Coach, how about that? l won the race.
You didn't win anything, but you proved your fitness.
You're back in the A boat, on bowside. With a promise of good behavior.
- You got it, Coach. - Dan, Dan!
lt was ridiculous. The result was meaningless.
The result tells me Ross is fit. He goes back in, in front of you, at three.
- So, who's out? - Johnson.
l'll tell him.
You see that, Coach? Huh? On the day Ross can perform.
You know what my father used to always say about wars?
lt's not about who's right.
- lt's about who's left. - Meaning?
Oh, Michael, it's Alistair's birthday party tomorrow at four. Can you make it?
Sure.
l have an outing, l'm afraid.
Wrong answer.
Sorry l'm late, guys.
Donald. Dan Warren wants to see you.
ln his room.
Donald...
Most of us think Topolski's protecting you.
And if he wasn't there, Ross would have your place.
Seat-racing with Ross doesn't look like protecting me.
- And Ross is in the boat, isn't he? - That's not the point.
- Why is that not the point? - Because you're still in the crew.
And we don't think you deserve your place.
Who's ''we''? ls it you two?
- No, not just us two. There's Ross... - Ross.
- l am surprised. l wonder why. - ...Smythson, Chambers, Conner...
You're seriously telling me that after all the tests we've done these past months,
the one person who comes out ahead of everybody else
- should be left out of the top eight. - Donald.
Rowing isn't about tests like in some high school. lt's about performing on the day.
Ross performs on the day. The seat-racing showed that.
The seat race was a farce. We all know that.
- Anyway, he's in the boat. - Donald, listen.
lt's more than that.
We will not row with you, not in Ross's seat and not in anyone's seat.
Last year, the Cambridge president excluded himself.
lt happens. lt's not such a big deal.
Yeah, well, thankfully the way they behave over there has nothing to do with us.
Do you really think l'm just gonna go?
You've got no choice. You're out.
lf you row, we don't. lt's as simple as that.
l'll test and l'll win against Ross or anyone else in the squad, one-on-one.
Any test you and your cronies want.
No, Donald. You had your test - you lost.
No more seat-racing. You heard Topolski say it - it's over.
Now we represent the majority of the boat, and you are out.
Right here.
l'll tell you when to stop.
ls this it, Donald?
Just drop me at the end of the road, will you?
- lsn't that your... - Yes, Rick, that is my house.
This is my street. l'd just prefer to be kicked out at the end of the road. ls that OK?
(children laughing)
My God. What's happened?
Nothing. l'm just back early.
- Do you think we can win? - Maybe.
- With this crew? - Who knows?
Anyway, what are you doing here? You should be out on the river.
- They fired me. - What?
Don't you read the papers?
They refused to row with me.
(scoffs) Well, they can row without me as well.
- What do you mean? - l'm quitting.
You can't.
Give me one good reason why l should stay?
First you tell me something. Why did you seat-race me against Ross?
Because l wanted to give him a fair chance.
Fair?
- You saw how they rowed. - Your seat was the carrot he needed.
lt was just a way of motivating him, that's all.
- At my expense? - Don't be ridiculous.
OK. l got pissed off at you after you got in the van.
But that's it. Your seat's safe.
- Not anymore. - Well, l'm not chief coach anymore.
Yes, you are, and l'm still president.
Look, let me ask you one more time. Do you think they can win?
Dan, you have to decide.
lf you think they can, then just tell me and l'll be on my way.
But if you think they can't, then...
Oh, Dan, we know they can't win.
We both wanted these guys because they seemed to offer
a surefire guarantee of victory, but we made a mistake.
And it's taken us a long time to admit it.
- You may be right, but... - We have to start again.
We've gotta take charge. l want us to win this race.
But l want us to win it fairly and properly.
- And l need your help. - Forget it.
There are only two of us. The squad, the committee,
the whole freaking rowing establishment are in love with those guys.
Dan...
Listen, when l was at school, l was an OK rower,
but l couldn't really see myself getting anywhere.
And then l remember reading about this guy. All the experts said
he was too light, he was too short, he was too everything.
And yet he won a blue...
and then a silver and then a gold at the world championships.
And it occurred to me, great things are possible for all of us.
That's why l'm here.
1 977.
lt was a good year.
You proved them wrong then.
Let's prove them wrong again.
As a result of the events of the past few days,
a new crew will be invited to race against Cambridge.
Those who have not been selected, will not be selected later.
Those who do not wish to be included
should clearly understand they will not be asked again.
Dan?
Boat A:
Peterson, Smythson,
Ball, Chambers, Prideaux-Jones,
Conner, Bonham, MacDonald and Johnson.
Boat B: Beale, Atkins,
Harris, Fox, Echton,
Christie-Miller, Horner, Ewing and Adams.
What about Ross? What about Warren? Black?
Thank you, gentlemen.
Thank you, that's it.
(man) Come on, Coach, give us a break.
- Unconscionable... - They're kidding.
l mean, they have to be. They kick us out, we're not even allowed to talk about it?
What is this? They can't have a leg to stand on.
No. According to the rule book, they have the right to select any crew.
So? So, are we gonna let them lose the boat race
because of some ancient rule book? l mean, it's bullshit!
You can always fire a coach and l'm sure that, even here,
you can impeach a president.
Hey, Donald! Dan and l would like to have a word.
Donald, look, l'm tired of being cast as the bad boy.
l wanna help get us through this.
- You know, explain my point of view. - Explain away.
- Donald, you study literature, right? - Uh-huh.
Do you know the old Viking legend of Valhalla
where the slain warriors are received up as heroes?
- Yes, what about it? - Good.
Because that gives you an idea of what it's like to row at the world-class level.
l'm talking the Olympics, man. The world championships.
The pain and endurance one has to cope with at that level is something...
that if you haven't experienced it, it's very, very hard to appreciate.
But if you have, like l have... like Chambers
and Smythson and Ross, even Prideaux-Jones...
then you'll always have that greatness inside of you.
lt's like being received into Valhalla by Odin himself.
To be frank, Dan, it seems to be a long way from Valhalla...
That's got three Ls in it, by the way, Morrison.
...to finishing 28th in the fours Head of the River.
Donald, you disappoint me. l'm trying to give you a break, man.
- l'm trying to help you understand... - Thanks, Dan.
But l understand you perfectly.
This is becoming ridiculous.
These guys are manipulating a campaign here.
''Pick Ross or none of us will row.'' What is this?
lt's true. All this stuff about a competition between Ross and Donald, it's nonsense!
l think they should all be reinstated.
What are you talking about?
lf coaches only picked the most obliging crews,
most of us here would never have rowed.
There's something difficult and troublesome about most talented oarsmen.
Christ, Dan, you were like that when l coached your world championship boat.
You were like that when l coached your club boat.
You always knew more than the coaches.
- But at least l trained bloody hard. - Yeah.
lt's our fault for not managing them properly. There has to be a way.
Letting them go is an admission of defeat. l don't like it.
You're saying take them all back, including Ross?
After what you thought about him last year?
l don't think we handled him right then either.
So, what do you suggest? Caving in every time they make demands?
lt would be a real loss not to have Warren.
Hm. l'll go along with that.
(knock at door)
- Freddy. - Sorry to disturb you, Donald,
but, um, l was on my way back from the hospital and l saw a light on.
Oh, come in, please.
- Drink? - Yes, why not? Thanks.
You don't mind if l keep eating these, do you?
Uh, no, no.
So...
Thanks.
l thought l should tell you the news.
- They won't row without Ross. - Mm-hmm.
All three or none at all.
Shit.
Well, the whole thing's become ridiculous, hasn't it?
Ultimatums flying around the place.
- lt needs to sort itself out. - Well, l don't know how.
And it's getting bloody late. Everyone seems to have lost sight of the fact
that the whole point of this thing is to beat Cambridge.
The thing about rowing is it's not really a team sport.
lt's much more of an individual thing.
You never look at your teammate's face... just at his back.
Whatever the race, l always stare at that back in front of me and say to myself,
''Pull harder, you lazy little bastard.''
'Cause it's only me keeping the boat going. lf we win, it's because of me.
lf we lose, it's his fault.
At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter who else is in the boat
or whether you like them or not.
Do you know what l mean?
l mean... it's probably better if you don't like them.
lt's better to hate them.
You're the one that wins. Forget the rest.
(chuckles)
One, nil. The world according to Prideaux-Jones.
- To hell with him. We'll use the B crew. - Forget it. We'll never win with them.
So what? This isn't about winning anymore.
What makes you think they'll be on our side?
Donald, remember, people do a lot for a blue.
Ask them.
The crisis has to be resolved. l need to know l have your support.
You're asking us to become the Blue Boat?
Well, no, not yet.
Although the way things are going, there's a very good chance for some of you.
l need support from everyone. Will you take a vote and let me know?
Oh, don't talk like some bloody bureaucrat, Donald.
Take a vote?
Has it occurred to you that throughout this whole thing, you've treated us like shit?
- What do you mean? - What do you mean.
Look, at the beginning of the season, it was ''Dan Warren'' this, ''Dan Warren'' that.
Not a word to us guys who thought we had a shot
before Ross brings his bum chums back with him.
Some of us have been in and out of the boat like some fucking yo-yo!
And now you find you can't handle the Americans
you want us to get you out of the shit. Why the hell should we?
We've made some mistakes. l'm not denying that.
l've rowed enough second boats to know
that you're always used as cannon fodder or subs for the first boat.
But that's the way it is.
l'm sorry, but my duty is to win the boat race.
Stuff duty, MacDonald! Speak English!
Admit it - you've handled the whole situation appallingly.
OK. l need you people to help.
'Cause at the moment, we haven't got a prayer.
Gentlemen... we have a crew.
l'm sorry the way this has turned out.
l always thought we'd build this year's crew around us two, you know?
We'd be the powerhouse in the middle.
What matters now is that Oxford gets its best crew on the water.
And that isn't lsis. l mean, we both know that that is a crazy idea.
Now, l know that the crew doesn't include me,
but what l want is to get the other guys out there.
Now, you keep your place in the boat...
but you hand the presidency over to Patrick Conner.
The guys would feel better if they had him as president.
l am the president, Rick.
l'm the only one who can challenge Cambridge.
l was elected. Nobody can just go and appoint Patrick Conner.
Except for the college captains.
What?
There's gonna be a formal meeting, Donald.
And the college captains will vote against you, and you will be replaced as president.
And so will Topolski.
Now, l'm making you an offer to avoid all that public shit.
Because if they replace you, you'll lose your seat as well.
l mean, this way, at least you get to row.
Look, they'll do it, Donald.
Can't you see? This isn't your boat race.
lt's all of ours. And if we let the college captains choose
between your lsis boat with a few schoolboys in it and our boat,
what do you think they're gonna do?
They wanna win. They don't care who's in the boat.
They will humiliate you.
Can't you see, Donald? l'm giving you a chance.
For the last time, Rick, it's not yours to give.
Call your meeting. Demand my resignation.
Do what the hell you people want.
Well, l'd say we can count on support from ten college captains, 1 2 maximum.
Opposition from 1 9, and the rest are ''don't knows.''
How many are ''don't knows''?
Four or five.
Such bullshit!
Topolski and the coaches shouldn't even be in this meeting.
- Sit down. - ...some kind of a compromise.
Gentlemen, please.
Order!
There has to be some kind of a compromise.
We've tried that. We've tried that!
Ross is out because we believe the crew may be better without him.
May be? May be? Oh, come on! lt's the coaches' indecision.
- For God's sake, shut up. - Who appoints the coaches, anyway?
Gentlemen, one question at a time, please!
All right! l propose a vote of no confidence in the president of the OUBC.
Out of order. Motions are proposed only from the podium.
Sit down! Goddamn it!
(chanting) Out! Out! Out! Out! Out! Out!
MacDonald out! MacDonald out! MacDonald out! MacDonald out!
- Goodbye! - MacDonald out!
- (chanting continues) - Get out!
Gentleman at the back.
My name is Michael Suarez.
l'd like to speak on behalf of the Campion Hall Boat Club.
- Campion doesn't have a boat club. - Didn't. Uh... it does now.
What's the name of your boat, then, Father? Meditate?
- No, Celibate. - Oh, really? Then...
And before you say it, Mr. Black, Masturbate is the name of our single scull.
But, yes, we finally formed a boat club.
Only took us 400 years or so.
Who knows? We might have a guy in the Blue Boat someday.
The missionary position, perhaps.
Bowside, number three. But not this year.
So, why my boat club? l'll tell you.
You see, it's important.
l've got a ¡ê25 bet riding on an Oxford victory.
l gotta make some money out of this.
Yeah. So, when l hear, over the sound of laughter,
Cambridge laughter, the news that the president has been thrown out of the crew
because some of the guys don't like him,
because he was rowing in the seat where they wanted Rick Ross to row,
l wonder what's going on.
l don't know. This isn't how decent Americans behave.
ln the assessment tests so far,
all of Donald MacDonald's results are up from last year.
All of Rick Ross's are down.
ln the overall placings, MacDonald finishes first; Ross, ninth.
No, l'm sorry. Ross is a winner.
Yeah, you guys keep saying that. Tell me what he's won.
Not so far. Not at Oxford.
Again and again, MacDonald produces winning results.
His commitment is total.
This is a president who leads by example, by being the best.
And of course, dropping Ross and keeping MacDonald does raise a problem,
a conflict of interest.
ls MacDonald the president favoring MacDonald the oarsman?
So it is fair that Ross and his friends should appeal the decision.
Except MacDonald's decision is supported by the coaches.
Should we contest their opinion as well?
Would that also be fair?
The rebels have pledged to abide by the coaches' decision,
and now they threaten to walk out. ls that also fair?
And now they question the integrity and fitness,
as president, of Donald MacDonald.
How can that possibly be fair?
lt seems to me that if MacDonald and his coaches ought to be censored,
it's for putting up with Ross in the crew for so long.
You and your friends have done serious damage to this boat club.
You are an embarrassment to your sport...
to your club and to your country.
l'm sure when you came here, you thought how great it would be to go home
with a winning oar to hang on your wall.
Well, l suggest you go ask Cambridge for one of theirs.
Donald MacDonald is a friend of mine.
But that's not why l'm here tonight.
Nor is it for the money from my wager, though, God knows, l could use it.
lt's for something a whole lot more important.
You. Us.
This boat club, our boat club. For all of us.
We are here as servants to put in, not as masters to take out.
This race means everything to us. lt has always meant everything.
To the thousands of oarsmen who have come before us.
To the thousands who will follow.
Let's remember them when we vote tonight.
l ask you to give your total and unqualified support to our president -
Donald MacDonald and his team of coaches.
With them, we can... and, God willing, shall win.
Um, l propose a vote of confidence in the president.
l second the motion.
All those in favor.
Donald! Donald!
- Donald, there are no winners tonight. - l'm sorry you say that, Dan.
- You're still in the boat, you and Black. - But not Rick?
- No. - No Rick, no us. Donald, you still need us.
Unless you wanna lead a bunch of novices to Oxford's biggest defeat ever,
when you could have one of the best crews of this century.
Donald, figure out how much you need us - not in the first mile or in the second,
but some place between the third and the end, when you need to dig deep,
and you dig, and there's nothing there.
You'll all be a laughing stock.
Donald, do you seriously not want the best oarsmen in that crew?
ln the Olympic games, up to 1 964,
the American eights won 1 1 out of a possible 1 4 gold medals.
Now, since then, although they've won individual medals in the smaller boats,
in eights, they've won nothing.
Rowers are mystified by why these eights, full of such winners,
should fail at the highest level.
l understand now that it's true what your coaches claim,
that it's because they have to put up with this childish bickering
and this interfering on a daily basis.
Your place is there if you want it, but this time we do what the coaches say.
l need good men, not simply good oarsmen.
The lineup is as follows:
Peterson, cox. Atkins at stroke. Ball seven.
Conner, six. Prideaux-Jones, five.
MacDonald, four. Johnson, three.
Fox, two. And Bonham, bow.
Yes! Great.
Yeah, well, l don't think it's so friggin' great.
- l'm not gonna row with that crowd. - Me neither.
Well, think about it. Because the fighting's over.
This is the last chance to decide. We have 25 days left.
So make up your minds. l'll see you in five minutes by the van.
(starts engine)
Look.
(Topolski) Bigger finishes.
Hold the finishes longer.
Longer! Longer!
Three, bring the blade down.
Blades out, square. Square.
Blades out, square.
Feel the boat run underneath you.
The rhythm isn't right.
We've got to get that ratio.
More power past the pin. More power past the pin.
Don't fight the balance.
Go! Go!
Go! Go! Come on, you're not working!
Come on! For God's sake, come on!
There's only ten days left.
Get the weight under your feet more!
Keep the hands moving!
Don't let Cambridge walk away with this. Come on! Come on!
Right. Listen.
Before you start each practice session, before every race,
l'd like the bowman to just put a hand on the shoulder of the number two.
And so on, down the boat.
Do that, would you? Down the boat.
- Wipe my ass. - Get off!
Come on, it's important. lt's a symbol that you're together.
Give us a break with the '60s therapy, Dan.
We know we're together. We're in the same boat.
Even Johnson knows that.
- Do you, Mike? - (Topolski) Oh, for God...
Come on, let's go.
(thunder)
- Dan, look. - Huh?
They're picking it up well.
I, Donald MacDonald, challenge you, Steven Peale,
to select nine good men and true from the University of Cambridge,
to row against nine good men and true from the University of Oxford
over four and a quarter miles on the River Thames, London,
from the university boat race stone in Putney, to Mortlake.
Do you accept my challenge?
On behalf of Cambridge University, I accept your challenge.
And may the best crew win.
Wankers.
Ech. You didn't, did you, Donald? You touched a Tab.
You've got the Tab germ.
He's got the germ!
These are the wankers. You know them all.
Spink, Broughton, Garman,
Pugh, Grundy... They're all of them wankers.
Yeah, they may be wankers, but they're fuckin' talented wankers.
Broughton's got a load of medals,
and there are four or five other internationals in the boat.
ls that not right, Dan?
Yeah. We're gonna beat the shit out of them.
l'll bet they think they're in for the easiest race of their lives.
That's right. Think about their weaknesses.
Broughton hates rough water.
Pugh thinks he should be further up the boat.
Garman keeps on missing outings because he's sick.
And even Grundy isn't as fit as he should be.
Nice guys, eh, David?
Donald.
Early start, let's go.
Dan, what's up? Where are we going?
- Dan, it's 5:00 in the morning. - l know.
Come on, let's go.
Come on.
They're wood.
l love them.
l believe you're turning into a great rough-water crew,
so we're going to start betting on shit weather.
And for that, we need these.
Everyone uses plastic.
Just try them and see.
l've also increased the gearing slightly.
You won't notice, but it may help give you cleaner finishes.
Patrick, l beg you, don't fight me, but l'm going to switch you from six to stroke.
Do you know what l weigh?
You'll be the heaviest stroke in boat-race history.
So, Rob, you go to six.
Freddy, you go to seven. David, you take Freddy's old place.
Everybody clear?
Let's go for it.
Hands on!
Right.
One more change. Donald... l'd like you to swap with Rob.
l want you at six.
You sure, Dan?
l'm sure.
Listen. You can hear the boat sing.
So, Patrick, which was better?
lt was better with Donald at six.
lt was excellent.
Look what l found in the river, guys. Guess who.
Hey, Dan, l had no idea you'd been deified in this way.
Dennis is gonna be our mascot. Aren't you, Dennis?
Guys, l think you're turning into a great rough-water crew.
(accent) By the way, anyone seen any crumpet?
Oxford.
- Oxford. - Oxford.
Right.
lf we win the toss...
...l want us on Middlesex.
lf the weather is bad, Sam, head for the Fulham Wall as soon as we start.
lt's more sheltered there.
lf we're going to win this race, the first three minutes are crucial.
And the cox can help win it for us,
because there are places and patches of water only he can take advantage of,
if he knows where to find them.
Look at that. Sometimes there's a wind channel there.
lf it's there in the race, use it. The power 20 to end all power 20s.
You'll go like a rocket.
lf it's rough, remember, the longer route is often the quickest.
Nothing matters after the Mile Post.
lf you're not with them there, you might as well go home.
We have to devastate them at the start.
They expect to win.
But they're not good in rough water. The forecast is for wind and rain.
Tomorrow afternoon,
l'm going to ask you to row to within an inch of your lives.
l'm going to ask you to dig deeper into your souls
and into your great strength than you've ever done before.
l'm going to ask you to go out there
and do what nobody in his right mind believes you can do -
win.
But l know better.
l know you have the skill. l know you have the power.
And despite everything that has happened, l believe you have the will.
But above all, you have the guts.
The guts and the courage to beat Cambridge.
There will come a time out there
when you cannot bear it for one more stroke,
and you resort to the oarsmen's prayer, ''Please, God, don't let me stop.''
ln those moments, l want you to hear my voice...
my voice, in the boat, there with you...
''Yes, Sam.''
''Yes, Patrick.''
''Yes, Freddy.''
''Yes, Donald.''
''Yes, David.''
''Yes, Rob.''
''Yes, Mike. Yes, Ed.''
''Yes, Nick.''
l want Cambridge to feel...
they came third.
Bastards.
Tab! Tab! Tab!
Tab! Tab! Tab! Tab!
(distant thunder)
Let's go now. Go now!
Looks like the umpire wants to postpone the race.
Jack, what are you doing?
Colin! lt's fine.
Getting better. Let's get on with it.
You're not the only one l taught to row, Topolski.
Oxford and Cambridge, get ready, please.
Dan's signaling! Quick, aim for the wall!
Two and four, take two strokes. Seven, hold it.
- That's too far! Stroke back down now! - lt's too late!
Are you ready? Go!
Draw! Draw!
They've gone too far over.
Kick down. Power through.
Really accelerate the handles.
Lengthening out. Starting to reach out.
Now kick away. Kick away!
Look at Cambridge. They're having trouble with the water.
Here they come.
Here they come!
There! That's two minutes.
We're up 36. Pressure, ten.
ln one. Go!
Come on!
On the lifts! That's good.
Cambridge to Surrey. Return to your station!
Cambridge, return to your station!
That's good! On the left!
Keep circling there!
Finish there... and catches.
- Who is this guy? - That's L Sheely, sir.
Quite a character. Women, drink. Bit of a wild one.
Oh, yeah. He was in two races.
Always wanted to stroke the eight, but Mr. Topolski always kept him at six.
One of the finest oarsmen ever to row here, so they say.
An American, like yourself.
Coming up to Harrods!
Power 20 in three... in two...
Come on! Go!
- Go! - Let's go!
Go!
35! 36!
l'm on their four man.
On the legs! Finish there!
l'm on their three man... Their two man...
- Come on, Oxford! - That's good, Oxford!
l've got their bowman. Give me clear water, Oxford.
We've got a wind channel coming up!
Push! Push!
Give me clear water, Oxford. l need clear water.
Come on, Sam!
Go now!
Cross now!
Steer the bastard over!
That's it!
Come on.
Coming across. Still kicking away.
Aah!
Oxford, move to Middlesex!
Oxford, return to your station!
Don't let them back in!
That's good. That's good.
We're starting to hold them. Keep the rhythm.
Oxford to Middlesex!
Ten on the legs.
And go! On the legs!
Finish there! Finish there!
l'm on their three man!
Their two man! That's good, Oxford.
l'm on their bowman.
Finish there! Finish there!
And easing away! Easing away!
And down and away, down and away.
Past the pin! Push! Past the pin!
Squeeze away! Squeeze away!
Yeah! Yeah!
Go! Go!
Cambridge are cracking. We're killing them off.
Come on, Oxford!
Keep the blades down to the water.
- They can't keep up the pace. - They'll burn out.
No, they won't. Not this time.
(announcer) Oxford maintaining their lead; almost three and a half lengths clear.
Still looking a really solid crew.
Stroke Patrick Conner holding the rate rock-steady at 36,
rowing with total assurance.
Rate: 36! We've got the bridge in sight!
We've got four lengths! We're gonna hold it!
Give me ten! Ten! That's good, Oxford!
Hold it together! We're looking good! We're still looking good!
Remember the winter as we pass the finish!
Five!
Four!
Three!
Two!
One! That's it!
We did it!
We did it! Yes!
We did it!
We won!
Yes!
(men) One! Two!
Three!
We could've been disqualified out there, Dan.
'Cause we had ten men in our boat.
They only had nine.