D4: The Mighty Ducks
Working Title: The Real Minnesota Miracle Man
Written by Hannah R
Based on the 1992 Screenplay by Steven Brill
FINAL COPY CONTACT:
FEBRUARY 2022 hhannahstarr32@yahoo.com
HANNAH R ©
LEGAL DISCLAIMER:
This is an unauthorized, unlicensed and non commercial fanwork based on The Mighty Ducks, D2: The Mighty Ducks and D3: The Mighty Ducks. I am not affiliated with Steve Brill, nor with Walt Disney Pictures or Disney+ in any way. I do not claim any ownership over their work.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
The inspiration for this screenplay comes from The Quack Attack Podcast, the Definitive Mighty Ducks Podcast. A huge thank you to Mike, Tommy and Kevin for keeping the legacy of the trilogy alive for the past ten years. And for inspiring me to put one “fuck” in here.
NOTES:
This is a realistic take on what a potential D4 could look like. This is NOT an official script, it is a fanwork project. This is also much shorter than an actual screenplay ever is. It’s a working piece.
Game Changers is not canon to this piece, though I did take some inspiration from “106: Spirit of the Ducks”
I did my best to include the Ducks who I think are more likely to appear if this ever in some universe does happen. I also tried to be inclusive and promote the diversity of the team in this as well, while still giving smaller roles to the actors who I felt may decline. You know, if this ever happens.
I am also sadly aware of Michael Ooms’ passing last year, despite McGill’s feature in this fanwork. There is like a 2% chance of this ever becoming a real thing, so please take this as simply that - a fan writing what they hope D4 would look like. No disrespect is meant to the Ooms family and well wishes and prayers are sent to him and his family.
You can follow me on twitter @paceyconway for more Mighty Ducks commentary or on tumblr @charlieconwayy.
SLOW FADE IN
FLASHBACK - MICKEY’s DINER DUCKS 1
CHARLIE
You’re quitting?!
BOMBAY
I’m stepping aside to keep the team together. The guys can’t play for someone they don’t trust.
CHARLIE
I trust you. The other guys do too, they just don’t know it. Talk to ‘em.
BOMBAY
I’ve done all I can.
Some dialogue is cut out and we land on . . .
CHARLIE
We weren’t even the Ducks until you came along. You made us and now you’re stuck with us.
DISSOLVE TO
FLASHBACK - THE FINAL DUCKS - HAWKS GAME DUCKS 1
BOMBAY
Take your best shot, I believe in you, Charlie.
CHARLIE
Thanks Coach.
BOMBAY
Go get ‘em.
DISSOLVE TO
FLASHBACK - CHARLIE AND BOMBAY NEAR THE TROPHY CASE DUCKS 3
BOMBAY
I told him that you were the heart of the team and that you would learn something from each other. I told him that you were the Real Minnesota Miracle Man.
CHARLIE
You did?
BOMBAY
I did. So be that man, Charlie. Be that man.
TITLE CARD - D4: THE MIGHTY DUCKS
INT. Minneapolis, Present Day.
CHARLIE CONWAY, aged 40, wakes up to a blaring alarm clock. No longer the fourteen year old boy we left in 1996, CHARLIE is now a man. One clearly sleep deprived and overworked. He turns over and hits the alarm to shut it off.
CHARLIE
6am? I don’t remember setting that.
AMY, aged 40, CHARLIE’s wife of five years rolls over next to him. It is clear via body language that their relationship is happy, but strained.
AMY
I did. You gotta go to work.
CHARLIE throws his pillow over his face, exasperated.
AMY
Come on, Liam’s gonna be up soon, I have to make breakfast. I don’t want to hear it. Just get up and go.
CHARLIE
Yeah, okay, Coach.
AMY gives him a sad look, as if something is being left unsaid. She leans over and gives her half-asleep husband a kiss on his forehead. She moves out of frame and leaves CHARLIE alone.
CHARLIE checks to make sure that she is out of the room before pulling out his cellphone, where he pulls out an article from last month.
ZOOM on the article from DeadSpin:
MINNESOTA MIRACLE MAN GORDON BOMBAY
DIES IN FREAK CAR ACCIDENT
The former Minor Leagues player, former
Goodwill Games player personnel director
and most notably, founder of the Ducks
Dynasty, has passed away at the age of 62.
Bombay leaves behind no next of kin, but is
perhaps best remembered for his ability
to bring underdogs together . . .
FADE OUT.
CHARLIE stops reading the article, and goes to his Photos app, opening up a photo of himself and BOMBAY together, circa 1994. A text pops on the screen.
FULTON REED: You gonna meet us tonight Captain?
CHARLIE contemplates answering, but does not. He gets out of bed, is silent for a moment, and then throws his phone across the room.
LIAM, age six, CHARLIE and AMY’s son, enters the room with a smile on his face.
LIAM
Morning, daddy.
Off his son’s reaction to seeing him, CHARLIE softens, and bends down to pick him up.
CHARLIE
Morning, bud. How’d you sleep?
LIAM
Okay. Can we watch Lego Star Wars later?
CHARLIE
Anything you want. I just gotta get home tonight and then I’m all yours. Kay?
LIAM
Kay.
CHARLIE kisses him on the forehead.
EXT. THE POND FROM D1
FADE on CHARLIE, driving past his old stomping ground.
FLASHBACK of the original District 5 team meeting Gordon Bombay for the first time.
BOMBAY
I hate hockey and I don’t like kids.
DISSOLVE INTO
CHARLIE staring longingly at the ice. His cell phone rings and he picks up via Bluetooth.
Voice of CONNIE MOREAU
Hey, Charlie. No one could get a hold of you, so I figured I’d check in and see how you are.
CHARLIE
I’m fine, Connie, alright? I really don’t want to talk about this.
Voice of CONNIE
I know, but I just want to let you know that we’re all thinking of you and that we’re here if you need us. Ducks fly together and all that right?
CHARLIE
Right. Look Connie, I really have to go -
Voice of CONNIE
Just remember that you’re loved.
CHARLIE
Goodbye, Connie.
Voice of CONNIE
Fine, okay, goodbye. But we all really want to see you tonight -
CHARLIE hangs up on her.
INT. CHARLIE arrives at his teaching job at PS 118, the public school that he once attended as a kid. The classroom looks eerily similar to the “I will not quack at the principal” scene from Ducks 1.
There’s a lone student in the classroom. NOAH OLIVER, aged 11, who resembles a young Charlie Conway. Dressed in not the best clothing, he smiles when CHARLIE hands him a breakfast sandwich.
NOAH
Aw, man, you rule, Mr. Conway!
CHARLIE (in a clear facade)
Eh, what can I say?
NOAH
Any chance you’ll give me the answers to today’s quiz?
CHARLIE
Don’t push your luck, kid.
NOAH
ALright, fine. But you still gotta help me with my Ducks tryout. Mom’s really busy at work this week, but it’s not like she knows squat about hockey anyway. At least not like you do. That triple deke is like a legend making move.
CHARLIE
My triple deke can only get you so far. What you gotta focus on is the defense.
NOAH
But I don’t want to be a goalie.
CHARLIE
Doesn’t matter. You gotta learn to play two-way hockey.
NOAH
Is that how you got the Ducks C?
CHARLIE bites his lip. He really does not want to talk about the Ducks. He’s fond of Noah, reminds him of himself even, but he’s not going to pretend that he hasn’t spent the last fifteen years pissed off at the Ducks as a franchise. And Bombay.
CHARLIE
Yeah, sure.
NOAH
Do you think I have a chance at it?
CHARLIE
The Ducks . . . are not District 5 anymore. I don’t even recognize them. I’ll support you in this, but I can’t promise anything because I don’t know anything about the Ducks after like, before you were born.
NOAH, ignoring CHARLIE
Do you think you can get me Adam Banks’ autograph?
CHARLIE puts his head down on his desk.
EXT: PIZZERIA, later that day.
CHARLIE stands outside, contemplating walking in. Laughter can be heard from inside, and CHARLIE scoffs at this. He goes to walk away, but a customer leaves, exposing him and he is immediately caught by FULTON REED.
FULTON
Ay, look guys! He made it!
FADE into the pizzeria. We see the local Ducks, including GUY GERMAINE, CONNIE MOREAU, LES AVERMAN, JESSE HALL and ADAM BANKS sitting around a table. They all applaud upon seeing him.
CHARLIE sighs. No going back now.
CONNIE gets up and kisses him on the cheek, leading him in to join them.
INT. The Pizzeria.
We zoom in on each individual Duck as they reminisce on past memories.
JESSE
You know, Averman, when we were kids. I thought you had an ugly mug, and now, thirty years later, I still do!
AVERMAN
Yeah, well look atchu, Jesse-meister, living with the Cake Eater. Eleven year old Jesse would never be caught dead.
CONNIE
Hey! Banksie’s come along way since Pee Wees. Even though I’ll never forgive him for quitting the NHL.
ADAM
I’ve moved past that phase, Moreau, you know that. And being a public defender pays . . .
JESSE
Nothing?
ADAM (laughing)
Basically!
GUY
I still say the best thing I’ve ever done with the Ducks was getting to drive that Zamboni.
FULTON
Oh, bro, that was all me. You had nothing to do with it.
JESSE
You? That was all my idea and my execution.
AVERMAN
Yeah, Guy, you were lucky Connie let you off your leash for long enough to even partake.
GUY (taking Connie’s hand)
When you’re happily married to the love of your life, you can call me.
We FADE IN on CHARLIE, who isn’t pouting, but not talking much. He cannot believe the little deal being made out of this situation. All of the original Ducks and the Goodwill Games additions had been together for the first time in years at the funeral, but he still didn’t expect things to be this light-hearted.
FULTON leans in to him amongst the conversing.
FULTON
I’m really glad you came tonight.
CHARLIE
I’m just here to get Banksie’s autograph for one of my students.
GUY overhears, and interjects.
GUY
Still teaching, Charlie?
CHARLIE
Yep. Just like I was literally weeks ago the last time you saw me.
CONNIE
Alright, Charlie, there’s no need to get snippy -
JESSE
He’s naturally snippy, wouldn’t ya say, Averman?
AVERMAN
Oh, I’d definitely say so, Jess.
CHARLIE
Shut up, Averman. Look guys, I really don’t see a point in being here. It’s nice to see you guys, but I just don’t want any part of this ‘reminiscing’ crap. I mean, really, when was the last time Bombay paid any mind to any of us?
FULTON
You mean to you?
CHARLIE
No, I mean to all of us.
CHARLIE looks to CONNIE and GUY.
CHARLIE (continued)
He didn’t even go to your wedding. And you named your kid after him? I mean, c’mon. After Eden Hall, he ditched us. Fell back into his ‘Oh, I hate hockey and kids’ talk.
JESSE looks to ADAM, who picks up on this and says
ADAM
He came to my first NHL game. I haven’t forgotten that. That meant the world.
CHARLIE
Oh what, twenty years ago? Cut it out, guys.
CONNIE, serious now
I just thought that you of all people would want to celebrate Bombay when we’re not feet away from his body. Look, the guy’s made mistakes. But so have you, Conway. So have all of us.
JESSE
If it really meant so much, you could’ve reached out more.
CHARLIE
Oh, so now I get to feel guilty that he dropped me when it stopped being convenient for him?
GUY
No one is saying that. We’re saying that we had so many good times with him and it would really stink to let all of that go to waste over a couple years of not talking.
FULTON
Guys, I think you’re not understanding -
AVERMAN
We do understand. We just wanted to have a nice dinner where we could talk about some great memories and eat some good pizza among pictures of us in our awkward stages. Is that too much to ask?
CHARLIE, standing up
Yeah, it is. Banks, just sign this napkin so we can all go home.
CONNIE
Charlie, I’m not gonna make you talk about anything that you don’t want to talk about. But . . . I do want you to know that Bombay adored you. Everyone knew that.
CHARLIE
Yeah, he had a funny way of showing it. Banks, napkin.
ADAM awkwardly takes out a pen to sign it, but JESSE slaps his hand away.
JESSE
Couldn’t we leave the melodramatic stuff in the last century? You have a wife, a kid, a good job. Why do you always have to complain about everything?
CHARLIE
You know what, you’re right. I do complain too much. And it always gets us into trouble, so why don’t I do us all a favor and just go?
CHARLIE gives ADAM a look, who sighs and signs the napkin. CHARLIE takes it, huffs and storms off.
EXT. Outside the pizzeria.
But not really, because once he gets out of the restaurant, he leans up against the brick exterior, thinking.
As if on cue, FULTON is outside next to him.
CHARLIE
Look, I’m sorry I blew up. I just . . . I don’t know who I am anymore. And this Bombay thing on top of it . . .
FULTON
I get it. We all do. The guys, they’re just, I don’t know, defensive, I guess. They’re grieving too, you know.
CHARLIE
Yeah, I know.
FULTON
Talk to me, man. We’ve always been able to talk to each other. Tell me what’s really bothering you.
CHARLIE
It’s what I said. I’m . . . I’m angry that we lost touch. I’m angry that I didn’t reach out more. I’m angry that Coach never met Liam or Amy. I’m so angry all of the time and I hate it. And I’m really, really mad that there’s nothing I can do to fix this.
FULTON
It’s like Connie said. Coach loved you. Everyone knew that.
CHARLIE
Yeah. I just . . . you ever wish you could go back in time? Back to when things made sense?
FULTON
Everyone wishes for that at some point or another.
CHARLIE
Yeah, but I’ve wished for it every day since you texted the groupchat last month with that article. And maybe even before that . . . I love my family so much. But I just, I wish he could’ve been there for it.
FULTON pulls CHARLIE into a hug. As they pull apart, they notice a poster advertising the local Pond Hockey championships. Seeking local talent.
FULTON gives CHARLIE a look at his obvious intrigue.
FULTON
No way, man.
CHARLIE
I wasn’t even -
FULTON
Yes, you were. None of us have skated in years. We don’t even have enough players in the area to compete.
CHARLIE
But it would be fun.
FULTON
And we all have jobs, including you.
CHARLIE
Afternoons and evenings are a thing.
FULTON
Two minutes ago, you were having an ultimate Conway angst fest and now suddenly you want to get the gang back together?
CHARLIE
But it would be fun.
FULTON
We don’t even have equipment -
CHARLIE
Hans’ grandson Lars is still running the old sports shop. And you cannot tell me that getting most of the District 5 team together wouldn’t get us some crowd funding.
FULTON
It would, but -
CHARLIE
We can’t undo the past. But we can still make up for our mistakes. This could be our chance.
FULTON
Your chance . . .
CHARLIE
You’re not saying it wouldn’t be fun?
FULTON
I’m not saying that . . .
CHARLIE
So you’ll do it.
FULTON, sighing
Yeah.
FADE OUT.
MONTAGE. CHARLIE and AMY sit in their apartment on the phone with different Ducks (who? We’ll soon find out . . .), discussing the benefits.
CHARLIE (.V.O.)
It’ll be great for your Youtube channel . . .
AMY (.V.O.)
You don’t want to finally meet our son? He’s totally adorable . . .
CHARLIE (.V.O.)
We got really cool uniforms locked down . . .
AMY (.V.O.)
I heard ESPN is going to be there . . .
FADE OUT.
CHARLIE and AMY collapse onto their couch, kicking their feet up in unison. They share a sweet look.
AMY
Well, we got five no’s and twelve yes’s.
CHARLIE
We only need eleven to be on the ice. That gives us one alternate.
AMY
Yeah, I don’t know anything about hockey.
CHARLIE
But I love you anyway.
Off AMY’s face, it is clear that CHARLIE does not say those words often. She leans over and kisses him.
The moment is interrupted by a text.
Jesse Hall: Turn on ESPN ;)
CHARLIE and AMY exchange a different look, a confused one. Still, CHARLIE flicks to the station to see ADAM, looking preppy as ever in a full suit, talking to Chris Connelly.
The text at the bottom of the screen reads ‘ORIGINAL MIGHTY DUCKS TO REUNITE FOR MINNEAPOLIS POND HOCKEY TOURNAMENT.’
CONNELLY (on TV)
So, this is really happening, Adam? The whole gang’s back together?
ADAM (on TV)
Well, not the whole gang. But a lot of us. We wanted to do something to honor our beloved coach, and we, especially my pal Charlie, thought that this would be the best way to do it. It’ll be really nice to see all these folks together again . . .
CHARLIE
“Folks.” Once a Cake-Eater, always a Cake-Eater.
ADAM (on TV . . . continued)
And yeah it’ll be great to play again, but we really want to bring awareness to some pressing issues in the sports industry, such as inclusion to athletes of all genders, ethnicities, etc and we hope that seeing the Ducks back together will encourage professional hockey teams to promote diversity . . .
ZOOM in on CHARLIE, genuinely smiling for the first time in this film.
INT. Hockey Rink, the following day.
CHARLIE and FULTON stand anxiously awaiting the other Ducks’ arrival. AMY and LIAM sit in the stands, giving CHARLIE a thumbs up.
FULTON pulls out the old Duck Call from his pocket. CHARLIE laughs.
CHARLIE
Man, where’d you get that?
FULTON
Lars gave it to me when we picked up the gear. Thought it might be fun to break it out.
He hands it to CHARLIE, who blows into it, and if on cue, we ZOOM on the doors of the rink, where the DUCKS float in. They include: CONNIE, GUY, AVERMAN, BANKS, JESSE, DEAN PORTMAN, KENNY WU, JULIE GAFFNEY, GREG GOLDBERG and DWAYNE ROBERTSON.
FULTON and PORTMAN run to embrace each other instantly, yelling “Bash brothers! Woo!” more times than is necessary, and finally pulling KENNY into the embrace after he says: What am I, chopped liver?
The rest of the gang greet each other normally, but of course, the first thing that JULIE and GOLDBERG are concerned about is:
JULIE and GOLDBERG, together
Who’s in goal?
GOLDBERG, pushing in front of JULIE
Cause I didn’t come all the way from Philly to be benched.
JULIE, pushing back
Yeah, and I made it clear to Amy on the phone that we’re not doing any Goodwill Games nonsense. I’m playing.
CHARLIE
What makes you think I’m making the decision?
JULIE and GOLDBERG, together again
Captain Duck?
CONNIE
Alright, guys, chill. This is to have fun, remember? We’re not competing for anything other than to honor our coach. And fun. Okay?
JULIE
And I get that. But I flew halfway across the country and I have a real job . . .
GOLDBERG
What’s that supposed to mean?
JESSE
It means that youtube sandwich making videos doesn’t make a real job when you’ve got a State Senator and a Lawyer on the same ice as you.
CHARLIE
Shut up, Jesse. And Goldie, you’re a great defenseman. You don’t want to do that?
GOLDBERG (off JULIE’s smug reaction)
Oh, so you are putting the Cat in goal? Shoulda known you always liked her best.
CONNIE
Okay, everyone relax. We don’t know our positions yet. We still have to practice together for the first time since what, 2000? It’s gonna take some time.
CHARLIE
Nah, no it won’t. We’ve got that natural chemistry.
FLASH TO
THE TEAM (minus ADAM and JULIE, smooth as ever) taking falls, tripping over one another and not being able to score against JULIE.
CHARLIE
What the hell? Haven’t you guys been practicing at all in the last twenty five years?
AVERMAN
You know, I knew we forgot something.
FULTON and PORTMAN look at each other, smile, and charge the net.
JULIE stands her ground, but laughs when the BASH BROTHERS take her by the arms and pull her out of the net to allow KENNY to score.
FLASH TO
FACEOFF between JULIE and GOLDBERG. GOLDBERG tries to score on her stick side to throw her off, but she blocks his shot, smirking at him.
FIVE DIFFERENT SHOTS of ADAM scoring against JULIE appear back to back. JESSE smiles with a look of pride.
CHARLIE
Alright, Banksie! That’s how it’s done.
AVERMAN tries to do the same, but is instantly blocked. As are the remaining Ducks.
FADE INTO
INT. ICE RINK, same day
CONNIE is patting GUY on the back and feeding him water. DWAYNE and KENNY shake their heads, feeling overwhelmed. FULTON and PORTMAN are still looking giddy, but the mood has definitely changed. Maybe they are getting too old for this.
CHARLIE
Alright, that was . . . rough.
PORTMAN
Yeah, well, we told you we hadn’t played in a while, dummy.
CHARLIE
I know. But let’s not give up . . . entirely. Yet. District 5 was pretty much the worst team in history until Bombay came along. And I think if he were here, he’d want us to get back to basics. And that starts with . . .
CHARLIE looks to DWAYNE and winks.
DWAYNE
Oh, I got you covered, Charlie!
FLASH TO
DWAYNE chasing the Ducks around the rink with his rope. The tension is removed, and the team is laughing and having fun just like old times.
CHARLIE smiles and looks over to . . .
ZOOM IN on the hanging flag: DUCKS, 1992 PEE WEE CHAMPIONS
FLASHBACK TO THE FINAL DUCKS - HAWKS GAME DUCKS 1
CHARLIE scores his penalty shot and the crowd goes wild with applause while the HAWKS simmer with defeat.
DISSOLVE INTO
Back to the present day. The gang hears the entrance to the rink slam shot and all is silent. We pan from the bottom of a group of men in black pants, until we see their faces . . . and familiar blue collared uniforms. The HAWKS, all grown up. LARSON and MCGILL stand front and center.
LARSON
Well if it isn’t District 5.
DWAYNE, dropping his rope
District 5? We’re the Ducks, proud to meet ya.
He goes to shake their hands in his southern gentleman way but JESSE quickly stops him.
JESSE
What are you doing here?
LARSON
Well, this is still Hawks property. And the Hawks are five year Pond Hockey Champions.
MCGILL
The real question is - who let the trash in?
JESSE
Trash who kicked your ass if I remember correctly.
BROWN, another Hawk
One fluke game thirty years ago.
LARSON
Look, we just wanted to tell you that we’re not gonna let you walk back in here with your stupid Duck tricks and publicity and let you think that you still rule the scene out here.
CONNIE
Someone sounds jealous.
MCGILL, smirking and stepping forward
Only jealous that your fine ass got wifed up.
GUY, stepping in front of CONNIE
Look, the Ducks beat you once, we can beat you again.
FULTON
And clearly, you’ve never forgotten it.
CHARLIE and ADAM are suspiciously quiet and CHARLIE and JESSE both stand in front of ADAM protectively.
FLASHBACK - The final HAWKS - DUCKS GAME DUCKS 1
McGILL checks ADAM into the goal post, who lies there unconsciously.
FLASH INTO
Back to present day.
LARSON
Nice to see you again, Banks. Couldn’t hack it in the big leagues so you teamed up with these losers again? Bad move, man.
ADAM, stepping forward away from JESSE and CHARLIE
I’m not eleven anymore. You can’t scare me like you used to.
LARSON, nose to nose
No, but I bet we can still knock your ass out like we used to.
JESSE lunges forward, and GUY holds him back. CHARLIE looks to AMY, who is escorting LIAM out so he doesn’t have to see any of this.
PORTMAN
And this time, you got the Bash Brothers.
McGILL
Oh, two construction workers. I’m so scared.
PORTMAN
I could take you any time, anywhere, rich boy.
LARSON
Yeah, keep that energy for the championships. You’re gonna need it. Now it’s our turn on the ice, so I suggest you get out of here before we call the league and let them know you’re illegally using time.
CHARLIE
Let’s just go, guys.
INT. The DUCKS shake their heads, but leave the rink. PORTMAN and FULTON intimidate the HAWKS off of size alone, but it’s clear that the rest of the team is suddenly not feeling so good about all of this. Especially when we see the HAWKS practicing. They are still just as good as ever.
JULIE
Screw them. We’ve still got a pretty great former Olympic athlete and an also pretty great former NHL player on our side.
KENNY
Yeah, we can beat these jerks. You guys did already, right? That championship game?
CHARLIE
Yeah, thirty years ago. And they’ve been practicing.
AVERMAN
And we can still practice too, Charlie. We’ve got a couple of weeks.
GUY
But they’ve had years. I’m not in the shape I used to be in.
GOLDBERG
Speak for yourself. I’m in the best shape of my life.
CHARLIE turns to walk out and the team follow him.
FULTON
You saying you don’t think we can hand their asses to them again?
CHARLIE
I’m not saying that. I am saying that it’s going to take a lot of practice and effort. And that we need a coach. Not just me.
CONNIE
A coach, huh?
CHARLIE
What, you know someone?
CONNIE
I can call in a favor every now and then.
LATER THAT DAY.
INT. CASEY CONWAY’s apartment.
A knock at the door. CASEY, now in her sixties, answers the door to see her son standing there.
CASEY
Charlie! Baby, I didn’t know you were coming by.
They embrace.
CHARLIE
Yeah, well, it’s been a little while. Figured I’d stop by with some Chinese food.
He holds up a bag and she smiles.
FLASH TO
The Conways sitting at their kitchen table. CHARLIE is filling CASEY in on his situation.
CASEY
And Amy’s cool with this?
CHARLIE
Totally. She thinks it’s good for me.
CASEY
Then what’s the problem?
CHARLIE
The Hawks. My first game in twenty years and it had to be the Hawks.
CASEY
Oh, please. Don’t let them scare you. You kicked their butts last time.
CHARLIE
It’s not that, it’s just . . .
Off his silence, CASEY understands.
CASEY
They were his team?
CHARLIE nods. CASEY takes his hand.
CASEY
When he was ten years old. The Ducks were Gordon’s team, okay? And I know it had been a while since you two spoke after he left the hockey world, but you know we stayed in touch, and he always asked about you.
CHARLIE, genuinely surprised
Really?
CASEY
Yes. Always told me that he was meaning to call you. It was always a whole debate, because I couldn’t promise you’d be happy to hear from him, but he should give it a try -
CHARLIE
I would’ve appreciated that phone call.
CASEY
Well . . . yes. But you know how you can be. How you both could be. None of that matters now. What you’re doing is really lovely, Charlie. He loved you kids. Even if he had a funny way of showing it a lot of the time.
CHARLIE
So you think I’m not totally crazy then?
CASEY
Not at all. And I think what you’re doing is great. For you, especially. I’ve always loved watching you play. The ice is your home.
CHARLIE
Thanks, ma.
INT. The Rink, two days later.
CHARLIE has brought LIAM to practice, who is already pretty good on the ice despite being in gripped sneakers. CHARLIE has also put eggs on the ice, in a callback to Ducks 1. DWAYNE, KENNY, PORTMAN and JULIE look at him like he’s crazy.
FULTON, to PORTMAN
It’s an old Duck trick we used to do.
AVERMAN
Works like a charm.
GOLDBERG
Unless your nickname was ‘Spazway.’
CHARLIE
Coach always used to say ‘Soft hands, concentration, not strength.’ That’s what won us that very first season. It’s like I said, back to basics. You just have to pass it carefully . . .
CHARLIE slides an egg over to JESSE with his stick who intercepts it and passes it back.
CHARLIE
Great, Jess. Everyone grab a partner and go.
PORTMAN
Uneven number, who's your partner, Conway? Your three year old kid?
LIAM
Actually, I’m six, so shut the f-
CHARLIE covers LIAM’s mouth.
CONNIE
I got someone coming, Porty. Just give it time.
PORTMAN shrugs. Partners include GUY and CONNIE, ADAM and JESSE, PORTMAN and FULTON, GOLDBERG and AVERMAN, KENNY and DWAYNE. JULIE and CHARLIE watch the gang curiously.
LIAM
These guys stink.
CHARLIE
Liam!
LIAM
What? Mom told me - never tell a lie.
GOLDBERG
Oh, like you could do any better.
JULIE
Anyone could play better than you.
FULTON breaks an egg with his slapshot all over PORTMAN. PORTMAN takes a bit of raw egg from his chest and brings it to his lips.
PORTMAN
Not bad.
A series of ‘Ew’s and ‘Gross’s come from the other ducks.
LIAM
Awesome! Dad, you never let me do that when we cook at home.
The DUCKS begin purposefully breaking the eggs and cackling at it afterward, like it’s some big joke. CHARLIE feels himself growing frustrated, because this is about so much more than having fun right now. This is about beating their childhood bullies. This is about honoring Bombay. Why can’t anyone understand that?
Before he can express his frustration, TED ORION is standing at the rink’s entrance, blowing a whistle. He is not dressed in his D3 usual red and white, but this time, green and yellow.
ORION
Heard you Ducks need a coach?
The Ducks all cheer and go to greet their former high school coach.
CONNIE
Yes! I knew you’d come through.
CHARLIE is off put by ORION’s presence. He’s not going to say anything, at least for right now, but it’s obvious via his facial expression that he does not feel right about Bombay’s original replacement replacing him, right after his death.
JESSE, to Charlie
This that cake eater coach from Eden Hall?
CHARLIE
Yup, that’s him.
ORION shakes the last Duck near him’s hand, and then makes his way over to CHARLIE.
ORION
Conway. Good to see you. Do I even need to ask why there’s raw eggs all over the rink? And should I ask who’s going to clean that up?
CHARLIE
It’s a District 5 thing. You wouldn’t understand.
Tension. Some of the Ducks roll their eyes at the return of angsty CHARLIE. LIAM looks up at his dad with uncertainty.
JESSE interrupts the awkward silence.
JESSE
I’m Jesse, nice to meet you. Original Duck. And the first one to ever score a goal.
ADAM
But that’s never gone to his head, obviously.
ORION and JESSE shake hands, but it’s still awkward.
CONNIE quickly moves between ORION and CHARLIE.
CONNIE
Alright, coach. Because we need a real coach. Help us out. Show us how it’s done.
FADE INTO
INT. Ducks Scrimmage. Orion has them in their old positions. Team A - CHARLIE at left wing forward, ADAM at center forward, GUY at right wing forward. PORTMAN and FULTON on defense, JULIE in goal, against Team B - trying JESSE opposite center forward, Dwayne and Kenny on other side, Connie on defense and Goldberg in Goal.
ORION drops the puck. ADAM wins the draw, slides it over to CHARLIE, who skates into Team B’s zone, passes it to GUY, who slides past CONNIE and scores against Goldberg.
ORION
Defense, Moreau!
JULIE’s head meanwhile is totally in the game, following the action and concentrating.
Almost predictably, Team B’s playing . . . not too great against the strength of Team A, which Goldberg missing shot after shot against Charlie, Adam and Guy. Jesse manages to score on Julie, but the duo of Portman and Fulton is almost too strong to beat.
FADE OUT
The final score of the scrimmage is 5-2.
The team meets on their knees in a circle around ORION. LIAM sits on CHARLIE’s knee, observing.
ORION
Alright, not bad, not bad. Especially for most of you not playing since I left you last. But there’s gonna be changes if you wanna beat these Hawk fellows. We gotta change up some lines, we gotta work on our . . .
DUCKS (together)
Defense.
ORION
Oh, so you do know what defense is?
LIAM
There’s two defensemen on every hockey team. Unless you’re counting alternates.
ORION
Yes, but your forwards also need to be able to help out. Make em’ make the first move. Jesse, I wasn’t your coach, so you have an excuse, but when you play for me, you can’t let scoring distract you from keeping you from -
CHARLIE
Whoa, whoa, wait. Are you saying that Bombay never taught him how to play defense?
ORION (already exasperated)
No, Charlie, I’m not saying that. I’m just saying that playing in pee wees and playing as an adult are two different things . . .
CHARLIE
And Bombay more than prepared him for that, thanks.
JESSE
It’s fine, Charlie, chill.
CHARLIE
I’m just saying. Don’t waltz in here and act like you know about the way we were coached before you took over, because you don’t.
ORION
Charlie, I coached you guys for four straight years. I know your strengths, I know your weaknesses. I’m not saying that I know everything, because I don’t. But I did watch Gaffney in the Olympics and Banks on the Bruins so I have somewhat of an idea -
CHARLIE
Whatever. Just . . . can we all go home? It’s getting past Liam’s bedtime.
ORION stares at him for a long moment, and then concedes. It’s clear that with everything that has happened in the past month, he knows that Charlie is hurting and does not know how much he wants to interfere with his personal struggles.
ORION
Alright. Practice is over. See you guys Tuesday night.
Blows whistle.
FADE TO
INT. OUTSIDE THE RINK
CHARLIE is holding LIAM’s hand, walking him to his car. CONNIE and GUY catch up with him.
CONNIE
Charlie!
CHARLIE ignores her.
CONNIE
Charlie!
CHARLIE ignores her again.
GUY
Hey, man, she’s talking to you.
CHARLIE whips his head around perhaps too quickly.
CHARLIE
What?
CONNIE
What’s your deal? You wanted a coach, I got us one. Orion’s a great guy. You haven’t had an issue with him since we were fourteen.
CHARLIE
I’m not talking about this.
CONNIE
Why not?
CHARLIE
Because it doesn’t matter. Look, all I care about right now is beating the Hawks. If you think Orion can take us there, then that’s fine. But I’m not gonna sit here and let him think that he can act like Bombay didn’t teach us anything.
CONNIE
Last week, you hated Bombay. Now you’re defending him?
CHARLIE
I never said that I hate him. All I’m saying now is that Orion should show a little respect.
CONNIE
He wasn’t saying anything against Bombay! He just doesn’t know Jesse’s playing. Don’t make this into something it’s not.
CHARLIE squeezes LIAM’s hand, annoyed and agitated and trying to focus on his son to bring some calmness back. He hates getting angry, and he really does not want to blow up at CONNIE right now, but she can never just drop anything. GUY senses his discomfort and interjects.
GUY
Let’s just . . . get through these couple of weeks. Beat the Hawks. Then you never have to see him again. Connie was just looking out for the team.
CONNIE has more to say, but GUY puts his arm around her and guides her to their car.
INT. The Conway Apartment
LIAM runs in through the front door right to his bedroom, exhausted and CHARLIE, also exhausted, collapses onto the couch, his head in his hands. AMY hears them come in as LIAM runs past her.
AMY
Remember to brush your teeth!
She sits down on the edge of the sofa and runs a hand through CHARLIE’s hair.
AMY
Rough practice?
CHARLIE
You could say that.
AMY
Those Hawks still giving you a hard time?
CHARLIE
Our high school coach from Eden Hall came back to coach us.
AMY
Oh, that’s great.
CHARLIE
The one who replaced Bombay originally.
AMY
. . . Oh.
CHARLIE
I snapped at him and then I snapped at Connie, and I shouldn’t have done that, especially in front of Liam. But, I don’t know, I’m just . . . confused about so much right now. I’m angry at so many things.
AMY
Do you think that starts with Bombay or someone else?
CHARLIE
No, it starts with me. These past few days, all I’ve heard is how much Bombay loved me, loved the Ducks, all of that. I never reached out to him either. And I should’ve. Because when you love someone, you should tell them. And I never did.
AMY
I’m sure he knew.
CHARLIE
I hope so.
Pause.
CHARLIE pulls out his phone and opens to a photo of the Original District 5 team. He shows it to Amy.
CHARLIE
The old gang. Sometimes I think that was the first time I was ever really happy. Bombay showed me what it was to be accepted, and I never told him that.
AMY kisses his forehead.
CHARLIE (whispered)
And I really wish you and Liam would have known him.
FADE INTO
MONTAGE
CHARLIE tossing and turning in bed.
DISSOLVE INTO
CHARLIE teaching his sixth grade class, NOAH smiling up at him from the front row.
DISSOLVE INTO
CONNIE and GUY tucking their three kids into bed, giving each a kiss, and then each other kiss as they head off into their bedroom.
DISSOLVE INTO
FULTON, PORTMAN, KENNY and DWAYNE laughing and getting burgers as they walk down the streets of Minneapolis. They walk past McGILL and LARSON, and make immature faces at them. When McGILL retaliates with words we don’t hear, PORTMAN is held back by the guys.
DISSOLVE INTO
ORION writing out plays next to a photo of the 1996 Eden Hall freshmen. On the television in front of him, footage from the 1994 Junior Goodwill Games plays.
DISSOLVE INTO
EXT. HANS’ SPORT SHOP
SLOW FADE UP from the ground to the large building as CHARLIE walks in, from the snow, hands in his pockets.
INT. HANS’ SPORT SHOP
Lars, aged 35, sharpens a skate.
We pan over to the wall full of articles, all about Bombay, the Ducks, Adam and Julie’s respective careers. We land on a photo of what we assume to be a young Lars and an obvious young Charlie.
CHARLIE knocks on the door, having already opened it.
LARS
Back so soon, Charlie?
CHARLIE
Yeah. I guess I just needed to get out of my own head.
LARS
We all do sometimes. Tell me what’s on your mind.
LARS halts sharpening the skate to follow CHARLIE over to look at the wall. CHARLIE lands on a photo of young Bombay, Bombay’s dad and Hans. He touches it, meaningfully.
CHARLIE
Coach always used to come here to talk to your grandfather or your great uncle when he was feeling down. I guess part of me thought, maybe I’d feel closer to him if I stopped by.
LARS
Old men did always have a way with words. When I lost them, I was so caught up in my own grief. I felt like I was drowning and there was no way to come up for air.
CHARLIE
So how did you?
LARS
My friends, my family - they pulled me back up. And I remembered I wasn’t alone.
Pause. CHARLIE stares at an article reading: DUCKS BEAT HAWKS 5-4 LED BY “MINNESOTA MIRACLE MAN” GORDON BOMBAY
LARS
You’re not alone, Charlie. No matter how much it feels like it sometimes, you have friends. You are not alone.
CHARLIE, on the verge of tears
I’m sorry that I don’t come by more. It’s stupid and I’ve been stupid and spiteful about the Ducks, but you don’t deserve that. Your family’s always been so good to me.
LARS
I understand. But don’t you think there’s other people you’ve been a little harsh to?
CHARLIE
You been talking to Fulton?
LARS
Orion is a good man, Charlie. I know he isn’t Bombay, but he’s a good coach and a good person. Talk to him. You’ll feel better.
CHARLIE
I don’t want to be angry anymore.
LARS
Anger is an emotion fueled by the heart. You always think with your heart, Charlie, not your head. That is your greatest weakness.
CHARLIE
So you think I should apologize to Orion?
LARS
I think it would be good for you. And for the team.
CHARLIE is silent for a long moment, thinking.
CHARLIE
Lemme ask you something, Lars, and level with me. Do you think I’m a good person?
LARS
Do you think that you’re a good person?
CHARLIE
I don’t know.
LARS
Then don’t ask me. Because your opinion of yourself is the one that matters, not mine.
LARS exits the frame, leaving CHARLIE, looking introspective.
INT. The Rink, Tuesday Evening
ORION is there early, looking out onto the rink.
CHARLIE approaches, awkwardly and unsure.
CHARLIE
Hey, Coach, can I uh, can I speak to you before practice starts?
ORION, also unsure
What can I do for you Charlie?
CHARLIE
I know this is gonna sound stupid, so I’m sorry for that, because it does this for everyone, not just me, but grief messes me up. Swallows me whole. And I’ve wasted a lot of time being mad at everything and everyone around me because of what I’ve lost . . . and I shouldn’t have taken that out on you. So I’m sorry.
ORION looks at CHARLIE with direct eye contact for the first time in this moment.
ORION
Charlie, do you know what I thought of you the first time I met you?
CHARLIE
Do I wanna know?
ORION
I thought you were a cocky hothead who had been coddled by his team.
CHARLIE shrugs, because he can’t really disagree.
ORION
But I talked to Bombay about you. And he told me that if it hadn’t been for you, there wouldn’t be a Mighty Ducks. And all these years later, I believe in what he said. If you hadn’t shown him that kindness and those morals that you did, the Ducks wouldn’t be the dynasty that they are. Your friends might not have had professional careers. And I know for a fact, that Bombay would not have had the life that he did.
DISSOLVE INTO
FLASHBACK - CHARLIE and BOMBAY DUCKS 3
BOMBAY
You gave me a life, Charlie, and I want to say thank you.
DISSOLVE INTO
Back to present day.
ORION
And I believed him when he told me that you were the Real Minnesota Miracle Man. I still do.
CHARLIE, emotional
Thanks.
ORION, patting him on the shoulder
Just don’t let your grief swallow you. It doesn’t do you any good, even though I know first hand how difficult that can be.
The rest of the Ducks interrupt the moment, entering the rink.
JESSE
We interrupting something, or can we finally do what we came here to do and have some fun?
AVERMAN
Yeah, you done being angsty Conway yet?
ORION looks at CHARLIE for his answer. CHARLIE shrugs.
CHARLIE
Let’s go play some hockey!
The Ducks cheer. FULTON and CHARLIE exchange smiles.
MUSIC MONTAGE!
The Ducks doing laps around the rink, a couple of which are exhausted, with ADAM leading the flock.
DISSOLVE INTO
CHARLIE and KENNY on defense, JULIE in goal, trying to stop incoming pucks from each of the Ducks. They miss a few shots from ADAM and FULTON, as ORION yells out instructions to them. CHARLIE blocks an interception from GUY to CONNIE . . .
DISSOLVE INTO
Later on, the Ducks watch videos of the past Pond Hockey championships, checking out the other teams competing. We come across a video of the Hawks’ latest win. Zoom on ADAM, anxious about playing against his former team again. JESSE notices this and puts his hand on top of his.
DISSOLVE INTO
KENNY WU attempting to teach CONNIE and DWAYNE how to do a triple axel, with GUY laughing and going to help CONNIE up as she falls on the second jump.
DISSOLVE INTO
The Ducks lying in a pile on top of each other on the ice, sipping from their water bottles, exhausted after a long night.
DISSOLVE INTO
ESPN on TV, the day of the Pond Hockey Championships.
CONNELLY
And we’re coming to you live at 5:30am from Minneapolis, Minnesota awaiting today’s Pond Hockey Championships where the original Mighty Ducks will face off against the Hawks for the first time since 1992. Today brings the return of NHL legend Adam Banks and Olympic gold medalist Julie “The Cat” Gaffney to the ice and will honor their former coach, Gordon Bombay, who coined the Ducks name over thirty years ago in this exact town. We’ll be giving you live updates all throughout the day, including who former Eden Hall Varsity Coach Ted Orion’s first line will be . . .
INT. Charlie’s bedroom
The alarm reads 5:59am. Charlie hits it off just as it hits 6am and hurries out of bed, excited to begin the day.
INT. The Conway’s bathroom
CHARLIE and LIAM are brushing their teeth next to each other. LIAM standing on a stepping stool.
LIAM
Can I join the Ducks pee wee team next year?
CHARLIE
Aren’t you a little young, bud?
LIAM
How old were you when you started playing?
CHARLIE
Eight.
LIAM
Well, I’m six. Close enough. And I want to be a hockey star.
CHARLIE
Like me?
LIAM
No. Like Banksie.
CHARLIE
It never ends.
AMY appears in the doorway, smiling as she watches them.
AMY
You boys ready for your big day?
CHARLIE
I don’t know. Liam, you ready for your big day?
LIAM
What do you mean?
CHARLIE
Well, you gotta help Orion coach. We need you on the sidelines, little man.
LIAM
I’m calling the shots, huh?
AMY picks LIAM up from behind and spins him around. CHARLIE laughs along with her. It's a genuinely happy moment for a man who was once a little boy who always dreamed of having a family.
INT. Guy and Connie’s Mansion, Edina, Minnesota
Their three kids we saw earlier, Gordon (aged 15), Sophia (aged 12) and Jamie (age6) are wearing District 5 Ducks jerseys. Gordon wears Guy’s number while Sophia and Jamie wear Connie’s.
SOPHIA
I don’t understand why we can’t get Germaine-Moreau jerseys. That’s our last name. I don’t want to pick one or the other.
GUY
Well, because then it would have to have four numbers on the jersey. 0016 or 1600. And that’s not a thing.
JAMIE
But we could make it a thing.
SOPHIA
We could always just stand back to back so the jerseys read 0016.
JAMIE
But then won’t it say 001616?
CONNIE
It doesn’t matter what they say. We’re just happy to have you guys there with us.
GORDON
And we’re proud of you. I mean, being a teenager who’s not embarrassed by his parents is weird, but when a guy’s got you two for parents? Not that bad.
GUY puts his hand on his shoulder.
GUY
So you won’t mind if I kiss your mother when we win?
GORDON
Okay, that, I never said . . .
INT. JESSE and ADAM in ADAM’s Mercedes on the way to the rink.
ADAM is nervous and not talking, an indicator that he’s being reflective and thinking too hard, and JESSE knows this.
JESSE
You don’t still care what those has-beens think of you?
ADAM
No, I don’t. I’m just nervous we might lose. Or that I’ll do bad.
JESSE
Okay, the second one’s not possible and, yeah, we could lose, but when we do lose, it’s always close.
ADAM
This is probably gonna be the last time I play, ever. I just don’t want to go out on a low note.
JESSE
And you won’t. Ducks never say die. We’ve never lost a game that your perpetually injured ass wasn’t taken out of. And we did win against the Hawks, without you.
ADAM stays silent.
JESSE (continued)
Just think what we could do with you. You’re the greatest thing to ever happen to the Ducks.
An emotional beat.
JESSE (continued)
. . . and the greatest thing that ever happened to me.
ADAM takes JESSE’s hand and kisses it.
JESSE, warmly.
Cake-Eater.
EXT. The Minnesota Pond Hockey Championships
The large field of ice is split into different rinks. The middle of which reads “Ducks vs Hawks.” Reporters from every news station you can think of are there, including JOSH, D3’s announcer, in a cameo. The bleachers are stacked with both Ducks and Hawks fans, including CASEY CONWAY, NOAH and Charlie’s other students and LARS.
The Hawks have gotten there early, already practicing, but with no coach. Orion is there early as well, writing on a clipboard, examining the competition closely.
ZOOM on LARSON and BROWN. McGILL grabs them from the side.
McGILL
I’m not losing to these hood kids again. We’re gonna play the best game of our lives, got it?
BROWN
Yeah, whatever.
LARSON
Just remember - we’re adults now. Banks is a lawyer. We go after any of them like that, we’re getting arrested.
McGILL
Please, guy’s too stupid to be that good of a lawyer.
LARSON
Just trust me for once. Let’s beat them on skill, which we have and they don’t.
FADE OUT.
EXT. Outside the Minnesota Pond Hockey Championships
Each of the Ducks pulls up, each wearing the original District 5 Jerseys. CHARLIE’s of course, embroidered with his iconic ‘C.’
The crowd goes wild at the sight of the Ducks arriving. PORTMAN and FULTON start hyping them up even more so, skating around the Hawks and whooping and hollering. KENNY WU quickly joins in on the action.
KENNY
You want a piece of me, Brown?
Brown lunges at him, and KENNY fake-lunges at him back.
KENNY
You guys got the Bash Brothers to deal with now!
PORTMAN
Hell yeah, Wu!
EXT. THE RINK - ON THE BENCH - DUCKS
ORION gathers the Ducks over to him. LIAM sits on GOLDBERG’s shoulders.
EXT. THE RINK - ON THE BENCH - HAWKS.
THE HAWKS (in unison)
It’s not worth winning if you can’t win big!
EXT. THE RINK - ON THE BENCH _ DUCKS
ORION
I’m not good at this type of thing. I’m gonna leave it to your Captain to say a few words.
CHARLIE clears his throat and steps forward.
CHARLIE
Uh . . . before the Ducks, I didn’t have friends. I didn’t have belief in myself. I didn’t have a father . . .
He chokes up on the word ‘father,’ but swallows and continues on.
CHARLIE
And now look at me. Look at all of us. We’re legends, win or lose. This is to have fun . . . and kicking some Hawk ass on the side, but mostly to have fun. And this is for Bombay. And Hans. And Jan. And everyone else who taught us to fly.
CHARLIE looks at ORION, who smiles.
CHARLIE
Let’s do this. On three . . .
The Ducks smile and put their hands in.
THE DUCKS plus LIAM, together
Quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, quack, GOOOOO DUCKS!
EXT. THE RINK - ON THE ICE
It’s McGILL and ADAM head to head for the puck.
McGILL
You’re going down, traitor.
ADAM
Maybe get over something that happened thirty years ago.
The REFEREE drops the puck. ADAM wins the draw as PORTMAN and FULTON throw themselves against McGILL, as he goes to check ADAM. ADAM slides the puck to CONNIE. CONNIE waits for PRESTON to come barreling at her, then slides the puck to GUY. GUY passes back to ADAM in the Hawks zone. ADAM gets creamed by BROWN and STICKLER.
McGILL takes control of the puck and gets it into the Ducks zone. He passes to Larson, who shoots and scores.
ORION
Make ‘em make the first move, Ducks!
INT. RINK - DUCKS BENCH
LIAM
I think you’ve got this all wrong, Coach.
ORION
What? How do ya figure?
LIAM
My dad says the Hawks want revenge and that’s fueled by anger. They’re not thinking enough to make the first move, because anger comes from the heart.
ORION
Yeah, well, if we wanna win, we gotta think for both of us.
INT. RINK - ON THE ICE
Line change. CHARLIE faces off against LARSON. Before CHARLIE can get control of the puck, McGILL knocks CHARLIE to the ground so LARSON can grab the puck. He slides it to STICKLER, but it’s intercepted by JESSE, who passes far enough to ADAM in the Hawks Zone. ADAM scores.
The Ducks and their fans go crazy.
ORION
Nice one, Banks!
INT. RINK ON THE BENCH
CHARLIE skates over to KENNY, who’s waiting patiently to play.
CHARLIE
What’s that move you did in the Goodwill Games that got us that goal against Iceland in the Championships?
KENNY
The Hammel Kimmel?
AVERMAN
Hey, if that’s what you said it was. That’s what it was. Can he do it, Coach? You know, we gotta throw a few Duck tricks into this game.
ORION goes to answer, but LIAM speaks over him.
LIAM
I wanna see the Jimmy Kimmel, Kenny!
CHARLIE, AVERMAN and KENNY laugh and KENNY bolts onto the ice. ORION is confused, but goes with it.
INT. RINK - ON THE ICE, PLAY IS UNDERWAY
The Hawks and GOLDBERG tossle over the puck. KENNY skates to right in front of the Hawks’ goalkeeper . . . he does a THREE SIXTY, leaving the ice in a full magnificent spin . . . his arms above his head and stick twirling in the air.
INT. The RINK - The STANDS
NOAH looks on in awe, pointing him out to his fellow classmates.
INT. THE RINK - ON THE ICE
KENNY splits between the DEFENSEMAN and lands in perfect position. But who has the puck?
THE DEFENSEMEN turn, confused, revealing AVERMAN, the puck on his stick.
AVERMAN
Don’t ya love when that one works fellows?
AVERMAN passes the puck between them and KENNY puts it in.
INT. RINK - ON THE BENCH - HAWKS
The Hawks throw their hands up in frustration. The DEFENSEMEN head over and McGILL hits them on the back of their heads.
INT. RINK - ON THE ICE
GUY against BROWN for the puck, BROWN shoves GUY to the ground and snatches the puck, skating halfway through the Ducks’ zone. Goldberg tries to check him, but FANGER and FOOTE check Goldberg instead. BROWN passes to KING. He shoots and JULIE catches it.
CONNIE skates around the HAWKS’ goalpost, open. DWAYNE showboats as usual despite this and ORION’s protests. DWAYNE is creamed by McGILL, who grabs the puck, shoots and scores.
JULIE
C’mon, defense! I can’t do this by myself!
INT. THE RINK - ON THE BENCH - DUCKS
LIAM
I’m so embarrassed, I can’t even watch.
ORION
We’re still in this one, kid. Don’t let the anxiety get to you.
INT. THE RINK - ON THE ICE
The score is 2-2.
ADAM faces off against LARSON. ADAM wins the puck, slides it back to PORTMAN on defense, who slides it back over to ADAM once he gets further into the Hawks Zone.
ZOOM on McGILL, skating full speed toward ADAM to recreate his famous act of violence from D1. But this time, ADAM’s got the BASH BROTHERS on his side.
KENNY (from the bench)
PORTMAN! FULTON! BANKS ON YOUR LEFT!
In sync, PORTMAN and FULTON throw McGILL down to the ground. ADAM’s pass to DWAYNE is still intercepted, but this time, he’s come out safe.
McGILL looks up at them from the ground, scowling.
PORTMAN
C’mon, fool, get up.
ADAM
Thanks for having my back, guys.
FULTON
You know we got you, brother.
McGILL tries to stand up and lunge, but PORTMAN knocks him back down.
The REF blows his whistle.
REFEREE
Ducks! Intent to harm, you’re out of the game.
PORTMAN
Oh, come on, did you see what he tried to do? This is bull-
The REF pulls PORTMAN off the ice into the makeshift penalty box.
INT. THE RINK - MAKESHIFT LOCKEROOM - DUCKS
End of the second period.
ORION shakes his head.
KENNY
We’ll get them back, Fulton.
CHARLIE
Yeah but how? We can’t have only one alternate.
CONNIE, takes off her helmet and skates over.
CONNIE
I wouldn’t worry about it. Like I said, I have friends in very important places.
As if on cue, RUSS TYLER enters, in full DUCKS gear and holding a stick.
RUSS
Anyone call for a knuckle puck?
The Ducks break into applause, all going in to hug Russ and welcome him back to the team.
GUY
I thought you said you had that SNL audition this week?
RUSS
I did, but they’ve got that one guy who’s been there for like twenty seasons and until his unfunny ass leaves, I’m not joining.
ORION enters the makeshift locker room with LIAM. He makes a surprised face at seeing RUSS, but doesn’t question it. LIAM crosses his arms over his chest.
ORION
Guys, come on, is this really how you wanna this? By stooping to their level?
KENNY
Hell yeah! You mess with one Duck, you mess with the flock!
FULTON and PORTMAN
Yeah!
CHARLIE
We’re not eleven anymore, guys. Yeah, we want to beat the Hawks. But that anger? That’s just gonna cause more hate and grief, and that’s the last thing that this team needs right now. The Ducks formed all of those years ago because we weren’t like the Hawks. We had morality, we had standards. That’s the team that I want to play for. That I want my son to some day play for.
CHARLIE and LIAM fist bump.
CHARLIE
And no matter what they think of us, no matter what they say or do, we have to be ourselves.
CHARLIE picks up LIAM.
CHARLIE, continued
You? Who are you?
The Ducks smile, knowing where this is going.
LIAM
Liam Conway.
CHARLIE
From where?
LIAM
Your house.
CHARLIE, to PORTMAN
Who are you?
PORTMAN
Dean Portman from Chicago, Illinois.
CHARLIE, to GUY
Who are you?
GUY
Guy Germaine from St. Paul, Minnesota.
CHARLIE, to JESSE
You?
JESSE
Jesse Hall from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
CHARLIE, to Julie
Who are you?
JULIE
Julie Gaffney from Bangor, Maine.
CHARLIE doesn’t need to continue pointing because they’re all in their Goodwill Games Nostalgia kick now.
GOLDBERG
Greg Goldberg, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
AVERMAN
Les Averman, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.
FULTON
Fulton Reed, Stillwater, Minnesota.
RUSS
Russ Tyler, South Central, Los Angeles.
KENNY
Ken Wu, San Francisco, California.
CONNIE
Connie Moreau, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
ADAM
Adam Banks, Edina, Minnesota.
DWAYNE
Dwayne Robertson, Austin, Texas.
CHARLIE
Charlie Conway, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Ducks look at ORION with raised eyebrows, silently saying ‘c’mon.’ He sighs.
ORION
Ted Orion, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
The Ducks cheered.
CHARLIE
We can’t let them get to us. We can’t let ourselves care about a rivalry that should’ve ended when we were kids. We’re doing this for ourselves, and we’re the bigger people. The better people.
LIAM
Cause we’re Ducks. And Ducks fly together!
The classic Ducks 1 theme plays prominently here as the Ducks applaud and head back out onto the ice.
JOSH, announcer
And it looks like the Ducks have added old Goodwill Games favorite Russ Tyler to their roster!
The crowd erupts. The ducks hit the ice. NOAH starts up the “WE WILL, WE WILL QUACK YOU!” chant.
INT. THE RINK - ON THE ICE
AVERMAN and LARSON in a faceoff. AVERMAN gets control of the puck, skates forward and then passes back to DWAYNE.
ORION
Pass it, Dwayne!
LIAM, heckling
Yeah, pass it, Cowboy!
DWAYNE
Yee-haw!
DWAYNE plays with the puck a couple of teams before passing over to CONNIE. BROWN knocks her to the ground instantly. The puck is loose. LARSON grabs it, passes it to KING. He shoots and JULIE catches it.
JULIE
Goldberg! You gotta give me something to work with here!
GOLDBERG
I can’t do it all by myself, Cat!
JULIE
Alright, then, Fulton, give me something to work with!
INT. RINK - ON THE BENCH - DUCKS
ORION
Russ, they know your play. You got one shot at this. You think you can do it?
RUSS
Oh, I know I can.
ORION
I trust you. Get out there.
RUSS and CHARLIE high five each other as RUSS heads out onto the ice at left wing forward.
INT. RINK - ON THE ICE
CHARLIE gets the puck away from BROWN, passes to GUY, who passes to RUSS.
RUSS
Alright, it’s knuckle puck time.
With FULTON, GOLDBERG and KENNY on the ice, they manage to keep the Hawks off of him while he shoots and - the puck hurdles towards the goal. And WHAP!
The score is 3-2.
INT. RINK - ON THE BENCH - HAWKS
McGILL
I am not losing this game to those girls again. Get your crap together boys. Let’s win this thing.
HAWKS
Yeah!
INT. RINK - ON THE ICE
FOOTE gets control of the puck, passes to Rogers. JESSE knocks him away from the puck, but the Hawks remain with the puck. McGILL shoots and they score.
Score: 3-3
The Hawks crowd claps and the Ducks crowd boos. McGill makes a gun shooting signal at ADAM.
But . . . ORION takes ADAM off the ice replacing him with DWAYNE.
The Hawks grab control of the puck again. ROGERS slides to WISE, who skates around GOLDBERG and . . . he scores.
INT. RINK - ON THE BENCH - DUCKS
ORION takes a deep breath and sends ADAM back out onto the ice.
INT. RINK - ON THE ICE - Next Standoff
ADAM grabs the puck from STEVENS, loops around three different Hawks players in an incredible feat - including McGill - with almost ridiculous ease, spins around LARSON at defense, and shoots . . . he scores!
Both crowds go WILD! Chanting “Banks! Banks! Banks! Banks!” The commentators and cameras go crazy, trying to get every shot of ADAM that they can. ADAM is enveloped in a hug by FULTON, JESSE, GUY and CHARLIE.
McGILL skates over to ADAM when they separate from him and pokes him in the chest.
McGILL
We’ll get that one back.
BANKS
Fuck you. It’s a Pond Hockey competition. Not the NHL.
He shrugs, smirks, and skates away, making it clear that McGill will never have what he has.
Score: 4-4.
INT. RINK - ON THE BENCH - DUCKS
ORION
We got fifteen seconds left. We can make this happen guys. Just one more goal, that’s it. You got this.
LIAM, getting super into it and cheering
Yeah, we got this!
The Ducks cheer.
INT. RINK - ON THE ICE
CHARLIE faces off against LARSON. CHARLIE takes control of the puck. We see AMY, CASEY, NOAH and LARS cheering from the crowd. CHARLIE speeds down the ice as the Ducks’ defense keeps the Hawks off of him. Still, McGILL stick checks Charlie on the back of the head and CHARLIE falls, losing the puck just as the buzzer rings.
The Ducks crowd boos the Hawks. LIAM holds onto CONNIE’s hand, afraid for his dad.
CHARLIE gets up.
REF
And we got a penalty shot for the Ducks! Coach, anyone on the ice can take it.
INT. THE RINK - ON THE BENCH - THE DUCKS
CHARLIE skates back over. LIAM jumps into his arms, giving him a hug while FULTON pats him on the back.
PORTMAN
Wish you’d let me get him for you, Captain.
ORION
Alright, Ducks. Who’s gonna take it?
The Ducks look at ORION like he has ten heads.
THE DUCKS
Charlie.
CHARLIE
What? No. Send Banks in.
ADAM
No way. I had my final blaze of glory. And I got it because of you, because you brought us back together.
CONNIE
This is all you, Charlie.
GOLDBERG
I’m not even gonna disagree with that. You got this, bro.
CHARLIE looks to ORION, who puts his hand on his shoulder.
ORION
You’re gonna finish what you started.
NOAH appears in the bleachers directly above the Ducks’ bench.
NOAH
And you know what you gotta do, Mr. Conway. One, two, three.
CHARLIE smiles at him.
CHARLIE
You got it, kid.
CHARLIE turns to make his way out onto the ice, with the rest of the Ducks cheering him on.
JOSH, announcer
And here’s Ducks Captain Charlie Conway, making his way onto the ice for what could be the very last time. This is a very special moment for any Ducks fans out there . . .
INT: THE RINK - ON THE ICE
CHARLIE skates to the center of the empty rink. He circles around a few times anxiously. AMY and CASEY hold hands in the crowd.
BOMBAY (V.O.)
You may make it, you may not. But that doesn’t matter, Charlie. What matters is that we’re here. Look around. Whoever thought we’d make it this far? . . . Take your best shot. I believe in you, Charlie. Win or lose.
CHARLIE looks out into the crowd. First at LIAM, then AMY, CASEY, LARS, NOAH. Then at his team. His heart swells.
The ref blows his whistle, but it’s to deaf ears because we the audience can’t hear anything but the iconic Ducks Theme.
Off CHARLIE goes. Everything changes in his approach to this goal. The puck wobbles on his stick, but he controls it. One DEKE . . . then TWO . . . THE GOALIE moves too fast, falling for this second one. CHARLIE shoots, lifting the puck and . . .
The puck hits the post . . . ¼ inch to the left. The RED GOAL LIGHT flashes and it’s OVER! There’s one giant roar from the crowd.
THE DUCKS WIN!
The Ducks theme bleeds into Queen’s WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.
INT. THE RINK – ON THE BENCH - DUCKS
The Ducks explode in a mix of excitement and tears. They did it. They all go running out onto the ice, including families and friends, FULTON lifts LIAM up onto his shoulders, skating out.
INT. THE RINK - ON THE BENCH - HAWKS
The Hawks are devastated in their defeat. There’s nothing for them to even say. Not even when PORTMAN pulls McGILL in for a noogie and then throws him forcefully back onto the bench, clearly not caring about what Charlie had said at the second quarter.
INT. THE RINK - ON THE ICE - DUCKS and FRIENDS
The Ducks fall into a celebratory pile. CHARLIE spins LIAM around. GUY and CONNIE passionately make out while DWAYNE covers their children’s eyes. ADAM picks up JESSE and they cheer. LARS, FULTON and PORTMAN lift up KENNY WU. Even JULIE and GOLDBERG are hugging. AMY takes LIAM from CHARLIE and the two of them share a passionate kiss.
CASEY approaches CHARLIE, and gives him a huge smile.
CHARLIE
I love you, mom.
CASEY
I’m proud of you, Charlie.
The two embrace.
The referees hand over the Pond Hockey Championship trophy to Adam and Julie. They look at each other, shrug, and hand it right over to Charlie. Charlie hands it to Orion.
Orion is taken aback.
CHARLIE
Ducks fly together.
ORION pats him on the back.
NOAH approaches CHARLIE with the rest of his students, who are mystified by the whole thing.
NOAH
Now you gotta help me with that Ducks try out.
A man Charlie doesn’t recognize approaches the Ducks. He’s in a fancy suit, a real Hawks type, but he’s got the Ducks logo on the lapel.
MAN
Charlie Conway? I’m Mike Bailey. I own the Ducks now. I was hoping I could talk to you about coaching pee wees next year.
CHARLIE, still holding LIAM, and surrounded by AMY, CASEY, LARS and FULTON looks out at his team before him. He’s at peace - true Charlie Conway peace, a rare sight. He looks back at MIKE, and shakes his hand.
EXT. We zoom out on the Ducks celebrating in their sea of green and yellow.
FLASHBACK - AFTER CHARLIE’s PENALTY SHOT, DUCKS 1
CHARLIE skates to BOMBAY who envelopes him in a huge embrace. They shoot their hands up in excitement.
FIN.