The Replacements Page #4

THE REPLACEMENTS - Rev. 9/18/99 18.

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Shane jumps. McGinty is sitting on Shane's old chair onthe stern of the boat.

McGINTY

He hit the deck just like that.

Shane studies his visitor for a beat before taking a beerout of a cooler and cracking it open.

McGINTY

You know who I am?

SHANE:

(nodding)

We met right before the SugarBowl.

McGINTY

Hell of a game, that Sugar Bowl.

What'd you lose it by? Fortypoints?

SHANE:

Forty-five.

McGINTY

Jesus. Sometimes a game can stickwith you so that you can nevershake it off.

SHANE:

So it seems.

McGINTY

You had a lot of tools. Fast.

Quick release. Great downfield

vision. You just never had goodprotection.

SHANE:

I've got three concussions toprove it.

(CONTINUED)

19.

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McGINTY

That's why girls don't play the

game.

Shane gives him a look as McGinty grins.

SHANE:

What do you want, Coach?

McGINTY

I'm back with the Sentinels. And

I want you to quarterback 'em.

Shane just looks at him. Waiting for the punchline.

McGINTY

A scrambling quarterback is gonnado real well in this replacementenvironment. I've found the best

guards available to protect you.

And a wide receiver that even youcan't overthrow.

SHANE:

I'm retired.

McGINTY

Yeah. And it looks like thingshave gone real well for you since.

SHANE:

I got no complaints. It's quiethere. Nobody bothers me.

McGINTY

That's the great thing aboutplankton. Pretty much keeps toitself.

He grins as Shane slips off his dive booties.

McGINTY

You know what separates thewinners from the losers, kid?

SHANE:

The score?

McGINTY

Getting back on the horse afteryou've been kicked in the teeth.

(a beat)

I've watched film on your gamessince the Sugar Bowl.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

THE REPLACEMENTS - Rev. 8/25/99 20.

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McGINTY (CONT'D)

I saw you get thrown to the wolvesin Seattle. You're supposedto be carrying a clipboard your firstyear -- not a whole team.

(as Shane looks up)

Your team leaned on you and youcrumbled. Is that how you wantto be remembered?

Shane shrugs and stares out to the water.

SHANE:

I don't wanna be remembered at

all.

He pulls a ratty old sweatshirt over his head and walksover to the door to his tiny cabin as McGinty stands up.

McGINTY

You're still young. You still gotbags of talent. If you do well,

who knows what will happen whenthe strike ends?

Shane looks up...

McGINTY

I can't make you any promises,

Shane.

McGinty points to the boats in the harbor.

McGINTY

But wouldn't you rather take achance than scrape sh*t off ofother guys' toys?

McGinty nods as he looks him in the eye.

McGINTY

Think it over.

He turns and walks off the boat as Shane watches him

go...

DISSOLVE TO:

20 EXT. NEXTEL STADIUM - RAMP - MORNING 20

A ramp at the rear of the stadium gives vehicle access tothe interior. The bottom of this ramp is now a maelstromof activity.

(CONTINUED)

THE REPLACEMENTS - Rev. 9/27/99 21.

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The regular Washington Sentinels are in a picket linewalking in circles. The players are dressed in everythingfrom fur coats to expensive leather jackets and leather

pants. Most of them are on cell phones talking to their

agents. Suddenly, the picketers start shouting andpointing as we see a bus slowly makes its way to thestadium.

21 INT. BUS - SAME TIME 21

We PAN ALONG the bus to find, among others, DanielBateman (psychotic cop), Clifford Franklin (can't catch aTwinkie), Andre and Jamal Jackson (ex-bodyguards), andNigel Gruff.

Bang! Eggs start hitting the bus windows as we hear thestriking players yell at the bus as it passes.

ON CLIFFORD FRANKLIN

looking like a little kid as he waves to the players.

FRANKLIN:

Oh God, there's Eddie Martel! And

there's Malcolm Lamont! I love

Malcolm Lamont! Yo, Malcolm! Yo,

player! You're the man!

ON MALCOLM:

A monster of a man, his big face pressed outside thewindow. He throws a forearm against Franklin's WINDOW,

CRACKING it.

ON JAMAL:

He's looking out the window when an egg splats againstit. He turns to his brother Jamal:

JAMAL:

You know I don't take that sh*t...

He reaches into his jacket for his gun, but Jamal stopshim.

ANDRE:

Be cool...

The eggs fly furiously! Nigel gives them the finger.

(CONTINUED)

21

THE REPLACEMENTS - Rev. 9/18/99

CONTINUED:

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Piss off!

NIGEL:

The striking players are screaming and rocking their busback and forth. We see the wide eyes of our players aswe PAN OVER TO baby-faced WALTER COCHRAN, the born-againrunning back for the team, reading from the Bible...

COCHRAN:

'Though I walk through the shadowof the valley of darkness, I willfear no evil...'

22 EXT. NEXTEL STADIUM - DAY 22

The replacements are getting off the bus as the proplayers jeer them. Franklin gets off and waves excitedlyat his heroes -- they throw rotten fruit at him in

return. Nigel gets off and yells:

NIGEL:

Get a job, ya wankers!

The striking players explode at this and surge forward.

The security guards try to hold them back, but they can'tand the replacements start running for their lives up theramp with the strikers in pursuit!

NEW ANGLE:

The replacements get to the top of the ramp before moresecurity guards slam a chain-link gate shut. Nigel givesthem the international "suck my dick" sign, and thestrikers rattle the gate in a collective rage.

CUT TO:

23 EXT. NEXTEL STADIUM - FIELD -DAY 23

Jamal and Andre are hitting the blocking sled. Theydrive it OUT OF FRAME, revealing Pilachowski talking toa big, good-looking kid, BRIAN MURPHY. Pilachowski

smiles and nods.

PILACHOWSKI:

Lookin' good out there, kid!

Murphy smiles and nods back.

PILACHOWSKI:

Where'd you learn to catch like that?

(CONTINUED)

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Murphy suddenly signs to him, rapidly and earnestly asPilachowski continues smiling like an idiot.

PILACHOWSKI:

Well, okay then!

Pilachowski turns and walks right over to McGinty.

PILACHOWSKI:

My tight end is deaf.

MCGINTY:

(nodding)

That's right.

PILACHOWSKI:

How am I gonna coach a deaf man?

McGINTY

You won't need to.

They look across the field at a big, good-looking kidnamed BRIAN MURPHY who is in the middle of a pass-rushingdrill. Murphy looks really fast, especially for his size.

McGINTY

Brian Murphy would have gone inthe first round five years back ifhe hadn't been born deaf. I saw

him play right here in D.C. forGalludet University.

PILACHOWSKI:

I gotta be able to communicatewith him.

McGINTY

Then learn to sign. Hey, look atit this way: He'll never getpulled offsides on an audible.

McGinty thinks this is funny as hell. Pilachowski does

not.

NIGEL (O.S.)

Hello, Coach!

Pilachowski and McGinty turn to see Nigel strolling over.

McGINTY

Good to see ya, Nigel.

They shake hands as Pilachowski just stares.

(CONTINUED)

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PILACHOWSKI:

You're 'The Leg'?

(to McGinty)

You said he was solid muscle.

McGINTY

He's stronger than he looks.

Nigel nods in agreement as he lights up a cigarette.

NIGEL:

I'm wiry.

Pilachowski buries his face in his hands, as we -CUT

TO:

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