Chapter Nineteen: The Movie

The Script
Parts
Narrator:

Tom Sullivan:

Anne Sullivan:

John L. Sullivan:

Baby John L. Sullivan:

Catherine Sullivan:

Richard Fox:

Jake Kilrain:

Wealthy Guy:

Member1:

Member2:

Prostitute:

Bartender:

Announcer:
 ONE
[NOTE: Music is played during every montage sequence, and the original audio of each of the clips used is muted]

Montage sequence:
1. Tom and Anne Sullivan get on SS Paddy
2. Tom Sullivan and Anne Sullivan just stand there
3. Tom Sullivan and Anne Sullivan wave goodbye
Narrator: In the midst of the Great Potato Famine, many an Irishman and Irishwoman
left their starving homeland for America, a land of opportunity. Tom and Anne Sullivan
were among the multitudes that made this voyage. This was an inopportune time for the
couple to emigrate, for Anne was six months pregnant. However, sacrifices had to be
made in order to ensure a better life for them and the baby they were expecting. She and
her husband waved goodbye to the land where their families had lived for countless
generations. A new way of life awaited them thousands of miles away.

Montage sequence:
1. Man at desk with yellow paper: Name? Tom: blahblahblah, Man writes on
paper…stuff like that.
2. checkups– thermometer and stethoscope and stuff
3. Man stamps paper several times, hands the paper to Tom, gives Tom and Anne
green cards with their pictures on them, Tom and Anne walk off
Narrator: Immigrants in New York City had to pass through Castle Garden before they
could become American citizens. One had to be apparently healthy in order to enter the
country. Luckily, Tom and his wife were not among the small fraction of immigrants
denied entrance. Their names were registered, and they became citizens of the United
States.

Montage sequence:
1. Tom and Anne Sullivan walking through streets, look to left
2. Clips of slums and starving children
3. Tom and Anne look shocked, Tom saying something
Narrator: The only shelter the Sullivans could afford in New York City was in the
notorious Five Points district. Tom and Anne were shocked by the conditions of the
district and hoped to move somewhere else in the future.

Montage sequence:
1. Anne and Tom posing with baby John L. Sullivan
2. Tom walking, carrying brick hod
3. Anne and Tom throwing money in the air, as if rich
4. Tom dressed like a hippie with long hair wig, holding hands with another male
Narrator: John Lawrence Sullivan was born in his parents’ New York home the month
after they had arrived in America. Tom worked as a hod carrier for a few months and
managed to scrape together enough money for him, Anne, and baby John to move to
Boston. The Sullivans found more prosperity there, and Tom became a leading member
of Boston’s Democratic Party.
 TWO
Montage sequence:
1. John Sullivan fighting people on street
2. John Sullivan using plunger on someone’s face
3. John Sullivan hitting somebody’s face with a hammer, the person’s face is
covered in tin foil
4. John Sullivan hitting someone with a brick hod
5. John Sullivan offering ring in box to Mrs. Sullivan, she shakes her head, he makes
a fist, she nods her head and takes the ring
6. John Sullivan boxing
7. John Sullivan behind bars
Narrator: John L. Sullivan grew up fighting in the Boston streets, eventually
establishing a reputation for toughness. As a young man, he had brief, unsuccessful stints
as a plumber, tinsmith, and hod carrier, the latter being his father’s job. He even got
married. John found more fortune in amateur boxing, an activity that was illegal at the
time and thus landed him in prison upon several occasions. It was by a stroke of luck that
boxing became a profession rather than a hobby for him…
 THREE
(John Sullivan drinking beer at bar, Wealthy Guy and Richard Fox playing cards at table,
Prostitute stuntin’)

Wealthy Guy: I’m thinking of moving to Brookline, a few miles outside of the city.

Richard Fox: Why, isn’t living it up in Commonwealth Avenue good enough? I’d die to
live there.

Wealthy Guy: Well I’d die to get out. Just look at this place! It seems like all Boston’s
this way nowadays. Even though I may live like a prince at home, beggars hound me and
whores solicit me whenever I’m out on the streets. The only way to leave all this filth is
to abandon it and move to the suburbs.

Richard Fox: Yeah, I guess. (looks to left, the Prostitute is standing there) Well,
whaddaya know, it’s a ho, today’s my lucky day! (gives Prostitute a dollar) Now hold
your horses, honey, Richie’s got a poker game to win!

(Wealthy Guy throws cards down and leaves in frustration, Prostitute sits down next to
Richard Fox)

Richard Fox: (looking at John Sullivan, who’s drinking) Hey stupid!

John Sullivan: (puts down drink, pretends to ignore Richard Fox) This sure is some
good whiskey! (starts drinking again)

Richard Fox: Hey stupid!

John Sullivan: (finishes drink, wipes mouth, walks over to Richard Fox) Just who do you
think you are, callin’ me stupid?

Richard Fox: Name’s Richard Fox. If you can beat me at a game of cards, I’ll take back
what I said, and maybe I’ll throw in this here prostitute (gesturing towards Prostitute).

John Sullivan: You’re on! (sits down at table)

(Richard Fox shuffles and draws cards. They look at their cards for a little while, then
Richard Fox leans down and pulls a card that he puts into Sullivan’s boot out of it. Fox
shows the card to Sullivan.)

Richard Fox: (gasps) Look what I found! Cheeeeeeaaaater!

John Sullivan: That’s it!

(John Sullivan gets up, shoves table aside, and proceeds to pummel Richard Fox. Richard
Fox tries to throw a few punches but they are ineffective.)

Narrator: Meanwhile, more trouble was brewing just outside.

(Wealthy Guy talking to two members of Boston Society for the Suppression of Vice,
Member1 and Member2)

Wealthy Guy: My fellow members of the Boston Society for the Suppression of Vice…
Just a few minutes ago, my morals forced me to leave this saloon. I witnessed gambling,
drinking, and prostitution, activities a good Christian such as myself simply cannot
tolerate. The time has come to make the sinners of this vile institution repent!

(Member1 and Member2 cheer, Wealthy Guy and Member1 and Member2 pick up clubs
and charge into saloon, yelling as if in battle. They swing their clubs around. Member2
hits Sullivan, who’s slapping Richard Fox silly.)

John Sullivan: AAAARRRRGGHH!!!!! (Stops slapping Richard Fox)

Richard Fox: (while limping away) I’ll get you one day, stupid...

(John Sullivan beats up Wealthy Guy and Member1 and Member2, they run away,
Prostitute changes her sign that said “PRICE: ONE DOLLAR” to “PRICE: ONE
DOLLAR NICKEL,” Sullivan makes a fist and Prostitute runs away, Sullivan looks
around and notices Bartender behind bar, washing glass.)
[NOTE: The Bartender is the leader of a political machine]

Bartender: Hey, you. C’mere a second.

(John Sullivan walks over to bar)

Bartender: You got a talent for fighting, kid. You ever want to be a prizefighter?

John Sullivan: Sure, always have.

Bartender: Good. Now listen, I have the means to sponsor you as a professional boxer.
You’re gonna be famous. All you have to do is endorse the guy I’m running for mayor,
William Gatson. Whaddaya say?

John Sullivan: You have yourself a deal. (shakes hands with Bartender)
 FOUR
Montage sequence:
1. Black background
2. Clips of Sullivan fighting, with newspaper headline-things interspersed. The song
“Gonna fly now” from Rocky is playing.
3. Richard Fox sitting at desk, reading newspaper
Narrator: John L. Sullivan went on to become the best boxer of all time. (Clip 2
plays)… (Clip 3 plays) Amidst all this glory, an old foe lay waiting to strike.

Richard Fox: (Puts down newspaper) Looks like Sullivan’s making quite a name for
himself! I promised to get my revenge on him a while ago… now looks like a good time.

(Richard Fox picks up telephone, dials number, waits a little while)

Richard Fox: (pause) Hello, is this Jake Kilrain? (pause) Thought so. I’m Richard Fox,
editor of the Police Gazette. So how’d you like our story about your becoming
Heavyweight Champion of the World? (pause) You didn’t hear about it? Really? You’re
just about the most famous man in America right now. (pause) Well, I hate to break it to
you, but some ignorant people think that bum John L. Sullivan could beat you. (pause)
Definitely! You should challenge him! Nice talking with you, bye! (hangs up)

(Clip of Police Gazette newspaper with headline “SULLIVAN ACCEPTS CHALLENGE

FROM HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION KILRAIN”)
 FIVE
(Jake Kilrain in one corner of ring, John Sullivan in the other)

Announcer: Will everyone please welcome the Heavyweight Champion of the World,
Jake Kilrain!!!!!!

(Jake Kilrain takes off robe and dances around, sound of crickets chirping)

Announcer: And the contender, John Sullivan!!!!!

(John Sullivan takes off robe and dances around, sound of crowd cheering)

(sound of boxing bell ding-ding-ding, John Sullivan and Jake Kilrain fight… don’t feel
like going into detail)

Announcer: Sullivan wins!!!! He is now Heavyweight Champion of the World. Not only
does he win the Heavyweight Champion belt, he also gets two tickets to a show at
Theater Nineteen. Now that’s one lucky man.
 SIX
(John Sullivan walking down street with the two tickets in hand, he opens door to house)

John Sullivan: Honey, I’m home! (sniffs) Mmmm, smells good!! (walks into kitchen,
doesn’t see his wife) Honey, where are you hiding?

(John Sullivan looks around everywhere, opening cupboards and looking under tables
and stuff, stands there scratching head, pauses for a moment, then dramatically gets
down on knees and holds head)

John Sullivan: OH MY GOD SHE’S NOT IN THE KITCHEN!!!!!

(Catherine Sullivan is walking around in another room, John Sullivan appears behind
her)

John Sullivan: Stop right there, missy!

(Catherine Sullivan turns around)

John Sullivan: What do you think you’re doing OUTSIDE THE KITCHEN?!

(Catherine Sullivan’s eyes point upwards and she tilts her head and puts her hand under
her chin, as if thinking)

Montage clip:
1. Her graduating from Vassar college
2. Her showing sketch of building idea to Dankmar Adler for approval
3. Her sitting at desk writing
4. Her chatting with friends (please try to think of something better for a “social
crusade” :P)
5. Her buying shoes
6. Her just standing there trying to look tough, being a new woman
Catherine Sullivan: Well, as it turns out, I’ve been doing a lot outside the kitchen. I
graduated summa cum laude from Vassar College with a degree in architecture. You
know that famous modernist architect Dankmar Adler? I designed all of his buildings for
him when we were lovers. I wrote Pie and Prejudice, a novel about an ordinary woman
who abandons a domineering husband who married her simply because she made a good
apple pie. The book sharply diverged from the high-class snobbery present in most
literature today. I’ve gone on a social crusade of sorts, creating the Boston Temperance
Society, the Boston Charity Organization Society, the Boston Children’s Aid Society, and
the Boston Settlement House. And to top it all off, I recently spent almost all of John’s
hard-earned money on shoes at Macy’s. I guess you could say I’m a new woman,
rebelling against Victorian social codes. Hoo-hah!
(goes back to Catherine Sullivan and John Sullivan)

John Sullivan: I’ll ask you again, what were you doing outside the kitchen?

Catherine Sullivan: (looks down, sighs, speaks in defeated voice) Nothing…

John Sullivan: Good, now get back in there! Remember, the kitchen is the woman’s
sphere!

Catherine Sullivan: Isn’t the rest of the house also part of the woman’s sphere?

John Sullivan: (yawns) I’m tired of your yip-yap. Go make me a steak, woman.

(John Sullivan walks up the stairs, Catherine Sullivan walks into kitchen and sees tickets
on counter, she smiles)
 SEVEN
(Catherine Sullivan and Richard Fox sitting in theater, they watch Vaudeville-style dance
to a song)
 EIGHT
(Each character bows individually while it shows the character’s name and the actor that
played him or her, the actors all bow together, “The End” screen flashes)

(The End)