PRESSURE

written by

Āwhiti Hawkins

Phone: 0223495654
E-mail: tawhitiuha@[Link]
INT. BEDROOM. DAY
HONE is sitting at his computer, playing games with his
friend.
HONE (CAREFREE)
...Yeah dude, we've got the finals
tomorrow. I'm a little worried
though, they're pretty strong.
Halfway through, the door opens and his dad, BROCK PUNA is
standing in the doorway.
(BROCK is centered, Hone is half off screen and never turns
to his dad until the end)
BROCK (EXCITED)
Finals, eh? So you're finally
following in the footsteps of your
ol' man? That makes this so much
easier-
HONE (FRUSTRATED)
Hold on dude. What are you saying?
Hone pulls off one of his ear-cups as he turns to his father.
BROCK
I've got a gift ! We're moving to
Australia.
Brock drops two plane tickets on the table next to him, but
see's the anger growing on his sons face
BROCK (CONT'D)
No, I'm just kidding, I've got an
interview on Sunday, so I thought
we could make a weekend out of it.
That's when Hone actually looks at the tickets, which are for
for tomorrow morning.
HONE
You're joking, right? I can't go
tomorrow! I've got volleyball!
BROCK (NOT HEARING HIS SON)
No, listen, It'll be blast! We're
staying at an E-sports hotel so
we'll be able to play games
together, too!
 2.

HONE
Dad! It's a volleyball tournament!
I can't just play from across the
Tasman! I've told you, I play video
games to have fun with my FRIENDS,
not to compete for some digital
clout.
As he's talking, Hone leaves, grabbing a go bag and
interrupting his dad as he tries to apologize.
BROCK
I'm sorry, I didn't kn-

EXT. SIDEWALK. DAY

Hone walks down the street with his head down. He's texting
his university friend and gaming buddy, JEFF.
HONE
Sorry for bailing dude. You know
how parents are. What are you upto
now?
JEFF
I'm actually on my way to the
Gaming arena on campus, you want to
join?
HONE
Be there in 20.

After pocketing his phone, Hone walks to the nearest bus

stop. After an uncomfortably long wait he pulls out his
phone.
HONE (CONT'D)
Sorry dude, more like 40. Auckland
busses, huh?
Finally the bus arrives, and Hone disappears in to the public
transport system.

EXT. BUS STOP. DAY

Hone steps from the bus and heads towards the rec center.
 3.

EXT. REC CENTER ENTRANCE. DAY

Hone steps through the rec center front door as it slides
open

INT. REC CENTER. DAY

Hone stands at the entrance to the Gaming center like its a
beast to be overcome. The room itself is shrouded in
darkness, and the only sources of light are the almost
entirely empty gaming computers and the unseen television to
the left. Jeff is just visible through the glass panel and
when he see's Hone, he puts his controller down and gets up.
After flipping on the light switch and opening the door, Jeff
invites Hone in and the mood changes. Hone heads in after
scanning his phone and the two move into the room.

INT. GAMING ROOM. DAY

Hone and John are jamming the game, they've got controllers
in their hands and are talking as they play. There's one
person just in frame playing Rivals/overwatch/ reviewing
VODs.
HONE
Sorry again for just ditching you
bro. Thanks for coming out to the
arena.
JEFF
Nah, like I said, I was on the way
in.
Hone knows he's lying.
HONE
It's just my dad. He booked tickets
for this trip to Australia without
even talking to me about it! This
weekend!
JEFF
I heard him, Hone. Have you
considered he was just excited to
share something with you? I
remember hearing there was a job
opportunity involved?
 4.

HONE
Yeah, and? What about me? This
volleyball tournament is important
to me. I feel like he doesn't even
see me!
By now their dialogue has become choppy as they struggle to
beat each other.
JEFF
You're emotions are impacting your
ability to play.
HONE
You just use- cheap- tactics- See?!
The two stop playing briefly, putting the controllers down
now that the round is over.
JEFF
Listen, dude. You have a point,
obviously what BROCK did was fucked
up, but he seemed really excited to
share something with you. Maybe
things aren't as simple as him
being the bad guy.
The computer player has stood and walked over.
UNKNOWN
Sorry, did you say BROCK, Brock
Puna?
HONE
Uh, yeah?
UNKNOWN
Your dad is BROCK THE ROCK? The
number one Tank player in Oceania?
HONE
Yeah, I guess?
UNKNOWN
Dude that is so cool! You know he
managed to hold a point against
three enemies alone, long enough
for his whole team to return and
win the point. In a national
tournament!
HONE
Yeah, whatever... Let's get back to
playing the game, Jeff.
 5.

JEFF (MILD FRUSTRATION)

Alright man, but you can't keep
dismissing him like that. Maybe you
could learn a thing or two.

UNKNOWN
If you're too afraid to ask him
yourself, he's got a player guide
online. It helped me break out of
Grand Master.
JEFF
You know, Hone. Getting better at
something is part of how some
people have fun. If you were worse,
we probably wouldn't have made it
to the finals.
Jeff proceeds to mop the floor with Hone in their fighting
game twice in a row, just to make the point more poignant.
HONE
Fuck it!
Hone throws the controller down and heads towards the
computers behind him.
JEFF
Alright bro that's me. I gotta head
home, catch you later.
Jeff stands, dapping the angry Hone up before leaving.
Hone turns he back and heads towards the computers.
Settling he logs in, opens a browser and pulls up YouTube.
UNKNOWN
You looking up his channel? It's
called BROCK THE ROCK
HONE
I know what my dads channel name is
dude, relax.
UNKNOWN
Fair enough
UNKNOWN returns to his VOD reviews while Hone fullscreen's
the youtube video.
 6.

BROCK (V.O.)
Hello, and welcome to the Tank's
basic guide to competitive
shooters! This is a comprehensive
guide for players of all skill and
experience level. For-
Hone taps through the video, skipping ahead to a part that
seems interesting.
BROCK (V.O.) (CONT'D)
-Now that we've gone over the
anatomy of what a competitive
shooter is lets go over some more
specialized information. As a tank
player, you necessarily have to
secure kills to provide forward
pressure for your team. That's the
only way to to take and occupy
space which is your primary job as
tank. While you need to be a
threat, your true power comes in
creating the space for your team,
enabling them to make game winning
plays. Typically for this role,
tanks have more health, access to a
shield, or disruptive abilities...
Hone starts to take notes as he listens, the dialogue fading
alongside the image, to black.

INT. GAMING ROOM. DAY

Jeff shakes Hone awake, the subtle roar of a growing crowd
filling the [Link] fell asleep at the computer and was
there over night. The Screen displays a "You're out of time"
message.
HONE (GROANING)
I thought you went home bro, how
long was I out?
JEFF
I did, dude. It's tomorrow. Our
game is in twenty minutes!
Hone groans again before adding
HONE
At least I brought my go bag
Hone grabs his go bag and leaves to the tournament downstairs
with Jeff.
 7.

INT. INDOOR COURT. DAY

From above, a crowd watches as officials set up a net and
scoreboard. On either side of the court the teams converse,
discussing strategy or shooting shit before the big game.
Hone arrives dressed in his sports uniform just late for the
team huddle
COACH
...now I know this is daunting,
even though its only an inter-
university championship but
remember, we're here to have fun,
so go out there and have some fun!
Meanwhile, the challenger team is in a heated huddle talking
about [Unintelligible]. They put their hands in to the center
as the coach counts them in.
RIVAL COACH
ONE. TWO. THREE. WIN!
And so the game begins.
The teams walk toward their respective sides, with Hone set
to serve. He tries his routine, deep breaths before a hard,
powerful jumping serve but he can't stop thinking about his
dad.
FLASHBACK to his father as he pushed past the door, leaving
him alone.
Immediately the whistle blows and he's subbed out.
COACH
What the hell was that dude? You
didn't even get it to the other
side of the net!
HONE
Sorry, Coach, won't happen again.
COACH
Yeah, of course it won't you're on
the bench for the rest of the game!
FLASHBACK to Jeff's words
JEFF (V.O.)
If you were any worse, we probably
wouldn't be in the finals.
 8.

Hone is forced to watch as his team fights a close, intense

battle through a number of major points gotten or lost. It's
10 to 11, the last point of the set. The ball is served,
travels across the court. They attack fast and hard, sending
a spike down the side of court barely blocked by Jeff, and by
his face too. They win the point but Jeff has to head off the
court, leaving the team down one player.
The whistle blows and the teams return to their sides of the
court to confer and plan for the next set.
COACH
Alright team I know it looks rough.
We're down one of our best players
going in to the second Set but all
we need in one more win. Micah,
you're replacing Jeff, otherwise
positions are the same. Take the
next five minutes to recover as
much as you can.

INT. COURTSIDE. DAY

Hone sits on the sidelines, alone as his team fights for
their life. Jeff's absence has turned the game in to a
struggle for his team and Hone can't help but feel it's his
fault.
That's when Jeff arrives, back from the nurse with what looks
like a blood soaked tissue stuffed up a nostril.
JEFF
Still having a sook after that
shitty serve?
HONE
Whatever bro, I'm just thinking
about that guy and what my dad
said.
JEFF
What that guy from the Gamimg
Arena? He was kinda cooked and a
fanboy so I don't know man.
HONE
I mostly mean my dad. I feel like I
don't even know anymore. It's like
he cares more about his stupid game
than me!
JEFF
Do you really believe that?
 9.

Jeff gestures to the stands above the court and Brock is

there, watching his Son. He waves as he notices Hone looking
at him with a melancholic smile on his face.
A whistle blows. Their coach is calling a time out after
scoring a point. The scoreboard looks desperate. 10-7 to the
other team. Coach is giving a pep talk when Hone approaches.
HONE
Coach, you need to put me in, I can
do it
COACH
After your serve this morning, I'm
not sure I trust you out there,
Hone. Why should I believe you wont
do it again?
HONE
It was dad, Coach. I was upset
about my dad. I dont want to go in
to it but he's here now, and I need
to show him what I can do, please!
COACH
Alright, Hone, but if you miss this
I'm taking you out immediately. If
have to play out a third set I'm
not sure we'll win.
HONE
Thanks Coach, I wont let you down,
I promise.
The coach goes off screen and the whistle blows as they
return to the field after their break.
When the opposing team see Jeff they're suddenly carefree,
talking to each other as if he's going to give them a free
point. He's determined to show them wrong. This time his dad
is a force of encouragement for his routine. He looks up to
his father as he begins his jump serve routine.
Despite being ignored he saunters forward one, two steps. He
jumps, and hits the ball (IMPACT FRAME) and it shoots across
the court into the corner of the field in an instant.
The Scorekeeper flips the scorecard - 10-9
Now the opposing team respects him. They're watching intently
as he readies, jumps and spikes. This one glances off the
receive but its not enough.
10-10
 10.

Hone serves again, hitting a service ace one last time,

bringing them to match point.
Everyone's nerves are suddenly on edge. Now Hone and his team
are one point away from winning the tournament and the
pressure is high. Everyone is staring as Hone makes one more
play at a serve.
Despite its power, someone manages to barely save the serve,
but it's not enough to send an attack back so our team has
another opportunity.
HONE (CONT'D)
RIGHT SIDE!
Hone calls out. Steam seems to roll off his body, his breath
turns in to an animated plume of art. He charges forward.
BROCK (V.O.)
As a tank player, you neccesarily
have to secure kills to provide
forward pressure for your team
Each step cracks the court below his feet, exploding into a
jump at the net and swinging as hard as he can... at nothing

BROCK (V.O.) (CONT'D)

your true power comes in creating
the space for your team, enabling
them to make game winning plays.
The setter launches the ball left side, to the other Spiker.
All their attention is on Hone when he tips the ball over the
net gently, securing the point for the win.
The team erupts, colliding into the point scorer, meanwhile
Hone stands at the edge of the court alone.
Jeff comes up to him, patting him on the back.
JEFF
Good shit man. I really thought you
were going to hit that. I didn't
even know you could spike!
HONE (LAUGHING)
Yeah, I can't!
JEFF
Seriously? What would you have done
if the ball had come to you?
 11.

BROCK
HONE! Holy, boy that's what I call
a play. Did you mean to act as
decoy there?
HONE
Yeah, I ended up binging your tank
guide last night. Anyway I thought
you were going to Australia for
that job interview
BROCK
And miss your game? Not for the
world. I'm heading over tomorrow
and negotiating a Work From Home
gig so I can spend more time with
my kid.
The rest of the team suddenly rush them, celebrating their
win.
SETTER
Nice decoy, brother. We're headed
for food and drinks if you want to
come?
Hone looks to his dad, and then the group, thinking
HONE
Actually, I'm going to play video-
games with my dad
Jeff pats Hone on the back before getting lost in the crowd.
FADE TO BLACK
FADE IN TO CREDITS
Hone and Brock playing video games together.