GOAL TO GO

Episode 2.19

“Zero Blitz”

by David Polk
 2.

RECAP

We Recap events from Previous Episodes, ending on Gabrielle

leaving Billy’s office and the Hoz at dawn.

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM (VERSUS FRESNO STATE) - DAY

A HEAVY RAIN falls but the stadium is filled to capacity.

On the field, a Fresno State RUNNING BACK takes a handoff
and breaks through the line. He takes only a few steps
before being NAILED by linebacker Cole Seavers.

Moments later Cole SLAMS into a RECEIVER. The tackle is so

violent that it knocks the receiver’s helmet off.

INT. VETERANS’ HOSPITAL (NURSES’ STATION) – DAY

At the nurses’ station the DUTY NURSE is stirred by an

alarm. She gets up and rushes down the hallway.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM 402 – CONTINUOUS

The duty nurse comes in and looks at the electronic

readouts hooked to the MAN in the first bed. She
immediately checks his vitals. The man is frail and
convulsing. He is CHUCK SEAVERS (55). The duty nurse
presses the INTERCOM.

DUTY NURSE
Code blue in room four-oh-two!

EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM (VERSUS FRESNO STATE) – DAY

The Fresno State QUARTERBACK takes the snap, drops back and
throws the ball over the middle. Cole steps in front of a
TIGHT END and intercepts the pass. He gets a block from a
defensive teammate and runs 55 yards for a touchdown.

In the end zone, Cole thrusts his fists in the air and
shouts triumphantly at the top of his lungs. Sea Devils
fans go wild; Cole is mobbed by his teammates.
 3.

BLACKLEDGE (V.O.)
Cole Seavers is just having a career
game this afternoon. That touchdown
was the eleventh of the redshirt
senior’s college career and it gives
the Sea Devils a twenty-four to ten
lead late in the fourth quarter.

SANDERSON (V.O.)
You know, Seavers truly is the heart
and soul of this Sea Devils defense.
Coach Donahue has said many times that
he built this team around Seavers, and
that the linebacker sets the standard
for Wa Tech football – on both sides of
the ball.

Cole returns to the sideline, where he is congratulated by

head coach Billy Donahue and other teammates, including
Dallas Morales Pete Mitchell and Burner Turner.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM 402 ROOM – DAY

The duty nurse has been joined by other NURSES and a

DOCTOR. They’re trying desperately to revive Chuck
Seavers. It’s not looking good.

INT. SEA DEVILS LOCKER ROOM – DAY

The jubilant but relaxed atmosphere of the winning locker

room. Most players have stripped down to their pads; a few
are already headed for the showers with towels around their
waist.

Sandy Sanderson is interviewing Cole in front of his

locker. He’s in shoulder pads and football pants, face
still smeared with sweat and black eye paint.

SANDERSON
Cole, you had just an incredible game -
ten tackles, two sacks and that fifty-
five yard interception for a touchdown
late. After four years on the bottom
of the pile in the WAC, has it finally
all come together for you and this Sea
Devils’ defense?
 4.

COLE
We’ve put together a couple of good
games on both sides of the ball but
we’ve got a lot more football to play
this season. So I wouldn’t say we’ve
put anything together yet.

SANDERSON
The defense kept running back Chance
Daley in check all afternoon. You’ve
got to feel good about holding the
Heisman hopeful to only thirty-five
yards rushing, his worst performance in
two years as a starter.

COLE
We feel good about getting the “W”.
That’s the only stat that matters.

SANDERSON
Thanks, Cole. Good luck the rest of
the season.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM 402 – DAY

The doctor closes Chuck Seavers’ eyes; the nurses go about

the routine of preparing the deceased to be removed from
the room.

INT. VETERANS’ HOSPITAL (NURSES’ STATION) – LATER

The duty nurse is going down a CHECKLIST. We see a lot of

standard medical lingo. Near the bottom of the sheet:

ECU – “Next of kin, Cole Seavers (son)”

END TEASER
 5.

ACT ONE

INT. COLE’S APARTMENT – DAY

We hear a shower running.

Looking around, we see that the apartment is Spartan but

surprisingly tidy: leather sofa and chair, cocktail table,
floor lamp, and a flat screen television in the main room.

In the bedroom we find a queen sized bed. Asleep in it is

a pretty blond we recognize from previous episodes. Her
name is WHITNEY DRYSDALE (18). A cell phone RINGS. Whitney
wakes, finds it on the night table is about to answer.

COLE (O.S.)
Don’t answer that.

He’s naked and still wet from the shower. He’s ripped –
muscles on muscles and hard as a rock. Whitney falls back
on her pillow. He takes the phone, puts it on the table.

WHITNEY
It’s the same number as before.
Portland area code.

COLE
I know.

He opens a drawer. We see that the UNDERWEAR is neatly

arranged inside. He takes out a pair of briefs.

WHITNEY
Mother?

COLE
No.

WHITNEY
Old girlfriend back home?

COLE
Hell no.

Cole pulls on jeans and a crew sweater. He goes to the

bed, gives Whitney a peck on the cheek.

WHITNEY
Father?
 6.

COLE
See you at West Egg in an hour.

He grabs the phone and puts it in his pocket.

WHITNEY
Okay. Are you ever going to call them
back, whoever it is?

COLE
(on his way out)
No.

INT. WEIGHT ROOM – DAY

Cole is alone lifting weights. The CLOCK on the wall tells

us it’s 8 a.m. In a SERIES OF SHOTS we see him go through
a routine – bench press, leg press, curls, flies, etc.

EXT. CHICKEN SHACK – DAY

To establish the shabby fast-food restaurant that used to

be a Kentucky Fried Chicken.

A black SUV pulls up followed by several marked and

unmarked police cars. UNIFORMED OFFICERS quickly set up a
perimeter on the street. PLAINCLOTHES OFFICERS go inside,
guns drawn.

INT. CHICKEN SHACK – CONTINUOUS

The REGULARS are hanging out, eating and shooting the shit.
They freeze without having to be told when the officers
rush in. One of them, LIEUTENANT SEARS, looks at the fat
counterman, who - wanting no trouble - shifts his eyes to
the back room.

INT. CHICKEN SHACK (BACK ROOM) – CONTINUOUS

Moze, the gangsta wannabe, his girlfriend and two thugs are
chilling, eating chicken and biscuits. The door bursts
open.

The plainclothes cops are on them before they know what’s

happening, roughly cuffing them all, including the girl.
 7.

INT. STUDENT UNION – DAY

Achilles and Portia are having a snack between classes.

SINORICE (20) stops at their table.

SINORICE
Hi, Portia.

PORTIA
Hi, Sinorice. What’ up?

SINORICE
I was wondering: would you be able to
switch shifts with me at the clothes
drive on Wednesday? My History term
paper’s due on Friday and I’m not even
close to being done.

Portia pulls out her IPHONE and quickly checks her

schedule. She makes the adjustments.

PORTIA
There. No problem.

SINORICE
Thanks so much, Portia. You’re a
dream.

PORTIA
No worries.

SINORICE
(leaving)
Bye Achilles.

He nods good-bye.

ACHILLES
I thought we were going to the movies
Wednesday.

PORTIA
Let’s go Sunday after dinner instead.

ACHILLES
But I was going to play poker with the
crew on Sunday.

PORTIA
I thought you promised Cara you weren’t
going to hang out with her ex anymore.
 8.

ACHILLES
Lindsay’s not going to be there. He’s
back in L.A. all weekend.

PORTIA
Screwing some nasty skank no doubt.

ACHILLES
Probably. And for the record, I didn’t
“promise” Cara anything.

PORTIA
Whatever.

She starts clearing away her things to go. He looks at

her, debating whether to say what’s on his mind.

PORTIA
Let’s go, we’ll be late for class.

She stands and he follows.

INT. INTERROGATION ROOM – DAY

Moze is at table, hands manacled behind his back. He wears

a grim expression. A stream of cigarette smoke blows in
his face. Across the table from him, Lt. Sears is blowing.

SEARS
Look Fred, I don’t have to tell you
you’re facing some serious shit here.
Murder one, conspiracy to commit
murder, illegal sports betting...This
is just the shit we nabbed you for
today. Ambitious young man like
yourself, I’m sure we’ll find a trunk
load of other shit we can stick to you.

MOZE
(tough guy)
I want to see my lawyer.

SEARS
And I want that pretty little officer
sitting at reception to blow me. Ain’t
gonna happen. At least not in the
immediate future.

MOZE
I know my rights. You gotta let me
call a lawyer.
 9.

SEARS
You’ll get your call, Fred, but not
until I pull my foot out of your skinny
ass. And that ambulance chasing lawyer
of yours ain’t going to stop you from
catching at least twenty in a maximum
security prison. And if you keep me
here too long and make me miss my CSI
Miami, I guarantee you’ll end up
getting an injection – that’s after
about 15 years of getting injected up
the ass by all the new boyfriends
you’ll make on death row.

Moze wilts, knows Sears has all the cards. Sears blows
another stream of smoke in his face and smiles wickedly.

INT. CARA’S BEDROOM – DAY

Cara plops down on a futon, folds her legs yoga-style.

DALLAS
And we’re supposed to do it on that?

CARA
When you’re feeling especially
“romantic”, yes. The kinky stuff we
can do on the floor or against the
wall.

DALLAS
I was thinking the bathroom and the
kitchen...

CARA
No-no-noooo, Casanova. Cake and I have
agreed that some places are strictly
off limits.

DALLAS
(smiles)
But those are the best places.

CAKE (O.S.)
Best places for what?

Cake crosses the empty apartment to the doorway of the

bedroom. She’s looking mighty fine in black jeans, an
expensive sweater and a fucia leather jacket.
 10.

DALLAS
Um...well...

CARA
I was just telling Casanova here that
there’s no banging allowed in the
bathroom or kitchen.

CAKE
Yeah, if you don’t mind. I mean, I
love my girl here, but I don’t want to
eat breakfast on the table after she’s
been on it. You know?

CARA
Well you don’t have to say it like
that. It’s not like I’m loving the
idea of hopping in the shower after you
and some douche bag have been going at
it in there.

CAKE
Douche bag? Are you forgetting who you
went out with before Dallas?

DALLAS
Uh...you think we could change –

Cara gets up from the futon, starts toward her, ready to

rumble.

CARA
Why you little Dago bitch.

CAKE
Slut.

DALLAS
Hey, guys...

Dallas is about stop a catfight when the girls give one

another a peck on the cheek and smile.

CAKE
I’m late for the restaurant. Got to
fly.

CARA
See you later.
 11.

CAKE
(to Dallas)
Seriously Dallas, no sex in the kitchen
or the bathroom. Got it?

DALLAS
Yes, ma’am.

She smiles and heads out the front door of the apartment.
Cara looks at him, a lustful twinkle in her eyes.

CARA
Ma’am? Hmmmm. Do I need to get
handcuffs and a whip?

EXT. APARTMENT – DAY

Cake gets in her Porsche Boxster and drives off.

INT. CAKE’S PORSCHE - MOVING – LATER

She’s driving down a street, ALTERNATIVE MUSIC cranking on

the stereo. We hear an ENGINE ROAR. Cake checks her
rearview mirror. A motorcycle’s comes up fast and blows
past her.

EXT. MOTORCYCLE – MOVING – DAY

Achilles is zooming down the street on his Agusta. He

leans into a right turn, goes past the police station and
guns it on his way out of the center of town.

STRETCH OF ROAD – LATER

Achilles is booking down the road at over 100 MPH.

INT. BILLY’S OFFICE – DAY

Billy’s standing in front of the big window gazing down

onto the football field. He turns when Cole comes in.

COLE
You wanted to see me, Coach?

BILLY
Cole. Come in, have a seat.

They both sit at his desk.

 12.

BILLY
I’m afraid I have some bad news for
you, Cole...Your father’s passed away.
I’m very sorry, son.

Cole stares at him.

COLE
Okay. That it, Coach? I was about to
hit the film room for a couple of hours
before practice.

BILLY
(a quizzical look)
The Veterans’ Hospital called me when
they couldn’t reach you...He passed on
Saturday afternoon. During the game.

Cole just stares impassively.

COLE
Okay. Thanks, Coach. Is that all?

BILLY
Look, Cole, I lost my father when I was
a kid, I know what that feels like. So
if you want talk...I know what you’re
going through.

COLE
All due respect, Coach, I don’t think
you do.

INT. CHARLOTTE WEBB’S OFFICE – DAY

Billy comes in. Charlotte is there along with attorney

Iris Cross and Police Chief Sal D’Agostino.

CHARLOTTE
Billy, we have a problem.

BILLY
No offense, but isn’t it always a
problem when the three of you are in
the same room?

CHIEF D’AGOSTINO
Coach, we’ve arrested the man who
killed Chuck Sanchez. A punk named
Frederick Moseby.
 13.

They all take a seat.

BILLY
Okay. That’s great. Right?

CHIEF D’AGOSTINO
Yes Coach, it is. He admitted to
participating in the shooting but, of
course, he claims one of his boys was
the actual trigger man. Assuming for
the sake of argument that that’s true,
he wants to cop a plea using some of
the other information he has on illegal
activity in the area.

BILLY
And I’m here because?

CHARLOTTE
Billy, Moseby is involved in an illegal
sports gambling ring. He’s been linked
to bookmaking on high school and
college sports throughout the Pacific
Northwest.

BILLY
And? ...

IRIS
Moseby gave a list of his clients to
the police. Several Wa Tech athletes
are involved. Most, like Sanchez, are
on the baseball team but...

She hands the list to Billy. He takes it and is reading

the names when

CHARLOTTE
Your son is on the list, Billy.

BILLY
J.R.? But he’s kept his nose clean for
m –

CHARLOTTE
Not J.R., Billy.
 14.

INT. DONAHUE STUDY – SUNSET

Billy is standing, waiting. Gale comes in with Dallas and

Cara. Billy reacts to seeing Cara with him.

BILLY
I thought you’d come alone.

Cara reacts to the tone of his voice.

DALLAS
Sorry, Coach, but Red and I were on our
way to dinner. I figured this wouldn’t
take long...

CARA
I can meet you later, Dallas.

DALLAS
No, Red –

BILLY
(interrupts)
That’s a good idea, Cat.

Gale takes Cara’s arm gently.

GALE
Let’s leave them alone, dear.

After the women leave,

DALLAS
(puzzled)
What’s up, Coach?

BILLY
Do you know Frederick Moseby?

Dallas looks him in the eyes. It’s clear that he does.

BILLY
Or maybe you know him by the name Moze.

DALLAS
Look, Coach I –

BILLY
(interrupts, irate)
What the hell were you thinking?!
 15.

DALLAS
I never bet on Wa Tech games, Coach.
And since I’ve been here I’ve only bet
a few times. Two grand at the most.

BILLY
Two thousand dollars?! Where the fuck
did you get that kind of money?! Do
you have any idea what kind of shit
pile you’re in? The shit pile you’ve
put your teammates in?

DALLAS
I haven’t done anything illegal.

BILLY
Well if stupid were against the law,
you’d be a fucking felon!

DALLAS
(Latin temper rising)
Don’t talk to me like that! I said I
never bet on our games!

INT. DONAHUE LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS

Sitting on the sofa, Cara and Gale overhear the shouting

match going on in the study.

BILLY (O.S.)
What the hell are you doing getting
mixed up with scum bags like this
Moseby character?!

DALLAS (O.S.)
Since when are you in charge of who I
can and can’t associate with?!

INT. DONAHUE STUDY – CONTINUOUS

BILLY
Do you have any idea the position
you’ve put me in?! What this might do
to the program if it gets out that the
coach’s son is mixed up in sports
gambling?!
 16.

DALLAS
(explodes)
Screw you! My father is dead! So
don’t you try to pull that father
bullshit on me! If you’re so goddamn
worried about how this is going to make
you look, don’t worry about kicking me
off the team, I quit!

This stops Billy like a stiff right hook.

DALLAS
I’m out of here!

He flings the door open and strides out. Billy just

watches him go.

INT. DONAHUE LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS

Cara joins Dallas on the way to the front door.

GALE
Dallas!

The authority in Gale’s voice stops him. He turns and they

lock eyes.

INT. GALE’S OFFICE – MOMENTS LATER

Dallas and Gale come in. She closes the door.

GALE
Sit down.
(he hesitates)
Sit down.

He does.

DALLAS
There’s nothing to say, Mrs. Donahue.
I don’t need football and I sure as
hell don’t need him.

A couple of beats. She just looks at him, allows the some

of the steam to blow away.
 17.

GALE
Do you really think what happened in
there was about football? You’re his
son...
(off his reaction)
You’re his son, Dallas. I know your
father - the man who raised you with
your mother - loved you. But I also
know that the man down the hall loves
you too. Believe me, I know.

Dallas looks at her. Listens.

GALE
That first day I met you, at the
barbecue, there was something about
you. I couldn’t put my finger on it
then, but now it seems so obvious.
From the moment I met you I knew, deep
down inside, that you were the only
part of him that he could ever love
more than he loves me. Because you
came from his first true love. He’s
always regretted his decision to leave
you and your mother.
(beat)
Dallas, I have an idea how you must
have felt when she told you about your
father. Maybe it was something like
how I felt when I realized the man I’ve
loved for more than half my life might
chose differently if he had a second
chance.
(beat, remembering)
That feeling can make us do foolish
things. Things we regret for a
lifetime. If you leave him now,
Dallas, you’ll be making the same
mistake he made 22 years ago...Give him
a chance to do what he couldn’t do
then. And give yourself a chance to do
what you came here to do...get to know
your father.

INT. DONAHUE LIVING ROOM – LATER

Cara looks up as Dallas walks into the room. They exchange

a look then he goes back into the study. The door closes.

END OF ACT ONE

 18.

ACT TWO

INT. COLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Cole is looking through a BOX filled with old PHOTOS and

MEMENTOS. He stares at one of the photos – it’s of him as
a 10-year-old with his father and mother, EMMA SEAVERS, and
his teenage sister, CLAIRE. Cole is the only one smiling.

FLASHBACK – INT. SEAVERS HOME – NIGHT (11 YEARS EARLIER)

Chuck, a lean, powerfully built man in mechanic’s overalls,

and Emma Seavers are arguing bitterly. He’s falling down
drunk. She’s in tears, almost hysterical.

EMMA
You’re an animal! Pig! A filthy
beast!

He grabs at her, attempting to control and fondle her at

the same time. She tears away, swings a LAMP at him like a
baseball bat, breaking it across his back.

CHUCK SEAVERS
(slurring)
Come on, baby. ‘Sonly ‘cause I needed
you so, so...so bad.

YOUNG COLE (11) cowers behind the door of the adjoining

room. When his father falls to his knees in a drunken
stupor, Cole turns and runs, disappearing in the dark hall.

CLAIRE’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS

CLAIRE (16) is on her bed curled in the fetal position,

crying her eyes out. Cole rushes in and shuts the door.
He goes to her and reaches out a hand to comfort her. She
recoils.

CLAIRE
Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me! Get
out!

RETURN TO PRESENT DAY – COLE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Cole puts the photo away, closes the box.

 19.

INT. DONAHUE KITCHEN – DAY

Billy is finishing up a cup of coffee. Gale sits across

from him at the counter. She glances at her mother, Rose
Ryan, eating in the breakfast room next door, then

GALE
Billy, honey, what’s going to happen
with Dallas?

BILLY
I don’t know. He says he didn’t gamble
on Wa Tech games –

GALE
And he didn’t.

BILLY
How can I know that for sure? How can
I believe him?

GALE
Because he told you he didn’t. And
because he’s your son.

BILLY
This is bad, Gale. Charlotte’s a
stickler when it comes to ethical
violations. Whether it goes public or
not she’ll insist that I suspend him.
At least for a few games, maybe even
the rest of the season.

GALE
Have you...spoken to Cecilia yet?

He looks at her.

BILLY
No. I haven’t.

GALE
Call her this morning.

He nods – appreciatively.

GALE
And after that, you march right into
Charlotte’s office and tell her you’ll
quit before you suspend your own son.
 20.

BILLY
I can’t do that Gale.

GALE
You can and you will. And you’ll
insist that Chief D’Agostino keep that
list confidential.

BILLY
Gale...

GALE
I don’t have to tell you know how many
of Daddy’s players got in trouble with
the police. And how many of them were
suspended? You think Daddy let the AD
or even the college president tell him
how to run his program? Not when he
was winning, which was most of the
time.

BILLY
That was then. Things are a lot
different than in Wolf’s day.

GALE
Billy, the one thing that never changes
in college football is that winning
coaches call the shots. You’re a
winning coach now. You’ll do this to
protect your program...and your son.

INT. BILLY’S OFFICE – DAY

Cole comes in and sits down.

BILLY
Cole, I understand your father’s
funeral is this Saturday. Of course I
know how tough this is –

COLE
Don’t worry, Coach. There’s no way
I’ll miss the Boise State game.

BILLY
Oh, no, no Cole. You misunderstand.
You have to attend your father’s
funeral.
 21.

COLE
Coach are you serious?! We prepared
for Boise State all summer. They’re
ranked number eighteen in the country.
We don’t beat them we can’t crack the
top twenty-five...

BILLY
I know all that, Cole. Son, your
father just died. Being there when
he’s laid to rest is more important
than a football game. Now it’s going
to be tough, I know, but we’ll find a
way to beat Boise State without you.

COLE
Coach, I don’t want to sit out the
game. I’m team captain. I have an
obligation...

BILLY
You’re not “sitting” out the game,
Cole. I’m sitting you out. Under
these circumstances, your obligation to
your sister and niece comes before your
obligation to the team. They’ll need
you with them on Saturday when you say
good-bye to your father.

Billy reads Cole’s body language.

BILLY
Is there a problem, Cole?

COLE
No, Coach. No problem.

FLASHBACK – EXT. GRAVESITE – DAY (10 YEARS EARLIER)

It’s raining. Mourners sit under black umbrellas as a

REVEREND gives the sermon.

REVEREND
In sure and certain hope of the
resurrection to eternal life through
our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to
Almighty God our sister Emma Elizabeth;
and we commit her body to the ground;
earth to earth; ashes to ashes, dust to
dust. The Lord bless her and keep her,
(MORE)
 22.

REVEREND (CONT’D.)
the Lord make his face to shine upon
her and be gracious unto her and give
her peace. Amen....

Twelve-year-old Cole sits rigidly, staring his mother’s

casket. Next to him a BABY CRIES in its mother’s arms.
The baby’s mother, Claire, tries to comfort the one-year-
old. Next to Claire, Chuck Seavers weeps quietly.

RETURN TO PRESENT – BILLY’S OFFICE – DAY

BILLY
Don’t worry about your arrangements for
the return trip. Gale and I will come
to Portland on Sunday to pay our
respects. You’ll fly back with us.

Off Cole...

INT. ACHILLES’ LOFT – DAY

Achilles is at the kitchen counter studying while Portia

cooks. She turns to arrange plates for them on the
counter. When she moves his BOOK BAG a SPEEDING TICKET
falls out.

PORTIA
(holds ticket)
What’s this?

He glances up then at his book.

ACHILLES
Oh, I got that yesterday.

PORTIA
(peeved)
That’s it, Lee. You’re getting rid of
that motorcycle.

ACHILLES
Come on Portia, let’s not go over this
again. I’m not getting rid of the
motorcycle.

PORTIA
Yes, Lee you are. How many speeding
tickets have you gotten? Huh? How
much money is that thing going to cost
us in tickets alone?
 23.

ACHILLES
This isn’t about speeding tickets –

PORTIA
Oh no? What is it about then, Lee?
Huh? Tell me?

He can’t hold back any more.

ACHILLES
It’s about you – you not wanting to
ride on the back of a motorcycle
because you don’t like it.

PORTIA
(sarcastically)
Yeah, Lee, you’re right. It’s about
me. All about me...It’s about me being
afraid you’ll wind up killing yourself
on that thing. I’m surprised Coach
Donahue allows it.

ACHILLES
Well he does. And if it’s okay with
him it should be okay with you.

PORTIA
Well it’s not okay with me, Lee.

Beat.

ACHILLES
Why do you do this?
(off her reaction, “What?”)
You come here and try to run my life.

PORTIA
Finally! Here we go...

ACHILLES
No, really, you sign me up for classes
that I don’t want to take; you make me
go to parties that I don’t want to go
to –

PORTIA
(anger rising)
Don’t even! The way I hear it you
couldn’t get enough of Delta parties
before I got here. Or was it just a
certain Delta you couldn’t get enough
of, Lee?
 24.

ACHILLES
(ignoring her)
You make me play in a poker game so
your scamming father can get out of the
country –

PORTIA
Okay, now you need to shut up, Lee.

She turns to the stove.

ACHILLES
Oh, I get it: it’s okay for me to win
money and give it to your lying,
thieving father, but if I win a
motorcycle fair and square I can’t keep
that?

PORTIA
(over her shoulder)
You’ve got a lot of nerve bad mouthing
my father. He treats you like a son,
which is more than your broke ass, low-
life, whore-mongering father ever did.

ACHILLES
Yeah, the Rev treats me like a son like
a bum treats a meal ticket.

She turns, near tears, clutching a PARING KNIFE.

PORTIA
Why do you say things like that, Lee?
After everything we’ve been through. I
came here because I love you, to be
with you, to help you. I forgave you
for what happened. I forgave you for
the Chinese girl –

ACHILLES
(interrupts)
Korean –

She ANGRILY STICKS the knife into his book, just missing
his hands.

PORTIA
Whatever! Why do you hurt me this
way?! All I do is do for you. And you
hurt me by bad-mouthing the only family
I have in this world besides you.
 25.

A long beat as they stare into each other’s eyes. It’s a

lot of things but mostly it’s a test of wills. Finally,

ACHILLES
I’m keeping the motorcycle, Portia.

She wipes away a tear, pulls the knife from the book.

PORTIA
Okay, Lee. But will you please slow
down...for me?

EXT. MOVIE THEATER – NIGHT

Achilles and Portia pull up on his motorcycle. He parks

out front and they climb off. As they approach the ticket
counter we see a sign: “WEDNESDAY NIGHT SPECIALS”

INT. MOVIE THEATER (CONCESSIONS) – NIGHT

Achilles and Portia are in line. In the line next to them

we find Darryl Banks and Mathilda Weiss. Darryl and
Mathilda get their snacks and go into the screening room.

INT. SCREENING ROOM – NIGHT

Mathilda and Darryl watch the movie and share popcorn.

CLOSE UP: inside the POPCORN BOX: Mathilda plays “footsy”
with Darryl’s fingers.

EXT. MOVIE THEATER – LATER

The movie is letting out. Darryl and Mathilda walk to his

truck. Get inside.

INT. MATHILDA’S APARTMENT VESTIBULE – LATER

The outer door opens and Mathilda and Darryl come inside.
She unzips her jacket, pulls out her door key.

MATHILDA
I know you prefer to watch the game on
television because of your “instant
replay”, but I think it would be nice
to go to the stadium this Saturday,
don’t you?
 26.

DARRYL
Yeah, sure, if that’s what you want.

She smiles, comes close so their bodies touch, and kisses

him on the cheek. We sense this is their customary
“Goodnight kiss.”

MATHILDA
Good-night, Darryl.

She turns, puts the key in the door.

DARRYL
Mattie...

MATHILDA
(turns)
Yes, Darryl?

DARRYL
Mattie...This is too hard for me.

Beat.

MATHILDA
What are you saying, Darryl?

DARRYL
I’m saying...What does success look
like for me in this relationship?
(she’s about to speak, he
interrupts)
And I’m not just talking about sex
here, Mattie.

MATHILDA
I care about you, Darryl. Very much.

DARRYL
And I care about you, too. So where
does that leave us? Or more to the
point, where does that take us? I
should’ve asked this question that
first night at the cabin but my head
was already spinning enough. So I’m
asking you now: Where do you see us six
months from now? A year from now?
 27.

MATHILDA
(beat)
I really hadn’t thought that far ahead.

DARRYL
See, that’s interesting. If I asked
when Mrs. D is speaking at the Ladies’
Auxiliary Luncheon a year from now you
could tell me the date and time and how
long she was scheduled to talk.

MATHILDA
Darryl, please try to understand...

DARRYL
I do understand, Mattie. I stepped out
on a limb thinking that someone like
you could be interested in a guy like
me. Then you throw me for a loop with
this “I’m a lesbian but I think I’m
falling for you” stuff. The problem is
that I don’t think I’m falling for you,
Mattie, I know I am. So if this
“romance” we’re creating is just a part
of some twelve-step sex addicts
anonymous program and that’s all it
will ever be, I’d like to know now so I
can put the brakes on my feelings. If
you need a friend, I’ll be there for
you. But I deserve to know if that’s
all this can ever be.

A long beat. She caresses his face and kisses him softly
on the lips.

MATHILDA
Everything I feel for you is real,
Darryl.

Another soft kiss and she turns, goes inside before he can
speak. Darryl sighs heavily, turns and leaves.

INT. MATHILDA’S BATHROOM – LATER

Mathilda has just washed her face and is staring at herself

in the mirror, deep in thought. A phone RINGS. Is it
Darryl? She quickly leaves the bathroom to answer it.
 28.

INT. MATHILDA’S LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS

Lily’s photo is on her IPHONE. Mathilda hesitates then

pushes “Answer”.

MATHILDA
Hello.

EXT. PRACTICE FIELD – DAY

The Sea Devils are practicing in full pads. Billy watches

from the sideline, taking notes.

COLE (O.S.)
Coach.

Billy looks up. Cole is dressed in street clothes – jacket

and jeans.

BILLY
Hey, Cole. You all set to go?

COLE
Yeah, Coach. Just thought I’d check
again before I left for the airport. I
know what this game means to the
program.

Billy looks at him for a long beat as we go

FLASHBACK – INT. SEAVERS HOME – DAY (5 YEARS EARLIER)

Billy sits on the sofa across from 18-year-old Cole and his
sister CLAIRE (23). Billy lays on the Texas charm.

BILLY
Ms. Seavers, I know what you’re
thinking, “Why should I trust my
brother’s football future to an
offensive-minded coach?”

CLAIRE
Something like that, yeah.

BILLY
You know I played for Wolf Ryan. He
lived and breathed defense. Was a
defensive coordinator for six seasons
before he took his first head coaching
(MORE)
 29.

BILLY (CONT’D.)
job. Hell, some people thought the
only reason I got a shot at playing was
because he didn’t give two shits about
the offense. He believed defense won
championships. So do I.

Cole looks at him with eager anticipation.

CLAIRE
You know Oregon and Oregon State both
passed on Cole. Said he was too small
to play middle linebacker. They would
only consider him as a defensive back –
on their scout team. Why are you so
high on my brother?

BILLY
Right now, to win the WAC Ms. Seavers,
I have to beat Boise State. To beat
Boise State I need a defense that’s
tough, smart, fast and takes no
prisoners. Everything I’ve seen about
your brother convinces me he’s just
what I need to build that defense.

CLAIRE
So you’re telling me that two PAC-10
schools didn’t even think he was good
enough to play linebacker for them but
you want to build your entire defense
around him?

BILLY
That’s right, Ms. Seavers. And
speaking as an offensive-minded coach,
I can tell you, defensive coaches in
the PAC-10 aren’t the sharpest tools in
the shed.

RETURN TO PRESENT – EXT. PRACTICE FIELD - DAY

BILLY
Don’t worry about Boise State, Cole.
Go home. Your sister needs you now.

END OF ACT TWO

 30.

ACT THREE

INT. HELO’S PUB – NIGHT

Cake enters and crosses the pub. As she does a CUTE GUY
(20s) checks her out. She goes to a table where Cara and
Dallas are sitting. They greet her and she sits down.

DALLAS
Look, I’m going to hit the road now. I
need to finish up my Sociology paper
tonight. See you around, Cake.

CARA
Call me after you talk to Coach, okay?

DALLAS
Okay.

He kisses Cara and leaves.

CAKE
Uh-oh, that didn’t sound good. What’s
he pissed off with Donahue about now?

CARA
I’ll tell you about some other time.

MEL (20s), the barmaid, comes by.

MEL
What can I get you, Cake?

CAKE
Hi, Mel. I’ll have a Perrier with a
lime twist.

MEL
What, now that you two have the same
address you’ve got to have the same
drink, too?

Mel frowns and goes off. As Mel clears the frame Cara
notices the guy checking Cake out from across the room.

CARA
Don’t look now, but there’s a delicious
piece of boy candy scoping you out.

CAKE
Really?
 31.

Cake looks at the guy. He smiles.

CARA
Am I speaking Greek now? What part of
“Don’t look now” didn’t you understand?

CAKE
He is cute. But he’s not really my
type.

CARA
Really? Since when is cute not your
type?

CAKE
Since I started working in the kitchen
at the restaurant I don’t have much
interest in guys.

Cara’s face tells us that she understands. Mel comes with

Cake’s glass of water, gives Cara another as well.

CARA
Thanks, Mel.

After Mel’s gone.

CARA
So Umberto’s got you working as his
sous-chef now? That’s great, Cake.

CAKE
We both know that’s got more to do with
my family owning the place than my
skills as a chef.

CARA
You should stop putting yourself down,
Cake. Sure, you got the opportunity
because of your family, but we both
know Sofia wouldn’t risk the reputation
of the restaurant on a lousy chef, not
even if that lousy chef is her only
daughter.
(Cake smirks at her)
Anyway, you must be doing something
right.

They look up and the cute guy is walking to their table.

His name is DENNIS GAVIN.
 32.

DENNIS
Hi there. You’re Cat Trzcinski and
Cake D’Agostino, right?

CARA
Yeah.

DENNIS
I’m Dennis Gavin.

CAKE
Hi Dennis.

DENNIS
Listen, some buddies and me are having
a big party after the game this
Saturday night and we were hoping to
get a few hot girls to drink our beer.
We’d love it if you two could stop by.

CARA
(challenging)
So you want us to come to a keg party
and compete with other girls to get
laid by you and your drunk friends?

DENNIS
(backpeddling)
No, no. What I mean is...

CAKE
(a “relax, she’s joking”
smile)
She knows what you meant, Dennis.

DENNIS
Look, you can bring your boyfriends too
if you like. Cara, I know you’re going
out with Dallas Morales on the football
team and Cake, well, I’m sure you’re
going out with somebody, and he’s more
than welcome to come by too...That’s if
you are going out with somebody...

Cara exchanges a quick glance with Cake and smiles.

CAKE
We’ll think about coming.
 33.

DENNIS
Great!
(writes on a scrap of paper)
Here’s the address. It’s off campus.
And here’s my phone number. You know,
in case you want to call for any
reason. You know.

He hands the paper to Cake.

CAKE
Thanks. Maybe we’ll see you Saturday.

DENNIS
Cool.

As he walks away, Cara grins at Cake, who rolls her eyes.

INT. DONAHUE GREAT ROOM – NIGHT

The television is on ESPN with the sound on mute. Billy’s

in his chair, going over notes from practices. Gale comes
in quietly, sits on the arm of the sofa.

GALE
Billy.

BILLY
Oh, sorry babe, I didn’t notice you
come in.

GALE
Billy, I didn’t want to get into this
with you before the Fresno State game,
and there hasn’t been a good time to
bring it up until now.

BILLY
Bring what up, Gale. What is it?

GALE
Last Friday. You didn’t come home the
night before a game. You’ve never done
that before, Billy.

BILLY
I told you, Gale, I was working late
and fell asleep in my office.
 34.

GALE
I know that’s what you told me. I
called – several times – the office
line and your cell. You didn’t answer
and you didn’t return my messages.

Beat. He knows what she’s getting at.

BILLY
Gabrielle took the job in Connecticut.
She’s gone, Gale. It’s over.

We hear a DOORBELL RING. Billy and Gale continue to look

in each other’s eyes until

J.R. (O.S.)
Dad, Dallas is here.

They look over at J.R. and Dallas entering the room.

GALE
Hello, Dallas dear.

DALLAS
Hi, Mrs. D.

J.R.
I told Dallas he’d better work on his
timing.
(to Dallas)
You want some of Mom’s Texas chili
you’d better get here at dinner time.
We don’t leave many leftovers on chili
day.

GALE
That’s not true J.R. and you know it.
Dallas, when you and Coach are done,
you’ll find plenty of leftovers in the
fridge. Just help yourself.

DALLAS
Thanks, Mrs. D. I might just take you
up on that.

J.R.
(a mischievous grin)
Good luck, bro. That’s where I’m
heading now.
 35.

GALE
Come on, J.R. Your father and Dallas
have things to discuss.

On her way out, Gale gives Billy a look.

DALLAS
Coach.

BILLY
Dallas, sit down.

They sit across from each other.

BILLY
You’re sure there’s nothing more to
your dealings with Moseby?

DALLAS
I’ve told you everything. Since I
arrived on campus, I’ve spoken to him
no more than six times. I place bets
with him totaling two thousand, six
hundred dollars on last year’s NCAA
Final Four basketball tournament, and
last year’s NBA Finals. I never bet
football, college or pro.

BILLY
And the steroids?

DALLAS
(beat)
I knew that Chuck was juicing. He
started back at Chico State. I loaned
him money a couple of times after we
got to Wa Tech. At first I assumed it
was to cover his gambling debts, but
the last time he asked for money I
refused to give it to him and that’s
when he told me he needed it to buy
steroids. He was afraid of losing his
scholarship.

BILLY
And you gave it to him?

DALLAS
(beat)
Coach, we grew up together...once we
almost killed each other in a shootout.
(MORE)
 36.

DALLAS (CONT’D.)
And now, here we are, the only two
homeboys from the barrio trying to make
it in this ivory tower...Yeah, I gave
it to him.

INT. CHARLOTTE WEBB’S OFFICE – DAY

Charlotte looks pale, sickly. She pours a glass of water

from the pitcher on her desk.

BILLY
Charlotte, are you feeling alright?
You look like you’re coming down with
something.

CHARLOTTE
There’s a wicked case of the flu going
around. It’s probably just that.

BILLY
Well maybe you should go home, stay in
bed for a day or two.

CHARLOTTE
I’ll be fine.

BILLY
Yeah, of course you will, but not until
you’ve infected half the athletic
department.

CHARLOTTE
Don’t try to change the subject, Billy.
This business with Dallas is a fiasco
in the making and you’re not making it
any easier.

BILLY
Look, Charlotte, I know I’m being an
asshole about this. But I’m not about
to bench Dallas. Not two days before
the Boise State game. It’ll be hard
enough to stop their offense without
Cole on the field. It’ll be damn near
impossible without Cole and Dallas.

CHARLOTTE
Winning isn’t the only thing, Billy,
it’s winning the right way that counts.
 37.

BILLY
I’m not going to bench him for this,
Charlotte and that’s that. He did
something that a thousand other kids on
this campus do every weekend. I don’t
give a rat’s ass about the potential PR
fallout. The program’s come too far
and there’s too much riding on this
game.

CHARLOTTE
Is it just the game, Billy?

BILLY
(beat)
I won’t turn my back on my son again,
Charlotte. Not for you, not for this
university, not for the program. Not
for anyone. Ever.

She sits back in her chair, visibly fatigued, and looks at

the photo of her daughters on the desk. After a beat

CHARLOTTE
I thought that’s what you’d say...You’d
better keep winning, Billy, because if
this blows up we’ll both be racking up
frequent flier miles on the speakers
circuit.

END OF ACT THREE

 38.

ACT FOUR

INT. WYNDHAM HALL – DAY

Jeni Kim and Bella Milanovich walk down the corridor.

BELLA
So are we going to lose our little
kitties at the Boise State team hotel
this Saturday?

JENI
(jokingly)
Now you’re starting to sound like a
real slut.

BELLA
Ha! I prefer to think of myself as our
team’s secret weapon. How wild was
that, you and me randomly hooking up
with Fresno State’s quarterback and
star running back the night before the
game!

JENI
Yeah, talk about random.
(laughs)
And our defense thinks they’re the ones
who had those guys dragging by the end
of the game.

Both girls laugh. Jeni spies Achilles with iPhone Sitren

in front of a classroom.

JENI
Hey, I’ll catch up with you back at the
dorm, okay?

Bella sees who Jeni has her sights set on and continues
down the hall. Jeni hangs across the classroom from
Achilles, trying to be seen. When he does make eye contact
with her, he says good-bye to iPhone and heads down the
stairs. Jeni follows him.

JENI
Achilles! Hey, wait up.

He stops on the stairs.

JENI
Did you hear me calling you?
 39.

ACHILLES
What do you want?

JENI
Why are you always so mean to me? What
did I do to you?

ACHILLES
You didn’t do anything. And I’m not
trying to be mean. I just want it to
be crystal clear there can never be
anything between me and you.

She gives him a puzzled look. Then concludes,

JENI
You don’t like Asians do you?

Achilles reacts. He can’t help it. He starts to laugh.

JENI
(deeply offended)
You know, I don’t think being a racist
is at all funny.

This sends him over the edge. He’s practically in tears.

JENI
I don’t know why my sister thought you
were a nice guy. You’re a real
asshole! A racist asshole!

She storms past him down the stairs. He’s doubled over
with laughter.

INT. NINA & JABARI’S APARTMENT – DAY

Nina’s on her cell phone, looking out the window. It’s

rainy outside.

NINA
She’s doing fine, Big Sis. The girls
in the house like her and she’s pulling
her own weight with her pledge sisters.

EXT. UCLA CAMPUS – DAY

It’s another perfect, sunny day in Southern California.

Valerie Kim, former Delta Tau Chi president and Jeni’s
“illustrious” big sister, is sitting on a bench.
 40.

VALERIE
Good. Jennifer can be a real brat
sometimes. Now that she’s out from
under mom and dad’s thumb, well, I just
don’t want her to do anything stupid.

INTERCUT NINA/VALERIE

NINA
Yeah, I know what you mean.

VALERIE
What do you mean by that?

NINA
Oh, nothing. Nothing at all. How’s
Richard?

VALERIE
He’s great. Between his residency and
studying for boards and my grad school
schedule, we hardly ever spend any time
in the apartment together.

NINA
Sounds really crazy. But at least you
two are finally together.

VALERIE
Yeah. It’s great.
(beat)
So Nina...how is he?

NINA
Valerie...

VALERIE
I’m just curious, okay. You’ve met her
right?

NINA
Yeah, I’ve met her.

VALERIE
And?

NINA
And she doesn’t have horns and a tail.
Sorry.

This subject fills Valerie with nervous energy. She

stands, walks back and forth in front of the bench.
 41.

VALERIE
I know I shouldn’t care...

NINA
You’re right, you shouldn’t. Richard’s
a terrific guy and you love him.

VALERIE
I know, Nina. Of course...It’s just,
well, the thought of him making love to
her in our bed just makes me want to
puke.

NINA
(offhandedly)
Well it’s not your bed anymore. And
besides, you don’t need to worry about
th –

VALERIE
What?

NINA
(uh-oh)
What?

VALERIE
What do you mean I don’t need to worry
about that?

NINA
Did I say that? I didn’t say that.

VALERIE
Yes you did. You said that.

NINA
No, I didn’t.

VALERIE
Nina, stop it. Spill. Have they had a
fight?
(then, possessively)
He’s not cheating on her with some slut
is he?!

NINA
Just forget I said anything, okay.

VALERIE
Nina.
 42.

NINA
Valerie.

VALERIE
Nina!

NINA
(beat)
I think she’s a virgin.

VALERIE
(stunned)
Shut up! No way!

NINA
Way.

VALERIE
But they’ve been together since they
were sophomores in high school. What
makes you think she hasn’t had sex with
him?

NINA
Valerie, you can never, ever say
anything about this to anybody. Ever!

VALERIE
Nina, who are you talking to here?

NINA
(beat)
Okay...A couple of weeks ago, she was
out jogging and went to the emergency
room for a muscle strain or
something...Dr. Jones treated her.

VALERIE
Camille Jones? Delta’s president back
in the nineties?

NINA
Yes. But please Valerie, you can’t say
anything to anyone!

Beat.

VALERIE
(a sinful smile)
Oh Nina, I won’t tell a soul.
 43.

EXT. SEAVERS HOME – DAY

A taxi pulls into the driveway of a neatly landscaped,

cookie-cutter home in a working class subdivision. Cole
gets out with a backpack and pauses to look at his
childhood home. We sense dark memories are welling up
inside of him.

The taxi pulls away and CLAIRE (28) comes out of the house
to meet her brother. When she reaches him, they stand face
to face and gaze into each other’s eyes. This is obviously
a bittersweet reunion.

DARBY (O.S.)
Uncle Cole! Uncle Cole!

DARBY (12) runs out and hugs Cole. She’s a cute girl, with
curly blonde hair and blue eyes like her mother’s.

COLE
(hugging her)
Darby, hi.

Only now does Claire smile - a sad smile. Claire’s husband

BRUCE (30) comes out to greet his brother-in-law with a
handshake.

BRUCE
Thanks for coming, Cole.

Cole nods stoically.

CLAIRE
Come on, let’s go inside.

INT. SEAVER HOME (BATHROOM) – NIGHT

Cole has just finished brushing his teeth. We sense his

uneasiness at being in the room. Claire leans in the open
doorway. He turns to face her.

CLAIRE
I didn’t think you would come.

COLE
I wasn’t going to but Coach made me.
We play Boise State tomorrow.
 44.

CLAIRE
He always struck me as a win at any
cost sort of guy. Sort of like you.

COLE
Yeah, well, he said something about
losing his father when he was a kid.

Beat.

COLE
You alright?

She nods but we know she’s not. Her eyes take in the room.

CLAIRE
Are you?

Beat. They embrace and hold each other tightly, her head
buried in his shoulder.

CLAIRE
Thank you for coming, Cole.

COLE’S BEDROOM – LATER

Cole lay awake on his childhood bed, stares at the ceiling.

FLASHBACK – INT. SEAVER HOME – DAY (10 YEARS EARLIER)

Young Cole comes into the home, drops his book bag on the
sofa and walks into the kitchen. He opens the fridge,
looks inside.

YOUNG COLE
(calls out)
Mom, there’s no orange juice.

He grabs a CARTON OF MILK instead and drinks from it, wipes

his mouth and puts it back inside. He pulls out a piece of
FRIED CHICKEN and starts eating.

YOUNG COLE
(calls out)
Mom, what’s for dinner?

He leaves the kitchen, looks for his mother in various

rooms. Not finding her on the first floor, he heads
upstairs.
 45.

YOUNG COLE
(calls out)
Mom?

He checks a room. No mom. In another room he finds

TODDLER DARBY (2) in a playpen. Cole picks her up.

YOUNG COLE
Hey little, D. Where’s Nana?

The toddler smiles and says something in baby gibberish.

Cole smiles and kisses her. He carries her with him down
the hall.

YOUNG COLE
Hey, Mom.

He stops, notices the bathroom door ajar.

YOUNG COLE
Mom?

Sensing something’s wrong, he approaches slowly. Darby

gurgles and plays with Cole’s ear.

CLOSE ON COLE’S FACE through the crack of the door.

YOUNG COLE
Mom, you okay?
(nudges the door)
Mom?

He opens the door wider and looks inside.

YOUNG COLE
(horrified)
MOM!

IN THE BATHROOM

Cole puts Darby down and bursts in. We don’t see

everything – just a woman’s arm on the side of the tub and
a bathtub filled with water and blood.

RETURN TO PRESENT – COLE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Cole closes his eyes to try and sleep.

END OF ACT FOUR

 46.

ACT FIVE

EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM – DAY

The stands are filling up with fans. On the field, both

teams – the Sea Devils and their opponents, the Boise State
Broncos – go through pre-game warm ups.

INT. SEAVER HOME – DAY

Cole is in front of the mirror, straightening his tie. He

puts his sport coat on, leaves the room and goes
downstairs. Bruce, Darby and Claire, dressed for the
funeral, are waiting for him.

EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM – DAY

Achilles takes the snap and drops back to pass. The Boise
State defense comes with a hellacious blitz and sack him
hard. Achilles gets up slowly with help from iPhone
Sitren.

BLACKLEDGE (V.O.)
Ouch! That’s the third time this
afternoon the Broncos defense has
gotten to Addams.

SANDERSON (V.O.)
We knew this was going to be a hard-
hitting affair – there’s no love lost
between these two teams - but it’s just
been brutal for both offenses. Neither
can seem to get any momentum in what
has turned into a classic defensive
struggle.

SCOREBOARD – Boise State 0, Washington Tech 0, 7:24 4th Qtr.

EXT. GRAVESITE – DAY

MOURNERS listen as the Reverend (the same from Emma’s

funeral) presides. Bruce’s arm is around Claire’s
shoulder, Cole’s around Darby’s. Cole’s eyes are
transfixed on the casket...
 47.

FLASHBACK – INT. SEAVER HOME – SUNSET (5 YEARS EARLIER)

Cole comes in, throws his book bag on the sofa. We hear
SCREAMING. Cole rushes to the kitchen.

IN THE KITCHEN

COLE
Get your hands off her!

Cole grabs Chuck and spins him around. Seven-year-old

Darby tears away and presses herself in a corner, crying,
terrified.

COLE
(outraged)
You son of a bitch!

Chuck, in mechanic’s overalls, stammers away. He’s totally

shit-faced drunk.

COLE
(to Darby)
Get out, Darby, go upstairs.
Now!

Darby runs out and we hear her feet on the steps.

COLE
(to Chuck)
You filthy, drunk! You make me sick!

CHUCK
(slurring)
...going to play football in
college...think you can talk to your
father like a man...

COLE
You’re not a father and you’re not a
man. You’re a worthless piece of shit!

CHUCK
(slurring)
Why you...I can still kick –

Chuck swings at him. Cole stops his fist with the palm of
his hand just inches in front of his face.

ECU – COLE’S EYES: Malice

He rears back and CLOBBERS his father with a vicious right.

 48.

RETURN TO PRESENT - EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM - DAY

Achilles is SACKED again. On the sideline, Billy calls a

time out. Trainers trot onto the field.

BLACKLEDGE (V.O.)
That defensive end hit Addams like a
Mack truck. The young Sea Devils
quarterback has really taken a pounding
this afternoon.

SANDERSON (V.O.)
He’s getting up pretty slowly this
time. Let’s just hope it isn’t
serious. The Devils can’t afford to
lose him.

FLASHBACK – INT. SEAVERS HOME – SUNSET (5 YEARS EARLIER)

Chuck falls back against the stove, grabs a SKILLET and

flings it at Cole, who deflects it with his forearm. Cole
grabs his father and hits him again and again. Chuck falls
to the floor and Cole kicks him in the gut several times.

COLE
(cold as ice)
You get out and don’t ever come back.
If I see you around here again, I won’t
call the police to keep you away. I’ll
just rip your fucking spine out.

Claire comes into the kitchen and drops the grocery bags
she’s carrying.

CLAIRE
Oh my God! Cole! Dad!

RETURN TO PRESENT – EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM – DAY

Pete Mitchell bull rushes past an offensive lineman and

CRUSHES the Boise State quarterback in the backfield.

BLACKLEDGE (V.O.)
And Mitchell gets him again! That’s
his second sack today and the fifth for
the team. With their captain and
leading tackler Cole Seavers out
attending his father’s funeral, this
Sea Devils defense has really stepped
it up today blitzing like mad dogs!
 49.

SANDERSON (V.O.)
Most important, that last sack takes
the Broncos out of field goal range and
forces them to punt with less than
three minutes left to play in the game.

SCOREBOARD – Boise State 0, Washington Tech 0, 2:47 4th Qtr.

Dallas stands at the 20 yard line, waiting for the Boise

State punt. The ball is kicked high in the air. When it
comes down, Dallas catches it and immediately dodges a
Boise State kamikaze tackler. He runs up the middle of the
field, cuts to his left, gets a few blocks...

He jukes past a would-be tackler then turns on the speed,

racing untouched into the end zone for a touchdown. On the
sideline, the normally stoic Billy thrusts both hands in
the air in triumph. In the stands, Gale can’t help but
smile, as everyone around her in the VIP section goes wild.

Dallas trots back to the sideline, accepting

congratulations from teammates. He’s walking past Billy
when

BILLY
Morales!
(beat, Dallas looks at him)
Hell of a play.

DALLAS
Thanks Coach.

EXT. GRAVESITE – DAY

The casket is being lowered into the grave. Mourners weep.

So do Claire and Darby. Cole eyes the casket unblinkingly
until it’s completely in the ground.

EXT. GRAVESITE – LATER

Cole stands looking down at the open grave. Mourners are

walking away in the b.g. He spits on his father’s casket
then turns and joins Claire, Darby and Bruce who are
waiting for him.
 50.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – NIGHT

Achilles is on the bed in a hospital gown. Portia, Billy,

Dr. Jones and team physician, Dr. Stan Fiorenza (who we
remember from Season One) stand around him.

DR. JONES
The CAT scan came back negative. He’s
suffered a very mild concussion but
he’s fine.

DR. FIORENZA
They’re going to keep him overnight for
observation, Portia, just as a
precaution.

PORTIA
(to Dr. Jones)
You’re sure he’s alright?

DR. JONES
I’m sure, Portia. Like Dr. Fiorenza
said, it’s purely a precautionary
measure.

ACHILLES
I feel fine, babe. Aside from being
sore as hell from the beat down I took
today. Thank iPhone for me Coach.

BILLY
(smiles)
Look at it this way, Portia, at least
you won’t have to listen to his whining
tonight.

ACHILLES
(a thought, smiling)
Hey! Maybe I’ll get a good-looking
nurse to give me a sponge bath.

Billy and the doctors react. Portia smirks and pinches

Achilles hard on the shoulder.

ACHILLES
Ow!

PORTIA
There’s your sponge bath.

They all laugh. They leave Achilles and Portia alone. She
kisses him and says good-night.
 51.

INT. HOSPITAL LOBBY – MOMENTS LATER

Billy says good-bye to Dr. Fiorenza and Dr. Jones then

walks to Gale, J.R. and Dallas. We don’t hear them, but
Billy tells Gale that Achilles is alright and she smiles,
relieved. Then he takes her hand and they walk out of the
hospital, the boys following them.

INT. SEAVERS HOME – NIGHT

Cole stands at the fireplace, staring pensively at the

fire. He kneels and we see that in front of him is the box
of photos and mementos he had in his apartment. He begins
tossing items into the fire one-by-one.

REVERSE and we Claire, unseen by Cole, standing in the dark

hallway behind him.

INT. ACHILLES’ LOFT – NIGHT

Portia, wearing one of Achilles’ jerseys, is about to climb

into bed. A cell phone RINGS. She answers it.

PORTIA
Hello?

REVEREND ROBESON (V.O.)

Baby Girl!

PORTIA
Daddy! Oh Daddy, I’ve been so worried
about you!

REVEREND ROBESON (V.O.)

I’m fine, Baby Girl. Just fine.

PORTIA
You made it to Ghana alright then?

REVEREND ROBESON (V.O.)

Yes, I did. I’m here now.

PORTIA
Thank God. When I didn’t hear from
you, I didn’t know what to think. I’ve
been worried out of my mind. Daddy I
miss you so much.

Tears begin to come to her eyes. She’s overcome by a

sudden rush of emotion.
 52.

INT. HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Reverend Robeson stands in front of the window, looking

outside.

REVEREND ROBESON
I miss you too, Baby Girl. I miss you
too.

CAMERA PULLS BACK and we’re looking at Reverend Robeson

from outside of the window. WIDEN and we see the hotel is
a MARRIOTT. WIDEN FURTHER and we see that it’s in downtown
Los Angeles.

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE