02x02 - The Magic Is Back

[bunniefuu]

Alright, let's go. Here we
go.

How do I feel...

about Magic Johnson comin' back?

Hm. Young Buck.

Me?

Best record in the league
since he been gone.

I'm just here to support Paul.

Do I think he'll
impact team chemistry?

Do I look f*ck' nervous?

It's basketball, m*therf*cker!
It ain't rocket science!

- Can't wait.
- Chemistry, my f*ck' a*s.

Young Buck.

You bet he's gonna
impact chemistry.

I mean, in a good way.

You ask the guys,
they're thrilled.

Earvin "Magic"
Johnson: What I say?

I say the Magic
back, baby.

♪ There it is ♪

♪ Yeah, ah, uh ♪

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ Okay ♪

♪ Check it out ♪

♪ Death to the pigs is
my basic statement ♪

♪ I spit street stories
'til I taste the pavement ♪

♪ Tryin' to stay out the pen
where we face enslavement ♪

♪ Had a foolproof hustle 'til
they traced the payments ♪

♪ I was grippin' my palm
around some shitty rum ♪

♪ Tryin' to find
psalm number 151 ♪

♪ To forget what I'm owed,
as I clutch the commode ♪

♪ I read "Put down the bottle
and come get the g*n" ♪

♪ Let's get off the chain like
Kunta Kinte with a MAC-10 ♪

♪ They want us gone like
a dollar in a crack den ♪

♪ Steadily subtractin'
seeds and stems ♪

♪ Mind cloudy through
the wheeze and phlegm ♪

♪ Numbin' my brain off of
that and the Jesus hymns ♪

♪ If we waiting for the time
to fight, these is thems ♪

♪ Tellin' us to relax
while they ease it in ♪

♪ We gettin greased again ♪

♪ The truth I
write is so cold ♪

♪ It'd freeze my pen ♪

♪ I'm Boots Riley it's
a pleasure to meet you ♪

♪ Never let they punk
a*s ever defeat you ♪

♪ They got us on the corner
wearin' pleather and see-thru ♪

♪ All y'all's gold mines,
they wanna deplete you ♪

♪ I ain't just finna rap on the
track, I finna clap on 'em back ♪

♪ And it's been
stackin' to that ♪

♪ 500 years before Iceberg
ever leaned back in the 'lac ♪

♪ Before they told Rosa
"Black in the back" ♪

♪ Before the CIA told Ricky
Ross to put crack in a sack ♪

♪ And Gil Scott traded
rappin' for smack ♪

♪ This beat alone should
get platinum plaques ♪

♪ I'd rather see a million
of us ecstatic to scrap ♪

♪ 'Cause if we bappin' 'em
back we automatically stack ♪

♪ vocalizing ♪

Norm Nixon: Alright,
alright, let's go!

Come on, top him, top him!

Team up, Cap, team up!

Come on, Cap! Oh!

Hit me on the run!
Hit me on the run!

Ah, sh*t! g*dd*mn, man!

- m*therf*cker, what you doing?
- Going for the inbound!

- What it look like?
- Paul Westhead: Earvin!

Earvin, let Norm
take those in for now

while you get a feel
for the new system.

Yeah, aight. Cool.

Earvin seem a little
out of kilter?

Paul made some adjustments
to the offense.

He'll get used to it.

Paul: Is that knee alright?

Pat Riley: I'll
keep an eye on it.

Paul: Let's go!

Jim Chones: Yo,
you see this sh*t?

Michael Cooper:
What's up, Chones?

Man, f*ck Boston.
That's one game, man.

We four back on Phoenix
and we catchin' up.

Yeah, "if." That big n*gga running
into me like we bumper cars.

Keep on like this, I'ma be
f*cked up worse than him.

Well, somebody should have
hipped him to what doin'

before they let
him on the floor.

He'll figure it out.
Let's just stay positive.

Norm: f*ck you.

Looking like the bottom
of a shoe, n*gga.

What you talkin' about?

Magic: What y'all
laughing about?

- Jamaal Wilkes: Oh, nothin', man.
- Jim: f*cking Coop.

Norm: Oh, yeah. You shoulda seen
his a*s bowling the other night.

He's so good 'cause his a*s
the same color as the ball.

They might be cousins.

Maybe if you'd kept
yours out of the gutter,

you'd still have
money in your pocket.

- Players: Ooh!
- Michael: Tell him, Cap!

Pat: Paul, look,
it's a lot to ask.

He's comin' off an injury,
learnin' a new system.

Paul: Okay, you
know what, Pat?

All the other guys
picked it up just fine.

Yeah, well, they had
time. He doesn't.

We're a month out
from the playoffs.

We need Magic integrated
back into the offense, Paul.

We can bring The
System back next year.

Put down your beers
and lend me your ears.

I got your
title right here in the bag.

Let's see the Celtics
match up with him.

Paul: Wh-What are we
talking about here?

Jerry West: Talking about David
Thompson! David f*cking Thompson!

The Skywalker! I'm talking about
a 50-inch f*cking vertical.

Body soaring through
the air like an eagle!

Seventy-three
points in one game.

This team breezin'
through the f*ck' finals

for the next five years!

- Five years! Five years! Huh?
- Hold on, hold on, hold on.

- He's available?
- Jerry West: Think I'm f*ck' stupid, Pat?

Hell, yes. I had Elgin
dig around in Denver,

and g*dd*mn it, he
came up with a nugget.

Turns out, he's itching to bust
outta that mile-high bird cage

and soar to sunny skies.

- This guy could be a third star.
- Yeah!

Pat: I mean, this
guy, he's someone

who can make a
shot in the crunch.

- He's a hell of an asset.
- Jerry West: Tell him, Pat!

- He's a, he's a...
- Jerry West: He's a f*ck' all-star!

- Pat: He's an all-star.
- What would it take?

That's the best part:

- Nixon.
- Pat: Get outta here.

- Jerry West: No! Yeah!
- Get outta here is right.

- We're not trading Norm.
- Jerry West: Huh?

We're not trading Norm!
He's been lights out.

He is having an all-star season.

He's run the show for
us with Magic out.

Jerry West: Well,
ding-f*cking-dong, dude.

Magic out? Magic's coming back,
and those two are gonna go

straight back to
fightin' for the ball.

Or! Or we cash him in! Ship him
out while his stock is high!

Huh? Pat, come
here, do me a favor

and turn these
lights on. Yeah.

Come on. Just
flick that switch.

- Pat: He's not wrong.
- No!

- Pat: Norm is... top notch.
- Jerry West: Yeah. Okay. Sometimes.

Pat: But, hey, you
know, Thompson, I mean,

- this guy's world-class.
- Jerry West: World-class!

Pat: The season's on the line.
We're gonna want another guy

like that to take
the final shot.

- Jerry West: Damn f*ck' straight.
- I'll look into it.

You'll look...

Look...

That's what this is.

We looked into it. We
scouted him, top to tail.

- He's good to go.
- Paul: That's nice.

I have a group of guys
who have gelled already.

So, I throw somebody new in,
and I could spoil the broth.

- The...
- I'm not gonna do that without seeing for myself.

Alright?

But I-I do appreciate
the legwork, Jerry.

Trade deadline is two weeks.

Okay. From today? Great.

I'll get you an answer.

Pat: Thanks, Jerry.

Paul: Oh, man. Pat!

Next time
you have an opinion,

just run it by me first.

Alright? That's not...
That's not so hard.

Yes, sir.

Pat.

What the f*ck is going on?

- Hey.
- Huh?

- Hey, you can't come in like that...
- Hey what?

Jerry Buss: It's four
in the afternoon.

It's my fault.

Whatever they do, it's copacetic

as long as I don't hurt
their f*ck' feelings.

Well, you know,

Jeanie's team is on the
hunt to win a title.

Yeah.

You know, I saw her in my
dreams again last night.

Claire Rothman: Jeanie?

- No. Honey.
- Claire: Ah, yes.

- The girl.
- Yeah, the girl.

And let me tell you,
it was a good one.

Claire: You know what? Spare
me the lurid details, please.

It wasn't lurid
at all.

It wasn't sex.

- It was better.
- Claire: Mm.

We were running on the
beach in Santa Monica,

just like when I was a
kid, like when my ma and I

first got out here,

and I could just run
on that beach for hours

and hours and hours.

- Before these.
- Yeah. Before everything.

I haven't felt that
way in a long time.

There we were.

Me and Honey.

Just running and laughing and...

So free.

- It was beautiful.
- Uh-oh.

What?

Dreams. Our dreams.

I dreamt I was an
astronaut one night.

I don't know,
Claire. I'm a guy.

When it comes to
life, I go for my gut,

and I have a feeling
about this one.

Yeah. You're feeling like

running right back
into her pants.

Sorry. Her arms.

Well, have you
considered the fact

that she might have moved on?

Only one way to
find out, I suppose.

Hm.

- Reporter 1: Magic, how's that knee feeling?
- Magic: Fine.

- Reporter 1: Hope to beat Larry in the finals?
- Magic: Sure.

- Reporter 2: Magic, how's it feel to be back?
- Magic: Great.

Reporter 2: Enjoying all
this big brouhaha out here?

Yeah, real exciting.

- How's team chemistry?
- Like I never left.

Reporter 3: Do you think the
Lakers can win another title?

- Magic: Gonna try.
- Reporter 4: Is your recovery progressing smoothly?

- Magic: You bet.
- Reporter 5: Any advice for your opponents?

Better watch out.

So, you're not upset you
lost a starting spot?

Reporter 6: Yeah, what do you
think about Norm at number one?

Nah, that's how it should
be. Just for now though.

What kind of adjustments will
your teammates have to make?

Ain't none.
Everybody know Magic.

Magic, look into the camera!

Cameraman: Magic, smile.

Did you get a "get well
card" from Larry Bird?

Yeah. Sent me a
chocolate leprechaun.

Cap! Cap! What do you
think of the big return?

I think you're
blocking my locker.

Reporters: Magic! Magic! Magic!

Reporter 7: Can the
fans expect a game six?

Aight, that's enough!

That's all that we got. Rap with
y'all after the game, aight?

Y'all get on up outta here.

Let me and my
teammates get ready.

Hey! Earvin!

You, uh, you got a minute?

Just trying to get ready.

Lon Rosen: Okay, perfect.
This will just take a minute.

Because we were talking,

and we thought...
you should wear this.

Put that sh*t away.

Oh, no. I, I got
enough for everybody.

Toss it. Burn it if you got
to. I don't give a f*ck.

I don't wanna see it on nobody.

You dig?

Um, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah, for
sure. Copy that.

Network Reporter: And,
folks, this arena is buzzing.

After 45 games, 101 long days,

it's finally official, and
the City of Angels swoons.

- The Magic is back.
- Paul: Earvin!

Hey! How you feeling?

- All good! Yeah!
- All good? Okay.

There's a word the
Latins use. Suave.

It means "easy."

That's how I want you
taking it tonight, alright?

No pressure. Understand?

Yeah! Yeah! Suave!

Suave.

Larry McKay : And
now making his long-awaited

fabulous Forum return,

let's give him a grand
old Hollywood welcome.

Get on your feet for
your one and only,

Earvin "Magic" Johnson!

Crowd : Magic!
Magic! Magic! Magic! Magic!

Crowd: Magic! Magic!
Magic! Magic! Magic!

Magic: Yeah!

Woo!

Crowd: Magic! Magic! Magic!

Norm: You got it! You
got it! Your shot!

Chick Hearn: Lakers
up convincingly

with this first quarter
ticking away, but, Keith,

the man this crowd
has come to see

still has not touched
the basketball.

And when will Coach Westhead,

uh, pull the rabbit
out of his hat, Chick?

Crowd:
We want Magic!

We want Magic! We want
Magic! We want Magic!

You think we're gonna have
to give these people refunds

if he never plays a game?

I think we'll have
a f*cking riot.

Crowd:
We want Magic!

We want Magic! We want Magic!

You made your point, Paul.

Paul: Earvin!

- Get in for Norm.
- Chick: And, my friends,

the fans are finally
getting what they came for.

Looks like Coach Westhead is finally
pulling a rabbit out of his hat.

Magic Johnson is
coming into the game.

Paul: Earvin!

Suave.

Suave.

Bullshit, Riles. You know
that's bullshit, right?

Chick: It's top of the
key. He's calling for it.

Magic with the ball. Makes
his move past Newlin.

- No-look pass.
- Paul: m*therf*cker!

Chick: Right into the
hands of Maurice Lucas

for the turnover.
And the bucket.

And that was not exactly what
this Forum crowd had in mind.

Got y'all's wish.

Lotta pressure, you know?

You know, Paul's tinkering
with the offense.

- He'll get used to it.
- Announcer : In basketball, the Lakers,

who had found their winning ways, have seen their shadow.

Asked whether all the fanfare
surrounding Magic Johnson

was to blame, Norm Nixon,

who was benched in
favor of his cohort,

made a point to
say that neither he

nor any of the others
resented the publicity.

Not at all.

If anything, we're happy
to see it go to somebody

who deserves it.

Announcer: Okay,
Norman. If you say so.

But if Nixon's
comments were typical

of what the Lakers were
saying to the press,

Jim Chones spoke
directly from the heart.

I thought it was bull!

- A circus!
- Announcer: And a lousy one at that.

With the touted Magic Man
taking a spill off a trapeze,

racking up as many turnovers as baskets.

Praying for that knee to hold.

Wouldn't wanna miss
you in the finals.

Here, I thought I'd
trash the place alone.

You want an assist?

Long as it ain't
another turnover.

They stopped countin'
after the game.

You promise?

How's it feelin'?

Just a little sore is all.

Hm. That's why you waited
till everybody split

to freeze your nuts off.

From the looks of it
out there, I figure...

where we at, 50%?

- Magic: Me?
- Pat: Mm.

Nah!

Ninety, easy.

Aight, more like... like 80.

- But we good!
- So, 60. Tops.

Come on, Riles.
Buss find out...

To hell with Buss.
Coach gets wind,

he's gonna keep you sittin'.

You need that run to get
in shape for playoffs.

Right. Am I right?

Hey, I wore the
jersey, too, remember?

Ain't that it hurt.

Just somethin'...

Somethin' ain't right.

Like part of me out there,

part of me ain't.

Like, instead of me playin',

me being me, Magic,

I'm just... I'm just...

You can't act like Magic.
You gotta be Magic.

You can't be out there thinkin'
it's gonna happen again.

- Yeah. Yeah.
- Yeah.

How I stop thinkin' that?

That's simple.

Stop thinkin'.

Pat: Pop it! Snap it back!

No time to
think! Pass the break! Let's go!

No time to think.
There you go.

Let's go! Stop
thinking! Let's go!

Don't think about it.
Let's go. Let's go.

Gonna be a little
b*tch! Come on.

Push it. Come on.

Pat: Come on. Stop thinking!

Let's go! Let's go!

Go, go, foul! Come
on! Quit pussyfooting,

you little gimp! Come on!

Cut harder! Use your
left! Come on, Nancy.

Magic: Aah! Come on, man!

Pat: That's right!

Return to the scene of the
f*ck' crime, man. Face it!

Yeah. Let's go.

- You in pain?
- Hell no.

What are we stopping for?

Frank Mariani: You gotta do
what the instructor says.

That's what... she taught me that years ago.

Frank: When I was
trying to learn tennis.

She'd say, "Just do what
the instructor says."

Jeanie Buss: Dr. Kerlan said that the,
uh, range of motion test was good.

I need you back in action
for the title series, okay?

Anna Gerhardt: Yeah, but
I don't wanna risk it.

I gotta save myself
for Wimbledon.

Yeah, but that's not till June.

I mean, what about
our tennis team?

Johnny Buss: Well, Anna has
a career to worry about.

She could get a
top-10 seed this year.

Isn't that right, Pookie?

- He's my biggest fan.
- Yes, I am.

- Hey, um, can I talk to you for a second over here?
- Uh, sure.

Alright, you are already
screwing one of my players.

Don't screw me, too.

Okay, what does our romance
have to do with you?

You're encouraging her to sit
out the entire Strings season.

No, I'm looking out
for her best interest.

Yeah, but what about ours?

She is our asset,
Johnny. Okay?

Can you think about the business
before you think about your...

- p*nis?
- You know what, you're just like him.

Work, work, work, work.

And how many of those have
you been going through?

- You're gonna get an ulcer.
- Yeah, I'm gonna name it after you.

Look, Jean, I get it, okay?

Working our asses off
to make him happy.

Except, you know what?
He never will be.

I'm realizing we have
to do that on our own.

Anna is the woman I love,

and if you think I'm gonna
ask her to risk her future,

so that you can win
a trophy in a league

that nobody cares about. Mm,

not a chance.

Okay.

- - Jerry
Buss: Alright, everybody!

Gather 'round!

Gather 'round, everybody!

- - Jerry
Buss: Alright, we all here?

Everyone got a drink?

Alright, so...

Well, you know why you're here.

We're here to
remember Jessie Buss.

A mother. A grandmother.

A friend. A bridge partner.

Um...

But I'll keep it short
because we wanna get

to the most important part of
the party, for my mom anyway.

So, uh, anyway,
here we go. Uh...

Well, old gal.

It's been a year...

and we miss you like hell.

But the Buss empire
is taking off!

We got the kids on the team now,

and here we are,

in Pickfair,

which is exactly where my mom

always dreamed we could be.

So, thank you, Ma,
for gettin' us here

and please raise a
glass to Jessie Buss!

- Frank: Hear, hear!
- Guest: That's right, Jerry.

Anyway, chuckwagon's open!
Knock yourselves out!

Get yourselves another
drink, you know,

and just enjoy yourselves
like she would.

Honey Kaplan: Okay. Why
don't you go inside?

Everybody, you guys, these
are beautiful. Let's go in.

Cool off. Get a snack. Go on.

Don't run! Don't scream!

Don't hit each other.

Try not to put anything
up your nose or...

Jerry Buss: Like herdin' cats.

♪ Maybe ♪

You and kids, huh?

♪ You're gonna change
my life around ♪

Who knew, right?

♪ You came to me... ♪

What... the f*ck...

are you doing here, Buss?

I don't know. Just happened
to be in the neighborhood.

Thought I'd say hi.

It's a nice place.

Well, it's no
world championship,

but it's enough for me.

Sometimes enough's enough.

You gonna answer my
question? It's been 15 years.

You just pop in like
the Hillside Strangler?

I was just... I
don't know. I...

You were on my mind and...

I wanted to see how
life was goin' for you.

- Honey: Huh...
- What? What's funny?

You just wanted to see the
girl who used to blow you

in your Mustang.

Hey. There was a lot
more to her than that.

Well, whoever she
was, she's gone now.

And I promise you, the only
one who misses her is you.

Well, I must have been
crazy to let her go.

She would have dragged you down a dark road, baby.

I don't know. Looks to me like
she pulled it all together.

But, you're right. It
has been way too long.

Let's celebrate.

What do you say? Let's
paint the town red.

I'm tellin' you, doors
fly open for me now.

It's not like when I was that
schlub fresh outta aerospace.

I liked that schlub.

Well, you'd love me now, then.

I know you, Buss.

But I'm not trying to
go down bad-ex road.

I'm really not.

- I just got the last one outta my system.
- I get it.

- Really?
- I just wanna buy you dinner.

Catch up, talk old times.

Honey. No Mustang. I promise.

- You're smilin'.
- I could eat.

Mm...

Puttin' in some extra hours?

Uh, you know, work
hard, play hard, baby.

So, you're not worried
about the rumors?

Big trade.

You for David Thompson.

Now, where did you hear that?

Going around.

Makes sense if you
think about it.

Once Magic's back
to starting point,

Skywalker would make a neater
fit for sh**ting guard.

Well, maybe that's because I
ain't no f*ck' sh**ting guard.

Look, this team works
best when I'm at point.

That ain't opinion.
That's a fact.

Y'all saw it, right?

Last three months, we
was beatin' everybody.

Now, they got they Magic back.

And guess what?

We lost all the chemistry.

Fifteen years from now,

everybody will have
forgotten Magic.

That's on the record.

It's on the record.

Well, hey, how
about this? f*ck it.

They gonna trade my
Black a*s anyway.

Woo!

Hey. Back already?

I thought you were scoutin'
Denver another night.

I saw enough.

What's the matter?
Thompson let you down?

Thompson was great. Yeah.

Thompson was better than ever.

That's not a bad thing, Paul.

No...

Look.

Norm is a terrific guy.

Right? But trades are
a part of the life.

He knows that.

It's not that. Uh...

We had a moment, Pat.

You and me, w-we had
these guys in sync.

All of them. Even Kareem.

And then Magic showed up, out
of rhythm, and we let that go.

- Well, he had a...
- We adapted to him.

And so now what?

We're gonna, we're gonna
add a new star to the mix?

We're gonna add another ego?

I mean, the best guys have 'em.

It comes with the territory.

Yeah, well, that's the problem
because next thing you know,

this guy is coaching us.

- Well, no...
- Paul: Skywalker is a dunker.

High flying for the crowd.

Suppose I tell him that we
don't need that on this team.

That what we need
is a mid-range guy.

We need a spot-up sh**ter.

You think he acquiesces
to his coach?

Fat chance, Pat.

He acquiesces to his hubris.

And you don't?

I'm just sayin', you haven't
said a word to Thompson.

You don't know his
attitude from Adam.

Am I right?

You're in your head.

'Cause Jack is.

He's not the guy we gotta
beat. That's the problem.

And I'll tell you
somethin' else.

He wouldn't let his pride

keep him from signing
a great player.

Let me explain something to you.

If we let go of Norm, we lose
all of our depth at point.

- Come on.
- Paul: Yes, we do.

So we better be damn sure
that Magic is up to it.

Are you sure you trust his knee?

Yeah. You bet.

Yeah, he's...

getting
sharper. He's, you know,

he'll rise up ready
when the moment comes.

Well then, call Bill and
give him the green light.

He's got a team
to run! I mean...

This is a family business,
and, and I told my dad

that I would help my brothers
get their acts together.

Because you don't have
enough to do already.

Obviously.

You're jealous.

Wow.

I'm not j... What do
you... No, I'm not jealous.

Jealous of what?

That Johnny gets to traipse off

on some world tour
with a gorgeous athlete

and you're stuck here
working like a dog.

I love my work. I-I
own a franchise.

That your daddy gave you.

I'm sorry. I didn't
mean it like that.

I just mean, if you
didn't work for him,

then what would you want?

What do you mean "want"?

What do you want?

Maybe you should think about it

because while everyone
is doing what they want,

you're here cleaning
up the mess.

Honey: I
don't remember anything. I...

Just waking up in a
pool in Laurel Canyon

- someone threw me in to put me out.
- Jesus.

My friends thought it was funny,

me smoldering, naked.

So, I left the party

started walking down
Mulholland, and I was shitfaced.

But I felt the most sober I'd
been in years and realized

that if somethin' didn't change,

I was gonna die. So...

- That's some heavy sh*t.
- Honey: Yeah.

Well, I'm glad you made
it to the other side.

Yeah. Me, too.

So...

what about you?

Me?

Mm-hmm.

Come on. What's
goin' on with you?

You got me here. You
got me sharing sh*t.

You bought me this
expensive dinner.

You wanna tell me why?

Jerry Buss: I don't know.

I was just thinkin'
about you again and...

Anyway, I don't
know. I don't know.

You remember her?

Oh, come on.

Thursdays at the Playboy Club.

"Double gin and
soda. Hurry, Honey."

- Dee-dee-dee-dee-dee.
- Dee-dee-dee.

How is she?

She died.

Mm...

Like, last year. Mm.

Oh, Buss, I'm sorry.

- Mm.
- Yeah. Anyway, you knew her.

You know, not many
people I know did.

You know, this whole
thing was her dream.

She had a postcard of this house

pinned to the
dashboard of the car

the first time we drove
out here to California.

And I'll never forget that
first sight of the ocean.

- It was beautiful.
- Mm.

You remind me of that.

You're a changed girl, Honey.

I mean, I'm lookin' at a woman.

A beautiful woman.

Well, that is a change for you.

You wanna stick around?

- Pat: Let's go, let's go, let's go!
- Alright, Riles.

Pat: Get out your head! Get out your head!

Come on, one more.
One more. One more.

- Magic: Yeah!
- There you go! Get that weak sh*t outta here.

Okay, let's go. You're
throwin' bricks. Let's go.

You wanna tell Coach I ain't ready?

Why the hell
would I do that?

Magic: 'Cause I
ain't.

You will be.

Look, Earvin.

Everybody is a f*cking
hero in their driveway.

You put 'em under
the bright lights,

a clock tickin' down,

most of them are prayin' that
the ball don't come to them.

One guy is prayin' that it does.

Been that
dude my whole life.

Not me.

Maybe in high school,

for a minute in college,

but on the big stage?

I spent those years
watchin' that guy,

studyin' him,

so I know what he looks like.

You still seein' him?

Not when you're
sittin' on your a*s.

Come on. Back to work. Come on.

Bill Sharman: "Said Nixon,

'Fifteen years from now, everybody
will have forgotten Magic.'"

g*dd*mn son of a b*tch.

Who says that to
the f*cking press?!

I'm sure... I'm sure that
there was some context, Bill.

I mean, the good news
is that it's only Norm.

The other guys he quoted all mind their P's and Q's.

- We just ship Norm out for Thompson.
- Jerry West: Okay!

All this is gonna be forgotten.

Tell me I'm hearin' it right.

It's Christmas mornin', and
we got ourselves a deal.

Coach? Huh?

Oh, you... Goddammit.

You're not gonna
regret this, okay?

I'll get this all sh*t squared
away before the trade deadline.

We'll breeze into the finals
a brand-new team, huh?

Yeah. Hey, Jerry, I'd appreciate
it if this didn't get out, uh,

before I had a
chance to break it

- to the fellas personally.
- Jerry West: Oh, okay.

There's enough nonsense
in the press already.

Jerry West: Yeah,
absolutely. Okay,

but if you're worried
about the other fellas

balkin' at the deal,
don't. Alright?

A malcontent like Nixon,

it's gonna be good riddance
in that locker room.

I mean, hell, Magic's
already struttin' around,

crowing about it like
a rooster.

- Bill, can you...
- I'm sor... Hold on, I'm sorry.

Magic knows about the trade?

Yeah. Buss called him to,
uh, take his temperature,

and it's red hot.
He's got a fever.

I mean, he said we'd be stupid

- to pass up on a guy like David "Skywalker" Thompson.
- Paul, don't worry about it.

- Jerry West: You want me to get on the phone...
- No, I'll do it. I'll tell him.

Forget it. Forget
it. The trade is off.

- What?
- Paul?

- I beg your f*ck' pardon?
- I'm vetoing the deal.

Oh, I heard you loud
and clear, princess.

I said, why? I
mean, why the...

What the f*ck' f*ck?!

- Bill: Jerry!
- You f*ck'...

Why? 'Cause I have that power.

I have that power
in my contract.

- Cool it out now. Paul, listen.
- Jerry West: You...

- Pat: Think it through.
- I am not gonna let...

I am not going to let
my men think that Magic

has some special influence
over their fates.

They talk to the
f*ck' boss! So what?

So what? So, I'm his coach.

I'm his coach, Jerry.

And I've been queasy on
this move from the start.

- You're a...
- Paul: It is off. I'm not gonna let it disrupt our chemistry.

Jerry West: He's f*cking
nuts, Bill! Tell him! Te...

Jerry, he's the coach!

But he's not General Patton
stormin' f*cking Normandy.

Hell, he only got the job

because McKinney took
a header off a Schwinn,

and Pat's runnin' around
doing his legwork!

And now... Now!

You're gonna get your fat
little f*ck' a*s served up

Boston Irish-style in
the f*ck' finals!

That's if we make
the f*ck' finals!

- Huh!?
- You take it... Take it back!

- Take that back...
- Jerry!

- Paul: This moment!
- Oh! Or what? Huh?

- You gonna call my mom? Huh?
- Hey! Jerry,

- simmer down.
- Call your mom? Huh?

I am taking this
team all the way!

k*ll the deal!

Welcome to the
1981 NBA playoffs.

I'm Chick Hearn with the
great Keith Erickson here.

And folks, the time has come.

After a season of
tumult in Laker land,

your reigning champs are
back to defend their title.

Tonight, round one begins
with a little miniseries,

a best of three games,
against the Houston Rockets,

an underdog if
ever there was one.

The Rockets snuck in
with a sub-500 record,

and I'll tell you, Keith,
to look at it on paper,

if these highly touted
Lakers play their game,

they should make short work
of these Texas usurpers.

- This shouldn't be a challenge for the Lakers, Chick.
- Not at all.

Chick: Johnson
rejected at the rim by Malone,

could not draw iron,

and these Lakers looking
badly out of sync.

Magic and Norman are
just discombobulated.

And, boy, I'll tell
you, man, if I was them,

I'd save some of that
anger for the other team.

And ladies and
gentlemen, that does it.

Lakers drop game one,
a shocking upset,

Keith, on their home floor,

fumbling a golden opportunity
to maintain the advantage.

- Reporter: Hear what Norm had to say?
- Norm?

Yeah, I saw what he said.

He want the ball
more? Let him have it.

Hell, maybe they can put
his name right there on it.

Say "Norman" instead
of "Spalding."

After a disappointing
loss at home,

the Lakers are now
facing elimination.

At stake, not just this
series, but a bigger dream,

a chance to be the first
team to repeat as champions

since the Celtics
vanquished them in 1969.

Oh, I-I'm talking
about the press?

- Yeah, you are!
- Get the f*ck out of my face!

Shut the f*ck up!

- Turn that sh*t off!
- Hey, man, the network said I could be in here, man!

Michael: Gonna be at
f*cking Cedars-Sinai

if you don't get the
f*ck up outta here!

Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!

Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!

You. You.

Both of you. You wanna win?

I believe I asked a question!

Do you want to win?

- More than anything.
- Of course, n*gga, yeah.

You know that!

Then, I want fighting
to stop right now.

I mean it. Both of you.

Apologize.

Norm: Apo...

I'm waiting.

- He's the one who showed up, ridin' right in...
- I didn't even say nothing!

Apologize!

Come on, Cap. You know...

- You know the press, right?
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: Not to me.

To...

I mean...

Look.

Press took that sh*t
and twisted it, so...

Fine, n*gga. I-I'm,
I'm sorry. Alright?

- I'm sorry.
- Kareem: Now you.

Magic: Cap, I ain't...

I ain't have to say
you was a ball-hog.

My bad.

Okay. We good, we good.

- Player: Come on, y'all.
- Mark Landsberger: That's all we needed.

That's all we needed.

Michael: Nope, nope, nope,
nope, nope, nope, nope!

We're not done.

Now, hug.

- Norm: What'd you say?
- Coop.

- Norm: Coop?
- I want y'all to hug.

What? I ain't gonna
hug no grown-a*s man.

I got all night, so...

Jamaal: Your brothers, man.
Come on. Just do that sh*t!

Magic: I hate you, Coop.

- Michael: There you go!
- Mark: That's perfect!

- Doesn't that feel nice?
- Norm: Why you like this so much, man?

Get the f*ck
outta my face!

- Let's go win the game.
- f*ck yeah!

Let's go win the game!

Chick: I'm fine. I'm fine.

Hey! A-A-And, and with
their season on the line,

our heroes get their mojo
back in the nick of time

to tie this series one-to-one, huh?

The question now...
The question now...

How badly will these Lakers

leave the Rockets bleeding
from their rectums

as they pound these Texans
like a b*tch in heat?

Ha-ha! The answer?
Tune in Sunday.

Sunday! Sunday!

- Sunday! Yes! Cheers.
- Chick, you need to drink a little water now.

No! Grab another drink, Chick!
Grab another drink, Chick.

-Oh, he's got a nice hand. I'll tell ya.
-Norm: I got...

Ask me, you got robbed.

Paul: Nah.

Jack had some year.

Besides, I-I'm playing
for the real prize, right?

I'm just saying,
you had my vote.

The way you had Riles working
out with Magic on the sly.

Sorry, what are
you talking about?

Come on. We're off
the record, Coach.

I get it. Send in the old pro.

A guy the kid can trust,

find out his knee is
worse than he lets on,

so you decide to k*ll
the deal for Thompson.

Keep Norm in the fold
as another point guard.

Sharp stuff. If it wasn't
such a state secret,

I bet it would have
put you over the top.

Yeah.

- Pat: I'ma tell you what I mean.
- Norm: Show me! Show me!

Pat: Got these two,
and you got this.

How's that? What's that look like?

- Norm: Oh!
- Huh? Read 'em and weep.

♪ Now I'm just your friend ♪

♪ But you won't
let me off, baby ♪

Excuse me.

♪ And I just keep on losin' ♪

- Norm: Alright, alright, so...
- Pat: Got two of these...

- Norm: Oh, see, that's some bullshit! Look at that.
- All these. I got all of these.

- Norm: A magician. You want...
- Let's bring some of th-that million-dollar deal.

- Players: Whoa!
- Pat: Hey.

- Paul: Come here.
- Pat: What's up?

Hey. Hey, hey, hey,
Paul, Paul, Paul.

Maybe I've been givin'
you the wrong hints.

But I consider
you a friend, huh.

- Do you? Consider me a friend?
- Hey...

Friends do not sneak around
behind friends' backs.

- Friends do not hide important facts!
- Shh...

- Important facts from friends.
- Hey, hey, hey, hey.

Friends do not betray
friends' trusts,

especially when one
friend is the head coach

- and the other friend is his assistant!
- Okay, okay, I get.

You mean us. I get it.
Shh. What exactly did I do?

Your little secret
practice sessions.

- What?
- Pat. What?

Working on his knee

because it's worse
than he let on.

- You held out on me, Pat.
- He needed confidence.

I needed the truth.

- He needed help.
- He needed his f*cking coach!

You think if
you shout it loud enough,

it's gonna make the
world think that's you?

Huh?

A real coach doesn't
need to prove it, Paul.

Why else did you say
no to Skywalker, huh?

- I have been through this with you.
- Be honest.

- Yeah?
- Johnson has no right to interfere in a trade.

- It is precedent!
- Pat: It's your f*cking ego!

And your pride!

And you know it!

And I got news for
you! Earvin was right!

If we had Thompson on
this team instead of Norm,

we'd be resting for round two,

not starin' down the
barrel at elimination!

Yo, man, you know
that ain't how I feel.

Hey, man. What the
f*ck, bro? Really?

He was talking...

Chick: And this has
been a slugfest, folks.

Nothin' pretty. Rockets
in possession now,

under a minute to go.

Rockets with a chance
to take the lead.

Miscommunication by the Lakers.

Magic and Norm leading Dunleavy wide open.

Chick: Oh, no!

-And it's good. Rockets take the lead.
-Time out!

Time out.

- Chick: Time out, Lakers!
- Keith: And they need it, Chick.

-Chick: Unbelievable.
-Bring it in! Bring it in! Come on, let's go. Let's go.

Well, ladies and gentlemen,
it is nervous time.

Lakers down by one with
15 seconds on the clock.

And, Keith Erickson,
they have scratched

and clawed the entire night long

just to stay in this one.
But it has not been pretty.

I'll tell you, the offense just
completely out of sync again.

And the defense, well,
do not get me started.

The one silver lining,
they have the ball,

they have the time, and now...

they just need to f*ck' score.

Paul:
Gentlemen! Find your breath!

Here we are!

Norm! I'm gonna need you
to help out just in case.

When Magic gets that
ball, you get going!

But I need you sticking
to the options. Okay?

No hero ball!

Option one is Cap.

Option two is Silk.

Three, you find
Cooper for the lob.

- Hey, let's win, fellas!
- Paul: Okay.

Magic: Win on three!
One, two, three!

All: Win!

Pat: Let's go! Do it. Do it.

Earvin! Earvin.

You're the guy.
You're the guy. Okay?

Got you.

Tired of
that f*ck' numbskull.

I got you.

Earvin, calm! Calm!

Paul: Cap, high post!

Earvin! Option one!

EJ!

Pass the
f*cking ball, Earvin!

Chick: Air ball.

Chick: Lakers fouling
to stop the clock

with nary a second left, and
that was likely it, folks.

Ah.

Man, oh, man. Well, for the
first time in three decades,

the defending champion
is about to be eliminated

from round one of the playoffs.

♪ Ooh, I bet you're
wonderin' how I knew ♪

♪ 'Bout your plans
to make me blue ♪

♪ With some other
guy you knew before ♪

♪ Between the two of us guys ♪

♪ You know I love you more ♪

♪ It took me by surprise ♪

♪ I must say ♪

♪ When I found out yesterday ♪

♪ Don't you know that I heard
it through the grapevine? ♪

♪ Not much longer
would you be mine ♪

♪ Oh, I heard it
through the grapevine ♪

♪ Oh, I'm just about
to lose my mind ♪

♪ Honey, honey, well... ♪

♪ People say believe
half of what you see ♪

♪ Son, and none
of what you hear ♪

♪ But I can't help
bein' confused ♪

♪ If it's true,
please, tell me, dear ♪

♪ Do you plan to let me go ♪

♪ For the other guy
you loved before? ♪

♪ Don't you know I heard
it through the grapevine ♪

♪ Not much longer
would you be mine ♪

♪ Baby, I heard it
through the grapevine ♪

♪ Ooh, just about
to lose my mind ♪

♪ Honey, honey, yeah ♪

♪ Hear it through the grapevine not
much longer would you be my baby ♪

♪ Honey, honey, I know ♪

♪ Hear it through the
grapevine not much longer ♪

♪ That you're lettin' me go ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

♪ Said I heard it
through the grapevine ♪