42 Page #10

DUROCHER:

I'm bowling. Wait, I'm snowshoeing

in the Alps. I'm trying to sleep,

Mr. Rickey. It's still dark out.

CUT TO:

71 INT. BRANCH RICKEY’S OFFICE - EARLY MORNING 71

It’s very early in New York. Rickey on the phone.

RICKEY:

Another spring training is upon us.

In Panama. I need to know your

attitude toward Jackie Robinson.

72 INTERCUT THE FOLLOWING: 72

DUROCHER:

I don’t got an attitude toward him.

The girl rolls over to look at him. She is the actress

LORRAINE DAY and she is stunning. As Durocher regards her...

RICKEY:

Eight times in the Bible we’re told

to love our neighbor. It’s one of

God's most repeated commands.

PINK REV 4-19-12 5050.

She puts her hands on him. (Durocher addressing Rickey.) *

LORRAINE *

(softly) *

Hi... *

DUROCHER:

I don’t know much about the Bible. *

LORRAINE *

Me neither... *

DUROCHER *

But I didn't go to school just to *

eat my lunch either. I'll play an

elephant if he can help us win. To *

make room for him, I'll send my own

brother home if he's not as good.

LORRAINE *

(in his ear) *

What are you going to do with me? *

DUROCHER *

We're playing for money, Mr.

Rickey. Winning's the only thing

that matters. Is he a nice guy?

RICKEY:

If by nice you mean soft, no, not

particularly.

DUROCHER:

Good. He can't afford to be. Nice

guys finish last.

LORRAINE *

What about nice girls? *

She starts to kiss him. It’s hard to concentrate.

RICKEY:

So you have no objections to him?

DUROCHER:

None whatsoever. Can I go back to

sleep now?

RICKEY:

Yes. Oh -- and Leo?

DUROCHER:

What?

PINK REV 4-19-12 50A50A.

RICKEY:

The Bible says a thing or two aboutadultery as well.

DUROCHER:

I’m sure it’s got a lot to sayabout a lot. Good night.

Durocher hangs up the phone, looks to her. *

DUROCHER:

What am I gonna do with you?

*

*

LORRAINE:

Leo, I thought you knew...

*

*

As she kisses him... *

CUT TO:

73 EXT. PEPPER STREET - PASADENA - DAY 73

Jack stands out front kissing Jackie Jr. good-bye as a CABBIEmuscles his LUGGAGE down the walkway to a waiting TAXI. Jack

kisses Mallie and hands off the baby. Mallie carries the boyinside leaving Jack and Rachel alone to say goodbye.

BLUE REV 4-07-12 51.

RACHEL:

Promise me you’ll write.

JACK:

When did I ever not write?

RACHEL:

I want you to know I’m there for

you. Even if it’s words on paper.

He’s sees she’s raw, takes her in his arms with the baby.

JACK:

Rae, you’re in my heart.

She sighs, rests her head on his shoulder.

RACHEL:

You’re getting close now. The

closer you get, the worse they’ll

be. Don’t let them get to you.

JACK:

I will not. God built me to last.

He kisses her. She kisses him back.

RACHEL:

See you in Brooklyn in eight weeks.

JACK:

It might be Montreal.

A certainty grips her. She passes it on to him. *

RACHEL:

It’s going to be Brooklyn. I know

it is.

Power in her words. He nods, looks off toward the taxi.

JACK *

I’ve got to go, Rae. *

She nods. They kiss, embrace a last time. He starts away *

down the walk. She watches. Something not quite right. *

A tug as Jack stops, looks back at her. Fighting back her *

emotion and then impelled forward, she runs to him. They *

come together. She practically disappears in his arms. They *

do not want to be apart. *

CUT TO:
*

WHITE 3-14-12 52.

74 INT. DINING ROOM - THE TIVOLI HOTEL - DAY 74

Durocher eats heartily. Rickey’s food is untouched.

DUROCHER:

It’s a pipe dream, Mr. Rickey.

RICKEY:

Pipe dream? What do you mean by

pipe dream?

INSERT:
Panama City, Panama. March 18, 1947.

DUROCHER:

I mean it ain’t gonna happen. The

Dodgers are never gonna demand

Robinson be brought up from

Montreal. Ball players are

conservative.

RICKEY:

A team full of tough war veterans?

Immigrants' sons? Boys from

impoverished parts of the country?

DUROCHER:

It - ain’t - gonna - happen.

RICKEY:

You really believe they won’t

accept him? Once they see how he

plays, how he can help them win.

DUROCHER:

I’m not saying they won’t accept

him:
I’m saying they won’t ask for

him. I’m saying Robinson’s good

medicine, but they’re not gonna

like the taste. I’m saying bend

over, boys, and get ready, this one

might hurt a little.

(another forkful)

Boy, this is good fish.

CUT TO:

75 KIRBY HIGBE - IN HIS TIVOLI HOTEL ROOM 75

As Higbe (South Carolina) finishes WRITING something on a

piece of hotel STATIONARY, Bragan (Alabama) looks to Dixie

Walker (Alabama) and Dodger pitcher HUGH CASEY (Georgia).

BRAGAN:

Why do you think Rickey’s got us

playing spring games in Panama?

(MORE)

BLUE REV 4-07-12 53.

BRAGAN (CONT'D)

He wants to get us used to Negro

crowds. He wants more of them than

us. He’s hoping it’ll get us more

comfortable being around Robinson.

BRAGAN (CONT'D)

He wants to get us used to Negro

crowds. He wants more of them than

us. He’s hoping it’ll get us more

comfortable being around Robinson.

Higbe clears his throat, reads what he’s written:

HIGBE:

We, the undersigned Brooklyn

Dodgers will not play ball on the

same field as Jackie Robinson.

Higbe signs it. He hands the pen to Bragan who adds his own

name. Casey signs with a flourish. Casey holds out the pen

to Walker who doesn’t take it right away. An odd beat.

CASEY:

If you wanna make your mark, Dixie,

we can witness it.

Everyone laughs; it loosens Walker up enough to sign.

CUT TO:

76 HOTEL ROOM DOOR 76

Higbe KNOCKS as Casey, Bragan and Walker crowd behind him.

STANKY’S VOICE

C’mon in!

STANKY’S ROOM

The boys enter. Eddie Stanky sits in a chair stripped to the

waist, soaking his right elbow in a BUCKET OF ICE.

STANKY:

What’s goin’ on?

HIGBE:

Got a petition goin’ on, Stank.

BRAGAN *

To keep Robinson up in Montreal

where he belongs.

STANKY:

Oh... Did Pee Wee sign it?

HIGBE:

Ain’t asked him yet. What

difference does it make?

STANKY:

None, just wonderin’.

BLUE REV 4-07-12 54.

Stanky looks to Walker who looks away.

STANKY (CONT’D)

(re:
his right arm)

Can’t sign now. I’m indisposed.

Could I catch up with you later?

CUT TO:

77 PEE WEE REESE 77

Standing in the door to his room. Looking out at the glum

faces of Higbe, Bragan, Casey and Walker.

REESE:

Look, it’s like this. I got a

wife, a baby, and I got no money.

I don’t want to step in anything.

(to Walker)

Skip me, Dix, I’m not interested.

WALKER:

What if they put him at shortstop?

REESE:

(shrugs)

If he's man enough to take my job,

I suppose he deserves it.

HIGBE:

(laughs out loud)

The hell he does!

WALKER:

He does not have the ice water in

his veins for big league baseball.

REESE:

So let him show what he’s got.

Robinson can play or he can’t.

It’ll all take care of itself.

*

CUT TO:

78 CARL FURILLO 78

The very son of immigrants Rickey was talking about.

Pennsylvania no less.

From

FURILLO:

Give me the pen.

Higbe grins, hands it over. As Furillo signs...

CUT TO:

TAN REV 6-25-12 5555.

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