Eddie the Eagle Page #4

As the premier jumper

and the British record holder...

don't you think I have a right

to represent my country?

No.

You can see yourself out.

What?

- It's British unausstehlichs.

- I know.

The only way to qualify

is to make 61 meters in competition.

So I'm gonna go on the European circuit.

Man, that's easier said than done.

I'd need you to come, too.

Will you help me?

Sure, Fly Boy. Why not?

You get the money, the transport, I'm in.

Let's do this.

So, if this is you now...

how much more are they asking you to jump?

That's you up poo creek.

Terry.

If I'm gonna go on the European circuit

I'm gonna need to raise some serious cash.

Don't ask us, we ain't got any.

I know.

What about the money for the van?

Can't that wait till next year?

No. I am not spending

any more money on this rubbish.

It's a matter of time before

he walks through that door in a wheelchair.

So you've gotta stop taking these

stupid risks and do a bit of plastering.

You tried your best. Fair play. Well done.

But it wasn't good enough.

So all this has gotta stop. End of.

Okay.

Hurry up. I don't wanna be late.

- What are you doing?

- He's coming to work with me.

- Is he?

- Yeah.

Oi, son, up you get.

Look...

- What the hell are you playing at?

- Just need it for a few weeks.

Get out of that van. Now.

I'll take really good care of it, I promise.

Thank you. Love you.

Oi. Come back here!

You thieving little git!

- Did you know about this?

- Yeah.

And you're not gonna like what I did

with our savings, either.

The wanderer returns, huh?

Mum gave me some money

and I sorted out the transport.

Is that what you call it?

Come on, let's get a drink.

Hang on.

I don't wanna get snow on the seat.

This window is a bugger.

I think it's a good thing

they turned you down, man. It is.

I mean, 61 meters is a genuine distance.

Means you gotta do this for real.

Easy for you to say, you were a champion.

You were always really good.

I was kicked off every team

before I got a chance to prove myself.

Believe it or not, I do know

what it's like to be written off.

Of course, my solution was

just to crawl inside the bottle here, but...

I was in hospital for a year

when I was a kid.

Dodgy knees.

All the doctors said

I should give up sport.

Take up reading.

First book I got:

The Official Olympic Photo Album 1972,

Moments of Glory.

Yeah, I know it.

Well, anyway, that is the book

that made me realize

I needed my own moment.

That one thing I could do

to prove them all wrong.

Do you think I'm mad?

Yeah.

You're completely mad, man. But, hey...

you kinda gotta be mad

to do this sport, right?

Yep.

So...

if you want your moment, Eddie Edwards,

I can get you your moment.

But it's gonna hurt like hell.

For both of us.

We need to get you some proper equipment.

- What are we doing here?

- Shopping.

Perfect. Size 11, right?

Wow.

- Is this not theft?

- It's the Lost and Found, man.

Some guy dropped 10 bucks on the street

and you pick it up would that be theft?

Yes.

- What if he didn't know it was missing?

- Then I'd give it to charity.

Eddie, you are a charity.

Your needs are much greater.

What about you?

Me? I'm just stealing these.

- Any better?

- It's not better. It's crap.

- It's more difficult than I expected.

- Good.

You're a disgrace to the sport.

Really? Good.

Personal best!

And we're a disgrace!

Keep working on your Telemark landing.

It's key.

You're on your own, man.

Faster, Peary!

More speed!

It's as fast as this rust-bucket goes.

Edwards. 49 meters.

It's a practice jump. You don't need

paperwork for a practice jump.

At Oberstdorf we do

everything to the letter.

- I could've done two jumps by now.

- Relax. Focused, not tense, remember?

Focused, not tense.

I did it. 61 meters.

Without a headwind or breakfast.

Do that tomorrow, you're in,

they can't get rid of you.

Really? I'm gonna tell your dad.

He's gonna love it. Yeah, all right.

All right, lovely.

Oh, my God.

He has just jumped 61 meters in practice.

61 meters.

And if he makes that tomorrow,

he qualifies for the Olympics!

Number 11, Edwards. Great Britain.

Ready.

Edwards, Great Britain. No jump.

This is my last chance.

You've got to give me another run.

- We do everything to the letter.

- You keep saying.

But it doesn't help me.

The British Olympic Association are

trying to stop me, but I have to do this.

This year 61 meters.

Next year it'll be 71 meters.

Then it's too late.

I am going up that hill to jump

and you are going to record my distance.

No more jumping.

Hey, come on.

Let's go, man. Let's go.

You gotta put that crash behind you, Eddie.

And remember that practice...

I want you to know that was

the best jump you've ever done, by a mile.

Everything was working, man, everything.

It was...

Your take-off, your timing,

your balance...

your trajectory all working together.

It was like second nature. It was...

It was beautiful.

I was really proud of you, man.

Mum...

Dad was right.

Wasted all this time and money on nothing.

My dream's turned into a nightmare.

I'm really sorry to have done this...

I promise I'm gonna make it up to you.

- No more messing around.

- Don't be silly.

You've had knock-backs before

and it's never stopped you.

Dust yourself off.

Mum, you don't understand.

I'm never going to the Olympics.

That was my one chance and I blew it.

So I'm gonna work the week out for Petra

and then I'm coming home.

Good.

Get the van back sharpish,

and I don't ever wanna hear about

ski-jumps again.

Goodnight.

Don't worry about him, love.

It'll be fine.

- I love you.

- Love you, too, Mum.

Bye.

Bye.

Hey, Eddie, this came for you.

Thank you.

- Peary!

- Come here. I've been doing some thinking.

They recorded the flippin' practice jump.

It's official. It counts.

- 61 meters.

- "Everything to the letter."

You should go and pack, my friend,

because we are going to Canada.

If you go now,

they're never gonna let you back.

- You understand that?

- So?

So, all you can prove is

you don't mind coming last?

I don't mind really.

Okay, look, you and me,

we should take another four years. Okay?

Let me coach you properly

and we can do this for real.

You could even jump the 90 meter

and be taken seriously, Eddie.

What are you talking about?

We've just pulled off the impossible.

I'm gonna go.

Then you're on your own.

It won't mean anything

if you sell yourself short.

What's the matter with you?

We should go back in '92,

not as a qualifier, as a contender.

This is everything we've worked for,

isn't it?

Listen to me...

a year after I got bumped

from the Olympic Squad

I went back to Warren Sharp to apologize.

I literally got down on my knees

and I begged him to let me jump again.

You wanna know

what his last words to me were?

"You will never take jumping seriously

"because you do not

take yourself seriously."

Okay. Are they gonna be

your last words to me, too?

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