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[Documentary starts up on a single chair in a well-lit room with a black background. There's no music so each footstep is heard as a figure walks past the camera and sits on the seat, revealing Shane Hollander]
Shane: Ah, so, you wanted to know about the rivalry between Rozanov and me?
[Cut to Ilya Rozanov in the same chair, alone in the room, as he sits leaned forward with his elbows on his knees]
Ilya: Ah, yes, the boring Canadian. Does he still play hockey?
[Cut to a hockey rink. The area is empty, as is the rink itself save two figures racing across the white ice, a puck passing between the two of them at unbelievable speeds.]
[The camera focuses closer on them two, almost unidentifiable with their hockey gear and unlabeled black jerseys on. The footage slows down, showing the one with blonde curls poking out of his helmet smile across the ice before feigning a pass and delivering another one the next second.]
[The camera follows the puck into the other player's stick and up until it ends on the other man's face — red beneath the freckles. There's a joyous smile on his face, a brightness in his eyes.]
[The sounds of the rink end suddenly as the documentary cuts to Shane Hollander again, on the chair alone.]
Shane: The truth?
[Cut back to Ilya in the same room]
Ilya: The truth?
[The two scenes play side-by-side, Shane Hollandersmiling a private smile while there's an excited gleam in Ilya Rozanov's eyes]
Shane and Ilya: I love him.
[Fade to black and the title credits read SHANE AND ILYA: THE REAL STORY before also fading away.]
[Soft classical music plays as the footage starts with green grass, a lake in the background]
Interviewer Off Camera: So, where are we?
[Ilya and Shane pan into view. They're sitting on the grass together, a blanket under them]
Shane: This is our summer cottage north of Ottawa. We come here any chance we get, but we're lucky if we spend more than a couple weekends here during the season.
Ilya: This is where we said I love you to each other, the first time. Very special place, this cottage.
Shane: It is. It's my favorite place to be.
Interviewer Off Camera: So this is where it all started?
[Both hockey players laugh, shaking their heads.]
Shane: No, not at all.
Ilya: It all started way before.
Interviewer Off Camera: So, when?
[The scene shifts into a grainy video obviously several years old. A younger Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov skate on an ice rink, production lights beam on them as a camera crew surrounds them.]
[The young players skate towards each other, laughing against their wishes as they gaze softly at each other.]
Shane Voiceover: Since the beginning. Before our careers even started.
[Scene change: Shane Hollander guides the camera through a nicely decorated house. It's a lot of natural sunlight coming in through the tall windows and creates a warm glow around the open layout.]
Shane: This is our Ottawa home. Obviously, I have an apartment in Montreal for the season, but this is our home. The kitchen we designed together, marble countertops with plenty of space, a big oven.
Cameraman: Do you two cook often?
Shane: Every chance we get. Ilya is very- Well, there's a saying in Russian: путь к сердцу мужчины лежит через желудок. That translates pretty well to "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Cooking is a thing we enjoy doing together, not just because we get to work together for once in our lives, but because it brings us closer.
Cameraman: Do you speak Russian fluently or just a few things?
Shane: [awkward little laugh] I wouldn't call myself fluent by any means, but I started learning a few years ago. It's hard to secretly learn a new language, especially one with a different alphabet.
Cameraman: Secretly?
Shane: No one knew about Ilya, obviously. I was scared that someone would somehow piece our relationship together if they found out I knew Russian. So, I kept it secret, did the lessons on the back of the bus or plane during trips, at my apartment alone, even lesson podcasts when I drove around town.
Cameraman: That's sweet, but also sad.
Shane: [shrugging] I lost a lot of time worried about what other people will think about our relationship. But that ends here.
[A door in the house slides open and shut, a dog collar clinking loudly. A few seconds later, Ilya appears with a dog bouncing beside him.]
Ilya: Ahh, Shane, моя любовь!
[Shane smiles at his boyfriend and meets him in the middle of the room for a quick, but deep, kiss. The dog whines at their feet and bops her nose against Shane's leg.]
Shane: Hi, Ilya. I was just showing the camera around the house. Yes, Anya, I missed you too girl.
Ilya: She love you, give her pets.
Shane: I am petting her!
Ilya: I am sorry, Anya, that your dad does not love you.
Shane: Asshole.
Ilya: You speak to me that way with cameras on? Shame, Shane Hollander. Soon the world will know that you are not good wholesome Canadian.
Shane: [Rolls eyes] I've never been wholesome.
Ilya: Oh, I know. Now everyone else will too. [Ilya faces the cameras and wraps an arm over Shane's shoulders] And no one can have him. He is mine.
Shane: [Shoves Ilya off him] Are you seriously getting territorial on camera? On the documentary about our relationship?
Ilya: It doesn't hurt to remind everyone that I have pulled the hottest hockey player in history.
[Shane's face turns bright red as he stubbornly turns away from Ilya and back to the camera.]
Shane: Let's continue the tour. Over here is…
[Shane's voice fades out as the footage montages footage from around the house set to calm music.]
[A hallway with photos of Shane and Ilya on the walls: the two of them as teenagers, solo photos of their hockey portraits, family photos with Shane's parents, a few with them alone, Anya as a puppy in Ilya's arms, both individual captains holding the Stanley Cups for their respective teams. A life of memories live on the ways, telling their own story.]
[The home gym, filled with exercise machines, two treadmills, two bicycle machines, two yoga matts, and a mini fridge.]
[The family room with an unlit fireplace, the TV muted on a hockey game, two books on the side table — one in Russian and one in English. A gray throw blanket lays artistically along the back of the cream sectional.]
[The music quiets down as it switches to a door in a hallway with Ilya Rozanov grasping the handle.]
Ilya: There is not much of our careers around, yes? We keep everything here-
[Ilya opens the door to reveal a large room filled with various hockey awards, medals, and memorabilia. There's a Canadian and Russian flag alongside their Olympic medals; one gold, one bronze. Rookie of the year, Hart Memorial Trophies, Lady Byng Memorial Trophies (from Shane only), Calders and Art Rosses and Conn Smyths and a Bill Masterton.]
Ilya: - in our trophy room.
Cameraman: Whoa, I didn't realize just how much you had.
Ilya: Is a lot, from both of us. This one [he gestures to the Bill Masterton] is the newest. Shane deserved it many seasons ago, but I am glad to see it in here now.
Cameraman: And for our viewers who don't know, that reward is for…
Ilya: The player who shows the most dedication and sportsmanship and perseverance to hockey. And Shane is-
[As Ilya speaks, footage of Shane Hollander games play: pucks a blur as they slide past goaltenders, celebrating with his team; Shane helping an opposing player up off the ice; an iPad in his hand as Shane shows another player something, his hands animated as he describes a play.]
Ilya: - the absolute best of all of us. He is every good quality a player could have.
[A new scene opens in the Ottawa locker room. Alternate captain Zane Boodram sits in a chair in the middle of the room.]
Zane: We're fortunate that Roz decided to come to Ottawa. It was kinda mind-blowing at first! There's this great fucking menace you hate playing against, right? Then one day, he's your captain and telling you to skate better.
[Cut to Evan Dykstra sitting in the interview chair.]
Evan: No, we never did find out why Roz came to Ottawa. I'm super thankful, obviously, because the man is amazing on the ice! But, no, he's never told any of us.
[Cut to Wyatt Hayes in front of the camera.]
Wyatt: All I can say is: Thank [bleep] that I don't have to goaltend against him any more! Between him and Hollander, my percentage always dipped after their games.
[Cut to Luca Haas sitting in the locker room chair.]
Luca: Roz keeps to himself, you know? If he's not at a team official event, he's doing his own thing.
Cameraman: But he goes out after games, right?
Luca: [awkwardly] Uh, they say he went out in Boston all the time, but that's not the case here. I've never seen him outside of a team event. He goes somewhere, but he'll never tell anyone where.
[Luca's face fades and the footage rolls to Ilya in the first interview room, dark walls and bright lights.]
Ilya: My teammates do not know that I love Shane. I moved to Ottawa for him, so that we can be closer. I travel to Montreal often, or he comes to me if I have a late game and he doesn't.
Interviewer Off-Camera: Is that why you don't go to team outtings?
Ilya: [Takes a quiet moment to think.] It's hard to balance my secret relationship with my role as captain. I should go to Bar-be-ques and to bars, but I choose Shane every time. I choose to see him every chance I can, and even then, it might only be twice a week.
Interviewer Off-Camera: That sounds tough.
Ilya: It is. Very. But we make it work.
[Cut to Shane in the same room, an embarrassed look on his face.]
Shane: Yeah, I take responsibility for that. Ilya would have told his team that he was seeing me — or his partner — but I was afraid.
Interviewer Off-Camera: Of?
Shane: [gestures around] Of all this. I want my life to be private and my job to be hockey. But I can't stop people from combining them together.
Interviewer Off-Camera: Is that why you chose to do this documentary?
Shane: I figured it was time I stopped being scared. Ilya has chosen me again and again, and I want to choose him, too.
[Camera comes into focus on Hayden Pike sitting in the Montreal locker room.]
Hayden: Shane is my best friend, you know? Him being gay never changed anything. He's like my brother, ya know? I'm always going to love him.
Cameraman: How about Ilya? Did that come as a shock?
Hayden: At first, yeah. He's this Russian asshole that shoves me around on the ice and I thought he was a [bleep]. Wait, can I say that?
Cameraman: No.
Hayden: [Bleep] sorry. Anyway, I wasn't very good about it as first. I didn't understand how Shane could love someone like that.
Cameraman: At first? What changed?
Hayden: I met him. Actually met him, off ice. Shit, the man babysits my kids. He's secretly one of the kindest guys I've ever known, underneath the insults and sarcasm.
Cameraman: Insults?
Hayden: So, Rozanov does this thing where he chirps people constantly. I'm sure you've witnessed it between him and Shane.
[Cut to footage of Shane and Ilya sitting side-by-side in interview chairs]
Shane: Ilya, [bleep] off.
Ilya: What, second best hockey player can't handle a little touch?
Shane: Your whole hand is on my thigh!
Ilya: Oh no, maybe camera people will think I love worst hockey player-
Shane: You're an asshole, and I am beating you in points this season.
Ilya: Ah, they will think "How did Ilya Rozanov, most handsome hockey player, land Shane Hollander? Does he even play hockey anymore?" So sad.
Shane: You're sleeping on the [bleep]ing couch tonight.
Ilya: [Confidently] You don't mean it.
[Cut back to Hayden Pike's interview]
Cameraman: A bit.
Hayden: Yeah, well, Rozanov does that with many people, but only if you're worth the effort. If you're good enough at hockey to warrant the chirp. If you're actually bad at hockey? He'll just flat out ignore you. He called Shane second-best because Rozanov knows Shane's better than him.
Cameraman: What's his chirp for you?
Hayden: [Rolls eyes] He called me Monrreal's fifteenth best player. Or that I have five thousand children. But he still comes to babysit on his days off and we text pretty often. He's a good guy, once you understand him.
[Cut to footage of Ottawa Centaur's practice, Ilya practicing privately with Luca Haas. Their voices can faintly be heard, but they're obviously not micc'ed]
Ilya: Is mental, yes? You see, you slap puck.
Luca: But what if-
Ilya: No, no if. Haasy, you have this. When we run the play again, I want no hesitation. I know you can do it.
[Image fades into a practice scrimmage. Ilya passes the puck to Luca who slapshots it straight off the pass into the net.]
Ilya: YES! That's my winger! That's my Haasy!
Coach Weibe: Good job, guys! Go get water!
[Troy sits in the Ottawa locker room, similar to the previous Ottawa interviews. He looks a bit awkward in front of the camera, like he doesn't know where to put his hands.]
Troy: Is this good?
Cameraman: That's perfect.
Troy: [Nods and takes a deep breath] So, Roz told me that it's okay I talk about this. He came out to me in December after I came out to him. He was a really big part of me coming out last month, you know? Without him, I probably wouldn't of done it so soon.
Cameraman: So you know who his partner is?
Troy: No, no. Well- No. I have a guess, something that Roz insinuated to me, but I don't want to speculate here. Let's just say, if I am right, good for them. I see them together, out as friends or colleagues, and I think they just fit together really well.
Cameraman: If your guess is correct, do you think it had something to do with Ilya's international move?
Troy: Even if I am wrong, I think Roz definitely moved for his partner. That man goes somewhere every day we have off. [Light laughter] I hope this documentary makes both of them happy. They both deserve it.
[Cut to Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov in an interview set, the same one from Hayden's interview where they bickered.]
Shane: [Mouth slightly agape] Troy said what?
Ilya: Yes, Troy is a good guy. He wasn't always, but he has shown growth and I am proud of him.
Shane: [Still shocked] He said what?
Interviewer Off-Camera: Do you think all your teammates would react the same way Troy did?
Ilya: Yes, definately.
Shane: Absolutely the [bleep] not.
Interviewer Off-Camera: Can you elaborate?
Ilya: Ah, let me go first because mine is easy. We have [he raises his hand to count on his fingers] gay teammate, gay social media manager, two bisexual staff that I know of, a lesbian in HR — Hi, Stacy! — and a trans woman in the front office. We are gayest team in hockey. If they are mad at me for falling in love with other player, then they all must stop watching NWHL, because if women's hockey can do it, then so can men's hockey.
Shane: That sounds like you're saying just because women do it, men have a right to too.
Ilya: Is not sex thing, is- [Pauses to think] Is a gay rights thing. Why is it only okay for women to be openly out and play a sport, but when men do it, it's disgusting? Is all gay people, I don't care what is in your pants, we are all queer and we all deserve the same respect. [Looks up at the camera] Is that okay? I don't know how else to say it.
Interviewer Off-Camera: I think that's fine. It's gay rights, not men rights.
Ilya: Exactly!
Interviewer Off-Camera: Shane? Why do you think Montreal wouldn't be okay with it?
Shane: Well, I'm already out as gay to my team. I'm guessing you haven't been able to interview any other players except Hayden?
Interviewer Off-Camera: Hayden is the only one who responded, yes.
Shane: [Sighs] I thought so. They tolerate my sexuality, but they don't like it. Our locker room has become hockey talk only because they are afraid I'd respond to their date stories with my own gay ones.
Ilya: Which is-
Shane: [Hold his hand up to stop Ilya] Shush. Anyways, they tolerate my gayness because I scored goals, I win games. But if they found out about Ilya? I would lose all their respect, and then some. I don't- There's a reason we chose to come out via documentary. If we showed our story, maybe it will lessen the impact.
[A soft fade out and fade in to old game footage. HOLLANDER can be read on the back of a black and red jersey. ROZANOV can be read on the back of a white and gold one. They're both fighting for the puck against the boards.]
Shane Voiceover: This is where it started.
Ilya Voiceover: Two hours before this game.
Shane Voiceover: I walked outside for some air. Everyone was being so loud and I needed some quiet.
Ilya Voiceover: I was smoking against the building. Mr. Rules over here came over to me, shook my hand, and told me to smoke somewhere else.
Shane Voiceover: You were under a no smoking sign!
Ilya Voiceover: I couldn't read English, how was I to know?
[The scene shifts to a warm living room with Yuna and David Hollander sitting on the gray couch.]
Yuna: Ilya was a surprise at first. Shane didn't plan on telling us.
David: I walked in on them at Shane's house when I went over for my charger. I knew I was interrupting, so I tried to leave before they realized I saw anything.
Yuna: But Shane came over with Ilya and introduced us. [Sniffles softly] I'm sorry, it's just- these last two years, I've seen Shane really come alive, you know? And Ilya is my second son already and I see the man that he is.
David: When Shane is on roadtrips, Ilya comes over and we play games or put puzzles together. He really is our son.
Yuna: He is.
[Cut back to Shane and Ilya's duo interview]
Ilya: That first game against each other, I had a crush on him.
Shane: [Blushing] Same here.
Interviewer Off-Camera: When did that crush become something more?
Ilya: The CMM shoot that we did together, after the draft.
Shane: The film crew hated us, I think, because we couldn't stop giggling at each other.
Ilya: They wanted me to look into your beautiful eyes all serious-like, but you just looked like a cute angry kitten! It was impossible.
Shane: Shut the [bleep] up, I do not look like a kitten when I'm angry!
Ilya: [Looks at the camera, points at Shane, and mouths "kitten."]
Shane: Anyway, after the shoot, we had both gotten sweaty from the lights and the action shots they wanted, so we showered and Ilya asked if I would open my hotel room if he knocked. I said maybe, gave him my room number, and— well, I think you can imagine what two eighteen-year-olds did alone in a hotel room during a secret meeting.
Ilya: [Looks at Shane with raised eyes] You edited a lot out. Like, at the CMM shoot, I come into the shower and-
Shane: [Hissing] Ilya! You can't tell them what happened in that shower!
Ilya: [Smirks at the camera] It was very obvious that he would open the door if I knocked.
Interviewer Off-Camera: So, eighteen? The whole time?
Shane: No, not- Yes, but-
Ilya: We were two very dumb boys who played in a not very progressive sport. We hooked up the whole time, yes.
Shane: But we didn't get together officially until twenty-seventeen.
Ilya: And not until after I met your parents.
Shane: Ilya!
Ilya: What? Is special!
Shane: You're impossible.
Ilya: [Sing-songy] You love me.
Shane: I do.
[A series of shots, all surrounding Ilya and Shane in some way: both of them with four kids playing in a backyard, both of them inside Yuna and David's house while playing Carcassone, both of them laughing while cooking dinner in their kitchen, both of them passed out on a couch basically on top of each other.]
[A slow fade into a dim frame: the sunrise behind silhouettes of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov as they sit on the pier at their cottage. Shane leans his head on Ilya's shoulder and his arm wraps around Ilya's waist.]
[A voiceover from Shane, Ilya, and the interviewer plays over the relaxing early-morning scene.]
Imterviewer Voiceover: What would you like everyone watching to take away from this documentary?
Shane Voiceover: That this is us, and it always has been. No one has ever played an NHL game against us when we weren't involved in someway. No one has ever known a me that wasn't in love with Ilya Rozanov.
Ilya Voiceover: We are still the same people, the same players. We play hard, yes, but we still go home to each other.
Interviewer Voiceover: What's next for you two? What's after this?
Shane Voiceover: Well…
Ilya Voiceover: Next, we get married. How does that sound?
Shane Voiceover: I think that sounds pretty nice.
[Fades to black before rolling to credits.]