本片改編自著名棒球手Jackie Robinson的事跡。他出生于1919年1月31日,于1972年10月24日逝世。他是美國職業(yè)棒球大聯(lián)盟史上第一位黑人球員,在此之前,黑人球員只允許在自己的黑人聯(lián)盟打球。雖然當(dāng)時美國奴隸制度已廢除許久,但有許多地區(qū)依然實行種族隔離政策,無所不在的種族偏見仍強烈左右著社會各個階層,因此Jackie踏上大聯(lián)盟舞臺的這一天,被公認(rèn)為美國近代民權(quán)運動史上最重要的事件之一。
1947年4月15日,Jackie穿著42號球衣以先發(fā)一壘手的身份劃時代地代表布魯克林道奇隊登場比賽。美國職業(yè)棒球大聯(lián)盟決定從2004年開始將4月15日定為“Jackie Robinson Day”。而該片于2013年4月上映也頗有深意。如今,每年4月,大聯(lián)盟球員都會穿上42號球衣紀(jì)念他在球場內(nèi)外的成就,42號球衣是美國棒球界唯一退役的球衣。
Prologue
Wendell Smith: In 1945, Americas greatest generation came back from war.
Man 1: The flags of freedom fly over Europe.
Wendell: Nazi Germany had been defeated. And three months later, Imperial Japan surrendered as well.
Man 2: And theres 1)jubilation around this earth.
Wendell: Men returned home. Among them, some of baseballs most beloved names: Musial, DiMaggio, Williams. Life in the United States could return to normal.
Man 3: I dont know whats the guys name on third base.
Man 4: Whats on second?
Man 3: Whos on second?
Man 4: Whos on first?
Man 3: I dont know.
Man 4: Third base.
Wendell: And baseball was proof positive that democracy was real. A baseball box score, after all, is a democratic thing. It doesnt say how big you are or what religion you follow. It does not know how you voted or the color of your skin. It simply states what kind of ballplayer you were on any particular day.
Man 5: And he did it. Its a 2)home run. They knew hed do it. Wendell: African Americans had served their country 3)gallantly. But they returned home from fighting a war to free the world from 4)tyranny only to find 5)racism, 6)segregation and 7)Jim Crow Law still waiting at home.
Man 6: Segregation was the law and custom of the land, and no group was more 8)scrupulous in its 9)observance of custom than organized baseball.
Wendell: There was a long road ahead. If African Americans dreamed of playing baseball, it was not for the 10)New York Yankees, but for teams like the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues where the 11)barnstorming style of play stood in contrast to the Majors. In 1946, there were 16 Major League baseball teams with a total of 400 players on their rosters. Every one of the 400 players were white. But when opening day came in 1947, that number dropped to 399 and one man stood apart.
文德爾·史密斯:1945年,美國最偉大的一代從戰(zhàn)場上勝利凱旋。(譯者注:Wendell是《匹茲堡信使報》記者,也是Jackie Robinson的傳記作家)
男人1:自由的旗幟在整個歐洲飄舞。
文德爾:納粹德國被擊敗。三個月后,日本帝國也宣布投降。
男人2:全世界歡呼雀躍。
文德爾:男人們凱旋歸來。在他們之中,有最為大眾喜愛的棒球選手的名字:穆休、迪馬喬、威廉姆斯。美國的生活重新步入正軌。
男人3:我不知道三壘的這家伙叫什么名字。
男人4:二壘的那個呢?
男人3:誰在二壘?
男人4:一壘呢?
男人3:我不知道。
男人4:三壘。
文德爾:棒球是對民主的最好證明。棒球賽的比分,就是個很民主的東西。不管你是什么大人物,信仰什么宗教,它也不知道你給誰投了票,也不論你是什么膚色。它就這么簡單地說明了在那么特定的一天,你是怎樣的一個棒球手。男人5:他做到了,全壘打。他們知道他做得到。
文德爾:非裔美國人(在戰(zhàn)場上)英勇地效忠國家。當(dāng)他們通過戰(zhàn)爭使世界從暴政中解放后歸來之時,卻發(fā)現(xiàn)種族歧視、種族隔離,還有吉姆·克羅法在美國本土等待著他們。
男人6:種族隔離是這片土地的法律和傳統(tǒng),沒有任何一個團體會比職業(yè)棒球俱樂部在尊重這一傳統(tǒng)上更小心謹(jǐn)慎的了。
文德爾:前方還有很長一段路要走。如果非裔美國人想要打棒球的話,是去不了紐約揚基隊的,只能去像堪薩斯都會帝王隊這樣的黑人棒球聯(lián)盟打球,那兒的巡回賽風(fēng)格與大聯(lián)盟截然不同。1946年,在16支大聯(lián)盟球隊的名冊上,有400名球手,這400人都是白人。但是自1947年開賽之日起,這個數(shù)字降到399人,剩下一人獨樹一幟。
Who and Why is the Guy?
布魯克林棒球俱樂部的老板Branch Rickey臨近退休之年,卻不顧眾人反對的聲音,執(zhí)意要做一件有悖常規(guī)的事情—簽一名黑人棒球手到布魯克林隊。Rickey在一眾黑人球手中,最終挑中了Jackie。
(Brooklyn, New York, spring of 1945)
(At the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club office.)
Clay: Roy Campanella.
Rickey: Hell of a player. Hes too sweet. Theyd eat him alive.
Clay: All right.
Harold: Oh, sorry. Oh, wait. Sorry.
Clay: Satchel Paige, then.
Rickey: Hes too old. We need a player with a future, not a past. Here. Jack Roosevelt Robinson. Four-sport college man, out of UCLA. That means hes played with white boys. Playing for the Kansas City Monarchs. 26 years old. Hes batting .350. .350. 12)Methodist. Commissioned Army officer.
Clay: He was 13)court-martialed. Hes a troublemaker. Well, he argues with 14)umpires. A quick temper is his reputation.
Harold: Well, what was he court-martialed for?
Rickey: Wouldnt sit in the back of a military bus. Fort Hood, Texas. Driver asked him to, uh, move back. 15)MPs had to take him off.
Clay: There, you see?
Rickey: I see he 16)resents segregation. If he were white, wed call that spirit. Robinsons a Methodist. Im a Methodist. Gods a Methodist. We cant go wrong. Find him. Bring him here.
(布魯克林,紐約,1945年春)
(在布魯克林國家棒球聯(lián)盟俱樂部。)
克雷:羅伊·康帕內(nèi)拉。
里奇:天才球員,但他人太好了,會被人欺負(fù)的。
克雷:好吧。
哈羅德:噢,對不起,噢,等等,對不起。
克雷:那么,賽切爾·佩奇。
里奇:他年紀(jì)太大了。我們需要一個前途光明的球手,而不是已經(jīng)成為歷史的。看這兒,杰克·羅斯?!ち_賓遜,四項全能的大學(xué)生,加州大學(xué)洛杉磯分校畢業(yè),這意味著他和白人交過手。現(xiàn)役堪薩斯都會帝王隊,26歲,擊中率35%,35%。衛(wèi)理公會派教徒,委任軍官。
克雷:他被軍事法庭審判過,是個愛惹麻煩的人。嗯,常和裁判爭吵。他脾氣不好是出了名的。
哈羅德:呃,他因為什么被軍事法庭審判?
里奇:不愿坐在軍車后排,事發(fā)德克薩斯州的胡德堡。司機叫他移坐到后排。軍警把他帶走了。
克雷:那不就得了?
里奇:我看到他對種族隔離感到憤怒。如果他是白人,我們就會說他有信念了。羅賓遜是衛(wèi)理公會派教徒,我也是衛(wèi)理公會派教徒,上帝也是。我們不會選錯人的,去找他,把他帶到這兒來。
First Meeting
第一次會面中,Rickey向Jackie開出了誘人的條件,但同時也告知他將要面臨的困境,對他提出了要求。
(In Aug. 28, 1945)
(At the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club office.)
Rickey: This is about baseball, Jackie. I see you starting in spring with our 17)affiliate in Montreal. If you make it there, well try you down here with the Dodgers. With the white Brooklyn Dodgers. Hmm. Ill pay you $600 a month. And a $3500 bonus when you sign the contract. That agreeable?
Jackie: Yes, thats fine but...
Rickey: Theres one condition. I know you can hit behind the runner. That you can read a pitch. One question is, can you control your temper? Jackie: My temper?
Rickey: Yes, your temper! What are you, deaf? A black m a n i n w h i t e baseball, heh, can you imagine the reaction? The 18)vitriol? Dodgers check into a hotel, a, uh, a decent, good hotel. Youre worn out from the road. Some clerk wont give you the pen to sign in with. “We got no room for you, boy. Not even down in the coal bin where y o u b e l o n g .”Team stops at a restaurant. Waiter wont take your order. “Didnt you see the sign on the door? No niggers allowed.” What are you gonna do then? Fight him? Ruin all my plans? Answer me!
Jackie: You want a player who doesnt have the 19)guts to fight back?
Rickey: No. No. I want a player whos got the guts not to fight back. People arent gonna like this. Theyre gonna do anything to get you to react. Echo a 20)curse with a curse and, uh, theyll hear only yours. Follow a blow with a blow and theyll say, “The Negro lost his temper.” That “The Negro does not belong.” Your enemy will be out in force and you cannot meet him on his own low ground. We win with hitting, running, fielding. Only that. We win if the world is convinced of two things: That you are a fine gentleman and a great baseball player. Like our Savior, you gotta have the guts to turn the other cheek. Can you do it?
(1945年8月28日)
(在布魯克林國家棒球聯(lián)盟俱樂部。)
里奇:是關(guān)于棒球的事,杰基。我知道春季你會到我們的蒙特利爾子隊打球。如果你在那邊表現(xiàn)得好,我們就想辦法把你簽到道奇隊來,和都是白人的布魯克林道奇隊一起打球。嗯,我會每月付你600美元,簽合同時額外付你3500美元的獎金。同意嗎?
杰基:同意,很不錯,但是……
里奇:只有一個條件。我知道你能傳殺跑壘員,能看穿投手的球,但是問題是,你能控制好你的脾氣嗎?
杰基:我的脾氣?
里奇:是的,你的脾氣!你怎么了,聾了嗎?黑人在白人球隊打球,呵,你能想象民眾的反應(yīng)嗎?說些尖酸刻薄的話?(比如)道奇隊在酒店登記入住,呃,一家體面的高級酒店,你們風(fēng)塵仆仆地過去,一些工作人員不給你筆簽名,(對你說)“我們沒有房間給你住,小子,你本該睡的煤倉都沒有了”。球隊在飯店進(jìn)餐,服務(wù)員不讓你點餐,(對你說)“你沒看到門口的標(biāo)語嗎?黑人不準(zhǔn)入內(nèi)?!蹦菚r你會怎么做?打他嗎?毀掉我的全盤計劃?回答我!
杰基:你想要一個沒有勇氣回?fù)舻那蚴謫幔?/p>
里奇:不,不是,我想要一個有勇氣不回?fù)舻那蚴?。人們不會接受這件事,會想盡辦法激怒你。他們會永無止境地謾罵,但大家只會評判你的言行,你如果一次又一次的反擊,他們會說“這個黑鬼氣急敗壞了”,還會說“這個黑鬼不屬于這里”。你的敵人遍及各處,在他們的地盤你也贏不了。我們只能通過擊球、跑動和守備來贏,只能那樣。只要世界承認(rèn)了兩件事我們就贏了:你是一個有教養(yǎng)的紳士,還是一個偉大的棒球手。就像我們的救世主一樣,你得有勇氣去改頭換面。你能做到嗎?
Jackie: You give me a uniform. You give me a, heh, number on my back. And Ill give you the guts.
杰基:你給我一套隊服,你給我,呵,背上的一個數(shù)字,我會回報給你勇氣。
Conflicts
Jackie加入球隊,但正如前所料,沖突接踵而來……
(Panama City, Panama, 1947)
Leo Durocher: It has come to my attention that some of you 21)fellas dont wanna play with Robinson. That youve even got a 22)petition youve drawn up and youre all going to sign. Well, boys, you know what you can do with your petition? You can wipe your asses with it.
Dixie Walker: Oh, come on, Leo.
Leo: Come on, what?
Dixie: Ballplayers gotta live together, shower together. It aint fair to force him on us like this. Besides, I got a 23)hardware store back home...
Leo: Screw your hardware store, Dix! And if you dont like it, screw you. Mr. Rickey will be happy to make other arrangements for you. Now, I dont care if he is yellow, or black, or has stripes like a zebra. If Robinson can help us win, and everything I have seen says he can, then he is gonna play on this ball club! Like it, 24)lump it, make your minds up to it, because hes coming! And think about this when your heads hit the pillows tonight. Hes only the first, boys. Only the first. There are more coming right behind him every day and they have got talent and they wanna play. Oh, yeah, they are gonna come scratching and diving. So I would forget your petition and worry about the field because unless you fellas pay a little more attention to your work, theyre gonna run you right out of the ball park!
(巴拿馬市,巴拿馬,1947年)
里奧·杜羅切:我得知,你們這群家伙中的某些人不想和羅賓遜一起打球,甚至還起草了一份請愿書,你們都準(zhǔn)備在上面簽字。好吧,孩子們,你們知道可以用請愿書來干什么嗎?拿去擦屁股吧。
迪西·沃克:噢,得了吧,里奧。
里奧:什么得了吧?
迪西:球員們一起生活,一起洗澡,這樣面對他,把他這么強加給我們很不公平。再說了,我有一家五金店……
里奧:去你的五金店吧,迪西!如果你不滿意的話,去你的吧。里奇先生會很樂意為你作出別的安排?,F(xiàn)在,我不在乎他是黃種人還是黑種人,又或者像斑馬一樣有條紋。如果羅賓遜能幫助我們贏球,而據(jù)我所見,他確有此能力,那么他就能在這個俱樂部打球!喜歡它,忍受它,想想該怎么做吧,因為他來定了!今晚睡覺前好好想清楚。他只是第一個,孩子們,他只是第一個。將來會有越來越多的黑人球手,他們有天賦,而且愿意好好打球。噢,是啊,他們會加入我們并一展身手,所以我該忘了你們的請愿書,要為球場擔(dān)心了,因為你們這群家伙甚少關(guān)心自己的本分工作,他們會替代你們,把你們趕出球場?。ㄗg者注:Leo是道奇隊經(jīng)理,Dixie是道奇隊球手。)
More Troubles
黑人球手堂而皇之在大聯(lián)盟打球,引起了民眾的多方不滿。經(jīng)理被借口停職,道奇隊面臨著一場危機。
(At the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club office.)
Happy Chandler: Branch. Ha! How are you?
Rickey: Good. Happy, what can I do for you?
Happy: Howd you feel about losing Durocher for the year, Branch?
Rickey: Uh, Im sorry, Happy, heh, I thought you said lose Durocher for a year.
Happy: I got a notice today from the Catholic Youth Organization 25)vowing a ban on baseball if Durocher wasnt punished for his moral looseness.
Rickey: Youre joking.
Happy: I wish I were, Branch, but its this business of this actress out in California. Shes recently divorced and Durochers the cause. They say they may even be illegally married.
Rickey: Now I know youre joking.
Happy: Im not. Thing of it is, Branch, uh...this CYO, they buy a lot of seats, they draw a lot of water and I cant afford to 26)ruffle their feathers. Im sorry, am I mixing my 27)metaphors there?
Rickey: Happy, you know very well my organization is entering a 28)tempest. I need Durocher at the 29)helm. Hes the only man that can handle this much trouble. In fact, he loves it. Youre cutting off my right hand!
Happy: I have no choice. Im gonna sit your manager, Branch. Leo Durocher is 30)suspended from baseball for a year.
(在布魯克林國家棒球聯(lián)盟俱樂部。)
哈皮·謙德勒:布蘭奇,哈,你好嗎?里奇:很好,哈皮,找我有事嗎?
哈皮:要是沒了杜羅切一年,你會怎么想,布蘭奇?
里奇:呃,對不起,哈皮,呵,你是說失去杜羅切一年嗎?
哈皮:今天我得到天主教青年組織的通知,他們會宣誓抵制棒球運動,如果杜羅切沒有為他的道德缺失受到懲罰的話。
里奇:你在開玩笑吧。
哈皮:我也希望是,布蘭奇,但是事關(guān)加州一個女演員,她最近剛離婚,據(jù)說是為了杜羅切。聽說他們甚至可能非法結(jié)婚了。
里奇:現(xiàn)在我知道你在開玩笑了。
哈皮:我沒有。這是事實,布蘭奇,呃……這個天主教青年組織,他們買了很多門票,花了很多錢,惹怒他們我可承擔(dān)不起。對不起,我是不是用錯了比喻?
里奇:哈皮,你非常清楚我的球隊正面臨危機。我需要杜羅切來掌舵,他是唯一一個可以應(yīng)付這個危機的人。事實上,他也樂于此。你這樣做就像在砍掉我的右手!
哈皮:我別無選擇。我要讓你的經(jīng)理坐冷板凳了,布蘭奇。里奧·杜羅切禁賽一年。
在前往費城客場比賽前,Rickey被對手經(jīng)理Herb警告。
Herb Pennock: Branch, its Herb.
Rickey: Hello, Herb. What can I do for you?
Herb: Branch, how long have we known each other?
Rickey: Oh, 20 years, maybe more.
Herb: Thats right. Been over some solid road together. So, urn, you can trust me when I tell you Brooklyns due here tomorrow, but you cannot bring that nigger down here with the rest of your team.
Rickey: Whys that, Herb? His name is Jackie Robinson, by the way.
Herb: Yeah, Branch, I understand hes got a name but were just not ready for that sort of thing here in Philadelphia. Now Im afraid were not gonna be able to take the field against your team if that boys in uniform.
Rickey: Well, what you do with your team is your decision, Herb. But my teams gonna be in Philadelphia tomorrow with Robinson. And if we have to claim the game as a 31)forfeit, so be it. Thats 9-0, in case you forgot.
Herb: You know what, Branch? Youve had a hell of a hair across your ass over this for a long time. Id like to know what it is youre trying to prove.
Rickey: You think God likes baseball, Herb?
Herb: What...? What the hell is that supposed to mean?
Rickey: It means someday youre gonna meet God and when he inquires as why you didnt take the field against Robinson in Philadelphia and you answer that its because he was a Negro. It may not be a 32)sufficient reply!
赫伯·彭諾克:布蘭奇,我是赫伯。
里奇:你好,赫伯,有事嗎?
赫伯:布蘭奇,我們認(rèn)識多久了?
里奇:哦,20年了,也許更久。
赫伯:是啊,我們一起也度過不少難關(guān),所以,呃,你可以相信我,當(dāng)我告訴你明天布魯克林(道奇隊)可以安心過來(比賽),但是你們不能帶著黑鬼和球隊一起過來。
里奇:為什么,赫伯?順便說一句,他的名字是杰基·羅賓遜。
赫伯:是的,布蘭奇,我知道他有個名字,但是我們還沒準(zhǔn)備好在費城接受這件事。我們現(xiàn)在擔(dān)心如果那孩子上場,我們將無法和你們比賽。
里奇:嗯,怎么管理球隊是你的事,赫伯。但是我的球隊明天會帶上羅賓遜到費城。如果要宣布比賽無效,我不在乎,那是9比0,以免你忘了。
赫伯:你知道嗎,布蘭奇,你已經(jīng)惹怒大家很久了。我想要知道你究竟想要試圖證明什么。
里奇:你知道上帝喜歡棒球,赫伯?
赫伯:什么?你這么說是什么意思?
里奇:我是說當(dāng)你死了,見到上帝時,他問你為什么在費城不讓羅賓遜打球,而你說,因為他是個黑鬼。這不是有效的答案!
在費城的比賽中,Jackie被對手故意弄傷腿部,正在處理傷口時,Rickey前來探望。
Rickey: You know what I saw this morning? I was passing a 33)sandlot, little white boy was up at 34)bat. You know what he was doing?
Jackie: Sitting on a 35)fastball?
Rickey: He was pretending he was you. 36)Rubbing dirt on his hands. 37)Swinging with his arms 38)outstretched, like you do. Little white boy pretending he is a black man.
Jackie: Whyd you do this, Mr. Rickey?
Rickey: We had a victory over 39)fascism in Germany. Its time we had a victory over racism at home.
Jackie: No. Why? Whyd you do it? Come on. Tell me.
Rickey: I love this game. I love baseball. Given my whole life to it. Forty-odd years ago, I was a player-coach at Ohio Wesleyan University. We had a Negro catcher. Best hitter on the team. Charlie Thomas. Fine young man. I saw him laid low, broken, because of the color of his skin. And I didnt do enough to help. Told myself I did, but I didnt. There was something unfair at the heart of the game I loved. And I ignored it. But the time came when I could no longer do that. You…you let me love baseball again. Thank you.
里奇:你知道今早我看到什么嗎?我經(jīng)過一個小運動場,一個白人小男孩拿起球棒,你知道他怎么做嗎?
杰基:等著快球的到來嗎?
里奇:他在學(xué)你。抓把土,搓搓手,伸展手臂揮棒,像你平時那么做。一個白人小男孩在學(xué)黑人的樣兒。
杰基:你為什么這么做,里奇先生?
里奇:我們在德國戰(zhàn)勝了法西斯,是時候在本土戰(zhàn)勝種族主義了。
杰基:不是這個,為什么?你為什么這么做?說吧,告訴我。
里奇:我熱愛這項運動,我熱愛棒球,將我一生致力于此。40多年前,我是俄亥俄州韋斯利大學(xué)的一名球手兼教練。我們有一位黑人接球手,是全隊最好的擊球員。他叫查理·湯馬斯,很優(yōu)秀的年輕人。我看著他因為膚色而受到屈辱,直至崩潰,而我卻沒做多少事去幫助他。我對自己說,我?guī)退?,其實我沒有。我熱愛的這項運動的核心存在著某種不公平,我視而不見。但是后來,我再也不能那樣做了,你……你讓我重新愛上棒球。謝謝。
Wendell: Since the 4th of July, the Brooklyn Dodgers have gone on a hot streak holding off all challengers. During that time and during this season, I have watched J a c k i e R o b i n s o n 40)submerge himself to serve something greater. And I dont mean the Brooklyn Dodgers, though hes doing that too. The man flat-out has guts. A stand-up force of nature, hes complicated everything but himself. Hes changing the world and refusing to let it change him. But baseball isnt tennis. It takes a team. Joining together was a start. Staying together, a big step forward. But working together is how you win.
文德爾:自7月4日以來,布魯克林道奇隊一路高唱勝利凱歌。在整個那段時間和這整個賽季里,我見證了杰基·羅賓遜將自己獻(xiàn)身于更偉大的使命中。我指的并不是布魯克林道奇隊,雖然他也在為這支球隊效力。這個勇往直前的男人充滿勇氣,憑著天性中驚人的力量,處事縝密但心思單純。他在改變世界,卻不因世界而改變自己。但是棒球不是網(wǎng)球,它要靠團隊合作,加入球隊只是開始,保持團結(jié)才是一大進(jìn)步,而共同拼搏才是勝利的關(guān)鍵。