All Quotes

"Jeffrey: You could come. My mum's gonna go this time."

"Mrs. Morales: I can't. I work during the day."

"Newt: We'll look out for him, ma'am. We promise."

"[Mrs. Morales looks at Juan. He looks at her. She knows he wants more than anything to play soccer with his classmates. In so many towns since they've come to this country, they have been made to feel different, like outsiders. These children from Elma are making Juan feel as if he are a part of their group, as if he belongs]"

"[She doesn't want to stand in the fashion of that]"

"[That Saturday morning, a string of cars from Elma pull into the parking lot at Austin High. This time, not only are Tom and Anna there, but some of the children's parents have come along as well. The children, now dressed in T-shirts, pile out the cars. Juan Morales gets out and surveys their opponents]"

"[They are called the Terminators, and they look like they can certainly terminate the children from Elma]"

"[Tom opens the trunk of his car and pulls out a large box filled with cardboard strips, egg cartons, bubble wrap and masking tape]"

"Tom: My Aunt Burr used to say that anything you need in life can probably be made with masking tape or spit."

"Anna: Then what are we making?"

"Tom: Shin guards."

"[Tom outfits each one of the children with shin guards made out of the cardboard and bubble wrap]"

"[As the referee blows the start-up whistle, the Big Green takes their positions on the field, across from the Terminators. The Terminators sneer and chortle as they see the ragtag team from Elma]"

"[The referee places the ball at Juan's feet and then blows his whistle. Juan kicks the ball to Kate, who is playing left forward. As they have practiced in Elma, Kate kicks the ball right back to Juan, who begins dribbling it into Terminator territory and toward the goal net. Jeffrey, playing the right, spreads out and crosses the center line as well]"

"[Juan passes the ball to Jeffrey, who traps it and then continues across the field. After he has dribbled the ball a few feet, he passes it back to Juan]"

"[The Terminators see that Juan is the Big Green's star player. They instinctively concentrate on defending against him, triple teaming him at one point]"

"[But Juan is too nimble. He kicks the ball and crosses it to Tak]"

"Anna and Tom: Shoot! Kick it in, Tak!"

"[But Tak hesitates, afraid. He isn't sure what to do. He clumsily kicks the ball back toward Juan. The ball is swiftly intercepted by a Terminator middleman]"

"Kate: Yes. She was really upset."

"[The Terminator drives the ball down the field and dribbles it into Big Green territory. None of the children from Elma move to block him. As the Terminator reaches the far end of the field, he easily kicks the ball past Larry and into the goal net]"

"[Juan watches the play in amazement. Then he turns to Tak]"

"Tak: What's wrong with you?! You were wide open!"

"[Tak looks like he is about to weep]"

"[Although the Big Green tries hard, they just can't seem to play as a team. Wherever anyone gets control of the ball, it is immediately passed to Juan. No sooner will he get the ball than Juan finds himself tripe-played by Terminators. They want to keep him separate from the goal net]"

"[By the middle of the second half, the score is 6-0, Terminators]"

"[A Terminator heads toward Larry for the seventh goal]"

"[Larry panics. His heart is beating rapidly. Sweat is pouring down his face and into his eyes. Suddenly, the oncoming Terminator changes into a huge Arnold Schwarzenegger look-alike––full of leather jacket and motorcycle. A real Terminator]"

"[Larry covers his eyes and dives to the ground. As he opens his eyes, Arnold Schwarzenegger is gone. And the Terminator middleman has scored a point]"

"Evan: You alright?"

"[Larry pulls Evan over to the side]"

"Larry: Can I warn you a secret? [Evan nods in agreement] If I get really afraid, they change into naughty guys. I mean they really change."

"[Evan looks at his friend]"

"Evan: You're a pretty complicated guy."

"[Just then, the ref blows his whistle, signaling the end of the third quarter. The children run over to Tom and Anna on the sidelines]"

"Polly: No one's passing to me."

"Nick: You just lose the ball."

"Juan: Well, too many people are passing to me!"

"Tom: Silence down! Listen to me."

"Jeffrey: Why should we listen to you?"

"Tom: Because I'm your coach."

"Larry: No. You're just here because you're after our coach."

"Tom: Look, I'm here, midgets. That should be enough."

"[Anna is getting dismayed]"

"Anna: This is wrong! We don't fight with each other. On the field or off. That is not what we spoke about until we spoke of teamwork. [Then she turns to Tom] And quit calling them midgets!"

"Evan: Yes!"

"[Tom pauses for a moment]"

"Tom: Alright. She's right. Now, listen up. Juan can't do everything. You have to pass to each other."

"Tak: But he's the only one who's any luck."

"Tom: Right now playing as a team is more reluctant than winning."