The Open Road

Last season, a lot of people thought he was playing

even better than his dad did when he first came into the minors,

but lately, you know, Garrett's been in a bit of a slump.

Carlton's father, of course, retired Hall-of-Famer Kyle Garrett.

And now he's back at the plate.

Halliday sets. And the 1-2.

High fly ball, right centerfield.

This should do it. Jackie Liston drifts back.

And, well, the Hooks lose this one 6-0.

Corpus has now lost the series,

but it's the first series the Hooks have lost

since May 26th.

Son of a bitch.

Hey, Garrett, come talk to me for a minute.

What's going on with you?

I'm just trying to figure some things out.

Figure things out?

Yeah, you know, whatever it is that's eluding me.

No, nothing's eluding you, Garrett.

You're just stuck in your head, that's all.

And baseball players don't say things like "eluding."

So pull it out of your ass and play some ball for me,

- will you, please?! - Okay, Coach.

I got to level with you.

If things don't go well this weekend, I'm thinking of making some changes.

Hey.

Man. She had some trouble breathing after lunch,

- drove herself over. - What did they say?

They've recommended a procedure.

It's a catheterization of some kind.

I don't know. They've had a lot of success with it,

but there's always a risk.

Now, listen,

they've got her on antibiotics and they have to wait a few days,

but she won't agree to sign the surgery waiver.

Right.

If she falls unconscious, they can do it without her consent.

Otherwise we'll need a court order

and I don't know if we can get one.

Okay, Grandad, I'll talk to her.

Hey.

Hey, I was listening.

What happened to you out there tonight?

I thought you were gonna pull that off.

Yeah, me too.

Were you wearing your thing?

Oh.

We've been buds a long time, haven't we?

Yes we have.

And have I asked you for much during that time?

Have I asked you for many favors?

No, not really.

Okay, I need to ask you for one now.

Anything, Mom. You know that.

I need to see your father.

Mom.

If he's not here when I go into surgery,

I'm gonna die on that table.

- Come on. - You tell him I'm crazy.

You tell him... I don't care... Whatever you want to tell him,

but I'm not signing that waiver till he gets here.

I won't.

Okay, wait a second. Let's just calm down here.

No, I need to see him, Carlton.

And don't tell me to calm down

when I'm laying here with a fucking hole in my heart!

Mom!

Shit, I'm scared.

Shit.

I'm scared!

Okay, this time I am really scared and I don't know why.

So please tell me you'll do it.

- If that's what you want. - That is what I want.

Okay, I'll do it.

I promise.

Thanks.

- Woman on phone. Hey. - Hey.

Look, I'm sorry to just call like this, but.

Wow.

Why don't you just try calling him?

You don't know him, Lucy.

I mean, he's not exactly easy to talk to.

Ah.

If you were to ask this guy how he was doing,

instead of saying "fine,"

he would say something like.

"Better than a chigger on the back of a hound dog."

I don't get it either.

Well, I guess you are in a pickle.

I don't know what to tell you.

I mean, I'm sorry about your mom.

I am. This whole thing is just...

Yeah yeah, I know.

Well, I'm subbing for two classes in the morning.

You gonna be okay?

- Yeah. - You call me if you need anything,

or if Katherine needs anything.

Okay.

Thanks for coming over.

Love you.

Love you too.

Did I wake you?

No, I was just baking a fruitcake.

You want some?

Good one.

Um, I wanted to say thanks for coming by earlier.

- Did you call him? - I got his agent.

He's at an autograph show in Ohio.

Can you believe the guy still doesn't have a cell phone?

So anyway, um.

I'll go.

- You will? - But, look, I gotta be back by Wednesday,

- no later. - Wednesday. Done.

- Hey. - Hey.

Yeah, so I'm thinking for this first thing or whatever,

um, maybe I'll just do it on my own.

Okay.

Maybe we can have a nice dinner or something after.

Go. Go, young man.

Face your demon.

It all boils down to this. It's all on the shoulders

of Garrett. Oh!

- Oh my goodness. - Oh, it looks to be good!

Are you kidding me?

It's out of here!

- Absolutely unbelievable! - This is amazing.

Garrett has done it. Kyle Garrett has just won the National League pennant

for the Houston Astros!

Thanks.

He's got me swinging so damn hard

I was spinning around in the dirt and I strike out.

Then I got to walk back to the bench

with my teammates laughing their asses off.

I lose my 100 bucks,

but I learned an important lesson...

You never trust a rookie.

Ever!

Okay, well, we have time for one or two more questions.

- Right there. - What happened to Palmer?

I thought he was supposed to be here.

Bob needed to be at home with his wife.

They're expecting their second child, so unfortunately he had to cancel.

What do you think about that, Lonestar?

Well, I guess maybe Viagra does work.

Believe it or not, Kegs is even older than I am.

So when his wife got pregnant the first time,

I told him not to worry. I'd find the bastard that did it.

And then last month when he told me she was pregnant again,

well, that was quite a blow.

I realized I'd killed the wrong guy.

All right. Well, there's the pitching contest tomorrow at 9:00 AM.

So I hope you can all make it.

And we'll be selling tickets outside.

Kyle. All right now, who do we got next?

What you got there for me, little pardner?

A baseball card.

Well, put it on up here. I ain't gonna bite.

Only two things you've got to worry about as far as that goes.

Rattlesnakes and redheads, okay?

You're too young for one, too far north for the other,

- you know what I'm saying? - He's growing up quick.

Okay, here's your card. Let's take our picture.

I think you're the best, Mr. Garrett. Nobody since Ted Williams

- can swing a bat like you, sir. - I appreciate that.

All right. All right, you take care of this little slugger now.

- Oh, yes, sir. Thank you, sir. - All right. See you.

I got about 15 more in me, sweetie.

All right. Come on up now.

Hello.

What can I do for you?

I tried to call you in Arizona.

Mike said you were here and that you still didn't have a phone,

so I just flew up.

I don't know if that answers my question,

but it sure is good to see you.

I need to talk to you in private.

It's important.

Sweetie, can you put some more ice in that for me?

If I would have been able to reach you by phone,

- I just... - Kyle, they changed the thing

over at the pavilion. They're gonna do it at 6:00.

Okay, I'll see you over there. Oh hey,

this is a fan of mine.

He come all the way up here from Texas.

Oh, all right. Welcome to Ohio.

- Jack Masterson. - Carlton Garrett.

Well, see you over there then?

All right, I'll see you there.

- Thank you, darlin'. - Sure thing.

- You're holding up the line. - Dad.

- What? - Please.

Look, I'm staying at the same hotel you are.

I'm here with my friend Lucy. When you're done with this,

maybe you could just, I don't know, meet us at the bar or something after.

All right, this dog and pony show will be over around 8:00.

I'll see about swinging by after. How's that?

- Thanks. - Hey, buddy. What you got there?

Lonestar, sir, I have to say it is an honor to meet you.

Maybe you should just call his room.

Let's just give him 20 minutes.