Bert and Dickie

You're off, then?

Yes, I, er... We did agree.

It's Henley. They're going to select the Olympic team.

And I'm bang up to date.

Mr Bushnell, you are never anything other than up to date.

I'm merely lamenting that your... inclination

does not match your diligence.

And that you do not take as much pleasure from your employment

as you do from rowing your boats.

-I scull them.

-I beg your pardon?

I'm a sculler, sir.

A rower's a bloke who has one oar. I have both. So...

I'm really not that interested, Mr Bushnell!

And nor is anyone else, if you read today's Daily Mail.

A rather perceptive editorial...

I'll make my time up, of course, sir.

-What?

-In lieu...

You can rest assured. Only... I should be heading off.

Let's just hope you're selected now!

-For goodness' sake!

-Sorry!

What time do you call this?

Bert!

I thought I'd miss you...

Mr Bushnell.

I just wanted to wish you luck.

Go.

I've got to get back anyway...

Yeah... I, erm...

Thanks for coming, though.

I appreciate it.

Do your best!

Has she finished at secretarial college, then?

Margaret? Is that how come I'm seeing so much of her?

You aren't seeing so much of her! She only stopped off to wish me luck.

Well, you're going to need it, by the time we get there.

That isn't her fault! That's Hawkin's -

keeping me in to the last bloody second!

God, you don't know what I'd give to leave him, Dad,

-come and work with you.

-Yeah, well, you can't. You know that!

Look at it! It's a complete wasteland still.

Nobody would be the least surprised if we called it off.

We have no money. We have no resources.

Everything is rationed.

But we've already agreed!

What Lord Aberdare means, sir, is that we gave our word

to the International Olympic Committee.

We said, unequivocally, that we could still stage the Games.

-Why?

-Because the bloody Yanks were after it!

-What?

-They said they could step in to help us out.

Rather as they had done in the war.

Well?

I... I wasn't sure if you wanted me to say anything, sir.

This is Harold Wilson. He's my Secretary for Overseas Trade

and somewhat of your persuasion.

Tell me again...

Tourism, sir!

We will never have a better opportunity

to develop our tourist trade than this.

We need hard currency to stimulate the economy.

And I firmly believe that the 1948 Games could bring that in!

The treasury is bare...

Remember that!

HE SIGHS

TANNOY: 'Passing the mile signal,

'Winstone and Burnell

'of Kingston and Leander.

'Just maintaining their lead

'ahead of...'

TANNOY ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTINUE

-Bert, where have you been?

-Albert, don't you start, please!

Right, well, I won't, then. She's all ready.

Me and Frank have got her perfect.

You just get limbered up for your big moment!

No pressure, obviously.

TANNOY: 'The result of the final of the double sculls challenge cup...'

HE COUGHS AND PANTS

I'm sorry, Richard.

TANNOY: '..beat RF Winstone and RD Burnell of Kingston Rowing Club

'and Leander Club by two lengths.

'Time seven minutes, 54 seconds.'

Richard!

Father.

Bad luck, old boy!

COUGHING CONTINUES

-Are you all right?

-Not really.

It was a damn fine effort.

That's the proof. You should shower.

-I'll buy you a drink.

-Cheers.

Gentlemen.

Beresford. Richard, this is...

Jack Beresford. Of course.

It's an honour. And congratulations.

I gather you're to oversee

the training of all the British Olympics?

Indeed. A great honour,

as well as chairing our final selection panel.

Ah...

Right.

Well, I'm sorry Dick and I won't be featuring in your deliberations.

We've been rather off colour all summer.

I should shower.

That's the thing, though, Mr Burnell!

I'm looking for the best oarsmen,

not necessarily any existing formation.

I believe that our greatest chance of winning medals

will come not from sticking with what is familiar but...

rather by trying out one or two new formations.

Placing the best with the best. Do you see?

CHEERING

APPLAUSE

TANNOY: 'The results of the Diamond Challenge Sculls.

'MT Wood of Australia beat BHT Bushnell of Maidenhead Rowing Club.'

THEY BOTH PANT

Great race, mate! Jeez, the way you went off,

I thought you'd be in the bar before I was halfway down!

See you back here in five or six weeks, eh?

It's unbelievable!

Suddenly discovering reverse gear in an Olympic trial.

And that was Margaret's fault, was it?

You know, she was waiting for him, after work,

even after he promised he'd stop seeing her.

-I don't remember that.

-That's because I never said it!

HE SIGHS

Incredible!

He's been looking to have a go at her ever since he picked me up.

-Oh. And I wonder why!

-Stop it both of you, for goodness' sake...

What's done is done.

He can call round for half an hour, surely?

He knows he can't stay out all night.

He's got work in the morning.

RADIO: "Come Per Me Sereno" by Maria Callas

BABY CRIES

Got it! It was by the oven!

You see. I do not throw everything out.

I do not have a mania for cleaning.

See you later.

ENGINE STARTS UP

-Father.

-Richard! How lovely!

I was just passing by...

Sorry, are you rushing?

Do you mind? I, erm...forgot my copy.

-The editor's screaming blue murder.

-Of course.

They said at your office you were frantic.

So... You weren't just passing by, then?

You were looking for me?

I wondered if you'd had any further thoughts.

All of that...chopping and changing that Beresford was mentioning.

You know, I was thinking on the way over, "Poor old Winstone...

"If only he knew he might be about to be sacrificed

"at the altar of modern sport."

Yeah, I know! I'm a relic, Richard.

Time moves on. I'm well aware of that.

HE SIGHS

Oh, take no notice of me, old boy.

I was merely...interested.

And of course, you must make your own decision.

You're the one who's got to live with it, after all.

HE SIGHS

-I was certain I'd get a letter in the post today.

-Bert.

It's fine. It's all going to be fine.

You'll hear soon enough.

They can't not pick me!

Even though Henley was...

I'm the fastest single we've got!

I should get cracking.

Wait!

I've brought you something.

Oh.

Help you with your training.

-Oh!

-It's tripe and onions.

-I've made it into a sandwich.

-Can you do that?

Aye. As long as you squeeze the sides together.

Thank you.

It's the stuff of champions!

All right, Albert? Five medals.

Five Olympic medals.

-Eh?

-Beresford!

Jack Beresford? He's in there?

What did I just say?!

Here you are. Hold that.

You're in.

-You've been selected for Great Britain's Olympic Rowing Team.

-Yes.

Yes!

I want you to row in the double sculls.

-What?

-The committee is selecting you,

on my recommendation, to row in the double sculls competition.

But...I'm a single. There's no-one better than me!

-Merv Wood beat you just the other day.

-I beat him...

out in the Argentine. I... Look, look.

It's what I've trained for, Mr Beresford. All this time.

Tony Rowe will be our single scull.

He has that seat.

If you wish to compete in the Olympic Games,

you must do so in the double sculls.

Before you do that, Mr Bushnell...

..let me say my piece. If I may?

-You might win the single.

-Then...

However, you might lose.

And I don't like to lose.

I know that.

I won Olympic medals in Antwerp, Paris, Amsterdam,

Los Angeles and Berlin.

But the greatest of these, Bert, was in Berlin,

in front of Hitler himself,

overcoming a German crew and winning the gold.

That was double sculls.

That was the last Olympics.

We have a reputation to maintain in that event.

-And I believe we can maintain it...

-What, in five weeks?

In five weeks, I can put together a crew that will be very fast.

Very fast indeed. And which will win the gold medal for Great Britain.

Now, I want you to be one half of that crew.

I want it.

The question is...

..do you?

Who with?

Who'd my partner be?

I've arranged for you to meet him this evening.

Excuse me, sir. Are you a member?

-I beg your pardon?

-Of Leander?

No. I'm in the Great Britain squad. I'm here for training.

I understand, sir.

However, if you're not a member of the club itself,

I can't grant you access to the club rooms.

But I've got to get my kit on!

Of course!

And there is direct access to the changing rooms

around the back of the building.

HE SIGHS

DOOR OPENS

Hello.

Richard Burnell. You're...

Bert Bushnell.

I saw you win the Wingfield Sculls last year.

-I covered it, actually.

-Yeah, I heard that.

You write for The Times, don't you?

I don't read it myself.

Well, it's...just the rowing...

I actually work for the British Council.

Oh.

Anyway, it was a terrific effort.

I'm a good sculler.

How long have you been doing it?

Oh. Not long, really.

It was always eights for me.

Couldn't find a crew after the war, so...

I mean, I'd always done a bit. Just, you know, not competitively.

Sounds like you weren't that competitive

when you went out with Dick Winstone.

Then again, you got rid of him, didn't you,

-which shows you've got some ambition, I suppose.

-Excuse me!

Winstone is a good man and I most certainly did not get rid of him...

I don't care whether he fell on his sword

or you stuck it right between his shoulder blades.

All I care about is whether a bloke can scull or not.

DOOR OPENS

Well, I can!

Good!

Excellent!

You've met.

We'll get straight to it, then, shall we?

We'll take it down to Hambleden and back.

Nothing too strenuous, too soon. All right?

What are you doing?

I'm taking my socks off.

-Is that all right?

-Well, you might get blisters.

I don't.

Then I can feel how the boat's running.

All right, lads. Let's get going.

What are you happy with?

What?

Rate. Don't need to go mad.

No... I tell you what, though...

Dickie. Can I call you Dickie? It seems to suit you.

Why don't we give it a quick burst to start off with, eh?

Blow the cobwebs away.

-Fine. You call it.

-Yeah. Course.

Right.

Now!

Now, now...

Bloody hell!

Now, now, now!

BOTH: Arrgh! Arrgh! Arrgh!

THEY PANT

There you go. Not too bad.

Take it back, yes?

What?

Jack said there and back.

No. Wait!

Wait!

BOTH: Arrgh! Arrgh! Arrgh!

THEY PANT

What the bloody hell was that all about?

You don't win if you don't pull together.

It's that simple. Now, grow up.

Both of you!

Back here tomorrow morning, six-thirty.

On the question of inspiring the nation...

One or two gold medals?

Lift the spirits in these somewhat difficult times. Hmm?

THEY CHUCKLE

Well, we're very hopeful in sailing.

Is that it?

Well, and rowing, too.

And we think we've got a fair chance in the etching.

Olympic Etching?

Poetry, possibly too.

Gentlemen, I'm sorry,

I didn't realise there were Olympic competitions in such things.

Oh, yes. We did check the rules.

The thing is, sir, we have had to slim down the scale

of some aspects of the Games, necessarily, because of the cost.

So we're looking to plump out the schedule in other areas.

And you're sure people will go?

Absolutely.

Come on!

The speed's there - I know the speed's there.

But there's no...finesse.

You're not recovering smoothly and the re-issue's awful,

-never mind the check you're...

-It's our second outing, Jack.

And your first race is in five weeks.

-The boat's...

-The boat's fine!

-It's your rhythm!

You need more time on the water. Let some smoothness in.

Long, slow paddles, any chance you get.

I'll see you back here tonight.

'It needs re-rigging.'

No, it doesn't!

Bert, the boat is...the best.

All right? I saw to that.

And if we start fiddling with it at this late stage,

you know what happens.

It's like a golfer changing his swing on the eve of a competition.

It always turns out badly.

So let's just do what Jack says.

And spend some extra time on the water.

No, not that. That's the worst idea.

We're too tired after Henley.

I know I am.

Well, we have to do something.

We work on our technique. Jack's right. It's a mess.

Only, that's you. Especially the re-issue.

You gotta cock your wrist more, like a dog raising its paw.

-That's what I was always taught.

-By whom?

Someone who coached me for a while.

Dan Cordery.

So, he's a professional. So what?

We're amateurs. We like it that way.

Dickie...

I have never taken a penny for getting in a boat.

That's an amateur. Nothing else matters.

And, after that, it's all about winning, by any means possible.

See? You think differently, don't you?

Amateur, to you, it's a bloke who loves his sport

and who uses nothing to gain advantage over his competitors,

except his own determination

-and those gifts God has happened to bestow upon him.

-Mm.

The only problem with that, Dickie,

"six foot four inch tall" Dickie,

"bred from the best stock there is in England" Dickie,

-with your Eton and your Oxford education...

-Mm.

..and your Times newspaper job, Dickie.

The only problem with that...

is that when God was doling out them gifts

and setting up the natural order of things...

..he wasn't always that even handed, was he?

I read in this report there's still no floor for the basketball court,

that the British team can't afford a kit...

Dealt with!

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Yes, we have, as Lord Aberdare points out,

already solved those... particular problems.

Have you?

And how have you funded that, precisely?

The Finns are giving us the timber for the basketball court,

free and gratis.

Cooper's, the outfitters, have agreed to provide

every British male competitor with a free pair of Y-fronts.

They'll wear shorts as well?

Harold, we're not staging a bloody nude revue, man.

Of course they'll wear shorts.

They will have to supply those themselves, however.

I'm afraid the budget didn't quite stretch to that.

Oh! Damn... My back.

BABY CRIES

-Do you want a flag on them?

-What?

The shorts. It doesn't say.

It just gives the general measurements.

Frankly, the way I feel...

I think you might be wasting your time.

Is it really bad?

HE SIGHS

It's the starts.

We're trying to blitz it.

Somewhere near 40, 41. I'm not used to it.

-Tell Bert.

-I have told him.

But he reckons we'll need to be doing at least that.

No... Tell him it's hurting you!

No flag. Thank you.

They look wonderful.

They are terrific, they are.

Terry towelling, so they won't slip.

Good thinking! Always gotta look for the edge.

-Ooh! I've got something else for you.

-Eh?

Here.

Ooh, Mum. Oh, yeah, this is perfect.

I mean, my old one's too warm in this sunshine.

And they reckon it's going to be red hot right across the competition.

Well, you were all right in Argentina.

I wasn't pulling behind Dickie, then, was I?

DOOR CLOSES

-Anyway, I'll be the best-dressed bloke in the final.

-Oh!

Oh, I'll get to the final, Mum, don't you worry.

You won't if you stay out until God knows what hour every night.

-John...

-He was supposed to be home, watered and in bed by nine-thirty.

-Well, I...

-You've been down The Gaumont again, I know.

It's not much after half past now.

It's after it!

There. You may as well have that...

if you're up.

It's bread, you can have a dripping sandwich.

Where's it from?

We've had our ration this week.

Yeah. I... It's extra.

You've been to see Lewis. He's a crook, John!

He made all of his money on the black market

-and we're not going to help him get any richer now.

-Mum!

-No!

-Lena!

There is a right way to behave in life and there is a wrong way.

-And it matters.

-Mum... Mum!

DOG BARKING

Next door's dog!

DOG EATS IT

Dad...?

'The metropolis becomes cosmopolis.

'For the Olympiad, the world's athletes are pouring towards Wembley.

'Among them, the American swimmers. Or from America,

'the United States women contingent arriving at Southampton.

'And they're not just athletic, but good-looking too.'

Er, thank you, Wilson.

HE SIGHS

So... We have them here, anyway.

Absolutely.

Well, what about Wembley Stadium?

Track's down, scoreboard's up.

And we've found somewhere to hide the pigeons

for the opening ceremony.

So they won't have to be taken over to the stadium

until the actual afternoon of the event.

No more hanging around all day in the sunshine.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

What?

We...had a bit of a hiccup when we had the rehearsal yesterday.

What happened?

When we...erm, dropped the lids to release them...

several hundred of the birds had, erm...had cooked, sir.

Good God!

Good God, indeed!

We are blinking in the light of a new dawn, Lord Burghley.

We are not engaged in the wholesale slaughter of innocent avians.

No, sir.

And about poetry? Etchings, sculpture?

Have we shifted any tickets there?

Yes, sir, we have.

How many?

So far?

Yes.

19,500.

PANTING

Agghh!

What's up?

Nothing.

It's a...twinge, that's all.

It's going. It's going already.

Hey, Bert! Over here!

Ha! Jack!

Jack Kelly.

Oh, c'mon! As long as you're...

I'm fine! I told you - it's gone.

Oi! Mr Kelly! They are training!

As you should be, actually.

-Good to see you!

-You too. How are you?

-Yeah, good.

This is, er...Dickie Burnell.

-He's...

-Your partner, yeah.

I heard you'd changed your mind about taking me on in the singles.

Pleased to meet you. Welcome!

-Ah, great to be here.

-Where are you staying?

I don't know exactly. We're getting billeted!

Bert! Bert!

-Anyway, I reckon you'll be all right. We should get going.

-Yeah.

-Good to see you.

-Thank you.

-Good luck.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Best of luck.

-You too.

HE GROANS

Here, Dickie. Give it a wipe.

Agghh!

Right.

Now, tell us the truth. Is it going to torpedo us?

No! No...

I've had it before.

It eases off after a day or two. It's painful but...

It won't affect the competition.

It won't make any difference! You're getting worse.

What are you on about! We were miles quicker to the barrier.

Through brute force you were! So you were knackered on the way back,

which means you finished two seconds slower than last week,

with a rating of four strokes higher!

If you two don't discover some kind of rhythm,

you'll do well to get beyond the first round.

Except we know the answer.

-Long, slow...

-No! We can't...

paddle through it!

Bert's right, Jack. We haven't the energy.

Fine. Then solve it your own way. But solve it!

It's the boat. No. Look, Dickie!

-Please. Just, just listen to me...

-A bad workman...

-Yeah, I know that!

But we're both struggling. And it isn't getting any better.

It's the reason your back's knackered.

It's knackered due to the number of starts you've put us through.

They are a problem cos that's when the rigging gets the most hammer.

I've been sculling like that for the past eight months.

With a bloke who was 14 stone! I'm ten and a half!

I'm too high out of the water which means you're beating up the sculls

to get through the stroke, which you can because you're so strong,

but at the cost of wrecking your back.

The truth is, if we dropped the work by half an inch,

you'd be taking the right amount of strain

and we'd increase the span on the stroke! Look... I'll do it.

What?

I'm saying... I was thinking about it, you know.

It occurred...

-What, that I don't know how to do a re-rig?

-I don't know.

Captain of boats at Eton. Blue at Oxford...

I assume they have people.

I can rig my own boat!

The only reason I'm not doing this one is because it doesn't need doing

and if we start messing around with it now

we're going to ruin everything!

If it isn't running properly, might I suggest that

rather than blaming the silver spoon you forever see in my mouth,

you take a good look at the chip on your own shoulder,

and ask yourself, honestly, whether it and blind ambition,

are really enough in themselves to make a man a good oarsman,

or might he require one or two other attributes as well,

like skill?!

Where are you going?

Nowhere. I... Just for a walk.

I won't be long.

Yeah. And we know who with, don't we?

DOOR CREAKS

It makes sense.

And I apologise...

..for what I said to you.

No-one likes to be found out.

No.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Mr Bushnell, I...

Margaret, I, er...I didn't mean to surprise you,

but I...remembered Bert said you'd come home for your lunch.

I need to talk to you...

on a matter of some urgency.

What about this, er... rationing business?

Well, apparently a couple of our weightlifters

passed out yesterday.

One egg a week, you see, it's simply not enough.

It's the same with the distance runners.

They say a shilling's worth of meat a week, they just can't train on it.

Well, that's how it's going to remain!

If our Olympians can manage, then so can we.

But they're not managing!

That's a chop in the middle.

Barnsley chop.

-You get double meat on one of them.

-That's... Very kind of you.

Except, am I the only one who's actually...?

ALL: We've had ours!

Yeah, sorry, there was some... confusion

about what time tea was actually served,

so we got stuck in before you arrived.

And aren't they delicious?

-Mm...

-Those Barnsley chops.

So you just enjoy yourself, Mr Kelly.

You're our guest and we want you to go back to America

with good memories.

The King and the rowin' and...

..that chop.

We're happy to watch.

Great oarsman such as yourself.

That is magnificent.

TRAIN WHISTLES IN THE BACKGROUND

All right, Dad?

Bert?

Need some Fleetwax. Have you got any?

Dickie says we're on the water that much,

the boat could use an extra coat.

Yeah, he's right. You should. I'll get you some.

How'd it go today?

Yeah, good. Quicker today than we were at lunch time.

So... Still a way to go, though.

Well, the Danes are the ones to watch. But the Dutch...

Yeah, yeah! We know, Dad.

We've done our homework, so don't worry.

And I'll be... I'll be out by the time you get home.

But I'll be back by nine. I promise.

She ain't there.

What?

You're goin' over to Margaret's, aren't you?

Yeah. And I'm saying I'll be back by nine.

Yeah, and I'm just sayin' to you,

she isn't there, she's gone back to her mum's.

She's taken the train to Dumfries.

What are you on about, her mum's?

She... She said she'd meet me at The Gaumont.

How do you know?

You told her to leave.

-I did no such thing.

-You forced her!

I did not!

She accepted it, you know.

She appreciated you need a clear run now.

No distractions whatsoever.

I'd say shame on you,

but you don't know the meaning of the word.

You don't have to go into digs.

It's easier.

I can...focus.

Not sure I'd be much company for a few days anyway.

HE SIGHS HEAVILY

BAND PLAYS ROUSINGLY

RADIO: 'London, 1948.

'The 14th Olympiad of the modern era.

'Here, the athletes of the nations

'gather to pit their strength and skill.

'Physical perfection competing in international friendship.

'Britain is set. And so her King declares...

'I proclaim open the Olympic Games of London,

'celebrating the 14th Olympiad of the modern era.'

TELEPHONE RINGS

Which line does the Mexican diving team

need to take for the Empire Pool?

Metropolitan. Can anyone speak... What do they speak in the Lebanon?

Hello. Yes.

Er, oh, just a second. Matt Busby?

Something to do with a soccer team?

Right.

Mr Busby, good afternoon.

Yes, I see.

No. No, no.

TELEPHONE RINGS

I can appreciate that.

-Hello.

-I'll sort it out straightaway.

-Yes!

-Er, two dozen footballs to Enfield, please, straightaway!

Yes, of course, of course. I'll get onto that straightaway.

TELEPHONES RINGING

Richard!

HE SIGHS

Father. I, er...?

I thought you wouldn't mind.

No.

Of course.

You're welcome.

Been far?

Five miles.

On top of your work on the water?

It's fine.

We go at a slow pace.

It, er...oxygenates the muscles apparently.

Long and slow.

It's something Bert picked up in the Argentine.

Ahh... Overseas technique.

They produce some terrific oarsmen.

Absolutely. I wasn't...

If you're going to go with that sort of approach, then...

What sort of approach?

Here. I brought you something.

Single malt.

Help you relax.

Thank you. It's terrific.

You are allowed the odd nip, then, are you,

on this regime of yours?

You're a Burnell.

That's all the impetus you need.

HE OPENS THE DOOR

Let battle commence.

DOOR CLOSES

TELEPHONE RINGS

Burghley.

Oh, Prime Minister.

HE CLEARS HIS THROAT

Right. I see.

Well, good night, then, sir.

Mr Attlee.

Yes, I gathered.

He's at the Savoy Grill.

There with Wilson.

Having to wait for a table, apparently.

Place is...

Place is packed with foreigners.

Well, he's delighted.

Wanted to say, "Well done."

We're doing it, Clarence...

just about.

The world has come to London and...

..we're bloody well doing it.

THEY CHUCKLE

Mrs Bushnell?

-Mm.

-I'm...Richard Burnell.

Oh.

I...I need to talk to Bert... about tomorrow.

Oh, of course. Come in.

He's gone out.

Nerves. He'll be walkin' round somewhere.

Shouldn't be long, I imagine.

Why don't you come in, anyway... have a cuppa,

now you're here?

What's the problem?

Excuse me?

You're all over the shop. What is it?

It's nothing. I...

Oh, come on! You've got something on your mind.

That's why you're here, isn't it?

I'm someone you don't know well who you can talk to

without it bein' embarrassin', so...

I'm scared we won't win.

I mean, I...

I've never thought that before.

Because I want to...so much,

only...suddenly, this evening, when I was in my digs,

I... It's not Bert. It's me.

I just thought, I'm not sure I'm quick enough.

You know, I'm really not...

Shhh!

You don't say that again. All right?

You've told me and I've heard you.

Only that's it, all right?

Because you ARE going to win. You know why?

Because you deserve to. You know why you deserve to?

Cos you're here now, panickin' and worryin'.

I just...

Who doesn't want to win gold at the Olympics? Eh?

Every oarsman does. It's the pinnacle.

Yeah, I wanted one!

But I... I didn't know you rowed.

Right.

You come with me.

DOOR CLOSES

I won three coats and badges, scullin'.

I was good.

Only, it was always a gold medal I wanted, Olympic,

ever since I was a kid,

but soon as I started up the boat yard, that was that.

I lost my amateur status.

Yeah, I could've waited, I could've...

To get the boat yard goin'...

I could've given myself the ultimate test.

But I didn't, cos...

..I got the fear, too.

You know, "What if I'm not good enough?"

Everyone gets it.

Question is...

..what do you do with it?

You know, I walked away.

Told myself I could have won if, you know,

if the rules for amateurs hadn't been so tough.

I walked away.

But you're going to get in the boat.

I can see you are,

even feelin' how you do now...

..and because of that,

you're going to win, Dickie Burnell.

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Dickie?

Anyway, I should...

We've said all we need to, eh?

-I'll leave you to it.

-Mm.

What did he mean?

You've said all you need to say?

I...came looking for you.

Your father invited me to stay for a cup of tea.

-Oh.

-We had a good chat.

He said he's not going to watch until the final.

No...he never does.

Says there's only one race which matters, so why watch the others?

-It's a fair point.

-Mm.

Great Britain has drawn the Bucks station.

Italy on Centre and France on Berkshire.

THEY APPLAUD

Good draw, lads. Italy and France.

Put down a marker, eh?

'We're going to lose, Bert.'

Nah, not against these. Don't worry.

That's just the jitters, come on!

No!

We're going to make sure we lose.

What are you on about? We're going to...

The draw doesn't favour us.

If we win, we'll get the Danes too soon.

If we come second, we'll be in the repechage.

Win that and we still carry on through the competition

but we'll be on the other side of the draw to the Danes.

We won't meet them until the final.

If we win the repechage. What if...

We will win it!

It's still a risk. It's...

Well, of course it's a risk! But it's one worth taking.

You know that!

CROWD CHEERING

Trust me, Bert.

Please.

What the hell happened there?!

Came out the blocks like, er... It was beautiful!

And then, all of a sudden,

it was like someone threw an anchor over the side!

-I got a bit of cramp.

-What?

My legs cramped up.

-Oh, no.

-I'm not poorly. It was just...temporary.

I'm certain!

It's all right, Jack. We hung onto second.

We'll be in the repechage.

-Ha!

-What? It'll be fine. We'll win the repechage.

Against the Dutch!

No. Hang on. They're European Champions. That isn't right.

-They had a disaster.

-What?

Bow caught a massive crab and they never got their rhythm back.

Just made second. So it's them and you and, moments ago, Argentina.

Argentina?! What happened?

God knows. Somebody said that they did it deliberately.

To avoid the Danes in the semis.

I know.

Apparently, the coach punched the bloke who suggested it.

Don't blame him. It's the Olympics, for God's sake.

The point is, boys,

the repechage will be no procession.

And if you don't win that, there are no more second chances.

You're out.

MEN GRUNT

SHOUTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

The Dutch are goin'. Beat it in, Dickie!

They're goin'. The Dutch are going!

I don't want to know!

RADIO: "Printemps Qui Commence" by Maria Callas

Go on, my son, come on.

Breathe in, Dickie. Go on. Go on!

More!

More!

Yes!

Keep going! Keep going!

Come on!

Bury 'em!

Bury 'em, Dickie!

Yes! Go on! Go on! Go on!

They made it. They're through.

In the semis.

I say, they're through to the semis.

I don't care.

SHE TURNS THE VOLUME UP

Richard.

Well done!

Thank you.

I was hoping I'd see you.

Let me take you for some supper.

No. Thank you. I'm going out with Bert.

Ah. Good idea. Let off a bit of steam together!

Well, I'll leave you to it, then.

I thought you were terrific today.

Thank you.

Really dominated.

Not sure about that show-boating at the end but...

Sorry?

You'd won, Richard.

It was clear, long before you crossed the finishing line.

There really wasn't any need

to humiliate your opponents quite so thoroughly.

Ah.

I'm being churlish.

It was a magnificent row.

All I mean is...

..it's a gentleman's sport, Richard.

It would be a shame to forget that.

How'd you get on?

Won.

Good.

Says here, the Belgians' time from their first round

nearly broke the course record.

They're looking very quick indeed.

Flippin' heck. He'll be here in a minute.

-We could always pretend...

-No, we can't!

He made a special point,

"I'll be there at seven-thirty.

"Don't all start without me this time."

DOOR OPENS

I'm back!

Hello again!

Guess who's through to his semifinal?

It's spam and salad!

That's all we've got.

And the spam's disgustin'.

Potatoes aren't that good.

Oh, I see.

In which case...

maybe all this stuff that gets flown in from LA could be of use.

I've got 35 sirloin steaks,

four bags of rice, two bunches of bananas,

and three lemon cheesecakes.

Now, the steaks will keep, as long as you ice 'em for a day or two,

but the cheesecakes, they gotta go,

and cos of that, I hope you don't mind, I've, er...

invited some friends around.

Hey, fellas! Fellas!

Hello, Bert!

Oh! Was an effort today, wasn't it?

More than I thought it'd be.

Think the occasion, that saps you a bit an' all.

Either way.

Certainly felt it in the end.

Did you?

Legs are like lead.

All right, well...

That's all right.

We've got enough in the tank,

as long as we don't waste anything in the semi.

There's a way we can win it, Dickie, where we keep a bit back.

I've worked it out!

Belgium will get away fastest, except they'll drop off about 750,

be the Yanks we need to keep an eye on,

and I know with them, they don't race!

It's even splits all the way. I've looked at their times.

So all we gotta do is pick up their rate at the start,

sit with them to 1,500 and then crank it up in the last five -

38, 39, and that'll do it.

They won't be able to respond. They haven't got the speed,

which means we'll win it and we'll have something left for the final!

As long as they haven't got the speed,

as long as they haven't been holding something back.

I'm right.

I know I am.

Come on! I trusted you first round. Eh!

It's my turn now.

Besides, we're too tired for anything else.

PIANO MUSIC PLAYS

She won a gold in the discus this very afternoon!

She's apparently a concert pianist.

Attended the Paris Conservatoire. Micheline Ostermeyer.

She can knock out a tune, can't she? On the old Joanna.

Here, um... Have you got any change?

What?

For the phone box.

-How much do you need?

-How much you got?

TELEPHONE RINGS

Hello.

'Margaret? It's me... It's Bert!'

Oh... Right.

I wanted to ring and...apologise for not getting in touch sooner.

-Apologise? I just assumed you were busy with your training.

-'No, no.'

I was upset. You'd let my dad persuade you to leave and...

Point is, I should've called and I didn't.

But then, just now, I was watching this discus thrower and...

she was amazing.

'I thought of you straightaway and it hit me -

'whenever I'm...anywhere where...'

I dunno, where I feel inspired, you know,

'you always come into my head.'

And I think I must love you.

'I really must.'

You got that from watching a discus thrower?

'Yeah.'

I know. It's complicated. The thing is, I do!

Well, you're silly!

You're silly cos if you were upset you should have called me.

And you're silly because your dad was right.

'You did need to concentrate.'

What?

'He never persuaded me, Bert.

'I left because I thought it was for the best.'

And you're through to the semifinal now,

which is all that matters,

and that you love me.

That's quite good, too.

It's...mutual, by the way.

LINE BEEPS

Margaret, er... I've got no more money. I miss ya.

'I wish you were here.'

LINE GOES DEAD

All right! Stop shovin' at the back! Somebody's gonnae get hurt!

Here, Tam, you need to dae a rota.

So long in front, then move 'em on.

You've been here for two hours. You should be the first tae clear off.

Will you all just shut up?! I'm tryin' to watch my fiance here!

What? He's rowin', is he?

Aye. And it's called scullin', as a matter of fact -

ALL: Oooh! Scullin'!

Right. Wait here.

Come on!

Right! Let her through.

Let the lassie through tae the shop. Come on, then, out the way.

Oh, thank you! Thanks.

THEY ALL MOAN

All right! All right!

Tell us what's goin' on!

USA one length ahead after seven 750 metres.

The commentator says the wind is an enemy to Great Britain.

The Belgians are droppin' right aff.

Britain are comin' back!

Her fiance, he's a bloody giant, by the way.

Is he fae the Gorbals?

He's not that, he's the other one.

She's engaged to the one who looks like Harold Lloyd.

LAUGHTER

-Never mind, the bigger one's picking it up right now!

-Yes, come on.

Britain and the Yanks. Neck and neck.

Come on!

Britain edgin' it!

Our boys have got another gear!

-They're giein' it the hammer!

-Come on, Bert.

They've opened up a gap!

CHEERING

Great Britain wins!

Yes!

USA second!

And who cares who's third? We're through to the final!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

RADIO: "Mon Coeur S'Ouvre A Ta Voix" by Maria Callas

Good, lads! Thought you'd gone off too slow but timed it just right.

Just. How you feelin'? Good.

Good.

One more to do. Just...rest tonight. That's the key.

One more.

Good show, chaps.

Wonderful performance. Sheer guts.

I do beg your pardon. Charles Burnell. But everyone calls me Don.

How do you do, Don? Bert Bushnell.

Well, you're there! You've made it.

You're Olympic finalists.

Incidentally, I don't know if you got the finishing times.

Er, Parsner and Larsen, the Danes,

they won their semi in seven minutes, 48.3 seconds.

You beat the Americans in seven minutes, 55.1.

Tremendous effort! Your best time so far...

but still a good seven seconds off the Danes.

Perhaps another rasher of bacon in the morning, eh, Bushnell?

So lovely to meet you. Best of luck.

Seven seconds. Christ!

Well, they weren't being pushed, were they?

There was no-one near enough to push 'em by the sound of it.

-We can beat them.

-Yeah, but...

Don't listen to him!

I'm sorry. I...

I respect my father very much,

but he has a most...

particular sense of good sportsmanship,

which I find a little troubling at times.

I beg your pardon. I really do. I'm...

I need to rest.

Yeah, me too.

You all right, sir?

Yes. It's, er...fine.

Right.

Well, er...it's your battery.

You didn't have the radio on for ages, did you, sir?

Oh...

It's all right. I can arrange to have you towed back.

-Won't be a problem.

-What won't be a problem?

Bert... What are you doin' here?

I've just been rowing in an Olympic semifinal.

What about you?

Actually, I saw you. Yeah. We was comin' along and your mum said...

"Look, they're rowin'. It must be the Olympics," so we stopped.

He's through to the final.

Double sculls.

Oh, congratulations!

Ta.

And you're his dad? Ha-ha!

Well, you can have the new battery free, compliments of the AA.

-Yeah?

-Why didn't you tell me?

-What?

-You was watching! Have you seen them all?

Have you seen them all? Have you... Have you seen all my races?

Have you been doing this for ages?

It ain't something to get upset about, you know. We was proud.

We wanted to watch you.

So, why didn't you tell me?! How come you're hiding here?

Why didn't you sit with everyone else?

You didn't want to be around if I lost, did you?

-No.

-Yeah, you wanted to be able to make a quick exit!

-That's...

You're unbelievable! You're unbelievable.

That ain't right. Bert! Come back here.

I just didn't want to put him off.

Cheerio.

Mr Burnell!

Bert! Still here?

Yeah. I, er...

I was just thinking about tomorrow and...

..is there any chance that I could have a word with you...

in private?

Cheers.

He never told me he was still reporting...

..during the event.

Oh, I think he likes the routine of it.

Stops him from worrying too much!

THEY CHUCKLE

I don't think of him like that at all - Dickie.

I mean, to me, he's...

He's a rock.

I want to say that, actually, Mr Burnell... Don.

I want to say, he's a credit to you, Dickie is.

How you brought him up.

Thank you, Bert.

It's why I wanted to speak to you.

I...

need you to do me a favour.

I need you to look me in the eye

and tell me it's going to be all right tomorrow.

Bert...

HE CHUCKLES

I'm...

I'm exhausted!

I...don't want Dickie to know, but...

We finished that race today,

I could hardly get out the tub when we got to the side,

I was that knackered.

I'm sure it's there -

one last effort...

..even though...

..I'm tired.

I just need someone to help me unlock it...

..someone I truly respect.

KEYS RATTLE

It's a gold medal.

Olympic gold medal.

It's mine.

1908. Men's eight.

If Richard manages to come through first,

we'll be the only father-and-son gold medallists

in the entire history of the Olympics.

I...

Why didn't he say anything?

Why didn't you?

A gentleman doesn't boast, Bert.

I've always impressed that upon Richard.

It is a fact, nevertheless, that I have my medal

and he has yet to win his...

HE CHUCKLES

..despite all the training he puts in and the diet

and God knows what else...

but now, we'll find out -

is the son the match of the father?

I hope so. I really do...

..except one can never be certain.

That's the glory of sport - its unpredictability.

So...

while I can and will tell you

everything will turn out exactly as you hope tomorrow...

..the truth is, it won't actually make a blind bit of difference -

you're either made of the right stuff or you're not.

I got you sardines.

You need fish oil. You look knackered.

In fact, you should be in bed by now.

You're as white as a sheet. Do you know what time is it?

Bloody hell, Bert. You've got an Olympic final in the morning.

What are you playin' at!?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I'm sorry.

Right. Well... Never mind, you know,

except it's same as your mum says -

certain things matter...

..like not havin' any regrets in your life. That's one of 'em.

And you've worked too hard all these years to take any chances now, son.

So...

..eat your food.

I'll have it in my room.

All right, love. I'm ready.

Love?

You've not changed.

I'm not coming.

What?

-I'm staying here.

-But...

But nothing. I've made up my mind.

-You gotta come.

-No, I can't bear it!

You know how it upsets me.

I've managed up until now...

only not today,

not the final.

I daren't.

You tell me how it went when you get back.

How are you feeling?

-Good.

-Good?

Good.

This is it, then.

You're top men.

-Get away quick...

-We know what to do.

We gotta pull together, Dickie, if we're going to do this.

Two gotta become one. Only we are one! Already!

-Cos of our dads.

-What?

Trying not to let them down

and hating them one minute and loving them the next.

-What are you on about?

-My dad! And yours - Don!

I went to see him last night.

-I'm not sure now's quite the time to...

-Yes, it is.

It's exactly the time. That's what I'm saying.

Cos we've both spent our whole lives dealing with them and how they are.

Only, now, it's just us in the boat, Dickie.

It's just you and me, and that's enough.

It's more than enough,

cos we're a bloody good team.

Prime Minister.

I hardly dare tell him how well the advertising's worked.

All that stuff in the programme? No. I thought it was unlikely.

No... Amazing what these companies will offer.

I can see it catching on.

APPLAUSE

TANNOY: 'Sculling magnificently

'and past the finishing post,

'the winner by five or six lengths.

'The result of final for the single sculls -

'MT Wood of Australia, takes the gold medal,

'EG Risso of Uruguay, second, and Catasta of Italy, third.'

FOOTSTEPS APPROACH

Here you go, lads.

She's all ready.

MUSIC: "Vissi d'Arte" by Maria Callas

Don't be sick. Don't be sick.

Just breathe deep.

Look at your clogs, you're all right.

Just breathe.

Big start. 40.

Settle.

Go when they go.

You call it.

Yep.

Smile.

Etes-vous prets?

Ready.

Partez!

The race is under way. Great Britain are giving it a fair lick.

The Danes are there too. Maybe even inching it, in fact.

And Uruguay are not exactly hanging about either.

CHEERING

They're catching them. They're catching them.

Neck and neck. Neck and neck!

Bert!

Wait!

Soon. It's gotta be soon!

Don't bully it!

Now!

Hammer it!

They've overtaken them!

Sing...

Sing...

Sing...

Sing...

Sing...

Yeah!

Yes!

Yes!

Oh, yes! Oh, yes!

My dear old man.

TANNOY: 'Result of the double sculls -

'BHT Bushnell and RD Burnell of Great Britain win the gold medal.'

Lads!

You...buggers!

All down to you, Jack.

Great effort, great effort.

Not bad, lads. Not bad at all.

Enjoy it, Bert. Losing doesn't feel so great. Congratulations.

Bad luck, mate.

Congratulations.

Well done, Richard.

TANNOY: 'The medal ceremony, for the men's double sculls...'

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

'Ladies and gentlemen,

'please stand for the national anthem of Great Britain.'

BRITISH NATIONAL ANTHEM PLAYS

Here, Dad.

Take this.

Take it!

I want you to have it...

please...

..as a thank you.

We should go.

Hmm.

You keep saying that.