Not a Stranger

You go ask.

- Dude, I'm not goin', look at him.

- No way, I'm not goin'. - Dude, I'm not gonna ask him.

I'll ask him.

What the hell do you want?

Nothin'.

I think this guy's a mobster.

- He ain't no mobster. - Dude, yes, he is.

You guys are all friends?

Yeah.

- You wanna play fastpitch with us tomorrow?

Let me get this straight.

You're asking me if I wanna baseball?

Not baseball, fastpitch.

You know, against the wall.

Man, brother, you can hit.

You got a nice swing, man.

Thanks.

How old are you?

- Old enough to have a nice swing.

No, really, how old?

What's your name?

Bob.

What's your name?

Jimmy.

And you two?

I'm Ray.

Kevin.

Nice to meet you boys.

You know, when I was a kid,

we didn't chalk the box, we painted it.

Asshole.

I thought you wanted me to play ball.

I thought you were grounded.

Friend of yours?

Not really.

Justin Blake.

He plays ball with us sometimes.

- Guy's crazy, he's been suspended from school twice.

Try three times.

- I wouldn't even ask him to play again.

That guy ain't nothin' but trouble.

Do you live in Ellie's?

What makes you think that?

- Well, I've been there in the morning and saw you there,

and been there at night, even saw you there, too.

I like the place.

Good food, good coffee.

Is there a crime in that?

- I guess not, I was just saying that--

- Well, maybe there is a crime in that.

Maybe that's because you guys have been following me around.

I know you've been following me around.

Why?

- It's like a game. - Yeah.

A game?

- A spy game, where you pick someone who's interesting

to follow them around.

See what they're doing, where they're going.

And this time, we picked you.

We're playing again tomorrow.

You wanna come?

- I don't care what you say, they're the Cubs,

for Christ sakes, I don't care who they pick up,

they're never gonna win it, no.

It's definitely their year.

It's not their year, no. - I think they have a shot.

Yeah, Will!

- We got a better shot of seeing Santa Claus coming down

our chimney than we do of seeing the Cubs go to the Series.

- I think you're wrong there, hon.

They've got the youth, the talent, might just be our year.

- I drove by today, I saw you playin' ball.

Who was that playin' with ya?

Just me and the guys.

- Yeah, I know, I saw you and Jimmy and Kevin,

but who's that man?

He's just some guy.

Some guy?

How old is he?

- I don't know, he's older than us.

No kidding, how old?

What guy, Ray?

How old?

I don't know, 50?

- You're hanging out with a 50-year-old dude?

- He seems nice, okay? And we needed another guy.

Justin couldn't come-- - Justin?

Honey, we don't want you hanging out with that kid.

He's not a good kid.

- He's a punk is what he is, and as far as this

other guy goes, I don't want you hanging out with him.

- He seems fine! - Did you hear what I said?

I don't want you hanging out with this guy.

You understand me?

Answer your father, Ray.

Do you understand me?

Yes.

- Yeah! - There we go!

Bases loaded.

- Top of the seventh, 5-4, bases loaded!

Jimmy is in big trouble.

Knock it off, man!

I'm tryin' to concentrate!

What, you wanna pitch?

You gotta be kidding me.

That's it, Bob!

Keep doin' that crazy old-man shit!

Yeah, Bob!

- I can't believe you struck me out in three pitches.

- My stepfather doesn't want me hanging around you anymore.

Then what are you doin' here?

- I don't always listen to what my parents tell me.

Well, you should.

- Did you listen to everything your parents told you?

Always.

- No one always listens to their parents.

Well, I did.

That's bullshit.

Hey, watch your mouth.

But it is.

- You know why it's not bullshit?

Why?

- Because they know what the hell is goin' on,

and you're just a kid.

And mainly, you only get one mom and one dad.

You should always listen to 'em.

Red Badge of Courage.

What's it about?

Civil War.

Used to teach it to my students every year.

You used to teach?

Yeah.

What kind of teaching?

High school English.

- You always carry old books around?

Always.

But why?

- You should always have a good book on you.

Read this part.

Out loud.

- "Across the smoke-infested fields came a brown swarm

"of running men who were giving shrill yells.

"And they came on, stooping and swinging their rifles

"at all angles.

"A flag, titled forward, sped near the front.

"As he caught sight of them, the youth was momentarily

"startled by a thought that perhaps his gun was not loaded."

What do you think?

It's good.

It's real good.

It's yours.

Really?

Yeah.

Read some more.

- "He stood trying to rally his faltering intellect

"so that he might recollect the moment when he had loaded

"but he could not."

"A hatless general pulled his dripping horse to a stand

"near the colonel of the 304th.

"He shook his fists in the other's face.

"'You've got to hold 'em back!' he shouted, savagely.

"'You've got to hold 'em back!'"

Hey.

So, Ellie's is closed and Bob's still in there.

Doing what?

- Nothin', he's just sittin' there.

- Maybe the owner's just letting him stay there,

until it's time to close?

- No, I'm telling you, it's closed.

All the workers are gone.

That's weird.

It's gettin' late.

Talk to you tomorrow.

What you doin', honey?

Just readin'.

What book is that?

The Red Badge of Courage.

Is it good?

Yeah.

It's good.

Well, it's gettin' late.

Just a little longer, Ma.

Okay, honey.

Goodnight.

Night.

But, his life.

Go talk to him.

Man, this guy ain't comin'.

- You heard him, he said he'd be here.

- Dude, he's not comin', let's just play, let's play ball.

Come on, man.

- Yeah, let's just play, me and Jimmy against you.

And if your friend comes, he'll be on your side.

- He's not here right now, dude, come on.

- No ball today, boys, let's go for a ride.

Where are we goin'?

For a ride.

Well, are you coming or not?

You boys hungry?