Chariots of Fire Page #3

Christ is the path and Christ the prize

You came to see a race today.

To see someone win.

It happened to be me.

But I want you to do more

than just watch a race.

I want you to take part in it.

I want to compare faith

to running in a race.

It's hard.

It requires concentration of will,

energy of soul.

You experience elation

when the winner breaks the tape.

Especially if you've got a bet on it.

[CROWD CHUCKLING]

ERIC:

But how long does that last?

You go home,

maybe your dinner's burnt.

Maybe... Maybe you haven't got a job.

So who am I to say, "Believe...

...have faith,"

in the face of life's realities?

I would like to give you

something more permanent...

...but I can only point the way.

I have no formula for winning the race.

Everyone runs in her own way,

or his own way.

And where does the power come from

to see the race to its end?

From within.

Jesus said:

"Behold, the Kingdom of God

is within you.

If with all your hearts

you truly seek me...

...you shall ever surely find me."

If you commit yourself...

...to the love of Christ...

...then that is how you run

the straight race.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

Cheers. Thanks for coming.

Thanks for coming.

[CHURCH BELL TOLLING]

It's an ache...

...a helplessness...

[BREATHES DEEPLY]

...an anger.

One feels humiliated.

Sometimes I say to myself, "Hey, steady on,

you're imagining all this."

And then I catch that look again.

Catch it on the edge of a remark...

...feel a cold reluctance in a handshake.

That's my father.

A Lithuanian Jew.

He is alien.

He's as foreign as a frankfurter.

AUBREY:

And a kosher one at that.

[SNICKERS]

I love and admire him.

He worships this country.

From nothing he built

what he believed was enough...

...to make true Englishmen of his sons.

My brother's a doctor.

[HAROLD CLEARS THROAT]

A leader in his field.

Which one...?

That's me with the curls on his back.

AUBREY [WHISPERS]:

God.

[LAUGHS]

He wanted for nothing.

Hmm.

And here am I...

...setting up shop

in the finest university in the land.

[CHOIR SINGING]

But the old man forgot one thing.

This England of his

is Christian and Anglo-Saxon...

...and so are her corridors of power.

And those who stalk them

guard them with jealousy and venom.

You're right to study law.

You're quite an advocate.

Heh. A rare ethnic advantage.

It's called the gift of the gab.

AUBREY:

So, what now? Grin and bear it?

No, Aubrey. I'm gonna take them on.

All of them. One by one.

And run them off their feet.

He is an Englishman

He is an Englishman

For he himself has said it

And it's greatly to his credit

That he is an Englishman

That he is an Englishman

HAROLD:
England beckons for Sprint Blue.

From our special correspondent.

A French or Turk or Prussian

HAROLD:

A clean sweep for Cambridge star.

Abrahams' hat trick...

...from a special correspondent.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[BELL RINGING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

He remains an Englishman

He remains an Englishman

[CHATTERING]

But in spite of all temptations

To belong to other nations

CHORUS [SINGING]:

He remains an Englishman

He remains an Englishman

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

Bravo, Harold.

[SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY]

[BAND PLAYING "LA MARSEILLAISE"]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[CHORUS SINGING IN FRENCH]

[CROWD YELLING AND CHATTERING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

[CROWD CHATTERING]

Mr. Mussabini, I believe?

My name is Keddie.

Colonel John Keddie. I'm...

President of the Scottish Three A's.

I know, and I'm glad to know you, sir.

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

- How's the leg? Nasty fall you took.

- Okay.

- Nice to see you.

- Good luck.

You're very welcome here, of course...

...but we do have a strict amateur code.

Colonel, don't worry your head.

- I'm here spectating, that's all.

- Yes. I felt sure you would understand.

[SAM COUGHS]

Well, to battle.

I hope you enjoy the games.

Games? You must be joking,

I've seen better organized riots.

MAN:

Come on, Scotland!

[YELLS IN FRENCH]

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

OFFICIAL:

Gentlemen, get to your marks.

Get set.

[PISTOL FIRES]

[CROWD CHEERING]

[CROWD GROANS]

Get up, lad. Get up.

MAN 1:
Come on!

MAN 2:
Come on!

[CROWD CHEERING]

He'll never do it.

Don't you believe it.

His head's not bad yet.

Come on, Eric!

[CROWD CHEERING]

[MOUTHS]

Go on.

[CROWD CHEERING]

[ERIC PANTING]

Well done, Eric. Well done.

He'll be all right in a jiffy.

I'll get his clothes.

You take good care of this lad of yours,

Mr. McGrath.

Because if you drop him,

you'll never find another one like this.

It was not the prettiest quarter

I've ever seen, Mr. Liddell...

...but certainly the bravest. Get him up.

- Come on.

- Gently.

[APPLAUSE BUILDING]

Keep your arm around.

Mr. Mussabini.

Mr. Abrahams, isn't it?

So you've traveled 300 miles

just to see me?

HAROLD:
You and Liddell.

I'd heard you were both the best.

- And what do you think now?

- Eric Liddell?

I've never seen such drive,

such commitment in a runner.

He runs like a wild animal.

He unnerves me.

So he should.

Frightens the living daylights out of me.

Yes, well, I want you to help me

take him on.

Oh, em...

- Now, Mr. Abrahams, are you married?

- No, why?

Well, when the right girl comes along...

...how will you feel if she pops the

questions, hmm?

[MUTTERS THEN CHUCKLES]

You see, Mr. Abrahams,

like the bridegroom...

...it's the coach that should

do the asking.

Mr. Mussabini...

...I can run fast. With your help...

...I think I can run even faster,

perhaps faster than any man ever ran.

I want that Olympic medal.

I can see it there. It's waiting for me.

But I can't get it on my own.

Well, we've an old saying

in my game, son.

"You can't put in what God's left out."

Now, you leave it to me.

I'll watch you, I'll observe,

and if I think I can help...

...if I can see

the big prize hanging there...

...believe me, I won't waste any time.

When we meet again...

...I'll be the one that does the begging.

So you will watch me?

Son, if you're good enough...

...I'll take you apart,

piece by bloody piece.

Thank you.

Everything is a source of fun

Nobody's safe, for we care for none

Life is a joke that's just begun

CHORUS [SINGING]:

Three little maids from school

Three little maids who all unwary

Come from a ladies' seminary

Freed from its genius tutelary

Three little maids from school

Three little maids from school

One little maid is a bride

Yum-Yum

Two little maids in attendance come

SINGER 1:

Three little maids is the total sum

CHORUS:

Three little maids from school

SINGER 2:

Three little maids take one away

Two little maids remain, and they

Won't have to wait very long, they say

CHORUS:

Three little maids from school

Three little maids from school

Three little maids who all unwary

Come from a ladies' seminary

Freed from its genius tutelary

Three little maids from school

Didn't I tell you? Isn't she a peach?

She's magnificent.

[CROWD APPLAUDING]

Bravo, bravo.

[CROWD APPLAUDING AND CHEERING]

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