-[TOOLS WHIRRING]
-[HAMMER THUDDING]
[MAN YELLING INDISTINCTLY]
MAN: Right there.
[TOOLS CONTINUE WHIRRING]
[HAMMER CONTINUES THUDDING]
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
[TOOLS WHIRRING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
-You expecting someone?
-No.
Hi. Sorry to bother
you gentlemen.
-Is one of you John O'Leary?
-I'm John.
Mr. O'Leary.
Hi, my name is Deanna Rocco...
Oh.
-Sorry.
-No, it's okay. I do, uh...
I do handshakes, I do knucks...
-High five. All that.
-[DEANNA CHUCKLES]
Well, how can I help you,
Ms. Rocco?
Well, I have a scout troop.
I'm a den mother.
And I heard
about what happened to you.
What do you mean?
What happened?
The accident
when you were a kid, um...
But... but then
how you recovered
and became a successful builder,
and, um...
Well, I... I just thought
that my girls might be inspired
if you came and talked to them.
About what?
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
-[KNOCK ON WINDOW]
-[GASPS]
-Hey. Oh, sorry.
-[EXHALES]
We're ready for you.
-Okay. Great.
-Yeah, okay.
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
[JOHN VOMITS]
[SPITS]
[INHALES SHARPLY]
[EXHALES]
Uh, hi. My name is John.
O'Leary.
John O'Leary, um...
When I was your age,
I was burned in an accident,
over 100% of my body.
Um, I burned
my family's house down, too.
[EXHALES]
I was in the hospital
for five months,
but eventually, I recovered.
I've got scars, but...
mostly I'm... I'm good.
Thank you.
Oh. Uh, any questions
for Mr. O'Leary?
Oh, wow.
Okay, um... Yes?
How did you do it?
I was playing with gasoline.
Does it still hurt?
No. Um...
It's a little uncomfortable,
but...
I... I'm fine, mostly.
Would you change it
if you could?
Uh, what... what do you mean?
If you could go back and stop it
from ever happening, would you?
[PIANO PLAYING MELLOW TUNE]
[PAUSES PLAYING PIANO,
THEN RESUMES]
-[PLAYS CHORD OFF-KEY]
-[SIGHS] Pay attention.
Sorry, Mrs. Whitaker.
Why do you keep
looking at the clock?
You can tell me.
The Cards game is starting.
It's the National League
Championship Series.
-Go ahead.
-Thanks.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
-Practice.
-Okay.
Denny, you got the plates?
-DENNY: Yeah, I got 'em.
-Okay.
YOUNG JOHN: Coming through.
Coming through.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Hey, young man.
Where do you think you're going
without telling me the score?
-[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO]
-It's 0-0.
Tudor just fanned
-the first batter.
-Oh.
SUSAN: Dad and I are going out,
we ordered pizza for you kids.
You be in by 5:00, okay?
And be careful on that bike.
No Evel Knievel stuff.
Stay off busy streets.
I know, Mom.
And one more thing.
Mwah.
-We love you.
-Love you, too.
[DOOR OPENS, THEN CLOSES]
COMMENTATOR: [OVER RADIO]
This year, for his club,
he was 10 and 12.
Coleman takes the strike.
And that's Dravecky for you.
Got ahead
of the hitters last time
and he gets ahead
of Coleman here.
He's tough, and he's
demonstrated that before.
And here's the pitch.
-Swing and a miss.
-[CROWD EXCLAIMS]
-He threw it by him.
-MALE UMPIRE 1: Strike two.
If you're just joining us,
I'm Jack Buck,
and we're here
at the top of the first inning
of Game 6 of the NLCS
here at Busch Stadium.
Another pitch coming.
Swing and a miss.
[OVER RADIO] He struck him out.
JOHN: I grew up in St. Louis,
Missouri,
15 minutes away
from Busch Stadium.
And if there's one thing
people from St. Louis love,
it's Cardinals baseball.
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
Coleman in the series...
JOHN: And all season long,
the voice we waited for
was legendary
Hall of Fame announcer,
Jack Buck.
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
A swing and a miss.
JOHN: He was the soundtrack
of my childhood.
-BOY 1: Put some more on.
-[INDISTINCT CHATTER OVER RADIO]
BOY 2: No, it's my turn.
BOY 3: I got it. I got it.
BOY 1: You ready?
Okay. Watch out.
BOY 2: My turn.
BOY 1: Watch out, guys.
BOY 2: It's my turn.
BOY 4: Ready?
[STRIKES MATCH]
BOY 1: Whoa.
BOY 2: That was awesome.
BOY 1: That was a big one.
BOY 2: Let's do it again.
BOY 1: Come on.
BOY 2: Let's get
another one going.
BOY 1: All right,
get the matches.
BOY 3: Hey, it's my turn.
BOY 4: Come on, let's go.
BOY 3: Sorry, dude.
BOY 3: Watch out,
watch out, watch out.
BOY 4: Here you go.
Wait, hold on.
-I gotta put the gas down.
-BOY 1: Ready?
BOY 2: Let's back up.
BOY 4: Go.
[BOYS EXCLAIM]
-Jeez.
-Oh, my goodness.
Let me have a go.
Let me have a go.
-That was amazing.
-BOY 3: That was the best one.
Hey, what are you guys doing?
-Get lost, dork.
-No, he can watch.
Okay, but if you tell anybody,
you're dead, got it?
Let's go.
Let's get another one out.
BOY 2: Yeah, yeah.
BOY 1: All right, pour it.
BOY 3: That's good.
BOY 2: Watch out, guys.
BOY 3: That's plenty.
BOY 2: You ready?
BOY 1: I'll do the matches
-this time.
-BOY 3: Okay. let's go.
-[BOYS EXCLAIM]
-BOY 2: Holy cow.
-BOY 3: That was crazy.
-Cool.
-Could I try?
-BOY 2: No.
-Just go home.
-Get lost. Just go.
BOY 2: Come on, man.
No, get outta here.
BOY 3: We're done with you.
BOY 2: Get outta here. Move on.
BOY 1: Get lost.
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
One out,
and the pitch
is made from Tudor,
and a swing and a miss.
A low off-speed delivery,
-strike one.
-[CROWD CHEERING]
This crowd really wants to see
Leonard do poorly, don't they?
[INDISTINCT CHANTING
OVER RADIO]
They're chanting him
like the Giant crowd
did Ozzie at Candlestick.
Boy, they're into it.
Pendleton,
deep behind the base.
The Cardinals looking
for the double play ball.
Here's another throw
to first in the run.
Hey, what are you up to,
Little Chester?
I told you not to call me that.
Okay, jeez, sorry.
So what are you up to?
-Nothing.
-JIM: Whatever.
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
Giants leading
the series,
three games to two.
Another throw to first
and he just got back.
It was close.
He had Mitchell
hanging in midair for a while.
The ball didn't get
to Lindeman very quickly.
The tag was late,
it almost got him.
Still strike one on Leonard.
Mitchell, another rather
average lead off at first.
[CROWD CHEERING]
JACK BUCK: [ON RADIO] Thompson
struck out, Mitchell singled.
Tudor steps off,
Mitchell goes to the mound.
And then he comes back
behind the dish.
John Kibler at first,
Montague at second,
Dave Pallone at third.
What do you mean?
If you could go back
and stop it from ever happening,
would you?
Yes. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
I absolutely would.
[expl*si*n]
[FIRE BLAZING]
JOHN: Okay, girls, what do
we do when we're on fire?
GIRLS: Stop, drop, and roll.
JOHN: Very good. Me?
I just ran.
[INTENSE MUSIC PLAYING]
[YOUNG JOHN SCREAMING]
[RADIO FREQUENCY WHINING]
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
A swing and a miss.
YOUNG JOHN: Mom, Dad! Help!
[YOUNG JOHN HYPERVENTILATING]
Help!
Help!
[YOUNG JOHN PANTING]
Help!
JOHN: I was praying for a hero,
for a savior.
[BOTH SCREAMING]
JOHN: And that's
when I saw Jim.
JIM: Oh, my gosh!
JOHN: And I thought,
"He hates me.
"He tortures me.
Anyone but him."
YOUNG JOHN: Help!
But on that day,
he was the one.
He beat down that fire
and saved my life.
JIM: Front door, go!
Get Laura and Cadey outside!
[PANTING]
JIM: Come on, John.
Don't go to sleep.
AMY: It's okay, John. It's okay.
Don't go to sleep.
Come on, John. Stay with me.
Wake up!
You can't go to sleep.
-I have to call 911.
-AMY: It's gonna be okay.
[WINDOWS SHATTERING]
YOUNG JOHN: [WHISPERING]
I want to die.
Don't say that.
Please k*ll me.
-[WHIMPERS]
-AMY: Don't say that.
JOHN: I thought,
"Okay. Wow, Susie's going."
The sister I made peanut butter
and jelly sandwiches for,
and added Tabasco
when she wasn't looking.
911, hi.
JOHN: I just gave her
permission to do
what she's probably
always wanted to do.
John, it's gonna be okay.
JOHN: I watched in shock
as our little sister came
running through the smoke,
looked me straight in the eye,
took a breath, and...
[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYS]
JOHN: I wanted to die,
but my little sister was
risking her life to save me.
[DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES]
JOHN: Three times
she went back in for water
and threw it in my face.
[SIRENS WAILING]
Hey, hey, hey!
What are you doing?
You can't go back in there.
FIREMAN 1: Check on those kids!
Is there anybody else
in the house?
We're gonna need backup.
Check the water pressure!
FIREMAN 2: Stand back!
FIREMAN 1: There you go!
Hit the windows
on the west side.
FIREMAN 2: We need more!
[SIREN WAILING]
PARAMEDIC 1: Coming through,
coming through!
Let's go, get him in here!
DOCTOR: We're gonna remove
these clothes immediately.
PARAMEDIC 2: One, two, three!
DOCTOR: Okay. Good.
Check his vitals.
Check that artery.
FEMALE NURSE 1:
Severe smoke inhalation.
Probable damage
to his vocal cords.
DOCTOR: We'll manage
his pain ASAP.
How are we looking there?
Can you check
his vitals for me, please?
MALE NURSE 1:
What's his heart rate?
DOCTOR: John, you're doing okay?
MALE NURSE 2: One-twelve.
FEMALE NURSE 1:
Starting to swell.
You're a champion.
Did you give him morphine?
FEMALE NURSE 2: Starting IV.
DOCTOR: Can you check
his arm there?
FEMALE NURSE 3:
Over here, doctor.
DOCTOR: Most are third-degree
burns, so I need him prepped
-for our OR...
-MALE NURSE 2: You'll be fine.
-Stay with us.
-DOCTOR: ...ASAP, okay?
DOCTOR: ...ASAP, okay?
MALE NURSE 2: Absolutely.
DOCTOR: All right. Okay.
Put him back.
MALE NURSE 2: Don't worry.
You're gonna be okay.
Just gonna cut
these clothes off of you,
-get you cleaned up.
-DENNY: Where is my son?
Where's John O'Leary?
[PAINED WHISPERING]
That's my dad.
Mr. O'Leary,
you don't belong in here.
Let me see my son.
FEMALE NURSE 3: We need
to start the IV fluids
to control the pain.
Brace yourself.
FEMALE NURSE 3:
What's his heart rate?
His heart rate is elevated.
There you are,
you little monkey, you.
DOCTOR: He's not breathing well.
Prepare oxygen mask.
Daddy's here.
Can you hear me?
I love you, son.
I love you so much.
There is nothing
you can do about it.
DOCTOR: No family, please.
Sir, we're gonna
have to get to work.
I love you, John.
MALE NURSE 3: Not too tight.
We need oxygen over here.
FEMALE NURSE 3:
Just breathe, just breathe.
What's his heart rate again?
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Dad!
-DENNY: Jim.
-[JIM PANTING]
DENNY: Let me see.
Let me see you.
Oh.
I was so scared. He was so hot,
I thought he'd burn me
through my clothes.
You did good, honey.
You did real good.
But, Daddy, I never let him go.
I never let him go, I promise.
-We know. We know.
-DOCTOR: Mr. O'Leary.
-The doctor's here.
-DENNY: Okay.
We'll take him
into his first surgery
as soon as he's prepped.
How... how bad is it?
He has burns
to 100% of his body,
87% third degree.
That combined with
his smoke-damaged lungs,
I think, uh...
Are you saying
his odds are 50/50?
Mrs. O'Leary,
I won't lie to you.
I'd say he has less than
1% chance of surviving.
I'm very sorry. Excuse me.
No, no. Wait.
Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait.
I love you, my baby boy.
I love you.
-[WHISPERING] Mom?
-SUSAN: Yeah?
Am I gonna die?
It isn't up to me, honey.
It's up to you.
Do you wanna die?
No, I don't want to die.
I want to live.
SUSAN: Okay.
Then you're gonna
have to fight,
fight like
you've never fought before.
And take God's hand,
and walk with him.
And Daddy and I are gonna be
with you every step of the way.
You hear me?
Ma'am, we have to get him
into surgery.
Okay. It's up to you, John.
[SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
[VIOLINS PLAYING]
[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]
Apparently,
he's just nine years old.
WOMAN: Just awful.
Yeah, burnt over
100% of his body.
Good Lord.
This is a local boy?
Just a little boy
playing with matches.
MAN 1: He played Little League
with our son.
Will he make it?
MAN 1: Big Cards fan.
MAN 2: They don't think so.
Just awful.
MAN 1: Well, tough break,
but he's not gonna make it
through the night.
-[EKG MACHINE BEEPING]
-[CHAIR SCRAPING]
[VENTILATOR MACHINE BREATHING]
Hey, kid.
Kid, listen to me.
You're going to live.
You got it?
You are going to survive.
And when you get out of here,
we're gonna celebrate.
Listening to me?
Well...
you keep fighting, kid.
I can help you
with your gown if you want.
Oh, thank you.
It was awfully generous of you
to come and see him, Mr. Buck.
Level with me.
Will he make it?
I'm sorry. There's...
no chance.
It's just his time.
Mr. Buck?
Sir, we do lose
a lot of patients around here.
Sometimes it feels like
more than we save.
For him,
it is the bottom of the ninth
and the count is full,
but he's not striking out
on my watch.
No.
He won't get by me
without a fight.
Why him in particular?
I heard him
make the choice to live.
I mean, he spoke it out loud
as best he could.
So, I figure, I owe it to him,
to give him a chance to make it.
-JACK BUCK: Godspeed, young man.
-Thank you.
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
And that one's in for a strike.
One thing I like about Viola,
when that runner doesn't have
a big lead at first base,
he doesn't bother with him.
Leadoff man is on for the
Cardinals for the first time.
1-1, bottom of the fourth,
two ba*ls
and a strike to Oquendo.
The runner at first, Pena.
He draws and throw
and returns.
Hrbek sends the ball
back to Viola.
Oquendo waiting.
Cards are doing good today.
[CHUCKLES]
Here's the pitch.
Runner going, line drive!
Right centerfield.
Oh! [CHUCKLES]
Pena goes to third.
First and third, nobody out.
Cardinals have Bob Forsch,
the pitcher on deck.
He's a pretty good hitter
for a pitcher.
Meanwhile, Lawless could make
his presence felt.
The pitch.
A high fly ball to the left,
way back at the track.
This ball may go.
-It's--
-[DOOR SHUTS]
[EKG MACHINE BEEPING]
[DOOR OPENS]
Hey, John.
How you doing?
My name is Roy Whitehorn,
but you can call me Nurse Roy.
I'll be your nurse,
and I'mma take
good care of you, okay?
I think I'mma call you, uh,
"Boy," short for Boy Wonder.
Now, here's what
we're gonna do.
We gotta change
all your bandages.
Now, I'm gonna be honest
with you, it's gonna hurt,
but I'mma talk you
through all of it, okay?
Okay. So I'mma pick you up
and we're gonna put you
in the wheelchair, all right?
-[YOUNG JOHN GROANING]
-It's okay. It's okay.
It's okay. You can relax.
I got you, buddy. I got you.
I got you. I got you.
It's okay.
It's okay.
Got the Batmobile
ready for you.
Let's go.
Ah, there we go.
[HOPEFUL PIANO MUSIC PLAYING]
NURSE ROY: First thing
we gotta do, Boy,
is put you into the tub.
[MACHINE WHIRRING]
We gotta clean those wounds.
All right.
Here we go, Boy Wonder.
FEMALE NURSE: Hey, John.
[YOUNG JOHN'S BREATH SHUDDERING]
NURSE ROY:
The water is not too cold.
It's not too hot.
-[YOUNG JOHN GROANS]
-FEMALE NURSE: Just breathe.
[WATER SPLASHES]
[YOUNG JOHN CRYING]
FEMALE NURSE: It'll all be okay.
NURSE ROY: Okay.
It's all right. It's all right.
But we gotta clean you up.
I know it hurts,
so what we're gonna do is,
we gotta start
cutting your bandages off.
FEMALE NURSE: John,
it's all right.
You're doing great.
[ETHEREAL MUSIC PLAYING]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[GRUNTS SOFTLY] Yeah.
Okay. So,
the bad news?
We have to do this
every single day.
But the good news is,
you get to see me
every single day.
[CHUCKLES]
Boy, I'm not gonna
leave you unattended, okay?
This is Dr. Ayvazian.
You got any problem,
you let him know about it.
And I will see you tomorrow.
All right. Rest up, Boy.
[SNIFFLES]
[SOFT PIANO MUSIC PLAYS]
[DOOR OPENS]
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
[GRUNTS SOFTLY] He's back.
Nurse Roy said
that you were very brave.
[CLICKS TONGUE]
Denny, he wants the board.
I knew you'd be very brave.
What is it, hon?
[CLICKS TONGUE]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
[CLICKS TONGUE TWICE]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
I don't know, John.
I don't know.
[UPBEAT ROCK MUSIC PLAYING]
FEMALE STUDENT 1: Hey!
FEMALE STUDENT 2: Yeah!
Whoo! Whoo!
STUDENT 1: Oh, my gosh.
She's doing the worm.
ALL: [CHANTING] Chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug,
chug, chug, chug!
-MALE STUDENT 1: Yeah!
-[PEOPLE CHEERING]
MAN 1: Oh, yeah!
Whoo! Whoo! Yeah!
-[MIKE LAUGHS]
-Who is that guy?
You kiddin'?
That's John O'Leary.
I never saw someone drink
that much at one time.
MIKE: Yeah.
And you never will.
He's kind of a legend
around here.
What's his major?
Drinking.
O'Leary.
What's up?
[PEOPLE TALKING AND LAUGHING]
You must be burning up.
What?
Aren't you hot?
Look who's talking.
You just come from a funeral?
Yeah.
Oh, wow. I...
I just... I...
That is super inappropriate.
I should not be
joking about that.
I'm really sorry for your loss.
[LAUGHS] Relax. I'm...
I'm just messing with you.
Oh!
I was at my grandparents'
50th wedding anniversary.
[CHUCKLES]
Not a funeral.
-No. But it was a real rager.
-[BOTH LAUGH]
I'm John.
Beth.
Do you like to dance, Beth?
No, John.
I... I do not. [CHUCKLES]
Okay.
But I will.
Okay.
[UPBEAT MUSIC CONTINUES]
WOMAN: [LAUGHS]
What kind of move is that?
[LAUGHS]
-Oh, classic.
-Haven't done that before.
-Classic.
-Sorry...
[BOTH LAUGHING]
JOHN: That's a good one.
-[MUSIC STOPS]
-JOHN: So what are you studying?
BETH: I'm gonna be
an occupational therapist.
JOHN: Occupational therapist?
OT.
-[BETH CHUCKLES]
-JOHN: I've known a few.
You're prettier
than the ones I've met.
Well, the ones
that I did meet were pretty.
Pretty mean.
Were super mean, actually,
now that I think about it.
[BETH CHUCKLES]
[ROMANTIC MUSIC PLAYING]
Dance with me.
Really?
Dance? I thought
you didn't like dancing.
-Mmm, I love dancing.
-Really?
I just don't like to do it
in front of other people.
Well, that is really
good because,
I hate to break it to you,
you're terrible.
Oh! Is that so?
Yeah.
I don't wanna be the bearer
of bad news, but it's kinda bad.
It's tragic, actually.
Tragic? [LAUGHS]
Maybe the worst I've ever seen.
[GASPS] Seriously?
Um... [CLEARS THROAT]
So I have an anatomy test
on Monday. It's at 8:00 am.
-Early.
-BETH: Yeah.
So, I should probably...
Right.
Yeah.
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
BETH: It was nice
to meet you, John.
You, too.
You're fun to talk to.
[SIGHING]
Well, this is my building.
So...
I'll see you around campus.
Yeah.
[ROCK MUSIC PLAYING
OVER SPEAKERS]
MIKE: So you didn't
get her number?
What's the point?
She's hot,
and you're totally into her.
That's your opinion.
Dude, I've never seen you
leave a party early.
Honestly, kinda terrifying.
And I'm telling you, man,
she likes you too.
Seriously, why would any girl
like that want me?
Oh, come on.
You're kidding me, right?
I'm serious. Dude, she could
have any guy on campus,
but, no, she chooses me?
I'm telling you, man.
You have to ask her out.
It's not gonna happen.
Girl of your dreams,
and you're saying no.
JOHN: I'm trying
to focus on my shot.
sh*t.
Yeah. How'd that focus go,
big boy?
-[JOHN SIGHS]
-[MIKE CHUCKLES]
Hey, kid. Wake up.
It's me again.
Kid, listen to me.
You're going to live.
You got that?
You're going to survive.
And when you get out of here,
we're going to celebrate.
We'll call it John O'Leary Day
at the ballpark.
[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
I can help you with that.
Oh, thank you so much.
Really, thank you for coming.
You have no idea
how much he admires you.
I can't believe you came once,
let alone twice.
Well, I'll see you tomorrow.
Do me a favor, will ya?
Make sure he listens
to the game tonight.
[CROWD CHEERING OVER RADIO]
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
I wanna send out
a special hello tonight
to a certain young man
who's laid up in the hospital.
His name is John O'Leary.
He said your name, John.
How about that, Little Chester?
Shh. Shh, shh, shh!
JACK BUCK:
He's fighting for his life.
But we here
at the Cardinals organization
know he's going to be
all right.
He's a tough little guy.
Keep fighting, young man,
because we can't wait
to have you
down here at the ballpark.
Ozzie takes one low, outside.
[LAUGHING] Oh, how about that?
Jack Buck on the radio.
[UPLIFTING SONG PLAYING]
Batter hits that thing so hard,
he puts his hand up and bam,
it hits him right in the nose.
But people didn't go, "Ooh,"
they went, "Yay!"
[SONG CONCLUDES]
[PAGES FLIPPING]
[BOTH SNORING SOFTLY]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
-[CLICKS TONGUE]
-What is it, honey? Hold on.
Hold on.
What do you need?
[CLICKS TONGUE]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
[CLICKS TONGUE]
Y...
[CLICKS TONGUE]
F...
-[CLICKS TONGUE]
-A...
-[CLICKS TONGUE]
-C?
[CLICKS TONGUE]
"My face."
Your... No.
Your face.
Don't worry, honey.
You look just the same
as you always did,
just with a lot of bandages
around your face.
-Yes?
-[GROANS SOFTLY]
Hold on. Hold on.
Let me show you. I'll show you.
Psst. Hey.
Give me your compact.
I'm not allowed to wear makeup.
Amy, compact. Now.
Thank you.
We'll talk about this later.
Okay.
Look at this.
Hold on.
Hold on. We're allowed to take
the bandage off today.
There. All right.
-You can open your eyes.
-YOUNG JOHN: Mmm-mmm.
John, open your eyes.
Your face is fine. Look.
Look, honey.
It's okay. Look in the mirror.
AMY: Mama, he smiled.
I know.
Look at that beautiful smile
on a beautiful boy.
[CHUCKLES EMOTIONALLY]
[MOUTHS] How?
SUSAN: How?
I don't know how, honey,
but there it is.
Your face is fine. [SNIFFLES]
Maybe it's just a miracle.
NURSE ROY: There we go, Boy.
[YOUNG JOHN
MUMBLING INDISTINCTLY]
[GRUNTS] There we go.
Now, we're walking. Come on.
Come on. We got this.
Go.
You know
you're wasting your time.
Last time I checked,
it was my time to waste.
Come on. [GRUNTS]
I'm never gonna walk again.
[NURSE ROY GRUNTS]
Boy, you listen to me.
You will walk again,
so you better get used to it.
But don't worry,
I'll walk with you.
And last time I checked,
I'm a lot bigger than you,
so you gotta do what I say.
I can't figure out
if you're crazy or just mean.
Could be both.
[BOTH LAUGH]
That's my boy.
GIRL: Mommy, look.
Don't stare.
Could we go back
to the room now?
Yeah. Of course. Let's go.
All right, Boy.
Going in here for you.
We got a plan to get you up
and walking again. Okay?
All right.
Don't be afraid. Okay?
Here we go. So...
[EXHALES] ...we gotta work out
these knees.
We can't let these tendons set.
Look, in here, no one...
out there can hear you. Okay?
Nobody can hear you scream.
[MIMICS HOWLING]
Nobody heard us.
So as we start
working out this knee,
you just let loose. All right?
All right, Boy. Here we go.
Okay, bite down on this.
[TENSE MUSIC PLAYS]
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
[SUSAN SNIFFLES, CRYING]
DENNY: It's okay, honey.
It's okay.
[SUSAN CONTINUES CRYING]
Mom?
Hey.
Hey, baby.
Hi.
Why are you crying?
DENNY: Well, John, uh,
buddy, we have something
to tell you.
The latest surgery,
it went really well.
You're one step
closer to home.
But, John, they...
[SNIFFLES]
They had to remove
your fingers, son.
W... What?
The fire
just damaged them too bad,
and they couldn't be saved,
so, infection started
to set in and...
they removed your fingers.
W... will they grow back?
No, son, they won't grow back.
How do you know?
Fingernails grow back.
Toenails, even hair grows back.
How do you know they won't?
They just won't, John.
How am I supposed
to throw a baseball?
Or... or write?
-Or do anything?
-Oh, honey.
Why would you let them?
-You don't love me!
-Shh.
-Why would you let them?
-Don't get up.
-John!
-Honey.
-[SCREAMING]
-Don't get up.
-John, John, ssh!
-John, John, ssh!
[YOUNG JOHN CONTINUES SCREAMING]
-Easy, easy. Easy, buddy.
-[SHUSHING]
-YOUNG JOHN: You guys are mean.
-No, no, Colleen. No, no.
Please, we got it. We got it.
-[YOUNG JOHN PANTING]
-Come on, John.
[SHUSHING]
Oh, honey, we love you.
-[CRYING]
-Okay.
DR. AYVAZIAN:
So, question of the day.
Who was the most important
person to this boy's recovery?
You, Doctor, obviously.
No, not me.
Oh.
I get it. It's a trick question.
It's him,
the boy himself.
His will to live.
That is critically important,
but, no. Lavelle,
would you join us
for a moment, please?
The number one k*ller
of burn victims is infection.
The slightest germ could
have k*lled young Mr. O'Leary.
We have doctors,
surgeons, nurses.
But the most important person
in all of this
is you, Lavelle.
By keeping this room
clean and germ-free,
you kept this boy alive.
Thank you.
Junior doctors.
John, see you later.
I'm going to
have to ask for a raise.
[YOUNG JOHN
AND LAVELLE CHUCKLE]
[GRUNTS] There we go, Boy.
[GRUNTS] There it is.
One step at a time.
You got it.
Ah, you got it.
I want
the supply closet today.
Are you sure? It's not
on the schedule till tomorrow.
I don't mind the pain.
As long as it gets me home,
and away from you, Roy.
Oh.
Well, then let's go then, Boy.
JACK BUCK: I want you
to keep something in mind
and promise me you'll remember
what I'm about to tell you.
I promise.
You're gonna face challenges
when you get out of here,
but you can still
do almost anything.
Maybe you can't play baseball,
but you can own a team
or be a manager.
I never told you this,
but when I first
came to see you,
they said you had no chance.
Zero. You were not
going to make it.
I didn't know that.
JACK BUCK: Most of them
wrote you off, kid.
But here you are.
You did that.
Don't let anyone
write you off ever again.
Especially you,
yourself. Understood?
Yes.
[PARTY HORN BLOWS]
[LOUDLY] Where's my son?
Where is John O'Leary?
I swear, that man should
have been in broadcasting.
[BLOWS PARTY HORN]
DENNY: Come on, everybody.
Gail, come get some champagne.
I got champagne, Life Savers.
Mr. Buck.
JACK BUCK: Good to see you.
John? You ready to celebrate?
I get champagne?
You can have a glass or two.
Would you like a cigarette?
No. You don't get champagne.
This stuff's for everybody else.
I'll leave you to it.
I'll see you
at the ballpark, kid.
Thanks, Mr. Buck.
[DENNY SIGHS]
Your mom's gonna
turn on the waterworks.
You know that, right?
I'm so proud of you, son.
You did it.
You ready, Boy?
Today's our big day.
Uh-uh-uh. No, no, no. [CHUCKLES]
Today, I gotta wheel you out.
It's... it's the law.
-Seriously?
-NURSE ROY: Yeah.
You're the one always bugging me
to get up and walk.
Well, guess what? Today,
we are following the rules.
[YOUNG JOHN GRUNTS SOFTLY]
I don't think
there's a law at all.
I think you just found
one last way to t*rture me.
Could be both.
[BOTH LAUGH]
[PEOPLE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
Yes! Yay! Yay!
MAN: Yes!
WOMAN 1: So proud of you!
WOMAN 2: Aw!
[CHEERFUL MUSIC PLAYING]
WOMAN 1: Aww. Yes!
NURSE ROY: [CHUCKLING] Oh!
I'll miss you, Boy.
I'll miss you.
[UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYING]
Hey, Little Chester.
Check it out.
SUSAN: [GASPS]
The whole neighborhood is here.
[PEOPLE CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
[ROCK SONG PLAYING]
YOUNG JOHN: Wow.
It looks great.
Firemen saved some of it
and we rebuilt the rest.
[MUSIC SWELLS]
NEIGHBOR 1: Welcome home.
Oh, my gosh.
SUSAN: Whoo!
Hey, hey, hey.
Get the wheelchair. Come on.
NEIGHBOR 2: You look so good.
[MUSIC CONTINUES]
Ah, five months.
[MUSIC FADES OUT]
We thank You, Lord,
not only
for the gift of John's life,
but for bringing us
back together as a family.
We're grateful and we know
this is all
because of Your grace.
We give You thanks.
Through Christ our Lord, amen.
-ALL: Amen.
-All right.
DENNY: Dig in.
[YOUNG JOHN GRUNTS]
Everybody eat,
your food's getting cold.
Honey, do you wanna hand-feed
him for the rest of his life?
I... I don't know.
I guess not. No.
Just let him eat.
[CROWD CHEERING]
I told the players
that you're coming in,
they're excited to meet you.
Hey, gentlemen.
This is the young man I've been
telling you about, John O'Leary!
[PLAYERS CHEERING]
John O'Leary, meet Ozzie Smith.
OZZIE SMITH: How you doin', kid?
Heard a lot about you
from Mr. Buck.
JACK BUCK: Say hello, fellas.
Hey.
Nice to meet you.
JACK BUCK: He's one brave
little kid, I gotta tell you.
DENNY: Thank you.
[CROWD CHEERING]
[ORGAN MUSIC PLAYING]
Wow.
[CROWD APPLAUDING AND CHEERING]
DENNY: Check out
the JumboTron.
[CROWD CHEERING]
This really is something.
Thank you.
What do you say?
Once around the bases?
[CHUCKLES]
Okay. But, uh,
don't go too fast.
Oh, nonsense.
A father should take his son
around the bases.
[UPBEAT ROCK SONG PLAYING]
Really?
-Okay.
-[SUSAN LAUGHS EXCITEDLY]
[LAUGHS] Hey, how about this?
[ROCK SONG PLAYING]
Wow. Wave to the people.
Here we go, boys.
YOUNG JOHN: Hello.
DENNY: [LAUGHING] Yeah.
Here we go.
Here we go, son.
Give him a high-fiver.
[LAUGHS] Yeah.
Bringing him in, boys.
Bringing him in.
Go, Chester!
All right. Touch it. Touch it.
Ooh.
-There, see?
-[BOTH LAUGH]
Isn't this something, Dad?
Isn't this something?
Oh, it sure is, son.
It sure is.
Whoo!
Coming in to home. Sliding in.
There he goes.
-Home.
-Yeah!
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
Come on, kid.
Here, next to me.
Wow.
Jeez.
Uh, this is Kristy.
She'll take care of you.
Anything you need,
just let me know.
To get you going,
here are some cr*cker Jacks,
a soda, and a few souvenirs.
Thanks.
Where's Mom?
Uh, third baseline.
Uh, right down there.
-Whoo!
-DENNY: They can see you.
JACK BUCK: Okay.
CREW MEMBER:
[OVER SPEAKERS] Stand by.
Time to earn our keep.
CREW MEMBER:
In three, two, one.
Good afternoon, folks,
and welcome to Busch Stadium
on a beautiful spring day.
Today is the day
we've all been waiting for.
It is John O'Leary Day
at the ballpark.
After a long battle
in the hospital,
my friend
is feeling well enough
to be with us here today.
In fact, this brave young man
is sitting right next to me.
Are you having fun?
For the record,
he's nodding his head.
And here's the first pitch.
Sliced foul.
Well, what do you think?
Can this team earn us
a World Series this year?
-Yes.
-Well, there you have it, folks.
We're in good shape.
Willie rips one
to right field. Fair ball.
Strawberry. Strong throw.
But no way you'd get
the fleet-footed McGee.
Mr. Buck...
thank you so much for this.
It is a day none of us
will ever forget.
Glad to do it.
How's he doing?
Um, pretty well, considering.
He eats on his own
and gets around the house okay.
The only thing is,
I can't get him
to start writing again.
Is that so?
Yeah. I guess the promise of him
going back to school
isn't as much of a...
of an incentive
-as I thought it'd be.
-[BOTH CHUCKLE]
JACK BUCK: [OVER RADIO]
One on, one out,
Hrbek's the batter.
The pitch
to the left-handed hitter
is a high curveball,
strike one.
[DOORBELL DINGS]
JACK BUCK: What will Hrbek do
against southpaw pitching?
He doesn't wanna get pulled
by the breaking ball...
SUSAN: Hello, Mrs. Whitaker.
MRS. WHITAKER: How are you?
Good. Thank you for coming.
Come on in.
Yes. How are things?
-[YOUNG JOHN GULPS]
-SUSAN: We shall see.
John?
Hello, John,
nice to see you again.
Why is she here?
Well, it's Wednesday,
and it's time for your lesson.
You want me
to take a piano lesson?
Watch your tone, young man.
Are you kidding?
SUSAN: John,
I don't know
who you think you are,
but my children
take piano lessons.
And yours is every Wednesday
at four o'clock.
So, unless there's a reason
that you think you're special
and you don't have to follow
the same rules
everyone in this house
has to follow,
I suggest
you get in there. Now.
-[YOUNG JOHN SIGHS]
-JACK BUCK: Now Hrbek swings
and misses.
He's in the hole, running two.
[CONTINUES PLAYING PIANO]
[PLAYING OFF-KEY]
-[YOUNG JOHN'S BREATH SHAKING]
-[MRS. WHITAKER SIGHS]
We're gonna take it slow, John.
You're gonna have to learn
some things all over again.
[PLAYING TUNE]
AMY: Oh!
-Whoa!
-[SUSAN GASPS]
Oh, my gosh!
-This is signed by Ozzie Smith!
-[SUSAN GASPS]
There's a note.
[SOFTLY] What does it say?
What does it say?
"Kid, if you want
a second baseball,
"all you have to do
is write a thank-you note
"to the man who sent this one.
"Your friend, Jack Buck!"
Mom, please!
Give me a paper and pencil!
Paper, pencil, paper, pencil!
-Please!
-Paper, pencil.
-Here we go.
-Mom, get it! Got it.
-Thank you! Thank you!
-Aw. [CHUCKLES]
Okay, maybe we try
with two hands?
Do you... Here, hold on.
Like that.
There.
Oh, John, this is so good.
YOUNG JOHN: Thanks.
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
There you go.
"To John, best wishes,
Stan Musial."
Look at that.
"Hey, kid.
If you want a third baseball,
"all you have to do
is write a thank-you note
"to the man
who signed the second one.
"Your friend, Jack Buck."
[MUSIC CONCLUDES]
[INSPIRING SONG PLAYING]
Come on, John!
Tyler and Cadey are here.
-Let's go swimming.
-Okay.
[SONG CONTINUES]
SUSIE: Help,
they're getting us wet!
GIRL: Oh, my goodness.
Go away.
SUSIE: John, help us!
BOY: Come on! Get 'em!
MAN 1: Come on, O'Leary.
MAN 2: Nice.
MAN 3: Oh, nice!
MAN 1: Keep it up! Keep it up!
MAN 4: You're good.
MAN 3: Look at you.
MAN 4:Oh!
All right. Get you next time.
[SONG CONCLUDES]
[IMPERCEPTIBLE]
-BETH: Hey.
-Hi.
BETH: This is a nice surprise.
-Yeah.
-Is everything okay?
Yeah, I just wanna talk to you.
So, I was thinking...
Was it painful?
[CHUCKLES]
-That was supposed to be a joke.
-Oh, right. [LAUGHS]
I... [BREATHES DEEPLY] I can't
tell jokes. Never good at it.
No, no, no,
you were very funny.
I just, uh...
I just didn't catch it.
Um, Neil Diamond is
coming to town on tour.
Um, do you wanna go?
Yeah. Sure. That sounds fun.
Who, uh... who else is going?
Oh, I just meant, like,
you and me, on a date.
Oh. [CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
Oh?
John, I...
I mean, I... I think
that ship sailed a while ago.
I... I mean, yeah, maybe
when we first met, but...
I mean, now, you're one of
my favorite people. I...
Like, I mean...
I mean, I love you but...
you know, like a...
like a brother.
Yeah.
I'm sorry.
No, no, it's...
[CHUCKLES] it's fine.
Okay.
Um...
I should probably, you know,
get back to learning...
-Yeah.
-BETH: ...work. [CHUCKLES]
-All that.
-BETH: All that.
[BOTH CHUCKLE AWKWARDLY]
Okay. Um, how about
I'll see you around campus?
Yeah, yeah, of course.
BETH: Okay.
Hey, John.
Why didn't you ask me out
the night we met?
I mean, I would've bet
my tuition you liked me.
I figured
you wouldn't want me to.
What?
Why?
[CHUCKLES SOFTLY]
John.
Please don't ever
underestimate me
like that again.
What's up with you?
JOHN: I already
have four sisters.
Right. Thanks
for clearing that up.
[JOHN SIGHS]
[EXHALES] I took your advice
and I asked
Beth out for a date.
Dude, I gave you that advice,
like, a year ago.
Take it, it didn't go so hot.
I don't know what
I was thinking. I knew better.
I knew. I totally knew.
That's it, I'm done.
Done with what?
All of it. Love,
relationships. [SCOFFS]
This heart
is closed for business.
Have you ever
even been on a date?
Like, one single date
with anybody?
Did you even go to your prom?
Do you have a point?
Just that, you know,
you swearing off love
is a little like me saying,
"Ah, well, that's it.
"I'm done sailing
around the world by myself."
Me never even having been
on a boat being the point there.
I get it.
Before you decide
that you hate sailing,
don't you think you should
go out on a few dinghies?
No.
I'm done.
Well, I tried.
Hey, thank you, Red.
-Thank you.
-All right, buddy. Here you go.
-Have a good one.
-Yeah.
How you holdin' up?
If I get yelled at
from your mom
for spillin' chili
on this shirt,
I'm in trouble.
Can't complain.
How's college?
Uh, grades are actually okay.
There's even a rumor
I might pass and graduate.
Miracles happen.
-Amazing. And shocking.
-[JOHN CHUCKLES]
Besides grades, how's life?
It's fine.
You know,
when we knew
you survived the fire
and were gonna be coming home,
you know
what my prayer was for you?
Same as mine?
That I'd still be able
to play shortstop for the Cards?
-That's right.
-Naturally.
[BOTH LAUGH]
No, I just... I wanted you
to return to normal.
Like the day of the fire,
when you went
running through the kitchen
with your little bangs
flopping, so happy. I just...
badly wanted that for you.
And when you
actually came home,
I struggled because...
I was either going to spend
my whole life upset that
our perfect little world
was gone,
or I had to redefine
what it meant
to live a perfect life.
And I gotta tell you, son,
I love our life.
I love my life.
Why are you
telling me this, Dad?
Well, because Parkinson's keeps
taking things away from me,
and it reminds me of something
you taught me in the hospital.
No way.
I taught you something?
Really?
What?
You can't always
choose the path you walk,
but you can choose
the way you walk it.
So when things
aren't going your way,
if you focus exactly
on loving the life
that you're living right now,
and not the life that you think
you coulda had or shoulda had,
that's the whole deal
right there.
Come on.
-Here, give me that.
-Thank you.
You know, you can get another
100,000 miles out of it
if you just treat it right.
Ugh! It gives me nothing
but aggravation.
Well, stop thinking
about what it gives you
and start thinking
about what it needs from you.
All right?
Take it slow, treat it
a little easier, invest in it.
You'd be amazed
what you get back.
What exactly are we
talking about here?
I don't know.
It's good to see you, Dad.
You too, buddy.
STEVE: Yeah! All right!
[ALL CHEERING]
I got it. I got it.
-Watch this.
-Come on.
-I love that!
-Come on!
-Yeah.
-Come on.
STEVE: Oh!
-PATTY: It's okay. It's okay.
-That's okay.
I did better than you.
-You did good.
-I did good. I did. [LAUGHS]
Whoa!
STEVE: Ooh!
Them's fighting words.
-PATTY: Come on, Beth.
-Oh!
-You got it. Come on.
-STEVE: Bowling champ.
-JOHN: No way.
-Oh, my gosh!
-[LAUGHING] Nice.
-[LAUGHS]
She bowls like she dances.
Yeah.
It wasn't a compliment.
Uh, John, tell that story
about your dad.
The one in the hospital.
Oh, no.
No, no, no, it's not...
it's not the right time.
It's exactly the time.
Come on, you tell it great.
Okay, fine.
So, this one Sunday
we get home,
and he tells me to change out
of my church clothes,
but instead,
I go out and I play football.
-And I get them so muddy...
-[GASPS]
...they're totally ruined.
He takes away my bike
and he grounds me
for two weeks.
So, I decide
to one-up it a little bit.
-[ALL LAUGH]
-I burn his stinkin' house down.
-[ALL LAUGH]
-It is literally ashes.
And I'm in the hospital,
and I hear him coming.
-"Where's John O'Leary?"
-[FEET THUDDING]
-[ALL LAUGHING]
-He was stomping up the hallway.
"Where's my son?"
Come on, baby.
Come on, baby.
[ALL CHEER]
[HOARSELY] Okay.
So, I hear him coming.
Just, like, looking up at him
and just waiting
for this blow to land.
And it hits me.
-Nobody told him.
-[ALL LAUGH]
The only way I'm alive right now
is if nobody told this man
that his house
is burned to the ground
and it was my fault.
And so I'm thinking,
"If he doesn't know,
"I might actually be able
to get away with this."
-[ALL LAUGH]
-All right, Mike. You're up.
-Ah...
-WOMAN: Come on, Mike. Let's go.
So, what did he say?
Who?
-Your dad.
-[CHUCKLES]
You said he was
being all nice to you.
What'd he say?
I love you, son.
I love you.
And there's nothing you can do
about it, do you hear me?
"Hang in there, buddy.
You'll be okay."
That kind of stuff.
MIKE: Yeah! [CHUCKLES]
Nice job, Mike!
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
[GASPS] Oh, my gosh!
Ah! It's so perfect.
-You're so sweet.
-You're welcome.
Okay. Here, here, here,
do mine next.
What could it be?
[LAUGHS]
John O'Leary,
sometimes I...
What is it?
-Dance lessons.
-[ALL LAUGH]
Yeah!
You're gonna need it, babe.
[IMITATES PANTING]
What is this?
Jen said
that you were struggling
with your physio final.
I came to render aid.
Mmm.
No drinking for me tonight.
Ah.
Better.
It's full of Jolt Cola.
That's very thoughtful.
Also, I came
to help you study.
I appreciate that,
but it's not a book problem.
Quizzing, flash cards,
none of that's gonna help.
Then it's a good thing
that's not why I'm here.
You sure about this?
I'm positive.
Do what you gotta do.
I don't wanna hurt you.
You're not gonna hurt me,
I'm pretty tough.
Okay.
First thing I'll do
is bend the knee.
Ow, ow, ow.
-That does not hurt.
-[LAUGHS]
Five seconds...
-Okay. Okay.
-I think.
If you go a little bit more,
you'll turn
-into a chiropractor.
-[CHUCKLES]
Okay. This might be
a little tight, so...
You okay?
-It's great.
-Fine.
Scoot that. Just... Uh-huh.
Your shoulder flexion.
Hold that right there
for just a second.
Okay. I'm flexing.
[JOHN CHUCKLES]
Um...
This is the hip abduction...
I think.
Um...
Just gonna pull
a little tighter.
Ahh!
Are you okay?
[LAUGHING]
-You fall for it every time.
-[SIGHS]
John.
That was by far
the weirdest study group
I've ever been a part of.
I don't know why they make us
OTs learn all that PT stuff.
[CHUCKLES]
If I pass,
it's because of you.
No. You were born for this.
So were you.
Sorry.
-I wasn't thinking.
-No sweat.
I know what you meant.
It's a hard field
you're going into.
But I'm not talking about
the science or the anatomy.
What, then?
After I was burned as a kid,
they did my therapy
in a supply closet.
Seriously?
Why?
It was for my own sake.
And for the other
patients too, I guess.
John.
I remember looking at them
through the tears,
just begging them to stop.
I could see my pain
in their eyes.
Uh, but they did their job.
They did it well.
The point is,
you have the heart
for this, Beth.
I know what it looks like,
and you're the real deal.
You know,
this is the first time
I've ever heard you
talk about your accident.
Why don't you talk about it?
I guess I just don't want it
to define me.
It doesn't.
It's a part of you,
but it's not who you are.
And when I look at you,
I see...
a good friend...
the life of the party...
and a super cool guy.
Most people
just aren't like you.
Is that why you drink so much?
[CHUCKLES NERVOUSLY] What?
You don't even
enjoy drinking, I can tell.
You just do it so you
can be known for something.
Are you sure you're not
a psych major? [CHUCKLES]
I just know you.
I don't wanna be
stuck in the past.
I guess that's why
I've known you two years
and I've never seen your arms.
I'm trying to look forward.
Live the life ahead of me.
Whatever you think is best.
[PEOPLE CHEERING
AND APPLAUDING]
[UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYING]
DEAN: Jessica Oakley.
[ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
Matt Okuda.
-[ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
-Yeah, buddy!
John O'Leary.
[ALL CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]
Yeah!
DEAN: Sean O'Malley.
Oh, sweetie, how are you?
Good. I'm good.
DENNY: Look how big they are.
-Hi.
-SUSAN: Oh, my gosh.
Honey!
-Honey.
-You did it.
-Whoo-hoo
-[CHEERS]
JOHN: Thanks.
John, Jack Buck is here.
Mr. Buck,
I can't believe you came.
I wouldn't have missed it.
I don't mean to intrude.
Oh, don't be silly.
Two minutes,
then I'll be out of your hair.
Absolutely. Can you...
-Yeah.
-Thanks, Dad.
Hi.
Talk about beating the odds,
kid. [CHUCKLES]
Did I hear this right,
your father said you're going
into construction?
Someone once told me
I can do anything I want to.
-Must have been a smart guy.
-[LAUGHS]
Hey, here, uh...
Brought you somethin'.
JOHN: "Jack Buck, 1987."
It's the year I was burned.
"Baseball Hall of..."
Also the year I was inducted.
This is your Hall of Fame
baseball. I can't take this.
You're not taking it.
It's a gift.
Means a lot to me.
I hope it'll mean a lot to you.
I don't know what to say.
Thank you. It's beautiful.
JACK BUCK:
It's made out of crystal.
It's priceless.
Try not to drop it.
-Okay.
-Here.
Well...
See you around
the ballpark, kid.
Mr. Buck.
Everything that you did,
all the hospital visits,
the autographed ba*ls,
the day at the ballpark.
I guess what I wanna know is,
why me?
Seemed like you needed it.
[WIND WHOOSHING]
ALL: [SINGING ALONG TO RADIO]
Please tell me why
My car is in the front yard
And I'm sleeping
With my clothes on...
[RADIO CRACKLES]
[COUNTRY MUSIC
PLAYING OVER RADIO]
You're officially in Colorado.
[ALL CHEER]
How'd you afford
this car, dude?
Oh, it's his dad's.
He, uh, he let me
take it for the ski trip.
This thing's got, like,
not even 500 miles on it.
BETH: Getting tired?
I'm okay a little longer.
[ENGINE WHIRRING]
[YAWNS]
[TIRE SQUEALS]
MIKE: Oh. Whoa.
JOHN: Mike, what's going on?
MIKE: What's goin' on?
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, Mike?
[TIRES SCREECHING]
-[BETH SCREAMS]
-[TRUCK HORN BLARES]
BETH: Look out!
Watch out! Watch out!
JOHN: Hang on! Hang on!
STEVE: Watch out! Watch out!
[ALL PANTING]
-Are you guys okay?
-PATTY: I think so.
BETH: Everybody okay?
STEVE: Yeah, we're good.
[TRUCK HONKING]
BETH: Oh, My!
Get us out of the road!
-Come on, Mike! Do something!
-I'm trying! It won't start!
[TRUCK HORN BLARES]
[ALL SCREAMING]
MIKE: Pats, you gotta drive!
You gotta drive!
Get out! Get out! Get out!
BETH: Go, go!
JOHN: Beth, come on!
STEVE: Okay, okay, okay.
BETH: Come on, guys. Get out!
-Go! Go! Go!
-STEVE: Watch out! Watch out!
PATTY: I know!
STEVE: Okay. Push, push, push!
Another truck is coming.
We gotta get out of the road!
-Don't stick out too far.
-[TRUCK HORN BLARES]
-Okay!
-Relax. Keep going.
Keep pushing!
-[TRUCK HORN BLARES]
-We're almost there.
Get us out!
BETH: Get us out!
[PANTING]
PATTY: That was close.
STEVE: Patty, are you okay?
That was close.
Oh, my gosh.
Are you hurt?
I'm fine.
Thank God.
-Are you?
-No, no, no. I'm okay. Yeah.
-Oh, thank God.
-[JOHN PANTING]
Yeah, I'm okay too.
-You know, if anybody cares.
-[ALL LAUGH]
JOHN: Dude.
-[VEHICLES WHOOSHING]
-[PANTING]
-Guys.
-Oh, my gosh.
Can we still go skiing?
Yeah. Hot tub?
MAN: It's getting chilly.
WOMAN: Yeah, let's get inside.
MAN: All right.
WOMAN: That wind.
Oh, Hi. Good morning.
-BETH: It is, isn't it?
-Thank you.
I was just heading to your room
to wake you guys up.
Yeah, with coffee. Thank you.
Goodness.
I didn't really sleep, though.
Me neither.
So, where are you going?
To call my dad.
He's gonna k*ll me.
Well, it's been nice
knowing you.
Yeah.
Good luck.
[SIGHS]
[CELLPHONE RINGING]
Okay, hold your horses.
Coming.
Hello?
JOHN: Hey, Dad.
No one is hurt, first off.
Uh, but I did
wanna let you know
that we were in an accident
here in Colorado last night.
Are you sure you're all okay?
Yeah, yeah.
We're fine. I just...
[SIGHS] Gosh, Dad,
your brand-new car,
it's super banged up.
Oh, forget it. It's just a car.
We'll get it fixed.
I'm... I'm just glad
you're not hurt.
Need any help
getting another car?
No. I mean, yeah,
we'll figure it out. I just...
Dad, I'm so sorry
that this happened.
Hey, John,
I'm gonna tell you something,
and I want you to get it
through that thick skull
of yours, okay?
Okay.
I love you, son.
There is nothing
you can do about it.
I... I love you too, Dad.
Okay.
-JOHN: Bye.
-Bye.
MIKE: Friends, Romans,
countrymen.
Welcome to the first projects
of O'Leary
& Bright's Construction.
[CHEERING]
Or, as it will be officially
called, The Majestic Manor.
Come on. See inside.
-[BRICKS CLATTERING]
-[BETH EXCLAIMS]
Yeah. Everybody,
grab a hard hat.
Yeah.
This must be the basement.
Who wants to see it?
I like an adventure.
Awesome. Ladies first?
-No.
-[CHUCKLES]
"Deep in that
darkness peering,
"long I stood there
wondering, fearing."
"Doubting, dreaming dreams
"no mortal ever
dared to dream before."
Seriously? I'm impressed.
I went through an Edgar Allan
Poe phase in high school.
Huh...
Let there be light. [SIGHS]
Oh.
JOHN: There is a dirt floor
down here.
I did not know that.
Did your thorough
due diligence, huh?
I guess.
-[THUDS]
-Oh, my gosh. Are you okay?
Yeah. I'm good. I'm good.
-That's there.
-Okay. Uh-huh. [CHUCKLES]
-Let's duck.
-[BETH LAUGHS]
JOHN: [SIGHS] I was right
about the hard hats.
BETH: Uh-huh.
It is pretty terrifying.
There's a door right here.
Let's see
if we can clear it out.
Okay.
[GROANS AND GRUNTS]
-BETH: Oh, this is...
-[GRUNTS]
-Ow.
-[CLATTERING]
Ouch.
-[SIGHS]
-You okay?
Oh, yeah. Just a scratch.
[PANTING]
[JOHN GRUNTING]
Can I ask you something?
I feel secure
in the certainty
that answering no
won't stop you.
[JOHN CHUCKLES]
Why would a man
who can't hold a hammer
choose to be a contractor?
[CHUCKLING]
Ask me in six months
when we're bankrupt.
-I'm serious.
-[JOHN CHUCKLES]
JOHN: So am I.
I guess I like
to just see houses
like this
for what they can be,
not what they are.
Or maybe...
I just have something
to prove.
Not to me.
[MACHINERY WHIRRING LOUDLY]
[CELLPHONE RINGING]
Hey, Mom. What's up?
Jack Buck is in the hospital.
JOHN: Oh, no.
What happened? Is it serious?
Well, he's in the ICU, so,
pretty sure
that makes it serious.
Okay. Well, I gotta get
this lumber out to the site,
but I'll visit him
when I come back to the city.
I'm sorry, John.
Yeah, thanks. Me too.
Gotta go. All right, bye.
[THUNDER RUMBLING]
[SENTIMENTAL MUSIC PLAYING]
MAN: O'Leary!
What's up?
Good to see you again.
-Hey, there he is.
-Mike, my main man.
-What's up, man?
-JOHN: How you doing?
Well, making plan.
JOHN: Ah, what a day.
What can I get for you?
JOHN: I'll have
what's he's having.
NEWSCASTER: [OVER TV]
Breaking news this evening,
as we are learning
of the death of Jack Buck.
For decades, he was the voice
of the St. Louis Cardinals
and a beloved member
of our community.
Jack Buck was
an award-winning broadcaster.
He was a man of grace,
honor, and dignity.
He died this evening
in a local St. Louis hospital.
-He was 77...
-Yeah. Another one of those.
Okay.
[EXHALES]
[SOMBER MUSIC PLAYING]
[GATE WHIRRING]
GUARD: Step forward.
[KNOCKS]
Right over there.
GUARD 2: Don't let 'em
intimidate you.
If they sense fear,
you're toast.
We'll have four guards
in the room
and several more
outside the door.
You ready?
Not really.
[JOHN CLEARS THROAT]
Um...
[CHUCKLES]
So, they told me
when I came in here,
"Don't let them see
you're scared."
Uh...
But I wanna be honest
with you guys.
I'm terrified.
I was scared when your
minister asked me to come.
And I was scared
drivin' up here
and I was scared walkin' in.
I was scared on the other
side of that door.
I'm scared on this side.
But now that I am here...
there is nowhere else
in the world
that I would rather be.
Now that
that is all out of the way,
why don't I tell you
a little bit about myself?
Um...
When I was nine,
I saw some older kids
doing somethin' pretty cool,
playing with fire.
I spent five months
in the burn ward.
There was a long recovery,
and today, you know,
I live in gratitude...
Uh...
even for the difficult stuff.
It's easy for you to say.
You can walk out of here
whenever you want.
Yeah. Yeah, you're right.
It's a good point.
But I do know
what it's like to be stuck
in a little room
that you can't leave.
I know
what it feels like to think
you've probably
thrown your life away.
There must be something
that you guys are grateful for.
Let's try something.
Can... Can one of you guys
tell me something
that you're grateful for
because of your
time in prison?
Not a darn thing.
[ALL LAUGH]
Okay.
Yes, sir.
Well, sir, I'll share.
Let me see.
What I'm grateful for.
Air conditioning in the summer.
Heat in the winter.
FELON 2: Mmm-hmm...
The library.
FELON 2: Yeah.
FELON 1: Laundry service.
New friends.
-[ALL CHUCKLE AND AGREE]
-Three square meals a day.
-FELON 3: Yeah.
-Soap.
FELON 4: Yeah.
FELON 1: The weightlifting
equipment.
A chance to go to work
every day.
FELON 5: Yep.
Got my GED in here.
A bed. A pillow. A blanket.
Plus, out there,
I'd be dead by now, so, life.
FELON 6: So true.
FELON 7: Exactly. Yeah.
Sorry,
that's all I can think of.
-[APPLAUSE]
-FELON 2: Yeah.
FELON 3: Yeah.
FELON 4: Yeah, man.
FELON 5: Tell it the way it is.
FELON 6: Awesome.
[UPLIFTING MUSIC PLAYING]
[UPBEAT MUSIC
PLAYING OVER RADIO]
Can I get you a check?
-Yeah, thank you.
-Yeah, yeah.
Coffee? Mr. O'Leary.
So, this is where
the job hunt led, huh?
Yeah. Beggars
can't be choosers.
I'm so sorry we couldn't find
anything for you at the office.
Oh, no, no, no.
I shouldn't have asked.
Oh, no, I'm glad you did,
because it actually
made me think of you.
I may have an idea for a way
that we could work together.
I'm all ears.
So, after I spoke
to your troop,
one of the girls
told her uncle about me.
He is the minister
at the prison
up in Jefferson City.
Well, he asked me to come and
speak to some of his inmates.
Yeah? How'd that go?
Better than I know
that you're thinking it did.
Definitely better.
And word's gotten out.
And since then, I've done
six more speaking engagements.
Some fourth graders at
a Catholic school, Rotary Club.
I think there's real potential
here to help people.
But if I'm gonna do it right,
I will need help.
I want you
to come work for me.
The pay
won't be great at first,
and the hours will be long.
-You wanna start a business?
-Yes, I do.
-Public speaking?
-Yes.
[LAUGHS]
I hope you got better at it.
[LAUGHS] I have. I promise.
I've been practicing.
So, what do you say?
Mr. O'Leary, why me?
None of this
would have happened
if you hadn't asked me
to speak to those girls.
Seems fitting, doesn't it?
Hey, hot stuff.
More coffee?
Okay, so,
exactly how bad is the pay?
[CHUCKLES]
-[TELEPHONES RINGING]
-[INDISTINCT CHATTER]
Hey, can I borrow you
for a sec?
Mmm-hmm.
-[TELEPHONE RINGING]
-[KEYBOARDS CLACKING]
Okay, take a look.
There's... Uh,
there's a three-day break
between Tampa and Orlando,
it doesn't make any sense,
but there it is.
Alabama Power's
been trying to get me in,
we could try to fit
that in there but...
I mean,
we could save on travel.
It's not the perfect fit,
but it could work.
Or we could push it all
into the following week.
-WOMAN: Excuse me.
-My family time. Sacrosanct.
Also, we need a bigger office.
JOHN: [OVER MIC]
What more can I do?
Because the impact of your life
can be phenomenal,
and the best is yet to come.
[APPLAUSE]
Hey, John.
Come back up here.
Come up.
How many times
have you spoken to us now?
It's gotta be a dozen, at least.
-Nineteen.
-Nineteen.
[LAUGHTER]
I never get tired
of hearing your story.
[CHUCKLES] I always like
the part about that big nurse.
What was his name?
-Nurse Roy?
-Ah, that's the one.
What ever happened to him?
Um... No idea.
He left shortly after,
and I just lost track of him.
It's gotta be
at least 24 years now.
What was it
he used to say to you?
"Boy, you are gonna walk again,
and I'll walk with you."
Okay. Come on,
you can do better.
[CLEARS THROAT]
He said, "Boy,
you are gonna walk again,
"and I will walk with you."
Yeah, still not good enough.
I bet it sounded
a bit more like this.
NURSE ROY: Boy...
you will walk again...
and I'll walk with you.
[APPLAUSE]
-What?
-Look at you.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
John, I gotta be
honest with you.
I'm kind of surprised you did
something with your life.
Sorry, that actually didn't
come out right.
-It didn't?
-[BOTH LAUGH]
No, I know what you meant.
I'm really glad
that they found you.
I've thought a lot about you
over the years.
I was even thinking about you
when I was standing at the altar
about to marry
my beautiful wife.
Why were you thinking about me
on the most
important day of your life?
It's because
I wouldn't have been able
to walk down the aisle
if it hadn't been for you.
[INSPIRING SONG PLAYING]
JOHN: I then started to realize
how everybody mattered.
It was because of Lavelle
that I was standing there,
because he kept me
from getting an infection.
And it was
my older brother Jim
who picked on me all the time,
called me "Little Chester."
I could've sworn he hated me.
And he kept trying
to put the fires out on me
even when
his own arms were burning.
I found out
it wasn't a miracle
that my face
wasn't burned,
it was because
my little sister, Susie,
ran into the burning house
three times
to get a glass of water
to pour over my face.
It was Amy, my older sister,
who held onto me and told me
to keep my faith in God.
It was my dad who told me
he was proud of me,
that he loved me,
when he should have been mad.
It was my mom,
who saved me from dying
by making me choose life,
and forced me to live
by picking up a fork.
Welcome to our family, Beth.
JOHN: It was Jack Buck
who heard a story
about a little kid
at a dinner party.
That little kid needed help.
He decided to give it.
You know, I love
all of my nurses, but...
some of them
would whisper about death.
But not you.
-You practically picked me up...
-[LAUGHING]
and yelled at me,
"Boy, forget death.
"You are gonna walk."
Carry me down the hallway.
And I...
I will never forget you.
I mean, I did my job.
I loved my patients.
But it's not until today, John,
that I realized
that I actually mattered.
And I'll be
honest with you...
I thought you'd hate me
for all the pain
I put you through.
Could be both.
[BOTH LAUGH]
You may kiss the bride.
[SONG CONTINUES]
I see you didn't take
those dance lessons.
[LAUGHS]
You're lucky
I love you, mister.
-[SONG CONCLUDES]
-[DOOR OPENS]
[MELLOW MUSIC PLAYING]
Beth.
Wow.
Hey.
Oh, uh, one second.
No.
Leave it on.
But Beth...
You're my husband.
I chose you.
No one's ever...
No one's ever kissed
my scars before.
You're the most beautiful
thing I've ever seen.
So are you.
JOHN: Hey, Mom. I'm here.
Hi, honey. How was it?
It was great. It was great.
-Good to see you.
-You too, Dad's out there.
Okay. Great.
Oh, what's with...
What's with the sling?
Oh, he just fell
trying to move his chair.
[SIGHS] He's gotta stop trying
to do stuff like that
on his own.
Sure. Why don't you
tell him that, though?
[CHUCKLES]
Welcome back.
I missed you. [CLEARS THROAT]
-I missed you.
-Hey, hey, hey.
-Daddy.
-Hi, buddy.
Oh, Jack, it's good to see you.
-He'd been wanting to see you.
-Hey, you. Come here, you.
[GRUNTS] Big squeeze.
You wanna go play?
Okay, go, go, go.
-SUSAN: Lemonade?
-Oh, that sounds great.
Thank you.
Nice.
All righty, kids,
outside, Jack.
JACK: No.
-Take him outside, go play.
-JACK: We don't wanna.
Hey, you heard
your father, outside.
JACK: Okay.
It's good to be king.
I know.
Is John okay?
[SIGHS] Honestly?
I don't think so.
DENNY: Mmm... Mmm...
Your mom makes
the best lemonade.
How do you do that?
How do you stay so positive?
It's not a good day
for you, Dad.
You're in pain
and things are getting harder.
How can I be negative?
I got too much
to be grateful for.
Like what?
Like, I'm grateful it wasn't
a more serious disease.
Come on, Dad,
it's serious enough.
Your mom, I like your mom.
Well, that's good.
You've only been married
to her for 45 years.
And what else?
Grateful to be healed.
Healed?
I don't understand.
Well, healed, not...
not cured.
'Cause Parkinson's disease
may end up k*lling me,
but I get to wake up
each day knowing
God has healed me
and I... I know
how my story ends.
[SNIFFLES]
I ask a simple question.
-[DENNY LAUGHS]
-[LAUGHS]
[COUGHING]
I'm okay.
Every day, I see you growing
more and more in your faith.
You built a good life
outta ashes.
[VOICE CRACKS] Remarkable.
There's one thing
you've built that I don't like.
Your wall.
What wall?
Oh, the one
that keeps you feeling
like you're not enough.
Son, why are you so down today?
I've been thinking
a lot about Jack Buck.
He passed away
10 years ago this week.
Oh, jeez.
I never told anyone this,
not even Beth.
But before he died,
I went and visited him
three times.
The third time,
I even took him a ball
and I signed it for him.
And I included a note
and it said,
"Kid, when you get outta here,
"we're gonna do Jack Buck Day
at the O'Leary house."
[LAUGHS]
Oh, I bet you he loved that.
Yeah, I bet he would've.
[CHOKED UP] But all three times
that I went to see him,
and I went to just think
about everything
that he had done for me,
and how completely
unworthy I was of all of it.
Three times,
I drove to see my friend.
Three times, I drove away
without even going in.
That's a lot
to carry around all these years.
I was afraid.
He didn't know who I was.
He didn't have
to bother with me.
I was just some kid.
But he did.
And I never truly
thanked him for that.
DENNY: You hid behind your wall
until it was safe to come out.
Which makes me a fraud.
I tell people,
"Open your hearts,
"be vulnerable, live on fire."
The whole time, I'm...
I'm an emotional coward.
Okay. You... you messed up.
You messed up badly.
You gotta own it
and move on with things.
I love you, son.
But you've been running
from that gasoline can
for 25 years.
Now, when are you gonna realize
it's not chasing you anymore?
JOHN: I'm sorry
I didn't come and see you, Jack.
You gave me a gift.
And you told me,
"Don't drop it."
[SCOFFS]
And I didn't.
[VOICE BREAKING] And not
because I was careful with it.
Because I buried it.
The night that you
gave this to me,
I went and put this
in my sock drawer.
'Cause I couldn't bear
anyone to see it.
'Cause I never felt
worthy of receiving it.
[SNIFFLES]
I'll never fully understand
why you were so good to me.
But I do know
that I will stop hiding...
that goodness.
That wall will come down.
The truth is I miss you, Jack.
And I love you.
JOHN: You know,
the first time I spoke
was to a scout troop
of little girls.
And one of them raised her
hand and asked a question.
She asked, if I could go back,
if I could change
what had happened, would I?
And of course, I answered,
"Yes, of course I would."
But between then and now,
I have come to realize
I absolutely would not.
Everything in my life
worth having...
came from those ashes.
My wife, my marriage, my kids.
Never in a million years
did I think it would lead me
to standing back
in this room again.
And yet, here I am.
And I really gotta say,
I'm just so thankful
that this time,
you're all wearin' pants.
[ALL LAUGHING]
And I just want you to remember,
your greatest victory
and your ultimate win
is not only gonna be
on that field out there,
but also in the lives
of those around you, too.
Thank you all so much
for having me.
This has been
a great time, you guys.
-Thank you. Thank you.
-[APPLAUSE]
[CHUCKLES]
PLAYER 1: Thank you.
PLAYER 2: What about mine?
[CROWD APPLAUDING AND CHEERING]
ANNOUNCER: [OVER MIC] And now,
to throw out the first pitch,
please give a warm
Busch Stadium welcome
to John O'Leary.
[CROWD CHEERING]
Hey. Hi.
-Hey.
-Okay, cool.
Awesome. Thank you.
All right. Cheers, guys.
-JACK: Dad, Daddy.
-What's up, buddy?
Please, don't embarrass us.
I'll do my best. Okay.
I'll be back.
[ALL CHEERING]
-Strike.
-Yes!
ANNOUNCER:
Right down the middle.
[CROWD APPLAUDING]
[SIGHS]
Why me?
I am so excited
to show this to you.
-Can't wait to see it.
-You're gonna lose it.
[LAUGHS] Okay. All right.
-Oh...
-Ta-da! What do you think?
It's nice,
but we can't afford this,
not in a million years.
We actually can.
The owner of the building
gave me a sweetheart deal.
DEANNA: Why would he do that?
Mike and I remodeled the place.
[LAUGHS]
I cannot. I cannot.
-Look at it.
-It is beautiful.
It's beautiful.
JOHN: To move through
the adversities of life,
we must have
a reason to thrive
that is bigger than all
the challenges that we face.
My purpose is simple.
Because God demands it.
Because my family deserves it.
Because the world
is starved for it.
[CLEARS THROAT] Jack was...
He was teaching me...
[CLEARS THROAT] Jack was...
[VOICE CRACKS] He was
teaching me to say yes to life.
The good and the bad.
And you know what?
That yes...
positively changed my life.
And living that yes
will not only...
positively change your lives,
but the lives of those
lucky enough to know you.
You get one life.
Make yours matter.
Thank you and good night.
[APPLAUSE]
[INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC PLAYING]
[PLAYING MELLOW TUNE
OVER PIANO]
Once around the bases?
-You got it, Mr. O'Leary.
-Yeah.
Couldn't be
a more beautiful day.
[SIGHS]
DENNY: Faster.
JOHN: Faster?
DENNY: Yeah.
JOHN: You wanna go faster?
DENNY: Mmm-hmm.
JOHN: Let's see what I can do
about faster. [GRUNTS]
-[BOTH CHUCKLE]
-[JOHN GRUNTING]
Hit the second base, okay.
-Do it right!
-DENNY: Captain America.
Faster.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
This is really something.
That it is, Dad.
That it is.
JOHN: There's a quote
I like to live by.
It informs everything
I do in my life.
It was said over a century ago
by Marshal Ferdinand Foch.
"The most powerful
weapon on earth
"is the human soul...
"on fire."
[CONTEMPORARY SONG PLAYING]
Well, or did it sound
somethin' like this?
"Boy, you will walk again."
[SONG CONTINUES]
[UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING]
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Soul on Fire (2025)
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Biographies Movie Collection