Finding Forrester Page #8

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A little closer than l thought.

That's why l thought it might be

a good time for us to talk.

l know it's difficult handling classes

with the time you spend on the court.

l couldn't handle that load.

Not at this school.

And maybe it was unfair of us

to ask you to do it.

l talked to the board members

and to Crawford...

...and...

...we don't want to pursue this

any more than you do. Any of it.

l'm here to present you with an offer.

We forget about the whole thing.

Next year, your academic schedule

will be less demanding.

You mean Crawford wanted that?

Crawford wants what's best for you

and for the school.

So, what am l supposed to do?

You hold up a championship trophy

at the end of this tournament.

You make that happen,

l'll make the rest of it happen.

All right?

Now go finish up

what you came here to do.

Let's go, Pilgrims!

Let's go, Pilgrims!

Okay, let's go! Throw it to Jamal!

Damn, man. Come on, man!

Defense! Defense!

Jamal, get the ball!

Good pass, man. Good pass.

Get up there.

Pick it up!

Offensive foul! That way!

Ten, gold. Offensive! That way.

Okay, you got them now. Let's go.

Time-out! Time-out!

This is still our game.

We make a stop here,

they'll have to put us on the line.

When that happens, it's all over.

Don't lose your composure out there.

lf they score,

we don't call a time-out.

The ball goes to Hartwell or Wallace.

Okay? Hartwell or Wallace.

Let's go, guys.

Go!

What's the score?

lt ain't looking good, Ma.

lt ain't looking good.

Foul, 22 blue! Two shots.

Foul's blue team, 22.

Hit, two. Go line up, guys.

Two shots.

Come on. We're gonna make these.

l can't look.

lt's gonna be all right, Ma.

Do it.

Damn.

One shot.

That's game.

Thank God!

He must have come in after we left.

Let him sleep.

-l'm gonna turn his bedroom light off.

-Turn it off and come on.

You started cleaning up

your room, Jamal.

He looks very happy with himself,

that coyote. Look, ears down....

Jamal, he wrote that for you.

When?

After the game.

He's going back to the school

this morning.

lt's funny, though.

They always let you get but so far...

...before they take

everything away from you.

God, he's such a good kid, man. Then

he gets to come back to this sh*t.

That seat open?

l think so.

This isn't exactly

where l thought l'd find you.

This is still my school.

They want me out,

they'll have to do it themselves.

They will.

Whatever.

''The winter's darkness and cold

is but a momentary prelude...

...to the new day of spring.

And while its grip seems endless...

...our perseverance proves equal.

We renew ourselves once again...

...seeking out the bright moments

that will serve--

That will serve therefore....

Therefore serve as the foundation

of our future.''

Thank you.

Professor Crawford...

...may l read a few words?

What's he doing here?

Yes, of course...

...by all means.

Thank you, professor.

My name is...

...William Forrester.

Excuse me.

l'm that one.

''Losing Family.''

''Losing family...

...obliges us to find our family.

Not always the family

that is our blood...

...but the family

that can become our blood.

And should we have the wisdom

to open our door to this new family...

...we will find that the wishes

we once had for the father...

...who once guided us...

...for the brother,

who once inspired us....

--the only thing left to say will be:

'l wish l had seen this, or l wish

l had done that, or l wish--'''

Most of you are too young...

...to know what your wishes will be.

But when l read these words...

...words of hope and dreams...

...l realize that the one wish...

...that was granted to me

so late in life...

...was the gift of frien--

Of friendship.

Mr. Forrester, l'm sure l speak

on behalf of everyone here...

...in thanking you for this

unexpected visit.

The quality of your words...

...is something we should all

aspire to reach.

Mr. Forrester?

Mr. Forrester, may l ask...

...to what do we owe this honor?

Professor Crawford...

...l spoke here today...

...because a friend of mine

wasn't allowed to.

A friend who had the integrity

to protect me...

...when l was unwilling

to protect him.

His name is Jamal Wallace.

Jamal Wallace is a friend of yours?

Yes. Yes, he is.

l helped him to find his own words...

...by starting with some of mine.

And in return, he promised...

...never to say anything to anybody

about me.

A promise which he kept.

Mr. Forrester...

...while your visit

appears to be heartfelt...

...l'm sure you will appreciate...

...that it will not change

or interfere...

...with this institution reaching a

fair and proper decision in his case.

There's one more issue here.

Those words that l read today...

...l didn't write them.

Jamal Wallace did.

Quiet.

Quiet! Quiet, please!

Be still.

Quiet, please.

That has no bearing...

...on the decision concerning--

As director of this competition,

l have final say in this matter.

Robert, sit down.

l have been a teacher

for more than 30 years.

That's long enough to know that

integrity counts for something.

l'd say that Mr. Forrester...

...has cleared up this matter

very nicely for us all.

And as chairman

of the faculty board...

...l have the last word

in that matter.

Mr. Wallace, you are excused

from next week's board meeting.

Mr. Forrester...

...should you ever have an interest

in a teaching position....

No.

Jamal, these are your words?

Sixteen.

Remarkable.

Well done.

l'm thinking you'll make

your own decisions from here on.

l'm thinking you're about to say

something more like, ''l always could.''

No. No more lessons.

But l have a question, though.

Those two foul shots

at the end of the game...

...did you miss them?

Or did you miss them?

Not exactly a soup question, is it?

Let's go.

Do you think our vaudeville act today

will merit the National Enquirer?.

Yeah, definitely.

Whatever happens...

...l'm off.

What's the word that you and

your friends would use for that?

Leaving?

Oh, God.

Where are you off to?

l have a homeland l haven't seen

for too long.

You mean lreland.

Scotland, for God's sake.

l'm messing with you, man.

Be sure to write.

-Hey, Jamal.

-What's up?

What's up, John?

You heard from William?

Yeah, but l don't know

what he's doing.

He keeps sending letters checking up

on these college recruiters.

l was just downstairs.

Looks like you got another one.

Word?

l'll see you around.

Jamal?

Steve Sanderson.

-How you doing?

-Good.

Thanks for coming

on such short notice.

No problem.

So, what school are you from?

Oh, no. l'm a lawyer here in town.

-l work with Roberts and Carter.

-Oh, a lawyer.

Yeah, but congratulations with that.

That's great.

That's really, really...great.

We got a bunch of the guys

in the office following you.

But we're the legal representation

for William Forrester.

How is he?

Here...

...sit down.

We've received word that William...

...passed away.

l'm sorry.

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