Hoosiers Page #4

---

I don't want to see you again!

Not in this game! You're out!

You're gone, both of you. Out!

Come on, boys.

- You all right?

- Yeah, I'm OK.

You better get outta here.

I'll do the best I can.

Good riddance, you jackass!

- Got him a good one, didn't I, Coach?

- Yeah, you did.

Just a little while, OK?

How you feeling?

Tired.

They're sayin' my pump's

going bad on me.

Why didn't you tell me?

No need for that.

I guess the doctor says

you gotta it take easy.

- No more basketball games for a while.

- Yeah.

Well, looks like you're on your own.

Oh, that's fine.

You kinda like being on your own.

I'd kinda like to see you up on your feet.

You can count on it.

Anybody home?

Identify!

- It's Norm.

- Norm?

- Yeah.

- What you doin' out here?

What happened to my scout?

We're playing Verdi tonight.

Verdi, huh? Well, we'll talk.

This is my domicile here.

Sit yourself down over there

by the fire and warm up.

- This is it, huh?

- Yeah.

It gets pretty rough here

in the winter, but I manage.

- Want a little snort?

- No, thanks.

- Don't mind if I do.

- I got a proposition for you.

Cletus is gonna be laid up for a while,

and I want you to give me a hand.

Well, I can tell you anything

that you need to know.

No, you don't understand.

I want you to be my assistant.

I want you to come to the practices and

sit on the bench with me during games.

Me? You want me?

What do you say?

Under the following conditions.

That you, uh...

clean yourself up and, uh...

you shave.

You show up at the games on time, and

the practices, and wear a shirt and tie.

I got myself a suit, right there. I got a

wingdinger. I was married in that suit.

And that you're sober.

Oh, no.

- My wife sent you.

- No.

My son?

What... what has my drinkin' got to do

with my knowledge about basketball?

You can't drink in front of these boys.

If I smell even a trace of liquor

on your breath, you'll be finished.

I don't have to hear that from you.

You're embarrassing your son.

I don't need to hear that.

I'd... I'd like you to leave.

I'd like you to leave now.

Time-out, ref!

Nice shot, Rade.

Guys, you're playing real well. Real well.

Put more pressure on the ball.

Be real patient on your offence.

What's he doin' here?

Shooter here is gonna be

one of our assistants. Got it?

You got anything you wanna...?

- Coach, you figure on playing ball or not?

- Yeah, we'll be there.

- OK, come on.

- Let's go!

Team!

Come on, play ball. Play ball.

- I ain't feelin' real good.

- You'll be fine.

The kids are starting to get it.

I mean, it's really fun.

Progress.

Progress is electricity,

school consolidation,

church remodelling, second farm tractors,

second farm cars, hay balers...

Corn-pickers, grain combines,

field choppers and indoor plumbing.

All right, you're dismissed.

What's on your mind?

Well...

Coach, what you're doing with my dad...

I'm not seeing it.

Why not?

Cos he's a drunk,

he'll do something stupid.

When's the last time

somebody gave him a chance?

He don't deserve a chance.

Go on.

How are you?

I've been asked, as acting principal,

to inform you that

a petition has been issued

requesting a referendum

on your removal as basketball coach.

The vote'll be made

at a town meeting on Saturday.

I guess that gives me until

Friday night's game to prove myself, huh?

I think it goes a lot deeper

than one game, don't you?

Time-out! Time-out!

Technical foul. On the floor

while the game was in progress.

The ball was dead.

I was calling a time-out.

- You're gone.

- What?!

Out. I'm reporting you

to the state commission.

What?! What are you talking about?!

I'm not leaving here!

You're gone!

That ain't fair. It ain't fair what people

in this town are trying to do to you.

You stay in the game.

I need your help. Stay in the game.

Shooter's gonna take you home.

You pay attention.

Hi. Sorry.

It's me. Cletus told me

where I could find you.

I used to play in these fields.

I used to wonder what it would feel like

to start walking and just keep going.

That's tempting.

Aren't you the kind who'd rather

look for a fight than run away?

What?

"Norman Dale, coach of national

champions Ithaca Warriors,

was given a lifetime suspension,

to be honoured by all NCAA signatories,

for physically assaulting his own player

in Ithaca's last season's game."

"This was the latest

in a series of incidents

involving the successful

though highly volatile coach."

"The New York High School Athletic

Association will honour the suspension."

- Where'd you find that article?

- The library in Deerlick.

I was curious.

I wanna tell you that I think your efforts

in regards to Shooter have been noble.

They have, they've been fine.

And I appreciate you staying away

from Jimmy the way you have.

I don't think you'd better be there tonight.

It won't be pleasant.

I've made some mistakes, but they're

mistakes I take full responsibility for.

I was hired to teach the boys the game of

basketball. I did it to the best of my ability.

I apologise for nothing.

You may not be pleased

with the results, but I am.

I'm very proud of these boys.

I, um...

I think, in order to be fair...

I think it would be a big mistake

to let Coach Dale go.

Give him a chance.

Sam and Rollin

will pass out the ballots.

A "yes" vote means he stays, a "no" vote

he goes. Let's do this as quick as we can.

Jimmy, what are you doing here?

- What can I do for you, Jimmy?

- I got something to say.

Son, you better say what you got to say.

I don't know if it'll make any change,

but I figure it's time for me

to start playing ball.

I told you, once we got rid of him!

One other thing.

I play, Coach stays. He goes, I go.

Look, wait. The coach

is dismissed by a vote of 68 to 45.

I think we should vote again!

There's a call for a revote.

All those in favour of

the coach staying say "aye".

Aye!

Those opposed?

Nay!

Coach stays.

Hey! You listen to me.

I stuck my neck out for you.

Live up to your end of the bargain,

or get in a hospital and dry out.

- I don't think I can cut it.

- You can. I didn't think I could cut it.

But after what Jimmy did, it would take

the Indiana National Guard to get me out.

- My nerves are shot.

- Hey, we're coming together as a team.

With Jimmy, all the pistons are firing.

We got ten games to play, right?

We're gonna be a tough team to beat.

Now you come along for the ride, OK?

But you got to give me your word that

you will not be kicked out of no games.

Scout's honour.

Scout's honour!

That's a foul

on number 21 in the red.

I just wanna discuss this with him.

Just take it easy.

- You got pigeon sh*t in your eyes?

- Now, relax.

You're pathetic!

You're a disgrace to your profession!

- Kick me out.

- You're putting me on.

No. Kick me out of the game or

I'll start screaming like a mad fool.

You got your reasons. You're outta here!

- What?! Oh, come on!

- No!

Come on! That's ridiculous!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes