Love and Basketball Page #11

TEAM:

Team!

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. SPORTS ARENA - LATE DAY

A sellout crowd for the men's SC/Temple game. And Quincy is

having the worst game of his life.

He drives down court on a fast break. He ignores his two

open teammates and puts up a three-pointer. It hits nothing

but air. The crowd boos.

Humiliated, Quincy tries to steal the ball back and commits a

stupid foul. His teammates glare at him as they line up for

free throws.

INT. CAMPUS GYM - CONTINUOUS

Monica's game. Late second half. SC down two.

Monica drives the lane, drawing two defenders. She looks

like she's about to force up a shot, then suddenly whips up a

pass to a wide-open Sandra at the three-point line. Nothing

but net. SC up one.

Coach Miller claps intensely on the sideline.

COACH MILLER:

That's it, that's it!

Ten seconds left. Game on the line. Monica tries to lob a

pass inside to Toni. The pass is knocked away and grabbed up

by the opposing point guard.

It is a one-on-one between Monica and the guard. The girl

drives hard for the winning hoop. Monica races to the key

and slides in front of her. The guard goes up and slams into

Monica. Both crash to the floor as the ball drops through

the net and the buzzer goes off.

A WHISTLE. The two women stare up at the REFEREE from the

floor. And then --

REFEREE:

Offensive foul! Charging! No basket!

Monica leaps up as the crowd goes crazy. Toni grabs up

Monica in a hug as their teammates celebrate around them.

INT. SPORTS ARENA - CONTINUOUS

Quincy drags himself to his bench, slumps down dejectedly, as

the Temple Owls celebrate their win around him.

INT. LOCKER ROOM - DUSK

The female players continue to celebrate as they undress.

MAEYEN:

Shoot, you see that crowd? We need to be

playing in the Sports Arena.

KELLI:

Hell yeah.

They give each other a pound.

Lisa looks at Monica, standing in her shorts and sports bra.

LISA:

Oh damn, Mon.

MONICA:

What?

LISA:

I think ol' girl took out your chi-chis

with that charge.

The women break into laughter. Monica smiles.

MONICA:

Kiss my ass.

SANDRA:

Nah, I think she took that too.

MONICA:

Sandra, please, last time you chest-

bumped me, it took you three tries.

More laughter. Monica looks over at Toni, sitting quietly at

the bench.

MONICA (cont'd)

Yo, T, why you so quiet?

TONI:

(beat)

I don't want to go play overseas.

DORA:

I thought you were hyped about going to

Portugal next year.

TONI:

It's never gonna be like this. Playing

in front of my family, hanging out with

my girls. Probably not even a

McDonald's.

SANDRA:

Nah, there's always a McDonald's.

SIDRA:

Least you got an offer. My agent's

still looking.

CREE:

(to Lisa)

What about you?

LISA:

(beat)

Maybe it'd be worth it if I knew some day

I could come back here and play. But for

right now, it's law school.

COACH MILLER (O.S.)

Monica.

Monica turns, sees Coach Miller standing in her office

doorway. She motions for her. Monica heads over. Sidra

watches.

INT. COACH MILLER'S OFFICE - SHORT TIME LATER

Trophies, plaques and photos fill every empty space.

Coach Miller sits behind her desk. Monica stands before her.

COACH MILLER:

You could've given up after you threw

that ball away. But you kept your head

and you showed real heart.

MONICA:

Thanks.

COACH MILLER:

We've got our final games against Oregon

and Oregon State and I want to shake

things up a bit, so I'm starting you at

point again.

MONICA:

(confused)

I thought Sidra's ankle was okay for next

game.

COACH MILLER:

You want the job or not?

Realization finally hits.

MONICA:

Yeah. Yes.

Monica looks at Coach Miller completely thrown.

COACH MILLER:

What?

MONICA:

It's just...it seems like you're always

yelling at me.

COACH MILLER:

You think I'd go hoarse for a player with

no potential? When I ignore you, that's

when you worry.

(then)

Go get dressed.

Monica nods, crosses out.

INT. LOCKER ROOM - CONTINUOUS

As Monica walks back to her teammates, Coach Miller steps

into the doorway.

COACH MILLER:

Sidra.

Sidra looks at Monica as she rises, crosses over. Monica

avoids her eyes as they pass. Sidra enters the office and

the door closes.

SHAYLA:

Yo sis, what's going on?

Beat, then Monica smiles.

SMASH CUT TO:

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Black folks pack the cramped houseparty, bumping to a phat

hip hop joint.

Monica bounces through the throng. A GIRL grabs her arm.

GIRL'S VOICE

Yo, great game.

MONICA:

Thanks.

Another PARTY-GOER grabs her arm.

PARTY-GOER

Girl, you can play.

Monica smiles wider. She spots Reggie dancing in the crowd,

moves to him.

MONICA:

Reg. You seen Quincy?

REGGIE:

What's up, girl.

MONICA:

(louder)

Derek said Q was here.

REGGIE:

We'll roll through.

Monica is suddenly pulled into a dance routine by Sandra and

Lisa.

She laughs, tires to move away, but they won't let her go.

Monica gives in, grooves with them.

ANGLE ON:

Quincy walks through the door with a half-empty forty in his

hand. Girls immediately try to grab his attention from the

dance floor, or stare him down from the sidelines.

Quincy sees Monica on the dance floor. He stands, watching

her. Takes a drink. Monica finally looks over, sees him.

She smiles, crosses to him.

MONICA:

Hey.

QUINCY:

What's up?

MONICA:

I've been trying to find you all day.

QUINCY:

Here I am.

She glances at the forty in his hand.

MONICA:

Sorry about your game.

QUINCY:

It happens, right...

Shayla suddenly grabs Monica from behind.

SHAYLA:

(to Monica)

What's up, superstar.

(then, to Quincy)

Your girl was on tonight. She tell you?

QUINCY:

(beat)

I heard.

SHAYLA:

She also tell you she ganked the starting

spot from Sidra?

Monica looks at him for a reaction.

QUINCY:

Nah.

He downs the last of his forty.

QUINCY (cont'd)

Where's the keg at?

SHAYLA:

Balcony.

He heads for the glass doors. Monica and Shayla follow.

EXT. BALCONY - CONTINUOUS

Reggie approaches the group. Gives Quincy a nod.

REGGIE:

What's up, dog?

(to Shayla)

Hey, flyness.

SHAYLA:

Get off the bra strap, Reggie, you're a

ho.

He laughs, then turns back to Quincy.

REGGIE:

Coach is gonna kill us in practice

tomorrow. Might even pull his lips off

your dick, limp as your game was tonight.

Quincy just looks at him.

QUINCY:

That's funny.

Monica leans against Quincy, affectionately.

MONICA:

he's just playing, Q...

QUINCY:

You think for once we could talk about

something besides basketball?

SHAYLA:

Sure.

REGGIE:

Whatever's clever.

Silence. Reggie and Shayla crack up. Quincy shakes his

head, moves to the keg line.

MONICA:

Y'all need to quit.

She starts for Quincy

SIDRA (O.S.)

Monica.

Monica looks over, sees Sidra standing in the doorway. There

is no escaping this confrontation. She glances at Quincy,

then crosses over. Quincy turns, sees her disappear back

inside.

INT. HOUSEPARTY - CONTINUOUS

MONICA:

What's up?

SIDRA:

Just wanted to say good game.

MONICA:

But?

SIDRA:

No buts. Took a lot of heart to take

that charge.

MONICA:

Thanks.

SIDRA:

But that was a dumb-ass pass to Toni.

Ten seconds left, you run out the clock.

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