Jerry Maguire Page #19

JERRY:

(continuing)

... what if we stayed together?

What if we uh... got married.

_

107.

She looks at him. It's an odd proposal.

JERRY:

(continuing)

If I said that, would you stay?

DOROTHY:

No no. Don't do that. Don't say

that if you don't...

JERRY:

Will you marry me?

She looks at him, full of love, dabbing at her mascara.

EXT. DOROTHY'S BACKYARD -- DAY

Rod Tidwell sings Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" at the

wedding for assorted guests gathered here in the backyard.

Contrary to his own belief, Rod is not a gifted singer. In

the wedding band, standing on a small stage in the corner,

are Chad and Dooler.

ON JERRY:

who stands watching, smile pasted on, with stoic FATHER and

well-dressed BROTHER.

BROTHER:

Where are all your friends?

JERRY:

(looking around)

In the band.

INT. DOROTHY'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

We are close on Ray now as we hear the sound of a Reverend

reading wedding vows. Ray holds the ring, and waits for his

cue to offer it. But he has forgotten the cue. And every

time the Reverend pauses, he starts to offer the ring.

Dorothy's leg and hand are visible in frame. She calms him

with a hand on the shoulder. And finally the cue comes and

he offers the ring.

INT. DOROTHY'S HALLWAY/KITCHEN -- NIGHT

The bride and groom catch each other, post-wedding, in the

hallway of the small home where the event has taken place.

DOROTHY:

Wow. We actually --

_

108.

JERRY:

Yeah, we did.

Giddy, Dorothy heads into the living room where Friends and

relatives watch the video of the wedding. And now the

enormity is evident on Jerry's face. Warm laughter in the

b.g. More laughter and family noise in the background now.

He holds onto a table for a moment, steadies himself. Jerry

takes a breath and moves into the kitchen. Finds a beer. He

turns and finds himself alone with Laurel, for the first

time. She raises her beer. They toast, warily.

LAUREL:

If you f*** this up, I'll kill you.

JERRY:

(as she exits)

Glad we had this talk!

Nearby, Tidwell watches all. He moves to Jerry.

Confidentially:

TIDWELL:

You never had The Talk, did you?

JERRY:

No.

TIDWELL:

Well, this was another way to go.

Jerry smiles. Dorothy brings Jerry a Poloraid someone took,

and for a moment the couple stands awkwardly together.

Tidwell rubs Jerry's shoulders a little, announcing to the

room:

TIDWELL:

(continuing)

This is my agent, man! And we're

all gonna have a great season!

He pounds Jerry on the back, hard, shaking him like a pinata.

FADE TO:

EXT. PHILADELPHIA PLAYING FIELD -- DAY

Tidwell catches the ball, takes a vicious hit. The season is

on.

INT. PHILADELPHIA PRESS BOX -- DAY

Across the room, he sees GM Dennis Wilburn standing with

Avery.

_

109.

He turns away, passing a monitor where elsewhere in the

country, Frank Cushman is having another sensational Sunday.

INT. TIDWELL LIVING ROOM/PHOENIX -- DAY

This is the Tidwell family ritual of watching Rod's games on

the big-screen home t.v. At the center is Marcee Tidwell.

Everything flows from her. Next to her is Tyson, and then

the cousins, the neighborhood friends. At this particular

moment, they are all screaming for Rod, who is taking a

beating, but is having a hell of a game. In front of the

t.v., Tyson does the "Daddy Dance," a dance of pure joy.

TYSON:

(proudly, to family)

That's my motherf***er!

Marcee reaches out and collars her dancing son.

MARCEE:

Why don't you be the first man in

your family not to say that word?

And then we'll let you live.

Tyson nods, wide-eyed.

MARCEE:

(continuing)

Now go kiss your daddy, quick.

TEE PEE:

(cooly)

That's why they cheer, you know.

The white man sending the black

man into battle...

Marcee shoots him a look, as Tidwell takes another rough hit.

INT. STADIUM HALLWAY -- NIGHT

Jerry stands waiting. Bob Sugar nearby, greeting quarterback

JOHN SWENSON. Still no Tidwell.

EXT. PHILADELPHIA LOCKER ROOM -- NIGHT

Finally, here comes Tidwell, moving very slowly with garmet

bag.

JERRY:

How's your head? Bubblicious.

_

110.

TIDWELL:

Tidwell moves to a tan in a

wheelchair, signs an autograph and

moves on. Jerry alongside. The

quarterback sucks, man. He's

gonna get me killed.

JERRY:

I'm a little worried --

TIDWELL:

I'm worried too. I'm worried that

the only reason I'm here getting

my brains blown loose is that you

weren't a**hole enough to get my

ten million three months ago.

INSANE FAN:

(interrupting loudly)

F***IN ROD TIDWELL YOU RULE YOU

RULE! I WON A F***IN, A F***IN

MUG ON YOU IN MY ROTISS...

ROTLISS...

With great skill, Tidwell pats the fan and moves him along to

other tired players.

TIDWELL:

Peace, my drunken brother. Ahd

don't discuss gambling with me.

Insane fan moves to another player. Jerry proceeds carefully.

JERRY:

We can still take the offer, Rod.

TIDWELL:

(stops)

No.

Jerry regards his slightly befuddled friend.

JERRY:

Well, just stay healthy. I will

show you the kwan.

TIDWELL:

(irritated)

Hey, that's my word, okay?

Tidwell wearily heads for the bus. Jerry stands in the

parking lot.

JERRY:

I'll see you in Arizona.

_

111.

TIDWELL:

I'm gonna have the game of my life

on Monday Night Football, and show

all these motherfuckers.

JERRY:

Take care, okay? You're my entire

client roster.

TIDWELL:

Don't I know. Now go home to your

wife.

JERRY:

What's that supposed to mean?

TIDWELL:

Why are you even here, man? You

could have told me all this over

the phone.

JERRY:

I don't know -- how's "dedication"

for an answer?

TIDWELL:

You don't want to go home, do you?

JERRY:

Why are you doing this to me, Rod?

TIDWELL:

I'm asking you a question --

JERRY:

No, you're --

TIDWELL:

I'm trying to talk to you. How's

your marriage?

Jerry looks at Rod for a moment. It is the simplest

question, and one in which he has no quick answer.

JERRY:

Not everyone has what you have.

TIDWELL:

Then why'd you get married? I'm

asking you as a friend.

JERRY:

(shaking his head)

You're jabbing at me.

_

112.

TIDWELL:

I'm sorry I asked.

JERRY:

No, I'm going to answer you. You

want an answer? I'll give it to

you.

(beat)

Loyalty. She was loyal.

(unconvincing)

Everything grew from there.

TIDWELL:

That's an answer.

JERRY:

Damn right.

TIDWELL:

(jab)

For loyalty, you buy a dog. For

love, you get married.

JERRY:

Look. I'm happy to entertain you,

as always, but I have a question

for you. Are we really "friends?"

TIDWELL:

Why not --

JERRY:

Well, friends can tell each other

anything, right? If we have our

"friends" hats on --

TIDWELL:

(wary)

I think so.

JERRY:

(intense)

Airight. Here's why you don't

have your ten million dollars yet.

You are a paycheck player. You

play with your head. Not your

heart. In your personal life?

(points)

Heart. But when you get on the

field --

(more)

_

113.

JERRY (cont'd)

(finger rises to

Tidwell's head)

-- you're a businessman. It's

wide-angle lenses and who f***ed

you over and who owes you for it.

That's not what inspires people.

I'm sorry, but that's the truth,

can you handle it? Just a

"question," Rod. Between friends.

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