The Natural Page #3

That'll make it 3 to 3.

He comes around 3rd base.

Bivens throws the ball to 2nd.

Now it's 4-3, the Phillies. A golden

opportunity and it's down the drain...

...as Bailey boggles the situation

and knocks the ball...

...loose from Bivens' glove.

The Knights can do nothing right,

no matter what they try.

You ain't nailed to the ground.

Move. A little hustle!

Let's go, let's go!

Bumper, I wanna see you

in my office after the game.

I lost it in the sun.

Blinding.

1 st! 1 st base!

Safe!

All right, all right!

Stay put, Bumper.

You're gonna sit this one out.

- What are you trying to do?

- I'm taking you out.

Do you want an apology from me?

Forget it. I won't apologize.

- Listen to me.

- I'm listening.

I'm the manager, you're the player.

You sit down and shut your mouth!

- What do you want?

- I want you to sit down!

Gabby, Boone, help him find

his seat! Hobbs, you're up.

What's the matter with you?

Sit down and shut up,

you mouthy prima donna.

You want apologies from me?

Sit down!

Trade me and get it over with!

Let me have a hitter up here.

Come on, Hobbs! You're up!

Knock the cover off the ball.

Now batting for Bump Bailey...

...number 9, Roy Hobbs.

Here's a surprise. Fisher will

replace Bump Bailey with number 9.

Number 9 is Roy Hobbs.

Hobbs was bought up in midseason.

I don't know too much about him.

Apparently Fisher's very upset

with Bailey.

Of course, Bailey messed up

that play with Bivens.

Two runs came in,

that made the Phillies 4 to 3...

...when the Knights led 3-2...

...trying to get out

of this losing streak.

MacBride's gonna look in again

at Hobbs right now.

He'll check Bivens at 1 st.

Baker leading off of 2nd right now.

- Here comes the pitch.

- Strike 1!

Fastball, inside corner, strike 1.

Hobbs didn't like the call.

Well, welcome to the majors.

MacBride gave him a good, strong

fastball on the inside corner.

Let me see the ball.

- Not that junk, the ball!

- That junk is the ball.

- That's a ball?

- Jesus, he shot it to pieces!

We want a real ball!

Was that real, the cover coming off?

- You were there, you saw it.

- Yeah, I know.

- Explain that cover coming off.

- I hit it as hard as I could.

Is it true he just walked in one day?

Can we see the bat Hobbs used?

That's the way to grease them.

Ain't no mystery.

Give us a break!

Where'd you find him?

Scouts found him.

They always look for young players.

- He doesn't look young. Is he 35, 36?

- That's young to me.

Where in the hell did you find him?

As my chief scout, Mr. Carson,

I'm relying on your honour.

Judge, I'm doing what you asked.

Hobbs is a joke, nobody from nowhere.

Yes, that's just what

concerns me, Mr. Carson.

It's about time we found out

just who he is and where he's from.

Good day.

Nice bat.

You like it?

Do you think I'll be able to make

one of those bats?

Tell you what.

Go down to the lumberyard...

...pick yourself out

a really good piece of wood...

...and we'll work on it together.

- All right. Thanks.

- See you.

- See you.

I'm Max Mercy. I met you

in the locker room with Bump.

Interesting way you mistreat

a baseball.

Can I buy you a beer?

- No, I'm in a hurry.

- I wanna ask you something.

- Do I look familiar to you?

- You? No.

Because you sure look familiar to me.

- Where you from, Hobbs?

- Nowhere special.

Wait. You ever play

in a Cardinal organization?

Well, it'll come to me in a minute.

I got a terrific memory.

See you around, Hobbs.

Hi, Al.

Hi, Iris. How was your weekend?

Swell.

What can I get you?

One of those, cup of coffee.

Help yourself.

- Al, did you read Mercy's article?

- Why should I read it? I heard it.

Must've been the rain.

Stitches probably got loose.

It didn't start to rain

till after he hit the ball.

- The ball was defective.

- Defective. He made a meal out of it.

- What's the name of his bat?

- Wonderboy!

"Wonderboy."

You guys. You know, people are

always running down amazing things.

This guy Hobbs, you ain't seen

nothing yet. I got a feeling.

Wonderboy. You gotta be kidding!

See you later, Al.

Okay, Ralph.

Our cameras turn

to the world of sports.

In response to

Max Mercy's accusation...

...that Wonderboy was a loaded bat,

Commissioner Gates made a statement.

We measured and weighed the bat...

...and it is within

League specifications.

Therefore, the bat is legal

and may be used in League play.

Hold up the bat!

"Wonderboy"!

And oh, what a bat it is!

My gut tells me this,

and Red agrees.

We feel Hobbs can fill

your position very neatly.

We'll give you one more chance

to shape up.

Otherwise, it's the bench.

Top of the 7 th right now.

Knights leading Boston, 6-3.

Bump Bailey's 2 for 2 and made a

great catch off the right-field wall.

Bailey at the top of his game.

Looks like your talk to Bump

is paying off.

I gotta believe you're right.

Fowler has very good control.

Abel takes a slight leadoff to 2nd,

Fowler tries to move him back.

Fair ball, swung on.

Long fly ball out there!

Bailey going way back!

This ball is hit real deep.

Bailey looks up!

He hits off the wall!

The ball rolls free.

Bailey went through the wall, folks.

There's no movement at all.

He's certainly down.

Bailey looks like

he's seriously hurt.

In a stirring ceremony at Knights

Field, star Bump Bailey's ashes...

...were dropped from a plane

as fans and ballplayers stood...

...and paid their last respects.

Bump Bailey died after crashing...

...headfirst into the right-field wall

in pursuit of a fly ball.

A great catch that almost was.

Rest in peace, Bump Bailey.

Baseball will miss you.

Play ball!

Over 27, 000 fans are here,

paying their respects to Bump Bailey.

Hobbs stepping up to bat right now.

As you remember, just the other day,

Hobbs knocked the cover off the ball.

He had an auspicious beginning.

Hobbs hitting from the left side.

Looking in right now,

Hobbs in his stance.

Here's the pitch.

He swings. Long fly ball!

Way, way, way back!

Way up into the rafters there!

An unbelievable hit from Roy Hobbs!

Incredible power!

As good a hit as I've seen all year.

Hobbs rounds the bases.

Roy Hobbs, 2 for 2.

Maybe we can expect

good things from Roy Hobbs.

You've never seen Hobbs before?

No, I already told you that.

What have you got on your mind?

Strange.

You really threw

that lumber around today.

We broke a few windows, didn't we?

Real good. You know, there's not

a mark on it. Not a nick.

I boned it so it wouldn't chip.

You know what I like?

I like this lightning bolt.

When I was a kid, my father gave me

his collection of squadron insignias.

The kind flying aces used to wear.

It reminds me of that.

- Nice going.

- Nice game, guys.

Wanna get something to eat?

Hey, Olsen, nice patch.

Try putting it over your eye.

All right, I ain't talking,

I'm hitting.

- Impressive.

- It must be the patch.

It's like Samson with his hair.

He came alive.

Well, he sure did.

There seems to be a mistake.

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