Screenplay data
Former college quarterback Brandon Lang is discovered by New York sports betting service owner Walter Abrams, who transforms him into the successful handicapper "John Anthony." Brandon's lavish new life becomes entangled with Walter's erratic behavior, gambling addiction, and strained marriage, while Brandon also reconnects with his estranged father. A losing streak causes financial losses and a confrontation where Walter reveals his manipulative nature, prompting Brandon to orchestrate a final scheme with Walter's wife, Toni, to ensure Walter's downfall. Brandon leaves the gambling world behind, finding peace coaching a youth football team and reconciling with his past.
Save the Cat beat sheet
Former college quarterback Brandon Lang reinvents himself as John Anthony under the mentorship of sports guru Walter Abrams, finding early success in high-stakes sports handicapping.
Open full beat sheetBrandon Lang is listed as Protagonist. Former college quarterback turned sports handicapper. In the parsed data, Brandon Lang is connected to 76 scenes, 138 dialogue lines, 140 text mentions, first appearing around scene 2.
76 scenes / 138 dialogue linesWalter Abrams is listed as Antagonist/Mentor. Owner of a sports service, charismatic, gambling addict. In the parsed data, Walter Abrams is connected to 50 scenes, 162 dialogue lines, 163 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
50 scenes / 162 dialogue linesToni Morrow is listed as Supporting. Walter's wife, salon owner, former model. In the parsed data, Toni Morrow is connected to 24 scenes, 45 dialogue lines, 45 text mentions, first appearing around scene 6.
24 scenes / 45 dialogue linesJerry Sykes is listed as Supporting. Top handicapper at Walter's firm, relies on computer systems. In the parsed data, Jerry Sykes is connected to 6 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 17 text mentions, first appearing around scene 34.
6 scenes / 16 dialogue linesChuck Adler is listed as Supporting. Handicapper at Walter's firm, aggressive personality. In the parsed data, Chuck Adler is connected to 6 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 5 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
6 scenes / 3 dialogue linesC.M. Novian is listed as Supporting. Wealthy, high-stakes sports bettor. In the parsed data, C.M. Novian is connected to 3 scenes, 12 dialogue lines, 13 text mentions, first appearing around scene 47.
3 scenes / 12 dialogue linesBrandon's Dad is listed as Supporting. Brandon's father, estranged, recovering addict. In the parsed data, Brandon's Dad is connected to 3 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 6 text mentions, first appearing around scene 88.
3 scenes / 6 dialogue linesDenny is listed as Supporting. Brandon's younger brother. In the parsed data, Denny is connected to 3 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 42.
3 scenes / 3 dialogue linesBrandon's Mom is listed as Supporting. Brandon's mother, works at a casino. In the parsed data, Brandon's Mom is connected to 1 scene, 9 dialogue lines, 9 text mentions, first appearing around scene 45.
1 scenes / 9 dialogue linesA montage of home movies showing Brandon's childhood and his father's obsession with sports.
Brandon Lang, Brandon's DadBrandon, as a college quarterback, leads his team in a final, high-stakes play, resulting in a severe leg injury.
Brandon LangBrandon's father visits him in the hospital, but Brandon rejects him.
Brandon Lang, Brandon's DadBrandon works in a low-level sports handicapping office and is approached by his boss to take over a betting line.
Brandon LangBrandon meets Walter Abrams, who offers him a job in New York.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsToni Morrow gives a pedicure to Brandon Lang while discussing his potential employment and gambling habits.
Toni Morrow, Brandon LangWalter shows Brandon the apartment and office space.
Walter Abrams, Brandon LangWalter instructs Brandon on his new persona, John Anthony.
Walter Abrams, Brandon LangBrandon records his first pitch as John Anthony.
Brandon LangWalter rejects Brandon's recording.
Walter Abrams, Brandon LangWalter coaches Brandon on his sales pitch.
Walter Abrams, Brandon LangBrandon practices his pitch while working out.
Brandon LangWalter, Toni, and Brandon have dinner; Walter challenges Brandon to pick up a woman.
Walter Abrams, Toni Morrow, Brandon LangWalter introduces Brandon to the sales floor.
Walter Abrams, Brandon Lang, Jerry Sykes, Chuck AdlerWalter pressures Brandon to adopt a more aggressive, profane sales persona to better connect with clients.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Chuck AdlerBrandon and Walter walk through Manhattan as Walter continues Brandon's education.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsWalter and Brandon arrive at a Gamblers Anonymous meeting.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsWalter disrupts a Gamblers Anonymous meeting with a cynical speech about the nature of gambling.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsWalter praises Brandon for using profanity during the meeting.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon attempts to introduce himself to Chuck, who is hostile.
Brandon Lang, Chuck AdlerTammy prepares Brandon for his first sales call.
Brandon LangBrandon makes his first sales call to Amir, a dry cleaner owner.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon makes multiple sales calls to clients.
Brandon LangThe sales team works the phones aggressively.
Walter AbramsTime lapse showing the progression of Sunday sports games.
Brandon finishes his calls after a successful weekend.
Brandon LangBrandon visits Walter and Toni for dinner.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowBrandon agrees to fully commit to the John Anthony persona.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowToni gives Brandon a new haircut to complete his transformation.
Brandon Lang, Toni MorrowBrandon tries on new suits.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsWalter buys a new car for Brandon.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon arrives at a bar in his new car.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon and Walter prepare for their TV appearance.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsThe Sports Advisors panel records their show.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Jerry Sykes, Chuck AdlerWalter returns home late and manic.
Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowToni tries to calm Walter down.
Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowToni tries to get Walter to sleep while he is restless and obsessed with his work and running.
Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowWalter arrives at the office and instructs Tammy to block calls for Brandon.
Walter AbramsJerry confronts Brandon about inside information, and Walter intervenes to give Brandon a new lead.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Jerry SykesToni discovers a call girl in the apartment and confronts Walter about his behavior.
Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowWalter asserts his dominance over Jerry and promotes Brandon on the show.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Jerry Sykes, Chuck AdlerBrandon talks to his brother Denny and learns his father is trying to reach him.
Brandon Lang, DennyBrandon confronts Walter about blocking his father's calls.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowWalter explains his philosophy on life and family to Brandon.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowBrandon talks to his mother on the phone while being fitted for a suit.
Brandon Lang, Brandon's MomWalter fakes a heart attack to test Brandon's loyalty.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon and Walter meet with Novian to secure his business.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, C.M. NovianNovian tells Brandon to enjoy himself while he discusses terms with Walter.
Brandon Lang, C.M. NovianBrandon prepares his picks for the weekend.
Brandon LangThe office celebrates a successful Monday Night Football outcome; Brandon and Walter clash over money and respect.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Toni Morrow, Jerry Sykes, DennyBrandon drives into the city.
Brandon LangBrandon indulges in the lifestyle of the Million Dollar Man.
Brandon LangBrandon explains his handicapping process to the dancers.
Brandon LangBrandon struts through the office as John Anthony.
Brandon LangBrandon insists on taking time off to play golf despite Walter's objections.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon offers Toni a ride.
Brandon Lang, Toni MorrowBrandon and Toni discuss their pasts and the meaning of living.
Brandon Lang, Toni MorrowBrandon's early picks result in heavy losses.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsWalter confronts Brandon about the disastrous weekend.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon watches the Monday night game and realizes he lost everything for his brother.
Brandon Lang, DennyBrandon intensely studies data for the next week.
Brandon LangWalter finds Brandon at the driving range.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsNovian confronts Brandon and humiliates him.
Brandon Lang, C.M. NovianWalter fires Jerry.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Jerry Sykes, Chuck AdlerBrandon waits for the results of his picks.
Brandon LangBrandon is in bed, avoiding calls, while Toni knocks on his door to urge him to leave.
Brandon Lang, Toni MorrowBrandon tries to contact Alex from a lobby phone.
Brandon LangAlex confronts Brandon and tells him to leave her alone.
Brandon LangBrandon receives a distressed call from Amir, who lost a significant amount of money.
Brandon LangBrandon confronts Walter about the betting losses and his own identity.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon and Walter watch the games they bet on, which all lose.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon meets Toni at Nobu instead of Walter.
Brandon Lang, Toni MorrowWalter celebrates his anniversary and gives Brandon a watch.
Brandon Lang, Walter Abrams, Toni MorrowBrandon and Walter go live on air to announce the Superbowl picks.
Brandon Lang, Walter AbramsBrandon prepares to leave his office, hanging up his jacket and tie.
Brandon LangThe sales staff watches the Superbowl kick-off; Walter orders the phones killed.
Walter AbramsToni and Brandon discuss Walter's impending downfall while watching the game.
Brandon Lang, Toni Morrow, Walter AbramsBrandon packs his belongings to leave.
Brandon LangBrandon leaves the brownstone and spots Toni watching him from a window.
Brandon Lang, Toni MorrowWalter realizes Brandon is missing during the game.
Walter AbramsNot even close. You're a lemon. Like a bad car, there's something inherently defective in you. And you. And me! All of us here -- we're lemons! Big, juicy, acidic, ice-tea flavoring lemons! We look like everyone else but we're defective because when most people make a bet they want to win, while we, the degenerate gamblers of the world, we're subconsciously playing to lose. All humans like going to the edge of the abyss, but what makes us different is we go all the way and hurl ourselves off into the void! And we like doing it so much we do it time after time after time! Me? I always felt most alive when they were raking away the chips, and every one here knows what I'm talking about. People like us, even when we win, it's just a matter of time before we give it all back. But when we lose, and I mean the kind of loss that makes your asshole pucker to the size of a decimal point, there's a moment when you're standing there and you've just recreated the worst possible nightmare this side of malignant cancer for the 20th goddamn time and you suddenly realize -- hey, I'm still here, I'm still breathing, I'm still alive! In order to really live you have to be aware of your own mortality -- and a losing bet of a certain size is one of the best ways I know of getting that feeling. When you win, you defy death, but when you lose, you survive it, and that's remarkable! Us lemons, we fuck shit up on purpose! We need to constantly remind ourselves that we're alive! Gambling's not the problem, Leon, your fucked up need to feel something, to convince yourself you exist, to test what's really real, that's the problem!
Walter, my patented computer models tell me we're looking at nothing less than the perfect storm of betting opportunities. But first, last week I cashed in a big-time call on on Chicago as an outright winner over Indianapolis -- making it my 8th straight top selection winner right here on this tv show! This Sunday I have 5 match-ups I absolutely love, including Miami at New York! Stats, rankings, records, weather, the Sykes System uses 42 proven indexs to eliminate the guesswork from sports wagering. Without my patented, computer-based picks you have a better chance of seeing God knocking on your door with five strippers and a bag of Bolivian cocaine than winning on your own! Call me for my five games! Absolutely free -- 800-238-6648!
And now I find out you've been thinking ever since then that we did sleep together? Living with it like that? Looking at me like that? You sick fuck! You wanted to lose! You set us up! Like I was something you just toss on the table! Only we booked your bet, Walter! Brandon and me. The two of us, who evidentally love you more than you love yourself. Your fantasy's to end up alone with nothing! Well I won't let that happen to you! Understand? I will never let that happen! This is it! We're all we have, Walter! All we're ever gonna have! You and me, we're all that's real!
--Someone wrote some great stuff for me here but the "Million Dollar Man," I dunno, it sounds kinda small somehow. I mean maybe if you change that M in million to a Z I could get behind it. They tried all sorts of names, wanted to call me the Magic Man -- but picking 80 percent winners sounds pretty scientific to me. So let's just call me John. I was a quarterback. And every QB knows the key to victory is anticipating -- the ability to see the future and react to it. That is what I do, that's the truth, and what do they say about the truth, Walter?
Hell yes -- with a side order of fried bookmaker!!! I'm the grim reaper of bookmakers! I've put more bookies out of business than the I.R.S.! How many gamblers did I bail out last weekend with my game of the year! Denver, a 10-point underdog beating Cincinatti by two touchdowns! A $100 bettor made $10,000!
We're up against a tough team today, toughest on our schedule. But you're ready for it. You're prepared. Most important I want you to go out there and have some fun. Enjoy yourselves. Keep it loose. Because you can't make me any more proud of you than I already am. Team cheer, bring it in --
Holy Christ, I forgot my earplugs. Take a break before you blow a gasket, we'll get back to you after my hearing returns. Saturday comes before Sunday and looking at this Saturday's college match-ups is the last but certainly not least member of The Sports Advisors -- John Anthony!
I am so confident of John Anthony's picks for this Sunday, so sure of the skills he's brought to bear and so anxious to get you on the phone and dialing the toll free number on your screen that for the first time in sports service history I will guarantee our picks this weekend!
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