A Little Inside (1999) - full transcript
A professional baseball player tries to single-handedly raise his young daughter while pursuing his own dreams.
(slow pleasant guitar music)
- [Voiceover] This
ball has a chance.
It's out of here.
Home run, Eddie Mills.
(cheers and applause)
The Clippers, with
the help of Mills'
league-leading 21st homer,
hold on to beat the
Mud Hens five to three.
There's a hard hit ground ball
down the third base line.
Diving grab by Mills.
From his knees, he
throws across the bag
and gets Harris by the slide.
What a play by Eddie Mills.
(cheers and applause)
Some sad news tonight
out of Cooper Stadium.
After last week's tragedy,
Clippers star third baseman,
Eddie Mills has
left the team and
there is no word
on whether he will
rejoin the Clippers at
any time this season.
- [Eddie] Three times two.
- Six.
- Three times four.
- You already asked me that one.
- Well, then what's the answer?
- Ouch.
- Sorry.
Three times four?
Four, three times.
- I just told you.
- Ten, nine, eight, seven.
Eat your lunch.
- You don't need to count, Dad.
- Six, five, four.
- Twelve. Three
times four is twelve.
- That is correct.
Very good.
Three, three times.
- I'm going to miss the bus.
- Okay, all right.
Bye, love you.
- Bye.
- Oh, could you tell
me what tonight is?
- My night.
- You're gonna hit
it out of the park.
- [Coach Steve] What
are we gonna do?
- [Kids] Win.
- [Coach Steve] What's that?
- [Kids] Win.
- [Coach SteveI can't hear you.
- [Kids] Win.
- [Coach Steve] All right. Yeah.
Right here, Abby.
All right.
- Abby?
Hey, guys, Steve.
Okay, Abs, here's the deal.
He's working both
sides of the plate.
Shoulders down,
nice and relaxed.
Power's gonna come from
your back foot, okay?
Short, compact swing.
Remember--
- Don't take my
eye off the ball.
- [Coach Steve] You're up, Abby.
- Go get 'em.
- [Coach Steve] Come
on. You can do it.
You can do it.
We really need your hit, Abby.
Come on.
Keep your eye on the ball.
- [Umpire] Strike.
- [Eddie] Let's go, Abby.
- [Coach Steve] Come on, Abby.
- [Umpire] Strike two.
(applause)
- [Eddie] You can do it, Abby.
- [Umpire] Strike
three. You're out.
- You were great out
there today, honey.
- I struck out twice, Dad.
- Yeah, but Babe
Ruth struck out--
- I'm not Babe Ruth.
I strike out all the time.
- Don't you remember?
Babe said you gotta
start from the bottom.
- No.
He wasn't talking about me.
I can't hit at all.
They lose because of me.
- You tagged Matt
Reed out at second.
- Maybe I shouldn't
play baseball.
- Are you kidding?
You've already got
the Mills swing.
- I want to try ballet, Dad.
Krista does ballet.
- What?
- Ballet. I want to try it.
It looks fun.
- Fun?
Baseball's fun.
- Is that your truck out there?
- Yep.
- She needs some work.
It looks like your
base is caving.
I'm Matt.
I came from Sammy's
garage off Route 33.
You know it?
- Nope.
- Yeah.
I was like second
guy up at Sammy's.
I needed a change, though.
Man.
It really is you.
I mean, the guys at Sammy's said
you were working here,
I thought they were
screwing with me.
I mean, I did not believe them.
- Excuse me.
- I thought maybe a
different Eddie Mills.
Wait til I tell my old man.
He's gonna want to
bring me to work.
Every night at dinner,
we got an Eddie Mills update.
Man.
I was only in junior high.
Who would have
thought that we'd be
working at a garage together?
- [Abby] Ouch. That hurts, Dad.
- I'm sorry.
Look, look at her hair.
Mine doesn't look like this.
- Yes it does.
It does.
Actually, if you
want my opinion,
I think it looks better.
- Dad, I look dumb.
Make it right.
- All right.
Hold on a second here.
- Everyone is gonna
have their hair braided.
- So are you, so are you.
Just a second.
Why can't you just
put on a baseball cap?
Why?
- Because I'm going to
ballet, not baseball.
Do you get it?
Ballet.
- Abby?
Hey, Steve.
Let me give you a hand here,
help you load up.
- What's going on?
- Well, you know,
this whole ballet
thing with Abby?
She's never gonna like it.
- I think probably all
little girls like ballet.
- No, they don't.
Not really.
Besides, baseball's
in Abby's blood.
- Abby quit baseball.
- She doesn't have
the mechanics yet
to hit the ball consistently,
but if we can encourage
her to keep her head down,
right on top of the ball,
I think we got a
player on our hands.
What do you think?
- I think that Abby
is the only girl
on a team of seven and
eight year old boys
who want to win
the championship.
Abby's never gotten a hit, Ed.
Ever.
- She bunted.
Against Smart Mart.
- Look, Ed.
I'm gonna be honest here, okay?
Those boys want to
win and so do I.
Abby doesn't have
what you had and
I think it's great that
she's trying something else.
I'm sorry.
- Your boy looked
pretty good out there.
I like what you've
done with his arm.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Did you see that
curve starting?
It was like right
down the middle.
- Yeah.
We know baseball.
- All right, look.
I can take it from here, man.
Thank you for your help.
(classical piano music)
- Let's go home.
- It wasn't what
you thought, huh?
- Yeah, it's hard.
We learned to spot,
which is like staring
at the same place
and then when you turn around,
you have to find the
same exact place again.
Krista was really good at it.
I got a little dizzy though.
- Well, you wouldn't have known
unless you tried, right?
- Yeah.
I have to learn to spot
before the recital.
There's a recital
and everything,
with costumes.
- I hope you remembered to bring
your Yankee hat home.
- It's in my bag.
They said I wasn't allowed
to wear it during class.
- Really.
(knocking)
- Ed.
You're eating late.
Lucky for you, I just
went to the store.
Eggs or milk?
- I borrowed one egg, one time.
Okay, two maybe.
- A cup of milk last week.
I'm glad to help.
- You working late?
- Yes, I'm filling
all my clients' orders
for those baskets.
Summer's just around the corner.
Work, work, work.
Ed, did you want those organizer
shelves for your porch?
They're so easy, you
just hook them on.
- I told you, Nancy.
I don't need your shelves.
- You can see your
porch from the street.
- Abby is starting
ballet lessons,
just a couple and I thought--
- Ballet?
Oh, my gosh.
That's a fantastic idea.
Now, Ed, do you have all
the clothes she needs?
Because she'll need the leotards
and the tights and the slippers.
- I have all the clothes
and the slippers.
I was wondering if
you could take her
for a lesson or two.
I can pick her up.
- What happened to
the baseball thing?
- She's taking a little break,
a little breather.
The place is on--
- A breather?
- Yes, Nancy.
Even the pros sometimes take
short breaks from baseball.
The dance place is
on Pierson and Fifth,
Tuesday and Thursday.
She'll have her clothes
with her at school.
If you could pick her
up at three o'clock--?
- No problem.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
are perfect for me.
- Thank you.
Oh, could you make sure
she has her seat belt on?
She knows,
but make sure.
- Everybody wears a
seat belt in my car.
Are you sure you don't want
those organizer shelves?
(dog barking)
- Good morning, guys.
- [Abby] Hey.
- Do you still play?
- No.
- You know, I hear Ryan
McGillian is closing in
on your home run record.
He already beat your RBI record.
Did you know that?
- No.
- Yeah, he has
quite a following.
I mean, they're
comparing him to you,
which is absurd.
I mean, he's great,
you know, but you ... ?
You getting with it?
Yeah, he'll be called
up anytime now.
The Yankees are looking
at several of the guys.
The Clippers are doing real
well this year, you know?
They're the best farm
team in the northeast.
What about an
after-work league, Ed?
I mean, you've still got
some good years in you.
You ever think about
joining one of those?
- Hey.
- Hey.
- What are you doing?
- Waiting for you to get home.
Two for one, plus popcorn.
- Let me see?
- I pick The Parent Trap again.
You can pick the other one.
- Cool by me.
How was school?
- Good.
Krista asked me to
spend the night tonight.
- That was nice of her.
Are you hungry?
- Her mom said okay already.
- You want to sleep there?
All night?
- Dad, it's a sleepover.
- When do you come home?
- In the morning.
I think.
- Oh.
Okay.
- I'll be careful, Dad.
- Okay.
- I'll be careful.
- [Eddie] You got
your toothbrush?
Your clothes for
tomorrow, right?
- [Abby] Yes, Dad.
- [Eddie] And your
pajamas, right?
- Yes, Dad.
- Okay.
Listen, you can call me anytime.
You can call me anytime, it
doesn't matter, all right?
I'll come pick you up.
We can watch movies late night.
- Krista has bunk beds.
- She does?
- Yeah.
She said I could
sleep on the top one.
I mean, there's like a
ladder and stuff, too.
- Just be careful, okay?
- I will.
- Okay.
- Bye.
(girls giggling)
- Hey, Ed.
Sarah.
- Oh, right. Right.
- Hey, listen,
thank you for this.
- Oh, it's no problem.
We're glad she could come over.
Abby's a really good friend.
Well, better go before the
girls burn the house down.
I'm kidding.
You used to have a
great sense of humor.
I mean, a bit off-color
but you were still funny.
High school?
Mr. Nelson's class,
fourth period?
It was right before baseball.
I think you came
twice the whole year.
- You were in Nelson's class?
- Yeah.
I mean, it's been a while.
I didn't really
run in that crowd.
I was in the back,
over to the side actually.
Behind Robyn.
She was always so nice.
She was always so nice to me.
I'm sorry.
You know, Abby
really has her smile.
Mr. Nelson is still teaching.
Can you imagine?
Still drawing those
sentence diagrams
in the shape of spaceships?
(chuckling)
Well, here's our number.
So, call if you
need anything and
I'll see you tomorrow.
- The bunk beds.
Surely, the top one
has a safety bar?
- Yeah, yeah it does.
- All the way across?
Both sides?
- Yeah.
You know what?
They're not really that
high off the ground anyway.
- Yeah well, you know.
They're off the ground, so ...
- Right, right.
You know, if you don't want her
to sleep in them,
I can always put
them downstairs.
- No, no. It's fine.
If you say it's safe
and she really wants to,
it's not a problem.
Okay.
Listen, you don't
have a pool, do you?
- They won't be out
of my sight, okay?
- [Voiceover] Tonight,
another one for--
Coming down hard, 72 degrees,
we've had less than a
quarter of an inch of rain.
Let me show you
where the rain is.
These storms are not
severe but they are--
In Columbus--
Hey, look out.
I was afraid of this--
(applause and cheers)
(slow guitar music)
- [Abby] Hi, Dad.
- Abby.
- [Abby] I'm gonna
show Krista my room.
- Hi, Krista.
(girls giggling)
How were the bunk beds?
- Teardribble, the Klutzy Cupid.
Now do you remember me?
- You wore the pink hat
with the silver bead thingys.
- That matched my braces.
Yeah, I got braces late.
- Yeah, I remember your story.
- You remember the hat.
- Well, who could
forget the hat?
- Well, klutzy cupid paid off,
so I guess the
mortification was worth it.
You know?
Children's books and stuff?
Surprised?
- No, no.
You were one of the smart girls.
- Yeah. One of the nerdy girls.
- I don't know anything
about baseball.
- What?
Really? Really?
You're kidding, right?
Okay, watch this.
See?
This is my all-time
favorite card.
That is Tino Martinez.
He plays for the New
York Yankees, okay?
- Where the hell have you been?
The owner of the
red Mustang came in.
- I was running late.
- You were supposed to
be here an hour ago.
- Mustang's finished.
Bobby knows that.
- Bobby has his own jobs.
The Mustang was yours.
- And I finished it.
- What? You have
a girlfriend, huh?
Is that it?
You've been sidetracked
these last few weeks.
I just wonder what
you got going,
because it's
affecting your work.
- Affecting my work?
- You're sidetracked.
- This is ridiculous.
Abby left her ballet
clothes at home.
I dropped them by
school, that's it.
Okay? That's it.
- Your girl is taking ballet?
Eddie Mills' girl
is a ballerina?
(laughing)
What?
You practice with her?
Those leaps and spins and shit?
(laughing)
My God. Nobody would believe it.
Old hotshot Eddie Mills,
twirling around and shit.
(laughing)
- There's a new
ding in my truck.
What the hell are you thinking?
- That is not your
truck, all right?
Now, stay off my back.
- I just--
- I'm out of here.
- Where are we going?
You know, my dad was in a
major funk when you quit.
Baseball season
was over for him.
For a lot of people here.
People think you'll come back.
- Try to get it close
to the plate, all right?
- Yellow cheese or white cheese?
- [Abby] Yellow.
- I was thinking we
could spend the day
throwing the ball
around at Pebble Park.
It would be fun.
Get some ice cream after?
- [Abby] Dad, come look.
These are so good.
- I brought you the recipe, Ed,
and I included my easy version
of my lasagna.
These muffins aren't
too difficult.
- Did you ever
have lasagna, Dad?
It's so good.
- Look at that
pretty hair of yours.
It is a rat's nest, though.
It would look so nice braided.
Now, for ballet, you have
your ballet slippers, right?
And you have
leotards and tights,
now do you have--?
- I have one pink leotard.
- Only one?
Oh, that's not going to do.
We'll take you
shopping today and
we'll get you some more, okay?
And I was thinking,
what about one of
those skirts like
that little blonde girl has?
It's so dainty and nice.
Any color you like.
- A purple one?
- Oh, purple would be very nice.
Oh, Ed.
This is a good idea.
Why don't you peel
this orange for her?
You know, fruit is so important.
- Can I go, Dad?
- Yeah, I guess.
If you want to, sure.
- You want something?
A leotard?
(giggling)
Tights? Ballet slippers?
(giggling)
(lawn mower rumbling)
- Okay.
These are all of them.
It's really good.
"Our Family Timeline.
"Choose three pictures that
"describe you and your family.
"First picture, you as a baby.
"Second picture, a current
photo of yourself and
"the third picture, create
a drawing of yourself
"and your family
five years from now."
This is a silly project.
- We should have
started earlier.
- Okay, you start drawing,
I'll go through the pictures.
In five years, that
would make you 12.
You'll be in the seventh grade.
(whistling)
(giggling)
- I loved that ride.
- Me too.
So much fun.
Okay.
- I'm drawing you and me.
Did Mom write that?
- Yeah.
- It's pretty.
- I never do this.
I never write on the
back of pictures.
- We'll remember.
- Matt? Help me pull.
Come on.
- That battery is too
big for this car, Eddie.
- I know.
Help me pull.
- Why would you put a battery
that size in this car?
- I didn't.
- Man. This must
be embarrassing.
I mean, it isn't
a common mistake.
It's a battery.
A battery like that
doesn't fit in a
space like that.
See, Eddie?
You're not a mechanic, are you?
I've been trying to tell you--
- Listen.
The owner of the
car put this in.
Now I gotta get it out.
Help me pull?
Okay, you aren't pulling.
You aren't pulling.
- [Sarah] Hi.
- What? What's wrong?
- Oh, oh nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
I'm sorry to
interrupt your working
but I was just over
at the bakery and
I'm Homeroom Mom this week.
Abby told me which
garage you worked at
and we're ordering costumes
for the girls tonight
and she wanted me to
check with you about--
- Can we ...?
Let's move outside.
Order anything.
- Oh.
Okay, great.
Why are we over here?
- It's quiet.
Order whatever she wants.
Really.
Just as long as it's
not one of those
damn hats with the
silver bead thingies,
I'm fine.
- Wow.
You always succeed
in making me feel
like I still have
braces on my teeth.
- Sarah?
Sarah, I was kidding.
I don't even remember
you with braces.
We never talked in high school.
- No.
We didn't.
You know, I just want Krista
to have a good friend.
Lord knows she needs it.
I'm sure they both need it.
That's why I'm here, okay?
For the girls.
I'll order the ballet costumes.
Sorry for interrupting.
- Sarah.
(telephone ringing)
- Ronnie's.
Yeah.
Eddie? Telefono.
- This is Ed.
- [Sarah] Ed? It's Sarah.
- Sarah, listen.
Is that Abby?
- [Sarah] Yeah.
I just got to school
to pick Krista up
and take her to dance and
Abby wants to go, too.
But, I wanted to
check with you first.
- Well, the Yankee
game's on tonight,
so she'll just
take the bus home.
- [Sarah] She wondered if
you could tape it for her.
- The Yankee game?
The Yankees are
playing the Red Sox.
- [Sarah] She mentioned that.
- Roger Clemens is pitching.
- [Sarah] Ed? Ed?
- I'm here.
- [Sarah] Oh, okay.
This phone just
cuts out sometimes.
- I'll tape it.
- [Sarah] Everything okay, then?
- Yes.
- [Sarah] Great.
Well, listen, I'll
bring her home.
The girls get their
costumes tonight,
so it will be, you
know, a late practice.
Invite your friends
over, you know?
Watch the game, drink some beer.
- [Voiceover] We've
got 'em, Hank.
Tell us again, tonight
at Yankee Stadium.
Roger Clemens enjoying
his first game back.
Of course, he missed
his last start
due to stiffness
in his lower back.
(slow guitar music)
- Hey, Tommy.
- Eddie Mills.
I'll be damned.
It's been a long time, huh?
- [Eddie] I'm ready to
play ball again, Tom.
- [Tommy] You're ready?
The deal was you'd
be back on the field
in six months.
It's been five years, Eddie.
Five years.
I've got a team of boys.
Good athletes.
Fast and young.
- [Eddie] I hold the record.
- [Tommy] Look, this
better not be about
no "lost youth."
Don't waste my time trying to
get those years back, Eddie.
- You asked me for a favor.
- What?
- I went to school
yesterday and I waited.
Miss Kerry told me that
she'd already gone home
with Sarah Parker and Krista.
- She did leave with them.
I forgot.
- You forgot.
I waited.
I was worried.
She got her costume last night.
- Sarah just thought
it would be easier--
- It's just up the street.
It's no big deal
for me to do it and
switching around like that
is confusing for a child.
- It is sort of out of
Sarah's way to drop Abby off.
- Yes, it is.
So I can do that.
It would help Sarah out.
She has her hands
full already with
her own daughter and
zero help from that
no-good ex-husband of hers.
Not that she needs
any help from a man.
(slow guitar music)
(upbeat guitar music)
- Hey.
The team's traveling
to Louisville
and then to Charlotte.
You warm up with them,
just to get your juices flowing.
Then, we might try you
out next home game.
You're hitting, Eddie, but
don't get too comfortable.
Derek's just two weeks
out of high school.
I haven't even
made the rotation.
But, great potential there, hm?
- Oh, boy.
(chuckling)
I love this game.
- Don't move.
- You look pretty.
- What?
- You look really pretty.
I like your lipstick.
- Oh.
Turn around.
(giggling)
(knocking)
- We're back here.
Here he comes.
- What happened to your face?
- How do we look?
Nancy did my makeup
and I did hers.
- I think you look
beautiful without makeup.
- But don't we look fantastic?
- She's seven, Nancy.
She doesn't need to
learn about makeup
and she's not
allowed to wear it.
Wash your face, Abby.
- But, Dad--?
- On second thought, come on.
Let's wash your face at home.
Come on.
My daughter doesn't wear makeup.
And we are not
rearranging our porch.
Ever.
(knocking)
- Go away.
My room is private.
- Private?
Don't you have math homework?
- I already did it.
On Nancy's computer.
It's easier that way.
What's that?
- I strained my shoulder.
- All the moms let
their daughters
wear makeup onstage.
I'll be the only one.
- For the recital, only.
Look at you.
- New cleats?
- That's your costume, huh?
Hm. What's in the box?
- Ballet slippers.
Nancy has to do them, though.
- Do what?
- Like, sew on the piece.
- I can do it for you.
- Nancy can do it.
- I can sew.
- You can't sew this.
- It can't be that hard.
Let's see.
Very nice.
- You're gonna mess it up
and then I'm gonna
need new ones.
Are those your cleats?
- Yeah, I just got 'em.
- [Abby] Why?
- That looks good, huh?
If it's okay with
you, and you care,
I'm ready to play ball again.
- For the Clippers?
- Yeah, if it's okay with you.
- You'll be on the team?
- [Eddie] Yeah.
- Third base?
- [Eddie] I hope so.
- Number four in the lineup?
- [Eddie] I don't know.
- You get to ride the bus
and go to different cities?
- You're gonna play baseball.
I don't have a Clippers hat.
Where do you go first?
How many days again?
- One week plus one day.
- Eight days.
- Right.
- So, the next time you go,
I get to go on the
bus with you, right?
- That's right.
- Where are we now?
- Right here, right here.
- Three, four, five,
six, seven, eight.
- Yoohoo.
Hi.
Hey.
I'd like to come
see your new room.
- Okay, let's go.
- Will any of these do?
- Wow.
You've got a lot
of nice luggage.
- Well, everyone needs
good luggage, in case.
Now, this one has a lot
of different compartments.
This big compartment
would be perfect for shoes
and it has smaller compartments
which you could use
for makeup or whatever.
- That will work great.
You sure you won't be
needing any of this?
- Well, I may need to whisk
off to somewhere exotic.
(chuckling)
- I promise I'll bring it back.
- I'm not worried.
I have your daughter.
If there's anything
else that you need--
- Thank you, Nancy.
Thank you.
- Show and Tell, last
Friday of every month,
which isn't this Friday,
but it's the Friday after,
so you might want to start
thinking about something
for that as soon as you can.
What else am I forgetting?
Did I give you her vitamins?
Yes, her vitamins, great.
You know about ballet?
- Of course.
- Of course.
- Oh, for emergencies,
you can call Tom's cell phone.
- Yes.
This is his cell phone number.
I have it right here.
- Great. Okay.
Okay.
Abs?
- You ready?
- I'm ready.
- Watch the ball.
- [Tommy] Come on, man.
Get out of here.
Get on the bus.
Jones.
Mills.
- Buffalo, they have Reggie.
Have you seen that guy's arm?
- Yeah, he's got an arm.
But, we can stay in there
with a couple of dingers.
Right, McGillian?
- Yeah, that's right.
- Isn't that right,
Eddie Mills?
- Yeah, that's right.
- [Tommy] Mills?
Get in there.
Loosen that arm up.
(crowd cheering)
- [Eddie] Nice game, guys.
Way to go.
That was a hell of a match.
Can I get a beer, please?
Thanks.
- Don't tell me you miss this.
- I missed all this.
- You know, you can't
ignore your calling, Eddie.
You tried. It didn't work.
You had a blind
spot in your life.
You dating anybody, Eddie?
- Nah.
- Whoo.
Look at all these women.
Some beautiful women.
Some nice women, too.
- What about you?
You seeing anybody?
- Me? No.
I've been real busy these days.
- Excuse me.
Is she there?
Are you sure?
Okay, could you just tell her
that I'll call her tomorrow?
Okay.
Bye.
- My mom was a good cook.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah, my dad says.
- I'm sure she was perfect,
judging from her
perfect daughter.
Was your mother ill?
- No.
She died in a car accident.
I was a baby.
- I'm sorry.
You know she's always
with you, right?
- My dad gets sad.
He stays in his room.
- And you know that she's always
with your dad, too, right?
- Did your husband die?
- Oh, no.
I've never been married.
- You haven't?
Why not?
- Well, a woman doesn't
always have to get married.
Sometimes, we're better without.
- Do you have any kids?
- No.
- [Abby] You don't want kids?
- You know,
I didn't even ask you if
you like blueberry pancakes.
- Getting used to a bat again?
You take a healthy cut.
(cheers and applause)
- Now, Tom.
Let me hit.
I can bring him in.
- Let's see how you
do next home game.
Matthews?
Bring him in.
Let's go, boy.
(cheering)
(knocking)
- Hey, Nancy.
Good to see you.
- Ed?
- Is she here?
- We weren't expecting
you til this evening.
I'm on my way to pick her up.
- Oh, great.
I'll get her. Thanks.
It's not a ballet night, is it?
- No.
- [Sarah] Hi. How was your day?
- Fine.
- Good.
- [Sarah] Good.
- Daddy.
- Oh, I missed you.
You're taller.
- Tell me everything.
- You tell me everything.
Where'd you get this?
- The fair.
- There was a booth at the fair.
- We went on the roller coaster.
Front seat.
I put my hands up
the whole time.
- I held onto her.
- Sounds fun.
- Dad, you're not
supposed to be home.
Nancy and I are making a
homecoming meal for you.
See you later.
- I guess we're going now.
There's a home game tomorrow.
I'm playing.
- Good luck.
- There's no roller coasters,
but the games are
pretty exciting.
It's Free Hat Night.
- Dad, let's go.
Okay, so the Clippers
are 15 and 6.
The only team close
is Toledo, right?
- Right.
They're 14 and 8.
- Right.
I can't wait to go to Toledo.
We're going to kick their butts.
- Yeah, we're gonna
kick their butts.
You better believe it.
(squealing and giggling)
- I figured you'd be in here.
You know, there was
a time I thought
I'd have to kick you out so
the other players
could get a chance
to use the facilities.
Unfortunately,
the cage has stood
pretty idle without you.
The new boys,
they don't have the discipline.
They won't go above and
beyond what I require.
Anyway, look.
I'm gonna lock up.
Close the door behind you.
I got dinner at Matthews' house.
I've got to address his swing,
or lack thereof.
His wife, she makes
a mean meatloaf,
although nobody's cooking
holds a candle to Robyn's.
She must have thought
I had a tapeworm.
Bring that bat all
the way around, Eddie.
- That was pretty good, huh?
- Is Ryan McGillian nice?
- Yeah, he's nice.
- How many ribbies does he have?
- Did you know that Abby made
this whole meal herself?
I told her what to do,
but she did everything.
- It's delicious.
I don't know.
- Pete Stewart's got
a great arm, huh?
- He's got an unbelievable
arm and he's only 20.
He's got his whole
career in front of him.
- Any girls on the team?
- Not yet.
You know what,
this was wonderful
but I'm beat.
- Oh.
We have dessert.
- I think I'm going
to have to pass.
- Abby made it.
You can't pass.
- Okay, so after
tomorrow's home game,
we got to Indianapolis
and then Toledo.
- Pie.
- Mmm.
- Then, we come off for
three days to play Buffalo
and then we go to--
- Abby?
Would you run and get
some plates for me
and some forks?
And pour some milk.
- Big glasses?
- Sure.
Abby knows a lot about baseball.
She knows that
Boston, Massachusetts
is the home of the Red Sox and
of the famous Roger Clements.
- Clemens.
Roger Clemens.
And he is now a Yankee.
- Oh, and she knows
that the Yankees
originated in Boston
and that Babe Ruth
played for the Red Sox
before he went to New York.
- And the Orioles
before the Red Sox,
but Abby knows that.
- But, you know what
she doesn't know?
Is that Boston,
Massachusetts is the home of
the famous Boston Tea Party and
Paul Revere and the
Boston Massacre.
- Baseball is history.
She'll learn the rest in school.
Besides, Abby knows more
than most seven year olds.
- Yeah, she does.
And she will learn
the rest in school.
- [Abby] Dad, do
you want milk, too?
- No, thanks, honey.
- She tells me that she's
going around with you
to a bunch of different
cities on a bus?
And that she's going
to be part of the team,
one of the boys.
Ed, she needs school.
She needs girlfriends
who are seven years old.
She needs a home.
She needs stability.
Surely, you know
that, don't you?
- I couldn't carry
the plates, too.
- I'll help you.
- So, you got your costume, huh?
- Mm-hm.
- But you're going
to miss the recital.
Are you sure you want
to miss the recital?
- There's two of them.
I'll be in the winter one.
- You're going to
miss Krista, probably,
and school, too, huh?
Isn't there a spelling
bee coming up soon?
- I don't care about
the spelling bee.
- Well, you should.
- Besides, we're not
going to be gone forever.
- No.
We're not going to
be gone long at all.
Nancy will probably rearrange
the porch while I'm gone
and I won't be able to find
anything when I come back,
but what are you gonna do?
- You said I could go
on the bus with you.
- I know I did.
- You lied.
You said you never
lie but you do.
You said I could go with you.
- Abby--
- You lied.
You're a big liar.
- Abby.
- I'm gonna live
with Nancy forever.
- Wait a minute.
Abby.
Honey, I want you
with me every minute.
Abby.
Please understand.
I want you with me every
minute of every day.
But, school is important.
And ... and stability.
I am your father and you
need to stay in school
for the next two months, Abby.
It's important.
She needs to come home now.
It's late.
- She's been asleep
for 20 minutes, Ed.
I'll bring her home
in the morning.
- She sleeps at home.
- Let her sleep, Ed.
She wants to stay here.
- No, Nancy.
You want her to stay here.
She belongs at home with me.
(slow sentimental piano music)
(knocking)
- I don't think Abby's
up for going to the game.
- Not up for the game?
I'm playing tonight.
- [Nancy] I know.
- It's Free Hat Night.
- She doesn't want to go.
It's just a game, Ed.
- So what's it like
out there, Eddie?
It's like The Natural, isn't it?
God, I love that movie.
When he hits the lights?
I bet you could hit the lights,
make it spray everywhere.
You know, my dad
played in high school.
His arm wasn't bad,
but he was pretty slow and
couldn't hit worth a damn.
It wasn't for not
trying, though.
He worked so hard.
Worked me so hard.
- Nothing else exists
within this fence
for nine innings.
Nothing.
You can smell the
popcorn and the hot dogs.
You can hear the crowd.
It's on the outside.
It's got nothing to do with you.
You can be whoever you
want on that diamond.
It doesn't matter.
You just play a good game.
- Well, good game.
(upbeat music)
♪ Sunshine shining in
the summertime breeze ♪
♪ The whole world's smiling
if you know what I mean ♪
♪ Cool, cool time hanging
out with the boys ♪
♪ AM Radio making some noise
♪ Tune into a moment in time
♪ When everything seemed
like the perfect rhyme ♪
♪ Here it is, here I go
♪ My show, can't wait
♪ Gotta do it now before
it gets too late ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Nothing in the world's
gonna get me down ♪
♪ Sparks fly, I'm on fire
♪ Way up high and
I'm getting higher ♪
♪ Turn it loose,
it's turning me on ♪
♪ With a day like this
♪ What could go wrong
♪ Tip my hat, blow a
kiss to the crowd ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Green grass growing
on the edge of my feet ♪
♪ Feels good knowing I'm
not out of my league ♪
♪ Singing a song that
I never have sung ♪
♪ Out of my range on
the tip of my tongue ♪
♪ Who knows if
tomorrow will come ♪
♪ It really don't matter
til this day's done ♪
♪ Gotta move, gotta
go, my fate, my turn ♪
♪ Still a little
daylight left to burn ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Nothing in the world's
gonna get me down ♪
♪ Sparks fly, I'm on fire
♪ Way up high and
I'm getting higher ♪
♪ Turn it loose,
it's turning me on ♪
♪ On a day like this
♪ What could go wrong
♪ Tip my hat, blow a
kiss to the crowd ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Sunshine shining in
the summertime breeze ♪
♪ The whole world's smiling
if you know what I mean ♪
♪ Here it is, here I go
♪ My show, can't wait
♪ Gotta nail it down
before it gets too late ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Nothing in the world's
gonna get me down ♪
♪ Sparks fly, I'm on fire
- All right, boys.
Bus leaves tomorrow 8 AM.
If you're not there,
you know you can walk.
- Good game.
- Thanks, man.
- Well, I'm out 20 bucks.
To Ronnie, no less.
I was sure you'd give
me a homer, Eddie.
- I never knew baseball
was this exciting.
I was dying when you
got that guy out.
- She was excited.
Hey, well.
Good game, Eddie.
Good luck on the road.
I'll be listening.
- Thanks, man.
Don't you touch my
truck, all right?
- You're just as good as
you were in high school.
- Somehow, it doesn't
feel as easy though.
- Yeah, well, you
make it look easy.
- Listen, I got to go.
- Just like you make
raising Abby look easy.
- She won't talk to me.
- You must just trust your
instincts with baseball.
You must be doing
something right.
Baseball's fun.
- I thought you might want this.
It was Free Hat Night tonight.
All those people were
wearing Clipper hats.
They played, "Clipper
Fans, Ring Your Bell."
Everyone singing, dancing.
It was kind of neat.
Pete was pitching a no-hitter
until the 8th inning.
You believe that?
Want me to show
you something cool?
- You don't have to feel sorry.
I don't want to go with
you anymore, anyway.
(slow classical piano music)
How do I look?
- Beautiful. Fantastic.
Good luck, sweetheart.
(applause)
(slow guitar music)
(slow classical piano music)
- [Voiceover] Ladies
and gentlemen,
the final score this
evening is four to seven.
The Clippers thank you
for your attendance.
- McGillian? Let's take a walk.
- Yeah, hold up.
- [Tommy] Now.
- Hey. He got the call.
- [Nancy] She was the best one.
Once, there was a
klutzy cupid named--
- Teardribble.
I can read.
- Okay.
Read to me, then.
- [Abby] Once, there was a
klutzy cupid named Teardribble.
- What are you doing down here?
- I can't find 103.1 FM.
- Oh, well.
- [Voiceover] Their
only true competition
so far this season,
but the club will
now have to deal with
the loss of Ryan McGillian,
who was called up to the
Yankees earlier this week.
Who knows who the
Clippers are going to have
to pick up the production?
One candidate would
certainly be Eddie Mills,
who's making a comeback
for the Clippers.
You might remember him
from the '93 campaign.
We'll see if he'll be
able to keep up the pace
and if he does,
who knows where Mills might
end up at the end of season.
- What does that mean?
- I'm not sure.
- Where would my dad be?
- I don't know.
But, I think he means
he'd be surprised
if your dad hadn't been called
up to the Majors by then.
Hey, but who knows, right?
Just a bunch of
commentators talking shop.
What do they know?
Hey, you like popcorn?
We can't listen to
baseball without popcorn.
- Okay, now you're
the pitcher, see?
Okay. You stand over there.
You have to get it
between here and here.
Throw it over the plate.
You can throw it
underhand if you need to.
Or overhand.
Hold on.
Okay.
You want to take the ball,
follow through and
bring your leg up, okay?
A little out.
- [Sarah] Keep trying, Abby.
- All right, Abby.
Good job, Krista.
- Could you do
that again, Krista?
(telephone ringing)
- Hello?
Oh, hi, Ed.
She's fantastic. Guess what?
100% on her math test.
- Tell him I hit the ball.
- What?
- Tell him I hit it.
- Yes, and she was playing
baseball with Krista
and she hit the ball.
- Four times.
- Yes, yes she hit it.
She hit it four times.
- [Eddie] All right, Abby.
- Now be really careful,
because this roof
breaks easily, okay?
- You remember all
the steps we took?
You're going to have a
fantastic Show and Tell.
Everyone's going to want to know
how you made this
beautiful house,
so here's some directions
in case anyone needs them.
Okay?
The other moms or
Miss Kerry, even.
Do you have everything you need?
- I'm ready to talk
to my dad, now.
- Oh, I think
that's nice, honey,
but we don't have any way
of getting hold
of him right now.
- Tom's cell phone.
- That's just for emergencies.
Your dad's probably
in a practice, anyway.
He'll call you tonight.
What do you need?
- I want to talk to him now.
- I'm sorry, honey.
Let's go to school and
tonight will be here
before you know it.
Show and Tell's
gonna be so much fun.
- If my dad calls,
ask him to come home
tomorrow morning,
before his game in Toledo.
- Toledo isn't that
close, sweetie.
- So, when me and
my brother, Zack,
go to the pond, we're
usually there all day.
Mom calls us forever.
She gets mad because we say that
we'll get home earlier.
She says she won't
let us go again,
but she always lets us.
I caught four fish last weekend.
My brother only caught two,
a big one and a little one.
So, like, one and a half.
I caught four.
- My dad is a baseball player.
He plays ball for
the Clippers but,
he's gonna be a Yankee.
(children chattering excitedly)
- Well, I knew our gingerbread
house would be a hit.
Oh. I brought you a recipe card.
It's not too difficult.
- Roger Clemens pitched
the New York Yankees
to another victory today.
Clemens pitched seven
innings of two-hit baseball
and Derek Jeter--
- Yo, Ed? What are you drinking?
- I'm okay, thanks.
- Come on man,
we're celebrating.
- No, no. I'm okay.
- Bobby tells her
she's a good girl
when she cleans her plate.
I've told him over
and over again,
she's going to be an overeater
if she thinks she's
only a good girl
when she cleans her plate.
- That makes sense.
- No.
I think it's okay in
some circumstances.
Like we do.
We emphasize that
she's a good girl
if she finishes
all her vegetables.
She hates vegetables.
- Except,
if you have to
force a kid to eat,
they'll start thinking that they
have to eat on a schedule,
instead of just
when they're hungry.
- She won't eat all day
if I don't force her to.
- Oh, she'll eat.
When she's hungry, she'll eat.
It's like sleep.
When she's tired, she'll sleep
and not until then.
- Ain't that the truth?
- Sounds like a full-time job.
- Oh, it is. Yes.
- It's a great full-time job.
- Okay, here you go.
- I don't feel good.
- You don't feel well.
You don't feel hot.
- I don't feel good.
- Heartache is
worse than the flu.
Let's buckle you up again.
- You didn't pull on it.
You have to check.
- Oh, it clicked.
- I know it clicked,
but you still have
to pull and check.
- Okay.
- My mom's seat
belt didn't work.
My dad checks.
He makes everyone check.
- I'll check it from now on.
- I won't tell him.
- [Nancy] Thank you.
- [Abby] What time is it?
- [Nancy] It's
almost nine o'clock.
- My dad's practice
is at ten o'clock.
- What time's the game?
- Five-thirty.
- [Nancy] Well, I certainly
hope it's Free Hat Night
or Free Shirt
Night or something.
- Eddie?
Eddie, a Yankee
suit wants to meet
with you after the game.
Brosius strained
his arm last night.
The Yankees need a back-up,
just in case.
A third baseman
who can hit.
(laughing)
- Hi, everybody.
This is Terry Smith from
Skeldon Stadium in Toledo,
where tonight the
Clippers get ready
to take on the Toledo Mud Hens
for the first time
in the 2000 season.
These two teams
battled each other
down the stretch a year ago.
The Clippers had to win
the final three games
in the '99 season.
- You feeling good?
- Yeah.
- How you feeling?
You feeling good?
- It still smells like
it did five years ago.
You think they would have
done something about that.
- Look, Eddie.
You play a great
game tonight and
you hit like the last
time you were here.
You remember that game?
- Yeah, I remember.
- Okay, go get 'em, Eddie.
Go get 'em.
- - [Voiceover] Coming to
the plate for Columbus,
the third baseman, number three,
Eddie Mills.
(crowd cheering)
(slow sentimental music)
(breathing deeply)
- Anytime you're ready.
- All right, all right.
- Go, Ed.
- Go, Daddy.
Go get 'em.
Whoo.
(crowd cheering)
- [Tommy] Eddie?
This is Brian Hall.
Brian's with the Yankees.
- Good to meet you.
- And you.
Eddie, we lost a
player due to injury.
We're going to need you on
the field tomorrow night.
You're booked on the
red-eye to New York.
Game time is 7 p.m.
There'll be a Yankee uniform
waiting for you in
the locker room.
Be on the field, five o'clock,
ready to play ball.
- I hope you didn't miss
too much at school today.
We have a long drive
ahead of us, Abby.
We definitely should go.
- Daddy.
- Abby.
Oh, God, I missed you so much.
- You were amazing, Dad.
Crack.
- He was pitching inside.
- Let's just you
and me ride home
in the back seat, okay?
- Well, now, let me see.
You must be the
famous Abby Mills.
I'm Coach Tom Donner.
- Hi.
You know, I believe you've got
the look of a ballplayer,
just like your dad,
who got the opportunity
of a lifetime tonight.
Your dad is going
to be playing ball
at Yankee Stadium tomorrow.
- Wow.
Could you still
ride home with us?
- We don't put them in bowls.
- What do you put them in?
- We just eat off the floor.
- Abby?
We don't eat off the floor.
Abby, are you hot?
- No.
Are you?
- You're letting in the bugs.
- [Abby] It's baseball.
We have to let the night air in.
(telephone ringing)
- Hello?
Yes, just a minute.
It's for you.
- Hello?
- [Eddie] Hey Abster.
- Dad.
Where are you?
- [Eddie] I'm in the dugout.
I'm on Jeter's cell phone.
- No way.
- [Eddie] Way.
- Nancy forgot to get peanuts.
She doesn't know how to
keep score or anything.
She doesn't know anything--
- [Eddie] Abby.
Baby, I gotta go.
I'm going in, I'm going in.
I'm playing for you.
- Dad? Dad?
- [Voiceover] Eddie Mills
coming in now for Scott Brosius.
Looks like Brosius
is in need of a break
after the strain on his
arm from last night's game.
- Oh. Ed.
You're here.
Ed, I've never raised a child.
I don't know what to do
for her when she's upset.
If you should need anything,
I'll just be next door.
(clearing throat)
- Dad.
- Hey.
Hi, baby.
- You played ball
for the Yankees.
- I warmed up Paul
O'Neill's arm.
- And you talked on
Jeter's cell phone.
- And I threw the ball to
Tino for the first out.
- I cried.
You played three
innings for the Yankees.
- Yep.
Scott Brosius' arm isn't
as bad as we thought.
- So, you'll play in Durham
tonight with the Clippers.
Nancy didn't do anything right.
She doesn't get it.
I'm not going to stay
with Nancy anymore.
I want to stay in my own house,
in my own room from now on.
- Hey.
Weight room locked?
- I don't know.
- Don't be discouraged, Eddie.
You knew Brosius was
going back into the game.
Look, I want you in the
game six days a week.
Five days on weights.
We got 55 games left
in the next two months.
I want you to eat,
sleep, breathe baseball.
Next time, you'll stay up.
Full-time Yankee.
Hm?
You know, some guys,
they spend their one game
with the Yankees on the bench.
But you?
You played in the Bigs.
Come on, Eddie.
You coming?
- You make Yankees
out of Clippers.
You're the coach that
makes the difference.
For all of us.
I love baseball.
But, sometimes,
it's from the bench that
you get the best view.
Besides, my daughter and I
can't both be in the spotlight.
She's becoming a
hell of a dancer.
Hell of an athlete,
if you ask me.
(sentimental guitar music)
(knocking)
- Ed.
- I thought I'd return these and
let you know that Abby wants
one of those hats.
- She does?
- Yep.
With the silver thingies.
I told her only the
cool people wear them,
so naturally she
has to have one.
- I feel like all
I do is start over.
Would you like to start over?
- Yeah. Yeah.
Baseball game is a
good place to start.
It's a beautiful
day for baseball.
♪ Come down from the place
where you've been hiding ♪
♪ Come out in the sun
where you belong ♪
♪ Sorrow's gonna pass
♪ Sadness doesn't
last too long ♪
♪ Come what may, come what may
♪ It feels good
to hear you say ♪
- Here you go.
- No, thanks.
- It'll help you bat.
♪ Come what may, come what may
- [Nancy] Oranges.
Oranges, boys.
♪ Something in the
rush of the water ♪
♪ Sleeping through my
dream like a stone ♪
♪ Then I see it's you
- Orange?
- I hear you make
a mean lasagna.
♪ Hello, sunshine
♪ It's a good old day
♪ Come what may, come what may
(cheers and applause)
- All right, Chad.
Here we go, buddy.
Watch the ball, now.
Hits before hands,
hits before hands.
- Come on, you guys.
Good job.
Hits before hands.
♪ Come what may, come what may
♪ It sounds good
to hear you say ♪
♪ Hello sunshine
♪ It's a good old day
♪ Come what may
♪ Ooo, come what may
♪ Come what may
♪ It feels good just
to hear you say ♪
♪ Hello sunshine
♪ It's a good old day
♪ Come what may, come what may
(playing "I Wanna Live Like
That" by Cathy-Ann Witworth)
♪ I wanna learn
from my mistakes ♪
♪ I wanna give
back what I take ♪
♪ I wanna be there
for my friends ♪
♪ I wanna always make amends
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna laugh right out loud
♪ I wanna make my mama proud
♪ I wanna have the
strength to cry ♪
♪ I wanna always wonder why
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna live that way
♪ I don't wanna be afraid
♪ I wanna love that
♪ Treasure every day
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna be heard when I pray
♪ I wanna slow
dance in the rain ♪
♪ I wanna love and
be loved back ♪
♪ Lose my way without a map
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna walk where
things grow wild ♪
♪ I wanna see my baby smile
♪ I wanna grow old gracefully
♪ Gather shells beside the sea
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna live that way
♪ I don't wanna be afraid
♪ I want to love like you
♪ Treasure every day
♪ I want to live like that
♪ I wanna live that way
♪ I don't wanna be afraid
♪ I wanna love like that
♪ Treasure every day
♪ I wanna live
♪ Like that
- [Voiceover] This
ball has a chance.
It's out of here.
Home run, Eddie Mills.
(cheers and applause)
The Clippers, with
the help of Mills'
league-leading 21st homer,
hold on to beat the
Mud Hens five to three.
There's a hard hit ground ball
down the third base line.
Diving grab by Mills.
From his knees, he
throws across the bag
and gets Harris by the slide.
What a play by Eddie Mills.
(cheers and applause)
Some sad news tonight
out of Cooper Stadium.
After last week's tragedy,
Clippers star third baseman,
Eddie Mills has
left the team and
there is no word
on whether he will
rejoin the Clippers at
any time this season.
- [Eddie] Three times two.
- Six.
- Three times four.
- You already asked me that one.
- Well, then what's the answer?
- Ouch.
- Sorry.
Three times four?
Four, three times.
- I just told you.
- Ten, nine, eight, seven.
Eat your lunch.
- You don't need to count, Dad.
- Six, five, four.
- Twelve. Three
times four is twelve.
- That is correct.
Very good.
Three, three times.
- I'm going to miss the bus.
- Okay, all right.
Bye, love you.
- Bye.
- Oh, could you tell
me what tonight is?
- My night.
- You're gonna hit
it out of the park.
- [Coach Steve] What
are we gonna do?
- [Kids] Win.
- [Coach Steve] What's that?
- [Kids] Win.
- [Coach SteveI can't hear you.
- [Kids] Win.
- [Coach Steve] All right. Yeah.
Right here, Abby.
All right.
- Abby?
Hey, guys, Steve.
Okay, Abs, here's the deal.
He's working both
sides of the plate.
Shoulders down,
nice and relaxed.
Power's gonna come from
your back foot, okay?
Short, compact swing.
Remember--
- Don't take my
eye off the ball.
- [Coach Steve] You're up, Abby.
- Go get 'em.
- [Coach Steve] Come
on. You can do it.
You can do it.
We really need your hit, Abby.
Come on.
Keep your eye on the ball.
- [Umpire] Strike.
- [Eddie] Let's go, Abby.
- [Coach Steve] Come on, Abby.
- [Umpire] Strike two.
(applause)
- [Eddie] You can do it, Abby.
- [Umpire] Strike
three. You're out.
- You were great out
there today, honey.
- I struck out twice, Dad.
- Yeah, but Babe
Ruth struck out--
- I'm not Babe Ruth.
I strike out all the time.
- Don't you remember?
Babe said you gotta
start from the bottom.
- No.
He wasn't talking about me.
I can't hit at all.
They lose because of me.
- You tagged Matt
Reed out at second.
- Maybe I shouldn't
play baseball.
- Are you kidding?
You've already got
the Mills swing.
- I want to try ballet, Dad.
Krista does ballet.
- What?
- Ballet. I want to try it.
It looks fun.
- Fun?
Baseball's fun.
- Is that your truck out there?
- Yep.
- She needs some work.
It looks like your
base is caving.
I'm Matt.
I came from Sammy's
garage off Route 33.
You know it?
- Nope.
- Yeah.
I was like second
guy up at Sammy's.
I needed a change, though.
Man.
It really is you.
I mean, the guys at Sammy's said
you were working here,
I thought they were
screwing with me.
I mean, I did not believe them.
- Excuse me.
- I thought maybe a
different Eddie Mills.
Wait til I tell my old man.
He's gonna want to
bring me to work.
Every night at dinner,
we got an Eddie Mills update.
Man.
I was only in junior high.
Who would have
thought that we'd be
working at a garage together?
- [Abby] Ouch. That hurts, Dad.
- I'm sorry.
Look, look at her hair.
Mine doesn't look like this.
- Yes it does.
It does.
Actually, if you
want my opinion,
I think it looks better.
- Dad, I look dumb.
Make it right.
- All right.
Hold on a second here.
- Everyone is gonna
have their hair braided.
- So are you, so are you.
Just a second.
Why can't you just
put on a baseball cap?
Why?
- Because I'm going to
ballet, not baseball.
Do you get it?
Ballet.
- Abby?
Hey, Steve.
Let me give you a hand here,
help you load up.
- What's going on?
- Well, you know,
this whole ballet
thing with Abby?
She's never gonna like it.
- I think probably all
little girls like ballet.
- No, they don't.
Not really.
Besides, baseball's
in Abby's blood.
- Abby quit baseball.
- She doesn't have
the mechanics yet
to hit the ball consistently,
but if we can encourage
her to keep her head down,
right on top of the ball,
I think we got a
player on our hands.
What do you think?
- I think that Abby
is the only girl
on a team of seven and
eight year old boys
who want to win
the championship.
Abby's never gotten a hit, Ed.
Ever.
- She bunted.
Against Smart Mart.
- Look, Ed.
I'm gonna be honest here, okay?
Those boys want to
win and so do I.
Abby doesn't have
what you had and
I think it's great that
she's trying something else.
I'm sorry.
- Your boy looked
pretty good out there.
I like what you've
done with his arm.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Did you see that
curve starting?
It was like right
down the middle.
- Yeah.
We know baseball.
- All right, look.
I can take it from here, man.
Thank you for your help.
(classical piano music)
- Let's go home.
- It wasn't what
you thought, huh?
- Yeah, it's hard.
We learned to spot,
which is like staring
at the same place
and then when you turn around,
you have to find the
same exact place again.
Krista was really good at it.
I got a little dizzy though.
- Well, you wouldn't have known
unless you tried, right?
- Yeah.
I have to learn to spot
before the recital.
There's a recital
and everything,
with costumes.
- I hope you remembered to bring
your Yankee hat home.
- It's in my bag.
They said I wasn't allowed
to wear it during class.
- Really.
(knocking)
- Ed.
You're eating late.
Lucky for you, I just
went to the store.
Eggs or milk?
- I borrowed one egg, one time.
Okay, two maybe.
- A cup of milk last week.
I'm glad to help.
- You working late?
- Yes, I'm filling
all my clients' orders
for those baskets.
Summer's just around the corner.
Work, work, work.
Ed, did you want those organizer
shelves for your porch?
They're so easy, you
just hook them on.
- I told you, Nancy.
I don't need your shelves.
- You can see your
porch from the street.
- Abby is starting
ballet lessons,
just a couple and I thought--
- Ballet?
Oh, my gosh.
That's a fantastic idea.
Now, Ed, do you have all
the clothes she needs?
Because she'll need the leotards
and the tights and the slippers.
- I have all the clothes
and the slippers.
I was wondering if
you could take her
for a lesson or two.
I can pick her up.
- What happened to
the baseball thing?
- She's taking a little break,
a little breather.
The place is on--
- A breather?
- Yes, Nancy.
Even the pros sometimes take
short breaks from baseball.
The dance place is
on Pierson and Fifth,
Tuesday and Thursday.
She'll have her clothes
with her at school.
If you could pick her
up at three o'clock--?
- No problem.
Tuesdays and Thursdays
are perfect for me.
- Thank you.
Oh, could you make sure
she has her seat belt on?
She knows,
but make sure.
- Everybody wears a
seat belt in my car.
Are you sure you don't want
those organizer shelves?
(dog barking)
- Good morning, guys.
- [Abby] Hey.
- Do you still play?
- No.
- You know, I hear Ryan
McGillian is closing in
on your home run record.
He already beat your RBI record.
Did you know that?
- No.
- Yeah, he has
quite a following.
I mean, they're
comparing him to you,
which is absurd.
I mean, he's great,
you know, but you ... ?
You getting with it?
Yeah, he'll be called
up anytime now.
The Yankees are looking
at several of the guys.
The Clippers are doing real
well this year, you know?
They're the best farm
team in the northeast.
What about an
after-work league, Ed?
I mean, you've still got
some good years in you.
You ever think about
joining one of those?
- Hey.
- Hey.
- What are you doing?
- Waiting for you to get home.
Two for one, plus popcorn.
- Let me see?
- I pick The Parent Trap again.
You can pick the other one.
- Cool by me.
How was school?
- Good.
Krista asked me to
spend the night tonight.
- That was nice of her.
Are you hungry?
- Her mom said okay already.
- You want to sleep there?
All night?
- Dad, it's a sleepover.
- When do you come home?
- In the morning.
I think.
- Oh.
Okay.
- I'll be careful, Dad.
- Okay.
- I'll be careful.
- [Eddie] You got
your toothbrush?
Your clothes for
tomorrow, right?
- [Abby] Yes, Dad.
- [Eddie] And your
pajamas, right?
- Yes, Dad.
- Okay.
Listen, you can call me anytime.
You can call me anytime, it
doesn't matter, all right?
I'll come pick you up.
We can watch movies late night.
- Krista has bunk beds.
- She does?
- Yeah.
She said I could
sleep on the top one.
I mean, there's like a
ladder and stuff, too.
- Just be careful, okay?
- I will.
- Okay.
- Bye.
(girls giggling)
- Hey, Ed.
Sarah.
- Oh, right. Right.
- Hey, listen,
thank you for this.
- Oh, it's no problem.
We're glad she could come over.
Abby's a really good friend.
Well, better go before the
girls burn the house down.
I'm kidding.
You used to have a
great sense of humor.
I mean, a bit off-color
but you were still funny.
High school?
Mr. Nelson's class,
fourth period?
It was right before baseball.
I think you came
twice the whole year.
- You were in Nelson's class?
- Yeah.
I mean, it's been a while.
I didn't really
run in that crowd.
I was in the back,
over to the side actually.
Behind Robyn.
She was always so nice.
She was always so nice to me.
I'm sorry.
You know, Abby
really has her smile.
Mr. Nelson is still teaching.
Can you imagine?
Still drawing those
sentence diagrams
in the shape of spaceships?
(chuckling)
Well, here's our number.
So, call if you
need anything and
I'll see you tomorrow.
- The bunk beds.
Surely, the top one
has a safety bar?
- Yeah, yeah it does.
- All the way across?
Both sides?
- Yeah.
You know what?
They're not really that
high off the ground anyway.
- Yeah well, you know.
They're off the ground, so ...
- Right, right.
You know, if you don't want her
to sleep in them,
I can always put
them downstairs.
- No, no. It's fine.
If you say it's safe
and she really wants to,
it's not a problem.
Okay.
Listen, you don't
have a pool, do you?
- They won't be out
of my sight, okay?
- [Voiceover] Tonight,
another one for--
Coming down hard, 72 degrees,
we've had less than a
quarter of an inch of rain.
Let me show you
where the rain is.
These storms are not
severe but they are--
In Columbus--
Hey, look out.
I was afraid of this--
(applause and cheers)
(slow guitar music)
- [Abby] Hi, Dad.
- Abby.
- [Abby] I'm gonna
show Krista my room.
- Hi, Krista.
(girls giggling)
How were the bunk beds?
- Teardribble, the Klutzy Cupid.
Now do you remember me?
- You wore the pink hat
with the silver bead thingys.
- That matched my braces.
Yeah, I got braces late.
- Yeah, I remember your story.
- You remember the hat.
- Well, who could
forget the hat?
- Well, klutzy cupid paid off,
so I guess the
mortification was worth it.
You know?
Children's books and stuff?
Surprised?
- No, no.
You were one of the smart girls.
- Yeah. One of the nerdy girls.
- I don't know anything
about baseball.
- What?
Really? Really?
You're kidding, right?
Okay, watch this.
See?
This is my all-time
favorite card.
That is Tino Martinez.
He plays for the New
York Yankees, okay?
- Where the hell have you been?
The owner of the
red Mustang came in.
- I was running late.
- You were supposed to
be here an hour ago.
- Mustang's finished.
Bobby knows that.
- Bobby has his own jobs.
The Mustang was yours.
- And I finished it.
- What? You have
a girlfriend, huh?
Is that it?
You've been sidetracked
these last few weeks.
I just wonder what
you got going,
because it's
affecting your work.
- Affecting my work?
- You're sidetracked.
- This is ridiculous.
Abby left her ballet
clothes at home.
I dropped them by
school, that's it.
Okay? That's it.
- Your girl is taking ballet?
Eddie Mills' girl
is a ballerina?
(laughing)
What?
You practice with her?
Those leaps and spins and shit?
(laughing)
My God. Nobody would believe it.
Old hotshot Eddie Mills,
twirling around and shit.
(laughing)
- There's a new
ding in my truck.
What the hell are you thinking?
- That is not your
truck, all right?
Now, stay off my back.
- I just--
- I'm out of here.
- Where are we going?
You know, my dad was in a
major funk when you quit.
Baseball season
was over for him.
For a lot of people here.
People think you'll come back.
- Try to get it close
to the plate, all right?
- Yellow cheese or white cheese?
- [Abby] Yellow.
- I was thinking we
could spend the day
throwing the ball
around at Pebble Park.
It would be fun.
Get some ice cream after?
- [Abby] Dad, come look.
These are so good.
- I brought you the recipe, Ed,
and I included my easy version
of my lasagna.
These muffins aren't
too difficult.
- Did you ever
have lasagna, Dad?
It's so good.
- Look at that
pretty hair of yours.
It is a rat's nest, though.
It would look so nice braided.
Now, for ballet, you have
your ballet slippers, right?
And you have
leotards and tights,
now do you have--?
- I have one pink leotard.
- Only one?
Oh, that's not going to do.
We'll take you
shopping today and
we'll get you some more, okay?
And I was thinking,
what about one of
those skirts like
that little blonde girl has?
It's so dainty and nice.
Any color you like.
- A purple one?
- Oh, purple would be very nice.
Oh, Ed.
This is a good idea.
Why don't you peel
this orange for her?
You know, fruit is so important.
- Can I go, Dad?
- Yeah, I guess.
If you want to, sure.
- You want something?
A leotard?
(giggling)
Tights? Ballet slippers?
(giggling)
(lawn mower rumbling)
- Okay.
These are all of them.
It's really good.
"Our Family Timeline.
"Choose three pictures that
"describe you and your family.
"First picture, you as a baby.
"Second picture, a current
photo of yourself and
"the third picture, create
a drawing of yourself
"and your family
five years from now."
This is a silly project.
- We should have
started earlier.
- Okay, you start drawing,
I'll go through the pictures.
In five years, that
would make you 12.
You'll be in the seventh grade.
(whistling)
(giggling)
- I loved that ride.
- Me too.
So much fun.
Okay.
- I'm drawing you and me.
Did Mom write that?
- Yeah.
- It's pretty.
- I never do this.
I never write on the
back of pictures.
- We'll remember.
- Matt? Help me pull.
Come on.
- That battery is too
big for this car, Eddie.
- I know.
Help me pull.
- Why would you put a battery
that size in this car?
- I didn't.
- Man. This must
be embarrassing.
I mean, it isn't
a common mistake.
It's a battery.
A battery like that
doesn't fit in a
space like that.
See, Eddie?
You're not a mechanic, are you?
I've been trying to tell you--
- Listen.
The owner of the
car put this in.
Now I gotta get it out.
Help me pull?
Okay, you aren't pulling.
You aren't pulling.
- [Sarah] Hi.
- What? What's wrong?
- Oh, oh nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
I'm sorry to
interrupt your working
but I was just over
at the bakery and
I'm Homeroom Mom this week.
Abby told me which
garage you worked at
and we're ordering costumes
for the girls tonight
and she wanted me to
check with you about--
- Can we ...?
Let's move outside.
Order anything.
- Oh.
Okay, great.
Why are we over here?
- It's quiet.
Order whatever she wants.
Really.
Just as long as it's
not one of those
damn hats with the
silver bead thingies,
I'm fine.
- Wow.
You always succeed
in making me feel
like I still have
braces on my teeth.
- Sarah?
Sarah, I was kidding.
I don't even remember
you with braces.
We never talked in high school.
- No.
We didn't.
You know, I just want Krista
to have a good friend.
Lord knows she needs it.
I'm sure they both need it.
That's why I'm here, okay?
For the girls.
I'll order the ballet costumes.
Sorry for interrupting.
- Sarah.
(telephone ringing)
- Ronnie's.
Yeah.
Eddie? Telefono.
- This is Ed.
- [Sarah] Ed? It's Sarah.
- Sarah, listen.
Is that Abby?
- [Sarah] Yeah.
I just got to school
to pick Krista up
and take her to dance and
Abby wants to go, too.
But, I wanted to
check with you first.
- Well, the Yankee
game's on tonight,
so she'll just
take the bus home.
- [Sarah] She wondered if
you could tape it for her.
- The Yankee game?
The Yankees are
playing the Red Sox.
- [Sarah] She mentioned that.
- Roger Clemens is pitching.
- [Sarah] Ed? Ed?
- I'm here.
- [Sarah] Oh, okay.
This phone just
cuts out sometimes.
- I'll tape it.
- [Sarah] Everything okay, then?
- Yes.
- [Sarah] Great.
Well, listen, I'll
bring her home.
The girls get their
costumes tonight,
so it will be, you
know, a late practice.
Invite your friends
over, you know?
Watch the game, drink some beer.
- [Voiceover] We've
got 'em, Hank.
Tell us again, tonight
at Yankee Stadium.
Roger Clemens enjoying
his first game back.
Of course, he missed
his last start
due to stiffness
in his lower back.
(slow guitar music)
- Hey, Tommy.
- Eddie Mills.
I'll be damned.
It's been a long time, huh?
- [Eddie] I'm ready to
play ball again, Tom.
- [Tommy] You're ready?
The deal was you'd
be back on the field
in six months.
It's been five years, Eddie.
Five years.
I've got a team of boys.
Good athletes.
Fast and young.
- [Eddie] I hold the record.
- [Tommy] Look, this
better not be about
no "lost youth."
Don't waste my time trying to
get those years back, Eddie.
- You asked me for a favor.
- What?
- I went to school
yesterday and I waited.
Miss Kerry told me that
she'd already gone home
with Sarah Parker and Krista.
- She did leave with them.
I forgot.
- You forgot.
I waited.
I was worried.
She got her costume last night.
- Sarah just thought
it would be easier--
- It's just up the street.
It's no big deal
for me to do it and
switching around like that
is confusing for a child.
- It is sort of out of
Sarah's way to drop Abby off.
- Yes, it is.
So I can do that.
It would help Sarah out.
She has her hands
full already with
her own daughter and
zero help from that
no-good ex-husband of hers.
Not that she needs
any help from a man.
(slow guitar music)
(upbeat guitar music)
- Hey.
The team's traveling
to Louisville
and then to Charlotte.
You warm up with them,
just to get your juices flowing.
Then, we might try you
out next home game.
You're hitting, Eddie, but
don't get too comfortable.
Derek's just two weeks
out of high school.
I haven't even
made the rotation.
But, great potential there, hm?
- Oh, boy.
(chuckling)
I love this game.
- Don't move.
- You look pretty.
- What?
- You look really pretty.
I like your lipstick.
- Oh.
Turn around.
(giggling)
(knocking)
- We're back here.
Here he comes.
- What happened to your face?
- How do we look?
Nancy did my makeup
and I did hers.
- I think you look
beautiful without makeup.
- But don't we look fantastic?
- She's seven, Nancy.
She doesn't need to
learn about makeup
and she's not
allowed to wear it.
Wash your face, Abby.
- But, Dad--?
- On second thought, come on.
Let's wash your face at home.
Come on.
My daughter doesn't wear makeup.
And we are not
rearranging our porch.
Ever.
(knocking)
- Go away.
My room is private.
- Private?
Don't you have math homework?
- I already did it.
On Nancy's computer.
It's easier that way.
What's that?
- I strained my shoulder.
- All the moms let
their daughters
wear makeup onstage.
I'll be the only one.
- For the recital, only.
Look at you.
- New cleats?
- That's your costume, huh?
Hm. What's in the box?
- Ballet slippers.
Nancy has to do them, though.
- Do what?
- Like, sew on the piece.
- I can do it for you.
- Nancy can do it.
- I can sew.
- You can't sew this.
- It can't be that hard.
Let's see.
Very nice.
- You're gonna mess it up
and then I'm gonna
need new ones.
Are those your cleats?
- Yeah, I just got 'em.
- [Abby] Why?
- That looks good, huh?
If it's okay with
you, and you care,
I'm ready to play ball again.
- For the Clippers?
- Yeah, if it's okay with you.
- You'll be on the team?
- [Eddie] Yeah.
- Third base?
- [Eddie] I hope so.
- Number four in the lineup?
- [Eddie] I don't know.
- You get to ride the bus
and go to different cities?
- You're gonna play baseball.
I don't have a Clippers hat.
Where do you go first?
How many days again?
- One week plus one day.
- Eight days.
- Right.
- So, the next time you go,
I get to go on the
bus with you, right?
- That's right.
- Where are we now?
- Right here, right here.
- Three, four, five,
six, seven, eight.
- Yoohoo.
Hi.
Hey.
I'd like to come
see your new room.
- Okay, let's go.
- Will any of these do?
- Wow.
You've got a lot
of nice luggage.
- Well, everyone needs
good luggage, in case.
Now, this one has a lot
of different compartments.
This big compartment
would be perfect for shoes
and it has smaller compartments
which you could use
for makeup or whatever.
- That will work great.
You sure you won't be
needing any of this?
- Well, I may need to whisk
off to somewhere exotic.
(chuckling)
- I promise I'll bring it back.
- I'm not worried.
I have your daughter.
If there's anything
else that you need--
- Thank you, Nancy.
Thank you.
- Show and Tell, last
Friday of every month,
which isn't this Friday,
but it's the Friday after,
so you might want to start
thinking about something
for that as soon as you can.
What else am I forgetting?
Did I give you her vitamins?
Yes, her vitamins, great.
You know about ballet?
- Of course.
- Of course.
- Oh, for emergencies,
you can call Tom's cell phone.
- Yes.
This is his cell phone number.
I have it right here.
- Great. Okay.
Okay.
Abs?
- You ready?
- I'm ready.
- Watch the ball.
- [Tommy] Come on, man.
Get out of here.
Get on the bus.
Jones.
Mills.
- Buffalo, they have Reggie.
Have you seen that guy's arm?
- Yeah, he's got an arm.
But, we can stay in there
with a couple of dingers.
Right, McGillian?
- Yeah, that's right.
- Isn't that right,
Eddie Mills?
- Yeah, that's right.
- [Tommy] Mills?
Get in there.
Loosen that arm up.
(crowd cheering)
- [Eddie] Nice game, guys.
Way to go.
That was a hell of a match.
Can I get a beer, please?
Thanks.
- Don't tell me you miss this.
- I missed all this.
- You know, you can't
ignore your calling, Eddie.
You tried. It didn't work.
You had a blind
spot in your life.
You dating anybody, Eddie?
- Nah.
- Whoo.
Look at all these women.
Some beautiful women.
Some nice women, too.
- What about you?
You seeing anybody?
- Me? No.
I've been real busy these days.
- Excuse me.
Is she there?
Are you sure?
Okay, could you just tell her
that I'll call her tomorrow?
Okay.
Bye.
- My mom was a good cook.
- Oh, really?
- Yeah, my dad says.
- I'm sure she was perfect,
judging from her
perfect daughter.
Was your mother ill?
- No.
She died in a car accident.
I was a baby.
- I'm sorry.
You know she's always
with you, right?
- My dad gets sad.
He stays in his room.
- And you know that she's always
with your dad, too, right?
- Did your husband die?
- Oh, no.
I've never been married.
- You haven't?
Why not?
- Well, a woman doesn't
always have to get married.
Sometimes, we're better without.
- Do you have any kids?
- No.
- [Abby] You don't want kids?
- You know,
I didn't even ask you if
you like blueberry pancakes.
- Getting used to a bat again?
You take a healthy cut.
(cheers and applause)
- Now, Tom.
Let me hit.
I can bring him in.
- Let's see how you
do next home game.
Matthews?
Bring him in.
Let's go, boy.
(cheering)
(knocking)
- Hey, Nancy.
Good to see you.
- Ed?
- Is she here?
- We weren't expecting
you til this evening.
I'm on my way to pick her up.
- Oh, great.
I'll get her. Thanks.
It's not a ballet night, is it?
- No.
- [Sarah] Hi. How was your day?
- Fine.
- Good.
- [Sarah] Good.
- Daddy.
- Oh, I missed you.
You're taller.
- Tell me everything.
- You tell me everything.
Where'd you get this?
- The fair.
- There was a booth at the fair.
- We went on the roller coaster.
Front seat.
I put my hands up
the whole time.
- I held onto her.
- Sounds fun.
- Dad, you're not
supposed to be home.
Nancy and I are making a
homecoming meal for you.
See you later.
- I guess we're going now.
There's a home game tomorrow.
I'm playing.
- Good luck.
- There's no roller coasters,
but the games are
pretty exciting.
It's Free Hat Night.
- Dad, let's go.
Okay, so the Clippers
are 15 and 6.
The only team close
is Toledo, right?
- Right.
They're 14 and 8.
- Right.
I can't wait to go to Toledo.
We're going to kick their butts.
- Yeah, we're gonna
kick their butts.
You better believe it.
(squealing and giggling)
- I figured you'd be in here.
You know, there was
a time I thought
I'd have to kick you out so
the other players
could get a chance
to use the facilities.
Unfortunately,
the cage has stood
pretty idle without you.
The new boys,
they don't have the discipline.
They won't go above and
beyond what I require.
Anyway, look.
I'm gonna lock up.
Close the door behind you.
I got dinner at Matthews' house.
I've got to address his swing,
or lack thereof.
His wife, she makes
a mean meatloaf,
although nobody's cooking
holds a candle to Robyn's.
She must have thought
I had a tapeworm.
Bring that bat all
the way around, Eddie.
- That was pretty good, huh?
- Is Ryan McGillian nice?
- Yeah, he's nice.
- How many ribbies does he have?
- Did you know that Abby made
this whole meal herself?
I told her what to do,
but she did everything.
- It's delicious.
I don't know.
- Pete Stewart's got
a great arm, huh?
- He's got an unbelievable
arm and he's only 20.
He's got his whole
career in front of him.
- Any girls on the team?
- Not yet.
You know what,
this was wonderful
but I'm beat.
- Oh.
We have dessert.
- I think I'm going
to have to pass.
- Abby made it.
You can't pass.
- Okay, so after
tomorrow's home game,
we got to Indianapolis
and then Toledo.
- Pie.
- Mmm.
- Then, we come off for
three days to play Buffalo
and then we go to--
- Abby?
Would you run and get
some plates for me
and some forks?
And pour some milk.
- Big glasses?
- Sure.
Abby knows a lot about baseball.
She knows that
Boston, Massachusetts
is the home of the Red Sox and
of the famous Roger Clements.
- Clemens.
Roger Clemens.
And he is now a Yankee.
- Oh, and she knows
that the Yankees
originated in Boston
and that Babe Ruth
played for the Red Sox
before he went to New York.
- And the Orioles
before the Red Sox,
but Abby knows that.
- But, you know what
she doesn't know?
Is that Boston,
Massachusetts is the home of
the famous Boston Tea Party and
Paul Revere and the
Boston Massacre.
- Baseball is history.
She'll learn the rest in school.
Besides, Abby knows more
than most seven year olds.
- Yeah, she does.
And she will learn
the rest in school.
- [Abby] Dad, do
you want milk, too?
- No, thanks, honey.
- She tells me that she's
going around with you
to a bunch of different
cities on a bus?
And that she's going
to be part of the team,
one of the boys.
Ed, she needs school.
She needs girlfriends
who are seven years old.
She needs a home.
She needs stability.
Surely, you know
that, don't you?
- I couldn't carry
the plates, too.
- I'll help you.
- So, you got your costume, huh?
- Mm-hm.
- But you're going
to miss the recital.
Are you sure you want
to miss the recital?
- There's two of them.
I'll be in the winter one.
- You're going to
miss Krista, probably,
and school, too, huh?
Isn't there a spelling
bee coming up soon?
- I don't care about
the spelling bee.
- Well, you should.
- Besides, we're not
going to be gone forever.
- No.
We're not going to
be gone long at all.
Nancy will probably rearrange
the porch while I'm gone
and I won't be able to find
anything when I come back,
but what are you gonna do?
- You said I could go
on the bus with you.
- I know I did.
- You lied.
You said you never
lie but you do.
You said I could go with you.
- Abby--
- You lied.
You're a big liar.
- Abby.
- I'm gonna live
with Nancy forever.
- Wait a minute.
Abby.
Honey, I want you
with me every minute.
Abby.
Please understand.
I want you with me every
minute of every day.
But, school is important.
And ... and stability.
I am your father and you
need to stay in school
for the next two months, Abby.
It's important.
She needs to come home now.
It's late.
- She's been asleep
for 20 minutes, Ed.
I'll bring her home
in the morning.
- She sleeps at home.
- Let her sleep, Ed.
She wants to stay here.
- No, Nancy.
You want her to stay here.
She belongs at home with me.
(slow sentimental piano music)
(knocking)
- I don't think Abby's
up for going to the game.
- Not up for the game?
I'm playing tonight.
- [Nancy] I know.
- It's Free Hat Night.
- She doesn't want to go.
It's just a game, Ed.
- So what's it like
out there, Eddie?
It's like The Natural, isn't it?
God, I love that movie.
When he hits the lights?
I bet you could hit the lights,
make it spray everywhere.
You know, my dad
played in high school.
His arm wasn't bad,
but he was pretty slow and
couldn't hit worth a damn.
It wasn't for not
trying, though.
He worked so hard.
Worked me so hard.
- Nothing else exists
within this fence
for nine innings.
Nothing.
You can smell the
popcorn and the hot dogs.
You can hear the crowd.
It's on the outside.
It's got nothing to do with you.
You can be whoever you
want on that diamond.
It doesn't matter.
You just play a good game.
- Well, good game.
(upbeat music)
♪ Sunshine shining in
the summertime breeze ♪
♪ The whole world's smiling
if you know what I mean ♪
♪ Cool, cool time hanging
out with the boys ♪
♪ AM Radio making some noise
♪ Tune into a moment in time
♪ When everything seemed
like the perfect rhyme ♪
♪ Here it is, here I go
♪ My show, can't wait
♪ Gotta do it now before
it gets too late ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Nothing in the world's
gonna get me down ♪
♪ Sparks fly, I'm on fire
♪ Way up high and
I'm getting higher ♪
♪ Turn it loose,
it's turning me on ♪
♪ With a day like this
♪ What could go wrong
♪ Tip my hat, blow a
kiss to the crowd ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Green grass growing
on the edge of my feet ♪
♪ Feels good knowing I'm
not out of my league ♪
♪ Singing a song that
I never have sung ♪
♪ Out of my range on
the tip of my tongue ♪
♪ Who knows if
tomorrow will come ♪
♪ It really don't matter
til this day's done ♪
♪ Gotta move, gotta
go, my fate, my turn ♪
♪ Still a little
daylight left to burn ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Nothing in the world's
gonna get me down ♪
♪ Sparks fly, I'm on fire
♪ Way up high and
I'm getting higher ♪
♪ Turn it loose,
it's turning me on ♪
♪ On a day like this
♪ What could go wrong
♪ Tip my hat, blow a
kiss to the crowd ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Sunshine shining in
the summertime breeze ♪
♪ The whole world's smiling
if you know what I mean ♪
♪ Here it is, here I go
♪ My show, can't wait
♪ Gotta nail it down
before it gets too late ♪
♪ Hey man, look at me now
♪ Nothing in the world's
gonna get me down ♪
♪ Sparks fly, I'm on fire
- All right, boys.
Bus leaves tomorrow 8 AM.
If you're not there,
you know you can walk.
- Good game.
- Thanks, man.
- Well, I'm out 20 bucks.
To Ronnie, no less.
I was sure you'd give
me a homer, Eddie.
- I never knew baseball
was this exciting.
I was dying when you
got that guy out.
- She was excited.
Hey, well.
Good game, Eddie.
Good luck on the road.
I'll be listening.
- Thanks, man.
Don't you touch my
truck, all right?
- You're just as good as
you were in high school.
- Somehow, it doesn't
feel as easy though.
- Yeah, well, you
make it look easy.
- Listen, I got to go.
- Just like you make
raising Abby look easy.
- She won't talk to me.
- You must just trust your
instincts with baseball.
You must be doing
something right.
Baseball's fun.
- I thought you might want this.
It was Free Hat Night tonight.
All those people were
wearing Clipper hats.
They played, "Clipper
Fans, Ring Your Bell."
Everyone singing, dancing.
It was kind of neat.
Pete was pitching a no-hitter
until the 8th inning.
You believe that?
Want me to show
you something cool?
- You don't have to feel sorry.
I don't want to go with
you anymore, anyway.
(slow classical piano music)
How do I look?
- Beautiful. Fantastic.
Good luck, sweetheart.
(applause)
(slow guitar music)
(slow classical piano music)
- [Voiceover] Ladies
and gentlemen,
the final score this
evening is four to seven.
The Clippers thank you
for your attendance.
- McGillian? Let's take a walk.
- Yeah, hold up.
- [Tommy] Now.
- Hey. He got the call.
- [Nancy] She was the best one.
Once, there was a
klutzy cupid named--
- Teardribble.
I can read.
- Okay.
Read to me, then.
- [Abby] Once, there was a
klutzy cupid named Teardribble.
- What are you doing down here?
- I can't find 103.1 FM.
- Oh, well.
- [Voiceover] Their
only true competition
so far this season,
but the club will
now have to deal with
the loss of Ryan McGillian,
who was called up to the
Yankees earlier this week.
Who knows who the
Clippers are going to have
to pick up the production?
One candidate would
certainly be Eddie Mills,
who's making a comeback
for the Clippers.
You might remember him
from the '93 campaign.
We'll see if he'll be
able to keep up the pace
and if he does,
who knows where Mills might
end up at the end of season.
- What does that mean?
- I'm not sure.
- Where would my dad be?
- I don't know.
But, I think he means
he'd be surprised
if your dad hadn't been called
up to the Majors by then.
Hey, but who knows, right?
Just a bunch of
commentators talking shop.
What do they know?
Hey, you like popcorn?
We can't listen to
baseball without popcorn.
- Okay, now you're
the pitcher, see?
Okay. You stand over there.
You have to get it
between here and here.
Throw it over the plate.
You can throw it
underhand if you need to.
Or overhand.
Hold on.
Okay.
You want to take the ball,
follow through and
bring your leg up, okay?
A little out.
- [Sarah] Keep trying, Abby.
- All right, Abby.
Good job, Krista.
- Could you do
that again, Krista?
(telephone ringing)
- Hello?
Oh, hi, Ed.
She's fantastic. Guess what?
100% on her math test.
- Tell him I hit the ball.
- What?
- Tell him I hit it.
- Yes, and she was playing
baseball with Krista
and she hit the ball.
- Four times.
- Yes, yes she hit it.
She hit it four times.
- [Eddie] All right, Abby.
- Now be really careful,
because this roof
breaks easily, okay?
- You remember all
the steps we took?
You're going to have a
fantastic Show and Tell.
Everyone's going to want to know
how you made this
beautiful house,
so here's some directions
in case anyone needs them.
Okay?
The other moms or
Miss Kerry, even.
Do you have everything you need?
- I'm ready to talk
to my dad, now.
- Oh, I think
that's nice, honey,
but we don't have any way
of getting hold
of him right now.
- Tom's cell phone.
- That's just for emergencies.
Your dad's probably
in a practice, anyway.
He'll call you tonight.
What do you need?
- I want to talk to him now.
- I'm sorry, honey.
Let's go to school and
tonight will be here
before you know it.
Show and Tell's
gonna be so much fun.
- If my dad calls,
ask him to come home
tomorrow morning,
before his game in Toledo.
- Toledo isn't that
close, sweetie.
- So, when me and
my brother, Zack,
go to the pond, we're
usually there all day.
Mom calls us forever.
She gets mad because we say that
we'll get home earlier.
She says she won't
let us go again,
but she always lets us.
I caught four fish last weekend.
My brother only caught two,
a big one and a little one.
So, like, one and a half.
I caught four.
- My dad is a baseball player.
He plays ball for
the Clippers but,
he's gonna be a Yankee.
(children chattering excitedly)
- Well, I knew our gingerbread
house would be a hit.
Oh. I brought you a recipe card.
It's not too difficult.
- Roger Clemens pitched
the New York Yankees
to another victory today.
Clemens pitched seven
innings of two-hit baseball
and Derek Jeter--
- Yo, Ed? What are you drinking?
- I'm okay, thanks.
- Come on man,
we're celebrating.
- No, no. I'm okay.
- Bobby tells her
she's a good girl
when she cleans her plate.
I've told him over
and over again,
she's going to be an overeater
if she thinks she's
only a good girl
when she cleans her plate.
- That makes sense.
- No.
I think it's okay in
some circumstances.
Like we do.
We emphasize that
she's a good girl
if she finishes
all her vegetables.
She hates vegetables.
- Except,
if you have to
force a kid to eat,
they'll start thinking that they
have to eat on a schedule,
instead of just
when they're hungry.
- She won't eat all day
if I don't force her to.
- Oh, she'll eat.
When she's hungry, she'll eat.
It's like sleep.
When she's tired, she'll sleep
and not until then.
- Ain't that the truth?
- Sounds like a full-time job.
- Oh, it is. Yes.
- It's a great full-time job.
- Okay, here you go.
- I don't feel good.
- You don't feel well.
You don't feel hot.
- I don't feel good.
- Heartache is
worse than the flu.
Let's buckle you up again.
- You didn't pull on it.
You have to check.
- Oh, it clicked.
- I know it clicked,
but you still have
to pull and check.
- Okay.
- My mom's seat
belt didn't work.
My dad checks.
He makes everyone check.
- I'll check it from now on.
- I won't tell him.
- [Nancy] Thank you.
- [Abby] What time is it?
- [Nancy] It's
almost nine o'clock.
- My dad's practice
is at ten o'clock.
- What time's the game?
- Five-thirty.
- [Nancy] Well, I certainly
hope it's Free Hat Night
or Free Shirt
Night or something.
- Eddie?
Eddie, a Yankee
suit wants to meet
with you after the game.
Brosius strained
his arm last night.
The Yankees need a back-up,
just in case.
A third baseman
who can hit.
(laughing)
- Hi, everybody.
This is Terry Smith from
Skeldon Stadium in Toledo,
where tonight the
Clippers get ready
to take on the Toledo Mud Hens
for the first time
in the 2000 season.
These two teams
battled each other
down the stretch a year ago.
The Clippers had to win
the final three games
in the '99 season.
- You feeling good?
- Yeah.
- How you feeling?
You feeling good?
- It still smells like
it did five years ago.
You think they would have
done something about that.
- Look, Eddie.
You play a great
game tonight and
you hit like the last
time you were here.
You remember that game?
- Yeah, I remember.
- Okay, go get 'em, Eddie.
Go get 'em.
- - [Voiceover] Coming to
the plate for Columbus,
the third baseman, number three,
Eddie Mills.
(crowd cheering)
(slow sentimental music)
(breathing deeply)
- Anytime you're ready.
- All right, all right.
- Go, Ed.
- Go, Daddy.
Go get 'em.
Whoo.
(crowd cheering)
- [Tommy] Eddie?
This is Brian Hall.
Brian's with the Yankees.
- Good to meet you.
- And you.
Eddie, we lost a
player due to injury.
We're going to need you on
the field tomorrow night.
You're booked on the
red-eye to New York.
Game time is 7 p.m.
There'll be a Yankee uniform
waiting for you in
the locker room.
Be on the field, five o'clock,
ready to play ball.
- I hope you didn't miss
too much at school today.
We have a long drive
ahead of us, Abby.
We definitely should go.
- Daddy.
- Abby.
Oh, God, I missed you so much.
- You were amazing, Dad.
Crack.
- He was pitching inside.
- Let's just you
and me ride home
in the back seat, okay?
- Well, now, let me see.
You must be the
famous Abby Mills.
I'm Coach Tom Donner.
- Hi.
You know, I believe you've got
the look of a ballplayer,
just like your dad,
who got the opportunity
of a lifetime tonight.
Your dad is going
to be playing ball
at Yankee Stadium tomorrow.
- Wow.
Could you still
ride home with us?
- We don't put them in bowls.
- What do you put them in?
- We just eat off the floor.
- Abby?
We don't eat off the floor.
Abby, are you hot?
- No.
Are you?
- You're letting in the bugs.
- [Abby] It's baseball.
We have to let the night air in.
(telephone ringing)
- Hello?
Yes, just a minute.
It's for you.
- Hello?
- [Eddie] Hey Abster.
- Dad.
Where are you?
- [Eddie] I'm in the dugout.
I'm on Jeter's cell phone.
- No way.
- [Eddie] Way.
- Nancy forgot to get peanuts.
She doesn't know how to
keep score or anything.
She doesn't know anything--
- [Eddie] Abby.
Baby, I gotta go.
I'm going in, I'm going in.
I'm playing for you.
- Dad? Dad?
- [Voiceover] Eddie Mills
coming in now for Scott Brosius.
Looks like Brosius
is in need of a break
after the strain on his
arm from last night's game.
- Oh. Ed.
You're here.
Ed, I've never raised a child.
I don't know what to do
for her when she's upset.
If you should need anything,
I'll just be next door.
(clearing throat)
- Dad.
- Hey.
Hi, baby.
- You played ball
for the Yankees.
- I warmed up Paul
O'Neill's arm.
- And you talked on
Jeter's cell phone.
- And I threw the ball to
Tino for the first out.
- I cried.
You played three
innings for the Yankees.
- Yep.
Scott Brosius' arm isn't
as bad as we thought.
- So, you'll play in Durham
tonight with the Clippers.
Nancy didn't do anything right.
She doesn't get it.
I'm not going to stay
with Nancy anymore.
I want to stay in my own house,
in my own room from now on.
- Hey.
Weight room locked?
- I don't know.
- Don't be discouraged, Eddie.
You knew Brosius was
going back into the game.
Look, I want you in the
game six days a week.
Five days on weights.
We got 55 games left
in the next two months.
I want you to eat,
sleep, breathe baseball.
Next time, you'll stay up.
Full-time Yankee.
Hm?
You know, some guys,
they spend their one game
with the Yankees on the bench.
But you?
You played in the Bigs.
Come on, Eddie.
You coming?
- You make Yankees
out of Clippers.
You're the coach that
makes the difference.
For all of us.
I love baseball.
But, sometimes,
it's from the bench that
you get the best view.
Besides, my daughter and I
can't both be in the spotlight.
She's becoming a
hell of a dancer.
Hell of an athlete,
if you ask me.
(sentimental guitar music)
(knocking)
- Ed.
- I thought I'd return these and
let you know that Abby wants
one of those hats.
- She does?
- Yep.
With the silver thingies.
I told her only the
cool people wear them,
so naturally she
has to have one.
- I feel like all
I do is start over.
Would you like to start over?
- Yeah. Yeah.
Baseball game is a
good place to start.
It's a beautiful
day for baseball.
♪ Come down from the place
where you've been hiding ♪
♪ Come out in the sun
where you belong ♪
♪ Sorrow's gonna pass
♪ Sadness doesn't
last too long ♪
♪ Come what may, come what may
♪ It feels good
to hear you say ♪
- Here you go.
- No, thanks.
- It'll help you bat.
♪ Come what may, come what may
- [Nancy] Oranges.
Oranges, boys.
♪ Something in the
rush of the water ♪
♪ Sleeping through my
dream like a stone ♪
♪ Then I see it's you
- Orange?
- I hear you make
a mean lasagna.
♪ Hello, sunshine
♪ It's a good old day
♪ Come what may, come what may
(cheers and applause)
- All right, Chad.
Here we go, buddy.
Watch the ball, now.
Hits before hands,
hits before hands.
- Come on, you guys.
Good job.
Hits before hands.
♪ Come what may, come what may
♪ It sounds good
to hear you say ♪
♪ Hello sunshine
♪ It's a good old day
♪ Come what may
♪ Ooo, come what may
♪ Come what may
♪ It feels good just
to hear you say ♪
♪ Hello sunshine
♪ It's a good old day
♪ Come what may, come what may
(playing "I Wanna Live Like
That" by Cathy-Ann Witworth)
♪ I wanna learn
from my mistakes ♪
♪ I wanna give
back what I take ♪
♪ I wanna be there
for my friends ♪
♪ I wanna always make amends
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna laugh right out loud
♪ I wanna make my mama proud
♪ I wanna have the
strength to cry ♪
♪ I wanna always wonder why
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna live that way
♪ I don't wanna be afraid
♪ I wanna love that
♪ Treasure every day
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna be heard when I pray
♪ I wanna slow
dance in the rain ♪
♪ I wanna love and
be loved back ♪
♪ Lose my way without a map
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna walk where
things grow wild ♪
♪ I wanna see my baby smile
♪ I wanna grow old gracefully
♪ Gather shells beside the sea
♪ I wanna live like that
♪ I wanna live that way
♪ I don't wanna be afraid
♪ I want to love like you
♪ Treasure every day
♪ I want to live like that
♪ I wanna live that way
♪ I don't wanna be afraid
♪ I wanna love like that
♪ Treasure every day
♪ I wanna live
♪ Like that