42 Page #9

56 WENDELL SMITH & RACHEL 56

Sitting up off third. His knees knocked together to hold his

TYPEWRITER on his lap. Nothing to write about there. He

looks over at Rachel who puts her hand over her mouth.

SMITH:

You okay?

RACHEL:

I think I might be sick.

(standing)

Excuse me, Wendell.

He watches as she starts out, looks to the field.

SMITH:

I’d be sick at a swing like that,

too.

CUT TO:

57 INT. REST ROOM STALL - ROOSEVELT STADIUM - DAY 57

Rachel exits looking stricken. She steps over, splashes a

little water from the sink up into her face. An OLDER BLACK

WOMAN watches sympathetically.

OLDER WOMAN:

Are you alright, honey?

RACHEL:

I’m sick. I don’t know why.

The older woman rolls off a piece of paper towel for her.

RACHEL (CONT’D)

Thank you.

OLDER WOMAN:

When did you have your monthly

last?

WHITE 3-14-12 45.

Rachel looks over, taken aback. But then...

RACHEL:

I’m late.

OLDER WOMAN:

It may be that you’re pregnant.

The older woman offers a little smile, leaves her there.

INSERT:
Third Inning.

P.A. ANNOUNCER

(echoing)

Now batting. Jackie Robinson.

CUT TO:

58

HOME PLATE 58

Jack steps up to bat. The JERSEY CITY GIANT PITCHER looks to

the Montreal RUNNER at first, glances over his shoulder at

the Montreal RUNNER at second, then focuses on home.

59 SMITH 59

His hands resting on the top of his typewriter.

SMITH:

Come on, Jackie. Come on, batter.

60 RACHEL 60

Emerging up the runway. The field opening up before her.

There’s Jack standing down there. The sight of him settles

her. As she puts a hand gently over her belly...

61

THE PITCHER 61

Grimaces for something extra as he fires a high fastball -Jack

UNLOADS. All heads turn to watch it sail -- high into

the left field bleachers, banging hard off the scoreboard.

62 SMITH 62

Nearly drops his typewriter, pushes his hat back as he

watches Jack start his home run trot. Smith laughs. Joy.

63 DUGOUT 63

Hopper can’t believe his eyes. Softly to himself:

HOPPER:

I’ll be damned...

WHITE 3-14-12 46.

64 WE’RE WITH JACK 64

As he runs the base paths. Over it, a TYPEWRITER CLATTERS.

SMITH (O.S.)

Robinson jogged around the bases,

his heart singing...

The crowd loves it as he continues toward third where

Sukeforth is clapping for all he’s worth.

SMITH (O.S.) (CONT’D)

And our own hearts beat just a bit

faster, and the thrill ran through

us like champagne bubbles...

65 CLOSE ON RACHEL 65

Watching him head for home, shaking hands with the two men he

batted in. Pride & joy in her eyes.

RACHEL:

Oh, Jack... Oh Jack...

CUT TO:

66 CLOSE ON RACHEL 66

Suddenly in pain, face beaded in sweat.

RACHEL:

Jack! Jack!

INSERT:
November 18, 1946. Pasadena, California.

She is in labor and we are in Huntington Memorial Hospital.

A CRY. The DOCTOR holds up a slick, wailing NEWBORN.

DOCTOR:

It’s a boy.

As Rachel holds out her arms for him...

CUT TO:

67 INT. HALLWAY - MATERNITY WARD - PASADENA - NIGHT 67

Jack at the glass looking at JACKIE JR. Jack’s eyes shine as

he regards his infant son. It’s quiet. Jack’s voice soft.

JACK:

My daddy left. He left us flat in

Cairo, Georgia. I was only six

months older than you are now. I

don’t remember him. Nothing good,

nothing bad. Nothing.

(MORE)

YELLOW REV 4-24-12 47.

JACK (CONT'D)

(a beat)

But you’re going to remember me.

And I am going to be with you until

the day I die.

The stakes just got raised...

CUT TO:

68 INT. YMCA GYMNASIUM - DAY 68 *

THIRTY prominent BROOKLYN NEGRO leaders, representing a cross

section of civic responsibility, sit on folding chairs before

a dais where HERBERT MILLER making an introduction.

MILLER:

As all of us know a young Negro

second baseman played north of the

border last season...

INSERT:
Brooklyn YMCA. February 5, 1947.

In back:
TWO DEACONS in the back whisper over a SPORTS PAGE.

DEACON ONE:

Look here what he did.

(reads)

Led the International League in

batting:
.349, in stolen bases: 40,

runs scored:
113. Plus batted .400

in the Minor League World Series.

DEACON TWO:

Last season doesn’t matter. The

International League, it doesn’t

matter. What matters is this year.

What matters is Brooklyn.

DEACON ONE:

Shhh... Here he comes.

As Herbert Miller introduces...

MILLER:

I present the general manager of

the Brooklyn Dodger baseball club,

Mr. Branch Rickey!

Warm APPLAUSE as Rickey steps up. As it settles...

RICKEY:

Good evening. I have something

very important to talk with you

about tonight. Something that will

require courage from all of us.

(a beat)

(MORE)

PINK REV 4-19-12 47A.

RICKEY (CONT'D)

I have a ballplayer on my Montreal

team named Jackie Robinson.

The start of applause. Rickey motions for it to stop.

YELLOW REV 4-24-12 4848.

RICKEY:

He may stay there or he may bebrought to Brooklyn. But if Jackie

does come up to the Dodgers, thebiggest threat to his success, theone enemy most likely to ruin thatsuccess, is the Negro peoplethemselves!

There is shocked silence in the room. Rickey notices a groupof KIDS watching from a raised running track, soldiers on:

*

*

RICKEY:

I say it as cruelly as I can tomake you all realize the weight ofresponsibility that is not only onmyself and the Dodgers, but onNegroes everywhere. For on the dayJackie enters the National League,

if he does, I have no doubt everyone of you will form parades andwelcoming committees. You'll

strut. You'll wear badges. You'll

hold Jackie Robinson days andJackie Robinson nights. You'll getdrunk, fight and be arrested.

This is too much. People are slackjawed. Rickey powers on.

RICKEY:

You'll wine and dine him until he

is fat and futile. You'll

symbolize his importance into anational comedy and yes, a tragedy!

So let me tell you this!

(pounds his fist)

If any group or segment of Negrosociety uses the advancement ofJackie Robinson in baseball as a

triumph of race over race, I willregret the day I ever signed him toa contract, and I will personallysee that baseball is never so

abused and misrepresented again!

Is he done? An embarrassed smattering of applause. Mostlyshock and stares. As Rickey stands there uncomfortably...

CUT TO:

69 INT. HALLWAY - YMCA - DAY 69 *

Rickey stands waiting; giving that speech has worn him out.

The door opens and Miller looks in on him.

WHITE 3-14-12 49.

MILLER:

I question your bedside manner, Mr.

Rickey, but they’ve agreed to set

up a committee of self-policing.

We’ll call it the 'Don't Spoil

Jackie's Chances' campaign.

RICKEY:

Thank you, Mr. Miller. I’m sorry;

the spotlight will be on us all.

CUT TO:

70 INT. BEDROOM - BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL SUITE - NIGHT 70

The silhouette of stately palms through the window. A PHONE

RINGS. A figure fumbles through silk sheets for the

receiver. It’s LEO DUROCHER, a WOMEN in bed alongside him.

INSERT:
Beverly Hills. February 16, 1947.

DUROCHER:

Yeah?

RICKEY’S VOICE

Hello, Leo, what are you doing?

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