GOAL TO GO

Episode 3.31

“Trophy”

by

David Polk
 2.

RECAP

We Recap events from Previous Episodes, ending on Achilles

being arrested after beating a frat boy to a pulp.

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. PRESS CONFERENCE – NIGHT

A surly Billy Donahue sits behind a bouquet of MICROPHONES,

his piercing blue eyes staring out into the hot glare of
television CAMERA LIGHTS.

REPORTER 1
Twenty-four points is the fewest the
Devils’ defense has allowed this
season. Do you take any positives away
from that?

BILLY
The object of the game is to score more
points than your opponent. We scored
17. You do the math.

REPORTER 2
We saw a lot more of sophomore tailback
Crash Davis tonight. He rushed for 100
yards and two touchdowns. Can we expect
to see more of the ground game while
Achilles Addams is on suspension?

BILLY
We’re gonna have to see a lot more of
something if we expect to ever see the
end zone again, don’t you think?

REPORTER 3
Coach, with a tough loss like this one
to Fresno State, how do you get the
team mentally ready to face undefeated
Boise State next weekend? There’s a
lot of bad blood between the teams and
the conference title could be decided
in that game.

BILLY
Every game has the potential to
determine who wins the conference.
(MORE)
 3.

BILLY (CONT’D.)
We’ll prepare for Boise State the way
we always do, with a good game plan and
total focus on execution.

REPORTER 4
Coach, Boise State next week, number
one Ohio State after the bye, then
number six UCLA four weeks after that
to close the season, how do you rate
your chances of busting the BCS and
playing in a major bowl game come
January?

BILLY
Again, you can do the math yourself.
If we run the table, we have a chance.
If we don’t, we don’t.

PR woman Sasha Mendez, off to the side, chimes in.

SASHA
We have time for one more question
before the coach has to board the team
bus for the airport.

REPORTER 1
Coach, speaking of chances. What do
you think Achilles’ chances of winning
the Heisman are now that he’s been
suspended? And what do you think of
all that’s been made of his wife’s
provocative ad campaign? Was it a bad
idea in light of what’s happened?

Beat. Billy’s already foul mood gets fouler.

BILLY
When Achilles gets back on the field,
the only thing he’s gonna have his mind
on winning are football games.
(glances at Sasha)
And as for those damn ads, I thought I
made it clear to you guys that I’ve
said all I have to say about them.

REPORTER 1
But, Coach, the ad campaign is news in
and of itself. You can’t just ignore
it or questions about it.
 4.

Billy is about to lose his temper –

SASHA
I think that’s about all we have time
for...

REPORTER 2
Sasha, is it true that the university
has already paid a half-million dollars
to put the ad in Times Square? Can you
get that money back?

Sasha motions to Billy that it’s time to leave. He stands

to go.

BILLY
Thanks guys.

SASHA
Thank you all. Coach Donahue really
has to get going now. We’ll try to
follow up on any unanswered questions
once we’re back on campus.

OFF camera’s snapping and reporters asking questions...

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER
 5.

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

A BILLBOARD

Portia Addams looks out at us provocatively, hair blowing

softly in the breeze, her naked upper body painted as if
she were wearing the number “10” jersey of her husband,
Achilles. Ala the “Got Milk” commercials, the tagline
reads: “I’m not the only trophy my husband deserves.”

EXT. MAIN STREET – DAY

People strolling Maitland’s quaint downtown look up at the

billboard on the side of a three-story building. It’s still
the talk of the town...

ON THE RADIO

BRET (V.O.)
Look, sex sells and Portia Addams is
definitely a sexy young woman. So
what’s the big deal if a school decides
to feature a pretty girl in an ad to
help their best player win the Heisman
Trophy? Katie on Line One.

KATIE (V.O.)
I’ll tell you what’s wrong with it,
Bret, it’s degrading and demoralizing
to all the girls at the university to
see a beautiful young woman exploited
like that. I can’t believe the school
endorsed that kind of ad. It’s got
nothing to do with football or the
Heisman Trophy. It blatantly promotes
the notion that a successful man should
have a “trophy wife.” It’s disgusting!

BRET (V.O.)
Norm on Line Two, what do you have to
say to that?

NORM (V.O.)
Hey, Bret. Man it sounds like Katie
needs to pull the stick out of –
 6.

BRET (V.O.)
(interrupts)
Whoa! Why don’t we just go to Dave on
Line Three. Dave, what do you think?
Too much T and A for a Heisman campaign
or what?

DAVE (V.O.)
Hey, check out every half-way decent
beer commercial on television. The best
ones have hot babes with nice racks and
they’re selling a lot of suds. Don’t
get me wrong - Portia Addams is a mega
babe - but you see way better T and A
on television every weekend during
football season than what she’s got.

INT. LE PETITE RETREAT SPA - DAY

Attractive ATTENDANTS go about their business helping

guests at the upscale spa. Over this our radio call-in
show CONTINUES...

BRET (V.O.)
Lisa, what do you think?

LISA (V.O.)
I think the ads are great! I really
don’t know what the fuss is all about.
You can see the same thing in “Sports
Illustrated” and “ESPN the Magazine.”
Portia rocks! Go girl!

BRET (V.O.)
Blanche in Bellingham, you had
something you wanted to add?

BLANCHE (V.O.)
Yeah, thanks for taking my call, Bret.
Isn’t the Heisman about what a player
does on the field, not who he does off
it? I know we’re stuck up here in the
corner of the country, but the Ice Man
is a great player; shouldn’t his PR
people tout his performance, not have
him ride on his wife’s apron strings?

BRET (V.O.)
Ah, but those are some pretty nice
apron strings, huh? Larry on Line two.
 7.

LARRY (V.O.)
Hi. Hello. I was really surprised to
see the ads. Portia’s a really sweet
girl and she’s really active in our
church. But by doing something like
this I think she’s “painting” herself -
pun intended - as just another pretty
face and not the intelligent Christian
young woman we’ve come to know...

ANGLE ON a woman’s foot receiving a pedicure.

GALE (O.S.)
Honestly, honey, I think the ads are
tastefully done. They definitely grab
the attention, but that’s okay.

Gale Donahue, Gracie Wellington and Portia sit side-by-side

getting pedicures.

PORTIA
Thank you, Mrs. Donahue. There’s no
way I would have agreed to do them if I
thought they were the slightest bit
risqué.

GRACIE
If it’s risqué to have a nice bod then
I’d like a little more risqué myself.

Gale reacts, gives Gracie a nonverbal motherly reprimand.

GALE
Well don’t you worry, Portia. All of
this so-called “controversy” will blow
over. I remember when Billy was in the
running for the Heisman. I was Miss
Texas at the time and some reporter
tried to make hay out of the fact that
he and I were engaged to be married.
As if my being “engaged” should
disqualify me from competing in the
Miss America pageant.

PORTIA
I suppose the press just has to have
something to report on.

GALE
That’s exactly it, honey.
 8.

INT. LE PETITE RETREAT SPA (CAFÉ) – LATER

Gale, Gracie and Portia are having lunch.

PORTIA
Thanks so much for the spa day, Mrs.
Donahue.

GRACIE
Yeah, thanks. I’ve never had a spa day
before. I’ve never even been in a spa.
This is terrific.

GALE
You’re both very welcome. A woman
needs to pamper herself once in a while
and bond with the women in her
life...This is where Maria and I got to
know one another and become friends.

A beat as Portia and Gracie appreciate their status.

PORTIA
How is little Duncan?

GALE
He’s doing marvelously. I’m sure he’ll
be walking before Thanksgiving.

PORTIA
I think what you and Coach Donahue are
doing is just wonderful. Duncan is so
blessed to have you both.

GALE
Thank you, dear. I feel that we’re
blessed to have him.

Gracie conceals her bittersweet emotion: she feels

fortunate to have been taken in by the Donahues, yet
embarrassed because her mother is in prison for drugs.

GALE
Portia, honey, how is Achilles holding
up? I know it’s got to be awful for
him, not playing against Boise State.

Now it’s Portia who has to conceal her shame.

 9.

PORTIA
It’s hard for him. What happened, what
he did to that boy, that’s so not
Lee...He’s never hurt anyone before.

INT. DR. RUBENSTEIN’S OFFICE – DAY

Psychoanalyst Michelle Rubenstein sits in her wingback

chair, looks thoughtfully at her patient.

MICHELLE
Why do you think you’ve been asked to
see me?

ACHILLES
I’m not an alcoholic and I don’t have
anger issues, so I don’t know. You
tell me.

MICHELLE
You had eight rum and Cokes then broke
a fellow student’s jaw and cracked two
of his ribs. And you don’t believe you
have a drinking problem or that you
could use help managing your temper?

ACHILLES
All due respect, Dr. Rubenstein, it’s a
college campus. Guys get drunk and
guys get beat down every weekend.

MICHELLE
But you’re not just any guy on campus,
are you Achilles? The pressures you
face are much different than those of
other students.

ACHILLES
So because I throw a football around on
Saturdays I have more pressure than the
next guy? What about the guy who’s
never pulled less than an A-plus on a
term paper? Or the sorority president
who has to plan the perfect party to
save her sorority’s reputation?

MICHELLE
(pauses before)
Sounds like you’ve had this
conversation with someone before.
 10.

ACHILLES
(beat, remembering)
Yeah, maybe. All I’m saying is that I
know what I did was out of line. I
apologized and I know it’ll never
happen again. I don’t think I need to
have my head examined too.

MICHELLE
Look Achilles, your “status” aside, you
have to admit that what happened, what
you did, is totally out of character
for you.
(re: report in her hand)
Aside from that scar on your cheek and
a couple of speeding tickets, there’s
no evidence of you ever having any
trouble. In fact, you’ve never caused
trouble – not at school, not with your
coaches, not with the law. You go to
church every Sunday with your wife and
you volunteer on a regular basis.

ACHILLES
I guess my mother just raised me right.

MICHELLE
Yes, it seems she did...Still, when
someone has the kind of reaction you
did, it’s usually a sign that there’s
more going on under the surface. I
understand you don’t even know the
young man you “beat down.”

ACHILLES
No, I don’t know him.

MICHELLE
But you know the girl?

ACHILLES
(beat)
Yeah. I know her.

MICHELLE
You were very upset with her for being
with the young man. Why?
(off his non-response)
...Achilles, are you having an affair
with her?
 11.

INT. DELTA HOUSE – DAY

Jeni Kim is hanging out in the great room with Bella

Milovich.

JENI
Come on Bella, the concert’s going to
be off the hook. You really should come
with me. Vanilla and Blue Cake are the
opening acts.

BELLA
I told you, I can’t.

JENI
Why?

BELLA
Because.

JENI
Because why?

BELLA
Because I’m busy.

JENI
Doing what?

BELLA
Things.

JENI
You slut! Are you hooking up with a
new guy and I don’t know about it?

BELLA
Oh, you mean like you were about to
screw that Sigma last weekend? If
Achilles hadn’t kicked his ass you’d
probably be with him right now.

The memory of that night makes Jeni uncomfortable.

JENI
Don’t remind me about that. He’s such
an asshole!

BELLA
Then why’d you have your tongue half-
way down his throat?
 12.

JENI
Not Seth! He’s not an asshole,
Achilles is.

BELLA
If he’s such an asshole, why did you
lie to the police about what happened?

JENI
I didn’t lie...not exactly.

BELLA
Well, what “exactly” do you call it
when you say something that’s not the
truth?

JENI
(suddenly)
You can be such a hag sometimes, you
know that?

BELLA
(makes a face, then)
Seriously, Jeni, why’d you tell the
police you were trying to get away from
Seth and that Achilles was helping you?

JENI
I really don’t want to get into that
night, okay. Can we just drop it?
(changes subject)
Come on Bella, come to the concert with
me tonight...

INT. CHARLOTTE WEBB’S OFFICE – DAY

Charlotte Webb and Billy are talking.

CHARLOTTE
Sussman has written a formal letter to
the NCAA justifying his decision to
limit Achilles’ suspension to only
three weeks. I’ve seen the draft.
He’s saying it’s because the young man
Achilles beat didn’t file formal
charges, and Achilles has agreed to
alcohol and anger counseling.
 13.

BILLY
I still can’t figure that one out. A
kid gets the shit kicked out of him in
front of 100 of his friends and he
doesn’t press charges.

CHARLOTTE
It’s not too difficult if you
understand Greek culture on a college
campus.
(off his puzzlement)
The young man belongs to the Sigma Rho
fraternity; the young woman to the
Delta Tau Chi sorority. They’re
Brother-Sister houses that also happen
to be the most prominent on campus.
They’d never overcome the disgrace of
being “responsible” for Achilles
missing an entire season.

BILLY
And people think jocks are dumb.

CHARLOTTE
Be that as it may, the young man has
literally taken one on the chin for the
program. He’ll probably be revered as
a hero by future Sigmas.

BILLY
(making light)
I’ll have Donna send the kid season
tickets for next year.

CHARLOTTE
That’s not even remotely funny, Billy.

A KNOCK on the door and they turn just as Charlotte’s

secretary, Deborah Thrower, steps in.

CHARLOTTE
Yes, Deborah?

DEBORAH
Ms. Woods is here for your lunch date,
Doctor.

Billy reacts to “Ms. Woods.”

 14.

CHARLOTTE
(brightens)
She’s a bit early, isn’t she?

DEBORAH
Yes. Shall I have her wait outside?

CHARLOTTE
No, of course not. Please show her in.

Charlotte stands. Billy stands too, covering his anxiety.

BILLY
Charlotte, I didn’t know you were
having lunch today with Gab –

The door opens and MARTINIQUE “MARTIE” WOODS (50), a

statuesque, very attractive black woman, comes in, smiles
broadly at Charlotte. They share a warm embrace.

CHARLOTTE
Martie, how are you?

MARTIE
I’m good. But how are you, Char? You
look great!

CHARLOTTE
I’m feeling very good these days.

Martie looks at Billy. Charlotte turns to introduce him.

CHARLOTTE
This is our head football coach –

MARTIE
(interrupts)
Yes, I know who you are. I’ve heard a
great deal about you, Coach Donahue. I
believe you know my daughter,
Gabrielle.

Billy and Charlotte react.

BILLY
Yes, I do. Hello, Ms. Woods. Pleasure
to meet you.

They shake hands and it’s clear the pleasure is not mutual.
 15.

CHARLOTTE
Well, Martie you’re right on time.
Coach Donahue and I were just finishing
a meeting. Let me just grab my purse
and we can be on our way.

As she goes to her desk for her purse –

BILLY
Well, enjoy lunch. I’ll catch up with
you after practice, Charlotte.

He nods a farewell to Martie, is about to go when –

MARTIE
Char, did you know Elle is moving back
to Seattle?

The news takes Charlotte by surprise but not Billy.

CHARLOTTE
Really? I didn’t know that.

MARTIE
(eyes on Billy)
I was surprised to hear it myself.
Said she’s leaving ESPN for an
executive producer job at a Seattle
station.

CHARLOTTE
She just started at ESPN a year ago.

MARTIE
Yes, I know.

BILLY
Well, I’d better let you two get going.
(another nod good-bye)
Martinique, Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE
Coach...we’ll talk later.

Billy exits.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE

 16.

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. PHARMACY - DAY

Mimi Garcia is at the pharmacist’s window waiting for a

prescription. Her youngest child is in a stroller,
preoccupied with a rubber squeaky toy.

PHARMACIST
Here you are, Mrs. Garcia. It’s two
drops in each ear every six hours.

MIMI
Thank you.

PHARMACIST
Oh, hello, Professor Johansson. I’ll
be right with you.

Elyse Johansson has come up behind Mimi. She’s holding her

5-year-old son Graham’s hand.

MIMI
Oh, hello.

ELYSE
(covers her anxiety)
Hello...Mrs. Garcia?

MIMI
(smiles)
Yes. You remembered. I’m so bad at
remembering names. We sat at the same
table at a sports banquet, right?

ELYSE
Yes, that’s right.

MIMI
I’m terrible with names but I never
forget a face. You’re married to a
professor at the university, right?

ELYSE
Yes, Greg Nelson. And your husband is
the football coach, right?
 17.

MIMI
(laughs)
A coach, not the coach. Bobby’s the
offensive coordinator. He calls the
plays on offensive.
(smiles down at Graham)
And who is this handsome devil?

Graham tries to disappear behind his mother.

ELYSE
This is Graham and he’s a little shy.

MIMI
Hello, Graham! I like your shoes. Are
those new?

The boy peeks out from behind his mother.

MIMI
I guess I should get going now. It was
nice seeing you again.

ELYSE
Same here.

They smile their good-byes. Mimi is pushing the stroller

away. Elyse steps up to the window.

MIMI
You know, I have a little guy at home
who’s just about Graham’s age. He’s
four. I bet they’d get along just
great. If you’d like, we can set a
play date.

ELYSE
(taken aback)
Oh...well, sure. That might be nice.
I mean, certainly, that would be
wonderful.

Mimi scribbles on a scrap of paper, gives it to Elyse.

MIMI
My cell and e-mail address. I’m sure I
can find yours in the faculty
directory. Let’s find a day next week,
okay?
 18.

EXT. MEMORIAL STADIUM (PRACTICE) – DAY

The SEA DEVILS practice in the rain. Billy paces the

sideline like Captain Bligh on the foredeck of the Bounty.

BILLY
(shouts)
Let’s go, Hughes! Use your head, son.
You’re going to see that blitz all
night in Boise, so you’d better learn
to read it now!

On the field, back-up quarterback Nate Hughes reacts to

Billy’s chewing out. The offense slinks to the huddle.

BOB
Alright, Hughes, run it again! The
right way this time!

Bob Garcia reviews his laminated PLAY SHEET.

BILLY
He’s not going to get it by Saturday,
Bob.

BOB
He just needs to find a rhythm, Coach –

BILLY
Forget it, Bob. He’s not Achilles.
Scrap the vertical game plan. Come up
with something else. Crash is the man
until Achilles is back in the saddle.

Bob reacts but Billy’s not interested in talking. Bob

watches him walk away then folds his play sheet.

INT. HOSMER COMPLEX – DAY

Players drag their wet, weary asses into the facility on

their way to the locker room. Coach Joe Mercer makes his
way down the corridor.

BILLY
Joe. I need a minute.

JOE
Sure thing, Coach.
 19.

INT. BILLY’S OFFICE – LATER

Billy comes in, followed by Joe. Billy gets right to

business.

BILLY
Joe, we’re giving up 45 points a game.
You and me both know that’s
unsustainable. Even when Achilles is
back we can’t expect to score 50 points
every week.

JOE
I know, Coach. But we’ve got a lot of
young guys, first time starters –

BILLY
We’re halfway through the season. None
of them are young anymore, Joe. And
half of them were starters last year.

JOE
Coach, the defensive staff is doing
everything we can – simpler schemes,
personnel adjustments – you name it
we’ve tried it. You know that.

BILLY
I know it hasn’t been good enough, Joe.

Beat.

JOE
What are you telling me, Billy?

BILLY
I believe in you, Joe. I believe in
your staff. But you need to show me
something against Boise State.

INT. BOB GARCIA’S OFFICE – SUNSET

Bob is in his tiny office reworking the game plan. His

cell phone RINGS. He recognizes the TONE. Answers.

BOB
Hi, babe.
 20.

INT. GARCIA FAMILY ROOM - SUNSET

MIMI
Hi, Bobby. What do you think?

INTERCUT BOB/MIMI

BOB
Billy wants a whole new game plan.

MIMI
But it’s Wednesday. There’s no time
for that, is there?

BOB
He wants it, so there’s time for it.

MIMI
But, Bobby! Donnie’s got another ear
infection. I haven’t slept in two
nights.

BOB
I’m sorry, Mimi, what do want me to do?

MIMI
It’s not fair, Bobby! Billy’s an
offensive coach too, why do you have to
do it all yourself?!

BOB
It’s my job, babe. If I can’t do it
he’ll find somebody who can.
(then, tersely)
Frankly you’re not making it any easier
by throwing tantrums every night I have
to work late.

MIMI
You think you’re the only one who has
to work late? Try staying up all night
with a sick child and having to deal
with two others all day!

BOB
Mimi, I don’t have a choice.

MIMI
Neither do I, Bob.

She hangs up.

 21.

INT. GARCIA HOME – SUNSET

Mimi stares at the phone, tries not to burst into tears.

INT. ACHILLES’ & PORTIA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Achilles stands at the window, looking out, lost in

thought. Portia is on the sofa, finishing up something on
her laptop. She saves her work and closes the computer.

PORTIA
Lee, I’m going to go to bed now...
I said I’m going to bed now, Lee.

He doesn’t turn around.

ACHILLES
Okay. I’ll be there in a few minutes.

She sets aside the computer and goes to him. She caresses
the back of his arm and shoulder.

PORTIA
Do you want to talk about anything?

ACHILLES
I’ve done enough talking for one day.

PORTIA
Okay.
(beat)
Lee...Mrs. Donahue thinks the ads were
tastefully done.

He reacts, finally shifting his focus from outside to her.

ACHILLES
I never said they weren’t tasteful.

PORTIA
You didn’t have to say it, Lee, it was
written all over your face when you saw
the ads on the website.

ACHILLES
You’re naked, Portia!

PORTIA
I’m not naked, Lee. It’s like wearing
a swimsuit.
 22.

ACHILLES
People know you’re not wearing a
swimsuit. They know you’re naked.

PORTIA
People know I’m naked underneath my
clothes too, but I’m decent. Just like
I’m decent in the ads.

ACHILLES
You didn’t talk to me about it, Portia!
You just did it! On your own!

PORTIA
I did it for you, Lee, because you
deserve to win the Heisman. And no
matter how well you play nobody’s going
to know about it because you play in a
second-rate conference and we’re
practically in Canada!

ACHILLES
(anger rising)
Oh, I get it. So if you show your tits
on a billboard, people will notice me?
Is that what you were thinking, Portia?

PORTIA
(anger rising)
Is that why you bashed that boy’s face
in Lee, because you were upset about me
showing my tits? Or maybe it was
because you had a taste for Korean that
night and he was in your way?

She glowers at him for a beat then goes to the bedroom. At

the door, she turns –

PORTIA
You can sleep on the couch tonight.

She closes the door. We HOLD on the door...

INT. HOTEL SUITE – NIGHT

A DOOR opens and CURTIS (39) smiles broadly.

CURTIS
(lasciviously)
Hello.
 23.

He opens the door wider, steps aside. REVERSE and we see

who he’s greeting. Bella comes inside, dressed in a sexy
black number and high heels. The suite has a great view of
Seattle’s skyline. It’s the kind of room reserved by very
successful businessmen, which Curtis is.

CURTIS
Can I offer you something to drink?

BELLA
Stoli-rocks, twist of lime.

He goes to the fully stocked bar, makes her drink and

freshens his Scotch. He meets her in the middle of the
suite with her drink.

BELLA
Thanks.

She takes a sip, eyes him provocatively.

CURTIS
Leslie told me you were beautiful, but
I had no idea.

BELLA
Thank you.

CURTIS
She didn’t tell me your name.

BELLA
Frida.

CURTIS
Pleased to meet you, Frida. I’m Cu—

BELLA
(interrupts, sultry smile)
You look like a Bill. Can I call you
Bill?

CURTIS
Alright. Pleased to meet you, Frida.
I’m...Bill.

BELLA
So, Bill, would you like me to stay all
night?
 24.

CURTIS
Can you?

She puts her drink on the coffee table, moves to him,

speaks close to his lips.

BELLA
I can do anything you like...Bill.

INT. MOTEL ROOM - NIGHT

A KNOCK on the door. Elyse opens it to Bob. He comes in

and kisses her eagerly. But something’s not right.

BOB
Baby, what is it?

ELYSE
I talked to Mimi today.

BOB
(disbelieving)
You what?

ELYSE
At the pharmacy. I ran into her at the
pharmacy and we talked.

BOB
Wow. Talk about a weird coincidence.

Past the shock, he takes her in his arms again.

ELYSE
Bobby, we have a play date.

BOB
What?! How –

ELYSE
I don’t know how! One minute we were
talking and the next she was saying how
her son was the same age as my son and
how she was sure they’d get along...

BOB
Slow down, wait a minute. You made a
play date for your boy and my Donnie?
 25.

ELYSE
Next week.
(off his reaction)
Bobby, what are we doing? How did we
get here?

BOB
What are you talking about, Elyse?

ELYSE
Are you that unhappy with Mimi?
Really? She seems so sweet...

BOB
Whoa, Elyse! Hold on, just calm down,
alright? I understand it was
uncomfortable meeting her. But don’t
think about doing anything rash.

ELYSE
Like being an adulteress? Bobby, it’s
bad enough I’m cheating on Greg, but I
can’t become friends with Mimi. I
can’t sit across from her and have tea
while our kids play in the next room,
then come to a place like this and be
with you...like this. I’m an Ethics
professor for Christ’s sake!

He takes her face in his hands, calms her with tender words
and kisses. She responds and they kiss passionately.

MOTEL ROOM – LATER

Bob and Elyse have bed-shaking sex...

MOTEL ROOM – LATER

Bob comes out of the bathroom fully dressed. Elyse is

still naked, wrapped in the sheets. She’s subdued.

BOB
I have to get back and finish the game
plan. Billy wants it by nine tomorrow.

ELYSE
Bobby, what’s the game plan for us?
 26.

BOB
Come on Elyse, don’t start. I’m
feeling a shit load of pressure at work
right now, Mimi’s like a she-wolf
breathing down my neck every time I
turn around...

He sits on the bed, strokes her cheek.

BOB
Elyse, baby, I need you. I need this.
I need us. Looking forward to being
with you, it’s what keeps me going
every day. Without us...wow, I just
don’t know if I could cope.

ELYSE
Is that all I am to you, an escape, a
way to blow off steam in your busy day?

BOB
No! No, baby. That’s not what I meant
at all.

She glances around the drab motel room.

ELYSE
This is starting to feel tawdry, Bobby.
I don’t want to feel this way after we
make love.

INT. HOTEL SUITE – DAWN

Curtis is sound asleep in bed. Bella, dressed and ready to

leave, comes out of the bathroom. On the dresser is a thin
stack of new $100 BILLS. She picks them up, counts 10,
folds them and puts them in her clutch purse. She checks
her makeup in the mirror and exits. We hear the door of
the suite CLOSE behind her.

INT. CLASSROOM 101 – DAY

Bella and Jeni file into class with other students. As

they make their way to their seats –

JENI
You missed a great concert, Bella. It
was totally amped.
 27.

BELLA
I’m sure it was. Sorry I couldn’t be
there with you.

JENI
It’ll be at least a year before those
bands make it back to Seattle. I hope
whoever you whored it up for last night
was worth it.

BELLA
(blandly)
Ha, ha. Funny.
(then)
Maybe they’ll come to Vancouver sooner
than next year. We can see them there.
My treat.

Elyse comes in and takes her position at the head of the

classroom.

ELYSE
Alright, everybody. Let’s take our
seats so we can get started. We’ve got
a lot of material to cover this
morning.

INT. CLASSROOM 102 – DAY

Professor Greg Nelson is droning on at the front of the

class, reciting from rote a lecture that he’s delivered
over 1,000 times.

PROF. NELSON
...And upon the signing of the Magna
Carta, the land owners of Europe were,
in effect, for the first time bound by
laws. Laws which limited the power of
the nobility and at the same time
strengthened their hold on the lands of
Europe...

In the back row, tight end Junior Tuiososopo begins to

SNORE. He gets an elbow in the side from cornerback Shawn
Ellis, but it’s too late. Nelson stops talking. He stares
at Junior. There’s a long silence. A few stifled chuckles
cross the room.
 28.

PROF. NELSON
Sorry to disturb you, Mr. Tuiososopo.
If you like, we can work the class
schedule so as not to conflict with
your nocturnal activities.

OFF laughter and Junior’s embarrassment...

INT. CORRIDOR – LATER

Students file out of Nelson’s classroom. Gracie comes out

and waits. When Junior comes out, he sees her and smiles.

JUNIOR
Hi, Gracie.

GRACIE
Hi, Junior. Can we talk?

EXT. BEHIND WYNDHAM HALL – LATER

Gracie and Junior have a tete-a-tete.

GRACIE
I think you’re a really nice guy,
Junior. But I’m just not that into
you. I don’t want you to waste time on
me if there’s someone else out there
for you. You know?

JUNIOR
(disappointed)
Yeah, I suppose. So does this mean
you’re going to hook up with Jet?

OFF Gracie...

INT. STUDENT UNION – DAY

Gracie and Jet are at a table having a snack.

GRACIE
You’re a lot of fun, you’re good-
looking and you’re really sexy. But
I’m just not that into you, Jet. I’m
sorry. I thought I should tell you
before we get too involved. You
understand, don’t you?
 29.

Jet tries to play it off, but the news is a surprise.

JET
Sweetness, I thought we had this vibe
goin’. Are you sure?

GRACIE
I’m sure, Jet. I know guys hate to
hear this, but...I really hope we can
still be friends.

INT. HOSMER COMPLEX – DAY

In a shadowed alcove we FIND Gracie and receiver Greg

Ericsson in a long, deep kiss. When they stop –

GREG
So you’ll come by the apartment around
eight?

GRACIE
Mmmm-hmmm. I’ll bring something for us
to eat.

GREG
I already know what I’m having, baby.

OFF them kissing again...

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO

 30.

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. DALLAS & CAT’S APARTMENT – DAY

Cara “Cat” Trzcinski comes in to find Dallas Morales

talking with their landlady (and her stepmother) Gloria
Trzcinski. Cat is not happy to see their visitor. She’s
even less happy to see Dallas handing Gloria a CHECK.

DALLAS
(nervous)
Hey, Red.

GLORIA
(smiles)
Hi, Cara.

CAT
Dallas, what are you doing? You’re not
paying the rent are you?

DALLAS
Um, well...

CAT
I told you we aren’t paying the rent
until she fixes the leaky faucets in
the bathroom.

DALLAS
Yeah, well, I took care of those this
morning, Red.

CAT
What?! Dallas, it’s her responsibility
to handle maintenance of the apartment.
Not ours.

DALLAS
Red, come on, it took me 20 minutes –

CAT
I don’t care, Dallas. It says in the
lease that the landlord is responsible
for all repairs that we don’t cause.

GLORIA
How about this, dear? I’ll reimburse
Dallas for the materials and his time.
 31.

DALLAS
Yeah, Red, that’s fair.

Cat glares at him for a beat then goes into the kitchen.
Dallas and Gloria exchange a look. She goes after Cat.

IN THE KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS

Cat is looking for something in the fridge when Gloria

enters.

GLORIA
Cara, we all know this isn’t about
leaky faucets...

Cat ignores her, pulls a bottle of GATORADE from the fridge

and takes a drink. Beat.

GLORIA
Don’t you think we should at least try
to get along? For your dad’s sake? It
really hurts him, you not talking to
him.
(Cat takes another drink)
How long are you going to keep this up?

CAT
How long are you going to be married?

Gloria’s had enough.

GLORIA
That’s very mature, Cara. Very mature.
How would you feel if your father
stopped talking to you because you
moved in with Dallas?

CAT
I’d thank my lucky stars.

GLORIA
You know, it doesn’t have to be like
this. Your brothers accept that your
father and I are happy together.

CAT
My brothers are morons.

GLORIA
Help me understand, Cara. Why do you
hate me so?
 32.

CAT
I don’t hate you, “Mrs. Pensky.” It’s
the lying asshole you married I hate.

GLORIA
You’re not being fair, Cara. What
happened between your father and me in
high school – that was over 35 years
ago. And your mother won back then.

Cat’s laugh is filled with vitriol.

CAT
What did she win: a liar who spent
their entire marriage – no their entire
relationship - in love with another
woman? Some prize.

GLORIA
Cara, Eddie – Ed – was never unfaithful
to Ruthie after they were married.

Hearing Gloria speak her mother’s name is too much for Cat.
She starts to leave in a huff. Gloria grabs her arm to
stop her.

CAT
Let go of me!

They lock eyes. Gloria reads the hurt in Cat’s eyes and
releases her grip. Cat continues out of the kitchen.

THE LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Dallas is standing pretty much where Cat left him.

DALLAS
Red...

CAT
Would you please see Mrs. Pensky out,
Dallas.

Gloria comes out of the kitchen. She exchanges a look with

Dallas and nods “No luck”.

DALLAS
Cara, come on...

Cat’s eyes tell him that no attempt at peacemaking is going

to work. She walks into their bedroom and closes the door.
 33.

DALLAS
I’m sorry, Mrs. Trzcinski. You know
how stubborn she can be.

GLORIA
It’s alright, Dallas. Well, thank you
for the rent.

Gloria looks at the bedroom door for a beat, then Dallas

lets her out of the apartment. When he goes to the
bedroom, he finds the door is locked. He’s about to knock
but thinks better of it...

INT. CHARLOTTE WEBB’S OUTER OFFICE/OFFICE - DAY

Deborah is at a file cabinet when Billy comes in.

DEBORAH
Hello, Coach. Go right in, she’s
expecting you.

BILLY
Thanks, Deborah.

He knocks and walks into Charlotte’s office.

BILLY
You wanted to meet?

Charlotte, at her desk, looks up over reading glasses.

CHARLOTTE
Yes. Come on in, Billy.

She joins him standing at the coffee table.

CHARLOTTE
As I’m sure you can imagine, lunch with
Martie was quite “interesting.”

BILLY
Look Charlotte, if this is a “Billy
let’s talk about your morals” meeting,
then you’ve just freed up another hour
in your busy schedule.

CHARLOTTE
Billy, I’m not talking to you as your
boss the athletic director, I’m talking
(MORE)
 34.

CHARLOTTE (CONT’D.)
to you as a friend who cares deeply
about everybody involved – you,
Gabrielle...Gale.

BILLY
Charlotte, I appreciate the concern, I
really do. But this is something I
never want to get into here, in your
office or anywhere else on campus.
It’s strictly personal. And we’ve got
it under control.

CHARLOTTE
Is that so? So my goddaughter, a
rising television personality, is
leaving a high profile job she’s wanted
since she graduated college to be
closer to a married man, who also
happens to be a public figure and is
married to a former Miss America –
that’s what having it under control
looks like?

BILLY
Okay, Charlotte, let’s just have this
conversation once and be done with it.
You know that Gale and I have had
serious problems in our marriage.
We’ve dealt with them and we’ve managed
to stay together. But that doesn’t
mean we’re happy. Or ever will be
again.

CHARLOTTE
Then do something about it, Billy.
It’s not my place to tell you how –
divorce, separation, whatever – but
surely you know what you and Gabrielle
are doing can only end one way: very,
very badly. Nobody’s going to win here
Billy unless somebody makes a decision.

BILLY
A decision has been made, Charlotte.
Gabrielle and I are going to see each
other and Gale is just going to have to
deal with it.
 35.

INT. GALE’S OFFICE – DAY

Gale is working at her desk. Duncan plays in a play pen

nearby. The phone RINGS. She answers.

GALE
Gale Donahue.

MS. SYMINGTON (V.O.)

Hello, Mrs. Donahue. This is Florence
Symington of Pennebaker Industries.

GALE
Hello, Ms. Symington. How can I help
you?

MS. SYMINGTON (V.O.)

Mrs. Donahue, I’m executive vice
president for Corporate Governance and
Compliance at Pennebaker Industries,
and I’ve been instructed by our board
of directors to extend an invitation to
you to participate in our next board
meeting. It’s Tuesday, November 15th.

Gale is intrigued, but wary.

GALE
Well, I’m honored. Do you mind if I
ask why?

MS. SYMINGTON (V.O.)

Certainly. Mrs. Donahue, we would like
you to consider becoming a member of
the Pennebaker board of directors.

INT. CHARTER JET – IN FLIGHT – DAY

The Sea Devils are flying to Boise, Idaho. Gale and Billy
sit at the front of the plane.

BILLY
It’s not a good idea, Gale.

GALE
I don’t know if I agree, honey.
 36.

BILLY
Look, Gale, you’re Duncan’s guardian.
He’ll inherit Harold’s fortune one day.
This has got to be some scheme by his
corporate goons to get control of
Duncan’s share in Harold’s empire.

GALE
But Billy, that’s exactly why I should
join the board. If I’m close to the
business, I can protect Duncan’s
interests.

BILLY
Gale, these corporate types are all Phi
Beta Assholes. You’ll be out of your
element and vulnerable.

GALE
You don’t think I’m capable of handling
myself in around corporate types?

BILLY
That’s not what I’m saying at all.
You’re fully capable of handling
yourself – and everybody else – in
whatever setting you’re in. But these
people spend every day, all day
stabbing people in the back. I just
don’t want to see you in a situation
where you – or Duncan – get hurt.

GALE
Thank you, honey. But I can’t just
watch from the sideline anymore. I
have to get in there, bump heads if
that’s what it takes. Protecting my
baby’s interests is what’s most
important to me now.
(Billy reacts to ‘my baby’)
If I think the offer is legitimate, I’m
going to join Harold’s board.

INT. VISITOR’S LOCKER ROOM – NIGHT

The Sea Devils are waiting to leave the locker room. Nate
Hughes studies his wristband, which has a miniature,
laminated play sheet on it. He looks up at Bob Garcia
standing in front of him.
 37.

BOB
They’ll come with the blitz early to
rattle you. Trust the game plan,
follow your instincts and don’t try to
force anything. A sack is almost
always better than an interception.

CRASH (O.S.)
Unless you’re the one getting sacked.

Nate and Bob look over at a grinning Crash Davis, who is

sitting a couple of lockers away. The humor relaxes Nate.
Bob smiles, slaps Nate on the shoulder pad and walks away,
slaps Crash’s pad too as he goes.

JOE
You can’t ease up. You’ve got to bring
the pressure. Nonstop. All night.

Joe Mercer is face to face with Dallas.

DALLAS
I got it, Coach. We’ll bring it.

Billy strides in and takes the center of the room. Players

and coaches gather round.

BILLY
Okay, here we are again. We’ve put a
hurting on these guys two years in a
row, so they’ve got a serious bone to
pick tonight. And they’re feeling
pretty confident that this is their
chance for some payback on their own
turf. They think – everybody thinks –
this team is a one man show and that
man is at home admiring his wife’s
billboards. They think our best
defensive players are playing with the
Denver Broncos or testifying in a
courtroom. But what they think doesn’t
matter. It’s what you think that does.
You’re here. You’re defending
conference champions. And nobody’s
going to take what’s yours without a
fight. Are they?
(players respond, “Hell no!”)
Now let’s go out there and kick some
Bronco ass.
 38.

EXT. BRONCO STADIUM - NIGHT

BAM! Kwame Epstein sacks the Boise State QUARTERBACK.

ANGLE ON a DOWN MARKER flipping to “4”.

SCOREBOARD – BSU 24, WTU 17, 2:18 left in the game

SKEETER (V.O.)
And it looks like the Sea Devils will
have one more shot at tying this one up
as the Broncos line up for the punt.

JOHN (V.O.)
This game has just been everything we
thought it would be, Skeeter: a hard-
hitting, take no prisoners slugfest
between two teams that love to hate
each other.

SKEETER (V.O.)
It’s been that alright. And for the
first time this season, the Devils
defense has stepped up in a big way,
holding the high-scoring Broncos to
just 24 points and scoring a touchdown
of their own. But it will be up to the
offense and backup quarterback Nate
Hughes to try and preserve the Sea
Devils shot at repeating as conference
champs.

Dallas takes position to receive the punt. The ball is

kicked high. Dallas catches it.

SKEETER (V.O.)
Morales cuts left, avoids a tackle,
that’s another miss...look out!
Morales at the 40...cuts back, there’s
a crease. Go! Go! It’s a foot race!
Go! At the 35, the 25...Yes! Yeah!
TOUCHDOWN SEA DEVILS!!!

Dallas is mobbed by teammates in the end zone.

INT. HELO’S PUB – NIGHT

ON A TELEVISION SCREEN the REPLAY of Dallas’ sensational

punt return. Cat and Gracie whoop it up with the LOCALS.
 39.

EXT. BRONCO STADIUM – NIGHT

Kicker Vince Leong kicks the extra point.

JOHN (V.O.)
We’re all tied up with two minutes to
play in regulation. The way the Devils
defense has played tonight, I’d say
we’re right where we want to be, don’t
you think, Skeeter?

SKEETER (V.O.)
You got that right. The front seven
has stuffed the Broncos running game
and Dallas Morales and that Sea Devils
secondary have been stuck on Boise
State’s receivers like glue all night.

ON THE FIELD

The Bronco quarterback drops back to pass and is harassed

into throwing an incompletion. Next he hands off to a
RUNNING BACK who darts through the line and rushes for a
first down. The quarterback calls a timeout.

ON THE SIDELINE

Dallas and linebacker Nate Brewster talk to Joe Mercer;

Billy lingers nearby, listening.

JOE
Now look, they’re going to use the
middle of the field – short and
intermediate passes, draw plays, things
like that – to get into field goal
range.
(the players nod, understanding)
They’ve got plenty of time so we need
to keep the pressure coming up front,
try to take away field position or
force a turnover. But I don’t want any
blown coverage in the secondary, got
it?

BREWSTER
Okay, Coach. I think we can get to the
Q.B. if we come from the outside.
 40.

DALLAS
Yeah, Coach. Kwame’s been in his face
all night up front, so he won’t expect
something from the outside.

JOE
Alright, here’s what I want to do...

ON THE FIELD

The Broncos move the ball as Joe predicted, dinking and

dunking short passes and with delayed handoffs. On third
down and five, the quarterback stands in the shotgun, takes
the snap and looks for a receiver. Shawn Ellis blitzes
from the outside, comes in untouched and HAMMERS the
quarterback to the turf.

JOHN (V.O.)
And they sack him!

SKEETER (V.O.)
Oh, Momma! Ellis laid the hammer down
on that one! And as the clock ticks
down, the Broncos are going to try for
a long field goal to win it in
regulation.

ANGLE ON the KICKER from between the goal posts as he lines

up for the field goal attempt.

JOHN (V.O.)
This will be about a 46-yard attempt.
His longest of the season is 52 yards.
Here we go. He hits it – and it’s
BLOCKED!

ON THE SIDELINE

Joe jumps up and down and pumps his fists, his big belly
shaking like Jell-O.

INT. HELO’S PUB – NIGHT

ON THE TELEVISION a REPLAY of Kwame lunging out and

deflecting the kick. Locals in the pub celebrate wildly.

SKEETER (V.O.)
And we’re going to overtime!!
 41.

EXT. BRONCO STADIUM – NIGHT

Nate Hughes stands next to Billy, intently studies his

wristband play sheet.

BILLY
(casually)
Hughes, now’s your chance to do
something Addams has never done, not in
high school or here at Wa Tech: win in
overtime.

JOHN (V.O.)
Overtime in college football is
different than in the NFL. There is no
clock. There is no “sudden death.”
Each team gets four shots from their
opponent’s 25-yard-line to score either
a touchdown or a field goal. The other
team then has four downs to score. If
they tie with a touchdown or a field
goal, we do it all over again. If they
don’t it’s over.

ON THE FIELD

The Bronco quarterback hands off to his running back, who

plows up the gut for a short gain. Then he passes to his
TIGHT END, who catches the ball and is tackled hard by
Dallas at the 10-yard-line. Next he fakes a handoff and
gets NAILED by Kwame for a six-yard sack.

The Broncos kicker comes out. Kicks a field goal.

Hughes brings the Sea Devils onto the field.

IN THE HUDDLE

HUGHES
Alright, here we go. Pro set, flex
left, Smoke 33 on two. Ready –

TEAM
Break!

ON THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE

Lots of player CHATTER across the line as Hughes reads the

defense.
 42.

HUGHES
Blue 77! Blue 77. Hut-hut!

On the snap of the ball, Hughes pitches out to Crash who

gets a block from Ronnie Taylor, cuts up field and gains
eight yards before being tackled.

The Sea Devils take their time coming back to the huddle.
Hughes gets the play from the sideline, checks it against
his wristband play sheet.

HUGHES
Ace set, strong right, Arizona 90. On
one. Ready –

TEAM
Break!

SKEETER (V.O.)
I’ve got to think it’s going to be
Crash left, Crash right, Crash up the
gut until he punches it in.

JOHN (V.O.)
Yeah, but remember, a field goal just
sends them into a second overtime.
They need a touchdown to end it.

HUGHES
Set! Black 380! Hut!

Crash takes the handoff and the Broncos defense blows

through the line, tackling him for a four-yard loss.

INT. COACHES’ BOOTH – NIGHT

Devils’ ASSISTANT COACHES react, including Bob. “Fu--!”

But he quickly looks to his PLAY BOOK for another play.

BOB
(into headset)
Right Deuce, 30 Tomcat. Tell Hughes to
key off the weak side backer. He’ll be
coming on the delayed blitz.

JOHN (V.O.)
This is a huge play for the Devils.
Third and a long four. You know Billy
Donahue wants to keep the drive alive
and score the touchdown to win it.
 43.

EXT. BRONCO STADIUM – NIGHT

Hughes follows the offense to the line of scrimmage. He

leans over, reads the eyes of the WEAK SIDE LINEBACKER.
Yep, he’s going to blitz.

HUGHES
Black 378! – Check-check!

SKEETER (V.O.)
Looks like Hughes is changing the play
at the line...

HUGHES
Two-by-four! Two-by-four! Razor 90!
Razor 90! Set!

He takes the snap, fakes a handoff to Crash, who is

hammered at the line of scrimmage by the blitzing weak side
linebacker. Hughes drops back and fires a smoking hot
rifle shot to Greg, who catches it over the middle and
darts into the end zone...

SKEETER (V.O.)
TOUCHDOWN! And the Sea Devils win it
in overtime! WHOOOO-AHHHH!!!

Hughes thrusts his arms in the air triumphantly. Warren

“iPhone” Sitren picks him up in a bear hug and their
teammates join in the celebration.

ON THE SIDELINE

Billy slips off his headset and shakes hands with players
and coaches, slaps Dallas on the shoulder pads.

INT. COACHES’ BOOTH – NIGHT

Bob and the other assistant coaches throw papers in the air
and slap one another on the back.

INT. ACHILLES’ & PORTIA’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Achilles is on his feet in front of the television, pumping

his fists, “Whooo-Ahhh!” Portia smiles from the sofa.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE

 44.

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. HONDA MINIVAN - NIGHT

Mimi is on her cell phone.

MIMI
Alright, then what time do you think
you’ll be home.

BOB (V.O.)
Late. Not before 11.

MIMI
But, Bob, I don’t understand why you’re
working so late. It’s a bye week. It
doesn’t make sense.

BOB (V.O.)
Mimi, we’ve been through this. I had
to revamp the game plan for Hughes
before Boise State. With Achilles
coming back for number one Ohio State
next Saturday – Oh, Mimi, you know how
it goes! There’s just not going to be
any time during the week. I’ve got to
get a head start.

MIMI
Fine, Bob. I won’t wait up.

She clicks off. And waits. Finally, she looks through the
windshield at Bob exiting the main building of the Hosmer
Complex. Mimi’s in the Hoz parking lot. Bob goes to his
truck, starts it up and pulls off. Mimi starts the minivan
engine and follows.

INT. GREG’S APARTMENT (BEDROOM) – NIGHT

Greg and Gracie have hot sex until they climax.

LIVING ROOM – LATER

Gracie comes out of the bathroom dressed to leave. Greg

meets her in the middle of the room, takes her in his arms.

GREG
I wish you could stay all night.
 45.

GRACIE
I do too, but Mrs. D is dead serious
about me being in the house by 10:30.

GREG
Does she know about us?

GRACIE
No, I haven’t told her yet.

GREG
Why not? You think she and Coach will
have a problem with you and me?

GRACIE
Of course not. They’re not like that.
Besides, even if they were, they’re not
my real parents. It wouldn’t matter
what they thought about who I date.

GREG
Is it because of the situation with you
and Lil’ J.R.?

GRACIE
Please don’t call him that, Greg. And
no, it’s got nothing to do with him.

GREG
Are you sure? You and Lil – you and
J.R. had it going on for a while there.
Now you’re sleeping one room apart.

GRACIE
Our rooms are practically on opposite
sides of the house. And me not telling
the Donahues about you and me has
nothing to do with the fact that I used
to date their son. That’s ancient
history. We’re more like step-brother
and sister now.

GREG
(skeptical)
Yeah, right.

GRACIE
(loops arms around his neck)
Yeah...right.

OFF their kiss...

 46.

EXT. VANCOUVER – NIGHT

To establish.

EXT./INT. HOTEL LOBBY – NIGHT

Bella gets out of a taxi. She’s smokin’ hot in a short red

dress and Fuck Me Pumps. She enters the elegant lobby,
crosses to the elevators, steps inside one.

INT. ELEVATOR

As the elevator goes up, Bella checks her makeup in a

compact. The door opens and a ROOM SERVICE STAFFER pushes
a dinner table on. She returns his polite smile. The
elevator stops on the ninth floor and she gets off. The
staffer checks her out before the doors close. “Nice!”

INT. HOTEL CORRIDOR – NIGHT

Bella stops at Room “902”. She pauses before KNOCKING.

When the door opens she is taken aback.

REVERSE to show Chancellor Champ Sussman. He smiles.

Bella recovers, smiles back invitingly.

CHAMP
You’re Greta?

BELLA
(German accent)
Yah.

CHAMP
Please, come in.

She does and we HOLD on the door after it closes...

INT. HONDA MINIVAN/EXT. MOTEL PARKING LOT – NIGHT

ANGLE ON a motel room door. As seen from Mimi’s POV

through the windshield. WIDER ANGLE and we see Bob’s truck
parked outside.

Mimi wipes tears from her face and eyes. She’s consumed
with hurt and anger. Unable to take anymore, she opens the
 47.

door of the minivan and hurries across the parking lot to

the door.

INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Elyse is astride Bob in bed, riding him slowly, enticingly,

both of them nearing climax. Suddenly - BANG! BANG! BANG!

Elyse and Bob nearly jump out of their skin at the pounding
on the door. She rolls off of him, he bolts upright.

BOB
What the -?!

MIMI (O.S.)
(shouting)
I know you’re in there, Bob! Open up!
Open up!!

Elyse is mortified. She scrambles to get dressed. Bob is

frozen with panic.

ELYSE
Oh my god! Oh my god! Bobby?!

MIMI (O.S.)
I’m not going anywhere until you open
this door, Bob!

INT. HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

Champ is sitting up in bed, admiring Bella, who is seated

across the room, slipping on her high heels to go.

CHAMP
There’s an envelope for you in the top
drawer there.

She gives him a small smile and goes to the dresser, opens
the drawer and takes out the envelope.

CHAMP
I have to say, you’re worth every bit
of it, Greta.

She turns to him, smiles.

 48.

BELLA
(German accent)
Thank you, Bill.

Then, a look of puzzlement on his face.

CHAMP
I get the feeling we’ve met before.
Not like this, of course, but
somewhere.

She goes to the bed, leans close and kisses him, runs a
manicured fingernail along his cheek to his lips.

BELLA
(German accent)
I don’t believe so. I would have
remembered.

CHAMP
Well, the next time I’m in town we’ll
have to make some more memories. What
do you say?

BELLA
(German accent)
Yah, I’d like that, Bill.

EXT./INT. MOTEL ROOM – NIGHT

BANG! BANG! BANG! Mimi has practically dented the door.

MIMI
Goddamn you, Bob Garcia! Open this
goddamn door right now!

A hotel MANAGER is behind Mimi, trying to calm her down.

MANAGER
Please, Miss, I don’t want to have to
call the police. Please.

MIMI
You hear that, Bobby Garcia, he’s going
to call the police if you don’t open
this door! Can you see the headlines?
Wa Tech offensive coach Bob Garcia
arrested for whore mongering!
 49.

The door opens. Mimi glares at Bob for a beat then barges
into the room.

MIMI
Where the hell is she?!

BOB
Mimi, honey, let’s try to talk about
this without causing anymore –

MIMI
(looking around)
Where’s is your whore, Bob?!
(to the room)
Come out come out, wherever you are!

Mimi sets her sights on the bathroom. Goes to it.

BOB
Mimi, stop. Let’s go outside and talk.

Mimi BANGS on the door. Bob puts a hand on her shoulder

but she flings it away.

MIMI
(to bathroom)
Stop hiding in there you little slut!
You can screw my husband but you can’t
look me in the eye!

We hear the door UNLOCK. The doorknob turns slowly. ANGLE

ON Mimi’s face as she sees Elyse. Mimi’s face falls like a
ton of bricks. The air seems to rush out of her lungs.
Her heart stops beating. She’s suddenly queasy.

ELYSE
...Mimi...I’m so s –

WHACK! Mimi SLAPS the ever loving
she turns and SLUGS Bob. In a fit
LAMP and SMASHES Bob with it. The
intervene but she shoves him away,
FLINGS it at Bob. Misses.
shit out of Elyse. Then
of rage, she grabs a
motel manager tries to
finds another lamp,

BOB
Mimi, please...

Screaming, Mimi charges Bob and jams him into the wall.
She grabs a TELEPHONE, rips it out of the wall and BASHES
his face with it. Elyse frets in the bathroom doorway.
The manager is on his cell phone, calling the police.
 50.

Mimi finally backs off. Breathing heavily, she glowers at

Bob then at Elyse.

MIMI
You want each other. You can have each
other. You’ll hear from my lawyer
tomorrow, Bob.

She turns and exits. Bob and Elyse exchange a look of

humiliation.

INT. DR. RUBENSTEIN’S OFFICE – DAY

Michelle sits across from Mattie, who is sips her hot tea.
When she’s done –

MATTIE
I’ve made up my mind, Michelle. I’m
going though with the wedding.

MICHELLE
I can’t say I support that decision,
Mattie. Frankly, in my professional
opinion, you’re setting yourself – and
Darryl – up for failure.

MATTIE
Oh, but I’ve told Darryl about Lilly,
Natalie and Jezebel.

MICHELLE
(surprised)
You have? And how did he react?

OFF Mattie we...

FLASHBACK – INT. DARRYL’S OFFICE – NIGHT

Mattie puts a DVD on the desk in front of Darryl. The

cover reads: “Blacks on Blondes.” Darryl looks up at her,
at a loss.

MATTIE
Gale told me.

DARRYL
Mrs. Donahue?! B-But how –
 51.

MATTIE
She’s resourceful when she wants to be.

DARRYL
Mattie...I don’t know what to say.

MATTIE
How about why?

DARRYL
...My business was struggling, I needed
a quick infusion of cash to extend my
credit line. A guy I knew –

MATTIE
I don’t mean why you did it, Darryl. I
mean why didn’t you tell me?

DARRYL
Are you seriously asking me that
question? Look at you: NYU, the
Sorbonne, foreign exchange scholar,
buttoned down, straight-laced –

MATTIE
(laughs)
I’m not straight, Darryl. Anything
but. I can’t decide whether I’m a
lesbian, bi- or what.
(beat)
Darryl, you know that I’ve lived in the
closet my entire life. You know I’m in
therapy for sexual addiction. You know
I had an affair when I was 19 with a
woman whose children I was supposed to
be caring for. I’ve told you almost
everything there is to know about me.
I could do that because I felt so close
to you. And I thought you felt the
same way about me.

DARRYL
It’s one thing to be gay or a lesbian.
(ref. DVD)
It’s something different to be in one
of those.

Beat.
 52.

MATTIE
Darryl. In the last month I’ve slept
with three women. None of them meant
anything to me.

DARRYL
I knew something was going on.
(off her reactions)
You just seemed...different.

MATTIE
(beat)
I’m only content when I’m with you,
Darryl. I know that now.

DARRYL
Content but not satisfied.

MATTIE
I’ve never been truly satisfied. Not
since Elizabeth. And that is a distant
memory. The closest I’ve been to that
feeling is the closeness I feel with
you, Darryl.

DARRYL
(beat, shrugs)
Aren’t we something? So now what?

MATTIE
I can’t promise that I won’t ever
desire another woman. But I love you,
Darryl. I love you with all my heart,
and I know I can make you happy.

OFF Darryl...

RETURN TO PRESENT - INT. THE CHUPPAH – DAY

Mattie is lovely. Darryl is handsome. Together they go

through the traditional Jewish wedding ceremony – Circling
one another, Breaking the Glass – with a few of the common,
modern twists. Gale, with Duncan in her arms, beams with
happiness for her “little sister.”

INT. YICHUD – DAY

Mattie and Darryl sit quietly together, alone, in the

traditional yichud. They share a smile and a cookie.
 53.

INT. RECEPTION – SUNSET

QUICK MONTAGE – LET’S GROOVE TONIGHT

Darryl and Mattie are wondrously happy; GUESTS celebrate

and get down to Earth Wind and Fire’s “Let’s Groove
Tonight”; Gale and Billy dance; Billy and Mattie Dance;
Gale and Darryl dance. Everybody dances...

END MONTAGE

J.R. and his girlfriend, the pretty and haughty Barbie

Pollack, sit at a table. She’s dying to get her groove on.
He’s sullen.

BARBIE
Johnny, stop being a downer. Come on,
let’s dance!

She drags him reluctantly to the dance floor. She gyrates

next to him; he tries to go with the flow. But he can’t
help looking at Gracie and Greg - dancing close and moving
fluidly the way passionate lovers do. J.R.’s jealousy is
easy to read.

INT. LOCKER ROOM – SUNSET

Achilles is alone in the locker room. He’s sitting in

front of his locker, reading Valerie’s good-bye NOTE on
Delta pink stationary.

VALERIE (V.O.)
Achilles, as I write this I’m touching
a certain number. Even if I didn’t
have it, I would never forget you or
how wonderful you made me feel. I hope
you won’t forget what we shared. To
help you remember, I leave this small
token of my lasting affection...

The note is signed: “Love, V.”

In his other hand, he holds the DIAMOND DELTA NECKLACE she

gave to him, symbol of her status as president of the most
prestigious and envied sorority on campus.

He puts the Delta pink note aside and slips the necklace
into another ADDRESSED ENVELOPE, seals it. Then he picks
up a ZIPPO LIGHTER, takes the good-bye note and sets fire
to it, drops it in a wastebasket and watches it burn.
 54.

EXT. MAIN STREET – SUNSET

Achilles rides into Maitland’s quaint downtown on his

motorcycle. He pulls into a parking space, gets off.

EXT. POST OFFICE – DAY

Achilles stands in front of a MAILBOX, staring at the

addressed envelope in his hand.

ECU – ENVELOPE

Mrs. Valerie O’Connell

1110 Westwood Way
Apt. 605
Los Angeles, Ca 90024

RETURN TO SCENE

Achilles opens the mailbox and drops the envelope inside.

EXT. MAIN STREET – SUNSET

LONG SHOT of Achilles walking toward us. Passersby smile

and say “Hello”; he responds in kind. He stops at a
NEWSPAPER KIOSK, looks at the paper displayed inside.

CLOSE ON the “Maitland Herald” in the display box. The

headline reads: “Devils Host #1 Buckeyes Next Saturday –
Addams to Play.”

NEW ANGLE of Achilles walking toward us again. Portia’s

“Trophy” billboard starts to come into focus over his
shoulder in b.g. When Achilles passes us and walks out of
frame, WIDEN SHOT and HOLD on Portia’s titillating image as
we...

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE