Bull In The Ring (Based on a True Story) Written By Frank A. Rossi And what we say about being born equal -- none of us are born equal, but rather unequal. And yet the talented are no more responsible for their birthright than the underprivileged. And the measure of each should be what each does in a specific situation. - Vince Lombardi - PROPERTY OF: FIRST DRAFT Frank A. Rossi Studios P.O. Box 1102 Buffalo, NY 14220 (716) 713-5527 Registered WGA WEST: #1426669 2. Long before the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965, or President Johnson's passing of the civil rights bill, a bunch of kids, their coaches and administration made a decision that would resonate around the country 50 years later. It is possible that in his, I Have a Dream Speech , Dr. King was talking directly to the 1958 University of Buffalo football program when he said, "A man should not be judged by the color of his skin but by the content of his character." Well, you gentlemen of the 1958 University of Buffalo Football Bulls -- the content of your character that fall day when you voted to not go without your fellow warriors is what Dr. King's whole life was dedicated to. - Reverend Jesse Jackson - January 4th , 2009 International Bowl 3. EXT. FOOTBALL STADIUM - DAY A LEGEND READS: BUFFALO, NY (SEPTEMBER 13TH 2008) OPEN ON: Covering their faces, the tension too unbearable to look, thousands of UNIVERSITY at BUFFALO STUDENTS, FANS and ALUMNI. The scoreboard reads: UB 24 TEMPLE 21 with 45 ticks remaining in the contest. It’s 4th and goal for the Owls at the UB eleven yard line. The local TV ANNOUNCERS voices kick in from the press box. REVEAL: Color Commentator, BIG LOU DEVINO (48). BIG LOU is a TONY SIRACUSA type with a penchant for sarcasm. He is eating from a plate of chicken wings. Adjacent to BIG LOU, play-by- play man REVEAL: (32) year old, DICK BEAMISH. DICK BEAMISH With over 18,000 of UB’s faithful on hand -- including several members of its 1958 Lambert Cup championship team, can this team a half century later hold one more down to secure UB’s MAC opener victory? Enjoying the wings, Lou? BIG LOU DEVINO Nothing to worry about here, Dickie Boy. This year’s Bulls, a team of destiny. (Re: wings) Want one? Various shots of the CROWD, along with several CLOSE UPS on a group of four MEN standing together in the stands. All appear to be in their early (70’s). ATOP THE STADIUM - In a private box marked RICH PRODUCTS, we observe a handsome, hazel eyed AFRICAN/AMERICAN male appearing in his early (60’s). The MAN exudes a look of serenity. He motions down to the four MEN to join him. One looks up, waves him off, then returns to the game. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Fifty years ago this season, the University of Buffalo, a private institution back then, was invited to play in the school’s first and only bowl game -- BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) -- but our boys got screwed Bulls fans. Well, not this year. I predict we win the Mac championship and play in our first major college bowl game. Back to you, Dick. 4. INSIDE THE BOOTH - DICK BEAMISH Considering the team has never been to a bowl game in its one hundred and fourteen year history, aren’t you going out on a pretty big limb here, Lou? BIG LOU DEVINO We ran over UTEP in the home opener, then last week played 15th ranked Pitt even through three. Make it a big tree, Dick. A Redwood. Something that can hold my stout frame. Our championship season starts right here, right now! ON THE FIELD - TEMPLE approaches the line of scrimmage. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Dimcelle barks out signals -- takes the snap from the gun, then throws the fade to Francis in the endzone. Oh my God, did he catch that? Yes! Touchdown Temple! What happened there, Lou? A deafening silence fills the stands. BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) Coach called the right defense. DB got burned on the inside fake. TEMPLE lines up, kicks the extra point. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) With the point after good, Temple takes a 31-28 lead with just thirty-eight ticks remaining in the game. TEMPLE gets ready for the kickoff. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) What does UB need to do here? BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) They need to run it back for a touchdown, or I’m afraid it may be Deja Vu all over again for this year’s Bulls team. 5. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Brownell kicks off. Roosevelt sprints to retrieve the angled kick, then at the last second lets it dribble out of bounds at the twenty-five. The good news there, no time came off the clock. BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) Extra, Extra, read all about it. The ball gets placed on the forty. What a bonehead play by Brownell. Destiny, Dickie Boy, Destiny. On the first play from scrimmage. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Willy lines up in the gun, and fires an incomplete pass to Roosevelt on the out pattern. Wait, there’s a flag on the play -- BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) -- early Christmas present. Ten yards for defensive holding. WILLY approaches the line, drops back in the shotgun. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Willy drops back. He drills it to Rice over the middle for ten yards and a UB first down. Time is not an ally for the Bulls here, folks. At this point, they need at least another twenty yards or so to have any shot at a field goal. On the next play. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Willy in the gun, unleashes a rifle over the middle to Roosevelt for a gain of twenty! UB calls time out with four seconds left, the ball placed on the Temple thirty-five. Bulls options here, Lou? BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) Fifty-two yard field goal, or Roosevelt in the endzone on the Hail Mary. That kid can sky over Temple’s D backs. Hit’em on the Rosary play. 6. IN THE HUDDLE - 6’5” 220 pound, DREW WILLY. DREW WILLY Trips right, Naaman in the endzone. (off Naaman’s look) DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) The entire stadium is on its collective feet here, folks! Various reaction shots from: the COACHES, PLAYERS on the sidelines, our FOUR older MEN in the stands, and our MAN in the PRIVATE BOX. DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Willy takes the snap in the gun, drops back, then rolls to his right -- unleashing a Hail Mary to Roosevelt in the endzone. With four defenders surrounding him, Roosevelt goes up for ball. Did he come down with it? BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) Damn right he did! DICK BEAMISH (O.S.) Touchdown Bulls! Touchdown Bulls! Touchdown Bulls with the game clock expired. It’s pandemonium here in Buffalo, NY as the UB fans storm the field. BIG LOU DEVINO (O.S.) They certainly pulled that one out of their butts. DICK BEAMISH Can you say that on cable access? BIG LOU DEVINO I don’t know can you? VARIOUS SHOTS: Of the screaming FANS, the four older MEN high- fiving each other in the stands, and our African/American MAN cheering quietly in the RICH PRODUCTS box. INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY PLAYERS spray each other with GATORADE, water BOTTLES, you name it. Standing in the center of the melee, REVEAL: A drenched and ecstatic head coach, TURNER GILL (45). 7. COACH GILL is a handsome, athletic looking African/American man with a passion for coaching. Talking with him, REVEAL: Buffalo News Reporter, ROD MCKISSIC (30’s). COACH GILL -- my hands went up and I was screaming thank you lord, thank you, lord. (looks up) We owe you one on this one, sir. Sitting in a corner of the locker room, the four older GENTLEMEN talk with another reporter. REVEAL: FRANK A. ROSSI, late (40’s). ROSSI stands, recorder in hand. ROSSI You’re Jack “Bear” Dempsey. 6’2, you played at 220. In 1958 you were a twenty year old junior tackle, heavily recruited by Coach Schwartzwalder at Syracuse -- whose team went on to win the national championship in 59 with Heisman Trophy winner, Ernie Davis. JACK DEMPSEY Wouldn’t change a thing, Rossi. ROSSI looks to the next man sitting on the bench. ROSSI Ray “Razor” Paolini. Junior center, twenty years old, played at 215. My dad actually worked at your parents butcher shop growing up as a teenager. They called you Razor because you shaved a “B” on your chest before the season opener. A foreshadowing -- something you may have known even back then? RAY PAOLINI This team, this year, they’re special. Their coach is special. PAOLINI glances toward COACH GILL. ROSSI Fate coming full circle, Mr. Paolini? RAY PAOLINI (knowing smile) Ray. ROSSI moves to the next man. 8. ROSSI Mr. Bill “Brogie” Brogan. Great punter, fullback and linebacker who served four years in the Marines before taking the GI bill to go to college. Junior, twenty-two, 5’10” any you played at 190. BILL BROGAN That was many years ago. ROSSI And Nick Bottini. Senior Cocaptain, twenty-two, 6’1 192. Your parents emigrated to the States from Italy. Same as my dad. NICK BOTTINI Dove avenuto tuo padre? ROSSI Mio padre avenuto di Napoli. JACK DEMPSEY So how can we help you, kid? ROSSI I’m doing research for a book on your 58 team. And what happened at the end of that season that still has people talking about it fifty years later.