All Square (2018) - full transcript

Subtitles by explosiveskull

(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)

JOHN (V.O.): How did I see it,

when nobody else did?

I don't know.

How did that guy invent

the light bulb?

Sometimes, it just comes

to you.

Whatever it was, I saw an

untapped market...

and, well... I tapped it.

And it was all going so great.

And then, of course, like

everything else in my life...

it all went to shit.

Hm...

Tide comes in... tide goes out.

Look, I've done some shitty

things in my life.

But this... I don't think

it's one of them.

Well, let me back it up a bit,

though.

I'm a bookie, well, if you're

from the IRS, I hang sheetrock.

But, you know, if you're

looking to put action...

on a game, I'm your guy.

The difference between me

and a Las Vegas casino...

is that in Vegas, you gotta pay

before you bet.

But with me, you bet

on credit...

which means there's a certain

code of honor.

And when people disrespect

that code, well...

sometimes I gotta make

consequences for that shit.

(DOG BARKS)

- (DOG BARKS)

- Oh...

There you go.

JOHN (V.O.): When two teams play

each other...

I have to set what's called

the line.

The line is this, how many

points do I think...

Team A will beat Team B by,

so that the bet...

is as fairly balanced

as possible...

and that's what I want, because

I make my money off the vig.

Now the vig is basically a tax

on each bet...

for services rendered.

I assume the risk and

ten percent is my reward.

Now, this business model works

assuming you get paid.

(DOG GROWLING)

Sometimes though, I have

to improvise.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

This is my office.

This is my secretary.

- Hey-oh!

- Hey, you!

Thank you, Beaches.

You mind backin' up these fine

gentlemen for me, as well.

- Guys!

- Hey, all right! Tha' man.

Here's your mail.

JOHN (V.O.): In these envelopes,

well, they're my cash flow...

That's all of it?

Well, not a lot of guys came

through this week.

Well, maybe if you were a little

more cordial to people...

Maybe if you go fuck yourself.

Okay, maybe not. There you go.

JOHN (V.O.): If I collect more

envelopes than I hand out...

then I had a good week.

Snips, what's the good word?

All right, Alphons.

JOHN (V.O.): There are a few

different types of gamblers.

You have your average gambler,

consistent guy bets every week.

Your sparse gambler, calls

every so often...

when he gets the bug or maybe

someone gives him a tip.

Then you have your whale,

he bets big.

Always pays on time and if you

keep him around long enough...

you can make enough money on

the vig to buy a new truck...

in the off season.

Another good week, Mickey.

Tell me you're not giving all my

hard-earned money...

to these dirt bags.

You kidding? The only reason

I hang out with them...

is because they're lousy poker

players.

JOHN (V.O.): For every whale...

Steve, how'd you do last night?

I got screwed.

JOHN (V.O.): There's at least

ten hard-luck cases.

Look, Maryland's down by 12,

they're getting ten.

There's no time left on the

clock. The scrubs are in.

All they got to do is run out

the clock, right? Hold the ball.

Bench-warming cocksucker shoots

a meaningless three ball.

They lose by nine, backdoor

cover... they fucked me!

I'll tell you what, I'm gonna

let you slide...

on that bet last night.

But next time you hit a backdoor

cover on me...

I don't want to see you coming

in here and gloatin'...

in front of everybody,

all right?

I would never.

JOHN (V.O.): Look, I'll be honest,

I don't mind the hard luck cases.

What I can't put up with are

the dirt bag motherfuckers...

who don't pay up and walk

around town...

like they don't owe you money.

Adam Kramer.

Hey, what's going on?

- How are you?

- I'm great, how you doing?

Good. New TV?

Huh? Yeah, this is uh,

brand-new for Mark Rigney...

who said, "These suckers are

flying off the shelves...

"will you grab me one before

they're all gone?"

And I said, "You betcha, bud."

So I bought this for Mark Rigney

and he'll pay me back.

- Need a hand?

- Yeah.

No, I'm good, I'm good.

I got it, I got it.

- Not a problem.

- I appreciate that, thank you.

- Thank you.

- Wow.

- I know.

- What kind of TV is that?

Uh, 55-inch, picture-in-picture,

1080i, LED.

- Curved screen.

- Curved screen.

Huh, here, let me give

you a hand.

Okay, thanks. It's just

that the door...

- Can you wiggle it? There.

- There you go.

- Thanks.

- All you gotta do is lean it.

I know, so, just wiggle it...

a bit.

Oh, oh, careful.

- All right, there you go.

- Okay, thanks.

- You got it?

- Yeah.

Tell Mark I said enjoy

his new TV, huh?

I'll have an envelope for you

by the end of the week.

I'll leave it at Joanne's.

- All right, see ya', Kramer.

- (ENGINE STARTS)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

JOHN (V.O.): When half the town

owes you money...

nobody's happy to see you.

Well, guess what,

motherfuckers?

I ain't happy to see you

either, but you got my money.

I got mouths to feed.

Oh, finally. Where you been?

I got hung up. Here you go.

Ah, thanks.

Aw, god, they've got the onions

in it...

- What?

- Onions, it's got onions.

Oh, maybe I got yours, hang on.

Aw, fuck me, man!

Did you check before you left?

You always gotta check,

they fuck up.

What do you want me to say, Dad?

- You want me to take it back?

- No, I'm starving, leave it.

- You sure?

- Yeah, I'm sure.

Where are the groceries?

I didn't have time. I'll get

them tomorrow.

Smokes?

Here, take mine.

- Only five in here.

- Let me see.

Four, make them last.

I'm almost out of beer.

Duly noted, anything else?

Yeah, as a matter of fact,

my TV is acting up.

Oh, why don't I go out and get

you one of those...

new, curved screen ones,

you want that?

You asked, so I told you.

I got to run.

You just got here.

Yeah, well it's almost an hour

before tip off...

and I got shit to do.

How's the action?

Sparse.

How much money you still got out

from football.

A lot. I don't... I don't want

to fucking hear it...

because you didn't have to deal

with the internet like I do.

You offer something the internet

can't, the human connection.

Well, it's not like a lot

of people are trying...

to do right by me right now.

Well, you've gotta convince

them.

Dad, if I go around breaking

fingers...

no one's gonna bet through me.

You don't have to break fingers.

You just gotta be more firm.

- Okay, I got it.

- You're too soft, you let peopl...

I got it, thanks for the advice.

- What are you going to do?

- I apprec...

Show your face around town...

guilt people into paying

you back?

- Do you want your book back?

- No.

All right, then don't fucking

worry about it.

- God dang!

- Jesus Christ.

JOHN (V.O.): Some dads leave

their son's a family business.

My dad, he left me a book full

of degenerate gamblers.

This time of year, with no

football...

and basketball winding down.

I become a little

more... vulnerable.

One big bet can be more

costly than a fucking divorce.

Let's see, I got Philly plus

five, $194.

Brooklyn minus seven. $200.

Okay. Yup. Philly for ten.

You mean a grand, right?

Oh, you mean ten grand.

Um, yeah. Hang on a second

thing.

JOHN (V.O.): I can't afford

to lose my whale.

I know I can take him over

the long haul...

but when funds are low and he

wants to bet big... shit.

Mick, you still there?

Yeah, I can take five.

No, Mick, you don't want

to do that.

You bet online, you gotta pay

taxes on that shit.

No, Mick, I know you always pay.

Okay, alright, 10 grand

on Philly.

Good luck.

(WHISTLES)

He wants Philly. Fuck it,

Cornwall never plays defense.

Cornwall picks this game

to start playing defense.

How much you in for?

- My Lexus.

- SCOTTY: Damn.

JOHN: I need income, Scotty.

- How's your union card?

- Up to date.

Want to hang some sheet rock?

Do I want to or will I?

Petey, give me a beer.

You know what, knock these guys

up too, will ya'?

Big spender.

Cheers.

- You don't want it?

- Nope.

- A free drink.

- I know that.

What's going on over there?

He says he don't want it.

What do you mean, he don't

want it?

He don't want the drink.

Hey, John, what's the matter

with you, take the drink.

Thanks, but no thanks.

You're embarrassing me in

front of my friend, Zibs.

Just take a drink.

I don't want it.

I know I owe you money,

I'm gonna pay you.

I don't see why you can't accept

my drink.

When you pay me and we're all

square...

then you can buy me a drink, how

about that?

I don't see what the difference

two bucks makes, man.

Andy, he doesn't want the drink.

Hey, Scotty, shut the fuck up,

I'm not talking to you.

Hey, hey, guys, just calm it

down, all right?

I'll take it.

No, you're not taking a drink,

buy your own fucking drink.

Take the drink.

You bought a truck.

Yeah, yeah, the old one was

falling apart.

It's a brand-new truck.

Johnny, I'm a contractor.

How am I supposed to work

without a new truck?

If I can't work, I can't pay

you.

And I got a good deal.

What are you, my accountant?

No, I just don't want

your fucking drink.

Fine. Fine.

You know what, don't take

my fucking drink.

Whoa! Fuck.

I'm leaving, I'm leaving,

I know. I know. I know.

You should have taken the

fucking drink, douche bag.

It was as simple as that.

I was trying to be a nice guy.

Fuck off!

Zibs, I'm sorry, man, you all

right?

Aw, that guy is such a dick,

I'm sorry, man.

Yeah... shit.

Listen, I wanted to talk to you

about something, anyway.

Um, I was wondering

if maybe you could...

uh, maybe not come in here

for awhile.

I get punched in the face...

and you're kicking me out

of the bar?

No, it's just that I got a kid,

you know...

and everyone in town owes

you money...

and you know, everyone knows

you come in here...

and if they're avoiding you...

then they ain't coming in here,

you know.

Fuck you, Petey.

No, let me buy you a round,

okay?

JOHN: I don't want your fucking

drinks, neither.

That's ten grand.

It's only money.

Tide comes in, tide goes out.

Is that Debbie Houston?

Yeah, she works here.

We messed around in high school.

You know she married Hooper? Had

a kid together.

Just got divorced a little while

back.

Man, she used to party, man.

Shit, looks like she still does.

Is that John Zbikowski?

And fucking Scotty?

I haven't seen you since

high school.

Do you remember me,

Debbie Houston?

We fucked, you better.

- Buy me a drink.

- Fine.

Wally, three whiskey shots,

right here.

So what are you two up to?

You were really good

at baseball, right?

Yeah, I was okay.

- Weren't you drafted?

- Yup.

What happened?

I had this thing with my arm.

No, to your face?

Oh, I got punched.

I can see that, why?

Somebody owed me money.

Somebody owed you money and

you got punched in the face?

Yep.

I'd love to owe you money.

Get in line.

To owing you money.

Time really did a number on us,

didn't it?

Would you still fuck me?

- Hey.

- Hey.

Hey, you know if you have

any coffee?

Nope.

Nope, you don't have any

coffee...

or nope, you don't know

if you have any coffee?

Nope, I don't know

if we have any.

All right, fair enough.

Are you friends with my mom?

We went to high school together.

Oh.

- You know where she is?

- Work.

She just leaves you by yourself?

My grandmom comes over

sometimes.

Is this one of those times?

Are you allowed to stay home by

herself?

I think so.

- How old are you?

- 12.

That's a gray area.

Can we call her?

When she's at work I can only

call her if it's an emergency.

Just an emergency?

Only if I'm bleeding.

Shit, man.

All right, look, okay,

I'm gonna be honest with you.

I have no idea if I told your

mom that I was gonna watch...

you or not, so what do you think

we should do here?

So what? You go to school?

- Yep.

- Good.

Well, we're done for the summer.

Oh right, yeah.

What are you gonna do

with yourself?

I don't know.

Might want to figure that out

before school starts back up.

Yeah, I play baseball.

- At Dundalk?

- Yep.

You any good?

I'm gonna play pro one day.

Settin' the bar pretty high.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Say hi to my friend real quick,

okay? I'll be right back.

Okay.

Hey, if you see anyone pull up out

here, you honk the horn, okay?

Okay.

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

Thanks for breakfast.

Hey, kid, do you want this TV?

You sure you don't want this?

You hold onto it for me. Think

of it as hush money.

What does that mean?

It means you gotta promise not

to tell anyone how we got this.

Can you do that?

Sure.

Promise me you are not going

to tell your friends.

- I promise.

- Okay, good.

What should I tell my mom?

Tell her I got a new one

and gave you my old one.

But this is a brand-new TV.

Kid, do you want the TV or not?

- I want it.

- All right.

Then figure something out,

just don't tell her we stole it.

I got a game tomorrow at 5:00,

if you want to come.

At Dundalk.

Yep. Coach is gonna let me

pitch.

Hmm. You ever pitched before?

Not in a real game.

Yeah, I'll be there, later.

BRIAN: See ya'.

(ENGINE STARTING)

(CRASHING)

(ENGINE STARTING)

JOHN (V.O.): Kids are basically

hard-luck cases.

They're on the take 24/7.

You do something nice for them,

like...

give the kid a brand-new TV.

Instead of a thank you...

it's can you come to my

baseball game?

(COUGHING)

Sometimes I think about what

it would be like...

to be free of hard-luck cases.

To only have one mouth

to feed.

BOB: Did you get my smokes?

Yeah, I got 'em.

(SPECTATORS CHEERING)

COACH: Look alive, outfield!

Come on now.

(SPECTATORS YELLING)

MAN: Come on, Frankie, what are

you doing out there?

Pay attention!

JOHN (V.O.): Parents, they see their

kids with rose-colored glasses.

They think they're much better

than they actually are.

Zibs? John Zbikowski?

It's me, Matt Smith, Smitty?

- From like forever ago?

- Smitty, how are you?

Wow, it really literally

has been forever.

What have you been up to?

- You know, just getting along.

- Oh, that's great, that's great.

You used to play pro ball,

didn't you?

- Yep.

- For the...

- Atlanta.

- Atlanta...

oh, wow, that's amazing.

You got a kid in the league?

No, no kids.

Yeah, I figured.

I would have recognized your

name from the roster sheet.

Roster sheet?

Yeah, we send out roster sheets

to all the parents...

got a list of all the kids'

names.

It's always fun to go through

it, figure out, you know...

which parents you know from

school, catch up.

Plus, I am the league

commissioner this year, so...

Really? Maybe we could do

something about that scoreboard.

Well, I am running

for city council, so, uh...

if I'm elected, maybe I could do

something about that.

If you still living in the

city, you should vote for me.

I don't vote.

MATT:

Really? Everyone should vote.

- Okay, you convinced me.

- Great!

MATT: Oh, hey, honey, honey...

come here, there's somebody

I want you to meet! This...

- Here you go.

- Thank you.

Is John Zbikowski, Zibs, best

baseball player I ever saw.

- Hello?

- Hi.

He got drafted into the pros.

Whoa, that's fantastic!

His dad was really something,

he used to make you throw...

what, like 100 pitches a day

or something?

JOHN:

Something like that.

Can you imagine me making Mikey

throw 100 pitches a day.

He would run away from home.

- And call child services.

- Yeah.

Oh, I can still hear your

dad yelling from the stands.

- Put it in the glove!

- Yeah.

I never got who you're out here

to see.

Brian Houston.

Debbie's boy. You remember

Debbie from high school?

Yeah, you know her?

No, just, um, I recognize her

name from the roster sheet.

Well, enjoy the game.

If you ever want to come out

and give the boys...

some pointers, that'd be great.

I don't play baseball anymore.

Right, well, we'll see you

around the park.

(SPECTATORS YELLING)

I threw strikes in practice.

I'm sure you did.

That's probably my last shot

at pitching.

Eh, there's more to life than

playing baseball.

I was a pitcher.

I got my name on the wall out

there and look at me now.

You're on the Wall of Fame?

I want to be on that wall more

than anything.

I think you gotta throw strikes

to get on that wall, kid.

Hey, I can give you some

pointers, you know...

if you're interested.

- Seriously?

- Sure.

Need a ride? Come on.

- Thanks for the ride.

- Yup.

Hey, kid... you got one of them

roster sheets?

So you know all these

players pretty well.

Sure.

All right, tomorrow,

Eagle-Spartans, who wins?

Eagles easily, Ryan Hosfeld

is pitching.

And the Spartans aren't very

good?

Not really.

All right, how many runs you

think they'll win by?

Well, they played earlier this

season and they won by four...

but that was without Hosfeld

on the mound.

So maybe six or seven.

- Yup. Why?

- All right.

Honey, where are you?

Come give Mommy a kiss before

she has to go to her other job.

Why the fuck are you

in my house?

John came to see my game today.

Give me a ride home.

Yeah, okay, fine, I can't deal

with this right now, I'm late.

Go wash up for supper.

What's going on here?

What, it's like the kid said.

Do I have to call the cops?

No, why would you call the cops?

Because you're an adult alone

with a child...

and somehow there's a new TV

in my house.

Well, I had an extra TV, yours

was shit.

Isn't that sweet?

You know, the kid asked

me to come see his game.

I gave him a ride home,

what's the big deal?

That's so nice.

Do you give all the kids rides

home or just the cute ones?

Oh, for Fuck's sake, no! I told

him I'd help him pitch.

Remember, I was good at baseball

in high school.

Look, if this is something else,

I'm gonna find some dude...

some big motherfucker to pin you

down and fuck you...

right in your ass, some dude

with a giant cock.

- We're clear?

- Yeah, Christ...

we're fucking clear, man.

What are you guys talking about?

Just some grown-up stuff, honey.

JOHN (V.O.): How did that guy

come up with the light bulb?

I'm not sure, I'll bet

he was walking around...

in the dark looking

for something.

You know, probably came out

of necessity.

Hey, you remember Matt Smith.

- You mean Smitty?

- Yeah.

Yeah, he's got his face on those

election posters.

He's running for...

- City council.

- Yeah.

Yeah, so I see him over

at Dundalk Field, right?

And he's got this great job

and this hot-ass wife.

I don't know, man, I just

fucking hate him for it.

Yeah, fuck him.

Anyway, I see all these parents

there...

and they're really into the

games...

and I noticed a lot of these

parents...

are parents who bet through me

and I'm thinking...

why not put some lines out?

You're gonna take bets

on little league games.

Yeah, people are gonna settle up

with me...

because they're gonna want to

put action on their kids' games.

I don't know.

It's like opening a horse track

in our backyards.

Yeah, but it feels just wrong.

Scotty, just think about it

for a second...

what's the worst thing

a person can do?

Murder someone?

Bet with their hearts.

I got a whole stable of betters

who will bet on their kids...

regardless of what I set

the lines at.

Plus, the internet can't

touch me.

So you really think people are

gonna want to bet...

on little league baseball games?

I got Boston plus five, $192.

OKC plus three, $186.

Okay.

Hey, uh, you got a kid

at Dundalk right now?

Yeah, I've got that line,

if you want it.

Eagles are minus six.

Yeah, Hosfeld's on the mound.

Hey, I know it's high, man,

but the kid can pitch.

You want the Spartans?

All right.

Gotcha, Gordy, duly noted.

JOHN (V.O.): Handicapping kids

games ain't hard.

Big kids beat up little kids.

You find the team with the

bigger kid on the mound...

that's typically your favorite.

If his dad is coaching, well...

that's a good sign he can play,

as well.

And if his old man is watching

every pitch...

like it's game seven of the

World Series...

Come on, keep your shoulder

in there, over the top!

JOHN (V.O.): That's an even

bigger indication...

that the kid is practicing

fundamentals at home.

Fundamentals and mechanics,

they're the great equalizers.

Balance, rotation, arm angle,

tempo, smooth first step.

That shit can be taught and

they can give you an advantage.

It's usually that simple.

Now some people will try to

complicate things...

find some deeper trends that

they think can sway games.

You know Richie Porter...

now I heard that their family

dog died last week...

and he can't get over it.

- Is that so?

- Yeah.

And their best players,

the Santoro twins?

I heard the parents are getting

a divorce...

and they just told them

about it.

JOHN (V.O.): It's usually because they

don't understand the beautiful...

simplicity and purity

of baseball.

Whoo-hoo! Christmas came early.

A lot of guys came through this

week to drop off envelopes.

A bunch of them I haven't seen

in months.

Snips, what do you say, buddy?

There you go.

It's all there.

Buy you a beer?

No, I got to run.

You got them Dundalk lines yet?

Yeah, I'll take a beer.

We don't tell beer, sir.

Oh, well, uh, give me a Coke.

Okay, one Coke coming right up.

- Zibs.

- Smitty.

It's a pretty good turnout,

wouldn't you say?

- Most definitely.

- It's funny...

I don't recognize half the

people here.

I just ran into Adam Kramer. I

didn't know the guy's got kids.

He doesn't.

(SPECTATORS CHEERING)

You can look around this

place...

and tell who's got money on the

game.

Strike three!

What the fuck, blue?

Get your fucking glasses

checked, you fucking asshole.

How much does he have

on the game?

Nothing... just an asshole.

Strike!

So Andy Fox comes in to Jolyn's

today, pays me, in full.

Wow. I guess your face really

taught his fist a lesson, huh?

Here's the thing, though.

Now he wants action

on today's game.

Sure he does, his boy is

pitching.

He didn't want to bet

on his boy.

He wants to bet on the other

team.

You told him to go fuck himself,

right?

No. I told him, "Duly noted,

Andy."

You crazy? He's gonna throw

the game.

I know that.

Hey, yo, time.

Come here, give me the ball,

give me the ball.

You're not listening. Give me

the ball.

(SPECTATORS YELLING)

ANDY: Come on, little man,

we all play on this team.

You throw it like you're in

control, you know, you got it?

My biggest worry was parents

throwing games.

I gave Andy the rope, let him

hang himself.

Make an example out of him.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

JOHN (V.O.):

In any new business venture...

there's gonna be a couple bumps

in the road...

but in the end, the market has

a way of correcting itself.

Business was good, better than

a few of my football seasons.

Hello? Hey...

I had to bring Stevie on,

help me answer the phones.

- Hey, Grundy, what's happening?

- Of course, I got a line on it.

No, I'm lousy, my fucking ear

is like a piece of shit.

Yeah, I got the lines.

I'm looking at the Eagles

minus three.

- The over-under's 11.

- Yeah, 11.

You want the money line,

it's minus $150?

So the Eagles, for a nickel,

right?

Don't fucking take it then,

I don't give a shit.

Hey Grundy, don't be such

a prick.

JOHN (V.O.): Even had to buy

an extra shoe box...

to store all the money

I was making.

Strike three!

What was that, man? Hey, relax!

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Hey, Mike, Gordy, Gordy, Mike!

Sit down, Gordy.

There are children present,

for Christ's sake.

JOHN (V.O.): I had the whole

town on board.

Well, the whole town except

for this fucking guy.

That's it, great game today,

okay, guys? Great dedication.

Maybe we can all do a little

base running.

You're moving the hands in,

Knights on three.

- One, two, three.

- Knights!

Practice Tuesday, I want nobody

sleeping in, that's you, 25.

Russ, can I talk to you

for a minute?

What's up?

I wanna talk to you about Brian.

Yeah, good kid.

Kind of hoping you'd let him

take the bump again.

Yeah, that's not gonna happen.

Look, I've been working

with him, okay?

Look, as a coach, I feel a

certain responsibility...

to protect these kids against

embarrassing themselves.

Yeah, but the kid wants

to pitch.

Yeah, and I want to bang

Pat Creadon's mom...

okay, it's just not realistic.

How much?

How much would I pay?

Dude, how much to let him pitch?

Look, I know you're taking money

on the games...

and I don't want any part

of nothing you're throwing.

Hey, I heard what those people

did to Andy Fox's truck, okay?

It's on the level, I promise.

Come on, just give me a number.

- $500.

- Fuck you.

$450.

- $150.

- $400.

$150 plus $15 for every inning

the kid pitches.

$20.

All right.

All right, we got the bears next

week. He's got the bump.

Thanks.

See what you got.

That was terrible.

Your mechanics are shit. Who

taught you how to throw a ball?

All right, here's what

I want you to do.

I want you to take your lead

elbow, you aim it at the plate.

- Like this?

- No, like that.

There you go, all right?

That's your pointer, you do

everything else right...

the ball is gonna go where

that aims. Okay?

Now this is important,

look at me.

First batter you face, I want

you to throw it at him.

You want me to hit a kid.

- Naw, he'll get out of the way.

- What if he doesn't?

That's why you wear helmets.

Look, this is your plate, okay?

You own it.

You brush that first

kid back a little.

You're gonna send a message

to the rest of the team...

not to get too close.

Then you're gonna be inside

their heads...

and that's the most

important part of pitching.

More important than

throwing?

Let's just say "yes".

Give me the ball.

All right?

Right there. That's how

I want you to hold it, okay?

That's your grip, all right?

Your arm angle, it's kind of

like you're throwing a football.

- Like this?

- There you go, that's right.

When you follow through,

flick it with your wrist.

Isn't that a curveball?

Yeah, man, it's your bread

and butter.

But I'm 12, I'm not supposed

to throw curve balls.

Who told you that?

Everyone tells kids that,

it'll mess up your arm.

Oh, my god, all right,

here's the harsh truth.

You're never going to

play professional baseball.

Wait, look, here's the good

news...

neither is anyone else

in this league.

- Not even Ryan Hosfeld?

- No, not even Ryan Hosfeld.

You know, and another hard

truth, next year you turn 13...

they're gonna move you

to the big field.

Now you can barely

get that ball over now.

What do you think the odds are

you get it over next year?

- Not good?

- That's right, not good.

If you want to pitch,

you gotta throw the curve, kid.

I hold it like this?

What are you doing, practicing

sitting on the bench?

- What was that about?

- Nothing.

Didn't look like nothing to me.

That's Brett and Abe, they're

on my team, they're dicks.

You know what you gotta do,

you gotta shut them up.

No, I'm not worried about it.

- What are you afraid of?

- Getting my teeth kicked in?

All right, first of all,

they're your baby teeth.

- But...

- Okay? You're gonna get...

a whole, new set of teeth,

you're playing with house money.

But these are my adult teeth.

- Really?

- Yeah.

And I don't want to get punched

in the face.

Look at me, I got punched

in the face, I'm fine.

He's 12 years old, how hard

can he hit?

I don't want to find out and

I don't want to get in trouble.

You're not gonna get in trouble.

Look, here's the things that

grownups never tell you, okay?

Right now, you're a minor.

You can get into as much trouble

as you want.

When you turn 18, it all

goes away.

- Really?

- Yeah, man.

I mean, don't go burning

houses down and shit...

but fighting and stuff,

it's forgivable.

I don't know.

Look at me. Punch his mouth

open.

- What?

- Just hit him, man, lock him up.

I'll break it up before he gets

a shot in on you, okay?

I don't know.

Trust me, all right.

They will know that messing

with Brian Houston...

comes with consequences.

Go get 'em, man.

You're not coming with me?

What's it gonna look like

if I walk over there...

and watch you punch a 12 year

old in the face?

Oh.

Now go, come on.

Hey, wait, wait, wait, wait,

come here.

- What?

- How are you going to punch him?

I don't know.

Let me see you throw a punch.

That's not gonna work.

Come on, get it, give it to me.

Gotta use your waist,

your hips...

- My hips?

- Legs, wham, like that.

- Like...

- Put your body into it.

There you go, killer, come on.

Come on!

Knock him on his ass, buddy,

go get him.

Oh, shit!

(LAUGHING)

(TV BLARING)

Ay-yo!

Beaches, how you doing today?

Just peachy.

Give us a couple cold ones,

fancy stuff, please.

I'm pitching today.

That's cool.

Back the rest of these fine

gentlemen up...

for me as well, would ya?

What, everybody's pitching

today?

BEACHES: Hey, hey, hey!

Get your cold beer here!

Hey, guys, this is Brian,

kid's taking the bump today.

- STEVE: Ah...

- LARRY: How are ya', kid?

That's Steve and Larry.

- That's Snips.

- Hi, Snips.

Hey.

He talks funny.

Snips had a stroke a few years

back.

He's all there, he just can't

communicate.

What's a stroke?

It's a brain thing, one day

you're fine...

the next, you're speaking

with your hands.

- (PHONE VIBRATES)

- Can I have a stroke?

Sure, you can.

What's he doing?

That's Alphons, he's taking bets

on horses.

You want to bet on a race?

- Sure.

- Alphons, throw me a book.

All right, pick a horse.

How do I do that?

It's complicated, so just go

with your favorite name for now.

This one... Paid in Full.

My kind of horse. Go ahead and

tell Alphons, say...

"I want 10 bucks on

Paid in Full."

- Cool?

- Mm-hm.

Ten bucks on Paid in Full,

please.

Alphons, kid's with me,

he's good for it.

SCOTTY (OVER VOICEMAIL):

Yo, man, I'm at the site.

Where you at?

RACE ANNOUNCER (OVER TV):

Just Kidding, Paid in Full...

Paid in Full, Just Kidding,

nose and nose, 100 yards to go.

And Just Kidding wins it...

- Oh, that was close.

- We almost won.

Yup... now you gotta pay

Alphons, though.

I don't have any money.

You made a bet without any

money.

Now Alphons is gonna have

to take you out back...

and break your legs.

I'll spot you the $10.

Be tough for you to pitch

with broken legs.

Now you owe me 10 bucks.

How you gonna pay me back,

you got a job or something?

No.

You can owe me.

Don't let me see you around town

spending money, you got it?

- You won't.

- All right.

- Cheers.

- Cheers.

One, two, three, break!

Get out there, let's go!

(ALL YELLING)

JOHN (V.O.): You know what?

Kid wasn't half bad.

I'm not saying he's the second

coming of Greg Maddux...

or nothing, but he found

his aim.

Brushed some kids off the

plate.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPECTATORS CLAPPING)

His mechanics... they weren't

shit.

He even used that curve ball

we worked on.

He went the full six innings,

only gave up a handful of runs.

Which is pretty damn good for a

kid on the smaller side of 12.

Would he have finished the game

if his coach didn't have...

a vested interest in leaving

him in, who the hell knows.

But he got the W...

and maybe earned a little

respect in the process.

- Great game.

- Yup.

Kid pitched well, you were

right.

- Sure did.

- Yup.

So...

It's, uh... good doing

business with you.

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

- JOHN: Good stuff, buddy.

- BRIAN: Yeah.

- See you later.

- See ya'.

Good job, buddy.

Mom, you should have seen

me pitch! I did great.

- We won!

- That's so good, honey.

Hey, hold on a second.

What's up?

You're a fucking asshole,

that's what's up.

What I do now.

I don't want you hanging out

with him. He's not your kid.

Okay? He's my kid!

Whoa, slow down, all right?

I know that.

- Do you?

- Yeah.

I hear you're taking

bets on kids' games.

Who told you that, man?

A little birdie.

Yeah, well, that little birdie's

making shit up.

You fucking lie to me

and I will call the cops.

All right, fine, I'm taking bets

on games...

but it's got nothing to do

with your son.

You expect me to believe that.

Hey look, I got a lot

of money out.

I got a dad I gotta take

care of, okay.

But none of that shit's got

anything to do with me and him.

The last thing this boy

needs is someone using him.

I'm not using him. I know all

the players by now.

If I were using him, I wouldn't

still be hanging around.

Leave him alone, Mom!

He's my friend.

He's not your friend. I don't

want you hanging around him.

He is, too!

(ENGINE STARTING)

So she says she don't want me to

hang out with the kid no more...

after he pitched a great game.

I thought I was at least in line

for a thank you.

What's wrong with you?

You "no-showed" at work.

I couldn't make it, you know,

kid had a game.

What are you gonna do,

I was busy.

You don't just "no-show".

I went out of my way to get

you that job.

And I appreciate the heck

out of it, pal...

but my phone's been

ringing off the hook, man.

I had to bring on Stevie

just to help answer calls.

I'm sorry, dude. Come on,

man, I'm sorry.

Want a whiskey?

Petey, line us up, buddy.

- So'd you call her?

- Who?

After you slept with her,

did you call her?

No.

So you never called her and

you're hanging out...

with her son and you have no

idea why she's upset.

You think it's about her?

Man, you ain't never dated

a woman with kids?

No.

You can't break up with the

woman and still hang out...

with the kid, it don't work

that way.

You've gotta break up with both.

Come on, man.

Remember Nicole Nvargia?

Yeah.

I stayed with her

for two years...

because I couldn't say goodbye

to her kids.

Those were good kids, though.

So you're saying, if I want to

hang out with a kid...

Then you gotta hang out

with the mom.

Why don't you go sit at the bar?

Because I want to sit

at this table.

Yeah, well, what are you

drinking?

A Bud, and look... I'm sorry.

For what?

Because I never called you...

and I've been hanging out with

your kid and you know...

I know that maybe that's not

acceptable.

What are you talking about?

I know you're pissed,

because I never called you.

Who told you that bullshit.

That's not what's going on?

Look, you're nice, but

you're depressing as fuck.

Then why'd you yell at me?

'Cause you're awful around kids.

You told him he was

going to have a stroke?

No, I told him he

could have a stroke.

He got punched in the face.

Well, kids get into fights, man.

Not when they're with adults.

You told him he could get into

as much trouble...

as he wants until he's 18.

He told you that?

I'm his mother. He tells me

everything.

I told him within reason.

Was that before or after you

told him...

that he would never play

pro baseball?

That I was just being on the

level with him, I mean...

He's 12, he doesn't need you

to be on the level with him.

He's got his whole

life to be disappointed.

Let him have this.

All right, look, I'm sorry.

He said he wanted to get his

name on the Wall of Fame...

and... and I want to help him

do that.

You really think he could

get his name on the wall?

Maybe if he, if he pitches

well...

for the rest of the season

then... maybe.

He really pitched well?

He did.

Okay, fine, but none of this

depressing shit.

No problem.

As long as you guys ain't

robbin' houses or nothing.

Of course.

I'll get you your beer.

JOHN (V.O.): Remember when

I told you that everything...

in my life eventually went

to shit?

Back him up, and give me

a bottle of your finest.

- Keep the change.

- All right, sure.

John.

Never seen you in here before.

You trying to drum up

some votes?

No, I came to see you.

I want you to stop gambling

on the boys baseball games.

I have no idea what

you're talking about.

The other day, a man threw a

beer bottle...

through one of our umpires'

windshields.

Shouldn't have blown the call.

John.

Okay, look, things are a little

out of control...

but it sure as shit

ain't my fault.

Your problem is with these

animals here in town, not me.

Don't make me out to be

the bad guy here.

What are you going to do?

Call the cops.

They don't give a shit

about gambling.

Even if they did, half the

Dundalk PD bets through me, so...

I'll cancel the season.

Can't imagine that's gonna

help you get many votes.

I know you're robbing houses.

I have no idea what you're...

I'm running for city office?

I talk to people.

They voice their concerns.

The other day, I'm going door to

door and somehow I ended...

at Adam Kramer's, he tells me

that his TV got stolen...

and it's the only thing

that they took.

He thinks it's some kids

from the area...

and I think that's a plausible

theory. Cops agree with it.

Then I find out that the same

model TV taken...

from Adam Kramer's

is at Debbie Houston's.

And I know that she's working

two jobs just to pay the bills.

So there's no way she's buying

a brand-new flat-screen TV.

Everybody knows that Adam Kramer

is a degenerate gambler...

and then I hear from some people

that he owed you a lot of money.

I'm thinking that's a

heck of a coincidence.

One TV, two links to you.

What do you think?

I think you're thinking

too much.

Am I? Maybe I'll run it

by Adam Kramer.

Good luck running anything

by Adam Kramer.

But then I'll try Chief Taggart

when I meet with him next week.

See how many recent robbery

victims bet through you.

MATT: Thank you much.

Hey, what's it going to take?

- What?

- What do you want?

Campaign contribution. You want

a cut, cash, what do you want?

I want you to do

the right thing.

(ENGINE STARTING)

(KNOCKING)

What are you doing?

Taking the TV, because you can't

keep your mouth shut.

What do you mean? I didn't

tell anyone.

Sure, you didn't.

Just like you didn't tell

your mommy everything.

I didn't tell her about

the TV or anyone else.

- Oh, then how does everyone know?

- I don't know.

- Well, I didn't tell anyone.

- Well, neither did I!

Well then, how does your league

commissioner know...

that the TV we stole was

in your house?

I don't know.

What are you gonna do with it?

It doesn't matter.

You need to learn that actions

have consequences.

What the hell is that?

It's a TV, Dad, what does

it look like?

Well, is it hot? I can't

have a hot TV in here.

You want the TV or not?

- What's the catch?

- There's no catch.

I got a guy after me,

had to watch my back.

You got anything on him?

No, there's not a damn thing

on him, he's clean.

Every man's got something.

Some guys, you just gotta

look harder.

Okay. You got any cables?

Yeah, I don't know,

try the back room.

What the fuck do I know

about cables?

Jesus, this is a big

son-of-a-bitch, look at that.

And way thin.

You kept all this shit?

Yeah, what do you mean?

Of course I kept it.

- Why?

- Why?

Well, I don't know, I thought

maybe someday...

you'd like to have it, you know,

give it to your kids.

Yeah, well it doesn't exactly

bring up happy memories, Dad.

- Hey, I did my best.

- JOHN: Yeah, well...

(GASPS)

Hey! You okay? Come on,

sit down, whoa, whoa.

And how long have you

been smoking?

I don't know, forever.

Yup, well, this is how

it happens.

I know, I know.

I would advise you to stop,

but you already know that.

How many times you want me

to say, I know.

I was looking at your previous

doctor.

I don't recognize a Dr. Mancini,

he work in the area?

- Souza County.

- Souza County... hospital?

Prison.

This should help with the

breathing.

You're not far away from an

oxygen tank if you're wondering.

Thank you.

Doc?

What's this gonna cost me

ballpark.

I doubt Medicare covers this,

so probably 200 bucks.

- What, a month?

- Three weeks or so.

Jesus Christ, what's the point

of having Medicare...

if it doesn't cover this shit.

How long I gotta keep refilling

it for?

On this medicine, I give him

five years, if he's lucky.

Thanks.

Thank you.

I mean, I thought he was dead.

Oh, man.

I'm a mess, man.

It's like, just when I was

getting even, this happens.

And I got Smitty breathing

down my neck.

Maybe you should stop.

Stop? Why?

'Cause... it's kind of shitty

anyway.

It's not my fault that people

in his town act like savages.

Okay? I'm not the one out there

telling them...

to set the place on fire.

But you're handing them

the matches.

Oh, bullshit, somebody just

fucking hates me.

Nobody hates you.

Circumstances have proven

otherwise.

You both had it coming.

Your dad has been smoking as far

back as I have memories...

and I've got to say you haven't

exactly been on the level.

I get no support from you?

Well, this is your support.

You live life like everyone's

in your way.

Preventing you from getting to

some level of happiness...

that I ain't even quite sure

is out there.

No, people owe me money, okay?

I gotta take care of my dad.

That money solves real problems

for me.

You'll but you ticket in beds from guys who don't

have lots of money, then they shouldn't bet.

Well maybe you shouldn't

be taken advantage of them.

I just want people to show me

the same respect...

that I show them.

Oh, like the respect you showed

me by not showing up for work?

You want me to keep going?

You have more to say?

Things are only unfair when they

don't go your way.

Aw, fuck you, Scotty.

I'm just trying to help, man.

Well, I don't want your

fucking help.

JOHN (V.O.): As much

as I hate to admit it...

maybe Scotty was right.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Maybe I was feeling

sorry for myself.

You know, if things are gonna

break my way...

I needed to force the action.

I mean, if you're gonna push my

back up against the wall...

then it's fight or flight,

it's kill or be killed.

It's bases loaded, bottom

of the ninth...

and I'll be damned if I'm gonna

be blackmailed...

by some bitch-ass

motherfucker...

who's trying to fuck it up

for everybody else.

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

(HORN HONKING)

What the fuck, dude!? Were you

even paying attention, man?

(ENGINE STARTING)

One fucking job.

What, are you still pissed

about the TV?

Fine... be mad at me,

I don't give a shit.

Why were you in Mr. Smith's

house?

- I was looking for something.

- What?

I don't know, anything.

- Does he owe you money?

- No.

And you still broke into his

house?

Yeah, I did.

If he doesn't owe you money,

then doesn't it make it illegal?

You know, I don't know

what to say, okay?

I don't know how he knows

about this TV...

and it's putting me in a very

fucking bad place.

Fuck!

Some bullshit always happens.

I get kicked in the face.

You want to know why I never

made it to the majors?

You want to know why

I'm not in the show?

Because my dad got fucked up

one night...

and he got behind the wheel

of a car and he killed someone.

He just fucking ran 'em over.

My mom split, I had to come home

and give up my dream...

just to help him with

his fucking trial.

And I don't have fucking shit!

I'm sorry, that was depressing.

I promised your mother I wasn't

gonna be depressing.

I know how he knows

about the TV.

What?

He comes over to see

my mom some nights.

Matt Smith spends the night

at your house.

He doesn't spend the night.

He comes over after I'm in bed

and leaves...

before I wake up in the morning.

Yeah, but him and your mom,

they're...

- Yeah.

- Are you sure about this?

I know what it sounds like.

Why didn't you tell me before?

I figured if you knew...

you wouldn't want to hang

out anymore.

Hey, hey, man, let's get

something straight here, okay?

I don't like your mom,

like not even in the least bit.

I mean, I'm sure she's a great

mom to you and all...

but me and her, there is nothing

going on there.

Me and you, we're friends, man.

So you're not mad?

No! This is fantastic, dude.

- It is?

- Yeah!

Holy shit.

(ALL YELLING)

Pretty raucous crowd, huh?

Yep.

So that thing we talked

about at the bar...

no impact on you.

You know, I had to bribe

the kid's coach...

to get him on the mound?

What does that have to

do with anything?

You being the commissioner...

I just figured you could get

him on the mound.

Why would I do that?

Thought maybe you'd want to do

him a favor.

You know, seein's how you're

fucking his mom, and all.

It really is the least

you could do.

That is just blatantly not true.

Hmm.

What do you want?

I just want you to do

the right thing.

Let's go, Brad. You got this,

buddy.

You got it, bub! Come on, now!

Strike!

Are you kidding me, ump?

Down by his fucking ankles!

Keep it consistent, let's go!

What are you swinging at, Brad?

Come on now, keep your head

in there, what the fuck?

Keep it consistent, let's go.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(NO AUDIBLE DIALOGUE)

How do you look at that pitch,

huh?

You want to play fucking

Tee-ball again?

No.

Because I can get you a tee

and a ball and we can go...

hit off that, because you can't

seem to hit a ball without it.

Stop it, stop crying,

you Sally, man up!

I can't stop, you're yelling

at me.

You cost me 200 bucks. You're

gonna make it up.

I will, I promise.

You're damn right, you will!

Now get in the fucking car.

What are you looking at?

Mind your fucking business.

(MUSIC STOPS)

Hey, kid.

Beaches, back the kid up for me,

will you?

BEACHES: All right.

- What's up?

- Can we talk?

Sure.

Maybe not in front of everyone.

All right.

What's up?

- Can we stop?

- Stop what?

Betting on games.

Aw, buddy, you were never

bettin' on games, man.

Yeah, but will you stop?

- No.

- Please?

No, sorry, pal, it's not

gonna happen.

You have to stop.

Why? What's gotten into you?

It's not fun anymore.

How is it not fun?

You're actually playing

well for the first time.

I don't know.

What then, you want to go back

to the way it was before...

where you're sitting on the

bench...

and everybody's calling you

names? Is that what you want?

BRIAN: No.

I'm sorry, I'm just confused,

what, like so...

you have friends now and you're

pitching well...

you want to forget about the guy

who got you there? Is that it?

No.

I taught you how to pitch.

You think anyone else would

have taken the time to do that?

- I don't know.

- I do, the answer is no.

Your whole life and no one ever

helped you pitch...

and then I come along and I help

you out and what...

you're gonna take the other

guy's side?

Is this how you treat your

friends? Huh?

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, Mickey, I got the Dundalk

lines.

Yeah, Knights are even money.

You want NBA also?

All right, ten grand on the

Knights.

Yeah, Kid Houston looks good.

Okay.

I got you down for it, Mick.

Ten G's.

Duly noted, Mick.

Hey.

Look, I'm...

Pitch a good game, huh?

(SPECTATORS YELLING)

- Zibs.

- Adam.

PLAYER:

Outfield back up, good hitter!

Smart money's on Houston, huh?

Guess it depends on

what you consider smart.

Well, the number came in low,

so I figure you'd dropped...

the line by a few runs because

you're thinking...

Houston's bringing the goods.

Plus, Nick Spada had a birthday

party last night.

It was a sleep over and

half the Bears team was there.

That so?

Yeah, they were probably staying

up really late...

watching movies, getting real

tired, so...

Boy, he really hung that one

over the plate.

Hey, hey, playing catch.

(SPECTATORS YELLING)

(BOOING)

Throw the curve, kid.

They shouldn't have pitched him

on such short notice.

Hey, kid, kid...

you thinking about doing any

of the things we worked on?

Fine, suit yourself.

JOHN (V.O.): It was ugly, pretty

much sold the other team...

prime real estate on home

plate.

Didn't throw the curve ball

once.

Didn't do a damn thing

we worked on.

Stubborn, little shit.

Couldn't have picked a worse

game to stick it to me, either.

I had more money on this one

than the Super Bowl.

And look, maybe I was wearing

a pair of those...

rose-colored glasses when

I set the line.

Maybe this kid never

had it in the first place.

Either way, it didn't look

good.

And the natives, they got

restless.

Lucky for me, Smitty caved and

cancelled the whole season...

before the game ended.

(MEGAPHONE ALARM SOUNDING)

Hey, hey, hey, hey!

That's it, that's it, enough!

Enough!

JOHN (V.O.): And well, if nobody

loses the game...

and nobody loses a bet...

we have ourselves a push and we

can all walk away...

with our heads held high and

our wallets the same weight.

No harm, no foul.

You need a ride?

Here.

We're all square.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

(CAR HORNS HONKING)

(CHURCH BELL TOLLS)

(MUSIC CONTINUES)

JOHN (V.O.):

So, all said and done...

looks like I made it out

of this whole mess unscathed.

I managed to collect most

of my outstanding debts.

Put a little extra scratch in

my pocket and shit...

walk away in better shape

than before it all started.

All said and done, it puts me

in the black...

which is all you can ever

ask for.

So yeah, there you go,

that's my story.

As for basketball lines,

playoffs look predictable...

this year, might have to jump

the line on the favorites...

a point or two, since it's

top-heavy.

You know, local gamblers like

to play the favorites...

so knowing that, I gotta

protect myself...

from all the action heading

one way.

Johnnie, let me help you

with that.

Get in the fucking house.

Fuck.

Come on, guys, what the fuck

is this?

Trying to throw games on us.

Mickey.

Yeah, play dumb like you didn't

have that kid throw the game.

How long have I known you guys?

Huh?

Why would I throw a fucking

game?

I can think of about

10,000 reasons.

Stevie, how many bets

have I let you slide on.

Sorry, Johnny, it doesn't look

so good.

I got you a job, man.

Johnny, you met my nephew,

right?

Yeah... fuck, ow!

Shit. Whoo! God...

I'm telling you, okay, look,

the kid pitched bad...

because he was mad at me,

all right?

Fucking kids, right?

Fuck! God!

Where'd you say the cash was?

JOHN: Oh, come on, you made

your point.

Oh fuck.

This makes us just about even.

Even? Come on, Mick, they didn't

even fucking finish the game.

I don't think you lost shit,

buddy.

Johnny, you know, if we let you

pull one over on us...

we gotta let everybody do it.

Oh, come on, guys, that's all

the money I got.

Here you go, dinner on us.

Sorry, Johnny.

Come on, man, just pee.

Come on, man, pee.

Daddy, is that Sparkle?

- Why does that guy have our dog?

- Ssh-ssh.

Um, guys, just wait right here,

please, okay?

John?

Hey Bill, what's up?

Why do you have my dog, John?

Is that your dog?

Did you break into my house

and steal my fucking kids' dog?

What? No, man.

Then why do you have

my kids' dog?

You broke into my house and took

my kids' dog...

because I owed you 500 bucks?

You owe me $600 bucks, man.

Do you have any idea of the

crying that has been going on...

in my house, for what,

to get even with me?

Well, I just... I mean...

- Daddy! Daddy, are you okay?

- Go back, girls, go back!

- I'm okay.

- Shit, man.

- Fuck, man.

- What'd you come at me for, man?

I just wanted my fucking dog.

Yeah, dude, take the dog, man.

There... there.

You know, I was gonna pay you...

but I got laid off from my job.

Times have been tough.

I didn't know that.

You know, I saw you the other

day and you had on that...

new watch and I was like...

okay.

- This... this... this watch?

- Yeah.

This $75 watch, here, man,

you can have it.

I didn't know...

Hey, yeah, this is what they

give you when they lay you off.

As a way of saying thanks,

like...

"Hey, you don't have a job

or a pension...

"but here's a nice watch."

I'm sorry, I didn't know that.

Yeah, well...

Hey, you don't have

to pay me back, man.

We're all good.

You look like shit.

Take care of yourself.

Let's go, girls, come on,

Sparkle, come on.

- WALLY: Here you go.

- Thanks.

WALLY: Mm-hm...

Hey man, are you sure you don't

want something for your face?

WALLY: Right on.

Ain't Debbie working?

Nah, she was, but she

had to leave early.

Oh.

It was some emergency

with her kid.

What happened?

Apparently, he broke into

her ex-husband's house.

- You know Hooper, right?

- Yeah.

Yeah, well, kid was still in

there when his old man got home.

Get this, Hooper sees him and

beats the shit out of him.

He told the cops he thought he

was robbing the place...

but if you ask me, Hooper did it

to teach him a lesson.

- Is he okay?

- Get the fuck away from my house.

- Wait, wait, I just wanna know...

- I said get the fuck outta here!

- Just hang on a second.

- Leave.

What? I want to know

if he's all right.

This is your fault.

- My fault?

- Yes.

You know what? Maybe if you

spent more time at his games...

than with the fucking

commissioner...

we'd be talking about something

else.

Fuck, god... fucking...

He's not your kid, okay?

He is my kid!

You think because you hung out

with him for a couple of weeks...

and taught him how to pitch that

somehow he's your kid?

He's not. You have no idea what

it's like being a parent...

to have to put food on the table

and pay rent.

Explain to him why his dad

is a piece of shit.

You know what? It's not my fault

his Dad's...

- a fucking piece of shit.

- You used him.

How the fuck did I use him?

I told you about the gambling.

Nobody gives a shit about

your gambling!

How the fuck am I using him?

Because you were there when it

was ballgames and pizza.

Where were you when

he needed you...

when he was so upset that he

broke into his dad's house?

I have been there for that kid.

My son doesn't need another man

in his life letting him down...

and I knew from the second I saw

you sitting at my table...

it was only a matter of time...

before you would turn

your back on him.

- Jesus, what happened to you?

- Nothing.

Wh... what are you doing?

Where's my shit? Where's my...

where's my bat, Dad?

What do you want that for?

Hey, hey, look, why don't you

take a deep breath...

and just calm down for a second

before you do something stupid.

Huh? Will you hold the fuck on!

Sit down for a second!

I meant to do it!

You meant to do what?

I was drunk when I ran Bernie

Gallagher over...

but I meant to do it...

he was having an affair

with your mother.

You're just telling me this shit

now.

Bernie and I drank at the same

pub and the night I found out...

I look at his fucking face

across the bar...

and I start going for him.

Bernie starts running away

and I'm chasing him.

I think, "This is fucking

crazy."

So I tell myself, go outside,

go outside, calm down.

So I go outside and I'm sitting

in my car...

but I'm getting more

and more upset.

And then Bernie comes out

of the bar.

And you ran him over

with your fucking car?

Well, I didn't plan it! It

boiled me over, I lost my shit.

- And Mom?

- She left.

She... she kept her mouth shut

during the whole trial process.

Thank God, God bless her...

because it could have been

worse, I think.

Maybe she felt bad for me,

I don't know.

A little guilty maybe.

Anyway, she couldn't stay here,

she left.

You...

Look, I spent 10 years in prison

for doing something stupid.

Now look at me, will you?

Look at me.

This is what getting even

looks like.

Get the fuck out of my way.

Come on.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

JOHN (V.O.): Look, I know

what you're thinking.

I didn't think it was heading

this way either...

but here we are.

And tell me, what would you

do if you're in my shoes?

Would you let it slide?

Maybe you're a better person

than I am.

Come here. Do we know each

other?

- Why?

- Why?

Because you keep eye-fucking

me from across the room.

Went to high school together,

I'm John Zbikowsky.

I played baseball.

Oh shit, Zibs, yeah.

Sorry, man, I didn't recognize

you, you look like shit.

What happened? You all right?

Fine, man.

So what? You just came here...

to catch up on old times

or something.

No.

What's up, then, what's

with the bat?

You gotta ball game

or something?

Why are you looking at me like

that, man? You got something...

You got some business with me

or something?

We got a problem? I mean...

You know my ex-wife

or something?

No, nope.

Softball game.

(BILLIARD BALLS CLACK)

One too many beers, that's all.

Yeah, well...

fucking take care of yourself,

dude, you look like shit.

Hm.

- (BASEBALL ORGAN PLAYS)

- (CROWD CHEERING)

What are you doing?

I'm trying to be a

"leaves-a-note" guy.

Hm.

Last time I was here, I didn't

really do the right thing.

Yeah, I know. I've read it after

Mr. Mooney threw it on ground.

And you let me carry on like

this the whole time?

Yeah, I guess so.

I guess I just didn't care.

What happened to you?

I think I got what was coming

to me.

Yeah, me, too.

I think maybe I gave you some

bad advice...

these past couple of weeks.

You don't go breaking into

houses, no matter what.

Okay.

Here, give that to your

mom for the hospital bill.

Okay.

It's not a lot, but it's

all I got at the moment.

Want to know the real reason

I quit playing baseball?

You told me about your dad.

No, that's not it.

I wasn't good enough.

I was getting knocked

around in single A.

Yeah, I could have worked hard

and got better...

but that shit with my dad

happened...

and it's just easier to quit.

So I came home and I took

over his book.

My whole life, I've been taking

the easy route...

and I think maybe I used you as

part of that easy route...

and I apologize.

- It's cool.

- No, it's not cool.

I'm sorry, friends don't do

that to friends.

I got to pitch, I got in a

fight, I bet on horses.

This is the best fucking

summer of my life.

Me, too.

Never got your name on that

wall, though.

It's alright.

So what are you going to do now?

I don't know, probably take

a job, I guess.

You still gonna take bets?

I say no now, but football

season's gonna roll around...

- I probably got to reassess.

- Yeah.

What are you gonna do

with the rest of the summer?

Don't know.

Might want to figure that out

before school starts back up.

Next season, will you come

see me pitch?

Shit, yeah.

(SOFT MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey, we got a letter

from a guy named Zibs.

Is that the guy you know

from baseball?

Wait, no, no, let me,

uh, let me...

(MUSIC FADES UP)

JOHN (V.O.):

All said and done, yeah...

I have done some shitty things

in my life.

Aw, fuck it, I never said

I was perfect.

Subtitles by explosiveskull

♪ Trash won't pick it up

take them lights away ♪

♪ Trash won't pick it up

don't take your life away ♪

♪ Trash won't pick it up ♪

♪ Don't try to take

my knife away ♪

♪ And please don't you ask me

if I love you ♪

♪ If you don't know what

I'm doing what you know is ♪

♪ Trash won't pick it up

take them lights away ♪

♪ Trash won't get it up

don't throw your love away ♪

♪ Trash go pick it up don't

try to take my knife away ♪

♪ And please don't you ask me

if I love you ♪

♪ 'Cause I don't know why

I do what I know is ♪

♪ Trash pick it up

take them lights away ♪

♪ Trash won't pick it up

don't take my knife away ♪

♪ Trash won't pick it up

forgot to take them all away ♪

♪ And please don't you ask me

if I love you ♪

♪ 'Cause I don't know if I do ♪

♪ I want to wipe it out here

with you ♪

♪ And take a lover's sleep

with you ♪

♪ I'm going to fairyland

with you ♪

♪ I'm going to heaven blue

with you ♪

♪ But I just don't know

if I do ♪

♪ I just don't know if I do ♪

♪ Ah how do you call your

loverboy? ♪

♪ Trash pick it up

take them lights away ♪

♪ Trash go pick it up

go put that knife away ♪

♪ Trash go pick it up

don't give your life away ♪

♪ Trash get it up

don't throw your love away ♪

♪ Trash pick it up

don't take my knife away ♪

♪ Trash pick it up

the doctor take them all away ♪

♪ Trash pick it up

don't take my knife away ♪

♪ Oh trash whoa whoa

my sweet baby yeah yeah ♪

♪ Oh trash whoa whoa

baby you're the one ♪

♪ Trash pick it up

take them lights away ♪

♪ Trash go pick it up

don't take my knife away ♪

♪ Trash go pick it up

don't take them lights away ♪

♪ Trash pick it up

don't take my knife away ♪

♪ Oh trash

don't kick my knife away ♪

♪ Oh trash don't kick

my knife away ♪

♪ Oh trash don't kick

my knife away ♪

♪ Oh trash ♪