A Father’s Love Crosses Oceans

A vignette featuring Eric Liddell with a dose of nostalgia

Synopsis: Michael is a child of American missionaries, separated from his parents and imprisoned in the same Japanese internment camp during as Olympic Champion Eric Liddell during the Second World War. Like Michael, Eric is also separated from his family—a wife and young girls, including the young daughter born in Canada during his imprisonment.   

Characters: Eric Liddell, the famous Scottish Olympic sprinter, 43 years old. Michael, a young teenager.

Setting: 1940s, in a Japanese internment camp in China during World War II.

Lights up on Eric Liddell.  The famous Olympic Champion lies on the floor with a thin blanket, looking frail.

Michael: My dad told me that they call you the Flying Scotsman.

Eric: The name stuck.

Michael: He said you can outrun any man.

Eric: Well, not any more.

Michael: How did it feel at the end of the race, when you won the gold medal?

Eric: I was exhausted.

Michael: It must have been the best feeling in the world!

Eric: Wonderful, but not the best.

Michael: You know what else my dad said?  

Eric: I’m sure you’re about to tell me.

Michael: He said a newspaperman wrote that you’ll be remembered by sports fans as “probably the ugliest runner who ever won an Olympic championship."

Eric: Really?  [Laughing]. That’s quite funny.  It’s probably true.

Michael: You’re not very ugly.

Eric: Thanks Michael. But  I think he was talking about my running style.  Flailing arms, uneven stride. 

Michael: Oh. Sorry.

Eric: Did you just come here to insult the looks of a bed-ridden, former Olympian?

Michael: Everyone’s asking about it.

Eric: About my looks?

Michael: No, how come you refereed the game on Sunday?

Eric laughs at this.