The Founder Page #2

He’s howling into the void.

EXT. MERRIMAN’S DRIVE-IN - LATER

Another drive-in. Kroc with the OWNER.

RAY KROC:

Mr. Merriman, are you familiar with

the notion of the chicken and the-

OWNER:

No, thank you.

The Owner disappears into the restaurant. Kroc, shut down,

lugs the Multimixer over to his nearby car, heaves it into

the trunk. He takes a swig from his FLASK.

EXT. MERRIMAN’S DRIVE-IN - MOMENTS LATER

Kroc at a pay phone, dialing a long-distance number.

JUNE MARTINO (O.S.)

Prince Castle, how may I help you?

RAY KROC:

Hi, June.

7.

INT. PRINCE CASTLE SALES - CONTINUOUS

A modest office in a Chicago high-rise. At the reception desk

is secretary JUNE MARTINO. (Intercut as necessary.)

JUNE MARTINO:

Ray. How’s it going down there?

RAY KROC:

Fine, swell, lot of interest.

JUNE MARTINO:

That’s terrific. Hold on, I’ll

fetch your messages.

She grabs a pile of messages off the desk.

JUNE MARTINO (CONT’D)

Let’s see:
Gene Rafferty from

United Aluminum, says he needs to

reschedule Friday... Ed Nance

calling again about the refund... a

lady from March of Dimes about a

donation... oh, and we got an

order. Six.

RAY KROC:

Six?

JUNE MARTINO:

Some drive-in out in California.

RAY KROC:

One place? That’s impossible.

JUNE MARTINO:

I’ve got the slip right here.

RAY KROC:

You must’ve misunderstood. Give me

the number, I’ll straighten it out.

EXT. MERRIMAN’S DRIVE-IN - SHORT TIME LATER-

Kroc pours a few nickels into the pay phone, dials a number

off his wrist.

YOUNG EMPLOYEE (O.S.)

Hello?

RAY KROC:

Good afternoon. May I please speak

to the owner?

8.

YOUNG EMPLOYEE (O.S.)

Which one?

RAY KROC:

I’m sorry?

YOUNG EMPLOYEE (O.S.)

Dick or Mac?

RAY KROC:

Um, whomever’s available.

The guy puts the phone down, heads off. Through the receiver,

Kroc hears the sounds of an insanely busy--and efficient-kitchen.

“Order up!”... “I need six fries!”... “Patties up!”

DICK MCDONALD (O.S.)

This is Dick.

RAY KROC:

Hello Dick, this is Ray Kroc from

Prince Castle Sales. I’m phoning

because someone there placed an

order with us for some Multimixers.

DICK MCDONALD:

Yes, yes, that was me. How soon can

you get ‘em out here?

RAY KROC:

Well, that’s actually why I was

calling. I believe there may have

been a miscommunication between-

In the background, someone SHOUTS SOMETHING to Dick.

DICK MCDONALD:

Freezer! Top shelf, left side!

(back to Kroc)

Sorry.

RAY KROC:

My secretary’s under the impression

you wanted six.

DICK MCDONALD:

You know what? I think that’s a

mistake.

RAY KROC:

That’s what I figured. What kind of

drive-in would be making 30 shakes

at a-

9.

DICK MCDONALD:

Better make it eight.

ON KROC-- flabbergasted. Another background SHOUT.

DICK MCDONALD (CONT’D)

What’s that, Al? There’s a brand-

new box in the storeroom!

(to Kroc)

Look, now isn’t the best time.

RAY KROC:

I’m sorry, I’m still a bit-

DICK MCDONALD:

You know where to send ‘em, right?

San Bernardino, California. Corner

of 14th and E.

RAY KROC:

To anyone in particular?

DICK MCDONALD:

Just the store is fine. McDonald’s.

Another BACKGROUND SHOUT distracts Dick.

DICK MCDONALD (CONT’D)

I gotta go. Just get those mixers

out here ASAP, okay? Thanks!

Click. Kroc stares at the receiver. What the hell was that?

EXT. MERRIMAN’S DRIVE-IN - MOMENTS LATER

Kroc stands over a U.S. ROAD MAP on the hood of his car. He

unfolds it, opening the map westward. (Note: This part of the

map is not well-worn like the Midwest; it’s virgin territory

for Kroc.)

Kroc’s eyes drift westward to California. They land on a

small town 60 miles east of Los Angeles: San Bernardino.

Kroc looks at the whole country. He notices something. A road

directly connecting St. Louis to San Bernardino. Route 66.

ON KROC-- staring at Route 66. A single, unbroken line

running from where he is now to that mysterious city out in

Southern California.

10.

EXT. ROUTE 66 - DAY

Kroc driving west on Route 66. Cars, the open road, a

limitless horizon. The sky, the country, the whole world

seems to open up. His heart swells with possibility. The

vastness excites his brain. This must be how Lewis & Clark

felt. And then...

EXT. SAN BERNARDINO CITY LIMITS - ROUTE 66 - DAY

Kroc arrives in San Bernardino. A drab, dusty little town on

the edge of the desert. Hardly the pot of gold at the end of

the rainbow he was expecting. He continues along Route 66,

heading toward the center of town.

SHORT TIME LATER-

Kroc driving. He sees the line before he sees the restaurant.

A long line, hundreds of people, snaking toward a HAMBURGER

STAND in the distance.

ON KROC-- taking in the strange sight of people out of their

cars, queued up in a line leading toward a self-service

window. It’s a distinctly FAMILY CROWD, lots of parents with

their children. Not a teenage delinquent in sight.

He parks, gets out. Unsure what to do, he gets in the line.

He looks off at the restaurant, checks his watch. It’s 1:15.

WOMAN (O.S.)

Don’t worry. It moves fast.

ANGLE ON the WOMAN in front of him. No sooner does she say

this than the line moves. Kroc shuffles forward 10 feet.

SHORT TIME LATER-

Kroc in line, significantly further along. He looks at his

watch. It’s 1:
19.

EXT. MCDONALD’S - SHORT TIME LATER

Kroc at the front of the line. He checks his watch. 1:23.

CASHIER (O.S.)

Welcome to McDonald’s, may I take

your order?

11.

Kroc looks up, sees a CASHIER looking at him with a friendly

smile. Like all the other cashiers, he’s male and wholesome

as apple pie.

RAY KROC:

Um, yes...

He looks at the MENU BOARD. It has just FOUR ITEMS: burgers,

fries, shakes, and Coca-Cola. A radical departure from the

typical sprawling drive-in menu.

RAY KROC (CONT’D)

Hamburger, fries, and a Coca-Cola.

CASHIER:

45 cents, please.

Kroc hands him two quarters.

CASHIER (CONT’D)

And five cents is your change.

Kroc barely has time to put the nickel away when-

CASHIER (CONT’D)

Here you are.

The cashier hands him a paper sack. Kroc looks at it with

confusion.

RAY KROC:

What’s this?

CASHIER:

Your food.

RAY KROC:

I just ordered.

CASHIER:

(shrugs, smiles)

And now it’s here.

Kroc peers into the bag. Lo and behold, inside is a burger,

fries, and a Coca-Cola. He sees it’s all wrapped in PAPER.

RAY KROC:

(”Where are the”--)

Silverware? Plates?

CASHIER:

You just eat it straight out of the

wrapper. Then throw it all out.

12.

ON KROC-- bewildered. He takes the bag, unsure what to do.

RAY KROC:

So now I bring it back to my car?

CASHIER:

Most folks do. Or you could eat it

in the park, at home... anywhere

you like.

Kroc nods. This is all so strange to him. He turns, heads

toward his car. On the way, he spots an EMPTY BENCH. He

impulsively takes a seat.

Kroc reaches into the bag in his lap. He takes out the

hamburger, noting the paper packaging. He unwraps the burger,

looking at it, sniffing it. It looks and smells wonderful.

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