Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty 1x7

1. It was a polio year,

2. and I was 6 years old,

3. and my mother decides to teach me

4. every card and board game known to man.

5. Gin rummy, blackjack, poker, bridge.

6. Eventually, we landed on Monopoly.

7. Now, Monopoly takes strategy,

8. and skill, like those other games,

9. but it also throws in an element of chance.

10. So, no matter how good you are at the game,

11. the bad breaks come,

12. and they knock you on your ass.

13. And, well, lately, we've had a few of those.

14. "Banker's up your ass.

15. Pay three million bucks."

16. "Coach falls off bike.

17. Go back 10 spaces."

18. "Mother diagnosed with metastatic cancer.

19. Stare into abyss."

20. Yeah. So, it turns out my mother wasn't losing her marbles.

21. It was cancer giving her strokes. Anyway...

22. Thing about luck is, it cuts both ways.

23. You hold on long enough, and you stay in the game.

24. It's the law of big numbers.

25. Eventually...

26. it goes your way.

27. "Win NBA Championship. Find happiness and peace you seek."

28. My point is...

29. I'm fucking due.

30. ("My Favorite Mutiny" by The Coup playing

31. - (whistle blows

32. Well, that stings, Patrick. Lakers staring down

33. the barrel of another loss,

34. now hanging on to first in the division by a wee thread.

35. Momentum is wearing off. With Jack McKinney out,

36. - Paul Westhead is trying to do an awful lot all by himself. - Hey! Psst!

37. Kid! Come here!

38. Defense!

39. Jesus fucking Christ. Jack, what the fuck?

40. - Okay, come on! - Hey, Coach!

41. Get me back in the game!

42. Come on, Coach. Get me back in there!

43. - Get Silk outta there! - Come on!

44. Get your goddamn head outta your ass, for Christ's sake!

45. You suck, Westhead, you suck!

46. - Ref! - You're outta timeouts.

47. Riley said that I should tell you.

48. Fuck! Okay.

49. Cooper, foul! Take the foul!

50. - Well, Michael Cooper takes

51. an intentional foul, and, uh, well,

52. you gotta wonder whose intent it was

53. because he's picked up his sixth foul,

54. - and he has fouled out of the game. - No, no, you're staying in.

55. - Coach, that's six. I'm out of the game. - Okay, Chones!

56. Ankle. He's in the locker room.

57. Landsberger?

58. - Me? Landsberger? - Yes! Come on.

59. You out your goddamn mind, man. You out your goddamn mind.

60. Let's focus up, guys.

61. Alright, Country, look.

62. Go quick. Two for one, yeah?

63. Y'all take off on the inbounds, and I'll hit you on the flop.

64. - Word. - Cool? Cool? You good, Coach?

65. Alright, we got ya, Coach.

66. You need to cut bait.

67. You're jumping the gun. He's jumping the gun.

68. West— Westhead's still getting his sea legs.

69. Oh, fucking— You can't teach a pig to paint, Bill.

70. I mean, the boys, th-they're out there, treating him like

71. a substitute fuckin' teacher 'cause that's what he is.

72. Fellas are coaching themselves.

73. - And we're surviving it. - For now.

74. What are you even doing here, Jerry?

75. Shouldn't you be on a golf course?

76. Oh! Fuck it! I may be retired, Bill,

77. but I ain't fuckin' Helen Keller!

78. - I can see what's going on! I give a fuck! I care! - Okay. Okay!

79. You don't think Paul can hold the fort

80. until McKinney is back on his feet?

81. It depends. How soon is that?

82. Docs don't know. Maybe the All-Star game.

83. See? Or maybe the Playoffs.

84. Then it becomes a chess match.

85. If we don't have a real coach soon,

86. you may as well give up on the fuckin' season.

87. I'm not giving up on anything.

88. Then Elgin Baylor's our guy.

89. Y... Your guy.

90. I just heard from him.

91. Rumors hit him, too, that we may need reinforcements.

92. Lifetime Laker, guys respect him.

93. Good story. Hell, great fuckin' story for the fans.

94. Shit, I woulda hired him the first time around

95. if we had the chance, but, uh, him leaving Utah now?

96. Well, that's just kismet. Lady luck.

97. We play his brand of offense, he slots right in.

98. And if we pull the trigger soon...

99. Well, he's still got time to make some changes

100. and make the team his own.

101. I'm telling you. It's shit

102. - or get off the pot. - Alright.

103. We bring him in as a sub.

104. And what happens when McKinney's ready?

105. Well, that's going to be the problem.

106. No coach worth his salt is going to come in as a temp,

107. so you'll have to make Elgin...

108. you know, a guarantee, probably the end of the season.

109. You're saying cut bait on McKinney, too.

110. It's a big risk, changing horses.

111. It's all a fucking big risk, Bill. I mean, shit.

112. Your best bet's in the hospital,

113. you got Hamlet on the sideline looking for his fuckin' dick.

114. All I'm saying is "interim."

115. It must end. It's what the fuckin' word means.

116. You have to put your chips on someone soon,

117. or you can kiss the fuckin' season goodbye.

118. Fuck a duck.

119. Crisscross applesauce.

120. What?

121. Crisscross applesauce.

122. Could you please not help me?

123. Just...

124. Yes, you're almost there.

125. You just have to ke— keep pulling the lace through the—

126. - Goddamn it!

127. Been working on your shooting touch?

128. I got a coach around here somewhere.

129. This a bad time?

130. No. Stay.

131. We need the break.

132. I'm sorry.

133. She needs a break from me. You caught me in a mood.

134. Hm, you must have seen the game last night.

135. They pulled it out.

136. Yeah,

137. and the guys said that should've been an easy one.

138. What else are the guys saying?

139. That we're being out-coached.

140. And this keeps up, we're gonna blow our shot.

141. They've seen enough.

142. I need to make a run this season, Jack.

143. Then bet on me.

144. I know I don't look like your sure thing, but...

145. I'm your guy.

146. I'm comin' back.

147. - If Westhead keeps slip— - Give him the road trip.

148. Indiana, Detroit.

149. Boston. Now, there's a test.

150. That's the best team in the league.

151. Closest thing to playoff- level competition.

152. And it's the Garden.

153. You know what the Garden's like. It's a beast.

154. If Paul can beat them in the Garden,

155. then he can mind the store until the doctors clear me

156. to come back. One month.

157. Two months tops.

158. Look at you.

159. Boston.

160. You're under a microscope.

161. West is circling like a vulture

162. and already looking to replace us.

163. Christ. I'm doing my best, Jack.

164. I need better than that.

165. I came back from the dead for this.

166. - For this, Paul. - I know.

167. I should be gone. I'm not.

168. I'm here, and I'll be back on that sideline

169. if it kills me again.

170. But not if you can't keep this thing together for me.

171. I won't let you down, Jack.

172. I'm just glad a lifetime of this shit is good for something.

173. I would, uh...

174. What do you... What do you think

175. about if we make this something more official?

176. - This thing, you and me? - Uh...

177. I'm a married man.

178. I'm flailing out there, Pat.

179. I know it.

180. Everybody knows it. I need an assistant.

181. And not like this, you know, ad hoc

182. passing notes down from the press box.

183. I need somebody with me.

184. On the bench.

185. For this trip.

186. - But, assistant coach? - Yeah, I mean, why not?

187. You're fucking great at it.

188. Look, no offense to your broadcasting career,

189. but Chick is not going to miss you.

190. - Is he? I will. - No.

191. I really will. So, so, what do you say?

192. Please.

193. What about Jack?

194. What happens when he comes back? I mean,

195. if I quit my job for this,

196. I can't go back to wandering the beach. I-I'll fucking croak.

197. We'll keep you— He'll...

198. He'll keep you on.

199. - Yeah? - Absolutely.

200. Fuck it! What? Fuck it.

201. - Fuck it yes?

202. Shit, fuck it. Yeah, I'm in.

203. - Yes! - Let's kick some ass.

204. This is— Let's kick— Yeah, absolutely.

205. I'm gonna shake your hand, and I'm gonna hug you.

206. And Johnson's putting on a show tonight,

207. a tremendous athlete with a talented team behind him.

208. But, man for man, Larry Bird

209. has got to be the more skilled player.

210. This kid from Indiana farm country,

211. he's not thinking about the shot in front of him.

212. He's thinking about the game.

213. He must see the whole court in his head.

214. I want to thank my family. I want to thank Coach

215. for drawing up a game plan and Indiana State for—

216. - They played a hell of a game.

217. Mm, all the fans that done came out.

218. - I just wanna say thank—

219. Gonna torch that smiley ass in Boston, punk.

220. You wish, motherfucker.

221. Here you go, sir. Time to take the Magic Show on the road.

222. Three cities, five nights,

223. two in Michigan. Gonna catch the fam,

224. see Cook, then it's off to Boston.

225. Hey, Magic! Magic! Hey, Magic!

226. First shot at Larry Bird as a pro. You excited?

227. Larry on this trip? Guess I must've forgot.

228. I got my mind on Detroit.

229. Whole team be coming by the Johnson family house

230. for Christmas dinner.

231. We'll bring y'all doggie bag.

232. I know it's a big rematch.

233. - Any nerves? - Nerves?

234. Nah, it's just another game, man.

235. I'm sure you've heard the numbers Larry put on Philly.

236. I mean, they're already talking MVP.

237. Yeah? Hadn't heard.

238. Excuse me, fellas. Got a flight to catch.

239. Do you think he's Rookie of the Year?

240. You know, y'all keep asking me about him.

241. Larry took me too light last time. And how that work out?

242. - Dude best be worryin' about me. - That's my quote.

243. - So you out for blood this time? - Will he be crying into another towel...

244. - Gentlemen! - ... after this game or what?

245. That's enough. We have a flight.

246. No more questions, Cap.

247. I fucked up, didn't I?

248. Hey, Earvin.

249. There you go. First road trip?

250. - Mm-hmm. - Alright. You know,

251. there are gonna be a lot of groupies out there.

252. You just wanna... wrap it up,

253. you know what I'm saying?

254. - We'll see. - Alright? Trust me.

255. - Hey, kid. - Hey, Chick.

256. I'm telling you, Patricia, you're making

257. a big mistake with this whole coaching business.

258. I think your true calling is in herding cats.

259. - Ha, ha. Thanks, Chick.

260. I'm gonna miss him.

261. - Take this, please. Thank you. - Please! Just listen! Pat!

262. - Jerry? - You tell the Gestapo here—

263. This man does not have a ticket.

264. - Jerry, what are you— - Jerry West. Right on there.

265. Thank you very much for your help.

266. - God, Jesus fuckin' Christ. - What is this? What's going on?

267. Well, it's a last-minute thing.

268. I'm doing a little, uh, consulting,

269. working on a, uh, scouting problem for Buss.

270. Well, the office didn't tell me you were coming. I...

271. Well, it must be right there. It's a little, you know,

272. mum's the word. Don't wanna ruffle any feathers.

273. So, which seat am I in, Pat? Sort this out, okay?

274. - Don't leave me hanging. Thank you for your help. - Uh...

275. - Next to Chick here? - Uh,

276. well, no, you can have my seat.

277. - Yeah? Where's that? - That's, uh, right by the toilet.

278. - Over there. Coach. - Down here in the clown section, huh?

279. Hey, uh, Paul?

280. Any clue why West is here? He says he's on a scout.

281. Are we making any moves on personnel?

282. I mean, if we drop this one to Indiana, we might have to.

283. Well, you weren't wrong about your mother.

284. She's one hell of an accountant. Even her mistakes are good.

285. - How's that, Claire? - Three words.

286. Depreciation of assets.

287. We're gonna need some more words.

288. Okay. It's like this.

289. Every team pays their players as employees,

290. but, according to the IRS, they're also assets.

291. Which means we should be able to deduct their total value

292. in depreciation over time.

293. - Yeah, their salaries. - No, we already write off their salaries.

294. That's just what they earn.

295. The total value, that's more murky.

296. That's what they're worth. Without these players,

297. we don't have a team. So, in that sense,

298. their total value to the business

299. must be the total value of the business.

300. Everything you paid for it.

301. - No. - No fucking way. Impossible.

302. Yet strangely legal,

303. and maybe just enough to save your ass.

304. If we can keep winning and make a playoff run,

305. which, I guess you know, is a pretty big if.

306. Lakers here in Indiana

307. on the first of a three-game holiday season road trip

308. against a struggling Pacers team.

309. This should be as sure a thing as a candy cane

310. in your stocking Christmas morning.

311. Yeah, they got us there, gang.

312. But we gonna get 'em the next one.

313. We headin' to D-Town, and we ain't losing in D-Town.

314. You feel me? Go home,

315. get me some of my mama's home cooking.

316. - And we gonna be a'ight.

317. Hey! Magic Man! Sign these?

318. - Larry's gonna eat your lunch.

319. Hey, put the tits away.

320. We'll see. You tune in and find out.

321. So, should we be nagging Coach to give you some more minutes?

322. Man, what I say? Huh? Maybe if the coach put me in

323. outside of garbage time, gave me a real run,

324. they wouldn't be gettin' beat in the paint. That's for sure.

325. - But that ain't on me.

326. You can ask the Nutty Professor though.

327. Shit.

328. You fuckin' kidding me?

329. Listen to me.

330. That crossed a fucking line, alright?

331. He's been pushing you. Alright?

332. The other guys see you walk away from this,

333. - you're gonna be a substitute forever. - It's my fault.

334. I heard something a few weeks ago.

335. I overreacted. I benched him.

336. it spiraled, and now it's public.

337. - But it's my fault. - Alright, so?

338. Talk to him.

339. Tell him. Tell Spencer.

340. - Just apologize. - That's your...

341. That's your grand advice?

342. They already treat me like a pushover.

343. These aren't fucking college kids.

344. Paul, these are men. Okay?

345. They will respect you if you treat them with respect.

346. - Let him through, let him through.

347. I appreciate the insight, Pat.

348. Shit.

349. Well...

350. Oh-for-one on the road trip.

351. Are you still sure you wanna bet it all on beating Boston?

352. - How's your mother? - She's pretending to be asleep.

353. Landed on my best hotel and conked right out.

354. A Monopoly man, huh?

355. Yeah. You play?

356. I used to when the kids were young.

357. And then, they decided to stop playing with me

358. because I guess I can be a little competitive.

359. - Mine started ganging up

360. together with their mother to beat me.

361. I'd be out making business deals all week.

362. They'd be plotting how to keep me off of Boardwalk.

363. You know, I probably should've let 'em win more often.

364. Maybe we'd still be playing.

365. You always think there's gonna be a point

366. where it's gonna slow down, don't you?

367. Now, we got two in college, two more about to be in college.

368. - And here's your vacation.

369. Wanna play a game?

370. If you think you can handle it.

371. You don't strike me as somebody who likes to lose.

372. Oh, the top hat never loses.

373. Not until he gets his ass kicked by the shoe.

374. Really?

375. Clear off the Jell-O, hotshot.

376. You're about to taste the wrath of the top hat.

377. Local Lansing hero Earvin "Magic" Johnson

378. is back in Michigan tonight, and not just on your TVs,

379. advertising shoes.

380. Of course, with all

381. the fancy shit our boy's been up to in LA,

382. the question on everybody's mind, will Magic bother

383. looking twice at his old homegirl Cookie Kelly?

384. Or did he only send her tickets to the game

385. to rub her nose in it that he's moved on,

386. and she's a head case for still carrying the torch?

387. - Tune in—

388. Girl, when you are married,

389. you buying me a big old diamond ring to match

390. - for introducing you. A finder's fee.

391. Honestly, I don't even think I'm interested.

392. So, you ain't worried?

393. Mm-mmm!

394. Boy always had a wandering eye.

395. Bet by now, they fell right out his head,

396. Then why he calling me then?

397. Every night, out there in Cali.

398. Why'd he send the last girl's daddy

399. just so I would show my face?

400. Girl, I don't need no ring.

401. I got that man wrapped around my little finger.

402. Okay, Cookie.

403. - Over here! - Yeah, it's good to be back.

404. - Real good. Yeah. There you go.

405. Yeah, no problem. What's your name? Shawn?

406. My name is Shawn. It's nice to meet you!

407. Hey, Shawn.

408. Man, I got you. Here you go.

409. Thanks, man!

410. Well, isn't he the center of attention?

411. Yeah yeah, he sure is.

412. - You gonna be as good as me one day. - Thank you so much!

413. - So cool. - You're the best, Magic!

414. I'm sorry, y'all. I gotta go. Cook!

415. Mm-mmm!

416. You believe this? Since we rode in.

417. - Thought Stevie Wonder must be in town, but no!

418. It's all for me.

419. It's... something else.

420. Ain't it?

421. Hey, Rhonda.

422. Hey.

423. I missed you.

424. Mm, stop.

425. You stop lookin' so good.

426. Earleatha, darling, you look ravishing!

427. Dr. Day.

428. Man from Buick is here to see you.

429. Oh, can it wait?

430. Gonna see Pop later on tonight,

431. he was wanting to talk it over.

432. Best not. Bad idea to keep these corporations waiting.

433. Look-it, you want to get the old man on the phone?

434. Nah. Nah. You think it's the real deal,

435. - let's do it. - Okay. Wise man.

436. Excuse us for a minute, angels.

437. I'll be right back, Cook. - Mm-hm.

438. I heard he picks some girls out of the stands at every game.

439. You should've worn a brighter color.

440. You could've wore a disco ball, bitch.

441. Come on, Cookie.

442. Coach Riley. Coach Riley.

443. I'm Coach Riley.

444. How you doin'? Ahem.

445. What the fuck's this motherfucker up to?

446. Oh, wow. Hi. Hey, Jerry.

447. - This Detroit? - Yes, it is, Jerry. Hi.

448. How's the scout coming?

449. Uh-huh. Yeah, it's... coming. Just, uh,

450. just making sure we got the personnel we need to make a run.

451. We're, uh...

452. we're turning it around.

453. Just you watch.

454. Mm-hmm.

455. Mm. Hey, Jer.

456. Eating my leftovers?

457. - I'll leave you boys to it. - Alright.

458. Lay off the fuckin' French fries.

459. I like french fries.

460. Don't sweat it, alright? Come on. He's a busybody.

461. Don't sweat it. Anyway...

462. God's smiling. Hm?

463. Detroit's the pits of the league.

464. We got these suckers.

465. Well, folks, the Lakers are looking to redeem themselves

466. and move from Santa's naughty list

467. to something nicer with a win tonight

468. against the last place Detroit Pistons.

469. Shouldn't take a Christmas miracle

470. to mark this one a W.

471. Sent the bus to Lansing.

472. I told them you had family in town.

473. I'm certainly glad I don't.

474. It's one game. Hm?

475. Who watches basketball on Christmas?

476. Shake it off and function forward.

477. Forward where?

478. You said yourself we're in the fucking pits.

479. We just got blown out by the worst team in the league, so...

480. Well, not anymore.

481. They beat us.

482. Alright, we're sitting on a pile of coal.

483. We put on our big boy pants,

484. we put our heads together, and we press out a diamond in Boston.

485. What's gonna change?

486. Huh? Me?

487. Pat...

488. I'm not supposed to be here.

489. It's Jack's team. You're Jack's guy.

490. And Jack's coming back, right?

491. Few more weeks.

492. It's the dramatist in me. You're right.

493. Hey. You got plans for Christmas? Huh?

494. No.

495. Yes, you do.

496. Bringing in Chinese,

497. we're drinking a six-pack,

498. and we're figuring out how we're going to ruin Boston's New Year.

499. Huh?

500. Yeah. Yeah. Alright.

501. Fuck Boston.

502. What that game was is a lesson in humility.

503. Showboating, fancy passes.

504. No wonder you had all those turnovers.

505. Ma, you wasn't even there.

506. I know my son.

507. She was listening on the radio.

508. Every game. And you better believe it.

509. So, I might tune in on occasion.

510. - Let me talk to you.

511. We gotta talk about that Buick deal.

512. Been doing some research.

513. Not sure you wanna put your name on them cars, son.

514. Boys on the line been saying quality is falling off.

515. Look, Pop, uh, thing is...

516. I actually already signed the deal today.

517. Dr. Day got it worked out real good though.

518. He did, huh?

519. Told you he was helping me, didn't I?

520. - Yeah, you mentioned that. - There's the man of the hour.

521. And... the man's old man.

522. How you doin' there, brother Earvin?

523. You still workin' the line?

524. Honest pay for an honest day.

525. How's your daughter doing though?

526. - Hm? - Oh.

527. - She be blessed and highly favored. - Pop...

528. - Blessed on her knees. - Hey, Pop, Pop, Pop.

529. Why don't you let us talk some business?

530. I thought that's what we do together.

531. Dr. Day been doing right by me!

532. We building Magic Johnson Enterprises.

533. It's not Magic Johnson on my mind.

534. You got a lot of people in your ear, son.

535. Ain't many of them family. You hear me?

536. Yeah.

537. Yeah.

538. Hm?

539. I hear you, Pop.

540. I got this though.

541. You gonna have the window office right next to mine.

542. Go get some of Mama's pie or something, man.

543. Stop talking so much business.

544. I didn't make the world. I'm just saying the way it is,

545. and Boston? Look, that...

546. That fuckin' place is worse than anywhere.

547. Bill Russell won the motherfuckers...

548. 11 rings!

549. Comes home to his abode to find the door open.

550. They didn't even have the decency

551. to burn a cross on this man's lawn.

552. Just shit in his bed. Not dog shit neither.

553. Man shit.

554. Yeah...

555. different kinda white people over there.

556. See, Boston Garden,

557. brothers walk into that place and you can feel it

558. like a cold wind.

559. You find yourself running down the court,

560. tripping over thin air. Go to dribble,

561. ball don't bounce. Just sticks there.

562. Like a mud puddle.

563. No logical explanation to it neither. But then,

564. you hear something.

565. - Like a little giggle.

566. Take that, nigga!

567. And it ain't ghosts.

568. It's a leprechaun.

569. I believe it. I definitely believe it.

570. Look at this Buick contract here.

571. See your name. That's number one.

572. - Mm-hmm. - Your likeness?

573. - Mm-hmm. - Let's go right here. See that right there?

574. - Mm-hmm! - Television. Commercial.

575. United States and Europe.

576. - International, boy.

577. - You international. That's international, boy! - Yeah!

578. Hold on, wait a minute.

579. - Whoo! Yeah. - We didn't get to the best part yet.

580. Ain't nobody makin'

581. one more second...

582. - that kinda money. - Whoo!

583. Big fella,

584. let me know if you want seconds.

585. These are thirds.

586. What I need now is a recipe

587. - before I eat you out of house and home. - Please.

588. The great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?

589. More than welcome to it.

590. Still smile to think of my own son passing the ball

591. to the greatest center ever played the game.

592. - No need for that. - Hey. Truth is truth.

593. He's not so bad himself.

594. - No... - What up!

595. I guess he ain't.

596. Can I ask you a question, Mr. Johnson?

597. - Merry Christmas! - Oh, yeah, here he is!

598. Y'all enjoyin' y'all selves?

599. You can if you can cut that Mr. Johnson crap

600. and just call me Earvin.

601. Your son. Has he always been so...

602. happy?

603. Mm! Mm! Hey!

604. Junior?

605. Only since his first breath.

606. Doctor slapped his ass,

607. he turned around and smiled back.

608. Hey! You heard?

609. - I can imagine. - Yeah.

610. Something on your chest, Mr. Jabbar?

611. Kareem.

612. Kareem.

613. I just can't say I'm accustomed to it.

614. Most men I know, Black men,

615. we laugh,

616. enjoy our lives. But, America does...

617. things to a man's mind and soul

618. that aren't happy.

619. Pardon my saying it, but your son...

620. - seems unaffected by all that. - Mm.

621. 'Cause he is.

622. - How? - Wish I knew.

623. I'm from Mississippi.

624. Down there, we're gator bait.

625. Wasn't a week went by when I was young ain't seen some...

626. - Then you know. - Too well. But he don't.

627. Not like that.

628. And it

629. feels like we ain't speaking the same tongue sometimes but...

630. then I think, hey, maybe that's a blessing, too.

631. When it don't scare me shitless.

632. I'll whoop his ass if he gets out of line.

633. Yeah, no kidding, though...

634. I want you to do just that.

635. Pull out some of that karate shit.

636. Got too many people barking up his tree right now.

637. He helping build Magic Johnson Enterprises!

638. You'd actually be doing me a favor.

639. Count on it.

640. My man!

641. Hey, Rhonda!

642. - Yo girl! What's up? - Hey.

643. How you doing? Where Cookie at?

644. You all was both at the game, right?

645. Guess she has someplace else to be.

646. Great game, though.

647. - It was fun seeing you. - Yeah.

648. You, too.

649. See you around, Rhonda.

650. Remember what I said about the Garden.

651. Right? You're not just playing the guys on the floor.

652. - You're playing the arena.

653. Playing the whole goddamn city.

654. - Mm-hmm. - You know. And the refs, too, right?

655. Because they're gonna give the home team every call,

656. and the crowd's gonna go so nuts,

657. it's going to seem like they deserve it.

658. So, you just gotta stay on top of 'em.

659. Huh? Right from the tip.

660. - Right, Paul?

661. - Right?

662. - Right? - Hm? Right.

663. I heard you. Yeah.

664. Work the tip.

665. Work the refs! Work the refs!

666. I didn't say blow 'em!

667. Hey, we got a chance here.

668. Okay? Can win with this.

669. - But not if they get every foul call

670. and spend the whole night shooting free throws.

671. You're the sixth man on the floor. Remember that.

672. - Yup. I have a call for Mr. West

673. - from an Elgin Baylor. - No, Mr. West is in another...

674. Uh...

675. - Actually, put it through, please. - Connecting.

676. What you say there, Tweety Bird?

677. Waiting on the red-eye, but my flight's delayed.

678. Elg. It's Pat.

679. - What's up, man? You got the wrong room. - Riles!

680. - What's happening? - You know, just, uh,

681. packing up for Boston. What's up?

682. Yeah. Zeke said you come down to the bench to fill the void.

683. Shouldn't be too long now.

684. Be seeing Buss tomorrow, get you back on the mic

685. with Chick where you belong.

686. You mind telling Zeke I'm running late?

687. I'm all outta dimes!

688. Uh, yeah.

689. Yeah, sure, Elg. Bye.

690. I'll see you in Boston!

691. Elgin Baylor.

692. Says he's flying out to meet Buss.

693. When did you know they were looking for replacements?

694. - Spit that shit out of your mouth and answer me! - Okay...

695. I thought we had more time.

696. - You know they were talking to him? - Somebody.

697. - When you told me to quit my job for this? - I-I didn't...

698. - I didn't think that it was gonna— - You—

699. - You know they weren't keeping Jack. - No!

700. - You knew it. - No.

701. Jack told me that Buss was giving us a shot,

702. - and that if we could pull things out in Boston— - Now what?

703. - I go back to wandering the fucking beach? - I needed you!

704. Jack begged me.

705. He's fighting for his fucking life,

706. and they're going to take it away because of me!

707. Because I cannot hack it by myself! I can't!

708. - But you... - You fuckin' lied to me.

709. Would you be here if you knew that they were

710. fucking sharpening their knives?

711. No. You'd be staring at Chick's fist!

712. And what for, Pat?

713. You are not an announcer.

714. You are a coach!

715. You're my coach.

716. No, I'm your fucking nanny.

717. You wanna coach?

718. - Please don't— - You wanna fucking coach?

719. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

720. - You wanna be a coach? - It's fucking cold!

721. Huh? You wanna be a coach?

722. - Yes, please... - Good! Do something about it!

723. - Turn off the fucking water! - Stand up!

724. Stand up for your fucking team! You hear me? Stand up!

725. - You wanna keep this fucking job? - Yes...

726. - Do you wanna keep it? - Yes.

727. Then you fucking yell! Yell it!

728. Yes!

729. There's your fucking wakeup call!

730. Now answer it!

731. Fuck...

732. Hey, I'm coming.

733. Oh...

734. What you doing here, Cook?

735. You disappointed?

736. You a little late.

737. Yeah. I'm sorry about last night.

738. Didn't miss much anyway.

739. Wish I coulda skipped that game myself.

740. Who said I did?

741. Bought me a cheap seat.

742. You ...

743. You crazy, girl! Wha...

744. Got you in first class and everything!

745. I woulda hit a couple shots for you. Instead, I be breaking 'em.

746. Don't put that on me now.

747. Just sayin'.

748. Been missing you.

749. Nah, don't start.

750. You out there on another planet. The world on a string.

751. Just... What you need me for?

752. Just to say you can?

753. - Ain't like that, Cook. - Then, what is it?

754. Because last night, I was watching.

755. Not the game. You.

756. The way the world moves around you.

757. Big people, little people,

758. just circling you like the Sun.

759. And for you, it's...

760. it's as natural as breathing.

761. And I just...

762. don't know where I fit in all that.

763. Right here, Cook.

764. With me.

765. Until the bus leaves. Then what?

766. What am I to you?

767. 'Cause, honest to God, Earvin, I don't have the first idea.

768. - I'm tired— - Cook!

769. My girl.

770. You family, Cook.

771. I know. That bus is waiting.

772. Call you from Boston?

773. - Once you whoop that white boy's butt. Yeah. - Mm.

774. Okay. I'm gonna go.

775. Mm-mmm. You ain't going nowhere.

776. - I gotta go. - Alright, alright.

777. Who was that?

778. Uh... Teammate.

779. - Oh. - Yeah.

780. They waitin'.

781. Have a nice day. Go fuck yourself.

782. Lakers suck!

783. You fuckin' suck, Magic!

784. Don't even have a coach.

785. Westhead sucks. Get outta here!

786. Kareem, you are fucked as shit.

787. Welcome to Boston.

788. Larry is gonna kill you guys.

789. Bunch of pricks.

790. Paul Revere shoulda slept in.

791. Let the British burn

792. this fuck-hole to the ground.

793. When does Elgin need an answer?

794. Tonight. He's sitting on another offer.

795. Yeah. The fact is, we waited long enough.

796. - Sooner we cut— - We? Who's we, Jerry?

797. Okay, okay, fine. Your team.

798. Jack McKinney beat me at Monopoly.

799. - It's a kid's game. - It's a game of strategy.

800. He kicked my ass.

801. Guy can't tie his fucking shoe...

802. Nobody beats me at Monopoly.

803. Okay...

804. Except my mother.

805. - She's the only fucking one. - Okay, look, Doc,

806. I fucking— I get it, okay? I understand

807. this is the shit part of the gig.

808. Working the guillotine.

809. Do you know why we lost to Boston

810. all those years? My team, my team.

811. Because we lost the first one.

812. Had a better squad, more talent.

813. But, we let it get away from us.

814. Once. And that shit stays with you

815. like a stink inside a fuckin' jersey.

816. You let that happen here,

817. you can't wash it out.

818. Ah. Home, sweet home.

819. Well, thanks for the pep talk, Jerry.

820. I'm staying in the fucking car.

821. I reckoned.

822. Oh my god, is that blood?

823. - What the fuck is that?

824. Told you, motherfucker.

825. Leprechaun.

826. 'Cause he's comin' for you!

827. Fuck this, man.

828. Yo, what's up, Larry?

829. Let's get this shit over.

830. Larry! Larry! Larry, over here!

831. - Still mad, I see. - Larry!

832. Larry! Question!

833. - What'd you eat before the game? - Food.

834. - Larry, who's gonna guard you? - Who cares?

835. - Larry, what's your prediction? - We're gonna win.

836. Larry, what do you wanna say about the game?

837. - We're gonna play the game. - Larry, you gonna win tonight?

838. - Yep. - Aw, come on. Any jitters?

839. - Nope. - Magic! Magic!

840. What do you think about Larry?

841. - You thinkin' about the strategy, Larry? - Just another game.

842. Gonna be a good one though.

843. Two great teams. Great rivals.

844. That don't get you goin', you ain't got a pulse.

845. I'm gonna rip your fucking ass a new hole.

846. One more! Larry! Lar!

847. Dude don't say two words.

848. Don't smile.

849. Don't even try.

850. And they love him anyway.

851. Like I ain't even there.

852. The Invisible Man.

853. Just like the movie.

854. There's a book, too.

855. Point remains. Hard for them to see you

856. - when they're blinded by the white. - But that's the thing!

857. I'm the dude that they did see!

858. Bused me to an all-white school. I ain't wanna go!

859. But I ain't about to let that stop me neither!

860. So I made me somebody they see.

861. You have a knack for that.

862. Cap, I'm...

863. Look, I know you ain't about it.

864. I know you all think I'm fake.

865. And I don't know, Cap, may—

866. Maybe you right. Maybe you all are right.

867. I should just stick to playing ball.

868. - Maybe. - Yep.

869. Or...

870. you could go out there and beat his ass.

871. What?

872. They gonna love me then?

873. Fuck. No.

874. They'll double down on his greatness.

875. And they'll whisper yours.

876. If they say anything at all.

877. Thing is...

878. that silence?

879. That's not invisibility.

880. It's power.

881. Cap, we need straight-up fundamental defense in the post.

882. You are not gonna have help on the weak side.

883. And here's why. This is key.

884. Every time Bird touches the ball,

885. - we want an instant trap. - Don't let him get a shot off.

886. - Get the fuck outta here.

887. What? What's so funny?

888. - Is there a problem, guys? - Bird.

889. Yeah, I know. That's why we're gonna double.

890. Nah, man. Problem is y'all act like he's God's gift.

891. Cracker can't even jump. Slow as snail shit.

892. Potsie over there can lock his ass down.

893. I don't know, man. I think Bird's the real deal.

894. Aw, man, shut your ass up.

895. Me and Country gonna switch off, pick-to-pick,

896. - split him between us. - Mm-mmm. Not tonight.

897. - He mine. - Hey, listen up to your coach. Come on.

898. Listen, that is the— the can-do attitude that we need.

899. It is.

900. But, it is not the game plan.

901. Fuck the game plan.

902. I got him, Coach!

903. Everybody's scared of goddamn Larry Bird!

904. - I beat him before, I'll beat him again!

905. Yo, we need to focus up! Everyone needs to focus up right now.

906. Well...

907. Nice seats.

908. Red knows how to treat a guest.

909. Mr. Auerbach can't make it up to see youse guys.

910. He sent you this with his regards.

911. Is it gonna explode?

912. Red wouldn't blow up anything he'd have to pay for.

913. Alright, I'll bite.

914. It's a vegetable.

915. Like your coach.

916. Welcome to the Garden.

917. - Very funny.

918. This is Chick Hearn for the LA Lakers

919. coming to you live from beautiful Beantown,

920. the city of Boston.

921. Johnny Most at the Garden here,

922. where your pride of Boston is rarin' to wipe the floor

923. with everybody's favorite LA softies.

924. - Team! - Let's go!

925. - Hey, fuck you! - Yeah!

926. Suck my dick, Magic!

927. Alright, fellas, let's go!

928. Gonna wipe that smile off your face.

929. - What's up, Larry? - Let's go! Let's go!

930. - Welcome to Boston. - Gonna make this is my house.

931. - Fucker.

932. Yes!

933. Lakers draw first blood

934. but here comes Larry Bird.

935. Trap, trap, trap!

936. And he walks right into a trap.

937. Magic with the steal.

938. To Cooper. Slam dunk!

939. And the Lakers come out swinging,

940. but the boys from Boston will make this one a contest.

941. If that's the Lakers' best shot, good riddance.

942. - D up! - Come on, let's go!

943. Okay, fuckers, y'all can't stop me, so I'll tell you what I'm about to do.

944. Fake left, drive right, jumper from 12. No rim.

945. - Fuck.

946. Shit, think that was 13.

947. - That leprechaun's for real. - You're looking at him.

948. Get ready, you Hollywood pansies,

949. - Fuck! - ... here comes...

950. Fuckin' had enough of this fuckin' shit.

951. Just fucking breathe, Jerry, breathe...

952. - Good! - Wicked shooter, huh?

953. Oh! F... Fucking motherfucking

954. - son of a fucking bitch!

955. I shoulda fucking known! Somebody fucking settin' me up here!

956. Abdul-Jabbar on the fast break.

957. Team one for Chaney.

958. I tell you, these refs must be blind.

959. Another good no-call by the officials! Ha!

960. Motherfucker! What is you doing?

961. - Use the goddamn whistle! - Please, ref. Please!

962. Fuckin' fuckin' fuck!

963. And this is just an abomination.

964. Jamaal taking a football blow.

965. Somehow, no whistle from the refs.

966. Absolutely despicable.

967. not letting the Lakers get away with dirty tricks.

968. Nixon tripped and takes a header.

969. Not a whistle to be heard.

970. Boy, if I didn't know any better,

971. I'd say these refs were on the Boston payroll.

972. Call it, call the fuckin'--

973. This is the best officiated game in years!

974. This cornbread motherfucker—

975. Cooper trips over his feet.

976. These Lakers are looking awfully clumsy tonight.

977. Officials are swallowing their whistles once again.

978. Shut down the fuckin' act, you motherfucker!

979. Johnson looking desperate under the rim.

980. Open your fuckin' eyes!

981. He's on his arm!

982. And Johnson hits the deck,

983. making a show of it for the officials

984. but they're not buying what he's selling.

985. Fuckin' call it!

986. Goddamn it.

987. This fiddle-faddle officiating may cost the Lakers the game.

988. But the refs call it like they see it

989. and what they see is good, clean fun from Boston.

990. Another—

991. It's just a fuckin' game, Jerry.

992. Nothing but net!

993. Boston boy is on fire tonight!

994. Go home, you fuckin' pussies!

995. Third quarter, and the Celtics...

996. - God fuck. - ... for a commanding lead.

997. If substitute coach Paul Westhead

998. wants to prove he's not just wearing diapers,

999. now's his chance to put on big-boy pants

1000. and raise his hand.

1001. You gotta make a sub. Make a sub.

1002. Wood.

1003. After an onslaught of egregious uncalled fouls

1004. for the boys in green, Spencer Haywood has had enough.

1005. He's gonna clean it up himself, folks.

1006. Johnson passes to Haywood.

1007. Haywood with a hand-off to Nixon.

1008. Nixon, jumper. It's good!

1009. Bird hooks by Coop with an elbow.

1010. No call. Oh! He ran into a brick wall in Spencer Haywood.

1011. - Boom! - The dropped shoulder laid Bird on his back!

1012. Bird looks like he's had just about enough of this.

1013. Bird chucks the ball at Spencer, throwing a tantrum.

1014. Punches are being thrown.

1015. The Celtics are throwing punches.

1016. We've got fisticuffs, folks. The benches are clear.

1017. The Celtics are absolutely out of control.

1018. The Lakers are acting like hoodlums, hoodlums!

1019. - And here's a late whistle from the officials.

1020. Technical foul on Spencer Haywood.

1021. It's a technical on Spencer Haywood.

1022. Well, I cannot believe my eyes.

1023. No! That was 33! Come on, ref!

1024. You gotta get in there! Hey! Hey, Earl!

1025. You blind fuck! Now, you see us, do you, huh?

1026. Now— Halle-fucking-lujah!

1027. - It's a miracle. - Welcome back, Pat.

1028. - Enjoy your first tech.

1029. Bravo! At least he fucking earned it!

1030. That's your first honest call of the night!

1031. Watch it, Coach! I'm about to throw you out of this game.

1032. You've been screwing us all night!

1033. - What did you say? - Paul. That's enough!

1034. I said I was screwing your wife last night!

1035. - Shit!

1036. You're outta here!

1037. It's okay. It's okay.

1038. You're up, Coach.

1039. Hey, Riley! Eat a bag of dicks, ya bitch!

1040. - Fuck Boston!

1041. Bring it in! Calm down!

1042. Shh. Take a breath.

1043. Repeat after me. Fuck Boston.

1044. - Fuck Boston. Fuck Boston! - Fuck Boston! Fuck Boston!

1045. - Fuck Boston! Fuck Boston! - Fuck Boston! Fuck Boston!

1046. We're not gonna lose this fucking game!

1047. - Get out there and kick their ass! - Whoo!

1048. The Lakers are fed up, fired up,

1049. and they're fighting mad.

1050. - Yes!

1051. And a tone-shift has happened for the Lakers here.

1052. They have reclaimed the momentum,

1053. and Westhead is looking commanding on the sidelines.

1054. One blown call after another and the officials have let

1055. the Lakers make a game of it!

1056. Alright, out of the time-out, Lakers take the floor.

1057. Let's see what Professor Westhead's come up with.

1058. Come on, Larry, eat 'em up!

1059. Eat his stinkin' shit, Lakers!

1060. Keeping it inbound, right side.

1061. Referee hands him the ball, looking for a place to go.

1062. He finds Magic top of the team. Magic at the three-point line,

1063. dribbling up and down like a yo-yo.

1064. Magic surveying the floor. There's nowhere to go with it.

1065. The clock is winding down. Ten seconds.

1066. Coop, set the pick!

1067. Magic makes a move, loses Bird.

1068. No-look to Cooper. Hit hard.

1069. Throws up a prayer...

1070. Off the iron...

1071. Holy shit!

1072. - Gets a bounce and goes in!

1073. Unbelievable! Right at the buzzer.

1074. - Michael Cooper with a game-winning—

1075. - Coop! - Yes!

1076. Lakers win a hard-fought victory

1077. here on the parquet floor in Boston.

1078. The Lakers have beaten biased referees,

1079. - a heated crowd... - Fuck!

1080. They stole it from Boston!

1081. Absolutely stole it!

1082. Boy, oh, boy is this crowd silent.

1083. Aw, fuck!

1084. Yes! Yes, yes, yes!

1085. Magic Johnson is smiling like the sun.

1086. We may be looking at Rookie of the Year here, folks.

1087. - Larry! - Leave me the fuck alone.

1088. Larry, any comment on the game?

1089. He mad, y'all.

1090. Ha, ha. Unbelievable.

1091. Wherever Jack McKinney is watching, I hope he's proud

1092. of his team and proud of Paul Westhead right now.

1093. Signs of life last night for the Lakers

1094. as they managed to defeat the Celtics

1095. on their turf in Boston.

1096. Big win.

1097. Barely.

1098. If I wait for you,

1099. and you don't make it back...

1100. then I'm stuck with Westhead.

1101. And I'm not gonna win a title with him, am I?

1102. No.

1103. That's what I thought.

1104. We're not done playing yet, Jack.

1105. Fuck Boston.