All language subtitles for Leatherheads.2008.720p.BluRay.x264-NGR_Track3

REPORTER:
Hey, Carter, one more year
and you graduate.

What's waiting for you
out there?
CARTER: Don't know, Nate.

Get a job,
make a couple bucks,
maybe even buy your paper.

Will you miss football?
Heck, yeah, I'll miss it,

but what are you
gonna do?
Beats me.

Nothing much
you can do.

You could always
go pro.

(ALL LAUGHING)

(MEN GRUNTING)

(MAN YELLS)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

(EXHALES)

(GRUNTS)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

You know, Stump,
there are several
time-tested methods

for diverting the defense
from the ball carrier.

Throwing your body
in front of them with
a certain amount of force.

What, you mean blocking?
Sounds kind of rough.

You know,
that could hurt, Dodge.
Yes, it could.

Frank?
You got to get me
a blocker.

I've been thinking
the same thinking, Dodge,

and I'm looking
at this high school kid
over at Penrose.

High school?

Yeah, but he's mature
for his age.

Like Bug over there?

57, 1 1 ...

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

No, forget
the water bucket, Bug.
Go and get that ball!

It's the only ball we got.

Get rid of it.

We're down
to the third?

Yeah.

Let's give them
the Rin Tin Tin.

(MAN SHOUTING)

(HOWLING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

OFFICIAL: Okay, Coach,
we need another ball.

Well, ask them other fellas,
why don't you?
That's the only ball we have.

Well, then, you better
find one, and fast, or
you're gonna have to forfeit.

Forfeit?

We're creaming these mutts.

The home team
provides the game ball.

You don't have another ball,
you forfeit the game.
That's the rules.

DODGE:
Where's that written?

It ain't written.
It's just the rules.

Well, I never
heard of it.

Maybe
you're going deaf,
old man.

(GRUNTING)

Dear, there must be
better ways to promote
the starch business.

Tough loss there,
Dodge.

Hate to end a home stand
like that on a technicality.

You ever
heard of that rule?

Me? No.
I never heard
of any rules.

My point exactly.
Goddamn rules
are ruining the game.

Goddamn rules.

MAN: Bug, when you're done
with the water, grab my
shaving kit from my suitcase.

BUG: Grab your own
damn shaving kit!

DODGE:
For Christ's sake,
Frank,

how much
can a football cost?

FRANK: You think footballs
are grown out of thin air?

So, you get a few simoleons
from the Starch King.

Hey, Dodge,
do I feel hot to you?

No more than the next man.

Fever runs
in my family,
you know.

Everything runs
in your family, Ralph,
except your feet.

Look what you made me...
I have to start again.

It's no big joke.
You'll make us miss
the train to Milwaukee.

Milwaukee?
What about Akron?

Akron team folded
day before yesterday.

We gonna play
Milwaukee instead.

I can't go
to Milwaukee.

I got a wrestling
match tonight.
Get out of it.

It pays $100.
We'll see you
when you get back.

That's okay.
I got this kid coming.

The high school kid
from Penrose?

Yeah. He can only practice
after class, but wait
till you see him.

When's he coming?
He's gonna meet us

at the Waterford station
when the train stops.

Hey, I got an extra fin
coming my way.

You lost
that last game.

I did not. Dodge, didn't l
have this tooth today
when we started the game?

Curly, I learnt long ago
never to stare
directly into your face.

FRANK: Show me
the lost tooth,
I'll give you the 5.

CURLY: If I had it,
it wouldn't be lost.

Ready, Suds?

Yeah, shoot.

DODGE:
The Duluth Bulldogs lost
to the Toledo Bullets today

in a dirty game
of professional
league football,

where a new
and dangerous element
has been creeping in, rules.

Goddamn rules.

The lone moment
of glory came...

LEXIE: Say, Joe.
JOE: Nice hat, Lexie.

LEXIE: Thanks,
I just bought it.

Listen, can you get me
in a room with Hank Kelly
at the comptroller's desk?

He won't talk
to reporters
in fancy hats.

Hey, Lexie.
You going hunting?

It's a very expensive hat,
your whole year's salary.

Harvey wants
to see you
in his office.

I'd take that mack off
before you go in there.

You would,
would you?

He might think
there's an air raid.

(LAUGHS) Good, boys,
complete sentences. Next week,
let's try paragraphs.

Say, Pete,
see about Hank Kelly,
will you?

He doesn't talk
to reporters.

Say, Harvey.
Nice pi·ata.

Don't you start.
Pull up a chair.

Best seat in the house.
Who are you, Sarge?

Mack Steiner.
Lieutenant.

Lexie,
I got one
for you.

You ever hear
of Carter Rutherford,
"the Bullet"?

Football boy?
War hero
football boy?

Good-looking
war hero football boy.

HARVEY: Took time
out of college
to fight the war.

Got a whole platoon
of Jerries to surrender.

Just dropped their guns
and gave up from
the sound of his voice.

You ought to hire him.
Get rid of this
pack of geniuses.

We're gonna do
a story on him.
LEXIE: What's your angle?

It ain't true.

It's all a crock.

The kid's doing radio shows
and advertisements.

He's hired a promoter
named CC Frazier

to put himself
on the cover
of every magazine.

LEXIE: I like those razors.

HARVEY: Sure. Who doesn't?

So what's the story, Mack?

I served with him.
I was there in the Argonne.
He ain't no hero.

You're gonna meet
with Carter and CC. He's
gonna be in town next month.

And you're gonna do a story
on the virtues of the Bullet.

The many virtues!

And then we're gonna
break the myth
of the War Hero Bullet.

Listen, you got fellas
who'd be perfect for this.

Three Knickerbockers
out there, for instance,

who'd trade
their high school diplomas
for a crack at it.

It's not my kind of story.
Lexie,

CC Frazier wants
the Chicago Tribune to do
a story on his prot·g·.

We're gonna oblige him,
and you're gonna do it.

Can I talk to you
alone for a minute?

Captain,
would you
excuse us?

It's Lieutenant.
I'll wait in the hall.

Thanks, Lieutenant.

Why me?

Because it's a big story
and you're the best.

Thought you'd say
it's 'cause I have
the best legs in the office.

No, Joe does.

Okay, Harvey,
I'll make you a deal.

If I throw
some facts together
about this Bombshell...

Bullet.
Bullet.

And we chop down
his apple tree...

You get the assistant
editor's desk.

Okay, Chief.

You get Mack's story,
and I'll get you
your Bullet.

BAKES:
"The lone moment of glory
came in the 4th quarter,

"when Jimmy 'Dodge' Connelly
lateraled to Bakes Davis,

"who ran through
a trio of open-field tackles

"and into the Duluth end zone.

"And whereas the hotly
disputed contest
will go down in the books

"as a Toledo victory,
the hearts and minds
of all who witnessed

"the classic gridiron
confrontation were clearly
won by the Duluth Bulldogs."

(ALL CHEERING)

Awfully good, Suds.

Sure is a great thing
to read, Suds.

When the muse strikes,
who am I to resist?

It's almost like
you were playing
the game yourself.

What I try
to achieve in my prose
is a sense of flight.

Now that's a crowd,
ain't it, Dodge?

Sure is. We didn't
have crowds like that
when I was in school.

BAKES: You went
to college?
Colleges.

(WHISTLE SOUNDING)

CONDUCTOR:
Waterford!
Waterford next!

Waterford next!

Waterford!

(LAUGHING)

FRANK: Is that
Big Gus Schiller?

(LAUGHING)
How you doing, boy?
GUS: Hey, how you doing?

FRANK: Here,
get in this car.

Boys, I want you
to be meeting
our newest player.

This is Big Gus Schiller
from Penrose High School.

Hi. How you doing?
How's it going?

So you're in
high school,
are you?

Yeah.

Got held back,
did you?

No.

(BAND PLAYING)

(MEN CHATTERING)

Hey, kid, what position
did you play in high school?

Kicker.

Kicker?
What the hell?

Coach thought it'd be
the best position for me.

Who's your coach?

Math teacher.

Huddle up.

(PEOPLE LAUGHING)

Hooked it.

17, 32, 24, hike!

(SCREAMING)

God! Right in the...

(ALL LAUGHING)

Gus, look. You stand over
here, next to him, and you hit
anybody that comes near him.

Anybody that comes
near him!

41 ,

33, 37, hike!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

(WHISTLE CONTINUES BLOWING)

Oh, I like him.

Dodge, I need
to have a speech
with you.

What do you mean folded?
Milwaukee can't fold.

They're broke, is what.
Like Akron.
No money, no team.

We're broke, too.

We're broke now?
Our season just started!

Look, we're broke,
I'm telling you.

If you got no money
to pay salaries, no money
to buy train tickets,

no money to rent a field,
then you're broke.

It's over, Dodge.
It's time to pack it up
and go home.

The Starch King is gonna
sell us 51% of the team
as soon as he can.

What's gonna happen
to these guys?

I don't know.

And I thought
the Milwaukee game
would turn it around,

what with Big Gus
coming on board for us.

Milwaukee got Joe Washburn
playing good, but...

Now there's no
Milwaukee game.

It's finished.

Half these guys
will probably end up
back in the mines.

This isn't exactly the cream
of America's work force.

They don't have
a lot of options.

Shit!

FRANK: I'll read you
what he had to say.

"I regret to inform you
that Perennial Starch

"is hereby terminating
our sponsorship
of the Duluth Bulldogs."

So that's it, fellas.

It's the end of the line
for us.

This will be your last
paycheck. From here on out,
you're on your own.

But I want to say
what a privilege it's been
to coach you boys.

What you've done on the field
has been amazing.

Big Gus, I want to say to you,
son, thank you for coming.

Name?

Connelly.

Dodge Connelly.

Age?
3·.

30?

(SCOFFS) 45. Skill?

How do you mean?

Are you a welder or
a machinist or a pipe fitter?
You know, skills.

I got you.

Did you serve
in the war?

Yes.

Well, you must have
learnt a trade there.

Not one you'd like.

(SIGHING)

Mr. Connelly,
if you have
no trade skills,

how have you made a living
in the last 20 years?

(EXHALES)

(MAN ANNOUNCING ON RADIO)

A cup of coffee.
How much is coffee?

10 cents.

Here's 15.
You keep it.

Now I can buy that house
I always wanted.

ANNOUNCER ON RADIO:
And while only halfway through
the Princeton season,

Carter "the Bullet" Rutherford
has piled on a whopping
14 touchdowns

and 72· yards.

We spoke to
the Medal of Honor winner
after the game.

Carter, how you feeling?

CARTER ON RADIO:
Feel pretty good, Mac.

Their defense just kept
coming at you, but I figured
I might get around them

if I just put my mind to it.

Guess I've learnt something
from dodging those Jerries.

ANNOUNCER: And that's
the kind of bravery on display
every Saturday, folks.

The kind of fearlessness
that brings in those fans
by the thousands.

Some 40,000 people on hand
just last Saturday.

Now here's a little ditty
I'm sure you'll all know.

40,000 people?

(TOOT TOOT TOOTSIE GOOD-BYE
PLAYING ON RADIO)

I'm trying
to reach CC Frazier.
Do you know how...

(WOMAN CHATTERING
ON TELEPHONE)

(LAUGHS) Well,
why can't you tell me?

Listen, my name's Connelly.
It's about football.

(WOMAN HANGS UP)
I've never
heard of you, either, Miss.

No, what l... Hello?

Sheez!

'Cause I said
I liked your dress?

Stop saying that!

It's true.
It's boring.

It's all I wanted to say.

I'm starting to think
it's all you can say.

What's your name?
Leonard.

Leonard, you better run along
before my ··a·c6 gets here.

He's far less tolerant
of your existence than I am.

There's no reason to be angry.
I was simply paying you
a compliment.

Stop it. You're just acting
like a big baby 'cause
you miss your mother's bosoms.

My mother's what?
Her bosoms, you goof!

You're substituting my bosoms
for your mother's.

What? No, I'm not.

Why not?
What's wrong
with my bosoms?

(WHISPERING) Honestly,
Miss Littleton,
we're in public.

The rules of etiquette apply.

Leonard, it's 1025.
There are no rules.

Except that boys like
you are tedious
until they're 40,

at which point
they become
unbearably tedious.

I didn't come over here
to be insulted.

No?
Where do you usually go?

And don't think
just 'cause you
haven't said anything

that I don't know
what you're up to.

I'm talking to you,
behind the magazine.

Don't you know
I could have you arrested
for eavesdropping?

Excuse me?
Or are you really
an avid reader

of Ladies' Home Journal?

I never miss an issue.

I see.

Waiting for someone?
I'm sorry,
were you speaking to me?

No, just practicing
my American accent. Of course
I was speaking to you.

As a matter of fact,
I was waiting for someone.

Who?
A business associate.

A business associate.
So cryptic. So manly.

Clearly beyond
the comprehension
of a feeble female.

If you say so.

What I want to know is
why you chose to come in
here from the lobby,

where you obviously
had business,

to sit next to me
and listen
to my conversation?

Tell me.
Or are you afraid to say?

I'm not afraid to say it.

I'm in love with Leonard.

Go ahead and laugh,
everyone does.

We had something beautiful
until you came along.

You think you can
just toss him away
like a sack of flour.

(LAUGHING) That's funny.

Hey, haven't you
done enough?

No, really, who are you?

What's your name?
I'm Dodge.

Dodge Connelly of Duluth,
Minnesota.

Lexie Littleton.
Champaign, lllinois.

Hey, Lexie,
what are you
doing for dinner?

You're a lot of fun,
Mr. Connelly,

and I'm sorry
I'm not gonna get
to know you better,

but you should leave
before my fiance gets here.
He's kind of big.

I can handle myself.

No, really, Mr. Connelly.

Mr. Connelly is buried
next to my mother.
I'm Dodge.

Dodge,
it'd be better
if you go.

Better for whom?

Don't get familiar,
Mr. Connelly.

Just because we had a laugh
doesn't mean you know me.

My apologies.

Apology accepted.

But I do know you.

You think so?
Oh, yeah.

Really?
Yeah.

You're the kind of cocktail
that comes on like sugar,

but gives you
a kick in the head.

The only thing you hate worse
than a guy making a play

is when a guy
doesn't make a play.

Were you making a play?
I hadn't realized.

It might work
on my Aunt Lurleen.
She's a little near-sighted.

There's an article
on peach-canning in here
that I'm dying to get back to.

Well, I know you, too,
Dodge Connelly.

You think you're the slickest
operator in Duluth,
and maybe you are,

but being the slickest
operator in Duluth
is kind of like

being the world's
tallest midget,

if you ask me.
It's too bad we know
each other so well.

We might have gotten along.
Well, I'll live.

Alone.

CC: Lexie?

Mr. Frazier,
Lexie Littleton.

I do apologize
for keeping you waiting.

So, where is this
cute boyfriend of mine?

Well, I thought
he was behind me.

There he is now.

(PEOPLE CHATTERING EXCITEDLY)

(LAUGHING)
He finds it very difficult
moving around in public.

Carter.

Say, CC!

He loves his fans.

Carter, this is
Miss Littleton of the Tribune.
She's doing a piece on you.

Well, that'll be fine.

A pleasure, Mr. Rutherford.

Carter, Miss Littleton.

Lexie, Carter.

Say, CC...

There you are.

Could you bring
the car around?
We're ready to leave.

I don't think
this gentleman works here.
No?

He certainly looks
like the retrieving type.

(LAUGHING)

Do you work here, Dodge?

No, CC,
I came to talk
to you.

Yes, well, I'm afraid
we're going to dinner.

Come, let's find
a real valet, shall we?

I have $20,000
that says you might
want to talk.

So if I understand
you correctly,
Mr. Connelly,

it's your intention
to legitimize
professional football?

That's right.
Well, let me say straight off,

there's no such beast
as professional football.

There's only miners and
farmers and shell-shocked
veterans of the Great War,

smashing each other's
skulls together

in a million turnip fields
from Duluth to East Jesus.

Now I ask you,
how do you intend
to legitimize that?

By keeping it alive,
by investing in a team.

Well, you see,
there's the catch. I'm not
interested in investing.

I'm more of a 20-percenter.
New talent, new ideas
interest me.

Professional football
does not attract new talent,

and investing in
a professional football
team is not a new idea.

Dodge,

we had some laughs
a few years ago.

You had some laughs.

(CHUCKLING) Yes.

Yes, I guess I did.

So...

Okay.

How about this
for a new idea?

Carter Rutherford
leaves Princeton to play
for the Duluth Bulldogs.

What?
Hear me out.

Carter, you're a pretty
remarkable guy,
aren't you?

I just play football.
You don't have to be
modest with me.

I know your story.

How you put your education
on hold to serve your country,
to fight in the war.

I was just doing
what I thought was right.

DODGE: The President gave you
a medal for bravery.

CARTER:
I was just in the right place
at the right time.

That's not what the papers
said. They called you
the hero of the Argonne.

Then, when you went
back to school, you turned out
to be a football hero, too.

Mr. Connelly,
I'm just a guy...
Carter.

Do kids chase you
down the hallway
at school?

Sometimes.

Follow you around?
Ask you for an autograph?

It happens, yeah,
but you can't take
that stuff too seriously.

You feel like sometimes
everybody wants
something from you?

And how are you compensated
for living your life under
that kind of public scrutiny?

By paying tuition
to Princeton.

Let me ask you a question.
Do you like playing football?

I love playing football.

Good. You got one more year
and that's it.
That's all she wrote.

What are you gonna do then?

Actually, I've already
been accepted
to Yale Law School.

I have a position
waiting for me at Hager,
Danes and Upton

when I get my law degree.

It turns out,
I'm not too bad a student,
when I put my mind to it.

You... That's good. It's good.
Mmm-hmm.

And all of that
will be waiting for you,
no question about it.

But the world's
full of good lawyers.

In football,
there's only one
Carter Rutherford.

You don't need any more
teaching to be what you are
out on the field.

You ought to be playing
football, and you ought to
be rewarded for your talent.

Makes sense. Sort of.

So did bloodletting
at the time.

CC: You're very passionate,
Mr. Connelly. What exactly
do you have in mind?

Carter Rutherford takes
a temporary leave from
Princeton to play for Duluth,

and in exchange,
he is guaranteed
$5,000 a game.

Let's you and l
have another drink,
Mr. Connelly.

You're the boss.

Why don't you two run along,
conduct your interview,

whilst Mr. Connelly and l
thrash out your future?

Come on, Carter.

Carter Rutherford wouldn't
sit on a bench
for that kind of money.

Did I say 5?
I meant 10.

I assume you'll be paying this
out of the gate receipts?

That's right.
Of course,
I'll want it in the form

of a guarantee. Plus I get
a percentage of the overages.

Of course.
In the neighborhood of 5%.

I was thinking
a little more uptown.

10?

(GROANS)
25.

I'll understand
if you decline.
Most teams would.

Most, but not all.

DODGE: Sudsy? Listen up.

Carter Rutherford's gonna
be playing for the Duluth
Bulldogs starting Sunday.

We're... What? No,
just listen. We're taking
a Pullman to Duluth tonight.

We're gonna
get there in the morning.
Round up everybody you can.

Get the word around.
I want a nice welcoming
committee when we pull in.

What? Just trust me.
Thanks, pal.

Harvey, change of plans.
I'm taking a train with these
knuckleheads to Duluth.

What? No,
I haven't been drinking!
It's a long story.

Just give me a few days.
Hey, how'd it go
with Mack Steiner?

So don't use his name.

Believe me, Harvey,
by the end of the week, this
kid will cook his own goose.

I got to go.

(WHISTLES)

MAN: Hey, what are you doing?

Sorry.

(WHISTLES)

CARTER: You know,
truth be told, I was
a better baseball player.

But college baseball
isn't too popular.

What about the war?
Where'd all that courage
come from?

I don't know about courage.

A platoon of German soldiers
surrendered to you.

Quite a few have made a lot
out of much less.

Let's talk about
something else.

Like, how did
Miss Lexie Littleton
get so curious

she worked her way up
a newspaper room?

Not really
the homemaker type.

Depends on the home, I guess.

(CHUCKLES)

(LEXIE LAUGHS)

This is me.

An eventful day,
Mr. Bullet.

Good night, Lexie.

Bright and early, Bullet.
You got a big day ahead.

Hey, Lexie,

you think I did
the right thing
about this Duluth deal?

I think you did
the right thing
about the Duluth deal.

Well, I'm glad.

I'm happy you're glad.

Good night.

I'm glad you're glad.

You've got a lot of moxie!

I didn't know
it was your berth.
I would have armed myself.

I'm calling the porter.

I'm not decent.

Well, there's
an understatement!

Neither are you.

(GASPING) You looked?
I glanced.

Need help with that hook?

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)
No.

(EXHALES)

Good evening.

Yes, it is.

You know,
this may seem
a little awkward

coming from the man
who only promotes
the man of your dreams,

but I've had
a little thought.

Perhaps it can wait
till tomorrow?

Probably,
but that's not my style.

You see, Miss Littleton,
Carter is very important
to me.

I want to make sure
you treat him fairly
in your newspaper.

I resent the implication
that I wouldn't.

Lexie,

Carter is good
for the country.
He's a war hero.

Good for the Tribune,
they sell newspapers.
Good for me.

Good for you.

(SPEAKING SOFTLY) Lexie...

I'm having a conversation
with a rather beautiful woman,

and she and I were wondering
if you'd care to join us
for a nightcap?

Good night, CC.

Good night, Lexie.

What?

I think I'll sleep
up here tonight.

You most certainly will not!

Really?

"Believe me, Harvey,
by the end of the week, this
kid will cook his own goose."

You were spying on me!

I was observing.

So, you want to play dirty?

Maybe later.
I'm a little tired right now.

So here we are.

Not sure
what the next move is.

It happens.

It's the first time for me.

They all say that.

I'm sure you snore.

Attagirl!

Listen, I'm sorry
if what I said today
upset you.

Don't be.

Which part?

The "kick in the head" part.

It's forgotten.

I'm sorry if what I said
today upset you.

DODGE: Don't be.

Which part?

The "tallest midget" part.

What about the
"I know you" part?

I still mean that.

Then I'm still upset.

(lNAUDIBLE)

(lNAUDIBLE)

(lNAUDIBLE)

FAN 1 : You're the tops!

FAN 2: Hey, Carter!

(CAR HONKING)

Carter! Carter!

It's a three-ring circus
with Carter
as the dancing bear.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah.
Wonder what that makes us.

(LAUGHS) Dodge, look, look!
Welcome to show business!

Hi!

REPORTER: When's the last
Princeton game, Carter?

I guess I already played it.

So, you going to
shake up the team?
Anybody you want fired?

No, no, no, of course not.
I'm not the coach.

Besides, they're a great
bunch of players.

Hey, where the hell
is everybody?

CC moved practice
over to Ennis Field,
at the university.

What?

Why?

(lNAUDIBLE)

Is it illustrated?

You're late.
Says who?

It's ·:30.
You're late.

How's your story coming?

Swell, thanks.

Cooked his goose yet?

You get crowds like this
when you practiced?

By the thousands.

Yeah, I'll bet.

FRANK: Dodge!

You saw the crowd?
For a practice!

I tell you,
our shit has really come in!
And look at this!

(LAUGHS EXCITEDLY)

That must make
you happy, huh?

It must.

(FRANK LAUGHING)

Hey, Dodge, you see
the new uniforms?

Can you believe it?

Yeah.

Hey, Dodgie,
look at this thing!

Brand spanking new!
Nice.

Say, Dodge.
Hey, Dodge.

Hey, fellas.
CARTER: Say, Dodge,
you missed calisthenics.

Thank God!

Couple of plays
we ran at Princeton.

A couple?
Now, I was thinking,

we should switch
to the Single Back Formation

rather than sticking
with the Wing.
What do you think?

Well, the Single Back's good,
but, see, the way
we ran the team...

Which one is me?

That's you,
right there,
behind the guard.

I guess I should get
a couple of diagrams
of the plays we run.

Sure. Yeah. These are
a lot like your plays,
only a little more effective.

Well, a lot of our plays
are pretty strong.

Some yes,
some no.

But all that matters
is that we win. We want
to win, don't we, boys?

PLAYER 1 : Yeah!
PLAYER 2: You said it, Carter!

(CAR HONKING)

Hey, they're here!
Come on, fellas!

You're a 10.5,
right, Dodge?

1 1 .

ANNOUNCER ON RADIO:
Well, today's the big day,
folks.

Princeton's Carter Rutherford
is playing his first
professional game,

and it's right here
at Ennis Field
with Duluth's own Bulldogs.

People have been coming in
to town all week

from locations
as far as Akron, Ohio
and Lexington, Kentucky

just to get
a glimpse of the 6'3" phenom.

Tickets are 75 cents adults
and 25 cents
for the rascals under 12.

And if you're a Huskers fan,
it's $10.

Just kidding, gang.
We love those Cleveland fans.

See you at the game.

(PEOPLE CHEERING)

Come on, folks!
Root for Carter!
Go, Bulldogs!

They're calling
for rain today, boys.

Hey! What's a girl
doing in the press box?

Rutherford says
she knows her stuff.

Yeah? I'm thinking
maybe he knows her stuff.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Who you write for, honey?

Tribune, fatso.

Since when do they
cover pro football?

Since I decided
to write about it.

You planning
on taking notes?

No. Got a mind
like an elephant.

It's like
the Library of Congress
up there.

Nothing gets lost.
Nothing gets stolen.

Ain't that right, Bob?
Bill!

Here we go.

(CROWD CHEERING)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

OPPOSING TEAM PLAYER:
2, 34, hike!

(CROWD CHEERING)

(CROWD EXCLAIM)

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

That Carter
is really something,
huh?

PLAYER 1 : Great catch, Dodge.
PLAYER 2: Nice, Dodge.

23, hike!

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

CROWD:
13, 12, 1 1 , 10, 0, 6, 7, 6, 5,

4, 3, 2, 1 !

Bulldogs!

(GUNSHOT FIRES)

(CROWD CHEERING)

See you, boys.

DODGE: "In his eagerly
awaited debut as a
professional football player,

"Carter 'the Bullet'
Rutherford ran for
an astonishing 162 yards.

"Given his reported salary,
that's nearly $100 a yard.

"But the fleet-footed newcomer
earned every penny.

"Unstoppable,
unbeatable
and uncatchable,

"the Bullet has arrived,
and pro football

"will never be the same."

Well, he had
a little help out there,
Dodge.

You sure you want me
to write it like that?

We didn't fold, did we?

No, we didn't fold, Dodge.

He's a hell of a player.

Yeah.

And what do you
get out of all this?

10% of your gross income.

10% of our...

It's very little,
when you consider how much
I can increase your salary.

Well, just ask Carter.
MGM wants to sign him
to a contract.

ZOOM: You think that
I could be in the movies?

MAN: (LAUGHING) Sure, Zoom.
Just buy a ticket.

Now, I want you to peruse
this diet and exercise plan,

which Carter has evolved
for aspiring athletes.

The Rutherford Diet,
patent pending, is based
on scientific research.

(BANGS)

(CARTER CHATTERING)

(BOTH LAUGHING)

So, tell me,
where could I find
a Lexie Littleton?

Chicago, I guess.
There are a lot of us.

Well, then I'm going
to Chicago.

How old are you?

A gentleman doesn't ask...
I'm not a gentleman.

I'm a football player.
Are you 30?

(CHUCKLES)

I'm just shy of that mark,
thank you.
How old are you? 24?

Just past that mark,
thank you.

That's a lie.
Yes, it is.

I'm 31 .

Yup.

(MEN SHOUTING)

MAN 1 ON RADIO:
Do you have a question?

MAN 2 ON RADIO: Pro football's
got a completely different
style, Carter.

They play two, three games
a week. How do you plan
on adjusting to that?

CARTER ON RADIO: Well,
maybe they'll kind of
adjust to me.

MAN ON RADIO:
There goes the gun.
Is it possible, folks?

With this young man,
well, yes, it is!
Touchdown!

LEYIE: You ready, Mickey?
Okay, flash.

"With another eye-opening
display of canny passing

"and superb
broken-field running,
Carter 'the Bullet' Rutherford

"led the Bulldogs to victory

"over an increasingly forlorn
Pottsville team.

"The choice that awaits
these teams is to imitate
the college techniques

"that Rutherford
has transplanted
to the pro game

"or to fall hopelessly behind
in the standings.

"What is certain are
the crowds that this
Duluth team is attracting.

"And the gate receipts
that are rolling in should
open every team's eyes

"to the fact
that Rutherford's Bulldogs

"have launched a new era
in professional football."

That ought to hold them.

I'll get back to you tomorrow
after the Panther game.

Okay, Lexie.
HARVEY:
Give me that.

Lexie.

I know, Harvey.

It's been four weeks.
Where's my war hero?

Everyone's a little coy.
This story will
loosen them up.

Just give me
a little more time.

I just don't want
another sports fan
writing a love letter.

Dust off that
editor's desk, Harvey.

Assistant editor.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Stump, feel like crashing
a gin mill or two?

No, thanks, Dodge.
Some other time, maybe.

Hey, what do you say, Curly?
Feel like hitting the town?

No, I'm hitting
the hay instead, Dodge.
Sorry.

Zoom, you old lounge lizard,
what do you say?

Gee, Dodge, I can't.
There's a curfew.

A curfew?
Since when?

We voted on the train.

Where was l?

Asleep.

LEXIE: I would have
left you, too.

Was that a bad move?
I sent her flowers.

(LAUGHS) Well,
then all is forgiven.

Yes, it is.

Why don't you like to talk
about the Argonne?

Who's asking?

Just me.

Stories get bigger over time.

You never went to France.

No, not that big.

Everything they say
happened, happened.

It's just that
the telling of it
gets a little better.

How much better?

We were pinned
down in a gully.

We were there
about three days,
I guess.

It had been raining
for about a week.

So some of the fellas and l,

we hunkered down in a foxhole,
and we just waited
for the weather to break.

A writer from The Times
was with us.

Now, you know I never drink,
but it was so cold and so wet.

(CHUCKLES) I started to take
a few slugs off a flask.

Easy there, Carter.
That stuff will
melt your teeth.

Ja! Sehr gut.

Tell me again.
lch gebe surrender?

Auf.

lch gebe auf.
If you have no way out,
you lay down your rifle

and yell, "lch gebe auf,"
otherwise they'll shoot you.

lch gebe auf!

We were nearly out of ammo,
we were down to about
nine fellas,

and we had this plan
that we were gonna
speak enough German

to get us out of there.
Take our chances
in a war camp.

All through the night
the fighting continued,
until we were all out of ammo.

Sitting ducks.
And we had been
up for 36 hours.

That, and the drinking...

JACK: Okay, fellas,
we ain't taking this spot
any time soon.

So let's call it a night
and try again.

CARTER: I don't know
how long I was there.

But it had to have
been a few hours,

because by that time,
the Jerries had taken
the foxhole.

But I was so covered up,
they never saw me.

And I never saw them.

(GUNSHOTS FIRING)

(BULLET RICOCHETING )

(GUNSHOTS FIRING)

I knew we were goners,
so I jumped up, and I yelled,
"lch gebe auf!"

lch gebe auf!
ALL: lch gebe auf!

CARTER: They thought I was
one of them, so they just
dropped their weapons.

They just gave up.

lch gebe auf!
I'm unarmed!

CARTER: And it was right
about then that I started
to have a really bad feeling.

Carter?

CARTER:
When it was all sorted out,

the Lieutenant thought
it was best if we all just
kept our mouths shut.

One for The Times, Private.

CARTER: Let the chips fall
where they may.

And then the story got bigger.

The President
gave you a medal.

I would have made liars
out of all the fellas.

We were stuck.

That's a lot of responsibility
for a young man.

I grew up pretty fast.

It's quite a story.

And now you know.

Are we still friends?

There's this one joint
off of Halstead that's at
the bottom of a meat locker.

Hey, Mikey.
And you have to walk
through all this meat,

like hanging beef,
like beef, like bacon beef.

And by the time
you get in there,
you smell like a brewery.

DODGE: Butcher shop.
WOMAN: Butcher shop.

Mr. Ziegfeld says
that I'm the best dancer
in the line-up.

You don't say.
Yeah.

My kicks are so high
that I almost
knock myself out.

DODGE: That's dangerous.
WOMAN: Yeah, well...

And I'm super flexible, too.

I can arch my back
so that my head
hits my heels.

DODGE: Watch yourself there.

Is Carter Rutherford
very tall?
'Cause he looks really tall.

But maybe that's just
because you're kind of short.

Hey.

(LAUGHING)

Hiya, Dodge.
Come on in.
Hey, Sully.

(BAND PLAYING THE MAN I LOVE)

(SINGING)
Some day he'll come along

The man I love

And he'll be big and strong

The man I love

Evening, Dodge.

Mr. Mayor.

You know the Mayor?

I ought to.
I voted for him five times
in the last election.

(LAUGHING)

Well, if it isn't
Dodge Connelly,
middle-aged boy wonder.

Why, Lexie Littleton,
breaking curfew.

I won't tell if you don't.

Let me introduce you
to Miss Belinda Whippleworth.

A pleasure.
Charmed.

I have to pee.

Enchanting girl.
I thought you had to be 21
to get into a place like this.

She is 21 .

I meant her lQ.

I wasn't planning
on running her
for Congress.

No? What were you planning
on doing with her?

You know, the usual.

Put her in shoulder pads
and a helmet,
and knock her brains out?

I think somebody
beat me to it.

She'll do well in Congress.

You're only as young
as the women you feel.

How quiet it must be
at the Algonquin
with you here in Duluth.

So, are you flying solo,
or is the Bullet
casting about?

What do you care?
You're here to entertain
Miss Nipplewidth.

It wouldn't look good
for you to get caught
in a place like this.

I'd dare say it wouldn't
look good for anyone to be
caught in a place like this.

Maybe I shall
Meet him Sunday

Maybe Monday

Come on, let's dance.

Hey.

Come on.

Maybe Tuesday

Will be my good news day

He'll build a little home

That's meant for two

From which I'll never roam

Who would, would you?

And so all else above

I'm dreaming
about the man I love

What happened tonight?

Our boy's taken
a liking to yours truly.

Seems mutual,
if you ask me.

So much so

that he felt compelled
to clear his conscience
on his Sergeant York routine.

You mean he didn't take out
a whole platoon
with a bow and arrow?

He'll look at me and smile

I'll understand

That in a little while

He'll take my hand

And though it seems absurd

I know we both
won't say a word

(DOOR BANGS)

MAN: It's a raid! Let's go!

(POLICE WHISTLING)
Everybody beat it!
Get out of here!

DODGE: Wait, wait, wait!

(THUDDING)

Go, go.

Would you have someone
bring a bottle of whisky
and some ice to Room 404?

I'm sorry, sir, we don't...

(PHONE RINGING)
Of course, sir.
Excuse me for one minute.

Ambassador Hotel.

Excuse me?

I'm sorry,
Miss Littleton is out
for the evening.

May I take a message?

And who shall I say
is calling?

Harvey?

Yes. From the Tribune.

Yes, "Boy Wonder."
Right.

Yes. "Cook his..."

I'm sorry,
how do you spell that?
Oh, "goose."

Yes, good. All right.

Thank you...
Thank you, Harvey.

Stop, you two!
Stop or I shoot!

(GASPING)
He says he'll shoot!

He always says that.

(GUNSHOT)

(LEXIE SHRIEKS)

(GASPING) I thought you said
he always says that!

DODGE: He does,
just before he shoots.

(POLICE WHISTLING)

Give me that.

MAN: Don't do it!

We got your mother here.
She wants to talk to you!

Johnny, come on down, Son!

Let's talk about this!

I don't want to
live any more!

(DOOR BANGING)

Johnny, please come down!

No!

All right,
follow my lead.

We don't want to live
any more, either!

(CROWD GASPING)

Who are you?

What difference does it make?
We're going to kill ourselves!

Wait a minute! Wait a minute!
Don't do anything drastic!

It's too late!

Come on.

Goodbye, cruel world!

(SCREAMING)

MAN: Here they come!

(MAN EXCLAIMS)

DODGE: Thanks, fellas!

(PEOPLE CLAPPING)

Hey, look, there's two more!

(PEOPLE GASPING)

(SOFTLY) Mom?

Say, CC.

Did you say anything
to Miss Littleton tonight

that might compromise
your service record?

No.
She's a reporter, Carter.

No, nothing she'd repeat.

Let me buy you a drink.

I don't drink.

You will.

(WHISPERING) So then
he jumps up and he yells,
"I give up!" in German,

and the Jerries think
he's one of them, because
of the rain and the mud.

You got a little soot
in your eye.

So you see,
he's not this big war hero,
but...

I don't know.

lch gebe auf.
Do you know what that means?
lch gebe auf?

"I give up" or something.
Here, close your eye.

Let me see.

Now let me see.

That's got it.

You know that
sad Sunday night feeling
you'd get

when you knew the next day
you'd be back in school?

I've got that feeling
right now.

Listen.

You wouldn't be surprised
to hear that I'm nuts
about you.

You got guys telling you...

I've got some decisions
to make.

In a minute.

Come on, I'll walk you.

(GIGGLING)

CC tells me
you're printing
that story.

I haven't decided.

You're not a reporter.
You're a liar.

Slow down there, Kaiser.

If you just wanted a story,
then why didn't the Trib
send one of their hacks

with a cigar stuffed
in their snout?

But, no, they sent you
to snuggle up and play nice.

I never was much for cigars,
but if it'd make you
feel better...

Maybe I should just leave $20
on the bed stand.

(GASPING)

(GASPING)

Take it easy, Carter.

I thought you liked me.

Look, she's too old for you.

What? Well,
you're too old for me!

You got me on that one.

Why I ever let you...

Wait. Where were you two?

Out.
Nowhere.

Did you kiss her?

Now, wait a minute!

I want answers!

Yeah, I kissed her!
On the mouth, twice!
And I liked it a lot.

You did, did you?
Yeah.

Thanks.
You're welcome.

Okay, well,
we can do this right here,
or we can go outside.

Get him, Dodge.

We got a game in five days.
What?

What, you think
you're gonna hurt me?
I might.

Did you hear
what he just called me?
He's a little drunk.

(SCOFFS) I am not drunk,
you coward!

Really?
'Cause your sleeve's on fire.

Really?

(SCREAMING)

You two are a pair.

You've created
quite a stir, Lexie.

I'm just getting started.

You know,
you have many qualities
that I like,

not the least of which
is intelligence.

If you write that story,
I'll have your job.

You wouldn't be
very good at it.

You're quick, too.

And I got great legs.

First thing I noticed.

The story runs tomorrow.

See you tomorrow, Lexie.

(EXHALING)

Let's get this over with.

Yeah.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Outside.

Go ahead. Throw one.

No, you're the injured party.
You get the first punch.

That's not bad.

Now when I get up,
I'm going to punch you back.

I just want to say,

stay away from my right knee.

Watch my left shoulder.

I will.

Also my right hindquarter.

Behind my right thigh,
but really,
the whole hindquarter.

Well, you wouldn't punch me
in the back, would you?
Because I got a bad back.

No, never.

Let's just go for the face.
Me too, just hit me
in the face.

(GRUNTS)

LEXIE: Say, Harvey,
I'm coming home.

HARVEY ON PHONE:
Did you get him?

I got him,
but you're not gonna like it.

It's going to read, "We wanted
a war hero so badly,
we went out and got one."

You did yourjob.
Now, come on home
and write it.

LEYIE:
You know something, Harvey?
Sometimes this job stinks.

HARVEY:
A lot of times, kid.
See you tomorrow.

LEYIE:
Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow.

That ought to hold you.

How's your hand?

I didn't mean to hurt it
with my face.

I think I'll play
for Chicago.

I thought you should know.

Good team.

When you going?

Tomorrow.

We play Chicago Sunday.

I know.

Well, then
we'll just have
to beat you.

Not likely.

(PEOPLE MURMURING)

This ought to be good.

Nice turnout.

Uh-oh.

Gentlemen, thank you very much
for coming out this morning.

I will be brief.
Two days ago, the Tribune

made a salacious
and quite outrageous
accusation that my client,

Carter Rutherford,
a great war hero,

was less than truthful about
his service to his country.

They produced one witness.

Anonymously. One man,
who'd served alongside
Carter on the frontlines.

The only other
corroborating story
came from

Miss Lexie Littleton,
who claimed that Carter
confessed to her

that his war story was a lie.

However, I have with me today

Mr. Mack Steiner,
a veteran of the Great War.

Mr. Steiner, please.

(CLEARS THROAT) Hello.
My name is Lieutenant
Mack Steiner.

I am a veteran
of the Great War.

I also served
with Mr. Rutherford
in that war.

And I think what would be
of most interest to you

is that I am the source
the Tribune has quoted
in its damning article.

All I can tell you
is that article,
written by Miss Littleton,

is filled with half-truths
and exaggerated facts.

(AUDIENCE MURMURING
lN SURPRISE)

The whole truth

is that Mr. Rutherford
is a war hero.

I was honored
to serve with him!

So who got to you, Mack?
How much you getting paid?

Once again we...

How much are you
getting paid, huh, Mack?

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

We demand that the Tribune
issue an apology

and recant
this story immediately!

Come back, Miss Littleton!

Come back and face
your critics!

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

Ladies and gentlemen.
Ladies and gentlemen!

(PEOPLE BECOME SILENT)

Good morning, folks.
My name is Pete Harpen.

I was a prosecutor
for the State of Wisconsin

until 10:00 a.m. this morning.

At that time, Congress
appointed me the Commissioner
of Professional Football.

This new job
will start immediately,
and my first charge

will be to get
to the bottom of this scandal,
and then move on.

That means rules adhered to,
codes of ethics,
owners, players.

Everything pertaining
to football will now
have me to answer to.

And that means right now
the Chicago Tribune
has me to answer to.

So, fellas, I think
this press conference
is concluded.

(ALL CLAMORING)

It doesn't matter.
You're writing a retraction.

But I didn't make it up.
The story's true.

That part doesn't matter.

There must have been
nine or ten other
soldiers there.

Give me a chance
to round them up.

Mickey already found five
or six. Private Mike Stone,
Private Henry Maggio...

They all say
none of them will talk.
Little more time, Harvey.

Well, I'll get somebody.
I'll find a couple of those
krauts if I have to.

We don't have the time,
God damn it.

We're cutting our losses
and getting out.

I'm not gonna write it.
You can grab one of these
clowns if you want to,

but I'm the one
getting my wings clipped.

Sorry, Harvey.
Lexie, there's somebody
here to see you.

Who?
Dodge Connelly.

(WHISPERING)
Tell him I'm not here.

DODGE: I heard that!

(SNARLS)

God damn it.

You know, Dodge, you've got
a knack for showing up
at the perfect time.

Some call it a skill.

Did you come to gloat?

I was just
in the neighborhood.

Chicago.
Just out for a stroll?

Can I talk to you
in private?

Fine.

LEXIE: So, ready
for the big game Sunday?

DODGE: Not really.

Queer, you saying that.
I've never known you
to quit before a game.

Well, we got ourselves
a new football commissioner.

He doesn't like the way
we play the game.

I know your new appointee.

I've been called
to the carpet.

I got to go in tomorrow
and lay before the king.

You get to keep your job?

If I play by their rules.

So play by their rules.
It's fourth down. Punt,
you'll get the ball back.

Punt?
That's what I'd do.

You would, would you?

You get him again
next Sunday.

You go find the rest
of the soldiers, and
you get the real story.

We called them all.
None of them will go
on the record.

So now what,
Mr. Newspaper Man?
Statue of Liberty play?

Quit.

Quit? And do what, Dodge?

Get married.

There's a fine idea.

Can't make it
in the big tough man's world,
so get out.

And who should I marry,
Dodge?

A farmer?
Be a milkmaid?

Nothing wrong
with football players.

Nothing wrong with them?
There's nothing
right with them.

Grown men in tights
and headgear.

Is that what
you came down here for,
Dodge?

To sweep me away from
all of this dull newspaper
stuff to get married?

As a matter of fact it was.

Well, tomorrow I've got to...

It was?

Lexie, Carter Rutherford
on the line for you.

HARVEY: Lexie?

MICKEY: Should I tell him
you're busy?

You're busy.

(SIGHS)

Oh, nuts.

This better be good.

Sure is a mess.

Gonna get worse.

CARTER ON PHONE:
For somebody.

Is that what
you wanted to say?

Probably not.

I'll see you
at the hearing, Carter.

I'm sure you'll get
everything you want.

Probably not.

A shot of whisky, please.

(PIANO PLAYING)

(EXHALING)

What do you think?

About?

We got a shot
at beating Chicago now?

You kidding?
We had them beat
when we pulled in.

Yup.

How about that Lexie?
Who'd have thought it?

Not me.

I liked her, too.

MAN: Stand ready, boys.

(MEN CHATTERING)

(LAUGHS)

Say, Mac. Give me some beers
and a bottle of your
second-finest bourbon.

(SOLDIERS LAUGHING)

Thank you.

SOLDIER 1 : A toast! A toast!

To the greatest
football team in the world!

Chicago!

SOLDIERS: To Chicago!

To the Bulldogs!

(ALL LAUGHING)

To the greatest game
in the world!

Get the hell off me,
shit for brains!

DODGE: Put the boy down,
asshole.

(SIGHING)

We were just horsing around.

There's no need to call
people names, Grandpa.

(PIANO STOPS)

Now, I appreciate that
you fellows are in uniform,

so I'm going to give you
an opportunity to extract
yourself from this situation.

To do what?

Back off the throttle, kid.

I sure do hate
to hit an old man.

(PIANO PLAYING)

(GLASS SHATTERING)

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTS)

Sorry, Dodge.

Hey, Dodge!

Eddie?

Jesus, it's been years.
You look great!

You do, too.
You still in uniform?

I'm a sergeant now.
No more taking orders.

Hey, Frankie,
this is Dodge Connelly.
We fought in France together.

You don't say.
Nice to meet you.

You, too.

Yeah.

So, what are you
doing in town?

We're off to China in a week.
Thought we'd hit the town.

(CRASHING)
This is the best spot.

ALL: Over there, over there

Send the word
Send the word over there

That the Yanks are coming
The Yanks are coming

The drums rum-tumming
everywhere

So prepare

When you shipping out?

Friday. We're gonna hit
all the joints and try to get
in the game in the morning.

You know, Eddie,
I play for the Bulldogs.

I know, Dodge.
Everybody knows.

They do?
What do they say about me?

They like you,
but the game's changing.

Yeah. For the better?

Don't know.
I do know we like the Bullet.
He plays for us now.

Yeah.
He's a hell of a player.

And a war hero,
no thanks to the Tribune.

ALL: We'll be over
We're coming over

And we won't come back
Till it's over over there

What time is it?

6:00 a.m.

Eddie, you want to get
your boys in the game
this afternoon?

Do l?

Can I borrow something
from you fellas? In exchange
for front-row seats.

Depends.
Just what do you
want to borrow?

ALL: The drums rum-tumming
everywhere

So prepare, say a prayer

Send the word
Send the word to beware

We'll be over
We're coming over

And we won't come back
Till it's over over there

(GLASSES TAP)

Mr. Harpen will see you now.

Funny how things
work out.

New set of rules today.

Why was this woman
put on the story?

Harvey, I think
that question is for you.

She's the best.

Is that right?

Miss Littleton,
are you the best?

You want me to answer that?

We'll get back to you.

Mr. Rutherford, the story
of your accomplishments
smells of legend.

CC: Mr. Commissioner,
the men who served
with Carter back up...

Back his story?
That's fine.

There were many fine men
who served in this war.

Let's say
you just sit there,
CC.

I know you.

Harvey, I want
that retraction
in your paper.

Front page.

Miss Littleton, you're going
to write it, or I'll run you
out of this town on a rail.

It's going to run
tomorrow morning.
I'll resign.

That's fine.

Mickey Patterson
from the Metro desk
can write it.

And may I just add
that although you cannot
un-tell a lie,

I hope the Tribune will
bend over backwards to restore
the reputation of my client.

(RECEPTIONIST SHOUTING)

We have many
lucrative contracts...

I'm sorry, Mr. Harpen.
He just barged in!

It was important
for me to be here,

since it's my player
that's been traded.

PETE: It's all right, Bonnie.

Mr. Connelly,
the Chicago trade is not
one of the subjects...

Hey, Carter,
how's tricks?

Don't you have a game today?
You look like hell.

That's because I've been up
drinking all night.

Say, Lexie!
(WHISPERING) Say, Dodge.
What are you doing?

Here's the skinny.

So, I'm out all night
at a joint called
The Green Room,

where they serve liquor.

Which is illegal,
last time I checked.

Right you are, Pete,
and a young cocktail waitress
named Ya Ya

said to send you her best,
which from what I hear,
is miraculous.

Not key to this story.
My point is, I was out

drinking and celebrating
with a bunch of Chicago fans

who also happen
to be veterans
of the Great War.

As what goes on
at a place like this,
we get to talking,

and you come to find out that
six or seven of these fellas

served with Carter
when he beat
the Kaiser single-handedly.

PETE: Well, Mr. Connelly,
we've established

that Mr. Rutherford's
war record is intact.

Right you are, Pete.

So I tell these guys
that I'm playing
with Carter later on today,

and they tell me
that they really want to see
their buddy face to face.

PETE: To thank him,
I would suppose.

I can't think of any
other reason.
Can you, Carter?

So here's the fun part.
I say to myself,

I say,
"Dodge, what the hell!

"Carter's just down
at the courthouse.

"These fellows
can see him right now!"

They flipped.
They jumped into
the back of the truck.

They're down here right now,

in the pouring rain,
waiting to see their buddy.

Carter, they really
wanted to see you.

There's this one fellow,
I don't remember his name.

Little guy,
he's got dark hair,
he's...

Private Maggio?

Maggio, yeah.
He's a lieutenant now.

And then another guy,
big, stocky fellow
with a crew cut.

He's bulky,
kind of heavy-set.

Stone?
Mike Stone?

Mike Stone! Mike Stone.
Yeah, he's put on
a lot of weight.

Pete, come on, let's do
a little something nice
for our boys in the uniform.

Well, let's make it quick.
Bonnie, send those soldiers
up, if you would.

Hey, boys!
Come on up here!
He's dying to see you!

What did he say?
SOLDIER 1 :
He wants us to go up.

SOLDIER 2: Come on,
we got to go.

CC: Let's go down
and meet them.
They don't have to walk up.

HARVEY: CC, I'd like
to thank those fellows
for their service.

CC: They shouldn't come in
here. It would be a mistake
for them to come here.

HARVEY: What are you
talking about, mistake?

CC: Because these soldiers,

they've been up all night
at a speakeasy with some
gal named Ya Ya.

What do you say
we just stop?

No...
CC, stop.

It's my fault.
I should have put
an end to it.

Put an end to what?

It's all true.

Lexie's story.

And the soldiers
down in that truck,
they know it.

That's why CC
doesn't want these fellows
to come up here.

What about
Mack Steiner's story?

I guess CC paid him off.

Sit down,
all of you.

It's funny
how things
work out.

Lexie,
you and Harvey can go.

You're not going
to write a retraction.

I thought you'd see it
our way, Commissioner.
I'll get my hat.

HARVEY: Lexie.

LEXIE: Thanks, fellas.

See you, Lex.

Be seeing you, Dodge.

(DOOR CLOSING)

I'll be with you
in a second, Mr. Connelly.

Mr. Rutherford,
you got one play here.

You go to the press
and tell them

you were part of a great
group of boys who fought
for their country,

and you got
too much credit.

You think that will settle it?

That, and you're gonna
donate 50% of your earnings
to the American Legion.

Is that before
or after commissions?

Before.

But that's not gonna matter
a whole hell of a lot.

Got a new book of rules.

"All agents
and representatives
of players

"will be licensed
by the state."

I'm the state.

I'm the one
who approves
your license, CC.

You're out of football.

I'll fight you in court.

You get your lawyer,
I'll get mine.

Good day, gentlemen.

It is funny
how things work out.

Do you know
Chicago bookmakers

are betting on the game
of professional football
not lasting a year?

Even with Carter.

And then where will
all the little boys
who won't grow up go?

There's always baseball.

How much longer you think
you might be playing?

Why?

Well...

The game of professional
football has come of age.

Now we got to abide by
a uniform set of rules.

It's too much,
too much money now.

No more hiding footballs
under your jersey.

No more Pig in the Poke.
No more Crusty Bobs.

No more all-nights
in a speakeasy
with my friend Ya Ya.

It's time for you
to retire, Dodge.

But you can't make me.

No.

But I can fine
the hell out of you
till you're broke.

And if you pull a stunt today,
I'll kick you out.

You got that much gas?

Try me.

Have a good game
today, Dodge.

Have a good,
clean game.

(SIGHING)

Thanks, fellas.

SOLDIER 1 :
It doesn't seem fair.

We never played
any game clean.

We played Wabash
clean last year.

SOLDIER 2:
They only had nine men.

Yeah, but still...

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Ladies and gentlemen,
good afternoon and welcome.

It is a fine day
for professional football
here in Chicago.

Rain has been coming
down in buckets but, at least
for the moment, has subsided.

That's making for
some muddy conditions

as the league-leading
Chicago team,
with their new star

Carter "the Bullet"
Rutherford,

hosts the Duluth Bulldogs,
who are out for revenge.

Field conditions
are simply horrible.

That should favor
the ground game of Chicago.

But the real story today
is the match-up

between the Bullet
and old team-mate
Dodge Connelly.

And we're proud
to bring you all
the action live on the radio.

Joining me in the broadcast
booth is Saul Keller,
our sound engineer.

And we remind you
that our program is
brought to you in part by

Coca-Cola,
"Delicious and refreshing,"

and Standard Motor Gasoline.

(BAND PLAYING)

(CROWD BOOING)

Go home,
you bums!

I hope Big Gus didn't stretch
your uniform out too bad,
Eddie.

Lose this one for us,
will you, Dodge?

We just might.

(BAND PLAYING)

Never thought
I'd see the day.

Times are changing.

It's a hell of a thing.

You can't say
"hell" over the radio.

Why not?

Those are the rules.

Jesus.

You can't say
"Jesus," either!

Say, Sudsey.

Hiya, doll.

Hell of a crowd.

Are you two related?

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Well, we are ready
for the coin toss.

The two captains, Connelly
and Rutherford, are going
to head to the ··-yard line.

And who wouldn't want
to be down there on
the field for this exchange?

PETE: Dodge.

Fellas.
PETE: Carter.

Okay, so,
the winner
of the coin toss

gets to determine
which side of the field
they want to play on.

For example, Dodge,
if you want to play
from this end zone...

(SIGHING)

Jimmy, what happens
after that?

It's a new rule.

Oh, yeah. Okay.
Then the opposing team,
that would be you, Carter,

you decide whether
you want to kick off
or receive.

And that's all determined
by the coin toss.

Who calls that?

(SIGHING)

Hell, I don't care.

Carter, you call it.
You're the home team.

Write that down.
That's a good one.

Heads.

It's heads.

We'll take the ball.

(CROWD CHEERING)

We'll take
that side of the field.

PETE: Okay, well,
then let's get
this damn thing started!

It's a whole new game.

I'll try not to hurt you.

CARTER: Yeah, you do that.

RADIO ANNOUNCER: And here
we go, folks. Duluth is set
to kick o·to Chicago.

Hardleg Hansen boots
the ball in the air.

And Rutherford snags it.

He's to the 1·, the 2·.
Look out, he's at the 3·!

Side-stepped Ralph Banning.
Look at him go!

He's at the 4·, the ··!
He's got one guy to beat.

Yes, folks,
it's number 7,
Dodge Connelly!

Connelly brings down
Rutherford at the Bulldogs'
49-yard line.

Chicago fans are on
their feet. Now,
that's how you start a game!

Wow!

CHICAGO PLAYER:
1·, 24, hike!

RADIO ANNOUNCER: The ball is
handed off to Rutherford
at the line of scrimmage,

and he's slammed to the ground
by Big Gus Schiller
from Penrose High School.

CHICAGO PLAYER:
It's a run.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Well, after three
very safe plays,

Chicago is finding itself
facing a fourth down

with ? yards to go.

They'll line up for a field
goal and hope to walk away
with just three points here.

That is some
well-played defense
by the Bulldogs.

(CROWD BOOING)

It's all right, fellas.
We're just going
to wear them down.

Let's take three and put them
back on their heels,
all right? Let's go.

Hauser is lined up
for the kick. The snap
is down and the kick is...

Good!

It only took six minutes
into the first quarter

to get on the board,
and Chicago has done it.

They lead, 3 to nil.

Legs Hauser is set
to kick off for Chicago.

Sudsey, can I have
a shot of your giggle water?

Yeah, but don't
drink it all.
I'm in need.

Word is the new commissioner
told Dodge he had to play
the game clean

or he'd kick him
out of football.

Clean?
Mmm-hmm.

No Pig in a Poke?
No Chasing the Cattail?

Not even a Crusty Bob.

Christ!

Sorry.

Can he win like that?

Without question,
he cannot.

But the worst part is...

Boring.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Well, with 1· minutes left
to go in the second quarter,

Chicago still leads,

3 to nothing.
Neither team seems
to be moving the ball.

The Bulldogs with just
4· yards of total offense.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

All right,
how many yards
did we get, seven?

Two.

Really?
One-and-a-half.

What down is it,
second?

Third. Third.

All right, let's throw
the ball down the field.

Okay.

Curly, you run down
the sideline, and you beat
that dwarf to the 40, okay?

Okay, Dodge.
All right.

RADIO ANNOUNCER: Well, the
first half has ended pretty
much the way we started here,

3 to nil, Chicago.

And after two
quarters of play,

I guess you could blame
the low-scoring game
on field conditions.

That's all right, Ralphie.

We can win this.

They just want to
wear us down,
but we can win this!

Come on.
Tell them, Dodge.

We can win this.

FRANK: Yeah!

Yeah, Bulldogs!
Come on, guys.

Put it down
with the Bulldogs.
Come on.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Gone are the big plays.

Gone are the on-field antics
that have made
this Duluth team

so successful up to now.

So far, the big match-up
between Dodge Connelly
and Carter Rutherford

seems to be little more
than a wrestling match
in the mud.

BULLDOGS PLAYER:
57, 20 and hike!

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
It looks like Lake Michigan
out there

and certainly seems
to be affecting both teams.

Go on in.

What?
I've never
heard of that!

You can't block a man
in the back!

You got to be kidding me!
Not even at his knees?

Pall Mall for that smooth,
go anywhere taste.

(GASPING)

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
And as we head into
the fourth quarter here,

the scoreboard still reads

Chicago 3, Duluth 0.

Today's match-up not exactly
the offensive showdown
we'd hoped for.

More like a muddy
snooze fest so far

as Carter "the Bullet"
Rutherford has a grand total
of about 300 yards...

I can't tell who's who.

RADIO ANNOUNCER: Well, folks,
with just under a minute left
in the fourth quarter,

Duluth is pinned down
on their own 35.

It's fourth down
at four yards to go.

The Bulldogs really have
no choice but to go for it.

Connelly takes a lateral
from Zoom, and look out,
he's at the 4·!

The ··!
Rutherford tailing him!
He's at the 4·!

Rutherford hot on his heels!
He brings down Connelly

on the 3·-yard
line of Chicago!
How about that?

(CROWD BOOING)

Time-out on the field now,
and these fans are not happy.

And they're letting Rutherford
and his boys know.

How many time-outs
we got left?

ZOOM: Two.

Two? Good.
We got time
for two more plays.

We're gonna take it
down the right side,

we're gonna get it
out of bounds
and stop the clock.

Get about 8 more yards,
then Hardleg can
tie this thing up.

What?

Let's just beat them
now, Dodge.

You guys having fun?

(BULLDOGS PLAYERS LAUGHING)

ZOOM: Heck, yeah.

Okay, God damn it.
Let's beat them now.

I got a new play.
It's called
the Sergeant York.

BULLDOGS PLAYER:
Listen up, watch the wing.
Nobody gets out of bounds.

(BULLDOGS PLAYER SHOUTS)

BULLDOGS PLAYER: 15, 33, hike!

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Bulldogs run a sweep to
the right side of the field,

and that's not fooling anyone.

(CHICAGO PLAYER CHATTERING)

Stretcher!
Stretcher!

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
And there seems to be
an injury on the field.

A Duluth player,
can't quite make out
which one.

They're gonna bring
the stretcher out
to pick him up,

but, boy, you hate
to see that, especially
so late in the game.

Just 1· seconds
left to go here.

That's bad luck
for Coach Ferguson, too.
He's down to just 1· players.

You need another player.

Well, that's all we got.
We'll go with 10.

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
And that's going to cost him
one of his time-outs.

See if you can see
which player that is.

Where's Dodge?

No time on the clock!
Watch that line.
Nobody gets out of bounds!

Watch that line.
Nobody gets out of bounds!

BULLDOGS PLAYER:
Nine!

Twenty-one!

Here we go!
No time left!
This is it, boys!

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
Zoom takes the snap.
And here comes Chicago.

He looks down the field.
He's still looking.

All the receivers
are well covered.

Zoom slides left,
almost gets tackled
by his own player!

Rutherford has him
in his sights!
There's the gun! No time left!

Zoom throws up a Hail Mary!

The ball's in the air.

And...

It popped right
out of the hands
of Bakes Davis!

I can't tell. The ball is
somewhere down in a pile
of some four or five players.

The referee is pulling them
apart, and...

lt's...

It's intercepted!
It's intercepted!

Chicago wins!
My, oh my, oh my,
what a finish!

Chicago has intercepted and
blanked the Bulldogs today,
and this crowd is loving it!

Yeah!

Where's Dodge?

What?

RADIO ANNOUNCER: Wait
a minute. There seems to be
some confusion on the field.

lch gebe auf!

lch gebe auf!

lch gebe auf!

RADIO ANNOUNCER:
It's a touchdown, not an
interception! A touchdown!

Dodge Connelly has caught
the ball in the end zone
with no time left!

Duluth has stunned this crowd!
The Bulldogs won!

They won! They won!

The Bulldogs
have beat Chicago,
6 to 3.

It's a Bulldog victory!
Fantastic finish!

(BOTH WHOOPING)

Dodge caught the ball!
Dodge caught the ball!

Shit.

They're going to kick you out
for that one, Dodge.

Yes, they will.

It was fun.

Take care, Carter.

Dodge.

I'm going to confess
everything tomorrow.

The whole story.

(SIGHS)

Yeah.

I was with Sergeant York
that day that he took out
30 Germans single-handedly.

He got a lot of them.
I got a few myself.

We like our heroes, Carter.

You just made that up.
Yes, I did.

Be seeing you.

So, I'm working
on my lead story
for tomorrow.

Headline's something about

a single man taking on
an entire team by himself.

Well, there were
other players on my team.

I was talking about Carter.

So you're a sportswriter now.

Why not?

Well, certain jobs are always
going to be done by men.

Big, strapping men?
Mmm-hmm.

What else?

Auto mechanics, plumbers...

Motorcycles?

You want to drive?

Hop on, Mr. Connelly.
I'll buy you a soda pop.

(ENGINE STARTING)

Worried about
your reputation?

As a matter of fact, I am.

The trick is to hang on.

LEYIE:
What will become of us,
Dodge?

Ride off into the sunset?
Live happily ever after?

Well, marriage.

Of course.

Kids, I suppose.

Naturally.

I guess some
sort of scandal.

Hmm.

Taxes, maybe.

Lose all our money.

The family home?

Then,
after a brief
turn in jail...

LEXIE: You'll like it there!

DODGE: Not me, you.

(LEXIE LAUGHING)

LEXIE: Quickly
followed by dementia.

DODGE: What was
your name, again?

My friends
call me Lexie.

Fine.

You can
call me Miss Littleton.

That'd be nice.
Well, Miss Littleton...

You should be warned
that the way you're holding me
now, you're choking me.

(LEXIE LAUGHING)