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79 INT. LEO DUROCHER’S ROOM - THE TIVOLI HOTEL - NIGHT 79

Durocher lays staring up at the palm shadows on the ceiling.

Finally, the phone rings. He answers.

DUROCHER:

Yes, Mr. Rickey. *

RICKEY’S VOICE

Have our friends in the press goneto sleep yet?

DUROCHER:

We are the only people awake onthis entire isthmus, Mr. Rickey.

*

*

RICKEY’S VOICE

A deliberate violation of the law,

needs a little show of force. I

leave it to you. Good night, Leo. *

DUROCHER:

Yes, Mr. Rickey.

*

*

CUT TO:

80 INT. HOTEL KITCHEN - NIGHT 80

Deserted. Durocher stands in a hotel bathrobe, arms crossed

as his PLAYERS and COACHES file in. Bleary-eyed, half-

dressed, they’re all here, all wondering what this is about.

Suddenly, Durocher grabs the handle of an industrial-sizedSOUP POT and heaves it across the room. BRWANG-RANG-RANG!

DUROCHER:

Wake up, ladies! Wake the Hell up!

(a stunned beat)

It’s come to my attention that someof you fellas don't want to playwith Robinson. That you even got apetition drawn up that you're allgonna sign. Well boys, you knowwhat you can do with your petition?

YOU CAN WIPE YOUR ASSES WITH IT!

WALKER:

C’mon, Leo...

DUROCHER:

Come on what?!

TAN REV 6-25-12 55A55A.

WALKER:

Ball players gotta live together,

shower together, it's not right to

force him on us. Besides, I own a

hardware store back home and I -

PINK REV 4-19-12 5656.

DUROCHER:

Screw your hardware store, Dix!

And if you don't like it, screwyou! Mr. Rickey'll be happy tomake other arrangements for you.

Durocher suddenly marches to Higbe, looks like he’s going tobelt him. As Higbe gulps, Durocher turns to the team.

DUROCHER:

I don't care if he’s yellow or

black or has stripes like a zebra,

if Robinson can help us win, andeverything I've seen says he can,

then he's gonna play on this ballclub. Like it, lump it, make yourmind up to it because he's coming!

And think about this when yourheads hit the pillow, he's only thefirst, boys, only the first. More

are coming right behind him. Theyhave talent and they wanna play!

He lets that sink a moment.

DUROCHER:

Yes, sir, they're gonna come divingand scratching. So I'd forget yourpetition and worry about the field.

Because unless you fellas pay alittle more attention to your work,

they are going to run you right outof the ball park! A petition?

(looks them over)

Are you ballplayers or lawyers?

As he marches past them and through the doors...

CUT TO:

81 OMITTED 81 *

82 OMITTED 82 *

PINK REV 4-19-12 5757.

83 OMITTED 83 *

84 EXT./INT. DUGOUT - PANAMA PRACTICE FIELD - DAY 84 *

Jack in his Montreal uniform headed off the field for the

dugout. Sukeforth headed over wearing Dodger blue.

*

*

Robinson!

SUKEFORTH *

*

As Jack turns, Sukeforth tosses him a FIRST BASEMAN’S GLOVE. *

JACK:

What do you want me to do withthis?

*

SUKEFORTH:

Play first base.

JACK:

I’ve never played first base in my

life, Coach.

*

*

*

SUKEFORTH:

Well, it’s like this. Brooklyn’s

got a solid second baseman. And

they got Pee Wee Reese at short.

But first base is up for grabs.

Are you catching my drift?

*

*

*

JACK:

(nods)

Yeah. I don’t need a glove to do

that.

*

*

*

*

CUT TO:

YELLOW REV 4-24-12 5858.

85 OMITTED 85

86 JACK - PRACTICE FIELD 86

Coach Sukeforth, getting balls from a bucket, hittinggrounders down to Jack at first. The short hops are wicked.

Jack rolls his catches over to a little PANAMANIAN KID who

chucks them down to his brother who tosses them back to

Sukeforth. As Jack struggles...

*

*

*

PANAMANIAN KID:

El es muy malo.

*

*

SUKEFORTH:

Mr. Rickey said he wants youplaying conspicuous baseball!

(whack)

To be so good the Dodgers’ll demandyou on the team!

(whack)

So I thought about it awhile andthen I looked up conspicuous in thedictionary.

(whack)

It means to attract notice or

attention.

Jack dives, spears a liner. Sukeforth tilts back his cap.

SUKEFORTH:

Conspicuous.

CUT TO:

87 OMITTED 87

PINK REV 4-19-12 5959.

88 OMITTED 88 *

89 INT. RICKEY’S OFFICE - THE TIVOLI HOTEL - DAY 89 *

Bobby Bragan sits across from Rickey looking defiant.

RICKEY:

Bragan, most of your teammates haverecanted on this petition nonsense.

Are you really here to tell me youdon't want to play with Robinson?

BRAGAN:

Yes, Sir. My friends back inBirmingham would never forgive me.

RICKEY:

And your friends here in Brooklyn?

(Bragan just shrugs)

Then I will accommodate you. If

you give me your word that you willtry your very best for this teamuntil I can work out a trade.

That gets Bragan’s goat. He jumps up, really mad.

BRAGAN:

Do you think I would quit onanyone?! I don’t quit.

RICKEY:

Only on yourself apparently.

can go, Bragan.

You

CUT TO:

89A SECOND BASE - PANAMA - DAY 89A *

Time slowed way down as Jack takes a throw at second from theMontreal shortstop. He pivots to turn the double-play evenas Dixie Walker barrels in low.

*

*

*

All Jackie’s focus on the task at hand as he throws while

Walker submarines him. He lands in a heap tangled uptogether. They both look back to see the result of the play.

*

*

*

As Robinson smiles and Walker scowls, we know... *

RICKEY’S VOICE

Send Dixie in.

*

*

CUT TO:
*

BLUE REV 4-07-12 60.

90 DIXIE WALKER 90 *

Sitting down across from Rickey.

RICKEY:

I received your letter, Dixie.

(reads)

Recently, the thought has occurred

to me that a change of ball clubs

would benefit both the Brooklyn

Baseball Club and myself.

(to Walker)

This is about Robinson?

WALKER:

I’m keeping my reasons private.

Hope you can respect that, sir.

RICKEY:

I realize, Dixie, that you have a

Southern upbringing, that you would

have to subordinate your feelings

for the welfare of this venture. I

for one would deeply appreciate it.

I think we can all learn something.

WALKER:

What I have, Mr. Rickey, is a

hardware store back home. It’s

called Dixie Walker’s. Folks don’t

come because I have the lowest

prices, they come because it’s

called Dixie Walker’s. Understand?

And I make as much money owning

that store as I do playing for you.

RICKEY:

Is that what you’re you afraid of?

(he doesn’t answer)

Bragan’s a third-stringer, but you

bat clean-up. You’re popular in

Brooklyn. Children look up to you!

WALKER:

You got my letter; can I go?

RICKEY:

I’ll start looking for a trade or a

sale. But it won’t happen until I

get value in return. Until then I

expect you to drive in runs.

WALKER:

I always have. That’s my job.

*

*

CUT TO:
*

GOLDENROD REV 5-9-12 6161.

91 EXT. PENN STATION - NIGHT 91

INSERT:
Manhattan. April 8, 1947.

Jack exits with his luggage. Looking for a cab, he seesSmith waiting. Smith offers a salute. Jack looks grumpy ashe steps over. The Buick waiting beyond.

You again.

JACK:

Smith leans back, blinks.

SMITH:

That’s right. Me again.

wrong with that, Jack?

Something

Come on.

JACK:

Jack continues past. As Smith follows...

CUT TO:

92 INT. SMITH’S BUICK - 34TH STREET - NIGHT 92

Traffic heavy. A glum silence in the car until...

SMITH:

They can’t keep you on Montreal forlong. After these exhibition

games, they’ve got to bring you up.

(no reply)

You don’t have two words to rub

together, do you?

JACK:

Do I have to entertain you?

More silence, then...

SMITH:

You ever wonder why I sit out inright field with my typewriter onmy knees? Does that ever cross

your mind?

Jack stares out the passenger window, not in the mood.

looks up at some of the taller buildings they pass...

As he

SMITH:

It’s because Negro reporters aren’t

allowed in the press box.

Jack doesn’t answer, doesn’t look over. Finally Smith startstalking to himself. Pretending to be Jack.

*

*

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