The Crowd Roars

Make the back one little richer.

That's alright.

Hey, what makes that smoke?

Castor oil. Don't you like it?

Well, that makes me feel kinda funny.

Yeah, it effects a lot of people that way.

We're passing through this farm, Spud.

Getting near your hometown, huh, Joe?

'Yeah.'

You guys better get cleaned up.

- We'll be in there few minutes. - Suits me.

I've been lookin' at carburetors for so long

I'm beginning to see 'em in my dreams.

Hello, Joe.

'Hello, Lee. Everything packed?'

- Yeah. - 'That's nice.'

I wish I was getting off with you.

- Which one do you want? - The silk one.

Kid brother will have it in his pocket.

I'd like to meet him. What's he like?

Small kid.

I haven't seen him in.. I haven't seen him in four years.

He thinks I'm the one right guy in the world.

- He oughta get around more. - What?

I think the same way he does, Joe.

Only..

Only what?

Oh, nothing.

Come on, spill it.

Just about you and me.

We've been over on that before and you said you understood.

Understanding doesn't mean I like it.

I want to be sure of it, Joe.

- I want-- - I know.

You want... this.

Mm-hm.

Doesn't look bad at that.

Joe, don't.

Don't I mean anything at all to you?

One smart crack and you think you fixed up everything.

I wasn't being smart, Lee.

There was a time when that was alright.

When I first met you, I just wanted a good time.

And you felt the same way.

But things are different, Joe. And I've changed.

But you haven't.

That's the trouble.

I often wonder what you really think of me.

I've never known.

Do you ever wonder what I think of you?

- 'Did you?' - No..

You're somebody who thinks all you've to do is win a race

and bring home a trophy, and first prize money

and I'm satisfied. But you're wrong.

When you get back from a race

and when I see that checkered flag, I'm happy.

Not because you've won, but because I've got you back.

You're safe.

Oh, Joe, why do you go on, anyway..

...risking your life for nothing?

Grinding away.

Little money, few cups.

Crowd yelling in the grand stand.

A lot of people watching for wrecks and roaring for blood.

All they wanna see is that

car turn over so they can hold their breath.

And the ambulance takes away what's left of you.

The point to it and say.

"Ooh, isn't that awful? They're taking him away."

That's why I want you to quit driving.

That's why we should stop drinking too.

If you'd stop, maybe you'd listen to reason.

And you talk about setting an example for that kid brother of yours.

That's funny.

All those homefolks, that I'm not good enough to meet.

How do you think that makes me feel?

It's your station, Joe.

Love me?

I love you, too.

We'll take it up at the next meeting.

Come in.

- You've bags, sir? - Yeah.

Huh. I'll shoot you a wire when I get through Haydock.

- Alright. Goodbye, Joe. - Bye, sweets.

You hate that guy, don't you?

Take care of him for me, Spud, will you?

Oh, sure. I guess we both like him pretty much.

So long.

Have a good trip, Lee.

I will.

Joe, I'm Eddie.

Ha ha.

I'm glad you told me.

Oh, you have grown! What have they been feeding you?

Joe.

Hello, dad. I'm glad to see you. You're looking swell.

I'm glad to see you too, son.

'Mr. Greer, would you hold it for a picture please?'

Alright dad, get over here and let's get this over with.

Alright, now that's fine.

I'll hold it perfectly still for you.

- Alright, thanks. - I appreciate it.

I think I'm running for office.

Oh, dad. This is Spud Connors, my relief driver.

How do you do?

Alright, Mr. Greer.

And, uh, Spud, this is Eddie.

- Hello, Eddie. - Hi.

We're always glad to meet any of your friends.

'Certainly heard a lot about you and Eddie, Mr. Greer.'

'Yes, we've heard a lot about you, too.'

'And they are, Mr. Greer.'

That's a real racing car, Eddie.

- I can see that. - Look.

Why is the color red?

- 'Right over there.' - I'll bet this baby sure can hop.

- That's it, - Okay.

Boy, it sure is a honey.

- Like it? - Yes sir.

The place ain't what it used to be, Joe.

A lot of new fangled ideas coming in right along.

It looks great, dad.

Say, dad, uh, get any drink around here?

Uh, sure.

Well, kid.

What's this?

At the time you cracked up in Syracuse.

'Gosh! We sure were scared until we telephoned that hospital.'

Riding the car hundred miles an hour.

Gosh! How did you get out of it?

Hm, just remembered the duck.

There's my old car.

Oh, hey, Joe. Which do you like best?

The Duisenberg or the new front drive Miller?

All depends on the track.

Hey... you're pretty interested in this, aren't you?

I'll say I am.

That's alright, only don't let it throw you.

What's that?

Turn on that light, will you, dad?

Well?

What do you think of it?

Will it go?

I mean, anything but downhill.

Sure, it will run.

Parts of it look like they're old quarter mile.

Well, that's what it came from mostly.

As the axle, dad and I built it.

Can you make ice-cream with it, Eddie?

Oh!

What you've been doing with this crate?

What's he been doing?

Look at that!

That's what he's been doing.

How long you've been driving?

All this summer. I cleaned up on it too.

See, Joe, I love it.

I just wanted you to be proud of me.

I-I just thought that

perhaps if you-if you saw how well I could drive that..

when you go away you might take me with you. Will you, Joe?

It's up to you, Joe.

Sit down, kid. I wanna talk to you.

So you want to be a race driver?

Just like your big brother, Joe, huh?

Well, I'll change place with you right now.

What do you think of that?

Don't let those goofy signs go to your head.

Listen, kid.

I've seen lot of kids start up from all over the country.

Grinding away year after year.

Rotten dangerous tracks.

Dirt, grime, working all hours of the night.

Getting crippled up or killed, for what..

...sea shells and squash, maybe a few bucks a race, that's all.

Everybody can't win a cup or prize money every time out.

Listen, kid.

I know a lot of boys.

Good fast drivers, fast cars.

And they never win a race.

Just don't get the brakes, that's all.

And if it's glory you're looking for, forget it.

Crowd's gonna come out, watch you, and cheer for you.

What are they watching for? Cheering for?

They watching for wrecks, and roaring for blood.

If you get killed that doesn't make any difference.

But you don't always get killed.

You get crippled, and messed up for life.

You're a hero today, and a bum tomorrow.

And there's no pension for cracked up race drivers.

There's one thing nobody can do it.

We can't take the roar of the crowd to the bank

and cash in on it. I'm telling you, stay out of it.

There's no game for anybody to be getting into it.

Why are you in it, Joe?

That's got nothing to do with it.

You think you can drive?

You don't know what it's all about.

I'm telling not to go into it.

Not go in it?