42 Page #6

(calls over)

Hey, Jorgensen!

A kid in a Montreal uniform looks over. SPIDER JORGENSEN.

HOPPER:

Meet Jackie Robinson.

CUT TO:

37 EXT. PARKING LOT - DODGER DAYTONA FACILITY - DAY 37 *

The end of the day. Buses leave by team, the Dodgers and the

farm clubs. White faces look down as they pass a tired Jack,

who walks through the lot toward Wendell Smith and his Buick.

Higbe and Bragan call out from the door of the Dodger bus.

HIGBE:

Hey, Rook! Did you hear about the

redneck shortstop?

GOLDENROD REV 5-9-12 2929.

BRAGAN:

He thought the last two words ofthe National Anthem were Play Ball!

Jack forces a smile, but the joke comes off a bit harsh.

they seem like they’re laughing at him as...

And

HIGBE:

How about the shortstop making allthe errors, tried to kill himself

by jumping out on the highway?

BRAGAN:

A bus just missed him.

between his legs!

Drove right

As the bus passes by, Jack sees the impassive faces of DixieWalker, Reiser, Stanky, Pee Wee Reese and finally 20-year-oldBranca. Branca smiles, offers an awkward little wave.

SMITH:

Between his legs, good one. He

must’ve read a joke book. If he

can read.

*

*

*

Jack just gets in the car.

of the Buick.

Smith sighs, drum rolls the hood *

*

SMITH:

Hi, Wendell, how are you...? Well,

looks like I got a long drive toSanford.

*

*

*

CUT TO:

38 EXT. PORCH - THE BROCK HOUSE - SANFORD - LATE AFTERNOON 38

MR. BROCK comes out the screen door carrying a tray of talldrinks. He sets them on a table, watches and waits as Smith

and Jack get out of the Buick, start up the steps.

MR. BROCK

Jackie, I’m Ray Brock. Welcome to

Sanford Florida! The day belongsto decent minded people.

They shake hands. Brock looks to Smith, obviously knows him.

MR. BROCK

Wendell, good to see you.

(to Jack)

My wife’s inside cooking. You know

what she asked me this morning?

She asked me, what do you servewhen a hero’s coming for dinner?

WHITE 3-14-12 30.

Jack’s humble, embarrassed, doesn’t know what to say.

JACK:

I’m just a ballplayer, Mr. Brock.

MR. BROCK

Tell that to all the little colored

boys playing baseball in Florida

today. You’re a hero to them.

The look on Jack’s face says that’s a heavy burden.

MR. BROCK (CONT’D)

Sit down, have something to drink.

My special rum and coke.

JACK:

No thank you, sir, I don’t drink.

MR. BROCK

A ballplayer who doesn’t drink?

That’s a new one on me.

SMITH:

I’ll have one. I’m a stereotypical

reporter through and through.

JACK:

Mr. Brock, do you have a desk? I’d

like to get a letter to my wife.

MR. BROCK

Of course, this way.

As Mr. Brock leads Jack ahead, Smith sips his drink.

CUT TO:

39 EXT. PRACTICE DIAMOND - SANFORD - DAY 39

Rickey and Montreal manager Hopper stand by the dugout

watching a spring game versus St Paul. Jack’s playing

second. They watch him closely as they talk.

HOPPER:

He’s getting by on a quick release,

but his arm’s too weak for short.

Second base is his spot.

RICKEY:

I agree. And I’ll state another

obvious, Clay, I need the players

to act like gentlemen around him.

HOPPER:

Uh huh.

YELLOW REV 4-24-12 3131.

The MAN on first takes a lead.

RICKEY:

To treat him as they would any

other teammate.

HOPPER:

Uh huh.

RICKEY:

To be natural, to impose no

restrictions on themselves. To all

work together in harmony.

WHACK! The hit & run is on. The man on first runs on the

pitch as a LOW LINE DRIVE shoots for the gap between 1st and

2nd. Robinson turns himself inside out to dive on his belly

and catch it before it hits the ground.

He spins himself around, pivots on a knee to throw the runner

out before he can get back to first. ! Rickey is astounded.

RICKEY:

That was superhuman.

HOPPER:

(chuckling)

Superhuman? Don’t get carried

away, Mr. Rickey, that’s still a

N*gger out there.

Rickey takes a moment to process. It’s Hopper’s light

admonishing tone that really halts him. Finally...

RICKEY:

Clay, I realize that attitude is

part of your heritage; that you

practically nursed race prejudice

at your mother's breast, so I will

let it pass. But I will add this:

you can manage Robinson fairly and

correctly or you can be unemployed.

They both look over as Jack comes off the field toward them.

HOPPER:

Attaboy, Jackie! Way to turn two!

CUT TO:

40 EXT. FRONT PORCH - THE BROCK HOUSE - SANFORD - NIGHT 40 *

Smith and Mr. Brock are sitting on the porch sipping rum and

cokes. A quiet evening.

DBL. BLUE REV 7-9-12 3232.

MR. BROCK

I hope Jackie sleeps alright.

Chasing baseballs in the sun allday, I’d be in my grave. How are

they treating him out there?

They watch as a CAR slows, parks across the street.

SMITH:

Okay as far as I can see.

A MIDDLE-AGED WHITE MAN, LUTHER exits the car and starts

toward them.

*

MR. BROCK

(frowns)

You find good people every place

you go. Even here in Florida...

LUTHER:

(stopping below)

Is he in there?

*

SMITH:

Who is it you’re looking for?

LUTHER:

Nigra ball player.

*

The air suddenly alive with danger.

SMITH:

He’s asleep. Maybe you better comeback in the morning.

LUTHER:

I ain’t comin’ back. Other fellas

is comin’. They ain’t too happy

about him stayin’ here in Sanford.

Playin’ ball with white boys.

(a long beat)

Skedaddle, that’s what I’d do.

If’n they get here, and he’s still

here, there’s gonna be trouble.

*

He turns and walks away. As they watch, a phone rings...

RICKEY’S VOICE

Yes, Wendell, what is it?

CUT TO:

41 INT. HOTEL ROOM - DAYTONA BEACH - NIGHT 41

Rickey in his pajamas in his hotel room. On the phone.

YELLOW REV 4-24-12 3333.

RICKEY:

I see... Yes, I understand. Wake

him up and get him out of there.

Put him in the car and start

driving for Daytona Beach. Now.

And, Wendell, under no circumstance

tell him what this is about. I do

not want him to get it in his headto stay there and fight.

CUT TO:

42 INT. BEDROOM - MR. BROCK’S HOUSE - NIGHT 42

Half dressed, Jack sits on the edge of his bed, feeling bad.

Through his open door, across a hall, we can see Smith in his

room. Passing in and out of view packing his own things.

JACK:

I was just getting loose.

Smith sticks his head in the door.

SMITH:

Don't just sit there.

duds. We're blowin'.

Pack your

A phone RINGS somewhere. They hear Brock answer, then:

Wendell?!

MR. BROCK’S VOICE

Smith leaves the room. Hold on Jack, despair as he listens.

SMITH’S VOICE

Yes, Mr. Rickey, I'm with him

now... We're pulling out forDaytona in five minutes, soon as hegets his bag packed... Yes, yes,

it's just one of those things.

‘One of those things.’ As Jack’s head hangs a little lower.

CUT TO:

43 INT./EXT. BUICK - MAIN STREET - SANFORD - NIGHT 43

The street deserted, sidewalks rolled up. Jack angry andsilent in the passenger seat. Smith jumpy behind the wheel.

They stop as a PICK-UP stops ahead outside a BAR where:

A DOZEN WHITE MEN in shirtsleeves exchange words with theboys in the truck. To Jack it looks like a typical smalltown bull session. To Smith it looks like something else.

*

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