The Rehearsal Page #6

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- What about William?

- I'm sorry?

Yes? Are you going

to reveal yourself?

We're all raw.

And in the face of tragedy,

it's tempting

to look for a scapegoat.

But whether we like it or not,

William made a choice.

- He was a kid. Here.

Fine, not fine.

Happy, at risk.

Because of things

we can't even guess at.

We add to their load.

- It's called training.

- How can we possibly know

what they're protecting?

- I'm not having

this conversation.

- I don't believe in cruelty.

I was trained with cruelty.

I know it doesn't work.

- Livia!

- I can't support an environment

where the students

don't have a voice.

- Livia.

- Where the board mentality

is basically corporate.

- Livia, calm down!

- Where the whole conversation's

about the new f***ing building!

It's toxic!

It's the Hannah Bauer show!

I can't do this anymore.

(sniffling)

I'm sorry, my people.

You know I love you.

But I can't do this anymore.

- Thank you.

My door is always open.

Hello!

- Hey.

- How are you?

You feeding the troops?

- Yep. Meat pies.

- How's it all going?

- Yeah, good.

- Why did you choose

the tennis scandal story?

- Do I have to tell you?

- No, you don't.

It's a great subject, though.

You know,

if you get beyond the obvious

"Lolita in the suburbs" thing.

What's your take?

Will it go to trial?

- Seems like it.

- Well, it's your story now.

Oh, it's great. Agent bait.

- That's awesome.

- How are you coping now?

With William?

Did you see that coming?

I didn't.

- No.

- Now we have to live with it.

When we're tough on you...

it's never personal.

You know that.

- Unless it is to the person

it happens to.

Uh, well. I better get going.

They're waiting.

- Yeah, yeah.

No. No, you're right.

Don't let those meat pies

get cold.

(door slamming)

- ...choice.

- Oh. Sorry, we couldn't wait.

- Get up.

Show me your swing.

Just don't bore me.

(chuckling)

- Everyone will get it.

- Mm. Except Hannah.

- Except Hannah.

- You're pussying around.

(laughter)

Mm.

This is a running sport.

A change-of-direction sport.

Ready?

Here comes the ball.

(Frankie grunting)

(both):
Oh!

(Saladin):
... understand

the tennis council's position.

- What a cock.

- Um, there was a lapse

in judgement,

which was regrettable.

I'll cop to that.

The charges, in my view,

they don't accurately, uh,

describe the situation

which was regrettable.

I-I-I regret...

- Any hurt I've caused my wife

and my children.

- And any broken trust

that has occurred.

Now I firmly believe

that if I am given

a second chance,

or a third chance,

that I will become

a positive influence

on and off the courts.

Now finally, to reiterate,

I am very, very, very sorry.

And I will never, ever, ever...

do it again.

Unless I just can't help myself.

(sobbing)

(sniffling)

- He's... such a liar.

Both of them.

- Both?

- Stanley came to see me.

I was over him!

(voice exercises)

- Hi. I'm looking

for Stanley Philips.

- Uh, he may be rehearsing.

Um...

- Okay.

- In Room 1071

(footsteps)

- Thanks.

- What are you doing here?

- I thought you said to come.

- I said call.

So how's the new coach?

- He's okay.

He's--

- I'm glad you're playing again.

I want you to win.

But you have to want it.

- Did you miss me?

- Does Pascal do this?

- No.

Why would you say that?

(crying out)

No! No!

(whimpering)

(crying out)

(dissonant music)

(soft music)

(background chatter)

- What's that?

- What the hell?

That's my lighter.

- I'll show you more

if we go somewhere private.

(distant barking)

(soft music)

- You've got to have

the ability to forget.

To let it all go.

And that's hard.

That's the hardest thing to do,

'cause when you're playing

a game,

and when you hit the net,

or hit a ball out of play,

you're gonna have a feeling,

yeah?

And it's going to be a bad one.

And it's going to go right

through your body.

But it's how you respond

to that feeling,

that's what matters.

You know,

if someone were to go to you:

"Ace, ace, ace," and ace you

three times in a row...

What do those three aces

have to do with the next point?

Nothing.

Nothing.

I think that if you can see it

like that,

if you can really...

frame it that way,

I think... I think that's it.

I think

that's where greatness lies.

Hmm.

(cheering)

- Did you win?

- Oh, yeah.

(laughter)

- You did really, really well.

- Stanley's here. Come in.

- Hi.

- Hello, mate.

- Here, have a seat.

- Oh, no, it's fine.

I won't... I won't stay.

- You sure?

(ball bouncing)

(woman crying out)

- Can I talk with you

for a second?

(applause)

Um...

So... this Saturday...

...we're... doing a play.

Um... at The Institute

Well...

we came up with an idea.

Yeah.

Well, actually, it's...

it's about what happened

between you and...

you and Saladin.

- What?

- A play? A public play?

- Did you know about this?

- You suck.

- Is this your boyfriend?

- Ex.

- How old are you?

- Eighteen.

(rattling)

- What kind of person

thinks it's okay

to use the details

of someone's private life

for cheap entertainment?

I mean, how is that even

possibly okay?

What are you, stupid! Eh?!

Or as you just

grossly insensitive?

- Stephen.

- Um, I just came to say that...

(sighing)

...we won't do the play.

I promise.

- Good.

You get out of my house.

You stay the hell away

from my daughters!!!

(clatter)

- What exactly

has been going on?

Hey?

- I know what you're thinking,

but that's not why

I went out with you.

- Hey!

- Hey.

That was stupid.

I've upset them.

- Yeah, they're always upset.

- I'm sorry.

At The Institute, it's like...

everyone has

their special thing...

and that's all I had.

So I used it.

I know.

I love you.

- I guess...

I don't really trust you now,

so... I should get back.

- God. Are you serious?

- It's in two days!

- What are you gonna do

about it?! It's been a year!

- I know. I'm sorry.

- What?! We've been working

on this for a year!

(sighing)

- You have f***ed us over, man.

- Are you gonna get us

out of this?

'Cause you f***in' better.

- I know.

- Can you stop

and talk about this?!

(paper shuffling)

Anyone want these?

We're going down.

Can you believe it?

- Speak for yourself.

I'm going solo.

(sighing)

- F***. I can do it. It's fine.

- I know you hate me.

- I hate the situation!

You were so cocky,

and you just used that girl.

- Thomasin.

- "Oh, I'm so hot.

And Mr. Saladin,

a sexual predator,

thinks I'm sexy.

Let's do a play about it."

I didn't mean that.

- You did.

I'm gonna get you.

- No, wait. No. We should...

(grunting)

No, we should get him.

Ya!

- Yes!!

(laughter)

- Ah!

(laughter)

(grunting)

Oh!

(laughter)

(grunting)

Argh!

- Get off.

- Argh!

- Ready?

- Do more forehand ones.

(grunting)

(soft music)

- Run!

(laughter)

(birdsong)

(laughter)

- Hey.

(laughter)

- He's back.

- The statue of Apollo

didn't exist to trick people

into thinking

it was really the god,

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