Based on a true story, Remember the Titans spotlights the character formation of those caught in the difficult transition of integrating T. C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia. In 1971 the tensions ran high—especially on the football team— when a black man, Herman Boon (played by Denzel Washington), was brought in as the new head coach, demoting the previously successful white coach, Bill Yoast (Will Patton), to an assistant position.

About 30 minutes into the movie, the team is at the breaking point. It's been rife with tension, bickering, and racial struggles. In fact, it's not much of a team at all. This scene is the turning point, when team captain and All-American linebacker Gary Bertier (Ryan Hurst), who is white, has a confrontation with the other key defensive leader, Julius Campbell (Wood Harris), who is black. They've been forced by Coach Boon to talk to each other, which neither of them likes at all, but at last they get down to the issues at the root of the problem: attitude and leadership.

Gary and Julius stand nose to nose, and every line is heated.

Julius says, "Why should I give a hoot about you, huh? Or anybody else out there?… You're the captain right?"

"Right," says Gary.

"You have a job?" asks Julius.

"I have a job," says Gary.

Julius asks, "You been doin' you're job?"

Gary says, "I've been doing my job."

Julius says, "The captain is supposed to be a leader. Then why don't you tell your white buddies to block for Rev (the black running back) better, because they have not blocked for him worth a plugged nickel, and you know it. Nobody plays, yourself included.…I'm supposed to wear myself out for the team? What team? No! No, what I'm gonna do is I'm gonna look out for myself, and I'm gonna get mine!"

Gary says, "That's the worst attitude I ever heard."

Julius answers, "Attitude reflects leadership."

In the next practice, the moment of truth arrives. Gary stands up to his white friends and tells them to block for Rev, and they actually follow his lead. Soon after, he and Julius are working together tightly on defense, and the next thing you know, they are slapping heads together like they won the Super Bowl, flush with a new and growing respect and friendship. The team follows their lead and becomes incredibly united, eventually leading the school and even the community through the process of racial integration.

If we are leaders, those around us know whether we are out for ourselves or out for the team, and their attitudes will reflect it.

Elapsed time: This scene lasts two minutes and begins at 28 minutes, 45 seconds from the beginning of the opening scene.

Content: Rated PG for some language.