Racing Stripes Page #5

Come on, Nolan.

No. That's final.

Too poor to paint,

too proud to whitewash.

He's not gonna let Stripes race.

That's not cool.

Let's go talk to Tucker.

- Guess who.

- Hey, Buzz and Scuzz!

How you been, fellas?

- We miss you down at the track.

- Those were great years.

Yeah, yeah. Listen, listen.

We got some bad news for Stripes.

Let me guess. His parole officers caught up

with him. Don't let them take you.

Is he always like this?

- Worse. Much worse.

- Anyway, listen, kid.

- The Chief isn't gonna let you race.

- But don't worry. We'll cheer you up.

Check this one out.

Get off me, you stupid flies! Get off!

Man, "Ebony and Ivory" didn't work.

That's a first.

- Told you we should've rapped.

- Stripes.

Walking away isn't gonna solve anything.

Who cares. Leave me alone!

- We've gotta get this kid into the race.

- The Chief will never go for it.

Of course he will.

Just like somebody else I know.

He just needs a little push.

I'm going to bed.

Channing?

- Yeah?

- Why don't you come on out here.

Come on.

This is gonna be a hard one, honey.

Probably the only thing to do,

really the obvious thing...

...is to get rid of the problem.

What?

Dad.

No!

It's not Stripes' fault.

He's not the problem. It's my fault.

Dad, you can't just get rid of him.

l... I know him

better than anyone ever could.

I love him.

What do you think the alternative is?

I don't ride him.

Ever, ever again.

That's right, honey.

Franny?

Hey.

Hey.

How did you know?

If you build it, they will come.

Well, it's showtime, kid.

You ready to start training?

Why bother?

I don't understand this.

Isn't this what he wanted?

This is exactly why I never had kids.

- Reggie?

- Yes?

Get off my back.

Hey, hotshot.

- Run into any trees lately?

- Oh, great. More jokes.

- I really wanna be alone, Sandy.

- What's going on with you?

That doesn't sound like the attitude

of a racehorse.

Because I'm not a racehorse.

I'm not even a regular horse.

- I'm a...

- Zebra?

I know. I've traveled

around the world, remember?

Why didn't you say anything?

Because I don't care

that you're not a racehorse.

You love to run,

and that's all that matters.

Maybe to you.

But it's not your problem, Sandy.

You know, if you wanna see

the real problem, try looking down.

Fine.

After we're done with the gate...

...we need to think about

how he's gonna last.

So we gotta work on stamina,

more than speed...

...because zebras burn more adrenaline.

They have a heightened flight reflex...

...that comes from being hunted

on the plains of Africa.

You're not the only one who uses

the Internet.

- Impressive, Dad.

- Come on, let's get back to it.

Let's give him one more shot at it.

All right, bring him in. That's it, that's it.

Careful, Chan. Careful.

It's all right. Stop. Walk him away.

Now, just walk him away from the gate.

The gate's always trouble.

They should know.

He needs a break. He needs a break.

So do I.

- I don't know why he's acting like this.

- It's gonna take him some time, that's all.

He'll be all right.

- I better go talk to the kid.

- Take it easy on him.

- Hey, what's your problem?

- I'm not a racehorse.

- What?

- I don't belong in the gate!

No, no, you're wrong.

And I'll tell you why.

Racing is for anyone.

Anyone with a fire in their heart.

What do you know, you little nobody?

You never raced.

They're all the same.

Tucker doesn't understand.

He didn't even know that I was a zebra.

He doesn't get it. What's he ever done?

Let me tell you something.

I've made a few clams on the ponies.

This guy's all hair and no brains.

That's just about enough out of you,

young colt. And, Goose, bang!

Hit the hay!

Come here.

People think they know everything.

You tell somebody something,

they get an attitude.

Hey, I didn't know the goat

was packing.

Come up here.

I want you to take a look up there.

- You tell me what you see.

- I've seen them.

- The Chief, my girl and her mother.

- And that's it? No. Look closer.

- That's Sir Trenton.

- And who else?

- Tucker.

- That's right, Tucker.

He trained Sir Trenton.

He and the Chief trained all the winners.

And not one of them ever,

ever thanked him.

- How come he never said anything?

- Because to him...

...actions speak louder than words.

He believes in you.

And now you're gonna

have to believe in him too.

I'm sorry for the way I've been acting. I'm

the last one who should be name-calling.

Look at me. When you got shorter legs

than a sheepdog...

...you get used to being made fun of.

I can relate.

It's just...

I'm not really a racehorse.

I'm a...

- I'm a zebra.

- So what?

You're a horse with stripes

who needs an attitude adjustment.

Tucker, you don't really think

I have what it takes, do you?

Now listen to me, kid. You're right.

You don't have the strength or ability

of a Thoroughbred...

- I knew it.

...but you have got more heart...

...than all of them put together.

But the gate! I freeze up.

It keeps me from running.

I don't know what it is. I can't do it.

Most horses are afraid of

the gate at first.

It's perfectly normal.

But they get over it. You will too.

You just keep running, okay?

And let the Chief worry about the gate.

He knows what he's doing.

Attaboy!

Yeah, boy!

Did you see that? You see that?

Good job, Chan!

There it is! That's what I'm talking about!

Good job, Chan! Walk him out.

We might actually have a chance.

If we're lucky, maybe at 99-1.

There's just one thing left to work on.

- And that's the gate.

- No problem.

You've worked every kind

of horse there is.

Yeah, well, the problem is,

he's not a horse.

Relax, Nolan.

If anyone can do it, you can.

I'm counting on it.

It's gonna sound like a carnival.

You won't know which way to look.

Look straight ahead.

Just ignore all that noise, all that talk,

all that yelling, all that jiggling.

Come on, now.

You gotta let all this...

This out of your mind.

All that's gotta fall away.

That's right. That's right.

Because I want your world

to be silent.

I want you to hear nothing

but your own heartbeat.

That's it.

Easy does it. Come on, buddy.

- That's a good boy.

- Good boy.

- Good boy.

- That's it. You got the idea.

- Come on, now.

- Good job, Stripes.

Good boy. Chan, duck your head.

That's not so hard. Slow down.

- Good boy. Easy does it.

- Good boy. Just like that. There you go.

Good.

That's right, good boy.

Attaboy.

Easy does it.

Good boy.

- You did it.

- Yeah, I guess I did, huh?

Now what?

Now you give it all you got.

- Let's show them what we got!

- They cannot be serious.

This will not stand. I will not allow

that beast to run in my competition.

Please, Father, don't interfere.

I can win it, fair and square.

That's not a risk I'm willing to take.

Double Pride's workout schedule.

Pull! Pull! Come on, pull!

Come on, Scuzz! What are you

doing here? Give it to me! Push!

I can't do no more, take it!

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