Gauntlet - Week 4
Genre: Sports / Drama
Executive Producer: Antoine Fuqua
Writer: Matt Parker
Cast :
William Fichtner, Josh Duhamel, Trevor Jackson, Eric Roberts, John David
Washington and Brian Dennehy
Plot: Jefferson Thomas (Trevor Jackson) is swarmed by reporters in the locker room after the game in Los Angeles. It is revealed that after he took over for the injured Lincoln Tatum, Thomas ran for over 200 yards and four touchdowns, completely shattering many rookie records during the game - which turned out to be a blowout win for the Memphis Pharaohs over the Los Angeles Royals 45-20. Quarterback Tim Collins (Josh Duhamel) is a little annoyed with how much Thomas is eating up the spotlight, but decides to let the rookie have his day. Coach Ken Heath (William Fichtner) comes over, interrupting the interviews, to give Thomas the game ball for his performance.
Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington) watches the post-game interviews from a hospital room after being rushed to the emergency room. Coach Heath arrives late that night and asks Tatum how he's doing. Tatum tells him that he's probably done, no bracing it up and trying to grit through the injury at this point. Coach Heath informs him that he's going to have to put him on injured-reserve, definitely ending his season. Tatum understands and says it's for the best.
Monday morning, the team flies back to Memphis, and Thomas discovers that he is now the toast of the town. Everyone wants a piece of him. Local businesses want him to endorse their products, the local news wants a one-on-one interview, and women are all over him. Thomas is finally living his dream. Coach Heath calls Thomas, reminding him that it is his turn to represent the team at the children's hospital. Thomas tries to talk his way out of it, but Heath tells him that if he doesn't show it's going to result in a huge fine. Thomas asks why, and Heath tells Thomas that he is contractually obligated to attend all pre-planned team public events or he will incur a fine of the team's choosing. Heath then hangs up.
Thomas arrives at the children's hospital and finds the event already underway. Tim Collins is already there chatting with the patients, taking pictures, and talking about football. The kids all get very excited when Thomas enters. Thomas signs some autographs, but clearly doesn't want to be there. Collins is clearly jealous of the attention Thomas is getting, but grits his teeth and reminds himself that it's for the kids. Collins watches Thomas and notices him pocket a bottle of painkillers from one of the kids' bedside tables. Collins pulls Thomas aside and quietly asks him what he thinks he's doing stealing from sick children. Thomas doesn't get what the big deal is since they're at a hospital where there's plenty of medications for them. Collins warns that if he sees him do it again that he'll break his hand. Thomas pushes Collins away from him and storms out of the hospital, dropping the pill bottle on his way out.
Thomas enjoys a night out on the town at the clubs. When the clubs have all closed down, Thomas heads out to the Lamborghini he has rented. He takes out some cocaine and begins cutting it up with a credit card. A police officer knocks on his window. Thomas panics and attempts to hide the drugs, but he is pulled out of the car by the officer. The cops find a plastic bag with several grams of white powder in it. They question Thomas, and he acknowledges that the white powder is cocaine. He is booked at the police station in downtown Memphis. In the morning, Thomas is brought before Judge Graves (Brian Dennehy), who asks Thomas if he understands the charges. Coach Heath and the Pharaohs' owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) enter the courtroom. The judge tells Thomas that the charges against him have been dropped and advises him to stay out of trouble. Thomas asks Coach Heath and Palmer how they got him out of trouble, and Palmer tells Thomas that Judge Graves is an old friend of his family. Heath tells Thomas that he isn't out of trouble yet and tells him to head to the practice facility immediately.
Coach Heath and Thomas go over game tape together on their next opponent, the Atlanta Argonauts. Heath asks Thomas to name the different defensive coverages they use to stop the run, but Thomas doesn't understand the terminology. Coach Heath says that's what he expected, and that Thomas can have all the natural athletic ability in the world but if he doesn't understand the game he will never be a true star player. Thomas simply nods his head. Heath tells him that he will personally be administering drug tests for Thomas every day for the rest of the season or he will let the league know about his arrest, which would surely result in a lengthy suspension.
Come game day, Tim Collins shows up at the stadium and is surprised to see Thomas there already, going over game film with the coaches. Collins is used to being the first player there and joins Thomas and the coaches in the film room. Heath and the other coaches are quizzing Thomas on the coverages, and he's doing better than expected. Even Collins is impressed, joking that maybe he'll know the playbook now.
Out on the field, Collins asks Thomas if he's clean and Thomas says he is. Collins tells him it's hard to get over the initial hump, but once he does it will be much smoother sailing, revealing that he used to be addicted to pain killers he got after a shoulder surgery.
Reading a blitz on the first play of the game, Collins calls an audible. Thomas looks nervous as he deciphers the playcall. Collins takes the snap and pitches the ball to Thomas. Collins then runs out for a deep pass, Thomas rears back and hits a wide open Collins for a deep connection. Collins then outruns the defense for a long touchdown on the first play of the game. Collins and Thomas celebrate the touchdown as the Pharaohs go up 6-0 over the visiting Atlanta Argonauts.
Lincoln Tatum (John David Washington) watches the post-game interviews from a hospital room after being rushed to the emergency room. Coach Heath arrives late that night and asks Tatum how he's doing. Tatum tells him that he's probably done, no bracing it up and trying to grit through the injury at this point. Coach Heath informs him that he's going to have to put him on injured-reserve, definitely ending his season. Tatum understands and says it's for the best.
Monday morning, the team flies back to Memphis, and Thomas discovers that he is now the toast of the town. Everyone wants a piece of him. Local businesses want him to endorse their products, the local news wants a one-on-one interview, and women are all over him. Thomas is finally living his dream. Coach Heath calls Thomas, reminding him that it is his turn to represent the team at the children's hospital. Thomas tries to talk his way out of it, but Heath tells him that if he doesn't show it's going to result in a huge fine. Thomas asks why, and Heath tells Thomas that he is contractually obligated to attend all pre-planned team public events or he will incur a fine of the team's choosing. Heath then hangs up.
Thomas arrives at the children's hospital and finds the event already underway. Tim Collins is already there chatting with the patients, taking pictures, and talking about football. The kids all get very excited when Thomas enters. Thomas signs some autographs, but clearly doesn't want to be there. Collins is clearly jealous of the attention Thomas is getting, but grits his teeth and reminds himself that it's for the kids. Collins watches Thomas and notices him pocket a bottle of painkillers from one of the kids' bedside tables. Collins pulls Thomas aside and quietly asks him what he thinks he's doing stealing from sick children. Thomas doesn't get what the big deal is since they're at a hospital where there's plenty of medications for them. Collins warns that if he sees him do it again that he'll break his hand. Thomas pushes Collins away from him and storms out of the hospital, dropping the pill bottle on his way out.
Thomas enjoys a night out on the town at the clubs. When the clubs have all closed down, Thomas heads out to the Lamborghini he has rented. He takes out some cocaine and begins cutting it up with a credit card. A police officer knocks on his window. Thomas panics and attempts to hide the drugs, but he is pulled out of the car by the officer. The cops find a plastic bag with several grams of white powder in it. They question Thomas, and he acknowledges that the white powder is cocaine. He is booked at the police station in downtown Memphis. In the morning, Thomas is brought before Judge Graves (Brian Dennehy), who asks Thomas if he understands the charges. Coach Heath and the Pharaohs' owner Leonard Palmer (Eric Roberts) enter the courtroom. The judge tells Thomas that the charges against him have been dropped and advises him to stay out of trouble. Thomas asks Coach Heath and Palmer how they got him out of trouble, and Palmer tells Thomas that Judge Graves is an old friend of his family. Heath tells Thomas that he isn't out of trouble yet and tells him to head to the practice facility immediately.
Coach Heath and Thomas go over game tape together on their next opponent, the Atlanta Argonauts. Heath asks Thomas to name the different defensive coverages they use to stop the run, but Thomas doesn't understand the terminology. Coach Heath says that's what he expected, and that Thomas can have all the natural athletic ability in the world but if he doesn't understand the game he will never be a true star player. Thomas simply nods his head. Heath tells him that he will personally be administering drug tests for Thomas every day for the rest of the season or he will let the league know about his arrest, which would surely result in a lengthy suspension.
Come game day, Tim Collins shows up at the stadium and is surprised to see Thomas there already, going over game film with the coaches. Collins is used to being the first player there and joins Thomas and the coaches in the film room. Heath and the other coaches are quizzing Thomas on the coverages, and he's doing better than expected. Even Collins is impressed, joking that maybe he'll know the playbook now.
Out on the field, Collins asks Thomas if he's clean and Thomas says he is. Collins tells him it's hard to get over the initial hump, but once he does it will be much smoother sailing, revealing that he used to be addicted to pain killers he got after a shoulder surgery.
Reading a blitz on the first play of the game, Collins calls an audible. Thomas looks nervous as he deciphers the playcall. Collins takes the snap and pitches the ball to Thomas. Collins then runs out for a deep pass, Thomas rears back and hits a wide open Collins for a deep connection. Collins then outruns the defense for a long touchdown on the first play of the game. Collins and Thomas celebrate the touchdown as the Pharaohs go up 6-0 over the visiting Atlanta Argonauts.
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