Brian's Song (1971) - full transcript

thisisastoryabouttwomen,

Onenamedgalesayers,
theotherbrianpiccolo.

Theycamefromdifferentparts
ofthecountry.

Theycompetedforthesamejob.

Onewaswhite,
theotherblack.

One liked to talk a lot.

The other was shy
as a three-Year-Old.

Our story is about how they
came to know each other,

Fight each other...

Andhelpeachother.

Ernesthemingwaysaidthat
everytruestoryendsindeath.



Well,thisisatruestory.
yo!Headsup!

Here you go.
Thanks.

- Gale sayers?
- Yeah.

Hey. Brian piccolo.
We met up in buffalo

In that all-American
game last june.

Sorry. I didn't remember.
I'm not very good at that kind of stuff.

Oh, golly.
Hey, that's all right.

I can see how you might forget,
but, well, i sure couldn't.

Thatwasaheckofatalk
wehad, man.

I said, uh, "i'm brian piccolo.

I hear we'll both be playing
for the bears."

And you said...
Well, i'll never forget it.

You said, "uh-Huh."
Just like that. "Uh-Huh."

Whenever i'm feelin' kind of
low and depressed, well,



I think about that advice.

A lot of guys wouldn't have
talked to me at all,

But not you.

You just said, "uh-Huh."

Just like that. Right out.

Uh-Huh.

Where do i go to check in?

Oh, uh, that building over
there. That's where halas is.

Uh-Huh.

Hey.

Did you ever meet him
before?

Talked to him on the phone
a couple of times.

That's all.

Yeah. Well...

Look, let me give you
a little hint, all right?

See, he's, uh...
I mean, he's a good guy and all that,

But he's a little deaf
in his left ear.

And a little
too vain to admit it.

You understand?

So you gotta stand on his
right-Hand side

If you want him
to hear a word you say.

Uh-Huh.
Okay. Thanks.

You bet. Hey, rookies
got to stick together.

Pardon me.
Can you tell me the way to halas's office?

Thank you.

Come in.

Well, sayers.

I'm george halas.
Yeah, i know.

Everybody knows
who you are.

You're just in time to give me
a hand with this thing.

My good luck picture.

That's the first professional
team i ever played on.

Decatur staleys in 1920.

How's your leg?

I understand we...

I understand where you hurt it.

It's fine. One hundred percent.
And your head?

My head? Uh,
nothin' wrong with my head.

Good. 'Cause being in that all-Star game
put you three weeks behind everybody else.

Ain't gonna be easy.

Nfl ain't supposed
to be easy.

That's right.

All i can promise you
is a fair shot.

But you're gonna have
a lot of company.

John arnett, ralph kurek,
brian piccolo.

Gonna be plenty...

Gonna be plenty crowded
out there.

Well, a fair shot is all i want.
Can't ask more than that.

Well, we plan in using our
backs as receivers this year.

Did you do much...
Did you do much pass catching when...

When you were in college?

Uh, well, yes, sir.
I did.

Uh, usually, uh,
safety valve stuff.

Yeah. Well, i like to keep
my backs in a pattern.

That is, unless the other
team's blitzin'.

And that's something
you're gonna have to watch.

Those linebackers.
You gotta make sure they're not coming in.

I know.
Especially with...

What the hell
are you doing?

I... I don't know
what you mean.

Well,
i know you got moves,

But you don't have to
show 'em to me now.

You're bouncin' around here
like a...

Like a pauper
in a pay toilet.

Well, i was just tryin'
to get on the side

Of your, uh, good ear.

Good ear? What are you
talking about, "good ear"?

Uh...

Uh, brian piccolo, uh,

Said that, uh...

He, uh, said, uh...

Uh...

Hey, sayers.
We're gonna have to stop meetin' like this.

My wife's startin'
to get suspicious.

Hold it down. Hey.

Some of you cats
that pulled in today...

Haven't had a chance to hear
what's gonna be expected of you.

So hold it down
and let me talk.

Now, you new guys are gonna
get a playbook tomorrow.

It'slikethebible.

Now, you lose your playbook,
it's gonna cost you $1,000.

Listen, i heard this thing
twice already today.

One,zero,zero,zero.

Lose your playbook,
it costs you $1,000.

Lose it a second time, they
cut off your right foot

And feed
it to the defensive platoon.

Would you cool it, please?

Hey, i am just trying
to be helpful.

Like you helped me with halas?
Well... Mr. Sayers!

I was just mentioning the fine for talking
at team meetings. Did you hear what i said?

No, i did not.

Well, the fine for talkin' at team meeting
is $25. And it's just been laid on you.

Canyoudigthat?

Yeah.

Sorry, man.

hey, hold up. Whoa.

It's been brought to my attention that
unless sayers was saying his beads,

It might be fair if mr.
Piccolo would sing us a song.

Saylikemaybe
afightsong.

Wake forest,
right, mr. Piccolo?

Yeah. That's right.

You can't let it get to you.
It's just a question of style. Style, i say.

excuse me.

* oh, here's
to wake forest *

* considered the finest *

* her sons, they are many
unrivaled by any *

* with hearts o'erflowing
they will sing a hymn *

* rah, rah *

* oh, alma mater's
sons we are **

**

Sit down!
Come on!

All right.
Let's go to ten, nice and loud.

Start off slowly.
Ready. Exercise.

One, two, three, four.
One, two, three, four.

Dig,dig,dig!
Whatthehell'swrongwithya?

You're not tryin'!

You're not tryin'.

You make me sick.

thoseuniformswerejustloaned
toyouguys.Youknowthat?

We'regonnaletyoukeep'em
aslongasyouplay likechicagobears.

The minute you start
tiptoeing around,

We're gonna want those
uniforms back, gentlemen.

Now,42trap.
Sayersup.

Way to go, way to go,
gale!

that'smorelikeit.

good execution, charlie.
That's it.

Allright.Allright!

ready,set,go.

Ready,set.

Ready,set,go.

Go,go,go!

Man, i think it's workin'.

What's workin'?

I'm gettin' you
overconfident.

ready, hup.

Plant. You gotta plant your right foot, boy.
That's dumb.

Yeah, uh, practicing
the halfback option.

Well, see, i haven't got the lock
that you have on makin' the team,

And halas said that they're gonna
use that option a lot this year.

And, uh, it's not one of my
strong points. Understand?

Try going to your left.

They don't look for a right-Handed
guy to throw going to his left.

Okay.
I will. Thank you.

Hey, sayers.
I did say thank you.

I know.

Well, that usually calls for
a response. Like, uh,

"You're welcome," or "how's your mother?"
Something.

"How's your mother?"

Well, she's very fine.
Thank you for asking.

you're welcome.

hup, hup.

ok, firstcut .
Wheredowestart? backfield.

brenner. Daniels.
Cut. Cut.

Sayers?
areyoukiddin'?

Charles? Shoothim.
Justifiablehomicide.

Whataboutpiccolo?
He'stooslow, andhe'stoolight.

Butidon'tknow, ed.
Hehangsinthere likeaterrier.

Let'skeephimtill thefinalcut.
okay.

Hup, hup!

Hup!

Piccolo, you bone-Headed spaghetti eater!
That was fake draw, screen right.

What the hell do you do
on fake draw, screen right?

Well, on a fake draw,
screen right,

I pick up the linebacker,
if he's comin'.

Unless its butkus, then i simply notify
the quarterback to send for a priest.

all right. Knock it off.

Don't encourage him.
Let's run that again. Come on.

we'renotholding thismanup.
iknowwe'renot.

That'swhywe'rehere.
Don'ttellmeaboutthefool, becauseiwasthere!

Come in.
The problem is...

I saw him!
We gotta get pressure

From this man to hold us up.

He's not giving him pressure!

He didn't at the time!

Hello, gale.

Sitdown.

You know ed mccaskey, j.C.

I'll call you back on it, all right?
Want some iced tea?

Yeah. Please.

There you go.

I'll tell you what we want to
talk to you about, gale.

See, i'm, uh...

Well, i'm an old-Timer
in a lot of ways.

At least that's what
some people keep tellin' me.

But i don't think it's all that
common for a man of my age to...

Well, to be used to the way
things are.

To be comfortable with things.

What it comes down to
is that j.C. Had a notion here,

And ed seems to think
it's a good idea.

And i guess maybe we are due
for some changes around here.

You want me to play flanker,
not running back. no!No.

No, it's not that simple, gale.

It's j.C.'S idea, and yes,
i did agree with him.

Thisis1965,

And we'd like the bears
to room together...

According to position,
without any regard to race.

So we'd like you and
brian piccolo to room together.

That's all?
That's what this is about?

- Is that all?
- Yeah.

You had me worried.
I thought it was something really...

This is something, really. A white man and
a black man roomin' together on a team...

That's never been done before.

You're gonna be called a tom
by some blacks

And uppity nigger
by some whites.

When we go on the road, man, i'm
talkin' about atlanta, houston,

Miami, new orleans.

It ain't gonna be no better in detroit
or minnesota or san francisco...

Or any other town we play in.

You gonna rock the boat,
sayers,

And there's people out there
that's already seasick.

What j.C. Is saying is that there
may be some pressures. Severe ones.

Now, what do you say?

Hi. Gonna be
roomin' together.

Says who?
Who else?

that'sterrific.

Sort of a shame he couldn't ask
me how i felt about it, isn't it?

Look, you want me out?

Nah, i don't want you out.
Stay. I guess i'm just...

Steamed at the old man for not puttin'
me in that scrimmage this afternoon.

That your, uh...
That your wife?

Yeah.
Pretty.

So's yours, and the little girl.
Thanks.

Supposed to call her tonight,
tell her how i'm going.

I guess that might be the
shortest phone call in history.

Maybe not.

Pick. They wouldn't
assign us to room together...

Unless we both made the team.

That's right, isn't it?

Uh-Huh.

Come on. Let's go call our wives.
I just called...

That was just practice.
This is for real. Come on!

Congratulations on making
the team, gentlemen.

Well done. You know coach halas
kind of frowns on hazing...

Ofnewmen.
Butnowthatyou madetheteam,

It's like you're one of us!

Welcome to the chicago bears!

passfrombutkustosayers
completeforatouchdown...

Forthebears.

Beautiful game.

Is playing in the nfl any easier
than you thought it would be?

My first game.
I'm not exactly an expert.

J.C. Caroline says he hasn't seen anybody
carry the ball for the bears like that...

Since willie galimore.
The blocks were there.

That's not what you said
last night.

You called the offensive line the, uh,
seven blocks of silly putty, i think it was.

- Pick.
- You're brian piccolo.

Sure, uh, that's right.
Piccolo. P-I-C-C-O-L-O.

You two are the only black and white
player rooming together on the team.

Uh, any problems so far?
Not as long as he doesn't use the bathroom.

pick.

hey,uh,gale,whenyourun,

Doyouthink aboutwhatyou'redoing,
ordoyoujustdoit?

ijustdoit.
Well,startthinkin'aboutit, willya?

Iwannaplaysometoo.

better save it. Anyway...

Concannon calls this trap play, see?
You know what a trap play is?

Um, uh, yeah.
I think so.

A trap play is when
all the linemen go one way,

And hopefully the defense goes the same way,
and if they do,

See, there's a big hole,
and if they don't, well, it's bad news.

Anyway, concannoncalls
thistrapplay,

And, uh, it's beautiful...
43 yards... Wasn't it 43?

And halas sees he's tired...

And sends me in,
so i go in.

He comes out. Concannon figures he's
gonna get really foxy, you know.

Concannon is...

He says, "same play."

Verysameplay.

Trap play is also
called a "sucker" play,

Because it makes the defense
look real bad when it works.

And defenses do not like to look real bad,
see. Makes 'em kind of surly.

Anywaygo this way,nemen

And it's like i am
looking at a team portrait...

Of the los angeles rams.

Hey, deacon, merlin.
How's the family, rosey?

I was afraid to get up. I figured not
everything was gonna come with me.

You've never seen anyone so
black and blue in your life.

It's like i'm roomin'
with a colored player again.

Gale told a joke!

The stone face
from kansas speaks.

All right. Hey, chicago!
Chicago!

Sayers speaks!
He speaks.

hey,blackmagic,

Listentothisletterigot.

"You must have been raised
with pigs

To stay in the same room
with one of those darkies.

"You mustnothavebeentaught
anythingwhenyouwereaboy.

Youmusthavecrawledout
fromundersomeslimyrock."

isthatall?
'Cepttheusual.

" Love, mother."

magic, ithinki'mgonna
writeyouaspeech.

whatkindofspeech?
Anacceptancespeech.

Rookieoftheyear.
Youcan'tmiss.

andigottagiveaspeech?
Noway.

The man we're honoring tonight was a two-Time
all-American at the university of kansas.

He was the top draft choice
of the chicago bears of 1965,

And three times during the course of the
season, he gained 100 or more yards.

Perhaps his best individual
performance came last december...

All right. Go ahead.
From the top. All right.

I wanna thank you all
for this honor,

But i really think it's not
right to give it to one man.

Uh... Football
is a team sport.

And, uh...

here he is, rookie of the year.

Start from the top. Look up.

Gale sayers!

Uh...

I'd like to thank you all
for this honor.

Though it's not really right...

Thank you.

Who'd believe it?

I mean, who would
ever believe it?

Dumb.

All right. Let's go.
On the line. Davis. Turner.

Ready, set, go.

Seely, riles.

Ready, set, go.

O'bradovich, caroline.

Hey, since when does the defensive lineman
have to race the defensive halfback?

You're not racing against me.
You're racing the clock.

I ought to have a handicap.

Well, you said the defensive
backfield

Was your handicap
all last year, o.B.

Aw, shut up. You're
still a rookie to me.

Cut it out.

Pick, get back in line.
Ready, set...

You just get in? Yeah.
I would've been earlier,

But my plane got
fogged in, in detroit.

Ready,set.
You look like you're in pretty good shape.

I been workin' hard all winter.
Did you get a chance to talk to linda today?

No. Why?
Thought you might've heard.

Joy's expecting again.

Hey, that's great.
We think so.

If it's a boy,
we'd like to name it after you.

Ready? No kidding.
It's got a real nice ring to it.

Go!
Spade piccolo.

lastseasonis history.
You'regonnarunand hitandhurtandrunsomemore.

Allright.Let'sgo.
Forty-Twotrap.Piccoloup.

brian, that's the way
to go!

see,sayers,that'swhy
youwillnevermakeit.

Pizza has magical properties

That give italian guys a lot
of speed,

You understand?

Oh, yeah. A lot of great
italian running backs.

That's right.
There are.

There's leroy kellian,
lennie morenelli.

All them guys.
Hey, j.C. Hey, brian.

That sunday's lineup?
Yeah.

What's the backfield?

Concannon,
ralph kurek and you.

Come on, magic.
Pizza's gonna get cold.

Come on.
Let's go there!

yougothimnow!

bears'ball.Firstandtenon
thesanfrancisco42-Yardline.

Come on, bobby! Let's go.
All right, let's go, bobby!

Yours, gale. Twenty-Eight toss.
And on three.

All right. Let's go.
Come on.

Let me help you.
No.

Gale, it's just so good
to have you home.

It's good to be home.

Can i get you anything?

Nope. I'm fine.

It's almost lunch time.
Would you like a sandwich or something?

No, i'm not hungry.
You go ahead though.

Well, i left the kids at joy's,
so i guess i'd better go pick them up.

Will you be all right?
Yeah.

- You sure?
- Yes! I'm sure.

* theirsons,theyaremany *

* unrivaledbyany *

* withheartsa-Glowing
theywillsingahymn *

* rah, rah *

* wake forest, rah *

* old alma mater's sons
we are **

That you, magic?
Yes,itis.

Thought you'd never get here.
What are you doin' down here?

Now, that is not a bad act.
But peg leg bates does do it a little better.

What is that thing
supposed to be?

Thatisnotsupposedtobe
anythingotherthanwhatitis,

Which is a leg-Lift machine.

What for?
Whatfor?

Well, getting that knee
back in shape...

Is not gonna be
a take-It-Easy proposition.

Well, if you're afraid,
i mean, that's understandable.

I'm not afraid.

You ought to be afraid,
gale.

I am not afraid. I'm just tired of bein'
bugged by reporters, linda, you!

Hey, you know, you are
a real charmer, sayers.

An absolute saint.

Look, maybe you think
it's a real friendly thing...

Hey. You can stick that
in your ditty bag too,

You dumb jackass.

You know, gale, when, uh...

When i was in high school,

I was one of the best backs
in the state.

Unfortunately for me
the best back in the state,

Tucker fredrickson,
went to the same school.

The colleges used to come down
and watch us play.

And, uh, ol' tuck, he wound up at auburn,
and i wound up at wake forest.

Goodschool,niceplace.
But,uh...

Well, not exactly
center ring. You understand?

So i worked my tail off
at, uh, forest.

My senior year i led the nation
in rushing and scoring.

I mean, i led the entire nation.

So i go look for a pro team,
and i pick the bears.

Now, who else comes to
the bears? Mr. Sayers.

Big guns, big school.
I'm number two all over again.

Well, ol' buddy,

I'm number one guy now.

But for all the wrong reasons.

Unless you come back 100%,

Well, people are gonna say
piccolo got in on a pass.

I'm gonna whip you, sayers.

But you gotta be at your best,
or it won't mean a thing.

You're not gonna be one second
slower or one degree weaker.

I am gonna work your tail off
to get that leg back in shape.

For my sake.
You got that?

now for sports. In los angeles,
the chicago bears...

Trimmed the rams
by a score of 17 to 16.

Quarterback jack concannon
was eight for fourteen passing,

And the running game was ably
manned by brian piccolo,

Who gained 105 yards
in 14 carries.

Piccolowasawarded
thegameball.

Alsoonthewestcoast,
the san francisco forty-Niners...

hello. Dr. Fox.
This is brian piccolo. How'shedoing?

Prettywell,brian,ithink.
Thoughitisboring...

Goingthroughallthose
exercisesallbyyourself.

It'sdrudgeryandit's painful.
Alotofpeoplejustgiveup...

Whenthey'realone
inthatsituation.

four.That'sgood,babe.

Five!

no way.

Now, don't bone me, man.
Come on. Hang tough.

Five more and that's it
for tonight.

Comeon.Fivemore.
Gettough.

that'ssix.

Seven.
Get it up.

Eight.
no way. No way.

Can't make it, huh?

Nigger. Chicken nigger.

Oh, pick.
Don't make me laugh, please.

"I know what i'll do.
I'll call gale a nigger,

And he'll do all of them reps,
he'll be so mad!"

too much.

Nigger, nigger.

Lay off. What was i supposed
to do, call you a wop?

Now, that would
make me mad.

what are you guys doin'?

You wouldn't believe it, baby,
but he...

Brian tried to call me
a nigger!

First man to the stand
for a beer. All right?

You're on.

I think i...
I owe you a beer.

i think...

I owe you...
a lot more than that.

Ah.

Two beers, please.

you're healthy.

Yeah!

what do you think, training camp
is some kind of a country club?

Isthatwhatyouthink?
Becausenoman'sassured ofajobaroundhere.

Andifyouthinkyouare,
yougotanotherthinkcoming, gentlemen!

Get 'em up.
Get 'em up.

Get'emup.Get'emup.
Comeon,pick.

ow! Ow!

**

come in.

Hi, brian.
Oh, hello, coach.

Mind if i come in?
Oh, no. Not at all.

Gale. How's the knee?

Feels strong.

Excuse me, coach.
If you wanna talk to gale here for a while,

I'll just, uh, go down...

No. Actually, i want to
talk to the both of you.

Well, how things look this year, coach?
Good. Real good.

Matter of fact, there's one boy
i'm very impressed with.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him
replace you as number two halfback.

'Cause i'm gonna make you
number one fullback.

Hey, pick! You and me, starting backfield!
What do ya say?

Coach,ididn'tthink it was possible,
but i think you foundthewaytoshuthim up!

touchdown,piccolo.

Sixtyyardsandatouchdown
forgalesayers.

hey,pick?
Yo.

Youknow,yougota4.3
rushingaverage?

no, but hum a few bars.

I'll see if
i can fake it for you.

oh,pick.

touchdown,piccolo.

Two hundred and forty-One.

Holloway.

Holloway, 251.
Piccolo.

hey, gibs!

Scrimmage tomorrow teach us
some new trick plays?

Is how to keep some meat on you.

You're down another pound.

What there is is all choice.

Two-Oh-Six and a quarter.

Skinniest fullback
in the league.

Oh, gibs, i don't know
what's the matter with you.

First you sweat all the fat
off us,

Then you complain
we're too thin.

You're a very hard man
to please.

Get outta here.

Sayers.

Ought to tell your italian buddy
toloaduponthepasta.

Maybe he just wants to be
quicker, gibron.

Ten pounds lighter?
Half a second slower in the 40-Yard sprint?

It ain't workin'.

comeon,brian!
Hitthathole!Hitit!

What'swrongwithyou,
piccolo?

What is it, gale? Is he really hurting?
Gotta move! He's not hitting.

comeon,baby,comeon.
Wegottagetit.

comeon,baby,comeon!

Nice block.
Thanks.

Must be 90 million pounds
of pollen in the air.

You ought to get dr. Fox to give
you something for that hay fever.

Huh?
He did.

The only thing
i'm allergic to is nietzchke.

Come on!
Stick it in their ear!

Good game, kid.

Looking at you, i'd never know
we won the game.

I don't feel very much
like i'm a winner about now.

Why not?

Gale, i'm sending brian piccolo
back to chicago.

He's not gonna finish
the road trip with us.

Ralph kurek's
gonna start next week.

Why?

Because i've always had
a policy on this team,

Right from the start,
the best players play, no exceptions.

Rightnowkurek's
thebestplayer.

A lot of guys take a while
to get started.

Piccolo has never been
one of those guys.

He's always been in shape,

Willing to give
a hundred percent.

But he's not doing that anymore.
That's what worries me.

idon'tknowwhatitis.

Could be something physical,
or it might be an emotional disturbance.

- Something with his wife, children.
- Pick? Come on!

Well,something'stakenthe edgeoffofhim.
Igottafind outwhatthatsomethingis.

For his sake
as well as the team's.

When's he gonna find out?

Abe's tellin' him now.

That's why i didn't want you to
go back to the hotel right away.

Ah.

I wouldn't want to be
in abe's shoes right about now.

I wouldn't want to be in your
shoes about ten minutes from now.

Who'd believe it?
I mean, really, who'd believe it?

Halas just wants you
to see the doctor.

Halas don't know
what he wants.

Gibron's his boy.

You should have heard that lecture.
Wants me to patch things up with joy.

I say things are fine
with me and joy.

He just smiles that father
flanagan smile of his...

And tells me i shouldn't
be afraid to level with him.

Dear abby in a jockstrap.
Pick,befair.

Dr. Fox says...

Hey, don't give me no crud

About our great team doctor.

Wants me to get a physical
for the cough. No allergy.

What is it, i say. He says,
"well, it could be a virus.

Could be a staph infection.
Could be any one of a thousand things."

Like being treated
in a damn chinese restaurant.

Two from column "a."
Three from column "b."

He's just tryin' to help.

Yeah.

Yeah.

well, i...

I guess you're right.

It's all so pointless, gale.

I mean, i know perfectly well
what's wrong with me.

Gale, i, uh...
I think i'm pregnant.

**

**

Yeah.
Hey, coach.

Which end of the field you want
me to take if we lose the toss?

Come in, gale.
Close the door.

We just got a call
from the hospital.

Brian piccolo has cancer.

Oh, god.

They've scheduled an operation
for tomorrow morning.

An operation to do what?

Gale.

They're gonna have to remove
part of brian's right lung.

thedoctors
havenoexplanation.

It's just something that brian carried
around inside of him all his life.

What kicked it off,
they don't know.

Whether or not
they got it in time...

Well, i'm afraid
they don't know that either.

Who's gonna tell them?

I'll tell 'em.

no.

I'll tell 'em.

you,gale?

That's right, me.

I'll tell 'em.

Let's go.

Let me have your attention
a minute, fellas.

Come on over here.

Gale has something
he wants to say to you.

Gale.

Uh...

You, uh,
all know that...

We hand out
a game ball to...

The...

Outstanding player.

Well, i'd like
to change that.

We just got word...

That brian piccolo is...

That he's sick, very sick.

And, uh, it looks like, um,

He might never
play football...

Again.

Or...

For a long time.

And...

I think we should
dedicate ourselves...

To, uh,

Give our maximum effort...

To win this game...

and give the game ball...
to pick.

We can all sign it...

And take it up...

To the hos...

Oh, my god!

fantastic!
Couldyoubelieveit?

Sayers,imean,
you'vegotsomemoves onthefield,

Butinthelockerroom,
youareonebigklutz.

Now, listen to me.

Listen, now.

When you dedicate a game
to someone,

You are then supposed
to go out and win it, idiot.

You know, pat o'brien never said,
"let's blow one for the gipper."

man, you is so bad.

We probably would have
won the game...

If concannon had called
that trap play more,

But he sort of hates to call it
without you in there for the repeat.

Well.

Gale.
Thank you.

Thank you.

Mmm. Beats ham hocks,
don't it?

Ahh.

Hey, anybody
wanna see my scar?

Out. Out, now.
No discussion. Out.

What's the matter? Why?

What'd we do?
We just got here.

Thank you, gang. See you later, guys.
Thanks for coming.

You just gonna lay there?
Hey, j.C., Hang on to this, will you?

Later, pick.

Oh, babe, uh,
take gale down...

And have him give that little
girl his autograph downstairs.

A little girl i met
the day i came in.

Had her operation
the same day i did.

Told her i'd get her
your autograph.

You don't mind,
do you?

No problem.
I'll be glad to.

All right.
You go.

It's time now, mrs. Piccolo.
Thank you.

I'll be right back.

Won't ya?

May i help you?

My name is mrs. Piccolo.
My husband's a patient on the third floor,

And he told me about
a little girl... Patti lucas...

Who wanted
this gentleman's autograph.

Uh, mrs. Piccolo,
patti isn't with us anymore.

Oh. Well, do you have
a home address?

Mrs. Piccolo, patti's...

My husband wanted her

To have the autograph
very much.

Come on.

Mrs. Piccolo, patti's dead.

Shepassedaway
earlythismorning.

Nothing wrong with that knee,
i'll tell ya.

Congratulations,
dr.Piccolo.

Yeah.

You know what, joy?

I've been thinking.

With gale healthy
and ralph kurek healthy,

I'm gonna have a real tough time
getting back in that lineup next year.

So, i was thinking,

What's so difficult
about being a kicker?

I mean, i was just wondering if it was
something you could teach yourself.

Huh? 'Cause you
don't need...

A great amount of wind
or stamina or size.

Well, what do you think of my brainstorm,
old gloomy gus?

well, i don't know, brian.

I mean, i'm no expert
on kickers and things.

You just ran an end run
red grange would be proud of.

Don't make fun of me, brian.
I'm scared.

- Well, what of?
- "What of"?

You can't be serious.
You know perfectly well what of.

No, i don't.

I swear to god
i don't, honey.

Now, look, i'm, uh...

I'm no idiot.

This thing i got's bad.
I know that.

But, uh, well,
it's just a detour, joy.

I'm not gonna
let it stop me.

I'm just not.
There's no way.

I got too much
to do yet, joy.

pickitup!Pickitup,
youdummy!Gale.

now,mr.Piccolo,
calmdown.

"calmdown"?
Howcanicalmdown?

You'dthinktheball
waswearingawhitesheet.

Well, i was gonna catch it, but when it
started coming down, i said to myself,

"I wonder what pick would do
in a situation like this,"

And dropping it
seemed to be the answer.

Well, at least you won the game.
That's right.

Yeah. And you didn't dedicate this one to me,
though, did you?

Nope. Dedicated it
to butkus.

- Why?
- 'Cause he threatened us.

how are you doin',
pick, seriously?

I, uh...

I'm, uh... I'm
hanging in there, magic.

Just doing what
they tell me to do.

Hey, listen.

You do me a favor, huh?

You got it.
Name it.

Call joy, will ya?

When she left here tonight, she, uh...
Well, she was really down.

I never saw her that down,
you know?

uh-Huh. I'll call her
as soon as i get back.

- Thanks, i appreciate it.
- Okay. Bye.

Phone call for mr. Sayers. Lady says it's
an emergency. She seemed very upset.

I'll take it.
I hope i did the right thing.

I'm sure you did.
Thank you very much.

Gale.
Thank you.

From joy piccolo.

I know it's an awful thing to ask you to come
back here in the middle of the night, but...

It doesn't bother us,
so don't let it bother you.

Joy, why don't you
just say it?

They found
more of the tumor.

They, uh...

They told me this morning that
they want to operate again.

Mm...

I was going to tell brian,

But i-I just couldn't, gale.

I mean, i don't know whether or not
he can take the disappointment.

And if he can't,
i know i can't.

The, uh...

The doctor is going to
tell him in the morning,

And if you
could be there, gale,

Itmighthelp.

I'll be there, joy.

What'd you try?
End run.

Oh, lordy.
I had my linebackers in a blitz.

All right.

Well, did you gain
or what?

come in.

Oh, i'm sorry
if i'm disturbing anything.

Comeonin.
Notatall.

I can beat him later.
What can i help you with?

Well, i know this is a bother at
a time like this, mr. Piccolo,

But hospitals have rules and regulations,
you see.

I need your signature on this.
What is it?

Well, it...

The doctor has been here,
hasn't he?

He'stalkedtoyou, imean.
No, why?

Oh,well...

I'll stop back a little later.
No,wait.

What would the doctor
have to say to me?

Mr...

Talk to me, magic.

Um...

The tests show...

There's more of the tumor
than they thought, pick.

Theyhavetooperateagain.

so if you'll
just sign this consent, mr...

Uh-Uh.

But, mr. Piccolo...

I said no, man.
Are you deaf?

Mr. Sayers, can't you
talk to your friend?

Mr. Eberle, i think i'd
rather talk to you.

Uh...

Brian is a professional
athlete, mr. Eberle.

A professional gets into
a habit after a while.

He gets himself ready
for a game,

Mentally as well
as physically.

Because he knows those two
things are all tied up together.

And there's a clock inside,

And when the game starts,

He's 100 percent,
mentally and physically.

Now, what brian is saying,

Is that you're scheduling the
game before he can get ready.

Now, couldn't it wait
until over the weekend?

- Well, yes, it could, but...
- Then let it.

First thing monday morning,
mr. Piccolo?

I'll see you then.

- Thanks, magic.
- No sweat.

It looks like
i scored a touchdown.

Mr. Piccolo, we're gonna
put you to sleep now.

that,uh,couldn'tbe...

Theworstchoiceofwords
i'veeverheardinmylife.

thewinnerofthisyear's...

George s. Halas
most courageous player award,

Gale sayers.

I'd like to say a few words about
a guy i know... A friend of mine.

His name is brian piccolo,

And he has the heart
of a giant...

And that rare form of courage which allows
him to kid himself and his opponent...

Cancer.

He has the mental attitude
which makes me proud...

To have a friend
who spells out courage,

24 hours a day,
every day of his life.

Now, you flatter me...
by giving me this award.

But i say to you
here and now,

Brian piccolo
is the man of courage...

Who should receive
the george s. Halas award.

It's mine tonight...

And brian piccolo's tomorrow.

I love brian piccolo,

And i'd like all of you
to love him too.

And tonight,
when you hit your knees,

Please ask god to love him.

Hi, magic.

How are you doing,
pick?

Oh, i'm...
I'm hanging in there.

I heard what you did at that,
uh, banquet last night.

You know,
if you were here i'd kiss you.

I'm glad
i'm not there then.

Hey, gale, they, uh,
tell me you gave me a pint of blood.

Is that true?

Yep.

That explains it then.

Explains what?

I've had this craving
for chitlins all day.

I'll be there tomorrow.

See you then.

All right.

I ain't going anywhere.

Gale.

How is he, linda, really?

Hurry, gale.
Please hurry.

brian, gale's here.

hello, black magic.

So bad.

a racist is what
you are, man.

A bigot
from head to toe.

You better
believe it, man.

How are you doin', pick?

Oh,

It's, uh, fourth and eight,

And they, uh...

They won't let me punt.

Go for it, then.

I'm trying, gale.

Jesus...

Jesus, god, i'm trying.

Hey, uh,

Remember when you...
got me with those mashed potatoes?

You deserved it.

The way you sang
that dumb fight song.

And that 32 trap play.

Remember?

I'm... I'm gonna...

I'm gonna get you next training camp.
I'm gonna get you.

I'll be waiting.

Hey, gale, i'm...

I'm feeling a little,
uh, punk,

S-So i think i'll, uh,

Try to... Try to
get some sack, okay?

Okay.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Mmm. If you say so.

brian.

I love you, brian.

I love you.

who'd believe it, joy?

Who'd ever believe it.

brianpiccolodiedofcancer
attheageof26.

Heleftawife
andthreedaughters.

Healsoleft agreatmanylovingfriends
who'llmisshim...

Andthinkofhimoften.

But when they think of him,

It's not how he died
that they remember,

Butratherhowhelived.

Howhedidlive.