Concussion Page #15

the League’s concussion guidelines.

In this study, some academics put

helmets on monkeys and shook them

real hard. Threw dogs and pigs and

human cadavers down elevator

shafts.

(picks up another one)

Helmets on crash test dummies and

bashed them together. Conclusion?

(reading--)

“No striking player experienced

neck injury or concussion.”

Concussions are as dangerous as a

hang-nail.

Bennet waits for more, then, disbelief-

BENNET:

And that was it?

BAILES:

No. Then the NFL did what every big

organization does.

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 74.

BAILES (CONT'D)

They put together a commission to

study the studies. Dr. Elliot

Pellman’s Mild Traumatic Brain

Injury committee.

BENNET:

Mild - before they knew. Conclusion

first.

(then)

It’s the opposite of science.

(and Bailes looks at him,

Exactly)

BAILES:

Know who else is on that committee?

BENNET:

Dr. Maroon?

BAILES:

Joe, yeah, he’s on there. Plus

other team doctors. An equipment

manager.

(and)

And two trainers - guys who tape

knees for a living.

(then)

I was more interested in studying

actual human football players, who

could talk about their pain.

After a moment.

BENNET:

Why did you really want to see me,

Dr. Bailes?

BAILES:

Do you have any idea how many

Pittsburgh Steelers - just Steelers

-died in the last few years? I’m

not talking about older guys. I’m

talking about players I knew. And

just the ones I know about.

(then)

Twelve.

(--)

I don’t want to see any more of

these guys vanishing in the backs

of pick-up trucks.

(and we JUMP TO--)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 75.

A112 EXT. BACKYARD - BAILES’ HOME - CONTINUOUS

Overlooking a wide expanse of yard, lawn, pool, designer

garden. Bailes taking it all in.

Bennet studies Bailes. This is a man in pain. Bennet relaxes-

BAILES:

I know them. I was them. You’re

doing this wrong.

BENNET:

As long as the NFL denies the

truth, nothing changes.

BAILES:

(that’s right--)

If they say it’s not true, it’s not

true. They have to say it out loud.

BENNET:

I need to look the Commissioner in

the eyes. Get me a meeting. Face-toface,

man-to-man. I cannot lose.

Pause. Bailes looks to Bennet. At his innocence. Then-

BAILES:

He doesn’t want to talk to you.

Football doesn’t want to talk to

you.

(because--)

Like my daddy - a Louisiana judge -

always said-

(holds up two fingers; and,

in an exaggerated

aristocratic southern

drawl)

‘Son, God is number one’(

now just one finger)

‘And football is number two’.

(then)

You’re not even American. You’re

not even African-American. You’re-

BENNET:

A doctor.

Bailes smiles, a little embarrassed at himself. Then-

BAILES:

The NFL has kept everyone in the

dark.

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 76.

BAILES (CONT'D)

You have turned on the lights and

given its biggest bogeyman a name.

(leaning in)

And if they don’t get this reined-

in, everything they have,

everything they are, is vulnerable.

(then)

What’s happening now, what you

think they’re doing to you? Is

nothing. You have no idea how bad

this could get for you.

A long pause.

BENNET:

I did my own research on the NFL’s

brain injury committee. You know

what Dr. Elliot Pellman is? He’s a

rheumatologist. He’s a specialist

in arthritis and joint pain. Can

you tell me what a rheumatologist

knows about the brain and brain

disease?

(and)

Corporate men like this, in this

country, come from Harvard and

Yale. But Pellman went to medical

school in Guadalajara.

BAILES:

Mexico? I didn’t know that. That’s

beautiful.

And looks at him - “I like you” -

BAILES (CONT’D)

It’s unlikely I could get you in

front of them. But two cases aren’t

going to be enough. You have to

keep going.

BENNET:

Just so you understand. This

doesn’t show up on a CT scan. There

is no diagnosis before death. For

me to keep going more have to die.

BAILES:

Unfortunately, I no longer see a

scenario in which that isn’t

already happening.

(and we cut to--)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 77.

113 EXT. GATED COMMUNITY - MOON TOWNSHIP - LATER THAT DAY

A plane lands behind Bennet and Prema stand before the Dream

House. Framing begun. Basement poured, waiting like an empty

pool.

Bennet checks the fence. Good strong fence. Good fences make

good neighbors.

PREMA:

He’s one of them.

BENNET:

He’s in pain.

PREMA:

Can we trust him?

BENNET:

I don’t think we have a choice.

114 OMIT

115 INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE - MANHATTAN

Big bright glass room. Working committee of five bunkered

around a table covered in paperwork. Gathering up-

One breaks away:
DAVE DUERSON. Handsome, muscular 48-year old

ex-defensive back, all-star warrior.

Hurries past us in the hall. Jones coming the other way-

JONES:

(on the run)

Did I hear right? We’re losing you?

Tapping you for Mayor of Chicago?!

DUERSON:

Still a long long road, my friend(

as Jones turns a corner-)

JONES:

All-World killer athlete to

civilian to King, all in one

lifetime! Ladies and gentlemen, I

give you Mayor Dave Duerson! Who

has. Figured. It. Out!

And as Jones disappears we follow Duerson into the elevator

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 78.

EXT. 280 PARK AVE - MANHATTAN - AFTERNOON RUSH

Duerson spins out of the NFL building.

A VOICE (O.S.)

Dave! It’s me, man. Andre Waters.

(jaw tightening, because-)

His way blocked by former d-back (like him), ANDRE WATERS. 44but looks 60. Rough road. Bloated. Sweaty.

DUERSON:

How you doin man?

(knows all too well)

WATERS:

Let me walk with you.

(Duerson grits this out)

I’m not good. It was all in thepaperwork.

(so desperate can’t do thesmall talk)

But why’s the committee doing this?

DUERSON:

There are five other trustees. You

talk to them?

WATERS:

You’re the only one who played. Whoknows. What it is to be us-(

can’t deny that either;

tries to keep going)

You and me were the same. Bangers.

Hitmen.

DUERSON:

File the appeal.

WATERS:

You denied the appeal.

(manic, sweaty, handscan’t stop moving)

Something’s wrong with me,

man.

DUERSON (CONT'D)

You look alright-*

*

*

*

WATERS:

Can’t sleep. Eyes get crossed, it’sfreaky, my right eye’s pinned leftand my left’s pinned right. Weirdsme out sometimes.

(Duerson’s aching fordaylight)

Dave, look at me, man.

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 79.

WATERS (CONT'D)

(and gets in front of

Duerson)

DUERSON:

Jesus.

WATERS:

I paid dues twelve years! Made

millions for those a**holes. It’s

not even your money. I’m just

asking back what I gave-

DUERSON:

(exploding now right there

on Park Ave)

Fat? Stop eating like a pig. Gotta

headache? See a doctor-

WATERS:

Been to twenty doctors! Just need

rent money-

DUERSON:

Get your sh*t together! You were a

warrior! Get your hands off me!

(Waters is palming him)

WATERS:

‘Deny, deny, hope they die.’ That’s

what we say about you. Your goddamn

motto.

(--)

Dave, I’m sorry. Remember? When we

were kids, playin is what we lived,

for, man!

(talking to Duerson’s back

because--)

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