Sprinter (2018) - full transcript
A boy separated from his mother who has moved to the U.S. for a better life, is set to be Jamaica's next track-and-field sensation.
I'm going to America to help
our family.
Donna, are you sure you want
to do this?
It's just two years, my love.
It will go fast.
And then
we can finish the house.
Things gon' be better, I
promise.
I know.
♪ Ooh, yeah ♪
♪ To your dreams yeah ♪
♪ Da da da da da yeah ♪
♪ The road is rough but keep
holding on ♪
♪ Life's a stone that keeps
rolling on, ♪
♪ yeah ♪
♪ The road is rough but keep
holding on ♪
♪ The seasons change
and it won't be long ♪
♪ So hold on like your life
depend on it ♪
♪ And anything you need just
mention it ♪
♪ Word sound and power your
intention is vital ♪
♪ For your survival ♪
♪ Never you doubt
yourself or question it ♪
♪ Cause without confidence
you'll never win ♪
♪ Don't look around 'cause you
got a treasure inside you ♪
♪ Let me remind you ♪
Your mother just
called not too long ago.
She tell you when she coming?
Maybe next year.
Hey.
Bathe before you call her.
Hey, hey hey.
Akeem!
Wah gwaan, Mira?
♪ Fast lane calling my
name but it's never too ♪
♪ Fast lane calling my name ♪
♪ But me do fi the love ♪
♪ And me no do it fi no fame, yo♪
♪ The fast lane calling my name♪
♪ But it's never too late ♪
♪ For a shower of fame, no ♪
All right
runners, to your marks.
Set,
go!
Ease up, ease up.
Ease up.
Back off!
Run.
Kick!
Sharp kick!
Push man, push through, push
through.
Dip, dip, nice, nice!
Akeem, hey boy.
Get up mon, come on stretch out
your foot.
Shut your mouth, get up!
What Garfield feeding you
make you run so fast?
Fast?
But I never win.
You never win the four,
but if you was running the two,
might be a different story.
400 is my race, coach.
Dad, it's Germaine!
Come.
Yo,
yah go hard brother.
You just go easy, seen?
What's up stranger?
Everything nice mon, you?
Everything is everything.
You turn philosopher now, eh?
Kemar say hi to grandpa.
Hey, what's up man?
It's been so long
you don't even recognize your
grandpa, eh?
Yes.
I see work is going well.
I bring some rum.
Hold on, what you say, yellow
heart this?
Yes, yes, come, Akeem try it.
This don't taste like you made
it
How is Nesha?
Nesha good.
- Yeah?
- Yah mon.
So why you never bring her?
You know how the baby mother
thing goes.
No I don't, actually.
Tell me how it go.
Yo Germaine
big man thing,
how much for that car?
How you and mama?
Well, you know how the wife
thing go.
No,
me no know nothing 'bout that.
She still sending you money?
Akeem.
Yo, the pickney foot
practically in the food.
Yo, mind what you do.
- What you say?
- Hey hey.
You know that he made the track
team.
Which event him run?
The 400 meter, just like you.
Yo!
You know where youth games
gonna be this year, right?
On TV, like every other year.
In LA, Akeem!
I want to see your face in
person.
I think you can make it, you
know.
You're not coming this year
again?
It's not that simple, you know
that.
The process is very expensive.
All the money I make, me send
back to you.
But everything is good with us
now.
It's good because I make sure
it's good.
I leave here now, that's it.
I can't come back.
But at least we would be
together.
You have real talent Akeem.
You deserve to be in them games.
Germaine,
mommy want to talk to you.
All right, tell her I soon
come.
Yo pop,
I want to go down to Jomos, ya
know.
Oh, them have dance
down there tonight, no?
Yeah, you know?
So what am I?
Daddy's day care?
Accurate!
Yo,
I can come to Jomos with you?
You know your ears big, youth?
Yo do it fast.
Go talk to mommy nuh.
Hey Donna.
Hi Germaine.
You tell Dad yet?
Yes, this morning.
Akeem,
does he know?
No.
I guess it's a big man thing,
eh?
It's a thing you should
understand.
Me a go on the road.
Walk good son.
I love you,
both of you.
I love you too.
Yo!
What you ladies drinking?
We'll have
Moscato,
everybody.
By the way, what's your name?
Yo, let me get four Moscato.
Yo, G.
Creeper wanna reason with you.
Outside.
Yeah mon, everything
all right, me soon come.
Is everything all right?
Stay here.
How it is I send my
son with you to a party
and you make him come home
alone,
walking?
Something come up see-
Something more important
than your own flesh and blood?
You know, me never even
wanna carry him there in the
first place.
So hold on.
You happy
to leave your pickney here with
me
and you couldn't look
after your own brother?
- Dad, you don't understand
- No I do.
- You don't understand.
- I understand-
You don't understand!
I bloodclaat understand!
Go and retrieve your son,
daddy day care is closed.
- Excuse me
- Hey!
Come Kemar, go.
Father.
My son don't need be round
the likes of you anyway, excuse me.
And now for the
finals
of the Class One girls' 100
meters dash
here at the St. Lazarus
invitational.
To your marks,
set,
It's a clean start.
Lewis of St. Jago out early,
lane four it's Kerry Hall of St.
Lazarus
catching up fast, Hall
overtakes Lewis for the lead.
Pulling away from the pack now
just look at her go
extending her lead with every
stride,
No one can catch her now!
Slowing down just before the
line.
It's Hall of St. Lazarus.
That's Kerry Hall of St. Lazarus
High
with an easy win,
clocking 11.75!
We'll definitely be keeping
a close eye on this-
Nice run.
Thanks.
You can learn some
things from her, Akeem.
I could teach her a few things
too.
Like what, how not to win?
Coach!
Stop chat foolishness and go
warm up.
Now!
Yes coach, Me a forward.
Next on
track the Class One boys'
100 meters final.
Set,
Off they go.
Great start by Williams
Byron Pratt-Oh no, Pratt goes
down!
Go
Here comes
Williams on the outside,
he's gaining on Sammons
but can he catch him?
Sharp,
come.
Yes coach.
Byron is out, you're running
the two.
Two?
But sir I'm warming up for the
four.
You enjoy losing or what?
But I not going to win the
two.
I'm a 400 meter runner.
Your brother was a 400 meter
runner.
I am not sure what the
obsession is with the 400,
but you're chasing something
you will never catch.
- But me nah-
- Just run fast.
Don't make me regret it.
Up next track
fans,
we've got a marquee matchup
at the boys' 200 meters!
Featuring fresh young talent
like Francis and Sharp,
while seasoned campaigners like
Ohara,
Johnson, and Barnaby
are also in the offing.
They've taken their marks
Set,
Sharp is out
of the blocks like a rocket.
Hold it,
hold it.
Fire!
Sharp is
starting to pull away.
Sharp, it's Akeem Sharp
who's now in front.
O'hara is on the outside,
but it's Akeem Sharp
of St. Lazarus High with the
win!
21.2, the flash time.
A brilliant run by Akeem Sharp,
newcomer to the 200 meters
and another one to watch
from St. Lazarus High.
Greetings.
Yo guess what?
Who this?
Akeem.
Youth, you have to identify yourself
when you call me ya' know!
Me win!
Win what?
The 200 meter,
brother!
For real?
Real real!
What?
Want you to take this call dog
It's important, the lady-
So I didn't show you
how to do that already?
What you say?
- Akeem I go call you back-
- Hello Cindy, no, no-
No, hold on-
How much time I'm gonna show
you this?
I'm gonna show you this for the
last time,
last time.
Give me this.
Hello, senior supervisor
Mr. Rogers speaking.
How may I assist?
You guys called
me ten times yesterday.
You told me the last card I sent
would be my final payment.
Now listen Cindy, and listen
carefully.
I'm looking at your records
and I can see where you
have made all your payments.
But the deadline for the
issuing of your winnings
is the day after tomorrow.
This is your final payment.
Well,
I guess I could try, I could.
I don't know but I have to do
something.
I can't miss out on this.
Cindy you have made
an excellent decision.
I will hand you over
to my claims department
for further information.
Hello, Cindy?
Please help me whip
these jokers into shape.
Gladly
Who you calling joker, coach?
Great work today.
Thanks coach.
Bye.
Imagine, this young lady
is here without her parents
winning races,
top of the class.
What's your excuse?
Long time I don't see your
father.
What's up?
Nothing to talk about.
What about Donna?
How long she gone now?
Mm, she overstayed her visa.
So them say.
She is an amazing woman, your
mother.
Yeah?
Sometime,
it's like me just imagine her.
Like she not even real to me.
Germaine don't tell
you nothing about her?
Me and Germaine no
really talk about nothing.
All I know is
him get a scholarship,
All American Champion,
and then him get injured.
Injury.
That's what them calling it
these days?
So what else them to call it,
coach?
Akeem,
there's no shortcut to this
thing.
Not in track and field,
not in life.
Mental blinkers.
Blinkers?
Figure out where you wanna go,
you focus on that and nothing
else.
Mental blinkers.
Understood?
Understood.
Bless up, coach.
Dad.
Yo daddy.
Dad.
Come on, come on.
Let me go!
Let me go.
Come on.
Don't touch me
Good morning St. Lazarus
Good morning sir.
Put your hands together
for the track team!
Lets' welcome them on stage.
Our medalist from St. Lazarus
High School,
Akeem Sharp.
Let's welcome Clifton James.
Kerry Ann Hall.
Tanya Williams.
Without any further ado,
let's sing our national anthem.
♪ Eternal Father, Bless our land♪
♪ Guard us with thy mighty hand♪
♪ Keep us free from evil powers♪
♪ Be our light through countless
hours ♪
♪ To our leaders, great defender♪
♪ Grant true wisdom from above ♪
♪ Justice, true be ours forever♪
♪ Jamaica, land we love ♪
♪ Jamaica, Jamaica ♪
♪ Jamaica, land we love. ♪
See that yet?
First time in the papers?
Yeah.
Don't make it swell your head.
You know, you're rude still?
I'm not rude, I just tell the
truth.
It must be nice.
What?
Ignoring the woman who
put you upon the Earth.
You just in my business so!
I never asked you to sit here!
You know what, me a move.
Me a move too.
You too follow fashion.
I don't follow trend, I set
trend!
Akeem it's me.
I got your message.
I'm sorry I missed your call
last night.
Congratulations my baby.
I am so proud of my little
sprinter.
I know, I know, I know.
You're a big man now
running big man time but
you will always be my little
Akeem.
My little baby.
I just wish I could have been
there.
I sent some money so.
Go and get it and give
it to your father and
I love you Akeem.
Yes, big runner.
Hey, A star this, you know?
Want you look out for him for
me?
Make sure him no get in no
trouble.
I will.
Oh really?
You can't get in no trouble
anyways.
How you know that?
You soft.
I can tell.
Hey.
Do you want a ride?
No I'm good.
Talk to you later?
All right, bye Akeem.
Bye bye.
Hey youth,
don't say your brother
never helped you in life, all
right?
Yo bro,
last night dad dropped
down drunk, stink of liquor.
For real?
Yeah.
Can you talk to him for me?
Him no want hear from me.
Why not?
What is the problem
between the two of you?
Ever since me come back from
America the man just change.
Pops cut off him locks
to fit in the shit-stem.
Can you believe that?
Not even that can save him.
Joker.
You really judge the man for
that?
Dad judged me way
before me ever judge him.
Mom, dad.
None of them are a saint.
Hello, good
afternoon, how may I assist you?
- Hi.
- Hi.
What's your name?
Jody Ann.
- Hi Jody Ann.
- Hi.
I like your braids.
I like your smile even more.
Oh thank you.
Have a nice day.
So, what
time you finish work?
I am not telling
him.
You made this choice, so you-
I am done
doing your dirty work.
Tell me what dad?
How you reach home so late?
Germaine drop me.
Since when Germaine start
carrying you home from school?
So my brother can't
carry me home from school?
Don't forget who
you're talking to Akeem!
Or I might have to remind you.
Where the money?
You can't say good job son?
But you have problem the one
time
Germaine carry me home from
school!
Is who the raasclaat you
think you're talking to boy?
The same drunkard me see a lay down
in him own nastiness last night
Wha' the bloodclaa-
come here, hey!
Ready on you mark,
set,
Yes, yes,
He's so sexy, yo.
Sexy boy!
Oh my God!
Go!
What you say?
It wasn't me.
Oh, so it's not you?
But you was thinking it.
Maybe.
Free to think what I want,
right?
Me not stop you.
What you doing here?
Your brother say I
must look out for you so,
I'm just looking out.
Just looking?
No touching,
just looking.
All right.
Akeem!
Get over here!
You get me in trouble already.
You better run before him beat
you.
Akeem, here now!
Bring 'em back, bring 'em
back.
Boy you need more arms.
Remember with arms, push
off the block and get out.
I need more arms man,
you're not working the arms.
So you when you leaving the
curve-
Excuse me,
Don't lean your head,
relax your shoulders.
Sharp, show me your form.
Stop right there, arms up.
Don't look at me, don't look at
me.
Arch your back.
Go, go, go, go.
Up, up, up, lift up.
Push up, push.
Down down up, suicides, let's
go!
Switch, switch.
Set.
Akeem Sharp in
lane four closing the gap.
on top of the turn is Akeem
Sharp
as he whips into the
straightaway.
No one can catch him!
It's Akeem Sharp of St. Lazarus
High,
with a time of 20.413 seconds.
They call this young
man the "Rasta Rocket"
ladies and gentleman,
and now we can see why.
Akeem Sharp, a superstar
athlete in the making.
Mental blinkers, yes!
Yo, Akeem!
You do it youth, you did it!
Proud of you, proud of you!
Welcome back, this past
weekend
he ran the fastest 200 in the
world
this year for a boy under 20.
What's next for the
young sprinting phenom?
Let's find out right now,
right here on our stage
as we welcome Akeem
Sharp, the Rasta Rocket.
Rocket sir, greetings and
it's good to have you.
Congrats on all your great
achievements.
You seem to have come out of
nowhere.
Last year this time
you weren't even on the
track and field radar.
And now you're being hailed as
Jamaica's next big
sprinting sensation.
Isn't that a lot of pressure
for a youngster like you?
Track and field in Jamaica
is very competitive so,
it's just what you do with the
pressure,
my coach said to me,
"You have to turn
pressure into propulsion."
Like rocket propulsion?
Rocket propulsion, I like
that.
And what fuels the Rasta
Rocket?
My mother and my brother.
- Your brother?
- Yeah.
The legendary Germaine Sharp,
who sat in that very chair 10
years ago?
Yes.
Wow!
Well, let's just hope
the Rasta Rocket stays
in orbit for a little longer.
A family legacy to restart
and for his mother's love.
Quite a race for the Rasta
Rocket.
Catch him next at Champs,
the annual boys and girls
championship
where Jamaica's high school
track and field powerhouses
face off at the National
Stadium.
Big up Lazarus.
Sharp!
My office.
I'll call you later,
okay?
Who's that for, coach?
You.
L-C-A.
L-C-A?
They offering you a full
athletic scholarship.
Full?
As in free?
All right, relax yourself now.
They want you to visit the
campus,
get a feel for the
place before you decide.
No mon, me already decide.
Do you have a visa?
Oh, no.
Shut up and listen then.
There are two applications;
one for the school, one
for the student visa.
Send them off soon as you can.
Get your parents to help
you if you need them.
It's all right coach, I'll get
it done.
I'm proud of you son.
Eh, eh, eh, and don't
bother with the boasting now.
Why would I do that coach?
Akeem.
Mental blinkers coach,
mental blinkers.
Yo, me bust now!
Gone a foreign now! Iron bird.
Wah gwaan Rasta Rocket?
Check it.
A what this?
Full L-C-A scholarship.
All right.
Come make we go celebrate nuh.
Where are we going?
No worry yourself, me have it
lock.
What the fuck sweet you, youth?
What you a do?
Beg you a 50, nuh?
Leave.
Move, mon!
Bumboclaat, you can't
drive in Jamaica in peace!
Just make yourself at home
and welcome to my place!
Yo me general!
What yah deal with?
What yah a deal with?
Everything good.
Everything is everything.
Meet the superstar, see?
Respect, mon.
Who dat, the Rocket?
Wah gwaan papa?
- Hey baby.
What you bring for me?
Fatty.
So hold on there, you don't
want nothing to drink?
A glass of water.
Water?
A virgin.
Where Germaine?
Yeah him upstairs mon.
Him tell me you to come check
him.
Go on mon.
Dad.
Akeem.
Akeem please, I need to talk to
you.
Who she?
This is Sister Pam.
Sister Pam has been helping me
to-
Oh, so she why mommy no come
back?
No Akeem, Sister Pam is a
friend.
Everybody have new friend now!
What?
What happened to my family?
Where is it?
You know he's a rum head?
Have some respect for your
father!
- Fuck off!
- Akeem!
You is an embarrassment to me,
to my brother, and to my mother!
No Garfield!
Akeem, everybody just relax.
There's no need for this right
now.
Garfield, Akeem!
Stop it!
Garfield mind you
hurt the boy-Garfield!
Akeem stop it, I say!
Babe, pass me phone for me.
Yo!
What happened to you?
What?
For what?
What happened?
Watch the bloodclaat road!
Do you like it?
Youth,
shower's in there and clothes in
there.
If you're moving with me do it
fast, seen?
I never know you still play
that.
There's a lot you don't know
about me now, young scout.
But me will school you.
♪ Big money poppin' anywhere me
go, ♪
♪ Big money poppin' anywhere me
go, ♪
♪ Big money poppin' anywhere me
go, ♪
♪ Big money poppin', hah! ♪
Congratulations ma'am!
You are the winner of 3.5-
I'm just goin to tell you
how to collect it though.
Write down these numbers.
Gonna go to that money
transfer,
I'm gonna give you the
name along with the number.
Wire transfer
money to Stacy Ann Brown.
And please to include the M-C-10
number.
Is this our big winner?
Congratulations!
You got something,
now show me something.
All right coach.
Akeem,
give me a minute.
Talk to me.
It's just a misunderstanding,
coach.
Between you and who?
This how your father handle
a misunderstanding, eh?
By hitting you?
I need you to focus.
Now I can arrange for you to
stay
with one of the assistant
coaches if you need to.
Don't worry about it coach.
Don't tell me what to worry
about.
You have promise,
but you need stability.
I prefer to be with my family,
coach.
With Germaine?
That gives me zero comfort.
Don't miss any more training,
or school.
Yes coach.
What big old shine head coach
say?
Him still think small time?
Me know him a try keep
you grounded, you know?
But that is impossible for a
Rocket.
If you ask me,
you no need to run for no
school.
You need to go pro.
Start get some endorsement,
start make some money.
What about school?
When you're hot you know,
you're hot.
And when you're not,
you get fucked.
So take advantage.
Bro, take my advice.
Me speak from experience.
You feel so?
School no go nowhere.
Go back when you're done.
Cool?
Just trust me.
You see dad's new girl?
What you mean?
Dad,
mama,
everybody tell me what me should
I do,
but them no know what
them doing themselves.
Mom and Dad are getting a
divorce.
Since when?
About three months now.
It wasn't my place to tell you
bro.
You cool?
Yo Mira,
we going your way, you want a
ride?
All right.
Hey watch it, hey watch the
leather.
On my seat.
Watch the road.
Man.
What happened to your face?
Can I come in?
- No.
- What mommy and daddy inside?
Mommy and daddy soon reach
home.
I can be quick.
We'll work it out soon.
I'll call you.
Make sure.
These transactions come in
this morning.
I want you carry your cousin
Sherine go deal with them.
And don't carry her at the same
location.
Can't get some food?
Yeah mon, what you want to
eat?
We can get something pon the
road.
General.
Forward.
Not the boy Creeper van that?
Damn thief.
Watch me and them pussy there!
Hold it, hold it, hold it, put
it down.
Akeem?
I haven't seen you in a long
time.
What's happening?
You should be used
to not seeing me, mama.
Akeem?
Germaine tell me, mama.
I didn't want to distract you.
I knew you had to run.
Your hardest to reach here.
What difference it make how
fast I run?
I can't catch you.
The whole time you had me here
feeling like you couldn't
wait to come back,
And you did lie to me.
- Akeem.
- Stop lying to me.
Yes,
we're getting a divorce.
After 10 years, we're not
husband and wife no more Akeem.
But I have a life here now-
It's you why dad's a drunk!
Oh God, that's not fair Akeem,
and don't talk to me like that.
Me never plan any of this!
All I ever do was try to do
what was best for my family!
You did what was the best for
you.
I needed my mother.
Akeem please calm down,
we can talk about this.
When I get to L-A,
me don't even want to see you.
Akeem, you no mean that!
Akeem, no.
Wait, wait, no, no, no,
Akeem, Akeem come back!
United
States immigration officials
are reportedly stepping-up
efforts
to round up people who are
in the country illegally.
Hi.
Me come for now.
My parents are here.
Just meet me around the
backyard.
I can't.
This place is like a prison
right now.
Mira?
- Yes mommy?
- Who is that on the phone?
It was Stacy.
What's happening?
Nothing.
I'm going to my bed, I'm
tired.
So early?
Yeah, long day.
Good night.
All right.
I don't have the key.
I was wrong
You are trouble.
Kerwin.
Kerwin,
Kerwin.
Wake up.
Somebody trying to pop off the
grill!
What?
Drive, drive, drive!
Mira, what happened?
You alright? You don't hear the
thief
them try tear off the grill
'round back?
No.
Well, I tell you something,
if I catch one of them boys
I'll shoot them dead, dead,
dead!
Through the grill?
Through the grill!
So me call her on her phone,
right?
I say, "I'm coming over"
and she say, "No, no,
no my parents are home."
So then I say, "All right then
just meet me around the back."
She just walk, come out in her
nighty
and she just looked on me with
an eye
and she just goes,
and just turn around and bend
over.
Guess what part she give me.
- Where?
Through the grill.
Through the grill!
You're a liar.
Yo, what's the joke?
Just ask the grill master.
What that mean?
Soon come talk to you.
Go through, grill master.
You can help me fill out some
forms?
What kind of forms?
One for visa, one for school.
Which school?
L-C-A.
L-C-A, Akeem!
What you expect?
Whatever.
Anyways, you come help me?
So what happened to your
parents?
What about them?
Hello Tom, my name is Shai
Ramdeen
and I'm calling you from the
Global Sweepstakes and Lotteries
Limited.
Yes, I'm calling to inform you
that you are the 6.5 million-
Morning.
Two cards and a certified
check.
The reason why you, Tom,
are one of our lucky winners
of this check is because
you've been paying
all your taxes and
necessary bills efficiently.
Yes, yes.
And you live in 135 Garden
Terrace, San Antonio?
Okay, you've been living
there for 15 years now?
Yeah, that's great all right.
Yo, who that?
It's me.
What?
You have a condom?
Boots?
Oh what, you have a gal over
there?
Bumboclaat youth!
You bruk out.
Look in the bedside table.
Ah, respect.
Yo, lock the door!
Almost done.
Just a couple things I left out
that you have to fill in.
Cool.
What you think you're doing?
Akeem!
You've gone mad?
- So me a think we could
- What, you asked me for help!
- Kerry I'm sorry.
- Get away from me!
Kerry!
I'm sorry!
♪ Come on, ♪
♪ True lion heart, yes ♪
♪ True lion heart, yes ♪
♪ Jah Jah real, ♪
♪ Oh yeah, Jah Jah real ♪
♪ Jah Jah real ♪
♪ And come on ♪
♪ True lion heart, yes. ♪
Lion!
Yo, whoa.
Hold on, a done, you done?
So quick?
Not worried about she ya mon.
Yeah,
Wah gwaan?
You can mail this for me?
What's that?
L-C-A application.
Yeah mon, how you mean!
Put it upon the bed.
Respect.
Come give me a talk when
you're done.
Serious talk now.
You understand that this
Rasta Rocket
is a brand,
right?
We need to capitalize, 'pos it.
Capitalize?
How?
- What do you mean?
First we trademark it,
make some shirt, make some
pants,
some shoes.
Youth you have the talent,
and me have some cash to invest.
You just focus upon the running.
I will focus on the business.
Like a manager.
Like a business manager.
Look Akeem,
you can run 'til you're weak,
you know?
But if you don't learn
to build a strong brand,
and sell a product,
then when running done
everything done.
And we both know, sprinting
don't last forever.
And
I can't carry them jokers
here for much longer.
Makes sense.
One, two, three, me youth.
Yeah?
Little things
for little thinkers.
Big things
for big thinkers.
Who this?
Rasta Rocket.
Big up Rasta Rocket in the
house.
Cha-ching!
Big Boss!
Ah, young stars.
- You know me little brother?
- Yes.
Yo, a long time me follow
your career.
You're doing good, keep up the
good work.
The man, a real man
of the streets, seen?
Any boy try and test you,
you just link me, seen?
Yeah mon.
Straight.
Yeah mon, go on do your thing.
One family.
Big up yourself.
Germaine,
forward, mon.
Wah gwaan?
Everything good.
Proud of you-
- Just cool mon.
Yeah I'm proud of you.
Love how you handle the
business.
Respect.
The place need more people like
you.
Respect you know
I want you to train some
of my young scout, them.
What you mean train them?
Imagine this,
instead of have one house full
of talent,
have 20 and 40
full of bare talent.
Money that you know.
Bossy I don't really feel like
I want
continue that thing ya' know.
Which thing?
Scamming thing.
Joke ting!
Yo, look upon the
view, look upon the view.
Look upon the party.
Where you want live, down
there so or up here?
Bossy not saying
I wouldn't do it, it's just.
I have some other opportunities-
Stop with foolish g!
What you a deal with, eh? You
turn comedian.
Drink some liquor now, drink up,
drink up.
Police, police, police!
Hands up!
Outta the way!
Don't move.
Keep your hands up!
Get up now mon!
I know who you are.
I've seen you in the papers.
I'm a Lazarus old boy myself.
Now,
what do you think your school
would say
if they knew where you were
right now?
- But I nev-
- Or,
that you were at a house
that is rented by a gang
of known lottery scammers?
Or that your brother
is an associate
of said gang?
So am I supposed to know
that white woman here?
This here white woman
named Cindy Sullivan.
She's an American
or rather was.
You see, someone from
Jamaica convinced her
that she had won the lottery.
And in order to receive her
prize,
she have to pay fee
after fee
after-
Suppose this was your mother.
Suppose someone tried to scam
your mother.
What
were you
doing
at that house?
My brother just took me.
You're on a dangerous path
whether you realize it or not.
No man
can outrun the choices he makes.
Hello.
Who here?
Yo.
Akeem.
Look here.
You better keep my fucking name
outta your mouth.
- What me do?
That's why I don't mess with
you little high school boy.
Love run off your mouth and tell
lie pon pussy!
What you feel like?
Can I talk to you?
No.
Kerry,
I make a big mistake.
I'm sorry.
Sorry say you couldn't
tell the whole school
say you screw me?
Or maybe you already did.
- Kerry.
- Leave me alone!
I'm sorry,
you have insufficient funds
to complete this call.
Find the money.
Yo, yo, yo, yo.
Yo!
- Oh sh-
Up there!
Don't let him get away!
Go, run out back!
Yo, youth!
Bless up, brother.
Yo, come in!
It's bright and
sunny
over at the National Stadium.
Day one of action at the boys
and girls
track and field championship.
It's now down to the girls'
Class Two 100 meters.
This is Heat Two.
And now a
message from the most honorable
Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Ladies and gentlemen,
competitors.
Welcome to the boys and
girls championships.
No pass, no ID, no entry.
Rasta Rocket, wha' gwaan?
You all right?
All right, Class One boys,
four-by-one relay team.
Hendricks, Williams.
- Sharp.
Why the hell you dressed like
that?
- Long story, coach.
- Where's your track suit?
If you're not dressed and
ready to race in 15 minutes,
go home.
Let's turn our
attention
to the boys' 200 meter,
Heat Three on the cards.
Which will showcase the favorite
Akeem Sharp
of St. Lazarus High
coming into the event
with the fastest time.
He goes into his marks
as the rest of the field
we have to look our for J-C's
Palmer
and K-C's Robert.
Athletes on their marks.
In the set position,
and the gun sets them off.
The start of the boys' Class
One 200 meter Heat Three.
Parker coming around the bend
from Jamaica College on two.
He's on the outside-
Hey!
Akeem!
When did this happen?
Sharp?
And don't tell me it's today.
Last night.
Damn waste.
Akeem?
Akeem.
All right, I'm here son, I'm
here.
I'm always here.
I'm always here.
It's all right, it's all right.
You awake?
Your mother just called again.
I don't know what to say to
her.
All right.
Dad.
Eh?
Sorry.
Me sorry too.
About everything.
- What about Germaine?
- What about him?
We can't just make him stay in
jail.
Akeem, I'm not sure what else
I can do.
- Bail him.
- With what?
Me have money.
In there so.
Where you get this money from,
Akeem?
It no matter,
just get him out-
- It does matter!
It's Germaine money.
Germaine is my son, and I
love him as much as you do.
But I don't know where
this money come from
and I don't want no part of it.
Coach say anything about me?
Yeah,
nothing nice though.
You forgive me?
Not really.
So why you come here?
You don't have no friend.
Me look like me need a friend?
Please.
What you need?
I made the Youth Games team,
and we gonna need the
best team we can get.
I don't have no reason
to go to L-A no more.
So you did just run for your
mother?
What happened to yourself?
Look at my foot.
What me can do with that?
You're not the first
athlete to get injured, Akeem.
You might, however, be the first
one
to break a high school
record and then just give up.
Why you pressure me?
Track's hard, you know?
I did have my reasons to do it,
and I don't have them no more.
I miss my parents too,
but I'm not running for them.
I'm running for myself,
to realize my own potential.
That's the best me can
do for them anyways.
You have a mother,
a father,
and guess what?
The two of them just want you
to be happy, that's it.
So figure out what that is and
do it well.
It just better be running!
How are you?
You all right?
I just want shake off this
vibe.
Akeem, careful with the foot.
Come.
Akeem, Akeem, careful with the
foot!
- Blessings, blessings.
- Greetings King.
Blessings, blessings, welcome.
Sorry about last time.
We live and we learn.
Blessings.
And thanks for dad.
No need for that.
Blessings princess.
I can give you something for
that.
He that dwelleth in the secret
place
of The Most High,
shall abide under the
shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of my Lord, he's my
refuge
And my fortress,
My God, in Him will I trust.
Surely He shall deliver thee
From the snare of the fowler,
And from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His
feathers
And under His wings, will we
trust.
His truth shall be thy shield
and buckler.
Thou shall not be afraid
for the terror by night,
Nor for the arrow that flieth by
day,
Nor for the pestilence
that walketh in darkness,
Nor for the destruction
that wasteth at noonday.
You all right, man?
Let's go home.
Did the police pressure you?
Of course them pressure me
but I never tell them nothing.
I know you didn't.
How you know?
Them wouldn't give me bail if
you did.
So you a go back to the same
fuckery now.
Don't get it twisted,
I'm never going back there.
I don't want you feel
like when I told you that
You could be the best,
I was lying, you know?
I see it.
I know it.
You know I had it for a time,
but.
Now is your time.
I believe in you,
and me just want help you.
Oh, so is how you help people?
In the garbage I find
my L-C-A application.
All right.
All right bro, tell me
something.
Say you go to an American
school,
then what?
Then what?
I've been there before, bro.
Them people they don't care
about you.
You're just another little black
boy
for them to run into the ground.
- That's what them did to you?
- Yeah,
The man them run me 'til
me knees them give out
and no matter how much physio,
no matter how much training,
nothing
could get me back upon top of me
game.
Then here come this little
foreign coach
come tell me about how,
"Take this, Germaine.
You'll be faster than ever,
they'll never be able to catch
you."
Fuckery.
Fuckers them catch me, yes.
Me no want that for you, Rasta.
Well let me tell you this,
whether I want go school or I
want go pro,
that is my choice.
You and everybody else in this
family
need to stop telling me what me
can or cannot handle,
me tired of it, mon!
We just trying to protect
you Akeem, that's all.
That is all.
But you have a point.
We all have our own races to
run.
But I gonna run mine
faster than yours though.
In your dreams, you, watch
here.
Oh!
So now you wanna race me, when
me wounded?
He needs to prove that he is
physically and mentally
fit enough to compete
in three weeks.
And I suggest he prepare for his
exams.
I won't let you down, coach.
Your brother told me that
once.
Why you different?
Pick up your foot them,
pick up your foot them.
♪ So don't let them get you
down, yeah ♪
♪ I said we tough like iron,
yeah ♪
♪ Said don't let them get you
down, yeah ♪
♪ I said we, get on the
track, stay on the track ♪
♪ Tough like a lion, we never
look back ♪
♪ Bygones be bygones,
whole life is behind, ♪
♪ Bygones be bygones, whole
heavens behind, ♪
♪ Jah is the shield no
sword can penetrate ♪
♪ My sword on me liars,
backbiters and snakes, ♪
♪ Rough is the road if
you choose now to trod, ♪
♪ Weak are the ones who give up,♪
♪ We tough like iron, yeah ♪
♪ Said don't let them get you
down, yeah ♪
♪ I said we tough like iron, ♪
♪ Said don't let them get you
down, yeah ♪
♪ In this arm of Gideon, ♪
♪ You haffi fit, you haffi
strong, ♪
♪ Haile Selassie be my healer, ♪
♪ Him are the conquering lion ♪
♪ On that day of denouement ♪
♪ Inna back to Mt. Zion ♪
And here comes
Marcus Brick with an easy win.
He has an unorthodox running
style
but he more than makes up
for it with personality.
Baby I feel good, man I feel
sexy.
I'm about to hit the club after
this.
Where we at?
Ain't nobody can beat me, I'm
the king.
I'm the biggest in the league,
man.
U-S-A, all day man, U-S-A!
I'm unbeatable.
♪ Don't let them get you down,
yeah ♪
♪ Said we tough like iron, oh ♪
♪ Don't let them get you down,
yeah ♪
♪ We tough like iron, ♪
♪ Say, I said we tough like iron♪
♪ Say we tough like iron ♪
♪ Tough like iron ♪
Hey big man, you training
today?
I need a favor.
Go!
Yo, forward.
You name Rocket?
- Yeah.
- Know say me hear about you.
For real?
How everything?
Just recovering from an
injury.
Jah know,
You see life,
you have to make it flow.
If you don't make it flow
you'll just crash and burn,
you understand?
All right, take the 200 for
instance,
it's a tactical race
break it down section by
section.
So the first part of the race,
like first 40, first 50,
you have to be explosive.
Drive from the blocks, push out,
and use all the power you have.
See the next 50,
you have to work hard enough
but you have to make it
efficient.
So you can't swing off the
corner, into the straight.
Third 50 now, it's all about
getting your posture right,
and being upright.
Swing the arms and just make it
flow.
Coming to the last 50
now is most important
because most people feel like
they want to go faster but you
can't.
It's all about maintaining.
Lift your legs.
Akeem move, move, move.
That's how the race is won.
I'm go do some exercise right
now so,
we'll talk, all right?
Yo,
big up, out.
♪ We live the life like it's
supposed to be lived, ♪
♪ Thankful to Jah and the
many blessings he gives, ♪
♪ So we do a lot, yeah we overdo
it ♪
♪ Because it ain't right, ♪
♪ Ain't right if we
don't go big, hey, hey ♪
♪ We don't move slow, 'cause
we got somewhere to go ♪
Hello.
Akeem,
What's up coach?
Your mother's here in
the lobby.
- My mother?
- Yes, you deaf?
Hurry up.
Go see her.
Don't be nervous.
You want me to come with you?
No mon, me good.
Which way he coming-
Well the elevators right
there-
You know what, I can give him a
call.
Where is Akeem?
Well I don't see him.
- Him soon come-
- Yes, yes, yes.
I'm sure.
Yo,
Coach just left this
for you, what happened?
I just couldn't.
What?
After coming all this way?
You wouldn't understand, ya'
know
so stop try.
I'm going to get some rest.
Ladies and
gentlemen
welcome to World Youth Games
in Los Angeles, California.
Over 30 nations represented.
The greatest junior athletes in
the world
here to compete for the same
dream
and the chance to be called a
champion.
And now for the boys'
Whoo!
Only the top two
finishers
automatically qualify for the
finals tomorrow afternoon.
Runners, to your
marks.
Hey Marley,
Set.
Oh my God.
Akeem!
What you doing?
It's the reigning
champion!
Marcus Brick with the win!
What happened?
No.
Yeah boy.
Great Britain, what the
hell is Great Britain?
Yeah!
U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A,
U-S-A!
Let's go baby.
You lost, you lost, you lost!
Let's go, what's up fam?
Somebody give us some bread for
that hammy!
Whoo, pretty boy!
Hey, hey, hey.
Why you can't focus?
Get off the track.
Akeem Sharp
will have to wait and see
if his time qualifies for
tomorrow's championship race.
What the hell were you
thinking?
Fucking Brick boy a blow kiss
after man.
So what?
You barely qualified for the
finals!
Everybody knows lane eight is
the worst!
And then me mother too.
So what about your mother?
What about the Brick boy?
Me been chasing her me whole
life!
She never come all this
way to see me lose.
What if I lose?
Look,
I came to tell you that
I got offered some scholarships
today,
including L-C-A.
I was thinking of taking that
one.
And I was hoping you would come
too,
but you're talking about losing,
so I guess not.
Kerry wait!
Wait for what?
It's just two years,
my love.
It will go fast
and then
we can finish the house.
Things gon' be better, I
promise.
Mama!
Akeem!
Mama!
Mama!
Let's go.
Let's go.
I waited so long to touch this
face.
Why didn't you come back?
Why did you leave me?
I did what I had to do
so that you can be here today.
Akeem.
I was gone, but me never left
you.
I love you mama.
Oh God.
You tell me that at the finish
line.
Ladies and
gentlemen,
the moment we've all been
waiting for,
The World Youth Games 200 meter
final!
Runners to the line.
In lane three, Juan Perera from
Cuba.
In lane four, Ray Pinnock from
Jamaica.
In lane five, the reigning
champion
and favorite to win this race-
Yo, Jamaica, you still here?
You gonna make me some
jerk chicken tonight?
Extra sauce.
Whoo!
In lane eight,
Akeem Sharp from Jamaica.
Race a go start, watch the
Rocket!
Set.
Coming in
on the final 50 meters
Marcus Brick and Akeem
Sharp are neck-and-neck!
On a world record pace,
and it's a photo finish!
Oh my God!
I love you mama!
I love you.
The Rasta
Rocket Akeem Sharp,
he barely made it into the
finals,
and he may have just upset the
world-
This place looks a lot
bigger on the computer.
I hope you're hungry.
I only know you in this room.
Well, let's change that.
♪ Dread! ♪
♪ Iya grow my dread, yeah, ♪
♪ Iya grow my dread, ♪
♪ It's my choice and I've chose
wisely, ♪
♪ So Iya grow my dread, yeah, ♪
♪ Iya grow my dread, ♪
♪ Low me let me grow my dread, ♪
♪ It's my path, so let me walk
it, ♪
♪ Me, a grow my dread, yeah, ♪
♪ I choose to live this way, ♪
♪ The Rastafari way, yeah, ♪
♪ My father always say, ♪
♪ He won't force me to choose, ♪
♪ And I should do what I wanna
do so, ♪
♪ Iya grow my dread, yeah ♪
♪ Iya grow my dread ♪
♪ It's my choice and I've chose
wisely, ♪
♪ So Iya grow my dread, yeah ♪
♪ Iya grow my dread ♪
♪ Low me let me grow my dread ♪
♪ It's my path, so low me let me
walk it ♪