Original subtitles

[muffled drum beats]

[pensive instrumental music playing]

[muffled abstract sounds]

[muffled grunting]

[muffled grunting]

[music builds intensely]

[music halts]

[door opens, creaks]

[door closes]

[water fountain clattering]

It's not over.

[man clapping]

Hey! Hey! This is not flag football! This is real football!

[tense percussive music playing]

I'm fine! Stop worrying about me! What about you?

What the hell are you doing out there?

What the hell are you doing, man?

Hey! Hey! Take a seat.

Not in front of them!

Don't look at the scoreboard. We're still alive! All right.

Stop feeling sorry for yourselves.

We're down by two touchdowns.

They're doing better than we are, but that's fine!

We just need to man up!

If you see an opponent in front of you, tackle him and get him down!

Quit being petty with them and letting them get into your heads.

That's their goal!

They're trying to get you mad.

That's their goal.

It's the second half. Focus on football, not them.

[team cheering and applauding]

- [locker doors banging] - [team clamoring]

[cheering continues]

[intense percussive music playing]

[spectators cheering]

[drum beat echoes]

You have to be aggressive.

Now we gotta stay focused.

[pom-poms rustling]

[spectator] Go! Go! Go!

[spectators cheering]

[whistle blows]

[pom-poms rustling]

[cheering continues]

[whistle blows]

[players grunting]

Hey! Hey! Amaree! Stop! Amaree! Stop it!

[whistle blowing]

Why? Why? Take a breath. I need you the whole game.

When they talk trash to you, don't get in their face like that.

Just be cool.

[pom-poms rustle]

- [music halts] - [heavy breathing]

[spectator] Go! Come on!

- [intense percussive music playing] - [players grunting]

[players grunting]

- [whistle blows] - [players grunt]

You can do better! We need you!

[spectators cheering]

[whistle blows]

- [players cheering] - [whistle blows]

[whistle blows]

[whistle blows]

[final buzzer blares]

[team clamoring]

[melancholic music playing]

[spectators chattering indistinctly]

Hey, hey, hey, accept it. You need to accept what happened.

You think I don't accept this? Screw you, man.

All right, okay. It's just one loss, man. It's nothing!

Will I see you later?

It's our first loss of the season.

I know we're all upset.

Don't let the nerves get to you.

We beat Texas last year, remember?

We had a long winning streak.

It's our senior year. We gotta finish strong.

[energetic drumming builds]

[music halts]

[pensive instrumental music playing]

You M-A-M-M-A-S-B-O-Y.

I became deaf when I had meningitis.

I was born hearing.

And later, at two or three years old, I lost my hearing.

I was sick and close to dying, and I had a brain infection and swelling.

[both chuckling]

I can't hear anything.

I can't hear cheering,

the fans yelling.

I feel their vibration.

I feel their footsteps when they run, the boom, boom, boom of the vibration.

[footsteps pounding]

The cochlear implant, or CI, gives you more ability to hear.

I have the cochlear implant,

and I only use it to listen to music, and that's it.

I can feel the vibrations and I can hear the music,

but I don't hear the lyrics.

Music helps me stay focused and calm.

[muted bass music vibrates]

- [church bell tolling] - [birds tweeting]

[silverware clattering]

I'm not crazy into basketball. Honestly, football, that's my thing.

You know what keeps me motivated? Working hard.

That's why I don't like baseball.

You know I don't like that bullshit... Right.

True, true.

You're dumb.

[boy chuckles]

[boys chuckle]

So, Lera, are you going to homecoming with Amaree or...?

I'm not sure. We'll see how it goes.

If things are good with us, then we might go together. We'll see.

Amaree said he didn't really wanna go, so we'll see about that.

[tense music playing]

[drum beat echoes]

Football is one of the avenues for them

to show the world what we're made of.

That's not the only way,

but it's one of the many great ways to put that on display.

From here on out, we are seriously focused.

[Amaree grunting, panting]

[exhales]

Our goal is to win all the way to homecoming

and win that homecoming game.

- [drum beat echoes] - [helmets rattling]

With a Deaf team, because they don't hear,

I believe their other senses are heightened.

Our players have a better feel on the field,

and I believe they see things better because they can't hear.

[heavy breathing]

[players grunting]

[spectators cheering]

How do we communicate on the field?

We huddle up and shoot our plays out. We have a secret code.

[cheering continues]

[drum beats echoing]

The drum is a very important part of cheering.

Yeah, we feel that vibration, and it's great.

[pom-poms rustling]

[drum beats echoing]

[rhythmic clapping]

[players grunting]

- [pom-poms rustling] - [players grunting]

No, no, watch. Follow me.

- [pom-poms rustling] - [whistle blows]

[players grunting]

[helmets rattle]

[family chattering]

[muffled chatter]

[family chuckling]

[chatter continues]

[car horn honking]

I'm the only Deaf person in my family.

Yeah, I do feel lonely.

When I was a kid, they would just talk around me.

And I didn't understand any of it, so I'd just go off on my own.

When I run into hearing people out in the world,

I feel, as a Deaf person, I am alone.

That's Dad?

Yes.

I was about two years old when my dad left.

[car horn honking]

I do wonder why my dad left.

Is it because I'm Deaf? Maybe. I don't know.

[engine rumbling]

[birds tweeting]

- [clattering] - [Amaree grunting]

- [clattering] - [Amaree grunting]

[melancholic music playing]

[Teddy's mother] Very cute.

Teddy's gone. He was my best friend.

Teddy was on our football team at Maryland School for the Deaf.

Jalen and Teddy, that was Jalen's first relationship.

Jalen's first love.

The reason I was attracted to Teddy is he was funny.

He always made me laugh.

Not only that, but we could have really good conversations.

We could talk about anything.

And then sophomore year, he transferred to a hearing school.

They were asking him, "Hey, you're Deaf. What are you doing here?"

"You should go back to the Deaf school."

He was being bullied because of his Deafness.

And he was wearing hearing aids, and they would flick his hearing aid off.

He just had so many issues going on.

His identity, his family, his friends... He was being bullied...

There were so many things going on, and it took a toll on him.

Teddy hanged himself.

[Teddy's father] Teddy was our third adopted child.

Many of the people that were with him did not understand

what he was dealing with,

but he was battling some demons.

[Teddy's father exhales]

And... not being able to console him

with sound was... was difficult.

I do feel as though there's some isolation that they must feel

when they're not with people who can communicate with them.

[Teddy's father sighs]

Teddy was my close friend. We grew up together.

When he killed himself, it was a huge shock to us.

It had a really big impact on our community.

I felt like I wanted to hurt myself

because he was gone.

I wanted to hurt myself. I tried to cut myself.

I felt angry.

It was a mixture of anger, feeling upset, sadness.

I feel that, now that he's gone,

it's made it a little bit tougher.

He's gone, but Teddy's always going to have a special place in my heart.

- [switch clicking] - [lights buzzing]

[uplifting music playing]

[team applauding, cheering]

[cheering continues]

[weight stand clattering]

Discrimination is everywhere.

It's pretty much inevitable for them.

I think it's how we react to the discrimination.

Ready, ready...

[scattered applause]

[boys cheering]

A lot of the hearing teams don't want to play us.

And most coaches don't like to lose to Deaf coaches.

Out in the hearing world, they tend to look down on Deaf people,

and they don't think we can do things as well.

So the way to prove them wrong is to beat them,

to crush them on the field and teach them that Deaf people can do anything.

And we prove to them that we are the same.

[weight stand clattering]

[Amaree's father] When Amaree was born, I was 25 years old.

I walked out because I was terrified at the time that he was sick.

I didn't know what to expect.

I walked out on my family

immaturely, very foolishly

and later regretted it.

I sold heroin, and a lot of it.

And I got into a lot of trouble. [chuckles nervously]

God found his way back into my heart.

And that really... My faith journey began my transition

away from a life in the streets, and...

I decided that, whatever it would take

for me to heal our relationship

and be a part of his life, that's what I was willing to do.

And it started slow.

Everything about being in his world is a learning experience, amen,

because my son is Deaf.

Amen, and I watch him and his team,

with what should appear to be a decided disadvantage,

beat the mess out of people every time I go watch them play

over the course of the last three years.

They were on a 42-game win streak.

Do you know how many seasons it takes to accumulate a 42-game win streak?

And a team came up from Texas,

and something happened that was just completely unexpected.

My son's team got beat.

At the end of the game,

one of the players raised his hand, and he wanted to speak.

His number was 23. He stood up and he said,

"This loss will not define us as a team."

[team and spectators cheering]

[Amaree's father] The reality of this life is that, while we are living,

we are going to face some adversity,

yet we must examine who we are

in the face of adversity.

[Amaree's father] It's not what we go through...

it's how we choose to go through it.

[shouts passionately] They gonna take you and think that you at a disadvantage,

when the reality of it is,

all you need to do is go suit up

and execute the plan for your life that God has for you.

I've watched these young people, week after week, as I go to these games.

They beat the starch out of people, and people never see it coming

because, in a lot of cases, they think, "Just because..."

Amen.

No matter how tough it gets,

we gotta continue to go hard

and continue to press,

and continue to fight.

I watched these young men battle to the last whistle.

They played until it was zeros left on the clock.

And guess what I can tell you from the effort that I saw from them.

They left it all on the field.

[exhales]

In the game, when we go to huddle, pay attention to the next play.

Get in and get out.

So make sure you're looking at the play call,

not messing around and talking to each other.

The important thing is, this is our last game.

I need 110% effort out there.

Work hard. We don't need any heroes out there.

Let's tackle it. And we'll get the win. That's all it takes.

[player cheers]

Not showin' off. No messin' around.

[scattered cheering]

[players cheering in unison]

Hey, what about homecoming?

Me? Who am I gonna ask?

What about Lera?

I'm just askin'. Just askin'.

She doesn't want me. She avoids me.

So I give her space.

Ya know? Thanks!

Yep! Well, "peace out."

I am copying your sign for that!

[both chuckling]

[light orchestral piano music playing]

[keypad clacking]

["Alphabet Soup" playing from speaker]

♪ Wrists so cold Like an ice cream scoop... ♪

[girls chuckling]

♪ M's the only letter In my alphabet soup ♪

♪ Turn it upside down I got a W, win ♪

♪ Making more money Than the money I spend ♪

♪ Got a lotta O's like a Hula-Hoop ♪

♪ But M's the only letter In my alphabet soup... ♪

Hey, shut up! Blow out the candles!

♪ All I do is win... ♪

[all cheering]

♪ Bitch, I hear you talkin' 'bout it Go and do it, then ♪

♪ Cadillac, all black on D's... ♪

[cheerleaders giggling]

♪ Add it up, I got the cash on me ♪

♪ It's some hot-girl shit ♪

♪ Put your hands on your knees And say... ♪

- ♪ I'm about to... ♪ - ♪ Ooh ♪

♪ It ain't that... ♪

[fireworks crackling in distance]

Do you want to get some ice cream here?

- [bell jingles] - [door creaks]

[door closes]

Are you gonna pay? Oh, am I paying for you?

[indistinct background chatter]

I'm broke.

[chuckles]

I'm just teasing you.

- [bell jingles] - [door creaks]

[soft piano music playing]

I'm just curious, what's goin' on with us?

What are we?

I don't know. Are we together, or we not? I don't know.

I'm a little scared.

We have a lot going on.

Are we together?

[car engine rumbling]

Um, I'm trying not to cry. This is my youngest son.

- [congregation] Amen! - This is Amaree.

- [applause] - Amen!

Amaree used to come when he was a baby,

and I'm just glad... glad to have him here.

This is the first time he's been here probably since he was seven years old.

And I always tell people, "This is my inspiration in life."

- [woman] Amen. - Amen.

He is the one in life that inspires me, amen.

And I just thank God for him being here today.

- [applause] - [woman] Amen!

Amen. Amen.

[Amaree's father] Thank you for coming up.

Amen.

[Amaree's mother] I would say that their relationship is... growing.

I don't believe that they are at the father-son point

that they should be, at this time in his life, but they're working on it.

I can truly say that, um, Marvin's working on it.

I had a strong throw.

You were a receiver?

- W-R. - Oh, you were a wide receiver?

What happened?

Not now. That was way, way back then. Way back.

Right, back in the day.

I was good!

- Oh, really? - I was good.

Could you catch the ball with only one hand?

When I was growing up without Dad,

he left, and I was kind of disgusted with him.

It's tough.

It's difficult, and my role model was gone.

But now I feel like I'm connecting with Dad.

First down.

- [Marvin speaks and signs] First down? - [Amaree] Yeah.

[Marvin chuckles]

Yeah.

[Marvin] I just always want to be able to show him

that whatever differences

he feels in my world,

I'm willing to go and experience those same differences in his world.

- [switch clicks] - [lights buzzing]

[percussive music playing]

So, tomorrow is our homecoming game and our homecoming day.

It's homecoming. We're expecting a big crowd.

We're playing the Virginia Spartans.

The Virginia Spartans are a hearing team.

It's my very last game.

I'm going to be very emotional about it.

[tire booms]

[muffled booms]

[drumbeats echoing]

[percussive music continues]

[crowd cheering]

[feet pounding]

[crowd hooting]

[pom-poms rustling]

[cheering continues]

You ready? Ready? The big announcement.

The homecoming king goes to...

Amaree McKenstry!

[crown cheering]

[music halts]

You know, any success is for Teddy.

When we win, we win for Teddy.

We keep him in our hearts.

[inconsistent percussive music playing]

[scattered cheering]

[clamoring intensifies]

[spectators cheering]

[players grunting in unison]

[Spartans coach] It is a football game. You are guys playing football.

They are guys playing football.

They're football players, and they're here to win today.

You're gonna have to forget that they're Deaf.

They will use that as a strength.

[erratic percussive music playing]

Don't let up! Let's come back stronger, together!

So don't give up! Don't give up! Come on!

[music building]

[player yelling]

[music continues building]

[all cheering]

[cheers and applause]

[soft piano music playing]

[scattered laughter]

[woman chuckles]

[scattered cheering]

I think their biggest challenge is going to be coming out of this bubble.

Once they get out there, it's not a guarantee.

So there are going to be a lot of obstacles for them to face

that they haven't faced here on campus.

[team cheering in unison]

- ["No Smoke" playing] - [all cheering]

♪ I think that I know the answer I think they hate us like cancer ♪

♪ Come and get deep, chemotherapy ♪

♪ I'ma treat this shit authentically ♪

♪ Marijuana did it medically ♪

♪ Medicating is my specialty ♪

♪ Super sin, God Heavenly ♪

♪ Six-feet deep, get the shovel If a wizard treat me like a muggle ♪

♪ Leave his ass in the forbidden forest ♪

♪ Not playing Quidditch But bitch, I'm scorin' ♪

♪ All my witches with me Cauldron pourin' ♪

♪ Mixing potions for the winter sol ♪

♪ Circle round the fire if you important I'll be smoking fire... ♪

[music echoes, fades]

[melancholic music playing]

Life is short, you know...

anything can happen at any time.

Just be who you want to be and be yourself,

and that's all it needs to be.

Be yourself, you know?

You know, I'll be 18 soon.

I'll be graduating and I'm going out into the real world.

I need to be prepared for that.

And what scares me

is the unknown.

Things that can get fucked up.

Those challenges, you know,

when I'm out in the world,

help me learn.

And I'm ready for the world.

I LOVE YOU.

[slow instrumental music playing]