When It Rains, It Pours

S01E13

Keith walks down the hall and into Whitey's office. Is it strange how grown men are allowed to walk the hallways of the high school at random? Does no one question why they're there? Whitey looks up from reading his paper as Keith says, "What's the good word, Coach?" He puts the paper aside to reply, "There's no good word." Pause. "What brings you around here?" Keith comes in and closes the door; he's got his hand inside his jacket, protecting a bottle: "Oh, a victory celebration." Whitey asks, "What's the celebration?" Keith replies, "I thought you might like to toast your five hundredth win." Whitey pulls out two mugs he keeps hidden in his desk for just such an occasion, while Keith pulls the whiskey out of his coat. Whitey: "Four-ninety-nine. I haven't won the last one yet." Well, as if that's going to stop the two of them from having a snort. Keith says that he just wants to beat the rush. Heh. Whitey: "I guess this could serve as dual toast." Why's that? "I'm thinking of stepping down." Keith looks stunned, and Whitey comments on this. Whitey laughs and says, "A fellow can't coach forever." Keith says honestly, "And he can't quit while he still loves the game." There are trophies and pictures of teams all over the office. Whitey surveys them as he and Keith have their conversation. Whitey says, "Who says I love it?" Keith: "You do, every time you step out onto that court. This game is what keeps you young." You know, they've stopped playing basketball on this damn show. Instead, they just talk about playing basketball. Enough philosophical meandering about whether or not to throw the damn ball, and just take a deep breath and start tossing it around the court. I'm sick of hearing about it already. Blah Hamlet blah. Keith says, "Without it you'd be off somewhere battling wearing a dress." Whitey jokes, "You haven't seen me at home." They laugh. Whitey picks up a picture of his wife and continues his retrospective: "I promised myself I'd coach for twenty years. Then, Camilla and I would start living. Thirty-five years later, and here I am."

Haley's by herself at the River Courts. She's dribbling the ball, but it's that girly "use the whole of your hand and just slap the ball" kind of dribbling. She takes a deep breath and tosses the ball into the air, hoping for the best. It doesn't even come close to hitting the board or dropping through the net; it's pure air. Nathan catches the ball before it bounces way, way off the court and jokes, "Was that your jump shot? Because if that was your jump shot, I can't date you anymore." She laughs nervously. He continues, "My mom said you'd be here, something about a grade." Haley says, "You cannot be here right now." Why not? "Because I look stupid." She crosses her arms over her chest. Nathan jokes, "You realize I've seen you in that crocheted poncho thing you wear, right?" Heh. Finally, someone else notices the crazy thrift-store-gone-mad styles they saddle poor Haley with. He hands her back the basketball. She says, "Come on, this is embarrassing. I want you to think that I'm not embarrassing." He says honestly, "You don't embarrass me Haley." She gives him a bit of attitude, and then throws the ball to prove her point. He catches it, and says, "Okay, I take that back." Haley: "I can't do it." Nathan stands beside her and gives her some pointers. Then he stands behind her, puts his hands on her hips, and says, "Now just shoot." And off goes the ball again, but this time, she actually manages to get the ball closer to the rim. Nathan smiles, "See, that wasn't perfect, but it also wasn't embarrassing." He goes to retrieve the ball and continues, "It's actually kind of sexy." Haley can't help but smile. Wow, it's a whole new Nathan. He's a completely different kid from the beginning episodes; he's lost that whole jackass follow-in-his-father's-footsteps arrogant manner too. It's actual character development, versus Luke's "will I" or "won't I" emotional wavering.