National Velvet Page #7

...before he's had a chance

to run the course.

Why don't you ride him?

Want to know why?

I'll tell you why, if you want to know.

It's been going around

in my mind all night.

Yes, I'll tell you!

I was a jockey...

...and I rode at Manchester

one fine day.

Three of us were going

for the final jump...

...and I saw a chance to win the race.

It was me that did it.

Then there was a tangle...

...a tangle of reins...

...and jockeys.

One got killed.

That's why I don't ride anymore.

I'm afraid!

I'm all soft inside, so I don't ride!

I'm no good to you when you need me!

You kept me going, breathed the spirit

into me. There's greatness in you!

There's nothing in me!

Come on, Pie, we're going home.

Tough luck, old boy.

You'll never have a chance

to walk in that paddock.

And it's all my fault.

Because if I wasn't a coward,

I'd ride you myself.

But you wouldn't know me if I rode you.

You'd say. "That isn't Mi Taylor. "

Because I'm always down here

on the ground...

...never up there on your back.

It is Mi Taylor!

I dare you to throw me!

You'd better take a good look at it.

Tomorrow you'll not have the chance.

Because we'll fly around that course

like the devil was at our heels!

Up there somewhere, watching,

will be the King and Queen.

What in the name of

all that's crazy are you doing?

Look. Isn't it perfect?

Perfect for what?

It's a wonderful idea!

You'll have to cut my hair

but the clothes are just right.

And the description

on the clearance paper fits.

The Grand National

is no game for a little girl.

They won't know I'm a girl.

Cut my hair and I'll be exactly right.

And you'll get your neck exactly broken.

The Pie will take care of me.

Don't be angry. You know

The Pie would burst his heart for me.

40 horses ready to trample you over!

I'll not let you ride!

He'll be enchanted,

with invisible wings...

...to go over every jump, if I ride him!

I'll ask you a question. I want you to

think it over before you answer.

Suppose I told you now

that I found a rider?

I'd still want to ride myself.

I know you're angry

but you'll understand.

If you ever rode again,

you'd want to win. That's how I feel.

Now it's the glory of winning

for yourself, is that it?

You want to race,

take your risks and win.

To win over them all,

in sight of the world...

...before the King and Queen,

is that it?

Perhaps you're right.

Perhaps I'd want that

if I'd ever ride again.

Someday I may get the chance.

All right. You ride.

I knew you'd see! Thank you!

There's lots to do!

You've got to be Ivan Taski.

The description will be all right.

"Eyes, blue. Hair, brown. "

You'll have to cut my hair.

Here.

The Pie won't mind you

using his scissors on my mane.

Go ahead, cut it

quite short at the back.

I wish your mother were here.

She is here. She's inside me.

You'll be disqualified at the

end when they find out you're a girl.

You'll forfeit the prize money.

Maybe even go to prison for fraud.

If there's trouble, say it was me.

I put you up to it. It was my idea!

There won't be any trouble.

If you're going to ride,

there's tricks of the race to learn.

Start as fast as you can,

and jump sure and clean.

And you go twice around the course,

that's thirty jumps in all.

Let's start at the beginning.

The first jumps a plain hedge jump...

Don't tell me anymore.

You've got to know the jumps

and the tricks of the race.

There's a lot to know!

It's no use.

Everyone riding tomorrow

will know more than I do.

It's no use.

Do you think a race like this

is won by luck?

No.

By knowing The Pie can win.

And telling him so.

100-to-30, number 22.

Two pounds on Tantibus.

40-to-2, Tantibus. Number 23.

A pound on Folsum.

10-to-1, Folsum. Number 24.

I want an outsider.

Who has the longest odds?

The Pie. 100-to-1.

- I'll take a pound on it.

- Here you are, Lady.

The Pie, a hundred pounds to one.

Keep your mouth shut

and your eyes down.

Sit down here.

They're staring!

They're whispering.

Let them.

I seen you somewhere.

Newmarket, last year?

I've been about.

I thought I knew you.

Pretty young, ain't he?

A Latvian.

They teach them young there.

You know, like for the Russian ballet.

Going to waltz over the course, matey?

Save your breath,

he doesn't speak English.

- What's his horse?

- The Pie.

Never heard of him!

Where's he been running?

- The merry-go-round?

- Come on, Beasley.

Going to ride the National

in the skin for England!

10.10.

- Weight?

- 10.7

- They ask your weight and you sit.

- I thought he didn't understand English.

He's got to learn sometime!

All right, off you go.

Chair!

Sit down.

- Weight?

- 10 even!

He doesn't speak English. Latvian lad.

You'd think he'd never

seen a scale before.

9.13...

...and 11.

Penny piece...

...and a half.

All right, go on.

Dull of comprehension.

I'm going to saddle The Pie.

I'll meet you in the center.

Where?

In the middle of the paddock.

Don't talk to anybody.

Up you go!

Grand National brings

contestants and spectators...

...from all the corners of the world.

We have perfect weather

for the most hazardous of all races.

32 entries are ready for...

...four and a half miles,

over thirty hair-raising jumps.

They're parading past the stands.

There they are!

The best jumpers in the world,

here from Ireland, France...

...America, Spain, India

and a dozen other countries.

There's Blue Tommy, the favorite,

number fourth in line.

Ebony Star, number 9,

with Martin Trilby up.

Number 3, Miracle Lad,

ridden by Cudahy.

Number 17, Tantibus.

There's a good, long-odds chance.

This is where I leave you.

I can't!

You'll beat them all.

Think of your ma.

All right, gentlemen.

Let's do this quickly.

No rushing now!

Steady, number 13.

No hurry!

You're not going on a sprint.

This is almost a five-mile race!

Take your time, number 16.

It doesn't get dark till 6 o'clock.

Get them in!

14 back!

Back, that's it!

Bring up 31!

Can't you keep that Irish horse quiet?

You're in England now.

Take it easy, number 8.

Steady now!

Come on, Pie, boy!

Steady, boy!

Where are they?

The fifth jump now.

Percy Flage is down!

Approaching Beecher's Brook.

It's Beecher's, Pie!

Here comes Beecher's!

Nothing to be frightened of.

Just like the hedge at East Meadow.

What's happening? Who's down?

I haven't the slightest idea.

I can't see.

They're going over the seventh.

Now, Tom Foley at the Canal Turn.

This is Foley. Here they come!

Blue Tommy! Faraday! Ebony Star!

Folsom! Tantibus!

Moonray and Jumping Star are down!

Others are refusing, running out.

- What's happened?

- Something wrong at the Cabal Turn.

What's wrong at the Turn?

Who's fallen?

Don't know. Can't see a thing.

Did The Pie get past the Canal Turn?

The who?

- The Pie!

- Never heard of him,

They're approaching the thirteenth

jump. Blue Tommy leads.

At the Water Jump, Blue Tommy still

in the lead. Ebony Star is second!

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes