Black Star

The kids convince Willie’s brother, Johnnie, to chaperone them to a nearby field. He’s distracted by his fiancé, Ruth, until they start crossing the bridge. Johnnie questions their destination.

They must cross the bridge to get to Hickory Park.

They know that Hickory Park is for white people only. Since it’s private property, they are all trespassing.

Charley opens the fence door to the park. Plum, Berry, and Juju want to play on the roundabout toy, but they have to focus on their goal. The baseball field calls to Charley.

Because the sun will set soon, they don’t warm up. They also only have time for four innings, Johnnie says. Charley lets Willie call the coin toss for the first at-bat, hoping that it will stop him from acting distant.

They win the coin toss, but Cecil interrupts and states that their team won it. Willie calls the toss, but Cecil reveals that Willie is playing for his team.

Charley realizes that Willie has been quiet today because he decided to betray her and join Cecil’s team.

Charley storms over to Willie in a rage, ready to attack him. She is about to explode—until her niece Berry grabs her hands and counts breaths with her.

Charley doesn’t take her anger out on Willie. Instead, she harnesses her passion into the game.

In a game of her four members against Cecil’s seven, Charley is at a disadvantage. Berry volunteers to play. Her mother will never know. Charley assigns her to be the catcher.

Charley is the pitcher, Berry is the catcher, and Henry/Socks and Juju play first and third base. Plum is in the outfield. Charley will also cover second base, but she plans to strike everyone out. They have a team cheer and take their places.

Cecil mocks Charley’s throws. She whips a fastball at him, but he unexpectedly hits it far. By the time Plum gets to the ball, Cecil has already turned it into a home run.

When Willie is up to bat, he doesn’t attempt to swing at the first two balls. Charley throws her signature curveball last, striking him out.

The Black Stars are losing 2-0. Plum hits a surprise double. Then, Berry strikes out again.

Henry hits his ball so far that it hits the trees outside the park. He earns a home run.

Since Plum and Henry scored, the score is now tied. Charley strikes out two batters and then faces off with Cecil. She unleashes her secret left-handed curveball. Cecil can’t hit it, which aggravates him.

With two strikes, Cecil is on his final swing. Charley throws her best, but he hits a fly ball high in the outfield. Plum can’t reach it, but Henry runs at max speed, yelling, “Got it!” (272).

Henry dives and catches the ball with his free hand. All the kids are astonished at Henry’s catch. Cecil is out.

Charley’s team is up to bat. She tells Socks/Henry that a tie isn’t acceptable, so he better hit it into the heavens.

In the bottom of the last inning, Cecil’s team talks on the mound. Charley tells them to hurry up, but Cecil saunters over as if he’s figured out a way out of this game.

Cecil’s team agrees that Henry’s catch is against the rules. Charley argues that it was a fair catch. He can use his hand instead of his glove. Willie seconds her statement. Cecil calls the Black Stars cheaters, and Johnnie comes over to mitigate. Their argument escalates. When Cecil pushes Charley, Willie shoves Cecil back. Johnnie breaks up the fight.

Cecil and his team quit. He refuses their bet. The others leave the park, but Willie and Charley catch up.

Willie apologizes to Charley. He explains that he only joined Cecil’s team because Cecil threatened to hurt Charley. If Willie didn’t betray her, Cecil promised that he would throw pitches at her and do all in his power to physically hurt her. Willie was protecting her. Charley’s rage lessons. She’s touched that he safeguarded her.

Before they leave the field, a white boy yells that they’re not supposed to be there.

Charley recognizes the three white boys as the same kids who ran into Nana and threw rocks at them.

The boys tell them that they aren’t allowed in Hickory Park, so Willie explains that they’re about to leave. The boys threaten to call the police on them. They snatch Charley’s special, signed glove from her. The tension escalates, and Willie offers them his new bat instead.

Willie makes a bet with the boys. If Charley pitches them three strikes, they have to give her glove back. If they hit just one ball, they can have his bat. The boys’ leader, Paul, agrees.

Charley throws a fastball, which Paul almost hits. She then throws a slow, curving ball that he completely misses.

For the final pitch, Charley decides to throw with her left hand.

Paul and the other boy, Amos, declare that she can’t switch hands. Charley and Willie think they’re scared. The rules allow it, so Charley throws with her left hand this time, using her secret weapon.