Shepherd's Bush

The Battle of Shepherds Bush
a play by Hugh Farey The Story of the First London Olympic Games 1908
May 2012
Introduction
CAST - Real people apart from the Others.
1) The British Olympic Council. William Henry Grenfell, Baron Desborough, Chairman Robert Stuart de Courcy Laffan, Honorary Secretary Frederick Whitworth-Jones, Assistant Secretary Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, author and reporter for the Daily Mail 2) The American Olympic Committee. James Edward Sullivan, Secretary Gustavus Town Kirby, Member 3) Athletes George Thomas, Innkeeper (English; 1850 winner under-8 running race) Ray Ewry (USA; 1900-1908 winner 10 golds in standing jumps) Martin Sheridan (USA; 1904-1908 winner 5 golds in throws, 2 silvers in standing jumps) James Lightbody (USA; 1904-1906 winner 4 golds, 2 silvers in middle distance running) Alfred C. Gilbert (USA; 1908 winner 1 gold in pole vault) Mr J. Park, Honorary Secretary of the Liverpool Police Athletic Society 4) Others Redford, an English Servant Blm, a Swedish Ofcial Goldereld, a Policeman Messrs Reed, Greene, Blewitt and Gould, English reporters Messrs Redwood, Greenstone, Blumental and Golding, American reporters
Act 1. Before the Olympic games.! Scene 1! June 1905! ! ! Scene 2! May 1906! ! ! Scene 3! July 1907! ! ! Scene 4! June 1908! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
! ! ! ! ! !
Act 2. During the Olympic Games Scene 1! 13 July 1908 Scene 2! 17 July 1908 Scene 3! 23 July 1908 Scene 4! 24 July 1908 Scene 5! 31 October 1908
FIRST PRODUCED AT THE CONQUEST THEATRE, BROMYARD ON FRIDAY 20 JULY 2012 with the following cast.
Lord Desborough ! ........................................................................................................ Hugh Farey Robert Laffan !.................................................................................................................. Mark Cox Frederick Whitworth-Jones !................................................................................. Joshua Herriott Arthur Conan-Doyle !..................................................................................................... Mark Cox James Edward Sullivan !............................................................................................ David Tearle Gustavus Town Kirby ! .............................................................................................. Robert Hollis George Thomas !...................................................................................................... Allan Flaxman Ray Ewry !.................................................................................................................... Liam Stobart Martin Sheridan !............................................................................................................ Tim Oliver James Lightbody !........................................................................................................... Liam Riley Alfred C. Gilbert ! ........................................................................................................ Liam Stobart Mr Park ! .................................................................................................................... Allan Flaxman Redford, Blm and Goldereld!.................................................................................... Liam Riley The reporters !................................................................................................. Members of the cast Directed & Designed !.................................................................................................. Hugh Farey Co-directed & Stage Managed !......................................................................... Barbara Hockley Lighting, Sound and Projections! ............................................................................ Lawrence Hall Costumes !..................................... Jenny Shortland, Anne Watson & the Conquest Wardrobe Photography !...................................................................................................................... Jim Rolt Furniture & Props !................................................................... St Richards School, Bredenbury
Act 1
PRELUDE ! ! The House Lights dim to the sound of the Olympic Anthem. Then a voice not unlike that of the current president of the IOC announces: The International Olympic Committee [slight pause] has the honour of announcing [slight pause] that the games of the fourth Olympiad [slight pause] in 1908 [slight pause], are awarded to [tantalising pause] the city of [tantalising pause] Rome!
SCENE 1: June 1905. A Hotel Lounge in Oxford. ! [Lord Desborough and Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle are chatting together. A third, older man, George Thomas, is reading nearby.] Desborough! Yes, Rome. The Eternal City. I rather fancy going to Rome. I didnt like the idea of America at all. I didnt think the Greeks could in 96, but they pulled it off rather well. Pierre de Coubertin. Baron de Coubertin. He had a lot of help, of course. The French dont really go in for sport.
Conan-Doyle! Do you think the Italians can manage a job like that? Desborough! Desborough! Conan-Doyle! Wasnt a Frenchman behind it?
Conan-Doyle! So what did they have? Chariot-racing? Running in full armour? Wrestling in the nude? Desborough! Good Lord, no. They were nothing like the classical games at all. They did use the old stadium in Athens, but it was completely relaid by a chap from the London Athletic Club. Perrys his name, Charles Perry. There was cycling too, and swimming, tennis, gymnastics... Fencing, perhaps. I might have done if Id known about it. It wasnt well advertised over here. A couple. Gmelin went. He was quite a keen runner, I remember, and George Robertson.
Conan-Doyle! So it was all athletics? Desborough! Desborough! Desborough! Conan-Doyle! Fencing? Rowing? Conan-Doyle! I wondered if youd competed.
Conan-Doyle! Did anyone go? Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! I know him. He wasnt an athlete though. Threw the hammer I think, but not terribly seriously. Desborough! He was a blue.
Conan-Doyle! In the hammer. Not much competition. No, he was a classicist, spent most of his time in the library. Desborough! Well thats just it. He went because it was a classical revival and he wanted to see what discus throwing was really like. He even wrote an ode in ancient Greek about it, which none of the modern Greeks could understand at all, poor fellow. Still, the King gave him a diploma. There was another Oxford man. An Irishman called Boland. I dont think he knew what was going on; he was just spending the Easter vacation in Greece, saw the tennis competition and joined in. He even had to buy a racquet at the local market. Anyway he swept all before him and won both the singles and the doubles. No, a German. The chap hed defeated in the nal of the singles.
Conan-Doyle! Good old George. Hes a lawyer now, of course. Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! With Robertson? Desborough! Conan-Doyle! Well, well. And the next ones in Rome. At least theres some classical connection. Desborough! Desborough! No, you dont understand; there have been two more in between. Im not at all surprised. One was a shambles and the other so far away hardly anybody went at all. The shambles was Paris, during the World Fair. Well thats just it, they were just muddled in anyhow. Im not sure they were even called Olympic. Some competitions were called World Championships, some were just attached to trade shows. Fencing was part of the Cutlery Exhibition. Compete? Certainly not. A handful of English teams went across, for football, rugby and cricket and so on, and I think there was a bit of tennis and swimming, but it was all so disorganised I thought I was well out of it. The chap who started the whole idea resigned and had nothing to do with it. Yes. He was so disillusioned. And things didnt get a lot better four years later. Yes. Poor old chap, hed exhausted himself getting the whole show off the ground, gathered a committee of friends from various countries to help, and basically theyd either done nothing at all or tried to take over
5
Conan-Doyle! Really? I never heard of them.
Conan-Doyle! Wait a minute. I was in Paris for that. I never saw any Olympic Games. Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Did you...? Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Baron de Coubertin? Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Last year, in America? Desborough!
completely. The Americans had another huge Exhibition, in Missouri, and called just about everything they did the Olympics, from Primary School Sports Days right through to some sports they organised for Red Indians and Patagonian natives and South Sea islanders and pigmies and all sorts. Coubertin was so furious he never went at all, and for all practical purposes neither did anybody else. There were 600 Americans and 50 others, as far as I can gather. Probably most of them were already living there. Conan-Doyle! I dont understand. Why didnt this Baron de Coubertin ask the British? Weve been organising sport for a hundred years - we practically invented it. Why didnt Coubertin come here? Thomas! Thomas! He did. Im sorry. Indeed, I beg your pardon, Sir Arthur, but I couldnt help overhearing the last part of your conversation, which concerned something I know a little about. Really? Who are you? Allow me to introduce myself, Sir Arthur. My name is George Thomas, and I was the rst person to win an Olympian event at William Brookess Wenlock Games, from which Baron Coubertin got many of his ideas. Im sixty years old now, but those games at Wenlock are just about my rst real memories. I was seven at the time. Seven? It was 1850. My father was an innkeeper, and William Brookes was the doctor. He was quite a small man, with bushy white whiskers, but mostly I remember his energy. He organised the rst village games - cricket, football, quoits, races, that sort of thing. He decided to call them Olympian Games, and organised a lot of bands and processions and speeches to go with them. I won the rst race. Dr Brookess son John was second. I won two shillings and sixpence, and we both got a laurel crown and were carried on peoples shoulders in the procession at the end of the day. Whats this got to do with Baron Coubertin? He wasnt even born; hes only about 40 now. Oh! Im so sorry, My Lord. If Id known, I wouldnt have... Please, old chap, dont mention it. I gather you recognised Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. Im afraid I dont aspire to his celebrity. Conan-Doyle! I beg your pardon?
Desborough! Thomas!
Conan-Doyle! Good Lord. Thomas! Desborough! Thomas!
! Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Mr Thomas, allow me to introduce William Grenfell, Baron Desborough. Thomas! Desborough!
Thomas! Desborough! Thomas! Desborough!
Its not that, My Lord. Everybody knows about your swimming the Niagara falls and climbing the Matterhorn... Twice. Yes. Its just that I didnt recognise... My face. While Sir Arthur is the frontispiece of every detective novel in every bookshop in the land. I quite understand. Now go on explaining what your Dr Brookes has got do with Pierre de Coubertin. Well, Sir, Dr Brookess games carried on year after year until he read an article in the paper about the Olympic Games being revived in Athens. When was that? 1858 or 9. You must be mistaken. The rst Olympic Games in Athens were in 1896. No, they werent. They were in 1859 and a couple of times after that. And they were organised by a Greek called Evangelis Zappas. Have you heard of him? Nor me. He was a rich businessman, and he revived the Olympics in Greece. And Dr Brookes was inspired by this and improved his own Olympian Games at Much Wenlock, and then began to organise British Olympic Games in Liverpool and London. From about 1860 to 1880, but then they petered out. Dr Brookes was very disappointed, and retreated back to Wenlock, and his village games, which still went on every year. It might have been, but he was very active in the eld of childrens physical education, so when he read about a congress in Paris devoted to that very subject, he wrote to its organiser. Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Exactly. The Baron then came to visit Dr Brookes at Wenlock (who planted a tree for him) and decided his games were just the sort of thing he needed as a framework for an international revival. I think it was more the bands and processions that impressed the Baron. The arrangement, if you get my meaning.
Thomas! Desborough! Thomas! Desborough! Thomas!
Conan-Doyle ! Never. Desborough! Thomas!
Conan-Doyle! Ive never heard of them either. When were they? Thomas!
Conan-Doyle! And that was that? Thomas!
Desborough! Thomas!
Conan-Doyle! Football, cricket and quoits? Thomas!
Conan-Doyle! Well, Im dashed. So let me get this straight. The Greek Zappas inspired the Englishman Brookes who inspired the Frenchman Coubertin.
The Battle of Shepherds Bush 7
Desborough!
And whatever there was before, there have been three international Olympic Games so far, and the next ones are in Rome. I dont see why not, if its properly organised. Theyll know about fencing all right. Rowing? I dont think so. Its nearly thirty years since I won the boat-race. Will they use the Colosseum?
Conan-Doyle! Will you go? Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! What about rowing? Desborough! Thomas!
Conan-Doyle! Its too ruined now, Im afraid, and even if it could be repaired I dont think the arena is big enough. I imagine theyre thinking of the Circus Maximus. Desborough! Theyll probably have to get Perry back to lay a decent track. And manage the athletics, I shouldnt wonder. At Athens he laid the track, marked it out and did most of the timekeeping and measuring as far as I can make out. Oh, he was there for months. They couldnt get the cinders for the surface of the running track, and when they got them they couldnt roll them properly, and the old Panathenaic Stadium is too long and thin for serious athletics. The Americans complained.
Conan-Doyle! Kept him busy. Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! They always do. I must say I dont really understand the Yankees. Theyve taken up sport with such a desperate fervour to win its easy to see they dont understand it at all. Desborough! The edgling leaving the nest. Conan-Doyle! And falling on its nose. Theyre all so keen they dont seem to have any fun. Desborough! ! Servant! Desborough! Servant! Desborough! ! Thomas! They wont appreciate Rome - no culture at all. [A servant brings in a letter.] I beg your pardon, My Lord. Yes, Redwood. Theres a letter from the Greek Ambassador, My Lord. Thank you. Excuse me. [He opens and reads the letter.] I beg your pardon, Sir Arthur?
Conan-Doyle! Mr Thomas, did you continue to compete? Conan-Doyle! After your success at the rst Olympics.
Thomas!
Oh, I see. Oh, no, Sir Arthur, I was too busy at the innkeeping trade. I ran a few more races as a child, but not after - too busy selling ale to waste time playing games. I couldnt have joined an Athletics Club anyway. Well, not after that money Id won when I was a child. I would be considered a professional, and clubs these days are only for amateurs. Arthur. Excuse me, Mr Thomas. Arthur, listen to this: its from the Greek Representative of the International Olympic Association inviting us to the next Olympic Games... in 1906! These are called Intermediate. Apparently there was a movement after the rst Games to keep them in Athens, but it never came to anything. Now, when the next two have been such a shambles, the ideas been revived. There are going to be Olympic Games every two years, alternating between Athens and other cities from around the world. What fun. I wonder if Cosmo Duff-Gordons available, and Theo Cooke; we could make up a fencing team. Do you fence at all, Arthur? Why dont you come? Well sail across on Tommy de Waldens yacht. Nonsense; youre only a few years older than me. I wont take no for an answer. Do some research for your next Sherlock Holmes book. Look, Id better get to work. If youll excuse me, Gentlemen, I think Ill start writing letters; theres not much time. Arthur, Mr Thomas. ! [The party breaks up. Blackout.]
Conan-Doyle! Why not? Thomas! Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! But theyre not due till 1908. Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Good Lord. Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Im sorry, Willy, I dont think my fencings up to it at all; not at my age. Desborough!
SCENE 2: May 1906. A Hotel in Athens. ! [Two of Americas nest athletes and good friends, Ray Ewry and Martin Sheridan, are relaxing after a workout.] Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry! 24 reps in 8 minutes. Not bad, eh, Martin? Very good. Hows the hurdling? Very funny. Standings what Im good at; standings what Ill stick to. Gold in High Jump, Gold in Long Jump, Gold in the Hop, Step and Jump in Paris and St Louis, and Id have got another three here if they hadnt dropped the Triple. You watch out, Ray. Im right behind you. In your dreams. Neither your High Jump nor your Long Jump were as good as they were in St Louis.
9
Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan!
Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry!
Are you surprised? The stadium surface was a so primitive it was like exercising on a beach. Yes. Still you cant expect a four-thousand year old stadium to come up to one of ours. And what do the Greeks know about athletics? It shouldnt have been a problem. They got an old limey in to oversee the laying of a new track in 96 and he came out again to set it straight this year. Which old limey? Guy called Perry. Laid the track at Athens in 98, and this year, like he was laying a bowling green, not a cinder running track. It was like taking off in the sand-pit, not just landing in it. I wonder what Rome will be like. Another ancient ruin done up, I suppose. [Sheridan is looking at a newspaper] I dont think theyve started doing anything yet. Theyre in a bit of trouble. Whats that? The local paper. In Greek? No, its an English edition. Look. Whats the picture? Volcano. Called, uh, Vesuvius. Its been erupting apparently. Lets see. Itll help my Geography. I dont even know where Vesuvius is. Oh, my God... What? Listen to this: Vesuvius eruption has caused serious damage to parts of Naples, and considerable loss of life. The Roman President said, We will do all we can to rebuild this historic city. And you know what - they cant do the games. The Olympic Games? Too expensive, on top of rebuilding Naples and all. What will they do? Who? That French guy and his pals. The ones who began the revival in Greece. Theyll have to choose somewhere else. After all, thats what we did. We were going to hold the 1904 Games in Chicago, and when they said they wouldnt be ready they were switched to St Louis. Didnt you know that? I thought St Louis did it as part of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
Sheridan! Ewry!
! Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry!
Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry!
Sheridan!
10
Ewry!
They did, but Chicago had rst option. St Louis hi-jacked the Olympics by being better organised and saying they would hold the national Athletics Championships there, which would have been at the same time as the Chicago Games. How could they do that? It was James Sullivan. Hed already been appointed Sports Director of the Exposition before Chicago was offered the Olympic Games, and as chief of the Athletic Union whatever he says goes. And dont we know it. Chicago tried to postpone its games for a year, but the Olympic committee say they had to be held every four years on the dot. So how come we had some more two years later, and were going to have some more two years after that? Long story. Pierre de Coubertin, thats the French guy, he said he wanted the games in a different city in a different country every four years. But after the rst games were so successful, the Greeks said that they should always be held in Athens. There was a lot of American support for that idea, so in the end the compromise was that there would be games every two years, alternating between Athens and somewhere else. So 1896 - Athens, 1898? No, no, it didnt start for a while. The Greeks were still working out how to pay for it. 1896 - Athens, 1900 - Paris, 1904 - St Louis, and then the Greeks kick in with 1906 - Athens again. I got it. So 1908 - Rome, or wherever, 1910 - back to Athens, 1912 somewhere else, 1914 - Athens, 1916... Thats it, thats it. [Jim Lightbody, another of the team comes in.] Hey, you guys, Ive got some news. Yes? You know Rome cant hold the next Olympic Games because of Vesuvius? Yes. Well, guess whos got them instead! Tell us! London! Well, Ill be... Howd they manage that?
Sheridan! Ewry!
Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry!
Sheridan! Ewry!
Sheridan! Ewry! ! Lightbody! Sheridan! Lightbody! Ewry! Lightbody! Sheridan! Lightbody! Sheridan!
11
Lightbody!
All the British bigwigs are staying on some Lords yacht in Athens bay. When they heard that Rome was giving up they invited their King Edward and Baron Coubertin along and they had a big pow-wow and by the end of the evening it was a deal. Do they have a stadium? Theyre going to build a new one. With a new-laid track? Perry! [Blackout.]
Sheridan! Lightbody! Sheridan! Ewry! !
SCENE 3. July 1907. A big Reception Room in London. ! [The Daily Mail has organised a Press Conference. There are a number of reporters. Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle is introducing Lord Desborough.] Conan-Doyle! Thank you, thank you, Gentlemen, for coming this morning at such short notice. In a moment Ill give way to the gentleman on my right, who will answer all your questions on the forthcoming Olympic Games, which are to be held in London next year. But before I do, Im fairly sure that he would absolutely refuse to tell you anything about himself, and I think it proper, sparing your blushes Willy, if I give you a few details about the man we have chosen to lead us, and the United Kingdom, in the mounting of the greatest sporting festival the world has ever seen. ! His name is William Grenfell, Baron Desborough, and many of you will know him as an active member of the House of Commons before being raised to the peerage a couple of years ago. However his credentials here rest on his sporting achievements. He has achieved national prominence in Rowing, Athletics and Fencing, climbed the Matterhorn, swam the Niagara Falls, shot tigers in India and shed for tarpon in Florida. He maintains his own hounds and is president of the Four-in-hand Coach Club, and the Lawn Tennis Association. More recently, of course, he represented his country at last years Olympic Games in Athens, returning with a silver medal for fencing. Most importantly, he has been Chairman of the British Olympic Association since its foundation two years ago, and as such he was able to meet His Majesty at Athens, to discuss the suggestion London would be a possible, and in many ways an ideal, replacement for Rome as next years Olympic site. Ladies and Gentlemen Lord Desborough. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Now if youll forgive me we must get down to business right away. The fact is that Baron Coubertin was at his wits end at our last meeting, but Theodore Cook and I felt that, if we had the country behind us, the British would be the perfect people to take a rm hold of his Olympic dreams and turn them into a practical celebration of everything we stand for - the unity of mankind, fair play,
Desborough!
12
rm governance, international cooperation, sportsmanship. The world knows that organised sport is a peculiarly British invention, barely 50 years old, and that it ts our national character better than anyone elses at least for now. It is hardly surprising that Baron Coubertins attempts at an Olympic revival have been unsuccessful: the Greeks thought they were religious rituals revivied, the French misunderstood them completely and the Americans... well, theyre learning slowly, but Im told their Olympics were pretty local. ! Ours, on the other hand, will be truly international. All the countries of the Empire may be represented, in addition to the 25 of so members of the International Olympic Committee. The greatest range of nations ever assembled in once place, taking part in the greatest range of sports. Upon my return from Greece last year I addressed a letter to all the sporting associations in England, seeking their support, and their answers being uniformly favourable, the British Olympic Council was formed by the election of delegates accredited by each of these organisations, and we embarked upon preparations. Accordingly these games will consist of Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Diving, Fencing, Figure Skating, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Hockey, Horse Riding, Lacrosse, Polo, Racquets, Rowing, Rugby, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, Water Polo, Wrestling, Yachting, and Motor sports, including aeroplanes, boats and automobiles, if enough amateurs are prepared to come forward for them. Most of these events will be held in the biggest, newest stadium in the world. You will all be aware of the great Franco-British Exhibition to be held next summer at Shepherds Bush. The exhibition is under the overall supervision of Mr Imre Kiralfy, whose spectacular achievements in this eld, particularly in the United States of America, have won the admiration of the world. By special arrangement, he has agreed to nance and build the stadium we need, with seating and standing room for over 100,000 spectators. They overlook an athletics track of one-third of a mile in circumference, surrounded by an almost half-mile cycle track, and enclosing a eld big enough for a full size games pitch and a 100 yard long swimming bath with a 50 foot diving tower, as well as tennis courts, fencing pistes, archery butts and platforms for gymnastics, boxing and wrestling. In keeping with the overall image of the Franco-British Exhibition as a whole, the stadium is constructed of steel and concrete, which will be cased in white bre-board, giving the impression of a modern Colosseum standing among the palaces and temples of ancient Rome. I hope you have all had the opportunity to examine the les of documents you were given when you came in, and in a moment I shall be very pleased to answer such questions as you may have, to the best of my ability, but before I give way, there remains a word on the broader aspects
13
of the modern Olympic Games. A dominant idea of the old Hellenic games was peace; indeed they were the one institution which united the Greek races throughout centuries of warfare. This same idea of peace and unity is capable of a modern application. The two thousand or so young men who will assemble here next summer represent the generation into whose hands the destiny of the world is passing at this moment, and we may hope that their meeting in sporting, rather than political, competition may have a benecent effect hereafter on the cause of international peace. ! [Applause.] Conan-Doyle! Thank you, Your Lordship. Now, Gentlemen. If you have questions please raise your folders, and his Lordship will endeavour to enlighten your darkness, as it were. Mr Reed. Reed! Thank you, Sir Arthur. My Lord, I apologise for casting a slight shadow over your most inspiring peroration, but are you able to give us an idea of just how these grandiose aspirations will be paid for? I understand the government has made quite clear that it will not be involved. Thank you for raising the point, Sir, but let me assure you that your question casts no shadow. As I have already explained, the whole cost of the new stadium, together with a number of necessary ancillary buildings, is being met by the executive of the Franco-British Exhibition. So these Olympic Games are just another side-show, just like they were in Paris and St Louis. Not at all, Sir. Mr Kiralfy has assured us that the Exhibition and the Stadium will have separate entrances and separate tickets, although it will of course be possible to combine visits to both, and there will be access to each from the other. But if I may return to the question of funding. The British Olympic Association will receive 25 percent of the gate receipts of the stadium, in addition to an advance of 2,000 already received. A public appeal for voluntary funds will raise the further 10,000 that we consider will be necessary. Nearly one-fth of that has already been donated. My Lord, there are already twenty different sporting competitions due this summer, without tacking on any Olympic Games. How will these Games t in with the Boat Race, The Derby, or the Cricket season, to name just a few? How long will they go on for, and why should anybody go and see them? Thats a very good question, but you must remember that each of the Olympic sports has the full approval and support, of the national governing body. So the athletics, for example, will be held in July, after the AAA Championships, which will serve as a selection meeting for the international festival. Similarly, the Royal Regatta at Henley will precede
Desborough!
Greene! Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Mr Blewitt. Blewitt!
Desborough!
14
the Rowing. On the other hand some sports, such as hockey and football will be held before their internal seasons really get going, and will act as a warm-up, or a kind of preview, for the club matches to come. Blewitt! Desborough ! So how long? I think some of the competitions will be held at the end of April, but the Stadium events begin halfway through July, and go on for two weeks. The Winter Sports will be held in October. Six months! My Lord, I believe it is almost universally accepted that British athletics is not only the primo genitor of the sport, but also the highest exponent of it. Are we going to introduce the rest of the world to the hundred yards, the half and the mile, or must we kowtow to a bunch of foreigners in adopting the so-called metric scheme of measurement? Thank you for the question. After some consultation with the International Olympic Committee, we began to accept the view that in order to foster international competition in our sport, it would be necessary to adopt the system of measurement used by the greatest number of countries. The athletic events will therefore be the 100, 200 and 400 metres, and so on, which are really very close to our customary 100 and 200 yards, the quarter-mile so on. 1500 metres is nearly 100 yards short of a mile! Then our runners should have little difculty in showing their superiority in it, should they?
Blewitt! Gould!
Conan-Doyle! Yes, Mr Gould.
Desborough!
Gould! Desborough!
Conan-Doyle! Thank you, Gentlemen. Im sure you appreciate how busy His Lordship is, and that there is no time for any more questions now. ! If you have further queries, please address them to our ofce in Dover Street. Thank you for coming, and please dont forget your les of information. ! [Blackout.]
15
SCENE 4. June 1908. A big Reception Room in New York. ! [The Sporting Life has organised a Press Conference. There are a number of reporters. Gustavus Town Kirby is introducing James Edward Sullivan.] Kirby! ! Thank you, thank you, Gentlemen. As you know, tomorrow the SS Philadelphia sails from these shores carrying the largest, nest, most well trained body of athletes America has ever produced. And we sail for one reason only - to win the Olympic Games. And we all know what that means. To beat the British! Lets face it, from the day My Lord Desborough started to plan the games of the fourth Olympiad, he was set upon one thing - to outshine America, and from the day we knew the games were in London, we were determined that wasnt going to happen. Before I hand over to Mr James Sullivan, in whose large and capable hands we will be for the next few weeks, let me just give you one reminder of how fast we have risen to become the sporting champions of the world, and how slow our transatlantic cousins have been to recognise it. One of the games not included in these Olympics is... Cricket. And you know why? It wouldnt be anything to do with the English losing ve games to one in Australia this last winter would it? Or maybe the fact that at this very moment the Gentlemen of Philadelphia are embarking on their tour of the English counties? Of course not. And now, Gentlemen, the founder and president of the American Athletic Union, Mr James E. Sullivan! [Applause.] Thank you, thank you, Mr Kirby. Gentlemen, the task before us will be twofold, and let me tell you, while I have no doubt at all about the superiority of our performances in the eld, the battle of bureaucracy may be a harder nut to crack. You may not know that the International Olympic Committee delegated every aspect of the games to the British organisers. The entry regulations are British, the rules of every sport are British, the judges are British and the arbitrators are British, and you can guess how impartial theyre going to be. It all depends how it suits the English. So the dominions of Canada, Australia and South Africa are separate nations, even though theyre governed directly from London, while Ireland is part of England. Why? Because without it theyd have no chance. No less than one-fth of the British track and eld team would compete as a separate nation if they were given the choice, and it would have been more if the United States had not given some of them an alternative home here in New York, in the Irish-American Club, to which I have myself the honour of belonging.
Redwood! Kirby!
! Sullivan!
16
Taking a team of nearly a hundred and fty athletes and coaches across the Atlantic is not cheap, and we are grateful to President Roosevelt and Congress for granting us the necessary funds. I guess its lucky the Olympic riding events at the International Horse Show have been cancelled or wed have had the problem of transporting horses as well. What about cars? What about them? They were going to have motor races. And what about aeroplanes? I dont know what youre talking about. If I might venture a guess. I think the Mylords came up with all sorts of adventures at rst which never came to anything because nobody was interested in them as Olympic events. The French are holding a big international motor race, I believe, in a couple of weeks time, and there was a balloon race last month in England, but the Olympic Committee wouldnt have had anything to do with them, as most of the participants are professionals. Mr Sullivan, speaking of professionalism, I understand the English have queried the bona des of some of our athletes? You understand correctly, Sir, but their doubts were entirely without justication. No country in the world assesses its athletes more strictly than ours, and I told the Olympic Committee that if they rejected a single athlete I would withdraw our whole team. The English make a lot of rules, but outside Oxford and Cambridge the whole concept of amateurism is a joke. Mr Sullivan, were told the British have built the biggest stadium in the world. Would you like to... The British! The British! Would you like to know how the stadium got built, Mr Blumental? Have you heard of Mr Imre Kiralfy, of the great White City Exhibition in Chicago? The partner of our own Phineas T. Barnum? Well, hes lived in England for a while now, even though all his money is American, and hes built another Great White City in London, with a Great White Stadium inside it, though Ive heard even he didnt have the time or the money to line the walls of the stadium, so it looks more like a gasworks than a palace. Let me tell you, Mr Blumental, the great British public have contributed less than 10,000 dollars to these Olympic Games, while Mr Kiralfy has spent a quarter of a million of his own money. Hes a businessman; I guess he reckons hell get it all back and more, but dont go telling me this stadium was built with British money! Mr Sullivan, I think it fair to say that you have been the driving force behind American athletics for 20 years...
17
Redwood! Sullivan! Redwood! Sullivan! Kirby!
Greenstone! Sullivan!
Blumental ! Sullivan !
Golding!
Sullivan! Golding! Sullivan! Golding! Kirby! Sullivan!
Thats very kind. ... and the United States Special Commissioner to the Olympic Games since 1900... Yes, thats true. So would you like to tell us why you think you havent been elected to the International Olympic Committee by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Mr Golding, I hardly think that... Its all right, Mr Kirby, Im happy to answer that. Ive got nothing to hide, and Ive got nothing to be ashamed of. The fact is, gentlemen, that Mr Coubertin is a visionary, a dreamer of high ideals, but when it comes to reality he gets bogged down in fussy little details which in the end somebody else has to turn into concrete events. Luckily he had the Prince of Greece to do it for him in Greece, but in 1900 he lost control completely, and would have done the same here in the U.S. of A. if I hadnt taken over the organisation. So, he doesnt want me in his mystic circle, and I dont need him trying to run international athletics. I think we understand ourselves. Does that answer your question, Sir? Thank you, Mr Sullivan Well, gentlemen, we have a short night and a long voyage ahead of us, so Im afraid well have to draw this meeting to a close. I have no doubt at all that when we meet here again at the end of next month, we shall have stories of courage, determination and achievement from every member of our glorious young team, and the happy conrmation of total American supremacy in international sport. [Applause, and the Star-Spangled Banner. Blackout]!
Golding! Kirby! !
18
Act 2
SCENE 1. 13 July 1908. An Ofce below the seating of the Great Stadium, White City. ! [This Ofce will be the setting for all of Act 2. It is not very well appointed; the principal feature being Whitworth-Joness desk and typewriter. There are a handful of functional chairs, and piles of documents, either on shelves, bookcases, or on the oor. Laffan and Jones are working when the National Anthem is heard.] Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! ! Swede! Jones! Swede! Listen. I think thats the Royal Party arriving. Wed better go upstairs. The Opening Ceremony will start soon. You go on. Ill just nish this and follow you up. Is His Lordship there? Willy Desborough, Baron de Coubertin, all the International Olympic Committee. Theyve been in place for nearly an hour. Dont miss it. Im on my way. [Laffan leaves. A Swedish delegate comes in.] Excuse me. Not a good time, old fellow. The Opening Ceremonys just about to start. It is about the Ceremony that I wish to speak. I have been instructed to make an ofcial complaint that our national ag has been omitted from the masts around the tops of the Grandstands. What? No, Im sure youre mistaken. Kiralfy assured us the ags of all nations would be ying. I assure you, the Swedish ag is missing. Sweden? Are you sure? We are familiar with our ag. Well, if its true Im most terribly sorry. Im sure it was an oversight. Oversight or not, it is a national insult. I do understand. Ill make an ofcial note and try to have the situation rectied immediately. What does it look like? Its blue, with a yellow cross. Isnt that the same as Finland? Certainly not. Finland has no national ag; it is part of Russia. But they have a team. Theyre marching in the Opening Ceremony. Well, they have no ag. They were told to use the Russian one, but refused. They have only a nameplate. Oh, Lord, this is all very confusing. Im afraid yours may have been mistaken for Finlands, which is why it isnt ying. Rest assured, Sir, I will make sure that not only is the Swedish ag hoisted as soon as possible, but that an ofcial apology is sent to your Chef de Mission.
19
Jones! Swede! Jones! Swede! Jones! Swede! Jones! Swede! Jones! Swede! Jones! Swede! Jones!
Swede! Jones! ! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby!
I am grateful. Now if you will excuse me, I think the ceremony has started. Yes. Thank you for being so understanding. [The Swede leaves, being roughly pushed aside by Gustavus Kirby who barges in.] Are you the guy in charge? Im the Assistant Secretary to the British Olympic Council. Frederick Whitworth-Jones, at your service. Never mind about that. I want to speak to your boss. Im afraid Lord Desborough is in the Royal Box attending the Opening Ceremony. May I be of assistance? You better had be. And fast. Ill do my best. Is there a problem? You bet there is. Why is there no American ag ying over the stadium? Youve got British ags by the dozen, youve got ags of every goddam one of your colonies; youve even got the Chinese dragon and the Jap sun ag, so why the hell havent you got ours? Are you telling me that the American national ag isnt ying? Thats what I just said, didnt I? Now you listen to me. James E. Sullivan sent me along here, and he doesnt take insults like this lying down. Ever since we set foot in this rain-sodden country weve been pushed around like we were just one of your colonies so let me tell you we stopped kowtowing to London in 1776 and were not aiming to start again. Now you nd whoevers responsible for leaving our ag out and you send him to Mr Sullivan, because Im telling you hes close to calling this whole damn charade off and going right home. Now whats his name? Sir, I have the honour to inform you that the man responsible for the provision of national ags around the stadium was Mr Gerald Kiralfy, an American citizen whose brother is, I believe, a member of the United States track and eld athletics team. What? I think I can assure you, Sir, that if your ag is missing, it is due to an oversight on the part of one of your own countrymen, and certainly not a deliberate action by any member of the British Olympic Council. Nevertheless, I will endeavour to have one raised for you as soon as possible. Thank you. Im sorry I was... If youll forgive me, Ill report back to Mr Sullivan. Of course. Im glad to have been able to help. [Kirby leaves. Laffan returns.]
Jones! Kirby!
Jones!
Kirby! Jones!
Kirby! Jones! !
20
Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan!
Freddy, are you still here? Dont say you missed it. Thats all right, Robert. There were one or two little problems to sort out. Who was that chap you passed on the way in? Gustavus Kirby, one of the American Olympic Committee. Ah. How did it all go? Like clockwork, as a matter of fact, in spite of the weather. The stadium was less than a quarter full. Im afraid the ticket prices have put people off, as well as the rain. The King was good - in fact hes still here watching the 1500 metres and swimming. Of course not every nation could manage a real march-past, but the British Empire looked splendid. The poor Finns of course, didnt have a ag. The Americans forgot to dip theirs in front of the king; in fact to be honest they looked a bit ragged. For a start they werent all there, and those who came were in their ordinary clothes rather than sports kit. Still, they doffed their caps politely enough. Kirby told me that the American ag was missing from the stadium. Yes, Im afraid hes correct, but they werent alone. The ags of St Andrew and St Patrick were there, but not St George. Nor the Swedish ag, Im told. I said Id get them up as soon as possible. Good man. Are you going to do that now? Yes. [Jones leaves. Kirby comes in.] Dr Laffan. I wish to make a formal complaint about the way the Americans have been discriminated against in the seeding of the races today. Indeed? How do you feel they were discriminatory? We have four of the nest 1500 metre runners in the world. How come they were entered in just two heats? Since only the winner of each heat goes through to the Final, you must have known that two of them would be eliminated beforehand. John Halstead is the second fastest man in America - maybe in the world - and you arranged for him to run against the fastest man in the world in Round One. I agree that in this case the situation was unfortunate, but the allocation of places was entirely according to the regulations, which state that entries shall be distributed at random across the heats. But you distributed six athletes into four heats, when there were actually eight races.
Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! ! Kirby!
Laffan! Kirby!
Laffan!
Kirby!
21
Laffan!
I fear I must remind you, Sir, that there were in fact ten American athletes entered for the 1500 metres, and I assure you that they were indeed randomly distributed. Two races had to include two athletes each. The fact that four of your entries subsequently withdrew did not seem to the AAA to be a good reason for re-allocating the runners once the programme had been nalised. Its an outrage, and I require my protest to be formally registered and presented to the Comit dHonneur. I shall do so with pleasure. [Jones Comes back.] Ah, Freddy, how did you get on? I think weve sorted it out, Sir. Apparently there were so many American ags ying around the outside of the stadium that it wasnt noticed that there werent enough for the tops of the grandstands. They had to be made specially, Im told, as the design changed last week from having 45 stars to 46. Really? Yes. I believe Im correct in saying that Oklahoma joined the United States on the 4th of July. Congratulations, Mr Kirby. Humbug. It looks like humbug to me. Well. I think weve covered all that is necessary for the time being. Your protest is noted, Mr Kirby, and will be formally considered tomorrow. Now I think we might go upstairs and catch some of the Gymnastic Exhibitions, dont you? Im told the Danish ladies team looks very fetching. [Blackout.]
Kirby! Laffan! ! ! Jones!
Laffan! Jones! Kirby! Laffan!
22
SCENE 2. 17 July 1908. The Ofce. ! [Freddy Whitworth-Jones is chalking up a board with the date, a list of countries and their medals so far. It reads as follows: Nation Great Britain United States Sweden Norway Canada Belgium France Germany Australia Greece New Zealand Austria ! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby comes in.] Whats this? Oh, good morning, Mr Kirby. Its just a list of the medals won so far. Its not ofcial of course. So it wont be published? Well, you know how the papers like their tables and statistics. I know how the British papers love anything that puts the United States down - what are they going to make of this? I couldnt say. Dont be smug with me, Mister. You make it look as if the British are better at sport than all the other nations put together. Its a list of medals, thats all. Now you listen to me. The Opening Ceremony was less than a week ago how do you make out youve won 60 medals already? Oh, I see. You misunderstand, Mr Kirby. The ceremony on Monday opened the events in the Great Stadium, but the rst competitions were in April. April! That was three months ago! What competitions were those? Gold 20 8 3 2 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Silver 21 5 2 0 2 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 Bronze 18 3 3 2 2 1 3 1 0 0 1 1
Kirby!
23
Jones! Kirby! Jones!
The racquets tournament, I believe, was the rst. Then came the tennis, polo and all the shooting. Racquets! What the hells racquets? Its quite a popular sport over here. Two players hit a ball alternately against a wall in a specially shaped court, and when one of them fails to return a hit he loses a point. There are several clubs in the United States, but no Americans entered the Olympic competition. So who did enter? I believe all the entrants were English on this occasion, but every nation was given the opportunity to participate. Yeah, I bet it was. How many nations transported their ponies to Britain for the polo? There was an Irish team. And what a long journey they had. How many teams were there altogether? Three, in the end, but again, I must stress that... Yeah, yeah, you invited the Indians and the Chinese and the Patagonians and they just didnt take up the opportunity. Where did the Irish come? They lost to Roehampton in the nal. Roehampton? Is that a Nation? No, no, only kidding. Its an English club, right? Well... So the Irish won a Silver Medal. And yesterday Mr Denis Horgan came second in the Shot Putting as well. Thats two, but I dont see Ireland on your board there. Mr Kirby, you know as well as I do that Ireland is part of Great Britain. Medals won by English, Irish, Welshmen or Scots are all included in the British totals. You wouldnt want every State of the Union to be listed separately, would you? Very clever. When you want to prove how international you are you can call Ireland a different country, and when you want to pretend youre the best sporting nation in the world you can just wrap it up with England. This whole Olympic imam has been a British stitch-up from the start. You just cant accept that your time is over, can you? Nothing has been done without the consent of the International Olympic Committee, which is composed of members from 25 nations from all over the world.
Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby!
Jones!
Kirby!
Jones!
24
Kirby!
Who, when Rome pulled out, were railroaded into granting Britain total authority in these games. Well, Ill tell you something, the world is watching you now, and you know what, theyre not looking at your polo tournaments or your racquet games, theyre watching the track and eld. Theyve watched the United States winning the 1500 metres, the Shot, the Discus and the Hammer just this week, and theyre going to watch a whole lot more before your King has to swallow his pride and hand out a bagful of medals to the real champions of the games at the end of next week. Well, we shall see. Now can I suggest we go upstairs and have a look at the Archery? I believe the Ladies Tournament is still going on. And how many nations are competing in that? No, dont tell me; theres an Irishwoman competing and that makes it international. [There is a furious argument outside, which Jones and Kirby listen to.] [off] I assure you, Mr Sullivan, that the Liverpool Police have done nothing against either the letter or the spirit of the rules. [off] Nothing against the rules? Didnt you see those boots they had on? They were so heavy they could hardly walk. [off] Mr Sullivan, this really isnt seemly. Ive asked Mr Park to join us in the ofce, and he will no doubt clarify the situation. [They come in. Laffan and Jones stand up.] Excuse us, Gentlemen. Please dont leave. Mr Sullivan wants to make a complaint about the Tug-of-war. Gus; Im glad youre here. Did you see what happened just now? No, Sir, I was just going up when you arrived. What was it? Another example of British fair play and sportsmanship, thats what happened. We had the biggest, strongest tug-of-war team this side of the Atlantic and you know what - when the English turned up they were wearing metal-rimmed, studded boots. What was your team wearing? Athletic shoes, of course, like they always do; like all athletic teams always do. I see. Im afraid you seem to have misunderstood the nature of the tug-ofwar competition. You see, our teams are specialists in their eld. Theyre not composed of ad hoc collections of heavy throwers and weightlifters. They wear their ordinary footwear, not athletics shoes. Im certain they wouldnt have altered it. They were wearing boots. Well, theyre policemen. Thats what they wear.
25
Jones! Kirby! ! Desborough! Sullivan! Desborough! ! ! Sullivan! Kirby! Sullivan !
Jones! Sullivan! Jones!
Sullivan! Jones!
Sullivan! ! Desborough!
With studs and metal rims? They just had to lean back and their boots dug trenches in the ground. [There is knock on the door and Park comes in.] Ah, Park, come in. Thank you for coming. Mr Sullivan, may I introduce Mr Park, Secretary of the Liverpool Police Athletic Society. Mr Sullivan is the Secretary of the American Olympic Committee. Sir. Now, Park, would you like to tell us how you felt the rst round of the tug-of-war went? Well, Sir, Im afraid there wasnt much of a contest. It didnt look as if the Americans really knew what they were doing, if you see what I mean. They had their arms outstretched along the rope, and their anchorman didnt wrap the rope round his body. The rst tug took only a few seconds, and then the Americans left the eld. We were given the match by default. Letting the crowd to see how badly you were cheating was part of our protest. Ralph Rose didnt wrap the rope round his body because he could see it was a waste of time. Do you deny that your team was wearing boots with steel rims and cleats? Thats their normal footwear, Sir. The other police teams are wearing the same. Its what they always wear. They use old uniform boots when theyre too shabby to wear on duty. [pulling out a book of rules] So what do you say to this? No competitor shall wear prepared boots with any projecting nail, tips, sprigs, points, hollows or projections of any kind. Our boots dont have any projections. The rims and cleats are ush with the soles. And I assure you there was no preparation or alteration of any kind. Is that so? Then what about this: No competitor shall make any hole in the ground with his feet? If youll forgive me, Sir, I think youll nd that the rule says that making holes is only forbidden before the start of the tug. After that its quite natural - well, its inevitable really - for the shoes to dig into the turf. Do you deny that the conditions were manifestly unfair? No, Sir. Not at all. Your athletes were poorly prepared, and they werent wearing the normal footwear for the sport. Ours have been training for some time and knew what they were doing. The contest was certainly unfair, but if youll forgive my saying so, youve got nobody to blame for that except yourselves. Yes, thank you, Park; we dont want to be ungentlemanly.
Park! Desborough! Park!
Sullivan!
Park!
Sullivan!
Park!
Sullivan! Park!
Kirby! Park!
Desborough!
26
Park! Laffan! Park! ! Desborough!
Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir. I expect youll be wanting to watch the two London teams pull. Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir. My Lord. Mr Sullivan. [He leaves.] Well, I think weve answered your complaint, Mr Sullivan, dont you? But please dont hesitate to let us know if you nd anything unsatisfactory. As the cradle of modern sport we are determined to show our child to the world in the fairest possible light. [Blackout.]
SCENE 3. 23 July 1908. The Ofce. ! [Freddy Whitworth-Jones is amending the scoreboard which now says: Nation Great Britain United States Sweden France Germany Norway Canada Belgium Finland Hungary South Africa Greece Denmark Australia Russia Italy New Zealand Austria ! Desborough! Gold 31 15 4 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Silver 32 9 2 3 3 1 2 2 1 1 0 2 1 1 1 1 0 0 Bronze 25 7 6 6 2 2 5 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1
Laffan is sorting through les. Desborough is reading a paper.] Two days to go, thank God. I wonder how well upset them today.
27
Laffan!
I think theyve quietened down a bit. Theyre doing well in the Stadium, which was always their main focus, and since we rearranged the 800 metre heats so that Sheppard and Halstead ran in different races Mr Halpin has been almost friendly. That and moving the High Jump to the sand pit so they didnt have to land on grass. Whos Halpin? The American Coach. The weathers improved, the stadiums lling up a bit. The new prices have helped. It was nearly half-full yesterday. It will be lucky to pay for itself though. Just as well were not underwriting the cost. Still, the Olympic Games certainly havent done the Franco-British Exhibition any harm, so maybe Kiralfy will make up on the Exhibition gate what he loses on the stadium. Did you see Mr Ewry jumping? The famous Human Frog? Yes. Extraordinary fellow. Cant run very well because he had polio as a child, but unbeatable at the standing events. Just as well we didnt have standing triple jump or he would have taken that too. Hes just won his tenth Olympic title. A clean sweep since 1900. Have you been watching the Fencing? Certainly. I saw the team nals after lunch, and Ive just come back from the individual semi-nals. Very good standard, and very international. No Americans though, so it was all very polite. Have you got the schedule there, Freddy? Yes, My Lord. Theres just the 400 metre nal left today, at half past ve. Ah, yes. Wyndham Halswelle versus three Americans. Do you think thats safe? How do you mean? Oh, I dont know; it can be quite a tactical race. Do you think we should ask the AAA to put up lanes, with strings, as we do for the hundred and two hundred? No, no; that would simply advertise our suspicious nature and antagonise them. Just make sure the ofcials are alert, thats all. In fact I think Ill go up now just to have a look round before it starts. Did you organise the extra police for Saturday, Freddy? Yes, My Lord. Theyre looking forward to it. And Ive passed on the news about Longboat. Longboat?
Jones! Laffan! Desborough! Laffan! Desborough!
Laffan! Desborough!
Laffan! Desborough!
Jones! Desborough! Laffan! Desborough! Laffan! Desborough!
Jones! Laffan!
28
Desborough!
Yes. A Canadian chap, entered for the Marathon. The Americans protested that he was a professional. The Canadians said he wasnt. Objection overruled. You sound as if our transatlantic friends are getting you down,Willy. Do I? Its been a long week. At least the 400 metres should cheer us up. Halswelles got a very good chance. He broke the Olympic Record in the semis. It should be a good race. Ill come with you. What about you, Freddy? Yes. I think weve just about nished here for the day. [They all leave. There is a pause, and then an American athlete (Gilbert) comes in and starts ferreting about. Eventually he nds a small hand-axe, which he secretes about his person and then leaves. Off stage we hear the gun for the 400 metres, the crowd noise rising to a crescendo, and then voices shouting Break the tape and No race, No race and the cheers changing to boos. After a while Jones comes quickly into the Ofce and takes his place behind the desk. A few seconds later Sullivan and Kirby burst in.] Wheres Desborough? Good afternoon, Gentlemen. Im afraid His Lordship is upstairs in his box. Can I help? No, you cant help. You cant help because its too late. Its too late for you and your so-called British fair-play and sportsmanship; theyre nished, nished for ever. Then Im not sure what I... Just because you couldnt bear to lose the race, right there, in front of 50,000 people, you had to call the race off. Carpenter was winning the race of his life, with your man a good way second, and your pompous ofcials just couldnt take it. [Desborough and Laffan come in.] Ah, Mr Sullivan, Mr Kirby. I thought you might be here. I imagine you want to lodge a protest. You bet your life we want to lodge a protest. How dare your ofcials declare that race void? I expect they thought someone was breaking the rules. The only people who broke the rules were your Goddam ofcials. They cant abide anybody except an Englishman winning a race and now everybody can see what a bunch of mean-spirited, duplicitous...
Laffan! Desborough!
Laffan! Jones! !
Sullivan! Jones! Sullivan!
Jones! Sullivan!
! Desborough! Sullivan! Desborough! Sullivan !
29
Desborough!
Mr Sullivan. I can see that you have strong feelings on the matter. Might I suggest that Mr Kirby dictate the exact nature of your protest to Mr Whitworth-Jones here, so that the Comit dHonneur can discuss the matter rationally? How long will that take? Im sure we can have a decision in an hour or so. An hour? Youre going to take an hour? Gus, if I stay here I shall be arrested. Do what the man says, will you? Im going to see Carpenter and Robbins. [Sullivan leaves.] With pleasure, Sir. I hope youve got a new ribbon, Mr Secretary. Certainly, Sir. Ill leave Mr Kirby with you, Robert. It would be a good idea for Freddy to put your view of the race on paper as well, I think. Id better go and talk to the judges. Yes, good idea. Please go ahead, Mr Kirby. Right. As the runners came off the last bend... Excuse me, Sir. If I can just record the details. God dammit, Im telling you the details. Yes, just a moment, Sir. Thursday, 23rd of July, 5:30 pm, 400 metre footrace, nal. Athletes: Halswelle, Great Britain, Carpenter, Robbins and... John Taylor. Taylor, United States of America. Right. The runners were... Protest by Mr Gustavus Kirby, of the American Olympic Committee. Are you ready now? Go ahead, Sir. The runners came off the nal bend with Carpenter leading, Robbins just inside on his left shoulder and Halswelle behind him on the right. Taylor was fourth. Go on. All three runners ran directly for the tape, a distance of about one hundred metres, in a straight line and without deviating. Halswelle was not fast enough to overtake Carpenter on the outside, nor Robbins on the inside. Taylor was a yard or so behind Robbins. About half-way down the straight, an English ofcial jumped out onto the track waving his hands and shouting foul, break the tape and no race.
Sullivan! Desborough! Sullivan!
! Kirby! Jones! Desborough!
Laffan! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby!
Jones! Kirby!
30
Laffan! Kirby!
It was Dr Badger. Some ofcials ran down the track behind the runners, and others jumped out in front of them. They broke the tape across the nish line. Carpenter ran on and won the race, followed by Robbins. Halswelle more or less gave up and came in third, and Taylor was dragged off the track before he could cross the nish. This was a agrant attempt by the English ofcials to prevent another American victory and the United States Olympic Committee protest in the strongest possible terms. Thank you, Sir. Would you like to read this through and sign it? Sure. Dr Laffan? Yes. I watched the race from the grandstand, and I agree with Mr Kirbys account of the race as the runners came off the bend. However, Im afraid his is distorting the truth when he says that the runners ran in a straight line without deviating. Robbins, who had led for most of the way, was on the curb and ran directly along it towards the nish. I nd no fault with him. Carpenters straight line, however, started about a yard out from the curb, and ended about a yard away from the outside border of the track, so he ran in a diagonal line, preventing Halswelle from passing. When the tape was broken Robbins and Halswelle slowed down, and the order of crossing the nish was Carpenter, Robbins, Halswelle. And Taylor? I think he was unintentionally obstructed by ofcials on the track. I cant say whether he reached the nish or not. Right. Do you think Carpenters action was deliberate? I dont see how it could have been otherwise. He must have felt Halswelle coming up on his shoulder, and if he was concerned only with his own race he would have run straight, not boring across diagonally. Thank you, Sir. Would you like to sign your statement? Right. Im going to nd Sullivan. This isnt going to die down, you know. [Kirby goes out.] What will happen? I think theyll have to run the race again. Maybe with the lanes separated by strings. Its too late today. Tomorrow afternoon? During the Marathon? Saturday would be better, after the Hurdles nal. Ill suggest it if you like. What about Carpenter? Do you think we should disqualify him?
Jones! Kirby! Jones! Laffan!
Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan!
Jones! Kirby! ! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan!
31
Jones! Laffan!
What do you think? I dont know. He must have known he was blocking Halswelle. I think Im very happy to leave it to Willy. The AAA will make the formal decision, of course, but whatever he decides will be accepted; hes such a good smoother of troubled waters. I think Ill go and nd him now. Have you got carbons of these? Can I take them? Yes, certainly. Thanks. Well, Ill be off. See you tomorrow. Goodnight, Sir. [Jones begins to amend the medal chart. Nation Great Britain United States Sweden France Germany Norway Canada Belgium Finland Hungary South Africa Greece Denmark Australia Russia Italy New Zealand Austria Bohemia Blackout.] Gold 32 16 4 3 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 Silver 33 11 2 3 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 3 1 1 2 2 0 0 0 Bronze 26 8 6 6 2 2 5 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 1
Jones! Laffan! Jones! !
32
SCENE 4. 24 July 1908. The Ofce. ! [Freddy Whitworth-Jones is still there. There is a commotion outside, and Laffan, followed by Alfred Gilbert and a Policeman.] Gilbert! Laffan! Policeman! ! Gilbert! Laffan! Gilbert! Laffan! Jones! Gilbert! Jones! Gilbert! Jones! Gilbert! Jones! Gilbert! Jones! Laffan! Leave me alone, will you, Im not an anarchist. Yes, thank you, Constable. Ill take it from here. Very good, Sir. Heres his weapon, Sir. [He hands over a hand-axe and leaves.] Thank you. Now would you mind letting me go? If you would like to explain why you were arrested defacing the stadium with an axe. Oh, come on. You know who I am. Yes. Mr Whitworth-Jones, may I introduce Mr Gilbert, of the American athletics team. Pleased to meet you. Charmed, Im sure. Forgive me for asking, but why were you... For heavens sake. I wasnt defacing the stadium. I was simply cutting the small trench we all use to plant our poles in. Im a pole vaulter. But you cant do that? Why not? Its what we always do. Not in Britain, we dont. We have a spike on the end of the pole which we stick into the ground, but we dont dig a hole. With respect, Sir, the British dont do a lot of pole vaulting. The British record is so low the record holder didnt even enter the Olympics. I see. This is hardly the point, Im afraid. This was discussed some days ago, when we agreed to move the competition to the sand pit to improve the landing. There is no provision in our rules for the digging of a trench... Theres nothing in the rules against it. Theres nothing in the rules against using a ladder either, but I feel sure that even you would cry foul if someone tried to use one. Trenches are usual. Not in Britain, and they were specically outlawed some days ago. If you want to compete in the Pole Jump youll have to use a pole with a spike like everybody else. Well, Id like to register a protest, thats all. Well note it. Thank you, Mr Gilbert.
33
Gilbert! Laffan! Gilbert! Laffan!
Gilbert! Laffan!
Gilbert! Laffan! Gilbert! ! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! ! Jones!
If youve taken away another American medal, I dont know what Mr Sullivan will say. I think I probably do. Dont let us keep you - I think the rst round is already underway. Youre something else, you English, you really are. [He leaves.] Have you seen this, Sir? What is it? Its from the Palace. His Majesty regrets that he will not be presenting the prizes tomorrow. He wont even be there. What about the Queen? It doesnt say. Id better talk to Willy. If he cant get round the Royal Family nobody can. Is there any reason given? No. Hes been following the games quite closely. I think hes making his own protest against the Americans, in his own way. The Queen is due this afternoon, to watch the end of the Marathon. Willyll be back by then. Hes at Windsor starting the race at the moment. Will we know how it gets on? Oh, yes. Jack Andrew has got men posted in all the hotels on the way round, who will telephone the names of the rst few runners who pass them to us here, and theyll be chalked up on that board. Then a board carrier and the London Toastmaster will let the spectators know. I hope hes got a loud voice; the stadiums almost full, and there are crowds outside coming in. Hes the best they could nd, and he does have a loud hailer. [The phone rings. Jones answers it.] The Great Stadium. Thank you. Ill let them know. [He replaces the phone.] Theyve started. Theyre very late. Well, they must have started a few minutes ago. The telephone call was from a hotel in Eton. They actually started in a eld outside the castle, so it took a while to reach a telephone. How many were there in the end, do you know?
Laffan! Jones! ! ! ! ! Laffan! Jones!
Laffan!
34
Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan!
55, I believe, Sir. There are 75 in the programme, but quite a few seem to have withdrawn. When will the leaders reach us? About half past ve, Sir. Whats on between now and then? Wrestling mostly, Sir. The pole vault, some swimming relays. The heats of a running relay. And theres still some fencing going on at the pistes. The running relay should be interesting. Its not been held before. Two 200 metre sprint legs, and then a 400 metres and an 800 metres to follow. Have we got a chance? Im afraid not, Sir. Were up against the Americans in the rst round. Each of their runners has already beaten their equivalent on our team except Taylor. Taylor? The black chap in the 400 metres. The man who was coming last when it was called off. What happened about that in the end? A re-run tomorrow? Not exactly. Just as we predicted they decided to re-run the race, but without Carpenter, who was disqualied. But then his team mates refused to take part. So whos running? The ones who came second in the semis? No. Nobody. Just Wyndham Halswelle. On his own? It wont be much of a race. He deserves a gold medal. He would have beaten Carpenter. Still. Itll look a bit queer. [The phone rings. Jones answers it.] The Great Stadium. Yes. Hold on. Can you speak up? I cant hear you. Go on. Thank you. [He replaces the phone.] That was the Grand Hotel in Uxbridge. The streets are crammed with spectators, and theyre all making a lot of noise. The order at the moment is Lord and Price, more or less together, followed by the little Italian chap Dorando, and then Hefferon, the South African. England one and two, eh. I hope they havent started too fast. Ill write their numbers up. Then someone will copy them for the crowd outside.
Jones!
Laffan! Jones! Laffan!
Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! ! ! ! !
Laffan! Jones!
35
[Successive phases of information are displayed. Lights and music indicate the passage of time. Jones answers the phone, erases the board, writes, answers the phone, erases and writes as follows: 8 Miles 54 55 19 8 F.Lord J. Price D.Pietri C. Hefferon Great Britain Great Britain Italy South Africa
12 miles 55 8 54 19 J. Price C. Hefferon F.Lord D. Pietri Great Britain South Africa Great Britain Italy
16 miles 8 72 19 54 C. Hefferon T.Longboat D. Pietri F. Lord South Africa Canada Italy Great Britain
20 miles 8 19 72 60 C. Hefferon D. Pietri T.Longboat F.Appleby South Africa Italy Canada Great Britain
24 miles 8 19 26 24 C. Hefferon D. Pietri J. Hayes J. Forshaw South Africa Italy United States United States
Reality returns as Jones nishes the last number.]
36
Laffan!
What do you think, Freddy? Ten minutes? I think Ill go up. Its going to be an exciting nish. Number 8 is Hefferon, isnt it, the South African? I suppose if we cant have a Briton, at least an Empire win will be some consolation. Hes English really, Sir. He emigrated to South Africa after the war. I think Ill wait for the warning cannon. Its on Wormwood Scrubbs, just before they come into the stadium. As you wish. [As he leaves, Kirby comes in.] Whos coming third? Isnt it on the board? Im sure I wrote it on. Yes, there is. At 24 miles it was number 26, I think. I might have guessed. Its not on the board outside. Keep the American a secret. Thats Johnny Hayes. Its not a secret. But it might have changed by now. That was just the last information to be phoned in. I expect cyclists are bringing more recent news now, and the positions may be different. Nonsense; they just dont want to show an American challenging for the lead. Well, wont they be surprised when he comes into the stadium rst. [A cannon is heard.] Theyre coming in. Shall we go up and watch? [They both go out. A soundtrack takes over. The crowd noise reaches a crescendo. Voices shout Here comes Hefferon! Come on, the Empire! Its not, its the Italian. Its Dorando! Crowd gasps as Pietri staggers in. He can hardly walk! He can hardly stand! Wheres Hefferon? Crowd gasps as Pietri falls over. Dorandos fallen over Somebody help him! Its against the rules. No, hes on his feet! Crowd gasps as Pietri falls over again. Not again! Help him, somebody. Hes going to die! If hes disqualied, whos going to win? Whos coming second? I dont know; he hasnt come into the stadium.
Jones!
Laffan! ! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones!
Kirby! ! Jones! ! Soundtrack! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! ! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! ! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! ! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! Voice 2!
37
Voice 3! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! ! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! ! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! ! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! Voice 2! Voice 3! Voice 1! ! Kirby! Laffan! Kirby! Laffan! Kirby!
If its Hefferon, hell win. Only if the Italians disqualied! Who cares? We cant let him die in front of the queen. Theyve got him up again. Crowd gasps as Hayes comes into the stadium. Heres Hefferon... Its not, its Hayes. Its an American. Wheres Hefferon? Hayes is catching up! Crowd gasps as Pietri falls over. Dorandos down again. Theyre massaging him. Theyre helping him. Hes got to be disqualied. Then Hayes will win. Hes up. Dorandos up. Hes going to make it. Here comes Hefferon! Hes just come into the stadium! He cant catch up. Heres Dorando! Theyre practically carrying him! No, theyre not, they just ready in case he collapses again. They dont want the American to win. Crowd crescendo as Dorando crosses the line. Hes won. Dorandos crossed the line! Hes collapsed. Where are the stretcher bearers? Heres Hayes nishing now. Is he rst or second? Who cares? Hes nished. Dorandos being carried off. He looks dead. Is he dead? No, hes still breathing. Hefferon third. And theres two Americans behind him. Look, theyve raised the Italian ag. Dorandos won! Dorandos won? Dorando! The Soundtrack nishes, except for crowd FX. Kirby comes crashing into the ofce, followed after his rst outburst by Laffan and Whitworth-Jones.] I demand... Im so sorry, Mr Kirby, you beat us to it. That Italian was carried over the line. He must be disqualied. Its another of your attempts to stop an American winning. Mr Kirby, thats a ridiculous... Ridiculous, is it? Ridiculous? When you thought Hefferon was coming in behind him you just let Dorando lie on the track when he fell, waiting for him to get up, but as soon as you knew it was Hayes, you couldnt stop
38
yourself, could you? Jack Andrew and that Dr Bulger practically lifted him off his feet and dragged him over the line, just to prevent an American winning. Laffan! Kirby! Laffan! Kirby! Laffan! Kirby! Laffan! ! ! Desborough! Sullivan! Desborough! Sullivan! Desborough! Sullivan! Desborough! ! Sullivan! Mr Kirby, I agree with you. I dont care whether you agree with me or not, what I want is... You agree. So youll disqualify Dorando? I feel certain that if the American Athletics Union lodges a formal protest against Mr Dorando Pietri, it will be upheld. What do you mean if? Why do you need a protest? Its obvious to anybody with a real sense of fair play. Obvious or not, Mr Pietri crossed the nish line rst, and the only way to disqualify him is to go through the proper channels. Flimam. I dare say, but its not up to me. However I shall be very surprised if Mr Sullivan isnt in consultation with Lord Desborough even as we speak. [Commotion outside, as Desborough and Sullivan come in] Ah, just as I thought. In the circumstances I think the assistance offered to Mr Pietri was entirely justied. Justied! Indeed. It looked very much as if the poor man might have expired on the track, and not to have come to his aid would have been unthinkable. Well, we couldnt have an American winning in front of the queen now, could we? Thats a rather uncivil remark, Mr Sullivan. Preventing a man from dying has nothing to do either with winning a race or with the royal family. The fact remains that Dorando was assisted, and even your rules say thats not allowed. He must be disqualied. The man is ghting for his life, for Gods sake, and all you care about is winning a race! Have you no sense of priority? No common decency? [The phone rings. Jones answers, quietly, then hangs up.] Sir, I care as much about that poor man as you do, but I wont let you use his suffering as a way of bamboozling America out of whats rightfully ours. You call cheating, sportsmanship; you call assistance, fair play, you call everything you do, right and everything we do, wrong... Excuse me, gentlemen, theres news about Dorando. Hes... Dead? Disqualied?
39
Jones! Desborough! Sullivan!
Jones!
Hes been taken to hospital, but seems out of danger. And, yes, Mr Hayes, of the United States of America has been pronounced the winner of the Marathon race. [Blackout.]
SCENE 5. 31 October 1908. The Ofce. ! [Whitworth-Jones is packing up. The sound of a hockey match is going on overhead. Laffan comes in.] Laffan! Jones! All right, Freddy? Yes, thank you, Sir. About ten minutes and itll all be over. The games of the fourth Olympiad of the modern era. Its been just over six months since the rst racquets game. Racquets! Good Lord, Id forgotten all about that. When was it? 27th of April, Sir, and now its the 30th of October. And we never got round to golf, or cricket. Riding. Hot air ballooning. The motorboating came off, though. I heard they all sank. Not quite, although the weather was awful. There were only two boats in each event, and only one managed to complete the course each time. Did you go to the yachting? I went to the Isle of Wight, but I wasnt going to go up to Scotland for the 12 metre class. There were only two boats, both British. Another two medals for Britain. Sullivan would have complained. Thats 56 gold, 51 silver and 38 bronze out of a possible 110 each. Be honest. How many were unopposed? Oh, Sir. Henley was fun. The rowing. Lord Desborough was in his element. That was international enough; eight countries. I missed the skating. Oh, it was wonderful. Salchow, the Swede, was extraordinary, and the girls, of course, were enchanting. Enchanting. Of course. And the lacrosse, the football, the rugby, and now the hockey. Its all been such fun. Its what sport is really about. The Americans just couldnt understand that. Lets face it, everything was fun once the Americans had gone home.
Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan!
Jones!
40
Laffan!
Very few of their athletes complained. Hayes did, of course, in the marathon, and the 400 metre runners, but nobody else. Not even the tugof-war team. Between you and me, I think they were quite embarrassed by their ofcials. Sullivan and Kirby. [Pause] The queen was nice. Yes. Did you see the cup she presented to Dorando Pietri? It was very clear who she thought had really won. The Daily Mail raised a subscription for him too, led by Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle. He got 300 out of that. A composer called Irving Berlin has written a song about him. Yes. Ive heard it; I dont think Mr Berlin has much of a future. They say Pietris going to race Hayes again, in New York, next month. [A whistle signals the end of the hockey. The National Anthem is played.] Thats it then. Youve worked jolly hard. I think youve probably trumped me there, Sir. Dont you believe it. I know what youve done, and Im very grateful. His Lordships been a good man to work for. He has, hasnt he? Hes already looking forward to the next games in Athens, and then 1912 in Stockholm. Theres a dinner tonight. Are you coming? Yes. It should be fun. I wonder if well ever hold them here again. I dont know. Not in a hurry I would think. Maybe every forty or fty years instead of every four. [Freeze. Slow fade to blackout.] The Olympic Anthem fades under the announcement of Jacques Rogge: The International Olympic Committee has the honour of announcing that the games of the thirtieth Olympiad in 2012 are awarded to the city of London!
Jones! Laffan!
Jones! Laffan! Jones! ! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan!
Jones! Laffan! ! EPILOGUE !
41
THE BATTLE OF SHEPHERDS BUSH AS IT APPEARED IN PRINT ! "I do not wish to criticise British sportsmen generally, for there are many fair minded people among them but I want to make it as strong as possible that the attitude of the English Ofcials of the games was not only outrageous to Americans, but contrary to their own rules, and if these men continue to dictate affairs, England will become athletically degenerate." ! ! ! ! James E. Sullivan, New York Times, August 1908 ! We sincerely hope that this is the last time we shall see American amateur athletes in this country, and we can get on very well without a great many other Americans who are not athletes. ! ! ! ! Academy Magazine, August 1908 ! The whole attitude of the Amateur Athletic Association of Great Britain, and, in fact, a large part of the London press, seems to be to stir up trouble. ! ! ! ! Gustavus Kirby, February 1909 ! Mr Kirbys complaints of personal affronts and trivial indignities are hardly worth publishing, but only show an angry and prejudiced state of mind and prove, unfortunately, that bad losers are to be found even out of England. ! ! ! ! Francis Peabody, September 1908 ! The ofcials who conducted the athletic portion of the Olympic Games were unfair, athletically, that through their ignorance and stupidity they did not give to each contestant a fair chance. ! ! ! ! A Member of the American Olympic Committee, October 1908 ! We do not think that the reputation of the American Athletic Union for sportsmanship will be enhanced by the action of its leading ofcers and the athletes under its charges in uttering wholesale slanders against our ofcials. It is only too evident that nothing short of the entire control of the games would have appeased Yankee ofcials. ! ! ! ! The Sporting Life, October 1908 ! All blame and censure for bad feeling, unpleasant memories and disquieting fears must be and is laid at the feet of and upon the ofcials of the Games. ! ! ! ! Gustavus Kirby, October 1908
42
! With the President of our Committee I acknowledge kindly that the British Olympic Council was always guided by the highest mind of justice and impartiality in the organisation and unfolding of the Fourth Olympiade. ! ! ! ! Comte Eugne Brunetta dUsseaux, October 1908 ! It was indeed a dire misfortune that, in addition to being incapable, the ofcials were also stupid, losing their heads so completely as to establish a record for incompetency which is not likely to be surpassed in many years to come. ! ! ! ! Caspar Whitney, Outing Magazine, October 1908 ! The British AAA is welcome to the credit of having established a record which will probably never be equalled, for its share of the Olympic Games provided the worst-managed athletic meeting the world has yet seen. ! ! ! ! Caspar Whitney, Outing Magazine, November 1908
43
PROPERTIES LIST ACT 1 Scene 1 SET:! ACT 2 Scene 1 PERSONAL: Laffan! Kirby! Jones! Scene 2 PERSONAL: Desborough! Laffan! Jones! Sullivan! Kirby! Scene 3 SET:! PERSONAL: Desborough! Laffan! Jones! Sullivan! Kirby! Scene 4 SET:! PERSONAL: Desborough! Laffan! Jones! Sullivan! Kirby! Policeman! Scene 5 None
Glasses, Bottles, Decanter, Newspaper (Thomas)
PERSONAL: Desborough! Homburg, Glasses Conan-Doyle! Notebook, Pen Redford! Tray, Letter in Envelope Scene 2 SET:!
! ! !
Top hat Boater, Programme Boater
Glasses, Bottles, Newspaper (Sheridan) PERSONAL: ! None Scene 3 SET:! PERSONAL: Desborough! Conan-Doyle! Reporters! Scene 4 SET:! PERSONAL: Sullivan! Kirby! Reporters!
! ! ! ! !
Homburg Boater Boater Boater, Rulebook Boater
Lectern Address Notes, Glasses Notes Trilby, File, Notes, Pencil
! ! ! ! ! !
Axe (Gilbert) Homburg Boater, Pen Boater Boater, Pen Boater
Lectern Address Notes, Glasses Notes Trilby, Notes, Pencil
! ! ! ! ! ! !
Royal Letter (Jones) Homburg Boater Boater, Programme Boater Boater Axe
44

Shepherd's Bush

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Shepherd's Bush

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Conan-Doyle! Did anyone go? Desborough!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Conan-Doyle! Good old George. Hes a lawyer now, of course. Desborough!

Conan-Doyle! Really? I never heard of them.

Conan-Doyle! Did you...? Desborough!

Conan-Doyle! Baron de Coubertin? Desborough!

Conan-Doyle! Last year, in America? Desborough!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Conan-Doyle! Good Lord. Thomas! Desborough! Thomas!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Thomas! Desborough! Thomas! Desborough!

Thomas! Desborough! Thomas! Desborough! Thomas!

Conan-Doyle ! Never. Desborough! Thomas!

Conan-Doyle! And that was that? Thomas!

Conan-Doyle! Football, cricket and quoits? Thomas!

Conan-Doyle! Will you go? Desborough!

Conan-Doyle! What about rowing? Desborough! Thomas!

Conan-Doyle! Kept him busy. Desborough!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Conan-Doyle! Why not? Thomas! Desborough!

Conan-Doyle! But theyre not due till 1908. Desborough!

Conan-Doyle! Good Lord. Desborough!

Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry!

Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Sheridan! Ewry! Sheridan! Ewry!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Sheridan! Lightbody! Sheridan! Ewry! !

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Conan-Doyle! Mr Blewitt. Blewitt!

Conan-Doyle! Yes, Mr Gould.

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Redwood! Sullivan! Redwood! Sullivan! Kirby!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Sullivan! Golding! Sullivan! Golding! Kirby! Sullivan!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Swede! Jones! ! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby! Jones! Kirby!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan!

Jones! Laffan! Jones! Laffan! Jones! ! Kirby!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Kirby! Laffan! ! ! Jones!

Laffan! Jones! Kirby! Laffan!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Jones! Kirby! Jones!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Jones! Kirby! ! Desborough! Sullivan! Desborough! ! ! Sullivan! Kirby! Sullivan !

Jones! Sullivan! Jones!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Park! Desborough! Park!

Park! Laffan! Park! ! Desborough!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush

Jones! Laffan! Desborough! Laffan! Desborough!

Jones! Desborough! Laffan! Desborough! Laffan! Desborough!

The Battle of Shepherds Bush