42 Page #13

TAN REV 6-25-12 6767.

101 JACK 101

This man does not. He stands bare chested in his boxers

staring out the window of a MCALPIN HOTEL ROOM. Consideringthe world before him. Wondering where his place is in it.

INSERT:
April 15, 1947. 3 AM.

It’s a lonely moment. Until Rachel appears behind him in hernightgown. She wraps her arms around him, looks over hisshoulder at the world out there. Finally, softly...

RACHEL:

I love you...

As he closes his eyes, absorbs it...

CUT TO:

102 INT. AISLE - SINGER’S DRUG STORE - BROOKLYN - DAY 102

Jack cruises down, stops in front of the PEPTO BISMOL.

INSERT:
April 15, 1947. 11 AM.

As he grabs a bottle -- a man on the other side pulls one outas well. Jack finds himself looking at Pee Wee Reese.

JUMP AHEAD TO:

103 EXT. SINGER’S DRUG STORE - BROOKLYN - DAY 103

Jack and Reese exit together, each with a bottle of PeptoBismol in hand. Reese hefts his bottle. *

REESE:

Opening day nerves. Doing mystomach something awful.

Jack nods in commiseration. It’s awkward between them.

RUMBLE as a GARBAGE TRUCK goes by.

A:

REESE:

There goes another one.

(smiles)

Every time I see a garbage truck goby I still can’t figure why the guydriving isn’t me.

JACK:

(smiles back)

We’d both better get on base.

Reese nods. They start walking toward the stadium.

TAN REV 6-25-12 6868.

REESE:

Know when I first heard of you?

JACK:

No I don’t.

REESE:

On a troop transport, coming back

from Guam. A sailor heard it on

the radio, told me the Dodgers had

signed a Negro player. I said that

was fine by me. Then he said the

guy was a shortstop. Least you

were then. That got me thinking.

Thinking gets me scared.

Jack smiles, hefts his bottle of Pepto.

JACK:

Black, white, we’re both pink

today, huh?

(Reese nods)

You still scared, Pee Wee?

REESE:

(looks down street)

Of garbage trucks? Terrified.

CUT TO:

103A EXT. EBBETS STADIUM - DAY 103A *

The Taj Mahal of baseball. Opening day. *

INSERT:
Ebbets Field. Brooklyn. *

CUT TO:
*

104 INT. DODGER LOCKER ROOM - DAY 104

Some guys quiet, some guys joking around. Everyone in some

version of getting out of their street clothes or into their

uniforms. The entire operation comes to a halt as -

Jack enters. As he walks past -- some players nod hello.

Others look like Sphinxes. Walker turns and faces his

locker. Gene Hermanski and Branca step over to SHAKE HANDS.

HERMANSKI:

I’m Hermanski. Welcome to Brooklyn.

BRANCA:

Hey, man. Ralph Branca.

Last, but not least, Spider Jorgensen, his Montreal teammate.

TAN REV 6-25-12 68A.

JORGENSEN:

We made it, Jack, huh? Good luck.

That’s it. Everyone else is too busy to come over. As Jack

scans for a locker with his name on it, BABE HAMBURGER, the

clubhouse manager, steps over.

WHITE 3-14-12 69.

BABE:

You’re looking for your locker,

huh, kid? Follow me.

They walk over to a hook on the wall. A uniform hangs from

it. A FOLDING CHAIR below.

BABE (CONT’D)

I just got the word. Best I could

do. I’ll get you straightened out

tomorrow though, huh?

Jack nods, unbuttoning his shirt... Stanky is suddenly there.

All pugnacity as he gives up 4 inches and 40 pounds to Jack.

STANKY:

You're putting on that uniform, it

means you're on my team. But before

I play with you I want you to know

how I feel about it. I want you to

know I don't like it. I want you

to know I don't like you.

Jack regards him. Stanky doesn’t flinch. Maybe he should.

JACK:

That's fine. That’s how I prefer

it. Right out in the open.

CUT TO:

105 HOT DOG VENDER - EBBETS FIELD 105

Standing before his steaming HOT DOG STAND.

VENDOR:

C’mon, Brooklyn! Get your Harry M.

Stevens special here!

As he hands one over, gets his .20 cents in return. Then:

VENDOR (CONT’D)

Hey, Lady!

Rachel looks over, baby Jackie in her arms. The vendor takes

a baby bottle out of the hot water in his STEAMER.

VENDOR (CONT’D)

I think it’s ready.

CUT TO:

106 JACK ROOSEVELT ROBINSON - DODGER CLUBHOUSE 106

Looking at himself in a MIRROR. Standing in his uniform, the

clean white wool, the flowing script: Dodgers. It fits.

YELLOW REV 4-24-12 7070.

We FOLLOW HIM past Stanky as he goes. Follow the BLUE 42 on *

his back as he steps through the clubhouse.

107 MAKES HIS WAY UP THE TUNNEL. 107

Always on that magic number as he comes up through the Dodger

DUGOUT and steps onto...

108 EBBETS FIELD 108

PHOTOGRAPHERS snap photos, the crowd spot him and CHEER.

109 RACHEL 109

Watches from the stands. Pleased at the cheering. She holds

the baby up to see, whispers to him....

RACHEL:

Okay, okay, that’s good.

As Jackie’s eyes find hers...

CUT TO:

110 THE PLAYERS LINED UP FOR THE NATIONAL ANTHEM 110

The Dodgers down one baseline, the BOSTON BRAVES down the

other. Forty-nine white players and one black. Jack at the

end alongside Ralph Branca. Jack trying not to choke up.

EVERETT MCCOOEY:

O’er the land of the free! And the

home of the brave!

CUT TO:

111 EXT. DODGER DUGOUT - DAY 111

The players not starting return to the dugout. Bragan

catches up with Branca.

BRAGAN:

You’re crazy standing that close to

him.

BRANCA:

What do you mean?

BRAGAN:

(laughing)

What if the sharpshooter misses and

hits you instead?

BRANCA:

You got a serious problem, Bragan,

you know that?

WHITE 3-14-12 71.

BRAGAN:

Really? I don’t see it.

CUT TO:

112 BRANCH RICKEY 112

Surveying the scene. Parrott alongside.

RICKEY:

Opening day, Harold. The world is

all future and no past.

PARROT:

A blank page, sir.

113 INT. BROADCAST BOOTH - EBBETS FIELD - DAY 113

RED BARBER looks down onto the field.

BARBER:

One out in the bottom of the first.

Headed toward the plate for his

first big league at bat is Dodger

rookie Jackie Robinson. Jackie is

very definitely brunette.

114 JACK 114

Walks toward the plate. More cheers. Mostly.

FAN:

We’re with you, Jackie!

FAN #2

Hey, boy, how about a shine?!

Jack struggles not to look back at the source of the jeer.

He settles in at the plate. JOHNNY SAIN on the mound waiting

for the sign. The crowd BUZZING.

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