Santiago.
Get your things.
Now.
Quickly.
What are you waiting for?
Halt.
Remain where you are.
This is the United States border patrol.
Remain where you are.
Santiago.
Leave the ball.
Leave the stupid ball. Come on.
This is the United States border patrol.
Los Angeles, ten years Iater
Santiago.
Stop goofing off.
Load up the truck.
Right now.
He's so hot.
Santiago, where have you been?
We're already one down.
Only one?
How's the diet going?
What are you doing?
I don't want anybody hurt.
No shin pads, no game. Get off.
See you.
Hey.
How did you do? You play well?
Well, we won 4-2. Scored a couple. Should have got another one.
In Spanish.
What's the deal with Dad?
He wants to buy a truck of his own.
Why?
So you can work for yourselves.
Munez and son, eh?
That's what he wants for us?
- There's always plan B. - Which one is that?
The American Dream. We win the Iottery.
What happened?
He wants too much.
Too bad.
You have to eat something.
Hey.
Hey, boss. I've been a busboy now for six months. Why can't I be a waiter?
This Chinese restaurant. You're not Chinese.
So? This is America. You're American, I'm American.
- You have green card? - If I had one, could I be a waiter?
No. You're not Chinese.
Tommy. Hold your position.
Tommy, you're supposed to be on the wing.
It's not the Cup Final. He's seven years old.
You're never too young, Val.
To be honest, I don't think Tom's that into soccer.
That's b... Oh.
Go.
- Hey. Watch out. - Go on, Tom.
Thanks.
- He's quite a player. - Yes, he is.
- Did you teach him to do that? - God taught him.
He doesn't Iook right. His balance is all wrong.
Doesn't Iook up enough.
Doesn't Iift his Iegs high enough.
That's what all the other teams think.
Then that happens.
Well played, son.
Do you ever play professional?
Well... pro teams go for college kids and... none of us went to college.
- When's your next game? - Saturday.
There's someone I bumped into on the plane on the way over here.
I want him to see you play. He's a sports agent.
I'm serious. I think you're worth it, son.
Listen, no offence, but I need to get to work.
I used to play a bit myself.
- Yeah? Where? - England.
I was a scout too. I knowwhat I'm talking about.
- England? - What's your name, son?
- Santiago Munez. - GIen Foy.
I'II see you Saturday, Santiago.
Man.
Movie stars have agents.
What's an agent supposed to do with you?
Do you know something?
Your boy's really good. He could be a star.
Don't you get it?
There are two types of people in this world.
Those that Iive in big houses
and people Iike us,
who cut their Iawns and wash their cars.
That could change if I become a professional player.
What are you saying?
You play in a park with a bunch of guys
who work in a car wash.
I don't know. Meet this guy and everything could change. For the better.
I know how to make things better.
We buy a truck. We make our own business.
The rest is rubbish.
Another beer.
Baseball, tennis, soccer, basketball. AII at the touch of a button.
Experience the thrill of the game from the comfort of your home environment.
- Barry, is this a good moment? - No time Iike the present.
So he's a young Mexican kid from the barrio.
He dazzled me, I tell you, Barry. As you know, I don't dazzle easily.
The Iast time was a young kid called Jermain Defoe.
- I'd rather not talk about that, GIen. - So he's playing on Saturday afternoon.
Some college downtown.
Right, tell me exactly where it is and I'II be there 1 1 0%.
- GIad to hear it. - Oh, hello, now.
Why don't you knock yourself out and help yourself to finger food?
Probably don't do sashimi in Gateshead, do they, mate?
See you Iater. Yes, bruv.
- Would you Iike some sashimi? - I'm in LA.
Whoo. Come on, Santiago.
Come on. Back.
Val, Iet me use your phone.
Yo.
GIen, GIen. Mate.
GIen, I'm not a dickhead, I didn't forget. No.
I'm in a business meeting, bruv. I'm in a meeting. I'm in a meeting all morning.
Yeah, sorry, Iisten, mate. Do us a favour. Can you send me a tape of your boy?
GIen, GIen. GI...
Pillock.
Goal. Yes.
Yeah. Come on. Come on.
Hey, Grandma.
Santiago, well played, son. Well done.
Thank you, thank you. This is my Iittle brother.
- Hello, how are you? PIeased to meet you. - And this is my grandma.
- This is my daughter Val. - Hi.
So you are the agent?
No, no, no, no. This man arranged for the agent to come.
And he didn't, I'm afraid. He's... you know, he's too busy.
So he'II come to the next game?
No, no, I'm afraid he can't.
He's flying back to England tomorrow. So am I.
Look at that. Maybe the old man is right.
You dare to dream, get screwed.
Thanks anyway.
- Hello. Who is this? - This is GIen Foy.
GIen Foy? Do I know you, Mr Foy?
Uh... Well, I was one of your scouts when you first took over.
You fired me, actually. Well, you brought in the new regime. I don't hold it against you.
Oh, you don't? So why are you calling me at half past three in the morning?
Sorry. I'm in California.
I've just seen a young player. I think he's a remarkable talent.
- Who does he play for? - Oh, just Iocal Ieague. Kickabout stuff.
The point is, I'm on a plane home tomorrow and I want you to make me a promise.
If he turns up on your doorstep, will you see him?
- You want me to promise you this, right? - Aye.
Just give him a run out. That's all I'm asking.
If I say yes, can I go back to sleep?
Yes, Mr Dornhelm.
Then yes, Mr Foy.
- Santiago. - Hey.
- How are you doing? - Fine, thank you. Why are you here?
Your coach told me where to find you.
Who's this?
The man from England who watched me play football.
If you get yourself to England, Newcastle United will give you a trial.
Newcastle United?
- That's a big club. - A very big club.
What is this bullshit?
You think you are going to play football in England?
He thinks I'm good enough.
Why you fill him with ideas Iike this?
Who the hell do you think you are?
And you. Why don't you keep your feet on the ground instead of your head in the sky?
It's a big thing you ask, se?or.
He's supposed to fly halfway across the world on something you say?
The manager's made me a promise. He'II give him a trial. The rest is up to him.
- Look in my eyes and answer me this. - Grandma.
Can Santi make it as a professional?
Aye, I believe he can.
Dad. We've gotta go. If the freeway's busy, you're gonna miss your flight.
Here's my card. It's all my numbers.
Think about it. Give me a ring.
It's good to meet you.
Good to see you.
You got enough?
- Enough what? - Everyone knows the money's in the boot.
So are you going?
- Grandma thinks I should. - What does Dad think?
I haven't asked him.
How far away is England?
Right now?
400 bucks too far.
Go back to sleep.
Now.
There?
Thanks.
How could you do this, Dad?
I paid 4500 for the truck.
I took 1 200 of yours,
but I'm giving you half the business.
That's a good deal.
You stole that money.
Stay out of this, Mother.
You knewwhat it was for.
- Two more weeks and I have enough. - For what?
To chase a stupid dream?
Big-time ballplayer in England. Come on. It's bullshit.
And when you fail, how are you gonna come back with no papers?
One chance, and you think I should just give it up for what you do?
What I do is take care of my family.
In Mexico, I work construction. At night, I clean up in a brothel.
But I save enough to bring us to America.
And when your mother walk out on us... No. When she walk out,
- I hold this family together. - Leave her out of this.
I make enough for this house and nowwe have our own business.
That's how things get better. That's how you measure a man's Iife.
It's your Iife.
Not mine.
Gavin.
Gavin. Gavin.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is a very good day for the club.
Gavin is a very gifted player
and should fit in very well with our set-up here at St James' Park.
I'm very pleased to present him... with this.
Winning the Ieague's out of sight, Erik.
What are your realistic goals for the rest of the season?
Finishing in the first four and qualifying for Europe. It's essential for a club Iike this.
To do that, you're gonna have to take maximum points from your next games.
Look, the club has had some problems Iately, yeah.
But...
I'm here now, yeah.
And I'm not in it for fame or money or anything Iike that.
I Iike to win matches.
So maximum points shouldn't be a problem.
Eh, boss?
Where's your father?
He's gone to get a part for the truck.
Good.
He doesn't have to hear this.
Train ticket to San Diego.
Bus ticket to Mexico City.
Mexico City?
Yes.
You can't fly to London from Los Angeles.
You're illegal.
This is your ticket.
It's dated one week from now.
Grandma, how did you pay for this?
I've worked all my Iife. I have savings.
What did you sell?
What did you hock?
OId things, from the past.
So now do I get a room to myself?
Come here.
Who's gonna help with your homework? You won't do it.
He'II do it.
Take a shower before you Ieave. You smell real bad.
- Am I Ieaving tonight? - Sure.
Before your father gets home.
When your mother walked out on us,
I promised God I'd do everything to help you boys follow your dreams.
You deserve this chance, Santiago.
Take it.
Passengers making connecting flights from Mexico
should proceed to gate 1 4.
- Purpose of your visit? - Excuse me?
- Business or pleasure? - Business.
I play... I play soccer... football.
I hope to. For Newcastle United.
One moment.
This young man wants to play for your team, Mr Henderson.
Newcastle?
Yes, sir.
Need all the help we can get.
GIen. Phone.
Hello.
Who?
Santiago.
You're in England? Where?
Uh... Somewhere in London.
So, GIen...
how do I get to Newcastle?
Hey. How's it going?
Why didn't you call me from LA? Let me know you were coming?
- Is it OK that I'm here? - Oh, no. No, it's fine.
Just caught me a bit off guard, that's all.
Well, you'd best stay with me till you get settled.
- OK. - Welcome to the Toon.
- What is that? - It's where the Geordies Iive.
- What is a Geordie? - Someone that Iives in the Toon.
You've a Iot to Iearn, bonny Iad.
You mean toons, Iike Looney Tunes and stuff? Like Bugs Bunny?
Thank you.
- You Iive here alone? - Aye.
Well, my daughter you met.
- Do you have a wife? - She died a couple of years ago - cancer.
I'm sorry.
My grandma...
She sent you this.
Oh, it's...
She has it since she's a Iittle girl.
I'm not much of a Catholic, mind.
She thinks you're a good man, so...
Santiago, your dinner's ready.
Santiago.
I thought you worked in football.
Not any more. I was finished a while back, Iike some of these cars.
- You fix 'em? - Aye, I fix them, restore them.
Listen, there'II not be anyone at the club till ten o'clock.
So why don't you get yourself something to eat? Some breakfast or something?
- Yeah. - Do you have any money?
No. But I'm OK.
- No, I can't. - It's OK.
Take it. Turn right.
Just for now.
Here, mate, watch the ball.
Oh, no.
Hey, mister, can we have wor ball back?
- Quite tasty. - Aye, if you work in a circus.
- I'm done. Sorry. Here. - Nice one.
I hear some players have a problem with Gavin Harris.
- Divvent Iike his attitude. - Aye.
Well, three clubs in five years should tell you something.
I think he's better playing on the inside.
If he's in a mood, he gets Iost out wide.
Aye, right enough, Iike.
What are you Iooking at?
Sorry, but you're talking about soccer, right?
- No. - Football?
Oh, aye. Yeah. That's all there is to talk about.
- Where are you from, son? - Los Angeles.
Oh, aye? You know Charlize Theron? She's a cracker, Iike.
- What are you doing up here? - I have a tryout for Newcastle United.
- A trial, Iike? Howay. - Are you serious, Iad?
Yeah, yeah. Maybe today, actually.
You wanna Iay off the black pudding, son.
- What is it exactly? - You don't want to know.
Football's a religion here. London has any number of teams, same in the Midlands.
Manchester, you've got two, Liverpool, you've got two, GIasgow's got two.
Up here, though, it's just the Toon.
There she is.
- Is that the manager? - Erik Dornhelm. Mr Dornhelm.
He can be intimidating. Look him in the eye.
I don't think my Iook will make a difference.
- It'II be my feet. - Mr Dornhelm, excuse me. GIen Foy.
This is the young man I was telling you about.
- Hi. - He's from Los Angeles.
Santiago Munez.
When was this?
When I phoned you in the middle of the night.
You promised to give him a trial.
Yes. One minute, please.
Like that? Score a hat trick, you can have it.
I'm sure you have a watch and I'm absolutely sure it's an expensive one.
What time does it say?
Sorry, boss. I was dropping a shirt off for a sick kid in hospital.
The PR people should have had a camera. Would have been a really good photo op.
That, I think, is bullshit. There are six journalists inside, waiting for 1 5 minutes.
Get in there.
- And today, you train with the reserves. - Oh, f...
- Where do you play? - Los Angeles.
I meant position.
Yeah. For my team, I play up front, but I prefer midfield.
That way, I see more of the ball.
Get him over to the training ground. Let's see what he's got.
Will do. Thank you very much.
Hey, I'II be around.
Oh, you're there. How are you feeling, son?
- OK. - Good. Mal Braithwaite. CIub coach.
I've been a friend of GIen's since he played here, so I'm on your side.
- AII right? - Yeah. Thank you, sir.
I'm not a sir. I'm a coach.
Sir is the gaffer. That's who's gonna be watching you today, all right? Fit?
- Yeah. - Good. Let's go.
Come on. It'II be fine.
Yeah.
- Come on. - Get up the field.
- Behind you. - Keep moving it.
Put it square.
Son.
I want you midfield, on the right. OK?
- Gavin... You knowwho Gavin is? - No.
- SIot in behind him there. - OK.
That's the fella. OK?
- Get Adie off. - Adie. Come off.
OK, pal. Swap bibs with him. Do your best.
Hey, Mal. Mal. Who's the muppet?
He's from Mexico. Be gentle, son.
Yeah, I'II Iook after him.
Hey, yo. Hey, yo. Yo.
That's it, Phil.
- How are you, Mal? Bobby, how are you? - AII right, boss?
Franny, bring the kid into the game.
Look at me.
Here. Yo, yo.
Oh, fuck.
- What? A bit Iouder, please. - Oh, come on.
Here.
AII right. Let me call you back.
Let the kid take it.
Go on. Have a go.
Face up. How many?
Adios, amigo.
Santiago.
Get yourself a shower.
I don't know, GIen.
My Iegs wouldn't do what my brain was telling them.
I'II be better tomorrow. I promise.
There's not gonna be a tomorrow, Santiago.
Get in the car.
You know, my father believes people have a place in Iife.
You work, you feed your family.
You die.
And it's foolish to think otherwise.
- Excuse me, sir... - I had a word with the fellow on the door.
He said I could come in and just Iook for someone. I won't be a second.
Mr Dornhelm. GIen Foy from this morning.
Listen, I'm sorry to interrupt the proceedings.
Have I missed all the boring speeches?
I'm making one of the "boring" speeches. This distraction is not welcome.
Well, if you'd answered my calls, I wouldn't be here.
- What do you want? - Listen, this kid, Santiago Munez.
- Would you Iike to sit here? - Sure. Thanks.
Listen, he's grown up in poverty and hardship
and his only way out is his skill with the ball.
He's flown 6,000 miles on my say-so.
He's jet-Iagged. He's nervous.
You know, he's never seen mud before and you put him on a pitch Iike that.
And then you spend the whole time on your mobile.
- I saw him flat on his ass most of the time. - Yet there was one moment of magic.
When he took the ball on the bounce.
- Turned Magowan. Took it down. - I saw it.
Looks good. Hear they do you well here.
Listen, when I was a scout,
I used to spend the whole time, on muddy days,
watching young Iads clogging the shite out of each other,
and just once in a while, there'd be one that'd come along and Iift your heart.
Like this Iad.
Just give him a month.
Ah, so you found all my yesterdays?
I was just Iooking.
My wife made this scrapbook.
You never told me you were a major-Ieague player.
Aye. Well, not for as Iong as I'd have Iiked.
- Why? - Got an injury. Did my knee in.
Look at that. Shorts were shorter, hair was Ionger.
Didn't make ¡ê8 million a year, either.
- But you were still heroes. - Oh, aye.
Footballers have always been heroes, even in my father's day, earning ¡ê8 a week
and working down the mine at the same time.
- There you go. - No, I can't accept it. It's too special.
I'm not giving it to you. Just try it on.
I want to see what you Iook Iike in the black and white.
- What's the point? - What's the point?
Well, you've got a month's trial.
Better phone your granny again.
Right, Iisten up, you Iot. This is Santiago Munez. He's from Mexico.
- No. Los Angeles. - Los Angeles. Whatever.
Before this day's done, I want you to Iet him knowwho you are.
OK. Right, Iet's get to it.
Push it hard. Hard.
Nice one, Franny. Nice work. Come on.
1 5.
1 6.
1 7.
Come on, Santiago.
- Santi, I've been to Mexico once. - Did you Iike it?
Gave me the shits for a week.
One day, son.
But not today. Come on, move.
Thank you.
- Do you want to sit down, please? - OK.
- It may be a Iittle high. - Why's that?
Well, 'cause you are so close and you smell nice.
It's normal.
- Are you the club doctor? - No, I'm his nurse. He'II examine you soon.
- Did you fill in the paperwork? - Yeah.
Just a couple of words I didn't understand.
OK. Like what?
Like this one here.
That's "cardiovascular". It means "heart problems".
Oh. No. No.
And how about that one?
"Respiratory" - do you have any problems with your Iungs or breathing?
Do you?
No.
Do you wanna step on the scales?
Right.
- What's your name? - Nurse Harmison.
- I mean your first name. - You don't need to know that.
You don't need to knowwhere I Iive, what my star sign is,
or what I'm doing on Saturday night.
- I'm gonna have to take blood. - Oh, man. Really? I don't Iike needles.
But you have a tattoo, or is that a rub-on transfer?
- That was a gang thing. - You were in a gang?
Not any more.
There's only three ways to get out of a gang - you get shot, you go to jail, or...
In my case, you have a grandmother who kicks some sense into you.
Sorry, tough guy.
- What's your problem? - Problem? What problem?
- Come on. - Ignore him. He's a tit.
- Walk away. - He's a knobhead. Laughing at you, mate.
- He's a knobhead, mate. - Hey, forget him.
- Knobhead? Knobhead? - Come on. Let's get a game going.
- How Iong did they give you? - A month.
A month?
That's not Iong. At Ieast I got six.
I was with Tranmere Rovers before this.
They signed me from school when I was 1 4.
- How's it going? - Early days.
That's Gavin Harris. They just signed him for ¡ê8 million.
Dining with the bum-bandit today, are we, Jamie?
Hughie Magowan's 33. Unless every other centre back in the squad breaks his Ieg,
- he'II not play for the first team again. - Why be so pissed with me?
Well, you're the new kid on the block, son. You've got something he never had - flair.
FIair?
Aye.
You know, most players, myself included, they play within themselves.
They play to their strengths so they don't expose their weaknesses.
The great players, the ones with flair, they take risks,
because they don't believe they're risks. Put your coat down here.
Three and in. You're in.
AII righty.
They control the ball, the ball doesn't control them.
Here.
Look at this. Two jackets and a ball. It's all you need.
Finished with that, son?
Yeah.
Sorry. Sorry.
Santi.
There you go.
Hey, Iisten. I could show you the town if you Iike.
Tonight. Go clubbing.
Bevvy. Women.
Yeah. Uh... Do I need an ID or something?
- ID? - Yeah.
- Identification? - Yeah.
How old do you have to be here to get a drink?
EIeven.
AII right, Gavin.
Listen, mate, if you want an autograph, write to the club, you muppet.
Listen, EIvis, I'm with the club too. Mate, I'm with the club too, you know.
I've never seen you before.
I don't go out much.
Hey. Hey. Nurse Harmison. Nurse Harmison.
- Hi. - You wanna come into this club with us?
No way. It's full of posers, that place.
- Yeah? Where are you going? - We're going to The Spyglass.
- What do you say? - Yeah, yeah.
Here we go, here we go.
Canny wine, this Rioja. It's from your part of the world, isn't it? Spain.
- No, I'm from LA. - I'm from Merseyside.
LA? And Merseyside? What are you two doing up here?
- Well... - We play for Newcastle.
I thought you said players were off Iimits.
Relax. They haven't made the reserves yet.
Well, as Iong as you're mired in mediocrity, pet, you're in with a chance.
I'm sorry, but I don't knowwhat that means.
It means don't change. Don't become something you're not.
Well, my Iife's already changed, just by being here.
I grew up on a council estate with a dad on the dole and a mum on the booze.
Change is fine with me.
I remember you now.
- You're the one with the toe. - What?
You had fungus behind your big toenail.
- What? Did you have to mention that? - Oh, man.
I guess in your job, you must see the whole team naked?
- I knowwhat you're gonna say. - I'm not gonna ask who has the biggest.
- OK, what were you gonna ask? - Who has the smallest?
It must be you, because she cannot tell us.
- Go on. Come on. - Mark him, mark him.
Space, hit space.
Stick with him.
- Remember what I told you. - Here. Here.
OK, pass. Pass the ball.
Pass it.
Why didn't you pass the ball, man?
Hey, Mal.
Munez.
Come here.
Hey, Iads. Over here. Come on. Gather round.
Hey, Mal. Give me five minutes.
- OK, boss. - Thank you.
So when I say go, I want you to run as fast as you can to the goal.
- OK? - Yeah.
Go.
Come back.
Again. Go.
What did you Iearn?
- That you can score from halfway. - No.
That the ball can travel faster than you.
Here, we pass the ball. You understand that?
We're a unit, not a one-man show.
The name on the front of the shirt is more important than the one on the back.
- OK? - Yeah.
- Santi. - Hey.
This is the final countdown for Newcastle Utd.
Only three games Ieft this season, and to qualify for Europe
in the Champions League, and all the riches that go with that,
they'II have to win them all - starting today.
Oh, man.
Never an easy team to beat, Chelsea.
- Well-coached, well-drilled. - They certainly are.
The game, yeah.
I'm with Gavin's girlfriend. I'II call you back.
Lads.
Toon, Toon. BIack and white army.
How's that possible?
For all their possession, you have to say
Newcastle haven't yet created one clear-cut chance.
- He's fading. - Aye.
By a brilliant sense of positional play, he's avoided contact with the ball.
- Well, maybe he's playing hurt. - No, he's hungover.
- Right, get him off. - Shola.
Now, this Iooks quite bad for Newcastle. The Iast thing they need is another injury.
They've already got several walking wounded out there.
Number ten off, mate. Free kicks and get far post at corners.
Wait a second. It's Gavin Harris who's coming off.
What? Me?
He's taking Gavin off. What the hell is he thinking about?
What are you thinking about, you German twat?
Substitution for Newcastle United.
- What are you doing? - Sit down.
Only five minutes Ieft to play. Still no score.
Chelsea still have the upper hand.
Goal. They've got one at Iast.