42 Page #8

DUGOUT:

Durocher looks to Branca, impressed.

DUROCHER:

He didn’t come to play; he came to

kill.

Durocher starts out to the mound to talk to Higbe.

DIXIE WALKER:

Watching from right field, the black crowd still cheering.

He walks over toward the open bullpen where Casey stands.

WALKER:

This really how it’s gonna be some

day? Baseball?

CUT TO:

50 EXT. SCOREBOARD - BALLFIELD - DAY 50

Montreal vs. Indianapolis. THE STANDS are half filled. The

COLORED SECTION is packed solid, accentuated by the many

empty seats in the sections on either side of it.

INSERT:
De Land, Florida.

No score, top of the first as -- Jack drops a BUNT down the

line. The FIRST BASEMAN fields, throw to the SECOND BASEMAN

covering. Too late. Only Jack doesn’t stop.

Realizing the SHORTSTOP isn’t covering the bag, Jack bolts

for second. The second baseman has to wait on the throw and

when he makes it -- The UMPIRE signals safe. A bunt double!

Spider Jorgensen settles in the batter’s box. The pitch.

Crack, Jorgensen laces a single to left.

Jack motors to third where Sukeforth is WAVING him home.

We’re with him at hip level as he tears down the basepath.

The CATCHER bracing for the throw - they COLLIDE - he’s SAFE! *

As Jack gets to his feet, however, a Jim Crow POLICEMAN steps

up to meet him, grabs him by the shoulder.

POLICEMAN:

Git offa this field now!

WHITE 3-14-12 40.

JACK:

What!? Why?

POLICEMAN:

It’s against the law is why. No

n*ggers don't play with no white

boys. Git off or go to jail.

Jack shrugs the policeman’s hand off his shoulder. That

sends him reaching for his nightstick and --

Sukeforth is there to get between them.

JACK:

You swing that thing you better hit

me between the eyes with it.

POLICEMAN:

Is that so?

The CROWD BOOING. The black section especially.

HOPPER:

(arrives from dugout)

Hey, hold on, what’d he do wrong?

POLICEMAN:

We ain't havin' Nigras mix with

white boys in this town. Ya'll

ain't up-states now; they gotta

stay separate. Brooklyn Dodgers

ain't changing our way of living.

Where are you all from anyhow?

HOPPER:

Greenwood, Mississippi.

POLICEMAN:

Hell, man, you oughta know better.

(a dangerous beat)

Now tell your Nigra I said to git.

You think I'm foolin'?

Hopper looks desperately to Jack who just stands there.

RACHEL’S VOICE

What did you do?

CUT TO:

51 EXT. STREET - DAYTONA BEACH - HARRIS NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY 51

Jack and Rachel out walking. He’s been telling the story.

PINK REV 4-19-12 4141.

JACK:

I said okay, Skipper, tell him...

Ah'm a-gittin'. Sho’nuff, ah is.

RACHEL:

You didn’t?

JACK:

I did. Then I took a long shower.

We lost 2 to 1.

She takes a few exaggerated steps to amuse him.

RACHEL:

Ah’m a-gittin’, ah’m a gittin’.

He laughs, takes her hand. He’s going to kiss her.

JACK:

You’re not getting away from me.

RACHEL:

(looking past)

Jack...

A white man bee-lines them from across the street, looks like

a real CRACKER. Jack on guard, gets in front of Rachel.

JACK:

Get back, Rae. Go back.

Cracker stops square across from him. Jack’s fists balled.

CRACKER:

I want you to know something.

JACK:

Yeah, what's that?

CRACKER:

I want you to know I'm pulling for

you to make good. And a lot of

folks here feel the same way. If a

man's got the goods, he deserves a

fair chance. That's all.

(tips his hat)

Ma'am.

As Cracker walks away... Rachel takes Jack’s hand.

CUT TO:

52 OMITTED 52 *

YELLOW REV 4-24-12 41A41A.

52A EXT. PLAYING FIELD - DODGER DAYTONA FACILITY - DAY 52A *

Rickey leans against his car watching a GROUNDSKEEPER push

mow the infield grass. Jack, in street clothes, joins him.

JACK:

You wanted to see me, Mr. Rickey?

Rickey nods, consider the field a moment.

RICKEY:

Bermuda grass grows so well here.

I wish we could get it to grow like

this in Brooklyn.

JACK:

I like the way it smells when they

mow it.

PINK REV 4-19-12 42.

RICKEY:

Me, too. *

Rickey consider the field a moment, then Jack. *

RICKEY:

Jackie, it’s my pleasure to tell

you that you’ve earned a spot on

the Montreal Royals. When theyhead north Tuesday for opening dayagainst Jersey City, you’ll be on

the train.

Jack trying to hold down his excitement.

JACK:

I won’t let you down.

RICKEY:

I know that.

JACK:

If you don’t mind, I’ve got to go

tell my wife.

RICKEY:

Give her my regards.

Jack about to head off when he looks back..

JACK:

Why are you doing this, Mr. Rickey?

RICKEY:

I’m an opportunist. With you andthe Negro players I hope to bringup next year I’ll put together a

team that can win the World Series.

And the World Series means money.

Jack studies him a beat, not quite buying it.

RICKEY:

Don’t you believe that?

JACK:

I don’t think what I believe is

important. Only what I do.

RICKEY:

Agreed. Therefore, run the bases

like the Devil himself.

*

(MORE)

Worry those pitchers so they come

apart. Sometimes they'll catchyou, but don't worry about that.

Ty Cobb got caught plenty. Just

run as you see fit. Put the

natural fear of God into them.

GREEN REV 4-27-12

RICKEY (CONT'D)

GREEN REV 4-27-12

RICKEY (CONT'D)

43.

CUT TO:

53 EXT. DAYTONA BEACH TRAIN STATION - DAY 53

Ed Charles and his TWO FRIENDS follow Jack and the Montreal

PLAYERS as they walk toward the TRAIN waiting on the tracks.

Jack is one of the last to board. He’s almost through the

door when something stops him. He looks back at Ed.

A beat. Ed slowly raises his hand and waves. Jack smiles,

does the same, then disappears inside. The WHISTLE blows and

the train starts out of the station. On impulse Ed starts totrot out after it. Staying close. His friends follow.

TRAIN TRACKS:

The train picks up speed. The boys start to run. Arms

pumping, feet flying. One boy drops off. Then the other.

But Ed still runs. Chasing after that train carrying JackieRobinson. Finally, he stops, heaving for breath, watchingthe train disappear around the bend. A lonely beat. Then -Ed

gets down on his hands and knees. He sets his ear on the

rail, closes his eyes. A thrum comes off the rail. A hugesmile spreads. He straightens, shouts back to his friends:

ED:

I CAN STILL HEAR HIM!

From somewhere, as the National Anthem ends...

CUT TO:

54 EXT. ROOSEVELT STADIUM - DAY 54

INSERT:
April 18, 1946 - Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City.

Opening day of the International League Season.

A COLOR GUARD march away to REVEAL: *

PLAY BALL!

HOME PLATE UMPIRE

30,000 FANS pack a stadium built for 24,500. Bunting andflags everywhere. 1000s of black fans are here (segregatedonly financially in New Jersey).

CUT TO:

WHITE 3-14-12 44.

55 EXT. HOME PLATE - ROOSEVELT STADIUM - DAY 55

Jack steps up to some BOOING, but much more APPLAUSE. He

looks ready to beat the world.

INSERT:
First inning.

CROWD VOICE:

Come on, Jackie, this fella can't

pitch!

Speaking of the pitch, here it comes. Jack tops a WEAK

GROUNDER to short. As he’s thrown out by a mile...

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