[Joe cocker's "with a little
help from my friends" plays]
-♪ Baby ♪
-♪ High with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ Said I'm gonna make
it with my friends ♪
-♪ Try with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ Oh, oh, I'm gonna
keep on tryin' ♪
-♪ Get by with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ I'm gonna keep
on tryin', now, babe ♪
-♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
-♪ When I grow up to be a man ♪
-If there's one way to
describe adolescence,
It might be this...
It's a gamble.
-♪ That turn me on as a kid? ♪
-An adventure into
the unexpected.
A step into the unknown.
-♪ That I wish I hadn't
done what I did? ♪
-It's a time of life that
pits hope against fear
And logic against prayer.
A game of luck and opportunity.
Not unlike, say, for instance...
Poker.
All right, I call.
A pair of queens.
So let's see 'em.
-Two 2s.
-Nothin' but ace-high.
-Two pair.
9S and 4s.
-The bi-monthly, friday-night
high-stakes poker game.
Jeff?
Junior year, it was ritual.
-Three kings.
Don't worry, guys.
It's going to a good cause. Me.
-Of course, it was more than
just a rotating tournament,
Depending on whose parents
were out for the evening.
And it was about more
than just cold, hard cash.
-Okay. Nickel ante.
-This game was
defined by personality.
Ours.
-Okay, boys.
How about a little
night baseball, huh?
9S are wild. 3S are wild.
Any picture card
with facial hair... Wild.
-There was the
overenthusiastic...
-Straight poker.
- And the all-american.
-Paul, your bet.
-There was the cautious...
-I don't know. Let me
think for a second.
-Paul... While
we're still young.
And the impatient...
-Okay.
Three cents.
- And, of course, the
supremely confident.
-A... Quarter.
-A quarter?
That's kind of steep, isn't it?
-Quarter.
-And despite our
different styles,
We maintained the easy
give-and-take of friendship
That I knew would endure
well into the future.
Don't put the glass
right on the table.
My father will k*ll
me if he sees a stain.
-Ooh.
I'm... I'm fairly certain
these chairs of yours
Are aggravating my prostate.
-This hand's an all-time beaut.
You should frame it.
Hang it on the wall.
-Okay, then. Who needs cards?
- Give me four.
- Anyone else?
-Three.
-Uh, give me two.
Uh, um, no, wait, um...
Better make that three.
Jeff?
-None.
-None? You sure?
-I fold.
-I fold.
-Well, then...
Guess I'm the lucky winner.
-Still, we weren't old men yet.
We were teenage boys...
Innocent. Uncomplicated.
-So, is anyone hungry?
- Hungry.
- Let's go.
- I got chips.
- The 8:00 snack break.
A chance to mix
simple pleasantries
With complex
carbohydrates and starch.
-I can't believe it.
Do you guys have any idea
What you're putting
into your bodies?
-What do you mean...
This isn't healthy?
-I'd hate to see your
digestive tract in 10 years.
-Tell you what... You don't ask,
And I won't offer, all right?
-Kev, don't you have
any fruit in this house?
-Yeah. It's on the bottom.
-No. All I see here
is an apple pie.
-Right. Apple's a fruit.
[Laughter]
-Forget it.
I got an orange in my car.
Least I plan ahead.
-Boy, he doesn't quit, does he?
-What do you mean?
-Well, it's just that
he's kind of like, um...
How shall I say it?
Not fun.
-A major downer.
-What are you
guys talking about?
-Uh, kev...
About the ski trip
over spring vacation...
-Yeah, we're all
still going, right?
-See, the thing is...
We don't think we're gonna
have room for pfeiffer.
-Well, what do you mean?
I thought all of us were going.
-Well, it's not paul so much.
It's just that, uh...
Chuck's car only...
Only fits four people.
-You can check the manual.
-And my uncle's cabin
only has four beds.
-So, what are you
guys trying to say?
Even though it was pretty clear.
[Door opens]
- [clears throat]
So, what did I miss?
-Now, paul pfeiffer
Had been my best
friend for 17 years.
I'd always told him everything.
Nothing.
Really.
No, we were just, uh... Talking.
-Well, come on, guys.
Let's get back to the game.
-After all, paul was
just being himself...
-Want an orange?
-No, thanks. Come on.
As opposed, to, say...
Some of the rest of us.
-Chuck, the bet is a quarter.
You threw in a nickel.
-Uh...
Right.
Quarter.
-By 8:30, chuck coleman's
natural ebullience
Was fading fast.
So, chuck, what's
wrong with you?
-Nothing! I just have
some stuff on my mind.
-What kind of stuff?
-Uh, you know...
Eh... Me and alice.
-What, are you
guys fighting again?
-No. It's nothing like that.
-Well, if you're not fighting,
what are you two doing?
[Romantic music plays]
-There are moments in
life that alter history
And change the
course of human events.
You didn't.
This was one of them.
-[Chuckles]
-All right, chuck!
-Way to go, coleman.
-It was a stirring revelation
That merited only one response.
-You know, I hope you used
some kind of protection.
[Music stops]
-Huh?
-I said, "I hope you
used protection."
-Of course I did, pfeiffer.
I mean, what kind of
stooge do you take me for?
-Ask an idiotic question...
-Look, are we gonna
play cards or not?
- No, I'm out.
- Me too.
-Yeah, me too.
-And speaking of idiotic...
-Oh, you're not gonna
smoke that thing, are you?
Do you have any idea what
it's gonna do to your lungs?
Not to mention my sweater?
I don't believe it. He's
actually lighting it.
-[Blows]
-Paul, come on.
It's only a cigar.
-Look, I have some air
freshener in my car.
I'll be right back.
-I guess you could
say paul's consistency
Was getting a little
too consistent.
-Uh... Brother.
-And so maybe it was time
To have a little
talk with old paul...
I'll be back in a minute.
To clue him in to
public opinion...
Delicately, diplomatically.
Paul, you're being a real pain.
-What? What's that
supposed to mean?
-Well... You just got
to lighten up a little.
-Lighten up about what?
-Well, for starters,
You can forget about
the air freshener.
-Do you know how
much it smells in there?
-Paul, who cares?
It's just the guys,
and we're playin' poker.
I mean, don't make such
a big deal out of it, okay?
Okay?
-Okay.
Yeah.
-Great.
Great.
-Straight.
-That's not a straight.
-Of course it is. Look.
2-3-4-5-6.
-2-3-4-5-9.
Do you know what 2-3-4-5-9 is?
Nothing.
-Boy, randy, maybe you
should be studying your math.
-Yeah, really funny.
-Which, of course, it was.
To us, anyway.
-Hey, will you
guys just shut up?
For your information,
I failed my last three
trigonometry tests.
When I flunk out, I bet
it'll be really hilarious.
-Oh, come on. You're
not gonna flunk out.
-Oh, yeah?
My guidance counselor
says if I don't pass,
I'm not gonna graduate.
What do you say to that?
-And, of course, there
was only one thing to say.
-Three kings.
-[Sobs]
-Of course, some of
us were taking the news
Harder than others.
-Chuck, it'll be okay.
I still have a chance to pass.
If I apply myself...
- Who cares about you?
-What's the matter, chuck?
You can't b*at three kings?
-I think alice is pregnant.
-Here, congratulations.
Have a cigar.
-I knew it.
I knew it.
- Shut up, paul.
-Look, I was just
trying to help.
-Yeah, well, don't.
It's been said sobering
news travels in bunches.
And after 90 minutes of poker,
There was no shortage
of sobering news.
-How could I be so stupid?
-Chuck was on the
brink of fatherhood.
-Well, at least
you're passing trig.
-Randy was on the brink
of repeating the 11th grade.
-[Blows]
-And I was on the brink
of hating my best friend.
-Knock it off, pfeiffer.
-Not till you put
that thing out.
-But in addition to it all,
In addition to the
gut-wrenching teenage melodrama
Playing out before us,
One other thing
seemed slightly amiss.
-He started it.
-Hey.
You cheated.
We were in the
presence of a crook.
Okay. Now, where were we?
After an hour and a half
Of our monthly rotating
friday-night poker game,
This guy's cheating...
This guy's flunking school...
This guy might be a father...
This guy is annoying everyone...
And this guy?
Well...
You cheated.
-I did not!
My fingers were greasy
from the potato chips.
I-i-i'm sure a card, you know,
Just sh*t right out of my hands.
All right, all right.
Then ask yourselves this...
Why would I possibly
cheat at cards?
-Well, the way I see it,
your motive is greed.
-Excuse me, lieutenant columbo.
Maybe I'm just a better card
player than all you guys.
You ever think of that?
-I can't take this anymore.
This is insane!
-[Blows]
-And somehow I couldn't
avoid the thought
Maybe chuck was right.
You okay?
-Listen, i-i know
what you're thinking...
That my life would be over.
-No.
-No. I-i know how it sounds.
But it wouldn't
be that bad, really.
I mean, alice and i...
We could live in
my parents' attic
Until we graduate high school.
And after that, we could
move into the garage.
-Chuck, why don't you wait
until you find out for sure?
I mean, it's not like you're
a doctor or anything.
-You think so?
-Yeah.
Yeah, I mean...
How much do you really
know about biology, anyway?
Apparently just
enough to be dangerous.
-Excuse me. I got to
make a phone call.
-Paul...
-Yeah?
-We were in here.
You know, chuck and i.
-Right. And now chuck left.
And I'm gonna make a phone call.
- And I don't know.
- Hello?
-Maybe because of
what the guys had said
Or maybe because of
the way he was acting,
But suddenly I was beginning
to see paul in a whole new light.
-I mean, my dad expects me
to go to some great college.
I don't know how to tell him
I might not even graduate
from high school.
-I would suggest doing
it over a nice dessert.
-Thanks.
-Hey, I'm watching
you, billings.
So hang on to
your cards this time.
-Okay. I'm back.
-Oh, were you gone?
-And so, there we were...
Five friends playing poker.
-Hey. Maybe if you
dealt a little slower,
My cards wouldn't end
up in the cheese puffs.
-Five friends
arguing and sniping,
Carping and whining.
Taking umbrage at even
the pettiest offense.
-Yeah, well, maybe if you
learned how to shuffle,
You could deal
once in a while, huh?
-You call that dealing?
-Suffer.
-Five friends who
couldn't agree on a thing.
-Hey. We're out of food.
-Except one thing.
-Yeah, someone should
run out and get more.
So, who wants to go?
Kev?
-What, and leave you
guys with all the cards?
-All right, fine. I'll go.
-No way. He'll just go
out and get another deck.
-All right, I'll go.
But I'll take the
deck of cards with me.
-Of course, kev, how do
we know you won't cheat?
-Me?
So, naturally, there
was only one solution.
We did what any five
petty, squabbling,
Distrustful best
friends would do.
God, why does it take
five guys to go get food?
-Because we're hungry.
-Because we're morons.
-Hey, who you calling a moron?
-Hey, figure it out, sherlock.
-Hey, look, can you guys
Maybe quit picking
on each other?
-I'm gonna go get
the stuff, okay?
-No. You go, and
you'll come back
With 12 pounds of fruit.
Whoops.
-Stupid.
-What did you say, paul?
-Nothing.
-No, 'cause I heard
you say something.
-I didn't say anything.
-Well, here's what I say.
Maybe you're a moron, but
let me tell you something.
Stewart and irene coleman
did not raise any morons.
-No, you deserve all the
credit for that, right?
-I'm out of here.
-Me too.
-No, not those.
They're bad for you.
-God, paul, what
is your problem?
-What problem?
-I'm not sure if I
was angry at paul
Or if I was angry at myself
For suddenly hating
my best friend, but...
You know, it used to be
fun to hang around with you.
And I don't know what it is now,
But being with
you is like being...
-What?
-I don't know.
I just think...
But what I didn't want to say
was that paul had changed.
-You know, kev, you've changed.
-What?
Hey! What's that
supposed to mean?
-I mean, you hang
around with those guys,
And all you care about is
being cool in front of them.
-I do not.
And besides, they're
your friends, too.
-No. They were
your friends first.
We were friends,
so I just came along.
-What, so I can't have any
other friends other than you?
That's ridiculous.
You know, I call you when
the guys get together.
I invite you to the
poker games. I...
-Yeah, and that ski
trip over spring break...
I bet you were gonna
invite me to that, too, right?
That's what I thought.
-Hey, I can't even sit in
the car with you morons.
-Shut up, chuck.
You know, I wouldn't
have be here
If it wasn't for your cheating.
-Hey, mr. Math whiz,
Don't you have some
studying to do or something?
-Look, shut up about
my math already.
At least I don't cheat.
-Maybe you should.
You haven't won a
hand in three months.
-Why don't you both take a hike?
You sound like you're married.
-I don't believe you guys.
You know, you make me sick?
-Oh, yeah?
Well, what are you
gonna do about it?
-What am I gonna do about it?
What are you gonna do about it?
And, of course, there
was only one answer.
Gentlemen... The ante is $1.
The last hand of the night.
Cards?
-Two.
-The play was intense...
The conversation at a minimum.
-Two.
-What had begun three hours ago
As a simple game
among friends...
-Three.
- Had, by 10:30,
Developed into an
all-out grudge match.
-One.
-I'll take two.
Suddenly, we were no longer
boys playing a man's game.
We were men.
Men at w*r.
Defending our turf...
Standing our ground.
-All right.
I bet 20 cents.
-30.
-35.
-And I'll raise you 50.
-51.
It was time to show no mercy...
Take no prisoners.
The bets were down.
Pair of jacks.
-A straight.
Almost.
-Two pair... Jacks and 9s.
-Three 7s.
-It's up to you, jeff.
And then...
-I fold.
I got nothin'.
-You mean I win?
-You win.
-I won.
I can't believe it. I won.
-At the very brink of
disillusionment and despair,
Randy mitchell,
the perpetual loser,
Finally won a hand.
[Telephone rings]
I'll get it.
Hello?
Yeah. Yeah, hang on.
Chuck, it's alice.
-[Breathes heavily]
Alice?
That's great.
Uh, that... That's great.
Yeah.
Me too.
I'll call you when I get home.
Okay. Bye.
She's not pregnant.
-And there you had it...
Fortune in men's lives.
Face it...
In poker and friendship,
Anything could happen.
And anything usually did.
See you later, guys.
-Thanks, kev.
Guess I'll go hit the books.
-See ya.
-Boy, I will never
have sex again.
Hey, wait up!
-Hey, jeff. Sorry
about that last hand.
-Well, he deserved to win one.
See you monday, man.
-Bye.
-Hey, coleman. You
still owe me 7 bucks.
- I do not.
- I want an iou.
-The funny thing is,
that night, cleaning up,
I kept thinking
about that last hand.
The one that had turned
things around for randy...
For all of us.
The one jeff had lost.
Wait a minute.
Jeff won.
I felt pretty foolish having
questioned the guy's integrity,
His honesty.
The fact that this
deck had five kings.
[Door opens]
-The door was open.
I forgot my jacket.
-Oh.
I guess that
silence said it all...
That things had changed
between paul and me...
That the unspoken ease of
our friendship was slipping away.
-So, I guess I'll
see you in school.
-Yeah.
Paul?
Uh...
I just wanted to say that, uh...
But there was no way to say it.
Those 17 years...
He knew what I meant.
-Thanks.
-After all, standing there
on the edge of adulthood,
We knew that the problems
of men were not easily solved,
That life was a risk...
That growing up was a gamble...
That the time for
bluffing had passed.
-Come on, paul. Let's
see what you got.
-Uh, is this a 3 or an 8?
-An 8.
-Oh.
After 40 years,
I should think you could
afford a new deck of cards.
-Still, you never knew.
Jeff, what's that
under your sleeve?
-My cuff link.
-Yeah?
Well, that cuff link
Better not be able
to b*at three queens.
-Never mind.
-With a little luck, things
just might turn out okay.
-What you got?
-I got bubkes.
-So, anyone hungry?