Any Given Sunday Page #9

how to strut...

...how to talk sh*t, how to hit.

But what else?

Suddenly, there's no more money...

...no more women, no more applause.

No more dream.

This is what I'm trying to say to you.

When a man...

...looks back on his life,

he should be proud of all of it.

Not just the years he spent

in pads and cleats.

Not just memories of...

...when he was great.

You gotta learn that in here.

Or if you don't, you ain't a man,

you're just another punk.

Who wants mustard on their hot dog?

Johnny?

-No, just ketchup.

-Just ketchup.

Ketchup, mustard, mustard....

So doc's cleared you for Sunday?

That's great.

A little help?

Paper's got us at six-point dogs.

Can you believe that?

I can't wait to strap it on and stick

it to Dallas like we used to.

Show them what this game's all about,

right there in the playoffs.

You okay?

Doc got it wrong about your back?

It hurts a lot more than I thought.

I think I pushed it too hard.

Don't play hurt.

You just need the needle.

Yeah, I'm sure that's it.

Maybe you ought to go with Willie.

Are you seeing your psychiatrist?

No.

Well, are you depressed?

Rock, come on!

You wanted to play. I fought for you.

If something was wrong, you

should've told me. I had four weeks.

I could've gone another way!

I'm sorry.

I got blank spots in my memory.

It's weird.

And I shake.

Sometimes I can't even hold a spoon.

And I'm always on painkillers

for my elbow...

...or my rib or my neck!

Now I got this ruptured disc,

and I just....

Even with all that,

I would go back in a second....

But if I go in there, Tony...

...I'm gonna fold.

And I just....

I can't do that.

You know these things you're saying...

...all in your head, Rock.

They're not real.

You understand?

You know you got it in you...

...because I know you do.

It's my body, Tony.

It's my body. It's not there.

I wouldn't let you get hurt.

I need you, Rock...

...to lead this team.

Come on.

One more time.

You and me.

You and me, together.

Trust me.

You need me, Tony, I'll be there.

Thank you.

What I'm saying is...

...I've got my rings,

we took care of our money...

...and the kids are all right.

We had a good run.

I just think that it's time for me...

...to get out after this season.

And do what?

I talked to a guy

at one of the networks--

You are a football player.

Will you hear me out?

You're a football player, Jack.

And you have two or three years

left in you.

Cindy, you are missing

the big picture here.

There is no big picture here, Jack!

You're the goddamn quarterback

for the Miami Sharks!

You're a legend,

and you're talking about quitting?

All my life everybody's been telling me

what to do, ever since college!

This is not your decision!

It is my decision--!

I will not listen

to this bullshit from you!

I will not!

Wanna know why?

Because they want you.

You know what I'm saying?

The sky's the limit, baby.

They'll swallow

the beer distributorship.

The funny thing about this

whole situation is...

...no one knows how good

you really are.

You get in that playoff game,

you score...

...you can forget about this team.

They'll lose anyway.

-I'm bored.

-Can you give me a second?

You'll get five million

serious dollars from somebody.

I'm gonna tell you something else.

Christina wants to give you $2 million

to extend you for the year.

But we're gonna wait.

That's what you hired me for,

to watch your back.

You follow me?

I hope you're doing that, Wayne.

Just in case I ain't made out of steel.

I'm saying, what if

my arm starts hurting?

Where you coming from with that?

Baby, ain't nothing

gonna fall apart on you.

Vanessa!

"Vanessa"?

Excuse me.

Hey, that's Willie Beamen!

How you been? Long time.

Congratulations.

-Things are cool.

-Getting what you wanted?

I blew it, V.

Everything was just happening so fast,

I didn't have time to think.

I was thinking maybe we could go out,

we could just get together.

I don't think so, Willie. I'm sorry.

I understand. Or do l?

You're just too volatile for me.

I'm a simple girl.

I like simple things.

Truth be told, I didn't even

like football. I liked you.

I'm sorry.

-I understand--

-Willie, no!

-Get out of here!

-I need to talk to you.

Oh, my goodness, Barbara Bush.

-Where you been all my life?

-I'm sorry.

You're looking good too!

There's that smile

I've been looking for.

Listen to me. I just need to know

that I can call you.

Tell me that I can call you,

or I'll never talk to you again.

You're so full of sh*t.

No, I'm not. I'm very serious.

Don't test me.

You can call me as long as

you get out of here! Now go!

Get out of here!

-You too shy?

-No, I'm not shy!

I got a date out there.

You're talking about

the mortician out there?

You're just jealous because he's tall.

But he can't ball.

I'll holler.

Congratulations.

Was I the last to know?

Cindy Rooney told me.

What the hell are you doing

starting Cap?

Throwing him against the best

pass rush in the league?

Cap's my starter.

-If we lose this game--

-I'll do you one better.

In the off-season, I'm trading Willie.

That's not your option.

Your kid may sell a lot of T-shirts,

but he is tearing this team apart!

-Then hold it together!

-I can't! Not with him.

Where are you going?

You will start Willie on Sunday...

...and you'll make the adjustment

to modern times.

You don't tell me what to do.

Nobody tells me what to do!

Your father never told me what to do!

You're not gonna start!

I'd cut my father's ass

if we were losing like this.

You know, I'm really getting

sick and tired of you.

Your father was no genius.

He only acted like he was one.

And he took credit for a lot of things

he never did!

He at least respected me.

Would you stop using my father

as a scapegoat?

I can't even imagine what he'd think

of you right now...

...but my hunch is, he'd be ashamed.

He'd be ashamed!

Why do you think he put me in charge,

you bullheaded moron?

He could've made you general manager,

but he didn't, did he?

You know why?

Because he knew you didn't have the guts

to do it after he was gone!

It's true, Tony.

He couldn't trust you.

You got old.

I'll be in my father's office.

-Christina will destroy this team.

-What is it you fear?

You've got so much fear

inside of you, Tony.

I'm losing the team, Maggie.

I'm losing control.

Everything in my life's about control.

I lead men.

I control.

Did Art think I was past it?

I don't know.

Do you care?

You never understood Artie,

did you?

He wanted a son...

...more than anything else

in the world.

And when you really think about it,

what Christina is...

...it's just such a tragedy.

You know, she will sell the team.

And everything her father

stood for is gonna die.

And what will you do, Tony,

after football...

...with nobody to control?

Stop it. What are you doing?

Hey, I blame you for a lot of things.

You were like Artie.

A monster.

You've gotten older. Better.

But for a long time I hated you.

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