Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 6 - Memento Mori - full transcript
Jack?
Jack, you were supposed to meet
me at the club for doubles.
Those insurance
fellas clobbered me.
You know, one day off
isn't gonna kill you.
- Oh hey.
- Hey.
I was just
borrowing Jack's Betamax.
What happened?
Jack stood you up?
Yeah. Have you seen him?
- Hm, no.
- I called his house.
I figured maybe inspiration
struck and he came here.
Man's not really one
for a day off, you know?
Hey, you're welcome
to take a load off.
You can listen to me
get my 27 words in.
- Twenty-seven, huh?
- Mm-hmm.
Chick choked on his
vodka at commercial.
- That sounds like a divine intervention.
- Yeah, well.
For a second there, I had
a whole flash of panic.
I was like
what happens if he drops dead?
I mean, I'm gonna have to
finish the whole game on my own.
The apprentice's dilemma.
- What's that?
- It's a little
lecture I used to give.
Well, I love
a good lecture.
You can I ask my wife.
Let me get the
tequila. You want some?
- Yeah, alright.
Tudor England.
The entire economy
split into two tiers.
Apprentices and masters.
The idea was that any
apprentice worth his salt
is climbing up that
ladder, turns into a master
when he comes of age.
So, we're too old
to share an office?
Not if you ask Hamlet. See,
you got the whole of
Denmark telling this prince
he's destined to be
king. But, you know what?
He didn't want it.
- He wasn't built for it.
- Mm-hmm.
I
think that I spent, uh
a very long time
feeling like a failure
because the best thing
that I know how to do
is help another guy be great.
But what I'm starting to realize
is that maybe
'tis better be a noble
prince than hapless king?
Maybe I ought to read
more Shakespeare.
Always.
But that was a Paul
Westhead original.
- Good one.
Well, hello, Jack.
- Cassie.
He's in ICU.
- Cassie, slow down.
It's Jack!
Jack's in the emergency room.
Okay, which hospital?
Little Company
of Mary. T-Torrance.
Westhead: Yeah. Okay,
I'll be right there.
("My Favorite Mutiny"
by The Coup playing
Your name.
Most precious thing you've got.
That's why it's our
job to protect it.
Keep it synonymous with success,
on the floor and off.
And I can promise, when folks see
you in our shoes, they'll say,
"There goes a
Converse All-Star."
"Adidas, the shoe of champions."
He's cool, he's fun, and...
- A quality fit. That's Puma.
- Of course, he's rich.
We need to think
about your feet.
You need to think
about your pocketbook.
- Your legacy.
- Your feet.
You wanna be as
American as apple pie.
That's the makings of a legend.
And everyone will
want a piece...
- Magic, Mr. Magic.
- The Magic Man!
It's Earvin, actually.
Converse Salesman:
Not anymore! Earvin...
- Earvin will be gone someday.
- Maybe he already is.
Magic is immortal.
Converse Salesman:
If you choose wisely
- this could be...
- If you choose us...
Right on the soles of
the next generation...
- If you choose us...
- This could be
- the most important choice of your season.
- Of your entire life.
Well, uh... yeah.
Thanks. Got a lot to think on.
- Take your time but, just so you know...
- Sleep on it.
- Just so you know, Converse already has...
- a verbal commitment
- from your friend Larry Bird.
- Larry Bird.
Oh.
That's Magic Johnson!
Hope you had your fill
of bullshit.
Those guys keep on shoveling
till you're just another
stallion in the stable.
Phil. Phil Knight.
Hey, Phil. You...
you on the schedule?
Me? Heck no.
Front Office seems to have
you under lock and key.
Big dogs only.
Fact is, I-I'm sort
of a rookie myself.
Let me be straight as an
arrow with you, Earvin.
C-can I call you Earvin?
I wish somebody would.
Good 'cause I'm an athlete,
too. Ran track at Oregon.
Mediocre talent. Not like
you. But, my coach and me,
my partner now, we
figured out a nifty trick.
If we could shave just one ounce
off of our shoes, it made us
55 pounds lighter every mile.
You run an average of
three miles a game.
Think how much faster you would
be without any extra weight.
What, you tellin'
me to play barefoot?
I'm telling you to
play... in these.
- Y'all making me a special pair?
- Every pair.
The Nike Magic.
A new label for
a whole new line.
- Y'all talking to Larry Bird, too?
- I'm talking to you.
We need more than just
a smile on a poster.
We need a partner.
- How much we talking?
- You mean
can I give you what those
other guys are offering.
Where's that sitting right
now? Sixty, 70 grand a year?
Eighty.
Wow. I'm offering a dollar.
One for every pair we ship,
plus 100,000 in stock options.
Right now, that's
18 cents a share.
But the sky's the limit, Earvin.
Bet on us,
you're betting on yourself.
Proposal's in the
shoe. Look it over,
I'll be in town all week.
Ah! Sign with us, you
get the right one, too!
Oh, good lord.
Is he...
Oh, no! I mean, he...
Wow, he looks really good.
- Actually...
- Okay, let's go. Let's go get some air.
- Paul's here now.
- Paul: I'm here. I'm sorry.
Hey, Cran, it's gonna be okay.
Come on, Cran. Let's get some air.
I'm here.
Hey, I got this. We're
going to be fine.
Goddammit, Jack.
You were supposed to
meet me for tennis, man.
- Okay.
Good afternoon.
Hi. Hey.
- Are you family?
- Um, if you could
just give me the
information, please.
Well, we were able
to dress his wounds,
but the inflammation in his
brain is worrisome. Are...
Are you authorized
to make decisions?
- We may need to discuss goals of care.
- Okay.
My goal is to get him up
and walking out of here
- as good as new, right?
- Of course.
That's our north star,
but an injury severe as this,
sometimes, the discussion
moves to quality of life.
Quality of life? He's
head coach of the Lakers.
He's living his dr... All
he did was take a tumble
- off of a goddamn bike!
- The trauma he's endured...
It's not gonna happen!
If that's your attitude,
we're going to need
another doctor. Just...
That's Jack McKinney.
He's my best friend. So,
what I need to hear from you
is what you're gonna
do to fix him up
because we have a
fucking game tomorrow!
Well, well, well.
- What do we have here?
- It's from the signore.
It's on me, pal.
Jack. You shouldn't have!
I had to comp his season
tickets to get him to do that.
He's our biggest
fan. It's crazy.
We got two seats
right next to him.
Reserved for Great Western Bank.
Hot damn! The
wife is gonna plotz.
You know, Dr. Buss put
chairs right on the floor
- because it's great for television.
Yeah. We don't pick
that up in Sacramento.
All they pick up in
Sacramento is the clap,
which, incidentally, is
exactly how this is spreading.
We're 13 games in.
We got lightning in a bottle.
We got a genius
coach, young phenom,
coupled with the greatest
player in the league,
right here, smack
dab in the heart
of the entertainment
capital of the world.
Mr. Buss,
we are a banking institution,
and your loan matures tomorrow.
Though I presume from your
request to meet that we're here
to talk about a payment plan.
You're darn tootin'.
Frank, tell him our plan.
We don't plan to pay.
We're giving you an opportunity.
The Lakers are the
team of the 1980s,
and the Great Western Bank can
be the official banking partner
of the Los Angeles Lakers.
But we're gonna
need a continuation
of the current loan through
June to the end of the season,
plus a fresh line of credit,
so we can keep investing
in the business.
Together.
And if we demand our money now?
Well then, Mariani,
Buss, and Associates
is going to file for bankruptcy.
And you can take the two of us
for everything we got.
Which, right now, is...
I don't know, Frank,
what do we got?
- $72.
Oh,
and this fine bottle of
bubbly. Don't forget that.
And, of course, the team.
The team is worth plenty.
N... ope!
My mother is a
genius, by the way.
My ex-wife wanted
something gold,
so I gave her the team.
All that's in her name now.
So, you can shake us down
and come up with pocket lint,
or you can dig down deep
into those fancy suits you got,
try to find the balls
to stay in business
with the Lakers.
And then, my friends,
that bank is gonna raise
a statue of you two
right there in downtown
Sacramento someday. Trust me.
Listen, I'd love to
stay and chitchat,
but I have a very horny
22-year-old upstairs
just waiting for me. So,
take our projections,
spend the day with them,
and then come to the club tonight
and tell us we got a deal.
The Jacksons are
gonna pack that place.
But don't worry. We
got your comp tickets.
Listen,
it's clear skies
from here on out.
Pleasure doing business
with you. Frank.
Oh,
boy, oh boy, oh boy.
You think they're
gonna go for it?
Of course, they're
gonna go for it.
They'd be fools not to. We got
'em by the short and curlies.
- Hello, gentlemen.
- Claire?
- What are you doing here?
- I'm waiting for you.
On my day off.
Was supposed to be at
the zoo with my grandson,
- but there's a problem with food and beverage.
- What's that?
- There isn't any.
- Fuck.
He hears me on the phone.
Kid's like a parrot.
The deliveries were never
made because your bookkeeper
sent bad checks
to all my vendors.
- None of the vendors have been paid?
- Claire Rothman: No.
Th-th... This
is an old account.
She's an old bookkeeper.
I was telling
Earvin that it is some luck
that you're in town. You
know, your head for business.
These shoe companies
are comin' at him
pretty hard for an
endorsement deal.
I can imagine.
Promise you the world.
The question is,
will they deliver?
Earvin Johnson: Yeah.
Whole lot of numbers, but...
Have you been talking to anybody
else about this? A professional?
Um, Pops got Mr. Bowman
outta D-Town.
He's a fine attorney
for a Michigan attorney.
And for this?
Don't know his dick
from a doorknob.
Guess you could say the
same thing about me, too.
I wouldn't.
Look ...
Let me pose a question
that I pose to all
my clients, okay?
Five years, 10 years, 50.
What do you want
out of your future?
Um.
Everything.
Okay. That's big business.
Something for everybody.
Kinda like Coca-Cola.
That's right! Yeah! Just...
That's exactly what
I'm talking about!
Good, so now we know what
we building here, right?
- Our promised land.
- Right.
We need our 10 Commandments.
Pitfalls to avoid.
Choices that Earvin might make
that would be bad
for Magic Johnson.
You ain't gotta worry
about that with me.
I don't drink none,
and I don't touch
that narcotic either.
- Some Coca-Cola for you.
And women?
You gotta be smarter.
Quieter.
Keep everybody happy.
Want another cup, Pops?
- Better not, baby girl.
The jet-lag is
beating me down. So,
why don't I take a closer
look at these, Earvin?
You know, we could talk
at the game tomorrow.
Cindy here has promised
me some good seats.
You see, my man
takes care of family.
Yeah. Hey, Doc, actually,
you d... you don't gotta...
It's not a problem
at all. Trust me.
- Let's go.
You got everything, Dad?
Dr. Thomas Day: I do,
sweetheart. Walk me out.
- Ma!
No, no,
no! Don't close that!
- Ma!
Oh my god, my god...
How bad is it?
Move this. We need to get...
- Dad! Sorry! I couldn't hear you!
The hell is going on?
- If that's Gerald, tell him to get in here!
I can't smell it.
Smell what!?
She doesn't know the smell of death.
- I do. Don't close that door!
There's something
rotting in the walls!
You put me in here with vermin!
- No! Leave that open!
- Ma. What are you doing?
We need the air!
- There's no smell!
Nonsense! Gerald,
get all this down!
- It's up here! I know it!
- Will you forget about that shit
and look at these?
You paid all the vendors
with checks from Crocker!
Ma, we left Crocker
five years ago!
You're the one who
closed the account!
Oh, well, there we have it.
Blame it on me. That's rich.
We'll just write new checks.
We'll sort all of this out.
- What is this?
What?
This.
Mom, this is the transfer
of ownership paperwork.
They were supposed to be filed
with the state a month ago, Ma.
I know that.
Then what is it doing
in my fucking hand?
The loan is due tomorrow!
And now, these fucking
bankers have me over a barrel,
and they're gonna take it all!
No, I don't
understand! I don't understand.
- I don't
understand what he's saying!
- You're okay.
Hello?
Hey, Bill.
I know.
What?
Bill, what hospital are you at?
I'm coming. I'm coming.
Okay. Clean this place up
and take care of her.
I have somewhere to be.
It's gonna be okay.
- Bill Sharman: Dr. Buss.
- Hey, Bill. There you are.
- So?
- He's still under the knife.
Shit.
- How long has he been in there?
I don't know.
He came in as a John Doe.
Cranny found him here.
The fuck was he doing
on a bike, Bill?
It clears his head. It clears...
Gentlemen.
Jack is just out of surgery.
- Bob Kerlan, team physician.
- Hey, Bob.
Sorry to meet under
these circumstances.
He's out of surgery? Sorry.
He's, uh, he's awake?
Oh, I certainly hope not.
The top of his skull is
sitting in a freezer.
Jesus fucking Christ.
- Fuck.
- Well, just temporarily.
They'll pop it back
on once the swelling
in his brain goes down.
- Is he gonna make it?
- You said it was temporary.
Well, everything is, but the
next few hours will be crucial.
I'll be on call. Bill.
Bob.
- I should call them the league, talk about postponing...
- No!
Do not call anybody.
- What do we tell the press?
- Jerry: Nothing.
- We don't need anybody panicking.
- But what happens
- when Jack's not in the locker room tomorrow?
- Bill
you tell them he fell
off his fucking bike.
'Cause that's the
truth, isn't it?
- Yeah.
- Alright. So, listen to me.
This is the exact
words you're gonna use.
"We are erring on
the side of caution."
You tell the same
thing to the players.
Pete, you're coaching
the game tomorrow.
- Paul.
- Huh?
Um, wrong apostle. Um,
you said Pete, my name...
Hey, hey. Get your
head outta your ass.
- Can you coach the goddamn game or not?
- No.
Yes. Sure.
Look, I do the scouting,
I do the prep work anyway,
so I can probably
coach one game.
Dr. Buss, we should
discuss this.
Don't lose.
Mariani: Just take it easy.
Jerry: Easy?
I'm fucking cursed.
Yeah, but nobody knows.
- Not yet!
- Right!
So, by the time the suits from
the bank find out about this,
we're gonna have it signed,
sealed, delivered, right?
Unless they walk in here now
- and see you I-like this.
- Got a bad feeling, Frank.
Come on. Look at me.
Look at me.
You're Gene Kelly.
Y-you're Fred Astaire, man.
You're Ginger Rogers.
So, tonight,
tonight, you gotta do what?
Okay.
I'm gonna put on my taps
and I'm gonna dance.
That's right, baby.
Dance your heart out.
Hey now! You didn't
say this was a fruit bar.
A fruit bar!
How about that Michael?
He can sure boogie, huh?
He's just the appetizer, boys.
You're about to have
the main course.
Welcome to the Forum
Club. Come on in!
You put that up your nose?
Not this. You smoke
it. No more sniffles.
This'll make you feel like
you can fix the world.
- Have a little taste.
Uh, no thank you.
We're from Lansing.
Shit, the only thing Country
touches is Coca-Cola.
You already know what
my answer's gonna be.
- I'll stick with yoga.
- Yeah, hell no.
- Man, keep that shit away from me.
- Dr. Mike: I thought so.
Spencer is a vegetarian.
Vegetarian? So he
don't eat pussy?
So you must be Magic
Johnson, teeth that white.
Richard Pryor, man!
I was at the studio where
they shot "Car Wash."
Hey, Young Buck's
about to be on TV, too.
- About to be the white man's shadow.
- Man, it's "White Shadow."
And y'all just jealous
'cause it's prime time.
Richard Pryor: They jealous
'cause they don't know what it is!
See, y'all is nigga famous.
Me and Magic here, we're
dealing with white famous.
I'm talkin' about,
"old cracker granny
"see your Black ass
in the grocery store,
don't have to clutch
her kid," famous.
Hell, she mighta
ask for a autograph.
Say, let me talk to you.
Uh, yeah, yeah, one sec.
- Oh. Okay. Okay!
- Okay?
You know all this fame
shit ain't natural.
That's the problem.
We ain't born for it.
And we ain't made for it.
And definitely ain't ready
for that shit when it hit us.
But you best believe,
everybody else is.
They all hang around
you like a mojo.
They been waitin'...
to pounce on your ass.
What's your real name, Magic?
- Earvin.
- Say "presto" to that motherfucker.
He's gone.
That's the first cost
of doin' business
with the white man.
Magic! Magic, come on over!
I wanna introduce
you to somebody!
You're gonna love
him. Such a sweet kid.
Run along. Whitey
needs his shadow.
Jerry: Magic, these are some
important friends of mine.
- Gents, this is Magic Johnson.
- Hello.
Let me tell you
something about this kid.
Every company in the S&P
is banging down his door
to try to get that
smile in their ads.
But, guess what?
- He's all ours.
Those pearly whites
are Lakers property.
Now, I'm no banker.
But, that seems like a
pretty substantial asset,
if you ask me.
What is it this week, kid?
Soda pop? Chewing gum?
- Johnson: Shoes.
- Shoes?
Footwear. That's an
evergreen sector.
Yeah, yeah. I was
actually talking
to this funny cat from Nike.
Oh. Hope you dodged that bullet.
Huckster showed up at the main
branch, hawking his wares.
It'll be lucky to
survive the quarter.
Yeah. Right.
He's just another fraud
with a pipe dream.
Listen, hotshot, we've
kept you long enough.
The ladies are gettin'
restless. We'll let you go.
Hi.
- Hello, sweetheart, how are you?
- You gonna introduce me?
- Well, actually, I was about to...
- Cindy Day.
- Cindy Day. Enchanté.
- Mariani: Frank.
- Cindy: Enchanté.
- You guys know each other?
Yeah, she's my
date for the night.
- Jerry: Fantastic.
- I'm his date for the night. Okay.
- Yeah.
- Did you tell them I wash your little drawers?
- Cindy.
- I also wash his plate. It's okay.
- Cindy, I just met them...
- It's okay. Do y'all have children?
- Bankers: Yes. Yes.
- Cindy: Yes. We, uh,
we should start signing
autographs, right?
Jerry: That's actually
a great idea, Cindy.
You guys want a
couple autographs?
- That'd be great.
- Sure.
- Cindy: Okay.
- You don't mind, do you?
- Of course not.
- Jerry: Alright, cool.
- I'll get some menus over here.
- Yeah...
- Do anybody got a pen?
- I got a pen.
- She has a pen.
- Jerry: Look at that.
- Cindy: Y'all got some paper?
Jerry: You're about the prettiest
publicist I've ever met.
- Somethin' else.
- We? We...
We signing autographs now? Fuck you
famous for? 'Cause I musta forgot.
Calm... calm down, okay, I
was... I was only trying to help.
Ain't ask for your help!
I ain't need it!
You and your pops both.
- Coming all this way to visit.
- Just trying to lock me down.
- To what?
You heard him.
One minute, we talkin' business.
The next, he on about you
and me, talking about...
: "Be smarter
and keep everybody happy."
I didn't put him up to
that. I sw... I swear!
The trouble ain't me! It's
all y'all wanting a piece!
- I don't want anything.
- Like hell you don't!
You won't Magic just
like everybody else.
Sell they shit.
Impress your daddy.
- At least be real about this shit!
- I want you.
Earvin.
Earvin, I...
Earvin, I love you. Earvin...
How the fuck you love me
when you don't even know me?!
If I was picking up trash in Lansing,
you think you'd still be here?
Washing my dishes,
cleaning my drawers?
All while I'm in the other
room, talking to Cookie?
Uh-huh. Hm.
How's she doin'?
That's the man you lov...
That's the man you love.
Leave me the fuck alone!
Cindy: Yeah.
Yeah, that's the man I love.
- Johnson: Cindy...
- Cindy: Mm-hm?
Why?
Because I see what you don't.
Hey. Look at me.
I see you.
Magic!
Jerry: You want to win
friends and influence people?
Read the book.
You want to sell the Great
Western Bank on basketball?
Just get 'em laid.
Hey!
- Look what I got here!
- Alright.
Okay, so this is what I
can offer you, Mister...
Ah! Ah! Ah! Doctor.
- Doctor.
- Thank you.
Dr. Buss.
Six-month extension.
What'd I tell you?
At 30%.
Mariani: That's a
million bucks in vig.
Wesley: Mm, yeah, which is
why if you're the businessman
that you say you are,
then you'll turn us down,
and we'll see you in
bankruptcy.
I'll tell you what.
You make it June,
and we got a deal.
Can I ask why?
Because in May,
we're gonna win
the Championship.
Mm...
And then, I'm gonna need
a couple weeks' vacation
before I take a
flight to Sacramento,
walk into your office,
and make you beg to
keep our business.
Well...
I hope you keep winning.
Jerry: Count on it.
- Come on.
- Thank you, Wes.
Mariani: You see? Not a problem.
What the fuck is
this clown doing?
Oh, you got to be...
Come on, you got me!
The buzzards catch you out
here with that sad sack look
on your fuckin' face, you'll
be in tomorrow's paper.
- It was kind of a tough night.
- Yeah, well,
I hate to break it to you, but
there's a shit storm blowing in.
Bill's asked me to
walk you through it.
Fuckin' hurry up! You're
not a duck! Come on.
- Put this on. That's Missoni.
- Westhead: Alright.
Jerry West: Fuck, don't stretch
it. It's cashmere. Come on...
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Jerry,
the hounds are waiting.
West: It's a stakeout.
You always meet the
buzzards on your own terms.
Here we go. The important thing
is to project a sense of calm.
You're not just
talking to the media.
You're talking to the team,
plus every other motherfucking
up-and-comer in the league.
They're smelling blood,
and we're the meat.
Well, they don't
know Jack McKinney.
He's gonna be up and yelling
at that radio by halftime.
You got your fucking
degree from where, Doc?
- Huh? Oh, hang on.
- Huh?
"Assistant coach
promises quick return."
Boom! There's your headline!
And then tomorrow, when
he's not there, what then?
Boom! Panic! Chaos!
Then buzzards are fucking
you in your fat little ass!
- I don't wanna be buzzard-fucked.
- No!
Don't oversell.
- But what am I supposed to say?
- As little as possible.
Jack is in the best
of hands, okay?
Jack is on the mend,
and in the meantime,
I'm holding down the fort,
confident that the team
is behind the both of us,
110%. Yeah, just like that.
- Okay.
- You want to do it?
Fuck no! You
out of your fucking...
No, just look, you know...
Take it easy, okay?
Alright? You're a natural.
And if the press happen to hang
you up on anything, just, well,
go to your comfort zone.
What's that?
Jack McKinney is on the mend.
I'm holding down the fort,
and I know that the
franchise is behind us all.
- Both of us...
Franchise is behind
us both 100%.
So, there's nothing to the
reports that he's in a coma?
- How about these rumors that Jack's fighting for his life?
- Rumors?
You know what? I'm not gonna
get caught up in rumors.
We're going to focus
on the task ahead.
And for me right
now, the task ahead
well, it's Denver.
And, uh, Skywalker Thompson.
- He went on a
tear last night in Utah.
Yeah, he sure did.
I think that's probably why, uh,
that's probably why Jack
McKinney is playing hooky
because, uh, he wants
to avoid a repeat.
So, you and Jack talked
about the Utah game?
- Does that mean he's conscious?
- That's after the accident?
- What are you not telling us?
- Westhead: I'm not saying...
Jack McKinney is on the mend.
- What'd you tell him to say?
- I didn't tell him to say shit.
- Is he in critical condition?
- Paul, you gotta give us something.
Is he in a vegetable
state or what?
Westhead: I...
- What do we tell the fans?
- Just tell them...
"If it be now,"
"'tis not to come."
"If it be not to come"
"it will be now."
"If it not be now,
yet it will come."
- Come on, Paul.
"The readiness
is all."
- Get up there. Get him off the stage now.
- Westhead: Thank you.
West: Okay! Okay!
We'll see you all at
the game tonight, huh?
What the fuck was that?
- Westhead: My comfort zone.
- Will he be able to coach again?
- That's it, folks, thank you.
- Wow...
Reporter : Wise words
from Jack McKinney's substitute.
This time last year, he
was teaching Shakespeare.
- Tonight, he steps in as...
- Oh, that oughta keep 'em chasing their tails.
Yeah, well, I wish they
were the only ones.
I spent all night
trying to decipher
what the hunting pattern
of the Bengal tiger
has to do with keeping
Thompson out of the lane.
- Well, you stick one there, he'll probably avoid it.
Thanks.
This is Jack shit.
Alright? It's not for you.
- Come on! Goddammit.
- Let it go.
Let it go. What would you do?
- What I would do...
- Your show.
If it was me, I would... I
would do something off the wall.
- I would... I would start Cooper.
- Great.
No, you know what? I
would play it safe,
and I would stick with Haywood.
Alright.
No, Cooper.
Or Haywood?
That's a good idea.
Fuck!
You want the job?
Jack McKinney: You know what
you could do with Thompson?
Drive him baseline to his
weak hand for the trap.
Haywood and Cooper double-team.
He's weaker when he
moves to the left,
so you force him that way.
Overplay the passing lanes.
You know what... You know what
you could do with Thompson?
The team is here.
Westhead: Okay.
Oh...
- I'm going to take Cran home.
- Yeah.
Yeah, she... She
definitely needs a break.
- Cassie: You do, too.
- Yeah.
Nothing good can come
from sitting here,
watching him like this.
"I make as much use of
it as many a man doth
a memento mori."
It's a Death's Head.
Elizabethans used
to put it everywhere
with that inscription.
Memento mori. "Remember"
"you will die."
Shakespeare sealed
the words in wax
on everything he wrote
after his son died.
No, there's something
beautiful in that.
Life is fleeting, so
make every moment count.
It meant the opposite.
Life is meaningless.
All earthly things are vanity.
Cassie: Well, that's
less cheerful.
Westhead: I, uh...
I can't believe I have
to coach this game.
: You can do it.
Spencer Haywood: You
shakin' like a flea-bit dog.
Michael Cooper: It's all over.
Man, you don't know that.
Coach could pull through.
No, not-not Coach.
It's just...
Me, man. Westhead ain't no fan.
What makes you say that?
I seen it in camp. The
way he was looking at me,
like I was a loose
thread on a sweater.
I bet you he can't
wait to cut me off.
Is that right?
Hm. Brother,
I ain't known you but a
minute, but what I can say
is you are the nervousest cat
in a building full
of people dying.
Didn't nobody end up
in the NBA by accident.
I don't know, Spence.
Maybe I'm the first.
No, you're not. You supposed
to be here. You understand?
McKinney or no McKinney.
Coach is just a coach.
All the damn talent you got?
Any fool could see
it! Even Westhead!
Hey. Uh...
Wanna thank you all
for coming. Um...
I know that it's going
to mean a lot to Jack.
How is he?
He's better. He's
better. Thank you.
Um, he's probably not
well enough for visitors
just yet. So, let's
keep him in our thoughts
and, uh, I'll see
you at the game.
Oh...
I-I'm sorry. I hope I'm not,
uh, interrupting.
These are from Magic.
He is so sorry that
he couldn't be here,
but he just wanted to make sure
that Coach McKinney knows
how much he means to us.
So, you know, there's some
eucalyptus in there, so
that's good for his breathing.
Dr. Day: I think you're
making a wise choice.
So what I'm supposed to say to
the ones I ain't going with?
Nothing.
You can't muddy up that
million-dollar smile
- delivering bad news.
- Alright.
- Right on!
- That can be my job.
Gentlemen! Welcome.
Come on in! Son,
on behalf of Converse,
we are just thrilled to
welcome you into our stable.
I think we are gonna make
a lot of hay.
Before we put pen to paper,
I took the liberty of
making some adjustments.
For starters, we've learned
that Larry Bird has agreed
to $90,000, and we believe
we should command 100.
- Well, that's quite an ask.
- Well
my man is quite an athlete.
Well, you drive a hard bargain,
but you got yourself a deal.
That's what I'm talkin' about!
- Yeah.
- Johnson: Some notes.
So, I was thinking...
We put my name right
there on the shoe.
I'm thinking...
"The Magic."
I see it. Look, "The Magic."
Ain't no one else done that!
Al Harden: Well, that's an idea!
We'll run it up the
flagpole back at corporate.
But first, let's get
you on the dotted line.
Dr. Day: To Magic.
You won't regret it.
He regrets it.
Jerry: My father
Lydus was a genius.
He had a head for numbers.
I think he liked numbers
more than he liked people,
far as I can tell.
Definitely liked numbers
more than he liked me.
Left us high and
dry when I was born.
Mom was 19.
No high school education.
Now, she's got
this kid to raise.
Middle of the fucking Dust Bowl.
But, she got us here.
She got us here.
- That's one tough broad.
- Doctor: Dr. Buss?
Hey.
How's she doin'?
Exhausted, but coherent.
There's no outward
sign of trauma.
Oh, good. Good. Yeah. Right?
Doctor: Yeah...
I figured she just
forgot to eat.
- Could be.
Why don't you bring her
by for a full workup?
In the meantime,
take care of yourself, too.
You look tired.
See if you can keep
it to a pack a day.
Sure thing, Doc.
See?
She's gonna be fine.
Jessie: I always wanted
to go out with a bang.
Instead, I seem to be rotting.
No. Bullshit.
Alcohol is a preservative.
Well, at least I
taught you to laugh.
I know I fucked up
everything else.
Come on.
Don't talk like that.
You got me where I am today.
Hm...
Sorry, I'll wait outside.
Jeanie: It's my fault.
Jerry: Just a spell.
No, it wasn't the first time.
Opening night, she didn't
know what day it was.
She was out of it.
I should've told you, but I
didn't want to ruin your big day.
Jerry: Jeanie.
Get it together.
- She's gonna be okay.
What's goin' on, Coach?
Game day. Hey.
Okay.
Gentlemen...
I know that it's hard right now.
I know that our
hearts are heavy.
But, we got a job to do.
And there is nothing...
There is nothing!
That Jack McKinney would
want more than a win.
- That's right.
- Yep!
So, let's take a minute.
Let's take a minute.
"Give sorrow words.
"The grief that does not speak,
whispers the o'erfraught
heart and bids it break."
Player: Hm?
So, Coach dead?
No. No, no, no.
- No. No, no. Not at all.
Yeah. Who's guarding Thompson?
- I got him, Coach.
- Hell no. You the slowest in conditioning.
- Who you talking about?
- Jim Chones: Bunny is your man.
- You crazy.
- Cooper.
You're starting at four.
- Jim, you're next in the rotation.
- What?
Haywood: Where
that put me, Coach?
Westhead: It puts
you on the bench.
- Whoa.
- Brutal.
Westhead: Everybody else,
same as usual. Okay?
- Alright, come on, bring it in. Bring it in!
Jack on three! One, two, three.
All: Jack!
- Hey. Hey, Paul?
Cooper: I can take
Thompson. Whoo!
Is there a problem?
Well, I'm not sure if you heard
what I said back at the hospital
between me and the young blood,
but if it's putting us
off on the wrong foot...
Oh...
No, no. This is a... This
is a basketball decision.
It's nothing personal.
Okay?
Hey, uh, Young Buck?
You gonna play this one, or you
gonna let your girl do it for you?
Girl?
Jamaal Wilkes: You gonna send
your squeeze to the hospital
and think we ain't gonna say?
Chones: Fine ol' redbone, too.
You lucky I ain't holler at her.
- Norman Nixon: Well, she sat next to me, so...
- Cindy?
I ain't even know she
went to the hospital.
With 10 funerals of flowers.
Rip Van Winkle ever wake up,
- he gonna think he in a garden.
Nice touch, Young Blood.
Not as nice as showing
up yourself though.
Nixon: Say it again, Cap.
Player: I'd like to
be friends with her!
Hey, babe.
Hey.
What's... What's wrong?
Y'all brought too many flowers.
- I ain't asked you to do that.
- Well, I was...
You got me up in
there looking crazy
in front of all my teammates.
I was just trying
to be gracious.
- I was representing you...
- Dr. Day: There he is!
The Converse Man.
The lovely young Miss Buss
has been giving me the tour.
Nice shoes. Congratulations.
Thanks. I got some good advice.
Nonsense. He's a natural.
Between the three of you,
our future is in good hands.
Why don't I, uh, show
you to your seats?
Thank you.
Hey, Doc. You got a minute?
Dr. Day: Something
the matter, son?
Nah...
Look... Yeah.
Look,
I appreciate you,
and everything you
done did for me.
And Cindy is a great girl,
really, really sweet.
But,
if you think we be
more than what we be...
And what would that be?
You helping me with
business and all.
That make you an agent?
I prefer to be a friend.
How much cut a friend get?
The only thing I want that
you can give me is your trust.
We can let the
money come in time,
once you've made plenty more.
And Cindy?
I ain't ready to
settle down yet.
Son, I love my daughter
more than anyone.
I want her to be
happy. But, me and you?
Well, that's another
thing now, isn't it?
- Business.
- That it is.
And I don't see why the
end of one relationship
should sacrifice the other.
Right on.
Think you could tell her for me?
Hey, like you said.
Magic ain't supposed to be
the one to give 'em bad news.
I'll let her down light.
Pryor: Yeah, those is the
Lakers, not the Fakers.
Hey, Black man, Black man,
- Black man.
- Spencer, my main man.
- Oh man.
- I know you've been living like a saint these days,
but if you wanna
celebrate after the game,
party's at my
place in the hills.
Come on up, man. We got it all.
Man, we got white bitches,
7-Up, and cocaine.
- Know what I mean? Know what I mean, Jack?
- Maybe so.
Announcer : Introducing
your Los Angeles Lakers!
- Hey, Bill.
- Jerry.
Some fuckin' day, huh?
Yes, sir.
Chick Hearn : Chick
Hearn along with Pat Riley
here for another game
of Lakers basketball.
Tonight, the team will not be
joined by head coach Jack McKinney.
Our prayers are with him.
But, let's hope the Lakers
won't be needing
any of their own.
The man filling in for
him on the sidelines
will be his assistant.
First name Paul,
last name Westhead.
A few months ago, this guy
was teaching Shakespeare
at La Salle College
in Philadelphia.
Now here he is, coaching one
of the NBA's marquee teams
and trying to hold down the
fort for his friend and mentor,
who, we are told,
is on the mend.
- Well, this one's for you, Jack.
Okay, now both teams
in the center circle.
Here's the tip controlled by Kareem
and this contest is underway.
Magic brings the
ball down the floor.
Jack?
Hey. Jack?
No, Jack.
Help! Jack!
Wake up.
Jack!
Somebody come help
us! Please! Nurse!
Jack! Help us! Jack!
You know what you
could do with Thompson?
Drive him baseline to his
weak hand for the trap.
Haywood and Cooper double-team.
He's weaker when he
goes to the left,
so you force him that way.
You overplay the passing lanes,
beat 'em on the turnovers.
Of course, he won't pass
if Issel's camped out
under the bucket for the
put-back, so you go big!
You put a big man on his ass!
That's why we got Haywood!
So... box out Issel.
Thompson can't beat us himself.
- Like that, see?
- What difference would that make?
You see?
I'd rather talk about Denver.
- Paul, Paul! He's asking for you.
- Okay, okay, okay!
Jack!
Hey. Hi.
Go big...
Westhead: Sorry, what, Jack?
Go big...
Go big against
against Thompson.
Denver, go big.
We, we already
played them, Jack.
Denver was two weeks ago.
Fuck my dick.
Fuck... I came back.
- I know, I know...
- I came back.
Westhead: I know... I know...
Do you guys wanna sign up?
I think so, when they
migrated to Detroit.
- Dr. Day: Ms. Kelly!
Cookie: Dr. Day?
- What's this?
- Tickets.
The Lakers are
coming to Detroit,
and Earvin would
love to have you.
He would, would he?
Thought he would be
having your daughter.
Hm.
All I can say, young man
has the world at his feet.
He asked me to come here
and give those to you.
You make of that what you will.
Girl,
if you don't say yes, I will.
- Cookie: Tell Earvin I'll think about it!
- Dr. Day: Mm-hmm.
You have a good day now.
Jack, you were supposed to meet
me at the club for doubles.
Those insurance
fellas clobbered me.
You know, one day off
isn't gonna kill you.
- Oh hey.
- Hey.
I was just
borrowing Jack's Betamax.
What happened?
Jack stood you up?
Yeah. Have you seen him?
- Hm, no.
- I called his house.
I figured maybe inspiration
struck and he came here.
Man's not really one
for a day off, you know?
Hey, you're welcome
to take a load off.
You can listen to me
get my 27 words in.
- Twenty-seven, huh?
- Mm-hmm.
Chick choked on his
vodka at commercial.
- That sounds like a divine intervention.
- Yeah, well.
For a second there, I had
a whole flash of panic.
I was like
what happens if he drops dead?
I mean, I'm gonna have to
finish the whole game on my own.
The apprentice's dilemma.
- What's that?
- It's a little
lecture I used to give.
Well, I love
a good lecture.
You can I ask my wife.
Let me get the
tequila. You want some?
- Yeah, alright.
Tudor England.
The entire economy
split into two tiers.
Apprentices and masters.
The idea was that any
apprentice worth his salt
is climbing up that
ladder, turns into a master
when he comes of age.
So, we're too old
to share an office?
Not if you ask Hamlet. See,
you got the whole of
Denmark telling this prince
he's destined to be
king. But, you know what?
He didn't want it.
- He wasn't built for it.
- Mm-hmm.
I
think that I spent, uh
a very long time
feeling like a failure
because the best thing
that I know how to do
is help another guy be great.
But what I'm starting to realize
is that maybe
'tis better be a noble
prince than hapless king?
Maybe I ought to read
more Shakespeare.
Always.
But that was a Paul
Westhead original.
- Good one.
Well, hello, Jack.
- Cassie.
He's in ICU.
- Cassie, slow down.
It's Jack!
Jack's in the emergency room.
Okay, which hospital?
Little Company
of Mary. T-Torrance.
Westhead: Yeah. Okay,
I'll be right there.
("My Favorite Mutiny"
by The Coup playing
Your name.
Most precious thing you've got.
That's why it's our
job to protect it.
Keep it synonymous with success,
on the floor and off.
And I can promise, when folks see
you in our shoes, they'll say,
"There goes a
Converse All-Star."
"Adidas, the shoe of champions."
He's cool, he's fun, and...
- A quality fit. That's Puma.
- Of course, he's rich.
We need to think
about your feet.
You need to think
about your pocketbook.
- Your legacy.
- Your feet.
You wanna be as
American as apple pie.
That's the makings of a legend.
And everyone will
want a piece...
- Magic, Mr. Magic.
- The Magic Man!
It's Earvin, actually.
Converse Salesman:
Not anymore! Earvin...
- Earvin will be gone someday.
- Maybe he already is.
Magic is immortal.
Converse Salesman:
If you choose wisely
- this could be...
- If you choose us...
Right on the soles of
the next generation...
- If you choose us...
- This could be
- the most important choice of your season.
- Of your entire life.
Well, uh... yeah.
Thanks. Got a lot to think on.
- Take your time but, just so you know...
- Sleep on it.
- Just so you know, Converse already has...
- a verbal commitment
- from your friend Larry Bird.
- Larry Bird.
Oh.
That's Magic Johnson!
Hope you had your fill
of bullshit.
Those guys keep on shoveling
till you're just another
stallion in the stable.
Phil. Phil Knight.
Hey, Phil. You...
you on the schedule?
Me? Heck no.
Front Office seems to have
you under lock and key.
Big dogs only.
Fact is, I-I'm sort
of a rookie myself.
Let me be straight as an
arrow with you, Earvin.
C-can I call you Earvin?
I wish somebody would.
Good 'cause I'm an athlete,
too. Ran track at Oregon.
Mediocre talent. Not like
you. But, my coach and me,
my partner now, we
figured out a nifty trick.
If we could shave just one ounce
off of our shoes, it made us
55 pounds lighter every mile.
You run an average of
three miles a game.
Think how much faster you would
be without any extra weight.
What, you tellin'
me to play barefoot?
I'm telling you to
play... in these.
- Y'all making me a special pair?
- Every pair.
The Nike Magic.
A new label for
a whole new line.
- Y'all talking to Larry Bird, too?
- I'm talking to you.
We need more than just
a smile on a poster.
We need a partner.
- How much we talking?
- You mean
can I give you what those
other guys are offering.
Where's that sitting right
now? Sixty, 70 grand a year?
Eighty.
Wow. I'm offering a dollar.
One for every pair we ship,
plus 100,000 in stock options.
Right now, that's
18 cents a share.
But the sky's the limit, Earvin.
Bet on us,
you're betting on yourself.
Proposal's in the
shoe. Look it over,
I'll be in town all week.
Ah! Sign with us, you
get the right one, too!
Oh, good lord.
Is he...
Oh, no! I mean, he...
Wow, he looks really good.
- Actually...
- Okay, let's go. Let's go get some air.
- Paul's here now.
- Paul: I'm here. I'm sorry.
Hey, Cran, it's gonna be okay.
Come on, Cran. Let's get some air.
I'm here.
Hey, I got this. We're
going to be fine.
Goddammit, Jack.
You were supposed to
meet me for tennis, man.
- Okay.
Good afternoon.
Hi. Hey.
- Are you family?
- Um, if you could
just give me the
information, please.
Well, we were able
to dress his wounds,
but the inflammation in his
brain is worrisome. Are...
Are you authorized
to make decisions?
- We may need to discuss goals of care.
- Okay.
My goal is to get him up
and walking out of here
- as good as new, right?
- Of course.
That's our north star,
but an injury severe as this,
sometimes, the discussion
moves to quality of life.
Quality of life? He's
head coach of the Lakers.
He's living his dr... All
he did was take a tumble
- off of a goddamn bike!
- The trauma he's endured...
It's not gonna happen!
If that's your attitude,
we're going to need
another doctor. Just...
That's Jack McKinney.
He's my best friend. So,
what I need to hear from you
is what you're gonna
do to fix him up
because we have a
fucking game tomorrow!
Well, well, well.
- What do we have here?
- It's from the signore.
It's on me, pal.
Jack. You shouldn't have!
I had to comp his season
tickets to get him to do that.
He's our biggest
fan. It's crazy.
We got two seats
right next to him.
Reserved for Great Western Bank.
Hot damn! The
wife is gonna plotz.
You know, Dr. Buss put
chairs right on the floor
- because it's great for television.
Yeah. We don't pick
that up in Sacramento.
All they pick up in
Sacramento is the clap,
which, incidentally, is
exactly how this is spreading.
We're 13 games in.
We got lightning in a bottle.
We got a genius
coach, young phenom,
coupled with the greatest
player in the league,
right here, smack
dab in the heart
of the entertainment
capital of the world.
Mr. Buss,
we are a banking institution,
and your loan matures tomorrow.
Though I presume from your
request to meet that we're here
to talk about a payment plan.
You're darn tootin'.
Frank, tell him our plan.
We don't plan to pay.
We're giving you an opportunity.
The Lakers are the
team of the 1980s,
and the Great Western Bank can
be the official banking partner
of the Los Angeles Lakers.
But we're gonna
need a continuation
of the current loan through
June to the end of the season,
plus a fresh line of credit,
so we can keep investing
in the business.
Together.
And if we demand our money now?
Well then, Mariani,
Buss, and Associates
is going to file for bankruptcy.
And you can take the two of us
for everything we got.
Which, right now, is...
I don't know, Frank,
what do we got?
- $72.
Oh,
and this fine bottle of
bubbly. Don't forget that.
And, of course, the team.
The team is worth plenty.
N... ope!
My mother is a
genius, by the way.
My ex-wife wanted
something gold,
so I gave her the team.
All that's in her name now.
So, you can shake us down
and come up with pocket lint,
or you can dig down deep
into those fancy suits you got,
try to find the balls
to stay in business
with the Lakers.
And then, my friends,
that bank is gonna raise
a statue of you two
right there in downtown
Sacramento someday. Trust me.
Listen, I'd love to
stay and chitchat,
but I have a very horny
22-year-old upstairs
just waiting for me. So,
take our projections,
spend the day with them,
and then come to the club tonight
and tell us we got a deal.
The Jacksons are
gonna pack that place.
But don't worry. We
got your comp tickets.
Listen,
it's clear skies
from here on out.
Pleasure doing business
with you. Frank.
Oh,
boy, oh boy, oh boy.
You think they're
gonna go for it?
Of course, they're
gonna go for it.
They'd be fools not to. We got
'em by the short and curlies.
- Hello, gentlemen.
- Claire?
- What are you doing here?
- I'm waiting for you.
On my day off.
Was supposed to be at
the zoo with my grandson,
- but there's a problem with food and beverage.
- What's that?
- There isn't any.
- Fuck.
He hears me on the phone.
Kid's like a parrot.
The deliveries were never
made because your bookkeeper
sent bad checks
to all my vendors.
- None of the vendors have been paid?
- Claire Rothman: No.
Th-th... This
is an old account.
She's an old bookkeeper.
I was telling
Earvin that it is some luck
that you're in town. You
know, your head for business.
These shoe companies
are comin' at him
pretty hard for an
endorsement deal.
I can imagine.
Promise you the world.
The question is,
will they deliver?
Earvin Johnson: Yeah.
Whole lot of numbers, but...
Have you been talking to anybody
else about this? A professional?
Um, Pops got Mr. Bowman
outta D-Town.
He's a fine attorney
for a Michigan attorney.
And for this?
Don't know his dick
from a doorknob.
Guess you could say the
same thing about me, too.
I wouldn't.
Look ...
Let me pose a question
that I pose to all
my clients, okay?
Five years, 10 years, 50.
What do you want
out of your future?
Um.
Everything.
Okay. That's big business.
Something for everybody.
Kinda like Coca-Cola.
That's right! Yeah! Just...
That's exactly what
I'm talking about!
Good, so now we know what
we building here, right?
- Our promised land.
- Right.
We need our 10 Commandments.
Pitfalls to avoid.
Choices that Earvin might make
that would be bad
for Magic Johnson.
You ain't gotta worry
about that with me.
I don't drink none,
and I don't touch
that narcotic either.
- Some Coca-Cola for you.
And women?
You gotta be smarter.
Quieter.
Keep everybody happy.
Want another cup, Pops?
- Better not, baby girl.
The jet-lag is
beating me down. So,
why don't I take a closer
look at these, Earvin?
You know, we could talk
at the game tomorrow.
Cindy here has promised
me some good seats.
You see, my man
takes care of family.
Yeah. Hey, Doc, actually,
you d... you don't gotta...
It's not a problem
at all. Trust me.
- Let's go.
You got everything, Dad?
Dr. Thomas Day: I do,
sweetheart. Walk me out.
- Ma!
No, no,
no! Don't close that!
- Ma!
Oh my god, my god...
How bad is it?
Move this. We need to get...
- Dad! Sorry! I couldn't hear you!
The hell is going on?
- If that's Gerald, tell him to get in here!
I can't smell it.
Smell what!?
She doesn't know the smell of death.
- I do. Don't close that door!
There's something
rotting in the walls!
You put me in here with vermin!
- No! Leave that open!
- Ma. What are you doing?
We need the air!
- There's no smell!
Nonsense! Gerald,
get all this down!
- It's up here! I know it!
- Will you forget about that shit
and look at these?
You paid all the vendors
with checks from Crocker!
Ma, we left Crocker
five years ago!
You're the one who
closed the account!
Oh, well, there we have it.
Blame it on me. That's rich.
We'll just write new checks.
We'll sort all of this out.
- What is this?
What?
This.
Mom, this is the transfer
of ownership paperwork.
They were supposed to be filed
with the state a month ago, Ma.
I know that.
Then what is it doing
in my fucking hand?
The loan is due tomorrow!
And now, these fucking
bankers have me over a barrel,
and they're gonna take it all!
No, I don't
understand! I don't understand.
- I don't
understand what he's saying!
- You're okay.
Hello?
Hey, Bill.
I know.
What?
Bill, what hospital are you at?
I'm coming. I'm coming.
Okay. Clean this place up
and take care of her.
I have somewhere to be.
It's gonna be okay.
- Bill Sharman: Dr. Buss.
- Hey, Bill. There you are.
- So?
- He's still under the knife.
Shit.
- How long has he been in there?
I don't know.
He came in as a John Doe.
Cranny found him here.
The fuck was he doing
on a bike, Bill?
It clears his head. It clears...
Gentlemen.
Jack is just out of surgery.
- Bob Kerlan, team physician.
- Hey, Bob.
Sorry to meet under
these circumstances.
He's out of surgery? Sorry.
He's, uh, he's awake?
Oh, I certainly hope not.
The top of his skull is
sitting in a freezer.
Jesus fucking Christ.
- Fuck.
- Well, just temporarily.
They'll pop it back
on once the swelling
in his brain goes down.
- Is he gonna make it?
- You said it was temporary.
Well, everything is, but the
next few hours will be crucial.
I'll be on call. Bill.
Bob.
- I should call them the league, talk about postponing...
- No!
Do not call anybody.
- What do we tell the press?
- Jerry: Nothing.
- We don't need anybody panicking.
- But what happens
- when Jack's not in the locker room tomorrow?
- Bill
you tell them he fell
off his fucking bike.
'Cause that's the
truth, isn't it?
- Yeah.
- Alright. So, listen to me.
This is the exact
words you're gonna use.
"We are erring on
the side of caution."
You tell the same
thing to the players.
Pete, you're coaching
the game tomorrow.
- Paul.
- Huh?
Um, wrong apostle. Um,
you said Pete, my name...
Hey, hey. Get your
head outta your ass.
- Can you coach the goddamn game or not?
- No.
Yes. Sure.
Look, I do the scouting,
I do the prep work anyway,
so I can probably
coach one game.
Dr. Buss, we should
discuss this.
Don't lose.
Mariani: Just take it easy.
Jerry: Easy?
I'm fucking cursed.
Yeah, but nobody knows.
- Not yet!
- Right!
So, by the time the suits from
the bank find out about this,
we're gonna have it signed,
sealed, delivered, right?
Unless they walk in here now
- and see you I-like this.
- Got a bad feeling, Frank.
Come on. Look at me.
Look at me.
You're Gene Kelly.
Y-you're Fred Astaire, man.
You're Ginger Rogers.
So, tonight,
tonight, you gotta do what?
Okay.
I'm gonna put on my taps
and I'm gonna dance.
That's right, baby.
Dance your heart out.
Hey now! You didn't
say this was a fruit bar.
A fruit bar!
How about that Michael?
He can sure boogie, huh?
He's just the appetizer, boys.
You're about to have
the main course.
Welcome to the Forum
Club. Come on in!
You put that up your nose?
Not this. You smoke
it. No more sniffles.
This'll make you feel like
you can fix the world.
- Have a little taste.
Uh, no thank you.
We're from Lansing.
Shit, the only thing Country
touches is Coca-Cola.
You already know what
my answer's gonna be.
- I'll stick with yoga.
- Yeah, hell no.
- Man, keep that shit away from me.
- Dr. Mike: I thought so.
Spencer is a vegetarian.
Vegetarian? So he
don't eat pussy?
So you must be Magic
Johnson, teeth that white.
Richard Pryor, man!
I was at the studio where
they shot "Car Wash."
Hey, Young Buck's
about to be on TV, too.
- About to be the white man's shadow.
- Man, it's "White Shadow."
And y'all just jealous
'cause it's prime time.
Richard Pryor: They jealous
'cause they don't know what it is!
See, y'all is nigga famous.
Me and Magic here, we're
dealing with white famous.
I'm talkin' about,
"old cracker granny
"see your Black ass
in the grocery store,
don't have to clutch
her kid," famous.
Hell, she mighta
ask for a autograph.
Say, let me talk to you.
Uh, yeah, yeah, one sec.
- Oh. Okay. Okay!
- Okay?
You know all this fame
shit ain't natural.
That's the problem.
We ain't born for it.
And we ain't made for it.
And definitely ain't ready
for that shit when it hit us.
But you best believe,
everybody else is.
They all hang around
you like a mojo.
They been waitin'...
to pounce on your ass.
What's your real name, Magic?
- Earvin.
- Say "presto" to that motherfucker.
He's gone.
That's the first cost
of doin' business
with the white man.
Magic! Magic, come on over!
I wanna introduce
you to somebody!
You're gonna love
him. Such a sweet kid.
Run along. Whitey
needs his shadow.
Jerry: Magic, these are some
important friends of mine.
- Gents, this is Magic Johnson.
- Hello.
Let me tell you
something about this kid.
Every company in the S&P
is banging down his door
to try to get that
smile in their ads.
But, guess what?
- He's all ours.
Those pearly whites
are Lakers property.
Now, I'm no banker.
But, that seems like a
pretty substantial asset,
if you ask me.
What is it this week, kid?
Soda pop? Chewing gum?
- Johnson: Shoes.
- Shoes?
Footwear. That's an
evergreen sector.
Yeah, yeah. I was
actually talking
to this funny cat from Nike.
Oh. Hope you dodged that bullet.
Huckster showed up at the main
branch, hawking his wares.
It'll be lucky to
survive the quarter.
Yeah. Right.
He's just another fraud
with a pipe dream.
Listen, hotshot, we've
kept you long enough.
The ladies are gettin'
restless. We'll let you go.
Hi.
- Hello, sweetheart, how are you?
- You gonna introduce me?
- Well, actually, I was about to...
- Cindy Day.
- Cindy Day. Enchanté.
- Mariani: Frank.
- Cindy: Enchanté.
- You guys know each other?
Yeah, she's my
date for the night.
- Jerry: Fantastic.
- I'm his date for the night. Okay.
- Yeah.
- Did you tell them I wash your little drawers?
- Cindy.
- I also wash his plate. It's okay.
- Cindy, I just met them...
- It's okay. Do y'all have children?
- Bankers: Yes. Yes.
- Cindy: Yes. We, uh,
we should start signing
autographs, right?
Jerry: That's actually
a great idea, Cindy.
You guys want a
couple autographs?
- That'd be great.
- Sure.
- Cindy: Okay.
- You don't mind, do you?
- Of course not.
- Jerry: Alright, cool.
- I'll get some menus over here.
- Yeah...
- Do anybody got a pen?
- I got a pen.
- She has a pen.
- Jerry: Look at that.
- Cindy: Y'all got some paper?
Jerry: You're about the prettiest
publicist I've ever met.
- Somethin' else.
- We? We...
We signing autographs now? Fuck you
famous for? 'Cause I musta forgot.
Calm... calm down, okay, I
was... I was only trying to help.
Ain't ask for your help!
I ain't need it!
You and your pops both.
- Coming all this way to visit.
- Just trying to lock me down.
- To what?
You heard him.
One minute, we talkin' business.
The next, he on about you
and me, talking about...
: "Be smarter
and keep everybody happy."
I didn't put him up to
that. I sw... I swear!
The trouble ain't me! It's
all y'all wanting a piece!
- I don't want anything.
- Like hell you don't!
You won't Magic just
like everybody else.
Sell they shit.
Impress your daddy.
- At least be real about this shit!
- I want you.
Earvin.
Earvin, I...
Earvin, I love you. Earvin...
How the fuck you love me
when you don't even know me?!
If I was picking up trash in Lansing,
you think you'd still be here?
Washing my dishes,
cleaning my drawers?
All while I'm in the other
room, talking to Cookie?
Uh-huh. Hm.
How's she doin'?
That's the man you lov...
That's the man you love.
Leave me the fuck alone!
Cindy: Yeah.
Yeah, that's the man I love.
- Johnson: Cindy...
- Cindy: Mm-hm?
Why?
Because I see what you don't.
Hey. Look at me.
I see you.
Magic!
Jerry: You want to win
friends and influence people?
Read the book.
You want to sell the Great
Western Bank on basketball?
Just get 'em laid.
Hey!
- Look what I got here!
- Alright.
Okay, so this is what I
can offer you, Mister...
Ah! Ah! Ah! Doctor.
- Doctor.
- Thank you.
Dr. Buss.
Six-month extension.
What'd I tell you?
At 30%.
Mariani: That's a
million bucks in vig.
Wesley: Mm, yeah, which is
why if you're the businessman
that you say you are,
then you'll turn us down,
and we'll see you in
bankruptcy.
I'll tell you what.
You make it June,
and we got a deal.
Can I ask why?
Because in May,
we're gonna win
the Championship.
Mm...
And then, I'm gonna need
a couple weeks' vacation
before I take a
flight to Sacramento,
walk into your office,
and make you beg to
keep our business.
Well...
I hope you keep winning.
Jerry: Count on it.
- Come on.
- Thank you, Wes.
Mariani: You see? Not a problem.
What the fuck is
this clown doing?
Oh, you got to be...
Come on, you got me!
The buzzards catch you out
here with that sad sack look
on your fuckin' face, you'll
be in tomorrow's paper.
- It was kind of a tough night.
- Yeah, well,
I hate to break it to you, but
there's a shit storm blowing in.
Bill's asked me to
walk you through it.
Fuckin' hurry up! You're
not a duck! Come on.
- Put this on. That's Missoni.
- Westhead: Alright.
Jerry West: Fuck, don't stretch
it. It's cashmere. Come on...
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Jerry,
the hounds are waiting.
West: It's a stakeout.
You always meet the
buzzards on your own terms.
Here we go. The important thing
is to project a sense of calm.
You're not just
talking to the media.
You're talking to the team,
plus every other motherfucking
up-and-comer in the league.
They're smelling blood,
and we're the meat.
Well, they don't
know Jack McKinney.
He's gonna be up and yelling
at that radio by halftime.
You got your fucking
degree from where, Doc?
- Huh? Oh, hang on.
- Huh?
"Assistant coach
promises quick return."
Boom! There's your headline!
And then tomorrow, when
he's not there, what then?
Boom! Panic! Chaos!
Then buzzards are fucking
you in your fat little ass!
- I don't wanna be buzzard-fucked.
- No!
Don't oversell.
- But what am I supposed to say?
- As little as possible.
Jack is in the best
of hands, okay?
Jack is on the mend,
and in the meantime,
I'm holding down the fort,
confident that the team
is behind the both of us,
110%. Yeah, just like that.
- Okay.
- You want to do it?
Fuck no! You
out of your fucking...
No, just look, you know...
Take it easy, okay?
Alright? You're a natural.
And if the press happen to hang
you up on anything, just, well,
go to your comfort zone.
What's that?
Jack McKinney is on the mend.
I'm holding down the fort,
and I know that the
franchise is behind us all.
- Both of us...
Franchise is behind
us both 100%.
So, there's nothing to the
reports that he's in a coma?
- How about these rumors that Jack's fighting for his life?
- Rumors?
You know what? I'm not gonna
get caught up in rumors.
We're going to focus
on the task ahead.
And for me right
now, the task ahead
well, it's Denver.
And, uh, Skywalker Thompson.
- He went on a
tear last night in Utah.
Yeah, he sure did.
I think that's probably why, uh,
that's probably why Jack
McKinney is playing hooky
because, uh, he wants
to avoid a repeat.
So, you and Jack talked
about the Utah game?
- Does that mean he's conscious?
- That's after the accident?
- What are you not telling us?
- Westhead: I'm not saying...
Jack McKinney is on the mend.
- What'd you tell him to say?
- I didn't tell him to say shit.
- Is he in critical condition?
- Paul, you gotta give us something.
Is he in a vegetable
state or what?
Westhead: I...
- What do we tell the fans?
- Just tell them...
"If it be now,"
"'tis not to come."
"If it be not to come"
"it will be now."
"If it not be now,
yet it will come."
- Come on, Paul.
"The readiness
is all."
- Get up there. Get him off the stage now.
- Westhead: Thank you.
West: Okay! Okay!
We'll see you all at
the game tonight, huh?
What the fuck was that?
- Westhead: My comfort zone.
- Will he be able to coach again?
- That's it, folks, thank you.
- Wow...
Reporter : Wise words
from Jack McKinney's substitute.
This time last year, he
was teaching Shakespeare.
- Tonight, he steps in as...
- Oh, that oughta keep 'em chasing their tails.
Yeah, well, I wish they
were the only ones.
I spent all night
trying to decipher
what the hunting pattern
of the Bengal tiger
has to do with keeping
Thompson out of the lane.
- Well, you stick one there, he'll probably avoid it.
Thanks.
This is Jack shit.
Alright? It's not for you.
- Come on! Goddammit.
- Let it go.
Let it go. What would you do?
- What I would do...
- Your show.
If it was me, I would... I
would do something off the wall.
- I would... I would start Cooper.
- Great.
No, you know what? I
would play it safe,
and I would stick with Haywood.
Alright.
No, Cooper.
Or Haywood?
That's a good idea.
Fuck!
You want the job?
Jack McKinney: You know what
you could do with Thompson?
Drive him baseline to his
weak hand for the trap.
Haywood and Cooper double-team.
He's weaker when he
moves to the left,
so you force him that way.
Overplay the passing lanes.
You know what... You know what
you could do with Thompson?
The team is here.
Westhead: Okay.
Oh...
- I'm going to take Cran home.
- Yeah.
Yeah, she... She
definitely needs a break.
- Cassie: You do, too.
- Yeah.
Nothing good can come
from sitting here,
watching him like this.
"I make as much use of
it as many a man doth
a memento mori."
It's a Death's Head.
Elizabethans used
to put it everywhere
with that inscription.
Memento mori. "Remember"
"you will die."
Shakespeare sealed
the words in wax
on everything he wrote
after his son died.
No, there's something
beautiful in that.
Life is fleeting, so
make every moment count.
It meant the opposite.
Life is meaningless.
All earthly things are vanity.
Cassie: Well, that's
less cheerful.
Westhead: I, uh...
I can't believe I have
to coach this game.
: You can do it.
Spencer Haywood: You
shakin' like a flea-bit dog.
Michael Cooper: It's all over.
Man, you don't know that.
Coach could pull through.
No, not-not Coach.
It's just...
Me, man. Westhead ain't no fan.
What makes you say that?
I seen it in camp. The
way he was looking at me,
like I was a loose
thread on a sweater.
I bet you he can't
wait to cut me off.
Is that right?
Hm. Brother,
I ain't known you but a
minute, but what I can say
is you are the nervousest cat
in a building full
of people dying.
Didn't nobody end up
in the NBA by accident.
I don't know, Spence.
Maybe I'm the first.
No, you're not. You supposed
to be here. You understand?
McKinney or no McKinney.
Coach is just a coach.
All the damn talent you got?
Any fool could see
it! Even Westhead!
Hey. Uh...
Wanna thank you all
for coming. Um...
I know that it's going
to mean a lot to Jack.
How is he?
He's better. He's
better. Thank you.
Um, he's probably not
well enough for visitors
just yet. So, let's
keep him in our thoughts
and, uh, I'll see
you at the game.
Oh...
I-I'm sorry. I hope I'm not,
uh, interrupting.
These are from Magic.
He is so sorry that
he couldn't be here,
but he just wanted to make sure
that Coach McKinney knows
how much he means to us.
So, you know, there's some
eucalyptus in there, so
that's good for his breathing.
Dr. Day: I think you're
making a wise choice.
So what I'm supposed to say to
the ones I ain't going with?
Nothing.
You can't muddy up that
million-dollar smile
- delivering bad news.
- Alright.
- Right on!
- That can be my job.
Gentlemen! Welcome.
Come on in! Son,
on behalf of Converse,
we are just thrilled to
welcome you into our stable.
I think we are gonna make
a lot of hay.
Before we put pen to paper,
I took the liberty of
making some adjustments.
For starters, we've learned
that Larry Bird has agreed
to $90,000, and we believe
we should command 100.
- Well, that's quite an ask.
- Well
my man is quite an athlete.
Well, you drive a hard bargain,
but you got yourself a deal.
That's what I'm talkin' about!
- Yeah.
- Johnson: Some notes.
So, I was thinking...
We put my name right
there on the shoe.
I'm thinking...
"The Magic."
I see it. Look, "The Magic."
Ain't no one else done that!
Al Harden: Well, that's an idea!
We'll run it up the
flagpole back at corporate.
But first, let's get
you on the dotted line.
Dr. Day: To Magic.
You won't regret it.
He regrets it.
Jerry: My father
Lydus was a genius.
He had a head for numbers.
I think he liked numbers
more than he liked people,
far as I can tell.
Definitely liked numbers
more than he liked me.
Left us high and
dry when I was born.
Mom was 19.
No high school education.
Now, she's got
this kid to raise.
Middle of the fucking Dust Bowl.
But, she got us here.
She got us here.
- That's one tough broad.
- Doctor: Dr. Buss?
Hey.
How's she doin'?
Exhausted, but coherent.
There's no outward
sign of trauma.
Oh, good. Good. Yeah. Right?
Doctor: Yeah...
I figured she just
forgot to eat.
- Could be.
Why don't you bring her
by for a full workup?
In the meantime,
take care of yourself, too.
You look tired.
See if you can keep
it to a pack a day.
Sure thing, Doc.
See?
She's gonna be fine.
Jessie: I always wanted
to go out with a bang.
Instead, I seem to be rotting.
No. Bullshit.
Alcohol is a preservative.
Well, at least I
taught you to laugh.
I know I fucked up
everything else.
Come on.
Don't talk like that.
You got me where I am today.
Hm...
Sorry, I'll wait outside.
Jeanie: It's my fault.
Jerry: Just a spell.
No, it wasn't the first time.
Opening night, she didn't
know what day it was.
She was out of it.
I should've told you, but I
didn't want to ruin your big day.
Jerry: Jeanie.
Get it together.
- She's gonna be okay.
What's goin' on, Coach?
Game day. Hey.
Okay.
Gentlemen...
I know that it's hard right now.
I know that our
hearts are heavy.
But, we got a job to do.
And there is nothing...
There is nothing!
That Jack McKinney would
want more than a win.
- That's right.
- Yep!
So, let's take a minute.
Let's take a minute.
"Give sorrow words.
"The grief that does not speak,
whispers the o'erfraught
heart and bids it break."
Player: Hm?
So, Coach dead?
No. No, no, no.
- No. No, no. Not at all.
Yeah. Who's guarding Thompson?
- I got him, Coach.
- Hell no. You the slowest in conditioning.
- Who you talking about?
- Jim Chones: Bunny is your man.
- You crazy.
- Cooper.
You're starting at four.
- Jim, you're next in the rotation.
- What?
Haywood: Where
that put me, Coach?
Westhead: It puts
you on the bench.
- Whoa.
- Brutal.
Westhead: Everybody else,
same as usual. Okay?
- Alright, come on, bring it in. Bring it in!
Jack on three! One, two, three.
All: Jack!
- Hey. Hey, Paul?
Cooper: I can take
Thompson. Whoo!
Is there a problem?
Well, I'm not sure if you heard
what I said back at the hospital
between me and the young blood,
but if it's putting us
off on the wrong foot...
Oh...
No, no. This is a... This
is a basketball decision.
It's nothing personal.
Okay?
Hey, uh, Young Buck?
You gonna play this one, or you
gonna let your girl do it for you?
Girl?
Jamaal Wilkes: You gonna send
your squeeze to the hospital
and think we ain't gonna say?
Chones: Fine ol' redbone, too.
You lucky I ain't holler at her.
- Norman Nixon: Well, she sat next to me, so...
- Cindy?
I ain't even know she
went to the hospital.
With 10 funerals of flowers.
Rip Van Winkle ever wake up,
- he gonna think he in a garden.
Nice touch, Young Blood.
Not as nice as showing
up yourself though.
Nixon: Say it again, Cap.
Player: I'd like to
be friends with her!
Hey, babe.
Hey.
What's... What's wrong?
Y'all brought too many flowers.
- I ain't asked you to do that.
- Well, I was...
You got me up in
there looking crazy
in front of all my teammates.
I was just trying
to be gracious.
- I was representing you...
- Dr. Day: There he is!
The Converse Man.
The lovely young Miss Buss
has been giving me the tour.
Nice shoes. Congratulations.
Thanks. I got some good advice.
Nonsense. He's a natural.
Between the three of you,
our future is in good hands.
Why don't I, uh, show
you to your seats?
Thank you.
Hey, Doc. You got a minute?
Dr. Day: Something
the matter, son?
Nah...
Look... Yeah.
Look,
I appreciate you,
and everything you
done did for me.
And Cindy is a great girl,
really, really sweet.
But,
if you think we be
more than what we be...
And what would that be?
You helping me with
business and all.
That make you an agent?
I prefer to be a friend.
How much cut a friend get?
The only thing I want that
you can give me is your trust.
We can let the
money come in time,
once you've made plenty more.
And Cindy?
I ain't ready to
settle down yet.
Son, I love my daughter
more than anyone.
I want her to be
happy. But, me and you?
Well, that's another
thing now, isn't it?
- Business.
- That it is.
And I don't see why the
end of one relationship
should sacrifice the other.
Right on.
Think you could tell her for me?
Hey, like you said.
Magic ain't supposed to be
the one to give 'em bad news.
I'll let her down light.
Pryor: Yeah, those is the
Lakers, not the Fakers.
Hey, Black man, Black man,
- Black man.
- Spencer, my main man.
- Oh man.
- I know you've been living like a saint these days,
but if you wanna
celebrate after the game,
party's at my
place in the hills.
Come on up, man. We got it all.
Man, we got white bitches,
7-Up, and cocaine.
- Know what I mean? Know what I mean, Jack?
- Maybe so.
Announcer : Introducing
your Los Angeles Lakers!
- Hey, Bill.
- Jerry.
Some fuckin' day, huh?
Yes, sir.
Chick Hearn : Chick
Hearn along with Pat Riley
here for another game
of Lakers basketball.
Tonight, the team will not be
joined by head coach Jack McKinney.
Our prayers are with him.
But, let's hope the Lakers
won't be needing
any of their own.
The man filling in for
him on the sidelines
will be his assistant.
First name Paul,
last name Westhead.
A few months ago, this guy
was teaching Shakespeare
at La Salle College
in Philadelphia.
Now here he is, coaching one
of the NBA's marquee teams
and trying to hold down the
fort for his friend and mentor,
who, we are told,
is on the mend.
- Well, this one's for you, Jack.
Okay, now both teams
in the center circle.
Here's the tip controlled by Kareem
and this contest is underway.
Magic brings the
ball down the floor.
Jack?
Hey. Jack?
No, Jack.
Help! Jack!
Wake up.
Jack!
Somebody come help
us! Please! Nurse!
Jack! Help us! Jack!
You know what you
could do with Thompson?
Drive him baseline to his
weak hand for the trap.
Haywood and Cooper double-team.
He's weaker when he
goes to the left,
so you force him that way.
You overplay the passing lanes,
beat 'em on the turnovers.
Of course, he won't pass
if Issel's camped out
under the bucket for the
put-back, so you go big!
You put a big man on his ass!
That's why we got Haywood!
So... box out Issel.
Thompson can't beat us himself.
- Like that, see?
- What difference would that make?
You see?
I'd rather talk about Denver.
- Paul, Paul! He's asking for you.
- Okay, okay, okay!
Jack!
Hey. Hi.
Go big...
Westhead: Sorry, what, Jack?
Go big...
Go big against
against Thompson.
Denver, go big.
We, we already
played them, Jack.
Denver was two weeks ago.
Fuck my dick.
Fuck... I came back.
- I know, I know...
- I came back.
Westhead: I know... I know...
Do you guys wanna sign up?
I think so, when they
migrated to Detroit.
- Dr. Day: Ms. Kelly!
Cookie: Dr. Day?
- What's this?
- Tickets.
The Lakers are
coming to Detroit,
and Earvin would
love to have you.
He would, would he?
Thought he would be
having your daughter.
Hm.
All I can say, young man
has the world at his feet.
He asked me to come here
and give those to you.
You make of that what you will.
Girl,
if you don't say yes, I will.
- Cookie: Tell Earvin I'll think about it!
- Dr. Day: Mm-hmm.
You have a good day now.