Simon Birch believes that God made him for a special, heroic purpose. Simon and his best friend Joe Wenteworth are both outcasts in their tiny New England town: Joe is the illegitimate son of the town beauty, and Simon, at age 12, is so small that he still plays the infant Jesus in the church Christmas pageant. In the summer of 1964, friendship is put to the test when Little Leaguer Simon hits a foul ball that strikes and kills Joe's mother. Together, they try to find out who Joe's father is. Just as they succeed, the time comes for Simon to fulfill the destiny he believes in. A situation arises that demands a hero - a very small hero.

John Irving himself provided the name Simon Birch for the producers to use in place of Owen Meany.

Simon:
I've been thinking.


Joe:
Yeah?


Simon:
Last year we were in the squirt league, and this year we're in the pewee.


Joe:
So?


Simon:
So what do they want us to do, play baseball or urinate? Anyway, I was just thinking.

Continuity: A shot at 83:52 shows the door of the bus being closed but the next shot (at 83:56) shows the door open.

Written by Otis Blackwell (as John Davenport), Eddie Cooley
Performed by Peggy Lee
Plays at quarry scene and at the Christmas pageant scene