Plot Synopsis:
As Gary pages through the paper trying to figure out what needs doing on a particularly slow news day, Chuck arrives and announces he has bought the car of his dreams. Gary and Marissa follow Chuck out front and discover that Chuck has bought a very pricey sports car loaded with features. Gary expresses doubt that Chuck will be able to afford the payments on such a car, but Chuck assures him that his ship is about to come in.
At breakfast, Chuck explains that he's placed a bet that is sure deal - on a high school basketball team. Crane High School's team is led by the apparently unstoppable Michael Williams, a point guard who has been shattering all the records. Chuck urges Gary to confirm the certainty of his bet in his own paper - but when Gary turns to the sports section, he discovers that Michael Williams will collapse on the court during that evening's big game.
Gary heads to Crane High School with Chuck to talk to Michael himself. Before entering the building, Chuck is stopped by a nine or ten year old kid who offers to protect his wheels - for a price. As Gary watches with amusement, Chuck and the kid haggle over the price for a few minutes before Chuck finally gives the disappointed kid a quarter. Gary and Chuck then go inside. In the gym, practice is nearly over. Gary asks Coach Philips if he can speak to Michael, but when Gary mentions Michael's health, Philips gets very hostile and tells Gary to scram.
Gary is unwilling to leave the matter at that, however. He follows the team into the locker room to talk to Michael directly - but when he questions Michael about his health, Michael too is very defensive. Philips then discovers Gary and Chuck in the locker room, and he and Michael kick our heroes out. Gary is almost out the door when Michael confronts him and asks where Gary got his information. "Did you talk to Dr. MacPherson?" he asks. Armed with this lead, Gary leaves. Outside, Chuck discovers that one of his wheels has been stolen; a little girl tries to give Chuck back his quarter, but Chuck, put out, tells her to keep it (heh).
Chuck's car is towed to a nearby mechanic. There, they discover that a kid named Robbie has turned in Chuck's missing wheel. The lead mechanic explains to Gary and Chuck that Robby is a smart kid but has been getting into a lot of mischief since his parents died. Chuck then recognizes the mechanic as Connie Hooks, a record breaking basketball player from Chuck's own generation. Chuck gets excited and starts gushing about Connie's exploits on the court - up until Connie firmly shuts him up. "I don't talk basketball," he growls.
Then Robbie comes in, and we see that he is the kid to whom Chuck originally gave his quarter. Robbie tries to escape when he sees Chuck, but Connie stops him, scolding him for messing with Chuck instead of going to school. Robbie complains that school is boring and claims that he will be going to a much nicer school soon anyway - once his brother makes the pros and they start earning a "zillion" dollars. Robbie's brother then arrives to pick him up - and his brother turns out to be none other than Michael Williams.
Later that night, Chuck, Gary, and Marissa listen to Crane High's game on the radio. Unexpectedly, they hear that a time out has been called and that Michael has pulled himself out of the game. Apparently, Gary's intervention did have some effect. Gary looks at his paper again and reads that Michael will come off the bench after a rest and score 20 more points, leading Crane to another victory. Gary decides to call Dr. MacPherson, who tells Gary (as Gary relates later) that Michael's condition will only get worse if he continues to play. Gary resolves to talk some sense into Michael. He informs Chuck the next morning that he is taking the car, and, over Chuck's objections, he and Marissa leave to once again visit Michael.
When they arrive at the neighborhood court, they witness Coach Philips taking Michael to task for pulling himself out of the game the night before. Philips threatens to kick Michael off the team if he "pulls a stunt like that again." Once Philips leaves, Gary comes up to talk to Michael. He tells Michael that he talked to Dr. MacPherson, who informed Gary that Michael has a life threatening heart condition. Gary says that Michael has a 50% chance of dying if he continues to play, but Michael will have none of it and claims invincibility.
A frustrated Gary prepares to leave, but Marissa wants to show Gary around her old stomping grounds first. As they walk through the neighborhood, Marissa shares with Gary a little of her background; she talks about how her neighbors and her grandmother used to look out for her well-being. She then takes Gary to Connie Hooks - and Gary is surprised to discover that Connie and Marissa used to be involved. Marissa tries to convince Connie to talk to Michael about the choices he's making, but Connie refuses, insisting once again that he doesn't talk basketball.
That night, however, Connie comes out to the neighborhood court where Michael is taking a few practice shots and, while playing a little one on one with the boy, informs him that it's unbelievably tough to make it in the pros - even if you're good at the high school level. The message, however, does not appear to sink in - at least, not until the following morning, when Michael hears on the radio that a man fell several stories into a fruit cart and survived, just as Gary predicted in their earlier conversation.
Michael calls Gary and invites him over. When Gary gets there, however, Michael puts on a tough act and tells Gary he was wrong to call. Gary moves to leave, but then Michael relents and admits he heard about the fruit cart incident. Gary, whose paper says that Michael will die in that night's game, tells Michael to get some help, but Michael doesn't want to give up everything he's worked for. He says that he has to keep playing to pull his little brother up out of the inner city. Robbie overhears their conversation in the other room and comes in, worried; Michael lies and reassures Robbie that everything is okay.
Before the big game, Gary goes down to the Crane locker room to confront Coach Philips. Gary demands that Philips take Michael out of the starting line up, but Philips is too focused on winning to listen. Disgusted and discouraged, Gary goes up stairs and tells Marissa there's nothing else he can do. Marissa refuses to accept this and moves to intervene, but Connie stops her, telling her that Michael needs to find his own way.
While this is going on, Robbie sneaks up behind Gary and steals the paper. A few moments later, Gary sees Robbie reading the article about Michael's death and goes after him when he flees. Down in the locker room, Robbie tearfully begs Gary to "change it back," but Gary tells him it doesn't work like that. Robbie gets even more upset and runs back upstairs. He makes it to the court just as his brother collapses, clutching his chest. Philips shouts at Michael to shake it off, but Robbie runs out onto the court and tells his brother to stop playing, assuring him that he will be happy even without all the material things Michael promised him as long as Michael is alive. Michael finally decides to get off the court and start taking his medical condition seriously.
Overall: 8.3 - Rich characterization and a good message make this episode a winner.
Writing: 8.5
This is a nice, solid story. First of all, this episode gives us our first extended peek into Marissa's background. Showing us that Marissa lived in a community that was humane and cohesive - and that she lived with immediate relatives who encouraged her spirituality, independence, and determination - goes a long way toward explaining who she is and why she falls into the role of Gary's "angel" so easily. For this reason - and because Marissa's openness here marks an early milestone in what will become a very profound relationship between Marissa and Gary - I really enjoy watching Marissa bring Gary into her world. The exchange in front of her demolished childhood home - highlighted below - is especially touching.
Secondly, this episode does a good job inspiring fondness for our guest protagonists. You genuinely feel the closeness that exists between Marissa and Connie Hooks. Despite all appearances, you understand that Robbie is just a bored gifted kid and not a hoodlum. And while Michael puts on a cocky face, you can tell throughout that he is aware that his dream of making the pros is illusory - and you come to admire his determination to provide for his little brother. Overall, this episode presents life in the inner city with a sympathy that is easy to love.
Acting: 8
The acting here was standard for Early Edition. Sharrieff Pugh, Michael Warren, and Dallas Crawford all fit pretty well into their guest roles, and the regulars turn in their usual above-average work. Thinking back, there are no scenes that stand out as either extraordinary or terrible performance-wise - which, as my co-author has noted at least once before, turns out to be a good thing. Much of the time, acting should be invisible.
Message: 8.5
My co-author has, in previous reviews, criticized yuppy stage parents who try to live vicariously through their kids by pressuring them too much to succeed in a favored activity. This episode brings up another way in which adults fail the children in their charge: overzealous coaching. If you're into sports, you probably know of a Coach Philips or two: coaches who have forgotten to maintain the balance between ambition and compassion - coaches who have encouraged cockiness and forgotten good sportsmanship. This episode reminds us that the purpose of sports is, first and foremost, to build character - and that no young athlete should be sacrificed on the altar of adult aspirations. It further emphasizes that love - in particular, family togetherness - is more important than wealth or fame. How very Catholic!
The Benevolent Hand:
God knows that Michael is driven not to aggrandize himself, but to make a better life for Robbie - and that Robbie will be able to persuade Michael to let go even when all of the adults in the story have failed. Thus, this story is resolved not through Gary's efforts, but through the actions of a child, who, by God's Providence, sees the paper and immediately accepts what it means.
Highlights below the cut.
Highlights:
(After Chuck's wheel is stolen and his car is towed to Connie's shop...)
CHUCK: (melodramatically) Look at this! Look what they did to my baby! It's tragic!
CONNIE: (to Gary) Is he always like this?
GARY: Uh, some of the time.
CONNIE: And the rest of the time?
GARY: Pretty much... like this. (LOL!)
(Gary and Marissa are walking down the street in Marissa's old neighborhood.)
MARISSA: My old walk. I used to walk home from school this way every day - and the store owners would always come out and say hi. I always thought they were just being friendly - but it turns out they were calling out to my mom to let her know I was on my way home, safe. To my left was Sally Brown's house. She used to make the best cookies. Sunday mornings, you could smell them all the way to the church.
GARY: She still live here?
MARISSA: Nah. She moved away. Just about everyone moved away. In the evening while my mother was making supper, I used to climb up the stairs to my grandma's room. She used to have a special place for me to do my homework. And we'd talk - about everything. She used to say to me, "Marissa - there's nothing you can't do and nowhere you can't go if you follow your heart. Don't let nothing stop you." God, I loved that woman. (She pauses and takes a deep breath.) So what do you think of it? My old house. I spent a lot of happy years here.
(Across the street, we see a field of demolished buildings.)
GARY: It's... beautiful.
MARISSA: You're a kind man, you know that, Gary? (Awwww.)
MARISSA: Connie, I didn't come for lunch. I came to ask a favor - for old time's sake.
CONNIE: Yeah, sure. What is it?
MARISSA: I need you to talk to Michael Williams.
CONNIE: No.
MARISSA: Connie...
CONNIE: You heard me. No! I'm not playing nursemaid to some hot shot kid.
MARISSA: Connie, he's in trouble.
CONNIE: Who isn't?
MARISSA: This is different.
CONNIE: How?
MARISSA: I can't tell you how - but he needs to know what you know.
CONNIE: About what?
MARISSA: About life. About choices. About dreams, Connie, and what they cost.
CONNIE: He's 17. You think he's gonna listen to me?
MARISSA: He might!
CONNIE: He won't.
MARISSA: You could at least give it a try.
CONNIE: Just let him find out for himself.
MARISSA: You mean like you did? Like we did? You know, Connie, what happened between us happened. There's nothing we can do about that now. That boy needs help - and I know you can help him. You were a hero here once. Be one again.
CONNIE: Sorry... I don't talk basketball.
MARISSA: Okay. Come on, Gary, let's go.
GARY: Yeah.
(Gary and Marissa start to leave.)
CONNIE: And this is why you show up? After all this time?
MARISSA: No. This is why I stayed away. (Ouch!)
(Out on the court, Connie plays one-on-one with Michael.)
CONNIE: So, are you gonna take a shot, or are you just gonna stand there and think about it?
MICHAEL: What are you doing here?
CONNIE: Man's got a right to some exercise - even an old man like me.
MICHAEL: Well, old man, this is my court - and that's my ball.
CONNIE: Used to be my court.
MICHAEL: Not anymore.
CONNIE: Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?
MICHAEL: Look, man, who sent you? And don't tell me you came on your own, 'cuz you don't even like me.
CONNIE: And why is that, Michael?
MICHAEL: I don't know - 'cuz I took your records? That's gotta hurt.
CONNIE: (laughs) You're on top of the world?
MICHAEL: Maybe.
CONNIE: And what about Robbie. He on top with you?
MICHAEL: What's my brother got to do with -
CONNIE: You're not watching, Michael. That kid's in trouble - or about to be.
MICHAEL: He's fine. Look, bro, stay out of my life. I got it handled.
CONNIE: Hell, I bet you can't even handle me. Tell you what, Michael. I'm gonna look into your future.
MICHAEL: We gonna play or not?
CONNIE: Here's how it works: one day they love you, the next day they don't. You go from champ to chump in a heartbeat. If you're lucky.
MICHAEL: Speak for yourself, old man.
CONNIE: You're walking on air when you start. You're best they ever saw. College ball? They're okay - but you're better.
MICHAEL: Damn straight.
CONNIE: They're not even close. Then you catch a draft up to the pros. But something's different. These guys are good. I mean good. But you think to yourself, "I believe in myself, and that's enough." Only it isn't.
MICHAEL: That's enough.
CONNIE: Yeah? Then you find yourself picking up splinters. Instead of playing, you're cleaning up at garbage time, when nothing counts.
MICHAEL: I said that's enough!
CONNIE: You don't understand how you went from so good to so bad. And then one day your knees go wacko, and you go packing your bags. And that's when it hits ya - what you gave up - and what you have left. And that dream you had? Some other guy - some guy who's better - took it away.
MICHAEL: Like this? (He makes a clean basket.)
CONNIE: No - like this.
(Connie tries to out-maneuver Michael - but then his knee fails him, and he goes down. Michael takes the ball and makes a slam dunk.)
MICHAEL: My game. (Connie starts to limp away.) I took you out, Connie Hooks! I took you out!
CONNIE: No. No, you didn't. You beat an old man. (Yep!)
MICHAEL: This is great. Some guy pops up out of nowhere and tells me I gotta give up everything I've worked for - and I'm supposed to listen? This is my shot! They're talkin' about the pros, man!
GARY: Yeah, but you know better, don't ya? How long you think you can play, Michael?
MICHAEL: Long enough. You see that kid in there? Well, he's smart - smarter than me. He deserves things. A good school... books... a yard to play in... and he's not gonna have none of that unless I pull him up outta here. Playing ball's the only way. (It's sad that many inner city kids think this way. Hmm - if only we had school choice.)
PHILIPS: Ladies - we've got two options here tonight, and one of them isn't an option. Let me make this clear: you will win this game. Everything you've done since the day you were born leads up to this day. You win this game tonight, you guys are golden. You lose, and you're nothing. I repeat, nothing. Tired? Tough. You're hurt? You shake it off. You're feeling sick? I don't give a damn. I want this game! Do you want this game?
TEAM MEMBERS: (mumbling) Yeah coach... (etc.)
PHILIPS: I said, do you want this game?
MICHAEL: (leading the others in the shouting) Yeah, we want this game!
PHILIP: Then go out there and get it for me! Let's go!
(The team disperses. As they leave, we see Gary in the back clapping sarcastically.)
GARY: Very inspiring.
PHILIPS: What are you doing here?
GARY: Oh, I thought I'd come by and see for myself.
PHILIPS: See what?
GARY: How far a man would go to advance his own career. He's not gonna make it through this game.
PHILIPS: Get off it, he's fine.
GARY: You'd like to believe that - but you know it's not true, don't ya? Take him out of the line up.
PHILIPS: Take him out of the line up? Are you out of your mind? If I send him home, that crowd out there will tear me apart.
GARY: You're his coach! You're supposed to be watchin' out for him - not filling him full of a future he's not gonna have. (Go, Gary, go! I love it when Gary gets righteously angry.)
(When Michael collapses on the court, Robbie runs out to help him.)
MICHAEL: What are you doin'?
ROBBIE: You gotta stop.
MICHAEL: No, I'm straight.
ROBBIE: No, you gotta stop.
MICHAEL: I can play.
ROBBIE: No. I saw the magic paper. We don't need this!
MICHAEL: Yeah, we do. The house... the yard, man.
ROBBIE: We don't! We don't need those things. We jus' need each other. I jus' need you. (Nice.)
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