Original subtitles

[opening theme music playing]

[all] Break.

Now, let's see some hustle now, some hustle.

Down. Set.

Go.

-[whistle blows] -[Vincent] Run it again.

How you doing, Ricky?

Remember me?

Charlie.

Yeah. I'm fine, doing good.

-[Vincent] Hey, Ricky, let's go. -Bye.

Keep your mind on the game,

rainy-day practice doesn't mean slacking off.

Okay, throw left, before he can sweep, then go.

Who's the girl, Rick?

She's a girl in my class. I don't know her name.

-Oh, sure you don't. -Look, I don't, okay?

She sure knows you. "Oh, Ricky, remember me?"

Knock it off, okay?

[Vincent] Come on, ladies, move it. Move it. Some hustle, come on.

-Ready? -[all] Break.

Down.

Set. Go.

You know, using the stuff is not fair.

I mean, I'm soaked to the skin, you're dry as a bone.

Hey, you gotta take the good with the bad.

What does that mean?

It means I'm dry, but I'm dead. You're wet, but you're alive.

Oh.

Dan, I understand,

but you have a responsibility to the kids.

Couldn't you at least finish out the rest of the season?

All right, I'll respect your decision.

Thank you, Dan, and good luck to you too.

Afternoon, gentlemen. Can I help you?

I'm Jonathan Smith. This is Mark Gordon.

I believe we talked on the phone.

Oh, the football referee, of course.

-Please sit down. -Thank you.

Not often that we get someone with your qualifications to referee for us.

I'm just glad we're available. I'm looking forward to the game.

Yeah, we drove all night to make sure we'd be here on time.

You may have rushed for nothing.

One of the coaches just resigned.

We may not have a game unless we find another coach.

Look, I don't wanna toot my horn, but I've handled the pigskin in my day.

Used to play in college. They called me Flash Gordon.

You mean, you'd be willing to take over until I find another coach?

Sure, you know. I like kids, love football.

Well, I'm sure the Minnows will be thrilled to have you

as their coach, Mr. Gordon.

Oh, wait a minute, I'm gonna coach a team called the Minnows?

Well, they're not exactly the best team in the league

but they're a bunch of good kids.

What exactly is their record?

Well, they're zero and five this year.

Looks like you've got your work cut out for you.

You're playing the Bandits Saturday. They're the best team in the league.

I had a feeling you were gonna say that.

[blows whistle twice]

[blows whistle twice]

-Hi, kiddo. -Hi.

Sorry I'm late. Traffic was murder in this rain.

-[Vincent] Three, four... -How do they look?

-They look pretty good, Dad. -...five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

All right, good job.

Go get your gear and take off.

You nervous?

A little.

-Ready? -Let's do it.

Excuse me.

-You're Coach Diller? -That's right.

I'm Walter Duboise. This is my daughter, Charlene.

-What can I do for you? -Well, we just moved here

and my daughter's interested in playing football.

Yeah, well, the gym class has touch football.

[chuckles] No, she plays regular football.

She was on a team in Baker. She played wide receiver.

Not saying much for Baker, is it?

I started and we were six and zero.

Look, I know it's a little unusual, but she likes to play.

There's no rule that says she can't.

Just let her try out.

All right.

But I decide if she's not good enough, I don't take her. Fair enough?

Fair enough.

Ricky.

Come here.

-This is my son, Ricky. -Yeah, I know.

-Hi, we're in the same class. -Yeah, hi.

Charlie wants to try out for the team.

-What? -Hey, she's got a right to try out.

Go running up and back with her.

-Oh, come on, Dad. -Go and do it.

Couldn't you get her to try out for a girl sport?

She's got a mind of her own.

Yeah. If I was her father, she'd change that mind pretty quick.

Okay, you guys ready?

[whistles]

-She's pretty good for a girl, huh? -Not bad.

Let's see if she can catch.

All right, run a down-and-out. Ready, go.

Hey, why don't you take it easy?

The other team's not gonna take it easy on her.

Either she can catch or she can't catch.

The other team isn't gonna have a grown man throwing the football.

Hey, we got some pretty big kids in this league.

Look, she's fast but she's still a girl.

Why don't you get her to go out for track or something?

I can't use her.

Let's go.

She beat the pants off you. If I were you, I'd be ashamed.

[door closes]

-Looks like it's clearing up. -Yeah.

I'll see you at the barbecue this afternoon.

Okay, coach.

-Coach Diller? -Yeah.

I'm Jonathan Smith, new league ref.

Yeah, you'll be doing the game Saturday, huh?

That's right.

This is Mark Gordon, he's taking over as coach of the Minnows.

-How you doing? -I'm doing fine.

-You're in for a long day Saturday. -Yeah, so I hear.

Well, at least the kids will have fun.

Losing is not fun, winning is fun.

Well, I'd hate to think that.

That would mean half the kids playing aren't having a good time.

That's right.

And the only way to change that is to become a winner.

We're having a team barbecue this afternoon around 6:00 at the house.

Why don't you and the coach join us?

Get to know the kids and I'll fill you in on what's happening in the league.

Sounds good. We'll be there.

All right, my address is on the team sheet.

-[Jonathan] I got it. -See you.

-I don't think I'm gonna like this guy. -Oh, come on now, Mark.

Come on, Jonathan, let me be a little judgmental.

I'm only human, remember?

[indistinct chattering]

Coaching is sort of a passion with me.

I love the kids.

I know I'm rough on them, but they respect me.

Don't you think you might be a little too tough on them sometimes?

Well, we only have a few hours after school.

Can't be too soft on them. Not if you wanna build champions.

We've won our division four years in a row.

I work with him every day.

Looks like we're in for a rough time on Saturday, huh?

-Well, I plan on doing my best. -You're gonna win, right?

-You bet, Dad. -[woman] Ricky?

The potato salad's ready. Could you put it on the table, please?

I'm talking to dad.

Richard, do what your mother tells you.

-She's my stepmother. -[Vincent] Just put it on the table.

I just remarried about a year ago. There's still a lot of anger, you know?

Hey, it's never easy.

Look, I've got an appointment I can't miss.

-Thanks for the invite. -You bet.

-Hey, I'll go with you. -No need.

Why don't you stay here? Maybe Vince will give you some tips on coaching.

Thank you.

[Walter] It was unfair.

There has to be somebody I can talk to about this.

Dad, I don't wanna make a federal case out of it or anything.

I'm embarrassed enough.

You have nothing to feel embarrassed about.

Even I couldn't have caught those passes.

None of the other boys could have either.

Dad, I just wanna forget about it now.

Don't you wanna play football?

Of course I do, but not if they don't want me to play.

They're wrong. Vincent Diller is wrong.

You deserve to play if you want to.

[doorbell dings]

I'll get it.

-Hi, Charlie. -Hi.

How'd you know my name?

Oh, it's written right there on your shirt.

Oh, yeah.

-Is your dad home? -Who is it, honey?

My name's Jonathan Smith. I'm the new league ref.

Oh, what can I do for you?

Well, I understand your daughter here tried out today.

Yeah, if you could call it that.

That coach of theirs fired a bullet that nobody could catch

and they said Charlie was no good.

I know, I heard about it. That's why I'm here.

Dad, I told you, I don't wanna make a federal case out of this.

Hey, you know, in a way, I think your daughter's right.

Look, a friend of mine's coaching the Minnows.

They could really use some talent.

Hey, why not try out for a team that really needs you?

I don't know.

I don't think that guy ought to get away with something like that.

Well, I agree.

Why start a big deal now in the middle of the season?

Why not just go out and play the game?

He's right, Dad. All I wanna do is play.

Okay.

Hey, if it's all right, I'd like to come in and talk to you about the tryout.

[Walter] What about it?

As much as your daughter here would like to forget it, she's a girl.

It's gonna prejudice a few minds.

-Okay, come on in. -Thank you.

[all] Break.

Down.

Set.

Go.

[coughing]

[blowing whistle]

Are you okay, Mr. Gordon?

[coughing]

[spits]

Oh, that was terrific, guys.

Now, why don't we try throwing it to somebody on our team?

Let's try it again.

[grumbling]

Hey, hold it. Hold it here.

What's all this grumbling?

We're playing the Bandits on Saturday.

[Mark] So? You gotta play somebody.

Yeah, but they're the best and we're the worst.

I mean, we never win.

Well, with an attitude like that, you are never gonna win a game.

Well, that's why our last coach, Mr. Williams, quit.

Yeah, he said he was tired of working with a bunch of losers.

All right, guys, let me ask you something.

-Do you like to play football? -Sure we do.

-Do you wanna win? -Yeah, everybody wants to win.

Well, then you gotta think that you can win.

But we can't.

I don't wanna hear "can't." I don't wanna hear you say "can't."

I wanna hear you say, "We'll try."

-But, coach, it'll never happen. -Never say never.

You just get out there. You give it your best shot

and most of all, most of all, you have fun, huh?

All right, let's go, Minnows.

All right? Ha-ha... Oh.

[indistinct chatter]

-Coach Gordon? -Yeah.

We hear you were looking for a wide receiver.

Among other things.

-I'm Walter Duboise, this is Charlie. -How you doing, Charlie?

I know it's a little late in the season but we'd like to try out for your team.

-Charlie's a good receiver. -Well, let's give him a shot.

All right, Charlie, why don't you go in for the right end?

[all] Break.

Down.

Set.

Go.

Look at that. He's great.

The Minnows would be proud to have Charlie on the team.

Thanks, coach. Charlie, come on over and say hello to your new coach.

Hey, that was some catch, my boy.

Hair's kind of long, isn't it?

Uh, she's a girl.

Hair's kind of short, isn't it?

I can't believe they let a girl on their team.

Yeah, I can see her coming out for a pass.

Wait a minute, I got a run in my pantyhose.

What are you laughing at? She beat you in the 40.

No, I let her beat me.

Sure.

-I was just messing around, okay? -[whistle blows]

[Vincent] Come on. Come on, move it.

All right, come on, come on, gather around.

What are you, tired, Rick?

It certainly can't be from today's practice.

The two-minute drill today was a joke.

You made one lame-brained mistake after another.

-I'm sorry. -Down for 20. Nobody is sorry.

You don't win football games being sorry.

And after that, give me eight 40s.

Maybe next time, you'll beat a girl.

And the rest of you, any mistakes tomorrow,

we might have changes in the starting line-up.

All right, that's all for today.

[all chatter]

-Come on. -She out run him.

Hey, you're pretty rough on your boy.

He can handle it.

He's just a boy, they're all just boys, they're not professional athletes.

Look, you treat them like adults, they'll respond like adults.

-It's great for building character. -Oh, come on.

They're under enough pressure at school and at home.

They don't need any out here.

Look, I don't know who you think you are.

I'm a football coach. I live in the real world.

Why don't you save that bunk for some newspaper editorial?

We ought to teach that guy to be a human being.

He's a strange one, all right.

You had a good practice today.

Looks like your team may be turning around.

Yeah, it's my new end, Charlene Duboise.

Never thought I'd say it: Boy, that girl can play football.

She sounds like just what the doctor ordered.

Yeah, the kids are all excited.

I hope they don't expect miracles, you know.

Or should they?

Mark.

Come on, I'm surprised at you. That isn't fair and you know it.

Oh, come on, Jonathan, what are friends for?

The boss wouldn't mind a little... kind of touchdown, you know? [chuckles]

Maybe he would mind.

Richard, please don't throw the ball against the window.

Ricky, please. That's annoying.

Ricky, didn't you hear me? I asked you to stop.

Listen, Helen, I heard you.

But this is my house and I can do whatever I want.

Look, I don't know what's bothering you

but if you wanna talk about it, I'll be happy to listen.

Look, I'm not gonna love you.

So you can stop pretending that you care.

You don't have to love me. And I'm not pretending.

I do care.

Practice didn't go so well today.

Yeah, why not?

I don't know, I couldn't do anything right.

Well, that's why they call it practice.

If you didn't make any mistakes,

they'd probably call it "having a perfect."

Maybe someone should tell it to my dad.

I mean, I couldn't do anything right. He kept riding me. I hate it.

Oh, well,

I'm sure your dad just wants what's best for you, Ricky.

How do you know? You weren't there.

You didn't see him calling me stupid.

Look, Ricky, your father can be really demanding,

but he loves you,

he just has some trouble expressing it sometimes.

I don't need anyone making excuses for me.

Ricky and I were just talking about practice.

Sounds more like you went crying to your mommy.

-We were having a discussion. -Yeah, yeah, I heard the discussion.

You can't take the heat, can you?

You want me to treat you like a little baby.

I've got news for you.

You're not a baby and I'm not about to treat you like one.

I didn't say that. I just said it was a tough practice.

You're damn right it was, and they're gonna get tougher.

You don't get anywhere in this world without good, hard work.

And you're not gonna make the pros

unless you're ready to work your butt off.

I work hard.

-I gotta go meet the guys at the mall. -Oh, sure, sure, run out.

Just what I'd expect from a loser.

Okay, Dad, let's go work now.

No, no, it's too late.

You should have worked today.

Be ready for tomorrow. I'm gonna work your butt off.

You know, this is your fault. Now he's mad.

From now on, just stay out of it, okay? Stay out of it.

I swear, Ricky, you gotta tell your dad to chill out.

He's only being hard on us for our own good.

You really believe that?

If he didn't care, he wouldn't get so upset.

He doesn't want us to be wimps.

-Hi, Ricky. -Well, it if isn't Charlie "Du-boy."

Ha-ha. Very funny.

Hey, I just came by to tell you that I don't have any hard feelings

about not playing on your team.

You weren't good enough, that's why you're not on our team.

If I'm not good enough, then why did I beat you in that race?

I let you win.

No way and you know it.

Are you calling me a liar?

-I can beat you any day. -Quit pushing me.

Don't tell me what to do. I'll push you anytime I want.

[yelling and cheering]

Hey, I've gotta get home.

You'll stay here till she comes out. You owe her an apology.

I don't owe her anything. Look, she asked for it.

I wasn't gonna listen to how much better she is than me.

Oh, so you were gonna show her how much better you were, huh?

If she wants to play with the guys, she's gonna have to play by our rules.

You're starting to sound like your father.

Well, he's right.

Is he?

Do you think Charlie's better than you are?

-No. -Then why'd you hit her?

I felt I had to do something.

Okay, I just didn't think.

Look, I like Charlie.

I'm really sorry I hit her.

Then why don't you tell her that when she comes out?

[door opens]

-You all right? -It stopped bleeding. I think.

-Ricky wants to talk to you. -I've got nothing to say to him.

He wants to say he's sorry. Give him a chance, okay?

You wanna say something?

I'm waiting.

Well, if you're gonna be like that, forget it.

Be like what?

I'm not the one who started that fight.

Look, you didn't have to go around bragging that you beat me in the race.

I can't help it if I'm faster than you.

What difference does it make anyway?

I guess it doesn't make a difference.

I'm sorry that I hit you. It was wrong.

Apology accepted.

You punch harder than I do.

I feel really bad.

-Are you gonna be okay? -Yeah. I'm a tomboy, remember?

I don't even know why I did it.

This is gonna sound kind of funny, but maybe it was to please my father.

I understand.

I mean, it's like I try so hard to be exactly what he wants me to.

And if I'm not the best--

I thought I was the only one who felt that way.

But you're a girl.

Whatever you do is okay.

I was supposed to be a boy.

I started with two strikes against me from the beginning.

But everybody can see that your father loves you.

I know. But that's why I never wanna disappoint him.

Yeah, I guess it's kind of the same.

Must have been pretty hard for you to say you're sorry.

Yeah.

-But I'm glad I did. -Me too.

You're pretty neat, Charlene.

You're pretty neat, too.

Can you eat a piece of pizza with that thing stuck up your nose?

Yeah.

In a few minutes, we'll be able to put those steaks on.

Oh, sometimes you can be the sweetest man in the world.

Come on. You know I'm just a big pussycat.

-I'm home. -It's about time. We're in here.

Hi.

Mr. Smith dropped me off.

I'm sorry I was late.

Where have you been?

I saw Charlie at the video arcade.

We got to talking about the tryout the other day.

And?

We got in a fight and I hit her.

You hit her?

I didn't raise my son to go around beating up helpless girls.

Dad, I said I was sorry. I knew I was wrong.

Well, I'm gonna show you how wrong it was.

Vince, he made a mistake. He said he was sorry.

Helen, don't go butting your nose in where it doesn't belong.

Rick's my son. I know what's right for him.

Upstairs.

Goodbye, Smith.

Don't worry, he won't hurt him. He loves him too much to do that.

I hope you don't mind my asking

but how can you just stand there and not say anything?

Vince is right. I'm only his stepmother.

My husband has the right to raise his son as he sees fit.

Doesn't he?

I'd say that was true if he were alone. But you're his wife.

Vince and I have a good relationship.

I don't wanna lose that.

Since when does trying to be a good mother wreck a good relationship?

[sighs]

-It's not that simple. -I didn't say it was simple.

But if you're ever gonna be a family,

somewhere along the line you're gonna have to say:

"Hey, I'm part of this. I'm not just here to keep house."

Look, I think you'd better leave, all right?

Okay.

Hey, I don't blame you for being angry.

That's what happens when people say what they feel.

Maybe you ought to try it sometime.

Good night, Mrs. Diller.

[door opens and closes]

What the hell is the matter with you?

It's supposed to be a five-step drop, not a seven-step drop.

Where's your mind today? Can't you do anything right?

Look, we've been doing this all day. What difference does it make?

It makes a lot of difference.

We'll keep doing it until you do it right.

I don't care if we're here till Christmas.

Now, do it again. And use your mind.

Down.

Set.

Go.

Terrific. What, are you trying to give the game to the other team?

-You threw it right to him. -Look, just get off my back, okay?

Hey, don't badmouth me.

You'll be sitting on the bench so fast,

you won't know how you got there.

-Now, just do it again. -No.

-That's it. You're on the bench. -Take your bench and shove it.

I quit.

That's great.

Walk away.

You're a quitter.

Wimp.

I never wanna see you out here again.

All right, Crow, take over as quarterback.

-How you doing? -Okay.

You're off practice pretty early.

Well, I had a lot of homework to finish.

Well, come on, jump in. I'll give you a ride home.

-I quit the team. -So?

I couldn't take it anymore.

What did your father say?

The usual.

I'm a quitter, a wimp.

And what about football?

What about it?

Oh, come on. You love football and you know it.

Yeah, I know it,

but not playing for my dad.

Then play for some other team.

-What, are you kidding? -No, I'm not kidding.

I mean, where is it written you gotta play on your father's team?

Nowhere but...

But you're afraid.

Yeah.

Maybe he's right. Maybe I am a wimp.

No you're not. Look, I'd be afraid. So would any kid.

But doing what you think is right is part of growing up.

You think you're doing the right thing, don't you?

I know I am.

All right, then pump up that heart of yours,

take a deep breath and do it.

-Dad, I-- -Oh, not now, son.

You wanna talk to me about getting back on the football team,

we'll do it after supper. Right now, I wanna enjoy my meal.

I wasn't gonna ask you about getting back on the team.

Then what's there to talk about?

I want your permission to play for the Minnows.

Is this some kind of a joke?

No, it's not a joke.

I like football and I wanna play.

Well, you had a team to play on.

You quit.

You're not gonna play for anybody else.

I don't think that's fair.

You don't think it's fair.

You hear that, Helen? He doesn't think it's fair.

Let me tell you something about being fair.

How many fathers do you think would spend hour after hour

trying to get you guys to be a good football team?

How many?

None.

And how many days a week do I spend working on your game?

Every day.

What do you do? You quit. You walk out.

How do you think that made me feel in front of those boys, huh?

How do you think it made me feel?

-I know it bothered you. -Bothered me?

You broke my heart.

You understand that? You broke my heart.

And now you wanna play for another team.

Go on and get out of here.

Go on.

[door closes]

It's all right.

It's only me.

Um...

I thought you might wanna talk.

What's there to talk about?

You heard him. He makes the rules.

I never should have let Mr. Smith talk me into this.

He said, "You have to do what you think is right.

That's part of being a man."

Well, I guess that's part of being a mother, too.

Vince, I want you to let him play for the Minnows.

What?

Who is it gonna hurt?

It's gonna hurt me, that's who.

Didn't you listen to anything I had to say at the table?

Yes, I listened. I always listen.

And now it's time that you listened to me.

When we got married, we knew it wouldn't be easy with Ricky.

I thought after a time, that we could be a family.

-Come on. We are a family. -No, no.

You and Ricky are a family.

A family that isn't getting along very well right now, but still a family.

I am just an outsider with no right to an opinion

as to how that boy should be raised.

-He's my son. -And he's my stepson.

And we live in the same house.

And I can't make him love me, but I can make him respect me.

And I can make him think of me as a friend

if I'm given the chance.

-Helen-- -Let me finish.

I've stood back and I've listened to his insults,

waiting for you to do something, well, I was wrong.

Now, from now on, when he's wrong,

I'm gonna let him know it in no uncertain terms.

And when he's right, I'm gonna let him know that, too.

And this time, I think he's right.

So I'm giving him permission to play for the Minnows.

And one more thing.

If your son ever decides to play football for you again,

I want those practices cut down to three days a week.

I know it doesn't seem important, but I want him to learn to read.

[door slams]

You're playing for the Minnows.

Dad said I could?

No, your stepmother said you could. Have you done your homework?

No, I have some math left to do.

Well, do it or you won't play for the Minnows.

[tap on window]

[tap]

[tap]

What are you doing here in the middle of the night?

Look, I had to tell you, I'm on your team.

-What? -Yeah, I quit my dad's team.

-I couldn't play for him anymore. -He let you play for us?

No, but my mom--

Well, my stepmom did. I couldn't believe it.

We've only got one more day till the game.

I mean, we've gotta practice, get our timing down.

-Yeah, I know. -Wait.

Let's go.

-Now? -Yeah, the pros play at night.

Okay.

Okay, down-and-out to the right.

-Touchdown. -Yeah.

Gather around, gather around.

Now listen up.

This team is zero and five.

If they're gonna do anything against us, they gotta throw the ball.

Now I want pressure on that quarterback, you understand?

-Yes, sir. -All right.

Coach, I'd feel a lot better if Ricky were playing for us.

We'll do fine without him.

You boys are ready.

We don't need him.

All right, guys, you've worked hard all week long.

You know the plays, you're ready.

All I'm asking you to do is to go out on that field

and have some fun, all right?

I mean, this is a game, it's no big thing.

There's something like six hundred million Chinese

don't even know we're here today.

And if they did know, they couldn't care less what happens.

So let's have fun. Say that with me.

-Let's have fun. -Let's have fun.

-I can't hear you guys. -Let's have fun.

Come on, let's have your hands here, come on.

-Go, Minnows. -Minnows.

-Go, Minnows. -Minnows.

Go.

[whistle blows]

[crowd cheering]

[whistle blows]

[crowd cheering]

All right! Yeah!

Yeah.

Aw.

Time out.

Hold them, hold them.

Okay, we've got three seconds left.

Time enough for this one last play.

Go right, all straight, on go.

-Ready? -[all] Break.

Down.

Set.

Go.

[uplifting music playing]

[Jonathan] Your son played a great game today.

Yeah, for the other team.

That's the best game I've ever seen him play.

You taught him all the skills.

What you never let him do was just play.

He had a lot of fun out there today.

Maybe you're right.

I guess I never saw it that way.

You take care of yourself.

Tough loss.

Yeah.

Kid played great, didn't he?

Yeah, he did.

I was proud of him.

Are you gonna tell him that?

Yeah, I'm gonna tell him that.

Hold it, Mark. Mark. Mark.

-Can that girl play football or what? -Are you telling me?

Listen, with Charlene and Ricky on the same team,

I think we can make the playoffs.

Hey, Charlie. Charlie.

-Charlie? -I'm here, Dad.

Can I go to the dance at the school tonight,

at the school?

You wanna go to a dance?

Yeah, I do.

Mhm. Yeah.

Uh...

Yeah, yeah, sure, why not?

Thanks.

I'll see you at home, Dad.

I don't believe it.

She's acting like a girl.

Well, don't take it like you're losing a wide receiver.

Take it like you're gaining a quarterback.

[theme music playing]