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GOAL TO GO

Episode 4.40

“Return”

by

David Polk
2.

RECAP

We Recap events from the Previous Season, ending on the


sounds of Achilles crashing his motorcycle into an SUV.

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. BAYVIEW ROAD – DAY

State Trooper Ivy Sandusky gets out of her cruiser, puts on


her hat and shoves into the crowd at the accident scene.

IVY
Please, make way. Make way. Move!

She gets through and stops. We don’t see what she does,
but anguish and concern are written on her stern face.

IVY
Oh my God. Achilles...

INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

About 30 9-year-old BLACK AFRICAN CHILDREN sit at


dilapidated desks in the small, muggy room. They look
attentively to the front of the room. We hear a WOMAN’S
VOICE. Though she’s SPEAKING FLUENT FRENCH, her voice
sounds very familiar.

WOMAN’S VOICE (O.S.)


I have graded your papers and I’m very
pleased with the progress that many of
you have made.

The woman is returning schoolwork to pupils. A BOY looks


at his paper when it’s handed to him – 100 percent – then
smiles up at the woman.

REVERSE and we see that the French-speaking woman is Portia


Addams. She’s dressed in rumpled khakis and a t-shirt and
wears no makeup, but she’s still as beautiful as we
remember. Finished returning papers, she’s back at the
head of the classroom. She smiles at the children, who
clearly adore her.
3.

PORTIA
Now that we have successfully completed
section four of our textbooks, we can
begin section five today.

INT. PREFAB DORM ROOM - LATER

A cramped, dingy, dormitory apartment with two windows and


only the bare necessities – small stove and refrigerator,
both ancient, an old loveseat, a separate bedroom.

Portia sits at a desk looking at her laptop computer. She


frowns. E-mail is taking forever to download. A door
opens and out steps well-built, dreadlocked Jean-Louis
Tissot, a towel wrapped around his waist. He’s still wet
from the shower. They speak to each other in ENGLISH.

JEAN-LOUIS
Why that look?

PORTIA
E-mail’s down again.

He gives her a disapproving look without her noticing.


Then he looks at the DIAMOND RING on her left ring finger.

JEAN-LOUIS
It’s slow but sure. Like many things in
my country.

He gives her a peck on the cheek. She responds, offering


her cheek and touching his.

JEAN-LOUIS
(re: the ring)
Why do you still wear that here? You
risk being attacked for it.

PORTIA
If someone wants to steal it, I’ll give
it to them without a peep. Until then,
I’ll wear it, Jean-Louis.
(looks at him)
Don’t be jealous. I’m with you, aren’t
I?

JEAN-LOUIS
Yes, but do I have the part that
matters most?
4.

Beat. She turns and looks at the laptop. She growls at


the slow-moving e-mail and taps the screen in frustration.

INT. OAKLAND AIRPORT – DAY

Cara “Cat” Trzcinski walks off the jetbridge into the gate
area. She’s got a backpack on her shoulder. Her cell
phone CHIMES and she pulls it from her pocket. She hits
the button to retrieve her VOICE MESSAGE.

ED (V.O.)
Cara, honey, it’s Dad. I’ve got some
bad news... Achilles was in a serious
accident on his motorcycle... It
happened on Bayview.

Cat has stopped in her tracks. OFF her look of fear and
disbelief...

INT. JAGUAR COUPE – MOVING – DAY

Gale Donahue is driving near the waterfront in Seattle.


The car phone RINGS. Caller ID reads “Mattie.” Gale
pushes a button to answer.

GALE
Hello, Mattie Honey.

MATTIE (V.O.)
Gale, something terrible has happened.

GALE
(reacts)
Oh God! Is it Duncan?!

MATTIE (V.O.)
No. Duncan is fine. And so is J.R.
It’s Achilles. He’s had an accident.

GALE
Oh my. Mattie, what happened? He’s
not –

MATTIE (V.O.)
He’s alive. But he was in a very bad
motorcycle accident. He’s being
airlifted to Virginia Mason now.
5.

Gale pulls over. A sign outside shows that she’s at Pier


54. The masts of sailboats can be seen.

GALE
I’m in Seattle now. I’ll go right
there to be with him. Does Billy know?

MATTIE (V.O.)
No one has been able to reach him.
Gale, do you know where he is?

OFF Gale...

EXT. BISTRO – SUNSET

Paris, France. Gabrielle Woods sits in a crowded bistro


reading a French newspaper. A near-empty GLASS OF RED WINE
is in front of her on the table.

ANGLE ON THE GLASS as more wine pours into it. Gabrielle


speaks without looking up from her paper.

GABRIELLE
Merci.

BILLY (O.S.)
(Texas accent)
C’est rien.

Gabrielle looks up, stunned to see Billy Donahue standing


over her, a bottle of wine in his hand.

SMASH TO MAIN TITLES.

END TEASER
6.

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

EXT. OVER SEATTLE – DAY

A Medevac helicopter THUNDERS into frame. We track with it


until it lands atop a building.

EXT. TOP OF BUILDING – DAY

The door of the chopper opens and out come PARAMEDICS,


followed by Dr. Natalia Rockov. Next, a stretcher with
Achilles Addams is pulled out and wheeled into the
building, a hospital.

INT. OUTSIDE OPERATING ROOM – DAY

Achilles’ stretcher is met by NURSES who immediately begin


prepping him for surgery. A handsome young surgeon scans
his chart. We recognize him as Richard O’Connell. Just as
he realizes who he’s about to operate on, Dr. Rockov steps
up to him. She speaks in a Russian accent.

DR. ROCKOV
Doctor, I am Dr. Natalia Rockov, team
physician for the Sea Devils. I’m also
a licensed thoracic surgeon and
Achilles’ personal physician. I would
like to observe the procedure.

RICHARD
(beat, considering)
That’ll be fine, Dr. Rockov.

NURSE
He’s ready, Dr. O’Connell.

Richard closes the chart and exchanges a look with Dr.


Rockov. Then he heads into the O.R.

INT. OPERATING ROOM – DAY

QUICK CUTS of the surgical procedure and the team working


on Achilles. In the b.g., Dr. Rockov watches the surgery
with analytical coolness.
7.

INT. OAKLAND AIRPORT, TICKETING AREA – DAY

Cat paces back and forth, worried sick, her cell phone
stuck to her ear.

CAT
But what if he does, Dallas? What if
he does?

EXT. DALLAS’ BALCONY – DAY

Dallas Morales is in his Oakland apartment.

DALLAS
He’s not going to die, Red. Okay.
Just try to calm down, sweetheart. Ed
said he was airlifted to Virginia
Mason. That’s a great hospital.
They’ll do everything they can.

INTERCUT: CAT/DALLAS

CAT
I knew I shouldn’t have left. He was
acting strange. I felt something
wasn’t right with him. I should’ve
stayed this weekend...

DALLAS
It was an accident and it had nothing
to do with you, Red.

Cat sits in a chair. Tears roll down her face.

CAT
Dallas, it happened at the same
intersection where Cal died... That
night, if I’d just gone home with Cal
instead of staying at that party to get
high and have sex –

DALLAS
Stop it, Cara! There’s no connection
at all between that night and what
happened to Q.B. today.

CAT
No?! Why am I coming to see you,
Dallas?! It’s the same thing all over
again –
8.

DALLAS
Red, please. I know how you feel about
Achilles. I know you’re close. But
it’s not the same, sweetheart.

CAT
You say that but you don’t know,
Dallas! You don’t know!

DALLAS
Just hang tight, Red. I’m coming to
the airport and we can fly back to
Maitland together.

EXT. BISTRO – NIGHT

Billy takes a sip of wine from his own glass. He looks


soulfully at Gabrielle. Beat.

BILLY
I love you, Elle. I want to marry you.
That’s what I came here to tell you.

Gabrielle fights to maintain her composure but her emotions


are getting the best of her.

GABRIELLE
Billy, we’re ruining one another’s
lives, not to mention the lives of
other people. My mother saw it,
Charlotte saw it. Even we saw it. But
we foolishly chose to ignore the signs.

BILLY
(charming smile)
Hadn’t you heard? Love is blind.

GABRIELLE
And, apparently, incredibly stupid.
Look, Billy, I came here to get away
from you, away from us and the
craziness of us. Now you track me down
and say you want to marry me? How’s
that going to work, Billy? Or have you
forgotten that wife is a homicidal
maniac?
9.

BILLY
You told me once that you’re crazy for
me. Well I’m crazy about you too.
Together our crazy trumps her crazy.

A long couple of beats.

GABRIELLE
I love you so much, Billy.

BILLY
(hopeful)
And I love you, Elle.

She reaches across and takes his hands in hers, strokes


them lovingly. Then she looks into his eyes.

GABRIELLE
I know you do. Which is why you’re
going to let me go.
(off his reaction)
You have to let me get on with my life,
Billy... And go back to yours.

INT. SHOOTING RANGE – SUNSET

ANGLE ON the barrel of a GLOCK .9mm as it FIRES three


times. PULL BACK to reveal the shooter is FBI agent
Valerie O’Connell, in shooting goggles and ear guards.

She pushes a button and the paper TARGET slides toward her
from down range. When it arrives, she examines the
silhouette: three holes in the head.

DESTRY (O.S.)
Not bad, O’Connell. Not bad at all.

Agent Destry comes up behind her, a little bit too close.


She turns her head, talks over her shoulder.

VALERIE
Thank you. I’m sure I could do better
at closer range.

He smiles nervously and gives her some room.


10.

INT. FBI OFFICES – SUNSET

Valerie and Destry enter the offices, fresh from the


shooting range.

DESTRY
The FBI is a gun culture, has been
since the days of J. Edgar Hoover, so
doing well on the range is a
prerequisite for advancement... Hey, I
wonder what that’s all about.

They notice a group of AGENTS crowded around a television


in a common area. When they get there –

AGENT #1
Hey, O’Connell, isn’t that your
husband?

Valerie gets to the front of the group and sees Richard on


television at a press conference.

ON TV

RICHARD (V.O.)
Mr. Addams’ suffered multiple facial
fractures and lacerations to his chest
and arms, as well as relatively minor
injuries to his left shoulder and knees
from impact with the pavement.

Valerie is dazed, feels lightheaded. She sits in a chair


to avoid falling down.

RICHARD (V.O.)
All of the fractures were successfully
repaired. Mr. Addams’ brain, spine,
chest and abdomen appear to be without
serious injury...

DESTRY
O’Connell, you okay? O’Connell? Hey,
somebody get her a glass of water...

Valerie looks up at him. He’s speaking but she can’t hear


a word he’s saying.

INT. HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM - NIGHT

Richard is talking to Gale, Dr. Rockov and Charlotte Webb.


11.

GALE
Congratulations on a successful
surgery, Dr. O’Connell.

RICHARD
Thank you, Mrs. Donahue. He’s very
fortunate that he was wearing a helmet.
Without it, given the extent of the
facial injuries, I’m sure the accident
would have been fatal.

CHARLOTTE
What about his recovery, Doctor? How
long before he’s back to his normal
self?

RICHARD
That’s hard to say. A broken jaw
typically takes seven weeks to heal.
Therapy for an elite athlete to regain
full motion could take several months.
Reconstructive surgery for his facial
injuries should be routine, but there’s
healing time. A lot really depends on
Achilles and his desire to return.

Beat.

GALE
Thank you, Dr. O’Connell.

He leaves and the three women exchange looks.

CHARLOTTE
Dr. Rockov, would you mind giving Mrs.
Donahue and me a moment?

DR. ROCKOV
Certainly. I’ll go look in on
Achilles.

She walks away. Charlotte turns to Gale.

CHARLOTTE
Achilles’ mother should be landing
within the hour. She’ll have a room at
the Meridian as long as she needs it.

GALE
That’s very good. And Portia, have you
reached her yet?
12.

CHARLOTTE
Not yet. She’s in a village somewhere
in West Africa. I’m sure we’ll hear
from her by morning. We’ll fly her
back as soon as we contact her.

Charlotte looks at Gale gravely.

GALE
Yes, Charlotte, what is it?

CHARLOTTE
I finally reached Billy about an hour
ago.

We read the apprehension in Gale’s eyes.

GALE
And is he on his way home?

CHARLOTTE
Yes.

GALE
(beat)
Alone?

OFF Charlotte...

INT. 787 DREAMLINER – IN FLIGHT – NIGHT

An attractive, black FLIGHT ATTENDANT moves through the


darkened First Class cabin. Most passengers are asleep.
Billy stares out the window, lost in thought.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Can I get you anything, Mr. Donahue?
Mr. Donahue?

BILLY
(finally hearing her)
Sorry. No. No thank you.

Their eyes briefly connect and she smiles at him. It’s


more than professional.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT
Well, let me know if you change your
mind.
13.

She continues down the aisle. Beat. Billy lowers the


window shade and leans back. He closes his eyes.

INT. O’CONNELL APARTMENT – NIGHT

Valerie is on the sofa with a full glass of red wine. The


door opens and Richard comes in. Their eyes meet. They
continue staring at each other as he crosses the room on
his way to the kitchen.

RICHARD
We have anything to eat?

He disappears into the kitchen without waiting for a


response. She waits a moment then follows him.

INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT

Richard is looking in the refrigerator. Valerie comes and


reaches inside, pulls out a bag of lettuce and other salad
fixings. She goes to the marble counter and begins making
him a salad. He pulls out a beer, twists off the top and
takes a swig. Then he stares at her.

Her eyes stay on the business of salad making.

VALERIE
(softly)
Thank you, Richard.

RICHARD
I’m a doctor. It’s my job.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE


14.

ACT TWO

FADE IN:

INT. BEDROOM – DAWN

Portia and Jean-Louis are asleep in bed, his arm draped


over her waist. We hear a series of SOFT DINGS that come
in rapid succession. Portia opens her eyes, looks into the
next room, where the dinging is coming from. She quietly
slides out from under Jean-Louis’s arm.

INT. PREFAB DORM ROOM – SAME

Portia goes to her laptop computer. She reacts to the


dozens of e-mails and instant messages that rapidly
populate the screen.

She sits down and begins to read, growing more alarmed as


she catches bits and pieces of the notes. Panic sets in.

PORTIA
Oh God, no! No!

INT. RELIEF ADMINISTRATION OFFICE – DAY

Little more than a run down shack. Portia is on a


SATELLITE PHONE and she’s like we’ve never seen her before.

PORTIA
Well I need to speak to him!
(listens)
Jesus! He operated on my HUSBAND.

Jean-Louis puts a hand on her shoulder to calm her. She


knocks it off. He reacts.

JEAN-LOUIS
Portia, please...

She cuts him a Sista from Jersey look. He backs away.

PORTIA
What part of “I’m in a remote part of
Africa and can’t wait to make an
appointment” don’t you understand?!
(listens, then boiling over)
I swear to God if you don’t put
(MORE)
15.

PORTIA (CONT’D.)
somebody on this phone who can tell me
something about my husband right now,
I’m going to sue everybody in that
goddamn hospital, starting with you!

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY

Achilles is in a drug sleep. He looks like he ran into an


SUV with his face. His eyes flutter open long enough for
him to register a warm smile from Lena Addams. He drifts
back off with a crooked smile on his battered face.

LENA
Momma’s here, baby. Momma’s here.

INT. NURSES’ STATION – DAY

A FRAZZLED NURSE (40s) puts the phone on hold. She turns


to a COWORKER (30s).

FRAZZLED NURSE
Good God! I’ve got some crazy woman on
the phone who claims she’s calling from
Africa and that she’s Achilles Addams’
wife and demanding to talk to Dr.
O’Connell. Mrs. Addams is in with
Achilles now, isn’t she?

COWORKER
His mother’s with him now. His wife is
out of the country... Oh, that’s right,
you just moved here. Achilles’ wife,
Portia, is doing missionary work
somewhere in West Africa.

FRAZZLED NURSE
(sinking feeling)
Uh-oh.

INT. ACHILLES & CAT’S APARTMENT – SUNSET

Cat is on the sofa, her feet tucked underneath her, eyes


glued to the television. Dallas comes out of the kitchen
with a bowl of soup for her.
16.

DALLAS
Red, why don’t you turn that off?
They’re not saying anything new. He’s
in stable condition. That’s all we
need to know.

CAT
I know everybody at that hospital. I
can’t believe they won’t let me in to
see him.

DALLAS
We’ve been through this before, Red.
Remember what happened with me? You
know the drill; it’s family only.
Achilles is high profile. They can’t
break the rules.

CAT
For Christ’s sake, we live together,
Dallas! Now that Portia’s gone I’m the
closest thing to family he has here!

He puts the soup on the coffee table and sits down, puts an
arm around her.

DALLAS
Red, the worst is over. Achilles
didn’t die. He’s not going to die.
You’re here for him now. Stop beating
yourself up, okay?

She melts into him, allowing herself to be vulnerable in


the protection of his powerful tattoo-covered arms.

CAT
Thanks for coming back home with me,
Dallas. I love you.

DALLAS
(kisses her forehead)
I love you too, Red.

INT. HOSPITAL ROOM – SUNSET

Achilles is propped up in bed. Lena holds the telephone to


his ear. His jaw is wired shut, but he speaks through his
lips, ventriloquist-style.
17.

ACHILLES
No. Don’t come.

INT. RELIEF ADMINISTRATION OFFICE - DAY

Portia is on the satellite phone. She’s distraught.

PORTIA
But Lee, you need me! I’m your wife!
I should be with you now!

INTERCUT: ACHILLES/PORTIA

ACHILLES
Portia. Kids need you.

PORTIA
I’ll come back to the mission when
you’re better. I’m not hearing any
nonsense, Lee. I’ll be on a flight to
New York tonight and –

ACHILLES
No!

This exertion causes him pain. Lena reacts with a look.


Portia senses his discomfort through the phone.

PORTIA
I don’t understand, Lee. They say
it’ll be at least three months before
you’re well. Mom can’t stay with you
that long, she has to go back to work.

Achilles motions to his mother to leave him alone. She


gives him a sympathetic look then goes out of the room.

PORTIA
Lee, what is it?
(beat, apologetic)
I know you must hate me for being with
Jean-Louis –

ACHILLES
No! Don’t hate you. Love you, Portia.

PORTIA
(beat)
Then why don’t you want me to come home
to take care of you?
18.

ACHILLES
(beat)
Marcus.

Hearing the name takes her by surprise. She’s choked up.

ACHILLES
Took care of me before, Portia. My
turn now.

PORTIA
It’s not the same, Lee. You know
that...

ACHILLES
(firm)
Live. Your. Life.

OFF Portia, tears rolling down her face...

INT. DONAHUE GREAT ROOM – SUNSET

Toddler Duncan Pennebaker plays with toys on the floor.


Gale, J.R. Donahue and Gracie Wellington watch a report by
ESPN’s Sandy Sanderson.

ON TV

SANDY (V.O.)
While doctors say Addams’ five-hour
surgery went smoothly, the road to
recovery could he a bumpy ride for the
Heisman finalist. If all goes well
it’ll be at least three months before
he’s cleared for the practice field.
And there is some doubt, given the
injuries to his arm and legs, as to
whether he can return to the form that
has made him one of College Football’s
most exciting players. When camp
begins in late July, Coach Billy
Donahue will put red-shirt Senior Nate
Hughes and true Freshman Ricky Boone to
the test to see which of them will run
the Sea Devils offense until Addams
returns. If he returns...

Billy comes into the room and puts down his travel bag.
Duncan is the first to notice him. The baby squeals
19.

happily and begins crawling toward his “Daddy.” Gracie


gets off the sofa to corral the tyke.

GRACIE
Oh, hi, Coach!

J.R.
Dad! You’re back!

Billy lifts Duncan, gives him a kiss. Gale goes to them.


Billy and Gale exchange a look that’s heavy with meaning.

INT. J.R.’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

J.R. and Gracie finish a slow, quiet screw against the


wall. He pulls out of her and lifts his pants up from
around his ankles. She tidies herself up too and then they
both plop down on his bed.

GRACIE
We’ve got to stop doing this, Johnny.

J.R.
Why? Greg’s graduated. He’s not still
calling you is he?

GRACIE
No. He e-mails. But that’s not why.

J.R.
What then? Mom and Dad? Gracie, Mom’s
as crazy about you now as I am. And
Dad doesn’t care if we have sex as long
as long as you don’t get pregnant –

GRACIE
J.R., are you not paying attention?!

J.R.
(pressing)
What, what is it already?! I’m not a
mind reader, Gracie.

GRACIE
We’re just making it harder on
ourselves when you leave for Texas.

J.R.
Is that it? That’s why you’ve been so
moody these last few weeks?
20.

She looks at him. Duh?!

J.R.
Gracie, I’ll be home two or three times
during the school year. We’ll be fine.

She sits up.

GRACIE
We won’t be fine, J.R., and you’re
lying to yourself if you think
otherwise.

He sits up too.

J.R.
Look, Gracie, we’ve been through this.
I told you, I broke up with you because
I wanted to know what it was like to be
with another girl. I did it, I found
out, and now I know you’re the only
girl I want to be with. Doesn’t matter
if I’m here in Maitland or in Texas,
you’re all I want.

GRACIE
And you’re all I want, Johnny. But we
have to be realistic. Long distance
relationships don’t work. Period.

J.R.
So are you saying we should break up –
again – before I leave for college?

Beat.

GRACIE
I don’t know what I’m saying, Johnny.
I just know every time we make love I
feel so... so afraid that after you’re
gone everything will change, and we’ll
never be able to get back what we have.

They look at each other.

INT. DONAHUE MASTER BEDROOM – NIGHT

Billy is unpacking. Gale comes in and closes the door. He


pauses for a beat, then continues.
21.

GALE
Dr. Rockov said that Dr. O’Connell did
an incredible job with Achilles. She
said a lesser surgeon wouldn’t have has
as much success repairing the shoulder
and leg injuries.

Beat. Billy goes in the bathroom. Gale doesn’t move.

GALE
(to bathroom)
Charlotte and Dr. Rockov have already
made a short list of therapists who
will help him recover. If he works
hard, he could be ready for Boise State
in week two. Won’t that be great?

Awkward silence.

GALE
(to bathroom)
Dr. O’Connell is married to that pretty
Korean girl who was Achilles’ tutor
when he was a freshman. Isn’t that a
nice coincidence?

Billy comes out of the bathroom and stops in front of her.


She puts on a pleasant face, even though she knows where
he’s been and why he went there.

BILLY
I’ve given this a lot of thought, Gale.
And no matter how I game play it in my
head, no matter how I look at things,
it all comes out the same.

GALE
Billy honey, Achilles will be fine.
He’ll have to work hard, but he’s done
it before, when he got knocked out for
four weeks as a freshman. And there
are plenty of people to help him...

BILLY
This isn’t going to work, Gale... We’re
not going to work.

She knows where he headed but that doesn’t make it easier.

GALE
What do you mean, Billy?
22.

BILLY
Gale, I want a divorce.

Gale just stares at him. The words are utterly absurd


coming from his mouth. It’s as if she didn’t hear them.

BILLY
Did you hear what I said? I want a
divorce, Gale.

GALE
Billy, you can’t truly believe that...
that woman is worth throwing away all
we’ve built together, that you’ll be
truly happy with her.

BILLY
That “woman” sent me packing, Gale.
It’s over between me and Gabrielle.
And the truth is you and I haven’t been
happy – “truly” happy – for years.

GALE
Honey, you’ve had a long, grueling trip
home. You need to rest. We’re all upset
about Achilles. You’re not thinking
clearly, that’s all...

BILLY
My thinking is crystal clear, Gale.
Look, be honest... If we were really
still in love could any of this have
happened? Me and Gabrielle? You and
Phil?

Mention of her affair with a 23-year-old hits like a train.

GALE
I want you to stop, Billy... We can
talk about this tomorrow if you like,
but I want you to stop it now.

BILLY
Gale –

She loses it, grabs his shirt, shoves and pounds his chest
with her fists. He holds her shoulders to steady her.

BILLY
Gale, I just don’t have anything left.
I’m sorry... It’s over.
23.

She pulls away from him, her eyes red from tears and anger.

GALE
No! We’re not over, Billy! This
family’s not over!

She goes to the door. When she gets there she turns –

GALE
Don’t bother hiring a lawyer, Billy.
I’m your wife. You’ll never have
another as long as I live. And I’m
going to live for a long, long time.
Count on it.

She leaves. He stands there, looking at the open door.

INT. NURSERY – LATER

Gale stands over Duncan’s crib, looking down at the


sleeping toddler. She breaks down, sobbing uncontrollably.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT TWO


24.

ACT THREE

FADE IN:

INT. RESTAURANT KITCHEN – SUNSET

QUICK CUTS of a chaotic kitchen. FIND Cake D’Agostino


skillfully preparing meals and directing other food workers
under the watchful, critical eye of a MASTER CHEF.

INT. FRENCH RESTAURANT – NIGHT

Cake watches from just outside the kitchen door as PATRONS


dine on her culinary creation. The reaction of several
diners brings a smile to her face. Then she exchanges a
look with the Master Chef, who flashes a very haughty, very
French expression. Cake doesn’t mind. Her dish is a hit
with the customers.

EXT. FRENCH RESTAURANT/PARIS STREETS/METRO – NIGHT

Cake leaves the restaurant with fellow CULINARY STUDENTS.


They walk together, talking animatedly about the evening’s
food test, then go their separate ways at a Metro Station.
Cake goes down to the subway and boards a crowded train. A
couple of FRENCHMEN check the sultry, Italian-American
beauty out. She ignores them.

INT. CAKE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Cake enters the tiny efficiency apartment, puts her things


down and heads straight for the bathroom. We hear the
shower turn on. In the bedroom, we notice a familiar
PHOTOGRAPH – it’s the one of her and Achilles at her
parent’s lake house taken last summer. Now she’s unfolded
it to reveal the couple next to them – Cat and Dallas,
smiling arm-in-arm.

INT. SHOWER – NIGHT

Cake hums happily in the shower.

INT. CAKE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

She comes in wrapped in a towel, plops on her bed and picks


up her cell phone. She dials.
25.

INT. ACHILLES’ BEDROOM – DAY

Stuffed animals populate what is actually Cake’s room.


Achilles is resting on the bed, casually turning the pages
of ESPN the Magazine. His jaw is wired shut and his left
arm is in a sling. His cell phone RINGS and he answers it
with his good hand. He still speaks ventriloquist-style.

ACHILLES
Hello?

INT. CAKE’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

Cake’s curled up on the bed, still wrapped in a towel.

CAKE
Why do you answer as though you don’t
know it’s me?

INTERCUT: ACHILLES/CAKE

ACHILLES
Because.

CAKE
Because what, Silly?

ACHILLES
Might not be you.

CAKE
Oh, so you’ve been out of the hospital
for a week and already you’re picking
up strange girls?

ACHILLES
Ha-ha! Funny. Not.

CAKE
(sweet laugh)
At least I know you’re not French
kissing anybody.

ACHILLES
Can’t say same about you.

CAKE
That’s right, you can’t. I French kiss
strange girls here all the time.
(MORE)
26.

CAKE (CONT’D.)
French women really are the best
kissers! Maybe I’ll teach you a thing
or two when I get home.

ACHILLES
Brat.

She smiles. Beat.

CAKE
Are you feeling better, Achilles?

ACHILLES
Yeah. Still sore as hell.

CAKE
I wish I were there to take care of
you.

ACHILLES
Thanks. I’m fine.

She senses defensiveness in his tone.

CAKE
Achilles, you’re not alone, you know.
Everybody wants to see you return and
play well next season.

A long beat. It’s a sensitive topic. Then –

CAKE
So is every part of you sore... or are
certain parts less sore than others?

ACHILLES
(catching her drift)
Some parts less sore.

CAKE
You know, if I were there, I could
massage the parts that are sore... and
caress the parts that aren’t.

ACHILLES
That would be nice.

She shifts on the bed and moves a hand to her stomach.


27.

CAKE
Oh, it would be nice, Achilles... I’d
start by rubbing your neck and
shoulders.

ACHILLES
Yeah?

CAKE
Mmmm-hmmm. Then I’d run the tip of my
tongue along your neck, down to your
chest.

ACHILLES
(becoming aroused)
Yeah. Then what?

As she speaks, she slides her hand between her thigh and
begins masturbating.

CAKE
Then I’d kiss your stomach while I
touched you... Would you like that,
Achilles?

ACHILLES
Yes. I would...

Achilles slips his arm out of the sling and slides his hand
into his sweat pants.

CAKE
So would I. Then I’d keep kissing you –

CAT (O.S.)
Einstein, I’m back!

Achilles quickly jerks his hand out of his sweats and bolts
upright just as Cat opens his bedroom door.

CAT
I’m back.

ACHILLES
I heard you the first time! Ever heard
of knocking?

CAT/CAKE
Who’s that?/What?
28.

ACHILLES
(to Cat)
A friend.
(to Cake)
My roommate’s here.

Cake sits up in her bed too.

CAKE
Don’t tell her it’s me, Achilles!

Cat sizes up the situation. Sees his is arm out of the


sling and a boner in his sweats. She flashes her impish
grin.

CAT
I wondered where all the tissues were
going. Try not to dislocate your
shoulder again jerking off, Einstein.

ACHILLES
Screw you, Lesbot!

CAT
I bet you do – all the time in your
dreams!

She laughs loudly as she leaves the room. Cake giggles on


her end of the phone.

ACHILLES
That’s funny?

CAKE
I’m sorry, baby, but it is.

INT. CAT’S ROOM – SAME TIME

Cat plops on her bed and dials her cell phone.

INT. CAKE’S BEDROOM – SAME TIME

Cake smiles as she looks at the photo of the happy foursome


– Cat, Dallas, Achilles and her.

ACHILLES (V.O.)
How can you be such good friends with
her?
29.

CAKE
You know what they say: opposites
attract. Sort of like you and me.
Besides, you know you love her.

His harrumph comes through the phone. We hear the CLICK of


an incoming call.

CAKE
Hold on, okay?

She switches to the incoming call.

INTERCUT: CAT/CAKE/ACHILLES

CAT
Hi, slut!

CAKE
Hey, whore!

CAT
Whatcha doin’?

CAKE
Just finishing up another call. Hold
on a sec, okay?
(switches back to Achilles)
Hi, I have to go now.

ACHILLES
Seriously? Why?

CAKE
Got another call from the States.

ACHILLES
Who?

CAKE
Guess?

ACHILLES
(beat)
No.

CAKE
(smiles)
Yes.

He looks down at his erection.


30.

ACHILLES
Come on, Cake!

CAKE
(giggles sweetly)
Sorry. You boys have “Bros before
Hoes.” We girls have “Sisters before
Misters.”
(beat, then heartfelt)
I’ll be thinking about you tonight,
Achilles. Keep thinking about me, okay?

ACHILLES
Okay... Goodnight, Cake.

He clicks off the phone then grudgingly slides his arm back
into the sling.

CAKE
Okay, Cat, I’m back.

Cat kicks off her shoes and lay back on the bed.

CAT
So are you all set to come back next
week? No more delays?

CAKE
I’m all set and I can hardly wait to
get home. Booked my flight and
everything.

CAT
Great. Achilles moves out this
weekend.

CAKE
I feel bad about that, Cat. After all
he’s been through, to have to move out
in his condition. I wouldn’t mind
going back home until he’s recovered.

CAT
Forget it, Cake. With the rehab
program he’ll go through, he’s better
off living in the players’ dorm.

CAKE
He’d be better off training with you
over the summer Cat and you know it.
(MORE)
31.

CAKE (CONT’D.)
He’s stubborn about working out but he
listens to you, ever since you helped
him when you were freshmen.

CAT
Since when do you care whether Einstein
does what he’s told?

CAKE
(a bit too emotional)
Why wouldn’t I care?! He’s my friend
too, Cat!

Beat. Cat grows suspicious.

CAT
What do you mean by that?

CAKE
(covering)
What do you mean, “What do I mean?”
The whole town wants to see him play
again next season, right? So do I.

INT. GALE’S OFFICE – DAY

Gale is at her desk, staring at a report – “Pennebaker


Industries Second Quarter Results” – but not really reading
it. She doesn’t notice Mathilda “Mattie” Weiss standing in
the doorway.

MATTIE
Is everything alright, Gale?

Lost in thought, Gale is slow to respond. She looks up and


locks eyes with her devoted personal assistant.

GALE
No, Mattie. Everything is not alright.

INT. CAFÉ – DAY

Gale and Mattie are at a secluded table talking quietly.


Gale is uncharacteristically fretful; Mattie comforting.

GALE
He means it this time, Mattie. He’s
going to leave me. I know it.
32.

MATTIE
Gale, Billy has been upset before.
Very upset. But he loves you. He
can’t live without you. This will pass,
like the drugs and the alcohol... And
the miscarriage.

Beat. Gale looks at her. She instinctively knows getting


pregnant by one of Billy’s players was the beginning of the
end.

GALE
What do I do, Mattie? I can’t lose
him. I just can’t. Oh, I wish I could
just make it all go away!

Mattie reaches out and takes her hands.

INT. BILLY’S OFFICE – SUNSET

Billy and Achilles sit across from each other on leather


sofas. Billy’s secretary, Donna Dixon, comes in.

DONNA
Will you be needing anything before I
leave, Coach?

BILLY
I think we’re all set, Donna. Thanks.

DONNA
Achilles? How about you, dear?

He gives her a smile and a wave, “I’m okay.”

DONNA
Alright. But you have my cell number.
Don’t be afraid to use it. I promised
your mother I’d keep my eye on you
after she leaves.

BILLY
(playful)
I think he’s got enough women looking
after him already, Donna.

DONNA
Excuse me for saying so, Coach, but
they’re all white, and I know what
(MORE)
33.

DONNA (CONT’D.)
their idea of “taking care” of him is.
He needs looking after from a woman who
knows what’s what when it comes to
healing a black man.

Achilles blushes under his bruises. Billy winks at


Achilles before –

BILLY
Thank you, Mrs. Dixon, for helping to
end racial stereotyping on campus.

DONNA
Make fun if you want to, but you know I
know what I’m talking about.

She turns her nose up as she walks out and closes the door.
After she’s gone, Billy turns serious.

BILLY
I know this won’t sound right,
Achilles, but the truth is you’re
probably better off without Portia
here. You’re going to have to work
harder than you ever have to get back
on the field by week two or three.
There won’t be room for distractions,
marital or otherwise.

Beat. Billy clocks reticence in Achilles.

BILLY
What is it, son?

After a long silence, Achilles looks Billy straight in the


eye and speaks slowly through his wired jaw.

ACHILLES
Coach, not sure I want it bad enough.
(off Billy’s surprise)
Don’t want to let anybody down – you,
the team, the town – but I didn’t come
back just to play football.

Billy glares at him with ice-blue lasers.

BILLY
Why did you come back, Achilles?
34.

ACHILLES
(beat)
A girl.

Beat. Achilles expects to see Billy’s famous temper. He’s


surprised to get a thin, thoughtful smile instead.

BILLY
Tell me about it.

Achilles – who doesn’t catch Billy’s veiled reference to


his own woman problems – begins telling him about Cake.
Time passes.

SAME SCENE – LATER

BILLY
Nowhere in that story did you say
anything about you two being in love.

ACHILLES
Don’t know if we’re in love. Just know
we want to find out.

BILLY
But you do love Portia?

ACHILLES
(nods “yes”)
But it’s different. Got married too
soon and for the wrong reasons. Now we
both need to find out what we really
want in life.

BILLY
And winning a national championship,
getting a shot at playing in the NFL,
that’s not what you want in life?

OFF Achilles thinking...

INT. DONAHUE DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Gale, J.R., Gracie and Gale’s mother, Rose Ryan, are


talking after dinner. We hear the front door open. Gale
spies Billy coming into the house.

GALE
Billy honey, we’re in here.
35.

J.R.
Hey, Dad.

Billy, who was going to head upstairs, comes into the room.

BILLY
Hi, son.

ROSE
How is Achilles, Billy Boy?

BILLY
He’s doing better, Mom.

Gale gets up to make a plate for him.

GALE
We’ve got your favorite tonight, honey
– rib-eye steak, green beans and
Mexican rice.

BILLY
Thanks, but I’m not hungry. Besides,
it looks like you’ve already eaten.
I’ll just grab a yogurt later.

GALE
Nonsense. Sit down with the family.
Before you know it, J.R. will be off to
College Station, Gracie will be moving
into the dorms and you’ll be consumed
with summer camp. We won’t have many
chances for time like this together.

ROSE
She’s right, Billy Boy. Wolf always
made time to sit down to supper with
Gale and me.

Gale smiles at him lovingly. He goes along for the sake of


appearances and takes a seat at the head of the table.
Gale puts a plate with delicious-looking food in front of
him and strokes the nape of his neck.

GALE
There you go, honey.

BILLY
Thank you.
36.

INT. O’CONNELL DINING ROOM – NIGHT

Richard and Valerie sit at opposite ends of a table having


dinner. There is an definite coolness between them.

VALERIE
How do you like the salmon?

RICHARD
It’s good.

VALERIE
Just good?

RICHARD
Perfect.

Beat. Valerie tries another tact.

VALERIE
Nina and Jabari will be in Seattle for
the Fourth. They’d like to get
together. Maybe go out on the boat.

RICHARD
If I can get away from the hospital,
I’d love to spend time with them.

VALERIE
I can hardly believe Darcy is almost
two years old. I remember the day Nina
told me she was pregnant like it was
yesterday.

RICHARD
(looks at her)
But it wasn’t yesterday, Valerie.
(off her reaction)
You and Nina have both been out of
college for years. Maybe it’s time you
put those days behind you and focus on
the future. Our future.

Beat. They look at each other. She breaks the stare by


taking a sip of wine.

VALERIE
How do you like the wine? It’s from
that new place on Fifth Street.
37.

INT. VALERIE’S CUBICLE – DAY

Valerie is working intently on her computer. ON THE SCREEN


we see that she is conducting an unauthorized investigation
into the death of Marcus Gamble. She’s going through East
Orange Police records, including interrogation transcripts
of Achilles and Portia explaining their whereabouts the
night Marcus was found dead of a gunshot to the chest.

She makes the connection between Portia and Marcus – that


they were neighbors and schoolmates since early childhood
and that they almost certainly dated. That is until
Achilles came into the picture in high school. She also
finds out Portia’s father, Reverend Robeson, was murdered
while serving a 20-years for larceny and bank fraud.

We read in her eyes that she’s drawing a conclusion about


what really happened that night. We hear VOICES coming
closer. Valerie quickly hits keys to switch her screen to
official work. Agent Destry appears behind her.

DESTRY
Hey, O’Connell, Sikes and me are going
out for a bite. Want to join us?

VALERIE
Thanks but I’ve got a boatload of
casework to finish up.

He reacts to a flashing dialogue box on her screen.

DESTRY
How’d you get a D6 clearance?

VALERIE
(covering)
It’s temporary. I asked Marshall for
it to help with some work I’m doing on
the De Souza case.

Beat. Destry’s eyes tell us he’s processing what she’s


told him. Then she smiles at him.

VALERIE
Come to think of it, I am hungry.

She stands and takes her jacket from a peg.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT THREE


38.

ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. SEATTLE AIRPORT TERMINAL – DAY

Achilles, Lena and Cat walk down the corridor. He’s using
a crutch and walks with a limp.

LENA
Now you don’t rush anything, Lee. I
don’t care what the doctors say, we
nurses know best and I won’t have you
causing permanent damage because
they’re pushing you too hard to come
back by a certain game.

Achilles is getting better at talking with a wired jaw.

ACHILLES
Alright, Mom, I’ll take it slow and
easy. Promise.

LENA
Cara, I’m going to count on you to make
sure he means it.

CAT
Don’t worry, Mrs. Addams. I’ll keep
him in line. You heard that, right,
Einstein? I’m in charge.

ACHILLES
Jeez, Mom, why’d you say that?!

Cat grins mischievously. They come to the security gate.


Lena faces Achilles and they look into each other’s eyes.
She fights tears. They hug tightly.

ACHILLES
You have a safe flight, Mom. And don’t
worry. I’m going to do just fine.

She looks at him, feels his strength, strength that she


gave him.

LENA
I know, baby. I know you will.

Lena goes through security. On the other side she turns to


look at Achilles and Cat standing together, something about
39.

them has an affect on her. She smiles and blows them both
a kiss goodbye.

INT. CAT’S MUSTANG – MOVING – DAY

Cat and Achilles drive home in a light rain shower. She’s


behind the wheel.

ACHILLES
Thanks for driving mom to the airport.

CAT
No problem. I like your mom. She’s a
great lady.

ACHILLES
Thanks.

CAT
She’d have to be to put up with an
asshole like you.

He smirks. Beat.

ACHILLES
No way! Is that a gorilla there?

He points with his right middle finger. She looks.

CAT
What? Where?

He puts his finger practically underneath her nose. She


realizes what he’s doing and hits him in his bad shoulder.
He reacts, “Ow!” but laughs.

CAT
Dick!

ACHILLES
Dike.

EXT. STRETCH OF ROUTE 39 – LATER

Cat’s piece of shit Mustang passes us. A POLICE CRUISER


pulls onto the road in pursuit.
40.

INT. CAT’S MUSTANG – MOVING – SAME TIME

Cat looks in the rearview mirror at the FLASHING LIGHTS.

CAT
Shit. I wasn’t doing more than sixty.

EXT./INT. CAT’S MUSTANG - DAY

Cat pulls over. She looks in the side mirror.

CAT
Great. Polly Purebread.

Achilles reacts. “Who?” Cat rolls down the window.

IVY
Hi, Cat. Achilles.

Achilles nods and smiles “Hello.”

CAT
(hands over license)
Hi, Trooper Sandusky. Was I speeding?

IVY
No, Cat, you weren’t. Your right
taillight is busted.

CAT
(feigns surprise)
Really?! Wow, I’d better get that
fixed.

IVY
That’s what you said when I stopped you
for the same thing two months ago.

CAT
Oh. Well I really mean it this time.

IVY
Well I really mean it this time. Next
time it’s going to cost you seventy-
five bucks plus the cost to fix it.

Ivy gives the license back.

CAT
Okay. Thanks, Trooper Sandusky.
41.

Ivy looks at Achilles.

IVY
Looks like you’re coming along pretty
good there, Achilles.

ACHILLES
Pretty good, Trooper Sandusky.

IVY
That’s nice to hear. Take care, you
two. And drive safe.

CAT
Yes ma’am.

Cat rolls the window and then rolls her eyes as Ivy walks
back to the cruiser.

ACHILLES
What’d you call her? Polly what?

CAT
Polly Purebread. Stuck up, straight-
laced, by the book. Probably born with
a badge in one hand, a gun in the other
and a nightstick stuck up her ass.

Achilles looks back at the cruiser as it pulls away.

EXT. STRETCH OF ROAD – SUNSET (FLASHBACK)

Achilles is sitting on his motorcycle, pulling off his


helmet. He looks in a rearview mirror at Ivy approaching.
Just as she arrives –

ACHILLES
I’m sorry, officer, I should have –

IVY
Been paying closer attention to the
posted speed?

ACHILLES
Yes, ma’am.
(looks at nametag)
Officer Sandusky.
42.

IVY
Trooper Sandusky. License and
registration.

He hands them over. She checks the name, looks up at him.


He knows she recognizes him and sees his chance. He smiles
- not too much - but enough.

IVY
You play Hawai’i on Saturday, right?

ACHILLES
Yes ma’am.

IVY
(lying)
I’m twenty-seven. Don’t call me ma’am.

ACHILLES
Sorry. You don’t look twenty-seven.
(off her reaction)
I’d guess more like twenty-three,
twenty-four tops.

She knows a line when she hears one but...

IVY
Shut the engine off, Mr. Addams.

He does and she goes back to her cruiser to run a check.


When she returns –

IVY
I’m going let you off with a warning
this time, Achilles.

ACHILLES
Thank you, Trooper Sandusky.

She smiles, holds out the license with two fingers.

IVY
Ivy.

ACHILLES
Thank you, Ivy.

She holds onto the license as he takes it. He looks down:


a SCRAP OF PAPER is folded over his license. Seeing that
he’s seen the paper, she lets him take both.
43.

IVY
Slow it down, Achilles... Or else.

She walks back to her cruiser, slow enough for him to check
out her ass, nice even in Trooper slacks. Then he unfolds
the paper on his license: “Ivy – 555-1111.”

INT. CAT’S MUSTANG – DAY (RETURN TO PRESENT)

Ivy’s cruiser circles around and heads back in the other


direction. Cat puts the Mustang in gear and pulls off.

INT. EXAM ROOM – DAY

CLOSE ON A DOCTOR’S FACE as he meticulously examines a


patient. PULL BACK as he does and we see that his patient
is Achilles.

DOCTOR
The jaw is healing nicely, Achilles.
But you’ll still want to go easy – soft
foods, nothing too hot or cold.
Now that the wiring has been removed,
you’re ready for reconstructive
dentistry and plastic surgery.

Achilles moves his jaw, rubs it with his hand. It feels


strange without the wiring. He speaks ventriloquist-style
out of habit.

ACHILLES
Thanks, Doctor.

DOCTOR
There are quite a few very good
surgeons on the West Coast. You’ll get
those movie star looks back before you
know it.

Achilles offers a thin smile. We see that his mouth is a


wreck – several teeth are gone and others are chipped.

INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR – LATER

Richard is talking to a nurse. He looks up and sees


Achilles, who is standing there waiting to talk to him.
Richard parts with the nurse and walks to Achilles.
44.

RICHARD
Achilles. How are you feeling? The arm
and legs doing okay?

ACHILLES
Good. Yeah, everything’s fine. Just
got the wiring out of my jaw.

RICHARD
Is there something I can help you with?

Achilles extends a hand. Richard looks at it for a moment,


then they shake, looking each other straight in the eye.

ACHILLES
I wanted to say thank you, Dr.
O’Connell.

RICHARD
You’re welcome. But it’s my job,
Achilles. I’d have performed the
procedures the same for any patient.

ACHILLES
I know.

A long beat. The handshake ends.

RICHARD
Good luck with your recovery, Achilles.

ACHILLES
Thanks. It’s going to be tough, I know.

RICHARD
People have come back from worse.
Sometimes it’s a matter of badly you
want something.

They share a look that says they both know there’s more
behind Richard’s words. A nurse comes up.

NURSE
Dr. O’Connell. You’re needed in the
O.R.

RICHARD
On my way.

He and Achilles exchange a last look then Richard turns and


walks away. Achilles watches him go.
45.

EXT. PARK SOCCER FIELD, SIDELINE – DAY

Achilles is talking on his cell phone, watching Cat and


other FEMALE SOCCER PLAYERS who are running a training camp
for 10-year-old GIRLS.

ACHILLES
I’m not going to sneak around, you know
that right? I did it with Becky and
Valerie when they were here. I won’t
do that again.

INT. CAKE’S APARTMENT – SUNSET

Cake is packing for her trip home.

CAKE
Who’s talking about us sneaking around?
You told Portia about us, right?
Sofia’s going to have a cow because
you’re technically married, but she’ll
deal with it and so will dad, as long
as I’m happy.

INTERCUT: ACHILLES/CAKE

Achilles watches Cat teach a girl how to trap a ball with


her chest. We see that she’s good with kids.

ACHILLES
You know it’s not them I’m talking
about. Why don’t we just tell her
today? She’s almost done with kiddy
camp, we can do it right here, right
now, together.

CAKE
No! Look, Achilles... I’ll tell Cat as
soon as I get home.

ACHILLES
Don’t you think she’s going to be just
a tad pissed off to learn we’ve been
lying to her all these months?

CAKE
We haven’t lied to her, Achilles...
You just don’t understand. It’s
complicated.
46.

ACHILLES
Oh, I understand, Cake. It’s about you
and her brother Cal and how she didn’t
want you two to be together because it
might hurt your friendship. Well I’m
not Cal and you shouldn’t allow Cara to
decide who you can and can’t be with,
even if she is your best friend.

CAKE
Achilles, just let me handle it my way,
please? I’ll tell her the first chance
I get after I land. Alone. Okay?

A soccer ball bounces over to Achilles. He stops it with


his foot and taps it back to Cat, who’s come to retrieve
it. She smiles then quickly smirks and flips him the bird.
Just like a bratty sister.

ACHILLES
(to Cat)
Nice. Real classy in front of the
kids, Lesbot!

CAKE
Achilles! Don’t call her that in front
of a bunch of little girls!

ACHILLES
Hey, she just flipped me off in front
of them! Which is worse?

Cake smiles. Beat.

CAKE
I can’t wait to see you two. And I
can’t wait to get my hands on you.

EXT. PARIS SIDEWALK/STREET – DAWN

A TAXI DRIVER is loading travel bags in the trunk. Behind


him, standing in the doorway of an apartment building, Cake
is talking on her cell phone.

CAKE
It’s seven hours to New York then
another six to Seattle and then it’s
just be two hours drive till I’m home!
47.

INT. ACHILLES & CAT’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Cat is on the sofa, on the phone, smiling from ear-to-ear.

CAT
And you land in Seattle at what, around
7 o’clock?

INTERCUT: CAKE/CAT

CAKE
Yeah. I’m going to a total zombie but
I want to stay up with you all night
when I get there. I missed you so much!

CAT
Me too! And your room is all ready. I
made Einstein wash all the sheets,
vacuum the floor and clean everything!

CAKE
Cat! He’s in no condition to be your
house slave!

CAT
(laughs)
I know. I’m just kidding. But he did
buy new bed linen for you. It’s the
least he could do after leaving his
cooties everywhere!

Cake laughs. Beat.

CAKE
There’s so much I want to talk to you
about when I get home, Cat.

Cake looks up the street and sees a woman jogging toward


her. As the jogger gets closer we realize that she is
Gabrielle Woods. There is a flicker of recognition when
their eyes meet as Gabrielle is jogs past.

GABRIELLE
(smiles)
Bonjour.

CAKE
Bonjour.

CAT
What?
48.

CAKE
I just said hello to a woman jogging
by. She looked really familiar. Like
someone from t.v. in the States.

TAXI DRIVER
(in French)
We are ready to go, Mademoiselle.

CAKE
I’m on my way to the airport now. I
love you, Cat.

CAT
(smiles)
I love you too. Whore!

CAKE
(smiles)
Slut!

Cake clicks her phone off and climbs into the taxi. She
takes a last look at the apartment as the taxi pulls away.

INT. DONAHUE HOME, LIVING ROOM – SUNSET

We’re looking at an impressive display of mementos, photos


and memorabilia paying homage to the fairy tale lives of
Gale and Billy Donahue: her being crowned Miss America, him
winning the Cotton Bowl and holding the Heisman trophy next
to legendary coach John Wolf Ryan, toddler J.R. Donahue
wearing an oversized Texas A&M uniform, etc.

REVERSE ANGLE to see Billy, looking at the images of his


life with Gale. Beat. We become aware of Gale’s
reflection in the glass of a display cabinet. Billy
notices her.

GALE
We have a good life together, Billy.

BILLY
(turns to face her)
We did. But I don’t want to live in the
past.
(beat, somberly)
I’m going to move out, Gale... I’ll
wait until J.R. and Gracie have left
for school. After the July barbeque.
(MORE)
49.

BILLY (CONT’D.)
Then I’ll rent a place. I’ll be as
discreet as possible, but eventually it
will get out that we’re separated.
Hopefully we can avoid the press until
the season’s over. Mattie can help you
there.

Long beat. They look into one another’s eyes.

GALE
If you need time... to clear your head,
I understand. Know that I love you,
Billy, with every fiber of my being.
Know that my arms and my heart will
always be here to welcome you home.

She turns and leaves the room.

INT. DONAHUE MASTER BATHROOM – SUNSET

Gale is sitting in front of her vanity mirror. She puts a


pill in her mouth and takes a drink of water from a glass.
When she puts the glass down we notice a package of ZOLOFT
on the counter. Gale stares at her reflection.

INT. BILLY’S OFFICE – SUNSET

Billy is studying a playbook. The television is on in b.g.


He takes a sip Scotch from a rock glass. When he puts it
back on the desk he notices what’s on television. He picks
up the remote control and turns up the volume.

ON TV

Over VIDEO FOOTAGE of an ocean airplane crash site...

FIRST REPORTER’S VOICE (V.O.)


Though it’s not yet been confirmed, we
are hearing from numerous sources here
that there are likely no survivors
aboard American Airlines flight 505,
which was flying to Seattle-Tacoma
International Airport from New York’s
Laguardia Airport by way of Paris...
50.

INT. PLAYER’S LOUNGE - SUNSET

Achilles is alone in the lounge, tears welling up in his


eyes as he stares in anguished disbelief at the television.
He’s watching a continuing news report of the plane crash.

ON TV

SECOND REPORTER’S VOICE (V.O.)


The Boeing 787 Dreamliner carrying 212
passengers and crew crashed in the
Pacific Ocean just five miles off the
coast of Oregon. Though search and
rescue efforts continue, it is believed
that all aboard perished when the...

EXT. D’AGOSTINO’S RESTAURANT PARKING LOT – SAME

Cat’s Mustang pulls into a parking space. She gets out and
walks to the service entrance of the restaurant.

INT. D’AGOSTINO’S RESTAURANT – SAME

The restaurant is set up for a party with balloons,


streamers and a BANNER that reads “Welcome Home Cake!” A
handful of restaurant STAFF huddles in front of the
television at the bar - some holding one another, all
crying.

Cat comes enters in good spirits.

CAT
Hey, what’s with all this standing
around? Cake will be here before you
know it.

She realizes that they are all crying.

CAT
Hey, what happened? What’s wrong?

Umberto, the executive chef, looks at her gravely, eyes red


with tears. Cat glances at the television, sees the
ANIMATION of the Boeing jetliner with engines ablaze.
51.

ON TV

THIRD REPORTER’S VOICE (V.O.)


...again, officials here are confirming
that all 212 passengers and crew aboard
American flight 505, are believed
dead...

UMBERTO
Cara...

Cat shudders and blinks as she pieces together what has


happened. Umberto starts walking toward her. She shakes
her head slowly, “No”, and instinctively steps away, trying
to escape the horrific reality. Umberto reaches for her.

CAT
No... No..

Umberto tries to embrace her but she recoils.

CAT
(angry denial)
She got a different! She was on a
different, plane!

UMBERTO
(sadly)
No, bella, she called Sofia from the
plane before –

CAT
All of you stop it! It’s not true!
It’s not true! It’s not true...

But she knows it is. Cat disintegrates into tears as


Umberto takes her in his arms. The staff gathers around
her, all embracing her as we...

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE

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