A Mile in His Shoes Page #8

---

Mickey needs. I'll be outside. And this place smells worse

than my barn. MAN: Is he going to play? MAN: Is he going to play?

2nd MAN:
I don't know, man. This is so unfair to Mickey,

it's so wrong. He's pretty stubborn when

he gets an idea in his head. And he definitely doesn't like

to be spoken to like that. Can't you see how important

this is to your son? Look! I had no idea. Clarence, there's something

I want you to see. What is it now, Molly? That's my picture. That's right, Mickey. And we're so proud of you. Please, Clarence.

Let him play. I'm afraid for him, Molly. You've never given him

a chance. From what Mr. Murphy says,

Mickey is talented. And if he loses, so what? At least we gave him

the opportunity. Failure is never

an opportunity. MOLLY: This is Mickey's life. We have to let him

find his own path. Just because he didn't turn out

the way you expected, he's still our son. Your son, Clarence Tussler, has a chance to make

something of himself. Mickey, is this what you want? Yes. Well, your... your mom's

never wrong. Well, then, I... I guess

you got a game to pitch. [Molly laughs] Thank you, Dad. Okay, son.

You go get 'em. All right, fellas, bring it in. This whole season

comes down to one game. One game... And we'll be in the playoffs. I'm sure you've all heard

by now that... Lefty's going to be pitching

for the Bullets today. It's inexcusable,

he shouldn't be out there, but it's our chance

to show them that we are the better team,

both on and off the field. Yeah! A rat never treats

another rat like a rat! Unless it's Lefty

who's even a bigger rat... Than he was when he was a rat. [Laughter] Yeah. All right, well,

the good news is this... Mickey, our boy wonder,

is back and he's full of fire. Isn't that right, Mick? Fast ball

at 92.75 miles per hour. 67.75 miles per hour

faster than a school zone. 27.75 miles per hour

faster than freeway speed. That's right, exactly.

[Men chuckling] All right, look, guys, nobody gave

us a chance to be here this year, but through great teamwork

here we are. Now, get past any baggage

that you may have about Lefty. Every single pitch

that he throws today is going to have

a grudge on it. Don't fall for it. Stay in our game. A team is only as strong

as its weakest link. And the Good Lord has found

a way to put our weakest link on the other team. Now if that is not a sign,

I don't know what is. PLAYERS: Yeah! So let's not let Him down. Everybody take a knee. Dear Lord... God bless our team, give us

the strength to perform to the best of our abilities. Keep our team and our opponents

free from injury. May our fair actions

and sportsmanlike conduct bless us with

a well-deserved victory. Amen. PLAYERS: Amen. Amen.

MAN:
All right, Mick, good job. All right, everybody, hands in. Rats on three.

One, two, three... ALL: Rats! [Crowd cheering] Looks pretty comfortable

up on that mound, sir. Mr. Tussler, I'd like

to apologize for before. I shouldn't have questioned you

in front of your son. At least we agree on something. Yes, sir.

Thank you for reconsidering. Are you gonna stand there

yapping, or play some baseball? [Laughs] Yes, sir. [Organ playing] Really outdone yourself

this time, Chip. Well, buy an arm like that

for bail money, that's chump change well spent. Don't forget that arm

is attached to damaged goods... Comes with consequences.

Yeah, always does with you. Baseball is our game, Chip. We don't purposely hurt our own. Especially a kid like Mickey. I don't know what

you're talking about. I'll pray for you, Chip. Save your breath, Murph,

you'll live longer. Both save your breath,

you'll live longer. One more thing, Chip.

Yeah, what's that? I forgive you. [Crowd shouting] WOMAN: Go, Rats!

Come on, Mickey! You enjoying your seats?

Very much. One more thing.

Stay away from the nachos. Please. The cheese sauce?

World's greatest mystery. All right? Thank you, Pee Wee. MAN: That kid's got a great arm. What's a nachos? [Organ playing

The Star-Spangled Banner] [Crowd cheering] ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm welcome

to your Clayton River Rats! [Cheering and shouting] The winner of today's game will

be the division champions and advance to the playoffs. Fargo's starting pitcher

is Lefty Rogers, and for our Clayton River Rats,

Mickey Tussler. [Cheering and applause] [People in crowd calling out] CROWD: Ohhh! [Cheering] [Rock music] [Crowd groaning] [Cheering] Whew. Mick, she's all yours. Finish the job, son. Okay, but, one more thing. Yeah, I know,

you're not my son. No, I'm not, 'cause your son's

right up there looking down on us. All right, Mick, let's go! Let's go, Rats! ANNOUNCER: 3-2.

Rats ahead by one run here in the top of the ninth.

And what a game it's been. Don't forget, ninth-inning

two-for-one special on rat dogs. Leading out for the

Fargo Bullets, Lefty Rogers. Strike!

[Crowd cheering] Strike!

[Crowd cheering] Foul ball,

down the third base line. The count is 0 and 2

on Lefty Rogers. Strike!

[Crowd cheering] I love you, Mickey! Lefty! I love you, Lefty! MAN: That's what

I'm talkin' about! Batting for Fargo,

number 7, Splints LaRue. [Crowd exclaiming] [Cheering]

Pee Wee McGinty makes the catch for the second out. And the Rats are one out away from winning the division

championship. Now pinch-hitting for Fargo,

number 9, Rocco Hightower. Hightower holds this

season's RBI record and is leading the league

with 53 home runs. [Crowd booing] MAN: You got this, you got this! Time, time.

UMPIRE:
Time! And the Rats have called

time-out. MURPH:
What's going on? BOXCAR:

Hey, rules is rules, right? Yeah, so, I couldn't help

but notice that Rocco here has something painted

on his gloves. And believe me,

I know what that means. They're batting gloves.

Hey, gloves are gloves. Yeah, and rules are rules,

right, Blue? Afraid Murph's right, Chip.

That's a decision... This is a pile of...

Lose the gloves, Rocco! Let's win this thing and show everybody who

the losers really are. Get rid of the gloves. ROCCO: Ridiculous! And it looks like this game is

finally under way here in the top of the ninth. Time! Time! Hold on. The Rats have called

another time-out on the field. Mick. Hey, hey, whoa.

You okay? That... That's him.

That's the one who hurt me! What are you talking about? Home run. Lights out. Home run, lights out? Rocco Hightower? Yeah. Yeah.

'Cause... Oh. Are you absolutely positive, Mickey?

Yes, yes. This is bigger than baseball. I'm going to call this

right here, this ends right now. This game's over! No! No. I need to finish this. For... For you, for the team... For... for everybody. And for me. Are you sure about this, Mick? Yes. Yes. Yes. All right, buddy, okay. And once again

the game is under way. [Cheering] MAN: Strike this bum out,

let's go! UMPIRE: Play ball! Strike! [Cheering] Your boy's gonna give one up. When he does,

I'm gonna be all over it. Strike! I know when they took

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes