All language subtitles for Hardball.2001.1080p.WEBRip.x264-RARBG

[thunder rumbling]

I gotta lock up, son.

You looking for faith,
forgiveness?

I'm lookin' for the Bulls
to cover the spread.

[chattering, laughing]

Conor, Duffy's here.
You better have his money.

I got it.
I'm gonna have it.
What's the score?

You're into Duffy
for at least five grand.
Who gave you an account?

I laid six grand
with the Barber to get me even.

Chicago's down by four.

I got Chicago gettin' eight.
Less than a minute to go.

Hang on!
Just hang on.

You didn't bet the Barber with
my money, did you, O'Neill?
You're not that stupid.

Shut up, Duffy. In 18 seconds,
you'll have your money.

[announcer]
Oh, and he gets hammered,
and it goes!

Shit!

Okay, if he makes both,
it's eight. I push. I'm even.

Flagrant foul.
He shoots that first.

- That's bullshit!
- If he makes all three,
you're screwed.

[announcer continues,
indistinct]

Grab him!

[grunts]
Get off of me!

I'm first, O'Neill!
You always pay me first!

You wanna kick my ass?

- [car alarm blaring]
- [crowd murmurs]

No one can kick my ass
better than I can.

[all gasp]

[siren approaching]

[man, faint]
Hey, Conor, it's Ticky!

It's Ticky. It's Ticky!

Conor! Yeah. Hey.

Ticky.
Did you bring money
for the summons?

What's that?
Did you bring money
to get me out?

Damn, you got
"zactly's" breath.
"Zactly's breath"?

Your breath smells
zactly like your ass.
Damn, that's nasty.

Did you pay them?
They said it was 580.
I need the tickets.

Which ones?
You got two pair on the floor
for Bulls-Rockets.

I'm gonna hawk those myself.
The game's not till 7:00.
It's 5:00.

What?
Just tell me where they are.

[sighs]
Shit.
Come on.

They're under the, uh,
religious statue on my dresser.

Wait, Ticky!
You gotta get 1,200.

Ticky, you gotta pay
to get me out!
I already did.

[water running]

[tap turns off]

[knock at door]

Yeah?
It's Ticky. Let me in.

Ticky. Thank God.
I really need that money.

How much did you get
for the tickets?

Jesus!
[grunts]
Hey, O'Neill. Remember me?

He grabbed me outside
the United Centre.

Yeah, you're the Barber's son.
Yeah.

O'Neill, do you even remember
making that phone call
from Michael Pistone's wedding?

Get off of me.
You talked to me.

You said, "This is O'Neill,
number 55. What's my limit?"

So I check 55,
and I see you got six grand.

So you put that six grand
down on Milwaukee,
and, of course, they tank.

So now I gotta ask my old man
about O'Neill on 55,
and guess what he tells me.

He tells me that guy
died four months ago.

Look, tell the Barber--
You bet six grand
on your dead father's account.

I need some money right now!
Here, I'll give you
everything I got.

All right. That's a start.

Relax.
Mm-hmm.

Forty-seven dollars.

[sighs]

All right, you owe 6,600.

You pay me a grand a week
until I say stop.

That's ridiculous. 500.
750.
Bring it to the barber shop.

You don want me
to come back here.

[bat clatters to floor]

- [exhales]
- [sighs, chuckles]

I'm s-- I--

They grabbed me outside
the United Centre!

Excuse me. I'm Conor O'Neill.
I got an 11:30
with James Fleming.

Can you lend me...
12 grand?

- What, do you need to
bury your father again?
- What?

Did you dig the guy up
or something?

What are you,
freakin' sick?
I'm sick?

Four months ago
you come in here crying...

about how you need $5,000
to bury your old man.

I talked to Mahoney
at Mikey's wedding.

It seems he also gave you
5,000 to bury the guy.
And I'm gonna pay Mahoney back.

I don't give a shit
how much you owe Mahoney.

Listen, Jimmy,
I'm really up against it
right now with Duffy--

And I really don't give a shit
how much you owe the bookies.

Conor.

Come back in here.

You know, this...
[door closes]

just might help you.

Jimmy, this is only 500 bucks.
I know.

You're going to coach
a kids' baseball team with me.

Jimmy, I don't think
you understand
how serious my situation is.

I'm gonna pay you $500 a week
for the next ten weeks.
That's week one.

Jimmy, I ain't no good
with kids.
You know, Conor,

I do this to give something
back to the community.

You don't want to do it,
give me the check back.

Uh, okay.

- So, I'll see you
at the field tomorrow, 3:30.
- Where is it?

Right behind that Baptist church
where you used to buy reefer.

No, Jimmy, the only thing
behind that church is
those shitty housing projects.

I'll see you tomorrow.

* Right now

* I got a rhythm
where I'm from *

* Know what I'm sayin'

* Yeah

* Ghetto

* Ghetto
I'm from the ghetto *

* You know how we do
Yeah *

* From my people down south
with gold in they mouth *

* From my people out east
where they can't even count *

* From my people out west
they be bangin' it out *

* We ghetto
[echoes]

* No matter how far I've come
[continues, indistinct]

I'm gonna whack this shit
to the gate.
You ain't gonna mess with me.

Shit.
* I'm ghetto

* From my people down south
with gold in they mouth *

* From my people out east
where they can't even count *
[horn honks]

* From my people out west
they be bangin' it out
We ghetto *

Yo, check out
Coach Jimmy's whip!
Oh, damn, this shit is pimped.

Whoa, guys,
don't touch the car.

Yo, Coach Jimmy.
Here's my extra inhaler,

and here's my Sugar Babies
for when my blood needs sugar.

Mom says I do better
when my blood's got sugar in it.
Whoa, what's your name again?

Jefferson Albert Tibbs,
Coach Jimmy, but--
Everybody listen!

That gentleman behind you
is Coach Conor.

He'll be taking over
the day-to-day operations.
What?

- That bum guy's our coach?
- Coach Conor just stopped by...

to give you the equipment.
Jimmy, I can't
do this by myself.

Here's your roster, schedule,
Sugar Babies, inhaler.

I gotta be in New York
three weeks. Training seminar.
Couldn't be avoided.

Hey, good luck.

Hey, wait, Jimmy.
Wait, Jimmy! Wait.
What's wrong with that man?

Wait, wait, wait!
How am I gonna get my money?

Every Monday, Ellen
will have a check for you.
Gotta go.

Five hundred, right? 500.
Every Monday. You bet.

Every Monday.
I'll see ya.

- Andre Ray Peetes?
- 'Sup, my brother!

[all laughing]
What position do you play?

Big Willie. Whatever, man--
back catcher or centre field.

- I got mad power. I pound
the shit to the gate, yo!
- Damn right.

Uh, Miles Pennfield II?

This dude.
Him.

What position does he play?

He says
he can pitch, Coach Conor,
but I might pitch too.

- What's your name?
- Jefferson Albert Tibbs.
Mom says I can play anywhere.

My asthma and all,
I should probably play first.
I gotta keep my sugar up too.

You know, Mom said that
some boys is plain big-boned.

And some boys
just plain fat-assed.
[all laughing]

Hi. Matt Hyland,
head of the coaches' committee.

You the Kekambas?
What?

Are you the Kekambas?
Yeah, bitch,
we the Kekambas.

- So, what's up?
- [team mutters, laughs]

Where's James Fleming from
Smyth and Stevens Securities?
He's out of town on business.

I'm assisting.
What do you got--
six or seven kids?

If you can't field a team,
the league'll drop ya.

I'll, uh, tell Coach Fleming--

This is Darryl Mackey.
He's president of the league.
Last year was a mess.

We had to cancel games because
we'd show up, and the other
team would have five kids.

Waste of everybody's time.

We're just trying to save
everyone a whole lot of trouble,
okay?

If you can't field
a nine-man team, why don't
you and the Kekambas go home?

Talk to Jimmy Fleming at
Smyth and Stevens Securities...

and submit a roster by Friday.
Friday.

Friday.
All right?

[Jefferson]
Yo, Coach.
Kofi and Ray Ray want to play.

Is that Kofi Evans
and, uh, Raymont Bennet?

Yeah, Coach, but Miss Wilkes
ain't gonna let them play.

- [all chattering, protesting]
- Wait, hey, hey!
Who's Miss Wilkes?

She teaches Saint Malachy.
She gets on my damn nerves,
I swear to God!

- She is real mean, Coach.
- She's an old nasty lady.

She tell your moms every little
thing. Do you know she called
my house every night last year?

- Every night!
- She won't let
these guys play?

[in unison]
Hell, no!
Coach,

she telled they moms that they
couldn't play ball until they do
these book reports.

- I can tell you anyway though,
Kofi ain't doin' shit.
- Ray Ray neither, yo.

Them little suckers is like,
"Bitch, quit that noise."
Hey, hey, hey!

Can we cool it
with the "bitches"?

* [rap over radio,
indistinct]

Aw, shit, man.

[Andre] Coach, it's gettin'
kinda late. We gotta go soon.
We practicin' today?

Not today.
Thursday, 4:00 here.

Cool.

Miles, wait up!

Hey, my mom's meetin' me
at Southside Pizza,
and I ain't walkin' by myself.

I wanna go to Southside
with you.

Man, you wanna just
cut up Ashland?
Whatever, man.

I don't wanna walk through
folks' loop. Damn Disciples.
[gunshots]

[in unison]
Glock, nine millimeter.

Hey, you know about my
"kah-rah-tay," right?

Man, do you mean
"karate"?
Nah, it's "kah-rah-tay."

Learned it from my cousin
who was in Japan in the army.

Lightning quick!
This is the tiger.

No man can defend himself
from the fury of a well-trained
karate tiger man.

Yeah, Dre-- a tiger.
Okay.

I only use the tiger
when I'm fightin', like,
a dozen guys.

More than that,
I use the bear.

What's the bear again?
I can't show you!

Man, that's the secret code
of the karate honor.

[scoffs dramatically]

Hey, wait up!

[woman] Yes?
Sister Wilkes?

I'm Conor O'Neill.
I wanted to talk to you about--
Oh!

I'm sorry.

It's okay.
It's just my head.

Who are you here to see?

Sister Wilkes.
I'm Miss Wilkes.

Do you teach here?
Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry.
I was just expecting, uh--
older woman.

Oh, well, I'm not a nun.

Thank God!
[scoffs]

I mean, that's great.

[clears throat]

Is Kofi Evans and
Raymont Bennet in your class?

Are they in my class.

Yes, they're in my class.
I need them to play baseball
for the Kekambas.

Oh, yeah. I think that's
something you really should
take up with their mothers.

But the kids told me--
Both mothers agreed the boys
need to read one book...

before they start playing
baseball in the spring.

Hey, I got
no problem with that.

You know, I think reading's
real good for kids.

You work for
Smyth and Stevens Securities?
Yes.

- What deal did you blow?
- What?

Well, I'm sure you're not
coaching this team by choice.

My associate, James Fleming,
is in New York for three weeks,

so I, uh--
I volunteered to help out.

I-- I would have loved
to have coached that team.

I was away on business--
Canada--

the day Mr Smyth and
Mr Stevens chose the team,
and--

Canada.
That must have been nice.

Lovely.

I was in the, uh,
business part the whole time.
Mm-hmm.

Well, I think it's wonderful
that you're teaching these boys
to play baseball.

I just think it's a shame
no one spends any time
helping them to read.

Listen, I'm Conor.

Elizabeth.

I'm only helping out
with the team for two weeks,

but I'm willing to get together
with you and help the boys out.

Why don't we exchange numbers?
I have a better idea.
Why don't I give you...

a copy of the book the boys
are supposed to be reading,
and you can read it.

Then you can talk to Kofi
and Raymont about their reports.

God.
That would be great.

Conor O'Neill,
coach of the crack babies.

I can't coach that team.
I've got to get out.
I'm serious. I'm bailin' out.

How'd it go with the nuns?
God, she was beautiful.

- Wh-Wh--
You picked up a nun?
- Ticky, shut up.

You still want your half
of the Blackhawks seats I got?
Yeah. Where are they?

I'm gettin' them tomorrow.

Bring 'em to the baseball field
on Loomis tomorrow
between 4:00 and 5:00.

Loomis?
That's the friggin' projects!
Hey.

Don't screw me, Ticky.
I'm not in the mood right now,
all right? I need that money.

I'll be there at 5:00.
Before 5:00.

O'Neill.
Easy, slugger.

All right? Relax.

You got some cabbage for me?
Can we talk outside,
without the bat?

Duffy, you knew my dad.

And I wouldn't be
callin' in a favor
if I wasn't completely racked.

You smashed up my bar.
You kn that I'll pay it
all back. I just need time.

It ain't my money.
Now, I can't carry you any more.

I'll help with the book.
Take bets.
I'll bring in business.

Nah.
No, that's not gonna work.

Listen, I gave them your name
because I couldn't carry you.

What?

Are you telling me that some
jag-off goombah is gonna
come and break my thumbs?

[exhales]
Duffy, I'm desperate.

I'm coaching a kids'
baseball team in the projects...

for a guy who's paying me
500 a week.

But I'm
paying the Barber off.
What should I do?

Should I tell the Barber
to back off? Should I start
paying you every week?

Keep payin' the Barber,

but don't come around here
unless you got the money.

* Have you ever, ever, ever
in your whole, whole life *

* Seen the things that I've
seen or lived the life *

* People don't know
what I go through *

* Oh, imagine what it's like
bein' misunderstood *

I'm Pearla Evans,
and this one's Kofi.
This is my youngest, Jarius.

Everybody call me
G-Baby, so--
Hey.

This is my sister's boy,
Raymont.

I spoke with Miss Wilkes.
She said you agreed to help
with their assignments...

so they could play ball.
Yeah, that was
before I had this--

Miss Wilkes said she had
a good feelin' about you,

so I figured
I'd give it a try.
Miss Wilkes said that?

No. Actually,
she said she had a good feelin'
about them all playin' ball.

But I'll tell you now,
Mr-- O'Neill.
O'Neill. Conor O'Neill.

You don't help these boys,
they don't do this work,

hell will be paid
with your ass.

I trust I can reach you
at Smyth and Stevens Securities
to plan a tutoring session?

Yes. Of course.
Anytime.
Good.

- Go on, boys.
- Yeah, come on!

Yeah, come on, man.
I'll beat you up, man.

No, man!
Come on. Yeah.

[all chattering]

What?
This ain't no giddyap show.

No, like this.
Like this.

Come on, Ticky.
You're killin' me.

Coach Conor,
we usually quit at 5:30.

Mom needs me home.
We eat around 6:30.
No, keep practicin'.

I'm waiting for somebody.
We'll be done soon.

- I'll let you know, Albert.
- I'm Jefferson.

Come on, man, pitch the ball!

Shut up!
Hey.

- You wanna hit me, huh, bitch?
- Oh, shit. And if I did, what
you gonna do about it, you--

[all shouting]
Hey! Hey! Hey!

Hey, that's enough!
That's enough, all right?

Shit,
I wanna see some blood.
[horn honks]

- Will you guys cool it?
- [kids muttering]

Practice Saturday, 1:00,
all right?

Coach Conor.
Coach Conor!
What?

Can I walk with you?
No. I'm not
goin' that way. Sorry.

But-But--

[sighs]

[chattering]

Yo, what's up, my B?

What's up, shorty, man?
Hey, gimme that pizza, man.

[panting]

[panting harder]

[wheezing]

[panting]

[rider]
Whoo!

What up, boy?
Open the bag.
Take it, just let me go!

[groaning]

Let go the bag, punk.
You got it.
Let's go!

Thanks for the bag, fool!

I think it makes you
look tough.
[chuckles]

Is he okay?
Who are you?

I'm the coach.
Conor O'Neill.

Why did you keep them
so late?

Fool, I called you
at Smyth and Stevens,

and at first, some little girl
didn't even know who you were.

Then some man named Fleming got
on the phone and told me you
were out of the office today.

- Please, take my home number.
- You can't keep them boys
out there after dark.

Thank Jesus
for Jefferson's strength.

That smell?
[sniffs]
That might be a lawsuit.

Look at you.
You don't even look like
you're holdin' it together.

Jefferson, I'm sorry.

I shoulda called practice,
you know, when it got dark.

I just came by because, uh,

as soon as you're ready
we expect you back, huh?

And, uh,

I needed to know, uh,
what number uniform you wanted.

You're never gonna stay
being our coach.

[horn honks]

Enjoy the game.

Hey.
Nice wheels, soccer mom.

Up yours.
[chuckles]
What's with the wagon?

The suits at Smyth and Stevens
took shit from one of the kids
got beat up after practice,

so they lent me this car
to get 'em all home.

Ah, man.
Who got beat up?
Who needs tickets?

Jefferson Tibbs.
That's the fat kid,
right?

Yeah--
How'd you know?

You told me about
every kid on the team.

Aw, shit. I hate it
when people mess with kids.
Jesus. It's so wrong.

How can I help you fellas?
Mister, you just sold us
tickets to last night's game.

Get outta here! Don't make me
freakin' shoot you! When a man
needs crack, a man needs crack!

- You're unbelievable, man.
- Need seats? Need two?

How we doin' tonight?
"We"?

We aren't doin' so good.
San Jose's not
such a hot ticket.

Did the Bulls cover
last night?
Yeah, they won by nine.

Shit.
I couldn't get any action.

I need to find someone
who'll take a big bet.

Fink's minimum bet's two grand.

The guy at the cement plant?
Yeah, Fink the cement guy.
Why?

I wanna lay 12 G's.
12 grand? On what?

Since Jordan left,
the Bulls have never
covered at home against Miami.

You serious about this?
They play Miami
on the 26th.

You shouldn't do this.
I don't have a choice.

Take me to meet Fink.

Come on.
[man]
Programs here!

Okay. Okay.
I'll take you to see Fink.

Sell some tickets.

Need tickets, folks?
Who needs tickets?
Who needs tickets?

- Pay up, bitch!
- I'll kick your ass, bitch!

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Cool it!
[all shouting]

Cool it!
What's goin' on?

All right.
Let me break it down
to you right quick.

Andre say he can catch any
pop-up ball anybody can throw.

Kofi say, "That's bullshit.
You a busta."

Andre say, "Roll up, bitch."
Kofi say, "I'll give you all
my gum if you catch this ball."

He threw the ball.
Andre caught it.
Andre say, "Pay me my money."

Kofi say,
"You a cheatin' bitch."
No, wait.

- Kofi say, "You a motherf--"
- Okay, I got it. Thanks.

Okay, I want everybody
to take a position. Let's go.

Let's go. Let's go.
Let's practice.

[rap]
* Take me out
to the ball game *

* Spend no small change
Damn, man, you suck,
just like my girlfriend.

* People in the crowd
Man, I like big things *

* Take me out
to the ball game *

* Spend no small change
Now show me *
[Kofi] Nice catch, Andre.

Jackass!

- Keep chasin', punk.
- Give me the ball.

* Spend no small change
Now show me *

- Damn!
- What happened?

- Kofi just jumped
out of the way like a baby!
- What's your problem?

Why is everyone so quiet?

What's up, Kofi?
You scared of the ball?

[chuckling]

New rule!
No one can say anything bad
to anyone else on the field!

Got it?

What? You can't talk shit
you got nothin' to say?

- Let's hear it.
- Got it.
- I got it.

- [grunts]
- [kids laugh]

Way to use your head,
Jamal.

It's cool, Jamal, man.
Don't worry about it.

Aah!

"Four Spanish men
with hiking boots
had surrounded me close.

"I could tell they were banditos
because they had taco breath
and they called me 'hombre.'

"I spun around and hit
the biggest one.
I punched him in the gut.

"And as he was falling,
he grabbed my backpack.

"I said, 'Stop, you banditos!
I don't want to have to hit
anyone else.'

"But because they were Spanish,
they didn't understand me.

"Two more jumped me,
and I hit one of them in his--"
Between his legs.

"My mouth banged on his head,
and that was where I got
my fat lip. The end."

So where'd you get
your fat butt?

Andre, that's enough.
That was very nice,
Jefferson.

Excellent use of
the first-person narrative.
I was scared of the banditos.

It was good.
Okay, sit down.

- Miss Wilkes.
- Mr O'Neill.
Fresh from the office?

Yo, Coach. Why don't you
invite your pants down to your
shoes so they can party?

[kids laugh]
Everyone,
this is Mr O'Neill,

who coaches a baseball team
that some of our young men
play on.

He's taken the time
out of his busy day
to give us a hand.

So give him your attention.

A Wrinkle in Time
is an important book.

- I liked it very much.
- [kids laugh]

I'm just sayin'
it ain't like that.

Fantasy ain't reality.
I like to read stuff
that's real.

Give me an example.
Michael Jordan's book.

- Nice book, man.
- Excellent choice.

A strong piece of literature,
a great read.

- Yeah.
- That's a biography. That's
the real story of his life.

This is fiction.
The story's made up.

It's meant to entertain you
and make you think.

Kofi, you've been silent
this whole time. All you've
said is you didn't like it.

That's right.

Well, if you can't say more,
I'm going to have to assume
that you didn't really read it,

and your mother's gonna
want me to call her.

- Did you read the book?
- Yeah.

- Tell me something about it.
- It was booty.

[kids laugh]

Okay. I'm gonna
call your mom tonight.

That girl Meg is dumb.

She think her father
comin' back from wherever.

That's stupid to believe in.

That girl and her mom is
both trippin'.

'Cause where I'm from,
don't nobody's father come back.

[bat hitting ball]
[boy] Come on,
right here, right here!

Yo, let's do this!
I'm ready to beat 'em!

Come on! Hurry up!

Maybe this year you could
turn a double play.
Got the uniforms, Coach,

and... your check.

I take it you're not staying.
Sorry. Can't.

Next time.
Good luck today.

Thanks.
Thanks for giving back
to the community,

dickhead.

- I want number seven
like last time.
- I want number four!

Find a shirt that fits
and put it on, okay?

- This shirt smells like
my grandma.
- [chuckles]

[all chattering]

Coach.
Good to see you,
Jefferson.

Who's got number 11?
Coach, I got it here.

Thanks. Jefferson, this is
the biggest shirt we got,
all right?

Everyone, the shirts go up in
sizes from two to 11, okay?
Coach, I need a shirt.

- Who's got number ten?
- I got it.

Give it to Jamal.
Where's my shirt?

Hey, guys. Guys?
Why don't you guys
play catch in the outfield?

Okay? Warm up.
G, hang on. Hang on.
I wanna talk to you.

How old are you?
I'll be nine in October.

Well, you're supposed to be
nine before August to, uh,
play in this league.

But-But I wanna play.
[sniffling]

G-- G,

there's only ten uniforms,
11 players.

So I gotta give the guys
who are old enough first pick.

- But I'm on the team, right?
- Hell, yeah!

[chuckles]

[umpire] Play ball!
* Throw me the ball
and watch what I do with it *

[yelling, indistinct]

* We got Bow Wow in the house
Whoo! We got game!

* My man, Lil' Zane
and Lil' Wayne *

* Sammie, sing to me
* Strike one
caught you by surprise *

- * Strike two
right before your eyes *
- Ooh!

* Pitch three
This one's to the wall *

- He's out!
- * Ain't no fun
like a game of hardball *

- * When I step to the plate
the outfield gets back *
- Strike!

- It's all right, Ray Ray.
- * They call me
Little Sammy Sosa *

* Bubble gum cards
or on the posters *

- * [continues, indistinct]
- Strike!

Strike!

Strike!

* Right before your eyes
Strike three *

* Ooh, I got you out
without a doubt
I got you out *

* Strike one
caught you by surprise *
Strike!

- Out!
- * Strike two
right before your eyes *

* Pitch three
This one's to the wall *

* Ain't no fun
like a game of hardball *

* [continues, indistinct]

- [coach shouting]
- Throw it!

- Damn!
- [all shouting]

- Come on, come on, come on!
Get down! Get down now!
- Safe!

[cheering]

Oh, my God, he caught it.
Throw it!

What the hell--
Damn it!

- Hey!
- Okay, I'm gonna
kick your ass!

What the hell is wrong
with you?
[all shouting]

* Strike one
caught you by surprise *

* Strike two
right before your eyes *

* Strike three
Ooh, I got you out *

* Without a doubt
I got you out *

-* Strike one
caught you by surprise *
-Come on, baby, you can do this.

* Strike two
right before your eyes *

* Pitch three
This one's to the wall *

- * Ain't no fun
like a game of hardball *
- [all shouting]

[Conor]
Keep goin', Kofi!

Go! Come on, Kofi!

Keep going!

- Safe!
- [cheering]

- Yes!
- Yeah!

* Ain't no fun
like a game of hardball *

- Good job.
- [cheering]

Strike! Out!

That's all right.
That's the way
to take your cuts. Good job.

Coach! Coach.

Yeah?
Coach, I guess that's it.

I mean, the league says we can't
start another inning after 6:30.

Really?
Well, yeah. It's 6:37 now,

and we're up 16 to 1.

That's cool. Thanks.
Good luck
the rest of the way.

Two, four, six, eight,
who do we appreciate?
Kekambas!

Damn, Miles,
you don't even know
how to throw the ball!

Shut up, Ray Ray.
At least he ran after it
when it went by.

- Shit went through your legs
like five damn times.
- You a little punk, Dre.

- Least you throw like one.
- I'm tired of your shit, bitch.

[boys, shouting]
Kick his ass!
Hey, that's it! That's it!

That's it. That's it!
I'm gonna kill you!

Hey, Kofi, you're close
to being done, okay?
I quit!

This team sucks, man!
Oh, hell, no.
Damn it!

[boys, overlapping]
Shit! This is you, Dre.
This is all your fault, Dre.

Anybody hungry?
How 'bout pizza?

I'm down with that shit,
my brother.

You got three large pies,
11 pops.

It's 44.65.

You like hockey?
Blackhawks fans?

Yeah. Yeah. I take
the wife and kids every year to
the Negro Hockey Hall of Fame.

[both laugh]

Man, the only thing black at
a Blackhawk game is the puck.

I'll give you two loge seats
for the Bulls/Mavericks
on Sunday.

- For the pizza?
- For the pizza.

Done deal.

Yo, Coach! If I get
a home run next game, you gotta
buy me pizza again, man.

Every run I score,
I get one slice.

[all chattering]

You bustas is trippin'.
Only me gettin' pizza
every game.

M.V.P.-- Most Valuable
Pizza eater.

Yo, Coach,
I should be pitching.

You wanna pitch, Miles?
Yes, sir.

Yeah.
You can pitch on Wednesday.
Yes!

Coach, is there any chance that
we'll get trophies this year?

Let's see.

There are eight teams
in the league,
play everyone twice--

Yeah.
We gotta win more games
than we lose.

Yes!
So we go the 'ship, right?

Yeah, we could.
Man, we goin' to the 'ship.

[chanting]
We goin' to the 'ship, whoa.
We goin' to the 'ship.

Whoa, whoa.
We goin' to the 'ship.

We goin' to the 'ship.
We goin' to the 'ship.
Whoa, whoa.

Whoa, whoa.
We goin' to the 'ship.

All right, Andre.

This is it, right?

Don't you wanna
see my house?

Sure.

- What?
- Everyone's sitting
on the floor.

You stay below the window.

- What?
- Bullets.

What do you do
around here for fun?

Play baseball with you.

See ya on Wednesday.
Okay.

* [funk-rap, indistinct]

Safe!
[cheering]

You ready, Miles?

Want me to hold
your Walkman?

[boy]
Come on, Miles.
You do your stuff now.

Let's go, pitcher!
Come on, Miles!

[jeering, laughing]

Strike!
Damn.

Strike!

- Strike! Out!
- Shit.

- What's he listenin' to?
- Same song, over and over.

What is it?
"Big Poppa" by Notorious B.I.G.

Want one of his tapes?
He made five of 'em.

- How's it go?
- * I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

* He waves his hands in the air
if you a true player *

* I see some ladies tonight
that should be
havin' my baby, baby *

Strike!

Strike!

* I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

* Throw your hands in the air
if you's a true player *

- Strike!
- * I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

- * [continues, indistinct]
- Out!

* I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

* You got a gun up
in your waist, please don't
shoot up the place *

* 'Cause I see some ladies
tonight that should be
havin' my baby, baby *

[bell rings]
* [continues, indistinct]

We won our last game.
Miles is an amazing pitcher.

Oh, I heard.
Nine to three over the Gandas.
Yeah.

I'm just tryin' to help out
till my colleague returns
from New York.

It's great of you
to take the time out.
Hey, listen,

why don't we have
dinner tonight?

I mean, what good is
an expense account if you don't
get to pad it once in a while?

I can't.
It's a school night, and--
Maybe some other time.

What about after the game
on Saturday?

Saturday.
The boys would love
to see you there.

- Mm, maybe.
- Maybe.

Okay?
Okay.

Yo, Coach.
You're not really tryin'
to get Miss Wilkes, are you?

No. Why?
Good. 'Cause I already tried,
and she ain't havin' it.

[starts engine]

- Do it, Jamal!
- [shouting, indistinct]

Kofi wanna come back,

but first I have to
"regotiate" his contract.

[umpire]
Ball one!
Okay.

- What are the terms?
- One, Kofi wants you
to tell Andre

that Kofi's the best player.

Two, only Kofi gets pizza
when he hits a home run.

Three, if he whacks it
over the gate, he gets
a whole pizza to take home.

One, when the season's over,
the team'll vote on
who's the best player.

Two, Kofi can have the same
pizza bonuses as everyone else.

Three, if he hits it
over the fence,

I'll buy him a pizza.

Okay. Let me discuss
the negotiations with my client.

[man]
Put your back into it,
Jefferson!

[crowd whoops]

Here! Light this sucker!

[crowd applauds]

Go, baby!
One more run!

What's up, Coach?

Kofi Evans.

I spoke to your agent.
I can come back?

If it's cool
with the rest of the team.
But you start shit with Andre,

and you're done-- okay?

Yeah.

[crowd cheering]
[woman]
Ooh, run!

[umpire]
You're out!

[cheering]

Two, four, six, eight,
who do we appreciate?

The Kintus! The Kintus!
Yea, Kintus!

- [cheering]
- Conor. Hi.

Hi.
You're great with them.

Thanks.
Are we on for tonight?

Tonight?
I don't know.
It's not a school night.

Come on--
just for dinner.

Look, if you're worried,
the place is well-lit,
people can hear your screams.

[chuckling]
I'm not sure. Where?

It's on the corner
of Clark and Addison--
Slugger's.

How 'bout, uh, 9:00?

9:00.
Clark and Addison.
Clark and Addison.

All right.
All right?

Yeah.

Did you miss a payment
with the Barber?

Yeah. I shined him
this week. Why?

That goofy dork Gino
came into Duffy's
asking for you.

Oh, Jesus.

Fink.

Ticky, this is Ed.
Ed.

- How you doin'?
- Pleasure.

This is Conor O'Neill.
He wanted to meet you.

What do you do
for money?

I'm a trader
at Smyth and Stevens.

Bullshit. First lie.

You gonna try to beat me
one time so you can pay off
whoever else you owe?

I wanna make a big bet.
How big?

Twelve grand.
And?

And, if I win,
I wanna get paid.

No bullshit to keep betting.

This guy's
too serious.

I got a handful of clients,
they lay a hundred grand a week,
and they're not emotional.

I can cover it.
You seem too emotional about
this 12 grand. Desperate.

What are you,
a psychiatrist or a bookie?

Don't you want
your number?

You gonna take my bet?

Ed, what's
the next number?

Twenty-seven.
You're account 27 when you call
in. And your handle is?

Kekambas.

What? Kekambas?

Kekambas.
Ed, you got it?

Got it.
You're a strange kid,
Kekambas.

I'm interested to see
what happens with you.

O'Neill! Gino, get him.

Aw, fuck this.

Account 27.
Kekambas.

Yeah. What's the line
on Chicago tomorrow night
against Miami?

Gimme Miami minus six.
Twelve grand.

Wait. Wait.

I'll take Chicago
and the six points.

Yeah. Twelve thousand.

Conor, hi.
Hey.

Let's eat.
Okay.

Why don't we sit?

So... I wanted
to talk to you.

Yeah, I wanted to talk
to you too.

So, uh,
do you want a drink?

No.

What's wrong?

I come here all the time
with the guys I work with.

Look, I know you don't work
at Smyth and Stevens.

Look at you.
I could tell right away
you weren't a broker.

What's that mean?

Nothing. You just don't look
like someone that works
at Smyth and Stevens.

You look like a freakin'
boring schoolteacher.

[sighs]

Hey. Elizabeth!

Elizabeth. Hey.
Why'd you come here?

To bust me in the lie
about where I work?
You win.

You coach my kids.
I thought we had
a common interest.

Elizabeth, I get paid under
the table to coach that team.

And I only do that
because I'm in a big hole
with two bookies

who are lookin'
to kill me.
Yeah.

What?
Nothing.

You know all this.

I spoke to Jimmy Fleming
after Jefferson got beat up.
He told me.

You just think
I'm a big joke.
No.

It's people like me that
make people like you feel
better about your tiny life.

This is unbelievable.
I can't believe I came
down here for this.

Yeah? Then why did you come
if you know I'm a liar?

Because those kids trust you.
And they don't trust anybody.

I told you,
I coach for money.

Well, I teach for money.
I've had some of the best
fifth-graders in the world,

but some of them don't make it
because they don't have anybody
besides their mother or me...

telling them what to do.

So what?

I'm done with all that.

Well, I just
came down here...

to see what they see,
because they're never wrong.

Take a good look.
See what they see.

I came to talk to you
about a job.
Yeah?

Well, unless it pays
12 grand an hour,

I'm not interested.

Conor.

Hey.
Did you play it?

Yeah. Twelve grand.
Twelve grand? Yes!

Coach! Can we have a word?

How many points
you givin'?

I'm getting six.

You took Chicago?

Are you on crack?
You laid 12 grand
on those--

Shut up, Ticky.
I'm under a lot of pressure
right now.

- I said now!
- Win or lose,
I'm outta here.

Darryl Mackey,
league's president.
We met.

Coach, we're concerned about
the age of some of the boys
on your team.

Can you produce birth
certificates for your players?

All I got is what Coach Fleming
from Smyth and Stevens gave me.

- Here they are.
- What are the names of those
two boys at second base?

- Andre and Jamal.
- Which one's Jamal?

The taller one.

This birth certificate's
been altered.

What?

The eight's been turned
into a nine.

You have to be born
after September of '88.

Well, the kid is out
of the league, and the Kekambas
are on probation.

Look, what are you guys?
The cops?

What's the point
of the league, Coach?

To teach kids it's okay
to lie, as long as they
can get away with it?

It should be about
these kids playing ball,

not the trophy
you bring to work.

Look, the kid goes now.

Okay?

Jefferson bats seventh,
plays first base.

Miles pitches and bats eighth,
and Clarence, you play third
and bat ninth.

Cool.
Okay, let's go.

[kids chattering]

Why I not playin'?
You mad at me?

Jamal, the other coach--
'Cause I'm sorry about
pushing Ray Ray.

I just want to play.

Listen, they know that you
changed your birth certificate.
I can't let you play.

But my mom said it was okay.

She said that she would tell
them if they asked if I was born
later. She said it was okay.

I just wanna play.
There's nothin'
I can do, Jamal.

Look, why don't you
just sit--

Jamal!

[boy]
Miles, do your stuff now.

Strike.

Strike.

Strike!
Out.

- Yeah, baby.
That's what I'm talkin' about.
- [sighs]

Time, Blue.

I can't have this kid out here
with these things on.

What now?
Coach, we're just
all in agreement.

The kid can't wear headphones
while he pitches.

Matt makes a good point
about safety.

- Come on.
You're kidding me, right?
- Think about it.

What if he gets hurt
because he can't hear
in a dangerous situation?

There's liability issues.
Bring it in, fellas.

Come on, bring it in.
Bring it in.
What are you doing?

I want you guys to explain
to them why they lost Jamal...

and why Miles can't
wear headphones,

and why the Bua Was and
the Waatas have nice uniforms,

and we have shitty T-shirts.

Easy, Coach.
You're already on a warning.

Kekambas.
This is the president...

and that is the coach
of the goofiest team
in the league.

And they kicked Jamal
off the team because he was born
two weeks early,

and now they're makin' Miles
take his headphones off...

'cause he's pitching too good.

It's a safety issue.
Look, fellas.

Fellas, you have to understand
that everyone has to follow
the same rules.

That's some weak-ass bullshit,
you bitch-ass,
mother-freakin' bustas.

[Kekambas complaining]
What did you say?

I believe he said, "That is
some weak-ass bullshit."

- Was that it, G-Baby?
- Yeah, that's it.

You are on thin ice, pal!
I could have you removed
from this league.

- This is my last game.
- What?

I quit.
What?

I'm out.

I got business
out of town.
All right, listen up.

Kekambas, back on the field.
Son, no headphones.

Coaches,
get back to the dugouts.

Come on, let's go.
Get out there.

Come on! Let's go!

What'd you expect?
I was gonna coach this team
the whole year?

[muttering]

[boys chanting]
Baddy, Baddy,
the pitcher's name is Baddy!

Woof, woof, woof, woof, woof!

[chanting continues]

All right, Calvin.
Big stick now. Let's go.

What have you got, son?
What have you got?

Bua Was!

Hang on.
You guys suck.

Whatever.
I just quit.
Finally.

I'll see you
at the game.
Yeah.

Sluggers.
Yeah.

Next practice
is Saturday, right?

11:00.
Someone's gonna be here.
Right?

I'll make sure someone's here
on Saturday for practice.

Coach, can't you at least
give us a ride?

I mean--
It's early.
You can walk.

You think you could
drop us off?
Don't you think...

I might have something more
important to do than worry
about you guys...

and your stupid little
baseball team?

[TV sports announcer, nearby]
Can we please go in now?
I gotta take a piss.

We're gonna watch the whole
game through the glass?
I feel better out here.

All right.

[announcer]
Jones fires. Oh!

Shit! Shit!

Jones is ice-cold!
It's all right.

Fourth quarter, we're up by
two points, you're getting six.

I don't know what I'm gonna do,
Ticky.
Come on. Hey.

You're up right now.
Ride it out.
Ride it out.

[announcer]
Nice play by Tillman.
He's got it.

Come on, come on.
Here we go.

Smith throws up a prayer.
It's good! Holy shit!

- Should I look?
- No, no!

You're not looking.
It's working.
Keep not looking.

Oh, God, Ticky.

Ticky, am I
out of the woods?
Here we go.

Miami in-bounds.
Don't foul! Don't foul!

- Shit! They fouled him!
- [moans]
Williams will shoot two!

Oh, God, Ticky.
Never again.
Never again.

Shit!
What's happening?

Talk to me!
What's happening?

Williams at the line.

- Williams makes the first.
- Shit, shit!

- If he makes the second,
it's over, you're dead.
- Williams shoots 80%.

Williams shoots.
It's in.

Shit.

What am I gonna do, Tick?
Miami by seven.

What am I gonna do?

Oh, my God, Ticky.

I was down 11 grand
before I made this bet.

Smith dribbles inside,
half-court.
Heaves a 30-footer!

It's in!

You covered!
Yes, it's good!
Are you sure?

What's the final score?
Miami by four!

You covered!
You covered 12 G's!
I covered!

Yes!

[whooping]

* I love it when you
call me Big Poppa *

* Throw your hands in the air
if you's a true player *

* I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

* Gun up in your waist
Don't shoot up the place *

* What?
'Cause I see
some ladies tonight *

* That should be havin'
my baby *
* Baby

Hey! Hey!
You take this party
somewhere else.

Kiss our ass, Duffy.
He beat Fink tonight
for 12 grand!

- You got my six grand?
- Tomorrow.

Hey, no neck, play this.
Make yourself useful, huh?

Huh?

* ["Big Poppa"]

So you took Fink
for 12 large.
Yeah.

Now what?

I don't know.
What do you mean,
you don't know?

We're rolling it on the Bulls
Saturday night.

Yeah? I'll take that action
on Ticky's number
if you wanna play it.

We'll bet it with Fink.
We covered tonight.

We got Vancouver Saturday night.
We'll cover again.
Twenty-four grand.

Yeah.
Twenty-four grand.

Then what? Hey, you think
you just won the game of life?
What next?

I don't know.

[cassette tape ejects]

If you win that,
what are you gonna do
with your life, huh?

You gonna coach baseball
for black kids?

I don't know.

I don't know, Duffy.

Maybe I'm just a loser, right?
Not like you.

Mr Big Time, huh?

I'm just a loser.

O'Neill,
I want my money tomorrow.

Night-night.
Time for beddy-bye, Coach.

Don't talk down to me!

You don't know shit
about those kids!
You don't know shit.

Come on.

Let's go, let's go,
let's go.

[radio announcer]
Chicago landers brace for
the long awaited inter-league,

cross-town match-up
between the Sox and the Cubbies
tonight at Comiskey.

In a battle between two
of the brightest young hurlers
in the game today,

21-year-old Jon Garland
will face off--

[knocking]
It's Ticky.

[radio clicks off]

Yeah?
I'm alone, I promise.

I'll take off my crusty
underwear and stand naked
in your hallway to prove it.

I'm naked now.
Beautiful.

Come on. I'm gonna lay on the
ground and slide my nuts under
your door until you let me in.

What's up?

I paid Duffy.
We're square.

Did you call Fink?
Are we down on the Bulls?
How many points we gettin'?

Fink wants to see
that I've still got his money.

Great. Let's go by there,
flash him a little cash and bet
the 12 grand like we said.

What's with you?
We're gonna do this, right?

Yeah, okay. I just gotta
go by the baseball field.

Jesus Christ.
I thought you quit.

I did quit!

I gotta drop the equipment off,
right?
I don't know.

[radio announcer]
...match-up between the Sox
tonight at Comiskey.

Sammy Sosa will attempt
to go yard for his fifth
consecutive game...

and the big Hurt will attempt
to break out of his dreadful
11-game hitting slump.

We're just over an hour away
from game time.

We'll be back
to take your calls.

All right. See ya.
Hurry up, okay?

- You here to tell us you quit?
- That's old news.

I left a message for Coach Jimmy
that I was just gonna drop off
the equipment today.

He should be here
any minute.

[car horn honks]

- Yeah. Keep goin', sucker.
- We goin' to the 'ship
by ourselves.

[boys muttering agreement]
I can't bet the 12 grand.

Fine. I understand. We should
just bet six grand and wait till
we got a little breathing room--

No, I can't.

You get your bummy ass outta
here, 'cause we a better team
without you anyway.

Ha! Ha! Ha-ha!

I'm not listening to any of you.
I'm not listening to you.

I'm not listening to you
or any of you!

So good luck.
Good luck on your own.

Call me when you get
to the 'ship without me.
Cold.

Good luck. I'm so glad
I'm done with this.

Can we please go?
If Fink thinks we're coming,
we should at least stop by.

If we don't want to bet it,
we don't count.
Technically--

How many of you guys been
to a big league park
and seen a baseball game?

[boy]
No. Uh-uh.

Ha! Ha, ha, ha!

That's what I thought.

You guys will never be a team
until you see it played right.
Never!

Gimme that.

Listen, you're stressed out.
Let's grab a bite.

We can call Fink
and lay the bet. Head for--
I'm out, Ticky!

You hear me? I'm out!
I'm out, I'm out, I'm out!

Okay? I'm out!
Okay. Okay.
You're out.

I'm done.

I'm done with all that.

Well... you gotta call Fink
for me.

You can't just dissolve
a partnership like that.

I-I-I'm flapping
in the breeze here.

Seriously.
I got nothin' now.
I'm flappin' in the breeze here.

Kekambas. Come on.
Let's go. Get in the car.

Game starts in an hour.
Come on. Let's go.

What's this?
What are we doing?
What is happening here?

Hey, let's--
Let's bet three grand.

Three grand will be fine.
I mean, what's goin' on?

Where are we--
What are we doing?
Come on, wait.

Come on.
Now wait, wait, wait!

This is against everything
that's right! Hey!

Hot dogs!
Get your hot dogs!

Second row!
Big league right now.

We got second row!

Coach, thanks for the seats.
They hot, yo.

Yo, check it out!
That's Sammy Sosa over there!

Where? Where?
Right there!

[all shouting]
Hey, Sammy! Sammy!

Sammy!

Man, that ain't
no Sammy Sosa.

Shut up, man!
Shut up!
Sammy!

Look, y'all, look!
There's Sammy Sosa right there!

Look! Right there!
Hey, Sammy!

[boys all shouting]
Sammy! Sammy!

[woman]
Yes?

- Missed me.
- Conor O'Neill.

I wanted to apologize
for the other night.

Well, I have had
better dates.
Yeah. I'm sorry.

I heard about the baseball game.
The boys loved it.

Yeah. It worked.
We've won three in a row
since then.

Do you have any idea
how much that meant to them?

I was thinking...

how the other night you knew
that I wasn't really
a stock trader...

and that I had
a big gambling debt.

And if you were there
to offer me a job,

it might still stand.

So you're not here
to ask me out?

Uh, no.

Okay.

Am I supposed to be?

Uh--

- We need a physical
activities coordinator.
- You and me?

[chuckles]
The school.

You know, someone to supervise
after school recess,

organize games and sports.

We'd really like to get
a guy because--
I think you like me.

What?
I just got this gut feeling that
when you were laughing at me,

that you like me.

Are you interested?

In the job?
What are we talking about here?

I'm, uh, interested.

I'm interested-- I'm interested
in anything I'm supposed to be
interested in.

Okay.
Okay.

[crowd chanting]
Let's go, Bua Was!

[chanting continues]

What's everybody
lookin' at?

Why we gotta play them damn
boo woos again, man?

They kicked our ass.

'Cause the two best records
in Division A play to see
who goes to the 'ship.

If we win this,
we go to the 'ship.

[boy]
If we win.

Everybody sit down.

Take a seat.
Come on, Dre.

No matter what happens today,

you guys should be really proud
of the season you've had,

'cause you played like a team.

And because you played
like a team,

I thought you should look
like a team.

Jefferson Albert Tibbs,
[gasps]

I believe this is yours.

Man, that shit is tight!
Look at that, boy!

[all exclaiming]

Fellas.

There's no more shirts
in the box.

Nope.

G-Baby.

Yeah!
[boys cheering]

What is destiny?
Destiny is you're
supposed to win.

Since you're supposed to win,
since I expect you to win,

I don't want any celebrating
when you strike out
one of these ridiculous--

[Kekambas shouting]

Hey, dogs, hats!
[all cheering]

What are you doing? Sit down!
Hey. Sit down and act
like champions.

Come on!

[umpire]
Safe!

* Y'all gon' make me
lose my mind *

* Up in here
Up in here *

* Y'all gon' make me
go all out *

* Up in here
Up in here *

* Y'all gon' make me
act a fool *

* Up in here
Up in here *

* Y'all gon' make me
lose my cool
Up in here, up in here *

* I gots to bring it
to you cowards
Then it's gonna be quick *

* All your men's up
in the jail before *

* Them other cats you run with
get done with, dumb quick *

* You gonna cross the dog
with some bum *

* Click, nine, one, one
What, over some dumb
Ain't that some *

* Remind me of a strip club
'cause every time you come
around it's like, what *

* I just gotta get my

* Y'all gon' make me act a fool
Up in here
Up in here *

* Y'all gon' make me
lose my cool
Up in here, up in here *

* I bring down rains so heavy
it curse the head *

* No more talkin'
Put him in the dirt instead *

* You keep walkin' lest you
tryin' to end up red *

- * 'Cause if I end up fed
you're all dead *
- [umpire] You're out!

* 'Cause you's a soft type
Fake up
North type *

* Like a soft white
Dog is a dog
Blood's thicker than water *

* We done been through the mud
The hands with them, man *

* Y'all gon' make me
lose my mind
Up in here, up in here *

* Y'all gon' make me
go all out *

- * Up in here, up in here
- Safe!

[chanting]
Bua Was! Bua Was!

Blue.

Miles.

[softly]
No, come on.

Good job, Clarence.
Thanks, Coach.

Good job.
Miles. Come on.

Listen, we're tied two-two.
We just need to get one guy out.

Coach, I can't pitch.
These guys are really
going to swerve me.

They're gonna yell,
and then I can't think.

This guy is one of the best
hitters in the league.
Miles.

You're in charge out here.
Okay? Don't rush.

Hey, you can hear "Big Poppa"
in your head, right?
Yeah.

Just sometimes
I lose the rhythm.
Miles.

You're great.

I'm not worried.

[crowd chanting]
Baddy, Baddy,
the pitcher's name is Baddy!

Woof, woof, woof, woof!

Miles!

[mouthing words]

* 'Cause I see some ladies
tonight *

* That should be havin'
my baby, baby *

* I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

* Throw your hands in the air
if you's a true player *

* 'Cause I see some ladies
tonight that should be
havin' my baby *

* Baby

* I love it
when you call me Big Poppa *

[all the team]
* Throw your hands in the air

* If you's a true player
'Cause I see some ladies
tonight *

* Should be havin' my baby

- * Baby
- Strike one.

* I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

* Throw your hands in the air
if you's a true player *

Hey.
* 'Cause I see some ladies
tonight *

- * That should be havin'
my baby *
- [umpire] Two!

* I love it when you call me
Big Poppa *

* Throw your hands in the air
if you's a true player *

* 'Cause I see some ladies
tonight that should be
havin' my baby *

- * Baby
- Strike three!

Out!

Good going, Miles.
Yeah.

All right.
We're tied two-two.

Yeah!
This is it.
Last licks.

We pull this out,
we're goin' to the 'ship.

[cheering]
Leading off.

Leading off,
we've got Andre, we've got
Ray Ray, we've got Clarence.

After that-- After that,
it's you, Kofi,
and then we've got Jefferson.

[boy]
Yeah, Jefferson.

Let's go to the 'ship.
Yeah!

* When it comes to this game
they call me Zane McGuire *

* That other kid was just a
mark so I made him retire *

* See, we all got a base
Way to go, Dre!
Good job.

* When I come up to bat
We all gon' come home
Strike one *

* Got you by surprise
Strike one!

Two!

Strike three!

* Without a doubt
I got you out *

* Strike one
Got you by surprise *

* Strike two
Right before your eyes *

* Pitch three
This one's to the wall *

* Ain't no game
like a game of hardball *

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Nice job, Ray Ray.

- Damn!
- [Conor]
Let's go, Kofi!

- Yeah, Kofi!
- Come on, Kofi.

* If your team's
better than mine
you really gotta show me *

* Really gotta beat me
Really gotta trash talk
mistreat me *

* And send my squad back home

* 'Cause I don't lose too much
I ain't never lost at all *

* When I'm playin' hardball

Yeah, yeah.
Almost, Kofi. Almost.

Okay, two down.
Jefferson, how're you doin'?

[crowd chanting]
Let's go. Let's go, Bua Was,
let's go!

Let's go Bua Was!
Let's go!
G-Baby.

- You're up.
- Yeah!

Time, Blue.

I've got Jarius Evans
batting for Jefferson Tibbs.

All right.
Wednesday night practice.

Thanks for the uniform,
Coach.

Thanks, Coach.
Right.
See you guys later.

Hey, kid. You can't
come in there right now.

How long is it gonna be?
Don't know.

Jamal, what's up?

Why can't we go in
right now?

They're waitin' to cap
somebody inside.
What're we gonna do?

Come on.

- [kid shouting]
- Shit! Come on.

Move!
Come on, man!

[tires squealing]
Get in the car, man!

Quiet. They'll pass by.
Come here!

What's up?

Oh, shit!

[all shouting]

Get outta here!
Come on!
It's all right. We're okay.

G, we're okay.

G, come on, get up.
Come on. Come on, G.

[crying]
Come on.

It's okay. We'll just wait
for somebody to come.

It'll be okay.

It'll be okay.

[sirens wailing]

It'll be okay.

It'll be okay.

[phone ringing]

Yeah?

Yeah, Elizabeth?

What?

Oh, Jesus.

* [choir]

* I must

* Tell Jesus

* Jesus can

* Help

* Me

* Jesus

* Alone

We've heard testimony
from those very close
to our community.

[congregation]
Praise Jesus.

I wanted to give a few more
people the opportunity
to say something on--

on Jarius' behalf.

Please, Mr O'Neill.
Come on up.

Good morning.

[clears throat]

Jarius was a player...

on the Kekambas baseball team
that I coach.

Honestly, he, uh--
he was too young to play.

But he wanted to be
a part of the team
so badly that, uh...

I couldn't say no.

G-Baby.
You're up.

He had a great smile too.

I know I'm not telling you
anything you don't know.

I've got Jarius Evans
batting for Jefferson Tibbs.

He was a really tough guy.

Just a boy, really,
who, uh...

wanted to be
around his older brother.

Hang on, Coach.
I don't have Jarius Evans
on this roster anywhere.

Oh, you know what?
There he is. He's okay.

The other day...

we played a really important
game against a good team.

And, two outs
in the last inning...

G-Baby.

... I had no choice
but to let Jarius bat.

You can swing if you want,
but you don't have to.

Okay. If you go down looking,
none of us care.

But if you want to swing,
swing.

Get back in there.
Do what you feel.
Okay.

He was fearless
as he stepped to the plate.

I was terrified for him.

With two strikes
and our hopes dwindling...

he hit a shot
down the first baseline.

We won the game.

And watching him...

raise his arms in triumph...

as he ran to first base,

I swear...

I was lifted in that moment
to a better place.

I swear he, uh--

He lifted the world
in that moment.

He made me a... better person...

even if just
for that moment.

I am, uh...

forever grateful to Jarius
for that.

That was nice,
what you said.

His mother
was very moved.
Thank you.

Wait.

There's some people
who want to talk to you
about the baseball team.

The team is done.
That's what they want
to talk to you about.

They're in the auditorium.

We know the league
wants to cancel
the championship game.

Mom said it was all up to us
'cause of G-Baby.

Yeah. It's over.
You guys don't have to play.

You guys had a great year.

You can keep the uniforms.

- Wait.
You're quitting again?
- What do you mean?

We wanna play, bitch.
Yeah, man.

[all agreeing]

- You guys wanna play?
- [all] Hell, yeah!

[Andre]
For G-Baby.

I'll see you tomorrow
at 11:00.

Hey.
I came to make sure
you guys win.

[laughs]
I even made a bet
with your friend, Ticky.

Knowing Ticky bet against us
improves our chances.

Did you really fill out
an application to work
at the school?

Yeah.

Good luck today.

Thank you.

Andre and Ray Ray.
What's up, Coach?

Why don't you bring
everybody in?

Hey, y'all,
bring it in.
Bring it in!

Y'all, let's go.

I want you guys to take
a good look at yourselves
today and feel proud.

You made it here.
We're here.

What I've learned from you
is that...

really, one of the most
important things in life...

is showing up.

I'm blown away
by your ability to show up...

through everything
that's gone on.

The league never wanted you
to play this game.

But you showed up.

But, uh,
we only have eight players,

so...
God.

...we can't play.

He was my brother.

He loved to watch us play.

He's watching us right now.

We gon' play today.

Here you go, Kofi.

- Okay, this is for G-Baby.
- [all] G-Baby.

G.
For G.

G.

Play ball!

[cheering]

Go G!

* I was in a tunnel

* And couldn't see the light

* And whenever I'd look up
I couldn't see the sky *

* But then I climbed the hills
and saw the mountains *

* I hollered help
'cause I was lost *

* Then I felt
the strong wind *

* Heard a small voice sayin'

* The storm is over
* The storm is over now

* And I can see
the sunshine *

* Somewhere
beyond the clouds *

* I feel heaven, yeah
* Heaven is over me

* Come on and set me free

* Oh

* Now in the midst
of my battle *

* All hope was gone

* Downtown in a rushed crowd
and felt all alone *

* Every now and than I felt
like I would lose my mind *

* I've been racin' for years

* And still no finish line

* Oh, but then I climbed
the hills *

* And saw the mountains
* Mountains

* I hollered help
'cause I was lost *

* Then I felt the strong wind

* And then a small voice
sayin' the storm is over *

* The storm is over now

* I can see the sunshine

* Somewhere beyond
the clouds *

* I can feel heaven, yeah
* Heaven is over me

* Come on and set me free
* Free, ah

* Oh
* Ah

* Somehow my beginning
stepped right in *
* Right in

* Then faith
became my friend *
* My friend

* And now I can depend

* On the voices of the wind

* When it's saying
* Saying

* The storm is over
* The storm is over now

* And I can see the sunshine

* Somewhere beyond
the clouds *

* I can feel heaven, yeah
* Heaven is over me

* Won't you come
and set me free *

* Won't you set me free

* The storm is over, yeah
* The storm is over now

* And I can see the sunshine

* Somewhere beyond
the clouds *

* I can feel heaven, yeah
* Heaven is over me

* Won't you come
and set me free *
* Hey, hey

* Won't you come
and set me free *
* Hey, hey, hey

* Hey, there's light
* Looks like
I can see the light *

* Shinin'

* Somewhere beyond the clouds
* Looks like
I can see the light *

* Hey
* Shinin'

* Down
* Down on me

* Looks like I can see
the light *

* The world's turnin'
The cloud's movin' *
* Shinin'

* The sun's shinin'
* Looks like
I can see the light *

* I'm headed home
* Shinin'
Hold on *

* The storm is over
* The storm is over now

* I tell you I can
see the light *

* Hey
* Somewhere beyond
the clouds *

* I can feel heaven
over me, yeah *

* Hey
* Heaven is over me

* Won't you come
and set me free *
* Hey, hey

* Won't you come
and set me free *
* Hey, hey, hey

* Hey
Looks like *

* Looks like I can
see the light shinin' *
* Oh

* Somewhere beyond the clouds
* Looks like
I can see the light *

* Hey
* Shinin'

* Down
* Down on me, looks like
I can see the light *

* The world's turnin'
The cloud's movin' *
* Shinin'

* The sun's shinin'
* Looks like
I can see the light *

* Painted gold
I'm headed home *
* Shinin'

* Rainbow
Pot of gold *

* The storm is over
* The storm is over now

* I'm tellin' you
I can see the light *

* Hey
* Somewhere beyond
the clouds *

* I can feel heaven over me
Yeah *

* Heaven is over me

* Come and set me free
* Hey, hey

* Come and set me free
* Hey, hey, hey

* Won't you come
and set me free *