EXT: view of a suburban house.
INT: We see the kitchen and dining room table separated by a countertop. A staircase to the second story of the house is in the background. ANGELA is in the kitchen preparing breakfast. GAVIN is seated at the table looking at his phone eating breakfast.
JOSH comes down the stairs wearing his signature black polo and slacks
JOSH
(Waits for audience applause) Good morning honey, happy anniversary!
ANGELA
Oh, you remembered!
JOSH moves up to ANGELA and they hug/peck
JOSH
Of course I did! it’s always marked on the calendar with a horseshoe! And don’t forget we have dinner reservations for 7 PM at Le Chateau Rockinbleau.
GAVIN
Ooooh, fancy! Way to go all out dad.
ANGELA
He always does. I appreciate that you always devote the entire night just to us. It makes up for all of the time you spend away during the season. Always back to work the next morning no matter how late the previous game went.
GAVIN
Mr. Borrell really liked that, do you think Pep Guardiola does that too? (said excitedly)
JOSH
Of course, according to Rodo he and I are so much alike. It’s a huge compliment to be compared to one of the all-time great coaches.
OWEN comes down the stairs, grabs a banana off the counter and pours OJ into a glass
OWEN
Sorry, I have to try and make it to Damian’s before he has to leave for Louisville!
OWEN bolts out the backdoor with the glass
JOSH
We’re never getting the glass back are we?
ANGELA
We never do, that makes 8 just in the past month.
GAVIN
This is going to totally blow through our GAM.
JOSH and ANGELA both look at GAVIN with a confused look
GAVIN
You know, our Glassware allocated money.
ANGELA
(rolls eyes) That’s my pack!
JOSH and GAVIN howl
FADE OUT
EXT: Establishing shot of St. David’s Training Ground.
INT: JOSH office. Office has a desk to the right and two chairs in front of it. There’s also a couch on the back wall with a coffee table. JOSH is sitting behind his desk while DAVY sits in a chair in front.
JOSH
I’m really excited about all the roster moves we’ve made, the boys look great in training!
DAVY
RODO walks into the office. He’s wearing a dark suit with a white shirt with the top 3 buttons undone. JOSH and DAVY both stand up quickly and are at attention
RODO
Josh, Davy, I have huge news!
JOSH
Who did we sign?
DAVY
Was it a new DP striker?
RODO
Even better! I just traded a 2026 international slot for 50K GAM! GAM boys! It’s the lifeblood of the league!
JOSH and DAVY look at each other
JOSH
That’s great, but…are there any new signings coming in?
RODO
Oh, yes, I made three signings I can introduce you to right now.
JOSH AND DAVY GET EXCITED when RODO claps his hands and steps out of the doorway. Three men dressed exactly alike in grey suits, white shirts, and with the same haircut move into the room without speaking.
RODO
This is Pieter, Petri, and Petras
JOSH
Great to meet you guys, how are you liking the club?
SCOUTS look at each other, turn away from camera in a huddle and after a few seconds turn back around.
PIETER
It’s great!
DAVY
Are all of you enjoying Austin?
SCOUTS look at each other, turn away from camera in a huddle and after a few seconds turn back
PIETER
It’s great!
JOSH and DAVY look at each other confused.
RODO
All of you will love working together, I made a reservation at Le Chateau Rockinbleau at 7:15 PM tonight, this is going to set the tone for our entire season, clear whatever plans you have. *looks sternly” whatever plans, I mean it! Scouts, follow!
RODO and SCOUTS leave the room
DAVY
Isn’t your anniversary dinner tonight?
JOSH
Yes…at Le Chateau Rockinbleu at 7 PM
DAVY
How are you going to tell Angela?
JOSH
This is a big night for us, it makes up for all of the long hours during the season. It was almost impossible to get this reservation, I had to let the maitre’d set the line up for a match last season.
DAVY
Is that why Owen started at left back?
JOSH
*nods*
DAVY
Maybe we can figure out how to do both? I could help run interference with Rodo and the Scouts while you spend time with Angela. Since it’s at the same restaurant you could easily go back and forth
JOSH
I don’t want to be duplicitious, you know how much I dislike any kind of deception, I don’t even like counterattacking or playing in behind, it just feels wrong to take advantage like that.
DAVY
I know Josh, but this is going to work out, you can do this. Your greatest asset is your quick thinking under pressure and being able to adapt to any situation. You shouldn’t have to choose between the club and your family.
JOSH
Ok Davy, you’ve never led me wrong before.
EXT: Two story building with black and white striped awnings. there’s an understated sign that says “Le Chateau Rockinbleau Est. 1974”
INT: JOSH and ANGELA are sitting at a table, JOSH has on a black jacket over his usual black polo/slacks. ANGELA is in a Red and Black dress.
The Waiter, dressed in a black vest, bow tie, white shirt, hair slicked down comes over.
WAITER
Hello and welcome to Le Chateau Rockinbleu, are the two of you celebrating anything special tonight?
ANGELA
Oh, it’s our wedding anniversary
WAITER
Congralations, let me bring you two glasses of champagne, complimentary of course.
WAITER leaves
ANGELA
Thanks again for making this reservation honey, I really appreciate you making the time for us before the season starts. How are you feeling about things?
JOSH
(visibly nervous)
A little worried (holds his menu high over his face and peeking over) I can barely even read this menu, what is “filet mignon?” (mispronounced)
ANGELA
I meant about the season. Is the plan to still play three at the back and try to use Driussi as a trequartista? Is Dani going to stay back as a deep lying playmaker or are you going to let him play more as a box to box? What about instituting a catenaccio defensive structure when up a goal instead of just attacking more?
JOSH
You can’t just make up positions in soccer (laughing) “trequartista” just sounds ridiculous dear.
ANGELA
No, it’s a position that links midfield and attack, that was a huge problem last year…
JOSH
Oh, absolutely, but we’re going back to the basics, setting up triangles, holding possession it’s going to be like 2022 all over again.
ANGELA
That waiter seems to be taking awhile with the champagne
JOSH
(checks watch)
I’ll go and look and try to find him
(gets up from the table)
RODO, SCOUTS, DAVY are at the host station, JOSH walks up and greets them
RODO
Josh my boy! Glad you’re here, now we can get seated, fortunately I got us a private table so we won’t be disturbed.
JOSH
Wow, how did you swing that?
RODO
Just a small favor, by the way when we play Seattle away you have to start Alex Ring on the right wing
MAITRE D’
Now that your party is all here, please follow me
ALL follow, walking through the dining room, JOSH hides behind the SCOUTS as they pass ANGELA sitting at the table. They all sit at a table, SCOUTS sit on the left, RODO is in the middle, then DAVY, and JOSH is furthest from the door. The same WAITER comes in, JOSH hides behind his menu.
WAITER
Hello and welcome to Le Chateau Rockinbleu, are we celebrating anything special tonight?
RODO
Just a friendly dinner to get everyone on the same page. (puts on reading glasses) Can we get a round of water, drinks, L’escargots and a cheese plate for the table.
WAITER
Fine choices Sir, anything else? (looks at SCOUTS)
SCOUTS look at each other, huddle together, then turn back
PIETER
No
WAITER turns and leaves
JOSH
I’m really sorry, I realized I forgot to tell the waiter about an allergy
RODO
Really, what are you allergic too?
JOSH
Uh, cheese. It’s cheese, the uh, lactose.
RODO
So the cheese plate would be…bad for you?
JOSH
Yes, That’s a plate of intense stomach pain and sitting on a toilet all night. That’s why I have to go tell him.
JOSH gets up, having to go past everyone else at the table as he walks behind them.
INT: Back at the table with ANGELA, JOSH sits down
JOSH
Sorry that took so long, I somehow missed him…and you already got the champagne
ANGELA
And a second round (there’s two empty glasses on the table). Did you get lost?
JOSH
No, sorry, this restaurant is just surprisingly large compared to how big it is outside. I went over to the kitchen thinking he’d be there, but then the chef recognized me.
ANGELA
From coaching Austin? That’s a first
JOSH
And he didn’t even mention our bad season or ask about us signing players! Great guy!
WAITER shows up and looks at JOSH knowingly
WAITER
I see that you and the wife have gotten started, would you like anything to start your dinner?
ANGELA
Yes, the cheese plate
WAITER looks over at JOSH
WAITER
And are there any allergy issues I should be aware of?
ANGELA
None, nothing to worry about at this table
WAITER
That’s great to hear (Looks at JOSH) I’ll be right back with the cheese plate.
ANGELA
Are you excited about Diego Rubio?
JOSH
Of course, he’s over 30, coming off an injury year, from one of the worst teams in the league, he’s like a perfect combination of everything we want in a striker.
ANGELA
And on a good value. Seems like Rodo is clearing out the roster to make big moves in the summer, maybe some Danish defender would come.
JOSH
I wouldn’t know, I’m not part of that anymore. He cooks the meal, buys the groceries, I’m just taking the dish to the table. Speaking of, where is that cheese plate? I’ll go check
ANGELA
You really don’t need to
JOSH gets up and leaves the table, ANGELA downs a glass of champagne, JOSH runs into the WAITER.
JOSH
Hey, thanks for not saying anything, I know this is crazy that i’m at two..
WAITER (Interrupts)
Monsieur, this happens twice a week, I don’t know why this restaurant causes so many men to think they can eat two dinners at once. Just stand up to your wife or your boss! It’s not that hard! I have a very important question for you though:
*Takes a dramatic pause*
Are you allergic to cheese?
JOSH
I’m not.
WAITER
That means you care more about your relationship to your wife than to your boss. Good for you.
WAITER EXITS
JOSH enters dinner with RODO, SCOUTS, and DAVY, having to walk behind all of their chairs and making them get up.
JOSH
Sorry about that, but the Waiter knows to keep the cheese far away from me
RODO
Glad to have you back, so like I was saying, Biro is in Austin, Rubio is here, we have a stockpile of GAM, things are looking great!
DAVY
Agreed Boss, ready for the season to start. *raises glass*
ALL raise their glasses and cheer. WAITER enters with cheese plate, it has various kinds of cheese stacked on it. As he sets it down, ANGELA bursts into the room.
ANGELA (holding a full glass of champagne)
J’accuse! What’s going on here?
RADO, SCOUTS, DAVY, JOSH all stare at ANGELA. The SCOUTS all huddle for a few seconds then turn back.
PIETER
We are having a dinner to get to know each other
RADO
Who is this astounding woman?
JOSH (Stands up)
Sir, sorry, this is my wife, Angela, its our anniversary and I was uh..
RADO
Trying to have two dinners at once in the same restaurant? I get it, I did this two years in a row with my wife when I started at Barcelona, but I never had my wife figure it out partway through! You must have married an incredibly smart woman.
ANGELA
You have no idea. Did Josh ever tell you about my idea about playing Dani more advanced to provide more creativity along Driussi? Or bringing in more defenders to help along the backline?
RODO (raises an eyebrow)
No, but we had been discussing both of those ideas recently in the office. Come join us. Have some cheese.
ANGELA (takes seat at the table)
Oh, they have Camembert, Josh loves Camembert, don’t you Josh?
ALL look at JOSH, who shrugs.
FADE OUT.