42 Page #14

BARBER’S VOICE

Sain looking in. When he’s got

that fastball working, he can toss

a lamb chop past a hungry wolf.

The BRAVES CATCHER signals ‘1’. Here come the pitch. CRACK!

It’s down the third base line.

The THIRD BASEMAN is going to need every ounce of his arm as

he fields it at the line, throw across his body to -

FIRST. Where Jack’s foot hits the bag an instant before the

ball smacks into the first baseman’s mitt.

TAN REV 6-25-12 7272.

UMPIRE:

You’re out!

Jack can’t believe it. As he trots toward the dugout he

looks at the umpire who looks back: I dare you to complain.

STANDS:

As the Brooklyn faithful BOO the call, Rachel and Smith watch

Jack head decisively toward the dugout. He was safe.

Rickey sits down closer to the dugout.

RICKEY:

It’s a game of inches, Jackie!

PARROTT:

Get some glasses, ump!

CUT TO:

115 OMITTED 115 *

116 OMITTED 116 *

117 OMITTED 117 *

118 OMITTED 118 *

118A INT. HALLWAY - DODGER OFFICES - DAY 118A *

BURT SHOTTON, 62, walks down the hallway with Parrott. *

INSERT:
April 18, 1947. *

PARROTT *

How’s Florida, Burt? *

SHOTTON *

Roses need pruning, but fine when I *

left it last night. Branch said it *

was important and I heard about *

Leo. Any idea what this is about? *

PARROTT *

You’d better just talk to him. *

A beat as they reach the door. Parrott knocks. *

RICKEY’S VOICE *

Come in! *

118B INT. BRANCH RICKEY’S OFFICE - BROOKLYN - DAY 118B *

Rickey smiles from his desk as they enter. *

TAN REV 6-25-12 7373.

RICKEY *

Baseball has returned to Brooklyn,

Burt. Another season is underway.

SHOTTON:

Yeah, it’s a shame about Leo.

RICKEY:

Inevitable I suppose. I asked him

if she was worth it and he said

yes. How’s the retirement?

SHOTTON *

It’s fine. The roses --*

RICKEY *

It's a helluva thing when a man has *

good health and enough money and

absolutely nothing to do.

SHOTTON *

I’m perfectly happy. *

RICKEY:

Is that so? *

SHOTTON:

When I took off that Cleveland *

uniform two years ago, I promised

the Mrs. I’d never put on another

uniform again. Roses look great *

and I sleep a whole lot better. *

RICKEY *

Roses and sleep are two wonderful *

things, Burt. But sleep you can *

get inside your casket and flowers *

look good on top of it. You don’t *

look like a dead man to me. *

SHOTTON *

What’s this about, Branch? *

TAN REV 6-25-12 73A73A.

RICKEY:

I need you to manage the Dodgers.

We’re a ship without a captain;

there’s a typhoon ahead.

SHOTTON:

No, I’m sorry, but no.

RICKEY:

Do you miss the game, Burt? Look

me in the eye and tell me you

don’t.

Shotton considers Rickey a beat and then looks away.

SHOTTON:

Baseball’s the only life for an old

pepper pot like me, but I promised

my wife, Branch.

RICKEY:

You promised her you wouldn’t put

on another uniform. You didn’t

promise her you wouldn’t manage.

Wear a suit and tie; Connie Mack

still does.

(a beat)

You remember how to get to the Polo

Grounds, Burt?

SHOTTON:

Branch, I -

RICKEY:

You remember what the peanuts smell

like roasting, how the crack of the

bat sounds, the roar of the crowd?

SHOTTON:

Sure...

Rickey tosses him a set of car keys.

RICKEY:

My car’s parked right out front.

Harold will show you where. Now

what do you say?

SHOTTEN:

Okay.

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CUT TO:

PINK REV 4-19-12 7474.

119 INT. VISITOR’S LOCKER ROOM - POLO GROUNDS - HARLEM - DAY 119

Shotton addresses the half-dressed Dodgers, Jack included.

SHOTTON:

Men, I don’t have much to say.

Just, don't be afraid of old Burt

Shotton as a manager. You can win

the pennant in spite of me. I can

not possibly hurt you.

The Dodgers trade looks. Not exactly inspirational.

Shotton heads out he pauses by Jack.

As

SHOTTON:

Are you Robinson?

(Jack nods)

I thought so.

Shotton pats Jack on the shoulder, continues on his way.

CUT TO:

120 INT. PRESS BOX - THE POLO GROUNDS - DAY 120

A huge CROWD beyond. Bob Cooke of the Herald Tribune (seenat the Waldorf Astoria) holds court as Jack is ANNOUNCED.

COOKE:

Mark my words and circle this date.

Negroes are going to run the whiteman straight out of baseball. I’m

not prejudiced; it’s physiological.

They have a longer heel bone.

Gives em an unfair speed advantage.

121 JACK - POLO GROUNDS 121

Standing dead still at the plate, bat cocked and ready.

BARBER’S VOICE

Here’s Robinson. Jackie holds that

club down by the end. Rear foot on

the back line of the box. Slightopen stance, bent at the knees...

*

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Giants pitcher DAVE KOSLO goes into his wind-up and throws.

Jack swings. CRACK. The ball screams out to left. Home

run! The crowd goes crazy. This is what they came to see.

122 PRESS BOX 122

Typewriters pounding away as Jack finishes his home run trot.

Bob Cooke watching thoughtfully as...

PINK REV 4-19-12 74A74A.

ANOTHER REPORTER

Was that because his heels are

longer, Bob?!

As everyone cracks up, everyone but Bob...

CUT TO:

BLUE REV 4-07-12 75.

123 INT. LAWSON BOWMAN'S CAF. - HARLEM - NIGHT

Jack and Rachel out for dinner. Jack nodding as BLACK

PATRONS pass by, saying encouraging things. He almost gets a

forkful of food to his mouth before a MENU and a PEN are

offered for an autograph. As he signs, a FLASH BULB goes

off. In a lull, Jack cuts his steak, low to Rachel.

JACK:

I’m not complaining, I just, I

don’t know what they want.

RACHEL:

(beaming)

They want to see if Jackie Robinson

is real. They want to see your

pride, your dignity. Because then

they'll see it in themselves.

He’s stopped short. She blinks with mock coquettish modesty.

RACHEL (CONT’D)

And me? I’m just young and scared

and amazed at how brave you are.

He grins at her, almost gets a forkful in when LAWSON BOWMAN,

the Black owner, pulls up a chair, shakes Jack’s hand.

OWNER:

I’m Lawson Bowman, Jack, the owner

of this joint. How’s the steak?

JACK:

I’m not sure yet. It looks good.

CUT TO:

123A INT. 526 MACDONOUGH STREET - BROOKLYN - DAY (MONTAGE) 123A *

BATHROOM MIRROR - Steamed. A finger traces ‘42’ in the steam *

on the glass, then wipes it clean to reveal Rachel. Hair *

wrapped in a towel, she looks at herself, frowns. *

INSERT:
Brooklyn, April 22, 1947. *

DRYING DIAPERS - Hang like pennants on a line stretched *

across the BEDROOM. Rachel ducks under them to retrieve her *

shoes. She looks at them, frowns. *

RACHEL - Brushing her teeth. Pauses to hold the toothbrush *

in a batting stance. Swings... *

RACHEL - Strains to reach to zip her dress up. She pulls at *

the edges of the dress, straightens herself out. She looks *

over at Jack Jr. who watches from his crib. *

DBL. BLUE REV 7-9-12 75A75A.

RACHEL:

You’re lucky you’re a boy.

DOORWAY - Dressed to go, Rachel holding the baby, looking

anxiously out on the street. Suddenly, ALICE the baby-sitter

is there. Here she comes up the steps, opens the door.

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