Angels in the Outfield

JP:
You used to be Mel Clark?

Mel Clark:
Yeah! I used to be.

Photographer:
It looks like a prison photo.

George Knox:
We don't think as a team. We don't play as a team. WE CANT EVEN LOSE AS A TEAM.

George Knox:
Any loss is hard.

Ranch Wilder:
But this one really got to you. You leave Cincinnati after ten years of winning ball clubs - although the really big one always seemed to be just out of reach - and you come out here to manage our Angels. Now, expectations were high that you could turn this team around. But that just doesn't seem to be happening.

George Knox:
You oughtta know how one incident can change the course of events.

Ranch Wilder:
Well, you know, you play the game. You take your chances. Sometimes, you're just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

George Knox:
Yeah, you're an expert at that.

Ranch Wilder:
I could say the same about you.

George Knox:
Well, actions speak louder than words.

Roger Bomman:
Dad, when do you think we'll get to be a family again?

Roger Bomman:
I'd say when the Angels win the pennant

Roger Bomman:
God, if there is a God, maybe you can help them win a little?

Al the Boss Angel:
No one can see me or hear me but you!

George Knox:
There's a thing, called talent, THEY DON'T HAVE IT!

Roger Bomman:
Amen. Oh... and A-woman, too.

George Knox:
You blew your arm out, played on too many pain pills.

Mel Clark:
Pain pills? You were the one stuffin' them down my throat five years ago in Cincinnati.

George Knox:
Hey, it was your decision to swallow 'em!

George Knox:
Save it, Mapel!

Danny Hemmerling:
I guess no matter how many times you hear that song played in a Major League stadium, on a warm afternoon, it's still emotionally evocative.

George Knox:
Drop dead. I got sunscreen in my eye.

Frank Gaits:
Why do you idiots do that after you've lost?

Ray Mitchell:
It's for good luck, man.

Danny Hemmerling:
After 15 straight losses, I say we find something else to rub.

Pablo Garcia:
How about Triscuitt's head?

Triscuitt Messmer:
Don't even think about touching me anywhere.

Jose Martinez:
Fatty pants.

Whitt Bass:
You know, maybe we should do this before we lose.

Ranch Wilder:
Whit Bass takes the mound his oddball antics are now well known to the fans.

Wally:
That's right Ranch. This season alone we've seen him lick dirt, eat bugs and floss his catcher's teeth in the dugout.

Ranch Wilder:
None of that I might add seems to have helped his pitching. He's 2-11.

Hank Murphy:
Ranch, you're fired.

Ranch Wilder:
You can't fire me! I've got a contract! I'M RANCH WILDER!

Wally:
Easy Ranch, less is more.

Ranch Wilder:
I'm checking to see if Dan Prince pulled a muscle during his warmup tosses. There has to be some reason why Knox would make such a radical change. I have personally checked the stats sports fans and it says that Mel Clark has not started a game in this decade.

Al the Boss Angel:
Even though you can't see us we're always watching.

Hank Murphy:
Are you feeling better today?

George Knox:
Why would I be feeling better?

Hank Murphy:
Commissioner's fined you $5,000 for you jumping Gates. And word has it Ranch is pressing civil charges for you popping him.

George Knox:
You know I have felt better since I slugged Wilder.

Hank Murphy:
Your pistol's smoking pal.

George Knox:
I hadn't made the connection.

Hank Murphy:
I know you two have been at each others throats for a while.

George Knox:
We've been at each others throats since he spiked my knee and ruined my career.

Hank Murphy:
Accidents happen George.

George Knox:
No, It's not an accident. When you slide into a catcher with your nails up, it's on purpose.

George Knox:
I want you all here at 9 am tomorrow cause we're all going to work on fundamentals

Whitt Bass:
Well doesn't the game start at 1?

George Knox:
Yeah it does start at 1 and you're a jack-ass

Whitt Bass:
Oh no, i'm a pitcher

Jose Martinez:
Well you're a pitcher and a jack-ass

George Knox:
You can't go through life thinking everyone you need will one day let you down.

[Roger and J.P. are watching the game from a tree near the stadium and listening to the radio broadcast; on the field, George Knox starts walking out to the mound]

Ranch Wilder:
[on the radio] With another example of his infamous temper, manager George Knox calls time out. He is going to have a word with his pitcher, Frank Gates.

Roger:
I don't think it's going to be a happy word.

Ranch:
And it looks like Knox is going to take Gates out. Gates doesn't look too, pleased about this.

[on the field]

George Knox:
Give me the ball.

Frank Gates:
It ain't my fault, you need a new outfield.

George Knox:
[louder] You're out of here, GIVE ME THE BALL!!!

Frank Gates:
Do you want the ball? Well, here you go. [starts to hand it over] GO GET IT! [throws it aside and starts to hand his glove over] Do you want my glove? WELL, GO GET IT. [throws it as well].

Ranch Wilder:
[on the radio] Gates has thrown his ball and glove into the stands!

George Knox:
[lunges at Gates] Oh, Go on, get out of here, you're finished Gates. [they begin fighting with each other]

Ranch Wilder:
[on the radio] And now Knox has attacked his own pitcher!

Players:
Uh-oh.

Ranch:
This is outrageous! George Knox is fighting off his own players.

[in the tree]

Roger:
[sighs] Surprise, surprise...

Mapel:
[singing while taking off his baseball team jersey] We are the boys of summer, and it's a big bummer. No matter who we play, we give the game away. 'Cause we can't win. That would be a sin. We even lose the games before they begin--

George Knox:
SAVE IT, MAPEL!

[after speaking to Mapel who accidentally bumps his back on the pole in a surprised staring look at his manager, the whole team stares at George Knox as he walks over to the snack table and knocks it over with both of his hands]

Players:
Oh!

Triscuitt Messmer:
Bummer.

George Knox:
One more loss! One more loss which could've been a win! And you call yourselves "professionals"! I have never ever seen a worst group of 25 players! You don't think as a team, you don't play as a team, you don't even lose as a team! You all got your heads so far up your butts, you can't even see the light of day! One more loss and I'll [picks up chair]... and I'll do this [throws it at a baseball bat rack and the bats go flying all over the whole locker room, as the players duck for cover]...to each and every one of you!!

Whitt Bass:
[bat misses him as he pulls his face back] Oh-ho-hoo! [bat hits him in the head and has a blank look]

George Knox:
I want you... here in uniform at 9 tomorrow! We're going back to work on fundamentals!!

Ray Mitchell:
Fundamentals!? In the middle of the season!?

Whitt Bass:
[still with a blank look] I thought the game had started at 1?

George Knox:
It does start at 1, and you're a jackass!

Whitt Bass:
No, I'm a pitcher. [after speaking to George Knox who angrily leaves the locker room while making some angry groaning and moaning, grunting sounds to himself while putting both of his hands above his head]

Pablo Garcia:
You can be a pitcher and a jackass.

José Martinez:
Sí, it's very common.

Whitt Bass:
Oh! [faintly falls into his locker area while feeling unconscious]

[Roger, lying in his top bunk, looks up at the stars]

Roger:
[whispers] God--if there's a god, if you're a man or a woman, if you're listening', I'd really, really like...a family. My dad says that'll only happen if the Angels win the pennant. The baseball team, I mean. So, maybe you could help 'em win a little. Amen. [turns to sleep but turns back to the stars] Uh, a-woman too. [turns back to sleep but didn't noticed one of the stars shines, granting his prayer]

George Knox:
Let's keep the profanity down!

Players:
Huh?

George Knox:
I mean it! No swearing!

Ray Mitchell:
That eliminates all the speech for most of the team.

Miguel:
I don't want to go to the game anyway. The Angels never win.

J.P.:
I want to go to the game. They could win. It could happen.

Miguel:
Yeah! And you could drop dead after dinner... of food poisoning!

Roger:
Leave him alone!!

Maggie:
Boys, Hey, look what we've got for dessert: Jell-O.

J.P.:
Yay

Miguel:
It's not really Jell-O. It's cat-brains with food coloring in it. She kills them at night and feeds it to us to save money.

Roger:
Shut up, Miguel!

Maggie:
Roger, You know we do not use those words in this house.

Miguel:
[imitating a cat] Meow!

Maggie:
You know I wouldn't put any food coloring on my cat-brains.

[Knox has just found out Roger's Dad has given up custody of him, and explains that he too had a father who was absent during his childhood)

George Knox:
You know Roger, when I was growing up I never saw very much of my Dad. He couldn't take care of himself. So taking care of me and my brothers was out of the question. I'm not sure the pain that caused ever goes away. But I am sure you can't go through life thinking everyone you meet will one day let you down. Because if you do, a very bad thing will happen. You'll end up like me. I'm going inside.

J.P.:
I thought you said you had to be somewhere.

George Knox:
I do. Right here.

Roger:
I'm glad you're here. I was afraid no one was going to show up today, since everybody knows about the angels.

Al:
No one's coming. Championships have to be won on their own. It's a rule.

Roger:
Oh. Then why are you here?

Al:
[gestures to Clark] I came to check up on Mel. He's coming up soon. Going to be one of us.

Roger:
You mean he's...

Al:
Ah, he's smoked for years. Always a mistake. He's got 6 months left, doesn't even know anything's wrong yet.

Roger:
No.

Al:
Don't you worry. He's well taken care of. You concentrate on your own life now. We are expecting great things from you kid. We'll all be watching, you remember that.

[slowly dissolves away from Roger]

Al:
Even though you can't see us, we're always watching.

Mel Clark:
I've got nothing left.

George Knox:
Yeah, you do. You've got one strike left.

George Knox:
You've got an angel with you right now... just got here, and he's going to help.

Mel Clark:
The kid sees an angel?

George Knox:
Yeah, he must. That's the signal.

George Knox:
[moved by seeing the crowd] It could happen.

Mel Clark:
Okay.

George Knox:
[laughs] Go get 'em for the championship!

[at a press conference, where George Knox's employment appears to be hanging in the balance]

Maggie:
[Stands Up] Excuse me. I'd, uh, I'd like to say something on behalf of George Knox.

Hank Murphy:
Uh, what's your name? What's your business here?

Maggie:
My name is Maggie Nelson. I take care of foster kids. One of these boys is, uh, the child who can see angels. He could stand up right now and tell you exactly what's happened and I know you'd just laugh at him. But when a professional football player drops to one knee to thank God after making a touchdown, nobody laughs at that. Or when a pitcher crosses himself before going to the mound, nobody laughs at that. Seems like you're saying it's okay to believe in God, but it's not okay to believe in angels. Now I thought they were on the same team.

Hank Murphy:
Is it your belief, ma'am that, uh, angels play baseball?

Maggie:
Since the all-star break, yes.

Maggie:
We all need somebody to watch out for us. Every kid I have ever taken care of has been looking for someone to love: an angel. You've got to have faith. You've got to believe. You've got to look inside yourself. The footprints of an angel are love. And where there is love, miraculous things can happen. I've seen it.

Mel Clark:
[standing] I'd also like to say something. I don't know if there are angels out there, other than the twenty-five of us in uniform. But I know, there is one thing I won't do. I won't play for anyone but George Knox. I believe in him.

Triscuitt Messmer:
[stands] That goes for me too.

[all the other Angels players stand in support, along with David, Roger JP and the reporters (besides Ranch Wilder)]

George Knox:
[visibly moved and astonished] Thank you...all of you.

Hank Murphy:
Print what you want. George Knox is the manager of the ballclub. [all present cheer] And if there are any angels out there, I sure hope they're on our side.

Al:
Shh. Shh-shh. This is between you and me, little guy. No one can see me but you. Remember?

Roger:
[noticing the people, who're sitting behind him and waves to them] Hi.

Al:
Sit down, already. I left in a hurry yesterday. I forgot a few of the rules. Numero uno: don't tell anyone about us. Now, I heard you already told a little kid and El Capitan. But nobody else. We hate recognition. We're a very sensitive group. If people know we're around, I wouldn't be able to get an angel within a mile of this team.

Roger:
Okay. Are you guys gonna help out today?

Al We'll see. We never make commitments. We go and come and come and go. We're a capricious crowd.

Roger:
What's capri--[notices J.P. and David are coming back] What's capricious?

[Roger and J.P. plans to play baseball with the neighborhood kids around the block when George Knox is the pitcher. After J.P. bats the ball. After J.P. bats the baseball, George Knox chose a little boy named Marvin Vincent Archer]

George Knox:
Have you played any ball, before, Marvin?

Marvin Vincent Archer:
No, never played any ball.

George Knox:
Well, this is the perfect time to learn. [picks up Marvin Vincent Archer] Come on. [places Marvin Vincent Archer on the Home Plate] Watch the ball and when I say, now, you swing. Just do exactly what I say. Get ready to swing. Now!

[Marvin Vincent Archer hits the ball]

Roger:
[To Marvin Vincent Archer] Go, Marvin! Run to first base!

[Marvin Vincent Archer runs to first base]

George Knox:
[to Marvin Vincent Archer] You stay on base and do just what I say.

Marvin Vincent Archer:
[to George Knox] OK.

George Knox:
[to the other kids] We got runners on first and second.

[A big boy comes to the Home Plate]

George Knox:
And look who's coming to bat... Babe Ruth.

[George Knox throws the ball and the big boy hits the ball]

George Knox:
[to Marvin Vincent Archer] Go, Marvin! Run home!

Marvin Vincent Archer:
[to George Knox] Run home?

George Knox:
[to Marvin Vincent Archer] Run home!

Marvin Vincent Archer:
Run home. Run home.

[All the kids start laughing]

George Knox:
[to Marvin Vincent Archer] Hey, Marvin, where you going?

Marvin Vincent Archer:
[still running off] Run home, run home, run home.

George Knox:
[to Roger] Hey, where is he goin'? And what happened?

Roger:
[To George Knox] You told him to run home.

[Knox finally gets it and he laughs with Roger]

Ranch Wilder:
[in disbelief that the Angels won the pennant] I can't believe it.

Hank Murphy:
[walks in] Ranch?

[Ranch turns around, smiling innocently. However, Murphy doesn't buy it after hearing the snide comments he made of Knox and his team]

Hank Murphy:
You're fired.

Ranch Wilder:
[furious after Murphy leaves] You can't fire me! I got a contract! I'm Ranch Wilder!

Wally:
Easy, Ranch. Less is more. [He flips the broadcast dial, then speaks] ..And the Angels Have Won It.

George Knox:
[Shouting angrily at umpire] You call that a call?! Did you call that a call?! In all my years of baseball, I have never seen such a-- [Al the Boss Angel arrives and is able to influence the rest of Knox's words. Knox then, as a result, speaks slowly and calmly] such an astute evaluation of a potentially difficult decision. Masterful call. Oh, have a nice day.

Maggie Nelson:
I believe in the possibility of miraculous things happening, that makes every day of our lives worth getting up for.

Maggie Nelson:
It's like you're saying it's okay to believe in God, but it's not okay to believe in angels. I thought they were on the same team.