Peaceful Warrior Page #5

to do that.

I think I'm ready.

Ready for what?

Devoting my life

to a higher purpose.

Really?

Service to others, right?

That's gonna be me, now.

I'll do whatever you think

I should.

All right.

All right.

I think you should continue

your training as a gymnast.

A warrior does not give up

what he loves, Dan.

He finds the love

in what he does.

Look at me!

Look at me.

I have a metal rod in my leg.

A warrior

is not about perfection

or victory

or invulnerability.

He's about

absolute vulnerability.

That's the only

true courage.

What kind of training

you think I could do? Huh?

I just had an accident.

The accident is your training.

Life is choice.

You can choose to be a victim

or anything else

you'd like to be.

Just ignore

what happened to me?

A warrior acts.

Only a fool reacts.

What if I can't do it?

That's the future.

Throw it out.

Well, how would we start?

There is no starting

or stopping,

only doing.

I want to show you something.

When did you do all this?

When you were lying

in that hospital.

While I was what?

Now we can really

go to work.

(GRUNTING)

(RAIN POURING)

I don't believe you

for a minute.

Seriously, man!

You talking about

that redhead?

Not the redhead, man,

your redheaded girl.

How is she my redheaded girl?

You were on her

all night, bro.

I handed her off to you.

Which redhead

are we talking about?

Make this a threesome?

You're really not my type,

Middleman.

What would you guys say

if I told you I was ready to

get up on those rings again?

I'd say you hit your head

and not your leg.

(DOOR OPENING)

Hey, Coach.

That yours?

Wait here.

You boys give us the room

for a minute.

What? Why?

What's going on?

It's okay. Hey.

I've had this in my office

for a few days now.

I just didn't think I'd ever

need to give it to you.

The Olympic Committee voted

on your request

for a special dispensation

to compete in the qualifiers.

I'm sorry.

You petitioned

the Olympic Committee?

They talked to your doctors,

who feel there's no evidence

to indicate that you're

strong enough to compete.

Is that what it says, Dan-o?

No.

It says that you could

turn that decision around

if you saw any evidence

to the contrary.

And I said I'm sorry.

You watch me and you tell me

you don't see any evidence.

I don't want to see a man

who was in a cast

trying to do triple flips.

Watch me.

Then you tell me that.

The doctor said that you could

spend the rest of your life

in a wheelchair.

You think I care about that?

No, Dan,

'cause I've seen your ego

nearly kill you up on

those rings about 100 times

and I am not ready

to see that happen for real.

I've already said that

to the committee,

and they have closed the case.

You gave up on me.

TOMMY:
Danny, come on.

You gave up on me.

TREVOR:
Dan.

SOCRATES:

Nearly all of humanity

shares your predicament, Dan.

If you don't get

what you want, you suffer.

And even when you get

exactly what you want,

you still suffer

because you can't

hold onto it forever.

He thought I couldn't do it.

Doesn't matter.

He doesn't know

that I'll be there 100%.

You don't need him or any

letter to get up on those

rings and do what you love.

Yes, I do. All right?

I'm talking about getting up

there and winning the gold

right now,

so, yes, I do.

The gold is a craving.

"If only I had it,

I'd be happy."

Can't you hear it in there?

It's a dream, Soc.

All right? I can't think

that dreams are bad.

You don't surrender

your dreams, Dan.

You surrender the one thing

you never have

and you never will,

control.

Accept that you don't control

what will happen to you.

That you may or you may not

compete in the Olympics.

That you may

or you may not, Dan.

And that you are something

exceptional either way.

I was ready

to give this all up,

but you stood here

and you told me

that you wanted me

to train again!

I told you a warrior

does what he loves.

And this is what I love!

Chasing gold?

Living in fear

that you might fail?

That's what you love

about it?

No! Dreaming of

standing up there

and winning this thing!

Of doing what has always felt

like the thing

that I was put here to do.

I've been on a trampoline

since before I could ride

a bike because I loved it.

'Cause it was the first thing

that I was sure that I loved.

I'm sorry.

Okay? I'm sorry.

I thought I was strong

but I'm not.

'Cause I really tried

to give this whole thing up

but I can't.

Tomorrow morning,

bring your hiking shoes.

I've got a place I've wanted

to take you since the first

night you walked in here.

It's a long hike

but I think...

I think you're finally

ready to see it.

DAN:
Three?

SOCRATES:
Three.

Life has just three rules?

And you already know them.

Paradox,

humor and change.

Paradox.

Life is a mystery.

Don't waste time

trying to figure it out.

Humor.

Keep a sense of humor,

especially about yourself.

It is a strength

beyond all measure.

Change.

Know that nothing

stays the same.

Hey, please tell me

we're getting a little closer.

Come on, Soc,

it's been three hours, man.

Now, we're here.

We're where?

At what I came to show you.

What, the view?

There, next to your foot.

The flower?

No.

Better not be.

The rock.

There's something...

There's something special

about this rock?

Something wrong?

Come on, Soc!

This is what

I was finally ready to see?

Well, the whole trip up here,

you were excited,

you were happy.

Yeah, because I thought

I was gonna see something!

You were like a kid

on Christmas morning.

You said so yourself.

The whole trip up here,

it made you feel good.

Because for the past

three hours I've been waiting

to see this wonderful thing.

Well, what changed?

That there's nothing here

but this rock!

I probably should have

told you that

before we left, huh?

But I guess

I wasn't sure

what we'd find, either.

Never am.

Sorry you're not

happy anymore.

The journey.

The journey's

what brings us happiness

not the destination.

(BOYS CHATTERING)

Millman.

Millman, what are you doing?

Millman, get your hands

out of the chalk.

Hey.

Hey.

Ready for the big day?

Yeah. I leave tonight.

Where you headed?

Just out running.

With a book?

Actually, I think

I want to kiss you.

Anything to say?

Good luck tomorrow.

You know, I see us together,

you and me.

I dream stuff all the time!

Sometimes it comes true!

Hey, I'm just telling you!

I really think

it might happen!

Then maybe it will!

This your place, Millman?

Who are you?

Who are you?

Where's the other guy

who works here?

I just started today.

You want gas,

you gotta pump it yourself.

Hey.

Hey, man.

Hello!

Where's your secret weapon?

I don't know.

What do you mean?

He stood you up?

COACH:
We moving on, here,

Millman?

TREVOR:
He ever tell you

how he got up on that roof?

It doesn't matter.

(CROWD CHEERING)

A very strong 9.3

for young David Bloodgood,

ranking him in the top

seven athletes we've seen

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