All language subtitles for Little.House.on.the.Prairie.S07E04.Fight.Team.Fight.1080p.BluRay.x264-OFT_track3_[eng]

[Band playing]

[Crowd cheering]

Woman: Pete,
it's getting late.

I'll be right there.

You know, I think
I like my study here

better than I did
the one in Boston.

Look, ma.

Oh, why, Dan, that's
just wonderful.

It's cap. Can you
recognize him?

I certainly can.

Pete, our son has
quite a talent.

Too bad it doesn't
extend to football.

Dan: Dad,
I'm getting better.

After all, the boys
at those academies

were there because of
their playing skills.

It's no disgrace that
Dan couldn't compete.

So you've said
on numerous occasions.

Woman:
It's true.

I say it's
a matter of attitude.

Always has been,
always will be.

Maybe moving back
to Minnesota will help
the boy. Maybe not.

Dad, I'm going
to try, honest.

Well, that's all
I can ask.

You won't be growing up
here like I did.

We'd have
to be poor for that.

You're going to be
mixing in with plain,
hard-working people,

just like I did.

Maybe it'll
toughen you up.

Yes, sir.

Come on, now.
Eat your breakfast.
We don't want to be late.

Albert: 16!

32!

24!

Hike!

Albert: Yay!

Hey, that boy has
the makings of
a fine player.

Can't disagree
with that.

Albert!

Come over here, son.

I'd like you to meet
Mr. Ellerbee and his
son, Daniel.

Oh, nice
to meet you.

That was
a good run
you just made.

Oh, thank you.

Dan here is
starting school today.

He plays some
football, too.

Well, are you
going to join
our team?

Yeah, if
it's all right.

Sure!
We can use you.
Come on.

Harriet: Nels!

Come on. The meeting's
ready to start.
Come, put your coat on.

Come on!

Coming, dear!

Nels: And I'm
happy to report

that there's more
than enough money
in the treasury

to cover the cost
of the new textbooks.

So, I'll send
the order in today.

Now, I realize that
we have to adjourn
pretty soon

so Laura can get on
with her classes,

but I would just like to
take this opportunity

to welcome back
a native son.

Pete ellerbee, there,
left these parts
years ago

to become one of
the great heroes
of college football.

I can attest
to that myself,

because I was
playing for Princeton

when Pete--"big rock,"
they called him--

was making Rutgers
a great power.

I was only third string,
so I rarely had
to face him myself,

but, oh, I can
tell you, the team
was pretty nervous

any time they knew they
had to face "big rock."

Well, anyway,
Pete, welcome home.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

When I decided to retire
from a successful
business back east,

there was one place
I wanted to come,

and that's right here,
where my roots are.

Nels Oleson has been
awfully generous
with his compliments,

and I want to
thank him. Nels.

Life has been
very good to me

but never so much as
those 4 glorious years
playing at Rutgers.

You know, football is
more than just a game.

It's something that
shapes a man's character
and builds his confidence--

maybe no more than
other life experiences

but certainly
among the very best.

My wife and son and I
want to become a part
of walnut grove

in any way we can,

and I'm thinking maybe
I could make a special
contribution

by helping mold
the fine young men
in this town

into a championship
football team.

You mean that?

Pete: Well,
I'd be honored.

Well, that's
the most remarkable--

well, speaking for
myself, I'm ready to
step down immediately.

Oh, no, Nels. I didn't
mean that you should--

Nels: I insist on it.

Why, to have someone like
you, a man of your stature,

coaching our little team--

why, that's an opportunity
that we couldn't
even dream of

in the normal course
of things.

Oh, I should say!

Oh, Mr. Ellerbee.

We accept your
most generous offer.

Well, thank you.
Thank you very much.

I think coach ellerbee
deserves a round
of applause.

Harriet: Yay!

On to victory!

[Brass band playing]

Gentlemen, I can't
promise you a championship.

What I can promise you
is to teach you how to win,

and that's the hardest,
grueling work you'll
ever know.

If you've got it in you,
you can become a winner,

but only if winning
becomes the most important
thing in your life.

That's right. I said,
the most important.

You have to become
totally dedicated,

totally committed,
and totally fit.

If any of you
can't handle that,

you can leave right now.

All right. Do you
want to be winners?

Boys, quietly:
Yeah.

I want to hear that
louder. Do you
want to be winners?

[Louder]
Yeah!

-Louder!
-Yeah!

I want to hear that
louder. Do you want
to be winners?

Yeah!

All right! Let's go to work!

[Whistle]

Pete: All right, boys.
Let's get a move on.

I only want to see air
under your feet.

Keep up with Albert.
Come on. Let's move it!

Faster! 10 more laps!

Come on. Drive those legs.
Dig in there.

Drive those legs.
Drive them!

Next! Come on, now.
Drive those legs.

[Whistle]

You're kicking
the ball too low.

I'm sorry, dad.

The ball has to hang
high and long

so your team can get
downfield. Didn't
I teach you that?

-Yes, sir.
-Well, then do it.

Or do you think because
you're an ellerbee,

it makes you special?

No.

You're wrong. It does.

It means you have to
work twice as hard
as anybody else.

Is that clear?

-Yes, sir.
-All right.

OK, fellows, we're going
to try that play again,

and this time, I want you
to put some muscle in it.

Let's go!
[Whistle]

Pete: Let's move out!

They're as raw
as I'll ever hope
to work with,

but we're making headway.

Did I tell you our
first game is with
last year's champions?

Yes, I believe
you did.

Well, it depends on
how they improve
between now and then.

What they don't have yet
is the right, uh, spirit.

But if we do well
against the champions,
even beat them,

that ought to do it,
right, son?

I suppose.

Pete: What do you
mean, "I suppose"?

Come on, come on.
You can speak up.

You sure?

Well, I've been working
you hard enough.

You deserve that
at least.

Well, except
for Albert, dad,

nobody's that good.

And some of the guys
are really bad,

especially
Willie Oleson.

You're right.

Willie Oleson has
a lot of improving
ahead of him,

but I don't think
the team's in
that much trouble.

Well, I guess you'd know
more about that than I would,

but it just
seems like that

even I play better
than most of them.

You're playing
better period.

That's why the other
boys don't seem up
to your standards.

Really?

Now, don't go getting
a swelled head.

This is what you needed--
to be in a situation where
people don't run over you.

Confidence. That's
all you needed.

And you're getting it.

Yeah. I think I am.

Is that all you're
going to eat?

Just so tired,
I lost my appetite.

Maybe you should
go to bed.

I think I will.

Good night.

Good night.

Son, don't be late for
tomorrow's practice.

I won't. Good night.

Good night, dear.

Oh, that was nice.

What was?

Complimenting Dan.

I hope I didn't
overdo it.

Hardly.

He needs your approval
so very much.

Well, if he deserves
it, he'll get it.
Simple as that.

It does worry me
how tired Dan's
been looking.

All the boys are
tired. That's part
of the training.

Once they toughen up,
they won't be tired.

Hey, Albert?

Yeah, pa?

Make sure you get
those feed sacks
unloaded before dark.

Oh, yeah.

You look awful.

I'm done in.

Practice was
tough, huh?

I guess.

It's just sort of hard
to take care of chores,

do my homework,
and practice football.

I can see that.

You know, pa,

I think it was real nice
of Mr. Ellerbee

to offer
to coach us and all,

but to tell you the truth,
I'd just rather have
Mr. Oleson back.

You're kidding me.
How come?

Well, I used to like
football a lot.

Now it's just
a lot of hard work.

Then why do it?

Well, I can't
let the team down.

Well, I guess you
can't, if that's
the way you see it.

Just make sure
you're not letting
yourself down, huh?

Yeah.

I'll take care
of the feed sacks.

You go on in and
wash up for supper.

Thanks, pa.

You're welcome.

Every single member
of that football team

is going to fail
if this keeps up.

I mean, look
at these papers!

My best students,
even Albert,

can't complete
the simplest
homework assignment.

Have you
talked to them?

Well,
of course I have,

but it's always
the same answer.

They're too tired
from football practice.

What are you
going to do?

I don't know...

Yet.

[Whistle blows]

-Are you all right?
-Albert!

On this series of downs,
I want you to hit
the line quicker.

Come on! Move it!
Get in here.

No, Willie.
I'm not all right.

-Mr. Ellerbee?
-Yes?

Look, I know you've
been counting on me

to help win our game
against redwood falls.

I'm counting
on everybody,
Albert.

Well, I'm sorry.
I don't want
to play anymore.

Would you mind
telling me why?

Because it doesn't
leave room for
anything else.

I'm so tired out,
I can't do my homework
or my chores.

Every day, I come out here
to get knocked around
and jumped on,

and I don't know why.

Then I think
definitely you
shouldn't be playing.

If you don't know
why you want to
play football,

why play it?

The other boys seem
to know why they're
playing it.

They want to learn
something courageous
and difficult

and do it well.

They want to be part
of a winning team.

And a winning team
is something where
every man does his best

so as not to let
the others down.

Football is a basic
lesson in life.

It's a fundamental step
to becoming a man.

If you can succeed
in it, you can
succeed in anything.

Without that knowledge,
your talent isn't enough,

and sooner or later,
you'll let the team
down. Why?

Because you don't have
what it takes to be
a competitor.

You don't have the courage.

You don't have
the team spirit.

You don't
have the determination.

So in the long run,
we'll be doing better
without you than with you.

All right, gentlemen,
let's try that
formation again.

Hallett, you're
the new quarterback.

All right.
Let's go!

Hallett: Hike.

-Mr. Ellerbee?
-All right. Come on.

I want to see that
offensive line blocking
harder than that!

Mr. Ellerbee.

I think we've said
everything there is
to say, Albert.

But I've
changed my mind.

The decision is final,
Albert. Now, go home.

But I never thought
about the game
the way you said.

I didn't know
it was supposed
to mean so much.

Well, it does.

Please.
Can't you give me
another chance?

I can't give you
another chance, son.

It's up to you.

You can't pretend
to want to play football.
You have to know it.

If you can search yourself
and really know it,

then maybe you can find
a place on this team.

Can you do it?

Yes, sir.

Can you honestly tell me

you're willing to give
your all to this team?

Yes.

Because I won't take
anything less. Not from
you, not from anybody.

Mr. Ellerbee,
I swear it.

I'll work hard, and
I won't complain.

I won't quit.

All right. Get out
on that field
and play football.

Yes, sir!

Break. Go.

17!

21!

4! Hike!

It was probably
the most amazing
run of my career.

I caught the ball
in my own end zone,

and it looked
like I was barely
going to get out.

Half the Cornell team
was ready to Bury me.

So, in a purely
desperate move,

I lateraled
to my fullback.

He ran about 10 yards
and lateraled back to me.

Suddenly, I was
in the clear.

104-yard run
for a touchdown.

Oh, my! That is
just so amazing!

Well, after that,
we kept it on
as a special play.

Mostly, fundamentals
work best.

You know, grinding out
the yardage by
brute strength.

But every now and then,
we'd bring out our
old lateral play.

By the way, I'm teaching
our boys to use it.

Sort of
a secret weapon.

With the size of some
of those fellows on
the redwood falls team,

I think we'll need it.

Well, size isn't
everything, Nels.

Maybe our boys will
surprise everybody.

You sure got Albert
all fired up.

I've never seen
such a change.

Nels: You know, I noticed
that with Willie, too.

Yes.

Well, it's just
something that
happens in time.

Sort of like
what happens in war.

War?

Pete:
That's right.

New soldiers
in the beginning
usually resent

the hardship
of training
and discipline.

Then with the first
sign of battle
on the horizon,

they see that only
by depending on each
other can they win.

Hmm, that's a most
unusual comparison.

Not really.

Any group effort
with an element of danger

brings people closer
together and instills
a team spirit.

That's what happened
to Albert, Willie,

and even my own son,
I might add.

They have a team spirit,
and they really
want to win.

Football played properly,
Mrs. Ingalls, is a war.

I think Nels,
here, knows what
I'm talking about.

Those games we had
at Princeton really
were a battle,

weren't they, Nels?

Nels: Yes, indeed.

I remember my junior
year. It was...

[Harriet laughing]

Oh, Pete, I wish
I could have seen
you run over Nels!

Caroline: It was
a wonderful meal.

Well, we'll
do it again.

Oh, yes, and next
time, at our house.

Fine.

Charles: It's a date,
then. Good night.

Nels:
Good night, Pete.
Good night, Sandra.

Caroline: Sorry.

Harriet:
Oh, excuse me.
I'm sorry.

See you at the first
football game.

Charles: We'll be there!
Hope we win it!

It was a pleasant
evening, I would say.

I don't think they
were too thrilled
with that war analogy.

Well, it happens
to be true.

And that touchdown
story? Ha ha!

What about it?

Oh, lord knows
I've heard you tell
it a hundred times.

And over the years,
it's kind of grown,

with more yardage
and--ha ha!

That's just the way
it happened.

Pete, I'm only
joking with you.

Where's your
sense of humor?

I don't see
anything humorous

about a man's wife
calling him a liar.

I wasn't
doing that.

That game
was so long ago,

nobody could
remember
the exact details.

I remember it like
it was yesterday.

Fine.
Let's forget it.

This obsession of
yours with football

is getting a little
out of control, I think.

What's that
supposed to mean?

It's taken over.
That's what I mean,

blown out of
all proportion.

It's not
even a game anymore.

It's like you said--
a war,

and you're the
commanding general.

If that's the way you
see it, I can't help that.

Oh, look, if you
were the only one
involved,

I wouldn't say
a thing about this.

This is Dan
I'm worried about

and what this
could do to him.

What it could do to him
is make him a fine
football player,

maybe even a great one.

Every day,
he shows improvement.

Of course he does,
because it's the
only thing he can do

to win
your approval!

Can't you see that
Dan hates football?

That's a lie.

Oh, he hates it,
and he always has!

The only reason
he keeps trying

is because you
want it so much.

You don't even care
what he wants.

How can you say that?

The whole reason for
coming here was for Dan.

No. It was for you

in the hope that by
making Dan a big fish
in a small pond,

he'd get over his
fears and learn to
play well enough

so that by the time
he's college age,

Dan can enter Rutgers
and carry on
the great legend

of Pete ellerbee,
football hero!

Sandra,
I'm warning you.

No, Pete.
I have to warn you.

If you keep pushing Dan
to do something

he hasn't any talent
or desire for,

the boy is going
to end up hurt
in more ways than one.

I'm going to bed.

Oh, Pete!

Pete!

[Whistle blowing]

22! 16! Hike!

All right.
That's better.

Let's try it again.

[Groaning]

Coach, couldn't we
just rest for
a few minutes?

I don't understand
you people.

Your game's
getting better,

but you still don't
have any stamina.

Same old problem.

Laura--
uh, miss Wilder--

she won't ease up
on the homework
assignments.

She won't go easy
even on me, and I'm
her own brother.

She says she'll
fail anybody who
doesn't keep up.

All right. Rest up.

I think I'll have
a little talk
with Mrs. Wilder.

[Boys sighing]

Pete: Mrs. Wilder?

Mr. Ellerbee.

Sorry to disturb you.

Oh, that's all right.
Just trying to
get a head start

on grading
these test papers.

Meaning the teacher
has as much homework
as the students?

More, much more.

Well, you seem to be
a dedicated professional.

That's commendable.

Thank you.
I guess I am.

I won't keep you.
There's something I've
been meaning to discuss.

Oh?

I think you know
how hard the football
team's been working

preparing for its
first game this weekend.

Yes, I'm aware
of that.

They've made
remarkable progress,
all things considered,

except in one area.

And I'm hoping
you might be able
to help out there.

Well, if I can.
What area is that?

-Sleep.
-Sleep?

They all seem to be
suffering from
the lack of it,

and the reason given
seems to be you.

Too much homework.

Well, that is
a coincidence.

Oh?

We seem to have
identical problems.

My students,
the ones
on your team, claim

that they can't
do their homework
assignments properly

because of you.

They're just too
exhausted from
football practice.

I can understand
you might look
at it that way,

but the truth is,
for what they're
facing on Saturday,

they couldn't get
enough practice.

I see that.

And from what
they're facing in
the way of grades

at the end
of this term,

they couldn't get
enough study time.

You mean you'd
actually fail them?

No. They'd do
the failing.

Like you, I can only
teach them the best
that I can

and grade
the resulting
tests accordingly.

All I'm asking is
that you cut down
on their homework

during football season.

Mr. Ellerbee,
the students are in
this school to learn,

not to play football.

Football is
an extracurricular
activity.

Now, it only seems
logical to me

that if my homework
assignments are too
difficult for them

because of
football activities,

then football
practice should be cut
down, not homework.

I see.

Then you're not
sympathetic
with my problem.

No, I'm not.

Thanks for your time,
Mrs. Wilder.

All right.
On your feet!

Got another hour
of scrimmage!

Let's move out there!

Let's go!

When I say "let's go,"
I mean let's go.

I was just trying
to finish history.

Not during
football practice.

Now, I want you to get
out there, and I want
you to hit hard.

Yes, sir.

How are the practices
coming along?

Oh, they'll be
ready by Saturday.
I guarantee it.

Albert: 16!

24!

Hike!

Boy: You all right?

Hey, coach!
Albert's hurt!

What is it, son?

Can you sit up?

Where does it hurt?

My side.

We best get him over
to doc baker.

Definitely
no ribs broken.

Does that mean I can
still play football?

I said no ribs
were broken,

not that you couldn't
have a slight fracture
in one of them.

Doc's right.
No use taking
any chances.

Exactly.

But I'd know
that if I did.

Honest. It hardly
hurts at all.

Baker: I can only
give you my opinion.

The rest is up
to your father.

We won't stand
much chance
without Albert.

Albert: Pa, please.

It means so much
to the team.

I'll be all right.

Albert, I'm sorry. No.

Pete: Doc, what
about if you tape
him up real good?

I could do that.
It's bound
to be painful.

Albert:
But it's not.

Really, it isn't.

Please, pa.
I have to play.

Don't worry.
If he has any pain
during the game,

I'll take him
right out.

Well, it's against my
better judgment, but...

All right. Go ahead.

I'll tape him up.

Whoa.

You feel well enough
to feed the stock?

Sure. I told you
I was fine.

All right. I'll unhitch
the horses, then.

[Grunting]

[Breathing heavily]

[Playing march]

[Crowd whistling
and cheering]

Pete, just look at
the size of them!

How can you even think of
allowing Dan to face them?

Sandra, I told
you before,

I'll keep the
boy out of most
of the game.

I'll only put
him in to kick,
and that's all.

Just remember,
any little bit
of pain you have,

you're coming out.

Come on, pa.
I'll be fine.

[Whistle blows]

Well, this is it.

Good luck.

The visiting team will
call it in the air.

Heads.

Walnut grove
will receive.

[Cheering]

I can hardly wait.

Referee: OK,
take your positions.

[Whistle blows]

[Crowd cheering]

[Whistle blows]

[Whistle blows]

[Whistle blows]

Oh, my goodness!
Oh, my Willie!
They're crushing Willie!

You let him play
in this game! I told you!

You're the one
who wanted to buy
the uniforms

so he could play.

Well, but--well!

Oh, shut up!

[Whistle blows]

[Crowd groans]

[Whistle blows]

[Whistle blows]

[Whistle blowing]

[Whistle blows]

[Crowd applauds]

[Whistle blows]

Oh, for heaven's sake!
We're not going to win!

That's OK.
Don't--

[whistle blows]

[Whistle blows]

Time-out!

[Whistle]

Willie, go in there for
Clark, and tell Albert
I want to see him.

Hey, Albert, coach
wants to see you.

Yeah, coach?

Albert, what's
wrong with you?

You're not giving 100%,
and you know it.

I'm trying to, coach,
but I hurt.

You better
take me out.

Take you out?
Listen to me.

Do you think
you're the only boy

that ever played
this game
with an injury?

Of course
you're hurting, but
this is football.

That's part
of the game.

I used to play a whole
season in pain,
but I didn't quit.

I didn't ask
to be taken out,

because I knew
my teammates
depended on me.

We can win this,
Albert.

We can win it,
but not without you.

Now, use your pain.
They hurt you.
You hurt them.

Now, come on, son.
Let's get in there
and beat them.

Come on. Let's go.

Must be all right.
He's going back in.

Hey, kid, you guys play
like a bunch of girls.

Ha ha!

All right.
We've taken enough.

The hike goes
to Willie.

-Me?
-Yeah, you.

Lateral play,
left end. Let's go!

All right, now, boys,
let's show them
how to play football!

Willie: 16!

24! Hike!

Go, Albert!

-Go, Albert!
-Go, Albert!

You got it! Go! Go!

[Whistle blows]

[Brass band plays]

You did it, Albert!
That's it! You did it!

Come on, son. Come on.
We need that extra point.

Now, get in there.

16!

24! Hike!

[Whistle blows]

That's it! That's it!
Attaboy! Now we got
a football team!

[Whistle blows]

[Whistle blows]

[Crowd whistling
and cheering]

[Band playing]

[Whistle blows]

Walnut grove's ball!

[Cheering]

That bit of luck's
going to cost you.

Pete: All right, boys.
Now, let's move it
down the field!

Come on. Let's
move that ball!

[Whistle blowing]

Albert: 24!

Hike!

[Whistle blows]

Charles.

Don't worry. Pete will
take him out now.

Pete: On your feet,
Albert!

Come on. Get mean.
On your feet.

Man: Yay!

I'll get him out.

Ellerbee, I want you
to take my boy
out of there.

-What?
-Take him out.

Just when we're in
a position to score?

All right. You don't
take him out, I will.

Charles: Time-out.

[Whistle blows]

Come on, son.
Come with me.

Pa, we can win.

Maybe you can, but
they're going to have
to do it without you.

Come on.

Boy: Taking
him out?

Baker:
Let me take a look.

[Albert groans]

There's no doubt
about it this time.

Two ribs broken,
possibly more.

What kind of man
are you?

[Albert groans]

Let's get him over
to my office.

Right, doc.
Come on, son.

Dan.

I want you to take
over as quarterback.

Me?

We've got this
last chance to
win the game.

But, dad, I'm
not good enough.

You're the best
we have left.

Oh, dad, I--

I want you to make
me proud of you.

You want me to
be proud of you,
don't you?

-Yes, sir.
-Then show them.

Show them you're
Pete Ellerbee's boy.

OK, come on.

Don't send him
in there.

He'll only be in
a couple of minutes.

I don't care.
You promised.

I didn't promise
you anything.
Stop interfering.

If you don't want
to watch the game,
then go.

[Whistle blows]

OK, Dan, let's go.
Here we go, boys.

Dan: 24! Hike!

[Crowd cheering]

[Whistle blows in distance]

I wonder what's
happening?

Just relax. Let the doc
bandage you up.

You're a lucky boy.

You could have shoved
one of those broken ribs
right through a lung.

What would have
happened then?

Well, it's hard to say,

but you should have
come out of that game

when you started
hurting real bad.

Well,
I wanted to.

Then why didn't you?

The way Mr. Ellerbee
talks.

I don't know.

Makes me want to
forget everything
but winning.

Winning's
the only thing
that's important.

Baker: Well, winning's fine,
but it ain't worth much

when you're not around
for the victory party.

You mean, it could
have been that bad?

I mean, god give you pain
to make you quit whatever
it is you're doing.

It's kind of a signal.

If a person don't heed it,

then he's going to
get himself into
a heap of trouble.

There you are.

The less he moves
around, the better.

Thank you, doctor.

There you go.

Is winning
that important
to Mr. Ellerbee?

I'm afraid it is.

Can I watch the rest
of the game?

I think we've had
enough of that today.

Please, ma.

No matter what,
it still is my team.

What do you say, doctor?

It'll be all right.

Can't be but a few
minutes, anyway.

Time-out!

[Whistles]

Pete: Hey, Danny!

Come over here!

We've got time enough
for two plays.

-Are you listening to me?
-Yes, sir.

All right. You
can win this game.
It's up to you now.

You can do it.
I want you to fake
the lateral this time

and run up the middle.

They'll be playing
Willie to run wide.

Remember, make me proud.
Now, get in there. Come on.

[Applause]

Pete: Here we go.
Come on. Let's go.

Pete: OK! Come on.

[Whistle blows]

13!

20!

6! Hike!

Run, Dan! Run!

[Whistle blows]

He almost made it.

You still got a chance.
He's down to the 5.

All right, boys!
This is it.
The last play!

Now, come on. Here we go!
We can win this game!

Let's get them!

Man: Come on, boys.
Here we go.

[All shouting indistinctly]

[Bang]

[Applause]

You got nothing to
be ashamed of. You
played a good game.

Albert: Great game.
Really good!

I wish I could have
played--what happened?

Pete: Team, over here.
Team, over here.

Albert: We were so close.

We could have won it.
Just by that much...

Pete: All right.
Quiet down.

I said, quiet.

No game you lose
is a good game.

You could have won
that game, but you didn't
want it bad enough.

Well, I'm going to fix that.

I'm going to work you boys
so hard this week,

you'll think this game
was a picnic.

Sure you don't
want some soup?

I'll bring it up.

I don't want
to play anymore.

I never wanted to play
in the first place.

I know.

I did my best
today. I did.

I can't be what
he wants me to be.

I want him to
love me, but I--

shh.

Shh.
It's all right.

He's gone off to sleep.

I would have won today
if I hadn't lost
that Ingalls boy.

We were that close.

You lost
Dan today, too.

He doesn't want
to play football
anymore.

Oh, don't be silly.
He just has a few
bumps and bruises.

He'll be all right.

He just needs to
toughen up, that's all.

That's not
what he needs.

Well, I think his coach
would know more about
that than his mother.

He doesn't need
a coach.

He needs a father!

He needs a man to
hold him and to love
him once in a while.

Well, you make
a sissy out of him
if you want to.

I'm going to
make him a man.

I don't believe
I'm hearing this!

What does it take to
make you understand?

It's you that
doesn't understand,
and you never will.

Oh, what am I supposed
to understand, that
this makes a man?

Or these? Or these?

Sandra, stop it.

I said, "stop it"!

Hurting people
doesn't make
you a man!

Knowing how to
love them does!

If the boy doesn't
want to play football,
he doesn't have to.

He was only in today
because the Ingalls
boy got hurt.

Now, there's
a football player.

I could make something
out of that boy.

He's got guts.

Yeah.

I could make something
out of that boy.

All right. Get your
shoulders into it.

That's it. Now
let's run it again.

Hi, Mr. Ellerbee.

Well, well. You're
a welcome sight.
How are your ribs?

Oh, still real sore,

but the doctor says
they'll be good as new
in a month or so.

Good. Good. Might mean
you'll be able to play
in the last game,

maybe the last two.

No, sir,
I don't think so.

Well, it depends on
what your doctor
says, of course.

Not even then.

That's what I
came to tell you.

Oh?

Yes, sir.

I don't mean to say
I didn't appreciate playing.

All the things
you taught me--
team spirit,

needing to win,
not giving up.

They're all true,
you know, Albert.

I guess they are,

but you see, sir.
I plan to grow up
to be a doctor,

not a football player,

and I do need
my studies.

And I just can't afford
all the time it takes
to practice.

You mean, football
isn't important
enough to you?

Not that important.

It's just a game to me,

and games are fun.

Football
used to be fun.

Maybe we lost all
but one game last year,
but it was still fun.

Mr. Ellerbee, playing
this way just isn't fun.

Well, good luck
with the team.

All right.
Practice is over.

You've had
enough for today.

Willie: Coach,
where are you going?

I'm going home
to talk to my son.

[Brass band playing
on soundtrack]

Laura, voice-over:
Mr. Ellerbee cut
the practice sessions

in half the rest
of the season,

and my students'
grades improved.

The walnut grove
football team

finished with a record
of 2 wins and 6 losses,

but they had fun.