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The Arnet Mead game is here again, and so is the Coach's yearly barbeque. Does anyone else feel as warm inside as I do at having having this world keep turning? It's like a REAL TOWN! So the barbeque is stressing Tami out, because once again the work of preparing to host all the mean boosters and all the messy, shaggy boys in her house has fallen to her. When she runs into Katie McCoy -- J.D.'s mom-- in the grocery store and Katie offers to have it at their house, Tami gratefully accepts. But Coach is livid, thinks she's getting played, because the McCoys are starting to play hardball trying to get J.D. starting as quarterback. The barbeque goes off without a hitch in the McCoys seriously whopping McMansion; no hitches except Coach getting waylaid by Buddy and McCoy. Off to the side, though, we get our first brief meeting with J.D. actual -- when the kid comes upon Matt and Julie chuckling over all the trophies J.D.'s parents have displayed. And, just as I suspected, he seems like a sweet, dorky kid being pulled along by the current of his dad's weird displaced ambition.
Matt is really feeling the pressure to win on Friday. As he puts it to Julie, the outcome of the game could pretty much change his life. As in, if he messes up, he gets benched and J.D. goes in. In our first nail-biter of this season (in part courtesy of the great Fucked Up song the game is set to) the game comes down to the last minute. Matt's taken a beating for four quarters, but he swears to Coach that he has one more play in him. He runs the ball and just makes it into the endzone, but gets hit hard and fumbles the ball. Arnet Mead wins, all of our hearts break, Matt's shoulders slump, and Coach comes home to a bunch of "For Sale" signs posted in his front yard.
The Upstairs/Downstairs Garrity/Collette/Riggins drama continues with Ole Sis and Angela hating on Lyla and Billy begging Tim to help him with this "one last thing"-- stealing copper wire from an abandoned plant for cash. Tim reluctantly goes along, but in the process stands Lyla up at the barbeque, which brings them to an impasse.
When Smash finds out his mom is planning on taking a second job to help send him to college, he considers not going to college at all. Luckily that "plan" is quickly squashed by Corinna.
Want more? The full recap starts right below! The Collette ladies (ladies?), the Riggins boys (yes, boys), and Lyla are out drinking and carousing and going to get steaks. Quick cut to Billy and Tim in the truck on the way home, Billy berating his brother for ordering a thirty dollar steak, Tim snarking at Billy that maybe he might want to ask his "soul mate" to stop pointing out who all she's given a lap dance wherever they go. It makes Lyla uncomfortable. Billy tells Tim he's whipped and they pull up in front of a mobile home. "Where are we?" Tim asks. I'm getting an uncomfortable "Ferret Guy" vibe here. Billy says he's got a "business meeting" with someone there about getting some scratch together; Tim suggests maybe he stop picking up checks everywhere; Billy sarcastically wonders if he should have had his fiance's mom pick up the check. The Ferret stink just wafts out from the trailer when Billy knocks on the door and goes in to this "meeting" with a guy with a handgun tucked into the back of his pants.Football field. J.D. practices with a private coach his dad has brought down from Dallas, as Buddy and McCoy and various other DadThugs look on. Coach comes out of the locker room with his team, giving Matt a pep talk. When Matt pauses to look slackjawed at J.D., Coach insists to him that J.D. is not his quarterback, Matt is his quarterback, and he just needs to focus on Friday night and everything will go fine. Matt meekly says "Yes, sir." McCoy comes up to Coach to thank him for letting them use the field, and then tells Coach that everyone is talking about whether he'll be switching to a spread offense for Friday, and that whatever Coach decides, he supports him. Coach is taken aback -- because what does he care if McCoy supports his decision? -- and tightly tells him that he appreciates it. McCoy continues, smarming that if Coach does switch to the spread, J.D. is ready. Coach just shuts the guy down by saying he's only got the boys until 8, and needs McCoy to clear the cones off the field.
Taylor house, morning. Coach is on the phone with Buddy telling him once again to cram it while buttoning his shorts and tightening his buckle. Mmm. ManDad. He's just hot. Meanwhile Tami is fussing with packages of plastic cups. Coach gets off the phone, and talks at his wife about how horrible the boosters are and how outrageous it is that the McCoys are spending thousands of dollars on this coach for J.D. Tami talks at him about having to plan this party for all the horrible boosters and how much money it's going to cost them. She wonders if Coach has ever thought of not having the party at their house and Coach is like "Wha?" Coach tells her that he knows it's a lot of work but that he promises that year maybe they'll have it somewhere else. Then he gets all jujitsu on her, leaning in real close and telling her that she looks sexy and that she's the best friend, mother, and lover that a man's ever had.
Smash's house. Smash is giving his sister some dating advice and talking about himself in the third person again. He tells her that he's not nervous about his walk-on, that "Smash don't get nervous, he gets ready." That's taking the third person to the level, not only referring to yourself by your own name but also using the personal pronoun? It's like worm-hole level ridiculousity. The phone rings and we can gather it's someone asking for his mom to speak to her about a job. Smash is like "My mom already has a job, you've got the wrong number" but Corinna comes in and grabs the phone from him and cheerfully agrees to come in on Saturday. Apparently she's going to take some in-home care on the weekends. Smash wonders why and she tells him that if he gets into A&M, they'll need to pay for it. Smash gets upset but she cuts him off saying, "It's just the situation, we're gonna make it work."
At the grocery, Tami is insisting to the uncooperative butcher that she ordered twenty racks of ribs, not two. Mrs. McCoy rolls up all overly made up and Dallas'd out and tries to real quick just jump in and get two strip steaks from the guy. And, anyhow, we knew this last week, but Mrs. McCoy is played by Janine Turner from Northern Exposure. It's so weird how actresses sometimes have to go into hibernation -- or maybe a better description would be to say they go into a cocoon. They go in as "Single and Nubile" and then pop out as "Mom." Anyhow, I'm psyched to see her. So, she tries to interrupt Tami's butcher tirade but Tami basically tells her to talk to the hand and turns back to the butcher, who has now graduated to telling her "I don't know where your ribs are, lady." Tami blows her top and tells him "Okay, please don't call me lady, okay? Hate that." He goes in the back and in the meantime the ladies get chatting Grocery Store Mom Lady Style. Katie introduces herself and Tami apologizes for being a little rude; Katie tells her she thinks it's hot, "I like a woman who speaks her mind." Katie tells Tami that she wants to get involved at the school, and Tami perks up. Katie wants J.D. to go to a school with books and a music program, and Tami is like, "You and me both" but then tells her about all the budget issues they've got. Katie clarifies: they have money they want to give away, and she wants to throw a party and invite other people to give money away. Tami: "Neat!" Katie: "That's me!" Then Katie asks what "a little thing like you" is doing with twenty racks of ribs, and Tami sighs, "It's a long story" ...and I sort of love this star-crossed Grocery Store Lady Friendship.
Tim and Lyla are in the library. Tim keeps pointing out this creepy kid behind Lyla who's staring at her. Lyla tells him to quit getting distracted and study, so he can ace the test, and improve his grades, and get a scholarship, and they'll both go to colleges that are close together. All the while, moving closer and closer in to Tim's mouth and talking in this total sexpot voice, and the difference between how she is with Tim and how she was with Jason (perky, "Voted Best Couple") in that first episode is totally stark. (JASON? WHERE ARE YOU?!) Tim asks if she's coming over tomorrow night and Lyla says that Angela and Mindy Ole Sis hate her. Tim says -- and can I just tell you how weird it is to type "Tim says" so often? His stellar acting gig of just showing up and glowering is apparently at an end. He has lines to memorize now! So, Tim says that they don't hate her, they don't even know her. Then he says (SAYS!) that "Somebody wants his girlfriend to be there." And, now, when he does this, he does this thing with his arm: his elbow is resting on the table, his hand holds a pencil, and he sort of pumps his arm back and forth. And I guess you are supposed to read this motion that he is charmingly pointing to himself with the pencil when he says "Someone wants his girlfriend to be there" ...except it also looks like a crazy Magnum version of the old finger through an index finger/thumb circle. So there's that. Tim promises that if Angela or Ole Sis even look at her the wrong way, he'll throw a block. He moves and grabs her face and they start making out. As you do, in the school library.
Taylor house. Tami comes in as Coach is bent over the stove shoveling some beans onto a tortilla chip, drinking a beer. Tami's in a grand mood, and tells Coach about how nice Katie McCoy is and also how she's agreed to do the whole barbeque at their house. "Done and done!" Coach just blinks at her for a while and then asks how they can be the host if the barbeque isn't at their house? Tami doesn't really get what he's getting at and sort of moons that it'll sort of be like "co-hosting." Coach says something about this being "MY barbeque" and Tami's voice lowers and she says that it's funny he'd say that since she's the one who's been doing all the work for it. Coach gets righteous, telling her how much scrutiny he's under and he doesn't want to be scrutinized in someone else's house; Tami shoots back that she's under all this scrutiny, too, and she doesn't want to be scrutinized in her own house. Coach raises his voice and tells her that the barbeque is a symbol of trust to have the kids in their own house and make them feel welcome (he's got a point there) and then tells Tami that she's getting played and the thing you know it's scotch and then cigars and then they're indebted to them. Gracie starts crying and Coach goes to her; Tami looks abashed but calls after him that she's not being played, "She's nice."
Commercials. Practice. Matt is stinking up the scene. Coach tells his kids to loosen up and have some fun. Mac pulls Coach aside and suggests that maybe they give J.D. a few reps. Coach refuses and Mac quietly tells him that it's his job on the line, too, and he's not looking forward to the moving signs in his yard. Coach just clenches and says he'll keep that in mind.
Cafeteria. Matt and Landry sit together, Landry talking about the media machine of J.D. McCoy. He's on the cover of Texas Football magazine. Matt remarks that it's the freshman preview so it makes sense. Landry is rambling about Matt not having "an angle" and Matt just wants Landry to shut it. Landry gets up and leaves, frustrated, just as Julie comes over to say hi. She sits down and tries to make conversation, "So, um, big game Friday." Matt's like "Yeah, it's huge. Yeah, it might alter my life, in fact." Julie asks him if it's a bad subject and Matt just starts rambling. He's trying to concentrate on Arnet Mead, which is hard enough because they never beat Arnet Mead, even Jason Street never beat them, but now he's got this kid named Joe Doyle breathing down his neck and if anyone mentions that stupid seventy yard pass to him ever again he's gonna lose it because it was in practice! I mean, he could throw a seventy yard pass, no defenders no one comin' at you... And, swoon. Zach Gilford, you are seriously Cute Overload. Julie is feeling this as well -- and, have you noticed that her Bangs of Teen Bitchiness are gone, replaced by side-swept Bangs of Sweetheartness? Julie tells him that he's really adorable when he rants.
Smash is in the back of the Alamo Freeze taking inventory. Mr. Pollard comes in to see him to ask him if he's thought of a future with Alamo Freeze. Smash chuckles and says that honestly, no. The old man tells him that they really like his work and that the Alamo Freeze is expanding, opening four new stores, and they need a regional manager. Smash stammers and says he isn't sure, and the old man tells him it would be a ten thousand dollar raise, plus bonuses and a company car. Smash gets sweet naive stars in his eyes and says that he'll think about it.
Taylor house. Katie and Tami sit on the couch with Gracie between them talking about the barbeque. Katie wants to have a margarita bar around the pool. Coach comes in and Tami looks a bit nervous. Tami introduces them and Coach just turns to Katie and tells her that the barbeque isn't about margaritas and games but about getting the kids ready for the Arnet Mead game. Katie assures him that of course that's the case, and Coach leaves to do some work, but not before Tami passes Gracie to him for a diaper change. There. Beautiful. No reason for that detail, except for the reason of PERFECTION. Katie turns to Tami and realizes, "He's mad we took the barbeque." Tami just sighs and says that she really appreciates Katie hosting the party. She puts her head in her hand and laughs, "Makin' it so I don't have to have all these mean boosters who're yellin' at me about the Jumbotron in my house." Katie tells her that what this is, is "growing pains."
Playgirl Ranch. Tyra, Ole Sis, Angela and Billy sit around. Tyra reads a magazine while the rest wedding plan. Tim comes through the door with beer, Lyla behind him. They all cheer at Tim coming in. Lyla offers Angela a beer; she ignores her and takes one from Tim. Ole Sis asks Tim if he wants to hear their wedding vows and then turns to Billy and takes his hands. "Billy Riggins. No one has ever stuck with me so long before. It's there, I know it is, because when I look at you I can feel it? When I look at you I'm home? I don't want that to go away? I don't want to forget?" The line reading is fantastic. She sounds like a twangy robot uptalker. Also, Ole Sis -- wow. The make-up artist must have a ball doing her face. They've got her cheeks just branded with Bonne Belle Shocking Pink blush; she looks like her make-up application evolution ended at 12. So, she finishes her vows, and Lyla starts laughing. But she's the only one. Everyone turns to look -- er, glare-- at her. She's like "Wait, that's Finding Nemo, right?" Ole Sis is like, "Uh, huh?" Angela tells her that it's not nice to laugh at her. Lyla just digs herself in deeper, saying that she thought it was a joke, but no, it's really nice, it's great, it's really romantic. Ole Sis asks her, "What's your problem, Garrity?" Meanwhile, someone has pulled up outside honking the horn. Billy peers out the blinds, "Damnit, Falcon." So it's not Ferrets this time, it's Falcons. Billy tells Ole Sis that the vows were really pretty, and Lyla stammers about how pretty it is, how Finding Nemo has great messages... "about finding love? And family? Tim tell them how much I love Finding Nemo!" But Tim has gotten distracted by his Ferret flashbacks. Angela snarks that she's sorry her daughter's wedding vows aren't up to Garrity standards, but then not much is. And now, I had a flashback of my own. ANGELA EFFING BUDDY. Ughhhh. I had forgotten for a moment. Tyra tells them both to just let it go; Ole Sis is like "Oh, sure, it's only my wedding!" and Tyra tells her to stop being a little princess.
Outside, Falcon drives off and Billy kicks the ground like a two year old and then tells Tim what's going on. There's an abandoned plant out on Route 6 with copper wire. He wants to go steal it, but Falcon just pulled out of the plan. Tim can't believe it, but also can't resist telling Billy that obviously he shouldn't take Route Six -- that'll be littered with cops. Take a back road. Billy narrows his eyes and is like "Wow, you're way better at this than Falcon." Tim realizes what he's asking, but when Billy is all fakey "Oh, just forget it," Tim is like "Okay" and turns to head back in the house. But Billy weasels up to him and tells him that this is the last time he'll ever ask him to do anything; it'll take two hours tops. Tim tells him he's got a team function tomorrow night; he can't do it. Billy begs him. Then in the background, all the ladies come storming out, Lyla following asking them to please don't go. Billy asks what happened, and Angela says they're going home where things aren't so "prissy and judgey." Billy whines, "Thanks a lot, Lyla!" and she tells him to shut up and then storms off to her own car, "Thanks for throwing the block, Tim." Tim goes after Lyla, but she drives away on him. Oh, Tim Riggins.
Commercials. The Taylors pull up through a gated community and stop at "1512." Tami mutters, "Wow, that is a biiiig house." And, boy is it ever. It's like a Double Whopper McMansion with Cheese Supersized. RA RA AMERICA! Coach says that it looks like a sanitarium. Heh. He mutters that this is all going to really boost Matt Saracen's confidence. Aww. They pull up and there's a valet; Coach insists that he'll park the car himself, the valet assures him there's no charge, Tami tells him to let the valet take the car and Coach just busts out of there PARKIN' THE DAMN CAR HIMSELF. I love dads.
Inside, Katie McCoy comes screeching up to Tami, "Areeen't yoooouu the sexiest principal on the plaaaanet!" and whisks Tami away. Coach is told to find the fellas, but they find him first; he's barely inside the door when he gets accosted by someone asking what the plan for Friday is.
Buddy and Lyla drive to the barbeque. Buddy is outraged that Tim is showing up late to the party, and isn't taking Lyla himself. He thinks it's a whole lot different than it was in the olden days; Lyla interrupts her father saying that she knows he doesn't like Tim. Buddy tells her that he does like Tim, he just knows things about him that Lyla doesn't, and he doesn't want her to have a broken heart. Lyla promises her father that Tim isn't who he thinks he is, and Buddy's like "Aright."
Cut over to Tim and Billy in moron land. They use a U-Haul truck and chain to bust open the metal gate around the abandoned plant. A couple of guard dogs come running out of the fence and the Riggins boys dive back into the truck. The dogs just run past, happy to be free, and the Riggins boys take deep gulps of the relief of the stupid.
Back at the McCoys, the party is in full swing. Everyone is having a grand time. Everyone except Coach, who stands around in his denim shirt with a "P" embroidered over his heart (OMG!) watching Mr. McCoy act like a sociable jackass, and Lyla, who stands around moodily listening to some of the football players talk about how awesome Tim Riggins is. And by awesome, they mean "Royally fucked up all the time."
Back at the plant. Tim and Billy roll huge spools of copper wire onto the truck, Tim sweating and looking like he realizes he's acting the fool.
Back at the party, Matt and Julie stand on some back balcony, Julie talking about how huge the McCoy house is. Matt interrupts, "Hello? Have you seen the Saracen estate?" and they joke around about the Saracen estate's "east wing and west wing." Matt's eye is caught by a room to his left, and they wander in. As Julie notes, it's like a giant shrine to J.D., a room just full of his trophies. And that's it. I guess the "Trophy Room" is Texas's answer to L.A.'s "Present Wrapping Room." Matt and Julie giggle and laugh about how they've even got all his "participation trophies" out. As Matt notes, "Even the fat kids get these." Of course, just then J.D. walks in behind them; Matt and Julie freeze and mumble about what they're doing in there. J.D. snarks that "You know, they actually bronzed my first diaper. I could show it to you, it's in the garage." Matt and Julie don't know what to say, and J.D. just sort of wanders back out. Oh, sweet baby! This kid seems like he could be awesomely damaged. I can't wait to know more about him.
Downstairs, Tyra and Lyla stand around and make me wish for more scenes where they, like, I don't know, sexually harass the football players and make them learn how to do a dance routine. Tyra asks where Tim is and Lyla says he had a thing with his brother. Tyra: "Huh. Yeah, a thing. Rally girl and a free six pack on the way?" but then immediately apologizes for saying it. Buddy comes over, Tyra skedaddles and Buddy asks if Lyla's okay. She says she is; she obviously isn't.
Tim and Billy keep at the copper wire. Tim is ready to go, but Billy asks him to help him get the other three spools. Tim says no, he's already late, and Lyla's waiting. Billy tells him to forget about Lyla for a second, he's his brother. Tim says he doesn't feel like getting busted so that Billy can take Old Sis and Angela out for nice steak dinners. Billy tells him that's not what this is about, that he needs this, he needs a second chance to start a business, have a decent life. "Ain't no more football games and rally girls for me." He begs him to help, when just then a cop car comes screaming by with its sirens on. They duck down, but the cop car drives by, on the way somewhere else. Tim reluctantly agrees to help Billy.
At the barbeque, Coach is playing pool alone when Buddy, McCoy and the private coach the McCoy's hired, Wade, bust in. Coach realizes it's an ambush, and it is when Buddy brings up "the spread." Wade piles on, saying that he thinks Coach should think about the "run and shoot." (And here, I fail you, readers, because I don't know what they're talking about; only I know they are talking about some kind of offense that would require J.D.). Coach says that he doesn't think that they have "the personnel" to install an offense like that; Wade sort of tightly smiles and incredulously asks if Coach thinks he doesn't have the guys for it. Coach has had it, and tells Wade that he doesn't know what he's being paid, but he's not paying him, and he doesn't need his opinion. Buddy tries to cool down the simmer, but then asks Coach to acknowledge that J.D. is a "great little quarterback." Coach pissily says that if that's all they want, then, sure, he's "an incredible fifteen year old." But then he continues, telling McCoy that most of the kids out there hit puberty five years ago, but J.D. hit it about a month ago, as far as he can tell. Coach looks intently at McCoy and says, "I know Matt Saracen. I don't know your son." McCoy looks back just as intently and says kind of threateningly that this is an ideal time for him to get to know his son. Coach tells him to give him a chance and then walks out.
Taylor house. Tami flops on the bed, grinning and pleased that she didn't have to host the party. She talks about how big the house was and how great the chocolate fountain was. Ergh. Chocolate fountains. There's nothing grosser, in my opinion. Just think about what that looks like. And then you dip strawberries into it? What? Coach grumbles that he just spent the whole night getting chewed out; Tami says she's sorry he didn't have a good time. Coach looks at her and takes a deep breath. "You know who I miss? I miss the coach's wife." Tami looks tired, and takes her own sigh. "You know who I can't wait to meet? The principal's husband." Coach says "Touche" and we leave these two for a bit to their growing pains.
Friday night. Game night. Gorgeous flaming Texas sky. Slammin' Sammy Mead gets us psyched up, talking about heart and commitment, as the camera ranges around outside among the excited fans and then inside the locker room among the riled up boys, and in the background, Fucked Up's "Son the Father" starts, and I just generally get all ramped up in a weird, angsty, hardcore way. On the field, Matt calls the play, and just as he takes the snap the song's wailing vocals start and I'm having a hard time sitting still. The first play -- Matt completes the throw, but takes a hard hit. And it just keeps on keeping on, Matty playing like a madman, taking huge hit after huge hit after huge hit. Timmy Riggins runs it into the endzone, but then the Panthers and Arnet Mead go point for point. Every time Matt throws into the endzone, taking a huge hit, Arnet Mead answers with a touchdown of their own. On the sideline, Matt's getting a bloody cut on his eyebrow tended to. Coach comes over, leans down and shouts over the crowd and cacophony, "We're gonna get the ball back, you got one more in you?" And Matt looks at him -- his face bloody -- and growls, "I always got one more." And ladies and gentleman, we have a new sexpot in town. Move over Tim Riggins. Seriously, Matt has had "adorable" nailed down for quite some time, but he just made me feel a little tingly just then. J.D.'s standing around behind them, wearing his helmet, apparently hoping he might get a chance to get in. (Which is ridiculous; putting an untested freshman in on the most important point of the night?)
The clock is winding down, Saracen takes the snap, and we go into slow motion. Saracen rears back, and then runs with the ball. The crowd noise has faded out and all we hear is Saracen's heavy breathing as he makes his way to the endzone. He's almost there, there's one defender coming at him from the left, he dives for it, and gets into the endzone. The announcer crows "Touchdown!" and Coach leaps up ready to celebrate, but then "Oh, no! No! Fumble!" Arnet Mead recovers and the Panthers lose. Matt sits on his knees in the endzone, slumped and crushed, looking back at his disappointed team. Coach's eyes are wide and staring, trying to process it all.
Commercials. Empty stadium. Julie stands outside the locker room waiting for Matt. He comes out, and they awkwardly greet each other. Matt says that he was trying to wait it out to avoid everyone on his way out. Julie tells him they don't have to talk about the game, and Matt asks if they can go somewhere and talk about anything other than football. They start wandering off and Matt, back in adorable mode (but who can forget that MAN that just came roaring out of him just before?) mumbles, "Oh, like they made me Employee of the Month at Alamo Freeze." Pause. "Again."
Smash's house. Smash finds his mother reading on the couch, and he tells her that he's not going to the walk-on week. He tells her about the Alamo Freeze's offer and says he's taking it. Corinna is like "Hell, no." Smash insists that he's made up his mind, and is going to tell Coach about it tomorrow. His mother says that all he's going to tell Coach is "thank you" and then reminds him about how much Coach has done for him. Smash breaks out and tells her that this isn't how it was supposed to be; he was going to buy her a house. She tells him that she didn't have kids to buy her a house, but then looks him in the eyes and asks "Honey, what's wrong with you?" Smash breaks down a bit and says that he's done everything right, he did everything he was supposed to do, but it's still not enough. That is a heartbreaking sentiment. She tells him -- with even more heartbreaking sentiment -- that he's going to keep doing things right, that that's what will make him a man. She tells him that he is going to that tryout, play like God made him to, and he is going to college. He asks what if he doesn't take her help, and she tells him that he is going to take her help, that he needs to let her be his momma, that it's her job. I never understand all the hub-bub about paying for college on these shows; my parents didn't have any money when I went to college, and I've got the loans right now still to show for it. That's how Americans pay for college, right? And this is a state school! Anyhow. Sorry. Please return to your tears if you wish.
Tim knocks on Buddy's door and asks for Lyla. Buddy tells him he has a nice set of cojones coming over there after standing Lyla up. Lyla comes out and asks her dad to leave them alone. He shuts the door, and Lyla stands in front of Tim, brow furrowed. Minka Kelly has a great brow furrow. She does the affected teen look down look up "I've got something important to say" move and then starts, telling him that so many people have warned her about him, but she always tells them that he's a good guy. "You are a good guy, aren't you?" Tim says he is and then she pleads "Please don't make a fool out of me."
The Taylors drive up their driveway, Death Cab for Cutie's "Bixby Canyon Bridge" playing overtop for these final scenes. They find "For Sale" signs in their yard. Tami watches, hands in pockets as Coach walks through the yard, tearing them up and tossing them at the garage door, then standing at the foot of the driveway looking out into the neighborhood, challenging the cowards in the shadows to say it to his face. Tami calls him in.
Cut over to Lyla, watching Tim drive off, both looking unsure. Then to Tim, in the Playgirl Ranch's backyard, empty pool cavernous and metaphoric. Billy covering the spools of copper wire with a canvas tarp.
Cut over to Matt and Julie, walking along the street, flirting and jostling.
And then back to the Taylors, for a beautiful series of shots of them moving about the bedroom, one in focus then the other. Coach comes around and sits on the bed to Tami, she puts her arm around him and rests her head on his shoulder. Close up on Coach's face, staring and exhausted, and then cut around to a shot from above, the two figures slumped on the edge of the bed, in their modest bedroom, with their modest furniture and cluttered vanity, and it's so nice that someone takes such CARE to make this world for us, because it is sad and lovely.
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