03x08 - Main Man

[bunniefuu]

I'd like to meet you some place.

Is it really important, Doctor?

It's a matter of life and death.

Doctor, I never saw a
boy die on the field before.

I hope I never see that again.

He may have a cyst floating
around in the middle of his skull

that could k*ll
him just like that!

His father's still
gonna let him play!

He's been knocked
down a thousand times!

So has Frank. But it only took one
time, didn't it? That extra one time!

You stay away from Steve, Doc.

Don't let him die.

Excuse me, the game's starting.

Gentlemen, you
are about to enter

the most fascinating
sphere of police work,

the world of forensic medicine.

Defense! Defense! Defense!

Go!

Go!

Frank Daniels makes
another great tackle,

Frank Daniels is
a" over this field,

Defense! Defense! Defense!

Another great play
from Frank Daniels.

What a game Frank
Daniels is playing.

Boy, that was a tough
one, but wait a minute...

Frank Daniels isn't
getting up. He's down.

It appears that Frank Daniels
was injured on that last tackle.

It was a jarring hit,

But Daniels is not getting up.

He just got the wind
knocked out of him.

It's happened hundreds of
times. He'll be up in a minute.

Bring it in, let's go.

Come on!

We'd better get
down there. Come on.

Excuse me.

We've got the toxicology report.

And?

All negative. No barbs, no
alcohol, no dr*gs. Nothing.

Then we have no
obvious cause of death.

What about the
contusion on the brain?

Take a look.

Enough to knock him out,
maybe. Not enough to k*ll him.

Same thing all the
way down the line.

Heart is okay,
the lungs are clear.

Nothing in the
kidneys, the liver.

No major hemorrhage.

You went into the brain.

Just a preliminary cut.

I want you to put it in some
formalin solution, firm it up.

Tomorrow we'll do some sections.

Then there might
be something there.

I don't know, but
I'll tell you this.

We're gonna do a thousand
sections if we have to,

I want to find out what
k*lled that poor boy.

You can give me the phone number
of the Arroya Junior College, please?

I want to go down there,
talk to some of the coaches.

Maybe they know
something we don't.

Thank you.

Once more, huh?

This time just before
they hit, freeze it.

Then give me one
frame at a time.

Okay.

You see it's a pretty good
hit, but, he's in good position.

His head's tucked
in. His back's straight.

We teach good basic
tackling here, Doctor.

Turn it off.

You see anything? Not a thing.

Me neither.

I've been watching
those films all morning.

I mean, all right, the guy got
a bump on the head, Doctor,

but our helmets, I mean, they
can take 10 times that kind of shock.

I don't understand it.

Neither do I.

When did he have
his last checkup?

Start of the season.
Everybody did.

And believe me,
Doc, they're thorough.

Well, was he hurt since? Did he
get dizzy spells? Anything like that?

Not that I know of.
I didn't hear of any.

As far as I know, Doc, he was
the perfect physical specimen.

I guess you know that.

Anyway, we're setting up
memorial services for him.

We're retiring his jersey.

That's a nice gesture.

We would've probably done
that anyway. Even if he hadn't...

Doc, he was one hell
of a football player.

I mean, he was the
best. The best I ever had.

You know something? He's got a kid
brother who's going to be even better.

I guess you heard him,
Steve? No, I haven't.

Oh! He's tailback.

He's got moves you
never saw before.

He's playing his final high school
game this coming Friday night,

leading his team to the
County Championship.

He's going to break the
all-season rushing record for sure.

Let's get back to Frank, huh?

Yeah, all right.

If he was so good, why was
he here? I mean, you know...

Oh, I know what you mean.

Why is he playing for a small
town junior college? Yeah.

Why didn't one of the
big schools pick him up?

That's right.

Well, they wanted to.


Ohio State, Notre Dame.

Until they saw his grades. Oh?

I don't mean to say that he
was dumb or anything like that.

I mean,

matter of fact, sometimes
he was really sharp,

but I don't know,
other times he'd...

He'd just forget things.

I mean, things that
happened just seconds before.

This happen often?

No, just once in a while.

I mean, like after a game,

he could usually go
through every play we've got.

I mean, he'd remember
every single one!

Then another day, right
in the middle of a game,

he'd forget the call
that was just made.

I mean, it would just
go right out of his head.

Did this happen in
the classroom, too?

Well, I hear it did, yeah. I think that's
one of the reasons he didn't do so good.

I gotta get back to work.
Thank you very much, Coach.

Sorry I couldn't be
any more help, huh?

Maybe you were. Maybe
you did give me help.

Doctor,

I never saw a boy
die on the field before.

I hope I never see that again.

So do I.

Dad?

Yes, Steve.

You didn't go to
practice today, huh?

No, Dad. I didn't feel like it.

No, of course not. I hope
you don't go tomorrow, either.

How was school today? Okay?

Well, all the kids could talk
about was Frank, you know.

That was okay, except a couple
of them started crying, you know.

Well, they loved him.

But life goes on. That's important
that you know that, Steve.

Life does go on.

Yeah, I guess so.

I gotta go to work.

You're gonna do what
you have to do, right?

Yeah.

You need spirit in
life. You need guts.

You can't get slowed
down by a tragedy.

I mean, you cry and all that.
You know what the loss is.

You never forget that!

But you gotta keep functioning,
you know what I mean?

Sure, Dad.

No, no. More than
functioning. Achieving!

And you're more capable of
achieving than anybody I know!

And if you don't, you're cheating
yourself and a lot of other people.

You understand what I'm saying?

Yes, sir.

Right after the funeral, I want
you to go right back to practice.

I want you to play
that game Friday night.

No, no, I know it's
going to be tough.

But there's a lot of
people counting on you!

The team, the school,
the whole town is hoping

that you help them
win that championship,

and set that record.

And you can do it. It's the
last big game of the season.

And you can dedicate it to the
memory of your brother Frank.

I'll try, Dad. I
swear, I'll try, Dad!

And you'll do it,

because you got it in you to do!

You're gonna set that record, and you'll
set many, many, many, many records.

And you're gonna make
me very proud of you.

Your mother walked out on us.

And now Frank is gone now.

You're the only thing
I've got left, Steve.

Sam? Yeah?

I found it.

Brain hemorrhage in the pens.

That's the cause
of death, all right.

Here's what touched it off.

A cyst?

Right here in the
choroid plexus.

When he made the tackle, it tore
loose, jammed into the cerebral aqueduct.

That's kind of rare, isn't it?

The cyst is rare.

It was literally floating
around in his brain.

Like a balloon on a thin string.

If it wasn't for his coach, I
never would've looked for it.

You mean that stuff
about the loss of memory?

Sure. Every once in a while, that
cyst would block the lateral ventricles.

That'd do it.

It's all wrapped up, then.

Not quite.

Quincy, I'm in a
state of euphoria.

Now, you won't be offended
if I pay you a compliment?

Not offended. A little bit
surprised, but not offended.

Compliment is not for this particularly
fine job. That's commonplace.

The compliment is because
you did not make any waves.

Now, that's rare.

Well, I didn't get any
phone calls, I didn't have...

Well, anyway, it's
a fine job, Quincy.

Thank you. Thank you.

I can have the body
released immediately.

His father wants to hold
the funeral tomorrow.

Yeah, I'm gonna have
to talk to him right after it.

Now, wait a minute.

Well, anyway, you gave
me 10 seconds of relief.

Now, will you tell me why
you have to see the father?

Well, the cyst that k*lled
Frank Daniels was congenital.

He leaves a younger
brother, also a football player.

You mean you think it's possible
that he has the same disorder?

It's possible.

And if he does, he can
die the same way Frank did.

Ashes to ashes,

dust to dust.

We brought nothing
into this world,

and we take nothing out.

Frank Daniels was a
credit to all human beings.

Look down upon his life

and the lives of
those he's touched,

and give them blessing.

God giveth, and God taketh away.

For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,

forever and ever. Amen.

Thank you, Reverend.

Uh, Mom, would you like
to come over to the house?

No. No, I'll be in
town for a few days.

You call me at the hotel.

Steve.

Look, I thought maybe
you'd like to talk to Dad.

I don't know that your
father wants to talk to me.

It's probably better that way.

Steve?

I'll call you.

Man, the guy hadn't
even started to fall back

when Frank nailed him, I
mean, just creamed him!

Excuse me.

Oh, I thought you might want
to talk to Steve, you know?

Come around, take a look at the
campus, you know? Meet the coaches.

I tell you, he could start
in his freshman year.

Oh, Coach. Oh! Hello, Doc.

Could you tell me where I
could find Walter Daniels, please?

Uh, gentleman in the
blue suit with a yellow shirt.

Oh, thank you very
much. You're welcome.

Mr. Daniels? Yes.

I'm Dr. Quincy. Oh!

I performed the
autopsy on your son.

First I want to tell
you how sorry I am.

I'm very grateful, Doctor.

May I talk to you
for a few minutes?

Now? Yes, um...

I don't want to intrude,
but it is very important.

Excuse us. Come on this way.

Oh! Thanks a lot, Steve.

I take it that you're
gonna play Friday, right?

Yeah, I think I should.

Oh, so do I. You wanna break
that record by as much as you can.

I know you will 'cause Frank
would've wanted it that way, right?

Oh, my God!

You think it's hereditary?

I'm afraid so.

If they do find one,
they'll be able to cut it up.

There'd be no residual
effects. He'd be in perfect health.

He could still play football?

Oh, yes. I hear he
has quite a future.

Sensational, Doctor.
Really sensational!

Do you think the
cyst could exist?

Well, that'll be impossible to
tell until we do the examination.

How long will that take?

Several days, maybe longer.
He should start tomorrow.

Oh, tomorrow...

Well, you must understand
the importance of time.

Oh, yeah. Of course, I do.

I got him one of the best men
in the field. I just called him

and he said that he could
arrange to have Steve admitted

to the UCLA Medical Center
first thing in the morning.

What's his name?

Harry Wallenstein.
He's expecting your call.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Steve, this is
Doctor... Quincy, is it?

Yes. Nice to meet you.

I wish it were under
different circumstances.

Thank you.

Uh, Dad, Mr. and Mrs. Wilson
would like to say goodbye.

Yeah, tell them I'll
be right out, Steve.

Okay. Nice to meet you, sir.

Same here.

Good-looking boy.

He's all of that.

He's got character, too.

Just like his brother Frank.

Uh...

HI... I appreciate
your coming, Doctor.

I'll call Harry
Wallenstein right away.

Okay.

Good morning, Sam.

Good morning, Quince.

What are you doing
here? Moonlighting?

Oh. Sort of. I was checking
out some slides for Dr. O'Neill.

O'Neill again, huh?

What's he trying to do?
Snatch you away from me?

He's been trying that
for the past six months.

You mean to say
you haven't noticed?

Of course, I've
noticed. Of course.

Hey!

You wouldn't dump me, would you?

Well, you do take
me for granted.

I mean, you go out
and meet people,

have all kinds of
wild adventures,

while you leave me here to
sl*ve over a bunch of test tubes.

All right. Tomorrow afternoon
I'll take you out for lunch.

That new pizzeria
joint around the corner.

Pizza doesn't agree with
me. I break out in a rash.

Yesterday Dr. O'Neill
took me out.

Quiche Lorraine,
chocolate mousse. Delicious.

Mmm! The quiche Lorraine
is going to make you chunky.

And that mousse is
going to give you a zit.

Oh, Dr. Wallenstein
called a few minutes ago.

Is he in his office?

No, he left a message. He's
arranged for Steve Daniels to go

into the hospital Monday.

Monday? Couldn't he
get him in tomorrow?

He said he wanted
to, he had it all set up.

But the boy's father
insisted on Monday.

Thanks an awful lot,
Larry, for everything.

Anything else I can do, Walt,
you just let me know, okay?

I sure will. I'll see you out.

No, it's all right.

Bye-bye.

That's a lot of people, huh?

Boy, it must have been
more than a hundred.

If we'd invited them
to the cemetery,

there would've been the
biggest traffic jam in history!

Now, it's kind of...

Lonely, huh?

Yeah.

Well, that's the way
it's gonna be, Steve.

Just you and me from now on.

Dad, I don't suppose... What?

That you and Mom
might... No, no way.

That's the way she wanted it.

Let's clean up, huh?

I'll get that.

Hello?

Oh, Dr. Quincy.

That's right. Monday morning.

Sorry, Doctor.

Steve made his decision.

The kid's going to
play Friday night!

I don't believe it!

He may have a cyst floating
around in the middle of his skull

that could k*ll
him just like that!

His father's still
gonna let him play!

Doctor, you know that your
official responsibility ended

when you signed the
report on Frank Daniels.

Yes, I know that...
Let me finish!

Beyond that, you had
a moral responsibility.

Let the father know that Steve
may, and I stress the word "may,"

that he may have the
same problem as his brother.

Now, you've informed the
father, I assume the son knows.

You've fulfilled your responsibility.
It's now a family matter.

You want me to drop the
whole thing, is that it? Sure!

We have to let people live their
own lives, make their own choices.

You've done all you can do.

I haven't even started.

You mean you still want
to continue with this?

I'd sure like to give it
a try, I'll tell you that.

I was hoping that
you'd say that.

I knew I could count
on you, Quincy.

What?

Hey, don't kid me.

I'm not kidding.

You know it means a lot
of time away from the lab.

You're a doctor. What's
the matter with you?

I never heard of a doctor
having to punch a time clock.

If I'm dreaming, I hope
nobody wakes me up.

You know, there's only
a thousand to one chance

the boy won't make
it through the game.

I could be wasting time.

Quincy, a chance is a chance.

You know, I've worked
as a medical examiner here

even longer than you have.

I've had to stand by and watch
too many thousand-to-one deaths.

That's a waste.

If you could stop just one,

that would be terrific.

I wanna thank you.

What are you thanking me for?

I'm just following the
line of least resistance.

You won't be of any use
to me at all around here

unless you give
this thing a try.

So do it! Try. And
with my blessing.

Would you please
get out of here now?

Oh, yeah, yeah.
And I'll keep in touch.

Dr. Quincy?

Oh! Mr. Carew.

How are you? Sorry I
can't ask you into my office.

I have a couple of
disciplinary problems in there.

Every barrel has
its bad apples, right?

Yeah, well, I wanna talk
to you about Steve Daniels.

A good apple.

Now you want to know if he has
the same symptoms as his brother.

Principal told you.
Right after you called.

It's a terrible thing. We wouldn't
want that to happen to Steve.

How are his grades?

Well, his records
are confidential.

All students' are, by law.

But I can give you
an informal briefing.

Thank you.

He transferred in from a
school in Illinois, you know.

From his transcript, I'd say
that he's a solid B-plus student.

Hmm. How about here?

Well, this is just
the first semester.

We only have the
mid-term grades.

They're not quite as good.

Like what?

Like a C, C-minus.

C-minus?

I'm sure you can understand
the reason for the drop.

We're a tougher
school academically.

On top of which, Steve has been
in the limelight since the first game.

Did you see it? No, I didn't.

He was terrific!

He made three touchdowns
and set up the fourth.

Really?

Anyway, he's been under
terrific pressure since then.

College recruiters, local sports
writers. The whole town, really.

We've never produced
a superstar before.

Doesn't seem to leave
much time for studies, does it?

Naturally. We've accepted that.

Why?

I beg your pardon?

I always thought
school was for learning.

I'm sorry.

You're saying that Steve
is an average student.

Well, under the circumstances,
he's doing very well.

Now, there's no trouble,
no tendency to forget things,

black out, or
anything like that.

No problems at all.

I'm sure if there were any, I'd
be the first to know about 'em.

Thank you very much, Mr. Carew.

Anything else I can
do for you, Doctor?

No, no, no. You kind of wrapped
this whole thing up for me. Thank you.

All right, Sam, whatever
you're doing for O'Neill, drop it.

Let us go to work.

On what?

You mean, I
haven't got anything?

You wanted Astin to lay
off for a while. So he laid off.

Case came in this morning,
it was assigned to O'Neill.

And naturally he
asked for you, right?

Well, I am pretty good.

Only because I taught you
everything you know, you ingrate.

I better tell Astin
I'm back on board.

The thing about the
boy is all settled, then?

Sort of.

He's not going to play Friday?

Yeah, he is. Sam, I think I've
been kind of looking under beds.

You don't think he has the cyst?

From what I learned at the school
today, I doubt it very, very much.

Hello? Yes, Dr. Quincy.

Who?

My name's Janet Mars, doctor.

I'm a student at Barrows High.

I heard your conversation
with Mr. Carew in the office.

Yeah.

Well, uh, what you asked
about Steve's grades,

are they really important?

Yeah, very important.

But Mr. Carew
straightened it all out.

Well, what if Mr. Carew
doesn't know all the facts?

I mean, about how
Steve passed his test, sir?

Or got good grades?

I'd like to meet you some place.

Is it really important, Doctor?

It's a matter of life and death.

Yes. Yes, I know where that is.

I'll be there in half
an hour. Bye-bye.

I guess you're not back aboard.

Not yet.

How come?

There's another
bed to look under.

I don't know about the
B-plus from his old school.

But there's no way he could
have passed his mid-terms here.

I mean, even with
the special tutoring.

A few of the kids
helped him out.

Probably in ways that
they shouldn't have,

and a few of the teachers,
they looked the other way.

Was one of his problems that
he couldn't remember things?

Yeah. I'd been seeing
a lot of him lately.

And he's a really
quiet, gentle person.

Tell me, did you ever
know him to black out?

Couple of days ago.

We were together and all of
a sudden he just blacks out.

I mean, I was really worried.

Came to in about a minute, but,
you know, he said it was nothing.

Why? What do you think?

I think maybe you
just saved his life.

Let him suit up. Let him
cheer as much as he wants,

pat the guys on the rump
when they come off the field.

Anything at all, but
don't let him play.

Hey, Lou!

You and Howie practice
the look-ins, huh?

Why don't you
tell it to his father?

I've been trying! I
can't get him at home,

I can't find him at
work. He's ducking me!

Because he wants Steve
to play. And the kid wants to.

That's because they
don't understand what I...

I want him to play! You know
what this means to Steve?

I know what it might mean.

And to the school? To
the whole damn town?

I keep him out of that
game, they'll lynch me.

And they'd have a right,
because I'll tell you something.

He doesn't play, we lose!

It's that simple, we don't
have a prayer without him!

And winning is more
important than a boy's life?

No, no, of course it isn't!

But you haven't proven to
me that he's in any real danger.

What does it take to prove it?

Are you the team doctor?

And I agree with Coach Spalding.

You're playing a
hunch, Dr. Quincy.

I can't disappoint a boy and a
team and a whole community

just on the basis of
another man's hunch!

It's not just a hunch, the
boy shows all the symptoms.

A million people have
the same symptoms!

So he blacks out
a couple of times.

He's been under a lot of
pressure. He tends to forget things.

Who doesn't? I
even forget things.

Including your oath?

That was uncalled for.

I'm sorry, Doctor.

But I think you're being
callous, and that's uncalled for.

One thing I learned
in medical school,

I tried to carry it with me all
through my private practice.

If there's any doubt about a
patient's condition, the slightest doubt,

you play it safe.

When there's doubt. So far, Doctor,
you haven't given me any reason to doubt.

There won't be any
reason till after the tests.

Show me the
results of the tests.

I can't! The tests are on Monday, the
game is on Friday night. It's Catch-22.

If you choose to look
at it that way. I don't.

If you don't mind, Doctor,
we've got work to do.

The rest of the team will be
coming out in a couple of minutes.

Including Steve?

Now, look. While he's on that
field, you don't go near him.

You're not going to upset him
anymore. Now do you understand that?

Okay, gather around!
Come on, let's go!

It's like talking
to two brick walls.

What are you gonna do?
Are you gonna talk to Steve?

If I can reach him.

But with his father and the coach
running interference, it's not easy.

Well, he doesn't
go home till late.

Sometimes we meet for a
hamburger after practice.

Where? Across the
street, about 5:00.

I don't understand
what you're talking about.

You going to the
hospital Monday, right?

Now, the problem is...

I'm what?

Didn't your father tell you?

Go on.

Well, he made all
the arrangements.

You're due at UCLA Monday
morning for a complete examination.

You see, Steve,

there's a possibility that you may
have the same problem as your brother.

But if you do, it
can be corrected.

You didn't know anything
about this, did you?

No, I didn't.

Steve, you shouldn't
play in that game.

Now, I know how
important it is to you.

But there could be a risk.

How much of a risk?

Little, a great deal, maybe
none. Nobody could be sure.

My father wants me
to play in that game.

And he would never let me play if he
thought anything might happen to me.

Oh, I'm sure of that.

But he's not a doctor.
He could be wrong.

No, you're wrong!

You just said so, you don't
know if there's any risk.

Steve, just don't play in this
game. I mean, just in case.

I'm gonna play!

If I didn't play, I'd
be letting him down.

Worse than that, I'd be saying to
him, "Hey, hey, you don't care about me.

"All you care about
is that damn record.

"That's why you
kept your mouth shut."

Steve, listen to me.
We're not saying that at all.

I don't wanna hear it!
My father cares about me!

My father does. He loves me!

He always has and he always will.
And I feel the same way about him!

And I'm not gonna do anything to
let him down! You understand me?

Maybe I should talk to him.

No, no, no. Let him go.

Well, we're back to square one.

So, he told you? Yeah.

I was going to tell you
right after the game.

I just didn't want to
hurt your concentration.

That's what I figured.

Well, now it's out in the
open, you can deal with it.

You do want to play?

Yeah, sure.
Because if you don't...

No, no, I want to play!

Let me tell you how I
feel about it. I got to level.

I don't think you've got this thing.
Not in a million years, you don't.

But just for the sake of
argument, let's say you do.

Okay? Okay.

You've got to have had it
from the day you were born.

How many football games have
you played? Think. Come on, think.

Thirty, forty.

In high school.

You go way back to the Pop
Warner days, that's maybe 50 more.

Then you add to that all the
scrimmages, you throw in all the sports

and the few fights you've had.
You've had a few fights, right?

Yeah, I had a few fights.

Okay, and you haven't been hurt
one day really badly in your whole life.

And along comes this
doctor. I know he means well.

I'm not saying he
doesn't mean well.

And he says you
might get hurt tomorrow.

Might, might.

There might be an earthquake
that'll wipe out the whole state.

Or a tidal wave or whatever.

That's the way I feel about it.

Good. Because you're gonna break
that record. You're gonna be number one.

All the way through your life,
you've got to be number one.

Because number two is
nothing, it's a failure. I know.

Dad, you're not a failure.

I'm a failure in everything but raising
kids, and I'm raising number one.

Can I speak to
Mr. Daniels, please?

Dr. Quincy.

What do you mean, he's not there?
He does work for you, doesn't he?

Look, I've been
calling all morning!

No, no message.

I'm sure he already
got the message.

Still can't reach him?

Not if he doesn't want me to.

What about Steve?

I'm going to try him
once more, at practice.

Okay, last play. Let's
take it in for six. Come on!

Ready!

Hut, hut!

Come on, gather
around. Hurry up!

Steve.

You faint? Huh?

Get out of here, I'm okay.

No, you're not.
Let me take a look.

Look, I told you I'm okay. I
just felt a little dizzy, that's all.

These dizzy spells, they're
coming more and more often,

aren't they? And the blackouts.

Look, I told you, I'm okay! Don't you
listen to me? I'm gonna play in that game!

That's it! You hear me?

You heard him, Doctor.

Okay, let's hit the locker
room. On the double. Come on!

Hey, Doc, catch.

Tell me, Doc. Did
you ever play football?

Come on, you can
tell me that, can't you?

I bet you were pretty good.
What position did you play?

I'd figure he was a split
end. He's got good hands.

Yeah, looks like
he does. Here, Doc.

That's pretty good. Isn't
that pretty good, Jocko?

With those hands, I bet he
was real good at catching b*ll*ts.

Yeah, I bet you're
right. Try this one.

Ah, I don't think
he was ready, Billy.

Give him another sh*t.

This time you got notice, Doc.

You're not a football
player. You're no good at all.

So you stay away from
people who are. Like Steve.

You stay away from Steve, Doc.

You know, Doctor, we've never
had the prospect of a championship.

It's done wonders for this
school. It's building spirit and pride.

And don't think that it hasn't carried
over into the academic area as well.

School spirit is something
we push around here.

School spirit? What is that?

I mean, that phrase has no
meaning, it just arouses emotion,

like, "School
spirit fiber alles, ”

Do you know that yesterday a
bunch of your school-spirited kids

pushed me around pretty good?

Don't get excited,
Doctor. Sit down, please.

We did hear about that.
They felt you were interfering.

Of course, we don't
condone their action.

Yeah, but you're not
going to discipline them.

Do you think I'm interfering?
Because I see a boy in danger.

I see a chance
of his being k*lled.

The team doctor
thinks you're crying wolf.

No offense, Dr. Quincy,
but we have more...

We have more
confidence in him than...

Than you have in me
because I'm a stranger.

We take kindly
to most strangers.

Steve Daniels has been here only
three months. We're very fond of him.

He's not the brightest boy in the
world, you may have noticed that, Doctor.

But when his football days are
over, he'll remain as part of this town.

We'll set him up in business, perhaps.
This community takes care of its own.

Don't you realize that his
football days could be over tonight?

Steve and his father
have made the decision.

Mr. Thomas is quite correct.

I'm not sure the school board
has the right to interfere...

You are supposed to care
about the health and welfare

of every student
in this district!

That gives you the right! Now, all
you have to do is apply some pressure!

All right, Doctor.

Ladies and gentlemen, shall we
take a vote on Dr. Quincy's request?

Thought I told you to
stay away from here, Doc.

Getting a little tired of this.

Looks like I might have to
teach you another lesson.

Easy or you'll be minus
a quarterback today.

Tell you what you can do, cutie.

You can penalize me 15 yards
for unnecessary roughness.

No dice.

I didn't think you'd
get anywhere.

'Cause all they care
about is a winning team.

That's the bottom line.

For a girl of...
What are you, 16?

I'm 17.

I'm sorry. For 17,
you're pretty sharp.

Why don't you
use the other side?

Where do we go from here?

Wait, there's another
possibility. His mother.

Really?

Well, they're divorced, but
she's in town for the funeral.

Do you know where she's staying?

Yeah. Well, let's go.

I'm afraid there's
nothing I can do.

You could see him.

The team is in seclusion. I
don't even know where they are.

Is there no way you
could talk to Mr. Daniels?

I've tried to talk to
him for half my life.

Walter was an
athlete, too, you know.

No, I didn't know that. Oh, yes.

Oh, yes. He went to college
on an athletic scholarship.

He was the star of the
freshman football team.

He never made the varsity.

It goes without saying his
scholarship wasn't renewed.

So he tried to make
it through his sons.

That he did.

Do you know what he gave
Frank on his fourth birthday?

A football uniform.

Complete with helmet,
shoulder pads, everything.

Did you ever suspect that there was
something wrong with Steve or Frank?

I didn't suspect, I knew! I
knew it all the time. Both boys!

Their grades. They
had memory lapses.

I wanted both boys to
have special medical tests.

But Walter said no. There was
nothing the matter with his boys.

They were just
having growing pains.

That's what caused
the final breakup.

And he got custody?

There was a reason.

When I walked out, I went
to somebody else for comfort.

We were found together.

But that didn't
make any difference.

They would've chosen to
live with their father, anyway.

They were always Walter's boys.

But you talk about grades.

Steve has had a B-plus
average the last two years.

No. He nearly flunked out.

He was ineligible for
football back home.

That's why they came here.

But the transcripts.

They're fake.

Walter got them legally enough.

He had them doctored, he made
friends with a boy in the records office.

He never let something like grades
stand between his boys and the game.

Thank you very much
for talking with me.

Doctor.

My son.

There's still time.
Haven't kicked off yet.

I want to see 11 helmets
around that ball carrier.

And when you stick
him, really stick him.

Kick-off teams,
stay in your lanes.

Special teams, remember
your assignments.

Okay, now we're going
out there in one minute.

So it's time for the pep
talk. And it's gonna be short.

Because I have
only one thing to say.

Today is going to be the
biggest day in your life.

I don't just mean up till now. I mean it's
gonna be the biggest day you've ever had.

So on every play,
offense, defense, kickoffs,

I want you to give it
everything you've got.

No, I want you to give it
even more than you've got.

So it won't be just your
biggest day. It'll be your best!

- All right!
- All right!

All right! All right!

All right! All right!

All right! All right!

All right!

Go, go, go, go.

Here come the Barrows
Wildcats onto the field

wearing silver and white.

They are the home team tonight.

Now, the Brookfield Bears wearing black
and red storming to the left sideline.

Boy, you never give up, do you?

Sometimes I do, but not in this
case. Look, I gotta talk to you.

Steve's going to the hospital
on Monday. You know that.

You're gonna be too late. Why
do you want him to play tonight?

Why? Because he's going to
break the record tonight, that's why.

That's so important?

Everybody I talk to says
that his career has just started.

College, the pros, he'll
be one of the best around.

And you think his future hinges
around some high school record?

It does! Do you know who won
the Heisman Trophy last year?

Tony Dawson, I...

Who was number two? Do you
know? Come on! Think! Think! Think!

I don't know! Well, I
know who was number two.

Last year, the year before
that, the year before that.

And you know why I know?
Because I've been number two.

And you know where it
is? It's nothing. It's nowhere.

My kid's no scholar.

But he's got something
special about him

that sets him apart
from everybody else!

He's a football player!

And to be the best
you gotta give the best!

And when he goes out there tonight
and breaks that record, he'll be the best!

He'll be number one!
Not for me, for him!

And this whole town
will owe him something!

If he plays tonight, he may
not be able to collect that IOU!

What are you talking about? He's
been knocked down 25, 30 times.

He's been tackled
thousands of times!

So has Frank. But it only took one
time, didn't it? That extra one time!

How do you know he's got what
Frank has? There's no evidence of that.

Then why are you sending
him to the hospital on Monday?

I have never been able to make you listen
to reason, Walter. But now, I've got to.

I've lost one son, I'd raised him
for the first 19 years of his life.

When I saw him being put
into his grave I needed to cry.

But I knew if I started,
the tears would never stop.

We've lost Frank.

I couldn't bear
to lose Steve, too.

Maybe it sounds selfish,

but I wouldn't
have anything left.

And what would you have?

A few more trophies? Memories?

Thoughts of what
might have been?

We only have one boy now.

Please.

Don't let him die.

Excuse me, the game's starting.

, .the brilliant Steve Daniels.

Daniels running a
different formation,

is as strong a runner
outside as he is on the inside,

And a thr*at to break
it open at any time.

He needs only 16
yards, as we said before,

to break the all-time
rushing record,

The captains are meeting
in the center of the field,

Barrows has won the
toss and elected to receive,

Brookfield will kick off
and defend the south goal.

The kick-off taken by Zimmerman,
number 82, on his 12-yard line,

Brought down by a host of Bears.

Go on down there and chew
up that record. Go ahead.

Offense!

First down. 22-yard
line to the Wildcats.

The first first down
of the evening.

Second and four for Barrows,
on their own 46-yard line,

Georgenson on the option
down the right side of the line,

It appears that he has
the first down. And he does.

The second first
down for the Wildcats.

And Daniels is leaving the game.

He is heading for
the locker room,

Daniels is being replaced
by number 35, Garcia.

They found the
cyst after all, huh?

The operation will
have it out next week.

You mean the kid'll still
be able to play football?

Listen, you may see
him on the Rams one day.

I mean, if he's as good
as Quincy says he is.

He's better than that.

What happened to
the food? I'm starving!

Take it easy, will you, Brown?

You cannot rush an artist when
he's creating a masterpiece.

What's he cooking?

Danny wouldn't tell me. But he
said the recipe has been in his family

for five generations.

I hope it doesn't
taste that old.

Whoa, take it easy,
Benedict Arnold.

This whole thing is because
of you, so what do you want?

You know, uh, Vitello con tonno.

Who's he?

No, no, it's what
he might be cooking.

Or braciole fiorentina

or risotto a la milanese.

Terrific, huh?

You're gonna forget
about O'Neill, now, huh?

Gentlemen! Just the way Danny's
great-great-grandmother used to make it.

Pizza.

For me?

Could eat it with chopsticks.