Scene 3 Summary

Father Flynn addresses the (invisible) boys he's coaching on the basketball team. He explains to them the difference between playing as a team and playing as an individual (see "Quotes", p. 16), and tells them how to overcome their nervousness by creating something else to focus on: a routine of behavior in getting ready to take their shot, so they can focus on that rather than on their nervousness. He changes the subject, telling them they need to take better care of themselves; in particular, that they need to clean under their fingernails. He refers to his own nails, admitting they're a little long, and says he likes them that way. He implies not only that dirty nails can lead to disease but that they can also keep boys from attracting girls. He reacts to the boys' laughter, calls an end to practice, and...