Scene 12 - Batting Cage

(Close up of pitching mechanism detail in batting cage - from Mary's perspective)

(Mary standing in batting cage, waiting for pitch from mechanical pitcher. Pitching light comes on. She swings, misses.)

(We see Bruce outside of cage.)

Bruce: No, you're lunging at the ball. When you do that you lose sight of it and could only hit it if you were lucky.

(Mary dodges a bad pitch.)

(Bruce comes into batting cage.)

Bruce: Look, loosen up. (Mary makes like a rag doll.) Get your balance. Keep your bat back. (He positions her shoulders and arms.) When the next pitch comes just watch it go by. Don't swing. Just watch it go by. All the way to the backstop.

(Bruce puts more tokens into the machine.)

(Mary watches a pitch go by.)

Bruce: Okay, take another one.

(She takes another one.)

Bruce: Great. Okay, this time meet the ball with the bat is it approaches. Do the same thing you've been doing, only now meet the ball with the bat as it approaches. Keep looking at the ball. Let the whole world turn about that pretty head of yours.

(Close up of Mary looking up, smiling.)

(Sound fade. During the following voice-over we see the following visual elements:)

• Bruce's mouth moving as if speaking
• Mary swinging
• Balls being launched by mechanical pitcher
• Slow dolly in of Bruce looking (presumably at Mary) from outside of the batting cage
• Mary and Bruce in moving car, Mary's lips moving. Car drives past a man on the side of the road holding a cardboard sign upon which is written "Luke 1:28"
• Playground scene of kids playing a pickup game of softball

Voiceover: (Bruce's voice) Teacher's pet, highly favored. Diaphanous skin transmitting an inner glow. She's not like other women...

(Normal sound fades in.)

(Pitching light goes off.)

Mary: (Taking off helmet) I did good, huh?

Bruce: You did good.

Mary: (Frowning) I'm hungry.

Bruce: I'm hungry.

Mary: I said it first.

Bruce: Okay, your choice...