"MONEYBALL" (2011)

Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin

Based on the book by Michael Lewis

There will always be people who are ahead of the curve, and people who are behind the curve. But knowledge moves the curve.

Static shots: A deserted locker room. Empty showers. Cinder-block tunnels lit with wire-encased lamps like in a coal mine. THREE SECURITY GUARDS watch a game on a TV.

LEGEND: October 15, 2001

We begin to hear disembodied cheering crowds and the faint voice of an announcer -

At the end of a tunnel, the A’s empty dugout. The empty diamond. Just a couple of the floodlights are on.

The announcer’s voice and excited crowd abruptly cut off. In silence, we regard the 60,000 empty seats that wrap around the playing field ... but then see that, in fact, it’s 59,999 empty seats. There’s a lone figure seated in one of them. The sound snaps back on:

The lone man in the stadium has a radio and a bag of peanuts. He seems at peace as he looks down on the empty diamond - a peace only slightly belied, perhaps, by the baseball he absently turns in a hand. He switches the radio back on -

2.2.

He turns it off again. Calmly eats a peanut. Waits. Switches the radio back on -

Again, at the crucial moment, he cuts the radio. Waits just a few moments. Turns the radio back on -

The outcome of the series seems to have no effect on Billy. He simply gets up, switches off the radio, and climbs the steps to leave. But somehow we still faintly hear, as he comes past shuttered concession stands toward an exit, the voice of one of the announcers -

It’s coming from a small television a night security guard is watching. But when he sees Billy approaching, he quickly shuts it off.

The guard’s eyes consider the baseball Billy absently turns in his hands -

- and the glass window of the bar behind him -

3.3.

The security guard waits for the baseball to sail through the glass, but it doesn’t happen.

A lone car sits in the parking lot in front of the Coliseum. We HEAR-

Car’s off. Billy sits in the dark on his phone.

4.4.

BILLY presses a button on his portable radio and is hit with sound of sports talk radio--

CUT TO WHAT BILLY’S BEEN LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE TIME -

Three enormous looming likenesses of the Oakland A’s premiere players on floodlit banners--Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Jason Isringhausen.

From the radio we’ve been hearing shards of “--an unprecedented choke--”, “--get rid of Billy Beane--”, “-- Billy Beane knows nothing about baseball--”.

5.5.

Billy gets out of the car.

Billy chucks the radio away. Gets back in the car, puts it in gear. HARD CUT TO --

Blur of shapes and colors as we move through a crush of travelers to a Hawaiian Airlines counter where Billy and Tara check luggage. Billy’s got a cell phone to his ear.

(to Tara)

What did she say?

6.6.

The call’s been disconnected. CUT TO: Another corridor, as Billy and Tara head toward security. Billy on the phone with Boras, continuing where they left off --

Billy drops the phone in a plastic container, steps through the metal detector like it’s a stick-up, grabs the phone again.

7.7.

Billy grabs his phone from the other side.

Boras hangs up.

A small emergency is starting to develop.

8.8.

Billy dials another number --

9.9.

You’re not going to be anywhere near Hawaii.

Thank you, Tara.

(pause)

We’re losing Isringhausen too?

(hands him tickets)

Just in case.

10.10.

The ceremony is in progress as Billy arrives, plucks a yarmulke from a basket, sets it on his head and finds a place in the back row for himself and his carry-on.

He listens to the boy’s monotone-reading of verses. He fidgets. Taps his foot. Checks his watch. Turns to the person down the row and whispers --

As attendees exit the ceremony and enter the adjacent banquet hall, Billy has cornered Arn Tellem, picking up right where he left off three hours ago in Oakland on the phone --

11.11.

Billy stares, completely nonplussed...

(beat)

You gotta get Steve to let you spend some money.

12.12.

Arn walks away. Billy looks to his right to see a 12 year old kid standing right next to him.

Billy hands the kid his scotch --

-- and walks away.

13.13.

Billy tries, but is having trouble sitting still as he talks with Steve Schott - the A’s owner - around 60 - a college player way back when. He’s a successful home builder now. Models of developments lie around.

17 for how many (years) -

Billy nods. Steve smiles. And Billy knows what it means. It means, That makes it easy - there’s nothing more to discuss on the matter.

14.14.

Silence. Then -

(MORE)

15.15.

(beat)

Got it?

SCHOTT can go from milquetoast to ruthless in a blink and he just did.

Billy’s on his cell again as he crosses the Bay Bridge.

16.16.

The door pushes open and Billy comes in after his very long day. He sets his carry-on bag down. Takes out his dead cell phone and plugs it into a charger. Calls Tara on the land line.

Billy’s cell phone rings --

She hangs up. Billy hangs up and switches to his cell --

17.17.

Billy’s hand is already in motion to smash the phone, but in a herculean feat of self disciple, he manages to restrain himself before impact.

Billy hangs up on him.

12-14 OMITTED 12-14

Billy and his scouting department - ten men older than him - all former players and tobacco chewers still, each with his own can of Copenhagen and wastebasket - sitting around a large underground cinder block “war room” whose most extravagant appointment is a Mr. Coffee.

Two large white-boards dominate a wall, covered with magnetic strips with players’ names on them.

18.18.

On the left board - every player in the A’s organization. On the other, even larger board - every player that may be of interest to them from the other organizations.

It’s the most complex chess board you will ever see. But what can be easily discerned are the obvious holes in the A’s team - the star players they are about to lose - their names set apart from the positions they’re vacating: Jason Giambi (1B), Johnny Damon (CF), Jason Isringhausen (RP).

19.19.

Grady moves on --

Billy backs off, incredulous as the scouts prattle on --

20.20.

Enough. Billy raises a book above the table, drops it with a dull THUD... STOPPING TRAFFIC.

21.21.

(beat)

Is there?

Everyone mumbles “no.”

22.22.

23.23.

I think he just won the argument.

Chuckles.

(then)

Now, I’m going to Cleveland to poach an outfielder named Brandon Garcia --

24.24.

Unanimous approval from the scouts --

(MORE)

25.25.

As he exits --

Billy storms out.

A16 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL FIELD - DAY - FLASHBACK - 1980A16

CRACK! A ball sails well over the heads of the SCOUTS in the outfield who are shagging the batting practice flies. The KIDS in the parking lot have seen Billy play before and so know just how far back to stand in order to shag a ball.

BILLY’s at the plate, crushing pitches from a pitching machine.

CRACK!--he sends another one sailing over the heads of the cluster of scouts.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

BILLY, tanned and glistening with sweat, looks over to see THREE GIRLS watching him from behind the backstop. They’re looking at him like he’s Elvis and BILLY tries to nonchalant it but can’t help a small smile to himself before--

CRACK!

CRACK! CRACK!

26.26.

B16 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL FIELD - DAY - 1980B16

The scouts put the players through their paces -- sprinting, fielding...

C16 EXT. DUGOUT STEPS - DAY - 1980 C16

SABATINI and MARTINEZ are talking to BILLY, who’s toweling off and is still a little aware of all the people who are standing nearby to watch the birth of a star.

27.27.

Unlike the A’s, this is a franchise that can spend actual money on players, and on nice lobby furniture, which is where Billy sits, staring at a classic baseball photo that hangs in the lobby.

Billy’s counterpart in Cleveland--Indians General Manager MARK SHAPIRO--35 and about three weeks into the job--sits behind his desk in a tie and shirt sleeves like Billy.

Joining them in the room are FOUR OTHERS, including PETER BRAND.

28.28.

29.29.

As Shapiro and gang review Guthrie’s stats, Billy notices Peter whispering to the guy next to him.

Shapiro looks around the room at the guys who don’t object.

30.30.

BRUCE approaches Shapiro and whispers and steps away.

Shapiro looks to Bruce, Peter is covering his mouth with his hand but we can just barely hear him whisper the word 'no'. Bruce subtly shakes his head to Mark.

Peter sits at his cubicle absorbed in his computer until he notices Billy hovering over him.

31.31.

Nothing from Peter.

Why?

Probably for the same reasons you do.

32.32.

Peter is stuck. He can’t bring himself to say anything. After a long beat Billy nods to him in a way that seems to say, ‘I understand, it’s okay’.

Billy makes a strong gesture indicating Peter to follow. Which he does. They exit the offices into

33.33.

34.34.

ARCHIVAL VIDEO: The back of Johnny Damon’s A’s jersey as he walks to the plate to adoring Oakland fans.

DAMON swings at the first pitch and knocks it into left field for a single. He leads off first--

On the next pitch, DAMON takes off for second--

DAMON’s tagged out at second.

He’s got a good glove. He’s a decent leadoff hitter. He steals bases. But he’s not worth the seven point five million Boston is paying him. You’re lucky to have him off your payroll, it opens all kinds of interesting possibilities.

35.35.

The elevator door closes.

Billy’s in coach, staring at the night through the window, lost in thought.

Billy’s mother and father escort Martinez and Mets Head Scout Roger Jongewaard into the kitchen.

Jongewaard sits at the kitchen table, speaking more to Billy’s parents than Billy himself --

He sets a contract on the table. Clipped to its top- sheet is a check. On its left-hand corner is the Mets insignia; on the right, the amount: $125,000. They all see it. A lot of money in 1980. Silence. Then --

36.36.

Jongewaard is already shaking his head no.

Stanford or The Money. Young Billy regards the check, and then his parents. He really doesn’t know what to do.

BILLY’s looking out his window while holding his cordless phone. He’s dialed the numbers in and just has to hit the green button.

And now he does.

INTERCUT WITH

PETER’s ringing cell phone wakes him up and he answers it.

37.37.

I’d have drafted you in the ninth round. No signing bonus. You’d have passed and gone to Stanford.

BILLY hangs up the phone. He sits all alone for a moment.

MONTAGE: Peter pulls into the parking lot for his first day of work, takes in the sight of the colossal, concrete relic that is the Oakland Coliseum. He’s just in time to see a paint roller on a long pole laying a white stripe down the middle of Jason Giambi’s giant portrait.

38.38.

PETER’s completely converted the place. The dry erase boards are covered with undecipherable equations, algorithms and numbers and PETER, who’s pretty tired now after not a lot of sleep, is in the middle of this.

This is what BILLY sees when he walks into the doorway, where he slows down, stops and looks around blankly.

Okay--

PETER gets up and gives BILLY a tour of the dry erase boards.

39.39.

Because they cost less.

(BILLY lost it)

Help me with--

(MORE)

40.40.

41.41.

Alright, let’s find our team.

Peter schleps his computer stuff. Sets up, plugs in, fires up. Turns an unused room into a war room with dry erase boards and computers. He installs software in the video room computer, works on a computer in his room, prints two pages of data and reviews.

Peter enters and hands the two pages to Billy. Billy reviews, stands, then slowly paces as he reads. Peter stands and watches.

From somewhere in the outfield, we have a wide view of the darkened stadium and Billy’s office, which, unlike the others, is illuminated. We can just discern Billy’s silhouette as he continues to slowly pace and study.

42.42.

Billy and Peter walk down a long, subterranean corridor. Peter carries a laptop and a slim notebook.

Peter doesn’t know what to make of that.

As they near the scouting room, Billy sees ART HOWE waiting for him outside it.

Whatever it is, Billy knows it can’t be as dire as his other problems, but also knows that to ignore Art would be to insult him.

He gestures for Peter to go into the scouting room alone. He’d rather not, but does. The scouts, assuming perhaps he’s there to make coffee, ignore him. He finds a place to sit in a corner.

43.43.

(beat)

And the kid’s the new assistant general manager.

What the fuck are you about to do?

BILLY doesn’t answer the question, just walks into the-

44.44.

-and ignoring Peter - who has tried to inconspicuously plant himself in a corner - pulls up a chair to receive his scouts’ report - which Grady, as always, will lead. Art wanders off.

The news bothers no one.

Few, if any of them, have heard of Bradford and begin leafing through their printouts and notes.

45.45.

The scouts aren’t sure what to say, and so say nothing. Eventually -

(puts more names up)

Or the other option. Just a thought. We go for a high-maintenance guy. A guy that’s a little difficult but talented. A guy like Milton Bradley. Well, not like Milton. Milton himself. Which do you want to talk about first?

Grady looks like a man who can’t take much more.

46.46.

He points to Peter.

The others aren’t sure what confuses them more - the logic, or the guy who shouldn’t be in this room.

47.47.

And that’s all he’s going to tell them about Peter.

Billy takes a Marks-A-Lot, jots down three names on strips, and approaches the board.

He puts the first strip up. It reads: JEREMY GIAMBI.

48.48.

Billy puts up another name: DAVID JUSTICE.

Billy points at PETER --

49.49.

(beat)

Look at the piece of paper or I’m going to point at Peter.

The SCOUTS consult their spreadsheets and then answer half-heartedly--

50.50.

51.51.

Some of the scouts look over in Peter’s direction, no doubt wondering if he’s had something to do with their general manager’s ideas.

A Christmas tree. Four stockings hang from the mantle. The phone rings. SCOTT HATTEBERG gets up. He looks at it. Looks at his wife. Picks it up.

SCOTT was expecting that it would be someone else...

52.52.

SCOTT goes to the window and cups his hands against the glass to see outside.

Two silhouettes are standing on the edge of the fairway. One of them waves.

ELIZABETH is putting out some cookies shaped like stars and bells for the late-night guests: BILLY and RON WASHINGTON.

She leaves her husband with the two men but listens in on their conversation from the next room, nibbling on a cookie of her own.

BILLY produces a baseball from his windbreaker and hands it to SCOTT. SCOTT can only manage to grip the baseball like a claw. Washington looks to heaven.

53.53.

(fuck it)

I can’t throw at all.

SCOTT is so thrown by this that all he can do is stare at BILLY. Then at WASHINGTON, who’s shrug tells SCOTT “This wasn’t my idea.”

54.54.

HATTEBERG’s YOUNG DAUGHTER comes down the staircase in her pajamas, having just woken up in the middle of the night.

HATTEBERG’S DAUGHTER

Hi.

BILLY doesn’t like to share personal lives with the players but he covers well--

BILLY takes a contract out of his windbreaker and sets it on the table next to the cookies.

55.55.

(They get up and Billy calls off)

Thanks for the cookies, ma’am.

We see ELIZABETH with tears running down her face...then go back to the living room--

Merry Christmas.

The door of a suburban house opens, revealing a WOMAN.

She pulls the door open so he can come in. As he does -

As Billy enters his ex-wife Sharon’s house, her husband ALAN walks in, talking on the phone.

Yeah, no, don’t worry about it sweetie. Here’s mom.

Alan hands Sharon the phone.

56.56.

They sit on the couch next to a Christmas tree.

Sharon gets off the phone and joins them.

(MORE)

57.57.

Ghee-ambi?

The front door opens. It’s Billy’s daughter Casey - a pre- teen indie-rock girl - and not a moment too soon. He’s up quickly to give her a hug and to get out of here.

Billy and Casey peruse guitars.

58.58.

They take a seat. Casey easily fingers through a very tough spray of notes.

CASEY looks at him --

59.59.

LEGEND: 1984

BILLY’s at the plate, a batting helmet snug around his head, wearing a METS uniform, as a 97 mph fastball buzzes by him and the UMPIRE calls--

BILLY steps out of the box, taps the dirt off his cleats and steps back in.

A younger-looking SHARON is sitting in field level seats, looking on nervously and trying not to show it.

BILLY half-swings at the breaking ball, holding his swing at the last minute.

60.60.

The CATCHER and PLATE UMPIRE both point down to first base for the call and the FIRST BASE UMPIRE makes a fist in the air, indicating that Billy swung.

And Billy’s out.

SHARON holds her head in her hands and BILLY walks back to the dugout, passing a player with “STRAWBERRY” on his back.

And now the quick scenes of failure become staccato--

39-40 OMITTED 39-40

LEGEND: 1985

BILLY playing for minor league Tidewater and he grounds out and

LEGEND: 1986

BILLY playing for minor League Toledo. He swings and pops up lamely to the PITCHER, throwing his bat down in frustration as he jogs hopelessly to first and we

LEGEND: 1986

BILLY playing for the Minnesota Twins where he comes back into the dug out and throws his batting helmet down and

61.61.

LEGEND: 1987

BILLY playing for minor league Portland and a water cooler goes flying across the dugout and

A45 EXT. MINNESOTA A45

LEGEND: 1987

BILLY playing for the Minnesota Twins. He swings hard at a pitch and strikes out and we

LEGEND: 1988

BILLY playing for the Detroit Tigers and the bat rack gets heaved across the field and

LEGEND: 1989

BILLY in an A’s uniform. He stands and watches a called third strike sail past him.

Billy breaks the bat over his thigh and drops the pieces on the plate. He begins to walk off.

62.62.

Billy hears him but continues to walk off.

TO BE WRITTEN: THE UMP TOSSES BILLY FROM THE GAME.

BILLY looks up at SHARON in the seats behind the dugout but the two can’t quite meet each other’s eyes.

In the subterranean video room - an even less elegant place than the rest of the stadium - someone has put up a scraggly Christmas tree. There, Peter watches a tape of a minor leaguer on the Lowell Spinners, a Single-A Boston affiliate. Billy comes in.

Billy sits.

Billy watches the guy on the screen. He’s an overweight right-handed batter with a peculiar stance.

On the TV, the batter takes another pitch just off the edge of the strike zone.

63.63.

They watch him lay off a pitch an inch outside the strike zone. Peter gives Billy a look that says, You see that?

Grady has appeared behind them at the door.

(to Peter)

Yeah.

Grady closes the video room door for privacy. The only other person in sight is manager Art Howe, in his office in street clothes. He shuts his windowed door so Grady and Billy can talk in confidence.

64.64.

Beat.

(MORE)

65.65.

(beat)

Grady, you don’t have special powers. You don’t have the ability to look at a guy and “just know” because you’re a scout with special powers. I’ve watched you sit at kitchen tables for years and tell the parents of a 17 year old kid, “Trust me, when I know, I know, and when it comes to your son, I know” and you don’t. We’re shopping in a new store--full of complicated statistical analysis and equations and I get that it turns your world upside down but on base percentage-- our best chance to score on our budget isn’t getting a 6’4” Adonis to the plate, it’s getting a 5’10” washout who’s already at first base.

May I speak?

(MORE)

66.66.

GRADY takes off.

BILLY stands there a moment. On his way out, passing Art’s windowed office, he exchanges a look with the manager. Billy takes a short walk to where a few of his scouts are standing around an arcade console. To the youngest one -

The young scout shakes his head, embarrassed.

Billy turns away and is headed back to the video room. Pokes his head in.

He leaves. Peter watches the door close, then glances back to the tape as Youkilis takes ball four and waddles down to first base.

A49 EXT. PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM - DAY A49

Team / JumboTron photos are taken of our new A’s. It’s clear from the photo Billy didn’t hire them to sell jeans.

LEGEND: March 2, 2002 - SPRING TRAINING

67.67.

Billy gives an interview to a SPORTS REPORTER.

B49 INT. LOCKER ROOM - ARIZONA - DAY B49

MIKE MAGNANTE goes through the effort of putting on his knee-braces. Scott Hatteberg, lacing up, watches him.

Various stations have been set up at which infielders go through their warm-ups - wind sprints, arm loosening.

Infielders field grounders hit by Art Howe from a fungo.

Billy paces in the foul territory off the first base line. HIS POV: JEREMY GIAMBI missing a fly ball, DAVID JUSTICE looking tired, HATTEBERG missing the scoop.

Art hits another grounder which Hatteberg botches again. Art looks at Billy a good long beat, then hits to another infielder.

Peter walks up to Billy, just as -

A poke off the bat sends Jeremy Giambi scrambling back like a postman trying to escape a mad dog. The ball lands behind him.

Art and Washington hit grounders to Carlos Pena and Scott Hatteberg. Hatteberg miraculously gets his mitt on it.

Behind a portable backstop, a guy with a radar gun gets ready to clock a trio of relievers. Mike Magnante has his pant legs pulled up to adjust knee-braces. Magnante gets up and begins throwing, increasing his velocity each time.

68.68.

They watch the second pitcher - the gentle-faced kid from the locker room - Chad Bradford - step up.

Bradford overthrows his first submarine hand-scraping- the-ground pitch, and the ball sails wide of the catcher. Somebody ducks. Art Howe glances with a long-suffering look to Billy.

They watch David Justice do wind sprints.

Then Justice stops, winded.

As the players shower and change into street clothes, Art, Billy and Washington discuss Hatteberg, who knows they’re discussing him.

69.69.

As Washington crosses the locker room to lie to Scott about how much progress he’s making, he passes Magnante taking off his knee braces, and Chad Bradford sitting at his locker with a Bible in his lap.

A towering portrait of David Justice has been painted where Jason Giambi’s used to be.

The hardest diehard fans file under it and through the turnstiles. You know what they look like, dripping A’s merchandise, radios and Sharpies, arriving so early the B.P. cage is still being dragged into place.

A SERIES OF SHOTS

Indicate the arrival of opening day. INCLUDING: foul lines are painted, broadcast trucks plug in, the network control room fires up, ANNOUNCERS do their prep, Steve Schott lands in his helicopter.

LEGEND: April 1, 2002 - OPENING DAY

IN THE LOCKER ROOM: Players prepare. Magnante puts on his knee braces.

70.70.

Jeremy Giambi’s boombox is on again as he and his 24 teammates suit up.

36-year-old David Justice wanders past to a soda machine. Presses a button, but nothing comes out. Tries again.

BILLY and PETER walk through. He walks past CHAD BRADFORD’s locker...

71.71.

Nobody?

(beat)

It’s a big day, you won’t forget it.

PETER follows BILLY out of the locker room.

A54 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - ANNOUNCER’S BOOTH - DAYA54

SHOTS OF THE GAME ANNOUNCERS. KEN KORACH, GREG PAPA and GLEN KUIPER welcome the fans to opening day, discuss the A’s lineup and the problems they face this season.

MONTAGE:

It’s fifteen minutes before the game as some executives have their picture taken on the field with BILLY.

BILLY gets his picture taken with KIDS from an area Little League team. He’s laughing and being a good host.

72.72.

Billy and the Little League team pose with a giant donation check. The announcer then directs everyone’s attention to a trophy ceremony in progress. As Chavez receives his Golden Glove award and smiles for the fans...

BILLY greeting some VIP’s in their field-level seats. Throughout this we’ll hear bits of talk radio.

HOST #1 (FROM RADIO)

With the departure of head scout Grady Fuson and a roster that I’ll describe as unusual, if not eccentric, you have to wonder what Billy Beane is thinking.

BILLY catches a glance of ELIZABETH HATTEBERG taking her seat nearby.

In the family area, Elizabeth introduces herself to Tara.

Tara nods.

A56 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY A56

Art is talking to a JOURNALIST.

73.73.

A beat.

57 OMITTED (INCORPORATED INTO 54) 57

A58 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - LATER A58

Art Howe stands mid-field as the starting lineup is announced. One by one, players join him on the field.

The honor guard presents the flag as everyone stands for the National Anthem. Afterward, the players scatter to warm up for the game.

The CROWD CHEERS as the A’s take the field. Billy and Peter are at the edge of the tunnel, watching.

(beat)

I’m heading in.

BILLY shakes his head “no”. PETER gestures “What the fuck are you talking about?”

74.74.

BILLY walks out onto--

BILLY’s watching the game on TV (ARCHIVAL VIDEO) with the sound off but we can hear the live crowd in the stadium. CRACK--a TEXAS RANGER hits a three-run homer and BILLY walks out of the room and

An OAKLAND A hits an easy pop-up to center field and

Where BILLY’s on a stationary bike. His blackberry buzzes and he takes a look--

“Fly out to cntr”

Where BILLY’s bench pressing and CRACK--

Where an OAKLAND A has just hit a ground ball to the SHORTSTOP, who tosses it easily to second for the first out, and the SECOND BASEMAN throws it over to first for--

Where BILLY looks at the blackberry which now says--

75.75.

“643 dbl play”

The blackberry goes crashing into the wall and blows apart.

We find Billy and Art in conversation.

(long beat)

You are out of your depth.

76.76.

77.77.

78.78.

79.79.

Jeremy Giambi discreetly mixes a highball from a cache of hotel minibar liquor bottles as he watches his favorite movie on a portable DVD player, The Natural.

DAVID JUSTICE is sitting next to PETER, who scrolls down stats on his laptop.

PETER doesn’t say anything...

PETER gives a small “Yeah” shrug...

80.80.

PETER doesn’t say anything...

Billy watches the T.V.

ON TV - PENA taking his place at first.

Billy turns off the T.V., gets beeper updates as he works out.

Billy drives.

BILLY’s waiting for someone. HE’S WATCHING THE A’S GAME BY THE GATE. A PASSENGER, also watching the game, recognizes Billy.

81.81.

CASEY emerges from the gate, sees her father before he sees her and runs to him. They hug.

BILLY and PETER are throwing a ball through their office doors on either side of the hallway--

BILLY watches the game from the office T.V. He sees --

DAVID JUSTICE grounds into a double play to end the game.

The INDIANS trot on the field to high-five each other.

A75 INT. BILLY’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON A75

Casey sits at the table as Billy scoops ice cream.

(then)

If you could only have one ice cream for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

82.82.

A beat. Then --

83.83.

The scoreboard shows the A’s down by 1 in the 6th.

As Art trudges toward the mound to pull his starter, he touches his left arm. Magnante emerges from the pen - and Peter, up in a VIP box, flips open his phone.

BILLY is saying goodbye to CASEY.

84.84.

Billy’s Blackberry chimes. He ignores it.

85.85.

A FLIGHT ATTENDANT approaches --

There’s a slightly awkward moment and CASEY isn’t sure whether she’s supposed to hug her father again and so they do a sort of half-hug.

BILLY watches her go off with the attendant, feeling like it was an unsatisfying visit.

He looks at his blackberry--

3-2. Magnante in.

No! WHY IS HE IN THERE?!

EVERYONE in the area stops to look at the madman.

No no. I’m alright.

Billy runs the warning track with a small radio that he turns on long enough to follow what’s happening, and switches it off again.

Over the following, we hear a cacophony of radio and TV VOICES tumbling into each other--

86.86.

79 THE STANDINGS ON PETER’S COMPUTER: 79

The A’s have fallen to 19-25.

MAGNATE giving up a save-blowing hit while BRADFORD sits in the bullpen...

An Oakland A hits into a double-play, strike out, caught stealing, picked off first, a lop-sided scoreboard, half- empty stands--

A82 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT A82

The parking lot is a vast, empty black sea with just two pin-points of moving light. Headlights.

Billy drives around the lot like a downhill skier with nothing in his way -- his daughter’s mix-tape playing.

Jeremy lines a single to right, but is so slow he’s almost thrown out at first. Art Howe glances at his bench coach, Ken Macha.

Down in the Visitors’ pen, Chad sits with Mike Magnante.

(MORE)

87.87.

You should get that looked at, man.

The TEAM in the dugout, hanging their heads during a blowout and

Peter erases the percentage of games left they need to win and writes in a higher number and

He’s listening to the radio.

86 AERIAL SHOT 86

as we follow Billy’s truck from Oakland over the Bay Bridge into San Francisco.

88.88.

(MORE)

89.89.

Schott sits back at his desk.

Where do we expect to be mid July All Star break?

90.90.

The A’s take batting practice.

LEGEND: May 23, 2002

ART, as he always does, is watching not from the railing but from the bench.

BILLY walks into the dugout without saying hello.

(MORE)

91.91.

92.92.

Some As players arrive in the dugout, causing Billy to hold his tongue. He simply says -

The game plays silently on the TV as Billy lifts weights. Not wanting to watch but not being able not to, he looks at the screen to see Pena trotting out to first base ...

The Orioles’ bench clears to high-five the players coming off the field. The game is over, and, obviously, they’ve won. The A’s exit their dugout to the tunnels.

As Art crosses to his office, he sees Billy waiting inside it with a towel around his neck. He hesitates, then goes in and we follow him. Billy says nothing, but his silence is worse. Art has to break it -

We hear FUNK MUSIC begin to play in the distance.

93.93.

Billy lets himself out and walks down the hall to the locker room - regards Jeremy Giambi -

He’s not even aware of Billy. It’s just like any other night as far as Jeremy Giambi is concerned. He dances to a CD of funk music as he dresses, until he becomes aware of Billy standing there, and smiling, he kills the music.

What?

(calmly)

This is what losing sounds like.

He heads out.

(beat)

Billy?

94.94.

Peter rattles off player stats.

A97 INT. BILLY’S TRUCK - NIGHT A97

Billy takes the next off ramp and as LIGHTS FLARE on the windshield, we transition to ANOTHER TIME, YOUNG BILLY DRIVING --

B97 INT. CAR - MOVING - NIGHT - 1989 B97

Billy and his wife drive home from a game in silence, their infant daughter Casey asleep in a car seat in back. Sharon regards Billy’s hands, clutched too tightly to the steering wheel.

95.95.

(pause)

What?

If baseball doesn’t work out. Have you thought about what you might do?

The game’s only been over for three hours, I haven’t had that much time to think about it.

(beat)

Maybe real estate.

It’s just a slump, right?

No.

SHARON looks at him... then her eyes go to the window.

96.96.

IN BLACK:

Problems are the price you pay for progress.

- Branch Rickey

Billy shoves a wad of Copenhagen under his lip as he and Peter walk-and-talk.

A99 INT. BILLY’S OFFICE - DAY A99

Billy’s seated at his desk. Peter reluctantly dials a number from a list, the number across from the Phillies’ GM’s name. It connects on the speaker.

97.97.

(put the call on hold)

Mabry?

He’ll be fine, Ed.

98.98.

He hangs up.

Beat.

99.99.

Billy picks up the call.

Sometimes you have to shake it up.

(into phone)

David, Peña’s going on the blocks, you’re my first call... because he’s making the rest of the team look bad... He’s going to be rookie of the year...

Probably an all star.

(winks at Peter, listens)

It’s more like he’s creating self-esteem problems for the other guys... No, I’m looking for a reliever and some cash... Ok... five minutes Dave, I’m not waiting.

(hangs up)

What’s the problem?

Billy, Peña is an all star. If you dump him, and if Hatte doesn’t work out, you know, this is the kind of decision that gets you fired.

(beat)

You worried about my job or yours?

I’m worried about yours.

100.100.

The phone rings.

Billy hangs up. He stares at Peter.

101.101.

B99 INT. LOCKER ROOM B99

Peter walks into the locker room. Sees Pena talking to a couple of other players. He approaches Pena.

They walk awkwardly to the players’ lounge.

They sit.

Pena sits and stares at him. It’s excruciating for Peter, awkward, until --

Pena just takes it. Picks up the number and leaves.

102.102.

Billy knocks and lets himself in.

Art stares at him in a silence broken by Jeremy Giambi knocking on the open door.

Billy jots a phone number on an A’s Post-It and hands it to him.

Art looks sick.

103.103.

Billy gets up and shakes his hand.

Jeremy, not sure he heard right, looks at the Post-It in his hand as Billy escorts him to the door.

Jeremy leaves. Billy looks at Art from the door.

He leaves. Art notices Peter, who had been lurking by the door, eavesdropping.

A hundred percent.

104.104.

A100 INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY A100

Pena cleans out his locker. Several players stop by to say goodbye. Tejada --

Chad Bradford --

Scott Hatteberg --

BILLY and PETER stride through as the team is getting dressed for batting practice.

The place quiets down as BILLY comes in. They’ve all heard the news and they’ve never experienced a move like this in their careers.

105.105.

BILLY looks around at the PLAYERS, who are looking at Billy...

DAVID JUSTICE hits a single up the middle as the runners on 2nd and 3rd round the bases to score.

BILLY’s blackberry buzzes.

“Sngl up the mdl--2 rns scr”

A103 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - NIGHT A103

Billy talks to Chavez and Ellis. Peter stands nearby.

(then)

Until the third out, anything can happen. After the third out, it’s over. You gotta protect your outs like they’re your children. Every out’s precious, don’t give ‘em away.

(then) (MORE)

106.106.

B103 INT. VIDEO ROOM - DAY B103

Billy and Peter give advice to Dye and Byrnes.

107.107.

C103 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - DAY C103

Peter advises Durham as he works out.

(MORE)

108.108.

BILLY and PETER with a group of players around the card table, post-game.

109.109.

A104 INT. LOCKER ROOM - KITCHEN - DAY A104

As JUSTICE and HATTEBERG prepare food --

110.110.

(MORE)

111.111.

If this is news to Justice, he doesn’t show it.

Justice just studies him ... then nods.

Billy starts to leave, but has one last thought for him --

Billy exits. Justice calls after him --

You want another one?

112.112.

DAVID JUSTICE takes ball four from a Yanks pitcher, tosses his bat to the side and trots down to first base.

TEJADA is on first and taking a big lead toward second. He wants to steal it bad.

BILLY watches with two or three TEAM EMPLOYEES.

And CRACK--a base hit sends Tejada to 3rd.

BILLY’s blackberry buzzes:

Sngl to lft. Frst and thrd--nobody out.

The wheels of the team jet lift off--

The TV is on as BILLY and PETER work, seeming more and more like mad scientists who are getting closer and closer to splitting the atom.

GREG PAPA OR RAY FOSSE (TV)

What is happening in Oakland?!! The A’s have won seven in a row and 15 of their last 19. You got to hand it to Art Howe. He’s managing this unorthodox team in an unorthodox way. They are not bunting. They are not stealing. They are just winning. And Art Howe is the reason.

113.113.

Billy clicks off the TV and it’s very quiet. Billy is scrolling down numbers that show trends and comparisons of all of the A’s relief pitching.

Peter reaches over and with a few clicks produces new columns of numbers, upon which Billy darts his eyes as he scrolls through them. Finally -

He gets up and heads out.

A112 INT. LOCKER ROOM - AFTERNOON A112

BILLY walks through the clubhouse, shouting locker room shoutouts to PLAYERS as he walks by.

That smell is getting worse.

What are we doing tonight?

(to Hudson, playing cards)

Huddy, you gotta mix it up tonight. Trust your slider.

114.114.

As Billy crosses through the weight room --

BILLY knocks on Art’s door -- something we haven’t seen him do before.

ART can see BILLY through the window blinds and is a little surprised at the courtesy of a knock.

BILLY does. He’s going to try to do this nicely.

115.115.

116.116.

ART regards BILLY for a moment...

117.117.

Yeah, that’s what I meant. Play Bradford.

BILLY steps out of Art’s office into--

The game plays on TV as BILLY bench presses. The A’s are up by three runs in the ninth inning but the Indians have a runner on first.

Through the tunnel, BILLY can hear the crack of the bat and a collective groan from the stands.

BILLY holds the barbell in the air--frozen--as he simply looks at the T.V. and sees the silent images.

ART HOWE walking to the mound, tapping his left hand.

MAGNANTE heading to the mound.

We think BILLY’s going to trash the weights, but he simply returns the barbell to the bracket, sits up and watches the silent images.

MAGNANTE mops his brow, squints for the sign, winds up and makes his pitch. It misses low for ball four and PEDRO walks to first.

Billy lays back on the bench, breathes, then unmutes the T.V. and we hear -

And then - BILLY sits calmly...waits for it...and--

CRACK!

--BILLY nods his head at the inevitable.

118.118.

BILLY can hear 40,000 people booing their lungs out. He takes a moment, then grabs his jacket.

The FANS are booing as ART makes his way to the mound to take MAGNANTE out. BRADFORD makes his way from the bullpen and takes the ball from ART.

ART turns to head back to the dugout but slows as he sees a strange sight: BILLY is standing at the dugout rail.

The plate UMPIRE notices and follows Art’s line of sight. He sees BILLY and walks over there ahead of Art.

BILLY doesn’t move. He just watches ART as he comes into the dugout.

The PLAYERS are watching to see what’s going to happen. BILLY puts his hand on ART’s shoulder a second as he says- -

BILLY sees one of the nearby TV cameras pivot over to catch this conversation--

119.119.

As BILLY passes MAGNANTE he pats his back before we--

The radio is on and the ANNOUNCER is telling us--

AA120 OMITTED AA120

A120 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY A120

As the early-bird fanatics arrive - players arrive at the players’ entrance -

B120 INT. LOCKER ROOM - COLISEUM - DAY B120

Magnante walks into the A’s locker room.

C120 OMITTED C120

D120 INT. LOCKER ROOMS - COLISEUM - SAME TIME - DAYD120

Billy, standing at the door, surveys the room, his eyes moving from player to player as they’re hanging up their street clothes. The team’s equipment manager, pouring himself a cup of coffee, glances over -

120.120.

Voos wanders off. Billy keeps looking at the players ...

LEGEND: July 31 - TRADE DEADLINE

E120 INT. SCOUTS ROOM - MOMENTS LATER - DAY E120

Billy comes in sticking some tobacco under his lip and, like a shark that knows it could die if it stops moving, doesn’t through the entire scene --

They wait as Suzanne dials the Indians’ GM, staring at the speakerphone that sits like a little island in the middle of the conference table.

121.121.

San Francisco.

He hangs up. Stares down Peter.

(continues to stare down Peter)

What’s left on Venafro’s contract?

(then)

If we can get San Francisco interested in Venafro, Shapiro’s only got one buyer for Rincon.

Pete gets busy on his computer.

Why would you do that, Billy?

122.122.

Billy snaps his fingers at Peter --

He hangs up.

Billy and Pete stare at each other in silence.

He hangs up.

123.123.

Pete works his computer.

He puts him on hold. Peter is already scrolling through the Mets’ farm system, his eyes darting around the stats.

124.124.

Billy punches the phone off hold.

The phone on Pete’s desk rings. Peter answers a second blinking line.

125.125.

(to Steve Phillips)

Look. Steve. Here’s the deal. I’m being straight with you. I’m getting Rincon. It’s a done deal. It’s done.

Billy’s look to Peter says, Doesn’t hurt to ask. As they listen to silence on Phillips’ side of the call --

He hangs up. Looks for the blinking light that belongs to his owner.

Silence. Then --

126.126.

Quiet.

The phone rings.

Billy picks up. Listens. Fist pump.

Peter dials. Billy can’t sit.

127.127.

(then)

Yes, I added the please.

(listens; to Billy)

No.

Billy thinks intensely. Finally --

Peter listens to whatever Steve Schott is saying, then --

(hangs up)

He says he’ll pay for Rincon.

High five.

(calling out)

Get me Shapiro!

-- as he grabs his cell phone and hits speed dial.

(beat, then into phone)

Mark. Yeah, it’s Billy. Here’s the deal. I don’t want Rincon pitching against me tonight. Tell him to change his clothes. I got you the money and I accept your gratitude. It’s done.

He hangs up. Fist bump.

128.128.

Billy dials an extension.

Art hangs up. Billy slams the speakerphone.

He leaves.

F120 INT. A’S LOCKER ROOM - 20 MINUTES LATER F120

Billy comes through the clubhouse past his team suiting up to where Magnante is adjusting his knee braces next to his locker, and sits with him.

Magnante isn’t sure he heard right, but the silence tells him he did. Eventually -

129.129.

Billy shakes his head, no.

(then)

Mike. I can’t have 26 guys in the clubhouse.

Magnante nods.

Billy gets up to leave. As he exits, he sees Peter enter with Rincon, standing with his new uniform in his arms, looking like a prison inmate. Oops. Billy joins them.

130.130.

As the other players file out and say hello...

G120 INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT G120

Billy, Tara and Casey at dinner.

131.131.

132.132.

120 A GRAPHIC 120

of the AL West standings over A GAME BEING PLAYED--from the start of the season until now--the teams shifting positions as the “games-out” and winning percentage numbers change like an adding machine, too fast for us to really follow, but then:

The calculations abruptly lock and we’re given enough time to understand where we--and Oakland--are after 120 games:

AL West GB WP Seattle --- .610 Anaheim 2.0 .593 Oakland 4.5 .571 Texas 21.5 .427

A121 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY A121

A PITCH TRACKING CAMERA mounted in center field. ZOOM IN to the lens...

B121 INT. VIDEO ROOM - DAY B121

Peter sits with Hatteberg, reviewing his hits on a monitor.

(MORE)

133.133.

TIME LAPSE of hundreds of at bats registering and changing modalities to produce graphs and numbers. PULL OUT to reveal we’re now in

C121 INT. VIDEO ROOM - LATER C121

Peter and Bradford review footage.

Peter analyzes the data with Billy as they throw a ball back and forth.

(MORE)

134.134.

A game is on TV in the background. Billy makes various comments the the screen --

Another train of thought --

And now we have QUICK SCENES OF BILLY TAKING PLAYERS ASIDE --

135.135.

Tejada immediately starts thinking about it.

TERRANCE LONG is working out. Billy pokes his head in.

Billy exits. Long calls after --

A124 INT. CLUBHOUSE HALLWAY - DAY A124

Billy and Mecir walk down the hall with the smelly stain.

Mecir mumbles something.

(indicates stain)

It’s that. And it’s growing.

They stare at the stain in silence. Finally --

136.136.

Hatteberg in the clubhouse. Billy enters.

PETER is erasing the percentage of games left that they need to win and writing in a LOWER number--

137.137.

TIME LAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY of all of the changes to the board over the following two weeks.

A128 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY A128

It’s the Twins vs. the A’s. A TWINS PLAYER stands at first, stoic. Scott figures “What the hell?” and turns to him.

The focused Twins player looks at Scott like he’s crazy.

TWINS PLAYER #1

Bed by ten o’clock. Game time.

TWINS PLAYER #1

I’m sore, man. Beat up. Day in, day out.

TWINS PLAYER #1

Houston.

(then)

You ever get up to Boundary Waters up there in Minnesota? It’s beautiful. I went on a trip up there. Fishing trip. Caught some walleye.

TWINS PLAYER #1

That’s good fishing.

Scott chatting with a DIFFERENT TWIN on first.

TWINS PLAYER #2

Yes, sir.

138.138.

Crack! The ball’s in play. It’s thrown to Hatteberg, who tags out the stunned player.

A DIFFERENT TWIN is on first.

TWINS PLAYER #3

University of Arizona.

TWINS PLAYER #3

See what the city’s about -- San Francisco. What are you up to?

TWINS PLAYER #3

Jaqcue.

TWINS PLAYER #3

How are you doing, Scott?

TWINS PLAYER #3

Yeah...

Crack! Hatteberg catches the ball, making another out.

128 GRAPHICS 128

The standings graphic shows the A’s have just moved up into a three-way tie for first place--

139.139.

AL West GB WP Oakland --- .619 Anaheim 4.0 .591 Seattle 4.5 .586 Texas 22.5 .450

CHAD BRADFORD smokes the last batter on a called third strike to end the game against the Twins, and the TEAM rushes in to congratulate him--

BILLY looks down at his blackberry, sees the result and makes a small fist pump.

131-137 OMITTED 131-137

A138 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - ANNOUNCER’S BOOTH - DAYA138

SHOTS OF THE GAME ANNOUNCERS.

--where the energy is electric.

AL West GB WP Oakland --- .633 Anaheim 3.5 .609 Seattle 7.0 .583 Texas 25.5 .449

REPORTER #1 V/O

This is something special now and far be it for me to jinx it by saying how many consecutive games the A’s have won--

140.140.

REPORTER #2 V/O

Nineteen--

REPORTER #1 V/O

Well you said it not me.

Tickets are torn and purses searched as record breaking numbers of fans pour into the stadium.

REPORTER #2 V/O

None of the Oakland fans in their cars down there have forgotten the A’s inglorious history-making choke in Game 5 of the ALDS last October and tonight--

It’s like a tomb. The PLAYERS are getting ready without music or chat. Justice steps up to deliver a pre-game pep talk.

LEGEND:

September 4, 2002

Kansas City Royals at Oakland A’s

--one game shy of 20 consecutive wins, they have a shot at redemption. How rare is it to win 20 games in a row? This rare: No American League team has ever done it.

141.141.

BILLY heads east on 580. His cell phone rings and he hits the speaker button for the truck.

There’s silence...

(beat)

Sharon?

“Go into real estate”. What a stupid thing to say.

BILLY didn’t even realize until that moment how much he wanted to hear her say that...He’s not sure what to say back.

142.142.

He hangs up, drives a little longer...letting what Casey said sink in. Then...

...he turns on the radio.

BILLY sees the sign for the next exit coming up. He makes a decision and quickly crosses to the right, just making the exit.

A141 OMITTED A141

BILLY is striding through an underground corridor which is echoing with the cheers of 55,000 fans.

BILLY emerges from a tunnel to a sight Billy’s denied himself for 138 games: The lit-up ballpark with a game in play. From the field, we see Billy finding his place in the seats behind home plate. Peter is already there.

143.143.

BILLY’S POV OF THE SCOREBOARD: 11-0 at the bottom of the 3rd. Unfortunately the idyllic moment is short-lived as Dye strikes out swinging and the teams swap places. The A’s take the field with TIM HUDSON pitching.

Billy looks around. He sees the scoreboard, a FAN with a big funky cowboy hat, the charged-up crowd in the stands, it’s like the Coliseum at Rome.

A143 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY - TOP OF THE 4THA143

IBANEZ of the Royals singles to center field.

RANDA of the Royals singles to left field.

But the Oakland fans are still jubilant and do the wave.

Then a big error from Tejada puts runners on 1st, 2nd and 3rd (MAYNE, Ibanez and Randa).

A143A EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - MAGIC HOUR - TOP OF 4THA143A

As if we’ve entered the Twilight Zone, it becomes twilight and LIGHTS GO ON.

DEE BROWN of the Royals singles to right, bringing Ibanez and Randa home, and Mayne to 3rd.

Ibanez and Randa high-five each other at the plate, passing Billy as they head to their dugout. Okay, the Royals are on the board now: 11-2, but just barely. Until-

A143B EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 4THA143B

PEREZ of the Royals singles to center field, bringing Mayne home.

Then TUCKER of the Royals doubles to left field. Justice makes an embarrassing fall trying to catch it, and Brown and Perez score. They high-five and pass Billy as they leave the plate, the second time he’s seen that, and suddenly the Royals have 5.

Reaction shot CLOSE-UPS: Justice, Tejada, Tucker on 2nd, Art Howe, the Royals’ dugout, a pitcher’s conference with Peterson and Hudson.

And finally Billy, who WALKS OUT.

B143 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 5THB143

MIKE SWEENEY of the Royals singles to left-center field -- Neither Justice or Long get it, it lands between them. And they have WORDS.

144.144.

Randa makes a sloppy single to left field... this one goes between Justice and Tejada.

C143 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - BOTTOM OF THE 5THC143

MONTAGE of A’s at bat: Hernandez grounds out, DURHAM strikes out, Mabry grounds out... A stunned A’S FAN stands up with his arms out in a “WTF??” gesture. While the A’s are still up, this is excruciating for the fans.

Art Howe comes out of the dugout, gives the signal for “underhander,” takes the ball from Hudson.

We see SHOTS OF FANS in the sold-out stadium experiencing the height of tension and excitement in sports.

Chad Bradford comes off the bullpen mound to relieve Hudson, and begins counting his steps -

Chad arriving at the mound taking the game ball from Art, who we see is genuinely supportive and encouraging to Chad.

Chad finishing his warm-up pitches.

BILLY is just as tense as the fans.

145.145.

Okay Chad, let’s see it.

CHAD walks Mayne. An angry fan throws toilet paper onto center field, the one thing Long manages to pick up. The crowd grows anxious.

CHAD’s submariner pitch to the next batter, DEE BROWN, walks him. BROWN trots down to first and there are now two runners on.

Some FANS have to cover their eyes. There’s a pitcher conference.

Art Howe simmers in frustration. He signals Rincon to warm up. The fans aren’t happy either.

ORDAZ of the Royals grounds to Tejada, who throws home for the force, and misses. Now it’s 11-6!

Howe pulls Bradford.

Rincon throws a controversial strike out. The Royals batter, TUCKER, protests, and fans go crazy BOOING.

Brown scores, 11-7 now, Royals chipping away that lead, and --

Howe pulls Rincon. Tam comes in to relieve him.

Sweeney’s up. In rapid succession, we seem him battle off TEN PITCHES of Tam. He’s got two strikes on him, more toilet paper flies on the field, Bowie comes in to warm up which Tam sees, then -

SWEENEY HITS A THREE-RUN HOMER TO MAKE IT 11-10! This is excruciating.

BOWIE is already gone. KOCH is on the mound. There’s a Royal, PELLOW, on 2nd. According to the scoreboard, it’s 2 outs, 2 strikes. If Koch throws a strike, the game is over. The fans are fucking feverish.

ALICEA of the Royals singles to left and Pellow scores. The game is now TIED.

In their dugout, Royals GLOAT.

146.146.

He’s ended the inning, but in the A’s dugout, Koch slams the wall.

The scoreboard shows us that it’s still tied in the bottom of the ninth. Nobody’s out. DYE grabs a bat and walks to the plate. Then, inexplicably, Howe turns to-

SCOTT HATTEBERG actually points to himself and mouths, Me?

SCOTT pulls a bat from the rack and heads to the on-deck circle. He only manages a warmup pitch or two before -

A153 INT. WEIGHT ROOM A153

Billy is watching on a muted television as he sees Dye fly out to right field. As Hatte approaches the plate, he kills the TV.

As ROY STEELE’s booming voice echoes:

Scott’s wife, ELIZABETH, watches from the VIP seats. She clutches her face.

SCOTT lets the first pitch go by.

Art Howe looks like he can’t stand it any longer. In the dugout, Koch looks like a psychopath ready to kill.

SCOTT steps out of the box to catch his breath. He steps back in and stares at the exact spot in space he thinks the pitch will leave the pitcher’s hand.

The pitch. SCOTT swings.

147.147.

Crack! 55,000 erupt. The A’s leap to the front of the dugout steps and watch.

We see the ball ascending on a strong trajectory, but before we can know for sure where it’s headed, TIME SLOWS TO A CRAWL-

BILLY’s sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, trying to breathe. He looks like he’s in pain. He can’t move.

He hears the crowd ERUPT outside. His Blackberry buzzes:

“hatte homered. a’s 12, ryls 11”

Billy flips on the TV. With sound off, he watches silent images of his team swarming the mound in (archival footage) mixed in with Art Howe celebrating with them.

The place is going crazy. ELIZABETH is screaming as she watches her husband get mauled by his teammates at the plate.

BILLY’s still contemplating making AL history as celebrating players flood into the locker room just outside. Billy looks through a portal on the door. He’s trapped in here now. He crosses into the

The place is packed with players, coaches and news crews. There’s no champagne spraying but they feel like they won the World Series and in fact have done something much more rare.

Billy is trying to make a fast unnoticed exit. After pushing through the crowd, he walks outside of the club house into the -

A161 INT. CORRIDORS / FAMILY AREA - CONTINUOUS A161

where the players’ families and wives are waiting. Billy sees ELIZABETH HATTEBERG walking toward him--

148.148.

ELIZABETH starts to cry--

BILLY doesn’t say anything but of course he does.

BILLY takes this in a second...

(MORE)

149.149.

ELIZABETH looks at him a moment...and then starts crying again--

ELIZABETH goes off to find her husband. BILLY sees PETER standing there.

BILLY and TARA are eating.

(toasts)

To twenty.

(then)

You should’ve seen Elizabeth’s face when it went right over.

150.150.

He’s upset. She knows it.

The same shot as at the beginning: the Coliseum from high above, only this time the final game of the division series is being played at home.

LEGEND:

2002 ALDS Deciding Game 5

Minnesota Twins at Oakland A’s

The camera pans down the huge scoreboard. It’s excruciating. The numbers on the board tell us it’s been an incredibly close game but the A’s are losing by one run in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and nobody on.

151.151.

Ray Durham stands in at the plate. Strike one to the Durham as we hear the venerable voice of ESPN’s Joe Morgan, who’s speaking post-game.

Durham fouls off a pitch. Strike two.

Durham swings at the fastball and connects, but it’s a pop fly to second which a TWINS INFIELDER easily nabs. The PITCHER throws his glove in the air and the CATCHER runs out to the mound as the rest of the Twins run to the middle of the field to begin their victory celebration.

Durham turns away and heads back to the dugout.

The A’s have lost the series.

A165 INT. VIDEO ROOM - NIGHT A165

Harrowed by the defeat, PETER stares at the TV, listening to Joe Morgan.

B165 INT. VIDEO ROOM - NIGHT B165

Peter SMASHING a wooden chair to pieces with a baseball bat.

152.152.

C165 INT. VIDEO ROOM - NIGHT C165

Peter, in exhaustion, his eyes glued again to the screen watching shots (ARCHIVAL VIDEO) of euphoric Twins reveling and A’s stunned at their misfortune.

A LOCKED-OFF SHOT begins to slowly move towards the pile of celebrating players on the mound and as we near, the sound begins to fade and the PLAYERS BEGIN TO DISAPPEAR, as do the FANS and ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE COLISEUM. DRIFT in an empty stadium, towards the dugout, where the last of the CLEANING CREW brooms the floor.

A166 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT A166

CAMERA MOVES down a dimly lit cinder block corridor, and finally into the -

where we discover a solitary figure.

The camera comes to settle on the Oakland A’s player, still in uniform, hours after the game has ended, sitting with his face in his hands. After a long, deep breath he sits up and we discover that it’s Billy, 10 years prior.

Billy, still in uniform, walks down the long corridor that leads to the GM’s office, his cleats clicking on the concrete halls.

BILLY’s standing in front of the A’s GM wearing his uniform pants and a t-shirt.

153.153.

Pete nods. Billy calls out --

(to Peter)

You ever been to Boston?

The speakerphone rings. Billy answers.

154.154.

Peter is frozen. Neither Steve nor Billy are acting like he’s even in the room.

Silence.

155.155.

Billy hangs up. A long beat. Peter looks at Billy.

A170 INT. TOWNCAR - DAY A170

Billy regards culinary treats presented fancifully in a towncar that transports him to Fenway Park.

We establish the famous home of the Red Sox before finding BILLY standing on home plate. He looks around at the historic stadium...

JOHN HENRY, the new owner of the Boston Red Sox, is shouting at him from the owner’s box. BILLY gives a kind of wave.

You ever play here?

156.156.

FLASH CUT:

BILLY swinging hard at a pitch in the dirt.

BILLY and JOHN begin a stroll around the perimeter of Fenway.

157.157.

(into phone)

Can you have some coffee in there for us?

(beat)

Thank you.

He snaps the phone shut.

A171 INT. PRESS BOX - DAY A171

Billy and John admire the view. DENISE sets down a tray of coffee and exits.

A scarf?

(pause)

And where would I get something like that?

(MORE)

158.158.

JOHN looks at BILLY a moment...

And we begin a slow push-in on BILLY... this is the first person in baseball other than his assistant who doesn’t think he’s crazy.

JOHN’s taken a piece of paper out of his pocket and slides it to BILLY --

159.159.

BILLY opens it, looks at it for less than a second, and looks back up at JOHN...

Billy looks out at the Boston scenery. He steals a glance at the paper in his hand, John’s offer, pensive...

Billy comes into the locker room and gives it a look.

174 OMITTED (MOVED TO G177) 174

Billy sits at a table. A baseball SLAMS down in front of him. He looks up to see where it came from. PETER is standing in the doorway.

(then)

How was Boston?

160.160.

Pete just stares at him. Finally, Billy reaches into his pocket, takes out the folded piece of paper and hands it to Peter.

Peter looks at it...

161.161.

Do I love the Red Sox?

(beat)

I made one personal decision based on money in my life and I swore to never do that again.

(then)

I so wanted to win here.

162.162.

A177 OMITTED (MOVED TO K177) A177

B177 INT. VIDEO ROOM - DAY B177

PAUL hits the remote and the tape starts. The quality is poor and the camera is focused only on Jeremy.

We see JEREMY BROWN connect and the ball fly off the bat but the camera stays on JEREMY running to first. PAUL slows down the picture with the remote

163.163.

JEREMY slips and stumbles to the ground.

JEREMY has been scrambling in the dirt to get safely back to first base.

JEREMY’s looking around the field now, looking at his own dugout. We can’t see what he sees but he’s confused.

And JEREMY’s face explodes into a smile. He slaps hands with the first base coach and begins his trot around the bases.

BILLY stares at this. He takes the remote and backs it up a little so he can see Jeremy’s face again.

164.164.

And with that, Billy’s mind begins to go elsewhere. No resolution, no decision, other than to get up and wander on.

C177 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM HALLWAY - DAY C177

Billy stops in front of a door, checks to see if it’s open, it is and he enters.

D177 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM SCOUT ROOM - DAY D177

Billy Stands and takes it in.

E177 INT. ART HOWE’S OFFICE - DAY E177

Billy stands and takes it in.

F177 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM HALLWAY - DAY F177

Billy stands at area from which a mysterious smell still emanates.

G177 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY (FORMERLY 174)G177

Billy haunts the field, talking to himself. Eventually he stands at the plate, and has an imaginary at bat.

165.165.

H177 INT. VIDEO ROOM - CONTINUOUS H177

Pete watches Billy from the pitch tracking monitor as he argues with an imaginary ump before hitting an imaginary inside the park home run that ends with a slide into home.

J177 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY J177

Billy wanders over to the pitcher’s mound. Lies down.

His POV of perfect sky...

K177 EXT. FREEWAY - DAY (FORMERLY A177) K177

BILLY’s driving along and listening to the continued DRONE of talk radio criticism.

BILLY keeps listening a moment, then reaches in the glove box and pulls out a CD marked “Dad’s Mix”.

BILLY slips it in the CD player. The sound of the radio immediately snaps off and the momentary silence is soon broken by CASEY’s VOICE--

And then the first track on the CD comes on (SONG TBD).

And BILLY smiles.

He continues on down the freeway into dusk, as--

David Justice at the plate. As he takes ball four and trots down to first, the image freezes -

Legend: David Justice retired after the 2002 season, leaving baseball with a team-leading on-base percentage with most walks.

Scott Hatteberg, looking comfortable on the infield dirt finally, dives for a line drive - freeze.

166.166.

Legend: Scott Hatteberg played three more seasons with the A’s, then signed with Cincinnati in 2006 - as a first baseman. He retired in 2007.

Chad Bradford goes into his windup from Mars. As his hand scrapes the dirt - freeze.

Legend: Chad Bradford went to the Red Sox in 2005. In 2008, he was traded to Tampa Bay who went on to the World Series with a payroll even lower than the A’s.

Kevin Youkilis, in a Red Sox uniform, shimmies at the plate. As he lays off ball four and the umpire points to first - freeze.

Legend: Boston never traded to Billy - or anyone else - their Greek God of Walks, Kevin Youkilis. He was part of the historic World Series Championship Red Sox of 2004, and is still with the club.

Peter, in a Yale Bulldogs uniform, scoops a grounder to second. As he throws out a Yale Bulldog - freeze.

Legend: Peter Brand left Oakland in 2004 to become the General Manager of the Dodgers. He’s now with the San Diego Padres.

Billy - 18 years old - in his Mount Carmel High uniform, takes his stance at the plate with the supreme confidence of youth. The pitch comes. He swings. And as his bat makes contact - freeze.

Legend: Billy Beane is still the General Manager of the Oakland A’s.

The Coliseum’s floodlights switch off and the green of the grass darkens -

TO BLACK