02x07 - What Is and What Should Never Be

[bunniefuu]

[vintage HBO logo music playing]

♪

Brent Musburger: The
Lakers and the Celtics.

So many memories, so
many golden moments.

The Celtics and Bill
Russell always winning

when they met for
the championship.

For the Lakers, Jerry West,

always magnificent in defeat.

Now, the rivalry is back,
but the faces have changed.

♪

It's the dream match-up.

Larry Bird and
the Boston Celtics.

Is Bird the best all-around
player in the game today?

A lot of folks think so.

But if he isn't, Magic Johnson
of the Los Angeles Lakers is.

And if Magic isn't
driving to the basket,

he'll be passing to the likes
of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

[inaudible cheering]

Brent: Welcome then
to the Boston Garden

and the start of the NBA
World Championship Series.

- [buzzer blaring]
- [crowd cheering]

Chick Hearn: And the Los Angeles
Lakers have taken game one

in Boston, behind 18
points from Magic Johnson.

- And the Celtics...
- [players yelling]

- Earvin "Magic" Johnson: We got one, y'all!
- [players cheer]

Hey, we got this sh*t
in the bag! Let's go!

- [banging]
- Player: Oh, sh*t!

Go! Go! Get us
the f*ck outta here!

- [players, fans yelling]
- [objects banging]

- Go! Let's go!
- f*ck you!

Fan: Eat a d*ck!

- [banging on bus]
- [crowd yelling]

- [glass breaks] - Celtics Fan:
Get the f*ck outta here, you pussies!

Hey, I ain't never seen
Mitch run that fast, bro.

Hey. f*cked them
on they own flo'.

They gon' be even
madder when we up 2-0.

- [laughter] -
Player: Yes, they are!

[celebratory chatter]

["Hey! DJ" by The World's Famous
Supreme Team playing on tape]

♪ Uh! ♪

♪ And all the ladies,
sing along, huh? ♪

♪ Hey, DJ, just play that song ♪

♪ Keep me dancing
all night long ♪

♪ Hey, DJ, just play
that song, keep me... ♪

[muffled] Hey, great game.

♪ All night long ♪

♪ Hey, DJ, just play that song ♪

[muffled] Great game.

Huh?

I said great game.

Thanks. Just the beginning.

Telling you, Coach, this
right here feeling like a sweep.

We landed the first punch,

but they're back right
now, making adjustments.

Game two, they're gonna
come out throwing haymakers.

Yeah, well, whatever they do,

whatever Larry
do, I'ma be ready.

So, it's just you and him, huh?

Look, I know there's a lot
of hoopla, a lot of bullshit.

You start focusing on that,

next time those people
riot, it'll be for their parade.

Hey, Coach.

[song continues on headphones]

I appreciate the words. I do.

But you ain't gotta
worry about me.

Alright.

♪ Hey, DJ, I must confess ♪

♪ You're quicker
than Sugar Ray ♪

♪ And when you mix with your
arms, your head, your mouth ♪

♪ Knees, and feet, boy,
you're smoother than Dr. J ♪

["My Favorite Mutiny"
by The Coup playing]

♪

♪ 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 ♪

[turntable scratching]

Chick: Eighteen
seconds to go, Keith,

and the Lakers find themselves

up by a basket with
the ball and a chance

- to head home with a two-nothing lead.
- Keith Erickson: Chick,

no team has ever lost
the first two games at home

and come back to win a
finals. Never happened.

Well, here we go, friends. It's
nervous time here at the Garden

and this crowd is
absolutely shell-shocked.

The Celtic faithful have been
silenced by Magic Johnson

just one assist shy
of a triple-double.

With a Celtic foul
here, Keith, the Lakers

could ice this game
from the charity stripe.

Worthy in to Magic.
Bird coming in to trap.

And Magic back to Worthy.

And Worthy throws it away!

Henderson with the steal,
and Celtics tie the game! Oh my!

- Time! Time!
- Chick: An ill-advised cross-court pass by Worthy.

Man, the ball has got to be in
Magic's hands in that situation.

- Magic. Magic!
- Hey, don't wanna hear that sh*t, man.

[crowd jeering]

Pat Riley: Okay,
shake it off. Come on!

Chick [on TV]: Bedlam in
Boston, but it's not over yet.

The leprechaun at work

here at Boston Garden.
Fabled things have happened,

and this will be one of them
if the Celts win this game.

- A steal by Gerald Henderson.
- [exhales]

Thirteen seconds! We got
the ball. It's the last shot.

Two-man game on the
left for Magic and Cap.

I want a shot out before
it hits five seconds.

Doo, I want you crashing
the board. Hard if we miss.

- Yo, hit me on the wing.
- Man, you hit the boards, too.

- Hey, listen up.
- Just gimme the rock and get out the way, man.

Hey, let's go! Let's go!

- Buck. Breathe.
- [crowd becomes muffled]

[fading out]

[jeering, cheering]

[heart beating]

Chick: The Lakers lead one
to nothing in the best of seven,

trying to make it two-nothing

and going home
with a big cushion.

- Larry Bird and company are trying to pull it out.
- Crowd [chanting]: Beat LA!

Chick: I'll tell you, they'd be happy
with overtime right about now, friends.

Crowd [chanting]: Beat
LA! Beat LA! Beat LA!

- Ball!
- Chick: Worthy inbounds to Byron Scott.

Watch the clock at the
lower part of your screen.

- They are looking for the big fella.
- [distorted yelling]

- [camera shutter
snaps] - [Magic gasps]

[Magic panting]

Buck! Throw me the f*ck' ball!

Chick: Magic Johnson
keeps looking inside.

- Two seconds. One second!
- [buzzer blares]

[muffled cheering]

Chick: And they
don't get it off!

[crowd booing]

- C’mon baby, let’s go!
- Player: Come on!

Chick: And we go to overtime.

And Keith, Magic really
misjudged that clock.

Man.

Chick: Scott was
open on the wing,

[over radio] Kareem on the
block, and Magic just froze.

Unbelievable.

He just... Y-You don't
see that from him.

Crowd [chanting]:
Beat LA! Beat LA!

Beat LA! Beat LA!

[muffled] Beat LA!

- Player 1: Woo! That's right!
- Player 2: Tied up, baby!

Played your heart out, son.

More time, would have
easily gone your way.

- Ah, sorry, sweetheart.
- I know. Thank y'all.

- What's up, Cook?
- I'm sorry.

Magic: Mm.

Let's go.

Hey, Cook.

Think you can hang
back for a minute?

- Yeah, sure.
[giggles] - Oh. Thanks.

- Um... Um...
- What?

- Love you, Cook.
- I love you, too.

- Magic!
- Cookie Kelly: Earvin, what?

- [shutters snapping]
- [reporters chattering]

[chatter gets louder]

[camera shutters snapping]

Jerry Buss: Frank, just
tell her f*cking lawyer

to get her in a room with
us, and we'll talk this all out.

Well, you're in touch with them!
Will you stop f*cking worrying

about everything?
It's gonna be fine.

I'll see you when I get home.

- Yeah. Goodbye.
- [slams receiver]

Red Auerbach: You don't
read the signs? No smoking.

[Jerry Buss chuckles]

Jerry Buss: We
spotted you one tonight.

- Red: Gave it away. Big difference.
- [laughs]

- Red...
- Hey.

You put together a great
squad. Can't sh*t on that.

But great players,
they come and go.

Well, I bet Bird would
hate to hear you say that.

Yeah, sure. And Russell.
And Havlicek. And Cousy.

But deep down, they all
know that what we got here

is bigger than any of 'em.

A culture. A machine
that takes potential

and turns it into greatness.

That's why when Bird's
gone, there'll be another.

And another. And another.

- Well, how about when you go?
- Red: Not worried at all.

I built it to be bigger than me.

[sighs]

♪

I told you, we're
on a salary freeze.

I told the Kings.

Then why are they asking
me to sign off on a 20% raise

for some f*cking hockey
goon I've never heard of?

His contract was up.

Somehow, he found out what
the other guys were getting paid.

Somehow.

[muffled chatter]

We need to talk.

- [door shuts]
- Wow.

New look.

- Uh, Claire, have you met Jay?
- Hi.

- [slaps thigh] - Yes! Kings
defenseman Jay Wells.

Let me be the first
to congratulate you

on your new deal.

- Jay Wells: Thanks!
- Mm.

Now, get out.

Uh... cool.

- [door opens]
- [Jeanie sighs]

- [shuts door]
- Jeanie...

What the f*ck are you doing?

- What? We're dating.
- I don't give a sh*t who you date.

You gave payroll
information to a player.

I made an executive decision.

I mean, w-we claim to
care about our players,

so why hide behind some
antiquated union rules

instead of paying them
what they're actually worth?

Th-this buys us goodwill
from the athletes,

and that is in the interest
of California Sports.

Okay. And how about this?

Is this in the interest
of California Sports?

I wanted a change.

[opens door]

You look great.

[shuts door]

- Magic: I don't know what happened.
- [Jeanie sighs]

It's like I was there...

and someplace else
at the same time.

Like...

everything was comin' at me.

Then I look up.

Game was over.

Sounds like one of them UFOs.

You see it hovering above you.

Next thing, you wake
up, it's tomorrow mornin'

and you got your pants
around your ankles.

[laughs] No, I'm just...

Earvin, you ask me,

you got too much
bullshit in your noggin.

It's f*ck' with your focus.

Ain't never had that, though.

Bigger the game,
clearer my head.

- And it can't be Larry.
- Maybe that there's the problem right f*ck' there.

I mean, you wanna
beat him so f*ck' bad,

you forget your teammates.

You put it square on you.

You tell yourself, "Oh,
they'll get their glory

once you done
finish the winning."

- Hey, I ain't no selfish player!
- Far from it!

You have a way of makin'
everybody love to play the game.

But that's not what we
saw the other night, is it?

It's these new dudes!
They ain't been here before.

Come on.

[sighs]

My six finals.

I was just as good as Russell.

But every single f*ck'
time, every single time,

sh*t broke his way.
Some f*ck' no-name

which hits a f*ck' shot
from f*ck' nowhere.

But, you see, Bill,

he had a way of makin'
those no-names contribute.

Whereas me,

I was too busy focused on me.

I took whatever they gave me.

And that was my mistake.

Is that gonna be yours?

[distant siren wails]

♪

[crowd cheering]

Yeah!

- Down low! There you go!
- [crowd cheering]

Come on!

♪

[whooshing]

[Magic grunts]

Slam dunk! [laughs] Oh my!

Seven Lakers in double digits.

Now, Magic, nothing left to
do but cheer his teammates on

having set a finals
record, 21 assists.

- Keith: He's something else.
- Chick: Unbelievable.

The kid from Lansing,
hot as a p*stol tonight.

Reporter 1: Larry, that was
nearly the biggest blowout

- in finals history. How does that make you feel?
- Reporter 2: You're down 2-1.

It could easily have been

Yeah, Bird, are you frustrated?

Reporter 3: You worried
he's beating your a*s again,

- like in college, and there's nothing you can do about it?
- [players chattering]

- [camera shutters snapping]
- We played like sissies!

[chatter dies down]

Larry Bird: I don't
know how else to put it.

When you see Magic out
there, slappin' high fives,

going behind his back,

them scorin' layups
on us all day long.

You think at some point,
someone would try to put a stop to it.

[on TV] Keep playin' like
this, we deserve to lose.

Reporter 4: So you
think it's attitude?

Your own teammates
don't want it enough?

Reporter 5: How do
you fix that, Larry?

[camera shutter snaps]

Get 12 heart transplants.

[reporters, players murmuring]

Jerry Buss: What would it hurt
to get on the telephone with me?!

We can't have a conversation?

You know, I didn't ask
these two f*cking guys here.

Frank asked for the three of us
because you wanted him here.

You perpetrated
fraud against my client.

Honey.

Look at me.

You got these lizards
in your ears. I'm sorry.

- I made a mistake.
- You were f*cking married.

JoAnn and I had a
business relationship,

- and I meant to
file... - You knew.

Look, it's not too late.

I'll buy you another art school.

Marvin Mitchelson:
We're far past that.

Honey Kaplan: It's not about
the f*cking art school, Jerry.

It's about the lie!

I told you how hard it was
for me to get my life together,

and you used that.
You conned me...

into giving everything up

to dive into your
bullshit fantasy

because that is what
you do to people.

You are a fraud, Buss.

You've always been a fraud.

I'm just the first person
to make you pay for it.

Marvin: We'll see you in court.

[papers rustling]

[door opens]

[sighs] You're gonna sh*t.

- Huh?
- Stern just closed the cable deal with Turner.

Seventy-five guaranteed
time slots. Guess how much?

Tell me 100 million.

- What? No. A million a team.
- [lighter clicks]

That's not including CBS.

And with finals
making record ratings,

I think we're gonna wind up
having a quarter of our games

- on national television.
- [exhales]

That is because of you!
Because you could see

what this league could
be, and it's happening.

Who are they?

Did somebody croak?
What's going on?

Jerry?

- [office chatter]
- [phones ringing]

[door shuts]

Jerry Buss: I mean, I wasn't
f*cking around on her, Claire.

She found out about
this paperwork thing

that I should've taken care
of. I didn't take care of it.

And so, now she's
hired this f*ck' lawyer,

this Mitchelson as*h*le,
and they wanna sue.

And they're not gonna get
it, but they want $100 Million.

Claire Rothman: $100 million?

Jerry Buss: Which I
don't even f*ck' have.

I know. It was dumb.

Claire: [sighs] Oh...

Marrying a girl you
barely know? That's dumb.

Prohibition was dumb! This...

- [scoffs] Oh!
- I-I don't know what I was thinking.

Okay?

I mean, I drew
up that paperwork,

but when it came
time to turn it in,

I-I couldn't do it!

How am I not surprised?

This is not somethin'
you have to worry about.

- This is my problem.
- Your problem?

It's my life!

If I oversee another bankruptcy,

they're not gonna let me
run a high school gym, Jerry!

I will lose everything
I've worked for!

- Because of you!
- It's not gonna happen.

And it's not just me, you know.

It's every single
person out there

who kills themselves for you!

And for this thing.

[panting]

- Do you think about them? Yeah?
- Of course. Yes!

Claire: You think about those
people when you're just doing

whatever the f*ck you want?!

[muffled] Huh? When you're
pulling this pathetic sh*t?!

I promise I'm gonna work it out!

- [Claire screams] -
I'm gonna work it out!

- Claire!
- [opens door]

f*ck you, Jerry!

["Easy Lover" by Philip
Bailey and Phil Collins playing]

[slams door]

♪

- [song continues
playing] - [crowd cheering]

[echoing slam]

♪ Easy lover ♪

♪ She'll get a hold
on you, believe it ♪

- [body thuds]
- Woo-hoo!

Chick: Time out, Boston, and
listen to this fabulous Forum crowd.

- [crowd cheering] - Chick: That
is sweet, sweet music to my ears.

The Lakers starting to run
away with yet another contest

looking to take a commanding
three-games-to-one lead.

And Larry Bird cannot get a
hand from anybody tonight.

- I'll tell you.
- I was trying. It was a two-on-one.

Then one of them
two should be limping!

Stop staring at
the f*ck' floor!

Ain't no answers down there!

Don't worry. It's just Larry
being Larry. You good.

[crowd cheering]

♪

Magic: I got sh**ter! I
got sh**ter! Help! Help!

[whooshing]

- [crowd gasps]
- Magic: Ball!

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar:
Let's go. Watch the screen.

Watch screen right!

[cheering]

[Kareem grunting]

Chick: Rambis...

- [grunting]
- [whistle blows]

- And now, let's watch it.
- Kurt Rambis: Get the f*ck back here!

Chick: Cooper and the Celtics,

- and now the bench is empty.
- Whoa!

Chick: Larry Bird
helps Kurt Rambis up.

- [players yelling] - Man, he
was decked by Kevin McHale

and he hit the floor hard. And
both benches have emptied.

That’s a hard foul. Two shots.

Oh, bullshit. You're
outta your f*ck' tree.

[all shouting]

Chick: You knew this
was gonna happen.

[shouting continues]

And I don't remember

when this crowd
was aroused as much.

Crowd [chanting]: Boston sucks!

Boston sucks! Boston sucks!

Yo! f*ck off!

Hey! Kurt! Hey, Kurt! Kurt!

Hey, Kurt... Larry,
man, I'm sorry.

Apologize and I
break your f*ck' neck.

[players yelling]

[ref whistling]

[clamoring continues]

We got 'em.

Brent [on TV]: Here it
is again, the fast break,

and see what the
Celtics do to Kurt Rambis.

Announcer: Oh, and here's the
missed shot that's gonna produce

a fast break opportunity.
A long-court pass

as McHale hustling
back up. It's a two-on-one,

and McHale goes
for Rambis, and, boy,

he got him. And Rambis up quick.

Brent: Worthy prevented Rambis
from going after Henderson.

- Timeout. LA by six.
- [crowd yelling]

Pat: Shut your f*ck' mouth!
You shut your f*ck' face!

Or I'll f*ck' break it...

♪

- f*ck' b*tch!
- [whistle blows]

- Can't be throwin' those blows, Kareem.
- f*ck you gonna do about it?

I'll kick your f*ck'
a*s, white boy.

You think I'm f*ck'
scared of you?

- Hey, hey, hey, enough!
- Get the f*ck off me!

- This is not a game!
- Come on!

- Let this f*ck go!
- No, Cap!

- Control this f*cking thug!
- Cap! Relax!

- Yeah? Yeah, come on, Kareem!
- [players yelling]

- f*ck you, b*tch!
- Hey! Cap!

Cool it. Hey. Hey. You
get booted, we're screwed.

- Yeah, that's right.
- Hey, just play basketball, man!

Just going for a
f*ck' rebound.

sh*t. Look at them.

♪

- [grunts] There we go.
- [crowd cheering]

[grunts]

[crowd yelling]

What the f*ck was... The
f*ck! The f*ck was that?!

[crowd reacting]

[yelling]

That was bullshit. You saw that!

- [whistling] - Yeah, man,
that was some f*cking bullshit!

Coop, let that sh*t
go! That's what he do!

- That ain't our game! Come on, now!
- You keep your composure.

Keep your poise. You do not
let these assholes rattle you.

Just take a breath and chill.

- This is our game now. This is our f*ck' game now.
- Players: Yeah!

- Let's go. Let's go.
- Player: Oh, yeah.

♪

[grunts] Aah!

Pick up! Pick up!

[Pat groans]

- Magic: Coop! Coop!
- Fan: Come on! Let's do it!

- Kareem: Here! Let's go!
- Magic: Go with Bird!

- [Larry grunts]
- [whistle blows]

That's a shove on

Ref! Ref! That
wasn't even Kareem!

- What?!
- Ref, are you f*cking joking?

Chick: And that's six on Jabbar,

and that will do
it for the captain.

- He has fouled out of the game.
- Are you f*cking insane?

[players jeering]

- Are you crazy?
- Hey! He's the guy you f*ck' toss?

- Yes. Coach... - He's... You're
tossing him? He didn't f*ck' touch him!

- Get outta my face, Coach.
- Coach, Coach, Coach, chill!

- Coach, chill! Chill!
- That's f*cking bullshit!

[crowd booing]

Pat: Bullshit!

- [crowd booing] -
Pat: Alright! That's it!

No more f*cking
layups! No more layups!

Make those
m*therf*ckers earn it!

Tighten up!

Tighten up! We work together.

♪

[crowd booing]

Pat: Work together, we f*cking
crush these m*therf*ckers.

Chick: Final seconds.

And the Celtics will
surely look to Larry Bird

- to win their night.
- [whistle blows]

[crowd cheering]

Magic: Go! Back
up! I'm here! I'm here!

Switch! Switch! Switch!

Larry: On me. You
can't guard me. Oh yeah?

Magic: f*ck that! You
all mine, m*therf*cker!

♪

[whooshing]

[distorted rumbling]

[ball flickering]

- [swish]
- That's game.

[crowd cheering, jeering]

[buzzer blares]

Chick: Well, the Celtics
win and, once again,

the Lakers snatch defeat
from the jaws of victory.

This will send the series
heading back to Boston tied.

[crowd booing]

[Pat sighs]

[camera shutter snapping]

[booing continues]

[door creaks, shuts]

[door opens]

[door slams]

[blinds rattle]

[grunting]

- [muttering]
- [crate thuds]

[clattering]

- f*ck!
- [glass shatters]

Ah!

[clattering]

[objects thud]

Pat [muffled]:
f*ck'... Mother...

[grunts]

[panting]

[sharp exhale]

[lighter clicks]

[inhales sharply]

[exhales] I feel it, too.

I feel it.

That burning in your chest.

Pounding in your ears.

Like your heart's
ready to explode

right through
your f*ck' skull.

Unless you walk out that door,

across that hall,

and you bash the f*ck'
life out of every one of them!

The f*ck' players!

The f*ck' refs!

My God, the refs.

- [banging] - In
our f*cking house!

On our floor!

[panting, inhales]

'Cause they suckered you!

f*ck it.

They suckered us.

I'm guilty, too.
I took the bait.

But here's the thing.

That was a desperation move.

That's the sign of a dying team

who knows that when
we play ball our way,

we got 'em beat!

We ain't gonna win
this playing prison ball.

We're playing Lakers ball!

So they f*ck around and
they play their little tricks.

But guess what? It's 2-2 now!

Two up.

They're outta tricks.
They're cornered.

And we all know there's
nothin' they can do to stop us.

Just as long as we keep...

our cool.

- Right?
- Players: Yes, Coach.

So just keep...

your cool.

["Fever" by Link Wray playing]

Let's bring it in.

Magic: Go. "Cool" on three.

- Pat: One, two, three.
- All: Cool!

♪

- [water spraying]
- [kids laughing]

Chick: Man, it's hot
outside. Hotter inside.

15,000 souls in this building
and no air conditioning.

Nice balmy Boston night, folks.

- Perfect playing conditions.
- [cheering]

But the pampered pretty boys
from Hollywood can't hack it!

Chick: And speaking of
hot, Keith, nobody hotter

than Larry Bird tonight.

Man, I tell you,
the kid is on fire.

He cannot seem to miss.

- [swishing]
- [crowd cheering]

♪ When you kiss
me, fever when... ♪

- [swish]
- [crowd cheering]

♪ Fever, fever, I'm on fire ♪

♪ Fever all through the night ♪

Turn it up, turn it
up. More! More air!

And it's nervous
time, guys. Listen.

Th-They look like they're
playing in molasses.

They cannot get their fast break
going under these conditions.

Chick, it all starts
in the fast break.

Th-They don't
look like the Lakers.

Chick: You're not
kidding, my friend.

[crowd cheering]

[yelling]

♪ When you hold me tight ♪

♪ Fever, fever, I'm on fire ♪

♪ Fever all through the night ♪

Suck it up, old man!

Celtics Fan: Give it up,
Gramps! You're done!

Jack, come on. Jesus,
come on. Get... Not here.

[Celtics Fans yelling]

Pat: Get him to the locker
room. Give him a cold shower.

- Get the f*ck outta our club!
- Go f*cking home! Get out, you f*ck' losers!

Chick [on TV]: These
kids need to pick up.

They gotta pick up
some steam right now.

Keith [on TV]: Looks like
Kareem's headed to the locker room.

[crowd chanting]

Chick [on TV]: And
they're shouting, "Beat LA."

They can do that all day long.

Did you turn their
water back on?

- Just the hot.
- Attaboy.

♪

Crowd [chanting]:
Beat LA! Beat LA!

Hey! Call a foul! For Christ's
sake, he's holding him!

Open your eyes, man!

[distorted] Open your eyes, man!

[body thuds]

[plane engine roaring]

- [laughter]
- Your mama...

- Christine Johnson: Uh!
[laughs] - I-I ain't gonna say it.

I know when to shut up. [laughs]

Hey, I'm telling you, Junior.

That son of yours hits hard.

Popped Grandpa
in the hand. Whap!

- Like a 3-year-old George Foreman.
- He ain't lying.

- [laughter] - Coulda
used him in the post.

Hey. Family time.

Supposed to be getting
your mind off that.

I... Yeah. I'm sorry. You right.

- You right.
- Let's get these dishes up.

- Earleatha, gimme a hand, would you?
- Cookie: Yes, ma'am.

- Magic: Yeah.
- Babe.

Let me talk to you for a
second, son. Come on.

Twitch above your right eye?

Your grandma had it.

It meant wrong or rain.

- Magic: Just tired, Pop.
- You two set a date yet?

Oh, no. No, not yet.

There's just so much
going on with the finals.

I'm just trying to let him be.
Not like I'm in any rush, so...

You getting cold feet?

- No! No, nothing like that.
- Oh.

No. [laughs] It's just...

Magic: This series, man. It's...

[Cookie speaking indistinctly]

Been down before.
You'll get it right.

Hope so.

I mean, you got your girl here.

Give you a little comfort.

Take the edge off.

[laughs] Yeah.

Nah, yeah. Sh-She great.

Just a lot going on.

I still have dreams.
Things I wanna do.

You know, somebody took
my picture the other day?

Wasn't even doing anything.
Just seeing me with Earvin.

Regular old me.
Cookie from Alabama.

Christine: Couldn't get
me to move out here.

People walking
around half-naked,

cars going every which a way.

- Mm-mm.
- [giggles] Yeah.

- But, mm...
- [plates clink]

I think I could get used to it.

You looking at a simple man

with a simple plan.

All I ever wanted
was for life to be right.

And from where I'm sittin',

yours look right as rain.

Anchor [on TV]: Lakers
looking to even the series tonight,

but face possible
elimination at the Forum

with the Celtics aiming
to dash their hopes

and raise a record 15th
championship banner.

In other news,
preparations continue...

- [knocking at door] -
Wanna go to the game?

- Um...
- [shuts off TV]

No, probably not.

Kurt says he wants to
see me in the stands.

I hope I don't distract
him, but I kinda hope I do.

- Sexy.
- Come on, it'll be fun. We'll sit together.

Uh, no, it's not fun for me.

You know, my dad used to
have me go to every game.

Always wanted me in the skybox,
even when I worked for Claire.

But, after a while,
I just started going

because I thought
it was important.

Then, somewhere along
the way, I stopped going,

and, uh, I don't
think he noticed.

So you don't wanna go
because he might not notice

- or because he will?
- [laughs] No.

It's just that with Honey gone,

he's gonna want me and my
brothers hanging out in shifts,

holding his hand.

You know, you didn't
really answer my question.

I asked if you wanted
to go to the game,

and now, we're
talking about him.

It's his world.

Okay, Well, if you
change your mind,

I'll be sitting with
the Rambis Youth.

Look for the kids in the
wigs and the funny glasses.

[Jeanie laughs]

Anchor [on TV]: But the
prospect of losing a championship

isn't the biggest problem
for Lakers owner Jerry Buss,

who may be on the verge
of losing his entire fortune.

Our own Mary Guilliams is
live outside Pickfair estate.

Still awaiting the start
of this press conference,

and these are not Lakers fans

amassed outside the
home of Dr. Jerry Buss,

though at least one
interested party may be pulling

for the Celtics, the
soon-to-be former Mrs. Buss.

["A Life of Illusion"
by Joe Walsh playing]

♪ I can't help the feeling ♪

♪ That I'm ♪

♪ Living a life of illusion ♪

- [camera shutters clicking]
- Is this a publicity stunt?

No, I wouldn't call
this a publicity stunt.

But if Jerry Buss wishes
to see his ball team

on the court tonight,

he'll have to pass through
the court of public opinion,

face accountability for
his fraudulent marriage

- to my client.
- [car honking]

Reporter: Jeanie!
Jeanie, any comment?

Can you tell us what's
happening? What? Any comment?

- [honking] - What's happening?
Jeanie, can you tell us what's happening?

- Any comment, Jeanie? Jeanie, any comment?
- [engine revving]

- [rumbling] -
[reporters yelling]

♪

[door opens]

[door shuts]

Jeanie Buss: Hey.

Hey.

Did you see that crowd?

Finally turned the place into
a tourist destination after all.

Are you alright?

Jerry Buss: I've been better.

She's trying to
take it all, Jean.

You can't really
blame her for trying.

Everything else you
promised her was bullshit.

Jerry Buss: No.

No, it wasn't bullshit.

I just wasn't
capable of doing it.

And I know I left you
guys hanging in the wind,

you and the boys, but
you're the reason I did this in...

They're not boys.

We're grown up, Dad.

Well, that's how it is, huh?

When you bought the team,

it was the most exciting
thing that ever happened to me

because it meant I got
to spend time with you.

Side by side.

- That's all I want.
- It's not, though.

You want the
picture in the frame.

To pick it up when
it's convenient for you,

and to put us down
when it's uncomfortable.

You're all I got.

Yeah.

I know the feeling.

Well... [sighs]

[sniffs] You wanna stick
around and watch the game?

[laughs] Not a f*cking chance.

No.

It's game six. The Celtics.

We're going.

[slight chuckle]

- Are you driving?
- [Jeanie giggles]

- Uh, I guess you’re gonna have to sneak me outta here.
- I'm driving.

[hip-hop music playing]

Brent [on radio]: Hi, I'm
Brent Musburger, and welcome.

And to get a quick update
now on the condition of Kareem.

Kareem was on the trainer's
table. He had an IV in him.

He'd been throwing
up all morning.

He had a severe
migraine headache.

Announcer [on radio]:
The question is right now,

what are the Lakers like
without Kareem in this situation?

Keith [on radio]: They need Kareem
at his best to beat the Boston Celtics.

Announcer: Celtics
just one victory away

from winning the championship.

For the Lakers, not only must
they win here this afternoon,

but they'd have to win a
seventh game in Boston

Tuesday night.

[loud, distorted rumbling]

Could everybody
please be quiet?!

[whispers] Can you give
him an aspirin or something?

[whispers] He's knocked back
a bottle already. Didn't help.

It's these migraines. No
one really understands them.

What we do know is that
some things make it worse.

Yeah, well, he
picked the right place.

Magic [softly]: Hey. Y'all
mind giving us a minute?

Dr. Johnson.

- Get out. Go.
- Get him going.

[fluorescent lights
buzzing loudly]

- [light switch clicks]
- [lights silence]

Man, you look like you on one.

Wasn't a Muslim, I'd say
you was out partying all night.

[weak laugh]

[pained breathing]

- [ice packs
crinkling] - [muttering]

[Kareem sighs]

Oof! That bad, huh?

Like knives.

But that's not
why you're in here.

You're worried
I'm not gonna play.

Ain't got a chance without you.

[groaning, sighing]

- Wanna hear something crazy?
- [ice pack crinkling]

When I'm in pain like this,

I take it out on
punk-a*s white boys.

He mean that sh*t, y'all.

[jazz music playing]

[muffled screaming]

Chick: Wow, I tell you,

Kareem really being
aggressive tonight,

and the Celtics have no answers.

Keith: Back in it, and you
better be ready in Beantown.

[crowd cheering]

Chick: Game six goes
to the Lakers tonight,

and, folks, this
series is all knotted up.

Headed back to Boston
Garden for a date with destiny.

- What a series!
- Unbelievable.

Game seven, baby!
Y'all going down!

- You wanna bet on that?
- I might!

- Come on, man. Let's go. Let's do it, baby. Let's do it.
- [laughing]

Woo-hoo-hoo!

[cheering]

Youth [chanting]: Go
Rambis! Go Rambis!

[jazz music continues]

[cheering]

- Game seven!
- f*ck' sh1tting me?

- Bye-bye, Bird!
- See you in Boston!

- f*ck you!
- [popcorn splattering]

[crowd jeering]

Woo!

I don't know what to do, Mama.

- Well, you just keep going.
- [Larry sniffs]

[sighs]

When I see you play,
it's like you're hurting.

- That's my game.
- [zipping bag]

- I play mean.
- Didn't used to.

I used to watch you out
there, look like you were having

the time of your life.

Hey...

You want me to be like him?

Cheesing for the cameras?

I just wish you had
some of that joy.

You know, that's why Magic
is my second favorite player.

- You can say first. I won't be offended.
- Oh, yes, you will.

Besides, my first
is Bill Laimbeer.

[scoffs, sighs]

- No, it ain't, Mama.
- [giggles]

- Bill Laimbeer?
- [laughs]

Aren't you impressed
that I know who that is?

No, I'm not.

- You know I hate him.
- I know you do.

That's why I said it. [laughs]

- I was being ironical.
- Yeah, okay.

- [sighs]
- [door opens]

I'm surprised
you're not in Boston.

Jeanie Buss: Well, taking
the first plane in the morning.

Hm. [sighs]

Hey, you look
good in that chair.

Mm-hmm.

Ugh, that'd be
something else, huh?

A woman owner.

Do you think the league
would ever let it happen?

Oof. [inhales]

Hard to picture,

- what with all those toupees weighing them down.
- [Jeanie laughs]

Mm. You know, I
think I could do it.

I know the business.

I-I see where the game is going.

How are you and your dad?

He's my dad. Always will be.

[clock ticking]

[rhythmic drumming]

[inhales]

[exhales]

Host 1 [on TV]: Tomorrow night
with a game seven in Boston.

Host 2 [on TV]: Hey, and
what a series that's been.

- I mean, that Rambis play.
- Host 1: Sure has!

And the viewers certainly
agree. CBS expecting

a record 20 million to
tune in tomorrow night

for a defining game seven.
[continues indistinctly]

♪

- [swish]
- [ball bouncing]

- [swish]
- [ball bouncing]

♪

[click, whirring]

♪

[plane engine roaring]

♪

Says it all!

[indistinct yelling]

♪

♪

[music fades]

[fluorescent light buzzing]

Unfinished business.

That's what this
game comes down to.

[muffled crowd cheering]

Pat: You got 48 minutes...

♪

To settle a score that started

long before you ever put
on that Lakers uniform.

Can't give a f*ck about that.

- [taps table]
- The bullshit.

The bad calls.

Dirty tricks.

I mean, if we walk out
talking about those things

or luck,

then we deserve to lose.

- [crowd cheering] - Pat: I
want you to take a minute now.

I want you to
picture how it ends.

Picture how it's gonna feel.

♪

You come back here,

feeling like you
could've given more,

♪

And you'll never forgive
yourself. Trust me.

Make yourselves a promise.

It won't be for lack of effort.

[players murmur in agreement]

- It won't be for lack of will.
- Players: That's right!

There won't be a single second

where you did
not give it your all!

[crowd cheering]

♪

No!

Unfinished!

Business!

[crowd cheering]

[indistinct announcement]

♪

Chick [on radio]: Bird and Danny Ainge
have combined for two baskets here.

- The Celtics have run off eight in a row.
- [strained swearing]

- Chick: Lakers trying to win their night.
- [sputters]

- Chick: A steal by Larry Bird.
- Oh God. f*ck!

Chick: He came right behind
Kareem to make the steal.

Wide open, Dennis Johnson.

It's the Celtics 58, the
Lakers 52 at the half.

- [radio signal
breaking up] - f*cking...

[fans screaming]

Foul on Kareem, and
the call going Boston's way

like everything else tonight.
And a furious Pat Riley

- is calling for time.
- Jack Nicholson: Hey, Carr! What's it gonna take

to get that g*dd*mn jalopy
back on the court, you old fart?

- [buzzer blares] - Chick: Fourth
quarter. Eight minutes to go.

And, Keith, the Lakers find
themselves at the bottom

of a very dark 14-point hole.

Listen up. Focus! Focus!

We're gonna get back in
this, one basket at a time.

You wanna crash
the f*ck' boards.

I want you to get a hand-up.

Challenge 'em! I
don't care what you do!

We play aggressive.
We're playing aggressive.

- f*ck these guys. You're gonna get in there, and you... What?
- Coach. Coach!

They ours. Look.

Acting like it's in the bag,
already handing out they rings.

I don't hear no fat
lady singing, though.

- Do you? Hell no!
- Players: No!

Hey, we hit 'em hard,
and we hit 'em fast,

and we go knock they a*s out!

- Come on! Let's go get this f*cking ring!
- f*cking-a. f*cking-a.

- Let's go!
- Listen up. Eight minutes!

Don't f*cking fight!

Don't f*cking think!
Don't f*cking whine!

- Apply yourself!
- [crowd cheering]

Player: Let's go, man! We
can win it! We can win it!

Magic: Go, go, go! I got help!

- Celtics Player: sh*t!
- Magic: I got it!

Up the court with the ball!

Magic: Woo!

[grunts]

Hell yeah!

Yes! Nice! Come
on, baby, let's go!

Magic: Swing it! Swing it!

- Kareem: Get off me! Yeah!
- [whistle blows]

- [crowd booing] - And the
foul! And Kareem to the line

with a chance to cut
the lead down to nine.

Come on!

[indistinct announcement]

[crowd booing, yelling]

- Bullshit!
- f*ck you!

- Come on!
- f*ck yes!

Here we go. Here
we go. Here we go.

Worthy's running the wing!

[cheering]

[grunts]

[crowd booing]

[fans grumbling]

[crowd cheering]

Magic down the middle.
Magic all the way.

Lays it up and in.

[on radio] And the
lead is down to five

- Two minutes to go.
- [growls]

Yes! Yes! That's it! That's it!

Player: Right here,
baby! Right here!

[Larry panting]

- Kurt: I got ball! I got ball!
- Player: Ah! Help, help, help!

Magic: Gimme that!

- Chick: And here's a steal!
- Get ‘em up!

- Chick: Magic!
- Magic: Run! Run!

- No look!
- Chick: To Worthy!

- Slam dunk!
- What I f*ck' tell you?

- [Jerry Buss laughs] - Chick:
Oh, my! And the Celtics lead

is down to three, 105-102.

- Crowd: Beat LA! Beat LA!
- And here's that Boston crowd. Place is goin' bananas.

- [blows whistle] - Chick:
And the Celtics call a timeout.

Crowd [chanting]:
Beat LA! Beat LA!

[indistinct jeering]

- Screw y'all!
- You piece of sh*t!

Crowd [chanting]:
Beat LA! Beat LA!

- Player 1: Yeah, yeah!
- Player 2: Let's do it!

Chick: Okay, folks. Boston
up 105-102 with the ball,

and just over a minute left.

The Lakers need
a stop and a score.

And the Celtics will
surely look to Bird

to right the ship. A
one-possession game.

Oh, my!

[crowd chatter continues]

Pat: He's throwing to Bird!

Jerry Buss: Get up, get up,
get up! Let's go, let's go, let's go!

[grunting]

- Larry: Get the f*ck off me.
- Magic: Nope. Where you goin'?

- Larry: m*therf*cker, come on!
- Magic: Uh-uh!

Gimme the f*cking rock! [grunts]

- [Larry panting] -
Magic: Come on!

[both grunting]

- [crowd fades out] -
[distorted whooshing]

- [bang] - Chick: No good!
Magic with the rebound,

and he starts to
break the other way!

He's on your left! Patch it up!

Chick: Magic, top of the key.

McHale and Parish
step out to contest, and...

He's smothered and
turns the ball over!

- Come on, man!
- Chick: DJ the other way.

- Get it back!
- Chick: Cooper back.

[grunting]

- Chick: With a big block!
- [whistle blows]

- Chick: But there's a whistle.
- Foul! 21 on one.

- [crowd cheering] -
Chick: Foul on Cooper!

Pat: That's not a
foul! That's not a foul!

Chick: And this
Laker bench is livid.

Ref: Sit down on the
bench! Get on the bench!

Pull a player...

[crowd cheering]

[Magic panting]

- Player: Yeah!
- Larry: Make them free throws, baby. f*ck' go!

Chick: Man, I'll tell you,
folks, it looked clean to me,

but these zebras disagree.
The call goes Boston's way.

Two shots for Dennis Johnson,

and the Celtics can go up five.

Crowd [chanting]: Beat
LA! Beat LA! Beat LA!

Beat LA! Beat LA!

- [chanting continues]
- [rhythmic stomping]

Chick: Free throws are good.

Lakers down five now
in a hostile environment.

[crowd jeering]

Henderson.

[cheering]

Chick [on radio]: Well, there's
still time on the clock, Keith,

but the Celtic fans starting
to dribble towards the floor.

And, uh, well,
I'll tell you what.

They're already
starting to celebrate.

[cheering]

f*ck yeah!

[Pat sighs]

[fans yelling]

Pat: It's f*cking
crooked! You know it!

Fans: Beat LA! Beat LA!

[cheering, laughing]

Chick: And the celebration
has begun in Boston.

[cheering continues]

Celtics lead by seven.

Brent: Boy, does it hurt,

when you know it's
not gonna be your ring.

But the Lakers, who hoped
that even year would be a charm.

They won the championship
in 1980 over Philadelphia,

and again in '82, and hoped
that 1984 would follow suit.

- [indistinct yelling] -
Chick: That's a three-pointer.

- No good.
- [cheering continues]

Chick: Seven-point
lead, Boston ball.

You know, you go seven games,

man, I'll tell you, that
is one of the classics.

Final seconds.

- Cooper, going for three.
- Crowd: Three! Two! One!

- Chick: It's over.
- [buzzer blares]

And the Boston Celtics are
the NBA World Champions.

[players yelling]

In a grueling seven-game series
with the Los Angeles Lakers,

the final score, Boston 111,

Los Angeles 102.

[cheering continues]

Brent: Fifteen world titles.

Another banner will be hung
from the rafters at Boston Garden.

Yeah! Yeah!

- [body thuds]
- [punch lands]

[fan grunts]

[cheering]

- [camera shutters
snapping] - [players cheering]

- You want a piece of this?
- Come on, Coop! Move! Come on, move!

[cheering]

["What Is and What Should
Never Be" by Led Zeppelin playing]

[cheering continues]

♪ Take my hand, child ♪

♪ Come with me ♪

[muffled cheering]

♪ It's to a castle
I will take you ♪

[cheering continues]

♪ Where what's to
be they say will be ♪

♪ Catch the wind,
see us spin, sail away ♪

♪ Leave today way up
high in the sky, hey! Whoa! ♪

♪ But the wind won't blow,
we really shouldn't go ♪

♪ It only goes to show ♪

♪ That you will be mine ♪

♪ By taking our time ♪

♪ Ooh... ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

♪ And if you say to me... ♪

Red: We're the
greatest in the world!

Leave the dynasties
to us, huh? [laughs]

[whistles] Fifteen,
baby! Fifteen!

♪ Then, what's to
stop us, pretty baby? ♪

♪

♪ But what is and
what should never be ♪

♪ Catch the wind,
see us spin, sail away ♪

♪ Leave today, way
up high in the sky ♪

♪ Hey, whoa, but the wind
won't blow, really shouldn't go ♪

♪ Only goes to show ♪

♪ That you will be mine ♪

♪ By taking our time ♪

♪ Ooh... ♪

♪ Oh, oh ♪

- [water dripping] -
[thunder rumbling]

[shower fades]

["Night & Day" by
Fred Astaire playing]

♪ Like the beat, beat,
beat of the tom-tom ♪

♪ When the jungle shadows fall ♪

Jeanie: You said
Seagram's, right?

That's the good stuff!

- Thank you, sweetie. Come here. Jean-bean!
- [Jeanie giggles]

One day,

I can see you running
this whole thing.

Me, looking down from above.

- [Jeanie giggles] - Or up from
below. Big smile on my face

'cause I know I left
it in the right hands.

Well, that's a long way off.

Sit down here with me.

- Here?
- Yeah!

- The best seat in the house.
- [Jeanie grunts]

[exhales]

♪ Beneath the moon ♪

- Oof! [coughing]
- [Jeanie giggles]

♪ Whether near to me or far ♪

♪ It's no matter, darling ♪

You know it's
gonna be alright, kid.

♪ Where you are,
I think of you ♪

All of it.

And do you know how I know?

[laughs]

Because we own this?

[laughs] You're g*dd*mn right.

- [Jeanie giggles] -
Because we f*cking own this.

We f*cking own this.

[laughs] I don't
believe you yet.

- Say it again.
- We f*cking own this!

- No, no. Try again.
- [laughs] We!

Both: We! f*cking! Own this!

- We own this!
- [Jerry Buss laughs]

["Shadows of the Night"
by Pat Benatar playing]

♪ So, baby, take my hand ♪

♪ It'll be alright ♪

♪ Surrender all your
dreams to me tonight ♪

♪ They'll come true in the end ♪

♪ You said, "Oh,
girl, it's a cold world ♪

♪ When you keep
it all to yourself" ♪

♪ I said you can't hide ♪

♪ On the inside all the pain ♪

♪ You've ever felt ♪

♪ Ransom my heart, but,
baby, don't look back ♪

♪ 'Cause we got nobody else ♪

♪ We're running with
the shadows of the night ♪

♪ So, baby, take my hand ♪

♪ You'll be alright ♪

♪ Surrender all your
dreams to me tonight ♪

♪ They'll come true in the end ♪

♪ You know,
sometimes it feels like ♪

♪ It's all moving way too fast ♪

♪ Use every alibi ♪

♪ And words you deny ♪

♪ That love ain't
meant to last ♪

♪ You can cry, tough baby ♪

♪ It's alright, you can
let me down easy ♪

♪ But not tonight ♪

♪ We're running with
the shadows of the night ♪

♪ So, baby, take my hand ♪

♪ You'll be alright ♪

♪ Surrender all your
dreams to me tonight ♪

♪ They'll come
true in the end... ♪

♪ We're running with
the shadows of the night ♪

♪ So, baby, take my hand ♪

♪ You'll be alright ♪

♪ Surrender all your
dreams to me tonight ♪

♪ They'll come true in the end ♪

♪ And now the hands
of time are standing still ♪

♪ Midnight angel,
won't you say you will? ♪

♪ We're running with
the shadows of the night ♪

♪ So, baby, take my hand ♪

♪ You'll be alright ♪

♪ Surrender all your dreams
to me tonight ♪

♪ They'll come true
in the end... ♪