01x03 - Legacy

Episode transcripts for the TV show "Harley and the Davidsons". Aired September 5-7, 2016.*
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"Harley and the Davidsons" charts the birth of this iconic bike during a time of great social and technological change beginning at the turn of the 20th century.
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01x03 - Legacy

Post by bunniefuu »

This is it. This is our venture, a motorized bicycle.

I've known you since we could walk.

You were born for this.

Ah! Go. Come on! Come on!

[Engine starts]

Dear brother, remember Bill Harley, from across the road?

He and I have made an amazing machine.

Forget about trams, cars, trains.

I want ours to go anywhere.

This is power, control, and speed.

[Cheers and applause]

You think you can come here and humiliate me?

We are gonna destroy you.

Officiant: By the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife.

It's a boy.

After the w*r, we'll have an entire group of loyal Harley-Davidson enthusiasts.

Boys coming back only want Harleys, just like yourself.

Release the hounds.

It's a class-action lawsuit for infringement on the patented clutch design.

We didn't steal anything.

I designed the damn thing.

We built better machines. We're an honest company.

What does this mean for us?

It means we have nothing.

Look at what I found.

Number one off the line.

We start over from scratch.

We're Harley-Davidson, and we'll keep building motorcycles, even if we have to do it in a shed.

♪♪
♪ I'm feeling good, I'm feeling fine ♪
♪ I can show you, too ♪
♪ I'm feeling good, I'm feeling fine ♪
♪ I can show you, too ♪
♪ well, I've never felt the freedom like I do ♪
♪ I feel stronger every day, don't you? ♪
♪ Well, I can show you how ♪
♪ a new day, a new way ♪
♪ watch out, I'm only gonna get stronger ♪
♪ a new day, a new way ♪
♪ watch out, I'm only gonna get stronger ♪

[Indistinct conversations]

There's more of them every week.

Over here.

Here you are.

Here you go.

Thanks.

These, too.

Clara: For the women, there are some dresses in there and some gloves.

Yeah.

Man: That's very generous.

[Indistinct conversations]

Thank you very much.

Yeah.

♪♪

Man: Look at this.

Joe Petrali?

[Chuckles]

Man, you racing, too?

Hey, you're the rider that tore up the track in Evanston.

They let you race a Cherokee?

Not the brightest bulbs, some of those race officials.

[Laughter]

Hey, what about you, Petrali?

You racing that JDH Two Cam?

No, sir.

Harley has their new motorcycle ready.

You'll see at tomorrow's race.

[Engine revs]

Here's to success.

Ohh.

[Glasses clink]

Here comes Wharton.

Ma'am. Arthur.

As your dealer's association president and standing chairman of the AMA, I am afraid I have some unhappy sentiments to convey.

Oh, no. What is it, Wharton?

I've had a tip that these hooligans are holding an outlaw race at an abandoned factory.

They specifically do this to thumb their noses at the official AMA races here.

And we care why?

The sales are terrible, Arthur, and getting worse.

Wharton: These outlaw groups are making motorcycles using junk parts instead of buying new ones.

They're just kids, Wharton.

They don't have money for new motorcycles.

Like most people these days, they're being resourceful.

You ought to commend them.

Listen, I get it. I do.

It's just easy to find somebody to blame, but the bottom line is times are tough.

Right?

Take a look out there. You see that?

That gentleman is our main problem.

Brand-new model a sells for $500 and seats six.

Now compare that to a brand-new motorcycle which sells for $300 and seats one.

Excuse me, gentlemen, ma'am.

Hmm.

Hm.

[Indistinct conversations]

Can I help you, boy?

I don't think so.

They let you off the reservation again?

It looks like it, doesn't it?

This is a travesty. This man is obviously a n*gro.

He's not officially sponsored!

Arthur.

I appreciate your empathy, but is this really any of your business?

No.

But there are bylaws to uphold!

Hey.

What's happening here?

Just another day in paradise.

What is it?

It's not here, the new prototype.

I thought you brought it with you.

We did. But it's not here.

What the hell does that mean?

I think maybe your son borrowed it.

Come on, Willie.

♪♪

[Laughter]

Whew.

There's that kid again.

Yeah.

Where'd you steal that hunk of junk?

It's Harley-Davidson's new bike.

Big deal.

They haven't made a great bike since the 1929 Two Cam JDH.

It'll blow the wheels off any bike here.

Ooh.

[Spectators ohh]

[Chuckling] Okay.

Sounds like we got a new racer!

[Cheering]

Uh, I don't know about that.

No? Why not, kid?

You have to go home for nap time?

Hey, I'll race any of you... anytime.

Good to hear that.

Good.

Man: Let's do it again, guys. Do it again.

Man #2: Bring it over here.

[Indistinct conversations]

Man: Yeah! There he is!

[Cheering]

Can I join in?

Hell yeah!

[Engine starts]

Crank it up, now!

Make it good!

Don't worry, kid.

I promise not to kick your ass too bad.

Okay. On my mark!

[Engines rev]

[Engines roar, tires squeal]

[Cheering]

Shane: Oh, ho-ho! [Laughs]

Come on, man.

[Laughter]

Here it is.

The new Harley-Davidson piece of crap.

[Laughs]

Son of a...

[Horn honking]

Oh, no! No!

Let's get out of here!

[Whistle blows, engines rev]

Go!

Move! Let's go!

Stop there! Police!

[Indistinct shouting]

[Sighs]

Poor kid.

Couldn't get away on his busted bike.

You know who that kid is?

Who?

Walt Davidson... Walter Davidson's son.

As in "Harley-Davidson"?

[Telephone ringing]

We're eating.

I know.

[Ringing continues]

Davidson residence.

This is he.

[Sighs] I see.

Do you have the bike, too, Officer?

What is it?

It's the police.

They arrested Walt.

What?

I'll be right down. [Sighs]

No, to pick up the motorcycle.

My son can stay overnight to think about what he's done.

All right.

[Receiver clicks]

You're really gonna leave him in jail?

Kid needs to grow up.

[Indistinct conversation]

I feel for him.

Well, it can't be easy being Walter Davidson's son.

No.

Man: Here he is, Mr. Harley.

Thank you very much, Officer.

My dad didn't come down?

Uh, no. No, Walt, he didn't.

You know what that means... "Prototype"?

It means that we have one.

I didn't...

You're not supposed to take that bike!

I did... I didn't know it was gonna break down.

I was gonna have it back before the AMA race.

Well, you won't let me race with the big boys, so, I mean, I thought I'd race with the outlaws.

[Breathes deeply]

They're real motorcycle people, Dad.

I wanted them to see how great our new motorcycle is.

I did it for Harley-Davidson.

You did it to show off.

No, I just did what you would've done.

No, he insists he didn't crash it, Bill.

Bill: It's pretty unlikely.

It had to have an impact to fail like this... had to.

Let me see it.

[Sighs]

[Metal rattles]

The bearings have shattered.

Must be an oil-feed problem.

Could be design, manufacturing...

I don't know.

[Sighs]

[Sighs]

I don't want to point any fingers, but how'd this happen?

Like I said...

I don't know.

Right, but how did our one prototype not get tested?

Why'd we take it to race if it wasn't ready?

Bill, where you been?

I was at the lake... with my family.

Walter: You were at the lake when final tests were being completed?

Yes. Yes, I was.

Since the new machine is halfway there design-wise, whatever happened to the old overhead valve racing engine?

It just kept seizing up after a couple of hundred miles.

It's a design issue.

♪♪

Thank you.

Do we really need to do this?

We aren't doing anything, Walter. We're only hearing him out.

Why? He's the enemy.

With the loss of the foreign market and collapse of the domestic, we're looking at a 75% production cut.

We've weathered the storm before.

Yes, but it's costing us $50,000 a month just to stay open.

[Knocks on door] He's here.

[Both sigh]

[Knocks on door]

Thank you for meeting with me, gentlemen.

Oh, I think it's we who should be thanking you, Mr. Ford.

Bill.

Edsel Ford.

And you are too kind, too kind, indeed.

[Door closes]

Mr. Ford.

I saw you race at the Catskills in '08, Mr. Davidson.

You were fearless, absolutely fearless.

At the Catskills.

I didn't know you were a motorcycle fan.

Oh, well, I hate to admit it, but I'm, uh... I'm not really.

My father took me.

He loved racing of all sorts.

I remember him saying, "that man has no fear... No fear at all."

He was thrilled.

Those were the days.

Yeah.

And both our companies were just starting up back then.

And here we are now.

Uh, do you mind?

No. Please.

Edsel: Okay.

Without giving you the whole sermon on the mount, let us just speak plainly.

The deal I am offering is just as beneficial to you as it is to me.

But more importantly, it'll save jobs, which means saving families, which will make a stronger America.

And if you are overly business-minded, it also means more consumers, but for me personally I am loathe to see one more man out on the street because I despise waste.

Forgive me for being effusive.

Not at all.

The servi-car Harley-Davidson has designed, it is ingenious...

Edsel: ... A machine on its own merit.

We believe a three-wheeled service machine can be a great success.

Arthur: This is Bill's design.

Uh, where did you get this?

I will guarantee sales of 30,000 vehicles sold through our dealerships.

Uh...

I mean, as of now, it's only a design.

There's no prototype.

Not yet, but I will make you a preferred supplier.

Edsel: The servi-cars will be sold as Ford vehicles with the Ford name on the side.

[Scoffs]

Gentlemen, that is my proposal.

The motorcycle industry is, I'm afraid, up against the ropes.

This may help prevent Harley-Davidson from joining its former competitors.

Who pays for development?

You do.

And production.

You have 30 days to consider, which I know sounds hard-nosed, but it is the standard condition, as per our legal department.

All right.

Well, that's the long and, uh, the short of it.

Edsel: We can walk through any further details, should you be interested, but please do consider my offer.

We will. Thank you.

It seems like a... [Sighs]

Thrilling opportunity, sir.

Thank you, once again, for your time.

[Door closes]

This could be a real lifeline for us.

Lots of retooling, new parts, new line.

Yeah, and we're paying for it.

Okay.

Sure, it's not perfect, but if either of you have found a way to drum up a contract worth 30,000 units, I'm all ears.

[Indistinct shouting]

Listen to me! Last hired, first to go!

Well, I'll work for half what you're paying!

And I'll work for less than that!

I can... I can't do that, and you know it.

When things pick up, you'll get your places back.

I promise.

Hey, no promises!

How am I supposed to feed my family?!

Hey!

Hey! Settle down! Come on!

Quiet!

I was gonna say how we've always been fair with you and always will be.

But you know that already.

What about him?

Yeah!

Yeah!

Your son was hired after most of us.

[Crowd shouting]

Is he going?

Hey!

Hey!

He fired me this morning.

Let me go before all you fellas.

[Crowd murmuring]

Looks like your boy's growing up.

You might be right.

[Indistinct conversations]

[Tires squealing]

You're back.

Of course we're back. We live here.

Besides, we're not the one who got arrested.

It must be nice having your daddy bail you out.

If it was us, we'd still be in jail.

He didn't.

What the hell you want, anyways?

Your motorcycles are pretty wild.

There's so much work in them.

You really live here?

A bunch of us.

You know, my mom worked at Milwaukee saddlery.

Made the seats on Harleys till last month.

Your mom?

Yep.

Shane was a metalworker at John Deere, Monk was at the foundry, Deek from the rubber plant.

We've all been junked.

You take all these parts that have been junked, add us, this is what you get.

Don't you dare touch my motorcycle.

[Wrench clatters]

And you still got one coming for hitting me.

[Engine starts, revs]

You sure you're not some kind of spy, Davidson?

No, I was let go.

Your own family fired you?

Last hired, first fired.

Reya.

¿Que?

[Speaking Spanish]

Reya: All right.

You're a not a spy? Prove it.

Help us put up fliers.

[Chuckles]

How's that gonna prove anything?

It's illegal. Cops chase us every time.

Okay.

[Birds chirping]

It's a beautiful day.

It is.

You should, uh... you should eat something.

[Sighs] So should you.

I'm not hungry.

[Sighs]

Everything's gonna be okay.

Bill.

Bill...

This isn't going to go away.

Don't talk like that.

Whatever happens, we can't let this bring you down, too.

You have to live your life.

Nope.

No. No more of that.

You'll be fine. You'll be just fine.

Let's, uh... let's go for a walk.

Come on.

[Sighs]

Not again.

[Breathes deeply]

I'm fine.

[Sighs]

I'm fine.

Just let it be.

At least until next x-rays, okay?

Okay.

I'm fine.

Mm-hmm.

[Chuckles]

Let's walk.

How are you boys?

Lang!

[Laughs]

How are you, old man?

Good to see you.

How are you?

Good.

Now, all the way from Florida...

Whoa-ho!

[Laughs]

And one more thing... rum from Havana.

[Laughs]

Thank you.

One of the perks of living so close to a country that is civilized enough to prohibit prohibition.

You are a true gentleman.

[Chuckles]

I won't argue with you there.

Lang: Cheers.

[Glasses clink]

Ahh. While on the topic of foreign lands, I think the future...

[Door closes]

Of this company may well lie outside our borders.

We need to look outward, boys...

Internationally.

A Japanese company wants to purchase our designs and manufacturing know-how.

Walter: Hm.

Buy? Not lease?

Buy.

As in Harley-Davidson Motorcycles with someone else's name on it.

What's the difference between a Harley-Davidson bike with a Japanese name on it and one that says Ford?

You know about the Ford proposal.

I do.

Building motorcycles for Ford is quite different than selling off what we spent the last 30 years creating.

Mm.

Ford allows us to grow with the automobile market.

It's long-term stability.

Lang, what you're proposing is that we sell the crown jewels.

He's just relaying a business opportunity, Arthur.

No, we aren't selling any of our intellectual property.

At least the Japan deal doesn't make us spend money to make money.

It doesn't dictate how we operate.

William: Yeah.

[Sighs]

Here. This one's high.

Watch your hands, Wally.

[Chuckles] Well, you said "help." I'm helping.

[Police whistle blowing]

Hey, you!

Stop!

[Police whistle blows]

Here!

[Sighs] Okay. Okay. Uh...

Keep quiet. I'll distract them.

You go the other way.

Fine.

Hey!

There they are!

Hey, you! Stop!

Twice in a week?

You to your room.

Thank you, Officer.

I don't know what he sees in those clowns.

It's totally normal for a boy his age to behave like this.

I hate this rebellious behavior.

[Scoffs]

Gee, I wonder where he gets that from.

Cancer of the bone is rarely just that, usually originating in other organs.

But that's not what is worrying.

The increase in size of bone mass is very... aggressive.

And?

I wish I had better news.

I believe we're looking at months, not years.

I'm very sorry, Mrs. Harley.

Why do you think Ford wants the servi-car?

Well, he told us himself.

Because it's ingenious.

Humor me.

It's a three-wheeled motorcycle designed to be towed behind a car, allowing the repaired car to be returned to the customer.

The servi-car is then detached and drives off.

"Repaired" or "new"?

Harley-Davidson will be delivering new cars for our biggest competitor, and then we drive off.

Might as well gift-wrap them for him while we're at it.

Like I said before, Walter, it doesn't cost us anything to hear him out.

Let's just hear what the deal is.

Yes, of course. I'll tell him.

Walter: We've been waiting for almost an hour.

I've made a note.

Well, he's a busy man.

[Sighs]

And we aren't?

Goodbye.

Nice of you to join us today.

Where were you on that last meeting?

L... let me guess... the lake?

No. No, I was, uh...

A picnic... I was at a picnic.

A picnic?

Yeah.

Yeah. [Sighs]

Mr. Ford is ready for you now.

[Sighs]

As per our previous meeting, Harley-Davidson will finance the development of the servi-car while complying to Ford's high standards of design and manufacturing.

Of course, you own the design and the machinery.

Again, when the servi-car is ready, we guarantee a 30,000 minimum order.

And when all 30,000 are on the road, ongoing projected sales are very positive.

"Projected."

Well, nothing is for certain, of course, but the projections are impressive.

That's swell.

God damn it.

What?

Why is it starting to feel less like an opportunity and more like a shakedown?

Because you hate being told what to do.

Look, I'll admit, the stipulations here aren't ideal, but this represents stability for us, for our dealers, our workers, our families, Walter.

Is it worth selling our soul off?

Oh, stop it. You're being dramatic.

Am I?

Yes.

Bill, help me out here.

Unless you need to go to the park or fishing or something.

Shane: [Grunting]

God damn it! [Sighs]

One more time.

All right, you got her?

Yeah.

[Grunts] She won't budge.

All right, let's open it up.

Come on.

Shane: Come on. Come on.

Use this.

Cheers!

Cheers.

Ah, sh*t!

[Wrench clatters]

You all right?

You laugh, I'll punch your lights out.

Walt: 3/4-inch Ratchet.

Where'd you steal that from?

I've worked summers on the line since I was 12.

What?

So you can come and go at the Harley-Davidson plant?

I got fired, but, yeah.

What do you say you pop into the old shop, grab us a V.L. springer fork from the parts room?

What, like steal one for you?

Yeah.

And I think things with us will be square.

Forget it.

Come on, man. It's a part I need new.

I bet they have hundreds of them.

How do you usually find new parts, huh?

Besides me stealing them.

We sell bikes.

Shane: And we buy what we can't scrounge.

You sell your own motorcycles?

Hell yeah.

We race every month.

The bike that wins that race, that machine is the hero, sells right away...

Bragging rights for the new guy who buys it.

Mm-hmm, so when you trade the winning bike to a dealer, he gives you parts or tools.

And you build another bike.

And you sell that one, too.

Dealers love it.

It makes them money, too.

[Chuckling] Hell yeah.

You see, these boys don't like to admit it, but most of the parts they need, they can't make themselves.

See, what you're looking at, Walt, is what they call a cottage industry.

So...

No springer fork?

Guess we ain't square.

Hey, keep it.

I got two.

♪♪

What the hell is this?

150 brand-new model D's.

What, the ones we shipped to St. Louis?

And that they shipped back, along with another 150 tomorrow.

What's wrong with them?

Get Gene on the phone.

Okay.

The motorcycles? Nothing.

The city of St. Louis is broke, so they shipped them back.

We needed this sale.

Yeah.

Yeah, we did.

Damn.

300 units.

And the market's only getting worse.

Some people are saying this could last another decade.

You know, that servi-car deal could give us a nice, nice cushion, as well as put a lot of men back to work.

Look, I'm not asking you to swallow your pride, Walter.

But it's easy to talk about ideals and freedom when things are easy.

But what about when it's not?

What about when it's hard, huh?

We got to put food on the table.

Subtle as a sledgehammer.

[Sighs]

Okay.

Call Ford.

[Sighs]

This way.

Edsel: Arthur, good to see you.

Edsel, how are you?

I'm good, I'm good.

Do come in. Take a seat.

[Sighs]

This is good for both of us.

It makes both of us stronger.

Yeah.

[Door closes]

It is wise to view this depression as an opportunity.

Those who weather this storm... Well, the field is theirs.

No conscientious man wants another man to fail, competitor or otherwise, but if he does, it would be wasteful to squander any opportunities that arise.

Some folks would find that distasteful.

Picking the bones?

Well, they'll have plenty of time to examine their morals standing in the bread line.

[Chuckles]

Arthur...

I am very glad that you've come aboard.

So, this is a Two Cam overhead valve racing engine?

Johnson: Mm-hmm.

[Metal clatters]

[Sighs]

See, we added a gearbox and the clutch from a JDH Two Cam.

We added peashooter heads to make a racing special.

And see, then... [Chuckles]

Then, I stretched and lowered...

The frame to fit it all in.

It looks so different.

Yeah, every one is different...

Unique, I might say.

And out of just parts, too.

Recycled, scrounged, and buy what else you need.

So, how does it break down, then?

How do you make out at the end of the day?

Well...

We sell the bike for $50, minus about $20 for new parts, throw in labor, and, uh... [Chuckles]

Well...

Nobody's getting rich.

But i... it's not about that.

It's about doing it yourself and living by your own rules.

[Chuckles]

When you can.

♪♪
You wanted to talk to me, Dad?

Yes. Come on.

You know, I've been thinking.

I want you to come back to work.

I don't want to take anybody's job.

[Chuckles] You won't be.

You'll be working with me...

Walter: In the office.

The office?

You're my son.

There's bigger things in store for you than messing around with those hoodlums.

Me? In the office? Really?

You're a good mechanic... Very, very good.

You learned the ropes on the factory floor, but now you'll learn the ropes in here.

And one day, you'll take my place.

Can I think about it?

Think about what? About working with me?

It's just... [Sighs] I don't know.

I don't know if this is for me.

Why?

It's just, I don't want to be sitting around doing paperwork or in meetings or making decisions like building tricycles.

I don't know how you can do it.

And as far as those hoodlums, those are my friends.

They're a waste of your time.

That you make money off of.

Those guys buy more new parts than anybody realizes.

Really?

They need them for their chopped-up bikes, which they sell.

Then, they build new machines all over again, half with new parts, half with scrounged.

Is that true?

I've seen it.

Regardless, you'll be here, in this office, 8:00 A.M. sharp Monday morning.

I told you, Dad, it's not for me.

This isn't open for discussion.

♪♪

[Sighs]

Damn kid.

What's the matter?

Walt.

He's supposed to be here today to start working in the office.

He never showed up.

♪♪

[Door opens]

Walter: Is he here?

What is it?

Walt.

He never came to the office.

That kid has no respect, no concept of responsibility.

Did you at 18?

At 18, I'd been on my own for two years.

Is he up there?

I don't know. I've been out all day.

Walt?!

Don't be too rough on him.

Hey, better yet, I'll go.

[Sighs]

♪♪

[Footsteps approaching]

He's run off.

What?

He took some clothes, his riding gear.

I don't know what you said or did, but you go out there and you find our boy.

♪♪

[Sighs]

[Keys jingle]

[Cheers and applause]

Joe?

Joe: Walter, Arthur, I didn't expect to see you boys here.

Me, neither.

So, you, uh, you racing here today?

Eh, the AMA races are money in the bank, but this is the real deal.

Out here, it's a different kind of race.

The riders are hungry.

You know, they ride once a month, not just two or three times a year.

This is racing for people who have to race.

Excuse me.

Your mother wants you home... now.

I'm not going anywhere.

This is why I don't have kids.

I think I'll join you.

So, I understand you, uh, rebuild these and sell them?

Yeah, a few here and there.

Unofficially.

You're not gonna tell anybody, are you?

No. No. In fact, uh, keep it up.

We're grateful for the sales of parts.

[Engines idling]

Racers, on your marks!

[Cheers and applause]

Come on!

You're not racing.

♪♪

Watch me.

[Engine starts]

♪♪

Man: Police!

[Indistinct shouting]

[Horses neigh]

Police, everybody!

[Grunts]

Stop them!

Shut them down!

This violates the trespassing laws, and the landowner's giving me a bounty!

Joe Petrali.

You're dragging the name of the AMA through the mud.

I am?

Come here!

You.

I'm not surprised to find you here, boy.

I bet you helped instigate this.

The only one instigating anything is you.

Leave now or you're going to jail.

Leave?

I got a race to win.

Arrest this man.

And if the others don't disperse, arrest them, too... all of them!

All right, all right!

Calm down!

♪♪

Don't get your skirt in a bunch.

I ain't arresting Walter Davidson for just standing around.

♪♪

Gentlemen!

♪♪

On your marks!

[Cheers and applause]

Get ready.

[Cheers and applause continue]

[Engines idling]

Ready!

Set!

Go! [Cheers and applause]

♪♪

[Cheers and applause continue]

Man: Come on, come on!

♪♪

[Groans]

♪♪

Your kid really is good, Walter.

In fact, he, uh...

Kind of reminds me of someone.

Who?

Shrimp Burns.

[Laughs]

♪♪

Ah.

[Laughing]

♪♪

Come on, Walt!

Let's go, Walt!

♪♪

I'd get out of the way right about...

♪♪

... now.

[Cheers and applause]

Yeah!

♪♪

Yeah!

♪♪

[Cheers and applause continue]

You got to arrest this man!

Take it easy, Wharton.

I told you.

You got to arrest him.

What for?

Good race.

You, too.

[Chatter]

Good race.

Thank you, Mr. Davidson.

He's not a little kid anymore.

Well, I wouldn't say that.

[Indistinct conversations]

We'll repurpose the old JD production line for the servi-car.

The real problem is the stamping press.

Stamping press?

[Sighs]

Ford are demanding that we install a $30,000 stamping press.

[Scoffs]

They say it's a requirement to, uh, certify our line.

Since when?

Yesterday.

Some Ford technocrat called up.

Th... they call up every week with new stipulations.

It makes no sense making us buy this big, expensive hunk of machinery.

I think it does.

How?

If we go bankrupt, Ford can buy us for pennies on the dollar, get the designs for the servi-car, the tooling...

Everything we've done.

You think that's his strategy?

To keep dragging this out, raising our costs.

You open one vein, then the other.

What are we gonna do, Walt?

♪♪

Well...

[Inhales sharply] Thanks, Lang.

I will call you as soon as I talk to Arthur.

Enjoy the sunshine.

Talk to Arthur about what?

That was Lang from Florida.

Yeah, I heard.

He wanted to go over the Japan deal again.

Okay.

Walter, we've been through this already, and the answer is still no.

While Ford swallows us up.

Did Lang call you, or did you call him?

Arthur...

The Ford deal is a long game for them, not us.

We're bleeding out.

And we're losing our identity.

And the loss of identity is death for Harley-Davidson.

We should at least consider the Japan offer.

For what, Walter?

Until we're finally safe.

Huh? So you can sell off everything that I've worked for?!

You never understood what this meant.

No, I'm fighting...

You still don't understand...

... to keep this company alive...

... What the motorcycle means...

... while you're willing to gamble it away 'cause your boy...

Arthur!

... Has no interest in this company anymore!

Stop being so g*dd*mn precious!

What is it, Bill?

♪♪

So there's nothing we can do?

Why didn't you tell us?

♪♪

I couldn't.

We wanted our lives to be as normal as possible.

♪♪

This...

Makes you think differently.

[Inhales deeply]

About what it all means.

About what you leave behind.

Hey.

Our time is passing.

You can be sure of that.

Mm-hmm.

Next generation is coming up to bat.

What are we gonna leave them?

Woman: Give me a hand with this?

Is that my dad?

[Engine shuts off]

What are you... ?

An Excelsior engine and frame with a Harley-Davidson front end.

Maybe.

You put on the fork off a 25-inch Henderson, that baby would be perfectly balanced.

Always was impressed with Henderson frames.

Just don't tell Bill Harley I said that.

[Chuckles]

It's, uh, it's interesting.

It fast?

Oh, yeah.

Good.

Ah.

Thank you.

He's having a beer with Shane? Are you serious?

Is it true that you built the first Harley in a barn?

Harley-Davidson, and no.

That's a myth.

It was a shed, not a barn.

[Laughter]

It was tiny.

And... and you raced the Milwaukee motordrome in '13, right?

I did.

Man...

You know, that race... that's what started this.

It was legendary.

♪♪

But Harley... Harley-Davidson...

They didn't race in motordromes, right?

Nope.

I did that day, unofficially.

My brother forbade it, so I did it anyway.

Never been good with anyone telling me what to do, I guess.

I'll drink to that.

All: Cheers!

[Bottles clink]

♪♪

Excuse me.

♪♪

What are you doing here?

Hello.

I'm Reya.

Reya.

Um...

Could you give us a minute?

Yeah.

You don't have to go anywhere.

I know.

So, why are you here?

Are you trying to bring me home again?

No.

Anna is sick.

Very sick.

I'm not telling you what to do, but you should go see her.

♪♪

She always loved you, Walt.

Is it that bad?

♪♪

How could you miss this?

Paget's disease is fairly uncommon.

It's often hard to detect.

Anna: But it's not fatal?

Very rarely.

And with the right medicines, you'll live much more comfortably.

The pain will be much less.

[Shuddered breathing]

So I don't have cancer?

No.

♪♪

[Laughing]

♪♪

What's the name of this doctor?

'Cause I'm gonna go over there and punch him in the face.

Walter.

Me, too.

Arthur.

None of that matters.

What matters is, we're being given a second chance.

Arthur: Amen.

Granted, I wanted to punch him in the face, too.

[Laughter]

Is it too early to open some wine and celebrate?

♪♪

No, no.

No, absolutely not. Put the tea back.

It's going back.

[Door creaks]

[Lamp clicks]

[Sighs]

[Chuckles]

♪♪

[Bell jingles]

♪♪

Ah. Walt!

Yeah.

Bill: [Laughs]

How have you been?

Good, Mr. Harley. Busy.

Busy on this, I bet.

Ah.

I love how you dropped the frame so low like that.

Thanks. I bob-jobbed the fenders back, too, so it's, uh, lighter...

Both: Faster.

[Both laugh]

Brake work... Very impressive work, Walter.

Well-done.

Thanks.

I, uh, I have to run, but I'll see you around?

Oh. Sooner rather than later, I hope.

[Both laugh]

[Chuckles]

♪♪

[Chuckles]

[Tools buzzing]

Walter!

What now?

Metric.

What?

They want us to convert from standard to metric bolts.

12.5 millimeters on the frames.

Conforming to standards, or... or so they say.

Ford doesn't use metric in his plans.

This is gonna cost us.

And it's gonna take up a lot of time.

Metric.

Goddamned un-American foreign son of a bitch!

Metric!

Clara: Bill, Anna, are you decent?

[Knock on door]

Bill?

Emma, Clara, hi.

[Chuckles]

We brought some food.

Ah, thank you very much.

Where's Anna?

She's upstairs, still getting used to the medication.

Go up and see her if you want.

You know what?

We're going to take care of Anna. You're going to work.

Work?

Bill, we're going to clean up, get some air in here.

We'll tend to Anna.

You're gonna bathe.

Yes.

Bathe?

And get out of this house.

Yeah. It's been weeks.

Yeah, I know. I'm going into work tomorrow.

I just had something to do first.

What kind of something to do?

A promise I made to Anna.

♪♪

Big day.

Yeah.

Look, Walt, we don't have any other options here.

We got to sign with Ford.

[Whistles]

What's the matter?

You look like you've seen a ghost.

[Laughs]

I'm just... I'm happy to see you.

You haven't been around much.

Well, I'm back... full-time.

And I have something important to show you.

Okay.

What is it?

The deal with Ford... I say we walk away.

No, Bill, without that deal, we're sunk.

Maybe not.

We sell our designs to the Japanese, but we don't use the money to build Ford's servi-car.

Instead, we use it to build our new...

Motorcycle.

Damn.

The overhead valve bike.

[Laughs]

♪♪

Ford just arrived.

Okay.

Babysit him. We're talking here.

But, Walt...

Yeah, you go babysit him. [Laughs]

N... no...

All right.

Bill, what... what is this?

This is unlike anything.

An overhead valve...

Uh-huh.

... That won't melt down.

She'll put out power like a racing engine but be as reliable as a tractor.

This is a beauty.

Slung nice and low, continuous tubes all the way from the head...

She'll do a hundred miles an hour.

She's a rocket.

Arthur: What are we talking about here, huh?

We've got Edsel Ford waiting to sign our production deal.

Boys, we're almost at the finish line.

Yeah, to become a servi-car maker.

Yes.

This is a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, Arthur.

Edsel Ford can wait a few minutes.

[Indistinct conversation]

You see what I see? Hmm?

I see bankruptcy.

After all, they have had a lot of unexpected overhead costs.

Still...

There it is.

Our prototype is complete.

We have spent months on this servi-car deal.

We've dealt with production and prototypes, overhead!

Walter, we've got a bird in the hand here.

A bird in the hand?

Yes. This is a gamble.

It'll take 12 months to produce the damn thing.

Takes two years to turn a profit.

If we're still in business.

You'd have us walk away from Ford over a drawing?

Why not?

Ford has delayed us and pushed up costs every step of the way.

Hell, they even have the right to demand design modifications after production starts.

Yeah, but we're ready now.

Bill, how long does it take you to make a prototype?

Oh, well, still hurdles, you know.

Six months?

Six months?

The Japanese money buys us that.

[Sighs]

Art...

Hmm.

Arthur, our time is almost up.

This is about the next generation.

Let's give them something that will do our names proud when we're gone.

♪♪

Hell, every great thing we've ever done started with a Bill Harley drawing.

Damn straight.

[Laughs]

♪♪

[Door opens]

Ed.

Walter, great to see you.

I know you despise waste, so I won't waste any more of your time.

Or ours.

I'm sorry?

We're pulling the plug on our deal.

♪♪

After all the resources you've invested?

We're still gonna make the servi-car, just not for you.

I despise waste, too.

♪♪

And who knows?

It might end up being a big seller.

Have a good trip home.

[Door closes]

[Indistinct conversation]

♪♪

Mr. Harley, I've long studied your 1905 in between.

Mm.

♪♪

If you were gonna abscond with the box-end wrenches, you might as well take a socket set, too.

Mr. Johnson.

Mm.

Can you sign this?

Oh-ho.

Sure. What's your name?

Bobby.

To Bobby.

"My biggest fan."

Okay.

"My biggest fan."

How much for the motorcycle?

$55.

[Chuckles] I'll give you $50.

[Chuckles] $55.

Enjoying yourself?

Pardon me?

I said I hope you're enjoying yourself.

Because this is it.

This is as sweet as it gets for someone like you.

No disrespect, Mr. Wharton, but what are you talking about now?

You might win an outlaw race here or a backwoods heat there...

But it means nothing.

Until you win in an official AMA race, nobody really cares or knows your name.

Is that so?

Indeed.

And unless you're sponsored by an official dealership, it'll never happen.

And as dealers association president, I can guarantee it.

♪♪

[Whistles]

So, this is what we sold everything for.

It's a g*dd*mn prototype.

Oh, come on, Arthur.

You couldn't sell it... Sell it as is?

[Both laugh]

During the worst depression in history, we're betting the farm on a motorcycle that, should it work, no one can afford it.

Maestro.

[Fingers snap]

Here we go.

[Engine starts]

Whoo!

Whoo! Hear that?!

Quite a sound, Harley.

[Engine revving]

♪♪

Whoa.

♪♪

Whoa!

♪♪

[Laughs]

This is it!

♪♪

[Engine shuts off]

This is it.

This is it.

[Both laugh]

[Clears throat] Walt.

♪♪

g*dd*mn.

Oil.

♪♪

Yeah.

I thought I fixed it.

♪♪

[Engine revving]

All right, k*ll it, Willie.

[Engine shuts off]

Bill.

Have you, uh, you boys been working here all night?

Mm.

I'm comparing prototypes.

Good afternoon.

This the one that runs clean?

That's right.

Looks good.

Yeah, it does, doesn't it?

Yeah, it looks perfect.

Yeah.

So we're ready.

Oh, no. No, no, no, no.

No.

It runs clean.

Yeah, it runs clean, but there's channels here and a lip in the rockers, it adds weight, robs power, and it'll wear fast.

It's a design mess, really.

Willie could've designed it.

[Chuckles]

All that extra moving just for an oil problem.

Uh-huh.

Now this... this engine is a perfect design.

Clean lines, 20% fewer moving parts, a higher output, and a completely linear torque curve.

It's a work of art, really.

All except for the oil problem.

Except for... yeah. Except for the oil that's spewing out everywhere.

[Chuckles]

There's no problem.

It's just an oil thing. We'll sort it.

Yeah, it's just, you know...

What?

The Japan money just buys us two more weeks.

Mm.

You need any gloves or mittens?

It's not that cold, ma.

[Footsteps approach]

Thank you again, Mrs. Davidson.

I could've stayed in that bathtub all day.

You're welcome.

Uh, and I'll make sure you get your shirt back.

Don't worry about it.

Okay.

You better get out of here before your father comes home.

Well, bye, Mom.

[Smooches]

I love you.

Take care of him.

I will, Mrs. Davidson.

It's Emma.

Emma.

Well, thank you for everything, Emma.

Well, I'll see you next week.

Okay.

Man: Yeah, okay, I see that there.

And you need to articulate the flow to the rockers.

Get that down.

What's all this?

Bill?

I thought it was almost ready.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I need aluminum for the cover.

What cover?

The knucklehead cover.

What does he mean by "knucklehead"?

I don't know.

Is he okay?

I don't know that, either.

I heard that.

[Chuckles]

Bill: This...

... is the knucklehead.

Knucklehead. I like it.

[Chuckles]

It's the last piece, and it works.

We're ready to roll it out.

When should we do it?

We've got the AMA races next month.

We can do a solo demonstration, have an expo run, invite the press?

No.

We launch this the one place it really makes sense...

For the people who really get it.

Have a good race, Petrali.

Mm-hmm.

Good luck, Walt.

Reya.

Thanks.

Racers, ready.

Start your engines!

[Engine starts]

[Engine starts]

[Engine starts]

[Horn honks]

♪♪

Is that the cops?

I don't know. I think it's your dad.

Careful, careful.

All right. Coming.

♪♪

That's it. I got it, I got it.

All right.

♪♪

I'd be proud if you did us the honor of racing today.

♪♪

On this.

The Knucklehead.

♪♪

[Engine starts]

[Cheers and applause]

Oh, yeah!

Oh!

Oh! [Laughs]

[Engine revving]

Whoo!

[Laughs]

♪♪

Man: Yeah, come on!

[Cheers and applause]

Go!

[Cheers and applause]

Harley...

That's a hell of an engine.

My best work.

Hear, hear.

♪♪

Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Davidson.

I'm glad you're here.

I was wondering...

... if you would like to be an official Harley-Davidson dealer.

♪♪

There's not a single n*gro motorcycle dealer in the country.

Nope.

Not yet.

What about Wharton?

Did you know that official dealers have the authority to sponsor whomever they choose for the AMA races?

Including themselves?

Man: All right!

Whoo-hoo!

♪♪

Why me?

'Cause you stand your ground.

♪♪

And because I believe every man should have the opportunity to make his good name.

♪♪

Ah.

Here he goes, here he goes.

Come on.

[Engine revving]

♪♪

Come on, Walt!

Thank you.

Here you are.

[Indistinct conversation]

♪♪

Come on.

♪♪

Yeah!

[Cheers and applause]

[Laughing]

Whoo-hoo!

Here we go.

[Stopwatch clicking]

[Engine revving]

Ha!

Come on, baby!

[Laughing]

27.

Mark 28.

29.

Mark 30... Call it.

106.38 miles per hour.

[Chuckles]

Oh-ho-ho-ho!

Fastest damn motorcycle in the world.

[Both laugh]

♪♪
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