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, slacks, and black sneakers with a white sole.
ANGELA
“Morning Honey, how’d you sleep?”
JOSH
“Awful, I don’t know why, but I have a weird sense of foreboding today. I know you joke about me always dressing like I’m going to a funeral, but today seems…ominous.
CRACK OF THUNDER OUTSIDE
GAVIN
“I hate living outside the Austin rain dome”
JOSH
“What have I told you about reading social media posts from regional highways?”
GAVIN
“Always share the best ones?”
OWEN races down the stairs, grabs a piece of fruit from the counter and starts to head toward the door.
ANGELA
“Owen, where are you going? You don’t have practice for another two hours?”
OWEN
“I got added to a bunch of player group chats this morning and Mr. Ring invited me to a group breakfast! I knew I just needed a little more time to get on their good side, just like you said mom!”
OWEN gives ANGELA a hug and then runs out the back door
ANGELA
“I’m so proud of him, he’s done so much to change and grow over the last year. I know I was anti-goatee but it’s starting to look really good on him, I can’t wait to see what happens to his career.”
JOSH
“Same, it’s been such a pleasure to coach him. I’m really looking forward to what he’ll be able to do next year. I need to get to the office, I have a meeting with Mr. Borrell”
JOSH leaves out the backdoor.
ANGELA
“Gavin, what have I told you about looking at your phone during breakfast”
GAVIN doesn’t look up, staring at his screen
ANGELA
“Gavin, what’s gotten your attention?”
GAVIN
“Mom, Bogert tweeted something”
ANGELA
“If this is that ridiculous moustache pardoy account again…”
GAVIN
“It’s not mom”
FADE OUT
INT: Josh Wolff’s office. His office doesn’t look how it did before, the desk and two chairs are there, but everything else is missing, no decorative arrangement of horseshoes, no picture of him and Gregg Berhalter from their time together in Germany, etc…
RODO sits at the desk, SCOUTS standing behind him, all in matching suits and haircuts and each holding a HEB bag of Josh’s things from his office. RODO has a HEB to go breakfast sandwich that he’s eating as he looks at a folded newspaper
JOSH enters the office
JOSH
“Mr. Borrell, hi, I wasn’t expecting…” (looks around the office) all of my stuff to be gone.
RODO
“I’m sorry it’s come to this Josh, but playoffs were a must this season, and as I’m sure you can tell from this laminated print out of the standings, we are not a playoff team”
RODO slides the laminated piece of paper across the desk.
RODO
I tried to give you what you needed to win, quick attacking players, a solid defense, I even didn’t bring in a midfielder so Owen could get more field time. Could you imagine what Valentin Noel could have done in that spot? I have these guys working overtime trying to find the right pieces for this team, and now I have to switch gears to find a new coach and staff too.
JOSH
“Can I ask who you have in mind?”
RODO
“You wouldn’t believe the names”
JOSH
“Who” (through gritted teeth)
RODO
“Ximena De Paula and Rafael Lina”
JOSH
“I’ve never heard of them”
RODO
“Also Tacito Gato. His agent called an hour ago”
JOSH
“Is that a real person?”
RODO
“I told you that you wouldn’t believe the names”
SCOUTS all laugh in unison and stop at the same time.
RODO
“I also have to hand you this, it’s your official letter of termination.”
JOSH
“It’s laminated”
RODO
“I was told this is a custom in MLS”
JOSH looks at the letter, holds it up to be seen by the audience and it says “WOLFDUT”
JOSH
“Thank you for all the time Mr. Borrell, I know this hasn’t been as successful as you or I wanted, but I feel like this was a great experience for me to get my next head coaching job”
SCOUTS all look at each other awkwardly. RODO stands up and moves around next to JOSH
RODO
“I certainly hope so, all coaches eventually get fired and it’s how they bounce back that really matters. It’s about attitude, self reflection, and learning from the experience. There were a lot of things that can be learned from this, mostly that Brad Stuver can save shot after shot but relying on him to prop up your terrible defensive schemes couldn’t save your job.”
RODO shakes his hand and pats him on the back. JOSH goes down the line of SCOUTS grabbing one bag at a time and he leaves the office.
RODO pulls out his cell phone and makes a call.
RODO
Tacito, I have a fantastic opportunity for you!
FADE OUT