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Greg Prince and Jason Fry
Faith and Fear in Flushing made its debut on Feb. 16, 2005, the brainchild of two longtime friends and lifelong Met fans.

Greg Prince discovered the Mets when he was 6, during the magical summer of 1969. He is a Long Island-based writer, editor and communications consultant. Contact him here.

Jason Fry is a Brooklyn writer whose first memories include his mom leaping up and down cheering for Rusty Staub. Check out his other writing here.

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Film Noir at Shea

EXT. — NIGHT. OUTSIDE SHEA STADIUM.

An older, athletic-looking man hobbles across a parking lot on a gimpy knee. The man is Latin, with a thin mustache. Suddenly, a FAN comes racing out from between the expensive roadsters and gleaming SUVs. The FAN looks crazed. He begins shaking the gimpy-kneed man by the lapels.

FAN

I didn't see the end of the game! One thing happened! And then another! And I got busy! And I didn't see what happened! So what happened! Did we win, Valentin? Or did we lose?

VALENTIN

(glumly)

We lost.

FAN

Lost? To the Cardinals? That ragtag outfit with like 200 guys on the DL? No!

VALENTIN

I'm afraid so.

FAN

And what did you do? I had to go in like the seventh, man. It was tied! What happened?

VALENTIN

I made an error. And tied up the game with a double with two outs in the ninth. And made an error.

FAN

You already said that. I'm confused. What does that mean? What did you do, Valentin?

The crazed FAN begins shaking VALENTIN back and forth in a frenzy.

FAN

Now I want to know how it happened and why!

VALENTIN

I don't know what you're talking about. This is the most insane … the craziest thing I ever …

The FAN shakes Valentin harder.

FAN

Stop it! I'll make it easy. What role did you play?

VALENTIN looks at the heavens.

VALENTIN

I'll tell you the truth.

FAN

That's good.

VALENTIN

I was the goat …

FAN

For the error? But you drove in the tying run!

The fan smacks Valentin. He stares back.

FAN

I said the truth!

VALENTIN

… I was the hero ….

The fan smacks Valentin again.

VALENTIN

… I was the goat.

The fan smacks Valentin yet again. SCOTT SCHOENEWEIS appears on the other side of the parking lot. He sees what's happening and slips off unobserved. Which is probably for the best.

VALENTIN

… the hero.

Another smack.

VALENTIN

(woozily)

The goat, the hero.

The fan finally knocks Valentin into an SUV.

VALENTIN

I was the hero AND the goat!

The fan looks at Valentin, shocked.

VALENTIN

Understand? Or is it too tough for you?

WILLIE RANDOLPH emerges from the Mets clubhouse and takes Valentin by the arm. He leads him off across the parking lot, pausing to glare at the still-confused fan.

WILLIE

Forget it, Jose. It's Flushingtown.

1 comment to Film Noir at Shea

  • Anonymous

    ENDYGON
    Nothing to be done.
    NADYMIR
    I'm beginning to come round to that opinion. All my life I've tried to put it from me, saying Nadymir, be reasonable, you haven't yet tried everything. And I resumed the struggle. So there you are again.
    ::repeat ad infinitum::