Necessary Roughness (2011) s01e10 Episode Script
A Wing And a Player
There's an old saying, "Birds of a feather, flock together.
" But why do most birds form flocks? Well, it protects them from predators, helps them find food, and a safe place to nest.
But what happens when a bird loses it's flock? I just want to talk to the Hawks! How does it find its way home? Aah! I just want to talk to the Hawks.
I just want to talk to the Hawks! Give us one good reason.
Oh, um Blblblb.
'Cause I said so.
That's the best you got? Mom, you're only gonna be in Manhattan with j.
D.
For one night.
We're not children.
We don't need a babysitter.
The last time grandma babysat us, she told me if I didn't get off the computer that I would go cross-eyed.
Why is this window always open? Are you guys Smoking something? It's called burnt toast.
You see you don't trust us.
Can't imagine why, car-driving, bar-hopping minors of mine.
We did the time.
Forgive the crime, ma.
Yeah.
You know, how can rehabilitate ourselves if you won't give us a second chance? You need to stop treating us like children.
In a year, I can smoke, vote, and join the army, you know.
Mm-hmm.
I'm working on changing those laws.
I survived grandma for 18 years.
You guys can handle her for one little, itty-bitty night.
Phil Kirkman, former mascot of the New York Hawks, suddenly re-merged today on the ledge of a rooftop, demanding to meet with reps of the Hawks.
Now, as all of New York knows, Kirkman is infamous for the moment when he accidentally knocked down return man Marcus Alvarez, which ended the Hawks' playoff run some six years ago.
Now with the Hawks on the brink of making the playoffs for the first time since that fateful game, all of New York is wondering, can the Hawks break the dreaded "Kirkman Kurse"? I can't believe is guy's flapping his wings in my craw again.
Okay, so, this Phil Kir - No, don't - Ah! Say that name around here.
What name? Phil Kirkman? Wh-- wh-- wh-- Oh.
Okay.
So, uh, he-who-shall-not-be-named makes you guys act like second graders 'cause why? First round of the '05 playoffs against Arizona.
We're up 14 points in the 4th quarter.
The game is in the bag.
Our return guy, Marcus Alvarez, is taking a punt down the sidelines for a touchdown when Our mascot accidentally trips him.
Marcus fumbles, and that was the beginning of the end.
Arizona scored 24 points in 7 minutes.
Thus "The Kurse" was born.
And now, any time things start going our way, we lose it.
Well, so, where has This guy been for the last six years? Well, after being relentlessly hounded by the press, he went off the grid, only to resurface yesterday on top of a building, demanding an audience.
We're finally one win from making the playoffs, and every newspaper, blogger, and radio show in New York is obsessed with "The Kurse" again.
And with sports illustrated doing a cover story on the Hawks, timing couldn't be worse.
We can't have him become the story.
I mean, the guys are already spooked.
All right, so let me guess.
You would like me to meet with whosy-whatsy.
He wants to talk with somebody from the team.
Who better to talk to than the therapist? Dr.
Dani, tell you-know-who to stop being so damn crazy.
Then make him fly, fly away.
So, this is a sports thing, right? Seemingly rational people believing in curses? Yes.
Hmm.
Doesn't matter what you and I think.
If the players believe, then it's real.
Okay.
Sorry.
- J.
D.
Aldridge? - What? What the Nico, how Are you having me followed, or are you tapping my phones? Because how would Matt may have mentioned you two were He did? Dual PhD in psychology, anthropology.
Fulbright scholar.
Very impressive guy, this Dr.
Aldridge.
Uh, since when is my social life your business? Since I was hired to protect the assets of the team.
Well, I might be an "asset," but you are still just an a-- Oop.
Hold that thought.
Mm.
Pittman.
Oh! Looks like they upgraded the qualifications for being a water boy, finally.
Now, that is an ass.
No.
That is an ass.
T.
, what the hell did you say to her? I complimented her apple bottom.
Then I made a very funny joke about her being a water boy.
Apparently, she doesn't have a sense of humor, okay? So, I don't care who she's doing or how good she looks in that skirt.
I want her disrespectful ass off my field.
Terrence, that's Vivica Stevens, from Sports Illustrated, doing a cover story about the Hawks.
So I think that you should take your disrespectful ass over to her skirt and apologize.
You really felt it was necessary to drive me here? I'm your backup, just in case.
In case what? Look, I don't know if this guy is depressed, deranged, or dangerous.
So I'm not taking any chances.
Oh.
Hi.
Uh, are you the, uh, Hawks' representative? I am.
Dr.
Dani Santino.
Yeah.
Sam Kirkman, Phil's dad.
Thanks for coming.
Just when we thought things were getting back to normal, you know, he goes and pulls this stunt.
Sits in his room all day long.
I try to get him help, but he won't talk to anyone.
I don't know what to do with him.
I understand.
Yeah, well, he's inside, in the basement.
Whoa, whoa.
In the basement? Yeah.
Where he lives.
Oh.
But before you go down there, there's something you should know about my son, Phil.
He's kind of a weirdo.
Okay.
Hello? Hello? Phil, are you down here? Careful with that.
Hi.
I'm Phil Kirkman.
I'm "The Kurse.
" Baby, work your magic on me These are incredible! These action figures came out in 1975, super rare.
It's the Hawks' inaugural team when they moved here from Kansas City.
My dad and I used to go to every home game together.
I was a bit of an outsider I didn't have a lot of friends.
Becoming the Hawk was my dream ever since I was 6.
Hmm.
So, you were the Hawks' team mascot for For two seasons, right? Yeah.
Except for that last game, they were the best two years of my life.
I was part of something.
I was Phil Kirk-maniac.
All of New York loved me.
So great to meet a fellow hawk.
So, what's your job with the team? I Oh, Phil.
My name is Dr.
Dani Santino, and I am the Hawks' therapist.
Therapist? I thought -- I thought they'd send somebody important.
Coach Purnell or Marshall Pittman.
I don't -- I don't need a therapist.
Well, you were on a ledge.
It's not like I was trying to kill myself.
Okay.
What were you trying to do? Get the Hawks' attention.
You did.
I just I need Marcus Alvarez to forgive me.
Mm.
Because if he forgives me, then the Hawks will forgive me, and New York City will forgive me, too.
I-I can't walk on the street without people talking about me, hating me.
I'm afraid for my life, Dr.
Santino.
Phil, do you know what "fear" stands for? "False evidence appearing real.
" What if I could show you that your fear is just that and that your life is not in danger? You don't know what it's like to be me.
Comon! Let's go! Knees up! There you go! Since you obviously didn't pay attention at the last sexual-harassment seminar I thought that was a how-to.
Clearly.
Come on.
Make it right.
Matty D.
, come on, man! You got to lighten up.
And that's gonna be real hard for you, 'cause you are really white.
I got this.
Watch and learn.
I'm gonna watch and learn, Shaft.
Mm.
Miss Stevens? Uh, Vivica? What, are you thirsty again? No, I came to apologize for playing with you before, because I didn't realize who you were.
But some women actually like their asses complemented.
This is your version of an apology.
Yes.
If you want to talk T.
D.
s or Y.
A.
C.
s or receptions, I'm here, 24/7.
Except Fridays between 9:00 and midnight and Saturdays between 10:00 and 1:00 A.
M.
I got appointments.
He's joking.
Yeah, I'm joking.
I thought jokes were supposed to be, um, funny.
That's funny.
Um, but seriously, I will talk to you about whatever you want, except for the Kurse, because nobody wants to talk about that crazy bird.
Kirkman isn't news.
News is this year's Hawks finally coming together to give the Kurse a run for its money.
I am interested in the how, the why, and the who making that happen.
Well, it sounds like you are interested in the me.
As a story, yes.
Oh.
You're not into boys.
Oh, I like boys just fine.
I prefer men.
I'm gonna get you some ice.
So, tell me, am I a complete ass? Sometimes we say this that we wish we hadn't.
I'm saying, like, it was one little compliment taken completely out of context.
T.
K.
, how could that have been taken in context? I don't know.
A'ight The fact of the matter is, she gave me the Heisman.
Why? What do you mean? She negged me.
Nobody negs me.
In a club setting, maybe, but in a professional environment Yeah.
I blew up the girl's spot, like, twice.
Yep.
I mean, it's not even like that.
'Cause I actually dig the fact that she's a celebrity in her own right, you know.
She's won awards and crap it's cool.
Yeah, but she hasn't won awards for her derrière.
No.
But she should have.
I got an interesting letter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo today.
That's funny.
I got an interesting letter from my kids' cellphone carrier.
You go first.
Well, apparently, the government has made some cultural improvements, and they're inviting academics and journalists to witness the transformation.
What does that mean for you? It means A month-long, all-expenses-paid trip for two.
And I was thinking, should our Saturday-night getaway go well You said you wanted to travel.
Oh.
No! Okay.
I get it.
It's too soon.
No.
No, no, no.
No, I'm not "no"ing the trip.
I'm "no"ing the guy over there.
That's my colleague.
Is he a stalker? No, no.
He's just aNico.
Oh.
Okay.
So this is happening.
Hey, you.
Hi.
Nico, uh, this is j.
D.
Aldridge.
J.
D.
Aldridge, this is Nico.
Pleasure.
What brings you here, Nico? This is my Tuesday-night restaurant.
- Is it, now? - Mm-hmm.
Huh.
Nice to see you, Mr.
Careles.
Join us for a drink? Okay, so Uh, do you happen to be the J.
D.
Aldridge behind the book "The Ape Apprentice"? Wow.
Yeah.
Guilty.
I think that one may have sold five copies.
Hmm.
Interspecies comparative behavioral studies.
I mean, great Really great stuff.
I've never heard you make mention of your fascination with interspecies studies before.
Or any interests at all, really.
Well, I see a lot of animal behavior in my line of work.
Animals provide important insight into what it means to be human.
Couldn't agree more.
Hmm.
Tell me.
What do you agree with there? Well, I mean, let's take birds, for example.
Some are part of flocks.
Some pair off for life.
Some fly solo.
You know, it wasn't until I studied male jaguars that I understood why my marriage ended.
My marriage ended because of a jackass, not a jaguar.
Mine too.
Got to go.
Thanks for the coffee.
- Dr.
Santino.
- Mm-hmm.
Dr.
Aldridge.
Good night.
That man has never mentioned that he was married before, ever.
He does security for the Hawks.
Do I need to hire a freshman to start my car for me now? No, no.
You just have to be really, really nice to me, and then you'll be safe.
All right, that I can do.
Oh, God.
Okay.
Ray Jay, uh, since when do you read the Wall Street Journal? I prefer the tactile experience of print to reading the paper online.
Well, I'm just happy that you're having any reading experience at all.
It's Dominican.
I like a little extra boost.
Don't you? Oh, and we also cleaned our rooms, did the laundry, and if we had a dog, we would have fed him.
Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Valiant effort.
But you're still not staying home alone.
This is so unfair.
If you want us to be responsible, you have to give us a chance.
Push the birds out of the nest.
Otherwise, we're gonna end up like those little birds on the sidewalk, the one whos mother never lets them do anything on their own.
And the second they get the chance to fly Splat.
Mm.
I got to tell you, I'm kind of terrified.
Oh remember what I said about fear? False evidence appearing real? That's what we're doing here now.
We're gonna find out what's real and what's not.
You're doing really well already.
And I think that you should take off your hat.
How 'bout you take off your sunglasses? Huh? Nobody hates Phil Kirkman.
Yeah.
These people do.
Who cares what they think? Kirkman? Phil Kirkman.
Yes? You suck.
Hey! You should have jumped off that building, Kirkman.
All right.
I'm sure you got better things to do than get arrested for assault.
So why don't you just keep on walking, okay? You gonna ruin our chances of going to the playoffs again? Go back to your nest, Kirkman.
New York never wants to see your face again.
You go back to your nest! Oh, no, no! No, Phil! No way I'm letting, you know who, come within 500 yards of Marcus Alvarez, let alone this facility.
All he wants to is apologize.
What's the harm in that? I don't want to risk finding out.
All I want is for you-know-who to go away, far away.
He's bad mojo.
You guys, curses aren't real! Red Sox, right? They won the World Series.
Yeah.
Only took 'em 86 years.
Chicago Cubs haven't won a championship in over 100 years because of their curse.
Everything we do is being second- and triple-guessed by the press.
I know that the stakes are high.
The guy's a loon! I don't want him anywhere near this team! Well, any more loony than two grown men believing in curses? Why can't you take "no" for an answer? Because "no" isn't gonna help you-know-who.
All right? And it's not gonna help your team win, either.
He just wants some forgiveness.
What's so wrong with that? Easy for you to say, Dr.
Dani.
I know it's a lot to ask, but could you please just work on coach a tiny, tiny bit? You-know-who needs a win just as much as the Hawks do right now.
You're just still not getting it.
I ate mac'n'cheese before every single game I ever played in.
That started in sixth grade.
Athletes are superstitious.
I'll give it a shot, but don't hold your breath.
I appreciate it.
Thank you.
Oh, by the way, I hear that you have been chitty-chattin' with Nico about my dating life.
I may -- maybe I mentioned something.
Why? Because he showed up where I was having dinner last night.
Coincidence? I think not.
Did you know that Nico was married? Huh.
He never mentioned that in all of our long, deep talks together.
Wow.
Wow.
Drinks with Nico.
Sounds like a party.
Oh, yes.
It was a blast.
You should You and Laura should invite him to your next party.
Well, that presumes that Laura and I are still together, which we're not.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Gave it a second chance.
Didn't work out.
Sometimes that's what it takes to find out that you were right the first time.
I have been thinking.
I'm gonna give you guys a second chance.
Meaning? Meaning I'm gonna let you be responsible and no babysitter on Saturday night.
Awesome.
Yes! - You will not regret this.
- You are right.
'Cause if I do, you're really gonna regret it.
This is your one shot.
You screw it up, and splat.
- You hear me? - Yeah.
- Got it? - Yeah.
Love you.
Love you.
Hey.
Vivica, hey.
Wait up.
Wait up.
Wait up.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
I just Want to press reset on us.
Not "us," but I'm Terrence King, and I'm sorry.
Are you running for office? I just want to talk.
About what? Honestly, um, how you got that Anton Washington to tell you about every single athlete that he gave performance-enhancing drugs to.
Anybody who can crack that story should be leading this conversation, not moi.
Did you do a little reading? A lot of reading.
For me.
Yeah, well, lucky I'm not a novelist, huh? Yeah.
Listen, so, I'll sit down.
We can talk.
I'll give you an exclusive with the elusive and incredibly well-behaved Terrence King.
But we do this on my terms, off-campus.
This place was like the post office for me, you know? Never knew what to expect at home, but out here, come rain, sleet, or snow, me and my boys would be playing ball till the sun came down, right? And I'd be, like, Jerry Rice, Kojo Liberty, Cris Carter, all in one game sometimes.
I can still rock Kojo's T.
D.
celebration, too.
Oh, yeah? Yeah.
All right.
Then he'd spike it.
You know what I mean? - He was horrible - That was good.
But, um, you know, I was always pretty good.
And I knew that football got guys like Kojo out the hood, and I figured it was my only shot.
So, I was relentless.
And it worked.
You still talk to those kids you used to play with? Nah.
Most of them got locked up.
I haven't seen a couple of them since their funerals, so But there was this This one kid.
He was He played center, right? And he was like this little fat muffin-top dude just waddling around and everything, and now he's a doctor.
- No? - Yeah.
Crazy.
I thought he'd be having an aneurysm, not curing them, you know.
Yeah.
Well, how'd you end up doing what you do? I was a tomboy.
But I sucked at sports.
My dad and I would talk Yankees for hours.
- Yankees fan.
- Mm-hmm.
Grew up in the Bronx, huh? Manhattan.
Central Park West.
Ay! Dad's a vascular surgeon.
Mom's an epidemiologist.
They encouraged me to, uh, write about what I loved.
So we're both relentless people.
That sounds terrible.
Words are your department.
I just tweet.
Hey, you're Terrence King, right? Everyone, look.
It's T.
K.
I didn't come out here for all of this.
I'm just playing.
I'm just playing.
I'm just What's up, little man? How you doing? - You go? - Doing good.
What's going on? Stay in school.
I know you about to drop out.
It's horrible.
You got a pen? Yeah, I got one right here.
All I'm asking is that you talk to Kirkman.
Man, no way! No how.
I'm not sitting down with that dude.
I'm not even saying his name.
Marcus, can you imagine how this has ruined the man's life? If there's any way that you can forgive him, I just think that the team and maybe even the city can finally move forward from this curse.
No offense, but for a shrink, you're crazy.
Uhh.
Oh, God.
What is it gonna take for this team to finally stop being afraid of Phil Kirkman? Dani! Aah! My leg! Ohh! Aah! Aah! Oopsie.
I'm a bit worried about Alvarez's ankle, but he'll be able to go on Sunday.
Dani keeps mentioning this guy's name, she's gonna cause a sinkhole.
How many women my age do you know that actually remember Kojo Liberty? And now we're talking about what? Vivica Stevens.
And there's this crazy series that she wrote on this underdog olympic bi-athlete shooting and skiing at the same time.
That's whiter than squash, but the way she wrote it was just crazy.
Whoa.
I have seen this look before.
What look? T.
, listen to me.
This woman is not your friend.
What you talking about? I st patched it up like you said.
It's all good.
She is a reporter.
She does not have a crush on you.
She's not your girlfriend.
She is doing a story on you.
She has been talking to everyone here.
What about? Your D.
U.
I.
s, your house arrest, pretty much every negative headline you've ever produced.
You know, that's ancient history.
Dead and buried.
You can't bury anything deep enough from a reporter like Vivica Stevens.
Hey, coach.
Hey.
It's Dani.
I need a favor.
Whoa.
Whoa.
This was not part of our deal, Dr.
Dani.
I asked for five minutes.
Not five minutes with him.
- Him? - His name is Phil Kirkman.
Come on in, guys.
Phil Kirkman.
Phil Kirkman.
Phil Kirkman.
Phil Kirkman.
What's he doing here? Did anybody's heart stop? Anybody swallow their tongue? Anyone know what "fear" stands for? False evidence appearing real.
Exactly.
Now, since the Alvarez-Kirkman incident six years ago, the Hawks have never been back to the playoffs.
I know you all say that that is evidence of the Kirkman Kurse.
I say that it's false evidence appearing real.
I spent hours last night reading stats, watching game after game.
I was searching for some kind of evidence of this curse, and you want to know what I found instead? Anything that happened to the Hawks in the past six years is all just part of the game, not part of some curse.
I know that the only way this alleged curse is gonna come off the team is if you guys make it back to the playoffs.
I get it.
I hear you.
I got you.
But there is somebody in this room whose curse we can lift right now.
And that somebody is Phil.
You all have spent the past six years avoiding Phil Kirkman like the plague, driving the man to live in a basement in fear of a city that hates him.
And on top of that, avoiding him for six years hasn't gotten you back into the playoffs, now, has it? Shake the man's hand.
Rub his belly, do whatever it is you guys do.
But forgive Phil and lift his curse.
Who knows? You might reverse yours.
We're all good, man.
But if I shatter my tibia or something, I'm gonna come looking for you.
Thank you.
This means so much to me.
Thank you.
Marcus, thank you.
Thank you for letting me come back and be the hawk again.
Oh Dr.
Dani? It's okay! You guys, can you just give us a minute? Yeah.
Everybody, let's clear the room.
Clear the room, please.
Thank you.
that's not what we came here to do.
But I have to be the hawk again.
It's not gonna happen.
But you set a goal for yourself, and look what you did.
You accomplished it.
I did accomplish that goal.
That's all good.
Thank you, Dr.
Santino.
Mm-hmm.
There's something about his smile that just didn't match his words.
Well, he was disappointed, you know.
He was putting on a good face.
Mm-hmm.
My students have to hand over their phones if they use them in class.
I'm so sorry.
The kids are home alone.
I just can't seem to turn it off.
Well, check in with them, then hand your phone over for the remainder of class.
Nope.
I already called twice.
Let's just enjoy our night.
It's really not that scary.
Told you.
All hype.
Maybe not all hype.
Hello? Hello? Oh, God! No! I'll be right back.
Oh.
Ray Jay, there's somebody in the house.
- We need to hide.
- Where? Thanks, T.
K.
The playground yesterday, your old house today.
You've really opened up, and I appreciate your candor.
Cool.
So you done with me now? - Done with you? - Yeah.
You know, I figure princess got a little trip to the ghetto.
Now she has her story.
Figured she'd be moving on.
What's that supposed to mean? It means that I actually liked talking to you, and I opened up to you, but it seems like all you're doing is trying to find a way to take down Terrence King for your headlines.
T.
K.
, I'm a reporter.
I follow the story.
Well, follow this.
That's who I was.
It's not who I am.
And I was gonna ask you out, but now I'm having second thoughts.
T.
K.
, I can't go out with you.
I haven't even filed my story yet.
Has all this been about trying to get a date with me? No.
No, I I just thought we had a connection.
How long are we gonna stay in here? This is stupid.
I'm telling you, there's someone in the house, in the living room.
- Okay, so let me go look.
- No, no! You're not gonna leave me in the pantry with some crazed killer.
Linds I'm calling the police.
No.
No, don't do that, 'cause mom will never trust us.
- Grounded is better than dead.
- Stop.
Give me Dad, grandma - Oh, T.
K.
! - Give me the -- Aw, man.
Everything okay? Yo, you can't just be calling me whenever you want, dude.
Jaybird? It's my therapist's kid.
He's Ray Jay, I don't want to die.
Just be quiet.
The burglar isn't here to rob the pantry.
What was that? Come on, doc.
Pick up.
Pick up.
Pick up.
Oh.
I'm begging you, baby I'm not scamming you, yeah Oh.
Kids okay? Yeah.
No.
My kids are fine.
Mm.
Hey, yo! Mini Santinos? You can come out now.
Well, I'm glad you guys stocked up on enough pretzels and raw rigatonis to survive a nuclear winter, but I'm here.
It's all good.
Come on.
You brought your girl to a robbery? She's not my She's my journalist.
Well, not mine.
I mean -- why don't you just mind your own business, dude? Jaybird.
Lindsay.
Hey, guys.
I'm Vivica.
But the real story is how much trouble - you two just got me in.
- What kind of trouble? Dr.
D.
doesn't want me checking in with the chicklets under any circumstance and what I'm trying to do is the right thing this time, so If we were murdered chicklets, I doubt she'd care about any of this.
Ain't nobody even in this house, dude! Except me, and I shouldn't be here.
Let's fly.
Go, go, go, go! - No, you stay.
- What? Why I got to be the brave one? Wha! I'm lethal with this thing.
T.
K.
's gonna be fine, right? Uh Oh, my God! I'm worm's meat! Oh, my God.
Ohh.
T.
K.
, are you all right? He stabbed me With his beak.
Looks like you guys got robbed by Tweety bird.
I saw your handiwork on the hood of my ride.
Oh! No.
Do you need to get that? My needs and my wants are not aligning right now! It's Matt.
Matt? He never calls me.
Hey.
Matt, is everything okay? Uh, no.
Phil Kirkman is stalking Marcus Alvarez.
What do you mean, "stalking"? Marcus is here with me now.
Kirkman showed up at his home this evening and wouldn't leave.
Okay, so, what did Phil say to you, Marcus? I kept telling him we're cool, but he just kept harping on the same thing Why can't he be the hawk again? He just didn't get it.
Anyway He left me this box of junk Mostly action figures, an old signed football.
Ooh.
Uh, his action figures? What did Phil say exactly? He said he wouldn't need them anymore.
All right Uh, you got to call Nico.
Tell him that I need backup.
Okay? All right.
Sit tight, bro.
Backup? I think Kirkman's gonna kill himself.
Where are you? Nico, I'm pulling in the garage right now.
Okay.
I think you better hurry.
I tried to talk him down.
It didn't work.
But I convinced him to let me call you.
Hey, Phil.
It's me.
I'm right here.
hey Your father and the team and the whole city has been looking for you all night.
No one knows what it's like to be me.
To be all alone your whole life in a city that hates you.
I know.
And you didn't feel alone when you were the hawk.
Six years I held out hope that they'd realize they needed me and they'd want me back.
Now that's not gonna happen.
If I'm not the hawk, I'm nothing.
I have no reason to live.
Phil, I know that you feel lonely, but I promise you that you are not alone.
There are other people that feel the exact same way that you do.
There are a lot of other people.
They're people that have difficulty recognizing how important they really are.
They have a hard time recognizing social cues, and they often show repetitive patterns in behavior.
Does that sound familiar to you at all? Why don't you come sit down with me? We can talk about it.
Phil, I think that you have an undiagnosed case of Asperger's syndrome.
People with Asperger's, they frequently have trouble maintaining relationships or interacting with others.
I'm born this way? I am cursed.
Mozart did pretty well with it.
Albert Einstein.
Marie Curie, Thomas Jefferson.
These are all people who are thought to have some degree of Asperger's.
The point being, Phil You are not alone.
Won't you please let me help you? Wow.
She's an impact player.
Yeah.
It was a but down, I swear.
We were trying to be grownups about it.
Grownups call the police.
Yeah, but if we called the police, then the neighbors, and you can't trust us or leave us home alone again.
Really? That's your logic? Well, you know, our prefrontal cortexes are not fully formed yet, so that's why we sometimes make stupid decisions.
Yeah.
You can't hold our biology against us.
Oh.
Look, Dr.
D I know you're not cool with me kicking it with the chicklets, and normally I'm cool with that, too, but I thought they were about to be some chewed-up chicklets, so I did what I had to do.
I couldn't get you on the phone.
Luckily your robber was a pigeon, and nobody got hurt.
But I need to know that you guys are gonna make more responsible choices, you know, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation again, okay? - Okay.
- Okay.
And as for you Thank you for caring.
It means a lot to me.
It's all good.
It's all good.
You got some good kids.
Wimpy, but good.
I'm sorry that dinner was so awkward.
I'm sorry that we never got to have our night at the hotel.
I'm just sorry.
Emergencies happen.
This is my life.
Yeah.
What? Your life.
And your life.
They don't overlap very well, do they? Mnh-mnh.
It's not just the Congo.
I'm gonna go to Amsterdam early next year.
I wish you could join me.
But I have to stay here for my kids, for the team.
For random people who need rescuing from rooftops.
You have this life where you can just pick up and go, and I have this life where I Where you're needed right where you are.
Mm-hum.
Professor Aldridge Yeah? Those trips sound so amazing.
Oh, you'll make it you will.
It's just now's not the time.
So, then This Then what is this? This is just what happens sometimes.
See you, Santino.
So, is, uh, Kirkman okay? Mm-hmm.
He's gonna continue seeing me, and I already found him a social-skills group for people with Asperger's.
So, he's gonna start a whole new life.
So you're gonna -- you're gonna help him find his flock.
Ha.
Speak.
It's just that it took me weeks to get Pittsburgh out of you, and you're with J.
D.
for 30 seconds, and you tell him that you were married.
I don't get it.
Well, if you had asked me, I would have told you.
I never lie.
Ever.
I thought you knew that about me.
Okay.
So, then, why did you get divorced? Because some birds fly better solo.
The Hawks win! The Hawks soar into the playoffs! The Kirkman Kurse is finally lifted! Couldn't have written a better end to the story myself.
Actually, how'd that turn out for you? You're gonna have to do a little more reading, but, uh, the story's filed, in case you want to have dinner sometime.
Tomorrow night works for me.
Is that good for you? 'Cause if not, there's always the next day or the day after that, the day after that.
Tomorrow's fine.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Have fun.
Whoo! - Ha! - Whoo! Ha ha ha! Well, the curse is broken.
The team moves forward.
And to both of you, I say this locker room owes the both of you.
My impact players.
We're goin' to the 'ship! We're goin' to the 'ship! We're goin' to the 'ship! We're goin' to the 'ship!
" But why do most birds form flocks? Well, it protects them from predators, helps them find food, and a safe place to nest.
But what happens when a bird loses it's flock? I just want to talk to the Hawks! How does it find its way home? Aah! I just want to talk to the Hawks.
I just want to talk to the Hawks! Give us one good reason.
Oh, um Blblblb.
'Cause I said so.
That's the best you got? Mom, you're only gonna be in Manhattan with j.
D.
For one night.
We're not children.
We don't need a babysitter.
The last time grandma babysat us, she told me if I didn't get off the computer that I would go cross-eyed.
Why is this window always open? Are you guys Smoking something? It's called burnt toast.
You see you don't trust us.
Can't imagine why, car-driving, bar-hopping minors of mine.
We did the time.
Forgive the crime, ma.
Yeah.
You know, how can rehabilitate ourselves if you won't give us a second chance? You need to stop treating us like children.
In a year, I can smoke, vote, and join the army, you know.
Mm-hmm.
I'm working on changing those laws.
I survived grandma for 18 years.
You guys can handle her for one little, itty-bitty night.
Phil Kirkman, former mascot of the New York Hawks, suddenly re-merged today on the ledge of a rooftop, demanding to meet with reps of the Hawks.
Now, as all of New York knows, Kirkman is infamous for the moment when he accidentally knocked down return man Marcus Alvarez, which ended the Hawks' playoff run some six years ago.
Now with the Hawks on the brink of making the playoffs for the first time since that fateful game, all of New York is wondering, can the Hawks break the dreaded "Kirkman Kurse"? I can't believe is guy's flapping his wings in my craw again.
Okay, so, this Phil Kir - No, don't - Ah! Say that name around here.
What name? Phil Kirkman? Wh-- wh-- wh-- Oh.
Okay.
So, uh, he-who-shall-not-be-named makes you guys act like second graders 'cause why? First round of the '05 playoffs against Arizona.
We're up 14 points in the 4th quarter.
The game is in the bag.
Our return guy, Marcus Alvarez, is taking a punt down the sidelines for a touchdown when Our mascot accidentally trips him.
Marcus fumbles, and that was the beginning of the end.
Arizona scored 24 points in 7 minutes.
Thus "The Kurse" was born.
And now, any time things start going our way, we lose it.
Well, so, where has This guy been for the last six years? Well, after being relentlessly hounded by the press, he went off the grid, only to resurface yesterday on top of a building, demanding an audience.
We're finally one win from making the playoffs, and every newspaper, blogger, and radio show in New York is obsessed with "The Kurse" again.
And with sports illustrated doing a cover story on the Hawks, timing couldn't be worse.
We can't have him become the story.
I mean, the guys are already spooked.
All right, so let me guess.
You would like me to meet with whosy-whatsy.
He wants to talk with somebody from the team.
Who better to talk to than the therapist? Dr.
Dani, tell you-know-who to stop being so damn crazy.
Then make him fly, fly away.
So, this is a sports thing, right? Seemingly rational people believing in curses? Yes.
Hmm.
Doesn't matter what you and I think.
If the players believe, then it's real.
Okay.
Sorry.
- J.
D.
Aldridge? - What? What the Nico, how Are you having me followed, or are you tapping my phones? Because how would Matt may have mentioned you two were He did? Dual PhD in psychology, anthropology.
Fulbright scholar.
Very impressive guy, this Dr.
Aldridge.
Uh, since when is my social life your business? Since I was hired to protect the assets of the team.
Well, I might be an "asset," but you are still just an a-- Oop.
Hold that thought.
Mm.
Pittman.
Oh! Looks like they upgraded the qualifications for being a water boy, finally.
Now, that is an ass.
No.
That is an ass.
T.
, what the hell did you say to her? I complimented her apple bottom.
Then I made a very funny joke about her being a water boy.
Apparently, she doesn't have a sense of humor, okay? So, I don't care who she's doing or how good she looks in that skirt.
I want her disrespectful ass off my field.
Terrence, that's Vivica Stevens, from Sports Illustrated, doing a cover story about the Hawks.
So I think that you should take your disrespectful ass over to her skirt and apologize.
You really felt it was necessary to drive me here? I'm your backup, just in case.
In case what? Look, I don't know if this guy is depressed, deranged, or dangerous.
So I'm not taking any chances.
Oh.
Hi.
Uh, are you the, uh, Hawks' representative? I am.
Dr.
Dani Santino.
Yeah.
Sam Kirkman, Phil's dad.
Thanks for coming.
Just when we thought things were getting back to normal, you know, he goes and pulls this stunt.
Sits in his room all day long.
I try to get him help, but he won't talk to anyone.
I don't know what to do with him.
I understand.
Yeah, well, he's inside, in the basement.
Whoa, whoa.
In the basement? Yeah.
Where he lives.
Oh.
But before you go down there, there's something you should know about my son, Phil.
He's kind of a weirdo.
Okay.
Hello? Hello? Phil, are you down here? Careful with that.
Hi.
I'm Phil Kirkman.
I'm "The Kurse.
" Baby, work your magic on me These are incredible! These action figures came out in 1975, super rare.
It's the Hawks' inaugural team when they moved here from Kansas City.
My dad and I used to go to every home game together.
I was a bit of an outsider I didn't have a lot of friends.
Becoming the Hawk was my dream ever since I was 6.
Hmm.
So, you were the Hawks' team mascot for For two seasons, right? Yeah.
Except for that last game, they were the best two years of my life.
I was part of something.
I was Phil Kirk-maniac.
All of New York loved me.
So great to meet a fellow hawk.
So, what's your job with the team? I Oh, Phil.
My name is Dr.
Dani Santino, and I am the Hawks' therapist.
Therapist? I thought -- I thought they'd send somebody important.
Coach Purnell or Marshall Pittman.
I don't -- I don't need a therapist.
Well, you were on a ledge.
It's not like I was trying to kill myself.
Okay.
What were you trying to do? Get the Hawks' attention.
You did.
I just I need Marcus Alvarez to forgive me.
Mm.
Because if he forgives me, then the Hawks will forgive me, and New York City will forgive me, too.
I-I can't walk on the street without people talking about me, hating me.
I'm afraid for my life, Dr.
Santino.
Phil, do you know what "fear" stands for? "False evidence appearing real.
" What if I could show you that your fear is just that and that your life is not in danger? You don't know what it's like to be me.
Comon! Let's go! Knees up! There you go! Since you obviously didn't pay attention at the last sexual-harassment seminar I thought that was a how-to.
Clearly.
Come on.
Make it right.
Matty D.
, come on, man! You got to lighten up.
And that's gonna be real hard for you, 'cause you are really white.
I got this.
Watch and learn.
I'm gonna watch and learn, Shaft.
Mm.
Miss Stevens? Uh, Vivica? What, are you thirsty again? No, I came to apologize for playing with you before, because I didn't realize who you were.
But some women actually like their asses complemented.
This is your version of an apology.
Yes.
If you want to talk T.
D.
s or Y.
A.
C.
s or receptions, I'm here, 24/7.
Except Fridays between 9:00 and midnight and Saturdays between 10:00 and 1:00 A.
M.
I got appointments.
He's joking.
Yeah, I'm joking.
I thought jokes were supposed to be, um, funny.
That's funny.
Um, but seriously, I will talk to you about whatever you want, except for the Kurse, because nobody wants to talk about that crazy bird.
Kirkman isn't news.
News is this year's Hawks finally coming together to give the Kurse a run for its money.
I am interested in the how, the why, and the who making that happen.
Well, it sounds like you are interested in the me.
As a story, yes.
Oh.
You're not into boys.
Oh, I like boys just fine.
I prefer men.
I'm gonna get you some ice.
So, tell me, am I a complete ass? Sometimes we say this that we wish we hadn't.
I'm saying, like, it was one little compliment taken completely out of context.
T.
K.
, how could that have been taken in context? I don't know.
A'ight The fact of the matter is, she gave me the Heisman.
Why? What do you mean? She negged me.
Nobody negs me.
In a club setting, maybe, but in a professional environment Yeah.
I blew up the girl's spot, like, twice.
Yep.
I mean, it's not even like that.
'Cause I actually dig the fact that she's a celebrity in her own right, you know.
She's won awards and crap it's cool.
Yeah, but she hasn't won awards for her derrière.
No.
But she should have.
I got an interesting letter from the Democratic Republic of the Congo today.
That's funny.
I got an interesting letter from my kids' cellphone carrier.
You go first.
Well, apparently, the government has made some cultural improvements, and they're inviting academics and journalists to witness the transformation.
What does that mean for you? It means A month-long, all-expenses-paid trip for two.
And I was thinking, should our Saturday-night getaway go well You said you wanted to travel.
Oh.
No! Okay.
I get it.
It's too soon.
No.
No, no, no.
No, I'm not "no"ing the trip.
I'm "no"ing the guy over there.
That's my colleague.
Is he a stalker? No, no.
He's just aNico.
Oh.
Okay.
So this is happening.
Hey, you.
Hi.
Nico, uh, this is j.
D.
Aldridge.
J.
D.
Aldridge, this is Nico.
Pleasure.
What brings you here, Nico? This is my Tuesday-night restaurant.
- Is it, now? - Mm-hmm.
Huh.
Nice to see you, Mr.
Careles.
Join us for a drink? Okay, so Uh, do you happen to be the J.
D.
Aldridge behind the book "The Ape Apprentice"? Wow.
Yeah.
Guilty.
I think that one may have sold five copies.
Hmm.
Interspecies comparative behavioral studies.
I mean, great Really great stuff.
I've never heard you make mention of your fascination with interspecies studies before.
Or any interests at all, really.
Well, I see a lot of animal behavior in my line of work.
Animals provide important insight into what it means to be human.
Couldn't agree more.
Hmm.
Tell me.
What do you agree with there? Well, I mean, let's take birds, for example.
Some are part of flocks.
Some pair off for life.
Some fly solo.
You know, it wasn't until I studied male jaguars that I understood why my marriage ended.
My marriage ended because of a jackass, not a jaguar.
Mine too.
Got to go.
Thanks for the coffee.
- Dr.
Santino.
- Mm-hmm.
Dr.
Aldridge.
Good night.
That man has never mentioned that he was married before, ever.
He does security for the Hawks.
Do I need to hire a freshman to start my car for me now? No, no.
You just have to be really, really nice to me, and then you'll be safe.
All right, that I can do.
Oh, God.
Okay.
Ray Jay, uh, since when do you read the Wall Street Journal? I prefer the tactile experience of print to reading the paper online.
Well, I'm just happy that you're having any reading experience at all.
It's Dominican.
I like a little extra boost.
Don't you? Oh, and we also cleaned our rooms, did the laundry, and if we had a dog, we would have fed him.
Mm-hmm.
Hmm.
Valiant effort.
But you're still not staying home alone.
This is so unfair.
If you want us to be responsible, you have to give us a chance.
Push the birds out of the nest.
Otherwise, we're gonna end up like those little birds on the sidewalk, the one whos mother never lets them do anything on their own.
And the second they get the chance to fly Splat.
Mm.
I got to tell you, I'm kind of terrified.
Oh remember what I said about fear? False evidence appearing real? That's what we're doing here now.
We're gonna find out what's real and what's not.
You're doing really well already.
And I think that you should take off your hat.
How 'bout you take off your sunglasses? Huh? Nobody hates Phil Kirkman.
Yeah.
These people do.
Who cares what they think? Kirkman? Phil Kirkman.
Yes? You suck.
Hey! You should have jumped off that building, Kirkman.
All right.
I'm sure you got better things to do than get arrested for assault.
So why don't you just keep on walking, okay? You gonna ruin our chances of going to the playoffs again? Go back to your nest, Kirkman.
New York never wants to see your face again.
You go back to your nest! Oh, no, no! No, Phil! No way I'm letting, you know who, come within 500 yards of Marcus Alvarez, let alone this facility.
All he wants to is apologize.
What's the harm in that? I don't want to risk finding out.
All I want is for you-know-who to go away, far away.
He's bad mojo.
You guys, curses aren't real! Red Sox, right? They won the World Series.
Yeah.
Only took 'em 86 years.
Chicago Cubs haven't won a championship in over 100 years because of their curse.
Everything we do is being second- and triple-guessed by the press.
I know that the stakes are high.
The guy's a loon! I don't want him anywhere near this team! Well, any more loony than two grown men believing in curses? Why can't you take "no" for an answer? Because "no" isn't gonna help you-know-who.
All right? And it's not gonna help your team win, either.
He just wants some forgiveness.
What's so wrong with that? Easy for you to say, Dr.
Dani.
I know it's a lot to ask, but could you please just work on coach a tiny, tiny bit? You-know-who needs a win just as much as the Hawks do right now.
You're just still not getting it.
I ate mac'n'cheese before every single game I ever played in.
That started in sixth grade.
Athletes are superstitious.
I'll give it a shot, but don't hold your breath.
I appreciate it.
Thank you.
Oh, by the way, I hear that you have been chitty-chattin' with Nico about my dating life.
I may -- maybe I mentioned something.
Why? Because he showed up where I was having dinner last night.
Coincidence? I think not.
Did you know that Nico was married? Huh.
He never mentioned that in all of our long, deep talks together.
Wow.
Wow.
Drinks with Nico.
Sounds like a party.
Oh, yes.
It was a blast.
You should You and Laura should invite him to your next party.
Well, that presumes that Laura and I are still together, which we're not.
Oh, I didn't know that.
Gave it a second chance.
Didn't work out.
Sometimes that's what it takes to find out that you were right the first time.
I have been thinking.
I'm gonna give you guys a second chance.
Meaning? Meaning I'm gonna let you be responsible and no babysitter on Saturday night.
Awesome.
Yes! - You will not regret this.
- You are right.
'Cause if I do, you're really gonna regret it.
This is your one shot.
You screw it up, and splat.
- You hear me? - Yeah.
- Got it? - Yeah.
Love you.
Love you.
Hey.
Vivica, hey.
Wait up.
Wait up.
Wait up.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
I just Want to press reset on us.
Not "us," but I'm Terrence King, and I'm sorry.
Are you running for office? I just want to talk.
About what? Honestly, um, how you got that Anton Washington to tell you about every single athlete that he gave performance-enhancing drugs to.
Anybody who can crack that story should be leading this conversation, not moi.
Did you do a little reading? A lot of reading.
For me.
Yeah, well, lucky I'm not a novelist, huh? Yeah.
Listen, so, I'll sit down.
We can talk.
I'll give you an exclusive with the elusive and incredibly well-behaved Terrence King.
But we do this on my terms, off-campus.
This place was like the post office for me, you know? Never knew what to expect at home, but out here, come rain, sleet, or snow, me and my boys would be playing ball till the sun came down, right? And I'd be, like, Jerry Rice, Kojo Liberty, Cris Carter, all in one game sometimes.
I can still rock Kojo's T.
D.
celebration, too.
Oh, yeah? Yeah.
All right.
Then he'd spike it.
You know what I mean? - He was horrible - That was good.
But, um, you know, I was always pretty good.
And I knew that football got guys like Kojo out the hood, and I figured it was my only shot.
So, I was relentless.
And it worked.
You still talk to those kids you used to play with? Nah.
Most of them got locked up.
I haven't seen a couple of them since their funerals, so But there was this This one kid.
He was He played center, right? And he was like this little fat muffin-top dude just waddling around and everything, and now he's a doctor.
- No? - Yeah.
Crazy.
I thought he'd be having an aneurysm, not curing them, you know.
Yeah.
Well, how'd you end up doing what you do? I was a tomboy.
But I sucked at sports.
My dad and I would talk Yankees for hours.
- Yankees fan.
- Mm-hmm.
Grew up in the Bronx, huh? Manhattan.
Central Park West.
Ay! Dad's a vascular surgeon.
Mom's an epidemiologist.
They encouraged me to, uh, write about what I loved.
So we're both relentless people.
That sounds terrible.
Words are your department.
I just tweet.
Hey, you're Terrence King, right? Everyone, look.
It's T.
K.
I didn't come out here for all of this.
I'm just playing.
I'm just playing.
I'm just What's up, little man? How you doing? - You go? - Doing good.
What's going on? Stay in school.
I know you about to drop out.
It's horrible.
You got a pen? Yeah, I got one right here.
All I'm asking is that you talk to Kirkman.
Man, no way! No how.
I'm not sitting down with that dude.
I'm not even saying his name.
Marcus, can you imagine how this has ruined the man's life? If there's any way that you can forgive him, I just think that the team and maybe even the city can finally move forward from this curse.
No offense, but for a shrink, you're crazy.
Uhh.
Oh, God.
What is it gonna take for this team to finally stop being afraid of Phil Kirkman? Dani! Aah! My leg! Ohh! Aah! Aah! Oopsie.
I'm a bit worried about Alvarez's ankle, but he'll be able to go on Sunday.
Dani keeps mentioning this guy's name, she's gonna cause a sinkhole.
How many women my age do you know that actually remember Kojo Liberty? And now we're talking about what? Vivica Stevens.
And there's this crazy series that she wrote on this underdog olympic bi-athlete shooting and skiing at the same time.
That's whiter than squash, but the way she wrote it was just crazy.
Whoa.
I have seen this look before.
What look? T.
, listen to me.
This woman is not your friend.
What you talking about? I st patched it up like you said.
It's all good.
She is a reporter.
She does not have a crush on you.
She's not your girlfriend.
She is doing a story on you.
She has been talking to everyone here.
What about? Your D.
U.
I.
s, your house arrest, pretty much every negative headline you've ever produced.
You know, that's ancient history.
Dead and buried.
You can't bury anything deep enough from a reporter like Vivica Stevens.
Hey, coach.
Hey.
It's Dani.
I need a favor.
Whoa.
Whoa.
This was not part of our deal, Dr.
Dani.
I asked for five minutes.
Not five minutes with him.
- Him? - His name is Phil Kirkman.
Come on in, guys.
Phil Kirkman.
Phil Kirkman.
Phil Kirkman.
Phil Kirkman.
What's he doing here? Did anybody's heart stop? Anybody swallow their tongue? Anyone know what "fear" stands for? False evidence appearing real.
Exactly.
Now, since the Alvarez-Kirkman incident six years ago, the Hawks have never been back to the playoffs.
I know you all say that that is evidence of the Kirkman Kurse.
I say that it's false evidence appearing real.
I spent hours last night reading stats, watching game after game.
I was searching for some kind of evidence of this curse, and you want to know what I found instead? Anything that happened to the Hawks in the past six years is all just part of the game, not part of some curse.
I know that the only way this alleged curse is gonna come off the team is if you guys make it back to the playoffs.
I get it.
I hear you.
I got you.
But there is somebody in this room whose curse we can lift right now.
And that somebody is Phil.
You all have spent the past six years avoiding Phil Kirkman like the plague, driving the man to live in a basement in fear of a city that hates him.
And on top of that, avoiding him for six years hasn't gotten you back into the playoffs, now, has it? Shake the man's hand.
Rub his belly, do whatever it is you guys do.
But forgive Phil and lift his curse.
Who knows? You might reverse yours.
We're all good, man.
But if I shatter my tibia or something, I'm gonna come looking for you.
Thank you.
This means so much to me.
Thank you.
Marcus, thank you.
Thank you for letting me come back and be the hawk again.
Oh Dr.
Dani? It's okay! You guys, can you just give us a minute? Yeah.
Everybody, let's clear the room.
Clear the room, please.
Thank you.
that's not what we came here to do.
But I have to be the hawk again.
It's not gonna happen.
But you set a goal for yourself, and look what you did.
You accomplished it.
I did accomplish that goal.
That's all good.
Thank you, Dr.
Santino.
Mm-hmm.
There's something about his smile that just didn't match his words.
Well, he was disappointed, you know.
He was putting on a good face.
Mm-hmm.
My students have to hand over their phones if they use them in class.
I'm so sorry.
The kids are home alone.
I just can't seem to turn it off.
Well, check in with them, then hand your phone over for the remainder of class.
Nope.
I already called twice.
Let's just enjoy our night.
It's really not that scary.
Told you.
All hype.
Maybe not all hype.
Hello? Hello? Oh, God! No! I'll be right back.
Oh.
Ray Jay, there's somebody in the house.
- We need to hide.
- Where? Thanks, T.
K.
The playground yesterday, your old house today.
You've really opened up, and I appreciate your candor.
Cool.
So you done with me now? - Done with you? - Yeah.
You know, I figure princess got a little trip to the ghetto.
Now she has her story.
Figured she'd be moving on.
What's that supposed to mean? It means that I actually liked talking to you, and I opened up to you, but it seems like all you're doing is trying to find a way to take down Terrence King for your headlines.
T.
K.
, I'm a reporter.
I follow the story.
Well, follow this.
That's who I was.
It's not who I am.
And I was gonna ask you out, but now I'm having second thoughts.
T.
K.
, I can't go out with you.
I haven't even filed my story yet.
Has all this been about trying to get a date with me? No.
No, I I just thought we had a connection.
How long are we gonna stay in here? This is stupid.
I'm telling you, there's someone in the house, in the living room.
- Okay, so let me go look.
- No, no! You're not gonna leave me in the pantry with some crazed killer.
Linds I'm calling the police.
No.
No, don't do that, 'cause mom will never trust us.
- Grounded is better than dead.
- Stop.
Give me Dad, grandma - Oh, T.
K.
! - Give me the -- Aw, man.
Everything okay? Yo, you can't just be calling me whenever you want, dude.
Jaybird? It's my therapist's kid.
He's Ray Jay, I don't want to die.
Just be quiet.
The burglar isn't here to rob the pantry.
What was that? Come on, doc.
Pick up.
Pick up.
Pick up.
Oh.
I'm begging you, baby I'm not scamming you, yeah Oh.
Kids okay? Yeah.
No.
My kids are fine.
Mm.
Hey, yo! Mini Santinos? You can come out now.
Well, I'm glad you guys stocked up on enough pretzels and raw rigatonis to survive a nuclear winter, but I'm here.
It's all good.
Come on.
You brought your girl to a robbery? She's not my She's my journalist.
Well, not mine.
I mean -- why don't you just mind your own business, dude? Jaybird.
Lindsay.
Hey, guys.
I'm Vivica.
But the real story is how much trouble - you two just got me in.
- What kind of trouble? Dr.
D.
doesn't want me checking in with the chicklets under any circumstance and what I'm trying to do is the right thing this time, so If we were murdered chicklets, I doubt she'd care about any of this.
Ain't nobody even in this house, dude! Except me, and I shouldn't be here.
Let's fly.
Go, go, go, go! - No, you stay.
- What? Why I got to be the brave one? Wha! I'm lethal with this thing.
T.
K.
's gonna be fine, right? Uh Oh, my God! I'm worm's meat! Oh, my God.
Ohh.
T.
K.
, are you all right? He stabbed me With his beak.
Looks like you guys got robbed by Tweety bird.
I saw your handiwork on the hood of my ride.
Oh! No.
Do you need to get that? My needs and my wants are not aligning right now! It's Matt.
Matt? He never calls me.
Hey.
Matt, is everything okay? Uh, no.
Phil Kirkman is stalking Marcus Alvarez.
What do you mean, "stalking"? Marcus is here with me now.
Kirkman showed up at his home this evening and wouldn't leave.
Okay, so, what did Phil say to you, Marcus? I kept telling him we're cool, but he just kept harping on the same thing Why can't he be the hawk again? He just didn't get it.
Anyway He left me this box of junk Mostly action figures, an old signed football.
Ooh.
Uh, his action figures? What did Phil say exactly? He said he wouldn't need them anymore.
All right Uh, you got to call Nico.
Tell him that I need backup.
Okay? All right.
Sit tight, bro.
Backup? I think Kirkman's gonna kill himself.
Where are you? Nico, I'm pulling in the garage right now.
Okay.
I think you better hurry.
I tried to talk him down.
It didn't work.
But I convinced him to let me call you.
Hey, Phil.
It's me.
I'm right here.
hey Your father and the team and the whole city has been looking for you all night.
No one knows what it's like to be me.
To be all alone your whole life in a city that hates you.
I know.
And you didn't feel alone when you were the hawk.
Six years I held out hope that they'd realize they needed me and they'd want me back.
Now that's not gonna happen.
If I'm not the hawk, I'm nothing.
I have no reason to live.
Phil, I know that you feel lonely, but I promise you that you are not alone.
There are other people that feel the exact same way that you do.
There are a lot of other people.
They're people that have difficulty recognizing how important they really are.
They have a hard time recognizing social cues, and they often show repetitive patterns in behavior.
Does that sound familiar to you at all? Why don't you come sit down with me? We can talk about it.
Phil, I think that you have an undiagnosed case of Asperger's syndrome.
People with Asperger's, they frequently have trouble maintaining relationships or interacting with others.
I'm born this way? I am cursed.
Mozart did pretty well with it.
Albert Einstein.
Marie Curie, Thomas Jefferson.
These are all people who are thought to have some degree of Asperger's.
The point being, Phil You are not alone.
Won't you please let me help you? Wow.
She's an impact player.
Yeah.
It was a but down, I swear.
We were trying to be grownups about it.
Grownups call the police.
Yeah, but if we called the police, then the neighbors, and you can't trust us or leave us home alone again.
Really? That's your logic? Well, you know, our prefrontal cortexes are not fully formed yet, so that's why we sometimes make stupid decisions.
Yeah.
You can't hold our biology against us.
Oh.
Look, Dr.
D I know you're not cool with me kicking it with the chicklets, and normally I'm cool with that, too, but I thought they were about to be some chewed-up chicklets, so I did what I had to do.
I couldn't get you on the phone.
Luckily your robber was a pigeon, and nobody got hurt.
But I need to know that you guys are gonna make more responsible choices, you know, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation again, okay? - Okay.
- Okay.
And as for you Thank you for caring.
It means a lot to me.
It's all good.
It's all good.
You got some good kids.
Wimpy, but good.
I'm sorry that dinner was so awkward.
I'm sorry that we never got to have our night at the hotel.
I'm just sorry.
Emergencies happen.
This is my life.
Yeah.
What? Your life.
And your life.
They don't overlap very well, do they? Mnh-mnh.
It's not just the Congo.
I'm gonna go to Amsterdam early next year.
I wish you could join me.
But I have to stay here for my kids, for the team.
For random people who need rescuing from rooftops.
You have this life where you can just pick up and go, and I have this life where I Where you're needed right where you are.
Mm-hum.
Professor Aldridge Yeah? Those trips sound so amazing.
Oh, you'll make it you will.
It's just now's not the time.
So, then This Then what is this? This is just what happens sometimes.
See you, Santino.
So, is, uh, Kirkman okay? Mm-hmm.
He's gonna continue seeing me, and I already found him a social-skills group for people with Asperger's.
So, he's gonna start a whole new life.
So you're gonna -- you're gonna help him find his flock.
Ha.
Speak.
It's just that it took me weeks to get Pittsburgh out of you, and you're with J.
D.
for 30 seconds, and you tell him that you were married.
I don't get it.
Well, if you had asked me, I would have told you.
I never lie.
Ever.
I thought you knew that about me.
Okay.
So, then, why did you get divorced? Because some birds fly better solo.
The Hawks win! The Hawks soar into the playoffs! The Kirkman Kurse is finally lifted! Couldn't have written a better end to the story myself.
Actually, how'd that turn out for you? You're gonna have to do a little more reading, but, uh, the story's filed, in case you want to have dinner sometime.
Tomorrow night works for me.
Is that good for you? 'Cause if not, there's always the next day or the day after that, the day after that.
Tomorrow's fine.
- Yeah? - Yeah.
Have fun.
Whoo! - Ha! - Whoo! Ha ha ha! Well, the curse is broken.
The team moves forward.
And to both of you, I say this locker room owes the both of you.
My impact players.
We're goin' to the 'ship! We're goin' to the 'ship! We're goin' to the 'ship! We're goin' to the 'ship!