Perfect Game, The (2009)

[bunniefuu]

[TV news show

theme music]

(announcer over TV)

Fans here at Sportsman's

are glued to their seats

as the Cardinals and Dodgers

are even at two apiece.

Sal Maglie takes the sign

from Campanella. He winds up.

Here's the pitch! Whammo!

Musial's bat cracks off

at his fist

as he sizzles

one to Gil Hodges,

Musial is two for two!

Does anyone want

a slightly used bat?

[Reporter's voice

begins to fade]

(Cesar)

I... I was promised.

Promised? By who?

By Eddie Stanky.

Stanky's gone.

Mr. Tanner,

I've been working

on this shot for years.

You'll get other shots,

but this is the Majors,

and we need to bring in

somebody who's...

Who's what?

Not Mexican?

Look here,

when Stanky found you

you were a batboy

in San Antonio.

Hornsby hired you.

I didn't.

It's my team now,

and you'll do

what you're told.

That's all, we're done.

(Cesar)

I didn't get it.

Where you going?

(Cesar)

Monterrey, Mexico.

(man)

Why?

That's where

my folks are from.

You don't know

anyone there.

Yeah, well I thought

I knew people here.

Cesar!

[Soft guitar,

Mexican music]

[Man shouting,

horns honking]

[Mexican soft guitar

music intensifies]

[expl*si*n sound]

By the end

of the shift,

I want all

of this removed.

(Umberto)

Hey you!

Boss needs

this slag cleared.

Sounds good. Why

don't you get it done?

Why don't you go

back to America?

(Suarez)

I hear he can't.

(Villareal)

Maybe he k*lled somebody.

You think you're

better than us,

Mr. Baseball Man?

Look where it got you.

You'll never know what

it is to have anything

'cause you'll never

have anything to lose.

Cesar!

A few months ago,

his oldest boy was playing

at the Church of the Dead.

All of our boys did,

but his slipped and fell.

(Father Esteban)

Our Father who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on Earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day

our daily bread and

forgive our trespasses

as we forgive those who

trespass against us.

And lead us not

into temptation, but

deliver us from evil. Amen.

Today, we command

the spirit of Pedro

Macias into Your hands.

In the name

of the Father, and the Son,

and the Holy Ghost.

Pedro was a good boy,

a very good boy.

By the end

of the shift.

(Cesar)

You want someone?

Take me.

These children

have nothing.

How can I give them hope?

Thank you.

[Sad music]

[Turns on radio]

[Tuning]

(reporter over radio)

And that's two outs!

Brooklyn Dodger

fans are on their feet

for the rookie, Sandy Koufax.

The poor lanky kid who rose

from the streets of Brooklyn

to the Major Leagues.

Koufax, studies the sign...

[soft epic music]

(reporter over radio)

He winds up.

And here's the pitch.

Strike three! He's done it!

Koufax has just pitched

his first shutout,

allowing Cincinnati

only two hits!

What a performance,

this kid has champion

written all over him!

Koufax studies the sign.

(Father)

Ugh.

Mario! It's

a Holy Day,

not a time for games.

If God didn't

want us

to play games,

he wouldn't

have made them

so much fun! Right?

[Chuckling]

[Boy singing]

Will you shut him up?

I'm trying to sleep!

He has to practice

for choir.

[Singing continues]

Choir? You're turning

him into a woman.

You shut him up,

or I'll do it myself.

Why did you stop?

It's all right, Mama.

I'm finished.

Your Father's

not an evil man.

He just... can't

feel anymore.

(Angel)

Is he ever

gonna get better?

(mother)

I don't know.

Father Esteban says

anything's possible

with the help of God.

[Boys' choir singing]

(Angel)

Ha! You're out!

(Enrique)

I tipped it!

(Father Esteban)

Boys. It's time.

Come.

(Enrique)

Did so tip it.

(reporter over radio)

Gil Hodges steps up

to the plate...

(Angel)

Do you think

we have a chance?

(Enrique)

Two outs, down by three

in the bottom of the 9th!

Enrique, I meant

this season.

You know the beautiful

thing about opening day

is today, every team

is in first place.

Yankees got lucky

last year.

Lucky? You call

Don Larson's perfect

game, lucky?

What's a perfect game?

(Mario)

No runs,

no hits, no walks.

No one

gets to first.

Yeah.

[Sighs]

To me, baseball

is always perfect.

I imagine

when you look out

from home plate,

the field

has no end.

And until the final out,

you can, you can

play forever.

[Soft music]

And only God can make

something infinite

and eternal.

Si.

(radio)

Snider hits

a deep fly ball!

Back to the wall,

[all exclaim]

(Father)

Our Dodgers

have spirit.

And Duke Snider.

(radio)

And that's why

Yogi Berra says,

'lt ain't over

'till it's over'

[soft music continues]

You're late.

The game went

into extra innings.

No. You're not

on time for dinner,

you don't eat.

You got

chores to do.

Tonight you can

clean out the corral.

It's too filthy,

even for a pig.

Umberto.

When I was his age,

I had to help put

food on the table.

Go!

[Soft music]

[Oinking]

(mother)

You're not

going to find

answers in there.

(Umberto)

Where then?

God.

(Umberto)

God took

my son.

(mother)

He sacrificed

his only son!

We have Angel!

(Umberto)

Angel will never

be the son that

Pedro was. Never.

Angel?

[Oinking]

[Soft music continues]

[Panting]

[Coyote howling]

[Boy's echoing voice]

Pedro! Pedro!

[Screaming]

Pedro!

[Birds chirping]

[Music becomes

more cheerful]

[Sharp thud]

What are you doing?

I'm Sandy Koufax.

The pitcher.

[Musical chord]

[Sharp thud]

Well, Koufax,

you just ruined

my siesta.

Koufax is a lefty.

[Sharp thud]

And Jewish.

Yes. Yes. I'm Jew...

I'm Ju... Je...

[sighs]

Whatever you said.

Well, it hasn't

improved your aim any.

What do you know?

Hey.

[Sharp thud]

(Cesar)

Hey, where'd

you get this?

It... It's from God.

You best take

care of that.

(Norberto)

Can I touch it?

(Father)

Yes, of course you

can touch it.

[Panting]

It's heavier

than I thought.

Let me see.

Whoa.

It's like

a woman's skin.

(Mario)

Father. What

does it mean?

It means God wants

us to play baseball.

Angel.

That's what

I think it means.

Me, too.

What happens

when we lose this one?

Is God going

to drop another

one from the sky?

(Angel)

He's God. He

can do anything.

Father, what

does it say?

It says it

belonged to a saint.

(kids)

Wow.

Angel,

maybe next time

you can ask him

to give us a bat!

[All chuckle]

[Rooster]

You again.

Want to have a catch?

(Cesar)

No.

Okay, I guess

I'll just

have to practice

everyday by myself.

Every single day,

right here!

Everyday!

[Sharp thuds]

[Soft guitar music]

All right.

Just this once.

Then you have to promise

me you're going to pitch

somewhere else, agreed?

Wow. Who taught

you to pitch?

Cardinals.

In the Basilica?

Saint Louis.

The Saint Louis

Cardinals?

That's right.

You played

in the Majors?

Well, sorta,

I... I coached.

I'm a Dodger fan.

Yeah, you're

Sandy Koufax.

[Man shouting

and horn]

[Chatter]

Quiet! There she is!

My girlfriend.

(Ricardo)

Oh yeah?

Then go talk to her.

Yeah.

I have to wait

for the right moment.

How about now?

Enrique, catch!

Oops.

A little

help, please!

Hi, Gloria,

such a surprise!

What is this?

I-I-lt's a baseball.

(Norberto)

A real one!

Are these

your friends?

(Ricardo)

We are his teammates!

Yeah, we're

a real baseball team.

Best in Monterrey!

[Soft Mexican music]

You know, they told me

Monterrey had the most

beautiful girls in Mexico.

Too bad for you,

we're on our way

to America.

Yeah, too bad.

So Gloria, I was thinking,

I could, walk you home

or something?!

Sorry, my father

picks me up.

Ooh! Popped up

to the catcher.

How embarrassing.

Who do you

think you are?

We're the

Mexico City All Stars.

Can you read?

Sons of gringo

businessmen!

Why don't you play

with Mexicans?

With babies,

like you?

(Mario)

Who are you

calling 'babies'? Dummy.

Come on, guys.

[Horn honking]

I'll never

get Gloria.

(boy)

You're not worth getting

dirty over. We're going

to America.

America.

Father.

Sorry, but we

need to make

the team now.

Angel, what

is the hurry?

We're 12. See,

we can't play

in the league next year.

Hmm. I see.

Well then, you'll

need a coach.

You could

be our coach!

No, not me.

Please.

You need somebody

who knows the game,

not just stick ball.

I don't know anybody

like that in Monterrey.

I do.

(Cesar)

What now?

(Angel)

We are making

a Little League team!

Who's we?

My friends

and Father Esteban.

You can meet

him tomorrow at Mass.

(Cesar)

Church? I don't

think so kid.

[Soft sweet music]

Do you like her?

Who?

I think you

are in love.

(Cesar)

Nah, there's plenty

of fish in the sea.

[Horns honking]

Not like

that mermaid.

You know her?

(Angel)

No, but I know

where she'll be

tomorrow morning.

Where?

[Bells tolling]

[Soft guitar music]

(Father)

Mea culpa

Mea culpa

Mea maxima culpa

[Father continues

Mass in Latin]

(Angel)

Father Esteban,

this is Cesar Faz.

Ah, yes.

Good morning, Father.

Angel tells me you used

to coach in the Major

League Baseball.

Yeah, yeah, I did.

Well, it must have

been something.

It was something.

(Father)

Yes, well, they would

like to have that same

feeling, you know?

In the American

Little League.

(Angel)

Mr. Faz, will you

be our coach? Will you

take us to America?

It would take

a miracle to make these

kids into a real team.

Sometimes, God gives us

the ability to make them.

Teams?

Miracles.

These kids don't

even have a field.

Sorry, kid.

[Cheerful music]

(Enrique)

Couldn't pick a place

with more rocks, huh?

Nope.

- We did it.

- Si.

(Enrique)

Yeah, the infield.

What about the outfield?

[Sharp thud]

Angel.

Angel!

(Angel)

Mr. Faz!

[Sharp thud]

Want to have a catch?!

Angel.

[Dogs barking]

Angel.

[Soft guitar music]

(Angel)

Well, we have a field.

Yeah. You got

a field.

Lucky. It's Cesar.

Cesar? How

the heck are you?

You still got your contacts

in Williamsport?

I need you to pull

some strings,

and help me get

Monterrey a Little

League franchise.

Little League? I thought

you didn't like kids.

Well, you going to

lecture me or you

going to help me?

You know that's a pretty

tall order this late

in the game.

I watched you

deck a shore patrolman

and then sweet-talk him

into driving you back

to your ship.

I know what you can

do on a one-day leave.

Oh, good, I didn't know

I had a whole day.

[Chuckling]

Holler when

you're hurting.

Oh, I'm hollering.

(Cesar)

Five skills in baseball.

Running, catching,

throwing, hitting,

[thump and all exclaim]

And hitting harder.

[Thump]

(Father)

They already know

how to do all

these things.

They just need you

to tell them

when to do them.

(Cesar)

Wow.

Um, thank you.

Oops.

Oh, uh.

You shouldn't hold

that so tightly.

You'll bruise

the delicate fruit inside.

You were in church

on Sunday, right?

Yes, yes

I was in church

on Sunday. That was me.

I'm Maria.

I'm Cesar Faz.

You, uh...

you buy food here?

[Chuckling]

Yes, Cesar Faz,

it's a food market.

Right.

And what

do you do here?

I'm here scouting

for the team.

Oh, what kind of team?

Little

League baseball!

Here? In Monterrey?

First time

for everything, right?

Like Cesar Faz

coming to my church.

That's right. Yeah.

Well, that's all

I came for.

Yeah, we,

you and I,

uh, should go out?

(Maria)

Um, would you

like to join my family

for dinner, tonight?

Yeah. Yeah. Tonight?

Mm-hm.

Yeah. That sounds

real nice.

7 o'clock then?

7 o'clock.

Bye.

Father.

[Sighs]

What are you

guys doing here?

Recruiting, remember?

I think Mr. Faz

has been recruiting.

Okay, okay, who

do we got?

[Man shouting,

horns honking]

(Angel)

That's Fidel Ruiz.

[Man continues shouting]

Man, that kid can run.

Tell him it's a sin

to steal.

Unless it's bases.

He's in.

How about that kid

that m*rder*d that

cardboard decoration?

(both)

Baltazar!

He's the strongest

kid in town.

He's in. Okay. Angel,

Enrique, Ricardo, Fidel.

What about Mario?

(Angel)

Yes, yes,

Mario's important.

[Chatting]

He's pretty small.

Is he a great hitter?

Um, not so much.

Fantastic fielder?

Uh, not so much.

(Cesar)

Mario.

You got a great

arm, right?

Not so much.

Mr. Faz.

(Cesar)

Why's he so special?

Because he knows

all the girls.

[All chuckle]

Mario. You

got a glove?

Yeah!

[All chuckling]

Mario, you're in.

(Cesar)

Okay, I want you

on the field in an hour.

What about the flowers?

Flowers? For what?

For Maria.

Maybe you didn't

hear that beauty,

just invite me

to her house

for dinner.

Really?

Where does she live?

Diego Martin number 5.

And don't forget

the flowers.

(Father)

Dear Lord,

bless these boys

and the field

on which they play

for your greater

honor and glory.

Father. Son.

Holy Ghost. Amen.

Does anybody know

the Holy Trinity

of baseball?

(Norberto)

The Father, The Son,

and The Holy Ghost.

Close. Home runs, RBI's,

and batting averages.

And they all

revolve around this.

[Horn honking]

[Cheerful music]

Looking good, Pepe.

Who are you?

I'm Pepe Maiz Garcia.

I play left field.

But coach hasn't

made positions yet.

Well we'll see.

Boys, meet your

new left fielder.

[Boys exclaim]

(Enrique)

You think your Dad

can buy your way onto

the team?

Money isn't everything.

Yeah, well,

you don't have any.

And you never will.

At least I'll always

be able to kick

your butt.

(Cesar)

All right everybody!

Heads up!

Runner on first.

One out,

play to second.

Ready? Fidel.

(Fidel)

What runner Mr. Faz?

There's no one on the base.

Pretend.

(Norberto)

Yogi Berra said 90%

of the game is half mental.

Well I must be

100% mental

to think that I could

teach you kids baseball

in four weeks.

Baltazar!

What happened?

You said Baltazar.

The unexpected play

at the unexpected time.

That's what we're

training for!

Nice play, girl.

Come on, you kids.

Keep it together.

Ugh.

[Kids exclaim]

(Cesar)

Hey! Hey!

There's two

kinds of players.

Those who can play

as a team and those who

won't be on this team!

You got

that! Alright.

Everybody, five laps.

It was their fight,

we shouldn't all

have to run five laps!

Norberto's right.

Everybody, ten laps!

Move it!

[Boys complain]

You all rise

and fall together!

[Cheerful music]

What am I doing?

Again!

(Cesar)

Again! Make sure

you get it!

Grounder!

What are you doing?

Mr. Faz,

you have a date!

Get back to your

position! Go!

Again!

[Sad love song

over radio]

[Rooster and cheerful

Mexican music]

(Cesar)

Anyone jogging's going

to make the whole team

run an extra

five laps,

and I know you

don't want that.

You want to be a champ,

you got to run like

a champ.

[Music continues]

Come on,

keep up, Ricardo.

(Cesar)

Way to go, Norberto.

(Maria)

I don't know what men

do in America, but in Mexico,

they treat a woman

with more respect.

Sorry.

Practice ran late,

and running the boys...

Perhaps you

just forgot.

Mr. Faz, here are

the flowers you got

for the lady yesterday.

Flowers?

You got this for me?

I... I know

you told me

to put them in water,

they're

a little wilted.

They're beautiful.

[Clears throat]

Um, Mario.

Your laps.

Oh! Because I

didn't put the flowers

in the water, right!!

It's okay.

[Father, speaking

in Latin, Gregorian chant]

[Cheerful pop music]

♫ Take me out

To the Ballgame ♫

♫ Take me out to the crowd ♫

♫ Buy me some peanuts ♫

♫ And cr*cker jack ♫

♫ I don't care

If I never get back ♫

♫ Let me root, root, root

For the home team ♫

♫And if they don't win

it's a shame ♫

♫For it's one ♫

♫ Two ♫

♫ Three strikes, you're out ♫

♫ At the old ball game ♫

♫ Yeah ♫

♫ Let me root, root, root

For the home team ♫

♫ And if they don't win ♫

♫ It's a shame ♫

♫ For it's one ♫

♫ Two ♫

♫ Three strikes, you're out ♫

♫ At the old ball game ♫

Now I have some

announcements to make,

thanks to your

continuing prayers,

Mrs. Montez's boils

have finally healed.

[All chuckle and applaud]

And Senora Santana,

has given birth

to triplets!

(Father)

And lastly,

Monterrey, has just been

awarded its very first

Little League franchise!

[Cheerful music,

boys exclaim and applause]

♫ For it's one, two ♫

♫♫ Three strikes,

You're out ♫

♫♫ At the old ball game ♫♫

[groaning]

They're limping.

I made them wear

their baseball shoes

for the past few days.

But their feet

will blister.

Better now

than at the field.

You're treating them

like you're still

a manager

in that magic

league in St. Louis.

It's Major League,

Maria, Major.

Still, it seems

mean to me.

What's mean you is you

not going out to dinner

with me.

Not until you meet

my Father, it's only proper.

We come back

from Texas on Wednesday,

tell him I'll meet him

that night, I promise.

Okay.

(Cesar)

Are they praying?

(Father)

No, they're watching

that hummingbird.

(Cesar)

Why?

(Father)

I told them when they

see his wings they can

hit any pitch.

You don't really

believe that, do

you Father?

They do.

On the field!

Five minutes!

Nine of you boys

showed up

but only one team

is going to McAllen.

[Boys exclaim,

inspiring music]

(boy)

I got fourteen!

[Horn]

(Cesar)

I'll make up the two

shifts next weekend.

Two shifts?

And you'll be

back next weekend?

I will be back.

[Walla and metallic clanking]

(Umberto)

Stop filling

Angel's head

with crazy ideas.

Like what?

Like going to Texas

to play baseball.

He needs to know

his place.

Like where, here?

Working the furnaces

at Fundidora?

Fundidora feeds

my family.

My Father

and Grandfather

worked here,

and so will Angel.

Well maybe Angel's got

his own dreams, you

ever think about that?

Dreams don't

build cities.

Men and iron do.

(mother)

You make a very

handsome baseball star.

Umberto.

[Soft Mexican music]

Where does he

think he's going?

To Texas

with the team,

remember?

I don't remember

saying you can go.

Umberto.

Papa, I'm going.

Why not?

One less

mouth to feed

for a few days.

Come on,

we're late

for the bus.

Si.

[Soft guitar music]

(border guard)

Purpose of your visit

to the United States?

Baseball game

in McAllen.

That's over ten miles

away. There's no

bus stop here.

They're used

to walking.

Hey, empty those out!

[Cesar speaking Spanish]

(border guard)

One pair of underwear,

that's all they brought?

They only

got one game.

See that you don't

leave no one behind.

[Soft pop music]

♫ To the miracle

of the light ♫

♫ From the darkness

Of the night ♫

♫ When you see forever ♫

♫ In everything you do ♫

(Enrique)

Pepe, use mine.

♫ No matter what you dream

It is waiting there for you ♫

(guard)

Good luck.

Friends.

(border guard)

Don't forget, it's

only a three-day visa.

[Inspiring pop music]

♫ Open your eyes ♫

♫ Awake and realize ♫

♫ That the journey

You must take ♫

♫ Is the miracle you make ♫

[announcer over speakers]

Listen up, y'all.

Here's the field

where we're going

to kick some butt.

(coach assistant)

That's right!

What the...

[boys shouting and laughing]

They've never seen

mowed grass before.

[Laughing]

Oh.

Well, if that

don't beat all.

[Laughing and chattering]

We going to play baseball

with them? Or use them

as fertilizer?

They'll never get

past the first game.

Let's go.

[Announcer over speakers]

Angel, Enrique,

I want you

to line up right here.

[Coach speaking Spanish]

Look at who

we're playing.

It will be

a good warm up

for the tournament.

[Chuckling]

Now listen, you both

worked really hard,

but only one

of you can start.

You decide.

(Mexico City player)

Hey, babies, where's

your pretty girl now?

[Mexico City

players laughing]

You know what?

You start.

For Gloria.

(Father)

Come here, boys.

Everybody join hands.

Holy cow, they're

holding hands.

They're saying

a prayer.

(Father)

Lord, bless these

boys, let them come

out victorious

and get a lot

of hits, okay?

They need to.

(announcer)

Enrique Suarez, delivers,

and Donowitz swings,

hits a high fly ball,

Pepe Maiz is under it

and makes the catch!

[Boys exclaim]

[Boys shouting

and soft Mexican music]

Yeah.

[Thud and shouting]

Hey, coach!

Might want to remind

your boys

there's more

than one out

in a baseball game.

It's their first rodeo.

They'll catch on.

Laughing and shouting]

Yeah!

(announcer)

Bottom of the fifth,

and Veragosa digs in.

(crowd)

Oh!

(Coach)

Time! What are

you kids doing?

Take the base.

(announcer)

Monterrey's Coach Faz

is coming out to the mound.

We're playing a great game.

We're only losing

by two runs.

The only word

I heard in that

sentence was "losing."

They're bigger

than us.

Everybody's

bigger than us.

We walked 12 miles

and played five innings

of baseball.

Lucky for you

there is six innings.

(Mario)

But Mr. Faz,

they're the Mexico

City All Stars!

[Suspenseful music]

Wrong. They're

the Yankees.

And you're

the mighty

Brooklyn Dodgers.

The mighty who?

You heard me!

Gil Hodges,

get back

to first base.

Duke Snider,

center field.

Roy Campanella,

behind the plate.

Don Newcombe,

take the mound.

Pee Wee Reese?

Third base.

[Suspenseful music continues]

[Boys exclaiming]

Strike!

Strike Two!

Strike Three!

Side is out.

(announcer)

Top of the sixth,

Monterrey still down by two.

Three more outs,

and Monterrey Industrials

will be going home.

Safe!

[Suspenseful music continues]

(announcer)

Boy have the tables turned,

three more outs

and it'll be the Mexico

City All Stars going home.

Hey!

You're out!

(announcer)

Two outs, and Veragosa

is Mexico City's last hope,

he swings, he hits

a high pop up.

No. I got it.

(announcer)

And Monterrey Industrial

wins their first game

by 7 runs!

Now we play

for Mexico. We'll

make your team proud.

[Boys exclaiming]

(Mexico City player)

Okay, then do it.

[Applause and cheering]

(boys)

Mexico All Stars!

We are the Monterrey

Industrials!

Viva Mexico!

(announcer)

It's a good thing

they're celebrating today,

because tomorrow

they're gonna face

our Texas boys,

for some real

American baseball.

Alright, we got

a big game tomorrow.

I want

you boys to rest up,

get plenty of sleep.

[Groaning]

Oh, when did

this happen?

Last Saturday.

On the field, I

stepped on a glass.

(Fidel)

Oh! Does it hurt?

(Norberto)

Yes.

Why didn't you

tell anybody?

I was afraid you

wouldn't let me come.

You're not going

to be able to play

on this foot.

Then I will play

on the other.

[Soft music]

You'll play on the other.

(Fidel)

It's okay, Norberto.

You'll be all right.

(Cesar)

In case you wondered

what those things are

that I lugged

from Monterrey,

they're called bats.

And if you

want to put numbers

on that scoreboard,

these are your tools.

Time for some

hitting drills.

Mr. Faz,

the game is

in one hour.

Well what a perfect

time then.

Come on.

[Soft music]

Batting practice?

Who do y'all

think you're messing

with here, huh?

(Mac)

Disinterested.

No opinion.

Don't care.

[Typing]

Request denied.

Denied.

One more sec. Mac.

May provoke a nuclear

arms race in space.

Arms race in space?

Come on, Frankie.

What's next?

Men on the moon?

It's good stuff, Mac.

Besides, it's my day off.

Yeah about that,

I need you to cover

a Little League game.

Our team's got a chance

at the tournament.

A kid's baseball game? No.

Riley's your sports writer.

His wife's

expecting any minute.

Well what

about Hayne?

Got him working

on the Governor

Daniels story.

Well, you got plenty

of other men on your

staff, don't you?

I hear you know more

about the game than

any of them.

Ain't you named

after a ballplayer?

I hate baseball.

What are you,

some kind of communist?

Yeah, you got me,

that's why I work

here for next to nothing.

Hm.

[Sighs]

Fine. What's so important

about this game?

We got some boys

come up from Mexico

thought we'd play

the invasion angle,

you know,

our boys defending

what their Granddaddy's

fought for.

And what if

the Mexicans win?

5 will get you 20

those boys ain't gonna

to score a single run.

I did not study journalism

to get stuck on this back

page assignment.

I'm not doing it,

and that's final.

That's fine,

not everybody is

cut out for the Gazette.

Why don't you run out

and get yourself an apron,

maybe, find a husband.

You know, you say that

one more time, I will

punch you in the nose.

It's been awhile

since I fought a woman.

We're not in the same

weight class, I don't think.

3 o'clock.

McAllen field!

I take that as a yes?

[Boys shouting]

Well, at least we know

they didn't bring

any ringers.

Heck, they don't look

but nine or ten.

Hey guys,

see this thing!

Hey, come on, Jake,

give it back.

What do

you care?

(coach)

There now, boys.

Sportsmanship. Come on.

Come on, get in there.

(coach assistant)

Let's go.

[Applause]

Remember, you're

the pitcher.

Birds and sky, the waters

and rivers, even the sun

is going to wait,

'till you're ready,

understand?

Okay, Mr. Faz.

You can

do this, Koufax.

(announcer)

We're ready to get

started here on field

one as Bobby Lampkin

will lead things off

for McAllen against

Monterrey's Angel Macias.

(man)

Come on there, Billy!

Strike!

That's all right.

That's only one strike.

(coach)

Let's go, Billy!

[Soft lively

Mexican music]

(umpire)

Strike three!

That's only

one out.

Strike three!

Strike three!

Side out.

That's all right!

That's only

one inning boys!

Come on boys,

let's get this

one! Let's go!

(coach)

Come on, boys.

[Music continues]

They scored a run.

They scored again.

(announcer)

Well I'll tell you,

these Mexicans may have

rolled all over the grass,

but they sure ain't

rolling over on the field.

Oh, tell me they're

going to stop

scoring runs.

Don't worry.

Ain't no Mexican

team gonna take

our flag!

That's right!

[Thump]

You can't be serious

letting a bunch of w*tbacks

get the better of you!

We're doing

the best we can.

Well maybe that just

ain't enough. Hey boy!

I'm talking to you!

Dad, I'm on deck!

Remember, boys!

It ain't over

'till it's over!

Strike three!

That's game.

No no no!

It ain't over!

This ain't over!

It's over.

(Frankie)

A combination

of clutch hitting,

and impermeable defense

led Monterrey Industrial

to an improbable

7 to 1 victory.

So there's your article.

I'm going home.

(Mac)

No, you're going

to stay with this story.

But the home team's out.

So? The w*tbacks

winning sells more papers.

Can't be long, just

cover them 'till they lose.

Frankie Stevens,

McAllen Gazette.

No thanks.

I'm not selling them.

I'm a reporter.

Cesar Faz.

What are you

gawking at?

I didn't know

there were female

sports reporters.

You must

be pretty unwelcome

in the locker room.

And beating

the home team makes

you about as popular

as a skunk

at a lawn party.

Well I'd rather

smell than lose.

Maybe you can do

both tomorrow.

You mind if I ask

them a few questions?

They don't

speak English.

How come

the kids keep

saying 'Gil Hodges'?

And he just told

those girls that

he's Duke Snider.

That's their

secret weapon.

What is? But...

[chatter]

Everybody gather round.

(Fidel)

We're tired,

Mr. Faz.

(Baltazar)

Can we sleep?

Well, if you

lose tomorrow

you'll get

plenty of sleep

on the bus home,

now gather round.

[Boys grumble]

Now base hits

to the right,

shortstop covers

second base. Mario.

[Triumphant music]

Again!

He's out.

Man! Come on.

[Crowd complains]

Jesus.

(announcer)

Texas just can't

get it going here.

Strike three,

that's game.

Are you kidding me?

(announcer)

That's 3 straight

wins for Monterrey.

I don't envy West Waco

who'll try to stop

them tomorrow.

Why the long face?

Our visas

have expired.

Oh my gosh,

it's Wednesday.

Yeah.

(Cesar)

She's gonna k*ll me.

[Sighs]

'The Little Giants.'

Nice touch.

'The little giants

from Monterrey

beat West Waco

'and Brownsville

by the scores

of 13-1, and 6-1,

'giving them five

straight victories.

Now it's off

to Corpus for these

Mexican baseballers.'

For someone

who hates baseball you

sure have a way with it.

You got your story,

Mac, now leave

me alone.

(Mac)

Hm.

[Music chord]

Why are

you looking

at me like that?

Corpus

Christie, huh?

No! That's where

I draw the line!

Just 'till

they lose.

You said that

four games ago!

They're not cooperating.

People are glued

to the sports page.

You know, if it's

so good, why don't

you cover it?

I sign

your check.

Remember.

Me editor.

You writer.

Consider that

a bonus.

Don't spend it

all in one place.

Umberto.

Listen to this.

Steel won't wait.

Let's go.

Let's go.

'Corpus Christie,

Texas. August 6th.

'The pitching duet

of Enrique Suarez

and Angel Macias

'continued its

winning streak.

' Laredo was the first

to fall in a 5-0 shut out,

'West Columbia fared

even worse, shut out

by six runs! '

(Suarez)

To America they go!

[All cheer]

(clerk)

Can I help you?

Eleven tickets

to Forth Worth, please.

(clerk)

I got reservations

here under the name

'West Columbia. '

Trust me, they

won't be coming.

[Angel, knocking]

Mr. Faz!

Me and Berto have

to go to the toilet!

I might get

the restroom

key, please?

There's one about

a half mile up the road.

You're kidding.

Well, what about that

restroom out there!

Can't your boys read?

(Angel)

Hello?

Come on.

We'll find

another one.

There's only

this one.

It's not working.

We saw

a man come out.

Come on,

just go.

This for white

people only.

How does

the toilet know?

[Camera shutter clicks]

[Cheerful twist music]

♫ If you wanna live it up

And drive a limousine ♫

♫ Have plenty money

In your blue jeans ♫

♫ And lot of pretty women

Hangin' on your wing ♫

♫ Pay attention man,

You will get just

What I mean ♫

♫You gotta dig boy,

Dig boy dig-dig boy ♫

♫ Dig boy, dig dig boy ♫

♫ Dig boy, dig boy, dig boy

To get ahead in the world ♫

♫ Gotta stretch

All your nickles,

Dimes and pennies too ♫

♫ Ole mother nature

'll get the best of you ♫

♫ A time to change,

You better get wise ♫

♫ Or you'll

Find yourself a-slippin'

Like a lot of other guys ♫

♫♫ If you don't dig boy ♫♫

[music stops]

(Betty)

Enjoy.

Enjoy.

(Lil Betty)

You sure you don't

want the chicken?

It's my

mom's specialty.

I'll stick

with the cheeseburger.

Maybe Cleon wants

the fried chicken.

Like the Mexican

kids we're gonna

whoop tomorrow.

(Lil Betty)

So that will be

cheeseburgers, Coke,

and a side of humble pie.

(Betty)

Hey, you're k*lling

my chicken.

They're, uh, making

mole. It's a Mexican

chocolate sauce.

Mole, schmole, I

ain't letting them make

sundaes out of my chicken.

Hey, Father.

Why is that kid

sitting alone?

Well, Enrique,

some people don't

believe that we are

all His children.

What?

Mr. Faz.

Go ask the coach

if the boy can sit

with us.

(Cesar)

In this town,

it ain't happening.

Sorry, Angel.

[Epic music]

[Speaking Spanish]

What is

your name?

Cleon.

(Angel)

Cleon, this is Mario

and Norberto,

Ricardo and Fidel.

Milk.

Milk. "Leche".

"Leche." Yes.

Yes. "Leche."

One moment.

[Boys chuckling]

(Cleon)

It's okay, here.

[Cheerful rock music]

Keep it, coach.

It's gonna cost

you money.

I can't.

Don't worry

about it.

I'm planning

on charging that

Houston coach double.

Holy Mole!

This ain't bad.

Thank you, now.

[Intense rock music]

Come on, boys!

♫ Well, I may be little,

And I sure ain't rich ♫

Safe!

♫ But like a

Louisville slugger ♫

♫ Well, rockin', rockin'

Across the Rio Grande ♫

♫ Yeah, rockin' across Texas,

Rockin' to the promised land ♫

♫ Yeah! ♫

Houston,

What happened?

(announcer)

Well ladies and gentlemen,

not since the Alamo

have the Texans suffered

such a defeat at the hands

of the Mexicans.

Pitchers Suarez and Macias

cut a swath of victory through

the Lone Star State.

Most recently

besting Houston 6-4,

and bulldozing Waco 13-1,

for their 8th

and 9th straight victories.

Next up, the Southern

Regional Tournament.

The Yellow Rose of Texas

is smelling a little sweeter

south of the border tonight.

[Horns honking,

man shouting]

Senora Macias!

Angel won again!

[Laughing]

Now they're going to

Louisville, Kentucky!

That's so far away.

My son Enrique

scored three goals!

[All laugh]

Runs,

Senora Suarez,

runs not goals.

Ah, runs, goals,

they still count!

[Electrical saw

loud sound]