Chariots of Fire Page #8

We shared a taxi, remember?

You made me feel...

...an age old, burdened, sour...

...even superior.

[SCOFFS]

That was the miscalculation of my life.

You, Aubrey...

...are my most complete man.

You're brave...

...compassionate, kind.

A content man.

That's your secret.

Contentment.

I'm 24 and I've never known it.

I'm forever in pursuit,

yet I don't know what it is I'm chasing.

Aubrey, old chap, I'm scared.

Sam and I, we've labored,

rowed and bullied for this...

...day in, day out.

You've seen us,

chuckled over us I'll be bound...

...out in all weathers.

Madmen.

And for what?

I was beaten out of sight in the 200...

...then let Paddock trick me in the semi.

And now in one hour's time

I'll be out there again.

I'll raise my eyes

and look down that corridor...

...4 feet wide...

...with 10 lonely seconds

to justify my whole existence.

But will I?

[SIGHING]

Aubrey, I've known the fear of losing...

...but now I'm almost

too frightened to win.

SAM:
Dear Mr. Abrahams,

you must please pardon...

...my not coming to see you run...

...much as I would like to do so.

However, I believe and hope

you will win the 100 meters.

Go out determined to do your best.

And don't forget...

...drop down at the first stride.

Get well warmed up...

...and then let the gun release you.

I should use

the springy old six-spike shoes.

All the best of luck, from yours truly,

Sam Mussabini.

P.S. Please accept the charm.

My old father swore by it.

[TRUMPET PLAYING]

[BAND PLAYING]

[CROWD APPLAUDING AND CHEERING]

[CROWD APPLAUDING AND CHEERING]

No regrets, Eric,

you're not down there with them?

Yeah.

No doubts, though.

Your Royal Highness, may I present

Mr. Bowman of the United States.

Mr. Bowman.

- Mr. Murchison.

- Mr. Murchison.

And Mr. Watson of New Zealand

I believe you know.

- Yes, Mr. Watson. How are you?

- Very well, sir. Thank you.

- Good.

- Mr. Paddock.

Mr. Paddock. Dinner for your whole team

at my club when we get back to London.

If you win, I pay.

Abrahams wins, you pay. All right?

Sir, you have yourself a deal.

Done.

- Best of luck to you.

- And to you too, sir.

- Mr. Scholz.

- Scholz.

And this of course

is our Harold Abrahams.

- Good luck, Abrahams.

- Thank you.

Do your best, that's all we can expect.

- Good luck, Abrahams.

- Thank you, sir.

Come on, Charlie.

[CROWD APPLAUDING AND CHEERING]

[ALL CHANTING]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

Head down.

Watch the first stride.

Go for release.

[PISTOL FIRES]

[CROWD CHEERING]

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[PISTOL FIRES]

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

[CROWD CHEERING]

[BAND PLAYING]

Harold.

[POPS]

[LAUGHING]

My son.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING]

AUBREY:
Harold!

- Shh, shh, shh.

Leave him be,

can't you see he's whacked?

- But he won.

- Exactly.

Now, one of these days,

Monty, you're going to win yourself.

And it's pretty difficult to swallow.

[KNOCK ON DOOR]

Come in.

Mrs. Abrahams just rang, miss.

The Daily Express.

They've been on from Paris.

Mr. Harold. He won.

She told me to tell you he won.

Thank you very much, Bill.

BILL:

Oh, it's 15 minutes to curtain up, miss.

[BELL TOLLING]

He did it, sir.

Thank you, Matthews.

"Abrahams triumphant.

Caius College athlete wins

Blue Riband at games."

Just as I expected.

SAM:
Yes, you always thought of yourself

as a ruthless man, haven't you? Hard.

Bit of a loner, like me.

But actually you're as soft

as a limp pocket.

And you care.

You care about things that really matter.

If you didn't, I wouldn't have

come within a mile of you.

Do you know who you won for

out there today, hmm?

Us.

You and old Sam Mussabini.

I've waited 30 bloody years for this.

[MAN SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

SAM:

Oh.

Harold!

[VOICE BREAKING]

It means the world to me, this, you know.

And if all the world can do...

...is they want to go home to bed,

then they can go to hell.

Because we've had today, you and me...

...and we've got it for keeps.

Now it's out of your system.

Go home to that girl of yours,

and start some bloody living. Yes?

HAROLD:
To Sam Mussabini.

- Oh.

The greatest trainer in the world.

Hmm?

SAM:

These glasses.

HAROLD:

Come on, Sam, we're going home.

[CROWD CHATTERING]

[CROWD APPLAUDING]

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

Good luck. Don't expect I'll see you

until after the race.

What's the deal with Liddell?

Is he a problem?

No problem, he's a flier.

He's had two races today already.

He'll die.

Just swing along, you guys, and wait.

After 300 meters...

...rigor mortis sets in.

You'll pull him in on a rope.

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

Good luck, Taylor.

- Watch out for Liddell.

- Coach says no problem.

He's got something to prove.

Something personal.

Something guys like coach

will never understand.

CROWD [CHANTING]:

USA, USA, USA.

MAN:

Jennie!

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

JACKSON:
"It says in the old book,

'He that honors me...

...I will honor.'

Good luck. Jackson Scholz."

[OFFICIAL SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

[PISTOL FIRES]

[CROWD CHEERING]

ERIC:
So where does the power come from

to see the race to its end?

From within.

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

Come on, Liddell!

ERIC:
Jennie, I believe God

made me for a purpose.

But he also made me fast.

And when I run, I feel his pleasure.

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[ANNOUNCER SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

[CROWD CHEERING AND APPLAUDING]

[CAR HORN HONKING]

[TRAIN HORN BLARES]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

[MAN SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

CHOIR [SINGING]:

And was the holy Lamb of God

On England's pleasant pastures seen

And did the countenance divine

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

ALL:

And was Jerusalem builded here

Among those dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold

AUBREY:
Well, Andy, he did it.

ANDY:
Hmm?

AUBREY:
What's that, old boy?

ANDY:
He ran them off their feet.

Bring me my Spear

O clouds unfold

Bring me my Chariot of fire

I will not cease from Mental Fight

Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand

Till we have built Jerusalem

In England's green and pleasant Land

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