Thomas ReedFebruary 03, 2025

Drive-in movies at Atlético Clube de Portugal

Thomas ReedFebruary 03, 2025

Words: Tom Reed

Images: Tom Reed

One day a season

When the grass was dry and long

They’d open up the heavy gate

and let cars drive on to the pitch

Our Tucker Torpedo would edge up to the far wall

and they’d just project onto the cement

Teenagers would kick balls into empty futsal goals

“Ghost Dog, the way of the samurai”

Was the feature and the lads would only look up

when the katana was pulled from its guard.

“Jaime” was next, about a kid trying to buy

a motorbike to save his parents marriage.

Mum and dad, in the back, drinking Arinto wine

out of plastic cups, and smiling

as the projectionist fretted about missing the changeover

and the ball went crossbar and in.

Tom is Terrace Edition Editor and can be found on X and Instagram: @tomreedwriting

Thomas Reed

Disappearing hands