Woodlawn

---

1

If you'd have asked me

in 1973 if I believed in miracles,

I'd have said absolutely not.

I'd have told you it's a brutal world

out there, and my only comfort in it

is that I am the master of my own fate.

I'm the captain of my soul.

Some call what happened here a miracle,

and there is only one explanation,

only one way any of this

could've happened.

In the city of Birmingham,

the Department of Justice some time ago

instituted an investigation,

an attack on the city's

segregation ordinance.

I grew up in Birmingham, Alabama.

Some very, very good friends

of mine were killed by bombs,

bombs that were planted by racists.

I remember,

from the time I was very small,

I remember the sounds of bombs

exploding across the street,

our house shaking.

So what do you expect

with that type of injustice?

We are angry.

They killed Kennedy.

They killed King.

They killed Evers.

I don't think there is much

of a future at this point.

Not much at all.

They're just killing

everybody that wanna...

For the nation itself.

The true picture of what goes on here

can even be seen in American television.

If you look at it long enough,

the emptiness,

the spiritual bleakness,

the loss of meaning,

the loss of purpose.

There's no unity in the world.

You couldn't rally 500 people

to sincerely fight

for the same common cause,

no matter what that cause

might be, unless it's dollars.

The result of this is, of course,

the chaos that we live in.

They set fire to the country.

Get ridiculed, and you know,

discriminated, you know,

and be less than a man.

I don't think it's right, you know?

I draw the line in the dust

and toss the gauntlet

before the feet of tyranny,

and I say segregation now,

segregation tomorrow,

and segregation forever.

It's a sad day here in Birmingham,

a heartbreaking day,

the Crimson Tide about to be defeated

by the Trojans of Southern Cal

and their stellar tailback,

Sam "Bam" Cunningham.

A tough loss for

the Alabama Crimson Tide.

What happened, Coach?

We just got the stew

beat out of us by USC.

You weren't paying attention?

Why'd you bring USC to Birmingham?

Trying to make some sort of statement?

That's it, son.

We have a visitor.

Gentlemen, if wanting to win is a fault,

then I plead guilty.

I like to win.

Know no other way.

It's in my blood.

When I get beat, which

is gonna happen occasionally,

I like it to be by an opponent

worthy of my respect.

Fine game, son.

Thank you, sir.

Brave of you to play it.

Thank y'all for coming down here.

Where you been, Coach?

Talking to a real football player.

Time and a place for everything.

Ain't that what the Good Book says?

In memory of the 10-year

anniversary of the bombing

of the 16th Street

Baptist Church in Birmingham,

here's the late

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.:

What murdered these four girls?

The apathy and the complacency

of many Negro

who will sit down on

their stools and do nothing

and not engage in creative protests

to get rid of this evil system.

Tell your mom I'll be home late.

Nobody forcing you to play.

You know that, right?

You sound like Mama now.

She just don't wanna see you get hurt.

That's just natural.

Hey, Tony.

Where you live from?

Love you, boy.

I'm frustrated all the time

by what I see,

and wonder when it'll end

and if it ever will end.

What do you think?

It's unbelievable.

What's the name of the school?

Woodlawn.

Listen up, guys.

Listen up.

Morton.

Allyson.

Parker.

Parker?

Anger.

I see it in your faces.

You're angry because of what's

happened to this school.

You've been berated...

or beaten...

or shot at.

So have I.

None of us chose this.

It was forced on us.

But we can choose together

what we will do with it.

So, if it is anger that unites us,

then let's use that anger to win, boys.

'Cause winning fixes just

about everything, doesn't it?

Are there any questions?

I didn't think so.

Let's go do it.

Sweet home Alabama

Where the skies are so blue

It's not that hot out here, boy.

Come on, let's go!

Sweet home Alabama

Lord, I'm coming home to you

Stay down, boy.

You don't belong.

Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

That's my boy!

- You see that?

- I'm right here, Jerry.

Hey, it's okay, cupcake.

That was just Superman

flying over your head.

It's not your fault.

Watch your mouth, boy!

Hey! Hey!

That's enough!

Suicides, everybody, thanks to you two.

Let's go.

Look at the man beside you.

This is what happens when

you fight against each other

instead of fighting to be a team.

You shower when we're done, Superman.

Over, under, through, and tie.

Let me help you.

I don't wanna go.

It's okay.

Your school is not like my school.

Will it ever be?

Over, under, through.

Ready?

Yes, sir.

Let's go.

See ya, buddy.

Mornin'.

In whose world?

I am Coach Gerelds.

I love football and not science,

so please pay attention

while I give you all the answers.

Okay, let's get started.

Hey, you gonna quit?

Why?

It's what y'all do.

Come in.

Hey, Coach.

I'm Hank.

So, you're making plays?

Mm-hmm.

Yeah.

Look, I know you're a busy man,

so I'll get right to the point.

I'd like to have a meeting

with your football team.

About what?

Jesus Christ.

Oh, wow, what are you,

some kind of preacher or something?

No, no, not a preacher.

I'm a sports chaplain, actually.

I like to find different

teams to work with.

I just wanna talk to 'em.

Well, I'm sorry, Hank, but you can't.

You know this is a public school?

Yeah.

Yeah, I know.

Look, I've seen some things

all over the country.

I've seen amazing things.

Well, you are not gonna see them here.

I think your players could use it.

I think you could too.

Listen, Hank, if my team

needs something,

I will tell you.

Wait up, Johnnie.

So, who is she?

Her name Johnnie, I told you.

That's her real name?

That's the name she go by.

If you're so curious, why

don't you just ask her yourself?

Of course, that would

require you to actually talk,

or ride the bus with the rest of us.

I talk.

She don't even know you exist.

Nobody does.

How she gonna see what's invisible?

Reggie...

Hey, break it up!

Break it up, now!

I expect you to control

your school, son!

Five hundred kids getting bussed to

a place every day they don't wanna be.

Twenty-five hundred kids

don't want 'em here.

What did you think was gonna happen?

What's he talking for?

He ain't got a right here.

- I'm not gonna stand here...

- Let me deal with it.

I don't have to stand here

and be berated by this gentleman.

- Coach!

- I'm not done!

COACH! I could arrange that!

Now, who do you think you are?

Oh yeah, you're the assistant principal.

Only reason you are that is

'cause we ain't got nobody else.

Now, if you're done, I got

something to say to you.

The national spotlight is off

our city first time in a decade,

so I think it's time our town

came to its right and proper balance.

And if that means closing

the doors to this school,

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes