On Wings of Eagles

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1

ANCHOR:
News from around

the world, this just in.

The 1924 Paris Olympics are history.

Eric Liddell, the Brit who

snatched the gold in the 400 meter,

was offered a chance

at the American dream.

But the famous athlete, who,

despite multiple sponsorship offers

from dozens of American brands, has

respectfully said no to one and all.

He has joined the London

Missionary Society,

and after moving to China

married the love of his life,

nurse Florence Mackenzie.

There, they will raise a family.

He will teach and live

a productive life.

For Mr. Liddell, offering a

helping hand and some hope

provides all the riches he needs.

XU:
With any luck, you will

find someone in your life

to help make you a worthy person.

That luck came to me many years ago

when I met the Flying Scotsman.

His name was Eric Liddell.

The whole world came to know him

when he refused to

run the 400-meter race

scheduled on a Sunday,

which he reserved for the time he

spent rejoicing with his family

and giving thanks for the many

blessings bestowed upon them.

In the glory of winning,

he became famous for a man who

stood up for his principles.

But to him, it was not

such a grand gesture.

After he completed his education,

he returned to China where he taught

chemistry, English and athletics.

The many years of the Japanese

fighting the Chinese had worn away

our happiness and brought a

great misery to our people.

(INDISTINCT SHOUTING)

(DOGS BARKING)

Get the soldiers!

Hold it! Hold it!

(SOLDIER SPEAKING MANDARIN)

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

XU:
Born poor, I developed my ways.

I made it work

whenever and however

it became necessary.

Professor Liddell called

me by my name, Xu Niu,

and paid me to drive him to teach the

poor children in the schools there.

(CHILDREN SHOUTING)

(ERIC GREETING IN MANDARIN)

(CHILDREN SPEAKING MANDARIN)

ERIC:
In we go!

Up, up. Up, up. Sit down.

Quiet, please. Sit down.

P for Peter, C for Cat.

Cat?

Er, Dong Nong? Dong Nang?

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

(ENGINES ROARING)

(DISTANT EXPLOSION)

No!

Song, no!

Song! Song!

XU:
In my early years,

I would only run from

a nest of hornets

or escape a man who

would put me in jail.

But I would run with Mr. Li.

Running helped him find peace.

But on this day,

I was struck by his fearlessness

as he ran to find peace in

the face of an escalating war.

Florence is gonna kill you for this.

Me, too, most probably.

She'd do the same in my place.

We came here to help these people.

What will they think if we jump on

a ship at the first sign of trouble?

Your children are people, too, Eric.

They're young. Florence

will be there for them.

Let me finish what I started.

Please, give this to someone in need.

(DISTANT EXPLOSION)

(GASPS)

(WHIMPERING)

- Shh.

- Daddy, I'm scared.

It's all right. It's all right.

Now, listen, how does that...

How does that melody go

that Mommy loves so much?

Can you help me?

- Be still my soul

- (PLAYING XYLOPHONE)

The Lord is on your side

You have a go.

Bear patiently

The cross of

grief Or pain

Florence.

(GUNS FIRING IN DISTANCE)

Thank the Lord they're good sleepers.

I promised to help the

hospital in Xiaozhang.

They need medical supplies more than ever.

And now Robert's son is...

Sick. Yes, I know.

And he had to go back to

England to care for him.

But your brother is a doctor.

You're not.

We've made a family.

Not just God's family, our own.

I love you, Florence.

Absolutely and utterly.

I know what sort of man I married.

Now help me pack.

Come on, Heather. Xu looks

magnificent, doesn't he?

There you go.

Xu.

Please take good care

of him while we're away.

You can count on me, Ms. Li.

I will make sure Eric is safe.

XU:
Prior to the occupation,

Mr. Li had applied for a furlough

from the London Missionary Society,

allowing him to travel to

Canada with his family,

but permission had not yet arrived.

He felt he was duty bound

to serve those in need

in the good times and the bad.

(INDISTINCT CHATTERING)

(FOG HORN BLOWING)

Well, you know I'll be

there as soon as I can.

You have to let your

grandmother know we're all fine.

You have to show her how beautiful

your handwriting has become,

and I have to show the children here

how to write as beautifully as you do.

Please don't think this is a gold medal.

Oh, Florence.

I love you.

One last hug, darlings.

We'll be together again soon.

We'll all be together again soon.

(WHISTLE BLOWING)

Ladies and gentlemen.

Anybody who is not sailing

with us, please leave the boat.

I'll be home soon.

- PATRICIA:
Bye.

- Bye.

I love you.

HEATHER:
I'm going to miss you.

I'll miss you, too.

I'll be home soon.

You look after the new

baby for me now, okay?

You promise?

HEATHER:
I promise.

Promise?

XU:
Even though the Japanese Imperial

Army had looted and taken over his home,

Mr. Li believed in

praying for his enemies.

I had other thoughts, but

I kept them to myself,

as I was learning to respect Mr. Li.

Much time would pass before I found

the value in thinking his way.

Mr. Li was forced to leave his home and

seek shelter with the other refugees

at the school where he was teaching.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

For me?

Let's go for a run. Come on, now!

(BOY SHOUTING IN MANDARIN)

XU:
He ran every day without fail.

It took me some time to realize

he was running not just for himself,

but for us.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

So, gather around.

Ferrous sulfide.

Acid.

You smell?

(ALL GROANING)

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

(ALL LAUGHING)

Yeah. Oh, yeah. Good girl.

What have you got?

Oh!

Maureen.

(SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Come here.

Yes, that's me.

Before the hair slipped

off the back of my head.

Where on earth did you find this?

I have my way. Found it a long time ago.

It's for you.

Thanks.

You know, would you help me find an

orphanage that can look after him?

Well, listen, I was born here,

so surely that makes me Chinese, too, no?

You know, I've been living

here for half my life,

so I raise a cup to you,

my friends,

with a drink that comes from my first home.

Oof! (CLEARS THROAT)

You know my...

You know my brother Robert?

He ran the hospital in Xiaozhang.

He wrote to me before he left, asking

for supplies for the doctors there,

if we can buy them.

No. Your father give you this.

I'm afraid it's all I have now.

But he would have been

happy if it could help.

XU:
No, not with this.

Please.

I hope it's worth enough.

It's quite a long list.

(ENGINE SHUTS OFF)

(SPEAKING JAPANESE)

Oh, no.

Let me handle this.

I'm so sorry.

Teaching. Teaching.

Thank you.

(EXHALES)

XU:
As the months passed,

we encountered many close calls

with the Japanese soldiers.

Life was full of danger,

and we were often caught in

the crossfire of the armies

that fought each other.

With Eric's dedication

to help those in need

and my connections

to the underground,

we found ways to

accomplish our missions.

(WOMAN SPEAKING MANDARIN)

Well, that wasn't so bad.

NURSE:
Eric, do you mind?

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