And so my fellow Americans, ask not
what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
Who can tell me who made that speech and on what occasion?
Henry?
President John F. Kennedy, as inauguration, January 1961.
Very good, Henry. Excellent.
Okay, class, let's get on some... - Teacher's, pet.
Breathe.
It's not easy being the new kid on the block.
Sometimes, you just can't get a break.
Hey guys, what's this for? - What do you care? - Teachers, pet.
But that's when you've got to hold on.
Because you never know when a little magic's just around the corner.
Gary!
Ow! - Excuse me.
Excuse me.
I think...
Excuse me, please.
Hey!
Oh, he's drunk!
What if you knew beyond a doubt what was going to happen tomorrow?
What would you do?
There is no easy answer for a guy who gets tomorrow's news today.
[Theme Song Playing]
Bradley picks it up on one half of the grill.
That was so cool!
I mean, totally awesome! That clown's dead meat!
Why'd you slow down? - Hi, guys.
Mom, you'd never believe what happened.
Did you walk around from school? - Well, it was just kind of.
There was this clown still in his bucket.
It was really nice of you.
Oh, well, it was nothing.
No, I mean, to take time out of your day like that was really nice.
Like I said, it was nothing.
Mom? - What?
He had this big nut and he cut the bucket and saved the clown.
That's nice honey.
You're not listening.
Patrick! - Yes, but...
Patrick, why don't you make Henry a little...
Oh, uh, milkshake cookie chaser.
Chaser, Patrick?
Mom? - Henry.
Come on, partner.
Up, you go.
So, you saved the clown?
Huh? - You saved the clown.
Oh, clown, uh, what?
He's got a tremendous imagination.
He was really bonding with you.
Oh, Henry, he's a great kid.
No, I mean, you're really special to him.
Well, I like Henry.
Listen, um, it's probably not right of me
to ask you this, but, uh, see, there's this,
um, father-son thing at school next week.
Father-son?
I know he'd really like it if you would take him.
Well, gee, uh, I don't know.
What about Henry's, uh, Henry's own father?
I would, I didn't heard from Mike in eight months,
except for when he wants money.
Well, I don't know, because... - Well, you wouldn't be the only sub there.
There's lots of single parents there.
Well... He'd really like it.
He would.
He would, huh? - Mm-hmm.
Well, sure, I'd love to take him.
Thanks.
He saw you make the save?
It was dumb luck. - You sounded upset.
Well, I am upset.
Well, it's not like he caught you changing into Superman's cape, Gary.
Well, it was close enough, and the kid wouldn't stop
talking about it all the way back here.
Where did you get the net? What were you doing there?
He had bigger mouth than Chuck if that's possible.
Well, kid likes you, that's all.
Yeah, well, I like the kid too. He's a great little kid,
but you know what? I don't need a fan club right now,
and you want to know why? Because my life, it's complicated enough.
That's why.
Oh.
Well, I don't think Henry's your only complication.
[Marrisa humming]
Excuse me?
Well, you know, I have eyes of my own,
and I just sense some things.
What, you talking about Erica?
I didn't say it.
She's an employee.
But she has a lot to offer the right man.
You're a nice guy, she's a nice woman, you know.
You sound like my mother.
All right, enough said.
Now, what am I going to do about Henry?
Nothing.
I mean, in two minutes, the kid will probably forget about the whole thing.
Yeah...
Or not.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Come on.
Henry, where have you been?
I thought we were going to watch the game together.
I was at the library.
The library? - Research.
Henry?
Really, I got a lot of homework.
So you decided to go to the library all by yourself?
Mom, I'm eight. - OK.
Well, let's see what you got.
Hmm.
Unexplained phenomenon.
Mystery's revealed.
Henry, have you been watching the X-Files again?
It's for a project, Mom. - Really?
OK.
Five, three, five, three.
Good morning, Chicago.
It's another beautiful day in the Windy City.
Look for clear skies...
All right, don't get your fur in a knot.
Morning.
Morning, Gary.
Any particular reason why we have 14 bottles of grappa?
Chuck. - Chuck.
Legend lives on.
You gotta hurry, sweetie. You gotta catch the bus in 10 minutes.
You want me to take them?
Oh, thanks. I'll be nice.
You're welcome.
Henry, get your books. Gary's gonna take you.
Why don't you go eat your dinner or something, huh?
So what's up for today?
What's up the usual?
got an accident over at a gun range.
Got to inform some woman or husband's coming home early.
Then I gotta go to Glencobe because of a toaster oven electrocution.
Toaster oven?
What about a toaster oven?
I don't know. You tell me.
Toaster ovens, people come out. I don't know.
[People Screaming]
Hey! Hey!
What? What?
There he is.
Oh! - Sorry.
Are you OK? - I'll live.
Get the colander.
One, two, three.
Get him, Cat.
Yeah! - Yes!
All right.
Say your little prayers, fella.
Oh, you can't kill it. - Huh?
Aw. - What are you doing?
He didn't mean it. Did you?
He didn't... - Bella, oh, you're so...
He's a rat!
Henry, you missed us... - Bye Mom, gotta go.
You want me to walk you? - No time.
What's the score?
What do you care?
Bradley throws it in the doghouse?
Yeah right!
[chatter on the radio]
And Bradley throws the ball in the doghouse.
I can't believe it!
Lucky guess!
What do you mean? McKinnon's up.
Don't worry, 2 minutes to double play.
There's no force, dummy!
McKinnon smashes it! Oh, an amazing catch!
Cavallo steps on third, double play!
Cavallo rounds McKinnon of extra bases
and doubles up Pullman to end the game!
Geez, Jello, you're hogging the whole table!
Hey, Henry, you wanna sit here?
Sure.
Shove over!
You want a pudding? - pudding? Sure.
Go get Henry a pudding.
Go!
Mom, you'd never believe it, I just made...
Hey, Tiger.
Dad?
Your dad just stopped by to say hi.
He's leaving in a minute, aren't you, Mike?
Look how big you got.
Yeah, that'll happen in eight months.
I would have caught up with you sooner, but
you two are kind of hard to track down these days.
Come here.
Give your old man a hug.
Oh, gosh, look at you!
You're getting muscles and everything.
Hey, I'll bet a root beer float.
Can I?
Okay.
Yeah! - Yeah!
Listen, I'm sorry I tried to keep him out,
but your ex seems like a nice guy, so...
Henry seems to like him. - Well, yeah they're both,
on the same emotional level.
It's none of my business, but, uh,
maybe it's good that Henry gets to see his dad once in a while.
Do you think I could get an advance on next month's salary?
Yeah, is he for money?
Not yet. That would be too direct.
First he has to stir things up, get Henry all excited,
make a bunch of promises he can't keep,
and then leave us flat.
It's a family tradition.
You know, sometimes people change it.
He's a chronic gambler.
They don't change.
There's nothing I can do.
The pitch. Roger takes it.
I'm doing good in score, too.
That's great.
They're not so hot at fractions.
Kenny, she's my new friend.
You gotta study your fractions, pal.
Dad...
I'm sorry.
And I'm getting more into sports, too.
Really? That's great.
And I get some pretty good hunches, too.
Fuller steps in. Two out.
I bet Fuller hits a double.
You bet in a double, huh?
I'll throw it off the wall. You'll see.
Fuller connects. Natkin on his horse.
He's not gonna get it there.
It's off the wall.
Harry comes home and floated legs into second.
A stand-up double off the right field wall.
What is this game on some kind of delay?
No, Dad. It's me.
I get these ideas. Watch.
And the game is over.
The final score,
Carolina 6. Pits bird nothing.
We'll be right back with the player of the game.
What is this? You really get hunches?
All the time. I guess I'm real lucky that's off.
It's unbelievable.
What other sports do you know?
Math homework. I think we left it in here.
Math homework.
I don't see your math homework, Henry.
Maybe it fell back there.
No, I don't... See it.
Oops. - What was that?
Oh, it's nothing. Henry just spilled some coffee.
I'm sorry. - That's okay.
I'll go get some paper towels and clean up.
Just leave it there.
Shh, shh, Spike.
So, what's going on in school, Henry?
I think they're dissecting owl peluts.
Owl pellets?
Yeah. Owls eat other animals, except they can't eat everything.
Like the bones and hair and stuff.
So it gets downwashed up in their stomach, and then they barf it up. Owl pellets.
Glad I asked. Thanks, Henry.
I know where it is. I left it at school.
How could I be so stupid.
All right.
Did you get your homework?
Yeah. I just remembered it's in my locker at school.
Oh, good. Hey, hey, hey. You want me to walk you over there today?
No, thanks.
Bye, Henry. - Bye.
[dog barks]
Hey Dad. - Hey, partner.
Are we ready for some action? - Sure.
Let's go.
[indistinct chatter]
Look out there, Henry. What do you see?
Horses.
What else? - People.
[indistinct chatter]
Magic, Henry. There's magic out there.
And all we need to do is reach out,
grab a little bit of it, and put it in our pockets and,
well who know who's what could happen.
Okay. Now let's pick a winner.
Just use your system.
It's not a system. It's more of a hunch.
However your working.
It doesn't work if you stare.
[chuckles] Okay.
I'm not staring.
I'm looking away.
Jesse's field number 4.
You sure about this?
Okay. My kid says you're sure. You're sure.
Twenty-one on the four horse.
Here you go, good luck.
Thank you.
And they're off. Coming out of the gate,
it's Remy's ride, Bollycorn, Jesse's field,
High boot, followed by Queen Marv and Jupitero.
As they approach the compound, it's Remy's ride,
followed by Jesse's field, Bollycorn and my boot.
Now it's Jesse's field, Remy's ride, Bollycorn and high boot.
He's pulling away.
Come on.
Don't fade.
Don't fall off. - Don't fall off.
He's doing it. He's doing it.
Yeah! We have a winner!
He's a winner!
Oh!
Oh.
You know how I said my luck needed a change?
Guess what? You're my luck.
Yes!
Go, go, go!
And the winner is Remy!
[cheers]
Ouch!
Up!
Keep the change.
Let's do it.
Four grand. I've never had a day like this.
Never. That's some kid you got there.
Henry, meet Sally the stupor.
Wish my kid could pick him like that.
Chip off the old block, huh?
How's the ice cream? - Good.
Good. Because tomorrow we go for the big score.
Tomorrow? I can't.
What do you mean you can't?
I have school.
You can't get out one more day?
Look, today I was holding back.
This was just a test.
But tomorrow we really cash in.
Com'on, what do you say? One more day?
Okay. - All right. Let's go.
Whoa! Boom.
Miss Patterson will be over in about a half an hour and then I got to get to work.
Mom, how come you and Dad broke up?
Well,
your dad got on the wrong track.
You mean like he kind of ran out of money?
Yeah, his money, my money.
If he got himself on the right track, you think it might have been okay?
Maybe.
You still love him?
Your dad and I were in love.
I mean, we had to be to make a great kid like you.
But sometimes things just change.
Things?
Things like money?
Yeah.
Things like that and other things. It's just complicated.
Eat your potatoes.
You wouldn't believe it.
My own kid handicapping like a pro.
Eight out of eight races.
You know,
my life, it's been a wrong number lately.
But that's going to change.
Once I get ahead, whole new ball game.
I have more time with my kid.
I'll be more of a dad.
You know what I mean?
Thanks for the call, Stan.
Raleigh.
Mike, long time.
Listen, Raleigh, I'm just... - Ten large, Mike. You're two weeks late.
I'm good for it.
Then you show a good faith.
About four grand.
Seven short. Seven.
The vig, Mike. Not in this for charity, you know.
I need more time. - You got a day.
I need that money.
I got a tip of the track for tomorrow.
It's a lock, Raleigh. It's a mortal lock.
Good. See you there.
Don't do anything stupid like running away.
Hey, Gary, I need you to sign off on these invoices.
Hey, Mallock. Come here.
Can you bring me sauce here? Just a bit.
When did you find out?
Three days ago.
How did you find out?
I followed you after you saved that clown.
Clown? - Where's it come from?
The Paper, I mean.
It just comes. That's all.
How come you get it?
Well, that's not important. The important thing is, Henry,
that it's meant for me. It's not meant for you. It's meant for me.
I'm sorry.
Yeah.
Really!
Henry,
you didn't do anything with the paper.
You didn't use it for anything, did you?
No.
Henry...
Oh, Henry, what did you do with that paper?
I used the baseball scores at school.
You... I just wanted to make friends.
Henry, I thought I was your friend.
Yeah? - Well, that's not anyway to treat a friend, is it?
No. - What am I supposed to do?
I'm supposed to lock the door every time I leave a room now?
Ah? - No.
Look, look, kid, don't get upset.
Look, I... I... I use this to help people, you see,
and it... this is very important, it's very powerful.
It's... it's not a toy.
Are you going to tell my mom?
No. I'm not going to tell your mom Henry,
because if I told your mom what you did,
I'd have to tell her about the paper.
Henry, you didn't tell your mom, did you?
No.
Good. Good, because Henry, you got to pretend this didn't happen.
Like, you don't know anything about this, you understand?
You got to promise me that you're not going to
tell anybody about this, and you're not going to ever do this again.
And I've got to trust you.
Okay, I promise.
Say that again!
I promise.
All right.
Good.
Well, why don't you go out now, and maybe Patrick
will give us some hot chocolate things he makes.
Okay.
Here you go.
Gary?
Huh?
Nothing.
Oh boy.
He promised me he wouldn't do it again.
Well, that's something, I suppose.
I'll be darned.
Didn't even see it coming.
You're right.
I got to feel him, though, he's not telling me everything.
I mean, I don't know what everything would be,
but I don't think he's telling me everything.
[Trumpet announces the race]
Ten minutes to post time. The horses are approaching the gate.
Henry?
I'm thinking.
Take your time.
I'm not sure.
It's okay. Relax.
Do your thing.
Close your eyes, wriggle your fingers.
I can't. - I only got 40 bucks.
I gotta get serious here.
40 bucks? But yesterday... Forget yesterday.
Think about today.
A horse, Henry. I need a horse.
That's what I'm trying to tell you, Dad.
Magic. - Magic. Magic,
Magic Lantern.
Good Boy. - Don't put it all, Dad.
20 to win on the eight horse.
At the bar, turn in Bad Dancer in the lead.
Bigamus Prime and Man of Leeds one-length back.
Magic Lantern makes it move on to the tail.
Go to the whip, you bum!
We got it, we got it!
And it's Bad Dancer by an O. - No!
I'm sorry, Dad.
It's okay. We'll get him the next time.
Nobody can pick it all. You just hit a little bump in the road. That's all.
I know what it is. We forgot our lucky handshake.
It's your kid, Mike.
Hey, Rolly.
We were just taking a little field trip. That's all.
You like the track, kid?
Yes.
So, Mike, you want to wind up that business?
You need a little time? - I'm right in the middle here, Rolly.
We'll be over there. Take your time.
Good kid.
Dad, I want to go home.
We can't. - Why?
Because We can't!
Sorry, I'm just a little jumpy. That's all.
Who were those guys? - They're friends of mine.
They don't seem like friends.
They're more like business associates.
Just don't worry about them.
Think about the next race, okay?
And think lucky.
Hey, don't open that!
Good afternoon. - What tage you so long, I was worried.
What took me so long?
I'll tell you what, it took me so long, I missed my L-stop.
I almost didn't get to the school on time, that's what took me so long.
Oh no. - Oh yeah.
Janitor almost got blown up.
The wisewood High School Chemistry Lab
is now three blocks into the next school district.
Oh, because I missed my L-stop.
Would you like to know why I missed my L-stop?
I could guess. - But you don't have to, because I'm gonna tell you.
'Cause I was thinking about...
Henry.
I was thinking about Henry too.
And we were both worried about him, but the genie's out of the bottle.
How do we get him back?
What's the name of that movie?
The one with Mickey Mouse, he's in the castle with the buckets.
Fantasia? - Fantasia, yeah.
Why were you thinking about Fantasia?
The Sorcerer's Apprentice.
Remember how the mouse looked into the Sorcerer's Spellbook?
At first, everything was fine.
He got all the mops to do his work for him, but then?
But then, everything lost control.
Then the mops keep coming.
That's right, and the castle filled up with water and the little rat almost drowned.
I should've never let the kids see it.
The paper is a responsibility, and I...
I need to be more careful.
Well, the paper acts for a reason, Gary.
This is different.
That kid snuck in here, and just like that mouse,
he wasn't supposed to see it.
Something's wrong.
Well, in Fantasia, the Sorcerer comes back and makes everything okay.
Oh, well, that's great, Marissa.
But I'm not a Sorcerer. I get a paper. I don't get a Spellbook.
I'm telling you, I really think that Henry might be in trouble, and I...
I don't know what to do about it.
(phone ringing).
Hello? - Mrs. Paget, this is Dorthia Miller.
Henry's teacher? - Yes.
How is Henry?
Uh, how should he be?
You did get the shampoo, didn't you?
Shampoo? - There's nothing to be ashamed of.
This happens at least once a year.
It just happened to be Henry this time.
I'm sorry, Miss Miller, I don't quite understand.
The head lice?
Henry's lice? - According to his father.
Father? - Now, I've alerted all the other parents so you shouldn't be concerned.
I'm just sorry Henry had a missed the field trip.
Yeah, me too.
Thank you, Miss Miller.
McGinty's.
Gary, I can't come in right now.
Henry's not in school, I think Mike took him to the racetrack.
To the racetrack?
Yeah, I can't talk right now, I gotta go.
All right, well, I'll talk to you when you get here. - Okay.
Hey, Marissa,
why would a guy take a kid to a racetrack?
Well, I don't know.
Unless?
Unless what?
The kid was gonna give the guy the right horses.
(cat meows)
(pages rustling)
This wasn't here before.
What was it?
This, Uncle Paget 28 was killed yesterday when he ran
onto the racetrack during the running of the fourth race.
He's not know why he ran onto the track, although witnesses
reported an altercation between Mr. Paget and two unidentified men.
(dramatic music)
Post up at the fourth race, 2:30.
It's less than an hour.
(cat meows)
- No, no!
Gah!
No!
I'm sorry, Dad.
It's okay.
I just, I need you to pick me another winner.
No, it's my fault.
these guys, they don't care whose fault it is.
I'm in a jam, Henry, a real jam.
You're scaring me.
Don't be scared.
You're my lucky charm, kid.
You're my four-leaf clover.
I just need you to pick me another winner, just like yesterday, okay?
I can't.
- Henry, wait.
Henry!
Is there a problem, Mike?
Let me talk to my son. - The kid's gonna be fine.
My son needs me. - We need you, Mike. We got here first.
Nothing. - That presents a problem,
a serious problem, Mike.
Henry!
- Gary!
It's all my fault. It's all my fault. - Ah?
My dad's in trouble, it's all my fault.
Henry, listen to me. - I lied.
I gave my dad the race results.
I thought it was just for fun, but now these
guys are gonna hurt him, and it's all my fault.
I... just calm down, listen.
We're gonna talk about this later. Right now, we're gonna go.
Where are we going? - We're gonna go,
and we're gonna find your dad.
I have to whip, whip!
Come on, come on!
Backing away!
Whip, whip, No!
No, that's not the way!
Let's take a walk, Mike. - Come on.
Get him! - Watch it!
Where is he? - Eric wait, I ain't gonna have time,
Wait did you do with Henry?! - He left, look, I don't have time for that.
What are you doing to him??
Mike! - Let's go, com'on.
What'd you do with him? - He's gotta be here.
Find Henry! - Com'n on Mike, move it, let's go, come on!
- Where's security?
Where is security?
Where is it?
Down, down there.
- You know I can't pay you, Raleigh, if you hurt me.
No, you know the rules, Mike.
[ugh!]
(dramatic music)
Henry, mom!
You must grab Mike! - Yeah, I know.
(bell rings)
Don't let him out. - He's gotta in there somewhere.
I'll look over here.
Check the other side.
What?
There he is.
Hey Mike!
Mike!
Some nut ran on the track.
Is dad okay? - Let's go!
He's going across the track.
Yeah, he's fine.
Come on.
In here, quick!
Where'd they go? - Here, this way.
Okay, I'll tell you what.
Here, there's $2,000, it's yours.
- I don't settle short.
Maybe you don't settle short. - What else you need?
Another 5,000. - Another 5,000? I don't have...
Listen, I don't have $7,000 to give you.
Excuse me.
You know what? I'll tell you what.
I'll give you $500.
'Cause I got a 21 lock on the seventh race
on the number three horse, which is Sinkable Molly.
Now you can place this $500.
It'll cover his five grand and a little bit more.
But you can either pick on him or you can get your money back.
Which do you want?
Come on, make me rich.
Come on. - Come on.
Sinkable Molly.
Sinkable Molly makes the way for the outside.
And then Sinkable Molly by a nose.
Comes in at 21 to one.
Unbelievable!
What a day of racing this has been.
Pleasure doing business with you.
See you around, Mike, I'm sure.
I don't know why you did that or how, but thanks.
I didn't do it for you, I did it for Henry.
I know, I really screwed up this time, didn't I?
The question is, what are you gonna do now?
What can I do?
I had to quit gambling.
And you don't know what you're talking about.
No, but I know that you're throwing your life away.
I know you're throwing your kid's childhood away.
You don't think I know that?
You don't think I know what I am, what it costs me?
- I can't quit.
Then you get help. - I tried.
Well then you try again, he's your son, he needs you.
No, he doesn't.
He's got you now.
No, I'm not his father, you're his father, he needs you, not me.
What the kid needs is a father.
I can't, I can't quit.
Dad.
Tell him to go away.
You want him to go away?
You tell him to go away.
Wait, give him a minute.
You know they say there's a father Sunday at Henry's school next week.
I think he'd rather go with his dad than with me.
Too ashamed, you're so... - You shame yourself
then tell him that, you tell him everything.
Quit running from your kid.
At least give him a chance to catch up, huh?
Hey, champ. - You okay?
No. No, I'm not.
And I haven't been for a long time.
You see, I have this problem.
Every buck I make, I blow it, making bets.
Why don't you stop?
I'm going to try.
And that way, maybe we can see each other more and,
and do all those things we talked about.
Really? You mean it?
I'm not happy with... what I've done.
And, I'm sorry about what happened today.
Because all I ever wanted you to do... to be proud of me.
I am proud of you.
Don't say things that aren't true, okay?
I am proud of you, you're my dad.
You got that right.
I didn't think it was possible.
Guess anything's possible.