Angels in the Outfield Page #8

Matthew, 18:
12.

And besides, the Lord isn't

as small-minded as some of us mortals.

And now, Mr. Commissioner...

...I had a short talk with Rabbi Hahn

in the elevator...

...we both discovered

we're seeing a ball game at 1:30.

- So if you don't mind?

- No, of course not.

- You'd better hurry.

- Thank you, sir.

Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

If Dr. Blane would care to see me

in my office, I'd be very happy indeed.

Hey, fellas, where are you sitting?

Anything further that you

would like to add, Mr. McGovern?

Nothing.

Gentlemen, I have listened to both sides

of this argument and frankly, I'm baffled.

I'm sure we'd all like to believe in angels.

I know I would.

But if only I had just one tiny bit

of concrete evidence. However...

- Mr. Commissioner.

- Yes?

This is Bridget White.

She wants to testify for Mr. McGovern.

Mr. Commissioner, you were set

to make a decision. Let's get on with it.

I don't want anyone hammering away

at this kid.

Sister, will you please

get her out of here?

If the commissioner

wants to hear about angels...

...he ought to ask someone

who's seen them.

Mr. McGovern, what are you afraid of?

All right. You just sit right down here.

- What is your name, little girl?

- Bridget White, 8 years old.

Oh, yes. And where do you live, Bridget?

St. Gabriel's Home for Orphan Girls.

- You believe in angels, don't you?

- Doesn't everyone?

No. No, they don't.

But I saw them, twice.

And where did you think you saw

these angels?

In the ballpark.

They were helping the Pirates.

You're quite sure about that?

You wouldn't just make up a story,

would you?

Oh, no. It's bad to lie about anything.

But if you lied about angels,

I guess that'd be real trouble.

Mr. Commissioner,

may I question the witness?

Certainly, certainly, certainly.

Now, Bridget, when you saw your angels,

what were they doing?

Well, there was one standing

behind Mr. McGovern.

But you didn't see him talk

to Mr. McGovern?

No. But I know he must have.

- Why?

- Because Mr. McGovern said so.

You think that one of your angels,

one of these heavenly messengers...

...would talk to a man

like Mr. McGovern?

Of course. Any angel would be proud

to talk to a nice man like Mr. McGovern.

Quiet. Quiet, please.

Is that all, sir?

I hope we're not going to accept this

as testimony?

- The child is prejudiced.

- What are you talking about?

I will decide what is evidence here.

Isn't it true

that you tried to adopt this child?

Haven't you recently made a declaration

of this to the Orphan's Court?

- Suppose I did? What about it?

- Why, Mr. McGovern.

Nothing definite. I don't know

if the court will let me have her.

You don't just walk in and adopt a child.

- There's problems.

- There's no problem here, Guffy.

Nevertheless, you wanted to adopt her.

Oh, that's nice. It's touching.

The little girl who saw the angels

now stands up to testify for Mr. McGovern.

But isn't she actually testifying for papa?

Guffy!

- Come on, stop that.

- Stop that.

Order.

- I said order.

- Don't do it, Guffy!

Guffy, stop it! Guffy!

Guffy, don't. Make him stop.

Guffy, don't.

Gentlemen, I think, in view of the facts...

...all things considered...

...this case is dismissed.

- Hey, fellas, what's with Guffy?

- Read about it.

- He got all his marbles?

- Sure, sure.

Sure. He was okay all the time.

He ain't no more crazy than I am.

Hey, Guffy. Here you are.

That was a nice little fracas you staged,

McGovern. Quite a show.

Look, you heard what the fella said.

What else could I do?

You had no right to slug him.

I warned you about that twice.

Okay, okay. Keep your shirt...

Keep your wings on, huh?

- You talking to me?

- Just stick to your driving, will you?

- I only hit him once or twice.

- You completely destroyed his bridgework.

- All right, I'm sorry.

- Well, you ought to be.

Because when you busted that bridgework,

you also busted our agreement.

- What do you mean?

- We're through with you, Guffy.

From now on, you're on your own.

Please, don't make jokes.

I didn't say nothing.

It's no joke. We're all finished.

A pennant's hanging on that game today.

You can't walk out on me now. I need you.

It's kind of a shame, isn't it?

Don't worry, you've been on your own

a lot the last eight weeks.

I don't like to be on my own.

- I'm not happy on my own.

- You used to be.

I'll let you in on a little secret.

You've learned something, Guffy.

You don't know it yet,

but you've learned...

... that there's more important things

in life than winning ball games.

- We're a little proud of you.

- Don't be proud of me.

Just be at Forbes Field at 1:30.

That's all I want.

Sorry, can't make it.

Tell that cab driver to slow down.

He's making me nervous.

It's a dirty trick.

Who'd ever think that an angel would stoop

to such a low-down, dirty...

- So long, Guffy.

- No, listen...

- Good luck, boy.

- Hey, wait.

Come back here a minute, will you?

- How much do I owe you?

- Nothing.

- You decided who's going to pitch yet?

- What?

The boys in the press box are asking.

They wanna know who's gonna pitch.

Hellman.

- What?

- I said Hellman.

Let's do it, boy.

Batteries for today's game:

For New York, Barberry catching,

Toley pitching.

For Pittsburgh, Baxter catching,

Hellman pitching.

No, not Hellman!

- Hellman?

- And they say McGovern's not crazy.

- Take care of the bullpen, will you, boy?

- Yeah, sure.

- Hi.

- Do you see anything, honey?

Not yet.

Play ball.

Giants come to bat now

with the score still nothing to nothing.

Hellman has managed to hang on

for four innings...

...but it's just a question of time.

Strike.

And it's over the left-field wall

for a home run.

- Safe.

- There's another hit.

A very close decision down there,

but he's safe.

See any angels yet?

- You're out.

- You're out.

Out at first for a double play

to end the inning.

Score:
New York 1, Pittsburgh nothing.

Mr. Hellman coming in off the mound,

looks like a very tired man.

Come on, Vince boy, let's go to work.

Get a hit, boy.

- You're out.

- All right, only one away.

Lay into it, Tony boy. Lay into it.

All right, Lou, get in there, boy.

Let's go. Let's go.

Come on, now, Lou.

Knock it out of the park.

Mandekic pulls up safe at second.

Two away and Rube Ronson coming up.

Rube hasn't had a hit yet.

All right, Rube. Let's get some runs, boy.

A long, hard-hit ball that bounced off

the scoreboard for a home run.

Attaboy, Ruben.

That's one for Milwaukee High.

- All right, let's get out. Come on.

- Let's go.

- How's it going?

- I guess I can get three of them out.

Here we are at the top of the ninth,

the final frame...

...with a score still

Pittsburgh 2, New York 1.

Hellman is taking the mound

for Pittsburgh...

...though he seems to be tiring badly.

This is the Giants' last chance to tag him

and maybe they will.

One away, boy. One away.

Hellman's touching that arm again.

Seems to be giving him some trouble.

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