Concussion Page #20

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 102.

And chumps from champions-(

cuts to--)

NFL FILMS NARRATOR (OVER) (CONT'D)

A montage, MUTE – cuts of BIG HITS. Only the sound ofhelmets/pads crashing, men grunting, gnashing-NFL

FILMS NARRATOR (OVER) (CONT’D)

And it is this, of course, that has

always been part of football’sappeal. Cinematic, like a war movie-

Now churning arms and legs. Punctuated by frames of receiversand others taking devastating hits. The hit frames synched to

the rhythm of the music.

NFL FILMS NARRATOR (OVER) (CONT’D)

A league where the meek do NOTinherit the turf. A game ofthunder! and destruction!

(now cut to--) *

BERNIE GOLDBERG/NARRATING (PRELAP)

According to the NFL’s own numbers,

half of all players withconcussions, were being sent backinto the same game. Including somewho were actually knocked out cold.

We asked the head of the NFL’s

*

committee on concussions at the

time, if that was a good idea.

(now to--)

146 OMIT *

147 TV 4-WALLED - HBO’S ‘REAL SPORTS’ WITH BRYANT GUMBEL (ACTUALFOOTAGE)

And CORRESPONDENT BERNIE GOLDBERG.

BERNIE GOLDBERG:

That could lead to medical

problems, no?

IRA CASSON:

Returning to play when youshouldn’t return to play? There’sno clear evidence that has led to

medical problems, if that’s whatyou’re asking me.

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 103.

And a cut over to his interview: 60ish, tweedy dresser,

shaggy ring of white hair. “Dr. Ira Casson, newly-appointed

NFL Medical Director”.

BERNIE GOLDBERG/NARRATING

Back in 2007, Ira Casson, was head

of a team of NFL doctors who had

looked into the issue, and

determined that the concern over

head injuries, was over blown.

PREMA (O.S.)

(muttering in Swahili)

Wao wana kichaa! Kuma nina. Fala!

(and REVERSE to find)

148 BENNET AND PREMA IN FRONT OF THE TV WATCHING-

BERNIE GOLDBERG:

(addressing Casson)

Is there any evidence, as far as

you’re concerned, that links

multiple head injuries among pro

football players with depression?

CASSON:

No.

BERNIE GOLDBERG:

With dementia?

CASSON:

No.

BERNIE GOLDBERG:

With early onset of Alzheimer's?

CASSON:

No.

BERNIE GOLDBERG:

(disbelief creeping in)

Is there any evidence as of today

that links multiple head injuries

with any long-term problem like

that?

CASSON:

In NFL players?

BERNIE GOLDBERG:

Yeah.

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 104.

CASSON:

No.

(and HOLDING Goldberg’s

near-smirk, we go to--)

Bennet. Head in hands. And just when we think this cannot get

worse, we start HEARING in PRE-LAP:

GOODELL/TV (PRE-LAP)

The first pick of the Houston

Texans--!

(and cut hard to--)

149 FOOTAGE - NFL COLLEGE DRAFT - RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL, NYC

GOODELL:

Amobi Okoye! Defensive lineman from

the University of Louisville-

As Goodell shakes hands with Bennet’s cousin, Amobi, sweet-

smiled mountain of a man. We watch a TIGHT of Amobi, huge

grin, holding up his new jersey, “OKOYE - 91” - as he’s being

drafted.

Then PULL BACK TO REVEAL we’re-

A149 INT. BENNET’S CONDO

Bennet watching the circus-like spectacle on his TV. Now head

in hands. Now shuts it off.

It’s late. Quiet. Bennet stops at the kitchen table. Dream

House material - floor plans, paint color charts, brochures

for brick face - spread before him.

Weary, as he taps it all into a neat pile, and in a single

TRACKING SHOT we follow him to the window. Where we take in

the back of St. Benedict illuminated high atop the church,

above us all. Now into the bedroom, where he stands watching

Prema sleep.

Then gets to his knees, his face by Prema’s belly-

BENNET:

Hi. This is your father.

(what to say? so insecure)

I am in deep sh*t. I haven’t done

anything wrong, but I am being

punished. Your mother and I are

being tested. It might be not so

good out here when you arrive. You

are still with God.

(MORE)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 105.

BENNET (CONT'D)

Your face is still the face of God.

Please tell God to help me.

(and closes his eyes, and-)

We slide to Prema’s face. Eyes open. Awake. Listening. Then-

B149 INT./EXT. PREMA’S CAR (MOVING)/MOON TOWNSHIP - DAY

Prema driving herself there for first time alone. More

pregnant. Humming to a pop song on the radio. Clarion voice.

Her eyes tick up to the rear-view. A sedan. Nondescript.

Windshield opaque with sky. Keeping pace.

And it’s still keeping pace. She stops singing. She turns. It

turns. She turns again. It keeps going.

She keeps going.

It reappears.

Now she’s there. In the neighborhood. Grass. Shrubbery is in.

She looks over at their home. Then the rear-view. Car’s gone.

150 OMIT

151 OMIT (152-155 MOVED TO AFTER 161)

156 OMIT

157 INT. ALLEGHENY COUNTY CORONER - DAY

Sullivan leading Bennet upstairs. Before the top he stops

them in the stairwell.

BENNET:

Why does Cyril want to see me?

SULLIVAN:

Hopefully to fire you.

(and they head into--)

158 INT. WECHT’S OFFICE - ALLEGHENY COUNTY CORONER - DAY

Where Wecht is waiting with two FBI AGENTS.

BENNET:

What is this?

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 106.

Bennet now looking from Wecht to the Agents. Goes still, as

an animal will at the scent of danger. Then-

WECHT:

I am being relieved of my duties.

BENNET:

I don’t understand.

AGENT:

Dr. Wecht is being indicted

on eighty-four Federal

counts, including-

BENNET:

Faxes?

BENNET:

WECHT *

Eighty-four Federal counts. *

Mail fraud, wire fraud, and *

**

related offenses arising from *

his use of government

resources to benefit his

private practice. Sending

personal faxes, mileage

vouchers, misusing office

stationary--

WECHT (CONT'D) *

Faxes. *

They couldn’t come up with

something that stupid in Nigeria.

AGENT:

Using public property for private

gain.

BENNET:

You do know the man has been a

public servant for decades-

AGENT 2

Have you ever performed any private

services on county time?

A pause as Bennet does the math. Then realizes-

BENNET:

Do you mean the death row case? I

was on my time! I saved an innocent

man’s life.

WECHT:

Apparently we’ve both hurt the

government’s feelings.

(then)

This has nothing to do with him.

(meaning Bennet)

CHERRY PAGES 1.21.15 107.

AGENT:

We don’t want you, Dr. Omalu. But

we can have you.

BENNET:

What does that mean?

Everything all at once. Bennet’s walls crashing around him.

WECHT:

They are going to want your

testimony.

(and some sort of gesture

tells him--)

BENNET:

Against you?

(the silence says yes;

turning to the agent)

Is this because his name was on my

research?

AGENT 1

(dead-pan)

What research is that, Dr. Omalu?

Bennet HOLDS his look. A stare-down. A long beat, then-

BENNET:

(this is bullshit--)

I’ll resign first.

AGENT 2

In which case your immigration

status will be revised. Since your

status requires full-time

employment.

BENNET:

(so absurd he actually

laughs)

I’ll get another job in some other

city.

(and very - too - quickly)

AGENT:

That would be fine.

159 INT. ALLEGHENY COUNTY CORONER - PITTSBURGH - DAY

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