Break.
Now, let's see some hustle now,
some hustle.
Down. Set.
Go.
Run it again.
How you doing, Ricky?
Remember me?
Charlie.
Yeah. I'm fine, doing good.
- Hey, Ricky, let's go.
- Bye.
Keep your mind on the game,
rainy-day practise
doesn't mean slacking off.
Okay, throw left,
before he can sweep, then go.
Who's the girl, Rick?
She's a girl in my class.
I don't know her name.
- Oh, sure you don't.
- Look, I don't, okay?
She sure knows you.
"Oh, Ricky, remember me?"
Knock it off, okay?
Come on, ladies, move it. Move it.
Some hustle, come on.
- Ready?
- Break.
Down.
Set. Go.
You know, using the stuff is not fair.
I mean, I'm soaked to the skin,
you're dry as a bone.
Hey, you gotta take the good
with the bad.
What does that mean?
It means I'm dry, but I'm dead.
You're wet, but you're alive.
Dan, I understand,
but you have a responsibility
to the kids.
Couldn't you at least finish out
the rest of the season?
All right, I'll respect your decision.
Thank you, Dan,
and good luck to you too.
Afternoon, gentlemen.
Can I help you?
I'm Jonathan Smith.
This is Mark Gordon.
- I believe we talked on the phone.
- Oh, the football referee, of course.
- Please sit down.
- Thank you.
Not often that we get someone with
your qualifications to referee for us.
I'm just glad we're available.
I'm looking forward to the game.
Yeah, we drove all night
to make sure we'd be here on time.
You may have rushed for nothing.
One of the coaches just resigned.
We may not have a game
unless we find another coach.
Look, I don't wanna toot my horn,
but I've handled the pigskin in my day.
Used to play in college.
They called me Flash Gordon.
You mean, you'd be willing to take over
until I find another coach?
Sure, you know.
I like kids, love football.
Well, I'm sure the Minnows
will be thrilled to have you
as their coach, Mr. Gordon.
Oh, wait a minute, I'm gonna coach
a team called the Minnows?
Well, they're not exactly
the best team in the league
but they're a bunch of good kids.
What exactly is their record?
Well, they're and this year.
Looks like you've got your work
cut out for you.
You're playing the Bandits Saturday.
They're the best team in the league.
I had a feeling
you were gonna say that.
- Hi, kiddo.
- Hi.
Sorry I'm late.
Traffic was m*rder in this rain.
- Three, four,
- How do they look?
- They look pretty good, Dad.
- five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
All right, good job.
Go get your gear and take off.
You nervous?
A little.
- Ready?
- Let's do it.
Excuse me.
- You're Coach Diller?
- That's right.
I'm Walter Duboise.
This is my daughter, Charlene.
- What can I do for you?
- Well, we just moved here
and my daughter's interested
in playing football.
Yeah, well, the gym class
has touch football.
No, she plays regular football.
She was on a team in Baker.
She played wide receiver.
Not saying much for Baker, is it?
I started and we were and .
Look, I know it's a little unusual,
but she likes to play.
There's no rule that says she can't.
Just let her try out.
All right.
But I decide if she's not good enough,
I don't take her. Fair enough?
Fair enough.
Ricky.
Come here.
- This is my son, Ricky.
- Yeah, I know.
- Hi, we're in the same class.
- Yeah, hi.
Charlie wants to try out for the team.
- What?
- Hey, she's got a right to try out.
Go running up and back with her.
- Oh, come on, Dad.
- Go and do it.
Couldn't you get her
to try out for a girl sport?
She's got a mind of her own.
Yeah. If I was her father,
she'd change that mind pretty quick.
Okay, you guys ready?
- She's pretty good for a girl, huh?
- Not bad.
Let's see if she can catch.
All right, run a down-and-out.
Ready, go.
Hey, why don't you take it easy?
The other team's
not gonna take it easy on her.
Either she can catch
or she can't catch.
The other team isn't gonna have
a grown man throwing the football.
Hey, we got some pretty big kids
in this league.
Look, she's fast but she's still a girl.
Why don't you get her
to go out for track or something?
I can't use her.
Let's go.
She b*at the pants off you.
If I were you, I'd be ashamed.
- Looks like it's clearing up.
- Yeah.
I'll see you at the barbecue
this afternoon.
Okay, coach.
- Coach Diller?
- Yeah.
I'm Jonathan Smith, new league ref.
Yeah, you'll be doing
the game Saturday, huh?
Right. This is Mark Gordon, he's taking
over as coach of the Minnows.
- How you doing?
- I'm doing fine.
- You're in for a long day Saturday.
- Yeah, so I hear.
Well, at least the kids will have fun.
Losing is not fun, winning is fun.
Well, I'd hate to think that.
That would mean half the kids playing
aren't having a good time.
That's right.
And the only way to change that
is to become a winner.
We're having a team barbecue
this afternoon around at the house.
Why don't you and the coach join us?
Get to know the kids
and I'll fill you in
on what's happening in the league.
Sounds good. We'll be there.
All right, my address
is on the team sheet.
- I got it.
- See you.
- I don't think I'm gonna like this guy.
- Oh, come on now, Mark.
Come on, Jonathan,
let me be a little judgemental.
I'm only human, remember?
Coaching is sort of a passion
with me.
I love the kids.
I know I'm rough on them,
but they respect me.
Don't you think you might be
a little too tough on them sometimes?
Well, we only have a few hours
after school.
Can't be too soft on them.
Not if you wanna build champions.
We've won our division
four years in a row.
I work with him every day.
Looks like we're in for a rough time
on Saturday, huh?
- Well, I plan on doing my best.
- You're gonna win, right?
- You bet, Dad.
- Ricky?
The potato salad's ready.
Could you put it on the table, please?
I'm talking to Dad.
Richard,
do what your mother tells you.
- She's my stepmother.
- Just put it on the table.
I just remarried about a year ago.
There's still a lot of anger, you know?
Hey, it's never easy.
Look, I've got an appointment
I can't miss.
- Thanks for the invite.
- You bet.
- Hey, I'll go with you.
- No need.
Why don't you stay here? Maybe Vince
will give you some tips on coaching.
Thank you.
It was unfair.
There has to be somebody
I can talk to about this.
Dad, I don't wanna make
a federal case out of it or anything.
I'm embarrassed enough.
You have nothing
to feel embarrassed about.
Even I couldn't have caught
those passes.
None of the other boys
could have either.
Dad, I just wanna forget
about it now.
Don't you wanna play football?
Of course I do
but not if they don't want me to play.
They're wrong.
Vincent Diller is wrong.
You deserve to play if you want to.
I'll get it.
- Hi, Charlie.
- Hi.
How'd you know my name?
Oh, it's written right there
on you shirt.
Oh, yeah.
- Is your dad home?
- Who is it, honey?
My name's Jonathan Smith.
I'm the new league ref.
Oh, what can I do for you?
Well, I understand your daughter here
tried out today.
Yeah, if you could call it that.
That coach of theirs fired a b*llet
that nobody could catch
and they said Charlie was no good.
I know, I heard about it.
That's why I'm here.
Dad, I told you, I don't wanna make
a federal case out of this.
Hey, you know, in a way,
I think your daughter's right.
Look, a friend of mine's
coaching the Minnows.
They could really use some talent.
Hey, why not try out for a team
that really needs you?
I don't know.
I don't think that guy ought
to get away with something like that.
Well, I agree.
Why start a big deal
in the middle of the season?
Why not just go out
and play the game?
He's right, Dad.
All I wanna do is play.
Okay.
Hey, if it's all right, I'd like to come in
and talk to you about the tryout.
What about it?
As much as your daughter here
would like to forget it, she's a girl.
It's gonna prejudice a few minds.
- Okay, come on in.
- Thank you.
Break.
Down.
Set.
Go.
Are you okay, Mr. Gordon?
Oh, that was terrific, guys.
Now, why don't we try throwing it
to somebody on our team?
Let's try it again.
Hey, hold it. Hold it here.
What's all this grumbling?
We're playing the Bandits
on Saturday.
So? You gotta play somebody.
Yeah, but they're the best
and we're the worst.
I mean, we never win.
Well, with an attitude like that,
you are never gonna win a game.
Well, that's why our last coach,
Mr. Williams, quit.
Yeah, he said he was tired of working
with a bunch of losers.
All right, guys,
let me ask you something.
- Do you like to play football?
- Sure we do.
- Do you wanna win?
- Yeah, everybody wants to win.
Well, then you gotta think
that you can win.
But we can't.
I don't wanna hear "can't."
I don't wanna hear you say "can't."
I wanna hear you say, "We'll try."
- But, coach, it'll never happen.
- Never say never.
You just get out there.
You give it your best sh*t
and most of all, most of all,
you have fun, huh?
All right, let's go, Minnows.
All right?
- Coach Gordon?
- Yeah.
We hear you were looking
for a wide receiver.
Among other things.
- I'm Walter Duboise, this is Charlie.
- How you doing, Charlie?
I know it's a little late in the season
but we'd like to try out for your team.
- Charlie's a good receiver.
- Well, let's give him a sh*t.
All right, Charlie, why don't you go in
for the right end?
Break.
Down.
Set.
Go.
Look at that. He's great.
The Minnows would be proud
to have Charlie on the team.
Thanks, coach. Charlie, come on over
and say hello to your new coach.
Hey, that was some catch, my boy.
Hair's kind of long, isn't it?
She's a girl.
Hair's kind of short, isn't it?
I can't believe they let a girl
on their team.
Yeah, I can see her coming out
for a pass.
Wait a minute,
I got a run in my pantyhose.
What are you laughing at?
She b*at you in the .
No, I let her b*at me.
Sure.
I was just messing around, okay?
Come on. Come on, move it.
All right, come on, come on,
gather around.
What are you, tired, Rick?
It certainly can't be
from today's practise.
The two-minute drill today
was a joke.
You made one lame-brained mistake
after another.
- I'm sorry.
- Down for . Nobody is sorry.
You don't win football games
being sorry.
And after that, give me eight s.
Maybe next time, you'll b*at a girl.
And the rest of you,
any mistakes tomorrow,
we might have changes
in the starting line-up.
All right, that's all for today.
- Come on.
- She out run him.
Hey, you're pretty rough on your boy.
He can handle it.
He's just a boy. They're all just boys.
They're not professional athletes.
Look, you treat them like adults,
they'll respond like adults.
- It's great for building character.
- Oh, come on.
They're under enough pressure
at school and at home.
They don't need any out here.
Look, I don't know
who you think you are.
I'm a football coach.
I live in the real world.
Why don't you save that bunk
for some newspaper editorial?
We ought to teach that guy
to be a human being.
He's a strange one, all right.
You had a good practise today.
Looks like your team
may be turning around.
Yeah, it's my new end,
Charlene Duboise.
Never thought I'd say it:
Boy, that girl can play football.
She sounds like just
what the doctor ordered.
Yeah, the kids are all excited.
I hope they don't expect miracles,
you know.
Or should they?
Mark.
Come on, I'm surprised at you.
That isn't fair and you know it.
Oh, come on, Jonathan,
what are friends for?
The boss wouldn't mind
a little...kind of touchdown, you know?
Maybe he would mind.
Richard, please don't throw the ball
against the window.
Ricky, please. That's annoying.
Ricky, didn't you hear me?
I asked you to stop.
Listen, Helen, I heard you.
But this is my house
and I can do whatever I want.
Look, I don't know
what's bothering you
but if you wanna talk about it,
I'll be happy to listen.
Look, I'm not gonna love you.
So you can stop pretending
that you care.
You don't have to love me.
And I'm not pretending.
I do care.
Practise didn't go so well today.
Yeah, why not?
I don't know,
I couldn't do anything right.
Well, that's why they call it practise.
If you didn't make any mistakes,
they'd probably call it
"having a perfect."
Maybe someone should tell it
to my dad.
I mean, I couldn't do anything right.
He kept riding me. I hate it.
Oh, well,
I'm sure your dad just wants
what's best for you, Ricky.
How do you know?
You weren't there.
You didn't see him calling me stupid.
Look, Ricky, your father
can be really demanding,
but he loves you,
he just has some trouble
expressing it sometimes.
I don't need anyone
making excuses for me.
Ricky and I were just talking
about practise.
Sounds more like
you went crying to your mommy.
- We were having a discussion.
- Yeah, yeah, I heard the discussion.
You can't take the heat, can you?
You want me to treat you
like a little baby.
I've got news for you.
You're not a baby
and I'm not about to treat you like one.
I didn't say that.
I just said it was a tough practise.
You're damn right it was,
and they're gonna get tougher.
You don't get anywhere in this world
without good, hard work.
And you're not gonna make the pros
unless you're ready
to work your butt off.
I work hard.
- I gotta go meet the guys at the mall.
- Oh, sure, sure, run out.
Just what I'd expect from a loser.
Okay, Dad, let's go work now.
No, no, it's too late.
You should have worked today.
Be ready for tomorrow.
I'm gonna work your butt off.
You know, this is your fault.
Now he's mad.
From now on, just stay out of it, okay?
Stay out of it.
I swear, Ricky,
you gotta tell your dad to chill out.
He's only being hard on us
for our own good.
You really believe that?
If he didn't care,
he wouldn't get so upset.
He doesn't want us to be wimps.
- Hi, Ricky.
- Well, it if isn't Charlie "Du-boy."
Very funny.
Hey, I just came by to tell you
that I don't have any hard feelings
about not playing on your team.
You weren't good enough,
that's why you're not on our team.
If I'm not good enough,
then why did I b*at you in that race?
I let you win.
No way and you know it.
Are you calling me a liar?
- I can b*at you any day.
- Quit pushing me.
Don't tell me what to do.
I'll push you anytime I want.
Hey, I've gotta get home.
You'll stay here till she comes out.
You owe her an apology.
I don't owe her anything.
Look, she asked for it.
I wasn't gonna listen
to how much better she is than me.
Oh, so you were gonna show her
how much better you were, huh?
If she wants to play with the guys,
she's gonna have to play by our rules.
You're starting
to sound like your father.
Well, he's right.
Is he?
Do you think Charlie's
better than you are?
- No.
- Then why'd you hit her?
I felt I had to do something.
Okay, I just didn't think.
Look, I like Charlie.
I'm really sorry I hit her.
Then why don't you tell her that
when she comes out?
- You all right?
- It stopped bleeding. I think.
- Ricky wants to talk to you.
- I've got nothing to say to him.
He wants to say he's sorry.
Give him a chance, okay?
You wanna say something?
I'm waiting.
Well, if you're gonna be like that,
forget it.
Be like what?
I'm not the one
who started that fight.
Look, you didn't have to go around
bragging that you b*at me in the race.
I can't help it if I'm faster than you.
What difference
does it make anyway?
I guess it doesn't make a difference.
I'm sorry that I hit you. It was wrong.
Apology accepted.
You punch harder than I do.
I feel really bad.
- Are you gonna be okay?
- Yeah. I'm a tomboy, remember?
I don't even know why I did it.
This is gonna sound kind of funny,
but maybe it was to please my father.
I understand.
I mean, it's like I try so hard
to be exactly what he wants me to.
And if I'm not the best--
I thought I was the only one
who felt that way.
But you're a girl.
Whatever you do is okay.
I was supposed to be a boy.
I started with two strikes against me
from the beginning.
But everybody can see
that your father loves you.
I know. But that's why
I never wanna disappoint him.
Yeah, I guess it's kind of the same.
Must have been pretty hard
for you to say you're sorry.
Yeah.
- But I'm glad I did.
- Me too.
You're pretty neat, Charlene.
You're pretty neat too.
Can you eat a piece of pizza
with that thing stuck up your nose?
Yeah.
In a few minutes,
we'll be able to put those steaks on.
Oh, sometimes you can be
the sweetest man in the world.
Come on.
You know I'm just a big pussycat.
- I'm home.
- It's about time. We're in here.
Hi.
Mr. Smith dropped me off.
I'm sorry I was late.
Where have you been?
I saw Charlie at the video arcade.
We got to talking
about the tryout the other day.
And?
We got in a fight and I hit her.
You hit her?
I didn't raise my son to go around
b*ating up helpless girls.
Dad, I said I was sorry.
I knew I was wrong.
Well, I'm gonna show you
how wrong it was.
Vince, he made a mistake.
He said he was sorry.
Helen, don't go butting your nose in
where it doesn't belong.
Rick's my son.
I know what's right for him.
Upstairs.
Goodbye, Smith.
Don't worry, he won't hurt him.
He loves him too much to do that.
I hope you don't mind my asking
but how can you just stand there
and not say anything?
Vince is right.
I'm only his stepmother.
My husband has the right
to raise his son as he sees fit.
Doesn't he?
I'd say that was true if he were alone.
But you're his wife.
Vince and I
have a good relationship.
I don't wanna lose that.
Since when does trying to be a good
mother wreck a good relationship?
- It's not that simple.
- I didn't say it was simple.
But if you're ever gonna be a family,
you're gonna have to say:
"Hey, I'm part of this.
I'm not just here to keep house."
Look, I think you'd better leave,
all right?
Okay.
Hey, I don't blame you
for being angry.
That's what happens
when people say what they feel.
Maybe you ought to try it sometime.
Good night, Mrs. Diller.
What the hell is the matter with you?
It's supposed to be a five-step drop,
not a seven-step drop.
Where's your mind today?
Can't you do anything right?
Look, we've been doing this all day.
What difference does it make?
It makes a lot of difference.
We'll keep doing it until you do it right.
I don't care if we're here till Christmas.
Now, do it again. And use your mind.
Down.
Set.
Go.
Terrific. What, are you trying
to give the game to the other team?
- You threw it right to him.
- Look, just get off my back, okay?
Hey, don't badmouth me.
You'll be sitting on the bench,
you won't know how you got there.
- Now, just do it again.
- No.
- That's it. You're on the bench.
- Take your bench and shove it.
I quit.
That's great.
Walk away.
You're a quitter.
Wimp.
I never wanna see you
out here again.
All right, Crow,
take over as quarterback.
- How you doing?
- Okay.
You're off practise pretty early.
Well, I had a lot of homework
to finish.
Well, come on, jump in.
I'll give you a ride home.
- I quit the team.
- So?
I couldn't take it anymore.
What did your father say?
The usual.
I'm a quitter, a wimp.
And what about football?
What about it?
Oh, come on.
You love football and you know it.
Yeah, I know it,
but not playing for my dad.
Then play for some other team.
- What, are you kidding?
- No, I'm not kidding.
I mean, where is it written
you gotta play on your father's team?
Nowhere but-
But you're afraid.
Yeah.
Maybe he's right.
Maybe I am a wimp.
No you're not.
Look, I'd be afraid. So would any kid.
But doing what you think is right
is part of growing up.
You think you're doing the right thing,
don't you?
I know I am.
All right, then pump up
that heart of yours,
take a deep breath and do it.
- Dad, I--
- Oh, not now, son.
You wanna talk to me about
getting back on the football team,
we'll do it after supper.
Right now, I wanna enjoy my meal.
I wasn't gonna ask you
about getting back on the team.
Then what's there to talk about?
I want your permission
to play for the Minnows.
Is this some kind of a joke?
No, it's not a joke.
- I like football and I wanna play.
- Well, you had a team to play on.
You quit.
You're not gonna play
for anybody else.
I don't think that's fair.
You don't think it's fair.
You hear that, Helen?
He doesn't think it's fair.
Let me tell you something
about being fair.
How many fathers do you think
would spend hour after hour
trying to get you guys
to be a good football team?
How many?
None.
And how many days a week
do I spend working on your game?
Every day.
What do you do? You quit.
You walk out.
How do you think that made me feel
in front of those boys, huh?
How do you think it made me feel?
- I know it bothered you.
- Bothered me?
You broke my heart.
You understand that?
You broke my heart.
And now you wanna play
for another team.
Go on and get out of here.
Go on.
It's all right.
It's only me.
I thought you might wanna talk.
What's there to talk about?
You heard him. He makes the rules.
I never should have let Mr. Smith
talk me into this.
He said, "You have to do
what you think is right.
That's part of being a man."
Well, I guess that's part
of being a mother too.
Vince, I want you to let him
play for the Minnows.
What?
Who is it gonna hurt?
It's gonna hurt me, that's who.
Didn't you listen to anything
I had to say at the table?
Yes, I listened. I always listen.
And now it's time
that you listened to me.
When we got married, we knew
it wouldn't be easy with Ricky.
I thought after a time,
that we could be a family.
- Come on. We are a family.
- No, no.
You and Ricky are a family.
A family that isn't getting along
very well right now, but still a family.
I am just an outsider
with no right to an opinion
as to how that boy should be raised.
- He's my son.
- And he's my stepson.
And we live in the same house.
And I can't make him love me,
but I can make him respect me.
And I can make him think of me
as a friend
if I'm given the chance.
- Helen--
- Let me finish.
I've stood back
and I've listened to his insults,
waiting for you to do something.
Well, I was wrong.
Now, from now on,
when he's wrong,
I'm gonna let him know it
in no uncertain terms.
And when he's right,
I'm gonna let him know that too.
And this time, I think he's right.
So I'm giving him permission
to play for the Minnows.
And one more thing.
If your son ever decides
to play football for you again,
I want those practises cut down
to three days a week.
I know it doesn't seem important,
but I want him to learn to read.
You're playing for the Minnows.
Dad said I could?
No, your stepmother said you could.
Have you done your homework?
No, I have some math left to do.
Well, do it
or you won't play for the Minnows.
What are you doing here?
Look, I had to tell you,
I'm on your team.
- What?
- Yeah, I quit my dad's team.
- I couldn't play for him anymore.
- He let you play for us?
No, but my mom--
Well, my stepmom did.
I couldn't believe it.
We've only got one more day
till the game.
I mean, we've gotta practise,
get our timing down.
- Yeah, I know.
- Wait.
Let's go.
- Now?
- Yeah, the pros play at night.
Okay.
Okay, down-and-out to the right.
- Touchdown.
- Yeah.
Gather around, gather around.
Now listen up.
This team is and .
If they're gonna do anything
against us, they gotta throw the ball.
Now I want pressure
on that quarterback, you understand?
- Yes, sir.
- All right.
Coach, I'd feel a lot better
if Ricky were playing for us.
We'll do fine without him.
You boys are ready.
We don't need him.
All right, guys,
you've worked hard all week long.
You know the plays, you're ready.
All I'm asking you to do
is to go out on that field
and have some fun, all right?
I mean, this is a game,
it's no big thing.
There's something like
don't even know we're here today.
And if they did know,
they couldn't care less what happens.
So let's have fun. Say that with me.
- Let's have fun.
- Let's have fun.
- I can't hear you guys.
- Let's have fun.
Come on, let's have your hands here,
come on.
- Go, Minnows.
- Minnows.
- Go, Minnows.
- Minnows.
Go.
All right! Yeah!
Yeah.
Time out.
Hold them, hold them.
Okay, we've got three seconds left.
Time enough for this one last play.
Go right, all straight, on go.
- Ready?
- Break.
Down.
Set.
Go.
Your son played a great game today.
Yeah, for the other team.
That's the best game
I've ever seen him play.
You taught him all the skills.
What you never let him do
was just play.
He had a lot of fun out there today.
Maybe you're right.
I guess I never saw it that way.
You take care of yourself.
Tough loss.
Yeah.
Kid played great, didn't he?
Yeah, he did.
I was proud of him.
Are you gonna tell him that?
Yeah, I'm gonna tell him that.
Hold it, Mark. Mark. Mark.
- Can that girl play football or what?
- Are you telling me?
Listen, with Charlene
and Ricky on the same team,
I think we can make the playoffs.
Hey, Charlie. Charlie.
- Charlie?
- I'm here, Dad.
Can I go to the dance
at the school tonight,
at the school?
You wanna go to a dance?
Yeah, I do.
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah, sure, why not?
Thanks.
I'll see you at home, Dad.
I don't believe it.
She's acting like a girl.
Well, don't take it
like you're losing a wide receiver.
Take it like you're gaining
a quarterback.