The Stratton Story Page #5

Time.

Time.

Come on, Pop. Out of there.

- Six of each, please.

- Yes, ma'am.

That'll be 36 cents.

Nice going, Monty.

Oh, boy, what a game!

Three measly hits he gave them.

What's with you, Barney?

You act like you pitched the shutout.

Oh, that's the first pitcher in the league

this year to win 14 games.

- Plenty of stuff in there today, Monty.

- Thanks, Ted.

- That's your fourth shutout, son.

- Yep.

Boy, what a flipper.

Barney, you better take a shower

and cool off.

Hello, honey, how's everything?

Good. How's Junior?

Fine.

Oh, we did all right. 3-0.

Say, honey,

I don't think

you'd better wait dinner for me.

No, I'm gonna be tied up again tonight.

It's another one of those press interviews.

Another? What press interview?

I don't know.

No, honey, I won't be late.

When those country boys go to town,

they really go.

We're gonna go see Grandma.

And she's gonna be so surprised

when she sees you.

You're so big.

We'll look to see who's at the door.

- Ethel.

- Hello, Barney.

Junior.

Well, you're all set to shove off, huh?

Yes, as soon as Monty gets here.

He phoned and said

he'd be a little late again.

Yeah, those press interviews.

Oh, but what a season he's had, huh?

I knew the boy was good, but I never

expected him to come through this fast.

Leading right-hand pitcher

of the American League.

- Great, isn't it?

- Yes, it is, Barney.

But I'm glad the season's over

and we're going back to Texas.

Yeah, I know.

You'll have him all to yourself then.

Oh, I'm not complaining.

I guess we're pretty lucky.

- Yes.

- Sure.

Don't you guess we're pretty lucky?

Hi, Barney. Hello, honey.

- Hi.

- Hello.

- You all ready?

- Yes, I'll get my coat.

Well, Son, you all set to go down

and see your grandma?

Say, it's none of my business, Monty,

but what's all this with these interviews?

- What?

- And the shenanigans.

You think you can carry him

without dropping him?

I won't make an error, son,

but can we depend on Junior?

There, now, that's the last one.

Now, scat. You just got here

and you've been at it all day.

- Why not? I enjoy it.

- You do?

Why, sure.

I could hardly wait to get down here.

Don't you two have

a good time in the city?

I'd think you'd be on the go all the time.

Believe it or not,

I see more of Monty down here

than I do in Chicago.

For goodness' sakes, why?

Well, part of the time,

the team is traveling,

and rest of the time, Monty has meetings,

interviews, speeches.

Speeches? Monty making speeches?

You may not realize it,

but your son is a big celebrity now.

But down here we have him

all to ourselves, don't we, Junior?

Anyway, I want the baby

to get used to the farm,

so he'll grow up like his daddy.

We won't get anything done

talking this way.

- Hi. Supper ready?

- Hi.

Can't tell with this new contraption.

I don't have to cook no more.

Just turn buttons and off she goes.

Seems like everything's got buttons.

It ain't right.

I been down at the north pasture.

I'll have to clear it out

if we're going to plant there next spring.

Sounds like supper's ready.

Darned if it doesn't always come out right.

My, baseball sure hasn't hurt

Monty's appetite any.

None of those ballplayers are shy

with a knife and fork.

If appetite means anything,

reckon Junior'll be quite a ballplayer.

He looks a little sleepy,

don't you think, Ethel?

No, let me help you with the dishes first.

Oh, there's nothing to help,

with this newfangled gadget.

Well, a little dressy, ain't you, Son?

Oh, no, not another press interview

down here?

No, no. No, no.

I just thought maybe we'd go out

and do a little celebrating.

You know, Junior's going to be

six months old tomorrow...

- Go on, go on, what are you waiting for?

- Come on.

I have to catch my breath.

This is an event, you know.

We don't get to do much celebrating

in Chicago.

Now, look, if you two girls

are going to sit around

and chew the fat all evening,

I'm gonna go out and celebrate myself.

- Goodbye.

- Oh, no.

- You hold him while I get ready.

- Now hurry up, will you?

Now, hold on, boy.

No southpaws in this family.

Southpaw.

Well, now, let's see.

- I think we'll have some champagne.

- Yes, sir.

- Care to dance?

- Monty, you're acting very strangely.

Well, now, it's a fine thing

when a man has to plead

with his own wife to dance with him.

- But you don't dance.

- You like to dance, don't you?

- Yes, I do.

- Well, maybe it's about time I learned.

Besides, this is

one of my old campaign songs.

Now, come on. Come on.

- You'll look funny.

- Won't be the first time.

Come on. Come on.

What do I do now?

This was your idea.

- You're dancing.

- Oh, it's nothing.

- But you said you didn't know how.

- I didn't.

Honey, I just got sick and tired

of everybody dancing with you but me.

Did you ever hear of Inez and Papanya?

Inez and Papanya?

Monty, you've been taking

dancing lessons.

Yeah, they've got schools

all over the American League.

Of course,

you always don't get Inez or Papanya.

Sometimes you get...

Oh, I remember, in Detroit I got Drusilla,

and in St. Louis I got a little short one

by the name of Angelita.

Cleveland, I got...

Oh, then all those press interviews

and meetings...

Boy, I took so many dancing lessons

through the season,

it's a wonder

I had strength enough to pitch.

Say, I got a few fancy steps here.

Do you think you can stick with me?

- Oh, I'll stick with you.

- All right. Here we go.

- Come on.

- I can't move.

I sure got me some fellow.

Shucks, didn't you know that?

Good morning.

Morning?

It was morning

when you came in last night.

Yes, it was pretty late.

It must have been 4:00.

What could you two

have been doing all that time?

- Dancing.

- Dancing with Monty?

- Sure!

- You were dancing?

We sure were. I wouldn't be surprised

if we did some more dancing tonight.

How about a date, ma'am?

- Why, sure.

- Look, look, look at this.

This is the Inez and Papanya special.

- Are you ready?

- Yep.

One, two, three, four...

This has a twirl in it.

Once more.

- How about that? Let's try it, Ma.

- Oh, no.

Now you clear out.

I got to get the dinner ready.

Hap, what do you want?

Hey, why don't you two girls

get dinner ready,

and Hap and I'll go out

and look for a couple of rabbits, okay?

If it's all right with the rabbits,

- I've got no objections.

- Bye.

Hap, Happy, go home.

Go home, Hap. Get Ethel.

Go on, go on home.

Go on, Hap. Hap, come on.

Go home. Go on.

Hap. Hap, go home.

No, Hap. Hap.

Go on home. Go on home.

Get Ethel. Go on home.

Monty's back.

Well, I guess everything is about ready.

Happy, be quiet.

That dog makes such a racket.

That dog.

Get the butter?

I'll get it.

I don't see Monty.

You don't?

The dog is crazy.

What's the matter with you?

Get back there. Go on.

I wonder why he came back alone.

Monty.

Monty. Monty, what happened?

I guess I shot the wrong rabbit.

There's no alternative.

It's his leg or his life.

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