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Bambino Synopsis Act I Just before sunrise, on the day of the last game of the 2004 World Series, Molly confronts Buck about his recent, worrisome behavior. He rebuffs her and she admonishes him to be careful. Buck encounters two sinister men, Kratz and Garble, and witnesses the murder of one of their “clients,” who doesn’t follow through on a deal. Buck receives the murdered man’s tie as a reminder to “play ball” their way, or else. Scene 2 Prior to the game, Red Sox fans bond over their mutual attraction to Red Sox player Buck George and Red Sox misfortunes. They recount some of the controversial plays that the Green Monster influenced. In the top of the first inning, Buck drops an easy fly ball that allows two runs to score. In the Red Sox dugout, he encounters the spirit of Babe Ruth, but doesn’t recognize him. Babe informs him the Red Sox curse can be lifted if Babe can find one honorable man to resist temptation. He recounts some Red Sox tragedies and the genesis of the curse, including Harry Frazee selling the Babe to the Yankees. Scene 3 Flashback to the 1919 sale of Babe Ruth to the Yankees.
It is the bottom of fourth inning (in the present day), the score is still 2-0. Red Sox fans witness Buck continuing to play badly. Kratz and Garble also take notice. Babe, dressed as a vendor in the stands, relates critical details of some previous curse-related events.
We enter into a parallel universe on the baseball field. It is now the 1946 Fenway Park. The scoreboard indicates it’s the fifth inning. Johnny Pesky and Ted Williams commiserate about their bad breaks as Red Sox players, especially Pesky’s famous flub. Scene 6 We remain in the parallel universe, though the atmosphere is more ominous. The scoreboard now indicates the sixth inning. Bill Buckner, dressed in a 1986 Boston Red Sox uniform, meets Babe dressed as a 1986 New York Met. Buckner relives his infamous faux pas that cost the Red Sox the World Series that year. The scoreboard changes to indicate the middle of the 7th inning. INTERMISSION We are in Purgatory, and the scoreboard reveals nothing. Harry Agganis, Jimmy Piersall, and Tony Conigliaro recall their personal catastrophes to the spirit of the Babe, now dressed as a reporter, a fedora on his head, a PRESS pass stuck in the band of his hat. Scene 2 It is in between the top and bottom halves of the ninth inning, back in the present day, and the Sox still trail 2-0. Red Sox fans and Molly discuss the team’s jinx, specifically as it relates to Bucky Dent and Carlton Fisk. In a parallel universe’s Fenway Park, Carl Yastrzemski, Jim Lonborg and Bucky Dent recount their separate encounters with the jinx and their parts in it. They realize the Red Sox need expiation to rid them of the curse. Kratz and Garble, hidden from plain sight, aim a rifle with a scope at the playing field. Scene 3 It is the bottom of the 9th inning in the present day. Police are positioned around the field in anticipation of the fans’ reactions to the end of the game, either way. Sam, Bess and Molly speculate about Buck’s behavior while he’s clearly struggling with his thoughts. He makes a final deliberation and fatal decision about whether or not to take a fall. Garble and Kratz fulfill their task to tie up loose ends.
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