SPEEDY Written by · Created using Celtx FADE IN: EXT. ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND (1987) - DAY RUBEN...
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SPEEDY Written by Chris Bruno and Ruben Gonzalez The incredible true story of an unlikely four-time Olympian. Based on the book “The Courage to Succeed” by Ruben Gonzalez. WGA# 1998340 Ruben Gonzalez 19982 Elk Creek Drive West Colorado Springs, CO 80908 (832) 689-8282 [email protected] Chris Bruno (510) 725-2235 [email protected]
Transcript of SPEEDY Written by · Created using Celtx FADE IN: EXT. ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND (1987) - DAY RUBEN...
SPEEDY
Written by
Chris Bruno and Ruben Gonzalez
The incredible true story of an unlikely four-time Olympian.Based on the book “The Courage to Succeed” by Ruben Gonzalez.
WGA# 1998340
Ruben Gonzalez19982 Elk Creek Drive WestColorado Springs, CO 80908(832) [email protected]
Chris Bruno(510) [email protected]
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FADE IN:
EXT. ST. MORITZ, SWITZERLAND (1987) - DAY
RUBEN GONZALEZ, a 23-year-old broke luge athlete walks out to a beat up station wagon carrying his SLED and a DUFFEL BAG.
The car starts after a couple of false starts. Ruben drives through St. Moritz on the way to the luge track.
Women in full length furs are window shopping. The streets are filled with exotic sports cars.
EXT. "OLYMPIA BOB AND LUGE TRACK" (ST. MORITZ) - DAY
A snowy luge track emerges from the landscape -- a wood and stone track, pounded by sledge into a mountain, made up of ice blocks and pine planks watered down and frozen solid into a mile long chute of ice.
Ruben walks by the German team, who are working on a SLED.
RUBEN Guten Morgen.
GERMANS (they ignore him, like usual)
Ruben climbs to the men's start with his luge.
RUBEN Morgen.
SECURITY GUARD (a grunt)
Ruben's second-hand spandex suit is torn and patched.
RUBEN (whispers)
Oh, baby.
The starting gate is unadorned in the off-season. Static from a speaker/timer below. Lights at the ready. Ruben sets his LUGE SLED in place, pulls on his HELMET, fastens it. He sits down on the fiberglass seat of the sled, positions himself, jams opposing gloved fingers webs into each other, and grips the start handles fixed to the ice.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Gonzalez -- ready!
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SPEAKER (O.S.) Gonzalez, check. In ten -- watch your lights.
The luge banked turns await in silence.
SPEAKER (CONT'D) Five... four...
Ruben extends his arm and lowers himself, as in prayer, preparing for the start, his body a band held taught by either handle.
SPEAKER (CONT'D) Three... two...
RUBEN (whispers)
Jesus.
SPEAKER (CONT'D) One!
A buzzer sounds. Lights flash. Ruben yanks himself forward, sitting upright now and gripping the ice with spike-embedded gloves. He grabs and pulls on the ice until his speed picks up and then he lies down in the pose his Austrian coach hated, head canted forward toward the track before him.
He's a blink of blue to a bystander; at freeway speeds already. An image too quick for detail. A blur. The track swallows him up at each turn and spits him out the other end.
Bam! A hard hit to the inner wall. And a bad cut to the outer wall. Ruben sails up the curve instead of inside it. Airborne a quarter second -- he pulls in his feet.
The front of the sled snaps off on impact. Ruben smacks the cowling as he flies off the luge -- a 80 mph barrel roll over the wall.
The luge shoots past as he lands in a snow bank so deep a ladder would be required to extract him. But there would be no ladder. Only silence and the deep labor of his breathing.
The wrecked sled crosses the finish line alone.
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INT. HOSPITAL/HOSPITAL ROOM (ST. MORITZ) - DAY
FRENCH SLIDER Happy, Ruben?
RUBEN Why would I be happy?
FRENCH SLIDER Because now you've got an actual injury to go with your cover story that you're really training for the Olympics.
RUBEN I AM training for the Olympics.
FRENCH LUGER No, you're not -- you're an unemployed has-been-in-the-making, trying to cash in on make-believe heroics.
RUBEN I'll be an Olympian.
FRENCH LUGER An Olympian? You're as much an Olympian as Rosie Ruiz was a marathon runner. Just another wetback seeking illegitimate glory.
RUBEN I'm an American.
FRENCH LUGER You're an immigrant from Houston brainwashed by TV.
RUBEN Get out of here!
FRENCH LUGER This will cost you your life, Ruben. You're not good enough to compete at this level --
RUBEN -- get away from me!
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INT. HOTEL BANQUET HALL (OMAHA) (2007) - NIGHT
Brightly lit stage where an adult Ruben Gonzalez dressed in all black paces back and forth below a sign which reads "Omaha Realtors Association Going for Gold in 2007!"
HECKLER Your best finish was thirty-first!
RUBEN Who said that?
Ruben turns.
Thirty-first? Right, thirty-first. . . thirty first in a sport in which only a hundred people per year are capable of competing. A sport in which if given the chance to make a run on ice this moment -- nearly none of you would take it, and those that did would receive the worst injuries of their life.
[Pause]
Thirty-first? Tell me the sport you're capable of competing against the best in the world!
HECKLER Drinking!
CROWD [laughter]
RUBEN Drinking. Funny. You shoot a 53 on the back nine after three beers.
HECKLER I'd take a 53!
RUBEN I bet you would. But, you see, I wouldn't. That's the difference between the two of us. Both had two paths before us at twenty-one: the predictable one and unpredictable one. (MORE)
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RUBEN (CONT'D) I resisted the urge to move with the masses. I bolted at the thought of corporate confinement. At my first thought that I might become an Olympian, I became one -- in my mind, I became one!
HECKLER The worst kind!
RUBEN The worst kind? Why? Because I wasn't fastest? I worked the hardest. The obstacles before me were greater than those any medalist in my sport ever encountered -- ask them! Ask them by name: Sergey! Markus! Armin! Felix- ask them! Ask the medalist who finished first! He knows my name. He doesn't know yours.
HECKLER Paul!
RUBEN Paul, good! I remain an Olympian even in a business suit. I don't tear people down. I look for opportunities to lift myself up -- and to bring along as many people as I can.
"I wasn't delivered unto this world in defeat," says Og Mandino, "I'm not a sheep waiting to be prodded." My advice to you is this when you find yourself penned in...
[pause]
...kick down the stall!
FLASHBACK
EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAYGROUND (HOUSTON)(1972) - DAY
Children are picking teams for a kickball game. Ruben is the last one picked. The team captain that gets Ruben gets mad and pushes Ruben away. Ruben goes off by himself and kicks a SOCCER BALL over and over against a wall.
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EXT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SOCCER FIELD (1980) - DAY
Ruben, 18, wears an orange and blue polyester soccer uniform. Ninety-eight degree heat. The opposing goalie's kick is high. A halfback's header sends it spinning toward Ruben who misses a kick, hitting the ball with his uplifted wrist. A whistle blows. All players drop to a trot. Most turn away from the sun. The goalies seek out their towels and the shade of the cross bar and net.
A Hispanic coach in a green tank-top and aviator glasses, calls out from the sideline.
COACH Gonzalez.
RUBEN Yes, Coach!
Ruben runs to him.
COACH You were better in your try-out than you actually play.
RUBEN I'm good under pressure.
COACH Then we don't compete at a high enough level for you. I'd call you Speedy Gonzalez but you're so slow that you don't qualify for that name. From now on you only play when we're up by two goals, cause you're a threat to our own team.
Points to the bench.
COACH (CONT'D) Julio -- go in for Ruben -- watch their center.
Ruben walks to the BENCH and puts his hand out to MARTIN, the third-string goalie for a high five, but gets the small change of air.
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Ruben walks past and looks up to the stands. His father sits in a short-sleeve shirt and tie in the middle of a work day in hundred degree heat. He wears a broad PANAMA HAT.
Ruben, grabs a used cup and holding it under the yellow-ribbed water jug gets drops. He puts the cup down, grabs the jug and starts walking.
INT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY YEARBOOK OFFICE (1980) - DAY
CARMEN PEREZ is small, thin, with a small purse under one arm -- her books in the another.
RUBEN This --
Ruben holds the black and white PHOTOGRAPH.
RUBEN (CONT'D) -- this was our loss in overtime to Hardin Simmons.
He turns his head toward Carmen. He can smell her.
CARMEN That's Martin?
RUBEN Sure -- you can tell by his shirt.
CARMEN Is he falling?
RUBEN No. He's diving toward the ball.
CARMEN He missed the ball.
RUBEN That was their winning goal.
CARMEN Oh.
RUBEN He had that tough decision -- wait for their forward and hope his block was perfect, or to rush their forward to force a miss.
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CARMEN But the forward scored.
RUBEN It was two-on-one. Tough odds.
CARMEN Then what did Martin do?
RUBEN What do you mean?
CARMEN After the forward scored on him.
RUBEN Cried in the grass.
CARMEN He cried?
Carmen brought her free hand to her mouth.
RUBEN He's very emotional. Gets down on himself too much.
CARMEN Martin?
RUBEN Not off the field -- but on it.
CARMEN He cried.
RUBEN Wept into the sod -- dug his fingernails in. Had to be pulled up off the field. It was his loss to him. His failure.
CARMEN I had no idea.
RUBEN We lose games off a fingertip -- his.
Ruben stared at her as she looked at the PHOTO.
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RUBEN (CONT'D) Carmen, I have a lot of other photos I could show you. I have books full.
CARMEN It's OK. Why do you shoot pictures? You're on the team.
RUBEN I hardly play. Might as well shoot pictures during the games.
CARMEN Can I have this one?
RUBEN Sure! I can even frame it for you!
CARMEN No, no -- just like this is fine.
RUBEN But it's crinkled where my teammates held it.
CARMEN Did Martin handle this?
RUBEN He threw it back at me. Carmen -- can I ask you something?
CARMEN Hmm.
RUBEN I-I know we don't know each other that well. I... I just wanted to know if you'd consider-
CARMEN -- Ruben.
RUBEN -- going out with me?
CARMEN Ruben...
She takes the picture, pulls her books up to cover her slight breasts. She walks out of the yearbook office.
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INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME (HOUSTON)(1982) - NIGHT
RUBEN GONZALEZ SR. beckons his son into the living room as he walks toward the kitchen.
RUBEN, SR. Ruben...
RUBEN What is it?
RUBEN, SR. Have you put any thought to what you want to do with your life?
RUBEN I want to do great things.
RUBEN SR. Then study great men -- Washington, Jefferson, Edison, Patton -- The answers are there.
Points to book cases.
Ruben walks over to the BOOK CASES and pulls out the BOOK "How to Win Friends and Influence People."
RUBEN I want to call my own shots. I want to have my own business.
RUBEN SR. You want to be a merchant? Moneylenders take advantage of people. Jesus whipped the moneylenders. Ran them off the temple. You're my eldest son. You'll be a doctor. You'll save lives.
RUBEN (laughing)
You seen my grades? I can't be a doctor. Hell, I'll save lives by NOT being a doctor.
RUBEN SR. You'll be a doctor.
Ruben storms out, goes to his bedroom and slams the door.
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INT. RUBEN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Ruben lays on a WORKOUT BENCH in his room and furiously starts bench pressing a heavily loaded BARBELL to release his anger.
RUBEN A doctor? He's nuts!
Ruben keeps pumping the barbell.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Who does he think I am? Albert Schweitzer?
Ruben keeps pressing the barbell but he's running out of steam.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I'll NEVER be a doctor.
Ruben is spent. Gasping for air. GLOLILEY, Ruben's mother, enters Ruben's bedroom, sits on Ruben's bed and consoles him.
GLOLILEY Letting your father get to you again?
RUBEN He's obsessed with me being a doctor.
GLOLILEY I've told you a million times. Gonzalezes are winners, dreamers and fighters.
Ruben gets up from the weight bench and sits next to his mother like when she told him stories as a child.
GLOLILEY (CON'T) At the turn of the century, your great-grandparents left everything behind in Europe and moved to Argentina to create a better life.
Then, in the sixties, we left everything behind in Argentina and came to the US to create a better life.
Ruben puts his arm around his mother's waist and rests his head on her shoulder.
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GLOLILEY (CONT'D) That's what we do. We're willing to leave something good for the hope pf something better.
Son, when God puts a dream in your heart, fight for it. If you don't, you'll regret it all your life.
Gloliley puts her arm around Ruben and gently kisses him on the head.
INT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY/CLASSROOM - DAY
PROFESSOR Would you like to share that with the class, Ruben?
Ruben looks up. The collar of his polyester Izod knock-off was turned inward.
RUBEN What?
He covers up his dog-eared copy of "How To Win Friends and Influence People."
PROFESSOR What you are reading.
Ruben looked at the cover, lifted the book and then flashed it to his teacher.
RUBEN They probably wouldn't understand.
PROFESSOR No, they probably wouldn't.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME - NIGHT
RUBEN SR. Ruben, what is our discussion about today?
RUBEN How to become a better soccer player?
RUBEN SR. Work, son, about your future.
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RUBEN Then it comes down to two words, Ruben -- it always does.
RUBEN SR. Do not mock me, Ruben.
RUBEN Inquiry-
RUBEN SR. Yes, inquiry is the first.
RUBEN Inquiry -- a man must find a field of endeavor.
RUBEN SR. Ruben, you must find a field of endeavor -- do you know what your grades say?
RUBEN They are mute as I wish you were.
RUBEN SR. Your grades tell me you have not found your field of endeavor.
RUBEN Traitors! I confided that to them in secret!
RUBEN SR. Ruben.
RUBEN Ruben.
RUBEN SR. Ruben, I will have the last word!
RUBEN The last! The first! And every one in between!
RUBEN SR. Inquiry and persistence are paired. You must find the field of inquiry in which to persist.
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RUBEN Ruben Father, how long am I given to research my field of persistence.
RUBEN SR. No longer than it took me to discover...
RUBEN ...engineering.
RUBEN SR. Ruben, a man is placed on this earth to accumulate experience to provide value to people with money.
RUBEN I thought you said money can't buy happiness.
RUBEN SR. Happiness is shallow. I'm talking about the pride that comes from being a man of honor and providing for your family.
RUBEN You don't understand me. I have big dreams.
RUBEN SR. The answers are in the books.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME/LIVING ROOM (1984) - NIGHT
Ruben is fascinated as he watches the Opening Ceremonies of the Sarajevo Winter Olympics.
JIM MCKAY (V.O.) When the Olympics were last held here there was no television, none of the electronic marvels that will help us bring you today's Opening Ceremony of the Games of the 23rd Olympiad. You're inside the stadium now. And here almost 90,000 people are in place awaiting a spectacular show, the march of the athletes and eventually the lighting of the flame that will burn throughout the games.
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JIM MCKAY (V.O.)(CONT'D) The world has come to Los Angeles. 140 nations exactly. The weather has cooperated. Clear skies, temperature in the 90 -- its the moment of anticipation before the great event begins...
RUBEN SR. Ruben, a letter from your school arrived.
JIM MCKAY (V.O.) I must tell you that it doesn't matter how many Olympics you've been to -- you still get the butterflies in the stomach, the tingle in the flesh, the tremendous sense of anticipation.
RUBEN SR. The name on the envelope is mine.
JIM MCKAY (V.O.) You're going to be here three and a half hours so I suggest you get comfortable and stay with us . .
RUBEN Yes, my son.
Ruben Sr. hands the ENVELOPE to Ruben who crumples it up.
INT. RUBEN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
The bedroom is lit by the flickering of a small black & white TV on his dresser. He's under the covers.
COMMENTATOR (V.O.) American's Men Figure skater, Scott Hamilton, was born August 28, 1958, in Toledo, Ohio. After overcoming many obstacles, including an illness at the age of two that caused him to stop growing, Hamilton made his Olympic debut at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, New York.
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COMMENTATOR (V.O.)(CONT'D) After being chosen to carry the American Flag in the opening ceremonies, Hamilton finished fifth at the Olympics best known for Eric Heiden's five gold medals and the American Hockey team's Miracle on Ice. (beat) It would be the last competition Hamilton would ever lose.
INT. EXXON HEADQUARTERS/CONFERENCE ROOM (HOUSTON) - DAY
Ruben swivels in a conference room chair in a wood paneled room with maps framed on the wall along side photos of deep sea drilling equipment. His father enters the room in white shirt sleeves and grey striped tie.
RUBEN, SR. Ruben!
RUBEN Ruben-father.
RUBEN, SR. What are you doing here -- why did you come?
RUBEN We are concerned about your attendance, Ruben. Sit.
Ruben Sr. smiles. Sits down in a chair opposite him.
RUBEN, SR. Well, I made it to work today, didn't I.
Ruben looks at the watch he doesn't wear.
RUBEN A little late though.
RUBEN, SR. Seven-thirty?
RUBEN Early is on-time...
RUBEN, SR. -- and on-time is late. I understand.
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RUBEN We know your penchant for hunting down fresh Sanka on other floors, Ruben. And for inquiring as to the well being of your co-workers.
RUBEN, SR. That does take time -- you're right.
RUBEN We want you in here at 7:15 from now on.
Ruben Sr. smiles.
RUBEN (CONT'D) We expect a decade more of service from you, maybe two, or we're canceling your pension -- do you understand?
RUBEN, SR. I understand.
RUBEN These dinosaurs didn't die for nothing. You're required to extract their gooey bone matter from the earth for our fun and profit, do you understand me?
RUBEN, SR. I understand.
RUBEN And we expect what meager remuneration you receive from us you are to dole out in an equally spendthrift manner.
RUBEN, SR. And the Christmas charity funds I've embezzled?
RUBEN Yours to squander.
Ruben, Sr. nods.
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RUBEN (CONT'D) Now I am going to approve your request for a company car but it better be a four-door and we're not paying for the FM upgrade.
RUBEN, SR. That is generous of you.
RUBEN No, it's not. We're concerned of your reducing your profit-generating lifespan by crashing your car while rocking out, Ruben.
RUBEN, SR. I see.
RUBEN We found The Ramones cassette in your DictaPhone.
RUBEN, SR. It will not happen again.
RUBEN Ruben, we're going to get to the point of this meeting. We appear to have found our life calling.
RUBEN, SR. Have we?
RUBEN We have.
RUBEN, SR. I presume this is on a need-to-know basis.
RUBEN Precisely. But unfortunately your security clearance has been revoked.
Ruben holds out his hand.
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RUBEN (CONT'D) Badge, please. Your new job is in the motor pool.
EXT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SOCCER FIELD - DAY
Ruben lays on a bench in the shade. He stares up at a CLIPBOARD of a photocopied list of Olympic sports. He crosses off about half the Summer games while repeating to himself the sports that remain -- we see his list, while hearing a cheerleading squad practicing.
RUBEN Archery Athletics ------- (no) Basketball ------ (no) Canoeing Cycling --------- (no) Field Hockey ---- (no) Gymnastics ------ (no) Marathon -------- (no) Modern Pentathlon Rowing Sailing Soccer ---------- (no way!) Swimming no Team Handball --- (no) Volleyball ------ (no) Water Polo Weightlifting --- (no)
CHEERLEADER Ruben? Ruben?
Ruben's so focused on the list, he doesn't hear the cheerleader calling him.
RUBEN Shooting? Judo? Wrestling?
CHEERLEADER Ruben?
RUBEN Diving!
INT: GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME/RUBEN'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Ruben sits up in bed. Arms crossed. The yellow plastic black & white TV shines.
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NARRATOR 1 (V.O.) All right -- well the Americans are already on their feet in this Zetra arena, Scott Hamilton goes after the gold... here.
NARRATOR 2 (V.O.) Look at his face! He is not going to get blown off this course if he can help it.
I think what he wants more than anything is to do a good job -- here's the first move, a triple-Lutz.
NARRATOR 1 (V.O.) Nice! Nice! Nice!
INT. HALLWAY IN THE DARK - NIGHT
Light emanates from around the closed door of Ruben's bedroom door -- the sound of loud disco music, the rise and fall of the roar of applause and the staccato interruptions of narrators. We see in muted light vintage FAMILY PHOTOS of the Gonzalez family through the years.
INT. LOFT ABOVE CARLOS QUIROZ'S GARAGE (HOUSTON) - DAY
Sunlight streams through a vent in the wall. CARLOS QUIROZ, Ruben's best friend and one of the stars of the soccer team, recruited from Peru, is face down in a beanbag, a Corona bottle beside him. QUEEN's "Under Pressure" is playing.
RUBEN Alpine Skiing, Biathlon, Bobsled, Cross Country Skiing, Curling... (MORE)
RUBEN (CONT'D) Ski Jump, Luge, Nordic Combined -- The luge.
RUBEN (CONT'D) The luge.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME/KITCHEN, HOUSTON - DAY
Ruben slumps over the kitchen table, head in his arms with the telephone cradle buried within. A long, yellow, stretched-out handset cord crosses the breakfast room.
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RUBEN I'm in excellent shape.
MALE VOICE (O.S.) You're out of your mind.
RUBEN You can speak to my soccer coach!
MALE VOICE (O.S.) You're too old. You're ten years too late.
RUBEN I can do it!
MALE VOICE (O.S.) There's no way in hell.
RUBEN There is a way in hell if you'll just make an exception to your training program.
MALE VOICE (O.S.) Have you actually ever seen someone luge?
RUBEN No, but --
MALE VOICE (O.S.) (laughing)
-- it won't happen in your lifetime.
RUBEN I've made it from Argentina to Texas in this lifetime -- I just need to get from Houston to New York -- to Lake Placid!
MALE VOICE (O.S.) You were born in Argentina?
RUBEN I'm an American!
MALE VOICE (O.S.) Do you have a birth certificate from Argentina?
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Ruben sits up.
RUBEN Does that matter?
MALE VOICE (O.S.) We'll only train you if you go for Argentina.
RUBEN What?
MALE VOICE (O.S.) Unless we get more countries competing in this sport, the luge won't be in the Olympics much longer.
RUBEN That can't be.
MALE VOICE (O.S.) If you want to make it in just four years it's going to be brutal. Nine out of ten people quit.
RUBEN I'm not a quitter.
MALE VOICE (O.S.) You'll have to have to cram ten years of luge training into just two years.
RUBEN I've been cramming for tests all my life.
MALE VOICE (O.S.) Then compete against the best in the world for two years and hope to qualify.
RUBEN Whatever.
MALE VOICE (O.S.) This isn't a game. This is serious stuff. You're going to break a lot of bones.
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RUBEN Bones heal. A broken bone is a temporary inconvenience.
MALE VOICE (O.S.) Are you sure you want to do this?
RUBEN Absolutely. I'll do anything to be an Olympian.
EXT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME - DAY
Ruben Sr. is parked in front of his home facing EAST in his sky-blue 1975 Chevy Nova. The engine is IDLING. He's staring straight ahead wearing sunglasses. His son, Ruben, is on the curb leaning through the passenger window.
RUBEN, SR. I have just one question for you, Mr. Gonzalez.
RUBEN Only one, Mr. Gonzalez?
RUBEN, SR. Might you have you guessed the question in question, Mr. Gonzalez?
RUBEN I believe I have, Mr. Gonzalez.
RUBEN, SR. Illumine then the mind of your progenitor, Mr. Gonzalez.
RUBEN I realize that what I'm attempting has never been accomplished before in the history of the Olympic Games -- to become a world-class competitor in adulthood.
RUBEN, SR. That, Mr. Gonzalez, is not my concern.
RUBEN Then what is?
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RUBEN, SR. Tell me, won't you -- what speed must you reach upon this earth in order to qualify in the luge -- what speed -- in Miles Per Hour -- Mr. Gonzalez. What speed? Tell me.
RUBEN Ninety.
Ruben, Sr. puts the car in gear and drives away.
EXT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY SOCCER FIELD - DAY
Ruben sits on the bench as usual during a soccer match. Martin, the third-string goalie and the most negative player on the team, sits next to him.
RUBEN I'm learning to luge so I can go to the Olympics.
MARTIN (Shakes his head) You're out of your mind. Give up sports, man. You're all heart with zero athletic ability. Just give it up.
RUBEN What do YOU know Martin? You've got talent but you waste it with your lousy attitude.
MARTIN You're the one who's wasting his time.
RUBEN If I had half your talent I'd be starting every game.
Ruben says this with pride. His determined stare and confident manner catch Martin off guard.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Damn it man. You don't have to sit on this bench. Not if you fight for your team.
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MARTIN At least I play sometimes. You're lucky to play five minutes a game.
RUBEN Why do you stay back in the goal when a forward's coming at you? You make it easy for them to score on you. Are you afraid?
MARTIN You don't know what it's like.
RUBEN Bull. I've been afraid all my life. But fear ain't gonna keep me down anymore.
Martin breaks eye contact and looks down.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Attack your fear. Charge into the forwards. Show them who's boss. If they score on you, at least you'll know you did your best.
Martin looks back up at Ruben but he's not buying what Ruben says.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I WILL be an Olympian.
MARTIN You'll never do it.
RUBEN Just watch me. It's now or never.
MONTAGE - VARIOUS
A) INT. AIRPLANE FLYING TO LAKE PLACID - DAY
B) EXT. LAKE PLACID/MAIN STREET - DAY
Ruben is walking down Main Street looking for the Olympic Training Center.
C) EXT. LAKE PLACID/LUGE TRACK - DAY
Ruben looks up at the sign and then out at the track.
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BON JOVI (plays)
This ain't a song for the broken-hearted, No silent prayer for the faith-departed, I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd, You're gonna hear my voice, When I shout it out loud
It's my life, It's now or never, I ain't gonna live forever, I just want to live while I'm alive...
END OF MONTAGE
EXT. LAKE PLACID OLYMPIC LUGE TRACK (1984) - DAY
A riderless training LUGE ON WHEELS slides out of the end of a wooden practice chute past a large, older coach in a down parka, who stares at it as it speeds past. He is 6'6" GÜNTHER LEMMERER, four-time Olympian, and three-time World Champion from Austria. Günther speaks into a Walkie Talkie.
GÜNTHER (Heavy Austrian accent like ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER)
Was Ruben actually on this sled?
SPOTTER He left the starting gate on it.
INT. LAKE PLACID OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER - DAY
Athletes of various nationalities, carrying winter sporting equipment, shouting to each other, holding cups of coffee.
RUBEN Coach!
Ruben runs up to him. He's wearing a threadbare grey luge suit that appears to be from an earlier era.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I stayed on it that last time all the way to the finish -- one in five! Not bad for a beginner!
GÜNTHER Do know how much you weigh in the turns?
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RUBEN How much I weigh? I weigh the same as in the straight-aways!
GÜNTHER No. No, you don't. You are a family of six in the turns -- do you understand that? Mama, Papa, brother, sister, you and your Nanna. Six. Do you understand? Six G's. Twelve hundred pounds. You enter the turn wrong and you get family reunion in hell!
RUBEN I've survived! Aside from my wrist, I'm good!
GÜNTHER And your ankle.
RUBEN Old soccer injury -- I'll nail two of my runs tomorrow, I promise!
GÜNTHER Go home.
RUBEN I won't.
GÜNTHER Ruben, nach Cmmon! You are too old.
RUBEN I can do this.
GÜNTHER I am twice your age and could beat you in any sport you choose -- in diving, in tennis, in swimming. You are not an athlete, Ruben. You cannot even lay flat on the sled.
RUBEN Iron sharpens iron -- you are here to teach me!
GÜNTHER Go home. No more lessons.
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Günther turns and walks down the hallway. Ruben pulls his left hand from behind his back. Three broken fingers are in an ALUMINUM BRACE.
EXT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY STADIUM - DAY (DAWN)
Ruben walks along the running track, shoulders back, staring up, wearing a yellow jogging suit. He walks over a mile -- four laps -- as though in procession. His friend Carlos is sitting in the stands.
CARLOS How's that visualization coming?
RUBEN It's not.
CARLOS Keep at it. It'll come. You're not fast but you're tough as nails. Luge might be a good sport for you. On the luge you can finally be fast.
RUBEN Thanks amigo.
CARLOS What did that luge trip cost Ruben, three grand? What will happen when your father finds out you stuffed that into your student loan?
EXT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME - DAY
Ruben, Sr. is parked directly in front of his home facing WEST in his sky-blue 1975 Chevy Nova. The engine is IDLING. He staring straight ahead. His son, Ruben, is on the curb with his arms crossed staring at his father. Neither speaks. Ruben, Sr. puts it in drive and pulls away.
EXT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY STADIUM - DAY (DUSK)
Ruben walks along the running track shoulders back, staring up in the stands. The audience sees Ruben's POV -- a staticky television screen superimposed over the stands momentarily -- the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. Then it is gone. The track lights click on bank-by-bank.
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INT. INSURANCE OFFICE (HOUSTON) - DAY
Ruben is a part time intern. He's going to school and working odd jobs to make money for his training.
CRAIG You'd suck at this job, Ruben.
RUBEN Wha?
CRAIG You fill the air with words.
RUBEN I --
CRAIG Selling insurance, though, is less interesting than listening to you.
CRAIG My advice to you is this: get back on a plane to Lake Placid and tell that Neo-Nazi son-of-a-bitch that he's either going to train you for the Olympics or he'll get replaced!
RUBEN But --
CRAIG Look -- this will come as a shock to you. I was young once. I had dreams once. Now I have a house with a woman who shares my last name. Here is a voucher on Pan Am -- roundtrip. It's yours if you promise you'll show back up there unannounced and stick with it until you qualify.
RUBEN But -- how, how can I repay you?
CRAIG Well for starters you're going to call back these candidates I shooed away this morning and bring them back in to find me a good office assistant -- I wouldn't hire you even if you had your degree.
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RUBEN I can do that!
CRAIG Ruben, have you ever thought about telling stories for a living?
RUBEN No, but that reminds me of a story --
EXT. LAKE PLACID LUGE TRACK - DAY
POV - Helmet-cam view of a slider on a luge sled. CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! Ruben clambers for traction on the ice with his gloves, he gets up to speed and lays flat. For the duration of the run we see glimpses of turns, visions of banks, the blur of an official and hear the SCRAPING, GRUNTING. He sits up at the finish in a contrail of ice and comes to rest at the feet of his Günther who does not smile.
GÜNTHER That was less bad than the worst.
EXT. HOUSTON - DAY
Sweltering sun. Ninety-nine degrees. A LAWN MOWER is at full rev. Ruben's face fills the frame, covered in perspiration. He swerves in and out of view.
OLD MAN What the hell are you doing?
Lawn-mower is cut to idle.
RUBEN Mowing your lawn!
OLD MAN The hell you are!
Pan-out to view a 200 ft serpentine trail Ruben has mowed through the tall grass. A trail in the shape or the Lake Placid luge track.
RUBEN It's going to be short all over when I'm done.
OLD MAN I want to see the lines!
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RUBEN This is how I mow.
OLD MAN I don't pay day-dreamers!
Ruben cuts the motor. Turns around and walks back along the curved path he has just mown.
INT. LOFT ABOVE THE QUIROZ FAMILY GARAGE - DAY
A fan spins before a vent through which sunlight streams. Carlos is in a soccer shirt, shorts and tube socks. Ruben looks through an old book.
CARLOS Who's the guy that died in the luge?
RUBEN A Brit with a Polish last name. Flew for the RAF.
CARLOS In the run-up to the Olympics.
RUBEN Yup.
CARLOS And that spooked the Argentinian?
RUBEN I think so. So, technically, I wouldn't be the first Argentinian luger -- this Steiner guy was -- but I'd be the first ever to actually compete in the Olympics.
CARLOS If you qualify.
RUBEN If I'm one of the fifty men who qualify.
CARLOS And if the governing body of Argentinian Olympics decides to include luging again within the next three years.
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RUBEN Yes.
CARLOS The very Argentinians who tend to speak Spanish during the workday and who live very far away, Ruben -- ten thousand miles away.
RUBEN On a different continent. Yes.
INT. LAKE PLACID OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER (1985) - DAY
Ruben and Günther sit in a desolate cafeteria.
RUBEN I thought I could just train here in Lake Placid.
GÜNTHER For the World Cup? Not here.
RUBEN I'm planning on staying here six weeks. The race is here.
GÜNTHER No. Two weeks Lake Placid. Two weeks Innsbruck. Two weeks Winterberg. Then back here and we shave one second off your best time.
RUBEN One second? I have to travel to Europe for a once second gain?
GÜNTHER Ja.
EXT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME - DAY
Ruben, Sr. is parked directly in front of his home facing EAST in his sky-blue 1975 Chevy Nova. The engine is IDLING. He staring straight ahead.
Ruben is slumped over the hood of his father's car, as though recently hit by it, lying dead on the hood like a deer.
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His father turns off the car. Gets out. Pulls his son off the hood, stands up, puts his arm around him and walks back into the house.
EXT: WINTERBERG LUGE TRACK (1986) - DAY
In the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is 0 degrees Fahrenheit.
MONTAGE
EXT./INT. WINTERBERG LUGE TRACK - DAY
- Ruben sands and polishes his sled's runners.
- Ruben stands next to the track with GüNTHER watching a sled go by. GüNTHER turns to Ruben and talks to him.
- Ruben warming up.
- Ruben puts on SPEED SUIT.
- Ruben starts from the gate.
- Ruben races down the track.
- Ruben breaks at the finish and pumps his fist as he breaks.
- Ruben picks up sled.
RUBEN, SR. (V.O.) I am Ruben Gonzalez, son of Anselmo Gonzalez, a surname earned in combat, and still worn with honor in a land far from my home.
RUBEN, SR. (V.O.)(CONT'D) My son, who bears my name and is to carry it still farther seeks to represent the land of my birth, the land of my father in the greatest competition on earth, that of the Olympics, in the sport of his choosing at the age of his maturity, and to battle against the greatest to have claimed supremacy in athleticism for their own nation. I seek that my son would strive under colors sacred to me, with the blessing of those with authority and wisdom to confer it.
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RUBEN, SR. (V.O.)(CONT'D) I left Argentina to pursue a dream. Through these words my son now returns in pursuit of his own. Grant him the chance to seek glory for the Republic. Respectfully. Ruben Gonzalez.
EXT: INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA (1986) - DAY
Ruben is staring up at a wall of PICTURES of past Olympians.
AUSTRIAN MAN Amazing, jah?
EXT. LAKE PLACID LUGE WORLD CUP (FEBRUARY 16, 1986) - DAY
Ruben turns. He has been transported to 1986, dressed in a down coat and hat. Behind him is the leader board which demonstrates he came in 26th of 31 in the World Cup Race.
RUBEN Yeah, it's amazing!
AUSTRIAN SLIDER 1 Shpeedy! Shpeedy Gontzalez!
Ruben high fives him.
AUSTRIAN SLIDER 2 Ya. Shpeedy Gontzalez!
Ruben high fives with the other hand. He's beaming.
INT. LOFT ABOVE THE QUIROZ FAMILY GARAGE (1986) - DAY
The space is stripped of furnishings. Ruben lies on the floor in a beam of diffused sunlight.
MRS. QUIROZ (O.S.) Ruben, honey, is that you?
RUBEN Yes, Mrs. Quiroz.
MRS. QUIROZ Honey, Carlos moved to his own place - - we thought you knew.
RUBEN I know.
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MRS. QUIROZ Can we give you his address?
RUBEN I have it, Mrs. Quiroz.
MRS. QUIROZ Were you still planning on coming here, though, Ruben?
RUBEN I need to be alone.
(to himself) To the Argentina Ski Federation. Dear Jose Luis Marco, Treasurer.
RUBEN (V.O.) Dear Mr Marco, I competed in the 1986 World Cup race as I told you I would.
MONTAGE
EXT. LAKE PLACID WORLD CUP - DAY
- World Cup racing footage.
- Medals ceremony.
RUBEN (V.O.) 19 countries competed. Of 33 racers, I came in 26th. I think I can still do better. I've accomplished my goal for this first international competition and have learned new racing techniques from the athletes I am competing with. These I intend to use to race at ever higher speeds.
RUBEN (V.O.) Please consider my request to represent Argentina in the Winter Olympics.
RUBEN (V.O.) (we are staring at Ruben's face as he finishes as he is staring at the letter he wrote.)
Respectfully, Ruben Gonzalez.
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INT. "LONGHORN SMOKEHOUSE" RESTAURANT (HOUSTON) - NIGHT
MANAGER Ruben!
Ruben's head is bent at his workstation in the kitchen.
MANAGER (CONT'D) Ruben!
RUBEN What?
Ruben looks up. He is perspiring.
MANAGER What the hell are you doing?
RUBEN Making sandwiches!
MANAGER Open your warming drawer. Ruben opens the packed warming drawer.
MANAGER (CONT'D) Now open the other one.
Ruben opens the other packed warming drawer.
MANAGER (CONT'D) Ruben -- it's ten to nine. What the hell am I going to do with sixty roast beef sandwiches? (beat)
RUBEN I'll eat two?
INT. "LONGHORN SMOKEHOUSE" RESTAURANT - DAY
MANAGER Ruben, if you want to stay employed you're going to have to talk to people for a living -- do you get that? People need to eat.
RUBEN I understand.
MANAGER They have money. We have food.
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RUBEN I got it.
MANAGER We want their money, Ruben -- do you understand? We want their money. And they want our food. You cannot possibly screw this up.
Ruben nods.
INT. "LONGHORN SMOKEHOUSE" RESTAURANT - DAY
Booth of five in the corner.
CHERYL Well, you certainly don't look like an Olympian.
RUBEN What's an Olympian supposed to look like?
CHERYL So you've actually competed in the Olympic games?
RUBEN No, just a World Cup Race.
CHERYL Well, then you're a World Cuppian, Rupert, not an Olympian.
RUBEN Ruben.
CHERYL'S FRIEND Actually I ordered the meatloaf...
CHERYL I know your kind.
RUBEN My kind?
CHERYL Yeah -- you're the guy who has the garter belt from his last prom on the rear-view mirror of his car --
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Ruben doesn't flinch.
CHERYL (CONT'D) -- or if you couldn't get a date -- the tassel from your high school graduation.
INT. BROWN CHEVY CHEVETTE/LONGHORN PARKING LOT - NIGHT
TASSEL swinging from Ruben's rear view mirror. STYX is PLAYING: "Sail Away."
INT. "LONGHORN SMOKEHOUSE" RESTAURANT - DAY
Booth of five in the corner.
RUBEN I could take you to Lake Placid and prove it to you.
CHERYL Isn't that like a dude ranch in the off-season?
RUBEN A dude ranch?
CHERYL Yeah, I think men pay to pretend they're macho there -- oh, sorry: machismo, I think that's what your people would call it?
RUBEN Do you even know what a luge is?
CHERYL Rode one at Magic Mountain.
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET (HOUSTON) - NIGHT
Cheryl is in a SHOPPING CART SCREAMING as Ruben pushes it as hard and fast downhill as he can -- he leaps on.
CHERYL Please, Ruben! Please! I believe you! I believe you are the Olympian of shopping carts -- I believe!
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RUBEN This is only about twenty miles an hour!
CHERYL Please! Please! Please!
RUBEN Now imagine going up a bank four times as fast!
CHERYL I imagine! Please!
Ruben throws his feet down, brakes by dragging his body behind the cart, pulls it toward the curb, cuts up a driveway, hits a lawn and goes over the top of the cart as it tumbles -- Ruben falls on top of Cheryl. He kisses her again and again and again.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME/LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Both Rubens sit across from the other. Ruben, Sr. in a rocker.
RUBEN Papi?
RUBEN, SR. Yes, Ruben.
RUBEN I'm in love.
Ruben lifts up his glasses.
RUBEN, SR. Really?
RUBEN Just kidding -- I'm overdrawn.
RUBEN, SR. How much do need?
RUBEN Her name is Cheryl.
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INT. CARPETED LOFT ABOVE QUIROZ FAMILY GARAGE - NIGHT
The space is stripped of furnishings. Ruben holds his hand over Cheryl's mouth.
MRS. QUIROZ Ruben? Ruben Gonzalez?
The beam of a flashlight sweeps the A-frame, beam-exposed ceiling of the garage loft. Flashlight turns off. We hear footsteps and the sound of a door closed.
RUBEN (whispering)
She's got issues.
CHERYL Like breaking and entering?
RUBEN Well, maybe entering -- which is a pretty good segue...
Ruben kisses Cheryl.
CHERYL Ruben?
RUBEN Hmm.
CHERYL What is this all leading to?
RUBEN More and more of this.
He kisses her on the neck softly.
CHERYL I mean the Olympics -- this luge thing?
Ruben lifts his head.
RUBEN It's the challenge of a lifetime.
CHERYL Like an obsession?
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RUBEN It's the Olympic Games.
CHERYL It's big business... that depends upon slave labor.
Ruben pulls away.
RUBEN What are you talking about?
CHERYL The networks, the sponsors, the airlines -- everyone makes money except you.
RUBEN It's a sport!
CHERYL This isn't Ancient Greece, Ruben, and I'm not going to walk three miles in the dust and sit in a stone amphitheater to watch you for an afternoon.
RUBEN What are you saying?
CHERYL I'd rather have you run a concession stand at the Calgary Olympics than risk your life for the folks at home.
Ruben sits up, visibly provoked.
RUBEN It's the greatest test of skill on earth.
CHERYL Taking tests for normal people usually leads to a job.
Ruben stands up, furious.
RUBEN This date's over. Lets go.
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EXT. HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY STADIUM - NIGHT
Ruben walks around the track at sunset. He is expressionless and is holding a LETTER in his hand. He lifts it up to his face to read again. We see the words.
ARGENTINIAN OFFICIAL (V.O. IN ENGLISH SPOKEN WITH ARGENTINE SPANISH ACCENT)
We write you to let you know that the Argentina Olympic Committee is impressed with the training program you have created for yourself and the success you have had to date in international competition. In principle, we have reached an agreement to have you represent Argentina in the next Winter Olympics. All that remains is for you to qualify...
Ruben looks up into the empty stands. Only a flicker of a vision of an Olympic audience appears. We see something close to panic on Ruben's face and then hear the opening strains to U2's "Where The Streets Have No Name."
Ruben begins to run. Runs off the track. Runs through the tough, crime-ridden city streets of Houston, through the grime, and poverty and unkept residential neighborhoods.
U2 (plays)
I wanna run, I want to hide. I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside.
Ruben picks up his pace. His head is back.
U2 (CONT'D) (plays)
I want to reach out and touch the flame, where the streets have no name.
This has become a sprint for Ruben. He dodges cars, cuts across lawns, runs down back alleys as fast as he possibly can. Ruben runs as hard as can all the way home.
EXT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME - NIGHT
Ruben flies up the stairs to his home. We see through a side window. He throws himself before his father, kneeling before him as Ruben, Sr. sits on the couch.
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He rests his head on his father's lap. Ruben is heaving, sweating, and it appears sobbing.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME/LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Ruben, Sr. is stroking the wet hair of his son whose head rests in his lap. Ruben, Sr. appears to be troubled, too.
RUBEN, SR. You will prevail, my son. You will prevail. We are the sum of our struggles on this earth.
By calling out something bigger than yourself you appoint the time and the place of your rebirth. You are to reach up to the stars at that hour and realign them according to your will and not theirs. Do you understand? Thus do you become master of your fate.
Ruben nods but does not lift his head.
RUBEN, SR. (CONT'D) Do you remember what I told you when you were young? When you told me you were afraid on the playground.
Ruben nods but does not lift his head.
RUBEN, SR. (CONT'D) I told you that if you knew a fight was coming. If you knew you were about to take a licking, that it's better to throw the first punch to the face of your adversary to draw his blood so in the tasting of it he backs down.
You hit hard. You hit fast. You hit first. Do you understand? And then you stand your ground. Then you take what comes.
Ruben nods but does not lift his head.
RUBEN, SR. (CONT'D) You do that and I'll always be proud of you -- do you understand? You'll always be my son.
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Ruben nods but does not lift his head.
RUBEN, SR. (CONT'D) When the fight comes, fight hard. There's always time to turn the other cheek once you've been knocked to the ground.
INTERCUT:
EXT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME (1987) - DAY (DAWN)
We see lights on from the outside. Ruben, Sr.'s Chevy Nova is parked outside the family home facing WEST.
EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS (CALGARY) - DAY (DAWN)
Dormitory lights come on. Sounds of movement within.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME - DAY (DAWN)
Ruben Sr. is dressed in the kitchen. He's wearing a suit vest over his shirt and tie. He's not smiling. His hair is slicked down tighter than we have seen it before. He stirs his coffee sitting on the counter, takes a sip and stares through a darkened window. He puts the CUP down, picks up his coat, and switches off the light.
INT. OLYMPIC DORMITORY (CALGARY) - DAY (DAWN)
Ruben wriggles into his threadbare, hand-me-down luge suit. He's not smiling. He checks the fit. Searches for his GLOVES. Stops in his room. Stares out the darkened window. Picks up his SLED and switches off the light.
EXT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME - DAY (DAWN)
Ruben, Sr. starts his Chevy Nova. He turns on the lights and pulls away.
INT: OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER (CALGARY) - DAY
Ruben boards a bus full of athletes. The bright internal lights are blinding in the dark. All are foreigners. All are paired up with teammates. All wear uniforms that are foreign and colorful. Ruben swings around into a rear seat. He's not smiling. He stares out the window.
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INT: EXXON HEADQUARTERS (HOUSTON) - DAY
Ruben, Sr. has let himself into the lobby and greets the lone security guard. He's carrying a briefcase.
EXT: OLYMPIC TRIALS (CALGARY) - DAY
RACE OFFICIAL Gonzalez!
RUBEN I'm here.
Walks over to him.
RACE OFFICIAL You know this track.
RUBEN As well as I can.
RACE OFFICIAL Questions?
Ruben shakes his head.
RACE OFFICIAL (CONT'D) You know the schedule.
RUBEN Got it.
RACE OFFICIAL Good luck.
Ruben nods and takes the steps leading to the Men's Start.
INT. EXXON HEADQUARTERS - DAY
Ruben, Sr. walks through a maze of cubicles, mostly empty. He catches the eye of an engineer.
RUBEN, SR. Good morning.
EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS/LUGE START - DAY
Ruben fastens his HELMET. He's next. He checks his GLOVES, twists his back, and steps toward the starting gate.
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INT. EXXON HEADQUARTERS/BOARD ROOM - DAY
Ruben, Sr. enters, lays his BRIEFCASE on the table, opens it and takes out a stack of presentation FOLDERS. These he places before each empty chair one at a time. When finished he leans against the wall. He's not smiling.
EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS/LUGE START - DAY
Ruben watches the previous luger explode out of the gate. He moves into position, lays down his SLED. Sits on it. Twists. Touches his helmet. Reseats his gloves.
RUBEN Gonzalez -- ready!
LOUD SPEAKER (O.S.) Gonzalez. Mind the light.
INT. EXXON HEADQUARTERS/BOARD ROOM - DAY
Ruben, Sr. stands at the head of the board room. The camera pulls back and we see twelve older men in suits sitting around the table: six to a side.
EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS/LUGE START - DAY
LOUD SPEAKER (O.S.)
TEN... NINE... EIGHT...
INT: EXXON HEADQUARTERS/BOARD ROOM - DAY
RUBEN, SR. Thank you for coming at this hour.
EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS/LUGE START - DAY
LOUD SPEAKER (O.S.)
SIX... FIVE... FOUR...
INT: EXXON HEADQUARTERS/BOARD ROOM - DAY
RUBEN, SR. First quarter earnings -- a leap of over 35% from the same period last year -- is cold comfort given the most disastrous drop in crude prices we've ever seen -- far beyond our worse case scenario.
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EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS/LUGE START - DAY
LOUD SPEAKER (O.S.)
TWO... ONE...
Ruben is off.
MONTAGE
EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS/LUGE TRACK - DAY
Alternate different views of the track with Ruben's POV.
- Men's Start.
- Ruben's POV.
- Track straightaway.
- Ruben's POV.
- High up on a curve.
- Ruben's POV. Etc.
RUBEN, SR. (V.O.) We hover at twelve dollars a gallon and could see single-digits, I'm afraid to say, before any real recovery. Corrective action must go far beyond merely cessation of expansion activities previously planned -- cuts which now must be considered in the billions.
Ruben hits a bank high and ricochets to the other side. The sled is unstable but wicked fast and he's gone.
RUBEN, SR. (V.O.) Our human capital cut must exceed anything that can be achieved by mere attrition. By any measure we must look at a ten percent headcount reduction nationwide in order to bear the brunt of this downturn. This will effect every team represented at this table.
A photographer whips his TELEPHOTO LENS along the trajectory Ruben takes -- we hear auto-wind and a dozen frames advance.
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RUBEN, SR. (V.O.) OPEC is in the fight of its life. We know this from observing their non-logical pricing of the last few years -- their fight is now on our shores.
We see a digital timer flashing Ruben's time as he shoots by. Günther is seen in the viewing stand tracking Ruben's progress with his eyes as he heads toward the finish.
RUBEN, SR. (V.O.) The charts before you show high- medium-low of estimates of headcount reduction through organic means, accelerated retirement and a straight-forward RIF in order to create a two-year window at a minimum to weather this storm.
Ruben tears through the finish. The timer stops. He extends his feet and skids to a stop on the ice.
RUBEN, SR. (V.O.) High estimates for my group, which include the RIF are actionable immediately -- see the underlying criteria for employee selection; you may use this as a template for considerations in your departments.
Ruben is hyperventilating. He is too tired to stand, but he must. The luger who went before him extends a hand up. Ruben stands and picks up his SLED and staggers through the ice.
INT: EXXON HEADQUARTERS/BOARD ROOM - DAY
The men are seen filing out of the room in pairs speaking in low tones among themselves.
CHAIRMAN Good job, Ruben.
EXT. OLYMPIC TRIALS - DAY
OLYMPIC OFFICIAL/CHAIRMAN (V.O.) (mouths the very same line- - though we only hear the Chairman)
Good job, Ruben.
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INT. ARMSTRONG FAMILY HOME (HOUSTON) - NIGHT
Ruben and Cheryl are sitting at a dining room table with Cheryl's parents.
MR. ARMSTRONG So what exactly will you do with this Olympic experience?
RUBEN
I --
CHERYL -- he's going to coach.
MR. ARMSTRONG Coach?
There's that much luging in downtown Houston?
RUBEN Soccer. I'm going to coach soccer.
MR. ARMSTRONG You played.
RUBEN A lot. And have studied the sport.
MR. ARMSTRONG Your degree's in...?
RUBEN -- will be in...biology, with an emphasis in physiology.
MR. ARMSTRONG Will be in?
RUBEN Training at an Olympic level requires six months a year at a minimum.
MR. ARMSTRONG I see.
No interest in going into the family business?
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RUBEN The family business?
MR. ARMSTRONG I thought your family was in the restaurant business.
RUBEN The restaurant bus -- do you mean the taqueria next to Gordon's Jewelers?
Mr. Armstrong nods while chewing.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I believe that's a different Gonzalez family, Mr. Armstrong. My family came from outside Buenos Aries -- you know where those WASPy Nazi bastards fled after trying to exterminate every Jew on earth.
Mrs. Armstrong puts down her FORK. Cheryl lowers her head.
MR. ARMSTRONG The WASPy Nazi bastards, Ruben?
RUBEN Eichmann, Speer, Bormann -- all good Protestants. If they had the bomb they would have destroyed the world. Hess -- I forgot Hess!
MR. ARMSTRONG Gonzalez -- Catholic in any country?
RUBEN The Holy Roman Empire!
MR. ARMSTRONG Hitler, Goebbels, Himmler -- all good Catholics, themselves...
RUBEN -- who had the good sense to kill themselves! Each one. Catholic Guilt won the war, Mr. Armstrong! Turns to Cheryl. Am I wrong? Cheryl? Catholic guilt saved the world!
There is an extended silence. The chewing now seems loud.
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MR. ARMSTRONG Ruben...
Mr. Armstrong put down his fork.
...you might have a point there.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME/KITCHEN - DAY (DAWN)
RUBEN, SR. Slept in today?
RUBEN You can't outwork me, old man.
RUBEN, SR. Coffee?
Holds out a CUP.
RUBEN Protein mix.
Ruben lifts his own CUP from the counter and puts it down.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Out-think the Arabs today.
Ruben Sr. smiles. Ruben exits the house in the dark pulling his imaginary sled forward with his gloves on his ice, breathing hard -- and leaps off the front steps and running out into the street.
RUBEN (CONT'D) (he is yelling to an unseen audience)
A lone luger, Argentinian by birth, but domesticated in a sugar-coated boyhood in the wasteland of Houston alone climbs a stairway, as slipshod in construction as those leading to a gallows.
Ruben runs down the center of road, hands cupped to his face yelling to the houses.
RUBEN (CONT'D) His breath is visible in the freezing morning air. He slips. Catches himself. Looks up and continues his climb.
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He points to a person who is not there.
RUBEN (CONT'D) He surveys the lure of every tourist -- a panorama beckoning the rich, the privileged, the vain.
Ruben crosses a street and calls to early-risers in a coffee shop who look up when he runs by.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Gonzalez, ready! Gonzalez, check! In ten -- watch your lights!
Ruben calls out and swivels head and arms as though a black female back-up swimmer echoing the a chorus she believed in.
RUBEN (CONT'D) The treacherous track awaits! Five... Four
He leaps up and slaps a STOP SIGN.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Fear takes hold, constricts, and squeezes. Hands are sweaty. Mouth is dry...
Ruben punctuates the air with his finger extended for emphasis.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Speaker says one. A buzzer sounds. Light flash. The luge and man shoot forward -- a bullet subjected now to the rifling of its barrel. The track is alive, gesturing through ice, telegraphing it mood at 50, 70, 90 miles per hour.
He sprints.
RUBEN (CONT'D) He hammers into one curve, shoots through the apex, descends, rattles into violence --
He drops to a trot to address a shopkeeper pulling back the security gate in front of his shop.
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RUBEN (CONT'D) Here fate is sinew, fate is blood, fate is control, fate better be instinct because at 90 mph a luger can't think fast enough to respond.
Light is visible on the horizon.
RUBEN (CONT'D) A wobble. Corrected. Mother of God. Twist. Jerk. Squeeze. Lean.
Ruben leaps into the air as though shot.
RUBEN (CONT'D) A hard hit to the wall. Every muscle fires as motocross becomes a pony ride and Sly Stallone tugs on laces with teeth he never lost in the luge.
Ruben runs across the lawn of the University athletic field and aims toward the entrance to the track.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Pow! Bad cut to the wall. Fourth right-hander before Martineau and Portago-the finish! Easy on this lean!
Ruben puts his hands out like a bird.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Ruben sails up the curve -- Corrects!- can he stabilize? Yes! And to the finish! He wins the gold, ladies and gentlemen! The most spectacular upset in the history of The Olympic Games.
SECURITY GUARD Silver today?
RUBEN Gold, baby! Was good enough for gold today! Yowzah, Gonzalez! Viva Gonzalez!
Ruben drops to a trot and then a hot-walk on the track along with a few early-morning athletes. The flickering images of an Olympic-sized crowd appear and then fade. Music swells and then drops. Ruben stares up at the crowds.
And then it becomes real before us -- he is there!
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EXT. CALGARY OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONIES (FEBRUARY 1988) - DAY
Ruben is walking in procession slowly with a thousand Olympians, each dressed in the colors of their country. A crowd of 60,000 is roaring.
JIM MCKAY (V.O.) This is a view of the scene that Calgary has been anticipating since the games were awarded to this city six and half years ago. The Olympic torch being run through the streets in the city not very far from the stadium. . . At last the moment is at hand, and the mood here, believe me, is anticipation. Yes, it has been four years since Sarajevo. Yes, the moment is upon us for the opening of the 15th Olympic Winter Games. A crowd of 60,000 in place in this stadium.
INT. HOSPITAL (HOUSTON) - DAY
Dr. Carlos Quiroz and his colleagues, are at the hospital where they work. Carlos turns to watch the WIDE-SCREEN TV coverage of the games, catches a glimpse of the Argentinian flag and Ruben processing behind it -- he lunges through his colleagues to get closer to the screen. Ruben disappears.
INT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME/LIVING ROOM - DAY
We see Ruben Sr. from the perspective of behind the TV. We only see him illuminated by the screen. His eyeglasses reflecting the Olympics. He is expressionless. Ruben's mother tears up.
INT. TELEVISION STORE (HOUSTON) - DAY
One hundred 1988 TELEVISIONS broadcast the image of The Olympics simultaneously. His back to the TVs, Martin, Ruben's former soccer teammate, the goalie, has his hands crossed over his chest. Light blue short sleeve dress shirt. Clip-on tie. His name tag reads "Martin."
EXT. CALGARY OLYMPIC GAMES OPENING CEREMONY - DAY
We see the stands as Ruben sees them. He walks slowly, waves occasionally. We see the entire panorama: 60,000 fans.
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EXT. OLYMPIC LUGE TRACK/MEN'S START - DAY
As tensions rise at the starting gate, Ruben is wide-eyed as he approaches the start We see him control his fear, the volume of the games drops. Ruben sets his SLED down. Very little sound. He sits on it. Prepares to launch and in silence explodes out of the gate like a wild animal uncaged.
RUBEN (V.O.) You ever think about the future?
We see Ruben on the course.
CHERYL (V.O.) What about the future?
He is navigating every turn.
RUBEN (V.O.) The future in general?
CHERYL (V.O.) That's your father's job.
RUBEN (V.O.) OK -- the future in specific.
He is blur.
CHERYL (V.O.) What specifically about it?
RUBEN (V.O.) You know... who you will be with -- that sort of thing.
CHERYL (V.O.) What kind of who?
We see him on monitors at the track.
RUBEN (V.O.) You know.
CHERYL (V.O.) No, I don't know. Ruben, what are you trying to say?
A timer displays his progress in seconds.
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RUBEN (V.O.) Cheryl, will you marry me?
CHERYL (V.O.) Yes, I will marry you, Ruben Gonzalez.
He finishes in an explosion of ice chips, and brakes hard. He is at last an Olympian.
INT: DOCTOR'S OFFICE (HOUSTON) - DAY
Ruben leans across the receptionist desk, dressed in a sport coat and tie, speaking to a heavy blonde.
RUBEN The Minolta 7500 has an automatic document feeder that's double-sided, Bridget, not single-sided, do you understand that?
Ruben spreads out a BROCHURE in front of her.
BRIDGET What if I am only copying single- sided documents?
She looks up at him. Adjusts her glasses.
RUBEN Then it can handle that, too!
BRIDGET What if it's a combination double and single -- how does it know?
RUBEN Well...
Ruben turns to the new MINOLTA COPIER.
...it doesn't need to know -- you just press this button for double- sided and it automatically copies both sides!
BRIDGET But if there's only one-side?
RUBEN Then don't hit the button!
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BRIDGET But what if I don't know?
RUBEN Don't know what?
BRIDGET If there's something double-sided in the stack?
RUBEN Aside from looking?
BRIDGET I mean there might be something double-sided, I don't know.
She snapped her gum.
RUBEN Well if there is, just hit the button.
Ruben points to it.
BRIDGET The double-sided button.
RUBEN Right.
BRIDGET Which collates.
RUBEN The collate feature works independently of the double-sided feature, Bridget. You can have double-sided copies that are collated, or double-sided copies that aren't -- the point is that you don't have to stand at the copier anymore and feed an entire stack of singled-sided copies back into the feeder tray for the second-sided copy.
BRIDGET Oh, you mean like our new one!
RUBEN Your new what?
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BRIDGET Our new copier!
RUBEN Your new copier? Bridget, this is your new copier -- or it at least it could be with our convenient leasing terms!
BRIDGET Oh, no -- we just bought a Xerox!
RUBEN You just bought a Xerox!
BRIDGET Yes! Five hundred copies a minute!
RUBEN You told me you were looking for a new copier on the phone.
BRIDGET No, Ruben, I told you I was looking forward to a new copier on the phone -- looking forward. It's been on order for two weeks.
RUBEN Then why did I haul this one out here?
BRIDGET I have no idea. Maybe you could see if anyone down the hall needs one?
INT. KUTNER BUSINESS MACHINES/CONFERENCE ROOM (HOUSTON) - DAY
A group of salesmen, Ruben among them, are seated around a conference room. At its head is a large man, George -- too muscled for the dress shirt he is wearing.
GEORGE Gentleman, we have an on-site cold- calling blitz scheduled for Friday. You'll be assigned a ZIP code in the city Thursday Night: I need model numbers, lease expiration dates, support renewal information, and third-party vendor information if they're not going manufacturer direct for support. (MORE)
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GEORGE (CONT'D) I'm going to be counting your business cards myself: 50 cards or stationery -- existing customers do not count and executive suites count as one -- do you get that? One.
SALESMAN 1 Lease factors?
GEORGE Haven't changed for any one-call closes.
SALESMAN 2 Tetschlag, a one-call close is when you come back with a check.
TETSCHLAG. Go to hell.
GEORGE The day may be over, ladies, but work is not: nine-to-five, make a living; five-to-nine...
SALES TEAM ...make a million.
GEORGE Hit the phones and find me a decision-maker sitting at his desk right now. First appointment set is a six-pack. Second appointment determines what kind.
TETSCHLAG Dos Equis dark.
SALESMAN 2 Coors.
TETSCHLAG Do that to me again and I'll pour one over you.
GEORGE Get out of here. (to Ruben) Gonzalez... keep your seat.
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RUBEN What's up?
GEORGE How did the doctor's sales call go?
RUBEN I'll know Friday.
GEORGE If you're not closing them, someone else is. Do I need to pick up that machine?
RUBEN Probably.
GEORGE Friday?
RUBEN Probably.
GEORGE This hasn't worked out, has it?
RUBEN I don't know.
GEORGE Well, I do. Clean out your desk tonight -- leave your cards where I can find them. Your final check will be Monday so you don't need to spoil your wife's weekend.
RUBEN OK.
GEORGE Word to the wise, Ruben: this is a dog-eat-dog world and you've got yourself a canine deficiency -- do you understand?
Ruben does not respond.
GEORGE Get out of sales.
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INT. ICE RINK (HOUSTON) - NIGHT
Late, night. Only a few skaters are on the ice. Ruben sits on his SLED with sweat pants on but still in his work dress shirt. He's practicing luge starts with TATTERED GLOVES, putting in five or six great thrusts before coasting to a stop.
Cheryl walks up. Visibly pregnant.
CHERYL Did you get fired?
Ruben nods.
CHERYL (CONT'D) Why didn't you call.
Ruben shrugs.
CHERYL (CONT'D) I know what you're thinking.
Ruben doesn't respond.
CHERYL (CONT'D) You're going to do it again.
RUBEN No, I'm not.
CHERYL You're here.
RUBEN Blowing off steam.
CHERYL Blowing it off, or raising it up?
Ruben shrugs.
CHERYL (CONT'D) I know you. I know how your mind works.
Ruben doesn't move seated on the luge.
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CHERYL (CONT'D) There's a reason Olympians are called amateurs, Ruben. There's a reason. I need a professional in my life. Your child needs a professional in his or her life. Don't do this to us.
Cheryl turns and walks away. Ruben stands on the ice and looks at her go.
RUBEN HEY!
Cheryl stops. Cheryl turns.
RUBEN (CONT'D) We'll always have AMWAY!
INT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME/BABY'S ROOM (1991) - NIGHT
Ruben lays on a faded love-seat too short to recline on fully so his legs stick through the slats of the crib. He's talking on a CORDLESS PHONE with a long silver metal antenna. Beside him on the ground, and stacked on teetering shelves above him are sample AMWAY PRODUCTS.
RUBEN ...it's a softer sell than that, much softer -- trust me!
Ruben sits up.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I've seen Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, Tom Hopkins, all the sales training greats in person. This is much subtler. What you want to do is have your friends and family focus first on the quality of these products and great savings Once they've gotten their first shipment demonstrate the value of their sharing their discovery with their own network -- sure, I'll hold -
Ruben switches hands with the phone and then picks up a TENNIS BALL and throws it to the far wall and catches it.
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RUBEN (CONT'D) Like I said, the products sell themselves. They did for you, didn't they? It makes sense. Save money and time while investing in your future. Bob, it's the dream of every American to develop a revenue source not tied to their day job. All you need to do -- what? Sure, I'll hold on.
Ruben throws the tennis ball to the far wall and catches it.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Bob? Bob? Hello . . .
INT. ROBONE LABORATORIES (HOUSTON) - DAY
THE RAMONES are PLAYING full blast. A dozen lab technician in long, white coats are standing before their stations. Ruben is in the back. His own personal WALKMAN with its large black foam EARPHONES is the source of the music. Ruben is rocking out. He turns in time with the music hits a TRAY: CRASH!
SUPERVISOR Gonzalez!!!
EXT. HOUSTON CITY STREETS - DAY (DUSK)
Ruben runs at rush hour in work clothes: slacks, a pressed shirt, leather shoes. He runs at a clip beyond the capacity of corporate executives. He remains in full stride, block after block as darkness falls. We see him running along a boulevard. He runs past an EXXON sign, past a guard booth.
EXT. EXXON HEADQUARTERS/PARKING LOT - DAY (DUSK)
There are three cars left in the expansive parking lot. The lights of the lot create circles of light as far as the eye can see. Ruben speaks in front of his father's car with his arms crossed. Ruben Sr. listens holding a BRIEFCASE.
INT. HOUSTON FIRST METHODIST CHURCH - DAY
Services have concluded. The stage is empty save for the podium at the center and chairs for the choir. The light blue plastic chairs in the auditorium are spread out in arc. Though the congregation mingles at the back, Ruben and Cheryl, remain seated at the far right side by themselves.
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CHERYL I presume you've spoken to your father.
Ruben nods.
CHERYL I presume he's in if my parents are.
RUBEN Hmm-hmm.
Cheryl crosses her arms.
CHERYL Do you realize that when most young couples ask their parents for money it's for a down payment on a house, Ruben -- a house?
RUBEN I know.
CHERYL A house . . . because they have jobs to pay off the loan.
RUBEN I know.
CHERYL And still you think this is the best for us?
RUBEN I do.
Cheryl leans her head back. Runs a hand through her hair. Lowers her head and crosses her arms again.
CHERYL What do you think this is going to cost us -- in expenses and lost wages?
Ruben takes a breath.
RUBEN Thirty five thousand dollars.
Cheryl lowers her head, brings a hand to her face and weeps.
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There's wild laughter in the background. And clapping!
INT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S APARTMENT (1992) - DAY
Cheryl sits at the kitchen table. Her daughter is playing in the background. The TV is on. She reads a headline: LOCAL LUGER GONZALEZ NOW TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN! She looks at his picture in the NEWSPAPER, and sets it down. She pulls out a LEDGER of hers and opens to a ribbon identifying a particular page. It reads:
Familia Gonzalez: $15,750
Armstrong: $11,600
Ruth & Tim: $2,875
Bill & Hannah: $3,075
Mrs. Block: $525
She scratches out the debt to her parents and reduces the number by two hundred dollars.
EXT. INTEGRITY MOBILE HOME SALES (HOUSTON) (1997) - DAY
Two dozen MODEL MOBILE HOMES set fan out like a ready-made cul-de-sac. In the center sits a construction trailer, with glass double-door: the sales office. A large redwood deck run across the front.
A large BANNER stretched across two poles at an angle to the street reads, DISTINCTIVE HOMES FOR THE DISCERNING.
Parked in front is a new black Chevrolet Corvette with the license plate: DBL WIDE. A white Dodge Colt is parked beside it.
INT. INTEGRITY HOME SALES - DAY
In the lobby of the sales trailer, where a receptionist would sit is Ruben Gonzalez before a pony wall on which is plastered a SIGN, MEET RUBEN GONZALEZ: TWO-TIME OLYMPIAN!
On Ruben's desk are TROPHIES, MEDALS and SCRAP BOOKS of his experiences in Calgary and Albertville.
LLOYD Karen and Bill --
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BOB -- Bob.
LLOYD Karen and Bob, have you met our resident champion, the great Ruben Gonzalez, pride of Houston, Texas and two-time Winter Olympian?
BOB No, I --
LLOYD Ruben represents the kind of integrity and grit we at Integrity Home Sales appreciate in Texans of all walks of life, especially young people like yourselves who are hoping to get ahead in life, create a little place of their own, raise a family and create some equity out of their own God-given cashflow, isn't that right, Ruben?
RUBEN Thanks, Lloyd, that's --
LLOYD He's got a little girl at home, too.
KAREN -- we have a little boy.
LLOYD Which is precisely what Ruben and the Mrs. were hoping for and why they're leaning toward our factory-direct manufactured home, the Flambeau Extraordinaire -- the very one we discussed on the phone, Bob -- it's got that alcove beside the master suite which can serve as a baby's room with just the addition of a curtain to give you the privacy you'll need in what we like to call The Affordable American Dream.
BOB I don't know if that one's in our price range -- we were thinking of something used --
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LLOYD Man after my own, heart, Karen! Man after my own heart. Bought right, half-sold, I always say -- if you can get into something at a price-point which allows you to flip it when needed, you're always guaranteed a positive outcome. Let's go take a walk through our Pantheon of Possibilities outside and visualize the best investment vehicle for you, then we'll come back and listen to how Ruben overcame unbelievable obstacles, greater than getting newly-weds financed, to become a World Champion in the Olympic circles -- right this way!
Ruben smiles. Lloyd pulls Ruben out of earshot of Bob and Karen.
LLOYD (CONT'D) Ruben, if you could set aside some pins from the Olympic Games to ensure that we memorialize Karen and Bob's own Victory Lap of our Small Town of Tomorrow that would be better than perfect.
Exit Karen, Bob, Lloyd.
Phone rings.
RUBEN Integrity Home Sales, where we deliver the American Dream to your front door ...and provide the front door, too -- this is Ruben Gonzalez, how can I --
Enter BRUCE TAYLOR, tall, bearded, jeans, flannel shirt and beer in a BOTTLE. He makes the international jack-off motion with his free hand and lifts his shoulders in a question to Ruben.
Ruben points to the yard.
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RUBEN (CONT'D) -- I understand. Yes, I certainly do. While the porta-potty was on us, you're responsible for the servicing of it while we are awaiting construction permits for the HOA on extending the sewer line -- I understand. Yes.
BRUCE Shit in bucket.
RUBEN Certainly, certainly. You wouldn't call ReMax for a plumbing issue and we have no control of the permitting process.
Bruce takes a swig.
RUBEN (CONT'D) He'd be happy to speak to you directly but he's in a conference right now.
BRUCE Use the grocery line.
RUBEN I hate to be blunt, Mr. Lawson, but we have no financial responsibility of the supply chain of food which enters your house -- you wouldn't expect us to provide you groceries during the permitting process, so why would you expect us to pay for the elimination of everything you eat?
BRUCE Shit rolls downhill.
RUBEN I understand. I certainly understand.
BRUCE We do have pull with the county.
RUBEN We do have pull with the county.
BRUCE At the absolute highest level.
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RUBEN At the absolute highest level.
BRUCE So I suggest while you contact the Honey Bucket company for servicing at your cost --
Ruben hands him the phone.
BRUCE (CONT'D) Mr. Lawson, Bruce Taylor, Construction Director of Maverick Home Sales monitoring this situation daily with my staff, while I suggest, as Ruben would, contacting our Waste Professional Partners, Honey Bucket to arrange for service at your cost per the AS-IS contractual language on your home ownership documentation, we will contact the county and -- wait! They're holding for me on line two, let me take this and Ruben will be in touch.
Hangs up the phone.
BRUCE (CONT'D) That was a two-call close on a product we didn't have clear title to until twelve hours before occupancy -- fourteen thousand gross margin, less commission, less fees, less the spiff to the private patrol that spotted the foreclosure sign.
RUBEN I don't know about these sales tactics.
BRUCE Well, you're not actually selling, are you? Lloyd's pimping you out, Mr. TexMex Dudley-Do-Right.
RUBEN These people honestly like hearing about the Olympics.
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BRUCE They like anything that's not Lloyd in this place.
RUBEN I've tried selling.
BRUCE I bet.
RUBEN I've tried waiting tables, working in a lab, multi-level marketing, lawn care, photo development, copier sales --
BRUCE Son, sounds like you're one job away from blowing your brains out.
Ruben looks at Bruce and slowly nods. Ruben's expression becomes glum.
INT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME (1997) - NIGHT
Ruben and his friend GREG are playing ping pong. Carlos waits to play the winner.
RUBEN I need to let off some steam. My job's driving me crazy.
GREG Get out of there. It's killing you.
RUBEN I'm the one who's going to kill you - - on this table.
GREG My grandma could beat you Ruben. Even without her bifocals.
CARLOS I'll play the winner with my left hand just to make it interesting.
They start playing.
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GREG Let's put some money on this. Or just pay me up front and we'll call it a lesson.
RUBEN You're on. Just remember, the ball's the little yellow thing that keeps going past you.
Ruben's cell phone rings.
RUBEN Get that Carlos. I gotta finish off Greg.
Carlos picks up the phone.
CARLOS Slow down -- I don't understand you -- just a minute.
(to Ruben) There's a guy on the phone sounds like The Terminator.
RUBEN The Terminator?
CARLOS Arnold Schwarzenegger.
RUBEN Günther!
Ruben takes the phone and hands Carlos his PADDLE.
RUBEN (CONT'D) (to Carlos)
Put him out of his misery. (to Greg)
You got saved by the bell!
GREG I was just toying with you. You just saved yourself some embarrassment.
Greg and Carlos start playing.
RUBEN Coach, this is Ruben. It's been years. What's up?
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Enter Cheryl with a BASKET of laundry.
RUBEN (CONT'D) No, no. Not possible. I'm done luging in this lifetime.
Ruben looks at Cheryl.
RUBEN (CONT'D) No, no, that's not possible. I haven't even thought about the luge in over five years. I don't see a reason now.
Cheryl throws some balled up tube SOCKS at Ruben who dodges them.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Luge needs Argentina? I don't care that luge needs Argentina. Send whatever you want, I won't look at it but if it makes you feel better, old man -- I'll talk it over with her, but --
Cheryl gets up, goes to the kitchen, returns with a bottle of Corona. She cracks it open, leans across the room and, snaps the cap across the room.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Sure. Absolutely. No problem.
Ruben hangs up, doesn't turn around to look at Cheryl.
CHERYL Günther?
RUBEN Yup.
CHERYL What does he want?
RUBEN You're not going to believe it.
CHERYL Try me.
RUBEN He wants me to start training for Salt Lake City -- it's just --
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CHERYL What?
RUBEN Three-time Winter Olympian? It's just, it's ... it's...
CHERYL (irritated)
Do whatever you want.
Ruben calls Günther right back. Cheryl looks incredulous. Greg and Carlos put their PADDLES down, look at each other, then back at Cheryl and Ruben.
RUBEN I'll do it on one condition.
GÜNTHER What?
RUBEN You train my kid brother. -- We have five years. Maybe he can make it to the Olympics too.
GÜNTHER How old is he?
RUBEN Thirty years old.
GÜNTHER You're crazy. Your head is kaput from your crashes.
RUBEN He's an incredible athlete.
CHERYL An athlete? Marcelo's an architect!
GÜNTHER I'll look at him in Calgary but no promises.
Günther hangs up.
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INT: GONZALEZ ARCHITECTS OFFICE (HOUSTON) - DAY
Ruben tries to convince his brother, MARCELO, to go to Calgary to try out the luge.
RUBEN Worse case scenario you have a free two week vacation in Canada.
MARCELO I could die on this dream vacation of yours, right?
RUBEN Best case scenario you could go to the Olympics -- you could be the Olympic Architect!
Marcelo thinks about it for a second.
MARCELO Lets do it.
EXT. SALT LAKE CITY OLYMPIC OPENING CEREMONY (2002) - DAY
Ruben and Marcelo march while holding hands high in a sign of victory.
EXT. SALT LAKE CIT OLYMPICS/LUGE START (FEB 2002) - DAY
Ruben Gonzalez, 39, explodes in a fury of strokes at the sound of the buzzer. Ruben's POV points down the length of his body as he lays down, and accelerates to freeway speeds. Ruben screams through the finish, sits up, drops his feet, sends up a rooster tail of ice, comes to violent stop in a fishtail. Ruben stands up and when he picks up his luge he's transported to -
EXT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME (MARCH 2002) - DAY
- his front yard in Houston where he pulls the rope to start his LAWN MOWER and arises as he did on his Olympic run lifting his sled up as he stands to his full height.
Enter COLE, aged 11, one of Ruben's neighbors.
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COLE Ruben! Ruben! Ruben! Come to my show and tell tomorrow!
RUBEN Ha! Ha! Cole, my man, is that tomorrow?
COLE 8:00 AM sharp just like I said.
RUBEN You can bring my sled.
COLE I want you!
RUBEN You can't bring a person to Show & Tell, champ, you need to bring a thing -- I'll give you my helmet and gloves, too.
COLE No, I'm bringing you! I told everyone I am!
RUBEN Well you told wrong! You can only bring a thing.
COLE Three-time Olympian right on my block -- I'm bringing you!
RUBEN I can't Cole. I have to go to work.
COLE You told me you never accept a no from anyone so why should I accept one from you? No means yes, so say yes!
RUBEN Yes, but now that means no.
COLE I'll be at your door at seven fifty, that's fifty not fifteen. Seven fifty.
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RUBEN No, Cole. No.
COLE No means yes!
RUBEN All right.
EXT. WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (HOUSTON) - DAY
Minivans are queued up dropping off children. A group of parents stands out front. A bell in the distance rings.
INT. WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - DAY
Ruben and Cole are seen walking down a hallway from the rear. Cole reaches for Ruben's hand and pulls him through a doorway on the right.
COLE They're in here.
INT. WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/AUDITORIUM - DAY
Cole pulls Ruben into the front of a school-wide assembly of 600 students with faculty, staff, maintenance workers and parents lining the back of the wall. A hush falls over the room. MARCIA SMITH, the silver-haired principal walks up to a podium.
PRINCIPAL SMITH It's my great honor to introduce you all this morning to a three-time Olympian, Ruben Gonzalez, who we are lucky enough to have with us today to speak about the fortitude and courage required to compete as a world-class athlete. Please join me in welcoming him.
Applause and hoots rise from the children as Ruben walks up to the podium.
RUBEN I... I... I have nothing prepared to discuss today. I was expecting a classroom of children for show and tell.
The audience laughs. Ruben laughs. He relaxes a bit.
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RUBEN (CONT'D) I was a child, too . . . raised on the very stories of daring-do which each of you turns to at night, or at story-time or your favorite video-tape. I'm just that sort of person, to be carried away by the accomplishments of another, to have my heart swell, and my knees weaken and my pulse quicken as I read or watch some great adventure story untold. My bedroom at home looks a lot like yours, I guess, except for the toys.
The kids laugh.
RUBEN (CONT'D) They're vintage and fragile now. But the books are the same -- the exact same, the same language, the same stories. The images on the wall are similar -- far away places, strong people, dreams of conquering some future time and place. I still read too much.
Ruben pauses. He takes in the educators at the back of the room.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I think I listened to my teachers too much when I was your age.
The kids laugh.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I think I did. They told me to read -- I read. They gave me books -- I hoarded them. They challenged me to dream and to step into the stories -- Ruben The Great! Ruben The Strong! That's all that happened -- I'm telling you!
RUBEN (CONT'D) The only difference between me and someone else, is that I dared to believe great things were possible for me; I took every "no" as a rung in very tall ladder I would climb.
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We survey the faces of the children up close as Ruben's voice fades along with the laughter of the children. The auditorium is panned slowly.
INT. WILSON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL/HALLWAY - DAY
A sea of children flow out of the auditorium behind the Principal and Ruben.
PRINCIPAL SMITH (V.O.) You have a very great gift, Ruben, a very great gift, more powerful than mere athleticism, and one you may not know you even possess. The ability to expose you heart to an audience keen on understanding their own lives -- you are better, more engaging and far more interesting than any professional speaker we've ever hired.
Extreme close-up of Ruben's face.
RUBEN Professional speaker?
PRINCIPAL SMITH Have you not heard one speak?
RUBEN I've... I've heard them all speak -- Zig Ziglar, Jim Rohn, Les Brown, Lou Holtz --
PRINCIPAL SMITH They all get paid, Ruben, every time they open their mouth.
RUBEN Every single time they open their mouth?
Ruben's mouth opens as though shot or shocked.
INT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME/BATHROOM - DAY
Ruben is in the tub, leaning back smelling a CHECK h's holding with both hands before his face, alternately looking at it and smelling it.
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RUBEN Free money, Cheryl! Free cash money -- all mine -- I mean ours -- for the taking!
Cheryl sits fully-clothed on the closed toilet seat in jeans and a blouse.
CHERYL It's three hundred dollars.
RUBEN Free cash money!
CHERYL You took a day off work to speak so there is an opportunity cost here.
RUBEN No, I quit.
CHERYL You what?
RUBEN I quit that stupid job. It was killing me.
CHERYL Ruben!
RUBEN Fortune favors the bold!
CHERYL Fools rush in where angels dare to tread!
RUBEN Vision without action is just a dream!
CHERYL If you fear nothing, you're not brave. You're just too foolish to be afraid -- Ruben, we have children now.
INT. SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (HOUSTON) (AUG 2002) - DAY
A noisy, spartan government office with long lines and bored, uninterested staff.
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ADMINSTRATOR Number of dependents?
RUBEN Two -- I mean, two kids.
ADMINSTRATOR Dependents, Mr. Gonzalez. Dependents.
RUBEN I just told you!
ADMINSTRATOR Do you pay taxes in this country, Mr. Gonzalez?
RUBEN Yes!
ADMINSTRATOR Have you ever read your return?
RUBEN Yes, of course!
ADMINSTRATOR Do you know what a dependent is?
RUBEN Three -- OK? Three! Plus me!
ADMINSTRATOR Have you ever been on food-stamps before, Mr. Gonzalez?
RUBEN NO!
ADMINSTRATOR You are able to read in English, are you not, Mr. Gonzalez?
Ruben hangs his head down and holds out his hand for the BOOKLET explaining the benefits of food stamps.
INT. ART GUILD OF WICHITA FALLS (2003) - DAY
RUBEN My name is Ruben Gonzalez...
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INT. BOY'S CLUB OF AMERICA (HOUSTON) - DAY
RUBEN ...I am a three-time Olympian...
INT. ROTARY CLUB OF DALLAS - NIGHT
RUBEN ...I had a dream once while watching the Olympics...
INT. ELKS LODGE (SAN ANTONIO) - NIGHT
RUBEN ...a vision you could say...
INT. TOASTMASTERS REUNION (EL PASO) - NIGHT
RUBEN ...of success that would seem impossible...
INT. YMCA (DALLAS) - DAY
RUBEN ...except to a boy...
INT. LION'S CLUB (HOUSTON) - DAY
RUBEN ...except to me...
INT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME/LIVING ROOM (2003) - NIGHT
RUBEN I need a book.
CHERYL Huckleberry Finn.
RUBEN That's a character.
CHERYL 10,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
RUBEN About me!
CHERYL Adventures of Ruben!
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RUBEN About luging!
CHERYL Tales of the Track!
RUBEN Something uplifting!
CHERYL Overcoming Olympic Obsession!
RUBEN About us! About our journey together!
CHERYL Divorce Early, Divorce Often: a Luging Widow's Tale!
RUBEN A speaker needs a book -- Bravery of the Best!
CHERYL Corny.
RUBEN Braving Your Best Challenge!
CHERYL It's taken.
RUBEN Courage is Contagious!
CHERYL While it might be, that title isn't.
RUBEN The Courage to Succeed.
Cheryl gets serious, cocks her head and thinks.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Do you like that one?
CHERYL It's not bad enough to mock.
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INT. TEXAS REALTOR'S ASSOCIATION (DALLAS) - NIGHT
RUBEN Here's the truth: your life's only limited by the no's you accept. They represent the pipes laid in a cattle grid that prevent an entire herd from walking off of a ranch.
But you know what ranchers realized? It's cheaper to just paint white lines in the road rather than digging a ditch and laying pipe -- it works just the same.
You don't just abide by those white lines in your life -- every day you paint them.
INT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME - DAY
Ruben walks behind Cheryl who sits on the couch with her arms folded.
RUBEN Eight hundred, five-fifty, three and quarter, nine hundred...
Ruben is reading off the number of CHECKS he is throwing from behind to Cheryl which are fluttering before her.
RUBEN (CONT'D) ...seven hundred, four hundred seventy-five -- and that's it for today, kids. If anyone is looking for me I'll be playing video games for the next forty-eight hours straight untroubled by the vicissitudes of every day life.
INT. KAISER PERMANENTE ANNUAL MEETING (HOUSTON) (2006) - DAY
Close-up of Ruben's new BOOK, "The Courage to Succeed," propped up on a table against a wall in an exhibit hall with dozens of other exhibitors. We pull back to see stacks of hundreds of BOOKS on the table with Ruben standing beside the table looking glum. A woman stands at the next table with huge GIFT BASKETS.
RUBEN How's business?
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MARY LOU Slow. You?
RUBEN Slow. Mine are pretty much corporate give-aways bought in bulk.
MARY LOU Mmm. I do best near a holiday.
RUBEN How much is that one -- the big one?
MARY LOU A hundred forty-five... plus shipping.
RUBEN My wife would love it, but she'd kill me for buying it for her. Here's a free book -- fifteen retail, eight wholesale. Credit me the eight when I eventually buy one.
MARY LOU Thanks -- I'll credit you ten if you autograph it!
RUBEN Deal!
Ruben looks at her name tag, signs the book and gives it to her.
RUBEN (CONT'D) You have the same last name as my all-time favorite speaker.
MARY LOU Who?
RUBEN Lou Holtz.
MARY LOU That's my dad.
RUBEN Your father?
MARY LOU Yes!
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RUBEN If I gave you another book would you give it to him to read?
MARY LOU Sure!
RUBEN Think he'll read it?
MARY LOU You never know.
FADE OUT.
TITLE CARD
"IF YOU LISTEN TO RUBEN SPEAK, YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE." - LOU HOLTZ
INT: RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME (2006) - DAY
CHERYL Nobody remembers Lou Holtz.
RUBEN The greatest football coach of all time, driving six different college teams to bowl games -- six!
CHERYL Women have no idea who he is.
RUBEN He coached at Notre Dame!
CHERYL Nobody knows Notre Dame.
RUBEN You loved that movie -- "Rudy!"
CHERYL That was Notre Dame?
RUBEN Of course!
CHERYL Then get a quote from Rudy.
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FADE OUT.
TITLE CARD
"RUBEN GONZALEZ IS A TESTAMENT TO THE POWER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT." - RUDY RUETTIGER
INT. RUBEN & CHERYL'S HOME (2007) - DAY
RUBEN (into phone)
Ten thousand? Hmmm. The flights have got to be non-stop. Ten thousand would work -- but it doesn't include any books.
By the way, did I ever tell you I used to sell copiers for Minolta?
FADE OUT.
TITLE CARD
"RUBEN'S MESSAGE OF DETERMINATION, COMMITMENT AND PERSISTENCE STRUCK HOME WITH OUR SALES ORGANIZATION." - JERRY FARMER, VP SALES, XEROX
INT: CONFERENCE HALL (NEW YORK) - NIGHT
The logo New York Life hangs behind him on a black curtain. Ruben is dressed in his trademark black suit and black shirt.
RUBEN I suffered from the sin of being born ordinary in country which requires heroes, of being raised plain in The United States -- a name itself which bursts with pride. I always felt like an outsider, like a misfit.
We see the faces in the crowd from Ruben's POV.
RUBEN (CONT'D) This wound of unworthiness within me grew with age until it was a chasm that only an Olympic Stadium could fill. Do you see? (MORE)
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RUBEN (CONT'D) I had to jam The Roman Coliseum into the hole in my heart as a young man simply to stop the bleeding.
I had to be the greatest who ever lived just to exist.
INT. ORACLE ANNUAL SALES CONVENTION (MIAMI) - NIGHT
Ruben is on stage dressed in his trademark black jacket, black slacks and black shirt open at the neck.
RUBEN Thank you.
INT. CENTURY LINK EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP (CHICAGO) - NIGHT
RUBEN Thank you.
INT. COCA-COLA HEADQUARTERS (ATLANTA) - DAY
RUBEN Thank you.
INT. WELLS FARGO PRODUCER'S CLUB (HONOLULU) - NIGHT
RUBEN Thank you.
INT. SHELL OIL ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING (HOUSTON) - DAY
RUBEN Thank you.
INT. COLORADO (2007) - DAY
Ruben and Cheryl are standing in a marble foyer of a huge home that's listed for sale. The sunken living room is behind them with panoramic view of acreage to the rear.
RUBEN How long has it been on the market?
REALTOR 550 days.
CHERYL Eighteen months?
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REALTOR Their former Realtor was a little aggressive on pricing and light on the marketing. When his contract lapsed our firm was brought in.
RUBEN Any offers yet?
REALTOR Recent? No. But we haven't shown it yet.
RUBEN They probably wouldn't like our offer.
REALTOR If you're ready to submit one, I'd be willing to write it up.
REALTOR Are you pre-approved?
CHERYL Pre-approved?
REALTOR Your lender. Who are you working with?
CHERYL Lender?
RUBEN We'd be paying cash.
INT. HOTEL BANQUET HALL (OMAHA) - NIGHT
Ruben paces back and forth below a SIGN which reads "Omaha Realtors Assn: Going for Gold in 2007!"
HECKLER Your best finish was thirty-first!
RUBEN Who said that? [Turns]
Thirty-first? Right, thirty-first... thirty first in a sport in which only a hundred people per year are capable of competing. (MORE)
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RUBEN (CONT'D) A sport in which if given the chance to make that run on ice this moment- nearly none of you would take it, and those that did would receive the worst injuries of their life.
[Pause]
RUBEN (CONT'D) Thirty-first? Tell me the sport you are capable of competing against the best in the world!
HECKLER Drinking!
INT. HOTEL SUITE (OMAHA) - NIGHT (LATER)
Ruben throws open the door. Rips off his black suit COAT, throws in on an over-stuffed chair. Misses.
He opens the mini-bar, pulls out a Corona and takes a long pull.
He pulls his PHONE out of his pants pocket, scrolls through numbers, hits one and listens.
RUBEN Günther! (beat)
RUBEN (CONT'D) I don't care.
Listens. Sits up. Takes a drink of his beer. Puts the bottle back down.
RUBEN (CONT'D) No, you listen to me. Put your foot into the back of the fräulein curled up next to you push her out of bed.
I don't care. Think in German as I ask you this question: has anyone ever competed in four Winter Olympics in four different decades? Has that ever occurred in the history of the Olympics?
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Listens. Drinks from his beer. Sets it down. Unbuttons his top black polo-shirt button. Smiles.
EXT. CARIBBEAN BEACH - DAY
We see two hammocks from behind.
Ruben's hand extends from his hammock to Cheryl's. He's holding her left hand. Her diamond wedding ring sparkles in the sun. He stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. Between them is a table with two tropical drinks.
CHERYL How is it even possible at your age?
RUBEN I don't have muscle memory, Cheryl, cause I started too late. I'm not like Nodar Kumaritashvili... Ruben hands her her drink.
RUBEN (CONT'D) It's not like I'm Nodar, who was spread-eagle on his grandfather's chest at five, speeding down a luge in Georgia! This was not second or third nature to me -- I still cannot stare into the sky as I luge -- I lack that trust and intuition.
CHERYL Honey, I spilled my drink.
RUBEN What I've got is above instinct but below memory. It's a recollection, an athletic deja vu as acceleration takes hold -- something that out- races fear -- the porpoise of will riding ahead of the bow-wave of fate --
CHERYL Hand me your beach towel, Flipper.
INT. RUBEN GONZALEZ HOME/OFFICE (COLORADO) - DAY
Ruben sits behind a desk in a huge office surrounded by bookcases filled with books and MEMENTOS from the Olympics.
There are framed, autographed POSTERS of the movies "Cool Runnings," "Rudy," "Invincible" and "Miracle."
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Ruben speaks into his cell phone.
RUBEN It's a twelve hour flight, Jen, it's got to be business class and I have to arrive a couple of days before to rest up.
RUBEN (CONT'D) If I bring Cheryl with me I'll do a breakout at no extra cost.
RUBEN (CONT'D) I certainly understand. But you have to consider my position. If I come alone then it's work and I'm away from my family.
RUBEN (CONT'D) And she and I would need some downtime, maybe in Prague, before heading back.
RUBEN (CONT'D) We'll confirm it then. Looking forward to it.
EXT. OLYMPIC LUGE TRACK (INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA)(2008) - DAY
Ruben and Günther are nose-to-nose in down parka's. Ruben's jacket is brand new, deep blue with white and black trim.
RUBEN Start half-way up? Am I an Olympian or not?
GÜNTHER You remain an amateur.
RUBEN I'd die like a pro!
GÜNTHER You'd probably screw that up, too.
INT. RUBEN GONZALEZ HOME/FOYER (COLORADO) - DAY
Ruben opens the front door and enters, unshaven, in his down Olympic jacket, carrying two heavy BAGS which he sets down inside the door. GRACEN, Ruben's son, and GABRIELA, his daughter, greet him.
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GRACEN Daddy's home!
RUBEN What's up, Champ! Take care of the ladies while I was gone?
Gracen leaps into his arms, lifts his head for a kiss and gets one.
GRACEN How'd you do?
RUBEN Crushed it, big man!
GABRIELA Wha'd ya bring us, daddy!
RUBEN Love, sweet, love!
Sets Gracen down. Takes off his jacket and throws it on his bags, then closes the door.
CHERYL (from upstairs)
Dinner's almost ready, honey -- stew & biscuits!
GRACEN Want to play some ping pong?
RUBEN After dinner, I am all yours! I need to see your mom about something special.
GRACEN K.
Gracen runs back downstairs. Ruben mounts the stairs case two-at-a-time. Runs down the hallway and bursts into the master bedroom.
RUBEN Where are you?
CHERYL Making myself beautiful!
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Cheryl is curling her hair in the master bath, dressed in a robe. She stairs at him through the mirror.
RUBEN I've got something for you!
Ruben comes up from behind, hugs her and nuzzles her neck.
CHERYL I bet you do!
Ruben reaches in front of her and unties her robe -- she hits his hand.
CHERYL (CONT'D) Dinner's almost ready!
RUBEN I'm having you.
Ruben walks back into the master bedroom, strips off his shirt, undoes his belt and pulls down his pants.
CHERYL Dinner will burn.
RUBEN But I boil over.
CHERYL You may have a point there, Mr. Gonzalez!
Cheryl puts down her CURLING IRON and turns around.
CHERYL (CONT'D) Oh, my God! She brings her hands up to her face looking at Ruben.
RUBEN What? Honey --
CHERYL Oh, Ruben, how could you?
Cheryl turns around and escapes into the bathroom.
Ruben, standing in plaid boxer shorts, is covered with red contusions, purple and black bruises, and welts across his chest, on his shoulders, arms. He is so discolored he appears to be a corpse pulled from a grave.
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RUBEN Cheryl -- what's wrong? Sound of a shower.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Honey?
EXT. GONZALEZ FAMILY HOME (HOUSTON) - NIGHT
Ruben rings the bell.
RUBEN, SR. (from inside the door)
Who is it?
RUBEN Ruben Gonzalez.
RUBEN, SR. That cannot be. I am Ruben Gonzalez.
RUBEN WE are Ruben Gonzalez.
RUBEN, SR. Well, that explains it.
Ruben, Sr. cracks the door.
RUBEN, SR. (CONT'D) You sure sounded familiar.
RUBEN Papi, let me in.
Ruben, Sr. opens the door.
RUBEN, SR. You look familiar, too.
RUBEN How's retirement?
RUBEN, SR. It's like being a boy again... a boy with money. A boy with money and nothing to spend it on.
RUBEN There's always fast cars and women!
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Ruben walks past him and takes a seat opposite the couch.
RUBEN, SR. I'd prefer your mother in a Chevette.
RUBEN Mom still comes to you in your dreams?
RUBEN, SR. I hope I still come to her in hers.
RUBEN Papi, I want you to come to the Olympics this time.
RUBEN, SR. I don't like the crowds.
Ruben, Sr. sits down on the couch across from his son.
RUBEN Just for the race day -- just to see my last run.
Ruben takes his father's hand in his.
RUBEN, SR. My place is always in the stands.
RUBEN Watching me.
RUBEN, SR. Watching you. I'll come.
RUBEN I just want you to see your son make history.
RUBEN, SR. My son made history when he first opened his eyes and looked at me.
RUBEN I want you to be proud of me, Papa.
RUBEN, SR. And I want you to be proud of me, Ruben.
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RUBEN I am. I've always been.
RUBEN, SR. Good. I'll come. Your father will be there.
RUBEN So will your son.
INT: VANCOUVER OLYMPICS/ATHLETE'S DINING HALL (2010) - DAY
Final day of training. The Olympic Luge Competition will begin the next day. Athletes and coaches are in line for breakfast. A group of middle-aged coaches are talking and they see Ruben.
SWISS COACH What sport are you coaching?
RUBEN I'm here to compete.
The coaches pause, look at each other, and burst out laughing.
ENGLISH COACH Come on. Really. What are you coaching?
RUBEN I'm competing in the luge tomorrow.
21 year-old NODAR KUMARITASHVILI, of the Georgia National Luge Team, puts an arm around Ruben from behind. Ruben turns and pulls him into a hug.
NODAR Numero cuatro, Old Man?
RUBEN Hey-hey! Nodar! Yes, number four coming up!
Nodar releases him.
NODAR Can't imagine I could ever do it!
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RUBEN But I've never luged in the passing lane, Nodar! I've always got my hazards on going downhill.
NODAR Ha-ha! This the fastest track in the world, Ruben. There are no cowards here.
RUBEN I guess there aren't.
NODAR I always face one though at the starting gate!
Nodar smiles.
RUBEN Me, too! First beer's on me tomorrow night.
NODAR I got two through ten.
RUBEN Sounds good.
NODAR Kill it out there.
RUBEN You, too.
EXT. WHISTLER LUGE TRACK - DAY
Ruben and LEBAN, Nodar's team mate from Georgia, stand on the cement platform looking down upon the outrun of the luge checking the oversize MONITORS displaying the progress of each slider.
LEBAN Steels sharpened, Speedy?
RUBEN Too sharp -- my practice runs were wild. It's hard to settle down and get into a good rhythm on this track.
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LEBAN This track is wicked. Ninety five miles per hour is too fast.
RUBEN Nodar's up.
LEBAN Speed runs in his family.
Leban and Ruben watch his progress on the screen.
CUT TO:
ACTUAL VIDEO OF NODAR'S FATAL RUN.
LEBAN (V.O.) Oh, he's in trouble.
Nodar hits a bank hard -- way too high. Gets slammed on the wall and thrown to the other.
RUBEN (V.O.) Oh, my God!
LEBAN (V.O.) Ruben!
Nodar rises off the luge, flies across the track, over the wall and head first into support columns for a viewing area.
Leban grabs Ruben.
RUBEN This is bad.
LEBAN Jesus!
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT (O.S.) EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! AMBULANCE TO THE LUGE OUT-RUN!
SIRENS WAIL as Ruben and Leban grip each other. POV rises above them, takes in the crowd of Olympic personnel rushing toward them and the outrun. We see the roof of the structure where Nodar dies as an ambulance arrives.
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FADE OUT.
INT. OLYMPIC VILLAGE/RUBEN'S ROOM - NIGHT
The TV is on. The News.
JOSEF FENDT (O.S.) I told them it make me worry -- I told dem dat last year. I told dem too fast -- my sliders. Far too fast. First run, last year, new track -- why da man ride 95 miles per hour -- why dat fast? Why do it?
JIM MCKAY (O.S.) We are speaking to the President of the International Luge Federation, Josef Fendt, live from the Whistler Sliding Center, where the vertical beams Nodar Kumaritashvili flew into --
The picture goes dark. The TV REMOTE bounces off the screen.
A CELL PHONE rings. Ruben Gonzalez, dressed in snow parka is lying on his bed. His cell phone rings.
RUBEN Yeah.
CHERYL Oh, honey, I'm so glad I got you! Why haven't you answered -- I've been so worried.
RUBEN Sorry.
CHERYL Honey, there's something wrong with that track -- it's all over the news.
RUBEN They're fixing it.
CHERYL They didn't know what's wrong before -- they can't know now!
RUBEN They'll figure it out.
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CHERYL Please don't tell me you're considering competing.
Ruben, please -- tell me what you're thinking.
RUBEN I'm not thinking.
CHERYL Ruben, please, tell me you'll quit right now. Tell me you'll come home. Please!
RUBEN I can't tell you that.
CHERYL Ruben, I'm your wife. I've been by your side all these years. You're in too deep now -- you all are -- they've made a mistake.
RUBEN They've corrected it.
CHERYL You don't know that.
RUBEN No, I don't. All I know is that I have to race. I need to honor Nodar by doing what he died trying to do.
CHERYL No, no you don't. They made a mistake. A fatal one. And you're in shock because your friend died. Don't do this.
Please come back to me.
RUBEN I'll come back to you. (beat)
After my race. I love you.
Ruben hangs up the phone. Bruce Springsteen's slow acoustic version of "No Surrender" starts playing.
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BRUCE SPRINSTEEN (plays)
Well, now young faces grow sad and old And hearts of fire grow cold We swore blood brothers against the wind Now I'm ready to grow young again And hear your sister's voice calling us home Across the open yards Well maybe we'll cut someplace of our own With these drums and these guitars
Ruben slowly walks to his sled, touches it, runs his fingers along the runners, turns to a table covered with "Good luck Ruben" cards, pulls a couple of flowers out of a vase and picks up a little Argentina flag someone gave him, and walks out from his room.
BRUCE SPRINSTEEN (plays through intercut below)
Well, we made a promise we swore we'd always remember No retreat, baby, no surrender Like soldiers in the winter's night With a vow to defend No retreat, baby, no surrender
INTERCUT:
EXT. WHISTLER LUGE TRACK - NIGHT
A group of athletes are gathered at the spot of the track where Nodar died earlier that day. They're holding candles. Ruben places his flowers and flag with other flowers.
INT. WHISTLER HOTEL - NIGHT
Marcelo and Ruben, Sr. are watching the news about Nodar's crash.
EXT. WHISTLER LUGE TRACK - NIGHT
Ruben sees Leban, walks up to him and hugs him.
INT. WHISTLER HOTEL - NIGHT
Cheryl, tears running down her face, puts the kids to bed, kisses them, turns off the light.
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CUT TO:
EXT. WHISTLER LUGE TRACK - DAY
Race day next morning. Ruben scales the steps with his SLED as an automaton. Expressionless. He sees Günther at the starting gate and walks over to him.
GÜNTHER Do what you came here to do.
Ruben nods. He awaits the luger in front of him to start, places his sled at the starting line and sits down.
SPEAKER (O.S.) Ruben Gonzalez, in ten, watch your lights.
RUBEN Ruben Gonzalez -- ready!
Ruben listens to the countdown and bursts through the starting gate, takes fast, hard strokes and leans back, gathering speed. His posture is perfect for Ruben, head canted slightly forward. He hits every mark, negotiates each turn, finishes fast -- the timer blinks out stats of his run.
Ruben sits up, deploys both feet to brake, the familiar rooster tail of frost kicks ups -- he comes to a stop. And before standing up, scans the crowd. He sees a familiar sight: an old man in a Panama hat in winter, dark glasses on.
Ruben Gonzalez, Sr. cracks a small smile and holds up four fingers. Ruben stands, picks up his sled, returns the smile and holds up four fingers.
Ruben Gonzalez, Sr. points down to the front row of the stands next to the luge track.
Cheryl, Gabriela and Gracen are there to surprise Ruben.
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RUBEN (surprised)
What are you doing here?
CHERYL We're family. Family sticks together. I love you!
RUBEN (hugs Cheryl and the kids)
I love you!
INT: LIFESIZE CORP/CONFERENCE ROOM (AUSTIN)(2015) - NIGHT
RUBEN Remember, if someone like me can make it to the Olympics, you all can do anything!
Ruben pauses. Scans the crowd.
See you all tonight at your awards banquet.
Applause.
RUBEN (CONT'D) Thank you . . . Thank you!
INT. LIFESIZE CORP/CONFERENCE ROOM - NIGHT
Ruben sits at a table stacked with his BOOKS. He looks up at the next in line.
RUBEN Who should I make out this inscription out to?
Ruben stares at CHRIS BRUNO, 53, a tall, conservative sales executive, then catches his name-tag.
CHRIS BRUNO Make it out to my son, Howie.
RUBEN Howie?
CHRIS BRUNO Named after the man who raised me.
105.
Created using Celtx
RUBEN Not your father?
CHRIS BRUNO No.
Ruben starts signing book.
CHRIS BRUNO (CONT'D) How come there's never been a movie made about you?
RUBEN I don't know. People ask me that all the time.
CHRIS BRUNO It's because you're so consumed with self-promotion that no one can get close enough to see the real you.
Chris Bruno holds up another copy of Ruben's book from the table.
CHRIS BRUNO (CONT'D) You lack the counsel of a real publisher, for instance, and the legitimacy of an actual publishing contract.
Ruben stops. And looks up at him.
RUBEN Are you always this insulting?
CHRIS BRUNO I lack those things, too.
RUBEN (reading his name tag)
VP of Sales -- huh? Big man?
CHRIS BRUNO The biggest.
RUBEN You good at what you do?
CHRIS BRUNO The best.
106.
Created using Celtx
RUBEN But you're standing here talking to me.
CHRIS BRUNO I am inauthentic nine-to-five.
RUBEN You can write?
CHRIS BRUNO I can write.
RUBEN But you've never done it professionally?
CHRIS BRUNO The theme is authenticity -- of the screenplay -- you need a theme. And an arc. I see one. The arc of your story. You need to stick the ending.
RUBEN You think you can do it?
CHRIS BRUNO Thinking of doing is not actually doing, Ruben. Doing is doing.
RUBEN Can you do it?
CHRIS BRUNO It's easier for me to believe in what you do than to believe in what I do.
RUBEN Take my card.
Ruben hands him his CARD. Chris Bruno takes it and looks at it.
RUBEN (CONT'D) You know what the difference is between me and you?
CHRIS BRUNO What?
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Created using Celtx
RUBEN I've never been paralyzed by fear.
Or spent time staring into a mirror wondering if I'm beautiful.
Ruben finishes signing the BOOK. Hands it to him. Chris Bruno takes it, and reads the inscription, "Chase your dream and make your life an adventure."
CHRIS BRUNO Ruben?
RUBEN What?
CHRIS BRUNO I hate my job.
RUBEN. Too many people do, Chris.
FADE TO BLACK.
RUBEN (V.O.) Life's too short to do something you hate. Quit your job. Sell everything you own if you have to -- and then, do something you love.
That's how to make your life an adventure -- that's how you make the world a better place.
TITLE CARD
CHRIS BRUNO QUIT THE JOB HE HATED...AND FOUND ONE HE LOVED.
TITLE CARD
NINETY DAYS LATER, CHRIS GOT LAID OFF.
TITLE CARD
RUBEN SENT CHRIS A NOTE WHICH READ, "THE ONLY TALENT IS ACTION. PICK UP YOUR SLED, CLIMB THE STAIRS -- AND GO!"
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Created using Celtx
TITLE CARD
CHRIS BRUNO WROTE "SPEEDY" IN EIGHT WEEKS WHILE RAISING $3,000,000 IN VENTURE CAPITAL TO START A COMPANY WHERE TODAY HE IS CEO.
TITLE CARD
ON AUGUST 26TH, 2019 THE PAIR SWAM FROM ALCATRAZ TOGETHER.
TITLE CARD
RUBEN, OF COURSE, FIRST HAD TO LEARN HOW TO SWIM.
TITLE CARD
DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF NODAR KUMARITASHVILI (1988-2010).
FADE OUT
THE END
