02x03 - The Second Coming

[bunniefuu]

Are you f*ck' watching this?

Yeah, I'm f*ck' watching.

The Celtics have won their
14th NBA World Championship

and though Boston may be green,

the man synonymous with
all those wins is Red.

I could not be more
proud of these boys!

This is where hard work and
determination and teamwork come together!

Well, he couldn't do
it without his phenom,

a champ in just his second
year as a professional.

And though Easter may
have come and gone,

for the Boston faithful in basketball,
they found their second coming.

There it is

Yeah, ah, uh

Yeah

Okay

Ah, 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

Headin' in or headin' out

Standin' on the shore

Pause a moment to reflect

Which trip cost you more

Between the ever restless crowds

And the silence of your room

Spend an hour in no man's land

You'll be leavin' soon

Victims come and victims go

The Hoosiers have a lot to look
forward to in their '73-'74 campaign.

You're talking about a team
that's already coming off

a 23-and-5 season

where they won a share
of the Big 10 Conference,

tied with Michigan.

Hey, Pop.

Whatchu doing in town?
Ain't you got practice?

Weekend off.

Well, hell.

Let's have a beer.

No, thanks.

Suit yourself.

- How's your mama? You drop in?
- Not yet.

I'll stop by later.

Well, if she sent you
here, that means I'm late.

I already told the law man.

She ain't send me.
I wanted to see you.

I don't know why you would.

- Y'all'd be better off without me.
- Don't say that.

Well, it's the truth.

Only-est thing I ever did
right in this world was you.

My big old college boy.

I dropped out.

What'd you say?

Wasn't meant for me.

Don't feel right there.
I ain't one of them.

Lord gave you a ticket
somewhere's better

and you're too g*dd*mn
afraid to cash it in.

That ain't it! I was at IU and

here was all I thought about.

That's 'cause you're
thinking small!

You wanna see your future here?

Well, you're looking at it.

I thought you were
gonna change that.

I ain't going back.

Well, you're your own man.

You can do what you want.

Now, you ain't just throwing
it up, though, right?

You gotta let it roll
off your fingertips.

Easy as pie.

So easy, why you ain't
do that against Houston?

Say what?

Yeah. That was one of the worst
bricks I've ever seen in my life.

And I've been
around for a while.

- Hey, look now!
- Lost a game,

ended the whole damn season.

- Shame, shame, shame.
- Yeah.

- Larry Bird would've passed.
- Sure would. Hard worker, too.

That's why his a*s
just won a championship

and you're here teaching kids.

Wish I was in Boston
instead of bum-a*s Lansing.

I wish I was Larry Bird.

- Bet you do, too.
- Mm-hmm.

Why did my parents waste
their money on this camp?

- Yeah, you're a punk.
- Larry Bird would've passed.

Larry Bird is the king!

Hey! Y'all show
some damn respect!

- Earvin.
- Huh?

Get 'em working on some layups.

Yes, sir. Right on
it! Come on, kids!

Layups are important!

- Come on, let's go, pass me the ball!
- Let's go!

- I'm open!
- Half and half, half and half, right here.

- Pass it here!
- Come on, let's go.

Yo, you alright, man?

Yeah. Yeah, all good.

Yo, Coop. Coop.

Last year, so when they
gave you a extension,

you ain't ask or nothin'?

No. Surprised me.

I mean, it was the
craziest sh*t ever, right?

Imagine. One minute,
I'm making this much,

and then the next minute,
I'm making 10 times more?

For doing the same thing?

I mean, I couldn't believe it!

And you know, I always
thought they hated me.

Mr. West, Mr. Sharman, I thought
they was gonna cut my a*s,

to be honest. But nope.
They must love me.

Man, I wanna be
a Laker for life!

Yeah. Congrats, Coop.

What the f*ck went wrong?

Well, it starts with the leader.

- That's you, no?
- It is.

But the fact that you even
have to ask me that question

sort of proves my
point, doesn't it?

The pecking order is not clear.

And last year, I was
undercut by management.

What I need to do the job
that you have hired me for

is more authority.

You gave the b*stard too much
damn authority is what it is.

He shot down the
David Thompson deal

just to prove his f*ck'
point and shot us in the foot.

That nutty professor's liable
to blow this whole team up.

- Ask anyone.
- I'm asking you.

- Me?
- Yeah.

Does Paul have their respect?

Paul's a brilliant guy.

They respect him.

So who the hell is the problem?

Your boy Magic.

You know, I am disappointed
in that answer, Norman.

I read all that
crap in the press

and I was hoping that they
were twisting your words.

And frankly, I thought you
were a bigger man than that.

Me? Dr. Buss, I was not the
one to miss that shot, okay?

He had four
m*therf*ckers wide open!

Me? Cap? Coop? Silk? sh*t!

Chick Hearn might've
been open, too.

But, no. His happy a*s
had to be the hero.

Now, everybody else might be too
scared to say it to your face.

The problem on this team is
Magic motherfuckin' Johnson.

You think Earvin got too
big for his britches?

Magic reached out to us,
through his representative.

He's asking for an extension
beyond his current deal.

An extension?

We got him under
contract for five years!

But he's asking for more.
Security, long term.

Yeah, which begs the
f*ck' question.

Why? Huh? What does
he know that we don't?

Every doctor and his mother
looked at that knee, Jerry.

Probably next season,
he'll be back to form.

But if he isn't, those five
years you have on the books,

they're gonna feel
like an eternity.

If he wants more money,
and if you give it to him,

that sends a signal
to all the other guys

that you value him
over everybody else!

We appreciate your
presence, Dr. Buss.

Let us take care of
the urgent matters.

Get Kareem and the
other guys locked in.

If there's something
left in the coffers,

then you can make up
your mind about Magic.

And what the hell am I
supposed to do until then?

Just be patient.

sh*t, I'm gonna be late.

Don't tell me you're
taking a night off.

Monopoly. It's a family thing.

I always figured your dad
was more of a Twister guy.

If I can just convince him to
approve more money for Martina,

I think we have a shot
to f*cking win it all.

- What?
- Glad to know you're not all business.

Okay. Dreams are coming true.

Sorry I'm late, guys! I ran
into traffic on Sepulveda.

Can I set up the board?

Jean-bean! The choo-choo
left the station.

Sorry, you're gonna have
to sit this one out.

Remember Honey?

- Yeah. Hi.
- Yeah?

You used to wear my high heels.

- I see you have your own now.
- Yeah. All grown up.

Yeah.

Yeah, Honey took
your thimble, so.

No. Oh, sh*t.

No one said anything
to me. I'm sorry.

Pull up a chair,
sweetie. Come on!

See, I told you
she wouldn't mind.

It's alright. You
know, when we started,

sometimes I'll go pony,
won't I? Sometimes.

It's fine. It's fine. We told
you to pick whatever you want.

Yeah, pull up a
chair, Jean-bean!

You know, Dad, I don't know how closely
you've been following the standings

- but the Strings are doing really well.
- Super!

Yeah, and Anna has the best
first serve in the whole league.

Oh, sh*t, I'm going to jail.

Here we go!

But the thing is we could get
even better for the playoffs.

San Diego bit the dust
and so they're shopping

Martina Navratilova.

Anyways, I just need a little
bit more money for her salary.

- And so, I was thinking...
- No, no. No, hon.

No business at the table.

- Huh?
- Since when?

Since it's my turn. Here,
blow a little luck on those,

will you, Honeypot?

- I'll go. Okay.
- Here we go.

One, two, three, four, five.

Here we go. St. James.

My diamond in the rough.
Alright, take that.

I know Martina from the
circuit. I could give a call.

Maybe, yeah, I don't own all...

Ah! Okay, alright. Here we go.

Okay, I need a drink.

- Hon, will you grab me a Coke?
- Tab.

That's right. A
Tab, please. Sorry.

This girl wants your old
man around for a while.

- That's right.
- Oh, sh*t.

f*cking kidding me? I
just got out of jail!

What'd you do now, Jim?

Yo, Lar?

Break already?

Gimme a sec to take a
leak. We'll get it runnin'.

Nah, man. It's your pops.

Ah, sh*t. What'd he do now?

Oh, come on, Chet. Y'all can't
lock him up for being broke.

Tell Mom he's good for it.

Hell, I'll even chip
in and make it right.

Ain't that, son.

Are you ready? Keep 'em shut!

Wait! Wait!

Open sesame.

Oh!

My God...

- What is this?
- What's it look like?

- Like you bought every flower in LA.
- I tried.

Why did you do this?

'Cause I'm falling
for you, Honey.

Boys! You did a
great job on this.

Go ahead and take the rest
of the night off, alright?

Top-notch, boys.

Champagne? Caviar?
Pick your poison.

I really like my life.

I worked really
hard to get here.

I know.

If there's going to be a
striptease, I need to get my purse.

No, that won't be necessary.
This one's on the house.

You know why?

Mm-mm.

Our love is alive

And so we begin

It's our song, baby.

Foolishly laying our
hearts on the table

Stumblin' in

Our love is a flame

Come on.

Burning within

Now and then,
firelight will catch us

Stumblin' in

Wherever you go

Whatever you do

Don't hurt me, okay?

These reckless thoughts
of mine are following you

I'm falling for you...

I thought you said Buss
was making time for you.

Yeah! Used to be we
talked for hours.

Now he acting like I
wanna borrow money.

Well, maybe take that hint.

That's Lansing thinkin'.

Earvin, if they haven't
committed to you,

why are you so
committed to them?

Same reason I'm talkin' to you.

Excuse me?

You got yourself
a new man. Kinda.

So, I just gotta put
in a little extra work.

Doin' the same thing over here.

Get both of y'all remember
how much you love me.

Well, I hope you and Buss

live happily ever
after, but I gotta go.

Virgil's taking me to Cameo.

Yeah.

Bye.

And in sports across
the country today,

the city of Boston was
awash in Celtic Green.

The team's celebrating its
13th championship victory

on the back of hero Larry Bird,

who was spectacular in the
series against Houston.

The same team, of course, that
eliminated our hometown Lakers

in the first round.

Yes. Kupchak is the
best man on the market.

Yeah, well, there you
go. Hey, what the f*ck,

throw in your first
born while you're at it.

- Buss has given me authority...
- He costs too much.

- On personnel.
- Well, there you have it, huh?

That's right. What the
f*ck are we doin' here?

- Jerry, just calm down.
- Just pulling our little dicks...

- Jerry!
- No, no, no, Bill! I get it! I get it!

Little prince here,
he's made up his mind.

I mean, sh*t. Come on.

Pat! Pat! What are you doin'?

Come on in here. Come
on, take a look at this.

Do me a f*ck' favor

and please talk some f*ck'
sense into your boy here!

Didn't know there was a meeting.

Sorry. It skipped my mind, Pat.

Right there! Huh?

- You're going with Kupchak?
- Oh!

You don't want him
either, do you?

No, of course f*ck'
not. You know the type.

Hell, you were the f*ck' type.

Big, pasty Tonka truck, playin'
like a f*ck' hockey goon.

I mean, no offense, Pat. Okay?

So, please, Bill, just
do me a f*ck' favor.

Let me send Elgin down there,
put him through his paces

and find out if this big body
we're buyin' ain't a lemon.

- Yeah.
- Oh, my gosh. Jerry,

I need you to read the files.

I already sent my own
guy to check him out.

Your what?

Mike Thibault. He's
an old friend of mine.

He has a terrific eye,
so I sent him down

to scout the b*ll*ts-Boston
playoff series.

And guess what he said?
Kupchak is right as rain, so.

That reminds me. Bill,

I'm going to bring on Mike
as my new assistant coach.

My second assistant.
Don't worry, Pat.

It's a new thing the league
is doing. Multiple assistants.

You guys, you'll catch up.

It'll take some of the load
off. Alright, gentlemen.

Enjoy your pastries. Breakfast.

Keep me updated.

What a time to be alive.

I'm gonna go talk to Buss.

Yeah.

Paul.

This has nothing to
do with you, Pat.

It's about your
friend there, Jerry.

Look, he really put us on
the back foot last year.

That Thompson thing.

I can't let it happen again
so I need somebody loyal.

- Somebody I can trust to do my scouting.
- What...

You stopped trusting me?

If you did, then say
so. Do me a favor.

We're good, Pat.

- Go, go, go, go, go!
- Come on, now.

I've got that lovin' feeling

I've got to turn loose

I've got that lovin' feeling

'Cause I ain't got nobody

Who I can turn on to

'And I ain't got nobody

To give my lovin' to

I've got that feelin'

Yeah

I've got that feeling, yeah

Oh!

I'm going out tonight

Gonna put my good clothes on

Yeah, then I'm going downtown

To see what's going on

I'm gonna check out the ladies

And see if I can get anyone

- What you so happy about?
- Oh, sh*t.

n*gga, you looking like Earl
the Pearl out there, man.

Yeah! This m*therf*cker
wasn't even playing.

I don't wanna hear that, man.

- We gotta get back to work.
- Yeah, aight.

How about y'all work
on your game instead?

Yeah, he talkin' to you!

Gimme some competition.

Well, I can get you competition.

- Told you I ain't interested.
- You said that last week.

This is this one.

- sh*t.
- Hey. Maybe that's a sign from God

that you should come
to Indiana State.

Against the law to
be following a man.

It should be against the law

to squander all that
talent in the backwoods.

I'm parked right up
there, if you want a lift.

f*ck you.

If it gets you to sign,
I might consider it.

Unless you're just afraid
you lost your touch.

Can't hang with the big boys.

Not a lot of people around these
parts gets them a second chance.

Most mess up the first.

That's it, for the
rest of their life.

And the way time works,
that special thing runs off

to a more grateful suitor.

They look up one
day, and it's gone.

Now I don't know about you, but that
would scare me straight to hell.

Larry, no one gets to be as
great as you are at this thing

unless they love it.

Why are you acting
like you don't?

Just one practice.

Nice work, gentlemen.

Give me the f*ck' ball.

Before I do, just understand

we don't do profanity
at Indiana State.

Gimme the ball.

You want some shorts?
Sneakers, maybe?

Good like this.
Don't lose count.

Well, you heard the
man! Give him the ball!

Hello there, ladies
and gentlemen

Hello there, ladies and gents

Are you ready to rock?

That's six.

Hello there, ladies
and gentlemen

Hello there, ladies and gents

Are you ready to rock?

Thirteen, Coach.

Would you like to
do a number with me?

Would you like to
do a number with me?

Would you like to do

Twenty-four.

Would you like to
do a number with me?

Hello there, ladies
and gentlemen

Hello there, ladies and gents

- Thirty.
- Hoo!

Are you ready to rock?

Thirty-three!

Hello there, ladies and gents

Are you ready to rock?

sh**t, sorry. I lost count.

- Forty-one.
- Oh.

Would you like to
do a number with me?

Forty-three.

I thought you said there'd
be some competition.

Hope it gets better
than this, Coach.

Okay! Well, you can tell Martina
that we're just thrilled.

My father's all aboard. Mm-hmm.

Okay. Thanks.

You traded my
f*cking girlfriend!

They needed a trade
for compensation.

- It's not personal, Johnny.
- How is that not personal?

Oh! I know how! 'Cause you
don't give a sh*t about me!

Okay, first of all,
Dad made the trade.

And second of all, I told you
not to get involved with her.

She's an athlete and
this is a business.

No, I was in love, Jeanie.

You're just jealous that I have
a life outside of this sh*t.

Outside of hoping that Daddy
just pats me on the head

like a Pekingese for doing good.

Well, guess what? It's
never gonna happen!

You could bring him
home a hundred trophies.

You're never gonna
be his favorite son.

Five years in this
league is long enough.

Any more than that
is a lifetime.

It's ballsy, I'll say that.

- Takes moxie.
- Let me guess.

That's what he likes about it.

I wish more kids I knew
had that kind of spirit.

And I know you think I'm
nuts for even considering it

but join the club.

Don't we pay Bill and Jerry to
make these basketball decisions?

This is not about basketball.

It's about people.

I told Earvin we're
in this together

and now, he's just
asking me to prove

that I'm not just another rich
old b*stard blowing smoke.

Jerry, he's asking
you for more money.

Money has nothing to
do with it, Claire.

It's about passion.
It's commitment.

So I won't be paying
him with money?

Because right now,
we don't have any.

We were counting
on a playoff run

and now we're four
million in the red.

So you can make Magic
a lifetime Laker.

Just know, there is a good
chance he'll still be here

after you go belly-up.

My source says DC is prepared to
match any offer for Kupchak up to 750.

That's almost as much as Kareem.

Yeah, people pay a pretty
penny for the Great White Hope.

But look, West isn't wrong.

Alright? If it's
too rich for Buss,

- there's other guys out there...
- Come on!

- Kupchak. Kupchak is our guy.
- Oh, then you're in luck.

Dr. Buss just gave
me the green light.

He's ready to go up to 800,000.

Okay. There we go. Look, this
guy listens to me after all.

Well, he listens to Dean Smith.

Buss called him. He vouched
for the kid's character.

Says Kupchak's as fine a Tar
Heel as he's ever coached

and worth the money.

Right. Well, I've been
saying the same thing, Bill.

And now, you got your man.
All we need now is a sweetener

to compensate DC.

I figured Chones, but Riley
almost bit my head off.

- You talked to Pat about this?
- I ran into him.

What? You two didn't
talk about this?

- We talked about it.
- You did?

Yes.

But then, Mike and I
dug in a little deeper.

I'm prepared to cut him loose.

Okay. Fair enough.

This is some f*cking bullshit!

That's what gives you value and
that's why we had to trade you to DC.

Oh, so I'm a product now, huh?

- It's the truth.
- That's f*cked up, Bill!

Well, it's the way
it is. It's business.

I got a family here!
f*cking bullshit, man!

- Jim, just calm down.
- It's f*cking Westhead, ain't it?

- I know it! Where's he at?
- Calm down.

Where's that m*therf*cker?
f*cking bullshit, Bill!

- No, it's not. It's business.
- It's bullshit, man!

- Calm down, Jim.
- It's Westhead, ain't it?

- That m*therf*cker!
- It's business, alright?

Where's he at? Where's
that m*therf*cker at?

- What's up, Jim?
- You ain't heard?

Heard what?

Oh, you ain't told
him either, huh?

- Well, that means you next.
- Next what?

- What the f*ck's going on?
- DC's what's next!

How the f*ck you gonna
trade me with no heads-up?

- What, you traded him?
- I got triplets

and a g*dd*mn house
I just bought!

What the f*ck am I supposed to
tell my wife when I get home?

- Man, I didn't know.
- For that f*cking white boy

Coach got his d*ck all hard for?

f*cking Westhead, man!
That m*therf*cker, man!

- I can't believe you.
- Hey, Jim, Jim.

- No, don't touch me!
- Jim.

- Open the f*cking door!
- Jim. Hey.

I know you in this m*therf*cker
hiding like a b*tch!

That's why no one don't like
you or respect your a*s!

- Get the f*ck off me!
- Cool it. Relax.

How the f*ck you gonna
pretend to be my friend, huh?

- I didn't know.
- f*ck you! f*ck you,

and this backstabbing-a*s
organization!

You m*therf*ckers!

Got a English teacher
coaching a f*ck' NBA team.

What the f*ck is
wrong with y'all?

f*ck, come on.

You gonna open the door,

or do I have to call the
fire department? Come on.

What the f*ck, Paul? Chones?

The last time I checked,
you valued my opinion.

No. I follow your opinions
without questioning my own.

And that's gonna stop right now.

- That's gonna stop.
- Jesus f*cking Christ.

Do you want me gone?

Just say the word. Just say
the f*cking word! I'll go!

Just don't take it out
on Jim or anybody else!

I don't want you gone!

But I do want you to
respect the pecking order!

What pecking order? What the
f*ck are you talking about?

Personal relationships
with players?

Side talks with Bill?

These are things
that an assistant

ought to seek permission for
before overstepping their bounds.

The issue is not you, Pat.

The issue is perception.

And if people are coming to
you as a voice of authority,

that undermines my own.

Who the f*ck stood by you, man,

when you didn't know your
f*ck' head from your hole?

Who stood by you?
Who respected you?

Always!

From the get-go!

Even when you didn't deserve it!

Pat, I value you and
your position here

as my lieutenant and

you know, as long as you carry yourself
in such a way that everybody understands

that that's what you are, then I
really think we can still thrive.

f*ck you.

Thirsty?

I got Bud

and Bud.

I'll take a Bud. Thanks.

So

You got me in kind
of a rough spot here.

I spent my pick
on you last year,

been waiting patiently
for a commitment.

You don't sign on before draft
day, you go back into the pool.

I'm sh*t outta luck.

Yep.

That ain't a commitment.

You knew what you were
risking when you picked me.

Told you I was
gonna stay at State.

Finish what I started.

You told me you were gonna win.

Team game.

Never took you as the
type to make excuses.

Ultimatums, on the other hand.

Here I am, offering the
biggest rookie deal in sports,

and that shyster you got on your payroll
comes back to me with a list of bonuses?

Fifty large if you
make all-rookie?

He tell you what I told him?

f*ck himself.

That was meant for you.

Bob told me what else you said.

"Bird's a corner man.
That's all he is."

That's right.

Least important of the
three major positions.

Center, fast guard,
then corner man.

No one's ever built a franchise
based on a corner man.

Then why the f*ck you
standing in my living room?

Look, Larry.

I'm gonna give you
three good reasons why,

come draft day, you're gonna
be wearing Celtic Green.

Hope one ain't Boston.
Big city ain't for me.

Oh, and LA is?

Boston is working-class people.

People at the bottom who
ain't got what to root for.

People who do hard
work with pride.

If that ain't you, just say so.

I'll head back to civilization, stop
wasting both of our precious time.

But if it is...

if you're the kinda guy
with a fire in your belly

who don't love winning so
much as you hate to lose

then you're a Celtic.

What's reason two?

No one's ever built a franchise
squad around a corner man.

But if I did...

I'd need the greatest
who ever lived.

Wanna hear the third?

I'm listening.

If you go back into
the draft this year,

it's you and Johnson.

The guy who kicked your a*s.

You don't think these
other owners saw that game?

You're still willing to
bet they pick you first?

Thanks for the Bud.

Mr. Auerbach.

Still pick me first?

Every day and twice on Sunday.

Because you're a g*dd*mn Celtic.

Dr. Buss?

Mr. Magic is waiting.

Thank you, Setsuo.

You ever wonder how they sell
a billion of these things?

I figured it was the clown.

If no what it is, I can take it.

The contract? What
I'm asking for?

That is why we sitting
here, ain't it?

- Yeah, I suppose it is.
- Look.

I know it ain't
right asking for more

while I still got time on
what you already given me

but I see what happens
to dudes in this league.

One minute, love 'em.

Next minute, ship
'em someplace else.

Or even kick 'em right
out the front door.

I don't want that
happening to me.

I love the Lakers. Wanna
be here my whole career.

Then again, I don't wanna be a
place that don't feel the same way.

Well, lucky for both of us,
I feel the same way you do.

- But you're saying no.
- No. If I say no, you'll hear me.

You know me. I don't
pussyfoot around.

What I'm saying is if
I do decide to do this,

I need to know that you're gonna
hold up your end of the bargain.

Well, I'm always
gonna play to win.

I'm not talking about playing.

I'm talking about leadership.

You go waving this contract
in everybody's face,

that causes a problem that
I don't wanna deal with.

What, so, what?
We keep it secret?

We could tell the press

it's just an extension of
your current situation.

It's a multi-year,
multi-million-dollar contract. Period.

And then, the league
keeps the details sealed.

And what exactly
is them details?

Well, I was thinking 25 years.

Can't nobody play that long.

For 25 million.

Earvin. This is not
about you finishing out

your playing years
in purple and gold.

This is a lifetime commitment.

I told you you were my family.

And I meant it.

It's pretty hard not to
believe you right about now.

But there's the
thing. This is a team.

If I elevate you
above everybody else,

there could be blowback.

I can deal with them.

Just like you dealt
with Norm last year?

But that was some other sh*t.

And it's a problem.

Twenty-five years?

That's what he said.

And 25 million dollars!

That's a lot of money, Earvin.

Enough for us to live on.

On the biggest hill there
is, right on the ocean!

- Us?
- Come on, Cook. We gon' be together.

You can keep playing this
little game about your boy.

His name is Virgil.

Okay, let's say I make the
biggest mistake of my life,

leave him, and come back to you.

Let's say it! Now we talkin'!

It's not happening in LA.

- That's where I'm at, though.
- That's my point!

It's too much
going on out there.

Fast women, fake people.

I'm a Lansing girl.

Hold up.

So you saying I gotta
leave here to be with you?

It's not happening anyway, so
why are we discussing this?

But if we was, you telling
me I gotta be, what,

a Piston? A Pacer? A plumber?

I'm out here where everybody wanna
be, making all the money in the world,

and now I gotta give
all that up for you?

I'm not asking you
to give up anything.

We're not together, Earvin.

And way it sound,
we ain't gonna be!

I'm marrying the Lakers and
anybody wanna be with me

gotta be married to 'em, too.

You know what? You and
Virgil have a good night.

Norman!

- Ha, ha! Dr. Buss!
- Get in here!

- Yeah!
- I hope you brought your appetite!

- Yep. Yep. I did.
- I stole Setsuo here from Sammy Davis Jr.

He puts on quite the spread.

Is that right? Well, hey,
pulling out all the stops.

Hey, man, I'm just happy that
we get to do something finally,

- you and me.
- Yeah, we don't do it enough.

That's why I wanted you to come
over, have a little brunch,

- clear the air.
- Ah, man.

Oh, Magic's here,
too, by the way.

Hey, you lookin' fly!

You looking fly as hell
with that jacket, man.

Hey, check out the spread!

Get you some deviled
eggs. They good as a mug.

Woo!

Make yourself at home.

Get him a plate
here. There you go.

Here, take a little fork.

Alright. Well!

Guys, you know we all wish last
year had turned out different

but it's no use crying
over spilled dreams, right?

What I'm trying to
do is figure out

what went wrong and how
we get back to winning.

Why you asking me?

Well, we all read
the papers, Norm.

I mean, come on. You know how
the press be. Twisting sh*t.

Yeah. Yeah, that they do, but
they don't make up quotes, Norm.

So, let's just
call it like it is.

If you think Magic is
stealing too much attention,

you gotta say that, you know?

Better out than in.

You know, Dr. Buss, I
just play basketball.

You're damn right you
do and you do it well.

But this is a
question of chemistry.

You know what I'm saying?

I just want people to be happy.

Norm, I just want
you to be happy.

And if you two can't be
happy on the same team,

well, that's something
we can deal with.

Because truly,

I could trade you to
any team in this league.

Any team would be
happy to have you.

You're that good.

I ain't asking to
go nowhere, Dr Buss.

No?

- No.
- Because if we're being honest,

I cannot have another
losing season.

I just can't.

So if you got something on your
chest, now's the time to say it.

We are all ears.

It's all good.

- Yeah?
- Yeah.

I love LA

and I love playing
for the Lakers.

And Buck?

We good.

Earvin? What do you think?

I think Norman

should stop eating my melon.

I had to mess with
him a little bit.

Well, we're one big
happy family again.

- Yeah!
- That was easy.

- Eat up! Come on.
- Let's eat something now, huh?

Only one way to get through this

and that's by telling
each other the truth.

A past that's sprinkled
with the blues

A few old dreams

That I can't use

Who'll buy my memories

Of things that used to be?

There were the smiles

Before the tears

And with a smile

Some better years

Who'll buy my memories

Of things that used to be?

When I remember

How things were

My memories

All lead to her

I'd like to start

My life anew

But memories

Just make me blue

A cottage small

Just built for two

A garden wall

With violets blue

Who'll buy my memories

Of things that used to be?

When I remember

How things were

My memories

All lead to her

I'd like to start

My life anew

But memories

Just make me blue

A cottage small

Just built for two

A garden wall