Still Mine Page #6

One of your neighbours, Chester Jones,

started phoning me about two weeks ago.

He kept calling till I had no choice

but to look into the matter

just to get him off my back.

Chester?

Chester Jones?

- Are you sure?

- Yeah.

Do you have time for a few questions?

Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

- Dad?

- Huh?

Are you all right?

- How are you feeling?

- Oh...

everything aches.

This may be the start of my slow decline.

Well, it's about time.

Can I get you anything?

I need to tell you something.

All right.

The Babe Ruth baseball is in the

kitchen cupboard in an old flour tin.

Uh...

Yeah, I already knew that.

Mom told us.

Jesus.

Your mother never could keep a secret.

I got a call last year.

A guy offered me $40,000 for that ball.

Can you imagine?

$40,000 for a baseball.

All these years,

were you ever tempted to sell it?

Mm, sure.

The thought crossed my mind

once or twice.

So why didn't you?

I sleep better knowing

it's still there...

in case I ever get myself

in a really tight squeeze.

Well, I tried to get them to postpone,

but... they're not budging.

Have you seen the Telegraph-Journal

yet today?

Uh, no, no. Why?

Well, your father made the front page.

Hi.

I've been looking for you.

Have you?

Where were you?

I came this morning.

Wasn't supposed to be back till tonight.

Came from where?

The house.

What house?

Hmm...

It doesn't matter.

How was your day?

Fine.

Hello?

Chester died.

Oh...

Oh, Margaret...

I'm so sorry.

Are you praying?

Trying to.

Since when did you get religion?

I'm not sure I have yet,

but I figure this might be

a good time to hedge my bets.

For what?

I don't know.

A miracle, I suppose.

I've... I've missed you.

I miss you too.

How you doing?

I've been better.

Yeah... me too.

Hey, Dad.

Ruthie.

I, uh... stopped by

the new house last night.

You and Morn are going to like it there.

You think?

Yeah. Definitely.

Hmm.

You planned it out well.

Thanks.

I sure hope so.

Gary, I want to ask you something.

How long have you been my lawyer?

Twenty-six and one half years.

And would it be fair to say

that you've done as much work for me

on this case as you have

in all those years combined?

Probably, yeah. More, maybe.

So, uh... why haven't

I gotten a bill yet?

Well, that's a good question.

Since you know, I make it a practice

never to work for free,

but... Craig, I've misread

this situation consistently,

given you the wrong advice throughout.

This whole mess may be

just as much my fault as it is yours.

It doesn't sit right to have you pay

for my mistakes.

Do you really think,

if you hadn't made those mistakes,

things would have turned out differently?

- No.

- Me neither.

Look, if it's all the same to you,

once you finish your arguments,

do you think I could say a few words?

Losing faith in me?

It's too late now.

No, there's just some things

I'd like to get off my chest, win or lose.

What's this?

It's a deed to five acres of land.

Just about the nicest that I have,

not counting my own, of course.

It's got my name on it. Why?

Why not?

Are you a baseball fan,

Your Honour?

Excuse me?

I've been one all my life.

I've always appreciated

how you could compare a player

in one era to a player from another,

how what Babe Ruth

was able to accomplish

is just as understandable

and awesome right now

as it was back in the day.

How the traditions of the game

have been maintained through the years.

There's a... kind of religion of the rules.

And, just like in baseball,

I've always believed

in the tradition of building...

and the religion of rules.

My father taught me

how to see lumber in a living tree.

Truth in a wall that was plumb

or a corner that was square.

I don't mean to put myself above the law,

and I never have...

until now.

I'm too old for this nonsense.

My house is sound.

My wife is due to get out of the hospital

next week, and, uh...

options are limited.

We're going to move into our house.

So...

it looks like... either

I'm going to jail...

or I'm going home.

Either way, I can sleep

with a clear conscience.

And after the storm

I run and run as the rains come

And I look up

I look up

On my knees and out of luck

I look up

Night has always pushed up day

You must know life to see decay

But I won't rot

I won't rot

Not this mind and not this heart

I won't rot

And I took you by the hand

And we stood tall

And remembered our own land

What we lived for

And there will come a time you'll see

With no more tears

And love will not break your heart

And dismiss your fears

Get over your hill

And see what you find there

With grace in your heart

And flowers in your hair

And I won't die alone

And be left there

Well I guess I'll just go home

Oh God knows where

Because death is just so full

And man so small

Well I'm scared of what's behind

And what's before

There will come a time you'll see

With no more tears

And love will not break your heart

And dismiss your fears

Get over your hill

And see what you find there

With grace in your heart

And flowers in your hair

You know, I'd have been way ahead

of the game if I'd just gone ahead

and built that house

without ever asking for a permit.

Yeah, and I would have been

much happier

if I'd just stuck you in an old folks home.

That's funny, I was just about to propose

the same thing to you.

I could check into some options,

if you don't mind.

Yeah, we should go in together

and get a group rate.

Now you're talking.

So...

you got another project in mind?

Maybe.

Do you want to talk about it?

No.

Is it big?

Might be.

Jesus, Dad.

What else do you want me to do,

sit around all day?

Time enough for that when I'm dead.

Oh...

look at this hair.

How long since your last haircut?

Oh, it's... it's been a while.

- The usual?

- Yes, ma'am.

Irene?

- Yes?

- Are you cutting my hair?

Of course.

Look at this hair.

How long since your last haircut?

It's been a while.

It's been a while.

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