The Jackie Robinson Story Page #2

---

All right, just a minute, boy.

This is a new boy, Sampson.

Take it real easy with him.

Nice and easy.

Let him hit it.

Yeah, I'll do that little thing.

Okay, boy...

I fixed it right up for you.

Easy, man... throw it easy.

(umpire) Strike!

What?

Let me help you up,

Mr. Robinson.

My goodness,

I don't know what's wrong

with that pitcher today.

You hadn't ought

to do that, Sampson.

You'll make this boy mad.

Nice and easy, I said!

Ball one!

What's wrong with that boy?

He's incorrigible,

that's what he is...

Incorrigible!

Right here now, man!

Strike two!

Man alive,

you sure swing pretty!

- Hold it!

- Whack!

(umpire) Safe!

You shouldn't

a done that, new boy.

I thought we gonna be friends.

(catcher) Oh, why didn't

you throw the ball right?

Safe!

Hey, that's enough of that.

How about "Shortnin' Bread"?

Never mind about

"Shortnin' Bread."

How about some ham and eggs?

That's a pretty good idea.

How about something to eat?

Okay, okay, we'll stop

at the next drive-in.

Is it always like this?

Sleeping on the bus?

Most of the time.

We sleep and we eat

and we play ball.

Then we get on a bus

and do it all over again.

You got a cigarette?

I don't smoke.

That Ernie...

Always beggin' cigarettes.

I can't afford to buy 'em!

Why not?

Don't you get paid

like the rest of us?

Yeah, I get paid a little.

Got a wife in Birmingham.

I have to send her every buck.

Got a new baby comin'

in a couple of weeks.

Sure wish I could be there.

Why don't you take a week off?

Can't... haven't got the money.

After what I send home,

I just make it to payday.

You're breakin' my heart.

Here.

Thanks, boy!

Get back! Get back!

Who's going in?

New boy's turn.

Rules and regulations.

New boy always goes first.

I guess that means you, Jackie.

What will I have to do?

Three things.

See if we can eat inside.

Two, see if we can wash up.

Three, if we can't eat inside,

see if they'll

fix up sandwiches.

Yeah, what is it?

Sixteen of us outside in a bus.

How's chances of getting

something to eat?

Well, uh, I'm all alone here.

Afraid I couldn't help ya.

How about some sandwiches?

Could we have sandwiches?

Well, I, uh...

clang-clang.

How many of them did you say?

(Jackie) Sixteen.

Well, I could make you

16 beef sandwiches,

and maybe the same

in ham and egg.

That'd do you?

Swell.

How about some fried potatoes

on the side, Chef?

Yep.

Take about 20 minutes.

Thanks.

Do you suppose we

could wash up a bit?

Sorry, it's out of order.

Say, Ernie.

Yeah?

When are they gonna

give me a contract?

Contract?

You want to know

about contracts?

Yes!

Say, fellas!

This man wants to know

about contracts.

Contracts?

Fix you right up

with the information.

Yes, sir, contracts.

Tell him about that, boy.

You want a contract

with the Panthers?

The first thing

you've got to do...

is borrow some money

from the boss.

Then you got a job

until he gets paid back.

If you can get him

to lend the geetus.

Keep your eye on the grandstand.

Got a good day

and a good crowd...

That's the time to hit 'im up.

Owe him a week's salary...

You got a one-week contract.

Owe him for two...

You got a two-week contract.

The oss-bay.

Get out of here

and get a little work.

Come on!

Fwhee-ooohh.

Strike two!

(umpire) You're out!

Well, that's the ball game.

That Robinson sure had

a good day, didn't he?

Sure did!

(man) Robinson!

Robinson, can I see you?

I'm Clyde Sukeforth...

of the Brooklyn Dodgers.

I'd like to talk for a minute.

What about?

About you.

Branch Rickey

would like to see you.

He would?

Do you think you could

get away for a day?

I guess so.

Good... I'll take care

of the tickets.

Now you meet me

at the Union Station

at 7 o'clock.

The New York gate.

Is that okay?

Sure... that's great.

(Ernie) Hey, who's your friend?

Scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Signed me for the

New York Yankees.

Were gonna give me a bonus

to pitch for the Red Sox.

And then his keeper came.

Some guys think they're funny.

Yeah, you can say that again.

Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tap

ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-tap.

Yes?

(Clyde) Robinson!

Clyde Sukeforth.

Sukeforth?

Ta-ta-ta-ta-tap.

Robinson, is that you in there?

Coming!

I don't understand

this, Robinson!

Don't you have a good mind?

Or are you playing coy?

I waited for you till

I missed the train.

What's the idea?

You don't mean you're really

with the Dodgers?

Whaoooooo...

You got a girl, Jackie?

Well, uh, I don't know.

What do you mean,

you don't know?

Traveling around all the time,

and not writing

as often as I should...

I think I still have a girl.

Good, you'll need one.

Do you know why

we brought you here?

No, sir... not exactly.

I heard you were starting

a colored ball team.

Is that it?

No, you were

brought here to play

with the Brooklyn organization.

Montreal, to start with.

Me?

Play for Montreal?

I want to win pennants

and we need ballplayers.

The war set us back a little.

So, three years ago,

the Brooklyn Dodger management

decided to scout

untapped sources of supply...

Mexico, Cuba, all the

Latin American countries,

and our own country too.

That right, Clyde?

From coast to coast.

Yes... for players

who can help us win.

Many of the men

we saw were good.

Some had great promise...

Like you.

Do you think

you can do it, Jackie?

Make good in organized baseball?

If I got the chance.

There's more here

than just playing.

I wish it just meant runs

and hits and errors...

The things you can see

in a box score.

Heh... a box score.

You know, a box score is

really democratic, Jackie.

It doesn't say how big you are

or how your father

voted in the last election,

or what church you attend.

It just tells you

what kind of a ballplayer

you were that day.

Well, isn't that what counts?

It's all that ought to count.

And maybe someday

it's all that will count.

That's why we brought you here.

I want to see if we can make

a start in that direction.

It'll take a lot of courage.

Yeah... it sure will.

It might take more courage

for the organization

than for you, Jackie.

Have you thought of that?

I haven't thought of anything.

It's all so sudden...

Kind of hits me

straight between the eyes.

Just relax, boy.

There's plenty of time.

Pull up a chair...

Make yourself comfortable.

Thanks.

We're tackling

something big here, Jackie.

If we fail, no one

will try again for 20 years.

But if we succeed...

If we succeed, Brooklyn

will win a pennant.

Yes, that too.

But we're dealing

with rights here...

The right of any American

to play baseball...

The American game.

Do you think

he's our boy, Clyde?

Well, he can run, he can hit,

and he can field.

But can he take it?

That, I don't know.

What do you think, Jackie?

Well, I can try.

Think you've got guts enough

to play the game no matter

what happens?

They'll shout insults at you.

They'll come

into you spikes first.

They'll throw at your head.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes