Concussion Page #13

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 63.

Her outside, bundling up, crossing to him. She gets in-

A94 INT. BENNET’S CAR - DAY

Prema waits for Bennet to say something. He doesn’t. She lays

a hand on his arm, Do you want to talk. He doesn’t move. She

pulls away-

PREMA:

Then do you mind just taking me to

Western Union? I need to wire money

to my mother.

BENNET:

(still in his reverie)

Do you send her everything?

PREMA:

Not everything.

BENNET:

What you make is also for you.

PREMA:

So is this.

And that gets his attention. He turns to look at her. Takes

her in, this selfless woman. And now they’re-

EXT. PITTSBURGH/MONONGAHELA RIVER BANK - DAY

Bennet and Prema stand by the river, looking north and south

past the bridge.

BENNET:

When I was a boy, in Nigeria,

heaven was here.

(and holds his hand over

his head)

And America was here-

(just below)

It was the place where God sent all

his favorite people.

(--)

I came to America because I thought

here you could do anything, be

anything. Americans were the

manifestation of what God wanted

all of us to be.

(then)

But Mike Webster goes mad and

nobody asks why.

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 64.

BENNET (CONT'D)

They make fun of him. And now they

want to pretend this disease

doesn’t exist? They want to bury

me? It’s offensive. I’m offended.

I’m the wrong person to have

discovered this.

A quiet. Then. A clarity and confidence bigger than she is-

PREMA:

There is no coincidence in this

world. Tell me. What is the

statistical probability that you,

not just a doctor, but Bennet

Omalu, came to America, end up

here, this rusty place, for you

alone to be the one to see this?

(long pause)

When I arrived, in New York, I was

attacked-

(and stops)

BENNET:

What happened?

PREMA:

Something that is better left

unsaid. But that man almost broke

me. I wanted to give up, and go

back. But I knew God, I decided to

trust his wisdom.

(and--)

And now I am looking at this man,

an Omalu Onyemalukube. Your name.

It means, If you know, you must

come forth and speak.

Pause. Bennet metabolizing what she’d just told him. Then-

BENNET:

How did you know that?

PREMA:

I called your father.

(Bennet surprised)

He was pleased to hear from me.

BENNET:

Cyril said if I speak it could be

dangerous.

PREMA:

If you don’t speak for the dead,

who will?

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 65.

PREMA (CONT'D)

You are of the Igbo tribe, Bennet.

Igbo man is bold and cannot be

silenced. When you have the truth,

the thing you are told you cannot

do is the thing you must do.

Embrace that, and nothing created

by God can bring you down.

(long beat; then)

I would do anything to support that

kind of man.

On Bennet’s face now: not love but conviction. And he

surprises himself, by spontaneously embracing her. Holds onto

her. As if to keep her from floating away from him now. (And

maybe clinging to keep himself from sinking.)

And now off his face, we cut to-

96 OMIT

97 ENTRY SIGN “WELCOME TO MOON TOWNSHIP”

PULL BACK TO REVEAL a Rockwellian Americana. Partially-

birthed spread of faux McMansions. Foundations waiting for

homes.

Light mottled through the trees reflects off the windows of

Bennet’s car. As his Mercedes pulls past the sign. Their

faces in and out of light and shadow. Winding to-

98 EXT. EMPTY LOT - MOON TOWNSHIP - CONTINUOUS

Bennet pulls over at a virgin half-acre. Houses around it up

to the studs. Some are done. A handful occupied. O.S. WHINE

of aircraft - jet-wash - floating in. Slow parade of planes.

We’re near the airport, under the flight path.

Bennet walks Prema onto the ground. She spins, wondering

where she’s supposed to look.

PREMA:

What is this?

BENNET:

This is my dream. The schools are

good.

(then)

And you are good, Prema. You are

the only thing in my life that is

not my work that I can understand.

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 66.

BENNET (CONT'D)

(then)

I am sure you see good in me.

PREMA:

I see good in you, Bennet. I see

all that you are.

BENNET:

I want to marry you.

(then)

We can fall in love.

PREMA:

If you want to marry me, I will

marry you.

BENNET:

That’s good. Because I already put

down the payment. I’ve saved all my

money. And now bought this for you.

What happens next is not quite a hug. And not quite a handshake.

An awkward transactional embrace. Now cut to-

99 NEWS CAMERA MONITOR: BENNET AT A LECTERN, SPEAKING INTO MICS

BENNET/CAMERA MONITOR

By the time he committed suicide,

Terry Long’s brain was ruined.

People with CTE suffer from

depression, which can lead to

suicide attempts. Terry Long

committed suicide due to CTE, which

was a result of his long-term play.

The NFL is in denial-

(now we go to the live

version--)

100 EXT. ALLEGHENY COUNTY CORONER - PITTSBURGH - DAY

Bennet giving a news conference. Wecht and Hamilton flank

him. The cameras are mostly local news. We see Prema in the

b.g. under an awning, because-It’s

raining. But the crowd is still healthy.

BENNET:

It is probable that a big

percentage of professional football

players have or will develop CTE,

and will die of it. Maybe even most

of them.

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 67.

And on these words, we’re FINDING faces in the crowd. Most

are distracted by the rain to take it all in. But one - a

YOUNG REPORTER in his 30’s, leaning practically falling

forward to hear everything-

BENNET (CONT’D)

I suspect we will also start

finding it in and out of sports, in

all activities where head impact

happens-

YOUNG REPORTER:

(stunned)

Holy sh*t.

Rain picking up. Cameramen are packing.

BENNET:

This might explain all kinds of

dysfunctional behavior. Why good

people go bad-

WECHT:

Any questions?

(not one, because--)

The news guys can’t get back to their trucks fast enough. All

kind of anti-climactic, as Bennet & Wecht make their way back

to Prema--

WECHT (CONT’D)

No ignoring that. You’re going to

be an American hero.

BENNET:

But I am not an American.

WECHT:

Even better. That’s so f***ing

American.

As Wecht keeps moving Bennet stops before Prema. On his face

a light, a look of mission.

And now, in PRE-LAP, we HEAR-

PREMA (PRE-LAP)

(above the others)

My soul proclaims the greatness of

the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God

my savior. For he has looked upon

his handmaid's lowliness; behold,

from now on will all ages call me

blessed--!

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 68.

101 OMIT

102 OMIT

103 INT. ST. BENEDICT’S - PITTSBURGH - DAY

The Congregation flooding the aisles. Heading out. Prema

holds Bennet’s hand as they exit. Prema brings Bennet’s hand

to her forehead, like a sacrament. We clock an engagement

ring.

Bennet’s big easy smile around them. But he can’t get

traction - no one suddenly seems to be acknowledging them.

As the congregation pours out, Father D’Amico with a word for

everyone. Different Steelers lapel pins: “36-Bettis” & “51Farrior”.

As Bennet and Prema head past-

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote