Ida Tarbell Page #22

---

PANNING THE FACES OF OIL WORKERS IN THE CROWD -

IDA (CONT’D)

I'm not against anyone making money. I want

all of you to be millionaires. Including my

brother here. But we must be better than

Standard Oil. As clever, as ambitious, as

ingenious, but do it fairly.

(pause)

I am only one voice, but you have a voice

too, and I encourage you to use it. This is

your industry, and only you will decide how

it is to be run. Not the railroad thugs,

not the South Improvement Scheme, not John

D. Rockefeller.

Rousing applause and cheering.

Then, a lone male VOICE starts singing: a jaunty song to the

tune of “Bedalia” that he cleverly changes the lyrics to...

OIL WORKER # 1

“There’s a charming young lady with an

awful winning way, who has my heart a

thumpin’ night and day...”

OIL WORKER # 2

“She’s a flower of Pennsylvania with an

apple in her cheek, she’s the very best

thing that ever flowed from this creek...”

The other men all join in on the chorus. Ida is now being

serenaded by thirty or forty oily roughnecks.

OIL WORKERS:

“Oh oh Ida, I wanna save ya,

Oh oh Ida, I wanna be ya,

Oh oh Ida, I love you soooo...”

She is moved to tears by this spontaneous outpouring of

affection for her. As she looks out, she sees the sign that

bears her father’s name: “Franklin Oil Co.”

114.

IDA:

(whispering, to herself)

I love you too.

CUT TO:

EXT. GOLF COURSE - FLORIDA - DAY

ROCKEFELLER is now living in Florida under an assumed name.

We find him finishing up his daily round of golf.

Title:
Florida, Six Months Later

As he turns to go, he notices two men on the golf course who

clearly look out of place: PLAIN CLOTHES POLICE DETECTIVES.

He collects his ball, hurries off toward the clubhouse.

INT. GOLF CLUBHOUSE - LATER

Rockefeller is changing in the men’s locker room.

REVEAL:
Somebody watching him. A young man of about 25,

wearing the club uniform of white shirt and trousers. Could

be a caddy, pool attendant, waiter. Could be anybody.

As Rockefeller closes up his locker, the YOUNG MAN approaches

him. Big friendly smile.

YOUNG MAN:

Mr. Stevens?

ROCKEFELLER:

Yes.

YOUNG MAN:

Forgot your scorecard.

The man hands him an envelope, and instinctively Rockefeller

reaches out to take it. Big mistake.

YOUNG MAN:

Mr. Rockefeller, you’ve just been served.

The haunted look behind Rockefeller’s eyes tells us he has

been dreading this moment for some time.

The process server turns and walks away.

HOLD ON ROCKEFELLER -- His invincible power and aura is gone.

And there’s something unexpectedly touching about it.

115.

INT. RESTAURANT - ST. DENIS HOTEL - NEW YORK - DAY

Ida and McClure sit together in their favorite booth at the

St. Denis, sharing a drink. The mood is quiet, intimate.

McClure slides a copy of The Times across the table. The

headline reads:
“ROCKEFELLER ISSUED SUBPOENA IN FLORIDA”

SAM MCCLURE:

We got him, didn’t we?

IDA:

Yes, we did.

(beat)

Look Sam, I’m sorry if I-

SAM MCCLURE:

Forget it. Actually, I kind of enjoyed it.

So tell me, was it worth it?

IDA:

I don’t know. I thought I’d feel

differently. To be fair to him, he did

build an amazing company. He also

revolutionized an entire industry.

SAM MCCLURE:

Too bad he was also a crook. Minor

character flaw.

(beat)

So, what are you going to do now?

IDA:

I don’t know. Thought I might move to the

country for a little while.

SAM MCCLURE:

(horrified)

The country?! What are you going to do

there?

IDA:

I was thinking I might write a book.

SAM MCCLURE:

A toast then. To Ida Tarbell, muckraker

extraordinaire.

IDA:

I prefer “writer.” Muckraker always sounds

so dirty to me.

SAM MCCLURE:

All right. To Ida Tarbell, the writer.

(toasting)

Sic semper tyrannis!

116.

IDA:

Sic semper tyrannis!

Together, they drink. They are battle weary, they are

friends, they are triumphant.

Whatever else they might be remains left alone and unspoken.

INT. ST. DENIS HOTEL - DAY

Ida hurries toward the elevator just as the doors are about

to close. She squeezes in at the last second, punches a

button to get downstairs.

And looking around, she sees the elevator is deserted, except

for one other person: John D. Rockefeller.

She recognizes him instantly. As the elevator descends, he

looks over at her. Something about her looks familiar too.

A very long pause as we watch their faces: hunter and quarry

thrown unexpectedly together for the very first time.

Finally:

IDA:

Mr. Rockefeller. We haven’t met before, but

my name is Ida Tarbell.

Rockefeller turns slowly to inspect her. He looks away again.

Totally impassive.

ROCKEFELLER:

I see you’re rather plainer than your

prose.

IDA:

I’m afraid we all disappoint in person.

Then, Rockefeller reaches over and presses the “Stop” button

on the elevator. The elevator stops. He turns to face her.

ROCKEFELLER:

(coldly)

I wonder. Do you have any idea of the

damage that you have done?

IDA:

Do you?

ROCKEFELLER:

You want to condemn me, don’t you. Be my

judge, jury and executioner. But only God

will be my judge.

117.

IDA:

Let’s just hope he’s forgiving.

ROCKEFELLER:

You people call it monopoly, but I call it

enterprise. Unlike you, I still believe in

a country where a man can rise above his

station to make something better of

himself.

IDA:

Except it’s very hard to “rise” when that

man’s boot heel is at your neck.

A pause. Rockefeller pushes the stop button again, and the

elevator continues to move.

ROCKEFELLER:

(imperious)

Some of us are destined to make history.

And then there are others, like you, who

can only write about it. A hundred years

from now, people will still know my name

because of what I built. Tell me, who will

remember yours?

The doors open on the lobby, and Rockefeller steps out.

ROCKEFELLER:

Good day, Miss Tarbell.

Ida watches as he walks calmly off. Head held high.

IDA:

(quietly, to herself)

You will.

INT. SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK - DAY

TRACKING WITH POLISHED SHOES along the corridors of justice.

A defiant JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER walks into court, flanked on

either side by the most expensive team of lawyers in the

country, and his son John Junior.

Giant oak doors are flung open as he sweeps into the

courtroom. The public gallery is packed with over 200 people,

all straining for a look at the fallen titan. Ida Tarbell is

not among them.

Title:
The Standard Oil Company v The United States,

November 1906

Rockefeller takes the stand in his own defense. The courtroom

is hushed as he is sworn in by the COURT BAILIFF.

118.

BAILIFF:

Please raise your right hand. Do you swear

to tell the truth, the whole truth and

nothing but the truth, so help you God?

ROCKEFELLER:

Yes. I do.

JUDGE:

Can you please state your name for the

record.

ROCKEFELLER:

John Davison Rockefeller.

JUDGE:

Mr. Rockefeller, you are here because you

are charged with conspiracy against the

United States. Do you understand these

charges against you?

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes