Raising the Bar: The Alma Richards Story (2025) Movie Script
1
[inspirational music]
[clicking]
[film reel whirring]
["Homeward Bound"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
[crowd indistinctly chattering]
[scraping]
[crowd indistinctly chanting]
[gentle music]
[muffled thumping]
[grunting]
[birds chirping]
[light country music]
[snorts]
[mooing]
[Alma]
How did it get in there?
I was teasing him with it.
[snorts]
It's not worth it.
I shouldn't have dropped it!
[Alma grunts]
[mooing]
[suspenseful music]
[deeply exhales, whispers]
Come on.
[snorts]
[heavily breathes]
[snorts forcefully]
[calf growls, moos]
[mooing]
[Columbia]
Run, run!
[upbeat country music]
[bellows]
[Columbia]
Don't let him get you!
-[moos]
-Run!
[calf moos]
Run! Run!
[calf grunts]
-[panting]
-[Columbia]
You scared me to death!
Don't you ever do
anything like that again.
[Alma]
I do that all the time.
["Homeward Bound"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
[water gently lapping]
[water splashing]
Alma!
[thudding]
[muted]
-[door creaks]
-[boy 1] Hey!
-[splashing]
-[groaning
and indistinct shouting]
-[thudding]
-[scraping]
["Homeward Bound" continues]
[muted]
[horse snorts]
[neighs and grunts]
Come on. Come on!
Come on, stupid horse!
-[horse whining and snorting]
-Come on! Idiot!
-Son of a--
-[neighing]
Son of a b--
[Morgan]
Alma!
[horse neighs]
What did you just say?
What did you just say?
Huh? W--
We don't talk that way!
You hear me?
[muffled indistinct shouting]
[horse snorting]
[somber music]
[birds chirping]
[splashes]
Did you do any good today?
Mm.
What was your worst part
about today?
Working on the farm.
What was
your best part of today?
Right now.
[Ms. Bird]
Who knows the answer?
[whimsical music]
Anyone?
[girl coughs]
[Ms. Bird]
Anyone know the answer?
Hmm.
Anyone else?
How about one of you boys?
Alma...
...do you know the answer?
Nothing.
No surprise there.
[door opens]
Ms. Bird, can I talk
to you for a moment?
[door closes]
[music continues]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[softly] Oh.
[chuckling]
[suspenseful music]
[gasping]
[Ms. Bird]
Oh, I see.
Do you have something
you want to tell me, Alma?
-No, ma'am.
-[Ms. Bird] That's
rather strange
because based on your history,
I think you do.
You think because
you are so big and dumb,
you can pick on anyone you like
and get away with it?
Don't you?
Don't you?
-Don't you?
-[gasping]
I'm not dumb!
And it wasn't me this time.
-[Ms. Bird] Stop it!
-[groans]
Stop it!
[indistinct muttering]
[door slams]
[Ms. Bird]
Well, class,
that will be the last
we or anyone
will hear of Alma Richards.
[pants and sighs]
[inspirational music]
[birds chirping]
-[man] Hey.
-[Margaret] So,
what are you thinking
you'll do now, Son?
-Ranching?
-[horse snorting]
You know...
...out... under the stars.
-[bleating]
-[gentle music]
Nothing wrong with ranching...
[horse snorts]
...but we just want to be sure
that you're weighing
things out carefully.
[rain gently spattering]
You know,
us and your grandparents
didn't just leave Wales.
We felt we were called.
[birds chirping]
We want you
to find your calling,
to do something meaningful
with your life.
[Morgan]
You see that?
That's family, Son.
Hardest working,
toughest people I ever knew.
[Alma]
I know that, but...
...I think ranching
might be my calling.
[soft pats]
-[thunder rumbling]
-[horse neighing]
[rain spattering]
[Alma]
How much?
[water dripping]
Two bits.
That's too much.
-Is it?
-[soft clinks]
You see what's going on
out that window?
[thunder rumbling]
Every drowned rat
within 30 miles
is looking for a,
a dry place to sleep tonight.
[dripping]
[softly sighs]
-[clacks]
-Upstairs.
-[thunder rumbling]
-[creaking]
[lock clicks]
Uh, pardon me.
[door creaks, closes]
[sighing] There's already
some guy in that room.
Mm. How could that be?
Oh, I know,
two to a room.
Yeah, but, but two beds.
Not two beds. Two... to a bed.
No, I want my money back.
Oh, do you?
-[clack]
-[whimsical music]
[man]
Pardon me, but... move over.
[Alma]
There's no "over" to go.
[man sighs]
[sighs] You, sir, are enormous.
How old are you?
[sighing] Sixteen.
What year are you in school?
I don't go to school.
What do you do?
What do you care?
[thunder rumbling]
I'm a ranch hand.
And what are
your aspirations? Your dreams?
I just wanna be out.
There's lots of this
big old world
I'm wanting to look on.
You may do as you wish
in this life, but... [sighs]
...to do so,
you need an education.
And what great education
did you get
that led you to this crowded,
lice-filled bed?
[softly chuckles] Touch.
I'm a professor
at Michigan State University,
traveling to lecture
in California,
but stalled
by an uncooperative train.
[thunder rumbling]
It's too late for me
to go back to school.
No.
No, it's never too late
to go back to school.
Much as I honor such men...
...you cannot remain
a ranch hand.
I have a feeling...
...that you were made
for something
of wider influence.
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
[muted]
-[hoofbeats]
-[horse snorts]
[birds chirping]
[Morgan]
School was
a wonderful idea, Son,
I see nothing
but good coming of this.
Well, maybe this time
I can mess up a little less.
-[softly chuckles]
-We'll love
having you home again.
[gentle music]
No, I'm not going back
to that school.
I wanna go
to the Murdock Academy.
Wonderful.
I've always said
I wanna see the world.
Maybe Beaver, Utah,
is the place to start.
Now, Son, there's
a rough side to that town.
You remember what we taught you
about smoking and liquor?
-I know.
-And... about staying away
from the wrong kind of girls.
[chuckles] I don't think
Alma's ever even talked
to a girl.
-I'm just so proud of you,
I could burst.
-[chuckles]
[birds chirping]
[teacher]
Who knows the answer?
The author?
Who knows the answer?
Only Alma.
How is it you know
all the answers?
[whimsical music]
[distant indistinct chatter]
Okay, get a good grip
on it this time,
and don't spit on it.
Remember, the rest
of your teammates
have to use it.
You let it fall on your foot,
we'll be carrying you around.
And this time,
don't throw it towards us.
All right,
put some energy into it,
give it some oomph.
Oomph. Right?
Oomph! Oomph! Ready?
-[dramatic tone]
-[grunts]
[thud]
[indistinct chatter]
I'm slipping a little,
I just need some tar
or something.
[sighing] Fred, I told you,
they won't let you put stuff
like that on your hands.
[girl screams]
[screams]
Hey, fellas, who's that?
[Fred]
That's, uh, Almer somebody.
-Is he a new teacher?
-He's a new kid.
[indistinct chatter]
P-- Pardon? Are, are you Almer?
-No, sir.
-Huh. Are you sure?
Yes, sir.
What is your name?
-Alma.
-Oh. [chuckles]
Uh-- Pardon me.
I'm the track coach.
-Okay.
-Yeah. Well, have you
ever thought about track?
-Train tracks?
-No, uh, uh-- track,
it's a new sport here.
I think you'd like it.
So you want me to come
and watch your team?
No, I-- I want you to try out.
I have to try out
to watch your team?
No, I-- I think
you'd be good on the team.
What would I have to do?
Uh, you'd run
and jump and, um...
[stutters, clicks tongue]
things like that.
Why don't you come out
to the field
after school and, uh,
we'll give it a try?
[whimsical music]
Big twerp.
Well, it was worth a try.
Uh, d-- [stuttering]
don't let the takeoff
foot go past--
[indistinctly continues]
All right, uh--
Glory be, diggity dog!
Fred, you're a natural. [pants]
[birds chirping]
Well, you passed the first test.
Oh, what's that?
You showed up.
This is Alma, boys.
Let's start him off
with some warm-ups, huh?
[upbeat jazz music]
Let's start off
with a broad jump.
Now, Fred, why don't you
show Alma how it's done?
All right, there!
Did you see where his heel hit?
That's as far as he goes.
You have to beat that mark.
-So I have to try and beat that?
-Go past that with your heel,
that's right.
No, no, yo-- [stutters]
no, you want,
you wanna go back f--
you wanna go back farther--
Oh, you beat him.
Okay, this time,
let's do it for real.
Just take a run at it
and see how far you can jump.
Your takeoff foot cannot go
past this mark right here.
Okay.
[upbeat jazz music]
[music increases]
[muted]
[echoing thud]
[clapping]
Okay, boys! The 100-yard dash,
the meat and potatoes
of every track meet.
What have you got within ya?
It shows your soul.
Get ready now!
Ready! Set... go!
[muted]
[crowd cheering and whistling]
[pants] That's a shot.
Careful, it's dang heavy and,
I mean,
the last thing you'd want
is, I mean,
to drop on your foot.
You know,
there's no track, no-- shot--
[birds chirping]
You don't throw it.
Yo-- you put it.
No, no, not-- not-- put.
Uh, you put it.
That's the wrong sport.
Put it.
-Put it. From up here?
-Yes.
[music continues]
-[whooshes]
-[echoing thud]
-Come on!
-[indistinct cheering]
[indistinct shouting]
Nobody has shown an interest
or the ability
to throw the discus,
but it's, uh,
kind of a twirling motion.
And then, you keep your legs
underneath it,
so it comes out flat.
No wobble.
-[sharp thud]
-Oh, okay, we're gonna-- [sighs]
...we're gonna try her again.
This time, put 90%
of the weight back here.
You're back here.
Get some lift into it this time
and keep your arm behind you.
That'll help you
keep it straight.
Flip it out there.
Let's go, Alma.
Give it some flick now.
Here we go!
[whooshes]
[indistinct chatter]
Glory be! Diggity dog!
[all cheering]
-[muted]
-In second place
with 22 points, Salt Lake High.
-[all cheering and clapping]
-Congratulations, sir.
Now, last year, Murdock Academy
won one point and came in 17th.
-What a difference
a year can make.
-[indistinct chatter]
Congratulations to our state
high school champion,
with 32 points, Murdock Academy!
[all cheering and clapping]
-Thank you. [laughing]
-Congratulations.
There you go, boys.
You didn't just join
the track team, son.
-You became it. Well done.
-You got a great boy.
First place, nice going.
-Thank you.
-But you're still a dumb hick.
-[groans]
-Whoa, hey!
-Hey--
-[boy] Hey, get off him!
[indistinct shouting]
-No fighting! No fighting!
-[man] ...hey, hey!
[boys singing]
...and we'll all shout
"Hurrah!"
When Alma comes
marching home
When Alma comes
marching home again
Hurrah, hurrah
We'll give him
a hearty welcome then
Hurrah, hurrah
The men will cheer
and the boys will shout
The ladies
they will all turn out
And we'll all shout
"Hurrah!"
When Alma comes
marching home
-When Alma...
-Okay, okay, okay. I--
that's all I can take.
I thought
I'd never tire of that song,
but you boys did it to me.
Hey, do you know
that we're the first
rural high school
to ever win
the state track championship?
-You mean us?
-[laughs]
-That's good! So here's us,
little Murdock Academy...
-Mm-hmm!
...with 32 points,
mostly won by Alma here
-and supported by me...
-Mm-hmm.
...and the next school
only gets 22.
[coach AJ chuckles]
I don't know much
about coaching,
but I really believe
you'd get a fair shake
if you transfer to another
high school next year
where they can really bring out
your potential in track.
[horse snorts]
Well, thanks for looking out
for me, Coach, but...
...I like it here.
And I'll do other sports.
[coach AJ]
Yeah, like what?
-[Alma] Basketball.
-[horse snorts]
[coach AJ]
I'll tell you
where I think you should be.
Next year, you should be
in Provo at BY High.
-Hey, you hear that, Freddie?
-[Fred] Yeah, that's where
I'm going next year too.
Golly!
-[indistinct chatter]
-[footsteps thudding]
-[thudding]
-[exhales, grunts]
-[boy 1] Break.
-[Fred] Break. No!
-[grunting]
-[laughter]
[door creaks]
-[boy 2] Okay,
for sure this time.
-[boy 3] For sure.
-[boy 1] I got it-- Oh.
-[boys grunting]
[indistinct chatter]
[coach Timp]
Hey, Mickey.
Did you finish those drills?
All right, good man.
Well, I've been thinking
things through.
I think what we need to do...
-Right here.
-[boy 1] Yeah. Oh.
-[boy 1 laughs]
-[groaning]
...get your approach
a little steep--
[boy 4]
Oh.
-Sorry.
-[sharply inhales]
[sighs] Anyway. Uh...
Pass it. Yep, okay. Here we go!
-Oh--
-Oh-ho!
Oh-ho, yeah!
-[boy 2 laughs]
-[boy 3] Whoops.
[Alma chuckles]
Oh.
[sighs] I got it.
So sorry.
Hey!
What's your name?
Fred.
Not you. You.
Alma.
Uh.
You got a minute?
Yes, sir.
I'm BYU coach, uh,
Timpanogos Roberts.
Uh, I want you to try something.
Hey, Mickey.
Uh, set it at, uh...
...six feet.
High jump's
not one of my events.
You have events?
I was gonna try out
for track next month,
but I've never done high jump.
Well, now's your chance. Jump.
Well, what way?
[sighing] Uh,
show him, Mickey.
-At six feet?
-Why not?
This is a scissor kick.
-[shouts]
-[thudding]
[clattering]
Well, don't do it like that,
but, uh, you get the idea.
Inside leg kicks over,
then the outside leg
completes the jump.
[sighs] Well, that's no good.
I'll try it my way.
[light inspirational music]
[Alma sharply exhales]
[music increases]
[indistinct chatter]
-Dang.
-[muffled chatter]
You've never high jumped before.
[pants] Only on the farm.
Well, you just jumped two inches
under the BYU record!
Well, I'll try harder.
[chuckles]
Alma, I would like to extend
an official invitation for you
to join the BYU track team.
I don't know.
[coach Timp]
Wait, wha-- what's the matter?
Well, see, I d--
I don't go to BYU.
Oh. [clicks tongue]
What school are you in?
I'm still in high school.
Dang.
[indistinct chatter]
[Brimhall]
Are you out of your mind, Timp?
[coach Timp]
Well, very possibly, President.
But I'm, I'm telling you,
he's... [deeply inhales]
...one of the most
gifted natural athletes
to come along in years.
-A high schooler?
-[softly] Yeah.
[Brimhall]
Have there been any other
high school students
allowed to compete
at the university level?
-[sighs] Not that I know of.
-Mm.
Then why should we let
this fellow in?
Because he's good.
That's not how we make decisions
around here.
Bring him in.
[sighs]
-[door creaks]
-[coach Timp]
He wants to see ya.
Uh, President, I'd like
to introduce to you
Alma Richards.
Pleasure, son!
I, uh, knew you were waiting
and... wanted to meet you,
but I'm sorry.
We don't allow
high school students
to compete athletically
at the university level.
I understand.
Alma, um,
what's your father's name?
Morgan.
Morgan Richards.
[clicks tongue] From Parowan.
Yes, sir.
A good name can open doors.
-[sharply inhales, laughs]
-[Brimhall] Welcome, son.
-[Alma grunts]
-[clattering]
-[grunting]
-[clattering]
-[groans]
-[clattering]
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
[sighs] It's no good.
Well, you don't like
the barrel roll, uh--
Eh, what's wrong
with the scissor?
Yo-- you gotta do
either the scissor
-or the barrel roll.
-It's not
how I jump over things.
Jump over what things?
Fences.
[sighs] All the great jumpers do
either the scissor
or the barrel roll.
-This is what I'm used to.
-Sometimes you gotta get over
what you're used to,
so you can learn
something better.
Or... sometimes you don't.
[chuckles]
Let me keep trying.
I'll get better.
-[grunts, groans]
-[clattering]
-[Fred] Hey, Alma.
-[sighs] Yeah.
I think
when you're making your jump,
you just need a little more...
uh, more oomph.
That's what I need.
Yeah, it's just, uh...
[softly] oomph.
Uh, for sure, I need something.
[soft clatter]
[sighs]
Did Fred just tell you
what to do?
-Yeah.
-Well, I can't wait to hear it.
He said I need more oomph.
[chuckles]
Well, Fred would know.
[sighs] Well...
I don't wanna take anything away
from what Coach Fred
tells you, but, uh--
well, try this.
As you're about to clear
the bar... [grunts]
...try... [clears throat]
leaning forward, huh?
More over your knees.
-Yeah.
-Okay.
-[Alma chuckles] Diggity dog!
-Yeah.
-[whispers] Oomph.
-Huh? Huh?
[inspirational music]
-[man] All right, fellas. Good!
-[coach Timp] Okay.
Okay, remember this.
When you're coming down
that road, I want you
jumping up, up, chest up.
[music increases]
Hurrah! Hurrah!
[speaks indistinctly]
...before that elbow goes
for the release.
Now, follow through
and flick that.
-Ready? Here we go.
-[Alma grunts]
[thud]
Yes. All right.
[clicks]
-[birds chirping]
-[whooshing]
-[Alma grunts]
-[coach Timp] Well,
that'll do for today.
-[Alma] Okay, Coach.
-[indistinct chatter]
[sighs]
Hey, Richards,
you... [clears throat]
...you're good at every event.
If, uh, tiddlywinks was
a track and field sport,
you'd beat everyone at that too.
But I'll tell you this.
You're best at the high jump.
That's your ticket.
You know what I love about
the high jump?
[man distantly]
All right, fellas,
looking good--
The same as life.
I mean, you,
you got an obstacle.
Doesn't do you any good
to go under it. Uh...
...can't go around it.
You gotta learn to go over it.
[deeply exhales] Thanks, Coach.
[indistinct chatter]
[birds chirping]
[Alma]
Coach,
just so you know,
I'm great at tiddlywinks too.
[whimsical music]
-A-- Alma.
-Oh, hiya, Coach.
I wanna talk to you.
Uh, you-- you're doing good
in your school classes?
-I'm doing swell.
-Dang it. That is swell.
Well, here's something
I really want you to go after.
[clears throat]
The trials for the Olympics
are in two months.
-Can you be ready for that?
-[exhales] I don't know.
I'm supposed to help my family
get first crop in.
-What do I need to do?
-You need to work hard
and get ready.
Here's what I need to do.
[clears throat]
The trials are in Chicago.
I gotta raise us the money
to get us there.
-How much do we need?
-Well, I'd say 400.
Shouldn't be hard.
There's gotta be plenty
of folks around here
that'd love to help you along.
Why would people give money
to help me in track?
Because when you put on
that jersey,
you represent them.
They want you to succeed.
[indistinct chatter]
Okay. Well, how about
while you do that, I'll go home,
and... I'll talk to my parents
about this Olympia idea.
Olympics, uh-- good.
-[pats]
-You do that.
[birds chirping]
[Margaret]
You have to go to Chicago?
And if that goes well,
all the way to Sweden?
[sighs] Just to see
how high you can jump?
Why don't we just
measure you jumping here
and then tell them
how high you did?
Doesn't work that way, Mama.
I wish you would just stay here.
Help your father with the farm
and then get back to school
in the fall. [sighs]
Mother, it's time.
[sighs] I'm sorry,
Son, I have to go.
[softly] Thank you.
-Where's she going?
-[door opens]
Oh, you know,
we've always tried
to set aside certain evenings
to visit sick or elderly folks.
-[light somber music]
-[sighs]
She's leaving now to care
for Sister Sawyer.
-[chair scrapes]
-If service is the rent we pay
for our room here on Earth,
your mother's rent
has been paid many times over.
[birds chirping]
[water gently lapping]
[water splashes]
[sharply sighs] You thinking
you're going to Chicago?
I don't know.
What do you think?
Father and mother
are afraid this trip
is too much about yourself
and not about others.
I think this might be
my calling.
[softly chuckles]
That's what you said
about ranching.
[footsteps receding]
-[engine rumbling]
-[indistinct chatter]
[sharply exhales]
Dang it,
I got some bad news, son.
[sighs]
-[deeply exhales] Me too.
-[coach Timp sighs]
All I've been able
to raise for the trials
in Chicago is $150.
That isn't enough.
That means only one of us
will be able to go.
Hey, you go ahead, Coach.
I'll stay and help
get my dad's hay in.
Why would I go without you?
You're the one going.
-By myself?
-Well, this is
too important to miss.
-What's so important about it?
-Oh, this is your chance
to represent the town,
the school, uh, and America.
Huh, you-- you do well, and...
people all over the country
will have a more
favorable view of us all.
[Alma]
Uh, so... [grunts]
...you really think
this is a way
I can help other people?
Positively.
Now, what was your bad news?
Nothing, sir.
-When do I leave?
-[students laughing]
-[hissing]
-[horn blaring]
-[indistinct chatter]
-How long does it take
to get to Chicago?
Mm, about two days.
-Two days?
-Mm-hmm.
Uh, do they stop so you can get
to a water closet?
-[chuckling] There are
water closets on the train.
-[man] This way.
-Good.
-What? You've never been
on a train before?
What are you,
some kind of hick? [chuckles]
[loudly] All aboard!
[sighs] Dang it, Alma, I--
I'm the first to admit,
I... haven't helped you much
with the mechanics
of jumping, and you...
[chuckles softly]
you like to find
your own way of doing things.
But I've tried to help you
get that will to win
burning in your belly.
Uh, here's a poem
that's... pushed me along
in competitions.
Maybe it'll do something
for you too.
Thanks, Coach.
Make us proud.
[train engine rumbling]
Remember everything
me and coach taught you.
Don't forget the oomph.
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
[train rattling]
[coach Timp]
If you can trust yourself
when all men doubt you...
...if you can fill
each unforgiving minute
with 60 seconds
worth of distance run...
...yours is the Earth
and everything that's in it.
And which is more,
you'll be a man, my son.
Coach Timp.
-PS, do your best and...
-[train rattling]
...God will handle the rest.
-[light fanfare music]
-[scraping]
[coach Burns]
All right. Good, good!
That's-- that's what we want.
Practice that over
and over again. Come on.
Hey, hey! Do it the way
I told you how to do it.
Come on!
-[man 1] Get in there.
-There you go.
All right. Thank you.
[man 2]
Hey! Josh over here thinks
he's better than all of us.
Is it okay
if I take a few jumps?
[man 2 laughs]
I've been ready to take him.
You here for the trial?
-Have at it.
-[Josh laughs] That's not what
I said, Noah, come on.
-[indistinct chatter]
-Hey, Johnny, you smell like--
Are you a coach?
-[whimsical music]
-[indistinct chattering]
-[distant indistinct chatter]
-And you smoke?
[Josh]
Hey, Coach Burns.
[deeply exhales]
Plant that foot.
Bring it all the way--
-Yeah, there you go...
-[indistinct chatter]
Can I take a few jumps?
[coach Burns]
...all right,
thank you. That's...
Sure thing. Who are you?
Alma Richards.
-[coach Burns] ...all right,
let's see here...
-You here for the trials?
...that's good, that's good.
[indistinct chatter]
[Jimmy]
Okay. Well, uh,
before you get started...
...I need you to run over
to that water bucket
over there and, uh...
[light tense music]
...get us a drink.
Huh?
[chuckles]
[indistinct chatter continues]
Maybe later.
Right. Whatever.
All right, like I was saying...
[indistinctly continues]
You make sure that plant foot
is nice and sturdy.
[bird cawing]
Hey.
-Take a sec.
-[Alma] Here goes!
Go ahead.
Watch this, boys.
[clattering]
Oops. [laughs]
I mean, it is the Windy City,
you know?
Well, sometimes you just gotta
make do with what you've got.
[scoffs]
Whatever that means. [chuckles]
[coach Burns]
On the board, on the board.
All right.
[continues indistinctly]
[music increases]
Hey, hey, wait!
Put back down. [chuckles]
-Weirdo's gonna jump.
-[clatters]
Hey, I got an idea. Come here.
I got a buck,
says he doesn't try it.
-Two.
-Two?
How tall are you?
5'10".
Well... doesn't do me
any good to go around you.
Not a chance.
[upbeat country music]
-[man 3 indistinctly speaks]
-In his dreams.
-Watch it!
-[man 3] You crazy, man?
-Holy smokes.
-[man 4] You crazy?
-[Jimmy] ...bonkers!
-[man 3] Wacky?
Not bad.
[man 4]
Where'd you learn
to jump like that?
Fences.
[Jimmy]
Hey, Coach.
-[coach Burns]
What's going on over there?
-That guy wouldn't wait his turn
and nearly b--
clocked a few of us.
His name's, uh... Richards?
[coach Burns]
Oh, that guy.
-I'll take care of him.
-[dramatic music]
[coach Stagg]
All right, let's go. Next guy.
All right.
You were a little short.
Little short on the board, so--
[coach Burns]
Roll call!
-Jimmy Johnson.
-Oh.
-[coach Burns] Eric Hendershot.
-[Eric] Oh.
-Alan Whitenbraker.
-[Alan] Oh.
-Martin Andersen.
-Oh.
-[coach Burns] Jason Hansen.
-[Jason] Oh.
-[coach Burns] Robert Erickson.
-Oh.
-Gary Pierce.
-[Gary] Oh.
-Steve Peterson.
-[Steve] Oh.
-Alfred Hoop.
-[Alfred] Oh.
Go stretch her out.
[indistinct chatter]
[somber music]
[laughter]
Do you want something?
I should be on that list,
but you didn't read my name.
-What's your name?
-Alma Richards.
-[sighing] You--
you're not on the list.
-[patting]
Y-- you gotta be
on the list to compete.
Is there a-- a telegraph
office close by
-that I can let my coach know
about this?
-No, no, no, no,
you-- that's not
gonna do you any good.
The list is the list.
Hey.
-Were you jumping here
yesterday?
-[Alma] Yes, sir.
How'd you do?
[Alma]
6'2", but I can do better.
Hey, Jimmy.
-Put another jumper down,
would you?
-He's not on the list.
He's not on the--
just put him on the list!
[upbeat jazz music]
[clatters]
[thuds]
-[clatters]
-[whistle blows]
[whistle blows]
[coach Burns]
That kid is as awkward
as any jumper I have ever seen.
You get that right,
but he keeps raising the bar.
-[clattering]
-[whistle blowing]
[music continues]
[clinking]
Have you ever seen anybody
jump like that?
[coach Burns]
He's a freak.
-[Jimmy] Country boy.
-[chuckles]
-[clatters]
-[whistle blows]
-[scraping]
-All right, let's go. Next guy.
-[clatter]
-[whistle blows]
[music continues]
[clapping]
-Fine job, Richards.
-[indistinct chatter]
What happens now?
Well, we'll wire
the results to New York,
and by tomorrow afternoon,
we should have
our selections made.
-I won.
-Yes, you did.
-So, will I be on the team?
-Well, there are also trials
going on at Stanford
and Harvard.
Why don't you stop by
around 5:00 tomorrow?
We should know by then.
My office is right there
in the athletics building.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[engine rumbling]
[ringing]
-Coach Stagg here.
-[woman] Please hold
for a long distance call
from BK Downs.
-[BK Downs] Coach Stagg.
-Yes.
Uh, this is BK,
with the selection committee
calling to report our choices.
All right. Go.
For broad jump,
we are taking Albert Gutterson,
Harry Worthington,
Eugene Mercer,
Jim Thorpe, Frank Irons,
John Ricketts, and Bob Whitman.
Good job.
High jumpers will be Jim Thorpe,
George Horine, Egon Erickson,
Harry Grumpelt, Chuck Bradley,
Jimmy Johnson,
and Harold Enright.
-So, that'll give you--
-Oh, h-- hold-- hold on.
Did you say Alma Richards?
No, he was not chosen.
Not chosen?
Uh-- did anybody at Harvard
or Stanford jump 6'3"?
-No.
-Even close?
Uh, no, but nobody's
ever heard of him.
The committee feels like
he must be some kind of
a hick fluke.
A hick fluke? He won! [scoffs]
Look, he jumped 6'3".
I saw it with my own eyes.
That may be.
But Coach Burns reported
that his jump was not 6'3",
but was only 6'1".
[whispers] Oh, that son of a--
Bu-- Burns just--
he doesn't wanna make
-his own guys look bad.
-Sorry, but that's
the way it is, Coach.
[sighs]
You're making a big mistake, BK.
Maybe so, but that's how
it's gonna be.
[deeply breathes]
[Alma]
E-- excuse me, can you tell me
where Coach Stagg's office is?
[clicks tongue] End of the hall.
[Alma]
Thank you.
-[knocks on door]
-[coach Stagg] Come in.
Come in, sit down.
Got some bad news
for you, Alma. [sighing]
Despite winning yesterday,
you did not make
the Olympic team.
The selection committee
in New York decided to go
with some better known jumpers.
[deeply inhales] Is that right?
[sighing] No, it's not right.
I've got people that gave
their hard-earned money
to get me here,
and I'm letting them down.
You just have
to dust yourself off
and keep on trying.
I should probably
just forget this
and find something else to do.
[coach Stagg]
And the way
you dust yourself off,
you give it your all
at the Olympics next month.
[deeply inhales]
How am I gonna give it my all
if I wasn't selected?
[coach Stagg]
Well, there's still a chance.
I got them to put you
on the list as a member
of the supplemental team.
Now, someone else
has to drop out
for you to compete, but...
...you're going.
[chuckling]
You're going to Sweden.
[sharply exhales, laughing]
Glory be! Diggity dog!
-[birds chirping]
-[chickens clucking]
[heavily breathing]
-[Margaret] Willy! I'm here.
-Oh, Sister Richards!
I've got a telegram here for you
from Chicago, Illinois.
Oh, my stars!
-[gasps and shouts] Morgan!
-[horn honking]
-[bird squawking]
-[horn blows]
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
[Alma] Dear, mother,
who would've believed
I'm on the USS Finland
headed for Sweden
with the US team?
-[soft scratching]
-Racing jackrabbits
at home was one thing,
but... being
with these guys is another.
I haven't got
to know them yet,
but they're probably good guys.
-Fluke.
-Freak.
-Hayseed.
-Hick.
And they seem to like my name.
-Hey, Almond.
-Almer.
Chump.
Still no word about me
getting off
the supplemental team
and actually getting to jump.
Going all this way
just to watch
would be the worst.
I somehow got a case
of the pink eye,
but I'm sure it'll soon resolve.
So I got an old hat
to keep the sun out of my eye.
A nice man helped me with it.
It's my new lucky hat.
-[waves crashing]
-[low-pitched rumbling]
[music continues]
-[Jimmy] Coach.
-[Alma] Coach Stagg
from Chicago
-is here with us too.
-[inaudible chatter]
He's part
of the US Olympic Committee,
in charge of high jump
and broad jump.
He's a good Joe.
Coach Burns is
the high jump assistant,
but he seems more interested
in his hometown jumpers
than looking out for the USA.
Hey, Almer.
[chuckling]
Hey, how you doing, Almer?
Alma.
[vomiting]
Oh, boy. There he goes again.
Some people
and 12-foot waves do not mix.
[Jimmy]
No hard feelings.
It's good for you.
[Chuck coughs]
When is this trip gonna be over?
[vomiting]
[Jimmy]
Much longer. 'Cause of Titanic.
What's that?
[chuckles]
We're taking a route
farther to the south
'cause about two months ago,
Titanic was sunk by an iceberg
just north of here.
But I'm sure that news
hasn't made its way
to hayseed Utah yet. [chuckles]
Or it just got buried
in the newspaper
'cause somebody's cow
had triplets.
Hey, you know
what happens to cows?
They get slaughtered.
Let's go.
[Alma]
There are some things
about ocean travel
that will make me very happy
to get off this ship.
Thanks for all you taught me
and the good name you left me.
Your loving son, Alma.
[cheerful string music]
[indistinct chatter]
[Max]
Coach Stagg.
Max Francis, New York World.
So, uh, who should I be,
uh, looking for?
Well, our main jumpers
are George Horine.
-[Max] Oh, of course.
-He's from Stanford.
He's a world record holder.
And, uh, that's Jim Thorpe,
an amazing athlete
from Oklahoma.
He's also competing
in the decathlon, but...
...he's one
of our best high jumpers.
And then, there's
Egon Erickson. He's, uh,
he's with the New York
Athletic Club.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[Max]
Anyone else?
Um... [clicks tongue]
-...those are our main players.
-Huh.
Uh, thank you very much
for your time. Appreciate it.
[coach Burns]
You ready, Coach?
Men! Eyes on Coach Stagg.
This meet consists
of 57 athletes
representing 20 countries...
...all vying for one gold medal.
Each of you is representing
the United States of America.
Act like it.
This country has been very good
to me, and I love it.
Get your sleep.
Do your workouts.
No booze,
no smokes,
no fooling around.
Remember why you're here.
Bold stars.
Beloved stripes.
Brave hearts.
-Cheers for the red!
-[all shouting] Hurrah!
-[coach Stagg] For the white!
-[all] Hurrah!
-For the blue!
-[all] Hurrah!
[orchestral music playing]
-[Jimmy] ...I just socked him
right in his head.
-[laughter]
-[man 1] Oh, man--
-He didn't see it coming.
No, that is not--
-[indistinct chatter]
-[laughter]
[Jimmy]
Hey, he was asking for it
the whole time...
[indistinct chatter continues]
[men exclaiming]
-[whistles]
-[men whooping]
[chuckling]
-[man 2] You can finish
your story later, Jim.
-[man 3] Yeah, yeah.
Ladies. [laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
[inaudible chatter]
[music continues playing]
[laughter and chuckling]
[indistinctly speaks]
[giggling]
-Oh! Oh!
-[clapping]
[whoops]
-[laughter]
-[indistinct chatter]
-Could I help you, ma'am?
-[speaking Swedish]
I-- I'm sorry, I,
I-- I don't know Swedish.
[speaking Swedish]
[slowly] I do not understand.
[stutters] I-- I have to go.
-[chair scraping]
-[man coughing]
Watch this, boys.
[clears throat]
[sighs]
No good? [chuckling]
Oh, you don't like
the ladies, huh?
[laughing]
Not that kind.
Mm, well...
...this will make it
easy for you. Hmm?
[laughs] Come on.
What do you care? I mean,
you're not even
really on the team,
Mr. Supplemental. [laughs]
-Come on, here.
-[indistinct chatter]
[cutlery clinking]
Come on. Take it.
[chuckles]
I tried! [laughs]
[sighing] Ah!
[Max]
Hey.
May I ask you a question?
You... you're different.
-That's not much of a question.
-Yeah, but that's
what I've been hearing.
Whoa! Hang on there.
What are you doing here?
Meaning what?
Are you jumping for your school,
for yourself, for a girl?
[deeply inhales]
What do you care?
I'm a reporter.
Some things you do
just 'cause you know
it's the right thing to do.
Miss.
[footsteps receding]
Boy, he's different, all right.
[dramatic music]
-Are they ready?
-Yeah, I think so.
Ever seen anything
like this in Hickowan?
Don't forget your hick hat.
Well, there it is,
on your hick head.
-[thuds]
-Don't forget to drink
your milk, Almer.
This is it, men.
This is what we came
all the way across the sea for.
Now, they're gonna set
the bar at 5'8" to start.
Some of you may wanna pass
for the later heights,
but those lower jumps
can be a nice warm-up
and get you in the habit
of clearing the bar
before they raise it.
[gentle music]
Bradley did not fare well
on the ship,
and his sickness
has not improved.
He's withdrawn
from the competition.
Well, Richards...
...you're in.
[inspirational music]
You okay with that?
Yes, sir.
Stretch them out.
[music increases]
[muted]
[Max]
I heard you made the roster.
[indistinct chatter]
Yes, sir.
Congratulations.
How are you feeling
about your chances today?
Chances are
100% I'll give it my best.
[inspirational music]
Any bets?
Well... [sighs]
...I'd say our hopes rely
mostly on Horine.
But, uh... [sighs]
never write off Thorpe.
And either way,
that tall German Liesche
could make us all
look like beginners.
Hmm.
[light fanfare music]
What's our schedule today?
We have high jump,
several races,
and then broad jump.
And what is our deadline
for the wire?
Six o'clock.
-[indistinct chatter]
-[laughter]
[gentle music]
So, what do you think
of that Alma Richards kid?
I agree with you.
How's that?
He's different.
Different good or different bad?
Neither.
Different... very good.
[fanfare music]
-[rattling and clacking]
-And now, for an event
that had its beginnings
over 50 years ago in Scotland,
the high jump.
The greatest in the sport
seem to be the closest thing
to a man flying.
The bar is raised
to 5'8" inches,
and the first jumper
is American Jimmy Johnson
of Northwestern University.
[film camera whirring]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
the first competitor
in the high jump,
-Mr. Jimmy Johnson
of the United States of America.
-[crowd cheering and clapping]
[Max]
No trouble at all
for Mr. Johnson.
Next up
is Karl-Axel Kullerstrand,
the local favorite
from our host country of Sweden.
[whimsical, suspenseful music]
[announcer]
Next competitor, George Horine.
Mr. Jim Thorpe.
Mr. Egon Erickson.
[crowd cheering and clapping]
[film camera whirring]
[announcer]
Next competitor,
Mr. Alma Richards.
[suspenseful music]
And now... Alma Richards
-from Parowan, Utah.
-[clacking and whirring]
Word is two years ago,
this boy had never
even heard of track and field.
And now, here he is
on the world's grandest stage.
[clatter]
-[clatters]
-[Max] Miss.
-[laughs]
-[clapping]
[indistinct muttering]
Tougher than jumping the fences
at the farm, huh?
[speaking Swedish]
No, thank you.
The sun...
-...it blocks the sun.
-[whimsical music]
[announcer]
Next competitor,
Hans Liesche of Germany.
[crowd cheering]
[suspenseful music]
[Max]
Hans Liesche moves on.
[crowd cheering and whistling]
And with his second jump,
Alma Richards.
-[film camera whirring]
-[suspenseful music]
[clattering]
[Max]
Ooh, that was a definite miss.
-[clacking]
-[clapping]
[man]
Strike two.
Maybe next Olympics, goat boy.
[mimics bleating]
All other jumpers
have cleared this first hike.
Richards now
takes his third and final try.
He's tall and sturdy,
with a style unlike those
of the other jumpers.
He makes his approach
from straight on,
-and instead of throwing
one leg over the bar first...
-[indistinct chatter]
...he brings
both feet up together.
He has great spring
and would possibly do better
if he could master the style
used by the other crack jumpers.
[stutters]
Just take out "crack."
[upbeat suspenseful music]
[crowd cheering]
-[Max] They now raise
the bar to 6'1".
-[clacking]
[light suspenseful music]
Well, hallelujah, church boy.
It's a freak-jump miracle.
[scoffs]
-[music increases]
-[echoing cheering and clapping]
[echoing clattering]
[muted]
[clattering]
[indistinct chatter]
I knew you were a fluke.
[sighs] Well, it was a fun time,
anyways, huh, flapdoodle?
[laughs]
-[man] Don't.
-[laughter]
[Jimmy scoffs]
Yeah, right.
Despite the effort,
it appears that Alma Richards
has reached his limit
with his unorthodox style
in a sport where technique is
as important as leaping ability.
[crowd cheering]
What's wrong?
You've jumped plenty higher.
[light melancholic music]
Alma Richards is again
in the position
of attempting his third jump.
It's now or never
for Alma Richards.
His huge frame
makes high jumping an event
for which he's
not naturally fitted,
he seems too big
to get all of himself
up and over the bar.
[dramatic music]
[muffled thumping]
[echoing thud]
My goodness!
Richards' jump is phenomenal!
-[crowd cheering]
-[upbeat jazz music]
[muted]
[crowd cheering]
Ooh, and Jimmy Johnson is out.
-[clapping]
-[sharply exhales]
[sighs]
[gentle music]
Save it, sober boy.
Truly sorry.
You're a great jumper.
[Max]
With the bar now
at 6'2" inches,
only five high jumpers are left.
Four of them are Americans,
George Horine, Jim Thorpe,
Egon Erickson,
and Alma Richards.
[indistinct chatter]
They are joined by Hans Liesche,
a German who seems to be
striking fear into them all.
At every height,
the lanky German
has cleared the bar with ease
-on his opening try.
-[clacking]
No American can say the same.
-Hans Liesche.
-[crowd cheering]
[dramatic music]
Wow! Hans Liesche,
he has not missed!
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Egon Erickson.
[upbeat suspenseful music]
-[clattering]
-[clapping]
Next competitor, George Horine.
Seemingly the best of the Yanks,
George Horine has only
one more chance.
[triumphant music]
-[crowd cheering and clapping]
-[Max] Horine moves on.
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Jim Thorpe.
[Max]
Jim Thorpe won
the decathlon yesterday,
but he'll need to clear this bar
for any hope of getting
a medal today.
He's missed twice at this height
of 6'2" inches
and now prepares to take
what could be his final jump.
[clattering]
[somber music]
-[Max] Thorpe is out.
The next American going...
-[clapping]
...for his third
and final try is...
Mr. Alma Richards.
[dramatic music]
[snickering]
-[triumphant music]
-[echoing thud]
[crowd cheering and clapping]
-[man] Hey, everybody gets one.
-Hey, yo, you owe me $2.
[laughs]
What'd they say to him?
I don't know. Probably nothing.
[Max]
Only two Americans have managed
to stay in the competition,
George Horine and Alma Richards,
and they both squeaked by...
-[whirring and clacking]
-...clearing on the third
and final tries.
By contrast, Hans Liesche
has cleared every height
with his first try.
He has not missed!
Richards has the most misses,
so he's up first.
Next competitor,
Mr. Alma Richards.
[suspenseful music]
[laughter]
[indistinct muttering]
[music increases]
[clatters]
[laughter]
Up and over, Alma.
I've been there.
I know
what you're going through.
Next competitor,
Mr. George Horine.
[dramatic music]
[film camera whirring]
[clattering]
[clapping]
Next competitor,
Mr. Hans Liesche.
[crowd cheering]
[film camera whirring]
[Max]
At 6'3" inches,
Liesche has done it again,
clearing on his first attempt,
just as he has at every height.
[announcer]
Mr. Alma Richards.
[Max]
Richards goes
for his second try.
Let him have it, boys.
Let him have it.
[dark music]
It's the end of the line, Almer!
[mimics cow mooing]
[man laughs]
Go on... [bleating]
back to the farm.
[laughter]
-[muffled groans]
-[clatter]
[clattering]
[clapping]
[clacking]
[laughs] I mean, that's
what we expected, right,
country boy? [loudly laughs]
-[man 1] And that's it
for Mr. Goody-goody over there.
-[laughter]
-[man 2] Oh, yeah!
-[shouts] Hey!
Did I just see
what I thought I did?
He's your teammate, bullies!
I'd take him over
the whole lot of you.
No matter what else Richards is,
he's an American.
That's us!
[inspirational music]
We're supposed to be the best
this country has to offer.
[deeply exhales]
The essence of America
is an idea...
...the idea that you can come
from humble circumstances
and do great things.
That is Alma Richards.
Do you hear me?
-[shouts] Do you hear me?
-[men] Yes, sir!
Finally see
what's going on here.
I apologize
for not noticing earlier.
I had my duties
over at the broad jump.
Completely wrong.
You know why I can
stand up to those guys?
I think it's my parents.
They taught me that--
Well...
...they're the greatest.
You've got wings.
You're not jumping.
You're flying.
You show 'em. You show 'em all.
[gentle music]
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. George Horine.
-[crowd cheering]
-[film camera whirring]
[clattering]
[George sighs]
-Hey, good job.
-[George] Thank you.
-You can be proud of yourself.
-[indistinct chatter]
[Max]
It's the third try for Richards.
If he misses,
the gold is Liesche's
and goes to Germany.
This could be it for the boy
from Parowan, Utah.
[dramatic music]
[cheering and clapping]
[laughing]
-There you go.
-[indistinct chatter]
Great job.
Nice jump, hick in a hat.
I'm trying my hardest.
Coach... put a sock in it.
Ladies and gentlemen.
The finalists in the high jump,
Mr. Hans Liesche
and Mr. Alma Richards.
-[crowd cheering and clapping]
-[scraping]
[Max]
And then, there were two.
At 6'4",
repetitive jumping now becomes
a contest of stamina
as well as strength and style.
Both Liesche
and Richards are tall,
but the physical contrast
is startling.
The slender German looks
like a high jumper,
as opposed
to the stocky Richards.
Their jumping styles
are also markedly different,
Liesche in his traditional
scissors style
and Richards in his--
who knows what style.
Do you want me to type that?
[Alma]
Pardon me.
I would like to request that
Mr. Hans go first this time.
Let me check with Mr. Liesche,
and I will get
right back with you.
Excuse me.
Alma Richards has asked
if you would be prepared
to jump first in the final?
No? Okay, I'll let him know.
Thank you.
You have more misses.
Therefore, the choice goes
to Mr. Liesche,
and he requests you jump first.
[suspenseful music]
[indistinct chatter]
At 6'4", Richards goes first.
What you think it's gonna take
to get over that bar?
I just need a little more...
...a little more oomph.
What's "oomph"?
-[gentle music]
-I'll show you.
[echoing indistinct chatter]
-[chanting] Almer. Almer--
-No, no. [chants] Alma.
[all chanting]
Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma!
[crowd]
Oh!
[clatters]
[clapping]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
-Mr. Hans Liesche.
-[clacking]
[dramatic music]
[muffled thumping]
-[clatters]
-[crowd] Oh!
-For the first time all day,
Hans Liesche has missed.
-[crowd clapping]
[announcer]
Second attempt
for Mr. Alma Richards.
[gentle tone]
[clatters]
-[clapping]
-[sighs]
[announcer]
Second attempt
for Mr. Hans Liesche.
[dramatic tone]
-[clatters]
-[crowd] Oh.
[Max]
Both jumpers have two misses.
Now each jumper
has one more chance
at this height.
[gentle music]
I just realized
something, Coach.
I need something more
than oomph.
[softly] There's
something more than oomph?
[indistinct chatter]
["Homeward Bound"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
-[coach Stagg] For the red,
for the white, for the blue!
-[men] Hurrah!
[coach Stagg chuckles]
You're going to Sweden.
Just put him on the list.
[coach Timp]
The high jump is
the same as life.
You got an obstacle.
You gotta learn to go over it.
[coach AJ]
...really bring out
your potential in track.
[man]
You were made for something
of wider influence.
[Columbia]
Did you do any good today?
["Homeward Bound" increases]
[Margaret]
We want you
to find your calling.
[crowd clapping and cheering]
[crowd chanting]
...Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma! Alma! Alma! Alma...
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Alma Richards.
[light mysterious music]
[loud heartbeat]
[music increases]
Fly, my boy. Fly.
[film camera whirring]
[muffled thumping]
[triumphant music]
[crowd cheering and clapping]
[cheering]
[laughing]
[indistinct cheering
and shouting]
[man]
You cleared it by two inches.
[softly] Well, um--
-It's the third try for Liesche.
-[clacking]
[inspirational, gentle music]
Good luck.
A make and the bar is raised.
-[whirring]
-A miss, and the gold goes
to Richards.
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Hans Liesche.
[dramatic music]
[clatters]
-[all cheering]
-[triumphant music]
Hans Liesche has missed!
Alma Richards has won the gold!
The young man from Parowan,
Utah, has won the gold!
[in German accent]
Hearty congratulations.
[Max]
He won! And rural America
-has a new hero!
-[laughing]
Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait!
-[all shouting]
-[announcer] And the gold medal
goes to Mr. Alma Richards!
-[coach Stagg] For the red!
-[all] Hurrah!
-[coach Stagg] For the white.
-[all] Hurrah!
-[coach Stagg] For the blue!
-[all] Hurrah!
[laughing and crying]
-C-- coach, he got the oomph!
-[laughing]
Oh, he did it!
He dang well did it!
-What did I tell you?
-[both laugh]
[Alma]
Thanks for getting me started,
Coach. We did it.
[laughing] Gold!
[softly crying]
Yes! He found it!
[laughs] He found it.
-["Homeward Bound"
by Mat and Savanna Shaw]
-[bird squawking]
[man]
If you find
it's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return
To your thoughts
I'll soon be listening
In the road
I'll stop and turn
Then the wind
will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path
I'll be retracing
-As I'm homeward bound again
-[door opens and creaks]
-[man and woman] Bind me not
to the pasture
-[muted]
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free
to find my calling
And I'll return to you
Somehow
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free
to find my calling
And I'll return to you
Somehow
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free
to find my calling
[woman]
And I'll return...
-[man] I'll return
-...to you
[both]
Somehow
And I'll return to you
Somehow
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")" continues]
["Homeward Bound
(feat. Marshall McDonald)"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
["Homeward Bound
(feat. Marshall McDonald)"
continues]
-["Homeward Bound"
by Mat and Savanna Shaw]
-[woman] If you find
It's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return
To your thoughts
I'll soon be listening
In the road
I'll stop and turn
[both]
Then the wind
will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
[woman]
And the path
I'll be retracing
[both]
As I'm homeward bound again
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find
my calling
And I'll return to you
Somehow
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find
my calling
[woman]
And I'll return...
-[man] I'll return
-...to you
[both]
Somehow
And I'll return to you
Somehow
[music fades]
[Ms. Bird]
Good morning. Welcome to class.
-[birds chirping]
-Good morning.
-Welcome--
-[girl] Teacher,
did you hear that
Alma Richards won the Olympics?
He's all over the newspaper.
He's famous!
[inspirational music]
[clicking]
[film reel whirring]
["Homeward Bound"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
[crowd indistinctly chattering]
[scraping]
[crowd indistinctly chanting]
[gentle music]
[muffled thumping]
[grunting]
[birds chirping]
[light country music]
[snorts]
[mooing]
[Alma]
How did it get in there?
I was teasing him with it.
[snorts]
It's not worth it.
I shouldn't have dropped it!
[Alma grunts]
[mooing]
[suspenseful music]
[deeply exhales, whispers]
Come on.
[snorts]
[heavily breathes]
[snorts forcefully]
[calf growls, moos]
[mooing]
[Columbia]
Run, run!
[upbeat country music]
[bellows]
[Columbia]
Don't let him get you!
-[moos]
-Run!
[calf moos]
Run! Run!
[calf grunts]
-[panting]
-[Columbia]
You scared me to death!
Don't you ever do
anything like that again.
[Alma]
I do that all the time.
["Homeward Bound"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
[water gently lapping]
[water splashing]
Alma!
[thudding]
[muted]
-[door creaks]
-[boy 1] Hey!
-[splashing]
-[groaning
and indistinct shouting]
-[thudding]
-[scraping]
["Homeward Bound" continues]
[muted]
[horse snorts]
[neighs and grunts]
Come on. Come on!
Come on, stupid horse!
-[horse whining and snorting]
-Come on! Idiot!
-Son of a--
-[neighing]
Son of a b--
[Morgan]
Alma!
[horse neighs]
What did you just say?
What did you just say?
Huh? W--
We don't talk that way!
You hear me?
[muffled indistinct shouting]
[horse snorting]
[somber music]
[birds chirping]
[splashes]
Did you do any good today?
Mm.
What was your worst part
about today?
Working on the farm.
What was
your best part of today?
Right now.
[Ms. Bird]
Who knows the answer?
[whimsical music]
Anyone?
[girl coughs]
[Ms. Bird]
Anyone know the answer?
Hmm.
Anyone else?
How about one of you boys?
Alma...
...do you know the answer?
Nothing.
No surprise there.
[door opens]
Ms. Bird, can I talk
to you for a moment?
[door closes]
[music continues]
[door opens]
[door closes]
[softly] Oh.
[chuckling]
[suspenseful music]
[gasping]
[Ms. Bird]
Oh, I see.
Do you have something
you want to tell me, Alma?
-No, ma'am.
-[Ms. Bird] That's
rather strange
because based on your history,
I think you do.
You think because
you are so big and dumb,
you can pick on anyone you like
and get away with it?
Don't you?
Don't you?
-Don't you?
-[gasping]
I'm not dumb!
And it wasn't me this time.
-[Ms. Bird] Stop it!
-[groans]
Stop it!
[indistinct muttering]
[door slams]
[Ms. Bird]
Well, class,
that will be the last
we or anyone
will hear of Alma Richards.
[pants and sighs]
[inspirational music]
[birds chirping]
-[man] Hey.
-[Margaret] So,
what are you thinking
you'll do now, Son?
-Ranching?
-[horse snorting]
You know...
...out... under the stars.
-[bleating]
-[gentle music]
Nothing wrong with ranching...
[horse snorts]
...but we just want to be sure
that you're weighing
things out carefully.
[rain gently spattering]
You know,
us and your grandparents
didn't just leave Wales.
We felt we were called.
[birds chirping]
We want you
to find your calling,
to do something meaningful
with your life.
[Morgan]
You see that?
That's family, Son.
Hardest working,
toughest people I ever knew.
[Alma]
I know that, but...
...I think ranching
might be my calling.
[soft pats]
-[thunder rumbling]
-[horse neighing]
[rain spattering]
[Alma]
How much?
[water dripping]
Two bits.
That's too much.
-Is it?
-[soft clinks]
You see what's going on
out that window?
[thunder rumbling]
Every drowned rat
within 30 miles
is looking for a,
a dry place to sleep tonight.
[dripping]
[softly sighs]
-[clacks]
-Upstairs.
-[thunder rumbling]
-[creaking]
[lock clicks]
Uh, pardon me.
[door creaks, closes]
[sighing] There's already
some guy in that room.
Mm. How could that be?
Oh, I know,
two to a room.
Yeah, but, but two beds.
Not two beds. Two... to a bed.
No, I want my money back.
Oh, do you?
-[clack]
-[whimsical music]
[man]
Pardon me, but... move over.
[Alma]
There's no "over" to go.
[man sighs]
[sighs] You, sir, are enormous.
How old are you?
[sighing] Sixteen.
What year are you in school?
I don't go to school.
What do you do?
What do you care?
[thunder rumbling]
I'm a ranch hand.
And what are
your aspirations? Your dreams?
I just wanna be out.
There's lots of this
big old world
I'm wanting to look on.
You may do as you wish
in this life, but... [sighs]
...to do so,
you need an education.
And what great education
did you get
that led you to this crowded,
lice-filled bed?
[softly chuckles] Touch.
I'm a professor
at Michigan State University,
traveling to lecture
in California,
but stalled
by an uncooperative train.
[thunder rumbling]
It's too late for me
to go back to school.
No.
No, it's never too late
to go back to school.
Much as I honor such men...
...you cannot remain
a ranch hand.
I have a feeling...
...that you were made
for something
of wider influence.
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
[muted]
-[hoofbeats]
-[horse snorts]
[birds chirping]
[Morgan]
School was
a wonderful idea, Son,
I see nothing
but good coming of this.
Well, maybe this time
I can mess up a little less.
-[softly chuckles]
-We'll love
having you home again.
[gentle music]
No, I'm not going back
to that school.
I wanna go
to the Murdock Academy.
Wonderful.
I've always said
I wanna see the world.
Maybe Beaver, Utah,
is the place to start.
Now, Son, there's
a rough side to that town.
You remember what we taught you
about smoking and liquor?
-I know.
-And... about staying away
from the wrong kind of girls.
[chuckles] I don't think
Alma's ever even talked
to a girl.
-I'm just so proud of you,
I could burst.
-[chuckles]
[birds chirping]
[teacher]
Who knows the answer?
The author?
Who knows the answer?
Only Alma.
How is it you know
all the answers?
[whimsical music]
[distant indistinct chatter]
Okay, get a good grip
on it this time,
and don't spit on it.
Remember, the rest
of your teammates
have to use it.
You let it fall on your foot,
we'll be carrying you around.
And this time,
don't throw it towards us.
All right,
put some energy into it,
give it some oomph.
Oomph. Right?
Oomph! Oomph! Ready?
-[dramatic tone]
-[grunts]
[thud]
[indistinct chatter]
I'm slipping a little,
I just need some tar
or something.
[sighing] Fred, I told you,
they won't let you put stuff
like that on your hands.
[girl screams]
[screams]
Hey, fellas, who's that?
[Fred]
That's, uh, Almer somebody.
-Is he a new teacher?
-He's a new kid.
[indistinct chatter]
P-- Pardon? Are, are you Almer?
-No, sir.
-Huh. Are you sure?
Yes, sir.
What is your name?
-Alma.
-Oh. [chuckles]
Uh-- Pardon me.
I'm the track coach.
-Okay.
-Yeah. Well, have you
ever thought about track?
-Train tracks?
-No, uh, uh-- track,
it's a new sport here.
I think you'd like it.
So you want me to come
and watch your team?
No, I-- I want you to try out.
I have to try out
to watch your team?
No, I-- I think
you'd be good on the team.
What would I have to do?
Uh, you'd run
and jump and, um...
[stutters, clicks tongue]
things like that.
Why don't you come out
to the field
after school and, uh,
we'll give it a try?
[whimsical music]
Big twerp.
Well, it was worth a try.
Uh, d-- [stuttering]
don't let the takeoff
foot go past--
[indistinctly continues]
All right, uh--
Glory be, diggity dog!
Fred, you're a natural. [pants]
[birds chirping]
Well, you passed the first test.
Oh, what's that?
You showed up.
This is Alma, boys.
Let's start him off
with some warm-ups, huh?
[upbeat jazz music]
Let's start off
with a broad jump.
Now, Fred, why don't you
show Alma how it's done?
All right, there!
Did you see where his heel hit?
That's as far as he goes.
You have to beat that mark.
-So I have to try and beat that?
-Go past that with your heel,
that's right.
No, no, yo-- [stutters]
no, you want,
you wanna go back f--
you wanna go back farther--
Oh, you beat him.
Okay, this time,
let's do it for real.
Just take a run at it
and see how far you can jump.
Your takeoff foot cannot go
past this mark right here.
Okay.
[upbeat jazz music]
[music increases]
[muted]
[echoing thud]
[clapping]
Okay, boys! The 100-yard dash,
the meat and potatoes
of every track meet.
What have you got within ya?
It shows your soul.
Get ready now!
Ready! Set... go!
[muted]
[crowd cheering and whistling]
[pants] That's a shot.
Careful, it's dang heavy and,
I mean,
the last thing you'd want
is, I mean,
to drop on your foot.
You know,
there's no track, no-- shot--
[birds chirping]
You don't throw it.
Yo-- you put it.
No, no, not-- not-- put.
Uh, you put it.
That's the wrong sport.
Put it.
-Put it. From up here?
-Yes.
[music continues]
-[whooshes]
-[echoing thud]
-Come on!
-[indistinct cheering]
[indistinct shouting]
Nobody has shown an interest
or the ability
to throw the discus,
but it's, uh,
kind of a twirling motion.
And then, you keep your legs
underneath it,
so it comes out flat.
No wobble.
-[sharp thud]
-Oh, okay, we're gonna-- [sighs]
...we're gonna try her again.
This time, put 90%
of the weight back here.
You're back here.
Get some lift into it this time
and keep your arm behind you.
That'll help you
keep it straight.
Flip it out there.
Let's go, Alma.
Give it some flick now.
Here we go!
[whooshes]
[indistinct chatter]
Glory be! Diggity dog!
[all cheering]
-[muted]
-In second place
with 22 points, Salt Lake High.
-[all cheering and clapping]
-Congratulations, sir.
Now, last year, Murdock Academy
won one point and came in 17th.
-What a difference
a year can make.
-[indistinct chatter]
Congratulations to our state
high school champion,
with 32 points, Murdock Academy!
[all cheering and clapping]
-Thank you. [laughing]
-Congratulations.
There you go, boys.
You didn't just join
the track team, son.
-You became it. Well done.
-You got a great boy.
First place, nice going.
-Thank you.
-But you're still a dumb hick.
-[groans]
-Whoa, hey!
-Hey--
-[boy] Hey, get off him!
[indistinct shouting]
-No fighting! No fighting!
-[man] ...hey, hey!
[boys singing]
...and we'll all shout
"Hurrah!"
When Alma comes
marching home
When Alma comes
marching home again
Hurrah, hurrah
We'll give him
a hearty welcome then
Hurrah, hurrah
The men will cheer
and the boys will shout
The ladies
they will all turn out
And we'll all shout
"Hurrah!"
When Alma comes
marching home
-When Alma...
-Okay, okay, okay. I--
that's all I can take.
I thought
I'd never tire of that song,
but you boys did it to me.
Hey, do you know
that we're the first
rural high school
to ever win
the state track championship?
-You mean us?
-[laughs]
-That's good! So here's us,
little Murdock Academy...
-Mm-hmm!
...with 32 points,
mostly won by Alma here
-and supported by me...
-Mm-hmm.
...and the next school
only gets 22.
[coach AJ chuckles]
I don't know much
about coaching,
but I really believe
you'd get a fair shake
if you transfer to another
high school next year
where they can really bring out
your potential in track.
[horse snorts]
Well, thanks for looking out
for me, Coach, but...
...I like it here.
And I'll do other sports.
[coach AJ]
Yeah, like what?
-[Alma] Basketball.
-[horse snorts]
[coach AJ]
I'll tell you
where I think you should be.
Next year, you should be
in Provo at BY High.
-Hey, you hear that, Freddie?
-[Fred] Yeah, that's where
I'm going next year too.
Golly!
-[indistinct chatter]
-[footsteps thudding]
-[thudding]
-[exhales, grunts]
-[boy 1] Break.
-[Fred] Break. No!
-[grunting]
-[laughter]
[door creaks]
-[boy 2] Okay,
for sure this time.
-[boy 3] For sure.
-[boy 1] I got it-- Oh.
-[boys grunting]
[indistinct chatter]
[coach Timp]
Hey, Mickey.
Did you finish those drills?
All right, good man.
Well, I've been thinking
things through.
I think what we need to do...
-Right here.
-[boy 1] Yeah. Oh.
-[boy 1 laughs]
-[groaning]
...get your approach
a little steep--
[boy 4]
Oh.
-Sorry.
-[sharply inhales]
[sighs] Anyway. Uh...
Pass it. Yep, okay. Here we go!
-Oh--
-Oh-ho!
Oh-ho, yeah!
-[boy 2 laughs]
-[boy 3] Whoops.
[Alma chuckles]
Oh.
[sighs] I got it.
So sorry.
Hey!
What's your name?
Fred.
Not you. You.
Alma.
Uh.
You got a minute?
Yes, sir.
I'm BYU coach, uh,
Timpanogos Roberts.
Uh, I want you to try something.
Hey, Mickey.
Uh, set it at, uh...
...six feet.
High jump's
not one of my events.
You have events?
I was gonna try out
for track next month,
but I've never done high jump.
Well, now's your chance. Jump.
Well, what way?
[sighing] Uh,
show him, Mickey.
-At six feet?
-Why not?
This is a scissor kick.
-[shouts]
-[thudding]
[clattering]
Well, don't do it like that,
but, uh, you get the idea.
Inside leg kicks over,
then the outside leg
completes the jump.
[sighs] Well, that's no good.
I'll try it my way.
[light inspirational music]
[Alma sharply exhales]
[music increases]
[indistinct chatter]
-Dang.
-[muffled chatter]
You've never high jumped before.
[pants] Only on the farm.
Well, you just jumped two inches
under the BYU record!
Well, I'll try harder.
[chuckles]
Alma, I would like to extend
an official invitation for you
to join the BYU track team.
I don't know.
[coach Timp]
Wait, wha-- what's the matter?
Well, see, I d--
I don't go to BYU.
Oh. [clicks tongue]
What school are you in?
I'm still in high school.
Dang.
[indistinct chatter]
[Brimhall]
Are you out of your mind, Timp?
[coach Timp]
Well, very possibly, President.
But I'm, I'm telling you,
he's... [deeply inhales]
...one of the most
gifted natural athletes
to come along in years.
-A high schooler?
-[softly] Yeah.
[Brimhall]
Have there been any other
high school students
allowed to compete
at the university level?
-[sighs] Not that I know of.
-Mm.
Then why should we let
this fellow in?
Because he's good.
That's not how we make decisions
around here.
Bring him in.
[sighs]
-[door creaks]
-[coach Timp]
He wants to see ya.
Uh, President, I'd like
to introduce to you
Alma Richards.
Pleasure, son!
I, uh, knew you were waiting
and... wanted to meet you,
but I'm sorry.
We don't allow
high school students
to compete athletically
at the university level.
I understand.
Alma, um,
what's your father's name?
Morgan.
Morgan Richards.
[clicks tongue] From Parowan.
Yes, sir.
A good name can open doors.
-[sharply inhales, laughs]
-[Brimhall] Welcome, son.
-[Alma grunts]
-[clattering]
-[grunting]
-[clattering]
-[groans]
-[clattering]
[sighs]
[indistinct chatter]
[sighs] It's no good.
Well, you don't like
the barrel roll, uh--
Eh, what's wrong
with the scissor?
Yo-- you gotta do
either the scissor
-or the barrel roll.
-It's not
how I jump over things.
Jump over what things?
Fences.
[sighs] All the great jumpers do
either the scissor
or the barrel roll.
-This is what I'm used to.
-Sometimes you gotta get over
what you're used to,
so you can learn
something better.
Or... sometimes you don't.
[chuckles]
Let me keep trying.
I'll get better.
-[grunts, groans]
-[clattering]
-[Fred] Hey, Alma.
-[sighs] Yeah.
I think
when you're making your jump,
you just need a little more...
uh, more oomph.
That's what I need.
Yeah, it's just, uh...
[softly] oomph.
Uh, for sure, I need something.
[soft clatter]
[sighs]
Did Fred just tell you
what to do?
-Yeah.
-Well, I can't wait to hear it.
He said I need more oomph.
[chuckles]
Well, Fred would know.
[sighs] Well...
I don't wanna take anything away
from what Coach Fred
tells you, but, uh--
well, try this.
As you're about to clear
the bar... [grunts]
...try... [clears throat]
leaning forward, huh?
More over your knees.
-Yeah.
-Okay.
-[Alma chuckles] Diggity dog!
-Yeah.
-[whispers] Oomph.
-Huh? Huh?
[inspirational music]
-[man] All right, fellas. Good!
-[coach Timp] Okay.
Okay, remember this.
When you're coming down
that road, I want you
jumping up, up, chest up.
[music increases]
Hurrah! Hurrah!
[speaks indistinctly]
...before that elbow goes
for the release.
Now, follow through
and flick that.
-Ready? Here we go.
-[Alma grunts]
[thud]
Yes. All right.
[clicks]
-[birds chirping]
-[whooshing]
-[Alma grunts]
-[coach Timp] Well,
that'll do for today.
-[Alma] Okay, Coach.
-[indistinct chatter]
[sighs]
Hey, Richards,
you... [clears throat]
...you're good at every event.
If, uh, tiddlywinks was
a track and field sport,
you'd beat everyone at that too.
But I'll tell you this.
You're best at the high jump.
That's your ticket.
You know what I love about
the high jump?
[man distantly]
All right, fellas,
looking good--
The same as life.
I mean, you,
you got an obstacle.
Doesn't do you any good
to go under it. Uh...
...can't go around it.
You gotta learn to go over it.
[deeply exhales] Thanks, Coach.
[indistinct chatter]
[birds chirping]
[Alma]
Coach,
just so you know,
I'm great at tiddlywinks too.
[whimsical music]
-A-- Alma.
-Oh, hiya, Coach.
I wanna talk to you.
Uh, you-- you're doing good
in your school classes?
-I'm doing swell.
-Dang it. That is swell.
Well, here's something
I really want you to go after.
[clears throat]
The trials for the Olympics
are in two months.
-Can you be ready for that?
-[exhales] I don't know.
I'm supposed to help my family
get first crop in.
-What do I need to do?
-You need to work hard
and get ready.
Here's what I need to do.
[clears throat]
The trials are in Chicago.
I gotta raise us the money
to get us there.
-How much do we need?
-Well, I'd say 400.
Shouldn't be hard.
There's gotta be plenty
of folks around here
that'd love to help you along.
Why would people give money
to help me in track?
Because when you put on
that jersey,
you represent them.
They want you to succeed.
[indistinct chatter]
Okay. Well, how about
while you do that, I'll go home,
and... I'll talk to my parents
about this Olympia idea.
Olympics, uh-- good.
-[pats]
-You do that.
[birds chirping]
[Margaret]
You have to go to Chicago?
And if that goes well,
all the way to Sweden?
[sighs] Just to see
how high you can jump?
Why don't we just
measure you jumping here
and then tell them
how high you did?
Doesn't work that way, Mama.
I wish you would just stay here.
Help your father with the farm
and then get back to school
in the fall. [sighs]
Mother, it's time.
[sighs] I'm sorry,
Son, I have to go.
[softly] Thank you.
-Where's she going?
-[door opens]
Oh, you know,
we've always tried
to set aside certain evenings
to visit sick or elderly folks.
-[light somber music]
-[sighs]
She's leaving now to care
for Sister Sawyer.
-[chair scrapes]
-If service is the rent we pay
for our room here on Earth,
your mother's rent
has been paid many times over.
[birds chirping]
[water gently lapping]
[water splashes]
[sharply sighs] You thinking
you're going to Chicago?
I don't know.
What do you think?
Father and mother
are afraid this trip
is too much about yourself
and not about others.
I think this might be
my calling.
[softly chuckles]
That's what you said
about ranching.
[footsteps receding]
-[engine rumbling]
-[indistinct chatter]
[sharply exhales]
Dang it,
I got some bad news, son.
[sighs]
-[deeply exhales] Me too.
-[coach Timp sighs]
All I've been able
to raise for the trials
in Chicago is $150.
That isn't enough.
That means only one of us
will be able to go.
Hey, you go ahead, Coach.
I'll stay and help
get my dad's hay in.
Why would I go without you?
You're the one going.
-By myself?
-Well, this is
too important to miss.
-What's so important about it?
-Oh, this is your chance
to represent the town,
the school, uh, and America.
Huh, you-- you do well, and...
people all over the country
will have a more
favorable view of us all.
[Alma]
Uh, so... [grunts]
...you really think
this is a way
I can help other people?
Positively.
Now, what was your bad news?
Nothing, sir.
-When do I leave?
-[students laughing]
-[hissing]
-[horn blaring]
-[indistinct chatter]
-How long does it take
to get to Chicago?
Mm, about two days.
-Two days?
-Mm-hmm.
Uh, do they stop so you can get
to a water closet?
-[chuckling] There are
water closets on the train.
-[man] This way.
-Good.
-What? You've never been
on a train before?
What are you,
some kind of hick? [chuckles]
[loudly] All aboard!
[sighs] Dang it, Alma, I--
I'm the first to admit,
I... haven't helped you much
with the mechanics
of jumping, and you...
[chuckles softly]
you like to find
your own way of doing things.
But I've tried to help you
get that will to win
burning in your belly.
Uh, here's a poem
that's... pushed me along
in competitions.
Maybe it'll do something
for you too.
Thanks, Coach.
Make us proud.
[train engine rumbling]
Remember everything
me and coach taught you.
Don't forget the oomph.
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
[train rattling]
[coach Timp]
If you can trust yourself
when all men doubt you...
...if you can fill
each unforgiving minute
with 60 seconds
worth of distance run...
...yours is the Earth
and everything that's in it.
And which is more,
you'll be a man, my son.
Coach Timp.
-PS, do your best and...
-[train rattling]
...God will handle the rest.
-[light fanfare music]
-[scraping]
[coach Burns]
All right. Good, good!
That's-- that's what we want.
Practice that over
and over again. Come on.
Hey, hey! Do it the way
I told you how to do it.
Come on!
-[man 1] Get in there.
-There you go.
All right. Thank you.
[man 2]
Hey! Josh over here thinks
he's better than all of us.
Is it okay
if I take a few jumps?
[man 2 laughs]
I've been ready to take him.
You here for the trial?
-Have at it.
-[Josh laughs] That's not what
I said, Noah, come on.
-[indistinct chatter]
-Hey, Johnny, you smell like--
Are you a coach?
-[whimsical music]
-[indistinct chattering]
-[distant indistinct chatter]
-And you smoke?
[Josh]
Hey, Coach Burns.
[deeply exhales]
Plant that foot.
Bring it all the way--
-Yeah, there you go...
-[indistinct chatter]
Can I take a few jumps?
[coach Burns]
...all right,
thank you. That's...
Sure thing. Who are you?
Alma Richards.
-[coach Burns] ...all right,
let's see here...
-You here for the trials?
...that's good, that's good.
[indistinct chatter]
[Jimmy]
Okay. Well, uh,
before you get started...
...I need you to run over
to that water bucket
over there and, uh...
[light tense music]
...get us a drink.
Huh?
[chuckles]
[indistinct chatter continues]
Maybe later.
Right. Whatever.
All right, like I was saying...
[indistinctly continues]
You make sure that plant foot
is nice and sturdy.
[bird cawing]
Hey.
-Take a sec.
-[Alma] Here goes!
Go ahead.
Watch this, boys.
[clattering]
Oops. [laughs]
I mean, it is the Windy City,
you know?
Well, sometimes you just gotta
make do with what you've got.
[scoffs]
Whatever that means. [chuckles]
[coach Burns]
On the board, on the board.
All right.
[continues indistinctly]
[music increases]
Hey, hey, wait!
Put back down. [chuckles]
-Weirdo's gonna jump.
-[clatters]
Hey, I got an idea. Come here.
I got a buck,
says he doesn't try it.
-Two.
-Two?
How tall are you?
5'10".
Well... doesn't do me
any good to go around you.
Not a chance.
[upbeat country music]
-[man 3 indistinctly speaks]
-In his dreams.
-Watch it!
-[man 3] You crazy, man?
-Holy smokes.
-[man 4] You crazy?
-[Jimmy] ...bonkers!
-[man 3] Wacky?
Not bad.
[man 4]
Where'd you learn
to jump like that?
Fences.
[Jimmy]
Hey, Coach.
-[coach Burns]
What's going on over there?
-That guy wouldn't wait his turn
and nearly b--
clocked a few of us.
His name's, uh... Richards?
[coach Burns]
Oh, that guy.
-I'll take care of him.
-[dramatic music]
[coach Stagg]
All right, let's go. Next guy.
All right.
You were a little short.
Little short on the board, so--
[coach Burns]
Roll call!
-Jimmy Johnson.
-Oh.
-[coach Burns] Eric Hendershot.
-[Eric] Oh.
-Alan Whitenbraker.
-[Alan] Oh.
-Martin Andersen.
-Oh.
-[coach Burns] Jason Hansen.
-[Jason] Oh.
-[coach Burns] Robert Erickson.
-Oh.
-Gary Pierce.
-[Gary] Oh.
-Steve Peterson.
-[Steve] Oh.
-Alfred Hoop.
-[Alfred] Oh.
Go stretch her out.
[indistinct chatter]
[somber music]
[laughter]
Do you want something?
I should be on that list,
but you didn't read my name.
-What's your name?
-Alma Richards.
-[sighing] You--
you're not on the list.
-[patting]
Y-- you gotta be
on the list to compete.
Is there a-- a telegraph
office close by
-that I can let my coach know
about this?
-No, no, no, no,
you-- that's not
gonna do you any good.
The list is the list.
Hey.
-Were you jumping here
yesterday?
-[Alma] Yes, sir.
How'd you do?
[Alma]
6'2", but I can do better.
Hey, Jimmy.
-Put another jumper down,
would you?
-He's not on the list.
He's not on the--
just put him on the list!
[upbeat jazz music]
[clatters]
[thuds]
-[clatters]
-[whistle blows]
[whistle blows]
[coach Burns]
That kid is as awkward
as any jumper I have ever seen.
You get that right,
but he keeps raising the bar.
-[clattering]
-[whistle blowing]
[music continues]
[clinking]
Have you ever seen anybody
jump like that?
[coach Burns]
He's a freak.
-[Jimmy] Country boy.
-[chuckles]
-[clatters]
-[whistle blows]
-[scraping]
-All right, let's go. Next guy.
-[clatter]
-[whistle blows]
[music continues]
[clapping]
-Fine job, Richards.
-[indistinct chatter]
What happens now?
Well, we'll wire
the results to New York,
and by tomorrow afternoon,
we should have
our selections made.
-I won.
-Yes, you did.
-So, will I be on the team?
-Well, there are also trials
going on at Stanford
and Harvard.
Why don't you stop by
around 5:00 tomorrow?
We should know by then.
My office is right there
in the athletics building.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[engine rumbling]
[ringing]
-Coach Stagg here.
-[woman] Please hold
for a long distance call
from BK Downs.
-[BK Downs] Coach Stagg.
-Yes.
Uh, this is BK,
with the selection committee
calling to report our choices.
All right. Go.
For broad jump,
we are taking Albert Gutterson,
Harry Worthington,
Eugene Mercer,
Jim Thorpe, Frank Irons,
John Ricketts, and Bob Whitman.
Good job.
High jumpers will be Jim Thorpe,
George Horine, Egon Erickson,
Harry Grumpelt, Chuck Bradley,
Jimmy Johnson,
and Harold Enright.
-So, that'll give you--
-Oh, h-- hold-- hold on.
Did you say Alma Richards?
No, he was not chosen.
Not chosen?
Uh-- did anybody at Harvard
or Stanford jump 6'3"?
-No.
-Even close?
Uh, no, but nobody's
ever heard of him.
The committee feels like
he must be some kind of
a hick fluke.
A hick fluke? He won! [scoffs]
Look, he jumped 6'3".
I saw it with my own eyes.
That may be.
But Coach Burns reported
that his jump was not 6'3",
but was only 6'1".
[whispers] Oh, that son of a--
Bu-- Burns just--
he doesn't wanna make
-his own guys look bad.
-Sorry, but that's
the way it is, Coach.
[sighs]
You're making a big mistake, BK.
Maybe so, but that's how
it's gonna be.
[deeply breathes]
[Alma]
E-- excuse me, can you tell me
where Coach Stagg's office is?
[clicks tongue] End of the hall.
[Alma]
Thank you.
-[knocks on door]
-[coach Stagg] Come in.
Come in, sit down.
Got some bad news
for you, Alma. [sighing]
Despite winning yesterday,
you did not make
the Olympic team.
The selection committee
in New York decided to go
with some better known jumpers.
[deeply inhales] Is that right?
[sighing] No, it's not right.
I've got people that gave
their hard-earned money
to get me here,
and I'm letting them down.
You just have
to dust yourself off
and keep on trying.
I should probably
just forget this
and find something else to do.
[coach Stagg]
And the way
you dust yourself off,
you give it your all
at the Olympics next month.
[deeply inhales]
How am I gonna give it my all
if I wasn't selected?
[coach Stagg]
Well, there's still a chance.
I got them to put you
on the list as a member
of the supplemental team.
Now, someone else
has to drop out
for you to compete, but...
...you're going.
[chuckling]
You're going to Sweden.
[sharply exhales, laughing]
Glory be! Diggity dog!
-[birds chirping]
-[chickens clucking]
[heavily breathing]
-[Margaret] Willy! I'm here.
-Oh, Sister Richards!
I've got a telegram here for you
from Chicago, Illinois.
Oh, my stars!
-[gasps and shouts] Morgan!
-[horn honking]
-[bird squawking]
-[horn blows]
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
[Alma] Dear, mother,
who would've believed
I'm on the USS Finland
headed for Sweden
with the US team?
-[soft scratching]
-Racing jackrabbits
at home was one thing,
but... being
with these guys is another.
I haven't got
to know them yet,
but they're probably good guys.
-Fluke.
-Freak.
-Hayseed.
-Hick.
And they seem to like my name.
-Hey, Almond.
-Almer.
Chump.
Still no word about me
getting off
the supplemental team
and actually getting to jump.
Going all this way
just to watch
would be the worst.
I somehow got a case
of the pink eye,
but I'm sure it'll soon resolve.
So I got an old hat
to keep the sun out of my eye.
A nice man helped me with it.
It's my new lucky hat.
-[waves crashing]
-[low-pitched rumbling]
[music continues]
-[Jimmy] Coach.
-[Alma] Coach Stagg
from Chicago
-is here with us too.
-[inaudible chatter]
He's part
of the US Olympic Committee,
in charge of high jump
and broad jump.
He's a good Joe.
Coach Burns is
the high jump assistant,
but he seems more interested
in his hometown jumpers
than looking out for the USA.
Hey, Almer.
[chuckling]
Hey, how you doing, Almer?
Alma.
[vomiting]
Oh, boy. There he goes again.
Some people
and 12-foot waves do not mix.
[Jimmy]
No hard feelings.
It's good for you.
[Chuck coughs]
When is this trip gonna be over?
[vomiting]
[Jimmy]
Much longer. 'Cause of Titanic.
What's that?
[chuckles]
We're taking a route
farther to the south
'cause about two months ago,
Titanic was sunk by an iceberg
just north of here.
But I'm sure that news
hasn't made its way
to hayseed Utah yet. [chuckles]
Or it just got buried
in the newspaper
'cause somebody's cow
had triplets.
Hey, you know
what happens to cows?
They get slaughtered.
Let's go.
[Alma]
There are some things
about ocean travel
that will make me very happy
to get off this ship.
Thanks for all you taught me
and the good name you left me.
Your loving son, Alma.
[cheerful string music]
[indistinct chatter]
[Max]
Coach Stagg.
Max Francis, New York World.
So, uh, who should I be,
uh, looking for?
Well, our main jumpers
are George Horine.
-[Max] Oh, of course.
-He's from Stanford.
He's a world record holder.
And, uh, that's Jim Thorpe,
an amazing athlete
from Oklahoma.
He's also competing
in the decathlon, but...
...he's one
of our best high jumpers.
And then, there's
Egon Erickson. He's, uh,
he's with the New York
Athletic Club.
[indistinct chatter continues]
[Max]
Anyone else?
Um... [clicks tongue]
-...those are our main players.
-Huh.
Uh, thank you very much
for your time. Appreciate it.
[coach Burns]
You ready, Coach?
Men! Eyes on Coach Stagg.
This meet consists
of 57 athletes
representing 20 countries...
...all vying for one gold medal.
Each of you is representing
the United States of America.
Act like it.
This country has been very good
to me, and I love it.
Get your sleep.
Do your workouts.
No booze,
no smokes,
no fooling around.
Remember why you're here.
Bold stars.
Beloved stripes.
Brave hearts.
-Cheers for the red!
-[all shouting] Hurrah!
-[coach Stagg] For the white!
-[all] Hurrah!
-For the blue!
-[all] Hurrah!
[orchestral music playing]
-[Jimmy] ...I just socked him
right in his head.
-[laughter]
-[man 1] Oh, man--
-He didn't see it coming.
No, that is not--
-[indistinct chatter]
-[laughter]
[Jimmy]
Hey, he was asking for it
the whole time...
[indistinct chatter continues]
[men exclaiming]
-[whistles]
-[men whooping]
[chuckling]
-[man 2] You can finish
your story later, Jim.
-[man 3] Yeah, yeah.
Ladies. [laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
[inaudible chatter]
[music continues playing]
[laughter and chuckling]
[indistinctly speaks]
[giggling]
-Oh! Oh!
-[clapping]
[whoops]
-[laughter]
-[indistinct chatter]
-Could I help you, ma'am?
-[speaking Swedish]
I-- I'm sorry, I,
I-- I don't know Swedish.
[speaking Swedish]
[slowly] I do not understand.
[stutters] I-- I have to go.
-[chair scraping]
-[man coughing]
Watch this, boys.
[clears throat]
[sighs]
No good? [chuckling]
Oh, you don't like
the ladies, huh?
[laughing]
Not that kind.
Mm, well...
...this will make it
easy for you. Hmm?
[laughs] Come on.
What do you care? I mean,
you're not even
really on the team,
Mr. Supplemental. [laughs]
-Come on, here.
-[indistinct chatter]
[cutlery clinking]
Come on. Take it.
[chuckles]
I tried! [laughs]
[sighing] Ah!
[Max]
Hey.
May I ask you a question?
You... you're different.
-That's not much of a question.
-Yeah, but that's
what I've been hearing.
Whoa! Hang on there.
What are you doing here?
Meaning what?
Are you jumping for your school,
for yourself, for a girl?
[deeply inhales]
What do you care?
I'm a reporter.
Some things you do
just 'cause you know
it's the right thing to do.
Miss.
[footsteps receding]
Boy, he's different, all right.
[dramatic music]
-Are they ready?
-Yeah, I think so.
Ever seen anything
like this in Hickowan?
Don't forget your hick hat.
Well, there it is,
on your hick head.
-[thuds]
-Don't forget to drink
your milk, Almer.
This is it, men.
This is what we came
all the way across the sea for.
Now, they're gonna set
the bar at 5'8" to start.
Some of you may wanna pass
for the later heights,
but those lower jumps
can be a nice warm-up
and get you in the habit
of clearing the bar
before they raise it.
[gentle music]
Bradley did not fare well
on the ship,
and his sickness
has not improved.
He's withdrawn
from the competition.
Well, Richards...
...you're in.
[inspirational music]
You okay with that?
Yes, sir.
Stretch them out.
[music increases]
[muted]
[Max]
I heard you made the roster.
[indistinct chatter]
Yes, sir.
Congratulations.
How are you feeling
about your chances today?
Chances are
100% I'll give it my best.
[inspirational music]
Any bets?
Well... [sighs]
...I'd say our hopes rely
mostly on Horine.
But, uh... [sighs]
never write off Thorpe.
And either way,
that tall German Liesche
could make us all
look like beginners.
Hmm.
[light fanfare music]
What's our schedule today?
We have high jump,
several races,
and then broad jump.
And what is our deadline
for the wire?
Six o'clock.
-[indistinct chatter]
-[laughter]
[gentle music]
So, what do you think
of that Alma Richards kid?
I agree with you.
How's that?
He's different.
Different good or different bad?
Neither.
Different... very good.
[fanfare music]
-[rattling and clacking]
-And now, for an event
that had its beginnings
over 50 years ago in Scotland,
the high jump.
The greatest in the sport
seem to be the closest thing
to a man flying.
The bar is raised
to 5'8" inches,
and the first jumper
is American Jimmy Johnson
of Northwestern University.
[film camera whirring]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
the first competitor
in the high jump,
-Mr. Jimmy Johnson
of the United States of America.
-[crowd cheering and clapping]
[Max]
No trouble at all
for Mr. Johnson.
Next up
is Karl-Axel Kullerstrand,
the local favorite
from our host country of Sweden.
[whimsical, suspenseful music]
[announcer]
Next competitor, George Horine.
Mr. Jim Thorpe.
Mr. Egon Erickson.
[crowd cheering and clapping]
[film camera whirring]
[announcer]
Next competitor,
Mr. Alma Richards.
[suspenseful music]
And now... Alma Richards
-from Parowan, Utah.
-[clacking and whirring]
Word is two years ago,
this boy had never
even heard of track and field.
And now, here he is
on the world's grandest stage.
[clatter]
-[clatters]
-[Max] Miss.
-[laughs]
-[clapping]
[indistinct muttering]
Tougher than jumping the fences
at the farm, huh?
[speaking Swedish]
No, thank you.
The sun...
-...it blocks the sun.
-[whimsical music]
[announcer]
Next competitor,
Hans Liesche of Germany.
[crowd cheering]
[suspenseful music]
[Max]
Hans Liesche moves on.
[crowd cheering and whistling]
And with his second jump,
Alma Richards.
-[film camera whirring]
-[suspenseful music]
[clattering]
[Max]
Ooh, that was a definite miss.
-[clacking]
-[clapping]
[man]
Strike two.
Maybe next Olympics, goat boy.
[mimics bleating]
All other jumpers
have cleared this first hike.
Richards now
takes his third and final try.
He's tall and sturdy,
with a style unlike those
of the other jumpers.
He makes his approach
from straight on,
-and instead of throwing
one leg over the bar first...
-[indistinct chatter]
...he brings
both feet up together.
He has great spring
and would possibly do better
if he could master the style
used by the other crack jumpers.
[stutters]
Just take out "crack."
[upbeat suspenseful music]
[crowd cheering]
-[Max] They now raise
the bar to 6'1".
-[clacking]
[light suspenseful music]
Well, hallelujah, church boy.
It's a freak-jump miracle.
[scoffs]
-[music increases]
-[echoing cheering and clapping]
[echoing clattering]
[muted]
[clattering]
[indistinct chatter]
I knew you were a fluke.
[sighs] Well, it was a fun time,
anyways, huh, flapdoodle?
[laughs]
-[man] Don't.
-[laughter]
[Jimmy scoffs]
Yeah, right.
Despite the effort,
it appears that Alma Richards
has reached his limit
with his unorthodox style
in a sport where technique is
as important as leaping ability.
[crowd cheering]
What's wrong?
You've jumped plenty higher.
[light melancholic music]
Alma Richards is again
in the position
of attempting his third jump.
It's now or never
for Alma Richards.
His huge frame
makes high jumping an event
for which he's
not naturally fitted,
he seems too big
to get all of himself
up and over the bar.
[dramatic music]
[muffled thumping]
[echoing thud]
My goodness!
Richards' jump is phenomenal!
-[crowd cheering]
-[upbeat jazz music]
[muted]
[crowd cheering]
Ooh, and Jimmy Johnson is out.
-[clapping]
-[sharply exhales]
[sighs]
[gentle music]
Save it, sober boy.
Truly sorry.
You're a great jumper.
[Max]
With the bar now
at 6'2" inches,
only five high jumpers are left.
Four of them are Americans,
George Horine, Jim Thorpe,
Egon Erickson,
and Alma Richards.
[indistinct chatter]
They are joined by Hans Liesche,
a German who seems to be
striking fear into them all.
At every height,
the lanky German
has cleared the bar with ease
-on his opening try.
-[clacking]
No American can say the same.
-Hans Liesche.
-[crowd cheering]
[dramatic music]
Wow! Hans Liesche,
he has not missed!
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Egon Erickson.
[upbeat suspenseful music]
-[clattering]
-[clapping]
Next competitor, George Horine.
Seemingly the best of the Yanks,
George Horine has only
one more chance.
[triumphant music]
-[crowd cheering and clapping]
-[Max] Horine moves on.
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Jim Thorpe.
[Max]
Jim Thorpe won
the decathlon yesterday,
but he'll need to clear this bar
for any hope of getting
a medal today.
He's missed twice at this height
of 6'2" inches
and now prepares to take
what could be his final jump.
[clattering]
[somber music]
-[Max] Thorpe is out.
The next American going...
-[clapping]
...for his third
and final try is...
Mr. Alma Richards.
[dramatic music]
[snickering]
-[triumphant music]
-[echoing thud]
[crowd cheering and clapping]
-[man] Hey, everybody gets one.
-Hey, yo, you owe me $2.
[laughs]
What'd they say to him?
I don't know. Probably nothing.
[Max]
Only two Americans have managed
to stay in the competition,
George Horine and Alma Richards,
and they both squeaked by...
-[whirring and clacking]
-...clearing on the third
and final tries.
By contrast, Hans Liesche
has cleared every height
with his first try.
He has not missed!
Richards has the most misses,
so he's up first.
Next competitor,
Mr. Alma Richards.
[suspenseful music]
[laughter]
[indistinct muttering]
[music increases]
[clatters]
[laughter]
Up and over, Alma.
I've been there.
I know
what you're going through.
Next competitor,
Mr. George Horine.
[dramatic music]
[film camera whirring]
[clattering]
[clapping]
Next competitor,
Mr. Hans Liesche.
[crowd cheering]
[film camera whirring]
[Max]
At 6'3" inches,
Liesche has done it again,
clearing on his first attempt,
just as he has at every height.
[announcer]
Mr. Alma Richards.
[Max]
Richards goes
for his second try.
Let him have it, boys.
Let him have it.
[dark music]
It's the end of the line, Almer!
[mimics cow mooing]
[man laughs]
Go on... [bleating]
back to the farm.
[laughter]
-[muffled groans]
-[clatter]
[clattering]
[clapping]
[clacking]
[laughs] I mean, that's
what we expected, right,
country boy? [loudly laughs]
-[man 1] And that's it
for Mr. Goody-goody over there.
-[laughter]
-[man 2] Oh, yeah!
-[shouts] Hey!
Did I just see
what I thought I did?
He's your teammate, bullies!
I'd take him over
the whole lot of you.
No matter what else Richards is,
he's an American.
That's us!
[inspirational music]
We're supposed to be the best
this country has to offer.
[deeply exhales]
The essence of America
is an idea...
...the idea that you can come
from humble circumstances
and do great things.
That is Alma Richards.
Do you hear me?
-[shouts] Do you hear me?
-[men] Yes, sir!
Finally see
what's going on here.
I apologize
for not noticing earlier.
I had my duties
over at the broad jump.
Completely wrong.
You know why I can
stand up to those guys?
I think it's my parents.
They taught me that--
Well...
...they're the greatest.
You've got wings.
You're not jumping.
You're flying.
You show 'em. You show 'em all.
[gentle music]
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. George Horine.
-[crowd cheering]
-[film camera whirring]
[clattering]
[George sighs]
-Hey, good job.
-[George] Thank you.
-You can be proud of yourself.
-[indistinct chatter]
[Max]
It's the third try for Richards.
If he misses,
the gold is Liesche's
and goes to Germany.
This could be it for the boy
from Parowan, Utah.
[dramatic music]
[cheering and clapping]
[laughing]
-There you go.
-[indistinct chatter]
Great job.
Nice jump, hick in a hat.
I'm trying my hardest.
Coach... put a sock in it.
Ladies and gentlemen.
The finalists in the high jump,
Mr. Hans Liesche
and Mr. Alma Richards.
-[crowd cheering and clapping]
-[scraping]
[Max]
And then, there were two.
At 6'4",
repetitive jumping now becomes
a contest of stamina
as well as strength and style.
Both Liesche
and Richards are tall,
but the physical contrast
is startling.
The slender German looks
like a high jumper,
as opposed
to the stocky Richards.
Their jumping styles
are also markedly different,
Liesche in his traditional
scissors style
and Richards in his--
who knows what style.
Do you want me to type that?
[Alma]
Pardon me.
I would like to request that
Mr. Hans go first this time.
Let me check with Mr. Liesche,
and I will get
right back with you.
Excuse me.
Alma Richards has asked
if you would be prepared
to jump first in the final?
No? Okay, I'll let him know.
Thank you.
You have more misses.
Therefore, the choice goes
to Mr. Liesche,
and he requests you jump first.
[suspenseful music]
[indistinct chatter]
At 6'4", Richards goes first.
What you think it's gonna take
to get over that bar?
I just need a little more...
...a little more oomph.
What's "oomph"?
-[gentle music]
-I'll show you.
[echoing indistinct chatter]
-[chanting] Almer. Almer--
-No, no. [chants] Alma.
[all chanting]
Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma!
[crowd]
Oh!
[clatters]
[clapping]
[announcer]
Ladies and gentlemen,
-Mr. Hans Liesche.
-[clacking]
[dramatic music]
[muffled thumping]
-[clatters]
-[crowd] Oh!
-For the first time all day,
Hans Liesche has missed.
-[crowd clapping]
[announcer]
Second attempt
for Mr. Alma Richards.
[gentle tone]
[clatters]
-[clapping]
-[sighs]
[announcer]
Second attempt
for Mr. Hans Liesche.
[dramatic tone]
-[clatters]
-[crowd] Oh.
[Max]
Both jumpers have two misses.
Now each jumper
has one more chance
at this height.
[gentle music]
I just realized
something, Coach.
I need something more
than oomph.
[softly] There's
something more than oomph?
[indistinct chatter]
["Homeward Bound"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
-[coach Stagg] For the red,
for the white, for the blue!
-[men] Hurrah!
[coach Stagg chuckles]
You're going to Sweden.
Just put him on the list.
[coach Timp]
The high jump is
the same as life.
You got an obstacle.
You gotta learn to go over it.
[coach AJ]
...really bring out
your potential in track.
[man]
You were made for something
of wider influence.
[Columbia]
Did you do any good today?
["Homeward Bound" increases]
[Margaret]
We want you
to find your calling.
[crowd clapping and cheering]
[crowd chanting]
...Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma! Alma! Alma!
Alma! Alma! Alma! Alma! Alma...
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Alma Richards.
[light mysterious music]
[loud heartbeat]
[music increases]
Fly, my boy. Fly.
[film camera whirring]
[muffled thumping]
[triumphant music]
[crowd cheering and clapping]
[cheering]
[laughing]
[indistinct cheering
and shouting]
[man]
You cleared it by two inches.
[softly] Well, um--
-It's the third try for Liesche.
-[clacking]
[inspirational, gentle music]
Good luck.
A make and the bar is raised.
-[whirring]
-A miss, and the gold goes
to Richards.
[announcer]
Final attempt
for Mr. Hans Liesche.
[dramatic music]
[clatters]
-[all cheering]
-[triumphant music]
Hans Liesche has missed!
Alma Richards has won the gold!
The young man from Parowan,
Utah, has won the gold!
[in German accent]
Hearty congratulations.
[Max]
He won! And rural America
-has a new hero!
-[laughing]
Wait, wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait!
-[all shouting]
-[announcer] And the gold medal
goes to Mr. Alma Richards!
-[coach Stagg] For the red!
-[all] Hurrah!
-[coach Stagg] For the white.
-[all] Hurrah!
-[coach Stagg] For the blue!
-[all] Hurrah!
[laughing and crying]
-C-- coach, he got the oomph!
-[laughing]
Oh, he did it!
He dang well did it!
-What did I tell you?
-[both laugh]
[Alma]
Thanks for getting me started,
Coach. We did it.
[laughing] Gold!
[softly crying]
Yes! He found it!
[laughs] He found it.
-["Homeward Bound"
by Mat and Savanna Shaw]
-[bird squawking]
[man]
If you find
it's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return
To your thoughts
I'll soon be listening
In the road
I'll stop and turn
Then the wind
will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
And the path
I'll be retracing
-As I'm homeward bound again
-[door opens and creaks]
-[man and woman] Bind me not
to the pasture
-[muted]
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free
to find my calling
And I'll return to you
Somehow
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free
to find my calling
And I'll return to you
Somehow
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free
to find my calling
[woman]
And I'll return...
-[man] I'll return
-...to you
[both]
Somehow
And I'll return to you
Somehow
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")"
by Jenny Oaks Baker]
["He Lives: (Theme From
"The Lamb of God")" continues]
["Homeward Bound
(feat. Marshall McDonald)"
by Steven Sharp Nelson]
["Homeward Bound
(feat. Marshall McDonald)"
continues]
-["Homeward Bound"
by Mat and Savanna Shaw]
-[woman] If you find
It's me you're missing
If you're hoping I'll return
To your thoughts
I'll soon be listening
In the road
I'll stop and turn
[both]
Then the wind
will set me racing
As my journey nears its end
[woman]
And the path
I'll be retracing
[both]
As I'm homeward bound again
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find
my calling
And I'll return to you
Somehow
Bind me not to the pasture
Chain me not to the plow
Set me free to find
my calling
[woman]
And I'll return...
-[man] I'll return
-...to you
[both]
Somehow
And I'll return to you
Somehow
[music fades]
[Ms. Bird]
Good morning. Welcome to class.
-[birds chirping]
-Good morning.
-Welcome--
-[girl] Teacher,
did you hear that
Alma Richards won the Olympics?
He's all over the newspaper.
He's famous!