The key to a woman's heart...
...is an unexpected gift at an unexpected time.
You're giving me advice on women?
Unexpected gift, unexpected time.?
This is so unexpected!
Oh, Jamal.
It's not a first printing or anything, but...
Oh, my God.
- What happened? - This is a signed copy.
I can't accept it. It must've cost a fortune.
It didn't cost that much. Really.
Maybe the bookstore missed it.
Bookstores don't usually miss this stuff.
How did you end up going to Mailor?
Mailor was originally an all-boys school.
So my father did what anyone in his position would do.
He got on the board and changed the rules.
And every kid there knows it.
They would've done it anyway.
That doesn't change anything.
I'm still "Dr. Spence's daughter.".
Jamal.
Yeah?
That night at my home, after the game...
...when you were showing me how to play basketball.
Was that all you were showing me?
Listen, I don't think that's gonna work.
What?
That.
Why not?
Ask your father.
Jamal, I'm not asking for some kind of prenuptial agreement here.
It's just a question.
Why does everything have to be so black and white with you?
I forgot what the question was..
You don't forget anything, Mr. Stamford.
You don't think he wrote it?
That's a serious accusation, Robert.
You come to the board with something like this...
I'm aware of how serious it is.
It's remarkable work..
You recognize any of it?
It smacks of something.
But I don't know.
The boy does well in my class.
He had good scores coming in.
Maybe all he needed was direction.
Carl, he's a basketball player...
...from the Bronx.
Who just happens to have won 17 straight...
...for a school that likes winning.
Robert, have you considered that he might just be that good?
Not this good.
Do you know what the absolute best moment is?
It's when you've finished your first draft...
...and you read it by yourself.
Before these assholes take something...
...that they couldn't do in a lifetime...
...and tear it down in a single day.
People love that book, man.
I didn't write it for them.
And when the critics started all this bullshit...
...about what it was I was really trying to say...
Well, I decided then...
...one book was enough.
William, that was 50 years ago, man.
William.
William, I actually spent money on these tickets. Come on.
Is it still light outside?
It's nighttime, man.
Well?
You look good, man. It's not the latest stuff out...
I wasn't asking how I look. I was asking, are we ready to go?
Oh, yeah. Come on, man.'
Let's go.
Come on.
We're playing here in two weeks.
I said we're playing in two weeks. State tournament.
Come on.
Hold on. They got programs. Let me get a program.
William.
Yo, William!
Damn.
William!r
Hey, William!h
William.
Come on, let's get you out of here.
I got you.
You used to get out, right?
Yeah, a long time ago.
- What happened? - How the hell should I know?
I didn't keep track of the time.
Sorry for losing you back there.
No apology needed.
Good, because I got one more place. It's quiet and it's on the way home.
You only got 10 minutes.
- All right. - Keep it going.
- Take that. It's all good. - Thanks a lot.
Ground level.
House that Ruth built.
Why did you bring me here?
Because it's your birthday, man.
I looked it up in the almanac.
They don't even have you in the dead people section yet.
I figure with all the games you watched...
...with whoever you watched them with, you never got down this close.
- What the hell are they doing? - What you worried about, man?
You acting like they gonna play a World Series championship game.
Relax.
My brother and I, we were here for every game.
Till he left for the war.
I thought it'd be the same when he came back...
...but he talked a little less...
...and drank a little more.
I promised my mother I would help him get through it all.
So I caught up with him this one night...
...and I was already half a dozen drinks behind.
So we had a few more.
And after a while he tells me he wants...
...to drive me back to the apartment.
I said, "No, thanks."
We were all still living there then.
I just stood there...
...and watched him drive off.
Makes it through the whole goddamn war...
...and I let him drive.
Later that night...
...the nurse was typing whatever it is they type...
...and you know what she tells me?
She tells me how much my book meant to her.
My brother's getting cold in the next room...
...and all she can talk about is a book.
Well...
...everything changed from then on.
Within five months, I buried him, my ma, my father.
All of them here...
...in the Bronx.
We'd spent our summers here.
And if we were lucky, the fall.
A lot of falls with those teams.
Yeah, well...
...not enough.
"The rest of those who have gone before us...
...cannot steady the unrest of those...
...to follow."
You wrote that in your book.
Jamal, I realize that if I give you enough time...
...you'll find a way to amaze even me.
Does he know?
No, he doesn't know.
This was one of the best evenings I've had in quite some time.
All of it?
Yes, all of it.'
Well, I...
This guy, man.
How do you say you know this guy again?
- He's my teacher. - Oh, yeah?
Seems like a different kind of dude.r
Anyone in particular?
I sometimes come here in the morning.
Just me, the aspiring...
...and all of them.
I got a note saying I should come and see you..
Mr. Wallace...
...I think it's time you and I had a very honest...
...and very open discussion about your writing.
I thought you liked it.
Your recent work?
I liked it very much.
No, Mr. Wallace, the question concerning your most recent work...
...isn't whether it's good.
It's whether it's too good.
The speed in your progress....
...from your old school to this one is unusual.
To the point that I must draw one of two conclusions.
Either you've been blessed with a rare gift that has suddenly kicked in...
...or...
...you're getting your inspiration from elsewhere.
Given your previous education and your background...
...l'm sure you'll forgive me for reaching my own conclusions.
I wrote those papers, man.
Then you won't mind showing me.r
The next assignment is due in two weeks.
I'll schedule some time for you to come to my office.
I'd like you to write it there.
In the meantime, if there's anything you wish to talk about...
I'm not writing anything, man.
Which proves what?
If a two-comma kid wrote the papers, would he use this "background" shit?
- Two-comma kid? - A million dollars.
- One comma, two commas. - No.
No, I don't.
Do you know what people are most afraid of?
- What? - What they don't understand.
When we don't understand, we turn to our assumptions.
Crawford cannot understand...
...how a black kid from the Bronx can write the way you do.
So he assumes you can't.
Just like I assume he's an asshole.
You knew him, didn't you?
Crawford?
No.
But he thought he knew me.
So what's all this stuff about his book?
A lot of writers know the rules about writing...
...but don't know how to write. - So?
So Crawford wrote a book about four authors who did know.
And I was the only one still alive.
- And? - He convinced a publisher to buy it.
So I made a polite telephone call...
...to this publisher, telling him and others...
...that I was in the process of writing a second book.
And if they wished to bid on it....
Oh, so that's why Crawford's book went away.
But you knew there wouldn't be a second book.
Yeah, but they didn't.
Interesting what happens when the resources aren't close at hand.
The rich tradition of handing in competition entries...
...on the final day continues...
...for yet another year.
Ladies and gentlemen...
...may I have your attention...
...please, if you don't mind.
"Ere sin could blight or sorrow fade
Death came with friendly care
The opening bud to heaven convey'd..."
How nice of you to join us.
That's not part of the poem.
"And bade it blossom there." Anyone?
A little more early morning reticence than usual.
Mr. Coleridge.
Please.
Mr. Coleridge...
...how many students would you say we have here today?
I'm not sure.
Perhaps you could humor us with a guess.
- Thirty? - Thirty.
And of that 30, there isn't one person who knows the author of that passage.
I find that remarkable. Don't you, Mr. Coleridge?
Perhaps we should back into this.
In looking at this, what, if any, conclusions might we be able to draw?
You mean about the author?
About anything.
Do any of the words strike you as unusual?
Feel free to view this as the appropriate time for a response.
"Ere."
"Ere." And why is that unusual?
Because...
...it sounds old.
It does sound old, doesn't it?
And you know why it sounds old, Mr. Coleridge?
Because it is old. More than 200 years old.
Written before your father was born, before your father's father was born.
But that still does not excuse the fact...
...that you don't know who wrote it, now does it, Mr. Coleridge?
I'm sorry, sir, I don't...
You, of all people in this room, should know who wrote that passage.
And do you know why, Mr. Coleridge?
I repeat, do you know why?
Just say your name, man.
Did you have something to contribute, Mr. Wallace?
I just said that he should say his name.
And why would it be helpful for Mr. Coleridge to say his name?
Because that's who wrote it.
Very good, Mr. Wallace.
Perhaps your skills...
...do extend a bit farther than basketball.
If we can turn to page... You may be seated, Mr. Coleridge.
Turn to page 120 in the little blue book that...
Further.
I'm sorry?
Don't.
You said my skills extend "farther" than the basketball court.
"Farther" relates to distance. "Further" is a definition of degree.
- You should have said "further." - Are you challenging me, Mr. Wallace?
No more than you challenged Coleridge.
Perhaps the challenge should have been directed elsewhere.
"It is a melancholy truth that even..."
"...great men have poor relations."
Dickens.
"You will hear the beat of..."
Kipling.
- "All great truths begin..." - Shaw.
- "Man is the only animal..." - "...that blushes...
"...or needs to."
It's Mark Twain. Come on, Professor Crawford...
Get out!
Get out.
Yeah. I'll get out.
- Leave it alone. - Hold on, please.
So they kick you out if you know something here?
You don't know what Crawford will do.
You're right about that.
Jamal!
- Do you think you should apologize? - No.
- Do you? - No.
You did nothing wrong. Just beat him at his own game.
But...
...it would be a good time to be careful.
Careful? Careful about what?
You have a gift that will allow you to do remarkable things with your life.
That is, if you don't screw it up...
...by being a 16-year-old right now.
- Jamal. - Yeah.
- You got a call from the office. - All right.
Mr. Wallace. Please.
As you know, Professor Matthews is on the faculty board.
And Dr. Spence is chair of the trustees board.
We've been reviewing the writing competition submissions.
We were hoping you might clarify some points concerning your submission.
"A Season of Faith's Perfection."
Your piece, correct?
Yeah, that's it.
Mr. Wallace, it is standard policy with us to ask students...
...if they wish to credit any source material...
...or acknowledge any other writers when turning in an assignment.
Do you wish to do that?
1960.
An essay titled "Baseball's Best Year"...
...with a subtitle that reads "A Season of Faith's Perfection."
Published in The New Yorker and written by...
...one William Forrester.
Your version is actually quite original...
...but there is the title and first paragraph to consider.
Isn't there?
Jamal, either you happen to have...
...the permission of William Forrester, or...
Have you some other explanation?
No.
That's my paper.
Well, then, your entry is now withdrawn...
...and it becomes a matter for the board to consider.
The board does have the authority to place you on academic probation...
...which would, among other things, prevent you from playing basketball.
Since the board doesn't meet till next week...
...you can play in this weekend's state championship.
But I have to warn you, the board has a history of taking these matters...
...quite seriously.
So we would like to suggest what we feel...
...is a solution that may satisfy these concerns.
Robert.
What matters most is to ensure this type of violation isn't repeated.
So...
...you will write an apology to the students you took advantage of...
...by submitting this piece.
- You'll read it in front of my class. - I'm not reading anything.
Then I'm sure the board will consider that when reviewing your scholarship.
You haven't left us with too many options, Jamal.
Excuse me.
Don't ever embarrass me in front of my class.
Please return the pen when you're finished.
No conventional greetings today?.
Why have me rewrite something you published?
- Be careful where you take this. - Why not tell me some magazine ran it?
Why the hell does it matter?
Man, you should have told me.
What did you do with it?
I turned it in.
I had to show them something.
You promised me anything we wrote in here would stay in here.
I know!
- I just thought... - Shut up.
What are they telling you?
I go on probation unless I write a letter saying I was wrong.
Then write the letter.
I said I'm not writing anything.
You got him, he gets you. Write the letter.
And you'd let him do that?
Is this supposed to be another damn lesson?
I'm tired of all these lessons every time I come here.
So your title's at the top of my paper.
- What's the lesson in that? - I'm not the one who turned it in.
Yeah, but you were the one who just had to say:
"Keep this one here because it got printed in The New Yorker."
That's all you had to say, man.
- I could use some help on this one. - Oh, no. That's not an option.
- You don't even have to go... - I said that's not an option.
That's all right, man.
Got a nice history of people not helping me.
Oh, Christ. Not that self-pity, father bullshit.
What did you say?
Man, fuck you, William!y
The real bullshit is me taking it on this one...
...because you won't walk out the door...
...and do something for somebody else. You're too damn scared, man!
That's the only damn reason.
You don't know a goddamn thing about reasons.
There are no reasons!
Reasons why some of us live and why some of us don't.
Fortunately, you have decades to figure that out.
What's the reason for having a cabinet full of writing nobody ever reads?
What is that, man?
I'm done with this shit.
Give him the ball again.
Oh, look. Jamal Wallace, here to pay us a visit.
What's up?
- What's up, man? - What's up, y'all?
Come on.
I know, I know. I've seen it.
How's your first game in the Garden feel?
A little closer than I thought.
That's why I thought it might be a good time for us to talk.
I know it's difficult handling classes with the time you spend on the court.
I couldn't handle that load. Not at this school.
And maybe it was unfair of us to ask you to do it.
I talked to the board members and to Crawford...
...and...
...we don't want to pursue this any more than you do. Any of it.
I'm here to present you with an offer. We forget about the whole thing.
Next year, your academic schedule will be less demanding.
You mean Crawford wanted that?
Crawford wants what's best for you and for the school.
So, what am I supposed to do?
You hold up a championship trophy at the end of this tournament.
You make that happen, I'll make the rest of it happen.
All right?
Now go finish up what you came here to do.
Let's go, Pilgrims! Let's go, Pilgrims!
Okay, let's go! Throw it to Jamal!
Damn, man. Come on, man!
Defense! Defense!
Jamal, get the ball!
Good pass, man. Good pass. Get up there.
Pick it up!h
Offensive foul! That way!e
Ten, gold. Offensive! That way.
Okay, you got them now. Let's go.
Time-out! Time-out!
This is still our game.
We make a stop here, they'll have to put us on the line.
When that happens, it's all over. Don't lose your composure out there.
If they score, we don't call a time-out.
The ball goes to Hartwell or Wallace.
Okay? Hartwell or Wallace. Let's go, guys.
Go!
What's the score?
It ain't looking good, Ma. It ain't looking good.
Foul, 22 blue! Two shots.
Foul's blue team, 22. Hit, two. Go line up, guys.
Two shots.
Come on. We're gonna make these.
I can't look.
It's gonna be all right, Ma.
Do it.
Damn.
One shot.
That's game.
Thank God!
He must have come in after we left.
Let him sleep.
- I'm gonna turn his bedroom light off. - Turn it off and come on.
You started cleaning up your room, Jamal.
He looks very happy with himself, that coyote. Look, ears down...
Jamal, he wrote that for you.
When?
After the game.
He's going back to the school this morning.
It's funny, though.
They always let you get but so far....
...before they take everything away from you.
God, he's such a good kid, man. Then he gets to come back to this shit.
That seat open?
I think so.
This isn't exactly where I thought I'd find you.
This is still my school.
They want me out, they'll have to do it themselves.
They will.
Whatever.
"The winter's darkness and cold is but a momentary prelude...
...to the new day of spring. And while its grip seems endless...
...our perseverance proves equal. We renew ourselves once again...
...seeking out the bright moments that will serve...
That will serve therefore...
Therefore serve as the foundation of our future."
Thank you.
Professor Crawford...
...may I read a few words?
What's he doing here?
Yes, of course...
...by all means.
Thank you, professor.
My name is...
...William Forrester.
Excuse me.
I'm that one.
"Losing Family."
"Losing family...
...obliges us to find our family.
Not always the family that is our blood...
...but the family that can become our blood.
And should we have the wisdom to open our door to this new family...
...we will find that the wishes we once had for the father...
...who once guided us...
...for the brother, who once inspired us...
- the only thing left to say will be:
'I wish I had seen this, or I wish I had done that, or I wish..."'
Most of you are too young...
...to know what your wishes will be.
But when I read these words...
...words of hope and dreams...
...I realize that the one wish...
...that was granted to me so late in life...
...was the gift of frien...
Of friendship.
Mr. Forrester, I'm sure I speak on behalf of everyone here...
...in thanking you for this unexpected visit.
The quality of your words...
...is something we should all aspire to reach.
Mr. Forrester?
Mr. Forrester, may I ask...
...to what do we owe this honor?
Professor Crawford...
...I spoke here today...
...because a friend of mine wasn't allowed to.
A friend who had the integrity to protect me...
...when I was unwilling to protect him.
His name is Jamal Wallace.
Jamal Wallace is a friend of yours?
Yes. Yes, he is.
I helped him to find his own words...
...by starting with some of mine.
And in return, he promised....
...never to say anything to anybody about me.
A promise which he kept.
Mr. Forrester...
...while your visit appears to be heartfelt...
...l'm sure you will appreciate...
...that it will not change or interfere...
...with this institution reaching a fair and proper decision in his case.
There's one more issue here.
Those words that I read today...
...I didn't write them.
Jamal Wallace did.
Quiet.
Quiet! Quiet, please!
Be still.
Quiet, please.
That has no bearing...
...on the decision concerning...
As director of this competition, I have final say in this matter.
Robert, sit down.
I have been a teacher for more than 30 years.
That's long enough to know that integrity counts for something.
I'd say that Mr. Forrester...
...has cleared up this matter very nicely for us all.
And as chairman of the faculty board...
...I have the last word in that matter.
Mr. Wallace, you are excused from next week's board meeting.
Mr. Forrester...
...should you ever have an interest in a teaching position...
No.
Jamal, these are your words?
Sixteen.
Remarkable.
Well done.
I'm thinking you'll make your own decisions from here on.
I'm thinking you're about to say something more like, "I always could."
No. No more lessons.
But I have a question, though.
Those two foul shots at the end of the game...
...did you miss them?
Or did you miss them?
Not exactly a soup question, is it?
Let's go.
Do you think our vaudeville act today will merit the National Enquirer?.
Yeah, definitely.
Whatever happens...
...l'm off.
What's the word that you and your friends would use for that?
Leaving?
Oh, God.
Where are you off to?
I have a homeland I haven't seen for too long.
You mean Ireland.
Scotland, for God's sake.
I'm messing with you, man.
Be sure to write.
- Hey, Jamal. - What's up?
What's up, John?
You heard from William?
Yeah, but I don't know what he's doing.
He keeps sending letters checking up on these college recruiters.
I was just downstairs. Looks like you got another one.
Word?
I'll see you around.
Jamal?
Steve Sanderson.?
- How you doing? - Good.
Thanks for coming on such short notice.
No problem. So, what school are you from?
Oh, no. I'm a lawyer here in town.
- I work with Roberts and Carter. - Oh, a lawyer.
Yeah, but congratulations with that. That's great.
That's really, really... great.
We got a bunch of the guys in the office following you.
But we're the legal representation for William Forrester.
How is he?
Here...
...sit down.
We've received word that William...
...passed away.
I'm sorry.
He wanted you to have...
...these things right away.
What happened?
William had cancer.
They found it a couple years ago.
Jamal, this is crazy.
Oh, my God.
Wow!
- Look at all these books. - Don't touch anything.
Dear Jamal:
Someone I once knew wrote that we walk away from our dreams...
... afraid that we may fail, or worse yet, afraid we may succeed.
While I knew so early that you would realize your dreams...
... I never imagined I would once again realize my own.
Seasons change, young man.
And while I waited until the winter of my life...
... to see the things I've seen this past year...
... there is no doubt I would have waited too long...
... had it not been for you.
You gonna be here a while, man?
Just can't watch the eyes this time.
You'll be okay, man. Come on.
Come on, man.
Get up.
You're missing lay-ups now?
What happened to you, boy?
Where did the first step go, man?