42 Page #12

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SMITH ‘AS JACK’ *

You know, Wendell, I never asked

you where you were from?

SMITH:

Why I'm from Detroit, Jack.

SMITH ‘AS JACK’

You don’t say? Tell me more.

SMITH:

My daddy used to work at Fair Lane.

That was Mr. Ford's estate. My

daddy was Mr. Henry Ford's cook.

SMITH ‘AS JACK’

I did not know that.

SMITH:

Cooked for him for years, but never

once broke bread with him. I’d go

to work with daddy sometimes. Play

baseball out on the lawn with Mr.

Ford's grandchildren. We all had a

real good time. But it was

understood, if they got tired of

playing ball and moved inside to

the bowling alley or swimming pool,

I was not invited or allowed. The

grass was as far as I got. So

guess what? You’re not the only

one with something at stake here.

JACK:

(after a beat)

If I start talking, will you stop?

SMITH:

I’d be happy to.

Smith stops at a red light. *

JACK:

I apologize. You’ve been there for

me through this more than anyone

besides Rae and Mr. Rickey. But I

guess that’s what bothers me.

SMITH:

How do you mean?

JACK:

I don’t like needing someone to be

there for me. I don’t like needing

anyone but myself. I never have.

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SMITH:

You are a hard case, Jack Robinson.

Is it okay if I keep driving you orshould I let you out so you canwalk?

Jack bursts out laughing. So does Smith. *

JACK:

You remember the last time we were

at a red light? Down in Florida?

*

*

*

SMITH:

New York City now, baby.

come a long way.

We’ve

*

*

*

JACK:

And we got a long way to go.

*

*

The light turns green. Off they go. *

CUT TO:

93 INT. BRANCH RICKEY’S OFFICE - BROOKLYN - DAY 93

Rickey reads to Parrott from the New York Sun.

RICKEY:

Branch Rickey cannot afford toupset team chemistry and so theonly thing keeping Robinson off theDodgers now, plainly, is theattitude of the players.

INSERT:
Brooklyn. April 9, 1947.

RICKEY:

If it softens at the sight ofJackie's skills, he'll join theclub some time between April 10 andApril 15. Otherwise, Robinson will

spend the year back in Montreal.

(throws paper down)

For the love of Pete, he batted

.625 in the exhibition gamesagainst them, us, them --Againstus! Judas Priest!

Rickey flummoxed as the phone RINGS from the outer office.

PARROTT:

Maybe you could have Durocher holda press conference. Demand that he

get Robinson on his team.

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RICKEY:

Durocher. Of course, he’s my ace

in the hole. Very good, Harold.

The phone still rings. Rickey looks to his open door.

RICKEY:

Jane Ann! Are you out there?

Grumbling, brambly eyebrows twitching, he makes the mistake

of answering his own phone.

WHITE 3-14-12 64.

RICKEY (CONT’D)

Branch Rickey... You’re speaking

to him... The Commissioner of

what..? Oh, yes put him on.

(looks to Parrott)

The commissioner of baseball.

CUT TO:

94 INT. COMMISSIONER’S OFFICE - DAY 94

HAPPY CHANDLER gets a manicure. Always jovial, a head like

an anvil with hair parted in the middle, he picks up a phone.

HAPPY:

Branch, how are you?

INTERCUT THE FOLLOWING:

RICKEY:

Fine. What can I do for you, Happy?

HAPPY:

Branch, how would you feel about

losing Durocher for a year?

Rickey switches the phone from one ear to the other.

RICKEY:

I’m sorry, Happy, I thought you

said lose Durocher for a year.

HAPPY:

Yes. He was seen in Havana with

known gamblers.

RICKEY:

Anyone who sets foot in Havana is

seen with known gamblers.

HAPPY:

It’s not just one thing, it’s an

accumulation. I received notice

today from the Catholic Youth

Organization. Vowing a ban on

baseball unless Durocher is

punished for his moral looseness.

RICKEY:

You’re joking.

HAPPY:

It’s this business with the actress

in California. She’s recently

divorced and Durocher is the cause.

They may even be illegally married.

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RICKEY:

Now I’m sure you’re joking.

Happy checks his nails, returns his hand to the MANICURIST.

HAPPY:

I wish I were. The CYO buy a lotof tickets, Branch. They draw alot of water and I can’t afford to

ruffle their feathers. Am I mixingmetaphors there?

RICKEY:

You know very well my organizationis about to enter a tempest. I

need Durocher at the rudder. He’s

the only man who can handle thismuch trouble, who loves it in fact.

You’re chopping off my right hand!

HAPPY:

I have no choice. I'm going tohave to sit your manager, Branch.

Leo Durocher is suspended frombaseball for a year.

RICKEY:

You can’t do that!

of a b*tch!

Happy, you son

DIAL TONE. Rickey steadies himself, looks to Parrott.

RICKEY:

Trouble ahead, Harold. Trouble.

CUT TO:

95 INT. DODGER LOCKER ROOM - EBBETS FIELD - DAY 95

Durocher, in a suit, cleans out his locker. Carefully setseach item in a cardboard box. Finished, he closes the locker

door. CLICK. And then -- WHAM! -- Drives his fist in, takingit off its hinges. He picks up his box, quietly walks out.

CUT TO:
*

96 OMITTED 96 *

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97 OMITTED 97 *

98 OMITTED 98 *

99 OMITTED 99 *

99A INT. MCALPIN HOTEL ROOM - EARLY MORNING 99A *

RING... Jack asleep in bed, fumbles for the receiver. *

INSERT:
April 10, 1947. *

Hello?

JACK *

*

JANE ANN’S VOICE

Mr. Robinson, this is Jane Ann in

Mr. Rickey’s office. He needs to

see you right away. He has a

contract for you to sign.

*

*

*

*

*

That wakes him up. *

CUT TO:
*

99B INT. BRANCH RICKEY’S OFFICE - BROOKLYN - DAY 99B *

Jack sits at the desk. Alone. He looks back over his

shoulder at the GOLDFISH. As one of them stares back, Rickeyenters with the CONTRACT in question. He sets it down before

Jack, hands him a pen.

*

*

*

*

RICKEY:

I’m so sorry about the rush.

Events are unfolding too fast tokeep up with. The burden has

finally fallen to me and so be it.

*

*

*

*

*

JACK:

(points)

Sign here?

*

*

*

Yes, yes.

RICKEY *

*

As Jack poises the pen -- Rickey suddenly aghast. *

Stop!

RICKEY *

*

The pen a millimeter over the page. *

RICKEY:

History. And I’m blabbing,

blabbing through history... Rushingit along. What am I thinking?

*

*

*

*

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99C RICKEY’S OUTER OFFICE 99C

Rickey sticks his head out the door.

RICKEY:

Jane Ann, come in here.

(hollering down hall)

Harold!

Parrott sticks his head out from an office down the hall.

RICKEY:

Get some employees up here! *

CUT TO:

99D RICKEY’S DESK 99D

Where Jack Robinson signs his contract. As he sets the pendown -- Rickey starts APPLAUDING. He’s joined by Parrott,

JANE ANN and a JANITOR. Rickey claps Jack on the shoulder. *

RICKEY:

Harold, telegram the press. Saythis: “The Brooklyn Dodgers today

purchased the contract of JackieRobinson from the Montreal Royals.

He will report immediately.”

As Jack takes it in, he’s the only one not smiling.

CUT TO:

99E INT. HALLWAY - ISUM HOUSE - PASADENA - DAWN 99E

The phone rings. Rachel answers in her nightgown.

Hello?

RACHEL:

JACK’S VOICE

Rae, I’m in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn... Rachel lets out a triumphant WHOOP!

RACHEL:

What did I tell you?

CUT TO:

100 EXT. NIGHTSCAPE - NEW YORK MIDTOWN SKYLINE - NIGHT 100

A few lights twinkle, but this city does occasionally sleep.

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