prayers.
Thanks, Father.
Don't listen to him.
Fitz was right.
You were right.
She's not coming out
of the coma.
I'm not running.
Goddamn it...
you just burned
your house down.
The least you could do
is run Boston.
What's the point?
Nothing would
piss Fitz off more.
And...
l... -
I believe you can win the race.
Father Hibbert?
Father Fitzpatrick.
I just wanted to let you know
I won't be at school on Monday.
And why is that?
I'm going to Boston.
It's the least I can do for Ralph.
It's why I joined the priesthood... -
to help people.
Best way for you to help Ralph Walker
is to convince him...
that running Boston
is the biggest mistake of his life.
Is it, Father?
We are God's servants.
Chasing after miracles is blasphemy.
You know what?
Before I met that young man...
I didn't much believe in anything.
But now I'm starting to think
that one day, when my time is up...
Did you ever not know
and still jump?
Did you ever just
close your eyes and...
let go?"
Right now, Father, my answer...
So I am closing my eyes.
You're blind.
You're as deluded as Ralph.
And there will be
serious ramifications...
not only in this school,
but within the Basilian order.
I know.
Thank you.
As far as anarchists go...
Nietzsche really had nothing
on Christ.
You know?
All right.
Now boarding on track 14...
train 72 to Buffalo
with connections to Raleigh... -
- Ticket to Boston, please.
- Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland... -
Did you see this?
who recently lost his house to fire...
hopes that his winning ways
continue in Boston.
The race will be broadcast live
on CHCH Radio starting at noon.
Oddsmakers give him
an outside chance at best."
Screw it.
He's got more
than an outside chance.
When we reached Mr. Walker,
he told us that...
who has been coaching Ralph Walker
for the past few months...
says that it is entirely possible...
that the ninth grader...
could win Boston.
Miracles happen every day."
Damn him.
Thanks.
You're wasting energy.
Sit down.
- Father Hibbert, when did you get here?
- Just now.
You think I'd miss the greatest upset
in Boston Marathon history?
Sit.
What about Father Fitzpatrick?
Yes, well, we'll worry about him later.
Are you ready?
Mostly.
Do you have faith you can win?
I do.
But I'm still not pure,
and I can't pray.
Well, if you promise not to take the lead
until at least halfway...
I can solve your purity problem.
- How?
- Do you promise?
Yes.
And I mean it this time.
All right.
All I have to do
is hear your confession.
Then I can absolve you
of your sins...
and guess who's pure.
Father Hibbert...
why didn't I think of that earlier?
I could have been sinning
all along.
That's not exactly
in the spirit of reconciliation.
Shall we do it now?
No.
Let's wait until
the last moment possible.
Who knows what sins of thought
might go through my head?
But there's still praying.
I can't do it.
Well, for myself,
in times of greatest stress...
I've always been able to pray.
So I wouldn't worry about it.
Most marathoners will tell you...
around mile 20...
they start praying for any kind
of help they can get.
The weather is unsettled,
with showers threatening...
though for the moment
the skies are holding.
And so...
welcome to the 53rd running
of the Boston Marathon...
one of the world's
most prestigious footraces.
Our field is strong this year...
and, given the current cool conditions,
ripe for a fast time.
They're bunched at the line.
The race is under way.
I repeat, the race is under way.
At five miles, there's a large group
of 20 or so runners.
In there are all the favorites...
including the greatJohn Bannon,
the defending champ...
the Finn, John Halvorson...
Red Sparks from Maryland...
Edward Croggin from California...
Alan Majors from Ireland... -
Excuse me for the interruption...
but this is a special broadcast
of the Boston Marathon...
in which one of our students,
Ralph