Original subtitles

[***]

CHUCK: Carolyn!

Carolyn, enough! Let's go.

Oh!

Give me the ball.

TOMMY: Okay, come on, put her in here. No batter.

Come on, let's go.

CHUCK: Push the tire for me, Carolyn.

Too fast?

Come on, Chuck. We gotta go.

CAROLYN: You're not supposed to leave me!

Go to Trudy's.

CAROLYN: Chuck! Oh, Carolyn, why do you

always have to be such a complete pain in the butt?

CHUCK: She's going.

Hurray!

CHUCK: Hurry up! We're gonna have to leave you!

[***]

Any squawks, major?

Nah.

You down yet?

Yeah, there's this tremendous thunderstorm

that's coming over the Tetons. Black, green...

You used up a lot of runway coming in.

And I hate it when you do that with your wings.

Still get that little heart flutter on touchdown, hmm?

Just come up off my heels a little.

Come on. If I drive, we'll make the last inning.

Uh-huh.

DICK: Looking good! Get 'em out!

BOY 1: Yeah, man, that's right!

BOY 2: Get 'em out next time!

BOY 3: You got him, Chuck!

BOY 4: Oh, he's a dweeb! You'll get him out!

BOY 5: Come on, one more!

DICK: Get 'em out, Chuck! Come on!

[ALL CHEERING]

UMPIRE: Strike two!

DICK: Okay, Chuck, baby! Burn it by him!

Burn it by him! Just one more time!

MAN: No hitter, big guy! No hitter!

DICK: All right, good eye! Good eye!

BOY: Pay attention!

Don't let him psych you out! DICK: All right, Chuck, baby!

Bring it tight, son! Bring it tight!

Get this man and it's the third set up!

BOY: Come on, put it in there!

[***]

[CHEERING]

Okay! Good game! Great!

Way to go, kid! Great game!

All right, kid! Great!

Three in a row! That's the way to do it!

Yeah!

You girls want to get Chuck some hits next time?

ALL: Yeah!

All right!

Good game! Good game!

Okay, hustle, hustle! Let's go, let's go!

[ALL CHATTERING]

Way to go, baby!

Thanks, Dad.

DICK: Your kid makes me look great, Russ!

RUSSELL: Great. You buy the pizzas.

RUSSELL: Hey, big-leaguer, get your butt down here!

PAMELA: Come on. You bring the carrots.

Okay, Mom.

[CAROLYN LAUGHING]

PAMELA: Great.

Food looks all right. Yeah.

Legs inside. Come on.

[BABBLING]

Okay. Okay.

Carolyn's turn.

Dear God, please bless our house.

Thank you for the food. Thank you for everything.

Amen.

I still want a pony.

Amen. Good girl.

Amen.

John Goode called me today, Chuck.

He's coming to your launch. Great!

Why is the congressman honoring us?

He's touring military installations.

Some big house appropriations bill or something.

Texas Johnny B.

The boys said I could be the team maggot.

Mascot. But, Dad, that's Friday.

So?

We have to do the test tomorrow.

Okay.

They're going to put the mouse in it.

We're gonna put you in it.

[EXCLAIMS]

[LAUGHING]

RUSSELL: Johnny B!

Russell! Ha-ha-ha!

[EXCLAIMING]

Good to see you, pal. Whoo!

It's been too damn long. Yeah.

Well, look at Chuck. God, last time I saw him,

he was running around in a Batman outfit.

RUSSELL: Yeah, well, they grow.

Well, yours grow. Mine get bigger.

You gotta be around to watch 'em, John.

Pamela! How you doing, baby?

You've been on a pretty fast track since I seen you last.

[EXCLAIMS]

[CHORTLING]

[***]

Okay!

Five, four, three,

two, one.

Fire!

Oh, no!

Yeah! All right! Whoo!

Yeah!

And chute deploying!

[LAUGHS]

Colonel, would you see

that somebody takes these men to get their capsule?

And then meet us at the silo.

Very well, congressman.

I'm gonna show 'em one of Uncle Sam's, huh?

Was that mouse in there?

[SQUEAKING]

[***]

GOODE: Children, this is a Minuteman III.

And that concrete slab you see rolling off weighs 40 tons.

Whoa!

GOODE: And when the missile is actually launched,

they blow it off with explosives.

This particular missile,

or "bird," as it's called, is 66 feet long.

It has a range of 7,000 miles

and a 20-megaton warhead,

which is more than all the explosives

dropped by both sides in World War II.

It uses solid rocket fuel

and can be out of here in 32 seconds.

GOODE: We are now 50 feet below the surface.

Excuse me.

GOODE: Let the gentlemen through.

You see, there are always two men in this room.

Behind these doors are the controls

to launch the missile you just saw.

GIRL: So where is it aimed?

Well, that's classified, honey, but...

Well, it could be anywhere in Russia in 20 minutes.

Stand clear.

Okay, back up. Let 'em get in here now.

Okay, back up. Back up.

CHUCK: Sir? Yes, Chuck.

Why are they carrying guns?

Well, it's the military, son.

You see, down here, nothing is left to chance.

Even our backup systems have backup systems.

Well, who could get to 'em in there?

No one.

Look, this is the cornerstone of America's defense.

And it is the most carefully designed system in the world.

Now, these men are the last link in a huge chain

that starts and can only start with the president himself.

Well, why would they have to shoot each other?

Who said they had to shoot each other?

Heh-heh. Children...

Children, the simple truth is,

that missile will never be used.

That's why it was built.

And those guns are never coming out of those holsters.

Now you believe me when I tell you that everybody,

and I mean, everybody... Stand clear.

...down here is very, very careful.

Colonel.

[ALL WHISPERING INDISTINCTLY]

[***]

Is there a problem here?

The plane my dad flies, in the reserves.

Mmm-hmm?

He has air-to-ground missiles.

Lots of stuff.

Maybe even nukes sometimes, right?

So?

Well, he's all alone up there.

What if he freaks out?

[CHUCKLES]

Well, wait a minute, who said anything about freaking out?

I mean... Chuck, listen to me.

Look, if your daddy ever has nukes, which I doubt,

they are tactical. Hmm?

I mean, hell, damn foot soldiers can have tactical nukes

and they have bazookas. That's a...

That's a toy compared to what you saw today.

What?

Yeah, it's a little hard to explain.

Listen, why don't you just go join your little friends, huh?

No.

I want you to tell me how my dad's plane is a toy.

Look...

You know, Chuck, for a bright kid, you are just a tad slow.

I mean, don't you know what you just saw here today?

All right, let me see if I can...

Let's say...

Let's just say that your mama and your sister are, uh,

washing dishes after dinner.

And Carolyn drops a fork.

Now, if an ICBM airbursts even miles away,

your sister's gonna be vaporized

before that fork hits the floor.

Now, do you understand? Yeah, vaporized.

So is everybody else in a 50-mile radius.

Now, let's just...

Well, let's say for the sake of argument

that your daddy works in this hole.

Right behind this door.

And he knows all that and he gets the order to launch.

And he says, "Whoa, now, well,

"you know, wait a minute, I mean,

"maybe this order's a mistake.

"But if I turn that key,

"they all go, global nuclear exchange."

Now, you do think that we're gonna trust him to...

You know, turn that key?

Would you trust him?

You know, son, I'm...

I'm sorry, but...

That's what the pistols are for.

John Goode loved your launch today, Chuck.

Thought you made a great rocket.

He wants to see it next time when you do it with the mouse.

PAMELA: Good for John B.

So impressed, he had to show them his was bigger.

CAROLYN: Chuck let the mouse go, in the yard.

He's gone.

[***]

[CHUCK MOANING]

GOODE: Let's just say that your mama and your sister are, uh,

washing dishes after dinner.

And Carolyn drops a fork.

[ECHOING] Fork, fork, fork...

[ALARMS BLARING]

...gonna be vaporized.

[ECHOING] Global...

Your sister's gonna be vaporized...

Global nuclear exchange.

ALL: Let's go!

MAN: All right, Tigers, let's go be free.

[ALL CHEERING]

[WHISTLE BLOWS]

WOMAN: Way to go, kids.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[APPLAUSE]

WOMAN: Way to go, kids.

Go get 'em, pal.

Dad? Yeah?

WOMAN: All right! Yeah!

Let's be old farts together someday, okay?

DICK: Let's play some baseball!

Okay.

Hey! How's the franchise?

MAN: Let's get this show on the road!

BOY 1: Let's do it, Chuck! Come on!

You feeling okay?

BOY 2: Strike him out, Chuck!

I can't play, Uncle Dick.

Kinda big game, Chuck. First game with the Tigers.

Kinda like to show 'em who's boss

in case we meet 'em later in the finals.

I tell you what. Try a couple of innings.

BOY 3: Let's go, Chuck!

I'm not sick.

Then what the hell is this about?

I just can't play.

I can't play because there are nuclear weapons.

What's that got to do with baseball?

Nothing. It's my best thing. I have to give up something.

Who told you that? Nobody!

BOY: Let's get moving!

DICK: Does your dad know about this?

CHUCK: Mmm-mmm.

You're not kiddin'!

I know you all your life.

Never even known you to talk about this stuff.

I know.

What stuff?

Nuclear weapons, Russ.

BOY: Hey, Dick, what's the holdup there?

I mean...

Jerome! You're pitchin'!

BOY 1: Jerome? We'll get killed!

[BOYS PROTESTING]

TOMMY: Wait a minute! I'm not catching him!

DICK: Just hold on it!

You want out, too?

Sure, if I gotta catch that jerk!

It's a joke, right?

DICK: No, no, wait, wait, wait!

He will not pitch!

ALL: Why not? Come on!

DICK: Guys! We do not have a choice.

Yeah, we do! If the Tigers cream us 15 to zip,

everybody'll think we stink!

ALL: Yeah!

But... But if we forfeit, it isn't out fault.

ALL: Yeah!

You're gonna feel real bad about this. You know that.

BOY: God!

DICK: Game's over, Dave! We forfeit!

Thanks for your help, partner.

MAN: Hey, I don't want a forfeit!

BOY 1: Oh, wimpy chumps!

BOY 2: Weenie!

BOY 3: No game! BOY 4: Really?

Too bad we don't have someone that'll pitch for us.

See you later.

Are you sick?

What's the matter, then? What's going on?

I'm giving up baseball, Dad.

What's the matter?

You guys catch a ride with Helen, will you?

CAROLYN: But she's not here. RUSSELL: Go!

[CHUCK SIGHS]

Nobody really wants those things, do they, Dad?

What? Nuclear weapons?

Yeah.

I mean, aren't you scared just knowing they're there?

When I let myself think about it.

I can't stop thinking about it.

Before the game you said

something about us being old farts together somewhere.

What was that about?

Remember when you and Uncle Dick had that fight on the porch,

in the cabin?

You said you wanted to be old farts, fishing someplace,

or something. Huh?

He said you'd lose a lot of money and nobody cared anyway.

You both need the money.

Then you said you cared.

I guess that's what you called principles.

You heard all that?

Yeah.

So is that what I just heard

with you and Uncle Dick just now? Principles?

Chuck, back then I just gave up some money, that's all.

You're giving up baseball.

Dad, what's your best thing?

You couldn't give up Mom and Carolyn.

I don't know.

Flyin' a plane, I guess.

Chuck, when Uncle Dick and I were fighting,

did you even know what the principles were all about?

No.

Come on.

Let's walk.

[CROWD CHEERING]

COMMENTATOR: Amazing Grace puts it into play to Sam Vincent.

Vincent brings it up the left sideline,

goes about halfway, looking for the pick.

Gets the pick from Greg Kite, going to the right.

And hooks it over to Danny Ainge.

Ainge in to McHale for a hook shot.

That's no good. The Sixers rebound

and get it back off the floor on a fast break.

Amazing Grace gets back on defense and rejects the shot!

Okay! They're back the other way!

CROWD [CHANTING]: Amazing! Amazing!

COMMENTATOR: And the crowd calling for Amazing Grace

to take a three-point field goal!

He rotates behind the pick!

Takes the shot, and... Gosh!

[CHEERING]

A three-point field goal from Amazing Grace!

That's his second of the night!

And puts the Celtics out in front!

This guy is one of the great

three-point field goal shooters of all time!

[***]

[DOORBELL RINGS]

You should lock your door!

Where were you last night?

I was lookin' for someone to eat with after the game.

Long night with a tall guy.

If his knees hold out, I'll make him a millionaire.

AMAZING: Is that the kid from Kentucky?

Indiana.

[PANTING]

Look at this.

Some kid from Montana.

Little League pitcher.

I have some checks.

I wonder if the kid really did this.

All that for chartering one little jet?

All that for one juvenile whim. I'll tell you what.

You put the little ball through the little hoop,

I'll manage your money.

Do that again.

Really, I think that you should read this.

Sounds like an interesting kid.

Amazing?

Some kids eat goldfish.

[KIDS CHATTERING]

GIRL: Stop it! BOY: It wasn't me.

What a wimp.

Hey, Chuck! The sky is falling!

[ALL LAUGHING]

GIRL: Bye-bye.

[***]

AMAZING: You stand in front of that basket and play...

CAROLYN: Like this?

Mr. Amazing, Chuck's here.

Hi.

You're supposed to bounce it!

Mr. Smith read about you in the paper, Chuck.

He doesn't have much time.

He has a game tomorrow in Seattle.

Carolyn, come inside now.

Mr. Smith's come a long way to see your brother.

The paper said that you were the star player.

Is that true?

I don't know. Maybe.

AMAZING: These go in there?

CHUCK: Yeah.

It's close.

[CLATTERS]

You want to show me how this is done?

I can't.

So you won't even do this anymore, huh?

Well, that's okay.

You're probably one of those guys that never miss, anyway.

Friends think you let 'em down?

We would have gone to the state finals.

They're angry at me. They think I'm selfish.

All of 'em?

Not all of 'em, but most of 'em.

You know.

I wish I never would've started any of this.

It's not gonna change anything. It's dumb.

Well, you got me here.

Why are you here?

I was in the neighborhood.

[BOTH CHUCKLE]

Didn't you score 38 points last night in the game?

Yeah.

When you dunk, do you really look down on the basket?

Bring the ball over here.

Okay.

Now dribble once you take a step.

Since you're left-handed,

you gotta go off of your right foot, okay?

Ready? Yep.

Okay. Let's go.

Dunk it!

Oh!

That's how it feels.

Wow!

You must be very proud of him.

Yeah, we are.

It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Smith.

Thank you. What brings you to Livingston?

Your son.

You lost me.

I need to ask you something.

I'm gonna do what Chuck did.

What do you mean?

I'm gonna resign.

And I'd like to name Chuck when I do.

Is that what you're asking me? If you can use his name?

Why? Well, it was his idea.

What's his idea?

Whatever this turns out to be.

[***]

Well, first I'd like to thank Red, the Celtic organization,

for the kindness

and the fairness that they've shown me over the years.

It's been some of the best years of my life.

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

AMAZING: There's this 12-year-old kid in Montana.

[CAMERAS CLICKING] His name is Chuck Murdock.

He made the papers a few weeks back

when he refused to play baseball because of nuclear weapons.

He gave up what he did best because of this idea.

I couldn't believe it. But he's real.

I met him.

And I don't think he should be alone.

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

You're telling us you're leaving basketball as a protest?

Let me say this slowly. I hate being misquoted.

I am giving up basketball

until there are no more

nuclear weapons.

So you just leave and I'm supposed to clean it up?

You'll be lucky if the team doesn't sue you!

And the endorsements!

The juice, the shoes. Those guys bought an image.

Some image!

You want me to say something here?

No!

I'm your manager! You should've told me!

Who do you think cares, anyway,

if some guy with a pituitary problem

stops running up and down in his underwear?

Maybe only you.

You were my first client.

Right out of business school.

You were a pistol even then.

I know why you're doing this.

It's not about them.

Oh. Just like you haven't been

in mourning over them for the last five years, too?

When will you be back?

Probably when it's over.

In one of the weirder nuclear protests I can remember,

Amazing Grace Smith apparently resigned

from the Boston Celtics this afternoon.

Now, with Smith having abandoned the team,

Celtic title hopes suddenly are in doubt.

Many observers, one including this reporter, to be sure,

are disturbed by this intrusion of politics into...

The Chinese transaction. Am I to understand

the South Africans wish us to go public?

WELLER: ...and he claimed to be imitating the actions

of a 12-year-old Montana Little League baseball pitcher.

The boy, Chuck Murdock,

apparently cited the existence of nuclear weapons

as the reason he was refusing to participate in baseball.

Until this moment, Smith,

who's been in the league for nine years, was considered

one of the most stable and consistent players in the NBA.

The one thing I admire about sports in your country

is the colorful personalities of your sportsmen.

Oh, we let them think as well as play, Johann.

Yes.

Perhaps ours are afraid of making fools of themselves, hmm?

Your Mr. Smith appears to be fearless.

Has he made a fool of himself? Uh-huh.

Has he really? I'm not so sure.

We're a sentimental nation.

You can't believe this man is dangerous.

It all depends on who hears him.

PAMELA: Throw me one, Chuck. RUSSELL: All right!

[DOORBELL RINGING] CHUCK: Oh, come on!

All right. Hold. Half-time.

CHUCK: I'm gonna throw up. Chuck, get the door.

So, how many did you get? We won.

You didn't win. We never finished.

Hi.

Remember me?

You did it. I didn't think you'd come back.

Um, you're just in time for dinner.

[***]

[WHISTLES]

[***]

I bought it.

Yesterday.

[***]

It's gonna be a lot of work.

You want to help?

You're staying? Here? In Livingston?

With you.

How long?

How long till you pitch a baseball?

I don't know.

Me too.

Is your wife gonna stay here with you?

You think I'm married, huh?

Sorry. Guess I did.

Used to be.

Her name was Maggie.

She died in a car crash five years ago.

My daughter was with her.

She was 6.

[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING ON STEREO]

MAN: I can take you down here, please.

POLLACK: Mr. Smith?

[CHUCKLES]

I'm John Pollack from the local paper.

Appreciate the chance to talk to you.

All right.

Mr. Pollack, meet Chuck Murdock here.

You've probably already met him.

Uh, no. Hello, son. Ya!

[CHUCKLES]

Uh, you mind if I sit?

I, uh,

wrote that story on you. When you didn't pitch.

Boy!

Real event to have you visit us this way.

You going to organize it from here?

Organize what?

Oh, excuse me. I assumed this was a movement of some kind.

Or do you think your personal absence

will change nuclear policy?

What do you think?

I mean, uh--

You think we ought to take some kind of first step,

then let the Russians follow suit?

I don't know.

What do you think?

POLLACK: I think my readers might be more interested in what you think.

Really? Why?

Kid, this is your show.

You gotta tell this guy what you think.

Have you ever seen one of those missiles, sir?

Why do you want 'em?

[HORN HONKS]

You always make your own deliveries?

Special case.

Having fun out here?

Is that so awful?

You'll have to excuse me, but I'm having kind of a hard time

calling you "Amazing."

You got a real name?

Worse.

Chuck says you're a fighter pilot.

Was. I'm in the reserves.

He says you love it. Love to fly.

Million a year, huh?

Little bit more.

You know there's always gonna be nuclear weapons, don't you?

But wouldn't it be nice if there weren't?

"Nice?"

[SCOFFS]

Give me a hand with these.

Look, if you're so bored

that you need some kind of crusade to make you happy,

you could at least leave my kid out of it. He's just a boy.

True. But he started it.

What do you think, you're the damn Pied Piper?

Look, I heard the music playing.

I thought it was coming from your place.

PAMELA: I've always loved that place.

I'm glad it's gonna be used again.

Heh. Used?

Pretending to live in a ruined barn?

You know, you're full of shit.

Why? Because I don't think the guy's sincere?

'Cause I doubt his stability?

His stability?

Because he walked away from money? A career?

You don't doubt him.

You don't like him because he's...

inconvenient.

You're better than that.

You cheated!

No, I didn't.

[BOTH PANTING]

We jump off that rope.

Really? Yeah, really.

And you jump into that?

Uh-huh. It's great.

Black folk don't do stuff like this.

Maybe little black folk do, sometimes.

If they're stuck way out in the country.

But I know big black folk don't.

You wouldn't be bored.

You think I'm bored?

It's a little boring out here.

You mean you're bored all the time. That's rough.

No, I mean you.

You think I miss those big city lights? Nah!

[LAUGHS]

Well, you do, don't you?

Hey, you don't have to babysit me.

Just pretend that I'm not here.

Okay.

What you doing?

You'll find out.

You little rat!

Whoa!

[YELLING]

[GIGGLING]

I'll get you for this!

[SIREN WAILING]

Come on, let's go! Get him in here!

Come on, come on, come on!

Hurry up! Put me down!

What's wrong with you?

MAN: Go!

Amazing!

GEORGE: God, don't hit him!

CHUCK: Ouch!

Let me go! Come on, let me go!

Let me...

[GRUNTING]

[MEN LAUGHING] Don't try to get away from me.

See, basically, kid, he's pretty harmless,

but, every once in a while, he gets out, you know.

We gotta come get him. Let go of me!

Hot Dog McNally, at your service.

Oh, and that's my quarterback, George Maston.

Get back up here! How you doin', kid?

[LAUGHING]

That's right. The core of the Dolphin air attack, that's us.

[MEN LAUGHING]

I thought you guys would've won the Super Bowl last year.

We would have if George could've got the ball to me, the jerk!

George! George, huh?

Well, if old Hot Dog here would have brought his playbook

instead of his phone book,

things might have been a little bit different, too, huh?

[ALL LAUGHING]

So, is the pressure getting heavy up here?

It'll get worse.

[MEN LAUGHING]

GEORGE: Oh, so,

you don't play baseball no more, is that right?

That's right.

Why not?

I mean, I read about it, but it's really not clear to me.

What, did you see some propaganda movie or something?

[LAUGHING]

No.

A friend of my dad's

showed my class Minuteman III.

Huh.

How good was this kid, man?

He was the best.

Whole career, nipped in the bud, just like that, huh?

Hey, it can happen to anyone.

Yeah, right.

McNALLY: I kinda thought you flipped out, you know.

GEORGE: Yeah, sort of why we dropped by.

AMAZING: Huh. I figured that. Sad about it?

GEORGE: No, doesn't seem like it.

McNALLY: Well, I mean, no more than usual.

[GEORGE LAUGHING]

[CHATTERING OVER RADIO]

Halt!

You're within 25 feet of military property.

If you don't leave immediately,

we will contact civilian police authorities.

We're just sightseeing.

GUARD 1: You that basketball player?

I'm one of them.

Yeah, you're him. That the boy?

Chuck, Hot Dog McNally, George.

You boys mind if we take a look down there?

I'm sorry, Mr. McNally. Nobody can do that.

Well, you showed it to him.

You mean, you got something down there

that I paid my tax dollars to build?

I mean, too damn many tax dollars.

And I can't even see it? GUARD 2: Yes, sir.

McNALLY: Have you ever seen it? GUARD 2: No, sir.

Well, maybe it ain't even there.

Ahem. * Turn out the lights

* The party's over

* All good things Must come to and end *

McNALLY: So, what else do you do for fun around here?

AMAZING: Thanks for the use of the hall.

And I thought I'd put a pool table over here.

Huh? Oh, yeah.

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

Huh.

AMAZING: Over here. Maybe put my bed up here.

Up where?

AMAZING: Middle of the platform for sunsets.

McNALLY: Yeah. Sunsets, huh?

All you're gonna is a bunch of television cameras

trying to get a shot of the crazy black dude.

We'll build a moat and put gators in it.

"We"?

McNALLY: Aw, come on, George, it's gonna be too much fun to miss.

Listen, we'll put in a Barcalounger for you

one of those big-screen TVs,

a little refrigerator for your beer.

You're gonna think you're home.

You're crazy, too.

McNALLY: You bet.

If you guys want me, I'm in.

Hey! Yeah!

Hey, wait a minute. You're serious, aren't you?

Yeah.

You're going to sit out the season?

You're just gonna walk out on your contract, on your life?

For what?

For this.

For this?

Which can't make a damn bit of difference

to anybody in the world.

Except me, George.

Grow up, will you?

Damn it! My best wide receiver.

CHUCK: Why are you doing this?

McNALLY: Why did you? CHUCK: I'm just a kid!

You're a quarterback, George, and you got kids. You tell him.

GEORGE: Yeah, I got kids and I got a wife

and a house and bills.

And I want to see those kids grow up.

Heck, I wanna see this guy grow up.

You are dangerous, kid.

I'm in.

Yeah!

Yeah! Ha-ha-ha!

That's why they let quarterbacks talk in the huddle, Chuck,

so they can figure out what's going on.

Yeah!

Yeah! All right.

Tell that guy with the ambulance

I'm coming back and I'm buying it!

Save me some room in that thing for my loft!

I love you! Whoo!

[***]

Morning, Russ.

[***]

[ALL CHATTERING]

That's Mad Dog Johnson.

He's a linebacker for the Steelers.

Know what a linebacker is?

Well, uh, that's a linebacker.

[ALL CHATTERING]

BOY: Jack, let's go! GEORGE: Ready?

BOY: Come on, let's go. Yeah.

Want some?

Oh. Here.

Abel, 180!

Set! Hut, hut! Hut!

Thought you guys weren't playing anymore.

No, we just ain't playing for you.

CAROLYN: Is he gonna carry that up the ladder?

McNALLY: Who knew he liked water?

You know, we both have the same name.

Uh-huh?

Dog.

Huh.

COXSWAIN: Stroke!

Stroke!

Stroke!

Stroke!

Stroke!

Stroke!

Thank you.

Thanks very much.

Yeah, it's my favorite spot.

Mine too.

Doctors don't let me row anymore, so I just watch.

What did you row? Singles, eights?

You know crew? Mm-hm.

Eights, for Yale.

My father rowed singles, for Harvard.

What was his name?

Donald Taylor.

He went to Henley, didn't he?

1951, if I recall.

It was '52. Did you know him?

No, not really.

Come here often?

Wednesdays.

Well,

hope to see you again.

Call the plane. We are on our way.

[ALL CHATTERING]

See you later.

[TIRES SCREECHING]

Let's go, kid!

So what? So Chuck's turned into a real asshole.

Jerome, eat shit and die.

REPORTER: Here tonight, outside the home of 12-year-old Chuck Murdock,

the boy who, along with former Celtic star,

Amazing Grace Smith, has launched a-- Let's go.

MAN 1: Hey, Hot Dog, let me ask you a couple of questions.

MAN 2: Anybody else coming in to join you?

WOMAN: Is it true your new life is as satisfying as you thought?

MAN 3: How about your team buddies?

MAN 4: Stewart Chipley, fellows, anything to report tonight?

CHUCK: I'm home!

I'm late. I'm sorry.

Yeah?

Well, some boy, a big kid,

called your sister a foul name today.

Then he pushed her down.

She's okay. She was scared to death.

Your mother has to use the backdoor to her own home now.

Would you like to hear some of the calls

I'm getting down at the lumberyard?

Huh?

You wash up.

You eat your mother's dinner, you tell her how good it is.

You play with your sister.

You pay some real attention to her.

Then do your homework.

[***]

You mad at me?

Because I fly a fighter?

Because I'm not a professional basketball player?

Because I don't really agree with what you're doing?

I love you, Chuck.

And I'm angry.

You're my son. My responsibility.

I could make you stop this.

And I'm not.

So in a way I feel like I'm doing it, too.

I keep telling myself

that it's not me you're fighting against.

I sure hope not.

I'm not fighting.

CROWD [CHANTING]: Get out of Livingston! Get out of Livingston!

MAN 1: Hey, Russ, why don't you come out and talk to us?

MAN 2: Yeah, come on out!

MAN 3: Hey, what are you doing? Hiding behind the kids?

MAN 4: Hey, Murdock, we're your neighbors.

Why do you need all that protection?

[CAR HORN HONKING]

[CROWD CLAMORING]

Hey, you pacifists, get out of here!

Get out of America while you're at it!

Get off my back...

[CROWD CLAMORING]

CHUCK: No!

[GRUNTING]

[GRUNTING]

[ALL SHOUTING]

[PANTING]

I am not a pacifist!

[SIRENS APPROACHING]

You allowed to shoot baskets?

Haven't thought about it much.

Thanks for the help,

but I kind of wish I didn't need it, you know?

Kind of like to take my son fishing Sunday,

if that's okay with you.

Sure. You can even take him out to supper,

as long as you have him home early.

Chuck told me about your wife and kid,

and I'm sorry, of course.

I guess I ought to be grateful

that you don't want my wife, too.

Look, I've got two things to say.

The first won't be much comfort.

I'm sorry.

Yeah, what's the second?

I'm jealous as hell.

Next time, get your elbows in on the jump shot.

GOODE: Hey, Russ?

You did an ops check, right?

MAN: Yeah, we checked it. It's all okay.

Johnny B, what the hell you doing here?

Hey, hey! How you doin', buddy?

Listen, Russ, I need a little favor, partner.

Well, I need you to get your kid off my ass, huh?

[CHUCKLES] Your ass, John?

Yeah, well, you see, uh,

it's causing a lot of problems for a lot of people.

Hey, Uncle Sam has nice hardware, huh?

I mean, flying anything less,

sort of like kissing your sister?

[LAUGHING]

I hear you, John.

What can I do for you?

GOODE: Why, now, I...

I don't think you really do hear me,

'cause I just told you, Russ.

Now, look.

The Defense Department tells me and I tell you.

Russ, you've gotta call off your kid.

You sure I'm the right guy for the assignment, John?

I mean, it's kind of like

turning the key down in one of those silos.

What the hell are you talking about?

I'm not sure you can really trust me.

[ENGINE ROARING]

Listen, I'll never be able to finish this sandwich on my own.

You want to share it with me?

What kind? Egg salad.

Okay.

So I saw your picture somewhere.

[LAUGHS]

My picture never runs anywhere.

You were checking up on me, Lynn.

Oh, there's nothing wrong with that.

Captain of industry.

Lynn, I should be somewhere else today.

I flew back a long ways just to see you.

It's about something I've heard.

I won't tell you where and I won't tell you who.

You have a client named Amazing Grace Smith.

Now there are people,

some, I'm sorry to say, even friends of mine.

Now, these people are accustomed to predicting events.

They enjoy predictability.

In fact, they require it.

You ever play poker?

The popular movements are like wild cards.

Well, it's impossible for me to say

when any of these very powerful players

could prove dangerous to your Mr. Smith.

But then, it would take only one.

This is very kind of you.

Of course, the more information you can give me,

the more persuasive I can be with my client.

I hope I haven't said too much already.

By the time I left the tour in Japan,

we were up to 212?

Two hundred and twelve athletes from Europe and Japan alone.

The interesting thing is

the recent addition of Soviet Bloc athletes,

particularly the East Germans, the Czechs, the Yugoslavs.

Because, up to this point,

only free world athletes had responded.

None of us knew if this idea could cross the Iron Curtain.

Well, it has.

Is he still at the hotel? Is this Paris?

No, sir, this isn't going to Ethiopia.

Avec Simon.

Amazing, you know how to speak French?

Hey, Gatz. Need your ID. GATZ: Yeah?

[RUSSELL & CHUCK LAUGHING]

CHUCK: Kissing your sister, huh?

RUSSELL: Yeah, you know...

Like, on a scale from one to 10, which would be better?

Kissing Carolyn or strikin' out

that mutant monster from Great Falls last year?

Easy! Carolyn.

[CHUCKLES]

God, you're a weird kid.

So, what?

Pretty scared?

I don't know. I can't remember the last time

the president of the United States wanted to talk to me.

What am I supposed to do?

Do what's right. The way you see it.

No, I mean about you.

You know you want me to stop. You can say it.

If I wanted you to stop, Chuck, I'd stop you myself.

I just wish Amazing could be there with me.

Yeah, I know you do.

[***]

The president will be with you in a minute.

He's running a little late.

Maybe after you meet the president,

you'd like a ride on a Cobra.

Or we could fly you over to Annapolis

and you could go on a nuclear submarine.

Dal, this boy doesn't want to go on a nuclear submarine.

He wants to play baseball.

Hello, Chuck.

We'll be all right on our own, Dal.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Wish I could say that I was more like you when I was your age,

but I didn't have your grit.

Thank you, sir.

You know, this job of mine

can get a little bit lonely, at times.

I figure you must know something about loneliness.

Refusing to play baseball

to fight for something you believe in. I read that.

And I thought, "Now, there's a young man

"who's willing to risk loneliness,

"being cut off from his friends.

Isolation."

I hadn't thought of it like that, sir.

But you feel it, don't you?

Sometimes.

Sit down, Chuck.

You know, last night,

there was a riot at a soccer game in Germany.

Some people blame that on you. Even some of my aides.

This guy who was trying to feed you ice cream.

They ran up a little display board for you.

Lots of blinking lights.

White lights for the American missiles.

You know, white for the good guys.

And the Soviet missiles, of course, with little red lights.

I think they wanted you to see

that there are a lot more red lights than white ones.

They want me to tell you that you're jeopardizing our country

by not playing Little League baseball.

Now, they're honest men.

They believe that stuff.

I think it's nonsense.

Don't you?

Yes, sir. I guess I do.

Ah. Course,

I am a sports fan, and the way things are going,

next season looks like a total washout.

But that's no reason to tell an honest person

to stop doing what he feels in his heart is right.

That's the toughest thing in the world to ask a man to do.

And I'm about to ask you.

Sir, why?

Well, son, I'm in ongoing negotiations

with the Soviet premier about nuclear weapons.

Now, when you negotiate,

the other guys is always judging your strength.

They think I'm strong only if they think that

the people of this nation are gonna back me up.

Now, I'm not gonna sit here and tell you

that you're destroying our country.

But I am telling you

that you're making it harder

for me to get rid of nuclear weapons.

And that's the truth.

Now, you stood up for your beliefs.

That feels good.

And it's right.

But this work we're doing, these negotiations.

They're more important than those feelings.

So, I am gonna ask you

to get out there

and start striking out hitters again.

What do you say?

Sir, I can't.

I guess you mean you won't.

Yes, sir.

Guess I do.

Uh-huh.

Well, it's a tough call.

We're pretty partial

to the right of free speech in this republic.

May God never see that change.

But there's a saying, Chuck, that the First Amendment

doesn't give anybody the right

to rush into a crowded theatre and yell, "Fire!"

But, sir,

what if there is a fire?

CHUCK: Who's right?

AMAZING: You're both right.

It's easy being right.

What am I supposed to do?

Doing right, that's a little tougher.

You see, the president has his point of view

and you have yours and you're both telling the truth

about what you see from where you're standing.

Well, somebody's got to be wrong!

But there's no real way to know who it is!

Amazing, how does anybody ever know what to do?

Well, you just forget about who's standing where

looking at what and just do...

...what you've already done.

Already done?

A while ago, you went up to your coach and you quit baseball.

You weren't thinking about being right,

you were just doing right.

Do you remember what I told you about the three-point shot?

You mean about your wife?

No, about how you make one.

See, at those moments,

there's no noise,

there's no crowd,

there's no other player on the floor.

There's just a ball and a hoop a long way away.

That one perfect thing.

Right, that's it. Right.

You see, it's an impossible shot,

but I'm not there either.

I just disappear.

And that's how things get done.

Disappear?

Yeah.

You, too, just forget yourself.

It was never me,

and it was never you.

Just disappear into the act.

[INSECTS BUZZING]

So this reminds you of your roots?

Where was it again?

South, uh, Bronx?

Philly?

Catch.

Glad you decided to come out here.

This guy's been stalking you,

through me.

Six Wednesdays, Amazing.

Guys like this make presidents disappear.

He used six Wednesdays, Amazing.

So that you'd know that he means business.

So what do you want me to do?

I just want you to come back! Just come back to Boston!

Come back to the team.

Just come back.

[***]

Oh, thank you.

AMAZING: My pleasure.

I don't believe we've been formally introduced, Mr. Smith.

My name is Alexander Jeffries.

It's good to have you here in Boston.

Are you here to see the Celtics management?

No, you.

Oh? Whatever about?

Guys you play poker with.

Oh, yes.

Well,

understand, Mr. Smith,

that the gentlemen we're talking about

regard the public as simply a great beast.

A beast that can only be safely led

by someone who knows how to hold the leash.

If he can't control them,

the leader becomes more dangerous than the beast itself.

Beast? Yeah, I've seen that.

Players trying to break your leg.

Crowds screaming for blood.

A fan hit me with a rock in a parking lot one night.

Just because his team lost.

And your point?

I don't trust me. I don't trust you.

I don't trust anyone with his finger on that trigger.

Lack of confidence indicates a want of leadership, Mr. Smith.

Drop the leash.

Don't start something you can't finish.

Here's a message from the beast.

You mess with my friends and I'll see you in hell!

[***]

[AMAZING HUMMING]

* Foot bone connected To the-- *

Hey!

Have a good time in Boston with Miss Taylor?

No. She wasn't there. She's in San Francisco.

Got to fly out there tomorrow night. Speak at some luncheon.

Lynn's pet charity.

Got any jokes that I could tell?

What's the matter with you? Are you having a bad day?

You too sad to eat? That means I get your lunch.

Hey!

That's a bad move there. Mad Dog's turn to cook.

Oh!

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

WOMAN [ON TV]: The congressional screening subcommittee

is scheduled to meet with former aides

and associates of candidate Rehnquist.

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

AMAZING: Did I wake you?

Yes.

What, are you kidding?

I'm still trying to keep you out of jail.

These guys want more money out of you

than you were gonna make in the next 10 years.

That is, if you were working.

AMAZING: Then I guess this jet came out of your pocket. Thanks.

LYNN: Jet?

AMAZING: Yeah.

You ordered a Cessna. I begged for a jet,

and you said I couldn't afford it.

So?

So thanks for changing your mind.

I didn't send a jet.

[***]

You're on a plane I didn't send.

Oh, God.

Lynn,

listen to me. It may not be what you think.

I'm gonna hang up and go get the pilot to land immediately.

Amazing... Shh.

If anything happens to me,

you go to Livingston.

And no matter what, I'll always be there.

[PHONE DISCONNECTS]

[PHONE RINGING]

RUSSELL: Hello?

Who is this?

When?

Oh, Jesus!

Yes.

Right.

That was John Pollack from the Enterprise.

He said that Amazing's plane went down in the Rockies.

Oh, my God.

They think it hit a mountain.

He said that they would know more in the morning.

The whole world's gonna be outside tomorrow.

They're gonna call all night, Pam.

I can't tell him tonight.

Dad?

It's a hummingbird feeder.

[YAWNING] Okay.

Your mom loves hummingbirds.

Isn't it a little early in the morning?

I decided to get your little sister that pony that she wants.

[SOBS]

I love you, Chuck.

And I'm sorry.

What's the matter, Dad?

"'Very well,' said the little pig, 'what time will you come?'

"'Oh, at 6:00,' said the wolf.

"Well, the little pig got up at 5:00

"and he went to Mr. Smith's farm

"and he got the turnips before the wolf came to his house.

"'Little pig, are you ready?' asked the wolf.

"And the little pig says, 'Ready?

"'I've been ready and come back.

"'And I've got a nice pot full of turnips for dinner.'

"The wolf was very angry,

but then he thought of another way to get the little pig."

So, all the press people are outside, Chuck.

Somebody's got to go talk to them.

CAROLYN: Are you going to make a speech, Chuck?

I had a friend.

His name was Amazing Grace Smith.

He was my best friend.

I think he was the best basketball player

that ever lived.

All he wanted is for people to live.

And now he's gone.

He told me, and I've seen it,

that there's death buried in the earth,

enough to kill us many times.

Amazing said, "It'd be a good thing

if everybody stopped pretending that death wasn't there."

If we stopped playing,

he said we could play when they took it away.

And now he's gone.

And the death is still there.

Are you going to give up now?

I don't want to talk anymore.

WOMAN: Chuck?

MAN 1: Well, Chuck, can we ask you a couple more questions?

WOMAN: What is that?

MAN 2: It's Amazing Grace's sign.

[***]

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

REPORTER 1: Chuck, how long are you gonna keep this up?

REPORTER 2: Mr. Murdock, are you gonna put him back in school?

Wow!

I don't believe it.

I asked you a question!

Sit down! Now, answer the question

or you're going to the principal's office!

You don't write the answer on the blackboard!

You speak when I tell you!

All right, get out of here!

[***]

So what'd you think about Amazing and me?

He was my boyfriend?

Is that okay?

[SNIFFLES]

He wasn't. He never was.

He was my best friend.

Nobody knew it.

Just him and me. And now you.

He never let go of Maggie.

Not even a little bit.

He told me that...

That you

took him to a special place.

And how much it meant to him.

And...

...the closest thing I could do is bring you here.

He really liked it here.

He brought me here once and he told me about a dream.

And about something else,

which I'm pretty sure

he probably didn't tell you, 'cause he...

He didn't talk a lot,

and now, you don't talk at all.

And...

I think he would have liked you to know.

[SNIFFLES]

You know, his daughter,

she would've been about your age now

and he said that he really thought that she would like...

...what you've done.

And that she would have probably said, "Daddy,

"do this." And then he would have.

[SOBBING]

And that's the way he felt.

And that's what he did.

[***]

WOMAN [ON TV]: The death of Celtics star, Amazing Grace Smith,

and the silent protest, begun last week by Chuck Murdock,

has now effectively destroyed professional sports...

McNALLY: Want a beer, Russ?

Anybody want a sandwich?

...and even such things as Little League.

So far, it has made a shambles of the World Cup,

Wimbledon, and events as far away

as India and Mainland China.

Now, another phenomenon is starting to sweep the planet.

Apparently, in support of young Murdock,

some of the world's children have stopped speaking.

Those who were orderly before, remain so.

They do their chores, go to school, do their homework.

But they've stopped talking.

A White House spokesman, who asked not to be identified,

claimed this phenomenon

is worrisome to international observers.

It is destabilizing relationships

between the Soviet Union and the US and its NATO allies.

Apparently, where leadership is so...

STRICKLAND: All right, let me fill you in on this.

I checked the European desks this morning.

The French are looking at a walkout

at one of their auto plants.

The Italians, a wildcat strike.

Good news is the East Germans have picked it up.

That is good news? Damn right.

I fail to see how that is.

Could be a general strike. Don't be so naive.

Yeah, right.

Makes it harder for the Soviets to keep it our problem.

We've seen demonstrations come and go on the nuclear issue.

They flare up, but they can't sustain.

The thing that's different here,

the thing that's beginning to concern me

is this silent children thing. It's new.

It's...

It's not new? It's not new.

It's kids. It's here today and gone tomorrow.

The media doesn't eat it up? No! It's kids.

It's on the table every night at dinner.

No, no, let's use that.

I say we have a national day of mourning for Smith.

Make it a school holiday, bring the kids into it.

MAN 1: No, I don't buy it. MAN 2: It's not enough.

Well, you got a better idea then?

We need the president to address the nation.

Try a heartfelt appeal

directly to the children of the world.

I think we need Chuck Murdock on this.

I think we symbolically dismantle that silo he visited.

I think you go there.

It's your show.

You get the kid on TV with you.

You tell the nation this thing has redoubled

the commitment of the adults of the world.

You tell the kid the world is grateful.

I've heard a lot of alternatives, Dal.

Everything but the one that really interests me.

[***]

This way, Mr. President.

Mr. General Secretary. [SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

I want to thank you for meeting with me

so quickly and so privately.

[TRANSLATING INTO RUSSIAN]

[SPEAKING RUSSIAN]

I would like to impose one thing further,

if I may ask the favor,

that these young people leave us fully alone?

[TRANSLATING INTO RUSSIAN]

Well, I've never tried this before.

How's your English?

[CHUCKLES]

We are about to discover.

This is nice.

We should always meet like this.

Before we begin,

are any of your grandchildren speaking to you?

[CHUCKLES]

Nyet. Nyet. [CHUCKLES]

Well, I'll go first.

The children's movement in my country

is becoming a profound problem.

It's just begun, but it cuts deep.

I can't let it go on.

Now, I...

I understand that

you may have been experiencing some measure

of the problem as well.

For us,

even a small problem of this nature is disturbing.

Our system is not designed

to cope with the civil disobedience of this kind.

Like your people,

ours are most sentimental where children are concerned.

So, I come here with a question.

In this crisis,

do you and I have an opportunity?

RUSSELL: Hello, sir. BOWMAN: Murdock. Chuck.

Mr. President.

PRESIDENT: Hello again, Chuck.

Major Murdock, I'm pleased to meet you, sir.

RUSSELL: It's an honor to meet you, sir.

Chuck, you are practically back on the pitcher's mound.

Major, thank God that your boy had the good sense

not to listen to me back in Washington.

Tonight, I'm going on the television

and read that to the American people.

It says that this year alone

our country and the Soviet Union

will each dismantle

15 percent of its total strategic nuclear capacity.

Now, turn the page.

Right.

It's a program for seven years,

at the end of which

our nuclear arsenals

would no longer exist.

Chuck, none of this could have happened

without you and your friend, Mr. Smith.

I want to acknowledge that

by having you join me on the air tonight

and say a few words

of your own choosing.

"I'm sorry, sir, I can't."

Chuck, you can't what?

What's wrong?

What's wrong?

RUSSELL: Uh...

Sir,

I think what Chuck might be feeling

is that an awful lot can happen in seven years.

Hell, you'll be out of office, for one thing.

Soviet leaders can change any time.

People are pretty excited about this right now.

I guess that's why you got so much done.

But when they cool off, they tend to forget.

Something this hard to do, sir,

maybe you have to strike while the iron's hot.

And it seems pretty hot right about now.

[***]

[CHUCK SNIFFLES]

Chuck,

ever since this whole thing started,

there's something that I've been meaning to say to you.

And I kidded myself that I told you a thousand ways,

but I never said the words.

And now I need to say the words.

I'm real proud of you.

[***]

GEORGE: I had my lawyers trace through

the paperwork on that holding company.

[SIGHS]

And when you get down to the bottom line,

that's the man that owned that chartered jet.

I'm gonna hire a guy.

There are guys that kill people slowly.

No, darling.

That's not what Amazing died for.

McNALLY: Well, look,

this guy likes to play in the dark.

Let's turn on some lights.

JEFFRIES: Now, about the Japanese holdings,

we'll sit on those for a little moment.

We'll put a trailing stop-loss order of, say, 5 percent.

Yes.

Thank you very much.

Well, if you could get a half,

that would be absolutely marvelous.

There's nothing wrong with that.

But what about the ambassador?

What I want to say is--

[***]

[THUNDER RUMBLING]

So now the Joint Chiefs

are telling us they can no longer guarantee a launch.

The guys in the silos might shoot each other.

Stick flowers in their guns.

Every sign tells us the Russians have the same problem.

We have silent children around the world.

Their parents are going on strike.

Our allies, our enemies, all blaming us.

People want their children back.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Sir, you asked to be interrupted.

The gentleman with his name on all the blimps.

He's the man.

Are you absolutely certain?

Yes, sir, all of us at Langley agree. FBI, too.

But we'll never prove it.

Call him.

STRICKLAND: It's 1:30 in the morning.

Call him, now.

Is this Mr. Alexander Jeffries?

JEFFRIES: Yes.

One moment, please, for the President of the United States.

Mr. Jeffries,

we've never met.

Do you recognize my voice?

Yes, sir.

Good.

As of tomorrow morning,

you will divest yourself

of all financial holdings of companies public and private.

This will include

your immediate resignation of all directorships and offices,

as well as the sale of all stocks held by you

at the market price as of tomorrow's opening.

Is all of this clear so far?

Yes, sir.

Stay very clean, Mr. Jeffries.

The FBI, the IRS

and every agency under my authority

will be on your tail

for the rest of your life, you son of a bitch!

Good night.

[***]

Chuck?

Chuck?

May I please talk to you?

I promise I won't talk to anybody else.

[GRUNTS]

Chuck.

The president's here.

I've been watching you out the window.

Basketball's not your game.

Come on over, Chuck.

You know, I've played a little golf.

Broke 90 once.

Fair at tennis, C-plus.

Pretty good serve, no backhand.

Well,

let's get to it.

Baseball season begins in April, right?

No problem.

[HELICOPTER WHIRRING]

That's it.

CAROLYN: Daddy, what are all the men doing here?

RUSSELL: It's all right, honey.

One thing I...

I never really figured on,

when I started out was that...

...when my career was over and I'd done

just about everything I wanted to do,

I'd never really go back.

Just go back

to the people I loved

without the whole world watching.

I never knew I was buying into that.

And not that I'd changed anything.

Oh.

It's just a phone number.

You and I belong to a pretty small club.

We ought to stay in touch.

But when you use that number,

call collect, will you?

[BAND PLAYING "STAR SPANGLED BANNER"]

CROWD: * That our flag Was still there *

* O, say does that Star-spangled banner yet wave *

* O'er the land of the free

* And the home of the brave

Come on, you guys!

[ALL CHEERING]

Come on, Chuck!

COMMENTATOR: Good afternoon, America.

I should say good afternoon, world.

Eighty-seven countries around this planet,

Armed Forces Radio,

all gathered to watch and hear a Little League baseball game.

And it's not even the Little League World Series, mind you.

It's just the season's opener.

And there couldn't be more excitement

if the Yankees and Dodgers were in the seventh game

of the World Series Fall Classic.

Let's play some baseball, boy!

COMMENTATOR: In a sense, this is a replay

of a game forfeited a year ago.

A forfeit that changed American sports and so much more.

So today, the game will go on as scheduled.

The Twin Falls Tigers up against America's team,

the Livingston Mustangs.

[ALL CHEERING]

MAN 1: Over here, Chuck!

MAN 2: Mr. President, over here!

[CROWD CLAMORING]

MAN 3: Mr. President, over here!

[REPORTERS CLAMORING]

PRESIDENT: I never did get used to this part of it.

The smile always comes out looking phony.

It has been a year.

Nobody expects you to strike out everybody.

You just

stay within yourself this time, okay?

Long season.

UMPIRE: Play ball!

[ALL CHEERING]

Yay, Chuck!

Yeah!

Come on, Chuck!

Come on, Chucker!

Come on, buddy!

[CROWD HUSHES]

[***]

Hello, Amazing.

[***]

[CROSBY, STILLS & NASH'S "CHUCK'S LAMENT (A CHILD'S DREAM)" PLAYING]

* I think one drop Of water in the ocean *

* Could be the one that Sets a wave in motion *

* That roams Around the world *

* I think one grain Of sand upon the beach *

* Could be the one that lifts You high enough to reach *

* All around the world

* Through the days Of endless dreaming *

* All our lifelong Games are played *

* Watching all The world before us *

* Waiting for The big parade *

* You and me

* Do we leave it To the children? *

* You and me

* What are we leaving What will we be? *

* You and me

* Time we stand up And be counted *

* You and me

* Do we give it up Or let it be? *

* In my nightmare I am dreaming *

* All my fears Are here with me *

* I can't wait To find the answer *

* Face the future And let us be *

* You and me

* Do we leave it To the children? *

* You and me

* What are we leaving What will we be? *

* You and me

* Time we stand up And be counted *

* You and me

* Do we give it up Or let it be? *

* I can't wait To find the answer *

* Face the future And let us be *

* I can't wait To find the answer *

* Face the future And let us be *