The Rookie

Man: There's a story told in the town of Big Lake, Texas--

a story of the town's beginnings.

It's the story of the Santa Rita Number One,

birthplace of West Texas Oil.

Now, as with most Texas legends,

there was a man who thought oil was right beneath his feet.

And as with most such stories,

no one else believed him.

Except in this case for two nuns,

who in 1923 met the man

and believed so much in him and his dream

that they invested money no one knew they had.

Now, when the nuns told their parish priest

about the man's dream and their investment in it,

now, he counseled them to try and get their money back.

Sheepishly, they admitted that it was too late,

that the money was already spent.

Well, the priest, he sighed, shook his head,

and offered just one small bit of advice--

bless the site with rose petals,

and invoke the help of Saint Rita,

patron saint of impossible dreams.

And while the workers waited for the oil

that would eventually come, they played baseball.

Oil worker: He's outta here.

Played baseball so well that some were able to give up

the dirt and the despair

and went on to play major-league ball

in the glory days of Ruth and Gehrig.

Come on!

I've heard and told that story on many occasions,

but that was long before

Saint Rita decided to bless our little town

just one more time.

-- -- Yeah!

First game in the big leagues,

and Jimmy Morris has a no-hitter going.

Agh, Jimmy, don't throw it so hard.

My hands are cold.

Agh!

What are you doing?

Waiting till Spring, that's what I'm doing.

Jimmy...

Your father and I need to talk to you.

I hear Virginia's real nice--

at least that's what the Navy folks told your father.

Isn't that right, Jim?

We'll just be moving again.

It's my job to decide when we move.

It's your job to make the best of it.

Jim, please.

Who knows? Maybe it won't snow so much in Virginia.

Jimmy: "Jimmy Morris,

"with another masterful pitching performance,

"well on his way

to another World Series title."

Jimmy...

Your father and I need to talk to you.

Man: Come on, Jimmy.

Hey.

Jimmy.

Hey, partner. How you doing?

Hey.

Hey, Dad.

Jimmy.

Hmm?

I had a good game-- 13 strikeouts.

Did you win?

I just found out

there's a chance we may be restationed again.

-- How much of a chance? -- It's in West Texas.

The Navy wants me to be a recruiter there.

Texas? When?

Three weeks.

But, Dad...

We still got half our season to play.

I'm aware of that.

Well, maybe I could stay with the Johnsons.

Unh-unh. We move as a family.

I don't have a choice in this.

What kind of baseball do they have?

They don't.

I hear they might be starting some summer ball.

Yes, sir.

Kael: What are those things?

Jimmy: What?

Those things moving up and down.

Oil rigs.

When those things are moving up and down,

it means times are good.

Looks like times are good.

Shoot.

We must have left some of them back in Florida.

Left what?

I packed a couple of boxes with socks and things.

I could've sworn--

Jimmy, did you find that one box?

Oh, no.

It's okay, Mom.

Don't worry, honey. We'll find it.

I've never known a boy to get so upset about losing his socks.

His glove was in there.

His what?

His glove was in there.

Oh, quit moping and grab a box.

Did you hear me?

There are more important things in life than baseball.

The sooner you figure that out, the better.

Man: This Lee Ivaco-cocus guy,

I guarantee you, within two years, three years tops,

he's gonna run that company right out of business.

Ain't that right, young man?

Eileen?

Eileen!

I guess she gone to lunch.

Help you find something, son?

Socks.

Socks we have-- in contrast to common sense,

which we seem to be running a little short on today.

I'll be right down.

Don't look at my dominoes.

All right, sir, we got white socks with red stripes,

black stripes, blue stripes.

Over there you got all your solids

in black, blue, brown, and gray.

Just take your pick.

That's a real nice pair right there.

You visiting?

We just moved here.

Oh, well, then I'm Henry Sampson.

Nice to meet you. Jimmy Morris.

Welcome to Big Lake, Mr. Jimmy Morris.

You know, son, I can probably tell you where it is

a whole lot quicker than you can find it.

Got any baseball stuff?

Oh, baseball stuff.

Don't get much call for baseball stuff around these parts.

Now if it was football, that'd be a whole different story.

You know something, though?

I got a catalogue over here that just might help us out some.

Let's take a look at that.

Yeah, I think we might find something in here.

You know, if you're interested in baseball,

there's a story that people here in this town tell

that you probably ought to hear.

Thought you said nobody here cared about baseball.

Oh, they care about this.

It all started with a couple of nuns

and a piece of ground not too far from here.

-- Morning, Esther. -- Morning, Jimmy.

Any more rattlesnakes on the playground?

Yeah. Two this morning.

I swear those things show up

every time the oil business goes bad.

-- They gonna bring the kids in? -- They're thinking about it.

Don't these families have enough to worry about?

Hmm.

Coach.

Counselor.

Don't report that, Esther.

I never do.

"Sum" means that we're adding.

We have at least two items.

Don't make this hard,

but what are we adding here--

protons and...

Neutrons?

Neutrons.

Neutrons.

So, David...

These protons and these neutrons,

they're inside of... what?

The nucleus?

Well, don't say it like a question, son.

If you think you know it, just say it like you know it.

The nucleus.

That's right-- the nucleus.

So, congratulations.

Go home tonight and tell your parents

that you figured out the mass number of an atom.

Jimmy: Frank, ain't it a little late to be playing this song?

-- It's 8:30. -- It's March.

Well, that song's too good to play for only one month.

-- Hunter, you gonna want cheese on that? -- Yes, sir.

Cal: Besides, he smoked three packs a day.

Henry: Who?

Nat "King" Cole. He thought it'd make his voice deeper.

Frank: Oh, and Frank Sinatra was the poster child for vocal care?

Who died in his 40s?

You take care of yourself, things work out.

Oh, is that right, is it? Well, what about Jimmy, there?

I mean, he took real good care of himself,

and, uh, how many surgeries was it, Jimmy-- four?