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INT.
The room is filled to half-capacity with men, mostly middle aged or older,
mostly White. Some bear the physical scars of combat on their bodies, all do
so on their faces. But tonight, theyre on their feet and their worries are
forgotten. Similarly, the fixtures of the room, the walls, the floor tiles, the adhoc boxing ring are worn and grimy with years of neglect, but are animated
tonight. Jake Huard, in his early 20s, wiry and thin with tightly coiled muscles,
lies on the canvas, face grimacing in pain but eyes calm. His father Bill, a
weary and cautious man, stands ringside, frozen. Jake looks to him in search
of reassurance.
BILL
Stay down, Jake.
Jake meets his fathers mournful and acquiescing gaze, and recognition turns
into fury in Jakes eyes.
BILL (continues)
Stay down, son.
REFEREE
5, 6, 7, 8
Jake raises himself from the mat with a strength that gives even his opponent
pause, and Jake rallies. Like a demon, Jake continues to move forward despite
his opponents blows, some blocked, some landed. Jake dispatches his
opponent with a flurry of punches delivered with furious speed. The bout
over, Jack rests in his corner and glances across the room to see strangers,
well-wishers and family friends cheering on their boy, while his father creeps
out of the room without acknowledgement, head hung low.
2
INT.
We see Jake slinking in his cramped room, which is covered wall-to-wall with
Naval Academy paraphernalia. On his window is a picture of an attractive
middle aged woman in a service uniform posing with a younger Jake. As Jake
crawls into bed, eager to nurse his wounds, we look outside his window and
see in the distance the lights of the Academy itself and we can even make
out the changing of the guard.
3
INT.
The camera follows a confused Jake into Bills office, where Lieutenant
Commander Burton, a stern man in Navy uniform is seated in Bills chair.
JAKE
You were at my fight last night.
LCDR BURTON
Lieutenant Commander Burton, US Naval
Academy. Was curious how the guy in this
application would look in the ring.
JAKE
Sir?
LCDR BURTON
A kid from the shipyard, mediocre scores.
Gets his congressman to sponsor him.
JAKE
It took some convincing.
LCDR BURTON
How much?
JAKE
I went to his office everyday till he heard me
out.
LCDR BURTON
How many days was that?
JAKE
34. And I gotta wash his car.
LCDR BURTON
When?
JAKE
Whenever he tells me to.
LCDR BURTON
(chuckles) Jake, a spot opened up at the
Academy. A cadet decided at the last minute
he wants to sail his fathers yacht instead.
The other admitted students had the
summer to prepare, some their whole lives.
Youd start now.
JAKE
Just tell me when to go Sir, I know where.
LCDR BURTON
(hands Jake a packet) 0630 hours.
5
INT.
FRANKIES BAR
The neighborhood watering hole is filled with the usual suspects. Made up
shopgirls and office workers mingle with a few Academy cadets to the tune of
top 40 and the occasional throwback song. Subdued frivolity ensues from a
ritual grown increasingly familiar and tiresome from week to week. Jake is
gathered with Chris and his other pals to toast his sudden departure.
CHRIS
To Jake, onto bigger and better things.
JAKE
Its not like that. As much as Ill be glad to be
rid of you clowns. (pause) Every day that
place stares at us from across the Bay. Since
we were kids. We all wanted to be one of
those guys (nods toward a cadet). Why not
us?
CHRIS
(after a pause) Its time they had somebody
from the shipyards in that tower.
JAKE
Ill drink to that.
CHRIS
You should see this guys room. Hes got
Navy on the brain.
(aside to Jake)
Ive got a surprise for you.
(gestures toward Ali, a young woman)