Jerry Maguire Page #15

JERRY:

Great word. Towel?

TIDWELL:

No, I air-dry.

JERRY:

Rod, I say this with great

respect, but those players you

mentioned are marquee players

and --

A portable phone beeps.

TIDWELL:

Is that your porty or mine?

JERRY:

You.

Tidwell rummages in his bag. Finds one of two porties and

answers the one with a Polaroid of Marcee taped to it.

TIDWELL:

Hi baby. Yeah, I'm just breakin'

in the new agent. He says I'm not

marquee. I know... I know...

Tidwell holds up the phone so Jerry can hear the sound of

Marcee going off.

TIDWELL:

(continuing)

My wife is upset with you.

INT. LOCKER ROOM MIRROR -- DAY

The conversation continues as Tidwell fixes hair in the

mirror. Jerry speaks to the reflection, taking him on,

gesturing passionately. Tidwell, still naked, may or may not

be listening.

JERRY:

Here's what I'm saying. This is

a renegotiation. We want more

from them, so let's show them more

from us. Let's show them your pure

joy of the game, let's bury the

Attitude a little, let's show

them --

_

83.

TIDWELL:

(irritated)

You're telling me to dance.

JERRY:

No, I'm saying to be --

He mimes a dainty little showboat-touchdown dance.

TIDWELL:

(little voice)

"Love me love me love me... put me

on t.v."

(pissed)

That's the iconography of rascism,

man!

JERRY:

Rod, I'm not a rascist. I'm

telling you to be the best version

of you, to get back to the guy who

first started playing this game.

Way back when you were a kid. It

wasn't just about the money, was

it?

Tidwell gives him a look. Money was always a factor.

TIDWELL:

Do your job, man, don't tell me to

dance.

JERRY:

Fine.

He begins gathering his things.

TIDWELL:

I'm an athlete, not an

entertainer. These are the ABC's

of ME. Get it? I don't dance.

Jerry rubs face.

TIDWELL:

(continuing)

What's wrong.

JERRY:

Forget it. Forget it.

TIDWELL:

No tell me.

_

84.

JERRY:

I'm out here for you! You don't

know what it's like to be me out

here for you. It is an up-at-dawn

pride-swallowing seige that I will

never fully tell you about! Okay?!

Help me help you help me help you.

TIDWELL:

You're hanging by a very thin

thread, dude. And I dig that

about you.

Jerry has had enough for one day.

JERRY:

(loopy, punch-drunk,

arms flailing)

Hey. I'm happy to entertain you!

I'll see you in L.A.!

Tidwell watches his agent lurch off, muttering and swaying.

TIDWELL:

See, man, that's the difference.

between us. You think we're

fighting, I think we're finally

talking!

INT. LAX AIRPORT -- DAY

Jerry moves slowly through crowded airport, preoccupied with

thought.

INT. JERRY'S HOME OFFICE -- LATER DAY

Jerry enters, carrying bags, weary. Dorothy greets him. They

are stuck in his small condo, and the scent of their previous

encounter is still in the air. She hands him a list of his

calls.

DOROTHY:

Dennis Wilburn called from Arizona

to say he's faxing in the new

Tidwell offer on Thursday morning,

and you'll be happy.

JERRY:

(jolted into

happiness)

Happy. He said "happy?"

DOROTHY:

Actually he said "glad."

_

85.

JERRY:

Good. Good. Glad is good.

DOROTHY:

Plus, you could use that

commission.

She hands him a financial report she's done. He takes a

quick look, seeing the thorough work she's already done.

JERRY:

I sunk most of what I had into

this condo, which devalued, and --

DOROTHY:

You don't have to explain.

JERRY:

Look, the other night, I want to

apologize.

DOROTHY:

(can't read her)

Yeah, what happened there.

JERRY:

We're two people working together

and we can't have an atmosphere.

DOROTHY:

I'm relieved you said that.

JERRY:

I mean, the other night was... I

felt like you understood something

I could barely even say, something

way down deep in the murk --

(beat)

-- but we have a company here to

think about. I won't ever take

advantage of you in that way again.

DOROTHY:

(evenly)

Oh good.

JERRY:

You walked out on a job for me,

and I won't ruin that.

DOROTHY:

Exactly because I know this is a

time when you need to be alone

with your thoughts.

(more)

_

86.

DOROTHY (cont'd)

Think about everything that's gone

wrong, how to fix them, and just

be... alone, alone, alone.

Dorothy in the background of the shot, watching his reaction.

JERRY:

You want to go out to dinner?

INT. DOROTHY'S LIVING ROOM -- DAY

Dorothy looks for a jacket as Laurel helms the Divorced

Women's group in the living room. Jan speaks through her

whistly braces, gesturing with a too-full glass of red wine.

JAN:

I broke up with the Cowboy. And

now he's stalking me...

ALICE:

What's the current definition of

stalking?

WOMAN # 1

Coming over uninvited.

JAN:

(thoughtful)

So Romeo under the trellis... was

a stalker.

Meaningful sounds of revelation, as Dorothy finds the jacket.

INT. HALLWAY -- NIGHT

Dorothy stops in the hallway to see that Jerry Maguire has

arrived at the back-kitchen door. She watches unseen as

Maguire shakes hands with Chad the Nanny and is hit suddenly

by a flying hug from Ray. He gives the kid an athletic bag,

which is filled with state-of-the-art promotional athletic

wear, etc. ("Brought you some swag.") Ray continues hugging

Jerry.

INT. KITCHEN -- NIGHT

Jerry is a little embarrassed by the affections of the kid.

Dorothy enters. Expertly breezy.

DOROTHY:

Hey, looks like you've got a fan.

_

87.

JERRY:

(outdressed)

Wow. That's more than a dress.

That's an Audrey Hepburn movie.

DOROTHY:

Yeah -- guess I got revved up at

the idea of an evening among

adults -- no offense buster.

(then)

You meet Chad the nanny?

JERRY:

Yeah, I did -- am I dressed okay?

I guess I didn't realize we were...

He doesn't finish the words "going out on a date." The

cacaphony of the Boyd home swirls around Maguire. It's a new

sensation for this bachelor.

DOROTHY:

Don't let him stay up too late.

CHAD:

(grandly)

Hey, man, tonight I'm going to

teach Ray about jazz.

DOROTHY:

Good, that'll put him to sleep

early. No offense.

She twirls toward the door, grabbing her purse.

CHAD:

You know, you people have a jazz

problem in this house.

Laurel enters, adding to the chaos, adlibbing hellos.

RAY:

I wanna go too.

Laurel gives Ray a look. Ray backs down, as Jerry hears

snatches of the Women's group going full blast in the living

room.

DOROTHY:

We'll see you soon, honey. Bye.

JERRY:

Bye you guys.

_

88.

Ray extends his arms, he wants a hug. Jerry bends down

awkwardly to give him one, and Ray plants a kiss on Jerry's

cheek. All are surprised, especially Jerry. Dorothy is

struck and moved. Shot falls on Ray who watches Jerry exit

with wonder. Even at his age, he knows a prize when he sees

one.

INT. KITCHEN-- NIGHT

Laurel looks out the window, watches her sister exiting. She

is equal parts jealous and protective. She spots keys on

counter. She grabs them and runs out to catch her sister on

the lawn. "All Shook Down." Replacements.

EXT. DOROTHY'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

Jerry and Dorothy exit through the many cars which we now see

are parked on the street and the front lawn. The sound of

the Women's group is heard in the warmly glowing house behind

them.

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