March 1999

Jess - "I feel sick."

Brad - "You're not going home."

Jess - "I need to take a personal day."

Brad - "you promised Jane that you would work today. She called in her favor from New Years."

Jess - "I will pay 500 dollars to tell them that I jumped out the window." She hides under her desk.

Brad - "What is the deal? You've been trying to get out of this for weeks. It's just a guest host."

Jess - "I in a round about way have history with this guy."

Brad - "How do you have history with Joey McIntyre?"

Jess - "I used to date one of his friends."

Brad - "Oh this is going to be interesting."

Jess - "I could use a little support here Brad."

Brad - "Come on out from under the desk." He drags her out. "You're late for the run through meeting."

Jess - "Good maybe they'll fire me." She gets there and no one says anything about her tardiness. "Any chance Joey canceled at the last minute?"

Michelle - "No, he's going to be here in about ten minutes." She goes on about the normal stuff. Keeping the kids under control, helping the guest host. Joey walks in.

Joey - "Hi sorry I'm late. Traffic was a bitch."

Michelle - "That's all right we're just glad you're got here. Okay let me introduce you." Jess starts sliding out of her chair towards the floor. Brad is standing behind her and pulls her back up just as Michelle gets to her. "And this is our talent Asst. producer, Jessica."

Joey - "Jessica? Jessica Connery."

Jess - "Hi." She gives him a weak wave. "You know what I just remembered I... left the coffee pot on in my office excuse me." She runs out of the room before Brad can volunteer to go for her. He follows anyway.

Brad - "real smooth."

Jess - "Well I was going to say I left the oven on but no one has ovens in their offices." She sees Joe coming up the hall. "Close the door and tell them I'm on a very important phone call and can't be disturbed."

Brad - "You can't avoid him all day." Jess narrows her eyes and looks at him.

Jess - "I think you keep forgetting who works for who here buddy."

Brad - "Alright. Important phone call can't be disturbed." He shuts the door and Jess calls Loren's cell.

Loren - "Loren Connery."

Jess - "Hey Joe McIntyre is standing outside my door."

Loren - "You've known this was coming for weeks."

Jess - "I know I've been trying to get off but couldn't fine anyone to switch with me."

Loren - "What are you going to do hide in your office all day?"

Jess - "As a matter of fact yes I am." Brad opens the door. "Brad I told you I was not to be disturbed." She sees her boss Michelle. "I'm sorry but I'm going to have to get back to you on those dates."

Michelle - "Are you feeling well today?"

Jess - "Actually I'm fighting off a touch of the flu, I could go home."

Michelle - "Jessica I'm going to be honest with you. You have been trying to get off today ever since you found out Mr. McIntyre was hosting. I know you two knew each other a long time ago but you need to keep that in the past
and be the professional I know you are. Now I would like you to show Mr. McIntyre around the set and then help him work through his script. Is that understood?"

Jess - "yes."

Michelle - "Good I'll see you at show time." Jess sticks her tongue out at Michelle as she leaves.

Joey - "Nice to see somethings don't change."

He was standing on the other side of the doorway.

Jess - "Sorry I didn't see you there. Come I'll show you the set. Brad, tell Loren I'll explain later."

Brad - "Yes Ms. Connery." He does a little bow.

Jess - "Come on knock it off. I'm sorry I snapped I was a little stressed."

Brad - "I know it's cool." Joe follows Jess though the halls.

Joey - "hey slow down." She does.

Jess - "Sorry I seem to always be running late. Okay now this is the main stage. You will basically be doing most of the hosting standing by this main TV here and the cue cards will be over here on your left unless you want them on the other side."

Joey - "No that's fine." She runs through some more basic stuff explain about the scroll at the bottom and the pop up boxes. They then go in to the guests' waiting room to go over the script.

Jess - "Okay no you're not going to be able to follow this word for word but it will just give you a rough guide on what's going to be going on."

Joey - "What's so hard it's just introducing some videos?"

Jess - "okay fine try it your way embarrass yourself or take my help and do a good job."

Joey - "You weren't this mean when you were with Donnie." It gets uncomfortable for a second.

Jess - "I guess some one had to bring him up."

Joey - "Sorry."

Jess - "No that's okay. How is he?"

Joey - "Good he's getting married."

Jess - "Is he? That's nice. He'll be a good husband."

Joey - "Are you doing okay?"

Jess - "me? Oh yeah, I love working here. It's been really great I've met so many people."

Joey - "I'm only asking because I'm dying of curiosity but are you seeing some one."

Jess - "No. There was this guy I was interested in but it didn't work out."

Joey - "Can I ask why? Or am I being to nosey?"

Jess - "No its okay. It was just bad timing that's all. Now come on let's go over this."

Joey - "okay."

Chapter Thirty-One