Jerry Maguire Page #22

ON TIDWELL:

who blinks back to life. Concerned men are yelling very

loudly, right in his face. Tidwell becomes aware he is the

absolute center of attention of the entire stadium. As crowd

noise begins to rise.

_

125.

TRAINER:

Let's get you off the field!

TIDWELL:

Wait.

TRAINER:

Can you feel your legs?

TIDWELL:

Yeah. Just let me enjoy this for

a minute.

ON JERRY:

who watches. Only marginally relieved. Is he okay?

ON FANS:

Crowd noise rises. Is he okay?

ON TIDWELL:

Can he move? Is he okay?

ON TIDWELL'S LIVING ROOM

Not a breath is taken. Is he okay?

He rises. Stadium explodes. At first on wobbly feet, he

raises the football and for the first time -- salutes the

crowd. Crowd noise doubles.

ON MAGUIRE:

gasping for breath.

ON TIDWELL:

Has never felt like this before in his life. It is the pure

and absolute love of the spotlight. And his fans.

And then... it's real and he feels it. Tidwell breaks out in

a small but unmistakable move -- a flutter step. He does a

high-stepping move, all his own, for about ten yards.

ON JERRY MAGUIRE

who watches, now in complete disbelief. Tidwell will not let

go of the spotlight.

ON TIDWELL'S LIVING ROOM

Going absolutely nuts. Marcee hysterical, laughing and

crying.

_

126.

MARCEE:

(to Tee Pee)

You ain't talking now, are you???

You're a silent motherf***er!

Tyson watches in silent awe of his mother.

BACK ON TIDWELL -- CLOSE

Finishes his small but heartfelt dance. It is a personal

catharsis he is sharing now with 2 billion people.

TIDWELL:

(to himself)

Nike.

He moves past Jerry Maguire on his way off the field. Jerry,

casually thumps his heart twice. Jerry Maguire is overcome

with emotion. He sits down on a camera case, head in his

hands. Behind him, a stadium cheers a new hero.

OVERHEARD FAN:

I always knew he was great.

Maguire rubs his face. Overcome. Photographers and others

rush past to be closer to Tidwell.

INT. TUNNEL -- LATER

Jerry Maguire surrounded by well-wishers and backslappers and

Sportswriters. Success has returned, in all of it's

superficial grandeur. He is a star again, by association.

We catch the look on Maguire's face. Try as he might, he

can't manufacture the joy of the moment. There is a void.

Over the heads of the heatseekers we see Dennis Wilburn

nodding, holding a thumbs up. He tries to get to Maguire,

but cannot. And then a commotion behind them all.

REPORTER:

It's Tidwell!

Tidwell exits the locker room. Press and media surround him.

Even the grizzled old-time stadium workers reach in to

squeeze him, to slap him, to touch him. He works his way to

Maguire.

They hug. Cameras flash. Tears roll down from beneath his

purple shades.

TIDWELL:

We did it.

And now, in the middle of this emotional union, a portable

phone rings. Both men reach for their porties. It's

Maguire's. With anticipation, he answers.

_

127.

JERRY:

Hello.

(beat)

It's Marcee. She says she

couldn't get through on your phone.

Tidwell grabs the phone, and joyously shares the moment with

his wife. Jerry watches, as Tidwell leans on his shoulder.

ON SUGAR AND SWENSON (WATCHING THEM)

Bob Sugar watches from the nearby wall where he stands with

his client, quarterback John Swenson.

SWENSON:

Why don't we have that kind of

relationship?

INT. ARIZONA KAROAKE BAR -- NIGHT

Rod Tidwell sings karoake, on stage. He's struggling through

U2's "One." In the audience are many Arizona players, as

well as most of Tidwell's family.

TIDWELL:

One love... you got to share it...

INT. TIDWELL HOME -- NIGHT

Tee Pee is stuck at home, babysitting twenty kids.

INT. KAROAKE BAR -- NIGHT

We move past many Big Men celebrating Tidwell, singing along,

sharing their Monday Night victory, onto melancholy Jerry

Maguire. He watches, cellular at his side, as a YOUNG AGENT

approaches.

YOUNG AGENT:

Jerry Maguire. I'm Tommy Bendis.

You don't know me, I'm a new

agent, just getting started. I

represent that place kicker over

there.

(indicates kicker)

I wondered if you would sign this

for me. Because it inspired me.

He withdraws a well-thumbed copy of Jerry's Mission

Statement. The blue cover is ripped along one edge. It

clearly has served as a manifesto for this younger man's

career.

_

128.

ON JERRY MAGUIRE

He feels the cover, flips through it a little. Memories

flood with the passing pages. Shot holds on Jerry's face,

as Tidwell continues singing in the background. Suddenly, an

odd feeling. A shiver runs up and down his spine. His

forehead tingles. He rubs his face. All he can do is think

of Dorothy.

AGENT:

Just make it out "To Tommy".

JERRY:

Tommy. I love you.

INT. AIRPORT -- NIGHT

Jerry Maquire sprints through the empty airport, heading for

the last flight out of town. Music.

INT. DOROTHY'S LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

The Divorced Women's Group in session. Laurel stands near

the doorway, blowing cigarette smoke into the night. Dorothy

is now a part of this group.

DOROTHY:

I've listened to you all tell a

thousand sob stories, and I have

been very judgmental. Frankly, I

think you've all been waaaay too

comfortable with your pain. Plus,

Jan, you always spill your red

wine on the couch.

(off Jan's guilty

look)

I've not been fair to you. Women

need to stick together, and not

depend on the affections of a man

to "fix" their lives. Maybe

you're all correct. Men are the

enemy.

Murmurs of agreement.

DOROTHY:

(continuing)

But I still love the enemy.

Murmurs of disappointment.

_

129.

EXT. DOROTHY'S HOUSE -- NIGHT

Jerry exits cab, holding hang-up bag. Looks at the house.

On the other side of that window is a world he hopes he's

still a part of.

INT. LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

Jerry enters. Dorothy is seated toward the back.

JERRY:

Hello. I'm looking for my wife.

Dorothy looks up, robbed of words. Stunned, she does not

move.

JERRY:

(continuing)

Alright. If this is where it has

to happen, then this is where it

has to happen.

Dorothy says nothing.

JERRY:

(continuing)

I'm not letting you get rid of me.

How about that?

He shares a look with some of the other women. She's not

going to say a word. Neither do they.

JERRY:

(continuing)

This used to be my specialty. I

was good in a living room. Send

me in there, I'll do it alone. And

now I just... I don't know... but

on what was supposed to be the

happiest night of my business

life, it wasn't complete, wasn't

nearly close to being in the same

vicinity as complete, because I

couldn't share it with you. I

couldn't hear your voice, or laugh

about it with you. I missed my

wife. We live in a cynical world,

and we work in a business of tough

competitors, so try not to laugh --

(directly)

I love you. You complete me.

DOROTHY:

Aw, shut up. You had me at hello.

_

130.

He moves to her. They embrace. Ray watches in b.g. Jerry

has given this room hope. It's on their faces. At last, even

Laurel gets off on her sister's happiness, as she shares a

look with Chad.

JAN:

(sloshing wine)

I think we'd better go...

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