The Man Who Beat Mark Spitz by David Bryant Perkins The life story of the 1968 Olympic Gold Medalist: Doug Russell
[email protected] (702) 376-4435 Copyright 2016 1 FADE IN POV SWIMMER: A thick black line moves by below to an EERIE, HYPNOTIC SPLISH-SLASH, SPLISH-SPLASH, SPLISH-SPLASH RHYTHM. NARRATOR This is my recollection of a journey. A journey started without a destination...or even a path. CAMERA follows swimmer's head breaking water, DESPERATE GASP for air as a BLUR of spectators races by, SPLISH-SPLASH... INT. TV STUDIO MEXICO CITY 1968 - DAY (Actual Footage) CHRIS SCHENKEL looks down at desk, then off screen, waiting for cue. He faces cameraman, points, starts. CHRIS SCHENKEL Alright, we're back again in Mexico City, and the - uh - first day of the second week of competition is still underway. Uh - a nice special note we'd like to pass along to you, with the basketball competition going into the semi-finals tomorrow night,we're pleased to announce at eleven thirty Eastern Time, on the ABC television network - uh - Jack Twine and I will have the pleasure of enjoying the United States - Brazil semi-final basketball game live and in color from Mexico City. Now let's enjoy - for the gold medal - the one hundred meter (pause) butterfly. Mark Spitz, Ross Wales, and Doug Russell representing the United States. Bill Fleming and... INT. OLYMPIC SWIMMING POOL MEXICO CITY - DAY (Actual Footage) Swimmers on blocks ready to race. CHRIS SCENKEL (continues) Murray Rose. BILL FLEMING Right now we're running just a (MORE) 2 BILL FLEMING (CONT'D) little bit short of time..