The Impossible Goal
First Draft
By Shona Kinal
Scene one- EXT.-Astro Turf
Steph is watching her school football team train from the sideline. The footballers feet are mesmerising.
One of the girl's heads the ball to another who then scores in the top right hand corner of the goal. The girl and her friends celebrate. Steph sighs and walks away on her own.
Scene- EXT. - Pavement
On the way home Steph spots a stone lying on the floor. With adrenaline Steph begins to dribble with the stone. We hear the sound of a crowd cheer her on. Steph gets more and more excited. The commentators expect a goal. Steph spots a place where she can score. She emulates the girl’s run from the previous scene. The voices and crowd echo away...Steph swings her leg back...
Scene-INT.-Changing Room (FLASHBACK)
...We hear the voice of a coach echoing towards us.
Coach
Your shooting ability isn’t up to our standards. I’m sorry, Steph. Maybe next time.
we fade into an empty changing room. Steph is hunched over with her legs curled up to her chest. She is devastated and trying to hold in tears…
Scene-Int.-Pavement
Steph kicks the stone but it flies into the air. She stands in the empty street alone. Sudden cut to black. Title.
The Impossible Goal
Scene-INT.-Bedroom-Evening (GRAPHIC MATCH)
...Steph is in her bedroom sat with her back against the wall. Her room is dark and moody (Harsh lighting). We see Steph from above as the trophies from her previous club loom over her.
The door opens. An inch of light hits Steph’s face. Jane appears at the door.
Jane
Steph...
Steph looks to the ground. Jane sits on the edge of the bed.
Jane (Cont.)
It’s not nice being rejected, but you can’t just give up now.
Steph
I don’t know what to do.
Jane
Don’t worry about it. It’s just a blip in your stride, okay?
Steph
but it’s not.
Jane
If I let everyone's opinions bother me after I made my drawings I wouldn't be here. You’ll learn in time that only your opinion matters.
Steph
Do you think I can do it?
Jane
(sighs) It may be hard, but it’s not impossible. Look, no one can make you a better striker but yourself. Just have a little faith, Steph.
Jane exits. Darkness exhumes the room. Steph puts her hands over her face. She sits there for a long time before she looks up again. Her eyes drop onto her football on the other side of the bedroom.
Steph shuffles forward and picks up her ball. She looks at her heros on the wall and the analysis she has made on the wall. She looks up with determination.
Scene-EXT.-Park
Extreme close up on Steph’s boots as she runs (Low level)
Cut to show Steph’s face going full pace and determined.
Cut to a wide shot in which we see Steph doing a Arrowhead agility test.
Scene-EXT.-Park
Steph’s feet do ladders in and out of the bottles. Steph fakes lefts and rights and attempts to score. She misses all of them.
Scene-EXT.-Park
Steph watches tutorials on Youtube for training drills. She walks over to the cones she has set up. She runs in and out of them and takes a shot at the end of them.
Scene-EXT.-Day-Park
Steph tries to improve her previous training session. A group of girls giggle at her behind her back. Steph ignores them.
Scene-INT.-Lunch-OLC
A group of sixth formers are sitting eating lunch (foreground) while Steph trains by her own (background). She is framed by the window in the background.
Scene-INT.-Lunch-Hallway
Steph walks by a notice in the hallway. She runs back. It reads ‘FOOTBALL TRIALS: ALL YEARS. TWO WEEKS TIME’
Scene-EXT.-Evening (Golden Time)- Country Road
Steph is jogging along the road trying to increase her stamina. The sun lays in the background behind her as we see her with tired eyes. She presses on.
Scene-INT.- Evening
Steph is sat analysing the movements of Abby wambach and the US Women’s team.
Scene-INT.-Evening
Steph is playing out in the dark in her back garden. Jane spots her out of the window. She turns back to her drawings, satisfied.
Scene-INT.-Morning-Changing Room
The air is still. Steph is sat on her own, this time in the pink football kick of the school’s football club. She sits quietly thinking to herself. A quiet murmur of voices is heard. Steph’s heart jolts. She hears giggles from the door. She runs over to the door but the boys have already shut it. Steph seems to slow down.
Stephs
Guys...
The boys continue to laugh from the other side of the door. She begins pulling on the door handle.
Tom
Shut it, lesbian!
The boys laugh among themselves. They put all their weight onto the door. Steph sits back and waits patiently.
They continue to shout abusive language while Steph sits there and waits for the moment to pass by. Suddenly the boys run away. Jane swings the door open quickly.
Jane
Come on! Coach is looking for you!
Scene-EXT. Astro Turf
Steph runs onto the football pitch where training is about to start.
Coach
We have you been?
Steph
I got held up
The Coach gives her a stern look. Suddenly The Coach notices the boys mocking Steph from the playground. She returns her attention back to Steph.
Coach
Get on. You’re playing in midfield.
The players get into position. Steph notices her sister standing on the side-line. The coach shouts for play to begin.
The game moves rapidly. The opposition grains possession of the ball first. They run towards the defence. A girl shoots and hits the crossbar. Steph looks around. Her sister gives her a thumbs up. Steph retains her focus. Steph gets the ball and passes it well. The Coach has to do a double take.
Coach
She’s got a good touch. Who does she play for?
Jane
Her team folded
Steph runs with the attack. Steph notices the goal is open. She calls for the ball. We watch Steph pull her leg back and aim at goal.
The world goes into slow motion. Jane tires to hold in her excitement...Steph foot gets closer to the goal... The coach watches with her cold eyes....Steph remains focused... Her foot makes contact with the ball.
The goalie’s face changes to one of horror. We return to normal motion to see the ball smash into the top corner of the goal.
The girls erupt into cheers and suddenly Steph is surrounded by her new teammates. Jane pumps her fist into the air.
Jane
Yes! Yes! That’s how you do it! Get in!
The Manager makes a single look at her to be quiet. Jane returns to silence but smirks over to Steph. Steph looks up, smiles confidently and a black shot swoops into place.
END
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