America Brown (2004) Movie Script
You're good.
I love you.
You're everything to me.
You're everything to me.
Our daddy was a good man.
He was crazy,
but he was good.
He knew it was over.
He quit when the
quittin's good.
You don't quit when
the going get's tough.
You hear me?
"Take it all the way, little buddy.
Your pal, J.C."
The greatest quarterback
ever to play Texas ball.
What do you think
of them apples?
Huh?
Thank you.
Damn straight, "thank you".
And don't forget it.
All right?
Appreciate it.
A guy like that comes around
once... shoot... every 20 years.
And he knew... you gotta quit
when the quittin's good.
Everyone's out here
dreamin' the American Dream.
But... ain't nobody winning...
nobody that I know.
Life ain't shit.
Life is easy.
Football is hard, boy!
Ricky honey, I'm home.
Ricky?
Or have you not read in
The Law that on Sabbath,
the priests serving in the
temple violate the Sabbath...
and are innocent.
I say to you something greater
than the temple is here,
if you knew
what this meant.
The body of Christ.
The body of Christ.
The body of Christ.
The body of Christ.
- The body of Christ.
- Amen.
Hi.
- Ricky?
- Marianne.
Oh, hi, Leon.
- Just get back?
- Yeah.
- Trade show, huh?
- Yeah...
More beauty products
under one roof...
than Tammy Faye's bathroom.
- Look here, Ricky go with you?
- No.
He's visiting some
cousins in Dallas.
He'll be back next
week, I suspect?
I suspect so.
How y'all doing?
He seems a little
lost these days.
Well, you know, under
the circumstances.
Oh, yeah.
I do...
If you need
anything, Marianne...
You'll be the first one I call.
- Bye for now.
- Bye for now.
Bo, he didn't go with her.
Yeah.
Okay.
Hey, Bo, take it easy now.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Hello, this is Rosie.
I can't come to the phone right now.
Please leave a message
after the beep.
(repeated in French)
Hello.
Can I help you?
John...
John Cross?
Yes, that's right.
My name's America Brown.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Daniel's brother.
Remember, the free safety?
Daniel Brown.
Daniel Brown?
Yeah.
I'm his brother.
I said that.
They call me Ricky.
Ricky Brown.
I found you on the net.
I didn't know I was there.
Heck, even my mama's
beauty parlor has a site.
Do you remember my
mama's beauty parlor?
Yeah, sort of.
You know you can find just about
anyone on the internet these days.
I don't use a computer.
Is that right?
That's right.
So what brings
you to New York?
Just some time out
before school starts.
Hey, did you take all
these photographs?
Yes, I did.
- They're nice.
- Thank you.
You don't sound Texan no more.
I've been gone a little while.
So, you a junior,
senior, what?
This year, I'm a senior.
You play football?
Yes, sir.
Are you any good?
I don't know.
What's good?
Isn't training camp
about to start?
They can wait.
Is that right?
That's right.
Got some friends in town?
No, sir.
Hey.
Anytime you need me to go,
you just holler.
Pretend like
you're Bo Williams.
This isn't a hotel.
You can't stay long.
Oh, yeah.
Sure.
My mama still does
your mama's nails.
Best manicure in West Texas.
I met her once; your mama.
She a real nice lady.
She moved to Midland.
You probably know that.
Hey.
Go on.
Come on.
- Bo.
- Marianne.
Excuse me.
No. You stay here.
Sit down.
That was a sweet letter, but it
didn't exactly say where you were.
Where are you?
The Big Apple.
New York?
Wow.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Is someone there?
Is Bo there?
Uh-huh.
Don't tell him where I am, mama.
Don't tell him!
Mm-hmm.
Okay Phylis, well,
thanks for calling.
I love you, mama.
Bye.
My sister, tracked down
her high school sweetheart,
in New York.
I did not know
you had a sister.
Half-sister.
Alpine.
She lives in Alpine.
Well, it's amazing to me that
I've lived next door to you...
all these years and had
no idea you had a sister.
Hmm, would you
like some coffee?
You know where Ricky is?
Pardon me, ma'am.
I'm sorry.
You're pardoned.
- You're still pardoned.
- Thank you.
What do you think
of that one?
I mean, I'm not sure.
I kind of like it.
I think you should get it.
You think?
Yeah, I do.
I'll give it a week.
If it's meant to be... right?
Pardon me, partner.
Ma'am.
I think I have a stalker.
Bye-bye.
Hi, I'm Vera.
Um.
Ricky, Ricky Brown.
I wouldn't have done it.
Thank you.
Bye.
What's Texas like?
It's dry, flat, hot.
Do you visit a lot?
Never.
Never?
John, no one's gonna stop you
from having that operation.
Heck, I don't think anybody's gonna
hate you for it either, but...
I just feel it's my responsibility
to present you with your options.
Now, these here will take care
of the pain while you're resting.
You don't need to practice.
We'll give you your injections
before the games.
You just need to make sure you
don't get used to these things.
They're strong.
That's right.
Five games, John.
If we win 'em, you're gonna
be what's called a 'legend'.
Once in a lifetime.
Twenty-thousand people...
and that was just
inside the stadium.
Last play of the game,
touchdown wins, forty to go,
there's no way we're running it in.
They know it, we know it.
They blitz, like you
never seen blitz before.
Option left.
Left!
There's confusion, mayhem,
they don't know what's going on.
We haven't run it left
since you did it.
Anyway... I look up, I got
one man, opposite sideline.
I throw that pig like I'd
never thrown her before.
Man, I got hit so hard, I thought
I was in the Super Bowl.
But I knew where
that ball was going.
Yes, sir.
Did Daniel play college ball?
He never went to college.
What'd he do?
Not much of anything.
Well, how is he?
He's dead.
They said it was a heart attack.
Hey, Ricky.
Hey.
Hey.
- Vera.
- Vera. Vera.
Father.
Vera, this is John Cross.
Hi, John.
Hi, Vera.
We met today.
John lives here.
I'm visiting.
- From?
- West Texas.
Yeah? I have
a cousin in Odessa.
No shit?
Lots of shit.
But that's another conversation.
We beat Permian last year.
Sorry, ma'am.
Are Permian good?
Our school only
ever beat 'em twice.
John did it like,
fifteen years ago.
Greatest option quarterback
ever to play Texas ball.
Really?
What happened?
Cocktails?
You got I.D.?
Water will be fine.
Thank you.
I'm fine.
Thank you.
Two waters coming right up.
The specials are right there,
over his head.
We met earlier.
I said that.
Excuse me.
Sure.
You're quittin'?
You're quittin'?
That's funny, Bubba.
I love you.
I love you, boy.
Would you like to join us?
He's a friend from Texas.
You're welcome...
No, thanks.
Okay.
It's only mid-August,
NFL pre-season...
is now in full-swing.
We're still three weeks away
from the regular season...
and all the talk from Manhattan
to Manhattan Beach is about...
a college freshman who won't even walk
on to a college practice field...
for another few weeks.
People are asking if
this young quarterback...
is going to be this year's
version of Chris Black,
Miami Storm sensation
of a year ago.
It was only last fall...
That guy, Thompson
from Florida,
I heard he was smokin' hot.
...in just his freshman season.
Maybe the NFL should let him
present himself in next year's drafts.
Smokin' hot.
Speaking of the NBA...
I was gonna go out.
Okay?
'Night.
'Night.
...in a two-to-one, extra innings
victory over the New York Mets...
You know John Cross has
not contacted his mother...
for fifteen years.
Can you imagine not calling
me for fifteen years?
I can barely last
fifteen hours.
Mama?
I'm still here.
I really love you.
I really love you.
See ya soon.
Bye now.
Hey, stalker.
Hey.
Where's your happy pal?
Back at the ranch.
I wanna get drunk.
Wanna get drunk?
I like tequila.
Okay.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Some?
- Real men don't, right?
- Texas.
- What?
- Nothing.
You wanna kiss me, right?
Watch it, cowboy.
Okay?
Sorry, ma'am.
- Just slow down.
- Okay.
- I'm a nice girl, ya know?
- I know.
What's wrong?
Umm...
I'm not really experienced.
Really?
Swear to God.
- Really?
- Yeah, really.
I like you.
That boy was just warming
up last time round.
We're gonna bulk him up
and keep that secret weapon healthy.
Well, we'll see about that.
In the due course of time,
and by the good Lord's will,
we'll try and find an
answer to your inquiries.
But right about now I'm just
concerned about keeping...
Ricky Brown healthy and happy.
When the time's right I'll
apply the right kind of pressure,
provided, however,
the right kind of pressure...
is applied to old Bo.
Come on now, that
would not be civilized,
nor would it be discreet.
I cannot be the one to put
a price on that boy's head.
Besides, I'm sure you have
a pretty good idea...
what it would take for
old Bo to orchestrate...
a choice that might
benefit the future glory...
of your little old college.
Well, that there is
an interesting start.
We'll just let you sit on it,
see if that little seed...
you just planted grows into
a big old money tree.
Uh, that's right.
Bye for now.
Bo here.
Well, my-my-my, when it
rains it sure does pour.
Competition sure
is hottin' up.
When I was a kid,
I wanted to be a nun.
Really.
But I always wanted
children, too.
Can you just tell me one thing?
Did God make this happen?
Make what happen?
Oh yeah, sure.
My bad.
- Pardon.
- Please.
- Please what?
- Please.
- Please what?
- Please.
John, please look at me.
John...
John, it's okay.
I can't.
Okay?
I can't.
This is crazy.
This is my life.
And mine.
Stop it!
Damn, get away!
Hey, hey.
What's going...
What's going on?
Hey!
Come here.
Shh.
Shh. Shh.
Hey. Hey.
Come here. Shh.
You like eggs?
Umm...
Yes, ma'am.
Coffee?
I guess.
You can sit down.
Oh, thank you.
Sleep well?
I think so.
So, you wanna
tell me about it?
About what?
Last night.
Ma'am, I'm sorry,
I just don't remember.
Okay.
Will you play for me?
You know where to find me.
Mm-hmm.
Bye.
- Can I be next?
- I am next.
- I'm a big tipper.
- That's not fair.
That is just not fair.
That is not fair.
Now I...
Keep that shit down!
Boy, get your Goddamn
hands off of her!
I told you this ain't
no place for a man!
You little sissy!
Little fucking sissy, huh?
Hello.
Hello.
Hey. Hi.
You're John's friend.
I guess.
Thinking about a facial?
Oh, no, ma'am.
Just thinking about my mama.
I'm Rosie.
I'm Ricky.
John and I come
from the same town.
I'm just passing through.
I didn't have an invitation.
Even better.
A nice surprise.
- You're French, right?
- Do you speak French?
I know, like, five things to say.
That's good.
Better than nothing, right?
Exactly.
- You speak French well.
- Thanks.
My mom tries to teach
herself languages.
- She's in the beauty business.
- Yeah?
She specializes in
French manicures.
Are you busy now?
No, ma'am.
We could "hang"?
- If you please.
- Please.
Please.
Uh, yeah.
Where are you going?
You said you were
passing through.
I'm not really
passing through.
I just came to see John.
But you said you
don't know him.
It's okay.
I don't know him either.
It sure looked like you did.
Sorry.
Bo here.
Yeah, this is he.
Are my ears deceiving me?
How you been, boy?
How many years has it been?
Quite a few.
Where are you boy?
Come on back, JC!
We're about to do
it again this year.
We got this kid Ricky Brown.
We ain't seen nothing like
it since the good Lord...
sent you down from heaven.
He's got the secret weapon.
Just like you.
Where did you say you were?
New York.
New York, New York?
Yeah. Brooklyn.
What the hell
you doing there?
I'm a priest.
What, Catholic?
That's right.
No shit!
To what do I owe
this great pleasure?
I was hoping to get
Mrs. Brown's number.
I figured you might have it.
You mean Marianne 'I Don't
Know Where My Son Is' Brown?
Sure, I got it but, uh...
Why would you want it, son?
I heard Daniel died.
Sure as hell did.
Right there on
the front yard.
Right before my very eyes, but...
Hey, since when did you
care about Daniel Brown?
Nobody liked that
son of a bitch.
Including you.
Better yet, how
did you even know?
Well, I, uh...
Just hold on a second.
Leon, you are not
gonna believe this.
Did you run away?
Kind of.
From what?
Everything.
Sometimes He gives us
everything at once.
Who?
Him.
And you?
Did you run away?
I walked.
From Paris?
From love.
Were you heart broken?
No.
It was just bad timing.
My mama says
timing is everything.
Do you have any
brothers or sisters?
The only child, like me.
We go?
I'll make you a lemonade.
My daddy died
when I was a baby.
My brother was like
fifteen when I was born,
so he was kind of like my father.
But you said before
it was only you.
Yeah, I did.
Sit.
Please sit.
What happened?
He died.
It was a little
while ago now.
How long ago?
- Four weeks.
- Four weeks.
What are you doing here?
Well, I came to see John.
How did you brother die?
They said it was
a heart attack.
They said.
You don't know?
Where were you?
Out.
Out where?
Out there.
International man
of mystery, huh?
Something like that.
What?
I was just thinking about jumping
out of a plane without a parachute.
I might come with you.
Maybe the clouds'll catch us.
Yeah, I hope so.
Squeeze me.
Tighter.
Tighter.
- Tighter.
- You're gonna burst.
Oh, shit.
Hey.
Do you have time
for a coffee?
Sure.
What are you working on?
A translation for
a medical journal.
On what?
You really want to know?
Sure.
The long-term effects of
preservative coloring;
comparing European findings of 2002
with American findings of 1995.
Written by
Doctor Hautin of Brussels.
Sounds riveting.
The Belgians are really funny.
That's why we
like them so much.
You know, God gave me the
strength to feel that...
I was worth something.
And that's where
I'm at right now.
I can't disappoint Him
anymore than I already have.
It was an accident.
I remember the first
time I heard you speak.
You talked about God's will.
You said there
were no accidents.
What are you doing here?
What time do you get off?
As late as you're
willing to stay up.
I got me some beer.
- Want my keys?
- Sure.
Vera!
Inside!
Bye.
You're quittin'?
That's funny, Bubba.
I love you.
What you gonna do?
What you gonna do?
I'm gonna work with mama.
- What?
- I'm gonna work with mama.
And do what?
And do what?
And do what?
And do what?
- And do what?
- Don't do this, Dan.
And do what?
- Don't do this!
- Do what?
What you gonna do?
What you gonna do?
- Don't do this.
- You ain't quitting shit!
You ain't quitting shit!
Get up!
Get up!
How you doing?
Yo!
Clean up your mess, man!
Pick up your shit, man.
What the fuck you smiling at?
Aw, Jesus.
Vera!
Get him out of here!
Walk it off.
Just walk it off, Ricky.
Jesus Christ!
What are you doing to me?
Ricky, come on.
Aw!
Better?
Vera?
I'm hungry now.
Real hungry.
Why are you here?
You came to find me, right?
'Cause you believe in
destiny and you just knew.
You knew.
And you think I'm it.
The one.
And you wanna stay here,
with me forever, right?
But you're gonna leave, right?
- What's up, bubba?
- Hey, what's...
What happened to you?
Don't ask.
Check it out.
You signed it the
day I was born.
I think you should
go home, Ricky.
I'm happy right here.
Go home, man.
You go home, John.
I don't need this, man.
And it don't need you.
Where are you going?
You don't want me
here so I'm leaving.
I asked you a question.
I'm going to my friend's place.
I thought you didn't have
any friends in town.
What difference does it make?
You need to go home, Ricky.
Thank you, John.
Excuse me.
Why did you come here?
I told you why.
You didn't tell me nothing.
Tell me what's going on.
You tell me what's going on.
My-my-my!
Seeing is believing!
Found you on the
Internet, boy.
What are you doing here?
As soon as I heard your
voice I know I had to come.
Well damn, son,
give old Bo a hug.
I asked you a question.
How you doing, John?
I was doing just
fine till about now.
Well, let's not keep you.
You just deliver the goods
and we'll be on our way.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
John, John, John.
You know what I want, John.
It's Ricky Brown, John.
We need him back.
We need to take him
home where he belongs.
Like I said, I don't know
what you're talking about.
John, you know we ain't
leaving till we get our boy.
I think you better
move that foot.
We'll be back, John-boy.
You can count on it.
Come on, Leon.
Let's get out of here.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, dude.
Hi.
See ya.
Yeah, I heard those boys
took a little trip east.
What happened?
Tell me what happened.
My first son died and my baby
thinks he did the killing.
Did he do the killing?
You met him.
What do you think?
I can't imagine.
Well, he sure as hell can.
And they're just pig-happy to
have him keep on imagining it.
Problem is, Daniel was...
Daniel was asking for a
beating and he got one.
Problem was, his heart
couldn't take it.
Why?
It was broken.
Why?
Football, that's why.
I hated what this crazy
obsession was doing to my husband,
and I hated him for what
he was doing to Daniel.
Most of me was
glad when he died.
But then Daniel became the father
and he did it all over again.
Sweet men turned sour.
For what?
And that's when the
real nightmare started.
I started hating Daniel for
what he was doing to Ricky.
Some of me wanted
him to die, too.
Take it from a mother, John.
A husband's one thing,
but a son...
Hell, I hated you, too...
for being so damn good.
For reminding those men
of what they weren't,
for working them into a frenzy,
making them crazier than
what they already were.
But then when my baby became you,
suddenly I understood...
the pain and
the responsibility.
Looking down from
that great height,
on all those who couldn't
touch the clouds...
who never will.
I feel strangely relieved.
Do you understand?
I wish I did.
Aww!
Ooh!
I'll get you.
I'll get you.
I'll get you.
Come on over here.
You know you're
everything to me, right?
You know that, right?
I love you.
I love you too, Daniel.
I love you.
You're good.
You're good.
What do you think of that
rookie at Texas Christian?
- Jackson?
- Yeah.
I'm not convinced.
He reads the game all right,
he's fast as hell,
he's got a pretty
good arm, but man,
he gets hit all the time.
It's almost like he
wants to get hurt.
You think he should have
gone to a drawback school?
I can't say...
But you know, if he ain't
got the greatest arm...
and they're not running the
option all day and all night,
then I don't see
why he would.
Personally, I love
running the option.
But you got an arm, right?
I guess.
Forty-eight with
a five-step drop.
You?
Sixty on the move.
No shit?
How do you think
we beat Permian?
Last throw of
the game, right?
Only throw of the game, man.
So you... go play your college
ball somewhere you can throw.
I ain't playing nowhere.
It's a free country.
Is it?
Aw!
Ow!
- You wanna fight?!
- Please...
This has nothing
to do with you!
Nothing!
- Nothing!
- Tell me you ain't quittin'!
I can't.
I can't.
Tell me you ain't quittin'!
You want to know what
happened, right?
Problem is...
I don't remember too well.
It all happened... so fast.
Can we just leave it at that?
Hi, John.
Um, uh, hi.
Vera, right?
Uh-huh.
Can I help you?
No thanks.
Would you like to come in?
I'm Jewish.
Oh.
Ice cream?
Come on, Ricky.
You weren't going to leave
without saying goodbye, right?
Right.
Yes, you were.
You were with that...
That who?
That...
Ricky?
Exactly. I'm worth
more than a shot, okay?
Really?
I'm gonna come and visit.
Oh.
Where you gonna stay?
'Oh, where you gonna stay?'
I don't know,
what's going on...
but you're gonna be fine.
Okay?
You're one of those.
Thank you, ma'am.
Enough with the 'ma'am' shit.
Okay.
You make me laugh.
You make me worry.
Why are you still doing
his dirty work, Leon?
I'm here to try
and make it easy.
Easy?
What's easy, man?
What's... huh?
We all got to move on, John.
Where we going?
Huh, Leon?
Where we going?
- John.
- No, tell me.
Where we going?
- We going on back to Texas.
- I ain't.
We not asking you to, John.
Damn you.
You see that?
Damn you, Leon.
One way or the other.
There's only one conclusion.
We don't have a choice,
John, you and me.
We don't have a choice.
You...
Well, the kid lives
to see another day.
Sleep well.
Thanks.
Uh, no, no.
Leave it open.
Hey, John!
Mr. John, I
respect your house.
We're running out of time.
Camp starts in three days.
Stay there.
Don't make this hard, son?
Oh, there he is!
America Brown!
Come on, boy. I got you
a first class ticket.
He's looking strong.
Oh, yeah!
Yeah!
Well, thanks for
coming, fellas.
- John.
- Come on now, John.
It's not for you to decide!
Dammit, Leon.
- What we come here for?
- We came to get the boy.
- What we come here for?
- To get the boy.
Okay, you gonna go get the boy?
You want me to go in there
and just drag him out here?
Yeah, break the
God-damned door.
Break the God-damned door!
Back off!
What's the problem?
Back off!
What's the problem?
The nigger in
the collar, he...
All right.
All right.
Hey, just get him inside!
He's with me.
He's with me.
It's all right.
It's all right.
I got you.
I got you.
I'll see you at the trial, kid.
Let's get out of here.
Father, just get him inside.
It's all right.
All right?
All right?
Okay. Come on.
Let's go inside.
Hey. HEY!
Hey!
Tell me you ain't quittin'!
I can't.
Stop!
And do what?
What you gonna do?
What you gonna do?
Put your hands up.
Put your hands up!
Shit!
Ricky!
Please! Please!
I hate you!
Why?
You're good.
I hate you.
I love you.
You're quitting?
That's funny, Bubba.
I love you.
You're everything to me.
You're everything to me.
I love you, too, Daniel.
Why?
I love you, too, Daniel.
Get up.
Get up.
Get up!
Get up!
Get up!
Get up!
I didn't mean it.
No!
I didn't mean it, Daniel.
I didn't mean it.
No!
No!
No!
Daniel!
Daniel!
Daniel!
Daniel!
Daniel, please!
It's all right.
No!
It's okay.
What's wrong with him?
I think you'd better
get him in the house.
You got him?
Come on, Leon.
Let's go.
Yeah.
Hi.
You have a waitress
who works there.
Uh, Vera.
It'll be okay.
You're gonna be okay.
Okay?
Hello.
Rosie?
- Hi.
- Hi.
Good luck.
- And you too?
- You too.
I've a voyage to Paris.
You leaving?
Go.
- Um, thank you.
- It's nothing.
You want to walk with me?
You never got to play for me.
Oh well.
One day.
If you're lucky.
Don't fall down.
Wish I could do that.
Thank you, sir.
Don't you wanna get that?
It might be me.
It's been more
than fifteen hours.
Well, I was playing
hard to get.
What do you know about that?!
I don't, mama.
I met a girl.
- You did?
- Yeah, mama.
Don't cry, mama.
Don't cry.
Ricky, it's mighty courageous
of you to step forward like this...
and take responsibility
for your perceived crime.
Look, I'm going to speak plain
and honest to you, okay?
Now, maybe you did use an unlawful
degree of force to defend yourself,
and perhaps I can
go find some witnesses...
to cooperate and help me
pin a charge on you.
And maybe, like you say, you even
had some want for him to die.
Now, of course that
saddens me very much to hear.
I'm desperately
sorry for your loss,
but I'm even more sorry that
you're sitting in front of me now,
trying to pay a higher price for it
than I'm sure you already have.
Look, do us all a favor, son.
Take advantage of the
gifts God's given you...
If there's one thing that'll make
me want to put you behind bars,
it's for you to throw
those gifts away.
It just wouldn't
be righteous.
Okay.
I've said enough.
Thanks for coming down.
Hey, y'all take care of
yourselves now, okay?
- Lyle?
- Yes, Beth.
I have Bo Williams
on the line.
He wants to confirm
golf this weekend.
Tell him I'm looking
forward to kicking his butt.
Oh yeah, and tell him to
bring that bum Bryant with him.
One day, bubba, you're gonna
have the whole world...
in the palm of your hands.
I can feel it in my bones.
I can see it...
"Ricky Brown! Greatest quarterback
ever to play Texas ball".
What do you think
of them apples?
I'm okay now.
I'm okay.
It's great to see you
throwing the ball, Rick.
It's great to be throwing one.
It means a lot to us.
It ain't meant for you.
I love you.
You're everything to me.
You're everything to me.
Our daddy was a good man.
He was crazy,
but he was good.
He knew it was over.
He quit when the
quittin's good.
You don't quit when
the going get's tough.
You hear me?
"Take it all the way, little buddy.
Your pal, J.C."
The greatest quarterback
ever to play Texas ball.
What do you think
of them apples?
Huh?
Thank you.
Damn straight, "thank you".
And don't forget it.
All right?
Appreciate it.
A guy like that comes around
once... shoot... every 20 years.
And he knew... you gotta quit
when the quittin's good.
Everyone's out here
dreamin' the American Dream.
But... ain't nobody winning...
nobody that I know.
Life ain't shit.
Life is easy.
Football is hard, boy!
Ricky honey, I'm home.
Ricky?
Or have you not read in
The Law that on Sabbath,
the priests serving in the
temple violate the Sabbath...
and are innocent.
I say to you something greater
than the temple is here,
if you knew
what this meant.
The body of Christ.
The body of Christ.
The body of Christ.
The body of Christ.
- The body of Christ.
- Amen.
Hi.
- Ricky?
- Marianne.
Oh, hi, Leon.
- Just get back?
- Yeah.
- Trade show, huh?
- Yeah...
More beauty products
under one roof...
than Tammy Faye's bathroom.
- Look here, Ricky go with you?
- No.
He's visiting some
cousins in Dallas.
He'll be back next
week, I suspect?
I suspect so.
How y'all doing?
He seems a little
lost these days.
Well, you know, under
the circumstances.
Oh, yeah.
I do...
If you need
anything, Marianne...
You'll be the first one I call.
- Bye for now.
- Bye for now.
Bo, he didn't go with her.
Yeah.
Okay.
Hey, Bo, take it easy now.
Yeah.
Mm-hmm.
Hello, this is Rosie.
I can't come to the phone right now.
Please leave a message
after the beep.
(repeated in French)
Hello.
Can I help you?
John...
John Cross?
Yes, that's right.
My name's America Brown.
Nice to meet you.
I'm Daniel's brother.
Remember, the free safety?
Daniel Brown.
Daniel Brown?
Yeah.
I'm his brother.
I said that.
They call me Ricky.
Ricky Brown.
I found you on the net.
I didn't know I was there.
Heck, even my mama's
beauty parlor has a site.
Do you remember my
mama's beauty parlor?
Yeah, sort of.
You know you can find just about
anyone on the internet these days.
I don't use a computer.
Is that right?
That's right.
So what brings
you to New York?
Just some time out
before school starts.
Hey, did you take all
these photographs?
Yes, I did.
- They're nice.
- Thank you.
You don't sound Texan no more.
I've been gone a little while.
So, you a junior,
senior, what?
This year, I'm a senior.
You play football?
Yes, sir.
Are you any good?
I don't know.
What's good?
Isn't training camp
about to start?
They can wait.
Is that right?
That's right.
Got some friends in town?
No, sir.
Hey.
Anytime you need me to go,
you just holler.
Pretend like
you're Bo Williams.
This isn't a hotel.
You can't stay long.
Oh, yeah.
Sure.
My mama still does
your mama's nails.
Best manicure in West Texas.
I met her once; your mama.
She a real nice lady.
She moved to Midland.
You probably know that.
Hey.
Go on.
Come on.
- Bo.
- Marianne.
Excuse me.
No. You stay here.
Sit down.
That was a sweet letter, but it
didn't exactly say where you were.
Where are you?
The Big Apple.
New York?
Wow.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Uh-huh.
Is someone there?
Is Bo there?
Uh-huh.
Don't tell him where I am, mama.
Don't tell him!
Mm-hmm.
Okay Phylis, well,
thanks for calling.
I love you, mama.
Bye.
My sister, tracked down
her high school sweetheart,
in New York.
I did not know
you had a sister.
Half-sister.
Alpine.
She lives in Alpine.
Well, it's amazing to me that
I've lived next door to you...
all these years and had
no idea you had a sister.
Hmm, would you
like some coffee?
You know where Ricky is?
Pardon me, ma'am.
I'm sorry.
You're pardoned.
- You're still pardoned.
- Thank you.
What do you think
of that one?
I mean, I'm not sure.
I kind of like it.
I think you should get it.
You think?
Yeah, I do.
I'll give it a week.
If it's meant to be... right?
Pardon me, partner.
Ma'am.
I think I have a stalker.
Bye-bye.
Hi, I'm Vera.
Um.
Ricky, Ricky Brown.
I wouldn't have done it.
Thank you.
Bye.
What's Texas like?
It's dry, flat, hot.
Do you visit a lot?
Never.
Never?
John, no one's gonna stop you
from having that operation.
Heck, I don't think anybody's gonna
hate you for it either, but...
I just feel it's my responsibility
to present you with your options.
Now, these here will take care
of the pain while you're resting.
You don't need to practice.
We'll give you your injections
before the games.
You just need to make sure you
don't get used to these things.
They're strong.
That's right.
Five games, John.
If we win 'em, you're gonna
be what's called a 'legend'.
Once in a lifetime.
Twenty-thousand people...
and that was just
inside the stadium.
Last play of the game,
touchdown wins, forty to go,
there's no way we're running it in.
They know it, we know it.
They blitz, like you
never seen blitz before.
Option left.
Left!
There's confusion, mayhem,
they don't know what's going on.
We haven't run it left
since you did it.
Anyway... I look up, I got
one man, opposite sideline.
I throw that pig like I'd
never thrown her before.
Man, I got hit so hard, I thought
I was in the Super Bowl.
But I knew where
that ball was going.
Yes, sir.
Did Daniel play college ball?
He never went to college.
What'd he do?
Not much of anything.
Well, how is he?
He's dead.
They said it was a heart attack.
Hey, Ricky.
Hey.
Hey.
- Vera.
- Vera. Vera.
Father.
Vera, this is John Cross.
Hi, John.
Hi, Vera.
We met today.
John lives here.
I'm visiting.
- From?
- West Texas.
Yeah? I have
a cousin in Odessa.
No shit?
Lots of shit.
But that's another conversation.
We beat Permian last year.
Sorry, ma'am.
Are Permian good?
Our school only
ever beat 'em twice.
John did it like,
fifteen years ago.
Greatest option quarterback
ever to play Texas ball.
Really?
What happened?
Cocktails?
You got I.D.?
Water will be fine.
Thank you.
I'm fine.
Thank you.
Two waters coming right up.
The specials are right there,
over his head.
We met earlier.
I said that.
Excuse me.
Sure.
You're quittin'?
You're quittin'?
That's funny, Bubba.
I love you.
I love you, boy.
Would you like to join us?
He's a friend from Texas.
You're welcome...
No, thanks.
Okay.
It's only mid-August,
NFL pre-season...
is now in full-swing.
We're still three weeks away
from the regular season...
and all the talk from Manhattan
to Manhattan Beach is about...
a college freshman who won't even walk
on to a college practice field...
for another few weeks.
People are asking if
this young quarterback...
is going to be this year's
version of Chris Black,
Miami Storm sensation
of a year ago.
It was only last fall...
That guy, Thompson
from Florida,
I heard he was smokin' hot.
...in just his freshman season.
Maybe the NFL should let him
present himself in next year's drafts.
Smokin' hot.
Speaking of the NBA...
I was gonna go out.
Okay?
'Night.
'Night.
...in a two-to-one, extra innings
victory over the New York Mets...
You know John Cross has
not contacted his mother...
for fifteen years.
Can you imagine not calling
me for fifteen years?
I can barely last
fifteen hours.
Mama?
I'm still here.
I really love you.
I really love you.
See ya soon.
Bye now.
Hey, stalker.
Hey.
Where's your happy pal?
Back at the ranch.
I wanna get drunk.
Wanna get drunk?
I like tequila.
Okay.
Okay.
Thank you.
Thanks.
Some?
- Real men don't, right?
- Texas.
- What?
- Nothing.
You wanna kiss me, right?
Watch it, cowboy.
Okay?
Sorry, ma'am.
- Just slow down.
- Okay.
- I'm a nice girl, ya know?
- I know.
What's wrong?
Umm...
I'm not really experienced.
Really?
Swear to God.
- Really?
- Yeah, really.
I like you.
That boy was just warming
up last time round.
We're gonna bulk him up
and keep that secret weapon healthy.
Well, we'll see about that.
In the due course of time,
and by the good Lord's will,
we'll try and find an
answer to your inquiries.
But right about now I'm just
concerned about keeping...
Ricky Brown healthy and happy.
When the time's right I'll
apply the right kind of pressure,
provided, however,
the right kind of pressure...
is applied to old Bo.
Come on now, that
would not be civilized,
nor would it be discreet.
I cannot be the one to put
a price on that boy's head.
Besides, I'm sure you have
a pretty good idea...
what it would take for
old Bo to orchestrate...
a choice that might
benefit the future glory...
of your little old college.
Well, that there is
an interesting start.
We'll just let you sit on it,
see if that little seed...
you just planted grows into
a big old money tree.
Uh, that's right.
Bye for now.
Bo here.
Well, my-my-my, when it
rains it sure does pour.
Competition sure
is hottin' up.
When I was a kid,
I wanted to be a nun.
Really.
But I always wanted
children, too.
Can you just tell me one thing?
Did God make this happen?
Make what happen?
Oh yeah, sure.
My bad.
- Pardon.
- Please.
- Please what?
- Please.
- Please what?
- Please.
John, please look at me.
John...
John, it's okay.
I can't.
Okay?
I can't.
This is crazy.
This is my life.
And mine.
Stop it!
Damn, get away!
Hey, hey.
What's going...
What's going on?
Hey!
Come here.
Shh.
Shh. Shh.
Hey. Hey.
Come here. Shh.
You like eggs?
Umm...
Yes, ma'am.
Coffee?
I guess.
You can sit down.
Oh, thank you.
Sleep well?
I think so.
So, you wanna
tell me about it?
About what?
Last night.
Ma'am, I'm sorry,
I just don't remember.
Okay.
Will you play for me?
You know where to find me.
Mm-hmm.
Bye.
- Can I be next?
- I am next.
- I'm a big tipper.
- That's not fair.
That is just not fair.
That is not fair.
Now I...
Keep that shit down!
Boy, get your Goddamn
hands off of her!
I told you this ain't
no place for a man!
You little sissy!
Little fucking sissy, huh?
Hello.
Hello.
Hey. Hi.
You're John's friend.
I guess.
Thinking about a facial?
Oh, no, ma'am.
Just thinking about my mama.
I'm Rosie.
I'm Ricky.
John and I come
from the same town.
I'm just passing through.
I didn't have an invitation.
Even better.
A nice surprise.
- You're French, right?
- Do you speak French?
I know, like, five things to say.
That's good.
Better than nothing, right?
Exactly.
- You speak French well.
- Thanks.
My mom tries to teach
herself languages.
- She's in the beauty business.
- Yeah?
She specializes in
French manicures.
Are you busy now?
No, ma'am.
We could "hang"?
- If you please.
- Please.
Please.
Uh, yeah.
Where are you going?
You said you were
passing through.
I'm not really
passing through.
I just came to see John.
But you said you
don't know him.
It's okay.
I don't know him either.
It sure looked like you did.
Sorry.
Bo here.
Yeah, this is he.
Are my ears deceiving me?
How you been, boy?
How many years has it been?
Quite a few.
Where are you boy?
Come on back, JC!
We're about to do
it again this year.
We got this kid Ricky Brown.
We ain't seen nothing like
it since the good Lord...
sent you down from heaven.
He's got the secret weapon.
Just like you.
Where did you say you were?
New York.
New York, New York?
Yeah. Brooklyn.
What the hell
you doing there?
I'm a priest.
What, Catholic?
That's right.
No shit!
To what do I owe
this great pleasure?
I was hoping to get
Mrs. Brown's number.
I figured you might have it.
You mean Marianne 'I Don't
Know Where My Son Is' Brown?
Sure, I got it but, uh...
Why would you want it, son?
I heard Daniel died.
Sure as hell did.
Right there on
the front yard.
Right before my very eyes, but...
Hey, since when did you
care about Daniel Brown?
Nobody liked that
son of a bitch.
Including you.
Better yet, how
did you even know?
Well, I, uh...
Just hold on a second.
Leon, you are not
gonna believe this.
Did you run away?
Kind of.
From what?
Everything.
Sometimes He gives us
everything at once.
Who?
Him.
And you?
Did you run away?
I walked.
From Paris?
From love.
Were you heart broken?
No.
It was just bad timing.
My mama says
timing is everything.
Do you have any
brothers or sisters?
The only child, like me.
We go?
I'll make you a lemonade.
My daddy died
when I was a baby.
My brother was like
fifteen when I was born,
so he was kind of like my father.
But you said before
it was only you.
Yeah, I did.
Sit.
Please sit.
What happened?
He died.
It was a little
while ago now.
How long ago?
- Four weeks.
- Four weeks.
What are you doing here?
Well, I came to see John.
How did you brother die?
They said it was
a heart attack.
They said.
You don't know?
Where were you?
Out.
Out where?
Out there.
International man
of mystery, huh?
Something like that.
What?
I was just thinking about jumping
out of a plane without a parachute.
I might come with you.
Maybe the clouds'll catch us.
Yeah, I hope so.
Squeeze me.
Tighter.
Tighter.
- Tighter.
- You're gonna burst.
Oh, shit.
Hey.
Do you have time
for a coffee?
Sure.
What are you working on?
A translation for
a medical journal.
On what?
You really want to know?
Sure.
The long-term effects of
preservative coloring;
comparing European findings of 2002
with American findings of 1995.
Written by
Doctor Hautin of Brussels.
Sounds riveting.
The Belgians are really funny.
That's why we
like them so much.
You know, God gave me the
strength to feel that...
I was worth something.
And that's where
I'm at right now.
I can't disappoint Him
anymore than I already have.
It was an accident.
I remember the first
time I heard you speak.
You talked about God's will.
You said there
were no accidents.
What are you doing here?
What time do you get off?
As late as you're
willing to stay up.
I got me some beer.
- Want my keys?
- Sure.
Vera!
Inside!
Bye.
You're quittin'?
That's funny, Bubba.
I love you.
What you gonna do?
What you gonna do?
I'm gonna work with mama.
- What?
- I'm gonna work with mama.
And do what?
And do what?
And do what?
And do what?
- And do what?
- Don't do this, Dan.
And do what?
- Don't do this!
- Do what?
What you gonna do?
What you gonna do?
- Don't do this.
- You ain't quitting shit!
You ain't quitting shit!
Get up!
Get up!
How you doing?
Yo!
Clean up your mess, man!
Pick up your shit, man.
What the fuck you smiling at?
Aw, Jesus.
Vera!
Get him out of here!
Walk it off.
Just walk it off, Ricky.
Jesus Christ!
What are you doing to me?
Ricky, come on.
Aw!
Better?
Vera?
I'm hungry now.
Real hungry.
Why are you here?
You came to find me, right?
'Cause you believe in
destiny and you just knew.
You knew.
And you think I'm it.
The one.
And you wanna stay here,
with me forever, right?
But you're gonna leave, right?
- What's up, bubba?
- Hey, what's...
What happened to you?
Don't ask.
Check it out.
You signed it the
day I was born.
I think you should
go home, Ricky.
I'm happy right here.
Go home, man.
You go home, John.
I don't need this, man.
And it don't need you.
Where are you going?
You don't want me
here so I'm leaving.
I asked you a question.
I'm going to my friend's place.
I thought you didn't have
any friends in town.
What difference does it make?
You need to go home, Ricky.
Thank you, John.
Excuse me.
Why did you come here?
I told you why.
You didn't tell me nothing.
Tell me what's going on.
You tell me what's going on.
My-my-my!
Seeing is believing!
Found you on the
Internet, boy.
What are you doing here?
As soon as I heard your
voice I know I had to come.
Well damn, son,
give old Bo a hug.
I asked you a question.
How you doing, John?
I was doing just
fine till about now.
Well, let's not keep you.
You just deliver the goods
and we'll be on our way.
I don't know what
you're talking about.
John, John, John.
You know what I want, John.
It's Ricky Brown, John.
We need him back.
We need to take him
home where he belongs.
Like I said, I don't know
what you're talking about.
John, you know we ain't
leaving till we get our boy.
I think you better
move that foot.
We'll be back, John-boy.
You can count on it.
Come on, Leon.
Let's get out of here.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey.
Hey, dude.
Hi.
See ya.
Yeah, I heard those boys
took a little trip east.
What happened?
Tell me what happened.
My first son died and my baby
thinks he did the killing.
Did he do the killing?
You met him.
What do you think?
I can't imagine.
Well, he sure as hell can.
And they're just pig-happy to
have him keep on imagining it.
Problem is, Daniel was...
Daniel was asking for a
beating and he got one.
Problem was, his heart
couldn't take it.
Why?
It was broken.
Why?
Football, that's why.
I hated what this crazy
obsession was doing to my husband,
and I hated him for what
he was doing to Daniel.
Most of me was
glad when he died.
But then Daniel became the father
and he did it all over again.
Sweet men turned sour.
For what?
And that's when the
real nightmare started.
I started hating Daniel for
what he was doing to Ricky.
Some of me wanted
him to die, too.
Take it from a mother, John.
A husband's one thing,
but a son...
Hell, I hated you, too...
for being so damn good.
For reminding those men
of what they weren't,
for working them into a frenzy,
making them crazier than
what they already were.
But then when my baby became you,
suddenly I understood...
the pain and
the responsibility.
Looking down from
that great height,
on all those who couldn't
touch the clouds...
who never will.
I feel strangely relieved.
Do you understand?
I wish I did.
Aww!
Ooh!
I'll get you.
I'll get you.
I'll get you.
Come on over here.
You know you're
everything to me, right?
You know that, right?
I love you.
I love you too, Daniel.
I love you.
You're good.
You're good.
What do you think of that
rookie at Texas Christian?
- Jackson?
- Yeah.
I'm not convinced.
He reads the game all right,
he's fast as hell,
he's got a pretty
good arm, but man,
he gets hit all the time.
It's almost like he
wants to get hurt.
You think he should have
gone to a drawback school?
I can't say...
But you know, if he ain't
got the greatest arm...
and they're not running the
option all day and all night,
then I don't see
why he would.
Personally, I love
running the option.
But you got an arm, right?
I guess.
Forty-eight with
a five-step drop.
You?
Sixty on the move.
No shit?
How do you think
we beat Permian?
Last throw of
the game, right?
Only throw of the game, man.
So you... go play your college
ball somewhere you can throw.
I ain't playing nowhere.
It's a free country.
Is it?
Aw!
Ow!
- You wanna fight?!
- Please...
This has nothing
to do with you!
Nothing!
- Nothing!
- Tell me you ain't quittin'!
I can't.
I can't.
Tell me you ain't quittin'!
You want to know what
happened, right?
Problem is...
I don't remember too well.
It all happened... so fast.
Can we just leave it at that?
Hi, John.
Um, uh, hi.
Vera, right?
Uh-huh.
Can I help you?
No thanks.
Would you like to come in?
I'm Jewish.
Oh.
Ice cream?
Come on, Ricky.
You weren't going to leave
without saying goodbye, right?
Right.
Yes, you were.
You were with that...
That who?
That...
Ricky?
Exactly. I'm worth
more than a shot, okay?
Really?
I'm gonna come and visit.
Oh.
Where you gonna stay?
'Oh, where you gonna stay?'
I don't know,
what's going on...
but you're gonna be fine.
Okay?
You're one of those.
Thank you, ma'am.
Enough with the 'ma'am' shit.
Okay.
You make me laugh.
You make me worry.
Why are you still doing
his dirty work, Leon?
I'm here to try
and make it easy.
Easy?
What's easy, man?
What's... huh?
We all got to move on, John.
Where we going?
Huh, Leon?
Where we going?
- John.
- No, tell me.
Where we going?
- We going on back to Texas.
- I ain't.
We not asking you to, John.
Damn you.
You see that?
Damn you, Leon.
One way or the other.
There's only one conclusion.
We don't have a choice,
John, you and me.
We don't have a choice.
You...
Well, the kid lives
to see another day.
Sleep well.
Thanks.
Uh, no, no.
Leave it open.
Hey, John!
Mr. John, I
respect your house.
We're running out of time.
Camp starts in three days.
Stay there.
Don't make this hard, son?
Oh, there he is!
America Brown!
Come on, boy. I got you
a first class ticket.
He's looking strong.
Oh, yeah!
Yeah!
Well, thanks for
coming, fellas.
- John.
- Come on now, John.
It's not for you to decide!
Dammit, Leon.
- What we come here for?
- We came to get the boy.
- What we come here for?
- To get the boy.
Okay, you gonna go get the boy?
You want me to go in there
and just drag him out here?
Yeah, break the
God-damned door.
Break the God-damned door!
Back off!
What's the problem?
Back off!
What's the problem?
The nigger in
the collar, he...
All right.
All right.
Hey, just get him inside!
He's with me.
He's with me.
It's all right.
It's all right.
I got you.
I got you.
I'll see you at the trial, kid.
Let's get out of here.
Father, just get him inside.
It's all right.
All right?
All right?
Okay. Come on.
Let's go inside.
Hey. HEY!
Hey!
Tell me you ain't quittin'!
I can't.
Stop!
And do what?
What you gonna do?
What you gonna do?
Put your hands up.
Put your hands up!
Shit!
Ricky!
Please! Please!
I hate you!
Why?
You're good.
I hate you.
I love you.
You're quitting?
That's funny, Bubba.
I love you.
You're everything to me.
You're everything to me.
I love you, too, Daniel.
Why?
I love you, too, Daniel.
Get up.
Get up.
Get up!
Get up!
Get up!
Get up!
I didn't mean it.
No!
I didn't mean it, Daniel.
I didn't mean it.
No!
No!
No!
Daniel!
Daniel!
Daniel!
Daniel!
Daniel, please!
It's all right.
No!
It's okay.
What's wrong with him?
I think you'd better
get him in the house.
You got him?
Come on, Leon.
Let's go.
Yeah.
Hi.
You have a waitress
who works there.
Uh, Vera.
It'll be okay.
You're gonna be okay.
Okay?
Hello.
Rosie?
- Hi.
- Hi.
Good luck.
- And you too?
- You too.
I've a voyage to Paris.
You leaving?
Go.
- Um, thank you.
- It's nothing.
You want to walk with me?
You never got to play for me.
Oh well.
One day.
If you're lucky.
Don't fall down.
Wish I could do that.
Thank you, sir.
Don't you wanna get that?
It might be me.
It's been more
than fifteen hours.
Well, I was playing
hard to get.
What do you know about that?!
I don't, mama.
I met a girl.
- You did?
- Yeah, mama.
Don't cry, mama.
Don't cry.
Ricky, it's mighty courageous
of you to step forward like this...
and take responsibility
for your perceived crime.
Look, I'm going to speak plain
and honest to you, okay?
Now, maybe you did use an unlawful
degree of force to defend yourself,
and perhaps I can
go find some witnesses...
to cooperate and help me
pin a charge on you.
And maybe, like you say, you even
had some want for him to die.
Now, of course that
saddens me very much to hear.
I'm desperately
sorry for your loss,
but I'm even more sorry that
you're sitting in front of me now,
trying to pay a higher price for it
than I'm sure you already have.
Look, do us all a favor, son.
Take advantage of the
gifts God's given you...
If there's one thing that'll make
me want to put you behind bars,
it's for you to throw
those gifts away.
It just wouldn't
be righteous.
Okay.
I've said enough.
Thanks for coming down.
Hey, y'all take care of
yourselves now, okay?
- Lyle?
- Yes, Beth.
I have Bo Williams
on the line.
He wants to confirm
golf this weekend.
Tell him I'm looking
forward to kicking his butt.
Oh yeah, and tell him to
bring that bum Bryant with him.
One day, bubba, you're gonna
have the whole world...
in the palm of your hands.
I can feel it in my bones.
I can see it...
"Ricky Brown! Greatest quarterback
ever to play Texas ball".
What do you think
of them apples?
I'm okay now.
I'm okay.
It's great to see you
throwing the ball, Rick.
It's great to be throwing one.
It means a lot to us.
It ain't meant for you.