Sure it's all right, my stopping off
to see Scotty and Diane?
I told you no problem.
But we're supposed
to start this new assignment.
I'll stop off at the hospital
and get the information.
Hospital?
I thought we're gonna be coaches.
- We are.
- Oh, great.
Boy, that's right up my alley.
Did I ever tell you that I was on
the all-city police squad
- for two years in a row?
- Two years in a row.
- You know what they called me?
- Magic Fingers Gordon.
Must've mentioned that before, huh?
About times since we first met.
I think your record was seven times
during the Super Bowl last year.
We're not coaching football,
it's track and field.
Track and field, that's great. Do you
know that I ran the hundred in--
Ten-point-nine.
I must've mentioned that too.
- You know what they called me?
- Express Train Gordon.
Track and field.
Boy, that's right up my alley.
Hope we get some good material.
Some kids are special.
Well, all of these kids are.
We're coaching Special Olympics.
Special Olympics?
Oh, I don't know
if I'm cut out for something like that.
You just said
it was right up your alley.
I know, but I thought
you were talking about normal kids.
- These kids are, well, you know.
- Ret*rded.
Yeah.
I mean, what can they do?
You know, it's sort of sad.
Why? Because they're
not as smart as you and I?
Well, yeah.
Mark, compared to Einstein,
you and I are Ret*rded.
You feel particularly sad
about that too?
I guess you're right.
Hospital's right up there.
- I'll see you over at Diane's later.
- All right.
- Drive careful.
- Oh, yeah.
- Here are your coach's manuals.
- Thanks very much.
I'm sure you and your friend
will work out just fine.
- Where is Mark anyway?
- He stopped off to see his cousin.
Tell you the truth, I think he's a little
afraid about coaching these kids.
Let me tell you something.
That's the best kind.
He'll spend
some time with these kids and--
Well, we kind of have an inside joke
when we get a new coach
that's afraid like that.
They spend one afternoon
with our athletes, and we go like this:
They're hooked, you know.
That's the way it'll be with Mark.
It's just gonna take a little time.
Yeah. Speaking of time,
I've got a class.
We'll get in touch with you tomorrow.
You'll go through our training school,
then jump right in.
Sounds good.
You have the games every four years,
just like the Olympics?
We have international games
every four years,
but Special Olympics
is a year-round sports programme
with training and competition in
different summer and winter sports.
You're gonna be amazed.
People always are
when they see the skill and courage
of people with mental retardation.
Oh, I know.
One of the saddest things
is you'll see somebody,
a kid that's worked really hard
in school,
and gets placed in a regular class
with non-handicapped kids.
They're able to do the class work,
but out on the playground,
they're the ones
standing alone with no friends,
or sitting on a bench
all by themselves.
There's a kid named Todd that
I would love to get into the programme.
We got a referral from his teacher
and I've tried a couple of times.
- Maybe you could give it a try.
- Hey, I'd be happy to.
Well, I've gotta be going.
It was nice meeting you.
- And I'll get you Todd's address.
- Thanks very much.
Dr. Lanigan, report to emergency.
Dr. Lanigan, report to emergency.
Hey, Scotty, you old
ambulance chaser. How you doing?
Jonathan.
What are you doing down here?
Mark and I are gonna
work here for a while.
- What are you doing here?
- Seeing the doc about my test results.
Sperm count and such.
I'm nervous as hell.
- You want some company?
- You bet. I'm heading thataway.
- You got it.
- Seven-six-six-nine-nine.
How's the law business?
Hey, I'm Perry Mason on wheels,
what can I tell you?
- How's Diane doing?
- She's great. Too great.
Wish we could get a little morning
sickness going here, you know?
I mean, I guess you already
know about it from Mark.
I think Diane's mother
puts out a newsletter.
Well, you and Diane haven't been
trying for that long, have you?
No, but, you know,
when you're in a chair
you kind of wonder what other parts
don't work the way they should.
Look, you and Diane
are gonna make great parents.
If there's any problem
there's all kinds of alternatives.
Yeah, yeah, I know.
But it's like the old commercial:
"Mother, please,
I'd rather do it myself."
Here we are.
Well, here you go.
Cross your fingers for me.
You got it, buddy.
- Here's some hot coffee.
- Thank you.
What time is it?
: .
I'm worried about Scotty.
Why? I mean,
he's feeling okay, isn't he?
Oh, he's fine.
I'm just worried
about how he's gonna feel
if the tests show he's got a problem
and he can't have any kids.
Yeah.
But you know,
today with artificial insemination,
you can almost
pick the kind of kid you want.
Yeah, but the kind of kid he wants
is a little Scotty.
And that's what I want too.
Oh, Mark, it just doesn't seem fair.
I mean,
he's been through so much already.
Why can't God
give him a break this time?
Maybe he will.
Yeah. Yeah, maybe.
- Scotty, what?
- Look who I found.
- Hello.
- Jonathan, hi.
- Diane, how are you?
- Good.
- Oh, it's good to see you.
- Oh, it's good to see you.
Well, where've you been?
I was getting worried.
Wrong question.
What's the right question?
- How are you?
- Fine.
No, no, my dear, "How are you?"
is what you ask me.
- How are you?
- All in good time.
And now let's see what Jonathan has
behind door number one.
Well, let's see, right behind
door number one, we have:
And just to show that I'm not
a sexist chauvinist pig,
- hit it, Johnny boy.
- Ta-da.
Now, ask me how I am again.
- You mean...
- Yes, ma'am, I'm potent.
Brimming over with virility,
a veritable stallion on wheels.
The bottom line
is we can make a baby, baby.
Scotty.
Scotty. A baby.
Oh, boy.
- A little nervous, huh?
- Yeah, a little.
It'll pass, believe me.
They're great kids.
You're gonna love them.
Okay, everybody, listen up.
This is Mark Gordon, your coach.
Let's give him a big, "Hi, Mark."
Hi, Mark.
Okay, coach, you're on your own.
Hi, guys.
Now, listen, when I call your name
you just say"here," okay?
- Jimmy.
- Here.
- Mary Beth.
- I am here.
And Kyle.
Kyle.
- All right, Kyle's not here.
- Kyle's right over here.
Kyle, when I call your name,
you say "here," okay?
Kyle, when I call your name,
you answer up, okay?
He can't speak any.
Right, okay. Yeah.
Do you have to go to the bathroom?
Why do you ask me that?
Because you can't stand still.
That - I'm just a little nervous.
I don't have to go to the bathroom.
How come?
How come what?
How come you're very nervous?
Well, I'm just nervous, you know,
that I won't be a good coach for you.
Actually, I'm scared to death I won't be
a good coach for you guys.
Do you know the oath?
What oath?
That's what we say
in Special Olympics.
Okay, let me go here. Come here.
Let me win, but if I cannot win,
let me be brave in my attempt.
Oh, yeah. I should've remembered
that from the training school.
That's okay. We learn slow too.
You have to try, that's all.
Yeah, you're right. You're right.
And I will.
I'll try.
- Good job jumping.
- All right.
Way to go.
Okay, who's next?
All right. Hey. Way to go.
All right. Way to go.
That's right. Here we go.
Yeah.
Come on!
Come on. You're gonna get it.
Come on.
I'm sorry, Diane.
I wish I had better news.
Dr. Wexler call the operator please.
All this time we thought--
Well, I thought it was Scotty.
Isn't there something I can do?
Some kind of operation?
Some...
Some... Thing?
You could get a second opinion.
But I think
the answer will still be the same.
I can't--I can't ever have a baby?
I'm sorry.
It's my turn, Scott.
- Not yet.
- I want a turn.
- You're not getting one.
- You always cheat.
You're a bad sport, Mary Beth.
- Excuse me, are you Mrs. Burke?
- Yes.
My name's Jonathan Smith.
I'm with Special Olympics.
Oh, nice to meet you, Mr. Smith.
You're here about Toddy.
Right. Yeah, we got a referral
from his teacher.
She thought he could get
a lot out of Special Olympics.
She's right.
If you can get him in that programme,
it would be the best thing for him.
But that's an awful big "if."
Matt Roarke
was out here several times.
Toddy just doesn't want
anything to do with it.
Toddy doesn't want anything to do
with anything right now.
What's he like to do?
If he had his way
he'd watch TV all day long.
Sounds like a lot of other kids.
Well, it's more than that with Todd.
It's his way of escape.
Thirteen's a difficult age for any kid,
but for one who's mentally Ret*rded,
it's even harder.
Especially with his peers,
the other kids in the school.
I think that'd be all the more reason
he'd wanna be in Special Olympics.
Give a chance to prove to himself
he can do lots of things,
plus make friends.
You don't have to convince me.
You gotta convince Todd.
What about his parents?
Well, they gave him up
to foster care years ago.
That's what they were
encouraged to do.
They pay his bills,
but they haven't seen him in years.
Today it's different.
We encourage families
not to give up their Ret*rded children.
And that's what's so good
about the Special Olympics,
what it does for the families.
It gives them such a sense of pride.
Whereas before, maybe there was
only despair. "Why me?"
Come on,
let me take you up to Toddy's room.
Hi.
It's free time.
I don't have to do anything.
Mrs. Burke said so.
That's fine with me, Todd.
I just wanted to talk to you.
- My name is Jonathan.
- I don't wanna talk.
Can I come in?
No.
Anybody home?
No.
Well, then who keeps saying no?
Nobody.
I bet it's not nobody,
I bet it's somebody.
Go away.
How come?
Because I'm mean.
Oh, yeah?
I bet you're not as mean as me.
I am too.
Yeah? How mean?
Real mean.
Show me how mean you are.
I mean, can you
make a mean face or something?
Oh, come on, that's not mean.
I'll show you mean:
Look at this.
Oh, yeah? Look at this:
Oh, yeah? Look at this:
Oh, yeah? Look at this:
Okay. All right, you're right. You win.
That's the meanest face
I ever saw in my life.
You're pretty good at that.
Of course, I bet there's
a lot of things you're good at.
Look, I'm a Special Olympics coach,
we'd sure like to have you come down
and find out some other things
you're good at.
I'm not good at nothing.
I'm dumb.
I don't think you're dumb.
Then you're dumb.
I haven't been mean to you, Todd.
Please don't be mean to me.
Then--Then go away.
I don't wanna do nothing.
I can't do nothing
and you can't make me.
You're right about that, son,
I can't make you.
You have to want to.
Well, I don't.
Go away.
Okay.
- I hope this roast isn't too burnt.
- Are you kidding? I love it.
It's like that Cajun style
where they sear everything.
- What do you call that?
- Burnt roast?
Very funny, very funny.
Listen, I was thinking,
you guys said if you had a kid,
if it was a boy,
you were gonna name it after me.
But what if it's a girl?
So I says to myself,
"What do we do then?"
So I thought of the best name
in the world for a little girl.
Markette.
What do you think?
Markette. That sounds like a place
where you buy groceries.
He's right.
Mark, if it's a boy,
you'll be the namesake.
But you better leave
the naming of the girl up to Diane.
Okay, okay.
So, what've you picked?
I hope it at least starts with an M.
- Diane?
- Honey, what's wrong?
We aren't gonna have any children.
We can't.
What are you talking about?
All my tests came out fine.
It's not you, Scotty. It's me.
I can't have any children.
Is this some kind of joke, or what?
Does-- Does this sound like a joke?
When did you find out?
Today.
I'm sorry. Me and my big mouth.
I'm sorry.
Well, it's a tough break,
but it's not the end of the world.
What?
"It's a tough break,
but it's not the end of the world?"
Like this is no big deal?
I didn't mean it that way
and you know it.
Well, you thought it was a pretty
big deal when you couldn't have kids.
- Wasn't it? Wasn't it a big deal?
- All right, it is a big deal.
- But it's not my fault. Why are you--?
- That's right.
It's not your fault,
so it's not your problem, right?
Well, it is my problem, Scotty.
It's very much my problem.
I'm sorry, but you better go.
Yeah.
Mark.
Take that baby stuff with you.
Well, just give it some time.
He'll come around.
Look, Diane, you knew he was
stubborn when you married him.
Yeah, okay. I'll call you later.
How's she doing?
She's down. Can't say I blame her.
They really got into it last night
after we left.
She mentioned adoption.
Scotty went through the ceiling.
Hey, come on,
don't blame it all on Scotty.
You saw the way she got on his case
last night. She's feeling a lot of guilt.
They're both talking,
but nobody's listening.
Yeah.
I mean, why do things like this
have to happen to people like them?
I mean, I know couples
that spit out babies like BBs,
and they don't
give a damn about them.
Here are two people
dying to have a kid and they can't.
If they want a child bad enough,
they're gonna have one.
Well, I hope so.
- Come on, we'd better go.
- Yeah.
Why don't you head to the field?
I'll meet you there.
What's up?
I just wanna stop by Scotty's office
for a minute.
You want me to go along?
No. Sometimes it's easier to talk
without a relative in the room.
No matter what you say, Scotty's
gonna think you're siding with Diane.
- I'll see you at practise.
- All right.
They pay you $ an hour
to look out the window?
Where's Mark? Figured Diane
would send all the troops in force.
Diane doesn't even know I'm here.
But you've talked to her.
Mark did.
Well, what I told her last night is final.
We're not going to adopt and that's it.
Oh, your decision is final.
That's right.
Hey, it must be good to be king.
What happens if Diane
disagrees with you? You just:
Chop her head off or what?
I'm not in the mood
for your humour right now, okay?
Why did you wanna have a child
in the first place?
For the same reason anyone wants
to have kids. I'm no different.
But you are different,
you're in a wheelchair.
What are you getting at?
Just that maybe you
wanted to have a child
that looked exactly like you,
a little Scotty,
to run and play,
and do all the things you couldn't do.
Yeah, I wanted a kid who could do all
those things. What's wrong with that?
Nothing.
The child doesn't have to look like you
to do those things.
I don't want to adopt
and that's really all there is to it.
Why not?
Hey, I don't owe you an explanation.
No, you don't owe me one,
but what about Diane?
That's our business and not yours.
Hey, I'm sorry to question you, king.
I think you better go.
Fine.
It's a good thing
you asked me to leave.
If we kept talking,
you might have to tell the truth
about why you don't wanna adopt.
You might have to tell me you're filled
with pain and you blame Diane.
It's all her fault.
And this is a great way to get even,
isn't it?
You don't know a damn thing,
you know that?
Really?
If the shoe was on the other foot,
and you couldn't have children,
would you have adopted then?
This carpet needs
a good shampooing.
Diane?
One of the problems I have
is that when we have a fight,
I can't play the big love scene
like they do in the movies,
and gently take you in my arms,
and turn your face to me.
Please look at me.
I hurt you last night.
And... And I wanted to.
You see, I fell into that damn trap
of feeling that no one
could suffer as much as I do.
And I wanted you to, because...
Inside-- Oh, hell, I don't know,
I guess I'm just a damn jerk.
But I wanna live my life with you,
grow old with you,
raise children with you.
And if we can't have a child
of your womb,
then let's have a child
of our heart.
You mean...
Adopt?
Yeah.
Scotty, I love you.
I love you too.
Hey!
There you go.
Hey, I think you're getting faster
than your old man, huh?
Oh, he already is, I guarantee it.
- Your kid's doing great.
- Yeah, he sure is.
He's staying in his lane
and getting faster all the time.
Really proud of himself
and we're proud of him too.
Well, get your stuff,
that's all for today.
What a sweet kid.
Yeah, I know.
Has he... Has he been able
to say anything?
I mean, have you heard him
say anything at all?
Well, no, not yet,
but he's trying real hard.
- That's the main thing.
- He'll talk one of these days.
One of these days the light will go on
and he'll say, "Mama." I just know it.
Hey, you all set?
Bye, Mark, and thanks.
No, no, no.
That's the other way around.
Thank you for letting me
know your kid.
See you.
Come on, honey.
- Take care, Kyle.
- Bye-bye.
Well, how's it going, coach?
As a matter of fact, it is going great.
Hey, take a look.
Hey, Scotty and Diane.
What are you two doing down here?
- We came down to say thanks.
- For what?
We've just come back
from the adoption agency.
That's great.
They have a list of forms to fill out
there that you wouldn't believe.
How long will it take?
It's hard to say, because there's
such a long wait for healthy newborns.
They said what? About three years?
Hey, if I was a kid
and I needed a family,
I'd say you two
were worth waiting for.
Well, like I said, I just wanted
to thank you for that talk you gave me.
My advice is like yours, counsellor,
it comes with a price.
- You name it.
- All right.
Diane, I'm gonna borrow your husband
for a few hours.
Sure, can you drop me off at home?
- You got it.
- Okay, let's go, counsellor.
- Hey, what's the hat for?
- I'll tell you on the way.
I am so happy!
That's great.
Hi, Todd.
Who are you?
My name's Scotty.
A friend of mine asked me
to come and see you.
His name's Jonathan.
He's a coach at the Special Olympics.
Remember him?
Yeah.
What is that thing?
It's a control that makes my wheelchair
go forward when I want it to.
It helps me get around.
What do you need it for?
Because I can't move
my arms or legs.
Does it hurt?
What?
Your arms and legs.
No, they just don't work.
I hear you told Jonathan you
don't wanna be in Special Olympics.
I'm not gonna either.
And you can't make me.
You told him you don't want
to be in Special Olympics
because you said
you can't do anything.
Is that right?
Yeah.
See this baseball cap on my head?
Yeah.
It's pretty nice, isn't it?
Yeah.
Why don't you take it off my head
and try it on?
Come on.
Fits great. You keep it.
Thanks.
How come you don't wanna be
in Special Olympics?
Because kids make fun of me.
Oh, yeah?
I've had some kids
make fun of me in my life.
Why?
Because I'm in this chair.
Kids can be mean.
Yeah, they can.
But I'll tell you something.
The kids in Special Olympics
aren't mean.
You know why?
Because everybody's
training to do their best.
Everyone is important.
Everyone is special, like you.
- Are you special?
- Yeah. Yeah, I guess I am.
We both special.
Right. That's why
we have to stick together.
See, Todd, I bought that cap
when I thought
I was gonna have a little boy.
And I was going to save that cap
until the little boy
was old enough to be able
to run and jump and play.
And then I was going to
give the cap to that little boy.
You know why?
Why?
So I could watch him.
So I could watch that little boy
when he ran and when he jumped
and when he played.
And it would be almost like I was out
there running and jumping and playing.
And he'd probably
be able to run twice as fast
because he'd be running
for both of us then.
What happened to that little boy?
Well, he was never born
and he never will be born
because my wife and I
can't have children of our own.
So I wanna ask you
to do something for me.
What?
I want you to take that cap,
and I want you to go down
to Special Olympics,
and put that cap on,
and run just as fast as you can.
So fast you'll feel
the wind whip past your ears.
So fast those mean kids
who made fun of you and me
won't even be able to see you.
They'll just see a blur go whizzing by.
But I'll be able to see you.
I'll be up in those stands
and I'll see you with that cap on,
and it'll be almost like seeing
me run down there.
And I'll be shouting
just as loud as I can:
"Come, on, Todd."
And when it's over,
you'll tell me what it's like.
What it's like to run that fast
and hear a whole stadium
full of people cheering
and calling your name.
Because that's something
I'll never be able to do.
But that's something
that you can do.
All you have to do is want it and try.
Can you do that, Todd?
I could do that.
Okay.
- All right.
- Up and over.
Here we go.
Go, Ron, go.
Hi, Kyle.
Look, there's somebody
I want you to meet.
- This is Todd.
- Hi.
Can't you talk?
Well, you see,
Kyle hasn't learned to talk yet,
but he's working really hard on it.
Like you're gonna be learning
about running, you know?
Kyle already knows that.
Knows about the starting position,
how to stay in his own lane, how to
break the tape at the end of the race.
I'll tell you what we're gonna do
from now on.
What we're gonna do is we're gonna
use the buddy system.
You guys know what that is?
That means you're gonna be buddies,
you know. You're gonna be friends.
Each of you has something
the other needs to learn.
You can teach each other.
You can help Kyle with words,
Kyle can help you
with the track stuff, okay?
- Okay.
- Okay.
What do you say we have a race?
Find out what kind of speed you got.
Come on Kyle, let's show him
the starting position.
All right, here we go.
All right. On your mark.
Get down there.
Down, down, down.
Get set.
Bring it up.
All right, Todd. Come on, you try it.
Come on.
All right, on your mark.
Set. Todd, get your head up.
Go!
- Go, Todd. That's a boy.
- Come on, Kyle.
- That's a boy.
- All right, Todd.
Go.
Is that your son out there?
The one with the cap?
Well, the cap is mine.
The boy's just a friend.
Way to run, guys. Way to run.
All right, everybody out.
Thank you, Jonathan.
My pleasure, Mary Beth.
Scotty's gonna be my Dad.
What?
Scotty and Diane.
They're gonna be my family.
They're gonna come
and take me to their home,
and I'm gonna live with them
and be their little boy.
Todd, did Scotty tell you that?
He said he
wanted to have a little boy.
Look, Todd,
I know what he said--
He gave me his cap
because he doesn't have a little boy.
So he gave me the cap
and I'll be his little boy.
Look, Todd, it's not that simple.
Yes, it is.
- It's simple.
- No, it isn't.
Look, Scotty likes you very much.
He wants to be your friend.
So does Diane.
But they want a little boy.
And I'm a little boy.
And me and Scotty are special.
He said so.
Yeah, you're special, all right.
Pick you up
for practise tomorrow, okay?
Okay.
Hey, Todd?
You did great today.
Because I'm running for Scotty too.
Dr. Bryant?
- Yes?
- My name is Jonathan Smith.
Smith.
- You're a new patient, aren't you?
- Oh, no, sir.
I'm with Special Olympics.
Oh, I see.
Well, if you can leave
some literature and some envelopes,
I'm sure we can make
some donation.
That's very kind of you,
but I'm not here for a donation.
I'm here because your son enrolled
in Special Olympics
and we try to encourage as much
family participation as possible.
I see.
How is he doing?
Well, today was his first day,
but I think he's doing fine.
Just needs a lot of encouragement,
you know.
Well, they're very good at that
at the group foster-care home.
I know, but I was kind of hoping
you and your wife could come out
and watch him run and practise
a little bit.
Or at least see him race
in Special Olympics.
I appreciate your coming down here,
Mr. Smith.
And I'm glad that Todd
is able to participate.
I'm sure it'll be very good for him.
Truth is is that we haven't seen Todd
in a number of years.
And I don't think
it would be good for him
to pop back into his life
for a track meet.
- Now, I understand that, doctor, but--
- Let me finish, Mr. Smith.
We have two other children,
and when we found out
that Todd was Ret*rded,
we consulted
the best people in the field.
If there was any hope
that something could be done...
But there's not any hope.
He's Ret*rded.
And that's that.
We...
We can't take care of him
as well as they can.
I mean, that's what they told us.
The doctors.
We tried.
We have two other children
who need us too,
so it just wasn't fair to them
and it wasn't fair to him.
So we placed him
in a foster care home and...
It wasn't an easy decision,
Mr. Smith.
I'm sure it wasn't, doctor.
We did what was best
for our family and best for him.
Now, I don't wanna upset that
and reopen a lot of old wounds, I...
Wouldn't be good for him
and it wouldn't be good for us.
Excuse me.
Mr. Smith.
Thank you for what you're doing
for the boy.
I'm that glad he's able to get some joy
out of his life at least.
Goodbye, doctor.
- Great. Just what I needed.
- Well, just thought you ought to know
what he's thinking,
so the next time you see him--
The next time I see him?
There isn't gonna be a next time.
Scotty, you just can't
drop the kid like that.
That's the only thing I can do.
I know what disappointments
are about.
I'm not gonna build the kid up for
something that can't possibly happen.
Well, maybe it can happen.
What are you talking about?
Well, you know,
he's such a sweet kid,
and, well, I've been thinking there's
so many different kinds of parents
waiting to adopt a healthy newborn,
and a boy like Todd
really needs someone.
Yeah, but we don't need him.
Maybe you do.
Oh, get serious, Jonathan,
and you too, Diane.
His own family gave him up.
The child is Ret*rded.
How would we take care of him?
Nothing is more dependent
than an infant.
How would we take care
of an infant?
But an infant grows up.
Oh, well, if that's what you want,
why don't we adopt an adult?
We could always adopt Mark.
You can't afford to feed him.
Very funny. I am serious here.
There is no way
we can adopt that kid.
We don't even know him.
Honestly, Diane, you see a kid and two
seconds later you want to adopt him.
I just have a special feeling about him,
that's all.
Well, your feeling doesn't seem
to take into consideration the facts.
There are
practical considerations here.
Scotty,
there were practical considerations
when I fell in love with you too.
I'm not saying
that we should jump into this, but...
Well, I was thinking
maybe we could have him over
for a weekend and get to know him.
I don't wanna get to know him.
I don't wanna hurt him,
and I don't wanna hurt us.
Jonathan, you asked me why
I wanted to have a kid,
and you were right. Part of it
was to see him do all the things I can't.
But part of it was to share
whatever I have with him.
I can't share my body with a kid,
I can't go out
and chuck the ball around with him,
but I can share my mind.
I have a championship mind.
That's what I have to give.
That's all I have.
What could I give to a kid like Todd?
Love.
Everything in life can't be answered
by that one word, Jonathan.
It was for me, Scotty.
He is mentally handicapped,
I am physically handicapped.
Why can't you see that?
Look, I don't wanna hurt the kid.
You tell him I'll go
to the big track meet-
The Special Olympics, whatever it is.
- when he runs his race,
as a friend, as a buddy,
and that's all.
I am not going to pick him up,
show up at practise
and all the rest of what he wants.
Well, I am.
- What?
- You heard me. I am.
Yeah? Well, I say you're not.
Scotty, ever since I've known you,
you've wanted to be considered
the same as any man.
What's that got to do with anything?
Well, tonight you've
achieved your goal.
You are as much
of a chauvinist jerk
as any man I've ever known.
I love you, Scotty,
but I won't take your macho junk
anymore than
I would some other man's.
Good night.
- Come on, come on.
- Come on.
Come on, come on.
Why doesn't Scotty
ever come down to practise?
Oh, Todd.
Todd, he doesn't want
to build you up to think
that he's gonna be your dad.
He just wants to be your friend.
But why doesn't he wanna
be my dad?
I think he's scared.
It's because I'm dumb.
- It's because I'm dumb, isn't it?
- Todd, no, it isn't.
Listen to me.
I think he's scared that if we adopt you,
he'll lose me in a way.
I really think that's a big part of it.
He's afraid that I won't have
enough time left for him.
And it's not just because
he's in a wheelchair,
and I have to do
a lot of things for him.
I think that's what any man feels
whenever a new child comes
into the family.
But I wouldn't be any trouble.
I promise.
I can make my bed.
I wouldn't leave my toys out.
He can even ask
Mrs. Burke at the home.
I can make my bed.
Oh, I know
you wouldn't be any trouble,
and I'm sure you'd help out at home.
- But, but--
- I gotta show that I can do stuff.
I gotta show him
I wouldn't be any trouble.
- Todd, it isn't that simple.
- Yes, it is.
It is simple.
If I win the race, he'll know.
He'll see me with his hat,
and then you'll know.
Todd, where are you going?
I gotta go back
and practise some more
so I can win the race.
Then he'll know.
Todd?