Court-Ship (1) Scene 1~~~~It’s the championship game at Madison Square Garden, game 3 of the WNBA finals, and the LA Sparks and New York Liberty are tied 1 game apiece. The winner of this game will be the champs..> Announcer #1~~~~ “You have to know that Delta Myers is wanting this NY team to foul, LA is in the bonus.” Announcer #2~~~~ “If you think back to the Liberty’s last game of the season against the Sparks, you will remember that it was similar to tonight. That game ended with Sears hitting a clutch 3 to win the game, let’s see if she still has some magic left in her.” and sees that there is 12 seconds left. She dribbles back and forth through her legs and behind her back, when the clock reaches 4 seconds she makes her move. She crosses over on Tasha McNeely, the girl guarding her, and takes a step back, pulls up for a 3, and it hits nothing but net. We see this all happening in slow motion, as the NY players rush over to Sandy and pick her up. They place her on their shoulders as she is reached the Championship trophy. Sandy holds it up high for everyone to see, as she spots Garrett standing a few feet away with a smile on his face, crying. She jumps down off the players shoulders and gives the trophy to a teammate. She then runs to Garrett and hugs him. He is crying and so is she.> Garrett~~~~ “Sandy I swear to god from the moment I saw you I fell in love with you. But I dont know how to prove it to you.” Sandy~~~~ “I know you were in love with me Garrett, because whenever we hugged I could feel it, whenever you told me you loved me I could hear it, and whenever we made love I looked into your eyes I could see it.” <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4 YEARS EARLIER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> <<<< SCENE 2-----Duke University, shows the campus in the fall, leaves changing color and lying all over the campus grounds, students walking by, then North Carolina mountains as the opening credits roll. After the credits are done we see Sandy Sears in one of the university practice gyms shooting around by herself, after a few minutes of this, her best friend Beth walks in.> Beth~~~~”Hey Sandy, me, Kathy, and Steph are gonna go party tonight, you wanna come?” Sandy~~~~ “Naw Beth, I think I’ll stick around here, I really gotta work on my left handed hook before the game Saturday.” Beth~~~~ “Come on Sandy, you’re always in here playing basketball by yourself, dont you have anytime to hang with your best buds?” Sandy~~~~ “Yeah, when the season is over.” Beth~~~~ “Suit yourself, but it looks to me like your life will always be nothing but lonely and boring.” Sandy~~~~ “Never have nothing but a lonely and boring life? What does she know? One day I’m gonna be the greatest basketball player ever, and she’ll be sorry she didn’t treat me and my work ethics with a little more respect. Just wait and see, one day the whole world will know who Sandy Sears is.” <<<< game going on, and reporters taking pics of Sandy every time she shoots, cameras are flashing everywhere. Finally we hear the horn blow signaling the end of the game, and then we see the scoreboard with Duke:124-NC State:76 >>>>>> <<<<< Reporter 1~~~~ “Sandy, what did you do to prepare for this game tonight? Sandy~~~~ “Well I spent most of the last two weeks in the gym shooting around, 24/7. I guess as they say, Practice makes perfect.” Reporter #2~~~~ “Sandy, where did you develop a great left hook shot like that? You’re a right handed player, right?” Sandy~~~~ “Yes, I’m right handed, I got the hook from practicing it continuously, day after day, for the past month. Tonight it really paid off for me, I think I had about 20 points with it.” Reporter #3~~~~ “Sandy, are you involved with anyone now in a relationship? If not, will you go out with me?” Sandy~~~~ “No, I’m not seeing anyone.” Scene 5~~~~ A football game. The NY jets are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. This is where we meet Garrett McGrady. He is in the stands talking on a cell phone. He is an agent, and represents the running back for the Jets.> Garrett~~~~(talking on the phone, with one finger sticking in one of his ears, trying to drown out the screaming fans around him.) What???? Mark I can hardly hear you. I’m at the Jets game, it’s Warren’s first game back from being put on the injured list. Yeah he’s doin good so far, hang on a sec....Pauses to watch the game, Warren gets the ball and begins running, trying to score a touchdown, but suddenly he is tackled hard from the right side, and lays on the ground obviously in pain) Oh no, why god? why does this have to always fucking happen to me? (the guy on the other end of the phone asks whats wrong) Warren, it looks like he’s re-injured his right knee, they’re carrying him off the field in a stretcher. Dammit, he was my last money player too. We were getting ready to negotiate a contract extension. Hey Mark I’ll call you back later.” (Hangs up the phone and has a “why me” look on his face.) “God dammit!” Scene 6~~~~Sandy just returned to her dorm and is sweaty from playing basketball. She has her basketball in her hands, and as she walks in the door, sees a bunch of people smoking weed and drinking. Sandy~~~~ “What the fuck are you guys doing? Dont you know you can get into some serious trouble doing this shit? Girl #1~~~~ “Oh Sandy dont worry, you’re a star here. Do you honestly think they will bust you for smoking weed and drinking beer? Hell no” Sandy~~~~ (Throws her basketball and hits the wall, knocking a hole in it.) “Everybody get out! Get out now!” Everyone there in unison~~~~ “What are you doin’?” Sandy then grabs a handful of joints, takes them into the bathroom and flushes them down the toilet Boy #2~~~~ “Whats wrong with her doesn’t she know how to have fun?” Sandy~~~~”Yes I do, playing basketball is fun, watching people playing basketball is fun, reading a book about basketball is fun, but fuckin your head and bodies up with drugs and alcohol is just plain stupid.” Girl #2~~~~ you think you are so much fucking better than the rest of us. You will never have any real friends, and I hope that basketball of yours can satisfy you when you get horny, cause no man would ever have enough sense to fuck someone as wacko as you.” Sandy~~~~”Whatever.” (Walks away and out of dorm with her basketball, down to the park. She crawls up on a park bench, puts her basketball under her head, and goes to sleep.) Scene 7~~~~ Garrett’s apartment in NY, the phone rings and Garrett answers it. Garrett~~~~ “Hello? Hey Terry long time no see, how ya been doin’?” Garrett~~~~ “I’m fine, where are you living at now? I can catch a flight down there tomorrow, we can hang out like old times. bye.” Scene 8~~~~ Sandy is moving the last of her stuff out of her dorm and into a friend’s apartment. Sandy~~~~ “Thanks Debra for letting me move in with you like this, I really appreciate it.” Debra~~~~ “Aww it’s nothing Sandy, I’m glad you’ve moved in, now I have a friend to talk to and wont be so lonely. Plus, you can make it up to me when you turn pro hint hint (laughs)” Sandy~~~~ “Yeah, money money money, thats what this world revolves around.” Debra~~~~”Say Sandy whens your next game, I’d like to catch it and bring Roger along.” Sandy~~~~ “Tomorrow night, we play North Carolina.” We now fast forward to the following night Scene 9~~~~ Garrett~~~~ “Man I gotta get me a new client, my fucking job isn’t paying the bills for me.” Terry~~~~ “What about that football player, the Davis kid, I thought he signed with you last month?” Garrett~~~~ “Awww that stupid fucker went out and did something stupid.” Terry~~~~ “What stupid thing did he do?” Garrett~~~~ “He got himself killed. One of his buddies bet him he couldn’t swallow a quarter.” Terry~~~~ “A quarter?” Garrett~~~~ “Yeah, he choked on the quarter.” Terry~~~~ “Man where do you find these guys at? Looks like you’d get an athlete who is actually a celebrity. Like Jordan, you need a Michael Jordan, you need a John Elway, you need a Nolan Ryan.” Garrett~~~~ “Yeah, but where am I gonna find an athlete like that who would actually sign with me?” Garrett~~~~ “What the....?” Terry~~~~ “It’s the game, everyone is watching the women’s Duke Vs North Carolina game.” Garrett~~~~ “Women’s? Why the fuck are they watching women’s?” Terry~~~~ “Haven’t you heard of that...oh whats her name.......Sears chick?” Garrett~~~~ “No, who’s she?” Terry~~~~ “Well she has a nice ass, and the tits, god I’d cut both my thumbs off if I could squeeze those fucking tits. But other than that she’s a hell of a basketball player. I think she is leading the nation in scoring right now, out of men’s and women’s hoops.” Garrett~~~~ “Thats it Terry, thats the ticket to saving my job!” Terry~~~~ “What, you gonna try to get the Sears chick to sign with you? She’s still a sophomore man. To talk to her would be illegal.” Garrett~~~~ “I know it’s illegal, but if I can come up with a plan to get her to sign with me when she graduates, my whole career will be fucking saved! But how can I guarantee she will sign with me?” Terry~~~~ “She’s a woman, you’re a man, get her to fucking fall in love with you and she will definitely sign with you.” Garrett~~~~ (Looks at Terry with bewildered look) What? Terry~~~~ “Yeah, you get her to fall in love with you and she will do anything for you man. Think about it.” Garrett~~~~ “I can do that. Me and you are going to the next Duke game.” Terry~~~~ “Ok, I gotta go anyway cause I have to write an article on them.” Scene 8~~~~ The Duke game, Sandy is warming up as Garrett and Terry walk in and take a seat behind the Duke bench. Terry~~~~ “There she is Gary, number 17. Didn’t I tell you she has a nice ass and perfect tits?” Garrett~~~~ “Yeah, but not as perfect as that shot. Man she is really strokin’ it out there.” Terry~~~~ “Now all we gotta do is get her to stroke you and your job is saved.” The next thing we see is the game starting. People are piling into their seats at the arena, and Garrett watches Sandy closely as she is out on the court. We see flashes of the game, Sandy shooting, passing, dribbling, and then Garrett becoming more and more intrigued by her. We see Sandy as she is trying to save the ball from going out of bounds, the ball flies over the bench as she lunges for it, and ends up landing on Garrett. Her eyes meet his and they both feel a connection there. Sandy~~~~ “I’m sorry.” Garrett~~~~ “No dont be sorry that was a hell of a thing you did, trying to save the ball.” Garrett~~~~ “Hey do you wanna get a drink after the game?” Sandy~~~~ “Yeah, sounds good, my treat though for landing on you.” Terry~~~~ “Oh my god, you are the luckiest son of a bitch alive. Out of all the fuckin’ men here, the sexiest woman in the world lands on you.” Garrett~~~~ “Yeah, aint that something.” Terry~~~~ “well at least now you have a date with her, just work your charm on her tonight. Plus, women dont like to be came onto sexually during the first date, you should treat her with respect and be a proper gentleman.” Scene 9~~~~ A bar, Garrett and Sandy are seated at a table drinking Garrett~~~~ “So, you’re from Sacramento, that’s cool, my father is originally from Sacramento.” Sandy~~~~ “ Really, thats interesting, did you ever live in Sacramento?” Garrett~~~~ “No, my father met my mom while on vacation in Florida. I actually came from a one night stand. My mother never married my father, and I’ve never met him. Sandy~~~~ “Oh thats so sad Garrett.” Garrett~~~~ “Well, enough about me, tell me, what got you started playing basketball?” Sandy~~~~ “When I was 9 my brother Jason played for the high school team. He was a great player, could have went to college and maybe turned pro.” Garrett~~~~ “what happened?” Sandy~~~~ “He and some friends were out one night celebrating a win, he was driving and he was drunk. He hit a car head on, and died instantly.” Garrett~~~~ “Oh Sandy, I’m sorry, you dont have to talk about it if you dont want to.” Sandy~~~~ “No its ok. Anyway, dad was so proud of his athletic accomplishments, and missed him so much that he went through depression. I thought if I started to play, fill his shoes on the basketball court, that dad would be happy again. He could coach me like he did Jason. And that’s how I started playing.” Garrett~~~~ “You are one special girl Sandy.” Sandy~~~~ “Do you believe that someone can fall in love with a person who they just met? Not knowing that much at all about them?” Garrett~~~~ “Yes, and you know how I know that?” Sandy~~~~ “How?” Garrett~~~~ “Because I’ve fallen head over heels in love with you.” Sandy~~~~ “Oh Garrett, it’s getting late, I really gotta run, I have practice in the morning. But heres my number (Takes a pen from her purse and write her # on his hand) You call me tomorrow evening and maybe we can get together and do something.” Garrett~~~~ “Ok, Sandy.” Scene 10~~~~ Garrett is stumbling to his hotel room. He is drunk as hell and has a hard time unlocking the door. Once he is inside he picks up the phone and starts to call Terry. He gets his answering machine, so he leaves a message.> Garrett~~~~ (His words are slurred) “Hey Terry its me Gary, I did it, Sandy is in love with me. My job is saved, I’m gonna be a big shot agent again, just wait and see.” Scene 11~~~~ we jump ahead in the future to when Sandy graduates and goes pro. She is the number 1 pick in the draft, made by her home town of Sacramento. But the problem is, Sandy wants to be closer to Garrett who lives in NY, so her and Garrett try to negotiate a deal to bring her to the Liberty. Him and Sandy are currently seated in Garrett’s office in NY, while Garrett is on a cell phone talking. Garrett~~~~ “No Collin, you dont understand, this isnt about money. (Pauses) No we arent bluffing Sacramento, Sandy is dead serious. If she doesnt get traded to NY then she isnt gonna play in the league. (Pauses) Just find a way, I dont care how, just trade her. Sandy~~~~ “So what did they say?” Garrett~~~~ “The Monarchs owner, Collin Frazier, says that he’ll try and get a deal worked out with NY by tonight.” Sandy~~~~ “That’s great!!!!” Garrett~~~~ “Yeah, now after we get you traded, the next thing we need to do is get your contract with the Liberty worked out.” Sandy~~~~ “Ok, for how many years and how much money are we gonna ask for?” Garrett~~~~ “Let’s see, you are the hottest rookie this league has had since it started back in ‘97, so we will ask for a 3 year contract, at $1,000,000.” Sandy~~~~ “A million dollars???? Isnt that an awful lot Garrett?” Garrett~~~~ “No, not at all. Look who they’re getting in return, the best damn basketball player the world has ever seen.” Sandy~~~~ “True, cant argue with you there.” Scene 12~~~~ Sandy’s rookie season, its the last game of the season, and if the Liberty win, then they will obtain home court advantage throughout the playoffs Madison Square Garden, basketball game going on between the WNBA’s New York Liberty and LA Sparks. One of the main characters, Sandy Sears, is the shooting guard for the Liberty, and is one of the WNBA’s brightest stars. She is having a great game, as the scene is set in the second half with 2:47 seconds left in the game, as the Liberty are down by 7. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Announcer #1~~~~ “Sandy Sears has had a tremendous game tonight, she has poured in 38 points so far for this Liberty team.” Announcer #2~~~~ “I agree Claire, Sears is still a rookie, but she is ranked #1 in the league in scoring, averaging an outstanding 32.4 PPG so far this season, and is ranked 4th in assists with 6.2 per game. She is also a very exciting player to watch.” Announcer #1~~~~ “Yes, Sears is a magician in the open court, a very entertaining basketball player.” Announcer #2~~~~ “The Liberty are currently down by 7 with 2:47 in the game, if the Liberty can come back and win, then they will post the best record in the league, and will obtain homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs which begin next week.” Announcer #1~~~~ “Oh a steal by Sears.....she zips through the defense and lays in an easy 2” Announcer #2~~~~ “Sears picks off the inbound pass made by Martin......she dances with the ball, dribbling through her legs and behind her back, trying to get the defense off balance....and she pulls up for a 3 and nails it, Liberty down by 2 with under a minute remaining. Time out called by the Sparks.” (While walking over to the bench, Sears spots her boyfriend, Garrett Mcgrady in a seat behind the bench. She can’t believe her eyes, because Garrett was supposed to b out of town on business, and instantly runs over to where he is and hugs him.) Sandy~~~~ “Garrett I didn’t think you was gonna show, I thought you’d be out of town until Thursday.” Garrett “I did too, but we settled the deal early and so I hopped on a late flight to NY, just got in at half time, and had a hell of a time trying to convince security i was your boyfriend.” (They each look deep into the others eyes, and as they move closer to kiss the Liberty coach hollers at Sandy and tells her its time for the game to start) Garrett~~~~ “Miss Sears I do believe we have a ball game to play, so can we please be focused on scoring, and u can let your man focus about scoring later on tonight?” Garrett “Hey Delta how ya been doin’?” Coach~~~~ “Not so good lover boy, your girl has been killin’ me lately with all this fancy stuff she’s been doin’ out on the court, makes me scared as hell, i just know one of these days one of those hotdog passes is gonna lead to a turnover.” (Coach says this with a grin on her face in a joking manner) Garrett~~~ “You think she can perform amazingly on the court, but you should see her in the bedroom.” (while saying this Garrett has his arms wrapped around Sandy and steals a quick kiss b4 the refs blow the whistle for the game to start.”) Coach~~~ “Ok you two knock it off, we gotta concentrate on winning this game and getting homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs.” (all the players pile back out on the court, and its Sparks ball) Announcer #1~~~~ “The Liberty are down by 2 with 43 seconds remaining in the game, and as LA inbounds the ball, it looks as if they are wanting to play a game of “Catch us if you can” basketball.” Announcer #2~~~~ “They are playing with a smart strategy, as they are trying to run down the clock and force this NY team to foul them. The Sparks are in the bonus, and all 5 players out on the floor for them are above 90% free throw shooters.” Announcer #1~~~~ “Oh my gosh, Sears stole the ball, Sandy Sears just stole the ball with under 20 seconds left!!! And Sears calls a quick time out! How about that folks, that makes Sears’s 8th steal of the night!” (Sandy and her teammates walk over to their bench as all the players crowd excitedly around Sandy and smother her with high 5’s and pats on the back. Then the coach looks over at Garrett) Coach~~~~ “Sears, go over there and kiss your boyfriend.” Sandy~~~ “Excuse me coach?” Coach~~~ “You heard me, go kiss lover boy.” Sandy~~~~ “But why?” Coach~~~~ “You kissed him during the last time out and you got that steal and kept our come back hopes alive, go kiss him again for good luck, and this time use a lot of tongue.” (Garrett looks dumbfounded at the coach) Coach~~~ “Hey it couldn’t hurt.” (Sandy and Garrett embrace, as Garrett puts one hand to the side of Sandy’s face, they kiss, and after they break their hold on each other, Garrett speaks) Garrett~~~~ “Go kick some LA ass out there, screw a jumpshot to tie it, give these fans what they want, make the announcers scream, “SEARS FOR 3!!!!!!!!” (they both smile and Collin plants a soft kiss on her cheek. The game begins again, as the players take their places out on the floor. the coach looks at Sandy and whispers, “1-on-1”. Sandy shakes her head ok and wipes her sweaty hands on her shorts, while peering up at the scoreboard hanging from the ceiling) Announcer #1~~~~ If I were Delta Myers I’d have the other 4 Liberty players clear out and let Sandy Sears go one on one here with Tasha McNeely. Sears has been burning Mcneely all night one on one, and i believe can do so again here.” Announcer #2~~~~ “Right now is the perfect time for Sandy Sears to prove what a great player she is. She is bound to win Rookie of the year honors, but a clutch game winning shot tonight would definitely clinch the league MVP award for her also.” (Sears is inbound the ball as she stands at the top of the key dribbling back and forth between her legs, All the other Liberty players clear out, wanting her to drive the lane and tie the game, she glances over at Garrett, Garrett winks at her, she puts the ball behind her back, then fakes left, goes right, and pulls up behind the arch for a 3, the crowd holds their breath as the ball travels to the goal with a beautiful backspin.....SWISH! nothing but net! The Liberty players go wild, but as Sears is still standing at the top of the key, the player who was guarding her, Tasha McNeely, hauls off and punches her. The refs run out and take control of the situation. Garrett see’s this as he runs out on the court and helps Sandy up. Her eye is cut down and blood is pouring down her face. She looks at Garrett and speaks with a huge smile)
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