02x06 - BEAT L.A.

[bunniefuu]

[muffled cheering]

["Let's Dance" by
David Bowie playing]

♪ Ah... ♪

♪ Ah... ♪

[players inaudible]

♪♪

♪ Let's dance ♪

♪ Put on your red shoes... ♪

Earvin "Magic" Johnson: Woo!

Two m*therf*cking rings!

Best believe this
sh*t ain't no fluke!

All the work. All the pain.

All the flights and
time away from family.

[inaudible dialogue]

Magic: It's wild.

The love. The glory.

Quiet that voice
saying you can't do it.

That somebody else better.

f*ck that voice.

I'm all of that. We all of that.

Hearing me a new voice.

One that say, "I
ain't never losing."

On top of the world, and that
there's where I'm gonna stay.

♪ Ah... ♪

♪ Ah... ♪

[distant sirens wailing]

["My Favorite Mutiny"
by The Coup playing]

♪♪

♪ There it is ♪

♪ Yeah, ah, uh ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Okay ♪

♪ Check it out ♪

♪ Death to the pigs is
my basic statement ♪

♪ I spit street stories
'til I taste the pavement ♪

♪ Tryin' to stay out the pen
where we face enslavement ♪

♪ Had a foolproof hustle 'til
they traced the payments ♪

♪ I was grippin' my palm
around some shitty rum ♪

♪ Tryin' to find
psalm number 151 ♪

♪ To forget what I'm owed,
as I clutch the commode ♪

♪ I read "Put down the bottle
and come get the g*n" ♪

♪ Let's get off the chain like
Kunta Kinte with a MAC-10 ♪

♪ They want us gone like
a dollar in a crack den ♪

♪ Steadily subtractin'
seeds and stems ♪

♪ Mind cloudy through
the wheeze and phlegm ♪

♪ Numbin' my brain off of
that and the Jesus hymns ♪

♪ If we waiting for the time
to fight, these is thems ♪

♪ Tellin' us to relax
while they ease it in ♪

♪ We gettin greased again ♪

♪ The truth I write is so cold ♪

♪ It'd freeze my pen ♪

♪ I'm Boots Riley it's
a pleasure to meet you ♪

♪ Never let they punk
a*s ever defeat you ♪

♪ They got us on the corner
wearin' pleather and see-thru ♪

♪ All y'all's gold mines,
they wanna deplete you ♪

♪ I ain't just finna rap on the
track, I finna clap on 'em back ♪

♪ And it's been
stackin' to that ♪

♪ 500 years before Iceberg
ever leaned back in the 'lac ♪

♪ Before they told Rosa
"Black in the back" ♪

♪ Before the CIA told Ricky
Ross to put crack in a sack ♪

♪ And Gil Scott traded
rappin' for smack ♪

♪ This beat alone should
get platinum plaques ♪

♪ I'd rather see a million
of us ecstatic to scrap ♪

♪ 'Cause if we bappin' 'em
back we automatically stack ♪

♪ vocalizing ♪

[turntable scratching]

♪♪♪

-Narrator: Women were the same...
-[video game beeping]

Chick Hearn: Hello,
everybody. I'm Chick Hearn,

here at the Spectrum
in Philadelphia,

where the Lakers square off
against the Philadelphia 76ers

yet again.

♪♪

If they can win, they
will be the first team

in 14 years to
repeat as champions.

A feat, I might add,
not accomplished

since the Boston
Celtics in 1969.

- That was a great team, too.
- They were a pretty good team.

I think we've got a
better one, my friend.

Yep. Larry couldn't get it
done, so it's Sixers again.

Good news is we
did done it before.

Twice. [laughs] Third
time's the charm, baby.

Okay. Who trying to
win the championship?

[excited chatter]

Players: Let's go! Let's go!

- Hey! Hey!
- [yelling]

[whistles] Hey! What is
this, a f*ck' party?

These guys are hungry!
They want revenge!

Don't take them light, okay?
This is not a f*ck' party.

I don't wanna see anyone
gettin' too comfortable.

These guys are not f*ck'
around, you hear me?

They mean business.
Let's go! Focus up.

- Go kick their f*cking a*s.
- [players chattering]

Player: Game time, baby!

[sharp exhale]

- You guys get a cheesesteak?
- Johnny Buss: Yeah.

- Jimmy Buss: Yeah.
- Terrible. Not cheese, not a steak.

- Johnny: To each his own.
- It's gonna be déja vù all over again for these people.

[crowd cheering]

[echoing breath]

[echoing slam]

[crowd cheering]

Chick: Malone with the jam.

Kareem looking overpowered
right out of the gate, Keith.

Let's see how he
responds on offense.

[muffled heartbeat]

[Kareem groaning]

[grunts]

Chick: Two-time MVP
and former ABA standout

- is dominating Kareem in every phase of the game.
- [buzzer blares]

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Dammit!

Chick: Sixers trounce the
Lakers tonight, Keith,

and my friends, I'll tell
you, it was never even close.

- Cap! Can you stop Moses?
- At this point in your career,

maybe he's just too
physical for you.

It's one game.

Chick: Toney,
charging up the court

already with 15
points for the 76ers.

- [crowd cheering]
- Chick: And another one.

[indistinct shouting]

♪♪

Chick: Nixon fires.
Throws a rope. No good.

Can't you tell I'm hurt!
You supposed to help!

- Use your own. Use your own.
- Magic: Come on, man!

Chick: Nixon with
a bruised shoulder,

still trying to
keep up with Toney.

And that makes 19 points for
Andrew Toney for the 76ers.

[buzzer blares]

[crowd chattering]

Chick: And game two
goes to the Sixers.

And I'll tell you what Keith,
the story tonight, Norm Nixon,

whose speed has always
been his strength,

but, uh, looking
like no match tonight

for that wily first step

of the young sharpsh**ter,
Andrew Toney.

- Don't... Do not rush! Put a body on him.
- [crowd cheering]

[grunting]

Chick: Moses down
low, bodies Kareem.

One, twice, No harm, no foul.

- Slam dunk!
- 2-0!

Chick: Tonight, Moses is
truly earning the nickname

- Chairman of the Board.
- Come on, upcourt!

God damn it! Move
the f*cking ball!

Chick: Riley shouting himself
hoarse, but absolutely no answers

- for that Sixers onslaught.
- [buzzer blares]

Course they're gettin' every
loose ball! They're hustling!

Course they're gettin' every
call! They're bein' aggressive!

They want it more! What do
you want? A summer vacation?!

♪♪

My golly, Keith. The Lakers
lookin' for a miracle,

but no team has ever come
back from a 3-0 deficit.

Never? Oh, it's on now.

Chick: Magic lays
it up. Rejected!

Doc says, "Get that outta here."

Come on, you got teammates!
You got teammates!

Chick: Safe to say Julius
is playing inspired ball,

hoping to get his
first NBA championship

after several
bites at the apple.

[crowd cheering]

[Magic panting]

[whooshing]

[crowd cheering]

Chick: And LA now
in desperation time.

These Sixers looking like
a very different team

from last year.

And the Lakers
looking like one too.

Here we go.

- Magic, down low.
- Magic! Magic!

Ball, ball, ball,
ball! I'm open!

Chick: And he's bottled up.

Ball! Ball!

Chick: He's got
to get rid of it.

Throws up a prayer...

Ah!

Chick: and no answer
from the man upstairs.

Mo Cheeks running out with it,

and he's gonna put an exclamation
point on this one, folks.

[buzzer blaring]

Chick: And, well, does it count
as gloating when you earn it?

This team surely did,
almost sweeping every round,

and nearly fulfilling
Moses' prediction

"fo, fo, fo," winning a
championship "fo" Philadelphia.

[crowd jeering]

Magic: Remember how I
said winning shuts up

that nasty voice in your head?

Well, it's loud now,
and it's taking me down.

[solemn music playing]

♪♪

[lights click]

Hey, I'm gonna get a cab.

Okay.

He called it. Red.

Said it wouldn't last.

Like a f*ck' prophecy.

Well, you can always
go back to real estate.

[lights click]

[footsteps receding]

[lights click]

- [ball swishes, bounces]
- [soft laughter]

Did you see the game?

[Larry sniffs]

Heard.

[ball swishes, bounces]

Red Auerbach: It's good
news, kiddo. They're done.

Made it further than us.

They made it to the dance, and
then landed on their asses.

Buss'll throw his money at
it, but West is in charge now,

so he'll wet the bed.

Either way, the problem
is the foundation.

Kareem's past his prime,
and your pal Magic,

he's no leader.

Well, he ain't you.

It's our decade.

They had their
minute. Now it's over.

[sniffs]

Larry Bird: Hope not.

Not till I get my shot.

- [dribbling]
- [Red laughs]

A sweep! A f*cking sweep!

We couldn't win
one g*dd*mn game!

- No, we got molly-wopped.
- b*stards.

[hoarsely] It was injuries.

- What are you saying, Bill?
- Injuries...

Jerry West: Oh, he's blamin'
the f*ck' injuries,

but he should be
f*ck' blamin' me!

Last year, I became the GM,
and Bill here left me a gift.

The number one draft pick.

And I picked James Worthy.

Announcer: That's Jordan.
Beautiful pass to Worthy!

Superb basketball. To Worthy!

Best player on a college
championship winnin' team.

[crowd cheering]

That also included a kid
named Michael Jordan.

- [cheering]
- Worthy broke his f*ck' leg

four games from the
f*ck' playoffs.

That wasn't the issue.

I should've made adjustments.

No, Pat. You could've
been John f*ck' Wooden.

It wouldn't have made
one f*ck' difference.

The roster is flawed, okay?

We need to make some changes,
shake some things up, big moves.

Well, figure it out! Fast!

We just wasted a
year of our lives,

and I am not doing that again!

[birds chirping]

Kareem: I've been a free
agent for three months.

You can't find me
one f*cking offer?

Cap, it's me, the
Great White Knight.

If the finals ended differently,

I'm sure I'd be showing
you a raft of options.

What happened with New
York? Was it the money?

- It's not the money.
- 'Cause I'm willing to negotiate.

I wanna go home. Be with family.

They're not interested,
Cap. There were concerns.

And this is them
saying it, not me.

I think you're
the bud on a rose.

Cap, it's your...

[sighs] It's your disposition.

- For God's sake...
- Th-The locker room, the media.

These days, they
want personalities

that jive with the fans, Cap.

You mean placate the
fanatics. The sycophants.

- Maybe if you gave a little effort.
- Effort?

I'm about to break the
f*cking scoring record!

- Doesn't that mean anything?
- Yes.

It means for the
rest of your life,

the league can trot you out
during the All-Star game,

so Grandpa can tell the tykes,
"I watched him play back when."

I should just retire.

Look, you should embrace the
opportunity in front of you.

Make the most of it.
Just learn how to connect

with the paying public.

Go talk to kids in schools.

Do some benefits.
Kiss a few babies.

- Just play the game.
- I play basketball.

Yeah, and as long as you do,
you still have their attention.

This is a great chance for
you to reinvent yourself

i-into something softer.

Something warm.
Something friendly,

Something that best
serves you, Cap,

when you're done playing
and you become a coach

or, or a TV guy or a pitch man.

f*ck...

And all I have to do is dance?

[sighs]

Jerry Buss: Alright, I'm tired
of hearing you're evaluating.

It's been three months!

We're not trotting
out the same team

that got its a*s beat in front
of the whole f*ck' world!

Now, Sterling has an offer
we have to consider...

Person: Save it for a rainy day.

- Honey Kaplan: I'll try.
- Hold on. Hold on a second.

-[door shuts] -Jerry, I
gotta call you right back.

- Yeah. Bye.
- [ends call]

Well, hey there, stranger.

Fancy meeting you here.

Are you just gettin' home?

Are you just noticing
I was missing?

- I was working.
- Yeah.

Honey: So, I went
and had some fun.

All night?

Honey: [sighs]
Well, there was a...

There was a party in the Hills.

[shuts fridge]

[gulping]

Mm...

Old friends.

Yeah, I was afraid you
were gonna say that.

Are you high?

I went out.

What do people do
when they go out?

What do you do?

What is that supposed to mean?

[Honey giggles]

Nothing.

Why?

You got a guilty
conscience, Mr. Buss?

- What is going on?
- [Honey sighs, sniffs]

Look, why don't you
just do your thing,

and I'll just do my thing

'cause that's what this
thing means, right?

No. You know damn well
what this thing means.

It means we're
starting a family!

Yeah, just as soon as you
get the team back on track.

Hey, come on.

It's not a building.

You know, I can't just hire
a plumber and walk away.

It's a living, breathing
thing that, I'm sorry,

requires my attention.

Yeah. [sighs]

And those things
are complicated.

[sighs]

Host 1 [on radio]: The
Lakers are just weeks away

from the start of
the new season,

and they have failed to
make a single move! Not one!

The problem is, we
saw in the finals,

Magic cannot get it done alone.

Host 2 [on radio]: He
tried to do too much.

Host 1: Too much for him, maybe.

On the other hand, if
he was Larry Bird...

[shuts off radio]

I'm telling you, Cook,
it's everywhere I go.

Hear about it. Read about it.

Larry Bird. Larry...

m*therf*cking Bird.

Here I done won two rings,

and they acting like
I ain't done sh*t!

They don't love you.

They love how you
make them feel, okay?

When I make 'em
feel like winners.

- Cookie Kelly [on phone]: And when you don't?
- They hate me.

So why do you commit
your life to them?

- Well, that's the thing. Ain't them. It's ball.
- Cookie: Same thing.

Magic: Well, what you sayin'
I should do? Don't care?

I'm just saying I understand

how tiring it is,

giving your heart
and soul to something

that won't give it back.

Come on, Cook. I be giving back.

I gotta finish packing.

- Magic: You know I want to!
- You've mentioned that.

Magic: Let me prove
it to your face.

You comin' up here, right?
Why don't I get to see you?

'Cause you're in LA, and my
convention is in San Diego.

Then, drive on up.

'Cause I'm supposed
to come to you?

You know pre-season startin'.

Cookie: And I know
how important that is.

- So what am I supposed to do?
- Cookie: Nothing.

You've done the best you can.

♪♪

Okay, I gotta go.

I'll talk to you later?

- I'll talk to you later, Cook.
- Cookie: Bye.

[hangs up]

♪♪

Fellas, you ain't gonna
f*ck' believe this.

All summer, I've been
knockin' on doors,

tryin' to find the answer,

and which blind hog
sniffs out the acorn?

Who?

Dr. Jerry f*cking Buss is who.

Pat Riley: Get outta here.

Jerry West: Nope.

- What's the acorn?
- Pat: Yeah, who is it?

Swen Nater.

Get the f*ck outta here.

- Bingo!
- [claps]

Seven feet of Swedish meat.

That guy's a f*ck' giant!

Woulda helped Cap with Moses!

f*ck yeah, he woulda
helped Cap with Moses!

And you know what? I
also got him to toss in

his first-round draft pick,
too. Kid named Byron Scott.

- Pat: Yeah, can he play?
- Jerry West: f*ck yeah, he can play, Pat.

I scouted him myself. Range
out the f*ck' building.

Lanky, fast, mean streak
a mile f*ck' long, Bill.

We had him in the finals,

Magic could've fed
him out in the wing.

Yeah. Spread the floor.

He spread our butt cheeks,
for all I give a f*ck.

That's what I'm worried
about. Who do they want?

Okay, well, that's
our dilemma. Okay?

The new owner bought
himself a team.

[ding]

Jerry West: Alright? He wants
to build a poor man's Lakers.

You know, get the SoCal
riff-raff comin' in.

So, he's gonna wanna
pick one of our starters.

Well, obviously,
not Cap or Magic.

Absolutely not f*ck' Cap. No.

I mean, it's not my f*ck'
first barbecue, okay?

He wants prime f*ck' rib,
so that rules out Rambis, too.

Okay? He's a baked potato.

[sighs]

[light, suspenseful
music playing]

Wilkes was fantastic
in the finals.

Yeah. Yeah, he was. You got
a f*ck' point there, Bill.

He was excellent in the finals.

He's not a handful
either, is he?

♪♪

♪♪

[ambient traffic noise]

- Magic: Damn.
- Yeah.

Yeah, I know, I
know. It's f*ck'...

It's a tough one.

[panting] You talkin'
to anybody else?

Nope.

Talkin' to the guy
that runs the show.

Well, this Cap's team.

[soft laugh] We'll
keep sayin' that,

but as time goes on,

you're the guy with
the ball in his hands.

You're the guy the fellas
look to in the locker room.

[sighs]

You got a problem with
this, you need to pipe up.

Well, sh*t, I don't know.

- Man got a life here.
- I know.

Look... [sighs]

You know, bein' the
leader on a team

means makin' hard decisions.

Unless, of course, you
wanna spend next summer

like you spent this one.

Yeah. You know, ain't
nobody want that.

[laughs] Well, then okay.

Now's the time.

[sighs] We gotta win.

Yes, sir.

- [pats leg]
- We got to win.

[sighs]

[crowd chattering]

["She's A Bad Mama Jama"
by Carl Carlton playing]

♪♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Ooh, hoo ♪

♪ Look at her ♪

♪ She's a bad mama jama ♪

[dinging]

♪ She's a bad mama jama ♪

♪ Just as fine as she can be ♪

Man, we just got swept, and this
n*gga trying out for "Soul Train."

Yeah. No wonder he
ain't working on his D.

Bob McAdoo [laughs]: Too busy
working with the other one.

Michael Cooper:
Debbie Allen, man.

She's sexy as hell!

sh*t, I'd take a beat down from
Wanda for a night with that.

♪ She's built ♪

♪ Oh, she's stacked ♪

- Can't say he ain't got game.
- sh*t, Sixers can.

[laughter]

Knee don't look too
bad right now, huh?

-Mm-mm -Hers neither.

♪ Got all the curves men like ♪

♪ Look at her ♪

♪ She's a bad mama jama ♪

♪ Just as fine as she can be ♪

♪ Hey! She's a bad mama jama ♪

♪ Oh, just as fine
as she can... ♪

[song fades]

[indistinct chatter]

I know I don't have a ton of
managerial experience yet,

but I understand
the youth market,

- and the cutting-edge...
- Buyer 1: Of Michigan.

[laughs] Trends these
days are national,

- so anyone...
- But they start right here.

- Cookie: Yes... Mm-hmm.
- LA, New York.

We need our fingers
on that pulse.

Buyer 1: We're after
the entire country,

not just the...
urban demographic.

-And I was hoping you would say that because I live in...
-Ms. Kelly.

Hey, sorry I'm late. Excuse me.

You almost done here, baby?

Uh...

- Yeah, I...
- No, please. Please stay.

Arnold Felker, Hecht
Company. Huge fan.

[laughs] For real?

- How about that, Cook? You know I love me some Hecht.
- [Cookie chuckles]

Magic: She tell you about how she
be picking out all my clothes?

- Buyer 1: Is that right?
- Magic: Yeah. Team, too.

From them African get-downs
Kareem be sporting

to Norm and Coop's club vines.

Everywhere I go, people be like,

- "Where you get that?" I be like, "My girl Cook."
- [Cookie laughs]

Magic: Keep me sharp as a tack.

This is my secret
weapon right here.

Well, your secret
is safe with us.

- Y'all tell y'all kiddies Magic said be good now, aight?
- Absolutely.

- We'll be in touch, Ms. Kelly.
- Thank you. Thank you.

Boy, what are you doing here?

You happy to see
me, though, huh?

If you gonna have me lying,

I'd like to have a
heads up next time.

Thank you.

So what happened to pre-season?

So Coach'll fine me a few bucks.

I had to see my girl.

Your girl?

That's what'd you be. At
least what you should be.

- And you know it, too. Just too damn hard-headed.
- Earvin, I don't know...

But that's not why I'm here.

I came to support you.

You right.

Your dreams matter
as much as mine.

So...

Uh, anyway, I might as
well get back before,

you know, they fine
my whole damn check.

Wait.

What's your boy
Virgil gonna say?

Your guess is as good as mine.

I haven't been with
Virgil for months.

[Magic laughs]

And you ain't tell me?

["For Once In My Life"
by Nancy Wilson playing]

♪ For once in my life ♪

[muffled chatter]

♪ I have someone who needs me ♪

- Magic: Nah, but...
- [Cookie giggles]

the game ain't
what last forever.

This is.

♪ For once unafraid... ♪

Ain't letting you
go this time, Cook.

- So I'm a hostage?
- [Magic laughs]

Stop making me laugh, girl!
I got important sh*t to say!

- Important? Hm, let me pay attention.
- Yeah!

Been through enough to know

that the person I'm supposed to
be with in this world is you.

Been put you through so much,

but you hang in there with me.

Always making me feel better
when life be whipping my a*s.

Just wanna do the same for you.

Someone lay hands on you?

I mean it.

You deserve a dude that's gonna
give you the right type of love.

And that's me.

Come on, Cook.

Gimme another chance.

Just one more.

♪ For once, I can say ♪

♪ This is mine,
you can't take it ♪

Okay. [clears throat] Okay.

One. More.

One more.

Listen up, world!

This here, Cookie? My woman.

Y'all hear that?

I'ma act right!

I'ma do right!

[quietly] Earvin. Earvin.

All y'all women, stay far away.

That mean you. That mean you.
That mean you. That mean you.

Magic belong to Cookie
and Cookie alone.

- Sit down before you break your damn neck. Sit down!
- [Magic laughs]

Don't have to do all that.

[cart rattling]

[indistinct chatter]

Norm Nixon: The
f*cking Clippers.

And on your birthday.

That's some cold sh*t there.

m*therf*ckers might as
well send me to Siberia.

[scoffs]

[Debbie chuckles]

- Well, ain't no guess who running point now.
- Mm-hmm.

[sighs]

[slight chuckle] You
know, I remember...

first time I stepped
in that locker room.

Saw my jersey hanging there.

Same room as
Abdul-Jabbar. [chuckles]

Three guards ahead of
me in the rotation.

All I was hoping for
was to make the team.

Most important thing
in the whole world.

Being a Laker.

I never thought it'd end.

Everything does, baby.

["Get in a Hurry" by Eugene
Blacknell & The New Breed plays]

[people chattering, laughing]

- Trade a m*therf*cker on his birthday.
- That's just cold, man.

Could just be getting
warmed up, too.

Michael: It ain't
right is what it is.

Hey, how y'all gonna
start my sh*t without me?

- [laughter]
- Okay.

Cap. How you doing? Good to
see you. Good to see you.

- There he is!
- Kareem: Good to see you.

Norm: What's going on, man?

How you guys doing?
Hey, hey, hey.

Happy birthday, man.

- Some bullshit.
- Yeah, that it is, but, um,

can't say I wasn't surprised.

Hey, that's the name
of the game, right?

Here today, gone tomorrow.

All good, though.

Chance to say goodbye.

♪♪

Norm: Oh sh*t! [laughs]

Look what the cat dragged in.

My first coach!

Made me a Laker.

[scratchy voice] Jerry
m*therf*cking West.

[Jerry West laughs]

I just wanted to stop by, Norm,

and say thank you
for everything.

Yeah.

Mm. You ain't never
liked me, Jerry.

You said as much to my face,

so I know this was
your call. Still...

I like to think
there's some respect.

Alright! Here, let's
raise our glasses!

Let's raise our glasses! Okay.

Now, once I get over this sh*t,

I'ma wish y'all good luck. But,

next time I see you,

then I'ma bust your a*s.

- [laughter]
- [glasses clink]

Chick: Norm down the
middle. Norm all the way.

Just too much Norm Nixon

giving the Lakers a
taste of what they miss.

[echoing] Let's go!

Host 1 [on radio]: a storm
rolled in, blew away the Lakers.

Norm Nixon blistering
his former teammates

and a rare Clippers victory.

Pete [on radio]: Hey,
this is Pete from Tarzana.

Hey, you think the
Lakers still got a shot

to make some noise in
the Western Conference?

Host 1: Great
question. Safe to say

the league's catching
up with Showtime.

Host 2 [on radio]: You ask me,
that Byron Scott's gonna pay off

some big dividends at
the guard position.

Jerry West done him
a good one there.

Host 1: Kansas City just
hired Jack McKinney.

Bet he's gonna have the Kings
running like greyhounds.

Can the Lakers regain
an edge in a league

that stole their bag of tricks?

Maybe Riley's out of answers.

That sure would bring
a smile to Red...

[indistinct office chatter]

Norm got his pound of flesh.

Yeah, well, if we
keep sleepwalking,

- he won't be the last.
- Chris Riley: Pat.

It is the first
week of the season.

Yeah, this is when
it happens. Hm?

When you start getting
comfortable with losing.

You made it to the
finals last year.

- You won it all the year before.
- That right there?

- That is our f*cking problem.
- Chris: What? Winning?

Ye... Leaning on it.
Like a f*cking crutch.

You get to the top
of the mountain,

you ease up.

It's natural. You don't
even know you're doing it.

Next thing, you're losing to the
f*cking Clippers in November.

And it doesn't even cost
you a good night's sleep!

Chris: 'Cause they're
not hungry anymore?

No, they love the
game. They love it.

They wanna win.

But, in the beginning,
they f*ck' needed it.

They needed it, and
I'm not seeing need.

I'm seeing their minds say,

"f*ck it! We already
got two rings!"

I f*cking... I rant, I rave.

I write these f*cking speeches.

[Pat sighs]

I'm running out of sh*t to say.

[indistinct TV chatter]

[Magic sighs]

- There you are. Come here!
- [pats couch]

"Godfather" is about to
start. What took you so long?

Just, um, thinking of something.

Must be serious.

Uh-huh.

- Uh-oh. Okay.
- Nah. Ain't nothing bad.

[TV chatter continues]

- Earvin...
- Cook, we family.

Always will be.

As long as I'm in this world,

you ain't in it
on your lonesome.

You hear me?

[gentle music playing]

So, what you say?

- You didn't ask me anything.
- [soft laugh]

♪♪

Will you marry me?

[soft laugh]

- You still ain't said nothing yet.
- Yes!

- [both laugh]
- Yes.

I'll marry you.

[inaudible dialogue]

Hon!

You upstairs?

Guess what?

Earvin got engaged!

Hey.

What's going on here? [laughs]

You taking a trip?

What's wrong?

You're married.

Yeah. No sh*t. I was
there, remember? [laughs]

Hm...

To somebody else.

Your life insurance
agent called,

looking for your wife.
I told him that was me.

He said, "Not unless
you moved to Utah."

What are you talking about?

You're still f*cking
married to JoAnn!

I called the f*cking courts

and you never filed
the divorce papers!

Okay. Yeah. Yeah.
Okay. Hang on! Hang on!

Hang on. Okay. That...

Okay. I... Yeah, it
doesn't sound good.

I get it. But, you're
misunderstanding.

It's just a... it's
a clerical thing.

It's not... You know how
I am about paperwork!

It sounds serious!
It's not serious!

I've got that f*cking
paperwork here somewhere.

-JoAnn signed it. I was intending to file it...
-Just stop!

So you knew.

You knew you were not divorced.

I mean... I didn't...

Not intentionally... hiding it.

I just was waiting,

and I got distracted by
this bullshit with the team,

- and it slipped my mind!
- Slipped your mind?

This is my f*cking life!

- [gasp]
- No, no, no. Hold on.

What are you doing?
Where are you going?

- I'm leaving!
- Over this. Over paperwork?

Honey, please!

Please listen to me!
I'm in love with you!

Go tell your wife.

- You are my f*cking wife!
- No, I'm not!

I am the first
naked girl in a book

full of naked girls. [sniffles]

That's all you want anyway.

The least you can
do is admit it.

That is not true.

Oh, this is it,
huh? This is it?!

- You're walking out on me?
- I'm not walking!

- I'm f*cking running.
- Well, you know what?

If you can't trust me,

then you should
get the f*ck out.

- [Honey sniffling]
- [phone ringing]

- Nice.
- [slams door]

[footsteps approach]

- Dr. Buss?
- Not now!

It's about Kareem.

I'm in Bel-Air where earlier
tonight, a fire razed

the home of Lakers center
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Lost was a music collection

of an estimated 3,000 jazz LPs

and a lifetime of irreplaceable
basketball memorabilia.

Kareem was not
inside at the time,

but his companion,
Cheryl Pistono,

and their son were sleeping,
but they managed to escape.

And apparently the
pet cat saved the day.

And there's Kareem right there.

♪♪

[police radio chatter]

Cheryl! Cheryl. God.

- I was sleeping. I didn't know.
- Kareem: It's okay.

You're okay. You're okay.

Oh, my God. [panting]

[somber music playing]

[mouthing]

♪♪

[quiet chatter]

♪♪

- [camera shutters snapping]
- Fan 1: There he is! There he is!

Tom Collins: Hey, Cap!
So good to see you here.

Thank God you're here in
one piece. Praise the Lord.

Look, these people, they came
here to pay their respects...

Tom, I'm not doing that
today. No autographs.

- Kareem.
- Fan 2: Hang in there, Kareem!

Fan 3: We love you!

Fan 4: We love you, Kareem!

You know about this one?

My dad says it's his favorite.

- Your father is a wise man.
- We're your biggest fans.

They said you lost
yours in the fire.

Fan 5: We all love you.

Fan 6: You're the greatest!

Child: I love you, Kareem!

[fans clamoring]

No, it's okay. It's
okay. Let them stay.

[chatter continues]

[quiet locker room chatter]

Cap. I'm sorry to hear the news.

Sorry about the crib, dude.

Bob McAdoo: You deserve your
night off, Cap. Go home.

Yeah, he right. You
ain't gotta be here,

not for Dallas in November, man.

Yes, I do.

I belong here.

[Kareem sighs]

Fellas, c-can everybody
sit down for a sec? Just...

Just i-indulge me.

[Kareem exhales sharply]

[sighs]

We touch people's lives.

They suffer when we suffer.

They thrill when we thrill.

- We love you, Kareem.
- We love you, Kareem...

Kareem: They turn to us
to lift their spirits,

to show their children this
is what excellence looks like.

♪♪

As captain of this team,

I'm holding each and every
one of you accountable.

When we step
between the lines...

we will demand the
highest of ourselves.

[crowd cheering]

Not just for us.

For this city.

For them.

[cheering]

["Won't Get Fooled Again"
by The Who playing]

Kareem: That's how
you pay them back.

Magic: Let's go, Cap!

Make that a promise
to each other.

Make it to yourselves.

Alright? Every day from
now until June, every game,

accept nothing but
your absolute best.

Kareem: Or get the f*ck
outta this locker room

because you don't belong here.

- Hell yeah!
- That's right.

- Because we won't be alone.
- They are comin' for us.

- [crowd cheering]
- [camera shutter snaps]

[inaudible dialogue]

- [camera shutter snaps]
- [cheering continues]

They've seen us at our weakest.

♪♪

♪ We'll be fighting
in the streets ♪

They wanna stomp us out.

♪ With our children
at our feet ♪

♪ And the morals
that they worship ♪

♪ Will be gone ♪

I got a surprise
for them, fellas.

This old man ain't done.

Chick: Everybody's
waving their arms.

It's in to Kareem.
Going left, going right,

going forward, gone!

[crowd cheering]

Chick: The pictures
tell the words.

Boy, they love their captain.
They love their leader.

And suffice to say,
ladies and gentlemen,

the new king of scoring
has ascended his throne.

His mama, his father, what
an emotional moment...

Kareem: So all these
naysayers, all these doubters,

they can kiss my a*s

'cause I'm bringing a
parade back to this city!

- How about you? What you gonna do?
- [players cheer]

Okay!

Pat: Let's move
it! Listen to Cap.

Let's go!

[crowd cheering]

♪♪

♪ A change, it had to come ♪

♪ We knew it all along ♪

♪ We were liberated from
the fold, that's all ♪

♪ And the world
looks just the same ♪

♪ And history ain't changed ♪

♪ 'Cause the banners, they
all flown in the last w*r ♪

♪ I'll tip my hat to
the new constitution ♪

♪ Take a bow for
the new revolution ♪

♪ Smile and grin at
the change all around ♪

♪ Pick up my guitar and play ♪

♪ Just like yesterday ♪

♪ Then I'll get on
my knees and pray ♪

[crowd cheering]

♪ We don't get fooled again ♪

Pat: Horn sounds. Okay?

You're playing great.
You're playing Lakers ball.

Be the best, we're
gonna f*ck' find you.

Kevin McHale: Hey,
find 33, find 33.

Okay? You show those m*therf*ckers
what we're about. Okay?

- Go out there and you f*cking k*ll 'em. Let's go.
- Hell yeah.

- Pat: One, two, three.
- Players: k*ll 'em!

- Player: Celtics on three. One, two, three!
- Players: Celtics!

♪♪

[crowd cheering]

♪♪

[song ends]

Announcer [on radio]: Milwaukee
in a must-win situation.

Only four other
teams have overcome

a three-to-one deficit.

Of course, one of those
was the Celtics in '81

on their way to a championship.

Alright, here we go. Bird
gets the inbound from McHale,

gives it to DJ,
bringing it upcourt.

The Celtics in no hurry.

Sidney Moncrief
picks up Johnson now

- as they cross half-court, applying some pressure.
- [doorbell rings]

Announcer: And now Marques
Johnson picks him up on the switch

and the Celtics are
inching closer...

Dr. Buss.

Marvin Mitchelson.
Nice to meet you.

You're being served.

By who?

Me.

And your wife. Well, ex-wife.

Well, sort of.

$100 million?

Yeah.

But, Honey is a
reasonable woman.

She'll settle for
Magic and Kareem.

Hey, good luck
tonight. Go Lakers.

♪♪

[crowd cheering]

Two minutes, and if the Celtics
hang on, and the Lakers win,

they'll meet in the finals for
the first time in 15 years.

Announcer [on radio]: The match-up
fans have been waiting for,

Magic Johnson versus the
reigning MVP Larry Bird.

Celtics trying to
milk the clock.

Come on, m*therf*ckers.
Bring it.

Man, I just want a piece
of these crackers, man.

- Announcer: Looks like too little too late.
- What do you say? You ready?

What the f*ck...
f*ck, no, Bill. No.

Come on. It's a new day. You're
gonna beat Red at his own game.

- You tryin' to f*ck' jinx us? Huh?
- [Bill sighs]

Let me tell you
something, Jerry.

-Just...
-That Norm trade. That took ba*ls.

You pulled this team
outta the can this year.

You saved this team, and I
want you to remember that.

Announcer [on radio]: Johnson
to Bird in the corner!

On the way!

- Good!
- [players cheer]

[excited chatter]

Pack your bags for
Beantown, boys!

Michael: Cook us up
some leprechauns!

Get that champagne ready!

Yeah, we're not
doing that this year!

We're not doing that this year.

Announcer: And now it's
up to the Lakers...

- Jerry Buss: Listen up. Turn that sh*t off.
- [radio turns off]

I know...

Usually, we clinch
a conference final,

which you're gonna do tonight,

it'd be time to
celebrate. Get ourselves

a couple cases of bubbly,
throw ourselves a little party.

But not this time.

Look, I don't know about you,

but I am sick and
tired of losing.

And right now, tonight,

I just wanna beat somebody's
a*s like you're about to.

♪♪

But, Boston and us...

People say that's the
greatest rivalry in sports,

but it's not.

It's not!

When your team is 0-7,

that ain't a rivalry!

That's total domination!

Crowd [chanting]: Beat
LA! Beat LA! Beat LA!

We need to cut their
f*ck' hearts out!

We need to show the world
that we're still the kings!

So that's what
you're stepping into,

and that's what you're
going to change.

All that pain and heartache!

You get to pay it back!

And we don't
celebrate until we do!

So when you're thinking
about going out tonight,

having that beer,

I'll remind you of
the immortal words

of Paul Revere

spoken 200 years ago,
right down the street!

[whispers] The
Lakers are coming.

The Lakers are coming.

Right now,

they have history on their side.

They're the dynasty.

And they're bringing
their f*ck' girls

and their fair-weather
sissy fans!

And they're gonna try
to burn this place,

our house!

To cinders.

We're the flash in the pan,

and that's all
we're ever gonna be

until we beat

the g*dd*mn Celtics!

Crowd [chanting]: Beat
LA! Beat LA! Beat LA!

Beat LA.

f*ck Boston!

Beat LA!

f*ck Boston.

All: Beat LA!

All: f*ck Boston!

- Beat LA!
- f*ck Boston!

["Burning Down The House"
by Talking Heads playing]

♪ Watch out ♪

♪ You might get
what you're after ♪

♪ Cool babies ♪

♪ Strange, but not a stranger ♪

♪ I'm an ordinary guy ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

♪ Hold tight ♪

♪ Wait till the party's over ♪

♪ Hold tight ♪

♪ We're in for nasty weather ♪

♪ There has got to be a way ♪

♪ Burning down the house ♪

♪ Here's your ticket,
pack your bags ♪

♪ Time for jumping overboard ♪

♪ Transportation is here ♪

♪ Close enough,
but not too far ♪

♪ Maybe you know where you are ♪

♪ Fighting fire with fire ♪

♪ Ah, all wet ♪

♪♪ Hey, you might
need a raincoat ♪

♪ Shakedown ♪

♪ Dreams walking
in broad daylight ♪

♪ 365 degrees... ♪