Friday Night Lights (2006–2011): Season 5, Episode 3 - The Right Hand of the Father - full transcript

ALL: Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!
Chug! Chug! Chug! Chug!

(ALL CHEERING)

JESS: You know what?

I don't really think this
rally girl thing is for me.

If that's the way
you feel, cool.

I'm someone
who loves Texas football.

I don't know.
I love the game.

I'm gonna find
some extracurricular things

for you to do
after school.

Hey, guys.
I'm Derek Bishop, head TA.

How about I buy you
a coffee?



Okay.

(ALL CHATTERING)

STAN: You guys got that?

TAYLOR: Hey, quiet!
Listen! Pipe down!

(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)

(FANS CHEERING)

(CAR HORNS HONKING)

(SINGING) Just now,
they took my picture

Nope, I didn't smile

They told me
I was going to be

A poor man a while

One day, I was walking
down the street

When I should have been
walking down the hall

I heard a voice
calling out, said,



"Where you going, y'all?"

(ALL CHATTERING)

(BAND CONTINUES PLAYING)

(ALL EXCLAIMING)

(ALL CHEERING)

ALL: (CHANTING)
Tink, Tink, Tink!

(EXCLAIMING)

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

Yeah!

Everybody give it up
for Gary Clark, Jr.

And the Old Flat Tires.

Give it up, also,

for the big victory tonight
by the East Dillon Lions!

Let's hear it!
Way to go, Lions!

I want to welcome you
all out tonight

to the grand opening
of Buddy's.

I have the game balls,

the first two victories
by the East Dillon Lions.

Each week, we're gonna
take the game ball,

put the score on it,

and we're gonna mount 'em
in the trophy case.

(ALL CHEERING)

There will be a lot
of balls in this case

by the end
of the year, folks!

I'd like to bring up
two of my dear friends,

the great coach,
Eric Taylor,

and his wife Tami!

Come on up!

ALL: (CHANTING)
Coach! Coach!

We are going to let the
coach and Mrs. Taylor

install the winning balls
into the case.

(AUDIENCE CHEERING)

Yeah, baby!

(ROCK MUSIC PLAYING)

(WHIRRING)

Hey, Ma.

Hey, baby.

What are you doing
up so late?

Oh, I'm just doing
some cleaning.

You know, that was
a damn good game.

That was
a good game, babe.

Thanks.
Defense was all over me.

They switched up to a 3-4,
and they couldn't stop me.

(LAUGHING) Yeah.

Place looks nice.

Thanks.
Thanks.

You wanna tell me
what's up?

Well, um...
(CLEARING THROAT)

Your father's
getting out.

He's gonna be paroled.

He's getting out.

Actually, I was hoping
that you'd come with me

to Huntsville
to go pick him up.

Wait, wait...
Where's he gonna live?

Well, I don't...
I don't know, babe.

I just... I haven't
thought about that.

I just...
I just want you to go with me.

I can't do that.
I'm going to sleep.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

(STUDENTS CHEERING)

BURNWELL:
That's Dallas Tinker,

Luke Cafferty,

and Vincent Howard.

Apparently, it's some type
of a rally girl initiation.

That is awful.

BURNWELL: This thing
has had 2,000 hits,

and I've had about that
many irate parents call me.

I have got
to do something.

Like what?

Well, parents want
these boys expelled.

Which boys? Football players.
The ones they see.

Wait a second, now.

Now, listen, this is
a horrible thing. I agree.

I don't like seeing
what I'm seeing one bit.

There's a lot
of boys there,

and they're not all
football players.

Well, the storm that's
gonna rain down on me

is gonna be
about football players,

and they're your players.
All I'm saying, Levi,

is just don't go expelling
my football players yet

until I can
look into this.

Well, this is because you
have a game coming up, huh?

It's because I'd like to know the
truth behind this whole thing

before you start throwing
people off my team.

Okay.
But you owe me one.

(SCHOOL BELL RINGING)

I mean, 2,000 hits?

I'll talk to my players.
I'll get to the bottom of it, find out what I can.

And you know what?
These girls have got to be dealt with, too.

Understood.
I mean, that cannot happen.

We didn't do any of this
crap when we were kids.

All right, I'll see you later.
Yeah.

If any of you have a
problem with your grade,

don't go crying
to Professor Nevins.

He didn't grade them.
I did.

And believe me, I was much
nicer than he would have been.

All right, you guys are done.
I'll see you next time.

Office hours tomorrow
if you need me.

I don't even know him.
It's been, like, five years.

I get it.
Like that...

That's just really weird,
you know?

Yeah, I mean, the way
he treated my mom,

the reason why she was,
you know, messed up

for as long
as she was.

It's hard to come back
from something like that.

I don't know how
I'm supposed to feel.

It doesn't even matter.

You think, though,
maybe people change?

I mean, you changed.

Yeah, well,
I don't know.

I didn't go to jail.

PAM ON PHONE: Listen to
me, I am telling you.

Buddy, Jr.
Is in real trouble.

His grades are terrible,

he stays out at night,
all night, and I...

BUDDY: Pam, stop.

Just stop yelling.

He's a teenager.

He's just going
through a phase.

He's gonna come out of it,
just like all the other kids.

This is not a phase,
Buddy.

Let me tell you something else.
You know what?

I think he's
smoking marijuana.

You think
or you know?

I can't believe
I'm saying this.

Maybe you should
come out here.

Oh, oh, you think he needs his
father, after all this time?

Yeah, I been trying
to tell you that for years.

You know what?
Don't give this to me right now.

This is about our son, Buddy,
and he's in trouble.

We are losing him.
I know that.

Just calm down and quit acting like
a crazy woman. Oh, acting crazy?

I don't think you understand.
I've got to open the bar.

I've got some things to do.
Oh, you've gotta open the bar?

Yeah, you go do that.
I'm going to think about this.

You open the bar.
I'll take care of it, Pam.

How do you feel
about that video?

(LAUGHS)

I didn't put it
on the Internet.

That's not really
the issue, is it?

Actually, it kind of is,
'cause...

If it wasn't
on the Internet,

I wouldn't be
sitting here right now,

because nobody
would know about it.

Does it matter to you at all
that you know about it?

You let that
happen to you.

You let those boys
do that to you.

It was just a party!

We were having fun!

Didn't look to me
like you were having fun.

It looked to me like you
were passed out cold.

Have you ever been
to a party?

I sure have.

I usually try to stay awake.
It's a lot more fun that way.

(PLAYERS GRUNTING)

You move your ass!
Nobody told you to slow down.

Y'all enjoy
that party this week?

Y'all see the video?

I know everyone else
in town did.

So did
that girl's parents,

and her church members,
and her classmates.

Bring 'em over here,
Coach.

BILLY: Bring it in!

(BLOWING WHISTLE)
Now, now, now!

Let's go!

You know what it is, fellas?
It's just damn shameful.

That's what it is.

And it's not gonna
happen out here again.

You act like a bunch of thugs,
it reflects on all of us.

I'm not holding you
to a higher standard.

I'm holding you
to our standard!

Why you keep putting
everything on us,

like we were
the only ones there?

Coach, the whole school
was at that party.

If you two don't know
the answer to that,

you're dumber
than you look.

Is there
anybody out here

that doesn't understand
what our standard entails?

PLAYERS: No, sir.

Y'all look at me
right in the eye.

Anyone,
and I mean anyone,

who breaks our standard
will be off this team,

and that is a promise.

Get 'em back to it,
Coach.

Let's go. Back in your lines.
Let's go!

BILLY: Come on,
let's go!

STAN: Come on!

(POLICE SIREN WAILING)

REGINA: Some ranch...

(ORNETTE LAUGHING)

REGINA: (LAUGHING)
You remember that, huh?

What you got up
in there?

(LAUGHING) Got some
dressing to put up on this.

Okay?

(ORNETTE LAUGHING)

REGINA: Like old times?
ORNETTE: Like old times.

Hey, baby.

Oh...

Um...
Look at you, boy.

Say hi to
your father, babe.

What's happening,
little bread?

(REGINA CHUCKLES)

I ain't so little
no more.

(LAUGHS) No,
you all grown up.

All right, no more
little kid names.

What's happening, Vince?

What's up, man?

So listen, babe, Vince,
I got us some chicken,

like old times' sake.

What else we have?
We have some greens.

Let's just do like we...
You know, like we used to.

Oh, God, I missed your cooking.
Mmm. I know that's right.

(REGINA CHUCKLING) Your mama
put her foot up in it, right?

What the hell is this?
REGINA: What?

What's that?

ORNETTE: That's
my suitcase, man.

You didn't tell him.

She didn't tell me
you were staying here.

Uh, baby, just...
Just go wash your hands.

(GRUNTS)
Baby, please.

Hey, come on.
Vince. Vince.

Let's talk about what
happens in your body

when you consume alcohol.
(CELL PHONE CHIMES)

One or two drinks

can impair your reasoning and
emotions, (GIRLS CHATTERING)

which means you can decide to do some
dumb things (CELL PHONE BEEPING)

like drink more.
(CAMERA CLICKING)

As more alcohol
is consumed in the body,

your vision and speech
are impaired,

as well as your reflexes
and balance.

Alcohol is a drug,
and it affects your brain,

your heart,
your lungs...

Excuse me, Ms. Rene.

Can I just interrupt you
for one second, please?

Y'all, I need to ask you
to put away the brush,

put away
the cell phones,

and pay attention.

Mr. Burnwell has brought
this woman here

to give you information
that you need.

I know y'all, at least some
of you, have seen that video.

It is sad and it is disturbing.
I'm sure you will agree.

It's sad to see a girl
throwing up her guts.

It's disturbing
to see a girl

being passed around at a
party like a rag doll.

(LAUGHS)

You think that's funny?

I think that's awful.

This discussion is part

of a larger conversation.
Boring!

(GIRL LAUGHING)
(YELLING) Excuse me?

What was that?

You don't deserve to
have this conversation.

You can leave.

You need to take care
of yourselves.

'Cause one day, real soon,

there is not gonna be anybody
else to do it for you.

I suggest you take this
opportunity and you listen.

(MIMICKING GIRL'S VOICE)
Hey, I'm the puppet girl!

(WHISTLE BLOWS) STAN: Let's go.
Back in your group, let's go!

Now, let's go, let's go!

(MIMICKING GIRL'S VOICE)
Who wants to dance with me?

Hey, hey!

What the hell
are you doing?

What the hell is that?

You not hear
what I said yesterday?

Was I not clear enough
yesterday?

Jacob, you ever known me
to break a promise?

Wade, you ever known me
not to keep my promise?

Grab your helmets.
Get off this field.

Now!

Get on the 50-yard-line,
right now.

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

TAYLOR: Call it, Coach!

STAN: Two groups!
Spread out!

JULIE: It's a C-, and I
really have no idea why.

What's wrong with it?

There's nothing wrong it.

I just feel like I've spent
a little time with you now,

and there's more
to your thoughts

than you managed to get
on the page, that's all.

Is it badly written?
Is it unclear?

It felt safe.

I think there's a very
interesting mind in there.

I just want you to feel
comfortable exercising it.

Take some chances.

So that's what
college is for.

First semester.

Look, it can take a while
to get your bearings.

You will.

Okay.

Hey, Julie.

I've got an idea.

Professor Nevins holds
these weekly salons

for promising students.

I think you'd be great for it.
You interested?

Um...

(BELL RINGING)
Sure.

Y'all get on
to class now, okay?

Hey, Jess.

Hey, Mrs. Taylor.

Hey, I'm sorry about
all of this today.

Oh, you know...

And if it means anything,
I was listening.

Well, I'm glad.
I was.

It does mean
something to me.

Thank you, Jess.

Okay. You're welcome.
(CHUCKLES)

I tell you, these rally girls...
(SCOFFS)

And then I can kind of
understand them.

'Cause everybody just wants
to feel a part of the team.

Hey, Jess.

Come here.
Yeah?

I know Coach is looking for an
equipment manager on the team.

Mmm-hmm.

How would you like
to be equipment manager?

Really?
You serious?

I mean, I don't know.
I don't know.

I'd have to ask him.
I'd be great!

I'd be better than anyone else.
Yeah!

I think you would.
I'll tell him that.

Okay. And tell him, too, I'm
really good with technique,

because I, like, worked with
Vince over the summer. Okay.

I'm not making any promises.
I don't know.

Okay. Okay. You're... Thank you!

Yeah, you're welcome.
All right.

TAYLOR: We got
everyone in here?

PLAYERS: Yes, sir.

Y'all go ahead, take a
knee if you want to.

I'm not so sure there
aren't a few more of you

that ought to be
kicked off this team.

Maybe even
kicked outta the school.

Maybe even
the state of Texas.

People are watching us.

And it's just as important
what we do on the field

as what we do
off the field.

Y'all know that.

Tell you what
we're gonna do.

We're gonna
have a clean slate.

There's gonna be
a few rules.

No more jerseys on game days.
It's gonna be coats and ties.

(PLAYERS GROANING)
And there's gonna be

a little community
outreach plan going on.

Is everybody all right
with that?

ALL: Yes, sir.

Y'all better say it
like you mean it.

ALL: (LOUDLY) Yes, sir!

PLAYER 1: How you
doing today, sir?

This is a schedule
for the East Dillon Lions.

Sir, East Dillon Lions.
Come out and support.

Hey, how you doing, ma'am?
My name's Dallas Tinker.

I play for
the East Dillon Lions.

Mind if I help you
with your groceries?

You may not recognize me.
Have you seen my face?

Number 79? How you doing, ma'am?

Come on,
defensive lineman?

All right,
you have a nice day.

PLAYER 2:
How are you doing, sir?

This is when we play
our football games.

Hey, dude, how much longer
we gotta be out here?

It's hot.
I'm burning up.

Can't you see
I'm baking?

I can see
you want bacon.

Hey, Vince. Say, bro,

they not taking
these schedules, man.

I'm fixing
to bounce, bro.

I don't know why
y'all looking at me.

I ain't the police.
Do what you want.

Hell, yeah, QB.

Hey! Hey,
let's bounce, man.

I'm outta here.
Let's go, bro.

Where y'all going?

Hey, man, I'm out.

They not supporting us
no way, man.

Why should I be here?

Vince,
say something, man.

What you want me to say?

I don't know. "Come back and
pass out the damn flyers"?

Luke, look around you.

Go home.
It's done.

No, Vince, Vince.

Everybody's gone.

Vince! I don't wanna
push no tractor tires.

The team left.
I'm going to be with the team.

Go home! I'm dreaming about
tires in my damn sleep.

Come on!
Go home, Tink!

Eric, he's barely
15 years old,

and he's a pothead.

(SCOFFS)

Of course, it shouldn't
surprise me.

He's out there with that
Kevin, that hippie Kevin.

He's probably the one
giving it to him.

I knew this was
gonna happen.

And Pam, she calls
every 15 minutes

with some
new disaster.

I am 1,500 miles away.
It's 1,500 miles away.

What can I do
1,500 miles away?

What am I gonna say?
What am I gonna do?

She's the one that
wanted the divorce.

She's the one that wanted
to raise the kids,

to give 'em a great life
'cause I was such a...

And you know
as well as anybody

that it tore
my heart out.

I know, I know.

And I wanted
those children.

And now here it is.
What am I supposed to do?

The going gets tough...

And Pam,
she just gets to punt.

Just send Buddy, Jr...

You know what, Buddy?
Maybe it's not about you,

and maybe
it's not about Pam

as much as it is
about your son,

who happens
to need you.

Nobody said being
a dad's gonna be easy.

Hell, we're both fathers.
We both know that.

Maybe you should look at
it as an opportunity.

I'm just saying.

Don't you need
an equipment manager?

TAYLOR: Billy is the equipment
manager, sweetheart.

Well, I'm sure Billy
could use some help.

Everybody could always
use a couple extra hands.

No.
Well, I just think

it might be nice to give this
girl an opportunity, you know?

It's something
that she really wants,

and we keep talking
to these kids

about self-esteem
and all that...

Let's put our money
where our mouths are,

you know,
make some changes.

We gotta get this school out of
the '50s, for heaven's sakes.

Honey,
you're talking about

my quarterback,
who's a boy.

His girlfriend
happens to be a girl.

I don't need 'em both in the
locker room at the same time.

That's a bad idea.

(CHATTERING)

You don't know that.
You just don't know.

No, I do know.
Girls in locker rooms are bad ideas.

I just think it's
something to think about.

Tell Daddy
to think about it.

Don't you dare.

Think about it, Daddy!

JESS: It's not like
I'm getting my hopes up,

but Mrs. Taylor did say
she'd talk to him.

Ten seconds.
That was good.

So what would you
be doing?

She said he needs, like,
an equipment manager.

You know, start
somewhere like that.

What?

Nothing. I mean,
I'm happy for you, just...

Just got a lot
on my mind right now.

Did you talk
to your dad?

Yep.

How'd it go?

(PEOPLE CHATTERING)

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

You know,
"Caesar was everyone.

"Every woman's man and..."

"Every man's woman."

Yes, you've used
that quote five times

in the past week.
Every time we go out.

Well, no wonder
you stole my line.

I did not steal
your line,

unless you are the 17th
century earl of Oxford.

Oh, de Vere?
Oh, please.

He is such a poser.
Thirteenth folio?

Maybe in his dreams.

JENNINGS: Anyway,
I just adore that Alison.

I hear she's doing
such wonderful work

on her sabbatical
in Boston.

Yes, she is.
Yeah? Yeah.

You must be so proud to have
such a distinguished wife, yeah?

Yeah. Mmm.

There's Professor Nevins.
I'm gonna tell him

about that ancient system
of personality typing.

But don't worry, honey.

I'll come right back and
I'll tell you about it, too.

You're gonna want to get
real familiar with bleach,

'cause that's the one thing
that's gonna keep these

staph infections from going...
Hey, Foxy Brown.

Keep it in your pants,
Tinker!

You know what I'm saying?
There's staph infections in here?

Yeah. It's a locker room.
Okay. All right.

Hey, everybody,
listen up!

This is Jess...
Merriweather.

Jess Merriweather,
all right?

She's the new
equipment manager with us.

Hi. I expect y'all to treat her

with the same respect
that you do me, all right?

What's that?
You mean none?

(LAUGHING)

Shut your face,
Moreno!

You're good.
Thanks.

So this is you
on the team? Laundry?

Well, yeah, because
I'm the equipment manager.

This is the equipment
that I manage.

Thanks!

Hey, focus, focus.
This isn't gonna work.

I just don't... I don't see this...
Hey, look, baby.

I get to wear
a uniform and hats

and, like, stuff like y'all.
Isn't that cool?

Mmm-hmm. You can't wait
till everybody leaves?

Can you take
those off, too,

so I can get your
uniform going, baby?

I'm gonna start on this, because
I got a lot of stuff...

I don't know
about this, Jess.

Okay, (BLOWS KISS) babe.
I'll see you later.

Later, babe.
(BLOWS KISS MOCKINGLY)

(MAURA LAUGHING)

Excuse me.

Oh, God!

Good Lord.
Oh, man!

(LAUGHING)

Fancy meeting
you here.

Hi!

TAMI: Let me just give you a little
perspective about something.

You were in
a supply closet.

That's where
they keep mops

and brooms
and computer paper and...

There's some rats
in there.

Isn't that romantic?

This is gonna
get around now, too.

And before you know it, you're gonna
have yourself quite a reputation.

Is that what you want?

'Cause I happen
to know you're smart,

and I can see
that you're beautiful,

and this is
a time right now

for you to choose
what your future is.

And it's not just gonna be people
around this school talking,

and your friends talking.

It's gonna be
parents talking.

It's gonna be college
admissions officers talking.

So really think about
what you want, all right?

(CAR DOORS OPEN)

What's happening?

Where'd you get the car?

Friend of mine.

Gotta get it back
by midnight, you know.

Before it turns into
a paddy wagon.

(LAUGHING)

I must have just
missed you earlier.

You know,
I went down

to get some tickets
for your game on Friday.

You went to my school?
Yeah, man.

Don't be going down there
looking for me.

Hey, hey,
come on, now.

Your mama said you were
like Superman out there.

I want to
see you play, Son.

I'll be all right.

Hey, hey, come on, come on, come on.
Hop in, hop in.

We'll go get
your mama at work.

We'll get something to eat.
Something at Ray's Bar-B-Q.

Come on, now.

Y'all go ahead
and enjoy that.

Come on, Son.
You gotta eat, right?

I'll be all right.

DEREK: You know,
I'm in this position

where everyone thinks
that I'm married,

but I don't
feel like I am.

Is that why you don't
wear a wedding ring?

I'm sorry.
You know what?

This is none
of my business.

This is none
of my business.

No, you know what?
It's okay.

It's kind of liberating
to talk about it,

to hear it out loud.

You know what?
We have some issues.

Everyone in my life thinks that we're happily
married and that everything's great,

but she's been gone for
six months on sabbatical,

and how are we supposed
to work on our issues

if we're
not even together?

I probably shouldn't
have said any of that.

I've had too much
to drink.

It's okay.

I promise that
I will not tell a soul.

You're an awesome girl,
Julie Taylor.

In a different world,
different time...

Suffice it to say,

I feel very comfortable
with you.

I hope it's okay
that I said that.

Yeah, it's flattering.

(LAUGHS)

Good.

(SIGHS) Okay.

Good night to you.

Good night.

I'm gonna try that again

and see if I can get
my legs to work.

(LAUGHS)

You have
a lovely evening.

You know what
you said about

taking chances?

Yeah.

Mmm.

(CLICKING LOUDLY)

The short part of your
tie's a little long, man.

You learn about ties
in the joint?

Uh-uh. You must have
took a tie class.

That's where your ass been
the last few years. (SCOFFS)

Don't worry about where I learned it.
I learned it.

I don't care.
That's enough, Vince.

No, no, no.

It's okay.

Come on.

Say what
you need to say.

You don't get it,
do you?

We been doing just fine
without you.

And you come in here
and you expect us

to act like everything's
cool, but it's not.

You ain't
been here for us.

And if I had anything
to say about it,

your ass wouldn't even
be in this house.

Hold up.
REGINA: Oh!

You gonna drop bombs?
Oh!

I got this.

You gonna drop bombs and
run out like a little kid?

Your house?

You want to talk like a
man, we can do that.

A man don't
leave his family.

Is that talking
like a man?

You don't come
to my game tonight.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(DOOR OPENS)

Vince, wait.

Vince, wait.

Wait!

Give him a chance.

Okay, we give it a chance.
Then what?

He starts robbing.
He starts stealing.

He'll end up
right back in prison.

Then do it for me.

Give him a chance for me.

Okay?

Let's be a family.

Baby...

(FANS CHEERING)

Come on, Lions!

PLAYERS: (CHANTING)
East side! East side!

Coach is looking for you.

For what?

I don't know.
Didn't say.

Thanks.
Yeah.

What's up?

You left the grocery store
early. Why?

Why not?

Go ahead, say it.
Say what's on your mind.

Well, first of all,
you didn't ask me

how I felt about
Jess being on the team,

being in
the locker room.

I don't run personnel
decisions by you.

And all these new rules.
They're stupid.

This shirt, this tie,
and whatever high standards

you're looking for,
this ain't it.

Close that door.

Close that door.

When I first met you,

you were climbing out
of a police car.

People said
you were a punk,

you'd never last
on the field.

You know
they still believe that?

Screw them.

I work hard for
everything I've got.

I know you do, and you ought
to be damn proud about that.

I am.

I'm proud of you.

Your teammates
are proud of you.

It's about character.

It's about striving to be
better than everybody else.

Coach, my dad
just got out of prison.

He's staying with me
at my house,

and I can't stand him.

My mom, she asked me
to forgive him,

to be better.

And you're asking me
to be better.

I don't know how to be better
'cause he never taught me how!

He never taught me
how to be better!

He's not around!

Hey, Coach, we're going
out in 10 minutes.

It's fine, Coach.

I'm supposed
to be better!

Close that door.

Listen to me.

I've said
you need to strive

to be better
than everyone else.

I didn't say you needed to be
better than everyone else,

but you gotta try.

That's what
character is.

It's in the trying.

I'm gonna give you a few minutes
to gather yourself up here.

(DOOR OPENS)

(DOOR CLOSES)

VINCE: 47 tiger
X tracer fade.

Hastings, beat it.
I'm gonna hit you on the second window.

It's coming in hot.
Be ready.

Let's do this, all right?
On one. Ready?

Break.

ANNOUNCER: Late in
the fourth quarter,

the Lions down
by a touchdown,

but they are still
in this game, folks.

Howard to the line, looking
to get something started.

Vince Howard
taking no prisoners.

Finding Hastings for
another wide touchdown.

(ALL CHEERING)

Yeah!

Hut!

Howard takes the snap.
Looking for a receiver.

Oh, he's going to show
us his dance moves.

Breaks a big tackle
across the linebacker.

Vince Howard taken down
after a gain of 12,

and the Lions are
knocking on the door.

Touchdown, Lions!

(ALL CHEERING)

Defense! Defense!

CROWD: (CHANTING)
Defense! Defense!

ANNOUNCER: Coming down to it,
folks. It's gut-check time.

Dillon needs a stop.

Dragons got the pass.

Here comes Cafferty.

Oh, my!
Slammed to the ground.

The ball is loose.

Tinker just took
the air out of it.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

We got it. Lions' ball.

Under a minute
to go, folks,

and there is life
in East Dillon.

(ALL CHEERING)

VINCE: Watch him, watch him,
watch him, watch him.

Let's go, guys.

Come on!

Ready!

Set!

Hut!

ANNOUNCER: Howard
back in the pocket.

All hell breaking loose.
He's looking deep.

Fires across the middle.
He's got Ruckle.

Oh, my.
Taken down and out.

Clock is winding.
Lions are going to have to hurry.

Come on! Let's go!

Hurry up! Hurry up!
Hurry up!

Here we go, folks.
Less than 20 seconds left in the game.

Vince "Superman" Howard has been carrying
this team on his shoulders all night.

He's got one last shot.

Let's go!
Break it up!

Ready, set!

Hut!

(GROANS)

(ALL CHEERING)

(WHISTLE BLOWS)

ANNOUNCER: Touchdown, Lions!
Lions win!

Vince "Get the hell
outta my way" Howard

has lit up
this field tonight.

What a show
by this young man.

And the Lions are 3 and 0.
What do you know?

They call that
the Tinker Shuffle, y'all.

(WHISTLE BLOWING) Gets him a
flag for excessive celebration,

but you can't really
blame these kids.

Another big night.

Another big win for
these East Dillon Lions.

Hey, come here.

Hey, that was
a hell of an effort,

and one hell
of a performance.

I ain't got
nothing left, Coach.

That's character, baby.

(CROWD CHEERING)

VINCE: 3 and 0!
3 and 0, man!

3 and 0!

We got it, Tink!

East side, baby!

East side!

Give it up.
Give it up.

VINCE: 3 and 0! East side!
PLAYERS: East side!

3 and 0! East side! East side!

(CHANTING CONTINUES)

(PHONE RINGING)

Hello?
BUDDY ON PHONE: Pam?

Yeah.

This is what
I've decided.

Send Buddy, Jr.
Home to Dillon.

He needs his father.
(SIGHING)

Are you sure?

I've never been more sure
of anything in my life.

Send my son home, Pam.

Thank you.

Hey.

Hey.

You okay?

Yeah. Yeah, I'm good.

I'm really sorry.

There's nothing
to be sorry about.

No, no, there is.

I... I mean, I shouldn't
have let that happen.

I'm a teacher.
You're a student.

It wasn't a good idea.

Right. No, I...
I totally agree with you.

So we're good then?

Yeah.

Okay.
See you in class.

(CLEARING THROAT)

I went to your game.

I know you didn't
want me to.

But I did.

Look here.

I... I want you
to know, um...

(STAMMERING) I know how
much of your life I missed.

I mean...

I did some bad stuff,

and I was gone.

Time I'll never get back.

Look at you.

You're only
17 years old,

and you already better
than I ever was.

And you were right.

It's your house now,

and you the man here.

I didn't ask
if I could stay here.

That was wrong.

I'm sorry.

(LAUGHS) Tonight,

for the first time
in my life

I knew what pride
felt like.

I mean, boy, you...

That was crazy out there.

You... You the man
for real.

Leaping over players
in a single bound, boy.

I'm proud of you,
Vincent.

(SNIFFLING)

(EXHALES)

Hey, so...
So where you gonna be?

I'll be around.

(EXHALES)