Original subtitles

And then it comes down to one game. And it's just not one game. It's the game

that's built up their entire football career.

Everything they've been doing on and off the field, in the class.

I mean, it's just, you know, it's one shot in a million.

I mean, it really is.

Everyone's done four quarters of one game to say if you're going to chase

football for the rest of your life or not. And if you don't, then you've got

figure something else out because you're all right.

We can't just wait until we get home.

Being parked with me can't be that way.

You are rotten.

Both of you.

be a little bit closer than this. Ah, come on, it's better.

We're all together, no crowds, no loudspeakers. Oh yeah, the atmosphere in

is top notch.

I'm sorry I don't have your fancy school budget.

Oh, we're not going to have to worry about budgets after this. Thank you,

Thought this was it.

Thousands of quarterback, I'm the last one on the board.

Good. You don't even leave a day around saving my life in a hotel. No, we

haven't even seen the city yet. Honey, it's the same shit as everywhere else.

Just let me know.

Oh, the art museum.

From the time I met Mama.

There's a real art museum.

Dallas.

Turn it, turn it, turn it, turn it.

God damn it, Dad. Turn the damn thing up.

Get the fuck in here, man!

Man, I've been stopping by.

What?

Come on, man. Meet my new friends.

Yeah, I know. Seems like you got a lot of new friends here. Yeah.

Comes with the perks of the seal, man.

Here, I got this for you.

Enjoy it.

Enjoy it.

You're not even going to drink a bit?

Uh... I... I wouldn't... Yeah.

At least show me how to drink.

Show you how to drink? Show me how to drink.

Okay. So, what you do is you take your glasses and you pour it into the thing.

Smart guy. Why? Okay. Is that how you do it? I've always wanted it. This is like

a science.

It is.

Yeah. An absolute sign.

Don't eat yourself in the mouth. All right.

It's a... You.

No.

We're a team.

Man, I could have gone early life, too.

Yeah. You would have got paid last year.

I guess that's on me.

Man, we wouldn't have went as far as we did without you, bro.

Yeah, well, it doesn't seem like anybody else remembers that, so... I don't

know.

The party's just getting started, man.

I want to see something.

Enjoy it. Have fun.

Let's get this party started!

Is there any way you can get me in?

Okay, well, can you at least meet me outside?

Can we talk about this?

Yeah, thank you. Thank you. Just, um... I gotta swing by and pick up Dusty and

Dad.

I'll see you there, okay?

Thanks.

Awesome. What's up? It's Scott.

So... Look, you're a big name in your state, okay?

We'll make a lot of money.

Advertising fails.

Man, I play football.

I don't sell used cars.

I love your results for me, but quite frankly, life moves fast.

Sweetheart, hang on a second.

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Come to me.

You can get us into the hall.

I'll sell them.

I get you in there and you'll sell them.

Amen.

Took all the damn corn, man. Dad, I took half.

You can hardly save me any, you little shit.

And do you want mine?

Hell yeah!

Think you're man enough, boy?

You little pussy!

You little wuss!

You're not my son, you little pussy!

You want to run away like your mama did?

Open this door right now!

Little Jack the quarterback!

How can you play football if you can't stand up to me?

Where's Mom's locket?

Later.

You didn't think I'd want that?

I donated everything.

It was time.

Time for what? To get rid of her? It was time.

The pancakes look really good.

Now, speaking of your mom, this is still her house.

She would be uncomfortable with the sleeping arrangement, and so am I.

Oh, my God. Whatever.

No, I...

ID, please.

Fannie, he's fine.

You sure?

Yeah, we used to play ball together.

He can't be more than a year younger than me.

Okay, that'll be 23 figures.

Hey, Fanny, I need a smoke.

What does Hank have?

I don't know. Just tell him I'm taking a shit or something.

All right.

Hey.

Hey.

Wait up, man.

Look, man, I already left the store.

Yeah, I can see that.

You live a real -life success story, you know that?

Everyone's got their opinions.

You don't want any of this Austin?

Jesus. Yeah, just keep it in your hands, man.

I just need a beer.

You followed me out here to bum a fucking beer? Yeah, I called a

for that piece of shit ID you got.

Pathetic.

It is what it is, man.

But I know you can part ways with one fucking beer.

I know you, Austin.

None of you know me.

And I used to want to be you.

My whole life has been...

Run it like Austin. Throw it like Austin. Score as many points as Austin.

Enjoy watching me play now.

Well, I didn't think I'd see you here anymore.

To tell you the truth, I didn't think I'd be back.

Well, it's the only thing.

I'll tell you what, Juan. Keep it hanging.

Thanks, man.

Have a good night.

You too.

Hi, sweetie.

What, did you have trouble at the door?

The whole car.

Did everything else go? Yeah.

Peachy, how was your day?

It was fine.

Yeah? Did you do anything?

No.

No? Did you work out?

No.

Have you eaten yet?

I drank.

Come on.

You're gonna help me cook tonight. Let's go.

Do I need pants?

Benson.

Come on, coach.

Here, have a seat for a moment.

What's up?

The way I see it, we have a month.

A month?

For what?

To prepare you for one of the most important games of your life.

They called this movie.

They're coming to the Anderson High game.

Holy shit.

Excited? Yeah, of course.

Oh, my God.

Good.

Because we've got work to do.

Oh.

You're going to go full Hogue on me, huh?

All right.

Shoot if you have to.

Cry. if you must.

Struggling is okay.

Crawling is okay.

Quitting is absolutely unacceptable.

You want to quit?

Fuck you.

Not on my field.

You want to quit, Ross?

No, sir.

What's that?

No, sir.

How about you, Jack?

You a quitter? Fuck no.

God damn, I feel great.

Who out here feels great? Us!

Who else out here feels like they can do anything?

Us!

All of you.

All of you.

Jack, get in the truck. Time to go.

Go home, John.

I need my boy.

Your boy is busy.

Sorry about your field.

I can fix it for a couple bucks.

Unfortunately, John, you don't come with good references.

Why you look at me like that?

I'm just a good father here to pick up his loving son.

Because I know you.

And I'm done talking.

I think you should walk home, John.

I ain't one of your little boys, Nate.

Fine. Do your son a favor, Johnny boy.

I'll get you on this one.

You're a quitter, John.

You always have been.

Men spend all this time with boys and there's something wrong with me?

How's it work?

It's busy.

Ed's still being a prick about the path?

Ed's a prick about everything.

At least he's consistent.

I guess you're here for some pills.

How long is this going to

go on, son?

I don't know.

Some team notices, offers me a tryout, a diamond comes through.

Talking about pills.

I'm not going to keep doing this.

Yeah, look, you know I don't have insurance.

Then get a real job and get insurance.

What do you think I'm trying to do?

I don't know what you're trying to do, son. I really don't. Cheat yourself out

of work? Jesus Christ.

Will you just support me for once in what I want to do?

You know I want to play football.

Support you?

Really?

I put food in your mouth, I put a roof over your head, and I buy you those

goddamn pills!

What do you have to offer, son?

Do you even know what you really want?

Oh, my God. Save me the blue -collar crusade, because I don't need it. And I

don't want it.

I don't want it.

Who the hell are you to want it?

I let your mother spoil you too much.

Well, at least she wanted me to be happy.

What do you have, son?

Oh, what have you got on tap?

I got the real beer and all the light crap.

Yeah, you ever actually clean your taps? Shit, you go off to college and you

come back a hit.

Yep.

What's that?

I think you're trying to call me a yuppie.

Do you want a beer or are you just going to keep wasting my time?

Butch, I'll tell you what. Why don't you just give me anything in a bottle and

make sure it's not from the town?

All right, this will be quick.

Love you.

Love you.

I'm going to need to get you a suit.

Oh, you sure as shit brought me to the right place.

Look, they're going to want you to sell stuff.

They're going to have you in a suit. Who wants me in a suit?

Car dealerships, mattress people, Uncle Billy Bob's big box store for all we

care. I don't want to sell mattresses and used cars.

Look, we need to attach your name to something while you still can.

I play football.

You know that.

You are my agent. You understand that, right?

I'm just highly planning to do that, sport.

You get me a tryout. You get me an invite to the combine.

Get me a tryout with the team. Get me an invite to the combine. I don't care.

It's a crowded draft class for it.

All right, so what do I do?

You get real friendly with Uncle Billy Bob. You smile real bright in his

commercials. You marry that skirt and you let him put your kids through

Jesus Christ, man. Do you want to put me in a $50 suit and parade me on the

street? What?

Are you my agent or my fucking peer? I'm your agent. Then get me into the

combine. I don't have any control over that. You have to be invited or pass the

regionals.

What is that, just open tryouts with fat dudes in cages?

The Division II standouts, you know, the ones that didn't get invited to the

draft. Look, I'll keep your name fancy with the scouts, but you gotta promise

you'll try to sell some stuff and make me some money, all right?

You get me into the combine, put me in whatever $50 suit you want. Got that?

Make it happen.

You'd think someone working that hard had some rent money.

Well, hey there, Mickey.

Don't mind me falling all over your goddamn crumbling steps again.

And not suing your ass.

I get paid on Thursdays. How many times do I gotta tell you to make the due

dates on Fridays? No.

Friday's no good. The first day of the week is Monday. But I get paid on

Thursdays. Then make your work pay you on Monday. My work isn't... Fine.

I'll pay you on Friday.

Then I'm charging you extra.

For being late.

Thanks, Mickey.

What happened?

My knee.

Can Kelly feel?

I mean, I said it was my name.

Oh, yeah, no, I get it. That's not me.

Okay, come here.

Hi.

Did you just go too hard?

Um, you know me.

You need to slow down.

I thought you liked it when I went hard.

I didn't hear you pull up.

I walked.

You walked?

Why?

Because the mechanic won't give me my car back until the bill is paid.

What's his name again?

Greg? Greg something?

Gary. Gary.

Gary something.

Lloyd?

Freud.

Freud. Gary Freud.

Where do I know Gary Freud?

Football. I used to play football with Gary Freud.

Hey, you want me to go down there? I'll talk to him. I'll pop the top.

Tune him up a bit.

I'll get your car back.

I'll get the car back.

It's so much.

What is?

The bill?

Can't cost that much.

Everything.

Hey, we're gonna be okay.

It's gonna be okay.

Just a couple extra hours at work.

What if things like my car keep happening?

I don't have anything left to sell.

Struggling.

Yeah, we're struggling.

But, you know, that builds character.

It doesn't feel okay.

There's nothing wrong with struggling.

The world wants you to feel bad about being behind. But you know what?

You know what I say?

Help.

It's out.

It wasn't supposed to be this way. No.

No, it wasn't.

Look at me.

I'm here.

Look at me.

I'm very attractive.

It is what it is.

So it's late again, huh?

Yeah.

Why don't I give you a ride home?

I don't know.

Who's that?

The other day at practice.

Ah.

Come here.

Look, I want to apologize for my behavior.

It's fine.

No, Jack, it's not.

Under no circumstances should I ever let it get to that point.

Did you get in trouble for it?

Well, I certainly got a talking to, but I think it's well known that... My dad's

a drunk.

Your dad has issues.

I mean, all he cares about is drinking, hunting, and talking shit on me.

I'm just, I'm over it.

I know it's not easy.

I know you got a lot of questions and not a lot of answers.

But right now is the perfect time to focus.

On what? On getting out of here.

Getting away from this place.

Jack, I see more of my former players around town than I care to admit.

Most of them don't have a choice.

But you do.

Don't let your dad or anybody else get in the way of that.

And what if I end up like Austin?

What if you do?

One day Austin's going to figure it out.

In the meantime...

Learn from them.

And just hang in there.

Even with the proper treatment, it's not like you'll play at a professional

level again.

Of course, you are welcome to a second opinion.

I can't afford a second opinion.

And it's bullshit, Doc. You know it.

The aggravated injury came after you left school.

My hands are tied, Austin.

Congratulations. On what?

That terrible bowl game you had.

You are aware we did lose that game, right?

Good.

Okay, why?

Because it means you still hate losing.

It's just been happening so much lately.

I don't think I'm taking to it.

You sure about that?

I think I still want to play football.

But I need your help.

Why should I help you?

I don't know.

Austin?

You give up enough times, quitting starts to feel normal.

I ain't done.

You know, I used to tell myself all the time, I'd be the one who decided when I

go home.

I'd be the one who decided when this world was done with me.

I wasn't going to let anybody tell me that I couldn't have something that I

wanted. If that's what I wanted my life to be, it was going to be that.

Now 32 teams are telling me that I can't be a part of it.

They don't want me.

You know that I can win.

You seem to lead man on that football.

Now I understand if you don't want to give me that.

But Hogue, I need your help.

So all I need to know from you is do you or do you not want to be part of the

greatest fucking comeback that this sport's ever seen?

Because that's where I'm going to be.

Look, I need to have all my hours, but I also need time to train.

Is this a school?

I can't break up your work hours like that.

Please, Hank.

This is the only way I can manage.

You want to open in the morning, leave, come back when you should be going to

lunch, leave, and then close.

And you want to do this every day?

Yeah,

can we also make Mondays a payday?

Jesus, Austin.

I'm not your fairy godmother.

Look, I know I can make this work.

I mean, haven't you ever wanted to do something big in your life, but, like,

everybody's standing in your way?

I'll give you the schedule, but everyone gets paid on Thursday.

All right. All right.

Thank you.

One slip up and that's it.

I like a tight ship.

All right, Hank.

So you still got your upper body strength.

All that old man strength kids keep telling me about.

How's the lower?

Comes along.

I only thought if you were 63, they would have taken you regardless.

If I'm not a 4 -4 -40 guy, what am I?

You can still throw at 70 yards.

Where it lands, that's another story.

Is that bad, huh?

Many times.

That's what made you so dangerous.

What do you think about Jack?

I think he's a pain in the ass.

How so?

Well, he's arrogant.

He's angry.

He's kind of a dick.

And how would you describe yourself?

Fair point.

I want you to work with him.

That sounds awful.

You're not really asking a question, are you?

You two have more in common than you even know.

20 laps!

Let's go!

Old man need a walker?

Benson!

Work with Ames.

What are you doing here?

What do you mean?

I mean, what are you doing here?

What's it matter to you, man?

Well, you're not good enough to be on the same field as me.

Is that so?

You're not gonna make it.

Is that so?

Ten uptown on my whistle

Sideline. We're going to work you out a little differently today.

With all due respect, sir, I think I could still get through a high school

practice.

Even yours.

Did you rehab your knee?

No insurance, even less money.

Take the rest of the day off.

I'll get the train right here. I ain't got time for that.

If you get first down, you'll never have to throw a home run.

You sitting down?

I got news.

Okay. You know the little regional you wanted to attend?

You're going.

No shit.

For real?

A little bit of order of business here. We need $160.

Get you in on the application fee.

$160? I don't have that.

Okay.

I'll front it for you.

All right?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'll pay you back.

Yeah, you'll pay me back.

Thanks, Tommy. All right? No, seriously. Thank you. All right. I'll see you

soon. Thank you. Get ready. Get packed. We're going.

Holy shit!

Hey, Hulk!

Hey, Jack wasn't here today, was he?

No, he wasn't.

You poking around in my backyard looking for your quarterback, Nate?

He wasn't at practice.

I know that.

Okay. Why?

Why what?

Why wasn't he at practice, John?

What if I told you it's none of your damn business?

Is Jack here?

No. I told him to catch a train like that druggie bitch. Maybe you should

taken him too.

How long are you going to blame me for your mayhem?

Fuck you. She was my wife, not yours.

You're right. She was.

And you did nothing to help her.

She's just some druggy bitch to you.

Yeah.

You don't think you hitting her all those times had anything to do with it?

How many nights did I have to listen to her cry on the phone?

Where you were once again trying to hurt Jack.

And she had to intervene.

You still have that board you used to hit her with?

Hungry?

Go screw yourself. Her drug problem was on you.

Her life was on you.

So what?

You gonna save my boy from you?

You know what the worst thing was about saying goodbye to your wife?

was watching her at the train station break down and tell me to watch over her

child.

And she knew that she couldn't save him from the real monster.

Hey, check the envelope on that table.

All right.

Well?

I don't know.

I had to work extra shift for those.

I mean, could we have talked about it first?

I wanted to surprise you.

I mean, I get that. Yeah, well, what's the issue?

I mean, I wanted to do something nice for us.

I understand you wanted to do something nice for us. I mean, look, I appreciate

that.

It's just I don't know if I necessarily want to be in a room full of those

people. You're being selfish.

I'm selfish? Yeah.

I'm selfish because I don't want to be in a room full of people who just happen

to know that I was the one.

That I was supposed to make it. I mean, come on. You don't have a fucking box

full of news articles telling you that you were the greatest thing that ever

happened in this piece of shit town.

But right, no.

I'm selfish.

Everyone's heartbreak is on you.

That's what they told me.

Now everyone in that room is going to know what a failure I am.

No, but the only person in that room that should matter is me.

You know what? We don't have to go.

But one way or another, you're going to have to decide to be happy.

If it's football, fine.

Do it.

If it's me, I'm right here.

You have to choose either way.

Okay.

I love you.

I know I don't say that enough, but... I love you. You know that.

I love you too.

Alright, I'm gonna go work out. You good?

You?

Where are you going?

I'm going to work out with Austin again today.

We're out of beer. You need to make a run.

No.

What did you say to me?

I said no.

Look, I just really want to focus on football right now.

Why? So you can run away just like your mama did?

Hell, everybody and their dog wants to run off.

Look at me. I'm fine right here.

Look, the Anderson High game is really important to me.

Does Nate tell you that? Does he put those thoughts in your head that you're

going to be a big -time quarterback and you're going to make it one day?

Hell, boy, you couldn't even lace my cleats in my day.

And if I couldn't make it, how the hell are you going to?

Hey, man.

What's going on, man?

You alright?

Yeah.

Just Dad.

Again.

What did he say?

You know Dad. He doesn't think I'm gonna make it.

Let's go prove him wrong.

You're planning just fine, but there's nothing in your face. There's no

pressure. Okay, I know I'm not stepping into it, but it's because I don't have a

ton of time. But it's not about time. It's about movement.

I move.

You have bricks for feet.

You have to stay light.

Coach told me to set and throw.

Look, and that's fine for, like, slant routes and quick timing patterns. But if

you drop back and you're planting your feet, you're cutting off this entire

of the field.

You've got to think light.

You know, stay on your toes.

Because every play is going to develop differently.

So, if I'm on my toes and something's not happening on the left, guess what?

already on the right.

That way you're not throwing across your body.

Alright, I'll keep working at it.

You know, I gotta say, it's kind of fun being back here.

You didn't think you'd ever be back here, did you? No, no I didn't. By the

are you ever going to finish that hot rod out there?

When I get you knuckleheads in line, which of course means never.

So, Austin, what advice would you give old Jack here for the game?

You mean like in general?

Yeah.

Trust.

Trust.

Trust.

I don't.

You know, control was just something I was never willing to relinquish to

anybody else.

I mean, Hoag would tell you all day long.

If it came down to running it or throwing it, I was going to run it.

You know, that's why I never wanted to be a running back or a receiver or

anything else.

I wanted the ball.

I wanted the control.

You know, I wanted to decide my outcome.

But ultimately, it bit me.

So, trust your teammates.

You know, don't put all that on your shoulders.

Damn. Wow.

Where the hell did you learn that?

Come on. You know I'm always the dumbest, smart guy in the room.

Any other sage words of wisdom you can bestow upon us?

No, that's all I got. I'm out.

I got a alumni dinner coming up.

Deathy bought tickets to it.

But I don't want to go.

You know, I know I should bite the bullet, be a good dude and all, but...

in your head.

Yeah, but it's also a lot of bullshit that I don't want to think about.

I mean, my time there didn't really end on a high note.

Coach Sanders probably doesn't want to see my ass.

You know, and outside of LeVar, there's not really anybody I care to talk to.

You know what I think we should do?

What's that?

Destiny's the right kind of woman.

She's doing everything she can for you.

She deserves you.

Just be a good man.

Quit fighting it.

All right.

I got to go to bed.

That was the moment, Jack.

You ruined the moment, Jack.

So what do you think, man? You ready?

For what?

To lose your V -car.

Shut up.

For God's sakes, you got scouts coming in a month for the biggest game of your

life, and you can't think of what I'm referring to? You're such a dick, dude.

Yeah, I don't know, man. Yeah, I'm nervous.

You should be nervous.

You were?

Yes, I was nervous.

I mean, we're talking the next four years of your life.

Look, I never told him anything.

I mean,

I used to have that key.

That's probably the only thing that got me through that night.

You know, I thought of what my mom told me.

Felt like she was there.

What happened to your mom?

Cancer.

15.

Damn.

What about you? What happened to yours?

I don't really want to talk about it. Hey, take it from a guy who would never

want to talk about it.

He gets older.

She left when I was 10.

Ew. My dad was just so nasty to her.

I mean, he would lash out on her all the time.

If she overcooked a meal, if he talked on the phone too loud, I mean, just

stupid stuff.

I mean, he would pick on her all day.

But no matter what, I mean, she would never let him do that shit to me.

I mean, she would take it all.

I'm sorry, man. No, don't worry about it, man.

She was a junkie. And I don't know what she was on or anything, but I never

thought she'd cope with it.

And she was a completely different person by the end.

Hey, look, it's all right to be angry.

But you're allowed that.

Look, everybody knows about the bullshit that you go through. But that's not on

you. That's not your fault.

Nobody's blaming you.

I just... I hate him.

I know. I know.

Every day of my life, I come home and I watch him stumble around and slam

drawers and throw stuff across the room, and I wait.

Dude, I sit there and I fucking wait for him to realize I'm there.

Every day of my life, he takes it out on me.

Hey, we don't get to choose our father, right?

I don't even care anymore.

I mean, I'm pretty much numb to all that shit at this point. It's just the fact

that he drove onto the field.

I mean, that's supposed to be my only escape.

Hey, it's just a power trip.

That's exactly what it is. It's because he has it nowhere else in his life.

I'm sorry.

How you been, man?

To Austin.

I don't know.

I tell you, we got the old lady's car. I was just wondering if maybe we could

get it back and make payments as we go. We didn't do that.

I mean, time's tough.

You know, when you don't got a car, it makes them a little bit tougher.

I mean, you know, holding down two jobs.

Damn near impossible.

Time's real tough.

Can't trust a man to do what's right no more.

I only forward what he needs to. So, the car stays still on pace.

Come on, you can't help an old teammate out. Teammate?

We were never mates.

I was just some bench rider.

Gary, I mean, whatever I did to flight you in any way, you know that wasn't on

purpose, right?

Accident or not, it's all the same.

You got a phone?

There's a phone next door.

Oh, it's like that.

I appreciate it.

I'll do the paying.

You know you can trust me.

All the same.

Look, I already have the money for the pill.

Then what am I doing here?

Because that money's for the pills.

This is for the car.

You know, you're going to be in trouble when you have real tough choices to

make. You already failed at easy ones. God damn it. I didn't realize this was

going to come to the lecture.

Doing this for Desi.

She's a good girl. She deserves better.

Yeah, well, I'm doing better.

Do you even know what it takes to make a man, Austin?

I don't know, Dad. Maybe some preoccupation with being manly?

It takes the ability to take care of people.

If it ain't big money, Mr. Football Star.

It's been a while, motherfucker.

What's up, Rich? How you doing?

Hey, shit.

What could I do for you?

I was wondering if you were holding on.

Insult me.

How much you need?

Six a day for a month.

Thanks.

I guess it's your long -lost very best friend and your mama's sweetest to me,

own cunt.

I'll do it for you for six.

Six?

Like $600?

That black pays big money.

Okay, look.

The price is fine.

But the problem is that I just can't make any big buys. Pay as you go.

Here's the deal.

I've been working out my knee, right? I've been trying to get it right.

Trying to make the league, make the big money. You understand that, I'm sure.

Comp payments and all that.

50 a week?

50?

50?

Does my ink say dumb motherfucker?

Yo, Calvin, tell me why my ink don't say dumb motherfucker.

Because you ain't a dumb motherfucker.

Exactly. I ain't no dumb motherfucker.

I'm not insinuating that you are one dumb motherfucker.

I understand that you are an intelligent businessman, all right?

You want to make money. You want to make money. I want to make money.

All I'm saying is maybe let's help each other. Austin, I know how you look out

for your friends. You don't.

Okay, what's AD gonna get me?

When?

You got a stutter, motherfucker?

Look, Reg, it's nothing personal. I just can't do this right now. This is a

fucking joke.

You can't walk in here and act like you want to do business.

Flash and Cash, and leave him with RuPaul. Whoa, whoa, whoa, Reggie,

Reggie, what happened to us being friends? We've never been motherfucking

friends. Yo, Calvin, fuck his ass up.

Well, I'm full.

You okay?

I'm excited.

Excited about what?

Hey, you get off in like 30 minutes.

Hi, Desi. Hi, Nina.

Cashing in on that ring track?

Yeah, I think it's about time.

How are you doing, Austin?

Visiting old things?

Ha!

What are you talking about?

You need to go find yourself some shoes and a dress.

For what?

For the alumni dinner.

Really? Yeah. What money, though?

Well, I just don't need some of those other things anymore.

Thank you, baby.

I've blended jewelry up here made for pretty girls like her. No, Nana, it's

okay. I'm not into jewelry these days.

That girl is a major sign, young man.

Seriously, we can't. That poor girl has filled my store twice over. It's the

least I can do.

What's the occasion?

Oh, our college alumni dinner. Stop listening in, dear.

You have wonderful taste.

Agent Hoffman?

No.

You got rid of it. That's an old piece of junk.

What? No. The man that came in actually had a really tough time letting it go.

This is me.

You're the son.

Oh, no.

You've got the wrong idea.

I'm sure I don't.

No, he really had a tough time letting it go.

He was torn up about it.

If you're the son, then he sold that to pay for your trip.

That's where he got the extra money.

He was really torn up about it.

Like I said, he just really had a hard time.

How much for the locket?

I'm having a sale.

Pick any piece that you want. If you buy a dress and shoes.

Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Thank you.

Seriously.

We've got to get going. We're going to walk home. Okay.

Wait, walk?

Yeah.

Surprise number three.

You got my car back?

Actually, Dad paid for it.

Great.

Sounds like a familiar story.

Bye, Nina.

Bye.

Hey, you're going to be late, son.

Stop to stop.

Stop.

Not that I'm any expert with these things.

Guess that's why you chose factory work, huh?

Well, didn't have much choice.

Love you and your mom, and I need to steady work at the time.

I know that.

You know, a good woman will wait a long time for love, Austin.

Don't waste Desi's youth.

Look, I don't even know.

how or why these fancy nights out work. But I do know you might meet someone

tonight who could really help you out. So just be open to chances.

All right.

Hey, Dad.

I think the tides went in.

Yeah.

All right. Good luck with that, son. Good job.

boy doesn't ask you to dance, I'm going to show up and do it.

You know, I looked it up. It's actually not that tough.

Aw, look at you.

Aw, look at you. You have good teeth, Mr. A.

That's all Mrs. A. That's all Mrs. A. Ha ha.

You look like you're going to the prom again. Oh, hey.

Let's get a picture.

Yeah, come on. That was kind of a mom thing.

Yes, it was a mom thing, and we're going to start it again.

Smile.

Smile. Smile.

Cheese.

Great. Be careful. Don't weigh it up, Alzheimer.

Be careful.

You have precious cargo there.

Graduated. Now I'm playing high school again.

Just to keep playing football, man.

Hey, I meant to say, thank you for getting us in.

I'm embarrassed I had to.

Nah, nah, nah. Look, it is what it is.

I just appreciate you not forgetting Double A.

Come on, Double A. You know you're my QB.

Go to life, right?

Hey, so, um...

I got a favor to ask you.

Go ahead.

I know it's a bit of a stretch, but I was wondering

maybe you can get me to try it.

Come on. You can't drop something like that on me right now, man.

I mean, is there anything you can do to help?

Dude, it's way over my head. I wish I could. I really do, Austin.

Look, it's just, you know, I don't...

I don't know how to do anything else. I don't want to do anything else.

Oh, stop talking like that.

I mean, haven't you been listening to anything I've been saying?

Yeah. I've been sitting here with you and I'm listening. All I keep hearing

you're your problem.

Me? Yeah, man. You. Me? Not my knee. Not this fucking school and all their

terrible trainers. Not the league that took other guys that I beat. But it's

It's you.

Dude.

You got to play more than most guys they ever put on pads, bro. And I should be

grateful. Yes, you should be grateful, man. Thank you, football guys. Come on,

Austin.

I'm a last pick receiver on a last place team.

You be miserable in my shoes or yours.

Don't tell me how miserable I am, Austin.

I decide that.

I decide when I go home. Oh, you decide where you go home. You know what?

Maybe you should be concerned about where you go home.

And what the fuck does that mean, LeVar? Just what I said, man.

Which is?

Come on.

You got Debbie.

She's a loyal dime, man.

Why are you taking her back for some fucking dirt set?

She was talking to me, dog. She needed to vent. She needed to bitch about her

problems to you.

Don't go blaming her. Hey, you can't help me. You don't get to talk about my

problems. Man, you need to help yourself.

It's in your head, dog.

Look, LeVar.

Sometimes, losing ain't the biggest law.

I'd kill to be in your position.

As of right now, I'm just a failure.

I've seen your head, Austin. No, no. Thank you, Lamar.

We need to go.

Now. Austin, I'm in the middle.

Let's go.

Austin, please stop.

He owns the art museum.

Hi, Austin Ames. Go fuck yourself. Come on. I'm so sorry.

You want me to make good money? Get off me!

Talk to me, please.

I don't want to talk.

Okay, fine.

Then just listen. I know that you're upset with me and I'm sorry for whatever

did. And I shouldn't have made you go to that dinner. But I went to that dinner

for you.

And Alvar.

And Sanders.

That fucking douchebag you were sitting with. All of them.

They all know what we all know. Which is what?

Just a couple of nobodies. Can't afford to pay for our own house. Can't pay for

our own food.

We can barely afford life.

Just living handout to handout in this fucking pizza shit house in this pizza

shit town.

I still never was this stupid fucking lady.

Nobody ever said that. What the fuck did you say to LeVar?

What? We don't have a nice house?

We don't have nice things? You think it's some fucking dirt shack?

I didn't say that! All this fucking bullshit!

I'm not talking to you like that! I would have!

I would have!

But I didn't need the big house! I didn't need the small town!

And I didn't need football!

You did!

And you wanted that part more than you ever wanted me!

And I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be some sad excuse for you to live like

this.

Yeah.

You.

You wanted a better life.

Boy, you're happy like this.

No.

No. But I could have been.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

You never needed to be sorry.

For everything.

I didn't mean nothing.

Neither did I.

I know.

Please pull over.

Boy, you got a problem not driving?

Let's go see your mom.

You know, your mom and I used to end each day sitting out back watching you

play.

I'd sit on the porch, have a cold one.

The sun just starting to go down like this.

Watch you run around until it couldn't see you anymore.

She'd make me go look for you and get you and bring you back. You remember

I thought I was going to go through every one of my days just like that with

her.

I was soaking down with that idea.

Things change, Alan.

Seems like for no reason at all, they just change.

You think you're right on top of all of it, and it just changes.

I guess I change, too.

Think you change for the better?

Maybe. I don't know.

You know, as angry as you were with all of it, I was right there with you.

I just... I wish I had known

more then. I wish I knew better.

You know, with you.

I wish I'd known what to say, how to say it was going to be okay.

But I didn't.

Now, she would have known.

She always knew.

Sometimes I sit and I...

I wonder what it would have been like if it was me instead of her.

How much easier that would have been on you. Dad.

Austin, you don't have to say anything. I don't want you to say anything.

I just needed to get that said.

I've been trying to find the right time.

Look at me.

It is going to be okay.

It's going to be okay, son.

Austin?

Hey, Coach.

What's up?

Are you okay?

Yeah, I'm fine. I just had to clear my head a little bit.

Are you doing all right?

Yeah.

I don't know.

Look, I wanted to apologize.

Oh, don't.

No, Austin, I knew Desi too, and I'm sorry I didn't make

it to the funeral.

It's okay. I didn't know.

It's fine.

Dad and I just wanted to do something small, so it's all good.

If you need anything.

Have you been to the hospital?

No.

No, Jack's all right.

Jack's in trouble.

He's taking the fall.

What do you mean he's taking the fall? Like he's saying he's the one behind the

wheel? Yes.

And John's letting him.

Jesus.

Look, I tried talking to him. He won't listen to me.

I know you got a lot on your plate and I know you're hurting.

Okay. But I need... Just give me a ride to my house.

I'll stop by later, okay?

I'll talk.

You know, I used to hate football.

My mom wanted me to play.

God, I loved it. She loved football more than anybody else I ever known.

I used to roll my eyes at her every time she wanted me to watch football with

her all day.

But I remember, I remember when I fell in love with it.

I was eight, youth football, kickoff came straight to me.

I picked it up, and the moment I started moving, my cleat popped off.

I was standing there one foot in the mud, and then I took off down the field,

and I dusted everyone.

Death used to tell me that.

The field was my theater.

And I was just writing stories.

Everything I ever did, I did it for me.

I did it for me.

And she was there through it all.

The pills and the drunken bullshit and the neglect.

I never made it as far as I did.

I never let her know that.

I'm sorry.

Jack, I know it wasn't you.

You're not your father.

You're better than that.

No, I'm not.

Don't throw your entire life away for him.

He does not deserve that.

Look, I'm gonna talk to the cops.

We're gonna get all this straightened out, okay?

You're not gonna take the rap for that son of a bitch.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Just hang tight, alright?

Everything's gonna be okay.

I'm back.

Look, it ain't all never was.

I didn't know you cared.

Do you know who you hit?

No one.

I reckon that's just what they got you on. Some kind of painkiller.

My wretch, Jack, was driving.

Letting him take the blame?

It's pretty low.

Even for you.

Who hit Tessie?

That gorgeous thing.

Jesus.

She's dead.

Because of you.

Well, I never did.

You shut the fuck up.

You're sober now, and you're gonna listen to me.

Every ounce of instinct I have is to kill you right now where you like. But

needs me right now.

So from here on out, this is how it's going to work.

He is my responsibility.

You will have nothing to do with him.

He has a purpose in football.

And he deserves to be inspired by something that he loves.

And I will not... Have you ruined that for him?

You're going to go away for a very long time.

You think about it.

What's going on?

Jack is in jail.

What? Yeah, Austin.

Jail.

You were supposed to pick him up in the hospital this morning.

In the meantime, while you're laying here in a pile of self -pity, the police

showed up and hauled him in.

A really, a really tough guy?

How are you supposed to manage that?

Aren't you supposed to be leaving tonight for the combine?

to be there and to check in. I get it.

Listen, look, like I said, we're already on the way, so... Listen, I gotta go.

Hey, sport.

Got some bags packed for you already in the car here, but we gotta roll. Time is

running out.

Diamond, I appreciate everything you're doing for me, but... That's great, kid,

but right now, we'll talk about that in the car. Listen, Diamond...

I'm not going.

I'm sorry.

Not the right time for me.

I got stuff I got to do.

You know what, kid?

That's great.

You're a lot smarter than you look.

But right now, I got to get going.

Thank you, Officer.

I will.

Okay.

How's your arm?

Doing better.

That's good.

You ready for the Anderson game?

Tell me.

I guess so.

Look, man.

I'm sorry about the other night. I fucked up. Austin, it's fine.

Jack, it's not fine. I fucked up. I lost my shit.

I couldn't be there for you.

That's on me.

Austin.

I talked to Hogue.

It happened.

It's life.

We're fine.

Thanks, man.

When I was 15, I told her I was going to marry her. I was going to give her

everything she ever wanted.

And I thought that that was a better life.

She just wanted me.

I'm ready to be me.

Not the football player.

Just me.

I'm ready to be happy with that.

Purpose.

I think I know what that is now, Mom.

I think I know mine.

I know she's with you.

She likes art.

You should talk to her about art.

Mom needed you today.

Fine. You have a funny idea. Fine.

What do you want? I want you home.

Dad, I can't. Enough.

Enough. Is football more important than family?

Go see your mom.

Now.

I don't think I could throw another pass.

I'm beat.

That's not going to make you quit, is it?

No, ma 'am.

Getting up and showing up.

Two best talents to have.

I know.

I'll never quit.

It's not making my thing.

I'm not changing that you saw me.

I'm gonna play football and you gotta see that.

Hey.

Look at me.

Look at me.

I'm so proud of you.

You don't have to play or do anything else for anyone else but you, okay?

That's the thing that you love and that's yours.

Don't wait for anyone.

Don't. Quit.

There's everything I tell you is still a bunch of bullshit.

I mean, I'm ready.

I think. Look, you've got all the other hours of the day to worry about every

other problem in your life.

For the next story, this is game.

You write your own story. Let's go write the damn thing.

Alright, Coach.

I like the ball. Pick your mic!

Hey! Hey!

Come on, Jack!

Neither of them, Al.

I'm just running out.

All right, fine.

I write the post.

Call it.

I write the post. I write the post.

All guys are killing us out there!

I write the post!

I write the post. Three. I don't care if you're the scoundrel. Get open.

On three. Ready? Get the ball off, Jack.

Red 19.

Red 19.

What do you think of mine? What do you think of mine?

Nine. Three.

Jack, what?

Did you blow this?

And everyone's heartbreak is on you!

So what did they

say?

Just they came to visit.

That's it.

Just a campus visit, that's it?

Hey, look, make sure they roll out the red carpet for you.

Nah.

Hey, that was a hell of a game, boys.

So, what's next?

Well, it looks like I gotta get out of this town.

Good.

I mean that in the best way.

You gonna be okay?

In time.

I mean, hey, you needed this.

Austin, look at me.

This isn't the end of football for you.

I'm gonna go for a run.