Bull Durham Page #17

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CRASH IS PLAYING and singing. He doesn't look up. Crash Is

dressed but barefoot. A cigaret dangles from his mouth as

he accompanies himself with decent cocktail lounge chords.

Two Hookers at the piano hum along.

CRASH (SINGING AND PLAYING)

But when she does get weary--Try

a little tenderness...

NUKE STEPS INTO THE ROOM -- All the Hookers rise in

anticipation of a new customer. Crash keeps playing, never

looking up.

CRASH (SINGING CONT'D)

You know she's waiting, just

anticipating, the things that

she'll never possess...

(beat)

While she's there waiting--Try a

little tenderness...

Nuke interrupts the instrumental passage:

NUKE:

Crash. I'm going to the Show.

Crash Ignores him, keeps playing.

NUKE:

Club's expanding its roster to

finish the season--

CRASH:

Shut up. I'm playing.

(singing last 8 bars)

Oh you won't regret it, young

girls don't forget it, lost in

their own wilderness ...

(beat)

But it's all so easy--Just try a

little tenderness...

As Crash plays on--

NUKE:

I'm going to the Show.

CRASH:

Then go.

NUKE GRABS CRASH by the hair and jerks him to his feet. The

two men are face to face.

NUKE:

I'm trying to thank you.

CRASH:

Let go of me!

NUKE LETS HIM GO and Crash staggers drunkenly against the

piano, regaining his balance as:

SANDY RUSHES IN WITH A GUN to break it up.

SANDY:

He makin' trouble for you, Mr.

Davis?

CRASH:

No, no, Sandy, put it down.

(drunkenly, to Nuke)

Nuke, you know Sandy Grimes? Hit

.367 at Louisville in 155.

SANDY:

I hit .371.

CRASH:

He hit .371--C'mon, Nuke--you and

me, let's step outside and settle

this.

NUKE:

Settle what?

CRASH:

C ' mon!

NUKE:

I don't wanta fight you, I wanta

thank you. Let's have a drink

and forget this--

CRASH:

God damn it, you f***ing virgin

prick--step outside.

Crash drunkenly heads out the back door in his underwear.

Nuke reluctantly follows.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE ALLEY BEHIND THE WHOREHOUSE -- NIGHT

Several of the Hookers follow to watch. Crash is drunk and

lost. Nuke in control.

NUKE:

C'mon, we got nothin' to fight

about.

CRASH:

You f***!

NUKE:

Why am I a f***?

CRASH:

Why are you a f***?

(beat)

'Cause you got talent. I got

brains. But you got talent!

You're God damn left arm is worth

a million dollars a year.

(drunken insight)

All my limbs put together are

worth 7 cents a pound--and that's

for science and dog meat.

NUKE:

You're a great catcher.

CRASH:

Come over here into the light so

I can kick your ass.

NUKE:

No.

CRASH:

Okay, I'll kick your ass there.

Crash takes a step toward Nuke. Pulls up his bare feet

quickly, stepping on a sharp stone.

CRASH:

...God damn...I forgot my f***ing

shoes. Honey, go get my shoes.

One of the Hookers goes inside for his shoes.

NUKE:

I'll take you back to the hotel.

CRASH:

(drunken, mad)

You know what the difference Is

between hitting .250 and hitting

.300? 1 got it figured out.

(beat)

Twenty-five hits a year in 500 at

bats is 50 points. Okay? There's

6 months in a season, that's about

25 weeks--you get one extra flare

a week--just one--a gork, a ground

ball with eyes, a dying quail--

just one more dying quail a week

and you're in Yankee Stadium!

CUT TO:

INT. THE WHOREHOUSE -- CONTINUOUS

THE HOOKER FINDS CRASH'S SHOES -- Starts to bring them out

to him when...she notices cash in one of them. The Hooker

takes a few bills for herself, and continues out--

CUT TO:

BACK IN THE ALLEY -- Crash finishes his tirade as:

THE HOOKER COMES OUT WITH CRASH'S SHOES

He struggles drunkenly to put them on.

NUKE:

Forget it. You ain't worth

thanking--

NUKE STARTS TO WALK AWAY -- Crash fires his one free shoe at

Nuke hitting him in the back of the head.

NUKE WHIRLS -- Comes after Crash.

CRASH:

Come on, Meat...

CRASH SWINGS WILDLY -- Nuke ducks it and level s Crash with

a short right hand.

CRASH CRASHES INTO SOME GARBAGE CANS -- Lies there on his

back for several beats. Nuke stares.

CLOSE ON CRASH -- Blood trickles from his mouth.

CRASH:

Nuke...tell me something. Did

you hit me with your right or

your left?

NUKE:

My right.

Silence. Crash's next line is both drunk and sober and we

don't know if he's just being clever or if, somehow, he's

staged It all. Maybe even he doesn't know.

CRASH:

Good. Good. That's terrific...

NUKE:

What?

CRASH:

If ya get in a fight with some

a**hole, never hit his with your

pitching hand. ya might get

injured.

(smiles)

That's another lesson for ya--now

quit f***ing around and help me

up.

CRASH REACHES UP A HAND FOR HELP -- Nuke stares back.

AND FINALLY NUKE REACHES DOWN AND HELPS CRASH to his feet.

NUKE:

Ya look like sh*t.

The two men head inside.

CUT TO:

EXT. DURHAM STADIUM -- NEXT MORNING -- EARLY

NUKE'S PORSCHE -- The Clubhouse Boy drags Nuke's out to the

car and loads the trunk. Annie, Larry and a COUPLE KIDS AND

DOGS are watching.

CUT TO:

INT. THE LOCKER ROOM -- CONTINUOUS -- DAY

NUKE CLEANS OUT HIS LOCKER -- Filling his travel bag.

Crash sits on a stool next to him. Sober.

CRASH:

Sorry about last night.

NUKE:

Forget it.

CRASH:

I have been known, on occasion,

to howl at the moon. D'you

understand that?

NUKE:

No.

CRASH:

You will.

(beat)

Look, Nuke--these Big League

hitters are gonna light you up

like a pin ball machine for awhile--

don't worry about it. Be cocky

and arrogant even when you're

getting beat. That's the secret.

(beat)

You gotta play this game with

fear and arrogance.

NUKE:

Fear and ignorance.

CRASH:

(raging)

No. Fear and arrogance, you,

hayseed, not ignorance!

NUKE:

(smiles calmly)

I know. I just like to see you

get all worked up.

Crash calms down. Sighs. Nuke nods and picks up his bags.

NUKE:

(knows it's not true)

Well, I got Annie all warmed up

for ya...

(knows it is true)

She's just waiting for you to

show up, y'know...

CRASH:

I don't need a crazy woman in my

life.

NUKE:

Maybe you do.

(quick beat)

Y'know I'm starting to like this

game--baseball's a helluva good

way to make a living.

Crash speaks with quiet passion, from his soul.

CRASH:

It's the best, Nuke...the absolute

f***ing best.

NUKE:

Yeah, thanks for everything.

They shake hands, and Nuke heads out the door.

CRASH:

Nuke--

(Nuke stops)

Good luck.

NUKE:

You too...Meat.

Nuke smiles. A little arrogance and fear.

CUT TO:

EXT. DURHAM STADIUM -- CONTINUOUS DAY

NUKE TOSSES HIS BAG in the Porsche and motions to Annie.

They step away from the others.

ANNIE:

Well I guess this is it.

NUKE:

(smiles)

I won't be needing these anymore.

NUKE PULLS ANNIE'S RED PANTIES from his jacket pocket.

The frilly, silk lace is tattered. The panties have been

through the mill. She accepts them graciously.

ANNIE:

Neither will I.

NUKE:

I think I'm ready for the Show.

ANNIE:

Ebby Calvin Nuke LaLoosh--don't

think too much.

NUKE:

Don't worry.

They look at each other awkwardly, sweetly, and:

NUKE KISSES ANNIE GENTLY ON THE LIPS -- They hesitate, and

Nuke heads for his Porsche.

CRASH ARRIVES IN THE DOORWAY to watch. Nuke bids farewell

to his father and climbs into his car.

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