McFarland, USA Page #4

No, I don't.

She likes him. Get closer.

Dad, don't, please.

- Can I talk to you a minute?

- Yeah.

You mind if I shut the door?

This requires a shut door?

Cross country running.

California is holding their first

state championship this year.

Cross country?

That's a private school sport.

They breathe different air than we do.

No, it's the same air.

You do understand we don't

have a cross country team?

Yeah, what I don't understand

is why we have a football team instead.

I mean, we have kids here

who seem like they can run forever.

They carbo-load on rice and beans.

I mean, they pick in extreme heat,

they go to school all day

and some of 'em even run home.

I've seen it.

- And it's unbelievable.

- Yeah.

And you've just described

half the kids in the Central Valley.

Jim, let me ask you something.

You've coached cross country before?

No.

- Track?

- No.

But you ran?

Competed in high school maybe?

No.

Well, you sound perfect.

Why are you following me?

Do you know how fast you were going?

What are you, a cop?

Look, I don't know

if this car's speedometer is right,

it's an old car, but if it...

If it is, you're running

almost 12 miles an hour.

Means you'd run a mile in five minutes.

So?

You always run that fast?

I don't got a car, all right?

- Can I give you a lift?

- No.

But you can quit following me.

These are the times

from last year's county meet.

And this is

where Thomas would be right now.

Top 10.

Top 10 in the state,

and he doesn't own a pair

of decent running shoes.

Look, Jim, you might be right.

But there's too many issues here,

the school board being one of them.

But if I had board approval,

you'd back it, right?

Well, yeah, sure,

but that's never gonna happen.

California public school system

pre-approved six new sports

a few years ago to

get funding for new lockers,

including guess what?

Cross country.

And a cross country coach.

Yeah, it says it right here.

"Cross country coach."

First four runners get one of these...

Nice and cold.

Get on the line.

On your marks...

Get set...

Go!

Johnny, stop bothering

those girls and get over here.

Yes.

I wanna ask you a question.

You think the guys in my class

would be into cross country?

Country western ain't my thing, boss.

Cross country running, wise guy.

For what?

To win, to compete.

To impress girls.

Nobody wins around here, White.

Doesn't have to be that way.

I watched you run.

You can beat somebody.

If I felt like it.

Which I don't.

What do you say?

You want to help me get a team together?

How many do we need?

Seven.

You can start with that knucklehead.

Johnny, make sure one of

those guys is Thomas Valles.

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