Wind (1992) - full transcript

(LOUD RUMBLING)

So, what's on your mind?

I don't know. It's kind of hard
for me to tell you about it.

I know there's been something
on your mind since yesterday.

Morgan Weld offered Charley
and I a free ticket to Newport.

Yeah?

To be on the crew
of his new boat.

Yeah, he's got a new 12-meter
for the America's Cup.

It's the big time, Kate.

Well, that's fantastic.
That's great.

Why didn't you tell me
about this sooner?



Because I'm not doing it.

You've been dreaming about doing
this since you were little kid.

It's risky.
There's no guarantees.

And, I could be bounced
and sent home next week.

When are you supposed
to be there?

Monday.

Charlie's already gone.

What, so you're worried
about me?

You could come with me.

You know I can
take care of myself.

Prepare to tack.

Tacking!

Move it, lads.

Get up there, Spider.



Hey, Will...

Steer a while.

(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

(YELLING)

MORGAN: Irolita...

Designed by
old Captain Nat himself.

He built six defenders
and never lost once.

Five.

Vigilant...

Resolute.

Columbia.

Col...
Twice.

- Defender.
- Reliance.

Reliance. Built in 1903,
crew, 66.

Largest single-masted ship
ever built.

Rainbow.

1934, Vanderbilt beat Endeavor.

She was the faster boat.

Closest we ever came
to losing the cup in 130 years.

My wife used to call these
"jealous mistresses."

You married?

Yeah, almost.

She'll be here next week
for the Fourteens.

Sometimes we pay
too high a price for our dreams.

You know, Will,

you're skipper material.

So, I'm going to let you
take over the trial horse.

She's an old boat,
but she's a champion.

You'll be my sparring partner.

Sharpen my reflexes, huh?

Pick your own crew.

Thank you.

(WOMAN SINGING OPERA)

(TURNS OFF TAPE RECORDER)

(CHATTER)

Come on.
Let's get it.

Let's go.

Tie a knot.

We got to clean
the whole thing up, jerk.

KATE: Port. Starboard.

Okay, drop anchor.

(RASPBERRY)

Aw, Kate...

Nice work.

KATE: Especially for you.

Last time I saw this thing
it was like a jigsaw puzzle.

I can't believe
this is the same boat.

- What is this?
- It's beautiful, isn't it?

I can't believe
you did it.

Come here, you,
I've missed you so much.

So, tell me
who's going to be here?

Oh, well, you know,
old Mr. White Nose will be here.

Yeah? My favorite.

Shumway's going to be there,
the Hulk.

Your favorite
and mine, Jack.

No problem here.

Come on, we gotta
tack out of here.

Hello, everyone.

Peter Montgomery here for
the Australian sports network.

Welcome to Newport,
Rhode Island.

We're at the Buzzard's Bay
championships

of the high-octane
International Fourteens,

one of the toughest classes
in all of sailing.

As every good skipper knows,
the big boats get the glory

but the small boats
make the sailor.

We've got several
America's Cup contenders

down from Newport today,
let's look at the favorites.

Jack Neville,
Australia's finest skipper

and a cup challenger this year

Charlie Gaines,
Olympic silver medalist

and the favorites,
Parker and Bass.

Will Parker,
probably the best match racer

on the world circuit today,

and Kate Bass, retired
from racing six months ago,

to get her master's degree
in aeronautical engineering.

It's a nice surprise
to see her here today.

(SAILORS YELLING ORDERS)

Neville to starboard.

KATE:
Here he comes, the bastard!

You bastard!

We're ready for you!

(WILL CHEERS)

All right!

You're very good, you know that?

Thanks, baby.

Come up a little!

Take him out!

WILL:
Ready to carve one?

- Stand by to jibe.
- Aye aye.

Watch the teabaggin', bucko.

(TALKING INDISTINCTLY)

Port's Parker.

Hey, Parker!

(LAUGHS GOOD-NATUREDLY)

What do you want to do?

Daffy Duck him.

(BOTH QUACKING)

You bastard!

Jack's lost his jib.

Patterson's coming on.

Shumway's coming back.

WILL: Whoa, nope!

No, he's not.

(KATE CHEERS)

Patterson is no longer a factor.

Charlie's making his move.

KATE: Charley's gone.

TOGETHER:
Turtle!

(SMUG LAUGH)

Right there.

Oh, yeah.

We're in the groove now, baby!

You sure are, mister.

She's singing!

Whoa, sail this boat!

No surrender!

BOTH: Geronimo!

Whoa!

(SCREAMING)

Will?

(YELLING)

Do you know
how close we were?

We had this one.

- Yeah, we did, didn't we?
- Yeah.

- Well...
- Damn it.

You can't win 'em all.

I would have liked
to win this one.

Oh, there goes Jack.
Perfect. Great.

Well, what do you
want me to do, hate myself?

Yeah.

You were so close.

I didn't do it on purpose.
Just, something happened.

- Yeah.
- You're right. I shouldn't have.

You just had to go push harder.

You just had to run
him over.

You look really beautiful.
I just gotta tell you that.

Oh, really?

Yeah. You just
look fantastic.

(LAUGHING)

♪ My baby says
She taught me so

♪ And I'm an ornery man

♪ Now my baby... ♪

Hey, hey!

Hey.

Great race.
Great race.

We gotta let you win
once in a while.

Come on. You looked like
a couple of turds on a tarmac.

In your dreams, Jacky.

(LAUGHING)

How are you, darling?
You look wonderful.

All the better for
seeing you, Big J.

Big J, you've been
reading my mail.

Of course.

How about a dance later?

I don't know if my heart
can take it.

There he is, Will.

Yeah, he was
watching today.

The would-be keeper
of yachting's holy grail.

The only truly worthy opponent.
The old eagle himself.

The old bastard.

Hey, hey, hey!

WILL: I'm sorry about
screwing up today.

KATE: Yeah, well,
winning's not everything.

But it's a lot more fun.

WILL: Look, I owe you one,
all right?

KATE:
Well, if you're really good.

I'll let you make it up to me.

WILL: I don't... Geez, how 'bout
we go on this sexy boat?

Wanna go for a sail?

Shh, straight through the waves.

- What do you think?
- I'm here, aren't I?

And I didn't come here
to look at your boat.

(DOG BARKING)

MAN: What's going on
down there?

WILL: Come on, get down.
They'll throw me off the crew.

(KATE LAUGHS)

(SNEEZES)

(MOUTHING) I know, I'm sorry.

(DOG BARKING)

(DOG CONTINUES BARKING)

MAN: Come on, Max.
It's nothing.

SARGE:
Up!

Down!

Happy faces, gentlemen.

Up!

Down!

Up!

Down! Let's count to ten.
One...

...Three, four, five, six,
seven, eight, nine, ten.

(LAUGHING)
Four, five, six, seven.

Will, I think you've got
an attitude problem.

You're pissing and moaning.

You're not talking
to me about it.

He takes away my gear,
he takes away my sails,

he takes away everything...

Bad-mouthing Morgan isn't
going to accomplish a thing.

And, besides, you'll lose
the respect of the crew.

I got a tired old boat and I got
a crew of mutinous dogs.

What am I supposed do?

I got the picture, Will,

but Morgan sees something
special in you.

I don't know what it is.
A touch, a feel.

But, come on, everybody wants
to drive the boat.

There's 10 other people
on there with you, Will.

You've got the egos.
They have the muscles forward.

And you've gotta make them
into one body.

Will, the secret, I think
you need to make them feel

like they're part of a team.

That they're contributing
something.

You got a choice,

you can lead,
you can follow,

or, you can get out
of the way. Understand?

I've got to go!

It's a big break
for me, Will.

A dream job
with a great designer.

So I'm going
to do it.

What would I do here, anyway?
Buy your groceries?

Sweep my floor,
make my bed,

make me breakfast
in the morning.

Oh, gee!

What if you came
on the boat?

You could be
my tactician.

The two of us,
together again.

Aw, come on, Will.

This is the oldest boys' club
in the world.

- They would tear me to shreds.
- No, they wouldn't.

Not if you were good enough.

And you'd be
the first one!

The first woman.

Just like Eve in the garden
of Eden?

Remember what happened
to her.

What are you talking about?

Eve got what
she wanted, didn't she?

If it wasn't for Eve,
none of us would even be here.

So, what are you bitching about?

I'm bitching that I have to
choose between my life or yours.

Heads, you stay with me
and sail into history books,

or, tails, you leave me
in my time of need

and disappear
into academic obscurity, okay?

No, wait, it should be
the other way around.

See, tails is the eagle,
like your boat.

So tails I stay, heads I go.

Tails, you sail.
Heads, you leave me.

- Got it.
- Mind like a steel trap.

- I'm a sailor, okay.
- (CHUCKLES)

Here we go.

Okay, wait, wait!
I changed my mind.

Heads, you stay here and sail.

Tails, you come with me
and be my research assistant.

Give me a break.
You can't compare this to that.

Oh, I see.

No, this is the best thing
that's ever happened to me.

What's the best thing
that's ever happened to you?

You are the best thing
that's ever happened to me.

You mean it?

Yes.

Okay.

The draft on The Eagle's main
sail has to be moved forward.

- You think so?
- Yeah, and if we re-cut it,

I think it probably
would pick up...

We?

You mean, like a team?

This better work,
Will Parker,

otherwise, I will never
forgive you

and I will be
very cruel to you

for the rest
of your miserable life.

- You promise?
- Mm-hmm.

Yes!

(CHEERS)

We're up ten.

Speed's increasing.
We're at 7.9.

Come up a little higher.

Congratulations, boys,
we just beat Morgan.

(CREW CHEERING)

Good work.

Hey, George.

Will, you're doing
a fine job.

Ah, thanks.
We've just been lucky.

Absolutely.

But...

There's a problem.

Problem?

It's the girlfriend.

Come on, Will,
it's just unprofessional.

It upsets the men
to have a woman on board.

Crew chemistry.

It's a delicate,
subtle thing.

Come on, George.
That's bullshit.

She's doing a fine job.
All the crew likes her.

Will, she's off the boat.

Fine. You can tell Morgan
to take his boat

and shove it up his ass.

And, from today, you'll be
alternate helmsman and tactician

on the "A" boat.

Well done.

Hey, beat it!
Come on!

Hey! We're going
to sit at the table,

and eat like human beings
tonight. Get out of there.

Don't spoil your dinner!
Get out!

I'm cooking!

Here, take over,
I can't take this anymore.

These onions are killing me.

Oh, also, I want you to make
some of that good dressing.

Okay?

What?

You've been cut
from the boat.

They say you don't mix
well with the crew.

- That's bullshit!
- That's what I told 'em.

I told 'em where they
could stick their boat.

Yeah?

They also told me
that I've been promoted

to the starting helmsman
on the Radiance.

I'm sorry, Kate.
It's just...

(CHATTERING)

(TAPPING GLASS)

(CHATTERING STOPS)

Well, guys, the news is
I'm out of here.

(DISGRUNTLED MUMBLING)

I don't know.
That's just the way it is.

But, I'd just like to say how
much I appreciate you guys.

You've been really
wonderful to me.

(VOICE WAVERING)
And, um...

I'm sorry I messed up the soup.

Anyway, here's to you.

ALL: Hear, hear!

(SNIFFLING)

I have to fight so hard
to stay on my own track.

You know, the pull of you
and your life is just too much.

I have a life that has
nothing to do with this

and I just get sucked in.

I don't get it.

Is it defending
your holy grail?

Some male ritual?

Maybe, you just want
your face on a cereal box.

It's not quite like that, Kate.

It's, uh...

When you get a chance
to do something

that you've dreamed about
doing, you do it.

I don't know.
It's hard to explain.

It's being a part of something

that's so much bigger
than I could ever be by myself.

(FOOTSTEPS RECEDING)

(ENGINE REVVING)

MORGAN: Gentlemen, you are all
in a line of elite men,

of great men.

You have defended the world's
most endearing sporting record.

It's an honor to know you.
It's an honor to sail with you.

Tradition has it that, um,

that the first American
skipper to ever lose the cup

will replace it with
his own head in the trophy case.

Gentlemen, my head
is in your hands.

Please be careful.
I've become attached to it.

And, I would propose a toast.

- The cup.
- ALL: Hear, hear!

MONTGOMERY:
Never before in the history

of the America's Cup

has a foreign challenger
come this far.

Boomerang has come from behind
three times to win.

And pushed
this best-of-seven series

to a seventh and final race.

For Jack Neville,
a chance to make history.

For Morgan Weld, it's do or die.

For the very first time,

America's back is up
against the wall.

And they're tacking.

Tacking!

(YELLING ORDERS)

Radiance ahead by three boat
lengths on the forth leg

as the boats speed toward
the mark,

but are still a mile away.

Boomerang, the white boat.
Radiance, the blue.

They're sailing into the wind

by tacking back and forth
on this zigzag course.

As you can see, Weld has been
keeping an eye on Neville

covering him tack for tack,
but with his bigger lead

the American skipper
can make for his layline now

then head straight for the mark.

The question for Australia,

can they stay close enough
to attack downwind?

The Americans proving very good
at hanging onto what's theirs.

What's going on, Rubsey?

They're a fraction higher
and a little faster.

Tacking!

Come on, hold up
on that tack line.

We're getting buried, sir,
pull speed 8.2 and static.

WILL: Holding bearing.

MORGAN:
What do you got now, Will?

Still increasing. We're up
about seven boat lengths, sir.

Charlie, where's the mark?
I can't see it.

Right over there.

(METALLIC CREAKING)

(LOUD CRASH)

Mainsail!

(AGITATED SHOUTING)

Move it, lads, move it!

The main's coming down!

MORGAN: Spider, get up there
and tie it to the mast crane!

Hey, get out
of the sewer!

Mark, get up
and stand by to hoist!

Watch out!
Move it, lad, move it!

Their main's falling, Rubsey.

They're in trouble!

They're coming up fast, sir.

Latch it to the crane!

Speed 7.9 and falling.

MORGAN: Hurry it up, boy!
Move it, move it!

WILL: They're probably going
to tack on us, Morgan.

SHEIK: First spreader!

Second spreader!

7.6 now.
We got to fix this!

- Hold! Hold!
- MAN: Four boat lengths.

SHEIK: Third spreader!

WILL: Spider,
give it all you got!

Five boat lengths
and a layline, sir.

(INDISTINCT CHATTER)

WILL: Latch it up, Spider!

We're on the layline, sir.

(AGITATED YELLING)

Spider, hoist the damn thing.

CHARLEY: Losing bearing, sir.
Closing 7.6 now.

They're tacking.

Boat speed 6.9.

Dammit!

Two boat lengths past
the layline, sir.

We need to tack, sir.

MORGAN:
Tie it off, Spider!

All right, tacking.

We can't tack.
It's too dangerous.

We got to.
We've passed the layline.

We're tacking.

(LOUD CREAKING)

Tacking.

Hang on, Spider!

Hang on, Spider!

(BOAT GROANING LOUDLY)

(YELLS)

Jesus Christ!

Hold on, Spider!

Get him down!

(YELLING)

Get him down!

He's hurt!
Get him down!

Spider!

Get him down!
Get him down!

Come on.
You'll be okay!

Spider!

Get him down, baby.

Get him down, baby.
Get him down.

He's hurt.
Coming down.

Somebody take the wheel.

Take the wheel.

- Let's get him in the hole.
- Skye, cover for spider.

I got the main.

Looks like he's hurt pretty bad.

Poor bastard.

Good for us.

They'll be a man short
at the spinnaker set.

You'll be all right, son.
You'll be all right.

CHARLEY: Ten boat lengths
to the mark, Will.

Somebody get
the med kit.

Come up on it
just a little bit, Will.

MONTGOMERY:...and the American
lead has been chopped in half...

Radiance is going to have to
sail perfectly on the next leg.

Boomerang is back in this race.

Holding bearing.

- Three boat lengths, Will.
- I got it.

Two boat lengths.

All right,
you're looking good.

The mark's coming up!

One boat length.
The length of the boat.

Leeward runner.

- Spider's okay.
- Will, you're too close!

Damn it! We hit the mark!

What? You hit the mark?

Got to go around
again, boys.

Come on!
Hurry it up, damn it!

JACK: We saw you, Morgan!
Ring around the rosie!

Jibing!

Tacking!

Shit!

All right,
let out the spinnaker!

They're about to jibe.
We should grab the inside, sir.

We're still in this, boys.
Let's keep our heads up.

CHARLEY: Bearing to leeward mark
is 60 degrees.

It's a shorter course.

No, I'm staying.
We still got wind on this side.

Morgan, we've got to go.
They're coming at us.

Jibing!

They're jibing.

Okay, let's go.

MORGAN: I'm staying.
There's still wind on this side.

Morgan, they're coming at us.
They're going to take our air.

All right.
On the inside now!

Jibing! Trim!

Our main's nearly
on their air.

Just keep it going
a bit further.

7.3.

- Good angle, Jack.
- 7.7.

Just keep working it down
to their line. How's your main?

Little trim on, guys.

How's your bowline, Richard?

Talk to me, Will.
What, what, what!

Coming away, coming away!

RUBSEY: We want to get down
and lay this mark.

Pinch me, Rubsey.
Wake me up, wake me up!

- What?
- I don't believe it.

You're awake, Jack. Just don't
start mouthing off yet.

History is being made here
in Newport.

The boats are only moments
from the finish line

and the one in the lead flies
not the red, white, and blue

but the green and gold
from the land down under.

The America's Cup is
about to be America's no more.

And Radiance
is the boat that lost it

and she lost it when tactician
Will Parker hit the mark.

You're witnessing
the end of an era.

Watch for the victory smoke.

It's almost there.
Coming up to the committee boat.

They're over!

Boomerang has won
the America's Cup!

You bloody beauty!

This is a historic day
for Australia.

This is a historic day
for skipper Jack Neville

and his brave crew.

They've broken the longest
winning streak in sports.

They've taken it away at last.

(BOAT HORNS HONKING)

Hey, hey, hey!

(CHEERING)

Yes!

MAN: Hey, Jack,
good work, mate!

Hey!

Congratulations, Jack.

You and your crew
raced a masterful race.

- Right into history, right?
- Johnny, I got it!

Congratulations.

Hey, Morgan,
you going to be down there

trying to get it back,
in Australia.

- Right.
- This wasn't just for us.

It was for
every Australian sailor!

(AUSTRALIANS SINGING
WALTZING MATILDA)

That's working better.

Because of its slow speed,

I turbulated its surface
to increase its efficiency.

So where can we use it?

Any airfoil performing
at similar Reynolds numbers.

Gliders, sails...

Whatever.

Doesn't work.

The wing should
be like a...

Smooth like a woman's thigh,
you know?

This is like
a hippopotamus thigh.

- Excuse me.
- Yeah?

I'm looking for Kate Bass.
I understand she works here.

Yes, she's down
by the hangar there.

- Thanks.
- Got a wrench?

(CLEARS THROAT)

Kate.

Hi.

Will?

What are you doing here?
Are you okay?

Oh, yeah.

You've been pretty hard
to track down.

I've been looking
all over for you.

Geez, I hope you don't mind me
barging in on you like this.

Oh, no. It's great to see you.

- Really?
- I've been thinking about you.

Yeah, I've been wondering
how you've been holding up.

That's real nice of you.

Geez, you look good.

Oh. Oh, Will,
this is Joe Heiser.

I think I talked
to you about him.

It's Will.

Oh, Will, the sailor.
I've heard a lot about you.

How you been doing?

(WILL PLAYING HARMONICA)

So, you got killed, huh?

I mean, psychologically.

Big game of ritual warfare.

Nah, I wouldn't say that.

They're really amazing,
those cup boats.

So, what percentage

of the success
of a boat is from the design

and how much is just
the skill of the sailors?

Oh, it's hard to say.
Every race is different.

Yeah, but it's important.
I mean, the design is important.

Yes, it's important.

They wouldn't spend
so much money on boat design

if it wasn't important,
would they?

So how much does it cost
to build one of those boats?

You know what
they say about boats?

They're holes in the water
where you throw money.

It's quite a place
you got here, Kate.

We like it.

I've always been interested
in sailboats.

They're very similar
to aircraft.

Hey, Joe, want to give me
a hand here for a second?

You know, a lot of
the same principles apply.

- What are you doing?
- What do you mean?

Why are you hustling Will?

I don't really think he's up
for it. And besides, he's broke.

That's not the point.

I mean, he's got something.
He's got something you can sell.

What about our work,
what we're doing?

What we're doing
is on the brink of a black hole.

A shot in the dark
is better than no shot at all.

Joe, this is just hard for me.
Can you please drop it?

I can get it to work.
I promise.

You know, there's always more
than one way to skin a cat.

It doesn't have to be
such a big complicated deal.

You could test the boat models
down in the river

right down here.

And, I got the guys in
the hangar working. Great guys.

All the tools we need,
the know how.

And we'd be independent
out here, you know?

Working together, you know,
tight, like a team.

Closely.

And you'd be in control
of everything.

We could do it
almost for nothing.

KATE: You're so full of it,
it's pathetic.

You know, there is one thing

that might be better
than winning the cup.

It's losing the cup
and then winning it back.

You are so demented.
What, you haven't had enough?

Wait, what are you getting angry
about, we're just talking.

There was a time when I thought
I had to explain myself to you,

but that time is long gone.

JOE: You know, we can do it.

We can go down there
to Australia and win it back.

Don't worry about her.
I can handle her.

A great designer
who knows how to handle women.

Quite a guy.

You see Will leave?

He's gone?

(WHOOPING)

(WHOOP ECHOING)

Lessons are down
by the creek.

Abigail.

Madame Butterfly.

Hey.

Parker.

The famous fumbler.

Listen, is your father around?

I really need
to talk to him.

I think so.

I don't live there anymore.

I'm camping out
down by the beach house.

Keep your eyes open.
He's, um...

He's in rare form these days.

Okay, thanks. See you later.

Stop.

Turn around.

Who are you?

What do you want?
What are you doing here?

I came to see Mr. Weld.

Mr. Weld isn't
receiving visitors.

Will!

Come in, boy.

It's good to see you.

My, you've been hiding out
as long as I have, huh?

You're looking good. Come on in.
Have a cup of coffee.

Sit down.
Sit down, boy.

Listen, sit down.
I'll give you a cup...

Before I give you the cup,
let me show you something.

I've been figuring things out,
and I figured...

Here, this will tell you why
this country's in such a mess.

Read that.
Read it.

Read it.

"Chicago cabbie," huh?

(LAUGHING)

"Wins $4 million in lottery."

- Yeah.
- Lottery.

(LAUGHING)

(CHANGE JINGLING)

Oh...

You think I got all this
by guessing numbers, Will?

I broke my ass.

My father was
a potato farmer.

- Excuse me...
- From Idaho.

I've been doing a lot
of thinking about...

Everybody wants it
easy now, Will.

See, I'd like to make
a proposal to you.

They want it on a plate.

And the reason we don't
have the cup, Will,

is that we don't deserve
to have the cup.

Oh.

We could try again, you see?

- Again?
- Yeah.

No.

Will... You're a decent person.

Go back to that girl,
get married,

live in the country,
be a quaker,

first man on Mars, anything.

But, don't, don't,
don't bullshit yourself.

I'm not bullshitting myself.

I'm going to get it back, sir.

I can do it.

You think you can do it?

I know I can.

Then, take it.

Go ahead, take it.

Take it!

Cock it.

Cock the damn thing.

(COCKS GUN)

Put it right there.

No.

Now...

Do you think
if I were the only thing

between you and that cup,
do you think...

You could pull the trigger?

Hmm?

No.

You'd make a good martyr,

but not a soldier, not a Caesar.

You don't want blood
on your hands.

(GUN CLICKS)

(SIGHS)

Forget it, Will.

You haven't got it.

Forget it.

I can guess what
Daddy said to you.

He said...

You're too clumsy for ballet.

You don't have a head
for business.

You've been to the best
schools in the country

and you haven't graduated
from any of them.

He basically told you
you were a loser, right?

Right.

Maybe he's right.

He's just wallowing
in self-pity.

He can't face the fact
that he's a failure.

God, I hate boats.

How do you feel about winning?

It's beyond my experience.

You know how you win
a sailboat race?

Imagine that your hand
is a beautiful boat

sailing along
in a beautiful breeze.

Along comes another boat,

steals your wind, smothers you,
takes away your power.

So, you steer a course

to stay away
from the other boat.

But it comes back,
covers you again,

steals your breeze,
takes your power.

See?

The most important thing
is finding your own wind.

Sailing along under
your own power

staying out
of the other boat's shadow.

You have beautiful hands.

What do you want?

WILL: You know who Geronimo was?

ABIGAIL: No.

WILL: He was an Indian.

He was man who kept fighting for
what he believed in.

He never gave up.

Right to the end.

What am I going to do with you?

You're a disaster in the making.

I'm gonna need therapy
after this, I can tell.

There's not enough
forward buoyancy.

In a downwind leg,
it would turn into a submarine.

As long as it's a fast
submarine,

what's the difference?

This.

It would sink to the bottom
like a rock.

It's not a big problem.
We can overcome that.

Listen, Joe,

you've never been
in one of these things.

I'm telling you, it's a problem.

There's a lot of wind
in Australia.

That's your opinion, right?
That's what you think.

Don't guess at things.
Look at the numbers.

Numbers don't lie.

What do numbers tell you about
squalls, tides, freak waves, eh?

You know, you discount my work
because you don't understand it.

You know what
you don't understand?

That a mathematic process
can be very intuitive.

It's like music.

You know what your problem is?

You're oversensitive
because once upon a time

you thought it was
more important to go out sailing

than to pass Trigonometry.

You don't know
diddly squat about boats.

You're impossible.
This is impossible.

How can I work with you?

How can I work with such a hard
headed ignoramus on my back?

The waves are so big
and the wind is so strong.

And the tide and
the di and the da.

What do you want,
Noah's Ark?

Yeah, I could see it.

Good.

How does the water know
the boat's coming?

Well, it doesn't really.

It travels along with
the boat at different speeds.

Good idea of yours,
this tank.

Yeah, good idea.

The river was a good idea!
The river was a good idea, too.

It was a good idea but you could
not see the bow waves coming.

What do you think?

No, no, I want to know
what you think.

No, no, I want to hear
your opinions.

I think, maybe, we
should try your idea.

Maybe we should
move the keel back.

I think your suggestion
was good to move it forward

because it might work.

- You think so?
- We could try it.

You expecting anybody?

It might be the I.R.S.

Maybe it's the Australians
coming to spy on us.

Hi.

Is this it?

WILL: Yeah, this is it.

WILL: Where the heck
did you get that?

Oh, I sort of kidnapped it
from my father.

This is Joe... Abigail.

Oh, hi.

- Nice to meet you.
- Will talked a lot about you.

- I missed you.
- I missed you too.

- Was I wrong to come?
- No.

I have to pee really badly.

Is there a...

- Joe.
- Yeah?

Yeah. You just go
to the hangar.

To the left
and straight ahead.

Whoo!

(KNOCKING)

Hang on.

(KNOCKING)

Bunch of animals.
You know, you...

Hi. Who are you?

Oh, I'm Abigail Weld.

Oh... Hi.

I'm Kate.
I work with Joe.

- Kate.
- Yes.

- Oh, hello.
- Well, welcome.

Thank you.

Oh... Well...

Is this the only bathroom?

- Oh... Yeah.
- I'm sort of desperate.

You can always
go outside.

Oh, no.

No, thanks.

I'll just make do.

You know,
the airframe is the lightest

and most efficient construction
in aluminum.

Very, very strong.

It's relatively
inexpensive too.

This is all fascinating.

There's something
I have to tell you.

I wanted to tell you
face-to-face.

I have less money available
to me than I was led to believe.

- How much less?
- A lot.

A lot.
So what have you got?

Approximately $200,000.

That's really bad.

No. It's not bad at all.

You'll have to start
raising money.

ABIGAIL: I can't. I don't know
anything technical.

HEISER: Don't worry.
I'll explain everything.

I've plucked a few
pigeons in my day.

To be honest with you I really
don't know if I can do this.

Sure you can.

I guess we have
to be gliding for a while.

You ever been up in an airplane
without a motor?

It's really great.

I'll take you up someday.
You'll love it.

Why worry? I mean what could
possibly happen?

Of course, my design could
turn out to have a few flaws.

After a couple of weeks

it turns out that Will and I
hate each other.

And Abigail proves to be
the flake of the century.

She can't raise a dime.

And this big tornado comes,
tears this place apart.

We're broke.
They put us in jail.

The state department wants
to throw me out of the country,

but I fool them.

They put us in jail and
I catch pneumonia and die.

Hello!

Okay, now I'm ready
to really go to work.

You like it?

Hi, Nick.
It's Abby Weld.

I know, we haven't spoken
since college.

Here you are,
Vice President.

It's amazing.

No, no,
I'm not calling about a job.

Um, yeah, sure.

I can call back in a half-hour.
How about that?

Okay, fine.
Bye-bye.

- Will you sign this, please?
- What's this?

A standard contract.

I think we should have
a legal deal on paper.

ABIGAIL: Contracts are my job,
aren't they?

HEISER: But you guys are
amateurs at this business,

so it's important that I have
total control of the design.

WILL: Total control?

What are you talking
about, partner?

I'm not signing off
on the design of this boat

until I feel it's right.
Not for you, not for anybody.

Look, what we have to do is,

we have to figure out
who is responsible for what.

You guys will work on the hull,
we'll work on the sails...

Listen, I'm putting
my reputation at stake, here.

What happens
if we don't agree on anything?

What happens if we run
out of money?

I'll be left there
holding the bag.

Heiser, stop talking like
you're the only one

taking any risks here.

It really pisses me off.

Why would I give you
total control of the design?

You haven't proven that
you can build something

- that will stay afloat.
- What do you mean?

(ALL ARGUING)

KATE: Well, I have an idea
for a new kind of foresail.

ABIGAIL: Mm-hmm.

What's so special
about this?

Okay, I got the idea
from a beetle.

You know how it's got
these hard wing covers?

They lift up and act
as big downwind sails.

If we can use that mechanism
on the boat, it will fly.

- Heiser likes this idea?
- No, because it's not his idea.

So $2,500 for the prototype,
and then?

This is such
a nickel-and-dime operation

that we've got to take
these kind of risks.

Don't talk to me about
nickle and dime operations.

Money is my department.

Money may be your department
but if you don't listen to ideas

then we don't have a chance.

I don't want to hear this
from you.

I like to think of myself
as a member of this team.

Will and I have been
at this game for 15 years.

You show up and have appointed
yourself queen bee.

But, it's my money, and I'd like
to think I have some say

in how it's spent.

You're right. I'm sorry.

Well...
I'll think about it.

(YELLS)

(CELLO PLAYING BALLAD)

WILL: We're going to need
as much waterline as we can get.

HEISER: I've factored in
the average weather

in that part of Australia
over the last 20 years.

We got to play
the percentages.

- You mean compromise?
- Yeah, of course.

You always get to a point

where you have
to stop torturing yourself

and play the percentages.

You're afraid of
committing yourself.

You have this desire
for perfection.

What's wrong with perfection?

Nothing...
If you're God.

If you're prepared to wait
500 million years

for it to evolve.

But we got to start building
this boat next week.

That's it.

Skye, I need your help.

Yeah, yeah, that's right.

No, no, no. I'm not joking.
It's really happening.

WILL: When can you be here?

Fantastic. I'm counting on you.

Sheik, it's time
to come out of the woods.

You're not going to believe
this but it's happening!

Listen, what about Otis?

You're kidding me.

Fantastic. All right.

Hey, Charley.
What's happening, baby?

Well, it's time to go to work.

Listen, you know
where I can find Hook?

Thanks a lot, buddy.
I'm glad I can count on you.

You don't know how I
can reach Bruno, do you?

You're kidding.

Borneo?

We're out in the desert,
so bring some beer.

(ALL CHEERING)

We're looking for help
from the private sector.

Yes. Individuals with heart
and vision like yourself.

With us it's more than
a boat race.

It's proof that America hasn't
lost its competitive edge.

This is the quintessential
all-American endeavor.

What?
Oh, no, no, sure. I'll hold.

Damn!

(GROWLS)

ABIGAIL:
A slight accounting error.

I gambled. I thought we'd be
covered by now. We're not.

This is an incredibly
humiliating experience.

How could they do this to us?

HEISER: You know,
when big companies become rich,

they want to become respectable.

So what do we got to sell that

can make them look
more respectable?

Let's face it. What we're doing
here is not about

saving the world
or curing cancer.

It's just about good, clean fun.

Well, that's it.

That's it, clean.

A white sail on a blue sea.
What's more clean than that?

But we can't do it on the phone.
We got to press the flesh.

We got to go
on the hustle.

Do you have a suit?

Has he got a decent suit?

- Do you have a decent suit?
- I got a decent suit.

(WIND SWOOSHING)

Hey, what are you doing?

Looking at the stars.

Oh, yeah.

Wow. Yeah.

(SIGHS)

Makes me feel so small.

You going to spend
the night out here?

I don't know. Maybe.

This feels like old times.

Kate, I'm still
in love with you.

Can we just lie here
and not talk?

I'm selling clean air
and he's sucking on a cigarette.

The lady's all legs
and no brains.

But, uh...

- We got it all.
- We got it all.

What? You got it all?

Yes!

(SCREAMING)

(BAND PLAYING JAUNTY MARCH)

(RHYTHMIC DRUMMING)

MONTGOMERY:
Ladies and gentlemen,

all of Australia is with us
today to cheer the boys on.

Welcome to the 31st defense
of the America's Cup.

Long shot Geronimo
is still on the war path.

The Americans
squeaking out their victories

over seven other
international contenders

in their bid
to challenge Australia.

Underdog Will Parker has had
all the breaks in these finals.

And somehow, he's managed
to hand Jack Neville

three defeats out of five

but how long can his
beginner's luck hold?

It's awfully hard
to run a one-boat campaign

at this level of competition.

And, Geronimo is battle-weary
from her three months of trials.

Abigail Weld hits up
the shoe-string syndicate.

But you can be sure
there is another Weld

pulling the strings.

The Yanks have a chance
to put it away today.

They lead 3-2,

but as they head for the finish,
it's Australia just in front.

All right, here he comes.

It's going to be close!
It's going to be close!

We're going
to have to duck him.

WILL:
Stand by to tack.

Tacking! He's coming
back to cover.

(YELLING)

We're a bit wound up,
we need a bit more pace.

He's covering us!
Let's go back! Tacking.

All right!

You're looking good,
Will, very good.

WILL: We gained
another boat length.

JACK: Trim the main!
Trim the main!

They've had good pressure
out their left.

It's a big gain for them.

SAILOR: Our course is
1-7-5, down five.

JACK: You guys are sailing
like a bunch of maggots.

(YELLING ORDERS)

Lighten the jib,
let's go now!

Helm's down!

We're gaining bearing.
I think we can cross now, Will!

Don't tell me what you think!
Tell me what you know!

We're going to cross!

Are we gaining
on them or what?

We're fine, we're going to
cross 'em, let's go for it!

I don't believe you, Charley!

Are we going to
crease-line them, or not?

We're going to make it!
Let's go for it!

It looks like they're heading
in here for a lee bow situation.

Starboard!

Hold your course, we're fine!

What the bloody hell
do they think they're doing?

We're not gonna make it.

We're not gonna make it!

You always say that and
we always make it.

Starboard!

Look out!

Watch out!

(YELLING AND SCREAMING)

Jesus Christ, Jack!

You were too damn slow!

(YELLING AND SCREAMING)

MONTGOMERY:
It was only a matter of time

before the Americans
ran out of luck

and Jack Neville's years of
experience caught up with them.

The word from
the race committee tonight

is they will not allow
a couple of cowboys

to turn this challenge
into a free-for-all.

Who started the fight?

- He did.
- He did.

(CROWD LAUGHING)

WILL: I think when Jack woke up
this morning he thought

he was a sumo wrestler
instead of a sailor.

JACK: It's got nothing to do
with bloody sumo wrestling.

The real tragedy
is that we've lost our mast

and we have a broken spare

and if we don't have a mast,
we're not in the race.

Is that the way
you want to win it?

I tell you what, mate.

I came here to sail against you,
against a yachtsman.

Not against the bloody marines.

MAN: Jonathan.
JONATHAN: BBC television.

Jack, what will you submit
to the protest hearing tonight?

JACK:
I'll be submitting the truth,

which is that we were
on the starboard tack

that they were on the port tack,
that it was our right of way

and that we should have won
the bloody race!

- You should've avoided our boat.
- The race was ours.

You had an opportunity to steer
around our boat, and you didn't.

The Australian skipper could
have avoided a collision...

Should have avoided a collision.

I've been saying that
I thought I had enough room!

But the, uh...

The truth...

The truth is I didn't,
and, uh...

(SHUTTERS CLICKING)

This race belongs to Australia.

- Yes!
- (CROWD CHEERING)

MONTGOMERY: It's an
extraordinary development

here in Fremantle.

A concession by the American
skipper now leaves the series

all tied at three races each,
and the decider tomorrow.

- You sure it's in here?
- I don't know. I didn't pack it.

It might be in the other one.
Maybe we forgot it.

You know, it's amazing how
things just come to me.

You're thinking about how
to generate more lift.

Joe can you help me, please?
This is very important to me.

It's a kevlar bag,
it's got white starts on it.

I sort of imagine
this huge shape go by

with almost no tip vortex.
It just came to me.

Are you listening to me?
You're lying on it. Get up.

Oh, the whimper.
I thought it was here.

- It's the whomper.
- Yes, the whomper.

The whomper.

The whomper, the world's
largest bug wing.

All right, let's go.

What the hell are you doing?

Giving our extra mast to Jack
so we can race tomorrow.

- Under whose authority?
- Mine.

You don't have any
authority any more.

- What?
- You're fired. Through. History.

Listen, Abby. Go home.
Take a shower.

Listen to me, we all worked our
asses off to get this chance.

And we're almost there.
And what do you do?

You betray us with
your hip principles.

What a load of crap!

Do you have any idea
how humiliated I was in there?

I am head of this syndicate,
and Charley is now skipper.

Now, get out of here!

And you can get off
these premises

before I call the police!

Charley?

Hey!

Charley, what the hell
is going on?

- You're out of here!
- No, you are out of here.

ABIGAIL: Get out of here!

Stop playing the fighting bitch.
You aren't the captain!

(STRUGGLING, ARGUING)

MORGAN:
Congratulations!

You've done a wonderful job,
all of you.

Well done.

You've restored my faith.

Who's he?

You had to turn up,
didn't you?

It's time for the amateurs
to step aside

and let the professionals
take over.

And don't worry...

I will skipper the final race.

Will somebody please tell me
who this guy is?

- Can he do this?
- Probably.

Most of our sponsors
are controlled

by one of his
secret holding companies.

You're not doing this, Daddy.

I didn't spend $4 million
for some kind of power play.

I did it for the love
of my little princess.

I believe in your abilities.

I believe in all
of your abilities.

I can make it
all right.

The cup will go back
to America where it belongs.

I can redeem everybody.

WILL: Men, we've got
a race to win.

Morgan, the cup's
right over there

and you're in our way.

One... Two...

Three!

That's private property.

I'm warning you.

♪ Under the shade
of a coolabah tree... ♪

This is mutiny.

♪ And he sang as he watched

♪ And he waited
till his billy boiled

♪ You'll go
a-waltzing Matilda with me ♪

(CONTINUE SINGING)

Kate?

Yeah?

Kate, I've been looking
all over for you.

Yeah?

- Open the door.
- Why?

Listen, I was thinking.

I know what you're thinking
and you can forget it.

I'm not replacing Charley.

You don't need me.

You're right, I don't need you.

We're all rugged individuals,
right?

Nobody needs anybody.

The fact is I do need you, Kate.
I really need you.

So what do you say?
Listen, Kate,

last night I realized that,

well, if we lose, all this
will have still been worth it.

But, well, if we win
and you're not on the boat,

this just won't mean anything.

Kate, I can't trust
anybody else.

I could never trust
any body else like I trust you.

What do you say, huh?

Tails, you stay here
or heads, you sail with me.

Only this time, Kate,
we'll do it our way.

(FANFARE)

MONTGOMERY:
There's been a big shakeup

in the American afterguard.

Kate Bass has replaced
Charley Gaines

as tactician on Geronimo.

The old team of Parker and
Bass are back together again.

Go inside.

Big trip, here we go.

WILL:
How long to the gun?

MONTGOMERY: It's showdown time
in Perth, Australia.

There will be
no protest flags today.

Both sides have agreed
to waive the rules

and settle this match
on the water.

At the start, they'll jockey
to get behind each other

till the gun goes off.

The boat behind trying to force
the leader over the line early.

Let's join the pre-start
maneuvering, now.

Just about a minute left
on the countdown clock.

WILL: Tacking.

MAN: Three-two-one...

One minute down.

He's running.

Put your back into it!

Pump it!
Attaboy.

Tack!

WILL:
I'm on him.

(YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

Stop.

22.

20 seconds.

Where's that bloody red boat?

Go for the line!

Eleven, ten, nine...

Eight, seven, six...

Five, four, three...

Two, one...

Gun!

(LAUGHING)

(CHATTER)

(EXHALES)

What?

What do you mean, what?

See that over there?

See it?
Let's tack.

It's pretty risky.

Come on, it's right there.
You can practically touch it.

WILL: All right, boys. Quiet.

Let's roll tack this mother.

They're up to something.

They're tacking.

Trim, trim.

2, 2.5, light.

Geronimo picked up
a patch of wind

on the left side of the course

and the Americans have
squeezed out a four-boat lead.

Australia trying
to find the groove

heading to the windward mark.

WILL: Stand by to tack.

MAN: Going in at 17.

WILL: Tacking.

Go slow on this tack,
stay the length.

Tacking.

KATE:
10 boat lengths to the mark.

Straight set and starboard pole.

It's got to be clean.

Jack's gaining.

They tacked behind us.

Ahead by six boat lengths.

We'll have to pinch it
to clear.

Four lengths!

KATE:
Okay, bow's at the mark.

Start your turn.

(FABRIC TEARING)

Peel it off.
Put up the 1.5, quick.

(CONFUSED YELLING)

- Get that kit down!
- Ready forward.

It's coming down.

(SCREAMING)

Sheik!

WILL: Hang on, we're coming up!

Take the wheel, Kate.

Bye-bye, Parker!

Raise the whomper.

We got to use it!

The what?

WILL:
Okay. Here we go.

Jesus!
We'll never catch them now.

- You've got to use my new sail.
- Your what?

- The whomper.
- The whomper?

You're going to put it up,
it will go "whomp"

and we're gonna get back
in this goddamn race.

Now!

Will you trust me for once,
you pea-brained nincompoop?

Sheik, put up the...

Whomper!

The whomper!

KATE:
What are you looking at?

Nothing, I'm getting it,
I'm getting it!

KATE: Go, go!

(CHEERING)

Holy shit.

MONTGOMERY: Geronimo has just
hoisted a monstrous spinnaker.

It's the whimp...

It's the whomper!
It's my whomper!

It's your what?

My whomper!

One of my inventions.

Up, up!

Tighten it up.

How about a bit
of spear fishing, Rubsey?

It's going to be
a hard luff.

Keep her up.

KATE: What's he doing?

WILL: What are you doing, Jack?

(FABRIC TEARING)

(CHEERING)

MONTGOMERY: Oh, what a pity.

It looks like Jack Neville

has just
given the Americans tit for tat.

This is it, the final leg.

One and a half miles from
the finish line.

Australia doggedly hanging
onto the lead.

Parker's only hope is that
he can get to some clear air

somewhere on the course.

But at the moment
Platypus controls Geronimo

with her wind shadow.

If Parker tries to break free
and head for the clear air,

Neville tacks right on top
of him, stealing his wind.

Geronimo has three full
boat lengths to make up

and very little of this course
left in which to do it.

We're gaining on them.
We're gaining on 'em, boys.

Hold it!

(YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

Tacking!

KATE:
1,100 yards to the finish line.

They're pressing.

Tacking!

If we're gonna do this,
we have to out-tack them.

Tacking! Let's work now!

KATE: 900 yards to go.

Come on girls.
Let's eat 'em up!

Go, go, go!

Here we go!
Helm's down.

We're getting it back boys.

We're getting it back!

800 yards!

Lay off!

WILL: Here we go again!
Helm's down!

JACK: Tacking!

600 yards!

KATE: Tack again,
we got to go!

(YELLING)

(CREW YELLING INDISTINCTLY)

Okay, tacking!

Lee ho!

KATE: 500 yards to the line!

Here we go again!

Lee ho!

RUBSEY: They're gaining on us.

WILL: Stand by to tack!

KATE:
300 yards to go!

WILL: Let's fake him out!

KATE: So we can land
the finish line.

We should go for it
right now.

Go, go, go, go, go, go, go!

Okay, tacking.

Lee ho!

Go, go, go, go!

Go on back,
go on back!

Here we go, here we go!

We got to go back, Jack.

They've thrown us a dummy,
we've got to go back.

Jack, we've got...

Tacking!

- Lee ho!
- We've got to go back.

JACK: Come on,
get the bloody gear in!

Whoo-hoo!

MONTGOMERY: Oh, no!
Parker's faked out Neville.

He's thrown him a dummy tack.

Geronimo has finally
got her nose into clear wind.

200 yards!

KATE: Come on, guys!
We got to do it!

KATE:
We got it!

(CROWD CHEERING)

Oh, yeah!

♪ In another time
there was a night

♪ When all the wind
and all the raging sky

♪ Could not contain our dreams

♪ And we were sure
we'd go so far

♪ As we looked out
across a million stars

♪ We had only to believe

♪ I never thought
that I could lose you

♪ But then I had
so much to learn

♪ We toss our hearts
into the air

♪ Never really thinking

♪ We watch 'em fly
into the sun

♪ We never cry
till love is gone

♪ But then, once in a while,
out of the blue

♪ A dream comes back to you

♪ When I close my eyes
I still can see

♪ The moment that you slipped
away from me

♪ You were waiting for so
long

♪ The words
that I could never say

♪ Rushed out to catch you,
but it was too late

♪ I turned and you were gone

♪ I never thought
that I would find you

♪ Funny how the world can
turn

♪ We toss our hearts
into the air

♪ Never really thinking

♪ We watch 'em fly
into the sun

♪ We never cry
till love is gone

♪ But then, once in a while,
out of the blue

♪ A dream comes back to you

♪ Oh, then, once in a while,
if you are true

♪ A dream comes back to you ♪