Kim Nunley » cs open

Tuesday Links 9/14

Kim Nunley — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 19:47:43 +0000

I try to create sympathy for my characters, then turn the monsters loose. (Stephen King)

Here is this week’s collection of educational/inspirational/random Tuesday Links:

* Do you listen to music when you’re writing? Established screenwriter John August does and he explains why in a recent post.

* I recently came across the incredible photography work of 13th Witness. Check him out.

* I love this video which features a 90 year old WWII veteran explaining how the power of music made an impact in the days following D-Day.

* Julie Gray updates her GASP List, which now features 177 films that an aspiring screenwriter would look like an idiot if they haven’t seen. Great, more homework.

* Coverage Ink/CS Open have revamped their newsletter format and will now be featuring their updates on their own blog. Keep up with them, here.

* Scott Myers at Go Into The Story discusses Joseph Campbell’s screenplay structural formatting tool, entitled “The Hero’s Journey.”

* Seth Godin recently discussed the danger of both self-delusion and self-loathing, which is something screenwriters may be interested in, as we tend to either be too hard on ourselves or delirious about our true abilities.

* Lastly, the trailer for Hereafter, which is the film I was able to sneak my way on set for when they were filming in the East Bay, has been released. Roger Ebert likes the film. Clint Eastwood and Matt Damon? Yes, please.

Top 12 of CS Open announced

Kim Nunley — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:41:58 +0000

Wow. Just got an email from Coverage Ink announcing the top 12 in the Spring CS Open writing tournament.

With a 93 on my short about Chester the Squirrel, I just made the cut.

From the top 12, a team of 7 readers have chosen their favorite 3 scenes and should be announcing them soon.

Congratulations to the top 12 (find the official list, here):

95) Ian Murillo
94) Dries Coomans
94) Walter Thompson
95) Philip Schneider
94) Lisa Scott
94) Crystal Ann Taylor
93) Kimberly Nunley
93) Tim Harding
93) Rich Frost
97) Diane Lisa Johnson
93) Erik Fetler
95) Marcus Leary
_______________________________

On another note, my feature, My Brother Mick, failed to make it into the top 10 of Script Doctor Eric’s 2010 Screenwriting Contest. Congratulations to the ten who are still in the running!

COMPULSIVE LYOR by Erin Frankfort
CONTRACT by Jerod Brennen
DREAMING OF ME by Traci Peterson
HORROR COMIC by Stephen Hoover
IN DEAD COMPANY by Sophia Branson
KILLSIGHT by Josh Barbee
PICK YOUR KIDS by Jonathan Kuhn
REFLECTION by Dennis Shutty
SHORT TERM FORECAST by Brad Sorensen
THE REBOUND GUY by Lisa Super

My CS Open Round Two Submission

Kim Nunley — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:00:41 +0000

After scratching my original idea and starting over, I somehow was able to submit my Round Two short scene entry for the 2010 Cyberspace Open yesterday with an hour to spare.

Only the top three scores out of the hundred remaining contestants will make it to the final round.

Here’s the prompt we had to follow for Round Two:

Your PROTAGONIST has been betrayed by his CONFIDANT — someone deep within his (or her) inner circle. This betrayal threatens to destroy everything the protagonist has been working towards. The protagonist’s only ace in the hole: the confidant is not yet aware he’s been found out. Write a crackling scene in which the protagonist confronts the confidant.

Below the jump is my entry, just click on “read more.” Please excuse the minor formatting issues as the plug-in that I use to post in script format, scrippets, sometimes wigs out. There are some things that are center justified that shouldn’t be and vice versa.

Thank you for taking the time to read it and for offering any thoughts you may have on it.

EXT. SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD – DAY

A quiet neighborhood. During a weekday like this, there’s nothing but the sounds of wind-bustled tree leaves and sporadic bird chirps. There’s nobody around--

Except for an ELDERLY MAN walking his DOG on a leash-- their daily routine. As they pass one home’s side yard fence--

The head of CHESTER, a fluffy-tailed California ground squirrel, pops out from around the fence-- watches as Man and dog continue down the sidewalk.

With the coast clear, Chester pops a NUT into his mouth, scampers across the street.

He hops up onto a fence, tightropes the top of it with ease into a home’s backyard.

BACKYARD

From the fence, Chester LEAPS onto the branch of a tree, climbs until he reaches the tree’s peak.

From this vantage point, he has a view over the neighborhood. He scans left to right. All clear.

Chester scales down the tree, onto the backyard’s lawn. After a last glance to see if anyone’s looking--

He furiously digs into the earth-- spews dirt up into the air as he makes his way down.

A moment later, jackpot. Nuts after nuts after nuts.

Chester drops the one he carried with the others.

He looks over his collection with pride.

Abruptly, he tosses down a brown sack, diligently fills it with the nuts.

BENNY (O.S.)

What are you doing?

Chester jumps, clutches his chest.

Once he sees it’s BENNY, another squirrel, he relaxes.

CHESTER

Geez, Benny. Give me cardiac arrest.

BENNY

Chillax, Chest’, it’s just me.

Benny jumps down into the hole, tosses down his own nut.

There’s a distinct difference in appearance between these two-- Benny the taller, more muscular one.

Chester puts his hands on his waist, a noticeable animosity towards Benny amplifies.

CHESTER

What are you doing here?

Benny pulls out hidden nuts from within his bushy tail.

BENNY

What do you think, bro’? Collecting grub, of course.

Benny notices the sack.

BENNY (CONT’D)

Why does it look like you’re packing up our nuts?

(gasp, a realization)

You’re ducking out on me.

CHESTER

I’m not.

They both look down to the brown sack, filled to the brim.

BENNY

You were about to take our winter stash and ditch me!

CHESTER

Everything’s fine. I’m just doing a little reorganization, spring cleaning.

BENNY

Spring cleaning? It’s October, Chester! You’re a backstabber!

Benny violently shoves Chester. This only fuels Chester.

CHESTER

Me?

BENNY

My own brother!

Benny paces back and forth.

BENNY (CONT’D)

You know what you are? You’re a chipmunk!

Chester jerks back.

CHESTER

That’s below the tail, Benny.

Chester lunges at Benny-- Benny back towards Chester. UMPH! They meet, entangle, scuffle around in the dirt.

Benny gets the upper hand-- pins Chester face down, holds his head in the dirt. Chester relentlessly squirms.

BENNY

How could you do this? I should string you up by your back paws!

CHESTER

I’m not the one who’s a backstabber. You told the “Squirrellettes” where our stash was!

Benny stiffens.

BENNY

How do you know about that?

MEMORY FLASH

THREE FEMALE SQUIRRELS-- the “Squirrellettes.” They’re being charmed by Benny, who tries to be suave, flirtatious.

BENNY (CONT’D)

My name’s Benny, but people call me “B-Nut.” So what are you ladies doing later?

LYNDSEY, the leader of the Squirrellettes, is not impressed.

LYNDSEY

Yeah, we’re real busy. We have plans to give each other manicures--

One Squirrellette sharpens her nails on a tree.

LYNDSEY (CONT’D)

So unless you can offer something exciting--

BENNY

Well, uh-- maybe we could have a party? At my place? I can get you gals more nuts that you could ever dream of.

This perks Lyndsey’s interest-- she seductively leans towards him.

LYNDSEY

Really?

BACK TO PRESENT

Chester wriggles wildly.

CHESTER

Let me go!

Benny releases him. They both brush themselves off.

CHESTER (CONT’D)

I don’t like them, Benny. Especially their leader--

BENNY

(dreamy)

Lyndsey.

CHESTER

I don’t trust her.

BENNY

You don’t know her like I do, Chest’. She loves me. We’re going to be together.

CHESTER

Oh, really? You need to focus on our goal instead of off chasing fluffy tail. Remember what Dad taught us? Squirrels work the summer so they live in winter.

BENNY

Dad was also alone his entire life. That’s not gonna be me.

SNAP! The sound of a twig snapping causes both of them to instinctively stand tall on two feet, freeze.

A moment, then both Benny and Chester jump, grip hold of the hole’s ledge, hold themselves so the can peek over the top.

At the edge of the yard are the Squirrellettes, collaborated into a huddle. They each have their own brown sack in hand.

Lyndsey points towards the coveted hole of nuts.

Benny GASPS.

He drops down to the hole. Chester follows suit.

BENNY (CONT’D)

She played me.

Benny sits down in the dirt, puts his face in his paws.

CHESTER

Benny, we’ve got to get our nuts out of here.

BENNY

You take ‘em. I don’t deserve them.

CHESTER

I can’t do this alone. Get up.

Chester reaches out a paw to Benny, who takes it reluctantly.

BENNY

I’m so sorry, bro’.

CHESTER

Forget it, we’re in this together.

Benny picks up the brown sack, throws it over his back.

CHESTER (CONT’D)

And Benny-- you don’t ever have to worry about being alone.

Chester reaches out his paw towards Benny. After a moment of hesitation, Chester reaches out with his. They go through a special handshake, consisting of claps, daps, and butt taps.

Benny, with sack, and Chester, nuts in any place he can carry them, scamper away from the empty hole.

Thankful Friday… 5/21

Kim Nunley — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:18:22 +0000

This week has been somewhat of a rollercoaster. But, besides being tempted to pack up all our stuff and live out of our cars so that we don’t have to be in this stupid apartment anymore, I really can’t complain.

I’ll overlook the twelve hours it took me to work the laundry units because professionally, it was a damn good week.

+ made it to this weekend’s Round Two of the Cyberspace Open

+ My Brother Mick was named a semi-finalist in Script Doctor Eric’s Screenwriting Contest

+ brought my Livestrong fitness article monthly total up to twenty. Just ten more to go to reach my goal this month.

+ was able to get all my runs in this week without my leg acting like a little pansy

+ going to leave in a bit to pick up Erykah Badu concert tickets, then meeting the real estate agent about a potential property

+ get to go see the Giants play the A’s tonight with my wife and friends

+ tomorrow I get to see some of my favorite people on earth and celebrate a six-year old’s birthday

My CS Open Round One Score

Kim Nunley — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:21:18 +0000

While I was busy dreaming of sugarplums last night, the Creative Screenwriting Cyberspace Open posted the finalists for Round One. One hundred writers out of a little over 1,400 will be participating in Round Two this weekend.

You can find the complete list of finalists for Round One, here.

I was fortunate enough to make it with a score of 96 on my short baseball scene. If you’re interested in reading it, you can find it here.

My feedback and score specifics are below. Yeah, you could say that I’m in a damn good mood this morning. Congrats to all of the finalists.

Kimberly Nunley

Structure: 24

Dialogue: 23

Style: 25

Originality: 24

Total: 96

Comments: Very fun, fresh, original scene. Great job of taking a rather pedestrian moment and elevating it to great importance, as well as putting a clock on the stakes. Loved this from the beginning to the end. Nice work!

My CS Open Submission

Kim Nunley — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:30:29 +0000

Round one of the CS Open took place over the weekend. After receiving a prompt on Friday evening, we had until Monday morning to submit a three to five page scene.

Here is the prompt we had to follow:

Your protagonist is crushed. His or her plans have been dashed; his objective now appears impossible. And yet if he throws in the towel, bad things will happen. Write a scene in which a mentor, friend, love interest or enemy rallies or provokes your protagonist in an unexpected way. Be sure to give us your best dialogue here as your protagonist comes around and rises – or falls — to the occasion.

I got my own entry in last night. You can hit the jump to read my submission. As per usual, feedback, whether good or bad, is welcome.

EXT. BASEBALL STADIUM – DAY

A summer afternoon. The ballpark is packed, buzzing. Every fan in the stadium in red-- as if God poured ketchup over the crowd. T-shirts, hats and even skin. That is, except for one.

In the outfield bleachers is MITCHELL SIMMS, in bright baby blue shirt and hat-- the only fan of the visiting team. And boy is he hearing it from those around him.

RED FAN #1

How’d your team make it this far?

RED FAN #2

Nice outfit. Headed to a baby shower after this?

RED FAN #3

Baby Blues suck!

Mitchell is hit in the face with a sunflower seed-- does nothing. He peeks up at the score: REDS 4, BABY BLUES 1.

RAY (O.S.)

(whispers)

I warned you not to wear that.

RAY, a little fella, sports a REDS’ HAT. He looks ahead, talks out the side of his mouth.

RAY (CONT’D)

Did I not?

MITCHELL

But we made the playoffs.

Baby Blues are up to bat. First batter, line drive to the outfield. The crowd MOANS. Mitchell covertly pumps his fist.

Second batter, base hit. Third batter, a walk. The crowd is agitated. Mitchell tries with all his might to hold in his excitement-- a smile still leaks from his face.

RED FAN #1

Come on! Let’s go Reds, let’s go!

And with that, the section, yet what feels like the entire stadium, joins in on the repeatable chant.

CROWD

Let’s go Reds, let’s go!

The PITCHER winds up, throws, CRACK! The crowd stands, watches as the ball soars into the outfield.

RED FAN #1

Uh-oh.

It keeps flying--

RED FAN #2

Catch it!

Further--

RED FAN #3

No, no!

It clears the fence, home run! The crowd plops down simultaneously, dejected. Mitchell rises, unintentionally knocks his NEIGHBOR’S beer onto his lap.

Mitchell doesn’t realize, raises his arms in celebration.

MITCHELL

Yes!

He hastily sits down, embarrassed at his outburst.

The Neighbor stands, brushes beer from his pants.

CROWD

Oooooh!

It’s then Mitchell realizes his mishap.

MITCHELL

Dear God, I am so sorry.

NEIGHBOR

I’m going to punch your face in.

RAY

(whispers to Mitchell)

Offer to buy him another!

The Neighbor eyes Ray.

MITCHELL

Let me buy you another beer--

RED FAN #1 (O.S.)

Kick his ass!

MITCHELL

No, no. Please don’t kick my ass.

NEIGHBOR

Stand up.

Mitchell cautiously does. Next to the Neighbor, he’s puny. He cowers as the Neighbor leans down, gets nose to nose.

NEIGHBOR (CONT’D)

You will buy me a beer.

(to crowd)

Who else is thirsty?

The three Red’s Fans raise their hands.

NEIGHBOR (CONT’D)

Make that four beers.

He points up to the scoreboard.

NEIGHBOR (CONT’D)

Bottom of the seventh-- beer’s cut off in the eighth. That’s three outs to get beers. We’ll keep your bud here, so you don’t ignore the beer stands on the way to your car.

The crowd SIGHS. The scoreboard changes to ONE OUT.

NEIGHBOR (CONT’D)

Now you have two outs.

Ray shoves Mitchell forward.

RAY

Go!

Mitchell climbs over fans to get to the aisle. They each give him a jab as he passes. He explodes up the stairs.

VENDOR SECTION

Mitchell scans the beer vendors, each with a line of ten. He gets in the end of one, grabs his cell phone, dials.

RAY (O.S.) (CONT’D)

(in phone)

Have the beer?

MITCHELL

The line is ten deep, Ray. It doesn’t look good.

RAY (O.S.)

Mitch, do what you need to. Get that beer!

BLEACHERS

The Neighbor holds Ray into a headlock, leans into his phone.

NEIGHBOR

You best hurry.

VENDOR SECTION

Mitchell runs up to a FAN in the front of his line.

MITCHELL

Anyway I could take cuts? I’ve got to get beer before the eighth.

FAN

We’re all trying to get beer, pal.

Mitchell looks down the line-- it’s grown even longer since he stepped from his spot. He puts the phone up to speak, but--

CROWD (O.S.)

(in phone)

We want beer! We want beer!

BLEACHERS

The Neighbor has Ray’s phone up to the crowd-- they chant.

CROWD (CONT’D)

We want beer!

VENDOR SECTION

RAY (O.S.)

(in phone)

Mitch, hurry up!

A TELEVISION above the beer stand shows the second out made.

GAME TV ANNOUNCER (O.S.)

(on TV)

That’s two outs now, here in the bottom of the seventh.

Mitchell gets on his knees in front of the NEXT GUY IN LINE.

MITCHELL

I’ll even give you cash. Order my beer-- I’m begging you, please.

NEXT GUY IN LINE

With that hat on? Take your Baby Blue butt to the lemonade stand.

Mitchell takes off his hat, frisbees it away.

NEXT GUY IN LINE (CONT’D)

Nice try. I know your true colors.

Mitchell checks the television. TWO OUTS, TWO STRIKES. A pitch-- the batter swings, fouls it off to stay alive!

Mitchell dashes to the stairway to check the bleachers. Ray is being crowd surfed against his will.

A stadium wide MOAN. The third out was made. A CASHIER yells.

CASHIER

That’s it for beer folks!

The entire line disperses. Mitchell sprints over.

MITCHELL

No! No! One last order please! It’s a matter of life or death!

The Cashier deliberates, then starts to fill beer cups.

MITCHELL (CONT’D)

Thank you... thank you!

CASHIER

Shut up, will you?

The Cashier slides over the tray of beers. He slyly lifts his Red shirt to reveal a Baby Blue one. Mitchell smiles.

CASHIER (CONT’D)

You can’t wear your stuff here, man. Unless you want to be killed.

BLEACHERS

Mitchell hustles down the stairs-- surprised to see the bleacher section completely empty. Nobody, except Ray.

MITCHELL

Where is everybody?

RAY

Kicked out. Unruly behavior.

Mitchell sits next to Ray-- the entire section theirs.

MITCHELL

Beer?

RAY

Please.

Back and ready to go.

Kim Nunley — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:40:36 +0000

Okay, well… I was way off on my Oscar picks and went 0 for 2 on the writing nominations. Still, I thought the show was pretty entertaining, although the presenters they booked were at times disappointing.

The weekend away completely recharged my battery. Relaxing at baseball games with my wife and the nice weather was just what I needed.

Plus, I came back to find a job offer for another freelance writing gig and information about a new short scene competition in my inbox:

Last October, I participated in the Cyberspace Open online short scene competition. Last year’s event was the first time the annual contest was done online instead of at the Screenwriting Expo, giving writers who couldn’t make the event an opportunity to participate.

Well, it looks like they’re going to have a Spring 2010 Edition. I already threw in my entry. Go here to enter or get more information.

What This Unique Contest Is And How It Works

The Cyberspace Open is an on-line elimination contest in which writers compete for three prizes of $3,000, $500, and $300. In addition, we will give winners great industry exposure:

We will send 300+ producers the names and describe the achievements of the winners.

The written scenes and videos of the three winning scenes will be posted on the Web, with an explanation of the tough conditions under which they were made.

Also, we send feedback by email to all entrants.

Like no other contest in the world, this contest tests your ability to write creatively for a movie or TV production on a tight deadline. The skills it takes are very much like some of the key skills of a script doctor called in to fix a script quickly, or a TV writer working on a weekly show.

The Steps In The Elimination Contest
The Cyberspace Open is a four-stage elimination contest:

Round 1: A Weekend To Write A Scene: 100 Survivors
In Round 1, we post a scene premise at the web site on Friday, April 16, 2010 at or just before 5:00 p.m. You will have until 9:00 a.m. Monday, April 19 to email your finished scene to the entry email address. That gives you an entire weekend to conceive, write, rewrite, and polish your first-round entry.

What Round 1 Simulates:
We think of Round 1 as being much like this situation: A movie or show is being shot. It becomes clear on Friday afternoon that a key scene is just not working. You are called in to save the budget and schedule by writing a new scene over the weekend and delivering it to the producer (us) by 9:00 a.m. sharp on Monday. The entire film/TV crew will be sitting around on the set Monday waiting for your words. There is no margin for late delivery.

Round 2: Absolutely, Positively, Must Be There The Next Morning
In Round 2, the 100 finalists who survive Round 1 will receive a new scene premise by having it posted on this page at 10 A.M. on Saturday, May 22, 2010. These 100 finalists will have until 10:00 A.M. Sunday, May 23 to email it to the entry email address.

That timetable gives finalists 24 hours to conceive, write, rewrite, and polish second-round entries.

What Round 2 Simulates:
Round 2 is much like this situation: a movie or show is being shot. It becomes clear on the morning that a key scene is just not working. You are called in to save the budget and schedule by writing a new scene by the next morning and delivering it to the producer (us) by 10:00 a.m. sharp. The entire film/TV crew will be sitting around on the set Sunday waiting for your words. So there is no margin for late delivery.

The Three Winners Advance To The Live Round:
The three highest scorers among Round 2 finalists are all prize winners. They will advance to Audience Voting to determine first, second, and third place.

Brand New And Very Cool: Winning Scenes Videotaped:
In this contest, each of the three winners will have his/her second scene videotaped:

Actors will perform a reading of each of the three scenes before a camera/cameras provided by the Contest, which will be video recorded.

The three videos of scenes and the scene texts will be placed on the Internet for viewing.

Recipients of our CS Weekly E-Zine (approx. 80,000) will be invited to vote for a winner.

Voting will take place through an online survey system. The three winning positions (first, second third) will be on the basis of highest score. One vote will be allowed per IP address.

Bonus For All Entrants: Brief Feedback On Your Scene.
Judges will provide your score and feedback to you if you provide an email address. Be sure your mail server does not block emails from the servers @creativescreenwriting.com and @screenwritingexpo.com in order to receive your score and feedback.

CS Open semifinalists announced this morning…

Kim Nunley — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:58:00 +0000

The CS Open website was updated this morning. Congratulations to the fifteen who will be competing this weekend in the final round of the Cyberspace Open.

David Zorn
Doug Peake
Pamela Rodeheaver
David Ivy
Tom Weber
Benjamin Wheelock
Sean Leonard
Matthew Fleck
Kevin Johnson
Karen Veazey
Scott Noack
Mark E. Poole
Cathy Kitinoja
Gillian White
Dan Parkhurst

EDIT: It looks like the minimum score to advance to the finals was 94! The fifteen names above kicked butt. Also, Coverage Ink offered somewhat of an apology for the hiccups that occurred in their first year of running the tournament in an online format.

It would have been fun to have been able to participate in the finals, but it’s time to focus on what’s next… the upcoming Pitch Festival.

I had some breakthroughs with my pitch yesterday. I’m starting to feel confident and comfortable. Tonight I’m going to perform my pitch for my wife, who will be a tougher individual to present it in front of than anybody else ever could be. There will be no sugarcoating in her feedback, which is a good thing because it’ll help me be as prepared as possible.

Received my CS Open round 2 score this morning…

Kim Nunley — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:19:00 +0000

Damn… disappointed.

Total Score–Calculated: [22+21+23+23] = 89

Structure Score: 22 Dialogue Score: 21 Style Score: 23 Originality Score: 23

Judge’s Comments: Great original set up and likable characters, but their reaction to Percy taking the scrunchie seems a tad extreme. It also feels a bit odd that taking a scrunchie would ensure that a player doesn’t play (we’d expect a locker room full of women to have more than one scrunchie!). Despite these issues, Percy’s mea culpa is good and the scene ultimately wins us over. Nice job.

My CS Open round 2 submission…

Kim Nunley — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:19:00 +0000

I was able to finish my scene for round two of the CS Open at around 11 o’clock last night, which is great because I like sleep and it likes me.

I submitted the scene online and also emailed it in as an attachment, so hopefully there won’t be any craziness that unfortunately happened to other writers in round one.

Only ten out of the hundred and thirty finalists will make it to the final round.

Anyway, my submission is below.

Once again, the premise:
Your PROTAGONIST’S allies have turned on him (or her.) His reputation is now in tatters, largely due to his own screw-up — which has been magnified and broadcast by the ANTAGONIST. Write the scene in which the protagonist tries to win the allies back. The scene should include a heartfelt mea culpa. You may use any setting, era or characters in addition to the ones indicated, as needed.

And my scene, entitled “Percy.”

INT. STADIUM RUNWAY/LOCKER ROOM – DAY
It’s somewhat of a miracle that PERCY is able to carry the enormous mist-blower down the stadium runway, but that’s exactly what he does.

He wraps his scrawny arms around it… bear hugs that thing. He may get only inches with each shuffle, but he won’t stop.

A CROWD ERUPTS from O.S.

The cheer causes Percy to pick up his pace. He barely steps into the LOCKER ROOM as FOOTBALL PLAYERS run up from behind.

As the excited Players pass, Percy gets jostled and bumped… he struggles to keep his balance.

The Players CHEER, YELP, and slap each other’s butts… obviously the winning team.

JULES, the biggest one, stops, takes the mist-blower from Percy’s arms, and sets it on the ground next to a few others.

She… that’s right, she, pulls off her helmet and offers Percy a passing smile.

She slaps his butt as if he were one of the girls and then joins her teammates, who continue their celebration near their lockers.

STACY
Knock ‘em down! —

PATRICE
Roll ‘em around! —

TEAM
(in unison)
Come on Falcons, work, work, work!

STACY and PATRICE lead the cheer, but Percy’s eyes linger on Jules… he’s taken, gone… adores that woman.

He grabs a roll-cart and gathers up the players’ laundry… all the time sneaking brief glances at Jules.

With each player he passes, he offers a congratulatory comment-

PERCY
Great blocking Stacy… Heck of an interception “Pat” –

The players love him. Patrice rubs his head and Stacy “chest bumps” him as he passes. He’s awkward, but loves it.

As he approaches Jules, he becomes nervous.

PERCY (CONT’D)
Jules, you —

RICHARD (O.S.)
I want to see you in the ice bath in five, Jules.

The athletic trainer, RICHARD, who knows about the crush, turns to Percy and rolls his eyes.

Richard steps into the center of the crowd of Players… attempts to interrupt the celebration. He throws bags of ice at each of them.

RICHARD (CONT’D)
Stacy, get this on your knee! Patrice — your shoulder!

Stacy grabs Percy, plops him in front of Richard.

STACY
Why can’t you be more like Percy?

RICHARD
You want me to be like an anorexic schoolboy?

STACY
Percy’s the best, right girls?

They return to their cheer, but change the words–

TEAM
(in unison)
Percy! Percy! Percy! Percy!

The entire team goes nuts. Richard looks on, disgusted.

JULES (O.S.)
Hey — heads up!

The Players hush immediately and take a seat. Jules’ “heads up” was a signal that COACH ROLLINGS is approaching.

You wouldn’t be able to tell by his face that the team won… it’s somber, serious. Actually, he looks kind of pissed.

He stops in the front of the team. All eyes are on him. With his melancholy voice —

COACH ROLLINGS
I need you to listen to me closely.

He rubs his forehead, like what he’s about to say is difficult… then his face changes, he cracks a big smile.

COACH ROLLINGS (CONT’D)
We won!!!

The Players explode with him.

COACH ROLLINGS (CONT’D)
It was such an incredible team effort… you all worked together!

They CHEER and “high-five.” He’s got them fired up.

COACH ROLLINGS (CONT’D)
But, I have to point out one player. One of us really stepped up. Not usually a starter–

They know who he’s talking about. Players start rubbing Jules’ shoulders, patting her on the head. She smiles.

COACH ROLLINGS (CONT’D)
– But with the unfortunate situation with Riley, unable to play because she couldn’t find her lucky purple hair “thingy” —

RILEY (O.S.)
“Scrunchee!”

COACH ROLLINGS
Whatever-

RILEY sits in her pristine, fresh uniform, her hair down. She shrugs her shoulders.

COACH ROLLINGS (CONT’D)
Jules came in and rocked it!

Coach Rollings hands Jules a football.

COACH ROLLINGS (CONT’D)
Game ball goes to Jules!

TEAM
(in unison)
Jules! Jules! Jules! Jules!

The Players all stand and bounce around. Even Percy gets in on the act now. He jumps around with the Players.

A PURPLE “SCRUNCHEE” falls to the floor amongst the group. Stacy is the one to notice it.

STACY
Hey Riley… your “scrunchee” —

The Players stop cheering, look down at the “scrunchee”…

RILEY
Where’d it come from?

RICHARD
It fell out of Percy’s pocket!

The Players turn, gawk at Percy.

RILEY
Percy, what is he talking about?

JULES
You didn’t, right?

Percy looks up to Jules and then looks away in embarrassment. An admission of guilt.

Stacy picks him up, drops him into his own laundry cart.

Percy stays in the laundry cart and tries to defend himself.

PERCY
I… uh…

PATRICE
How could you do that?

PERCY
But we won —

Richard SNORTS.

RICHARD
You tried to make us lose.

JULES
You really took it?

PERCY
I was gonna’ give it back…

RICHARD
Sounds like backstabbing to me.

JULES
What were you thinking?

Percy really doesn’t get it. He pleads with Jules.

PERCY
But you were twenty for twenty-two in completions… with two touchdowns…

RICHARD
Who are you working for, traitor?

PERCY
I… I didn’t mean to hurt the team. I’m sorry.

Jules’ disappointed look kills him. She turns, walks away.

RICHARD
You deliberately stole the “scrunchee” to sabotage the season!

PERCY
No… it’s just… I didn’t… I love Jules!

Jules turns back, faces him.

PERCY (CONT’D)
I’m sorry. You smile when you get to play. And Coach never gives you the chance. I want you to be happy. I love you.

Not sure about Jules just yet, but Percy has won over the rest of the team. Stacy wipes tears, Patrice hugs another teammate.

Jules approaches him… her intention unclear. A moment, then she pulls him from the cart, wraps her arms around him.

It’s all he’s ever wanted.

TEAM
Ahhhhh…

Percy feels a tap on his shoulder. He looks up to see Coach Rollings in his face.

COACH ROLLINGS
You’re fired.

But Percy doesn’t care. He maintains his embrace with Jules and lowers his head into her… which with their height discrepancy ends up being onto her chest.

THE END
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Thank you for taking the time to read my scene… any feedback is always welcome.