All language subtitles for Picket Fences s04e19 Winner Takes All

Oh, come on. Wait up, ref.

What's it, coach?

Well, how about calling them from both
sides? Green Bull, let's play.

Oh, you are horrible.

You know that.

Come on. Get your hands up.

Come on, Zachary.

Zachary, deny the ball. I've got to
lighten up a team. Take it out. Come on.

Let's go. Bring it up. Move it. Move it.
Move it. Put it up. Put it up.

Yeah. Yeah.

You should go to a zone, huh?

Boxing one.

Number 11's their only gunner. Put
Patrick on him. Shut down the paint.

won't score a point.

What the heck? It's only a game, right?
Put your hand in his face!

Let's go! Would you somebody stop him?
Stop the ball, please!

No!

He got it!

Type of money, 20.

Mister, you gotta calm down.

Hey, why? You don't rough up enough
criminals during the week. You gotta

on me now. Technical.

Way to go, Phil. You stink!

Double technical.

You're out of here.

The worst trip I've ever seen. My
mother... Eddie,

call 911.

Phil,

hang on. Hang on. We're getting an
ambulance.

Take it easy. Take it easy, Phil.

Press. Tell them to press.

Okay, Ava, call the lab for me and tell
them... Oh, hey. How is he?

Well, um, he had a mild coronary.
Balloon surgery's scheduled for

But he's gonna make it, right? Well, you
know Phil, he's a fighter.

He vowed to be back for the next game.

Maybe you should tell him not to rush
it.

Excuse me?

Well, he should rest, shouldn't he? I
mean, for as long as it takes.

Yeah, I'll strap him to the bed if I
have to.

Let's drop the act.

We don't want Phil back, okay?

He's a lousy coach.

I wouldn't say lousy, exactly.

I would.

There's no passing.

Everybody's just standing around.

The kids are confused. We have enough
talent to make it all the way this year,

Jill. But we're might in fifth place and
only four games left.

With Phil at the helm?

We'll be lucky to make the playoffs.

I can't believe I'm hearing this. He's
down the hall recovering from a heart

attack. We sent him flowers.

Look, the point is, we need a new coach,
someone who understands the game.

Who can judge talent?

Who can motivate the boys? We've talked
it over, Jill.

We want you.

You said yes?

You said you'd coach?

I said it depends.

Zach, could you come down here for a
minute? Depends on what?

Depends on what he thinks.

Why can't Eddie Dearden coach? He's got
a big enough mouth.

Honey, Eddie Dearden is no coach.

Besides, he doesn't have the time.

And you do? Well, it's only four games.
Zach!

Coming!

Anybody didn't ask me to coach.

Not that I have the time, but... Excuse
me?

I still play, Jill.

I still play. Honey, they asked me
because I'm there all the time. I know

boys and I know the game.

Yeah, Mom? Just a second, honey. I
played varsity in high school. Did you

that? No, I didn't forget that.

And he says I know basketball better
than 90 % of the men out there. Yeah,

sure you'll be a fine coach.

What happened to Coach Phil? Oh, he's
going to be fine, honey.

But they asked me to take over for the
last few games. What do you think?

Sure.

You sure you wouldn't mind?

Well, I mean, anyone's got to be better
than Coach Phil.

Well, you know, I'm really sorry he
joked out and everything, but all he did

yell at us all the time.

Well, I can guarantee you one thing.

We're going to have fun.

Okay?

Okay, okay.

Good half.

Don't worry about it. Don't worry about
it. Get your drinks. A couple more

buckets, we're back in the game, okay?

Hey, Patrick, good task is out there.
That's what this game's all about.

Teamwork. Thanks.

You guys gotta bear down.

Patrick, what's with all this passing?

Dad! He's got the best shot in the
league. You shouldn't dish off. Take the

shot, son. Okay, third quarter subs.

Zach and Patrick are out. Josh and John,
you're in.

What? Good joke. I'm playing everybody
three quarters.

But he's not doing that. Look,

these kids have been playing together
for five years without getting to the

playoffs. Are you really going to blow
their shot over some Girl Scout notion

fair play?

She's benching Patrick.

He believed it.

Take it. Oh, my.

Hey, Brock.

How did you know the Knicks were going
to win that game, huh?

Got the touch, I guess.

Yeah.

All right.

20, 40, 50.

Excellent.

You're my curse. You know that, Brock.

I'm making money off everyone at your
school except for you.

Lucky for me, you're only a junior.

Why's that?

You're not into the big -time action
like the older kids.

Parlays and such.

Man, you'd break the bank.

It's a parlay.

You know, one card, ten games.

You pick all ten, you get the big
payoff.

One, seven, five to one.

But it's strictly for serious players.

You gotta have some moolah.

How much moolah?

Two hundred.

For one bet?

Maybe someday.

You should strike while you're hot.

Lots of ladies.

He was just taking it strong to the
hole. It's all part of the game, lady.

If your kids can't take it, maybe they
shouldn't be out here.

If your kids can't take it, maybe shoot
them. Are you really going to blow this

shot over some Girl Scout notion of fair
play?

Get back, Patrick. You're in. Josh,
John, take a rest. They want to fight.

going to give them a fight. We're going
to go to Patrick. Patrick, you take the

shot every time. But what if we're open?

Honey, do you want to get back in the
game or what? Jacob, you and Gordy crash

the boards, okay? Knock them down if you
have to, but get that rebound.

I'll risk the foul. You got it? Yes, I'm
going to kick some butt. All right.

Okay, let's go. One, two, three. Go!

Okay, Josh, let's go.

Back to Patrick. I think the shot goes.
No, you fake the shot, okay? You draw

the double team.

You just talk to Kevin. Kevin, you lay
it in, you understand?

Yeah. Okay, let's do it. Come on.

The natives are getting restless.

Hmm?

The patients? You know, you have
patients, the little people who pay our

What should I tell them? The doctor
can't see them now. She's working on her

defensive rotation.

It's a half -court trap, and I'll be
with you in a minute.

Reality check, Jill.

Aren't we getting a little obsessive?
Hey, we've won three straight since I

over. One more and we're in the playoff.

Rah. Oh, come on. Don't read such a wet
blanket. Do you know I haven't felt this

good in years?

And guess what? I'm a good coach.

I always thought I was just a student of
the game, but I don't know, putting it

into action... Surprised yourself, huh?
Yeah.

And you know what's really great?

When I'm out there, it's my little
domain.

There's no whiny patience, no
interruptions.

It's just me, the boys, and the game.

So it's a control thing.

Well, yeah, kind of, but it's a good
control thing, like last week.

I knew we were up against a zone which
would neutralize our half -court game,

I ran the break from the tip.

It was a gamble, but it paid off.

You're scaring me, Jill.

Why?

Because you're becoming one of them.
Who?

The parents that you're always
complaining about.

The ones who get over -involved, like
Eddie. Oh, now, Eddie's not so bad.

Am I glad I don't...

She's, like, possessed.

That's the way my dad is all the time.
Win, win, win.

Yeah, but your dad's a maniac.

Hey. What I mean is, everyone knows your
dad's got a temper.

He just wants what's best for me.

I don't want to be anything without my
old man.

Sure enough.

I admit he gets a little crazy at times,
but they all do. All parents.

I never saw it coming.

One takes the power and boom, she goes
berserk.

And those practices.

What are we, Marines?

She probably thinks it's good for us.
Look, spinach is good for you.

is supposed to be fun.

Hey, I'm having fun.

I know.

I lost my case.

You got a parlay?

$175 for one pail.

$200 gets you $35 ,000.

You may look, but you may not touch.

Wait a minute.

So if you lose, you're out 200 bucks.

I'm not gonna lose.

Matt, you don't have 200 bucks.

Relax, I'm selling. I told you.

I'm not gonna lose.

Matt, I hate to tell you this, but
nobody can bet 10 straight NBA games. I

a parlay's a classic sucker bet.

Says who?

My dad.

Your dad bets basketball?

Occasionally.

Does he buy tip sheets?

I don't know, but... Does he know the
starting lineup of every team in the NBA

on any given night?

Does he know who's on injured reserve?
Can he spot a crease? Did he clear any

bucks last week?

Well, did he?

Let me tell you a little something.

One man's fecker bag is another man's
windfall.

So, what color do you want your Camaro?

Kevin. I turned my ankle.

Really?

I don't feel any swelling.

You don't want to play? You want to come
out?

I'll go in, coach.

Okay, well, let's go. Let's play some
basketball. Come on, let's play some

basketball.

Oh, just a second. Get in his face.
Close him out. Understand?

Okay, okay.

Okay, bear down. Bear down, guys.

Let's go now.

Come on, big, big, Patrick. Get up. Big.

You know, my son's been warming the
bench all night. When's he going to put

in? When he loses 20 pounds.

My son deserves a game like everyone
else. Hey, hey, relax. We'll put him in

the end.

Garbage time.

No, the playoffs are on the line.

We're not sending your kid into the game
zone. You know, I've had to listen to

your crap all season, Dearden.

Just because your kid has an outside
shot doesn't make you a big man. Back

Hey, hey, come on, guys.

Stick to this! What's so bad about this?
Stick to this. We'll get used to it.

Sit down.

Now you gotta take care of those
Hoosiers.

Listen, about tonight... Honey, now
listen, don't apologize.

So your shot was a little off.

It's in your release point. We're gonna
work on that in practice.

It's not that.

I, uh... I think there's a, um...
problem with the players. I know.

I'm gonna take care of it.

You are?

Yeah, it's obvious.

Kevin can't handle the man -to -man at
crunch time.

So I think when we're in a pressure
situation, we need to alternate with the

-3 zone. Oh, look.

Wait a minute. What if I put Gordy in
for Kevin in the first quarter, and then

move Jacob over to point guard?

Oh, you're right. What do I want to do
with Leonard?

Good night, Mom.

Good night, honey. Great win.

Okay, now what if I put Leonard in?

Yeah, Leonard in for Gordy. I have Kevin
on the bench.

Hey, Brock.

What's up?

Two months. That's all I need.

Two months?

This isn't Congress, Brock.

I balance my budget at the end of every
week.

Now you owe me 200 bucks, and I need it.

Now.

I can give you 80.

Payment in full.

How was I supposed to know the Celtics
would fold in the fourth quarter?

You told me I'd clean up on a parlay.
You're not trying to put this on me, are

you? You made the bet. You got a cover.

Why don't you give me a break?

Just this time?

I'm the middleman, Brock.

Now, I don't pay up.

My people come looking for me.

And we cannot let that happen.

You don't, like, break people's knees or
anything, do you?

Me personally?

No.

Friday, Brock.

Same time, same channel.

Have the money.

Hey,

at least we're in the playoffs.

So? I don't even get to play anymore.

You never got to play anyway.

Yeah, but with Zach's mom, I thought I
at least had a chance.

Look, the whole thing sucks, okay? Let's
face it, parents suck.

I know, it's like they think we're in
the NBA or something. Yeah.

I've been talking to the guys on the
other teams, and everyone feels the same

way.

Come on, guys, the parents aren't that
bad.

Man, you're just saying that because
you're afraid of your old man.

You want a fat lip, Josh?

I'm afraid of my old man.

Of course, he never comes to the games
anyway.

we could strike. I don't want to strike.
I want to play.

We got to do something.

Look, I play basketball because I like
it, not because I want to be yelled at

a bunch of parents who wish they were
our age again.

So what are we going to do? Soon?

Aha!

Douglas, Juanbo, fast breaking for the
little people.

Come on in, my beloved clients.

It's showtime. This is nuts.

I can't even believe we're here.

Are you represented by counsel, Mr.
Dearden?

No, the parents chose me to be
spokesman. Mm -hmm.

So how do you respond to this? To begin
with, I'm told these kids have no legal

standing in court. They're minors.
Wambaugh can't represent them.

Watch me.

We're their legal guardians, Doug, not
you. It doesn't matter.

They have formed an association which I
can represent.

SOS.

Save our sport.

This is fraud.

I prefer clever.

Look at that.

He doesn't even deny it. Oh, what's to
deny?

You forced these helpless victims to
seek the only means of return available

them. You can't keep us from our kids'
games. Shut up.

All of you.

Frankly, the fact that this matter has
come before the court at all makes me

want to puke.

Nevertheless, I have here over 100
signatures.

Virtually the entire rec center league.

demanding that the parents be barred
from all future games.

Under the circumstances, I find the Save
Our Sports group an acceptable party,

and I'm granting a temporary restraining
order banning all parents from league

games until we have a chance to have a
hearing on this.

I'm scheduling an evidentiary hearing
for Friday.

to determine whether a permanent
injunction should issue.

You can tear each other apart then.

Tip -off is at 10 a .m.

Now get out.

Thank you. Well, come on, team.

Come on. Step lively, step lively. Come
on, team.

That's it.

See you in court.

Go now.

They granted the training order.

You're kidding. I have to be in court on
Friday to show cause why it shouldn't

become a full injunction.

It's nothing personal, Mom.

What I mean is all the parents are being
served. Don't you have some homework to

do, kid?

Upstairs now.

I wash his jock. I drive him to the
games.

I coach this team to the playoffs for
the first time ever. This is the thanks

get? A lawsuit?

Well, obviously there's a problem.
Couldn't talk to me about it. He had to

Douglas Wambaugh.

I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't
listen.

I'm scared now.

The other night after the game, you were
so busy with your game plan that you

didn't even pay attention. Well, excuse
me for caring about the next game.

See? You always see things on your side,
Mom.

You don't even think about what we want.
You don't want to go to the playoffs?

Never mind. Zachary, Zachary, get back
down here. I just told him to go. Well,

want him down.

I'm not coming.

You don't think it's important to have
this out?

What I think's important is the kids in
the basketball league.

Want the parents to butt out, and you
don't seem to get the problem. I can't

believe that you're taking his side. I'm
not taking his side, Jill.

But Zach is unhappy.

They're all unhappy.

I saw it right after that first win of
yours, and you started going to Patrick

all the time. Oh, really? And what was I
supposed to do, let the other team just

run right through us? No.

We won the game, Jimmy.

Is that what's important?

Oh, don't criticize me. You are the most
competitive person I know. You can't

play a game of Scrabble without turning
it into a war.

What's happening with you, Jill?

This is like Zachary's birthday party.
Oh, it's nothing to do with Zach's

birthday. Well, maybe not, but ever
since you started coaching, it's been

Jekyll and Hyde around here. Now, Eddie
Dearden, I can understand. He blew out

his knee in college.

He's living through his kid.

What's your excuse?

I didn't know I needed one.

You've been barking at the kids, you're
ignoring the bench, running up scores.

What the hell is that?

Tell you what, you take the heat for a
while, Jimmy, and then you tell me what

it's like when nobody else plays by the
rules. I adjusted to circumstances like

any good coach, and I got these kids
into the playoffs.

And forgive me for saying so, but I'm
very proud of that. And I think I

some credit, not all this abuse that I'm
getting. These kids have never been

winners before.

Well, enjoy your victory.

Got it?

30 bucks?

That's it?

Hey, that's all I had.

Look, my 30, your 80, I'll hold them off
for a little while.

I don't have the 80.

What?

I made a couple side bets, okay? I
thought I could cover my losses.

I was counting on your 60, Mark. Sandy's
gonna be here any minute.

Hey, I thought I had it, but I didn't.

You're letting me down, Mark.

You're letting me down real bad. Hey,
don't try to blame this on me. I told

not to bet the parlay.

You know, you really find out who your
friends are when the chips are down.

Hey, screw you, Brock. You got yourself
in this hole, now get yourself out.

Screw you too, Michelle -o.

You know what?

I want my money back. Fine.

Take it.

Hey, Brock.

Algebra, remember?

Yeah, I'll be there in a sec.

Hey, what's going on?

Um, you seen that guy Sandy anywhere?

What, she didn't hear?

Got picked up by the cops this morning.

What? Yeah, some kind of sting
operation.

There is a God.

Come on.

Get him out of here.

I don't know nothing about it.

Save it.

I want my lawyer.

Doesn't know nothing about it. Right.

He has a little black book right here.

I can't believe they're preying on
school kids now.

It's happening all over, Jimmy.

It's a national addiction.

Yeah, well, good coming.

What, no X's and O's? Oh, that's right,
you were suspended. I forgot.

That's not funny, Joanna.

It isn't.

Come on, Jill, we're talking about
basketball with 13 -year -olds.

Jimmy and I had a big fight about it
last night.

Oh?

And I only did it for Zachary.

Jill. Well, I did, like I need that kind
of grief.

Girlfriend, nobody ever does anything
just for their kids.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong
with it. In fact, it's a good thing.

I mean, the whole point of having
children, biologically speaking, is to

propagate your own genes, so ultimately
it's all about you.

Be honest, Jill.

You've got off on this coaching thing in
a major way, and that's fine, but the

hair on the back of my neck goes up
every time I hear a parent say, I'm only

doing this for my kids, so, I mean,
please.

How do you know so much about this
anyway?

Well, you may find this hard to believe,
but I was once a competitive figure

skater.

I was going to be the next Peggy
Fleming.

You're kidding.

No.

I won a local competition when I was
eight years old.

And that's when my mother got into the
act with a vengeance.

I mean, she drove me to the rank at 5 a
.m., and she paid for my lessons, but...

I mean, what a price, Jill.

Before I knew it, I wasn't skating for
me.

I was skating for her.

Didn't realize it for a while.

I was 13. It was Zach's age.

I had a bad ankle, but it was time for
the regionals, which is the pre -Olympic

competitions.

I can still hear her.

I didn't work two jobs to have you back
out on the regionals, Joanna.

Now, I only did this for you. Get out
and skate.

Kind of hard to argue with that when
you're a kid.

So I skated.

And I won.

And I went to the doctors, and I threw
up from the pain.

Turns out that my ankle was fractured in
two places.

I was on crutches for months.

That was the last time I ever put on a
pair of skates.

And it was about the last time I ever
had a civil conversation with my mother.

So, anyway,

I have a little experience in this area.

Well, we both have work to do.

Today's top sports story comes from
Rome.

Rome, Wisconsin, that is, where a group
of kids called Save Our Sports is suing

to have their parent banned from youth
basketball games.

There's an SOS that should have been
sounded long ago.

These young folks are spoiling things by
emphasizing winning at all costs.

What else is new?

CBS Sports has learned that a number of
copycat suits are being prepared by kids

across the country pending the outcome
of the case. So, parents beware.

As goes Rome, so goes the Republic.

We'll keep you posted.

Pat O 'Brien, CBS Sports.

Go, kids.

To promote fair play, positive coaching,
and good sportsmanship.

There you have it, Judge.

The stated purpose of Rome Recreation
Center Basketball League.

And as we will demonstrate, not only
have the parents of Rome ignored these

principles, they have deliberately
subverted them.

They have turned a kid's game into a
Roman circus of cutthroat competition to

satisfy their own fantasies of athletic
achievement.

And in the process, they have denied the
children the very foundation of

sport itself.

To play.

How long have you been reffing league
games?

Three years, but I think this will be my
last. And why is that?

I'm sick of it.

I get more grief from parents than I do
from hardened criminals.

It's like they think they can say
anything and get away with it.

Maybe they got a lot of frustration in
their lives. I don't know, but what kind

of an example is that?

Well, what kind indeed?

Look, I'm only out there because I love
the game. They should keep quiet and let

us handle it. Well, they never do, do
they?

Are you kidding?

Plus some of the things I hear the
parents tell their own kids. Like what?

Patrick always makes that shot. Why
can't you make that shot?

Knock him down or whisk the foul.

If you make it to the playoffs, I'll
give you a dollar a point.

Winning isn't everything.

It's the only thing.

It's the matter, Zach. Don't you want to
win?

Win! Win! Win! Win! Win!

Suppose the parents were banned,
Patrick.

You really think you kids could handle
things?

Well...

First, I want to say that my dad is the
greatest dad in the world. And he never

owned a new pair of sneakers when he was
a kid.

But he always makes sure I had the best
equipment and takes me to games and

stuff. Oh, I'm sure we appreciate his
good intentions.

But let's concentrate on what happens
inside the gymnasium.

Now think a minute.

Do you believe you boys could do a
better job of running things by

Well...

No offense, but I think we kids know
what's fair and not fair a lot more than

the parents do.

Give me an example.

Like our coach tells me to shoot every
time I get the ball.

I think other kids should get a chance
to shoot, too.

Plus, some kids like Josh hardly ever
get to play at all.

But Josh isn't one of your stars, is he?

No, but he's still part of our team.

Oh, that's right. That's right. But what
does that mean to you?

He should get to play like everyone
else.

Now, let me ask you a simple question,
Patrick.

Why do you play basketball?

To have fun.

Not to win?

Well, I like to win, but I mostly like
to play.

If you win, you win. If you don't, you
don't. That's what I think about it

anyway. And has basketball been fun
lately?

No, it hasn't.

Even though you're going to the
playoffs?

Well, that part's cool, but it's like
we're not doing it for us.

We're doing it for them.

Matthew?

Yeah?

Say what?

What's going on?

You guys are making a big mistake here.
My father's the sheriff.

Save it, sonny.

Here's the deal, Matthew.

You owe a friend of mine some money.

Now, unfortunately, that friend of mine
has been temporarily... Oh!

Wait a minute, now.

It's the same.

Bet you thought you were going to get
off the hook, huh, little Matty? I don't

know. Surprise, you're not.

Do you have the money, Matthew?

Huh? What?

Talk to me.

No. No? No.

Then you're going to have to see the
boss, pal.

No.

Please don't let him hurt me.

Please don't let him hurt me. I'll do
anything.

Give me some light, Mike.

Kenny, you're the boss?

These are my bowling buddies, Vinny and
Mike.

What's going on?

Is it a joke I'm not in trouble?

Oh, no, you're in plenty of trouble.

You've been making book with organized
crime.

I was on a streak.

Don't be an idiot.

Sooner or later, the house always wins.

Matthew, how do you think they stay in
business?

Because a sucker's like you.

And it ain't going to be two of my
buddies picking you up next time.

It'll be for real.

And they won't have a sense of humor
about it.

Okay, okay. You're not my father.

See this?

I'll live a straightener.

I was 19, betting on the ponies.

Got in over my head.

This was their way of reminding me never
to do it again.

You need this type of reminder?

No.

I'm not doing this for you.

I'm doing it for your old man.

He deserves better from his son.

It was like a fever.

It was like I couldn't lose.

I couldn't stop.

Let me tell you something somebody once
told me.

The only good throw of the dice is when
you throw them away.

Now, we still got a little matter to
settle here.

I found this in Sandy's betting book.

It's going on your dad's desk today.

Now, either you take it to him, or I
will.

Good call.

Let's get out of here.

The plaintiffs would have you believe we
parents want to destroy our children.

That is a pernicious lie.

Why do we choose to spend so much time
with our children?

Because we love them.

And we want to help them.

To teach them how to compete in the
world they're about to enter. Now, we

make that world, Judge.

but have a responsibility as role models
to face it squarely.

Competition is part of life.

I want my child to know that nobody
gives you anything in this world. To

succeed, you must work harder than the
next fellow. Go the extra mile.

That's the beauty of sports.

We see it every day.

Hard work, commitment, discipline. This
is what makes champions.

We've heard a lot about fun in here.

Son, let me tell you.

The real fun in life comes through
achievement.

Now, do we parents get a little carried
away?

Do we put too much pressure on the boys
at times?

I'll be the first to admit it.

We can definitely do better.

But let's not throw the baby out with
the bathwater, Judge.

If you ban us from these games, you will
be sending a profoundly subversive

message to these kids that competition
is somehow a bad thing, that mediocrity

is acceptable, even perhaps desirable in
today's society.

That notion has already taken root in
many places. We're keeping scores

altogether in favor of self
-development. We're basketball hoops are

everyone can feel good about making a
bucket.

Employers do not adjust the height of
the hoop.

Success is all about keeping score.

America loves a winner.

America is all about winning.

I implore you, do not consign these boys
to some dream world where winning has

no meaning, where being first has no
glory.

Instead, let us teach them to fight.

To strive.

To win.

And to lose.

Like men.

May I, Your Honor?

Go ahead.

When Jill was asked to coach the boys'
basketball team, I wondered why I hadn't

been asked.

I play basketball, I know the game, but
then I thought maybe you were concerned

that I might be a coach who likes to win
at all costs.

Knowing me, that's probably true.

I know these...

Parents, Judge, they're all good people.

One of them is the most caring and
sensitive person I know, my wife, Jill

Now, if she can be transformed from
someone who started out wanting nothing

the best for these kids to a coach who
wants to win at all costs,

then I got to believe that there is
nothing terribly wrong with the system.

That's all I have to say.

Thank you.

All right.

I want to thank the participants for
both sides.

For once you managed to do something
together without totally screwing up.

Congratulations.

The decision of whether or not to issue
an injunction in this case... boils down

to a fundamental consideration.

Would the plaintiffs suffer
extraordinary and irreparable harm

quo be allowed to continue?

Well, Mr. Dearden would argue that the
current arrangement is not only

appropriate, but essential preparation
for society as it exists today.

Am I the only person in this courtroom
who has misgivings about the way we live

now? The pressure?

The stress?

The ridiculous importance we attach to
winning?

We're number one.

We're number one.

I've got news for you folks.

There are a lot of number twos and
threes out there who aren't speaking up.

Mr. Dearden, you asked me not to let
these boys live in a dream world.

Let me be the first to inform you that
they already do.

It's called childhood.

These boys have been encouraged to
cheat, to denigrate their opponents,

mistreat their teammates, and abuse
authority.

Where is the nobility of purpose here?

Instead of building character, we are
undermining it.

So I'm willing to try an experiment.

Let's take the parents out of these
children's games for the rest of the

Maybe it'll screw them up.

Maybe they'll become even more
aggressive than their parents and start

each other to pieces.

But maybe, just maybe, they'll create a

league that rewards openness, decency,
and integrity of

purpose. Not because they are inherently
any better than their parents, but

because they are allowed to operate
within a relaxed, carefree system.

Boys.

I'm giving you a little island to play
on.

So don't let me down.

I'll be watching.

The first hint of Lord of the Flies, and
I'm setting your parents right back on

you.

An injunction is granted for two months.

Court adjourned.

Now get out.

Hey, guys, can I talk to you for a
second?

Hey, Wildcats, over here.

Hey, Matthew, how you doing?

Can I talk to you for a minute in
private?

Yeah, is there a problem?

Kind of.

Yeah, let's talk in my office, okay?

Okay, I've learned a lot in the past
couple of weeks.

And I have one thing that I want to say
to you boys.

You have fun out there.

Thanks, Mom.

Thanks,

Mom. All right, go on now. Go on.