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- [indistinct banging] - [woman screaming]

[man] Come here, bitch! Get back in here!

[arguing continues]

[woman] He was my son too.

[man] Bullshit! Your son is breathing!

He's not rottin' in a box in the front room.

Damn it, I wish them gooks had killed you both instead!

[woman] Leave me alone and go to hell!

[man] Your son is still alive out there,

- just sniveling like some bleeding mutt! - [woman] Don't touch me!

[man] He's going nowhere. He never will. He's a nobody.

He's not my son. He's yours.

- Bitch! Come here! - [glass shattering]

[man] Come back here, you bitch! I'll get your ass!

You're next! I said, come back here!

[woman] Leave me alone, don't touch me!

[shouting continues]

[woman] Get away from me!

[shouting fades]

[commentator] Lakers win! Lakers win! Lakers win!

And Jerry West, long denied, is finally a champion.

My goodness, after all those years and all those losses,

here he is, in the Promised Land.

And, Lakers fans, he must be on top of the world.

[audience] Lakers! Lakers! Lakers...

- [woman] I'll have another. - [bartender] Sure thing.

[woman sighs]

Still doesn't feel real, does it?

I was just thinking that.

I'm really going to miss him.

Huh?

Bob?

Oh.

[West] Fuck, Jerry. I'm sorry. I'm here alone.

I didn't know him.

Oh, I just...

You looked like one of us.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[woman] I'm sorry for yours.

Whatever it is.

I actually...

didn't lose, for once. I won.

[woman] To happy endings then.

Yeah, happy endings.

[woman] So, what's next?

[woman moaning]

[both moaning]

[pop song playing]

[mumbles]

- Sure you won't stick around? - I better get home.

[chuckles] Were you at a party or something?

Hmm?

I've been looking for this my whole life.

[woman] Happy to help.

See you around sometime.

[door opens]

[woman] I remember when I was a little girl, our house caught on fire.

I'll never forget the look on my father's face

as he gathered me up in his arms

and raced through the burning building onto the pavement.

And I stood there shivering in my pajamas

and watched the whole world go up in flames.

And when it was all over, I said to myself,

"Is that all there is to a fire?

Is that all there is?"

["My Favorite Mutiny" playing]

[man] There you go again, Bill!

Pissing on a flat rock and telling me it's raining!

[Sharman] I just drafted you two power forwards.

I just coached those scrubs in summer league.

Shit, fuck, I'd do better with

two pin-dick toddlers from your summer camp.

- You know what I'd do. - Fuck off, Chick.

- We're not trading Kareem! - [Buss] All right then!

We're not trading the MVP!

Sounds like smart basketball, Bill.

This is Maria, by the way. Have a seat, honey.

Chick, do you mind mixing me up a rum and Coke?

- What are you having, hon? - Sex on the Beach?

[man] That's what I like to hear.

You know, we're, uh, really just getting started.

Nothing too exciting yet. You know,

might be best to let us hack the tall grass

and come by and give you the big picture later.

Yeah. Leave the gardening to us, Bill. That's what we used to do for Cooke.

Right. Well...

I like to be a little more hands-on.

I've got the owners meeting coming up,

so if you tell me what we're looking for,

I can keep my ear to the ground, and see if I can help us out.

No, no, no, no. You don't do that.

[Sharman] No, what Jerry is trying to say is that

these owner characters, they're just a little slippery.

Come on, boys.

I'm talking about a championship. A ring.

The record books. That is what we're all doing here, right?

Since when?

Since God invented basketball.

Since God invented basketball.

- Jerry, Jerry... Stop. - No, Bill, no.

Bill, he wants to pretend we're playing basketball.

Why don't you ask him why this is the third year straight

I've been begging for a solid four, but he won't buy me Spencer Haywood.

He's too expensive.

Not to mention he attracts a certain element,

you know, that whole "back to Africa" malarkey.

[West] That sound like basketball to you?

- [Sharman] It's business, Jerry. - Bingo. Ding-ding.

That's what you won't read in your sports pages.

Every year, I tell these jokers what I need to win it all.

We game it out, we get all fired up and hard.

Then the man in your shoes walks in...

and we're right back where we started.

Sellin' popcorn, sitting on our fuckin' thumbs.

And Jerry West is out there with the same three stars,

nine scrubs, trying to squeeze a diamond out of fuckin' pig shit.

You know what, fellas? Fucking do myself a favor...

and fucking spare myself

- the emotional... - Indulge me, Jerry. Indulge me.

- Jerry, tell me what you need. - Jesus Christ.

More than you're willing to spend.

And you know that how?

- Oh, shit. - You're a businessman.

Y'all want pee from a tree, but when you see the price,

your sphincter puckers.

[Buss chuckling]

All right.

Bill, is this last year's budget?

Yeah, we're still working on the new one.

All right, well, don't bother.

Jerry, I told you when we drafted Johnson,

all the other basketball was up to you,

and I will give you whatever you need.

Now, take the week and come back to me about what that is.

In the meantime, Maria...

you leave the price tag,

and my beautiful sphincter up to me.

Come on, Frank!

[Sharman] Shit, Jerry,

I think you just got everything you always wanted.

[Buss] Now we can do as much as we want with a stadium.

[man] Well, that's a good point, Dr. Buss.

To my mind, the NBA should be competing with the top-tier leagues.

I mean, we have the most exciting sport on the planet, the best athletes.

There's no reason we can't be just as popular as golf or tennis.

[man] Hey, who knows? Maybe we'll catch up to bowling.

You're joking, but they're killing us in the Nielsens.

We're on thin ice with CBS,

and no one else is beating down the door.

If we're going to survive, we need big thinkers.

Well, Dave, here we are.

- Let's go say hi. - After you.

Fred!

Dr. Jerry Buss, pleasure to finally meet you.

- How's the old lady? Good. Vince! - Great.

How do you do? Dr. Jerry Buss. Coming out with us tonight?

I don't know. I'll have to see, Jerry.

You ever had a blow job with champagne in her mouth?

You're going to love it. Mr. McComb!

Welcome to Los Angeles, partner.

Texas is bigger, but we're more fun.

- Welcome to the club. - Thank you. It's a great honor.

Hey, I want you to know I voted for you.

Thank you, Bill. I appreciate that. I really do.

- He didn't. - He didn't vote for me?

He didn't vote for you.

A lot of people were against you buying in.

Mmm-hmm.

See, we've seen some real estate types before

that buy low, sell high.

No long-term investment in the future of the league.

Well, the Lakers are your future, Dave.

Oh?

But I'd still like to meet the past.

- Where's this Auerbach? - You mean the Pope?

Follow the white smoke.

[Buss] Red Auerbach.

Winner of 13 rings, 7 of them against our club. No losses.

If you're a Laker, he's the devil incarnate.

If you're from Boston, chances are you're Catholic,

but you'd sell your soul for him.

The networks are turned off by all this street ball.

The thugs, the fighting.

It scares away decent families.

Don't you worry.

Decent families have creamed their shorts for Larry Bird.

The hick with the funny haircut?

That hick is gonna win me ten more rings.

- Yeah. He got a brother? - Hell, I'll take a sister.

[Buss] I'll take the guy who'll beat him.

- Dr. Buss. - Commissioner. Red.

- Jerry Buss, big fan. - That won't last long.

Well, I doubt that. I love a winner.

Well, then you bought the wrong team. No one loses quite like the Lakers.

[men laughing]

[Buss] Well,

I'm fixing to change that actually.

Was hoping to pick your brain a little bit about it.

You know, me and the boys are gonna go out on the town tonight.

I got the keys to Hefner's place, if you wanna come along.

I bet you do.

You fellas go get your kicks.

I got a basketball team to run.

Commissioner.

Sure thing.

A'ight, y'all. Take care of me now. No scratching up my mama's walls.

- Don't worry, man, we got you. - A'ight.

Yo, what I heard true? They give you 500,000?

- Fuck's wrong with you? - What?

Just wanna know what it feels like. All that money.

It feels good, man.

Feel real good.

[laughs]

For me, though, it ain't about the money.

It's about the love. What's up, Mikey?

Tell your brother I owe him that rematch too.

Big bro. What's up, baby?

When you going to training camp?

- [Earvin] Hey, Junior. - What's up, Pop?

- Settle something for your old man. - Yes, sir.

What's the most points you scored in high school?

- Forty-eight. - See?

See what? I got 12 in a quarter.

You was king of the air ball!

I used to dunk on him so much, his head used to smell like my nuts.

That's why he lost all that hair.

[men laughing]

- Folks in Lansing love their boy. - Hey, EJ.

Cindy.

What I tell you? They all just rootin' me on.

All one big, happy...

family.

We right here. Look.

Hold on, hold on, hold on. Don't look actually.

All right, one more step.

Okay. Turn a little bit. All right.

Open your eyes.

What you think?

I think I know how my wall got scuffed.

Don't worry about none of that, Ma.

Them construction cats, they gonna put it in real nice,

and they gonna clean up your walls.

And trample all my floors and tear my bathroom to pieces. No.

- Where'd you get this thing from? - I bought it.

Look, Ma, it got these fancy jets and everything,

just like the one in that commercial that you was always liking.

Camay leaves me looking clean and creamy.

Everywhere.

You bought this house too with that Laker money,

or is this still mine to see to?

'Course it is, Ma.

You should have consulted me.

Ma, how am I supposed to surprise you when I go sayin' what I'm gonna do

- before I do it? - I see. So this is for me then?

So I can forget about you skipping school this summer.

Ma, it ain't got nothin' to do with my diploma. For real!

Right hand to God. Soon as...

As soon as the season over, I'm back at it.

Well, that sounds good.

So, I can just take your word for it and soak my cares away?

You're supposed to be happy.

You know what? You were baptized in a tub just this size.

And the water hit,

and you didn't cry. You didn't make a sound.

And I thought to myself, "Well, this kid is in lockstep with the Lord."

All I got to do is raise him right.

And Lord knows I tried.

Just 'cause I ain't takin' no geography this summer?

Because you think you can buy me with a bathtub and a smile.

It ain't that, Ma.

I want you to stand on your feet.

I want you to have something to fall back on.

And your soul.

Because when these fans are gone and, believe me,

- they will, mark my words... - Ma, they ain't going nowhere!

Whole city full of love! Why that ain't enough for you?

I was tryin' to make you happy.

I was happy with my old tub.

[woman] Good luck. He's been in there since yesterday.

Hasn't said a word, just locked the door.

He gets like this before the season.

[woman] And after the season, and during the season and All-Star break,

and sometimes just 'cause it's Tuesday.

He lives and breathes basketball. That's why we love him.

Fuck off, Bill.

[West] Fuck off, Bill.

The love in this house.

I'm leaving lunch!

You're welcome.

Oh, shit. Are you kidding me? Jesus fuckin' Christ.

[Sharman grunting]

Fuck! Shit!

Leave me alone. I'm working.

I see that.

This place reeks like a gym sock farted.

Get out then.

Have you thought about showering?

Good thoughts come in when you're showering.

What's the point?

Who wins, who plays, who loses.

We all end up the same anyway.

Fuckin' worm food. Dead.

Well, that's one perspective.

- The only one. - Jerry...

I've listened to you bitch for ten years

about wanting the right ingredients,

and this guy is giving you carte blanche for the perfect meal.

I will give you whatever you need.

Fuck. As long as there's a fuckin' onion in it.

What, are you still on about Johnson?

You know what I think? It ain't Johnson. It's you.

You're afraid if you get everything you ask for,

you won't have an excuse.

Fuck you, Bill! Fuck you! I don't need no excuse!

And I fuckin' sure as shit don't need no fuckin' 6'9" forward

playing dress-up as a fuckin' point guard!

No, if it was up to me, I'd take the ball out of his hands

and stick him in the fuckin' post where he belongs.

Then do it.

- Buss' never gonna... - He said

you had to play the kid, not how.

What are you afraid of? He's gonna fire you?

I mean, this job makes you fuckin' miserable.

It's a win-win situation!

- Fuck you, I love my job. - Then do it.

Could work.

It could be fucking... It could be good.

I'll have to talk to Kareem first.

This could... work.

Fuck, god damn it, dude! This is the fuckin' business!

Why the fuck you standing there, Bill? I got work to do.

- It's hot in LA, right? - Hot.

- Sun is all over you. - All over you.

So what do you want when it's hot on the outside?

- You want ice. But not just any old ice. - Ice.

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

You want some ice with some taste in it.

Tell him what they want.

- You want... Tasty Ice. - You want... Tasty Ice.

[Christine] Ladies, you should see this gift that my Earvin gave me. A tub!

Just like the white lady on TV.

[women exclaiming]

- This soap leave me soft and... - Yeah.

Yeah? Like yeah, you in?

Hey, why don't y'all hit me with a business plan?

Then we can see what's what.

We just told you the business plan.

People's gonna eat ice and give us money.

No, we'll be right back with that business plan.

- Right. - We'll be right back. We'll be back.

Hello, Earvin.

Hey, Cook. Glad you came.

Hey, EJ.

'Sup, Brian?

I saw your mother at Bible study.

Said we should stop by.

Wanted to see you off.

Yeah?

Don't you work at Happy Shoes on Sunday?

When you're the manager, you make the schedule.

- Yeah, you is the manager. Yeah. - Yeah.

Congrats on the draft, by the way. That's a big deal.

- Hey, congrats on manager. - Yeah. Yeah, thanks.

Maybe you could stop by the store sometime before you leave.

- The kids would love it. - I'm sure they would.

They see you every day, so...

Brian, is that you? Son, get in here.

I need your big brain on this fish fry.

- Come on! - Be right over, Sister Johnson.

- Okay. - You got a great mama, man.

Love her to death. Excuse me.

So that's why you came through?

To show me up with that sucker?

[Cookie] I came...

to say how proud of you I am.

And that if you need anything, I'm here.

Anything?

I almost forgot who I was talkin' to.

But, for real,

you need an ear or a friend,

you know where I'm at.

Cook...

Okay? You already know.

[Larry Johnson] Man, EJ, you were right.

You were right. We did need a business plan.

- And we sure enough got one. - Boom.

- Two words. - [Larry Johnson] Two.

Blue...

[men chuckling excitedly]

- [Quincy] Berry. - Ooh, ain't nobody got that.

- [Quincy] Nobody! Nobody... - Not Tastee-Freez.

[Claire] Well, it took all night and my pisher grandson

spit up on the revenue distinction,

but I think I cracked a budget that might do the trick.

- Maybe the barf will cover the red ink. - [scoffs] No hiding that.

But run down to my car and check the math.

I've got a hot date with the books.

Love of my life.

Where the fuck are the books?

[officer] So this burglary, there were no valuables.

- It was just files? - Not just files. Our financials.

It's 20 years of budgets, balance sheets.

- Frank took them. - It's everything.

It's the whole goddamn business.

Frank took them.

- What? - Uncle Frank?

- Frank Mariani, my dad's... - Yeah, I know who he is.

Yeah, he came by after hours with a few guys and some boxes.

- He said it was okay so... - [Claire] Okay by who?

Um, I don't know. I figured that he talked to you...

Jeanie, it's not your job to figure.

Your job is to pour coffee.

Your job is to refill the fucking stapler!

And your job is to make sure that people don't break into my office

like the Watergate burglars and make off with my goddamn books!

I didn't know he hadn't...

Fuck!

[mouthing]

Sorry. It'll be just a minute.

[Claire] Don't try number six.

Unless you want to burn the bedspread.

[Buss] It's a win-win, I'm telling ya.

You get yourself a beautiful oceanfront building,

and my team gets a rebounder.

Maria, you remember Arn?

Hi, Arn.

Hi, Arn...

I mean... I'm Arn.

Let's close this thing, all right? Claire.

She closes more deals than the lawyers.

I'll bet she does.

Sounds like you're trying to free up some capital.

Can't take it with you, Claire.

What's your drink? I'm buying.

I'm just a little bit concerned.

What for?

It's after breakfast, isn't it?

See, ordinarily, with Mr. Cooke, I'd walk him through the books myself.

- But your partner... - Right.

...Mr. Mariani, came by my office unannounced.

[Buss] Are you kiddin' me?

God damn. I told him

to talk to you about that first and, you know,

you can't control everything they do. That's Frank for you.

So, anyway, you strike me as a gin gal.

- I get that right? - You got me.

Talent of mine. I can always tell. Have a seat.

Look, Mr., uh... Dr. Buss...

Jerry. Jerry.

I don't know how you run your business,

but those books are how I do my job, okay?

Keeping the balance sheet in check, overseeing expenditures, protecting you.

These are my responsibilities.

Those were your responsibilities.

See, if I have her lookin' after the books,

then she'll see we're stretched a little thin,

and that kind of thing is not great for morale.

Claire, forget about the numbers. I already have somebody for that.

You've asked me to stay on.

Because I see a bigger role for you.

I want you innovating. Now, you have the Forum booked for,

what, 220 nights a year?

- 217. - Not bad.

But the way I see it,

if we can just boost that number up a little bit, say, to 260 nights,

well then, we're turnin' a profit.

And if you can get me to 365 days a year,

- well then, we're cookin' with gas. - Dr. Buss,

no arena in the country is booked every night, okay?

Madison Square Garden, Caesars Palace. Every place goes dark.

Well, they're not in the city of sunshine, right?

Claire...

let's talk turkey.

What turns you on?

What gets your blood pumping?

Because, me, I don't even get out of bed unless I have a hard-on about something.

- So, what excites you? - All right.

What is it going to take for you to turn the Forum itself into an attraction?

Money.

Advertising, marketing, refurbishments.

- All of those are expensive. - How much?

It would help if I had access to a budget.

You have access to me.

I'm the budget. Now, be creative.

No idea is too big.

We are building Shangri-La.

[woman] Well, you have really done it this time, Gerald.

Bought your way into a grade-A money pit.

Ma, it's the Lakers!

It's gonna be like a family business, but bigger and better.

I thought you already got bigger and better.

That's why you and little meatball moved me on to greener pastures.

I know where the bodies are buried.

Because she's the one who buried 'em.

Lot of thanks I get.

Make mine a bourbon and soda.

- You've had enough. - Since when?

1962?

[Jessie] You want me old before my time.

Dee! Dee! Dee!

I did it. I poured you one. You don't have soda.

You're just lazy.

Gerald, Gerald.

And why the Lakers? There's no lakes around here.

I can't believe you're not excited.

This puts our family in a very elite club.

Okay? Tycoons.

You know, the people who actually run the country.

Captains of industry.

What industry? Sweat socks?

No. Show business.

Forget Louis B. Mayer.

We're gonna be the next moguls in this town.

You, me, Jeanie, the boys, when they come back.

We're gonna be a dynasty.

And then you'll be satisfied?

- I'm gonna be thrilled. - Hooey!

Then you'll just start chasing something else.

- [sighs] Ma... - What?

I love you, and I will see you

whenever I don't remember what it's like to see you.

Leave the books, I'll do the taxes.

Best to keep your dirty laundry in the family, don't you think?

This is a big deal. And you should be happier.

[Jessie] Oh, I'm thrilled.

I'm gonna stick his fuckin' ass right in the post.

Fuck, I love this shit...

...point guard, I'm the coach.

Yes! It's fucking showtime! Come on, showtime.

I've always had a soft spot for you, Norman.

You've always had a place right here.

God fucking damn it! Get your fucking eyes up!

Trade you for a fucking mule!

But I swear to God, there is no one,

and I mean it, fuckin' no one I would rather have

running my offense than Stormin' Norman Nixon.

Stormin' Norman Nixon!

What kind of fucking name is that anyway?

What's all this shit about, Jerry?

See, that's why I like you, Norm. A straight shooter.

Come on! Been a lot of chat, a lot of bullshit in the fuckin' press.

This new kid comin' in, snug-buggin' with the owner.

I see how that agitates a guy like you.

Seasoned pro.

A man who worked damn fuckin' hard to make it in this league.

I want you to rest assured, Norm, you're on solid ground.

You're the point guard, Norm. Not him.

You call yourself a fuckin' point guard?

Says who?

Me, Coach. The guy who decides.

So, Buss is cool with paying half a million bucks

to sit this motherfucker on a bench and watch him smile?

Buss is giving me free rein.

No more meddling, man. Shackles the fuck off.

- Shackles off. - He's giving me the control.

I need to get this team over the fuckin' hump.

'Cause that's what we've been missing.

Fuckin' jewelry on a fuckin' basketball court!

More control from you.

Exactly.

Okay, so my uncle

owns a store in Simi. It's called Patio Brothers.

They are looking for a venue for their annual convention.

And he's considered by many the king of chaise lounges.

What else?

First AME would take the Forum every Sunday.

What if the Lakers are playing on a Sunday?

- They'd have to find another venue. - The church?

- The team. - Next.

[Jeanie] I have something. Maybe.

I've been digging through the Billboard charts,

and it's been three years since any top-ten acts

toured through the Forum.

It's our acoustics.

Right. Right. And I know we've seen some bids on a new sound system,

but, I mean, honestly, I don't think that's the point.

This is Hollywood.

We don't need to make the Forum sound good.

We just need to make it cool.

I have a few ideas, if you're interested at all...

We're out of creamer.

Right.

Just to be clear, that's a no on Patio Brothers.

[Claire] That's a fuck no, Lon.

[Lon] They're coming out with a Rocky Il, apparently,

so I'm thinking giant screening at the Forum.

We can get Stallone.

- We could... - You got his number?

- Hey, Jer. He's ready for you now. - Huh?

Oh. Good, good.

- You two have fun. - Here's the big guy.

Ooh-wee.

Look at this.

Nice and peaceful, huh?

You know, I come by

'cause I want you to know that I'm...

Well, I'm sensitive to your frustrations, Cap.

I mean, shit, ever since we traded Kermit,

you've been out there gettin' fuckin' rag-dolled.

Respectfully, of course.

But that don't make it fuckin' right.

Everybody beatin' on you.

Double and tripling you in the post,

eating six elbows for every fuckin' rebound!

Then, taking it up the ass from the fucking press

when you're the one carrying the goddamn team!

Fuck, I respect you too much to see you go through that again.

Which is why I'm here.

You have a proposal?

I'm playing Johnson at the fucking four.

I mean, he'll spell Norm a little off the bench,

but his main duties would be carrying your water, watching your back,

eating those fucking elbows so you don't have to.

We're gonna kick his ass in training camp.

I'll feed him so much fuckin' steak and gunpowder,

he craps the happy out.

Look, the point is, this is our year, Cap.

You and me. The brass ring!

The guys who live and die for it, married to the game!

Let me know when training camp starts.

What you readin'? Good book?

Yeah.

It's on my list.

Well...

[greeting in Arabic]

[Magic] I seen her looking at that tub since I was little.

Every day, she'd be watching her stories,

and there she is, drool all down her chin.

Now I go and get it for her,

and from the look on her face, you would've thought

I called her everything but a child of God.

Wouldn't know it from the outside.

- You think I'm playin'? - I think I know your mama.

She gives you that cold side.

Meanwhile, she's all around town,

telling everybody with ears how great you are.

"Oh, my son Earvin this. Oh, my son, Earvin that."

If she was a peacock, her tail feathers would have been fell off.

What you sayin', I don't know nothing about.

- You know she loves you. - Then why her love always got

a big ol' carrot dangling in front of you?

Everything I do gotta be her way or she ain't having none of it.

Can't imagine what that must feel like.

- What's that supposed to mean? - You.

On top of the world, but just can't stand it.

Coming here on Brian's day off, get me to talk about your mama.

Then what?

Get me in the stockroom?

He hit it yet?

I know this game, Earvin.

Want everyone your way, just like your mama.

Now, don't tell me he's saving it for marriage.

All goody-goody up in church, smiling and whatnot.

Now, he'd make my mama happy.

Last you said you wasn't gonna be alone. Why should I be?

I ain't sayin' you should be. You do you.

But that don't mean that we can't do us though.

Cook...

Don't be like that.

Hey, hey.

I love you.

Not as much as you love you.

The rest of us just comin' off the bench.

[couple moaning]

- [church bell rings] - Hoo!

Come on. Church about to let out.

Ooh-wee.

Shit...

Needed that.

Hoo!

[upbeat blues music playing]

What's up, Brother William?

Basketball man!

- Hey, sunshine. - Good day for a fish fry.

[indistinct chattering]

[Magic] What's up, Cook? Looking lovely, as usual.

Hey, Ma. Sorry, I had to get some fresh air.

[stutters] You know, our stained glass window of the Savior

can use a little tender loving care...

Say less, Pastor, say less.

Let's fix that Jesus now.

Look at that. It don't fit.

[Pastor Greene] Lord, Junior! God bless you!

God bless you too, Pastor Greene. Anything for the church.

Anything for the church.

[Pastor Greene] You got a fine son there, Sister Johnson.

Yes. Yes, he is.

Yes, he is.

- [Pastor Greene] Working in the kingdom. - [Magic] Yes, sir!

I'm about to get a plate, Ma. Love you.

[Pastor Greene] God bless you again, Junior. God bless you.

Amen, amen.

Waiter? What's this fly doing in my soup?

The backstroke, sir.

Dr. Buss! Welcome, sir.

Bruno!

Red. I am so glad you called.

I'm a little surprised you did, but I'm glad.

- Had to eat somewhere. - Well, we picked a good place.

- Come on in. - We have your regular table, sir.

Fantastic. I feel like I just won a date with the Playmate of the Year.

Linda. That lawsuit is embarrassing.

Billy! You know what I'm asking for, right?

- Little bit of Louis Prima. - Great choice.

How are you, pal? I wanna introduce you to some people

before we sit down, if that's all right, Red.

Ladies, may I introduce the great Red Auerbach.

The winningest man in basketball right here.

This is a very special moment you're having. Trust me.

We'll get to know these gals a little bit later, all right?

The girls are gonna join us for dessert, you know what I mean?

What do we got here, Bruno?

Corner table?

Rum and Coke, sir?

Yes. Keep 'em coming, Bruno!

- Red, what're you having? - Scotch.

- The good stuff. Thank you. - Thank you, sir. Thank you, sir.

That play work for you in real estate?

What's that?

Get the sucker thinking with his little head, not his big one?

There's that famous Celtic defense.

No. Come on.

You're a student of the game, I take it.

Yeah. Look, Red...

I know I'm still the freshman of the class,

and you're the big man on campus. I get that. I respect it.

But I wanted to meet because I'm asking for your help.

I'm trying to build something out here like you built in Boston.

Like a real dynasty.

And frankly, I think that would be good for the league.

[laughing]

What?

You think you're the guy to do that, do you?

Well, I wouldn't count me out.

[sighs]

You strike me as a happy man.

You only get so many summers, right?

- Then here's my advice. - Okay.

Enjoy this thing. Milk it.

For the nookie, for the attention.

Leave the dynasties to me.

Come on now, Red.

You afraid of competition?

[chuckling] No.

I live for competition, but you're no competitor.

It's nothing to be ashamed of. It's just not who you are.

- It's not your nature. - All right.

You know, Red, we just met... [clears throat]

so you don't know me.

But I grew up dirt-poor, on breadlines.

Made all the money in the world.

- And you think you can buy this too? - No.

I think I can win this.

Championships aren't won.

They're taken.

By men like me,

who'd cut your heart out and still sleep like a baby

for one more banner in the rafters.

Because I don't want to win.

I need to.

And it doesn't make me happy.

It makes me a miserable fucking bastard.

Well, you can say that again.

Say it all you want, pal. I'm fine and dandy with it.

You're the one who's doing this shit to feel good.

I'm gonna feel very good when I have that trophy in my hands.

[Auerbach] For a minute.

Then it's on to next year.

You and all the other wannabes who do it for the pussy in your lap.

And brag that you won 50 games and made the playoffs.

Pretty soon, you'll realize it ain't worth it.

You'll find another shiny toy, a little poorer for your troubles.

- I can afford a lot of trouble. - Horse shit.

I know what you spent. I know what you got.

But maybe I can help you out with that too.

How's that?

You have some nice pieces on your roster.

How about you unload a few to me?

That's why you came to dinner?

Red, I may be new, but I'm not, you know...

Then you're dumber than you look because this decade is mine.

That Celtic pride, that luck of the Irish

your boy West thinks stole his lunch money?

It's never been a fuckin' leprechaun.

It's me.

Have we decided?

- Say the porterhouse was good? - Yes.

I've decided I lost my appetite.

- You wanted my advice. - Put it on my tab, Sammy.

Take the offer, fill your coffers, and enjoy yourself!

Let's put another lobster on that.

Gotta say, it ain't the worst thing.

Yeah. He says he got it for me.

Safer than talking to you outright.

Mmm.

'Cause you got a way, baby.

It's a lovely way,

but that don't make it nonetheless scary.

Well, if you're scared it's 'cause you're doing something wrong.

I call it like I see it.

Yeah.

And how you see it makes the boy feel bad.

I mean, you're frowning on that carefree way he moves,

like the only time he has is forever.

Just like you did once.

The lies you tell.

Before you found the Lord.

When we were both out in the rain,

free spirits,

getting down to the newest tunes

and dances, and you was putting it on me like no one else!

Hey, it worked.

Look at all these kids we got.

[sighs]

All I'm saying is you seeing where he is

reminds you of where you were.

And just may conjure up that green-eyed devil.

I'm happy with my life.

Not saying otherwise, Christine.

Just saying this is yours.

Ours.

That's his.

Can't live it for him, baby.

[moaning]

Why not?

[moaning]

You ever gonna take me somewhere nicer than this hoopty.

I know you ain't talking about the Big Brown Deuce now. This is my girl!

Just sayin', my daddy got the dealership.

He got Mercedes. Could drive one to you in LA.

I got into UCLA Medical School.

But I was thinkin', you know, since I'mma have a friend out there,

- maybe we could hang out sometime... - Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Well, you know, when the time right, I'll call you.

But, you know, with basketball, I'll be busy and everything.

So it might be a while. Yeah.

You know, usually I'm beating boys off with a stick.

But maybe you still hung up on Cookie.

Ain't nobody thinkin' about no Cookie.

If anything, Cookie should be thinking about me.

- I'm the one doing big things. Yeah. - Oh, yeah?

- Yeah. Yeah... - Yeah.

[inaudible]

[indistinct chatter]

[hip hop music playing]

[music stops]

I ain't trying to bum-rush, fellas.

It'd be nice to get a run here before I jet off to LA.

Yeah, well, we in the middle of a game.

You could take my spot.

- Gotta go to work anyway. - My man.

- Anytime. - Yeah, y'all do.

- What's up, Cook? - Hey.

Hold this right quick.

Can you watch that for me?

Thanks.

Don't be like that, Cook.

Y'all ready to win? I got you.

- A'ight. Your ball. - Bet.

You know Cook's my girl, right?

Yeah? I ain't see you with us at the movies.

Man, you just there 'cause I'm about to jet off to LA,

and she don't wanna be alone.

I'm just there 'cause you're a dog.

And the whole town knows it.

Man, you run through girls like they're nothing.

- 'Cause to you, that's what they are. - So you know me?

Yeah, she does too.

You know I'm about to fuck you up, right?

You ain't gonna have a friend in Jesus after this.

[men exclaiming]

In your face!

Brian, I'm just glad we gettin' a chance to talk.

Let's discuss this.

See, I've been putting it on Cook for a minute now.

And from what I hear,

you ain't smell hide nor hair of that pussy.

I'm not with her for her body.

That's the difference between you and me.

Yeah, that's right. You think about her soul!

Well, quiet as it's kept,

I fucked that too.

[men exclaim]

Get back on deep, Brian! Let's go! It's coming my way? Swing!

Let's say you and Cook get married and all that.

You think she gonna look on the life you provide for her

and not think on what it could've been with me?

[men exclaiming]

Think about that when you can't pay a bill.

Or get that Christmas gift our girl really wants.

'Cause she will.

- Ball! - Hate to be you, my dude.

Damn!

You look like our girl down there.

Face and everything.

Come on, man. Get up.

What, no thank you? What, you don't wanna talk no more?

I know a lot of reporters give their right nut to talk to Magic.

Can you just play ball?

Can you just play ball?

You want me to play ball. Let's play ball.

Give him the ball then! He open!

She watchin'.

Come on, Brian.

Ball!

Yeah, right there.

That's game. Take care of yourself, man.

- I got dirt on my shirt. - What did you say to him?

Cook...

Cook! I was just playin' ball.

Hey, Brian. You okay, baby? Talk to me.

- Brian, talk to me. - I was just playing ball.

New wheels. What you think?

You're an asshole?

Why come?

'Cause I tell dude what everybody know is true?

You was there. You ain't say a word.

That's 'cause you liked it.

You don't like him. You just trying to make me feel some type of way.

And which way is that?

I got the whole damn world on a string, but you got me.

Then why you playin' with me?

I'm here, ain't I? It's me! Earvin!

Now!

Forever.

Wherever I go, you go.

We us.

But if you want me,

then ditch that motherfucker.

Till then, you can watch me on TV with everybody else.

[commentator] 103 to 102, Boston in the lead.

2:22 to go. And Westjust waved everybody away.

He wants it to himself.

Lakers are gonna win or lose this series on...

[West] This is your year, Jerry. This is your fucking year.

[commentator] When you shut out Jerry West...

Stay.

That's a funeral arrangement.

Is it?

I thought they looked calm.

They're for you.

What do you say...

to some Italian, huh?

You get dolled up, take you to Barone's,

some Chianti, some Bolognese...

I see you're talking to me now.

I know. I've been a little in my head.

You haven't said a word to me in three days.

- I'm better now. - You haven't slept in our bed.

You haven't even stepped inside the house.

I just had to get my feet wet. The hardest part's getting started.

- And what's the easy part? - Karen, there's ups and downs, you know.

Okay, this is an up. I'm happy now.

All right, I'm optimistic, but I can see it all, Kar.

We got a shot at winning it all this year, a championship,

and that is the happiest I've ever been, I swear to God.

No! No. I mean, outside of you and I, of course.

- I'll have to take your word for it. - Karen, don't, don't, don't, don't.

- Let's just... No... - Jerry!

They're your ups and downs. I understand that now.

But if I ride that roller coaster with you, I will go crazy.

[West] You think I wanna live like this?

You're acting like I got a choice.

I fuckin' hate this shit, Karen, but you...

This is basketball. That's what it takes.

["Out of Sight Out of Mind" playing]

[grunting]

[Magic] Sophomore year of high school.

We was picked to lose against this real state powerhouse.

Instead, we blowed 'em out.

Finished the game with 36 points, 19 rebounds, 18 assists.

Everybody said, "What a game by this young man, Earvin Johnson Jr."

Yeah.

But this one writer, he said...

..."Earvin Johnson ain't no fun in black and white.

You want the real love, you need a better name."

Big E, Dr. J...

Already taken.

He said, "How about I call you Magic?"

[crowd] Magic! Magic! Magic!

Guess I said yes.

[Earvin] Careful, Jun.

Keep rubbing on it, you gonna wash the paint right on off.

Just tryin' to keep that shine on, Pop.

Yeah, that's my boy.

Keep everybody squinting.

- Pop? - Yeah?

You think I'm a good man?

What kind of question is that?

Not sure if Mama do.

Your mama is your mama.

All right?

Still got some point guard in her from her playing days.

She likes things how she likes them.

Likes to run the show, but...

she loves her child more.

Gimme those keys!

You gonna let me drive this bad boy while you gone or what?

It's all you, Pop.

[wind whooshing]

Wyoming has its own kind of cold.

It's like a thousand needles dipped in fire going through you.

My step-dad Cecil used to send me out in that

to dig ditches till my knuckles split.

I used to watch the blood oozing out.

It was so cold, it would crystallize.

I couldn't even feel the pain.

By the time I was done,

I'd be chattering so bad, I thought my teeth would chip.

And then old Cecil would show up again,

look at me,

and laugh.

And laugh.

[indistinct clatter]

Last time I set foot in this dump was '69, game 7.

We were on the ropes that year.

And I walked in here,

I looked up,

and I saw balloons.

Must've been 50,000 of 'em.

Cooke had 'em made up special.

"World Champion Lakers."

[laughing]

Eleven titles with that squad, and that was the sweetest.

We kept that hot air right where it belonged.

We got a deal? I got a flight.

Won't take long.

The fact is, Red,

you were dead-on.

I thought I could waltz in here and spend my way to victory,

have a grand old time along the way.

But you got me thinkin' about what I really needed.

I need to cut your heart out.

You haven't got it.

Oh, yes, I do.

And I'm gonna beat your ass with it.

This year. Next year.

Every other year, and every other you,

until nobody even remembers Boston or the Celtics

or the great Red Auerbach ever won a goddamned thing.

[scoffs]

I'll see you when we play you, kiddo.

Miss Buss.

[Jeanie] Ms. Rothman.

Ladies, could you give us the room, please?

I want to apologize for everything.

- I work for you now, not... - I overreacted.

Back in Philly, the arena I worked for filed bankruptcy.

And I saw it coming.

I looked the other way.

It's hard enough being the only female. I didn't wanna be the scold.

But it wasn't them that handed out the pink slips

when the place went belly-up.

My dad would never let that happen.

You left this behind.

I'd like to read it, if you don't mind.

No, not at all.

Enjoy your salad.

[Buss] All right! I need everyone out here in the office! Boys, come on out!

Everybody! You too, Jerry! Let's go!

I need a word with you.

No, me first, Jerry. Pardon me, Linda.

I'm gonna steal your desk here so everyone can see me.

Everybody! Let's go! Gather around.

Don't be shy! Listen up.

The Lakers franchise, as you know it,

dies right here, today.

No more covering our asses.

No more settling for good enough.

From here on out, we are playing to win!

Every game!

Now, it's gonna cost me some money,

and that's my business.

But the investment that I need from each and every one of you

is everything else.

Whatever it takes to make this organization a world champion.

So, Claire.

I'm gonna need some big ideas from you, all right?

I need you.

Bill, Jerry, I understand you're still building the roster,

but I have one question:

What's it take to get us to the Promised Land?

- Well, I think we're almost there. - Almost?

Yeah, there's, uh...

just one piece that doesn't fit.

Do not say Magic Johnson.

No. It's not him.

It's not? Fantastic!

You hear that? That is progress right there.

Who, Jerry?

It's me.

[woman] What did he say?

You're gonna have to get yourself a new head coach.

[scoffs]

[funk music playing]