Moneyball

MONEYBALL

Written by

Steven Zaillian & Aaron Sorkin

IN BLACK:

There will always be people who are ahead of          the curve, and people who are behind the curve. But knowledge moves the curve. - Bill James

1 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT 1

Static shots: A deserted locker room. Empty showers. Cinder-block tunnels lit with wire-encased lamps like in          a coal mine. THREE SECURITY GUARDS watch a game on a TV. LEGEND: October 15, 2001

We begin to hear disembodied cheering crowds and the faint voice of an announcer -

BRENNAMAN V/O ... nobody on, two and two to Saenz - who has just three at bats in the series, and none of them hits - as he settles back in

-

2 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM -NIGHT 2

At the end of a tunnel, the A's empty dugout. The empty diamond. Just a couple of the floodlights are on.

BRENNAMAN V/O - Rivera looks in for the sign, he has it, the pitch, Saenz swings and -

The announcer's voice and excited crowd abruptly cut off. In silence, we regard the 60,000 empty seats that wrap around the playing field ... but then see that, in          fact, it's 59,999 empty seats. There's a lone figure seated in one of them. The sound snaps back on:

STEVE LYONS V/O - a ground out to second, Thom, is not what the A's were looking for from Saenz - down by two in the ninth -

The lone man in the stadium has a radio and a bag of          peanuts. He seems at peace as he looks down on the empty diamond - a peace only slightly belied, perhaps, by the baseball he absently turns in a hand. He switches the radio back on -

BRENNAMAN V/O Eric Byrnes has emerged from the dugout to bat for Menechino -

2.

2.

He turns it off again. Calmly eats a peanut. Waits. Switches the radio back on -

BRENNAMAN V/O - the A's are down to their last strike and this Yankee crowd is on its feet - Rivera squints for the sign, he has it, delivers and - Again, at the crucial moment, he cuts the radio. Waits just a few moments. Turns the radio back on -

BRENNAMAN V/O It is bedlam in New York. The Yankees - down two games to none - have come back to win three, and the Division Series.

The outcome of the series seems to have no effect on          Billy. He simply gets up, switches off the radio, and climbs the steps to leave. But somehow we still faintly hear, as he comes past shuttered concession stands toward an exit, the voice of one of the announcers -

STEVE LYONS V/O This is an exceptional feat not only for New York, Thom, but for Oakland - though not the kind you can be proud of: Only once before has a team lost a Division Series after winning the first two games -

3 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT 3

It's coming from a small television a night security guard is watching. But when he sees Billy approaching, he quickly shuts it off.

BILLY It's okay, Joe, you can leave it on. It's no big deal.

SECURITY GUARD No, it's okay, I don't need to watch it.

The guard's eyes consider the baseball Billy absently turns in his hands -

BILLY How's Meg?

SECURITY GUARD She's good, thanks.

- and the glass window of the bar behind him -

3.

3.

BILLY And the boys?

SECURITY GUARD They're good. Everybody's good.

BILLY That's good. The security guard waits for the baseball to sail through the glass, but it doesn't happen.

BILLY Night.

SECURITY GUARD Night, Billy. It was a great season.

4 EXT. COLISEUM - PARKING LOT - MOMENTS LATER - NIGHT 4

A lone car sits in the parking lot in front of the Coliseum. We HEAR-

TARA V/O They had three times your payroll, Billy.

BILLY Yeah...

TARA V/O You're not watching them celebrate, right? Car's off. Billy sits in the dark on his phone.

BILLY No. That would be, uh--

TARA V/O Pointless? Self-destructive? Masochistic?

BILLY Are you asking me to pick one?

TARA V/O What you should be doing is thinking about what an amazing job you did and how great you are.

BILLY I'll be honest, right this minute I'm not thinking about either of those things.

4.

4.

TARA V/O You take a team with that payroll to the playoffs? You take the Yankees to a fifth game? I'm not even sure the better team won.

BILLY They were down two-love and then beat us          three in a row. Trust me, the better team won.

BILLY presses a button on his portable radio and is hit with sound of sports talk radio--

CALLER V/O --while embarrassing the entire city and making a mockery of their fans. I'm sick of this.

TARA V/O Let's go away.

BILLY That sounds good.

CUT TO WHAT BILLY'S BEEN LOOKING AT THIS WHOLE TIME - Three enormous looming likenesses of the Oakland A's         premiere players on floodlit banners--Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Jason Isringhausen.

TARA V/O Someplace they don't have a baseball team.

BILLY How about Oakland?

TARA V/O Okay, here are the rules for tonight. You can do anything you want but you can't          give any quotes to the press, go on the internet or hurt my car, we have a deal?

BILLY Yeah.

TARA V/O They had three times your payroll, Billy. From the radio we've been hearing shards of "--an         unprecedented choke--", "--get rid of Billy Beane--", "--          Billy Beane knows nothing about baseball--".

5.

5.

BILLY Yeah.

TARA V/O How about Hawaii? I'll make a          reservation someplace. The place with the turtles.

Billy gets out of the car.

BILLY Great. I'm on my way.

Billy chucks the radio away. Gets back in the car, puts it in gear. HARD CUT TO --

5 INT. OAKLAND AIRPORT TERMINAL - DAY 5

Blur of shapes and colors as we move through a crush of          travelers to a Hawaiian Airlines counter where Billy and Tara check luggage. Billy's got a cell phone to his ear.

BILLY Is it Boston? You're talking to Boston? What are they offering?

BORAS (ON PHONE) What does it matter to you?

BILLY What?!

BORAS V/O I mean -- what does it matter since whatever it is you can't afford it.

BILLY You don't know that.

BORAS V/O I don't?

TICKET CLERK You need to hurry.

BILLY I don't know that -- since I don't know what they're offering.

(TO TARA) What did she say?

TARA She said we had to hurry up.

6.

6.

BILLY Scott? Scott?

The call's been disconnected. CUT TO: Another corridor, as Billy and Tara head toward security. Billy on the phone with Boras, continuing where they left off --

BILLY What did they offer?

BORAS V/O They offered seven and a quarter.

BILLY Just to be clear -- they offered seven and a quarter.

BORAS V/O Yes.

BILLY As opposed to you said seven and a          quarter and they're thinking about it.

BORAS V/O No, they offered seven and a quarter and I'm thinking about it. (nothing from Billy) And you're thinking -- what.

BILLY I'm thinking I don't want to lose Damon, but I don't pay my whole infield seven million dollars.

TARA We're losing Damon?

BORAS V/O For seven and a half, Billy, you can keep Johnny Damon and we can be done thinking. I have to go, my plane is boarding.

BILLY Wait, don't hang up. Don't hang up --

Billy drops the phone in a plastic container, steps through the metal detector like it's a stick-up, grabs the phone again.

TSA OFFICER 1 Is that phone still on?

BILLY What's the difference?

7.

7.

TSA OFFICER 1 Faradie. Can his phone be on?

TSA OFFICER 2 Sir, you need to turn your phone off.

BILLY It's already through. Billy grabs his phone from the other side.

BILLY Seven point five?

BORAS V/O Seven point five.

BILLY I'll talk to Steve.

BORAS V/O Talk to Steve.

Boras hangs up.

TARA Try to relax.

BILLY (hitting speed dial          on another number) A small emergency is starting to develop.

TARA Try. Try to relax.

BILLY You look fantastic today.

ARN V/O Hello?

BILLY Arn. Billy. We gotta talk about Giambi.

TARA Wait, we're losing Giambi, too?

ARN V/O I can't talk about that now. I can't          talk about anything now.

BILLY We can talk now. We're talking now.

8.

8.

ARN V/O We can't talk now. I'm at a family thing. I'll call you Monday.

BILLY Who are you talking to -- the Yankees?

ARN V/O I'm talking to everybody. But not today. I'm not in today. I'm hanging up.

BILLY Don't hang up.

(OFF PHONE) He hung up.

TARA You found Giambi. Billy dials another number --

TARA A thousand dollars says you don't get on          the plane.

SECRETARY V/O Arn Tellem's office.

BILLY Denise. Billy.

(TO TARA) These guys are auctioning off my team one player at a time.

SECRETARY V/O

(OVERLAPPING) He's not in today, Billy.

BILLY I know, I just want to send him flowers.

SECRETARY V/O Flowers?

TARA Flowers?

BILLY Where would I send them?

SECRETARY V/O To who?

BILLY To Arn.

9.

9.

SECRETARY V/O You want to send him flowers?

TARA

(OVERLAPPING) You're not going to be anywhere near Hawaii.

BILLY To where he is now, yes.

SECRETARY V/O Beth Israel Temple, Beverly Hills.

TARA The airport is as close as you got.

BILLY

(INTO PHONE) Thank you, Tara.

SECRETARY V/O Denise.

TARA I'm Tara.

BILLY I know. I need a day.

TARA

BILLY --

BILLY One day. I'll fly out tomorrow.

TARA It's gonna be more than one day.

(PAUSE) We're losing Isringhausen too?

BILLY Only if my luck stays exactly the same.

TARA It's like the bell rang but you're still getting hit in the head. (hands him tickets) Just in case.

BILLY I'm sorry. Have fun out there.

10.

10.

TARA I'm picking up a guy at the breakfast buffet.

BILLY A left-handed reliever if you can.

6 OMITTED 6

7 INT. SINAI TEMPLE - BRENTWOOD - LATER - DAY 7

The ceremony is in progress as Billy arrives, plucks a          yarmulke from a basket, sets it on his head and finds a           place in the back row for himself and his carry-on. He listens to the boy's monotone-reading of verses. He          fidgets. Taps his foot. Checks his watch. Turns to the person down the row and whispers --

BILLY How much longer you think?

GUEST What?

BILLY Nah, it's okay.

8 INT. TEMPLE LOBBY - LATER - DAY 8

As attendees exit the ceremony and enter the adjacent banquet hall, Billy has cornered Arn Tellem, picking up          right where he left off three hours ago in Oakland on the

PHONE --

BILLY Arn, I don't wanna lose him.

ARN

BILLY --

BILLY I don't wanna lose him.

ARN This is my nephew's Bar Mitzvah.

BILLY He did well with his Torah portion I          thought.

ARN Thank you.

11.

11.

BILLY What did they offer?

ARN He's not staying in Oakland, Billy.

BILLY What did the Yankees offer him?

ARN It's New York; you've got to give a          player a reason not to play there.

BILLY What did they offer?

ARN 17 million.

BILLY No way.

ARN Yeah.

BILLY I don't pay my whole infield 17 million dollars.

ARN I know, I know...

BILLY For how long?

ARN 17 a year for seven years.

Billy stares, completely nonplussed...

BILLY A hundred and twenty million dollars?

ARN Hundred and nineteen.

(BEAT) You gotta get Steve to let you spend some money.

BILLY That's pretty good advice, I should do          that.

12.

12.

ARN Steve doesn't get it. This isn't a          charity raffle.

BILLY Arn. I get it, he gets it, Jason gets it          and you certainly get it. I'll talk to          him.

ARN And you're losing Isringhausen, too.

BILLY Ya think?

ARN I've gotta get back.

BILLY Hey mazel tov, Arn.

ARN Thank you. Good luck.

Arn walks away. Billy looks to his right to see a 12 year old kid standing right next to him.

KID Are you Billy Beane?

BILLY Yes.

KID That was a pretty serious choke.

BILLY Are you from around here?

KID Yeah.

BILLY You a Dodger fan?

KID Yeah.

Billy hands the kid his scotch --

BILLY Here, drink a lot of this.

-- and walks away.

13.

13.

9 INT. OFFICE - SAN BRUNO - LATER - DAY 9

Billy tries, but is having trouble sitting still as he          talks with Steve Schott - the A's owner - around 60 - a           college player way back when. He's a successful home builder now. Models of developments lie around.

BILLY We're losing Damon and Giambi. We can't          survive losing Damon and Giambi.

SCHOTT Isringhausen's gone, too, don't you think?

BILLY I can win without a closer. I can't          without power.

SCHOTT So negotiate with them.

BILLY I have. They want more.

SCHOTT So offer them a little more.

BILLY I have. They want more than a little more.

SCHOTT Like what. What'll it cost - say - to          keep Giambi?

BILLY

17.

SCHOTT 17 for how many (years) -

BILLY One.

SCHOTT For one year? Billy nods. Steve smiles. And Billy knows what it          means. It means, That makes it easy - there's nothing more to discuss on the matter.

SCHOTT I have confidence you'll find a way to          make it work without them.

14.

14.

BILLY I can't.

SCHOTT Sure you can.

BILLY

STEVE -

SCHOTT Billy. What are we? The Taj Mahal? We're a small-market team. Obviously, we          can't afford Giambi at such a (price) -

BILLY Fine. He's gone. But I might - for a          bit more than last year - be able to keep Damon in (Oakland) - (Steve is shaking his

HEAD NO)          I need more money, Steve.

SCHOTT Billy...

BILLY I can't compete against a hundred and twenty million dollar payroll with a          forty million dollar payroll.

SCHOTT We just won 102 games with a forty million dollar payroll.

BILLY With Giambi and Damon. We wouldn't have without them. Silence. Then -

BILLY You can't ask me to be okay with losing. That's too much to ask a professional athlete.

SCHOTT

BILLY--

BILLY It's too much, Steve!

SCHOTT You're not a professional athlete!

(BEAT) You're a professional GM.

(MORE)

15.

15.

SCHOTT (CONT'D)          We're a small market team. You're a small market GM. And I'm asking you to be okay with not spending money I don't have. And I'm asking you to take a breath and shake off the loss. And then I'm asking you to          get back in a room with your people and figure out how you're going to replace these guys with the money I do have.

(BEAT) Got it? SCHOTT can go from milquetoast to ruthless in a blink and he just did.

10 INT. BILLY'S TRUCK - MOVING - LATER - DAY 10

Billy's on his cell again as he crosses the Bay Bridge.

BILLY Scott. Billy.

BORAS V/O What was that beep?

BILLY It's just my phone, it's about to          die, but this'll be quick - listen - I'm losing my favorite prospects, but I got you the seven point five.

BORAS V/O That's great. I'll get right back to

(YOU) -

BILLY No. No, you won't. I got it for you and we're done. Damon stays in Oakland.

BORAS V/O Billy - I have to talk to Johnny - obviously. It's my fiduciary (duty) -

BILLY Whose number is that - seven point five. Mine?

BORAS V/O No, it's mine -

BILLY It's yours. So make your call, but don't          play me, Scott. We have a deal. I won't          be a stalking horse. The word stays in          the - dictionary.

16.

16.

11 INT. BILLY'S HOUSE - DANVILLE - LATER - DAY 11

The door pushes open and Billy comes in after his very long day. He sets his carry-on bag down. Takes out his dead cell phone and plugs it into a charger. Calls Tara on the land line.

BILLY Sorry, hon. I'm gonna need another day.

TARA (V.O.) Take your time, do your thing. There are a lot of cute guys here.

BILLY You've got my suitcase?

TARA (V.O.) No, the airline sent it to Prague.

BILLY

(PAUSE) Why?

TARA (V.O.) Well, we left out of Oakland, honey... and I think the baggage handlers knew it          was yours.

BILLY (beat, can this get          any worse?) Okay.

Billy's cell phone rings --

BILLY I gotta take this.

TARA (V.O.) Wish you weren't insane. Miss you. She hangs up. Billy hangs up and switches to his cell --

BILLY Yeah.

BORAS (V.O.) Billy. Scott. I just got off the phone with Dan.

BILLY No, you didn't.

17.

17.

BORAS (V.O.) Yeah, I was surprised he even called me. Because he had said --

BILLY No, I have Johnny for seven-point-five or          he's not playing anywhere, because that's           the deal --

BORAS (V.O.) Boston just upped it to seven-seven-five.

Billy's hand is already in motion to smash the phone, but in a herculean feat of self disciple, he manages to          restrain himself before impact.

BORAS (V.O.) You there?

BILLY We had a deal.

BORAS (V.O.) We have a deal. If it's eight million.

BILLY Why am I the ugliest girl at the dance, Scott? Why do I get the feeling I'm          always gonna be a quarter million short?

BORAS (V.O.) I'm just doing my job for my client. That's all I'm doing.

BILLY No, you played me. And you're playing me          now. Congratulations, asshole. You win. Billy hangs up on him.

CUT TO:

12-14 OMITTED 12-14

15 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - SCOUTING ROOM - PRESENT DAY 15

Billy and his scouting department - ten men older than him - all former players and tobacco chewers still, each with his own can of Copenhagen and wastebasket - sitting around a large underground cinder block "war room" whose most extravagant appointment is a Mr. Coffee.

Two large white-boards dominate a wall, covered with magnetic strips with players' names on them.

18.

18.

On the left board - every player in the A's organization. On the other, even larger board - every player that may be of interest to them from the other organizations.

It's the most complex chess board you will ever see. But what can be easily discerned are the obvious holes in         the A's team - the star players they are about to lose - their names set apart from the positions they're         vacating: Jason Giambi (1B), Johnny Damon (CF), Jason Isringhausen (RP).

GRADY Alright, guys... we had a great year. We          won 102 games and we only came a buck short in New York. Now the bad news...          we've got three big holes to fill.

(THEN) Let's start with who we like for Giambi. We'll go around the room. Who you like, Matty?

KEOUGH I like Geronimo. (approval from the

OTHER SCOUTS)          Guy's an athlete. This guy is big, fast           and talented.

GEORGE Six foot four.

PITTARO Top of my list.

POTE Clean cut, good face.

ARTIE Good jaw. He's the real deal.

GEORGE Five tools, good lookin'.

BILLY Can he hit?

KEOUGH He's a tools guy.

BILLY Can he hit?

KEOUGH He's got a great swing. Natural swing.

19.

19.

BILLY So you're saying he can't hit.

KEOUGH He can hit.

BARRY The ball explodes off his bat.

ARTIE It's exciting. When he hits it sounds like he's droppin' a firecracker at his feet.

PITTARO Down in the pisser you can hear that sound.

BARRY Sounds like Mays, Mantle, Aaron...

BILLY That's not what I asked. I asked can he          hit.

KEOUGH He's a good hitter.

BILLY If he's a good hitter, why doesn't he hit good?

KEOUGH He needs a little work. He'll be able to          hit. He could be a great hitter.

BILLY Right... we put him up against big league competition and suddenly he'll be able to          hit.

Grady moves on --

GRADY Artie, who do we like?

Billy backs off, incredulous as the scouts prattle on --

ARTIE I like Perez. He swings like a man.

KEOUGH He swings like a man who swings at too much.

20.

20.

ARTIE There's some work needs to be done. I          admit it. He needs to be reworked a          little. But he's noticeable.

GRADY He's notable?

ARTIE No, he's noticeable. You notice him.

KEOGH He's got an ugly girlfriend.

BARRY What's that mean?

KEOGH Ugly girlfriend means no confidence.

BARRY Alright. That's true.

PITTARO I agree with Art. I like the way he          walks into a room. Kid's so confident his dick gets there two minutes before he          does.

GEORGE Passes the eye candy test. He's got the looks, he's ready to play the part. He          just needs some playing time.

KEOUGH I'm just saying, his girlfriend's a 6.

BARRY Billy, if you want to talk about another Giambi, this guy could be it. Enough. Billy raises a book above the table, drops it         with a dull THUD... STOPPING TRAFFIC.

GRADY Is that a suggestion, Billy?

BILLY Guys, stop. You're talking like this is          business as usual. It's not.

GRADY We're trying to solve the problem.

21.

21.

BILLY Not like this. You're not even looking at the problem.

GRADY We not only have a very clear understanding of the problem we now face, but everyone in this room has faced similar problems countless times before.

BILLY Good. What's the problem?

GRADY The problem is that we've lost 3 key players that we now have to replace.

BILLY Uh-uh. What's the problem?

PITTARO The problem is the same as it always is; we've got to put a team together with what we've got.

BILLY Uh-uh. What's the problem?

BARRY We've got 38 home runs to replace, 120 rbi's, 47 doubles...

BILLY Okay, stop. The problem we're trying to          solve is that this is an unfair game. There are rich teams, poor teams, 50 feet of crap and then there's us. And now we've been gutted. We're organ donors to          the rich. The Red Sox took our kidneys and the Yankees took our heart. And now I'm listening to the same old shit about having a good body and being a tools guy like you're looking for Fabio. Is there another first baseman like Giambi?

(BEAT) Is there? Everyone mumbles "no."

BILLY Then stop looking for one because what we'll surely wind up with is the McNuggets version of Giambi.

22.

22.

GRADY Look, we're gonna find 25 guys, put `em through player development, teach `em how to play Oakland A baseball. This is no         time to push the panic button. This is         the way we've been doing it for 150 years. Let us do our job.

BILLY If we try to play like the Yankees in         here, we're not going to be able to play with them out there.

GRADY That's fortune cookie wisdom.

BILLY No, it's just regular wisdom.

POTE Who's Fabio?

GRADY Okay, Billy. Clearly you have something on your mind.

BILLY Bill James.

ARTIE You're not serious?

PITTARO We're not playing fantasy baseball, Billy.

BARRY Those aren't new ideas, they disproved that years ago.

GRADY Bill James was a night security guard at         the Stokely Van Camp Pork and Beans Factory.

BILLY He thinks differently than anyone in         baseball.

GRADY He's not in baseball. He's in pork and beans.

23.

23.

BILLY Don't attack the man, attack the argument.

PITTARO (to the room) I think he just won the argument.

Chuckles.

BILLY What if we've been wrong this whole time about what ingredients manufacture a win? What if this whole time we thought it was the chicken that made the chicken soup taste good when really it was the onions that made the chicken soup taste good? Onions are a lot cheaper than chicken, you see what I'm saying?

POTE I don't have the first idea what you're          saying.

BILLY We gotta start over. We gotta rethink this thing. We gotta look where others aren't looking.

GRADY With all due respect, we've been doing this for a long time.

BILLY That doesn't mean you're doing it right. Do you watch nature docs? You know what happens to the runt of the litter? He          dies. I'm open to any solution, as long as it's not what the other guys are doing.

(THEN) Now, I'm going to Cleveland to poach an          outfielder named Brandon Garcia --

TBD SCOUT Hold on -- You're going to Cleveland for a double-A guy?

GRADY Billy, I've seen Garcia. He's got a bad body. It's not a pretty sight.

PITTARO Kid wears a large pair of underwear.

24.

24.

KEOGH That is a big boy.

GRADY He's not just big, but kind of doughy. A          fleshy kind of body.

BILLY Oh, you mean like Babe Ruth.

SCOUTS (UNISON) He's no Babe Ruth.

PITTARO When he walks, Billy, his thighs stick together. There's enough friction there to start a bonfire.

KEOGH If you saw him, I'm telling you, you wouldn't want to go to Cleveland.

BARRY Billy, can I make a suggestion? If you could get Ricardo Rincon... he'd be worth the trip to Cleveland.

GEORGE That would solve our left handed reliever problem.

Unanimous approval from the scouts --

BILLY Really?

SCOUTS (UNISON) Yeah.

BILLY I should get Rincon?

SCOUTS (UNISON) Definitely.

BILLY Okay. I'll also come back with Joe DiMaggio and Ty Cobb. And who would like a Fabergé egg? Guys, you aren't hearing me -- in what universe can we afford Rincon?

(THEN) I'm asking you guys to look at this game differently than you've ever looked at it          before. I'm going to Cleveland.

(MORE)

25.

25.

BILLY (CONT'D)          And when I come back, I want you to tell me something I don't already know. I          want to question everything. We've got to rethink this game. As he exits --

BILLY And Grady? Nobody cares about a 102 win season.

Billy storms out.

KEOUGH What's a Fabergé egg?

A16 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL FIELD - DAY - FLASHBACK - 1980 A16

CRACK! A ball sails well over the heads of the SCOUTS in          the outfield who are shagging the batting practice flies. The KIDS in the parking lot have seen Billy play before and so know just how far back to stand in order to shag a          ball.

BILLY's at the plate, crushing pitches from a pitching machine.

CRACK!--he sends another one sailing over the heads of          the cluster of scouts.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! BILLY, tanned and glistening with sweat, looks over to          see THREE GIRLS watching him from behind the backstop. They're looking at him like he's Elvis and BILLY tries to          nonchalant it but can't help a small smile to himself

BEFORE--

CRACK!

CRACK! CRACK!

SABATINI This is the guy.

MARTINEZ He's got a great path. I love the extension in his swing and the backspin he creates.

SABATINI That's some amazing power right there, huh?

26.

26.

MARTINEZ Good approach, great balance. How's he          compare to the others around the country?

SABATINI He's number one. Let's just hope he's          still there when we pick.

MARTINEZ This guy'll go in the first round.

CUT TO:

B16 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL FIELD - DAY - 1980 B16

The scouts put the players through their paces -- sprinting, fielding...

CUT TO:

C16 EXT. DUGOUT STEPS - DAY - 1980 C16

SABATINI and MARTINEZ are talking to BILLY, who's          toweling off and is still a little aware of all the people who are standing nearby to watch the birth of a          star.

SABATINI Billy. I'm Sabatini, Area Scout, New York Mets. Can we get a couple minutes of your time, find out more about you?

BILLY Of course.

SABATINI I'd like to introduce you to Tom Martinez.

MARTINEZ Very impressive performance today. In my          job as the national cross-checker for the New York Mets, I see the top 200 players in the United States. It's been a while since I've seen a five tools guy, the complete package. Your throwing ability, your fielding skills... Ed told me you had power but I had no idea it was of the light tower variety. I hope you're as          interested in professional baseball as we           are in acquiring you in the upcoming draft.

27.

27.

BILLY Well, sir, I'd need to talk it out with my parents, decide if baseball is          something I want to do full time. I have a scholarship to play football at          Stanford.

MARTINEZ Well, Billy, we're certainly looking forward to meeting your folks and talking to them as well. And we believe in          college, but that's something you can do           in the winter months. You need to know the sky's the limit with your ability. You could be a superstar before you've          even graduated. But to get to that level, you need to work with our people. Pro-ball is where you need to be to          develop the skills God gave you.

CUT TO:

16 INT. RECEPTION - INDIANS CORPORATE OFFICES - DAY 16

Unlike the A's, this is a franchise that can spend actual money on players, and on nice lobby furniture, which is where Billy sits, staring at a classic baseball photo that hangs in the lobby.

ASSISTANT Mr. Beane? Mark's ready to see you now.

17 OMITTED 17

18 INT. MARK SHAPIRO'S OFFICE - CLEVELAND - DAY 18

Billy's counterpart in Cleveland--Indians General Manager MARK SHAPIRO--35 and about three weeks into the job--sits behind his desk in a tie and shirt sleeves like Billy. Joining them in the room are FOUR OTHERS, including PETER

BRAND.

SHAPIRO So Billy, what are you looking for?

BILLY 50 million in additional payroll.

SHAPIRO Try Giambi.

BILLY Ouch.

28.

28.

SHAPIRO 120 million.

BILLY I should've been a hitter.

SHAPIRO Where's Steve in all this?

BILLY Supportive. Excited about rebuilding the team.

SHAPIRO Bonds is available.

BILLY Yeah, how do I afford the rest of the field?

SHAPIRO So what are you looking for? I want to         help out.

BILLY I guess you've touched the bottom of the sports industry when your opponent is

OFFERING YOU--

SHAPIRO

BILLY--

BILLY I need a lefty reliever and I want Ricardo Rincon.

SHAPIRO Not going to happen.

BILLY Not even a discussion?

SHAPIRO Come on Billy, even if you could afford him we're not about to let him go.

BILLY Why's that? You've got the Venezuelan kid in North Carolina you're bringing up.

SHAPIRO We dished him to Detroit. Keep up.

BILLY Well there goes my other idea.

29.

29.

SHAPIRO What else you thinking Billy?

BILLY You have any outfielders I should be          looking at?

SHAPIRO To replace Damon?

BILLY Yeah.

SHAPIRO That's a tough one Billy.

BILLY Yeah. Who do you got?

SHAPIRO The guys you might be able to afford? Hollins, Garcia... Coste.

BILLY Tell me about Garcia.

SHAPIRO To replace Damon?!

BILLY Is he healthy?

SHAPIRO He had a back thing, some minor surgery, but he's okay. Petey?

PETEY He'll be good by Spring Training.

BILLY He'll do. I can give you Guthrie for him if you kick in some cash.

SHAPIRO Mark Guthrie?

As Shapiro and gang review Guthrie's stats, Billy notices Peter whispering to the guy next to him. Shapiro looks around the room at the guys who don't         object.

SHAPIRO How much are you thinking?

30.

30.

BILLY

200 K.

BRUCE approaches Shapiro and whispers and steps away.

SHAPIRO Sorry about that. So... Garcia is going to be a no. What else are you thinking about?

BILLY Let's make it work, I'll go straight up          with you, Garcia for Guthrie, no kicker.

Shapiro looks to Bruce, Peter is covering his mouth with his hand but we can just barely hear him whisper the word 'no'. Bruce subtly shakes his head to Mark.

SHAPIRO Sorry Billy, who else you interested in?

19 INT. INDIANS CORPORATE OFFICES - DAY 19

Peter sits at his cubicle absorbed in his computer until he notices Billy hovering over him.

BILLY Hey.

PETER Hi.

BILLY Who are you?

PETER My name is Peter Brand.

BILLY What do you do?

PETER I'm special assistant to Mark Shapiro.

BILLY So what do you do? (pointing at co-

WORKER)          Hey, mind your own business.

(HE DOES) What do you do?

PETER Mostly player evaluation right now.

31.

31.

BILLY Why does Mark listen to you?

PETER Actually he rarely does.

BILLY He just did.

PETER I don't think he was really listening to          me in there per se.

BILLY Really?

PETER Yeah, I think he was listening to Bruce.

BILLY Who are you?

PETER Peter Brand.

BILLY I don't give a rat's ass about your name.

Nothing from Peter.

BILLY What happened in there?

PETER I'm not sure what you're asking me.

BILLY What did you tell Butch?

PETER Huh? Oh Bruce? I told him I like Garcia.

BILLY

(BEAT) Why?

PETER

(BEAT) Probably for the same reasons you do.

BILLY Meaning what?

32.

32.

PETER He's undervalued. You were smart to go          after him.

BILLY

(LONG BEAT) What makes him undervalued?

Peter is stuck. He can't bring himself to say anything. After a long beat Billy nods to him in a way that seems to say, `I understand, it's okay'.

BILLY Come on.

Billy makes a strong gesture indicating Peter to follow. Which he does. They exit the offices into

20 INT. A VAST PARKING STRUCTURE - CONTINUOUS 20

BILLY Where you from Peter?

PETER Maryland.

BILLY Where did you go to school?

PETER Yale.

BILLY I hate Yale.

PETER Why?

BILLY Kid from Yale once blocked a trade I was trying to make. What'd you study?

PETER Economics.

BILLY What are you doing in baseball?

PETER I love baseball.

BILLY I'm just curious. Why were you so cagey in there?

33.

33.

PETER I work for a different team.

BILLY I know, but I'm the first person in         baseball who's ever talked to you this long. Right? Why is Garcia undervalued?

PETER Okay, truthfully, it might not be so easy to explain.

BILLY Really? Why's that Peter?

PETER We might not see the game the same way.

BILLY Oh really? What do you mean by that?

PETER You've spent your life in baseball and I         don't have a very traditional view of the game.

BILLY Hey Pete, just say it. I'm not about to         beat you up. Say what you've always wanted to say to a GM.

PETER Baseball thinking is medieval. It's stuck in the Dark Ages. I have a more scientific view of the game.

BILLY Keep going, Peter.

PETER There is an epidemic failure within the game to understand what's really happening. And it leads people who run major league teams to misjudge their players and mismanage their teams. They're still asking the wrong questions. People who run baseball teams still think in terms of buying players. Sorry to say that.

BILLY Peter, don't apologize for what you believe.

34.

34.

PETER The goal shouldn't be to buy players, what you want to buy is wins. To buy wins, you buy runs. You're trying to          replace Johnny Damon. The Red Sox look at          Johnny Damon and they see a star worth seven point five million a year. When I          look at Johnny Damon, I see an imperfect understanding of where runs come from.

SUDDEN CUT TO:

ARCHIVAL VIDEO: The back of Johnny Damon's A's jersey as         he walks to the plate to adoring Oakland fans.

PETER V/O His batting average is ignorable. What matters is his on base percentage-

DAMON swings at the first pitch and knocks it into left field for a single. He leads off first--

PETER V/O - which in 2001 was .324. That's 10 points lower than league average, and 17 points lower than Garcia's.

On the next pitch, DAMON takes off for second--

PETER V/O True, he stole some bases. But attempted steals in general have to succeed 70% of          the time before they even start to           contribute to run totals. In 2001 he cost you runs. DAMON's tagged out at second.

BACK TO THE GARAGE

PETER He's got a good glove. He's a decent leadoff hitter. He steals bases. But he's          not worth the seven point five million Boston is paying him. You're lucky to          have him off your payroll, it opens all kinds of interesting possibilities.

BILLY You read Bill James, Pete?

PETER Yes. These ideas and this approach to the game aren't all new. In fact, some of          them have been around for two decades.

35.

35.

BILLY If this approach has been around for so          long, why isn't anybody in baseball doing them?

PETER That's a much more difficult question than how to win baseball games. Once you begin to pull at that string, your understanding of the world might begin to          unravel.

The elevator door closes.

21 INT. AIRPLANE - NIGHT 21

Billy's in coach, staring at the night through the window, lost in thought.

22 INT. HOUSE - SAN DIEGO - DAY - 1980 22

Billy's mother and father escort Martinez and Mets Head Scout Roger Jongewaard into the kitchen.

MOTHER Billy? They're here.

JONGEWAARD Billy... Good to see you again. Obviously you're a very special player. We'd like to compliment you on your high school career, and we're looking forward to you being a part of the Mets family. Jongewaard sits at the kitchen table, speaking more to          Billy's parents than Billy himself --

JONGEWAARD There's good -- and there's premium. Your son is premium. He has it all -- power, speed, the arm. The Look -- and I'm never wrong about that. Which is why this is a premium number. He sets a contract on the table. Clipped to its top- sheet is a check. On its left-hand corner is the Mets insignia; on the right, the amount: $125,000. They all see it. A lot of money in 1980. Silence. Then --

MOTHER Billy's been offered a scholarship to          Stanford.

36.

36.

JONGEWAARD I know. And that's a great accomplishment. I'm sure you're very proud of him.

MOTHER So he can accept that, go there, and then -

-          Jongewaard is already shaking his head no.

JONGEWAARD I understand how important college is. I          do. But what I can't do is burn a second first-round draft pick on someone who can't play for four years -- no matter how good he is. Four years is ample time for someone to get hurt. It happens all the time. So, no. I'm sorry. It has to          be one or the other. To postpone four years is four years he could be in big leagues. The sooner he gets there the sooner he can reap the benefits.

Stanford or The Money. Young Billy regards the check, and then his parents. He really doesn't know what to do.

JONGEWAARD We're going to give him a different kind of education. This won't be his life's          career, it'll be his first career. He's          going to be a young guy in the business world when his baseball career is done. He'll still have his whole life ahead of          him.

FATHER It's your decision, Billy. Whatever you decide is fine with us.

23 INT. BILLY'S HOUSE - NIGHT 23

BILLY's looking out his window while holding his cordless phone. He's dialed the numbers in and just has to hit the green button.

And now he does.

INTERCUT WITH

24 INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - SAME TIME 24

PETER's ringing cell phone wakes him up and he answers it.

37.

37.

PETER Hello?

BILLY It's Billy Beane.

PETER What time is it?

BILLY I don't care. Would you have drafted me          in the first round?

PETER What?

BILLY After I left you ran me through your computer, right? Would you have drafted me in the first round?

PETER You were a good baseball player.

BILLY Would you have drafted me in the first round?

PETER

(PAUSE) I'd have drafted you in the ninth round. No signing bonus. You'd have passed and gone to Stanford.

BILLY Pack your suitcases.

PETER Why?

BILLY I just bought you from the Cleveland Indians.

BILLY hangs up the phone. He sits all alone for a moment.

25 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - MORNING 25

MONTAGE: Peter pulls into the parking lot for his first day of work, takes in the sight of the colossal, concrete relic that is the Oakland Coliseum. He's just in time to          see a paint roller on a long pole laying a white stripe down the middle of Jason Giambi's giant portrait.

CUT TO:

38.

38.

26 INT. PETER'S OFFICE - NIGHT 26

PETER's completely converted the place. The dry erase boards are covered with undecipherable equations, algorithms and numbers and PETER, who's pretty tired now after not a lot of sleep, is in the middle of this. This is what BILLY sees when he walks into the doorway, where he slows down, stops and looks around blankly.

BILLY Good evening.

PETER Good evening.

BILLY I asked you to do three.

PETER Yes.

BILLY To evaluate three available players.

PETER Yeah.

BILLY And how many did you do?

PETER

47.

BILLY

OKAY--

PETER 51, I don't know why I lied just then.

BILLY Talk me through the wall. PETER gets up and gives BILLY a tour of the dry erase boards.

PETER This is the American League West. This year we're going to need to win between 97 and 101 games to make the post season. Here's the number of runs we'll need to          score in order to win those games and here's the number of runs we can allow.

39.

39.

BILLY Let's make sure we're on the same page.

PETER Okay.

BILLY We're going to re-think baseball.

PETER Yes.

BILLY Look for an inefficiencies in statistics.

PETER Examine the ways that runs are scored and prevented.

BILLY Exploit the fact that unspectacular runs are just as valuable as 450-foot bombs.

PETER Unspectacular runs are more valuable.

BILLY Why?

PETER/BILLY

(SIMULTANEOUSLY) Because they cost less.

BILLY We believe there's a river that hasn't         been fished.

PETER We know it for sure.

BILLY And because players have been overlooked because they don't rise to the standards of traditional baseball thinking, we         believe that in this river, there are fish...fish who-- (BILLY lost it) Help me with--

PETER Forget the fish. In this room is every available player at every level of         professional baseball, and somewhere in          that group are 25 players that everyone has else has thrown out.

(MORE)

40.

40.

PETER (CONT'D)         An island of misfit toys. In this room is         a championship team that we can afford.

BILLY Yes. But let me ask you this. If our theory is right--

PETER Math isn't a theory.

BILLY If it's right--

PETER It's right.

BILLY It sounds right.

PETER It is right.

BILLY If math isn't a theory--

PETER It isn't.

BILLY I'm gonna punch you in the kidneys if you don't let me finish a sentence.

PETER Sorry.

BILLY If this is right, why isn't everybody doing it? In fact, why isn't anybody doing it?

PETER Somebody once said, "It's not what you         don't know that worries me it's what you          know for sure that's got me scared." In         the mid-19th Century in Budapest there was an incredibly high instance of         mothers dying shortly after childbirth from a disease called puerperal fever.

35%.

BILLY Make this story less boring as soon as         you can.

41.

41.

PETER A doctor named Semmelweiss showed that if          the attending physicians and nurses sterilized their hands before delivery, the mortality rate dropped to 1%.

BILLY And he was vilified?

PETER He was institutionalized. For suggesting that washing your hands before putting them inside someone else's body was a          good idea. High functioning people can live under the spell of an inexplicable mental lapse when they think as a group. Why isn't anybody else doing it? Because they don't think guys who look like you are what win baseball games. They know it          for sure.

BILLY

(PAUSE) Alright, let's find our team.

CUT TO:

27 INT. VIDEO ROOM - DAY 27

Peter schleps his computer stuff. Sets up, plugs in, fires up. Turns an unused room into a war room with dry erase boards and computers. He installs software in the video room computer, works on a computer in his room, prints two pages of data and reviews.

CUT TO:

28 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - NIGHT 28

Peter enters and hands the two pages to Billy. Billy reviews, stands, then slowly paces as he reads. Peter stands and watches.

CUT TO:

29 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT 29

From somewhere in the outfield, we have a wide view of          the darkened stadium and Billy's office, which, unlike the others, is illuminated. We can just discern Billy's          silhouette as he continues to slowly pace and study.

CUT TO:

42.

42.

30 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY 30

Billy and Peter walk down a long, subterranean corridor. Peter carries a laptop and a slim notebook.

BILLY Nervous?

PETER No??

BILLY Huh. Interesting.

Peter doesn't know what to make of that.

31 INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE SCOUTING ROOM - CONTINUOUS 31

As they near the scouting room, Billy sees ART HOWE waiting for him outside it.

BILLY Hey, Art.

ART Can I talk to you a second before you get started.

BILLY I got a lot to do.

ART I know. Whatever it is, Billy knows it can't be as dire as his other problems, but also knows that to ignore Art would be to insult him.

He gestures for Peter to go into the scouting room alone. He'd rather not, but does. The scouts, assuming perhaps he's there to make coffee, ignore him. He finds a place to sit in a corner.

ART Who's the kid?

BILLY That's Peter.

ART I can't manage this team under a one-year contract.

BILLY Sure you can.

43.

43.

ART No I can't.

BILLY I've got to put a team on the field, then I'll deal with your contract.

ART How about you deal with the manager's          contract and then put a team on the field?

BILLY At the moment, if a ground ball is hit to          first base, nobody's going to be there to           stop it from rolling.

ART I have to tell you it's not easy doing what I do under the cloud of a one-year contract.

BILLY I know. I been there.

ART I know you have. And a 1-year contract says the same thing to a manager as it          does to a player: There's not a lot of           faith there. Which is strange after a          102-win season.

BILLY If you lose the last one of the season nobody gives a shit about the others.

ART It's on me now?

BILLY It's on me, Art!

(BEAT) And the kid's the new assistant general manager.

ART

(PAUSE) What the fuck are you about to do? BILLY doesn't answer the question, just walks into the-

44.

44.

32 INT. SCOUTING ROOM - DAY 32

-and ignoring Peter - who has tried to inconspicuously plant himself in a corner - pulls up a chair to receive his scouts' report - which Grady, as always, will lead. Art wanders off.

GRADY How did it go in Cleveland?

BILLY It was cold.

The news bothers no one.

GRADY Let's get after our relief pitching problem.

BILLY We got Chad Bradford. Right-hander.

Few, if any of them, have heard of Bradford and begin leafing through their printouts and notes.

GRADY Submariner?

BILLY That's the one. Technically an          underhander.

GRADY What's his velocity?

BILLY Unimpressive.

ARTIE About 85.

GRADY Does he have a good breaking ball?

BILLY Doesn't have one.

GRADY Why do you like this guy?

BILLY Well, he gets people out.

45.

45.

ARTIE The left-hander hitters get a really good look at him.

GRADY He's down there. He's down there real low, too.

BILLY Let's move on.

The scouts aren't sure what to say, and so say nothing.

EVENTUALLY -

GRADY Well, we, I think, have fared better. We          have some ideas for what to do about Giambi.

BILLY Knock me down.

GRADY We trade power for speed. A rabbit for a          gorilla - We go for an overachiever. A          big heart in the last year his contract. Tend to play hard. We usually get a          pretty good year out of them. Make up          for some of the offense we lost. (puts more names up) Or the other option. Just a thought. We          go for a high-maintenance guy. A guy that's a little difficult but talented. A guy like Milton Bradley. Well, not like Milton. Milton himself. Which do          you want to talk about first?

BILLY None of them. Grady looks like a man who can't take much more.

BILLY You're still looking to replace him; you're just saying it another way.

BARRY We got some trades here.

BILLY We can't do it. What we can do is          recreate his value to us in the aggregate.

46.

46.

GRADY The (what) -

BILLY Giambi's on-base percentage was .477. Damon's was .324. And Olmeda's - bless his heart - was .291. Add that up and you get - He points to Peter.

PETER You want me to speak?

BILLY When I point at you, yes.

PETER Ten-ninety-two.

BILLY Divided by three -

PETER Three-sixty-four.

BILLY That's what we're looking for. And that's what we'll find. Three players whose average OBP is -

PETER Three-sixty-four.

ARTIE That doesn't come out right.

BILLY You gotta carry the one.

ARTIE Still don't look right.

BILLY It's right. The others aren't sure what confuses them more - the logic, or the guy who shouldn't be in this room.

GRADY Billy?

BILLY Yes.

47.

47.

GRADY Who's that?

BILLY That's Peter. And that's all he's going to tell them about Peter.

GRADY I don't know how to say this delicately - but does - Peter - need to be here?

BILLY Yes.

POLONI What's with this on base percentage obsession? Is that Bill James bullshit?

BILLY You can call it Billy Beane bullshit for all I care.

Billy takes a Marks-A-Lot, jots down three names on         strips, and approaches the board.

BILLY So here's who we want. One.

He puts the first strip up. It reads: JEREMY GIAMBI.

BILLY Jason's little brother Jeremy.

BARRY He never comes home from the games.

POLONI Billy, if I may, he's had his problems on          the field -- not to mention his problems off the field -- not to mention he's          getting a little thick around the middle -- there's the stuff with the weed. He's          at strip joints...

GRADY This guy could start the year with an          agent and end up with a parole officer for Christ's sake.

BILLY His on-base percentage is all we're          looking at now and he gets on base an           awful lot for someone who only costs $285,000 a year.

48.

48.

GEORGE He can't catch a ball in the outfield. I've seen him lose a ball in the moonlight. Billy puts up another name: DAVID JUSTICE.

BILLY David Justice.

GRADY Ten years ago he was a big name. He's          going to really help our season tickets at the beginning of the year. But by          June he's not going to be hitting his weight.

PITTARO He's 36!

ARTIE His legs are gone. He's a defensive liability. I question whether the bat speed is still there.

BARRY Steinbrenner is so pissed at his decline he's willing to eat up half his contract to get rid of him.

BILLY That's good.

HOPKINS He's a fossil. With all due respect, bringing these three guys aboard is like putting bubble gum on a flat tire.

GRADY And why do we want to be the ones to bail Justice out of his contract?

Billy points at PETER --

PETER He gets on base.

GRADY I got 37 free agents who are better than those guys.

BILLY Scott Hatteberg.

49.

49.

POTE Who?

BILLY Exactly. Sounds like an Oakland A          already. Yes, he's got a little damage in his elbow.

GRADY Some damage? He can't throw.

BILLY We're not interested in him for his arm anymore than we wanted Giambi for his.

GRADY Wait, you're talkin' about Hatteberg at          first?

BILLY Yes.

HOPKINS He's a career .260 hitter and the good part of his career is over.

BILLY I say it's just starting.

PITTARO Well, Billy, you'll like the sound of          this... I hear Boston wants to cut him and no one wants to pick him up.

BILLY That's good news for us. He's cheap.

GRADY Let me understand this. At first base you want a guy who's been cut from half of the minor league teams in the country due to irreparable nerve damage?

BILLY He can't hit and he can't field, but what can he do?

(BEAT) Look at the piece of paper or I'm going to point at Peter. The SCOUTS consult their spreadsheets and then answer

HALF-HEARTEDLY--

50.

50.

SCOUTS

(HALF-HEARTEDLY) He can get--

BILLY He can get on base.

POLONI Alright, so he walks a lot.

BILLY He gets on base a lot, Rocco. Do I care if it's a walk or a hit?

PETER You do not.

POLONI These three players, by your own admission, are defective in one way or         another.

BILLY Yeah.

GRADY You want to replace Jason Giambi with not one but three defective players?

BILLY You got it.

GRADY Billy, we've all been busting our asses the last six and a half weeks to make this a better ball--

BILLY (cutting him off) Grady, it's not a discussion.

POTE I think we're all losing sight of the fact that you're the general manager. You only have to answer to ownership and God.

BILLY I didn't know God followed baseball.

POTE I hope he does.

51.

51.

Some of the scouts look over in Peter's direction, no          doubt wondering if he's had something to do with their general manager's ideas.

WASHINGTON Billy, I just don't see it.

BILLY That's okay, Wash. We won't be victimized by what we see anymore.

WASHINGTON I understand what you're saying about their averages, but there's something you're forgetting. None of them plays first base.

BILLY I haven't forgotten that, Wash. One of          them is going to have to learn.

WASHINGTON Learn.

BILLY You're going to have to teach him.

WASHINGTON Teach.

BILLY Instruct.

WASHINGTON Which one?

33 EXT/INT. TACOMA HOUSE - NIGHT 33

A Christmas tree. Four stockings hang from the mantle. The phone rings. SCOTT HATTEBERG gets up. He looks at it. Looks at his wife. Picks it up.

SCOTT Hello?

BILLY (VO) Scott?

SCOTT Yes?

BILLY (VO) It's Billy Beane. Oakland A's.

SCOTT was expecting that it would be someone else...

52.

52.

SCOTT Yes?

BILLY (VO) Can we talk?

SCOTT Yes.

BILLY (VO) You want to invite me in?

SCOTT What?

BILLY (VO) I'm outside. I can see you in the window. SCOTT goes to the window and cups his hands against the glass to see outside.

ELIZABETH Honey?

Two silhouettes are standing on the edge of the fairway. One of them waves.

34 INT. SCOTT HATTEBERG'S HOUSE - LATER - NIGHT 34

ELIZABETH is putting out some cookies shaped like stars and bells for the late-night guests: BILLY and RON

WASHINGTON.

BILLY Thank you, ma'am.

WASHINGTON Thank you, ma'am.

She leaves her husband with the two men but listens in on          their conversation from the next room, nibbling on a           cookie of her own.

BILLY You've played catcher your whole life?

SCOTT Since I was 8. BILLY produces a baseball from his windbreaker and hands it to SCOTT. SCOTT can only manage to grip the baseball like a claw. Washington looks to heaven.

BILLY How's the elbow?

53.

53.

SCOTT Good. Real good. It's great.

(FUCK IT) I can't throw at all.

BILLY Yeah, don't worry about it. You've thrown your last baseball from behind the plate. I want you at first. SCOTT is so thrown by this that all he can do is stare at         BILLY. Then at WASHINGTON, who's shrug tells SCOTT "This         wasn't my idea."

SCOTT I've only ever played catcher.

BILLY You're not a catcher anymore. If you were, then mine wouldn't have been the only call you got when your contract expired at midnight.

SCOTT I appreciate it but--

BILLY You're welcome.

SCOTT

YOU SEE--

BILLY You don't know how to play first base.

SCOTT That's right.

BILLY It's not that hard. Tell him, Wash.

WASHINGTON It's incredibly hard!

BILLY Anything worth doing is. Wash is gonna teach you.

SCOTT Wait a minute, what about--

BILLY Jason's gone, Scott.

54.

54.

SCOTT I'm taking Giambi's spot at first? What about the fans?

WASHINGTON Yeah, maybe I can teach one of them.

BILLY The fans don't run--

(TO WASHINGTON)

--GOOD ONE-- (back to SCOTT) --the fans don't run my ball club.

SCOTT They're gonna hate me.

WASHINGTON (motioning to BILLY) No, they're gonna hate him.

BILLY The fans love me.

WASHINGTON Okay.

HATTEBERG's YOUNG DAUGHTER comes down the staircase in         her pajamas, having just woken up in the middle of the night.

BILLY Hello.

HATTEBERG'S DAUGHTER Hi.

SCOTT That's our youngest daughter.

BILLY Great.

SCOTT Do you have kids?

BILLY doesn't like to share personal lives with the players but he covers well--

BILLY --yeah, I have a daughter.

BILLY takes a contract out of his windbreaker and sets it         on the table next to the cookies.

55.

55.

BILLY This is a contract for you to play baseball with the Oakland A's. A copy's          on its way to your agent. Discuss it with your wife and let us know. (They get up and          Billy calls off) Thanks for the cookies, ma'am. We see ELIZABETH with tears running down her face...then go back to the living room--

ELIZABETH (O.S.) You're welcome.

BILLY (on his way out) Merry Christmas.

35 EXT./INT. SAN DIEGO - PRESENT DAY 35

The door of a suburban house opens, revealing a WOMAN.

BILLY Hi.

SHARON Hi, Billy.

She pulls the door open so he can come in. As he does -

BILLY She home?

SHARON She's out, but she'll be home soon.

36 INT. SAN DIEGO HOUSE - CONTINUOUS 36

As Billy enters his ex-wife Sharon's house, her husband ALAN walks in, talking on the phone.

ALAN

(ON PHONE) Yeah, no, don't worry about it sweetie. Here's mom.

Alan hands Sharon the phone.

BILLY Hey Alan.

ALAN Come on in have a seat. Want some coconut water? It's really refreshing.

56.

56.

BILLY I'm all set, thanks.

ALAN What are you benching now?

BILLY I don't keep count.

ALAN Well, whatever it is, it's working. You look good.

They sit on the couch next to a Christmas tree.

ALAN I haven't got to see you since the playoffs in New York. That was heartbreaking, Billy. We were rooting for you.

BILLY

(BEAT) Yep.

ALAN You know what I say?

BILLY Fuck `em.

(BEAT) I'm sorry Alan, what do you say?

ALAN No, I just wanted to say that a lot of          teams don't get that far, and to make it           that far is a really big accomplishment.

Sharon gets off the phone and joins them.

BILLY

(TO SHARON) So how is she?

SHARON She's great. Be here in a minute. How's          the team shaping up?

BILLY New beginnings. Blue horizons.

ALAN I read that you lost two players. Damon

AND -

(MORE)

57.

57.

ALAN (CONT'D)

(MISPRONOUNCES) Ghee-ambi?

SHARON Giambi. Wow, that's tough. That's really tough.

BILLY And Isringhausen.

ALAN Sounds tough.

BILLY So where is she?

ALAN I just talked to her on her cell. She's          just coming up the hill, she's two minutes away.

BILLY You bought her a cell phone?

SHARON Yeah.

BILLY At 12?

ALAN Just for emergencies. I'm sorry, we          should have consulted you for that

DECISION-

BILLY It's probably a good idea.

SHARON But actually I called you - The front door opens. It's Billy's daughter Casey - a pre- teen indie-rock girl - and not a moment too soon. He's          up quickly to give her a hug and to get out of here.

BILLY Let's go shopping.

37 INT. GUITAR CENTER - LA MESA - DAY 37

Billy and Casey peruse guitars.

BILLY You want one with nylon strings, right?

58.

58.

CASEY I like the red ones.

BILLY How about this?

CASEY Yeah, that's cool.

BILLY Let's try it out over here.

They take a seat. Casey easily fingers through a very tough spray of notes.

BILLY

(GENUINELY IMPRESSED) Casey.

CASEY Yeah.

BILLY You got good.

CASEY I've just been playing a lot.

BILLY That's... that's not the way most 12 year olds play.

CASEY Alan thinks I should have a better teacher.

BILLY Who's Alan?

CASEY looks at him --

BILLY Oh, yeah. Mom's Alan. What's wrong with the teacher you have now?

CASEY Alan thinks I should be working more on          technique so I don't learn bad habits.

BILLY Well, you seem to be doing just fine to          me. Do you like playing?

CASEY I love it.

59.

59.

BILLY That's so great. I'm so happy for you. The most important thing in life is to          find something you love and do it well. Do you like your teacher?

CASEY Yeah.

BILLY Okay, I'll talk to Mom and Alan. Do you like that guitar?

CASEY Yes!

BILLY That the one?

CASEY Yeah, I think so.

BILLY Let's get it. Let's get it now.

CASEY Really?

BILLY Merry Christmas.

CUT TO:

38 EXT. DODGER STADIUM 38

LEGEND: 1984 BILLY's at the plate, a batting helmet snug around his head, wearing a METS uniform, as a 97 mph fastball buzzes by him and the UMPIRE calls--

UMPIRE Striiike!

BILLY steps out of the box, taps the dirt off his cleats and steps back in.

A younger-looking SHARON is sitting in field level seats, looking on nervously and trying not to show it. BILLY half-swings at the breaking ball, holding his swing at the last minute.

60.

60.

The CATCHER and PLATE UMPIRE both point down to first base for the call and the FIRST BASE UMPIRE makes a fist in the air, indicating that Billy swung.

UMPIRE Striiike!

And Billy's out. SHARON holds her head in her hands and BILLY walks back to the dugout, passing a player with "STRAWBERRY" on his back.

And now the quick scenes of failure become staccato--

39-40 OMITTED 39-40

41 EXT. TIDEWATER 41

LEGEND: 1985

BILLY playing for minor league Tidewater and he grounds

OUT AND

CUT TO:

42 EXT. TOLEDO 42

LEGEND: 1986

BILLY playing for minor League Toledo. He swings and pops up lamely to the PITCHER, throwing his bat down in          frustration as he jogs hopelessly to first and we

ANNOUNCER V/O ...Billy Beane, who's quickly establishing a new record for breaking bats, bat racks and water coolers, was actually a much-touted first round pick of the New York Mets in 1980 but the majors have not been kind to him with only 18 plate appearances in two years and this won't doing anything to help him as...

43 EXT. YANKEE STADIUM 43

LEGEND: 1986 BILLY playing for the Minnesota Twins where he comes back into the dug out and throws his batting helmet down and

CUT TO:

61.

61.

44 EXT. PORTLAND 44

LEGEND: 1987

BILLY playing for minor league Portland and a water cooler goes flying across the dugout and

CUT TO:

A45 EXT. MINNESOTA A45

LEGEND: 1987

ANNOUNCER V/O ...one of two first round picks in 1980 along with Daryl Strawberry, Beane was brought up last year and sent back down after 8 at-bats so here's a second chance as Smith delivers...          BILLY playing for the Minnesota Twins. He swings hard at          a pitch and strikes out and we

CUT TO:

45 EXT. DETROIT 45

LEGEND: 1988

BILLY playing for the Detroit Tigers and the bat rack gets heaved across the field and

CUT TO:

46 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT 46

LEGEND: 1989

ANNOUNCER V/O ...If you're a real baseball fan with a          good memory you might remember that Billy Beane was taken in the first round of the amateur draft back in 1980, separated from All-Star outfielder Daryl Strawberry by only 14 picks, so it just goes to          show...

BILLY in an A's uniform. He stands and watches a called third strike sail past him.

UMPIRE Strike!

Billy breaks the bat over his thigh and drops the pieces on the plate. He begins to walk off.

62.

62.

UMPIRE Hey Billy, clean up after yourself.

Billy hears him but continues to walk off.

TO BE WRITTEN: THE UMP TOSSES BILLY FROM THE GAME.

BILLY looks up at SHARON in the seats behind the dugout but the two can't quite meet each other's eyes.

47 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY 47

In the subterranean video room - an even less elegant place than the rest of the stadium - someone has put up a          scraggly Christmas tree. There, Peter watches a tape of          a minor leaguer on the Lowell Spinners, a Single-A Boston affiliate. Billy comes in.

PETER How'd it go?

BILLY How'd what go?

PETER Hatteberg.

BILLY He can barely hold a baseball. But he's          our guy now. Billy sits.

BILLY Who's that?

PETER That is Kevin Youkilis. This is the guy we want more than anyone else in the world.

Billy watches the guy on the screen. He's an overweight right-handed batter with a peculiar stance.

PETER He can't run, throw or field. But he          walks more than anyone in baseball except Barry Bonds. Take out intentional walks and it's more than Bonds. He's the Greek God of Walks.

On the TV, the batter takes another pitch just off the edge of the strike zone.

63.

63.

PETER I tried to get Shapiro to draft him last June. He said he waddled like a duck. Boston took him. Boston won't let him go          yet. They're going to wait and see.

They watch him lay off a pitch an inch outside the strike zone. Peter gives Billy a look that says, You see that?

PETER You all right, Billy?

GRADY O/S Billy? Grady has appeared behind them at the door.

GRADY Can we talk a minute?

BILLY Yeah.

(TO PETER) Yeah.

48 INT. LOCKER ROOM - MOMENTS LATER 48

Grady closes the video room door for privacy. The only other person in sight is manager Art Howe, in his office in street clothes. He shuts his windowed door so Grady and Billy can talk in confidence.

GRADY Your boy and I had a talk while you were in Tacoma. I didn't like much of what I          heard.

BILLY No?

GRADY No. You got a kid in there with a Yale economics degree and a scout out here with 29 years baseball experience and you're listening to the wrong one.

BILLY I don't listen to anyone, you know that.

GRADY This isn't a joke.

BILLY I'm not joking.

64.

64.

GRADY This isn't how you run a ball club, with a computer. You know that. You're a          baseball man. There are intangibles that only a scout can see in a player that you're not going to pick up with just numbers, with someone who doesn't          play the game, who knows nothing about the game but how to feed numbers into a          computer.

BILLY That's what we're doing. That's exactly what we're doing.

GRADY If this is what baseball is, if it's not Kirk Gibson going up to the plate on two bad legs because the manager felt in his heart that he had one swing left in that body... a computer wouldn't do that. They would have had him sitting up in the stands.

BILLY A computer doesn't romanticize the sport. Leave that for the fans.

GRADY Well, romance and the fans, it's called a          love affair with the game and it's been going on for one hundred and fifty years.

BILLY I don't want to hurt you love affair with the game. Just because we've been doing it one way for a hundred and fifty years doesn't mean we've been doing it right. You have any idea how long people thought the sun revolved around the earth? To          your eyes it looks like that's what's           happening.

GRADY You're saying everybody's been wrong? Everybody? Beat.

GRADY Are you saying everybody's been wrong?

BILLY Yes. Maybe.

(BEAT)

(MORE)

65.

65.

BILLY (CONT'D)         Yes, and I've thought so my whole life. And now we're gonna see if I'm--

GRADY --we're gonna see if you're right?! This is about you and your shit? Some scouts from 20 years ago called it wrong, okay? They thought you were a ballplayer and you weren't. As you know, it happens. Don't take it out on--

BILLY I'm not--taking it out on--

GRADY I'm trying to help, okay, I'm saying--

BILLY No, you're not saying anything to me         right now.

(BEAT) Grady, you don't have special powers. You don't have the ability to look at a guy and "just know" because you're a scout with special powers. I've watched you sit at kitchen tables for years and tell the parents of a 17 year old kid, "Trust me,         when I know, I know, and when it comes to          your son, I know" and you don't. We're          shopping in a new store--full of          complicated statistical analysis and equations and I get that it turns your world upside down but on base percentage-- our best chance to score on our budget isn't getting a 6'4" Adonis to the plate,         it's getting a 5'10" washout who's          already at first base.

GRADY

(PAUSE) May I speak?

BILLY Yes.

GRADY Major League Baseball and its fans will be happy to hand you and Google Boy your heads if you keep doing what you're doing here, I don't give a shit about friendship this situation or the past. Major League Baseball thinks the way I         think. You're not gonna win. And I'll         give you a nickel's worth of free advice.

(MORE)

66.

66.

GRADY (CONT'D)          You're making it impossible for yourself to get another job once Schott fires you after this catastrophic season you're          setting us all up for and you're gonna have to explain to your wife and your kid why you're working at Dick's Sporting Goods.

BILLY I'm not gonna fire you, Grady.

GRADY Go fuck yourself, Billy.

BILLY Well now maybe.

GRADY takes off. BILLY stands there a moment. On his way out, passing Art's windowed office, he exchanges a look with the manager. Billy takes a short walk to where a few of his scouts are standing around an arcade console. To the youngest one -

BILLY Eric. You never even played high school ball, right?

The young scout shakes his head, embarrassed.

BILLY Grady's gone. You're the new Head Scout.

Billy turns away and is headed back to the video room. Pokes his head in.

BILLY Don't try to explain things to scouts. They're not programmed to get it. It's          just us.

He leaves. Peter watches the door close, then glances back to the tape as Youkilis takes ball four and waddles down to first base.

CUT TO:

A49 EXT. PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM - DAY A49

Team / JumboTron photos are taken of our new A's. It's          clear from the photo Billy didn't hire them to sell jeans.

LEGEND: March 2, 2002 - SPRING TRAINING

67.

67.

Billy gives an interview to a SPORTS REPORTER.

SPORTS REPORTER Billy, will the fans still come out now that you've lost Giambi?

BILLY I don't know, Graham. Will they listen to          your insipid radio show?

B49 INT. LOCKER ROOM - ARIZONA - DAY B49

MIKE MAGNANTE goes through the effort of putting on his knee-braces. Scott Hatteberg, lacing up, watches him.

49 EXT. PHOENIX MUNICIPAL STADIUM - DAY 49

Various stations have been set up at which infielders go          through their warm-ups - wind sprints, arm loosening. Infielders field grounders hit by Art Howe from a fungo.

Billy paces in the foul territory off the first base line. HIS POV: JEREMY GIAMBI missing a fly ball, DAVID JUSTICE looking tired, HATTEBERG missing the scoop. Art hits another grounder which Hatteberg botches again. Art looks at Billy a good long beat, then hits to another infielder.

Peter walks up to Billy, just as - A poke off the bat sends Jeremy Giambi scrambling back like a postman trying to escape a mad dog. The ball lands behind him.

BILLY Well, we didn't pay him for his defense.

Art and Washington hit grounders to Carlos Pena and Scott Hatteberg. Hatteberg miraculously gets his mitt on it.

BILLY That's the way, Hatte. Pickin' Machine.

Behind a portable backstop, a guy with a radar gun gets ready to clock a trio of relievers. Mike Magnante has his pant legs pulled up to adjust knee-braces. Magnante gets up and begins throwing, increasing his velocity each time.

BILLY None of those broke 85.

68.

68.

They watch the second pitcher - the gentle-faced kid from the locker room - Chad Bradford - step up.

BILLY Chad I have high hopes for. Bradford overthrows his first submarine hand-scraping- the-ground pitch, and the ball sails wide of the catcher. Somebody ducks. Art Howe glances with a long-suffering look to Billy.

BILLY It just got away from him.

They watch David Justice do wind sprints.

BILLY He's still got it.

Then Justice stops, winded.

50 INT. LOCKER ROOM - ARIZONA - LATER 50

As the players shower and change into street clothes, Art, Billy and Washington discuss Hatteberg, who knows they're discussing him.

BILLY It's the first day of week one. There's          nothing to judge yet.

ART I can judge it and so can you. First base is the moon to him.

BILLY It wasn't to Giambi? He's the worst first baseman in baseball. What do you think of him, Wash?

WASHINGTON The nicest way I can put it is, he lacks confidence.

BILLY Work with him Wash.

WASHINGTON I'll do that, Billy, but we've got Pena who can play first. And he's looking pretty good out there.

BILLY I want to make it work with Hatte, Wash.

69.

69.

As Washington crosses the locker room to lie to Scott about how much progress he's making, he passes Magnante taking off his knee braces, and Chad Bradford sitting at          his locker with a Bible in his lap.

ART Not to mention we already have a first baseman.

BILLY A rookie first baseman. It's not the same.

ART Number 11 on the Top 100 Prospects list.

BILLY Lists aren't baseball.

ART Catchers at first base aren't baseball. Who's idea was this? Peter's?

BILLY Hatteberg will be fine, Art.

ART He will be fine, you're right. Pinch hitting while Pena plays first base.

51 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY 51

A towering portrait of David Justice has been painted where Jason Giambi's used to be.

The hardest diehard fans file under it and through the turnstiles. You know what they look like, dripping A's          merchandise, radios and Sharpies, arriving so early the B.P. cage is still being dragged into place.

A SERIES OF SHOTS

Indicate the arrival of opening day. INCLUDING: foul lines are painted, broadcast trucks plug in, the network control room fires up, ANNOUNCERS do their prep, Steve Schott lands in his helicopter. LEGEND: April 1, 2002 - OPENING DAY IN THE LOCKER ROOM: Players prepare. Magnante puts on          his knee braces.

MAGNANTE Yeah... been doing it for way too long.

70.

70.

HATTEBERG How long does it take?

MAGNANTE When I first started these things? It          was like a half hour process. Now I can knock these suckers out in 30 seconds, no          problem.

52 INT. A'S LOCKER ROOM - SAME TIME - DAY 52

Jeremy Giambi's boombox is on again as he and his 24 teammates suit up. 36-year-old David Justice wanders past to a soda machine. Presses a button, but nothing comes out. Tries again.

TEJADA Is a dollar, mang.

JUSTICE What?

TEJADA Always been like that here.

JUSTICE You're kidding me, right?

TEJADA Welcome to Oakland.

BILLY and PETER walk through. He walks past CHAD BRADFORD's locker...

CHAD Excuse me, Mr. Beane.

BILLY Hey Chad.

CHAD I hope I'm not disturbing you.

BILLY You're not, what's up?

CHAD I wanted to say thanks for the opportunity.

BILLY It's gonna work out well for both of us.

71.

71.

CHAD Nobody in the major league ever took me          seriously.

BILLY

(PAUSE) Nobody?

CHAD Just you, sir.

BILLY Okay.

(BEAT) It's a big day, you won't forget it.

CHAD I'm going to pray for you and your family.

PETER follows BILLY out of the locker room.

53 OMITTED 53

A54 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - ANNOUNCER'S BOOTH - DAY A54

SHOTS OF THE GAME ANNOUNCERS. KEN KORACH, GREG PAPA and GLEN KUIPER welcome the fans to opening day, discuss the A's lineup and the problems they face this season.

54 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY 54

MONTAGE:

It's fifteen minutes before the game as some executives have their picture taken on the field with BILLY.

BILLY Hey, great to see you. Thanks for coming out. Got a good box? You want a          picture? Sure, let me step in there. Great, big smiles now. Big smiles. Know what I like about opening day? Everyone's even. Thank you. You all enjoy the game.

BILLY gets his picture taken with KIDS from an area Little League team. He's laughing and being a good host.

BILLY Hey, how you guys doing. So you won? That's great. What position are you? How's your fastball? 92? Alright, should we get a pic?

72.

72.

Billy and the Little League team pose with a giant donation check. The announcer then directs everyone's          attention to a trophy ceremony in progress. As Chavez receives his Golden Glove award and smiles for the fans...

CUT TO:

55 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD LEVEL SEATS - DAY 55

BILLY greeting some VIP's in their field-level seats. Throughout this we'll hear bits of talk radio.

HOST #1 (FROM RADIO) With the departure of head scout Grady Fuson and a roster that I'll describe as          unusual, if not eccentric, you have to           wonder what Billy Beane is thinking. BILLY catches a glance of ELIZABETH HATTEBERG taking her seat nearby.

In the family area, Elizabeth introduces herself to Tara.

ELIZABETH Hi, I'm Elizabeth.

TARA Hi. Tara. Which is yours?

ELIZABETH Scott Hatteberg. Catcher - actually first base - actually we don't know. Yours?

TARA

GM.

ELIZABETH

(EXCITEDLY) Mr. Beane? Tara nods.

ELIZABETH He's a saint.

TARA Really?

CUT TO:

A56 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY A56

Art is talking to a JOURNALIST.

73.

73.

JOURNALIST Are they picking up your option for next year?

A beat.

ART I brought it up to them during the off- season, and I still do not have my          option.

JOURNALIST Are you frustrated?

ART I think it's fair to say that.

56 OMITTED 56

57 OMITTED (INCORPORATED INTO 54) 57

A58 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - LATER A58

Art Howe stands mid-field as the starting lineup is          announced. One by one, players join him on the field. The honor guard presents the flag as everyone stands for the National Anthem. Afterward, the players scatter to          warm up for the game.

58 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD LEVEL - DAY 58

The CROWD CHEERS as the A's take the field. Billy and Peter are at the edge of the tunnel, watching.

BILLY Okay, good.

(BEAT) I'm heading in.

PETER Why?

BILLY I don't watch the games.

PETER Is this a joke?

BILLY shakes his head "no". PETER gestures "What the fuck          are you talking about?"

BILLY I don't know what you're miming.

74.

74.

PETER I'm miming "You don't watch the games?!"

BILLY This is my team. And they've taken the field. They're world class athletes who are fighting for their lives and I stand with them. Except not literally so I need you to text me what Art does.

BILLY walks out onto--

CUT TO:

59 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY 59

BILLY's watching the game on TV (ARCHIVAL VIDEO) with the sound off but we can hear the live crowd in the stadium. CRACK--a TEXAS RANGER hits a three-run homer and BILLY walks out of the room and

CUT TO:

60 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY - ARCHIVAL VIDEO 60

An OAKLAND A hits an easy pop-up to center field and

CUT TO:

61 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - DAY 61

Where BILLY's on a stationary bike. His blackberry buzzes and he takes a look--

"Fly out to cntr"

CUT TO:

62 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - DAY 62

Where BILLY's bench pressing and CRACK--

CUT TO:

63 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY - ARCHIVAL VIDEO 63

Where an OAKLAND A has just hit a ground ball to the SHORTSTOP, who tosses it easily to second for the first out, and the SECOND BASEMAN throws it over to first for--

CUT TO:

64 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - DAY 64

Where BILLY looks at the blackberry which now says--

75.

75.

"643 DBL PLAY"

The blackberry goes crashing into the wall and blows apart.

CUT TO:

65 INT. LOCKER ROOM/AREA OUTSIDE ART'S OFFICE - NIGHT 65

We find Billy and Art in conversation.

BILLY Yeah. I should have made you a bigger part of the conversation, I should have had you in the scout meetings from the first day, that way you would have understood this better and that was another mistake, I take full responsibility.

ART What are you trying to say?

BILLY It doesn't matter what moves I make if          you don't play the team the way I need them played.

ART

BILLY -

(LONG BEAT) You are out of your depth.

BILLY Why wasn't Hatteberg at first?

ART Because he can't play first.

BILLY How do you know?

ART Not my first baseball game.

BILLY

ART--

ART Scott Hatteberg can't hit.

BILLY He gets on--

76.

76.

ART And his defense--

BILLY Still keeps us in the plus column and we          only need to be 7 over 500.

ART Anything else?

BILLY Yeah, I would have rather seen Chad Bradford in there at the end than Magnante.

ART

BRADFORD'S--

BILLY I don't care about righty/lefty.

ART I do.

BILLY This is about your contract?

ART No, you've made it clear what you think about that. This is about you doing your job and me doing mine. Mine's being left alone to manage the beer league team you assembled for me.

BILLY I didn't assemble them for you, I          assembled them for me.

ART No shit.

66 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY 66

BILLY I want you to go on the road with the team.

PETER You don't go on the road with the team.

BILLY That's why I want you to do it.

PETER Why don't you?

77.

77.

BILLY I don't want to develop personal relationships. I need to trade them, send them down and sometimes cut them. You should learn how to do that by the way.

PETER The only way I'd have to cut a player is         if you oh come on!

BILLY Yeah, let's practice.

PETER No.

BILLY I'm a player, cut me from the roster.

PETER No.

BILLY Do it.

PETER This is stupid.

BILLY Man-up, Yale.

PETER Fine. Billy, would you have a seat for a         moment, I need to talk to you.

BILLY I'm already sitting.

PETER I was pretending you weren't sitting.

BILLY But I am. Keep going.

PETER This is the hardest thing there is to do         in baseball.

BILLY You got that from Bull Durham?

PETER Yeah.

78.

78.

BILLY Hitting a curve ball is the hardest thing there is to do in baseball but go ahead.

PETER You've been a huge part of this team but decisions have to be made that are best for the team, I'm sure you can understand that.

BILLY You're cutting me?

PETER I'm really sorry.

BILLY I just bought a house here.

PETER

(BEAT) Well...

BILLY Well? That's all you have to say? My kids just started at a new school, they made friends.

PETER That's--I'd leave them in school, you don't want to take them out in the middle

OF THE--

BILLY What the hell are you doing?

PETER Are you you or the player?

BILLY I'm me. You're talking about kids and schools and you should've been out of the room three minutes ago.

PETER Shouldn't I tell them that they'll always be a part of the A's family?

BILLY That makes me feel so good I'm thinking of burning your house down with you in         it. These are professional baseball players. You just do it. "Peter, I need         to let you go. Jack's office'll handle          the paperwork."

79.

79.

PETER That's it?

BILLY Would you rather get one bullet in the head or five in the chest and bleed to          death?

PETER Those are my only choices?

BILLY Go on the road with the team.

CUT TO:

67 INT. AIRPLANE - IN FLIGHT - NIGHT 67

Jeremy Giambi discreetly mixes a highball from a cache of          hotel minibar liquor bottles as he watches his favorite movie on a portable DVD player, The Natural. DAVID JUSTICE is sitting next to PETER, who scrolls down stats on his laptop.

DAVID How come your boss doesn't travel with the team?

PETER He doesn't like to mingle with the players.

DAVID Makes us easier to cut?

PETER doesn't say anything...

DAVID He's gonna make some moves if we keep losing. PETER gives a small "Yeah" shrug...

DAVID How come soda costs a dollar in the clubhouse?

PETER Billy likes to keep the money on the field.

DAVID Soda money?

80.

80.

PETER doesn't say anything...

DAVID Where on the field is the dollar I pay for soda?

PETER

(BEAT) It's hard to see.

DAVID (shaking his head) Alright.

68 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - NIGHT 68

Billy watches the T.V.

ON TV - PENA taking his place at first.

TV ANNOUNCER V/O The A's begin their first road trip of          the season having dropped 7 of their first 11 games at home and their schedule doesn't get any easier from here. If          there's a bright spot it's rookie first baseman Carlos Pena.

Billy turns off the T.V., gets beeper updates as he works out.

69 INT. BILLY'S TRUCK - DAY 69

Billy drives.

VOICES V/O With the A's getting off to a miserable start/13 of their last 20/17 of their last 25/etc...

70 INT. OAKLAND AIRPORT - DAY 70

BILLY's waiting for someone. HE'S WATCHING THE A'S GAME BY THE GATE. A PASSENGER, also watching the game, recognizes Billy.

PASSENGER Hey, aren't you Billy Beane?

BILLY Yeah.

PASSENGER Shouldn't you be at the game?

81.

81.

BILLY Nope.

CASEY emerges from the gate, sees her father before he          sees her and runs to him. They hug.

CASEY Hey, Dad.

BILLY Hey, honey... I'm glad to see you.

CUT TO:

71 INT. BILLY'S/PETER'S OFFICE - DAY 71

BILLY and PETER are throwing a ball through their office doors on either side of the hallway--

PETER It's not a big enough sample yet. I want to wait until we play more games.

72 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY 72

BILLY watches the game from the office T.V. He sees --

73 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY - ARCHIVAL VIDEO 73

DAVID JUSTICE grounds into a double play to end the game.

TV ANNOUNCER And Justice hits into the 6-4-3 double play to end the game...          The INDIANS trot on the field to high-five each other.

74 OMITTED 74

A75 INT. BILLY'S HOUSE - AFTERNOON A75

Casey sits at the table as Billy scoops ice cream.

BILLY Do you want strawberry or vanilla?

CASEY Both.

BILLY Don't tell your mother.

(THEN) If you could only have one ice cream for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

82.

82.

CASEY Vanilla. Definitely vanilla.

BILLY Interesting. Chocolate sauce?

CASEY Yup. A beat. Then --

CASEY Dad... if you could choose between the power of invisibility or flight, which would you choose?

BILLY Flight. Yeah, I'd wanna fly. You?

CASEY I think I'd want invisibility.

BILLY Really? Why?

CASEY I don't know. People wouldn't notice me          as much.

BILLY Why wouldn't you want people to notice you?

CASEY I don't know.

BILLY Well, I guess you could sneak up on          people. Or eavesdrop on their conversations. You could be a spy.

(THEN) So how's school?

CASEY My teacher's kinda mean. She doesn't          like us to ask questions.

BILLY What kind of teacher doesn't let you ask questions?

CASEY I know, right? Mom was mad, too. She thinks maybe I should be home schooled.

83.

83.

BILLY Wouldn't you miss your friends?

CASEY Yeah. But the other kids are mean.

BILLY There are always going to be bullies. Try not to let them get to you. But let me know if it's becoming a problem.

CASEY Can I ask you a question? Are you still chewing tobacco?

BILLY Yeah...

CASEY Please stop.

BILLY I know, it's terrible. Look, I promise I'll quit in November if you promise not to worry about it.

CASEY Pinkie swear?

BILLY Pinkie swear.

75 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY 75

PETER Theoretically, when we've played more games the numbers will become more

REPRESENTATIVE OF--

BILLY Theoretically?

76 EXT. SAFECO FIELD - SEATTLE - DAY 76

The scoreboard shows the A's down by 1 in the 6th.

As Art trudges toward the mound to pull his starter, he          touches his left arm. Magnante emerges from the pen - and Peter, up in a VIP box, flips open his phone.

CUT TO:

77 INT. OAKLAND AIRPORT - DAY 77

BILLY is saying goodbye to CASEY.

84.

84.

BILLY Alright. Be good.

CASEY Okay. Billy's Blackberry chimes. He ignores it.

BILLY

(PAUSE) I feel like--

CASEY

(PAUSE) You feel like what?

BILLY

(BEAT) I don't know, did we talk enough this time?

CASEY About what?

BILLY Anything. Did we talk about the things you want to talk about, did we have fun?

CASEY

(PAUSE) Yeah!?

BILLY Okay.

CASEY I love you, Dad.

BILLY You're doing it right now.

CASEY What?

BILLY You're worrying about me.

CASEY Sorry.

BILLY Do I look like I'm worried?

CASEY Yeah.

85.

85.

BILLY `Cause you're getting on an airplane and those things crash all the time. Will you please stop worrying about your father? You're a kid, I can't have it.

CASEY Okay. Can I worry about the airplane now though?

BILLY Absolutely.

A FLIGHT ATTENDANT approaches --

FLIGHT ATTENDANT We're all set.

BILLY Great.

There's a slightly awkward moment and CASEY isn't sure whether she's supposed to hug her father again and so          they do a sort of half-hug.

BILLY I love you. BILLY watches her go off with the attendant, feeling like it was an unsatisfying visit.

He looks at his blackberry-- 3-2. Magnante in.

BILLY

(SHOUTING) No! WHY IS HE IN THERE?!

EVERYONE in the area stops to look at the madman.

BILLY (to the people          looking at him) No no. I'm alright.

78 EXT. TRACK - MORNING 78

Billy runs the warning track with a small radio that he          turns on long enough to follow what's happening, and switches it off again.

Over the following, we hear a cacophony of radio and TV          VOICES tumbling into each other--

86.

86.

79 THE STANDINGS ON PETER'S COMPUTER: 79

The A's have fallen to 19-25.

80 EXT. YANKEE STADIUM - NIGHT 80

MAGNATE giving up a save-blowing hit while BRADFORD sits in the bullpen...

81 EXT. JACOB'S FIELD - CLEVELAND - DAY 81

An Oakland A hits into a double-play, strike out, caught stealing, picked off first, a lop-sided scoreboard, half-

EMPTY STANDS--

A82 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT A82

The parking lot is a vast, empty black sea with just two pin-points of moving light. Headlights. Billy drives around the lot like a downhill skier with nothing in his way -- his daughter's mix-tape playing.

82 EXT. EDISON FIELD - ANAHEIM, CA - NIGHT 82

Jeremy lines a single to right, but is so slow he's          almost thrown out at first. Art Howe glances at his bench coach, Ken Macha.

ANNOUNCER Art Howe is the only manager in baseball who has to think about pinch running his leadoff hitter. Down in the Visitors' pen, Chad sits with Mike Magnante.

MAGNANTE Why do you do it?

CHAD I can't not do it.

MAGNANTE How do you do it? Every ball park's          different.

CHAD I take that into account and adjust the distance of my steps.

MAGNANTE Exactly seventy-four, from the pen to the mound.

(MORE)

87.

87.

MAGNANTE (CONT'D)

(BRADFORD NODS) You should get that looked at, man.

CUT TO:

83 EXT. SAFECO FIELD - NIGHT 83

The TEAM in the dugout, hanging their heads during a

BLOWOUT AND

CUT TO:

84 INT. CLUB HOUSE - NIGHT 84

Peter erases the percentage of games left they need to          win and writes in a higher number and

CUT TO:

85 INT. BILLY'S TRUCK - DAY 85

He's listening to the radio.

REPORTER V/O -- after Sunday's 11-0 rout. Now, having dropped 13 of 16, the A's are a game away from being swept at home by the AL East last place Baltimore Orioles.

CUT TO:

86 AERIAL SHOT 86

as we follow Billy's truck from Oakland over the Bay Bridge into San Francisco.

CUT TO:

87 INT. SCHOTT'S OFFICE - DAY 87

BILLY Steve.

SCHOTT Billy.

BILLY You remember Peter.

SCHOTT Peter. Guys, give me some idea of what's          going on out there.

88.

88.

BILLY Listen, it's a team of probabilities, and we're gonna need 162 games to tell that tale in a nascent form. It's phase one, we're evolving and we feel confident where we're heading.

SCHOTT

BILLY -

BILLY We're not scared.

SCHOTT 3 out of 17 games. 3. We're getting crucified in the press. What makes you think this is gonna turn around?

BILLY Because I believe in what we're doing. I         believe the numbers. I believe the record doesn't accurately reflect the team and where we're going to be at the end of the season. Peter and I feel very strongly that we need to stick to the game plan, and you can tell your partners to start booking their tickets to the playoffs.

SCHOTT Billy, look, you've got guys who are nearly crippled, who couldn't get hired as an usher in a ballpark now playing on         the team. Give me something I can go back to these guys with and feel like I have the confidence that you're gonna turn these things around.

BILLY With all due respect you asked me to         build a team with shoelaces and gum wrappers and we've done it.

SCHOTT You haven't done it yet billy.

BILLY And it will pay off. Stick with us. Suffer the blows. Listen, life with no         money means we're gonna have to suffer a          few embarrassments along the way, but we          are okay in the end.

SCHOTT Billy, there's a lot of money at stake here.

(MORE)

89.

89.

SCHOTT (CONT'D)          And a lot of people with vested interest in seeing this be successful. I've given you a lot of flexibility. When are we          gonna start to see a change in these results? Schott sits back at his desk.

SCHOTT Give me a date, give me a time frame.

BILLY

(TO PETER) Where do we expect to be mid July All Star break?

PETER Our goal and our expectation by the All Star break is to be within seven games of          first place.

BILLY That'll keep us in the hunt.

PETER And that would be this working exceptionally well.

SCHOTT 7 within 500. By July. And what's going to keep us from getting there?

BILLY Nothing Steve.

SCHOTT Nothing. We're 3 for 17 right now. You've          got to be able to give me a little bit more to go back to my partners with.

BILLY Listen, you hired me to do this job and that's where we're going to be.

SCHOTT That's not good enough.

BILLY Well, let's go buy Barry Bonds, then. This is the team we've got and this is          the team we'll win with.

90.

90.

SCHOTT Billy, put yourself in my shoes. What do          you imagine is going to happen if things don't turn around?

BILLY It's very clear, Steve. If I put myself in your shoes, I'd spend another 20 million on the team.

SCHOTT We don't have another 20 million

BILLY I'm just kidding, Steve, I'm just kidding. We've got the team.

SCHOTT I gotta be honest with you, Billy, I wish you had a little more worry and a little more fear. Because things aren't going in          our direction right now.

BILLY 162 games Steve.

SCHOTT Let's hope the next 30 are better than the last 30.

BILLY I don't need to hope.

SCHOTT All right fellas. Let's go try and win one. We're in May, we've got til July.

88 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY 88

The A's take batting practice. LEGEND: May 23, 2002

89 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY 89

ART, as he always does, is watching not from the railing but from the bench.

BILLY walks into the dugout without saying hello.

BILLY We're not gonna lose three at home to the Orioles.

(MORE)

91.

91.

BILLY (CONT'D)         I want Dye in right, Justice DH-ing, Pena on the bench, Hatteberg at first and anyone but Magnante first out of the pen.

ART You want Pena on the bench?

BILLY That's right. So that you can play Hatteberg.

ART Hatte - as opposed to the guy who's going to win Rookie of the Year.

BILLY No, Hatte - as opposed to the guy who gets on base less. Pena getting voted Rookie of the Year and the A's making the playoffs are two entirely different--

ART Pena's not just the best first baseman on         the roster, he's the only first baseman on the roster and the most valuable member on this team.

BILLY Not according to, what do you call `em, facts.

ART

HATTEBERG--

BILLY Listen to me--gets on base more than Pena. 25% more.

ART

HIS FIELDING--

BILLY His fielding doesn't matter.

ART It does matter and Pena only has one error in 70 games.

BILLY Not only is that number statistically insignificant but it's also subjective. It measures what someone did against what someone else thought they were supposed to do.

92.

92.

ART Part of the conversation? I've heard enough of the conversation and I disagree with you, plain and simple. Moreover, I          strongly believe that you're in the middle of experiencing some sort of          personal crisis and you seem indifferent to the fact that you're taking a whole organization down with you. I'm playing my team in a way I can explain in job interviews this winter.

Some As players arrive in the dugout, causing Billy to          hold his tongue. He simply says -

BILLY Hatte, not Pena.

90 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - NIGHT 90

The game plays silently on the TV as Billy lifts weights. Not wanting to watch but not being able not to, he looks at the screen to see Pena trotting out to first base ...

91 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - LATER - NIGHT 91

The Orioles' bench clears to high-five the players coming off the field. The game is over, and, obviously, they've          won. The A's exit their dugout to the tunnels.

92 INT. ART'S OFFICE - LATER - NIGHT 92

As Art crosses to his office, he sees Billy waiting inside it with a towel around his neck. He hesitates, then goes in and we follow him. Billy says nothing, but his silence is worse. Art has to break it -

ART It's just one game.

BILLY That's the point, you think?

ART The point is always tomorrow's game.

BILLY No, the point - as you said - is to win. I don't like sharing the cellar with Texas, do you?

We hear FUNK MUSIC begin to play in the distance.

93.

93.

ART I'm doing the best I can with what I've          got. I'm playing the players I've got.

BILLY I'm through talking.

93 INT. CLUB HOUSE LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT 93

Billy lets himself out and walks down the hall to the locker room - regards Jeremy Giambi -

JEREMY Yeah!

He's not even aware of Billy. It's just like any other night as far as Jeremy Giambi is concerned. He dances to          a CD of funk music as he dresses, until he becomes aware of Billy standing there, and smiling, he kills the music.

JEREMY

(NERVOUS LAUGH) What?

BILLY Getting swept by the Red Sox at home. Having Long lead off the ninth with a          triple in a one-run game and not being able to score a runner from first with nobody out, is that fun?

JEREMY No.

BILLY Then what the fuck are you having fun for?!

(CALMLY) This is what losing sounds like. He heads out.

94 OMITTED 94

95 INT. BILLY'S TRUCK - NIGHT 95

PETER V/O ...point 3-5 below the AL average field which isn't bad.

(BEAT) Billy?

94.

94.

BILLY Yeah?

CUT TO:

96 PETER IN THE VIDEO ROOM - SAME TIME 96

Peter rattles off player stats.

PETER Cruz -- .283, .347, .476. Stevens -- .244, .349, .560. Miner -- .272, .349, .499. Hanson -- .280, .363, .450. Baretta -- .273, .354, .497. Durazo -- .292, .395, .621. What do you think?

(THEN) Billy?

BILLY (V.O.)

(BEAT) I don't know where I am.

PETER You okay?

BILLY (V.O.) I missed my exit.

CUT TO:

A97 INT. BILLY'S TRUCK - NIGHT A97

Billy takes the next off ramp and as LIGHTS FLARE on the windshield, we transition to ANOTHER TIME, YOUNG BILLY

DRIVING --

B97 INT. CAR - MOVING - NIGHT - 1989 B97

Billy and his wife drive home from a game in silence, their infant daughter Casey asleep in a car seat in back. Sharon regards Billy's hands, clutched too tightly to the steering wheel.

SHARON Have you thought about what you might do          if baseball doesn't work out?

BILLY

(PAUSE) What?

SHARON That was too abrupt.

95.

95.

BILLY No.

(PAUSE) What?

SHARON

(BEAT) If baseball doesn't work out. Have you thought about what you might do?

BILLY

(BEAT) The game's only been over for three hours, I haven't had that much time to          think about it.

SHARON Sure.

(BEAT) Maybe real estate.

BILLY I'll be honest, if I don't make it in          baseball I don't think I'm going to be           able to afford much real estate.

SHARON

I MEANT--

BILLY I know what you meant.

SHARON

(PAUSE) It's just a slump, right?

BILLY

(BEAT) No.

SHARON You're saying every scout was wrong?

BILLY You're kind of saying it too.

SHARON

BILLY--

BILLY Honey...don't you think you should divorce me now while you're young?

SHARON looks at him... then her eyes go to the window.

96.

96.

COMMENTATOR (PRELAP) When a science experiment fails in a lab, things blow up.

97 OMITTED 97

IN BLACK:

Problems are the price you pay for progress. - Branch Rickey

98 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - CORRIDOR - DAY 98

Billy shoves a wad of Copenhagen under his lip as he and Peter walk-and-talk.

BILLY Get me Wade.

PETER Why.

BILLY Get him.

PETER Why.

BILLY Get him.

A99 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY A99

Billy's seated at his desk. Peter reluctantly dials a          number from a list, the number across from the Phillies' GM's name. It connects on the speaker.

WADE V/O Hello?

BILLY Ed. Billy. I need some help on defense and I'm willing to trade Jeremy Giambi for it.

PETER No, you (aren't) -

BILLY (ignoring Peter; to

WADE)          Who you got?

97.

97.

WADE V/O Let me think.

PETER What are you doing? Jeremy's doing

(GREAT) -

BILLY Cleaning house.

WADE V/O Maybe?

BILLY Maybe what?

WADE V/O No. Mabry.

BILLY Hang on. (put the call on

HOLD)         Mabry?

PETER I don't know.

BILLY Yes, you do.

PETER Runs hot and cold, Billy. Impossible to         know what we're going to get. He's a crap shoot. He's exactly the kind of player we're not looking for.

BILLY (into the phone) He'll be fine, Ed.

WADE V/O Why do I get the feeling you're picking my pocket?

BILLY I'm not picking your pocket, you're         picking mine. Giambi's name alone is         worth more than Mabry.

WADE V/O You realize -

98.

98.

BILLY

(INTO PHONE) I do. His career is stagnant, to put it          nicely. Can we say it's done in theory and start drawing up paperwork?

WADE V/O Okay. But -

BILLY Great.

He hangs up.

PETER I think he was going to say something else.

BILLY Peter. Rule Number 3: When you get the answer you're looking for - hang up. That's done, and in a minute Pena's going to Detroit.

PETER I don't think you want to do that.

BILLY Art can't put him at first if he's          playing for the Tigers and I want Hatte in the lineup tonight.

PETER Maybe you should think about this. You're upset and this is - this -

BILLY What am I missing?

PETER It's just a very hard move to explain. People are going to think you've lost your mind.

BILLY Why's that a problem Peter? Beat.

PETER Don't make an emotional decision Billy.

SUZANNE David Dombrowski's on 3.

99.

99.

Billy picks up the call.

BILLY

(TO PETER) Sometimes you have to shake it up.

(INTO PHONE) David, Peña's going on the blocks, you're my first call... because he's          making the rest of the team look bad...           He's going to be rookie of the year...

PETER (not eager to help          but...) Probably an all star.

BILLY He's an all star Dave... (winks at Peter,

LISTENS)          It's more like he's creating self-esteem           problems for the other guys... No, I'm           looking for a reliever and some cash...           Ok... five minutes Dave, I'm not waiting.

(HANGS UP) What's the problem?

PETER (trying to slow it

DOWN)          Billy, Peña is an all star. If you dump           him, and if Hatte doesn't work out, you           know, this is the kind of decision that           gets you fired.

BILLY Why you worrying about my job?

(BEAT) You worried about my job or yours?

PETER

(BEAT) I'm worried about yours.

BILLY Well you should be worrying about yours because if this thing we're doing don't          work... neither of us have jobs.

PETER That's probably true.

100.

100.

BILLY In which case I'm a 44 year old guy with a high-school diploma and a daughter who I'd like to be able to put through college one day. (lets it sink in) You're 25 years old with a degree from Yale and a pretty impressive apprenticeship.

(BEAT) I don't think we're asking the right question. I think the question we're          supposed to be asking now is, do you believe in what we're doing or not?

(BEAT) It's a problem that you think we need to          explain ourselves. Don't... to anyone. I'm going to see this through, for better or for worse. Just tell me, do you project we'll win more games with Peña or          Hatteberg on first?

PETER It's close Billy but theoretically Hatteberg.

BILLY What are we talking about then?

The phone rings.

BILLY Dave.

(LISTENS) That works. Great. There's just one more thing I need. I don't want the guys paying for soda--I want you to stock my          soda machine for three years. Uh huh, uh          huh, great... then that's a deal. Billy hangs up. He stares at Peter.

PETER That was thoughtful.

BILLY Yeah. Okay. You gotta tell Pena to pack.

PETER You want me to tell Pena he's been traded?

BILLY Be a man.

101.

101.

PETER What about Jeremy? Am I telling him, too.

BILLY No. I'll do that.

B99 INT. LOCKER ROOM B99

Peter walks into the locker room. Sees Pena talking to a          couple of other players. He approaches Pena.

PETER Hey, Carlos.

PENA Yeah.

PETER Can I get a moment with you?

PENA Sure.

PETER Okay, maybe we can talk over here.

They walk awkwardly to the players' lounge.

PETER Have a seat. They sit.

PETER So, um, Carlos, you've been traded to the Tigers. This is the number of Jay Palmer, their travel secretary. He's expecting your call. He'll help you arrange travel to Detroit.

Pena sits and stares at him. It's excruciating for Peter, awkward, until --

PENA Is that all?

PETER Yeah.

PENA Cool.

Pena just takes it. Picks up the number and leaves.

102.

102.

99 INT. ART'S OFFICE - LATER - DAY 99

Billy knocks and lets himself in.

BILLY Mind if I have a seat.

ART Please.

BILLY You can't start Pena at first tonight, you'll have to start Hatteberg.

ART I don't want to go 15 rounds, Billy, the line-up card is mine and that's all.

BILLY The line-up card is definitely yours, I'm          just saying you can't start Pena at           first.

ART I am starting Pena at first.

BILLY I don't think so, he plays for the Detroit Tigers now.

ART

(PAUSE) You traded Pena?!

BILLY Along with German, Hiljus and Jeremy Giambi.

ART You are outside your fucking mind.

Art stares at him in a silence broken by Jeremy Giambi knocking on the open door.

BILLY Jeremy, come on in.

Billy jots a phone number on an A's Post-It and hands it          to him.

BILLY This is Ed Wade's number. You know him?

Art looks sick.

103.

103.

JEREMY No.

BILLY Phillies General Manager. Real nice guy. Give him a call - he's expecting it - say hello - then talk to Futterman about arranging a flight for you.

JEREMY The what?

BILLY The flight. To Philadelphia. Billy gets up and shakes his hand.

BILLY It's been a real pleasure, Jeremy. I          mean that. You're a great ballplayer and great guy.

Jeremy, not sure he heard right, looks at the Post-It in         his hand as Billy escorts him to the door.

BILLY We're going to miss you.

Jeremy leaves. Billy looks at Art from the door.

BILLY Adkins is gone, too.

ART You're killing this team.

BILLY Art? I can do this all day long.

He leaves. Art notices Peter, who had been lurking by the door, eavesdropping.

ART What are you looking at?

PETER I'm not looking at anything.

ART You went along with this? You agree with this bullshit?

PETER

(BEAT) A hundred percent.

104.

104.

A100 INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY A100

Pena cleans out his locker. Several players stop by to          say goodbye. Tejada --

TEJADA Keep your head up, okay? It's part of          the business. You're gonna be a great player, okay?

PENA Thank you, man.

TEJADA Don't let this bother you at all.

Chad Bradford --

CHAD Nice to meet you, brother. Take care and... God bless you, man.

PENA Thank you.

Scott Hatteberg --

HATTEBERG You're the best first baseman here. It's          not right, Carlos.

PENA Thank you, Hattie.

HATTEBERG Yeah.

100 INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY 100

BILLY and PETER stride through as the team is getting dressed for batting practice. The place quiets down as BILLY comes in. They've all heard the news and they've never experienced a move like this in their careers.

BILLY

(CALLING OUT) Scottie H.!

SCOTT Yes sir.

BILLY Go out and field some grounders.

105.

105.

BILLY looks around at the PLAYERS, who are looking at          Billy...

BILLY Everybody, listen up. You may not look like a winning ball team. In fact, you look nothing like a winning ball team. But you are one. So play like one tonight. You'll get further instructions tomorrow.

CUT TO:

101 EXT. THE FIELD - NIGHT (HYBRID) 101

DAVID JUSTICE hits a single up the middle as the runners on 2nd and 3rd round the bases to score.

102 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - SAME TIME 102

BILLY's blackberry buzzes.

"Sngl up the mdl--2 rns scr"

BILLY Okay.

A103 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - NIGHT A103

Billy talks to Chavez and Ellis. Peter stands nearby.

BILLY No more bunts.

CHAVEZ No more bunts?

BILLY A bunt is an out. You're paid to avoid outs, not make them.

CHAVEZ A bunt isn't an out. It's a sacrifice.

BILLY A bunt is for pitchers and weak hitters. You're not a pitcher, Chavvie, so what are you saying?

(THEN) Until the third out, anything can happen. After the third out, it's over. You gotta protect your outs like they're your children. Every out's precious, don't          give `em away.

(THEN)

(MORE)

106.

106.

BILLY (CONT'D)          Another thing -- you should see more pitches. We wanna get into their bullpen. Deep into their bullpen. We          want to see 100 pitches by the end of the 5th inning. You wanna get your at-bats off their 10th and 11th pitcher.

ELLIS You want us to walk more. How much more?

BILLY Pete?

PETER At least once every ten at bats.

ELLIS Or...?

BILLY Triple-A Sacramento's only 80 miles away. And there's no flights. (as they look to

PETER)          Don't look at him. Here's the deal. I'm           not interested in what you think you know           about baseball, or what you think I don't           know about it. I'm not interested in           guts or heart or determination or           anything else the fans or your mothers           love about you. I'm interested in you           getting on base. If you do that, we win.           If you don't, we lose. And I hate to           lose. I hate to lose more than I need to           win. There's a difference.

B103 INT. VIDEO ROOM - DAY B103

Billy and Peter give advice to Dye and Byrnes.

PETER Every at bat is like a hand of blackjack. Every card that's dealt, your odds completely change. For instance, every first pitch strike, your batting average goes down about 75 points.

BILLY 75 points.

PETER 75 points. Every first pitch ball, it          goes up about the same amount. So you gotta lay off the first pitch.

107.

107.

BYRNES First pitch curveball or first pitch fastball?

PETER First pitch period. When you swing at          the first pitch you're batting .140.

BILLY We want to see more pitches.

DYE How many pitches?

PETER Every starter, we want to see 100 pitches by the 5th inning.

DYE So... 5, 6 pitches per at bat?

PETER Yeah. I mean, Hatteberg drained 38 pitches.

BILLY And Byrnsie, you're hackin' at          everything. You're all squirrely out there. Wait for your pitch, man. This is a war of attrition. There's no clock on this thing. Wait `em out. Let them make the mistakes. And when your enemy's          making mistakes -- don't interrupt them.

C103 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - DAY C103

Peter advises Durham as he works out.

PETER Basically, these are all your at bats. This is you versus righties, you versus lefties... and then, of course, all your count knowledge, okay? In an 0-0 count you're batting .290. In an 0-1 you average .238. In a 0-2, .159. When you're 1-0, you're batting .324. Understand what I'm saying?

DURHAM Not really.

PETER I know, it's a lot of math. When your first pitch is a strike, your batting average goes down about 70 points.

(MORE)

108.

108.

PETER (CONT'D)          When it's a ball, it goes up about 30. If you draw a ball on your first pitch, you're unstoppable. If you strike on the first pitch, you might as well be jumping off cliff. I'm trying to get you to lay off the first pitch.

DURHAM But I'm a first pitch hitter. I like to          swing at fastballs.

PETER And that's the way you've been trained. But it's a habit we'd like to break you from. We're trying to design the game to          your strengths. This has nothing to do          with you being a great hitter -- you're a           great hitter. We just want to get you on          base.

DURHAM But if I get my pitch, I'm gonna swing at          it, no matter what the count is.

PETER I'm not worried about you crushing the ball out of the park. I just want you to          lay off anything that will result in a           strike.

DURHAM I guess I'll have to watch some film and take a look at it.

PETER Absolutely. The video room is open to          you any time, I'm always available.

103 INT. A'S LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT 103

BILLY and PETER with a group of players around the card table, post-game.

PETER -- But seriously. Make him use up all his bullets.

BILLY Yeah, make him work.

HATTEBERG So... Mr. Beane?

BILLY Billy's fine.

109.

109.

HATTEBERG

BILLY --

BILLY Nah, make it Mr. Beane.

HATTEBERG Mr. Beane --

BILLY I'm screwin' with you, Haddie.

HATTEBERG So we just don't steal?

BILLY That's right.

LONG That's what I do. That's what you pay me          to do.

BILLY No, I pay you to get on first, not get thrown out at second.

LONG I don't get thrown out much.

BILLY I don't hit on 17 at the blackjack table, but if I did, the odds would be the same.

PETER You've actually gotten caught 6 out of 17 tries this season.

LONG I get 11 of 17. That's not bad.

BILLY You just handed them an out. Protect your outs like they're your children. There's no clock on this game. Until the third out, anything can happen. Get on          base and let the next guy move you up. Pass the torch, pass the torch. We're          like a machine. A run making machine.

A104 INT. LOCKER ROOM - KITCHEN - DAY A104

As JUSTICE and HATTEBERG prepare food --

JUSTICE What's your biggest fear?

110.

110.

SCOTT A baseball being hit in my general direction.

JUSTICE That's funny.

(THEN) No, seriously.

SCOTT Seriously.

104 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM BATTING CAGE - DAY 104

BILLY Hey, Dave. I've been thinking... I want you to --

JUSTICE You gonna teach me something?

BILLY Excuse me?

JUSTICE I've never seen a GM talk to players.

BILLY You've never seen a GM who was a player.

JUSTICE Huh.

BILLY Is there a problem?

JUSTICE It's okay, man. I know your routine. It's          a patter, it's rap, it's for effect. That's okay. But it's for them, it's not for me.

BILLY You're special?

JUSTICE You're paying me 7 million bucks so I          guess I am a little.

BILLY As a matter of fact I'm not paying you 7 million bucks, David. The Yankees are paying half your salary. That's what the New York Yankees think of you.

(MORE)

111.

111.

BILLY (CONT'D)          They're paying you three and a half million dollars to play against them.

If this is news to Justice, he doesn't show it.

JUSTICE Where are you going with this, Billy?

BILLY You're almost 37, Dave. Almost as old as          me. Let's be honest with each other about what we each want. I want to milk the last ounce of baseball you have left in you, and you want to stay in the show. So let's do that. I'm not paying you to          be the player you used to be, I'm paying you to be the player you are now. You're          smart, you know what's going on here. I          need you to set an example for the younger guys. Take a leadership role.

Justice just studies him ... then nods.

BILLY We're cool?

JUSTICE We're cool.

BILLY All right. Billy starts to leave, but has one last thought for him --

BILLY You know -- the Yankees are coming to          town. If it were me -- I'd want to take that three point five and shove it up          their ass. But I'm a competitor.

Billy exits. Justice calls after him --

JUSTICE You know, I got a couple World Series rings. I think I'm a pretty good competitor, too.

BILLY

(CALLING BACK) You want another one?

CUT TO:

112.

112.

105 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT 105

DAVID JUSTICE takes ball four from a Yanks pitcher, tosses his bat to the side and trots down to first base.

CUT TO:

106 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT 106

TEJADA is on first and taking a big lead toward second. He wants to steal it bad.

ANNOUNCER (VO) Tejada taking a big lead off first, eyeing the steal--

107 INT. CLUBHOUSE MANAGER'S OFFICE - NIGHT 107

BILLY watches with two or three TEAM EMPLOYEES.

BILLY Don't do it, Migs.

108 EXT. FIELD - NIGHT 108

And CRACK--a base hit sends Tejada to 3rd.

109 INT. CLUBHOUSE MANAGER'S OFFICE - NIGHT 109

BILLY's blackberry buzzes:

Sngl to lft. Frst and thrd--nobody out.

BILLY Thank you.

110 EXT. AIRPLANE - IN FLIGHT 110

The wheels of the team jet lift off--

111 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - NIGHT 111

The TV is on as BILLY and PETER work, seeming more and more like mad scientists who are getting closer and closer to splitting the atom.

GREG PAPA OR RAY FOSSE (TV) What is happening in Oakland?!! The A's          have won seven in a row and 15 of their last 19. You got to hand it to Art Howe. He's managing this unorthodox team in an          unorthodox way. They are not bunting. They are not stealing. They are just winning. And Art Howe is the reason.

113.

113.

PETER Did you hear that?

BILLY I heard 7 in a row. Billy clicks off the TV and it's very quiet. Billy is          scrolling down numbers that show trends and comparisons of all of the A's relief pitching.

BILLY Can you show me righty-lefty matchups for the division and overall versus Mariners?

Peter reaches over and with a few clicks produces new columns of numbers, upon which Billy darts his eyes as he          scrolls through them. Finally -

BILLY Okay.

He gets up and heads out.

A112 INT. LOCKER ROOM - AFTERNOON A112

BILLY walks through the clubhouse, shouting locker room shoutouts to PLAYERS as he walks by.

BILLY Voos.

VOOS Billy.

BILLY (pointing back down

HALL)          That smell is getting worse.

VOOS I'm on it, Billy.

BILLY

(TO HERNANDEZ) What are we doing tonight?

HERNANDEZ Splitting the plate in half.

BILLY Both sides. (to Hudson, playing

CARDS)          Huddy, you gotta mix it up tonight.           Trust your slider.

114.

114.

HUDSON Yes sir.

BILLY (to the others) You guys stop distracting him.

(TO CHAVEZ) Chavvie -- you couldn't hit that shit with a boat paddle last night. You gotta see more pitches. Patience.

CHAVEZ You got it, Billy.

As Billy crosses through the weight room --

BILLY

(TO JUSTICE) Hey David --

JUSTICE Hey, man.

BILLY Great at bats. Really. Quality.

JUSTICE Thank you.

112 INT. ART'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS 112

BILLY knocks on Art's door -- something we haven't seen him do before. ART can see BILLY through the window blinds and is a          little surprised at the courtesy of a knock.

ART Come in. BILLY does. He's going to try to do this nicely.

BILLY How are ya?

ART Good. You knocked.

BILLY I did, and I hope you take it as a show of respect.

ART We'll see.

115.

115.

BILLY You look good.

ART We've won 7 in a row, what am I doing wrong now?

BILLY Absolutely nothing.

ART Good.

BILLY But.

ART Yeah.

BILLY Magnante's having some head problems.

ART Head problems.

BILLY Yeah.

ART Okay.

BILLY He's 37 and he's got three blown saves in         two weeks. Everytime he winds up he's         thinking he's about to throw the last pitch of his life. So he grips it a         little hard.

ART I appreciate this.

BILLY Sure.

ART But I know my bullpen.

BILLY Yes you do. Yes you absolutely do. No         question about it. Except not really.

ART Yeah?

116.

116.

BILLY If we have a lead late in the game and they have runners on base, I'd rather not see Magnante out of the bullpen.

ART I'll make that decision when the time comes.

BILLY That's what you should do. Baseball's a          game of situations and you should make the decision when the time comes. Except you should make it now.

ART

LOOK--

BILLY Don't bring Magnante out if we've gotta hold a late lead with runners on. He's          37, he's scared shitless of being the guy who blows this winning streak.

ART You think a lot of yourself, don't you?

BILLY I......think the regular amount of          myself. Magnante on the other hand, he          doesn't think very much of himself at           all, and when he tightens up we've got ourselves an adventure. So I'd like to          see Chad Bradford out of the pen tonight when we're in, let's say, just to make it          easier for you, any situation. Righty/lefty, two outs, no outs, the umpires have decided we're going to          finish the game by playing darts, whatever. Bradford's the first guy out of          the pen.

(BEAT) Okay?

ART regards BILLY for a moment...

ART I could've coached you up, you know.

BILLY I don't think so.

ART You think you went as far as you could have?

117.

117.

BILLY

(PAUSE) Yeah, that's what I meant. Play Bradford.

BILLY steps out of Art's office into--

113 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - LATER - NIGHT 113

The game plays on TV as BILLY bench presses. The A's are up by three runs in the ninth inning but the Indians have a runner on first.

Through the tunnel, BILLY can hear the crack of the bat and a collective groan from the stands.

BILLY holds the barbell in the air--frozen--as he simply looks at the T.V. and sees the silent images.

114 EXT. FIELD - NIGHT (HYBRID) 114

ART HOWE walking to the mound, tapping his left hand.

MAGNANTE heading to the mound.

115 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - NIGHT 115

We think BILLY's going to trash the weights, but he          simply returns the barbell to the bracket, sits up and watches the silent images.

116 EXT. FIELD - NIGHT (HYBRID) 116

MAGNANTE mops his brow, squints for the sign, winds up          and makes his pitch. It misses low for ball four and PEDRO walks to first.

117 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - NIGHT 117

Billy lays back on the bench, breathes, then unmutes the T.V. and we hear -

ANNOUNCER (FROM TV) Magnante has quickly let two on base for Lee Stevens who's the go ahead run for the Indians in a game that Oakland appeared to have put away. And then - BILLY sits calmly...waits for it...and--

CRACK!

--BILLY nods his head at the inevitable.

118.

118.

ANNOUNCER (FROM TV) That ball is deep....way back...three run homer for Lee Stevens to put Cleveland ahead in the ninth inning...          BILLY can hear 40,000 people booing their lungs out. He          takes a moment, then grabs his jacket.

118 EXT. FIELD - NIGHT 118

The FANS are booing as ART makes his way to the mound to          take MAGNANTE out. BRADFORD makes his way from the bullpen and takes the ball from ART. ART turns to head back to the dugout but slows as he sees a strange sight: BILLY is standing at the dugout rail.

The plate UMPIRE notices and follows Art's line of sight. He sees BILLY and walks over there ahead of Art.

UMPIRE You can't be in there, Billy.

BILLY doesn't move. He just watches ART as he comes into the dugout.

UMPIRE Billy?

The PLAYERS are watching to see what's going to happen. BILLY puts his hand on ART's shoulder a second as he says-

-

BILLY Just nod a little bit--not too much--like I'm assuring you you didn't just make a          calamitous vocational decision.

UMPIRE Players and coaches only, Billy.

BILLY (ignoring the umpire--          still quietly to

ART)          Remember that in about four seconds--           BILLY sees one of the nearby TV cameras pivot over to           catch this conversation--

BILLY --yeah there it is. We're the lead story on Sports Center now so let me be brief. First of all, that was an awfully costly fuck-you, wouldn't you say?

119.

119.

ART

LOOK--

BILLY Second of all, genius, those boos? They're for you. Drink up.

UMPIRE Come on, Billy.

BILLY Get me this game back.

As BILLY passes MAGNANTE he pats his back before we--

CUT TO:

119 INT. BILLY'S TRUCK - NIGHT 119

The radio is on and the ANNOUNCER is telling us--

ANNOUNCER (FROM RADIO) ...after giving up the lead on a three run homer off Magnante, the A's came right back to win it in the bottom of the ninth with another three run homer by          Miguel Tejada. And the A's have won eight in a row!

AA120 OMITTED AA120

A120 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY A120

As the early-bird fanatics arrive - players arrive at the players' entrance -

B120 INT. LOCKER ROOM - COLISEUM - DAY B120

Magnante walks into the A's locker room.

C120 OMITTED C120

D120 INT. LOCKER ROOMS - COLISEUM - SAME TIME - DAY D120

Billy, standing at the door, surveys the room, his eyes moving from player to player as they're hanging up their street clothes. The team's equipment manager, pouring himself a cup of coffee, glances over -

VOOS You want one, Billy?

BILLY I'm good, Voos. Thanks.

120.

120.

Voos wanders off. Billy keeps looking at the players ...

LEGEND: July 31 - TRADE DEADLINE

E120 INT. SCOUTS ROOM - MOMENTS LATER - DAY E120

Billy comes in sticking some tobacco under his lip and, like a shark that knows it could die if it stops moving, doesn't through the entire scene --

BILLY Suzanne, get Shapiro on the phone.

PETER Are you thinking Rincon?

BILLY Yeah, he's lost faith for the season. I          think he's gonna dump him.

PETER Hardcore.

They wait as Suzanne dials the Indians' GM, staring at          the speakerphone that sits like a little island in the middle of the conference table.

SUZANNE Shapiro on two.

BILLY Mark. Billy. Let's be honest. A          premiere setup man is not going to get you any closer to the playoffs.

SHAPIRO V/O Are you referring to Rincon?

BILLY He's a luxury you can't afford.

SHAPIRO V/O And you can? There's half a million on          his contract and at least one other suitor.

BILLY By at least one, you mean one? Who is          it?

SHAPIRO V/O I'd rather not say.

121.

121.

PETER

(WHISPERS) San Francisco.

BILLY I'll call you back.

He hangs up. Stares down Peter.

PETER What do you think we can get for Magnante?

BILLY Nothing. (continues to stare

DOWN PETER)          What's left on Venafro's contract?

PETER Two-seventy-five.

BILLY Suzanne -- get me Sabean.

(THEN) If we can get San Francisco interested in          Venafro, Shapiro's only got one buyer for Rincon.

PETER Us.

Pete gets busy on his computer.

SUZANNE On three.

BILLY Sabes. Billy. You like Venafro. I can let you have him for almost nothing.

SABEAN V/O (smelling a rat) Why would you do that, Billy?

BILLY Because I'm amazing.

SABEAN V/O Uh-huh.

BILLY All I want is a couple of bucks and a          sweetener. Throw in, say...

122.

122.

Billy snaps his fingers at Peter --

PETER Anderson.

BILLY Anderson.

SABEAN V/O I like Anderson.

BILLY No, you don't. I don't even like him. I          don't know why I'm doing this -- but let's           do it anyway. Venafro for Michaelson?

PETER Anderson.

BILLY Anderson. See, I don't even know his name.

SABEAN V/O I'll think (about) --

BILLY Think about it and call me back.

He hangs up.

BILLY Get Shapiro back on.

Billy and Pete stare at each other in silence.

SUZANNE Two!

BILLY

MARK --

SHAPIRO V/O You can't afford him, Billy.

BILLY You sure about that? I get the impression the market for Rincon is          softening. I could be wrong. Call whoever's interested and make sure they're still interested. And call me          back.

He hangs up.

123.

123.

BILLY What about the Mets for Venafro?

PETER You just offered him to the Giants.

BILLY Suzanne -- Steve Phillips! Get me Steve Phillips.

Pete works his computer.

BILLY Between Bonds, Nen, Kent and Snow, they're never gonna do it.

PETER Totally agree.

BILLY We just need them to cool on Rincon.

SUZANNE Phillips on two.

BILLY Steve-O. Billy. I hear you're looking for a left-handed reliever. What do you think of Venafro? I can make it quick and easy for you.

PHILLIPS V/O What's the angle?

BILLY No angle.

PHILLIPS V/O Who am I getting fleeced for?

BILLY Hang on a second.

He puts him on hold. Peter is already scrolling through the Mets' farm system, his eyes darting around the stats.

PETER Bennett maybe?

BILLY How old?

PETER Twenty-six.

124.

124.

BILLY Twenty-six and in Double-A? Forget it.

PETER Duncan? No. Cerda? No. Furbush?

BILLY Furbush?

(BEAT) No.

PETER Eckerton? Eckerton. Eckerton, that's          the guy. Billy punches the phone off hold.

BILLY Eckerton.

PHILLIPS V/O Eckerton? I like Eckerton.

BILLY You don't even know who Eckerton is. The phone on Pete's desk rings. Peter answers a second blinking line.

PETER Hello?

PHILLIPS V/O Is Venafro hurt?

PETER Oh, hi.

BILLY No, he's not hurt. He's fine. This is          just a situation for us.

PETER It's Steve.

PHILLIPS V/O Last couple of times out, he got hammered.

BILLY

(MUTE) I'm on with Steve.

(UNMUTE) Not his fault. We misused him.

125.

125.

PETER Steve Schott.

BILLY Tell him to hold. (to Steve Phillips) Look. Steve. Here's the deal. I'm          being straight with you. I'm getting Rincon. It's a done deal. It's done.

PHILLIPS V/O I heard the Giants --

BILLY No, the Giants want Venafro. And I told them they can have him for Michaelson...

PETER

ANDERSON --

BILLY -- but I'd rather deal with you. Because you can give me Eckerton and two hundred and twenty-five thousand cash and the Giants can't.         Billy's look to Peter says, Doesn't hurt to ask. As they listen to silence on Phillips' side of the call --

PETER Yes, I understand it's impolite to keep you holding.

PHILLIPS V/O I'll think about it.

BILLY Of course. Think. But whoever calls me          back first gets Venafro. He hangs up. Looks for the blinking light that belongs to his owner.

PETER He hung up.

Silence. Then --

BILLY If you could have the power of flight or          invisibility, which would you choose?

PETER What?

126.

126.

BILLY Invisibility or flight?

PETER

(THINKS) Invisibility.

BILLY That's what Casey said. Why?

PETER You'd have total access. Besides, everyone else would choose flight.

Quiet.

BILLY Why isn't anybody calling? The phone rings.

SUZANNE Shapiro's on two.

Billy picks up. Listens. Fist pump.

BILLY Great. Lemme talk to my owner. Call you right back.

(THEN) Get Steve.

PETER Phillips or Schott?

BILLY Why would I call Phillips back? Schott. Tell him I'm on the other line.

PETER Right.

Peter dials. Billy can't sit.

PETER Mr. Schott, it's Peter Brand. Sorry I          left you on hold. Billy asked me to call you back. He's on another line.

BILLY Tell him we need two hundred and twenty- five grand for Rincon.

127.

127.

PETER Billy says he needs two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars for Ricardo Rincon. Please?

(THEN) Yes, I added the please. (listens; to Billy) No. Billy thinks intensely. Finally --

BILLY Tell him I'll pay it, but when I sell him next year for twice that, I keep the money.

PETER Billy says he'll pay for Rincon himself, sell him next year, and keep the profit.

Peter listens to whatever Steve Schott is saying, then --

PETER Okay. Thank you.

(HANGS UP) He says he'll pay for Rincon. High five.

BILLY Great! Shit. What are we forgetting?

(CALLING OUT) Get me Shapiro!

-- as he grabs his cell phone and hits speed dial.

BILLY Wait, never mind! (beat, then into

PHONE)          Mark. Yeah, it's Billy. Here's the           deal. I don't want Rincon pitching           against me tonight. Tell him to change           his clothes. I got you the money and I           accept your gratitude. It's done.          He hangs up. Fist bump.

BILLY We gotta let someone go. It's Mags. It's gotta be Mags.

PETER I call not it.

128.

128.

Billy dials an extension.

BILLY Art. Billy. The good news is Ricardo Rincon's heading over to the clubhouse. The bad news is you got to tell Mags he          threw his last pitch for the Oakland A's           last night.

ART V/O No.

BILLY What do you mean, no.

ART V/O No, as in no. I'm not doing it. You do          it. You did it, so you do it. Art hangs up. Billy slams the speakerphone.

PETER It's not the phone's fault. Suzanne, we're gonna need a new speakerphone.

BILLY We gotta catch Mags before Rincon comes over.

He leaves.

F120 INT. A'S LOCKER ROOM - 20 MINUTES LATER F120

Billy comes through the clubhouse past his team suiting up to where Magnante is adjusting his knee braces next to          his locker, and sits with him.

BILLY

MIKE --

MAGNANTE Hey, Billy. I know I've been struggling lately. But we're coming into the home stretch, and I promise I'm gonna turn it

AROUND --

BILLY -- I need you to stop getting dressed. Magnante isn't sure he heard right, but the silence tells him he did. Eventually -

MAGNANTE Traded?

129.

129.

Billy shakes his head, no.

BILLY I'm sorry for the crap news. I know it          hurts.

(THEN) Mike. I can't have 26 guys in the clubhouse. Magnante nods.

MAGNANTE Alright.

BILLY Thanks. Billy gets up to leave. As he exits, he sees Peter enter with Rincon, standing with his new uniform in his arms, looking like a prison inmate. Oops. Billy joins them.

BILLY Hey, Ricardo.

RINCON Hola, senor.

BILLY Hola. Hey, I know this must seem a bit sudden, but the Oakland A's have been trying to get you for a long time. You're gonna love it here. The guys are fun.

PETER Muy divertido.

RINCON I pitch tonight?

BILLY I don't know if you're gonna pitch tonight. But you're on our team tonight.

RINCON I no wanna pitch tonight.

BILLY Right. So... where you from?

RINCON Veracruz, Mexico.

130.

130.

BILLY Well, you're a lot closer to home. Why don't you hang out there for five menudos and we'll get you a uniform and everything. (to side room) Hey guys, clear the room, huh? Say hi to          Ricardo Rincon. As the other players file out and say hello...

CUT TO:

G120 INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT G120

Billy, Tara and Casey at dinner.

BILLY Tara and me were thinking --

CASEY Dad... Tara and I --

TARA She is correct.

BILLY Tara and I were thinking about going to          Point Reyes to the beach.

CASEY That'd be fun.

TARA Me go, too?

BILLY And I'll work on my grammar.

CASEY (beat, then) Dad... are you going to lose your job?

BILLY What? Where did you hear that, honey?

CASEY The internet.

BILLY No, I'm not going to lose my job. Don't          go on the internet or watch TV or read the papers or talk to people.

131.

131.

CASEY I'm not talking to people, I'm just reading stuff.

BILLY Don't worry. You don't believe me? Ask Tara.

TARA He's not (losing his job). Your dad is a         brilliant man. He's the best GM in         baseball.

CASEY But say that you did -- just saying -- would you have to move away?

BILLY No, honey. Absolutely not. And even if         I did, I'm not going anywhere. I told you not to worry about me. People say a         lot of crazy things and they don't always know what they're talking about. It's         just gossip. Like gossipers at school.

TARA You can't always believe what you read. Sometimes you need to scratch underneath the surface and find who the authority is.

BILLY And once you do find out who the authorities are, ignore them at all costs.

TARA You can always ask your dad.

BILLY Everything's fine, honey. I'm not going anywhere. The only way I would lose my         job is if someone was to give me a better one. Don't worry about me, okay? Dad knows what he's doing.

CASEY Pinkie swear?

BILLY Pinkie swear.

132.

132.

120 A GRAPHIC 120

of the AL West standings over A GAME BEING PLAYED--from the start of the season until now--the teams shifting positions as the "games-out" and winning percentage numbers change like an adding machine, too fast for us to          really follow, but then:

The calculations abruptly lock and we're given enough time to understand where we--and Oakland--are after 120

GAMES: AL West GB WP          Seattle --- .610 Anaheim 2.0 .593 Oakland 4.5 .571 Texas 21.5 .427

REPORTER V/O The A's begin this road trip on a 10 game winning streak, picking up two games on          the Mariners and the Angels, and it           should be noted this is their longest winning streak in six years heading into--

A121 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY A121

A PITCH TRACKING CAMERA mounted in center field. ZOOM IN          to the lens...

B121 INT. VIDEO ROOM - DAY B121

Peter sits with Hatteberg, reviewing his hits on a          monitor.

PETER This is a chart of what you should and shouldn't be swinging at. These circles represent different pitches. Red is hit, blue is out, yellow's missed or foul, green is chased, white taken. This is          you versus Conway. What do you see?

HATTEBERG I'm chasing a lot of high and outside.

PETER The red is where most hits happen. That's where you want to be swinging. You don't want to be swinging at the junk at the top of the strike zone. We'd          rather take those strikes, `cause you're           not going to hit `em out of the park. And you're good about that, patient.

(MORE)

133.

133.

PETER (CONT'D)          Right now you're averaging about 4 pitches per at-bat.

HATTEBERG 4 per bat?

PETER Yeah, and that's great. One of the reasons why we love you. You're draining a pitcher's pitches. Now, guys like Bonds and Jason Giambi average a little over 5. That's top tier. Does this chart make sense to you?

HATTEBERG Yeah. I'll get on base more if I lay off anything high. This is awesome. So you have a breakdown of this from every game?

PETER Every game. Your instincts are in the right place. This isn't something they teach you in little league. This is          something fundamental we're looking for -- how to wear out a pitcher's arm. If          you're about to face Conway and wondering what you should and shouldn't swing at, come in here and watch how you're          tending. You can click on any one of          these pitches and watch it happen. Pretty great, right?

HATTEBERG Show me some of the stuff I'm chasing up          high... TIME LAPSE of hundreds of at bats registering and changing modalities to produce graphs and numbers. PULL OUT to reveal we're now in

C121 INT. VIDEO ROOM - LATER C121

Peter and Bradford review footage.

121 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY 121

Peter analyzes the data with Billy as they throw a ball back and forth.

PETER Everybody thinks the first pitch is          what's most important, but it's not. It's the first two out of three pitches that matter the most.

(MORE)

134.

134.

PETER (CONT'D)          The difference between 1-2 and 2-1 is the difference between a scrub and an All Star.

BILLY So you're saying if we can get our guys to lay off the first pitch it'll put us          in the driver's seat?

PETER Any sort of extra discipline in the first three pitches will help us.

A game is on TV in the background. Billy makes various comments the the screen --

BILLY That's a problem right there. Terrance jogging to first.

(THEN) Mr. Justice. That's what we pay you for.

(THEN) Chad Bradford, you deceptive son of a          bitch, I love you.

(THEN) He's a pain in the ass, but that Giambi gets on base.

Another train of thought --

PETER Hatteberg once had 18 walks in 30 at          bats.

BILLY My whole career I only had eighteen walks.

PETER Actually... 11.

BILLY Shut up.

And now we have QUICK SCENES OF BILLY TAKING PLAYERS

ASIDE --

122 LOCKER ROOM--BILLY AND TEJADA - DAY 122

BILLY Migs, let's make a deal. I'll pay you fifty bucks for every away fastball you hit to opposite field, but you've gotta pay me fifty for every one of those you pull.

135.

135.

Tejada immediately starts thinking about it.

123 INT. LOCKER ROOM - DAY 123

TERRANCE LONG is working out. Billy pokes his head in.

BILLY Hey, T. Did your car get egged?

LONG Yeah.

BILLY I think I just got an e-mail from the culprit. He said he was tired of paying good money just to watch you jogging around the bases.

LONG What the hell does that have to do with anything?

BILLY I don't know, man. Don't worry about it.

Billy exits. Long calls after --

LONG Who brings eggs to the ballpark anyway?!

A124 INT. CLUBHOUSE HALLWAY - DAY A124

Billy and Mecir walk down the hall with the smelly stain.

BILLY Man, you're not fooling anyone but yourself out there. You're falling further and further behind. In your mind, what's the problem? Mecir mumbles something.

BILLY I can't understand you with your hand over your mouth.

MECIR Sorry, Billy. It's just, the smell...

BILLY Right?

(INDICATES STAIN) It's that. And it's growing.

They stare at the stain in silence. Finally --

136.

136.

MECIR I'm gonna grab a shower.

BILLY Yup.

124 OMITTED 124

125 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM CLUB HOUSE - DAY 125

Hatteberg in the clubhouse. Billy enters.

BILLY Hey, Scottie. What's on your mind?

HATTEBERG I feel like I'm hurting the team. At          first base I'm making a lot of errors. I'm gonna cost us a hundred runs.

BILLY 16.5 actually. But as a hitter, you will create 70 runs. 70 runs wins us an awful lot of ball games. I can live with that. Can you live with that?

HATTEBERG I appreciate that, but I know you're just pulling those numbers out of your ass.

BILLY I'm pulling them out of Pete's, actually.

(THEN) And another thing. When a guy reaches first base, be social.

HATTEBERG Social?

BILLY Like a greeter at the Gap. A guy steps into your office, chat him up. You're          well read, you went to college. Have some fun out there. Relax.

HATTEBERG Yes sir.

BILLY Scottie, you deserve to be here.

126 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY 126

PETER is erasing the percentage of games left that they need to win and writing in a LOWER number--

137.

137.

BILLY More information. TIME LAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY of all of the changes to the board over the following two weeks.

127 OMITTED 127

A128 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY A128

It's the Twins vs. the A's. A TWINS PLAYER stands at          first, stoic. Scott figures "What the hell?" and turns to him.

HATTEBERG What are you guys getting up to tonight?

The focused Twins player looks at Scott like he's crazy.

TWINS PLAYER #1 Bed by ten o'clock. Game time.

HATTEBERG I don't buy it.

TWINS PLAYER #1 I'm sore, man. Beat up. Day in, day out.

HATTEBERG Where d'you guys go next?

TWINS PLAYER #1 Houston.

HATTEBERG Houston?

(THEN) You ever get up to Boundary Waters up          there in Minnesota? It's beautiful. I          went on a trip up there. Fishing trip. Caught some walleye.

TWINS PLAYER #1 That's good fishing.

CUT TO:

Scott chatting with a DIFFERENT TWIN on first.

HATTEBERG "Mankevich" is polish?

TWINS PLAYER #2 Yes, sir.

138.

138.

Crack! The ball's in play. It's thrown to Hatteberg, who tags out the stunned player.

CUT TO:

A DIFFERENT TWIN is on first.

HATTEBERG Where'd you go to school?

TWINS PLAYER #3 University of Arizona.

HATTEBERG What are you guys getting up to tonight?

TWINS PLAYER #3 See what the city's about -- San Francisco. What are you up to?

HATTEBERG I don't know. Depends on if we beat you today. Probably celebrating.

(THEN) So my GM says I gotta be more social. What was your name?

TWINS PLAYER #3 Jaqcue.

HATTEBERG I'm Scott.

TWINS PLAYER #3 How are you doing, Scott?

HATTEBERG Pretty good. You got kids?

TWINS PLAYER #3 Yeah...

Crack! Hatteberg catches the ball, making another out.

128 GRAPHICS 128

The standings graphic shows the A's have just moved up          into a three-way tie for first place--

139.

139.

REPORTER Oakland's offense has exploded, scoring 40 runs in their last four games and extending their streak to 17 in a row which is an American League record going back to 1954 and just three shy of the

ALL-TIME--

AL West GB WP          Oakland --- .619 Anaheim 4.0 .591 Seattle 4.5 .586 Texas 22.5 .450

129 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT 129

CHAD BRADFORD smokes the last batter on a called third strike to end the game against the Twins, and the TEAM rushes in to congratulate him--

130 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - NIGHT 130

BILLY looks down at his blackberry, sees the result and makes a small fist pump.

REPORTER Who would have thought in April I'd be          saying this: The A's won their 18th game in a row, that's two-shy of tying, three- shy of beating the American League record-

CUT TO:

131-137 OMITTED 131-137

A138 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - ANNOUNCER'S BOOTH - DAY A138

SHOTS OF THE GAME ANNOUNCERS.

138 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - DAY 138

--where the energy is electric. AL West GB WP          Oakland --- .633 Anaheim 3.5 .609 Seattle 7.0 .583 Texas 25.5 .449

REPORTER #1 V/O This is something special now and far be          it for me to jinx it by saying how many consecutive games the A's have won--

140.

140.

REPORTER #2 V/O

NINETEEN--

REPORTER #1 V/O Well you said it not me. Tickets are torn and purses searched as record breaking numbers of fans pour into the stadium.

REPORTER #2 V/O None of the Oakland fans in their cars down there have forgotten the A's          inglorious history-making choke in Game 5 of the ALDS last October and tonight--

139 INT. A'S LOCKER ROOM - DAY 139

It's like a tomb. The PLAYERS are getting ready without music or chat. Justice steps up to deliver a pre-game pep talk.

JUSTICE Hey, listen up fellas... bring it up real quick.

(THEN) We got some older guys on this team, we          got some younger guys on this team. What we got right now is a chance for everyone to make history. I don't want to get sappy and corny, but this is what we play for. We've been playin' real good for 19. Let's get 20. We get 20, they can't          take that away from us until they do it           themselves. Guys that are starting tonight, keep playing like you've been playing. Guys not starting, be ready. Huddie, you got the ball -- shove it up          their ass tonight. Let's play some ball! Let's go!

LEGEND:

September 4, 2002 Kansas City Royals at Oakland A's

GAME 20

REPORTER #2 V/O --one game shy of 20 consecutive wins, they have a shot at redemption. How rare is it to win 20 games in a row? This rare: No American League team has ever done it.

141.

141.

140 INT. BILLY'S TRUCK - MOVING - DAY 140

BILLY heads east on 580. His cell phone rings and he hits the speaker button for the truck.

BILLY Don't tell me the score, Peter.

SHARON V/O It's me, Billy.

BILLY How you doin', leggy.

SHARON V/O Nope.

BILLY Sharon?

SHARON V/O You hangin' in there?

BILLY Yeah.

There's silence...

BILLY Hello?

(BEAT) Sharon?

SHARON V/O

(PAUSE) "Go into real estate". What a stupid thing to say. BILLY didn't even realize until that moment how much he          wanted to hear her say that...He's not sure what to say back.

BILLY I appreciate that, thanks.

SHARON V/O Good luck. Casey wants to talk to you.

CASEY V/O Are you on your way to the stadium?

BILLY No, I'm on my way to Visalia to see our minor league team.

142.

142.

CASEY Dad - turn around. You have to see the game.

BILLY No, I don't.

CASEY Turn around.

BILLY I'll talk to you later, sweetheart. I          love you.

He hangs up, drives a little longer...letting what Casey said sink in. Then...

BILLY

(TO HIMSELF) Shhhit.

...he turns on the radio.

ANNOUNCER V/O Tim Hudson is carving through this Royals line-up and at the end of three, it's the A's 11 and Kansas City nothing.

BILLY

(QUIETLY) Oh God.

(BEAT) Ohhhh God.

BILLY sees the sign for the next exit coming up. He makes a decision and quickly crosses to the right, just making the exit.

CUT TO:

A141 OMITTED A141

141 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - LATER - DAY 141

BILLY is striding through an underground corridor which is echoing with the cheers of 55,000 fans.

142 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD LEVEL - DAY 142

BILLY emerges from a tunnel to a sight Billy's denied himself for 138 games: The lit-up ballpark with a game in          play. From the field, we see Billy finding his place in          the seats behind home plate. Peter is already there.

143.

143.

BILLY'S POV OF THE SCOREBOARD: 11-0 at the bottom of the 3rd. Unfortunately the idyllic moment is short-lived as          Dye strikes out swinging and the teams swap places. The A's take the field with TIM HUDSON pitching. Billy looks around. He sees the scoreboard, a FAN with a          big funky cowboy hat, the charged-up crowd in the stands, it's like the Coliseum at Rome.

A143 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY - TOP OF THE 4TH A143

IBANEZ of the Royals singles to center field.

RANDA of the Royals singles to left field. But the Oakland fans are still jubilant and do the wave.

Then a big error from Tejada puts runners on 1st, 2nd and 3rd (MAYNE, Ibanez and Randa).

A143A EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - MAGIC HOUR - TOP OF 4TH A143A

As if we've entered the Twilight Zone, it becomes twilight and LIGHTS GO ON.

DEE BROWN of the Royals singles to right, bringing Ibanez and Randa home, and Mayne to 3rd.

Ibanez and Randa high-five each other at the plate, passing Billy as they head to their dugout. Okay, the Royals are on the board now: 11-2, but just barely. Until-

A143B EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 4TH A143B

PEREZ of the Royals singles to center field, bringing Mayne home. Then TUCKER of the Royals doubles to left field. Justice makes an embarrassing fall trying to catch it, and Brown and Perez score. They high-five and pass Billy as they leave the plate, the second time he's seen that, and suddenly the Royals have 5. Reaction shot CLOSE-UPS: Justice, Tejada, Tucker on 2nd, Art Howe, the Royals' dugout, a pitcher's conference with Peterson and Hudson.

And finally Billy, who WALKS OUT.

B143 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 5TH B143

MIKE SWEENEY of the Royals singles to left-center field -- Neither Justice or Long get it, it lands between them. And they have WORDS.

144.

144.

Randa makes a sloppy single to left field... this one goes between Justice and Tejada.

C143 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - BOTTOM OF THE 5TH C143

MONTAGE of A's at bat: Hernandez grounds out, DURHAM strikes out, Mabry grounds out... A stunned A'S FAN stands up with his arms out in a "WTF??" gesture. While the A's are still up, this is excruciating for the fans.

143 OMITTED 143

144 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 7TH 144

ANNOUNCER V/O Kansas City's scored five and Oakland's          lead is down to six as Art Howe comes out to the mound to pull Tim Hudson.

Art Howe comes out of the dugout, gives the signal for "underhander," takes the ball from Hudson.

ANNOUNCER V/O He'll go with the submariner, Chad Bradford.

We see SHOTS OF FANS in the sold-out stadium experiencing the height of tension and excitement in sports.

Chad Bradford comes off the bullpen mound to relieve Hudson, and begins counting his steps -

CHAD One, two, three, four -

145 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 7TH 145

Chad arriving at the mound taking the game ball from Art, who we see is genuinely supportive and encouraging to          Chad.

146 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 7TH 146

Chad finishing his warm-up pitches.

CHAD I know what it is to be in need and to          have plenty. I am content. I can do all things through Christ who gives me

STRENGTH--

147 INT. ART'S OFFICE - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 7TH 147

BILLY is just as tense as the fans.

145.

145.

BILLY (to himself but to

CHAD)          Okay Chad, let's see it.

148 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 8TH 148

CHAD walks Mayne. An angry fan throws toilet paper onto center field, the one thing Long manages to pick up. The crowd grows anxious. CHAD's submariner pitch to the next batter, DEE BROWN, walks him. BROWN trots down to first and there are now two runners on. Some FANS have to cover their eyes. There's a pitcher conference.

Art Howe simmers in frustration. He signals Rincon to          warm up. The fans aren't happy either.

ORDAZ of the Royals grounds to Tejada, who throws home for the force, and misses. Now it's 11-6!

Howe pulls Bradford. Rincon throws a controversial strike out. The Royals batter, TUCKER, protests, and fans go crazy BOOING.

Brown scores, 11-7 now, Royals chipping away that lead,

AND --

Howe pulls Rincon. Tam comes in to relieve him. Sweeney's up. In rapid succession, we seem him battle off TEN PITCHES of Tam. He's got two strikes on him, more toilet paper flies on the field, Bowie comes in to warm up which Tam sees, then -

SWEENEY HITS A THREE-RUN HOMER TO MAKE IT 11-10! This is          excruciating.

149 OMITTED 149

150 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - TOP OF THE 9TH 150

BOWIE is already gone. KOCH is on the mound. There's a          Royal, PELLOW, on 2nd. According to the scoreboard, it's          2 outs, 2 strikes. If Koch throws a strike, the game is          over. The fans are fucking feverish. ALICEA of the Royals singles to left and Pellow scores. The game is now TIED.

In their dugout, Royals GLOAT.

146.

146.

He's ended the inning, but in the A's dugout, Koch slams the wall.

151 OMITTED 151

152 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT - BOTTOM OF THE 9TH 152

The scoreboard shows us that it's still tied in the bottom of the ninth. Nobody's out. DYE grabs a bat and walks to the plate. Then, inexplicably, Howe turns to-

ART Hattie. Grab a bat.

SCOTT HATTEBERG actually points to himself and mouths, Me?

ART Let's go.

SCOTT pulls a bat from the rack and heads to the on-deck circle. He only manages a warmup pitch or two before -

A153 INT. WEIGHT ROOM A153

Billy is watching on a muted television as he sees Dye fly out to right field. As Hatte approaches the plate, he          kills the TV.

153 OMITTED 153

154 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - SAME TIME 154

As ROY STEELE's booming voice echoes:

VOICE OF GOD Pinch hitting for Eric Byrnes--Scott Hatteberg.

Scott's wife, ELIZABETH, watches from the VIP seats. She clutches her face. SCOTT lets the first pitch go by.

UMPIRE Ball!

Art Howe looks like he can't stand it any longer. In the dugout, Koch looks like a psychopath ready to kill. SCOTT steps out of the box to catch his breath. He steps back in and stares at the exact spot in space he thinks the pitch will leave the pitcher's hand.

The pitch. SCOTT swings.

147.

147.

Crack! 55,000 erupt. The A's leap to the front of the dugout steps and watch.

We see the ball ascending on a strong trajectory, but before we can know for sure where it's headed, TIME SLOWS

TO A CRAWL-

155 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - SAME TIME 155

BILLY's sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, trying to breathe. He looks like he's in pain. He          can't move. He hears the crowd ERUPT outside. His Blackberry buzzes:

"hatte homered. a's 12, ryls 11"

Billy flips on the TV. With sound off, he watches silent images of his team swarming the mound in (archival          footage) mixed in with Art Howe celebrating with them.

156 OMITTED 156

157 OMITTED 157

158 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - SAME TIME 158

The place is going crazy. ELIZABETH is screaming as she watches her husband get mauled by his teammates at the plate.

159 INT. WEIGHT ROOM - MOMENTS LATER 159

BILLY's still contemplating making AL history as          celebrating players flood into the locker room just outside. Billy looks through a portal on the door. He's          trapped in here now. He crosses into the

160 INT. LOCKER ROOM - CONTINUOUS 160

The place is packed with players, coaches and news crews. There's no champagne spraying but they feel like they won the World Series and in fact have done something much more rare. Billy is trying to make a fast unnoticed exit. After pushing through the crowd, he walks outside of the club house into the -

A161 INT. CORRIDORS / FAMILY AREA - CONTINUOUS A161

where the players' families and wives are waiting. Billy sees ELIZABETH HATTEBERG walking toward him--

148.

148.

ELIZABETH Mr. Beane? I'm Elizabeth Hatteberg. We          met at my house last Christmas.

BILLY Sure.

ELIZABETH Thank you.

BILLY Thank me? Thank you. Whatever you put in          those Christmas cookies, keep-- ELIZABETH starts to cry--

BILLY Whoa. It's okay.

ELIZABETH I'm sorry.

BILLY It's alright.

ELIZABETH You don't know what it's like to have everyone think you're a failure.

BILLY doesn't say anything but of course he does.

BILLY Well...You never thought that, and that's

WHAT'S--

ELIZABETH (the worst possible

SIN)          I did.

(BEAT) And he knows I did.

BILLY takes this in a second...

BILLY Yeah he does know you did.

ELIZABETH He's talked to you?

BILLY No. I just know.

(BEAT) That's all over now.

(MORE)

149.

149.

BILLY (CONT'D)          Your husband just took a Jason Grimsley two-seam fastball and parked it in the upper deck in left field for a pinch-hit walk-off home run in a record breaking game. Go tell him about it. ELIZABETH looks at him a moment...and then starts crying

AGAIN--

BILLY No it's okay now, just go.

ELIZABETH goes off to find her husband. BILLY sees PETER standing there.

BILLY Gilligan.

PETER Congratulations.

CUT TO:

161 INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT 161

BILLY and TARA are eating.

BILLY Aw, man. I spend the season trying to          reduce it to numbers and we won on           romance. Suddenly it's the Natural with Hatteberg. Scott Hatteberg.

(TOASTS) To twenty.

TARA To twenty.

(THEN) You should've seen Elizabeth's face when it went right over.

BILLY She showed up afterwards.

TARA What did she say?

BILLY I was a big moment for them. You know everyone wrote him off?

TARA You didn't. You found him and you put that together.

150.

150.

BILLY I know. It was beautiful. But you know... it's not gonna mean a thing.

He's upset. She knows it.

BILLY Here's the thing -- we changed the game. We got this year, maybe next, then they're gonna catch on. This is our moment. I want to go the distance. I          wanna shove it up the Yankees' ass. Not just the Yankees, but... these guys deserve it.

TARA You deserve it. Honey, 20 games. It's a          record.

BILLY That's right, it's just a record. It          gets buried in some book. Come on, tell me who won 19? I don't even know. It's          4th place at the Olympics. Any other team wins the World Series this year...          great. We're still in the record books. But if we win, we've changed the game. We've put it on its head and shoved it up          their ass. If we don't, they're gonna erase us.

CUT TO:

162 OMITTED 162

163 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT 163

The same shot as at the beginning: the Coliseum from high above, only this time the final game of the division series is being played at home.

LEGEND:

2002 ALDS

DECIDING GAME 5 Minnesota Twins at Oakland A's          The camera pans down the huge scoreboard. It's          excruciating. The numbers on the board tell us it's been an incredibly close game but the A's are losing by one run in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and nobody on.

151.

151.

Ray Durham stands in at the plate. Strike one to the Durham as we hear the venerable voice of ESPN's Joe Morgan, who's speaking post-game.

JOE MORGAN V/O The flaw in the A's thinking, and this comes from the top of their organization-- is their failure to comprehend you have to manufacture runs in the post season.

Durham fouls off a pitch. Strike two.

JOE MORGAN V/O You have to steal. You have to bunt. You have to sacrifice. You have to trust in          small ball, not Billy Ball.

Durham swings at the fastball and connects, but it's a          pop fly to second which a TWINS INFIELDER easily nabs. The PITCHER throws his glove in the air and the CATCHER runs out to the mound as the rest of the Twins run to the middle of the field to begin their victory celebration.

Durham turns away and heads back to the dugout. The A's have lost the series.

JOE MORGAN V/O They think they've devised a science to          win games. They think it resides in a          computer. They thumb their nose at          fundamentals. At tradition. At Baseball.

164 OMITTED 164

A165 INT. VIDEO ROOM - NIGHT A165

Harrowed by the defeat, PETER stares at the TV, listening to Joe Morgan.

JOE MORGAN V/O They're bean counters in Oakland. That's          bean with an "e" at the end. They're card counters at the blackjack table who forget the house always wins.

JUMP CUT TO:

B165 INT. VIDEO ROOM - NIGHT B165

Peter SMASHING a wooden chair to pieces with a baseball bat.

JUMP CUT TO:

152.

152.

C165 INT. VIDEO ROOM - NIGHT C165

Peter, in exhaustion, his eyes glued again to the screen watching shots (ARCHIVAL VIDEO) of euphoric Twins reveling and A's stunned at their misfortune.

165 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - NIGHT 165

A LOCKED-OFF SHOT begins to slowly move towards the pile of celebrating players on the mound and as we near, the sound begins to fade and the PLAYERS BEGIN TO DISAPPEAR, as do the FANS and ALL OCCUPANTS OF THE COLISEUM. DRIFT in          an empty stadium, towards the dugout, where the last of           the CLEANING CREW brooms the floor.

A166 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT A166

CAMERA MOVES down a dimly lit cinder block corridor, and finally into the -

166 INT. A'S LOCKER ROOM - NIGHT - 1989 166

where we discover a solitary figure.

The camera comes to settle on the Oakland A's player, still in uniform, hours after the game has ended, sitting with his face in his hands. After a long, deep breath he          sits up and we discover that it's Billy, 10 years prior.

CUT TO:

167 INT. CORRIDOR - NIGHT - 1989 167

Billy, still in uniform, walks down the long corridor that leads to the GM's office, his cleats clicking on the concrete halls.

ALDERSON V/O This is weird, Billy.

CUT TO:

168 INT. SANDY ALDERSON'S OFFICE (FLASHBACK) - NIGHT - 1989 168

BILLY's standing in front of the A's GM wearing his uniform pants and a t-shirt.

ALDERSON It's like a politician quitting a          campaign to become a staffer. Do you even know what a scout does?

BILLY I've been scouted since I was 15.

153.

153.

ALDERSON And you're ready to say, "I'm not a          baseball player"?

BILLY I'm not a baseball player.

CUT TO:

169 INT. BILLY'S OFFICE - DAY 169

BILLY Ready to do this? Pete nods. Billy calls out --

BILLY Suzanne? Get Schott on.

(TO PETER) You ever been to Boston? The speakerphone rings. Billy answers.

BILLY We need to talk about the Red Sox.

SCHOTT (V.O.) So I heard. John Henry reached out to          you?

BILLY Yes. But I haven't spoken with him yet.

SCHOTT (V.O.) That's what he said.

BILLY I want your blessing before I do.

SCHOTT (V.O.) Well, how am I supposed to react to all of this? You're under contract, Billy. You extended.

BILLY I know that, Steve, but I'd like to talk to them. I want to see what they have to          say.

SCHOTT (V.O.) You're asking me to let them talk to you?

BILLY Yes. With your permission.

154.

154.

SCHOTT (V.O.) Well, I can't do that unless I know Peter is in place as my GM.

BILLY Pete?

SCHOTT (V.O.) I'm not letting you take him with you, and I have no idea if he's willing to          stay if you aren't here. How do I even know I can come to terms with him, given the extremely disadvantaged bargaining position you're putting me in?

BILLY Well, I think you'll agree this is a          great opportunity for him. I can't          believe he's not going to make a deal. Peter is frozen. Neither Steve nor Billy are acting like he's even in the room.

SCHOTT (V.O.) If you want out of your contract, I want their whole team and a lot of cash. We've invested in you.

BILLY I haven't asked to get out of my          contract, Steve, I just asked if I could talk to them.

SCHOTT (V.O.) And I said I won't give you permission unless I know I have Peter! You can't          leave me with a vacant front office.

BILLY Then talk to Peter.

SCHOTT (V.O.) I will. Silence.

SCHOTT (V.O.) All right. You know what? I've made it          a point never to stand in the way of a           man wanting to make more money. They made the call, the genie's out of the bottle. I had faith in your judgement when I named you GM; that's why I did it          and I have faith in it now. Good luck, Billy.

155.

155.

Billy hangs up. A long beat. Peter looks at Billy.

PETER Well, I didn't see that coming.

BILLY I think you should think about staying. You're one of the architects of this thing, it belongs as much to you as it          does to me.

PETER Okay... okay...

BILLY How you doing Pete?

PETER I'm a little overwhelmed right now. I          think I need to process what's happening.

BILLY Why don't you take the day off.

CUT TO:

A170 INT. TOWNCAR - DAY A170

Billy regards culinary treats presented fancifully in a          towncar that transports him to Fenway Park.

170 EXT. FENWAY PARK - BOSTON - DAY 170

We establish the famous home of the Red Sox before finding BILLY standing on home plate. He looks around at          the historic stadium...

JOHN (O.S.) Billy Beane!

JOHN HENRY, the new owner of the Boston Red Sox, is          shouting at him from the owner's box. BILLY gives a kind of wave.

HENRY Due respect to the Coliseum, but this is          a ball park.

BILLY Yes it is. It is.

HENRY

(SHOUTING) You ever play here?

156.

156.

FLASH CUT:

BILLY swinging hard at a pitch in the dirt.

CUT BACK TO:

BILLY No.

JOHN That's a shame. Let's walk the field.

BILLY and JOHN begin a stroll around the perimeter of         Fenway.

JOHN Hey, I'm sorry I kept you waiting but believe it or not there was snow on 84. The second week in October. The car turns on to Yawkee Way and it's 53 degrees and this. How can there be an          entirely different weather system here than there is three miles from here? Is          that global warming or a sign that there's no such thing?

BILLY I don't know.

JOHN What's that Billy Joel song? Oh the snow it was falling from Stockbridge to          Boston. And the hilltops seemed something because of that frosting.

BILLY I think that's James Taylor and I'm          certain those aren't the words.

JOHN Well whatever, it was snowing from Stockbridge to Boston so I'm sorry I'm          late. We'll have lunch in a little bit but why don't I have some coffee sent up. (he's already got his          cell phone open) Denise? (back to BILLY) We've got espresso, cappuccino, latte, we've got a machine that makes whatever you want.

BILLY We've got free soda.

157.

157.

JOHN I heard about that.

(INTO PHONE) Can you have some coffee in there for us?

(BEAT) Thank you.

He snaps the phone shut.

A171 INT. PRESS BOX - DAY A171

Billy and John admire the view. DENISE sets down a tray of coffee and exits.

JOHN It's her birthday and I need to get her a          present but she's usually the one who does that for me so do you have any ideas?

BILLY

(PAUSE) A scarf?

JOHN You mean like wool?

BILLY No I meant something that women wear with, you know, a decorative --

JOHN Sure! Excellent.

(PAUSE) And where would I get something like that?

BILLY John, no disrespect, I just lost in five for the second year in a row -- give her a bowling ball for all I care.

JOHN Steve Schott told me he's offering you a          new contract.

BILLY Yes he is.

JOHN So why'd you return my call?

BILLY You're the Red Sox, and I think I can help you.

(MORE)

158.

158.

BILLY (CONT'D)          I think I can do something about the Curse of the Bambino. I heard you hired Bill James.

HENRY Why it took someone so long to hire that guy is beyond me.

BILLY Because baseball hates him.

HENRY Money buys a lot of things. One is the luxury to disregard what baseball thinks.

BILLY That must be nice. (beat, then) I was grateful to get your call.

JOHN looks at BILLY a moment...

JOHN You were grateful.

BILLY Yeah.

JOHN For 41 million you built a playoff team. You lost Damon, Giambi, Isringhausen and Pena and you won two more games without them than you did with them. And we begin a slow push-in on BILLY... this is the first person in baseball other than his assistant who doesn't         think he's crazy.

JOHN You won the exact same number of games as          the Yankees but the Yankees paid 1.4 million dollars per win and you paid two- hundred and sixty thousand. Yes, I want you to be my General Manager.

(PAUSE) I know you're taking it in the teeth. The first guy through a wall always gets hurt. But those are dying voices. Any GM that doesn't tear down their team and rebuild it using your model is gonna be a          dinosaur.

JOHN's taken a piece of paper out of his pocket and slides it to BILLY --

159.

159.

BILLY What's this?

JOHN My first offer. BILLY opens it, looks at it for less than a second, and looks back up at JOHN...

171 INT. LIMO - DAY 171

Billy looks out at the Boston scenery. He steals a          glance at the paper in his hand, John's offer, pensive...

CUT TO:

172 OMITTED 172

173 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - LOCKER ROOM - DAY 173

Billy comes into the locker room and gives it a look.

174 OMITTED (MOVED TO G177) 174

175 OMITTED 175

176 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM LOCKER ROOM - DAY 176

Billy sits at a table. A baseball SLAMS down in front of          him. He looks up to see where it came from. PETER is          standing in the doorway.

PETER Heads up!

BILLY Jesus. What the hell --

PETER Sorry.

BILLY What the hell was that?

PETER I don't know. Sorry.

(THEN) How was Boston?

BILLY Impressive.

PETER You're giving me Youkilis, Billy.

160.

160.

BILLY Why would I ever do that?

PETER Come on Billy, Schott's going to want something in exchange for letting you out of your contract and I want Youkilis.

BILLY Oh, what is that, your GM voice? You can't have him.

PETER And Cash. And a player to be named later.

BILLY You already have my job. What else do you want from me?

PETER I don't want your job.

BILLY Why did you take it?

PETER You didn't leave me much choice.

(THEN) Did Henry make you a good offer?

BILLY It doesn't matter.

PETER Did he make you a good offer?

BILLY It was fine.

PETER What was it?

BILLY It doesn't matter.

Pete just stares at him. Finally, Billy reaches into his pocket, takes out the folded piece of paper and hands it         to Peter. Peter looks at it...

PETER He offered to make you the highest paid GM in pro sports.

161.

161.

BILLY

(GENUINELY

CONFLICTED)         Do I love the Red Sox?

PETER I don't know. I've never heard you say you did.

BILLY So why am I doing this?

PETER You're not doing it for the money.

BILLY I'm not?

PETER You're doing it for what the money says. It says what it says to any player who gets big money: that they're worth it.

BILLY The offer says that. The money itself is         redundant.

(BEAT) I made one personal decision based on         money in my life and I swore to never do          that again.

PETER So you're not going to Boston?

BILLY I haven't decided.

PETER It's all over the news that it's a done deal.

BILLY Look at this place. What a dump.

(THEN) I so wanted to win here.

PETER I think you've already won, Billy.

BILLY No Pete, we lost.

PETER You haven't given yourself time to get over it, it's only been three days.

162.

162.

BILLY I'm not even over last year yet. I don't          get over it.

PETER

(BEAT) I've got something in the video room, come with me.

BILLY I really can't look at video right now.

PETER No, come with me.

A177 OMITTED (MOVED TO K177) A177

B177 INT. VIDEO ROOM - DAY B177

PAUL It's not much more than a home movie but you'll get the idea.

BILLY Who is it?

PAUL The Visalia Oaks and their 240 pound catcher, Jeremy Brown, who's scared of          running to second. This was in a game six weeks ago.

PAUL hits the remote and the tape starts. The quality is          poor and the camera is focused only on Jeremy.

PAUL This guy's gonna start him off with a          fastball low and in because he hasn't           read the book on our guy and doesn't know that low and in is where he eats. Jeremy takes him to deep center -- We see JEREMY BROWN connect and the ball fly off the bat but the camera stays on JEREMY running to first. PAUL slows down the picture with the remote

PAUL -- and he knows that if he runs it's a          stand-up double and he's running.

BILLY

(QUIETLY) Go pal.

163.

163.

PAUL And now he's gonna do something he never does. He's gonna round first base, he's          gonna take the turn.

BILLY Please tell me he's safe at second.

PAUL No. Because right here --

JEREMY slips and stumbles to the ground.

PAUL -- is what he's always been afraid of. It's all he can do to get himself back to          first. JEREMY has been scrambling in the dirt to get safely back to first base.

BILLY What is that?

PAUL That's the first base coach.

BILLY Why's he laughing? I'm gonna fire that guy, why the hell is he --

PAUL Everybody's laughing.

JEREMY's looking around the field now, looking at his own dugout. We can't see what he sees but he's confused.

PAUL And now Jeremy finds out why. Watch his face because this is art. He's just found out the ball went 60 feet over the fence. He'd hit a home run but he didn't          know it.

And JEREMY's face explodes into a smile. He slaps hands with the first base coach and begins his trot around the bases. BILLY stares at this. He takes the remote and backs it         up a little so he can see Jeremy's face again.

BILLY How can anybody not be romantic about baseball?

164.

164.

PAUL

(PAUSE) It was a metaph--

BILLY I know it was a metaphor.

PAUL That was a hell of a baseball season, boss.

BILLY The Island of Misfit Toys. Okay.

And with that, Billy's mind begins to go elsewhere. No          resolution, no decision, other than to get up and wander on.

CUT TO:

C177 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM HALLWAY - DAY C177

Billy stops in front of a door, checks to see if it's          open, it is and he enters.

D177 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM SCOUT ROOM - DAY D177

Billy Stands and takes it in.

CUT TO:

E177 INT. ART HOWE'S OFFICE - DAY E177

Billy stands and takes it in.

CUT TO:

F177 INT. OAKLAND COLISEUM HALLWAY - DAY F177

Billy stands at area from which a mysterious smell still emanates.

CUT TO:

G177 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY (FORMERLY 174) G177

Billy haunts the field, talking to himself. Eventually he stands at the plate, and has an imaginary at bat.

CUT TO:

165.

165.

H177 INT. VIDEO ROOM - CONTINUOUS H177

Pete watches Billy from the pitch tracking monitor as he          argues with an imaginary ump before hitting an imaginary inside the park home run that ends with a slide into home.

CUT TO:

J177 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM FIELD - DAY J177

Billy wanders over to the pitcher's mound. Lies down.

His POV of perfect sky...

K177 EXT. FREEWAY - DAY (FORMERLY A177) K177

BILLY's driving along and listening to the continued DRONE of talk radio criticism.

RADIO VOICE (V.O.)

ARCHIVAL RADIO CHATTER

BILLY keeps listening a moment, then reaches in the glove box and pulls out a CD marked "Dad's Mix".

BILLY slips it in the CD player. The sound of the radio immediately snaps off and the momentary silence is soon broken by CASEY's VOICE--

CASEY (V.O.) Hey, Dad. I picked these songs out just for you. And then the first track on the CD comes on (SONG TBD).

And BILLY smiles. He continues on down the freeway into dusk, as--

177 EXT. MLB FIELD 177

David Justice at the plate. As he takes ball four and trots down to first, the image freezes -

Legend: David Justice retired after the 2002 season, leaving baseball with a team-leading on-base percentage with most walks.

178 EXT. MLB FIELD 178

Scott Hatteberg, looking comfortable on the infield dirt finally, dives for a line drive - freeze.

166.

166.

Legend: Scott Hatteberg played three more seasons with the A's, then signed with Cincinnati in 2006 - as a first baseman. He retired in 2007.

179 EXT. MLB FIELD 179

Chad Bradford goes into his windup from Mars. As his hand scrapes the dirt - freeze. Legend: Chad Bradford went to the Red Sox in 2005. In          2008, he was traded to Tampa Bay who went on to the World Series with a payroll even lower than the A's.

180 EXT. MLB FIELD 180

Kevin Youkilis, in a Red Sox uniform, shimmies at the plate. As he lays off ball four and the umpire points to          first - freeze. Legend: Boston never traded to Billy - or anyone else - their Greek God of Walks, Kevin Youkilis. He was part of          the historic World Series Championship Red Sox of 2004, and is still with the club.

181 EXT. MLB FIELD 181

Peter, in a Yale Bulldogs uniform, scoops a grounder to          second. As he throws out a Yale Bulldog - freeze. Legend: Peter Brand left Oakland in 2004 to become the General Manager of the Dodgers. He's now with the San Diego Padres.

182 EXT. MLB FIELD 182

Billy - 18 years old - in his Mount Carmel High uniform, takes his stance at the plate with the supreme confidence of youth. The pitch comes. He swings. And as his bat makes contact - freeze. Legend: Billy Beane is still the General Manager of the Oakland A's.

183 EXT. OAKLAND COLISEUM - NIGHT 183 The Coliseum's floodlights switch off and the green of          the grass darkens -

TO BLACK