The Legend of Bagger Vance Page #6

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That ain't it.

If you had, you wouldn't|be hacking at that ball...

...like you was chopping weeds.

Just give me the club.

Sorry I bring it up.|Take that, hack away.

Here, Billy, over here!

All right, what's the "field"?

Fix your eyes on Bobby Jones.

- He's a piece of work.|- Give the man room.

Knock it out there, Bobby.

Look at his practice swing.

Almost like he's searching|for something.

Then he finds it.

Watch how he settle this up,|right into the middle.

Feel that focus.

He's got a lot of shots to choose from.

Duffs and tops and skulls.

There's only one shot that's|in perfect harmony with the field.

One shot that's his...

...authentic shot.

That shot is gonna choose him.

There's a perfect shot trying|to find every one of us.

All we got to do is get ourselves|out of its way...

...and let it choose us.

Look at him, he in the field.

You can't see that flag|as some dragon you got to slay.

You've got to look with soft eyes.

See the place where the tides,|and the seasons...

...the turning of the earth...

...all come together.

Where everything that is...

...becomes one.

You've got to seek that place,|with your soul, Junuh.

Seek it with your hands,|don't think about it, feel it.

Your hands are wiser than|your head's ever gonna be.

I can't take you there...

...just hopes I can help you|find a way.

It's just you...

...that ball...

...that flag...

... and all you are. Seek it|with your hands, don't think...

... about it, feel it.

There's only one shot|that's in harmony with the field.

The home of your authentic swing.|That flag...

... and all that you are.

Even a blind squirrel finds|an acorn now and then.

The rest of that afternoon is a blur.

Junuh kept asking question|after question about the field.

Bagger acted like nothing much|had happened...

... and made remarks about how much|Hagen's socks must have cost...

... and how long to dry tobacco leaves|before they make a good smoke.

But somehow, in the middle of it all,|Junuh started playing golf.

As the day and second round came to|an end, there was genuine excitement.

I do so enjoy this little game.

Why don't you ladies|join me for dinner?

Hello, Hugh.

Junuh.

I'll have a double scotch.|Pretty entertaining out there today.

That's what the people want.

Entertainment.

I got a proposition, Junuh.

Exhibitions are the thing.|$5-10,000 for two days' work.

Would you like to go on tour with me?

We'd have good matches, but I'd win.

Then we'd split the money, 70-30.

You get the 30.

I'm not just looking|for another payday here.

I couldn't breathe without golf.

I once had the next king of England|hold the pin for me while I putted.

I did.

I've paid back everything golf|gave me, many times over.

But now I'm on the receiving end.

It's the good life.

- Why me?|- Crowd likes you.

I think we have a lot in common,|you and I.

You've got no illusions that there's|anything worthwhile out there.

The meaning of it all is|that there is no meaning.

You'd be good company, that's all.

Thanks, I'll think it over.

I admire the way you're|dealing with this match, Junuh.

Fighting the way you are,|it's damn noble.

But no matter how good|a fighter you are, just remember:

I can ask the king to hold|the flag when I putt...

...but he won't give me his crown.|Neither is Bobby and neither am I.

I'm not asking for your crown, Walter.

If I wanted it bad enough,|I'd just take it.

Do you have something to discuss?|This might not be the right time...

I can win, Adele.

I can beat both of them.

Look in my eyes and tell me|what you see.

Determination, pure determination.

Panic, Adele, pure panic.

I'm eight strokes behind|the two greatest golfers.

They've never blown a lead,|and I'll win.

- Know why?|- Panic?

That's right.

Oh, Junuh...

...you don't, by any chance...?|- Yes.

I ought to go back to my guests.

Yes, I should go back.

You will stay in touch...

...I can't wait another 12 years|for the next installment.

Did you miss something about me?

Something I can feel gratified about|depriving you of all these years?

I liked the way we danced.

I need the driver.|This is gonna take all I got.

That's a jigger. Help you|keep it under the wind.

My putter's got more loft|than this thing.

No, they about the same.

Good, I'll just putt|the ball down the fairway.

Anything else?

Just bash the living sh*t out of it.

An iron? I guess it doesn't|matter what you use...

...when you're eight strokes back.

- What club was that?|- Mid-iron.

- Some kind of driving iron.|- Extraordinarily hit, I'd say.

Pull the flag, Hardy!

Yes, sir!

Junuh eagled, picking up|two strokes on the first hole.

That's it!

He picked up another stroke|when Jones bogeyed the second.

And two more on Hagen|when he double-bogeyed the third.

Does that look like 180 yards to you?

No...

...it's 181.

Might want to play the ball|back a bit.

He just hit a hole in one!|Hot dang!

I just seen a miracle|with my own eyes!

He just hit a hole in one!

Homer, you're not gonna believe this,|Junuh made a hole in one!

He's coming back now!|He's gonna make it!

- You're kidding!|- What?

Junuh's making a run for it!

He's three from Jones|and two from Hagen!

He made a hole in one! God bless|Savannah and the men she propagates!

Get back! How do you expect|Junuh to hit the ball?

His play in the third round|was beautiful to watch.

While Jones and Hagen discovered|new hazards...

... Junuh had discovered, as Bagger|had so eloquently put it...

... how to stop thinking|without falling asleep.

Junuh finished the third round|one stroke behind.

It was a new match, and no one|knew it better than Jones and Hagen.

- Can I have your autograph?|- Not now, girls.

Gents.

I don't believe Walter planned|on exerting himself.

It was fun this morning, wasn't it?

Yeah, it was.

This is my last match, Junuh.|I'm retiring.

You're at the top of your game.

I've got a wife, three children,|and a law practice.

It's time to stop.

It's just a game, Junuh.

I'll never forget you winning|the Georgia Open in 1916.

I never seen a swing so sweet...

...or a man get so much|pleasure from it.

This is my last 18 holes, Junuh.

And I couldn't have picked|a better way to end it.

Thank you, Bobby.

It is truly my pleasure.

I can't let you win out of sympathy.

You know that.

I do, and I have no intentions|of losing my last match.

Thank you, Mr. Junuh.

Junuh!

Junuh, look over here!

Which would be more important|to you, beating...?

Excuse me! Excuse me!|Give him some room. Thank you.

- I'd like to have a word with you.|- This isn't a good time, Adele.

No, I think this is|a very good time.

I don't want to do anything that might|disrupt your concentration...

...but since our little encounter,|I've been thinking...

Ten years and not a single,|solitary word from you?

You don't do that|to someone you love.

I deserve some correspondence,|and some indication of what you felt.

I don't know what happened to you.|But whatever it was...

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