Little America (2020–…): Season 2, Episode 6 - Columbus Starlings LLC - full transcript

Tonight is the night.
Ichiro Suzuki, just two hits away

from breaking the Major League
hits-in-a-season record.

This record's set
by George Sisler 84 years ago,

and you can bet that all eyes
will be on Ichiro tonight.

He has only three games
left to break the record.

Hey, Mom, listen to this.

To scare off predators, starlings
fly all together in a big group.

It's called "murmuration."

Starlings, that's cool.
We gotta go. Eat, eat, eat.

It looks
certain that he's gonna break the record.

It's crazy! He
started off... He was only hitting 255.



That's 73 points
below his career average.

There she is.
Happy birthday.

Have you told your mom
"happy birthday" yet?

- I made her a card. It's on the fridge.
- That's good. Nice job.

Honey, I've got wall-to-wall
showings in Westerville today.

I'm so sorry to ask this, but can you pick
up your cake on your way home from work?

- Here's your lunch.
- Oh. Thank you.

Okay.

Honey, can you pick up
your birthday cake?

- Yeah, yeah, I got it. I got it.
- Okay.

Mom, which record
is he breaking again?

The most hits in a season.

Hey! Hey! Hey.

Hey, hey.



- Dollar in the shoe jar.
- Oh, come on. I tiptoed.

- That's, like, half the surface area.
- No, no, no, no.

- Dollar in the shoe jar.
- I love you. Happy birthday.

- Tiptoe discount!
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

Bye.

Hmm.

Can't believe
we're having this discussion.

This is not just any player,
this is a player from Japan.

I think his hits record is
a bigger accomplishment...

Who cares if he's
from Japan. The home run record...

Hey.

- Ah!
- Ah, ah! Uh...

Five, six, seven, eight!

♪ It's your birthday
And the Dyers know ♪

♪ We hope it's a good year ♪

♪ Oh, stick with us
And make no mistake ♪

♪ You'll have fun
Now, where's the cake? ♪

♪ Where's the cake? ♪

Aw. Okay, make a wish!

Come on. Blow out
the candles, sweetie.

No, one more.

- Happy birthday!
- Happy birthday!

Okay, bring it over here.
Let's cut this up.

- Here it comes.
- Wow! That's a...

Oh, you guys.

Guys! Guys, guess who
I ran into at Frank's.

- Ms. Shepard.
- No!

I know!
Mrs. Shepard?

She's retiring.
Wow.

- Retiring?
- Yes.

She was, like, 80
when I did Guys and Dolls.

He had a crush
on Janna Montefusco.

And the music moved me.

Do you remember
how bad Charlie Lutz was?

Oh, my God. I haven't thought
about Charlie Lutz in forever.

Chuck Lutz, wow.

- Chuck Lutz.
- What's happening with him?

I just heard his older
sister is moving to Cleveland.

- What was her name again?
- Oh, my God. Uh...

Oh, it's Susannah.

Susannah!

Well, what about you?
I want one.

Well, then that... that
one's for you. Right there.

Guys, thank you. Thank you.

Uh, thank you for the cake. I
love it. I love the gift, and I gotta go.

- The game is on. Okay. Go ahead.
- Thanks, Mom.

- Okay.
- Sorry.

Sorry.
No, it's okay.

- Oh, okay.
- A big Mariners game on tonight.

Her favorite player
might break a world record.

- Oh. That's really good.
- Can I open her presents?

Ichiro now stands
alone in second place.

Probably won't be
there too long.

Ichiro! Ichiro!

Backdoor slider
too far outside and the count is full.

Three balls and two strikes.

And a ground ball...

He's a new all-time
hit king in Major League history!

Number 258!

The usually
staid, unemotional Ichiro Suzuki

with a huge smile on his face,

and I'm sure, a huge load
lifted off his shoulders

as the pressure has mounted here
incredibly in the last couple of weeks.

And Ichiro, acknowledging
the sellout crowd.

For the new hit champion
of all time.

Ichiro with 258 hits.

It didn't take him long, did it?

He's first to advance here
in game number 160. And...

One of the great
moments in baseball history right here.

And finally, this young man from Japan
comes in and establishes the new mark.

Thank you.

Yes.

Is... Is this for Teddy, or...

No, it's for me. I'm in
training. Training for what?

Whoa!

Geez, w-what do you have
that thing set to?

Eighty
miles per hour. What?

That's what big leaguers hit.

Yeah, but you haven't played
since you were in college.

Maybe we should set it to,
like, 40 or... Don't touch it!

So, is this thing, like, a...
Like, a rental or...

Don't worry. It was only 1,500.

$1,500?

Oh, my God.

When Teddy wanted to play guitar,
we didn't run out and buy him a Fender.

Teddy is a child. I'm an adult.

I've never seen someone so happy
striking out.

There are
no women's teams in Columbus.

The closest one to play
is in Chicago.

How come Mom gets computer time
at the table?

She's doing research. She's
looking for a baseball team.

But when I type in "women's baseball,"
it asks me if I mean "women's softball."

But isn't that...
Isn't softball close enough?

No, it's totally different.
Uh...

What's softball?

Uh, it's basically the
same thing. No! It's not.

Did you know fly-fishing and
deep-sea fishing are the same?

Okay, that's not funny.
That's not funny.

You did it.
Fly-fishing is an art.

Softball and baseball are
the same. No!

Yeah. Different.
Totally different things.

It's the same. That's
lying. Daddy's lying, okay?

The point
of softball is the same.

You're still swinging at things
with a bat, is all I'm saying.

The ball is the size
of a grapefruit,

and they throw it underhand,
like tossing to a child.

You do know that men
play softball too?

Whoa. No! Okay, don't shoot. Ah!

Okay, I take it back.
I take it back. You are right.

You are the baseball expert, I
am just a guy brushing his teeth.

I love you.

Hey, here you go.

Hey. Women's-only baseball team.

Become a Starling!

No.

Become a Starling!

- Women's-only baseball team.
- Oh. Thanks.

Do you have what it takes?

You look strong.
You can be a pitcher!

Become a Starling!

Corin,
you want to play baseball?

No.

Starlings, become a Starling!

Hey, you look tall.

Hmm.

Kazuko.

Kazuko.

Hey, we actually,
uh, play here on Saturdays.

Um, come on.
Let's go get pancakes.

The law is first come,
first serve.

The... The law?
Yeah. The law.

But there's only two of you.

We have a team.
They're just not here yet.

First come, first serve.

Whatever, lady.

I don't know.
It's better over here.

Very good!

Hi. We're the Dyer brothers.

Since 2002, Dyer Brothers Real Estate
has been family-owned and operated

in Columbus, Ohio.

We were born here, so we know
what makes each neighborhood special.

Whether you're looking for
your first house, your next house

or an investment property,
we're here to help.

Dyer Brothers Real Estate.

Let our family help your family
find its home.

Please join
the Columbus Women's Starlings.

Ready to
rehearse, Mom? Mm-hmm.

Please join
the Columbus Women's Starlings.

Join the Columbus
Women's Starlings,

because I can't... Join the
Columbus Women's Starlings.

Hey, Mom,
am I the reason you stopped?

What?

Don't moms stop things sometimes
when they have a kid?

Oh, yes,
but that's not why I stopped.

Then why did you?

Well, I played in college,
and then I came to America,

because they were starting a
professional women's team.

The Silver Bullets.

But they didn't last.

I never planned to give it up.
It just didn't exist.

It's cool that you have a thing.

I don't really have a thing.

You'll find it. I promise.

Okay. I'm gonna put in
a lot of zooms.

Good acting.

Please join
the Columbus Women's Starlings.

Be less serious, more happy,
and talk quicker.

- Okay, okay.
- Okay. Okay. Action!

To be a good
fielder, it's all about the footwork.

- Okay.
- Oh, look.

It's... It's training camp
for the Yankees.

You want to stay low and
funnel the ball into your body.

Lower. Even more. Much lower.

And don't be afraid
to get hit in the face.

What?

Oh, God. I
haven't felt these muscles in 40 years.

I passed out 250 flyers,
and all we got is Lorraine?

No offense.
None taken.

I wouldn't take it personally.

I mean, how many women
like baseball?

I'm making a commercial.
Everyone watches commercials.

If you build it, they will come.

Mmm.

So, what's the obsession
with baseball, Yoshiko?

I like how everything has to be
perfectly aligned to hit the ball.

Yeah, I can miss
a thousand times,

but when I hit...
I just feel...

ikigai.

Ikigai.

There's not really
a word for it in English.

Uh, it's "reason for living."

Well, ikigai is like
little motivation or happiness.

I always said if I hadn't gone into
septic, I would've opened a bakery.

Is that my ikigai?

Uh, well, i-it could have been.

It's a feeling when the lights
turn on inside of you.

Please join
the Columbus Women's Starlings.

Because I can't play...

Mom, you deleted the clip.

No.

Yes, you did. Mom!

- Undo it, undo it, undo it.
- Okay, well, I'm off.

Oh, can you take Teddy?

I left early
to pick him up Tuesday,

and we've got inspections
at two places today.

It's on your way.

I'm only working Monday,
Wednesday, Friday.

W... What? You cut your hours?

Mm-hmm.

- Teddy, can you go get your backpack?
- Okay, bye.

Thanks.

Um, do we discuss
this stuff anymore?

I mean, we can't afford
to lose that income.

Until my business
gets off the ground.

Your business?
Baseball's not a business.

Yep. Yes,
I see that you made a nameplate.

But you don't need to cut down your hours
to play catch with two women at the park.

You don't get to decide.

Let me finish.

Okay.

Please join
the Columbus Women's Starlings.

Good, good.

- Hey! You guys interested in baseball?
- Hey!

- Yeah, saw the flyer!
- Yeah.

- Yay!
- All right.

- Hey. Diane.
- Super excited.

- Let's do jumping jacks. Go!
- All right.

Let's go. Go, go!

Okay, Lorraine,
swing and run. Go!

Go! Good. Good, good, good.
Come on, come on, come on, guys.

Guy-Guys, go, go, go,
go, go, go!

Judy, hustle!

- Judy, Judy! Go!
- Come on, Judy!

I'm pacing myself.

- Come on.
- Whoo!

Got it!

Yeah. Come on. Let's go,
Starlings. What, what, what.

Thanks, Teddy.

Good job. That's it.

That's it.

Hey, is that Corin?
Hey, Corin!

She lost big on Saturday night
and couldn't pay up.

- That was my trade.
- Kazuko, you did it. That's... That's nine.

That's... Hey, that's...
That's nine. That's nine!

- Wait, that's nine? Really?
- We are going to Chicago!

We are the Starlings!

Starlings, Starlings!

- We've been planning this trip.
- I know.

We see your family
every week. I...

I don't need to go
fly-fishing with them.

Okay, and instead, you're taking a
bunch of adult women on a field trip?

I mean, I can't get into this.
I have to go pack.

Hey, this is my one thing.

Everything else is about you
and your family.

Our family. Our family.

No! It's your family.

Your brother, your sister,
your parents.

None of this is mine.

Oh, really? So, now you
don't have a husband or a child?

Hey, you know
that's not what I mean.

I am just trying to understand this sudden
dissatisfaction with our entire life.

You were the one who left Japan.
You decided to move here.

Yes, to play baseball.

If I was in Japan,
I would still be playing.

Oh, now we're suddenly
romanticizing Japan?

- You hate Japan.
- I didn't hate Japan.

You said it was a box.

The whole conveyor-belt thing,
where everyone's just on one track?

I wanted to go back!

You're the one who said women's
baseball could be a thing here!

Yeah, I was 20. I would've
said anything to get you to stay.

I didn't want all this.

I didn't dream of having
a house or a husband!

I dreamed of playing baseball!

Wow.

Right.

Well, not every dream works out.

Hey, this is happening.

You are 42 years old. You're
not gonna be a pro ballplayer!

This is happening, Paul!

Okay. Yeah. Have a great trip.

You're a box!

What? What the hell?

Japan was a box.
But you, you're a box.

No. I am a grown-up.

You're a box!

Listen up.

Tomorrow we will face
the Annie Oakleys.

Nine women who have worked
just as hard as us for this opportunity.

We'll be focused.

Remember fundamentals.

We'll say, "Got it!" loud and clear
when we make a play for a ball.

- Yep.
- Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

I can't thank you enough for helping
me make my dream come true.

Go Starlings! Whoo!

Oh, my God!

We're gonna win.
We are gonna win.

Whoo, whoo, whoo!

- Got it.
- Come on, Janine. You got this.

- Whoo!
- Good, Janine.

Whoo!

That's all right. It's okay.

Judy! Judy!
Get it! Go, go, go!

It's fine.

Code red, bud. Come on.
We gotta go.

It's almost done downloading.

I got it. Get up.
Go get your stuff.

Don't mess up Mom's thing.

Okay.

What the...

Please join
the Columbus Women's Starlings,

because I can't
play baseball by myself.

We can still win, you guys.

Come on. Rally caps.
Come on! Come on!

Starlings!

- You've got this.
- You got it!

Okay. Okay.

- Let's go!
- Let's go!

You got this. You've got it!

Go! Run, run, run!

Starlings! Starlings! Starlings!

- Well, we lost.
- Could've been worse though.

I couldn't believe it.

Hey, Starlings. Can I get y'all
to huddle up for a second?

I made the trophy myself.

For our MVP!

That's it. Ikigai!

- Ikigai!
- Ikigai!

Yoshiko! Yoshiko! Yoshiko!

- Give to Judy.
- Yeah.

Yoshiko, hey, it's Judy.

My parents need some help,

so I'm gonna be out of town
for the rest of the year.

But good luck with the team.

Hey, it's Dawn.

I got that promotion.
My schedule is getting crazy.

Ugh, man, I miss you guys.

Yoshiko. It's Candy.

Hey, listen, my kid needs tutoring...

Hey, Yoshiko. Got your message.

I'm high as a kite
on pain pills right now.

Two more surgeries.

Yoshiko! Hey, it's Janine.

Look, I'm working weekends
down at the store now,

so I don't think I'll have much
time for anything else, unfortunately.

Mmm.

- Ooh.
- Hmm?

I'll go start dinner.

Follow me.
Something we want to show ya.

What?
Watch your feet.

There's, like, some nails
and screws and stuff there.

- Whoa.
- Mmm. Come through here.

- Wait, what's going on?
- Okay.

We have to be at Teddy's game.

His game doesn't start
for another hour.

We have something to show you.

I got a great price.

- We bought this?
- Yeah.

It's a field. And we'll get all that. I
know there's some bottles and stuff.

We'll... We'll clean it up.

I mean, I work for money.

Right? Yeah, It's great.

It buys us stuff that we want,
but it's not a passion.

You have a passion.

I didn't see it, but...

But I... I get it now.

Teddy, do you know that when
your mom moved here from Japan

and moved away
from Obaa-chan and Ojii-chan,

she came
all the way here to Ohio?

She didn't speak the language,
but she had a dream.

Do you realize
how special that is?

I mean, I moved two blocks
from my elementary school.

I know it's not perfect,
but we'll work on it. Together.

You did this?

Yeah. I mean,
he helped a little.

Mom.

Nice.

Catch.

Dad...

Oh, God.

Dad, you gotta work on that arm.

- He does.
- Now we got a field where I can practice.

Right?

You know,
I can't play by myself.

Please join with me Columbus
Women's Baseball League.