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THE PLAYBOY PITCHER
 

Copyright © 2009 by Mark Mandel
WGAw Registered

INT. A ROOM IN “THE SOMERSET HOTEL” – BOSTON – NIGHT
BO BELINSKY and teammate DEAN CHANCE just settling in.
BELINSKY
So what does one do on a Monday night in Beantown?
CHANCE
Gee Bo, I don’t know. I’m beat, think I’ll just turn in.
BELINSKY
Not me. I’m out to paint the town.
INT. A SEEDY BAR IN SCOLLAY SQUARELATER
Belinsky huddled around a pinball machine with TWO SLICK CHICKS. He’s really getting into it, humping the machine toward a frenzied climax of NOISE, neon, and numbers.
SLICK CHICK #1
God, if my body was that machine, the free games you would have racked up!
BELINSKY
(lights flashing across his face as he pounds on the buttons)
Good one, babe. Damn! Another tilt.
SLICK CHICK #2
(brushing up against him, seductively)
I'll give you a tilt.
INT. “THE SOMERSET HOTEL” – LATER
Chance is asleep. The phone RINGS, he slowly awakens.
CHANCE
(picking up the phone)
Yeah.
Sportswriter BUD FURILLO on the line.
FURILLO (V.O.)
Dean, there’s a fire!
CHANCE
(yawning)
Huh, what time is it?
FURILLO (V.O.)
I don’t know, about four. Look, Dean, there’s a fire in the hotel!
CHANCE
Come on, Bud, you’re drunk. Let me sleep.
He hangs up. The phone rings again.
CHANCE (CONT'D)
(picking it up)
Look Bud, I told you—
He‘s interrupted by the hotel OPERATOR.
OPERATOR (V.O.)
Don’t get excited. Just get up. Don’t dress. Don’t get anything. Just come down to the lobby.
He puts down the phone and jumps out of bed.
EXT. “THE SOMERSET HOTEL” – SAME
Chance comes running out and finds manager BILL RIGNEY in his pajamas, shivering on the sidewalk with other GUESTS in various stages of undress.
RIGNEY
(only half-joking)
Dean, don’t tell me you guys are burning down the hotel.
Trainer FREDDIE FREDERICO comes rushing over.
FREDERICO
(yelling)
Where’s Bo? Where’s Bo?
CHANCE
Shut up, Freddie! He’s not in yet.
A taxicab pulls up and Belinsky gets out, reeking of booze and broads. Rigney observes him trying to blend in with the pajama-wearing group.
Belinsky, smiling mischievouly, approaches his manager.
BELINSKY
Hey, Skip, bet you don’t know if I’m just getting up or just getting in.
Rigney throws his hands up in frustration.