Playaz - Cheryl - Act 3

EXT. THE CAGE - MOMENTS LATER

Cheryl storms around the cage. Priest, Hans, and Jerry look
worried.

PRIEST
Whoa, take it easy...

CHERYL
No! Are you telling me that I'm
not even as good as a guy with one
good leg?

PRIEST
Don't be like that. We've all got
strengths and weaknesses..

Cheryl kicks open the gate and storms out.

Cheryl's eyes well with tears and she walks away from the
Cage. Priest and the others look on with worried
expressions.



INT. ST. JOSEPH'S - DAY

Young Cheryl sits at a desk in a classroom filled with other
students. A newspaper lies in front of Young Cheryl. The
headline reads, "Cheryl Adams leads the way to championship."

A picture of Young Cheryl, dressed in a basketball uniform,
sits under the headline.

Young Cheryl holds up the newspaper and smiles.



EXT. ST. JOSEPH'S - DAY

Young Cheryl runs out onto the playground as a bell sounds.
Children run about.

Young Cheryl focuses on something.

Young Cheryl struts towards Young Priest and the Fat Kid.

FAT KID
Wow, you finished in third? That's
awesome!

YOUNG CHERYL
Well, did you see this?

Young Priest and the others turn towards Cheryl. Cheryl
points to the newspaper headline reading, "Cheryl Adams leads
the way to championship."

FAT KID
Pssshhh. That ain't real
basketball.

Everyone turns back to Young Priest.

FAT KID
So, could anyone dunk out there?

Young Cheryl turns away and grits her teeth.



INT. ST. JOSEPH'S HALLWAY - DAY

Young Cheryl stands next to the school's trophy case in a
hallway.

Cheryl looks at a women's basketball trophy, sitting in the
side of the case, and smiles.

A men's basketball trophy, three times the size of the
women's trophy, sits in the center of the case.

Cheryl frowns.



INT. DORM ROOM - DAY

Cheryl, dressed in a college sweatshirt, sits inside a dorm
room decorated with college sports posters and pennants.

A newspaper sprawls out in front of Cheryl.

The newspaper reads, "National Champs!" A picture of Cheryl
celebrating lies next to the text.

Cheryl smiles.

Cheryl leans back, revealing that the National Champs article
is a tiny box on page 6 of the sports section.

Cheryl turns the newspaper to the front of the section. The
Sports front page talks about baseball, men's college
basketball, etc. - no mention about women's basketball.

Cheryl grits her teeth.



EXT. RUCKER PARK - DAY

Cheryl grits her teeth on the bench. The stands are full of
fans and the air is filled with cheers. Priest, Hans, Jimmy,
run on the court against Robbie and others.

A Kid walks up to Cheryl.

KID #1
Hey, is it true about the national
championship?

Cheryl smiles.

CHERYL
Why, yes, I played in college for
Notre Dame and we won the national
championship.

Kid #1 seems confused.

KID #1
Uh, that's great, but I was asking
about Priest.

Cheryl's smile fades.

CHERYL
No, he played division 2, but they
did win one year.

Kid #1 turns away from Cheryl.

KID #1
I told you!

Kid #1 runs off.

Cheryl slumps her shoulders.

Jerry, Priest, and Hans run up the court.

Jerry slips and falls to the group.

PRIEST
Whoa, hang on.

There is a whistle.

Cheryl sits on the edge of her seat. Priest helps Jerry to
his feet.

Jerry moves gingerly, but nods to Priest.

DJ (V.O.)
(muffled)
He's ok.

The crowd cheers. Cheryl slumps further.

Bunyan slides down the bleachers next to Cheryl.

BUNYAN
Hey, Cheryl, can I ask you, what do
you see out there?

CHERYL
What, a bunch of guys running
around.

Jerry brings the ball into the front court.

BUNYAN
No, I mean, what are they doing?

Cheryl gives Bunyan a confused look.

BUNYAN
I know you see a lot more than I
do. All I do is jump and try to
block shots in the paint. But, you
see what they're thinking.

CHERYL
I'm not sure what you're talking
about.

BUNYAN
Oh, come on. You knew exactly what
we were doing to you guys last
game. You told Jerry how to break
our press, and you'd have won if he
didn't get hurt.

Cheryl looks at the ground.

CHERYL
Or if I could play better.

BUNYAN
Don't be like that. You might not
be as big or as strong as me, but I
know this. You're a whole lot
smarter.

Cheryl looks up like she's thinking.

BUNYAN
And that's usually worth a whole
lot more.

Cheryl turns toward the court.

In slow-motion, Jerry dribbles the ball at the top of the
key.

Jerry passes to Hans at the right elbow.

Cheryl imagines a chalk line curling around Hans.

Jerry runs along the chalk line, curling around Hans.

Cheryl imagines a chalk line perpendicular to Hans.

Jerry uses Hans as a screen and sheds his defender. Hans
hands the ball to Jerry.

Cheryl imagines a chalk line curling towards the basket.
Chalk Xs appear under the two defenders, with arrows pointing
towards Jerry.

Jerry runs along the chalk line curl. The two defenders
follow the arrows and head towards Jerry.

Cheryl imagines a chalk circle under Priest, who stands near
the basket. A chalk arrow points from Priest to the center
of the key.

Priest follows the chalk arrow into the key and waves his
hand.

Cheryl imagines a dotted line from Jerry to Priest.

Jerry turns to Priest and passes the ball, between the
defenders, to Priest.

Priest catches the ball.

In real time, Priest jumps and throws down a thunderous dunk.

PRIEST
Yeah!

Cheryl's expression brightens as Priest runs back on defense.

BUNYAN
Cheryl?

Robbie breathes heavily as he jogs up the court.

CHERYL
Let me win this game first, then
I'll coach you a bit.

Bunyan smiles and nods.

Jerry dribbles the ball up the court.

Cheryl whistles and holds up her hand.



EXT. RUCKER PARK - MOMENTS LATER

Cheryl walks onto the court as the air is full of cheers.
Robbie glares at Cheryl.

Priest inbounds the ball to Cheryl. Behind Priest, Jerry
sits on the bench.

Robbie, guarding Hans, turns to Cheryl.

ROBBIE
Back for more?

Cheryl makes eye contact with Hans. Hans cuts around Robbie
as Cheryl bounces the ball ahead of Hans.

Hans catches the ball a step ahead of Robbie and lays in the
ball.

CHERYL
You need to talk less and play
more.

Robbie glares at Cheryl.



EXT. RUCKER PARK - MOMENTS LATER

Cheryl dribbles the ball at the top of the key. Robbie
stands in front of Cheryl.

ROBBIE
Ok, here I am. Show me what you
got.

Cheryl squints her eyes and everything slows.

Chalk lines appear on the court, detailing movement and
positioning.

One chalk line heads to the basket.

Cheryl smiles.

Cheryl follows a chalk line in front of Priest.

Cheryl bounces the ball along a chalk line to Priest.

Cheryl cuts the opposite direction and runs, following a
second chalk line.

Hans follows a chalk line that approaches Cheryl's line.

Cheryl uses Hans as a screen. Robbie bumps into Hans.

Cheryl curls around and has an open path to the basket.

Priest passes over his head, along a chalk line, to Cheryl.

Cheryl catches the ball and in one motion, finger rolls the
ball into the basket.

In real time, Cheryl lands on the court.

The crowd erupts.

Cheryl points at Robbie, who hangs his head.

Bunyan and Jerry, on the bench, clap their hands.

BUNYAN
Yeah, I gotta get her to teach me
that one.



EXT. RUCKER PARK - NIGHT

People exit from the stands and walk off the court. A ball
rolls on the court.

Skittles walks onto the court and picks up the ball.

Skittles dribbles the ball a few times.

Suddenly, Skittles grabs the ball and hunches her shoulders.
Skittles turns to see Cheryl watching from the sidelines.

Skittles motions to pass, but Cheryl waves her hands.

CHERYL
Shoot that.

Skittles looks confused.

CHERYL
Shoot it. You can make that shot.

Skittles stands straight and turns toward the basket.

Skittles bounces the ball a few times.

Skittles takes a shot, heaving the ball into the air.

The ball flies through the air and swishes through the rim.

Skittles bounces around happily.

SKITTLES
Hahaha!

Skittles turns toward Cheryl with a wide grin.

CHERYL
I knew you could do it.