Bull Durham

(coming over)

What're you guys doing here--

stealing my girl?

CRASH

Now, Nuke, would I do a thing

like that?

(to the little leaguers)

Hey kids, this is the great Ebby

Calvin "Nuke" LaLoosh.

LITTLE LEAGUERS

It's Nuke, it's Nuke! Can I have

your autograph?! etc.

NUKE

No prob, kids--

And suddenly Nuke is swept up into a sea of Little Leaguers.

Crash smiles as he turns Annie and the kids over to Nuke.

CRASH

See you guys at the ballpark.

Crash leaves Annie with Nuke and 25 Little Leaguers.

CUT TO:

EXT. CRASH GETS INTO HIS CAR -- CONTINUOUS

AN AGING SHELBY MUSTANG CONVERTIBLE -- The paint's fading, a

couple dings in the body, but loaded under the hood.

CRASH PUNCHES HIS TAPE DECK -- Sam Cooke's "You Send Me".

ANNIE BITES HER FIST watching Crash leave.

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. ANNIE'S BEDROOM -- DAY

The sounds of lovemaking in a darkened room lit only by a

few candles.

ANNIE

Yes, yes, yesnmmmmyes...

(beat)

Oh my...

(several beats)

Oh, that was just fabulous, Crash.

Several beats of silence.

NUKE

Crash?

He flips on a lamp near the bed.

NUKE

You mean Nuke. You said "Crash".

ANNIE

I didn't say "Crash". I said

Nuke.

NUKE

You said "Crash".

ANNIE

Honey, don't ever listen to a

woman when she's making love.

They'll say the strangest things.

NUKE

You said "Crash".

ANNIE

Would you rather me be making

love to him, using your name, or

making love to you, using his

name?

Nuke considers this fabulous logic.

NUKE

Yeah maybe you're right.

ANNIE

You see how nice things are when

we go slow?

Nuke sighs; and lets his head sink in the pillow.

NUKE

Mmm, hmmm.

(beat)

You shoulda seen how many people

came to the airport to see me

off. When I got drafted first it

was the happiest day of my Father's

life.

(beat)

He likes baseball more than I

do...

ANNIE

You can learn to like it.

NUKE

I wanted to be the host of Dance

Fever, somethin' like that...

ANNIE

Y'know if you make it to the Bigs

you could still become the host

of Dance Fever. Baseball's a

good stepping stone for things

like that.

NUKE

God, I never thought of that.

ANNIE

(sweetly)

There is a lot of things you never

thought of, sweetie--now get some

rest for tonight's game.

Nuke rests his head on Annie's shoulder. His eyes are wide

open and full of nervous energy.

CUT TO:

EXT. DURHAM BASEBALL PARK -- DUSK

NUKE ON A PAY PHONE -- In his uniform. Players warming up

in the background as the ground crew prepares the field.

NUKE

Hello? Dad? This is Ebby.

(beat)

Yeah, I know, I know--you got the

Durham papers yet? Well I been a

little wild...

(defensively)

These hitters down here are better

than the ones in high school ...

(trying to change

subject)

How's Mom? Yeah? Well I am trying

hard... I am bending my

back...you're not coming down'

here to visit just yet, are you?

(beat)

Can I talk to Mom?

CUT TO:

EXT. HOME PLATE -- THE BALLPARK NIGHT

THE MAYOR OF DURHAM AND THE CITY COUNCIL stand at a mike in

front of home plate. 300 LITTLE LEAGUERS in uniform are

lined up along the foul line, restrained by a rope.

VOICE OVER P.A.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Mayor

of Durham, the honorable Mutt

Clark...

THE MAYOR STEPS to the mike. A classic Southern mayor.

MAYOR

Welcome to the "Atlantic Seaboard

Tobacco Growers City Council Little

League Cash Drop Night"!

As the honorable Mutt Clark drones on--we INTERCUT:

CUT TO:

EXT. THE BULLPEN -- CONTINUOUS

NUKE IS WARMING UP TO PITCH -- Crash and Larry watch him

closely, giving advice. As Nuke delivers--.

CRASH

Drive off your back leg. You

pitch with your legs as much as

your arms-

NUKE

I thought I was--

CRASH

Don't think.

A MANGY DOG EATS FROM A DISH provided by the players. A

couple kids sit with the players.

MILLIE SITS DOWN NEXT TO A PLAYER -- BOBBY, 25.

MILLIE

Hi, I'm Millie.

BOBBY

I'm married.

JOSE FASHIONS A SMALL CROSS OUT OF CHICKEN BONES and rubs it

on his bat. Bobby notices this.

BOBBY

What's that?

JOSE

Chicken bone cross take the curse

off this bat and bring me hits.

BOBBY

You a God damn witch?

JOSE

Yes. A switch hitting witch.

Very common in Puerto Rico.

BOBBY

Will that work for me?

JOSE

If you believe in Voodoo.

BOBBY

I'm 0 for 16! Gimme some of that

shit.

BOBBY HOLDS OUT HIS BAT for Jose to rub with the cross.

JOSE

No, that is not belief. That is

desperation.

BOBBY

C'mon, God damn it, gimme some!

ALL HEADS TURN,- A HELICOPTER APPEARS ABOVE THE FIELD

CUT TO:

BACK TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL -- Hair and hats blowing

from the chopper turbulence.

MAYOR

...five, four, three, two,

one...let 'er go! One thousand

big ones!

THE HELICOPTER DUMPS HUNDREDS OF DOLLAR BILLS above the field.

The night sky fills with fluttering money THE ROPE IS DROPPED --

THREE HUNDRED LITTLE LEAGUERS charge across the infield to

the falling money, scooping it up wildly, brawling, shoving,

clawing for the cash.

As the money flutters down...

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. DURHAM BASEBALL STADIUM -- SHORT TIME LATER

CLOSE ON THE ROSIN BAG on the mound. A hand picks it up.

Puffs of rosin "smoke". Nuke is on the mound.

NUKE NERVOUSLY WALKS AROUND THE MOUND -- Just before the

first batter. He picks up the rosin bag. Digs a slot for

his lead foot to land. And CRASH APPROACHES, in full gear,

mask tipped up on his head.

CRASH

Don't try to strike everybody

out.

(beat)

Strikeouts are boring. They're

Fascist. Throw some ground balls,

it's more Democratic.

CRASH TURNS AND HEADS TO THE PLATE and we hear the beginning

of Nuke's interior monologue.

NUKE (VOICE OVER)

What's this guy know, eh? If

he's so great why's he been in

the minors for ten years? And if

he's so hot how come Annie wants

me instead of him.

CRASH TURNS AROUND HALF WAY TO THE PLATE and returns to the

mound, as if he knows everything Nuke's thinking.

CRASH

And listen, meat. You don't know

shit. If you want to get to the

Show, you'll listen to me. She

only wants you 'cause she can

boss you around, got it?

(beat, complete tone

change)

Relax, have a ball out here.

This game's fun, okay? Fun, God

damn it.

(beat)

And don't squeeze the ball so

tight. It's an egg. Hold it

like an egg.

CRASH SMILES -- And trots back to the plate.

NUKE'S P.O.V. The first batter steps in. Crash gives the

sign for the pitch.

NUKE

Fun? What's he know about fun?

(beat)

Why's he calling for a curveball?

I wanta bring heat.

CRASH (VOICE OVER)

Shake off the pitch. Throw what

you wanta.

NUKE SHAKES OFF THE PITCH -- Here comes Crash back out to

the mound before Nuke's thrown a pitch.

CRASH

Why you shaking me off?

NUKE

I wanta throw the heater to

announce my presence with

authority.

CRASH

"To announce your fucking presence

with authority"? This guy's a

first ball fastball hitter. He's

looking for heat.

NUKE

But he ain't seen my heat--

CRASH

Awright, meat, give him your heat.

CRASH RETURNS ONE MORE TIME to behind the plate.

CRASH CROSSES THE PLATE, past the hitter. He speaks to the

opposing leadoff batter.

CRASH

Fastball.

NUKE (VOICE OVER)

Why's he always call me "Meat"?

I'm the guy driving a Porsche.

NUKE WINDS UP AND DELIVERS -- A fastball.

THE LEADOFF HITTER TEES OFF on the pitch and sends a line

shot over the right field fence.

CLOSE ON BILLBOARD -- "Hit Cow, Win Steak" sign, The home

run hits the cow on a target painted on the cow's rump.

The COW'S MOUTH OPENS AND MOOS.

THE BATTER STANDS AND WATCHES the home run, admiring the

shot, enjoying the moment. CRASH GETS IN HIS FACE instantly--

and gets very tough.

CRASH

What're you lookin' at?! You're

showing up my pitcher, bush--get

your ass in gear!