The Talent

TRAVON:

Yo! Jason! You’re missing the

party.

No response. The attendant looks over at Travon, catching his

eye -- he motions his head toward the last stall in the row.

Travon walks over and KNOCKS on the door. No reply. He pushes

on the door -- it’s LOCKED. Travon looks underneath. Sees...

Jason laying on the tiles, still. His pale face staring right

back at Travon, and he does not look like he is breathing.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

INT. CORRIDOR, HOSPITAL - DAY (9 MONTHS LATER)

Travon approaches a door and knocks gently. The NURSE opens

it and lets him inside...

INT. MATERNITY WARD - CONTINUOUS

Kim has just delivered a baby boy. Travon kisses her head,

and admires the baby in her arms. The nurse marks a chart.

NURSE:

Have you picked out a name yet?

Travon looks back at Kim. A beat. She looks at the nurse.

KIM:

This will be Drew Harris. Harris is

my maiden name.

She looks back down at the baby. Travon looks upset.

TRAVON:

So, you are ashamed of Jason?

KIM:

He’s my son too.

The nurse completes the chart and heads for the doorway.

NURSE:

I’ll be back shortly, Ms. Harris.

12.

TRAVON:

You know what I mean, Kim. Why

would you do this?

KIM:

I don’t want Drew to be known as

the son of a cocaine addict.

Kim kisses the baby’s head.

TRAVON:

What are you going to tell him?

KIM:

Nothing. That his dad was killed in

a car accident. Just a regular guy.

TRAVON:

Do the Stallings even know?

KIM:

They won’t speak to me. I didn’t

just lose my husband; I lost his

family. Have you spoken to them?

TRAVON:

They blame me too. They accused me

of doing coke with him that night.

KIM:

You can see why we need a fresh

start, can’t you? It’s better for

him not to have any Stallings

connection to trip him up in life.

TRAVON:

I can’t believe you would do this

to him. Who knows about this?

KIM:

Only you and family and no one else

needs to know. Please Travon, I beg

you, don’t let anyone know that he

is Jason’s son. I want this baby to

have a normal, healthy life.

Travon walks to the window and looks out -- thinking --

KIM (CONT’D)

It’s what Jason would want too. Can

you please promise not to tell?

He turns back around, looking at the baby on Kim’s chest.

13.

TRAVON:

I’ll keep your secret, if, you let

me teach him how to play football.

That is what Jason would have done.

KIM:

You can see him anytime and teach

him anything you want. He will need

a male figure in his life, and

there is no one else in this world

that I would rather have than you.

And as we leave them there, looking at baby Drew, us feeling

the weight of their secret, we...

CUT TO:

EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD, HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

Two teams on the field. We see the starter quarterback is

DREW HARRIS (now 15), good-looking, tall, strong. Beside him

is the backup and primary receiver JAKE PRICE (15), cocky,

ruggedly handsome, serious. They’re playing for the Panthers.

They turn to see the FULL CROWD and the cheerleaders waiting

for their entrance. The coaches signals and the players run

through the sign. Drew keeps looking around and just smiles.

Kim (now 43) waves at Drew, and he waves back. Then, Drew

looks upset by the empty seat beside Kim. When Drew turns

back around -- he finds Travon (now 43) standing RIGHT THERE.

DREW:

How- Who let you on the field?

TRAVON:

Are you kidding, kid? I have fans

everywhere.

DREW:

Travon, I am playing quarterback

today and I am scared shitless.

Travon grabs Drew’s pads and pulls him around to face him.

TRAVON:

Just do your best and have fun, and

the rest will take care of itself.

And throughout all of this Drew is looking around, sweating,

shocked that his teammates all look so calm...

14.

DREW:

Are you sure? Because I don’t want

to upset the crowd or the coach.

TRAVON:

(laughs)

Drew, you have no idea who you are.

DREW:

What do you mean?

TRAVON:

Nothing, kid. You’ll be OK. Now go.

And gives him a little push. And as Drew smiles, running out

onto the field to join his teammates, we...

CUT TO:

SERIES OF SHOTS:

-- The Panthers receive the ball first. The kickoff returner

does a modest job and gets it back to the forty yard line.

-- The ball is snapped. A defensive end turns the corner but

Drew avoids the tackle, throwing the ball to an open receiver

for twelve yards. The Panthers first, first down of the game.

-- Drew smiles, looks over at Travon who is nodding his head.

-- Drew throws for four touchdowns and runs one in to beat

the opposing team by three touchdowns.

-- The fans on both sides CHEER for how the Panthers played.

-- Drew and Jake high-five and walk off the field together.

CUT TO:

EXT. KIM’S HOUSE, HUTTO (TEXAS) - DAY

We’re outside a two-storey house surrounded by a picket

fence. There’s a swing harnessed to the limb of a cedar tree

in the garden encircled by manicured shrubs and flowers.

KIM (O.C.)

Drew, it’s time for dinner.

And now we REVERSE to reveal Drew playing ball on the street

with some friends. He tosses them the ball and heads inside.

15.

INT. KITCHEN, KIM’S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Kim and Drew sitting at the dining table. They’re having

steak, potatoes, and okra. Drew’s piling up more mash.

KIM:

Drew, you’ll be done with high

school soon. Are you excited?

DREW:

If I can keep playing football?

KIM:

Of course.

DREW:

Jakes’s dad played basketball with

us today. He’s pretty good. He

showed us all kinds of moves.

Off Kim’s look, getting nervous about the “dad” conversation.

DREW (CONT’D)

Shame I don’t have a dad that can

show off in front of the guys. You

ever going to get married again?

Kim nearly chokes on her food and grabs her water to stall...

KIM:

It’s not that easy finding a man to

marry or spend your life with.

Loving someone is very special.

Drew jokingly rolls his eyes. Kim laughs for a moment but

then stares at Drew as he eats. A long beat. Then --

KIM (CONT’D)

You know I love you very much and

that I’ll always be there for you.

DREW:

I know mom, and I love you too.

Kim smiles, watery-eyed. Drew rolls his eyes, keeps eating.

INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Kim sitting on the couch drinking wine. She’s watching the

DVD of the last Super Bowl with Jason and Travon. Then --

DREW (O.C.)

Hey, mom.

16.

Kim turns to see Drew plonk down. He sees she’s teary-eyed.

DREW (CONT’D)

Are you crying?

KIM:

No, they’re just itchy. Come...

The two of them lean into each other watching the game.

DREW:

I want to be as good as that

quarterback.

He’s pointing at Jason Stallings. Kim doesn’t say a thing.

CUT TO:

EXT. TRACK & FIELD, GUYER HIGH SCHOOL - DAY

11th grade. We see Drew’s beefier as he practices with Jake

and the team. He goes out for a pass and runs into a striking

girl, LEXI BALLARD (16), out running the track with STACI

ABREGO, pretty, bold, and other girls on the volleyball team.

LEXI:

OMG, seriously dude.

DREW:

I am sorry, but what are you doing?

LEXI:

Running. We exercise too.

DREW:

On the track, what were you doing

on our field and on the grass?

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