Concussion Page #14

FATHER D’AMICO

Football and Dr. Bennet Omalu. Who

knew?

(his smile - what is its

quality?)

We saw you on the news. Quite a

splash.

BENNET:

It isn’t about football, Father.

Mrs. Scott has discreetly come up alongside, with her

HUSBAND, 50.)

MR. SCOTT

Well, then it’s a question, on the

one hand, of the reputation of

certain men, and something that

brings our community -your

community - together. That gives

this city, and other cities, a

thing to face us all in the same

direction. And, on the other hand,

I suppose, if it’s really true,

this so-called disease.

(a quiet falls, then--)

FATHER D’AMICO

Well, bless you both.

And they stand there alone and untouched. And as they turn to

leave-

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 69.

AUTHORITATIVE VOICE/TV (PRE-LAP)

There is no so-called concussion

“problem” in the NFL--

(and cut to)

104 INT. BREAK ROOM - ALLEGHENY COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER - DAY

Third-hand furniture. Three Techs lounging around the TV.

Chyron says:
“NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Dr. Elliot

Pellman, Director of the NFL Medical Committee”. On his face,

mild amusement. Across from them, SPORTS WRITER/PERSONALITY.

PELLMAN/TV

NFL football players are less

vulnerable to concussions and post-

concussion syndrome any more than

the general population.

(--)

In fact, professional football

players knocked unconscious can be

returned to play on the same day of

their injury without significant

risk.

(--)

Look, there’s no magic number for

how many concussions is too many

concussions. Concussions are just

an occupational risk.

TAGLIABUE/TV

Concussions, I think, is one of

these pack journalism issues,

frankly. The problem is it’s a

journalist issue.

A104 INT. CHINATOWN INN - DAY

And we find Bennet eating alone in a crappy little Chinese

joint. Next to under-oxygenated fish drifting in a foggy

tank. The TV behind the bar is on, sounds low, midday news.

As Bennet looks up and sees a clip of a 60-Minutes-style

interview on TV-

SPORTS PERSONALITY/TV

So where’s the science coming from?

(and now INTERCUTTING from

yet another interview-)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 70.

PELLMAN/TV

From nowhere. Let’s be honest.

Whatever this Omalu wants his

science to say, NFL players are the

biggest, strongest, toughest men in

the world. They have evolved to a

state where their brains are

actually less susceptible to

injury. I actually send veterans

back in more quickly than rookies.

They know how to unscramble their

brains a little faster. A rookie

won't know what's happened to him

and will be a little panicky. The

veterans expect the hits. They want

the hits.

Bennet can’t believe what he just heard, maybe smiles a

little, notes LUNCHERS paying attention to all that. On their

faces:
pensive appreciation, agreement. Bennet sobers. Pushes

away his untouched meal. Then-

As we start to HEAR a phone RINGING in PRE-LAP, we’re-

105 INT. BENNET’S CONDO - THAT DAY

And Bennet - just home - coat still on, leaning against the

kitchen table. The home phone ringing as-

PREMA:

(reading from the

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

“--Dr. Maroon, who is also vice

chairman of the neurosurgery

department at the University of

Pittsburgh Medical Center, said, of

Omalu’s CTE diagnoses, that it was

“fallacious reasoning.”

(and looks to the phone,

keeps going)

“To go back and say Long was

depressed from playing in the NFL

and that led to his death 14 years

later I think is purely

speculative.”

(and looks up from the

paper, at her man--)

It’s not easy to get what you want.

Bennet finally picks up the phone-

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 70A.

VOICE/PHONE (OVER)

(local, messy, possibly

drunk)

This Omalu?

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 71.

BENNET:

This is Dr. Bennet Omalu-

VOICE/PHONE (OVER)

I just want to tell you that this

is none of your goddamn business.

You want to pussify this country?

You want to vaginize football? Get

the hell out, or they’ll be doing

your autopsy.

And Bennet, shaken, holding now a silent phone, and we cut to-

BLACK SCREEN:

Two rings, three. SNAP. Light comes on. We’re--

106 INT. BEDROOM - BENNET’S CONDO - NIGHT

Bennet’s alone. Alarm clock reads 4AM.

BENNET:

(picks up)

Hello? Hello?

Now a pattern of clicks and hisses. Then silence. Now-

Tap Tap. Bennet whirls, jumpy. Branch scraping the window.

Bennet stops. Feels - what? Who? Goes to the window to look

outside. Car parked where cars park. One street lamp is out.

One car starts up, lights come on. And as it simply drives

away-

Something makes him turn. Fast. Prema. She’s right there.

She’s always been right there.

She holds the blanket open for him. REVEALING her full self.

Let me protect you.

He slips in beside her. She wraps him in her arms.

107 INT. BENNET’S CONDO - 7AM

New rhythm to their morning. They’re shaken. She fixes

breakfast. He dresses. A humming fear. He’s tight.

Prema keeps the shade drawn. A bunker in here.

Bennet on his way out. She hands him his lunch. Then-

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 72.

Phone rings. Again. They both look at it as at a ticking

bomb. Bennet picks up but says nothing. A voice we know-

BAILES/PHONE (OVER)

Dr. Omalu?

(yes--)

I took you to be an early riser. I

didn’t want to call you at work.

(and we INTERCUT--)

108 INT. KITCHEN - BAILES’ HOME - SIMULTANEOUS

Bailes in running shorts, shoes. Run-sweat. Pittsburgh and

New York papers on the table in front of him.

BAILES:

(into phone)

My name is Julian Bailes. Do you

know who I am? I was team doctor

for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

BENNET:

I know who you are.

BAILES:

Mike Webster was a personal friend.

BENNET:

Was he.

BAILES:

You’re in trouble, Dr. Omalu. But

you’re not wrong.

(then)

I’d like to talk to you.

109 OMIT

110 OMIT

111 EXT. BAILES’ HOME - DAY

Traditional plantation home. Veranda and gables. Oak-lined

drive bisects a fairway-sized lawn. Yukon SUV and Porsche at

the end of it.

As Bennet comes up the long drive toward the massive home, he

takes it all in. So this is how they live.

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 73.

Bailes comes out on the porch, waiting for him. Coming from a

distance, we sense in him a hostility held in reserve.

As Bennet stops, reaches for the sleeve of medical slides--

BENNET:

Is this a good idea?

BAILES:

You tell me.

112 INT. HOME OFFICE - BAILES’ HOME - DAY

Bennet with Bailes sitting around a work table. Coffee and

sandwiches. Bailes at his microscope. The sleeve of slides

open. Then backs away.

Then goes to his desk. Pulls out a folder of lab reports.

Photos. Illustrations. Graphs.

BAILES:

The NFL has known about the

concussion issue for years-

CLOSE ON THE REPORTS.

BAILES (CONT’D)

What you’re looking at is the

research that formed the basis for

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