Chariots of Fire

"Let us praise famous men...

…and our fathers that begat us."

All these men were honored in their generations…

…and were a glory in their days.

We are here today to give thanks...

…for the life of Harold Abrahams...

...to honor the legend.

Now there are just two of us.

Young Aubrey Montague...

...and myself...

...who can close our eyes...

...and remember those few young men...

...with hope in our hearts...

…and wings on our heels.

Carlton Hotel, Broadstairs, Kent.

June 28, 1924.

Dear Mom, I'm most awfully sorry about your cold and the general dreariness.

We're also having quite bad weather here, too.

Thanks for your letters. I'm sorry you and Pa are disappointed…

…that I should be letting the Olympic games interfere with my shorthand.

But if you were my age, with a chance to win the championship in Paris…

…you'd be just as big a fool as I am.

We've just one week to go now.

But it hardly seems that, since we all arrived in Cambridge…

…never suspecting what extraordinary times lay ahead.

Mind you, Harold's hardly changed at all.

As intense as ever.

Now, as then, having a go at anybody who stands in his way.

-I guess a taxi's out of the question, is it? -Sorry.

-Do you need some help? -Couldn't say.

Well, you better let me have those clubs.

-That's jolly kind. -Don't mention it.

Right.

-All set? -You sure you're all right?

-l'm fine. Lead on. -Thanks.

-Sorry? -Oh, all the clubs and things.

It's all show, really. Although I do enjoy it. I take it you're not keen.

-l run. -Really?

-So do I. -l'm surprised you can find the time.

I can't stand getting beaten. How about you?

-I don't know. I've never lost. Top pocket. -Yes. Thank you.

-Thank you very much, sir. Carry your suitcase, sir?

Yes, yes, of course. Yes. Um…

This way.

-Uh, which college, sir? -It's Gonville and Caius.

-And yourself, sir? -The same.

This way please, gents.

There we are.

Here, give me that. Thanks.

Come along, Bill, let's get these cases over here.

That's the way.

Thank you. Thank you, sir.

-Thanks very much. -Yes, thank you. And good luck.

That's what we fought the bleeding war for.

To give shits like them a decent education.

Hey, come on.

I'll take these.

-See you inside, Aubrey. -Right.

-Name, please. -We're new.

Yes, I can see that, laddie. What's your name?

Abrahams, H.M.

Top of the list. Repton. That the one?

That's it. Left a year ago.

Oh, been doing your bit, have you? France?

-No. Joined too late. Bad luck, led.

Many a dead man would've liked a share, bad luck or not.

You're right there, sir.

Welcome to Caius.

Sign here.

Thank you.

It's across the courtyard, top right-hand corner...

-…up the stairs. -Thanks.

By the way, what are your names?

Rogers, Head Porter, and this is Mr. Radcliffe, my assistant.

Well, Mr. Rogers, Radcliffe...

...l ceased to be called laddie when I took up the King's commission.

-ls that clear? -Yes, Mr. Abrahams. Quite clear.

Thank you. I'd be obliged if you'd remember it.

-See you later. -Fine.

What's your friend studying, then, son?

Barrack-room law?

I've no idea. -Mm.

One thing's certain.

Name like Abrahams, he won't be in the Chapel Choir, now, Will he?

-Name? -Montague.

-What? -Montague.

I take the War List and I run down it.

Name after name which I cannot read...

...and which we who are older than you...

...cannot hear without emotion.

Names which will be only names to you, the new college…

…but which to us summon up face after face...

...full of honesty and goodness...

...zeal and vigor...

...and intellectual promise.

The flower of a generation, the glory of England.

And they died for England and all that England stands for.

And now, by tragic necessity, their dreams have become yours.

Let me exhort you: Examine yourselves.

Let each of you discover where your true chance of greatness lies.

For their sakes...

…for the sake of your college and your country, seize this chance.

Rejoice in it.

And let no power or persuasion deter you in your task.

Thursday, October the tenth, 1919.

My first day at Cambridge was rounded off by the Freshmen's Dinner…

…a sumptuous affair.

The master gave us a moving speech, and I am now eagerly awaiting…

…the start of term proper.

Rugby Club, Golfing Society, Tennis, Squash Club...

…Flora and Fauna, Philately. ls that all?

-You're idle, man. Idle. -Can't join everything.

-l've got to work sometime. -Birdwatching? You can take a book.

How can I watch if I'm reading?

Follow in the footsteps of W.G. Any Yorkshire men here?

-You are, Stallard. -I can't bat for toffee.

[MEN SINGING "THE SOLDIERS OF OUR QUEEN"]

Upon the battle scene They fight the foe together

There ev'ry mother's son Prepared to fight and fall is

The enemy of one The enemy of all is

The enemy of one The enemy of all is

Abraham, H. M. -Can't manage tenor, can you?

-Desperately short of tenors. Afraid not, except under torture.

How about you, Aubrey? Sing, do you?

School choir, that's all. You, Stallard?

Not on your life. They kicked me out of Ring a Ring of Roses.

Sorry about that. We can't all be gifted.

If everybody's somebody

Then no one's anybody.

-Put my friend here down as well. Steady on.

Excellent. Splendid.

-Rehearsals start on Monday, Iolanthe. -But I was a boy alto.

-Perfect. You can be Queen of the Fairies. Brought us to the brink!

Where were you when your country needed you?

We have a duty, a solemn duty to those countless millions of lives needlessly.…

Afar away they dream of home

Glad to have you. Good middle-distance men don't grow on trees.

I can't vouch for those times.

Taken with the school alarm clock, most of them.

Give or take a second, they're good enough for me.

Have you come across a fellow called Abrahams'? H. M. Abrahams?

He's challenged for the College Dash.

What's so special about that?

It's special because in all of 700 years...

…nobody's ever done it. What do you do?

Right, chaps. Thank you. Thank you.

Let it be known that H.M. Abrahams of Gonville and Caius...

...has formally made challenge for the College Dash.

You show them, Harold.

For those of you not familiar with the rules, they are as follows.

The challenger will run the perimeter of the court...

...to and from a fixed point beneath the clock...

...within the time taken by the sound clock to strike midday.

A distance traditionally recognized as one of 188 paces.

I say, Abrahams, what've you got on your feet? Rockets?

Challenge will commence on the stroke of 1.

Abrahams, you haven't got a chance. Do it for Israel.

The challenge will commence on the stroke of 1.

The challenger must reach his mark before the stroke of 12.

Come on, Abrahams, you swank.

Will the challenger please make himself ready.

This Abrahams. What do you know about him?

Repton chap.

Jewish.

His father's a financier in the city.

Financier.

What's that supposed to mean, I wonder?

I imagine he lends money.

Exactly.

What do they say about the son?

Academically sound. Arrogant.

Defensive to the point of pugnacity.

Hmm. As they invariably are.

Yet possessing a keen sense of duty and loyalty.

Do they say he can run?

Like the Wind.

Gentlemen, would you draw back, please. Away from the course.

Thank you. Mr. Abrahams, your position, please.

Owing to the absence of any other challenger, Mr. Abrahams Will run alone.

Not so, Mr. Stallard!

Your name and college, sir?

Lindsay. I race beside my friend here.

We challenge in the name of Repton, Eton, and Caius.

I didn't know you ran. -Nor l you.

Some chap tell me about this over breakfast. Thought I'd push you along a bit.

-Delighted. -Splendid.

Good luck.

Gentlemen, to your marks if you please.

Now, remember. On the first strike of 12.

Come on!

Come on, stay with it.

Run harder, come on.

Come on!

Get those legs working!

More leg when you stride, keep going.

Go on. Go on, Harold!