77
HEADSTRONG
By Patrick Link
LATW DRAFT Script 12/14/2012
WITH AUTHOR-APPROVED CHANGES
CHARACTERS:
DUNCAN TROY
NICK MERRITT
SYLVIA GREEN
DR. MOSES ODAME
Cast of Characters
DUNCAN TROY: Sixties. African-American.
Former NFL linebacker. Has a moustache that looks like an iron horseshoe.
NICK MERRITT: Thirties. Played football at
Dartmouth and looks like it.
SYLVIA GREEN: Thirties. Duncan’s daughter.
African-American. Attractive but not superficial. Goes to the gym every morning. Shops at J. Crew once a week.
DR. MOSES ODAME: Late thirties. A Nigerian
neuropathologist. Small, stubborn, and wise.
Scene
Mostly Philadelphia, with some Boston.
Time
The present.
SCENE ONE
A living room / trophy room; the inhabitants of the home refer to it both ways.
The walls are decked in various shades of triumph, photographs of athletic achievement and glory long since gone.
DUNCAN TROY owns the house and lives there still. He has a MacBook near him, along with several VHS tapes scattered around the coffee table.
NICK MERRITT stands across from him. He wears a suit from Brooks Brothers.
A bottle of Scotch is out and has been opened. Each man has a glass.
MUSIC Opening (to be determined by director)
FX Ice clinking in glasses, perhaps we hear it as the men gesticulate to one another.
DUNCAN
But at the end of the day, a win’s a win. Stats are for baseball. Football is about winning.
NICK
But you can’t say that Marino isn’t--
DUNCAN
Marino? Don’t even start with Marino.
NICK
The numbers don’t lie.
DUNCAN
You want a number? Zero. That’s how many rings that guy has. Promise you that’s the only number he thinks about.
NICK
Have you met him?
DUNCAN
Met him? I’ve sacked him.
NICK
Well, fair enough.
DUNCAN
Sacked Montana too. Good guys. Just saw Joe at a dinner about six months ago. You get to know everyone.
NICK
Yeah, I bet.
DUNCAN
Elway was there too. Along with both his rings. You see Elway at these dinners talking, gesticulating with his hands so everyone can see his rings. Meanwhile, Marino is in the corner. Hands in his pockets, ’cause he’s got nothing to show. They make him sit at the kid’s table. Tough crowd.
The stories I could tell. If I had more time I’d tell you about New Years’ at OJ Simpson’s house.
NICK
You knew OJ?
DUNCAN
Not too well. But he had this New Year’s Party every year. Ha. Jesus. Once I got married I had to stop going, if you understand me. It was that kind of thing.
NICK
Oh. Wow.
DUNCAN
Yeah. A lot of that going on back then. Different time. You married?
NICK
Uh, no.
DUNCAN
Then you would have enjoyed yourself. Maybe a couple of times.
NICK
(Pointing toward the wall) That’s Super Bowl 15.
DUNCAN
Oh yeah.
NICK
These are great photos.
DUNCAN
It’s my Wall of Fame.
NICK
Eagles vs. Raiders. 1981. I’ve seen replays of this game.
DUNCAN
Ha. Me too. Painful though it is.
NICK
You got Dick Vermiel on there.
DUNCAN
Coach, yeah.
NICK
Legend. Great team. Campfield, Carmichael, Herm Edwards, Ron Jaworski.
DUNCAN
Jaws!
NICK
Even, what’s his name...the guy from the Invincible movie. Vince Papale!
DUNCAN
Yeah, fuck that guy. Fuckin’ walk-on. I never talked to the walk-ons.
NICK
How long did you play?
DUNCAN
Fourteen years. ’72-’86. All with the Eagles. I stayed loyal.
(Beat. They look at The Wall of Fame)
Ah, look at me. I was a professional athlete, one hundred percent. Hard to believe. Now I can barely run a mile.
NICK
I know the feeling.
DUNCAN
Did you play?
NICK
In college, yes.
DUNCAN
Where at?
NICK
Dartmouth.
DUNCAN
(Beat) They tackle there?
NICK
Ha. They do.
DUNCAN
What position?
NICK
Defensive end.
DUNCAN
...ah ha.
NICK
What?
DUNCAN
Nothing. You have film?
NICK
What? No. Not on me.
DUNCAN
I love watching film. That’s what I’m working on now. Got all these tapes from my playing days.
FX He picks up a VHS tape or two, sets it back down on a stack.
Trying to post them on YouTube.
NICK
Oh cool.
DUNCAN
Here, take a look. I just got the first one cued up.
(Duncan turns on the TV with the remote)
FX TV clicker – the TV comes on and we hear the playback (underscore). Cheering, announcers, etc.
Now this is me sacking Archie Manning. I’m reading the offense, tell Jones to watch 33 and ... look, he’s rolling left and BOOM.
FX The cheering swells on the TV.
NICK
Oof.
DUNCAN
He don’t want to go left. Look, no flag. Just wrapped him up. See how my head crossed his path?
NICK
That’s textbook. Just like they teach you.
DUNCAN
I’m going to post a whole series of these. Thiesman, Simms, all of them. "The Art of the Sack."
NICK
Nice.
DUNCAN
I was 225 and benched 300. Where does it all go?
NICK
Tell me about it. I used to bench around the same.
DUNCAN
In college?
NICK
After.
DUNCAN
...after?
NICK
I wrestled for a few years.
(Duncan shuts off the TV)
FX TV clicker – the television goes dark
DUNCAN
...the fuck?
NICK
Yeah.
DUNCAN
Like Greco-Roman?
NICK
No. Like the kind you watch on TV.
DUNCAN
Like Hulk Hogan?
NICK
More like the farm team equivalent. Highly competitive though. We beat the hell out of each other.
DUNCAN
Isn’t it all...fake?
NICK
Let me put it this way: the concussions are real.
DUNCAN
(Beat) You want any food?
NICK
I’m good, thanks.
DUNCAN
I might have some.
NICK
Please. Go for it. Don’t feel like you have to entertain me.
DUNCAN
Sylvia should be here soon. I’m not sure where she is. She doesn’t tell me things anymore. So if you can get her to talk...it’ll be more than I can do.
NICK
I just want to express my condolences. Have a moment to talk to her.
DUNCAN
Good luck. Condolences aren’t always easy to express. Especially with my daughter. She hasn’t taken it well.
NICK
It’s a hard thing to take.
DUNCAN
Mm. His picture’s over there. (Points to a small table)
NICK
He’s not on the Wall of Fame?
DUNCAN
Ronnie was my son-in-law. His picture goes in a different place.
NICK
He was a hell of a running back. I remember whenever he scored a touchdown he would just hand the ball to the ref. Didn’t spike it, didn’t dance. A true professional.
DUNCAN
Probably didn’t occur to him to do anything else. He was simple sometimes. Like Forrest Gump. I’m not kidding. Ronnie was good at football, so good he didn’t have to be good at anything else. Until he left the game and he had to go out there and live. And he couldn’t. So he didn’t.
NICK
It’s an awful story.
DUNCAN
It’s a damn mess is what it is. You know I identified his body? When they found him in Cincinnati. We drove over there. Sylvia was going in to ID him. Couldn’t.
NICK
Why not?
DUNCAN
Too squeamish. Can’t handle death. But I can. I saw Ronnie on the slab. Naked and sterile. Flabby and weak.
(Looks at Ronnie’s picture)
FX Picks up framed picture from wooden side table
Coward’s way out. Antifreeze. Leaves it to us to pick up the pieces.
FX Sets picture frame down again
NICK
Did you have much contact with him? Toward the end?
DUNCAN
No. They weren’t together, you know.
NICK
Yeah, I heard.
DUNCAN
That’s the bitch of it all. They were done. They had split. But he never signed the damn divorce papers, forcing her to deal with all this shit.
NICK
Do you know why they split?
DUNCAN
Money. Ronnie made good money when he played. And he pissed it away faster than you could imagine.
NICK
Easy to do, I guess.
DUNCAN
Not like this. They had money set aside for Charlie’s college. He dipped in and started spending it on Internet scams and painkillers and whatever else.
NICK
That’s awful.
DUNCAN
Can’t have a marriage when there’s no trust. So she left. And I was glad to hear it. Like I told Sylvia when she first brought him home, the thing about running backs is that they’re always trying to slip away. And I’ll give him that. He was good at running away.
NICK
So Sylvia’s lived here since they separated?
DUNCAN
Yeah, about. My wife was sick. Cancer. That’s when Sylvia moved back. Wife died. Daughter stayed.
NICK
I’m sorry.
DUNCAN
Three years ago. I think she likes it. I wake to dishes being done in the morning. It’s nice. I just got her a pair of shoes. No reason, just because. Help her stand a little taller. One thing I learned it’s that women love shoes.
NICK
I’ll keep that in mind.
DUNCAN
You should. It’ll help you. God knows it’s helped me. (Beat) If you do get her to talk...
NICK
Yes.
FX Front door knob turning – keys jingling from outside
DUNCAN
Never mind. Forget I said that.
FX Front door swings open – sound of paper grocery bags rustling in arms
(The front door swings open and SYLVIA GREEN enters, burdened by brown paper grocery bags.)
SYLVIA
I got groceries. No marshmallows this time...
FX Front door close
(Notices Nick) Sorry, dad. Didn’t realize you had company.
DUNCAN
Actually, you have company.
NICK
Hi, I’m Nick Merritt. From the Sports Life Foundation.
SYLVIA
Oh.
NICK
I left you some messages.
SYLVIA
...right.
NICK
I was hoping we could talk.
DUNCAN
Where’s Charlie?
SYLVIA
Sleepover. One sec.
(She exits into the kitchen)
DUNCAN
Why did she get groceries again? I offer to do it. She won’t let me. Like the world would end if I had to pick out cereal. (Beat) Pretty, isn’t she?
NICK
Beautiful.
DUNCAN
See? Who could ever be good enough for her? Nobody deserves her.
NICK
Do you?
DUNCAN
Not even close.
(Sylvia re-enters)
SYLVIA
Nick, is it?
NICK
Yes. Nick Merritt.
SYLVIA
And how can I help you?
NICK
Five minutes is all I need.
DUNCAN
He went to Dartmouth.
SYLVIA
Oh wow. Then please, come right in.
DUNCAN
Pardon me, Nick. I need to excuse myself. Too many men on the field.
NICK
It was great meeting you.
DUNCAN
Oh, I’ll be back. (He exits)
SYLVIA
Look, I’m really not interested in speaking with anyone right now.
NICK
I know. I’m very sorry to barge in like this.
SYLVIA
Yeah.
NICK
I left several messages for you and didn’t hear back.
SYLVIA
Why might that be?
NICK
But it’s important that I speak with you.
SYLVIA
So you came to my house?
NICK
Again, I don’t mean to disturb you. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about all of these recent events.
SYLVIA
Tell your editor, your news clerk, your blogmaster, whatever you have, tell them I have nothing to say. So there’s no need to call or email and there’s certainly no need to come inside my house. I don’t want any stories. I don’t want any headlines. I just want privacy.
NICK
And I totally respect that.
SYLVIA
And yet, here you are.
NICK
I brought Scotch. Would you like some? Your dad had some.
SYLVIA
I’m sure he did.
NICK
He’s very funny.
SYLVIA
Really, what did he say? New Years’ at OJ Simpsons house?
NICK
You know about that?
SYLVIA
All of Philadelphia knows about that. He’ll tell anyone.
NICK
That’s hilarious.
SYLVIA
It’s hilarious until it’s sad. Which isn’t very long. And neither was my marriage to a guy named Ronnie Green. We were married. He played football. Then he stopped playing football. Then we stopped being married. Then a couple of years went by. And then he died. Is it awful? Yes. And there’s really nothing else to say.
NICK
Listen.
SYLVIA
No. No can do. Thanks for the Scotch. I need it. But not now and not with you. It’s not a good time.
NICK
Technically you are still his wife. He never signed the divorce papers.
SYLVIA
So what?
NICK
Legally that matters.
SYLVIA
I signed them. Were we married on paper? Are you married when you live in different states and never talk and date other people? So I could really give a damn about what he did with those papers. I could also give a damn about making the papers, so if you don’t mind, please--
NICK
Again, I’m not a journalist.
SYLVIA
I don’t care.
NICK
We’re a research organization that studies athletes at all stages of their lives and when a notable athlete passes away, we like to follow up.
SYLVIA
Well, thanks for the follow up, but when I didn’t return your calls that wasn’t an invitation for a house visit. Especially not two weeks after his death. Ronnie’s dead and there’s nothing I can do.
NICK
Aren’t you curious about what happened?
SYLVIA