The Game
by Kevin Stypulkoski
EXT. FIRESIDE BOULEVARD --- DUSK
Downey.
A piece of the gargantuan city that is Los Angeles. A home
that has much diversity and history to it, but a town that
can weed out its visitors with the flick of a hat.
TOM and JARED, two men in their late-20's, are driving in a
rental car. Both have strong New York accents. They
immediately seem out of place in the localist setting.
TOM
I heard the first Taco Bell was
around here.
JARED
Ain't surprised. Something like
that would be started in LA.
TOM
What the fuck is that supposed to
mean?
JARED
Damn illegals.
Tom laughs at the ridiculous of it.
TOM
You know Jared, Taco Bell was
founded by an American. Glen Bell.
JARED
Oh woopty fucking doo Tom. When did
you become the book of knowledge.
TOM
I'm just saying, why you gotta be
such an insensitive prick all the
time.
JARED
It comes with the territory.
Tom shrugs it off.
JARED (CONT.)
Oh what the fuck is wrong now? You
gotta a soft spot for Taco Bell.
TOM
Yes I do. I happen to love Taco
Bell. I love every thing about the
Bell.
JARED
The Bell? Jesus Christ why don't
you just leave me back on the east
and stay out here in the middle of
the desert alright?
Jared punches Tom in the shoulder, almost as if busting
Tom's balls. Tom smirks and punches back.
TOM
You know sometimes I really don't
know why I'm friends with a bitch
like you, you know that?
JARED
I couldn't give two shits. The only
thing I care about right now is
watching the game which is on in
(looks at the car clock)
two minutes! Shit!
TOM
Well were quite a ways from the
hotel in Hollywood.
JARED
I think we need to stop.
Tom appears hesitant.
TOM
Jared, we can't just stop around
here. We're playing the fucking
Dodgers for Christ's sake. You
can't just walk into a local pub
and start rooting for the other
team in Game 7 of the series.
JARED
What are you scared or somethin?
TOM
(nodding)
Very much so, yeah.
JARED
(shaking his head)
Jesus Tom, you know people wouldn't
even know you're from the Bronx.
Tom starts getting a little annoyed with constant agitation.
TOM
Oh yeah?
Tom swerves into another lane.
INT. DOWNEY BREWING COMPANY --- NIGHT
A local pub, swarming with people. The dress is very
specific. LA Dodgers gear. Every TV in the entire
establishment is showing the game.
The atmosphere is quiet, but dedicated. When the pitch is
thrown, there is but a whisper in the air. The bat connects
with the ball and its flying high through the air. The crowd
starts roaring, but the ball is caught. A collective awe is
heard, but two guys at the front entrance cheer.
Beat.
The silence and stares from the bars patrons says it all.
Tom and Jared take a seat at the crowded bar top. A man,
LARRY, mid-30's and gruff, can't help but keep his demeaning
eyes off the two of them.
LARRY
So where is it you boys come from?
TOM
The Bronx.
LARRY
(sarcastic)
Why did I even ask.
It is the 3rd inning, 0-0.
The bartender, HERB, slowly approaches Tom and Jared.
HERB
So what is it I can get you boys?
TOM
Bud Light.
The crowd collectively laughs, Herb included.
HERB
(smirking)
Bud Light?! I think you should take
a look around buddy.
Tom and Jared search their surroundings and see Miller and
Miller High Life bottles spread throughout the bar.
TOM
Miller.
JARED
My friend wants a Bud.
HERB
Well quite frankly, as a Miller
brewery, we don't serve Annheuser
here. That isn't our product.
Jared is clearly sensing the condescending tone. Tom senses
the retaliation that's coming on and speaks up first.
TOM
(snirking)
I guess were having High Life.
Herb motions to give them both a beer. Larry looks at his
action with disbelief.
LARRY
You're not seriously going to serve
these fellows are you Herb?
The crowd is obviously all thinking the same thing, but no
one utters a word.
HERB
It's my bar Larry. I can do
whatever the hell I want.
Tom and Jared clearly appreciate notion, but Herb isn't
finished.
HERB (CONT.)
Especially when we have foreigners
on our turf.
The consideration dissipates.
The two men drink their beers and look back to the screen.
INT. DOWNEY BREWING COMPANY --- LATER
It's the 5th inning now, the game is still 0-0. There have
been no real chances for fans of either team to gloat, and
it's obvious by the saggy body language of Tom and Jared as
well as the bars constituents.
Then! CRACK! The ball is hit by Matt Kemp to the outfield.
It's going, it's going, it's....GONE! Home run Dodgers, 2-0.
LARRY
(to Tom and Jared)
Fuck you two!
He continues clapping obnoxiously along with the other
Angelinos.
INT. DOWNEY BREWING COMPANY --- LATER
It is now the 7th inning. The score is still 2-0 Dodgers.
Larry, clearly more drunk now as the game has gone on, looks
to Tom and Jerry, ready to lay on some insults.
LARRY
(slurring)
So you fucking guys, decided that
flying over here from New York, and
coming to this bar. Who do you guys
really think you are? The inferior
team always loses.
Tom shakes his head thinking the man is just a waste of
time. Jared isn't taking it though.
JARED
Inferior? (laughs)
In-fucking-ferior. I guess that's
what you call a team with 27 World
Series championships under their
belt. What the fuck you got? Six?
And only two of those were after
you moved out of Brooklyn.
The bar is clearly not having any of it.
TOM
Yo Jared, how about we chill huh?
LARRY
Nah I think your friend here knows
perfectly well what he's getting
himself into. Because no matter
what statistics you throw in other
teams faces, it don't change the
fact that your team "buys" its wins
because of the budget they got.
Jared is getting even more pissed than before.
JARED
You can't be fucking serious right?
Our salary cap is $228 mil. Yours
is $216. Aint much of a difference
pal.
LARRY
Yeah now. But it aint used to be
that way back in the day!
JARED
For real? Let's take Kevin Brown in
2000. Played for you with an annual
paycheck of 15. Sure A-Rod got 21
from the Yanks in 2004. Adjust for
inflation and its about even.
LARRY
(sarcastically)
Oh look a numbers man!
CRACK! It's a wallop of a ball, line drive to the outfield!
Jeter and Suzuki round third and bring it in. The game is
2-2!
Jared starts obnoxiously clapping in the face of Larry.
JARED
That's how its done.
Larry knows he needs to shut his mouth for a bit.
INT. DOWNEY BREWING COMPANY --- LATER
It's finally toward the final minutes of the game.
ANNOUNCER ON TV
Bottom of the 9th inning. It has
all come down to this. The score is
now 3-2 LA. You could not ask for a
more intense Game 7 and its all
left up to Yanks. The team has
bases loaded, two outs, and have
Robinson Cano at the plate.
JARED
Cano don't you know?
Jared winks at Larry who at this point is a wasted mess.
Larry is not pleased to say the least.
Larry looks over to his other friends and pulls them close.
LARRY
(whispering)
If Cano hits a deep one and wins
the game, I wanna pull this asshole
outside and teach him a lesson.
His two "bouncer-looking" friends nod.
The silence across the bar is incredible. You could hear a
needle drop. The only sound is the announcer's voice, which
echoes through the room.
ANNOUNCER ON TV
Cano steps up to the plate. A
winding curve ball Strike 1.
Jared looks back to Larry who's smiling now.
ANNOUNCER ON TV
Rodriguez winds up, and...Strike 2!
LARRY
Aint looking good for you either
way Mr. Bronx.
Tom looks at Larry strange as he begins to suspect he is
gearing up for no good.
TOM
(to Jared discretely)
Hey Jared, I'm thinking we should
get out of here man, I got a bad
feeling.
JARED
Shut up man, this is the game.
Tom looks back to the TV nervously.
ANNOUNCER ON TV
Rodriguez throws the pitch...Ball!
Tom takes a sigh of relief, but he looks back to Larry in
fear, who seems to have his buddies huddled up and ready.
ANNOUNCER ON TV (O.S)
This is looking like it folks.
Rodriguez winds up, the pitch is
fast...Cano strikes it and it's
going...
Shot of Jared's face.
ANNOUNCER ON TV (O.S)
Going...
Shot of Larry's face.
ANNOUNCER ON TV (O.S)
Going...
Shot of Tom's face.
ANNOUNCER ON TV (O.S)
...and it's gone!
JARED
YES!!!!!
Jared hugs Tom who gives him a light hug back.
ANNOUNCER ON TV
Grand Slam wins the series for New
York and everyone in the Bronx will
be sleeping tightly tonight...
LARRY
I beg to differ.
Beat.
LARRY (CONT.)
Boys, I think we need to take this
outside.
Everyone at the bar is silent, most people quivering at the
sight, but too afraid to step in, including Herb.
Larry and his friends get up in Jared's face. The two
henchmen grab Jared and Tom by their shirts and begin to
throw them outside.
EXT. DOWNEY BREWING COMPANY --- PARKING LOT --- CONTINUOUS
Tom and Jared hit the ground hard. Jared is struggling to
get up, but Tom is able to help him. Larry and his friends
surround them.
Larry and Jared are still considerably drunk, but its quite
obvious that the 3-on-2 fight against his burly friends
won't be quite the match for them.
LARRY
Winning the World Series! Can you
hear the sounds boys? The cheering?
Larry cups his hand around his ear.
LARRY (CONT.)
I don't hear shit. You know why?
Cuz you two are in the wrong
fucking place! That's why!
Tom gets defensive and slowly approaches Larry.
TOM
Look, Larry right? We just wanted
to watch the game, scratch that, HE
just wanted to watch the game. Our
flight from LAX got in late and we
didn't have a chance to get to the
hotel before the game started. It's
Game 7 man. You don't miss that,
especially if you're a nitwit like
my friend here.
LARRY
I don't really give two shits about
your sob story ass wipe.
Jared gets pissed off.
JARED
What the fuck did you call him?!
Jared starts charging Larry, but Tom restrains him.
TOM
Just let us go man. Let us just
leave with our victory.
LARRY
You aint leaving with your victory,
cuz you came to the wrong place my
friend. You don't come to LA, on
the eve of the biggest game of the
year, order a Bud Light and root
for the other team. This aint
bumblefuck man. This is Downey! And
in Downey, we don't like east
coasters.
Jared's face gets mean.
JARED
I had enough of this shit...
Jared charges after Larry and pushes him to the ground. Tom
tries to go in after him, but Larry's two guys hold him back
to let the fight play out.
TOM
Jared!
Larry and Jared both squabble around drunk, but Larry seems
to have the upper hand, decking Jared a good dozen times.
Tom keeps squirming to get out unsuccessfully.
(Video clips from the baseball game intercut with the
announcer's voice overlaying)
ANNOUNCER ON TV
Cano steps up to the plate.
Tom's eyes open wide.
ANNOUNCER ON TV (CONT.)
He looks determined to hit this
ball deep.
Jared is laying on the ground bloody and incoherent.
ANNOUNCER ON TV (CONT.)
It all comes down to this.
Jared breaks free of the hold, punches the one guy then lays
a wallop into the second.
ANNOUNCER ON TV (CONT.)
The pitch is up...
Jared leaps towards Larry about to punch him when Larry lays
one on him first sending to him the ground.
But...
Larry is hit from behind with one knockout blow!
ANNOUNCER ON TV (CONT.)
The ball is smacked to the
outfield! It's gone!
The man standing above Larry's body is none other than Herb.
HERB
Jackass.
Herb helps up Tom and Jared to their feet. Both of them are
speechless and the only thing that seems to come from their
mouth is...
TOM AND JARED
Thank you.
HERB
Hey, he's got one thing right. What
you boys did was downright stupid
and the furthest thing from
courageous.
The two hang their heads a bit.
HERB (CONT.)
But it sure as hell was a good way
to end the series. In Downey, we
fall with our team, whoever that
is.
Herb puts his hand out to shake. The two of them shake it.
TOM
Thank you...Herb right?
HERB
Yeah, Herb.
JARED
Yeah thank you Herb.
HERB
Now you guys get out here before
more angry fans pour out. These 3
will come around.
The two of them start heading to the car to leave. Just
before they open the door, Herb turns around.
HERB (CONT.)
By the way...don't tell anyone
but...I root for America's team.
Tom and Jared smirk and drive off.
KEVIN STYPULKOSKI
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