本片改编自著名棒球手Jackie Robinson的事迹。他出生于1919年1月31日,于1972年10月24日逝世。他是美国职业棒球大联盟史上第一位黑人球员,在此之前,黑人球员只允许在自己的黑人联盟打球。虽然当时美国奴隶制度已废除许久,但有许多地区依然实行种族隔离政策,无所不在的种族偏见仍强烈左右着社会各个阶层,因此Jackie踏上大联盟舞台的这一天,被公认为美国近代民权运动史上最重要的事件之一。
1947年4月15日,Jackie穿着42号球衣以先发一垒手的身份划时代地代表布鲁克林道奇队登场比赛。美国职业棒球大联盟决定从2004年开始将4月15日定为“Jackie Robinson Day”。而该片于2013年4月上映也颇有深意。如今,每年4月,大联盟球员都会穿上42号球衣纪念他在球场内外的成就,42号球衣是美国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.
文德尔·史密斯:1945年,美国最伟大的一代从战场上胜利凯旋。(译者注:Wendell是《匹兹堡信使报》记者,也是Jackie Robinson的传记作家)
男人1:自由的旗帜在整个欧洲飘舞。
文德尔:纳粹德国被击败。三个月后,日本帝国也宣布投降。
男人2:全世界欢呼雀跃。
文德尔:男人们凯旋归来。在他们之中,有最为大众喜爱的棒球选手的名字:穆休、迪马乔、威廉姆斯。美国的生活重新步入正轨。
男人3:我不知道三垒的这家伙叫什么名字。
男人4:二垒的那个呢?
男人3:谁在二垒?
男人4:一垒呢?
男人3:我不知道。
男人4:三垒。
文德尔:棒球是对民主的最好证明。棒球赛的比分,就是个很民主的东西。不管你是什么大人物,信仰什么宗教,它也不知道你给谁投了票,也不论你是什么肤色。它就这么简单地说明了在那么特定的一天,你是怎样的一个棒球手。男人5:他做到了,全垒打。他们知道他做得到。
文德尔:非裔美国人(在战场上)英勇地效忠国家。当他们通过战争使世界从暴政中解放后归来之时,却发现种族歧视、种族隔离,还有吉姆·克罗法在美国本土等待着他们。
男人6:种族隔离是这片土地的法律和传统,没有任何一个团体会比职业棒球俱乐部在尊重这一传统上更小心谨慎的了。
文德尔:前方还有很长一段路要走。如果非裔美国人想要打棒球的话,是去不了纽约扬基队的,只能去像堪萨斯都会帝王队这样的黑人棒球联盟打球,那儿的巡回赛风格与大联盟截然不同。1946年,在16支大联盟球队的名册上,有400名球手,这400人都是白人。但是自1947年开赛之日起,这个数字降到399人,剩下一人独树一帜。
Who and Why is the Guy?
布鲁克林棒球俱乐部的老板Branch Rickey临近退休之年,却不顾众人反对的声音,执意要做一件有悖常规的事情—签一名黑人棒球手到布鲁克林队。Rickey在一众黑人球手中,最终挑中了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.
(布鲁克林,纽约,1945年春)
(在布鲁克林国家棒球联盟俱乐部。)
克雷:罗伊·康帕内拉。
里奇:天才球员,但他人太好了,会被人欺负的。
克雷:好吧。
哈罗德:噢,对不起,噢,等等,对不起。
克雷:那么,赛切尔·佩奇。
里奇:他年纪太大了。我们需要一个前途光明的球手,而不是已经成为历史的。看这儿,杰克·罗斯福·罗宾逊,四项全能的大学生,加州大学洛杉矶分校毕业,这意味着他和白人交过手。现役堪萨斯都会帝王队,26岁,击中率35%,35%。卫理公会派教徒,委任军官。
克雷:他被军事法庭审判过,是个爱惹麻烦的人。嗯,常和裁判争吵。他脾气不好是出了名的。
哈罗德:呃,他因为什么被军事法庭审判?
里奇:不愿坐在军车后排,事发德克萨斯州的胡德堡。司机叫他移坐到后排。军警把他带走了。
克雷:那不就得了?
里奇:我看到他对种族隔离感到愤怒。如果他是白人,我们就会说他有信念了。罗宾逊是卫理公会派教徒,我也是卫理公会派教徒,上帝也是。我们不会选错人的,去找他,把他带到这儿来。
First Meeting
第一次会面中,Rickey向Jackie开出了诱人的条件,但同时也告知他将要面临的困境,对他提出了要求。
(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)
(在布鲁克林国家棒球联盟俱乐部。)
里奇:是关于棒球的事,杰基。我知道春季你会到我们的蒙特利尔子队打球。如果你在那边表现得好,我们就想办法把你签到道奇队来,和都是白人的布鲁克林道奇队一起打球。嗯,我会每月付你600美元,签合同时额外付你3500美元的奖金。同意吗?
杰基:同意,很不错,但是……
里奇:只有一个条件。我知道你能传杀跑垒员,能看穿投手的球,但是问题是,你能控制好你的脾气吗?
杰基:我的脾气?
里奇:是的,你的脾气!你怎么了,聋了吗?黑人在白人球队打球,呵,你能想象民众的反应吗?说些尖酸刻薄的话?(比如)道奇队在酒店登记入住,呃,一家体面的高级酒店,你们风尘仆仆地过去,一些工作人员不给你笔签名,(对你说)“我们没有房间给你住,小子,你本该睡的煤仓都没有了”。球队在饭店进餐,服务员不让你点餐,(对你说)“你没看到门口的标语吗?黑人不准入内。”那时你会怎么做?打他吗?毁掉我的全盘计划?回答我!
杰基:你想要一个没有勇气回击的球手吗?
里奇:不,不是,我想要一个有勇气不回击的球手。人们不会接受这件事,会想尽办法激怒你。他们会永无止境地谩骂,但大家只会评判你的言行,你如果一次又一次的反击,他们会说“这个黑鬼气急败坏了”,还会说“这个黑鬼不属于这里”。你的敌人遍及各处,在他们的地盘你也赢不了。我们只能通过击球、跑动和守备来赢,只能那样。只要世界承认了两件事我们就赢了:你是一个有教养的绅士,还是一个伟大的棒球手。就像我们的救世主一样,你得有勇气去改头换面。你能做到吗?
Jackie: You give me a uniform. You give me a, heh, number on my back. And Ill give you the guts.
杰基:你给我一套队服,你给我,呵,背上的一个数字,我会回报给你勇气。
Conflicts
Jackie加入球队,但正如前所料,冲突接踵而来……
(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!
(巴拿马市,巴拿马,1947年)
里奥·杜罗切:我得知,你们这群家伙中的某些人不想和罗宾逊一起打球,甚至还起草了一份请愿书,你们都准备在上面签字。好吧,孩子们,你们知道可以用请愿书来干什么吗?拿去擦屁股吧。
迪西·沃克:噢,得了吧,里奥。
里奥:什么得了吧?
迪西:球员们一起生活,一起洗澡,这样面对他,把他这么强加给我们很不公平。再说了,我有一家五金店……
里奥:去你的五金店吧,迪西!如果你不满意的话,去你的吧。里奇先生会很乐意为你作出别的安排。现在,我不在乎他是黄种人还是黑种人,又或者像斑马一样有条纹。如果罗宾逊能帮助我们赢球,而据我所见,他确有此能力,那么他就能在这个俱乐部打球!喜欢它,忍受它,想想该怎么做吧,因为他来定了!今晚睡觉前好好想清楚。他只是第一个,孩子们,他只是第一个。将来会有越来越多的黑人球手,他们有天赋,而且愿意好好打球。噢,是啊,他们会加入我们并一展身手,所以我该忘了你们的请愿书,要为球场担心了,因为你们这群家伙甚少关心自己的本分工作,他们会替代你们,把你们赶出球场!(译者注:Leo是道奇队经理,Dixie是道奇队球手。)
More Troubles
黑人球手堂而皇之在大联盟打球,引起了民众的多方不满。经理被借口停职,道奇队面临着一场危机。
(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.
(在布鲁克林国家棒球联盟俱乐部。)
哈皮·谦德勒:布兰奇,哈,你好吗?里奇:很好,哈皮,找我有事吗?
哈皮:要是没了杜罗切一年,你会怎么想,布兰奇?
里奇:呃,对不起,哈皮,呵,你是说失去杜罗切一年吗?
哈皮:今天我得到天主教青年组织的通知,他们会宣誓抵制棒球运动,如果杜罗切没有为他的道德缺失受到惩罚的话。
里奇:你在开玩笑吧。
哈皮:我也希望是,布兰奇,但是事关加州一个女演员,她最近刚离婚,据说是为了杜罗切。听说他们甚至可能非法结婚了。
里奇:现在我知道你在开玩笑了。
哈皮:我没有。这是事实,布兰奇,呃……这个天主教青年组织,他们买了很多门票,花了很多钱,惹怒他们我可承担不起。对不起,我是不是用错了比喻?
里奇:哈皮,你非常清楚我的球队正面临危机。我需要杜罗切来掌舵,他是唯一一个可以应付这个危机的人。事实上,他也乐于此。你这样做就像在砍掉我的右手!
哈皮:我别无选择。我要让你的经理坐冷板凳了,布兰奇。里奥·杜罗切禁赛一年。
在前往费城客场比赛前,Rickey被对手经理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·彭诺克:布兰奇,我是赫伯。
里奇:你好,赫伯,有事吗?
赫伯:布兰奇,我们认识多久了?
里奇:哦,20年了,也许更久。
赫伯:是啊,我们一起也度过不少难关,所以,呃,你可以相信我,当我告诉你明天布鲁克林(道奇队)可以安心过来(比赛),但是你们不能带着黑鬼和球队一起过来。
里奇:为什么,赫伯?顺便说一句,他的名字是杰基·罗宾逊。
赫伯:是的,布兰奇,我知道他有个名字,但是我们还没准备好在费城接受这件事。我们现在担心如果那孩子上场,我们将无法和你们比赛。
里奇:嗯,怎么管理球队是你的事,赫伯。但是我的球队明天会带上罗宾逊到费城。如果要宣布比赛无效,我不在乎,那是9比0,以免你忘了。
赫伯:你知道吗,布兰奇,你已经惹怒大家很久了。我想要知道你究竟想要试图证明什么。
里奇:你知道上帝喜欢棒球,赫伯?
赫伯:什么?你这么说是什么意思?
里奇:我是说当你死了,见到上帝时,他问你为什么在费城不让罗宾逊打球,而你说,因为他是个黑鬼。这不是有效的答案!
在费城的比赛中,Jackie被对手故意弄伤腿部,正在处理伤口时,Rickey前来探望。
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吗?我经过一个小运动场,一个白人小男孩拿起球棒,你知道他怎么做吗?
杰基:等着快球的到来吗?
里奇:他在学你。抓把土,搓搓手,伸展手臂挥棒,像你平时那么做。一个白人小男孩在学黑人的样儿。
杰基:你为什么这么做,里奇先生?
里奇:我们在德国战胜了法西斯,是时候在本土战胜种族主义了。
杰基:不是这个,为什么?你为什么这么做?说吧,告诉我。
里奇:我热爱这项运动,我热爱棒球,将我一生致力于此。40多年前,我是俄亥俄州韦斯利大学的一名球手兼教练。我们有一位黑人接球手,是全队最好的击球员。他叫查理·汤马斯,很优秀的年轻人。我看着他因为肤色而受到屈辱,直至崩溃,而我却没做多少事去帮助他。我对自己说,我帮他了,其实我没有。我热爱的这项运动的核心存在着某种不公平,我视而不见。但是后来,我再也不能那样做了,你……你让我重新爱上棒球。谢谢。
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.
文德尔:自7月4日以来,布鲁克林道奇队一路高唱胜利凯歌。在整个那段时间和这整个赛季里,我见证了杰基·罗宾逊将自己献身于更伟大的使命中。我指的并不是布鲁克林道奇队,虽然他也在为这支球队效力。这个勇往直前的男人充满勇气,凭着天性中惊人的力量,处事缜密但心思单纯。他在改变世界,却不因世界而改变自己。但是棒球不是网球,它要靠团队合作,加入球队只是开始,保持团结才是一大进步,而共同拼搏才是胜利的关键。