INT. – GYMNASIUM – LATER
The board has been updated. CECIL’s name falls next to a man named BEAU WATKINS. BOBBY LEE is paired with NATHANIEL ROBERT BENSON – NABOB for short. The crowd files back in slowly. BOBBY LEE watches it all from the locker room door, held open a crack. There are voices raised at the far end of the gym – it’s TERRI and a tall, thin man with black hair. TERRI leans in close, and the man laughs and pushes her away. She tumbles back, falling to the floor. BOBBY LEE starts out the door, but JAKE’s hand falls on his shoulder.
JAKE
Let it go, boy. She’ll be fine.
BOBBY LEE spins away, but lets the door close.
JAKE (CONT’D)
Maybe he’ll take Cecil out, and you won’t have to worry about it. Doesn’t look as if your lady friend had much luck with that one.
BOBBY LEE
Won’t be fair.
JAKE
What the hell you mean?
BOBBY LEE
I mean what I said. It won’t be fair. If she told that guy to take it easy on Cecil – told him about the cracked ribs – what do you think he’s going to do?
JAKE falls silent. BOBBY LEE turns back to the door, as if he’s going to open it and go out, and then he slams his hand into it. Hard.
EARL
(from behind)
Ain’t a damn thing you can do.
BOBBY LEE
Hell there ain’t.
BOBBY LEE slams out the door before anyone can stop him and makes his way around toward the far end of the gym.
CUT TO:
INT. OTHER LOCKER ROOM – CONTINUOUS
TWITCH watches from the door and sees BOBBY LEE approaching.
TWITCH
That BUNCH kid is on his way here.
MILO
You want us to take care of him?
CECIL
(from behind them)
Let him in and shut the hell up. What makes you think either of you losers could even slow him down?
TWITCH and MILO step back, and BOBBY LEE pushes his way in through the door.
BOBBY LEE
Got a message for you.
CECIL
You got a lot of balls busting in here like this, Bobby Lee. What makes you think we won’t kick your ass and toss you out the door?
BOBBY LEE
(glances at Milo & Twitch)
You can try. I was you, I’d just listen.
CECIL
What the hell do you want?
BOBBY LEE
Thought you’d want to know. Terri’s trying to help you, but she messed up. This next guy? He isn’t interested in whatever she was trading, and now he knows about your ribs.
CECIL
Nothing wrong with my ribs.
BOBBY LEE
Whatever. I’m telling you, you do whatever you want with it. You get past him – I’ll see you later. If not, I’ll see you someday soon.
CECIL
That a threat?
BOBBY LEE doesn’t answer, he turns and leaves. The door swings shut behind him.
MILO
What you gonna do, Cecil?
CECIL
I’m gonna fight, you dillweed, what you think? Just going to have to do it different, that’s all.
FADE TO:
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