Rick, l want to ask you to be a captain.
''Q'' is already captain.
We always have at least two.
But he can't stand me, the same with half the guys out there.
This isn't about them. It's about you.
lt's about being the best Rick.
Well, what about Tumo?
He and three or four other guys came to me suggesting you.
The team doesn't get this kind of stuff wrong.
l know Kurt would have wanted it.
l don't get it.
You know exactly why l'm here, and you still act like you care.
l'm iust a no-good spy
who cheap-shotted your star player last year.
First of all, l attribute that cheap shot to your coach, not you,
and second, let's focus on where you could end up,
not where you were or are.
And... God doesn't make a no-good anything.
You iust got to learn to listen
and pay attention to that spirit inside you.
And learning to listen, that takes a lot of discipline.
So that's why all the rules?
We only have one real rule --
don't do anything
that would embarrass you, the team, or your family.
l can't be captain.
Some friends of mine sent me some stuff.
Vicodin.
But l don't have it anymore. l got rid of it.
Man!
l cannot believe you made me tell you that.
Much to your credit, Rick, l didn't make you.
And good decisions don't make life easy.
But they do make it easier.
You're gonna have to sit out the Boise game.
But l'm sure you'll find a way
to captain your forwards from the sidelines.
Welcome to Highland Rugby, Rick.
Thanks.
Kurt was with me when my father died.
He told me that although his body was gone,
his spirit would always be with me.
Every time l do the haka,
l call on the power of my family spirit.
We'll call upon Kurt's spirit now, too.
Kurt...
...he was a real friend.
lf it wasn't for him, l wouldn't be on this team.
He made me want to be a better person.
l'm gonna miss that.
You boys might think l coach because...
...l love rugby and l love to win.
Both true.
But l keep coaching because of you guys.
That's why l'm more interested in turning out champion boys
than champion teams.
l want you to be forever strong on the field
so you'll be forever strong off it.
Kia kaha -- forever strong.
ALL: Kia kaha.
Ka mate, ka mate
ALL: Ka mate, ka mate Ka ora, ka ora...
Come on, Phipp! l want a nice toss!
Give me a nice toss, baby!
Let's go, Griggsie!
Bring it down! Protect the ball!
Protect it!
Get it up! Get it up!
Run! Run! Go!
Go!
Yes!
That is what l'm talking about!
Whoo!
Yeah, give me some!
Yeah! Whoo!
l think l liked him better on the field.
RADlO ANNOUNCER: Well much of the story this seaso'n
has been Highland's commitment to team play,
and after crushing the Boise team today,
they're in the Pacific Coast drivers seat
to be the number-one seed at the nationals
in Colorado Springs.
Settle down! Settle down!
Hey, nice win, guys.
That's the way to take care of business.
Whoo-hoo!
Oh, Griggs! You stink, man!
Take a shower!
What you say, huh?
-Yeah! -Griggs, man.
To the back of the bus.
Hey, come on, Griggsie. A little mercy, man.
lt's a winning tradition.
lt's a stinking tradition!
You know where the losers sit?
ln the front of the bus, yeah. That's right.
How'd you like to scrum with that?
RADlO ANNOUNCER: Since the tragic death
of team player Kurt Addison eight weeks ago,
this Highland team has been nothing but unstoppable.
They'll be returning home with the regional title
and be headed to the USA Rugby Nationals
later this month.
What about you? No family, Griggsie?
No, my parents split up.
My dad's in prison.
My mom, she's a stripper out in Vegas,
or Reno or something like that.
l don't know. l don't remember.
Man, l'm sorry. l thought that l had it bad, but you --
lt's all good.
You loser. You lied?
You know, this little trust bridge we had here
iust burned and went right down the river.
But they're always late, so...
Oh, look. It's my mother.
That's a big mama.
Ooh, put your tongue away, dude.
She don't like the drooling, 'cause l already tried that.
-Yeah, how long have they been-- -Together?
-Yeah. -Since birth.
That's ''Q's'' sister Emily. You did not know that?
What?
RICK: This has got even better.
l wouldn't touch it, man. She's twitchy as a bunch of nuns.
-She's the Holy Grail. -Yeah, uh-huh.
l tried.
You must be the sisters that ''Q'' has been telling me about.
What are you doing?
No, l've never said a word to him about you.
Well, you should have.
Yeah. You should have.
No. l shouldn't have.
Rick Penning.
Emily Owens.
You know, l've been watching you play.
You're actually really good.
Well, thank you. It's very nice of you to notice.
-Oh, well-- -''Q'': We're going.
Okay, l think l'm leaving now,
but it was nice to officially meet you!
No, it wasn't.
Hey, ''Q''!
l'll see you tomorrow at 4:OO for practice
where we usually hang out afterwards
and grab a bite to eat!
You a pineapple, brother.
What?
All hard and ugly and spiny on the outside.
Nothing but sweet and mushy under.
Oh, you got it bad.
lt's not even like that, brah.
You know, you guys are going to nationals.
Making Marcus one happy brother.
Hey.
Dad! What are you doing here?
l'm taking you home.
Marcus, l told you l wanted to finish out the season.
l know,
but based on the last two positive evaluations l gave you,
the iudge released you from the wardship,
placing you back in the custody of your parents.
So what does that mean?
lt means grab your stuff. You're coming home.
Dad, l can't. l'm the team captain!
You're still the captain, of the Razorbacks.
l'm sorry. Look, see the positive here.
You did it.
You got probation. You're not going to a county lockdown.
Thanks for everything.
Okay. Okay. That's real sweet.
This isn't summer camp. Let's go.
You keep listening right, okay?
All right, Bingham.
Enough with the kumbayahs, all right?
Nice.
lt's good to have you home.
Thanks.
You know, tomorrow at practice,
Rick is gonna Iay out Highland's playbook.
You know, whatever you've got that you think we need,
you know, specific plays, zoning, substitution strategies,
you iust let it rip, okay?
You know, we're gonna end up playing against them
at Colorado Springs.
This is our year.
We deserve that title.
What do you mean ''we''?
My team is Highland.
Okay, you see, you don't get to choose.
You will leave this house or not if we say.
You will drive that car or not if we say.
You will go to Colorado or not if l say,
and right now l say that you will be at practice
with your Razorbacks tomorrow.
Rick, sit down.
Have me arrested.
What was that about?
What did l say wrong?
He's been gone a year,
and the only thing you can talk about
is having him teach some stupid plays to your team?
Stupid plays? Okay, look. It's his team, too.
Didn't you hear him?
The Razorbacks aren't his team anymore.
He doesn't know what he wants anymore, honey.
Have you asked him?
l only want him to have what l never had.
And what makes you think that he wants what you never had?
What about what he wants?
What he wants landed him in iail.
What is more important, Richard?
A game or two or your son?
Look at him.
lf playing for this team
is making him more like the man that we want him to be,
if it's making him happy --
lt's in his eyes.
Just open yours, and you'll see it.
Okay, l'll try. Okay?
You try. You sit. This is about doing, Coach.
Hey, Rick!
What's up, man?
When did you get back?
Here, let me look at you.
Oh, Tami, l'm so sorry. Are you okay?
l'm fine. l just want you to kiss me.
Oh, Tami, come on.
Baby, what's wrong? Aren't you excited to see me?
Tami, please.
Guys, l'm on probation, man.
You guys got to lose this. Put it in the truck or something.
Oh, come on, Mr. Paranoid.
You really see a probation schmo around here?
TAMl: l missed you.
-No. -Lars.
Lars, l'm serious, man. Don't put it in here.
Okay, well, you're still taking us for a little ride afterward.
Come on, man. You owe us one.
Rick, this is it.
This is our year!
This is it!
-Am l right? -Absolutely.
Seriously, though, the team -- We're pure stoked
to have you back to give us the Highland hookup
on all their plays and stuff.
You want the Highland hookup?
One, there's none of this, all right?
lt's about character and honor.
What's he talking about?
l'm sorry, uh...
...character and honor?
Yeah, and we also don't do anything to embarrass ourselves, our families,
or our team.
Hey! Whoa!
What, so, you don't drink now?
Rick, you're talking like you still play for them.
You want to know what Highland teaches? Well, l'm telling you.
Yeah, yeah, we want plays. Maybe illegal hits.
You really think we want you to come around here
and start teaching Sunday School?
Come on, man. This ain't you.
You know what, guys?
l'm going to practice.
Lars, man, Iet's just get out of here.
Well, the old Rick used to take it any way he could get it.
You should suck it up.
Rick, what's wrong with you?
What's happened to you, Rick?
Where's the loyalty, man?
l mean, we've been talking about beating Highland for the title
since we were little kids.
Lars, man, Iet's just go, all right?
Let's iust go, okay?
Highland is a bunch of choir boys, Rick!
Yeah, and you're drunk.
So?
So, we're not doing this. l'm going to practice.
No, Rick. Come on!
LARS: All right, well, maybe we just don't want you at practice.
Maybe you should, uh, hightail it back to Highland, huh?
GIRL: Lars, don't be an idiot!
TAMl: Come on, you guys!
You know, a year ago you would have killed me for that.
l said, ''l'm not doing this.''
LARS: No...
TAMl: Lars! Stop! You guys, stop!
Get a little zip on that thing.
Get off of him!
TAMl: Stop, you guys!
Get off him, man!
lt's the cops! It's the cops!
Hey, what are you guys doing here?
Back lines! Let's go!
Move it! Go!
l give you the keys to the car, and this is what l get.
After what l've been through the last year,
do you really believe
that l'd be messing with drugs and booze the day l get home?
Okay, there were drugs and beer all over you and the car.
lt was Lars and Marty.
Test me. l haven't had a drink in a year.
Rick, do you have any idea how much potential you had?
Lars set me up!
See, my future was stolen.
You're not even listening.
FATH E R: And what are you doing?
You're iust throwing it all away? For what? Drugs?
Booze? Some girl?
So, l guess what l said really doesn't even make a difference.
Rick, it kills me to sit back and watch you throw everything away.
l mean, when are you gonna dig deep
and first-string the real Rick Penning?
You want to talk about first-stringing a Penning?
You won nationals in 1 986.
You were on the original Highland Rugby team!
You were a Highland Rugby player.
l didn't win anything.
You were on the team. You know what they taught.
l was on nothing.
l saw your picture, Dad. You were on the team.
No. Gelwix made sure that l wasn't on that team
by putting me someplace that l shouldn't have been.
l told him,
but he insisted that l play a forward.
He was doing what was best for you and the team.
No, no, Gelwix stole my life!
Well, he's given me mine back!
l play for Highland.
l am benched for drugs and alcohol,
suspended for lying.
l don't do anything to embarrass myself, my team, or my family.
Not anymore.
Highland Rugby.
Kia kaha.
l'm done.
Rick.
Rick!
He was caught with the drugs, Larry.
He was changing. You saw it. We all saw it.
Well, that's why l fought with the courts
to try and keep him at Wasatch.
When l heard they were discharging him,
l told them he wasn't ready.
Maybe you both should have a little bit more faith in him.
Maybe.
-Good night, Coach. -Good night.
l know how much you cared about this boy.
And when l can't help these young men
become champions in their own lives, it's...
Maybe it is time.
You're out, man. Come on. Let's go.
Move it!
Mom.
Tami, what's going on?
Larry Gelwix called.
We talked for a long time.
He wouldn't let me off the phone
until l promised to do some digging.
Tami told the police what really happened.
l thought you were with Lars and Marty on this.
Maybe l didn't want to hold you back anymore.
Where's Dad?
Your dad thought you might be able to use this.
He also said that he knew you wouldn't be able to respect him
unless he still tried to beat Highland,
even with you as their hook.
Let's get out of here.
Thanks, Tami.
USA Rugby welcomes you
to the National High School Championship Tournament.
Hello, everyone, l'm Max Griffin.
And l'm Colton McDonald,
coming to you live today from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Now, we've got 16 teams,
two from each of the country's seven territories,
plus two at-large entries.
Ladies and gentlemen,
welcome to today's US Rugby National Championship game.. .
Brother Rick!
.. .between East Lansing and Highland.
What's up, brother?
-Come on, guys. -What's up, brah?
-Coach! -Hey, Penning. Welcome back.
Welcome back.
Glad you're here, Rick.
Thanks for having me back.
All right, Iook around, gentlemen.
This is what you've been chasing.
Now, l want it clean,
but these guys need to know that they don't belong here.
l want you to hit 'em so hard, you make 'em cry.
You hearing me, Peeta?
Yes, Coach.
Make 'em cry.
Yeah! Way to go, buddy!
ANNOUNCER: Highland is iust chewing East Lansing up
and spitting them out.
l tell you, Max, you do not want to give Highland an inch
because they will take the whole mile.
This game is over. Highland cleans house, 61-3.
Who's missing a tooth?
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,
the next match will begin in 1 5 minutes
between Akron United and San Mateo Ravens.
And so 16 teams are cut to 8, Ieaving the 1 and 2 seeds,
the flagstaff and Highland teams advancing.
LARS: Hey!
lf it isn't the Highland choir boys.
Knock it off, Lars.
We're iust surprised to see you out in the free world, Penning.
You know, we're actually hoping you guys keep winning,
so we can play you in the finals,
because you will become a very popular guy.
What's it up to now?
lt's like -- What do we got? 235?
$235 to whoever takes you out of the game.
ls that right?
You...
Uh, Peeta? It's okay.
Come on, brah. Let's go! Let's go! It's not even worth it, man.
Not even worth it.
Trembling there a little bit, Lars.
Yeah, l think l peed iust a little bit.
Just a little.
This is six!
ANNOUNCER: Highland steals the ball and passes it out.
They hit the gap and took it.
Boy, just look at Swindle breaking the line
and putting on the gas.
He is making some serious yards.
And we have a ruck in the midfield.
Oh, a quick ball out.
There's a kick ahead. And there it is.
Highland's fullback, Quentin Owens,
sweeps it up for some easy try time.
This is a big cleanup by Highland.
They're very, very serious contenders in this tournament.
That was for me.
Good evening.
That worked, yeah?
You guys are sick.
GRIGGS: No, get back in, Mark.
They're coming. They're coming. They're coming.
MARK: Griggsie?
Griggs, are you there?
Griggs, let me out of here, man! Come on! This ain't funny!
OTHERS: Yee-hah!
MARK: Griggsie, get back here, man!
Coach, any predictions on the match?
Oh, we're looking forward to the challenge.
My boys have worked very hard to get here,
and may the best team win.
l understand your son is playing for Highland.
What's it going to be like coaching against him?
Uh...
Coach, is it true you used to play for this Highland team?
Thank you.
Pizza time, baby!
lt's more fun when you turn it on, brah.
Hey, uh, why don't you guys
go torment some menace in the hallway or something?
GRIGGS: All right. Hurry up. Peeta eat it all.
Hey, let's go watch Sanchez work out!
TEAMMATE: Sanchez works out?
And l have a 4.O GPA.
You want to talk about your grades?
For the last year and a half,
l've been paying guys to get test answers for me.
You know, l have lived my whole life for my parents.
Line by line, what they wanted me to do.
Highland Rugby is the only thing that l do for me.
l mean, l have lived the last four years of my life
so that l can play as a senior for the national title.
And here it is.
And l'm this close.
l'm trying to stay true to my parents,
l haven't been true to the one thing
that means the most to me...
...my brothers on the team.
l'm sorry. l iust, uh, had to tell somebody, you know?
You're not gonna tell coach, are you?
That's not my iob.
Right.
G E LWIX: ''Q'' just came to see me.
Thanks for being a positive influence on him.
-RICK: That's funny. -GELWIX: No, no. It's true.
And you gonna play him?
GELWIX: What do you think?
Well...
...he is a captain.
And he scores most of our points.
Might not win without him.
Glad l'm not the coach right now.
l'm glad l'm not Quentin's father right now.
He iust flew in for the finals.
When l was 13,
my father went with me to a father-and-son dinner.
lt was the only time he ever went with me to anything like that.
One time.
l never knew if he cared.
l took his absence as a lack of love.
l never felt like l was good enough. Never felt like l measured up.
And it took me 40 years to forgive him.
And when you got arrested...
...l told the lovely Mrs. Gelwix, ''lt's time to retire.''
Then l got a call from your father.
lt was the first time we talked since that 1 986 season.
And he said that the son he lost a year ago
wasn't the same one he found sitting in jail.
You're where l was 40 years ago.
Don't spend another minute being angry about yesterday.
Free him, and you free yourself.
Better get some sleep.
Big game tomorrow.
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen,
bringing in the game ball for this years championship
is New Zealand's rugby living legend,
Mr. Sid Going.
-Have a good day. -Thank you.
lt's good to see you.
Sid, how are you?
Very good. Good to see you, Larry.
We're coming to you live today
from beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado,
where today two familiar teams are taking the field --
Flagstaff versus Highland --
the winning team walking away with the national championship.
Rick!
-Hey, Emily! -Hey.
lt's really good to see you.
l wanted to say thank you for what you did for ''Q.''
He said you took the time to listen, and you're a real friend.
He said that?
Well, you're welcome.
Well, l'll be right there,
sitting in the Rick Penning fan section.
l deserved that.
Good luck.
Thanks.
See you after the game?
Uh, yeah.
You can count on that.
-Hey, wrong bench, Penning. -Look who it is.
-Sweat it. -What's up, traitor?
-Rick. -Welcome back.
Hey, you don't belong over here, traitor.
You shouldn't be over here.
l iust wanted to say that l'm sorry.
l'm sorry for being a disappointment to you and Mom.
l'm sorry l wasn't able to be more like what you wanted me to be.
Son, uh...
lt hasn't been iust you.
l also need to forgive you.
Kia kaha.
You will play your best game, right?
Let's go!
Better stay on your toes, Rick.
There's 280 bucks on your head.
You're going down and out, pal.
Why's he smiling?
Let's crack open his head and find out.
Ka mate! Ka mate!
ALL: Ka ora! Ka ora!
Ka mate! Ka mate! Ka ora! Ka ora!
Tenei te tangata Puhuru huru
Nana i tiki mai Whakawhiti te ra
A, upa... ne! A, upa... ne!
A upane, ka upane Whiti te ra... Hi!
Get it wide! Get it wide!
ANNOUNCER: At the 6:07 mark in the first half,
the score -- Highland, 5, flagstaff, O.
That was a cheap hit!
-Keep the tackles low. -Oh, come on!
Number 7, 10 in the bench.
ANNOUNCER: Your attention please.
Yellow-card caution issued to Razorbacks number 7.
Let's go! Support, support!
Now, it's not really known why Highland is going without
their star fullback, Quentin Owens today
but the loss, l'm telling you,
has got to be felt by the rest of the team.
And that conversion by Highland right there
ties us back up,
so it's Highland, 14, flagstaff, 14.
lt is anybody's game.
Ruck over! Ruck over!
And Highland puts on the skills and makes their move.
Oh, they get the turnover and kick it out.
Cover the line! Cover the line!
And the line-out goes to Arizona at the 22.
They're killing us out there, dude. We've got to take Penning out.
All right. You go high.
Oh, yeah!
Straight line! Line it up!
Hey, hey, hey!
-Throw it to Penning. -What?
Get it right to him.
Back to first jumper!
Switch out on me.
Watch the ball! Watch the ball! Watch it!
-That'll be 1 O minutes. -Oh, come on!
REFEREE: Ten minutes!
That's a red card!
Colton, the Razorbacks are getting off easy
with a yellow card and 1 O minutes in the sin-bin.
l tell you, if it were me, l'd be sitting the kid.
280, boy! 280!
COACH PENNING: Marty! You're out. Sit.
-What are you talking about? -You're through.
Hey, come on. We're gonna lose without Marty.
One more word out of you, and you'll be sitting with him.
Everybody stand back. Let me check him out.
G E LWIX: Back off, guys. Back off.
Give him some room, okay?
All right, take it easy, Rick.
Doc's gonna have a look at you, son.
Okay, l'm gonna check your neck.
Just lay still. Lay still, okay? You'll be okay.
l think he's gonna be okay.
Coach, uh, can l...? Can l, um...?
Thank you.
Hey.
Look, Rick, you have a choice here.
You either get up and finish this game,
or you stay down...
...and you end up like me.
ANNOUNCER: _nd he breaks the line and turns on the power.
He outsmarts them all and takes it to the line,
so it's Highland, 1 9, flagstaff, 14.
And with time iust under 5 minutes,
it is still a toss-up as to who will win this game.
Come on, pass it out! Let's go!
ANNOUNCER: Number 1 1's got the moves,
and he's got the 5 points!
That is the third try for Arizona,
and the second try for Lars Murphy in this game.
ANNOUNCER: Arizona's back in business!
That was the try that can turn this entire game around.
Both teams are playing very well
under the extreme pressure for the title.
ANNOUNCER: Now this score has guaranteed us a real cliffhanger
as we move into the last two minutes of this intense match.
There we go! There we go! Come on!
Go, Rick. Go, Rick!
Pick it up! Come on!
Go! Go, Rick!
Run!
Penning is down at the try line in a huge pileup!
l can't see.
We're still waiting for the official to make the call.
REFEREE: Out of the away! Move away. Let me see it.
For the 16th time in 21 years,
your USA Rugby National High School Champion
is Highland.
That's the Rick Penning l knew was in there!
Way to go, buddy! Way to go!
Hey! We did it!
rhat's how you make your family proud, brah!
Kia kaha, son.
Rick! Rick!
You did it!
RICK: Hey!
You did it!
No. We did it.
BOTH: Yay!
QUENTIN: That was unbelievable!
For you.
No.
For the team.
Feel good, huh?
Coach...
Nice game.
Nice game, Richard.
GRIGGS: Hey, that was a beautiful play, brah.
Hey, what is this for?
Season's over, buddy!
What are you talking about?
Oh, ho, ho!
Hey, Griggs, you gotta pay the price for victory, baby!
Whoo!
Oh!
l'll only do it for you guys.
l promise, l'll only do it for you.
Best bath l ever had!
ALL: Highland Rugby! freeman84444@yahoo.com محمود قرعاني