A television blares a Seattle Mariners baseball pre-game
broadcast in a living room.
TV ANNOUNCER
Nothing but blue skies above here
at Safeco Field.
EXT. LAWN - DAY
A FATHER (52) and SON (17)play catch in the yard. The lawn,
manicured and green like a baseball field, shines in the sun.
FATHER
The arm is feeling good today.
The father adjusts a Seattle Mariners cap, takes a deep
breath, then winds into a pitch.
The ball whizzes through the air.
The son’s mitt slaps closed. He rubs the sting out of his
hand and shakes the glove in pain.
SON
What the hell.
FATHER
I still got it.
SON
No you don’t.
FATHER
You couldn’t hit it.
SON
When I was twelve.
FATHER
You couldn’t hit it now.
SON
I don’t really care.
The father waves the glove to encourage the son to throw the
ball back.
SON (CONT’D)
This isn’t going to change
anything.
FATHER
Please, I feel good. Just a little
longer.
The son, hand still stinging, ponders a moment.
FATHER (CONT’D)
I don’t get many of these.
SON
You’re going to lay that one on me?
FATHER
Didn’t you like baseball?
SON
I couldn’t even make all-stars and
you were my coach.
FATHER
Nothing comes easy. It takes work.
The son tosses the ball back.
SON
Don’t you think I know that.
The father winds, another fastball.
The ball slaps the son’s mitt. The son throws the glove down
along with the ball. He winces in pain as he shakes out his
hand.
SON (CONT’D)
I’m done with this shit.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
Unspoken Distance
INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The son races into the house then to his room with a slam of
the door behind him.
The father follows. He knocks on the bedroom door.
FATHER
I’m sorry. Can we just sit and talk
at least?
The father lightly touches the door then steps away.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
The bedroom is plain, seemingly temporary, with moving boxes.
The son finds a box then rummages through old photos. He
finds various photos of himself at twelve, little league team
photos.
In one photo the father stands proud with the team. The son,
smaller than the rest of the players, rests on a knee in
front of the team sign with the other runts.
He finds a another photo of them playing catch, a much
happier time.
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Generational Divide
EXT. PORCH - DAY
The father relaxes on the steps. He works the baseball in
different pitch grips then snaps it into a mitt.
SON
What grip was that?
FATHER
Fastball. Two seam.
He shows the grip to his son but then hides the recent bruise
and needle mark on his hand with a sleeve.
SON
I never perfected that pitch or a
curve.
The father grips the ball for a curve.
FATHER
You just needed to get the edge of
the seam and snap your wrist down.
The father demonstrates the action but winces in pain.
The son notices.
The father massages his arm then looks back with a grimace
unable to hide it.
Silence fills the space between them.
The son, like he wants to say something, finds a step to sit.
He removes the catch photo for peek but then returns it to
his pocket unable to find the words to break the silence.
The father, distracted in thought, squeezes the baseball but
doesn’t notice the photo.
TV ANNOUNCER
King Felix is off to a great start.
SON
Who are the M’s playing?
FATHER
The Rays. I still have tickets. We
haven’t been to a game in ages.
SON
Catch was enough baseball for me.
FATHER
We can make a day of it.
SON
I’ve always wondered. Why baseball?
FATHER
There’s just an art to it. A
history.
SON
It’s just a game.
FATHER
Don’t you love any sports?
SON
Not my thing.
FATHER
Soccer? Football?
SON
Playstation. Call of Duty.
FATHER
Aren’t those called Esports now?
SON
Only if you can make money from it.
FATHER
You could be good at it.
SON
Just being good doesn’t cut it.
FATHER
You could at least try.
SON
Why bother.
FATHER
You don’t have to be great at
everything.
SON
Ya right.
FATHER
I’m not great at anything and look
at me.
SON
Exactly.
FATHER
You know. The difference between a
hall of fame player and an everyday
one isn’t far off.
SON
Only millions of dollars.
FATHER
I’m serious.
SON
I don’t need to hear this.
FATHER
One more hit every twenty at bats.
SON
What are you talking about?
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Strikes and Statistics
EXT. LAWN - CONTINUOUS
The father grabs a bat from the ground and steps into an
imaginary batter’s box. He takes a couple practice swings.
FATHER
The average ballplayer gets five to
six hits every twenty at bats.
SON
Why would I care?
FATHER
It just takes one more.
He swings like he makes contact with the ball for a homerun.
The crack of a bat echoes in the yard.
FATHER (CONT’D)
It could be the difference between
being a hall of famer or just
another guy on the team.
SON
Isn’t there more to it?
FATHER
How they measure the stats have
changed. Sure. But, the game hasn’t
changed.
SON
What stats?
FATHER
WAR.
SON
WAR?
FATHER
Wins above replacement.
SON
What’s that mean anyway?
FATHER
It measures the value of a player
against a replacement.
SON
That sounds like they’re just
making shit up.
FATHER
No. It’s a real thing. It’s like
what impact YOU have on a team.
SON
YOU watch it on TV.
The father reflects on his words then massages the bruise on
his wrist.
FATHER
What do you think my replacement
value would be?
SON
You’re not a ballplayer.
The son, emotional, rushes back inside.
Genres:
["Drama","Sports"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
A Drive for Slushies
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
The father watches the Mariner’s baseball game on the
television.
His cell phone pings a reminder about a doctor’s appointment.
TV ANNOUNCER
This could be a NO-NO in the
making. The King keeps mowing them
down as the King’s Court goes
crazy.
The father glances at the phone and with a disappointed shake
of his head. He turns off the television then steps to the
son’s bedroom door and knocks.
FATHER
Let’s take a drive.
SON (O.S.)
Only if I can get a slushie.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
A Drive to Disconnect
EXT. CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
The hum of the road fills the space.
The son notices as they pass the convenience store on the
corner.
SON
The 7-11 was over there.
FATHER
I know.
SON
Kidnapping me?
FATHER
I just want to spend time with you.
SON
I’m at YOUR house aren’t I.
FATHER
That’s not what I mean.
SON
Tell me what you want.
FATHER
I just want to talk to you. Tell me
about school. Something. Anything.
SON
School’s fine. It doesn’t start
till September anyway.
FATHER
You’re not excited about Senior
year?
SON
I’ll be excited in June.
FATHER
I loved my senior year.
SON
Of course you’d say that.
FATHER
You should enjoy the moment.
SON
We all can’t be class President or
Captain of the baseball team.
FATHER
I’m not asking you to be.
SON
You won’t be able to relive your
glory days.
FATHER
I want you to live your own.
The son listens but focuses on the hum of the highway.
FATHER (CONT’D)
I just want you to put your effort
into something. It’s ok to fail.
SON
So you want me to be a failure now?
FATHER
No. I just don’t want you to be
afraid to strike out. The thing is.
In baseball, you're expected to
fail. Or something happens you have
no control over. Someone else makes
a better play. You will lose
sometimes. It's all about what you
do the next time you step up to the
plate.
The son scoffs.
FATHER (CONT’D)
I get that we can’t be perfect. I’m
not going to sit here and say I am.
But, every so often, something
magical happens.
SON
I’d like to see that happen.
The son turns away to stare out the window.
Safeco Field comes into view.
SON (CONT’D)
I told you. I didn’t want to go to
a game.
FATHER
It’s almost over anyway. What’s a
couple of innings?
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
A Day at the Ballpark
EXT. SAFECO FIELD - DAY
The brick and steel building with a wide-open retractable
roof rumbles from the excitement of the crowd. The crescendo
of cheers can be heard from the street.
MONTAGE:
The father shows the tickets at the entry as other excited
fans scurry to get in.
They walk the main entry steps.
The son admires the chandelier adorned with white baseball
bats.
The son drinks from a huge lemonade.
They walk the main level as the Sun basks the field in
brightness.
The palpable murmur of excited fan.
END MONTAGE:
SON
Where are we sitting?
FATHER
One-sixteen. First row.
Genres:
["Drama","Sports"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
A No-Hitter Dream Deferred
EXT. SAFECO FIELD - SECTION 116 - DAY
They find their seats.
Other fans squeeze in with them to get closer to the field to
watch.
The father notices the scoreboard with zeros across the
visitor stats.
FATHER
Still intact.
The sea of yellow shirts highlights Section 148 - 149 and
chant “K” with every two strike count.
SON
What’s all the excitement about?
FATHER
Look at the scoreboard.
SON
So, it’s one nothing.
FATHER
Look again.
SON
We’re in the top of the seventh.
The son recognizes the manual scoreboard in left field.
SON (CONT’D)
Wait... They haven’t got a hit yet.
FATHER
Exactly.
The crack of the bat silences the crowd but then erupts with
the second out of the seventh inning.
SON
Ever seen a no hitter?
FATHER
Never. But, this is my dream come
true.
SON
How so?
The father pats his son on the back.
SON (CONT’D)
Get over yourself. You kidnapped
me. And, It’s not going to happen.
He’s still got two innings left.
FATHER
This day could be perfect.
SON
You’re dreaming. Nothing’s perfect.
The son rushes from his seat, through the line of fans, then
up the stairs.
The father turns dejected in his seat.
Genres:
["Drama","Sports"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
A Perfect Memory
EXT. SAFECO FIELD - MAIN LEVEL WALKWAY - DAY
The son watches a TV next to other fans.
FAN
This could be the twenty-third
perfect game ever.
SON
Ever?
FAN
Yeah, over a hundred years of
baseball and only twenty-two games
have ever been perfect. Why are you
watching it from here?
SON
Why are you?
FAN
I wish my son was here to see this.
The son removes the catch photo from his pocket.
QUICK FLASH
The father showing him how to throw a ball.
The sound of the ball hitting the mitt.
The awkward first catch and his amazement that the ball
didn’t fall out.
SNAP BACK
The son remembers the moment with a smile.
A moment of realization overtakes the son as he races back to
his seat as the crowd erupts for the second out of the ninth
inning.
Genres:
["Drama","Sports"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
A Moment of Connection
EXT. SAFECO FIELD - SECTION 116 - DAY
The son pushes back through the aisle to his father.
Standing room only as fans record the moment with their
phones.
The father rises from his seat, emotional, but doesn’t notice
the son pushing through the aisle. The father adjusts his hat
that reveals his scalp with a only a few patches of hair left
from chemo. The sleeve drops, his wrist ravaged with bruises
and needle marks. The father glows in the daylight like his
soul is piercing through.
The son reaches his father as the last out is recorded.
Players rush the field and the crowd screams with excitement.
The father and son embrace in both quiet celebration and
reconciliation.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Passing the Game
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
SUPER: 13 years later.
The son, now (30), admires the photo on a mantel of him and
his father at the Perfect game on August 15th, 2012.
FATHER (V.O.)
One more hit.
Next to the photo of his father is another one of a young
boy.
SON
I get it.
GRANDSON
Daddy!
The grandson (7), the boy from the photo, adorned in Seattle
Mariner fandom rushes to hug him. With a whirl, he’s lifted
into the air.
The grandson reaches for the photo.
GRANDSON (CONT’D)
Is that grampa?
SON
That was him. He loved baseball.
Are you ready for your first game?
GRANDSON
YEAH!
The son sets the grandson to his feet then grabs a mitt and
ball from a table.