Significance-First Draft (2)
CUT TO: -EXT- Office of Coach Nilles We pan down the center of the door, vertically written there are the words “MISTER NILLES” in crooked lettering, all in various primary colors. We hear footsteps approaching. KRISTEN then runs into frame, she waits a moment, and then knocks on the door. COACH NILLES (OC): “Come in.” KRISTEN then opens the door and enters the office. The office is a shock to KRISTEN, for instead of the expected sport memorabilia, there are globs, and maps, and historical reference books all over the neatly organized space. KRISTEN: “You wanted to see me sir?” COACH NILLES: “Yeah, yeah I did. Please, sit down.” KRISTEN awkwardly sits down in the seat in front of COACH NILLE’S desk. COACH NILLES has a history book in one hand, and in the other is a soccer book, and tucked behind his ear is a black Ball Point pen. KRISTEN: “What are you reading about?” COACH NILLES: “The American Revolution. Well, and about last year’s World Cup.” COACH NILLES looks at KRISTEN’S perplexed expression, and smiles. COACH NILLES: “Odd combination, I know. But you see, I have always been fascinated by war commanders; their strategy, the way they got their armies to work as one unit, not just as a bunch of people in the same place. Then I look at the sports coach and think ‘hey! They do the same thing with their teams!’ So I have been studying the tactics of both coaches and generals to work out my soccer strategy.” KRISTEN: “Oh, cool.” COACH NILLES: “I guess you weren’t expecting your soccer coach to be a history buff, hey?” KRISTEN: “No, but that isn’t a bad thing.” COACH NILLES: “Well, actually, I am going to be the Social Studies teacher next semester. That’s why I have this office here. Mr. Stevens is retiring.” KRISTEN (In an unconvincing tone): “Oh that’s too bad!” COACH NILLES: “Nice try, but almost all of the students here aren’t the biggest fans of his, that’s why he is leaving. Between you and me, I think he’s kinda boring too.” KRISTEN laughs. KRISTEN: “Now, anyway, why did want me here?” COACH NILLES: “ Well, I have to say, I am slightly disappointed with the way you guys have been playing in practices...” KRISTEN shifts uncomfortably in her seat. KRISTEN: “You are?” COACH NILLES: “Yes, very much. It is just starting to look like you guys just don’t care out there. You seem to lack motivation!” KRISTEN nods awkwardly. COACH NILLES nods back with an expression of approval. COACH NILLES: “Well, you comfort me Kris. All of your teammates have made excuses.” KRISTEN’S eyes brighten slightly. COACH NILLES: “Don’t smile! Ya ain’t off the hook yet!” KRISTEN: “Oh.” COACH NILLES: “Do you have any guess as to what you are doing wrong?” KRISTEN just stands still for a moment, and then she shakes her head, ‘no’. COACH NILLES: “Okay then, let me try something else: What are you having the most trouble with on the field? And don’t suck up or anything, I want you to make an excuse now.” KRISTEN: “Well, let me think...Well, I sorta slip a lot in the dirt. It is kind of slippery, and grass too. It is kind of hard to get to the ball in time.” COACH NILLES: “Okay, then when you go home, find the most slippery surface in your house, put socks on, and run all over it. Any other problems?” KRISTEN remains silent. COACH NILLES: “Okay, I think it is obvious that you aren’t going to tell anything more now that I said that, uh? So, what I am going to say is that if you find that you are having trouble with a certain aspect of the game, then you find something that is comparable in either your house or here at school, and you practice on that.” KRISTEN nods solemnly. KRISTEN: “Okay, I will. I promise.” COACH NILLES: “You may think to yourself: ‘oh boy, this is just a little soccer team, this won’t matter later.’ That’s isn’t true! Ya got it? In your mind this should be the freaking World Cup, got it?” KRISTEN nods again. COACH NILLES (Cont...): “Just because this ain’t the big leagues doesn’t mean it’s any less significant! Ounce you are older, you are going to have to put all of your heart and soul into everything you do if you want to get anywhere, so every small step is just as important as the next! Remember that Kris.” KRISTEN nods yet again. KRISTEN: “I will, Coach.” COACH NILLES puts his history book down and gets up out of his chair. COACH NILLES: “I’ll see ya at the game.” KRISTEN: “Okay.” COACH NILLES: “Nice talking to ya Kris.” With that KRISTEN leaves the office. COACH NILLES sits back in his chair, puts his glasses on and starts reading again. CUT TO: A montage of KRISTEN practicing really hard. Invent the details on set. Include a shot of KRISTEN running on top of pillows on a slippery floor. FADE TO: Soccer Field -Day- Cars begin to pull into the field’s parking lot. The opposing team (The Beagles) is on the left side of the field, THE LASER BEAMS are on the right side; we pan over to them. As the camera gets closer to the team, we begin to hear what they are saying... COACH NILLES (cont,): “...Alright, this is our first game, as you well know. We are gonna be playing The Beagles, I don’t know about now, but last year they were our archrivals. Now, I’m not gonna be saying anything bad about ‘em, cause their coach is a good friend of mine. But what I AM going to say is that you guys have worked your butts off the past few weeks, and I hope it all comes in handy today...” All of the team nods. COACH NILLES: “...Alright, hands in Laser Beams!” The team gathers around each other and put their hands together in a huddle. COACH NILLES: “Okay, on the count of three I want a big...uh...Bob! What should we say?” BOB, one of the smallest boys on the team shrugs. BOB: “Uh...Let’s win?” COACH NILLES: “Yeah! That sounds good Bobby! On three: ‘Lets Win!’ ONE...TWO...THREE!” TEAM: “LET’S WIN!” CUT TO: Montage of the game. Show lots of falls and slips, and show one goal for THE BEAGLES. THE LASER BEAMS begin to look desperate. COACH NILLES (to himself): “Come on, come on...” COACH NILLES then notices that KRISTEN is looking tired. COACH NILLES (loudly): “KRIS! SUB OFF!” KRISTEN, obviously worn out, runs off the field with her hands at her sides. COACH NILLES (whispering): “Don’t worry, ya didn’t do anything wrong, I am just giving ya a bit of a rest that’s all.” KRISTEN nods her head, and sits on the bench. CUT TO: A continued montage of the game, including another goal by the other team, and reactions by KRISTEN and COACH NILLES and other players on the team. Then we see cheering from the other team. We then see COACH NILLES following something off camera, and then we hear a whistle blow, and COACH NILLES drops his head, they have lost their first game. CUT TO: Players from both teams, walking in a line and saying “good game” to each other. The coaches shake hands. COACH NILLES: “Good games, coach.” BEAGLES COACH: “Good game, Bob.” Once the lines pass each other, COACH NILLES puts his hands to his mouth. COACH NILLES: “Alright team, in here.” One of the teammates is walking to his car, and then hears COACH NILLE’S voice. COACH NILLES: “Jimmy, get over here.” JIMMY runs back over to them. COACH NILLES: “Well, guys, you lost your first game.” The team remains silent. COACH NILLES: “Do you like how this feels?” Some of the team shake their heads, and others says “no” or “nope”. COACH NILLES: “Well, I think I know how to fix that, ya know how?” The team doesn’t respond. COACH NILLES: “Win next time! Work hard, listen, and practice. Bam your soccer ball against your garage door! Now I know for a fact that you guys are better then the team we just played. I mean, if a beagle battled a Laser Bema, who would win?” The team laughs. COACH NILLES: “No seriously, I think teams should take the persona of their name. That is, unless it is called something like ‘Bunny Rabbits’. Now hands in! First we say “Yay, Beagles! Nice game!”. On three! One, two…THREE!” TEAM: “YAY BEAGLES! NICE GAME!” COACH NILLES: “Okay now we say: go Laser Beams. One, two, THREE!” TEAM: “GO LASER BEAMS!” CUT TO: ROLLAD HOUSEHOLD FRONTDOOR KRISTEN enters the doorway, her MOTHER behind her. They walk to the table and sit down. KRISTEN puts her schoolbooks on the table. KRISTEN: “Okay, I would rather have you yell at me and tell me I’m a worthless player then have this silence you know!” MRS. ROLAND: “Well, what is there to say?” KRISTEN (angrily): “What did I do wrong?” MRS. ROLAND: “Well, you seemed to just be running around the field, completely confused about what’s going on. It’s like you are just there to kick the ball a few times.” KRISTEN (sarcastically): “Well, Mom, that’s kinda what soccer is, ya know! The object is to kick the ball into the goal!” MRS. ROLAND: “And have you done that yet?” KRISTEN: “Mom! Don’t you know anything about soccer? Or youth soccer I should say! Hardly anyone ever makes a goal! It’s considered, like, the biggest thing to get a goal on the first game!” MRS. ROLAND: “Well, I think you need to get more into the game, that’s all.” KRISTEN: “Are you kidding? When Coach Nilles had us try to memorize the player’s names, I stayed up all night trying to get them right!” MRS. ROLAND: “Okay, that’s all well and good, but how does that help you score a goal?” KRISTEN: “Well, for starters if I want someone to pass to I will know who to call for!” MRS. ROLAND: “Okay, you win there. But sports, and life really, is about creating a balance of all the important things that we need to do. So you need to find room in your brain to fit everything you need to learn about soccer: the teammate’s names, the way to kick a goal, the way to pass, all that’s stuff.” KRISTEN: “How do you expect me to focus on all of that when I have to deal with (GESTURES TO PILE OF HOMEWORK) Mount Everest over here?” MRS. ROLAND: “Didn’t you hear what I just said about balance?” KRISTEN: “Are trying to kill me or something? I can’t handle all this stuff!” MRS. ROLAND: “Then why did you sign up for soccer if you had to much on your hands?” There is an awkward pause. KRISTEN: “Because I wanted something fun to do! I thought it would be fun!” MRS. ROLAND: “But you signed up for it, so you must have been prepared to put your heart and soul into it, eh?” KRISTEN: “Jeez! It’s just a stupid little soccer league, why all the seriousness, Mom?” MRS. ROLAND: “Because, what happens if you slack off, and skip a practice? What if the coach gives the team a crucial bit of advice on that practice, and you miss it? Then you show up for the game, and when someone wants you to pass them the ball, and you don’t, your team looses. Just because you thought that it was just a little team.” KRISTEN: “So what Mom? Don’t you and Dad always tell me that stupid cliché’ ‘winning isn’t everything’?” MRS. ROLAND: “If you loose a game when you really tried hard, that’s okay. But when you loose because you were lazy, and didn’t try, that DOES mean something. It reflects on your character.” KRISTEN: “Well, if people are going to judge me because I lost a ga…” MRS. ROLAND: “Two things: one, I don’t mean that you should do everything to impress people! Two, there will come a time in life when you are applying for a job, or something like that, and you HAVE to impress someone with your strength of character. Do you think anyone who takes something they signed up for lightly or shows signs of laziness is ever hired by anyone?” KRISTEN: “Yeah, lots of people do, just go to the Saul-Mart and looks at their cashiers!” MRS. ROLAND: “Oh! I see, you want to be like those cashiers. Right? You want people like that working in bigger jobs too, and playing on sports teams?” KRISTIN: “That’s not what I meant, Mo…” MRS. ROLAND: “Well whatever you are meaning to say, it doesn’t sound good in my ears.” KRISTEN: “I don’t care what it sounds like it your ears! I am 14 years old! I’m not a baby! If I want to be lazy then it’s my problem not yours! Do you expect me to just stand here and listen to you calling me lazy?” MRS. ROLAND: “If you are lazy, then it affects me! What if I need to count on you for something, huh? How am I supposed to trust you? So yeah, I DO expect you to listen, cause you are my daughter! And since you have such a mature mouth towards me, I am going to punish you!” KRISTEN: “Let me guess, you are going to not let me take soccer anymore?” MRS. ROLAND: “Nope! I think I am going to MAKE you go to each practice, and game, not one exception!” KRISTEN: “Whatever, Mom. I only have two more games anyway!” MRS. ROLAND: “Ya know, if you think you are so mature and ready to do things by yourself, then why are you so stressed out lately?” KRISTEN: “I don’t know, just…leave me alone, okay?” KRISTEN then gets up from the table and storms down stairs to her room. MRS. ROLAND sighs and puts her head on the table. CUT TO: SOCCER FIELD, DAY Soccer practice is in progress COACH NILLES is watching as the team completes various drills. We see the team go through many different games and tests, some involving cones, others jerseys with different colors to distinguish the different ‘teams’ for the drills. CUT TO: INT ST. BENEDICTS SCHOOL LOCKERS, MID-DAY KRISTEN puts her schoolbooks in the locker, and rushes off to the next class. CUT TO: EXT ST. BENNEDICT’S SCHOOL, KRISTEN walks out of her school, looking slightly exhausted, then she eyes something off camera, and a slight smile appears on her face. We cut to what she is looking at; it is a lone soccer ball, positioned in the center of the field. KRISTEN looks around to make sure nobody is there, and then she runs up to the ball, and kicks it straight into the goal. CUT TO: SOCCER FIELD, DAY We pan from one side of the field to the other, all the way up to THE LASER BEAMS. COACH NILLES is in the middle of giving them a speech. COACH NILLES: “Alright guys, I’ not gunna lie to ya. I want to win this game, and bad! So go out there and try your da-“ A tall black haired man in his late teens elbows COACH NILLES. MAN (with a slight laugh): “’Darndest’ coach.” COACH NILLES: “Okay John! Ya wanna play chaperone, do ya? Ha ha! Okay guys let me introduce you to our new assistant coach, Mr. John Spearsmith.” There is a short round of applause. JOHN: “And how are you guys doing? I am, as Mr. Nilles kindly told you, Coach John. Now what are we gonna do today?” TEAM (unenthusiastically): “Win.” JOHN: “Oh come on! Is that the best you can do? WHAT DO WE WANT TO DO TODAY?” TEAM: “WIN!” JOHN: “I didn’t catch that!” TEAM: “WIN!!!” COACH NILLES: “Alright Laser Beams! Hands in! One…two…three…” TEAM: “LETS WIN!” CUT TO: Montage of the game. Show several steals by both teams, and one goal by the other team. Then we focus on a specific moment of the game. One of the Laser Beam players, George, has the ball and is speeding fast towards the goal posts. But then a whole group of players from the other team come between him and the goal. GEORGE: “Someone get open!” Nobody is able to get in a place that is good for a pass reception, except KRISTEN. We see KRISTEN’S eyes light up as she realizes where she is. KRISTEN: “George! Over here!” Then George passes the ball right towards KRISTEN’S head. She hits the ball with her head, and it it’s the ground right in front of her feet. CUT TO: Side of the field. COACH NILLES: “Go Kris go!” CUT TO: KRISTEN. She carried the ball forwards, kicking it away from all the opposing player trying to take it. She winds her leg back, and hits the ball with a clean kick. It flies through the air. The goalie jumps up to get it, but it slips between his hands, and hits the ground behind the goal posts. There is a moment of silence. KRISTEN stares blankly at the goal. The cheers erupt from the people watching the game. Then KRISTEN realizes what she just did: scored a goal. She jumps up and down, screaming at the top of her lungs. KRISTEN: “Oh my God!” The entire team is seen cheering the celebrating the goal. We hear a whistle blow. CAOCH NILLES has a very saddened look on his face. COACH NILLES: “It’s okay, continue with the game.” KRISTEN pays no head to the commotion going on around her, and continues to look happy and ecstatic. CUT TO: The other team makes another goal. The other team cheers. We then hear the referee blow his whistle. THE LASER BEAMS leave the field sorrowfully. COACH NILLES: “It’s okay team. There’s always next time.” KRISTEN: “And look on the bright side: 2 to 1 is better than 2 nothing.” BILLY: “I think we all realize that Kris. Thanks for rubbing it in.” KRISTEN: “What to ya mean? Am I the only one her who is trying to be optimistic?” ROBERT: “Kris, what is there to be optimistic about? That was a nice goal you made, and trust me, it counted in all of our eyes.” KRISTEN: “What do you mean? It didn’t count?” COACH NILLES: “You didn’t know? It didn’t count Kris, sorry.” There is an awkward pause, as Kris takes in this new information. COACH NILLES: “But like Bobby here said, it counted in our eyes, so don’t worry about it. It was a 2 to 1 game to us.” CUT TO: Close-up- KRISTENS face. She looks both shocked and saddened. CUT TO: KRISTEN and her MOM in the family car on their way home. It is nighttime. MRS. ROLAND: “Your coach told me that you made a goal today. See? Remember what I told…” KRISTEN: “I didn’t make a goal today, okay? I kicked the ball past the goalie, but it didn’t count. The ref said it was off sides.” MRS. ROLAND: “Then why did you coach tell me you made it?” KRISTEN: “Who knows?” MRS. ROLAND gives her daughter a confused look, and then turns the wheel into her driveway. CUT TO: INT- KRISTENS HOME MRS. ROLAND turns on the lights; KRISTEN immediately goes down stairs. MRS. ROLAND sighs. CUT TO: -EXT- -St. Benedict’s school- Early morning KRISTEN wanders the playground alone, the moonlight stretching itself across the swing set in a picturesque way. The sun peaks over the clouds and shine upon KRISTEN’S face. The school bell rings. KRISTEN sighs and heads inside. CUT TO: -INT- -St. Benedicts Classroom- Mr. Stevens is teaching his Social Studies class. KRISTEN looks as if she is trying her best to look attentive and not bored. MR. STEVENS: “Can anyone tell me who Francis Marion was?” The hand of KRISTEN’S fried KELLY goes up. MR. STEVENS: “Yes Kelly?” KELLY: “He was a hero during the American Revolution. He earned the name ‘Swamp Fox’ by British for disrupting their plans with his outstanding guerilla warfare planning and execution from his camp in swamps.” MR. STEVENS: “And do you know why he was one of the most successful Generals of that war?” Nobody puts his or her hand up. MR. STEVENS: “Well, born in 1732, he began to group together men early in the war, mostly militia. They were know by many to be quarrelsome and not very cooperative, nor very good shots for that matter. He was able to muster these men together and form some of the most brilliant strategies ever planned, during any war. His men began to be feared by the British. But everyone knows that his best accomplishment was being the inspiration for a Disney Television show.” The class laughs slightly. MR. STEVENS: “He was able to achieve both a friendship and a leadership with his men. He was also able to make these men form a group. He did what many men have strived to achieve. He achieved a balance of all things that were important to make us a free nation.” CUT TO: Close-up of KRISTEN. She looks very attentive. CUT TO: KRISTEN’S ROOM. KRISTEN is studying a history book. We see that the page is about the American Revolution. We see pages about Francis Marion, The Swamp Fox, and John Paul Jones. We see a section about famous quotes. KRISTEN (whispering to herself): “We have not yet begun to fight… A promise made to your self is often like to a…” We dolly away from her darkened bedroom and then we… CUT TO: Soccer field- Day. COACH NILLES stands in front of his team. They have just finished a drill. COACH NILLES: “Well guys, tomorrow is our last game. And I…Well…I’m gonna be honest here…” COACH JOHN: “Wait a sec coach.” COACH NILLES (Humorously): “What? Ya gonna censor my speech again, Mr. Spearsmith?” The team laughs a bit. COACH JOHN: “Nope, not at all Coach. I just wanted to put in my bit. I have been quite that past game and practice, and now I am going to say my part.” COACH NILLES: “Ha ha, be my guest Johnny Boy!” COACH JOHN: “Okay, here goes. (Clears throat) You guys had better kick the freaking crap out of the Cosmos tomorrow! Nothing against you guys, but I for one want at least one game to our record this year. We are far better than any of the guys out there. We got ‘em, okay? We ARE going to win this game, K? Write on the spot on your calendar for tomorrow: I WON MY FIRST GAME. Cause you are going to, got it? No doubts get excited! Act as if I’m a Mrs. Cleo, got it? I just predicted your future, and it’s gonna come true. We are going to win tomorrow! HANDS IN LASER BEAMS!” COACH NILLES: “Count down with me John!” COACH JOHN: “IN GUYS IN! HANDS TOGETHER!” The team does as they are told. COACH NILLES AND COACH JOHN: “ONE! TWO! THREE!!!! TEAM: “LETS WIN!” CUT TO: The whistle blows, and the last game of the season starts. We see a montage the game. The other team, THE COSMOS, score two goals. Then Jon, from THE LASER BEAMS, makes a great goal. The whole place cheers. The montage continues. Then a penalty kick is called on ALEXIS, from THE LASER BEAMS. COACH JOHN: “That was NOT a penalty!” COACH NILLES: “Don’t waste your time, Spearsmith! It was, don’t cause any trouble with the ref. He is doing a good job. I mean, he’s only 18 for crying out loud. Sit down.” KRISTEN is not in the game right now. She is sitting on the crowded team bench, looking desperately for water. KRISTEN: “I think I left my water at home, Coach.” COACH NILLES: ”Here, I brought an extra Gatorade for Luke, cause he likes it more than water. But he couldn’t come. Take it.” KRISTEN: “Thanks Coach.” She opens the cap of the Gatorade, and puts it to her mouth, and just as she is about to sip… COACH NILLES: “You ready now Kris?” KRISTEN lowers the bottle. KRISTEN: “Ready for wha…to go in?” COACH NILLES (sarcastically): “No to come out of the closet. Yeah. Go! Go!” She puts her Gatorade down, and head onto the field, but then stops. KRISTEN: “Where do I go?” COACH NILLES: “Center offence! Go! Betty! Sub off!” BETTY, a red haired girl, runs from the field. KRISTEN takes her place. The montage continues. No more goals are made by either side. COACH NILLES: “KRIS! SUB-OFF! DAVID! YOU GO IN FOR HER!” DAVID, a scrawny 12 year old, runs to take KRISTEN’S place. KRISTEN runs off the field with all of her might. COACH NILLES: “You’re doin’ great out there Kris, just take a break and catch your breath a bit. Half time’s comin’ up.” KRISTEN, now very sweaty and out of breath, nods. KRISTEN: “K, Coach.” We now watch the game from the view of those on the bench. It is not looking too good. The team seems desperate and confused. No goal is made by the COSMOS, but neither is there any being made by the LASER BEAMS. Both teams are beginning to look last and care-less. COACH JOHN: “They aren’t looking good out there Coach. Once it’s half time, we need to get ‘em energized a bit. Somehow.” COACH NILLES: “And how in the claustrophobic heck are we supposed to do that?” COACH JOHN (sarcastically): “I must say I’ve never heard that one before, Coach. I don’t know. We need to find some form of motivation; they aren’t acting like a team out there. They’re acting like…” COACH NILLES: “…Like a bunch of people running a round the field.” The ref then blows the half-time whistle. COACH JOHN: “Okay guys! Come on in!” The team comes in with their head low. COACH NILLES: “Okay guys, we need to come back. We are only ONE POINT behind! We can at least tie this thing! I don’t know what I can do to motivate you, but…” KRISTEN steps forward. KRISTEN: “Uh…Coach?” COACH NILLES: “What is it Kris?” KRISTEN: “Could I take it from here. I mean…I know you’re head coach and all, but I have something I want to say before the game ends.” COACH NILLES: “We don’t have much time…but okay. Go ahead.” KRISTEN (awkwardly): “Well, uh…in school we have been learning about The American Revolution. A subject that I didn’t really…um…read much into before Coach Nilles here told me about how the Generals weren’t that different from Coaches. I thought that was dumb until now. Yesterday we all made a promise to ourselves to…well…to win today. And I am going to quote General Francis Marion on that one. He said “Promises you make to yourself are often like the Japanese plum tree - they don’t bear any fruit”. Notice that he said ‘often’, in that speech. I think this promise can make fruit. So let’s go make it happen. And to quote John Paul Jones…” COACH NILLES: “…’We have not yet begun to fight’” KRISTEN (blushing): “Yep.” COACH NILLES: “Ya hear that team? We have not yet begun to fight! HANDS IN GUYS!” They all put their hands in. COACH NILLES: “Okay guys, let’s go out there and feed those Cosmos some Japanese Plums! On three, “LETS WIN”. ONE, TWO. THREE!”
Copyright © 2004 Patrick Collins |