A League of Their Own (2022–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Back Footed - full transcript
It's really dark.
Is this your field?
When I was a kid.
I need you to hit off me.
Oh.
Oh, okay. Sure.
Holy!
Oh, wow.
Okay.
All right, gimme another.
Shit.
Okay. Okay, okay.
And with you,
it always comes back to Bertie.
Look at me and tell me that you don't
think that she could turn into an invert?
Fuck!
- I've never seen a woman pitch that fast.
- Fuck!
Wait,
I only tagged it 'cause you left it up.
Hey, wait. It's okay.
It's...
You left your bag.
- Clance.
- Oh, good. Max...
About the other night...
No, no, no, me first.
I should've remembered that
it was Guy's last night.
I am so sorry.
Thank you.
Thank you.
So, how are you?
- I'm good.
- Really?
You know, I mean, I just said goodbye
to my husband, possibly forever.
- Mmm-hmm.
- And life moving forward without him,
it's feeling like a never-ending
freefall into a dark abyss.
- But good, you know. I'm okay, so...
- Good.
What about you?
What happened with the team?
- Oh. Oh, um, I blew my shot at the team.
- Okay.
And then I realized
I wasn't good enough,
and that my life
is basically a lie,
- but I'm good.
- Okay.
- Oh, I am so good. Yeah.
- Oh, good.
- 'Cause I'm fine.
- Uh-huh.
- And you're fine.
- So, we're fine then.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Morning, everybody.
- Grand rising to you all!
Oh, okay,
are you two the greeters?
Shift head. Max Chapman.
Oh, shift head. Well, I'm Gracie.
Nice to meet you.
You said "Chapman," right?
- Uh-huh.
- I'm Clance.
Did anybody ever tell you
you look like, um,
what's her name? Josephine Baker.
- Right?
- Yes!
But more, more perfect.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah. It works.
Uh-huh. Are you two okay?
- Never better. Right?
- Oh, way okay. Great.
- Of course, we're okay.
- We're great. Tip-top shape.
Nothing can
bring us down.
- Nothing!
- Nothing!
Clance! I'm so sorry about Guy.
I've heard terrible things,
not just the war, but discrimination,
dangerous jobs, less training.
You must be
losing your mind!
I'm here for you.
That's okay.
That's okay, it's still a great day.
Yeah. So, then she threw her money down
right on the mound, and completely choked!
It was hilarious.
Fuck those guys.
Fuck Cheryl.
Mmm! Okay.
This looks good.
- This is hers.
- I got Stu's.
- Chips.
- Nice.
Mmm, cornbread.
Choke on this, asshole.
- They are not gonna know what hit 'em.
- I know, right?
- Ew, apple.
- Mmm! I'll trade you for a pear.
We are fine.
We're great. We're great.
Mmm-hmm.
Front page news?
Ridiculous.
Do you know there's a group of Girl
Scouts boycotting Baker candies?
Girl Scouts hate you!
They don't hate anything
except forest fires and getting lost!
You heard these two,
they apologized, Alan.
No. No more "Alan."
It's "Mr. Baker."
Junior.
Do you know how angry
my uncle is?
He said he's gonna shut
this whole thing down
and put me in charge
of the nougat division.
No one ever comes
back from nougat.
Wait, hold on,
he said he's gonna shut us down?
Yeah. We're bleeding money!
So, if you wanna
keep playing,
from now on, you're gonna
be the best of friends.
- You're gonna hold hands.
- Well, maybe not hold hands.
You know what I mean!
Just kiss and make up.
Don't... No kissing.
Um...
Yes, sir.
Yeah, we won't do it.
but we'll act like we want to.
- And you're gonna take over for Dove as coach.
- Me? I am?
- What, her? Why?
- Yeah.
What do you mean, her, why?
You're the one that started this whole mess.
- Uh...
- Oh, come on, do you even wanna be here?
Yeah, it's the only
thing I want.
But, wait, you're still gonna be looking for
someone to actually take over for Dove, right?
Guess what?
No one's interested in, uh,
coaching a women's wrestling team now, so...
Just get the team
back on track, or else...
Let's go home.
Heh. This says Dove is gonna
keep coaching us from afar.
With what,
a singing telegram?
Come on, Shirley, use your brain.
They don't wanna write,
- "They were not good enough to keep him around."
- Oh.
Excuse me.
You gonna
punch me if I don't move?
Hey, Striker! Want a smoke?
Sure looks like
you could use it.
You know, you may be the first
player in history to start a fight
where you're not even
in the game.
Yeah, well, you jokers got anything else
to say, take it up with your new coach!
Although that might
not last very long
because Baker's threatening to pull the
plug on us. Isn't that right, Shaw?
- What?
- Seriously?
You're the new coach?
No, no, no.
Whoa, whoa, whoa,
I've barely gotten a chance to play.
Okay, okay, I...
Yeah, I... Yeah... You know what,
I actually, um... I'm gonna go pee.
No, no, no, no, no.
Get back here.
You're the actual coach now?
Shh!
I thought you said we couldn't
go anywhere people know about.
Well, they don't know
about... this.
I can't.
I hate talking in front of people,
and Mr. Baker Jr. said that I need
to pull the team together, or else.
- He said, "Or else."
- Mmm. Mmm-hmm.
I mean, I'm just a housewife.
I don't know what...
Hey, Coach.
I think you need to relax a little bit.
Don't you?
Right?
- Oh. Hey, Carson.
- Hey.
I've been thinking maybe I should move
up in the order, maybe after Jess?
I think it would make
the rhythm better.
Um, yeah, let me,
let me think on that.
- It's what Dove would have wanted, so...
- Yeah.
- Awesome.
- Mmm.
I have to show you something.
Shirley, you can't
keep doing that.
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
I'm just a little upset.
You won't believe this.
Follow me.
Another teacher saw them
embracing and turned them in.
My cousin said it spreads like the flu,
if it already got Jo, we could be next.
- Do we tell the police about her?
- No, no, no, no, no. Uh-uh.
We can't ignore it, Carson.
What you ignore always kills you, always.
Okay, all right.
Do you wanna know
what's really going on?
Yes, I wanna know
what's really going on.
Jo is not a queer.
Her and Dove...
Her and Dove were,
you know...
No!
- No.
- Yeah!
- No!
- Yeah.
You know,
I see that, actually.
I sensed it.
Yeah, right?
It was blatant.
- Right in front of our faces.
- I know.
And we were eating it up.
- Why do you think he left?
- Why else would he leave?
I don't know.
That's why. That's why.
Oh.
So, when he was
making her run,
that was sexual.
Yeah. Yeah.
It was sexual, and there was
exertion and there was repetition
and there was rhythm, and I felt it,
and everyone else felt it,
but no one was
talking about it.
- Uh-huh.
- It was kinky.
Yeah, it...
Yeah, it was.
- I mean, I'm a Leo. He will love my energy.
- Oh, God.
What's going on?
What's going on?
No, this helps me feel safe.
It helps. Count to 12.
One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12.
Maxine, what are you doing?
- I'm getting rid of all this foolishness.
- You know what's foolish?
Tearing up your room in the middle of
the night. What the hell is going on?
You were right.
About baseball.
I've been wasting my life on something
that ain't gonna never happen. You happy?
Of course I'm not happy.
I love you, Maxine,
but maybe
this is a good step...
You love me,
but you don't like me.
- Excuse me?
- Name one thing you like about me.
My smile? My personality?
It's not my job to like you.
It's my job to raise you...
As long as I don't
end up like Bertie, right?
Oh! I forgot.
We're not supposed to say her name!
I don't know what happened
to make you talk like this...
I always wondered
what she did to you.
- Now I know you're the one who threw her away.
- You will not disrespect me
in my house like this.
You're gonna throw me away too
if I ain't what you want.
Maxine Chapman, so help me, God!
I will put your ass out
if you don't stop this.
You would, wouldn't you?
No, Maxine. Maxine, stop this.
I will put myself out first.
Maxine,
don't do this.
Stay and talk...
Maxine! Stay and talk!
Hold on.
Ah!
- Hey.
- Hey.
Um...
Can I stay here
for a li'l while?
- Mmm-hmm.
- Thanks.
What's this?
Uh, it's a...
I was working on a comic for Guy.
You know, cheer him up,
and me too, 'cause, uh...
I am not fine.
I'm not fine either.
- Max.
- Hmm?
Would you sleep
in the bed with me?
Also, I have to be
the big spoon.
You kept touching
my butt last night.
Mmm. Oh. Sorry.
I used to fall asleep holding
Guy's left cheek, so...
God, I just wish I knew
how he was doing. You know?
Uh, is this white lady
smiling at you?
- Just keep working.
- Hey.
Hi, uh, I'm Carson Shaw.
Uh, Clance, ma'am.
Ma'am? No, no. I... Um...
Can I borrow you
for a second?
- You gonna go with this white woman?
- It's okay.
You forgot your gear.
- Oh, okay, thanks.
- Yeah.
Uh, also, I made this for you.
I hope you like apples.
It's actually...
It is apple sauce
'cause I couldn't find the Granny...
The right ones.
I was wondering if we could
actually talk a little bit more?
- I'm on my shift, so...
- It will actually just take one second.
And, um... Or, you know, we can meet
again tonight? Same time, same place?
- Okay, yep, sure, fine.
- Okay.
- Who was that?
- No one. She just found my bag.
Did she find your pie too?
It's apple.
You can't just show up
to where I work like that.
Oh, I...
You just showed up at the stadium.
I didn't think
it was any different.
You mentioned that, uh,
it was fresh in your memory.
Me and, and her.
I just thought maybe this
could help you forget a bit.
That's all you got?
Well, I mean,
how much would it take?
Keep your money.
I'm not gonna turn you in.
Thank you.
Why did you come find me then?
Just wanted to know if I was
good enough to keep trying.
And?
I got my answer.
Remember when baseball
was just fun?
I mean, I used to take
my dad out after dinner
and throw the ball around just
to make him run, you know?
Maybe... Maybe we could
have a catch?
- It's "play catch."
- What?
You can't have a catch.
You play catch.
No, I think it's "have."
It's definitely
"play catch."
Not where I'm from.
All right, again.
Satchel Paige.
Yeah, I've heard of him.
Do another one.
Bullet Rogan.
Eighteen seasons,
could pitch as well as hit.
MLB ain't got nothing
on the Negro Leagues.
All right, throw one as you.
I think you might be the best
pitcher I've ever played with.
Not when it counts.
What happened?
I tried out for
the Rockford Screws.
I don't know what happened,
I couldn't get the ball to go anywhere.
- Sounds like the yips.
- The what?
It's this thing that happens
all of a sudden to pitchers
where they can't get
over the plate.
Happens to a lot of them,
actually, probably Rifle Rogan.
- Bullet Rogan.
- Yeah.
- Happened to this guy on my dad's team once.
- What'd he do?
Well, well, he quit.
Oh, great.
No, but that was him. You can work
through it. You can work through it.
You gotta figure out what's getting in
the way. It's all in your head. Okay?
What are you scared of?
What do you hear
when you're on the mound?
I hear all kind of things.
Well, maybe you gotta look whatever it is,
those voices, right in the eye.
All right, yeah, okay,
voices don't have...
Right in the mouth.
Right in the mouth. That's it.
You're
a strange person.
Yeah, I have heard that
a couple of times.
Me too.
My whole life.
Thanks. This helped.
Yeah, this helped me too.
Feel like my head finally
stopped spinning for a second.
Same time next week?
Yeah, okay.
And remember, right in the mouth.
Hello?
Mama?
"Bertie."
Max!
What are you doin' here?
Gracie?
I'm sorry. I thought this house belonged...
I was looking for my...
Bertie! We got company.
Come on in.
Maxine.
Uh...
Look at you.
Aunt...
You're my Aunt Bertie?
Toni Chapman's sister?
Well, I am Bertie.
Everything else you said is up in the air.
Nice to meet you.
We met already once
when you were just a baby.
Baby Max is doing very
big things now at the factory.
She's a shift head.
She gets that drive
from our side.
And that stance too.
Two peas in a pod,
I'm tellin' you.
We were just fixin' to eat.
Now, Bertie can cook. You hungry?
- Sure.
- Good.
Uh, could I use
your washroom first?
- It's right upstairs.
- Make yourself at home, sweetheart.
We'll be in the kitchen,
making you a plate.
So happy you're here.
Welcome, Maxine.
What are we doing?
Okay. So, a lot
has happened, right?
And I think we need to just put it
all behind us and focus on winning.
Right? And not fistfights.
Um, we gotta get back
to what really unites us.
Remember when we were kids and we were
throwing the ball around before dinner?
Just for fun, right?
You remember that, Bird?
- I remember you breaking a lotta windows.
- Hey!
Exactly, that's fun, right?
Okay. Everybody, pair up.
Let's just have a catch.
Here we go.
- That's right.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- Okay. Team.
Uh, hey, Lu,
I was thinking you could pitch me a couple
- and I'll see what your arm's looking like.
- Nah!
Hey!
Listen, I know things have been weird
between us since Dove put me in that game.
Um, we're fine. It's okay.
Oh. Good, actually,
because I was thinking it's time
for me to be starting catcher.
Uh... What?
Yeah, it's kinda only fair.
You're coaching
and I really need a chance
to prove myself to this team.
You know what?
I'm gonna think about it.
I'll think about that idea.
Thank you.
- I appreciate it. Thanks.
- Thank you, Ana.
Hey! What are we doing?
Um, we're just warmin' up.
We're just tryna find the joy.
I know where the joy is!
We need to win.
And practice our double plays because
Jo kept fucking that up last time.
That wasn't me, that was Esti!
No way! It was you!
Jo, no. You, si.
U, yeah. You know what,
that's a good call.
Let's do double plays.
Oh, no, we need to do BP.
Terri, good suggestion.
Yes, yes.
- So, I can practice batting after Jess.
- Huh? No, I go after Jess.
- Carson wanted to switch it up.
- What?
No, no, no. I never said that I
was making that decision at all.
Uh, why don't we just do BP?
And Lu will throw and we'll figure it out.
No, uh, Terri's gonna do that.
Wait, you said you were ready.
You said you wanted to go back in.
I'm not a warmup pitcher.
What is your problem now,
Striker?
Her! She is my problem.
I don't fucking trust her!
And neither should any of you!
What? What's the problem, huh?
What's wrong with your face?
- No, no, no, no, no.
- Are you crying? Oh, God!
No, no. Hey, hey, hey!
There's no crying in baseball!
Well, I cry after every game.
She has it out for me.
She's a headcase.
Ah, Miss Beverly, I think that you
should make someone else the coach.
- I don't want it and it...
- Do you smoke, Mrs. Shaw?
Um, no.
Well, you should.
It is very good for the nerves.
- Okay. Right now? We're doing...
- Uh-huh. Here you go.
Unmarried women, Mrs. Shaw...
...are always a half-step away
from being an unruly mob.
And you're allowing it.
Because you've spent a lifetime
letting people walk all over you.
Okay. I don't let people walk all over me.
All right? I just don't...
Mmm-hmm.
You see?
I just want them to think
I'm a good coach.
And they all feel like
I'm the one that's...
What? Do you think General "Boot"
Morales worried about my feelings
when we were fighting
at the Somme?
No!
That man yelled
in my face every day
and I thanked him for it.
Because people respect power.
Now, I want you
to show me yours.
- Show you... here?
- Mmm-hmm.
- Do it. Show me your power.
- Um...
Louder. Please.
You can't be their friend.
I want you to go out there and speak
in a strong voice, like a man.
And be the boot.
Be the boot.
We're closed.
Hey, Mama.
Maxine.
Is everything okay?
Yeah. Sure.
I was hoping you could squeeze me in.
For an appointment.
You don't usually
let me touch your hair.
Um, sit down.
So, what do you want?
Whatever you think
will look nice.
Maxine...
I love you and I like you.
I like your fire.
And I like your heart.
Even though you try
not to let people see it.
Like mother, like daughter.
Ain't that the truth.
I was thinking,
since I'm off on weekends...
Maybe I could pick up
a Saturday shift?
That'd be nice.
You know what else
I like about you?
Your hair.
You've always had
such good hair.
Maxine.
- Can I come in?
- Wait, what do you want?
Why are you
saying it like that?
Because you always
want something.
Well, this time it's gonna be
a good situation,
so just let me in, okay?
Nice, uh... sheets.
Wait, did you come here to make fun of
my sheets, because I have a lot of...
I... I have a Dr. Pepper I've been
saving for a special occasion.
I'm not thirsty.
Uh...
Um...
Don't we need to figure out
our stuff before we do this?
No. I think I've been taking everything
just a little too seriously lately.
- Does that mean you're not serious about us?
- Oh, come on, Gary!
You wanna do this or not?
No, no, I can't look at that.
We need to, uh... Can we...
Uh, yeah, yeah, okay.
Yeah, okay.
Yeah, sure.
You're the most perfect thing.
Whoo!
Okay.
- Wait. Stay a while.
- I forgot, I was supposed to meet Clance.
I gotta meet Clance.
Clance is waiting.
- No, but you can...
- And I left a pot. I left a pot.
There's a pot on the stove.
House is probably burned down, so...
What...
So, I gotta go. But thank you.
Thank you for this.
Um, it was...
Mmm-hmm. Okay.
Bye!
Hey! You Peaches.
You ready to kick the feet
clear out of their Sox?
We're gonna beat 'em so bad they're
gonna turn from Blue Sox to Black Sox!
All right, everybody.
Get in line. Line up, right now.
When I talk... you listen.
You. You're starting.
And I'm signing to you,
and you're taking every single one, got it?
Huh?
Oh, are you laughing now?
Is everyone laughing?
We're laughing now?
- Hmm.
- Excuse me?
The next person who laughs is
sitting on the bench. Let's go.
Really?
Yeah. Really.
Okay.
Ha-ha-ha.
You know what? Actually that's
great because I want Terri to start
and you're staying last
in batting order. Thank you.
- Hey, Carson.
- Hey, Greta.
Are you aware that you're
doing a voice right now?
A weird voice.
No, I'm not.
If I may, you are doing a voice,
and it's very loud.
It's a very high register.
Why is she talking like that?
- Right. There's a lot of intensity, right in her eye.
- In the face.
- It's the lower half of the face.
- No one likes it.
If I were doing a voice...
If I were...
It'd be fine.
Because guess what?
Surprise, surprise, I'm in charge.
Can we focus on
the fucking game, please?
Yeah, so, uh, mmm,
I'm starting, right?
Uh, no, you're not starting.
And if you bring it up one more time,
you're going to be benched even more.
What?
- Okay, now can we play?
- No!
You can go play when I say
that you can go play.
Do not... move.
Ah, ah, ah! Do not.
Ooh.
Let's go.
Thank you, that was great.
And let's have a great game out there.
That was a great team-building workshop.
- Grab some water.
- Okay. Then you should head out.
Head out there to sit on the bench.
Thank you so much. Phew.
Blue Sox, still in the lead.
The score now eight to three.
And that's another run
for the Blue Sox.
I'm telling ya, these Peaches are
playing rotten without Coach Porter.
Lupe. Come on.
Lu.
I can't believe we lost.
Bev said to be the boot.
It felt like I just got in
everyone's head, you know?
Yeah.
Wait. I'm so sorry I yelled at you.
That was so out of line,
and I don't wanna
be like that with you.
No, no, no that's okay.
You being such an asshole, it was hot.
Wait, what?
I wasn't trying to be an asshole, okay?
I was just doing what was best for the team.
Take charge, you know?
Oh, yeah. Take charge.
You're such an asshole. Keep going.
Can we just...
Can we stop, please?
I just need
to talk for a second.
I don't really feel
like talking, Carson.
What is going on with you?
I feel like you're a different person.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
I mean, on the road trip,
you were... We were just...
You're the one who's different, Carson.
Okay?
Just because you are the coach doesn't
mean that you get to control me.
I'm not trying to control you.
I'm trying to talk to you.
- Also, why are we yelling?
- Oh, my God! Jo was right.
You can't keep coming to me
with your problems.
Fine, I won't.
- Great.
- Jesus.
God damn it.
That's for your ass, it's getting soft
from sitting on the bench so long.
Leave me alone.
I thought we had
an understanding, brother?
- I came here to win, not to fuck around.
- Yeah, so did I.
Then... what is this?
She grabbed me.
But I'm the
"fiery troublemaker"?
She started the fight, not me.
She had secret practices behind my back.
She drove Dove away.
And now she gets to coach.
She didn't even want that.
Just had it handed to her.
And you... never
wondered why that is?
Brother.
I didn't think of it like that.
Yeah.
You don't have to.
You were right,
of course. About her.
About me.
Maybe I was.
"Maybe"?
Look, Bird.
After Dana...
you had to be careful.
We both did.
But I just...
Maybe things are changing now.
Joey, the world doesn't change.
Doesn't it, though?
Look at us, Bird.
Look at where we are.
You're different.
Am I?
Yeah, Bird.
You're happy with her.
So, what if,
right here, right now...
we forget the rules?
Both of us.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Yeah?
- That last one was pure heat.
- Thanks.
Seems like everything works fine
as long as no one's watching.
Except you, I guess
I didn't notice,
you're married?
Oh. Yeah. Yeah.
Uh, he's in the army.
I know what you're thinking.
How can I, while he's
away at war, with her?
No.
No, I was thinking...
How can you with him...
Physically?
Oh.
Well, it's not bad.
It can kinda be
nice sometimes.
Agree to disagree.
But you like him?
Yeah. Yeah, I love him.
But...
I think
I might love her too.
Can't believe I said that,
outside of my own head.
I can't either.
I know what I'm doing
doesn't make any sense.
Does anything?
I mean, besides this?
I wish I could talk
to my pitcher like this.
It would be so much easier for
me if you were on the Peaches.
For you?
You do realize I can't
be on the Peaches, right?
Yeah, no. Of course, I just meant
that we would make great teammates.
Did you even see me
at tryouts?
Yeah, your throw
was incredible.
And did you say something when
they kicked me off the field?
Did you do anything?
I can't keep doing this
to myself.
Wait. Wait, Max.
Meet me again, please?
We can have a catch,
or play catch, whatever. Max!
Fuck!
Pitch it straight!
Ow.
Fuck!
Come on, Garcia.
What're you doing? Hmm?
Come on, you fucking headcase!
"Take that,
Zitler! Pow!"
"Which do you like better,
hamburgers or fists?"
Nah, hamburgers is too American.
"Sauerkraut or fists."
Sauerkraut? You can't spell that.
- Schnitzel... Not Schnitzel.
- Oh, no. You been drinking again?
No. This happens to be
my process, okay?
I need to feel the characters if
I want Guy to feel them, so...
Well, I think I may have just
found you some more inspiration.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! Okay.
- Slow down.
- All right. Okay.
What's it say?
Dear... Birds... Awful...
Don't... Say... Scratch...
Sunset. Love, Guy.
That's it? That's all
they're giving me?
They even blacked out my name.
I know my own name.
This is scratch, so, what? Scratch.
Does it mean he's got injured?
Because you know, those doctors
probably won't even treat him, so...
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
He's alive.
That's what matters, right?
"Scratch"? That don't
even sound that bad.
- Yeah. It's just a scratch.
- Just a scratch.
- He's alive.
- Yes, he's alive.
At least some things
are back to normal.
I was worried when you didn't
come home last night,
but, obviously, you picked up a
baseball again and I knew you would.
Oh, uh, no. Uh...
I actually think I need to put
baseball down for a little bit.
What? Why?
Just need to.
I'm spinnin' here 'cause, uh...
I mean, who even is Max
if she's not playing baseball?
I don't know.
I think that's the problem.
It's time for me to figure out
who I am without it.
You're here early.
Yeah.
What's it to you?
Uh, can I talk to
everyone for a second?
Listen up.
So...
I've been a real asshole lately.
And, to be honest,
it's just because
I'm really scared that I'm not going to
be able to do this good enough for you.
So, Dove left
and I got so in my head about being
coach that I made this about me.
But it's not.
And I don't trust
that I know the answers.
But... I trust you.
You're my pitcher.
And when you tell me
you're ready, you're ready.
Anyway...
Someone once told me that they don't
get to decide if this is real or not.
We do.
Hmm. I feel like half
of that made sense.
All right, city girl.
Yeah. I'm not that good at talking.
I promise I'll get better at talking.
And at listening.
And at making us a team.
Let's hurry up, ladies.
It's almost game time.
Hey, Shaw...
When I wind up,
I'm still really tight.
And I don't know
that I can pitch the same way.
I mean, do you have to?
The forkball was Dove's pitch.
What's yours?
Listen, you lead,
I catch. No signs.
Okay.
Safe!
Let's go! Yes!
Striker's in a jam.
With a runner on base and a full count.
And she's out.
That's the inning, folks.
Bye-bye, Blue Sox!
Right?
We just beat the best team in the League.
Do you know
what this means?
This means we actually have
a shot at the championships!
I was going over the math
23 times this morning,
and, statistically speaking,
it's not impossible. It is not impossible.
- That's right.
- Not impossible.
All right, all right, all right.
Let's raise one...
To Lu.
My...
Brother.
Hear, hear.
- To Lu!
- To Lu!
To Lu!
Thank you.
You know, I think we should
probably shower her with praise.
- You know what I mean?
- Mmm. Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean.
- Oh, God! No.
- Get over here.
This is my good shirt!
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Can we go talk for a second?
- Yeah.
When I was 17,
there was this girl.
This was hers.
At first,
we were really careful.
And then we fell in love
and we stopped being careful.
Her mom caught us.
And I was fine, but...
her parents
had her put away.
"Put away"?
You remind me
of her. And...
I think that's
been scaring me.
Because I...
I don't wanna
see you get hurt.
I'm not gonna get hurt.
And neither are you.
You don't know that.
You can't promise that.
I know I can't.
I still want this.
Me too.
Really?
Mmm-hmm. Really.
Really-really.
Still got that plate?
Are you sure about this?
I'm sure.
Don't worry, Max.
Bert'll make you look real good.
Your mama and I learned
how to cut hair together.
Mama always sings that.
Well, maybe you came here
to find a little piece of home.
Is this your field?
When I was a kid.
I need you to hit off me.
Oh.
Oh, okay. Sure.
Holy!
Oh, wow.
Okay.
All right, gimme another.
Shit.
Okay. Okay, okay.
And with you,
it always comes back to Bertie.
Look at me and tell me that you don't
think that she could turn into an invert?
Fuck!
- I've never seen a woman pitch that fast.
- Fuck!
Wait,
I only tagged it 'cause you left it up.
Hey, wait. It's okay.
It's...
You left your bag.
- Clance.
- Oh, good. Max...
About the other night...
No, no, no, me first.
I should've remembered that
it was Guy's last night.
I am so sorry.
Thank you.
Thank you.
So, how are you?
- I'm good.
- Really?
You know, I mean, I just said goodbye
to my husband, possibly forever.
- Mmm-hmm.
- And life moving forward without him,
it's feeling like a never-ending
freefall into a dark abyss.
- But good, you know. I'm okay, so...
- Good.
What about you?
What happened with the team?
- Oh. Oh, um, I blew my shot at the team.
- Okay.
And then I realized
I wasn't good enough,
and that my life
is basically a lie,
- but I'm good.
- Okay.
- Oh, I am so good. Yeah.
- Oh, good.
- 'Cause I'm fine.
- Uh-huh.
- And you're fine.
- So, we're fine then.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Morning, everybody.
- Grand rising to you all!
Oh, okay,
are you two the greeters?
Shift head. Max Chapman.
Oh, shift head. Well, I'm Gracie.
Nice to meet you.
You said "Chapman," right?
- Uh-huh.
- I'm Clance.
Did anybody ever tell you
you look like, um,
what's her name? Josephine Baker.
- Right?
- Yes!
But more, more perfect.
- Uh-huh.
- Yeah. It works.
Uh-huh. Are you two okay?
- Never better. Right?
- Oh, way okay. Great.
- Of course, we're okay.
- We're great. Tip-top shape.
Nothing can
bring us down.
- Nothing!
- Nothing!
Clance! I'm so sorry about Guy.
I've heard terrible things,
not just the war, but discrimination,
dangerous jobs, less training.
You must be
losing your mind!
I'm here for you.
That's okay.
That's okay, it's still a great day.
Yeah. So, then she threw her money down
right on the mound, and completely choked!
It was hilarious.
Fuck those guys.
Fuck Cheryl.
Mmm! Okay.
This looks good.
- This is hers.
- I got Stu's.
- Chips.
- Nice.
Mmm, cornbread.
Choke on this, asshole.
- They are not gonna know what hit 'em.
- I know, right?
- Ew, apple.
- Mmm! I'll trade you for a pear.
We are fine.
We're great. We're great.
Mmm-hmm.
Front page news?
Ridiculous.
Do you know there's a group of Girl
Scouts boycotting Baker candies?
Girl Scouts hate you!
They don't hate anything
except forest fires and getting lost!
You heard these two,
they apologized, Alan.
No. No more "Alan."
It's "Mr. Baker."
Junior.
Do you know how angry
my uncle is?
He said he's gonna shut
this whole thing down
and put me in charge
of the nougat division.
No one ever comes
back from nougat.
Wait, hold on,
he said he's gonna shut us down?
Yeah. We're bleeding money!
So, if you wanna
keep playing,
from now on, you're gonna
be the best of friends.
- You're gonna hold hands.
- Well, maybe not hold hands.
You know what I mean!
Just kiss and make up.
Don't... No kissing.
Um...
Yes, sir.
Yeah, we won't do it.
but we'll act like we want to.
- And you're gonna take over for Dove as coach.
- Me? I am?
- What, her? Why?
- Yeah.
What do you mean, her, why?
You're the one that started this whole mess.
- Uh...
- Oh, come on, do you even wanna be here?
Yeah, it's the only
thing I want.
But, wait, you're still gonna be looking for
someone to actually take over for Dove, right?
Guess what?
No one's interested in, uh,
coaching a women's wrestling team now, so...
Just get the team
back on track, or else...
Let's go home.
Heh. This says Dove is gonna
keep coaching us from afar.
With what,
a singing telegram?
Come on, Shirley, use your brain.
They don't wanna write,
- "They were not good enough to keep him around."
- Oh.
Excuse me.
You gonna
punch me if I don't move?
Hey, Striker! Want a smoke?
Sure looks like
you could use it.
You know, you may be the first
player in history to start a fight
where you're not even
in the game.
Yeah, well, you jokers got anything else
to say, take it up with your new coach!
Although that might
not last very long
because Baker's threatening to pull the
plug on us. Isn't that right, Shaw?
- What?
- Seriously?
You're the new coach?
No, no, no.
Whoa, whoa, whoa,
I've barely gotten a chance to play.
Okay, okay, I...
Yeah, I... Yeah... You know what,
I actually, um... I'm gonna go pee.
No, no, no, no, no.
Get back here.
You're the actual coach now?
Shh!
I thought you said we couldn't
go anywhere people know about.
Well, they don't know
about... this.
I can't.
I hate talking in front of people,
and Mr. Baker Jr. said that I need
to pull the team together, or else.
- He said, "Or else."
- Mmm. Mmm-hmm.
I mean, I'm just a housewife.
I don't know what...
Hey, Coach.
I think you need to relax a little bit.
Don't you?
Right?
- Oh. Hey, Carson.
- Hey.
I've been thinking maybe I should move
up in the order, maybe after Jess?
I think it would make
the rhythm better.
Um, yeah, let me,
let me think on that.
- It's what Dove would have wanted, so...
- Yeah.
- Awesome.
- Mmm.
I have to show you something.
Shirley, you can't
keep doing that.
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
I'm just a little upset.
You won't believe this.
Follow me.
Another teacher saw them
embracing and turned them in.
My cousin said it spreads like the flu,
if it already got Jo, we could be next.
- Do we tell the police about her?
- No, no, no, no, no. Uh-uh.
We can't ignore it, Carson.
What you ignore always kills you, always.
Okay, all right.
Do you wanna know
what's really going on?
Yes, I wanna know
what's really going on.
Jo is not a queer.
Her and Dove...
Her and Dove were,
you know...
No!
- No.
- Yeah!
- No!
- Yeah.
You know,
I see that, actually.
I sensed it.
Yeah, right?
It was blatant.
- Right in front of our faces.
- I know.
And we were eating it up.
- Why do you think he left?
- Why else would he leave?
I don't know.
That's why. That's why.
Oh.
So, when he was
making her run,
that was sexual.
Yeah. Yeah.
It was sexual, and there was
exertion and there was repetition
and there was rhythm, and I felt it,
and everyone else felt it,
but no one was
talking about it.
- Uh-huh.
- It was kinky.
Yeah, it...
Yeah, it was.
- I mean, I'm a Leo. He will love my energy.
- Oh, God.
What's going on?
What's going on?
No, this helps me feel safe.
It helps. Count to 12.
One, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12.
Maxine, what are you doing?
- I'm getting rid of all this foolishness.
- You know what's foolish?
Tearing up your room in the middle of
the night. What the hell is going on?
You were right.
About baseball.
I've been wasting my life on something
that ain't gonna never happen. You happy?
Of course I'm not happy.
I love you, Maxine,
but maybe
this is a good step...
You love me,
but you don't like me.
- Excuse me?
- Name one thing you like about me.
My smile? My personality?
It's not my job to like you.
It's my job to raise you...
As long as I don't
end up like Bertie, right?
Oh! I forgot.
We're not supposed to say her name!
I don't know what happened
to make you talk like this...
I always wondered
what she did to you.
- Now I know you're the one who threw her away.
- You will not disrespect me
in my house like this.
You're gonna throw me away too
if I ain't what you want.
Maxine Chapman, so help me, God!
I will put your ass out
if you don't stop this.
You would, wouldn't you?
No, Maxine. Maxine, stop this.
I will put myself out first.
Maxine,
don't do this.
Stay and talk...
Maxine! Stay and talk!
Hold on.
Ah!
- Hey.
- Hey.
Um...
Can I stay here
for a li'l while?
- Mmm-hmm.
- Thanks.
What's this?
Uh, it's a...
I was working on a comic for Guy.
You know, cheer him up,
and me too, 'cause, uh...
I am not fine.
I'm not fine either.
- Max.
- Hmm?
Would you sleep
in the bed with me?
Also, I have to be
the big spoon.
You kept touching
my butt last night.
Mmm. Oh. Sorry.
I used to fall asleep holding
Guy's left cheek, so...
God, I just wish I knew
how he was doing. You know?
Uh, is this white lady
smiling at you?
- Just keep working.
- Hey.
Hi, uh, I'm Carson Shaw.
Uh, Clance, ma'am.
Ma'am? No, no. I... Um...
Can I borrow you
for a second?
- You gonna go with this white woman?
- It's okay.
You forgot your gear.
- Oh, okay, thanks.
- Yeah.
Uh, also, I made this for you.
I hope you like apples.
It's actually...
It is apple sauce
'cause I couldn't find the Granny...
The right ones.
I was wondering if we could
actually talk a little bit more?
- I'm on my shift, so...
- It will actually just take one second.
And, um... Or, you know, we can meet
again tonight? Same time, same place?
- Okay, yep, sure, fine.
- Okay.
- Who was that?
- No one. She just found my bag.
Did she find your pie too?
It's apple.
You can't just show up
to where I work like that.
Oh, I...
You just showed up at the stadium.
I didn't think
it was any different.
You mentioned that, uh,
it was fresh in your memory.
Me and, and her.
I just thought maybe this
could help you forget a bit.
That's all you got?
Well, I mean,
how much would it take?
Keep your money.
I'm not gonna turn you in.
Thank you.
Why did you come find me then?
Just wanted to know if I was
good enough to keep trying.
And?
I got my answer.
Remember when baseball
was just fun?
I mean, I used to take
my dad out after dinner
and throw the ball around just
to make him run, you know?
Maybe... Maybe we could
have a catch?
- It's "play catch."
- What?
You can't have a catch.
You play catch.
No, I think it's "have."
It's definitely
"play catch."
Not where I'm from.
All right, again.
Satchel Paige.
Yeah, I've heard of him.
Do another one.
Bullet Rogan.
Eighteen seasons,
could pitch as well as hit.
MLB ain't got nothing
on the Negro Leagues.
All right, throw one as you.
I think you might be the best
pitcher I've ever played with.
Not when it counts.
What happened?
I tried out for
the Rockford Screws.
I don't know what happened,
I couldn't get the ball to go anywhere.
- Sounds like the yips.
- The what?
It's this thing that happens
all of a sudden to pitchers
where they can't get
over the plate.
Happens to a lot of them,
actually, probably Rifle Rogan.
- Bullet Rogan.
- Yeah.
- Happened to this guy on my dad's team once.
- What'd he do?
Well, well, he quit.
Oh, great.
No, but that was him. You can work
through it. You can work through it.
You gotta figure out what's getting in
the way. It's all in your head. Okay?
What are you scared of?
What do you hear
when you're on the mound?
I hear all kind of things.
Well, maybe you gotta look whatever it is,
those voices, right in the eye.
All right, yeah, okay,
voices don't have...
Right in the mouth.
Right in the mouth. That's it.
You're
a strange person.
Yeah, I have heard that
a couple of times.
Me too.
My whole life.
Thanks. This helped.
Yeah, this helped me too.
Feel like my head finally
stopped spinning for a second.
Same time next week?
Yeah, okay.
And remember, right in the mouth.
Hello?
Mama?
"Bertie."
Max!
What are you doin' here?
Gracie?
I'm sorry. I thought this house belonged...
I was looking for my...
Bertie! We got company.
Come on in.
Maxine.
Uh...
Look at you.
Aunt...
You're my Aunt Bertie?
Toni Chapman's sister?
Well, I am Bertie.
Everything else you said is up in the air.
Nice to meet you.
We met already once
when you were just a baby.
Baby Max is doing very
big things now at the factory.
She's a shift head.
She gets that drive
from our side.
And that stance too.
Two peas in a pod,
I'm tellin' you.
We were just fixin' to eat.
Now, Bertie can cook. You hungry?
- Sure.
- Good.
Uh, could I use
your washroom first?
- It's right upstairs.
- Make yourself at home, sweetheart.
We'll be in the kitchen,
making you a plate.
So happy you're here.
Welcome, Maxine.
What are we doing?
Okay. So, a lot
has happened, right?
And I think we need to just put it
all behind us and focus on winning.
Right? And not fistfights.
Um, we gotta get back
to what really unites us.
Remember when we were kids and we were
throwing the ball around before dinner?
Just for fun, right?
You remember that, Bird?
- I remember you breaking a lotta windows.
- Hey!
Exactly, that's fun, right?
Okay. Everybody, pair up.
Let's just have a catch.
Here we go.
- That's right.
- Nice.
- Yeah.
- Okay. Team.
Uh, hey, Lu,
I was thinking you could pitch me a couple
- and I'll see what your arm's looking like.
- Nah!
Hey!
Listen, I know things have been weird
between us since Dove put me in that game.
Um, we're fine. It's okay.
Oh. Good, actually,
because I was thinking it's time
for me to be starting catcher.
Uh... What?
Yeah, it's kinda only fair.
You're coaching
and I really need a chance
to prove myself to this team.
You know what?
I'm gonna think about it.
I'll think about that idea.
Thank you.
- I appreciate it. Thanks.
- Thank you, Ana.
Hey! What are we doing?
Um, we're just warmin' up.
We're just tryna find the joy.
I know where the joy is!
We need to win.
And practice our double plays because
Jo kept fucking that up last time.
That wasn't me, that was Esti!
No way! It was you!
Jo, no. You, si.
U, yeah. You know what,
that's a good call.
Let's do double plays.
Oh, no, we need to do BP.
Terri, good suggestion.
Yes, yes.
- So, I can practice batting after Jess.
- Huh? No, I go after Jess.
- Carson wanted to switch it up.
- What?
No, no, no. I never said that I
was making that decision at all.
Uh, why don't we just do BP?
And Lu will throw and we'll figure it out.
No, uh, Terri's gonna do that.
Wait, you said you were ready.
You said you wanted to go back in.
I'm not a warmup pitcher.
What is your problem now,
Striker?
Her! She is my problem.
I don't fucking trust her!
And neither should any of you!
What? What's the problem, huh?
What's wrong with your face?
- No, no, no, no, no.
- Are you crying? Oh, God!
No, no. Hey, hey, hey!
There's no crying in baseball!
Well, I cry after every game.
She has it out for me.
She's a headcase.
Ah, Miss Beverly, I think that you
should make someone else the coach.
- I don't want it and it...
- Do you smoke, Mrs. Shaw?
Um, no.
Well, you should.
It is very good for the nerves.
- Okay. Right now? We're doing...
- Uh-huh. Here you go.
Unmarried women, Mrs. Shaw...
...are always a half-step away
from being an unruly mob.
And you're allowing it.
Because you've spent a lifetime
letting people walk all over you.
Okay. I don't let people walk all over me.
All right? I just don't...
Mmm-hmm.
You see?
I just want them to think
I'm a good coach.
And they all feel like
I'm the one that's...
What? Do you think General "Boot"
Morales worried about my feelings
when we were fighting
at the Somme?
No!
That man yelled
in my face every day
and I thanked him for it.
Because people respect power.
Now, I want you
to show me yours.
- Show you... here?
- Mmm-hmm.
- Do it. Show me your power.
- Um...
Louder. Please.
You can't be their friend.
I want you to go out there and speak
in a strong voice, like a man.
And be the boot.
Be the boot.
We're closed.
Hey, Mama.
Maxine.
Is everything okay?
Yeah. Sure.
I was hoping you could squeeze me in.
For an appointment.
You don't usually
let me touch your hair.
Um, sit down.
So, what do you want?
Whatever you think
will look nice.
Maxine...
I love you and I like you.
I like your fire.
And I like your heart.
Even though you try
not to let people see it.
Like mother, like daughter.
Ain't that the truth.
I was thinking,
since I'm off on weekends...
Maybe I could pick up
a Saturday shift?
That'd be nice.
You know what else
I like about you?
Your hair.
You've always had
such good hair.
Maxine.
- Can I come in?
- Wait, what do you want?
Why are you
saying it like that?
Because you always
want something.
Well, this time it's gonna be
a good situation,
so just let me in, okay?
Nice, uh... sheets.
Wait, did you come here to make fun of
my sheets, because I have a lot of...
I... I have a Dr. Pepper I've been
saving for a special occasion.
I'm not thirsty.
Uh...
Um...
Don't we need to figure out
our stuff before we do this?
No. I think I've been taking everything
just a little too seriously lately.
- Does that mean you're not serious about us?
- Oh, come on, Gary!
You wanna do this or not?
No, no, I can't look at that.
We need to, uh... Can we...
Uh, yeah, yeah, okay.
Yeah, okay.
Yeah, sure.
You're the most perfect thing.
Whoo!
Okay.
- Wait. Stay a while.
- I forgot, I was supposed to meet Clance.
I gotta meet Clance.
Clance is waiting.
- No, but you can...
- And I left a pot. I left a pot.
There's a pot on the stove.
House is probably burned down, so...
What...
So, I gotta go. But thank you.
Thank you for this.
Um, it was...
Mmm-hmm. Okay.
Bye!
Hey! You Peaches.
You ready to kick the feet
clear out of their Sox?
We're gonna beat 'em so bad they're
gonna turn from Blue Sox to Black Sox!
All right, everybody.
Get in line. Line up, right now.
When I talk... you listen.
You. You're starting.
And I'm signing to you,
and you're taking every single one, got it?
Huh?
Oh, are you laughing now?
Is everyone laughing?
We're laughing now?
- Hmm.
- Excuse me?
The next person who laughs is
sitting on the bench. Let's go.
Really?
Yeah. Really.
Okay.
Ha-ha-ha.
You know what? Actually that's
great because I want Terri to start
and you're staying last
in batting order. Thank you.
- Hey, Carson.
- Hey, Greta.
Are you aware that you're
doing a voice right now?
A weird voice.
No, I'm not.
If I may, you are doing a voice,
and it's very loud.
It's a very high register.
Why is she talking like that?
- Right. There's a lot of intensity, right in her eye.
- In the face.
- It's the lower half of the face.
- No one likes it.
If I were doing a voice...
If I were...
It'd be fine.
Because guess what?
Surprise, surprise, I'm in charge.
Can we focus on
the fucking game, please?
Yeah, so, uh, mmm,
I'm starting, right?
Uh, no, you're not starting.
And if you bring it up one more time,
you're going to be benched even more.
What?
- Okay, now can we play?
- No!
You can go play when I say
that you can go play.
Do not... move.
Ah, ah, ah! Do not.
Ooh.
Let's go.
Thank you, that was great.
And let's have a great game out there.
That was a great team-building workshop.
- Grab some water.
- Okay. Then you should head out.
Head out there to sit on the bench.
Thank you so much. Phew.
Blue Sox, still in the lead.
The score now eight to three.
And that's another run
for the Blue Sox.
I'm telling ya, these Peaches are
playing rotten without Coach Porter.
Lupe. Come on.
Lu.
I can't believe we lost.
Bev said to be the boot.
It felt like I just got in
everyone's head, you know?
Yeah.
Wait. I'm so sorry I yelled at you.
That was so out of line,
and I don't wanna
be like that with you.
No, no, no that's okay.
You being such an asshole, it was hot.
Wait, what?
I wasn't trying to be an asshole, okay?
I was just doing what was best for the team.
Take charge, you know?
Oh, yeah. Take charge.
You're such an asshole. Keep going.
Can we just...
Can we stop, please?
I just need
to talk for a second.
I don't really feel
like talking, Carson.
What is going on with you?
I feel like you're a different person.
I don't know
what you're talking about.
I mean, on the road trip,
you were... We were just...
You're the one who's different, Carson.
Okay?
Just because you are the coach doesn't
mean that you get to control me.
I'm not trying to control you.
I'm trying to talk to you.
- Also, why are we yelling?
- Oh, my God! Jo was right.
You can't keep coming to me
with your problems.
Fine, I won't.
- Great.
- Jesus.
God damn it.
That's for your ass, it's getting soft
from sitting on the bench so long.
Leave me alone.
I thought we had
an understanding, brother?
- I came here to win, not to fuck around.
- Yeah, so did I.
Then... what is this?
She grabbed me.
But I'm the
"fiery troublemaker"?
She started the fight, not me.
She had secret practices behind my back.
She drove Dove away.
And now she gets to coach.
She didn't even want that.
Just had it handed to her.
And you... never
wondered why that is?
Brother.
I didn't think of it like that.
Yeah.
You don't have to.
You were right,
of course. About her.
About me.
Maybe I was.
"Maybe"?
Look, Bird.
After Dana...
you had to be careful.
We both did.
But I just...
Maybe things are changing now.
Joey, the world doesn't change.
Doesn't it, though?
Look at us, Bird.
Look at where we are.
You're different.
Am I?
Yeah, Bird.
You're happy with her.
So, what if,
right here, right now...
we forget the rules?
Both of us.
Wouldn't that be nice?
Yeah?
- That last one was pure heat.
- Thanks.
Seems like everything works fine
as long as no one's watching.
Except you, I guess
I didn't notice,
you're married?
Oh. Yeah. Yeah.
Uh, he's in the army.
I know what you're thinking.
How can I, while he's
away at war, with her?
No.
No, I was thinking...
How can you with him...
Physically?
Oh.
Well, it's not bad.
It can kinda be
nice sometimes.
Agree to disagree.
But you like him?
Yeah. Yeah, I love him.
But...
I think
I might love her too.
Can't believe I said that,
outside of my own head.
I can't either.
I know what I'm doing
doesn't make any sense.
Does anything?
I mean, besides this?
I wish I could talk
to my pitcher like this.
It would be so much easier for
me if you were on the Peaches.
For you?
You do realize I can't
be on the Peaches, right?
Yeah, no. Of course, I just meant
that we would make great teammates.
Did you even see me
at tryouts?
Yeah, your throw
was incredible.
And did you say something when
they kicked me off the field?
Did you do anything?
I can't keep doing this
to myself.
Wait. Wait, Max.
Meet me again, please?
We can have a catch,
or play catch, whatever. Max!
Fuck!
Pitch it straight!
Ow.
Fuck!
Come on, Garcia.
What're you doing? Hmm?
Come on, you fucking headcase!
"Take that,
Zitler! Pow!"
"Which do you like better,
hamburgers or fists?"
Nah, hamburgers is too American.
"Sauerkraut or fists."
Sauerkraut? You can't spell that.
- Schnitzel... Not Schnitzel.
- Oh, no. You been drinking again?
No. This happens to be
my process, okay?
I need to feel the characters if
I want Guy to feel them, so...
Well, I think I may have just
found you some more inspiration.
Oh, my God! Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! Okay.
- Slow down.
- All right. Okay.
What's it say?
Dear... Birds... Awful...
Don't... Say... Scratch...
Sunset. Love, Guy.
That's it? That's all
they're giving me?
They even blacked out my name.
I know my own name.
This is scratch, so, what? Scratch.
Does it mean he's got injured?
Because you know, those doctors
probably won't even treat him, so...
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
He's alive.
That's what matters, right?
"Scratch"? That don't
even sound that bad.
- Yeah. It's just a scratch.
- Just a scratch.
- He's alive.
- Yes, he's alive.
At least some things
are back to normal.
I was worried when you didn't
come home last night,
but, obviously, you picked up a
baseball again and I knew you would.
Oh, uh, no. Uh...
I actually think I need to put
baseball down for a little bit.
What? Why?
Just need to.
I'm spinnin' here 'cause, uh...
I mean, who even is Max
if she's not playing baseball?
I don't know.
I think that's the problem.
It's time for me to figure out
who I am without it.
You're here early.
Yeah.
What's it to you?
Uh, can I talk to
everyone for a second?
Listen up.
So...
I've been a real asshole lately.
And, to be honest,
it's just because
I'm really scared that I'm not going to
be able to do this good enough for you.
So, Dove left
and I got so in my head about being
coach that I made this about me.
But it's not.
And I don't trust
that I know the answers.
But... I trust you.
You're my pitcher.
And when you tell me
you're ready, you're ready.
Anyway...
Someone once told me that they don't
get to decide if this is real or not.
We do.
Hmm. I feel like half
of that made sense.
All right, city girl.
Yeah. I'm not that good at talking.
I promise I'll get better at talking.
And at listening.
And at making us a team.
Let's hurry up, ladies.
It's almost game time.
Hey, Shaw...
When I wind up,
I'm still really tight.
And I don't know
that I can pitch the same way.
I mean, do you have to?
The forkball was Dove's pitch.
What's yours?
Listen, you lead,
I catch. No signs.
Okay.
Safe!
Let's go! Yes!
Striker's in a jam.
With a runner on base and a full count.
And she's out.
That's the inning, folks.
Bye-bye, Blue Sox!
Right?
We just beat the best team in the League.
Do you know
what this means?
This means we actually have
a shot at the championships!
I was going over the math
23 times this morning,
and, statistically speaking,
it's not impossible. It is not impossible.
- That's right.
- Not impossible.
All right, all right, all right.
Let's raise one...
To Lu.
My...
Brother.
Hear, hear.
- To Lu!
- To Lu!
To Lu!
Thank you.
You know, I think we should
probably shower her with praise.
- You know what I mean?
- Mmm. Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean.
- Oh, God! No.
- Get over here.
This is my good shirt!
- Hey.
- Hi.
- Can we go talk for a second?
- Yeah.
When I was 17,
there was this girl.
This was hers.
At first,
we were really careful.
And then we fell in love
and we stopped being careful.
Her mom caught us.
And I was fine, but...
her parents
had her put away.
"Put away"?
You remind me
of her. And...
I think that's
been scaring me.
Because I...
I don't wanna
see you get hurt.
I'm not gonna get hurt.
And neither are you.
You don't know that.
You can't promise that.
I know I can't.
I still want this.
Me too.
Really?
Mmm-hmm. Really.
Really-really.
Still got that plate?
Are you sure about this?
I'm sure.
Don't worry, Max.
Bert'll make you look real good.
Your mama and I learned
how to cut hair together.
Mama always sings that.
Well, maybe you came here
to find a little piece of home.