Love & Basketball

Swish! That's "horse."

- You can't make that.

- Watch me.

You guys are too easy.

Just wait till

I get big like Kareem.

You want to be like Kareem?

All his big butt do

is stand by the basket.

- I be blocking your stuff.

- Yeah, right.

Hey, look. Q.

I thought you said

only girls were moving in.

That's what my mom said.

Hope he can ball.

- Bet he's a scrub like Kelvin.

- Shut up.

- Can I play?

- No.

- You nice?

- Yeah, I'm nice.

All right.

You and Kelvin

against me and Jamal.

- Oh, man!

- He is a girl!

- Girls can't play no ball.

- Better than you.

- What a dog.

- She heard you.

She can only hear dog whistles.

- Check.

- Check.

Damn! She dogged you, man.

- Shut up!

- One-zip.

Lucky.

Damn!

I got her.

Told you I was nice.

I'm gonna be

the first girl in the NBA.

I'll be in the NBA.

You'll be my cheerleader.

Oh, God.

Be quiet.

How you feeling, munchkin?

You tough.

She needs to stop running

around like a boy.

- She's all right.

- Looking the way she does?

Camille, she'll be fine.

Let me find you some gauze.

Girl, who you trying to fool?

Alley-oop, dad.

Boy. New neighbors.

Really?

See, Quincy, this is how

your moms caught me.

With the old fake and bake.

Thought I was catching

a sister who could burn.

I can't do this sh*t.

Boy, what did I tell you

about using that word?

"Can't" should never be

in a man's vocabulary.

And why not?

'Cause when you say "can't",

you ain't a man.

- That's right.

- Zeke.

What? Oh, yeah.

Don't say sh*t.

Come on.

We should head on over.

Just you and Quincy, baby.

I got a meeting.

- With who?

- Some business folks.

You just got back

from a four-game road trip.

Nona, please don't

start bitching.

I got maybe

two years left to play.

I'm trying to put

some things together for us.

See you later, man.

Be good. I love you.

I love you, Dad.

So how long

have y'all been here?

We moved back here

when Quince was about five...

after Zeke was traded again.

The neighborhood was

a little more mixed then.

Before the black people

down the street...

became the black people

next-door. OK?

Thank you so much again.

This was terribly

nice of you, Nona.

Girl, don't worry about it.

It's the least I could do.

I love to cook.

You do? I cook for my friends'

parties back in Atlanta.

You're a caterer?

No. Once Nathan

gets settled in, though...

and the girls

are a little older...

that's certainly something

Mom would like to try.

Do you know as long as

I have lived next-door...

I have never seen

the inside of this house?

Let's just have a look.

Honey, put that

on the table for mom.

Quince, help her.

So how come you

can play basketball?

I just can.

I never knew

a girl that can play.

Momma says she doesn't

know why I act different.

- Your dad play?

- He works at a bank.

My dad plays for the Clippers.

He says I'm gonna be

a doctor or a lawyer...

but I'm gonna play for them.

Same number and everything.

I'm gonna be number 32,

like Magic.

He's all right.

My dad can take him.

What was the most points

you daddy ever got?

I don't know. A lot.

Well, one game,

Magic scored 48 points...

they only had

six-minute quarters...

and he sat out

the whole fourth quarter.

- You do act different.

- I don't care.

If anybody messes with you...

just let me know,

'cause I run this street.

I'll tell my sister Lena.

She don't know how to box.

My dad taught me

how to fight like Ali.

I know karate

from Almighty Isis.

Bet you can't do this, though.

How about this?

Monica. Sit still.

And don't sit

on your knees, sweetie.

You're gonna turn them black.

You are lucky I found it.

Someone had put

your box of dresses...

underneath a pile of rags

in the garage.

- You OK?

- Yeah. I need to lay down.

I've been running around

all day.

Honey, which one

of these for tomorrow?

- Blue stripe.

- You sure?

You want to iron them both?

Just in case.

- Sure.

- Thanks, sweetie.

That boy next-door will ride

to school with you tomorrow.

You'll know somebody.

Hurry up. I'll come

back up for good nights.

Make it look nice, OK?

You want to be my girl?

What do I have to do?

I guess we can play ball

and ride to school together.

When you get mad at me,

I got to give you flowers.

But I don't like flowers.

How about Twinkies?

My mom won't ever buy them.

I think we ought to kiss now.

For how long?

Five seconds?

Not out here.

Over there, then.

Ready?

Wait.

'Cause you my girl,

you got to ride on my bike.

I want to ride my own bike.

- My dad always drives my mom.

- So?

That means I have to ride you.

Come on.

I don't have to do what you say.

Forget you, then, stupid.

You stupid, and your dad plays

for the worst team in the NBA.

What?

Last time they won,

Dr. J was a nurse.

Shut up!

I don't want to be

your boyfriend, you ugly dog.

I don't want to be

your girlfriend, big head.

Get off me!

Big head.

Hey, Q.

Play some "D"!

Technical foul.

For what?

Damn! Come on, get in.

Let it go.

Unsportsmanlike conduct, white.

- For what?

- Technical foul.

- Man, you suck!

- Two shots.

Sit down and shut up.

Let it go. She feels better.

Oh, please.

She's behaving horribly.

I'm out.

I need a sub.

Karinda, sub, sub, sub.

Dad, you got to talk

to coach for me.

What am I supposed

to say to the man?

Tell him to keep me

on the floor.

The coach

from UCLA was there.

He has me riding the bench.

- You lost your head.

- I was showing emotion.

So it's all right

for you to act like that?

Whatever.

- What did you do?

- Nothing.

I don't know why

I keep hoping...

you'll grow out

of this tomboy thing.

I won't. I'm a lesbian.

That's not funny.

That's what you think...

'cause I'd rather wear

a jersey than an apron?

Please.

Monica, I think what

your mother is saying is...

Maybe it's time

you start thinking

about other things

beside basketball.

What?

One game left and

you haven't been recruited.

Munchkin, I wanted this

as bad as you did...

but we have to face reality.

The coach from USC

will be at the championship.

I know, but chances are...

Chances are

there's still a chance.

If you would just listen

to someone for a change...

you'd realize you have a lot

going for yourself.

You're smart.

You would be pretty if you'd

do something with your hair.

I don't know why you run around

with your hair looking like...

"Who shot John

and forgot to kill him."

You'd be real pleasant-looking

if you'd smile.

My mom's about to be home.

I'm not good enough

to meet your moms?

Now, girl.

If my moms knew I had a hottie

like you up in the crib...

she would beat

the black off of me.

That's a lot of beatin'.

Hey, girl.

Your hair looks

really cute like that.

Thanks.

So, do you know who Q is asking

to the spring dance?

Nope.

Come on, girl.

You live right next-door.

Just tell me

who's been creeping.

There's just so many,

I can't keep track.

Can you give him this for me?

Please?

Give it yourself.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote