CUT TO:
INT. REPTON BOXING CLUB -DAY
A table is set up in front of the boxing ring. Seated, with microphones before them, are from left to right, Sean, Paddy, Roddy Shannon, Henry and Danny. MEMBERS OF THE PRESS are sitting in folding chairs, filming, recording, photographing and asking questions. Cameras flash: the classic fighters meet the press scenario.
RODDY
I asked you Ladies and Gentlemen to come here today to the historic Repton Boxing Club because Lani-Batali is going to change the very history of professional fighting itself!
Hands shoot up from the assembly. Roddy points to REPORTER #1, CLIVE HIGHSMITH.
CLIVE
Clive Highsmith, Sporting News. Mr. Shannon, could you tell us what the term means?
RODDY
Loosely translated it means "sky gods." I came across it in my studies of the Druid Occult and Ancient Celtic languages. And these men are gods! Just look at my boys here, Paddy O'Riada who you all know and my new discovery, Mr. Henry Notlad.
More hands. More pointing. This time, a YOUNG WOMAN REPORTER, CYNTHIA MILLER responds.
CYNTHIA
Cynthia Miller, Athletica magazine. Aren't your "gods" here a little long in the tooth? Fighting, any kind, is a young man's game. Paddy is thirty-seven, if I'm not mistaken--
RODDY
Well, Miss Miller, these men won't have to answer to gravity, will they? Gravity just drags everybody down, duddnit?
LAUGHTER and more hands.
RODDY
I'll take more questions later; but right now, in front of all you good people; messieurs O'Riada and Notlad are going to officially join Lani-Batli...
He hands gold fountain pens to Paddy and Henry who sign the contracts in front of them as camera flashes dance across the gym. They both stand and Roddy turns to one then the other and eagerly shakes their hands.
RODDY
And I'd also like to announce an exhibition match between these two blokes at a to be determined date.
He steps back and Henry and Paddy shake hands. Both have blank expressions; but their eyes are searching one another.
CUT TO a tight CLOSE-UP of Paddy's heart tattoo as Henry claps his free hand over it.
Roddy grabs either by the wrist and hoists their arms into the air.
FADE OUT
FADE UP FROM BLACK
EXT. PADDY'S BUILDING -DAY
Danny quickly mounts the stairs of Paddy's building and RINGS the bell.
CUT TO:
INT. PADDY'S KITCHEN -DAY
Ick, in his tighty-whiteys and a sweat-shirt is sitting in the breakfast nook with Kelly. She's sipping her tea as she gazes out the window. Ick, is reading the back of the CoCo Shreddies cereal box as he has a bowl full. He hears the RING and goes to the intercom.
ICK
Hello?
DANNY
(O/S) Is Paddy in?
ICK
He's working out...can I tell him who's calling?
DANNY
It's Danny Notlad.
ICK
Oh! Hold on a second Danny, let me buzz him--
CUT TO:
INT. PADDY'S GYM -DAY
Paddy is at the punching bag, banging away with an almost scary intensity, when he hears a BUZZ on the intercom. He goes to it and depresses the button.
PADDY
Aye!
ICK
Danny Notlad's at the door for you Paddy--
PADDY
Foine; could you buzz him in for me Ick?
ICK
Yep--
CUT TO:
EXT. STOOP -DAY
ICK--
(O/S over intercom) He's in the gym Danny, first door on the right--
DANNY
Tanks Cupe!
ICK
This is Ick...you know, Frankie--
DANNY
I'm callin' ya "Cupe" from now on, for reasons of me own.
ICK
Okay...
The door lock BUZZES and Danny goes into the foyer. The gym door is open and he enters. Paddy is back at the punching back, his jabs slower and more measured.
PADDY
Hello Danny. What can I do for you?
DANNY
It's not so much what you can do for me; but for my brother...
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN -DAY
Ick has returned to his cereal. Kelly looks up from her tea.
ICK
What do you say we--
KELLY
(Putting a finger to her lips) Hold on a second--
The conversation from the gym is broadcasting over the intercom, with a nearly crystal clarity.
PADDY
(O/S) What can I do for him Danny?
DANNY
(O/S) Stay away from him.
KELLY
Paddy's got the button stuck again. We shouldn't listen to this, Ick.
ICK
We can't turn it off from----
KELLY
Shhh! I can't hear them--
CUT TO:
INT. GYM -DAY
(Continuous)
PADDY
Well don't you just cut to the chase...(He ponders this for a moment, then punctuates the following with blows to the bag)...Stay away from him? I'm gonna be fighting him. Training with him...Roddy's talking about making us a team--
Besides, why would I? Why are you saying this to me? (He starts punching the bag with more ferocity).
DANNY
Look Paddy, you could take me apart and put me back together again six ways to Sunday. I'm not a fighter. But I will fight for my brother. I like you Paddy. I knew I liked you from the moment I met you. You seem like the type of fellah who will do the right thing. I know what happened between you and Henry. He told me. We've never kept secrets from each other...we couldn't if we tried...
PADDY
What did he tell you exactly?
DANNY
He said...your worlds collided...and I took it to mean that it was something that was possibly life changing.
PADDY
(Steadying the punching bag) He said that?
DANNY
That's what he said...
Paddy goes to a rack on the wall and removes a Tao Stick. He begins spinning it. It's clear he's mastered the weapon.
He moves towards a training dummy and pummels it with the knob. He keeps thrusting and jabbing with it as the conversation continues...
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN -DAY
We see Kelly and Ick in profile as they continue to listen, their eyes wide.
CUT TO:
INT. GYM -DAY
DANNY
Henry has a girl upon whose finger he's placed a diamond as big as the Ritz. She's coming here in a few days; as is our grandmother; a woman whose bad side you do not want to be on. I'm just letting you know that a lot of people's lives are involved in this. All I'm asking you to do, is do the right thing. I don't want you to hurt him.
PADDY
I would never purposefully hurt him.
DANNY
That's what I'm afraid of. He thinks he might be in love with you...
Paddy fumbles the stick which goes CLATTERING across the floor where it knocks the now righted Shepherd's pipe over.
DANNY
Oh, I've been looking for this...(he crouches down and picks it up and starts for the door)...Paddy, I mean this in all sincerity. I hope we can be friends.
He leaves. Paddy sits on a bench and hangs his head.
CUT TO:
INT. KITCHEN -DAY
Ick and Kelly lean over either side of the island.
ICK
What are we going to do?
KELLY
Nothing, for now. Let's get dressed and go out. I don't want him to figure that we may have overheard that load of bullshit.
ICK
Maybe Danny's right...(Kelly gives him a skeptical look)...and I'm not saying that because I have a little torch for him--
KELLY--
Wait--the light was off in the gym when Sean and I walked by the window! We must've walked in on them--
ICK
What are you talking about?
KELLY
The night before last...they were together in the gym...they were both glowing like Obediah! Shite! He's coming up the stairs--
She rushes Ick down the hall and into her room and closes the door.
Donna, Gran and Stacey are sitting in the waiting area. Gran is knitting. Donna is looking at her phone and Stacey is flipping through British Vogue which has a cover shot of Billie Eilish in a plunging gown.
STACEY
Billie Eilish has really great tits!
DONNA
(Looking) She does.
GRAN
Stacey dear, if you're going to refer to Ms. Eilish's breasts with that word; would you please use the diminutive?
STACEY
There's nothing "diminutive" about her girls!
A GATE ATTENDANT's voice comes over the P/A.
GATE ATTENDANT
(V/O) Good afternoon everyone. This is David with Aer Lingus flight 132 with service to Dublin. As you already know, our flight is overbooked today, so we're looking for folks with flexible plans able to travel on our next flight. We're offering confirmed seating on the next flight and a three-hundred and fifty dollar travel voucher. So, if I have three folks together that would be grand. Please see me at the desk if you're interested.
STACEY
I wonder if they'd bump us up to first class?
DONNA
I doubt it...and it would be the next flight, which is at nine-thirty tonight.
GRAN
There's only one way to find out. (She packs up her knitting and stands).
STACEY
I could flash my tits at him!
GRAN
"Titties," love. And he's more than likely gay.
DONNA
Mary, that's such a stereotype!
GRAN
I worked at this airport for thirty years. I know of what I speak.
INT. -GATE COUNTER -DAY
Gran, flanked by Donna and Stacey, approaches the counter. The attendant, DAVID, couldn't look more like a leprechaun if he tried. He looks up to find Stacey adjusting her cleavage for maximum effect. She smiles and winks.
GRAN
Hello young man.
DAVID
Hello, how can I help you?
GRAN
Now isn't that a lovely Claddagh ring...and I see the heart's turned in. Who's the lucky girl?
DAVID
Jimmy McGonagle...
GRAN
Oh, congratulations!
DAVID
Thanks.
GRAN
You're welcome. So David, we ladies are interested in your offer--
DAVID
Brilliant! I was getting sort of desperate...
GRAN
We were wondering though, if we do take your offer, could you bump us?
DAVID
You mean like the dance?
GRAN
(LAUGHS) No, you scamp...like a sort of upgrade...to first class...?
DAVID
We don't have first class; we have business class, which, all tings considered, is pretty darn classy itself.
GRAN
We'll take it!
DAVID
Sold.
GRAN
And we still get that five-hundred dollar voucher?
DAVID
Well, it's three-hundred and fifty...but let me see what I can do...
His fingers fly over his keyboard. His eyes scan the screen. After a couple of determined key strokes, he looks up.
DAVID
Doon and doon. The plane leaves at nine-thirty.
GRAN
Well, girls, we can go and have a nice dinner in the city. Thank you David, and give my regards to Mr. McGonagle.
(She starts off).
DAVID
You'll be needing your boarding passes Mrs. Murphy--
GRAN
Oh roight!
She turns to Stacey and winks and begins readjusting Stacey's decolletage.
CUT TO:
INT. -LANAI-BATALI HQ -DAY
Roddy and Cal are crossing the floor, watching groups of men at various stages of training. Some are practicing with the Tao sticks. Some are sparring. Others doing martial arts.
RODDY
Do you think we should start a women's division?
CAL
Well, of course; but I'd be concentrating on getting the men off the ground first--
RODDY
So to speak.
CAL
So to speak...
RODDY
What's going on with Paddy?
CAL
What do you mean?
RODDY
He's been in a mood for the past few days. I ran the idea of him and Hank teaming up and he put the kibosh on it out of the gate.
CAL
I had a game of darts with the two of them the other night and they we're getting on like long lost brothers.
RODDY
Cal, go find Paddy and I'll round up Henry...
CAL
Sure.
RODDY
And bring him over to the wrestling mats--
CAL
Right.
Roddy scans the space and spots Henry doing Tai Chi in a corner.
RODDY
Henry!
Henry looks over as Roddy trots towards him.
What's up?
RODDY
I'm sorry to spoil your meditation; but I want you to do something for me.
HENRY
You're the boss, boss.
RODDY
Did you wrestle in secondary school?
HENRY
You mean high school? Yeah, why?
RODDY
Go put on a singlet and meet me back here.
HENRY
Okay...why?
RODDY
No questions.
Henry shrugs and heads for the locker room. Cal approaches Roddy.
CAL
Paddy was up in the wind chamber, he'll be down in a minute. What's up?
RODDY
If he's going to act like a school boy, then I'll treat him like a school boy.
CUT TO:
INT. LOCKER ROOM -DAY
Henry, in a wrestling singlet, closes his locker and puts his foot on the bench to tie his shoe. Paddy enters the room and goes to his locker.
HENRY
Hey Paddy!
PADDY
'Sup?
HENRY
We're have you been? I was starting to think you were avoiding me...
PADDY
Where did you get that jumper?
HENRY
I believe it's called a singlet--
PADDY
Whatever. Where?
HENRY
That closet...right over there...
Paddy goes to the walk-in closet and opens the door. He goes in. Henry looks about to see if they're alone. He goes to the closet, slips in and closes the door.
CUT TO:
INT. CLOSET -DAY
Paddy, half -naked looks up to see Henry moving towards him. Henry puts a finger to his lips. Unable to contain himself, he throws his arms around Paddy and proceeds to try and kiss him. Paddy, with some force, pushes him away.
HENRY
What--
PADDY
You can't touch me Henry.
HENRY
(Confused) We're going to be fighting. We're going to be touching each other all the time.
PADDY
Not in that way.
HENRY
What's wrong? You seemed to really enjoy me touching you that way the other night.
PADDY
I've had better.
HENRY
But you told me--
PADDY
I lied.
HENRY
I don't believe you.
PADDY
I don't care. You have a fiancee Henry. I'm not going to be a homewrecker.
HERNY
If anyone's going to wreck my home, it'll be me.
PADDY
Pretend the other night didn't happen. I'll have no trouble.
HENRY
Right. You know the other night we blew each other's fucking minds; and we're about to do some Greco-Roman. That requires a lot of touching.
PADDY
I can handle it.
HENRY
Five'll get you ten that you get hard first. Are you coming? Or are you just going to stay in here?
He leaves. Paddy finishes getting dressed. He holds out a hand. He's trembling. As he storms through the locker room, he punches a locker door closed.
CFR 5/12/23