Original subtitles

SAMMY OVER RADIO: This is Slammin' Sammy Meade, folks,

and Panther football is just five days away,

and you know what that means. Time to start talking.

Coach Eric Taylor, misunderstood genius or one-hit wonder?

John from Seven Lakes, you're on. Come on, what do you got?

JOHN: I tell you, Sammy, I was all for bringing Taylor back from TMU

even though he abandoned us. Yeah.

But we all saw what happened,

which was, Smash Williams got injured.

And the guy had no backup plan. Zero.

I honestly don't see what a more practical car is than a 2002 Celica.

TAMI: The sprinkler's on!

It's not about the Celica.

I know it's a practical car.

It's about the fact that I can't have you changing your classes.

You need to be in Dr. Wells' English class. Period.

Mom, Mrs. Oddmark only put 12,000 miles on the car.

And they were all to church, so technically they're all Christian miles.

I don't really care what kind of miles they are.

You act as though I'm dropping out of school.

She's not listening to me. I just want to get a job.

I'm taking the same amount of classes in fewer hours.

I'm just making my time more efficient.

It's not efficient for you to take a class with a teacher who is inferior.

You know what? It'd be really nice if people didn't throw their trash in my car.

'Cause this is my car.

And second of all, Principal Taylor, you look hot.

Thank you. Thank you. Yes, ma'am.

TAMI: I've got little butterflies in my stomach.

REPORTER: Coach Taylor!

Coach Taylor, the problem remains,

your team imploded in last year's playoffs when Smash Williams hurt his knee.

[GRUNTING]

Again, if we couldn't win without him then,

how can we win now that he's graduated?

The team's got a lot of spirit. Team's doing just fine.

Very solid, very solid.

Go, go, go, go! Go! Get your ass up!

Hut!

You have Tim Riggins stepping into Smash Williams' crucial role at tailback.

What if he decides to take off to Mexico like he did last year?

Yes, Tim Riggins, is he focused?

[SHOUTING]

Yeah!

[VOMITING]

One thing I can guarantee about Tim Riggins

is that he is focused on football and only football.

How are Riggins and Saracen? How are they gelling?

Just keep running for the ball. I'm putting the ball where you got to be.

Tim and Matt are like brothers.

How about that new quarterback from Dallas?

You know, J.D. McCoy? McCoy?

There's rumors that he may replace Saracen.

Hey.

MAN: Nice snag, come up.

J.D. McCoy is a freshman.

Yeah, but he broke State records when he was in middle school.

And since you're in a rebuilding year anyway, it makes...

We're not in a rebuilding year.

No, we're not in a rebuilding year.

So you're saying Matt Saracen's your man?

That is very much what I'm saying.

Matt Saracen, whether he's on the field or off the field,

whatever you throw at that young man, he can handle.

I can't get this knot out of my shoe, okay? Can we just...

LANDRY: Matt, forget about it. You're not gonna do it.

You've been working on it all summer. Let's go.

TYRA: Take your time, y'all! Seriously.

Look, my point is that this is your senior year,

and after this, it's all just... It's all just downhill.

I mean, right, Tyra? Doesn't he need to soak up every second of this?

Look, this year is all about doing well so I can get out of Dillon forever.

That's all I care about.

Baby, that's not the point of what I'm...

Don't call me that.

What's going on with y'all two now?

We broke up. Taking a break.

We broke up.

COACH: Three steps back, watch your shoulders. Ear high. Left.

Is that... Is that J.D.

Get your shoulder rotation... LANDRY: Looks like the plot just thickened, man.

Let's just go to the pep rally.

[CHEERING]

Don't even worry about that two-game rumor deal.

What two-game rumor?

I got it under control.

I want to ask all of you

only one question.

You ready for Friday night?

[ALL CHEERING]

Here are your 2008 Dillon Panthers.

Lyla, rise and shine, baby.

I've made your favorite. Pegs and eggs.

And chocolate-chip pancakes.

Lyla.

Dad, I'm not seven anymore.

I know. Okay.

But I'm just so happy you're here.

It's first day of school and you're a senior,

and you can go to any college you want to, and I'm proud of you,

and you're here with me and not with Mom in Northern California

with some vegetarian, raising figs. I'm just...

It's a great day, baby! Let's go!

I'll be out in five. All right.

[DOOR OPENING]

[CHUCKLES]

Is there enough pegs and eggs for me? [LAUGHING] Shut up.

I really need to get a workout before breakfast.

You know what?

No! No! No! What are you gonna do? Come on.

TAYLOR: Let's go!

Well, hell, you cut off two tenths of a second.

Two tenths? Two tenths.

Let's call Sammy Meade.

Tell him I'll be able to run in Buddy Garrity's 5K charity race this year.

Listen to me. You go see that doctor tomorrow,

tell him I want to start doing some side-to-side on that knee.

Find out what he has to say. Understand? Coach.

Why are you spending all this time on me?

I mean, I graduated, I'm not your problem anymore.

The reason I'm spending all this time on you

is because I wanna get you on a team and into college

so I don't have to see your ugly face over at the Alamo Freeze anymore.

You call me after you see that doctor.

Yes, sir. All right.

Don't forget to pick up those cones!

Good morning.

Good to see y'all. Yeah, here we go.

Hey, Mrs. Taylor. Hey, great to see you this year.

Hey, Principal T. Cute haircut!

Hi, Tyra. Congratulations.

Thank you. It's gonna be a great year.

Good luck. For you!

You're gonna have a good day. Thank you.

Hi, honey, how... Principal Taylor?

Hello, Vice-Principal Trucks, how are you this morning?

Good morning. The air conditioning system's down

and we have 34 students on Cortese Avenue

that have been abandoned because there was no room on the school bus.

Oh, good Lord. All right, we need to get those students taken care of...

I've borrowed the team buses,

I put a request into the district for three additional buses.

Hopefully, that will get us one.

Okay, all right, so they're gonna be taken care of, those kids?

Yes. All right, great. What about the AC?

We put a Band-Aid on it and pray, like we always have.

All right. Thank you. Thank you for dealing with that.

Don't forget the budget's due by the end of the week.

Yes. I'm collecting all the data for that. Have a great day.

Hi.

[SIGHS] That was good.

Hey, how are you?

Hey, Tim. Hey.

I guess I lost the lottery. I'm your rally girl this year.

Damn!

Uh, Lyla, rally girl. Hi.

Hey, Lyla. So are you two together?

Um... No.

No, we're just friends. We're buddies. Good buddies.

Strong friends. Yeah. Good friends. Buddies.

Okay.

Anyway, Tim, anything you need, anytime you want it.

Well.

Well, that's good, I think we've spent enough time in school today.

I say we go up to the roof and see what happens.

What about homeroom?

What about homeroom?

MAN: Go, go, go!

Inside shoulder. Inside shoulder.

Set your feet, J.D. Set your feet.

All right, pick them up! Pick them up! Knees up!

McCoy is looking good, Coach.

We'll see what happens when the marbles drop.

White, 9!

White, 9! Hut!

TAYLOR: Matt, what the hell are you doing? Get the ball!

Come on, Matt, you got to make it straight! Let's go!

I'd love to see my boy get some reps out there.

Oh, yeah, that'll happen.

Let's go! Get your head in the game, let's go.

Get on the ball! Riggins!

Who the hell is that up there, talking to him?

That's J.D. McCoy's daddy.

Big beer distributor. Call him the Stud of Suds.

Look at old Buddy sucking up, up there.

[CHUCKLES] Hey, Buddy!

Let's go, gentlemen!

What schools were you thinking of applying to?

Oh, I was thinking of U.T. Austin,

TMU, Southern Methodist, maybe A&M.

I see.

[CLEARS THROAT] Tyra,

you really think that sounds realistic?

Well... Okay, I know A&M is a long shot, but...

You have a 2.6 GPA.

There is no way any of those schools that you just mentioned

are going to seriously consider...

But you got to look at my progress.

I mean, my grades from last year have radically improved.

I know, but your 1 .9 Freshman year still counts. It all counts.

I just don't want you to waste your time... Mrs. Taylor, she told me...

Miss Collette, state schools are a pipe dream.

You need to start thinking about other options.

Technical colleges, junior colleges.

Like Dillon Tech?

Don't look down on Dillon Tech. It's a good option. It's...

It's a realistic option.

Whoa! Burning the midnight oil, are you?

Buddy, how you doing?

T. Tami, what are you doing, making some big power moves?

Oh, yeah, it's awfully glamorous.

Right now, I'm trying to decide

if we can afford chalk or soap this year.

[CHUCKLES] Wish I was kidding.

T. Tami, I'm here to cheer you up.

You always cheer me up. I got just two words for you.

What? Jumbotron.

Jumbotron? [SELF-CONTENTEDLY] Mmm-hmm.

Have you ever seen two people engaged on a Jumbotron

at a football game? I mean, just think about it.

Love and football are the two greatest things in the world.

You put the two together, put it on a 30-foot Mitsubishi screen,

and it's pure nirvana.

[GASPS]

That's a big check! Yes, ma'am.

Oh, my. We...

We have lost four teachers to budget cuts this year.

We need a Jumbotron, you think?

Well, no, Tami, we don't need one.

But we want one.

And we're gonna have one because of that.

And you're gonna get all the credit.

[SCOFFS]

That's a lot of zeros right there, is what that is.

Yes, it is.

You and I are gonna make a beautiful team together, T. Tami.

[UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]

For six weeks, it's great.

Great sex, great everything, you know?

Then we go to school, it's like a... It's like a 180.

Sounds to me, Tim, like you got a problem.

It's what it sounds like.

Now, I told you from day one that Lyla Garrity was never gonna take you seriously.

One of these days, you're gonna stop with all this screwing around

and find you the love of a good woman.

Like I got with Mindy.

Yeah, Billy, you got a real fairy tale going on right now.

That's a job, Tim.

You think I give a crap

that my girlfriend's giving some 50-year-old fatass trucker a lap dance?

Hey! Hey, Mind! I love you, baby!

Nuh-uh, monkey. I love you.

See? You see that, Tim?

Hey, that's public. Look at me.

That's love.

The whole Lyla thing, you...

She went to bed with Jesus,

and woke up with you.

Jesus, you.

You are a rebound from Jesus.

No, I'm not a rebound.

You're a summer fling, Tim.

I don't believe that.

The A.C.L. is healing nicely.

The muscles surrounding your knee are getting stronger, which is great.

Looks like you are on your way to a full recovery.

Got yourself a clean bill of health, son.

That's wonderful, ain't that wonderful?

He still gonna get that scholarship, I know it. Mom.

I'm just trying to think positive...

I lost the scholarship. They gave it away.

Well, they said for you to contact them...

The semester started. Kickoffs this week. I missed the year.

And Dr. Rabinow, if everything's back to normal,

why am I still half a second slow on the 40 than I was before the injury?

Well, Smash, your progress has been great.

But there's no guarantee that you'll regain the same speed you had pre-injury.

So you're saying this is the fastest I'm gonna get?

Possibly.

Look, you need to be thankful for the progress that you've made so far.

And keep working at it, and that's all you can do.

Well? Hold on one second. I'm almost done.

Well, it's taking you long enough.

Well, there's a lot of calculations...

Landry, honey? Did you get to fix that toilet? I really got to go.

Yeah, I fixed it, but y'all are gonna have to start flushing gently.

And tell Mindy to stop putting so much toilet paper in it.

You are so smart, thank you, you angel.

Isn't he fantastic? Mom, you're embarrassing me.

Thank you, sweetheart. You have fun.

You see something? Um...

If I carry the one...

What?

Okay, so...

In order for you to get a 3.5 GPA overall, you're gonna need to get

like a 6.4 GPA this year,

which is gonna be tough.

I just wanted to say I'm so honored to be here with you all this year, and...

And I'm here to make your jobs easier.

I'm here to make us all the best educators we can be.

So please, I want open dialogue, I want you all to speak up,

and I wanna open the floor right now,

for questions or comments or concerns or anything, and...

Anybody. I'd love to hear.

Bill.

Any chance the four teachers that got laid off are gonna return? Be replaced?

Well, you know, we're working through the budget right now.

It's tricky, that's gonna be a tricky one,

and I know it's gonna weigh on each and every one of you,

'cause we're all gonna... So we're not even gonna get a Spanish teacher

that actually speaks Spanish? WOMAN: How about supplies?

I've been teaching out of the same history book for 15 years.

You know, I do have textbooks in the budget.

Did you know a lot of us buy our own supplies?

WOMAN: Yes. MAN: It's true.

I'll start making a list. I'll at least try to get...

WOMAN: How about just getting us some paper?

ALL: All right! Let's go!

MAN: What's your read, Matt? Black eight!

Black eight, hut!

Throw the ball! Throw the ball!

Get rid of it!

Saracen, Riggins, get over here! Come here!

Let's go, Riggins! Let's go!

Is there something going on I need to know about?

Let me tell you two something, you better get it together right now.

'Cause if you don't, I will replace you, I promise you that.

You got me?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Make it work.

Let's go out there and run it the right way. Let's go.

Let's go. MAN: Come on, let's move it! Look alive! Let's go!

[ELECTRONIC CLASSICAL MUSIC JINGLE PLAYING]

What the hell is that? What the hell is that?

It's smoothies. J.D. McCoy's daddy bought us all smoothies.

Not for now, for after the practice, when we're done.

TAYLOR: Smoothies?

Yeah, those frosty, tangy things with the non-fat yogurt...

I know what the hell a smoothie is.

Tell him to get the hell off the field.

You mean for good, or to come back later? Or what?

I mean, tell him we don't need any damn smoothies.

All right... All right, all right.

Get that pink-ass truck off the field! Just get him out of here!

[PLAYERS GROANING] Just move it off the premises! Let's go!

Damn! I wanted a smoothie, man.

What was that, Charles?

What did you say? You want a smoothie?

Yes. You know what? I'd like a smoothie too, Charles.

It'd be good, wouldn't it?

But you know why I'm not gonna have a smoothie, Charles?

'Cause I don't feel like I deserve a smoothie!

Does anybody else out here feel like you deserve a smoothie?

I'll tell you what, we win Friday night,

and you can have all the damn smoothies you want, gentlemen.

Let's go!

Tyra! Hey!

Hey, is everything okay? Fine.

Where are you going? Ditching class.

Wait a minute. Uh-uh. No, you're not ditching class.

Come here. What are you doing? You're not ditching class.

It's your senior year. After all we've talked about...

Why? Why? So I can get into Dillon Tech?

What do you mean? What are you talking about?

Well, that's the only college I'm gonna be able to get into, isn't that right?

Wait a minute, hon. Hold on. Hold on. No.

You filled my head with all of these possibilities, okay?

What are you talking about?

TMU, University of Texas. That's right.

Yeah, but none of that is possible with my grades, is it?

It's not just about grades. Oh, it's not just about grades?

The average student getting into UT has a 3.8, TMU is 3.7.

Well, so what? I never said it was gonna be easy.

But you never said it was gonna be impossible.

I've worked my ass off these last two years.

I know!

You know, Mr. Trucks, he had a good point.

I got to be more realistic.

Wait a minute, honey... Put my time to better use.

No, ma'am!

No, ma'am. You come back here right now. Tyra!

You come back here right now!

Girl! Listen! After all we've been through.

Don't do this!

Tyra, don't do it.

Julie, let's go!

Here.

Wow. Eggs. What's the occasion?

The occasion is, your mother wants you to start eating breakfast

because it's the most important meal of the day, that's what the occasion is.

Dad, I only eat free-range eggs.

That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Eat your eggs.

So you got dumped with me and Gracie again?

No, your mother had to deal with an urgent air-conditioning situation.

You know if I had my own car,

I could drop Gracie off in the morning

and pick her up at night.

Well, you don't have you own car. Sit down, eat your eggs. We'll be late.

Well, I can fix my schedule right, okay?

So Mom wanted me to take an AP English class,

and Mr. Munios is teaching AP English class in third period,

so I could take seventh and eighth period free,

and then take social studies during fifth period as an independent study.

Uh-huh.

And today is the last day I can make schedule changes,

so I was hoping you could sign.

[CHUCKLING] Sign? Honey, I'm not gonna sign off on anything without your mom's permission.

Dad, please. I've been trying to get her all week, she's been so busy.

Hang on. I know. Sorry. I can't do that.

Is it something you want me to do?

You want me to get a job, right?

You want me to become more responsible, join the work force,

set goals for myself, become an adult, become independent, right?

Please?

Sit down, eat your eggs and I'll look at it.

She's throwing riddles at me, Williams.

What do I do?

This is in exchange for shutting up about Lyla.

All right? All right.

I heard you're playing my old position.

How's life at tailback?

You want the truth?

I'd go back to fullback in a heartbeat.

I got Coach, I got 7 riding my ass every single day

like I asked for the gig.

And you're gonna like this one,

I'm reminded every single day I'm out there I'm no Smash Williams.

We in the same boat, Rigg.

I've just been told I'm not Smash Williams, either.

What do you mean? The knee.

I'm slow.

Doctor said I'm as good as done, but Coach thinks I should keep trying.

Okay, wait.

Doctor says you can't do it, right?

Right?

[SCOFFS]

What's the issue?

That's a very good question.

Your love line is so deep.

Oh, yeah, it is.

You know what that means, right? No.

It means you're, like, really good in bed.

Yeah, you know, I've actually heard all the stories about you, Tim.

TIM: Good ones or what? Yeah.

But, I mean, I've never gotten to, like, experience it for myself.

No, you haven't. Get off him, Jolene.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Jolene Pinchel, Tim? Really?

Well, I mean...

Why is it the minute you walk into this school

you turn into some dumb jock?

What is the problem with being a Panther, now?

Everything! Everything! And everyone looks at you

as, like, the pinnacle of the dumbest part of it.

And you just totally play into it.

I've no idea what you're talking about.

Really? Really?

You know what the problem really is, is that you don't take me seriously.

[SCOFFS] It's like I'm some fling to you.

You're not a fling.

Okay, then what's the problem?

Shoot. Okay. You wanna know what the problem is, Tim?

You scare me.

I scare you? Yeah. You scare me.

You're Tim Riggins.

You show up drunk to school. You don't do your...

You have rally girls do your homework for you. You don't go to class. You...

Your relationships last about 20 minutes.

How am I supposed to take you seriously

if you don't take yourself seriously?

[SIGHS]

Hey, Coach.

I'm sorry to barge in on you, I don't mean to bother you.

But you know, I had to stop by and apologize for those smoothies the other day.

'Cause that was one dumb-ass move.

You know, I heard on the radio, record high,

so I figured I'd make this big gesture,

and now you must think I'm just one of those in-your-face football dads now.

So, sorry,

that is my apology.

I can't take that. Oh, come on.

That's a nice bottle of Scotch, and those are two Cuban cigars.

So if I were you, I would take those.

I'm sure they are, but I can't take that.

Can I tell you what I hate?

I hate all those bozos on the radio clamoring for your job.

All those people that say you made a mistake

building an offense around Smash Williams.

Now, where were those people

when you won the state championship with that strategy? Please!

If you have a star like Smash,

you build a team around him. Period.

We just need a couple of wins.

That'll shut them up.

It probably won't, but it's a start.

And what you did with Matt Saracen,

that truly amazes me.

Well, he's a great talent.

That's the thing. He is not a great talent.

He is an average talent.

He is 5'9", he runs a 4'7, 9'40,

and he has a mediocre arm at best.

Only a great coach like you could've ever made it to State with him.

I don't know about that. I do.

That's why I'm here, Coach.

My boy, J.D.

He's the real deal.

He is a great quarterback, and I want him mentored by a great coach.

And that is why I moved my family to Dillon, Texas.

Sir, are you telling me that you moved down here from Dallas

just for this football team? For you, sir.

For you.

You are looking at the next Jason Street.

You got a franchise sitting right under your nose.

All you gotta do is sniff.

[CHUCKLES]

Anyway... I can't take these.

Well now, a gift given is a gift given.

If you care to pass it on to somebody else, be my guest.

I'm looking forward to Friday.

Hope J.D. gets some snaps.

[DOOR OPENS]

Hey. TAMI: Hey.

It's 9:45. I know. I had to stay

and make photocopies of the new budget for the whole staff

because the district won't let us pay secretaries overtime.

And you know what else? Miss Walker quit.

'Cause she's going to St. Matthews, 'cause at St. Matthews,

they have smaller classes and they have resources.

So that's where she's going.

[SIGHS]

Wow.

I feel like an idiot.

I thought I was gonna go in there with all my great ideas, and...

They don't need my great ideas. They just need money, that's all they need.

Don't do that.

Come here. You'll be all right. It'll be all right.

Mmm-hmm.

It's early on.

Five years from now, you'll look back and laugh on it.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

[LAUGHING]

Come on. You're just trying to get laid.

[WHISPERING] It's 9:45.

Honey...

Is this Julie's new schedule?

Mmm-hmm.

Oh, shoot.

She's in stupid Munios's English AP class.

I signed it. It's all right. I signed it for her.

What are you talking about?

You did not tell her that was all right.

That was the whole conversation,

is that she needs to take AP English...

She is taking an AP English class.

With Dr. Wells. Julie!

Should I not have signed it for her?

Julie.

She needed someone to sign the piece of paper

'cause she was going to school that morning and she couldn't get in touch with you.

She said she's been trying to talk to you about it and she can't,

so I signed it for her. Honey, we're gonna have to change the schedule.

Well, we can't change it. Dad already signed off on it.

Did you not understand the part where I said

that you needed to be in Dr. Wells' English class, no matter what?

Mom, they are both AP English teachers, correct?

That is correct. But as you well know,

Dr. Wells is a much more experienced, much better teacher.

It's all taken care of, and yesterday was the last day you could change it.

That's why I signed it.

Well, you know what's a great thing?

The great thing is, I'm the principal.

And that's something I can change. So that's gonna be changed, okay?

Mom, you can't do... End of discussion!

Why are you getting so mad?

There is a baby asleep in this house. Don't you raise your voices.

Did you know you're supposed...

That is the end of the discussion!

Come here.

Did you know you weren't supposed to be in Munios's class?

I'm asking.

When you see that car in our driveway, you're gonna be 25.

[SINGING COUNTRY MUSIC]

You know what we're looking at right now?

Yeah, a bunch of white people that can't dance

and need to lose a lot of weight.

My future, Landry. Right there, right in front of me.

I'm gonna become my sister, then my momma.

Why'd I think I'd be any different, you know?

[MUSIC STOPS] Stop. Stop!

Shop! Just... Come on. Shh.

[SHUSHING] This guy seems like he's got something to say.

[INDISTINCT] Let's listen him out.

Shut your mouth! MAN: Come on!

Mindy Collette.

I know we've only been dating for five weeks,

and, you know, when we started dating, I saw a future for you

and me here...

Here in Dillon, Texas,

I see you and me having, like, three or four little Mindys and Billys running around,

maybe... Maybe less. But, uh...

I humble myself here at Seven Señoritas Cantina,

and I ask you, will you marry me?

Will you spend the rest of your life with me?

[LAUGHING]

Yes!

[CHEERING]

[LIVELY MUSIC PLAYING]

Oh. Honey, honey, don't be blue.

There's a man for you in Dillon, right here, maybe in this room.

I gotta sit down.

[KNOCKING AT DOOR]

Hey, honey.

Billy Riggins just proposed to my sister.

Congratulations. No, no. It's not worth congratulating.

They're just gonna have a kid and get divorced,

and Mindy's gonna spend the rest of her life going after Billy for child support.

Look, I love my sister. I do.

And I want her to be happy, and I hope she will be.

But I don't wanna end up like her.

And the thing is, is that I am good at math. I'm good with numbers.

I would be great at business, and, you know,

I want that for myself. I want that so badly.

I'd do anything to go to college.

But, see, the thing is, Vice-Principal Trucks, he thinks I'm a moron.

And I know that you're the principal now,

and I'm so proud of you for that,

and I know you're super busy, but...

I need your help.

Come on in, honey. Come on. Come on.

TAYLOR: You're late.

You're not dressed.

What's going on?

I'm not gonna do this anymore, Coach T.

Well, you're not gonna do what?

Pretend like I got a shot in hell of getting a scholarship,

or playing football again. Look, it's over.

You let me tell you something...

Look, I appreciate everything you've been doing,

but the truth is, I'm never gonna be who I was.

I gotta start living my life as Brian.

I'm never gonna be Smash again.

All right, Brian. It's your decision.

Thanks for everything, Coach.

I had the best time of my life on this field.

Miss Collette. Here's my application for the University of Texas.

I'd appreciate your thoughts on it.

Also, I'm gonna be running for Student Council President.

Here is my petition with all my signatures.

One more thing.

Don't tell me that I can't get into college

ever again.

If I don't get in, then you can call me an idiot.

But I don't wanna hear that from you again.

See, I don't accept that fate for myself,

and I'm gonna do everything in my power to avoid it.

[KNOCKING]

Hey, hon.

You were right, about the whole Julie thing.

I should have spoken to you about that beforehand.

Well, I think that's true,

you know, I wouldn't have done that myself, the way you did,

but I know she needed to have more of a conversation,

I know I was not available for that...

[SIGHS]

Thank you for the apology.

I didn't want you to be mad at me on big opening night.

I can never be mad at my wife.

It's that damn principal.

All right. She's got to get back to work.

All right. See? I'm not mad at you.

Is that a new computer? Mmm-hmm.

Didn't y'all just get new computers the year before...

Couple years ago. These are networked so we can communicate in-house.

How nice for you.

How is it so cool in here?

It feels like it's 68 degrees.

It's the way I like it.

[MATTER-OF-FACTLY] It's the way I like it.

[SCOFFING]

[FANS CHEERING]

ALBRIGHT: The long dry season is over, folks.

We are finally back under the lights,

and we are ready to play some football.

Set!

Matt Saracen lines up on the center.

He steps back and pitches it to Riggins.

Riggins has it. He's got room!

He cuts up the middle. Oh, my! He runs through the secondary,

puts his shoulder down,

and Riggins has smashed his way through the secondary

and the Dillon Panthers are in the red zone, play one.

Whoo-ee, what a start.

Saracen back.

He options to Riggins. He cuts inside.

Big stiff arm. He clears another tackle.

Riggins running like a man possessed! He's in the barn, folks!

Touchdown, Panthers!

Saracen over the ball.

PLAYER: Hut!

Here's the snap. He brings it back...

Whoa! Saracen, he's gonna keep it!

Nice little move on the inside, he's picked up some blockers.

And it is a touchdown for Matt Saracen!

It's a hand-off to Riggins, up the middle. He's got one man to beat!

Oh, and he's airborne! Touchdown, Tim Riggins!

He ain't no Smash Williams, folks,

but Tim Riggins is smashing everything in his path.

It's a brand new year for the Dillon Panthers,

and Coach Taylor is putting on a clinic here tonight.

Coach Taylor is taking out his starting backfield.

They've done an absolutely outstanding job tonight.

And here he comes, folks. J.D. "Young Gun" McCoy, the phenom from Big D.

CROWD: [CHANTING] Go, Panthers, go! Go, Panthers, go!

J.D. takes the snap.

McCoy is back to pass. He sets up, and he fires.

Oh! He throws a strike and completion up the middle.

Good job! Yeah!

McCoy is really looking sharp here in these closing minutes.

Hut!

Oh, my God! A perfect pass!

Just sailed on the wings of angels into the receiver's hands.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is Jason Street reincarnated.

That boy can throw a football!

[BAND PLAYING UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC]

It's completely digital.

It's got 7.1 surround sound.

It is just a beautiful Jumbotron, I'm telling you.

Tami Taylor is the brain child behind all of this.

I think we should give her the credit.

The Jumbotron! Oh, the Jumbotron!

It is gonna bring us national attention, too. We're talking ESPN, baby.

Can I talk to you for a quick sec?

Absolutely.

All right. Excuse me.

You know what? I can't stop worrying about all the things that the school needs.

You know, I mean, the school needs basic, basic things.

Like teachers, for one. Yeah.

You know, and pencils, and chalk, and textbooks, and...

I mean, we need those things. I know.

I'm totally supportive of the academics.

Last year, we did the bake sale, we did the cake sell.

You know, we did I think $3,000 on that Howdy Doody thing.

We can do that again... Buddy, Buddy.

I have decided,

I'm going to reallocate the Jumbotron funds to academics.

No, wait, Tami, the funds have been earmarked...

I've checked with the district. It turns out, according to the bylaws,

the principal has the final jurisdiction over the allocation of funds.

In the past, the way we've always done it...

Well, Buddy, this year, it's gonna be different.

I'm sorry.

See you. Bye.

Hey. Hey.

How are you? Good.

Two things. Thank you

for kind of kicking my ass in gear, 'cause I know I needed it.

And I kind of owe tonight to you.

And two,

I'm okay if you don't tell anyone about us.

As long as this works with you.

Wow.

All right.

LYLA: Tim. Yeah?

Hi, Steve. How are you doing?

Hey, Coach. Nice win. Congratulations.

Thanks for putting my boy in there.

Well, you know what, we always give the other boys a chance,

once we got one in the bag.

Well, I appreciate it.

You're very welcome. All right.

Coach? Good job.

[AUDIENCE CHEERING]

Thank you, everybody! Without further ado,

ladies and gentlemen,

great moments of Panthers play!

[MARTIAL MUSIC PLAYING]

[BURST OF APPLAUSE]

Yeah! Smash!

Hey.

Get in.

You realize this is the whitest sport in history, right?

It's yours.

My point, Coach.

[PANTING]

You know what? You wanna work at the Alamo Freeze?

I don't give a damn. You go ahead, you work at the Alamo Freeze.

But look me in the eye and you tell me you don't wanna play football.

I didn't say I didn't want to, I said I can't.

I don't buy that crap.

Look, I lost my scholarship,

I'm slow,

and no school wants me.

How's that?

Look, man. I don't know how it works.

Maybe you have to change your game.

Humble yourself. I don't know.

But I can promise you this.

We can figure it out.

If you want this, I will help you get it.

Into college, and playing football again.

And I can promise you I won't stop until you get there.

Can I ask you why this means so much to you?

'Cause I need something good to happen.

[GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

There is nothing wrong with your knee.

Man, if you want this, it is waiting for you.

I can't want it for you.