Race Page #8

Just to make me feel a little

better about losing to you.

Conditions have been damp

and overcast all

morning here in Berlin,

as the competitors

take to the field

for the men's final

of the 200-meter dash.

This is it.

It's been 36 years

since a track and

field athlete brought home

three individual gold

medals from a single games.

Hans...

Taking their lanes are Wil van Beveren,

and Tinus Osendarp

of the Netherlands,

America's Jesse Owens

and Mack Robinson,

Paul Hanni of Switzerland,

and the Canadian, Lee Orr.

And they're

off to a clean start.

Owens has gone off.

And so has Robinson.

Owens is flying around the

top bend into the straight.

Mack Robinson in second place.

Owens and Robinson

ahead of the field.

Osendarp is challenging.

And it's Owens!

Owens sprints it in

20. 7 seconds.

Owens! Owens! Owens!

When we first met,

we spoke of hospitality.

When you are a guest in somebody's home,

you abide...

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I understand.

What time they serve dinner,

the brand of cognac they prefer.

It's, it's good manners.

The Jews, Glickman and Stoller,

are competing in

the 400-meter relay.

It would show a great deal of

sympathy and understanding

on your part if they did not.

Thanks for the drink.

He says you have

a business arrangement.

That was business.

That has nothing

to do with this.

How would it look for your

American Olympic Association

to have collaborated

with us before these games?

Okay.

There are reports the krauts

have been holding back

their best runners

to spring a nice little surprise

on us in the 400-meter relay.

With that in mind,

we've got some changes to the lineup.

All right. So, Foy,

guess you'll take third leg.

Frank, you're now

going to run anchor.

Okay.

Marty, Sam,

I'm sorry, but we gotta cut you.

Who's gonna run

first and second?

You mean we came all the way here,

we're not gonna get to race?

No, no, no.

That's a load of crap.

Marty and me, we both licked Foy

in the speed test yesterday.

I'm sorry, believe me.

It's not been an easy decision...

Hey, hey.

You're gonna cut somebody,

you cut him.

Foy's got more experience.

Any team the krauts got out there,

we can win this by 15 yards.

Come on!

You know what this is all about.

We're the only Jews.

This has nothing to

do with the Jewish question.

If you do this...

If you do this,

you'll catch hell

for it back home.

That's not your problem.

We want to field

our strongest runners.

And that's gonna

be Ralph and Jesse.

Come on, that's perfect.

No, look.

Coach, you gotta run Sam and Marty.

I mean, I can't speak for Ralph over here,

but you gotta give 'em a shot.

I've never even ran the relay. I don't

even think I know how to pass a baton.

You do as you're told, Owens.

Press have copies of the lineup.

You change it now and we lose,

they'll wanna know why.

That's a lot of pressure to put

on one race, don't you think?

Would you remind me

who you are again?

Ralph, you do what you want.

I'm not running.

Not unless Sam and

Marty say it's all right.

You ever fly in an airplane?

No.

Nothing in the world

like flying your own plane.

A girl down in New Jersey,

waiting for you.

See, an airplane gets

people excited the same

way they come out

and watch a man race.

But what they really want,

what really gets them worked up,

is to see you crash.

To see you fold up that Stearman

biplane like a piece of paper.

Watch the ground

crew drag you out

like a rag doll

before it blows up,

explodes into flames.

Now, that's exciting.

Well, is...

Is that why you

didn't go to Paris?

Because you crashed your plane?

April, 1924.

Three weeks before

the opening ceremony.

I heard Paddock

win on the radio.

Man!

Yeah.

You were some kind of idiot.

That's exactly

what my father said.

I woke up in the hospital,

and he gave me this.

Yeah.

Yeah, I had my shot, but I didn't know it.

Just threw it away.

A Stearman's a

beautiful little plane,

but I don't imagine it compares

much to running at the Olympics.

You're right, you know.

It's not your race.

Hey.

If you lose,

it's for nothing.

Understand?

Sam and me would've

been shafted for nothing.

All the world will see is another

Nazi waving another medal.

What are you trying to say?

He means don't lose.

Yeah.

Come on, Jesse!

Owens,

the world's fastest sprinter

sets a terrific

pace from the start.

Owens passes Mariani,

hands off to Metcalfe.

Faster, passing the Canadian.

The second change!

Go, Frank!

America in first

place with a new world record

of 39. 8 seconds!

All right!

USA! USA!

USA! USA!

Thanks, Larry.

All right.

Go! Go!

Go ahead.

Take a look.

No, it's okay.

You sure?

Yeah.

Last chance.

Bring it to me.

What...

Excuse me.

Mr. Owens, my name is

Leni Riefenstahl. Um...

I have a favor to ask you.

Would you mind one more?

Last time, I promise.

Well, sure,

but isn't that cheating?

Cheating?

Yeah.

I'm just saying that's not

the actual jump I made.

You did make that jump.

We all saw it.

You made history out here.

All I'm doing is making sure

years from now, those people who

weren't there can see it too.

So they never

forget what you did.

One more?

Please.

All right. One more.

Danke. Danke.

Wonderful.

Here we go.

Good evening.

Hello, sir.

Not bad?

Not bad at all!

I'm sorry, sir, but your friends

will have to use

the service entrance.

Are you kidding me?

You know who this is?

Yes, sir.

I mean,

they're holding the dinner for him.

Yes, sir.

I'm sorry, Mr. Owens, sir,

but those are the rules.

Yeah? Yeah, well,

your rules are bullshit!

You know that, yeah?

How about you go inside and get your boss

or someone that can actually help us out...

Coach, Coach.

It's all right.

Go ahead.

I'll meet you in there.

Unbelievable.

Jesse Owens!

Jesse Owens.

I think that's Jesse Owens!

Mr. Owens?

Yes?

Um, would you mind?

Sure.

Thank you!

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