Willy and Richard: A Football Miracle: The Night Chicago Died (Laughing): Two Screenplays

By Kevin William Dwyer

"A Football Miracle" is about a very gifted college senior quarterback, Willy Bateman, who has his sights on turning pro and following in his father's footsteps. However, Willy's younger brother, Richard, nineteen, is one of his teammates often criticized for his lack of effort and passion for the sport. Playing for the national championship, the biggest game of his life, Willy's sure touchdown pass on the last play of the game slips through Richard's fingers, costing them the title. Several nights later, while driving home from a party on a brutal winter's night, the boys get into an argument with Richard getting physical and causing Willy to lose control of their vehicle. While Willy's nonthrowing arm is severed from his body, the accident leaves Richard paralyzed. The brothers bitterly blame each other. In conclusion, "A Football Miracle" is about love, forgiveness, and perseverance. "The Night Chicago Died Laughing" is about a beautiful, talented twenty-one-year-old singer, Ginger Charmer, who was raised by her very loving and eccentric grandfather, once in vaudeville. Upon inheriting her great uncle's old, run-down saloon in Chicago, Ginger convinces her grandfather to move from their comfortable home in Buffalo in order to fulfill her dream of running her own nightclub. When they arrive, Ginger meets her struggling, unemployed dancer boyfriend, Charleston Charlie, who suggests she borrow from the town's most feared gangster, Doug the Thug, after telling him she didn't have enough money for the renovations. Barely tall as a yardstick that fuels him into being a bully, Ginger eventually learns Doug's bark is worse than his bite. But he becomes frustrated with Ginger when she makes little effort in paying him back because she's always buying new clothes, refusing to wear the same thing more than once. In spite him kidnapping her (she gets away), forgiving Ginger invites Doug into her home after the notorious Al Capone breaks out of prison and runs him out of town. Along with Ginger's and her grandfather's help, they send Capone and his goons running. While it's Ginger's compassion and understanding that transform Doug into a kinder person, she realizes she needs to be less materialistic and more responsible with her own debts.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098023546

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Willy and Richard: A Football Miracle The Night Chicago Died (Laughing)

Two Screenplays

Kevin William Dwyer

Copyright © 2020 by Kevin William Dwyer

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Willy and Richard A Football Miracle

The Night Chicago Died Laughing

I would like to dedicate my two stories, Willy and Richard: A Football Miracle and The Night Chicago Died Laughing, to my mother, Josephine Dwyer, who to this day has been my biggest supporter and best friend. Whenever I was ready to give up my writing, she assured me God has a plan for me, but it will be in His time, not mine. Thank you for everything, Mom. I love you and God bless.

In memory of my father, William J. Dwyer, who passed in 1978 at 51, in spite only knowing you the first eighteen years of my life, you were an inspiration to me. You passed your passion for football onto me that enabled me to write, A Football Miracle. To this day, I miss the Sundays we used to spend together at the old Rock Pile (War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York) and the then Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York, watching our favorite team, the Buffalo Bills. Dad, I sincerely hope and pray we’ll all be together again, some day in God’s kingdom.

I wish to thank Dr. Owen Moy, an orthopedic surgery specialist, Amherst, New York, who helped me in my research for, A Football Miracle. Dr. Moy said it would nearly be impossible for my fictitious character to ever play football again but may be that one in a million who could overcome such overwhelming odds. He gave me insight to the physical therapy and recommended that my quarterback wear a protective brace on his reattached arm. Thank you again, Dr. Moy, and God bless.

Willy and Richard A Football Miracle

Fade in.

Ext. Rose Bowl, Pasadena—Night.

A black sky looms over the stadium on a cool winter evening in early January with an energetic capacity crowd on hand. The bright stadium light beam down on the field where the UCLA Bruins and the University of Colorado Buffaloes are battling for college football’s most covetous prize…to become the country’s national champions. The stadium’s Jumbotron reveals there’s only 1:17 remaining in the game with the Bruins clinging to a 49–45 lead.

On the field, the Bruins have possession at midfield. After a long count senior quarterback, Calvin Duke, hands off to their punishing 270-pound sophomore fullback who rumbles up the middle. Bodies are crashing into each other, along with the sounds of painful groans. The fullback reaches the line of scrimmage where he’s ambushed by four Colorado defenders. While most of the capacity crowd reacts with disappointment, the few thousand Buffaloes’ fans cheer. Over this, we hear

stadium announcer (voice over): Dykstra is stopped for no gain. It’s fourth down. Colorado has just called its final timeout.

The game clock is stopped with 1:12 remaining. In the stands, we see Elee Wong, a woman in her late twenties, standing and wearing UCLA sweatshirt.

Lisa Calhoun, three, is a mini me version of Elee. Standing on her seat beside her mother, Lisa’s cheering and frantically waving her UCLA pennant. While Elee looks through binoculars, hanging around her neck, we zoom down to Colorado’s bench where we see a young man show-boating by juggling three footballs with amazing dexterity.

Willy Bateman, twenty-one, and just under 6' tall with a lean, powerful frame, is Colorado’s quarterback. He wears number 8 and looks like a shrimp compared to the other athletes.

Mark Bateman, fifty, is the team’s head coach. Wearing a headset and carrying a clipboard, he approaches his son.

mark: Will you quit that nonsense! I need you to get your head into this game.

Willy stops juggling, adroitly catching all three footballs.

willy: My head is in the game, Dad. It’s how I stay loose.

mark: Listen to me, this is it. It all comes down to this final drive.

willy: No sweat. We’ve got ’em right where I want ’em.

Before Mark could say anything, they’re joined by Richard Bateman, nineteen, wearing number 88. He’s slightly taller than Willy and has a wiry physique.

richard: Dad, you haven’t played me all game. How about it?

mark: Not now, Richard. [Then] Hey, Dick…

He then pursues his offensive coordinator, Dick Garrison, mid-fifties, and they discuss strategy.

willy: Think fast, bro! [He throws the three footballs at Richard who drops them all.] How do you expect to get in the game when you can’t catch at least one?

Richard just glares at his brother. They join their father and the others along the sideline, anticipating the punt.

On the field, we see UCLA’s junior punter skillfully send a booming kick that drops out of bounds at Colorado’s six-yard line. In the stands, we see Elee and Lisa joining the majority of the spectators in roaring their approval. On the sidelines, Colorado’s coach places his hand on Willy’s shoulder.

mark: They ain’t making it easy for us, are they?

willy: No problem.

mark: I admire your confidence. Let’s do it.

richard: What about me, Dad?

When Mark turns his head, we see Raul Gonzalez, a tall, thin twenty-one-year-old senior, standing on crutches. He’s wincing in pain, keeping his injured right ankle off the ground.

mark: [saying to Richard] Okay. Gonz can’t finish the game. You’re in.

richard: Really, Dad, you mean it?

Mark reluctantly nods yes and walks away.

mark: [saying under his breath] Why did our best receiver have to go down now?

Willy slaps Richard’s butt.

willy: All right, bro! We might make a super star out of you yet.

They eagerly charge onto the field with the rest of the offense, while their father remains on the sideline.

mark: Bring it home, boys!

Begin series of shots.

Breaking the huddle from inside their end zone, Willy leads the offense to the line of scrimmage. He looks cool, confident, and determined. Dropping back near the goal line in shotgun formation with an empty backfield, he barks out the signals over the frantic crowd noise.

Grabbing a high snap from his center Brian Jacobs, a junior, he patiently looks down field. His offensive line is stellar, giving him all the time he needs. Willy fires a laser down the middle, hitting his intended target, another junior, Lionel Anderson, who’s open at the 30. The speedy wide receiver gets to midfield, where he’s hauled down from behind by the Bruins’ senior defensive back. Because Anderson fails to get out of bounds, we see the game clock running with under one minute left in the game.

Next play, Willy hurries his offense to the line of scrimmage without going into a huddle. From the shotgun, he connects with fellow senior Chet Newton at the Bruins’ 29. The receiver tries to get out of bounds, but he’s stopped by inches at the 25 by two UCLA defenders.

Willy deliberately spikes the football, stopping the game clock with exactly, thirty-four ticks left. Second down.

Colorado’s offense goes into a huddle, catching their breaths. UCLA’s defense looks just as exhausted.

In the stands, we see and hear Elee and Lisa chanting, Defense! along with the many other Bruins’ supporters.

We see Coach Bateman nervously pacing the sideline. Looking into the black sky, as if to be praying, he stands beside Garrison, focusing his attention back on the game.

Fourth play of the drive, Willy hits Anderson at the 10. This time, he manages to run out of bounds at the 6, where it’s first and goal with exactly twenty-six seconds remaining.

In spite having only three men on the line of scrimmage, the Bruins’ massive senior right end overpowers the Buffaloes’ freshman guard. Willy doesn’t see him coming until it’s too late…an eight-yard sack!

With the game clock running, Willy desperately fires to the end zone. Newton makes a heads-up play when he knocks the ball out of UCLA’s free safety’s hands, preventing a killer interception.

The game clock shows there’s only four seconds remaining.

End series of shots.

Over the deafening crowd noise, we hear

stadium announcer (voice over): Bateman’s pass is nearly intercepted by Dobmeier. It’s third and goal from the fourteen.

In the huddle, Willy has everyone’s undivided attention.

willy: We’re done fooling around. It’s time to become National Champions!

richard: [While the others eagerly approach the line of scrimmage, the signal caller’s brother grabs his sleeve.] C’mon, Willy, throw the ball to me. I was wide open on the last play.

willy: I know. Just stay alert.

Because of the extreme crowd noise, Willy resorts to hand signals. After he takes the snap from back near the 20, we see all five of his receivers racing for the end zone. Looking in the direction of his brother, who’s wide open in the left corner, Willy fires a bullet! Richard’s staring right at him with his hands extended in front of his chest. The football hits him square in the numbers. He drops it! Much of the capacity crowd, including Elee and her daughter, erupt in pandemonium. The UCLA players are also celebrating.

On the sideline, we see Mark throwing his arms up in disbelief. He looks utterly sick with the rest of his team. Over this, we hear

stadium announcer [voice over]: Bateman’s pass is incomplete. The game is over. The UCLA Bruins are the National Champions!

On the field, Willy runs over to his brother who’s still standing in the end zone. He appears to be in shock.

willy: What the hell happened, Richard? The one time I really depend on you, you let me down. You let us all down!

Richard just sighs and hangs his head. When they return to the bench, Mark doesn’t say a word to either one of them, and we—

Fade to black.

Int. Colorado’s locker room—night.

It’s a very somber, depressed atmosphere, while Willy’s being interviewed by sports analyst Andrew Holmes, late twenties.

holmes: This was indeed a tough loss for your team, Willy.

willy: I feel we should’ve won.

holmes: You can’t come any closer to the last play of the game, and unfortunately for Colorado, it just didn’t happen.

willy: No…

He looks in the direction of Richard who has his face buried in his right forearm that’s pressed against his locker. We also see Coach Bateman standing a few feet away.

willy: [Continues] If only Gonz hadn’t got injured we’d have won.

holmes: Yes, that was a huge loss for your team. But…you still had a great season, and you won the player of the year award.

willy: It’s winning that last game that’s most important.

holmes: That’s true. However, because of outstanding stats you had that were by far second to no one in the four years you spent at Colorado, you just might be the overall number one pick in this spring’s PFL draft.

willy: That would be awesome. I’m ready.

Holmes then approaches Coach Bateman, and we—

Fade to black.

Sup. Two days later.

Ext. Willy’s friends’ house, Denver—night.

A heavy snow falls from the black sky, blanketing everything outside. We see the big two-story house brightly lit, and we hear music booming from inside.

Int. Willy’s friends’ house, Denver—night.

There are over fifty college students scattered about and partying. On one side of the room, we see Richard sitting on a sofa and chatting with Heather Brown, late-teens. She’s also watching Willy, who’s on the other side of room, standing near the fireplace with Gonzalez.

gonzalez: Man, I’m still bummed out about that game.

willy: Yeah, we should’ve won. I’m sure glad your ankle injury wasn’t serious.

gonzalez: You know it. We didn’t come this far for nothing.

willy: Yeah! Come September, we’ll be playing in the professional football league.

While Gonzalez nods in agreement, we hear Sweet’s song, Little Willy (1973), blaring through the house. We see two young women, early twenties, standing a few feet away from them.

first woman: Hey, Little Willy, they’re playing your song.

second woman: Show your stuff, super stud!

Willy obliges them. Everyone gives him room, and he does an amusing dance he had made up himself. Richard ignores his brother, very interested in the young woman.

richard: Why don’t we do breakfast tomorrow morning, Heather?

heather: Actually, Richard, I’m busy tomorrow. [Pauses] Hey, look at your brother!

richard: Yeah…he’s making a spectacle of himself as usual.

heather: No, he’s not. Besides being a great athlete, he has a wonderful personality. You should be more like him.

She gets up, joining Willy and the others who are dancing. Richard just sits by himself brooding.

Int. Willy’s 4×4 pickup truck, Denver—night.

With the snow still coming down hard, Willy’s sitting behind the steering wheel and coasting along on the thruway with his windshield wipers blasting. Richard’s in the passenger seat. Willy shuts off the radio.

richard: What’d you do that for? That’s one of my favorite songs.

willy: Sorry, Rich, but I’ve got a splitting headache.

richard: Don’t tell me you had too much to drink?

willy: You know me better than that.

richard: I know…my good, popular, big man on campus brother drinks nothing harder than ginger ale.

willy: I sense some attitude. What’s your