Foxcatcher Page #8

DU PONT:

Let’s clear it out!

He gestures toward the center section of the enormous TROPHY

CASE - the entirety of which is filled with horse-jumping and

fox-hunting medals, ribbons and plaques.

Some of the wrestlers open the glass doors and start taking

down what’s in there. A few of the others open more liquor...

DU PONT (CONT’D)

Oh, yes!

SPRINGER:

You sure about this?

DU PONT:

Mother’s idea of sport is riding a

horse that’s chasing a dog that’s

chasing a fox. I don’t share her

affection for horseflesh

The center case is cleared out.

DU PONT (CONT’D)

Put ‘em up, boys!

They hang their wrestling medals, place in trophies and other

awards - leaving the TOP FEW HOOKS EMPTY.

WRESTLERS:

(chanting together)

Mark! Mark! Mark! Mark!...

45.

Mark hangs his OLYMPIC and WORLD CUP GOLDS on the top hooks.

WRESTLERS (CONT’D)

U.S.A! U.S.A! U.S.A!...

Du Pont raises his bottle to Mark DU

PONT:

You’ve brought honor to Team

Foxcatcher.

He starts to walk toward him.

DU PONT (CONT’D)

You’ve brought honor to

He SLIPS on the wet floor and his feet fly up in front of

him, landing him FLAT ON HIS BACK.

SILENCE. Du Pont’s lying there, shaking - is he crying? No

one knows what exactly to do. Dan Bane approaches him.

DAN:

You all right, Coach?

Du Pont starts LAUGHING out loud. Hugely relieved, Dan holds

his hand out to him to help him up.

Du Pont takes Dan’s hand and promptly pulls him to the

ground... and... JUMPS on his back - WRESTLING with him. The

wrestlers, including Mark, go crazy, CHEERING him on.

Dan lets du Pont get the best of him... lets du Pont PIN him.

The wrestlers are cheering madly as du Pont stands with his

arms raised. He makes as if he’s about to do a back flip

(like Mark), then sits and does a clumsy backwards

somersault. Wild cheers.

DU PONT:

More drinks!

He’s on his knees, fists in the air, head thrown back -

TOTALLY EXULTANT...

PRELAP sound of a GUNSHOT CUT

TO:

EXT. FOXCATCHER ESTATE - NEXT MORNING

VARIOUS SHOTS:
The AMERICAN FLAG being raised; a hawk soars

above the trees; Jean du Pont BRUSHES the horses in the barn.

46.

CAMERA picks up wrestlers running off their hangovers -

Zerega, Popper, Springer, Mark. They pick up speed as the

camera stays with them. WE HEAR more gunshots as they run

through the grounds - the SHOTS get louder and louder.

The wrestlers run somewhat near the FIRING RANGE, where

several members of the NEWTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, in uniform,

are SHOOTING target practice with DU PONT.

Du Pont wears a “Team Foxcatcher” zip SWEATJACKET - with his

honorary POLICE BADGE pinned to one breast. On the other

breast are sewn the words: “Head Coach”, and JOHN “EAGLE” DU

PONT. He’s about to SHOOT when the wrestlers pass by

WRESTLERS (EXCEPT MARK)

Johnny D! Bossman!...

Du Pont, still holding his pistol, turns to watch them run

past. His expression seems oddly, entirely blank.

CUT TO:

INT. FOXCATCHER GYM/WEIGHT ROOM - DAY

A few wrestlers lift weights - the others are hanging out,

resting, talking. Du Pont wanders in, his target practice

PISTOL dangling from the crook of his arm. A few guys notice

him, greet him CASUALLY, go back to what they were doing.

Du Pont FIRES a bullet through the roof. SILENCE.

DU PONT:

321 days to Seoul, gentlemen. 321

days. Let’s get to work.

He gestures for Mark to join him.

DU PONT (CONT’D)

Come talk to me.

CUT TO:

INT. DU PONT’S OFFICE - DAY

CLOSE ON:
a CHECK for $10,000.00 made out to Mark Schultz.

MARK (O.S.)

You don’t have to do this.

John sits at his desk, pistol stuck in his waistband. Mark,

sweaty, stands across the desk from him, holding the check.

47.

DU PONT:

America doesn’t respect you.

Doesn’t place any value on you at

all. I reward accomplishment.

MARK:

Thank you, Coach.

DU PONT:

Please. Call me John. Or Coach.

Whichever you prefer. Maybe Eagle.

Or Coach. Eagle is good.

(then)

How’re we doing with Dave?

Mark carefully folds the check, avoiding du Pont’s gaze.

DU PONT (CONT’D)

You spoke to him again at the

Worlds.

MARK:

Yes. Yes, I did. I...

(beat)

It’s not gonna happen. He got

offered a contract extension at

Wisconsin, Team USA wants him to

train Olympic wrestlers next

summer, he - it’s not gonna happen.

John is clearly unhappy with this answer. He removes the gun

from his waistband, places it on the desk.

DU PONT:

Do you believe in this team?

MARK:

Of course I

DU PONT:

-Do you believe we deserve this

country’s best talent?

MARK:

I do

DU PONT:

-I pay for results not only on the

mat, but in recruiting the best of

the best to Foxcatcher Farms.

That’s part of your job.

Silence. Mark looks shamed by this.

48.

DU PONT (CONT’D)

It’s probably best. Dave

intimidates you. You don’t believe

you can ever do better than your

brother. Glass ceiling. Impossible

for you to break through.

It looks like perhaps Mark believes this as well.

MARK:

(tentative)

Do you think that’s true?

Because... all these years -

Du Pont stands suddenly

DU PONT:

- Well. You’re the public face of

Foxcatcher.

MARK:

If that’s what

DU PONT:

-What do you know about Masters

League wrestling tournaments?

MARK:

Uh - well - not all that much

DU PONT:

- Because I’m thinking of entering

one.

Beat. Mark nods

MARK:

Okay...

CUT TO:

CLOSE ON:
VIDEOTAPE image of Mark at the 1984 Olympics, his

hand being raised by the ref... Mark raises both hands in the

air, glances slightly down, then out at the crowd...

The image FREEZES, is rewound, plays again. At the moment

Mark raises his arms and GLANCES DOWN, the image FREEZES.

PHOTOGRAPHER (O.C.)

This is the one.

CUT TO:

49.

INT. DINING ROOM/BIG HOUSE - CONTINUOUS/DAY

The furniture has been pushed to the walls in the huge formal

dining room, and a large WHITE SCRIM has been erected at one

end. A FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER who could double as a member of

Devo, stands at a video monitor with du Pont.

PHOTOGRAPHER:

He wears the singlet

DU PONT:

- and the gold medal

PHOTOGRAPHER:

-and, of course, the gold medal.

And a lot of oil.

Mark’s in a dressing area wearing his FOXCATCHER SINGLET and

Olympic gold. Two assistants stuff his crotch with a bit of

padding.

PHOTOGRAPHER (CONT’D)

A lot of oil. Please. More oil. It

defines the musculature.

Mark walks to his spot in front of the scrim. The two

assistants slather baby oil on his arms and chest and legs as

the photographer SHOWS him the pose on the monitor.

PHOTOGRAPHER (CONT’D)

You’re winning the gold medal.

You’re raising your arms in

triumph. You’re also feeling

humility.

Du Pont is hanging back, but staring intensely at Mark. Mark

looks over to him.

MARK:

You good with this?

DU PONT:

It’s wonderful. It’s exactly what I

needed from you.

Rate this script:4.0 / 2 votes