[JACK helps young KEVIN bring NORMA breakfast in bed.]
NARRATOR: When you're a little boy, you don't have to go very far to find the center of your universe.
[Clip as JACK lifts young KEVIN onto the bed, and NORMA hugs and kisses him.]
NARRATOR: Mom.
[Clip of NORMA eating a cracker at a barbeque, and smiling.]
NARRATOR: She's always there.
[Clip of little KEVIN standing in a pool, pouting and holding out his finger. NORMA kisses it and smiles.]
NARRATOR: It's a pretty good arrangement - when you're five. But around age thirteen, there starts to be...
Fade to
NARRATOR: A problem.
[NORMA approaches and knocks on the bathroom door.]
NORMA: Kevin?
KEVIN [V/O]: Mom, I'm in the bathroom!
NARRATOR: The problem is...she's always there.
NORMA: Is everything OK, honey?
KEVIN [V/O]: Mom!
NARRATOR: And I mean always.
NORMA: Just checking! [Smiles.]
[NORMA exits past the camera.]
NARRATOR: Now a mom has to be a mom, but a guy's gotta be a guy.
[KEVIN opens the door and looks out. His hair is wet, and he has a towel around his neck.]
NARRATOR: And when an irresistible force meets an immovable object...
[KEVIN leans back on the door-jamb.]
NARRATOR: Sooner or later - something's gotta give.
KEVIN [V/O]: Hike!
Cut to
NARRATOR: No-equipment football.
[KEVIN laterals the ball to PAUL.]
NARRATOR: We'd been playing it in Shepard's Park every afternoon, since the cool weather set in.
[Shot of kids rushing toward the camera.]
NARRATOR: Sure, maybe it looked like mayhem and violence.
[Shot of PAUL hesitating, then tossing the football up and covering his head.]
NARRATOR: But to us, it was something more.
[DOUG Porter recovers the football and starts to run forward, then gets tackled.]
NARRATOR: It was mayhem, violence, and dirt.
[More kids pile on.]
NARRATOR: The stuff laundry commercials are made of.
[KEVIN jumps up with the ball.]
KEVIN: I got it!
[PAUL jumps up.]
PAUL: Alright!
[Shot of CRAIG HOBSON and some team-mates.]
CRAIG: Hey, Pfeiffer? How many sweatshirts you wearin'?
[PAUL looks at CRAIG off-screen.]
PAUL: Hey, I need 'em, OK?
[PAUL turns to KEVIN off-screen.]
PAUL: That wind really cuts through you like a knife.
[Shot of CRAIG smiling, and tapping a team-mate.]
[Shot of KEVIN smiling, and RANDY looking at DOUG off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Sure it was reckless. But nobody got hurt.
PAUL: Doug?
[Shot of DOUG lying face-up, his arms across his stomach.]
NARRATOR: Much.
KEVIN: Is he breathing?
BOY: I think so.
PAUL: Are you breathing, Doug?
[Shot of DOUG still lying down. He coughs.]
PAUL [V/O]: I think he's hurt!
[Close shot of PAUL gesturing.]
PAUL: Maybe we should stop!
[Shot of CRAIG and team-mates.]
CRAIG: Nah...He just got the wind knocked out of him - he's alright.
[Shot of DOUG.]
DOUG: Yeah, I'm awright...
[DOUG starts to rise.]
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Oh...good.
[Wider shot of CRAIG helping DOUG get up.]
CRAIG: Hey, Arnold - we want revenge! - next play's gonna be a blitz.
[Close shot of PAUL frowning.]
[Wide shot of the boys moving off to huddle, as PAUL lingers.]
PAUL: Um, Kev...[gestures]...I'm gonna go get another sweatshirt.
[PAUL trots off.]
[Shot of KEVIN diagramming the play on his chest to teammates.]
NARRATOR: It was a game you had to love.
KEVIN: Uhhhhhhhhhhhh - break!
[KEVIN's team-mates clap, and line up for the play.]
KEVIN: Come on, guys...Blue-26!
NARRATOR: No rules - no referees.
[Shot down the line-of-scrimmage as CRAIG gets set.]
NARRATOR: No one to answer to.
[The ball is snapped, and KEVIN back-pedals.]
NARRATOR: A thing of beauty.
[KEVIN throws a pass.]
NARRATOR: Then, maybe, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Cut to
NORMA: Kevin?
[Shot of KEVIN setting the table.]
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Is that blood on your shirt?
[KEVIN looks surprised, then glances at the red stain on his shirt.]
KEVIN: Uh...
NARRATOR: Not that I has anything to hide, of course. It's just that, well, you know how moms are.
KEVIN: I don't think so, uh...it's ketchup.
[Shot of NORMA at the sink.]
NORMA: Ketchup?
[NORMA slaps a hamburger patty between her hands.]
[Shot of KEVIN still setting the table.]
KEVIN: Yeah.
[Shot of NORMA as KAREN enters.]
KAREN: How'd you get that blood on your shirt?
[Shot of KEVIN as KAREN sits at the table.]
KEVIN: It's not blood!
NARRATOR: Not mine, anyway.
KEVIN: It's ketchup, OK?
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Well how'd you get the ketchup on your shirt?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: At lunch today. We had fish sticks.
[Shot of NORMA crossing to the refrigerator.]
NARRATOR: Sure, that's it! Fish sticks.
NORMA: Well, that's odd.
[NORMA points at the school lunch menu on the refrigerator.]
NORMA: It says here that Tuesday's pizza day at school.
[Close shot of KEVIN glancing away.]
NARRATOR: Boy! Nothin' slipped past this woman.
KEVIN: Did I say fish sticks? I'm sorry - fish sticks was yesterday. This is, uh, pizza sauce.
[Shot of NORMA at the refrigerator.]
NORMA: Oh.
NARRATOR: There! Neatly done, thereby avoiding any needless discussions about -
[Shot of KEVIN looking toward NORMA.]
[Shot of WAYNE entering behind NORMA.]
WAYNE: So I heard, uh, Doug Porter got creamed at your football game today, huh?
[Close shot of NORMA turning toward WAYNE off-screen.]
NORMA: Football?
[NORMA turns toward KEVIN off-screen.]
NORMA: Is that tackle football?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Great...now the fat was in the fire.
[Shot of NORMA approaching the frying pan.]
NARRATOR: Commence grilling.
[Close shot of the frying pan as NORMA slaps a hamburger patty down.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Well, Mom, you know...it's not, it's not really tackle.
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Who are you playing tackle football with?
KEVIN: Just some friends.
NORMA: At school?
KEVIN: At the park.
NORMA: You have a coach?
KEVIN: A coach?
NORMA: Well, don't you think something like that should be supervised?
[Shot of the hamburger patties as NORMA smashes them with a spatula.]
[Close shot of KEVIN sighing.]
[Shot of KAREN and KEVIN.]
KAREN: Football is totally barbaric.
[KEVIN looks at KAREN.]
NARRATOR: This discussion was moving in the wrong direction.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NARRATOR: I had to take action - and fast.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Look, Mom, there's nothing to worry about, OK?
[Shot of NORMA at the frying pan.]
KEVIN [V/O]: It's no big deal.
[Sound of sizzling hamburgers as NORMA gives KEVIN a worried look.]
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Trust me!
[Shot of NORMA smiling.]
NORMA: Of course I trust you, honey. I just don't want anyone to get injured.
[Shot of KEVIN laughing, then smiling at KAREN.]
KEVIN: Huh, injured.
[KAREN looks at KEVIN. KEVIN frowns, then looks toward NORMA off-screen.]
KEVIN: No one's going to get injured, Mom.
[Shot of NORMA.]
GUYS FROM THE FOOTBALL TEAM: Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!
Cut to
[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN running up and looking at RANDY off-screen.]
NARRATOR: At least not permanently.
KEVIN: Jeez, Paul! Where were ya? I told ya I was gonna lateral it to you!
PAUL: Well, I tripped. This is a very poor playing surface.
KEVIN: Hey, Randy - you OK?
[Shot of RANDY still on the ground.]
PAUL: Yeah...
[Shot of PAUL looking over his shoulder.]
PAUL: Hey, Kev - isn't that your mom's car?
[Shot of KEVIN turning.]
[Shot of NORMA driving by.]
[Shot of KEVIN watching the car off-screen.]
KEVIN: Yeah...
[Shot of NORMA driving by.]
NARRATOR: Funny. She'd never driven by here before.
[CRAIG stuffs the ball in KEVIN's chest.]
CRAIG: OK. Your ball. First-and-ten.
[Shot of the car heading away.]
NARRATOR: Still, Mom would never spy on me. So she must have had...some other reason.
Cut to
MR. CANTWELL: Instinct - the biological imperative.
[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN at a table, with MR. CANTWELL and the projector in the background.]
[Shot of the movie screen.]
MR. CANTWELL [V/O]: What makes this salmon fight her way through hostile currents, only to lay her eggs and die, her energy spent?
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL.]
PAUL: Maybe she was picking up your dad's dry-cleaning.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Huh?
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Your mom.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
[Shot of MR. CANTWELL.]
MR. CANTWELL: This courageous mallard...
[Shot of movie screen.]
MR. CANTWELL [V/O]: Facing certain annihilation, defends her young against a venomous predator.
[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN.]
PAUL: I just hope she doesn't talk to my mom.
KEVIN: Look, Paul...it's no big deal, OK?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: At least I hoped not.
[Close shot of MR. CANTWELL.]
MR. CANTWELL: Ever vigilant of our harsh and murderous environment...
[Shot of the movie screen.]
MR. CANTWELL [V/O]: A cougar drags her cub to safety.
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: OK, but if you think we should stop playing...
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Hey! It was just a suggestion.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Look, we're not doing anything wrong, OK? [Gestures.]
[Wider shot of both.]
PAUL: I just hate to think what my mom would do to me if she found out.
KEVIN: What are you so afraid of?
MR. CANTWELL [V/O]: Of course, there are cases of instinct gone berserk.
[Shot of the movie screen. A seagull sits on her young and squishes it.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking worried.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: And then...
[Sound of a car horn.]
PAUL: Hey, Kev - it's your mom.
[PAUL waves.]
[Shot of NORMA in the car, waving.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at NORMA off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Wait a minute. This was starting to get embarrassing.
KEVIN: Look, I'll be right back, OK?
CRAIG: You're coming with us...? [Gestures.]
KEVIN: Yeah, yeah, I'll just be back in a minute.
[Closer shot of the car as KEVIN runs up to the passenger window.]
NORMA: Hop in.
KEVIN: Why?
NORMA: I'm gonna take you shopping.
KEVIN: Shopping?
NORMA: Yeah - there's a sale over at Boy's Town.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
[Sound of a fire-alarm.]
NARRATOR: And suddenly I was hearing alarm bells.
KEVIN: Look, uh, Mom, I'm gonna take the bus today.
[KEVIN looks toward his friends.]
KEVIN: See - the guys are waitin'.
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: I think you need new pants.
[Shot of KEVIN looking at his friends again, then back.]
KEVIN: Uh, look. Mom, the pants I have are fine, OK? I-I don't need new pants! They fit great, they're stylish...[smiles]...I just don't need new pants. [Smiles.]
[Close shot of NORMA. She smiles.]
NARRATOR: There - phew! I was finally gettin' through.
NORMA: I think you need new pants.
Cut to
[NORMA hands a stack of pants to KEVIN.]
[Several shots of KEVIN in the dressing room, trying on different pants.]
NARRATOR: Boy, tell one lousy little fib about pizza on your shirt, and what do you get?
[Shot from inside the dressing room of more pairs of pants being hung over the door.]
NARRATOR: Pants.
[Shot of KEVIN emerging from the dressing room, pausing, and spreading his arms.]
[Shot of NORMA frowning and shaking her head at KEVIN off-screen.]
[Shot of KEVIN in the dressing room, hopping around, pulling on new pants.]
NARRATOR: Still, if that's what Mom needed to square accounts, it was fine with me.
[Shot of NORMA smiling and approaching the camera with more pants.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking exhausted. He turns back toward the dressing-room behind him.]
NARRATOR: I could take it.
[Shot of more pairs of pants being hung over the dressing-room door.]
[Wide shot of the salesman waiting next to the dressing-room door as KEVIN bursts out and steps onto the stand.]
SALESMAN: How do they fit?
KEVIN: Fine - we'll take 'em.
[NORMA approaches tentatively.]
NORMA: I'm not so sure.
[NORMA squats down next to KEVIN.]
[Close shot of NORMA adjusting the pant legs.]
NORMA: They seem seem awfully roomy in the crotch.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning and looking around.]
NARRATOR: Gee, Mom - could you say it a little louder?! I'm not sure everyone in the store heard.
[Wider shot of the three of them.]
P.A.: "Attention shoppers!"
[KEVIN looks toward the ceiling as NORMA continues to adjust the pants.]
P.A.: "Attention shoppers. Plenty of room in Kevin Arnold's crotch!"
NORMA [V/O]: There!
Cut to
NORMA: That wasn't so bad, was it?
[Shot of KEVIN looking upset as he slowly looks at NORMA.]
NARRATOR: Pure...living...hell. But I'd survive.
[Shot of NORMA smiling as she drives.]
NARRATOR: The debt was paid, mom was happy...
[Shot of KEVIN looking off.]
NARRATOR: And tomorrow was a whole new ballgame.
[Shot of KEVIN in the foreground, NORMA in the background.]
[NORMA looks at her watch and frowning.]
NORMA: Oh, I guess it's too late.
KEVIN: For what?
[Close shot of NORMA smiling at KEVIN.]
NORMA: Buster Brown's.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: You're gonna need shoes to go with all those new pants. We'll just have to go tomorrow. [Smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: And then in a flash, everything was horribly clear.
[Shot of NORMA driving.]
NARRATOR: Mom was gonna take me shopping in the afternoon - for the rest of my life.
[Shot of KEVIN frowning.]
KEVIN: Look, Mom, I have a football game tomorrow!
[Shot of NORMA glancing at KEVIN.]
NORMA: Yeah, well, we can talk about that later.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Uh-uh! We were gonna have this out right here!
[Shot through the windshield of the traffic-light turning red.]
NARRATOR: Right -
[NORMA look out and gasps.]
[Shot of screeching tires and smoke.]
[Shot of NORMA holding KEVIN back in his seat.]
[Close shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Honey? Are you OK?
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: It's a tough time in life when you're struggling for manhood and your mother still outweighs you by fifty pounds.
[Shot of KEVIN and NORMA as she brushes his hair with her hand.]
[Shot of KEVIN rubbing his chest and frowning.]
NARRATOR: I was left with only one option.
Cut to
NARRATOR: Call in the heavy artillery.
[KEVIN steps in front of JACK.]
KEVIN: Dad?
[Shot of KEVIN's hand on the counter.]
[The camera pans up to JACK.]
KEVIN [V/O]: We've gotta talk!
[Close shot of JACK frowning.]
JACK: Huh?
[Shot of KEVIN looking up at JACK off-screen.]
NARRATOR: No one had ever actually spoken to my father before he put down his briefcase.
[Close shot of JACK frowning.]
NARRATOR: But I was going for broke.
[Shot of KEVIN pointing his finger.]
KEVIN: Can you think of one good reason why I shouldn't be able to play football with the other guys?
[Shot of JACK.]
KEVIN: I mean I bet you played football without any equipment when you were a little kid and I've been playing for a very long time now...[glances at NORMA]...and nothing's ever really happened...
[Shot of JACK listening patiently.]
KEVIN: And the guys are really counting on me to play tonight.
[Close shot of JACK. He nods slightly.]
JACK: So...
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: So, can we play or not?!
[Close shot of JACK. He tilts his head and raises his eyebrows.]
JACK: Sure! Go ahead.
[JACK walks toward the kitchen. KEVIN smiles.]
NARRATOR: Touchdown!
[Shot of JACK pausing in front of NORMA as she hands a drink to him.]
NORMA: I don't think it's a good idea, Jack.
[JACK walks toward the living room, holding his finger out.]
JACK: You heard your mother.
[Close shot of KEVIN as his smile turns into a frown.]
[Shot of NORMA turning to the sink, as JACK rounds the corner to the living room.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning as he sits down.]
NARRATOR: OK. That did it!
[Shot of NORMA, as she approaches with a plate of cookies.]
NORMA: So...[smiles]...I'll pick you up from school tomorrow, and we'll go for those shoes! [Smiles.]
[Shot of NORMA setting the cookies on the table next to KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: The lines were drawn. The course was unalterable.
NORMA: OK, honey?
[NORMA walks past the camera to the kitchen.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: This was war.
[Sound of a bugle blowing.]
Cut to
Cut to
CRAIG: Hey, Arnold! Nice pants.
[Shot of KEVIN standing near the wood bin. He is wearing irregularly-striped new pants. PAUL approaches behind him.]
KEVIN: Oh, thanks "Hodges"...nice of you to notice.
PAUL: You missed a good game yesterday.
[CRAIG approaches.]
CRAIG: Yeah! Paul set a new record - most dropped passes in a scrimmage.
[Close shot of PAUL smiling at KEVIN.]
[Close shot of CRAIG.]
CRAIG: Where were you, anyway?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Oh, uh...
[KEVIN glances at PAUL off-screen.]
KEVIN: I had to help my...dad...change the plugs on the, uh, Impala.
[Shot of CRAIG.]
[Shot of KEVIN glancing at PAUL, then CRAIG.]
KEVIN: You know, you got to keep her runnin'.
NARRATOR: I didn't think "bargain-hunting with mom" would go over very well.
CRAIG: Yeah? Uh, you check all the gaps?
KEVIN: Uh...yeah!
PAUL: Well how'd you get your fingernails so clean? You know, usually it takes me a couple days -
KEVIN: So, you guys win!
PAUL: Oh, no - we lost. We coulda used you, too! Jimmy's mom wouldn't let him play.
CRAIG: Can you believe that?!
KEVIN: What a wuss.
CRAIG: You'll be there tonight, though - won't ya?
KEVIN: Oh, sure!
CRAIG: Alright! Well...
[CRAIG picks up a big splinter of wood.]
CRAIG: This'll do.
[CRAIG puts the splinter in his mouth as a toothpick, and exits.]
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL.]
PAUL: Did you use the Lava or the -
KEVIN: Look, Paul! I gotta get back to work, OK?
[PAUL picks up a piece of wood.]
PAUL: Time to meet your maker. [Exits.]
NARRATOR: Well, that was it - decision time. Mom has specifically given me an order - meet her in front of the school at the bell.
[KEVIN smiles and looks off.]
NARRATOR: Or had she said "meet me at home"?
Cut to
[KEVIN enters, and looks around "expectantly".]
KEVIN: Mom, I'm home?! Hey, Mom?!
NARRATOR: Hmmm. That's odd.
[KEVIN takes a few steps into the kitchen.]
KEVIN: Anybody home?!
NARRATOR: Not like mom to forget, but hey - we all make mistakes.
Fade to
NARRATOR: Yep, no sense in laying blame. Especially while there was still daylight left.
[He gets on his bike and rides off.]
Cut to
[Close shot of CRAIG and PAUL.]
CRAIG: Pfeiffer - you're late!
PAUL: Am I? Well, you guys didn't start without me, did you?
[Shot of KEVIN looking on.]
[Shot of CRAIG and PAUL.]
CRAIG: Of course! Wouldn't be a big-league game without you.
[Shot of KEVIN laughing.]
[Shot of CRAIG and PAUL.]
NARRATOR: Guys. Humiliating each other, hurting each other's feelings - did it get any better than this?
[Shot of KEVIN smiling.]
[Sound of car-horn.]
[Wide shot of NORMA pulling up and parking the car.]
[Closer shot of NORMA in the car.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking toward the car off-screen.]
[Shot of NORMA stepping out.]
NARRATOR: Uh-oh - caught red-handed!
[Shot of CRAIG smiling and shaking his head.]
NARRATOR: There was only one thing to do.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: Go on the offensive.
[Wide shot of the guys as KEVIN runs toward NORMA.]
CRAIG: Kev-in...!
[KEVIN glances at CRAIG and continues.]
[Shot of NORMA approaching the camera.]
[Shot of KEVIN running up to NORMA.]
KEVIN: Mom!
NORMA: Kevin? [Gestures] What are you doing here?
KEVIN: Well -
NORMA: I specifically told you to meet me in front of your school at three o'clock.
KEVIN: I forgot.
NORMA: You forgot?!
KEVIN: Yeah.
NORMA: How could you just forget, Kevin? [Gestures.]
KEVIN: Well, I thought you said meet me in front of the house after school.
NORMA: That's really what you thought I said?
KEVIN: Well, I'm not exactly sure whether you said that or not.
[Shot of NORMA looking skeptical.]
NARRATOR: Ah, heck! The woman knew what underwear I was wearing.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Why did I even try to fight it?
[Shot of NORMA and KEVIN.]
NORMA: Well, I suppose we still have time to make it to the store -
[NORMA turns toward the car.]
KEVIN: No! I'm not coming, Mom.
[NORMA turns around.]
NORMA: What?!
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: I'm playing football.
[Shot of NORMA and KEVIN.]
NORMA: Now, I thought we agreed you weren't going to play anymore.
KEVIN: No, I never said that, Mom!
[NORMA looks toward the guys off-screen.]
KEVIN: What do you have against football, anyway?
NORMA: You know, Doug Porter shouldn't be playing football - he has bladder problems.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Bladder problems?!
[Shot of NORMA looking at KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: How did she know that?!
[Shot of KEVIN glancing off and frowning.]
NARRATOR: Was there a secret network of mom's who traded inside information about bladders over bridge tables and grocery carts?
[Shot of NORMA as she steps toward KEVIN.]
NORMA: I just worry about you, sweetheart.
[Shot of KEVIN as she smoothes his hair. He brushes her hand away.]
[Shot of NORMA giving KEVIN a cold stare.]
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Don't you have anything better to do, Mom? I mean, just stop babying me! I can take care of myself.
[Shot of NORMA. Long pause as she hesitates.]
NORMA: Well if you're going to go...go.
[NORMA nods toward the field.]
[Long pause.]
[Shot of KEVIN as he glances off and sighs.]
[Shot of NORMA walking back to the car.]
[Shot of KEVIN watching her pull away, then running back to the guys.]
NARRATOR: Then I was free.
[Close shot of KEVIN jumping and catching the ball.]
NARRATOR: I was higher than a kite. I was unstoppable.
[KEVIN runs with the ball, being chased by the others.]
KEVIN: Touchdown!
[Close shot of KEVIN turning around and celebrating.]
KEVIN: Whoo-oo!
[CRAIG approaches.]
CRAIG: OK - new game!
DOUG [V/O]: Hey, it's gettin' kinda late...
[Wider shot of PAUL and KEVIN.]
PAUL: Yeah, i-i-it's getting cold. Is anyone cold?
[Close shot of CRAIG.]
CRAIG: Arnold?
[Close shot of KEVIN looking from PAUL to CRAIG.]
KEVIN: New game! Losers walk.
CRAIG: Let's go!
[Shot of CRAIG, Jeff, and team-mates walking toward the camera.]
PAUL: Hey, Kev - you think this is a good idea?
KEVIN: Oh, come on, Paul.
[KEVIN taps PAUL in the stomach.]
KEVIN: Don't be a wuss.
[Close shot of PAUL frowning.]
NARRATOR: Woops - maybe that was a little rough.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Hey, sorry - I didn't mean that.
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: It's OK.
[They get set to return the kick-off.]
NARRATOR: But heck - let's face it. I was feeling my oats.
[Shot of CRAIG in the distance, ready to "throw" the kick-off.]
CRAIG: Are you ready?!!
[Wide shot of KEVIN's team.]
NARRATOR: Yep, I'd fought a battle, and I'd won.
[Close shot of KEVIN smiling.]
NARRATOR: Things were gonna be different from now on.
[Shot of CRAIG throwing the "kick-off".]
[Wider shot of the kids running forward.]
[Shot of KEVIN returning the kick-off.]
NARRATOR: Yeah, things were gonna be alright.
[KEVIN runs forward.]
[Shot of CRAIG and other running toward the camera.]
NARRATOR: And then it hit me.
[Slow-motion shot as KEVIN gets hit by CRAIG.]
NARRATOR: Actually, Craig Hobson hit me.
[Slow-motion shot of KEVIN falling and getting hit by RANDY.]
NARRATOR: Then Randy Mitchell.
[Slow-motion shot of KEVIN on the ground as more kids land on him.]
NARRATOR: And Mike Donovan. After that, I kinda stopped taking names.
[Shot of CRAIG rising and smiling.]
CRAIG: Man! That was amazing!
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Come on, guys - get off! Kevin?
[Shot of KEVIN as he rolls onto his back.]
PAUL: You're bleeding!
[Close shot of CRAIG.]
CRAIG: OK, your ball. First down.
[Shot of PAUL standing up quickly and gesturing.]
PAUL: OK - alright! This game is over!
CRAIG: Says who?
PAUL: Says me! This game is called on account of darkness. And that's all, there's nothing else to say.
[Shot of DOUG and another kid looking on.]
PAUL: Now everyone just go home! Go on!
[Shot of KEVIN flexing his hand.]
[Shot of RANDY and guys.]
PAUL: He's probably right - it's gettin' late.
[DOUG turns away.]
DOUG: Yeah, I got dinner.
PAUL: We'll do it again tomorrow.
[Close shot of CRAIG frowning at PAUL.]
CRAIG: What are you - his mother?!
[Shot of KEVIN leaning back on his elbows and starting to rise.]
KEVIN: Hey, wait a minute. Hey, I'm alright, guys! Where are you going? I'm -
[He looks at his hand.]
KEVIN: Fine...
Fade to
NARRATOR: But I wasn't - not really. By the time I got home, my hand felt like a five-alarm fire.
[KEVIN slowly walks his bike up the driveway. He pauses and looks toward the kitchen window.]
[Shot through the window of NORMA at the sink.]
[KEVIN slowly walks his bike around the corner of the house.]
Cut to
[Shot of KEVIN entering.]
[Shot of NORMA looking up.]
[Shot of KEVIN pausing.]
[Shot of NORMA looking concerned.]
NORMA: Kevin, are you hurt?!
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: I wanted to answer "yes", that I was hurt. That I needed comfort.
KEVIN: No, Mom. I'm OK.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NARRATOR: And I knew she wanted to comfort me - make everything better.
[Close shot of KEVIN looking on.]
NORMA: Well there's some iodine in the medicine cabinet in the bathroom.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
[Shot of NORMA gesturing.]
NORMA: Gauze, if you need something to wrap it in.
KEVIN: In the medicine cabinet?
NORMA: Uh-huh.
[Long pause as they look at each other. KEVIN walks past NORMA.]
[NORMA turns toward the sink.]
[Fade to shot of KEVIN wrapping gauze around his hand. NORMA is breading chicken at the counter in the background.]
NARRATOR: Every war has its casualties, and every victory its price. But life goes on.
[KEVIN flexes his bandaged hand.]
NARRATOR: Nothing really changed that night - nothing big, anyway. Just a very little piece of something that was never gonna be the same - not ever.
[KEVIN glances over his shoulder at NORMA, then back.]
NARRATOR: The thing is, it's hard to tie a bandage with just one hand.
[NORMA glances at KEVIN, then back.]
NARRATOR: Sooner or later, though,...
[KEVIN stands up and quickly glances at NORMA.]
NARRATOR: ...you learn.
[KEVIN walks out of the shot. NORMA continues at the counter in the background.]
Fade to
[Clips of NORMA with KEVIN as a toddler. Clip of JACK napping next to NORMA holding KEVIN, as she "shhh's" the camera. Clip of NORMA tossing KEVIN a football and tackling him. Clip of NORMA launching KEVIN on his bike and watching him ride way down the sidewalk.]
Fade to
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