Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Episode 1.12
“Touchback”
by David Polk
2.
RECAP
TEASER
FADE IN:
GABRIELLE (O.S.)
Billy, we’ve reached that point.
BILLY
What point is that?
GABRIELLE
The point in every relationship where
things are serious enough for hearts to
be broken, and by hearts I mean mine.
BILLY
Gabrielle, hurting you is the last
thing I want to do, you know that.
GABRIELLE
I know. That’s why I’m giving you an
out.
BILLY
What?
GABRIELLE
Billy, if we keep going, I’m going to
fall in love with you. And trust me,
dealing with a black woman in love is
not for the faint of heart.
BILLY
(a charming smile)
I think I can handle it.
3.
GABRIELLE
I think you can too, but can Gale?
(off his reaction)
Billy, I’ve been where Gale is now,
ignorant to the fact that her man is
cheating. Sometimes I feel awful about
what we’re doing but I don’t regret a
single moment that I’ve spent with you.
I also know I won’t settle for being a
substitute for her.
BILLY
You know that’s not how I think of you.
GABRIELLE
Billy, eventually you and Gale are
going to reconnect, and when you do
someone is going to get hurt.
A long beat.
BILLY
Elle, you know I’m crazy about you.
But I can’t leave her.
GABRIELLE
I know that, Billy. And I would never
ask you to...If we end it now I’ll
always remember our love affair as a
special time in my life.
BILLY
Is that what you want, to call it
quits?
GABRIELLE
That’s up to you, Billy...I’m not some
lovesick schoolgirl whose head is in
the clouds. I’m a big girl who lives
in the real world, a world where love
is messy and happily ever after ends
before it begins. I can handle being
the other woman, Billy, but I won’t
sneak around like some cheap tart.
BILLY
Elle, I don’t understand. What are you
suggesting I do?
4.
GABRIELLE
If I give you my heart and continue to
sneak around, that would only cheapen
what we have together. I won’t do that
to myself. But if Gale knows what
she’s up against then it’s her choice.
BILLY
You want me to tell Gale about us?
END TEASER
ACT ONE
ACHILLES
What do you want me to do, Portia? I
can’t come home now. We’re heavy into
our conditioning program and getting
ready for spring camp. Besides, I
can’t do anything for your father. He
got himself into this mess.
PORTIA (V.O.)
(angrily)
You’re not listening to me, Lee. They
think he stole money from them. He
could go to prison. All you have to do
is tell the investigators that he
wasn’t involved with any of the
boosters you met with.
ACHILLES
But it sounds to me like he was,
Portia. And that he stole money from
the church. Why should I cover for the
Right Reverend? He tried to use me!
PORTIA (V.O.)
Stop it, Lee! It’s not true and you
know it! Daddy would never do anything
to hurt you!
5.
ACHILLES
Isn’t it? That must be why Coach was
grilling me about him. That’s what
their private investigator found out.
He went snooping around to find dirt on
me and found it on your father.
PORTIA (V.O.)
(crying)
Achilles, why are you being so
unreasonable? I swear to God, if you
keep talking like this I’ll...
ACHILLES
(interrupting)
What? You swear to God you’ll what,
Portia?
PORTIA (V.O.)
My God, what’s happened to you out
there? Who’s got you acting this way
toward me? I knew you should never
have left me and gone so far away.
ACHILLES
Portia, I’m late for the weight room.
I’ll call you la...
ACHILLES
(fuming)
What?! I said I’m late for the weight
room!
VALERIE (V.O.)
Okay. This a bad time?
ACHILLES
(calms down)
Oh, Valerie. Hey, sorry about that.
6.
VALERIE
It’s okay, stud. Write this address
down.
ACHILLES (V.O.)
Give me a sec, I need to get a
pen...Okay.
VALERIE
125 Bellingham, Apartment 3. Got it?
ACHILLES (V.O.)
Okay. Where’s this?
VALERIE
It’s where I want you to be after
workouts. It’s on the third floor, over
Sulky’s dry cleaners.
ACHILLES (V.O.)
Okay.
VALERIE
And Achilles, don’t strain yourself too
much in the weight room. You’re going
to have to use those muscles when you
get here.
MICHELLE
Cake, you realize that none of this was
your fault.
CAKE
No? I knew what I was doing, even when
I was 15. I wanted boys to want me.
No, I wanted men to want me.
7.
MICHELLE
Cake, Sonny was 20 years old then. Old
enough to know it was wrong, whether
you tempted him or not. He would be
convicted in every state of the union
not to mention most countries in the
Western World. You’re the victim,
Cake, not an accomplice.
CAKE
What about now? I’m old enough to
choose, I’m old enough to know better
and I still went with him. I still
want to be with him.
MICHELLE
It’s natural that you would feel some
attachment to a man with whom you’ve
been so intimate, especially since that
intimacy began when you were so young.
But you mustn’t confuse attachment with
affection or even desire, Cake.
CAKE
(tears stream down)
He always said there was a reason we
were so good together. That it was
natural proof we were meant to be
together.
MICHELLE
He lied.
SOFIA
Catherine, are you all right?
CAKE
You don’t have to check on me every 10
minutes, Mom. Besides, next time I try
to kill myself I’ll just blow my brains
out.
SOFIA
I just wanted to know you were all
right dear. I’m sorry to disturb you.
CAKE
Mom.
SOFIA
Yes, Catherine.
CAKE
(tears building)
Mom...
CAKE
(tears flowing)
Mom...
Sofia takes Cake in her arms and Cake breaks down, sobbing
uncontrollably.
SOFIA
It’s okay, Baby. Mommy’s here...
Mommy’s here.
PETE
Looking mighty fine tonight, Senor
Morales.
DALLAS
Maybe if you guys put on a jacket once
in awhile you wouldn’t have to spend
all of your alone time beating off to
porn videos.
GRACIE
Well, Johnny, how do I look?
J.R.
You look great.
And she does. He kisses her, takes her hand and leads her
into the house.
GALE
Gracie, don’t you look lovely tonight.
GRACIE
Thank you, Mrs. Donahue. You look
great too. But you always do.
GALE
Thank you, dear. I don’t believe
you’ve met Cara and Dallas. Cara
Trzcinski, Dallas Morales, this is
Gracie Wellington.
BILLY
Well, now that we’re all here, why
don’t we get to the main event? I’m
starving.
10.
GALE
So, Cara, Billy tells me you’re also a
scholarship athlete.
CARA
Yes, I’m a forward on the soccer team.
GALE
(smiles)
So you’re also a football player.
CARA
(smiles)
Yes.
DALLAS
Red – I mean, Cara – was the team’s
leading scorer this season. She had
more goals and assists than any
freshman, man or woman, in Wa Tech
soccer history.
CARA
Wa Tech’s only had a Division I soccer
program for 7 years, Dallas, so that’s
not saying much.
BILLY
I’ve heard good things about you from
Dr. Webb, Cara. She said you remind
her a lot of Achilles Addams, except on
the soccer field.
CARA
Sorry.
DALLAS
I’ll be sure to tell Q.B. that the next
time I see him.
CARA
Oh, thanks.
11.
BILLY
What? Do you know him?
CARA
Yeah, sort of.
DALLAS
Yeah, as in they sort of argue like
cats and dogs whenever they’re around
each other.
BILLY
(laughs)
Well, I hope you set him straight as
much as possible.
GALE
Funny, I never thought of Achilles as
the argumentative type. He’s usually
pretty quiet and keeps to himself.
BILLY
What about you, Gracie, do you play any
sport in school?
GRACIE
No, not really, Mr. Donahue.
GALE
(correcting her)
Coach, dear. Coach Donahue.
(to Billy)
Honey, Gracie’s more of the academic
type, isn’t that right, dear? You
especially like Math, yes?
GRACIE
Well, I try hard, but I’m not a genius
or anything like that.
CARA
You’re a senior at Central?
GRACIE
Yes.
CARA
You been there all four years?
12.
GRACIE
Yes. Yes I have.
CARA
Have you had Billups for Calculus yet?
GRACIE
(covering)
Um, no, not yet?
CARA
Hmmm. Well, you will. Everybody does
eventually. Like they say, you can run
but you can’t hide.
GRACIE
Oh, so you went to Central, Cara?
CARA
Yeah. I graduated last year. I was in
Math Club my last two years. I’m
surprised I never ran into you.
GRACIE
Well, I’m not much for clubs and things
like that.
DALLAS
(laughs)
Math Club? You?
CARA
Yes, me!...So Gracie if you’re at
Central and J.R.’s at Billings Academy,
how’d you two meet?
J.R.
(before Gracie speaks)
After school.
GALE
J.R., don’t be rude, Sweetheart. Why
don’t you let Gracie speak for herself?
J.R.
Sorry, Gracie.
GRACIE
It’s okay, J.R.
(to Cara)
We met doing community service at the
Lincoln Field House.
13.
CARA
(beat, understanding)
Oh...Well, I guess it’s true that every
cloud has a silver lining.
GRACIE
I like your nose ring. A friend of
mine has one just like it, only hers is
a ruby instead of a diamond.
CARA
Thanks. I love your ring. Do you
mind?
GRACIE
(beams with pride)
J.R. gave it to me on Valentine’s Day.
ACT TWO
VALERIE
(winded)
Damn...That was good.
ACHILLES
(winded)
Glad I could be of service.
VALERIE
There’s $100 for you on the dresser on
your way out.
ACHILLES
$100! That’s it?
VALERIE
I only came once, stud.
They laugh.
ACHILLES
I’m thirsty. You think they’ve got
anything to drink in this place?
VALERIE
Try the fridge. Maybe you’ll get
lucky...again.
ACHILLES
(laughs)
You want anything while I’m up?
VALERIE
Whatever you have is fine.
15.
ACHILLES
(ref. the t-shirt)
You look good in that.
VALERIE
My boyfriend wears it under his game
jersey. Maybe you’ve heard of him?
They call him the Iceman ‘cause he’s so
cool under pressure.
ACHILLES
Well, tell your boyfriend he’s got a
pretty hot girlfriend.
VALERIE
Achilles.
ACHILLES
Yeah?
VALERIE
You’ve got a pretty hot girlfriend.
VALERIE
Find anything in there?
ACHILLES
Yeah! This fridge is stocked. You
think the people who live here mind if
we eat their stuff?
VALERIE
I don’t know, would you?
16.
ACHILLES
To be honest, yeah, I’d be pissed off
to find out somebody was screwing in my
bed and raiding my fridge.
VALERIE
(smiles)
Then I guess it’s a good thing it’s
your bed you’re screwing in and your
fridge you’re raiding.
ACHILLES
What? Valerie, what are you talking
about?
VALERIE
It’s yours.
ACHILLES
All right, I know we just spent the
last hour screwing our brains out, but
have you lost your mind?
VALERIE
The loft is yours for the rest of the
semester.
ACHILLES
I already have an apartment. I can’t
afford to rent two.
VALERIE
Then just rent one, this one.
ACHILLES
Valerie, I have a roommate, remember?
If I don’t pay my half of the rent
Lindsay’s screwed.
VALERIE
Please, Achilles, he doesn’t need your
money. His parents are loaded.
ACHILLES
How do you know that?
17.
VALERIE
Everybody knows his mother’s Little
Debbie from that old T.V. show and his
father runs a studio in Hollywood.
ACHILLES
Well, what if I just like him as a
roommate?
VALERIE
He’s disgusting! I can’t stand the
thought of making love to you with him
next door. Even you said he treated
that girl, what’s her name – Cat? –
like dirt.
ACHILLES
Valerie, look at this place. The
rent’s got to be twice what I pay now.
VALERIE
The rent is whatever you can afford.
(off his ‘Say what?’
reaction)
One of my Delta sister’s dad owns a lot
of real estate, including this
building. He’s agreed to rent it out
at a student friendly rate for the rest
of the semester.
ACHILLES
Valerie, I don’t know...
VALERIE
What is there to know, stud? We only
have three and a half months to be
together. Let’s make the most of it.
(loops her arms around his
neck)
Say yes and there’s another $100 on the
dresser for you.
ACHILLES
Only $100?
They kiss.
18.
GALE
Can I come in?
GALE
It’s supposed to get chilly tonight. I
thought you might need something to
keep you warm.
She holds out the blanket but he knows that’s not what
she’s offering him.
BILLY
(takes blanket)
Thank you.
She crosses the room, sits on the end of the bed. She
holds him with her eyes.
GALE
Is there anything else you need, Billy?
Gale and her mother Rose Ryan are having fruit and coffee.
O.S. we hear the sounds of the construction crew hard at
work building Rose’s cottage. Then we hear someone come
into the kitchen next door.
GALE
Billy? Honey, is that you?
BILLY
‘Morning. Good morning, Mom.
ROSE
Good morning, Billy Boy.
GALE
You left early.
BILLY
(pours a cup of coffee)
Left about the same time I always do.
Beat.
ROSE
Does this mean you two are sleeping in
the same bed again?
ROSE
It’s about time.
Gale blushes.
JAMAL (O.S.)
Damn, Gigi, you got a nice ass for a
white girl.
GRACIE
Hey, Jamal.
JAMAL
What you doing out here picking up
trash? Fine thing like you ought to be
kicking back eating chocolate bonbons
and shit like that.
GRACIE
(laughs)
Yeah, that’s me all right, living the
lifestyles of the rich and famous.
JAMAL
So is your moms home?
GRACIE
Nah, she got a double shift. Needs the
overtime.
JAMAL
Little nippy out here, don’t you think?
Maybe we should get inside, warm each
other up. You know, like old times.
GRACIE
(apprehensive)
Jamal, that was a long time ago. You
know I’m with Johnny now.
JAMAL
Come on, girl. I know that pretty
little white boy ain’t putting it on
you the way Jamal did.
GRACIE
Jamal, please.
JAMAL
Come on Gigi. Hook a brother up.
21.
JAMAL
Damn, Gigi, where’d you score this
shit? It’s good.
GRACIE
Guy named Sasha. Nobody calls me that
anymore, Jamal.
JAMAL
What?
GRACIE
I said nobody calls me Gigi anymore.
JAMAL
Is that real?
GRACIE
(lying)
No.
JAMAL
Let me see it.
GRACIE
It’s probably not real, Jamal.
JAMAL
I said let me see it.
He reaches out, grabs her wrist and pulls her up off the
sofa.
GRACIE
Ow! Dammit, Jamal, that hurt!
22.
JAMAL
Little Johnny get this for you?
GRACIE
It’s just glass, Jamal. He’s only 15-
years-old. He doesn’t have the money
for a real ring.
JAMAL
Don’t lie to me, bitch.
GRACIE
Look, Jamal, you got what you came here
for. You got laid and you got high, so
why don’t you just go now.
JAMAL
You telling Jamal to leave? What, you
expecting Little Johnny to come around?
Listen, I popped that cherry. I made
you a woman. Little Johnny ought to be
thanking me every time he gets his
rocks off, especially if he’s tapping
the tight little ass. Jamal blazed
that tail.
(laughing)
Hey, that’s funny. Get it, ‘blazed
that tail?’
Gracie rolls her eyes, gets off the sofa and heads toward
the kitchen.
JAMAL
Hey, didn’t I hear that coach got a new
contract? Something like a million a
year?
GRACIE
I wouldn’t know, Jamal. I don’t even
like football.
JAMAL
That means Little Johnny’s got means.
GRACIE
He doesn’t even have a car, Jamal.
JAMAL
Of course he don’t have a car. He
ain’t old enough to drive yet. What,
you think I’m stupid, Gigi? He had
enough to buy you that ring.
GRACIE
He bought that with money he got
dealing.
JAMAL
(surprised)
Your boy’s dealing?
GRACIE
Not anymore. He got busted so he
stopped.
GRACIE
Ow!
JAMAL
Listen, Gigi, you keep catching Little
Johnny’s cum and he’ll do anything you
ask him to do. That’s a sweet ass
setup and you’re out of your fucking
mind if you don’t think Jamal’s going
to get him some of that action.
ACT THREE
GABRIELLE (V.O.)
So, Manny, you’ve often been criticized
for not giving 100 percent. It’s one
of the reasons your Red Sox teammates
reportedly voted you off the team
several years ago and why your Dodgers
teammates are grumbling after yet
another early exit from the playoffs...
SONNY
What the fuck, Cat!
Sonny gets to one knee and looks up. Cara gets a running
start and TEES OFF on his head with the bat. He hits the
floor in a heap, rolls onto his back in a concussion. Cara
stands over him, breathing heavily, nose and mouth
bleeding.
CARA
Touch her again...and I’ll kill you.
DALLAS
Red, what the fuck happened?
CARA
Nothing. Let’s go.
DALLAS
Cara!
CARA
I said let’s go, Dallas!
MARIA
Harold, baby, Gale and I are about to
leave for lunch.
HAROLD
Oh, hello, Gale.
GALE
Harold, you’re looking fit as a fiddle.
HAROLD
I’d get a hug but...
GALE
I understand. I don’t want to
interrupt your workout. Looks like
you’re in good hands with Raoul.
Raoul smiles.
26.
MARIA
Isn’t it too bad it took a heart attack
to get him into the gym with Raoul?
HAROLD
Well I’m here now Kitten, and Raoul’s
whipping me back into shape. Isn’t
that right, Raoul?
RAOUL
(smiles)
That’s right, Mr. P.
GALE
Well, Harold, I just wanted to pass
along Billy’s best wishes.
HAROLD
Tell the Coach I’m looking forward to
beating the pants off him on the links
as soon as possible.
(smiling)
I know he lets me win, but still...
MARIA
See what I mean, Gale?
GALE
Raoul is a nice looking young man.
MARIA
Nice looking? Honey, if that boy
weren’t a fruit Harold really would
have something to worry about.
GALE
Maria, you’ve been positively beaming
all afternoon. What’s going on? Has
Harold bought you another diamond
necklace?
MARIA
I’m so glad you asked, Gale. It’s so
much better than a diamond necklace.
GALE
Do tell!
MARIA
I promised Harold I wouldn’t say
anything until we were past the iffy
stage, but since you’ve asked I can
claim you dragged it out of me.
GALE
(excitement growing)
What, dear? What is it?
MARIA
I’m pregnant!
GALE
(stunned)
What?
MARIA
Yes! Two months. Isn’t it wonderful?
GALE
Yes. Wonderful!
MARIA
I know. I can hardly believe it
myself! Me, Maria Thomopoulos, with
child! That sounds so...so, wild! I’m
going to need your help, Gale. I don’t
know the first thing about babies.
You’ll help me, won’t you?
GALE
Yes, of course, dear.
MARIA
I never thought I’d be so excited about
getting fatter than a pig and
everything else that goes with being
(MORE)
28.
MARIA (CONT’D)
pregnant, but every morning, right
after I puke my guts out, I thank God
for this little miracle growing inside
of me. Was it that way for you?
GALE
Yes, dear. It was very exciting.
INSERT – RECEIPT
Among the listed items the one that catches her attention:
“home pregnancy kit”
RETURN TO SCENE
GALE
Mattie, honey, is any of my medication
left?
MATHILDA
(covering)
Yes, I believe there is a package in
your bottom left drawer. How was lunch
with Maria?
GALE
Oh, it was fine. You know how it goes
with Maria. She’s a dear but sometimes
she tries too hard. The right bottom
drawer you said?
MATHILDA
Left, bottom.
MATHILDA
Gale, should you be taking those?
GALE
What? Why not, Mattie?
MATHILDA
You just finished a package last week.
Starting another would be doubling the
dosage.
GALE
Mattie, it’s been a very difficult day.
MATHILDA
I’m sure it has been, Gale, but perhaps
you should reconsider taking those.
Mathilda goes to her desk. She holds out the receipt. Gale
looks at it then at Mathilda.
BULL
Bob, what the hell were you thinking
scheduling my skill players for this
Pilates bullshit?!
GARCIA
Take a blow, Burner. Be back in five.
BURNER
Okay, coach.
BULL
Better make it 20, Burner.
BURNER
Okay.
GARCIA
You shouldn’t talk to me like that in
front of the players, Bull.
30.
BULL
Dammit, Bob, when it comes to my
offense I’ll talk to anyone any way I
damn well please.
GARCIA
To answer your question, what I was
thinking is that Pilates was pretty
effective in bringing Achilles back, so
it’s probably worth working it into our
conditioning program.
BULL
Come on, Bob, he worked out with some
little girl on the soccer team for a
few weeks and you want to put the whole
offense through her program? Give me a
fucking break! He was probably just
trying to get into her pants.
GARCIA
I don’t know what “her” program was,
but most fitness experts will tell you
that Pilates provides excellent
conditioning, strength and flexibility
workouts. And, by the way, thousands
of athletes have made it part of their
regular training regimens.
BULL
Well not the athletes on this team!
GARCIA
What is your problem, Bull? You’ve
been looking for ways to undermine me
since the beginning of last season.
BULL
The only problem I have right now, Bob,
is that a special teams coach is
stepping outside his area by changing
the conditioning program for the
offense without the offensive
coordinator’s input.
GARCIA
Sorry, Bull. Next time I’ll run it
past you.
BULL
Don’t bother. Next time and until
further notice the answer’s no!
31.
BULL
He in?
DONNA
Coach Heffernan. Yes, but...
Attorney Iris Cross and Billy are talking when Bull barges
in. They stop talking and look up at him.
BULL
Billy, I’m sorry to interrupt, but this
is important.
BILLY
It’s all right, Donna.
(after she closes the door)
What is it, Bull? Iris and I were in
the middle of something and it’s also
important.
BULL
Sorry, Miss Cross.
IRIS
Coach Donahue, how about we take a few
minutes? I can put in a call to our
outside counsel to follow up on your
scheduling questions.
BILLY
Thanks, Iris. Let’s meet back here in
20 minutes. That work for you, Bull?
32.
BULL
(feeling the reprimand)
Yeah, sure. Sorry again, Miss Cross.
BILLY
That young woman’s trying to keep me
out of court, so I hope this is more
important than that, Bull.
BULL
Again, Billy I’m...
BILLY
Sorry. Yeah, I got that part already.
What’s up, Bull?
BULL
It’s Bob.
BILLY
What about him?
BULL
I’ve had it with his meddling and
smart-assed attitude. The kid’s
coached for two seasons, one of them in
JUCO, and he’s taking all kinds of
liberties with my offense. He never
even took a snap as a starter at
Georgia Tech.
BILLY
Bob’s a smart young coach. He’s great
in the locker room and he did one hell
of a job as recruiting coordinator. He
landed Taylor.
BULL
You landed Taylor, Billy.
BILLY
Because Bob did all the leg work.
Look, he’s young, sure, but so were we
once.
BULL
Young or not I’ve had it with him,
Billy.
33.
BILLY
What’s that mean, Bull?
BULL
It means I can’t coach on the same
staff with him.
BILLY
Come on, Bull. You’re pissed, I get
it, but don’t go writing checks you
can’t cash.
BULL
I mean it, Billy. He goes or I go.
ACT FOUR
MATHILDA
(quietly)
How could you?
GALE
When I found out about Dallas and that
woman, it was devastating, Mattie.
I’ve never hurt so much in my life.
Not even when Daddy died. I just
wanted to die. Then I wanted to hurt
Billy any way I could, even if he never
found out about it. It was foolish of
me I know...
MATHILDA
(anger rising)
Foolish? Foolish, Gale? Getting drunk
and driving into a ditch is foolish.
Overdosing on cocaine when your husband
loses a playoff game is foolish.
Eating antidepressants like candy is
foolish!
GALE
Mattie? Mattie, honey, I know...
MATHILDA
For Christ’s sake, Gale, what were you
thinking?!
GALE
Mattie, please, don’t you think I feel
bad enough?
MATHILDA
No, Gale, I don’t think you feel bad
enough! Why should you? You know
Billy and I are always here to clean up
whatever mess you make! And all the
while you just keep right on smiling
and waving, gliding down the runway of
life like Miss America! Well I don’t
(MORE)
35.
MATHILDA (CONT’D.)
think you can count on him this time.
And I don’t know if you can count on me
this time either!
She spins, walks across the room holding her head in anger-
frustration. We hear the front door open O.S. J.R. and
Gracie come into the living room holding hands.
J.R.
Hey, Mom. Mattie.
(realizing)
Is something wrong?
ACHILLES
You miss a day and then you’re late
when you do show up.
CARA
(gives him the finger)
Bite me, Einstein.
ACHILLES
No thanks. I prefer to leave the shitty
jobs for Morales.
ACHILLES
What happened?
CARA
Nothing.
ACHILLES
Did Morales do that to you?
CARA
What? No!
ACHILLES
(pressing)
Lindsay?
CARA
(beat)
No.
(then realizing)
You care?
ACHILLES
What? Hell no!
CARA
(enjoying it)
You do! You care about me!
ACHILLES
Bullshit!
CARA
Bullshit, bullshit! You care!
ACHILLES
Keep dreaming, Lesbot.
CARA
Deny all you want but you do! You
care!
ACHILLES
La-la-la-la-
37.
GALE
My God, Phil, are you trying to scare
the life out of me?
PHIL
I thought you were going to call so we
could meet somewhere and talk.
GALE
There’s nothing to talk about, Phil.
Now please, stop this nonsense and get
on with your life.
GALE
Phil, don’t do this.
WOMAN
Hello, Mrs. Donahue! How are you
today?
GALE
Hello. I’m fine, thank you.
Gale gets past Phil, makes a beeline to the cart and the
toddler.
GALE
And what’s your name, little man?
WOMAN
His name’s Spencer. We call him
Spence.
GALE
Well, hello there, Spence.
WOMAN
Hello, Phi. Great game against Fresno
State.
38.
PHIL
Thanks.
GALE
(ref. Spence)
He’s just adorable.
WOMAN
Thank you. Please give my best to the
Coach. We’re big Sea Devils fans and
always have been. Whoooo-Aaaaah.
GALE
Whoooo-Aaaah.
She waves at the toddler as the woman pushes the cart away
toward her car.
PHIL
I meant it when I said I won’t let you
just push me aside, Gale.
GALE
You don’t have a choice, Phil. Do you
really believe I’m going to leave my
husband, the man I’ve loved for over 20
years, because we had sex two or three
times? Wake up, Phil. Jess loves you.
I don’t. I never did. I never will.
PHIL
Maybe you’d think differently if Coach
knew about us.
GALE
I’m going to forget you said that,
Phillip. And if you know what’s good
for you, you’d better forget you did
too.
She gets in the car, starts the engine. She glares at him
through the window as she backs out then pulls away.
39.
J.R.
Where we going?
GRACIE
I want to show you something.
J.R.
What?
GRACIE
(smiling)
It’s a surprise. You like surprises
don’t you, Johnny?
J.R.
Depends. What kind of surprise is it?
GRACIE
If I told you that, it wouldn’t be a
surprise, would it?
BILLY
Yes, Donna, what is it?
40.
DONNA (V.O.)
Sorry, Coach. I know you didn’t want
to be disturbed, but there’s someone
here to see you.
BILLY (V.O.)
Is it important, Donna?
DONNA
It’s Miss Woods from ESPN.
GABRIELLE
Thank you, Donna.
BILLY
Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Hello, Coach. Thank you for seeing me
without an appointment.
She goes into the office. The door closes behind them and
LOCKS. It’s clear from the expression on Donna’s face that
she really doesn’t like Gabrielle.
GABRIELLE
Well, I wasn’t quite expecting that.
BILLY
I wasn’t quite expecting you.
GABRIELLE
Then I take it this is a pleasant
surprise?
41.
BILLY
(smiling)
Elle, why are you here? I thought you
were headed for Sarasota to cover the
Cubs’ spring training.
GABRIELLE
I leave tonight. I wanted to see you
before I left, so I sold my producer an
excuse for why I needed to see
Charlotte before I head east.
BILLY
Elle, you know I’ve been meaning to
call.
GABRIELLE
Have you really?
BILLY
Elle, I love Gale. I don’t want to
ever mislead you about that. I’ve
loved her since the day I met her and I
will until I die, no matter what
happens.
(beat)
But you’re inside of me now, like a
drug I can’t live without. Like a drug
I don’t want to live without.
BILLY
When do you come back from Sarasota?
GABRIELLE
I’ll be back in L.A. in two weeks.
BILLY
(beat)
She’ll know about us before you get
back.
42.
CHARLOTTE
This is a surprise. Why are you here,
Elle?
GABRIELLE
Do I need an excuse to see my
godmother? It’s been a few weeks since
the dinner party. I just thought I’d
stop by the old stomping grounds.
CHARLOTTE
Bethany told me you were heading to
Florida to cover spring training.
GABRIELLE
That’s right. I have a flight out of
Seattle tonight.
CHARLOTTE
L.A. to Seattle to Sarasota? Don’t you
think Maitland’s a bit out of the way?
GABRIELLE
(a disarming smile)
What’s with the third degree,
Charlotte?
CHARLOTTE
You’ve seen Coach Donahue since you’ve
been here?
GABRIELLE
Yes.
CHARLOTTE
What are you doing, Elle?
GABRIELLE
What do you mean?
CHARLOTTE
All right, I’ll be plain. Are you
sleeping with Billy?
GABRIELLE
Charlotte, I...
CHARLOTTE
You are, aren’t you?
GABRIELLE
Yes.
CHARLOTTE
Good Lord, Elle, what is wrong with
you? He’s married!
GABRIELLE
He’s a grown man, Charlotte. He had a
choice to make and he made it.
CHARLOTTE
I see, so he made his own bed but you
get to lay in it? I would think after
what David did, you of all people would
be sensitive to a woman in Gale’s
position.
GABRIELLE
Don’t judge me, Charlotte. And what
happened to the strict line between our
personal and professional lives?
CHARLOTTE
This isn’t personal. It’s strictly
professional.
GABRIELLE
Really?
CHARLOTTE
Billy’s a good football coach, but it
wasn’t just his coaching ability that
led us to hire him. Billy and Gale
Donahue are a brand. A brand that’s
very important to the football program
at this university. You of all people
know that protecting the program is my
highest priority. You screw the coach,
you screw with the program. I can’t
have that, Gabrielle. I won’t.
GABRIELLE
(heartfelt)
But Charlotte...I love him.
44.
GABRIELLE
I love him and I can’t just let him go.
CHARLOTTE
I’ll tell you what I told your mother
before you were born. I hope to God
that you listen. No man is worth the
heartache you’ll get if you continue
with this affair, and you’ll deserve
every bit of it if you do.
GABRIELLE
I know, but I can’t stop loving him.
I won’t.
ACT FIVE
Gale comes out onto the patio and strides across the yard
toward Mathilda and construction foreman Darryl Banks. She
smiles at workmen going about the business of building her
mother’s cottage.
DARRYL
Mrs. Donahue, how are you?
GALE
Fine, Darryl.
(admires the wood framing)
Things appear to be moving along quite
well.
DARYYL
Yes, they are. Another few days and
we’ll lay in plumbing and electical.
GALE
Darryl, do you mind if I have a few
minutes with Mattie?
DARRYL
No, of course, go ahead.
GALE
Mattie, I know you think I’m a fool.
And I can understand why you’re so
disappointed in me. I feel awful about
what I did and what I’ve allowed to
happen to me. After everything you’ve
done for me, I know I’ve let you down
somehow, and that just makes me feel
even worse. Five years you’ve taken
(MORE)
46.
GALE (CONT’D.)
care of me, ever since I reached my
lowest point in Brookhaven...I want you
to know that I love you, Mattie.
(Mathilda reacts)
You’re the sister I never had. The
younger, wiser sister who always covers
for me, and who never complains that I
get all the attention.
(wipes away a tear)
I’m so sorry that I’ve let you down,
Mattie. But I need you. I need you,
Mattie. I really need you.
VALERIE
Here, let me get that.
She pulls a string of melted cheese from his chin with her
finger, sticks it in her mouth.
VALERIE
I can’t take you anywhere, can I?
ACHILLES
It’s pizza, it’s supposed to be messy.
ACHILLES
Mom, hi.
LENA (V.O.)
Lee, are you all right, honey?
ACHILLES
Yeah, Mom, I’m fine. Is everything
alright there?
47.
LENA (V.O.)
No, baby, they’re not. Portia says you
haven’t returned her calls for days.
ACHILLES
I’ve been busy, Mom. I talked to her
just the other day. I told her we’re
starting conditioning programs, plus
I’ve got new classes and professors to
get used to.
LENA (V.O.)
Well we need you to come home for a few
days to help straighten things out with
Reverend Robeson.
ACHILLES
Mom, I told Portia...
LENA (V.O.)
I know what you told her, Achilles, and
that’s not what I want to hear. That
girl is like family – I hope she is one
day - and we don’t ignore family. I
thought I taught you and your brother
better than that.
ACHILLES
Yes, ma’am, you did.
LENA (V.O.)
I’m sure Coach Donahue will understand
and that he can smooth it over with
your professors.
ACHILLES
Yes, ma’am. I’m sure he can.
LENA (V.O.)
Good. Let us know when your plane
arrives and Ulysses will pick you up at
the airport. Bye-bye, baby.
ACHILLES
Bye, Mom.
J.R.
Gracie, it’s already past 8 o’clock.
Can’t we just come back on the weekend?
GRACIE
Relax, Johnny. There’s somebody inside
I want you to meet. We won’t stay
long. Promise.
J.R.
But my Mom’s already called twice. I
can’t call her back and say I’m half-
way to Seattle. She’ll flip.
GRACIE
(baby talk)
Mommy’s baby can’t be out late on a
school night?
J.R.
Stop it, Gracie.
GRACIE
I’m sorry, Johnny. See, we’re moving.
It won’t be long now.
SASHA
Hey, Gigi! What’s up, girl?
GRACIE
Life’s good, Sasha. This is my
boyfriend, Johnny.
49.
SASHA
Hey, Johnny.
J.R.
Hey.
SASHA
So, Gigi, you’re really gonna go off to
college?
J.R. reacts.
GRACIE
Yeah. But I need to scrape some cash
together fast.
(to J.R.)
Sasha’s got a way I can earn money for
tuition.
J.R.
You’re going off to college?
SASHA
Let’s head out back, I’ll show you the
shit.
SASHA
Homos. Personally, I don’t get it but
they’re some of my best customers.
GRACIE
Let’s see the stuff.
J.R.
Gracie, this better not be what I think
it is.
SASHA
Whoa! Gigi, you told me he was cool.
GRACIE
He’s cool.
(to J.R.)
Johnny, it’s cool, okay.
50.
SASHA
(smiling)
They call these little babies Pixies.
Twice as strong as E. Taste just like
chocolate. Melt in your mouth, not in
your hand.
J.R.
Gracie, you promised you’d stop...
GRACIE
And they’re legal, right, Sasha?
SASHA
Could walk into Chief D’Agostino’s
office with a bucket full and he
couldn’t even write me a ticket.
J.R.
What?
SASHA
That’s right, Johnny, my man. Nothing
in these little fuckers you can’t find
in your kitchen at home, just mixed up
right. Now in about six months, The
Man won’t care about that and he’ll be
cracking down like Adolph at a bar
mitzvah. But in the mean time your
little lady will have made enough to
pay her first year’s tuition,
especially if she sells to those rich
college brats at Wa Tech.
J.R.
Gracie, let’s go.
GRACIE
Johnny...
J.R.
I mean it, Gracie. I’m out of here and
so are you.
GRACIE
You want me to live in that freaking
trailer my whole life? End up like my
mom, turning tricks to make the rent
whenever I get laid off from some shit-
paying job?
J.R.
Gracie, no...
GRACIE
Well what do you think is going to
happen to me if I don’t go to college,
huh? I’m not like you, Johnny. My
mom’s not Miss America and my father
doesn’t make a million dollars a year.
J.R.
You can get loans and scholarships,
stuff like that.
GRACIE
Jesus, Johnny, are you starting to
believe that crap you tell your mother
about me? Just because I know how to
convert grams of coke into ounces of
smack doesn’t mean I’m a math wizard.
I’m not going to get any scholarships!
What’s the problem, Johnny? They’re
not illegal.
SASHA
Hey, Gigi, I thought you were straight
with this. If you’re not I’ve got to
keep shopping.
Sasha puts the bag away and starts for the door.
GRACIE
Johnny, I don’t want to end up like my
mom. Please, help me!
J.R.
(to Sasha)
You’re sure they’re not illegal?
GRACIE
Johnny.
GRACIE
Johnny, I wouldn’t ask you to help me
if I thought you’d get into trouble
with your folks. You couldn’t get
picked up for dealing because Pixies
aren’t illegal.
J.R.
When were you going to tell me you were
going away to college?
GRACIE
Oh, that. I didn’t know if I’d get
accepted so I didn’t want to jinx it by
telling anybody.
J.R.
Where are you going?
GRACIE
State. It’s only 3 hours away. You
could drive to Pullman on the weekends.
J.R.
In what, Gracie?
NINA
There’s not much left in there. Most
of your things are already at the loft.
VALERIE
It’s just that it’s such a pain having
to go back and forth for everything.
You understand, don’t you, Nina?
53.
NINA
Sure, Big Sis, I get it. So what do we
tell Richard if he calls?
VALERIE
He never calls on the house phone.
VALERIE
What’s that look?
NINA
Look? What look?
VALERIE
That, ‘Sure I get it but I think you’re
making a giga-mistake look?’
NINA
Oh, you mean the ‘Sure I get it but I
think you’re making a giga-mistake
look?’
VALERIE
(annoyed)
Will you make up your mind already?
First you’re like, ‘Richard’s 800 miles
away and what he doesn’t know won’t
hurt him,’ and now you’re carving a
giant “A” into my forehead with your
eyes. You can’t have it both ways,
Nina.
NINA
But apparently you can.
(off Valerie’s reaction)
All I’m saying is that you’re taking a
huge risk shacking up like this. What
if Richard makes a surprise visit?
VALERIE
(back to packing)
Richard’s in the second year of his
residency, Nina, he doesn’t do
surprises. Look, Achilles is going
back to Jersey for a week. You don’t
think she’s going to be all over him
like a drunk Gamma skank at a keg
party?
54.
NINA
So what if she is? She is his real
girlfriend. Besides, you said you and
Achilles agreed this is just a guilty
pleasure until you graduate and you
both go back to your real lives.
Right?
VALERIE
Right, yes, of course. But...
VALERIE
I’ll pick you up Tuesday night.
ACHILLES
Where’s your engagement ring?
VALERIE
I put it in a safe deposit box at the
bank this morning. It’s safer there.
He reacts.
ACHILLES
I guess this is it.
DEBORAH
Mr. Reynolds is here.
CHARLOTTE
Please show him in.
REYNOLDS
Dr. Webb, thank you for seeing me on
such short notice.
CHARLOTTE
Please, come in, Mr. Reynolds.
REYNOLDS
Actually, it’s Detective Reynolds, East
Orange Police Department. Homicide.
FADE OUT.
END OF EPISODE