The Jackie Robinson Story

---

1

(man) This is the story

of a boy and his dream...

but more than that...

it is the story

of an American boy...

and a dream

that is truly American.

The year... 1928.

The time... spring.

If you were a young man,

your thoughts were undoubtedly

turning to those of love.

But if you were a young boy,

your thoughts

were of one thing...

baseball.

Give me some high ones!

Come on!

Here... right over here!

Give me a fast one!

Crack!

Give me one... come on!

Come on... I'll show you how!

Crack!

Give me a good high one!

Great bunch

of infielders we got.

Yeah, big leaguers.

Phump.

Hit me one, mister?

What do you want?

Grounders, flies, anything.

Watch this.

Crack!

Right here... come on!

How's that for a ballplayer?

Yeah, we ought to give

him another chance.

Hey, kid, you want another?

(kid) Yes, sir.

Here it comes!

Crack!

Hey, kid, come here a minute.

Now, don't tell me

that one didn't sting.

Just a little bit.

Haven't you got a glove?

No, sir.

Come here a minute.

You mean I can borrow this?

No... you can have it.

For keeps?

For keeps!

Yea!!!

(kid) Mom! Mom!

Yes, Jackie?

Look, Mom!

Where'd you get it?

A man gave it to me.

Torn!

You can sew it up.

Oh, Jackie!

Heh-heh-heh

Jackie!

Yes, Mom?

Sew 'em on like that?

No, Mom.

The way you have them now reads.

"Junior Pasadena College."

That way, Mom.

Pasadena Junior College.

Of course.

How'd I get it

mixed up like that?

My, my...

They wouldn't know

who I'd be jumping for

at the track meet.

That what your brother

Mack won a medal for?

That what you're talkin' about?

Won a medal?

When Mack jumped

for Pasadena Junior College

he broke the National

Junior College record

and nobody has jumped

that far since.

That's nice!

Heh-heh

This kid jumped

25 feet, 6 1/2 inches, Bill.

Broke his brother's record.

Do you think maybe he could, ah,

jump over that

Southern Cal line?

He led the conference in TDs.

Only, there's one problem, Bill.

You mean the Trojans

have already got him?

Heh... no, no.

He's a colored boy.

I heard somebody

squawking about giving

colored boys too many

athletic scholarships.

Colored boys

are all right with me,

if they're the right color.

The right color?

I like a good, clean,

American boy with a B average.

If that's the kind

of a boy you're talking about-

his colors are blue and gold.

UCLA colors, huh?

That's right,

and you can tell it

to Robinson for me.

Fvee-fvee-fvwheet!

Come on, Jackie, come on.

Come on, boy.

Come on, Jackie.

Come on!

You're his brother, aren't you?

That's right.

You're Mack Robinson.

I ran against you

when you were at Oregon.

Oh, sure, you ran

for Southern Cal.

Pete Schubeck... this is my wife.

Hello, Mack.

How do you do?

This is Rae Isum, Jackie's girl.

- Hello.

- Glad to know you.

What are you doing these days?

Oh, I got a good, steady job.

Glad to hear it.

Come on, Jackie.

Tweet-tweet.

Easing up?

Yeah, a lot.

What's the matter

with those guys,

giving it to Jack like that

just because he's...

Because he's the best halfback

on the field.

Oh, yeah... yeah, sure.

And Jackie,

I wasn't kidding

about that either.

They have a lot of respect

for you out there.

I have a lot of respect

for them too.

Believe me.

How's Mack been doing lately?

I always liked Mack.

Mack?

Oh, Mack's doin' fine.

Been waitin' long?

No, just got here.

Somebody told me you got

an honorable mention

on the All-American.

Did I?

Somebody else told me

you cut class this morning.

Could be.

Was it because you

worked late last night?

And I went to see

about a better job...

A full-time job.

Why now?

You've still got some time

before you graduate.

If I graduate.

Oh.

Suppose I finish out the year.

I'm no further along

than when I started...

No closer to getting

a half-decent job

so I can afford to get married.

Who are you thinking

of marrying, Mr. Robinson?

Oh, you know who.

Your mother'll take it hard

if you quit school now.

Yes, I know.

You ought to talk to her

before you do anything...

And to Mack.

Yeah...

it was Mack I was thinking of.

Well, if you'd

just wait till June

and get your diploma...

A lot of good

a college education did Mack.

Well, Mack's all right.

He's got a job.

Yeah...

a good, steady job.

Hey, Mack!

What are you doing here

this time of night?

I fixed you some lunch.

Here, catch!

Man, that's really smart

signal callin'.

I thought you'd be hungry.

I'm always hungry.

Sit awhile?

Sure.

Anything botherin' you?

I wanna quit college.

Right after the

basketball season.

What for?

I gotta get a job.

I wanna marry Rae.

School's one thing, but...

You and Mom

can't support Rae too.

Can't it wait till you graduate?

What good will a degree do me?

They're not hiring

colored football coaches.

Not our color anyway.

Don't you want

to play baseball this season?

What good will that do me?

Baseball's one sport

they'll never let me in.

Yeah, it's your best sport too.

I wonder if there's any place

where they will let you in.

Here's one place

nobody draws the color line.

Yeah... great job

for a college man.

May not be a great job,

but it's steady.

Nice going that half, Jackie.

Thanks a lot.

What's this I hear

about you quitting?

Yeah, right after

the basketball season.

We'll miss you, fella.

You got a job lined up?

No, not yet.

What about those letters

to high schools?

Any answers?

Three.

What'd they say?

The first school

didn't want me for a coach.

The second school

didn't want me for a coach.

And, heh, the third school...

They just didn't want me.

Any mail for me?

Five more letters.

Business must be good.

Let's open 'em.

Pickwick College

doesn't want any coaches.

Bainbridge either.

See what's in this one.

Horton U. Says sorry.

Western State... no soap.

Uh-oh...

you've got a job, brother.

I have?

What does it say?

Listen to this...

"From the President

of the United States.

Greetings!"

(woman) He sure writes

interesting letters.

(Rae) Oh, yes!

Listen to this, Mildred.

"The other day

my commanding officer

"called me in

and told me the good news.

"So I'm some kind

of athletic director at last,

even if it's for the army."

Sounds like he's happy.

And he looks good too.

In his new picture.

And a lieutenant now.

That's a mighty fine job.

Why can't this wait

till later on?

Dinner's almost ready.

It'll only take a minute, Mom.

That's just like you.

First thing

on top is your glove.

What're you going to do with it?

Don't know if I'll ever

do anything with it again.

Ah, more mail again.

I bet you spent

50 bucks on stamps.

If it gets me a job,

it'll be worth it.

Idaho Poly

doesn't want any coaches.

I could have guessed that.

Hey, wait a minute.

What is it?

A job!

Not the President

greeting me again?

No, but you read it.

Robinson, you're up next.

Pick out the one you like

and give it a ride.

Yes, sir!

Now batting

for the Black Panthers,

Jackie Robinson, shortstop.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes