Radio

Spoiler alert!

Our first clues that James might be different from others are his facial expressions, postures, gait and behaviors. Do they suggest mental retardation? Autism? Asperger's? (0:01)

James' mother Maggie tells Coach Jones radio is "slower than most." We hear evidence of concrete thinking as James verbal production increases. (0:34)

Mr. Tucker from the school board says, "None of us has any experience with a severely retarded man wandering the same halls as our students." (0:54)

We see evidence of distance in the relationship between Coach Jones and his daughter Mary Helen. (0:58)

We learn that Maggie has died unexpectedly. Does James' reaction tell us anything about his diagnosis? (1:17)

Coach Jones opens up to Mary Helen about the neglected and abused boy he encountered on his paper route as a boy but never tried to help. (1:21)

James tells Coach Jones he does not want to move from 11th grade to 12th grade, suggesting discomfort with change. (1:36)

Coach Jones announces to the community that he plans to step down from his coaching role and spend more time with his family. (1:41) Has he been using his coaching role to distance from his wife and daughter? What was pushing him away from them?

We see the real James Kennedy and Harold Jones years later. (1:45)

Keep track of James and Coach Jones at:

The Official Web site of Radio and Coach Jones

Bereavement | concrete thinking | Mental Retardation