The Crossover - Second Quarter
Summary
TLDRThe script revolves around the protagonist's basketball journey, highlighting his skills and the camaraderie with his brother JB. It explores themes of family, love, and personal growth. The protagonist's success on the court is juxtaposed with his brother's budding romance and their father's health scare, adding depth to their bond. A pivotal moment occurs when the protagonist, seeking to outshine JB, makes a costly mistake, leading to a dramatic climax that tests their relationship and unity.
Takeaways
- 🏀 The protagonist is passionate about basketball and has a natural talent, as shown by his ability to hit a half-court shot.
- 🤔 The character JB seems to be preoccupied with a girl, Miss Sweet Tea, often appearing distracted and less engaged in basketball.
- 👨👦 The protagonist's father is heavily involved in his sons' basketball lives, often attending games and providing commentary.
- 🍗 The family has a history of heart problems, which is a significant concern and leads to lifestyle changes.
- 🥗 The protagonist's mother introduces healthier eating habits to the family, including hummus and pita bread instead of fried foods.
- 🏆 The protagonist and JB are successful basketball players, with the team being undefeated and the protagonist scoring high in games.
- 📚 The protagonist is also academically successful, scoring an A-plus on a vocabulary test.
- 💔 There is a sense of rivalry and tension between the protagonist and JB, especially when JB starts dating Miss Sweet Tea.
- 📖 The protagonist's brother JB prioritizes his relationship with Miss Sweet Tea over his friendship with the protagonist, causing a rift.
- 🚓 The father gets pulled over by the police due to a broken tail light, causing the protagonist to be late for a basketball game.
- 🏥 The father's health issues become critical, with a heart attack scare during a free-throw practice session.
Q & A
What was the protagonist's initial reaction to the older guys at the basketball court?
-The protagonist initially faced laughter and skepticism from the older guys at the basketball court, who wouldn't let him play unless he could hit a half-court shot.
How did the protagonist prove himself at the basketball court?
-The protagonist proved himself by successfully making a half-court shot with all net, which impressed the older guys.
What was JB's initial reaction when the protagonist scored points and showed off his skills?
-JB's initial reaction was to smile and seem unresponsive, as he was likely distracted by his own thoughts or feelings.
What was the protagonist's impression of JB's behavior after meeting Miss Sweet Tea?
-The protagonist noticed that JB was acting weird, always smiling and spacey, especially around Miss Sweet Tea, and even wore his dad's cologne and texted her frequently.
What did the protagonist's dad do when he noticed JB's behavior change?
-The protagonist's dad laughed it off and compared talking to JB in that state to pushing water uphill with a rake, suggesting it was futile.
What was the family's reaction to the news about their grandfather's health history?
-The family, particularly the mother, decided to start eating healthier due to the history of heart problems, starting with hummus and pita bread.
How did the protagonist feel about the new diet his family was starting?
-The protagonist was skeptical about whether hummus was really the answer and missed the fried foods they were giving up.
What was the significance of the protagonist's dad's reaction during the free throw practice?
-The protagonist's dad's sudden coughing fit and look of horror while clutching his chest was significant as it hinted at potential health issues.
How did the protagonist handle the situation when his dad had a coughing fit?
-The protagonist initially froze but then JB took action by using a water hose to help their dad recover.
What was the protagonist's reaction to JB's relationship with Alexis?
-The protagonist felt left out and noticed changes in his relationship with JB as JB started spending more time with Alexis.
How did the protagonist feel about being the third wheel with JB and his girlfriend?
-The protagonist felt like a third wheel and was uncomfortable with the situation, as evidenced by his walk home alone and his feelings of exclusion.
Outlines
🏀 Basketball Triumph and Family Dynamics
The narrative begins with the protagonist recounting a victorious basketball game at 'the wreck' where he initially faced skepticism from older players but proved his worth by hitting a half-court shot. He scored 14 points and was encouraged to try out for junior varsity. His friend JB, however, seems distracted, possibly by a romantic interest. The protagonist also expresses concern over JB's changed behavior, suspecting it's due to a girl named 'Miss Sweet Tea.' The story touches on family discussions about health, particularly heart disease, after the protagonist's grandfather's death. There's also a humorous incident where the father, known for his loud commentary at games, pretends to choke to get out of eating healthier food.
🍗 Lifestyle Changes and Unexpected Twists
The second paragraph delves into the protagonist's life, which is going well: he's undefeated in basketball, scores high in school, and enjoys his mother's absence from school as the assistant principal. However, there's a scare when his father, known for his love of fried foods, has a coughing fit that mimics a heart attack, alarming the family. The father's recovery is played off as a joke, but it leaves the protagonist uneasy. There's also a humorous interaction where the protagonist impersonates his brother JB on the phone with a girl named Alexis, leading to a playful and awkward conversation.
📱 Balancing School, Sports, and Sibling Rivalry
Paragraph three focuses on the protagonist's daily life, including school, sports, and a growing tension with his brother JB over a girl named Alexis. The protagonist feels left out as JB spends more time with Alexis, affecting their usual routines and interactions. There's a sense of loneliness and a longing for the past when they were closer. The protagonist also experiences a strange vision during a meditation session, seeing JB in a hospital, foreshadowing potential future conflicts.
🌧️ Rainy Days and Missed Opportunities
In the fourth paragraph, the protagonist's world is further disrupted by JB's new relationship. He feels like a 'third wheel' and is forced to navigate school and sports alone. An incident at the library where he finds JB with his girlfriend solidifies his feelings of exclusion. The protagonist also grapples with his father's resistance to medical help, despite the family's history of heart disease. There's a comedic interlude involving a traffic stop on the way to a game, which causes the protagonist to be late and miss the team's warm-up.
🏥 On the Court and Off: A Brother's Struggle
The final paragraph details the protagonist's struggle with his brother's success and the growing distance between them. Despite being a reliable player, he's benched for being late to a game due to circumstances beyond his control. Once on the court, he's torn between his desire to shine and the team's need for cooperation. In a climactic moment, he chooses to take a shot instead of passing to his brother, leading to a dramatic confrontation. The story ends with a poignant reflection on the protagonist's actions and the impact they have on his relationship with his brother.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡pickup game
💡half court
💡varsity
💡stroke
💡hummus
💡undefeated
💡free throw
💡tipping point
💡heart disease
💡identity
💡irony
Highlights
Narrator impresses older basketball players with a half-court shot
Narrator's friend JB seems distracted and lovestruck
Narrator scores 14 points and is encouraged to try out for junior varsity
JB's behavior changes, showing signs of being in love
Narrator's dad gives advice on dealing with girls and love
Narrator's family history of heart problems is revealed
Narrator's mom introduces healthier eating habits to the family
Narrator reflects on his own success in basketball and school
Narrator's dad has a health scare while playing basketball
Narrator and JB have a conversation with a girl named Alexis over the phone
Narrator feels left out as JB spends more time with his girlfriend
Narrator finds JB with his girlfriend in the library
Narrator struggles with jealousy and the changes in his relationship with JB
Narrator's dad is pulled over by a cop on the way to a basketball game
Narrator is late to the game and gets benched
Narrator and JB play together and demonstrate their basketball skills
Narrator makes a controversial decision during a game, leading to JB getting hurt
Transcripts
hey jb
i played a pickup game at the wreck
today
at first the older guys laughed and
wouldn't let me in unless i could hit
from half court
of course i did
all net
i wait for jb to say something
but he just smiles
his eyes all moony
i showed them guys how the bells ball
i scored 14 points
they told me i should try out for junior
varsity next year cause i got hops
jb
are you listening
jb nods
his fingers tapping away on the computer
chatting probably with miss sweet tea
i told the big guys about you too
they said we could come back and run
with them anytime
what do you think about that
hello
earth to jb
even though i know he hears me the only
thing jb is listening to is the sound of
his heart bouncing on the court of love
conversation dead
this girl is making jordan act weird
he's here but he's not
he's always smiling
his eyes get all spacey whenever she's
around and sometimes when she's not
he wears your cologne he's always
texting her
he even wore loafers to school
dad you got to do something
dad does something
he laughs
filthy
talking to your brother right now would
be like pushing water uphill with a rake
son
this isn't funny dad
say something to him please
filthy
if some girl done locked up jb
he's going to jail
now let's go get some donuts
basketball rule number five
when you stop playing your game
you've already lost
show off
up by 16 with six seconds showing jb
smiles then struts sidesteps stutters
spins and sinks a sick slick sliding
sweet seven foot shot
what a show-off
out of control
are you kidding me
come on ref
open your eyes
ray charles could have seen that kid
walked
call the traveling violation
you guys are terrible
mom wasn't at the game tonight
which meant that all night dad was free
to yell at the officials
which he did
mom calls me into the kitchen
after we get home from beating saint
francis
normally she wants me to sample the
macaroni and cheese to make sure it's
cheesy enough
or the oven baked fried chicken to make
sure it's not greasy and stuff
but today on the table is some gross
looking orange creamy dip
with brown specks in it
a tray of pita bread triangles is beside
it
maybe mom is having one of her book club
meetings
sit down
she says
i sit as far away from the dip as
possible
maybe the chicken is in the oven
where is your brother
she asks
probably on the phone with that girl
she hands me a pita
no thanks i say
then stand up to leave but she gives me
a look that tells me she's not finished
with me
maybe the mac is in the oven
we've talked to you two about your
grandfather
she says
he was a good man
i'm sorry you never got to meet him josh
me too
he looked cool in his uniforms
that man was way past cool
dad said he used to curse a lot and talk
about the war
mom's laugh is short
then she's serious again
i know we told you grandpop died after a
fall
but the truth is he fell because he had
a stroke
he had a heart disease
too many years of bad eating and not
taking care of himself and so
what does this have to do with anything
i ask
even though i think i already know
well
our family has a history of heart
problems
she says
so
we're going to start eating better
especially dad and we're going to start
tonight with some hummus and pita bread
for my victory dinner
josh we're going to try to lay off the
fried foods and golden dragon
and when your dad takes you to the
recreation center no pollards or krispy
kreme afterward
understand
and i understand more than she thinks i
do
but is hummus really the answer
35 to 18
is the final score of game six
a local reporter asked jb and i how we
got so good
dad screams from behind us they learn
from the man
the crowd of parents and students behind
us laughs
on the way home dad asks if we should
stop at pollard's
i tell him i'm not hungry plus i have a
lot of homework even though i skipped
lunch today and finished my homework
during halftime
too good
lately i've been feeling like everything
in my life is going right
i beat jb and madden
our team is undefeated
i scored an a-plus in the vocabulary
test
plus mom's away at a conference which
means so is the assistant principal
i am a little worried though
because his coach likes to say
you can get used to things going well
but you're never prepared for something
going wrong
i'm on free throw number 27.
we take turns switching every time we
miss
jb has hit 41.
the last 12 in a row
filthy
keep up man keep up
he says
dad laughs loud and says filthy your
brother is putting on a free throw
clinic you better
and suddenly he bowls over
a look of horror on his face and starts
coughing while clutching his chest
only no sound comes
i freeze
jb runs over to him
dad you okay
he asks
i still can't move
there is a stream of sweat on dad's face
maybe he's overheating i say
his mouth is curled up like a little
tunnel
jb grabs the water hose
turns the faucet on full blast and
sprays dead
some of it goes in dad's mouth
then i hear the sound of coughing and
dad is no longer leaning against the car
now he's moving toward the hose and
laughing
so is jb
then dad grabs the hose and sprays both
of us
now i'm laughing too
but only on the outside
he probably
just got something stuck in his throat
jb says when i asked him if he thought
dad was sick and shouldn't we tell mom
what happened
so when the phone rings it's ironic that
after saying hello he throws the phone
to me
because
even though his lips are moving
jb is speechless
like he's got something stuck in his
throat
ironic adjective
having a curious or humorous unexpected
sequence of events
marked by coincidence
as in
the fact that vandy hates astronomy and
his mom works for nasa is ironic
as in it's not ironic that grandpop died
in the hospital
and dad doesn't like doctors
as in
isn't it ironic that show off jb with
all his swagger is too shy to talk to
miss sweet tea
so he gives me the phone
this is alexis
may i please speak to jordan
identical twins are no different from
everyone else
except we look
and sometimes sound exactly alike
phone conversation
i sub for
jb is that your brother
yep that was josh
i'm jb
i know who you are silly i called you
uh right
you have any siblings alexis
two sisters
i'm the youngest
and the prettiest
you haven't seen them
i don't need
to that's sweet
sweet as pomegranate
okay
that was random
that's me
jordan
can i ask you something
yep
did you get my text
uh
yeah
so what's your answer
uh my answer
i don't know
stop being silly jordan
i'm not
then tell me your answer
are you all rich
i don't know
didn't your dad play in the nba
no he played in italy
but still he made a lot of money right
it's not like we're opulent
who says opulent
i do
you never use big words like that at
school
i have a reputation to uphold
is he cool
who
you're dead
very
so when are you going to introduce me
introduce you
to your parents
i'm waiting for the right moment
which is when
uh
so
am i your girlfriend or not
uh
can you hold on for a second
sure
she says
cover the mouthpiece
jb mouths to me
i do then whisper to him
she wants to know if you are her
boyfriend
and when are you going to introduce her
to mom and dad
what should i tell her jb
tell her yeah i guess
i mean
i don't know
i gotta pee
jb says
running out of the room
leaving me still in his shoes
okay i'm back alexis
so
what's the verdict jordan
do you want to be my girlfriend
are you asking me to be your girl
uh i think so
you think so
well i have to go now
yes
guess what
i like you
a
lot i like you too
precious
so now i'm precious
everyone calls you jb
then i guess it's official
text me later
good night miss sweet
what did you call me
uh good night my sweetness
good night
precious
jb comes running out of the bathroom
what'd she say josh come on tell me
she said she likes me a lot
i tell him
you mean she likes me a lot
he asks
yeah
that's what i meant
jb and i eat lunch together every day
taking bites of mom's tuna salad on
wheat between arguments
who's the better dunker blake or lebron
which is superior nike or converse
only today i waited our table in the
back for 25 minutes texting vandy
homesick eating a fruit cup
alone
before i see jb strut into the cafeteria
with miss sweet tea
holding his precious hand
boy walks into a room
with a girl
they come over
he says
hey filthy mcnasty
like he said forever
but it sounds different this time
and when he snickers
she does too
like it's some inside joke
and my nickname
some dirty punchline
at practice
coach says we need to work on our mental
game
if we think we can beat independence
junior high
the defending champions the number one
seed the only other undefeated team
then we will
but instead of drills and sprints we sit
on our butts
make weird sounds
and
meditate i get this vision of jb in a
hospital
i quickly open my eyes turn around and
see him looking dead at me like he's
just seen a ghost
second person
after practice you walk home alone
this feels strange to you because as
long as you can remember there has
always been a second person
on today's long hot mile you bounce your
basketball but your mind is on something
else not whether you will make the
playoffs
not homework
not even what's for dinner
you wonder what jb and his pink reebok
wearing girlfriend are doing
you do not want to go to the library but
you go
because your report on the giver is due
tomorrow
and jb has your copy
but he's with her
not here with you
which is unfair
because he doesn't argue with you about
who's the greatest
michael jordan or bill russell like he
used to
because jb will not eat lunch with you
tomorrow or the next day or next week
because you are walking home by yourself
and your brother owns the world
third wheel
you walk into the library glance over at
the music section
you look through the magazines you even
sit at a desk and pretend to study
you ask the librarian where you can find
the giver
she says something odd
did you find your friend
then she points upstairs
on the second floor you pass by the
computers
kids checking their facebook
more kids in line waiting to check their
in the biography section you see an old
man reading the tipping point
you walk down the last aisle
team fiction
and come to the reason you're here
you remove the book from the shelf and
there
behind the last row of books
you find
the friend the librarian was talking
about
only she's not your friend
and she's kissing your brother
tipping point
noun
the point when an object shifts from one
position into a new entirely different
one
as in
my dad says the tipping point of our
country's economy
was housing gamblers and greedy bankers
as in
if we get one c on our report cards i'm
afraid mom will reach her tipping point
and that will be the end of basketball
as in
today at the library
i went upstairs walked down an aisle
pulled the giver off the shelf
and found my tipping point
the main reason i can't sleep
is not because of the game tomorrow
night
is not because the stubble on my head
feels like bugs or break dancing on it
it's not even because i'm worried about
dead
the main reason i can't sleep tonight is
because jordan is on the phone with miss
sweet tea
and between the giggling and the
breathing
he tells her how much he's the apple of
his eye
and that he wants to peel her and get
under her skin
and give me a break
i'm still hungry
and right about now i wish i had an
apple of my own
surprised
i have it all planned out
when we walk to the game i will talk to
jb
man to man about how he's spending way
more time with alexis than with me and
dad
except when i hear the horn i look
outside my window and it's raining and
jb is jumping into a car with miss sweet
tea and her dad
ruining my plan
conversation
in the car i asked dad
if going to the doctor will kill him
he tells me he doesn't trust doctors
that my grandfather did
and look where it got him
six feet under at 45.
but mom says your dad was really sick
i tell him
and dad just rolls his eyes
so i try something different
i tell him that just because your
teammate gets fouled on a layup
doesn't mean you shouldn't ever drive to
the lane again
he looks at me and laughs so loud
we almost don't hear the flashing blues
behind us
game time
6 p.m
at 5 28 p.m a cop pulls us over because
dad has a broken tail light
at 5 30 the officer approaches our car
and asks dad for his driver's license
and registration
at 5 32 the team leaves the locker room
and pre-game warm-ups begin without me
at 5 34 dad explains to the officer that
his license is in his wallet which is in
his jacket at home
at 5 37 dad says
look sir my name is chuck bell
and i'm just trying to get my boy to his
basketball game
at 5 47 while coach leads the wildcats
in team prayer
i pray dad won't get arrested
at 5 48 the cop smiles after verifying
dad's identity on google and says
you the man
at 5 50 dad autographs a krispy kreme
napkin for the officer and gets a
warning for his broken taillight
at 601
we arrive at the game
but on my sprint into the gym
i slip and fall in the mud
this is my second year
playing for the reggie lewis wildcats
and i've started every game until
tonight when coach tells me to go get
cleaned up then find a seat on the bench
when i try to tell him it wasn't my
fault he doesn't want to hear about
sirens and broken taillights
josh
better an hour too soon than a minute
too late
he says
turning his attention back to jb and the
guys on the court all of whom are
pointing and laughing at me
basketball rule number six
a great team has a good scorer with a
teammate who's on point and ready to
assist
josh's play-by-play
at the beginning of the second half
we're up 23-12
i entered the game for the first time
i'm just happy to be back on the floor
when my brother and i are on the court
together this team is unstoppable
unfadeable
and yes
undefeated
jb brings the ball up the court passes
the ball to vandy he shoots it back to
jb
i call for the ball jb finds me in the
corner
i know you all think it's time for the
pick and roll but i got something else
in mind
i get the ball on the left side
jb is setting the pick
here it comes
i roll to his right
the double team is on me leaving jb free
he's got his hands in the air looking
for the dish for me
dad likes to say when jordan bell is
open you can take his three to the bank
cash it in because it's all money
tonight
i'm going for broke
i see jb still wide open
mcdonald's drive-thru open
but i got my own plans
the double team is still on me like
feathers on a bird
ever seen an eagle soar
so high
so fly
me and my wings are
and that's what i remember
my wings
are gone
coach hawkins is out of his seat
dad is on his feet screaming jb
screaming the crowd screaming filthy
past the ball
the shot clock is at five
i dribble out of the double team
four
everything comes to a head three i see
jordan
too
you want it that bad
here you go
one
before
today
i walk into the gym covered in more dirt
than a chimney
when jb screams filthy's mcnasty
the whole team laughs
even coach
then i get benched for the entire first
half for being late
today i watch as we take a big lead and
jb makes four threes in a row
i hear the crowd cheer for jb
especially dad and mom
then i see jb wink at miss sweet tea
after he hits a stupid free throw
today
i finally get into the game at the start
of the second half
jb sets a wicked pick from me just like
coach showed us in practice and i get
double teamed on the road just like we
expect
today i watch jb get open and wait for
me to pass
instead i dribble
trying to get out of the trap
and watch his coach and dad scream for
me to pass
today i plan on passing the ball to jb
but when i hear him say
filthy give me the ball
i dribble over to my brother
and fire a pass so hard
it levels him
the blood from his nose still shooting
long after the shot clock buzzer goes
off
there
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