Original subtitles

On your mark, get set, go!

Hey, Derice. Are you running, man?

Yeah.

Good morning.

Morning.

Hey, there, Derice.

Yeah, man.

Morning.

Faster, Bannock, faster.

Come on, child. You have an Olympics to get to.

Handsome as a lion, that one.

I could watch that backside all day.

Come on, Derice, keep running! You can do it! Go! Come on!

Hey, Sanka, this steering wheel is finished.

All right, team. Let's get ready for the pre-race cheer.

Ready? Yes, sir!

Ready? Yes, sir!

All right! One, two, three, toot.

Who's the captain of our crew? Who's a friend to me and you?

Kind and nice, good-looking, too? Sanka, Sanka, yeah, Sanka!

Get back to work.

Who's the big, hot bag of air who doesn't have to comb his hair?

Who doesn't bathe and doesn't care?

Sanka! Sanka! Sanka!

Hey, Sanka! Hey!

What's happening, star? Where you been, man?

You almost missed my all-time world record seventh derby in a row.

Easy, Rasta. I'm not gonna forget

my best friend on his day of days.

Derice, my grandfather says

you're definitely going to make it to the Olympics.

He says you're even faster than your father.

Yeah, man. Do it for Jamaica.

Hey, you know what my grandfather says?

What?

Get back to work!

Good luck, man. I'll see you at the finish line, all right?

Hi, Momma Coffie. Hi, Derice.

Derice, is Sanka ready? Who knows?

"Ready." That boy's never ready.

He's a lazy, crazy, sorry, no-good bugaboo.

So what you laughing at?

All pushcarts to the start position.

Ready, little man?

Ready, big man.

Kiss the lucky egg.

Let's go.

On your marks.

Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme.

Get on up. It's pushcart time!

And go!

Here we go, Winston! The Rockett has been launched.

Hey, pokey, where'd you get that car?

Clear out! Come on, move out! Move out!

Sanka Coffie! Pushcart champion! Pushcart champion!

Get the wheel! Get the wheel!

Hey, Grandma, out of my way! Hey, Sunday driver!

Make room for the Rasta Rockett! Yes, yes, yes.

Make room. Peewee, move! Move out.

Sanka, four more carts left.

I love Jamaica and Jamaica loves me!

Sanka! Sanka!

Move over! Two more!

Get away!

Get off me!

Call your mother!

Go, Sanka!

One more car left! Go! Go! Go!

We win!

Jump, Winston. Jump!

Sanka.

Move it, man! Move, move, move!

Sanka, you dead?

Yeah, man.

Ooh!

And where do you think you're going?

You caught me.

You have papers to grade.

I'm just getting in one last run.

Mmm-hmm.

I can't believe the trials are finally here.

You nervous?

I'm not nervous.

I'm ready. I've been ready for this day my whole life.

I don't care how fast they run. I'm gonna run faster.

I don't care how much they want it. I want it more.

I'm going to the Olympics, baby. I feel it.

I'm gonna win the gold.

Derice, are you nervous?

I'm terrified.

It's my turn, Joy. It's my turn.

Ladies and gentlemen,

welcome to the final event of today's Olympic tryouts.

We have now come to the main event of our games,

the running of the 100 metre finals.

We've hada most successful afternoon,

and I'd like to congratulate all of the athletes

who have participated in today's events.

You sure no one can beat him?

Sure I'm sure.

I'm just a little concerned about that big baldy.

Let me first congratulate our athletes

on a splendid performance.

And let me remind them that only the top four finishers

will earn the right to represent Jamaica

in the forthcoming summer games in Seoul, Korea.

Wait. You're Derice Bannock, right?

That's me.

I hope I make the team.

It would be a real honour to run with you.

Good luck to you. Good luck to you.

Derice Bannock. Hey, good luck to you, too.

Runners, take your marks.

Get set.

Mr Coolidge, please, you have to run the race over.

I'm sorry, Derice. Nothing can be done.

But I was born to compete in the Olympics.

Then you're gonna have to work on your boxing or your cycling.

Those are the only other two sports in which Jamaica competes.

I am not a boxer. I am a runner. And it wasn't fair.

It rarely is, my boy. It rarely is.

Well, Poppa, what do I do now?

Look, Derice. Let it go. Let it go.

You will have another chance in four years.

Yeah.

Mr Coolidge, who is the other man in the picture with my father?

Irving Blitzer. He's an American who lives here.

Unless, of course, he's been arrested or shot.

Excuse me?

Well, he's a bookie, now.

Takes his bets in a small pool hall just past Sandy Bay.

Isn't that a gold medal around his neck?

Yeah. That lunatic was an Olympic bobsledder

who tried to get your father to switch sports.

He had some theory about using track sprinters to push the bobsled.

Some ridiculous thing like that.

Can you imagine, a Jamaican bobsledder?

And you're sure this man, he lives on the island?

Oh, yes.

Mr Coolidge, thanks a lot.

Good, Derice.

Could I borrow this picture?

Bring it back.

Yes. Thanks a lot, Mr Coolidge.

Just one more thing.

Mmm?

What's a bobsled?

That's a bobsled!

Oh! So a bobsled is a pushcart with no wheels.

That's what it looks like here.

Let me see that.

All right. "The key elements for a successful sled team are

"a steady driver and three strong

"runners to push off down the ice."

Ice? Ice.

Well, it's kind of a winter sport, you know.

You mean winter as in ice?

Maybe.

You mean winter as in igloos and Eskimos and penguins and ice?

Possibly. See you.

Where you going?

I'm gonna take a hot bath.

I'm getting cold just thinking about all this ice.

No, man. You're gonna be part of my bobsled team.

What you need me for?

Who is the best pushcart driver in all of Jamaica?

You're looking at him. Then you're gonna do it?

No!

Hey, man, you could be famous.

You could have your picture on a Wheaties box.

But you said "no," and that's all right, because I don't need you.

Everybody is gonna want to be on my bobsled team.

Look, star, let me tell you a little something, all right?

When you need something from me,

you don't have to hand me a bunch of lines.

All you have to do is look at me in the eye and say,

"Sanka, you are my best friend.

"We've been through a whole heap together,

"and I really, really need you."

Sanka, you're right. And you are my best friend.

And we've been through a whole lot together.

Heap. Heap.

Sorry, man. A whole heap together.

And I really, really need you.

And I really, really need you.

Forget it. But you just said if I said...

All right. All right. All right. All right, man.

So, let's talk about this billsled team.

No. Bobsled team.

Whoever.

Now, about the Wheaties box. I'm gonna be on it by myself, right?

No, man, you're gonna be on it with me.

And down the stretch

they come! Tumbleweed is holding on

as Captain Video is still running on the outside.

Yes, Tumbleweed, yes. Come on!

The leader is dropping back as Tumbleweed holds the rail.

That's it! Good Tumbleweed. Good Tumbleweed.

Tumbleweed is slowing...

No, Tumbleweed. No.

Bad Tumbleweed. What are you doing?

Tumbleweed can't hold it as he gets pinned against the rail.

Don't do that. It's a close race as they approach...

Let him out. Captain Video makes his move.

Tumbleweed running gamely... No! I need this one!

But Captain Video seems just a little bit too strong.

Please. Come on!

Here they come.

No!

Yes. Tumbleweed can't hold it

as Captain Video takes charge. And it's Brewster finishing in second.

Susan's Pride finishes in third

and Tumbleweed nowhere in sight.

But my, oh, my,

the odds-on favourite showed his

true colours with that late-stretch run.

Tumbleweed held on momentarily,

but realistically only a fool would put their money on Tumbleweed.

That horse had no chance of...

Uh-huh, uh-huh.

That guy won two gold medals?

I think so.

That's Tumbleweed gone. Okay, next race.

Excuse me. Are you Mr Irving Blitzer?

Well, that depends on who's asking.

My name is Derice Bannock. This is my team mate, Sanka Coffie.

Greetings, sled god.

We were just wondering if you'd be interested in coaching

the first Jamaican bobsled team.

Derice. Remember the radio? Radio. Stick.

Hitting with the stick. Let's go! Let's go, Derice!

Come on, Coach.

Just help me get started.

Greetings, sled god. Sorry to bother you,

but you're the only one who can help us.

Get out! Get out!

Go away. Okay.

Nice to meet you!

Maybe today is a bad day.

Yeah.

I'll come back tomorrow. And the next day.

And the next day. No.

Look, whatever your name is...

Derice.

All right, Derice. Let me lay out some difficulties for you.

Snow. You don't have any. It's 900 degrees out there.

Time. You don't have any. The Olympics are in three months.

And me. You don't have me.

As far as I'm concerned, the sport

of bobsledding no longer exists.

I don't want to do it, I don't want to coach it,

and most of all, and I mean most of all,

I don't want to be within 2,000 miles of anyone who does.

Now, did you follow all that?

Then how come you still have that poster on the wall?

Is that what's bothering you?

There. Is that better? Are you happy?

Like I said, my name is Derice Bannock.

I'm Ben Bannock's son.

I haven't seen this picture in 20 years.

Huh. Would you look at me then?

Would you look at me now?

Please, Mr Blitzer, just give me a chance.

If I don't have what it takes, we'll forget the whole thing.

Believe me, kid, you do not have what it takes.

But you thought my father did.

Your father was one of the toughest competitors I ever saw.

He ran the 100 metres in 10 flat.

Well, I run it in 9.9.

Come on. Coach me.

Sorry. You're a couple decades late.

Oh, I see. Well, it might be easy for you

to walk away from me, Mr Blitzer,

but you can't walk away from this.

Twenty years ago, you came down here to see

if you could make a Jamaican sprinter into a bobsledder,

and you never got that chance.

Look at me, Mr Blitzer. I'm your chance.

Take it.

All right, everyone quiet down. Nice group here.

Now, for two of you lucky people,

our trip to the Olympics starts right now.

And I want to introduce you to Mr Irving Blitzer,

who's going to be our expert bobsled coach.

Sanka. Hit it, man.

You're on the air, sled god.

Gentlemen, a bobsled is a simple thing.

Yeah, so is a toilet.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

Basically, what you're looking to do is get your sorry rear ends

from the top of an icy chute to the bottom.

You're zigging. You're zagging.

It's the biggest, coldest roller coaster you've ever been on.

Ice.

Ooh.

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

I almost forgot.

One minor drawback to this delightful winter sport

is the high-speed crash.

That hurt.

Always remember, your bones will not break in a bobsled.

No, no. They shatter.

So, who wants in?

Look, baldy's here.

Glad you could make it, man.

Don't touch me.

No problem. So what's your name?

Yul Brenner.

Well, it's good to have you as a team mate, Brenner.

Let's get one thing straight, Bannock.

We may be on the same team, but I am no one's team mate.

Long as you come here to bobsled.

Hey, listen, man, the only reason why I come here

is to get off of this stinking island.

If I have to take one of those bobsleds to do it, then all right.

No problem. Uh...

Yes. Yes, I have a problem.

There's no such thing as a three-man sled.

You're one Jamaican short.

Hey.

The meeting start yet?

Uh-oh.

You! I'll kill you. No.

Wait, wait!

I'll kill you!

Think, man. Think. Down, boy.

I'll kill you.

You're dead! You're dead!

Kill him, and we don't have a team.

I'm not riding in the same sled as that.

He tripped me, too, you know.

But in case you haven't noticed, there's no one else here.

You're crowding me, slinky-head.

Slinky-head. That's a good one.

What are you laughing about?

Nothing.

If it wasn't for you, rich boy,

I'd be in the Olympics right now.

I don't know what you all are arguing about,

'cause Derice was gonna beat both of your butts anyway.

What are you talking about? How about I beat your butt right now?

How about I draw a line down the middle of your head

so it looks like a butt?

Forget it, man. I'm gone.

Fine. Stay here on the island. We are going to Canada.

All right. I'll do it.

But you better tell this mama's boy to stay the hell away from me.

You understand?

No problem.

Hey, Irv. Say hello to the first Jamaican bobsled team.

Oh, goody.

Gentlemen, this is a bobsled. Sort of.

All right, here's what we're gonna do. Yul...

Don't touch me.

Of course. Sorry.

You're gonna be the second middleman.

You're strong, you're fast, and you're gonna love that seat.

Junior, you're the first middleman.

You're quick. You're sharp. Hop in.

Sanka. I know, I'm the driver, right?

No, you're the brakeman.

No, no, I'm the driver.

No, you're not. You're the brakeman.

I'm the driver.

You're not. You're the brakeman.

You don't understand. I am Sanka Coffie.

I'm the best pushcart driver in all of Jamaica.

I must drive. Do you dig where I'm coming from?

Yeah, I dig where you're coming from. Good.

Now, dig where I'm coming from.

I'm coming from two gold medals.

I'm coming from nine world records

in both the two and four-man events.

I'm coming from 10 years of intense competition

with the best athletes in the world.

That's a hell of a place to be coming from.

You see, Sanka, the driver has to work harder than anyone.

He's the first to show up and the last to leave.

When his team mates are all out drinking beer,

he's up in his room, studying pictures of turns.

You see, a driver must remain focused 100% at all times.

Not only is he responsible for knowing

every inch of every course he races,

he's also responsible for the lives

of the other three people in his sled.

Now, do you want that responsibility?

I say we make Derice the driver.

So do I, Sanka. So do I.

Ooh, the back is nice.

All right, Father, listen here. You see, I've made up my mind.

I am going to be a bobsledder.

That's right. A bobsledder.

Oh, really? Well, I'm sorry you feel that way.

Fine, cut off my allowance.

Because you see, Father,

a man has got to do what a man has got to do.

Just who I wanted to see.

Me?

You know where I just came from?

Where?

I got you a job.

With Webster, Webster and Cohen,

the biggest brokerage house in Miami.

Oh, right. Webster, Webster and Cohen.

That's right. And you start end of the month.

Yes, but I thought that...

Look. We went along with this track nonsense long enough.

And we agreed that it's time to get on with your real future. Right?

I know. Right?

Yes, sir.

Good.

I'm gonna tell your mother.

I guess we sure told him.

Winning a bobsled race is about one thing, the push start.

Now, I know you dainty little track stars think you're fast.

Well, let's see how fast you are

when you push a 600-pound sled.

Now, a respectable start time is 5.7 seconds.

If you speed demons can't whip off an even six flat,

then you have a better chance of becoming a barbershop quartet.

Derice, come on. Hey. Junior, get in. Never mind.

Get up and pull it back. Let's go.

Go, go, go!

14.3. No good.

13.5.

11.7.

This is what it's all about.

This is where you win or lose the race.

Right here in the push start.

This is where you're gonna practise,

right here, right here in a Volkswagen.

You're gonna practise. No! Junior, quit slowing down.

Come on, hustle. Catch up to them. There you go.

No! Do it again.

Stop, stop, Derice. Stop! Wait! Wait for me!

Brake! Ain't in. Stop. Slow down.

Great. Very good. Try it again.

If I've said it once, I've said it 46 times,

cold weather endurance is vital

to building a successful sled team.

Cold enough?

One, two, three.

Slow down! Slow!

Sanka, hit the brakes!

Hit the brakes, man! I can't! It's stuck!

Hold on!

WO Look out!

Sanka, you dead?

Yeah, man.

OFFICER 1: What have you done to the police unit? I should arrest you.

OFFICER 2: Who owns this thing?

We do, sir.

And who are you?

The Jamaican bobsled team, sir.

Don't give me that business. I wasn't born yesterday.

5.9! 5.9! You did it! You did it!

5.9! We did it! We did it! 5.9!

Get out of the way. Get out of the way. 5.9, guys.

What? Who are you?

I'm their coach. You guys okay?

Yeah, man. How's the sled?

Yeah, man, we're fine.

Sled's okay?

Well, it's in the wrong place. Get it back to the top of the hill.

Let's move it right now, you slackers.

Move it! Let's hustle! Come on!

Let's move it! Lord, have mercy.

Come on, you guys! Move it!

I'm not asking for a winter sports programme.

All I need is a lousy 20 grand so I can get us to the Olympics.

That's all.

How in God's name are you gonna get to the Olympics?

These boys have never even seen a sled race before.

Mr Coolidge, I have been looking

at sledders since I was 12 years old.

If I say these kids can make it to the Olympics,

they can make it to the Olympics.

Okay. Well, I'll tell you what we'll do.

Practise down here with the boys a bit more

and when you're a little further along, I'll come along and see you...

No. No. No.

Now, just a minute, Mr Blitzer.

This country enjoys a fine athletic tradition.

And if you think I'm gonna give you the little money we have

so that you can parade us around

in front of the world like a freak show,

you've got another thing coming.

It's bad enough how you embarrassed your own country.

I'm certainly not gonna allow you to embarrass ours.

No go, kid.

That's okay, Coach. We'll get the money.

Do the words "give up" mean anything to you?

Not a thing.

Hi, I'm here to offer you an opportunity of a lifetime.

We're looking for a sponsor for the first Jamaican bobsled team.

Oh!

I'll pay you a dollar to shut up.

We got $9.52 from Yul Brenner. Thank you.

We got $184 from Derice and me.

Sanka, how did your singing on the street go?

How did it go? It went like this.

Sanka, we know.

How much?

I made $1.16.

Oh, that's great.

We're only short about 19 thousand bucks.

Sorry I'm late, everybody.

No, really. That is terrific.

You can unpack your suitcase, Junior. We're not going.

That's too bad.

Where'd you get it, man?

I sold my car.

Yes, man. I am going!

No, we're not.

Look here, Junior. I appreciate what you're trying to do here.

But we can't accept this money. It just wouldn't be proper.

Derice, if I hadn't tripped you fellows,

we'd already been going to the Olympics.

I want you to have it.

You mean you want us to have it, right?

Right. Us.

Thanks a lot, Junior. Thanks a whole heap, man.

Remember, this doesn't mean that I like you. You understand?

JOY: Be sure to thank your father for us,

'cause Lord knows he didn't have to let you sell that car.

Well, he doesn't know I sold the car.

Um...

He doesn't know I'm on the team.

He thinks I'm off to Miami, and I loaned the car to a friend

to work for Webster, Webster and Cohen, some place like that.

This is it.

We hope you all enjoy your stay.

Sanka, man, what you smoking?

I'm not smoking. I'm breathing.

All right, fellows, this is us. Let's go.

Come on. Let's go.

Me first.

What's the matter? You guys cold?

It's not so much the heat, it's the humidity that'll kill you.

Excuse me, do you know where I can register to bobsled?

Do you know where you register for bobsled?

See you.

I'll see you around.

Hey, Mike. Good to see you again. Take care.

All the best. Okay.

Can I help you?

Yeah, I'd like to register for the tryouts.

What country?

Jamaica.

What country?

Jamaica.

Well, what do you know? Jamaican bobsled team.

Okay. Here it is.

Says here your qualifying run will

be held on the evening of the 10th.

Your judges will be Shindler, Gremmer and Kroychzech.

I know Kroychzech. He's a good guy.

Yeah. In order to qualify, you must complete the course safely

in one minute two seconds flat or under.

Used to be a minute-five.

Yeah. Times change.

Irv, is that you?

Roger, how you doing?

Hello, Kurt. Been a long time.

Obviously not long enough. Hello, Larry.

Jesus Christ, Irv. What the hell did you do to yourself?

Don't worry about them, Irv.

Roger, you got to do me a favour. What?

Please. You know that revolving restaurant thing?

Yeah. Meet me there in half an hour.

Half an hour? Yeah. Please.

LARRY: Roger! Come on!

ROGER: I'll try.

Thanks, Roger.

Yeah, well. What's up, Irv?

How about a drink? No, I'm fine.

What's so important that it couldn't wait?

You want something to eat? No, I'm fine. What's up?

A nice salad or something? Irv!

I need a sled.

You came all the way to Calgary without a sled?

I got $4,800. I just need something competitive.

For 5 grand?

I know you got something lying around, Roger.

But, Irv... Anything.

You know I can't do that.

Wait a minute, Roger.

Remember when you were desperate to make that last slot

on the '68 Grenoble team?

And you pleaded with me to talk to Kurt?

Did I say, "Sorry, Roger, I can't do it"?

Come on, don't make me beg. Roger, it's me.

All right. Maybe I can get you one of our practice sleds.

You're a saint. You know that? A saint.

You haven't changed a bit. You're still a saint.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Look, don't get all mushy on me.

Just tell me one thing. Is this whole thing a big joke?

Or do you really expect these Jamaicans to qualify?

Not only are they gonna qualify,

they're gonna turn some heads doing it.

Listen, three of these guys can run the 100 in under 10 flat.

I don't care who you are, that's lightning.

Yeah. But can lightning run on ice?

No problem, man.

Irv! These special shoes aren't really effective.

Grip with your toes.

All right, you sugar-coated track stars.

Move out and let the ice Rasta show you how it's done.

Yeah, like that. Yeah. Good.

Hey, fellows. Look at my progress.

Stop touching me.

All right, fellows, that's it. Let's get off the ice before practice.

What practice?

That practice.

That's right.

Good team this year.

Nice.

Bobsleds.

Oh, my. You should see this on the hill. It's like a miracle.

What's "Schweiz"?

No, man, Swiss.

The real thing, man.

Gentlemen,

I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our team.

Uh...

You won't believe what I had to go through

to get us a sled in such good shape.

If we're gonna make it into the Olympics,

this is the boat that's gonna take us there.

Well, like I'm told, she's actually quite fast.

I know she's not much to look at, but...

She's beautiful.

All coaches must sign

teams in before approaching bob run.

Here we go.

Let's go. Here we go.

Hold on.

All right, come on.

Grab a hold. Here we go.

Oh.

This is good.

This is it. Everybody climb in.

Hold up. I don't understand. We're not gonna push start?

No, we're gonna push start next time.

For your first run, I'm just gonna

nudge you off. Okay, everybody in.

Let's go. Let's go. Come on. Come on.

Don't touch me.

Hey, baldy, get off my foot. Don't touch me.

Here we go. Come on.

Hey, Blitzer.

Why don't you put some training wheels on that sled?

That's funny. Very funny.

You want to kiss my egg?

I'm not kissing no egg.

Suit yourself.

Now, listen up, fellows. I don't want you

to worry about looking good out there.

Blitzy, you're going to tuck them in, too?

Hey. Seeming to you like nobody likes us?

We're different. People are always afraid of what's different.

Hey, Jamaica! Watch out for number 12 turn. It's scary, ja?

What's his problem?

He's Josef Grool.

He's one of the best drivers in the world.

Yeah, he's one of the biggest assholes in the world, too.

Well, don't listen to him. You listen to me.

Derice. Right here. You got it?

Remember, keep your hands soft and your mind clear.

High in, low out. What is it?

High in, low out.

All right, put your helmets on, everybody. Let's go.

Here we go. Come on. Helmets on.

Hey, Coach? Yeah?

I can't get my helmet on.

Thanks, Coach.

That's what I'm here for.

Coach? Yeah?

I got to go, you know.

Hold it. Hold it?

Yeah, hold it.

But, Coach, I can't hold it.

We're not bobsledding yet.

Oh, yes, we are.

Coach! Coach!

Coach! Coach!

On the track.

Coach!

Slow down! Slow it down!

Slow down! Slow it down! Oh, my God!

Oh, Derice! Oh, Derice! I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!

Whoa!

Sanka, you're dead?

Yeah, man.

Well, you can pee now.

Um... Too late.

This is embarrassing.

Man, shut down that hot plate, fool.

Those bananas are stinking like a dead dog.

Back off! Back off, you eight ball.

This is my mama's secret recipe.

And I hope you don't mind keeping

quiet while I catch up on my reading.

What are you talking about, reading? This is a children's book.

Oh, is that so?

Yes, that's so.

Well, if that's a children's book,

that means it's too advanced for the likes of you.

What are you trying to say? That I'm not smarter than a little child?

No. What I am saying to you

is that you are the kind of club-toting, raw meat-eating,

me Tarzan, you Jane-ing, big, bald,

bubblehead that can only count to 10

if he's barefoot or wearing sandals.

Say whatever it is that you want.

Because you're just like every other fool on the island.

You're going nowhere, Sanka, and you're thrilled to death about it.

But you see me? You see me?

I'm different.

'Cause I know exactly where I'm going.

And after I, Yul Brenner, win the Olympics and become famous,

I'm gonna leave the island

and live right down there.

What are you laughing about?

What are you laughing about?

That's Buckingham Palace.

You plan on living there, you're gonna have to marry the Queen.

Yul, that's where the Queen of England lives.

Face it, Yul Brenner,

you can start calling yourself Madonna,

but you're still gonna end up in an outhouse shanty

like every other dock-working nobody.

Says who?

Says me, rich boy. What do you know about it?

Well, I know my father started off in a one-room hut.

Now, he lives in one of the biggest homes in Kingston.

Well, he ain't your father.

He doesn't have to be.

All he has to do is know what he wants and work hard for it.

And if he wants it bad enough, he'll get it.

Look. Believe me, Sanka,

the more Yul Brenners we got making it in this world,

the better off this world would be.

Especially for Jamaicans.

Go ahead, Yul Brenner.

You go get your palace.

Move, move!

On the track.

What do you have in there, a baby?

I can't believe you're still cold, man.

Cold?

I'm freezing my royal, Rastafarian nay-nays off!

All right, we're up. Let's go, guys. This is it.

Give me that thing.

Okay.

Now, this is our first real push start,

but don't worry about it, okay?

It's no different than what we practised.

We've done it a hundred times. Derice, right here.

Okay, get your helmets on.

Coach?

Okay, okay. Thanks, Coach.

All right. Let's go, Derice. It's yours.

Ridiculous. What's he doing?

One,

two,

three.

Go, go, go, now!

Hold on! Wait! Hold on.

Now, now!

Now!

Those guys are pretty good, aren't they?

Good? They're the best.

So, you guys been having a little trouble out there, huh?

We'll be fine.

I sure hope so.

It'd be a real shame to waste all that talent.

I'm not worried. And we have a good coach.

Kid, I hate to say it, but you got to wake up.

Coach Blitzer's what's killing you.

He's been useless since the day he was busted.

What you mean "busted"?

The '72 Games.

The guy hid weights in the front of the sled to make it go faster.

So what? It's no big deal.

Having your gold medals taken away for cheating is a big deal.

Derice, let's go. We got a meeting.

Giving my kid a few pointers, Larry?

Your kid's gonna need all the help he can get.

Coach.

Maid service, sir.

Would you like your bed turned down? Mint?

Perhaps I could dust your head.

Whatever's wrong with you is no little thing.

Hurry up, man.

I have a dead grandmother that moves faster than you.

Wait, wait.

What that fool want now?

What?

Sorry.

What do you have there, man? A telegram.

I know it's a telegram. What's it say?

From my father.

He says I have to come home right now.

Hi.

Howdy, partner.

You've worked too hard and too long.

And let me tell you something else, Junior Bevil.

If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't be here right now.

Wait. But you don't understand.

He is really mad.

I mean, you don't know him like I do, you know.

I think I better just do what he wants

and go back home.

And forget about your team mates?

Blood fire.

The man, you act like he's the king of the whole world.

What should I do? What should I do?

Hey, Jamaica! Keep it down. You are not owning this place.

Sorry, sir, sorry. I didn't mean to bother anyone.

You have no business here, Jamaica.

You and your stupid friend, playing like you are bobsledders.

Why don't you tourists go back to where it is you came from

and leave the bobsledding to the real men?

Well, I'm a real man.

You want to say something, Jamaica? Come on, out with it.

Come here, man. Come. Right now.

Now, look in the mirror and tell me what you see.

I see Junior.

You see Junior.

Well, you want to know what I see?

I see pride.

I see power!

I see a badass mother who don't take no crap of nobody!

You really see all that?

Yeah, man.

But it's not about what I see.

It's about what you see.

Now, look in this mirror and tell me again what you see.

I see...

Pride!

Pride. Right.

Power! Power.

I see a badass mother... A badass mother

who don't take no... who won't take no crap...

off of nobody! Again.

I see pride! I can't hear you.

I see power!

I see a badass mother who won't take no crap off of nobody!

Once again! I see pride!

Junior! I see power!

I see a badass mother who won't take no crap off of nobody!

That's right!

That's right! Junior Bevil!

Where... Where's he going?

Pride. Power. Pride.

Now, you listen to me, buddy. I will not be talked to that way,

so you better come up with a damn good apology or else.

Or else what?

Ow!

Eh, Jamaica? Or else what?

Come on, Jamaica. Say something.

No problem, man.

Excuse me, missy.

I can't believe this.

I just can't believe this.

Didn't one of you have the sense to know better? Go on, laugh.

I want to see who's laughing when Irv gets here.

Now, wait. Wait.

When that East German fellow go out and push my team mate,

and, blood fire, we have to fight back.

You don't see the Swiss team fighting, do you?

You don't see the Swiss team drinking and carrying on and such.

And you don't see the Swiss team smiling, neither.

In fact, if one of those Swiss boys

ever come across a pretty girl,

he probably yell, "Ein, zwei, drei,"

and try to push her down some ice.

What happened?

I took care of the whole thing.

I told the owner of the bar these guys were mentally disturbed,

so he's not gonna press any charges.

All right.

Sled god does it again.

Just shut up, Sanka.

Now maybe you haven't noticed,

but we aren't exactly winning any popularity contests here.

They hate me. They hate you. They hate us.

Now, if we're even gonna think about qualifying,

we're each gonna have to sit down

and take a nice, deep look inside.

I didn't come all this way to get my butt whipped.

As a matter of fact, now that I'm here,

I thought I'd do a little whipping of my own.

Good night, gentlemen.

Rise and shine!

It's butt-whipping time!

Not bad. Pick it up, though, huh?

Come on! Come on! Come on! Now, now, now!

Good.

That's it.

Five more. Come on, five more.

Push it. Push it. Come on.

That's it. That's it. That's it.

Good. Good. Cool it. You're doing fine. You got any more?

Come on. Come on. Get in!

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

That's it! You got to grip with your toes.

Go! Go! Now! Now!

All right!

You know you're gonna have to do this on your own one day.

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

Now! Now! Now! Now! Now!

Straight. Turn six.

Right. Turn seven.

Straight. Turn eight.

Right.

Yes! That's it! That's it!

Okay, guys. Tonight's the night.

Now, in a few minutes, you're gonna get a chance to do something

that no one in your country has ever done.

I was gonna save this for the Olympics,

but I figure if we're going to convince these judges

that we are world-class sledders,

then we had better look like world-class sledders.

Oh, man. Yes.

Yeah, man.

Nice.

I freeze in this.

On the track.

Hello, gentlemen.

Irv, this is Karl Shindler. He'll be watching the middle track.

How do you do?

And this is August Gremmer.

He'll be judging the push starts.

Hi.

I'm your third official up in the tower.

You?

What happened to Kroychzech?

He came down sick this morning.

I'm taking his place.

Oh, goody.

Oh! The Alliance has decided to change the qualifying time

from a minute-two to a minute flat. Is that clear?

No problem, man.

Go get them, kid.

Track is clear for Jamaica One.

Go! Go! Go! Now! Now! Now!

All right, what was that time?

6.13.

Under 60? Is that under 60?

59.46.

I'm... I'm sorry. I'm out of here.

That's terrific.

They couldn't beat us. I know we were the best.

No, the brakes were the best.

It inspired you guys. That's all.

You were great. All of you.

Nobody had that much fun in a sled since Santa Claus.

Fellows, here's to following your dreams.

Yeah, man. Follow your dreams.

Follow your dreams.

I said it to your father the first time

I met him, and I'll say it again.

Sprinters make the best bobsledders.

Here's to sprinting!

So, what are we gonna name the sled?

How about "Tallulah"?

That's our boy. "Tallulah."

"Tallulah." "Tallulah."

Sounds like a 2-dollar hooker.

How you come up with that?

For real.

That's my mother's name.

And it's a very pretty name.

A nice name. Yeah.

So what's it gonna be, star?

What are the people gonna be screaming

when Jamaica takes the hill?

I say we call it Cool Runnings.

Beautiful. I like it.

Very strong.

Nice. Very nice.

What exactly does it mean?

Cool runnings means "Peace be the journey."

Peace be the journey.

Cool Runnings! Cool Runnings!

Cool Runnings!

Excuse me. To the man in the orange suit!

To the messenger!

We are officially disqualified.

Excuse me, gentlemen.

Kurt, I really have to talk to you.

Excuse me, Irv.

I've nothing to say to you.

Yes, you do.

I want to know why you disqualified my guys.

As you were told, your team must

compete in an international race

in order to qualify for the Olympics.

But in an Olympic year, the qualifiers

count as an international race.

That may have been true in past Olympic years,

but this year the Alliance decided to change its policy.

Oh, please. Change its policy?

The Alliance has the right to do whatever they feel is

in the best interest of the sport.

We must also be concerned about

the potential for embarrassment.

Oh! Forgive me.

I didn't realise that four black guys

in a bobsled could make you blush.

SHINDLER: I think we've heard enough.

Come on, Kurt.

What you're doing is wrong, and you know it.

Now, if this is about you and me,

then let's get it straight right now.

All right, 16 years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life.

I cheated.

I was stupid.

I embarrassed myself,

my family, my team mates, my country and my coach.

If it's revenge you want, take it.

Go ahead. Disqualify me. Banish me.

Do whatever you want, but do it to me.

It was me who let you down, Kurt. It wasn't my guys.

They've done everything you've asked of them.

And they did it with all of you laughing in their face.

Hell, it doesn't matter if they come in first or 50th.

Those guys have earned the right to represent their country.

They've earned the right

to march into that stadium and wave their nation's flag.

That's the single greatest honour an athlete could ever have.

That's what the Olympics are about.

Sixteen years ago, I forgot that.

Don't you go and do the same.

I'm sorry if I interrupted your meeting.

Hello?

Yes.

Yeah.

Right. Goodbye.

What?

It's the Alliance. God.

What did they say?

They said we're back in.

Did I miss it? Did I miss it?

No, child, you didn't miss a thing.

Of Jamaica made it all the way here to Calgary

to compete in the bobsled event.

Their flag bearer is the sled captain, Derice Bannock.

Derice's father, Ben Bannock, was the gold medallist

in the 200 metres at the Summer

Olympic Games over 20 years ago.

And perhaps there's gold in two generations of this family.

That's quite a story. The Jamaican bobsled team.

It's a beautiful afternoon in Calgary,

and there's a lot more coming up.

So stay tuned for more exciting coverage

of the opening ceremonies of the 15th Winter Olympiad

from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Gentlemen, let's go check into our new home.

Come on, Junior.

Junior. Hey!

Junior.

Now, a lot of coaches would be giving you one of those

"Win one for the Gipper" speeches.

I'm not good at that stuff.

Instead, I thought I'd lead you in a psalm of inspiration.

Let's bow our heads.

Who's the Gipper?

Our Father, who art in Calgary,

bobsled be Thy name.

Thy kingdom come, gold medals won

on Earth as it is in turn seven.

With liberty and justice for Jamaica and Haile Selassie.

Amen. Amen.

All right. Yes.

Respect. All right.

Big up, Jamaica. Big it up.

Yes.

All right.

Junior?

Now, you listen to me, boy.

You might not have done what you were asked,

but you will do what you're told.

You're coming home.

Yeah, but, Father, you know I just...

But nothing.

I didn't send you to the finest school

for you to go around sliding on your backside.

You must be mad.

Yeah, but the team needs me.

I don't want to hear any more about it.

Go and get your things.

I'll wait in the lobby.

Pride. Power.

Father,

when you look at me, what do you see?

I don't have time for games, Junior.

Tell me what you see. Please.

All right, I'll tell you what I see.

I see a lost little boy,

who's lucky to have a father who knows what's best for him.

No. No. No, no, you don't know what's best for me, Father.

I am not a lost little boy, Father.

I am a man.

And I'm an Olympian.

And I'm staying right here.

Hey, Junior Bevil.

You're a badass mother.

Here. I got a couple.

I like this one.

O Canada, indeed.

This is Al Trautwig along with John Morgan.

We're live at Olympic Park, the brand-new bobsledding venue

just a few miles outside of downtown Calgary.

Everybody shut up. It's starting.

For an extremely intense, exciting

competition for the next three days.

I am feeling very Olympic today, how about you?

Now, this sport, as we well know, is made up of athletes

who go to the edge and sometimes beyond,

and it is why we believe the next three days

is going to be extremely competitive and exciting.

And already, John, on day one, we're starting things off

with the gold medal favourite.

Well, the Swiss were fortunate enough

to draw number one in the competition.

We got to make them the odds-on favorite to win the gold.

But the East Germans, they're coming

off the gold medal win in 1984.

The Canadians, it's their home track. You got to favour them, too.

And they've been doing very well in practice all week.

One, two, three, go.

Eighty miles an hour or close to it.

You know, Al, I'm looking at the times here,

and the course is getting extremely fast,

and I was worried about that Austrian team's safety

in that last big 180 degree whip-around

that draws four G's of force on the athletes.

Well, if you were worried about them,

what are you thinking about our last and next team?

Yes, it certainly seems strange that, surrounded by the ice

and snow of Calgary, we are about to watch a team

from the tiny island of Jamaica.

WO Yeah, from Jamaica!

Quite a story for them to even get here. They came out of nowhere.

And, you know, there's a lot of teams up here on top of the hill

that sort of feel the Jamaicans don't belong here.

What are you doing, man?

What are you doing?

That's what the Swiss do to psych themselves up.

They also make them little pocket-knives, too,

but I don't see you doing that.

All right, guys, we're up. Come on. Hey, knock it off.

Knock it off, will you?

Okay, let's go. Come on.

Get in your start positions.

Remember, we don't have to win the gold on the first day.

It's just like any other run.

Except this time, 100 million people watching.

Derice, did you forget something? Thank you.

Ready. Ready.

Ready. Ready.

Go! Go! Go! Go! Go!

On the track.

Get in! Get in!

The Jamaican team attempts its first ever Winter Olympic event.

And look at this. They've got to get into that sled.

I've never seen anything like this. I know it's not funny

but how embarrassing. Well, thank goodness.

For a minute, I didn't think they'd ever get all four of them in.

And that could've been a disaster.

Well, most importantly here, when you do get in the sled,

you have to get in with cat-like movements.

You need to get relaxed.

Look at that high line at Omega.

He bounces off the wall. Ricochets like a pinball.

You know, the driver here, Derice Bannock,

looks like the sled's really driving him.

That fool better watch his mouth.

He better watch more than that!

This is the time when this team may be thinking,

"This may not have been such a great idea."

Their heads are bouncing around. This is amazing.

Like rag dolls as they come through the finish

at a time of 58.04,

which will be good enough for last place.

You choked.

It was yours for the taking and you choked.

You were ready and you choked.

Well, maybe we should go over the turns again?

You know the turns.

You know everything there is to know about this sport.

I'll tell you something.

You had all better figure out how to stay loose out there.

That's something I can't help you with.

I'll see you tomorrow on the hill.

You know, when the Swiss want to get relaxed, man...

Will you shut up about the damn Swiss?

I mean, it was all that ein, zwei, drei, nonsense

that got us all nervous in the first place.

Hey, man, look here.

I'm just trying to get us off on the right foot.

Well, the right foot for us is not the Swiss foot.

I mean, come on, Derice.

We can't be copying nobody else's style.

We have our own style.

Kissing an egg is no kind of style.

It's the Olympics here. It's no stupid pushcart derby.

Let me tell you something, Rasta.

I didn't come up here to forget

who I am and where I come from.

And neither did I.

I'm just trying to be the best I can be.

So am I.

And the best I can be is Jamaican.

Look.

Derice, I've known you since

Julie Jefferies asked to see your ding-a-ling.

And I'm telling you as a friend,

if we look Jamaican, walk Jamaican,

talk Jamaican, and is Jamaican,

then we sure as hell better bobsled Jamaican.

Greetings from Jamaica!

All right, gentlemen, this is it.

Respect.

All right. Let's go.

We now come to the second chance

for the four intrepid men from Jamaica.

What do they have to do, John?

In reality, Al, I don't think the Jamaicans

have any chance of winning a medal.

Dear God, just let it be better than yesterday.

Ready? Ready.

Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme.

Get on up. It's bobsled time!

Cool Runnings!

Down the track.

That's a hair faster than the Swiss.

Boy, that's a real big difference from yesterday.

Well, this is an absolute shock in the making.

Yesterday, they were falling down almost at the start.

Now they slide in smoothly.

Yesterday their heads were bobbing everywhere.

Today they're almost in unison.

Can this really be happening?

What a difference.

Flying through the Omega, looking possessed here.

It's not the same team we saw yesterday.

Where did these guys come from?

Jamaica!

Wow! 56.53!

Yes! Yes!

Did you hear that time? Yes!

That moves them up into eighth place.

Watch out, world, the Jamaicans are coming.

Derice, you in here?

Hey, Coach.

There you are.

How you feeling? All right.

Good. Good. You all set to follow in your father's footsteps?

I think so.

You think so?

All right. I know so.

That's more like it. We're gonna go

grab a bite to eat. You want to join us?

No. I didn't think so.

I'll pick you something up.

Hey, Coach. Yeah.

I have to ask you a question. Sure.

But you don't have to answer if you don't want to.

I mean I want you to,

but if you can't, I understand.

You want to know why I cheated, right?

Yes, I do.

That's a fair question.

It's quite simple, really.

I had to win.

You see, Derice,

I'd made winning my whole life,

and when you make winning your whole life,

you have to keep on winning, no matter what.

You understand that?

No, I don't understand, Coach.

You had two gold medals. You had it all.

Derice,

a gold medal is a wonderful thing.

But if you're not enough without it,

you'll never be enough with it.

Hey, Coach?

How will I know if I'm enough?

When you cross that finish line, you'll know.

Welcome back to the bobsledding venue for this,

the last day of competition. It's medal time,

and, John, the top six teams are separated by only half a second

so it's very close. And that's been predictable...

I didn't expect to see you here.

Well, my dear, we've got a team in the Olympics, don't we?

What's astonishing is the Jamaicans.

They still have a chance to win an Olympic medal.

Everybody shut up! My boy's on TV.

And you're not the only one to get excited about that.

I think the fans here have an extreme case of Jamaican fever.

Al, so do I.

No, no, no, no. So do we.

Do I have to tell you whose turn it is now?

Jamaica... Respect!

Hey, dreadlocks. Let me kiss your lucky egg.

Next team up is Jamaica.

All right, fellows, that's us! Let's go! Here we go! Today's our day!

This is it! Come on, guys, we can do it!

Derice!

I'll see you at the finish line.

With the kinds of push starts...

All right, it's all yours! Let's go!

These guys are capable of,

we might actually see the Jamaicans

win an Olympic medal. So this is it.

We could see history in the making.

Feel the rhythm. Feel the rhyme.

Get on up. It's bobsled time!

Cool Runnings!

Move! Go! Go! Go! Move that bobsled! Go!

One, two, three, four, all of them in and look at them fly.

Man, they shaved another couple 100ths off the start...

Al, they get better every time down the track.

Move, Derice! Move! Take that... Yes! Move!

Look at the way the sled's coming in

and out of the corners. Very smooth.

It's like he's been driving the sled for 10 years.

Bannock looks really possessed here.

Al, what the heck. Go, Jams!

What a run Bannock is having.

He's letting loose on this extremely fast course.

And even with that rickety old sled,

the Jamaicans are flying through the turns.

This does not look good. Something's got to be wrong.

The Jamaicans on a record pace,

as they fly almost out of control around the turn.

Now the speed seems too much,

and I don't think he's going to be able to hold it.

Oh!

Derice, you dead?

No, man. I'm not dead.

We have to finish the race.

Excuse me, please.

Excuse me.

Sehr gut, Jamaica.

We'll see you in four years, ja?

Yeah, man.

Junior Bevil. But it doesn't mean that I like you.

Respect.

Thanks, Irv. Thank you.

All right.

Hey, guys! I'm so proud of you guys! Coach? Coach?

You all right? I'm not so bad.

Can I get a picture please?