Hockey Night is a take off on Sports Night, which was written by Aaron Sorkin (West Wing, Studio 60) . Sorkin has a very distinct style. After the first post, I thought about what else I would do with another scene. It’s pretty fun to write, and so I share.
INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF VISITORS DRESSING ROOM OF A LARGE HOCKEY ARENA
DAN is standing outside of the locker room, pacing a bit, waiting for Ted, who shows up now.
DAN
Hey.
TED
Hey.
DAN
Can we talk?
TED
Yeah.
DAN
Out here.
(they walk to the stands. on the way…)
TED
Hey, I was eating with Hacksaw, and you know what he did? He ordered a salad, and instead of chicken on it, he tried to order tofu.
DAN
(stops) Why do you always do that?
TED
Do what?
DAN
I want to talk to you, and before I can, you start talking about something entirely different.
TED
I’m making conversation.
DAN
We’re about to have a conversation. You are making conversation on the way to a conversation?
TED
Yes.
DAN
Why?
TED
I don’t know. It just fills the time a little.
DAN
Just stop doing it, alright?
TED
OK.
DAN
(beat) Really? Tofu?
TED
Yeah.
DAN
But he’s a big boy. What, 220?
TED
230.
DAN
Tofu.
TED
Yeah.
DAN
On a salad?
TED
I know.
DAN
Huh. (beat) I think I’m getting traded.
TED
Why do you think that.
DAN
It’s a vibe I have.
TED
A vibe.
DAN
Yeah, a vibe.
TED
What kicked off this vibe?
DAN
What, I can’t just have a vibe? I can’t just get a feeling for this kind of thing?
TED
No, you can’t. You never do. Something happens, or someone says something, and all of a sudden, you start going completely neurotic and obsessive about it. Remember when you tripped over the blue line on the breakaway last month. You avoided things that were blue for weeks. Your sticks are blue. So no, you can not have a vibe. It isn’t healthy. Now, tell me what happened.
DAN
After the game yesterday, one of the reporters asked me what I thought about the Kings.
TED
(pause) And?
DAN
He asked me about the Kings.
TED
Dan.
DAN
I wasn’t thinking anything about the Kings, but then I did start thinking about the Kings, and realized I would be a good fit for them on the second line, and we could use a defensman or two, which they have about thirty or so in their system. It would be the perfect fit.
TED
Dan.
DAN
I don’t know what this guy knows, but he knew something. I’m getting traded.
TED
This was yesterday?
DAN
Yes.
TED
Do you remember the guys name?
DAN
Al something.
TED
Al Shorner?
DAN
Yeah, that was it. Al Shorner.
TED
Al Shorner, who writes for the L.A. Register.
DAN
He does?
TED
Yeah, he does. You know we play L.A. in a week, right?
DAN
We do?
TED
Yes.
DAN
So what was he doing there? We weren’t in L.A. What gives?
TED
We were in Anaheim.
DAN
Huh. (beat) It was the way he asked.
TED
(starts walking back to the dressing room) You need help.
DAN
(to himself) Huh.
(beat)
Tofu.
FADE OUT
Inspired by Ken Levine and his Sorkin post