Robert C. Powers, Writer

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MOOSE

Benton Stingers

His Coach called him "Moose" for a good reason!

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Moose

A Screenplay by Robert C. Powers

Based on a Book by Robert E. Osmon, a True Story*                                       Genre: Family Sports Drama

Logline: A high school football team in a small town loses its star black halfback in a motorcycle accident which leads to racial and competitive quarrels among the players; the tough coach, who suffers from cancer, turns to a player with a physical disability to resolve the conflicts and lead the team to a championship.

Synopsis:  Small rural blue-collar town.  Present day. All things country and football. With this year’s football team at Benton High School (“Stingers”), Coach Evan Ellis, aka “Sarge”, a former Marine hero, sees his dream of a championship season coming true. He has a strong line and Halfback “Merc” Dester, a black player, the fastest man in the league, and his close friend Fullback “Moose” Osmon, the best blocker and “up the middle” man.

Merc and Moose grew up together in an era when Moose had to defend Merc against the “all white” culture of the town.  Merc helped Moose recover from a bout with rheumatic fever. The team has mixed feelings about Sarge: a tough, former Marine who extracts every drop of sweat and blood from his players. It’s a love-hate relationship, but the boys know the championship they want so much for their senior year depends on him. 

Double trouble when Moose fails the physical—a problem stemming from the rheumatic fever of his youth. Then, tragedy strikes when Merc dies in a motorcycle accident under suspicious circumstances involving Buck, a rival from Forest High School. Amid great sorrow, Moose prays that he will be able to play. The Doctor finally clears him, but his mother, Beau wants him to stop playing. She won’t sign the release for him to play. Moose has a tough decision. His father, Carl, separated from Beau, can sign the papers, but he knows if that happens, his mother will never forgive either of them.   And, Moose is dedicated to bringing them back together.

Being a stalwart father, Carl signs the papers.  Moose makes a hard decision, rejoins the team and is elected Team Captain.  Suddenly, it’s all on his shoulders. Moose is attracted to June Ellis, the coach’s daughter.  They date against Sarge’s will and are found out.  Sarge tells Moose he must concentrate on football and not see June.

The Stingers win their first game and confidence builds.  In their second game, a team they are supposed to beat ties them. Their next game is a disaster in the rain as they lose.  Moose must rally the team.  They need speed to replace Merc.  Vic Earle, a star basketball player, has it, but he hates Sarge.  Vic transferred from the rival Forest Scouts in his freshman year. Sarge kicked him off the team that year due to “poor attitude” and “undisciplined behavior”. Now, when his speed is needed, he won’t join the team.  Moose succeeds, with June’s help, in persuading Vic to join.  Vic is a “showboat’ and his loyalty is not clear. Moose must fight him for leadership of the team.

They learn that Sarge has cancer.  Can Moose bring his parents together, face the crisis of Sarge’s illness, win the heart of June and keep the team spirit high enough to win the championship—and what of Moose’s health?  Can he make it to finish the season?   To further complicate Moose’s job, he suspects Vic is involved in a plot to sabotage the Stingers in the championship game with Forest.

Coverage: “Moose” is a warm family story about how teenage boys can and do become men, as they learn what it takes to overcome hit after hit, not just on the field, but in life. (Silver Bitela Agency)

Locations: Homes, High School, field/locker rooms, cars, outside scenes.

Penned by optioned screenwriter Robert C. Powers (Options: “LASERBLADERS”, a fantasy adventure, budget 15M, and “HOT”, a thriller, low budget). “Moose” is perfect as a low budget shoot that offers memorable impact.  Not just a “football movie’, it is an emotional story set against a football background.

We have all rights. May we send the script?

Babz Bitela

President, Silver Bitela Agency

916 412 1387    bbmovieagent@gmail.com