One Shot written by Alexis Grim

One Shot Written By Alexis Grim

FADE IN 1

INT. CHANDLER LANES

- LATE AFTERNOON

1

It is late in the afternoon during a national tournament.

Athletes from every state coming together to represent themselves in the biggest tournament of the year. The alley is full. People standing shoulder to shoulder, watching intensely as each bowler steps on the approach. Parents and spectators were sitting in bleachers set up behind the lanes, filled over the maximum capacity.

The alley is composed of 56 synthetic lanes. The approaches freshly swept. Hanging above each pair is a flat screen, displaying and recording every individual’s score. The bowling alley is decorated with multiple banners of the tournament, bowling company logos and posters. College scouts are swarming the lanes. From every small college team to the biggest teams in the collegiate scene, college coaches were watching. Keeping their eyes on who they wanted, ignoring who they didn’t see potential in. Solely focused on filling their rosters for the next season.

The atmosphere is very intense. Bowlers could feel the pressure. All eyes could be on them, their actions, stature, and attitudes. Their future relies on their performance.

One wrong move and they could lose all they’ve ever worked for. Every shot counted, for the win, and for any dream they have for the future.

Isabella, an 18 year old girl from a small town in Kentucky traveled with her best friend Lily, 17, to the national tournament. Both were anxious to start bowling but as the day progressed, they became more relaxed. Isabella was wearing a red and black jersey with her name in block letters on the back. Lily had the same one but in yellow.

They were both on the same pair and noticed a scout behind them. He was standing tall and profoundly watching the two of them. They began whispering to each other.

ISABELLA "Lil, I think that man is watching us."

LILY "No way, he’s probably watching anybody else."

ISABELLA "Then why is he taking notes every time we pick up a ball?"

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

They both discretely turn around. The man looked to his right and started watching a girl from the pair next to them. They slowly turned away in disappointment.

LILY "See Bella, he’s not interested in us, there are how many good girls here? Why would he want us?"

ISABELLA "We’ve worked hard enough Lil, come on now."

LILY "Don’t get your hopes up bud."

ISABELLA "We have dreamed of this since we were kids. We bowl in college, we will kill it there, together, and work up to be the next dynamic duo as professionals. If he doesn’t want us now, let’s make him want us later."

LILY "Whatever you say Bella. You’re up, don’t suck!"

2

INT. CHANDLER LANES - EVENING

2

While waiting for the standings of the tournament, Isabella and Lily were sitting on the bleachers behind their pair.

They both are anxious, knowing that they performed well, hoping that they placed high enough to get into the final matchplay.

LILY "No matter what happens, we’re in this together, right?"

Isabella didn’t know how to feel. She was anxious and even that was an understatement. If Lily made the finals and she didn’t, she would be devastated. Isabella thought back to her first time bowling competitively.

FADE OUT

3.

3

INT. FERN VALLEY LANES

- AFTERNOON

3

Young Isabella was intimidated to say the least, but she was doing well. She watched the older athletes competing in the higher age division and pushed herself to bowl at their level. When the results came back for the final two, she had made it. She was excited, nervous and had adrenaline coming from her ears. She had placed first. In order for her to secure any title, she would have to beat out the second seeded girl. Her name was Lily. They met on lanes 23 and 24 and greeted each other while shaking hands good luck.

LILY "Hi, my name is Lily, good luck!"

ISABELLA "Thank you, good luck to you too."

After they exchanged words of encouragement, they began to bowl. Lily struggled, while Isabella shined. The older age divisions took notice and crowded around their pair.

Isabella had the front 7 strikes in a row. For a girl from the under 15 division, just the thought of a girl doing that well was unbelievable. A crowd shortly formed behind them as 7 strikes became 8... and then 9...

As the game finished, Isabella won the title with a 279. She was in disbelief. Never had she thought she would bowl so well in her first tournament. Lily was awestruck, she immediately looked up to her opponent. They quickly became friends. As the years went by, they’ve been inseparable.

FADE IN INT. CHANDLER LANES - later that EVENING Lily sat watching Isabella waiting for an answer. She knew that her friend was deep in thought, but she was worried.

This tournament meant everything to the both of them. The announcer came over the loud speakers.

ANNOUNCER "Alright everyone, we have the final results for the championship match. In first place, we have...

Actually folks, we have a tie."

Isabella and Lily looked at each other in confusion. The crowd began to talk, asking everyone around them what they shot, if anyone knew who could have tied and some were just waiting for more information from the announcer.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

ANNOUNCER "Isabella Martin and Lily Smith please proceed to lanes 15 and 16 for our championship match."

The girls looked at each other. Neither were excited, neither were happy. They both knew what was coming. One will win and one will lose. But who would end on top?

They proceed to the lanes, hanging their heads in silence.

They set their balls on the ball return and make eye contact.

ISABELLA "It’s like we’re kids again... right?"

LILY "Yeah Bella, just like when we were little."

ISABELLA "We’re in this together. Win together, lose together, come on.

Let’s give ’em a show."

They both smiled and start to laugh. Lily grabbed her ball and started to clean it while Isabella went to talk with her parents. While standing with her parents, Isabella noticed the same man from earlier standing behind their pair. He was waiting for them to start.

ISABELLA "Mom, where do you think he’s scouting from?"

ISABELLA’S MOM "I’m not sure, he has been watching you two all day, depending on how this match goes, he could just put you on his roster. Another mom was talking to him earlier, he says he has room for one more girl on his team."

ISABELLA "But Lily and I are in it together, we’re a package deal, I’m not doing this without her."

ISABELLA’S MOM "I know, but maybe its time you did something for yourself and started planning your own future."

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

Isabella was taken aback. She never thought about anything other than continuing her bowling career with Lily. They haven’t been separated since their first competition. Just the idea of going to college without her was unfathomable.

She didn’t want to accept that today, only one of them would end up with a scholarship to bowl in college.

Lily on the other hand kept replaying in her mind when they were young and she lost. She always wanted to be as talented as Isabella was, to be able to perform under pressure and handle it as well as her friend could. She knew the college scout was going to be watching them. She only wants to prove to herself that she is just as talented as Isabella is. Lily intended to not let her guard down, especially in this final matchplay.

4

INT. CHANDLER LANES - 8:07 PM The girls have close. Lily is frustrated but and determined

4

started bowling and the scores are very up by 3 pins in the 8th frame. Isabella is still trying to get the lead. Lily is focused to keep her game clean.

The game progressed tied going into it. go either way. They anything. They took

down to the tenth frame, the girls are The both knew that they the game could both wanted it, more than they’ve wanted a step back and glanced to each other.

LILY "Well, here goes nothing."

Lily grabbed her ball and stepped up to the approach. She was very relaxed and was taking her time. She released the ball and from her hand it looked good, it reached mid lane and hooked back into the pocket. Strike. Lily walked back and exchanged a high five with her friend and stood back to watch Isabella throw her next shot.

Multiple things were flying through Isabella’s mind. She was anxious but lived for the adrenaline rush she gets when in high pressure situations. She stepped up to the approach and threw her shot, strike. Relieved, she came back and give Lily a high five.

As Lily went up to throw her next ball, Isabella’s mind started to wander. What would happen if she won this match?

FADE OUT

6.

5

INT. DORMS AT UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA

- MORNING

5

Isabella, a year later, is attending the University of Central Florida on an athletic scholarship. After nationals, Isabella was contacted by the college scout that had been watching her. He offered her an offer that she could not refuse. Lily, however, received nothing. She is attending a community college.

After the final match at nationals, the girls barely spoke to each other. Isabella got too caught up in planning her college decisions and Lily was disappointed in herself. They both did not want to interact with each other even though Isabella missed Lily more than she’s ever missed anyone, Lily refused. Isabella tried to contact Lily, but every time she got close to, Lily denied. While scrolling through old pictures, she found one of the two of them from their last tournament.

Isabella was content. She was accepted and recruited to her dream school, she was doing what she loved and was constantly around people that love the sport as much as she doe. But one thing was missing. Lily.

ISABELLA’S ROOMMATE "Bella, we’re about to leave for our morning practice, are you coming?"

ISABELLA "Yeah, I’ll meet you downstairs."

Isabella’s roommate left and ran down the hall to the elevator. Isabella locked her phone and started to walk out of her room. She locked the door and proceeded down the steps.

She started to whisper to herself.

ISABELLA "Bella, what are you doing, stop beating yourself up, you made it this far, you can’t give it up because you feel guilty."

CUT OUT

7.

6

INT. CHANDLER LANES - 8:15 PM

6

The girls both were afraid of what was to come next.

Isabella only needs to strike to win. Lily is full of nerves. Their whole career relies on one ball. One shot. If she gets it, a college career awaits her. If she doesn’t, Lily’s future in the sport will continue. Who is to say one of them is better than the other. With one shot, both of their lives will be highly affected.

Isabella grabs her ball and takes a second to focus. She takes a few deep breaths and steps on the approach. She gets set up and can see her shot. As she starts to go, everything rushes to her mind. All she has worked for, all she dreams of, relies on this one ball.

They both have one chance. Their hopes may be different from one another, but they’re both trying to make it the same place. There’s only one spot for two people. One will go home a winner and one will go home as a loser.

Isabella’s ball leaves her hand in slow motion. She looks confident but she knows that whatever happens from this point on, was going to happen because of fate.

She looked up to the pins, watching her ball slowly hook into them.

And with that one shot... Everything changes.