Original subtitles

You've gotten really sloppy. Come on, focus.

Keep your head down on the ball. Come on.

Max,

concentrate.

You know, I don't know, Julie. Being stuck on a boat for six days doesn't

all that exciting to me.

Max, you're pulling your head. Keep it down on the ball.

We need this vacation.

Okay, something other than baseball, your career.

Can we take a break?

We'll stop when you get it right.

Ben, listen to yourself.

I know what I'm doing, Julie, all right?

Yeah, so do I. I hit 340 this year. The biggest game of your life is in four

days. I want you to be ready. For who, me or you?

What?

You see, he thinks that the big game means more to you than it does to him.

That's ridiculous.

I just want to have fun.

Winning's fun.

And when you work hard, you win. I busted my butt when I was your age, and

all paid off with the game -winning hit. Send my team to the League World

Series.

My father worked with me on my game. He even volunteered as coach. I enjoyed it.

It brought us closer together. We bonded.

Bonded or bondage?

Julie, what are you teaching this kid?

Ben, let's just go home, okay?

This is obviously hard for you to understand, but I like coming in first.

winning. It makes me happy.

No, it... We're not going home.

Well, you know what? You stay. Because we're leaving. I told you, Julie. Don't

baby him. This is not about babying him, man. Stop it. I quit.

I can't play this stupid game. Another sick little Ricky Martin concert. No son

of mine is going to be a quitter. I'm not your son. I'm your scorecard.

Nobody quits in this family. I do. I wish I'd never been born.

Max, don't say that.

Pick up the bat.

Dad, look out!

Dad!

I'll need to empty your feed.

Let's go, let's hurry. Here we go.

Heart rate stable.

Ben, can you hear me?

Are those leads on?

Somebody give me a cut -down tray!

There's a lead back up here, stat!

You're early, what are you doing here?

I'm here to help.

Who? You.

Blood pressure's dropping.

Drop that benefit.

Okay.

Clear.

Hey, wait a minute. You're not supposed to lose him. You're supposed to lose

him. No, the kid is safe. It's the father. The father is out.

You're missing the call. Call the kid safe.

Let's hit him again.

Clear.

No heart rate. Judge, do something.

I can't.

No, we can't go.

We need a time of death.

Change.

You could change the world.

Change.

Rearrange the world.

Change.

Take wonder back to.

Change. If it was only up to you to change.

He's just a kid.

Send him back.

Everyone dies, Mr. Smith. Everyone.

There is no reason that kid should die.

Let him have a little taste of life first. Get a driver's license. Maybe go

date. Is that too much to ask? I knew this wasn't going to be easy for you.

None of this is easy.

You're helping people.

He doesn't even shave yet. What does he need help with?

He wishes he hadn't been born.

I can't handle a 15 -year -old with a death wish.

What's she doing?

Son, you have passed over from the physical.

What's that mean? It means you're dead.

Really? I don't feel dead.

It's not all it's cracked up to be, is it?

It wasn't a death wish. I wished I was never born. That's different.

But you're a kid. Life should be fun. You should be discovering things.

My parents fight all the time. My dad's always on my case. Does that sound like

fun to you?

I think you could just go on straight to the hereafter, which I must tell you is

heavenly. Let me tell you something, kid. You're strong, you're healthy,

even kind of good looking.

Enjoy your life. You're too young to check out, no matter how heavenly it is

the other side.

It's better than being at my house.

What if things were different?

Different how?

I don't know. I just know you're too young to die. You deserve a second

As long as I don't have to play baseball, then maybe my dad would chill

Well.

Mr. Smith, ready?

Boy, hey, wait.

No, I'm not going back.

I want the kid to go back, get what he deserves, have a good life. But no, not

with me.

Jones, Jones, send Jones. He's good with kids. Not even a stretch.

Use him.

Do all angels talk back like that?

He's no angel!

All right, then, young man.

You will have three days, and three days only... To do what?

To change your destiny.

Reach a higher understanding.

Make peace with your father.

There's no peace with my father, trust me. Save it, kid. It's a done deal.

Let's go.

Where?

Where no one will recognize you.

Where you are a free agent in the universe.

Go with the blessing of God Almighty and his... Sherman the Father.

Something's not right.

What is it? The Boston Tea Party? Look what they're wearing.

Look what we're wearing.

The 1700s?

Are you going to stick out just a little here? You're early. The game's

tomorrow, man.

Oh, you know, looking things over.

Oh, yeah, I know what you mean.

You know, I think I'm more nervous than the kids are. I've been up since 9 o

'clock this morning eating Tums.

Oh, can you imagine? Just one more win and we get to play in the series. I

man, that's big.

Why are they dressed like that?

The parade. Parade? The bicentennial celebration.

Say, where you been?

1976.

Hey, Blue, it doesn't matter to me whether you go out there and you smoke

outfield grass, but tomorrow's the biggest game in these kids' lives.

Don't you be blowing any calls.

1976? I wasn't even born yet.

I think now may be the appropriate time to say, watch what you wish for!

I should have just gone to heaven and listened to that judge guy.

Man, what's wrong with you? Did you get whacked in the head with a baseball?

Back up. It's always better to be alive. Trust me, I've been there.

I'd do anything to be there again.

Come on.

Let's go.

Over here, over here.

Come on, you're dropping your hands.

You look like a girl up there.

Doesn't that moron know girls play baseball too?

I mean, a lot of them are better than guys.

It's 1976.

He doesn't know that yet.

You're pulling your head.

Stay in there.

Eye on the ball.

He sounds like my dad.

That's my dad's name.

That kid.

He is my dad.

Great, you've sent us back to the wrong life.

Okay.

Hey, four more laps.

Let's move it.

That must be my grandfather.

He died before I was born. Oh, man, we were supposed to go back to my past, not

my dad.

I bet this happened when you talked back right before that judge guy zapped us.

I don't think so.

Yeah, when you said it should have been the father.

All right already.

We're here for three days. Let's make the best of it. How?

You.

Yeah, you.

You want to be the bat boy or not?

Bat Boy? What's he talking about? I hit .340 last evening. Just play along. He

doesn't strike me as a patient type.

See you later.

Need some help here.

Let's go.

If you're trying to motivate me, it's not working.

What? Mellow out. If I wanted a yelling, I could have stayed home. Just chill.

Listen, you little punk.

You signed up to be Bat Boy. Now get it in gear or get off the field.

Permanently.

Well?

Yeah, I'll do it, I guess.

Yeah, and drop the attitude.

Get this equipment picked up.

Thanks. Thanks.

Hey, way to go giving it back to him.

No one ever does that and gets away with it.

I'm Ben Bogart.

Max.

So he doesn't treat you like that all the time, does he? I mean, what about

good times?

What good time?

Hey, she's a hottie. Who is that?

No, that's just Julie Adams.

We're going around.

I'm the first guy she's ever made out with.

Julie? That's my mom's name.

Oh, gross!

What?

What's wrong? You look like you could gag a maggot.

Nobody told you to stop running. I was thirsty. Get out there.

I want to take a break.

I said get out there and run. No wonder Mom left.

I should have just gone with her.

Now.

Clean this stuff up.

Sir, yes, sir.

Don't want to. You have to.

What are you going to do, ground me? You're not my dad. But Ben is, and Judge

Othniel gave you three days to make peace with him. Make peace? I don't even

know him.

You know he's got trouble with his father. Maybe you can help.

Don't think so. That's his problem. Look, maybe it doesn't end there.

Maybe that's where your dad learned how to treat you.

Yeah, did you see the way he knocked that cup right out of his hand? Right in

front of everybody?

This is it.

It doesn't sound like your dad had much of a chance, Max.

It's amazing he turned out as good as he did.

This is so weird. Why would he tell me they were close?

I think he tries to remember it like that.

Makes it easier.

What are you doing here?

I brought you this. Thought you might like a fresh one.

Thanks. So where are you going?

The bus station.

I gotta jam before my dad gets home. Oh, bus station.

Where are you going?

L .A. To live with my mom.

Los Angeles?

Yeah, I'm gonna surprise her. Man, she's gonna be blown away.

Oh, shouldn't you call her first? I mean, what if she's not there or

Well, I don't have her phone number.

What's the big deal? I got a card from her at Christmas.

She said I could visit her sometime.

Well, how are you gonna get to the bus station?

I'm gonna hitchhike.

You're gonna hitchhike?

So? Oh, you'd kill me if I ever hitchhiked. What are you talking about?

Nothing, but you can't get into a car with some complete stranger.

Wanna ride with me?

Sure. I don't think I can die twice in one day.

Hop in. I'll give you a ride.

Thanks.

You can't let him go. Why not? Because if he goes to Los Angeles, he won't be

born. Oh, what if he's happier there? What if things are better with his mom?

Where to?

Los Angeles.

Okay.

Max, I'm not sure she wants him.

You heard him.

She moved away, she left.

At least he's got something with his dad.

Would you want to live with that psycho?

I think it's all he's got.

But if he stays, you'll have Julie, and eventually he'll have you.

But it's up to you.

If you really don't have a death wish now, this is your chance to go make sure

you have a life right now.

Bus number 28 leaving for Los Angeles, now boarding in bay number 7.

Go stop him.

He's not going.

Hey, what are you doing? Give me my money back.

He changed his mind. Sorry.

You can't get on that bus. And why not?

Because. Because why?

I've got a bad feeling. Look, I'm going to miss this bus, okay? Stop.

For once in your life, just listen to me.

Sometimes I get these feelings, and I'm usually right.

What are you, psychic?

Hey, don't roll your eyes. You believe in that stuff too.

You have it. You still have it. I mean, this thing must be worth $100 now. You

only paid five.

What are you doing?

This.

What?

I knew that was there.

You kept it.

Keep it around. This thing's never wrong.

Should've been wait till tomorrow to go to California.

I don't give it a second thought.

You know, like I told her, if you want to go, go.

Don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out.

You know, she thought she could do better than that.

Move to L .A.

Upgrade to a doctor or a lawyer.

Let me tell you something.

I'm better off without her. You know, they made me foreman at the lumberyard.

Yeah, I'm doing just fine.

Must have been tough with the boy.

Hey, we're doing just great.

I told him early on that life was tough.

You know, I had to for his own good.

If you want to get anywhere, you've got to be tough.

You've got to play to win.

So let's play.

Are you talking to me?

Yeah. How about again?

Can you handle someone your own size?

Well, I'm almost your size.

I don't want to take all your money.

Take my chances.

Can you afford to lose 20?

Go ahead and break.

I hope you got game to back up that talk.

Better lie.

I'm good.

What are you going to play like that?

I don't know.

In another life.

Yeah, well, you just got lucky.

I don't want your money. I want you to go home.

What?

You know, it's probably none of my business.

You don't have to win at everything to be happy.

Take it from me. Life is too short. Way too short. You got a son at home? Let

him know you care. Because you do.

Don't wait until it's too late.

Where do you get off telling me what I should be doing?

My kid is doing just fine.

Hey.

He's got 20 bucks worth of free advice.

So, look, you can't tell anyone I brought you here, okay?

This is my spot. I come here to get away.

That's cool. I won't.

Wow, a George Brett rookie card. Do you know how much the thing's worth?

Yeah, about a quarter if the gun's still there.

He's gonna be in the Hall of Fame.

What, you wanna borrow it?

Can I?

No biggie.

So, uh, did you think the bus was gonna crash or something? Is that why you

stopped me?

I don't know for sure, but I do know for sure you can't leave.

No matter what happens, you can't leave.

Tomorrow's gonna be a huge day.

You're gonna remember it for the rest of your life. You'll even tell your son

about it.

There you go with the amazing Kreskin stuff again.

How do you even know I'm gonna have a son?

Just trust me.

Man, I'm just so sick of all this baseball crap.

But this game's gonna change everything.

You're gonna do great, and your dad's gonna be proud of you, and you're gonna

talk about it for years and years until everyone's sick of it. Yeah, right.

No matter what I do, it's not enough. I'll never be as good as he expects me

be. That's why I'm leaving. It'll be better at my mom.

You're not leaving. Yes, I am. I have nothing to stay for. Yes, you do. Me.

I don't even know you.

Oh, then what about Julie? You'll never see her again. And if you never see her

again, you'll never see me again.

You're a real space cadet, you know that? You're acting like this is life or

death. It is.

You gotta trust me.

You better get a good night's sleep.

You got a big game tomorrow.

Yeah.

Ladies and gentlemen, today's Independence Day semifinal matchup

Wildcats and the Angels.

Come on, get the hit.

Please don't make me go up.

This hit will keep him here. He'll be a hero.

Let me see what you're made of, kid.

I want you to show me something.

Now batting for the Wildcats, Ben Boga.

with bases loaded.

What were you doing? He wasn't supposed to strike out.

How do you know, Max?

Because he told me all these years he got the hit, the game -winning hit.

He lied.

that to me.

Max, he didn't do it to you. It just happened to him.

All these years he's been on my back. For what? So he can feel better about

himself?

You lied.

What are you talking about? You never got the hit. You lied.

No, you lied. You said it'd be the best day of my life.

Why'd I listen to you?

I should have just left, gone to my mom's. You don't even have her phone

Just because you've got a Christmas card doesn't mean she wants you there.

So that's where your head was at.

Your mother?

Well, she's not here, is she?

Look at me.

I want you to remember this day for the rest of your life.

What it feels like not to win.

It could have been different.

No, it couldn't have been different.

Because nothing's ever good enough for you.

I'm not good enough.

Mom's not good enough.

Ben, wait.

Hey, let him go.

Nobody wants to be around a crybaby.

Hands off me.

You knew this was going to happen.

I knew he had a regret. I didn't know it was the strikeout.

But you could have changed it. All you had to do was call it a ball. Then the

game would be tied and he'd be off the hook.

Max, it was a strike.

Was I supposed to lie too?

I shouldn't have said anything.

I should have just let him go to Los Angeles. Maybe things would be better if

wasn't there.

You're here to be there for him. He was never there for me.

And now you know why.

He doesn't know how.

I don't care. I don't want to do this anymore.

Max, I have seen so many people come and go, men and women, but you're a kid.

I want you to have a life, okay?

Don't give up. I can't deal with it.

I just want to go home and see my mom.

She's right over there.

Okay, so I'm going to leave. We'll see you later. Okay, bye.

Now go on.

You're going to have a lot of time left.

Hi. Can I sit there?

Yeah, sure.

Poor Ben.

His father's so gross.

I feel like that shouldn't be allowed to be parents.

What are you thinking?

You always say that.

Who told you, Ben?

This is going to sound really weird, but I was just thinking about my mom, and

sometimes when I'm at home and things are bad, she just puts my head on her

shoulder, and it makes me feel better.

And I never told her, and I wish I had.

That is weird.

My mom did that to him.

I just met you. I have this feeling that I've... Known me my whole life?

Yeah. How did you know?

Just a feeling.

I gotta go find Ben.

I can come with you.

No.

Why not?

It's a secret.

I'll go find him and I'll have him call you later.

Okay. Thanks for your help.

Ben! Ben!

Ben!

All

signs

point to danger.

Ben!

Ben, where are you?

Ben!

Shouldn't be life or death. Am I right?

They're just kids. Why can't we let them be just kids?

I hear you, pal. Sure you don't want anything?

Can't. I'm working.

Maybe I should have called it a ball.

Everyone would have been better off.

You know, man, you're a nut job.

But you made the right call.

Without.

That was a lousy call.

Strike all the way. It caught the corner.

You robbed my kid.

No, Luke, I didn't rob your kid. You did.

Why don't you and I go outside of the dead list? Like real men. That would

require you being a man, Luke.

Wait. Hey, coach.

Ben's missing. I've looked everywhere.

No, he's probably just goofing off someplace.

I found his uniform floating in the river.

Ben!

Ben!

Ben!

Is that area even checked over there?

Ben!

Check those bushes back there.

Ben!

I've never asked anything of you, and I've never given you anything back

But you gave me something.

You gave me Ben, and he was a gift.

Dear God, please don't take him back.

Don't take my son.

Why are we here? Is the bus gonna take me home?

There's nothing left.

Everything's gone.

I'm not even gonna be born.

Isn't that what you wanted?

No.

I want to be alive.

I want my dad.

There he is.

Go tell him.

Ben?

Everybody's been looking for you.

We found your uniform.

I didn't want to keep anything that reminded me of baseball.

Only a game, Ben.

One game. You've got to remember that.

You can't have your entire life be affected by a game.

You know, I've been playing ball since I was three.

And I'd give it all up.

Everything I had.

If... What, Ben?

If I could only have a dad.

I don't kind of dad.

A dad who was proud of you no matter if you made the grades or

hit the ball or hit a roll of it.

A dad who when you walked in the room would look up.

Instead of down.

A dad who showed you all the important things.

Like remembering birthdays.

And saving your baby teeth.

And going to the movies.

Just the two of you.

Just for fun.

You can have that.

How?

With your son.

You're going to grow up and you're going to have a nice life.

You're going to get married.

And you're going to have fun.

And you're going to love you.

And I love you so much.

And you can be great father.

You're not going to make the same mistakes that your dad did.

Because you can make a choice right there, right then, to change it.

And it'll happen.

I don't want you to yell at me anymore.

Ben, there's a lot of pain in life, and I was just trying to protect you from

it. The only way I knew how, by being hard on you, just to try to toughen you

up. I was wrong to do that, and I'm sorry. God knows I'm sorry.

Mom doesn't want me anymore, does she?

That's why she never calls.

But I do.

I do.

Bad.

You better say bye.

It's time?

Yeah.

You okay?

Yeah.

I'm going to get going, but I'll see you around.

Thanks.

Thanks.

Sure.

You're forgetting something.

What? Here's a George Brett rookie card.

I forgot.

Yeah, yeah.

I swear I did.

Yeah.

This is yours.

What, you don't want it?

Keep it for me.

For later.

And if you ever get down and things seem like too much to handle, just look at

it and remember that the only thing that matters is that you try your best.

That's all you can do.

Thanks.

He may not have gotten a hit, but he won the game.

Great,

the basins are loaded.

This is the biggest game of my life. I had to come back to this.

You complaining?

Think of the alternative.

Right, so... Is anyone going to believe me about all this?

Everything that's happened in the last three days will be wiped from your

memory.

It will?

Except for the stuff you keep in your heart.

Hey there!

You ready?

Yeah.

I mean, this picture's got nasty stuff. What if I choke? What if he tased me?

What's this?

Somebody gave that to me a long time ago.

So whenever I get down and things seem like there's just too much for me to

handle, I look at that card and remember.

That the only thing that matters is that I do my best.

That's all you can do.

It's a fly ball to the right.

Take wonder back to you. Change.

If it was only up to you to change.

True.