"CHALLENGERS" (2024)

TASHI DONALDSON, 33, Black, a former player, sits looking out at the court where two men stand across the net from one another looking like they are about to fight to the death.

PATRICK ZWEIG, 32, Jewish, scrappy, ranked 201 in the world, has the face of a man who’s been beaten down by this sport one too many times. He wears a mishmash of clothes from different companies -- he’s got no sponsorship deal, though he has somewhat haphazardly ironed to his shirt the name and logo of a random Italian company, “IMPATTO.”

ART DONALDSON, 33, WASP, good-looking, is the biggest star in men’s tennis that the U.S. has seen in a generation. His shocking presence at this rinky-dink tournament is the sole reason why the modest venue is packed with locals, tourists, and anyone living in the vicinity of New Rochelle who is even remotely interested in tennis. He wears a pristine Nike outfit that practically glistens in the hot summer sun.

This is the PHIL’S TIRE TOWN CHALLENGER, an ATP 80 professional tennis event, close to the lowest level of tournament on the men’s tour.

On every available surface, there are banners with the name of the local chain of auto shops that is sponsoring this event; out in the parking lot, a guy is selling MERCH with Art’s personalized logo; for the first time in its history, the event is being covered by the LOCAL NEWS and by ESPN.

Aside from the goofy-looking trophy that sits waiting for the victor to the side of the court -- an anthropomorphized tire holding a tiny tennis racket, giving a thumbs up -- the winner today receives a measly 80 ranking points and a check for $7200. But you wouldn’t know it looking at Art, Patrick, and Tashi’s faces: they all have a focus that feels as if it were about something much more than tennis.

Art goes into his service motion: right before he tosses the ball, he places it for a second perfectly in the hole on the neck of the racket.

Thwacckkkk!

The ball comes scorching off his racket, and Patrick returns it. A rally begins: this is the opening round of a boxing match, two fighters feeling each other out in the ring.

Patrick sends the ball out wide.

They reset. Art sends in another scorcher:

Thwacckkkkk!

Art sends in a slightly softer ball, and Patrick POUNCES on it, hitting a flat, whopping forehand. Art can’t get to it.

They reset. Art sends in his next serve, and as they trade blows, we pan through the crowd and settle back on Tashi, who watches the match as if it were a final at Wimbledon.

Tashi Donaldson (nee Duncan) is Art’s wife and also his head coach. Her eyes shoot back and forth between her husband and his opponent until Patrick sprints to the net to catch Art’s drop shot and rips it crosscourt, winning the point.

Patrick turns at the net and looks straight at Tashi, who is already looking at him. They share an intense moment until Tashi feels another set of eyes on her: her husband’s.

Art steps back up to the line, keeping his eyes on his wife, and when he throws the ball up in the air, it almost feels like he’s going to serve it at HER.

Thwwackkkkkk!

CUT TO BLACK:

Loud, blaring sound of an ALARM CLOCK. Lights come up in...

One week earlier.

Art opens his eyes and reaches over to turn off the alarm.

It’s 5:30 AM -- barely light outside.

On a table by the closet, there is a fruit basket with a big note that says: “Welcome back to the Winston-Salem Open.”

Art looks over and sees Tashi, already up and dressed.

He groans and gets up.

Art’s personal nutritionist, JEREMY, is labelling sports bottles that have strange-colored liquids in them: “Set 2,” “pre-warm-up,” “post-warm-up.” Art approaches, and Jeremy hands him one labelled “morning.” Art looks at it with dead- eyed dread.

Art chugs it and makes an involuntary grimace.

Art and Tashi eat, watching yesterday’s matches on the TV.

A graphic pops up comparing the stats of Art and his first round opponent, FELIX DU MAURIER (18, French, skinny). Art’s column is full of more or less every achievement possible in tennis (minus a US Open trophy). Felix’s is empty: he’s a total deer in the headlights.

Art looks up at the screen and grimaces.

Art reaches over and mutes the TV.

Art and Tashi hold volleyballs doing a hand-eye coordination/balance drill. To the side of the court, there’s a giant banner featuring an enormous picture of Art -- ten years younger -- holding the 2011 Winston-Salem Open trophy.

Art sits in a high-tech-looking ice bath chamber while KEN, his physiotherapist, adjusts the temperature using an iPad.

Ken looks back at his iPad. Art just looks at him, annoyed.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art downs a bottle labelled “mid-warm-up.” Horrible.

RAUL, Art’s hitting partner, feeds balls to Art’s backhand as fast and hard as he can. Tashi watches.

Art and his team walk towards the locker rooms. Fans freak out and snap pictures as they pass. ANDREW, their security guard, keeps people from getting too close, but Art still signs a few autographs without stopping as they walk.

Art and the team sit quietly. The vibe is focused, meditative: a boxer before a fight. Ken massages Art’s leg.

There’s a knock on the door. Everyone looks up and sees a WOMAN IN A HEADSET standing there.

Art fist bumps everyone and kisses Tashi.

Art nods.

A door opens, and Art, looking sweaty and exhausted, walks out into a small room full of press from various outlets around the world.

He sits down in the chair and adjusts his mic, then looks at a REPORTER who’s got their hand up.

Art just looks at the guy.

Thwacckkkk!

Tashi and Art are watching footage of Art getting crushed.

On the screen, Art misses an easy shot and throws his racket to the ground. Tashi pauses the video.

Art starts to say something, but she cuts him off:

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Their daughter appears in the doorway, wearing pajamas.

They both turn to look at her.

She sighs and goes. Tashi turns back to Art.

Art doesn’t say anything.

Tashi takes out her phone.

Tashi shows him the phone.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art looks at her to see if she’s serious. She is.

Art looks terrified at this possibility.

She gets up to go make the call.

She looks at him.

Tashi points to the TV set.

She leaves. Art reluctantly presses play on the TV:

Thwacckkkk!

Patrick is standing at the reception desk in a soul- crushingly sad motel lobby: the kind of place you pass on the highway and wonder “Who stays there?” It’s about as far as you can get from the fancy hotel room we just left. His card has just been declined.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick looks at her. This is among the saddest interactions of his life.

She nods.

Patrick glares at her. He angrily grabs his stuff and leaves.

Patrick leans against his beat up 2008 Volkswagen Tiguan. He’s got his phone up to his ear, waiting. No one picks up.

He writes a text to someone in his phone saved as Lana: “Hey! Hope you’re doing all right. Got a weird favor to ask you. You live near Westchester, right?”

He sends it, waits. His phone chimes.

Text from Lana: “I haven’t spoken to you in five years.”

He writes back: “Yeah, I know. How’ve you been?”

A moment, then he gets a text back: “Fuck off, Patrick.”

He puts the phone down and sighs.

Patrick pulls up a few blocks down from the New Rochelle Country Club. He drives slowly, seeing if anyone’s around. He finds a sufficiently secluded spot and parks.

Patrick shuts off his car, turns off the lights, and digs around in the backseat for a hoodie that he folds up into a makeshift pillow. He climbs back there, curls up and closes his eyes, looking like he’s done this before.

16 BLACK.

Loud sound of KNOCKING. Light snaps back to...

Patrick opens his eyes, and a NEIGHBORHOOD SECURITY GUARD is tapping on the glass of his window with his knuckles.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick climbs into the front seat and starts the car.

Patrick gets a McMuffin and a coffee off the dollar menu.

Patrick walks up to a middle aged MAN sitting behind a plastic fold up table who’s got his head in a binder.

The man looks up at him.

Patrick looks confused.

Patrick doesn’t quite know how to respond to that.

Patrick nods.

He hands Patrick a packet.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick starts to leave.

He stops.

ATP Official leans in like he’s sharing a secret.

Patrick looks at the guy like: “Okay...?”

The guy smiles and points to a Nike Tennis poster behind him which features Art Donaldson tossing a ball up for a serve. Patrick looks at him, confused. Then his eyes go wide.

Patrick, in a a daze, starts to walk out of the building.

Patrick leaves.

Thwaccckkk!

A. Donaldson: 1 - 40

P. Zweig: 2 - 40

Back to the match from the opening. Patrick is serving.

The viewer who is not a tennis fan may not notice (and it’s not yet necessary that they do), but Patrick’s serve is weird: He puts his racket behind his right ear, almost like he’s going to throw a shot-put, holding it there before leaping up off of both feet to meet the toss in the air.

The ball comes scorching off his racket.

Art returns, and they rally, ending with Art hitting an overhead smash winner.

Both men steady themselves. Patrick resets.

Thwacckkkk!

Patrick serves up a slower ball. Art steps up to it looking to demolish it, but he sends it straight into the net.

The crowd gasps. They’ve never heard Art Donaldson curse on the court before. Tashi looks on, furious at her husband.

Art doesn’t even acknowledge the code violation as he resets.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Thwacckkkk!

Patrick sends in a spinny serve that Art manages to return, but Patrick has set himself up perfectly to dictate the rally, and he rips a forehand crosscourt, winning the point.

Frustrated, Art RAISES HIS RACKET like he’s going to SMASH it, but he stops himself: he can’t afford the point penalty.

The crowd is shocked -- Art Donaldson never smashes rackets -- and Patrick smiles. He’s got Art exactly where he wants him.

Patrick goes into his service motion.

Thwaackkk!

Fifteen years ago. US Open Boys Doubles Final, 2006.

A big, outdoor court. A few dozen people sit in the stands.

ART and PATRICK, 17 and 16 respectively, are up 5 games to 2, 30-15 in the third set against TWO BOYS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC (Junior US Open matches, like most adult matches on the ATP tour except for those played at Grand Slams, are best of three sets, so we’re one point away from MATCH POINT).

Patrick steps up to the line and goes into his service motion -- the same weird one he keeps as an adult -- and Art, who is up towards the net, crouches down as far as he can go so that Patrick’s serve can pass directly over his head.

Here, as in earlier scenes, we get to see the noticeable differences in the way the two boys play the game: While Art’s game is beautiful, made up of clean strokes, lots of power from the baseline, a textbook one-handed backhand (a young Roger Federer or Dominic Thiem), Patrick is something else: he’s an absolute MONSTER on the court, coming up with unexpected, seemingly impossible, low probability shots, the stuff you can’t teach (a young Nick Kyrgios or Gael Monfils).

Art and Patrick win the point when Patrick, chasing after a lob, manages to hit the ball on the run, backwards between his legs (a “tweener”) and sends it zipping right down the edge of the line as if it were a laser beam.

Patrick and Art smile. The Czech guys look at each other despondently.

Match point.

Art and Patrick look towards their box: Their COACH, 50s, looks back at them and clenches his fist.

Patrick lines up to serve. Art crouches down.

Thwaccckkkk!

It’s an ace.

They fall to the ground, losing their minds, jumping up and down, hugging and kissing each other.

Art and Patrick are the US Open Boys Doubles champions, and, it is clear, they are also best friends.

Art and Patrick stand on court holding their trophies in front of a TOURNAMENT OFFICIAL and an ESPN CAMERA CREW.

The crowd politely cheers for the Czech boys.

COACH, in the stands, does a little faux-humble clap.

He looks at Patrick and laughs.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

They laugh.

Art and Patrick sit in stands which are noticeably fuller than they were for the doubles final. They’re eating hot dogs from the concession stand with their trophies on the seats next to them, waiting for the Girls Singles final to begin.

Patrick looks at him.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick laughs.

Over the sound system:

The crowd politely claps, and Patrick and Art watch as the 17 YEAR OLD RUSSIAN GIRL enters. She is short, stocky, serious- looking, doesn’t wave or smile at the crowd.

Petrovska unzips her bag and gets out some Wilson rackets.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

And right on cue...

Art and Patrick lean forward in their seats as 17 year old TASHI enters dressed head to toe in the sleekest 2006 Nike gear. She looks, somehow, like a stunning supermodel AND a brutal force of nature, shooting a million dollar smile.

This Tashi feels somehow a lot lighter than her adult version. She already seems like an ambassador of the sport -- a young Serena Williams or Roger Federer.

She heads over to her bench and gives a fist pump to her FATHER in the stands, a serious-looking, sharply dressed man.

As she’s taking out her rackets and testing their tension, Art and Patrick can’t take their eyes off of her.

24 THE MATCH

To say that Tashi is smoking the poor Russian girl would be an understatement -- she is making her look like a toddler.

Tashi’s game has all the control and discipline of Art’s and all the wild improvisation and raw athleticism of Patrick’s: fire and ice in one player.

As Petrovska has an absolute meltdown, cursing at herself in Russian, yelling to her box, smashing her rackets, Tashi looks like she is effortlessly taking off from the ground.

As Patrick and Art watch, both of them are steadily growing boners under their shorts.

Patrick looks down at his crotch after a particularly incredible point, realizes what’s happening, and tries to cross his legs to hide it. He picks up his doubles trophy from the seat next to him and holds it in his lap.

A moment later, Art looks down, sees his own boner, and does exactly the same thing.

They both look straight ahead trying to look as casual as possible, neither of them realizing that the other is in exactly the same boat.

Tashi stands with her father, holding the girls singles championship trophy, talking to some well-wishers. Irina Petrovska cries holding her runners up trophy, being comforted by her coach. Art and Patrick stand in the corner, still holding their doubles trophies, staring at Tashi.

Art notices Tashi’s father leaving her side for a moment.

Patrick and Art stand there full of nervous energy, waiting for Tashi to notice them. When she does, they both put out their hands at the same time for her to shake them.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

They both retract their hands, surprised.

Art clocks Patrick already putting on the charm and realizes he has to say something.

Art looks over at the still crying Petrovska.

They look over at Irina, who’s now scowling over at Tashi.

Beat.

Tashi looks surprised by the intensity of the question.

Art looks at Patrick, stung. Tashi’s about to say something when her father returns.

TASHI’S FATHER Baby, we’ve got to get going. Meet me at the car in two minutes.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Tashi leaves. Art and Patrick stand there in a daze.

Art and Patrick walk away from the tent.

Art stops himself, realizes what Patrick’s trying to do.

Art looks at him. It is.

Art laughs.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

They look at each suspiciously.

Patrick and Art are “dressed up,” standing in the middle of the party, looking around for Tashi.

He looks around.

The doors open at the other end of the party, and the boys see Tashi making her entrance, wearing a gown, looking royal.

Seemingly the whole party claps for her as she smiles.

Art and Patrick wait again for their turn to be noticed.

Awkward beat -- they all aren’t sure whether they should hug or something, so they just kind of wave at each other.

Art looks at him, pissed.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Tashi looks at Art, who is looking at Patrick, annoyed. She understands that these two boys are deeply smitten with her, and she decides that she’s going to have fun with it.

The three of them are alone on a balcony overlooking the tennis courts. Patrick leans against the railing, smoking. Tashi and Art sit at a table.

Tashi looks at him.

Tashi tries not to react, but he’s not far off.

Tashi scoffs.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Before Patrick can respond, she moves on to Art.

Beat. Tashi looks at her watch.

She starts to leave.

She stops.

Tashi looks at them and laughs.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She shakes her head.

Tashi laughs. She’s enjoying this very much.

Patrick smiles.

She heads back inside. Patrick and Art watch her go.

Patrick stubs out his cigarette on the railing.

Thwaccckkk!

There are a few dozen spectators and a camera crew, but Art and Patrick are really playing for an audience of one:

Tashi sits in the dead middle of the stadium, feet up on the seat in front of her, an Empress watching two gladiators.

Art plays the best tennis of his life, but Patrick’s too good for him. He doesn’t just beat Art: he embarrasses him.

Art scoops up a ball on the run and sends it shallow to Patrick’s ad court. Patrick sprints to it, looking like he’s going for a smash towards the baseline, but it’s a fake out: he hits an absolutely perfect volley, winning the point.

Art throws his hands up in despair, and one of the LINE JUDGES (the guy from the registration desk fifteen years later) can’t help but mouth in disbelief: Wow.

Patrick turns to look at Tashi in the stands and does a cocky little bow. She smiles and claps for him.

Thwacckkk!

A. Donaldson: 2 - 0

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

P. Zweig: 5 - 15

Tashi now has her head in her hands as Art appears to have fully given up in the first set.

Patrick goes into his service motion and sends in an ace.

Patrick moves to the other side.

Thwacckkkk!

Another ace.

Patrick moves to the other side.

Thwacckkkk!

It goes just a little bit wide.

Patrick steadies himself, goes into his motion, and serves up a ball that’s just as hot.

Thwacckkkk!

Art doesn’t even try to move for it.

A few people in the stands politely clap for Patrick as Art is already heading for his bench, not even looking over at Tashi or his team.

Patrick looks over to catch Tashi’s eye, but she’s got her head buried in her hands.

Umpire sets a timer on his phone. It starts ticking down:

1:29, 1:28, 1:27...

P. Zweig: 6

Earlier that week.

Thwaccckkkk!

Patrick rallies at match point in the first round with ERNESTO GONZALEZ, 29, an intense-looking guy from Argentina.

The stands are completely empty. Even the Umpire looks bored.

Ernesto makes an unforced error, sinking the ball in the net.

He lets out a stream of expletives and smashes his racket to smithereens against the concrete while Patrick just calmly approaches the net for the handshake. Patrick has seen this -- and done this himself -- thousands of times.

Ernesto finishes his rant/demolition, and then he just drops the rage completely and approaches to shake Patrick’s hand.

Patrick eats a free meal surrounded by busboys, line judges, and other staff.

Patrick showers in the country club locker room.

Patrick sits in his car, looking at his bank balance on his phone. He’s got $70 in his checking account.

He opens up Tinder and starts swiping right on every woman near Westchester when he’s startled by a knock on the glass.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick starts his car.

Patrick pulls up in his beat-up Tiguan to the front driveway which is full of Mercedes, Land Rovers, and BMWs.

VALET GUY starts to open his door, but Patrick stops him.

Valet guy nods. Patrick shuts the door and drives away as Valet Guy just shakes his head.

Patrick sits across from his DATE, a lawyer in her late 30s.

He’s severely underdressed for the environment -- jeans and a T-shirt -- whereas she’s still wearing her work clothes.

Patrick instantly tunes out and just pretends to listen. His eye wanders to the background behind his date: the bar, its sad collection of travelers and locals, the TV playing SportsCenter, the bartender side-eyeing a woman who might be a prostitute talking to a rich older man.

Patrick’s eye settles on the reception desk to the hotel, and when it focuses, he realizes that a woman is standing there, staring at him. It’s Tashi.

His eyes go wide. So do hers when she realizes that it’s him.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

He looks back towards the reception desk where Tashi is standing with her daughter, Lily, who wears a bathing suit, and Andrew, their security guard.

Tashi says something to Lily and Andrew. She kisses Lily’s head, and Andrew takes Lily up in the elevator.

Date turns and sees Tashi.

Patrick starts walking over there.

Tashi finishes up at the front desk and walks hurriedly towards Patrick, meeting him in the center of the room.

Patrick takes her in. There is palpable energy between them.

She looks over towards the bar, where Patrick’s date is watching them.

Beat. Patrick just looks at her, stung. He smiles.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

They look at each other.

Thwwaacckkkk!

Fifteen years ago. A few weeks after the US Open.

Art and Patrick rally, practicing together.

Patrick smiles and stops the ball when it comes to him.

Patrick bounces the ball and starts to go into his motion.

He stops.

Art nods.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art takes out a ball from his shorts and mimes his service motion to see if Patrick is right. He is.

Patrick laughs.

Patrick looks at Art. Art smiles, egging him on.

Patrick bounces the ball and goes into Art’s service motion.

Art’s too distracted to get in position to return it, but it doesn’t matter:

Thwacckkkk!

Patrick serves up an ace.

Patrick smiles and shrugs. Art smiles back, but as Patrick looks away and resets for his next serve, Art’s expression changes, and we can see exactly what he’s feeling: HATRED.

Not only did Patrick sleep with Tashi: it turns out he’s also perfectly capable of serving the “normal” way. He just won’t.

Patrick goes back to his own service motion now, and as Art gets into position to return, we can see that he’s determined to harness his hatred to demolish whatever comes his way.

Thwwwacckkkk!

CLOSE UP on the Umpire’s timer still ticking down from 90 seconds: 1:26, 1:25, 1:24...

Art wipes himself off with a towel and takes his shirt off. He gets out a fresh Nike shirt from his bag and puts it on the bench next to him, letting himself air out.

He takes out one of his sports drinks labelled “between sets” and glances over at Patrick’s bench.

Patrick is also shirtless, and he’s got his arm slung over the side of the bench, slouching, exuding cocky ease. In his hand, he’s got an opened bag of peanut m&ms.

Art looks up at Patrick’s face and sees that Patrick’s looking back at him. Patrick extends the hand with the m&ms as if to say “You want one?” Art scowls at him with the same unmistakable look of hatred. Time to harness it once again.

He looks over at Tashi, who’s been watching this whole interaction. So does Patrick. For a moment, the three of them are all looking at each other in a kind of Mexican stand-off.

Suddenly, the Umpire’s alarm starts beeping, LOUD.

There’s a loud CLICK, and the court’s overhead LIGHTS come on.

Art puts on his fresh shirt. Patrick puts back on the same sweaty shirt he was wearing. Art downs his “between sets” bottle in one gulp, not even grimacing.

They both take to the court and look at each other across the net. Set one is ancient history. All that matters now is what happens next.

Thwacckkkk!

P. Zweig: 6, 0 - 0

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Fourteen years ago.

Tashi rallies against a TEAMMATE as the rest of the team watches. She wins a point crushing a forehand down the line.

Her teammates cheer, as does someone standing outside the fence. Tashi looks over and sees Art watching. She smiles.

Tashi and Art eat dinner together: Gatorade, greens, pasta.

Art looks at her like: “Give me a break.”

Tashi smiles.

Art’s demeanor immediately changes at the mention of Patrick.

Tashi notices he’s being weird.

Beat. Tashi studies his face.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She grabs her tray and starts to get up.

Tashi waits. She gets up, annoyed.

She stops. Beat.

Beat.

She looks at Art and sees the longing in his face.

Tashi just laughs.

Beat. They look at each other.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She leaves. Art watches her go for a moment before taking the saddest ever sip of Gatorade.

Thwaacckkkk!

Patrick plays in a tiebreaker against KENJI SHINODA, 30, a journeyman player from Japan ranked just outside the top 100.

Shinoda rips a forehand crosscourt, and Patrick responds with a risky winner, sending it right down the edge of the line.

Umpire shrugs -- he could give a shit.

Shinoda shrugs like: “What do you want me to do about it?”

Patrick laughs petulantly, gets to the baseline and gets into position to return. Shinoda serves up an ace that Patrick doesn’t even move for.

Thwacccckkk!

Art rallies against a TEAMMATE, clearly already becoming a better, much more confident player.

Teammate sends the ball into the net and chastises himself as Art lines up for his next serve.

Art sends in an ace right down the T.

Art looks at the guy.

Beat. Art shrugs and serves up a slightly softer ball.

They rally, and teammate tries to lob him, but Art hops up to meet the ball and demolishes it in an un-returnable smash.

His teammates cheer, and Art smiles.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art looks over, and he sees Patrick, wearing shorts, flip flops, sunglasses, and a Stanford T-shirt waving over at him.

Art doesn’t smile. He turns his attention back to his opponent, steps up to the line and sends in another scorcher.

Thwwaaaccckkk!

Patrick and Art sit on the grass, eating churros.

Patrick looks off at a poster of Tashi on a bulletin board nearby that says in all caps beneath her: THE DUNCANATOR!!!

Patrick notices Art’s expression darken.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick looks at him and smiles.

Art looks confused.

Patrick looks at him, smiles.

They look at each other for a long, uncomfortable beat.

Patrick and Tashi have just finished having sex. They’re laying in bed, looking at each other.

Patrick looks at her.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She rolls her eyes. He kisses her. They make out a bit. They look at each other.

Patrick looks at her.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Beat.

Tashi gets up and starts getting dressed.

Tashi shrugs.

She looks at him: he’s actually jealous of her college tennis career.

Patrick doesn’t say anything.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Tashi laughs.

Patrick grabs his stuff and starts to leave.

He leaves, slamming Tashi’s door behind him.

Tashi closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and exhales very slowly.

Art is talking to some other players. He sees Tashi heading for the locker room and can tell that something is wrong.

She looks over at him. He walks up to her.

She shrugs.

She goes to enter the locker room.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Tashi heads inside. Art just stands there, confused.

Patrick smokes on a bench next to a sign that says “STANFORD IS A SMOKE FREE CAMPUS.” He watches people heading towards the tennis courts with face paint and handmade banners.

He scoffs and looks the other way, where he sees a bunch of kids passing a joint back and forth, walking towards the frat houses.

He gets up and heads in that direction.

Art sits amidst the big crowd, looking around for Patrick.

He sends a text: “Where are you?? Match is about to start.”

After a moment he gets a text back: “Had a big fight. Now’s your chance, bro. Good luck :) ”

The team comes out onto the court, and Tashi doesn’t smile or wave to the crowd at all. She looks up at the stands, scanning them for Patrick, and she spots the empty seat next to Art. She and Art make eye contact before she heads for the bench, looking like she wants to destroy something.

51 THE MATCH

Thwaccckkkk!

Tashi plays against a VERY AVERAGE GIRL from Pepperdine, using her as a punching bag to get out her aggression. She forces the girl into a punishing rally, winning the point by switching up direction at the last moment and ripping a forehand down the line.

Tashi moves over for her next return and looks at the girl like: “hit me.” The girl, exhausted, goes into her motion and sends in the best she’s got. Another punishing rally begins.

Thwackkkkk.

Thwackkkkk.

Thwackkkkk.

Thwackkkkk.

Tashi’s barely even paying attention as she smacks the ball, replaying the fight with Patrick in her mind. Art looks on, concerned.

Thwackkkkk.

Thwackkkkk.

Thwackkkkk.

Tashi shifts her body to change direction again and send another screamer down the line, but she’s on autopilot, and she doesn’t notice that the Pepperdine girl has mishit her forehand, giving it just the tiniest bit of spin.

As Tashi goes into her windup, the ball comes up off the concrete heading in the opposite direction.

Tashi’s already in the middle of her motion, but her body instinctually tries to correct itself mid-swing: her legs go one way, her upper body goes another, and her left ankle contorts in a way that is completely unnatural.

CLOSE ON ART’S HORRIFIED FACE as he sees it all unfold a millisecond before the rest of the crowd:

Art pushes through people to get down there as a TRAINER is already on the floor with her trying to calm her down.

Tashi writhes around, sobbing, holding her ankle.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art sits with Tashi. They’ve been there for hours.

She stares at the wall, completely drained of life. Art just looks at her, nothing he can say.

Patrick appears in the doorway, eyes red, still stoned, and Art and Tashi turn to look at him.

He just stands there. Tashi looks like she’s about to leap out of the hospital bed and strangle him.

Patrick looks at him, then at Tashi, who turns away from him.

He shakes his head and goes.

Thwaccckkkk!

A. Donaldson: 2, 3 - 15

P. Zweig: 6, 1 - 0

Art and Patrick have a punishing rally -- slugfest tennis, ugly and brutal -- and Tashi physically reacts to each hit as if she were playing the match through Art.

Art hits a backhand to the baseline. Patrick can’t get there.

Patrick turns and looks at the LINE JUDGE.

Patrick throws his hands up. Art smiles: Patrick’s tilted.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art bounces the ball and goes into his service motion. Tashi, watching the toss, grits her teeth at the moment of impact.

Thwackkkkkk!

Art and Tashi rally a couple months after Tashi’s injury. Tashi’s ankle still has a little bit of wrapping around it. She “wins” the point, but she doesn’t look happy.

Art nods. Tashi gets in position to return. Art sends in a fast one, which Tashi returns, and they rally.

After a few shots, Tashi hits an angry forehand aimed right at Art’s head. He barely dodges it.

He doesn’t say anything.

Tashi starts to leave.

She looks at him. He holds up a ball.

Tashi nods and gets into position to return.

Art serves, and they start a rally, now at actual full-speed.

No one has dared to play like this with her since her injury, and she’s getting more and more confident with each shot.

Art surprises her with a very shallow drop shot, and she sprints to catch it at the net, but her ankle gives out from under her, radiating sharp pain.

Tashi yelps and drops the ground. Art, terrified, drops his racket, runs and hops over the net. Tashi is sobbing.

He starts to go.

He stops.

She keeps crying. Art stands there awkwardly, not sure what to do. He gets on the ground and puts his arms around her. Tashi leans into his body and sobs.

The two of them share a bottle of Wild Turkey.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She shakes her head and takes a drink.

Tashi looks at him.

Art takes this in. It’s clear that it upsets him deeply.

Beat.

Art looks at her.

They stand outside smoking the cigarettes Art has just bought.

They both cough a lot -- neither knows what they’re doing -- but it’s clearly making Tashi feel better.

Thwackkkk!

A. Donaldson: 2, 5 - 0

P. Zweig: 6, 3 - 0

Art serves for the second set. They rally, intercut with...

Thwackkkk!

Tashi does drills with Art, who listens to her coaching.

Thwackkkk!

Art wins a point at the net against Patrick.

Fifteen - Love.

Thwacckkkk!

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art battles in the finals of the NCAA championships while Tashi watches from the bleachers.

Thwackkk!

Art serves an ace.

Thirty - Love.

Thwackkkk!

Art rallies in his first professional tennis match.

Thwackkkk!

Patrick sends the ball crosscourt. Art gets there and hits a stunning backhand down the line.

Forty - love.

Set point.

Thwacckkk!

Art, now 20 years old, hits around with his coach, KARL, a German former player in his 50s.

He goes to the side to wipe himself down with a towel, and he notices Tashi in the stands. They wave at each other.

They walk. Tashi smokes.

Art thinks about it.

He shrugs. They smile at each other.

Art looks down and notices where he’s standing for the return, and he creeps up a few paces before MCDONALD goes into his service motion.

Thwacckkk!

Art steps into the return and crushes it, winning the point.

He looks at Tashi in the stands. She shrugs.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art looks at her. She laughs, but he doesn’t.

Art laughs, a little sadly.

Beat.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Tashi laughs.

Art looks at her for a moment. He sighs.

They look at each other for a long beat. Art smiles.

Art and Tashi stand in front of Tashi’s door. Long pause.

Beat.

Neither of them moves. Tashi laughs. So does Art.

Beat. He kisses her. They break apart and look at each other.

He kisses her again, and she kisses him back. They start making out, very sweetly and passionately.

89 Art and Tashi very awkwardly but sweetly fumble around, making their way to Tashi’s bed, where they start taking off each other’s clothes.

They get under the covers, and he goes down on her. She starts to moan.

After a bit, he emerges, and they start kissing again. She strokes him. He closes his eyes, trying to concentrate. She keeps stroking him until, eventually, she stops.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She laughs. He just sits there looking ashamed and furious at himself, like he wants to go commit seppuku.

Tashi looks over at him. She reaches her hand down and starts stroking him again. He looks at her.

He does. She keeps stroking him.

Finally, he starts to get hard.

Art smiles, grunts.

She keeps stroking, faster and faster.

Thwackkkkk!

Thwackkkkk!

Thwacckkkk!

Thwackkkkk!

Patrick is smashing his racket to bits against the concrete to the same rhythm of the hand job Tashi gives Art. He’s just lost the point and the second set, and Tashi watches, smiling as if this gives her great pleasure.

Umpire sets the timer to 90 seconds.

Both men head to their benches. Patrick picks up his limp, smashed racket and throws it into his tennis bag.

P. Zweig: 6, 3

Earlier that week.

Tashi is talking to the guy at the reception desk.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She sighs and walks away, heading for the elevator.

She turns and sees Patrick.

Patrick looks at her.

He exhales in the opposite direction.

Tashi just looks at him.

Beat.

Patrick looks at Tashi very seriously.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Long beat. Tashi just looks back at him, completely stone- faced.

She SLAPS him so hard across the mouth that he spits out his cigarette.

Patrick looks at her.

Beat. Patrick lets that sit. She starts to leave.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

She looks at him, furious.

Beat.

Patrick nods.

Tashi scoffs.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Tashi starts to say something, but Patrick cuts her off.

Beat. Patrick doesn’t have a response.

Beat. Tashi looks at him, searching his face.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Beat. Patrick smiles.

Tashi starts to go.

She stops.

Tashi starts to leave again, but he grabs her hand and puts a piece of paper in it.

She looks at him.

Umpire’s phone timer ticks down: 0:16, 0:15, 0:14...

On his bench, Art’s got his eyes closed. He breathes in and exhales slowly. Patrick looks over at him with resentment.

The Umpire’s ALARM goes off.

Patrick takes the court to serve, Art to return. He looks at Art across the net, then at Tashi in the stands.

Patrick goes into his motion:

Thwacccckkkk!

P. Zweig: 6, 3, 0 - 0

Ten years earlier, 2011.

Tashi feeds balls to Art’s backhand as a few spectators watch -- Art’s already becoming a big deal in tennis, so some of them have their camera phones out, sneaking videos.

We follow ANOTHER PLAYER from behind as he approaches the court and sits down in the stands, watching them.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

After a bit, Tashi notices him out of the corner of her eye and lets one of Art’s shots sail right by her. Art looks over and sees Patrick sitting there.

They all look at each other for a moment before Art turns to Tashi, smoldering and determined, ready for the next ball.

She feeds him one, and he steps to it, hitting an absolutely monstrous forehand that sounds like a gunshot:

Thwacckkkkkk!

Art, sweaty, sits behind a press table.

The reporters laugh. Some of them look back towards Tashi, who is standing at the back of the room with a complicated expression on her face. Art looks at another reporter.

A slightly less-nice room in the same hotel where Art and Tashi stay ten years later.

Art sits in bed, looking at his phone. Tashi comes in from the other room, fully dressed.

Tashi comes over to him and kisses him.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art smiles.

She starts to leave.

She stops.

Art smiles. Tashi turns off the lights at the doorway.

Tashi shuts the door.

Tashi walks, passing restaurants, a sports bar where a TV is playing highlights from Art’s match that day.

She goes into a convenience store and buys a pack of cigarettes. She walks around smoking one.

Tashi drinks a cocktail, deep in thought.

She looks over. It’s Patrick, holding a Budweiser.

Patrick lets that hit him. Tashi watches him process it.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick looks at her.

Beat.

She starts to get up.

Beat. They look at each other.

Tashi studies his face. He notices her drink is empty.

She hesitates.

She shrugs. He signals the bartender.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Beat.

He looks at her.

Their drinks arrive. They both nod thanks to the bartender.

Tashi laughs.

Patrick doesn’t say anything.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Beat. Tashi just looks at him.

Beat. They look at each other.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Beat.

They look at each other, something dark and powerful passing between them.

Thwacckkkk!

Thwacckkkk!

Thwacckkkk!

A. Donaldson: 2, 6, 3 - 30

P. Zweig: 6, 3, 3 - 30

They rally, ending with Patrick at the net looking like he’s going for an overhead smash. Art runs to the baseline to try and return it, but at the last second, Patrick switches it up and goes for an underhand shallow volley, winning the point.

A sizable portion of the crowd now claps for him.

Tashi looks around uneasily. Art heads back to the baseline and gets ready to return the next serve.

Patrick goes into his motion.

Thwacckkkkk!

The day before.

Art sits, meditating, with a towel over his face.

The door opens, and a COMPLETELY NAKED MAN with just a towel around his neck walks in. He sits down right next to Art.

Art, startled, takes the towel off his face.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art just looks at him.

Art gets up and starts to leave.

Art doesn’t say anything.

Art glares at him.

Beat.

Patrick doesn’t say anything.

Art looks down at Patrick’s dick. Patrick smiles and finally covers it with the towel.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art looks at him for a long beat.

Patrick’s not sure what he means.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

They stare at each other for a long, tense beat. Patrick laughs.

Patrick nods.

Art gets up and leaves. Patrick watches him go.

Twhacckkk!

Art and Tashi sit in the living room watching footage of Art and Patrick’s US Open Boys Singles match from 2006, the only available footage they can study of the two of them playing.

On the screen, Patrick is running Art around the court, at the height of his powers, and Art is trying his hardest to keep up with him. They both look so much younger.

Lily, their daughter, walks into the room from the kitchen, holding a juice box.

They both look over at her. Tashi smiles.

Tashi points to the screen.

Lily looks at the boy currently serving. She looks confused for a moment, but then she looks over at her father and she gasps. Tashi and Art laugh as Lily just stands there, staring.

They all watch the point play out on the screen: teenage Patrick and teenage Art rally intensely, fire and ice.

On screen, Patrick wins the point with a ridiculous shot. It sails by Art, and Patrick smiles up at the stands, cocky.

Tashi starts cracking up, but when she looks over at Art, she can see that he’s not laughing at all. He’s just staring straight ahead at the screen, stone-faced.

They lay in bed. It’s around 10PM.

Beat.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Art looks at her.

She looks at him.

Beat.

They look at each other.

Silence.

She just looks at him.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Beat.

Silence.

Beat.

Art laughs.

Beat.

Art looks at her.

He looks at her. They kiss.

They start making out. At first, it’s very soft, but it starts getting more intense.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

They start taking their clothes off.

Tashi reaches under the covers and starts stroking Art.

She does it for a long time. Art closes his eyes, looking like he’s really trying to focus. Finally, Tashi stops, and Art looks completely defeated and furious at himself.

She starts to reach under the sheets again, but Art stops her. She looks at him.

Tashi doesn’t say anything.

Tashi looks at him for a long beat. He’s begging her.

They cuddle, with Tashi spooning Art.

He closes his eyes. She pets the back of his head, softly.

She reaches over to turn it off, and right before the room goes dark, we can see the look of unease on her face.

CLOSE UP on Art’s racket, going into his service motion.

CLOSE UP on Tashi’s face, watching.

CLOSE UP on the racket CRACKING DOWN on the ball.

Thwacckkkk!

A. Donaldson: 2, 6, 5 - 40

P. Zweig: 6, 3, 5 - 40

They rally. Art hits a backhand crosscourt that sails right by Patrick.

He steps back to the line -- if he wins this point, he’s only one game away from winning the match.

Thwackkkk!

Patrick runs in the return. The ball zips past Art.

Reset.

Thwacckkk!

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

They rally. Art sends the ball into the net.

Thwaccckkkk!

They rally. Art lobs Patrick, winning the point.

Art is asleep. Tashi lies awake in bed next to him.

She looks over at Art -- he’s snoring.

She looks at the clock: it’s just past midnight.

Quietly, so she doesn’t wake him up, she gets out of bed.

Tashi creeps around in the living room, holding some clothes.

She goes over to the door of her daughter’s room, which is cracked slightly open, and looks in -- Lily’s asleep too.

She creeps over to the chair where her purse is sitting and ruffles around in there for something.

Tashi, now dressed, holds the piece of paper with Patrick’s number. She composes a text.

“Pick me up outside the hotel in 15 minutes.”

She hesitates. She sends it. She waits.

She gets a text back: A thumbs up emoji (the white one).

Tashi looks at herself in the mirror.

She goes, turning off the light.

Thwacckkkk!

Art sends in a scorcher. Patrick gets his racket on it, but it’s too soft. Art smashes the ball at the net.

Reset.

Thwacckkkk!

An ace.

Art pumps his fist and looks at Tashi, who looks back at him with a complicated expression.

He and Patrick cross each other at the net to change sides. Patrick smiles at him, which confuses Art. Then he turns and smiles at Tashi.

Tashi waits, wearing a hoodie. Valet Guy looks over at her.

Patrick pulls up in his car. Tashi gets into the back seat.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick pulls over the car and shuts it off. Tashi exits and gets into the front seat.

She sits down on something uncomfortable and pulls it out from under her ass. It’s the “IMPATTO” logo patch.

She throws it in the backseat.

Tashi looks at him.

Beat.

Beat. Patrick starts laughing.

He looks at her to see if she’s serious. She is.

Tashi doesn’t say anything.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Beat.

Beat.

Patrick starts the car.

A light turns on in one of the houses down the street.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick puts the car in drive and they pull away.

Thwacckkk!

A. Donaldson: 2, 6, 6 - 0

P. Zweig: 6, 3, 5 - 15

Patrick serves to stay in the match.

They rally, really running each other around the court, both of them starting to feel the exhaustion setting in. Patrick wins a point at the net.

He looks at Tashi, who seems like she’s in pain. He goes into his service motion.

Thwacckkkk!

They ride back, not looking at each other.

Tashi looks over at him.

Beat.

Tashi glares at him.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Patrick abruptly pulls over on a mostly empty thoroughfare.

Before he even puts the car in park, Tashi undoes her seatbelt and starts to get out.

She stops. She looks at Patrick, eyes full of hatred.

She spits in his face, hard, and before he has time to react, she grabs him, and the two of them start making out. They kiss desperately, vengefully, grasping at each other over the center console.

Tashi reaches her hand down and feels Patrick over his pants. She’s surprised to see that he’s already hard.

They keep making out.

Thwacckkkk!

A. Donaldson: 2, 6, 6 - 0

P. Zweig: 6, 3, 5 - 30

They rally, Art now determined to close out the match on Patrick’s serve. Patrick sends the ball into the net.

Art pumps his fist. Tashi grits her teeth in the stands.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

Reset.

Thwaccckkkk!

Art hits his return to Patrick’s backhand. Patrick gets his racket on it, but the ball goes flying out.

Art looks at Tashi: the finish line is in sight.

Patrick and Tashi lay naked in the backseat. They both smoke cigarettes. The windows of the car are steamed up.

He looks at her.

She looks at him.

Beat. Patrick looks at her.

They share a long look at each other.

Patrick doesn’t say anything.

They look at each other. Tashi stubs her cigarette out in an empty tennis ball canister and sits up.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

A. Donaldson: 2, 6, 6 - 30

P. Zweig: 6, 3, 5 - 30

Thwaccckkk!

Patrick sends his first serve into the net.

Reset.

Thwaccckkk!

It goes wide.

A few people gasp at the double fault.

Match Point.

Patrick looks at Tashi. He bounces the ball and goes into his service motion.

Thwaccckkk!

Patrick takes a deep breath, bounces the ball, and pauses in the middle of his service motion.

He looks at Art, crouched down, ready to win the match.

He looks over at Tashi, holding her breath.

He looks back at Art, who’s now wondering what’s taking him so long to serve.

He starts the motion over again. He stops.

Patrick nods at the Umpire. He smiles to himself.

He goes into his service motion again, but this time, he does Art’s service motion, just like when they were seventeen.

Thwaccckkk!

It’s a clean, un-returnable ace.

Art doesn’t even move for it. He just stands there.

Neither man moves. They stare at each other across the net like gunslingers in a western. Tashi looks back and forth between both of them, no idea what’s going on.

Art looks over at Tashi, then back at Patrick.

Patrick nods.

Patrick smiles.

Some grumbles in the crowd.

Patrick moves over for his next serve. Art doesn’t move.

Tashi looks at him. He looks back at her, totally cold.

Art just keeps looking at Tashi.

Art moves over for the return.

Patrick goes into Art’s service motion once again.

Thwaccckkk!

Another ace.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes

There are some grumbles and scattered applause in the crowd.

Art looks over at Tashi, who is looking at Patrick. Tashi feels Art’s eyes on her and looks over at her husband.

He can see now that she understands exactly what’s happening.

He turns his attention to Patrick, and they stand looking at each other as they’re given towels to wipe themselves down.

Art receives balls for his serve. Patrick crouches down and readies himself for the return.

Both men look at each other across the net: Let’s really play now.

Art bounces the ball and goes into his service motion.

Thwacckkk!

He sends the ball screaming right at Patrick like he’s trying to take his head off. Patrick has to dodge it.

Art smiles. So does Patrick.

Thwacckkkk!

Art sends in another one, just as hot. This time it’s good.

Patrick pounces on the return, and they rally. It’s clear immediately that both of them are playing their best tennis in years, the best tennis of their lives. They smack the ball at each other furiously, vengefully, looking wildly alive.

As they trade blows, we settle on Tashi, her head swiveling back and forth between the two of them. Gradually, her look of anxiety turns into one of exhilaration.

Thwacckkk!

Thwacckkk!

Thwacckkk!

Thwacckkk!

She grits her teeth and clenches her fists, playing as Art, playing as Patrick, playing as the ball itself.

Thwacckkk!

Thwacckkk!

Thwacckkk!

The ball goes into the net, but we stay on Tashi. We don’t know who won the point, even as the crowd cheers and Tashi leaps to her feet.

Cut to BLACK.

END.

8FLiX.com UNPROD SCREENPLAY DATABASE 02232024 © Justin Kuritzkes