North Dallas Forty (1979) - full transcript

A semi-fictional account of life as a professional (American-style) football player. Loosely based on the Dallas Cowboys team of the early 1970s.

(ON RADIO)

And good morning, Dallas.

Ron Chapman on KVIL.

We've got a gorgeous morning

working outside.

Temperatures at 8:00

in the morning

standing already

at 68 degrees outside.

We expect them

to go up to, oh,

75 degrees sometime

this afternoon...

(SHATTERS)

(SIGHS)

(GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

(GRUNTS)

Oh!

(GRUNTS)

(EXHALES)

(EXHALES)

(CROWD CHEERING)

(SCREAMING)

Get his ass

out of there, Jo Bob!

(LAUGHS)

I ain't touching

no faggot!

Faggot!

(ALL LAUGH)

Give me five!

Get out of there

before you drown,

asshole.

Get out of there.

Let's go hunting.

I ain't going hunting.

What? Come on!

Let's kill something!

Get up.

Come on.

No! Get out of here!

Oh, come on,

you goddamn...

We just want to kill

a little something. Come on.

Yee-haw!

(GUNSHOTS)

Ha! Damn!

See that old cow

out there?

Want to see her run?

Oh, Christ,

they're shooting at cows.

Hell, they're too drunk

to hit anything.

Don't worry about it.

Oh, man,

they're just crazy.

(GUNSHOTS)

Oh, my God.

(SIGHS)

(LAUGHS)

Do you know something?

Hmm?

JO BOB:

O.W., did you see that?

I can't figure out

how I dropped

that turn-in.

It happens.

No, man, not to me

it doesn't, you know?

Jesus Christ,

you caught the game.

Let it pass, pal.

Relax. Enjoy yourself.

It's a pretty day.

Man, I had that ball

right in my hands.

I just couldn't hang on

to the damn thing.

(SIGHS)

John Henry, the man

is just like you.

He's never satisfied.

(GUNSHOTS CONTINUE)

(JO BOB AND O.W. LAUGH)

Hey, I'm going to dump

these suckers up here.

(TIRES SCREECH)

Gee whiz, son!

God dang, the marines

have landed!

(SHOUTS)

(BUGLE BLARES)

Come on out!

Surrender, you suckers!

Ha!

Come on, O.W.,

go and fake them

fuckers up.

Elliott, where's

your gun, man?

Freud says that guns

are an extension

of your dingie, Jo Bob.

That son of a bitch.

(LAUGHS)

He's a regular wise-ass,

you know that?

Hold up, O.W.

B.A. wants me

in his office tomorrow.

Oh, yeah?

Must mean I'm going

to start, huh?

I doubt that, poot.

What the hell do you mean?

I made some great catches.

They can't keep me

on the bench forever.

Son, you ain't never

going to get off

that bench

till you stop

fighting them suckers.

You got to learn

how to fool them, man.

Give them

what they want.

I know. I've been fooling

them bastards for years now.

For Christ's sake, man.

If you start pretending

to be somebody else,

that's what you're

going to end up,

being somebody else.

God damn it, if I didn't

like you, boy,

if you didn't have

such great pair of hands,

I'd keep my mouth shut

and watch you go

right down the tubes.

I'm going to

tell you something

for your own good.

You had better learn

how to play the game.

And I don't just mean

the game of football.

Hell, we're

all whores, anyway.

We might as well

be the best.

There's one!

God, watch...

(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

Damn you, Jo Bob!

You crazy son of a bitch!

Jesus Christ!

Why? We damn near

got the bird.

Didn't you see it?

I think we did get him.

Jesus Christ!

(LOUD MUSIC PLAYING)

(PEOPLE SHOUTING)

ALL: (CHANTING)

Go! Go! Go! Go!

(CHEERS AND APPLAUSE)

All right, let me have

that TV right here.

There it is! (LAUGHS)

Thirteen. Look for thirteen.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Yep, I'd rather face

Pittsburgh's defensive line

than one of

Peter's parties.

(LAUGHS)

Somebody's got to

do it, though. Right?

Hey, man, it's all yours.

Go for it.

Right.

Hey, big guy.

How you doing?

Good to see you.

How's it going?

Good game, baby.

Tony, good game,

my man.

Howdy, howdy.

Hey, Seth,

great game, boy.

Hey, mama.

JO BOB: All right, sweetie,

come on, now give

Jo Bob a nice kiss.

Come on.

Hey, it's nice

to be back, man.

JO BOB: All right,

come on, come on!

Ah, goddamn!

Hey, Maxwell!

Hey, Seth!

MAN: Hey, Phil.

Hey, Peter,

where's that dolly

you promised me?

Ooh, he's ripped

tonight, ain't he?

Hey, Jo Bob,

what are you

going to do against

Alcie Weeks

in Chicago?

You know what I mean?

(LAUGHS) Crazy guy!

Know what I mean?

Crazy guy.

Come here, come here.

Oh.

Hey, Jo Bob,

I got a great dolly

for you.

She's last year's

Miss Farm Implements.

Come on this way.

You should talk to her

for five minutes.

She's from SMU,

and she's almost a virgin.

Hey, doll, come on here.

Now, help him

to relax, honey.

He needs, uh,

understanding. (CHUCKLES)

Yeah.

Show 'em

your finesse, Jo Bob!

(LAUGHS)

Hey, Billie Joe!

(LAUGHS)

I've never seen

titties like yours.

I swear to God,

I never have.

They're... They're beautiful.

They're...

Hey, Jo Bob,

how you doing?

How you doing, Elliott?

Can I show your titties

to my buddy O. W.?

Can I? Would you?

All right?

O. W.! O. W.!

Come over here!

(LAUGHS) Whoo!

Ooh, John Henry,

don't get so excited.

We got all night.

Who's John Henry?

(LAUGHS)

He's an old friend

of mine.

Ooh.

Hey, did you girls ever try

a quarterback sandwich?

Sounds good to me.

Hey, Seth,

I need to talk to you

about that condo deal

down at Padre Island.

Not now.

Not now, baby.

Hey, did you ever drink

a pink poontang?

WOMAN: No.

SETH: (LAUGHS)

It'll get you high.

Hey, Phil. Phil.

Great catch, boy.

Great catch.

Listen, I got some

ostrich boots

and some lizard,

and I'm going to

get them for you

soon as I change my shirt.

Say, Alan,

be with you in a minute.

Got to go

change my shirt!

(LAUGHS)

Hey, Phil. Oh, man,

we were just leaving.

Hey, Eric.

Hi, Susie.

Hi.

Susie wants to get home

and put little Audrey

to bed, you know,

all that.

Yeah, and it's

almost time

for the Osmonds.

So, um...

Why don't you come over

Wednesday night

for dinner?

Yeah. Look, guy,

why don't you

come on over?

Fitch and his wife

are coming.

Afterward, Susie's going

to read some scripture,

you know.

Uh...

Oh, man, maybe we'll all

take turns or something.

Hmm.

All right,

I'll try hard. Okay?

Yeah.

Okay.

All right.

See what you can do.

All right, Sue.

Come on.

We got plenty.

Bye. See you later.

Bye.

All right? All right?

All right.

Hey, how you doing?

Hey, Billy.

See you later.

Being a little hard

on yourself,

aren't you, Andy.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah.

See that stewardess

over there?

Which one?

Oh, that one,

over there.

Goddamn, does she

get off on football?

Man, you know,

Allie got some tits

from her the other night

just by showing her

that little bruise

on his calf!

The way I figure it,

if she's going to

give up some tits

just by showing her

a bruise, you know,

I mean, once she sees

this blood here,

you know,

she might give up

the whole thing.

You know what I mean?

Uh-huh.

Hey, Phil,

I'd love to sit here

and talk to you,

but I can't.

I got to test out

Balford's theory of erotica.

Check you later, baby.

He's real intelligent,

ain't he?

Oh, poor baby.

You like that?

Oh. (KISSES)

Come on, Andy,

I'm with her.

Andy, I'm with her,

I said!

(GLASS SHATTERS)

(ALL CLAMORING)

MAN: Why don't you

just get in there

and just go ahead

and kiss him?

It's nice to see

there's a little romance

left in the world.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

It's an old story,

boy meets boy.

Well, I love

happy endings.

Oh, really? Well, good.

Now we can sit back

and wait for the real

obscenities.

You mean it gets worse?

(CHUCKLES)

It definitely

gets different.

See, alcohol and fear

makes for a good

combination.

Fear?

Mmm-hmm.

What are they afraid of?

Falling on their

asses in Chicago.

Who are you,

and what are you

doing here?

Charlotte Calder,

and I'm asking myself

the same question.

Well, I'm Phil Elliott,

and I'm supposed

to be here

to take you away

from all this.

Oh, yeah. See,

I'm a very funny guy.

In fact, The newspapers

call me "The team funnyman."

Well, obviously,

you can't believe

everything you read.

I'm sorry.

I'm not very good

at this small talk stuff.

In fact, I learned

all my social graces

from football coaches,

so, uh, why don't you

just give me

another try, huh?

Okay, team funnyman.

You've got fantastic eyes.

Hilarious.

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

Hey, man, quit pushing

on me, man.

Put me down!

Why can't somebody

stop him?

What, are you crazy?

Look at him.

No! Please. No! (SCREAMS)

MAN: Put her down.

Come on, man.

Come on.

MAN: Come on, man.

WOMAN: Put me down.

Jo Bob's here

to remind everybody

that the meanest

and the biggest

get to make all the rules.

Well, I don't agree

with that.

Agreement doesn't

enter into it.

(WOMAN SOBS)

(SCREAMS)

Well, how can you

tolerate that?

I make allowances,

then I get ready,

and I run like hell.

That's what I like.

A man of courage.

Miss? My name's Jo Bob.

I just want to tell you...

CHARLOTTE:

Will you please let me pass?

JO BOB: I love your hair

and I love your nose.

Lady...

Let me go!

And I love your legs.

Put me down.

You know I love your legs.

They got your feet

on one end...

Will you please put me down?

...and your pussy

on the other,

and I want to fuck you.

I'd really do this.

You put me down!

CHARLOTTE:

Will you let me go?

Lady, come on now.

You be nice, all right.

I'm going to be

nice to you.

Oh, no.

JO BOB: I promise you,

I'm going to be nice

to you, understand?

Come on.

CHARLOTTE: Let me go!

JO BOB: I'm not going

to let anybody take you

away from me ever.

Will you please?

What are you

so fussy about, lady?

Jo Bob. (GROANS)

Piss off, Elliott.

Hey, come on back.

(GASPS)

Hey, Seth! Seth!

Find something

for Jo Bob to do

with his hands, huh.

Hey, Jo Bob. Jo Bob.

I told you

to piss off, Elliott.

Jo Bob, let her go.

(WOMEN GIGGLING)

Shit!

(SCREAMS) Oh!

(THUDS)

Bob, God damn it.

Who the fuck are you

giving orders to?

(CHOKES)

Jo Bob.

Hey, Jo Bob, cool it!

I'm going to kill you.

Hey, man, he's just trying

to keep that little dolly

from raping you.

Come on, baby.

Jo Bob.

Hey, hey, it's me. Seth!

Come on, man. Relax.

It's a party.

Come on, Jo Bob.

Calm down, baby.

JO BOB:

Damn! Why is he always

making fun of me, Seth?

CROWD: (CHANTING)

Go! Go! Go! Go!

(CROWD CHEERING)

(SCREAMS)

WOMAN: Hey, I know you.

You had your chance.

What the hell are you

trying to prove, man,

taking on Jo Bob

over some chick?

Oh, for Christ's sake,

Seth, shit.

Seemed like a good idea

at the time, that's all.

A good idea?

I need Jo Bob, son.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I want him up.

I want him feeling

like he can climb

the Empire State

Building if he has to.

(SIGHS)

Look, you may keep me

on the sports page, man,

but he keeps me

off the obituaries.

Where the hell would I be

with Jo Bob's

confidence destroyed?

(SIGHS)

God damn it, son,

what did she expect?

These girls know

what happens

at these parties.

That's why they come here.

She didn't seem

like that to me.

(SIGHS)

SETH:

Well, look, just lay off

Jo Bob, all right?

I want you both

at your best Monday night.

Oh, for Christ's sake,

I didn't hurt Jo Bob.

Damn it, just quit

aggravating him.

Let him have

what he wants.

What he wants?

What about what I want?

He's a baby,

for Christ's sake.

Don't put yourself

on his level.

Rise above it.

Come on, man,

let's go get in the pile.

Ah...

It's the same

old pile, Seth.

Well, shit, I'm going

to go get knee-deep

in it, son.

Go ahead, partner.

See you tomorrow.

Yep.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Hi.

Hello.

I'm glad to see that

you're still alive.

Thanks for letting me

run like hell.

Uh-huh.

It's too bad I don't take

my own advice.

Yeah.

Can I come in?

Yeah.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Can I get you a drink?

Yeah, you got

any whiskey?

I only have milk.

Yeah, I love milk.

Good.

(SIGHS)

Nice place you got here.

CHARLOTTE: Oh, thanks.

Are you married?

Was.

Mmm.

Yeah, so was I.

Do you work?

No.

What's this, alimony?

No.

Oh.

You talk a lot, don't you?

No.

Hmm.

(EXHALES)

You look terrible.

(SCOFFS)

Thanks. That really

builds up my confidence.

Why did you go to

that party, anyhow?

I don't know.

I thought it would be fun.

Obviously

I made a mistake.

Hmm.

I'm tired.

I'm really tired.

I'm sorry.

I was lonely.

I just needed

someone to talk to.

Well, you can't sleep here.

Oh, thanks for

letting me sleep here.

(STUTTERS)

I said you can't

sleep here.

Hello?

Oh, shit.

(GROANS)

(GRUNTS)

(SNORING)

(SNORING)

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Hi, Peggy.

Hi, Phil.

Yeah, I've got

a meeting with B.A.

Yeah, just a minute.

All right.

PEGGY: Phil Elliott's here.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

You know, Phil,

there's not one damn

corporation I own

that means as much

to me right here

as my football team.

Come on.

That was a hell

of a catch on Sunday.

That's just, uh, luck.

You know, Phil,

there's one thing

I learned early on in life.

The most important thing

a man can have.

Um, what's that? Money?

Luck.

Luck tells me something

about a man.

You know, if my people

are lucky, they tap

into a big field.

If they're not,

they can have every

geology degree in the world

and drill one dry duster

right after another.

Take me.

I'm the luckiest man

in the world.

Sure as hell

ain't brains, is it?

(BOTH CHUCKLE)

You know, Phil,

there's always a place

in our little family

for the right kind of man.

Mmm-hmm.

Now, Phil...

People who confuse

brains and luck

can get in a whole

lot of trouble.

Seeing through the game

is not the same

as winning the game.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Now to me, see,

it's gotten to a point

where Phil's

almost predictable.

I can know what

he's going to do...

(DOOR OPENS)

Hey, Phil,

how are you doing?

Hey, Emmett.

Uh, B.A.,

I'm sorry I'm late.

Uh, listen,

I was just thinking.

Why don't you

all just stay here

in my office and use it?

I got to see Connie

anyway for a minute, okay?

Okay. Yeah.

Thank you very much,

Emmett. Well, see you.

See you later, Phil.

Mmm-hmm.

Sit down.

Sit down.

(DOOR CLOSES)

Now, that's it,

that's it, Phil.

That's what it all boils down

to is your attitude.

And another thing,

I know that you don't like

sitting on the bench.

But you're a team member.

You have to adjust to that.

Actually, I have

known players

that got used to

sitting on the bench,

if that's possible.

It's not.

You're too proud?

I want you to listen

to something.

The Apostle Paul,

in one of his letters

to the Corinthians

said, "When I was a child,

I thought as a child.

I spake as a child.

"I understood

as a child,

"but when I came

to be a man,

"I put away

childish things."

Hmm.

And there's a theme

that runs through

all this data, Phil.

It's immaturity,

your immaturity.

You lack seriousness.

Well, I scored five TDs

coming off the bench.

That's pretty serious.

You scored five TDs?

Don't you know that

we worked for those?

We plan for them.

We let you score

those touchdowns.

B.A., I've always

given you 100%.

100%!

You're talking about

individual effort.

Yes, you do give that.

I don't deny it.

But that's not what

I'm talking about.

I'm talking about a team.

I'm talking about

a winning team.

A winning team is 45

finely meshed gears

working together

in perfect synchronization.

If one of those gears

flies off on its own,

I pull it.

And if that's

not straight enough,

I'll say it

in a different way.

If you want to play football

for me, Mr. Elliott,

you have to change,

starting right now.

(EXHALES)

B.A., I'm sorry

if my immaturity

has offended you,

and I'll honestly

try to change.

(SIGHS) But I've been

a starter for six years,

and it's hard to sit

on the bench, but...

I'll wait my chance.

And when you do start me,

I'll make you glad you did.

I appreciate that, Phil.

Then we'll see.

Hey, Phil,

how are you doing?

Hey, you know

Joanne Rodney,

don't you? Phil Elliott.

Yeah.

Oh, my gosh.

Wait a minute.

What?

Ruth, you got

that contract?

RUTH: Oh, yes, sir.

I want you to see this.

This is something

I'd like you to be

interested in.

A little contract here

for our number one

draft choice,

wide receiver

out of Lubbock.

Lubbock. Yeah.

A real good one here.

So, I, uh...

Gosh, I guess next year

this means you'll be...

Do you speak

Canadian at all?

(SNICKERS)

Emmett, you've been

running these guys

at me for years.

(CHUCKLES) Yeah.

(DOORBELL RINGS)

Come on.

(GRUNTS)

Oh, God damn it, Joanne.

Oh, wait... Ow!

God, that's my

sore shoulder. Jesus.

Which one?

That one.

The one you always hurt.

(MOANS)

Oh, Jesus, my knee.

(GRUNTS)

Your left knee?

No. What do you mean,

my left knee?

You wouldn't know...

You know...

Ah! Phil.

(CHUCKLES)

What do you mean, "Phil"?

Come on now.

Ow, ow!

Come on.

Ow...

Oh, God.

You always hurt me, Jo.

(MOANS)

(SIGHS) Oh...

(MOANS)

(EXHALES)

B.A. wants me to adjust

to sitting on the bench.

Hell, I'll die on the bench.

What's the sense

of the team winning

if I don't survive, huh?

You'll survive.

(CHUCKLES)

Really?

You know what I'd do?

I'd pull for the other team

so we'll get behind

and B.A. will have

to put me in.

That's weird.

Why don't you just quit?

(SIGHS)

Well, what would I do

that wouldn't be

the same or worse?

Besides, it's the only thing

I know how to do good.

It's the best hands

in the league, you know?

Phil, do you love me?

(EXHALES)

Sort of.

What kind of

an answer is that?

(SIGHS) Well...

It's the only kind

of answer I know

how to give

when somebody I really like

needs to know the truth.

Hey, how long

you been awake?

Couldn't sleep.

You know,

you don't look

too good.

Maybe you ought to take

some vitamins.

I don't need

a healthy body.

(CHUCKLES)

I can do it all

in my mind.

Yeah?

Mmm-hmm.

I've been ignoring

the fact that

I'm falling apart.

Say, Joanne...

Mmm-hmm.

Where's the pictures

of yourself you cut out?

Hmm?

Well, that girl

just doesn't exist

anymore, Phil.

Oh, so Joanne Rodney

doesn't exist anymore.

Well, in that case,

it kind of looks like you.

Uh, what do you want

for breakfast?

Well, I'm going to have

whatever you're having.

Well, I'm having

chocolate pudding.

Uh, wait a minute,

Joanne.

Uh, wait a minute.

Listen, how about some

bacon and eggs?

Don't have any bacon.

How about some eggs?

Nope.

Toast?

Ah! No butter.

No butter.

Dry toast or

chocolate pudding.

Well, I'm going to have

chocolate pudding, then.

Mmm, I only have one.

But I'll share it

with you.

Oh, really?

Well, it's a great

meal, then.

JOANNE: Let's go.

All right.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Come on, feed me.

Well, I'm going to do it.

Good, give me some more.

No, seriously.

I'm really going

to do it.

Do what?

Marry Emmett Hunter.

Come on, Joanne.

What do you want

to marry Emmett for?

He's nothing.

He's just going to

screw up your life.

When I told him I wanted

to keep the apartment,

he said I could.

You'll come by

and see me,

won't you?

If I can.

Oh, get real.

(GRUNTS)

Mmm...

Hey, cheer up.

Everybody gets married

now and then.

Yeah, but I thought

you'd draw the line

at joining the family.

Yeah, me too.

Mmm-hmm.

But look at it like this...

With me in

the Hunter family,

you won't have to learn

to speak Canadian.

Phew!

(WHIRRING)

We boring you, Douglas?

You fall asleep again,

it's $100 fine.

(ALL CHUCKLING)

Okay, third and eight.

ALL:

All right! All right!

(CHEERING)

The things I do for love.

No. No, shit.

You should never

have thrown to Elliott

with that kind

of coverage.

Look at Delma,

look at him there.

He's wide open.

I don't like

this buddy-buddy stuff

interfering with

my judgment.

Shit, you can't win

for losing around here.

(ALL LAUGH)

Run it back,

run it back.

(ALL LAUGH)

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

(ALL LAUGH)

MAN: That's it, Stallings.

Real good.

Stallings, what were you

thinking of here?

I'm... I'm not sure, sir.

You're not sure.

No, sir.

The entire game riding

on this one series of downs,

and we have a player

who's not sure.

There's no room

in this business

for uncertainty.

No room.

Oh, shit, here it comes.

Here's where you

screwed up.

I didn't screw up.

You changed the play.

You changed the play.

I didn't change the play.

You brought it in there.

I did not.

Well, just cover for me.

I'd like all of you

to watch this

next play carefully.

Especially you.

B.A.: Especially you,

Elliott.

MAN 1: Oh, man.

Oh, here it is.

Great catch.

Great catch.

MAN 2: Yeah! All right!

(CHEERING)

Whoo! All right!

(ALL CHEERING)

Now, Elliott,

how would you

describe this play?

(SIGHS)

Well...

I'd say we scored

a touchdown.

(ALL LAUGHING)

Oh, you think it's funny?

Well, I fail to see

any humor at all.

Maxwell changed the play

that I sent in,

Elliott broke his pattern,

and the catch

was a fluke.

There's no room for flukes

in winning game plans.

Why do you think

that we go over

and over

the printouts

of a game plan?

Because deviating

from that plan

can cost us a championship.

Now, if there's

some of you

not interested

in being champions,

why, then, you laugh.

Relax. Have a good time.

But you'll do it

on somebody else's

football team,

not mine.

The key to being

a professional

is consistency,

and the computer

measures that quality.

No one of you

is as good

as that computer.

I hope I'm understood.

Now, everybody

on the bus in 10 minutes.

Ah, except you, Stallings.

I'd like a word with you

in private, please.

MAN: All right, come on,

let's move.

Get your gear together.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Hey, let me have

those shoes.

That's cold, man.

Hey, baby.

Do you believe

they cut Stallings?

Who's Stallings?

Runners run past 49 right.

Sounds real boring.

Look at it.

All right, I'm looking.

Got it?

Got it. Yeah, man.

On two. Ready?

Break! Move.

MAN: 4-3, number two zone.

Ready?

ALL: Break!

Strong left!

ALL: Left!

Right back

swing guy.

I got it. I got it.

Set... Hike!

SETH: Come on, you...

MAN: Pass! Coming in!

Coming in!

Coming in!

(CHEERING)

Whoo!

Douglas, the reason

we drafted you

was because they said

you were fast and smart.

At this point,

I'd be delighted

if you'd be at least

one of those things!

Yes, sir.

Carney, get in here

for Douglas.

Huddle up, huddle up.

Let's go.

Back in the huddle!

Hey, Douglas,

isn't this the kind of day

you'd rather be

by a fire with

a good book?

Fuck you, faggot.

Promises, promises.

(MEN YELLING)

PLAYER: Pass! Stop.

All right.

(PLAYERS CHEERING)

How's an old fart like me

supposed to keep up

with a dedicated

young Christian stud

like Hartman?

It's discouraging.

Well, it's like you

told me, Seth...

You got to cheat.

I wrote the book on that.

I believe that.

Elliott!

Get your ass in here!

Coming, boss.

Red, right, 74.

You're going to get

yourself a fine, Jo Bob.

It's worth it.

You got it?

Yes, sir.

On three. Ready?

ALL: Break!

Round left, round left.

Check!

MAN: Check.

Cover 2, cover 2.

2-49! 2-49!

Check! 2-76!

2-76!

Hut! Hut!

Hut!

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

Ow!

Whoo!

Oh, God damn it!

God damn it!

You all right?

Ah!

MAN: Here, hold it.

PHILLIP: Oh, God damn it!

Pull them out.

Jesus Christ.

Don't move,

don't move.

Pull it!

(GROANS)

You all right?

Which one?

Christ,

which do you think?

Elliott!

That's what comes

from not concentrating.

Yes, sir.

Amazed at how these

young fellows

can take the punishment

of their profession.

Hello, Monsignor.

Oh, hello, Phil.

You're a very brave

young man.

That's real devotion.

You remind me of

the magnificent

missionaries of history.

Never thought

of that, Monsignor.

Come on, Elliott,

stop dogging it!

That's fine.

All right, I want

you to run this here

Chicago pass pattern.

Red-right-74.

Look at it.

All right, here we go.

Here we go. On two, on two.

Ready? Break!

Come on, snap it up!

Elliott, get in there!

Left!

Set!

Red-left, red-left.

Hold it!

Carney, get in there!

B.A.: No!

Put Douglas in, please.

Carney, get the hell

out of there!

Let's go. Here we go.

Come on.

Set!

Set!

2-75!

2-75!

Check!

2-72!

Hartman, Hartman, let's just

get the ball snapped!

You're giving me

a fucking headache!

MAN 1: Rookies.

MAN 2: Down.

All right, let's go.

A bunch

of high schools.

Set!

Hut! Hut!

(GRUNTS)

(GROANS)

Are you all right, man?

Hey, Phil,

you all right?

(SNIFFS)

You okay?

Yeah, I'm all right.

Wait, wait, wait, wait,

wait, wait, wait, wait.

Help me up.

There's your hat, man.

Nice catch.

Yeah.

Now, that's

concentration, Elliott.

Feels pretty swollen.

Let's work that knee.

God damn it, Eddie,

it's not the knee.

Hey, it's my shoulder.

I hit my shoulder when

I hit the gym floor.

It feels like

it's full of gravel.

Well, it's always

felt like it was

full of gravel.

Now, come on.

Give me a B-12 shot.

That's what I want.

Always messing

with my knee.

How you doing, baby?

All right, Del.

You going to get a shot?

Oh. No shots

for me, turkey.

I can't stand needles.

Hey, you got to master

the technology of this game.

Phil, how do you do that?

Take all those pills

and shots, man.

Does terrible things

to your body. God!

If you last long enough,

you'll realize the only

way to survive

is the pills and the shots.

Not me, turkey.

I got respect

for my body.

You'll get past that.

You're crazy, too.

Eddie,

I'd appreciate it

if you could finish up

here with butterfingers

and give me my B-12 shot

'cause I got an important

business meeting.

You might like to know,

Elliott,

that I found myself

two old boys from

Oklahoma

who wanna invest in my

restaurant business.

Oklahoma?

That's right.

That figures.

You see, once the first

one starts making money,

then you sell franchises.

And that's where

the big money is.

Oh, yeah. What are you gonna

call the restaurants?

Jo Bob's Fine Foods.

Do you like it?

Jo bob's...

That's right.

Jo Bob's Fine Foods.

Right!

Eat here,

or I'll kill you.

(LAUGHS)

You son of a bitch.

Hey! Come on! Hold it!

Jo bob, we're not

gonna have trouble

in here, I mean it.

(ALL SHOUTING)

Get over to your meeting!

Jo Bob, you go on

to your meeting now!

You goddamn bird turd!

Jo Bob, you get out

of here, or I'll

report you to B.A.

You would?

You bet your ass.

You're chicken shit.

Get out of my face,

Monroe.

It always did

take two of you

to hold one of me.

Excuse me.

Too damn much B-12.

(DOOR CREAKS)

(WIND BLOWING)

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

Back off, asshole.

I ain't moving!

Back off!

I ain't moving!

(MAN RUNS INTO DISTANCE)

(SNORING)

(SHOUTING INDISTINCTLY)

Jesus God almighty!

Damn! Shit!

God!

It's the tooth fairy.

Fuck you, tooth fairy.

Holy shit, I hope

I don't look as bad

as you look, man.

(GRUNTS)

You make me look

like Cinderella, asshole.

If I had a dog like you,

I'd shave his butt and

make him walk backwards.

Hey, old doc Elliott's

gonna take care of us.

It's time to break into

the old medicine cabinet,

Seth, boy.

How's your elbow?

God damn it, Elliott.

You know, Eddie's gonna

get your ass for this.

Hell, he didn't even

do nothing to you.

Hell, I ain't the one

that's doing it.

Yeah, but you're gonna

take some. That makes

you an accomplice.

They turn me in,

they gotta turn you in,

and they won't do that.

That's 'cause I'm a star.

(GRUNTS)

A genuine

sports personality

and legendary folk hero.

Folk hero,

have some dexedrine.

Don't mind if I do.

A little compazine.

All right.

Would you like codeine?

Does a shark

shit in the sea?

Come on, give me

some of this.

One for me.

Whoops. Breakfast

of champions there.

Ah...

Nectar of the gods.

Yes.

(SIGHS)

You know something?

You're the only guy

I know that's got

an uglier body than mine.

That's bullshit.

John Henry, why do we

abuse ourselves this way?

Hey, Seth...

Have you... Have you

ever loved anybody?

You know, loved somebody.

Aw, last night.

All-time showstopper, son.

I don't want

to hear this.

All-time showstopper.

I don't want to hear it.

You know Jerry Drake?

Drake?

Big tex automotive supply?

Oh, I know that

asshole, yeah.

Well, it was his YMCA team

that me and Hartman

had to talk to last night.

I gave them my usual

bullshit, you know,

football, character

development, all that crap.

Hartman comes up

with this story

about Jesus being captain

of a football team.

(LAUGHS)

And the apostles each played

different positions, right?

Whoo!

And Judas was the coach.

Nope, Judas was the one

that sold the playbook

to the devil's team.

Oh, my God.

Now, wait till you

hear this part.

Afterwards, Drake invites

me and Hartman up to

his house for a drink.

Now, I got the wheels,

so Hartman's stuck

with me, right?

Anyway,

here's the point.

It turns out

Drake wants to watch

while me and Hartman

do nasty things

to his bouncy-bottomed

little wife.

Aw, Maxwell. Really.

Hey, I know, I know.

It's not your

type of thing.

But I happen to be

more of a philosopher.

I like to mingle

with the little people.

What about Hartman?

Well, you know Hartman.

Goody-two-shoes

just fidgeting around

like a one-legged cat

trying to bury shit

on a frozen pond,

until old Seth fixes

him a couple of

pink poontang specials.

You know, that crazy

tourist drink that

I fix for stewardesses?

Two shots out of that,

and Hartman is shot

to shit, freaked out.

I mean, I never saw a guy

having so much fun

and crying

at the same time.

I don't believe a word it,

but I'm getting horny.

Aha. Now wait till

you get to this part.

Drake now takes out a bunch

of them fake dicks...

Ah, Max, that's gross!

It's not gross.

Shit, gross is when you go

and kiss your grandpa

good night,

and he sticks his

tongue down your throat.

That's gross.

Anyway, he's got one, man,

that is about 8 inches long,

and it's pink,

and it's got little

crinkleties in it,

and it's got a grinder

that you turn like this,

and it goes in and out...

Oh, I don't wanna hear any

of this. I don't wanna hear

no more of this.

Wait, man. I'm just

getting to the weird part.

The weird part?

The weird part?

Yeah, it gets weird.

Okay, who did it?

He did it.

Is that right, Seth?

Did what?

The medicine cabinet!

If B.A. finds out about it,

it's gonna be

somebody's ass.

Your water's too hot.

Hey, Eddie, calm down.

The poor man here

was desperate.

Think of it as an emergency.

Yeah, and I suppose

you just stood there

and watched.

No, he held me down,

massaged my throat,

and made me swallow 'em.

Listen, this shit

has got to stop.

And leave my goddamn

beer alone!

And, Elliott,

don't you piss in there!

Ah.

Bastard.

(PANTING)

(GRUNTING)

Did I call my wife

last night?

I don't

think so, son.

Oh...

What do I tell her?

Hey, Art,

tell her that you escaped,

and you don't have

to pay the ransom.

I can't tell her that.

(LAUGHS)

Look, son,

listen up to me, man.

Dream up the wildest

thing you can think of,

and lay it on her.

I guarantee she'll go

for it, coming from you.

Yeah?

I'm right.

Why do I smell

like strawberries?

What'd you do

last night, poot?

(GROANS)

Come on,

what'd you do?

Well, I'll tell you.

I had a date

with Charlotte.

Oh, shit, man.

I hope you're not

getting hooked on

that chick.

Breaks your

concentration.

Well, I'll tell you

something, old buddy.

The only thing

I haven't broken

is my concentration.

Why do we do it,

partner?

Well, the only way

to find that out, man,

is to quit.

You're not thinking

about quitting.

I'm thinking I'm tired

of beating myself up.

Don't worry.

You'll get tired

of thinking.

Coca-Cola, poot.

Hey, Seth, Seth.

Throw me an RC, Seth.

Ooh!

Seth...

She believed me.

Well, of course

she believed you, Art.

Who wouldn't believe

you, partner?

Yeah, but I'm...

You did the right

thing, son.

Lying can be really good

for a relationship.

Hey, Art.

Welcome to

the big leagues.

(ALL LAUGH)

(GROANS)

You know, I'm beginning

to like the pain.

Huh?

Remember when

I busted my elbow?

Oh, yeah.

I knew it was

dislocated the second

it happened, man.

But when I was laying there,

yelling, flopping

all over the field

in front of all

those people,

you know

what I felt?

Oh.

Satisfaction.

Yeah. I mean,

it made me feel like

I was doing something

important, you know?

Yeah.

When the pain

got the worst,

that's when I felt

the most...

Secure.

Yeah.

I hear you, I hear you.

The answer is no.

No, what?

I ain't never

loved nobody.

(PHIL GRUNTING)

Oh!

(GROANS)

Oh, God.

(CROWD ROARS)

Good morning.

Good morning.

Did you sleep well?

(SIGHS)

Yeah, I slept great.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

(BLOWS WHISTLE)

Settle down

and listen up.

I want some asses

kicked this week.

Douglas, that's $100

fine for being late.

I want you guys to study

the Chicago team tendencies.

If you ain't ready

by Monday night,

they're gonna

run down your throats

and out your assholes.

ALL: Ooh!

Oh, yeah, and there'll be

a written test on Friday

on these tendencies.

(ALL GROANING)

Coach.

Those of you

whose names appeared

on the bulletin board

are invited to Mr. Hunter's

home tomorrow

to help Conrad, Jr.

celebrate his birthday.

Be there at 12:00 sharp,

appropriately dressed.

Now, before we break

into our separate groups,

there are a few general

comments which I am

obliged to make, gentlemen.

We won a game Sunday

against an opponent

measurably and on paper

inferior to ours.

In doing so,

we managed to play

far below our potential.

Our punting team gave

them 4.5 yards per kick,

more than our

reasonable goal,

and 9.9 yards more

than outstanding.

That's not the kind

of football

that conference

champions play.

Offense, four turnovers.

Five scoring

opportunities blown.

Third down conversions,

we failed six times more

than our seasonal average.

Pass completions were 49%.

That's 6.3% less

than reasonable,

and it's 19% less

than our outstanding.

That is a negative

19% against Seattle!

Now, clearly,

it's time for us

to take a long,

hard look at ourselves,

and in this connection,

Coach Johnson has

prepared some material

which I trust will be

beneficial to you.

Johnson.

Thank you, Coach.

Now, listen, you guys,

if we can take an extra

moment here, I'd like to

read something that

B.A. thinks

is pretty important.

Now, when I was playing

college ball at Maryland,

I found this

taped to a locker.

I think you'll understand

what it means.

It means he's out

of his fucking mind.

(ALL LAUGHING)

It means that the difference

between good and great

is that much.

It's the same size

as his pecker.

(SNICKERING)

COACH JOHNSON: It comes

from right up here.

(COUGHS)

Something wrong, Elliott?

No.

No, sir, I just have

something caught

in my throat.

(CLEARS THROAT)

I can't think of anyone

that can use this advice

better than you can.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me, Coach Johnson.

Thank you.

"If you think

you can't win, you won't."

Right.

COACH JOHNSON: "If you think

you're losing,

"you've lost."

All right!

"If you refuse

to strive to the limit,

"the limit's as far

as you'll go."

DELMA: That's right, sir.

"If you give in

to the fear and pain..."

Talk about the pain.

Oh, why don't you shut up,

Delma? This ain't exactly

no revival meeting.

Do you want something

with me, Monroe?

All right, cut it out,

you guys!

I'm sorry, Coach.

I couldn't...

Go ahead, sir.

"If you give in

to the fear and pain,

"there are thrills

you'll never know."

That's right.

"We have all been

put here by God

"as a test of our

courage and faith.

"The rewards to his

warriors are many.

"The rewards to

the losers, disgrace.

"Some say winning's

not everything,

"that competition

has a limited place.

"But if that cowardly

slogan is true,

"why did God name this

"the human race?"

Good question.

Coach, would it be okay

if Jo Bob and I

had a couple copies

of that poem?

JO BOB: Yeah,

we'd appreciate that,

Coach Johnson.

That has to be one

of the most inspiring

poems I ever heard, sir.

(MEN SNICKERING)

Yeah, I'd like one,

too, Coach.

MAN: (MOCKING)

Yeah, me, too, Coach.

Little brown nose.

(KISSING NOISE) Pussy.

ALL: One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight,

nine, ten.

Hold it!

Now, we count during

this drill, Elliott,

and you didn't count!

We're gonna do it

over again,

and you can thank Elliott

for the extra work.

(ALL GROAN)

ALL: (CHANTING)

Phil, Phil, Phil.

All right,

knock that shit off!

Let's go!

All right, let's finish up

with 10 jumping jacks.

Ready? Exercise.

ALL: One, two,

three, four, five

six, seven, eight,

nine, ten.

(ALL CHEERING)

All right, let's break

up into your groups.

I wasn't really counting.

I was just moving my lips.

You son of a bitch!

MAN: Good practice.

Now, let's go.

Let's go, Elliot.

Let's see if you

can catch one.

Look at Phil.

Come on.

About time

you caught one.

Scott, how are you?

Hey, Horace,

how are you doing?

Hey, Emmett,

how are you?

Hi, Horace.

Thanks for inviting me.

Yeah.

I was sorry to hear

about your daddy.

Well, thank you, Con.

That's the only

fight he ever lost.

When a man of your

daddy's wealth

dies of cancer,

you know they haven't

found a cure.

MAN: Let's go!

Come on.

Come on, Delma.

(GROANS)

Come on, I'll tell

you when you're hurt.

Easy, easy, easy.

What is it?

Hamstring.

Let's go. Come on.

It's my hamstring. Shit!

Did you feel it tear?

No. I heard it pop.

All right, take him inside.

Give me a hand.

Easy.

I seen better

hands on a clock.

Let's go.

Oh, shit.

Back to the tub

again, huh, Delma?

All right, let's go

to team drills,

Chicago defense.

Elliott, get back

with the first unit.

You know, if you were

moving any slower,

you'd be going backwards.

Very funny, Elliott.

Very funny.

And just one more game,

and we take our division.

That's what makes

it all worthwhile.

Christ, Con, you make

more in your manufacturing

division in one week

than this goddamn football

team makes in one year,

even if they do win.

Well, that's true,

but my manufacturing

division never got

the cover of Time magazine.

I'm going all the way

this year, Horace.

The big one.

Super Bowl.

No question about it.

And money

ain't everything

anyway, Horace.

What are you talking about?

You ought to be

ashamed of yourself.

Tell him, Emmett. (LAUGHS)

It's either pulled or torn.

We'll know more tomorrow.

Can you get him

ready for Monday?

Set!

Hut!

(ALL GRUNTING)

All right. Next play.

Next play. Come on.

Break it up.

Come on, Jo Bob. Shit!

MAN: Hang on,

hang on, Monroe.

Give Jo Bob some work

in there. Full speed.

3-22.

3-22.

Hut! Hut!

(ALL GRUNTING)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

You son of a bitch!

Goddamn, Jo Bob, is that

how you're gonna hit on Alcie

Weeks when we get to Chicago?

God damn it, Coach!

We're supposed to be

doing this thing half speed!

I don't wanna hear excuses,

I just want you

to get results.

Now, if you ain't ready,

we're just gonna tear off your

head and crap in your neck.

All right, same play.

Let's go!

MAN: 3-22.

Asshole.

3-22.

Hut!

(ALL GRUNTING)

COACH JOHNSON:

Jo Bob, get your head

out of your ass!

If you don't think

you can do this drill...

Son of a bitch.

...we'll bring

it up to full speed.

I know all your teammates

would love a live scrimmage.

Now let's do it again

and do it right!

Get your fucking ass

back on the line, Marco.

Fuck you, asshole.

COACH JOHNSON:

Come on, huddle up.

You cocksucker.

Your mama was

the best teacher.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

Ooh!

They're fired up now.

Oh, yeah. They're

gonna ream Chicago.

(ALL SHOUTING)

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

That's enough.

(BLOWING WHISTLE)

Okay. Break it up.

Break it up.

Come on.

Break it up!

Okay, okay.

B.A.: All right, gentlemen.

All right.

Everyone at the airport

at 10:00 a.m., tomorrow.

MAN: All right,

we'll be ready.

Come on, good workout,

man, good workout.

Elliott, I'd like to

see you over here

in a minute, please.

Walk with me, Phil.

How's the knee?

Oh, it's great.

Feels real good.

You're limping.

(CHUCKLES)

Yeah, well,

that's just habit,

but, uh, feels good.

Uh-huh.

Phil, I'm gonna

need you in Chicago.

Delma's pulled

his hamstring again,

and you know Delma.

He can't stand pain.

He'll say

it hurts too much,

but he doesn't like

to use the needles.

So...

Can I count on you,

Phil, and your knee,

for the entire game?

B.A., you can always

count on me

to do whatever

it takes to play.

Hell, I love needles.

I guess that's what

we call maturity.

Huh?

(YELLS)

It's beautiful.

Yeah, really...

Really beautiful.

Come on.

Let's go into the house.

Okay.

Into the living room.

Ah, through the wall.

Yeah.

All right. Now...

Uh... Um...

Uh... This is

as far as I've got.

How long did it

take you to get this far?

Oh, about, uh...

Three years.

(SIGHS)

Anyway, I got 20 acres,

and it runs

along that gully,

and it goes

back in that valley.

Oh, God,

it's magnificent.

Yeah, and that's where

I'm gonna have

the horses.

I think you should

finish it, though.

I am gonna finish it.

Ta-da!

Made with my own

fair hands.

Oh, great.

I got the wine.

I got the salad.

Okay. Excuse me.

Well, excuse me.

I need all

the room here.

You've got

all the room. Ow.

Listen, what are we

gonna do about napkins?

Here. Use toilet paper.

It's cheap.

Oh, chic, chic.

Listen, uh...

Do you think this,

uh, raising horses

is just a dream of mine?

I don't know. Maybe.

It doesn't seem

very real.

Yeah?

Come on.

Hey, you like

burned steak?

Oh.

Hey, you know something?

When I'm with you,

my mind's a million miles

away from football.

I feel free.

Sounds like you're

tired of football.

Well, if I was,

I wouldn't admit it.

That would scare

the hell out of me.

Here, you want some wine?

Yeah.

I'm scared to death

most of the time anyhow.

Scared of what?

I don't know, of injury,

of playing badly,

anything that can knock

me out of the game.

You don't act like it.

Yeah. I don't dare.

You know, someday

you will be out of it.

Then what?

Oh, come on,

Charlotte, that's serious.

I'm having a nice...

I don't want

to get into that.

For Christ's sake,

come on. Let's don't

talk about football.

I'm gonna start Monday.

Everything in

my life's just great.

We got any butter?

Well, I don't think

it's great.

You know, I saw you

the other night.

You were in so much pain

you couldn't sleep.

Your body's

twisted and scarred.

You're drugging yourself.

Hey, listen, that's

just part of the game,

Charlotte.

Game?

You call men smashing

each other a game?

Oh, for Christ's sake!

You can't judge!

You live in a little

house secure with

your Texas money.

What the hell

do you know about it?

You live

in an unreal world!

If football's the real world,

I don't want any part of it!

It scares me.

Well, good.

It's not your life.

It's mine.

Come on, let's eat.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Why don't you build

your ranch instead

of dreaming about it?

Yeah, well, maybe I like

it better as a fantasy.

The payments are lower.

And you accuse me

of living in a dream world?

For Christ's sake,

Charlotte.

Now, look, I got to keep

my mind in the game.

I don't want

to get confused now,

so drop it!

Why don't you

watch the game?

I'll do something special

for you in Chicago.

PHILLIP: Hey, Eddie,

give me a match, will you?

Hey, Phil,

what's happening?

What are you doing

here early, man?

Oh, man, I got butterflies.

I couldn't sit

around the hotel, man.

I had to get out of there.

Where in the hell

is Jo Bob and O.W.?

I don't know, man.

They were in a cab

right behind me.

I done told you boys

when you got

special taping to do,

you gotta get down

to the stadium early.

Well, maybe I ought

to start getting here

the night before.

(LAUGHS)

Come on, Frank!

What are you doing?

We got

an important ball game.

You tape

my left ankle first.

You trying to

put the hex on me?

You old fart.

I'll tape that knee

after the doctor checks it.

Yeah.

You don't look

healthy at all.

Yeah, I know.

Yeah. I hurt myself.

Catch you later.

All right.

Have a good ball game.

Yeah. You, too.

Oh, yeah.

(GRUNTS)

Jo Bob,

this is it, babe.

This is what we want.

And what are we gonna do?

We are gonna

kick their butts.

What are we gonna do?

We know how

to kick their butts.

How are we gonna do it?

We're gonna do

it very roughly.

We're gonna do it.

No respect.

We're gonna do it.

We're gonna get 'em.

We're gonna get 'em.

Yes. Yes.

Weeks all there.

Weeks all there.

I mean Weeks now.

Where's my locker?

Come on.

Get your junk on, babe.

Ah. Hello, Phil.

What is it?

It's the knee.

Knee, huh?

Let's have a look.

Tell me when.

(GROANS)

Uh... Ah-ha-ha-ha.

"X" marks the spot.

Ow!

Hey, baby, you gonna

make it tonight?

I don't think so.

We need you, man.

Yeah. Frank, can I

get this hot packed?

Yeah, you got it, babe.

Hey, is this it?

Here?

Yeah, that's it.

Hold on.

Come on, Delma,

lift it up.

No? Tell him.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Okay.

Okay, here we go then.

Ooh, Jesus.

No, wait.

Wait a second.

Just wait a second.

Say when.

All right. Not yet.

God damn it!

Jesus, it burns.

(GROANS)

Goddamn.

You won't feel a thing.

Christ, how often

do you put this shit

in the coaches' hearts?

Ah...

There.

(SIGHS)

Now, that wasn't

bad, was it?

Oh, no. I loved it.

(LAUGHS)

Stand on it now. Try it.

(GRUNTS)

How does it feel?

Ah, it's numb.

Good.

Good.

It's a brand-new

knee, Doc.

(LAUGHING)

Better football

through chemistry, huh?

Hey, Delma,

using the heat, huh?

You must be

feeling better.

No, Coach,

it feels real bad.

And I don't think

I can make it.

Ah, come on, Delma.

You saw Elliott.

He was hurting, too,

but he has the guts

to do what it takes

when we need him.

If I shoot up,

I could hurt myself real bad.

I don't mess with needles.

You don't feel anything.

I could tear

my hamstring to bits.

God damn it, isn't it

time you thought

about the team?

Now, you listen, Delma.

You can't make it in

this league if you don't

know the difference

between pain

and injury.

Hey...

I'm just

trying to help.

Fuck it.

Come on, you guys,

stop playing grab-ass

and get ready.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Shit, I want to

hit somebody!

Give me some of that.

Hit somebody!

Goddamn, Monroe,

save it for the field.

I want to hit!

Hit! Hit! Hit!

(GRUNTING)

Here, give me

some, too, man.

That's good.

Okay, when Weeks starts

looping over the middle,

what are you gonna do?

I'm gonna

stay at home.

Okay, there's

no problem there.

That's right.

Okay.

Jo Bob, you know

who that is?

(SPITS)

That's Alcie Weeks, baby.

He's ugly.

He's the ugliest man

I ever seen,

and I don't want none

of his ugly rubbing off

on my pretty face.

All right.

I want you to knock

his cock in his

watch pocket, Jo Bob.

All right.

I want him walking

on his elbows

in the morning,

Jo Bob.

He will.

What are you gonna do

to him, Jo Bob?

Come on,

eat him up.

That's right,

eat him up.

All night long.

All night long,

Jo Bob,

you'll be eating

his stuff right up,

just like

white on rice.

You're gonna

be sticking

to him, Jo Bob.

If he does any

of that fancy loops,

any of that

kind of stuff.

I'm gonna get him.

We're gonna do it.

That's right.

All night long,

Jo Bob.

They say

he's the best?

He ain't the best.

He's nothing.

You can be

the best, baby.

You are the best.

I'm gonna get him.

It's time to get down.

I'm gonna get him.

It's time to get down.

Yeah.

Let's pad up now.

You want to pad up?

Yeah.

Let's go.

Let's get him.

Let's get ready now.

All right.

You ready?

Let's go pad up, baby.

Where's my locker?

It's right behind you.

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Hey, Hartman,

while you're at it,

why don't you ask

the man about

the point spread?

Pussy.

(GRUNTING)

(GLASS SHATTERING)

Well, all right.

No wonder they

call it the windy city.

Hey, baby. Cool.

Come on, honey,

save some for

the party.

You got a face

like a baby's butt.

Thank you, Seth.

Beautiful.

PLAYER: Fuck it!

Tell you what.

This time I'm gonna get

the bastard with this.

All right.

Mother clotheslined

me last time.

I'm gonna tear

his ass up.

I lost four

fucking teeth,

four teeth.

I'm gonna tear

his ass up.

(EXHALES)

Ten minutes!

Ten minutes!

You ready, babe?

Alan, I can't

fumble, man.

You saw what they

did to Stallings.

Hey...

You'll be all right, okay?

Give me a hit.

Ready?

Thank you.

(EXHALES)

Can't fumble.

Can't fumble football.

Hey! All right.

Have a good game.

All right?

All right, all right.

Let's go, Jo Bob.

Let's get 'em.

Let's go, babe.

How's that, Mark?

Little more air, Keith.

Hey, why don't you

pump up his ass

and blow his

brains out?

Up yours, asshole.

Oh, fuck you.

Five minutes!

How long, Coach?

Five... Fuck you!

All right,

settle down.

Listen up.

Out with

the cigarettes.

Coach.

Just one reminder,

gentlemen.

Please remember to

take off your helmets

when they play

the national anthem.

Also remember you're

on national TV,

so don't pick your noses

or scratch your nuts.

Excuse me,

Coach Johnson.

Mr. Hunter would

like to say a few

words to you now.

Thank you, B.A.

Men...

I want you

to win this game

for our fans,

for Dallas,

for me and my

little brother.

Not necessarily

in that order.

(LAUGHING)

Now, if we win

this game,

you're all invited

to spend a weekend

with your wives

and families

at my private island

in the Caribbean.

Bullshit.

And remember,

the eyes of Texas

are on you.

(ALL WHISTLING)

Knock that

shit off!

(WHISTLING STOPS)

Monsignor.

Dear Lord,

I ask your blessing

on these brave boys

as they venture

out to battle.

Take off your

fucking hats!

Sorry, Monsignor.

We ask not

for victory,

not for glory,

not for fame.

We ask only for

the preservation

of our bodies

and of our minds.

Bless also the entire

Hunter family

who have so

unselfishly given us

everything

we need for victory,

except our efforts

in the spirit

of sportsmanship,

with thy guidance,

thy kingdom,

power, and glory

for evermore.

Amen.

ALL: Amen.

Let's go kill

those cocksuckers!

(ALL YELLING)

Elliott?

Yeah?

I'm starting Delma,

but you stay up.

Be ready when

I need you.

He said

he's starting Delma.

I heard.

Yeah, but I thought...

I can't worry about

that right now, poot.

You just be ready.

(CROWD CHEERING)

SPORTSCASTER 1: With

less than two minutes

left in the game

this might be it

for North Dallas.

Chicago

leading 14-7.

North Dallas is

on the Chicago 25.

First and 10.

SPORTSCASTER 2:

This is nail-biting time

for the fans.

But it is suck-it-up

time for the players

because they have

to score on this drive.

SPORTSCASTER 1: Seth Maxwell

fakes. Hands off instead

to Andy Belford

and Belford is stacked up

for a three-yard loss

by Alice Weeks.

Boy, they haven't

kept Weeks out of

there all night.

SPORTSCASTER 2:

He has been in that

backfield all day.

They should

give him a uniform

the way he plays

in the North

Dallas backfield.

SPORTSCASTER 1: It'll be

a 3-yard loss back

to the 28 yard line.

The clock is running.

I wonder what

they're saying

as far as strategy

is concerned right now in

that North Dallas huddle.

Jo Bob, we need

to get through

"Titty Block" and Weeks.

Why don't you hit

the fucker, huh?

Why don't you go

and fuck yourself?

You just stay here

on the ball, Balford,

we'll take care

of up front.

Fuck you, psycho.

Just try to get that

fucking ball across the line

of scrimmage, asshole!

(ALL SHOUTING)

Shut the fuck up!

Nobody talks

in this fucking

huddle except me.

Jo Bob, O.W.,

God damn it,

I cannot throw

the football

with these guys

hanging all

over my ass.

Yes, sir.

Fitch, I want

a wing-quick-burst.

All right?

Red-right-76

on two.

Ready?

ALL: Break!

Weeks, I'm gonna get

your ass this time.

I'm fucking going to

kill you, cocksucker.

Come on, Jo Bob.

Hey, Jo Bob.

You're looking lousy.

You're getting old.

I hate to do it,

but I'm gonna put your

dick all in the dirt.

SETH: Set!

4-48.

4-48.

Hut! Hut!

SPORTSCASTER 1: Maxwell's

in a shotgun formation

on seven and 13 from the 28.

He fades to pass...

What a rush by Weeks,

who dumps him.

The pass is off, though.

Fitch, streaking down

the middle, is in the open.

Drop it.

And the pass

is no good.

Come on, Fitch!

Concentrate!

Are you okay, baby?

Hey, Weeks!

SPORTSCASTER 1:

The clock is stopped

and now an altercation

breaks out

on the field

(CLAMORING)

among a couple

of the linemen.

SPORTSCASTER 2: I can

understand why tempers

are a little hot right now,

because the game's

winding down to an end.

And this is

the season for them.

SPORTSCASTER 1:

Maxwell's asking

for a time out

although the

incomplete pass

has stopped the clock.

We've got less than

a minute to play.

Maxwell coming to

the sideline to talk

to his coach.

And you have to think

right now that Chicago

will drop back

on defense

and be in

a prevent defense

because it appears

that North Dallas

to win this ball game

will have to keep it

in the air.

SPORTSCASTER 2: This

is also the last time out

that North Dallas has.

So they're probably

trying to come up

with some strategy

that will allow

them to run 3 or 4

plays in a row.

They have very little

time left if they're

going to score.

SPORTSCASTER 1:

Maxwell is signaling

to Phil Elliott.

I think, Elliott's going to

come into the ball game

as one of the receivers.

SPORTSCASTER 2: And I'll go

with Elliott and Huddle

as the wide receivers.

And of course, like we said,

we're going to look

for some pass plays...

(INDISTINCT TALKING)

Hey, if he comes in,

then I want something

special for him.

Having fun, boys?

Blow it up

your asshole.

How's the leg, Del?

Like your knee.

I can't feel anything.

Yeah.

All right,

huddle up!

God damn it, Jo Bob,

I ain't losing this game.

I'm tired of Weeks

sitting in my goddamn

face all night.

But I hurt, Seth.

I hurt bad.

I don't give a shit.

We all hurt.

All right, let's trap

the son of a bitch.

O.W., Jo Bob,

break his fucking leg

if you have to.

I want him

out of there.

(GRUNTING)

All right?

Green-right-c-motion.

41-trap-delay

on three.

Ready?

ALL: Break!

SPORTSCASTER 1:

Maxwell, brings them

out of the huddle.

And you know

Chicago's gonna be

coming on this play.

SPORTSCASTER 2:

We'll see if they've come up

with a good play here.

I wonder if Maxwell called it

or if the coach called that

one over on the sideline.

SPORTSCASTER 1:

Huddle lines up

on the left

and Maxwell

down under center.

The clock does not

start now, until

the snap of the ball.

Huddle's in motion

to the right.

Back to pass

is Maxwell.

It's a draw play

ball fake.

(SCREAMING)

(WHISTLE BLOW)

JO BOB: Suck

on that, Weeks!

SPORTSCASTER 2: Alcie Weeks,

the big defensive tackle

for Chicago is down.

It looks like he's holding

his right knee. This could

be a serious blow

to the Marauders' chances

if he is out of the game.

SPORTSCASTER 1:

North Dallas not only

gets a first down,

the clock is stopped.

SPORTSCASTER 2:

It looked like he got

hurt in a trap block

by Jo Bob Priddy

and O.W. Shaddock.

SPORTSCASTER 1: Well,

Weeks had been beating

those two all night long

and they finally got back

at him on that play.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

And a big first down

for North Dallas.

Jesus, Jo Bob,

we hurt him bad, man.

Fuck him.

Fuck it.

Huddle up.

Huddle up!

(GROANING)

All right, good job.

Good job.

Let's tie it up

and take it

into overtime.

Can you get the outside

linebacker, Phil?

All right, Delma,

it's your chance

to be a star, baby.

Let's go, baby.

Red-lax-92.

First sound,

all right?

First sound.

Ready?

ALL: Break!

SPORTSCASTER 2:

This is the situation

facing North Dallas,

they've got the ball,

18 yards away

from a touchdown,

but they have only

24 seconds left

in the game.

They have to score

if they're going to tie

this championship contest up

and send it into overtime.

SPORTSCASTER 1:

Maxwell sends Huddle

and Elliott to the left side

so they overload Chicago's

defensive right side.

SETH: Hut!

On 1st and 10.

Back to pass, Maxwell.

The lane is Huddle.

And the pass is

to Huddle on

the sidelines.

However,

there's a flag down,

Huddle is hurt.

Oh, what a hit by

Francis Chapman

from the secondary!

Let's check

the penalty marker.

The preliminary indication

from the official is

offensive holding

against the Bulls.

So instead of

a gain for a huddle,

it will be a

10-yard penalty

against North Dallas,

and the play

is erased.

God damn it.

Look at his face.

Fix his face!

Elliott!

Elliott!

Get up, Delma!

Get back

in the huddle!

The doctor will

look after him!

(DELMA GROANING)

You get back in

that huddle now

or off the field!

(GROANING)

SPORTSCASTER 1: Let's take

a second look at that play.

SPORTSCASTER 2:

You can see this play

was well set up

as Huddle takes a little

step back from the line

of scrimmage

and takes a swing

pass from Maxwell.

He is wide open

when he starts downfield.

But then he grabs his leg,

obviously in pain,

and Francis Chapman

comes up and lays

a massive blow on him.

There is no way

that Huddle

is going to make it back

in this contest.

Man, you ought

to see Delma's face.

Not now, poot.

All right, God damn it,

let's get mean.

Let's stick it

up their ass.

All right, two plays,

back to back.

No huddle.

Red-right-76,

come back with

red-right-79.

Phil.

You throw it, partner,

I'll catch it.

SETH: Both plays on 2.

Ready...

ALL: Break!

SPORTSCASTER 2: The Bulls

are now in worse shape

than they were before, Ross.

They have got only

16 seconds left,

but they are 28 yards

away from the score.

SPORTSCASTER 1: 1st and 20,

as Maxwell sets them up.

The clock does not

start until

the snap is made.

Elliott is in motion

to the right.

Maxwell's back to pass.

He's going to Elliott.

It's complete

at the 15-yard line.

But the clock

is running.

It was a good catch

by Elliott, but he didn't

get out of bounds.

So they've got to hurry

if they are going

to get a playoff

and get another chance

to score before

this game is over.

Five, four,

three, two, one.

They got

the play off.

(CROWD CHEERING)

(CHEERING)

Yeah! Yeah!

Great catch!

Goddamn!

All right.

Good pass, man.

You're my

ace in the hole.

Good pass. Yeah.

SPORTSCASTER 1: North Dallas

has a chance to tie it.

And Prejza, the outstanding

kicker in the league,

is in there.

SPORTSCASTER 2: North Dallas

couldn't have the ball

in any better

hands in this case...

Or I guess you should say

in any better feet

than Prejza,

because he has kicked

43 straight extra points.

That's a new

North Dallas record,

and they're calling

him "Mr. Automatic."

SPORTSCASTER 1:

Campos will snap it back.

Art Hartman will put it down.

The snap.

The ball gets

away from Hartman.

It's on the ground.

Chicago recovers.

The game is over.

The Chicago Marauders

have held off

the North Dallas Rally

who win 14-13,

and what a finish.

SPORTSCASTER 2:

It looked like that snap

was right on the money.

Hartman just couldn't

control it, as it bounced

around off his finger tips

and what a shame

for North Dallas

after making such

a dramatic comeback

in the last few seconds

to move within one point.

SPORTSCASTER 1:

An agonizing defeat

for North Dallas.

They thought they had

the ball game tied.

They felt the overtime

was upcoming.

But it was not to be

and the Chicago Marauders

have won

the championship

by 1 point.

Listen, Phil,

you hold that arm

steady tonight.

Hey, uh,

how's Delma?

He needs surgery.

Hey, Elliott.

You looked pretty good

out there tonight.

You played good.

I wish we could

say the same thing

for you, Jo Bob.

You should've studied

Weeks' tendencies.

I thought I did, coach.

You don't listen.

We would've won

if we'd studied

those tendencies.

Aw, shit!

You never give us anything

to bring in the game

except your fucking facts

and tendencies!

To you,

it's just a business.

But to us,

it's still got

to be a sport.

You're supposed

to be a professional.

You go out there...

Oh, shit!

We work harder than

anybody to win.

But, man, when

we're dead tired in

the fourth quarter,

winning's got to mean

more than just money.

You were hired

to do a job!

Job?

Job? I don't

want no fucking job!

I wanna play

football, you asshole!

I want some feelings!

I want some fucking

team spirit!

This ain't no high school.

You don't have to love

each other to play.

That's just

what I mean,

you bastard.

Every time

I call it a game,

you call it a business,

and every time

I call it business,

you call it a game.

You and B.A. And all

the rest of you coaches

are chickenshit cocksuckers.

No feeling

for the game

at all, man.

You'll win, but it'll

just be numbers

on a scoreboard.

Numbers, that's all

you care about.

Fuck, man,

that's not enough for me.

I don't have to listen...

Oh, yes, you fucking do!

You got to listen

to me for once!

All you coaches are

chickenshit cocksuckers!

You're all chickenshit

cocksuckers!

God damn you!

Far out.

(GROANS)

Hey, Del,

how you doing?

Hey, come on, man.

You'll be back.

(SOBBING)

Come on. Hey, Del.

Come on.

You're gonna be back.

Come on, huh?

Fuck.

Come on.

Come on.

Whoa.

Good boy.

Hi.

Hi.

Are you all right?

Yeah.

Just slightly damaged.

(CHUCKLING)

Look, I'm... I'm sorry

about the other night.

I had no right,

no right at all.

You had a right.

You see the game?

Yeah.

See the catch I made?

Yeah. It was terrific.

I'm sorry you lost.

I thought I was gonna

start that game.

Hell, I even

shot up my knee,

but they weren't

gonna let me start.

They were just using me

so they could get

another ball player

to deaden his leg.

God, that's awful.

Yeah. Well,

that's the way it is.

But what's important

is my performing.

The moment of the catch,

that feeling, that high.

Hell, I can

take the crap.

I can take

the manipulation.

I can take the pain.

As long

as I get that chance

every Sunday.

I think that this game

is twisting your mind.

The game's not twisting

my mind, Charlotte.

I know the game.

It's the rules

they make up.

I'm gonna play,

so I'm going

by their rules.

You can't separate

one from the other.

Yeah, but I can't

buck their system.

I can't fight them

any more than

you can drop out.

Well, if you've

made up your mind,

why did you

come to me?

'Cause I care

about you.

And I want

to see you again.

I've got a meeting

with Conrad Hunter.

Hell, I can't

let him see

that the merchandise

is damaged.

(CHUCKLES)

Here. Let me

help you.

Yeah.

You know, when you

think about it,

they're not worse

than anybody else, really.

(GRUNTS)

Come in, Phil.

Come on in.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Hello, B.A.

Sit there,

Phil boy.

All right, Ray.

Mr. Elliott,

where were you

last Monday

until approximately

8:00 a.m. Tuesday?

Uh, who wants

to know that?

I'm Ray March.

I'm with the league's

internal investigations

division.

On Tuesday of last week,

where were you?

Uh...

Now that, um...

I don't know.

You know that.

Why don't you tell me

where I was, huh?

No, no.

No, wait a minute.

Let me, uh...

Let me give you

a little hint.

That wise-ass

attitude of yours

isn't going to

get you out

of this one.

Do you understand that?

I think

you'd best answer,

Phil, boy.

All right.

Ruth, would, um...

Would you send in

Mr. Rindquist, please?

Go ahead,

Mr. Rindquist.

I am

Joseph Rindquist,

and I am a vice-officer

with the Dallas police.

Off-duty, I work

for Mr. Ray March

investigating reports

of league misconduct.

One week ago,

I was instructed to

take up the surveillance

of Phillip Elliott,

an employee of

the Dallas franchise.

I followed the suspect

from then until he

boarded a plane

this last weekend

bound for Chicago.

And all this time

I thought I was

just paranoid.

JOSEPH: "On Monday

of this week,

"at a party in a private

North Dallas residence,

"the suspect was observed

near the swimming pool

"in the company

of an unidentified

Caucasian adult male."

What do you mean,

"an unidentified

white Caucasian male,"

for Christ sake?

Didn't you recognize him?

I mean, who was it

that was with me?

Didn't you

recognize him, huh?

Some investigator.

Continue, Mr. Rindquist.

"At this time,

"the suspect

was photographed

"smoking a

marijuana cigarette."

Photo exhibit "F."

"Now, picking up

the suspect again

on Tuesday,

"I followed him

from these offices

"to 2612 Houston Drive,

"where he remained

until morning.

"This address

is the residence

"of a woman named

Joanne Rodney..."

Mr. Rindquist.

We don't need to bring

others into this mess.

Continue.

"A search of the suspect's

premises was effected,

"uncovering a bag

of marijuana...

"And assorted pills."

You got this from

Mr. Elliott's house?

Yes, sir.

Illegal drugs are

forbidden by the league

rules, Phil.

You know that.

Oh, for Christ sake, Conrad.

Jesus. Smoking grass?

Are you kidding me?

If you nailed

all the ballplayers

that smoke grass,

you wouldn't even

be able to fill

a punt return team.

Besides that,

you give me

harder stuff

in Chicago

just to get out

of the goddamn

locker room.

Hard drugs.

What's...

Continue.

Uh, photo exhibit "H"

shows Mr. Elliott

in the company

of a woman named

Charlotte Calder

as they're coming out of

a country and western...

Jesus Christ!

You sleazy...

Sit down,

God damn it!

Sit in that

goddamn chair!

You bastard!

What the hell do you think

you're doing here?

Damn it!

Who the hell you

think you are anyway?

We treated you

pretty well.

We paid you

damn well!

If you don't think so,

try to earn that

much out there.

You're in for

a big surprise,

my friend.

'Cause I don't

give a rat's ass

who you were.

I'll take care

of this!

We don't need this guy.

You're nothing but a

two-bit football player.

Calm down!

Let him talk.

Let him talk.

You got anything

to say, Phil?

Nah.

Are you part

of this, B.A.?

Phil, you have

the best hands

in football.

But there's a lot more

to this business

than ability.

No, no, no, B.A.,

you're wrong.

You're wrong,

because it is ability.

It is what I can do

with these hands,

and that's why

I play the game.

It's dedication.

It's discipline.

It's sacrifice.

You can't take

all the time.

You have to give

something back

to the game.

Oh, for Christ sake, B.A.

My nose is busted.

I can't even

breathe through it.

I can hardly

stand up.

You know, I haven't slept

more than three hours

at a stretch

in two years.

Now, isn't that giving

something back?

Oh, for Christ sake, B.A.,

there's pieces of me

scattered from here

to Pittsburgh

on these

football fields.

Now, isn't that

giving something

back to the game?

Isn't it?

B.A.

B.A.

B.A.

How can you take

this away from me?

How can you do this?

Okay, Phil.

Only now I

speak for myself.

And it's your

childish attitude.

You hurt the team.

(CLEARS THROAT)

Team?

Oh, Christ's sake, B.A.,

we're not the team!

They're the team!

These guys right here,

B.A., they're the team.

We're the equipment!

We're the jock straps,

the helmets.

And they just

depreciate us

and take us off

the goddamn

tax returns!

That's what that is.

Yeah. Well...

But I was good

when I played.

Because the only

thing that's real

in that game,

is me.

And that's enough.

Well, I feel

for you, Phil,

but you confused

luck and brain.

(SCOFFS)

You betrayed me.

You betrayed my family.

I tried to warn you.

You violated

the morals clause

of your contract.

It's that simple, so,

pending a league

hearing,

you're hereby suspended

without pay.

Yeah?

Is that what

it is, Emmett?

Is that what this

whole charade

has been about,

so you don't have

to pay my contract?

Well, hell,

I don't need your

money that bad.

I quit!

You are right, B.A.

Thank you.

It's time to put away

childish things.

Things get

ugly up there?

Pretty ugly.

My name come up?

Uh... (CLEARS THROAT)

There's no reason

to bring you into this.

They suspend you?

(SCOFFS)

I quit.

I can't take it.

They want too much.

Too much ain't enough.

Not for them.

What you gonna do?

I don't know.

I'm gonna go home.

I'm gonna get in bed

with Charlotte.

I'm gonna spend

a week with her.

I'm gonna heal up.

I'm gonna spend

time with her

and ease up.

Take it easy.

Hoss.

Hmm?

I appreciate you

keeping my name

out of it.

Uh, no sweat.

You knew about it.

You know everything,

don't you, Max?

That I do, poot.

That I do.

Hey, poot.

Yeah?

Got any of them

old pain killers?

You keep 'em, cowboy.

You're gonna need 'em.

(GRUNTS)

Hey, Seth.

We really had 'em

worried in Chicago

though, didn't we?

Best catch

I ever seen, poot.

Not a bad pass, either.

Good luck on Sunday.

Hey, poot.

Yeah?