GIB Lines

Yes! California.

1927. England. First women’s boat race between Oxford and Cambridge.

… the United States creates NASA

National Aeronautic and Space Administration.

… grow up to be fireman, athletes, president.

Girls born in 1958 are not expected to do any of those things.

Compliant.

Agreeable.

Were you ironing again?

Were you baking again?

But girls … don’t.

Hey … come on … there ARE sports for girls. Women have competed in the Olympics since—

Running…

But not the marathon.

Um… we’re getting ahead again.

I am born in 1958. I’m an ACTIVE child.

I planned to have fourteen children.

Like Ann Glanville?

I don’t know who that is.

Why didn’t you have fourteen children?

I don’t know what to do with you!

My mother doesn’t know what to do with me.

(Lucas enters)…

My dad is a runner.

(given a jacket)…

We run races together in matching clothes. People think it’s adorable.

(start running)…

How long is the race?

Tire her out!!! (stretching)…

My dad had no sons. Maybe he would still run with me if he had sons. Would you dad?

So we will never know.

We run 10ks and 5ks and even a half-marathon. We win trophies and ribbons and medals. I like winning. Do you like winnin, Dad?

I’ve always liked winning.

And then something happens…

Honey, would you stop growing out of all your clothes?

It’s 1972. I’m in high school. I’m not little anymore. I’m not adorable. I’m tall.

Very tall.

Unnaturally tall.

Maybe you can play basketball?

There is no basketball team for girls at my school.

You were such a graceful runner.

There is no running team for girls at my school.

No teams for girls. Period.

I’m not allowed to play boys’ basketball. And the boys don’t want me to run with them. Even though I can beat most of them.

… education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Wait— Title IX doesn’t mention sports!?

Including sports.

Hang on … run that by me again.

… Federal financial assistance.

Like a school?

I’m so sorry—

You don’t look sorry.

… we don’t have a girls’ basketball team here.

Then you have to cut the boys’ team.

Excuse me?

If you have a boys’ team, you have to have a girls’ team. (to girl 7) Right?

Right!

It’s 1972— and my school establishes its first girls’ basketball and track teams. Not because it wanted those teams but—

Because Title IX.

It had to have those teams. In 1972, finally, I can play basketball.

You’re tall. You should row.

Because I’m tall?

Center of mass.

Speed variation.

Gearing.

It’s 1972. I’m unnaturally tall. And strong. But there are no rowing teams at my school. Not for boys, not for girls. Not for anyone.

My parents secretly worry.

#pocketsized

Fans? Who needs fans?

Not me. I like the quiet. The sound of the oars in the water. The light on the water. For me it’s not the competition. I can take that or leave it.

I go home over fall break and try and explain this to my mom.

But…you aren’t on the boys’ boat?

No, Mom.

How will you meet boys?

Mom, I don’t have time.

You’re so shy. Do you even talk to boys? I thought you would because you’d be on their boat. You’d have to talk to them. All the time.

We don’t row with boys, Mom. Girls in the boat!!!

Oh my god.

Mom… what?

It’s bleeding. Look at that. Look at that?

Mom…

Who is going to hold your hand?

You tell me.

No one. No one is going to hold that hand! You have blisters. And callouses.

Mom. It’s fine.

Not fine.

Mom, everyone had hands like this.

Do I have hands like this?

Everyone in the boat.

The boat.

Yes… the boat.

I know. I’ve got it.

What?

Wear gloves.

What?! No.

Why not! Anyone with a brain would wear gloves.

Are you saying I don’t have a brain?

So wear gloves.

No rower wears gloves. You can’t feel the oars.

Feel the oars…?

No male rower wears gloves.

Men do not have to worry about a man wanting to holding their hand.

Not necessarily true.

I don’t want to talk about that. I’m going to buy all of you gloves. You girls.

We are freezing.

OK. Yes. That. Freezing.

Oh my God. How long can they take?

Forever.

We start talking.

Never leave prisoners alone and together…

How long can they take?

Forever.

Yes.

We.

About this wide…

Without a coach or a cox … we don’t have a team.

it sounds awful, I know…

Rowing is having a vacuum cleaner hose stuck down your throat and sulfuric acid splashed on your legs. That’s the pain.

Olympics…

Selection camp. As in tryouts. Trials.

…and bridge supports… ice.

Thought there wasn’t ice in California.

We can do it. All of us.

Don’t you get it? We’re competing against each other.

You did it on purpose. You wanted her to stroke.

I rowed the same both times.

…You were tired.

Wait… are you accusing me of sabotaging you or of being tired?

Hang on… she’s really good. We need her.

She’s a pain… but she’s good. Really, really good.

It has nothing to do with whether or not we like you.

It’s a question of one thing… and one thing only.

Then third is…

Not winning.

…not winning, but fighting hard.

Who said that?

We can do it… What? What is it?

I don’t know.

What do you mean you don’t know?

I’m out of money. No one’s gonna pay me to row.

No one gets paid to row.

Rowing takes so much time. To do it this way. Thirty hours the week pushing to the limit…

I have no limit.

Well I do. Out on the water. I find myself thinking—

Hey—

Maybe I’m hitting the wall because I’ve reached my limit.

…maybe you reached it.

And honestly. I don’t know if I have that thing.

What thing?

That Olympic thing. I don’t really think I have that. Maybe I had it when I was a kid. But not anymore. I grew up.

That’s simplistic.

It’s how I feel. No more Olympic games for me.

…for a game?

So what is it?

“…contest greater than Olympia…”

I’m done.

C’mon! U.S. women’s eight! Pull!

1996—Canada, gold. Romania, silver. Belarus, bronze.

Remember…

2004—Romania, gold. U.S., silver. Netherlands, bronze.