Concussion: A Short Script

FADE IN:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM - NIGHT
The crowd is at a feverish pitch as two rival high school teams square off at the line of scrimmage. The ball is snapped--a sweep to the right. NUMBER 50, and African-American defensive end zeroes in on the ball carrier. He has him in his sights, ready to make the tackle, then . . .

CRACK! A wide receiver virtually annihilates number 50 on a block, knocking him off his feet and onto his back. The ballcarrier is brought down a few yards downfield by other members of the defense.

The QUARTERBACK signals to his team.

QUARTERBACK
Huddle up! Huddle up!

All of the offensive team members huddle up. The defensive team members also huddle. The offense walks to the line of scrimmage and sets up in formation for another play. The defense does the same. Number 50 is not on the line.

DEFENSIVE COACH
Where the hell is 50?! Where’s the D-end?

NUMBER 8 walks up to the coach and points into the backfield 30 yards behind the line of scrimmage.

NUMBER 8
There he is coach.

Number 50 strolls nonchalantly through the manicured grass near the end zone behind the offense. He looks around, confused, and keeps walking toward the goal line.

DEFENSIVE COACH
Jerrod! 50! What the hell are you doing?!

Number 50 looks at the coach, squints his eyes as if trying to figure out who he is, then shrugs his shoulders and continues walking. The coach runs to the REFEREE.

DEFENSIVE COACH (CONT'D)
Time out! Injury time out!

REFEREE
Where’s the injury?

The coach points to number 50. The referee blows his whistle and runs out onto the field, stopping the play. The teams huddle up again.

DEFENSIVE COACH
Somebody get a trainer out there.

The TRAINER runs out onto the field to where number 50 is walking.

TRAINER
Jerrod! What are you doing?

NUMBER 50
Oh, hey Katie. What’s going on?

TRAINER
What are you doing over here?

NUMBER 50
Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
(long pause)
Walking?

TRAINER
Yeah, okay, let’s get off the field. Come on.

NUMBER 50
Oh shit! I’m supposed to be in this play, huh?

Number 50 runs over to the offensive huddle and squeezes his way in.

NUMBER 50 (CONT'D)
It’s okay guys, I’m ready now.

Everyone in the huddle looks at him with puzzled looks.

QUARTERBACK
Wrong huddle, dude.

NUMBER 50
Hey, who’re you guys?

The trainer runs up and grabs him by the back of the jersey, pulling him out of the huddle.

NUMBER 50 (CONT'D)
(to trainer)
Who are those guys? I don’t know them.

TRAINER
That’s the other team, dipshit. Let’s get off the field.

Number 50 heads to the wrong sideline. The trainer grabs him by the back of the jersey again and spins him to the correct sideline.

TRAINER (CONT'D)
This way, genius.

CUT TO:EXT. SIDELINE TRAINING TABLE - NIGHT
Number 50 stands next to the training table. The trainer has a small penlight in her hand as she works.

TRAINER
Okay Jerrod, I need you to answer some questions for me. What day is it?

NUMBER 50
Hmm. Tuesday?

TRAINER
Tuesday. Are you sure?

NUMBER 50
No.

TRAINER
Wanna try again?

NUMBER 50
Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

TRAINER
Look around you. What’s going on tonight?

NUMBER 50
A football game.

TRAINER
And what day do you play games on?

NUMBER 50
Friday! It’s Friday.

TRAINER
Good. Okay, I’m going to need you to remember three words for me. Do you think you can do that?

NUMBER 50
Hell yeah.

TRAINER
Okay, the words are: house, blue, dog. You got that?

NUMBER 50
House, blue, dog. Got it.

TRAINER
Now, I need you to follow this light without moving your head. You got it?

NUMBER 50
Child’s play.

The trainer moves the pen around slowly in an arcing motion. Number 50 follows the pen but moves his whole head instead of his eyes.

TRAINER
Just your eyes Jerrod.

NUMBER 50
Like I said, child’s play.

The trainer repeats the motion, number 50’s whole head moves again.

TRAINER
Just your eyes!

NUMBER 50
I am just using my eyes. Look!

Number 50 bugs his eyes out in an exaggerated fashion. The trainer repeats the motion, 50’s head still moves.

NUMBER 50 (CONT'D)
Just my eyes. Only the eyes. The eyes have it. Snake eyes. Eye of the dragon.

The trainer stops the motion.

NUMBER 50 (CONT'D)
Nailed it! What’s next?

TRAINER
Who is the president of the United States?

NUMBER 50
Obama, son!

TRAINERGood, good. Hey, remember those three words I told you?

NUMBER 50
Of course!

TRAINER
What were they?

NUMBER 50
Tree, sonar, captain. Nailed it again!

TRAINER
Yeah you did. Can I see that?

She takes his helmet out of his hand and hands it to the equipment manager, who walks away with it.

NUMBER 50
What are you doing to my helmet? I need to get back in the game.

TRAINER
Oh, we’re going to put some more air in it. We’ll get it back to you.

NUMBER 50
Okay, okay.

Number 50 stands motionless for a couple of seconds before he starts looking around on the ground in the immediate area. He gets a puzzled look on his face.

NUMBER 50 (CONT'D)
Hey, Katie. Have you seen my helmet?

TRAINER
Yeah, I put it on the bus.

NUMBER 50
The bus?

TRAINER
Yeah.

NUMBER 50
Okay.

Number 50 nods in agreement. After a few seconds he looks around again, then:

NUMBER 50 (CONT'D)
Where’s my helmet? Has anyone seen my helmet?

TRAINER
It’s on the bus.

NUMBER 50
Oh. Okay.
(a beat)
Which bus?

TRAINER
The one with the helmets on it.

NUMBER 50
Oh, okay.

He looks around at the field and the stadium, something clicks in his mind.

NUMBER 50 (CONT'D)
Isn’t this a home game? This looks like a home game.

TRAINER
It is.

NUMBER 50
So why do we need a bus?

TRAINER
To put all the helmets on.

NUMBER 50
Okay. I got it. So I’ll just stand here then.

TRAINER
Good idea. There’s using your noodle.

The trainer turns back to watch the game. Number 50 wanders off the side of the field and into the home stands. He looks under several people’s seats before he sits next to the band to watch the game.

The trainer turns around and sees he is gone. She has a moment of panic before someone points number 50 out in the stands. She runs up to get him.

TRAINER (CONT'D)
What the hell are you doing?

NUMBER 50
Well, I looked for my helmet, then I got tired.

TRAINER
Do you feel like going for a ride at all?

NUMBER 50
Sure, where to?

TRAINER
To get your helmet.

NUMBER 50
Yeah, I’ll go.

TRAINER
Great.

CUT TO:
EXT. PARKING LOT - NIGHT
Number 50 is loaded into the back of an ambulance.

NUMBER 50
You sure they’ve got my helmet at the hospital?

TRAINER
Yeah, but you have to pass a special test before they’ll give it to you.

NUMBER 50
What kind of test? I’m not good at tests.

TRAINER
Just a CAT scan. You don’t even have to study for it.

NUMBER 50
I’m gonna nail it then.

TRAINER
You do that. Nail it better than you did all the other tests tonight though, okay.

NUMBER 50
Okay. No problem. Off to get my helmet!

The doors close and the ambulance drives away into the night.

THE END