GOAL TO GO

Episode 3.29

“Norman”

by

David Polk
 2.

RECAP

We Recap events from Previous Episodes, ending on Becky Van

Helsing rocking one-year-old Angel Addams to sleep.

TEASER

FADE IN:

A DREAM

INT. D’AGOSTINO’S RESTAURANT – NIGHT

MYSTERY PERSON’S POV

tracking through the bustling restaurant. We pass the

tables of prominent guests enjoying sumptuous meals – Billy
and Gale Donahue, Charlotte Webb and her husband Ronald
Fraser, Chancellor Sebastian Reed and his wife Diane, John
and Victoria Kim, Maria and Harold Pennebaker...

Passing the kitchen, the door opens and inside we glimpse

chef Umberto Gasperini talking animatedly to Sophia
D’Agostino...

We head down a narrow corridor toward a door with “Ladies”

stenciled on the opaque glass window. The door opens on...

INT. LADIES’ ROOM – CONTINUOUS

...Achilles Addams and Valerie Kim having hot, passionate

sex, her perched on the sink counter, him thrusting into
her with his pants around his ankles. She moans and he
groans as they pleasure each other.

VALERIE
Oh yes, baby. That’s it...

We hear the DOOR OPEN.

RICHARD (O.S.)
Valerie?

Achilles looks at Valerie’s husband, Dr. Richard O’Connell.

RICHARD
What are you doing, Valerie?

Achilles reacts, but Valerie grabs his face; of course we

notice the DIAMOND RING on her finger.
 3.

VALERIE
Don’t stop, baby. Don’t stop...

RICHARD
But, Valerie, I thought you loved me.

VALERIE
Yes! That’s it, Achilles. Don’t stop,
Oooooo-yeah...

CAT (O.S.)
Whoa!

Achilles looks up. Now Cara “Cat” Trzcinski is standing

there ogling them with her trademark impish grin.

CAT
Nice moves, Einstein. I have to hand
it to you, she may be a scheming bitch,
but she’s a scheming bitch with a
smokin’ hot ass...Hey, I thought you
liked girls with more up top.

VALERIE
Come on, baby, give it to me. Give it
to me! Yessss!

Achilles does as he’s told, turning his attention back to

Valerie...

CAKE (O.S.)
Achilles?

Speaking of girls with more up top, Achilles looks down at

the sweet rack of Cake D’Agostino, who’s now standing right
next to him. He takes his eyes off her breasts, gazes into
her eyes. We read her deep disappointment.

CAKE
Achilles, you said you’d never cheat on
your wife. You lied to me.

Valerie raises up, takes his face with both hands, kisses
him deeply. When she stops –

VALERIE
I’m your destiny, Achilles. Not that
filthy whore. Now make love to me.

He does...
 4.

CAL (O.S.)
Man, how could you do that to her?

Achilles turns his head, sees Cat’s dead twin brother, Cal
Trzcinski, standing near the bathroom door. Now Achilles
is figuring out there’s something wrong with this picture.

CAL
I never lied to her. I didn’t tell her
everything, but I never lied to her.
After everything she’s had to deal
with, now you go and pull something
like this. You’re a real loser, man.

Valerie gets down off the sink, turns so that Achilles can
take her from behind.

VALERIE
I know you like it this way. Don’t
you, stud? That’s it...Mmmmmmm...yeah.
Oh, Achilles...

PORTIA (O.S.)
Is this what you want, Lee?

He looks over at his wife, Portia Addams.

PORTIA
You really believe she’s your destiny?

VALERIE
Oh...I’m coming...

PORTIA
After everything we’ve been through...

VALERIE
...yes, Achilles! Oh god, Yes! Yes!

PORTIA
Look at yourself, Lee. Just look at
who you’ve become.

Achilles looks up at his reflection in the mirror and sees,

not himself, but MARCUS ROBINSON – the boy he shot to death
three years ago.

END DREAM
 5.

INT. ACHILLES & PORTIA’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Achilles BOLTS AWAKE in bed.

ACHILLES
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Portia sits up next to him, holds him in her arms.

PORTIA
Lee, it’s okay! I’m here, baby. I’m
here.

He starts to cry. She comforts him.

PORTIA
It’s okay, Lee. It’s over now. It was
only a bad dream but it’s over...

SMASH CUT TO TITLES.

END TEASER
 6.

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. GOLF COURSE – DAY

Billy smacks a solid one off the tee. He watches it sail

down the fairway.

J.R.
Nice shot, Dad.

J.R. Donahue steps up for his shot. He takes a practice

swing then tees off. His swing is fluid, graceful...

BILLY
Beautiful. Just beautiful, son.

They take their golf bags and walk off toward the green.

J.R.
So you think I should tell her tonight?

BILLY
Tonight’s as good a time as any.

J.R.
But I don’t graduate until next June.
That’ll mean ten months of her going on
and on about it. If I can wait until
at least next spring –

BILLY
(laughs)
Nice try, sport, but I know your mother
and this is the sort of news she’ll
want to hear sooner rather than later.
God help you if she finds out from
another source.

J.R.
You mean like you?

BILLY
(beat)
After Dallas I swore I wouldn’t keep
any secrets from your mother. If she
asks, I’m going to tell. And she will
ask. So...

Billy pats J.R. on the back as they walk down the green.
 7.

EXT. VAN HELSING HALL – DAY

It’s move-in day and FRESHMEN CO-EDS file in and out of the
dorm. A few football players (THE GUYS) hang around,
checking out the new crop of potentials.

A statuesque, familiar-looking brunette approaches. She’s

KYNDALL CUMMINGS (18), the church girl we met in Season
Two. She’s accompanied by TWO FRAT BOYS who are eagerly
helping her move in.

VINCE
Now that’s what I’m talking about.

VINCE LEONG (18) is a 5-foot-2 Chinese American place

kicker. He smiles at Kyndall as she walks by.

JET
Forget it, V. She’s way out of your
league.

CRASH
She’s out of your altitude.

Vince, wide receiver Jet Johnson and running back Crash

Davis admire Kyndall until she disappears inside the dorm.

JET
She’ll probably pledge a sorority
anyway. And trust me, dog, you want to
stay away from sorority pledges.

CRASH
(chortles)
Yeah, you ought to know.

Jet smirks. The janitor’s closet “gay porn” incident with

Greg Ericsson is still a sore point for him.

VINCE
So what exactly do you consider to be
“in my league?”

JET
Something closer to that...

The others follow his gaze to an overweight STUDIOUS CO-ED

who is being helped by her FATHER.
 8.

VINCE
Oh, you think because I’m Chinese I
only have a shot with smart girls?

JET
Hey, not all smart girls are fugly.

CRASH
Yeah, Vince. There’s always hope, bro.
Portia Addams has an I.Q. of like a
zillion and one and she’s the finest
honey on campus. Hell, in all of
Maitland, maybe all of Washington.

Dallas Morales and Kwame Epstein saunter up to the guys.

DALLAS
Any luck with the new crop yet?

CRASH
Nah, it’s pretty slim pickings so far.
There’s a reason they call this place
the Virgin Vault. Half of the chicks
who live here are Schnauzers.

KWAME
I thought they called it the Virgin
Vault for Van Helsing the vampire
hunter. You know, the guy who locked
virgins up in his castle.

VINCE
That’s fiction, Kwame. This dorm was
named for Cushing Van Helsing, the
logging magnate. He helped found the
university a century ago.

The guys look at Vince with a side glance.

CRASH
Check it, V, you want to get laid you
need to dial back the Trivial Pursuit.

JET
Uh-huh! Come to daddy, Sweet Thing!

Jet has spotted TABITHA RUSSELL (18), a very pretty black

girl in well-worn jeans and a camisole-t, approaching the
dorm. Her brown hair is done up in an elaborate cornrow.
 9.

VINCE
(re: Tabitha)
So you think she’s in your league?

JET
Damn skippy! And I’m in hers. They’re
gonna have to kick Baby Girl out of the
Virgin Vault, and soon!

DALLAS
(laughs)
Vince has a better chance with that
babe than you do, Johnson?

VINCE
(hopeful)
Really?

JET
(insulted)
Please!

DALLAS
Twenty bucks says you can’t even get a
phone number.

JET
What?! Jet Johnson not get the digits?!
Boy are you crazy?! You been eating
too many of them jalapenos or something
and it’s messing with your head!

DALLAS
Alright, make it fifty bucks.

JET
It’s your money.

A nod between them seals the wager. Tabitha approaches the

stairs of the dorm. Jet is about to walk over and lay his
“A” game rap on her when –

PIPER (O.S.)
Tabitha!

Tabitha stops for Piper Ruhl, who has come from the quad.
They smile at each other. Piper walks right up to her, the
girls embrace and French kiss.

THE GUYS
Damn!
 10.

Jet turns to Dallas, who is wearing a shit eating grin and

holding his hand out for payment. Tabitha and Piper walk
past the guys, into the dorm, holding hands.

VINCE
Maybe we should hang out on Sorority
Row. At least we know those girls like
guys.

EXT. DELTA HOUSE – DAY

The house is abuzz with Deltas moving in for the semester.

Offensive lineman Warren “iPhone” Sitren is lugging a HEAVY
TRUNK up to the house. His girlfriend, petite redhead Suzy
Johnson, comes out of the house to intercept him.

SUZY
No, Pookie, that’s Riley’s.

IPHONE
But you said the heavy trunk.

SUZY
Right. You’ve got the other one.

IPHONE
You mean there’s one heavier than this?

SUZY
(pretty smile)
Sorry, Pookie. You’ve got to put it
back in the U-Haul. Riley’s not living
in the house this year. Her
apartment’s a block over, on Avondale.

iPhone harrumphs, rolls his eyes and heads back toward the
truck at the end of the driveway.

Achilles’ zooms up the street on his Agusta and pulls into

the driveway as iPhone and Suzy reach her moving truck.
iPhone sets the trunk on the ground next to a pile of other
boxes, wipes sweat from his brow.

SUZY
Hi, Achilles.

He pulls off his helmet and smiles at her. She gives him a
peck on the cheek.
 11.

ACHILLES
Hey, Suzy Q. I don’t suppose you care
that you’ve got the anchor of my
offensive line breaking all kinds of
team rules, do you?

IPHONE
Come on, Q.B., it’s just a few boxes.
I lift more than this in warm-ups.

Suzy gives him the cutest pout you’ve ever seen.

SUZY
You won’t tell Coach Garcia will you?

ACHILLES
What, and get him benched before the
Oklahoma game?
(off her smile of
appreciation)
Nah. I’m just going to have him do my
first Civil Liberties paper.

She pouts for real.

IPHONE
(groans)
Oh Q.B., give me a break, man! You
know I suck at writing papers. Can’t
you ask Portia to do it?

ACHILLES
Sorry, big guy. She’s got a double
course load this semester. She plans
on graduating in June, so I’m on my own
this year.

SUZY
Graduating? But she just got here last
year. She’s only eighteen.

ACHILLES
Nineteen. And she spent the whole
summer doubling up on course work.

IPHONE
(with adoration)
And she’s a genius.

Suzy reacts to his enthusiasm but quickly covers her own

irritation.
 12.

A car pulls up behind Achilles. Jeni Kim gets out. Her

eyes harden when she sees Achilles. They hold a look as
she approaches.

SUZY
Jeni! Welcome back.

JENI
Hi, Suzy.

The girls embrace.

JENI
How was the rest of your summer?

SUZY
Fab!

IPHONE
This the right trunk, Suzy?

iPhone has lugged the right heavy trunk off the U-Haul.

SUZY
Yes, Pookie. Come on, let’s get it
inside.

They leave Achilles and Jeni alone at the end of the

driveway.

ACHILLES
Hey, Jennif – sorry – I mean “Jeni.”

Jeni is cool to him.

JENI
Hello.

ACHILLES
So did you have a good summer?

JENI
It was great. Especially Hawai’i.

ACHILLES
(getting it)
I’m sure it was. Well, take it easy.

He starts putting on his helmet –

 13.

JENI
Yeah, Hawai’i was a blast. You know my
sister’s wedding was there. On Kauai,
at her husband’s beach house.

ACHILLES
(slides helmet on)
I’m sure that was nice.

JENI
It was better than nice. It was
perfect. The most perfect wedding
ever. Valerie was absolutely gorgeous.

ACHILLES
Well, say “Hey” to her for me. Gotta
get going –

He starts the engine.

JENI
Sure, Achilles, but it’ll be a while.
They’re still on their honeymoon. Six
weeks in Europe – Italy, Spain, France,
the Riviera...

He revs the engine loudly.

ACHILLES
See ya around, Jeni.

He flips his visor down and backs out.

JENI
Yeah. See you around.
(under her breath)
Asshole.

Achilles zooms back up the street the way he came.

INT. PHOTO STUDIO – DAY

PR woman Sasha Mendez is talking with Portia Addams while a

MAKEUP ARTIST touches up Portia’s makeup.

SASHA
You’re doing great, Portia. Just
great.
 14.

MAKEUP ARTIST
She’s right, Mrs. Addams.

PORTIA
Thank you. I’ve never done anything
like this before.

SASHA
You’re a natural.

MAKEUP ARTIST
She’s right. A natural.

The PHOTOGRAPHER comes over, interrupts with a smile.

PHOTOGRAPHER
We’re ready to go again, Portia.

Portia smiles. The makeup artist takes the cover up off of

Portia and she takes her position in front of the bright
lights. It’s then that we see she’s covered in BODY PAINT
that makes it appear as though she’s wearing Achilles’
Number “10” football jersey and a bikini bottom, just like
the Sports Illustrated swimsuit models.

A wind machine comes on and an ASSISTANT gives her a

football. Lights flash and Portia vamps for the camera.

PHOTOGRAPHER
Beautiful. That’s it. You’re awesome.

She is. She’s a natural.

EXT. STUDIO BUILDING – DAY

Portia and Sasha come out of the studio building, talking

earnestly.

SASHA
In about a week the copywriters will
have copy. We should have full mockups
ready to approve soon after that.

PORTIA
So the ads could be ready in less than
a month?
 15.

SASHA
Yes. First we’ll post them to the
website to generate a buzz in social
media, and after that we’ll launch the
print and billboard campaign.

PORTIA
My goodness. We were only talking
about it a few weeks ago and now we’re
about to launch Achilles’ Heisman
campaign. I can hardly believe it!

SASHA
Believe it, Portia. And this concept
was your idea.

PORTIA
(modestly)
Well, not entirely...

Achilles rolls up to the curb on his motorcycle. Portia

sees him and smiles, hurries to him.

PORTIA
Lee, hi! You’re right on time.

SASHA
Hi, Achilles. Your wife is incredible
in front of the camera.

ACHILLES
(smiles at Portia)
Yeah? That good, huh?

PORTIA
(jokingly)
I’m a natural.

Achilles sneaks a peek at her breasts.

ACHILLES
I knew that.

She pinches him playfully and climbs on the motorcycle.

They say their goodbyes to Sasha and roar off.

EXT. DONAHUE BACKYARD – DAY

A WORK CREW is busily transforming the yard for Gale’s

annual blow out barbeque. Darryl Banks is giving
 16.

instructions to his men. When the WORKMEN leave, Darryl

looks across the yard.

Mathilda “Mattie” Weiss is talking on her IPHONE. CLOSE ON

the 4-KARAT DIAMOND ENGAGEMENT RING on her finger.

MATTIE
No, Chief D’Agostino, that’s just a
rumor. We have no intention of
bringing rodeo bulls onto the property.
(listens)
Yes, all of the valet parking permits
have been signed. They’ll be at city
hall by the close of business today.
Thank you, Chief. Good-bye.

She clicks off the call, smiles at Darryl as he approaches.

DARRYL
We’ll, Mattie. One day to go and
everything’s under control.

MATTIE
It’s not over until the last guest
leaves, Darryl, you know that.

DARRYL
Sure, yeah, of course. But I think
we’ve earned the right to have an early
dinner tonight.

MATTIE
(caught off guard)
Oh, Darryl. Sweetheart, I can’t
tonight.

DARRYL
(at a loss)
Why not? What’s going on tonight?

MATTIE
I’m sorry, Darryl. I promised an old
college friend I’d have drinks.

DARRYL
How about I join you?

MATTIE
Darryl, do you really want to spend
your evening with a couple of girls
talking about the old days at NYU?
 17.

DARRYL
(considers)
Is she buying?

Mattie gives him a scolding look.

DARRYL
Alright. Have it your way.

MATTIE
We’ll have dinner at D’Agostino’s
Sunday night, okay?

DARRYL
You’ve already made the reservation,
haven’t you?

She smiles. Her phone RINGS and she puts it to her ear.
He grins as he turns and goes back to work.

EXT. DONAHUE DRIVEWAY – DAY

Gale’s Jaguar pulls in. She gets out, opens the back door
and takes Duncan from his car seat. She carries him to the
house.

INT. DONAHUE HOME – CONTINUOUS

Gale comes in with Duncan on her arm.

GALE
(calling)
J.R.! J.R.!

J.R. comes from the Great Room. His Rich Bitch girlfriend,
Barbara “Barbie” Pollack, comes with him.

J.R.
Yeah, Mom?

GALE
Oh, hello, Barbara.

BARBIE
Hi, Mrs. Donahue.

GALE
J.R., there are groceries in the car.
Please go out and get them.
 18.

J.R.
Sure, Mom. Mom, it’s alright if Barbie
stays for dinner tonight isn’t it?

GALE
Sure, of course you’re welcome to stay
for dinner, Barbara.
(then, calling upstairs)
Gracie! Gracie!

GRACIE (O.S.)
(calling down)
Yes!

We hear Gracie Wellington coming downstairs. When she

arrives, she ignores Barbie.

GALE
Gracie, Sweetheart, would you mind
changing Duncan and tending to him for
a bit so I can get dinner started?

GRACIE
Sure, Mrs. Donahue.
(takes Duncan)
Hey, D.J.! Hi, buddy!

Duncan reacts. He likes Gracie.

BARBIE
I’d be happy to help with dinner, Mrs.
Donahue. My mom says I’m pretty good
in the kitchen.

Barbie intentionally avoids eye contact with Gracie but

it’s obvious she views her as a rival.

GALE
Thank you, Barbara, but I’m somewhat
pressed for time. I’ve got a lot to
sort through for the barbecue tomorrow
and I’ll just work faster in the
kitchen if I work alone, dear.

Barbie covers her disappointment.

GRACIE
(sniffs, frowns)
Hmmm. D.J., is that you who’s so
stinky? We’d better get that diaper
changed right away.
 19.

Barbie reacts to the not-so-veiled dig. Gracie turns and

leaves, brushing past J.R. on her way out.

INT. DONAHUE DINING ROOM – SUNSET

The Donahues are having dinner. Gale feeds Duncan, who is

in a high chair.

BILLY
I don’t know why you couldn’t have
Wynton Marsalis play at the barbecue.

GALE
Billy honey, Wynton is a wonderful
musician. You know I love his music.
But you don’t have jazz at a Texas
barbecue. It’s just not done.

BILLY
All I’m saying is that if you’re going
to go to all this trouble to surprise
me with a music act every year, you
could pick someone I really like.

BARBIE
Wynton Marsalis is from Louisiana.
Wouldn’t that also be a reason not to
have him play at the barbecue? I mean,
because Louisiana and Texas are rivals.

A beat as Billy, Gale and J.R. look at Barbie.

J.R.
Barbie, Oklahoma and Texas are rivals.
Not Louisiana and Texas.

BARBIE
(embarrassed)
Oh.

Gracie covers her grin with a mouthful of salad.

BILLY
Speaking of Texas, J.R., was there
something you wanted to tell your
mother?

J.R. shoots his father a look that says, “Thanks for

selling me out!” Billy holds back a grin.
 20.

GALE
Really? What is it, Sweetheart?

J.R.
Um...well, you know...I’ve been doing a
lot of thinking about where to go to
college.

Gale stops feeding Duncan, gives J.R. her undivided

attention. She’s expecting good news.

GALE
Yes, Sweetheart.

J.R.
And, well, you know I’m a pretty good
golfer. Good enough for a scholarship.

GALE
Yes.

J.R. starts to fidget. He takes a drink of water. Billy

smiles wickedly.

J.R.
(fast)
Mom, the University of Texas has
offered me a full scholarship to play
golf and I’ve accepted it.

BARBIE
That’s wonderful, Johnny! A full
scholarship!

Gracie is stunned. Gale looks at him as though he’s just

told her he’s gay and eloping with his male lover.

GALE
Texas University? Well...J.R.,
Sweetheart, that’s...just...

BARBIE
(interrupts, excited)
Great! Isn’t it?!

Gale glances at Barbie; if looks were bullets the Preppie

Princess would be dead. Billy’s waiting for the fireworks.
 21.

GALE
Tell me, Sweetheart. If you’re going
to go all the way back to Texas for
college...Why not go to Texas A&M?

J.R.
Mom, A&M didn’t offer me a scholarship.

GALE
(ire growing)
Wes Fenton – the head football coach
and athletic director at Texas A&M –
was your father’s best man at our
wedding. Your father won the Heisman
Trophy at A&M and your grandfather won
ten Big Twelve Championships as head
coach. You don’t think they could find
one golf scholarship for you?

J.R.
See, Dad, this is why I didn’t want to
tell her yet.

Gale fires a lethal look at Billy.

BILLY
(mea culpa)
Hey, I just found out this morning.

J.R.
Thanks for the cover, Dad. Mom, Texas
has the best collegiate golf program in
the country. The best. I could make
the PGA Tour after college.

Gale’s heard enough. She takes Duncan from his high chair
and leaves the room. Gracie and Barbie just watch her go.

J.R.
Mom. Come on! Mom!

BILLY
(smiling)
Who wants dessert?

OFF J.R.’s distress...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

 22.

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Bob Garcia is sitting up in bed, still glistening from a

sexual romp with Elyse Johansson, who comes out of the
bathroom wearing sexy underwear. She begins picking her
clothes from the chair to get dressed.

ELYSE
You’d better get a shower, Bobby.

BOB
What’s the rush?

He takes her wrist and pulls her onto the bed. Kisses her
neck. She responds, liking it.

ELYSE
Bobby! Baby, it’s almost eight. I’ve
got to pick Graham up from his play
date and you’ve got to get home. Mimi
will catch on if you keep getting home
so late.

He rolls her onto her back, ready to go at it again.

BOB
We play Oklahoma in a week. The
coaching staff always pulls late nights
before a big game.

He kisses her. She protests, but only half-heartedly. He

rolls between her legs and she stops the pretense
altogether.

ELYSE
Oh, Bobby...

EXT. MOTEL LANDING/PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Bob and Elyse leave their motel room holding hands and walk
down the stairs. When they come out to the parking lot Bob
notices a COUPLE kissing next to a white BMW Coupe. The
couple stops kissing and we see that they are both women.
One of them is Mattie.
 23.

Bob reacts, recognizing her. MATTIE’S LOVER crosses the

parking lot to her car. Mattie opens the door of her BMW
and sees Bob and Elyse walking toward her. Bob and Elyse
pass right in front of Mattie as she gets inside her BMW.
She follows them with her eyes until they get into separate
vehicles. Mattie’s lover and Elyse each drive off in
different directions after exiting the lot.

MATTIE/BOB INSIDE THEIR VEHICLES

Mattie grips her steering wheel, shuts her eyes. Bob does
the same. We know what they’re both thinking: “Shit!”

EXT. BARBECUE – DAY

The Donahue backyard looks like an authentic cattle ranch

and many of the 200 GUESTS who crowd the yard are dressed
as ranch hands. COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC plays on the
outdoor sound system. Once again, Gale’s Texas-style
barbecue is Maitland’s main event of the summer.

We FIND Gale, ala Annie Oakley, with miniature cowpoke

Duncan in her arms. Champ Sussman and his wife Kendra come
up to them, all smiles.

CHAMP
(to Duncan)
Howdy, Pard-ner!

KENDRA
Gale, this is phenomenal! You mean to
tell me you do this every year?!

GALE
Yes. It wasn’t always this big, but it
has become quite the shindig.

CHAMP
Well I’m just blown away, Gale. And
the food is simply awesome.

GALE
I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourselves.

J.R. (O.S.)
Mom.

Gale and the Sussmans turn as J.R. comes up to them. In a

“Bob Marley” t-shirt, he’s one of the few who isn’t dressed
for the occasion.
 24.

GALE
Champ, Kendra, meet my oldest son, J.R.

CHAMP/KENDRA
Hi, J.R.!

J.R.
Hi. Mom, can we talk?

GALE
I’m kind of busy right, now,
Sweetheart. But you can help me if
you’d take Duncan inside to Beatrice.
I think my little man is ready for a
nap.
(lovingly, to Duncan)
Aren’t you, baby? Yes you are.

J.R.
But, Mom –

GALE
(pointedly)
We can talk later, J.R., but now I need
you to take Duncan. Now please,
Sweetheart.

She hands Duncan to J.R., then turns her attention back to

the Sussmans.

J.R. crosses the yard with Duncan. He finds Billy on the

patio speaking with a group of guests.

J.R.
Dad. I need to talk to you for a sec.

BILLY
Alright
(to guests)
Would you excuse me?

Billy and J.R. move off to the side. Duncan makes faces
and gnaws on J.R.’s t-shirt.

J.R.
Mom hasn’t said boo to me since dinner
last night.

BILLY
Son, you know how your mother is.
 25.

J.R.
Exactly. I know how she is, which is
why I’m scared shitless.

Billy reacts with a look that says: “Not in front of the

baby.”

BILLY
Look, J.R., you caught her by surprise
– which isn’t easy to do with your mom
– but she’ll get over it. And while
she’s in the process of doing that,
just try to see things from her
perspective. Not only is her only
child leaving her to go half way across
the country, you’re going to a school
that she was raised to despise since
she was old enough to walk.

J.R.
(re: Duncan)
I’m not so sure about that only child
thing anymore.

Billy regards Duncan. He rubs a hand gently across the

toddler’s hair, brushes his chubby cheek with a thumb.

BILLY
(thoughtfully)
She needs him, son. As much as he
needs her. Don’t begrudge her that.
Now, go find that girlfriend of yours
and have a good time. It’s a party for
Christ’s sake.

NEAR A CHUCK WAGON

Barbie is waiting for J.R. When she sees him, she

stiffens, ready to give him a hard time.
J.R.
Hey, sorry that took longer than I
expected.

BARBIE
I don’t know any of these people,
Johnny, and I’ve been standing here
forever waiting for you. Do you have
any idea how uncomfortable that makes
me feel?
 26.

J.R.
Look, I’m sorry, Barbie. But I didn’t
think you’d mind so much. You’re good
with people. I thought you’d mingle.

BARBIE
Not everyone is comfortable “mingling”
with strangers, Johnny.

She’s staring through the crowd at Gracie, who has the

undivided attention of Greg, Jet and tight end JUNIOR
TUIASOSOPO (19). J.R. turns and we sense his pang of
jealousy seeing Gracie cozy with three football studs.

JUNIOR
So what’s your major?

GRACIE
I’m a freshman. I don’t have one yet.

JET
A freshman? And you’re not living at
the Virg – I mean - Van Helsing Hall?

GRACIE
No, I’m going to live at home. Well,
here, with the Donahues.

GREG
Really? You mean Mrs. D is cool with
you and your boyfriend Lil’ J.R.
sleeping in the same house?

He looks over at J.R. and a pouting Barbie. Gracie looks

at them too.

GRACIE
He’s not my boyfriend anymore.

Greg, Jet and Junior react: that’s exactly what they wanted
to hear.

EXT. BARBECUE - SUNSET

Bob and Mimi Garcia are chatting amiably with Champ and
Kendra near the bar. They don’t see Mattie approaching
from behind. LOUIS the bartender does and pours a glass of
wine before she arrives.
 27.

LOUIS
Here you go, Ms. Weiss.

MATTIE
(takes glass)
Thank you, Louis.

The Sussmans and the Garcias turn to greet her. When Bob
and Mattie lock eyes they both freeze.

MIMI
Hi, Mattie! Congratulations on
knocking it out of the park again!

MATTIE
Thank you, Mimi.

MIMI
Have you met Chancellor Sussman and his
wife? Champ, Kendra, this is Mattie
Weiss. She’s Gale’s secret weapon.

Champ surreptitiously checks her out. Likes what he sees.

CHAMP/KENDRA
Hello, Mattie!

MATTIE
Hello, Chancellor, Mrs. Sussman.

CHAMP
(lecherous smile)
Now, Mattie, one thing you have to know
about us is we don’t stand on
formality. It’s Champ and Kendra...
You’re some secret weapon, Mattie. This
barbecue, the whole soiree, is just
excellent!

MATTIE
Thank you...Champ, but there were
plenty of people involved.

MIMI
One of them being her fiancé. When are
you and Darryl tying the knot, Mattie?

Mattie and Bob exchange a guilt-ridden glance.

MATTIE
October twelfth.
 28.

KENDRA
A Fall wedding in the Great Pacific
Northwest. It should be beautiful.

CHAMP
I can tell that your fiancé – Darryl is
it? – is one lucky man. Having a woman
who can plan a bash this big and who’s
smart enough to schedule her wedding on
a football bye week. October twelfth
is a bye week, isn’t it Bob?

BOB
Yeah...yes, we have that week off,
Champ. Before the Ohio State game.

CHAMP
(eyes hard on Mattie)
He’s one lucky fellah, your Darryl.

EXT. BARBECUE - NIGHT

Achilles and Dallas make their way through the throngs.

They’re each holding two PLASTIC CUPS. They finally reach
Portia and Cat, who’ve staked out spots for them in front
of the bandstand.

Portia is super fine in cutoff jean shorts, a midriff-

bearing western shirt and cowgirl boots. Cat’s holding her
own in the sexy department, in tight jeans and a cowgirl
hat. Portia takes a sip of the Coke Achilles gives her.

PORTIA
(reacts)
Eeeeww! What’s in this?!

Achilles takes her cup, sips from it, then exchanges cups
with her.

ACHILLES
Sorry, wrong one.

PORTIA
That’s not rum is it, Lee?

ACHILLES
A little bit. And could you keep your
voice down?

Portia glares her disapproval.

 29.

CAT
How’d you get that, Einstein? Mrs. D
is like a Nazi at Hanukkah when it
comes to serving alcohol to underage
players.

ACHILLES
What’s with all this grief? Jesus,
it’s a party. It’s one rum and Coke.
(to Portia)
You’ve seen me drink before. You drink
wine all the time and you’re not even
twenty. What’s the big deal?

PORTIA
Wine isn’t hard liquor, Lee. And
you’re driving a motorcycle tonight,
with me on it.

CAT
(to Dallas)
Did you know he got that spiked?

DALLAS
Don’t drag me into this! I’m not his
security blanket, that’s iPhone’s job.

GALE (O.S.)
Hello, everybody!

Gale is on the bandstand speaking into a microphone.

GALE
Can I have your attention?
(the crowd dies down)
Thank you all for coming out tonight.
Are you all having a good time?

CROWD
Yes!

GALE
(beat)
Now, Billy and I have come to adore the
great state of Washington, but you all
know we hail from our beloved Texas,
where everything is big. And what
we’ve tried to do here tonight is bring
a bit of Texas to Washington. So I’ll
ask again. Are you all having a good
time?
 30.

CROWD
(roaring)
YEAH! WHOO-HOO! YEE-HA!

GALE
(appreciating it)
Now that’s what I like to hear. It’s
that time of year again, when our boys
are about to lace ‘em up for one more
season. And before they do that, we
like to give them one last big sendoff,
something to remind them that no matter
what happens on the field, we still
love ‘em to death.

She pauses to find Billy in the crowd, standing near the

patio with a Jack Daniels on the rocks in his hand.

GALE
And those of you who’ve been here
before know that tonight’s a night I
like to do something extra special for
my Billy Boy. Every year, I try to
surprise him with a little taste of
down home music, a little something to
remind him that even though he’s the
head man for Washington Tech football,
he’ll always be a Son of Texas.

The crowd reacts with whoops and cat calls. Billy blushes.

GALE
(beat, mood turns sad)
Unfortunately...this year I wasn’t able
to find anyone from Texas to play for
my Billy.
(crowd saddens audibly)
So I had to ask our dear friends Ronald
Fraser and Charlotte Webb to help me
find a musical guest.

FIND Ronald and Charlotte in the crowd, beaming with

anticipation.

GALE
Ronald and Charlotte, as some of you
may know, are huge jazz fans. Ronald
even played professionally a while
back. And he still has ties to his
(MORE)
 31.

GALE (CONT’D.)
home state of Louisiana.
(a big smile)
So as a favor to me and my Billy Boy,
Ronald and Charlotte talked to their
old friend, Winton Marsalis, who’s
agreed to play for us tonight!

WINTON MARSALIS and his QUARTET come out of Rose Ryan’s

cottage and make their way to the bandstand as the crowd
erupts with applause. Billy, in shock and disbelief, beams
at Gale as he’s slapped on the back by guests.

Winton kisses and hugs Gale as his band sets up. Then they
start to jam as we...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

 32.

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. LAUNDRY ROOM – DAY

Mimi sorts laundry. In the b.g. we hear and see two of her
three young children PLAYING RAUCOUSLY in the next room.

MIMI
(to next room)
Katie! Behave, Sweetie!

KATIE (O.S.)
Donnie broke my castle!

DONNIE (O.S.)
Katie stinky! Katie stinky, Katie
stink, Mommy!

MIMI
(near end of her rope)
That’s enough you two! If I have to
come in there!

Mimi turns her attention to going through pant pockets.

She comes across a folded PIECE OF PAPER. She unfolds it –

ECU - MOTEL RECEIPT

OFF Mimi’s suspicion...

INT. ACHILLES’ & PORTIA’S APARTMENT – DAY

Achilles is on the sofa. He’s got his CELL PHONE plugged

into his LAPTOP, transferring an audio file from the phone
to the computer.

The door of the apartment opens and Portia comes in with

Kyndall. Achilles reacts, startled –

ACHILLES
(covering)
Hey, babe!

PORTIA
Hi, Lee. Baby you remember Kyndall
from church, don’t you?
 33.

KYNDALL
(smiles)
Hi, Achilles.

ACHILLES
(not remembering)
Um...sure. Hey.

PORTIA
Kyndall is in the Young Christian
Women’s Society with me. We’ve been
organizing the volunteer dinner at the
Golden Harvest this Friday night.

Achilles watches his computer with one eye as the file

transfer completes. He closes his laptop.

ACHILLES
That’s great. It should be a really
nice event.

KYNDALL
Thanks to Portia, we have twenty
families who’ve pledged already.

ACHILLES
That’s my girl.

PORTIA
Lee, have you seen my label maker?
(off his dumb look)
Never mind. It’s probably in the
bedroom closet. I’ll be right out,
Kyndall. Help yourself to a Coke or
something.

She disappears into the bedroom. Kyndall stands in the

middle of the room, staring at Achilles. Feeling
uncomfortable, he gets up, heads toward the kitchen.

ACHILLES
I’m going to grab a Coke. Want one?

She follows him into the kitchen. He opens the fridge and
pulls out two Cokes. Offers her one.

KYNDALL
(takes Coke)
Thank you. You don’t remember me, do
you?
 34.

ACHILLES
Sorry. I’m sure we’ve met but...

KYNDALL
It’s alright. You probably meet lots
of girls whose names you don’t
remember.
(off his reaction)
Oh, I’m sorry. That didn’t come out
right, did it?

He cracks open his Coke can, takes a sip to cut the

awkwardness.

KYNDALL
So do you think you’ve got a good
chance to beat Oklahoma Saturday night?

ACHILLES
I think we’ll be ready for them. You
follow football?

KYNDALL
Sure. My dad was a tight end in
college.

ACHILLES
Really? Where’d he play?

KYNDALL
Oklahoma. I was born in Norman.

ACHILLES
No shit?!
(off her embarrassment)
Oh, sorry. I forgot. Young Christian
Women’s Society.

She smiles coyly as Portia enters, holding a LABEL MAKER.

PORTIA
Found it.
(hands it to Kyndall)
Keep it as long as you need it.

KYNDALL
Thanks, Portia.
 35.

ACHILLES
So who are you going to root for
Saturday, Kyndall?
(off Portia’s look)
Kyndall’s from Norman, Oklahoma. Her
dad was a Sooner.

PORTIA
Is that right?

ACHILLES
Yeah. Pretty funny, huh? You teaming
up with a Sooner the night before we
play them on national t.v.?

KYNDALL
(big smile)
I’m a Devil now, Achilles. Sea Devils
all the way! WHOOO-AAAHH!

Something in her look tells us she’s going to be trouble.

INT. GABRIELLE’S OFFICE – DAY

Gabrielle Woods is at her desk reading the news online. A

KNOCK on the door and she looks up at Sandy Sanderson. As
usual, he’s nattily dressed in a tailored suit and
expensive, flamboyant necktie.

SANDERSON
Hi, Gabrielle.

GABRIELLE
Hello, Sandy. Welcome to Bristol.
Finding everything okay?

SANDERSON
Just great. Bet you’re surprised to
see me here, huh?

GABRIELLE
(sincere)
No Sandy, not at all. I’ve always
thought you were a talented newsman.
I’m glad you’re here.

He’s thrown by her sincerity. Then he feels emboldened.

 36.

SANDERSON
Thanks. So...now that I’m here at
ESPN, now that we’re both here, how’d
you like to have a drink sometime?
Maybe grab dinner, a movie?

Beat. She tries to keep it together, to keep her

professionalism intact, to not laugh him out of her office.

GABRIELLE
Gee, Sandy, I’m kind of seeing someone.

SANDERSON
Oh. Really?

GABRIELLE
Yeah...Really.

SANDERSON
I’m not surprised. I mean, look at
you. It’s just that, well, I kind of
always thought, back when we covered Wa
Tech together, we sort of had a vibe
going. You know?

GABRIELLE
(duh)
Yeah...Noooo...not so much.

SANDERSON
I just figured, you know, you spent a
lot of time at the Hoz. I spent a lot
of time at the Hoz. A lot of time we
spent at the Hoz together...

She stares at him for a long, achingly uncomfortable beat

before –

SANDERSON
(wilting)
Yeah...so...it was good seeing you
again, Gabrielle.

He leaves without expecting a good-bye. She continues

staring at the doorway until her cell phone RINGS. She
shudders at the thought of her and Sanderson on a date,
picks up the phone, checks the caller i.d., answers.

GABRIELLE
(mildly annoyed)
Yes, David, what is it?
 37.

INT. UPSCALE BAR - LATER

Gabrielle is at a table with her ex-husband, NBA Star David

Benjamin.

GABRIELLE
David, that’s insane!

DAVID
She’s insane, Elle.

GABRIELLE
You expect me to believe that Gale
Donahue tried to kill me by blowing up
my car?

DAVID
Yes, I do. Because she did.

Gabrielle takes a drink of her COSMOPOLITAN.

GABRIELLE
But the stalker? The L.A. police
arrested the stalker.

DAVID
Elle, look, the guys I hired to look
into this are pros; they’re thorough,
they don’t make mistakes. According to
them, Gale Donahue found this guy who’d
been stalking you and used him as her
cover. She followed his patterns and
his timelines. She knew he’d get
tagged if anything happened to you. He
was her dupe without even knowing it.

GABRIELLE
(in denial)
I can’t believe it, David. I told you
not to do anything! Not to hire
anybody to look into anything!

DAVID
Elle, she planted the bomb. She
detonated it. If she didn’t do it, she
hired someone who did. My guys are
sure of it.
 38.

GABRIELLE
The police cleared her. She was
shopping in San Francisco when it
happened.

DAVID
No, Elle, the L.A. police didn’t want
to implicate a former Miss America
without rock solid evidence. After all
of their screw ups? Shit, the last
thing they needed was to get into a PR
slugfest with Gale Donahue. They
bought the line of crap her and her
husband sold them.
(off Gabrielle’s distress)
My private investigators are better
than the L.A.P.D. They triple-
quadruple checked. The crazy bitch
flew to L.A., not San Francisco, that
morning. Somebody who knows airline
booking inside and out apparently
hacked the system and switched the
records after the fact - probably that
Nazi personal assistant of hers.

Gabrielle doesn’t want to believe it, but as crazy as it

sounds, it’s starting to make sense. She drains her Cosmo.

GABRIELLE
Billy didn’t know. He couldn’t have
known.

Now David takes a drink of his scotch-rocks.

DAVID
I wouldn’t be so sure about that, Elle.

She’s deeply offended that he would say such a thing.

GABRIELLE
Stop it, David! This whole cock and
bull story is absurd! Even more absurd
is suggesting that Billy would do
anything to harm me!

DAVID
Oh, Elle, stop being naïve! You want
to believe this guy’s some sort of
White Knight, but believe me he won’t
let anyone taint his lily white Miss
(MORE)
 39.

DAVID (CONT’D.)
Perfect. You saw the stories. Donahue
and the Nazi chick covered up her drug
addiction for years. Who’s to say they
wouldn’t cover up a murder. Especially
if it was a fine ass sister who got him
strung out the way you did.

GABRIELLE
That’s enough, David! Enough!

She stands to leave.

DAVID
(grabs her arm)
Elle! I wouldn’t come to you with
something like this if I didn’t know it
was true, and if I didn’t care about
you, you know that. Don’t let your
feelings for this man cloud your
judgment.

GABRIELLE
Gale’s a nut case, but Billy would
never do anything to hurt me. And he
wouldn’t just stand by and let her
either. Ever. I know that, David.
(breaks his grip with her
free hand)
Thank you for telling me about Gale,
and for caring. I have to go.

EXT. CITY SIDEWALK – DAY

Gabrielle walks down the sidewalk. Her head is spinning.

She stops, leans on a building to gather her nerves.

INT. GABRIELLE’S CAR – MOVING – DAY

Gabrielle is behind the wheel trying to keep it together in

traffic. The hands-free phone is DIALING. Then we hear
RINGING...

DONNA (V.O.)
Coach Donahue’s office.

GABRIELLE
Yes, hello, Donna. May I speak with
Coach Donahue?
 40.

DONNA (V.O.)
Who may I say is calling?

GABRIELLE
It’s Gabrielle Woods. ESPN.

DONNA (V.O.)
(coolness comes through the
phone)
Oh. Hello, Ms. Woods. I’ll see if the
Coach is available.

GABRIELLE
Donna, please. It’s important. I need
to speak with him right away.

DONNA (V.O.)
Yes, of course, Ms. Woods.

GABRIELLE
Donna –

DONNA (V.O.)
Hold please.

INT. DONNA’S CUBICLE – CONTINUOUS

Donna puts the phone down. Debates whether to buzz Billy

on the intercom. It’s not an easy decision for her. Her
dislike for Gabrielle is evident. Then –

DONNA
(presses intercom)
Coach. I have Miss Woods from ESPN for
you on line one.

INT. DUNCAN’S NURSERY – DAY

Gale is reading to Duncan. She looks up to find Billy

standing in the doorway, reads the anger in his eyes.

GALE
(beat)
Billy honey, what’s the matter?
 41.

INT. DONAHUE MASTER BEDROOM – MINUTES LATER

Alone in the room with Gale, Billy fights to contain his

rage. Gale is as cool as the other side of the pillow.

GALE
She won’t go to the police, Billy.

BILLY
Jesus Christ, Gale! What if her ex-
husband does? His private eyes have
put it all together.

GALE
She won’t let him.

BILLY
How do you know that?

GALE
As much as she’d love to see me behind
bars for the next thirty years, she
knows that can’t happen without you
joining me. She won’t let that happen.
Not to her “Man.”

Billy can’t find the words to express his utter disgust.

They just stare in each other’s eyes instead. Finally –

GALE
If we’re done here, Billy honey, it’s
time for Duncan’s bottle.
(goes to the door, turns)
Billy, I’d hoped we were past all of
this. Seeing as how we’re not, I’ll
leave it to you to keep this mess from
harming our family.
(off his reaction)
I don’t care how you do it, but do
whatever you have to to keep your
whore’s mouth shut.

She exits.

INTERCUT - RANGE ROVER/GABRIELLE’S OFFICE – LATER

Parked on a campus street, Billy’s on the hands-free car

phone. The expression on his face tells us he’s torn.
 42.

BILLY
David’s information must be wrong.

She’s on her cell phone.

GABRIELLE
Are you certain, Billy? David said the
people he hired are the best.

BILLY
Yes, Elle...I’m positive. Gale is
capable of a lot of things, but murder
isn’t one of them.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

 43.

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. VISITOR’S LOCKER ROOM – SUNSET

The Sea Devils dress in their game uniforms and go through

a variety of individual pre-game rituals, e.g., pounding
pads, sleeping, cranking music in headphones, taking a
shit, throwing up, etc. Over this –

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Well folks, we’re about to kick off
another exciting season of college
football. We’ve got what should be a
good one here tonight in Norman,
Oklahoma, where the number three
Oklahoma Sooners take on the number
twenty-one Washington Tech Sea Devils.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
The Sooners come into tonight’s season
opener poised to make a run at a
national championship. They’re rock
solid in every aspect of the game –
offense, defense and special teams –
but the star of this explosive team is
definitely Cody Jenkins –

SMASH CUT TO:

EXT. OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STADIUM – NIGHT

CODY JENKINS

warming up, throwing passes on the sideline.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
– the sensational senior quarterback
who threw for over four thousand yards
and forty two touchdowns last season.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Kirk, this young man is a pleasure to
watch on the football field. Last
year, Jenkins finished second in the
Heisman voting and tops the list of
candidates for the coveted trophy
coming into this season. He should get
off to a good start in this year’s
(MORE)
 44.

MUSBURGER (V.O., CONT’D.)

Heisman derby, going up against a Sea
Devils defense that gave up fifty-five
points to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl.

DALLAS

is on the Sea Devils sideline warming up. He fires up his

defensive teammates, including Kwame and Brew.

DALLAS
Alright, let’s get ready to play some
football. Good, old-fashion, hard-
nosed football.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
You’re right, Brent, with the
graduation of several key defensive
players, the Sea Devils have got plenty
of holes for Jenkins to exploit. The
Sooners offense averaged forty-five
points a game last season, so expect
them to score often tonight.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Coach Billy Donahue’s Devils will have
to match Oklahoma’s high flying offense
with some firepower of their own. And
for that they’ll be counting on that
young man to pull the trigger...

ACHILLES

is on the sideline, talking on a telephone to the coaches’

booth above the stadium.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Junior quarterback Achilles Addams is
looking to redeem himself and the
offense after being shut out in the
Poinsettia Bowl last December. I spoke
with offensive coordinator Bob Garcia
earlier and he told me that Addams
really matured in the off-season. He’s
reading defenses better, releasing the
ball faster and showing better
judgment. And he’s gelled with his
receiving corps.
 45.

ACHILLES
(into phone)
I feel good. The field’s firm. The
wind is calm. The guys seem loose.

BOB

in the coaches’ booth, speaks into his headset.

BOB
Good. Just take things nice and easy.
You’re ready for this, Achilles. It’s
just like playing pitch and catch.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
Well, Brent, Addams is going to have to
run Garcia’s spread offense to
perfection if the Sea Devils hope to
have any chance of pulling off the
upset here in Norman tonight.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
That’s true, Mr. Herbstreit, but don’t
forget it was this same quarterback,
who they call “The Ice Man”, who
knocked off the number one Miami
Hurricanes last year in Miami. Like I
said folks, this ought to be a good
one. So fasten your seatbelts, it’s
time for Saturday Night College
Football!

SMASH CUT TO:

MIDFIELD

Jenkins and two other Oklahoma TEAM CAPTAINS approach the

center of the field. Achilles, Dallas and special teams
captain TRENT DAVIS approach from the Sea Devils side. A
REFEREE meets them for the coin toss. The age old ritual
happens by rote and is captured by TELEVISION CAMERAS and
the stadium PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEM.

REFEREE
(re: the coin)
Alright, men, this is heads, this is
tails. Washington Tech, you’re the
visiting team so call it in the air.

He flips the COIN.

 46.

ACHILLES
Tails!

REFEREE
It’s tails.

DALLAS
We want the ball!

REFEREE
Oklahoma, Washington Tech has elected
to receive.

The referee makes the motions for who will kick and who
will receive. The team captains shake hands.

REFEREE
Good luck, gentlemen. Let’s have a
tough, hard, honest game of football.

ON THE SIDELINE

Billy studies his PLAY SHEET and talks into his headset.

BILLY
Okay, Bob, let’s get Stoops and his
boys scratching their heads on this
first series.

BOB (V.O.)
We’ll keep ‘em guessing all night,
Coach.

IN THE STANDS

Gale is in the Wa Tech band section with Charlotte, Champ,

Sasha and other Sea Devils fans. Gale’s wearing Dallas’
number “27” jersey. They all rise in anticipation as the
Oklahoma KICKER prepares for the kickoff.

ON THE FIELD

The football is kicked, flips end-over-end through the

night sky. Dallas catches it at the 10-yard-line...

(NOTE: Throughout the game we will INTERCUT as needed to

reaction from FANS in the stands and in Maitland)
 47.

INT. HELO’S PUB – NIGHT

In the packed pub we FIND Cat and Gracie with LOCAL

GIRLFRIENDS. Everyone’s cheering at MOUNTED TELEVISIONS as
Dallas runs 40 yards before being knocked out of bounds.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Just a terrific return by Dallas
Morales! And the Sea Devils will start
their first possession of the game on
the right side of the fifty.

INT. DELTA HOUSE (GREAT ROOM) – NIGHT

Suzy, Jeni and the Deltas are gathered around the

television, cute and cozy in pink Sea Devils jerseys...

INT. DONAHUE GREAT ROOM – NIGHT

J.R. and his HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS watch the game ON THE BIG
SCREEN. Barbie comes in with a bowl of chips, settles in
next to him in a big leather chair...

INT. ACHILLES & PORTIA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Portia watches the game with GIRLS from the Young Christian
Women’s Society, including Kyndall. Portia’s eyes are
locked on Achilles as he walks to the line of scrimmage...

EXT. OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STADIUM – NIGHT

Achilles coolly scans the Oklahoma defense.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Addams from the shotgun...Flanker Greg
Ericsson comes in motion. Addams takes
the snap, hands off – no it’s a fake to
Ericsson. The blitz is coming – Addams
dumps a screen pass to Ericsson...He’s
got an opening. There he goes, down
the sideline!

Sea Devils fans erupt as Greg streaks into the end zone.
 48.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
And on their first play form scrimmage,
Addams dumps a screen pass to senior
flanker Greg Ericsson, who takes it
forty-five yards for a touchdown!

ON THE SIDELINE

Greg accepts congratulations from coaches and teammates.

He and Achilles drink GATORADE and talk about the play as
the Dallas and the defense take the field.

ON THE FIELD

Jenkins and the Oklahoma offense get busy. The Sooners’

star quarterback shows why he’s the leading candidate for
the Heisman Trophy, completing six passes in a row to put
the Sooners at the Sea Devils’ 12-yard-line.

The Sooners come out of the huddle. Jenkins reads the

defense, barks out signals and takes the snap. He lobs a
perfect pass to a receiver in the corner of the end zone.
Touchdown.

The Sooners band breaks into the familiar “Boomer Sooner”

fight song and the COVERED SOONER WAGON races out, pulled
by two miniature ponies.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
Well, I can’t say I’m surprised by the
way Jenkins sliced through this
Washington Tech defense. Unless
something changes drastically, it’s
going to a long, long night for the
Devils.

ON THE SIDELINE

Achilles rallies his offense before they go onto the field.

ACHILLES
Listen up: this ain’t nothing but a
party! All night long! You feel me?!
What they can do, we can do! Now let’s
bring it!

MONTAGE #1 – FIRST HALF SHOOTOUT

It’s a long first half for both defenses as Achilles and

Jenkins each put on passing clinics...
 49.

Running a “no huddle” offense, Achilles peppers the

Sooners’ defense with short, precise passes to Greg, Jet,
Crash and Junior, who each run 5 to 10 yards after catching
the ball;

Jenkins hits receivers all over the field and scrambles out
of a sack to throw a 30-yard bomb to a receiver who catches
it over Dallas for a touchdown;

In the first half, Sooners receivers score three times,

Jenkins runs for a touchdown and the PLACEKICKER kicks a
short field goal;

For the Sea Devils, Greg catches a second touchdown pass

from Achilles, and Jet and Junior snag a touchdown apiece
from the red-hot hand of the “Ice Man.”

The SCORE at halftime: OU 31 – WTU 28

END MONTAGE

ON THE SIDELINE

ESPN reporter Wendi Nix stops Billy for an interview.

WENDI
Coach, two-hundred twenty yards passing
and four touchdowns through the air by
Achilles Addams in the first half. Are
you surprised at how effective your
offense has been against this normally
stout Oklahoma defense?

BILLY
We’re not surprised. Oklahoma’s a well
coached team with a lot of speed and a
lot of playmakers. We knew we’d have
to put up some points to stay with them
and we’ve been able to do that so far.

WENDI
Trailing by only a field goal at the
half, do you think you’ve neutralized
the Sooners’ home field advantage?

BILLY
I played a few games here in Norman
when I was at Texas A&M, so I can tell
you it ain’t over ‘til it’s over. And
it’s a long way from being over.
 50.

WENDI
Thanks, Coach.

BILLY
We’ll see ya later, Wendi.

WENDI
(into camera)
Spoken like a true Big Twelve alum.
Brent, Kirk, back to you.

INT. BROADCAST BOOTH – LATER

Brent Musburger and Kirk Herbstreit give viewers a

breakdown of the first half.

MUSBURGER
Well folks, we’ve witnessed one heck of
a first half. Oklahoma leads by a
field goal. But so far tonight it sure
feels like Cody Jenkins and this high
powered Sooners offense has been
outgunned by Achilles Addams and the
Sea Devils.

HERBSTREIT
You know, Brent, we expected to see the
Devils pull out all the stops tonight,
but what’s really impressed me is the
poise and execution of Achilles Addams.
He’s thirty-four for forty-one, two
hundred and twenty yards passing with
four touchdowns and no interceptions.
That’s just an incredible performance
against this Sooners’ defense.

MUSBURGER
You’re right, Kirk. So far tonight the
junior from East Orange, New Jersey is
making a strong case for why he should
be considered on par with Oklahoma’s
Cody Jenkins and other elite passers.

HERBSTREIT
That’s right, Brent. Unless he has a
complete meltdown, I would expect to
see Addams’ name pop up on a few more
Heisman Hopeful lists after tonight’s
performance.
 51.

INT. ACHILLES’ & PORTIA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Kyndall grabs Portia’s hand, squeezes it.

KYNDALL
(excitedly)
The Heisman Trophy! Portia, wouldn’t
that just be awesome?!

PORTIA
Keep hope alive. Keep hope alive.

But we sense that Achilles’ winning the award is more than

just a modest hope for Portia. She’s set her sights on it.

EXT. OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL STADIUM – NIGHT

The Sea Devils are preparing to take the field for the
second half. Coach Joe Mercer fires up his defense.

MERCER
Alright, dammit. You let them walk all
over you in the first half. Tighten it
up! No more piss poor arm tackles.
Hit ‘em hard and wrap ‘em up! And stop
falling for the play action pass!

Dallas’ eyes burn with intensity as he straps on his

helmet. On his way onto the field he exchanges a look with
Billy. Father nods imperceptibly to son, but the message
is clear: “Get it done.”

ON THE FIELD

Jenkins picks up where he left off in the first half,

passing and scrambling his team into scoring position with
ease. At the Sea Devils’ 20-yard-line, he breaks the
huddle and walks to the line of scrimmage. Over CHATTER by
offense and defense, Jenkins locks eyes with Dallas and the
two gridiron combatants acknowledge their mutual respect
without so much as a blink of an eye.

Jenkins calls an audible. His receivers shift positions.

DALLAS
Watch the screen! Watch the screen!

On the snap, Jenkins fakes a hand off. Dallas hesitates.

Jenkins fires a pass where Dallas should have been. A
Sooner RECEIVER makes the catch and darts into end zone.
 52.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Touchdown! That was just a perfect
pass by the Heisman candidate!

ON TELEVISION a REPLAY shows the touchdown in SLOW MOTION.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
This play is an example of why so many
NFL scouts are high on Cody Jenkins.
He makes the read, calls the perfect
audible and executes flawlessly. The
play action totally freezes safety
Dallas Morales, allowing the wide
receiver to slip behind him. Just a
perfectly executed play by Jenkins.

At Helo’s Pub, Cat feels Dallas’ disappointment.

CAT
It’s alright, Casanova. Shake it off.

ON THE SIDELINE

Dallas is on the bench trying to erase his mistake from his

memory. Teammates stop by to offer encouragement.

ON THE FIELD

Achilles barks out signals, takes the snap and goes to work
- throws a beautiful pass to Jet in the seam; hustles the
offense back to the line of scrimmage and does it again,
hitting Greg this time.

COACHES’ BOOTH

BOB
(into headset)
Alright, we’ve got them on their heels.
Now let’s kick ‘em in the balls. Give
me Ace Right, 90 Cadillac.

ON THE SIDELINE

Assistant coach Joe Dumars hears the play in his headset

and sends it to Achilles on the field with hand signals.

ACHILLES

stands in the shotgun, barks out the signals, takes the

snap from iPhone...
 53.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
The Sooners are blitzing! Addams steps
up – he’s got a man open over the
middle! TOUCHDOWN!

Junior catches the ball, kneels in the end zone and makes
the sign of the cross, then tosses the ball to an OFFICIAL.

Sea Devils fans everywhere whoop and holler. Portia eyes

Achilles ONSCREEN with pride as he unfastens his chinstrap
and calmly walks back to the sideline.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Addams hits tight end Junior Tuiososopo
for his fifth touchdown pass. The Ice
Man is on fire tonight!

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
With that pass, Addams has thrown for
over three hundred yards. And we’re
not even in the fourth quarter.

...As the fourth quarter begins, Billy glances at the

SCOREBOARD: OU 38, WTU 35. He looks at Achilles, next to
him watching Jenkins and the Oklahoma offense.

BILLY
Hell of a game, huh, Addams?

ACHILLES
(a slight grin)
It’s about to be, Coach.

Billy allows himself a hidden smile then his eyes narrow

with intensity as he focuses on the field.

JENKINS

takes the snap and rolls right, fires a pass to his tight
end for a first down; scrambles out of the pocket for a 10
yard gain; dumps off another pass to his TAILBACK, who
gains another first down; stands in the pocket and flings
it to a WIDE RECEIVER crossing the middle; lofts a
beautiful pass to a receiver who makes a circus catch in
the end zone for a touchdown.

Sooner fans go crazy.

SCOREBOARD – OU 45, WTU 35, 7:12 left in the game

 54.

ACHILLES

takes the snap, flips a shuttle pass to Crash, who cuts and
jukes for a first down; avoids a heavy blitz to complete a
pass to Junior for 12 yard; finds Greg on the sideline for
another 15; rolls to his left, gets a hellacious block from
iPhone, and fires a missile 30 yards down field to Jet who
snags it with one hand in the end zone. Touchdown.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
My, my! Don’t go away yet, folks
‘cause it’s nervous time in Norman.
With four minutes left in the game, the
heavily favored Sooners are clinging to
a forty-five to forty-two lead over
Washington Tech! It ain’t over yet!

ON THE SIDELINE

Coach Mercer exhorts his defense.

MERCER
Right here! Right now! This is it!
You can hold these guys! Get it done!

Kwame, Brew, Dallas and the rest of the defense encourage

each other as they take the field.

JENKINS

calmly comes to the line of scrimmage, scans the defense.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
Even though they’ve dominated the Sea
Devils defense tonight through the air,
the Sooners will run the ball here to
take time off the clock.

Jenkins hands off to his RUNNING BACK, who is STUFFED at

the line of scrimmage by Kwame Epstein.

MERCER
(shouting to field)
That’s what I’m talking about. Way to
stick Epstein! Way to stick D!

The Sooners take their time getting back to the line of

scrimmage as the clock runs down (2:12 left). They try
another running play. This time Brew makes the stop.

Sea Devils fans everywhere are on their feet.

 55.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
Big third down for Jenkins and the
Sooners. No way does Sooners head
coach Bob Stoops want to give Achilles
Addams another shot on the field.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Third and a long six, I think the
Sooners have to take a shot at a pass
play. Here they come. Jenkins is in
the shotgun. The Sea Devils line up in
a nickel defense –

DALLAS

inches close to the line of scrimmage as Jenkins barks out.

On the snap of the ball he sprints across the line –

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
The Devils are blitzing! Jenkins
better get the pass away –

DALLAS

blitzes at full speed. BAM! It’s a ferocious hit that

knocks Jenkins’ helmet off, slams him hard to the turf.
Dallas gets up and is mobbed by his teammates. He looks
down at Jenkins, lying unconscious on the ground. Dallas
goes cold, knows immediately that it’s bad. Real bad.

Trainers and coaches come onto the field to tend to

Jenkins. Over TELEVISION REPLAYS of the sack –

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
You just hate to see something like
this happen. You can see from the
replay that Morales gets a clean shot
at Jenkins.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
And folks, that is a textbook tackle.
Just the way they teach it training in
camp. Nothing cheap about that hit at
all. The safety just sprinted to the
quarterback and got to him untouched.

AN AMBULANCE rolls onto the field. Jenkins is secured to a

stretcher and loaded onboard. The ambulance drives off.
 56.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
We’ll get a report on Jenkins later,
but let’s hope it’s not as serious as
it looks.

ON THE SIDELINE

Dallas is doing his best to remain stoic, but concern

clouds his face. Billy makes his way over to him.

BILLY
Dallas.

Dallas stares at him blankly. Billy takes Dallas’ face in

his hands, looks him straight in the eyes.

BILLY
(calmly)
Dallas. Son.
(off Dallas’ recognition)
It’s football. You understand?

Dallas’ eyes register his understanding and, finally, his

acceptance of Billy as his father. Billy squeezes his neck
supportively.

GALE/CAT

In the stands, Gale looks down compassionately at Billy and

Dallas. At Helo’s Pub, Cat watches them on the BIG SCREEN.
Her heart goes out to Dallas, knows that he’s torn inside.

ACHILLES

gets to work, passing and scrambling the Sea Devils into

field goal range. On third down and four yards to go, he
calls their last time out.

SCOREBOARD – OU 45, WTU 42, 0:56 left in the game

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
Billy Donahue is going to go for a
field goal and try to win it in
overtime.

HERBSTREIT (V.O.)
Achilles Addams has thrown for over
four hundred yards tonight, but you’ve
got to go with the percentages. A
thirty yard field goal is very makeable
for sophomore kicker Vince Leong.
 57.

ON THE FIELD

Vince comes out and prepares to kick the field goal.

iPhone sets up to hike the football. Achilles takes a knee
behind him to hold the ball for Vince’s kick.

ON THE SIDELINE

Billy and the Sea Devils watch as the ball is snapped...

VINCE

plants his left foot, swings his right leg and KICKS the
football. He watches as the ball flips end-over-end in the
night sky toward the uprights.

Sea Devils and Sooners watch too, both teams’ players and
coaches using body language to guide the ball...

THE BALL

clangs on the left upright, falls away from the goal post.

MUSBURGER (V.O.)
No good! He missed it! So the Sooners
will get the win here in Norman, but
boy was it close!

Sooners players, coaches and fans rejoice. Sea Devils

players, coaches and fans are stunned into silence.

Vince buries his head in his hands. Achilles steps up next

to him and pats him supportively on the helmet.

ACHILLES
Forget about it, Vince. You’ve got to
forget about it, man.

The Sea Devils kicking team begins walking off the field,
still in a state of shock. Achilles puts his arm around
Vince’s shoulder pads and they walk off together as we...

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE