Bert & Dickie Page #6

I'm sorry. I...

I respect my father very much,

but he has a most...

particular sense

of good sportsmanship,

which I find a little troubling

at times.

I beg your pardon. I really do.

I'm...

I need to rest.

Yeah, me too.

You all right, sir?

Yes. It's, er... fine.

Right.

Well, er... it's your battery.

You didn't have the radio on

for ages, did you, sir?

Oh...

It's all right. I can arrange

to have you towed back.

Won't be a problem.

What won't be a problem?

Bert... What are you doin' here?

I've just been rowing

in an Olympic semifinal.

What about you?

Actually, I saw you. Yeah. We was

comin' along and your mum said...

"Look, they're rowin'. It must

be the Olympics," so we stopped.

He's through to the final.

Double sculls.

Oh, congratulations!

Ta.

And you're his dad? Ha-ha!

Well, you can have the new battery

free, compliments of the AA.

Yeah? Why didn't you tell me?

What? You was watching!

Have you seen them all?

Have you seen them all? Have you...

Have you seen all my races?

Have you been doing this for ages?

It ain't something to get upset

about, you know. We was proud.

We wanted to watch you.

So, why didn't you tell me?!

How come you're hiding here?

Why didn't you sit with

everyone else?

You didn't want to be around

if I lost, did you?

No. Yeah, you wanted to be able to

make a quick exit! That's...

You're unbelievable!

You're unbelievable.

That ain't right.

Bert! Come back here.

I just didn't want to put him off.

Cheerio.

Mr Burnell!

Bert! Still here?

Yeah. I, er...

I was just

thinking about tomorrow and...

is there any chance that

I could have a word with you...

in private?

Cheers.

He never told me he was still

reporting...

during the event.

Oh, I think

he likes the routine of it.

Stops him from worrying too much!

I don't think of him

like that at all - Dickie.

I mean, to me, he's...

He's a rock.

I want to say that, actually,

Mr Burnell... Don.

I want to say,

he's a credit to you, Dickie is.

How you brought him up.

Thank you, Bert.

It's why I wanted to speak to you.

I...

need you to do me a favour.

I need you to look me in the eye

and tell me

it's going to be all right tomorrow.

Bert...

I'm...

I'm exhausted!

I...don't want Dickie to know, but...

We finished that race today,

I could hardly get out the tub

when we got to the side,

I was that knackered.

I'm sure it's there...

one last effort...

even though...

I'm tired.

I just need someone to help me

unlock it...

someone I truly respect.

It's a gold medal.

Olympic gold medal.

It's mine.

1908. Men's eight.

If Richard manages

to come through first,

we'll be the only father-and-son

gold medallists

in the entire history

of the Olympics.

I...

Why didn't he say anything?

Why didn't you?

A gentleman doesn't boast, Bert.

I've always impressed that

upon Richard.

It is a fact, nevertheless,

that I have my medal

and he has yet to win his...

despite all the training

he puts in and the diet

and God knows what else...

but now, we'll find out...

is the son the match of the father?

I hope so. I really do...

except one can never be certain.

That's the glory of sport -

its unpredictability.

So...

while I can and will tell you

everything will turn out exactly

as you hope tomorrow...

the truth is, it won't actually

make a blind bit of difference...

you're either made of the right

stuff or you're not.

I got you sardines.

You need fish oil.

You look knackered.

In fact, you should be in bed

by now.

You're as white as a sheet.

Do you know what time is it?

Bloody hell, Bert. You've got

an Olympic final in the morning.

What are you playin' at!?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

Right. Well... Never mind, you know,

except it's same as your mum says...

certain things matter...

like not havin' any regrets

in your life. That's one of 'em.

And you've worked too hard all these

years to take any chances now, son.

So...

eat your food.

I'll have it in my room.

All right, love. I'm ready.

Love?

You've not changed.

I'm not coming.

What?

I'm staying here. But...

But nothing. I've made up my mind.

You gotta come.

No, I can't bear it!

You know how it upsets me.

I've managed up until now...

only not today,

not the final.

I daren't.

You tell me how it went

when you get back.

How are you feeling?

Good. Good?

Good.

This is it, then.

You're top men.

Get away quick...

We know what to do.

We gotta pull together, Dickie,

if we're going to do this.

Two gotta become one.

Only we are one! Already!

Cos of our dads. What?

Trying not to let them down

and hating them one minute

and loving them the next.

What are you on about?

My dad! And yours - Don!

I went to see him last night.

I'm not sure now's quite

the time to... Yes, it is.

It's exactly the time.

That's what I'm saying.

Cos we've both spent our whole lives

dealing with them and how they are.

Only, now, it's just us in the boat,

Dickie.

It's just you and me,

and that's enough.

It's more than enough,

cos we're a bloody good team.

Prime Minister.

I hardly dare tell him

how well the advertising's worked.

All that stuff in the programme? No.

I thought it was unlikely.

No... Amazing what these

companies will offer.

I can see it catching on.

'Sculling magnificently

'and past the finishing post,

'the winner by five or six lengths.

'The result of final

for the single sculls...

'MT Wood of Australia,

takes the gold medal,

'EG Risso of Uruguay, second,

and Catasta of Italy, third.'

Here you go, lads.

She's all ready.

Don't be sick.

Don't be sick.

Just breathe deep.

Look at your clogs,

you're all right.

Just breathe.

Big start. 40.

Settle.

Go when they go.

You call it.

Yep.

Smile.

Etes-vous prets?

Ready.

Partez!

The race is under way. Great Britain

are giving it a fair lick.

The Danes are there too.

Maybe even inching it, in fact.

And Uruguay are not exactly

hanging about either.

They're catching them.

They're catching them.

Neck and neck. Neck and neck!

Bert!

Wait!

Soon. It's gotta be soon!

Don't bully it!

Now!

Hammer it!

They've overtaken them!

Sing...

Sing...

Sing...

Yeah!

Yes!

Yes!

Oh, yes! Oh, yes!

My dear old man.

'Result of the double sculls...

'BHT Bushnell and RD Burnell of

Great Britain win the gold medal.'

Lads!

You... buggers!

All down to you, Jack.

Great effort, great effort.

Not bad, lads. Not bad at all.

Enjoy it, Bert. Losing doesn't feel

so great. Congratulations.

Bad luck, mate.

Congratulations.

Well done, Richard.

'The medal ceremony,

for the men's double sculls...'

'Ladies and gentlemen,

'please stand for the national anthem

of Great Britain.'

Here, Dad.

Take this.

Take it!

I want you to have it...

please...

as a thank you.

We should go.

Hmm.

You keep saying that.

We should.

We'll never get to do this again,

will we...

walk out of a changing room

after we've beaten the world?

No.

But we can't stay here for ever.

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