Concussion Page #10

him unrecognizable, even to

himself.

(--)

And before you ask me why it’s not

the same as boxers-

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15

DEKOSKY:

Dementia pugilistica-

46.

BENNET (CONT'D) *

**

Why it is not the same is *

**

that when a boxer receives *

this kind of blow, it is once *

in a very long while. Because *

he goes down and he often *

does not get up, and the *

fight is over. It is not over *

and over and over every day *

of every week, week in week *

out, practice or game. *

BENNET (CONT’D)

I don’t know the game. I have never

played the game. But I am convinced

playing football killed him.

(and)

And there have to be others.

DEKOSKY:

How can you know that?

BENNET:

Common sense. But they’re dead. Or

lost. Like Mike Webster was lost.

DEKOSKY:

I’m not interested in common sense.

The only thing that interests me is

science, and science is knowing.

BENNET:

I know from these men’s records

their doctors think they have early

Alzheimer’s. Which is statistically

impossible. Because it isn’t

Alzheimer’s. It’s this.

Dekosky sits.

DEKOSKY:

Holy Christ.

HAMILTON:

Steve. It’s a billion-dollar

finding.

DEKOSKY:

I don’t like it. Actually, I hate

it. But as a scientist I can’t deny

it.

BENNET:

We need to tell them. Now.

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 47.

HAMILTON:

The NFL? What, like call them?

BENNET:

Yes.

DEKOSKY:

This is one case.

BENNET:

Men are dying. Right now. Someone

is getting divorced. Right now.

Someone is arguing. Right now.

DEKOSKY:

Bennet. The only way people are

taking you seriously is if you

publish. Peer review. Respected

medical journal.

HAMILTON:

We’ll coauthor, our names with

yours.

BENNET:

With all due respect, under normal

circumstances, I understand there

is a correct way, but-

DEKOSKY:

Slow. Down. Bennet.

(then)

I will back you up, but we do this

the right way.

Okay, a breath, gets it-

HAMILTON:

And name this. You’re going to have

to give this a name.

74 OMIT

75 INT. BENNET’S CONDO - THAT NIGHT

As Bennet slips past Prema’s little efficiency, the door

opens. Prema steps out. New dress. Flower in her hair.

BENNET:

(awkward)

I thought you were asleep.

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 48.

PREMA:

How could I sleep? Did they agree?

What it is?

He’s overwhelmed. Can only nod, Yes, they understood.

BENNET PREMA (CONT'D)

They are going to publish They? With you?

with me.

*

**

BENNET PREMA (CONT'D)

A medical journal--With you?

And touches his arm. So happy for him she can cry. (And maybeshe does, a little.)

PREMA (CONT’D)

That’s so great. Congratulations-BENNET

You are going somewhere?

PREMA:

Yes, with you. To celebrate.

And under a PRE-LAP throb of dance music, taking in the fullbreadth of this woman, perhaps for the first time, then-*

*

**

76 INT. STATIC (DANCE CLUB) - NIGHT

Crowded, loud, sexy. Bennet and Prema awkward by the speakerin the strobing light. Bennet can’t connect to the music.

Doesn’t really know what to do with her there.

PREMA:

You don’t dance, do you?

(he shakes, No, then--)

She’s dragging him onto the floor. Circles him, gorgeousfluid dancer and is all about bringing him to life. She is socontagious Bennet slowly forgets all the things that keep himfrom doing more than listen. Until it’s the other way around,

and he’s putting it out, and moving. Then they’re back in77

INT. HALLWAY - BENNET’S CONDO - NIGHT

They’re passing her door on the way to his. They stop. He’sunsure. She’s not. He says, “Goodnight”. She reaches, getshis hand, pulls him in. And on her toes, kisses his cheek.

And that lingers. And then he’s taking her face in his handsand bringing it to his. And she’s pushing him into his room.

Then it’s-

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 49.

A77 EXT. ALLEGHENY COUNTY CORONER - MORNING

Bennet parks his Mercedes. A second one slides next to his.

Identical except in color. This one silver. Wecht gets out.

Like the suits, the cars are the same.

Wecht carrying two coffees, two brown bags.

WECHT:

(hands Bennet a coffee, a

bag, and as they walk

around to the front--)

It’s weird to bring women into a

morgue at night.

BENNET:

She’s a friend.

WECHT:

You don’t have friends.

BENNET:

I have a friend now.

Then-

WECHT:

Sullivan made a formal complaint

against you with the county.

BENNET:

I was working on Webster.

WECHT:

I know. I took care of it.

(--)

What’s Webster cost you, anyway?

BENNET:

Twenty-thousand dollars.

(then)

I save. Everything.

WECHT:

How unAmerican.

(then, after a beat)Apparently

it’s been worth it. Ron Hamilton

called. Chronic Traumatic

Encephalopathy. Has a nice ring to

it. Why didn’t you tell me?

BENNET:

I wasn’t going around you. I need

someone with fresh eyes.

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 49A.

BENNET (CONT'D)Someone

who didn’t want it to be true or

not true.

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 50.

WECHT:

I don’t like it. But it was the

right thing to do.

(--)

This may come as a surprise, but

I’ll never be the one you have to

worry about.

(--)

So what’s next?

BENNET:

Publish. DeKosky wants to coauthor.

WECHT:

DeKosky, and--?

BENNET:

Cyril Wecht.

WECHT:

I’m proud of you, kid.

(compares the two cars)

Should’ve gotten the silver. Blue

shows the dirt.

(and heads in)

INT. SPORTS BAR - PITTSBURGH - DAY

The faces are looking AT CAMERA. Watching the TV behind us.

Nowhere to move. Nothing else to see or hear.

WE FIND BENNET & PREMA in that crowd. Hot wings and nachos.

(Prema has brought along two or three FRIENDS from church.)

And we’re watching them watching, and boarding the ride. And

it’s loud and really f***ing joyful. The game is a drug, a

good healthy one, and we’re rollercoasting triumph and defeat

and individual acts of heroism. What is absolutely and

undeniably GREAT about this game. And--

Bennet - this moment - is just one of them. Riding the ride.

But ONE OF THEM. An AMERICAN. He’s touching and being

touched. High-fiving and being high-fived.

And then CAMERA TWEAKS past them-

To a face deep in the crowd: Mike Webster, leaning against

the bar, watching his old team. And Bennet is reminded. Of

everything. Now cut to another screen showing the Steelers

game-

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 50A.

INT. STRZELCZYK HOME - PITTSBURGH SUBURBS - DAY

Where, in a SINGLE TRACKING SHOT, we pass Keana and the kids

watching in Their Man’s “#73” Steelers jersey. CAMERA PULLING

out of the living room, game and kids receding, as we PUSH--

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 51.

Into the bedroom. Where we FIND Strzelczyk. Heavier,

disheveled. Lips moving in mute dialog. Eyes clock his

guitar. Grabs it, wields it like a baseball bat. CAMERA

FOLLOWS BEHIND him downstairs, back into the living room-

KEANA STRZELCZYK

Justin, what the hell are you

doing? Are you serious? Justin

STOP! what is wrong with you WHAT

THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! -- DO --

NOT -- TOUCH -- THEM!

STRZELCZYK:

I’m getting messages. Evil Ones.

Talking talking talking!

KEANA STRZELCZYK

Are you FREAKIN SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!

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