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Amy, can
I see you for a second?

Yeah, great work, Victor.

Catch you in a couple of months.

Hey.

I need an answer.

I gave an answer weeks ago.

I've got a flight to
catch in three hours.

My cab's downstairs.

This is a good offer,
I want you on the team.

Ah, freelance, Hal, freedom,

endless new horizons.

Five grand more a year,
it's the best that I can do.

I'm not playing hard to get.

Sticking with the
on-the-road gambit.

I pick Thelma and
Louise up on Tuesday.

Well, if you hit the Grand
Canyon without a body count

and find the cash
reserves getting low...

You'll be my first call.

Yes, this is Amy.

Annie Landry?

Yeah, I know her, knew
her, another lifetime ago.

Handle it in person?

No, I'm sorry, there
must be another way.

I'm on my way overseas.

Please, don't call it home.

I'll figure something out.

Thanks for
squeezing me in, Bell.

Trying to get this
wrapped up quickly.

No, no, I don't need directions.

Everything's right
where I left it.

This is a springing
power of attorney.

Springing?

There's a trigger.

When the doctor
determined that Annie

could no longer make
decisions for herself,

the trigger was sprung.

That's when you were notified.

I didn't have to approve it?

The designee is not
required to give consent.

I mean, it's unusual that the
power would be transferred

to someone who's not a
relative or close friend,

but it is perfectly legal.

Okay, so how do
I get out of it?

You don't.

It's binding.

What?

I have a plane to catch.

I have plans 6,000 miles away.

I have a life out there.

This life ended for
me a long time ago.

Would you just
listen to yourself?

Annie is dying
and probably soon.

She asked for you.

Bell, Annie had hundreds of
students, taught thousands.

I haven't even spoken
to her since...

Look at us.

Look at us.

God, that was her
whole life, wasn't it?

I'm glad you decided to come.

I don't issue many
personal invitations.

You, so good to see you.

Everybody,
everybody, everybody.

Welcome to the first
official meeting

of the St. Delphine speech
and debate team for 1984.

We had an amazing
time last year,

our fifth straight
state championship

led by the unbelievable
team of Miller and Bourke.

They came this
close, this close,

to a national championship.

Who's next?

Who's here to fill those shoes?

If you are here
today, in this room,

thinking you can be
part of this tradition,

thinking you can go
on trips every weekend

to places like Baton
Rouge, Lake Charles,

Alexandria, Shreveport and
its fabulous twin city,

Bossier City.

Well, how about New
Orleans? Is that better?

Yeah!

Let me hear some noise.

And for those of you
who work hard enough,

who practice long enough,

who have the innate
smarts and talents,

who slip me a little
money on the side,

New York in October,

Chicago in November,

Boston in February,

Los Angeles, California in April

and this year's national
championship location,

Miami, Florida.

Are you in?

Yeah.

Are you ready to make
this team your new home?

Yes.

To work hard every
day, every weekend,

forsaking all others and
keep the tradition alive?

Let's get to work people!

Oh, Annie.

Been here for weeks by
myself since she got so sick.

No family, no visitors.

How are you related to her?

Oh, I'm not.

I haven't seen her
since high school.

We lost touch.

Mmm, yeah, there's
more to that story.

Past is past.

I'm here out of an
obligation to the paperwork.

I'm going to see it through.

Past is never past, my friend.

But I'm not gonna bug you.

Thank you.

New York, right?

Mostly.

I'm a freelance news
producer at CZN.

It's a bit of an offshore
schedule, you know 14 on 14 off.

I work for six months
or so in New York

then travel 'til
the money runs out.

Ooh, I feel ya.

I'd miss my stuff too much.

My TV, my crawfish,

my mama's rice and gravy.

Well, if you've ever seen
the sun set over the Pacific...

My youngest, Kaylie,
is like you, a dreamer.

She saw New York on TV and
thinks that's where she belongs.

Like they're gonna bring out
the welcome wagon .

What does she study?

She's never gonna leave
that boyfriend of hers

and go anywhere.

You're selling her short.

You haven't met her yet.

Anyway, I gotta run.

You mind locking
up when you leave?

You're leaving Annie alone?

Her insurance doesn't
pay for a night nurse

and she has her pain meds.

She'll be out all night and
Kathy comes in real early.

That doesn't seem right.

It doesn't mean
you have to stay.

Don't I?

I thought your
obligation was for the
paperwork.

Yeah.

So, can you lock up?

When I leave.

Thank you.

Why?

What was so important

that you needed to
get me back here?

- Oh, you came.
- Annie.

Chop up this bell pepper
as finely as you can

and could you hand
me that onion please?

Oh, check the freezer
in the carport.

We need to use up
that shrimp tonight

and there may still
be some crab meat.

Will you go check?

It's just two of us.

For now.

You shouldn't be here.

I was invited.

You'll upset everything.

You need to go, right now.

Oh, stop cleaning up.

Just sit down here for a minute.

Tell me a story.

I haven't had a chance
to talk to you all night.

Tonight was heaven .

Wasn't it?

Better send off than
I could've dreamed.

It was something.

Didn't you
have a good time tonight?

Truthfully?

Of course.

I had a good time.

Well, that's
not very persuasive.

I taught you better than that.

Nah, you want a
perfomance, huh?

I want you to
sit here with me.

Tell me why.

Isn't it enough that
I wanted to see you?

Come on, Annie, the
past was gone, buried.

I moved on.

Mmm, maybe, but
you haven't let go.

You asked Nick to leave tonight.

I don't have
anything to say to him.

People leave, Annie.

That's the one truth I do know.

Isn't that what
we're doing here?

Waiting for the end.

Darling, you're the
only one who can decide

why you're here.

Right, a cosmic riddle.

Find peace in uncertainty,
find beauty in loss.

I don't need a zen
Hallmark card, Annie.

Loss is loss, love ends.

Tell me a story.

I haven't had a chance
to talk to you all night.

You wanna
hear the story?

As if talking can
change the outcome.

It started the summer before
Nick and I went to debate camp

in New Orleans.

I couldn't wait to
get out of my house.

Hey, have you seen this?

What the hell, Shane?

It's just a joke.

That's three weeks of work.

That's not funny.

Hey, lighten up.

You never could take
a joke. Right, Shaney?

Good job. Hurry up,
Chris ain't gonna wait.

Y'all ready, boys?

And my brother
acted like such a jerk.

It made me glad I was adopted.

Nick was my next stop.

That made everything all right.

I sensed we had a
strong connection,

but I had no idea if he
felt the same way about me.

His family life was
no picnic either.

He wouldn't even let me
pick him up at his house.

We were debate partners.

That was enough.

Debate was where we belonged.

What's with the fancy luggage?

I had to work late,
no time to pack.

Your bike?

Nick, there's no room.

We might be a little squished,
but we'll make it work.

Even though
I tried to act cool,

Nick'd flash me that smile,
and he'd win every time.

Dang it, Shane. Stupid worms.

Don't worry about it.

There's a Newsweek on the couch.

Go get that.

Any last minute
surprises from your dad?

No, he's been offshore.

Good, 'cause I told your mom

in no uncertain terms
that your scholarship

to St. Delphines is conditioned
on your participation

on this debate team, so
this summer camp is crucial.

And Nick knows.

We all know, but I think
it's important that we say it

out loud while
we're here together.

Eat.

- Thank you.
- I mean it, Nick.

Everything is open to you,

every possible future
you can imagine,

if, if this year goes the
way I think it should.

You could be the
national champion.

The two of you as a team.

You, you don't have a tie?

Go into Roy's closet,
pick out a tie.

The nicest one you can find.

Okay.

Listen...

I need you to watch out for him.

I know.

You are the rock of this team.

You're careful,
you're responsible.

He needs that.

All right.

I am going to pick this one.

Okay.

Oh, you guys have to get going

if you're gonna
get to the airport

to pick up Rosa on time.

Who's Rosa?

A girl from Stuyvesant.

Annie told her coach in New York

we'd pick her up in New Orleans.

Get going, come on.

Okay, give me a hug.

Get going.

Do your best.
- Okay.

You guys make me proud.

So, um...

I need to stop at my
sister's place on the way.

We don't have time.

10 minutes, I
promise. It's important.

Five minutes, no other stops.

I get to pick the music.

Okay.

So, um, here's
some money from mom

and a little bit of
what I was able to make.

I know it's not
enough to fix the car,

but I thought I'd leave
my bike for a few weeks.

I guess that doesn't
really help much.

Dad bought you that bike.

He'll notice it's missing, and
it'll give him another reason

to go ballistic.

He's offshore.

Mom will tell him.

Maybe.

It was a nice
thought, thank you.

Hey, I have your mail,
college brochures.

Oh, I don't want to keep
Amy waiting any longer.

How about I come on the
way back from New Orleans?

You look like a debater.

Rosa?

We're here to pick you up.

We?

That must be Stacen, right?

Now it makes sense.

Adam told my coach
he needed a favor.

I agreed to partner
with Nick here,

and I get my pick of partners
at Dartmouth in August.

He's your warm-up?

Basically.

Later, y'all.

I'm headed to Cancun.

Saint Lucia's nicer.

Billy Joel, Hall and
Oates, I mean, it's so Top 40.

It was number
one for four weeks.

Should've been five, really.

No, Smiths, The Cure,

I mean, they're replacements,
for God's sakes.

Dear God, where am I?

Oh, sorry, I must
have the wrong--

I asked to transfer.

My first roommate was a bore.

I didn't think you'd mind.

You play?

A little, only mess around.

Where's your second camp?

Second camp?

Yeah.

Lucky to get one.

Nick too?

Mmhmm.

Then he'll have to be
as naturally talented

as everyone keeps saying.

But your squad has seniors
at other camps, right?

Just me and Nick.

I saw him at the
end of last year

in quarter finals
with that other guy.

Miles.

They were fine.

Nick was one of the only
juniors to get that far.

I know. I just
don't get the hype.

CZN News might cover
the finals this year.

How do you know?

Um, Keith, Adam's
assistant, was asking me

about a woman who went to
my high school a while back.

She works for Bill Tarrity
now, the news anchor.

I know who Bill Tarrity is.

We get national TV here.

Tarrity was a debater.

He was plucked from obscurity

in rural Nebraska or something.

Won nationals, changed his life.

He wants to do an inspiring
story about debate

with Nick as the star,
passing the torch

or the boot straps or something.

Pick your metaphor.

Well, it's good
for you, right?

I mean, you're Nick's
partner here at camp.

Why would I care about
getting on network news?

Spent my whole life
dodging my father's camera.

Do you sing?

No.

Come on.

No, like, seriously, no.

Hello?

I'm so sorry for not
calling sooner, Annie.

We're here, everything's fine.

Well,
call me again soon.

I'm always here.

Yeah, I'll call
again in a few days.

Don't worry.

I would like to
take this opportunity

to formally welcome you to
the Summer Debate Institute.

Policy debate has produced
many national leaders

over the generations.

Perhaps there's a future
governor or senator among you,

a future network news anchor
or Supreme Court justice.

I know that each one of
you represent the best

of what your generation of
young people have to offer

this country, and
we are delighted

to be some small part
of your preparation.

Lab meetings begin
in 15 minutes.

Keith here, to my right,
has the assignment sheet

if you somehow missed it
yesterday at check-in.

Do me proud.

Who has memorized
this year's resolution?

Mr. Stacen?

Do you always do his homework?

Rosa, please write the
resolution on the board.

Mr. Stacen, I
expect more from you.

I expect more from all of you.

This isn't summer vacation.

Mr. Carter, proceed.

So, the word from the
esteemed organization

which governs our activities
is that some wires, critics,

think that we turn out debaters

who can't actually give
a persuasive speech,

that they speed unintelligibly
through piles of evidence

that they can neither
understand nor can make

comprehensible to anyone else.

That is not how Adam
and I run our program

up at the paradise
on the Charles River

that many of you are
clamoring to attend,

and that is not
how I run this lab.

If you want to
succeed this year,

if you think you are capable
of being a national champion,

if you wanna gain a
scholarship to my program,

or any other top
program for that matter,

you have to be a top researcher,

a master of logic and reason

and a persuasive speaker.

You have to do it all.

It's a decathlon, not a sprint.

We will start with a
series of exercises

on making persuasive speeches,

the kind that you would
give to your grandmother

or the garden club with the
little finger sandwiches.

And then, this afternoon,

our real work begins.

I want 10 affirmative
and 10 negative speeches

every morning, fully researched.

Okay, who's next?

We need a topic.

Let me see that.

Baton Rouge Monthly, really?

Okay, topic, topic,
what do we got?

Contras, no.

Gorbachev and Star Wars, no.

Deficit, no, we need
something with a moral stake,

something that the
grandmothers will want to hear.

If we wanted to talk
about moral issues,

we would've signed up
for Lincoln Douglas.

Editorial page, okay.

Here's something
for the blue hairs.

You've all heard of this
baby X story, right?

Couple hires this mother
to have their kid.

She changes her mind,
steals the baby back.

Rosa, should the
United States allow

surrogate mother contracts or
should we ban the practice?

Five minutes go, oh, next
person takes the opposite side,

all around 'til we're done.

We need prep.

If you need prep, you
don't belong in this lab.

Rosa, go.

- Which side?
- Doesn't matter.

I can do
either, you pick.

Against.

Women in this country
are barely a decade

into a new era in which
they have full control

of their reproductive
rights and choices.

Medical advances have
created new options

to solve the unspeakable
pain of infertility.

Are we going to turn the
clock of freedom back now,

reducing these choices?

Are we going to
limit women's rights

out of on an irrational
fear of the unknown?

Okay, I'll see you
guys later, okay.

Hey, are you okay?

I'm fine.

Keith almost
showed real humanity

and sent out a search party.

I had some water, I'm okay.

Okay.

Okay.

So, it's all good?

Fine, I freaked.

Big time.

I'm not in this
league, in your league.

I've only been in one
national tournament.

I went one and three,
total disaster.

I'm only in this
lab because of Nick,

and I'm holding him back.

So, that's it, end of story?

What?

You wouldn't be here
if you coach didn't think

you had it in you.

You're here to learn, right?

All right.

Show me what you got.

Um, okay.

Uh, new government spending
will trigger automatic cuts,

Washington Post, July 8, 1986.

The Congressional Budget
Office reports today

that any additional
federal spending

- will trigger-
- Wait.

That's from today.

Where'd you get that?

Library.

That's a great card.

You can use that against
any affirmative case

linked to the disad.

- I know.

Um...

Senators Phil Gramm and Warren
Rudman said that they would--

Wait, stop, stop.

Great cards aren't everything,

although I do want
a copy of that one.

What's in-between?

Uh, nothing.

To find the connective tissue,

the words that link
the evidence together,

weave the argument,
tell a story.

But...

You can't plan
that ahead of time.

Exactly.

You have to do it on the
fly, different every time.

Right, it's all improvised,

conditioned on
what comes before.

And that's when I panic.

I was terrified too.

Once, I think.

When I first started.

How did you get over it?

Just have to let
go of everything.

Be in the moment,
get a flow, a rhythm.

It's like, um...

It's like music.

This is ridiculous.

Do you want my help?

Yeah.

Very badly.

Then sing it.

I think you're getting it.

Oh my God.

I urge you to
vote affirmative.

As Hickman in '85 concludes,

early investment in
education reduces inequality

in both the short and long-term.

Not bad,

and you used your full eight
minutes without stopping.

Who's next?

A word Mr. Stacen.

This is a release form

and an envelope with a stamp.

Take it, seal it,

address it to your parents.

Instruct them to mail
it back in one week.

When these things
are accomplished,

you will be
interviewed by CZN News

regarding your prowess.

I don't think I need to tell
you how important this is.

A lazy
Louisiana summer

was passing outside debate camp,

but we were working so
hard we barely noticed.

I still don't think
we have enough evidence here.

Do you have the binders Miles
left behind from last year?

Some are still in the car.

So get the keys.

Where are you two going?

We'll be right back.

I didn't think of it
before, but it fits.

Miles thought I was
a crappy researcher.

It's good stuff.

That means we're
done for tonight.

I'm hungry.

Come on.

Come on.

Wait. If somebody
steals the car--

It'll be fine.

Not a very
convincing argument.

- We should go.
- Not yet.

Assuming my car
is still there.

Not yet.

Nick
won that debate.

We stayed out that night
'til the sun came up

over the river.

Did you know they're
turning the World's Fair site

into a mall?

Yeah.

Did you go?

To the World's Fair?

Yeah, I don't
remember that much.

We went.

Me and my mom and my sister.

My mom just had to see
the Vatican exhibit.

Spent the whole day looking at
jeweled chalices and crosses.

We came back the same night.

We pull in.

My dad's truck is
in the driveway.

He's sitting there
under the carport

in a folding chair
having a beer.

Some explosion
shut the rig down,

and he was home early.

You weren't suppose to go?

I don't know.

Who knows what he really wants?

My mom, she was just frozen
in place, wouldn't move.

I mean, he didn't know
where we'd been, but...

There was nothing wrong with it.

We didn't do anything wrong.

I just opened the door.

Must have broken the
spell or something.

My mom just fixed her hair,

grabbed her pocketbook and
started towards him apologizing.

I just got on my
bike and I rode off.

Do you ever...

wish you had a different family?

I do.

Sometimes .

I mean, my situation
is not like yours.

But...

I just feel like I
don't belong there.

Maybe I never have.

'Cause they don't get debate?

Because they don't get me.

Yeah, I guess we
are kinda freaks, huh?

I'm gonna go get some coffee.

Yeah, no, yeah, sure.

Yeah, I'll see you later.

Hey, Megan.

Inequality is a
temporary feature

in a growing and
vibrant economy.

Citation?

Council of Economic
Advisors, '82.

No, you can see that that
study was fought in cross ex.

Now that claim is unsupported.

The preponderance of evidence
suggested in this round

shows that extreme income
inequality is a feature--

Temporary feature.

Would you please
let me finish?

I feel something
slipping here.

Rosa, next please.

Opportunities
are not evenly distributed

in this country.

A child born into a lower
economic ground has no chance to

change their life without
federal investment in education.

Amy, my brother, Dylan

Hello.

He's in town
doing research for a movie.

Well, what a coincidence.

Rosa, let me introduce you to,

well, you probably
already know Susan Levine?

She's an up and coming
producer at CZN News.

No, we haven't met.

Rosa is the top
debater at Stuyvesant.

She's also Nick
Stacen's debate partner

here at the institute.

I've actually heard
a lot about you.

I would love to interview
your father some time.

I'm a great admirer of his work.

I will be sure to tell him.

Please do.

His Kennedy film is genius.

Ah, my brother, Dylan.

Well, you two probably
went to Stuyvesant together.

No, I think I
would remember you.

Ready?

Tell me again
why Susan is here.

Due diligence.

Tarrity sent her to
determine whether the story

that we've been pitching
matches the facts.

If she agrees, then they
send an on-air correspondent.

But if someone else
wins the tournament,

then they get on the news.

No, Nick's the story.

If some overprivileged
prep school kid wins,

then there's no story.

Nick feeds this log cabin myth

of national greatness,

and Tarrity gets to
relive his New York rise.

Besides, being on the
news is good for you.

Tarrity's gonna be
on the national news

telling every coach and
judge in the country

that Nick is destined to
be the national champion.

If he does well
in the interview,

then the judges will want to
make that dream a reality.

The judges aren't gonna cheat.

It's not cheating.

It's politics.

It's PR.

Look, everyone's
good at that level.

And short from a major meltdown,

the top rounds at the
national tournament

are determined in millimeters.

If Nick's the star, then he
gets more of the close calls.

I don't know.

You don't know what?

What, does this ruin
some idealistic view

of the news industry for you?

Or maybe it ruins
the idea of debate

as a noble pursuit of knowledge.

Look, you're a
good researcher,

and you're improving
as a speaker.

You're not gonna determine
whether Nick wins

or loses this year

That almost sounded
like an apology.

I'm doing you a favor.

You want to make it
in the larger world?

How do you get there?

I work hard.

Then maybe
someone will notice?

That's a fairy tale.

There's no national merit exam

that gives everybody
what they deserve.

You wanna be a New York
artist or an intellectual?

There's your entrance exam.

You wanna be a New
York news producer?

There's your entrance exam.

But at some point, you are
going to have to determine

where you belong.

Winners set the agenda.

Losers get the scraps.

Oh Keith, could you
meet up with my crew

at the library, show
them around campus?

I'd love to get some B-roll
before we lose the light.

Absolutely.

And, Rosa, if you've
got some time,

I'd love to meet some
of the other folks

from the lab to determine
who to interview tomorrow.

Sure.

Hey, um, can I get
to Delphine Street

with public transportation?

Not any time soon.

I don't suppose I could
impose on you for another ride?

Sorry to drag you out again.

Imagine you have work to do.

It's okay.

I kinda like being
the one with a car.

Yeah, I never
learned to drive.

Ironic, though, my gramps
drove a cab for 10 years

when he first got here.

Not here here, like
New York here, America.

Yeah.

Rosa said you're
from New Orleans?

About two hours west.

New Orleans is the
big city to us.

Wait, the Cajun part?

Yeah.

That's great.

No, that's actually
related to the thing

with this guy, Mark,
with why I'm here.

Uh, Mark grew up in New
York but got obsessed

with Louisiana ritz music.

Came to Jazz Festival one
year and had this, like,

religious, mystical experience

listening to Gatemouth
Brown play blues guitar.

I mean, you probably
know all about this.

Look, your sister
already gave me a hard time

for only listening to Top 40.

Why would I tell you
what music to like?

I'm just...

But, look, I mean you're,

you're here at the
home of jazz and blues.

It's an iconic American story.

That's what I wanna
say in my movie.

You make movies?

Sure, little documentaries.

Like my dad.

A movie about a
guy who falls in love

with Louisiana music.

More than that.

Story of this New York kid

who wakes up one day
and has an epiphany

and realizes he's been
born in the wrong culture,

switched at birth, right?

So he moves to New Orleans
to set things straight.

That's him.

Uh, hey.

Hang out with me.

Let's hear his story.

Opportunities are not evenly
distributed in this country.

A child born into a lower
economic ground has no chance to

change their life without
federal investment in education

or federal regulation of
educational standards.

As the University of Iowa City
shows, there's significant--

Perfect.

You don't need my scrutiny.

Well, if you can
spare someone, Keith,

I could use a volunteer
to help with the crews

while we set up
for the interviews.

Anyone?

Great.

So forget about me.

Look directly into the camera.

Rodney's gonna
adjust the lights.

It just helps to have
a body in the chair.

Are you interested in news?

As a job?

As a career.

You said travel's the
best part of your job.

And you research stories, right?

I'm good at that.

Good.

Okay.

Um, do you know anyone?

Friends of your parents
or other relatives,

someone who could help you
with a summer job, maybe?

Oh, you know what?
Look this way.

We're just gonna move
the camera, okay?

And we're gonna get a level now,

so I just want you to
speak slowly and clearly

into the microphone.

Uh, what should I say?

Oh, anything,
it's just a test.

I'm sorry, I'm
screwing this up.

No, wait. Hey, hey, hey,

Anything at all, okay?

Who are you?

I'm Amy Hartington.

I live in a small town
in south Louisiana.

I'm a debater.

And what are
your plans for the future?

You want me to
say that out loud?

On camera?

I do.

Keep talking.

I wanna win a national
championship with my partner.

I wanna debate in college

in a big city.

I wanna travel everywhere
and see the whole world.

I want the best parts
of debate to never end.

One minute it's boiling hot.

Then it's really cold.

The rain, the mud, the humidity.

How do you people live here?

You'll escape to
Dartmouth next week

for your next camp, and this
will all be a bad dream.

Come with me.

Just the person
I'm looking for.

Your partner's still
playing hide and seek.

Adam clearly asked
Nick to get his parents

to sign the release forms
for the people at CZN News.

Nick hasn't done so.

So?

So, Adam communicated
directly to Nick's parents

and sent the forms to them.

He'll be contacting
Nick's dad tonight.

So if you see Nick, be sure
to convey that information.

I really don't
understand why this matters

so much to Adam.

Ego, he's a dictator
in his own program.

Worse than he is here.

My brother bailed.

Dylan was supposed
to debate for him?

He did for six months,

but he was miserable.

Life's too short.

Nick needs a
scholarship to anywhere.

Nick can't burn
too many bridges

if he needs a
debate scholarship.

Adam's wired with all
the good college coaches.

Would you talk to him?

Why are you always
looking out for him?

He shouldn't be your problem.

You're only his partner
for this camp tournament.

He's my partner all year.

We win or lose together.

Find another partner.

Then I won't get invited to
the best national tournaments.

You're selling yourself short.

Mexico.

Um, Mexico as new
affirmative case,

as a new counter plan?

As a destination.

Sure, I'd love to
go sometime, but--

Now.

The best part is we can drive.

You can drop me
off in Mexico City.

Drop you off?

I mean, you can
stay if you want, too.

But, um, I mean, you
love debate, right?

Just because I'm done
with it doesn't mean

you have to quit.

Keith says this
interview will be good for you.

Keith doesn't know my father.

I spend half of my life
covering for things

that might possibly
piss the man off.

Adam shouldn't have
gone behind my back

and called him.

A scholarship from Adam gets
you away from your father.

Forever, if you want.

You're not gonna
help me, are you?

Help you leave?

No.

Nick, wait.

Look, I'm not gonna pretend
to understand your father.

But don't run away.

We can call Annie.

There's got to be
another solution

we're not thinking
of on our own.

I don't like it.

Tarrity's not gonna like it.

Well, it will get you
what you want, Adam.

We're all clear here,

but I've made no guarantees.

All right, well, I'm
gonna see you next week.

Hey, what did you hear?

Nothing.

Oh, you can put
the pieces together.

What did you surmise?

This is a test?

Everything's a test, my dear,

one way or another.

We have a deal,
a precarious one,

but his dad will
sign the release form

if CZN agrees to
interview him as well.

Nick's dad wants to be on TV?

He says that he spent
the best years of his life

sacrificing for his son

and that he deserves
some of the glory.

Nick's not gonna
be happy with that.

I know.

Sign of a good compromise,
no one is happy.

I thought adults
were more reasonable.

Now you know.

All right, I'll
see you next week.

Amy.

Still wanna learn about
the news business?

I guess.

Well, help me out
with something, okay?

We'll call it an internship.

I'll write you a nice
recommendation letter.

I appreciate it.

I just, uh, didn't really want

anyone else to know, you know?

I actually don't know
anything about debate.

The rules?

Yeah, I may have
led my boss to believe

that I had some sort of
background familiarity.

Okay.

Yeah, I bluffed.

Just give me the basics.

This is the resolution,

the topic we debate all year.

At each tournament, there
are four preliminary rounds.

In one round, you
argue the affirmative,

often a case, a
government policy

that upholds the resolution.

In the next round, you
take the negative position,

arguing against the resolution.

Each person gives an
eight minute speech,

then is cross-examined by
someone on the opposite team.

Then, each person gives
a four minute rebuttal.

The judge examines the arguments

against a set of standards

and then decides
who wins the round.

The team with the best records
advances to quarter finals

then semi-finals until only
two best teams are left

competing against one
another in the final round.

Only one team can win.

Perfect.

That's exactly what we needed.

That was fun.

Your parents are
gonna be so proud of you

when they see you on TV.

Thank you for your cooperation
with the permission form.

So that's it?

You know, I just have to get
the final interview with Nick

and then we'll edit the
package for tonight's news.

The affirmative team's
absolutely correct.

We can see that programs
for reducing inequality

are necessary,
even crucial for--

Debate camp's
final tournament had arrived.

Everyone was going to be
there, you, Nick's parents.

It was Nick's moment to shine

for the news cameras
and for his dad.

Almost done?

Maybe 20 minutes.

Oh my God, watch
and learn, kid.

Mr. Tarrity, what a surprise.

Well, we're starting
off the road show early,

pumping up the
affiliates' ratings.

Oh, you're gonna anchor
from New Orleans tonight?

From the local news room.
Everything's under control.

But I was just telling my
old friend, Adam, here,

how much I miss real reporting
out side the New York bubble,

and I hear there's
one more interview

to get for tonight,
is that right?

Yeah, Michael Sullivan
is in the ballroom

just getting ready.
Oh, great.

Sully, outta my chair son.

I'm the field
correspondent today.

Amy, I've got
Nick's parents here.

Are you taking
them in the finals?

That's what I'm
trying to decide.

Hey, Bill Tarrity.

Yes.

Noland Stacen.

We're supposed to talk.

Well, if I had
words with everyone

who wanted a bit of my time,

we'd be here for
hours, wouldn't we?

Is it final rebuttals tonight?

Yeah.

Okay.

Here goes nothing.

The affirmative team has
not defeated our counter plan.

State control is
clearly superior,

Osborne '82 evidence.

Local control allows
state .

Go to the counter plan next.

You have time, Nick.

Hit everything.

To experiment and
find novel solutions.

On their A, uniform
federal standards,

pull across the O'Conner card.

They haven't even touched it.

Judges, this is not
a difficult decision.

The preponderance of
evidence is on our side.

To solve for inequality,
you must vote negative.

Well done, Nick.

So I want you to tell us
about the final round,

and then we'll take you
in here for the interview.

Nick, come here.

Nick, I'd like you
to meet Mr. Tarrity.

Son, I'm talking to you.

You are ungrateful.

What's
going on over there?

Who is that?

Is that his dad?

What's he doing?

This is a school.

After his father
burned the permission slip,

embarrassing him in
front of everyone,

Nick stormed out.

The look on his
face made me think

he might be going for good.

I assume you can
get this to Nick?

If I see him again.

Somehow you'll survive.

I can't do debate
without Nick.

It's a team activity.

Whoa, whoa, hey.

There you go.

It's okay.

You have to let
go soon, darling.

Doctor says it's
time for hospice.

We're leaving
in a few minutes.

Go change.

You've completely
forgotten, haven't you?

Your cousin Kathy's wedding.

Honestly, Amy, I don't know
where your head is sometimes.

Great, have a good time.

Don't sass me, young lady.

Apologize to your mother.

You don't even
know what happened.

Don't you debate with me.

That kinda talk
doesn't belong here.

I'm sorry.

That's better.

I, uh, wanna show this to you.

Oh, sweetheart, the
VCR's not even hooked up.

It's my piece on the news
where I explain debate.

I know you didn't see it
when it was on last night.

Well, Shane had
a baseball game.

He got three hits.

Let's go Charlene.

We're going to be late.

Amy, please, go get changed.

You know how Father Mouton gets

when people walk into mass late.

Go, I'll meet
you at the church.

Soon.

10 minutes,
I have my car.

Okay, well, I put a nice
dress on the bed for ya.

Wear a slip.

Of course.

Coming.

Oh, what in the world are
you doing here this late?

I didn't have
anywhere else to go.

Well, I was just
gonna go to bed.

I could just keep
driving, you know,

head west, not stop
'til I hit the Pacific.

Come on in.

Oh, honey, Nick will be back.

How do you know?

I don't know.

I trust.

It's highly
preferable to despair.

There's something else.

It's not about debate.

Well, I got other skills.

Would you open this for me?

Is it a particularly
fortified envelope?

Booby trapped somehow?

Please.

It's from the agency
that did my adoption.

Oh, I always assumed
you had a closed adoption.

I did. I've always known.

We just don't talk about it.

Well, that's a lot to hold in.

Just read it for me.

All right, well.

There's a lot of legal jargon.

"State laws are under review."

Okay.

"The adoption
records remain sealed,

"but the agency
does feel obligated

"to reveal certain
communications."

Bottom line, please.

Three years ago,
your birth mother,

she attempted to make
contact with you.

She had a friend
call the agency.

That friend's name
and number are here.

No, I can't.

Where is she?

New York, Brooklyn.

That's a good distance.

Listen, Amy.

You have to feel pain
before you can let it go.

You know, when my son died--

Wait. What?

When?

It happened a long time ago.

It was a stupid accident.

The details aren't important,

but for a very long time,

I didn't handle
the loss very well.

I may have went
to work every day.

I went through all the motions,

but I wasn't really there.

I was a ghost.

And then one spring,

I think it was in
a state tournament,

I got in a fight with
one of the other coaches.

Something about the
proper allocation

of judges for the finals,
I don't even remember,

but I was absolutely outraged.

I screamed at him

and anyone else who had the
misfortune of being there.

And I threw a chair
clear across the room.

Honestly?

Oh, yeah. He ducked.

And then I left.

I disappeared without a word.

And I stayed gone
for almost a year.

Roy must have been frantic.

You didn't care?

Not really.

I went to Europe.

I went to Spain and
France and Italy.

I'd never been.

I blew through my life savings.

This isn't a parable.

I wound up in Valencia
that next spring.

They got a wonderful
festival there.

It's called the Falles.

It's a bit like Mardi Gras,
the whole town celebrates.

They build these gigantic
figures out of wood

and paper mache, animals,
mythical creatures,

anything you can imagine.

They parade them
through the town,

and on the last night
everyone gathers,

and they set each
masterpiece aflame.

They set those spirits free.

And these fires burn all night.

And there's music and dancing

and there's some crying.

And then the next day, they
start building all over again.

I'd like to
see it some time.

We should go
together. I'd like that.

Yeah.

But something happened
to me that night.

I came back here the next week,

and I started coaching again.

Back to normal?

No.

But I found a way to move on,

to remember who I was
and why I was here.

That was enough.

Three years later, they
had the World's Fair

here in New Orleans,

and I bought a
paper mache globe.

You know, it was just a
cheap souvenir, really,

but it reminded
me of the Falles.

Did you burn it?

No, it's the one I
have in my classroom.

You know what, honey?

You'd better get home.

We've got a big
year ahead of us.

I didn't
hear another word from Nick

all summer until he walked back
in the first day of school.

I was so relieved,

and things went back
to normal, mostly.

You were there.

It was the ordinary routine
of school and tournaments.

We were winning, having fun.

Nick's dad was away.

It was almost time
for graduation,

and Nick and I were so excited

for nationals in New York.

Unbelievable.

That bad, huh?

Yeah, I'm afraid so.

The school board is requesting

half of everyone's
remaining budget

so that the football stadium
can be built in time.

But the rest of this year's
budget covers nationals.

Yeah. Can you give me
a minute, please, guys?

I need you to clear out.

Base classroom is empty.

I need to talk to Amy
alone as the team captain.

We'll go to New York alone?

I don't see that
there's any other way.

I mean, if I don't go,
that's an extra $1000.

And then if you find
a place to stay--

I'll call Rosa tonight.

Okay, that's another 500.

Oh my God, this is crazy.

I cannot believe
they are forcing us

into this position when
you guys have worked

so hard all year.

A football?

I mean, you know,
it doesn't matter

how many championships
we win as long,

okay, I'm sorry.

All right, solutions. We
got to focus on solutions.

Uh, permission slips.

We got to do this by the book.

Your parents have to sign,

and Nick's parents have to sign.

Of course.

Okay.

This might work.

It was a scramble,

but the moment we
arrived to New York

for the championship
tournament mad it all worth it.

Hey, so do you two
have everything you need?

We're taking the train
downtown to my place.

- Think so.
- Yeah. we're all good.

- You nervous?
- Should I be?

If you still wanna
debate for Adam next year.

You were wait listed, right?

Yep.

But he can't go without a

scholarship.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You don't have to
spill that every time.

So, breaking news,

Ashoke from Bronc Science

just turned Adam down
in favor of Stanford.

One slot remaining.

Intriguing.

So you're not
changing your mind?

About debating in college?

No way.

That phase of my life
ends this weekend.

I'm winning here

and leaving debate
in the rearview.

I knew there was some
reason I liked you.

Can we get outta here?

Make yourselves at home.

Amy, I made you up
the bedroom upstairs

and, Nick, you're on the couch.

This is amazing.

Hey, good, I didn't miss you.

Let me help you with that.

I should thank your parents.

They are sailing, I think,

in the Caymans.

I don't really keep track.

Rosa would know.

In summer, you can see the
Fourth of July fireworks

over the river.

Bring up one of those
plastic kiddie pools,

couple of folding chairs.

No beach house?

Yeah, on the weekend.

Louisiana doesn't
even have a real beach.

It's all marsh and mud.

Mississippi gets all the sand.

Born on the
wrong side of the river.

Something like that.

New York must be
culture shock for you.

No.

New York's on TV every day,

in the movies and
nearly every book

I've ever read.

Sesame Street's in New
York, for God's sake.

I feel like I've known
New York all my life.

Is there something wrong
with me coming here tonight?

I wanted to see you.

I'm sorry, I just have a lot

on my mind for the
tournament tomorrow.

I'm glad you wanted to see me.

I'm glad.

Whatever happened with
your New Orleans movie?

I don't know, actually.

I'm helping my dad
do some camera work

on one of his projects.

Rosa and I are going
to Greece and Italy

after she graduates.

This other guy wants
me to make a short

about this classic sailboat
he's restoring up in Maine.

Lot of possibilities.

I guess I sound like
a privileged jerk.

It's just not my world.

You don't know that.

You don't even know
how different we are.

What kind of head start you have

over people who don't
grow up like this.

Why is it a competition?

Nick and I need scholarships

to get to a good college.

And people like you
start off so far ahead

you don't even have to compete.

You can make a
little movie or not.

Debate for Adam or not.

Go to Europe or go
slumming in New Orleans.

It's not that easy.

For anyone.

My whole life
could've been different.

Another name, hometown, family.

What do you mean?

I'm adopted.

Lots of people are adopted.

No one ever talks about
how it feels on the inside.

If the bureaucrat from
the adoption agency

had chosen from column
A instead of column B,

I'd be a different person.

It's completely random.

Which way is Brooklyn?

Follow the lights
over the bridge.

Over the East River.

Last summer, I got a letter.

A woman in Brooklyn claimed

she knew my birth mother

and wanted to talk to me.

And?

I didn't respond.

My coach said I would
do it when I was ready.

Here I am in New
York for three days.

Are you ready?

I don't know.

Maybe after the tournament.

Debate comes first.

Yes.

Mr. Stacen.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

I don't wish to reward
your behavior last summer,

but I understand there were
extenuating circumstances.

Yes, sir.

I'm also willing to
consider that you're nearly

a year older and that
you may have matured

into the kind of
young man who could be

a good fit for my squad.

If you advance as far
as finals tomorrow,

I may have a place for you.

And if I don't?

Debate's not everything, son.

I want to make sure you have
the key for the apartment.

Uh, yeah.

Will we see you later?

Actually, my coach
has rooms for us

here at the hotel tonight,

so we can get an
extra hour of sleep

before the early morning rounds.

So we should go back alone?

Yeah, you remember
how to get there, right?

Just take the D to West Fourth.

Like we belong here.

What's this?

I have no idea.

But you can use the phone
in the coach's lounge

to return their call.

Hello?

Is Nick with you?

Uh, he's in the lobby.

We had a great day.

Four zero in prelims.

That's wonderful.

I'm proud of you both.

All right, Mr. Stacen
is here with me

in Principal Herbert's office.

That sounds bad.

It's very serious.

Mr. Stacen does not
approve of this trip,

although Nick's mother
signed the permission form.

Mr. Stacen wants
Nick to return home

as soon as possible.

Quarter finals are first
thing in the morning.

I've
talked to the airline.

Your tickets are
valid for any flight

before your scheduled return.

Do you have a pen, hun?

Okay, there are flights at 6am,

9:30...

Wait, we can win
this tournament.

Where's the compromise?

It's
out of my hands.

Everything we worked for.

As soon as
possible, do you understand?

Yes, ma'am.

Suddenly, I
had my own internal debate.

Was there a way I could break
the rules and still win?

Everything okay?

Why wouldn't it be?

Well, I hear you guys
did a good job today.

- Yeah.
- We did.

I'll be judging
all day tomorrow.

Perhaps I'll see you.

Food?

Hmm?

I'm starving, let's
go get something to eat.

You're not gonna let them
mess with you, are you?

What?

It's what he wants.

It's what Adam wants,
to sike us out,

prove he was right
about me all along.

Were you paying attention
at all today, Nick?

I'm doing everything I can
to win this tournament.

You don't know everything
that's going on.

And you don't think we
should track this lady down?

Tonight?

You have a round in eight hours

in a tournament that
can change everything,

get us scholarships that
can let us out of Louisiana.

Yeah, but this could
change everything.

You don't understand.

No, I might be the
only one who does.

I've got to live every day
for the rest of my life

knowing that I
share half of my DNA

with an idiot who
thinks it's fun

to bully his wife
and his children.

I could go anywhere right now,

but anywhere I go I'm
stuck with him in my blood.

I mean, this could be the
winning lottery ticket.

Don't you want to know?

What if I don't?

I don't have all
the facts, right?

No evidence.

We can piece
together the outlines

of the story without
knowing everything.

You're assuming too much.

Think about it.

My real mom is not gonna
be someone like Annie.

Maybe.

She was a teenager who got
drunk and made a mistake.

Or a woman living in a trailer

with a deadbeat husband
and four other kids.

Or a woman who just wanted out.

Yeah, but--

I was her problem.

She solved it by leaving,

drove away and
never looked back.

And I'm suppose to
leave it in the past.

Never talk about it,
never think about it,

never feel it.

Move on.

She might regret--

There's no happy ending here.

I don't believe that.

This is an address for a
bar in Brooklyn, right?

All I'm suggesting
is that we go in

and we have a look around.

We can leave whenever you want.

We leave all the
possibilities open.

Come on.

When have I ever led you astray?

Hi, um, do you
know who this is?

Thanks.

I'm gonna go talk to her.

No.

I'll do it.

What'll it be?

Um, yeah, a beer,
a beer, please.

Two beers.

Amy, wait.

She can't be the one.

It's the wrong ending.

You don't know
that, go talk to her.

It's not her.

I know it.

I don't wanna settle.

I want the dream.

We should get off here.

No, Rosa's is the next stop.

Trust me.

Spin it.

What?

That's what the sign says.

You close your eyes,
you spin the globe,

and then you point.

Then the bartender makes
you a drink from there.

What if I don't like it?

Where's your
sense of adventure?

The sun will be up soon.

Yeah.

Maybe we should get a
little sleep before finals.

Sure.

What?

I'm not going back
after the tournament ends.

Of course you are.

I have your plane ticket.

It's not like last summer.

I'm not running away.

It's just whatever's next,

whatever's in the
new start for me,

it's right there.

And I don't know if I'll
ever get this close again.

Things will look different
tomorrow, after finals.

Win or lose, I'm
not going back.

You win, I lose.

You'll be fine.

Don't tell me how I'll feel.

I wish there was another way.

There has to be.

Trust me.

Hey, I didn't think you guys

were gonna make it in time.

We had to pack.

We have to get
back to the airport

whenever we wrap up here today.

Okay, great.

I'm glad you guys made it.

I'll see you later.

Just you?

Today's your lucky day.

We had some trouble
finding enough judges

this early in the morning.

You'll get a panel
on the next round,

if you make it.

Hey.

You awake?

Don't wanna affect the round.

Judge, would you like to
share your philosophy now?

Tabula rasa, blank slate.

No preconditions,
no outside baggage.

Do the summary at the end.

Weigh the issues.

Tell me why I
should vote for you.

You determine your own
fate in this round.

Call at flip.

Call.

Heads.

It's heads.

We'll take affirmative.

We've shown conclusively
throughout this round

that income inequality reduces
educational opportunities

or millions of Americans,

reducing their chance to
reach their full potential,

limiting their endless horizons

that should be their
birth right as citizens

of this great country.

You owe me one.

I didn't ask for any favors.

The round was in a mess.

Sloppy argumentation
on both sides

and that ridiculous
time you spent

on that counter plan?

I shouldn't have
voted for anyone.

That's not the way it works.

You tied it up at the end.

You told me how to
weigh the evidence.

The other team couldn't
even manage that much.

Thank you.

You got a hell of
a round coming up.

What is Adam doing here?

For the record, this
is the semi-final round

between Stuyvensant
A and St. Delphine A.

This is an elimination round.

Winners advance to finals.

Everyone in the right place?

Judges, raise your hands please.

One, two, where
is my third judge?

Excellent.

Do we have a time keeper?

Let's try and start in
the next 10 minutes,

keep things moving.

Coin toss.

I urge you to vote
negative, thank you.

Okay,
we've heard both sides.

Final rebuttals?

I'm ready.

Judges, Nick, Amy,

I'll go case side
first, in order.

Briefly to the counter plan,
disads one through three,

and on their deficit argument.

Over a full year of
debating this topic,

I have yet to come across
another affirmative case

that upholds the resolution
better than ours.

No prep?

No.

Where we going?

Same order.

Case side counter plan.

No, case side, all the disads,

counter plan last.

Let's do it.

The affirmative is
right about one thing.

This is an extraordinary
set of policy proposals.

Guaranteed minimum
income would be

the greatest expansion
of government powers

since the new deal.

What comes along with that
sort of financial windfall?

Rules, regulations
and criminal penalties

for defiance.

You must vote negative

to preserve individual freedom.

Finals will begin
promptly at 2pm

in the auditorium.

Thank you.

On a two to one decision,

the round goes to
St. Delphine A,

Stacen and Hartington.

Thank you everyone.

Congratulations.

I've trained you well.

Maybe too well.

Ten minutes to finals.

I gotta get something to eat.

I'll get you something.

Ashoke says GPS is gonna run
a new variation on warfare.

Greenbrier has the
best neg against that.

Go and see if Omar
has the brief.

Great, see you later.

I told you things
would work out.

Here?

Everything.

No, this is actually my
favorite part in the round.
Nothing's been said yet.

I can imagine how
it'll all play out.

Nothing messed up.

No arguments dropped.

No mistakes.

We're gonna win.

Why don't you go get set up

and I'll track
down Alex and Omar

with the briefs.

Where's Nick?

They're breathing down my neck

to get this round
started on time.

He had to get something.

Every other event is done.

People have flights to catch.

He'll be right back,
like two minutes.

You're first A seat, right?

Yeah.

Get started.

Seriously?

Do it before I change my mind.

We're gonna get started.

Mr. Stacen will be
with us momentarily.

Are judges ready?

Opponents ready?

Resolved.

The federal government
should establish

a comprehensive national policy

to substantially reduce
income inequality

in the United States.

The affirmative
upholds this resolution

by presenting the fallen policy.

The most pressing
issue right now

is an incredible
rising interest rate

on Stafford Loans.

The United States
Government will expand

its program of loans and grants.

A bigger picture is
that these borrowers

are delaying major
life decisions

like buying a home
or car as a result

of their student loans.

The rate of home
ownership is 36%

less student debt

for all qualified
college students.

A comprehensive
national

could substantially
reduce income inequality

in the United States.

Nick's gone.

I don't think he's coming back.

Plank A, income
inequality is increasing.

Plank B, access to
education preserves

economic mobility.

Subpoint one...

I'd been thinking

everything would
be fine if we won.

I never dreamed Nick
would disappear for good

and that you'd be fired.

I did it.

Keith says I'll
get my scholarship

out of Louisiana.

I'm happy for you.

You'll do well.

But Amy, I am
angry with you too.

You have to understand.

What you did in New
York had consequences

for others.

It's not my fault.

I treated you as an adult.

I put everything on the
line for the two of you.

I told you to get back
on that first flight,

didn't I?

Yes ma'am.

Well.

I don't know when
I'm gonna be able

to trust you again.

After that,
I didn't know where to go.

I drove to my parents' house,

but I couldn't go in.

With you and Nick both gone,

I didn't have a home here.

And I didn't think it
would ever be possible

to create a new one anywhere.

All I could feel was loss.

We all left each other.

And we never talked about it.

And I put it in the past

and I sealed it up tight.

And I thought I moved on.

But now I realize if
the adoption agency

had chosen from column
A instead of column B,

you wouldn't have
been in my life.

Maybe lots of life is random.

But I was lucky to have you.

You stayed with me all along.

We
need our own ritual.

I got the papers
ready in my office.

Come by when you're ready.

Did I forget.

Signing a two year contract.

My hand's gonna be
shaking the whole time.

I'm available to hold it.

That's the cheesiest
line I've ever heard.

Well, did it work?

Looks like I'm going to, uh,

be staying in one
place for a while.

Oh, that'd be great, Rosa.

I'd love to see you.

Three weeks next Saturday.

Umm, I might bring someone.

I'm not sure yet.

It's new.

I know.

It's been too long.

Okay.

I'll see you then.

Are you our judge?

I am today.

Are you
okay with .

Yeah, ease me into it.

I haven't been here for a while.

You were a debater?

Yeah, changed my life.

Ready for judging philosophy?

Basically, tabula
rosa, blank slate.

Everything starts
fresh from here.

Weigh everything
for me in the end.

In this round, you
make your own destiny.