The Story of Seabiscuit

Quotes: « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Is, uh, is, uh, you folks, uh…? » « Margaret O'Hara: Could you be apt to telling me if there's a certain Mr. Millford, the horse breeder, anywhere about? » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: I don't rightly know what you's saying, missy. I'm here to pick up some folks that's going out to Mr. Millford's farm. A couple of foreigners. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: What language is this strange person talking, Maggie? » « Margaret O'Hara: I'm not sure. » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Don't y'all speak the English language? » « Margaret O'Hara: Yes, we do. Now, you listen carefully. This is Mr. Shawn O'Hara. I'm his niece. We've come all the way from Ireland. Mr. Millford's expecting us. Mr. Millford! » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes'm. Yes'm. You is which I'm looking for. I'm Mr. Millford's boy. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: His boy, you say? » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes, sir. Murphy's the name, sir. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: Murphy – Did he say Murphy? » « Margaret O'Hara: I think he did, Uncle Shawn. Did you say Murphy? » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes, missy. Murphy. They calls me Walkin' Murphy. » « Margaret O'Hara: Walkin' Murphy? » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes'm. Most of us Murphys down here just sit. I walk. » « Margaret O'Hara: Well, that's fine. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: Murphy! Now what part of Ireland are you from? » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: I don't rightly know, sir. Us Murphys down here only got a casual acquaintance with the Irish. » « Margaret O'Hara: Come on, Murphy. Take us to Mr. Millford. » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: I almost forgot what Mr. Millford said. » [clears his throat] « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Welcome to Kentucky, the Bluegrass state. » « Margaret O'Hara: Thanks, Murphy. Start walking. » « Walkin' Murphy, Milford's Boy: Yes'm. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: Paris, Murphy, Bluegrass… » « Margaret O'Hara: It's a strange, new world, Uncle Shawn. » « George Carson, Head Trainer at Milford Farms: I hear you're a magician, Shawn. You can look at a yearling and tell like that whether he'll turn out champion or cow. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: You exaggerate my abilities, George, but… » « Thomas Milford, Owner Milford Farms: But that's exactly why you're here, Shawn. » « George Carson, Head Trainer at Milford Farms: Oh, brother! Why, we can't even tell when they're two-year-olds. Even after we've tested them plenty against each other we sometimes let a future winner go to the sales. » « Margaret O'Hara: Perhaps you've let too many winners get away, Mr. Carson. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: Now, Maggie, naturally George is doubtful. » « Margaret O'Hara: If it's proof you want, Mr. Carson, listen to this: In all the years Uncle Shawn trained for Lord and Lady Maitland in Ireland, devil a colt that turned the trick was sold by them. » « George Carson, Head Trainer at Milford Farms: All right, Miss Margaret. Let me in on the secret, will you? » « Margaret O'Hara: Of course. 'Tis simple. When it comes to a thoroughbred horse, Uncle Shawn is fey. » « George Carson, Head Trainer at Milford Farms: Fey? What's that? » « Margaret O'Hara: It has to do with the little people: elves, gnomes, fairies. » « George Carson, Head Trainer at Milford Farms: So we're going to have the fairies pick our horses for us. Well, I give up. Boss, you can have my resignation whenever you want it. » « Thomas Milford, Owner Milford Farms: Of course not. Don't fly off the handle. You and Shawn will make a great team. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: You've a perfect right to know why I came to America. I'm through training jumping horses for the rest of me days. No doubt you remember the last grand national at Aintree? » « George Carson, Head Trainer at Milford Farms: Oh, sure. I remember. » « Shawn O'Hara, Seabiscuit's Trainer: I saddled the favorite, Blackwatch. And the jockey was Danny, Margaret's brother. He was a great jockey and a great lad. Blackwatch was the best horse, and Danny the best jockey that day. We were the favorite. We had it won handily. He was running easily. It was just as though Danny were taking that grand, strong horse for a gallop. Sure there were jumps, and Blackwatch flew over them. Then came the last jump. Who knows what happened? Not I. Not anyone. They failed to clear it, and Blackwatch was down with Danny under him. Both boy and horse were done for when I got there. For 30 years I've been training jumpers in the so-called sport of kings. But that day at Aintree it came to me that when you kill a lovely lad and break the back of a fine horse the devil's in it, and not kings. A large part of me heart is in Danny's grave. And as for Margaret, I only hope the time will come when the blackness of that day will be lifted from her soul. »