Decider Jamie Johnson

Once they see you in action, they'll be queuing up to be your mate.

If you won't tell me where Dad is, I'll have to find someone who will.

I've been watching that goal Theo Baines scored over and over again.

-The overhead kick?

-Yeah.

Look! He's crying!

-BAD SCOTTISH ACCENT:

-I'm trying to track doon Ian Reacher!

He told Hansard where he could shove his team and ran off in tears.

What, not going to bottle it, are you?

I don't suppose seeing you kissing your new fancy man

in broad daylight helped matters!

I won't rest until I've found my dad.

I just left him in the pub four minutes ago.

-MUM:

-'You're never here, Ian!

'And when you are, it's like you're somewhere else.

-DAD:

-'All I get is grief when I come home,

'grief about being a rubbish husband, grief about Jamie.

'Is it any wonder I don't want to be here with you?'

No. Obviously, he hasn't taken his phone with him,

he's left it here, otherwise I'd be able to ring it.

Look, I don't make a habit out of calling the police!

DOORBELL RINGS

Let me get this straight.

You're saying this whole thing is down to you.

And it didn't occur to you that some things are best left alone,

that there might have been a reason

why I didn't help Jamie find his dad?

A fine pair of friends you are, I must say(!)

Karen, love, the boy was just trying to help. Don't be too hard on them.

It took guts to come.

-SHE SIGHS

-Yeah.

You're right, Dad.

I'm sorry.

And at least now we know which haystack

we're looking for our needle in.

That must be an interesting ticket.

Don't you have a home to go to, mate? Family?

-TANNOY:

-'The next train from platform one

'is the 18:50 to London King's Cross.'

Yeah. Thanks, Jez. I really appreciate your help.

Yeah. Soon as you can.

Oh, what, Dad? He's got a car!

I'm just saying, isn't this Jeremy part of the problem?

I mean, what's Jamie going to think

if you turn up in your new fella's car?

Look, Dad, it's going to be dark soon!

I'll take any help I can get!

DOOR SLAMS

Jamie?

Jamie!

Jamie?

-Go away.

-We've been worried sick!

Where have you been?

Why did you lie? Why didn't you tell me about Dad?

Look...

-Jamie, there's a lot you don't understand.

-What?

You were so horrible to him, nagging him all the time?

-And he ran off with someone else?

-Cool it, Jamie!

And you can shut up, as well. Dad knew you hated him.

You did everything you could to help Mum push him out the door.

DOOR OPENS

I thought you had my back.

DOOR CLOSES

He needs to know.

-So, what did the text say?

-Just that he was back.

I sent him a happy face and he sent me three sad faces back.

Jamie doesn't do emojis. This is serious.

But the good news is I've had a brilliant plan to cheer Jamie up.

We're going to get him onto that team.

You're the smartest boy I know, but not even you can perform miracles.

Who needs miracles?

I have guile, cunning, and I'm an expert tactician.

# I... Oh, come on

# We got our backs to the wall

# Get on

# And watch out... #

KNOCK ON DOOR

Your friend Jack's downstairs.

Look...

..we need to talk.

No. We don't.

MUSIC: Green Onions by Booker T and the MG's

So, in conclusion, Mr Hansard, you've got pace,

you've got skill and you've got an average of two goals per match.

Statistics show that any team with Jamie on

has a 44% higher chance of winning.

Are you a man willing to laugh in the face of statistics?

Are you?!

You should swallow your pride, Jamie.

Show him how much being on the team really means to you. Apologise.

Apologise for what?

Being a world-class loser?

Grandad said he wouldn't have you on t'team

if you were t'last player in school.

Coming from the kid who only got on the team cos his grandad's coach.

Shut up!

Nice tracksuit, mate(!) Got your leotard under there, have you?

Leotards are for ballet, you ignoramus.

Huh!

One dance recital and you're pigeonholed in this place!

-What ARE you wearing, though, Boggie?

-It's my coaching outfit.

We need to get you in shape ready for selection.

You heard what Harry said. I might as well just pack it in now.

And is that what Liverpool said to themselves

in the 2005 Champions League finals?

3-0 down and not a goal in sight?

Did they give up and run for the tunnel? No, they did not.

They dug deep and they believed in themselves, and they clawed

back those goals one by one and they beat the opposition on penalties.

In football, anything is possible...

if you believe.

What?!

I read!

Now get playing! There's only ten minutes till bell!

-FAR-OFF VOICE:

-Jamie?

Jamie?

Jamie? Think. You know what you need to do.

Sir?

I just wanted to say I'm sorry about yesterday.

If you give me another chance, I promise I'll try and behave.

-HE CHUCKLES

-You'll "try and behave"?

Well, I'm afraid you're going to have to do

a bit better than that to convince me to change my mind.

I know you think I'm gobby, that I'm just out for myself,

but I'm not like that.

Not all the time, anyway.

I'll do anything to prove I can be a team player,

any job you like.

I'll even clean Dillon's boots if it means you give me a second chance.

Anything?

And is it true what Bogson tells me about scoring three hat-tricks

in three successive matches?

Yeah. End of season last year.

Hm...

BELL RINGS

Please, sir! You've got to give me one more chance.

Some people will just not be told. Watch your back Friday.

Jamie! Have you seen? We're in the squad.

You're joking.

I don't know what you said to Hansard, Boggy, but it worked.

Yeah, the man was like putty in my hands.

Your grandad's going to be made up when you tell him.

-That's if he's still speaking to me.

-Why wouldn't he?

Er, how about I shouted in his face and stole his money?

I'm not sure even I can help you with that one, my friend.

All right, Mike?

You do know it wasn't my place to tell you about your dad?

Your mum asked me not to.

I know.

She's not had an easy time of all this, Jamie.

Now all she wants to do is talk. She's sorry, I get it.

Your dad leaving...

..it's a bit like when a manager gets too ambitious, overspends,

gets the club into trouble then swans off into the sunset.

Basically, they're up the creek without a paddle.

But your mum...

..she's the safe pair of hands, the caretaker manager.

Don't be too hard on her. Parents aren't perfect, far from it.

But she does her best.

And she loves you.

It was something stupid.

Mike?

I took some money. I'm sorry.

I didn't think you'd give it me if I asked.

I can't say I wasn't disappointed,

but I knew you must have had a reason.

I thought my dad was in trouble. I thought he needed me.

But I'm the muppet, aren't I?

The good news is...

..I've got a whole list of chores for you to do to pay me back...

starting with that little lot of lovelies.

You can start on Friday, after school.

It'll have to be Saturday, Mike, cos I made the squad!

MIKE LAUGHS

Why didn't you say so before? Come on, we've got training to do!

# We'll dance if they wanna dance Please, brother, take a chance

# You know they're gonna go... #

Yeah, if we're serious about doing this overhead kick,

we need to do the basics, yeah?

Use your legs. Come on!

First time.

Whoa, yeah!

DOOR OPENS

Mike told me about you being in the squad.

It's fantastic.

I'm glad the coach has given you another chance, anyway.

-Jamie, can we...talk?

-Do we have to?

-Look...

-I know you were upset about what you saw.

-I get it, Mum!

Dad had an affair. He left. We don't have to keep talking about it.

Yes, we do, Jamie! Because we haven't talked.

Because there's stuff I haven't told you.

-Did you actually speak to your dad?

-No. He was busy.

So, you know how your dad was always working away...

..how half the time he wasn't even there?

Well...

the truth is...

there were two of us. Two families.

And the woman...

Well, I suppose she's a bit like me.

A wife. I mean...

they aren't married or anything, but they've been together a long time.

And, er...

there's a boy, Jamie.

And he's your dad's son, too.

He's your brother.

I have a brother? That boy? He's my brother?

But he's, like, six years old.

Like I said, it's been going on a long time.

Does he know about me?

No.

Your dad kept us a secret...

..just like he kept them a secret...

..until I found out.

I told him he had to make a choice.

So this is all your fault? Him leaving?

If you hadn't have made him choose, they wouldn't have won?

No, but they haven't won.

Well, I don't see my dad anywhere round here, do you?

Will you listen to yourself?

We both deserve better than that, better than living a lie.

Having half a husband? Half a dad?

I'd rather have half a dad than no dad at all!

But we've still got each other. You know, we're still a team.

I don't want to be in some rubbish team of two.

DOOR OPENS

My new kit's all laid out.

When did she do this?

Earlier.

She told me to tell you...

..she'll see you at the game tomorrow.

She'll be coming straight from work.

She also said...

..she's sorry you two fell out...

..but she'll be there for you whatever.

Jamie! Coach told me to give you this. You're on the bench.

Cos that's where he thinks you'll have the most impact!

How's it feel to have a girl make the team and you can't even get on?

Try not to embarrass us, Marshall.

We're already a laughing stock cos of you.

You deserve your place, Jack.

Don't let those muppets tell you any different.

Jamie! Jack! What do you think?

I designed it myself.

ALL CHANT

WHISTLE BLOWS

Come on, Harry, mate, keep the ball.

Get into space, Harry!

Harry, hold the ball. Harry, the...

Communicate!

Come on!

Oh, lovely save, Marshall. Well done.

Pull back!

Come on, Harry, focus. Pay attention, now.

Harry, Harry!

Oh, don't let him pass it!

Mark him!

Foul, ref!

Foul, ref, foul!

WHISTLE BLOWS

It's a foul! Oh, come on, ref!

You're a liability, Marshall.

What about some protection, then? You're supposed to back me up.

Girls!

Call yourself a captain!

Never mind, Jack, never mind.

You own that. You own that area. All right?

Want to prove yourself? This is your chance.

Your one chance.

Come on, Jamie!

Harry? Sorry, mate. Not your day today.

Good lad, come on.

Go for it, Jamie...

Represent, Kingsmount!

Come on, Jamie, let's go, let's go.

WHISTLE BLOWS

Ref!

Come on, lads, come on. It's not over until it's over.

Come on, Jack, route one.

Go on, go on!

Oh, yeah!

Goal!

Come on. Focus.

We can take 'em.

Come on, Jamie. Let's go, Kingsmount.

Bring it... There's a man on.

Oh, good ball. Come on.

Come on, Jamie!

Come on, Jamie!

Come on...

Keep going!

Go on, shoot!

Come on, you're one on one! You're one on one! Come on!

Shoot!

Shoot it!

Oh, Dad...

Mum!

Can you hear me? Can you hear me?

Look, it's the boy's dad. He's coming over.

-Jamie? Let me introduce you to Tony.

-Hiya.

Your grandad tells me you're the ones I've got to thank.

Quick thinking, quick treatment. It could have made all the difference.

Excellent teamwork, you two.

Look, er, I've got to follow him down to the hospital,

-but I just wanted to ask, are you a Hawkstone fan?

-Are you kidding?

He was born in a Hawkstone shirt.

Yeah? We're a mascot down for the home game Friday night.

Do you fancy it?

What? How are you going to sort that?

I'm the new chairman, Jamie. It's all very hush-hush.

Anyway, are you in?

-Thank you!

-Give me some skin, man.

-Wow, Jamie! That means you're going to take pens against Tibbs.

-Yesss!

You must think it worked out sweet for you.

But Leon Tibbs is going to show you up

for the pathetic little maggot you are.

Think you're lucky being a mascot? No-one's ever got one past Tibbs!

He's all superstitious about it.

He said he'll do anything to stop you from scoring.

Beat up one kid who tried.

In the tunnel, after the game, when no-one was looking...

I'll worry about that after I score.

And do you know what the best bit is?

We'll all be there to see you fail.

Don't worry about getting one past Tibbs.

The best players in the Premier League can't get one past him.

Being a mascot isn't about scoring, anyway.

It's about you stepping out onto that beautiful pitch,

feeling its magic.

It's about you...

..getting a taste of your future.

You know, Jamie...

..you may be a Reacher in name, but...

..you're a Johnson through and through.

MIKE LAUGHS HAPPILY

-JACK:

-Wait for us, Jamie!

Kingsmount! Kingsmount! Kingsmount!

So, are you OK with everything?

You know, your dad and that?

You can't keep a player who wants to be sold,

cos their heart's not in it.

And, you know...

even when you lose your best player, you can

still end up with an even stronger team.

-Mum, leave the football to me and Mike, will you?

-Cheeky!

-Stop it!

-SHE LAUGHS

CROWD CHEERS

-TANNOY:

-'And a warm welcome to Hawkstone United for the first game'

of what promises to be a hugely entertaining season.

CHEERING

-Come on, you whites!

-Come on, Jamie!

'We have a new chairman, announced this morning,

'the one and only Tony Walsh,

'and our first-ever keeper captain, Hawkstone legend Leon Tibbs.'

Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! Whoo!

'Tonight's mascot is Jamie Reacher, 11 years old

'and a massive Hawks fan, chosen by the new chairman himself

'after witnessing an act of heroics and courage.

'And Jamie's going to need all the courage that he can muster

'to face Tibbs. Best clean-sheet record in the Premiership.

'I interviewed Tibbs after the warm-up,

'and he said he had no intention

'of letting the unbroken run come to an end.

'I wouldn't want to face him tonight!'

Would you? Good luck, Jamie.

'And here we go, ladies and gentlemen.'

-Ow!

-Sorry.

Come on, Jamie.

WHISTLE BLOWS

'That was way off!

'First-time nerves, maybe.'

I can't watch!

Come on, then!

Come on, love. Come on, love. Come on.

There's no way he's going to get this.

WHISTLE BLOWS

'A fantastic save from Tibbs there!

'Hard luck, Jamie. A promising talent there, folks.

'Let's give him a round of applause, eh?'

He's an embarrassment.

Is that all you've got?

-Pathetic!

-HE LAUGHS

No-one beats Leon Tibbs.

'Wait a minute! It seems the boy's not finished.'

-MR HANSARD:

-'Come on, son, show me what you got.

'Here's your chance.'

-GARY LINEKER:

-'Jamie, think. You know what you need to do.'

'What else has he got in his locker?'

He's not...?

He is.

-MIKE:

-'It's about you getting a taste of your future.'

'What impudence!

'Well, Tibbs didn't see that coming. Incredible!'

That's my friend out there!

'I don't think... I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it.'

What about that, everyone? Jamie Reacher. How does it feel, Jamie?

Mint! But you got one thing wrong. My name.

My name is Jamie Johnson.

MUSIC: Hammer To Fall by Queen

# Here we stand and here we fall

# History won't care at all

# Make the bed, light the light

# Lady Mercy won't be home tonight

# Yeah, you don't waste no time at all... #