EXT. HIGH SCHOOL – WEEKS LATER
Fin gets out of his car and walks to class. We see banners up that say “Rivalry Week”. Fin checks his phone.
CALI
(Texts)
I know! Good luck on your game tonight, me and kye will be there for sure!
FIN
(Texts)
Thanks, it means a lot.
CUT TO:
INT. MR BRADFORD’S CLASSROOM – MOMENTS LATER
(Talk about the 1 father 2 sons thing)
INT. MR. BRADFORD’S CLASS – MOMENTS LATER
MR. BRADFORD
The first semester is coming to an end, would anyone like to share what they’ve learned before we get into today’s lesson?
Silence.
MR. BRADFORD (CONT’D)
Very well. Has anyone ever heard of the father and two kids story?
Silence.
MR. BRADFORD (CONT’D)
In the middle of the night, a father wakes to find his house burning. His infant daughter is trapped in her crib, while his older teenage son cries for help from the other side of the house. He only has time to save one, the daughter who has so much unexplored life ahead of her, or the son, whom he has been through so much with. What do you think?
Silence
ZEKE
(Pauses)
Save the son, he’s old enough to have already formed memories and relationships. You’ve been through more with the older son, you’ve made more of a connection with him since he has been around for so long.
MR. BRADFORD
Good Zeke, good reasoning.
AVA
I disagree, the infant has so much life left, untapped potential, the infant could become something so amazing, saving her would be worth the risk. Who’s to say that the infant’s potential outweighs the known potential of the older son.
MR. BRADFORD
Hmm, but is the unknown future of the infant more valuable than a life already lived. Didn’t expect the twins to be on opposite sides of the spectrum.
Fin would you like to add anything?
FIN
Um, no, I don’t know what I would do.
MR. BRADFORD
That’s the hard part Fin, if you hesitate, you could lose both.
Fin looks up at Mr. Bradford.
Silence.
CUT TO:
The bell rings.
Fin, Kyler, and Cali all walk out to the parking lot.
KYLER
Hey Fin, Coach wants me and the other pitchers to stay after school and throw a little since the seasons are getting close to starting up. Any chance you could give Cali a ride home?
FIN
(Awkwardly)
Um, yeah if that’s fine with her.
CALI
Sure, but only if I get to drive.
FIN
Oh uh, okay, sure.
Cali kisses Kyler.
Fin looks away.
CALI
I’ll see you at the game tonight Kye.
KYLER
Be safe! Don’t let her crash Fin, she never takes her foot off the gas.
FIN
I won’t bro, promise.
Fin and Kyler do a pinky promise.
KYLER
Hey, you know the rules a pinky promise means if you break it I get to hit you in the nuts.
FIN
My least favorite rule.
Fin and Cali walk over to Fins car where he throws her the keys.
FIN (CONT’D)
Please don’t wreck it, I like my nuts where they are.
CALI
Well, I guess you’re just gonna have to trust me then.
CUT TO:
Cali drives Fin as they listen to roses by the Chainsmokers.
We see him stare at her while the wind flows in their hair and they laugh.
Fin knows he loves this girl.
They arrive at Cali’s house.
CALI
I love this song! Has anyone ever told you that you have great taste in music?
FIN
That is one of the more popular compliments I receive, but this song in particular was my dad’s favorite. He didn’t have a specific genre, he just liked what he liked.
CALI
Well then, your dad had excellent taste.
FIN
Yeah, he did.
They get out of the car and Cali tosses his keys back.
CALI
See, good things happen when you trust me Fin, there’s not even a scratch.
FIN
I’m forever in your debt.
Cali looks back at him while she walks away.
CUT TO:
INT. LOCKER ROOM
COACH D.
Alright men, we all know this season didn’t go the way we all thought it would, and I may or may not be on what some call “The Hot Seat”, but if we can win this game and beat our rivals the Athletic Director has assured me that he will let me keep my job, now I know it’s not normal for a coach to talk to his players about these things, but we haven’t beat north ridge in 10 years, so if you are looking for something to play for, play for me.
ASHER
You heard the man, for coach on three, 1. 2. 3.
THE TEAM
FOR COACH!
EXT. FINS FOOTBALL GAME – NIGHT – RIVALRY GAME
Fin looks up in the stands from the sideline and sees Kyler and Cali sitting in the front holding a sign that reads “PUT FIN IN”
The rival team enters and we see Chase lead them out.
CUT TO:
Kyler and Cali.
CALI
There has to be a weight limit for football right?
KYLER
You would think so, the poor team is about to be sent home on stretchers.
CUT TO:
The whistle blows and the game begins
They hand the ball off to Chase and he carries half the team on his back before Asher smokes him
It’s a gain of 20
ANNOUNCER
If they can’t find a way to stop Chase it’s gonna be a long night for the Wasps
We see a montage of Asher running in a touchdown and Chase injuring players while scoring.
COACH D.
Damn it! We’re running out of bodies out there.
The camera shows the bench with half of the team injured
ASSISTANT COACH
If one more player goes down, we’re gonna have to put Fin in.
COACH D.
Fin hasn’t played a snap all year, you want to put him in against that monster?
Chase picks up a player while running the ball and throws him over his shoulder onto the ground.
The player doesn’t get up and the team Dr. runs out.
COACH D. (CONT’D)
Alright Fin, listen up. Have you ever played safety?
FIN
Not once, but I’m a quick learner.
COACH D.
(to himself)
We’re screwed.
COACH D. (CONT’D)
Listen, as a safety, you are the last line of defense, they haven’t thrown the ball all game, you’re only going out because we need 11 on the field and we’re out of bodies. They’re gonna hand it off to Chase, if we tackle him, time will expire and we’ll win the game, if he scores I lose my job and we lose the game. Got it?
FIN
Got it.
COACH D.
Do it for me Fin.
Fin runs out on the field and Asher has to show him where to line up.
Chase smiles at the defense.
One of the linebackers starts crying in fear.
CUT TO:
Cali and Kyler
CALI
C’mon Fin.
KYLER
(Laughs)
Oh shit, Fin is toast.
CUT TO:
They snap the ball and Chase runs up the middle trucking multiple players and putting them in the dirt.
FIN
God help me.
Chase comes charging toward Fin, the last defense.
Fin fearfully gets down in a fetal position to try and protect himself.
Chase goes to truck Fin and trips over his body short of the goal line.
REF
(Whistles)
Eh Stap! The game is over!
Fin looks up from the ground and sees the whole team dog-pile onto him.
CUT TO:
Cali and Kyler
CALI
WE WON! HE DID IT!
KYLER
Holy shit.
They hug in celebration.
CUT TO:
The team lifts Fin onto their shoulders and celebrates
>FADE OUT.
Most of the team has left and Fin is still looking at the scoreboard.
He starts to walk off as Coach D comes up to him.
COACH D.
Fin! We did it! Looks like I’ll be keeping my job. Couldn’t have done it without you Fin.
FIN
I didn’t do it for you. I needed this.
COACH D.
Needed what?
Fin looks at Cali and Kyler celebrating with the student section.
FIN
I just really needed a win.
CUT TO:
The locker room.
ASHER
Speech! Speech!
The players push Fin to the front of the room.
FIN
I’m proud of everyone for leaving it all on the field tonight…
But I didn’t. I saw Chase coming and hit the ground, scared. I Got lucky, plain and simple. Football isn’t for me, it was supposed to be a distraction, but, it’s not working. I love this team, but I can’t finish the season. This game? I don’t love this game like you do. It’s time I find out what I do.
Fin turns and walks away.
ASHER
Fin!
Good luck.