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The front steps of Lincoln High School, August. The great state of Pennsylvania, US of A. An average sized high
school in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. It’s the beginning of the new school year, people returning from
their summer vacations with bronzed bodies that have probably been inactive for several months. There have
been beach parties, slumber parties, and pool parties (where available) and any other party you can think of.
Here on the steps, by the right of ages, the eleventh graders strut their stuff. They chat, mingle, intermingle, and
exchange make up tips, love stories, and generally banter mindlessly. That’s the girls anyway. The guys
however, some of them anyhow, are doing something far more complicated and important. The good ol’
pigskin, yep, football’s back.
ELY, SHAUN, HAL and JERRY are throwing a football round
ELY:
Blue, fifty-five, eagle, eagle, hut-hut!
Takes the snap from HAL, drops back to pass
JERRY:
One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three-
ELY:
No dice Sanders.
Launches an inch-perfect 30-yard pass to SHAUN, just as JERRY tries to sack him
ELY does his best Brett Favre touchdown celebration, SHAUN poses in the end zone
A few smiles and cheers from the gathered crowds
ELY:
You should know Jerry, when you’ve got a link up like this one, you gotta go man to man, zone D just ain’t
gonna work.
JERRY:
Maybe, or maybe you just got lucky, it has been known to happen y’know.
ELY:
I guess football’s just my lucky area.
JERRY:
We’ll get you next time Ely, keep those eyes open.
ELY:
Is that some kind of threat? You know I ain’t scared of you Jerry.
JERRY:
No threat, just be careful, that’s all.
Smiles and slaps ELY on the back, SHAUN and HAL come over, SHAUN twirling the ball round
SHAUN:
So then Sanders, whipped you again didn’t we?
JERRY:
No, no, just got lucky that’s all.
HAL:
No way man. What does that make it, 35-1 in our favour?
ELY:
Yeah, and that ‘one’, was when it was just me against the rest of you. Didn’t really have much chance did I?
JERRY:
Ah, now that was a game, 21-7 I believe?
ELY:
See, you could only beat just me by two touchdowns! You need to work on your game Jerry. You’ll never play for
Penn State at this rate. Might want to lose some of that belly!
Slaps JERRY on the belly, producing slight wobbles
JERRY:
Maybe next time then. Same time next week?
Starts to leave
ELY:
Calls after him. You got it Sanders! JERRY leaves. Hey Shaun, not a bad performance, what was the score, 35-
0?
SHAUN:
Well, there was the kick return-
ELY:
Hey, what can I say?
SHAUN:
Yeah, yeah, three touchdown passes.
ELY:
So that accounts for four of the TDs.
SHAUN:
And the touchdown run from the fake punt, old Hal over there.
HAL:
Damn straight. I just cut to the outside, a few side steps here a juke or two-
ELY:
Hal, it wasn’t exactly a hard game, it’s like playing against a bunch of ten year olds.
HAL:
Hey come on Ely, don’t take my glory away.
SANDY walks by, just coming into school
SANDY:
Hiya guys. Hey there Hal.
Gives a friendly wave to HAL, he turns to go after her
HAL:
Sorry, Ely, you know, when you gotta go-
ELY:
Yeah, yeah, I know, I’d do the same. Go on you lovesick puppy.
HAL:
Catch you later.
He runs after SANDY
ELY lets out a sigh, just as SHAUN turns back from the departed football guys
SHAUN:
Something up big guy?
ELY:
Nothing much, just the usual pangs.
SHAUN:
That may be so, but are you gonna do anything about it this time? It just didn’t really happen over the summer.
ELY:
What d’you mean, kinda didn’t happen? Shaun, I didn’t see her at all. I thought about giving her a call, but I just
couldn’t, I guess I was scared.
SHAUN:
Okay, so you haven’t had much luck-
ELY:
Any luck you mean.
SHAUN:
Any luck then, but it’s a whole different year, maybe she will have changed her outlook.
ELY:
You don’t know her as well as me, she isn’t that sort of girl, she’s more complex than some of the girls you go
after.
SHAUN:
Not anymore, I’ve changed over the summer. Must have been something to do with a certain little lady in Florida.
ELY:
Who was she Shaun? Some shady girl in a seedy bar?
SHAUN:
Of course not, she was 19, tall, blonde and pretty damn gorgeous.
ELY:
I’ll believe when I see it. You got photos?
SHAUN:
You know my mom, she ain’t too quick on that sort of thing. They’ll probably be ready some time next month.
ELY:
What about that fine college girl, you seemed to like her a lot last year?
SHAUN:
She’s still with that dick though, isn’t she?
ELY:
Don’t worry, I’m sure she’ll see the error of her ways. At least you can always hope.
SHAUN:
D’you really think so?
ELY:
Well, there’s probably as much chance of the Browns making the playoffs.
SHAUN:
Thanks for the vote of confidence. So you mean about as likely as you and Jennifer getting it together, that about
right?
ELY:
Hey, don’t go there man, you know how I get.
SHAUN:
Relax man, I ain’t gonna make you squirm. Talking of squirming, I wouldn’t do that now if I were you.
JEN walks by, carrying her folder in that oh-so-sexy girl’s way
Hey Jennifer, c’mere.
She turns, recognises them and approaches them, warily
JEN:
Hi guys, how are you? Did you have a nice summer?
SHAUN:
Oh, mine was great. I went to Florida, check out the tan.
JEN:
Very impressive. How about you Ely?
ELY:
I guess it was okay, could’ve been better I suppose. I didn’t do much, played a lot of baseball though. We got to
the All-City Semi final, lost in extra innings though.
JEN:
Wow, I didn’t realise your team was that good.
ELY:
Well, we’re the third best in the city, which is not too bad.
EMMA walks by, SHAUN catches sight and gets ready to go
SHAUN:
Well, I’m gonna leave you two kids to talk.
ELY:
You’ve just seen Emma, right?
SHAUN:
You guessed it. See ya later buddy.
He runs off after EMMA
ELY:
I don’t know, chasing after a girl when she’s not even interested, who would do such a thing?
JEN:
Hmm, sound like anyone you know?
Raising her eyebrows at ELY
ELY:
Oh so you’re not interested then? I guess I’m just wasting my time.
JEN:
So I’m a waste of time then, am I?
ELY:
I didn’t say that, it’s just that you never seem to be willing to give me a chance. A guy could get the wrong idea.
JEN:
Oh, well, people can change. You never know until you try.
Bell sounds, people start to move
You coming?
ELY:
You know I am. I’ve never been able to say no to you Jen, it’s my curse.
JEN:
So I’m a curse now?
They begin walking up the stairs
ELY:
You take things I say too literally Jen. You know me, I try to say things but I always end up tongue-tied and
saying the wrong thing. I guess I try to hard.
JEN stops, turns to ELY
JEN:
Ely, you know you’re my friend, and I value that, so there’s no need to try when you’re with friends is there?
She smiles sweetly
ELY:
I guess you’re right.
He returns the smile
JEN:
You know I’m right.
They enter the school
Come on Ely, let’s go see the rest of the guys.
ELY:
Anything you say, my dear.
He smiles, mischievously
JEN:
I wouldn’t push your luck if I were you.
She give him a wry smile in return, as they enter their homeroom
- Cut to -
