The Rookie

ODIE OWNZ!!!

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.

[ lndistinct talking ]

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.

-- [ Bat cracks ball ]

-- 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.

[ Grunts ]

Agh!

What are you doing?

Waiting till Spring,

that's what I'm doing.

Jimmy...

Your father and l

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 yourjob

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."

[ Fence rattles ]

[ Grunts ]

[ Panting ]

Jimmy...

Your father and l

need to talk to you.

[ Sighing ]

[ lndistinct talking ]

Man:
Come on, Jimmy.

[ Sighs ]

[ Crowd cheers ]

Hey.

Jimmy.

[ lndistinct talking ]

Hey, partner.

How you doing?

Hey.

Hey, Dad.

Jimmy.

Hmm?

I had a good game --

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.

[ Door opens, closes ]

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.

[ Sighs ]

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.

[ Bell jingles ]

[ Door creaks, closes ]

[ Distant conversation ]

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. [ Chuckles ]

You know something,

though?

I got a catalogue over here

that just might

help us out some.

Let's take a look at that.

[ Exhales deeply ]

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.

[ Scraping ]

[ Engine turns over ]

[ lndistinct conversations ]

-- Morning, Esther.

-- Morning, Jimmy.

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