Mercy Rule (2014) - full transcript

Sound Effects.

My family is always
on the lookout

for a great new movie
that we can watch together

as a family on movie night.

You know, something fun,
something exciting.

Something that builds
our faith in God

and our strength as a family.

Well, instead of waiting for
another great new movie,

we decided to make one.

You're about to see it.

It's called "Mercy Rule"
and it's about a family



who learns the Kingdom lessons
of patience, courage, sacrifice,

mercy, legacy and trusting God.

So get your popcorn out,

get your home movie theater
all dialed in.

Kids, grab the remote,
turn the volume up,

this is going to be lots
and lots of fun.

Here it is, "Mercy Rule."

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

This is a scrap yard.

[Instrumental music]

Recycling begins here
when you bring in

that old milk carton
or broken toaster.

[Instrumental music]



Everything you use every day,

cans, bottles, cardboard,
wire, steel,

we'll crush it, bale it
and load it on to trucks

and trains and send it all
over the world.

My grandpa started it,
we call him, Pops.

My dad and my uncle run it.

We're scrappers,
it's what we do.

We've been running this yard
for 50 years.

We can shred, crush,
bale just about anything.

And that's my dad, John Miller.

Most people think
it's just trash.

Let me guess, you think
it's treasure, right?

No, not the creepy tall guy
in the suit.

It's a little cliché,
but quaint, I guess.

My dad hasn't worn a suit
since Pops' funeral.

No, we don't think
it's treasure.

I was going to say, most people
think it's just trash

and there's nothing to do
but bury it.

My dad has been on this yard

six days a week
since he turned 18.

Apply enough pressure,
send it off to the fire mills

and suddenly someone gets to
sell you a new shiny hybrid.

He's the hardest worker I know.

It's a good angle.

You know what I see?

I see a lot of liability
around here.

Actually, since my father
started this business,

we've done more than
a billion dollars in this place.

Only been to court twice,
won both times.

Come on, let's get you inside.

I can tell this heat is
melting your suit.

Ah, come on back.

My brother Ben's going
to join us.

He runs the company with me.

All right, is this a, is this
a good place, right here?

Perfect.

Yeah, I'm ready for my close-up,
Mr. Trufant. (Laughter)

- Okay?
- Good?

We're ready, we're ready.

First interview
with John Miller,

CEO of Dante's Scrapyard, Inc.

How many accidents have there
been in your junkyards

in the past year, Mr. Miller?

Junkyards?

You mean scrap yards? Why?

Would you be willing to release
the medical records

of your long-term employees?

Absolutely not.

Why would you even ask that?

I thought you were interested
in the scrap/recycling business.

Oh, we are, in every
aspect of it.

And the long-term health of
the people engaged in this work

is relevant to all future
discussions

of the booming waste
recycling industry.

Ah, if you could just make
one correction.

Waste is that which has
no further use.

Excuse me?

That which has no further use.

That's the definition.

At Dante, I don't buy waste.

We buy things with worth.

At least they do, once they
go through our machines.

How much of your operating
budget comes from subsidies?

That's state, local, federal.

Uh, zero, zip, zippidy,
nada, phftt.

We make our own way,

like God and George Washington
intended, sir. (Slurping)

Mmhmm, right.

How did your father die?

I'm sorry, gentlemen, but I am
going to have to get going.

My brother Ben here will
see you out.

Well Mr. Miller, just
one more question.

Best of luck with your project.

[Instrumental music]

Uncle Ben, he's a little crazy,

but you have to be a little
crazy to do what we do,

working this hard just to make
old stuff worth something again.

A little crazy and a lot tough.

And that's my Pops up on
the wall, young, strong,

not the way I remember him.

My sister says he was
recycled from bark,

old leather and Walt Disney.

And his voice sounded
like Uncle Ben's truck

chewing on cigarettes.

So uh, you want to watch me go
bale some cans or bottles?

Because that's what we
do here... recycle.

Wheeee...

I think we're good.
Let's cut that.

Cody Miller has been doing
battle tonight, folks.

Yep, that's me and that's
my sister,

the one making fun of me.

Pittsburgh is gambling here,

betting that his arm
still has juice.

But it won't matter if he can
just get the batter.

I don't really mind, but only
because she's good at it.

The pitch... Crack!

Cody Miller gets taken
for a ride,

upper deck, right there,
three-run homer.

Game over.

[Instrumental music]

No way.

You know, Bob, Cody's curveball
hangs when he's tired.

Just sits out there
like a cupcake.

Seriously, a cupcake?

How is a hanging curveball
like a cupcake?

Like a cupcake piñata.

And every fan in this place
just caught some candy.

[Instrumental music]

It didn't hang and it wasn't
even a curveball.

It didn't curve, it didn't
slide, it wasn't fast.

Grandma could have hit that.

[Instrumental music]

You need to work on your insults
because Grandma's dead.

I know, but she still could
have hit that pitch.

[Instrumental music]

- Hey, guys!
- Hey, Dad!

How's it going?
Come here, give me a hug.

Are you excited about your game?

I'll be more excited if
Coach lets me pitch.

But only if he pitches
really well

and gets recruited
by the Pirates

and wins a million dollars
in free hats. (John chuckles)

Drafted not recruited.

Nice!

(sighs) You know what,
I'll show you a good arm.

Uh, oh, oh, oh!

Watch out, incoming!
Grapefruit ball!

[background conversations]

Watch out, watch out,
you got a good arm.

[Instrumental music]

Ooohh!

[Instrumental music]

All right, settle down!

My tree.

Guys, you have the whole yard,
you mess with that tree.

I eat those!

Code, toss the mitt.
Come on, wash up.

All right, go inside, guys.

Oh, and that's my mom.

My dad said Mom's the reason
Pops held on so long at the end.

And when she finally
said goodbye,

it was like he had
her permission to go.

He was gone in an hour.

[Instrumental music]

This is my family and I know
I'm lucky, but hey,

it isn't all grapefruit fights
and laughing at the table.

I mean, well, just wait and see.

Do you ever feel like
we're cheating?

What did we do to deserve
perfect?

Mmm.

Why do we get to be happy
when so many people aren't?

You know what would make
this night even more perfect?

A cigarette.

Jonathan Miller!

If they didn't stink.

If they didn't kill you.
(John chuckles)

I'll see you later,
Captain Killjoy.

Love you.

[Instrumental music]

And your breath better be fresh.

[Instrumental music]

[deep sigh]

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

[thuds]

[thuds]

[Instrumental music]

[distant thuds]

What, you've never been nervous?

[thuds]

[rock music]

[rock music]

[rock music]

[rock music]

[crowd cheering]

[rock music]

Cody Miller in the hole!

Coach, Coach!

Will I get to pitch too?

Get out there and hit
the ball, Miller.

[cheering]

[rock music]

Come on, Cody!

[cheering]

[rock music]

[rock music]

Whoo!

[cheering]

[cheering]

Way to go, Code!

[cheering]

[rock music]

[rock music]

At least you hit the ball.

At least you played
first the whole game,

I just stood in right field
for two innings.

And hit the ball
and scored a run.

You even got to slide.

Next game, I wish
I could get beamed

just so I could stand
on first base.

- I want to pitch.
- Yeah, everybody knows that.

Hey Coach, by the way,
can I pitch today?

Nope.

Coach, can I pitch today?

What do you think?

- Yes.
- Nope.

What's the opposite of yes?

- Uh, yes?
- No!

- Can I pitch today?
- No pitching.

You know, the game's
pretty loud, you know.

I don't know, maybe
you didn't understand.

Nope.

- You're sure?
- No pitching.

Oh, just a quick question,
Coach: can I pitch today?

Nope.

Did I ask you this question
yesterday?

About pitching? Nope.

- Cody, Cody?
- Yeah?

Quick question for ya,
want to pitch?

Because the answer is no.

- You're absolutely...
- I say no pitching!

- Alright, got it.
- No pitching.

[Instrumental music]

[cheering]

There you go, buddy.

[cheering]

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

Thattaboy, Hank!

[Instrumental music]

Good hustle, buddy.

Come on, right knee,
right knee, that's it!

[Instrumental music]

Strike three, you're out!

Dig, dig, dig, dig!

Aw, good try.

[kids shouting]

Get there.

Come on, strike on out!

[Instrumental music]

[cheering]

Oooh!

Ah, hit man, take your base.

[cheering]

[Instrumental music]

Right field.

That's where you play if
you're scared of the ball

because you're never
going to touch it.

Right field is torture
for a real player.

My mom has a better
view in the stands

than I do in right field!

Pitcher, catcher, first base,
they're in on everything,

but I'm just stuck watching
my teammates screw up

and lose a game that I'm
barely even a part of.

[Instrumental music]

You need to get back,
cover home!

You need to get back!
Cover home!

[cheering]

[Instrumental music]

You've got to be there!

[cheering]

Let's go, let's get a hit!

Nice, nice, nice, nice, nice.

All right Cody, take a seat.

Jay?

Jay, you're in and you're up.
Just get on deck.

What? But Coach, I didn't
do anything wrong!

I said take a seat.

[Instrumental music]

[crowd cheering]

Ben, I don't even know what
you're talking about.

Ben, I'm trying to watch a game
here with my family, all right.

We do not need an investigator
and we don't need lawyers.

No, lawyers!

All right, fine, if you want
to get one,

you're gonna hire them yourself
and you're paying for it,

not me and not the company.

Come on, Jake,
cut one loose, son!

Can I pitch today?

Listen, I'm, I'm hanging up now.

Okay, hello?

See you tomorrow, bye.

Jay Barfield in to hit,

replacing Cody Miller
in the lineup.

Mom, Cody's out,
he's not hitting.

Do you think he's okay?

Here we go, Jay! Here we go!

That's my boy! That's my boy!

Even your walk scares 'em.

Keep your shoulders back!

I don't know.
You think he's hurt?

Hmm?

Cody's out, do you think
he's hurt?

No, no I think he got ticked off

and threw his glove
in the outfield.

Oh! You don't want that one,

you don't want that one,
it's junk!

I hope he strikes out.

Hey, that's not very nice.

Oooh!

[cheering]

Whoo!

I wish I could hit like that.

Come on, Cody.

[cheering]

Hit every base! Get every base!

Touch every base!

[cheering]

Whoo!

Good job, Jay!

Jay Barfield with a deep,
deep homer.

I think we can expect to see
a lot of him this season.

Darn.

So, at least we're
in first place.

I'm never gonna make all-stars.

I can't even play
for my own team.

You know, I want to pitch too,

but you don't see me
complaining.

Whatever.

Cody.

[honking]

Just stay here,
I'll be right back.

- John.
- Hey.

Hey, I told you
we'd talk tomorrow.

No, this is bad, John,
really bad.

This is straight up government
cash grab.

Ken, what are you talking about?

The definition of hazardous
waste being expanded.

Scrappers and recyclers having
to be EPO trained and permitted,

all the way down to crazy Stan
with his weekly bag of cans.

I'm talking about $100,000
per year minimum.

We can't afford that, John,
not even close.

First they crush us with fees
and permits we can't afford

and then they offer
door number two,

handing over majority ownership.

Yeah, look. This guy...

Where is it?

Right here, Evan Trufant.

- Yeah.
- Yeah.

Yeah, that's the guy we just did
the thing with, recycling.

No, no, this isn't some grad
student journalist, all right?

He's an eco-lobbyist...

for hire.

And he currently holds contracts
with ten cities in California.

I've been on the phone, John.

Cities need the cash.
They want our operations.

Ben, I'll make some calls.

Okay, but you need to stop
wigging out.

You need to turn off
the talk radio

and cool your brain down.

Okay, I'd invite you over here
to have a cone with us,

but you're going to freak
Maggie out.

Now would you relax?

I know lots of guys in the city
and if you are right,

which I doubt you are,
they'll know.

This is ridiculous.

This is unfair and they'll
know that too.

All right? Okay?

Well, the only good thing
is we didn't take

that subsidiary bait. Okay?

So far, every scrapper hit
applied for that stuff first.

Oh, get the... king is...
gosh diggity,

piece of... cheese slave...

Settle down, come have a cone.

A cone?

Yeah, come have a snow cone.

It'll make you feel better
and we'll talk tomorrow.

Yeah, that'll make it
all better, a cone.

Relax!

A cone, that's what I want,
a cone.

Bring me a cone,
my life is falling apart.

[Instrumental music]

[yelling at someone]

Everything!

You get him to call me.

I don't care where he is,
you tell him to call me!

[Instrumental music]

Not...

[Instrumental music]

Hey, I'm sorry about that.

I was having a little trouble
with one of the...

Where's Code?

Fair!

[Instrumental music]

John, you should go talk to him.

[Instrumental music]

[cell phone ringing]

Hey. Hey, thanks for
calling me back.

Listen, it's about that
hazardous waste

subsidiary application the city
sent us a while back.

[Instrumental music]

Yeah, did we send that in yet?

You did?

Okay, is there any way we can
get that back?

Can we rescind it?

I knew something was wrong
and I knew it was bad.

I didn't know the government was
trying to take our business.

I didn't even know
they could do that.

Well, how long have you known?

I got conned, didn't I? Argh!

I know I described it
as hazardous waste.

You told me to.

I was applying for their
stupid program.

But even if I had known,
I wouldn't have cared.

No.

[Instrumental music]

Aw, no!

[Instrumental music]

[sighs]

Ben's gonna kill me.

[Instrumental music]

Hey, Cody?

[Instrumental music]

Cody?

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

[Instrumental music]

Hey, Pops.

[Instrumental music]

Before he died, Pops had more
things to say than he had time,

things he wanted to make sure
I knew before he was gone.

[Instrumental music]

He'd call me over to
his recliner and smile

and pull off his oxygen mask.

[Instrumental music]

I noticed his scarred knuckles
and those spots on his hands

that carried a machine gun
in WWII,

and sorted a million
tons of steel

in a lifetime of scrapping.

I heard it all but I really
didn't think about it

until he was gone.

Every word was a fight for him,
but he got them out eventually.

He said things like, "First in,
last out, laugh loudest."

[Instrumental music]

"Cody, anybody ever mess
with your sister,

you make like a stung
rodeo bull."

"Truth is hard, but every lie
is a slap to the face."

"Winning's not as important
as fighting on the right side."

And, "You got a problem
with someone",

doesn't matter who they are,

"you man up and go eye-to-eye."

[sighs]

Let's do this.

[knocking]

Can I help you?

Ughhh.

You're on Dad's team, right?

I was at your last game.

You've got a great arm.

I, um, uh, thanks.

I'd like to pitch.

Yeah, I've heard.

So, you're here to see my dad?

Ahem.

About pitching?

I thought so.

Well, come on in, I'll get him.

[loud music]

[music shuts off]

Can you even hear
yourself think?

When you can't hear
yourself think, think louder.

Right, Co'? Come in.

I wasn't expecting you, buddy.

I was expecting your father.

You see, when kids don't
get what they want,

the parents show up with
every kind of patty cake.

Cake pops mostly.

Some flowers, some poor folks
might try cookies,

some go for threats.

Oh, oh yeah.

50 bucks at the Olive Garden
and you're back on the field.

You got 50 bucks, Cody Miller?

I, I don't understand,
you want me to pay you?

Well, isn't that how you want me
to run my team?

Whichever kids ask the most
and the loudest

and the nicest gets to play?

Or maybe, now I don't know,

but maybe I just put
the best boys

on that grass and on that dirt.

You know, the boys that are
going to help the team win?

How does that sound?

Rich boys, poor boys, tall boys,
short boys, Latin boys,

black boys, white boys.

Better idea, maybe I just
watch you swing the stick

and field the ball
and I let that decide.

Maybe I don't care
who drops by the house

and has their mom callin'

and sticks coffee cards
in my mailbox.

Dad.

I know, it's just these parents
nowadays are freaking me out.

It's okay, it's okay.
Hey, breathe, breathe.

One, two, three, in and out.

You got this.

Okay, now find it. Ready?

[beat boxes]

There it is, see, you got this.

Aw, isn't she the best?

I love this girl, I love it!

Nothing like her mother,
absolutely nothing.

But that's a different story.
I was at fault too.

I'm sorry, Cody, it's just
that I burnt dinner

and already had three
phone calls from parents

about the next game. (Laughs)

Yeah.

At least you showed up.

I can respect that.

Come on, let's sit down.

I'll be better once
I'm off my feet.

[guzzling]

Ah, cold root beer,
what an adventure.

I shouldn't have thrown
my glove in the outfield

when Stevie didn't cover home.

No, you shouldn't have
thrown the ball.

What? Why not?

The runner was rounding third.

I knew I could get it there.

Yeah, you knew you could
get it there,

but you also knew
Stevie wasn't there.

[Instrumental music]

Yeah, but...

A good player is like
a good brother...

he gets your back
when you screw up.

He's out there making everyone
around him better.

Saving butts,
covering for mistakes,

coming through when every
other kid in a matching lid

is depending on him.

You saw Stevie was
out of position

and you still threw that ball.

You made everyone
in that park notice

that Stevie was being an idiot.

You drew attention to it.

You made things worse just
to make your point.

Think about it, the runner
advanced off that throw.

You put your team and your
pitcher in a bigger hole

and you made your catcher
look like a moron.

So no, you're right,

you shouldn't have
thrown your glove.

[Instrumental music]

But first, you shouldn't
have thrown the ball.

I wasn't trying to make
Stevie look stupid.

In baseball, we back each
other up on the field, always.

Now every boy will fail or
succeed all by himself,

but with everyone watching.

The fear of striking out,
of leaving runners on base,

of being the weak link
in the lineup,

it even beats
the big leaguers now.

Teammates work against them,
they pick each other up.

[Instrumental music]

Why are you here, Cody Miller?

What was it you wanted
to say to me?

I just wanted to find out why
you weren't letting me play.

I just wanted to find out why
you weren't letting me pitch.

I'll put you back on the field

when I think the whole team
will be better for it.

When boneheads like Stevie will
feel safer with you out there.

As for pitching, you're strong

but you don't have
great control.

If there are better guys I can
put on that mound, I will.

And you should always want
the best guy out there,

even if it isn't you.

[doorbell]

And that will be
my Chinese food.

Ana?

So, if I'm the best,
you'll play me?

No, if you're the best
for the team,

I'll play you.

Got it?

I'll get the plates.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Where have you been?

I almost called the cops.

I'm sorry, I went
and talked to coach.

Is dad mad?

Ugh, I'm not even sure he knows.

You both missed dinner.

Yours is in there
wrapped up, cold,

but you earned it that way.

He went outside to talk to you
and he went back to work.

Is he back yet?

No.

Is everything okay?

You let me worry about
your dad, okay?

I want to hear from you.

So what did you say
to your coach?

Well, I just wanted to know
why he pulled me.

I don't think he's going to
be playing me anytime soon.

I know he won't let me pitch.

Cody, Coach isn't stupid.

He says I need to be
a better teammate.

Buddy, let's go get
something to eat, okay?

Your dad's gonna want to talk
to you when he gets home.

All right?

Hey, and no taking off.

- Don't do that to me, okay?
- Got it.

All right. Come on.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[door closes]

[instrumental music]

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

[cheering]

Way to go, Jay!

The Pie, the Pirates, the
Pirates are doing it again.

Whoo, that's too Broadway.

I don't do Broadway.

Not well.

Gentlemen, I appreciate
the call, John,

but we could have done
this somewhere else.

No, no, here's good,
but no cameras.

[cheering]

No camera, no me.

If you want to talk,

we talk on the record...
or posterity.

Right and that's why
you're here.

You want to talk to me,
you come to my yard,

safest place in town.

[cheering]

Let's do this, huh?

Let's go, big hitter, come on.

It's strange, isn't it?

Junkyards used to be graveyards
where old appliances and cars

were stripped and cannibalized.

They were the ugly industrial
underbelly of every city,

tended by immigrants,
gypsies, snarling dogs,

the stuff of nightmares for any
neighborhood kid near one.

But now, now they're
the city darlings.

Co-opting the positive P.R.
of sustainability

and carbon reduction
and zero waste pioneers.

Let's do it, way to go.

You're an odd man.

Everything comes around
in the end....

Come on, let's do this.

[cheering]

So, I know who you are,
I know what you're doing

and it's not going to work.

Enlighten me.

First step, turn
the cameras off.

John, I'm afraid I just
can't do that.

Look, we've covered this.

Yeah, but I think you might
want to reconsider.

Why, are you mobbed up
or something?

Do you intend to have
large Italian gentlemen

with toothpicks come
visit me at my home?

You lied to me.

You're not a journalist,
you're a lobbyist.

You're the, you're an expert
consultant lawyer,

jack of all money-grabbing
trades.

You're bureaucratic
muscle for hire.

You know, everybody hates
corporate raiders,

but you're worse,
you're a civic raider.

You're a thief with
the law behind them.

You're a snake from
the tip of your tailbone

to that fork in your tongue.

You've been contracted
by the Mayor's office

to go after scrappers and you're
taking public funds to do it.

Which means, all your
footage will be copied

and handed over to me

as soon as my Freedom
of Information request

is processed that was
filed this morning.

Good luck with that.

I spent a few hours on
the phone last night

talking to some of your victims,

so it's not real hard for me to
understand what comes next.

You're sure you still want
that camera on?

[instrumental music]

Cover, cover, cover!

Safe!

[instrumental music]

Guard him!

First create a fictitious
program,

offer truckloads of subsidy
money for scrappers.

Only you word the application
in such a way

that any scrapper who
tries to fill it out

appears to be agreeing

that he's working
with hazardous waste.

Hold on, no, wrong.

They don't appear to be
agreeing, they are agreeing.

Right.

You see, at the top of
the page you'll notice

"hazardous waste" is
right across the top

in big black letters.

I, here we go, "Which type
of hazardous waste"

does your operation handle?"

I like the way you worded that.

"Circle all that apply."

A-cans and light aluminum;
B-bottles and plastics,

C-Scrap iron, of all types
and D-paper and cardboard.

Warm up.

Pitching?

Really?

Seriously, come on, dude?

Paper, cans, cardboard?

But you circled all of them.

You see you took
your little pencil,

you circled all of them.

Don't you see, don't you get it?

"Your Honor, John Miller, CEO
of Dante Scrapyards, Inc."

Was happy to have cans
labeled as hazardous

when it meant that
other people's money

was going to be handed to him.

But now that the term
might affect

a little bit of his control,

"well... surprise he
suddenly objects."

So, I'm an idiot.
Welcome to the party.

I don't know if I'd
call you an idiot,

maybe, maybe not.

But a hypocrite.

Well that's a matter
of public record now.

Quinn, go catcher.

[instrumental music]

Phase two: you test soil
samples of the scrap yards

and you do it under the guise
of this new subsidy program

and then you send those samples
off to your own friendly labs.

Phase three: you present
to the city a new proposal

for guidelines governing
the handling

of so-called hazardous wastes.

Phase four: You propose
that the definition

of hazardous waste is expanded

and of course you're the expert
consultant in that field.

And so you advise the city

on acceptable soil
pollution levels,

coincidentally setting them
just below

what you've already found
in the scrap yard soils.

Final phase: The city
crushes scrappers

under massive permit fees
and expensive certification

requirements and EPO
training fees all because now

paper and cans and cardboard
are considered hazardous.

A 60-year-old family business
started by immigrants

just disappears.

You're not testing my soil.

I got friends at sanitation
that have promised

to scratch and claw
and bite if the definition

of hazardous waste
comes up at all.

So move along,
you're in the wrong town.

Remind me to play
poker with you.

Mom, no look, over there.

Cody's warming up.

Okay, um, up by two.

No outs.

Runners on second.

- And third.
- Yeah.

Oh.

It might be best if this
portion of our conversation

lacked any digital record.

[instrumental music]

Nobody dead there.

Nobody dead.

[instrumental music]

Come on, let's do this here!

Bring it, guys, come on!

One runner.

One, one, one, one,
one, one run!

Safe!

[cheering]

- Time, Lou!
- Time!

Here we go.

Listen to me, Evan Trufant.

[instrumental music]

When I was a kid I watched
my dad face down mob goons

who wanted a piece
of this operation.

I saw my mom throw blankets over
Molotov's on the front porch,

while my dad worked the shotgun.

You think I'm going to wilt for
some hand sanitizing eco-eel?

I still got that shotgun.

[cheering]

Well then, your cards
appear to be

a refusal to let me
test your soil,

a few friends who drive garbage
trucks and an antique shotgun.

That's a pretty thin hand,

especially considering
the size of the pot.

I mean, we are talking about
your livelihood here

and the multi-million dollar
business that your father

and your uncle started
from nothing.

And not to mention the future
of your children.

I mean, how are they going to
afford going to junkyard school?

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Foul ball!

[instrumental music]

Now, for my cards.

I already tested your soil.

The mercury concentrations
were distressing to the Mayor

and the several City Councilmen

with whom I discussed them
this morning.

We had a few bagels, croissants.

I don't know if I'd call them
friends yet,

but we're getting there,
we're working on it.

This is a letter from the City,

very official looking
you'll notice the seal,

where it explains their
new permitting process

for the handling of
hazardous waste.

Uh, I wouldn't even suggest
looking at number three,

it's brutal, ooh.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Strike! 0 and 2.

[instrumental music]

This, these are minutes
from the City Council meeting

held two months ago,
you remember.

Oh no, you don't,
you weren't there.

I was there and I remember that
they expanded the definition

of hazardous waste material to
qualify for Federal Subsidies.

This may bring back
a pleasant memory,

this is a form you filled out

applying for that hazardous
waste subsidy

after the definition had
been expanded,

thereby implicitly agreeing
to that expansion.

[instrumental music]

[cheering]

And this, this is fun.

This, ha, you're going to need
a bigger desk.

You've now been served.

Wrongful death suit.

That's rough, huh?

Yeah, you can expect the anger
and the picketing to start,

oh, next week, when these
horrible tragedies

are made public.

[instrumental music]

[cheering]

Let's see your mama throw
blankets on these Molotov's.

[ping of bat striking ball]

[instrumental music]

This is ridiculous.

We just crush, we bale, we ship.

[instrumental music]

We don't burn, we don't melt,
we don't process.

It doesn't matter, you're done.

[instrumental music]

Check... mate, rape and pillage.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Get out.

Just get out.

Uh, oh, oh.
You see, I'm not done.

[instrumental music]

Jeff, get us out of this mess.

[instrumental music]

You get two warm-up
pitches, yellow.

Let's go!

[instrumental music]

You want 51 percent ownership
of my company?

You're beaten, John
and you know it.

You fight me on this and I won't
stop raining hell down on you

until six months after
your brother is suing you,

your wife has left you and
you're selling spare organs

for cigarette money.

Cutting me in as
a majority owner

is the only way you get
to keep anything.

I'm offering to end the game
early, John, mercy rule.

Whoa, oh, oh, wait...
roll this, roll this.

We can always add an assault
charge to the list, John.

You have one week.

Try everything, flail around,

get through all the phases
of grief as quickly as possible.

But we can all be winners here.

But some win just a little bit
more than others, don't they?

Mercy rule, John.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

You know when I was a kid
we called it slaughter rule,

this seems more
appropriate somehow.

Yeah.

Oh, don't grow a conscious
on me now.

Before we're done you're gonna
see a lot worse than that.

[loud bang]

Jeff Johnson gets a strikeout
with just three pitches

and another one, Jeff Johnson
gets them swinging!

Honey, you did good.

Jeff's fastball is unreal.

He's probably throwing like 70.

It's true.

Did you know he could
throw like that, Cody?

Three up and three down.

Jeff Johnson gets his third
strikeout in as many batters

and leaves the winning run
stranded on third.

- Ice cream, Cody?
- No.

Honey, your whole team's
going to be there.

I thought it was a great game,
you even got on base.

Cody, Jeff's your friend,
you should be happy for him.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Listen Cody, I'm not saying
that Jeff's better than you,

that he's even...

[instrumental music]

[loud crash]

Whoa.

[instrumental music]

It's not okay.

[instrumental music]

[machinery sounds]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

What's up, boss?

[instrumental music]

Scrap it.

What?!

I said, scrap it!

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

You didn't actually want
Jeff to fail though, right?

Because I mean, that would
make you like evil.

You know like,
the bad guy in movies.

I think I should just quit.

Quitter?

The most important position
in every team.

Cody Miller has really excelled
as the quitter, Bob.

So much better than he was
playing as the whiner.

You have to happy for Jeff.

You have to.

[cell phone ringing]

Hello?

John, listen to me.

And you should be grateful too.

Wherever you are right now,

you have 40 minutes
to meet me at Rubio's.

You'd be feeling a lot worse
right now

if it was you who actually
lost the whole game.

Forty minutes!

Or I turn all your t-shirts pink
and I shrink them in the dryer!

You only lost the lead,
Jeff had your back.

Tonight, you are listening
to me.

And after you listen to me,

you're going to do
some talking, okay?

Your brother's bringing pizza
for the kids.

I stink.

You always have.

I'll be there in 30 minutes.

I love you, John.

[instrumental music]

Coach is never gonna
play me again.

[honking]

Uncle Ben is here.

[instrumental music]

- Uncle Ben!
- Hi, Uncle Ben.

[laughter]

I come bearing happiness
with extra cheese.

What's up, man?

Who's your uncle?

Nobody even knew Jeff
could pitch like that

or even that he wanted to.

Speed, control and crazy calm.

Jeff Johnson?

The freckled kid?

Yeah, I knew.

I just didn't really care.

Mmm, you didn't talk
to him after?

No uh, "Good game." or "Nice
arm." or "Thanks for saving

my personal bacon?"

Mmm.

You know where he lives?

Well, yeah, he's my best friend.

"He's my best friend."

You're not acting like it.

All right, that's it.

Let's go, to the truck.

Let me just get my shoes.

No, no, you don't deserve shoes.

Let's go, just get in the car.

Can I get an appetizer
while you wait?

Maybe a mixed a drink?

No thanks, my date
just rolled in.

How about for you,
sir, any drink?

Something dark and bitter.

Because the world
has gone unstable.

Well that's what I said.

Sir, there's no smoking in here.

What? I'm not smoking.

Oh.

Protests will become contagious,

they would cascade.

They would sweep
the middle east.

I wasn't going to smoke it.

Well, of course not.

It's just a cool look
behind your ear.

[instrumental music]

I want that.

I want your hand...
and then your eyes.

And... this is the
moment of truth, Bob.

[knocking]

Cody Miller at the plate.

- Hey, can I talk to you?
- Yeah.

John, you're battling something

and you need to tell me
what it is.

It's not optional.

Right now I have something
more important

for you to think about.

- I doubt it.
- Cody.

I need you to talk to his coach.

I'm all for tough love, right,
but this has gone too far.

Okay, and it's against
the rules.

Look, let me show you this.

You sure you don't
want to come in?

Nah, I'm good.

I just wanted to say
nice job today.

Good game.

So you want me to get
Cody's coach suspended?

No. I just want you
to talk to him.

Okay, he's the best
player out there

and he's getting humiliated.

My dad's been working me a ton.

He talked to the coach,

I knew I was going to get
my chance sometime.

He pitched today, John.

I so wish you could
have been there.

He faced one batter who
drove in the tying runs

and he got pulled.

Maddie.

And Jeff Mitchell goes in,
three straight strikeouts.

You're really good.

Thanks, but you're way better.

You saved my sorry
Miller and bacon...

Sorry Miller, I'm...

I'm bacon.

Something Pops used to say
to us all the time.

"I gotta tell you, sorry Miller,
I'm bacon."

I like it.

I know I should be happy
for Jeff, he is such a nice kid,

but the whole time
I'm just sitting there

and I'm feeling so sick
in my stomach for Cody.

Maddie.

He's so good at the plate,
he's so good in the field,

it just doesn't make sense.

I feel like the coach
hates him or something

and we don't even know why.

Maddie, I ruined everything.

- By "everything" you mean?
- I mean, everything.

Hey guys, are we ready to
take a look at some menus?

Uh, no thank you.

Of course, you are.

Here's one for you
and one for you.

All right, today's specials.

Today we have a hand caught
grilled salmon on a bed of...

Go away.

What's her name?

What?

What's her name?

No, Maddie, stop it.

No.

So not everything?

I almost lost that game.

Hey Cody, you sure you
don't want to come in?

Nah, I'm good.

Uncle Ben's going to be
taking me back, so...

Well, say, "Hi" to your
parents for me.

Got it.

- Bye Jeff.
- Bye.

And Cody Miller
rounds the bases,

his eye on bacon intact
and untanned.

Uh, you'll get the hang of it.

You're talking about losing
money, John, "money" not health.

Not children, not love, not me.

Not my pride in you.

I'm talking about losing
everything my father built.

No, you are what your
father built, you.

A husband and a father
that you are.

Bea and Cody are
your father's legacy,

not someplace where
you smash metal.

John... John, your father
came here with nothing.

No family, no parents, no money.

And if we have to start over,
which I doubt we will,

we're not starting from zero.

We'll have you
and you'll have us

and we will have
all the toughness

and all the faith and all the...

What did your dad call that?

Cussidness.

And all the cussidness
that he taught us.

- And Ben.
- And Ben.

[laughter]

Crush us up and send us
to the mill,

all you're getting back
is new steel.

Maddie, I wish there
was some way I...

there were better words for me
to tell you how much I love you.

You're like rain
after days of heat.

A flood.

And that first smell
of a big parking lot.

A-plus for trying...

[laughter]

Keep working with
your hands, huh?

No, you could be a hand model.

Hey, you want to get
out of here?

Have dinner with the kids?

Come on.

Hey guys, I brought
you your drink,

it's not necessary dark
or bitter, but it's delicious.

- Uh no, we've got to go.
- Oh.

You've got something
in your hair.

There we go, got it.

Okay, well you guys have
a great night

and we hope to see you soon.

All right.

That's a much better place
for it.

I'm a big tipper.

Hey, that's our pizza!

Hey guys, how's it going?

[laughter]

Ben, how much sugar did you
give them?

They're not my kids,
so I really don't care.

[laughter]

I don't know, we took care
of some business, right?

Yeah, he took me to see Jeff.

Hey dad, I got to pitch today.

- Yeah?
- Yeah, I stunk.

Yeah, stunk like a skunk.

Hey Cody, I'm so sorry I
couldn't see your game today,

buddy.

Mom told me you
threw hard, though?

And she asked me
to talk to your coach

about you getting
some more playtime,

so I was just about to call him.

No, no, no, no don't, please.

It would make everything worse.

I already talked to him.

Really, you already talked
to your coach?

I know what I need to do.
Well, sort of.

At least just give me a try.

Just please don't talk to him.

Let's go inside and have
some sundaes.

Come on.

Yeah, that sounds great.

Love it.

I haven't had some
in a long time.

Hey, hey man.

Um, so what's the news, bro?

I mean, you told me not to
worry and I haven't, so.

Yeah. Um, well...

- Want one?
- Thank you.

You're welcome.

Whoa. Settle down, Bea.

Get some off of the top.

Off of this?

Okay guys, I'll cut some
bananas, okay?

This doesn't even make sense.
Why do you want...?

Uh, you know with the...

Yeah?

Trying to take down
all the scrappers

and the recyclers
up and down the city.

- Right.
- And the State.

Are you okay, Mom?

Yeah. Here.

Thanks.

What do you want me
to use this for?

I filled out the application
and I sent it in.

You told me not to do it
and I did it.

[voices outside]

to deal with and you're right.

- You sent it in?
- I sent it in.

You gave in?

You didn't listen to
what I had to say.

[voices outside]

This is Bea's, obviously.

- Oh!
- You're right, I'm sorry.

I made a mistake.

Yeah, you did make a mistake,
the biggest mistake!

[voices outside]

I didn't think this was
going to be a problem.

Yes, you should have
listened to me!

It's good.

What!

Oh! You've got to be kidding me.

I know.

I told you exactly, this is
what's going to happen

and that's what happened!

Calm down, I don't want
Maddie coming out here

and you're going
to freak her out.

Now, let's just...

I don't, you know what,
she should be freaked out

because she's married
to a freak.

[voices outside]

[sighs]

I definitely want some more
cream on mine, Mom.

Got to talk to Maddie
about this whole thing

and I got to explain to her
what happened.

Okay, all right, here we go.

I need you more than ever.

I need you to stand with me

and I need you to help me
figure this out.

You know more about this
than I do.

[laughter]

I love you, Bea.

♪ ...but you look up

♪ Or there'd be nothing
left to say. ♪

♪ In a strange way
I'm already there ♪

[instrumental music]

♪ But in a strange way...

Hey guys, what are we doing?

Sundaes, oh, look at this.

Ooh, got one for me?

I sure do.

I'm going in. I'm going in.

[laughter]

- Aww, I like that.
- Ah, nice, nice.

- You like that?
- Yeah.

Do we have any forks
or any spoons?

Here we go, they're
right down here.

[instrumental music]

Mom is on her way.

Bea, I want you to glue
yourself in one spot

on those bleachers
until she gets there.

And make sure Cody can see you.

Okay Cody, I want you
to kill it, baby!

Come on, whatever position
you get, you kill it!

Got it.

I'll be the best benchie
I can be.

Not what I meant.
All right, go get them!

Big game today, Cody Miller.

How do you feel?

Sick.

Sick like a champion
or sick like a dog?

You can throw up in your hat
if you need to.

Hey Babe, it's me, just
dropped off the kids,

I'm heading to City Hall,
Ben's going to meet me there.

Yeah, there's got to be
someone there who can

clear this whole thing up.

Yeah, no problem, I got this.

Yeah, I'm not leaving until
I find somebody.

Okay, love you. Bye.

Whew, let's do this.

Hey Cody, still want to pitch?

If you need me to,
but Jeff is better.

[spits]

♪ ...you could never hide
the sun that's deep inside ♪

♪ see, I love your passion,
dear ♪

♪ makes it all so clear

♪ with laughter comes the tear ♪

♪ I'll always hold on

♪ you know you'll miss me
when I'm gone ♪

♪ so won't you follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ won't you follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ won't you follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ won't you follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ there's no distance
in between ♪

♪ darling, you and me make
this thing complete. ♪

♪ We go drifting out to sea,
making enemies ♪

♪ your heart is all I need,
follow me... ♪

Cody, play shortstop.

Okay.

Go, Cody!

Go get 'em, now! (Clapping)

All right look, look these
are the names we got to,

people we got to talk to, okay?

Right.

- You got Parker?
- I got Parker.

Parker.

No, it's not Parker.

Okay, it's not Parker.
We own a business.

Excuse me, sir.

Sir, can I have a moment
of your time?

No, he was going
to the bathroom.

- Okay.
- Hey, Bill!

Bill, it's me.

- Long time, no...
- Sir!

Ma'am, excuse me,
can I have your...

♪ follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ won't you follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ follow me...
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa ♪

♪ won't you follow me ♪

Oh man. That was awful!

My feet are...

Is it weird to go barefoot?

Please, please just,
that'll be great.

Really, you're doing this?

Yeah, I'm doing this.

You have the worst feet
ever of anyone I've ever seen.

You're like a Hobbit.

It's like your toenails,
they're like talons.

Is that how you fish?

You just swoop over a lake
and "baaak,"

and just grab it with your feet?

Ben, shut up. (Laughs)

[scoffs]

Dad would be shaking his head
at us right now, you know?

Like that time we tried to sell
pinecones, remember that?

"Just another 2-for-1
moron day."

"And the first moron's free."
(laughs)

You know, the truth is
he wasn't always

such a genius himself.

Remember when he tried

to break into the ice cream
truck business?

(laughs) The devil truck!

With the horns

and the tail blowing propane
fire from the grill?

Now, now that was hazardous.

Which reminds me of something.

Dad gave you his old car.

You know, he always said
he was going to fix it,

but I think we saw him
drive it maybe once.

I crushed it, Ben.

[sighs]

I shouldn't have, but I did.

I was just tired of hanging on
to dead stuff.

I've been really stupid lately.

I'm really going to regret
doing that one.

Actually I'm thrilled.

The way I see it, you renounced
claim to ownership.

The car's now mine. (Laughs)

What?

Yeah, Raoul thought you'd
regret it, so he held off.

- You serious?
- Uh huh.

Then I showed up to take it
out of your hands.

- Oh come on.
- Oh yeah, baby.

Ooh, ooh, ooh.

Councilwoman Ryan.

If I could have just a minute.

Uh, blisters.

Call me Sadie.

Councilwoman, Sadie,
I would really appreciate it

if the City Council would
reconsider...

Save it.

I know what I think
and you'd like it,

but you need a majority
of the Council to say no

to some pretty free looking
money

just because you lost to someone
that wasn't playing fair.

And the Council cares about fair

about as much as a one-girl
prom committee.

What do I do?

They're not going to like it,

but I can get you 15 minutes

in the meeting tomorrow night,

even if I have to hold hostages.

How you spend you time
is up to you.

Wear shoes.

Hey, that's something, right?

Something.

Nah, we're dead.

We should look into
selling ice cream.

That's it for today, fellas.

Ooop, and get all your cans
and bottles for the drive

into Dante's scrap by the end
of next week, all right?

And we'll cut those entry fees
way down.

I mean, we are going to
the playoffs, aren't we?

All: Yeah!

Let's go, sweethearts!

We're in second place,

but by this time tomorrow,
we could be in...

All: First place!

Who wants to be in
first place, right?

Heading into the playoffs? What?

- Huh?
- What?

You know what?

Forget everything I told you
all season, all right?

Get scared,

fight with each other,
skateboard, break your wrist!

Give up early and often!
(laughter)

All right, come on,
come on, bring it in!

Bring it in! (Laughter)

Come on, get it in there.

On three. One, two, three!

All: Pirates!

[instrumental music]

Dad, how'd it go?

Hey. Oh, I hate wearing a suit.

Hey, how'd your game go?

Mom told me you played
really hard.

Yeah, but not great.
Although I did have fun.

Can you make it tomorrow?

Tomorrow?

Yeah, we're playing
the number one team.

Haven't even lost, haven't
even come close.

Jeff says he's pretty sure
that they're cheating

and playing 14 year olds though.

I'm pretty sure they're
not doing that.

One pitcher has a mustache
and a tattoo.

Cody look, I'm gonna try
my best, but buddy,

I got so much stuff I just
have to finish tomorrow.

I'll do my best, okay?

You know, if it'll make you
feel any better,

I can talk to your mom about
taking you down there

to get a tattoo in the morning.

- Funny.
- No, no, no, I'm serious.

I'm thinking it could be
kind of cool.

You know, like a pretty
little butterfly right here

behind the ear... Ohh!

Oh, you want to fight, huh?

All right, buddy, come here,
buddy.

[laughter]

[instrumental music]

- John?
- Mmm.

- Breakfast.
- Mmm.

Hot coffee.

[instrumental music]

♪ I tend to be busier
than I should be ♪

♪ and I tend to think the sun
is gonna wait for me. ♪

♪ Sometimes I forget
and take for granted ♪

♪ that it's a beautiful life
we live. ♪

♪ I don't want to miss
the moments like this. ♪

♪ This is a beautiful life
you give. ♪

♪ You're the reason for every
good thing, every heartbeat, ♪

♪ every day we get to breathe. ♪

♪ You're the reason
for anything that lasts ♪

♪ every second chance,
every laugh ♪

♪ Life is so sweet

♪ You're the reason for every
good thing, every good thing. ♪

♪ Every good thing,
every good thing. ♪

♪ You're the reason for every
good thing, every good thing. ♪

♪ Every good thing,
every good thing. ♪

♪ There will be days that give
me more than I can take, ♪

♪ but I know that you always
make beauty from my heartache. ♪

♪ Don't want to forget
or take for granted. ♪

♪ Yeah, it's a beautiful life
we live. ♪

♪ I'm not going to miss
the moments like this... ♪

Ah, that was really good.

- Thanks, Mom.
- Thanks, Mom.

Thanks, Dad.

You know why Pops
loved baseball?

Everyone's on a team,

but everyone faces
the pitcher alone.

Every player in that lineup
walks to the plate

like a champion of an army

with the whole team
heaped up in his shoulders

betting on his bat.

And then you do your best.

You take your swings

but the rest is
out of your control.

The pitch, the wind, the lumps
in the grass and the dirt,

the speed of the outfielders,
the placement of the sun,

the strength of some
other boy's arm.

That's all for Providence
to sort out.

Pops said this to me
before every game.

Remember this, Cody.

Remember it for always,
so you can say it to your son,

even though he'll be
fat and slow.

(chuckling) What?

Cody, you stand in there.

You have eyes, so see.

You have hands to hold
that bat, so swing.

You have legs, so use them
like you just got them.

And when you drop a piddler
off the end of that bat,

scamper like a greyhound

and pray to the Lord God
Almighty

that some kid kicks a heel
and eats dirt.

Or, as I like to say, Cody,

just rip liners into the gaps
in the outfield.

Yes, sir!

All right, let's get
to the park!

I'm ready to warm some bleachers

with my Miller-hind bacon.

You're coming?

Yeah, I'm coming.

Yeah, I might have to leave
in the middle

or maybe the beginning
or maybe the end.

Ben's going to keep me posted.

- Are you sure?
- Yeah, I'm sure.

Yeah, I'm as ready as I'm
ever going to be.

Swing batter, batter.

Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944.

Pops said some boys
were so scared,

they couldn't even move
when the doors opened

to let the soldiers pour out.

The guns up on the cliffs,
the shells,

the hissing bullets
too fast to see,

they just froze and that's
what killed them.

He said he just wanted
to shut his eyes and die,

but he didn't.

Two of his friends did, though.

You ever been in a fight
you shouldn't win?

Faced a bully too big
and too strong?

Know what it feels like to
just want to shut your eyes?

[war sounds]

I do... now.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

All right, fellas, don't worry
about this sorry convict

on the mound.

If you can see the ball,
you can hit the ball.

Get the bat off your shoulder,
choke up if you have to.

Don't try to kill it.

Just put metal to leather.

Mmm?

We're the Pirates! Ha ha!

We are the Pirates!
We are the Pirates!

The Pirate king is here!
The Pirate king is here!

We are the Pirates!

Let's play ball!

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Get it!

[instrumental music]

Go, go, faster, go!

[instrumental music]

Come on, now!

[instrumental music]

That's it!

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Be awake!

[instrumental music]

Come on!

And, and uh, and in conclusion,
summation, if you will,

in reference to the city
skate parks with wifi enabled,

that we've yet to break
ground on.

I would like it to be duly noted
as a matter of public opinion.

[text chime]

[cheering]

I'm all done. I'm staying here.

I'll get on the road
in about 15 minutes.

[instrumental music]

Down by one, mmm,
top of the 6th.

Everybody bats!

That's how we get out of this.

Coach, rally caps?

[spits]

Rally caps, it is!

Short hat!

[crowd cheering]

Guys, guys, guys, rally caps!

Rally caps!

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

Pop.

[instrumental music]

[bat crack]

[footsteps]

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

Safe!

[cheering]

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's
life for me!

[cheering]

Strike three, you're out!

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

Come on, Jeff.

Come on, Jeff, bring me home.

[instrumental music]

[bat cracks]

Come on, Code, you got this.

[cheering]

[pop]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[talking quietly]

[instrumental music]

Wow! (Laughs)

[shouting]

[cheering]

Okay.

[cheering]

We're okay.

[cheering]

Yeah, way to go!

[cheering]

[shouting]

[instrumental music]

Jeff, you're on the mound.

Cody, take first for him.
Bell, you trust Cody.

Remember, three more outs...

[instrumental music]

No more runs...

[instrumental music]

And you guys are number one.

[bat cracks]

[instrumental music]

Be awake, guys!

[instrumental music]

Safe!

[instrumental music]

No, no, no! (Shouting)

[clapping]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Way to go, guys.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

It's not over, Jeff,
you got this.

[bat cracks]

[instrumental music]

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Triple play.

An honest to goodness
triple play.

[background conversations]

That's what I'm talking about.

Together everyone achieves more,
the word team.

Beautiful.

Mad props to you, Cody.
Guys, huh?

How good was he? (Applause)

All right, that's what I mean.

All right, well I'll send out
the playoff schedules

when I get it and we'll
take it from there.

Hey, your kid's a top player.

Now I can see where he gets it.

Just keep fighting, man.

Who's that?

(text chime)
Somebody I thought I hated.

I want you to become baseball.

Can you guys do that for me?
Come on!

And thanks, Mr. Miller please,
for the can drive.

Everybody clap your hands!

[Rhythmic clapping]

Ho ho! (Laughs)

And remember I was talking
about skateboarding,

breaking your wrists,
all that stuff?

You know, do not do that,
please.

Hey Coach, Coach, excuse me.

I know this is weird

and everyone wants to get home,

but if anyone's willing to
follow me down to City Hall

for just a 15 minute meeting,

I'm willing to buy pizza
for everyone.

[cheering]

And ice cream and soda.
(louder cheering)

All right, but it's got to
be right now.

Okay, saddle up, guys.

Let's do it, come on!

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

At this time, John Miller,
CEO of Dante Scrapyards Inc.,

would like to address
the Council.

Mr. Miller?

[instrumental music]

Mr. Miller?

Is my voice, my, my voice
okay, here?

Um, just an aside,

just something I've been
thinking about,

a lot of cameras around
this town.

Going through red lights
and stuff,

is that really necessary?

You know, just food for thought,
I'm not blaming you.

Is this America or Russia?

Is this like a laminate?

That's a beautiful floor.

You went ahead and you
just put the whole floor

on the wall there too.

That's like a racquetball court.

And I want to know
what we can do as a city

to get back on
the gold standard.

Start local, wheew, unafraid.

I'm not afraid.

I have a gun.

It is not a real, it's a musket,

it's an old antique musket
that my grandpa gave me.

Yes, it's not very effective

with people who break
into the house,

but you break in, I'm gonna
clean that puppy out.

I'm a, it's gonna rock and roll.

You better be out by,
in about five minutes

or I'm gonna rain
a pellet down on you.

[door opens]

Come on, everybody come in
and sit here.

Excuse us, this meeting's
in session.

Please find your seats
quickly and quietly.

Everybody put your stuff down.

Everybody quickly. I'm so sorry.

Apology, just give us a minute.

Everybody sit down
and take a seat.

Everybody quickly
just have a seat.

Do your thing, okay?

All right.

Ahem.

Good afternoon, Council members.

Thank you very much
for your time.

I'm John Miller and I am here
to talk with you today

about hazardous waste and about
these young, dangerous criminals

that you now see before you
in this room.

I don't know whether
you realize it

but they have been breaking
the law for years now.

They have been handling
hazardous waste without permits,

without EPO regulations

and without government
oversight.

Furthermore, they've
been selling it

to pay for baseball uniforms
and league entry fees.

Sir, sir, don't touch that!

Are you licensed?

Do you have a permit?

Have you been trained?

Please put the bottle up
on the counter.

Please, right there, yes.

And hands off.

Psht.

Don't risk it, bro.

[instrumental music]

Don't you know that
a plastic bottle

is extremely hazardous
and requires...

Don't touch it!

Requires layers and layers
of intrusive

and extremely expensive
bureaucracy

before they can be handled.

Oooh.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Who am I kidding?

I understand what this is
about, I get it.

I'm a business owner.

You want to bully scrappers
and recyclers

with trumped up fines
and permits

and dummy regulations
that will apply

not just to me and my business

but to every school kid
can drive across the state,

until only you are allowed
to run our businesses.

And all of our profits are
funneled into your budgets.

I get it, that's what
this is about.

You know it and I know it.

Theft by regulation.

So do it, steal from me
and from my business.

Go ahead, but you will
still end up

with the short end of the stick

because you're the ones
stuck being you.

Sir, I would rather live
my life poor and robbed

than as a swollen
little city spider

draining anything small enough
for me to tangle up and kill.

He's right.

If you want to come after me
and my business, do it.

And I will fight you.

I will fight you until I drop.

I will do it for my family
and I will do it for that team.

And you'll probably win.

And the grand prize is what?

A few bucks and sucking
as humans.

Is it worth it?

Mr. Miller, I believe
this would be

a wonderful opportunity
to drop the microphone.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Well, that's why I show up
to these things.

[instrumental music]

And here we see Cody
in his native habitat.

For now he basks in the sun
saving his strength,

chin freshly marked from battle.

Shorts, short, but not
short enough.

He will soon go into the wild
ready to find a mate.

In your face!

[instrumental music]

Hey Maddie, can you watch
these steaks for a second?

[instrumental music]

Oh no.

No, you didn't.

Oh no, no.

You didn't?

Really, you would take
from a family member?

I would.

There is no shame.
You gave it up.

You know and it was great.

I'd do it again, in a heartbeat.

But I also give, as in
a birthday gift for my niece.

Here we go.

No, no, no, you're not
giving me a dog.

I am. Here you go.

No, no, no. No, absolutely not.

Why, look at it.

Coo, coo, coo.

No, this is on you.
Bring it in here.

Once Maddie kills you,
then I get the car back.

- Come on.
- I'm not afraid of Maddie.

Are you afraid of Maddie?

For his birthday, we'll get him
a pooper-scooper.

Pops isn't here anymore.

He's got better places to be.

But the family he built
is still here.

Mom, keeping us from
all flying apart,

making sure we stick together,

never forgetting
the important things.

My dad, trying to be
strong enough

to hold our whole world up
by himself,

learning that he can't.

Uncle Ben and Bea,

making sure no one stops
laughing for too long.

And me, trying hard,
being stupid and learning.

One more thing Pops
used to say to me,

"Cody, this life ain't perfect,
but it's yours.

Loving it is the best way
of living it."

Didn't really know what
that one meant...

but I'm starting to.

♪ Morning has spoken,
no, it won't be our last. ♪

♪ And as the light wakes
the city ♪

♪ we'll stand tall
and raise our glass. ♪

♪ We don't let go of hope
or let go of our dreams, no. ♪

[Instrumental music]

♪ All is forgotten and defeat
won't give us the past. ♪

♪ Oh show me the memories,
for God sakes, ♪

♪ let's make this last
but I won't let go, though. ♪

♪ Don't let go of your dreams.

♪ No, no, no.

♪ Hold on hope and
if the world let's go, ♪

♪ I say, hold on hope.

♪ And I will carry you.

♪ I will carry you home. ♪

You'll testify in court?

Yeah, I will.

♪ These words we have spoken
I swear the won't be our last. ♪

♪ Together escaping the shackles
of our past. ♪

♪ We won't give up on hope.

♪ We won't give up
our dreams. ♪♪

No, no, no, I just need someone
for two weeks.

Yeah, no, my cameraman's
missing, he's MIA,

I don't know where he is.

Oh, you know what, he did
complain about his appendix.

Yeah, I think it was
his diet, though.

He ate a lot of gluten.

No the play was fantastic.

I got front row seats.

Yeah, City Council
gave them to me.

The play was a little talky,
but you know...

Hey so listen, tell me
about Costa Rica,

I have got to get down there.

I've been wearing this suit
too long, I need to tan.

Yeah, oh.

[laughter]

Not that I care, but is
that even legal?

Really?

[Police sirens]

Wait, hold on one sec.

[police sirens]

[tires screeching]

[police radio]

[knocking on door]

[instrumental music]

♪ No, we won't give up
on hope. ♪

♪ No, no, no.

♪ Don't let go hope and don't
let go of your dreams. ♪

♪ No, no, no, no.

♪ Hold on hope and if the world
lets go, I say hold on hope. ♪

♪ And I will carry you.

♪ I will carry you home.

♪ Whoa. ♪

Man, I ate some licorice
last night.

Who does that, right?

Eat a licorice.

Yo, yo, yo, yo!

Take it easy there.

All right.

Licorice and beans, Heinz beans.

Who opens a can of Heinz beans
in the middle of the night,

after eating licorice?

Weird, you know, so weird.

One thing I know kids,
after the age of 45

no more licorice, buddy.

Not good for you...
together with the beans.

Do you have any idea of what
I went through this morning?

Not good.

Do me a favor, kids,

don't tell your parents anything
about this, all right?

Otherwise you won't play.

[spits] Licorice.