The Rookie

'There's a story told in the town of Big Lake, Texas -

'a story of the town's beginnings.

'It's the story of the Santa Rita Number One, birthplace of West Texas Oil.

'Now, as with most Texas legends,

'there was a man who thought oil was right beneath his feet.

'And, as with most such stories,

'no-one else believed him.

'Except, in this case, for two nuns

'who, in 1923,

'met the man and believed so much in him and his dream

'that they invested money no-one knew they had.

'Now, when the nuns told their parish priest about the man's dream

'and their investment in it,

'he counselled them to try and get their money back.

'Sheepishly, they admitted

'that it was too late, that the money was already spent.

'Well, the priest, he sighed, shook his head

'and offered just one, small bit of advice.

'"Bless the site with rose petals

'"and invoke the help

'"of St Rita, patron saint of impossible dreams."

'And while the workers waited for the oil that would eventually come,

'they played baseball.

'They played baseball so well that some were able

'to give up the dirt and the despair and went on to play Major League ball

'in the glory days of Ruth and Gehrig.'

MEN'S VOICES

Come on!

'I've heard and told that story on many occasions.

'But that was long before St Rita decided to bless our little town

'just one more time.'

Yeah!

First game in the big leagues,

and Jimmy Morris has a no-hitter going.

Jimmy! Don't throw so hard - my hands are cold.

-What are you doing?

-Waiting until spring!

Jimmy! Your father and I need to talk to you.

I hear Virginia's real nice.

At least, that's what the Navy folks told your father.

-Isn't that right, Jim?

-We'll just be moving again.

It's my job to decide when we move.

-It's your job to make the best of it.

-Jim, please.

Who knows? Maybe it won't snow so much in Virginia!

'Jimmy Morris...'

another masterful pitching performance.

Well on his way

to another World Series title.

Jimmy!

Your father and I need to talk to you.

HE SIGHS

MAN: Give it to 'em, Jimmy! That's it.

Strike out!

-Hey!

-Jimmy.

-MAN: Hey, partner! How ya doin'?

-Hey.

Hey, Dad.

Jimmy.

Hmm?

-I had a good game. 13 strike outs.

-Did you win?

I just found out there's a chance we may be re-stationed again.

-How much of a chance?

-It's in west Texas. The Navy wants me to be a recruiter there.

-Texas? When?

-Three weeks.

-But we've still got half our season to play.

-I'm aware of that.

-Maybe I can stay with the Johnsons.

-Uh-uh. We move as a family.

I don't have a choice in this.

What kind of baseball do they have?

They don't.

I hear they might be starting some summer ball.

Yes, sir.

DOOR SLAMS

-What are those things?

-What?

-The things moving up and down.

-Oil rigs. When they're moving up and down, it means times are good.

Looks like times are good.

MACHINERY GROANS AND CLANKS

Shoot! We must've left some of them back in Florida.

-Left what?

-I packed a couple of boxes with socks and things.

I could've sworn... Jimmy, did you find that one box?

Oh, no!

-It's OK, Mom.

-Don't worry, honey.

We'll find it.

-I've never known a boy get so upset about losing his socks.

-His glove was in there.

-What?

-His GLOVE was in there.

Oh, quit moping and grab a box!

Did you hear me?

There are more important things in life than baseball.

The sooner you figure that out, the better.

BELL TINKLES

< MAN SPEAKS VEHEMENTLY

..I guarantee you within two years, three years, tops, he's going to run that company

right out of business. Ain't that right, young man?

Eileen?

Eilee-een!

I guess she's gone to lunch.

-Help you find something, son?

-Socks.

Socks we have. In contrast to common sense, which we seem to be running short on today.

I'll be right down. ..Don't look at my dominoes.

We've got white socks with red stripes, black stripes, blue stripes.

Over there you've got your solids - black, blue, brown and grey. Just take your pick.

That's a real nice pair, right there. You visiting?

We just moved here.

-Oh! Well, then, I'm Henry Sampson.

-Nice to meet you. Jimmy Morris.

Welcome to Big Lake, Mr Jimmy Morris.

RACK SQUEAKS

You know, son, I can probably tell you where it is a whole lot quicker than you can find it.

Got any baseball stuff?

Ah - baseball stuff. Don't get much call for baseball stuff round these parts.

Now, if it was football, it'd be a whole different story.

You know what? I've got a catalogue that might help us out. Let's take a look.

Yeah - I think we might find something in here.

You know, if you're interested in baseball, there's a story that people here in this town tell

-you ought to hear.

-You said nobody cared about baseball.

Oh...they care about this.

It all started with a couple of nuns

and a piece of ground not too far from here.

SCUFFING

HINGES CREAK

-Morning, Esther.

-Morning, Jimmy.

-Any more rattlesnakes on the playground?

-Yeah, two this morning.

I swear they show up every time the oil business goes bad.

-going to bring the kids in?

-Maybe.

-Don't these families have enough to worry about?

-Mmm.

-Coach.

-Counsellor.

-Don't report that, Esther.

-I never do.

"Sum" means that we're adding. We have at least two items.

Don't make this hard. What are we adding here? Protons and...?

-Neutrons?

-Neutrons.

Neutrons! So, David...

these protons and neutrons are inside of...

what?

The...nucleus?

Don't say it like a question, son. Just say it like you know it.

-The nucleus.

-That's right - the nucleus.

Congratulations. Go home tonight

and tell your parents you figured out the mass number of an atom.

-# Chestnuts roasting on an open... #

-Frank, isn't it a little late to be playing this song?

-It's 8.30.

-It's March.

-That song's too good to play for only one month.

-Partner, you want cheese on that?

-Yes, sir.

-Besides, he smoked three packs a day.

-Who?

-Nat King Cole -

-to make his voice deeper.

-And Frank Sinatra was a poster child for vocal care(!)

-Who died in his 40s? You take care of yourself, things work out.

-Oh, is that right? What about Jimmy?

He took real good care of himself. How many surgeries was it, Jimmy?

-Four?

-They put this thing from his ankle up to his shoulder.

-Ow!

We're talking about singin', not pitchin'.

-Hunter, do us all a favour - don't tell us that bit about the ankle any more.

-Mel Torme in June.

- What are you talking about now? - Mel Torme wrote that song on a beach.

There weren't no Jack Frost nipping his nose that day.

-Daddy?

-Yeah?

Does your arm ever hurt any more?

Only when I have to drag you out of bed in the morning for school.

I'm just kidding. It hasn't hurt in a long time.

How long?

Why do you want to know?

Just wondering.

Well, let's see. Er...

It never hurt when I was in high school, cos we didn't have a baseball team.

And it never hurt when I was in junior college, cos that's why I got drafted.

And then, er...I don't know. It just started hurting.

Is that why you didn't make it?

It's never one thing.

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

CLANG!

BABY CRIES

HE BREATHES DEEPLY

HE GROWLS

-CRYING CONTINUES

-I'll get her.

Is that a real "I'll get her"? Or are you just waiting for me to say, "Go back to sleep"?

I haven't decided yet.

Go back to sleep.

CRYING REDOUBLES

O-o-oh!

O-o-oh!

Yeah.

What's all that crying about?

I think it's my turn.

It's your turn to sleep.

OK.

You sure?

Yeah.

Come on, baby.

-There we are.

-Good night.

Night.

There we go.

Ssh.

Mmm.

(There we go.)

Rudy, when was the last game you had? >

-Like, a year ago?

-Not me, man.

-Come on, man! You're kidding me!

-You, too, Rudy. Don't be laughing!

-All set, Coach.

-Gimme a ball.

Hey, Coach! I forgot my glove.

Check the bag.

-Ten players - nine gloves.

-Yeah.

-How do they look?

-Couple of holes.

-Right, get in line.

-Thanks, man.

Hey, Coach! They putting down any grass seed in the field this year?

-Man, it's a gold track out here.

-Just waiting for the seed to take.

What seed?

-Ain't no seed out here, man.

-Wack!

How come we get dirt and the football field is like Tiger Woods' back yard?

-They don't even play for six months!

-Just let me worry about the field.

-You plan on worrying any time soon?

OK, Wack. You can get your running done early today.

OK, I'll get my running in early.

OK - bring it home!

Hey, Coach. You want to throw?

You know, I seen you out there at the old field at night.

Sometimes, it helps when you throw to have somebody catching for you.

A ball, a glove - that kind of thing.

I'll throw a couple.

Really?

All right!

How come you throw out there all by yourself?

Helps me relax.

You know, I been doing it a pretty long time.

-Coach, back when you were really throwing, how fast were you bringing it?

-I dunno.

85. 86.

-That's not bad.

-Well, it is when the other guy's throwing 90.

Coach, come on - let's see you bring one.

Can't. I promised too many doctors.

Come on, Coach - one is not going to kill you.

-Now, come on - feed me.

-Yeah, Dad, bring the heat!

Feed me.

WHUMP!

-Wow!

-Coach... where did that come from?

I forgot how good that sounded.

Yes!

Unbelievable!

-How fast do you think those were coming?

-Not as fast as you think.

Hey, do me a favour, all right? Let's keep this between you and me.

-OK.

-I could barely see that last one.

-That goes for you, too, all right? No telling Mom.

-Why?

Because I said so.

Night, Ray.

I know why your grass isn't growin'.

Usually get three or four out here every night.

I put the seed down - they pick it up.

Once it comes in, they don't like it as much. That's why the football field looks so good.

Yeah? Maybe those football guys are paying off these deer with all that big-budget money they got.

HEY!

GO ON!

GET OUTTA HERE!

I thought deer are supposed to be skittish.

-ROMANTIC SONG PLAYS SOFTLY

-Need me to top that off?

Nothing like wine bought with a Chevron credit card.

-Well, I know what a demanding consumer you can be.

-Yeah?

-Mmm.

I threw today.

To Joel, after practice.

-You threw?

-I threw.

How hard?

Pretty hard.

Uh...don't worry. If it starts to hurt, I'll stop.

All right? Promise.

I got to check on the kids.

I got the muffler changed, buddy, on the Jeep.

You can't hear me coming from miles away.

-Ray! Check out the screw ball.

-Katy's lovin' the Jeep!

Come on, man.

All right, bring it in for some BP.

-We can't. Rudy's not here.

-Where is he?

-Locker room.

Something about only having one shoe.

Somebody grab a bat.

-You're throwing batting practice?

-Yeah.

-I'm up first, man.

-I am next.

-I hit the Lotto!

Come on, Wack! Send it, baby!

Send it! What do you say, Wack?

Whoooo! Looks like that one's going to land in another time zone, Coach.

Reset your watch before this next one. See that?

Yes.

(Come on.)

Yeah!

WACK LAUGHS

What was that?!

-Man!

-Wait till he warms up.

-Let's see another one of those.

-No. It's batting practice, not pitching practice.

All right.

Oh, my God!

-I'm already down two bits.

-How many job applications you planning on sending out, Jimmy?

-As many as it takes, I guess.

-So the little boy coming in to my store to buy socks after a dozen moves

is planning on a move of his own now?

This is different.

It always is.

-I hear you diagnosed the problem with your baseball field.

-His POTENTIAL field.

-It's the curing part I'm having trouble with.

-I'll take five.

-I had the same trouble a few springs back.

-You did?

-What did you do?

-Oh, hell! Give me five, too.

How many games you got on that field the next couple of weeks?

We play next Friday, but then we're not back till the end of the month.

Can you keep your boys off the field for that length of time? No practice - nothing whatsoever?

Henry, I get the feeling this is something I don't want to know about.

-I'll take back two of them old ones, if that's OK.

-Here's what you do.

You give me three weeks, and I'll have that field looking greener than Dublin on St Paddy's Day.

50 cents, fellas.

-OVER TANNOY:

-Rudy Bonilla, hoping to spark a Big Lake rally.

-Come on, Rudy!

Be a hitter!

-Strike three.

-Strike three and the Owls drop their season opener.

-It's all right. Good effort. Only one.

-If we don't start hitting, it won't be the only one.

-OVER TANNOY:

-Drive safely on your way home, now, folks.

COUNTRY SONG PLAYS ON RADIO

Where do you keep your brooms, Cal?

Closet.

-Right here, sweetheart.

-Go on, Cory, give it a ride!

Play it, Cory!

The guy couldn't throw a fit!

SHOUTING

Play for second, Miguel!

Blue!

Time!

-UMPIRE:

-And the Owls are down...

ten.

-It's not your day, Rudy.

-Not my year.

Looks like Coach Jimmy Morris is making a pitching change.

< Shake it off, Rudy!

Just a reminder, folks, the concession stand is still open.

Anybody want to tell me how we lost that game? Hmm?

No?

How about taking a look at the numbers on that scoreboard there?

What do those numbers tell you?

How to get hold of Bo's Tire Barn?

You quit.

You quit out there. You quit on me and, worse, you quit on yourselves.

You think people don't care about baseball around here?

Think the school's going to drop the programme?

You're just making it easy for 'em.

The sad part is, I see it and you don't.

Look, guys,

most of you...you're going to finish up school here, you're going to work the rigs,

you're going to work at Bo's Tire Barn, raise a family, retire, and do all that right here in Big Lake.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

A lot of real good people have done that. I'm doin' it.

But if you're looking for something more after you're done here,

you'd better give some serious thought as to how you're going to play out the rest of this season.

What difference does it make?

It's not like any of us are getting scholarships.

I'm not talking about college. I'm talking about wanting things in life.

I'm talking about having dreams.

And all that starts right here.

Here. OK? Right here.

-Without dreams, you don't have anything.

-Coach, what about you?

I mean, you talk about OUR dreams.

-I...I've been catching...

-Joel, we are not talking about me.

Come on, Coach. Every time you throw, I've got to ice my hand. Every time.

You're the one who should be wanting something more.

And the sad part is, I mean... we see it and you don't.

No, I've had my shot, all right? Just...

Look...we got practice tomorrow.

-Let's go.

-So you take another shot.

-It doesn't work like that.

-It does if you throw hard enough.

-I don't throw hard enough, all right?

-Hit the showers.

-Wait a minute. We start winning, you try out again.

-Last time I checked, scouts aren't looking for high school science teachers.

-Not many science teachers

-throw like you.

-Yeah.

- No kidding. - Yeah. - No lie.

-Take a heck of a lot more than a couple of wins to get me to make a fool of myself.

-All right.

What if we win district, huh? What if we win district and go to state playoffs. Then?

-You're serious?

-Yeah, absolutely.

-You're serious.

-Yes.

Yeah.

-All I have to do is find some kind of tryout somewhere?

-That's it, man.

-HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

-All right.

ALL TALK AT ONCE

-You win district.

-Yeah.

-We can do this.

-Right on, man!

THEY ALL TALK EXCITEDLY

I don't got to tell Mom about this, do I?

# I got an old blue shirt and it suits me just fine

# I like the way it feels so I wear it all the time

# I got an old guitar won't ever stay in tune

# I like the way it sounds

# In a dark and empty room

# I got an old pair of boots and they fit just right... #

Hmm.

# ..Well, I can work all day and I can dance all night

# I got an old used car

# And it runs just like a top

# I get the feeling it ain't ever going to stop

# Stuff that works

# Stuff that holds up

# The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall

# Stuff that's real

# Stuff you feel

# The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall

# Stuff that works

# Stuff that holds up

# The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall

# Stuff that's real

# Stuff you feel

# The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall

# Stuff that works

# Stuff that holds up... #

HE GRUNTS

# ..The kind of stuff you don't hang on the wall

# Stuff that's real

# Stuff you feel

# The kind of stuff you reach for when you fall. #

'Are you sure about this, Henry?'

Yeah. Deer get a whiff of human hair,

they just keep on movin' till they don't smell it no more.

I figure we put us a circle

-all the way around the field here.

-That's a lot of hair!

Well, from the looks of things, contrary to popular opinion,

Cal ain't been cheatin' nobody down there at his shop.

THEY LAUGH

It helps if you actually wear those goggles, Miss Martinez.

-<

-Er...Coach!

- Yeah, baby. - Is that what I think it is?

That, gentlemen, is Bermuda hybrid number five.

We're going to have a baseball field.

DOORBELL DING-DONGS

-Maybe he's not home.

-But he said he'd be here.

-Hey, Grandpa!

-Hunter! I was reading in the paper today that someone in your family is having a birthday.

-That's a kid joke, Grandpa.

-Kid joke? No kidding?

-Jimmy.

-Sir.

Wow!

-It's kinda big.

-Oh, you'll grow into it faster than you think.

Look, Dad - it doesn't have any fingers.

That's cos it's a first baseman's mitt.

Er...is that wrong?

Well, you know, I've probably got the receipt somewhere...

We can get another one, one with fingers.

That's OK, Grandpa. I like first base.

-Could I go outside and play, Dad?

-Er...yeah.

What do you say first?

-Thank you, Grandpa. I really like it a lot.

-Oh, oh...

-Stay in the yard.

-If he decides he wants one with fingers...

I'll take care of it.

I didn't know you had these.

Oh, yeah.

Your mother gave me a few.

Mmm.

She'd be the one to have 'em.

# Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday, dear Hunter

# Happy birthday to you. #

-Jessica!

-Don't worry. Your wish still counts.

Charles! Do you think that ice cream machine is going to start spinning itself?

SQUEAKERS SQUEAK

-Oh! I got to go get a knife.

-I'll help you, Mom.

I think we need plates, hon, too!

-Seems like five minutes ago I was watching you blow out those candles.

-Are you trying to make me feel old?

Come talk to me in 20 years!

Hunter said you spent some time at your father's today.

Yeah.

-You know where I'm going with that.

-Yes, ma'am, I do.

Lorri says he's trying real hard to be a good grandfather.

-Yeah, well...

-Jimmy, I swear the one thing you got from him is his stubborn side.

-That's not true.

-SHE SIGHS

Well, what do you want me to do? Pretend everything was perfect?

You've been blaming your father for too many things for too many years.

I just call 'em like I see 'em, Mom.

You can sell that story someplace else. I ain't buyin'.

You got your shot at baseball. You got hurt.

Simple as that. It had nothing to do with your father.

You think he didn't have dreams?

Is that why it didn't work out with you two?

I'm going to need a longer street for THAT talk.

'OK, let's get to.'

-Come on, Wack!

-How long we got to practise here?

-A couple more days.

-Getting old out here, Coach!

-Playing in a gravel yard.

OK, Wack, come on in for batting practice.

This is not a ball field!

-Come on, let's go.

-OK, OK.

OK.

Nice, easy swings.

Turn your hips.

Throw your hands at the ball.

Come on, Coach. If we're going to start winning, we need to see some better pitching.

-You going to help us or not?

-Right here, Coach.

Show us some action!

Come on, Wack! >

# Hummmm

# Well, you may run on for a long time

-# Run on for a long time

-Run on for a long time

# Let me tell you God Almighty's going to cut you down

# Go tell that long-tongued liar

# Go tell that midnight rider

# Tell the gambler, the rambler, the back-biter

# Tell them God Almighty's going to cut them down

# You may throw your rock and hide your hand

# Working in the dark 'gainst your fellow man

# As sure as God made the day and the night

# What you do in the dark will be brought to the light... #

-Man!

-Oh-ho-ho-ho!

Right on, man!

-I pizza'd that one!

-Now...you get all of it.

THE BOYS SHOUT ENCOURAGEMENT

CHEERING

Go, man, go!

Go, go, go, go, go!

That's the way, Wack!

Hot dog!

Run, boy, run!

UMPIRE: Out!

-Take it, Joel!

-Got it!

Yeah!

THEY CHEER

You won, Joel!

Wack! Eye on the ball, buddy!

# When I was a boy

# I thought it just came to ya

# But I never could

# Tell what's mine

# So it didn't matter anyway

# My only pride and joy

# Was this racket down here

# Bangin' on an old guitar... #

-CAL OVER TANNOY:

-Owls win again and that is five in a row!

# ..It's been a slow turnin'

# From the inside out

# A slow turnin', baby

# But you come about

# A slow learnin'

# But you learn to sway, hey, hey, hey... #

Yeah, baby!

Come on! You can do it!

#..Not fade away, not fade away

# Not fade away

# Time is short and here's the damn thing about it

# You're going to die, going to die for sure

# You can learn to live with love or without it

# But there ain't no cure

# There's just a slow turnin'

# From the inside out

# A slow turnin'

# To come about

# A slow turnin', baby

# But you learn to sway, hey, hey

# A slow turnin'

# Not fade away, not fade away, not fade away... #

-BANGING

-Hey, hey, hey!

Keep it down. Folks'll think the football season's started already!

THEY WHOOP AND CHEER

A lot of coaches would say they're really proud of you right now.

And I am.

A lot of coaches... A lot of coaches would say

that it's amazing that we won this many games in a row. And it is.

But...

but...

but...but...but...but...but...

I am not going to say that I do not care about tomorrow's game. Because I do.

So let's finish this thing up.

THEY CHEER

-Quite a group you got there.

-Thanks.

-Steve Dearborn.

I'm with the Barton School District in Fort Worth. I was hoping we could talk about the application you sent.

Er...sure.

INAUDIBLE

-They'll understand.

-I've got most of them coming back.

-You'll always have kids coming back.

-Not these kids.

It's Fort Worth.

High school coaching jobs don't get any better.

You get to coach. You get to teach.

And not that it's the most important thing in life, but it is twice the money, Jimmy.

-We sure could use it.

-I know.

Well...I'm done telling you to sleep on it,

cos that sure ain't working.

Three years ago...this programme

ended the season with only one win.

Two years ago, one win.

Last year...

..same story.

This year...

..we have won 16 games.

But, gentlemen...

..we need 17.

Anybody got any questions?

-Hmm?

-Coach...

..coming back next year?

Wack...

why don't we worry about this year first, all right?

All right, gentlemen, hats off.

Lord, we humbly thank you for bringing us through this season without injury and inspiring us...

MAN: # ..Twilight's last gleaming

# And the rocket's red glare

# The bombs bursting in air

# Gave proof through the night

# That our flag was still there

# Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

# O'er the land of the free

# And the home of the brave? #

-CAL OVER TANNOY:

-A stirring rendition from Big Lake's Rotary president, Henry Sampson.

All right. We're a different team than the last time we played these guys. They're ripe for the pickin'.

Let's not be nervous out there.

Nothing to be nervous about.

-Let's play baseball!

-CHEERING

-Yeah!

-Come on, guys!

-Guys, come on! Settle down!

-What?

-Gimme the ball.

-The boys from Big Lake in an early hole. Two to nought.

-Keep your heads up.

You can swing back to even.

All right. Grab some wood. Joe David, you're on deck.

Right, this guy's fast ball stinks. So look out for his curve.

One hit at a time, one swing at a time, one run at a time.

- Come on, man. - Watch 'em. Let's go.

Come on. Let's get a hit. Let's get a hit.

UMPIRE: Out!

Owls still with that zero up on the board.

-Out!

-They near took our boy's head off!

Slide! Slide!

Safe! That puts Big Lake at fourth position.

All right?

-CAL:

-Rudy Bonilla coming to the plate.

Come on!

-Safe! Safe!

-Yeah!

A suicide squeeze and the Owls are on the scoreboard.

Go!

Yeah!

A spectacular catch and the Owls are hangin' in there!

Come on, Wack!

-CAL:

-Joe David is still on first base.

THEY SHOUT ENCOURAGEMENT TO WACK

Come on, Wack! Let's go!

-Come on, man, let's go!

-Come on, Wack!

Go, Wack! Go, Wack!

Come on, Wack!

Joe David!

Big Lake takes the lead.

Rudy Bonilla working with a full count.

Ruff Neck runners on first and second.

Ball - four.

The bases have four Ruff Necks.

BOTH SIDES' SUPPORTERS SHOUT ENCOURAGEMENT

< Knock him down, Rudy! Knock him down!

Last year's district MVP, Cory Jones, coming to the plate.

UMPIRE: Ball!

Come on, now, Rudy. Come on, baby. Get this last out!

Strike!

Oh, he is having to dig deep now. One and one count.

Foul ball!

Let me tell you, folks, they don't make foul balls any scarier than that one!

-Come on, Rudy! Let's go!

-You can do it!

-Bear down, baby!

What do you say, Rudy? Come on! He can't hit you!

-He can't hit you!

-WACK: Get this one, baby!

Go, Rudy. This is a long strike. Here we go.

Come on! You got to do this one! This punk can't hit you, Rudy! Come on!

He got nothing on you. Dig deep.

One time - let's go, babe.

Come on, Rudy, what do you say? Strike this guy out!

Strike three!

-CAL:

-Owls win!

Owls win! Owls win! Owls win! Owls win!

Owls win!

Whoo-hoo!

-Yeah!

-Owls win! Owls win! Owls win!

HIP-HOP MUSIC PLAYS LOUDLY

BOYS' SHOUTS DROWN LYRICS OF SONG

Hey! Hey, hey, hey, hey!

Settle down, fellas.

-Quiet down.

-To the man who taught us about wanting something more -

Coach Jimmy Morris of the district-champion Big Lake Owls!

THEY CHEER

We wanted it and now we got it. Yeah!

THEY CHEER AND WHOOP

Now it's your turn, Coach.

It's your turn, Coach.

-Your turn, Coach.

-It's your turn, Coach.

It's your turn, Coach.

It's your turn, Coach.

-It's your turn, Coach.

-It's your turn, Coach.

Your turn, Coach.

BABY CRIES

There you go.

-Eat your cereal. Come on.

-First day of summer registration. I'm going to have to skip breakfast.

-You can take some Mr Crunch.

-He's a Captain. Don't go bustin' rank on him.

Thanks anyway, hon. You got anything on today?

Me?

-No.

-We need to go see the real estate guy.

-Waaah!

-He's been a captain for ever. Why don't they make him something better?

-What - like Admiral Crunch?

-Say "yes, ma'am" so I know you heard me.

-Yes, ma'am.

Take 'em all with you if you go.

You kids mind your daddy.

Remind me not to forget Jamie if we go anywhere.

They got lots of players, Daddy.

'Sign in here.'

Have your players get in line, Coach. Everybody signs in.

Jim Morris. ..Dave Patterson. I saw you when the Brewers drafted you. Must have been...

A while back. How you doing, Dave?

-Good.

-You still looking at players?

-The looking's the easy part. It's the finding that gives me trouble.

You bringing some kids... besides your own?

I'm...I'm here for me.

-For you?

-Uh-huh.

Well, aren't you?!

-Uh...that's good.

-Good to see you.

-Mm-hm.

Sign here.

# I've got a long list of real good reasons

# For all the things I've done... #

Come on, let's go.

# ..I've got a picture in the back of my mind

# Of what I've lost and what I've won

# I've survived every situation knowing when to freeze and when to run

# And regret is just a memory written on my brow

# And there's nothin' I can do about it now

# I've got a wild and a restless spirit

# I held my price through every deal

# I've seen the fire of a woman scorned

# Turn her heart of gold to steel

# I've got the song of the voice inside me

# Set to the rhythm of the wheel

# And I've been dreamin' like a child since the cradle broke the bough

# And there's nothin' I can do about it now... #

-JAMIE WAILS

-Shut up!

That's the last diaper.

It's OK. We're out of here as soon as Jamie's set to go.

-But, Dad...

-No "but Dad"s, OK? I'm dealing with enough butts as it is.

Come on, honey, Daddy's almost done.

Hunter...

..I promised to try out. There's nothing I can do if they won't take a look at me.

Jimmy! Come on, you're up!

Just a second!

I'm not doin' it.

Right, look...you stay right here and look after your sister, OK?

Let's go. JAMIE WAILS LUSTILY

-CRYING CONTINUES

-Be right back.

What have we got here? ..All right.

-Do you need to warm up?

-Er...no. I'm good.

All right. Don't hurt yourself.

Whenever you're ready!

Yeah, whenever I'm ready.

# Help me, fellas I'm feeling kinda weak

# The way I'm livin' just ain't right

# I need somebody to watch over me

# All my blue moon night

# I want a girl to take me by the hand

# Follow me right down the line

# Hold me gently while we dance

# All my blue moon night... #

D'you want me to keep going?

A couple more.

# Help me, fellas It's getting kinda late

# Running out of precious time

# She might pass me while I wait

# All my blue moon night

# Heaven only knows I don't want to be

# Just a fool passing through

# Won't you send an angel to walk with me?

# All my blue moon night

# All my blue moon night... #

That's good, Jim.

Hey! Man, you were bringing some heat out there.

-Oh, come on.

-You got 'em talking.

You got 'em talking. Good job, man.

CAR HONKS

That was Jessica.

Jim. >

How fast were you throwing 15 years ago?

Slow enough the scouts stopped using the word "fast".

How fast were you throwing?

I don't know... 85, 86? Why?

You just threw 98 miles an hour.

-Nah!

-A dozen straight pitches.

Three radar guns, same thing on all of them.

Nah, they...there's no way...

I've been a scout a long time and rule number one is arms slow down when they get old.

Listen, Jim, I call the office and tell them I got a guy here,

almost twice these kids' age, I'm going to get laughed at.

But if I don't call in a 98mph fast ball, I'm going to get fired.

I'm just letting you know that you might get a call on this.

You figure out what I saw out there today, you let me know. OK?

OK.

ANSAPHONE BEEPS

'Hey, hon, don't fix dinner, we're getting some pizza.' Oh, God.

'Jim, this is Dan Jordan with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. I'll call you back later.'

BEEP

'Jim, Mark Dreyfuss from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Dave Patterson told me about this afternoon.

-'I'll try you in the morning.'

-BEEP

'Hey, Jim, this is Dave. Listen, we're going to have you throw

again in a couple of days just to make sure.'

Mommy!

Daddy told me to give you a pizza and not say anything else.

Thank you, sweetpea.

I'm sure that's exactly what he told you.

BABY GURGLES

All right. Go ahead.

-There were, like, a thousand players, it was so hot and Daddy was pitching really hard.

-Oh, yeah?

-And it was really hot, but it was fun.

-Yeah.

-I got my nose burnt.

Hm.

The guy thought that the damn radar gun was broken.

Do you know how many guys can throw the ball 98 miles an hour?

Not many.

You can count 'em on one hand. I still don't believe it.

-Those are Major League scouts on our message machine.

-I know.

It's great.

Um, listen, why didn't you tell me about all this?

-Well, I just...thought you'd laugh at me.

-Oh, come on!

It was just...this thing to get the kids to start playing.

I thought I'd just go there, throw a few pitches and be done with it.

So, you considering this?

I...I don't know.

I-I don't know. I...

I have never thrown that hard before.

-What?

-Mm?

You don't seem too excited.

No, I am! Really.

TV COMMENTARY ON

HE TURNS UP VOLUME

TV OFF

Ain't nothing wrong with that.

So much for his falling off, huh?

CAR ENGINE RUNS

ENGINE OFF

-Jimmy?

-Yeah. Yes, sir.

I was just driving by. I saw that...your light was on.

It'll be on for a few more hours.

You want to come in?

Uh, no, that's all right. I was, um... I got to be heading back.

I just, uh, wanted to, uh...

-Uh, Lorri called.

-Yeah?

I guess the scouts saw what they wanted to see.

Um...I don't know what to do.

Give it some time.

HE SIGHS

I haven't got a lot of that.

You're asking me?

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Yes, sir.

Your grandfather once told me it was OK to think about what you want to do

until it was time to start doing what you were meant to do.

That may not be what you wanted to hear.

-Good night, Jimmy.

-'Night.

Sometimes I think he lies in bed at night just figuring out

the one thing he can say that hurts the most.

-I was this close to thinking he was going to give me some good advice.

-Maybe he did.

What?

Oh, boy.

Listen, Jimmy, I love you.

Lord knows, I think it's great you going to the tryout.

But I'm a little concerned that you might be losing sight of the fact you have a family who needs you

-and a decent job waiting for you at Fort Worth.

-I never said I was going to do this.

-Jimmy, I know you.

-I was hoping for a little more support.

-So this didn't concern me or the kids(?)

You can't eat dreams, Jimmy, and they don't pay for clothes or shoes or gas or babysitters.

I do not want to be the bad guy but somebody has to be rational.

That's all I've been my whole life.

What about MY life?

I was there too, remember?

Every time you got hurt, I got a front-row seat to watch you shut yourself off from the world...

and from me.

Truth is, I was happy when you quit.

Happy.

Yeah.

Because I don't want to see you get hurt again.

Kids down?

For a while at least.

I'm sorry.

Yeah.

Me too.

I've been thinking...

-So have I. I think you should do this.

-No.

-You were right.

-No. I don't think so.

We've got an eight-year-old boy inside this house

who waited all day in the sun to see his daddy try to do something that nobody believed he could do.

And what are we telling him if...

..if you don't try now?

I can't leave you here with all this.

Jimmy Morris, I'm a Texas woman which means I don't need the help of a man to keep things running.

OK?

OK.

OK.

Great.

See you soon, little man.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Are you the old guy?

I'm the old guy.

Do you use a walker or do the other players carry you?

Welcome to last place.

Hey, skipper, why not bring your dad to work?

Way to go!

-TANNOY:

-Orlando...

now pitching number nine, Johnny Morris.

No, Jimmy Morris.

And now, it's time to guess the winning car...

Work fast. We've got a long bus trip.

-TANNOY:

-Let's go.

MUSIC PLAYS

MUSIC STOPS

MAN: Hey, do I look like a strike zone to you?!

CROWD JEERS

'I can't believe they let you pitch your first game. How did you do?'

Not bad.

I had a few of them get away from me.

-'Did the fans all yell?'

-Yeah. Oh, they were yelling, all right.

Oh, that's just great. Let me get the kids.

No. Uh...

Tell them I'll call tomorrow from wherever we're going.

OK. I will.

I love you.

I love you too.

Take care.

Blue!

-'OK, what's four times four?

-17.'

No, it's not 17.

You're guessing. Just add it up.

-16?

-16.

You ought to be able to look at four times four and just know it's 16

without even having to think about it.

-Let's do your fives.

-Oh, Daddy, I've already done my fives.

-What's...?

-Well, if you want to learn how to multiply, you have to practise.

-OK.

-Dad...

-Yeah?

-Told you when you're going to the big leagues yet?

Could you put your mum on?

-OK?

-OK.

Oh, thank you, son.

Hey, you. Jessie says they left you in one too many pitches.

Jessie needs to learn how to keep a secret with her father.

How are things going?

-Things are good. There's a field trip on Friday and...

-That's not what I meant.

I know.

It's not bad.

-We're a little behind.

-How much?

Well, they took the bed but they left the night stand.

Are you all right?

I'm just tired.

Love you.

-Love you too.

-Bye.

-OK.

-Good night.

Listen, man, this is the only long-distance phone we have here.

You see someone waiting, you keep it to ten minutes, OK?

What? Now you all talked out?

Use it all up on your girlfriend?

It was my son.

He needed help with his homework.

-Hi.

-Sir.

Hey, Jim.

Come here a minute.

-Jim, I want you to meet Tim Stewart from ABC News.

-It's a pleasure. Thanks for taking the time.

-Want to sit down?

-We've got a jersey for you.

Can you believe that? Look where they've got the camera.

-Man's been pitching good enough to talk about it.

-He's old enough. Maybe he's talking about retiring.

Ol' man river. Moving kinda slow.

Yeah. Six hours on a bus.

-Yeah?

-Never mind.

Come on, man. I've got just the recipe to loosen your bones up.

Gentlemen.

To the diet that put Babe Ruth in the Hall of Fame.

What was it like watching the Babe play?

Sure you want to start this?

How many fans did you guys lose when you raised ticket prices to 50 cents?

-Not as many as we lose when you pitch.

-Oh. This game is over.

If you were this funny all the time, nobody would say nothing.

About what?

What do you mean?

What are they saying, Brooks?

Some of the guys figure, you know... the way the team's pushing your story that...

You think I'm some kind of publicity stunt?

Is that what they're thinking?

They think I'm taking somebody's spot?

What do you think, Brooks?

You're too fast for me. That's all I know.

CHEERING

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Want to warm up?

Nice job, Brooks. >

You both know it's going to be Brooks.

There's been more than one player called up before.

One my age?

What are you thinking?

I don't know. I got a pile of unpaid bills at home, I got a good job

where I earn 600 a month. I've got a family I haven't seen in three months.

You still got some season left.

Somebody...once told me it's OK to think about what you want to do

until it's time to start doing what you were meant to do.

Just so you know,

you were my best relief pitcher this past month.

Thanks for that.

Just give me that back! It's mine.

Mummy.

PHONE RINGS

Ssh!

-Hello.

-Hey.

-Hey! I didn't think I'd hear from you for a little while.

I'm coming home.

-Did you get hurt?

-No.

I'm fine. Um...

It's just time.

You called Fort Worth?

Uh-huh. I told them I'd be there in two weeks.

So pitch for two weeks.

-There's too much to do.

-I'll take care of it.

-It's been OK for three months...

-Lorri...

I...I'm wasting my time down here.

Listen, Jimmy, Lord knows I'm ready for both sides of the bed to be warm

but if you're going to do this, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons

-because you're the one who's going to have to live with it.

-I'll be fine.

Do you still love it?

Just think about that, OK?

TV ON

MEN LAUGH

TV: 'At batting practice in high school, he found he was throwing the ball a 95mph.'

He doesn't know how that happened. But guess what it did to his dreams.

Here's Darren Brown.

Jim Morris is afraid to tell his mother he quit his old job as a high school teacher

for his new one as relief pitcher in minor league.

He is really old, too old to be in the minors

but he's also throwing harder and better than he did as a 20-year-old kid

and so he's back in that strange and wonderful land called minor league baseball

with bull-snort smoke on every home run.

'I made a challenge for the guys to follow their dreams to motivate them

'and they turned it around on me and told me to follow my own dreams.

-'They're a great bunch of guys.'

-Quiet.

'I had a lot of really good support from my family and friends

'and the townspeople around there. Just great.

'It's been the true love of my life, other than my wife Lorri.

'I had a dream as little boy of playing professional baseball.

'I used to imagine myself, like every other kid in this country,

'being in the World Series,

'pitching in the seventh game in the big league ballpark.

'There's drama in it. There's...

'suspense. There's a camaraderie with the other players.

'The fans in the stadium, you add that to it,

'it's...it's a great game.'

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

CHEERING

Do you know what we get to do today, Brooks?

We get to play baseball.

CROWD CHEERS AND WHISTLES

ANNOUNCER: 'Morris really on top of his game.'

Hope he's really bringing it tonight.

'Call. Strike free.

'This is the third strike of the evening.'

Thanks for cleaning up my mess tonight.

You pitched seven good innings. I wouldn't call that a mess.

Jimmy...

Close the door.

Jimmy, I just got off the phone with the big club.

They're calling up Brooks.

That's great.

-He won't be back.

-He respects you

and I thought you might want to be the one to tell him.

Sure.

You can say you're going too.

They're calling me up?

The two of you fly out tonight to join the team in the morning.

-Where?

-They're on the road right now.

In Texas.

PHONE RINGS

Hello.

-Hey, Lorri.

-Hey, you.

Hey. Hey, um...

Do you know that blue sport coat that I never wear?

Hang on a sec.

-What about the blue coat?

-Would you mind bringing it to Arlington tomorrow?

Arlington? I thought you were...

You tell me right now, Jimmy Morris!

Uh...

apparently...there's a dress code in the Major Leagues.

-Lorri?

-Yeah, I'm here.

They're flying me out in an hour.

-Can you tell everybody?

-Sure. You just have to tell one person first.

..Hunter!

It's your daddy. He's got some news to tell you.

Hey, Dad.

Hey, buddy.

-Hey, guess what.

-What?

Um...your daddy is going to be a Major League pitcher.

-Really?

-Yeah, really. What do you think about that?

Cool.

I can't believe it. Who are you going to play for?

-We're called the Devil Rays.

-What's a Devil Ray?

-It's a fish.

-What colour is it?

-Black.

-Can you eat it?

-I don't know, buddy. It's got a stinger.

-Cool.

My daddy's a Devil Ray pitcher.

CHEERING

# There is a light at the edge of the shadows

# Show a little faith try and believe

# Meditate round the corner

# Dropping on your knees is all you need

# There is a light at the edge of the shadows

# There is a light. #

Team won't be here for a couple of hours. Feel free to look around.

We ain't in Kansas any more, are we?

ANNOUNCER: 'Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Ballpark.

'It's baseball time in Texas.

'Tonight's game - the Tampa Bay Devil Rays against your Texas Rangers.'

HE SIGHS CONTENTEDLY

Jimmy!

Jimmy Morris!

Dad!

-Hi, Dad!

-Hi.

You look great.

Kids, doesn't your daddy look great?

-Yup.

-Yeah.

-Hey.

-Hey.

Ha! I can't believe it.

-Hi, sweetheart.

-Hi, Daddy.

-You're so big.

-Yeah.

Hey, partner. I missed you.

Me, too.

ANNOUNCER: 'Here are the starting line-ups for tonight's game...'

Well, kids, we better let your daddy get to work.

See you after.

'..the Devils went down one, two, three at the top of the first,

'and now Rangers try to get their high-scoring offence on track.'

'For Rangers, number 24, Tom Goodwood!'

CROWD CHEERS

'Three balls and a strike, one out. Pitch on the way...

'It is low. Ball four. Runners at first and second. A scoring chance for Texas.'

'Here's the pitch.' CROWD CHEERS

'Rangers have a 1-0 lead. There's a swing and a base hit to right field,

'and this game is now a 1-1 tie.'

'Now with the fourth inning about to get under way, it's Rangers 1...'

CROWD CHEERS

TELEPHONE RINGS

SPEECH INAUDIBLE

Clanton, Miller.

'Pitch is on the way, a shot to the right centre field, extra bases.'

'Rangers 3, Devil Rays 1 here at the bottom of the sixth.'

'Runners at first and second, a golden chance for the Rangers. Here's the set.

'The pitch on the way, a swing and a smash.

'Up the alley of left centre field. That will score two.

'It's the Rangers 5, the Devil Rays 1. Texas has broken it open.'

'Devil Rays and Rangers also play on Sunday night, game time 7.05...'

TELEPHONE RINGS

Morris!

Start warming up.

Mommy! He's down in the ball pen.

Oh, my Lord.

There he is. There he is!

There he is! He looks good.

CROWD CHEERS

CROWD CHEERS WILDLY

The coach.

-Come on!

-Go, Coach!

'The Tampa Bay trainer is on his way out. The Devil Rays might have to make a pitching change.'

Morris!

You're in.

THE BOYS CHEER

'Just a few months ago, he was grading chemistry tests.

'Now Jim Morris finds himself on the mound in a Major League ballpark.'

A little louder than back home?

Well, then, let's not make this too hard.

You remember that fast ball you were showing me before the game?

-I think so.

-Well, I need three of 'em.

'Coming in to pitch for Tampa Bay, a fellow Texan.

'Making his Major League debut, Jim Morris.'

'Morris will be facing Rangers' shortstop, Royce Clayton.

'Royce has had a very strong second half and has not cooled off any here in the month of September.'

Come on, Dad!

CROWD WHISTLES AND CHEERS

THEY CHEER

One more time!

-Strike two!

-Oh, what?

CROWD BOOS AND CHEERS

CROWD CHEERS WILDLY

SHE SCREAMS

Whoo!

Jimmy, what pitches did you throw to get that strike out?

Um... Fast ball...

-Mm-hm.

-..fast ball and...

-fast ball.

-How'd it feel? Pitching in the Major Leagues?

Just like I hoped it would.

How's the arm feel?

Er...

Could you excuse me for just... just one second?

Sir.

I-I didn't know you were here.

Wasn't missing this one.

Watching you tonight...

..not many fathers get a chance to do that.

I guess I let too many of those things get away.

So did I.

Well, then...

Hey, Dad...

Yeah?

Thanks for coming.

Does this mean I don't get a baseball?

That's all I got left.

Well, a girl could do worse.

So, how does it feel being the oldest rookie in the last 30 years?

-Well...I don't know. I'm tired.

-SHE LAUGHS

-So where are the kids?

-Hunter is with Henry and Jessica's...fine.

Oh, don't tell me you left Jessica with Cal?

Oh, Cal had a little help.

PEOPLE CHEER

Daddy!

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd