Sore Loser - Miniseries Pilot Screenplay

INT. INDIANA UNIVERSITY - BASKETBALL COURT - NIGHT

KENAN GROUSE hunches over, dribbling a basketball. He stares down two opposing players, blocking his way.

He’s a tall, young African-American man. He’s more muscular than the average basketball player, even an elite one.

His jersey identifies him as a HOOSIER, wearing number #6.

The crowd screams around him. The arena is packed.

Kenan hustles past the players in his way and gets a lay-up.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

Another lay-up! That’s 55 for Grouse!

Kenan runs to the other end of the court. He guards an opponent near the net. He takes elbows to the face but doesn’t budge.

Another opponent misses a shot. Kenan catches the ball with a spinning leap. He lands with his back to the net.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

A big rebound! He wants a win tonight! He needs it!

Kenan dribbles down the length of the court, heaving a three.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

58 points for Grouse! Indiana takes the lead!

Another Indiana player, TOMMY, pins the opponent by the baseline. Kenan joins in and the opponent goes out of bounds.

Kenan dribbles the ball to the top of the key, waiting there. He watches the shot clock, taking as much time as he can.

ERIC BISHOPP, Indiana’s coach, howls from the side. He’s a burly silver haired man with a beard.

COACH BISHOPP

Move the goddamn ball!

Kenan steps in to shoot, but the ball is blocked. The opponents run down and get an easy dunk.

The gameboard shows the score: 88 to 89. Three seconds to go.

Kenan runs to get the ball. He darts up and shoots a three from the Indiana University logo.

He falls backwards from the throw. It misses.

Kenan lays on his back as the buzzer blares.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

And there it is. Kenan Grouse with 58 points, a school record, but it’s bittersweet as Indiana University goes 0 and 27 for the first time in history.

Players and assistants hurry away from Bishopp as he fumes.

INT. INDIANA UNIVERSITY - PRESS ROOM - NIGHT

Sport beat writers lean over chairs to talk to each other.

REPORTER 1

You can’t print that he’s never won anything. Don’t beat up on the kid.

REPORTER 2

I found the box scores. Middle school, high school, if he wasn’t on the shelf with an injury, they didn’t get a single win.

REPORTER 1

You make it sound like it’s his fault. He averaged 30 points a game. What, you want to bench him?

Kenan, still in his jersey, walks out to the microphone. Cameras flash. Reporters shout out questions.

REPORTER 2

How do you think the school record

affects your chances in the NBA draft?

KENAN

I’d hope that-

Bishopp walks out.

COACH BISHOPP

Get in the locker room.

KENAN

I’ve got something I want to say.

Bishopp slaps the microphone out of his hand. The reporters rise up. Photos flash.

COACH BISHOPP

You don’t have anything to say.

Kenan storms off stage.

REPORTER

Coach Bishopp! Do you-

COACH BISHOPP

Shut the fuck up.

INT. INDIANA UNIVERSITY - LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT

Kenan, in just a towel, goes through his locker. Players and their friends and family mill around. It’s packed.

BHASKAR, an Indian man with a full beard and movie star good looks, brushes through the crowd in a suit.

BHASKAR

Mr. Grouse, very nice to meet you.

KENAN

Sure. I’m not making any deals without my parents around.

BHASKAR

I leave that to my partner. I don’t understand basketball well. May I have your phone?

Kenan hands him his phone as he puts his clothes on. Bhaskar types and hands it back.

BHASKAR

I’ll see you soon.

KENAN

Your partner couldn’t meet me here?

BHASKAR

There are some things only I can do. Just like you.

He leaves, moving past Tommy. Tommy turns to look, confused.

TOMMY

You just gave some stranger your phone?

Kenan blinks. Why did he do that?

KENAN

Seemed like it was okay.

TOMMY

If he can get you picked up by an NBA team, he can have my phone too.

KENAN

After this season, I need all the help I can get.

TOMMY

Did you look at your own game? You’re gonna make it. Adonis didn’t play a full season at Kentucky and he’s going to be drafted first. No scout will care that some college team didn’t-

Bishopp looms over them, staring daggers at Tommy.

TOMMY

I’ll see you back home.

COACH BISHOPP

Everyone out.

The players and groupies leave. He pulls a seat next to Kenan.

COACH BISHOPP

I’m fired. You had to know that, right?

Kenan ignores him and keeps changing.

COACH BISHOPP

I could have gone to Purdue, gone to the Pacers, made more money. But I stayed here because I built a dynasty. Now it’s gone, thanks to you. You and your parents.

KENAN

Don’t talk about my parents.

COACH BISHOPP

They told me, ignore you losing all those high school games. You have potential. You play hard. Bullshit.

Bishopp kicks the locker door. Kenan leaps to his feet.

KENAN

58 points.

COACH BISHOPP

Finally found some balls?

KENAN

I’m saying, don’t get on my case,

when I put up those numbers.

Bishopp stands and screams in Kenan’s face.

COACH BISHOPP

You think anyone cares about you on that court? You are a loser! Your worthless ass can’t warm a bench in the NBA! Mommy and Daddy lied to you if you thought different!

Kenan sits down as Bishopp barks at him.

COACH BISHOPP

You should pay for what you did to this team, but you’ve got nothing! You are nothing! There’s only one thing I can take from you!

Bishopp opens Kenan’s locker and snatches his Indiana gear.

COACH BISHOPP

You aren’t wearing this school’s colors ever again! You’re the worst thing that ever happened to us!

Bishopp marches out, leaving Kenan alone.

To read more of this screenplay, contact Michael Papich.