Foxcatcher Page #4

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19.

MARK (CONT’D)

there was my brother, he was

running towards me - screaming -

laughing - he lifted me up -

Mark stops - face flushed - tries to stop himself from

getting CHOKED UP. After a few moments, he speaks quietly:

MARK (CONT’D)

It’s always been his sport. He let

me inside. I’m just lucky to be

very very good at it.

DU PONT:

You won that match. Not him.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOXCATCHER ESTATE - DAY

Du Pont and Mark walk the last few steps of a huge lawn up to

an OLD FIELD HOUSE in the final stages of renovation. Du Pont

opens the door. They walk into a gleaming new GYM.

CUT TO:

INT. FOXCATCHER GYM - CONTINUOUS

Four pristine WRESTLING MATS are spread out on the floor.

Through a doorway on the far end we can glimpse a WEIGHT ROOM

with new nautilus and stationary bikes and free weights.

DU PONT:

The U.S. Olympic Committee refuses

to recognize that training for

international competition is a full

time job. Why is that? Why is that?

(looks at Mark)

I want you all to have a home.

CUT TO:

EXT. VALLEY FORGE - LATE AFTERNOON

VARIOUS SHOTS of the vast historic site - monuments and

fences and stone house headquarters.

DU PONT (V.O.)

I wish every American could come

here and see for themselves. See

the price of freedom. It’s not free

at all.

20.

Mark stands next to John on a ridge over the CEMETERY field.

Du Pont’s front leg is poised on a large rock, as if he’s a

General surveying all that has been conquered. His black Ford

Mercury is parked nearby.

DU PONT:

The sacrifices of the troops that

first long winter remind me of what

you athletes go through.

Silence as they look out over the national park.

DU PONT (CONT’D)

I’m gratified my family could play

a small part in the history here.

Then du Pont speaks, as much to Mark as to himself

DU PONT (CONT’D)

We can’t choose the family we’re

born to. But we can make our own.

(beat)

I can’t think of anyone I’d rather

build a team with.

(turns to Mark)

You name your price.

CUT TO:

EXT. PHL AIRPORT - ESTABLISHING/DAY

A plane takes off on the runway.

CUT TO:

INT. PHL AIRPORT/BATHROOM - DAY

CLOSE UP on Mark’s face, looking at himself in the mirror.

Studying his own face. Then he erupts in a PRIMAL SCREAM.

CUT TO:

EXT. PINE TREE - DAY

CLOSE UP on the face of a SIX-YEAR OLD BOY, CRYING -

terrified. ALEXANDER, Dave’s son. He’s mid-way up a tall pine

tree and scared to go any higher. Dave is a couple of

branches above him. He looks down at Alexander, patiently

waiting for the boy to stop crying. Finally, ALEX stops.

21.

DAVE:

You ready?

Beat. The boy nods. They climb higher.

CUT TO:

I/E. TAXI/MADISON/DAVE’S STREET - DAY

Mark rides in the back of a cab. As he nears Dave’s house, we

SEE Nancy tapping a beer keg in the side yard. Dave and Alex

sit in the TOP OF THE TREE, watching Mark arrive.

CUT TO:

EXT. DAVE’S HOUSE - LATER/DAY

Lots of U of W wrestlers, coaches, wives, girlfriends, kids.

Dave’s at the BBQ, carving a huge roast on a spit with a long

CARVING KNIFE. Mark’s talking to him

MARK:

25 thousand a year. He said name

your price and I said the highest

price that came into my head. We’d

get to hand-pick our own team,

wrestlers we want to work with -

DAVE:

Who you gonna train with?

MARK:

No - I mean... when I say we, I

mean - you and me... could choose a

team. Together.

DAVE:

What does du Pont get out of it?

MARK:

As soon as you meet him you’ll

understand. He sees what we’re

after. He cares about America - old

family, basically paid for the

Revolutionary War - he gets it. He

wants to help us win, help restore

our pride.

DAVE:

My pride is fine.

22.

MARK:

No, not.... This country’s pride.

Dave just looks at him, silent.

MARK (CONT’D)

Dave - this is it. This is what

we’ve wanted our whole lives - just

to train - you and me - not to have

to deal with USA Wrestling, or

Harper and his corrupt university

program - not to have to think

about anybody else...

Nancy has wandered over, Danielle on her hip.

NANCY:

- What’re you guys talking about?

MARK:

I’m speaking to my brother, that

okay with you?

Nancy and Dave share a glance. Then Nancy turns to walk away.

NANCY:

Always good to see you, Mark.

(as she walks away)

Please, eat our food, sh*t on our

lawn. Enjoy yourself...

The brothers are silent for a long moment until she’s gone.

MARK:

Why does she...

He trails off. Then, a bit desperate

MARK (CONT’D)

The deer hunting on his farm’s

supposed to be amazing...

Dave speaks gently.

DAVE:

I got a good thing going here. I

got a contract. Nancy’s happy, Alex

likes his school...

The reality starts to hit Mark that he may be doing this

alone, without his older brother. He’s shell-shocked.

MARK:

The Worlds are sixty days away.

23.

DAVE:

Tell me your plan. Who you gonna

train with?

MARK:

(lost)

Du Pont’s taking his money out of

the Villanova program. They’ll pull

the plug on that. So. Dan Bane

could come. I - I guess Dan Bane.

(beat, then, very quietly)

I don’t know how to do this without

you.

DAVE:

Do what?

The answer is “everything” -- but Mark just shakes his head.

DAVE (CONT’D)

It sounds like an opportunity.

MARK:

Does it?

DAVE:

I think you could make something of

it.

MARK:

Do you?

(Dave NODS)

A spot’s always open for you if you

decide to come.

DAVE:

Thank you.

Dave steps forward and holds out his arms

DAVE (CONT’D)

Congrats, little brother.

Mark steps into his brother’s arms, folding into him, head on

his chest, holding on for dear life. Nancy looks over.

CUT TO:

24.

I/E. MARK’S APARTMENT - MORNING

Mark packs his apartment - trashing just about everything,

tossing it in the dumpster - stuffing the few essentials in

his AMC GREMLIN.

CUT TO:

EXT. DRIVING - DAY

Mark drives across Ohio.

CUT TO:

EXT. FILLING STATION - DAY

Mark gets gas. The attendant - clearly a HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLER

-shakes his hand.

CUT TO:

EXT. FOXCATCHER ESTATE - DAY

Mark pulls onto the estate grounds.

CUT TO:

EXT. FRONT DOOR/BIG HOUSE - DAY

Mark rings the doorbell. No answer. He goes to ring it again

and the door is opened by a UNIFORMED MAID.

MARK:

Hi. I’m Mark Schultz.

Silence. That means nothing to her.

MARK (CONT’D)

I’m here to see John du Pont?

UNIFORMED MAID:

Is Mr. du Pont expecting you?

MARK:

Yeah. Well - not today exactly,

but, yes. This week. Sometime.

UNIFORMED MAID:

Just a moment, please.

25.

MARK:

In the meantime can I use the

She SHUTS the door, leaving him outside. He turns and looks

out over the VAST LAWN of the estate. Far off, it’s being

mowed by a gardener.

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