Downhill Racer Page #2

Alec?

Yeah.

- Where's Chappellet?

- Right here.

- Tell him to uncork one.

- Okay.

Now here's David Chappellet

of the United States.

He's off. The American team's

last real chance

in these FIS World Championships.

How does he look to you, Bruce?

He's new on the team, as you know,

but he's already made

a sensational showing.

He's doing the upper part very well.

Chappellet. American.

His interval time is 1:08.

1:
08. Now that's the fastest so far.

He's coming to the bumps now.

- Oh, he's having difficulties... He's...

- Here's the second...

The snow was cut to hell

by the time I started.

It was bad. It was really bad.

There were holes.

They were, I mean...

It would be hard on top

and soft underneath.

If I could have started

five places ahead, just five,

then I would've at least had good snow.

I wouldn't have lost

my balance in the ruts.

- I wouldn't have had to pull so hard...

- No.

What do you mean, "No"?

If I'd have started in the first 15,

I could've won it.

No.

You just weren't good enough, that's all.

You lost your strength,

and then the bumps took you out.

That's it. That's all there was to it.

You got to have your strength

right up to the end.

These guys aren't amateurs,

they're national heroes.

You're trying to beat them

out of their way of life.

You're just not strong enough.

Well, I'll take a Charles Atlas

course this summer

and build myself up, all right?

Okay.

All right, that's it.

Chappellet, how do you feel? Tired?

Give me two more laps.

- What?

- Two more laps.

- Are you kidding?

- No, we got time.

- How do you feel, John?

- Cool.

Talk and move. Talk and move.

Europeans simply can't understand why

this country doesn't turn out

the world's greatest ski teams.

And I'm ashamed to tell them the truth.

We have the mountains,

we have the men, we have the muscle.

We don't have the money

in this richest nation in the world.

Every racer on

a well-equipped winning team

is a foreign sales representative

for U.S. Ski products.

These fine young competitors

that we are training

are roving ambassadors

for the American way of life.

Thanks a lot.

Hey, Dad.

David.

How you doing?

- So, how've you been?

- I got your postcard from France.

Oh, yeah?

Your cousin said to thank you

for the stamps.

Yeah, I was all over Europe.

Dad, I was in... I was in Austria,

I was in France, Switzerland, Germany.

I've just been training out in Oregon.

That's really great country.

- I'm on the U.S. Ski team, you know?

- Yeah.

They had your picture

on some paper in town.

- I see you still got the old Chev, huh?

- Well, it runs pretty good.

Hey, why don't you knock off for a while

and ride into town? I'll buy you a beer.

Keys are in it, if that's what you want.

So Long Ago, Bobby Greensboro

trying to grab you and a-groove you.

It's nine before four is what it is.

Do you know we have 88 degrees

right here in downtown Denver,

and a good chance of rain?

So take care.

KZOK in Denver

Country music, country music

Mind some business,

preferably your own.

Our business is playing top tunes,

and here's Hank Hopkins,

It was a Long Happy Day.

I better go.

I'm not talking to you.

Who's talking about talking?

Come on, get in.

You didn't tell me you were leaving.

Well, I'm back.

Come on, get in.

Come on.

I'll see you later, kids.

I'm going for a ride with Dave.

I... I've got a chance

to go to Denver this fall

and study dental hygiene.

Of course, if I do that, it means

finding an apartment and everything.

And then Pam, she went...

You remember Pam Houser?

She's going to Yellowstone

to work as a waitress.

She wanted me to come with her.

And afterwards, we could travel.

I'd sort of like to see everything.

It's a... It's such a big decision to make.

- Well, what do you think I should do?

- I don't know.

You got any more of that gum?

Well, you're back early.

- What's happened to the water?

- Gone bad, isn't it?

- Want some coffee?

- Yeah.

Well, I guess

you've been doing all right.

- Won some races.

- Yeah. I had a pretty good year.

- Win any money?

- Money?

No, see, we're thinking ahead

two years. For the Olympics.

The Olympics.

The Olympics ain't for money.

No, but for after. Afterwards.

- So that's how it works, huh?

- Yeah, it can,

because, you know, you put together

two good years and you win a couple...

Well, I just hope you don't end up

asking yourself the question

some folks ask me,

"What's he do it for?"

Well, I'll be famous. I'll be a champion.

World's full of them.

I would never dream of

jeopardizing your amateur standing

with the Olympics, Mr Creech.

I want you to win

the Olympics using my skis.

- Hey, who's that?

- Huh?

- With Claire.

- Oh, that's... What's his name?

The guy that makes... Machet.

- No, no. I mean, who's she?

- Who knows?

It's either his secretary or his niece.

I'm going to wash up.

You speak French?

Dave.

- Did you meet Mr Machet?

- How do you do, Mr Chappellet?

- And Carole... No, I'm sorry, Miss...

- Miss Stahl.

- Miss Stahl.

- Delighted to meet you.

Please join us.

I've been hoping to meet you.

And you know Bobby, of course.

- Will you have tea?

- Good. Thanks.

One cup of tea, please.

That was a brilliant victory at Morzine.

- What skis did you use?

- Head skis.

You like Heads?

Yeah, they're okay.

Mr Machet has long been

a friend of American racers.

- He manufactures skis.

- The best in the world.

I would never dream of jeopardizing

your amateur standing,

but I want you to win

the Olympics using my skis

so that I can advertise my

gold medal at the Olympics.

Very few racers are good enough

to get the most out of my skis.

Mr Creech here

has consented to try a pair.

I would like you to try a pair, too,

with my compliments, of course.

- Hello.

- Did you come to buy something?

No.

Well, I'm happy you stopped.

Me, too.

- Would you like some?

- No, no. Yes.

Thank you.

Do you always buy

one of these at a time or...

- You like it?

- Oh, yeah. I don't know.

- You don't like it?

- Yeah, I do.

- I've been reading about you.

- You have?

- Yes.

- Really? Where?

Follow me.

Oh, here it is.

"The American, David Chappellet,

must have felt

"still more disappointed.

"In the final schuss, only Chappellet

was near Meier's top speed.

"He was at 132 kilometres an hour,

when deeper into the..."

- I don't know the word.

- Well, go on.

Okay. "...and fell. A sad sight

as he tried, having only one ski,

"to finish the race.

"It wasn't sad, but to win

is everything, to place nothing."

Do you live here?

No, I'm only here for the week.

I'm working.

Well, do you work for Machette...

Or Machet? Or...

Yes. What did you think?

Oh, no, I... Your uncle or... I don't know.

Hey, read it again, okay?

- I'll see you in a sec, all right?

- Well, take care of that, will you?

- Hello.

- Hey.

- Is this yours?

- Yes. You like it?

Here, hold this.

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