Shoutout to Ryan.
DANIEL: Sars, I can't concentrate on doing a recap right now. The Expos just fired Felipe Alou.
SARS: What's a Felipe Alou?
DANIEL: The manager of the Expos. You know. Baseball.
SARS: Oh, him. They still have baseball in Montreal?
DANIEL: Yes. Kind of. But Felipe is gone.
SARS: Okay, but it's not like he's dead or anything.
DANIEL: Feels like it. But my heart will go on.
SARS: I'm hanging up now.
DANIEL: Wait! It's just, you know, June and the hockey playoffs are still on and so are the NBA playoffs and now this. It's all a bit much for me.
SARS: What are you, twelve?
DANIEL: I'm sitting here trying to write and I can't do it. I'm blocked.
SARS: Write another one of your patented sad love-life stories. That could get you going.
DANIEL: That might work.
ASHLEY JUDD: Daniel, come back to bed.
DANIEL: Yeah, that works.
SARS: Was that Ashley Judd?
DANIEL: Sure, why not? Gotta go.
SARS: [Sighing.] Okay, now that your inspiration has returned, I'm expecting a recap.
DANIEL: I won't let MBTV down. [Hangs up]
ASHLEY JUDD: MBTV? Was that Wing Chun?
DANIEL: She's like Wing Chun, only meaner. Now, come here, Ashley Judd.
Show fades up on Dan talking about an upcoming boxing match in Vegas, and he makes a "joke" about how he understands they recently legalized gambling there. And we're out of the gate! Dana tells Dan to fill for fifteen seconds. "Thinking" quickly, he says, "Our producer, Dana Whitaker, has asked me to fill for fifteen seconds, but I honestly don't have anything to say," and we can hear Dana saying, "Dan!" in his earpiece as Dan says, "She's begging me now." I'm thankful that it was only fifteen seconds he had to fill, because I couldn't have taken this "hilarity" for another moment. I mean, I've used quotation marks ironically three times already this recap. Dan throws to Casey's stupid rectangle head and Casey signs off, breaking the news to the viewers that he's off tomorrow but he'll be back on Friday. I love how broadcasters feel the need to tell people when they're not working, like when you turn on the news and a guest anchor introduces him or herself and says, "Such-and-such is off tonight," just in case we couldn't tell they're off by the fact that, you know, they're not there. Anyway, the show's over. Casey says, "Here's the thing," which by now we know means that it's time for a Casey Problem. But before we get to it, we have to back into it by Casey saying he doesn't have to take the night off, but Danny thinks that when his turn comes up in the rotation, he should take it, and he translates Casey's willingness to forego his night off as Casey actually being a big wuss who wants to get out of a date.
Into the meeting room they go, Casey denying that it's even a date. Dan calls him a wuss again. Casey says, "Look, can we be men for a second?" Dan says, "We are Devo!" Well, no, he doesn't, but I think the jury's going to be out on the man question for a while. Especially since Casey then admits that it's a date because of the following three reasons: It's a blind date, it's a double date, plus "it's a date." Also, he admits he doesn't want to go. "Wow," says Dan, as they enter their office. "What?" says Casey. "You're just a really big wuss," says Dan. They leave their office, narrowly avoiding a collision with Isaac and Dana as they go swooping by, and it occurs to me that this show doesn't need directors as much as it needs air traffic controllers, like I'm half surprised oxygen masks didn't just drop from the ceiling of the newsroom.
Dana is trying to tell Isaac she doesn't need her night off, which also happens to be tomorrow. What a coincidence! Isaac says he thought she had plans with Gordon. Dana says she still does, but Gordon fixed Casey up with a woman from his office and now it's the four of them. Great explanation, that. Isaac wants to know what they're doing. Dana tells him they're going to see a modern dance company, then going to dinner. "Casey hates modern dance," says Dana. "So do I," says Isaac at the exact same time I do, and then I say, "Jinx!" so Isaac totally owes me a Coke. Dana points out that it's the Holly Dixon Dance Company. Oh. Well. That's a different story. Actually, I have no idea if the Holly Dixon Dance Company is real or not. It would take me all of about five seconds to find out. See how much more valuable those five seconds are to me than learning anything about modern dance? Dana says she doesn't think she'll enjoy the evening with Casey and Blind Date Lawyer Woman, which I think is the name of one of the shows on ABC's new fall schedule. Isaac says she just doesn't want to see Casey out with another woman. Dana does a bit of protesting too much as Isaac tries to make a break for it. Dana says she can't believe that Isaac of all people has bought into the myth that she has romantic feelings for Casey. "I can't believe I've been standing here talking to you this long," says Isaac. Me neither. Now, come here, Ashley Judd.
Isaac is about to leave when Casey pops up and says that tomorrow night is the trade deadline, so he should stick around in case there are any eleventh-hour trades. Isaac says there won't be, and they argue about it. Then Dana tries to steal Casey's ingenious excuse for herself and says she should be the one to stay. Then Isaac goes on about how he talked to a bunch of people in the GM's office, including the GM, and they're not making the trade. I'm a little surprised that someone who's been in the business as long as Isaac wouldn't appreciate how spectacularly unforthcoming sports teams can be with the media, especially when we're talking about trades. But whatever. Dana and Casey plead their cases a bit more. Isaac says he'll see them both Friday, and leaves. Then Dana -- or maybe we should call her Projection Patty from now on -- says Casey is awfully eager to bail on his date. He denies it's even a date. She says Casey just doesn't want to see her and Gordon on a date. He scoffs and says she doesn't want to see him on a date with anyone who isn't her. The pot and the kettle bicker for a while about each other's blackness. Then the kettle says he's excited about this date. "Particularly the Hickory Dickory Dancers," he says, and the pot's annoyed at that. She says she knows his M.O., which she says will be to say something wonderful to her during the evening and she'll melt and that'll teach her for going out with Gordon instead of him. Wow. Someone has thought about this a lot. And by the time the scene ends, this date has turned into a contest as to who gives less of a crap about the other, a contest in which I completely kick ass.
The day at the rundown meeting, Jeremy and Natalie are discussing the trade that Jeremy thought was going to happen but Natalie didn't. Natalie reminds him that she bet him five bucks it wouldn't happen, and takes an inordinate amount of time to explain the concept of betting for or against something, and it's nice to see that in Dana's absence, Natalie is just as skilled in the field of Wasting As Much Of Everyone's Time As Possible. Jeremy thankfully points out the trade deadline isn't until midnight. Natalie says she'll want a crisp bill, not "some raggedy-ass thing from the newsstand." Much as my irritation is starting to manifest itself into a giant throbbing vein just above my left eye, Natalie's use of the term "raggedy-ass" pleases me. Quick shot of Dan smiling at how cute this all is. Or maybe it was gas. Suddenly, Natalie's all business: "Bumpers in and out of ten. We'll tease Villanova for now, but that might change." Heh. She said "in and out." She asks Elliot how they're doing for time. "We need a buck fifty back," he says. Dan suggests dropping Formula One, but Natalie says it's good film and they'll bump Oksana Baiul instead. "Oksana Baiul?" says Dan. "The Ukrainian Jewel, Oksana Baiul?" Heh. Still, that's only the second-best nickname for a Ukrainian athlete. The best? The Boston Celtics' Vitaly Potapenko, a.k.a. "The Big Train from the Ukraine." The meeting's over, and Natalie asks Will, Chris, and Dave if she can count on them. I kind of wish they'd said "no," because that would have been interesting. Dave says, "Natalie's running the room," and gives her the wimpiest high-five in television history.
Dan approaches Natalie and says that this is a big night for her and how everybody's excited for her, lengthy suck-up dialogue that continues as they bob and weave through the control room. "You know I would never question your choice of substitute anchor, right?" says Dan. Natalie knows that, but then again Natalie has never seen an Aaron Sorkin production before with its quirky dialogue one-eighties, as in me saying to Sars, "You know I would never pound my head against the wall in frustration while doing a recap, right? Well, I'm pounding my head against the wall in frustration while doing a recap," and so on. Anyway, Natalie says "Bobbi" is very good, but Dan doesn't dispute that, so Natalie wants to know what his problem is with her. "Bobbi's a lunatic. She's an off-the-charts lunatic," he says. Natalie looks as weary as I feel. Dan says Bobbi's convinced that they slept together once and he never called her. "Did you?" says Natalie. "Did I sleep with her?" asks Dan. "Did you call her," says Natalie. "I didn't sleep with her," says Dan. Natalie isn't buying it, reasonably asking why Bobbi thinks they slept together, and Dan suggests it's because she's psychotic, which, if you ask me, might actually be a reason a woman would sleep with Dan, his House Of Boinking And Skronking notwithstanding.
Speaking of psychotic, we cut to a shot of a waiter's hands depositing a martini in front of some torso, and we see a woman's hands get very agitated as we hear Dana's voice start explaining that she asked that there not be a lemon twist in her martini because she's allergic and this has to be the longest explanation ever given to a waiter, like, how much of a mess is Dana in Gordon's presence anyway that she can't ask for a new martini and be done with it? And speaking of Ted McGinley, the actor considered such poison to a series that he is his own category on Jump The Shark, there he is, saying, "Honey, that's my drink," which only seems to frazzle Dana even further, and she double-checks to make sure he's not allergic too. And I have to say, Gordon strikes me as the type of guy who only refers to the object of his affections as "honey" when he's admonishing her, however delicately. And look! Here's Casey now, trying to make conversation with his date, the rather attractive Lisa. And Casey's gem of an opening anecdote is to say how funny it is that her name is Lisa, since he was married to a Lisa for ten years. To her credit, Lisa's expression manages not to convey, "Yeah, that's fucking hilarious," but she points out that in fact her name is pronounced "Leeza," even though it's spelled "Lisa." But for the sake of reading simplicity, I will now call her Leeza for the rest of the recap. There's nothing I wouldn't do for MBTV readers. Casey counters that his ex-wife both spelled and pronounced it "Lisa," and Casey is really testing the limits of what a first date will tolerate. I expect, by this point, Leeza is thinking Casey is kind of like a big idiot crossed with an even bigger idiot. Fortunately, Dana saves Casey from blabbing on too much about this. It's kind of odd, though, because you'd think Dana would be content to let Casey go on and on about his ex-wife, since it would pretty much negate any chance he has of doing The Big Squeaky with Leeza later on. ["For god's sake, man. Does Ashley know you call it 'The Big Squeaky'? Because I think that's going to make a difference." -- Sars] Gordon proposes a toast, and everybody's drinking a martini except Casey, who is drinking a beer, and he can't even be bothered to put it in a damn glass. I mean, I know glasses are for sucks and all that, but you'd think he'd have enough class not to be swigging straight from a bottle, like, just put it in a Foam Dome, why don't you, Casey? That'll really clear out the ill after-effects you're feeling after watching modern dance.
Having talked enough about his ex-wife, Casey then points out that this restaurant is called Tony Anthony's, which is in effect Anthony Anthony's, and Leeza gives him the broad First Date Smile that he won't see in the future, so he might want to think about running his material by Danny first before he puts it in action. But it only gets worse, as he says that, in Cuba, Ricky Ricardo would be Ricardo Ricardo and Lucy would be "Loozy." Dana points out that it would be nice if Casey didn't speak for one second. No arguments there. It sounds like Dana's drunk. He makes a crack about how great it would be if she talked some more about her citrus allergies, which normally I would agree with, except you'd think that, to Leeza, that might be preferable to Casey making fun of her name and rambling on about his ex-wife. Dana cries to Gordon, asking if Gordon's going to let Casey talk to her like that. But Gordon joins forces against the females and says, "It would be Ricardo Ricardo!" and then he and Casey actually salute each other with their drinks, bringing to two the total number of guys not getting laid after tonight's dinner.
Casey's cellphone rings, and Dana gets all squirrelly, saying that if it's anyone from the show she wants to speak to them. "Is it Natalie?" she asks. Casey points out that he needs to answer the phone first. It's Dan, who asks, "What's happening?" and Casey says, "Dana's about to pull a hamstring," because Dana is wavering between wanting to talk to Dan and trying to assure herself that Natalie has everything under control. Casey makes a crack about the "Humpty Dumpty Dance-athon" and Leeza smiles again, but this time with a "now, now" arch to her eyebrows. Dana corrects him and gets all grabby-grabby for the phone. Casey actually says she "forgot the magic word," and she says "please" but he still says no. Then he asks Leeza to excuse him so he can take the call, which was surprisingly polite of him, and he heads over to the bar. Dana watches him go, then asks Gordon if she can use his phone. Gordon does one of those little laughs towards Leeza -- you know, one of those "please excuse the behaviour of my companion" laughs that are always so attractive -- and says, "Honey, why don't you just relax tonight?" like, there he goes again with the scolding "honey." Dana points out -- and I know she's a workaholic and all, but I don't think she's so out of line here -- that it's Natalie's first night running the show. It's so sad to see Dana beg as Gordon says she needs to let the show go and that she knows he's right and all this, and she agrees, but momentarily resurrects her spine to ask for his phone again. He gives in. She dials, and while the phone rings, she says to Leeza, "I'm having a good time. This is nice," and does this little hand gesture to encapsulate the whole dining experience, which I thought was pretty funny.
Anyway. Dan called Casey to kvetch about Bobbi, who is sitting at the desk. Casey says she's got "the crazy eyes," and Casey says Dan should have called her. Dan gets his shorts in a bunch and says he never slept with her. Casey says, "You should have slept with her and then called her." Dan ignores this and asks how Leeza is. Casey tries to explain the Lisa/Leeza thing, but only confuses Dan. Then Casey glances over at the table and says, "You know who looks good tonight? Dana." Dan smirks and says, "How's Gordon look?" in exactly the way a good friend should deliver a reminder like that. Casey dourly tells Dan to have a good show, and Dan says "thanks."
Back at the table, Dana is still waiting on the phone and explaining to Gordon and Leeza that she's not questioning Natalie's capability; it's just that Natalie's very young and from a very small town in Ohio. Even Leeza seems to be losing her interest in keeping up appearances and her First Date Perma-Smile is fading for her lips, her...quite magnificent lips...get your ass on out of here, Ashley Judd. I'm looking for a little Leeza lovin' now. Anyway, Dana says Natalie's from a town so small that it's hard to believe she's kept Dana waiting this long.
Cut to a shot of a very relaxed Natalie sauntering through the Sports Night sets. She actually has kind of a dreamy quality to her face, like she's been given anesthetic. She makes her way to the control room, where she starts giving orders. Kim reminds her that Dana's still on hold. Natalie sits down, puts on the headset, and says, "This is a very comfortable chair." Dana whines that Natalie took her sweet time, and then Natalie asks her to put Casey on. Dana protests, but Natalie says it's just for a second, then right back to Dana. Dana hands the phone to Casey. "Keep her off the phone," says Natalie. "You bet," says Casey, who snaps the phone shut and hands it back to Gordon. Gordon says "thanks," all too happy to have his woman put back in her place. Dana vanquished, the gang sets about looking at the menu. Casey says he has questions about the fennel salad. Like what, Gordon says. Like what fennel is, says Casey. Okay, we get it. Casey's a man. Drinks beer straight from the bottle, doesn't know what fennel is. I better double-check this. Sars, I know that knowing what fennel is doesn't make a guy gay, but does knowing what fennel is make a woman suspect that he's gay? ["No." -- Sars] Uh huh. And how about using fabric softener? ["What? God, no." -- Sars] Okay, and how much of a fight should a guy put up when a woman suggests that the two of you see Bridget Jones's Diary? ["I'd go with 'eye-roll and put-upon sigh.' It's not that chicky of a flick, actually." -- Sars] Anyway, Dana excuses herself from the table. Leeza asks where she's going. Gordon says, resignedly, that she's going to ask the bartender to change the channel to CSC. Casey tells Leeza that, unlike Dana, he is able to enjoy a relaxing evening out. Lisa gives him a half-smile with a slight curl that says she's not enjoying herself that much. Casey asks her what time it is. She says, "It's about..." and Casey spazzes off on how he wants the exact time, which doesn't answer the question why, if it's so damn important to him, he doesn't wear a watch himself. Gordon, in the exact tone of voice he had when he was talking about Dana, says, "It's eleven o'clock," so Casey does a Seated Fist-Pump and yells, "D it up, Danny!" or "Tee it up, Danny!" or maybe "I am a moron, Danny!" and then grins goofily at Leeza and says, "How ya' doin'?"
Meanwhile, back at the Halls of Justice, Dan sits nervously across from the very attractive Bobbi Bernstein and plunges in with a lot of hoo-hah about how she's got him confused with someone else, and Bobbi tries to shrug it off by saying it was a long time ago, et cetera. Dan says it wasn't him. Bobbi slips into Psycho Bitch voice and stare and says, "Let's not play these games," like, why didn't they just have her speak with that demoniacally possessed voice that actors can never lip-synch right? The show goes live, with Bobbi shooting Dan a little stink-eye. When it's her turn on camera, Bobbi uses her sexy voice and flashes a brilliant smile. Casey's right. Dan should have slept with her and called her.
In the control room, Elliot says he just got off the phone with his "guy at LAX" and says to Natalie, "You ready for this?" Shouldn't that be "y'all ready for this?" Elliot's big news is that some guys didn't get on the plane with the rest of the team. "I knew it!" says Jeremy. Natalie turns to Kim and gives her these ridiculously detailed instructions that involve getting a maid at a Vero Beach hotel to go to a particular room and ask the guy there if he wants turn-down service. "Do I wait?" says Kim. "She'll call back," says Natalie. Yes, and for heaven's sake, try to return the Aston Martin in one piece this time, 007. "Let's get this," says Jeremy. I don't see you doing anything, weather boy. Commercials.
Extra-special close-up of martini with double olives. Dana is blasted and going on about how shrimp cocktails are comfort food. Gordon is now laughing and says he's glad she's finally relaxed, which is probably what he says to a lot of drunk women. More drunken babbling from Dana. Gordon goes for the preferred method of including a new person in the conversation, the method where you say something like, "Leeza, tell Casey what that guy said this morning," and they both laugh and she's about to tell us. You know, what that guy said. This morning. However, Casey's full attention is on Dana, and she's reciprocating. Casey's not so drunk, but they're both accusing the other of thinking about the show. Dana refers to Casey's "big blockhead" and Casey says, "Dana's a lot of fun, isn't she?" Luckily, Casey now tries to get Leeza to tell the story -- you remember, the one all about what that guy said -- but Dana keeps interrupting, first to talk about a possible trade and again to talk about what a small town Natalie comes from, complete with exaggerated drunken whispering and facial expressions.
Back in the control room, Kim comes in and gives Natalie a report: the housekeeper said there were five men in the hotel room, and based on the descriptions of three of them, they deduce that the team's making the trade.
Which team?
On the desk, Bobbi is going on about how she doesn't mind that Danny took advantage of her and held her close and whispered his lies and -- you get the picture, I don't need to type this all out. Dan rubs his face with his hands. Yes, let's all feel sorry for him, having to listen to this. It's not like he prodded her and prodded her about it. Oh, wait. That's exactly what he did. "In my entire life I have never been to Spain!" he says. "Lies!" she screeches. Dan's about to tattle to Natalie, but she's only coming in to apprise him of the breaking story. "Let's get it," he says. He gets out a cellphone for some reason, while Bobbi still going on about the whole Spain thing. Dan calls her "crazy lady" and asks if she's up for some breaking news. "Oh, sure, Dan, whatever you say. Women are just here for you," and I really wish this show would stop with all the shout-outs to me already. And it appears that Dan's all-important breaking story isn't as crucial as sitting there with his head cocked in disbelief at what a nutjob Bobbi is.
Back at the bar, Bobbi's on the screen while we pan across this odd coupling of bartenders: one is a big black guy, while the other appears to be a skinny albino of indeterminate sex. I think they also have a pilot on ABC this fall. Dana and Casey now have their backs completely turned on Leeza and Gordon and are unabashedly watching the show. "She's doing fine," says Dana. Casey agrees. "Ooooh," says Dana, wondering if Casey's jealous because the fill-in's doing fine. Again with the projection; I had assumed Dana was talking about Natalie. Dana and Casey flirt-argue, with close-ups so tight on their faces that I can smell the gin on Dana's breath. No, wait, that's my breath. Leeza pipes up to say that she doesn't know them very well and maybe it's because they're drunk, but they're both too intense about their show: "Gordon's right, it's just sports. It's not the Paris peace talks." And my love for Lisa crumbles just like that; I mean, God forbid people should care passionately about their careers. Dana tells Leeza to go get herself a real name. Heh. Yeah, really. And maybe then she can tell us all about what that guy said this morning, since we never did get to hear that story. Casey yells out, "Nice!" and it looks like it's at the television but it could also be over Dana slamming Leeza.
Back in the control room, Elliot is on the phone, saying, "We just want you to confirm or deny," assuring the person that they don't have to use his or her name. Isaac is pacing and contradicting the orders Natalie's giving the tech guys. She tells Isaac to stay quiet because they blew off the particular segment Isaac was calling for at the ten o'clock rundown. "May I ask why?" says Isaac. Natalie says that right now she can't, he can either fire her or stay quiet. "You're very good!" says Isaac. Ah, yes, hard-won respect. Then Elliot hangs up the phone and says, "He won't comment, but it's happening." Jeremy flips and says Elliot "let him up off the mat" and says the guy will be on the phone to Vero Beach right now and everybody's going to shut up. Not to worry; I'm sure Natalie has someone she can call and make sure he never arrives. Natalie calms Jeremy down, then asks Elliot and Kim if they're both comfortable saying "unconfirmed reports," and they both say yes, and Jeremy spazzes again, and Natalie says that if he doesn't want to leave the room, then he should "allow for the possibility that from time to time other people are at least as smart as you are." Ouch. Jeremy apologizes to Elliot, but points out that they don't even have unconfirmed reports. "McDermott doesn't know that," says Elliot. Natalie tells Kim to get McDermott on the phone; then she tells Dan to go with the story, telling him to say "sources within the Dodger organization," and Dan asks if she's sure, and she says yes, but then she's not, and he says "do it" and blah blah blah. Wait a minute, the Dodgers? This is a baseball trade? The baseball trade deadline is July 31. How did we get to the middle of summer already? Wasn't it just Christmas? Anyway, Kim says they've got McDermott on the phone. Dan goes live with the story as Natalie tells McDermott that they know about the trade and he should turn on his television.
Then we're back at the bar, where Casey and Leeza are standing and talking, Casey's back to the television. Leeza says it was a good idea to get away from the table because the "environment was getting hostile." Casey apologizes for not being a good date thus far and promises to make a comeback. Leeza looks pleased at that. Then Casey blows it by saying he needs to ask a question: "Did he just say 'unconfirmed reports'?" Leeza's face turns to stone and she can barely spit out a "yes."
Back at the table, Dana is doing her own groveling and it's very disturbing to see. She says she's been horrible tonight, and Gordon agrees, and Dana says, "I'm not the world's greatest girlfriend, am I?" and Gordon says, "There's some room for improvement." He actually says this. And Dana takes this. She's such a doormat, she in fact does not plant a heel in Gordon's crotch, but disappointedly says it wasn't the answer she was hoping for. This is just so sad to watch. Gordon looks tired and says, "Look, Dana," which can't be leading up to anything good, but they're interrupted by Casey babbling about unconfirmed reports. Dana gets permission to go and rushes off. Gordon rubs his face and tries to bear the misery of having such a selfish girlfriend.
Back at the desk, Bobbi is babbling again, and Dan gets mad and tells her he never slept with her because she'd know it and he'd know it.
Shot of Natalie hanging up the phone. "Confirmed," she says. And everyone starts cheering. She relays the news to Dan, and he says that's great. Bobbi says, "Are you sleeping with Natalie?" and he growls at her to shut up just before they go back live. When they do, he tells the viewers that the unconfirmed reports are now confirmed.
Cut to Dana and Casey, grinning at each other while sitting at the bar, all proud that the show hasn't gone to hell. Sitting to them is Aaron Sorkin, I've been told. He's grabbing a quick smoke, but it's hard to tell if his cigarette is laced with anything. He looks nothing like I pictured him. Less strung out, for one thing. Ow! And the hits just keep on coming! Casey asks Dana what Gordon was about to say. She says "nothing" and then looks pensive for a few moments. Then Casey says she looks really nice, and totally nails the "I'm sincere, it's not just flattery so I can get into your pants" vibe. She smiles and thanks him. Oh, I see what's going on here! They're a much better couple than Dana and Gordon! Casey dials the control room and hands the phone to Dana, who congratulates Natalie and tells her to "take a bow," so Natalie tells Dan to "tag it," which means that as he wraps up the story, he ends it with, "That was a CSC exclusive," and everyone in the control says "yes!" and high-fives each other and stuff. I won't make fun of this, because it is a great feeling to get a good story that no one else has. The show's over, and Dan says he has beer for Natalie in his office, and Isaac one-ups cheapskate Dan by saying he's got Scotch for Natalie in his office. Dan gets up from the desk and Bobbi follows him, Walking And Squawking.
In the control room, Jeremy looks vaguely hangdoggish and says, "You're good, Natalie." She still looks a little pissed, and Jeremy apologizes. She says, "What did you think I was around here, Jeremy, some kind of gal Friday?" Uh, isn't that exactly what it said in Natalie's character sketch on ABC's site? Jeremy says he didn't know she was that good. This seems to reach her; then she reaches into her change-purse and pulls out a five. She stuffs it into his breast pocket, then pulls him close, and they start kissing. Man, Natalie's right revved up after a good day at the office. She tells Jeremy to file the floor manager's report, then come have a drink. I was kind of surprised she didn't pat him on the ass as he left. She's alone in the control room now, and she revels in her moment while Soft Plucky Guitar provides insight into her contentment. Then she pumps her fists and the guitar kicks it into Kenny Loggins Overdrive.