Rollerball

Good evening, everyone,

and welcome to Houston, the Energy City,

home of the defending Rollerball World Champions.

This key international battle pits divisional champions, visiting Madrid,

against powerful Houston.

And here they come for a standing ovation.

On the track comes Houston.

Houston, led by captain Jonathan E.,

again their leading scorer this year.

Jonathan! Jonathan!

Okay, right there. Let's go.

The controller indicates that he is ready,

and our 30 Multivision cameras will be bringing you

all the speed, thrills and excitement of this critical game.

Ladies and gentlemen, our corporate anthem.

The controller tests his computerized equipment,

readies for the start of game action.

The traditional firing of the test ball will signal we're about set to go.

The controller for tonight's game,

D.A. Niehaus.

The officials have given their approval for play. Each team...

Come on, man.

And now the crowd cheers once again

as this Houston audience greets its team led by the storied athlete Jonathan E.

Corral's gonna break off.

Okay, boys! Okay.

Houston! Houston!

Now the play-by-play. Here's RD.

The computer counts down, one second, the ball...

First period is underway here in Houston tonight.

The first team to pick up the ball will be on offense as they try for the score.

And it's a pickup by Houston. It's picked up by BJ.

Yay!

BJ moves it around the track.

He'll try to maneuver for the leading score...

Go on, go on.

Watch it!

Jonathan E. holds the ball aloft.

He must hold it out in plain view at all times.

Pick them up! Pick them up!

I got them! I got it!

On your right! On your right! Now, baby!

Jonathan moves up the track and up on to the side.

Here comes Sanchez for Madrid.

Sanchez grabs Jonathan from behind,

but off the rail comes Moonpie

and takes out four Madrid men.

The old swooper, Moonpie, with his favorite maneuver,

made a move from the top of the rail and took out four Madrid men.

The remaining Madrid skaters set up their defense in front of the goal.

Jonathan still has the ball.

Moving in, he'll try to cover the slot, and surely does!

Jonathan in front, shoots, and it's just wide!

Regroup!

The Houston team will have to regroup.

Injured on the play is Belmonte, and he's helped off the track for Madrid.

First period, no score, as we get set for the firing of the second ball.

Oh, and it hits the biker Carter!

Knocks Carter down...

Give me a hand. Move out!

Come on, look alive!

Jonathan is there, it is handed off,

the pass is complete to Jonathan.

He skates by and knocks him down again!

Did you see that penalty?

And the officials look this over...

Keep up, keep up.

Moon, on your left. On your left.

Right, right, right. I got him!

Break it up! Break it up!

Go, Jonathan, go!

Here comes Houston for the first goal of the game.

He shoots, he scores!

Yeah!

And at the end of the first period,

Jonathan's goal gives Houston

a one-to-nothing lead over Madrid.

Houston goal scored by Jonathan E.

The time, first period, 12 minutes.

The ball is fired for the start of the second period.

Madrid trailing by one goal,

trying to go on offense to tie the score.

Go, Madrid!

Watch your left!

Who did it?

Coming around the track...

Come on, Madrid, come on.

Inside of the bike, he skates up in front.

Gonzales still has it for Madrid.

Hands off again, this time to Bodeas.

Bodeas on offense for the Madrid team.

Here's the Houston defense in a four-man defense...

Shot! It is cleared.

And out of the pack goes Bodeas,

but he's all right, he's not injured, but his scoring attempt failed.

And the score is still one-to-nothing in favor of Houston.

The ball is fired again. Madrid is pressing now, putting the pressure on...

Keep it moving!

All right, come on, let's move it.

We got it now.

Sanchez is moving to his left and right,

has a full head of steam, still going in on offense, trying to tie the score.

Sanchez moves around the bike, takes a long look

and shoots and he scores!

Sanchez scores with a play that ties the game at 1-1.

Second period.

The ball is in play again, intercepted this time by Haskell.

Three minutes. Get off.

Madrid penalty.

Three minutes, biking misconduct on number one, Meitzer.

Are you satisfied, Madrid? What kind of game are you guys playing out there?

Take it easy, take it easy.

You'll be okay.

This crowd's going wild, loving the wide-open action in this quarterfinal game.

Skate! Skate!

Come on, God damn it, skate!

Houston! Houston!

All go down, pileup on the track,

the ball rolls free and into the gutter. It's a dead ball.

Come here, come here!

Come on, block that side.

Come on, move out.

How is it, Jonathan?

- Give me a tie, will you, Bo? - Sure.

Come on, dude!

Three minute penalty. Hey!

Don't give me any of that. Off the track. Off the track.

Group up.

Hold the line! Hold the line!

Up and over the Madrid defense,

gets up in front of the goal

and he jams it in for the score!

Jonathan jams it in and scores

to get Houston a 2-1 lead over Madrid.

Houston with the ball again here in the third period.

Stop it!

He has it.

Jonathan behind the bike, coming in low with a great maneuver,

he shoots, he scores!

That's the way! You got it!

I love this game, Moonpie. I love it.

Yeah.

So, we've got two games left.

Guess who we play first? Tokyo.

Now who would have thought they'd make it to the playoffs?

They're good.

They've got the old samurai spirit.

Yeah, but they're only about this tall.

Yeah, well, two or three little things make one big thing.

They're liable to climb all over you and eat your lunch.

I can't get on a man-to-man basis with a pigmy or an oriental.

I don't know what it is.

You were fine tonight, all of you.

Mean. Sharp.

Thank you.

Your fellas did well again.

Thank you, Mr. Bartholomew, sir. Thank you.

You? You rode. You really rode.

Yeah.

You play like our champion here.

You take lessons from him?

No. We just give lessons to the other team.

Yeah!

How are you, Jonathan?

I'm feeling mean, Mr. Bartholomew. It's good to see you.

Jonathan E. That's the name.

Houston players come and go, but the champion plays on.

Yeah!

The corporation has a hard time, Moonpie,

figuring out ways to pay the champion properly.

We can't think up any more rewards for him.

You'd like us to have that problem with you, wouldn't you?

Yes, sir.

Like Jonathan, you play with abandon,

but this is Jonathan's season.

Every season seems to be Jonathan's season,

but this year, we've got you on Multivision.

A special show all about you.

No player ever had that before.

The whole world will be watching,

because this is your year.

You got it, babe.

So, two games left.

That's right, Mr. Bartholomew.

New York in the final!

Team seems healthy,

champion says he feels mean,

no problems here.

What is this, fruit juice?

Very healthy, Mr. Bartholomew, very healthy.

Sweet dreams, Moonpie.

It's a bad habit you got there.

You know what that habit will make you dream, Moonpie?

You'll dream you're an executive.

And you'll have your hands on all the controls,

and you'll wear a gray suit, and you'll make decisions.

But you know what, Moonpie?

You know what those executives dream about

out there, behind their desks?

They dream they're great rollerballers.