FUNKY REGGAE SONG # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget, girl. # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget. # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget, girl. # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget. # Come on to me, baby, and take my blues away # What I need to see now is brighter days # I will take away my dark times, take away my tears # Take away my suffering for all these years # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget, girl. # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget CHILDREN LAUGH # Let this love light shine # Let it in your soul CHILDREN TALK AND CALL # It's time to take control BOY: On your mark, get set... go! # We don't need no darkness We don't need no sadness # ENTHUSIASTIC SHOUTING CHEERING # Don't get upset if you're having no fun # Don't get upset when you wake up in the morning # A brand new day has just begun # Oooh, yeah # Ooooh # CALLS: Hey, there! Derice! # Love is coming your way # Don't get upset if you ain't got nobody # Don't get upset if you're having no fun # Don't get upset when you wake up in the morning # A brand new day has just begun # Oooh, yeah # Ooooh # Morning. Faster, faster. Come on, child, you have an Olympics to get to. Handsome as a lion, that one. I could watch that backside all day. (LAUGHS) # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget me, girl # If I get to love you, well, you won't forget me # Take away my sadness, take away my fear... # PEOPLE CHATTER LOUDLY TEAMS TALK EARNESTLY Eh, Sanka, the steering wheel is... (STRAINS)...finished. All right, let's get ready for the pre-race cheer. ALL: Yes, sir! Ready? ALL: Yes, sir. All right. One, two, three. (TOOTS) ALL CHANT: 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! (LAUGHS) Get back to work. CHANTS: 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! BOTH: Yeah, 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 won't forget my best friend on his day of days. My granddad says you'll definitely make it to the Olympics. He says you're even faster than your father. Yeah, man, do it for Jamaica! You know what my granddad says? ALL: What? Get back to work! (DISGRUNTLED SHOUTS) Good luck, man. See you at the finish line. ALL LAUGH Hi, Momma Coffie. Hi, Momma Coffie. Hi, Derice. Derice, is Sanka ready? Who knows? That boy is never ready. He's a lazy, crazy, sorry, no-good bag of bones. He's a lazy, crazy, sorry, no-good bag of bones. (BOTH LAUGH) 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. CHANTS: Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme. Get on up, it's pushcart time! And go! HORN SOUNDS CHEERING UPBEAT JAMAICAN MUSIC SANKA: Here we go, Winston. The Rockett has been launched! HECKLES: Hey, Brooky, where'd you get that cart? Clear out! Come on, move out - out! Ha ha ha. Sanka Coffie, pushcart champion! Pushcart champion! Get away, get away! Eh, Grandma, out of my way! Sunday driver. Make room for a champion. Make room. Move, move out. LOUDLY: I love Jamaica and Jamaica loves me. CHEERING Move over, move over. METAL GRINDS Ah, you mother! Sanka, Sanka! We win!! LOUD THUD Argh! Argh! Jump, Winston! CLATTERING AND BANGING Sanka. CHICKEN CLUCKS Move, man, move, move, move. Sanka! You dead? (SHAKY) Yeah, man. Oooh. And where do you think you're going? You caught me. (LAUGHS) You have papers to grade. You have papers to grade. I'm just getting in one last run. Can't believe the trials are finally here. You nervous? 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 going to 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 going to win the gold. Derice... are you nervous? I'm terrified. (LAUGHS) It's my turn, Joy. It's my turn! ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the final event of today's Olympic try-outs. We have now come to the main event of our games, the running of the 100m final. We've had a most successful afternoon. And I'd like to congratulate all 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. Yarrrrrrr! Let me first congratulate our athletes on a splendid performance. 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 will be a real honour to run with you. Good luck to you. Good luck to you. Derice Bannock. Hey, and good luck to you, too. Runners, take your marks. FOREBODING MUSIC Get set. GUNSHOT FORCEFUL MUSIC CROWD CHEERS MUSIC SLOWS ECHOING THUDS MUSIC FADES THEN BECOMES MELANCHOLIC 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 work on your boxing or cycling. Those are the only other sports in which Jamaica competes. I am not a boxer, I am a runner. It wasn't fair. It rarely is, my boy, it rarely is. Well, Papa, what do I do now? Look, Derice, let it go, eh? Let it go. You'll have another chance in four years. Yeah. Mr Coolidge. Who's 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? Oh, 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. (LAUGHS) Can you imagine, a Jamaican bobsledder? MISCHIEVOUS MUSIC Are you sure this man, he lives on the island? Oh, yes. Mr Coolidge, thanks a lot. Good, Derice. Oh, can I borrow this picture? Bring it back. Yes. Thanks a lot, Mr Coolidge. Oh, one more thing. Hmm? 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. 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? 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 want to take a hot bath. I'm getting cold thinking about all this ice. No, man. You're going to be on my bobsled team. What you need me for? Who is the best pushcart driver in all Jamaica? You're looking at him. Then you gotta do it. No. Hey, man, you could be famous. You could have your picture on a Weeties 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 something. When you need something from me, you don't have to hand me a line. All you have to do is look at me and say, 'Sanka, you are my best friend. We've been through a heap together.' '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 said if I said that... All right, all right. So, let's talk about this billsled team. No, bobsled team. Whoever. Now, about the Weeties box. I'm gonna be on it by myself, right? No, man. You'll be on it with me. RACE CALLER: Down the stretch they come. Tumbleweed is holding on. Yes, Tumbleweed, yes! That's it! Good Tumbleweed. Good Tumbleweed. Tumbleweed is slowing! No, Tumbleweed! No! Bad Tumbleweed. What are you doing?! Tumbleweed gets pinned against the rail. Don't do that! Let him out! No! I need this one. Please!! Come on. Here they come! No! Yes! Tumbleweed can't hold it as Captain Video takes charge. And it's Brewster finishing second, Susan's Pride third... (FIST BANGS LOUDLY ON BAR) But my, oh, my, the odds-on favourite... OK. Uh-huh. (HUMS) Realistically, only a fool would put their money on Tumbleweed. That horse had no chance... Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. That guy won two gold medals? I think so. That's Tumbleweed gone. OK, 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. (HUMS OMINOUSLY) Derice, remember the radio? Radio. Stick. Hitting with the stick. Let's go! UPBEAT JAMAICAN MUSIC Come on, coach. Just help me get started. Ow... (SCREAMS) Greetings, sled god. Sorry to bother you, but... Get out! (INHALES DEEPLY) TOILET FLUSHES (THREATENINGLY) Go away. OK. Nice to meet you. Maybe today is a bad day. Yeah. I'll come back tomorrow. And the next day. 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 900deg 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 2000 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? Oof, would you look at me now? Please, Mr Blitzer, just give me a chance. If I don't have what it takes, we 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 100m in ten flat. I run it in 9.9. Come on. Coach me. Sorry. You're a couple of decades late. Oh, I see. It might be easy for you to walk away from me, Mr Blitzer, but you can't walk away from this. 20 years ago you came down here to see if you could make a Jamaican sprinter into a bobsledder. You never got that chance. Look at me, Mr Blitzer. I'm your chance. Take it. (HEAVY SIGH) LOUD REGGAE PLAYS EVERYONE TALKS All right, everyone quiet down. MUSIC FADES Nice group here. Now, for two of you lucky people our trip to the Olympics starts right now. I want to introduce you to Mr Irving Blitzer who is 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's a toilet! EVERYONE LAUGHS 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. (SHIVERS) Ice. Ooh. (CHUCKLES) Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. One minor drawback to this delightful winter sport - the high speed crash. That hurt. Argh... Always remember, your bones will not break in a bobsled. No, no ` they shatter. Egh! 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 this stinkin' island. If I have to take one of those bobsleds to do it, then all right. No problem. Ah, yes. Yes, I have a problem. There's no such thing as a three-man sled. You're one Jamaican short. Meeting start yet? Uh-oh. You! I'll kill you. Wait, wait. I'll kill you. Whoa, whoa, down, boy. CLATTERING AND BANGING 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. (LAUGHS) 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 arguing about. Derice was gonna beat both your butts. What are you talking about? How about I beat YOUR butt? How about I draw a line down the middle of your head so it looks like a butt? (CHUCKLES) Forget it, man, I'm gone. Fine. Stay here on the island. We're 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. Right, here's what we're gonna do. Yul... Don't touch me. Of course. Sorry. You're going to be the second middle man. You're strong, you're fast, and you're going to love that seat. Junior, you're the first middle man. You're quick, you're sharp. Hop in. Sanka. I know, I'm the driver, right? No, you're the brake man. No, I'm the driver. No, you're not, you're the brake man. I'm the driver. You're not! You're the brake man. You don't understand! 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. From two gold medals. From nine world records in both two- and four-man events. From 10 years of intense competition with the world's best athletes. That's a helluva 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 out drinking beer, he's in his room studying pictures of turns. A driver must remain focused 100% at all times. Not only is he responsible for knowing every inch of every course, he's also responsible for the lives of the other three in his sled. Now do you want that responsibility? I say we make Derice the driver. So do I, Sanka, so do I. (SIGHS) Oooh, the back is nice. All right, Father, listen here. You see, I've made up my mind. I'm going to be a bobsledder. That's right, a bobsledder. (BARKS AND WHINES) 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. HORN BEEPS HORN BEEPS AGAIN Just who I want to see. M-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. You start at the end of the month. (DELIGHTED CHUCKLE) But I thought that I would... Look, we went along with this track nonsense long enough. We agreed that it's time to get on with your real future. Right? I know... Right? Yes, sir. Good. I'm going to tell your mother. I guess we sure told him. (GROANS) * Winning a bobsled race is about one thing - the push start. I know you dainty little track stars think you're fast. Well, let's see how fast you are when you push a 600lb sled. Now, a respectable start time is 5.7 seconds. If you speed demons can't whip off an even six flat, you have a better chance of becoming a barber shop quartet. GRUNTS AND GROANS Get in! LAUGHTER UPBEAT SONG: # I got a wild, wild life 14.3 - no good. 13.5. 11.7. This is where you win or lose the race, right here in the push start. This is where you'll practise, right here in the Volkswagen. Go! Junior, quit falling down! Come on, hustle. Catch up with them. There you go...oh! Do it again. # Wild, wild life Stop. Derice, stop, wait for me. Stop, slow down. SCREAMING LOUD THUD Great. Very good. Try it again. # Wild, wild life 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? SNAP! # Wild, wild life One, two, three... ALL YELL # Wild, wild life Go, go, go! # Here on this mountain top, whoa-ho # I got a wild, wild life Sanka, the brake! I can't, it's stuck. # I got a wild, wild life... # (SCREAMS) CRUNCH SOUND OF POLICE RADIO Sanka, you dead? Yeah, man. What have you done to the police unit? I should arrest you! Who owns this thing? We do, sir. And who are you? A Jamaican bobsled team, sir. (BOTH BURST INTO WILD LAUGHTER) 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 OK? (ALL MUMBLE YES) How's the sled? Yeah, we're fine. The sled's in the wrong place! Get it back to the top of the hill. Move it, you slackers. Move it. (ALL GROAN) THUNDER RUMBLES 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 going to get to the Olympics? These boys have never even seen a sled race. Mr Coolidge, I have been looking at sledders since I was 12. If I say these kids can make it, they can make it. OK. Well, I'll tell you what we'll do. Practise down here with the boys a bit more and when you're further along, I'll come and see you... and when you're further along, I'll come and see you... No. No, no! Now just a minute, Mr Blitzer. This country enjoys a fine athletic tradition. If you think I'll give you the little money we have so you can parade us before the world like a freak show, you have another thing coming. It's bad enough how you embarrassed your own country. I'm certainly not allowing you to embarrass ours. No go, kid. That's OK, coach. We'll get the money. Do the words 'give up' mean anything to you? Not a thing. (SINGS) # Some people say, you know, they can't believe, # Jamaica, we have a bobsled team # No, people say, you know, they can't believe # Jamaica, we have a bobsled team... # Hi. I'm here to offer you a chance of a lifetime. We're looking for a sponsor for the first Jamaican bobsled team. (LAUGHS) (ROARS WITH LAUGHTER) (GALES OF LAUGHTER) EVERYONE CHEERS UPBEAT JAMAICAN MUSIC WILD CHEERING (GUSTS OF LAUGHTER) (CACKLES DELIRIOUSLY) BOPPY JAMAICAN MUSIC Ugh! Mmwah. (SOBS) (SINGING) I'll pay you a dollar to shut up! We've got $9.52 from Yul Brenner. Thank you. We've got $184 from Derice and me. Sanka, how did your singing on the street go? How did it go?! It went like this. (SINGS) # People say, you know, they can't believe... Sanka, we know. # ..a bobsled team. Sanka. # We have the one... ALL: How much?! I made $1.16. Oh, that's great. We're only short about $19,000. Sorry I'm late, everybody. Don't pack a suitcase, Junior. We're not going. That's too bad. OOHS AND AAHS SANKA: Where'd you get it? I sold my car. Yes, man. I am going! No, we're not. Look here, Junior, I appreciate what you're trying to do. We can't accept this money. It wouldn't be proper. Oh, Derice... If I hadn't tripped you fellas we'd already be 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? Be sure to thank your father for us. He didn't have to let you sell that car. Well, ah, he doesn't know I sold the car. Um...(CLEARS THROAT) 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. EVERYONE LAUGHS (SINGS) # People say they can't believe # Jamaica, we have a bobsled team. # We have Derice... (SINGS) # And Junior... (SINGS) # Yu...Sanka... # The fastest of the fastest sprinters (BOTH) # Go to Olympics, fight for Jamaica. # JAMAICAN MUSIC PLANE ENGINES ROAR MUSIC TURNS TO COUNTRY ANNOUNCEMENT IN FRENCH OVER PA ANNOUNCER: Welcome to Calgary - Alberta, Canada. Home of the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. This is it. We hope y'all enjoy your stay. WIND HOWLS THUD Sanka, man, what you smoking? I'm not smoking, I'm breathing. (COUGHS) All right, fellas, this is us. Let's go. Go! SANKA: Ah, me first! What's wrong? You guys cold? It's not so much the heat, it's the humidity that'll kill you. WIND WHISTLES AND HOWLS SHOP BELL RINGS * ANNOUNCER SPEAKS IN GERMAN MUTED CONVERSATIONS Excuse me, do you know where I can register for bobsled? Do you know where you register for bobsled? ANNOUNCER SPEAKS IN ITALIAN Good to see you again. Take care. All the best. Can I help you? I'd like to register for try-outs. I'd like to register for try-outs. What country? (CLEARS THROAT) Jamaica. (CLEARS THROAT) Jamaica. What country? Jamaica. Oh, what do you know? Jamaican bobsled team. OK. Here it is. Ah, it says here your qualifying run will be held on the 10th. Your judges will be Shindler, Gremmer and Kroychzech. I know Kroychzech. He's a good guy. 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. Used to be a minute five. Yeah. Times change. (INCREDULOUS) Irv? Is that you? Roger! How you doing? Hello, Kurt. It's 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. Roger, you gotta do me a favour. What? You know the revolving restaurant? Meet me there in half an hour. Half an hour?! Yeah. Please! I'll try. Thanks, Roger. What's up, Irv? How about a drink? No, I'm fine. What's so important it couldn't wait? Want something to eat? No, I'm fine. A salad or... Irv! I need a sled. You came all the way to Calgary without a sled? I got $4800. I just need something competitive. For five grand?! I know you've got something lying around. 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? 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? You haven't changed a bit. Yeah, yeah. Don't get mushy on me. Just tell me one thing. Is this all a big joke or do you expect the Jamaicans to qualify? Not only are they going to qualify, they'll turn heads doing it. Listen, three of these guys can run the hundred in under 10 flat. I don't care who you are, that's lightning. Yeah, but can lightning run on ice? BLUE DANUBE WALTZ No problem, man. LOUD THUDS ALL GRUNT AND GROAN Irv! These special shoes aren't very 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. Whoa!! Argh! (FED UP) Yeah, like that, yeah. Good. Hey, fellas, look at my progress. Quit touching me! Ugh! BUZZER SOUNDS All right, fellas, that's it. Let's get off the ice before practice. What practice? That practice. GATE SLAMS OPEN Oooh! Argh! Ugh! That's right. Argh! Good team this year. INTENSE MUSIC METALLIC CLUNK BANG BANG DRIVER COUNTS DOWN IN GERMAN: Eins, zwei, drei! DRAMATIC MUSIC SLED RUMBLES DOWN TRACK WIND RUSHES Did you see this on the hill? It was like a miracle. What's Schweiz? No, man, Swiss. It's the real thing, man. Gentlemen. I'd like to introduce you to the newest member of our team. Um, you won't believe what I had to go through to get us a sled in such good shape. Ah...(CLEARS THROAT) if we're going to make it into the Olympics, this is the boat that's going to take us there. Well, I'm told she's actually quite fast. CLANGING SOUND I know she's not much to look at, but... Shh. She's beautiful. * LIVELY TALKING AND CHATTERING IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES TRUCK ENGINE STOPS Here we go. Let's go. Let's go. CLANG CONVERSATIONS STOP DEAD SILENCE SANKA (DRY): Oh, this is good. This is it. You better climb in. Hold that. I don't understand. We're not going to push start? No, we'll push start next time. First up, I'll just nudge you off. OK, everybody in. Come on. Don't touch me. SANKA: Hey, baldy, get off my foot. Don't touch me! JOSEF: Hey, Blitzer, why don't you put training wheels on that sled? UNKIND LAUGHTER That's funny. Very funny. You want to kiss my egg? I'm not kissing no egg. Suit yourself. Listen up. Don't worry about looking good out there. Ah, Blitzy, you going to tuck them in, too? SCATTERED LAUGHTER 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. Scary, ja? What's his problem? He's Josef Grool. He's one of the best drivers in the world. He's one of the biggest assholes in the world, too. 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. THUD Oh, thanks, coach. What I'm here for. Oh, coach... Yeah? I gotta go, you know. Hold it. Hold it? Hold it. Hold it? Yeah, hold it! But, but, coach, I can't hold it. We're not bobsledding yet. Oh, yes, we are. Coach! Coach, coach!! SLED CLUNKS Sanka (SCREAMING): Coach! (SANKA SCREAMS IN TERROR) Slow down!! Slow down, slow down!! Oh, my God! Derice, Derice, I hate this! I hate you! THUD Whoa!! (SCREAMS) BANGING AND CLATTERING Sanka, you dead? Yeah, man. You can pee now. (GROANS) Too late. This is embarrassing. (COUGHS) Man, shut down that hotplate, fool. Those bananas are stinkin' like a dead dog. Back off, back off, eight ball. This is my mama's secret recipe. 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. Is that so? Yes, that's so. If it's a children's book, then it's too advanced for you. Are you trying to say I'm not smarter than a little child? No, what I'm saying to you is that you are the kind of club-toting, raw meat-eating, me Tarzan-you Jane, bald bubblehead that can only count to ten 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. (SLAMS DRAWER) But you see me? You see me? I'm different. I know exactly where I'm going. And after I, Yul Brenner, win the Olympics and become famous, I'm going to leave the island and live right down there. (CACKLES) What are you laughing about? (LOUD) Why are you laughing? 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'll still end up in a shanty like every other dock-working nobody. Says who? Says me, rich boy. What would you know? I know my father started off in a one room hut. Now he has 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. 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 will be. Especially for Jamaicans. GENTLE MUSIC Go ahead, Yul Brenner, you go and get your palace. SHOUTING What are you having there, a baby? I can't believe you're still cold, man. Cold? I'm freezing my royal Rastafarian nee-nees off. All right, we're up. Let's go. This is it. Give me that. OK. Now, this is our first real push start, but don't worry about it. It's no different than what we practised. We've done it 100 times. Derice, right here. Get your helmets on. Coach. OK, OK. THUMP Thanks, coach. Let's go, Derice, it's yours. Ridiculous. What's he doing? One... two... three. SHOUTING Go, go go! Now! Now! Now, now!! Now! CAMERA CLICKS (TEAM SPEAKS GERMAN) Those guys are pretty good, aren't they? Good? They're the best. You guys been having a little trouble out there, huh? Ah, we'll be fine. I sure hope so. It'd be a real shame to waste all that talent. I'm not worried. We have a good coach. (LAUGHS) Kid, I hate to say it, but you've got to wake up. Coach Blitzer is what's killing you. He's been useless since the day he was busted. What do you mean, busted? The '72 games. He 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' is gonna need all the help he can get. Coach. * SHARP DOOR KNOCK Maid service, sir. Would you like your bed turned down? Perhaps I could dust your head? Whatever's wrong with you is no little thing. Hurry up, man. I've a dead grandmother that moves faster than you. DOOR KNOCK What does that fool want now? (ANGRY) What? Sorry. What do you have there, man? A telegram. I know it's a telegram. What's it say? SOMBRE MUSIC From my father. He says I have to come home right now. (SIGHS) COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYS # Working # Working for my pay, hey # Every time pay day comes you know I'm down to my last # I'm dreaming # Dreaming of the good old days # When the working is done # We're gonna love that night away # 'Cause we're going nowhere # And we're getting there fast # If we finally make it we can both look back on these hard times # Just for a laugh GIRL: Hi. Howdy, pardner. # 'Cause when you've got love # You don't need too much money # I'm in love with you and don't you know, honey # We're going nowhere # And we're getting there fast. # You've worked too hard and too long. 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? Bloodfire! Man, you act like he's the king of the whole world. What should I do? (LOUD) What should I do? Hey, Jamaica... Keep it down. You are not owning zis place. (SMUG LAUGHTER) 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? (SOFT) I'm a real man. You want to say something, Jamaica? Come on, out with it. Come on, right now! Now look in the mirror and tell me what you see. I see Junior. You see Junior. You want to know what I see? I see pride. I see POWER! I see a bad-ass mother who don't take no crap off 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...(SIGHS) PRIDE! Pride. POWER! Power. And I see... A bad-ass mother who don't take... Who don't take no crap off nobody! Again. I see pride. Can't hear you. I see power. I see a bad-ass mother who won't take no crap off of nobody. Once again. I see PRIDE! Junior! I see POWER. I see a bad-ass mother who won't take no crap offa nobody. That's right. That's right. Junior Bevil. Where are you going? UPBEAT COUNTRY MUSIC FEET STOMP IN TIME 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 vot? Ow. Hey, Jamaica? Or else vot? Ugh. Come on, Jamaica. Say something. No problem, man. GLASS SHATTERS LIVELY COUNTRY MUSIC CONTINUES Excuse me, missy. Yippee-ki-ay. SCREAMING AND YELLING (ALL SNIGGER SOFTLY) (ALL SNIGGER SOFTLY) 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. Who's gonna laugh when Irv gets here? Now wait, wait. That East German fellow pushed MY team-mate. And bloodfire, 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. You don't see the Swiss team smiling, neither. In fact, if one of those Swiss boys ever came across a pretty girl, he'd probably yell, 'Eins, zwei, drei' and try to push her down some ice. (ALL THREE STIFLE LAUGHTER) What happened? Oh, I took care of the whole thing. I told the owner of the bar you were mentally disturbed. So he's not pressing 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. If we're even going to think about qualifying, we're each going to have to sit down and take a nice deep look inside. I didn't come this far to get my butt whipped. Actually now I'm here, I thought I'd do a little whipping of my own. Goodnight, 'gentlemen'. ALARM CLOCK DINGS (SCREAMS) Rise and shine. It's butt-whipping time. UPBEAT REGGAE MUSIC # Rise above it # Rise above it Not bad. Pick it up though, huh? ALL ROAR Come on, come on, come on. Now, now, now. # Just rise above it (SIGHS) WEIGHTS CLANK Good. That's it. Five more. Come on. Five more. Push it. Push it. Come on. That's it. That's it. Good. (GASPS) Good. Cool it, you're doing fine. You got any more? Come on, come on! Get in! SANKA: Oh! # You got to learn to believe in yourself # Listen to the man # There ain't nothing you can't achieve # If you work hard and sacrifice # Hear me now WHISTLE BLOWS Go, go, go, go. That's it. You gotta grip with your toes. GO, GO! # If those storm clouds reappear # You don't ever have to fear # Just rise above it # You have got to # Rise above it # I tell you once and I tell you twice You're going to have to do this on your own one day. # Come now, come now and take my advice # Rise above it (SHOUTING AND LAUGHING) Now, now, now, now. Straight. Right. Straight. Right. That's it. That's it! # Rise above it # Rocks down the river but I can't feel the sun # Rise above it # You can do it # Rise above it... # OK, guys. Tonight's the night. In a few minutes you're going to get a chance to do something that no one in your country has ever done. I was going to 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. DELIGHTED MURMURS I'll freeze in this. * GRUNTS OF EXERTION Hello, gentlemen. Irv, this is Karl Shindler. He'll be watching the middle track. How do you do? This is Auguste Gremmer. He'll judge 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? (JAMAICAN ACCENT) No problem, man. Go get 'em, kid. SOLEMN MUSIC ANNOUNCER: Track's clear for Jamaica One. Eins... Zwei... Drei... ALL SHOUT Go, go, go. Now, now, now, now. ANNOUNCER: Bob on track. All right, what was that time? 6.13. SLED THUNDERS PAST BRAKE SHRIEKS LOUD RATTLING DEAFENING RUSH OF WIND SLED BRAKES CRUNCH IN SNOW Under 60. Is it under 60? TENSE MUSIC JUBILANT HOOTING UPBEAT CALYPSO MUSIC WHOO-HOO! 59.46. (LAUGHS GLEEFULLY) I'm sorry. I'm out of here. That's terrific. SOFT REGGAE MUSIC PLAYS GOOD-NATURED CHATTERING SANKA: Nobody had that much fun in a sled since Santa Claus. Fellas, here's to following your dreams. BOTTLES CHINK ALL: Follow your dreams. I said it to your father and I'll say it again. Sprinters make the best bobsledders. Here's to sprinting. BOTTLES CHINK So what are we gonna name the sled? How about...Tallulah? ALL LAUGH Tallulah...Tallulah... Sounds like a two-dollar hooker. How did you come up with that? That's my mother's name. ALL: Pretty name. Nice name. What's it gonna be, star? What are the people gonna scream 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! Peace be the journey. Cool Runnings. ALL: Cool Runnings. Excuse me. To the man in the orange suit. GLASSES CHINK To the messenger. ALL: To the messenger. SILENCE FALLS We are officially disqualified. DOOR BANGS OPEN LAUGHTER AND POMPOUS CHAT 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. Your team must compete in an international race 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 interests 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. I think we've heard enough. Come on, Kurt. What you're doing is wrong and you know it. 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 asked of them. And they did it with you all laughing in their face. 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. It's the single greatest honour an athlete could ever have. That's what the Olympics are about. 16 years ago I forgot that. Don't you go and do the same. Sorry if I interrupted your meeting. PHONE RINGS Hello. Yes? Yeah. Right. Goodbye. What? That was the Alliance. God. What did they say? Oh, they said we're back in. ALL CHEER LAUGHING AND SHOUTING TRIUMPHANT MUSIC SOUND OF TELEVISION Did I miss it? Did I miss it? No, child. You didn't miss a thing. ANNOUNCER: The team from Jamaica have made it all the way to Calgary for the bobsled event. Their flag bearer is the sled captain, Derice Bannock. Derice's father, Ben, was a gold medallist in the 200m at the Summer Olympics over 20 years ago. 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 is 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 in to our new home. Come on, Junior. Junior! Hey! Junior. 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? Shh. Our father who art in Calgary, bobsled be thy name. Thy kingdom come, gold medals won, on earth as it is in turn seven. SOFT CHUCKLING Liberty and justice for Jamaica. Amen. All right! Yes! DOOR KNOCK HAPPY CHATTERING Junior. SILENCE Now you listen to me, boy. You might not have done what you were asked, but you WILL do what you are told. You're coming home. Yeah, but, Father, 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 of it. ELEVATOR DINGS Go and get your things. I'll wait in the lobby. (SOFTLY) 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 is lucky to have a father who knows what's best for him. DOORS START TO CLOSE No, no, no. You don't know what's best for me. I am not a lost little boy, Father. I am a man. And, I'm an Olympian. I'm staying right here. ELEVATOR DINGS GENTLE MUSIC Hey, Junior Bevil. You're a bad-ass mother. * SOUND OF FLAGS SLAPPING STIRRING MUSIC TOURISTS CHATTER JOURNALISTS ALL TALK AT ONCE Oh, Canada, indeed. This is Al Trautwig, with John Morgan. We're at Olympic Park, the new bobsledding venue just outside downtown Calgary. Everybody, shut up. It's starting. Intense, exciting competition for the next three days. I am feeling very Olympic today. How about you? AL TRAUTWIG: This sport is made up of athletes who go to the edge and sometimes beyond it. It is why it will be extremely competitive and exciting. John, we're starting off with the gold medal favourite. The Swiss were fortunate enough to draw number one. They're the favourite to win. But the East Germans won the gold in 1984. The Canadians, it's their home track. You've got to favour them, too. They've been doing well in practice. (CALLS WITH THE SWISS) Eins, zwei, drei. CROWD CHEERS SLED RUMBLES One, two, three. GO! (CROWD CHANTS) USA, USA, USA. TRAUTWIG: 80 miles an hour or close to it. JOHN: The track is getting extremely fast. I was worried about the Austrian team's safety. The last big 180 degree turn draws 4 g's of force. If you were worried about them, what about our last and next team? It certainly seems strange that surrounded by ice and snow, we are about to see a team from the tiny island of Jamaica. ENTHUSIASTIC CHEERS Quite a story for them to even get here. They came out of nowhere. A lot of teams up on top of the hill feel the Jamaicans don't belong here. CROWD BOOS Hey! Hey, what are you doing, man? That's what the Swiss do to psych themselves up. They also make them little pocketknives. But I don't see you doing that. All right, guys, we're up. Knock it off, will you? Let's go, come on. Get your start positions. Remember, we don't have to win on the first day. It's just like any other run. Except a hundred million people are watching. Derice, did you forget something? Thank you. Ready. Ready. Ready. Ready. Eins...zwei... drei. Go, go, go, go! Get in! Get in! AL: As the team attempts its first ever Olympic event. Look at this! They have to get into that sled. I've never seen anything like it. I know it's not funny. But how embarrassing. Thank goodness. For a minute I didn't think they'd all get in. And that could have been disaster. SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT Most importantly, you have to get in the sled with cat-like movements. Get in, get relaxed. CRASHING SOUND Ooh, look at that! Bounces off the wall, ricochets like a pinball. Derice looks like the sled's driving HIM. That fool better watch his mouth. That fool better watch his mouth. He better watch more than that! SLED CRUNCHES This team may be thinking this wasn't such a great idea. Their heads are bouncing around like rag dolls as they come through the finish at a time of 58.04 - which will be good enough for last place. MELANCHOLY MUSIC 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... You know, when the Swiss want to... ALL GROAN ANGRILY Will you shut up about the damn Swiss? It was all that 'eins, zwei, drei' that got us nervous in the first place. Hey, man, look here! I'm just trying to get us off on the right foot. The right foot for us is not the Swiss foot. Come on, Derice, we can't copy nobody else's style. We have our own style. Kissing an egg is no kind of style. It's the Olympics here. This is 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 Jeffreys 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. COMMOTION AND SHOUTING SANKA: Greetings from Jamaica! (ALL CHANT) # Jamaica, we have a bobsled team # People say, you know, they can't believe # Jamaica, we have a bobsled team # We have one Derice and one Junior # Yul Brenner and the man Sanka # The fastest of the fastest of Jamaican sprinters # Respect to the man Irv Blitzer. # All right, gentlemen. Respect. ALL: Respect! TRAUTWIG: We now come to the second chance for the four intrepid men from Jamaica. What do they have to do, John? In reality, I don't think they have any chance at a medal. God, just let it be better than yesterday. Ready? ALL: Ready. SANKA: Feel the rhythm! Feel the rhyme! Get on up. It's bobsled time! Cool Runnings! EXHILARATING MUSIC JOHN: That's a hair faster than the Swiss! That's a big difference from yesterday. It's an absolute shock. Yesterday they were falling down. Now they slide in neatly. Yesterday their heads bobbed everywhere. Today they're in unison. SLED THUNDERS PAST SLED ROARS TRAUTWIG: Can this really be happening? What a different line through the Omega! Looking possessed here. It's not the same team! Where did these guys come from? (PROUD SHOUT) Jamaica! CROWD CHEERS AND SQUEALS Wow! 56.53! WHOO! Yes, YES!! (SCREAMS) Did you hear that time? Yes! Ha ha! TRIUMPHANT MUSIC MEN SHOUT AND LAUGH SCREAMS OF JOY JOHN: That moves them to 8th. Watch out world, Jamaica's coming! DISTANT LAUGHTER Derice, you in here? Hey, coach. Oh, there you are. How are 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 grab a bite to eat. Want to join us? Nah. I didn't think so. I'll pick you something up. Hey, coach. Yeah? I have to ask you a question. Sure. 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, (SIGHS) 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. DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES Welcome back to sledding for the last day of competition. It's medal time. The top six teams are separated by only half a second. I didn't expect to see you here. Well, my dear, we've got a team in the Olympics, don't we? The most astonishing is the Jamaicans. They have a chance at a medal. Everybody, shut up. My boy's on TV. And you're not the only one to get excited about it. The fans here have an extreme case of Jamaica fever. Al, so do I. LAUGHTER Oh, no, no, no, no. So do WE. Do I have to tell you whose turn it is now? ALL: Respect! CROWD CHEERS Dreadlocks, let me kiss your lucky egg. ANNOUNCER: Next team up is Jamaica. All right, fellas, that's us. Let's go. Here we go. Today's our day. Come on, guys. We can do it. Derice. See you at the finish line. AL: With the kind of push starts 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! DYNAMIC MUSIC CHEERING AND BARRACKING Go, go, go, go! AL: One, two, three, four. All of them in. And look at that time. They've shaved another few hundredths off. Al, they get better every time down the track! MOMMA COFFIE: Derice, go! My boys! Look at how the sled's cornering. Very smooth. It's like he's been driving a sled for ten years. Bannock looks possessed here. AL: What the heck. Go, champ! SLED RUMBLES WIND RUSHES SCREW RATTLES LOOSELY BLADE RATTLES 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. SLED SLAMS INTO WALL OMINOUS RATTLING This does not look good. Something's got to be wrong. The Jamaicans on a record pace as they fly almost out of control. Now the speed seems too much. I don't think he can hold it. OH! SICKENING CRUNCH METALLIC RATTLING SHRILL SCRAPING DEAFENING SCRAPE DEAD SILENCE TENSE MUSIC SANKA: Derice, you dead? No, man. (GROANS) I'm not dead. I have to finish the race. SOFT HEROIC MUSIC Excuse me, please. Excuse me. CROWD STAYS SILENT MUSIC RISES STIRRINGLY UTTER SILENCE FROM CROWD (SOLITARY HAND CLAPS) OTHERS SLOWLY JOIN IN CLAPPING CLAPPING GROWS LOUDER AND FASTER CHEERS AND CALLS BREAK OUT STIRRING MUSIC SWELLS CROWD ROARS ELATED CHEERING WHISTLING AND SQUEALING Sehr gut, Jamaica. See you in four years, ja? Yeah, man. Junior Bevil. That doesn't mean that I like you. (LAUGHS) SENTIMENTAL MUSIC Thanks, Irv. Thank YOU. (JOYFUL LAUGH) Hey, coach, coach. I'm proud of you guys. You all right? Can I get a picture, please?