Bull Durham Page #7

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NUKE:

God, I never thought of that.

ANNIE:

(sweetly)

There is a lot of things you never

thought of, sweetie--now get some

rest for tonight's game.

Nuke rests his head on Annie's shoulder. His eyes are wide

open and full of nervous energy.

CUT TO:

EXT. DURHAM BASEBALL PARK -- DUSK

NUKE ON A PAY PHONE -- In his uniform. Players warming up

in the background as the ground crew prepares the field.

NUKE:

Hello? Dad? This is Ebby.

(beat)

Yeah, I know, I know--you got the

Durham papers yet? Well I been a

little wild...

(defensively)

These hitters down here are better

than the ones in high school ...

(trying to change

subject)

How's Mom? Yeah? Well I am trying

hard... I am bending my

back...you're not coming down'

here to visit just yet, are you?

(beat)

Can I talk to Mom?

CUT TO:

EXT. HOME PLATE -- THE BALLPARK NIGHT

THE MAYOR OF DURHAM AND THE CITY COUNCIL stand at a mike in

front of home plate. 300 LITTLE LEAGUERS in uniform are

lined up along the foul line, restrained by a rope.

VOICE OVER P.A.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Mayor

of Durham, the honorable Mutt

Clark...

THE MAYOR STEPS to the mike. A classic Southern mayor.

MAYOR:

Welcome to the "Atlantic Seaboard

Tobacco Growers City Council Little

League Cash Drop Night"!

As the honorable Mutt Clark drones on--we INTERCUT:

CUT TO:

EXT. THE BULLPEN -- CONTINUOUS

NUKE IS WARMING UP TO PITCH -- Crash and Larry watch him

closely, giving advice. As Nuke delivers--.

CRASH:

Drive off your back leg. You

pitch with your legs as much as

your arms-

NUKE:

I thought I was--

CRASH:

Don't think.

A MANGY DOG EATS FROM A DISH provided by the players. A

couple kids sit with the players.

MILLIE SITS DOWN NEXT TO A PLAYER -- BOBBY, 25.

MILLIE:

Hi, I'm Millie.

BOBBY:

I'm married.

JOSE FASHIONS A SMALL CROSS OUT OF CHICKEN BONES and rubs it

on his bat. Bobby notices this.

BOBBY:

What's that?

JOSE:

Chicken bone cross take the curse

off this bat and bring me hits.

BOBBY:

You a God damn witch?

JOSE:

Yes. A switch hitting witch.

Very common in Puerto Rico.

BOBBY:

Will that work for me?

JOSE:

If you believe in Voodoo.

BOBBY:

I'm 0 for 16! Gimme some of that

sh*t.

BOBBY HOLDS OUT HIS BAT for Jose to rub with the cross.

JOSE:

No, that is not belief. That is

desperation.

BOBBY:

C'mon, God damn it, gimme some!

ALL HEADS TURN,- A HELICOPTER APPEARS ABOVE THE FIELD

CUT TO:

BACK TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL -- Hair and hats blowing

from the chopper turbulence.

MAYOR:

...five, four, three, two,

one...let 'er go! One thousand

big ones!

THE HELICOPTER DUMPS HUNDREDS OF DOLLAR BILLS above the field.

The night sky fills with fluttering money THE ROPE IS DROPPED --

THREE HUNDRED LITTLE LEAGUERS charge across the infield to

the falling money, scooping it up wildly, brawling, shoving,

clawing for the cash.

As the money flutters down...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DURHAM BASEBALL STADIUM -- SHORT TIME LATER

CLOSE ON THE ROSIN BAG on the mound. A hand picks it up.

Puffs of rosin "smoke". Nuke is on the mound.

NUKE NERVOUSLY WALKS AROUND THE MOUND -- Just before the

first batter. He picks up the rosin bag. Digs a slot for

his lead foot to land. And CRASH APPROACHES, in full gear,

mask tipped up on his head.

CRASH:

Don't try to strike everybody

out.

(beat)

Strikeouts are boring. They're

Fascist. Throw some ground balls,

it's more Democratic.

CRASH TURNS AND HEADS TO THE PLATE and we hear the beginning

of Nuke's interior monologue.

NUKE (VOICE OVER)

What's this guy know, eh? If

he's so great why's he been in

the minors for ten years? And if

he's so hot how come Annie wants

me instead of him.

CRASH TURNS AROUND HALF WAY TO THE PLATE and returns to the

mound, as if he knows everything Nuke's thinking.

CRASH:

And listen, meat. You don't know

sh*t. If you want to get to the

Show, you'll listen to me. She

only wants you 'cause she can

boss you around, got it?

(beat, complete tone

change)

Relax, have a ball out here.

This game's fun, okay? Fun, God

damn it.

(beat)

And don't squeeze the ball so

tight. It's an egg. Hold it

like an egg.

CRASH SMILES -- And trots back to the plate.

NUKE'S P.O.V. The first batter steps in. Crash gives the

sign for the pitch.

NUKE:

Fun? What's he know about fun?

(beat)

Why's he calling for a curveball?

I wanta bring heat.

CRASH (VOICE OVER)

Shake off the pitch. Throw what

you wanta.

NUKE SHAKES OFF THE PITCH -- Here comes Crash back out to

the mound before Nuke's thrown a pitch.

CRASH:

Why you shaking me off?

NUKE:

I wanta throw the heater to

announce my presence with

authority.

CRASH:

"To announce your f***ing presence

with authority"? This guy's a

first ball fastball hitter. He's

looking for heat.

NUKE:

But he ain't seen my heat--

CRASH:

Awright, meat, give him your heat.

CRASH RETURNS ONE MORE TIME to behind the plate.

CRASH CROSSES THE PLATE, past the hitter. He speaks to the

opposing leadoff batter.

CRASH:

Fastball.

NUKE (VOICE OVER)

Why's he always call me "Meat"?

I'm the guy driving a Porsche.

NUKE WINDS UP AND DELIVERS -- A fastball.

THE LEADOFF HITTER TEES OFF on the pitch and sends a line

shot over the right field fence.

CLOSE ON BILLBOARD -- "Hit Cow, Win Steak" sign, The home

run hits the cow on a target painted on the cow's rump.

The COW'S MOUTH OPENS AND MOOS.

THE BATTER STANDS AND WATCHES the home run, admiring the

shot, enjoying the moment. CRASH GETS IN HIS FACE instantly--

and gets very tough.

CRASH:

What're you lookin' at?! You're

showing up my pitcher, bush--get

your ass in gear!

THE BATTER TAKES OFF ON A HOME RUN TROT -- Slightly scared.

AND CRASH HEADS TO THE MOUND where Nuke watches the Mooing

Cow and the circling batter with dismay. Crash smiles.

CRASH:

Guy hit the sh*t outta that one,

eh?

NUKE:

Well, I held it like an egg.

CRASH:

An' he scrambled the son of a

b*tch.

(beat)

Having fun yet?

NUKE:

I'm having a blast.

(beat)

God, that sucker teed off on it

just like he knew I was gonna

throw a fastball.

CRASH:

He did know.

NUKE:

How?

CRASH:

I told him.

CRASH SMILES -- Drops the mask, returns behind the plate.

NUKE SIGHS -- Takes a deep breath.

NUKE:

Don't think. Just throw. Don't

think. Just throw.

NUKE'S WINDUP AND DELIVERY -- A fastball. A powerful, clean,

overwhelming fastball. Strike one.

NUKE (VOICE OVER)

God, that was beautiful. What'd

I do?

NUKE WINDS UP AND DELIVERS HIS NEXT PITCH -- A monster. An

Ebby Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh fastball. Twenty feet wide of

the plate.

THE BULL MASCOT DIVES FOR COVER -- The ball hits the bat

rack. Bats go flying.

CUT TO:

ANNIE IN HER BOX SEAT -- Jackson with the radar gun.

ANNIE:

Oh dear....easy honey...

JACKSON:

Ninety-five miles an hour...

CUT TO:

BACK TO NUKE -- Pacing the mound. Looks In for the sign.

NUKE PITCHES AGAIN -- The batter lines a single to left.

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