Original subtitles

We don't have to give him anything now.

We'd pay him when we can.

Jack, I know what I'm talking about.

Sweetie, you're the best mechanic there is.

You're tops.

Sure.

Come on, John!

Jack, we can do it.

Maybe we couldn't do it before, but John's not a problem now, he's a big boy.

We don't even have to drag him around with us, he can stay at Mom's.

It can work. Oh, sorry, I didn't know you guys were talkin'.

No, we're not, we're leavin'.

Jack, I want to talk about this.

Just listen to what Connie has to say, okay?

I don't give a shit what Connie's got to say.

I say we don't race no more.

Excuse me, I don't mean to butt in, but, uh,

if she wants to race, uh, why don't you just--

Why don't you just stick it up your ass.

Dad, come on, me and Angela--

I don't need lip from you, all right? Not from you.

Ow! Okay. Come on, get in the car.

Now you get in. I said get in that car.

No. Get in the car!

No.

Shirley. You all right?

You need a ride home?

Come on.

[Jack] Hey!

Hey, now you got a funny car, huh?

Is that funny enough for you?

I'll come down and we'll both have a good laugh, all right, Shirl?

Hey! Where do you think you're goin'?

Hey! What the hell do you think you're doin'?

Get out of that car!

Get out! I said get out!

Come on, get out of there!

Get out of here!

Aw, shit.

[phone ringing]

Jack, I don't want to talk about it, put John on the phone.

Mom. It's me,

Hi, honey. Where's Daddy?

He's okay. He's sleeping on the couch.

Don't wake him.

Okay, honey, just listen to me.

I can't explain it real good right now.

I can't be with your Dad anymore, okay?

You just, um, go to school and take care of yourself.

Okay, and, um, as soon as I get settled I'll come and get you.

All right?

If you need to talk about anything with me,

or if you need anything just, um, call Grandma.

Okay, she'll know where I am.

How long 'til you're settled?

Not long, honey. I promise.

John? Mommy loves you so much.

On Tuesday, aren't we gonna sign me up for the model building class at the Y?

Oh, John, I'm sorry.

Um, you want to go with Grandma?

Tell you what, I'll call Grandma tomorrow.

Okay.

Don't worry about me, Mom.

I never worry about you.

You're my big boy.

Mom, I love you too.

Okay, honey, I'll talk to you real soon.

Okay.

Okay...bye bye.

Bye.

## And I only have eyes ##

## For you ##

## Sha bop sha bop ##

## Sha bop sha bop ##

## Sha bop sha bop ##

## Sha bop sha bop ##

[Connie] What you're lookin' at is something that's gonna

stand drag racing right on its ear.

I'm not talking about some bimbo hangin' all over a car.

I'm talkin' about puttin' a beautiful woman

right there in the driver's seat.

Can't you just hear Cha Cha sayin', "Corral your gal with Lariat"?

She's beautiful.

Look at her eat those press people up, I tell ya.

Cha Cha! Call her Cha Cha!

Cha Cha, what's a beautiful girl like you doin' racin' in a place like this?

Winning.

[laughing]

If you don't believe it, come down to the track Sunday.

Cha Cha, what do you think of women's lib?

She thinks it's horse shit.

Well, that's what Connie thinks, but, uh, we all know what he's full of.

[laughing]

Terrible teenagers.

Hey, open up in there! It's the police!

Hi, Mom.

John, come on.

What's going on in here?

[Shirley] Got a big race tomorrow.

Hi, Connie.

See you tomorrow. Yeah, good stuff today.

Yeah, we'll have a better day tomorrow.

Really, John, time to go.

Yeah.

Good night.

Night night.

[laughing]

[Announcer] On the right-hand lane, a special treat.

A young lady from the East Coast making her first ever West Coast appearance.

Cha Cha Muldowney.

In the tower lane is going to be Art Foster.

They're set. The start.

Both drivers get all the traction they can handle.

This is a good race.

Until half track, Cha Cha Muldowney is pulling ahead of Art Foster.

And she takes the win light.

A 6.55 for Cha Cha improves on her qualifying time.

215 miles an hour to poor Art's 6.75.

He's gonna take a lot of ribbing about this in the pit area.

The lady got to him, and has to make believers out of a lot of you

as Cha Cha goes into the second round.

Announcing races all over the country, I have had a chance to follow

Cha Cha's career a little bit from the outlaw tracks in New York and New Jersey

up through a nice little A dragster that finally set a national record.

In fact, Cha Cha was so impressive that N.H.R.A. finally just had to relent

on their long-standing policy of allowing female drivers only in the stock car ranks.

You consider that Connie Kalitta and Don Garlits were first to sign her license.

She is in Connie Kalitta's funny car, now appropriately called the Bounty Huntress.

Now, Kalitta has spent thousands and thousands

of dollars to field this car for Cha Cha.

Okay, I suggest you find a seat in the grandstands

because you don't want to miss this.

Big Daddy Don Garlits up against the Bounty Hunter from Michigan, Connie Kalitta.

Garlits, the black car, the winningest drag racer ever in any category.

Can I see those?

[Announcer] This has been a tremendous step forward safety-wise.

The engine now behind these drivers.

The hot oil and fire is not right in their face.

Now, in the right-hand lane, the first driver to ever top 200 miles an hour.

Connie Kalitta, the Bounty Hunter.

These two have been going at each other's throats since the late '50s.

And it's been many years since you California fans have seen them side by side

in this state.

Kalitta in the far lane.

Big Daddy Garlits on the tower side.

At half track, Kalitta's car is skating around a bit.

Stay back. Do not go down to that crash site.

You'll only be in the way.

Our well-trained O.C.I. emergency crew is already rolling.

They are on the way.

You've got to stay back, ladies and gentlemen.

Please, back into your seats.

As soon as I have some word on the condition of Connie Kalitta

I will pass it along to you.

Please believe me, I will do that.

We've got to get everybody out of there.

You have got to get back, folks.

Kalitta's crew is there.

They are moving very carefully from what's left of that top fuel dragster.

Cha Cha Muldowney is on the scene to help.

Our own emergency crews are rolling to the scene.

But they will be there just as soon as they can get there.

But please, ladies and gentlemen, we've got to get everybody out of there.

Connie Kalitta is on his feet!

He is waving to the crowd.

I guess that got their attention.

Cheese!

Good, help, no, John, don't blow out the candles.

You want me to wait until you take the picture?

The other side, come around the other side.

Okay, good.

Honey, would you move in there, too?

All three of you get real close together.

Mom, would you take the picture?

When I say 1-2-3, I want a really big smile, okay.

1-2-3, cheese. [phone ringing]

Hello.

[Jack] Happy birthday. Dad.

Hey, listen, what'd you think of the gift?

The gift. Oh, yeah, um, the gift.

Just somethin' that I'd want when I was your age.

You know, you could use it the best way you see fit.

Oh, Dad, look, this $100 is gonna be great.

[Connie] Happy birthday!

Okay, everyone, we can start the party now!

Mrs. Roque, so nice to see you again.

Hello, Connie. I'd like you to meet my wife, Mary Ann.

[Mary Ann] Hello. [Mrs. Roque] It's nice to meet you.

[Connie] You must be Linda, Shirley's sister.

Shirley talks about you all the time.

Hey, John Muldowney, birthday boy, get off that phone.

I got something for you.

[John] Hi, Connie.

[Connie] Take a look at this.

Go ahead, strap it on. [John] That's great, Connie.

[Connie] Hey, where's your mom?

You okay?

Yeah, great.

What am I supposed to do? Leave her at home?

[Mrs. Roque] Come on in, everyone, look at this.

Grandfather's guitar.

Mom, did you see Grandpa's guitar?

What do you think?

This is great.

Hi, Mary Ann.

Hello.

Get this away from me. Get yourself away from it.

I can't believe you're not helping, would you take this? This is awful, I'm getting fat.

Don't strain yourselves.

Cha Cha, I got something to show you.

Hey, Mrs. Roque.

John Muldowney, get your birthday butt out here, boy.

What do you think, is this incredible?

It's a big one. How 'bout that, huh?

All right. That's some car.

Know who's gonna be first to ride it in competition? You.

I just had to come back over.

I'm sorry about before, my, uh, crazy situation.

You're the number one most important thing in my life.

All right, Carlos, my man, let's see how fast...

Mom!

Come on, let's go, let's get her to the hospital, come on!

It's gonna be all right.

[Announcer] Third match point for Billie Jean King.

You watch Bobby, he'll behave like a perfect gentleman.

And so this is what it's come down to, here in the Houston Astrodome.

Billie Jean fought for equal pay for women in the U.S. Open tennis tournament

and got it.

All of the women of America, or at least most of them, seem to be caught up

with the anticipation of this match.

Excuse me. Hi.

I'm looking for Mrs. Shirley Muldowney's room.

Oh, she's B171, it's right down the hall on your right.

Thank you.

Hi.

Got here as soon as I could.

It sure ain't been our season.

My flying business has been crazy.

I've been traveling all over.

I got, uh, caught in some rough weather.

Otherwise I would have been here sooner.

Sorry about that damn blower.

As soon as I can, I'm going over,

I'm gonna beat the shit out of that guy who sold it to me.

Baby.

I hit some rough air.

Really.

She smooth it out for you?

Rita?

That's Carlos' little sister, man.

Carlos asked me to do him a favor,

so I flew her down here to be with him.

Shirley, come on!

Have you ever seen her?

Hey, I'm talkin' bow wow, man.

Okay, I'm gonna go get her.

'Cause I don't want you worryin' about nothin'

when you should be taking care of yourself.

Aw, baby.

Oh, Connie, it was horrible.

I was so scared.

I know. I know.

Baby, I love you.

I got that stuff from the pharm--

Hey.

Thanks, sweetie. I got it, thank you.

You need anything else?

No, honey, thanks.

I look like shit.

Yep.

Hello, Dad, it's John.

Hey, John, how you doin'?

I'm all right.

I'm callin' from California. Sorry to call you at work.

Don't worry about it.

Mom was in a fire, and, uh, she's in the hospital.

She was in an accident?

Yeah, well, she burned her arm and around her eyes pretty bad.

But doc says she's gonna be all right.

The damn funny car, she can't handle it, John.

No, Dad, it wasn't her fault or anything like that.

We were trying this new goddamn blower

and it just went off like a bomb. Just like that, really.

So I's thinkin', look, you think maybe you could give her a call here or somethin'?

I think she'd like to hear from you, you know, she's real down.

It's not gonna do any good for me to tell her I told you so, you know?

Well, you don't have to say that, Dad.

Listen, John, the boss left me here alone.

Look, just give her a call or something, Dad, you know, just say hello.

I will. Take care of yourself, okay? John, I gotta get goin'.

Dad, if you change your mind give us a call, we're at Orange County Memor--

Memorial Hospital.

I'd like to talk to you about the new 1973 cars from Chrysler.

Now, these beautiful models represent the state of the art in engineering.

Hey, baby.

It's great to see you. Me, too.

I couldn't wait.

Come on.

It's good to be back.

How you feelin'? Missed you.

How's your arm?

Oh, it's better. It's coming along.

Here you go.

Let me see those peepers.

Ralph, just give me 5 more minutes.

You got one. I can't get it done in one, man!

I'm just now coming up on the Bounty Hunter pits.

Oh, boy, this car is a long way from being ready.

I can't allow you more time, now move it.

Is the clutch done? Almost.

Don't give me almost! Come on!

I'm not about to get in their way.

They need all the time they can get.

But there is an interesting spectator here.

Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney.

Her arm bandaged but looking surprisingly well considering your recent funny car fire.

How you feeling? I'm feeling fine, Steve, thank you, it's good to be back.

All of us are anxious to know what your future plans are, Shirley.

Well, Steve, at this time I don't have any definite plans.

I can say one thing for sure. I'm through with funnys.

You're not gonna make it. You're out. Bullshit to that!

[Shirley] That's not what I said. I said I'm through with funnies.

I'm not getting in another funny car.

And I will have more on this later.

Okay, thank you, Shirley.

Shirley is rushing off to catch up with Connie Kalitta,

who just stormed away from here after an official.

His car has already been scratched.

Back to the tower.

Drivers only!

Lady, I said...

[screaming]

Asshole!

And now, Chrysler, which is the top of the line...

It'll quicken the hearts of...

Connie, come on, Connie!

Connie, hold it!

It's over.

Unbecoming my ass!

How long?

Indefinite suspension.

Why don't they just say forever.

I'll tell you what the hell this is.

This is television, that's all they give a shit about.

Their lousy bread. They don't give a shit about us!

Just there own hot shit image, their damn revenue.

They think they're the son-of-a-bitchin' NFL.

Give me a rum and coke. Forget about the coke.

Assholes.

What the hell are you lookin' at?

Nothin', I'm just enjoying the weather.

Connie, come on.

This used to be a good time sport, you know?

Shit.

People hangin' out. Gettin' rowdy.

Tryin' to make us into damn golf.

Think they'll make me wear a dress?

Maybe that'd be a good idea.

What the hell, why not buy yourself an asbestos bikini?

Cha Cha Muldowney, the funny car stripper.

Connie, I'm gonna run top fuel.

You're gonna go up against Garlits, Graham, those guys?

I'm gonna win.

Oh, yeah?

Well, why the shit not? What the hell?

Television'll love you.

You'll sell a lot of beer.

You build the car. I'll drive it.

You be my crew chief.

They can't stop you from doin' that, right?

That's beautiful, me, a crew chief?

Is that what you're sayin'?

Connie, I'm talkin' about keeping you in racing, honey.

I'm talking about keeping us together.

Keepin' us goin'.

Look, I'll tell you what.

When you're ready to talk about this, I'll be upstairs.

What, what?

Hey, lady, buy you a drink?

Shirley!

It's me, Mickey.

Mickey. How are you?

Oh, baby, how are you?

Oh, you're lookin' wonderful!

Yeah, big bucks.

So, you got married, huh?

Yeah, hey, better late than never.

I've got a couple of kids, look. No.

Shirley Muldowney! You know what I think?

I think top fuel, why the hell not!

I'm gonna be the best damn crew chief.

And you're gonna be the best damn driver.

And I'm gonna make you top fuel champion of the whole damn world.

Connie Kalitta's gonna ram Cha Cha Muldowney right up their asses!

Kalitta.

Mickey White.

That is, if you still want me.

[Announcer] 1975, Cha Cha Muldowney with Connie Kalitta

as her crew chief breaks into the top 15 for the first time.

Hey, Cha Cha, smile.

[Announcer] 1976, Cha Cha Muldowney

becomes the first woman ever to win an N.H.R.A. national event.

1977, Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney has won 3 national events in a row

and is this year's favorite to capture the world championship.

Sunday! Sunday!

Big Daddy Don Garlits himself versus Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney.

They'll pound the ground and smoke the tires to 230 miles an hour.

Will the lady tame this one?

Will Big Daddy put the lady in her place?

Sunday! Sunday! Shirley "Cha Cha" Muldowney taking on all the big boys! Be there!

With us, in case any of you don't recognize him, is Big Daddy Don Garlits.

He is still the man to beat in any drag race.

But even he can't deny the performance of this Kalitta-Muldowney car.

Can you?

Well, you know, Steve, in my experience, a good built car

can give a few wins to almost any average driver.

If you call winning three national events in a row,

in one year, um, average, what would you call your record?

Well, I'm just lookin' forward to the little lady showin' her nerves

when it really counts.

I don't think she can handle it.

There you have it, there's only one place this argument's

gonna be settled : on the race track.

Shirley! Shirley! Can I have your autograph?

Sure.

Good luck, Donald!

Good luck to you too, darlin'.

#### [French]

Oh, bonjour, good afternoon,

and welcome once again to John Paul's Country Kitchen.

Today we have on the celebrity table [speaking French] a very special guest.

[speaking French] Cha Cha Muldowney! [speaking French]

The world's fastest woman.

Yes, that's as in drag racing.

I race top fuel dragsters.

We had a tape.

A tape? We have a tape?

Roll the tape, please.

Ah, yes, there we are. This is the Spring Nationals.

That's me racing Don Garlits.

That's me beating Don Garlits.

I love beating Donald, he's such a bad loser.

That was my crew. My son, John, and Rahn Tobler.

Cha Cha is here with us in Montreal for the Grand National Auto Race.

And also to prepare for us her favorite dish.

And that dish is, Cha Cha?

Excuse me, it's Shirley, it's just Shirley Muldowney.

That's right, Cha Cha, lasagna.

We start with a layer of the pasta.

And sometimes the pasta tends to stick together.

Oh, yes, lasagna does that.

You know, there's a good trick for that.

If you put a little oil in he water when you're cooking it,

the pasta won't stick together as much.

Thank you, Cha Cha.

Excuse me, I'm sorry.

It's Shirley, okay, it's not Cha Cha.

Shirley Muldowney.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

[Woman] Am I speaking to Shirley?

Yes.

I know Connie's with you.

I think it's only honest that I talk to you.

Who's this?

I'm a friend of his. I'm in the coffee shop.

I think we better talk.

I'll be right down.

## Get the phone off the hook ##

## Turn out the light ##

## The Do Not Disturb sign's hangin' tonight ##

I know he's with you, but there's something you should know.

Connie loves me and he's going to marry me.

He flew me down here, he got me a room.

And when he didn't show up, I just...

How long have you known him?

Four years.

We met when he was visiting you in the hospital.

Right, you're a nurse, right?

What did you think was going on?

What would he say to you?

He said you were just working for him.

We've been together seven years.

Well, what we have is special.

I know, he's told me.

I'm the number one most important thing in his life.

Got a cigarette?

Ah, shit.

Baby?

You saw her, how could it be anything serious?

She was very sweet to me and, uh, I mean,

how could I be a shithead to her?

It happened one time!

Honest, that's it.

She...she...

I-I-I'm just trying to let her down easy

and then she just keeps following me around.

What am I supposed to do?

I love you.

You are the number one most important thing in my life.

[Man] The Winston tools, emblematic of the world championship,

as determined by the Winston series points total...

goes this year to Shirley Muldowney.

Thank you.

I have to give special thanks to Rahn and John...

who've done such a great job for us all year.

And, uh, to our many sponsors.

And to the guys at N.H.R.A. who organize these great events.

And to Jack Muldowney, who built my first car.

And to Conrad Kalitta, who built my best car.

And, of course, to all our fans who've given us such great support.

And to my father, who always knew I could do it.

Connie Kalitta, Shirley's crew chief, Connie, come up here.

There's, uh...

There's really only one person for me to thank.

Uh, and that's Shirley Muldowney,

who, uh, I've always said is the best pure driver I've ever seen.

She deserves a lot of credit for keeping the faith,

through a lot of really hard times.

And, uh, I love her.

[clapping]

[Man] Oh, I don't know, Connie.

You bring in a beautiful woman like that to beat us.

Making us guys look bad.

[laughing]

[Connie] Some of my best friends are women.

[Man] Good thing you didn't teach 'em all how to drive.

[Connie] Hey, seriously, Shirley is the best.

Driving. I'm talkin' about drivin'.

[tapping]

What the hell are you doin'?

You can forget that shit 'cause I'm taking you out to dinner.

And I'm not talkin' pizza. I'm talkin' escargot atChez Philip's.

I don't want to go anywhere with you.

Okay. Okay.

I was hopin' to do this by candle light in some fancy restaraunt,

but if this is the way you want it. Merry Christmas.

Connie, don't.

Clark made it up special.

He owed me for a set of pistons.

Look, enough, I don't want it.

Okay, I don't want any presents from you.

I don't want to go out with you.

I don't want anything from you.

What the hell's going on here?

First you call me for an appointment like I'm

some kind of a damn doctor or something.

Look, I've been going over our records for the past seven years.

Now, um, seems like the top fuel operation has pretty much evened itself out.

There's still an outstanding debt left over from our first funny car.

Something in the neighborhood of about $1200.

What's all this about?

I just want to be fair and get it over with.

Is that right?

[door closing]

[door opening]

Okay, okay, listen, I know I've been lousy to you.

But this crazy situation of mine is gonna change.

You know that. It's gonna change.

Look, I'm expecting a telephone interview in a little while.

It's the radio.

And, uh, I'm making an announcement.

I've decided to race the car without you, Connie.

Rahn and John are gonna handle the car.

I'm gonna handle the money.

Just Rahn and John?

I can't afford to have you in the picture.

It's that simple, right?

[door closing]

[phone ringing]

Hello.

[Jack] Hey. How you doin'?

It's Christmas time and I finally said, uh,

I get around to congratulate you on winning that thing.

How ya doin', Jack?

I'm doin' fine.

How's John? How's he doin'?

Aw, he's great.

He works for me full time now, you know?

Full time, huh?

Yeah!

Well, you must be doin' good, then.

Finally makin' that big money.

Well, I'm doin' a little better.

What about you? What's going on with your station?

My station? Station's okay.

With the way the gas prices have been hiking up now,

could you believe that there is a line around the place?

There was for a couple weeks.

Good thing I'm not running gas anymore, huh?

Yeah. Yeah, uh...

listen, Shirl, um...

you know, you and I never talked

about the things you took when you left, you know?

Yeah.

Look, um...

I never bothered you when you didn't have anything.

Now you got something, and I think it's only fair we settle up, don't you?

Okay, Jack. I'll see what I can do, okay?

Look, I gotta get off the phone now.

I'm expecting a radio interview.

I'm really sorry. I can't tie up the line.

It was just a bad time for you to call.

Okay. All right.

Could you, uh...tell John that I wish him a real Merry Christmas,

you know, from his Dad.

I'll send him something if, you know...

Merry Christmas, Jack.

Have a nice interview, all right, Shirl?

Sure.

[rings]

Hello. [Man] Shirley Muldowney, please.

Yes, this is she.

Oh, terrific, Shirley. Hey, I got Muldowney, you can stop calling.

Listen, I'm Bob Morton, Sportsline, my producer talked to you.

Yes, Bob. Your phone's been so goddamn busy,

I'm gonna have to wing this thing.

Listen, we're doing this end-of-the-year sports wrap-up,

and I don't know doodly-squat about whatever the hell it is

you do with those cars, so you gotta carry me some, okay?

Sure. Now, what is it you won?

Some kind of award or something? What?

Yes. I hold the current N.H.R.A. top fuel championship.

Okay, listen, here's what's gonna happen.

I'm gonna read this little intro, talk to you a while,

and I'm gonna ask if you have any regrets

and you do a Christmas sentiment thing, you got me?

Uh-huh, sure. Okay.

I'm gonna come right out of commercial, so stand by.

All right? Okay. Three, two, one, okay. Hey, hi!

Bob Morton, Sportsline. Our guest today is

Shirley Muldowney, a local gal who has made it big.

She's the current N.H.R.A. top fuel champion,

driving a car for the local favorite, Connie "The Bounty Hunter" Kalitta.

Shirley, you there? Yes, Bob.

Hey, congratulations on winning the N.H.R.A. fuel championship of the world!

Thank you. Hey, now, Shirley,

did it ever cross your mind when you were playing with dolls

that you might someday be mixing it up with the big boys?

Well, Bob, I've always been very competitive.

Uh-huh. And as you may or may not know,

this is a sport which requires good coordination

and good reflexes, and I've always been known as a fast leaver.

Uh-huh. That means I get off the line fast.

Hey, don't get off the line too fast with us, Shirley Muldowney.

Hey, listen, I thought we might get lucky and catch

your so-called partner in crime, Connie Kalitta,

and get in a word with him too, huh?

Uh, no. We all know that Shirley and Connie

have a special relationship on and off the track.

What do you say, Shirley?

No. Mr. Kalitta isn't here right now.

Oh, he's not there. That's a shame.

I wanted to ask him what kind of special preparations

he had to put the car through so that a gal like you could handle it

Look, Bob, if you think it's so easy to handle one of these little cars,

putting out 2500 horses at 250 miles an hour and a force of 3 Gs,

maybe you'd like to come down to the track, give it a whirl sometime?

Oh, no thanks, ma'am. No thanks.

I'm happy right behind this here microphone.

Listen, Bob, I would like to say something else at this time, if I might.

Hey, it's all yours, sweetheart.

It's all yours. Take it away.

Beginning next year,

Connie Kalitta Flying Services and Connie Kalitta

will no longer be associated in any way, shape or form,

legally, professionally or otherwise, with my racing team.

Yes. From now on, Rahn Tobler will be my crew chief,

and he'll be working along with John Muldowney, my son.

Hey, I think we have a scoop here!

Wow! Hey now, listen, Shirley, you've got backers or sponsors,

you know, you people have those things, right?

Do they know what's coming down here?

Oh, yes. They are being made aware of our position.

Hey. Well, good luck, Shirley.

You sound like one lady who knows her way around a track.

But just one last question. When you look back over your whole career,

do you have any regrets?

Yes, I do, but only one.

That my father couldn't live to see me be champion.

Hey, that's great.

Thank you, Shirley Muldowney, and a Merry Christmas to you!

Yes, well, Merry Christmas to all my fans.

Oh, they love you, Shirley.

Hey, we'll take your calls in a minute, right after this commercial.

Shirley, thanks, that was pretty good.

[phone disconnects]

[distant clatter]

[clang]

[clanging]

What do you think you're doing?

We ain't got nothing to do with each other,

legally, professionally, or any other way.

Isn't that what you said? I'm takin' my tools back.

What are you gonna do with 'em?

I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

I'm gonna get my license back

and I'm gonna build me one hot mother of a car

that's got more horsepower in it than anything you've ever seen.

Then I'm gonna kick your ass across every track there is.

With who driving?

Me!

Shirley, you're a great chauffeur, but that just doesn't get it done.

Shit.

If it wasn't for me, you'd still be getting

those damn speeding tickets in that chicken-shit town I got you out of.

Why don't you give birth to me, too?

Gimme a break. You gonna take credit for everything?

Just fine by me, baby.

You got what you wanted. I made you famous.

Now I'm supposed to eat shit, right? Is that it?

You're breakin' my heart. Why don't you cry about it

to one of those little chickies you've been screwing?

Little miss virtue.

When your almighty career was at stake,

you were just that quick

to dump Jack and jump into my bed. Don't hit me.

Mom?

God damn it, you lunk, let go of my Mom!

Get back--

God!

Ugh!

Ugh!

Bloody stop!

Ow!

Jesus!

[dogs barking]

[engine starts]

It's fine.

[door closes]

[Announcer] It's almost time, here at O.C.I.R.,

for the final in top fuel,

pitting the Pink Dregs with Shirley Muldowney

against the red and gold Bounty Hunter of Connie Kalitta.

It's been three long years since their well-publicized breakup,

three years that must've seemed a hopeless eternity for Shirley Muldowney.

After being shut out of the winner's circle in '78,

achieving only limited success in '79,

Shirley has had a big year in '80,

winning the Winter Nationals, the Spring Nationals,

and the Fall Nationals in Seattle.

If she takes the crown here, Shirley will forever silence Oh, shit.

all those critics who still think it takes a man to race a car.

Hey, kid,

maybe you need some help from a professional.

Hey, a little nervous over there?

[laughs]

[engine starts]

[audience cheering]

[Announcer] This may well be the most exciting top fuel final

in the history of this sport. Shirley racing Connie.

For Shirley, it's a miracle she's here at all.

Three years ago, when these two broke up, the racing world said,

"The lady is done. Without Kalitta, she can't make it."

But in three short years, with very little sponsorship,

hardly any money at all, a very young, seemingly inexperienced crew,

Shirley Muldowney is back and has a chance right now to win

an unprecedented second top fuel world title.

Ironic, isn't it?

Who should stand in her way? Connie "The Bounty Hunter" Kalitta.

For Shirley, there's a world title at stake.

For Kalitta, it's pride. He doesn't need the money.

He hasn't been in a final round in many, many years.

This is the first time that he and Shirley have ever raced each other

side by side.

All those arguments as to who would be best

will be settled right now.

[Announcer, on TV] Shirley has made it in a man's game.

They don't consider her a woman now,

just another competitor.

It's Shirley!

[screaming] She won!

[horn honking]

[whooping]

[imitates choking]

[horn honking] We did it!

Out of the car--Excuse me, literally besieged here by the foreign press,

it's the first major victory--

Whoo!

She's number one, this lady! This lady has the magic touch!

[cheering]

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

Excuse me!

Good drag race. Yeah.

Not bad. You oughta do this for a living.

Oh, yeah? Smoked your ass.

You had a good teacher, didn't you?

I'm gonna get you next year.

I'm not goin' anywhere.

I'll be here.

[John] Whoo-wee!

Number one! Whoo!

[Reporter] Shirley, it was a really terrific run.

It's a thrill for all of us to watch you.

Not bad for an old broad in a used car, huh?

That's Shirley Muldowney, the only two-ti--

[crowd cheering]

## Sometimes love's not all you want it to be ##

## And though you do your best to make it last ##

## You can feel the magic fading fast ##

## And love just seems to roll away like a wheel ##

## So you remember ##

## The tender years ##

## Collect your memories ##

## And pack up all your tears ##

## 'Cause you were born to win ##

## Love waits for you to try again ##

## You only need to believe inside your heart ##

## That you were born to win ##

## Time has come to begin again ##

## The way is clear and you've known it from the start ##

## That you were born to win ##

## One by one the heartaches all fade away ##

## And as you watch them disappear at last ##

## You will know that you've outrun the past and ##

## Realize why love led you on this way ##

## And you remember ##

## Though dreams have forked ##

## Dreams are forever ##

## So tell yourself once more ##

## That you were born to win ##

## Love waits for you to try again ##

## You only need to believe inside your heart ##

## That you were born to win ##

## Time has come to begin again ##

## The way is clear and you've known it from the start ##

## That you were born to win ##

## The moment's waiting ##

## And you know it won't be long ##

## You'll look around you ##

## And you'll see you're standing strong ##

## 'Cause you were born to win ##

## Time has come to begin again ##

## The way is clear and you've known it from the start ##

## That you were born to win ##

## Love'll wait for you to try again ##

## You only need to believe inside your heart ##

## That you were born to win ##

## Just believe inside your heart ##

## That you were born to win ##

Closed-Captioned by J.R. Media Services, Inc. Burbank, CA