Eight Crazy Nights remake: Day 2

FADE IN: LOOK AT THE COURTHOUSE AND THEN FADE TO THE INSIDE. DAVEY IS STANDING AT THE DEFENSE TABLE WITH THE HOOD OVER HIS HEAD (HANGOVER).

JUDGE
Stone, what are we going to do with you? For the past twenty years you’ve been nothing but trouble. What happened to the twelve year old basketball star?

DAVEY
Can you stop shouting? You’re voice gives me a headache, and it isn’t just the hangover.

JUDGE
You know, Mr. Stone, I can’t stand your attitude. I’m going to crack down hard this time.

WHITEY
Your honor, if it pleases the court, I’d like to suggest Davey’s sentence as well as pay for his bail.

JUDGE
Mr. Whitey, we’ve been through this time and again. You can’t keep bailing Mr. Stone out. The community center’s insurance can’t cover you like this.

WHITEY
Well unlike many of you I have had a close connection with Davey ever since his moral fibers were still intact. How about you have him coach with me during tonight’s game? It’ll mean a lot to me.

JUDGE
(Sighs) Fine, but this will be the last time you’ll bail out Mr. Stone. The court is adjourned.

JUDGE HAMMERS HIS GAVEL, AND THE SCENE CUTS TO THE INSIDE OF WHITEY’S CAR. WHITEY LOOKS CONCERNED, AND DAVEY LOOKS BORED.

WHITEY
The judge has a point, Davey.

DAVEY
About what?

WHITEY
About how the community center’s insurance can’t allow me to keep bailing you out.

DAVEY
I forgot to thank you, didn’t I?

WHITEY
Well, there’s that, but let’s be serious. I can’t always be there to bail you out. Who knows? Maybe this will be the last time I’ll be able to. (He pats his chest, subliminally mentioning his heart condition.)

DAVEY DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING AND INSTEAD LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW. THERE ARE PEOPLE WALKING DOWN THE SIDEWALKS ENJOYING THE HOLIDAY DECORATIONS. AMONG THEM IS A COUPLE WITH THEIR DAUGHTER. WHITEY AND DAVEY GO TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER TO PREPARE FOR THE NIGHT’S GAME.

DAVEY
Wow. This place doesn’t seem to have changed since the last time I was here.

WHITEY
Well, we did get the walls and the floors refinished. But that doesn’t change the memories that were made here. So you really haven’t been here in the past twenty years? (Notices DAVEY’s displeased expression) I see. Well then, follow me to the locker room. It’s where it always was.

THE SCENE CUTS TO A DARK ROOM. WHITEY OPENS THE DOOR AND TURNS ON A LIGHT. IT IS THE LOCKER ROOM.

WHITEY
Ah, being here with you brings so many wonderful memories. Do you remember that one game twenty years ago where you scored the winning basket? That was exciting, right?

DAVEY
(Sarcastically) Yeah, until you get to the part where the police came in to tell me that my parents died that same night.

WHITEY
Actually, I was talking about that game in August. Either way, your parents would have been proud of you. (He pulls out a coach’s jacket) You could just put this over your shirt.

DAVEY DOESN’T SAY ANYTHING, BUT HE GRABS THE JACKET BEFORE TRYING IT ON.

WHITEY
I’m sorry, Davey. I didn’t mean to bring it up…

DAVEY
Yeah, yeah. So how do I coach?

WHITEY
Okay. Well, to start off, don’t drink. You need to be on you’re a-game if you’re going to leave a good impression on the team.

WHITEY LEADS DAVEY AWAY FROM VIEW. THE SCREEN FADES TO OUTSIDE THE COMMUNITY CENTER. IT IS NIGHT TIME.

DAVEY is in the hallway leading to the gym. He is pouring some whiskey into a bottle filled with a Gatorade-like drink. He hears a door shut and hides the whiskey flask in a basket.

WHITEY
Are you ready, Davey?

DAVEY
Never better!

WHITEY
Alright! Say ‘Hello!’ to the team!

A group of pre-teen boys come up to WHITEY and DAVEY. They are dressed in their basketball uniforms.

WHITEY
Alright, team! This will be Coach Stone’s first time being here, so make him feel welcome.

The team doesn’t look pleased to see DAVEY, but they greet him anyway.

TEAM
Hello, Coach Stone.

WHITEY
Great! Let’s get a move on!

As the TEAM runs to the court, one BOY looks back at DAVEY.

BOY
(To DAVEY) I hope you don’t vomit on the court!

DAVEY doesn’t say anything, but he takes a drink from the Gatorade bottle.

CUT TO THE BASKETBALL COURT

As the TEAM and WHITEY walk into the court, the crowd of supporting families cheers. When they see DAVEY, though, they react negatively.

MAN 1
What’s he doing here?

WOMAN 1
Stay away from my boy!

DAVEY gives a nasty look towards the crowd, and takes another gulp from his bottle.

WHITEY
Don’t listen to them, Davey. I’m here for you.

As the game progresses, DAVEY gets more and more irritated with the TEAM and the crowd.

DAVEY
You there! I told you to toss that ball! That kid was wide open!

WOMAN
Don’t judge my boy!

DAVEY
Look here, lady! I’m the coach! I have every right!

WHITEY
Davey! Can we talk over there?

WHITEY takes DAVEY to an area near the stands and speaks to him quietly.

WHITEY
Blow in my face.

DAVEY
Why?

WHITEY
Do it for me, please.

DAVEY blows slowly in WHITEY’s face. WHITEY sniffs the air.

WHITEY
You spiked that drink.

DAVEY
What?

WHITEY
Davey! I told you that you shouldn’t be drinking tonight. I expected you to respect that. I… I-

WHITEY’s face turns pale. He staggers and collapses into DAVEY’s arms.

DAVEY
Coach? Coach! S-somebody help!

BOY
Coach Whitey! (Runs to DAVEY) Let him go! Let him go!

DAVEY lays WHITEY on the ground as the TEAM and adults go up to WHITEY. DAVEY backs up to the wall and watches the crowd at they try to save WHITEY. He runs down the hall towards to locker room.

CUT TO INSIDE DAVEY’S TRAILER.

DAVEY rushes in and nearly runs over beer bottles. He lands onto his bed. On his bed stand there is unopened Christmas card. It is signed ‘To our beloved son, from Mom and Dad’.

FADE OUT:
END OF NIGHT 2