Hard Ball Page #2

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with the "b*tches"?

Sh*t, man.

Coach, it's gettin' kind a late.

We gotta go soon. We practicin'?

Not today.

Thursday, 4:
00 here.

Cool.

Miles, wait up!

My mom's meetin' me at Southside

Pizza. I ain't walkin' by myself.

I wanna go to Southside

with you.

- You wanna just cut up Ashland?

- Whatever, man.

- You wanna just cut up Ashland?

- Whatever, man.

I don't wanna walk through

folks' loop. Damn Disciples.

Glock, nine millimeter.

Hey, you know about

my karate right?

- Man, do you mean karate?

- Nah, it's karate.

Learned it from my cousin

who was in Japan in the army.

Lightning quick!

This is the tiger.

No man can defend himself from

the fury of a karate tiger man.

Yeah, Dre-- a tiger.

Okay.

I only use the tiger when I'm

fiightin', like, a dozen guys.

More than that,

I use the bear.

- What's the bear again?

- I can't show you!

Man, that's the secret code

of the karate honor.

Hey, wait up!

- Yes?

- Sister Wilkes?

I'm Conor O'Neill.

I wanted to talk to you about--

I'm sorry.

It's okay.

It's just my head.

Who are you here to see?

- Sister Wilkes.

- I'm Miss Wilkes.

- Do you teach here?

- Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry.

I was just expecting...

an older woman.

- Well, I'm not a nun.

- Thank God!

I mean, that's great.

Is Kofi Evans and

Raymont Bennet in your class?

Are they in my class.

Yes, they're in my class.

I need them to play baseball

for the Kekambas.

Oh, yeah. That's something you

should take up with their mothers.

- But the kids told me--

- Both mothers agreed...

the boys would read one book before

they start baseball in the spring.

Hey, I got

no problem with that.

You know, I think reading's

real good for kids.

You work for

Smyth and Stevens Securities ?

- Yes.

- What deal did you blow?

What?

Well, I'm sure you're not

coaching this team by choice.

My associate, James Fleming,

is in New York for three weeks...

so I volunteered to help out.

I would have loved

to have coached that team.

I was away on business--

Canada--

the day Mr. Smyth

and Mr. Stevens chose the team.

Canada.

That must have been nice.

Lovely.

I was in the business part

the whole time though.

It's wonderful you're teaching

these boys to play baseball.

It's just a shame no one spends

any time helping them to read.

Listen, I'm Conor.

Elizabeth.

I'm only helping out

with the team for two weeks...

but I'm willing to get together

with you and help the boys out.

- Why don't we exchange numbers?

- I have a better idea.

I'll give you a copy of the book

the boys are supposed to be reading.

You read it, and then you can

talk to them about their reports.

God.

That would be great.

Conor O'Neill,

coach of the crack babies.

I can't coach that team.

I'm serious. I'm bailin' out.

- How'd it go with the nuns?

- God, she was beautiful.

You picked up a nun?

Shut up.

You still want your half

Of the Blackhawks seats I got?

Yeah. Where are they?

I'm gettin' them tomorrow.

Bring 'em to the baseball field

on Loomis...

tomorrow between 4:00 and 5:00.

Loomis?

That's the friggin' projects!

Don't screw me.

I'm not in the mood.

- I need that money.

- I'll be there at 5:00.

- Before 5:
00.

- O'Neill.

Easy, slugger, all right?

Relax.

You got some cabbage for me?

Can we talk outside,

without the bat?

Duffy, you knew my dad.

And I wouldn't be callin' in a favor

if I wasn't completely racked.

- You smashed up my bar.

- I'll pay you. I just need time.

It ain't my money.

Now, I can't carry you anymore.

I'll help with the book, take bets.

I'll bring in business.

No, that's not gonna work.

Listen, I gave them your name

because I couldn't carry you.

What?

Are you saying somejag-off goombah

is gonna come and break my thumbs?

Duffy, I'm desperate.

I'm coaching

a kids' baseball team...

in the projects for a guy

who's paying me 500 a week.

But I'm paying the Barber off.

What should I do?

Should I tell the Barber to back

off? Start paying you every week?

Keep payin' the Barber...

but don't come around here

unless you got the money.

I'm Pearla Evans, and this one's

Kofi. This is my youngest, Jarius.

Everybody call me

G-Baby, so--

This is my sister's boy,

Raymont.

Miss Wilkes said you're going to

help with their assignments...

- so they could play ball.

- Yeah, that was before I had this--

Miss Wilkes said she had

a good feelin' about you.

- I figured I'd give it a try.

- Miss Wilkes said that?

No. She said she had a good feelin'

about them all playin' ball.

- But I'll tell you now, Mr.--

- O'Neill. Conor O'Neill.

You don't help these boys,

they don't do this work...

hell will be paid

with your ass.

I can reach you at Smyth and

Stevens to plan a tutoring session?

- Yes. Of course. Anytime.

- Good.

- Go on, boys.

- Yeah, come on!

Yeah, come on, man.

I'll beat you up, man.

Come on now. Yeah.

- What?

- This ain't no giddyap show.

No, like this.

Like this.

Come on, Ticky.

You're killin' me.

We usually quit at 5:30.

Mom needs me home.

- We eat around 6:30.

- No, keep practicin'.

I'm waiting for somebody.

We'll be done soon.

- I'll let you know, Albert.

- I'm Jefferson.

Come on, man, pitch the ball!

Shut up!

- You wanna hit me? Huh, b*tch?

- Oh, sh*t.

And if I did, what you gonna

do about it, you little punk?

Hey, that's enough!

That's enough, all right?

- Sh*t, I wanna see some blood.

- Will you guys cool it?

Practice Saturday, 1 :00,

all right?

- What?

- Can I walk with you?

No. I'm not goin' that way.

Sorry.

But--

Yo, what's up, my B?

What's up, shorty, man?

Hey, gimme that pizza, my man.

- What up, boy?

- Open the bag.

Take it! Just let me go!

- Let go the bag, punk.

- You got it. Let's go!

Thanks for the bag, fool!

I think it makes you

look tough.

- Is he okay?

- Who are you?

I'm the coach.

Conor O'Neill.

Why did you

keep them so late?

Fool, I called you

at Smyth and Stevens Securities...

and at first, some little girl

didn't even know who you were.

Then some man named Fleming

got on the phone...

and told me you were

out of the office today.

Please, take my home number.

You can't keep them boys

out there after dark.

Thank Jesus

For Jefferson's strength.

That smell?

That might be a lawsuit.

Look at you. You don't even look

like you're holdin' it together.

Jefferson, I'm sorry.

I should a called practice,

you know, when it got dark.

I just came by because...

as soon as you're ready

we expect you back, huh?

And...

I needed to know

what number uniform you wanted.

You're never gonna stay

being our coach.

Enjoy the game.

Nice wheels, soccer mom.

- Up yours.

- What's with the wagon?

Smyth and Stevens took sh*t when

a kid got beat up after practice...

so they lent me this car

to get 'em all home.

Ah, man. Who got beat up?

Who needs tickets?

-Jefferson Tibbs.

- That's the fat kid, right?

Yeah--

How'd you know?

You told me about

every kid on the team.

Aw, sh*t. I hate it when people

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