It Happens Every Spring Page #6

But there's no need to worry.

Look,

You asked me to trust you and believe in you.

Well that works both ways.

If you won't trust me enough

to tell me what this is all about,

I think we better call it quits right now.

Alright.

Alright, Debbie. I'll tell you.

I suppose I should have told you

in the first place.

I'm-

Well, if you must know

I'm a baseball player.

Oh, Vernon. Tell me the truth.

I told you the truth.

I'm a baseball player.

That's not very funny.

If you don't want to tell me, say so.

But I told you.

Read all about it-

Look.

That's me. Kelly.

Kelly pitches for today's game.

Get your lineup for today's game.

I'm Kelly, and I'm pitching this afternoon.

Oh, you are?

Well, I'm Mata Hari, and I'm going to sell

your secret to the highest bidder.

Well, Kelly.

Fancy meeting you here.

Are you a ball fan, Dr. Greenleaf?

I can't say I am.

It's the first game I've seen in years.

Well, just sit back and relax.

Enjoy yourself.

It'll do you good.

If you want him to enjoy himself,

let's get it settled about this endowment,

and then we can all relax.

Strike two!

I'm afraid this is going to be

an expensive afternoon.

Well, I certainly hope so, Mr. Stone.

That's three up and three down again for Kelly.

He's got that ol' hop ball

hoppin' in there today alright.

All he's gotta do is just keep goin' like this,

and he'll rack up another victory.

And he doesn't act like a ball player at all.

I'd like you to meet him.

Hey Kelly!

Kelly, come here.

He took off like a frightened rabbit, didn't he?

He's very shy.

Nice-looking boy, though.

I didn't get a very good look at him.

But you can't walk out in the middle of the game.

That's mutiny.

-I'm sorry, but-

-What is this, Kelly?

Suddenly you're a prima donna.

You been reading the newspapers?

No, it isn't that, Jimmy.

It's just that I can't

go out there again, that's all.

I'll slap the biggest, baddest fine on you in history.

Well, I'd rather you wouldn't do it, Jimmy.

But it won't make any difference if you do.

Brooker, warm up.

He won't get away with this.

I'll fine him, I'll suspend him, I'll-

You got him wrong, Jimmy.

He's kinda whacky, but

he ain't no prima donna.

I don't care what he is.

You get tough with him,

there's no tellin' what he'll do.

He might sit down and never pitch again,

and he's our only chance for the pennant.

Kelly is not indispensable.

I know he ain't,

but we can't get along without him.

Lemme go talk to him.

Lemme see what it's all about.

Go get 'em, fellas.

Come on now.

Brooker, now pitching for St. Louis.

Hey, Jimmy.

-Did you pull Kelly?

-No, he quit.

He picked up his toys and went home.

-Where is he?

-In the locker room.

I wanna see him right now.

You know this ain't good etiquette,, Kelly,

to walk off the mound in the middle of a game.

Especially an important one.

Pitchers ain't supposed to go home

until they're invited to.

It wasn't just a whim, Monk. I had to.

I saw someone in the stands.

You mean a copper or somethin'?

No, no. Someone I knew.

Someone who knew me

before I even joined the club.

You gotta take that chance, kid.

It was liable to happen any time.

I know, and when it does

I've gotta do exactly what I did today.

Now wait a minute.

Be reasonable. Kelly!

Hey Kelly!

Where's Kelly?

He's gone.

I'm standin' here talkin' to him and he's gone.

Gone! Gone where? What's the matter with him?

Well I'll tell you, boss.

He wanted the afternoon off

to go to his grandmother's funeral.

How do I know what's the matter with him?

Monk?

Where you been?

Here.

Why ain't you asleep?

I been with Stone and Dolan.

They had me on the carpet so long

I got fallen arches.

You take a walk, and I get bawled out.

They're gonna let you off this time, though.

You can thank your Uncle Monk for it.

I talked myself blue in the face.

If you ever do it again,

they're really gonna give it to ya good.

Say, ain't you even interested?

Ah, it doesn't matter.

I'm through anyway.

Through?

You mean you're gonna quit?

You ain't gonna pitch no more?

There's no point now.

No point?

In winning the pennant?

You can't quit now.

You gotta keep pitchin'.

Whatsa matter?

What happened, kid?

Was it that guy in the stands?

He didn't recognize ya.

Oh, it's only part of it.

I'm worried about my girl.

So it was Madame X you met.

I think she's gonna find out too.

Why? Why should she?

Because I told her.

You told her, but you think she's gonna find out.

She wouldn't believe me,

but she's bound to know,

and so is her father.

Her father?

If he ever learns the truth I'm really finished.

He'll never take me back.

And I can't say I blame him after what I said.

What'd ya say?

Oh, I was desperate.

I certainly gave him a false impression.

I didn't realize what I was doing,

I mean, how serious it was.

He thought I was doing something entirely different.

That's the only reason he let me go.

Let you go?

Where'd he have ya?

Oh, it doesn't matter.

It's all finished.

He's gonna find out, so there's no use going on.

You mean because the girl will find out?

She may not, Kelly.

You gotta wait and see.

Wait and see what?

Well, if she gets any idea you ain't ribbin' her,

what'll she do?

She'll come out for the first game, see it for herself.

It figures, doesn't it?

Yes, you're right, Monk.

That's just why I'm not gonna pitch.

Oh, why did I say that?

I'm makin' it worse and worse.

You gotta keep pitchin'.

You can't quit now.

You gotta think of us too, you know.

You gotta give us a break.

We got a chance to win a pennant in a World Series.

That means somethin' too.

Yeah.

Yeah, I suppose so.

Suppose so?

[Phone rings]

[Woman talking]

Mabel.

Now neither of us gets any sleep.

[Woman continues talking]

Forgive me for being nosey, Debbie,

but would you mind telling me what you're doing?

Oh!

Just reading the paper, Father.

Well, you're certainly doing a thorough job of it,

reading the sports page with a magnifying glass.

Oh, I was interested in a wild statement someone made.

You aren't becoming a sports fan, are you?

No, I don't think so.

There's just an outside chance. . .

Is that Kelly pitching?

Yeah.

Two out. Hank Moore at bat.

Come on! Fan him, Kelly!

Strike two.

[Cheering]

Come on, Monk, play ball.

What're you looking for, a process server?

I'm lookin' for a dame.

If she comes, I gotta talk to her first.

A dame? Ain't you gettin' pretty old for that?

[Whoop, crowd cheers]

Strike three!

You're out.

Yes!

I saw him. It's really Vernon.

I told ya, lady. He's Kelly.

So did he.

But I didn't believe him.

That's certainly a blow for Jimmy Dolan.

Lannigan is the only catcher

that's worked with Kelly all season.

If he's out of there, there's no telling

what may happen.

Can you fix him up, Doc?

Sure, he'll be alright.

Look, Monk, don't be foolish.

If it's too painful, don't-

Ah, didn't ya hear?

It don't hurt a bit, they just told me.

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