Chapter 6 First week of preseason
EXT. LAMBEAU FIELD - NIGHT
The iconic Lambeau Field is alive with the buzz of anticipation. It's the first game of the preseason, and the stands are packed with excited fans, eager to see their beloved Green Bay Packers in action. The sky is dark, and the stadium lights blaze down on the field, creating a bright, electrifying atmosphere.
The camera pans across the crowd, showing fans in Packers gear, holding up signs, and chanting in unison.
CROWD
(chanting)
Go Pack Go! Go Pack Go!
On the sideline, the players are warming up. Brett Favre, wearing his familiar number 4 jersey, throws passes to his receivers, looking focused but tense. Not far from him, Aaron Rodgers stretches and gets ready for his first taste of preseason action.
The camera zooms in on Rodgers as he takes a deep breath, soaking in the moment. He glances around the stadium, feeling the energy from the fans. This is what he's been waiting for—a chance to prove himself on a bigger stage.
INT. PACKERS SIDELINE - MOMENTS LATER
The head coach approaches Rodgers with a serious look on his face.
PACKERS HEAD COACH
"Alright, Aaron, you're going in after Brett's first series. Show us what you've got, but remember to play smart."
Rodgers nods, his expression determined.
AARON RODGERS
"You got it, Coach."
Favre overhears this and shoots Rodgers a sidelong glance. There's a flicker of irritation in his eyes, but he turns away, keeping his focus on the field.
EXT. LAMBEAU FIELD - GAME PLAY
The game begins. Favre leads the Packers' first-team offense onto the field against the San Diego Chargers' defense. The crowd cheers loudly as he takes the snap and drops back, looking for an open receiver. He throws a quick pass over the middle, but it's slightly off-target and bounces off the receiver's hands. The crowd murmurs in surprise.
Favre grimaces, shaking his head. On the next play, he tries a deep pass down the sideline, but it's overthrown. The Chargers' defense makes a stop, and the Packers are forced to punt.
The camera cuts to the sideline, where Rodgers is watching intently, his helmet already on, ready to go.
PACKERS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Well, it looks like Brett Favre and the offense couldn't quite get into rhythm there. Let's see if the young Aaron Rodgers can bring some energy to this team.
Rodgers jogs onto the field, greeted by a mix of cheers and curious murmurs from the crowd. He steps into the huddle, confident and composed.
AARON RODGERS
(calmly)
"Alright, guys, let's show them what we can do. Keep it simple and execute. We've got this."
The offense nods, sensing Rodgers' calm confidence. They break the huddle and line up for the play. Rodgers takes the snap and drops back, his eyes scanning the field. He steps up in the pocket and fires a quick pass to the slot receiver, who catches it in stride and turns upfield for a solid gain. The crowd cheers, impressed by Rodgers' quick decision-making.
PACKERS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
That's a great start for Aaron Rodgers, showing some poise in the pocket and delivering a strike to his receiver. Rodgers wastes no time, calling the next play with a sense of urgency. The ball is snapped again, and Rodgers executes a perfect play-action fake, causing the Chargers' defense to bite. He rolls out to his right and launches a deep pass down the sideline. The receiver breaks free from the coverage and catches the ball in stride, racing into the end zone for a touchdown. The crowd erupts in cheers, jumping to their feet.
CROWD
(cheering loudly)
Rodgers! Rodgers! Rodgers!
Rodgers pumps his fist, his face a mix of joy and determination. He jogs back to the sideline, greeted by enthusiastic high-fives from his teammates. The head coach slaps him on the shoulder with a proud grin.
COACH MCCARTHY
(excitedly)
"That's how you do it, Aaron! Great job!"
Rodgers nods, but his eyes shift to Favre, who stands a few feet away, his expression dark and unreadable. Favre's jaw is clenched, his frustration evident.
The camera zooms in on Favre's face, capturing the simmering resentment beneath his calm exterior. He watches as Rodgers is celebrated by the coaches and players, his grip tightening on his helmet.
BRETT FAVRE
(to himself, quietly)
"It's just one game. Just one game…"
The game continues, and Rodgers stays hot. On his next drive, he shows off his mobility, scrambling out of the pocket to avoid pressure from the Chargers' defense and finding an open receiver downfield for another big gain. The crowd is fully behind him now, chanting his name with every play.
PACKERS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
"Aaron Rodgers is putting on a show here tonight, folks. This young quarterback is making a statement!"
Rodgers leads another scoring drive, capping it off with a perfectly placed touchdown pass to the back of the end zone. The fans are ecstatic, the cheers growing louder with each success.
On the sideline, Favre's frustration reaches a boiling point. He tosses his helmet onto the bench and storms over to the head coach.
BRETT FAVRE
(angrily)
"What's going on, Coach? When am I getting back in there?"
The head coach, trying to stay calm, looks at Favre with understanding.
COACH MCCARTHY
"Brett, we've got to give Aaron his reps. It's the preseason, and he's playing well. This is part of the plan."
Favre's face contorts with frustration, his pride wounded by the coach's words.
BRETT FAVRE
"Plan? What plan? The plan where I sit on the bench while the rookie takes my snaps?"
Rodgers glances over, overhearing the heated exchange. He feels a mix of empathy for Favre but also a growing sense of confidence. This is his moment, and he knows he has to seize it.
The camera cuts back to the field, where Rodgers is leading the offense once more. He takes the snap, drops back, and throws a perfect pass to the tight end, threading it between two defenders. The tight end makes the catch and powers forward for another first down.
The fans are on their feet, cheering wildly. The announcer's voice is filled with excitement.
PACKERS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
"Aaron Rodgers is carving up this Chargers defense! What a performance by the young quarterback he's 15/15!"
Favre watches from the sideline, his frustration boiling over. He knows he's losing the fans' support, and the realization stings.
INT. PACKERS LOCKER ROOM - POST-GAME
The locker room is filled with a celebratory atmosphere. Players are chatting and laughing, energized by the win and Rodgers' performance. Rodgers sits at his locker, removing his gear, a satisfied smile on his face.
Favre enters the locker room, his expression stormy. He walks past Rodgers without a word, heading straight to his locker. The tension is thick, and several players notice the simmering animosity.
The head coach enters the room, clapping his hands to get everyone's attention.
COACH MCCARTHY
"Great job tonight, guys! We saw some great things out there. Aaron, fantastic work leading the offense."
The players cheer, and Rodgers nods in acknowledgment. Favre, however, stares at the floor, his frustration barely contained.
I looked up at the mirror in my locker and smiled "This is just the beginning".
The camera zooms in on Rodgers' face, capturing his mix of satisfaction and determination. Then it cuts to Favre, his face a mask of frustration and resentment.
FADE OUT.
END.