[Steam whistle blows]
¶ Down on the corner ¶
¶ everybody's lookin' for the race to start ¶
¶ they're issuin' a warning ¶
¶ every paid admission costs a piece of your heart ¶
¶ if you want it ¶
¶ you can get it ¶
¶ you can get it waitin' at the end of the line ¶
¶ now you're in it ¶
¶ gonna win it ¶
¶ nothin' matters but the matter of time now ¶
¶ one more night ¶
¶ come a brand-new day ¶
¶ one more fight to find the way ¶
¶ livin' in the usa ¶
[honk honk]
[Honk]
¶ Is it any wonder ¶
¶ you think you're runnin' on the downhill side? ¶
¶ roaring like thunder ¶
¶ feeling like a ticket on a one-way ride ¶
hey, you got to be quick.
What?
Awww.
¶ Comes a younger person to the top of the scene ¶
¶ is it fire? ¶
¶ desire? ¶
¶ let me tell you 'bout the American dream now ¶
¶ one more night ¶
¶ come a brand-new day ¶
¶ a brand-new day ¶
¶ one more fight ¶
¶ to find the way ¶
¶ livin' in the usa ¶
¶ one more night ¶
¶ come a brand-new day ¶
nice move, bill.
Thanks, Jake.
Wait! Hold the door!
Could you hit 5, please?
Thanks.
¶ Come a brand-new day ¶
¶ a brand-new day ¶
¶ one more fight... ¶
she told me she was majoring in political science.
¶ One more night ¶
¶ come a brand-new day ¶
¶ a brand-new day ¶
¶ one more fight to find the way ¶
¶ livin' in the usa ¶
¶ one more night... ¶
[telephone rings]
[Ring]
[Answering machine] You have reached the sommers residence.
Leave your name.
We'll get back to you soon.
Hi, mom. It's Marcus.
Marcus!
It's time we saw each other again.
I should be in St. Louis by dinnertime.
Bye.
[Beep]
Hello, Marcus? Hello.
Oh...
Shit.
Doreen Schwartz? You're next.
[Telephone rings]
Good afternoon. Stevens-sommers talent agency.
Hi, David. Just a second.
Mrs. sommers, it's David for you.
Hi, Davey.
Ma, guess who's coming home for dinner.
Marcus.
Of course I'm happy.
Mom...Think peace, o.K.?
O.K. Talk to you later.
Bye.
¶ Is it any wonder ¶
¶ you think you're runnin' on the downhill side? ¶
¶ roarin' like thunder ¶
¶ feeling like a ticket on a one-way ride ¶
¶ think about it ¶
¶ feelin' hunger ¶
¶ comes a younger person to the top of the scene ¶
¶ is it fire? ¶
¶ desire? ¶
¶ let me tell you 'bout the American dream now ¶
¶ one more night ¶
¶ come a brand-new day ¶
¶ a brand-new day ¶
¶ one more fight ¶
¶ to find the way ¶
¶ livin' in the usa ¶
¶ one more night ¶
¶ come a brand-new day... ¶
[church bell tolls]
I think I'm beginning to like brussels sprouts.
[Doorbell buzzes]
I'll get it.
Yes, can I help you?
Ha ha ha!
You bastard.
Son of a bitch.
Jesus. Hi.
Hi.
You lost weight.
No, you lost touch.
I got taller.
Who poured ugly all over the walls?
Mom just wallpapered.
Will you tell her you like it, please?
No.
Mom!
He's here.
Hi. Hi.
Sorry I'm late. I got held up.
Welcome home.
New wallpaper.
It's really nice.
I'm glad you like it.
The fish is still warm.
Come on. Sit down.
Oh, gee.
I already ate on the road.
Then I might as well--
I'll take those, mom.
Why don't you two, uh...You know.
Oh!
I got it!
I came home because I'm worried about Davey.
He should go away to college, mom.
I'll help pay if that's a problem.
Let's not start this again.
He is really old enough to be out on his own.
Yeah, and he's doing just fine where he is.
He's not doing fine.
He's almost flunking out.
I have friends on the faculty.
He is not doing well at all.
He could've. He's had a rough year.
That's our family motto.
"The sommers could've."
I could've, you could've, daddy could've.
We're always looking for excuses.
[Telephone rings]
[Davey] I'll get it!
I'll tell you about could.
I could be crazy about you, but I'm not.
And you could've made dad's last few weeks a lot easier...
But you didn't.
I know that.
Yeah, I got your pictures, vera.
Well, they're nice.
Yeah.
But I am a little disappointed.
I never thought it was true love, you and me,
but it was true sex.
Now you're telling me it was true, but it wasn't free.
I'm not in the modeling business.
My mother is.
You should call her for an interview.
Let's not fight. I'm too worried about Davey.
He's a smart kid. He just needs to get out of here.
Didn't you look at him?
What?
You're a doctor. Couldn't you tell?
Tell what? What's wrong with him?
Kids lose weight for all kinds of reasons.
You can get dizzy spells from an ear infection or a bad diet.
Have you taken him to a hospital
to have him checked out?
He's terrified of hospitals.
Why didn't you call me?
Because I couldn't.
The way things are between us,
I couldn't turn to you.
I kept hoping the symptoms would go away.
They won't go away if it's what dad had!
I'll take him back to Wisconsin for a cat scan.
I'll have him checked out, and I'll call you.
[Knock on door]
Yeah?
Hi.
Your rear wheel's not true.
It's better than the front one.
Yeah? Got a spoke wrench?
Yes.
Better take care of your equipment.
Yeah.
I heard you dropped out of premed.
Dropped out of prelaw, too.
So what are you studying now?
I have a double major--
eastern philosophy and cowboy movies.
The yin, the Yang, and the bang-bang.
Think we could get serious for a while?
You trying to be a one-minute brother?
After 18 months of phony phone calls,
you finally show up here.
You're late for dinner...
Now you want to hassle me.
If you're still concerned,
you can hassle me in the morning.
I have to get back to Madison tomorrow.
Why'd you bother coming here, then?
There.
Why don't you come with me?
Bring your bike. We'll ride around.
Just the two of us.
I would love to.
I shouldn't leave mom here alone.
Mom likes the idea.
What, with you?
Yeah.
Ask her yourself.
Either you drugged her senseless,
or you'll be up for the nobel peace prize.
Mom!
Mom says you've been riding the bike a lot.
A little. 30-40 Miles a day.
You been doing any racing?
Yeah. I go on these really long rides by myself,
and I sort of pretend I'm in a race.
The pack's chasing me,
they get me, we sprint...
It makes the Miles go faster,
keeps my mind off of things.
Do you ever race against me?
Yeah. We had a pretty good one last week.
How did I do?
I nipped you at the finish line.
You going to try out for the Olympics again?
I'm a little too old for that.
At least you made the team once.
I thought I was an alternate.
It's the same thing.
It's not the same.
You could've gone.
No more "could've." I didn't.
All right?
O.K.
Look...
There are these decisive moments in bike racing.
When the moment came...
I gave up.
Just set it anywhere.
Want something to eat?
No, I'm just sleepy.
O.K. If you do, the fridge is full.
You like this sofa?
Yeah.
Good. It's all yours.
This really doesn't look like a doctor's house,
you know?
Whenever the newspapers wrote about bombed-out beirut,
this is what I imagined it looked like.
Hi.
Oh, jeez...
Oh, Sarah, this is David.
Davey, Sarah.
Hi.
Nice to meet you.
Bombed-out beirut, eh?
If you hear strange noises coming from the bedroom,
don't worry.
It's just Sarah and I
in the grips of a wild sexual frenzy.
Yeah, sure.
You think he's joking?
No, ma'am.
You sleep tight.
Good night, Dave.
Ohhh.
God.
Ssss!
So where are you guys going to go ride?
We'll sprint with Eddie.
Be careful, David.
Eddie's a real son of a bitch.
See you guys later.
See you.
Bye-bye.
Who's Eddie?
Sarah's right. He's a real son of a bitch.
Then why ride with him?
He's a good sprinter, and I need sprint work.
I got a big race coming up.
Good morning, Sarah.
Good morning.
[Knock on door]
I'm not in yet.
Good morning, Dennis.
How are you doing?
Fine. You?
Fine. Want some juice?
Marcus came back last night.
So soon? What happened?
It's his brother David.
You know the family history.
There's a chance his brother might have it now.
Oh, Christ.
Boy, that family's got a curse on it, hasn't it?
Sarah's apache? She's really apache?
She's also black, scotch-Irish, Chinese--
I've met all those before,
but I've never met an apache.
Where's Eddie live, anyway-- Minnesota?
Right up there in this house.
Hey, Eddie!
[Whistles]
You coming?
Eddie!
[Grr]
Shouldn't we wait?
He'll catch us.
[Growling]
Here he comes.
That's Eddie?
That's him!
You son of a bitch!
You better pump!
¶ You're just a dog... ¶
how do you like Eddie, Dave?
He likes you!
He hasn't eaten, Dave!
You son of a bitch!
Look out! Shift down!
Ow! Get away!
Get away! Go! Go!
Get out of here, dog!
He took the shoe!
Ha ha ha!
Marcus, he ate my shoe!
I got to go back!
You want to go back?
Wait for me here, all right? I'll be back.
Burn the grease, Billy!
O.K., watch me closely.
Davey.
I want you to meet somebody.
I took him for a ride with Eddie.
Davey, Dr. Dennis Conrad, founder of this place.
David, how you doing?
Let me give you the 10-cent tour.
What we do here in sports medicine
is determine an athlete's potential.
Then we help him or her achieve it.
We analyze, we theorize, proselytize...
Sometimes we even sympathize.
But we never, never rationalize.
What do you think about all this?
Whew!
There's our motto.
"Res firma mitescere nescit."
Roughly translated-- "once you've got it up, keep it up."
Right?
Right! Right! Right!
All right.
Ready for the torture test?
I love to torture guys your age.
I think he needs to rest.
Maybe tomorrow.
You free tomorrow?
No.
Uh, well, maybe.
Tomorrow it is. Take it easy. Nice meeting you.
Come on, Denise.
I told you, didn't I?
You didn't die yet, so die or do something.
Can I ask you something?
Does anybody ever say no to that question?
Go ahead.
Can you speak apache?
No. Your mother's half French.
Can you speak French?
Uh, no.
I can.
We're here.
Hi.
Is dinner ready?
Just about.
Good. Davey.
This is Leslie. Leslie, David.
Hi. I saw you today, didn't I?
At the institute. I saw you, too.
Yeah. Well, nice to see you again.
Yeah...You, too.
Butter.
I never expected Dr. sommers' place to look like this.
You've never been here?
It's my first time.
Oh. I wonder who the occasion is.
Big mistake.
Let's sit down. Leslie, why don't you sit here?
David.
Yeah? Oh.
Excuse me.
Yeah.
Davey's taking our famous torture test tomorrow.
Oh, really?
I have a feeling
you're taking yours tonight, Leslie.
[Laughs]
Oh...Salad.
I love salad.
Oh--tomatoes.
[Giggles]
Great.
So...Dr. Sommers tells me you're into eastern philosophy.
Yeah. I'm sure Dr. sommers told you that.
When he tells you to come over to meet his brother
who's into eastern philosophy,
you really don't have much choice, do you?
I think you're being very inconsiderate, Davey.
My name is David.
O.K.?
And I'm not being inconsiderate.
Maybe it's just not a good--
sit down. Eat your dinner. Don't mind him.
Don't take orders from him.
Tell him to go to hell.
Tell me to go to hell.
I'm not here to--
I know how you feel.
Leslie, you seem like a really nice girl.
But it's just that I'd like to meet a girl
who doesn't know my mother or my brother.
The world's full of them.
Just leave home.
Well, that's great.
Dr. considerate speaks.
Father dies, and you take off the same day.
What should I have done?
This isn't the time for this.
I'm not ashamed of my family.
You wouldn't turn your back on your mother in a crisis, would you?
She created the crisis!
Yeah, well, I don't care who created it!
She was crazy about you, Marcus!
Bragging about her brilliant son, everything you did.
I know. Everything I did was great.
Every time I lost, she convinced me that I could've won.
Is that so terrible, Leslie?
I think it's terrible.
Some call that support.
Where was she when dad was dying?
Huh?
Where was she?
You know goddamn well where she was--
right there in that apartment.
Hiding in the guest room.
She fell apart, o.K.?
People do!
God damn it, you were there!
You didn't fall apart!
When he called her at night,
I pleaded with her to go to him.
When people aren't as strong as you'd like them to be,
have you ever considered forgiving them?
[Leslie crying]
I'm sorry, les--
perfect. Just perfect.
[Sobbing]
It's o.K., Leslie.
I'll take you home.
I will.
This was my idea. I will.
No, thank you.
I'll take myself home.
Oh, God, I've got to call my mother.
You never answered me.
I don't have to.
I've considered forgiving mother and almost did many times.
Almost?
Almost is good enough
for everything else in this family, Davey.
Oh, excuse me. David.
It's all computerized, Dave.
Speed will increase.
Grade will increase.
You'll go into oxygen debt,
possibly into oxygen bankruptcy, but don't worry.
I just want to go one second longer than Marcus.
Well, Marcus holds the institute record
with 25 minutes... And 14 seconds.
Ready?
There's your clock. Have a good trip.
This is the torture test?
[Whistling]
[Beeping faster]
He's going for 25:14.
Come on, David!
Keep it up, Dave!
Come on, David! Come on!
Push harder!
Come on, David!
Keep it up!
Push, David!
Come on, David! Keep it up!
Aah!
Go, go!
Shut it off.
Easy. Easy.
It's like star wars down here.
Warp speed.
Marcus?
I cannot believe you still plan to go to Colorado.
David always wanted to see the west.
You've got to tell him.
I can't, Dennis.
Not now.
Not after today.
I don't want to ruin it for him.
I love him too much for that.
I understand. Well, I got to run.
Wait up, Dennis.
I'll walk out with you.
O.K.
No big deal.
Hi.
What are you doing out here?
Just needed some fresh air.
You want to hear the results of your cat scan?
I know the results.
You do? Who told you?
No one has to tell me.
I'm fine, right?
Physically, you're fine.
You have king Kong's cardiovascular system.
It's just emotionally, you're a mess.
Anybody who could waste your potential pisses me off.
It pisses me off, too.
What are you going to do about it?
I don't know.
Shinto philosophy teaches you to accept life
as a seasonal occupation.
Sounds like bull-shinto to me.
I really pruned your ass on that treadmill.
You also beat my s.A.T. Scores.
So you're great at taking tests. I mean, b.F.D.
Look, here's the thing...
Shinto.
There's this bike race in Colorado.
The hell of the west.
Right. It's my last race, and I'd like--
I would love to.
What?
Race.
I had a speech prepared
about how we'd never raced together
and this might be our last chance.
Marcus... Just one thing.
What?
I'm not shaving my legs.
We'll talk about it.
I think maybe we should call mom.
What do you think?
O.K.
Marcus, how is he?
He's just fine. Clean as a whistle.
Oh, God.
Oh, darling!
Enough already. You're supposed to be celebrating.
Darling, I am celebrating!
I've lived with this so long.
Davey's all I've got.
I thought you had two sons.
Marcus, of course I do.
That's not what I was going to say.
That's all right. This whole conversation
is probably not what I meant to say.
What does that mean?
It means--
Davey's all right, isn't he?
David's just fine. He sends his love.
I got to go, mom.
Marcus, please understand that I love--
I got to go. Bye.
How's mom?
She's fine.
You told her I was o.K.?
No, I told her you got hit by a bus.
What do you think?
I want to show you guys something.
Remember this?
This is the first of three stages in this race.
If you don't finish in the top half,
well, you're out.
Pretty fast, huh?
Yeah.
It gets faster.
Some of these guys hit 60 Miles an hour.
It can get real dangerous.
There's me and muzzin going at it.
Yeah, that's--
that's the guy in the poster in the kitchen.
Uh-huh. That's Barry muzzin.
He was my teammate and my best friend.
He's affectionately known as the cannibal.
You know him?
Yes. I was married to him.
See that?
See what?
Right there.
You see that? Race is over.
I quit.
No, you didn't.
I'm good at it. Nobody can tell.
That's how it looks when you win.
This is what it sounds like.
[Cheering]
¶ The moon is on the highway ¶
¶ darkness fills the sky ¶
¶ as long as I keep drivin' ¶
¶ I know that I won't die ¶
¶ and I'm gone ¶
¶ gone, gone ¶
¶ gonna go on ridin'... ¶
¶ and I'm gone, gone ¶
¶ gone... ¶
2 points.
Good shot.
Ha ha ha ha!
¶ The moon is on the highway ¶
¶ darkness fills the sky ¶
¶ as long as I keep drivin' ¶
¶ I know that I won't die ¶
¶ and I'm gone ¶
¶ gone, gone... ¶
[laughing]
I'm starved. What have you got?
Give her this. They're great.
Here, Beck.
I'm tired of granola and sesame seeds.
They're pure protein and energy.
I need a shake, French fries,
and a quarter-pounder with cheese.
Have you ever looked in a cow's eyes when it's being killed?
You're eating fear. You're becoming one with fear.
We were going to live off the land.
Eating generic nuts from the supermarket isn't living off the land.
We made a vow.
Look into the crystal light and release meat.
I can't believe this.
Hey, what the hell's that?
The pony express?
¶ Darkness fills the sky ¶
¶ long as I keep driving ¶
¶ I know that I won't die... ¶
how about a lift?
I was wondering.
If dad were alive today...
Yeah?
They didn't have a cure
for Berry aneurysm two years ago.
They still don't, David.
If there's a weak blood vessel deep inside the brain,
it can't be reached without destroying vital brain functions.
Meaning the patient could become a chef salad.
It's like a heart attack of the head.
It can hit you right out of the blue.
Well, the thing is, you know...
You read those stories.
Some bald guy grows hair again.
Now he needs a weekly haircut.
Doing things through will power.
What do you think of that stuff?
Yeah.
Well...
Good night.
Good night, David.
Awoo!
I always wanted to do that.
Good night.
Hey.
Hey! Don't forget the napkins.
Can I take your order?
I'd like a quarter-pounder, fries, and a chocolate shake.
It'll be a minute for your quarter-pounder.
Would you like a big Mac instead?
O.K. Uh, wait. No.
I'll wait.
Where are you headed?
California, maybe.
Oh.
You?
Colorado.
Mmm.
Where are your friends?
It didn't work out. I split.
It isn't right, Marcus.
What?
You should tell him the truth.
We wouldn't be making this trip if he knew.
I think you underestimate him.
Do you mind? He's my brother.
Maybe I know some things about him that you don't.
Maybe so, but don't use that tone with me.
You never heard of bike racing?
No. Is that what you were doing today?
No. We were training for this big race in Colorado.
It's very dangerous.
One wrong move, and you're just another statistic.
I hope you come out of it alive.
Good luck.
You, too.
Bye.
Would you like a ride?
Where, on your handlebars?
[Becky] Sounds incredible.
Marcus.
Look.
[Becky] How fast can you go on those bikes?
Well, 60. Sometimes faster.
No. No.
Hope she's the quiet type.
Not a chance.
She even walks loudly.
300 Miles a day.
What did she do to her hair? What is that?
This is Becky Chandler.
This is my brother Marcus.
This is Sarah.
How's your finger?
Oh. Huh.
Sorry about that.
Thanks for the ride.
Hell of the west, huh? It sounds great.
How far you planning on going with us, Becky?
I'll go pretty far if it feels good.
All right.
I'll get you on the machine, warmed up,
and buffed up in no time.
I don't like this place. It smells bad.
That's sweat, Randolph, and it doesn't smell bad.
Mama said I didn't have to do this.
You're in your daddy's sinister clutches now.
Daddy wants to see his beloved son Randolph sweat his ass off.
Coach Conrad, line 3.
I'll put you on the bike.
Use this one, Randolph.
Hello?
Yes. Uh, who is this, please?
Oh. How do you do?
I called his house last night and this morning,
and no one answered.
Being the hysterical sort of person I am, I'm worried.
There's nothing to worry about.
The three of them went on a camping trip.
Right. Marcus, David, and Sarah.
Who's Sarah?
The girl he lives with.
Oh.
Well, I just wanted to say something to him,
but it can wait.
Come on, Randolph, move it.
I'll have him call you when he gets back.
You can go faster than that.
Yes, ma'am. It was nice meeting you, Mrs. sommers.
Bye-bye.
Hey.
You're supposed to be picking out a sport.
I like bowling.
Bowling? Bowling is not a sport.
Bowling is just a big video game.
Don't get all defrosted, dad.
Don't do what?
You heard me. Don't get all defrosted.
How does your mother put up with you?
Now, look, dad,
the way I see it,
there's no black bowlers.
Basketball, yes.
Football, yes.
Golf, we got one guy.
But bowling we got zip.
Think about it.
[Laughing]
Boy, bring your ass over here.
We stayed in the same place two years ago.
Do you remember?
You better remember it.
Use a different tone of voice.
My parents are too nice.
They fall in love with my boyfriends.
Three ex-boyfriends are hanging around my house
watching TV with dad, and eating mom's cookies.
I freaked out.
When in doubt, I freak out.
You must fall in love pretty easily.
Three guys.
Oh, that wasn't love.
Not love love.
I knew it would be like that.
I think she's nice.
What does that t-shirt say?
Oh, that? That's just... That's Latin.
What does it say?
Yeah, well...
"Once you've got it up, keep it up."
All right! Where can I get one?
Let's do it like in the Olympics.
You know, exchange t-shirts.
Oh.
Um...
Yeah.
¶ O say, can you-- ¶
what are you doing?
It's the Olympics. You got to play the national anthem.
¶ By the dawn's early light ¶
only if you win.
Whoa! You're not supposed to see that.
¶ At the twilight's last gleaming ¶
o.K.
¶ Whose broad stripes and bright stars... ¶
so, about that tone of voice...
What's going on?
Shake and break.
You try a solo breakaway,
but a wheelsucker's hanging on.
You shake him off.
Wheelsucker? What's a wheelsucker?
It's when someone drafts and won't ride out front.
Oh, yeah?
Hey, you wheelsucker!
Get up there!
Come on, David!
¶ Got a long way to ride ¶
want to get 'em?
Yahooo!
¶ Let's go ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ you're doing fine ¶
¶ a race against time ¶
¶ I know ¶
¶ your heart is on fire ¶
¶ goin' the distance ¶
¶ leavin' the others behind ¶
we got 'em! We got 'em!
Watch this, Dave.
Good race, guys!
You boys ought to get yourself a horse!
Big ring, David! Go!
Yay, Marcus!
¶ American flyer ¶
oldest trick in the book, Dave!
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ I know ¶
that was great.
¶ Goin' the distance ¶
¶ leavin' the others behind ¶
second-oldest trick in the book!
Look at those buns!
Sarah!
Whoa.
What is it?
Looks like we've got a flat.
¶ I see a bad moon a-risin' ¶
¶ I see trouble on the way ¶
¶ I see earthquakes and lightnin' ¶
¶ I see a bad time today... ¶
oh, man!
We got to stop.
It's o.K.
Sarah.
Jerome!
How you doing?
I'm fine.
It's good to see you.
I said to Jerome,
"that sure looks like Marcus' van."
Our old team van.
Hello, Geronimo.
Hello, muzzin.
Where is he?
Riding.
He's great in training,
but how's he in the clutch?
Don't start nothin'.
Women are a real mystery.
In bike racing,
the best man always wins.
Why do some women fall for quitters like Marcus?
The bigger mystery is what makes some women
ever fall for a rabid dog like you.
Hey, you two, cut it out.
You tell him, Sarah.
He knows I'll win,
but tell him I'll make him bleed before I beat him.
I don't deliver messages.
Sometimes I don't even hear them.
He'll quit.
I'll make sure of that.
I'll make him die in the mountains.
Jerome, you're my friend.
But please take this damn cannibal out of my face
before I kill him.
I'm Jerome. You're a damn cannibal.
That's a big rock.
Let's get out of here. We got a race.
Come on. Bye, Sarah.
I'll be a fig Newton.
I'm standing next to a lady with a past.
And then Jerome says--
hey, listen--
"I'm Jerome, and you're the goddamn cannibal,
and this is a big rock."
And they left!
Sarah was so tough. So cool.
You guys missed it all.
I am keeping this rock.
I am taking this rock to college.
[Laughing]
Ladies and gentlemen, we're seven minutes to start
of the famous morgul bismark stage
of the hell of the west.
We're getting the race caravan organized and ready to begin.
More vehicles coming through.
Let's keep the roadway clear.
Mexico, Great Britain, Italy, Norway.
Team cars coming through.
Press people, report to your vehicles immediately.
We would like to introduce some of the riders
participating in today's event,
beginning with the U.S. national team!
And, ladies and gentlemen, the Soviet national team,
led by defending olympic champion Sergei Belov!
Ladies and gentlemen,
the 7-Eleven team, led by our own 198o olympian
and winner of the hell of the west last year,
Barry "the cannibal" muzzin!
Muzzin. Muzzin.
Over here, muzzin!
One shot, please!
Shake that, Belov!
[Speaking russian]
Our honorary starter
for today's hell of the west, stage number one,
the greatest racing cyclist
in the history of the sport,
Mr. Eddie merckx!
We will be starting on the sound of the pistol.
Riders, ready!
Timers ready!
[Starter pistol fires]
We're underway!
The hell of the west, stage number one.
Let's hear it!
The hell of the west, stage number one.
We're underway.
This first circuit of the hell of the west
is the dreaded morgul bismark.
It's a world-championship course,
which offers little shade steep hills, fast descents,
and a gut-wrenching climb to the finish line
that sits atop the devastating "wall."
Riders who have raced here before
seldom look forward to coming back,
and newcomers soon find out why.
The race is 7 laps totaling 91 Miles,
a grueling test for any rider.
Sommers, look out!
Watch your line!
Move over, sommers!
Here we go, Dave.
Enough of this Sunday stroll!
Let's hurt a little bit!
We're rolling an ambulance right now.
[Siren]
Three laps down and four to go.
Barry muzzin and the 7-Eleven team,
followed closely by the Soviet team
and Marcus sommers of shaversport.
Only the toughest riders will be among the first 48
who will go on to contest stages two and three
of the hell of the west.
[Whoosh]
Shit!
Tough break, Marcus!
Marcus has a flat. Pull up.
O.K., pull up. Slow up. Come on.
Shit!
Come on, Sarah!
Come on, baby.
They're leaving us behind.
Come on, honey.
Got it?
Good girl. Now push.
Push!
Hey. Look.
Move it! Move it!
Come on! Pick it up!
You want back in this race?
Pick it up!
One lap to go. Bell lap coming up.
One lap to go.
[Bell ringing]
Here we are!
Here you go.
Marcus, water! You need this!
David!
Water!
You're 52.
You've got to move up!
The caravan is in sight.
They are around the corner
at the bottom of the "wall."
Marcus sommers has regained his position
near the front of the lead group
after a flat tire way out on the course.
Muzzin and sommers and the Soviet Belov
fighting it out as they come up the "wall."
It's going to be a three-way sprint for first--
the Americans sommers and muzzin and the Soviet Belov.
It's muzzin in front, sommers second,
and Sergei Belov charging up in third.
Oh!
And it's Marcus sommers the winner,
muzzin second, and Sergei Belov third.
Aaah!
Ladies and gentlemen, a tremendous finish!
Sommers, muzzin, and the Soviet Belov!
You were great!
All right!
We made it!
Aah!
14, 15, 16 riders across the line.
The winners are already in.
We're counting the last riders to qualify.
Only the first 48 finishers today
will be able to race tomorrow.
Where's David?
I don't know.
43, 44, 45.
Only three more riders will stay in the race.
The rest will have to wait until next year.
David!
Come on, David!
Go!
With the field closing in fast behind them,
the final two riders that will qualify.
Go!
Up the "wall" for the final time.
They're down!
Oh, God!
One rider is back up.
He's going to finish.
Run with it!
Pick it up!
Come on, David!
Can he do that?
Run!
Good, Dave!
Come on!
A little more!
Good!
Come on, David!
Yes!
In a remarkable finish,
David sommers crosses the line,
but carrying his bicycle.
Can he do that?
Is that legal?
I think I screwed up.
It's o.K.
And it's official, ladies and gentlemen.
David sommers becomes the 48th and final qualifier
to ride stages two and three
of the hell of the west.
You got two more stages!
It was close.
Oh, shit.
Can you tell us what it's like--
it's a big day for American cycling
to have two Americans beat an olympic champ.
You must feel some pride.
No, I'm all right.
I'm o.K.
I'm not riding for America, lady.
I tried riding for America.
I spent four years working shitty jobs
so I could train and make the olympic team--
look at me.
Then some fat-asses in Washington
started having opinions.
The olympic committee started having opinions.
You, you bitch-- I know you!
You started writing your opinions.
So we boycott the Olympics.
I was in the best shape of my life in 1980,
and I got beat by opinions.
Is that why you're boycotting the victory ceremony?
What victory? There's two stages left.
Still, the fact remains--
you wouldn't know a fact
if it banged you all night long!
In first place, the leader of the shaversport team,
Marcus sommers!
O.K., I got one.
It's about David.
I want to hear it!
David's only 1o at the time.
He comes into my bedroom looking real serious.
He wants to know what's oral sex?
Nobody wants to hear this!
Go on!
Go on, David. Let's hear it.
He says, "what's oral sex?"
I said, "oral sex is the opposite of written sex.
"If you read about it, it's written sex,
and if you talk about it, it's..."
Oral sex! Oral sex!
Ha ha! That's great!
So, about three weeks later,
he goes to this birthday party for Sheila Fletcher.
Who's Sheila Fletcher?
He comes back in 15 minutes.
Mom and dad want to know why he came back so quickly.
Because he said it was boring.
Everybody was just standing around having oral sex.
You got to know my mom.
She flew out of the apartment--
flew!
There you are!
Great.
Program.
Thank you, Craig.
Is your name there?
Yeah, somewhere.
David!
You're only 2 minutes and 11 seconds behind
in the standings.
That's good.
Marcus, how many rooms?
One for us.
David, how many rooms?
One for us.
330.
How's your leg?
It's fine.
Remember, we're racing tomorrow.
See you then.
Good night.
Hey! We're going to win.
Are you o.K.?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Marcus.
Marcus!
¶ Beautiful tan ¶
¶ it's a deep, dark tan ¶
¶ it's Hawaiian tropic ¶
¶ beautiful tan ¶
¶ it's a dark, rich tan... ¶
I think this whole thing was destiny.
What whole thing?
You and me. This trip.
There I was at McDonald's.
I wanted a quarter-pounder,
but the girl goes, "we're out.
"You'll have to wait.
Do you want a big Mac?"
If I hadn't waited for that quarter-pounder,
I wouldn't be here with you.
It was destiny.
See...
There's really something you should know
about me, Becky.
You don't have another girl, do you?
No.
You're not gay, are you?
Hell, no! It's just the opposite.
I probably shouldn't be
telling you this, but I...
What?
I think I'm going to die.
Thank God I'm not the only one.
I think I'm going to die, too,
if we don't do something quick.
Ahh.
I'll be right back, o.K.?
Stay right here?
O.K.
And now our national anthem.
¶ Oh! Say can you see ¶
¶ by the dawn's early light ¶
¶ what so proudly we hailed... ¶
ouch! Oh!
¶ At the twilight's last gleaming ¶
¶ whose broad stripes and bright stars ¶
¶ thro' the perilous fight ¶
¶ o'er the ramparts we watched... ¶
they're playing our song.
¶ Were so gallantly streaming ¶
¶ and the rockets' red glare ¶
¶ the bombs bursting in air ¶
¶ gave proof-- ¶
ouch!
Are you o.K.?
It's my knee.
We don't have to do this.
Yes, we do.
¶ Oh! Say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ¶
¶ o'er the land of the free ¶
¶ and the home of the brave? ¶
[humming]
Where are you going?
Just wanted to go over the course with David.
Come back to bed.
The race isn't till noon.
Oh!
What a beautiful morning!
I love you, Marcus, so much.
[Crying]
Hi!
You guys are out early.
They got four of these flags.
Each time you win a sprint
to one of these flags,
you gain 3o seconds.
You understand?
I'm not an idiot.
Ride like an idiot.
What?
You're 2 minutes 11 seconds down.
If you win all these sprints,
you'll only be 11 seconds back.
Because nobody knows you,
if you take off by yourself,
they'll let you go.
What's the big deal?
You don't need me. You're winning.
We're brothers.
[Telephone rings]
How is he?
He won the first stage, Denny.
He told me I couldn't come.
He didn't want me there.
I think it's begun, Denny.
Yeah.
I don't suppose he'd consider
not racing today, huh?
I know he's against it,
but his mother, somebody should call her.
Yeah.
Up!
Another one! Get it up!
Another one!
Come on!
Another one!
1o more! Come on!
1!
2!
3!
Shit.
[Door opens]
I had a bitch of a workout.
Whew!
You o.K., dad?
No.
Come on, dad. Cheer up.
Every black man can't have a son who's Julius Irving.
Randolph, you're soaking wet!
That's sweat.
It doesn't smell like sweat.
I used deodorant.
Go shower.
I got to make a phone call.
Then we can eat?
Yeah, Randolph. Then we can eat.
One look at the lunarscape
of the spectacular Colorado national monument,
and you understand
why it has come to be known as the tour of the moon.
The terrain is like nothing on earth,
with red rock formations, tunnels,
sheer cliff drop-offs, and rapid descents.
The race totals 83 Miles,
and in 1984, was won by America's olympic champions
Tommy carpenter and Alexi graywall.
O.K., get ready.
Do it, David.
O.K. Here we go.
It's the breakaway.
David, no!
God damn it, no!
It's too early.
No, David, you dumbbell!
Let them go, Tommy! They're nobodies!
They'll die on the hill.
Let them go!
Here comes the breakaway group.
The first rider past the flag
will gain 3o seconds on his time.
There goes number 7, uli.
Here comes David sommers.
They're both going for that 3o seconds.
Uli's leading. Sommers is gaining.
And it's sommers!
Sommers wins that valuable 3o-second time advantage.
Let's reel him in.
Yeah.
The breakaway group's coming up to the second flag now,
David sommers riding strongly at the front again.
And David sommers indeed takes the second time flag.
He's going to keep on going.
The way the chase group is coming up behind him,
he'll need all these time bonuses he can take.
We got him.
Where's sommers? Where's the other one?
Son of a bitch!
I taught you that move.
We got us a race.
Tommy! Jerome!
Come on, let's move it!
Hold your line!
What's the matter with you, man?
Hey, Marcus, look out!
Oh, no!
Marcus! I'm right here!
Here I am, Marcus!
Oh, God!
Sarah!
Hang on! Hang on!
Oh, God, Marcus!
Oh!
Becky, help me!
I'm right here. Oh!
Hold on!
Aah!
Oh, God, Marcus!
Ohh!
Becky, come on.
No!
I got him. Slow up!
O.K.
Marcus.
God, Marcus!
Oh!
Yeah!
Watch your line.
Hold it against his mouth.
[Cough cough]
What is he doing?
[Honks horn]
[Honk honk honk honk]
They're coming down to the finish!
David sommers is still in the lead,
but the chase group is breathing down his neck
and getting closer every second.
Coming down to the finish,
David sommers is still out in front,
but the pack is hard on his heels.
Can he hold on?
No, they've got him!
David sommers has been swallowed up
by the chase group.
Here they go.
They're getting ready to sprint on their own.
Muzzin makes the move on one side,
Belov on the other.
It's going to be a fantastic sprint!
Muzzin and Belov.
It's going to be muzzin!
Sergei Belov second! David sommers is third.
The rest of the field coming through.
Whooooo! Yahooo!
All right! We did it!
We're number one!
We're going to win it!
Ahh.
David, you uncorked the big one today.
Where's Marcus?
Please get out of my way!
David!
It's Marcus! We got to go.
How much time did you make up?
Two minutes.
We did it, huh?
You did it.
Marcus, what the hell is going on?
Remember when we talked?
I told you you were free of diseases.
You never told me anything about yourself.
I wanted you to come with me.
Remember the sommers team?
Did it ever occur to you you could've told me,
and maybe I might have pulled through for you?
How many goddamn brothers
do you think I have, anyway?
Son of a bitch.
It's a good thing you dropped out of premed.
Your bedside manners are atrocious.
How can you be sick, anyway?
Just look at yourself, what you got.
You have a mustache, and everything is...
I had this all figured out.
If it's me but not you.
Am I supposed to feel happy
that it's you and not me?
No.
Well, then what?
Be strong now, o.K.?
O.K.
Oh!
Thank you, Becky.
You have to finish the race.
You're crazy.
I think you've eaten too many bananas.
It's not over.
Well, it's over for me.
The race isn't important.
It's you.
What are you going to do for me?
We'll take you to a hospital.
I don't have much time left.
There's nothing they can do for me.
Come on. Help me with this.
I want to sit up.
You know, I'm not trying to be a hero.
I'm just not going to let them
turn me into a chef's salad, either.
O.K. Then I'll stay here with you.
But I can't race tomorrow.
Then you'll tell your kids about this race.
"I could have done great
if my brother hadn't gotten sick."
You're not using me as an excuse.
I'm not listening to you anymore!
Damn it, David!
I'm still alive, so don't ignore me.
[Air whooshes]
Sarah.
What happened to Marcus?
He had some trouble.
I hope he feels better, Geronimo.
Thanks, cannibal.
Are you o.K.?
Yeah, I'm fine. Why?
You sound half human.
I am half human.
I was in your office
when you and Dr. Conrad were talking.
Do you remember what you said?
Come on, David.
"I don't want to ruin it for him," you said.
"I love him too much for that."
You remember?
No.
I swore that one day
I was going to say it to your face.
So come on, you got to look at me.
Are we going to do this the hard way?
Huh?
I love you, too, Marcus.
[Door opens]
So what's our plan?
Stage three.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to golden, Colorado,
site of the third stage
of the race called the hell of the west.
Looks like we're in for a great day today.
Anne devora.
Anne devora, please report
to the timer's booth immediately.
Mr. Greenberg.
Mr. Greenberg, meet Andy at the starting line.
Before we get started, I'd like to introduce
the main contenders in this competition,
beginning with the rider in third place overall,
11 seconds behind the leader,
David sommers.
In second place overall, from the Soviet union,
only two seconds behind the leader,
Sergei Belov.
And ladies and gentlemen,
last year's winner of the hell of the west,
the race leader today going into the third stage,
Barry "the cannibal" muzzin.
We're just minutes from the start of the competition.
All caravan drivers, please report to your vehicles.
All officials, please report to your vehicles.
[Gunshot]
[Speaking russian]
Oh, and here's a surprise.
The Russians are getting things going early here,
with Belov sending one of his teammates up the road.
This will force the other riders to do the chasing
and will take some of the sap out of them
if they can't hold the pace.
Over 100 Miles to go,
and the Russians are making things pop right off the bat.
Belov must have a lot of confidence
to have started a breakaway so early
in a race like this.
It's no fun up front, is it?
I must be hallucinating.
It looks like Randolph.
It is Randolph.
Who's Randolph?
What the-- Sarah, pull over.
Mrs. sommers, don't!
Mom, no!
[Horns honk]
You want to go with us?
Yeah.
O.K.
Dennis!
Go around!
We'll follow you.
Let's go, Randolph.
You must be Sarah.
Yes, Mrs. sommers.
How do you do?
Hi, I'm Becky.
O.K., let's go.
This is the final stage of the hell of the west.
It's also the most difficult.
It starts at golden, Colorado,
and goes over 6,000 feet into the rocky mountains,
finishing nearly 12,000 feet above sea level.
That's over the highest paved road
in north America.
Not many of these cyclists
have ever raced at this altitude.
In Europe, courses through the alps are much lower.
Even the fittest athletes
can't get enough air to maintain a normal speed.
Notice anything unusual, Randolph?
Yeah. I have jet lag.
Hardly any black riders out there.
Think about it.
I don't have a bicycle.
Hey, your birthday's coming up.
I want a bowling ball.
Bowling ball.
I'm still here, Belov.
Right on your red ass.
Think about this, Belov!
I'm behind you, but I'm really two seconds ahead!
He doesn't even understand English.
He understands.
Don't you, Belov?
You know why you won the Olympics.
Because I wasn't there!
But now I'm here,
only I'm two seconds ahead!
Grrrrr!
He does understand English!
Ugh!
Up, Dave, up.
Up, Dave.
That-a boy!
Get him, Belov.
You go get him, gringo.
Arrrrrr!
Sommers is trying to steal this race
from muzzin and Belov.
He's been aggressive over the last Miles,
forcing them to chase very hard.
Many riders are dropping as the lack of oxygen
grows more and more severe.
He's going all out early.
I'll pull over.
No, it's his race. Let him ride it.
Here we go, sommers.
O.K., we got him.
Now, just sit back
and you got second locked up, o.K.?
O.K.
Shit!
I gave you a chance, sommers.
All bets are off.
No!
Yeah!
No!
Aah!
Arrr!
David sommers in the lead coming around the corner,
but muzzin still has
an 11-second time advantage on him overall.
If muzzin crosses the line
less than 11 seconds after sommers,
muzzin will still be the winner.
Davey!
Go!
Come on, kid!
Come on!
Sommers will become the overall winner
if muzzin doesn't cross the finish line
in the next 11 seconds.
4!
5!
6!
7!
8!
9!
1o!
11!
Muzzin didn't make it!
David sommers wins the final stage
and clinches the overall victory
in the hell of the west!
A fantastic performance by this young newcomer.
He's made quite a name for himself.
Young David sommers, a fantastic job.
Let's give all these riders
a big round of applause.
What a finish here today.
Shake hands, guys.
Get the handshake.
Let's see a smile.
Come on, David.
Mrs. sommers--
how about some smiles?
Come on! Come on!
Next year.
How about some smiles?
Come on, sommers.
That's it! That's it!
Hold that! Hold that!
¶ Restless feelin' ¶
¶ comin' up from inside ¶
¶ and nothin's easy ¶
¶ ooh, mountains to climb ¶
¶ take my chances... ¶
David! Marcus! Look over here.
A picture.
Come on, give us a smile.
Picture, please.
That's it. Thank you!
¶ Let's go ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ you aim high ¶
¶ a race against time ¶
¶ I know ¶
¶ your heart is on fire ¶
¶ you're goin' the distance ¶
¶ leavin' the others behind ¶
¶ got you covered ¶
¶ ooh, just say the word ¶
¶ facin' danger ¶
¶ around every turn ¶
¶ movin' faster ¶
¶ like an eagle I fly ¶
¶ pushin', pushin' ¶
¶ pushin' it over the line ¶
¶ I've made up my mind ¶
¶ let's go ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ you aim high ¶
¶ a race against time ¶
¶ I know ¶
¶ your heart is on fire ¶
¶ race through the sky you fly ¶
¶ ooh, they can't hold you down, yeah ¶
¶ let's go ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ you aim high ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ and I know ¶
¶ your heart is on fire ¶
¶ goin' the distance ¶
¶ leavin' the others behind ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ let's go ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
¶ let's go-o-o-o ¶
¶ American flyer ¶
captioning made possible by Warner bros.
Captioning performed by the national captioning institute, inc.
Captions copyright 1985 Warner bros., inc.
¶ Let's go! ¶