Chariots of Fire Page #6

Um... Heard Liddell's picked, too.

Rivals under the same flag.

You've got a chance to get even.

I can't wait.

MAN 1:

Welcome to Dover, Lord Birkenhead.

MAN 2:
Are the Yanks so well trained

they'll wipe the floor with our boys?

It's certainly true that

the Americans have prepared seriously...

...some would say too seriously,

to gain success.

But we feel we may, in our

unsophisticated way, have their match.

Sir, do you think the British

stand a chance...

...against such great American athletes

as Charlie Paddock and Jackson Scholz?

Oh. You Americans have a number of men

who are rated as world-beaters...

...but this contest is in Europe, not in

the rarefied climes of the United States.

Parisian conditions

are bound to be more robust...

...more combative,

and certainly more cavalier.

MAN 3:
More cavalier?

MAN 2:
Lord Birkenhead, are the Yanks...

...so professionally well trained that

they will wipe the floor with our boys?

Gentlemen, in Abrahams,

Liddell, and Lindsay...

...we have men who could give them

a run for their money.

[CROWD CHEERING]

SANDY:

Eric.

ERIC:

Sandy.

You haven't come from Scotland

just to see me off?

No, I'm seeing myself off.

Come on up the gangway.

MAN:
Good luck, Mr. Liddell.

- Thank you.

Mr. Liddell, what do you think

of your chances against Abrahams?

I'll do my best. I can do no less. Right?

REPORTER:
Mr. Liddell, sir, what about

the qualifying heats on Sunday?

- What did you say?

REPORTER:
On Sunday.

Do you think you can beat

the Americans?

MAN 1:

There's Mr. Abrahams.

MAN 2:
Mr. Abrahams...

- I'm sorry, I've no time.

- Harold. Gilbert and Sullivan will win.

- Thanks very much for coming.

SYBIL:
Harold.

- Sybil.

- I came to wish you luck.

- I'm glad.

I understand. I wanted you to know that.

I'll be here when you come back.

[HORN BLOWING]

MAN:

Hurry, Mr. Abrahams, she's about to sail.

HAROLD:

I must go. I'll see you in three weeks.

Bye-bye.

Mind your step, sir.

We want you to get there in one piece.

Come on.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

[HORN BLOWING]

When did you get to know?

Did you not read the paper?

It had the whole program.

The heats for the 100 are on Sunday

after the opening ceremony.

The semis and final, a couple days after.

It's only a heat.

Does it make all that difference?

Yeah.

Yeah, it does.

[PEOPLE LAUGHING]

[CROWD APPLAUDING]

And strong...

Strong though the temptation may be...

...to disport your newly acquired finery

around the streets of Paris...

...if they aren't temptation enough...

...may I ask you on behalf

of the Olympic Committee...

...to save your sartorial splendor...

...until at least

after the opening ceremony.

May I remind you...

...you are the favored few.

You constitute what is without doubt...

...the most powerful athletic force

ever to leave these shores.

You are to face the world's best.

Brown and yellow, white and black,

young and ardent as yourselves...

...fleet of foot and strong of limb...

...from every civilized nation

on the face of the Earth.

I have no doubt...

...that you will acquit yourselves

honorably and with distinction.

Good luck to you all.

JENNIE:

Your mind's not with us anymore.

It's full of sprinting, starting

and medals and pace.

Your head's so full of running

you've no room for standing still.

ERIC:

Jennie, Jennie. Don't fret yourself.

JENNIE:

I do fret myself, Eric.

I'm frightened for you.

I'm frightened what it all might do to you.

ERIC:
Do you know what day it is?

BOY:
Yeah. Sunday.

ERIC:
Sabbath's not a day

for playing football, is it?

BIRKENHEAD:

It's an awful step you're taking, Liddell.

The whole of Britain will be watching you.

I don't know that they'll understand.

I'm not sure that I understand.

I'm not sure that I do either, sir.

For the last three years,

I've devoted myself to my running...

...just to be on this ship.

I gave up my rugby,

my work has suffered...

...and I've deeply hurt someone

I hold very dear.

Because I told myself, if I win...

...I win for God.

And now I find myself

sitting here destroying it all.

But I have to. To run

would be against God's law.

I was mistaken.

My boy, as things stand,

you must not run.

But I want you to

hold your fire for a while, Liddell.

Leave everything to me.

Say nothing. Wait until we get to Paris.

I'll have a word with the French.

I'm not without a certain pull.

And we fought in the war together.

They do owe us something.

I don't understand.

They're not a very principled lot,

the Frogs.

But when faced with a stand like yours,

one never knows.

I might get through.

I just might possibly persuade them.

The French, sir?

What could they do?

Shift that bloody heat of yours,

of course.

Good evening.

ERIC:

Goodbye, sir.

[PIANO PLAYING]

[SINGING]

With cat-like tread

Upon our prey we steal

In silence dread

Our cautious way we feel

No sound at all

We never speak a word

A fly's footfall

Would be distinctly heard

ALL [SINGING]:

Come friends, who plough the sea

Truce to navigation

Take another station

Let's vary piracy

With a little burglary

AUBREY:

I wish you could see, Ma...

...the wonderful spirit aboard

now that we've left England.

Harold on the piano

with his beloved Gilbert and Sullivan.

We're laughing and relaxing,

and chatting about anything.

Anything but running.

We're here for Britain, and we know it.

I'm here for you, Ma.

You and Pa. I hope I do you proud.

There's not a chap amongst us

who isn't ready to burst his heart...

...for all we've left behind.

[PHOTOGRAPHER SPEAKS

IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE]

[BAND PLAYING]

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[BAND PLAYING

"STAR SPANGLED BANNER"]

["STAR SPANGLED BANNER"

PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

[WHISPERING]

"American champions arrive in France."

["YANKEE DOODLE"

PLAYING OVER SPEAKERS]

HAROLD [WHISPERING]:

There's Paddock. Charles Paddock.

- There's Fitch.

AUBREY:
My God.

And there's Scholz.

HAROLD:

Yes, that's Scholz all right.

A bit more my size.

Mean with it, though. 10.4.

Got your plate full there, Harold.

Battle on your hands, what.

Charles H. Paddock...

...and Jackson Scholz.

The fastest men in the world.

[GRUNTING]

[MEN YELLING INDISTINCTLY]

Push it, Taylor, push it!

Come on, push it, push it.

One, two. One, two. One, two.

[YELLING CONTINUES]

Come on, now. Okay, get up.

Come on!

Go on like a champ, will you?

Hey, Scholzy!

[YELLING INDISTINCTLY]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[MARCHING BAND PLAYING]

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

[BAND PLAYING "LA MARSEILLAISE"]

[PEOPLE SINGING IN FRENCH]

- Well.

- Good luck, Andy.

Good luck, Harry.

Monty.

[CHUCKLES]

[MAN SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

[PISTOL FIRES]

[CROWD CHEERING]

[SCREAMING]

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

Your Royal Highness, may I introduce

Mr. Tom Watson, representing New Zealand.

PRINCE:
How do you do?

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