight from the airport to here. Danny, knock it off."

Dan's laughter subsides slowly

Dana: "So, I believe you have something to tell us?"

Isaac: "Oh yeah, my trip was incredible."

Dana: "Isaac!"

Isaac: "Now calm down..."

Dana: "Calm down? You're retiring and you couldn't even come to us in person and tell us? You go through Jeremy?"

Isaac smiles

Dana: "You think this is funny!?"

Isaac: "Oh yeah, I'm having a ball over here."

Dana stands up as the rest of the crew just looks on, silent

Dana: "Isaac!"

Isaac: "Now Dana, don't start. I told Jeremy because I knew I was leaving for the week and I wanted to have a little fun with you guys. After everything you've done to me over the years, it was time for me to get you back and it looks like it worked. Now, as for me retiring, yes I am. But, I didn't give Jeremy the whole story. I'm retiring as a full-time employee, I'm retiring as the Managing Editor of Sports Night, but I'm not going anywhere. When I told Calvin Trager I was retiring, he offered me a job as a special consultant to the network, specifically for this show, and I accepted. So, I'm not going to be here every day, but I'm going to be here a lot. You didn't honestly think you could get rid of me this easily did you?"

The whole crew smiles as Dana sits back down, surprised by this

Dana: "So, you're still going to be here?"

Isaac: "Not every day, but I'll be around."

Dana: "And you couldn't have told us this before?"

Isaac: "And ruin this moment!? I wouldn't have missed this for the world."

Dan: "Well, sir, I must say that you certainly scored on this one." Isaac: "Tell me about it."

Isaac sits down as Dana smiles uncontrollably

Isaac: "So, what's going on in Chapel Hill?"

Dan: "Before you go into that, we're free to go right?"

Dana: "Yes, you are."

Dan turns to Casey

Dan: "Let's go down to Anthony's and catch the game."

Casey: "Right behind you."

They both get up and head out of the room

Isaac: "Don't they have to work tonight?"

Dana: "It's a long story."

Isaac: "Well, let's here it...after all, I'm not going anywhere."

Cut to a transitional exterior shot of New York

(SCENE CHANGE)

Open on the Sports Night newsroom, Jeremy is on the phone, and taking notes, as Natalie, Dana, Will, Chris, Dave, and Elliot can be seen in the background playing garbage can basketball. Isaac is sitting in a chair, watching the game behind them.

Jeremy: "And you're one hundred percent certain about this? (Pauses) Okay, well, thanks a lot Doug. (Pauses) Yeah, I'll talk to ya later."

Jeremy hangs up the phone and stands up.

Jeremy: "We've got something!"

The others stop playing and turn to him as Isaac mutes the television

Dana: "What are you talking about?"

Jeremy: "I just got off the phone with my source in the NFL front office and we've got a gambling ring involving 6 players from 4 different teams, including three Pro Bowl players."

Dana: "You're kidding me!"

Natalie: "Do we have names?"

Jeremy: "I've got them right here."

Dana: "Does anyone else know?"

Jeremy: "Not now, but it's just a matter of time."

Dana: "We've got to get this on the air. Elliot, how much time is left in the first half?"

Elliot: "11 minutes."

Isaac: "We can run it at halftime."

Dana: "You'll let us cut in."

Isaac: "Of course, this is a big story."

Dana: "Okay, Chris, Will, Dave, let's get this put together. Jeremy, I need copy. Kim, get the names from Jeremy and begin putting together some video."

Chris, Will, and Dave all head to the control room as Jeremy sits back down at his computer and begins conferring with Kim.

Natalie: "Dana?"

Dana: "What?"

Natalie: "We don't have any anchors."

Dana's eyes widen as this just hits her

Dana: "Well, when do Peter and Paul get in?"

Natalie: "12:45."

Dana: "That's too late. Elliot, call Casey's cell phone, get them back here."

Elliot: "I'm on it."

Dana turns to Natalie

Dana: "We've got to get this on the air."

Dana turns

Elliot: "It's ringing."

Isaac walks by Dan and Casey's office, in the background, and then stops and walks in.

Elliot: "I'm not getting an answer."

Dana: "Why isn't he answering his phone!?"

Isaac walks out of the office holding a ringing cell phone

Isaac: "I think this might clear that up."

Dana sighs as she and Natalie both head into the conference room

Dana: "Now what are we going to do?"

Natalie: "Well, we can give to the College Football Tonight crew."

Dana: "I'm not giving this to Sally, Natalie."

Natalie: "Dana..."

Dana: "I mean it! This is our story, we got it, and we're running it. End of discussion."

Natalie: "Okay, fine. Didn't they say they were going to Anthony's?"

Dana: "That's right! Elliot!"

Dana heads back into the newsroom

Elliot: "What's up?"

Dana: "Call Anthony's, ask for Dan or Casey."

Elliot: "Right."

Dana: "We're going to get this."

Cut to Anthony's, Dan and Casey are sitting at the bar.

Dan: "Hey, what time do you have?"

Casey: "I've got 11:30."

Dan: "So, it's 11:30, we're both sitting here, nothing to do."

Casey: "Right..."

They both look at each other

Dan: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Casey: "Are you thinking Atlantic City?"

Dan: "Yes I am, my good friend!"

Casey: "Let's go!"

They both stand up and throw money on the bar and head out at a quick pace. Jack walks up and grabs the money and then the phone rings. He answers it.

Jack: "Anthony's. (Pause) Actually, you just missed them. (Pause) Yeah, I heard them say something about Atlantic City. (Pause) Yeah, no problem."

Jack hangs up the phone as we cut back to Elliot, who is doing the same. Dana, Natalie, and Isaac are all waiting behind him.

Dana: "Well?"

Elliot: "They just left."

Dana: "Did he say where they were going?"

Elliot: "Atlantic City."

Dana: "Atlantic City!? (Turns to Natalie) Now what are we going to do?"

Natalie: "Well, you're going to have to either give it to Sally or wait until the show and risk being beaten to the punch."

Isaac: "Let's put Natalie on the air."

Natalie: "What!?"

Isaac: "You can do the report, it's already written, it's short, you can do it."

Natalie turns to Dana

Dana: "Let's do it."

Natalie: "Seriously?"

Dana: "Do you have a better idea?"

Natalie: "Not really."

Dana: "Well then, go see wardrobe, get ready."

Kim walks in

Kim: "Two minutes to go in the half."

Dana turns to Natalie

Dana: "Make it quick."

Natalie walks off quickly as Dana turns to Isaac

Dana: "Is this going to work?"

Isaac: "We'll see."

Dana smiles and they both head towards the control room

Dana: "You know I'm going to have to get you back for that retirement stunt."

Isaac chuckles and puts his arm around Dana as the show goes to commercial

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

Show comes back and we see Natalie sitting at the anchor desk, looking nervous, Jeremy comes walking up.

Jeremy: "You're going to do fine."

Natalie: "I'm not so sure."

Jeremy: "I believe in you Natalie, everyone in that control room believes you can do this, you're going to do fine."

Natalie: "You really think so?"

Jeremy: "Absolutely."

Natalie: "Thanks, Jeremy."

Jeremy heads into the control room as Elliot comes walking by

Natalie: "Any words of encouragement Elliot?"

Elliot: "Don't screw up."

Natalie: "Thanks a lot."

Elliot: "No problem."

Dave (over intercom): "We're live in 10."

Natalie takes a deep breath

(SCENE CHANGE)

Cut to Dan and Casey's office, as the door swings open and in they walk.

Casey: "I know I left it in here."

Dan: "How could you forget your cell phone?"

Casey: "Do you realize that's like the 25th time you've asked me that in the last 10 minutes? Do you realize that?"

Dan: "Well, I want to go Casey. We're supposed to be on our way to Atlantic City right now and we're back at the office because someone can't remember a cell phone."

We see a CSC Breaking News graphic come up on the monitor as Dan and Casey begin digging around the office. Natalie begins the report, but we have no sound.

Dan: "I'm not seeing it."

Casey: "It's gotta be in here."

Dan turns and catches a glimpse of the monitor and his eyes widen. He begins tapping Casey repeatedly.

Dan: "Hey Casey...you might want to look at this."

Casey: "Did you find it?"

Casey turns around and sees the monitor

Casey: "What the hell?"

Dan and Casey both quickly leave their office and head through the newsroom and then into the control room

Dan: "What's going on?"

Dana looks up, surprised

Dana: "What are you guys doing here? I thought you were going to Atlantic City."

Dan: "We are, Casey forgot his cell phone...wait, how did you know we were going to Atlantic City?"

Casey: "Who cares? What's happening here?"

Dana: "Hang on...(into microphone) Wrap it up Natalie."

Cut to the studio

Natalie: "We'll have more on this on our late edition of Sports Night. I'm Natalie Hurley, and this has been a CSC exclusive. We'll send you back to Mike Greenwey in Chapel Hill right after this."

Cut back to the control room

Dave: "And we're out."

Dana (into microphone): "Great job Natalie."

Casey: "Okay, can you explain what just happened here?"

Dana: "Jeremy got a call from his source in the NFL offices about a gambling ring, names and everything. We tried to get a hold of you, we called your cell phone, but, you left it here. We called Anthony's, but we just missed you. We had to get it on the air, so..."

Casey: "You had Natalie do it?"

Dana: "That's right."

Dan and Casey look at each other and then both head into the studio.

Dan: "Great job Natalie."

Natalie: "What are you guys doing here?"

Dan: "Casey forgot his cell phone."

Natalie: "Oh, so, you really thought it was good."

Casey: "Well, actually, we didn't even see most of it, but what we saw was good."

Natalie: "Good enough for me."

Jeremy comes out of the control room and hugs Natalie and then stands next to her, with his arm around her as Isaac comes walking up from his usual seat in the studio. He hands Casey his cell phone..

Casey: "Thank you. (turns to Natalie) Well, there ya go Natalie. You're first on-screen work. How do you feel?"

Natalie: "Honestly, I'm just glad it's over."

Isaac: "You did very well."

Natalie: "Thank you."

Jeremy: "Really, it was good."

Natalie: "Well, it never would have happened without your source."

Casey: "And ya know, none of this would have happened if the lights hadn't went out in Chapel Hill."

Dan: "Well, that's sports."

Casey: "Yes, indeed. Ya know, Dan and I were just about to head to Atlantic City, but we're here and you're all stuck here for the show. How about we play some cards here?"

Dan: "I'm all for it."

Isaac: "I can play a few hands."

Jeremy: "Well, last time this happened, I got a whole lot richer, so you know I'm in."

Natalie: "I'm out. I still owe Jeremy a couple thousand from last time."

They all laugh

Dan: "I'll go get the cards."

Casey: "Let's meet in the conference room in ten minutes."

Dan and Casey walk off to the left as Isaac heads into the control room where Dana and Kim are filling out papers and Dave, Chris, and Will are getting up from their chairs.

Isaac: "We're playing poker in the conference room in ten minutes. You guys coming?"

Dave: "I'm in."

Chris: "Yeah, I'll play a little."

Will: "Sure."

Kim: "I'll watch."

Dana: "We're playing poker?"

Isaac: "Don't say it."

Dave: "Really, for the love of god."

Dana: "Fine, but let me tell you something, you guys are no fun."

Dana walks out of the room as Isaac sighs.

Isaac: "I can't believe we avoided that one."

Dave laughs

(SCENE CHANGE)

Cut to the conference room. Jeremy, Casey, Dan, Dana, Isaac, Will, Chris, and Dave are all sitting in chairs, cards in hand as Elliot, Kim, and Natalie are standing in the background looking on.

Casey: "Ya know, this is almost better than Atlantic City."

Dan: "Almost."

Casey: "Right."

Jeremy: "Plus, if you were in Atlantic City, you probably wouldn't be in debt to me right now."

Casey: "Yeah, thanks for reminding me."

Isaac: "You know it's moments like this that make it clear that I may never be able to leave this place."

Dave gives Dana her card and she looks at it and smiles

Dana: "Shoe money tonight!"

They all groan

Isaac: "Ya know, on second thought..."

They all laugh and Dave continues to deal the cards as we pull back on the scene and then fade to black

--

"Sports Night" is the creation of Aaron Sorkin and the writer of this story has no affiliation to him, nor to Touchstone Television, ABC, Disney, or anyone else for that matter.