Bison

The gym is packed with 20-something hopefuls auditioning for the Chicago Bison, a professional basketball team. Basketballs hitting the hardwood floor reverberate throughout the facility. The lights are on, and sunlight pours in through the windows. Players are running up and down the floor, one of whom is dribbling the ball.

COACH SAUNDERS, a middle-aged Caucasian man with brown and gray curly hair, brown eyes, and a neatly trimmed goatee, begins blowing his whistle, which echoes throughout the gym.

Coach Saunders- Come on, run the play! Let's go!

The offense is running the play. The defensive players are getting into position. All of the players on the offense are wearing shirts. The opposing team has shirtless players.

One of the offensive players drives into the paint, and... THUD!!!

He hits the floor hard after taking a hard shot. His teammates rush to his aid. The player is injured.

Player 1- Coach, I think he's hurt! Come on!

Coach Saunders rushes over to the fallen player, who is dazed from the impact and fall.

Fallen Player- (wince) Ugh...

Coach Saunders- Are you okay?

Fallen Player- (holding his shoulder) I'm fine, Coach. I can still play.

Coach Saunders- Not a chance.

Fallen Player- (desperate) Coach, please! I can still play!

Coach Saunders- (to the other players) Help this kid up and get him off the floor. (to the fallen player) You've got heart, kid, but you're sitting out the rest of this one. Don't worry, you ain't been cut just yet.

Coach Saunders surveys the crowd of players seated on the bleachers. He paces towards the bleachers, observing the players' attention.

The players on the court assist the fallen player and escort him off the court.

Coach Saunders notices a very shy young man sitting alone in the bleachers. He walks towards this young man with a slightly devious smile on his face.

Coach Saunders- You. What is your name?

Lance- Lance Carter, sir.

LANCE CARTER, a 6'0" young black man with a medium complexion, a short haircut, brown eyes, a very thin build, and a clean shaven appearance, looks at Coach Saunders with trepidation.

Coach Saunders- Why are you so nervous, kid? Don't you want to play ball? If not, why are you here? Get in there and show me what you've got.

Lance - Yes, sir.

Lance quickly climbs down from the bleachers and onto the court. As Lance walks onto the floor, laughter can be heard throughout the gym.

DEREK DAWSON, another hopeful, sneers at Lance. He is a black man with a very light complexion, bright brown eyes, dark brown hair, and a more athletic build.

Derek- Look at this wuss. Let's do it.

The whistle blows. The scrimmage game continues. Lance receives the ball and is immediately trapped by Derek and another player before he can get past the half-court line. Derek slaps the ball out of his hand and takes it to the opposite side of the court for an easy layup.

Derek smiles at Lance as he runs down the floor.

Derek- (to Lance) Too easy!

Lance, already irritated by Derek's taunts, goes to receive the inbound pass. Lances' teammates are now refusing to pass him the ball, forcing him to run up the floor without it. His team executes a play, leaving him wide open.

Lance- (yells) Open! I'm open! Pass!

Lance's teammates continue to refuse to pass the ball to him. Derek, who is guarding Lance, decides to sag off of him and double-team the ball handler. Lance's teammate reluctantly passes him the ball. Derek refuses to defend him and dares him to shoot.

Derek- (smiles) Shoot it!

Lance tries a jump shot... CLANK!

Lance has a terrible miss. One of the opposing players gets the rebound and passes the ball to Derek. Derek then outruns Lance, forcing Lance's teammates to chase him down. Derek then passes to another teammate for an alley-oop slam, which electrifies the players in the stands.

The coaches are taking notes as they continue to observe the scrimmage. Derek has impressed Coach Saunders, while Lance has disappointed him. Coach Saunders watches the scrimmage with patience.

Moments later, Lance tries to guard Derek again, and suddenly... THUD!

Lance is met with a screen, and he lands hard on the floor, giving Derek easy access to the other side of the floor. Derek feeds the ball inside to the power forward, who dunks it.

Lance slowly gets up, attempting to shake the pain... and the embarrassment. Coach Saunders notices Lance struggling and blows his whistle, bringing the game to a halt.

Coach Saunders- Carter!

Lance turns toward Coach Saunders.

Coach Saunders- You're out, kid! Henderson, you're in!

Laughter fills the gym as Lance slowly and awkwardly makes his way back to the bleachers. Lance is glumly watching the rest of the scrimmage.

To Be Continued...