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Short filmTranscript
00:15The first time I remember seeing Eric Little, he was running.
00:22I remember watching him, putting all his strength into every step.
00:30I will never forget Eric Little running. Ever.
00:35Eric Little was running to save my life.
00:39Help! Help!
00:43Fire!
00:47Fire!
00:48Fire!
00:49Fire!
00:52Fire!
00:52Fire!
00:53Fire!
00:53Fire!
00:54Fire!
00:57Fire!
01:24We have a saying in China.
01:28A life is like a piece of paper on which every passerby leaves a mark.
01:39I will tell you a story, a story of a man named Eric Little and how he changed my life
01:47forever.
01:50He had no slanted eyes, no thick black hair.
01:54He was blonde and blue-eyed and fair as snow, but he was born in China, and China will forever
02:03be in his heart.
02:10Eric!
02:12Eric!
02:16Eric!
02:17Eric!
02:18Eric!
02:18Runs like the wind!
02:20Attaboy, Eric!
02:21Oh, James!
02:23Who knows, Mary?
02:24Maybe his speed will come in handy someday.
02:27In God's work!
02:28Oh, Mary dear, we have our plans on the Lord.
02:32Well, the Lord has his.
02:35Eric!
02:36Get away with you!
02:39Come on, lad!
02:40Come on, lad!
02:40Chase me!
02:41It has been said, a young branch takes on all the bends one gives it.
02:46The winds of change were blowing, and like many children of missionaries, Eric was sent
02:54to England to study when he was six years old.
02:58Won't you come too, Father?
03:01I shall visit you and your brother very soon, Eric.
03:05But for now, God needs us here in China.
03:10It's where he has called us to do his work.
03:14Then one day, I shall return to China too, Father, to work for God here.
03:20Come on, Eric!
03:21Let's explore the shade!
03:23School provided education.
03:27Life itself would provide other lessons to make the boy a man.
03:36And leading the race is none other than national champion, Eric Little, ladies and gents.
03:43There he goes.
03:44Oh, your boy's got no style, Tom.
03:46What kind of a coach are you?
03:48This man of speed continues to win race after race, and...
03:55My, oh, my!
03:56Little has just tripped a no amazing Eric Little heads back into the race, but...
04:02There's no way he'll be able to make it.
04:04Now, keep your eye on him.
04:07Unbelievable, ladies and gents!
04:09Little is catching up, Ben!
04:11Arms flinging, knees raising, head starts to go back, eyes up, and he's off like a rabbit running for his
04:19life!
04:19Ha, ha, ha, ha!
04:22What did I tell you?
04:23Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
04:26My, my.
04:31Mr. McGirtcher, he made it!
04:33He made the team!
04:34Of course he did!
04:36What did you expect?
04:37How do you do with Eric?
04:40Me?
04:41I just hate to lose, that's all.
04:44No, seriously.
04:45I run as fast as I can for the first half, and then...
04:48Then?
04:49I ask God to help me for the second half.
04:51Then he has helped you all the way to the Olympics in Paris!
04:55What?
04:56The 100 metre sprint at the Olympics, Eric!
04:58You're 40!
04:59The Olympics?
05:01I made it!
05:02You're a winner without a doubt, Eric!
05:05You'll be an Olympic champ!
05:07For Scotland!
05:08For Britain!
05:14Oh dear, I'm afraid there might be a slight problem.
05:19Nothing short of a nation-wide disappointment.
05:22National champion Eric Liddell, a sure-fire winner that could land the gold for England,
05:28refuses to participate in the upcoming Olympics because his race is on a Sunday.
05:35Some are calling him a disgrace.
05:38A traitor.
05:39That's what they call him.
05:40A letdown to his own people.
05:43As an Olympic committee member says...
05:45If you ask me, it's country first, God second.
05:48In that order of priority.
05:54I'm not going.
05:55No, no, Eric.
05:57Let's be reasonable.
05:58Let's...
05:59Doing what God expects of me is the most reasonable thing I can do, Tom.
06:03But it's the Olympics, for heaven's sake!
06:06It's what every athlete dreams of!
06:08And I know less, Tom, but...
06:12It's God first and athletics second.
06:16Listen, Tom.
06:18I appreciate all you've done for me, and I hate to disappoint you, but...
06:22I have promised God my best.
06:25And my best is to honour him.
06:28I know better than to argue with you, Eric, but...
06:31It seems to me that if you really want to honour God, you've got an opportunity right before you.
06:37God has his ways, Tom, and I just don't question them.
06:40If that costs me the Olympics, then so be it.
06:45I'm sorry, but...
06:54A traitor!
06:55That's what they call him.
06:56A letdown to his own people.
07:01Then one day, I shall return to China too, Father.
07:05China too, Father.
07:08It seems to me that if you really want to honour God, you've got an opportunity right before you.
07:18Some say I'm displeasing you.
07:20Some say I'm a traitor, but Lord...
07:23Am I not to honour you by obeying your commandments and keeping the Sabbath holy?
07:29I'm not much at all, Father, but I love you, and...
07:35I want to use all you've given me for your glory here, or in China, liked or despised.
07:43Lord, whatever you want, here I am.
07:49Eric!
07:51Eric!
07:52Wake up!
07:54Huh?
07:56Eric!
07:57Eric!
07:59Tom?
08:01What time is it?
08:03It's time for you to pack!
08:05That's what time it is!
08:06What?
08:07What are you talking about, Tom?
08:09It's the 200 metres!
08:11It doesn't take place on Sunday, and the committee, they've said yes!
08:16They said you could be placed in the 200 and perhaps the 400 and...
08:21Oh, Eric!
08:22Eric!
08:23What do you mean?
08:25What I mean, Mr. Little, is that you're going to the Olympics!
08:30You're going to the Olympics!
08:33What?
08:33But I'm not prepared for either one of those races, I...
08:36Oh, never mind that, boy!
08:38You will be!
08:39We'll get you prepared, we will!
08:41Because...
08:42You're going to the Olympics!
08:44You're going to the Olympics!
08:46Ha ha ha ha ha!
08:46You're quiet out there!
08:48Oh, you be quiet, you old grump!
08:50Eric Little's going to the Olympics!
08:53Ha ha ha ha!
08:55It has been said, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and following God's path for Eric
09:05meant just that, one step at a time, in the Olympics.
09:13It's a blistering hot day in Paris today as the runners prepare for the 400 meters race.
09:19Competing in the event, Imbach for Switzerland, Court Taylor and Horatio Fitch for the Americans, and for Great Britain, Guy
09:27Butler and Eric Liddell, the Scottish national champion who refused to run what he has excelled in, the 100 meters,
09:34because it was on Sunday.
09:37He is not expected to do well.
09:39The Bible says, he that honors me, I will honor.
09:45Ah, for Mark!
10:10Oh my goodness, he's increasing his need and moving ahead.
10:16Oh, what a race, ladies and gentlemen, what a race!
10:19I run as fast as I can for the first half, and then trust God for the second.
10:30You did it, Eric!
10:32You did it, my boy!
10:34Eric Liddell!
10:35Eric Liddell, ladies and gentlemen, has won the race.
10:37A more unlikely winner there could not have been.
10:40Eric Liddell, gold medal champion in the 400 meters.
10:44My, oh my, won the race!
10:47And he continues to triumph.
10:49If it's Liddell in the race, you can be sure he'll be taking the medal home.
10:53A busy man with a busy schedule.
10:55Races, meetings, speeches.
10:58Eric Liddell is truly a national sensation.
11:04Chinese wisdom teaches that gold is tested by fire, and man is tested by gold.
11:15If people thought that Eric simply changed his mind about his athletic career when he decided
11:23to leave England, they were mistaken.
11:30It was for God that he ran in Paris, and now, God called him back to China.
11:41Eric simply followed God with the same zeal with which he ran.
11:49Eric honored God, and now, God honored Eric.
12:15He has filled stadiums with his victories.
12:19He has filled halls with people eager to listen to him speak about God.
12:23And now, at the pinnacle of success, Eric Liddell leaves it all behind.
12:32Will you be bringing back medals, Mr. Liddell?
12:35Will you be a champion racer in China?
12:38Ah, laddie.
12:39The Lord has asked me to run a different sort of race.
12:42Come back again.
12:46Christ for the world!
12:48For the world needs Christ!
12:55Goodbye!
12:57Goodbye now!
13:00Goodbye now!
13:02Bye now!
13:03Bye now!
13:20Bye now!
13:21Bye now!
13:22Bye now!
13:23Here!
13:24Come back!
13:26You little rabbit!
13:27Now, why is this so familiar to me?
13:30Perhaps because she is just like her father. Run, run, run.
13:37Which reminds me, sweetheart, we best be getting to the stadium.
13:41I'm due to run for the school.
13:44Funny. Here I've been on the mission field as a teacher for all these years and still God has me
13:49run.
13:50Well, it's a good way to get close to your Chinese students.
13:53Think of how many have come to know God through our work.
13:57You come stadium now? We cheer you! We cheer you!
14:02How you say? Rah, rah, rah!
14:08They're the future of China.
14:10It's their future I'm concerned about.
14:14Rumor has it the Japanese are closer to an invasion than we expected.
14:18Well, it's safe enough inside the foreign compound.
14:21We're under the protection of Europe. Thank God for that.
14:31His students loved to watch Eric run.
14:34It was a relatively peaceful time for Eric.
14:38Until the invasion turned into an all-out war.
14:42All done.
14:46Heather!
14:47Grab Heather!
14:49Run! Run!
14:51Right to the top!
15:02They're sleeping soundly now.
15:06What should we...
15:07What do you think?
15:09Oh...
15:10I think I should stay.
15:13But you and the girls, I think it's best to...
15:16Eric Little, you're my husband.
15:18My place is right beside you.
15:21God called us here.
15:23And until he indicates otherwise, this is where we'll stay.
15:26As a family.
15:28God will take care of us.
15:31What is it, Eric?
15:32I've been asked to go to the surrounding areas to help get the wounded to the hospital in Xiaocheng.
15:37It would mean being away for a while, and I believe God wants me to go.
15:41But the Japanese army...
15:44I know.
15:45But we are here to help the Chinese.
15:47They are under attack.
15:48And the villagers need encouragement and help.
15:51Reports have come in that there is great suffering.
15:55I have heard it said, even a small light can be seen for miles, when all is darkness.
16:05Die.
16:06I want to die.
16:10I have been wounded and was dying.
16:12It was then that Eric Little found me.
16:18Die.
16:19Eric risked his life to rescue the wounded.
16:22While his family remained in a safer zone, he took me and others to a makeshift hospital.
16:30They would save my life.
16:32But I only wanted to die.
16:42It's all right.
16:45Here.
16:46This will make you feel better.
16:50I'm going to go.
16:53I'm going to die.
16:55He hurt very badly.
16:57Thor cut very deep.
16:59Other men die.
17:01He take time to heal.
17:03Deep wound.
17:05Yes, Wang.
17:06It will take a while for him to heal.
17:19It will take a while for him to heal.
17:25And how's the patient?
17:27He's doing much better.
17:28He needs rest, but doing much good.
17:34Why do you smile, you stupid man?
17:37What?
17:38Only a stupid man does the stupid work you do.
17:41You are a loser, stupid man.
17:44You must be no good in your country to be a servant in ours.
17:49He's no loser.
17:51He and I go find and save you and others bring you here.
17:56You say thank you, no grumble.
18:00You let him talk to you that way, Mr. Little.
18:04I've been called worse, Wang.
18:06Why else is he here?
18:08But he's a loser.
18:10You pay peanuts, you get monkey.
18:14Ha!
18:15Chinese proverb?
18:16I give you one.
18:17Donkey lips do not fit horse's mouth.
18:21But you, donkey lips, fit you pretty good.
18:24Wang!
18:25I want to get out of here.
18:28I want to go home.
18:30Get well there.
18:32Here is not Chinese.
18:34It is no good.
18:36It's bad here.
18:38It's cold.
18:45I understand you paint.
18:48We could use some paintings around the hospital.
18:51Something beautiful to brighten up the...
18:54You want beauty?
18:54You want bright pictures?
18:56There's your beauty.
18:58There's your bright picture.
19:00No more painting.
19:02You want picture?
19:03Here's your picture, stupid man.
19:05Here's your picture.
19:07You should have left me to die.
19:09No.
19:10You should have left me to die.
19:12Left me to die.
19:25Don't worry, Pastor Little.
19:27We send him out soon.
19:30We get rid of unthankful men.
19:32His wound almost will.
19:34No, Wang.
19:36It's not that wound I'm concerned about.
19:38He's got a deeper one than that.
19:40What?
19:41God is patient with each one of us, Wang.
19:44And we must be patient with Hu Xiu as well.
19:56Where did the crazy man go?
19:58We short of call.
20:00Mr. Little, he volunteered to go.
20:02Bring back to hospital.
20:04That is a dangerous journey.
20:06Soldiers will stop him.
20:08Mr. Little, he know that.
20:10He know we need to call bad, bad.
20:13He has no family.
20:15He has nothing to lose.
20:18No, no.
20:19He have wife and two daughters.
20:21Huh?
20:22He happy family man.
20:24He champion and hero in his own country.
20:27Why does he do it?
20:29Why is he here and not with his family?
20:32I do not understand this man.
20:35Why does he do it?
20:36You like proverb?
20:38Here's a good one.
20:40Men do not light candles and hide away, but put on candlestick where it gives light to whole house.
20:52Mr. Little, he teach me that.
20:55Jesus, light of God, fill Mr. Little heart.
20:59Jesus, come and show God's love to all men.
21:05Mr. Little, do the same, just like Jesus, and teach me.
21:11And now, my heart, full of God's love, and light too.
21:20You're crazier than the crazy man.
21:24You're crazier than the crazy man.
21:27This is really strange.
21:36Oh, so he came back safe.
22:05You have a beautiful family, Hu Xiu.
22:07They must miss you very much.
22:13Hu Xiu?
22:15All right, Eric, we better go.
22:17We have a few hours' journey, and the sooner we leave, the sooner you'll see your family.
22:22Thanks, Harry.
22:24Let's go.
22:29Welcome back, Mr. Little.
22:32Where is Mrs. Little?
22:34I told you go bring family.
22:37No, Wang.
22:39Not bring.
22:40Take.
22:42I have taken them to a ship.
22:44I have sent them away for safety.
22:46They are not here, Wang.
22:49They're gone.
22:50But, Mr. Little, why didn't you go with them?
22:54Why you stay?
22:57Because he stays to help us.
23:01Because he loves our people.
23:06Hu Xiu.
23:08You are a good man.
23:10You give so much for us.
23:14What is the matter, Hu Xiu?
23:17You know why I do not want to live?
23:20You know why?
23:21I was a happy man before.
23:24I had a good wife and good children and a happy family.
23:31I had good work, and I lost everything.
23:36My wife, my children.
23:39Oh, I lost everything.
23:44When Japanese came, they told me to bow to them.
23:48I said no.
23:50Hu Xiu.
23:52Hu Xiu.
23:54Hu Xiu.
23:54Hu Xiu.
23:54We are Chinese.
23:56We only bow in respect.
23:58I did not bow to them.
24:01Hu Xiu.
24:01Hu Xiu.
24:01I spit in their faces.
24:03They took a sword and cut my head.
24:11You have experienced much pain.
24:14I'm sorry about your family.
24:16Hu Xiu.
24:17Hu Xiu.
24:18I don't cry for that.
24:21Long ago, I cried all tears.
24:25I cry because I lost everything.
24:29But you, I see you give up everything.
24:34Willingly.
24:36You lose all for me.
24:39You lose all for me.
24:42I lose all for you as Jesus did for me.
24:47Just as Jesus did for me.
24:54What is that noise?
24:57What is happening, Wang?
24:59The hospital is evacuated.
25:02The Japanese come and close up the hospital.
25:07They order all foreigners to go away.
25:11They return them to foreign area.
25:14All of them?
25:36The foreigners became enemy nationals and were ordered to transfer to an internment camp.
25:44They were taken out in groups on designated days.
25:48Eric Little was forced to go.
25:53Well, I use the Sanctuary.
25:56I don't even know what to do.
25:58I can't take it.
26:03I can't see her.
26:07I don't know.
26:10It was my problem.
26:10It was my problem.
26:10You see me?
26:11I haven't even knew.
26:15I haven't heard of them.
26:18I haven't even seen before me.
26:18I can't do it.
26:19You see me?
26:21And I haven't heard about everything else.
26:25Mr. Eric, Mr. Eric, Mr. Eric, oh Mr. Little, I am so glad to see you, so glad, this, this
26:39is for you, for you Mr. Eric, the picture says, people living in darkness have seen a great
26:48light to people living in the shadow of death, light has come, it is from the Bible, I see
27:00the light of God now, God be with you, as he is with you, Mr. Eric, Mr. Eric, Mr. Eric,
27:22Mr. Eric,
27:27Chinese only bow to those we respect, Mr. Eric, Chinese say, when you bow, bow low.
27:45I will pray for you, Hushu, I will pray.
27:51The first time I saw Eric Little, he was running to save my life. He ran for God, he lived
28:01for
28:02God, and he was prepared to follow God no matter where God led. We have a saying in China, distant
28:15distant water will not put out the fire close at hand. Our country was like a desert. Eric
28:25Little came to bring living water. He won no gold medals here. He won our hearts. And for
28:33that reason, to some of us in China, Eric Little will ever be a champion.
28:49Many of us are missing something in life because we are after the second best. I put before you
28:56what I have found to be the best, one who is worthy of all our devotion, Jesus Christ. He is
29:05a savior for
29:05the young and the old. And he, only he, is the one who can bring out the best that is
29:12in us. Lord, here I am.
29:21Eric Little was held a prisoner for two years in the Weixian internment camp, along with more than 2,000
29:27people, including 327 children, until his death of a brain tumour in January 1945. When news of his death
29:36spread, memorial services for Eric Little were held worldwide at sports events, religious meetings, in
29:43schools, colleges and universities around the world. His Olympic triumph, as well as his devotion to God, were
29:51depicted in the movie Chariots of Fire, which was awarded the Oscar for Best Picture of 1981.
29:57Survivors of the internment camp have recounted stories of his continued Christ-like service to others and the
30:04influence he had on their lives. Schools and institutions have been named after him, and numerous athletes
30:11influenced by his convictions. His legacy in China, a country which soon after the war became close to the
30:18gospel, has been enduring. Where the internment camp once stood, a memorial commemorates Eric Little,
30:25a man whose sincere obedience and love of God remains a testimony to this day.
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