论文部分内容阅读
JB Bernstein是一名职业体育经纪人,在经历了事业的辉煌发展后,他与搭档成立了自己的经纪公司,却不料遭受了重创,JB的事业和人生都面临着危机。一个偶然的机会,他想出到印度进行棒球新星征选的点子,在得到赞助商的首肯之后,他踏入了这个古老的国度。JB能如愿选到合适的球员吗?他的事业和人生会因此出现转机吗?
印度元素和美国梦贯穿其中的影片《百万金臂(Million Dollar Arm)》根据真人真事改编而成,事业和人生面临危机的美国职业体育经纪人JB Bernstein、怀揣梦想的印度少年Rinku和Dinesh、先天条件不足却热爱棒球的印度棒球老师Rohan……他们的梦想一脉相承,影片试图通过他们的故事向观众传达这样一个信念——只要努力,没有完成不了的梦想。
JB Bernstein: How about that baseball owner you know? What was his name?
JB’s partner: William Chang. Big money guy out of San Francisco, looking for investment opportunities in Asia. Except we don’t have anything in Asia.
JB: Maybe we should find something. Think about Yao Ming. That 1)dude’s worth a hundred million in Chinese 2)endorsements. We just need to find our Yao.
JB’s partner: Okay. When it comes to China, we are late to the party. China’s tapped.
JB: South Korea.
JB’s partner: Tapped.
JB: North Korea.
JB’s partner: Great. I’ll set up a meeting.
JB: All right. Well, then, this. What if we go young?
JB’s partner: Mmm-hmm.
JB: Find some kid, develop the talent. Get in on the ground floor.
JB’s partner: Mmm. Hey, the Red Sox just signed an 8-year-old.
JB: All right. Maybe we hang out at 3)maternity wards.
JB’s partner: Yeah, last time I did that, I came home with twins.
JB: Alright. Bad idea.
JB’s partner: Hey, listen, you are gonna love it when it happens to you. Ah, look at that. 4)Cricket.
JB: Oh, come on.
JB’s partner: Come on. It relaxes me, all right? I used to watch this with my dad. It’s a great game.
JB: It’s not a great game.
JB’s partner: It is a great game.
JB: It looks like an insane 5)asylum was opened up and all the 6)inmates were allowed to create a sport. JB’s partner: That is just not true. Okay? A billion people play this game.
JB: I don’t care. It’s because anybody can play it. There’s no 7)discernible rules. You hit the ball anywhere you want and it’s apparently fair. And then you run back and forth and tag each other with bats. This is nonsense. 8)Toddlers can play this game.
JB’s partner: Okay, are you even listening to yourself right now? Do you realize how stupid you sound? It is a brilliant game.
William Chang: They don’t play baseball in India.
JB’s partner: That’s right. They don’t. They play cricket. But we think that we can convert a cricket 9)bowler into a baseball 10)pitcher. Look, India is the last great untapped market. We find new fans there for American baseball, the financial opportunities are endless. JB: Mr. Chang, if we can deliver to Major League Baseball its first Indian ballplayer, that’s a billion new fans. What do a billion new fans need? Billion hats. Billion T-shirts.
Chang: And you wanna set this up like it’s a talent contest?
JB: Exactly. That will ensure maximum exposure of talent to press. See, once we go over there and find these guys, we bring them back here, we train them in L.A., and then we get them signed with a professional 11)franchise. Chang: What’s your timeline?
JB: Two years.
Chang: Can you do it in one?
JB: Sure.
JB: Hello, I’m JB Bernstein.
Vivek: JBB Sir. Hello, I’m Vivek.
JB: Weren’t you supposed to pick me up at the airport today?
Vivek: Yes, but that is tomorrow.
JB: No, Vivek, today. That’s why I’m standing here.
Vivek: I was certain that it was tomorrow, JB Sir.
JB: I tried calling you all day.
Vivek: The telephone lines are not up yet. And I’ve been busy on my cell phone, you know, trying to resolve the issue. But anyway, you are here now. We are all very excited about “Million Dollar Arm,” JBB Sir. JB: Thank you. And it’s
just JB.
Vivek: Okay.
JB: One B.
Vivek: JB.
JB: No “sir.” So this is our
office?
Vivek: Yes, JB.
JB: Is there always this much traffic?
Vivek: There’s always traffic in Mumbai, JB.
JB: What’s with the honking?
Vivek: Indians love honking, JB. I don’t know why. It doesn’t help. Anyway, you settle down, and then whenever you are ready, we can have a status report meeting.
JB: Great. I’m ready. Let’s do it.
Vivek: Right away?
JB: Yes.
Vivek: Oh, okay. First of all, I am happy to inform you that all our plans are running smoothly and on time.
JB: Great. Can I see the 12)flyers?
Vivek: Flyers are not here yet. They are at the printers. We are trying to get them.
JB: Okay. How about the T-shirts?
Vivek: They are at the warehouse. We are trying to get them, too.
JB: Okay, but the equipment that we sent over, the batting cages, balls, bats, that’s all here?
Vivek: Yes. I’m happy to confirm that they all are here in India. JB: But you don’t have them here?
Vivek: No, they are at the 13)customs. I think we should be working on that.
JB: Okay, Vivek, I need things to run on time and smoothly. But actually run on time and smoothly, not Indian on time and smoothly. Vivek: Well, you know, here in India, we do things a little differently than in the U.S..
JB: Okay, so, what do we have to do to get our stuff?
Vivek: Uh, we have to pay money.
JB: Pay money. Like a 14)bribe?
Vivek: Oh, no, no, no. Not a…not a bribe. I mean, why use such words? We call it “bypassing the system.” The systems in India are very slow, so we bypass them.
JB: By paying money.
Vivek: That’s the Indian way. Indians love honking and bypassing the system.
JB: Okay, let’s do it.
杰贝·柏斯丁:你认识的那个棒球老板怎么样?他叫什么名字?
杰贝的搭档:张威廉。旧金山的大财主,他在寻找亚洲的投资机会。但我们没有亚洲球星。
杰贝:也许我们该找个亚洲球星。想想姚明吧。那家伙身价过亿,身兼多个中国代言。只要找到我们的姚明。
杰贝的搭档:好吧,说到中国,我们不再有利可图了。中国被榨干了。
杰贝:韩国。
杰贝的搭档:榨干了。
杰贝:朝鲜。
杰贝的搭档:好极了。我会安排你们见面的。
杰贝:好吧,呃,这样吧。如果我们找年轻的会怎么样?
杰贝的搭档:嗯。
杰贝:找些年轻人,发掘天赋,先下手为强。
杰贝的搭档:嗯,嘿,红袜队刚签下一个八岁的球员。
杰贝:好吧,也许我们去产房找好了。
杰贝的搭档:是啊,上次我去产房,带了一对双胞胎回家。
杰贝:没错,馊主意。
杰贝的搭档:嘿,听好了,等你有了孩子,就会喜欢的。啊,快看啊,板球。
杰贝:哦,拜托了。
杰贝的搭档:拜托,它能让我放松,好吧?我以前常和我爸看板球,很好看。杰贝:才不是呢。
杰贝的搭档:很好看。
杰贝:它看起来像是一所疯人院被打开,所有病人自创的一项运动。
杰贝的搭档:别胡扯了,好吗?有十亿人在玩这种运动。
杰贝:我不管。因为任何人都能打板球。没有清晰的规则。你把球击到任何一个你想要的地方,似乎都算界内。然后你来回跑,带球棒玩捉人游戏。太扯了,连学走路的小孩都会打。
杰贝的搭档:好吧,你刚刚有在听自己说话吗?你意识到你听起来有多愚蠢吗?这是一项绝妙的运动。
张威廉:印度人不打棒球。
杰贝的搭档:没错,他们不打棒球,他们打板球。但我们认为我们可以把板球投手变成棒球投手。看吧,印度是最后一个尚未被开发的好市场。我们替美国棒球找到新球迷,商机无限。
杰贝:张先生,如果我们能为职业棒球大联盟输送第一个印度球员,那就增加了十亿新球迷。十亿新球迷需要什么?十亿顶球帽。十亿件T恤。
张:你想设计成选秀比赛的形式进行吗?
杰贝:没错。那将会最大限度地提高新秀的媒体曝光。想想,一旦我们到那里找到这些人才,把他们带回洛杉矶受训,再让他们和专业球队签约。张:你需要多长时间?杰贝:两年。
张:你能在一年内做到吗?杰贝:当然能。
杰贝:你好,我是杰贝·柏斯丁。
威韦克:杰贝贝先生,你好,我是威韦克。杰贝:你今天不是要来机场接我吗?威韦克:是的,但那是明天的事啊。
杰贝:不,威韦克,是今天。所以我才站在这里。
威韦克:我确定是明天,杰贝先生。
杰贝:我打电话找你一整天了。
威韦克:电话线还没有接好。我忙着用手机联络,你知道的,想要解决这个问题。但无论如何,你现在已经到这儿了。我们都很期待《百万金臂》比赛,杰贝贝先生。
杰贝:谢谢,叫我杰贝就好了。
威韦克:好的。
杰贝:一个贝就行了。
威韦克:杰贝。
杰贝:别叫“先生”。那么,这是我们的办公室吗?威韦克:是的,杰贝。
杰贝:路上总是这么塞车吗?威韦克:孟买到处都塞车,杰贝。
杰贝:为什么老按喇叭?
威韦克:印度人爱按喇叭,杰贝。我不知道为什么。这完全没用。无论如何,你整理下,什么时候作好准备,我们就开进度报告会议。
杰贝:好极了,我准备好了,开会吧。
威韦克:现在吗?
杰贝:是的。
威韦克:哦,好的。首先,我很高兴向你汇报,我们所有的计划按时间安排进展顺利。杰贝:很好,我能看看传单吗?
威韦克:传单还没有送过来。它们还在印刷厂,我们正要去取。
杰贝:好吧。T恤呢?
威韦克:T恤在仓库里。我们也正要去取。
杰贝:好,但我们寄过来的设备,击球练习挡网、球、球棒,都在这里吗?威韦克:是的。很高兴跟你确认设备都在印度了。
杰贝:但都不在这里?
威韦克:不在这里,设备在海关。我想我们会去想办法的。
杰贝:好的,威韦克,我要事情按时间进度顺利进行。但是是真正的按部就班,而不是印度人的那套。 威韦克:嗯,你知道,在印度这儿,我们做事的方式和在美国有点不同。杰贝:好吧,那么,我们要怎么做才能拿到我们的东西?
威韦克:呃,我们得付钱。
杰贝:付钱,像是贿赂吗?
威韦克:哦,不,不,不。不是……不是贿赂。我是说,为什么用这样的词呢?我们称之为“绕过体制”。印度体制效率很慢,所以我们绕过体制。
杰贝:用付钱绕过体制。
威韦克:那是印度人做事的方式。印度人爱按喇叭和绕过体制。
杰贝:好吧,就这么干吧。
Rohan是一个棒球迷,他来到JB居住的酒店,毛遂自荐,希望得到与其共事的机会。
Amit Rohan: Uh, excuse me, sir. Are you JB Bernstein?
JB: Yes, I am,
Rohan: Hello, sir. I am Amit Rohan. I love baseball. I would like very much to work with you on “The Million Dollar Arm.”JB: Great. 15)Tryouts in Mumbai are at the end of the month. Come on by.
Rohan: JB Sir, I don’t play baseball. Look at me, too small to compete. But I teach baseball in New Mumbai.
JB: You do?
Rohan: Yes, sir. At my college I have 7 students. Ask me any question about the game of baseball. I will tell you. Ask me.
JB: Okay. How many 16)innings does a starting pitcher have to pitch to get the win?
Rohan: Can you ask me a different question?
JB: No. Goodbye.
Rohan: Sir, sir, I’ll work for free, sir.
JB: Really?
Rohan: Yes, sir. I’ll work for free.
JB: When can you start?
Rohan: Now, sir.
JB: Now is good. Let’s go.
Rohan: Really, sir?
JB: Yes.
(JB and Brenda are skyping.)
JB: Lucknow was huge for us. We found 4 guys there, and then we got on a roll. By the time we got to Goa, we had somehow found 16 more. I mean, half these kids never traveled before, so they were thrilled to come to Mumbai and train for the finals. We put ’em up in a small college where Amit teaches. Amit hooked it up. He’s been key, ’cause none of these guys really speak English. In fact, I asked him to come to the U.S. and be the translator for the winners. Ray has 17)graciously offered to stay and train the boys for the final. He actually seems to be enjoying himself. And Amit has become Ray’s 18)protégé, studying all his methods, good and bad. Brenda: Hmm. Sounds great.
JB: I don’t know if it’s great, but at least it’s coming together.
Brenda: What? JB, you’re in Mumbai. You’re doing exactly what you want. That takes guts. Personally, I just can’t wait to hear how it all turns out.
JB: That’ll cost you a bottle of wine.
Brenda: Bottle of Scotch.
JB: Better.
Brenda: Deal. So can I see your office?
JB: Well, I’m on the roof now because the air conditioner is broken. Shocker. But here’s my view.
Brenda: Wow. JB: Right?
Brenda: That is really cool.
JB: Yeah, you kind of have to have the smells to get the full effect.
Brenda: Does it smell so bad?
JB: Yeah, sometimes. And then sometimes it smells amazing. It’s a study in extremes, just like everything else in this place.
Brenda: Hmm. Can I see the Taj Mahal?
JB: It’s about 700 miles away.
Brenda: Oh, damn.
艾米·洛汉:呃,打扰了,先生。你是杰贝·柏斯丁吗?
杰贝:是的,我是。
洛汉:你好,先生,我是艾米·洛汉。我爱棒球。我很想跟你为《百万金臂》工作。
杰贝:好极了。孟买征选在月底进行。记得来参加。
洛汉:杰贝先生,我不打棒球。看看我,个子太矮了没法竞争。但是我在新孟买教打棒球。
杰贝:是吗?
洛汉:是的,先生。我在学校有七个学生。问我任何有关棒球的问题吧。我都能回答,问我吧。
杰贝:好吧。先发投手要投几局才能拿下胜投?
洛汉:能问我一个别的问题吗?
杰贝:不能。再见。
洛汉:先生,先生,我愿意不拿薪水工作,先生。
杰贝:真的?
洛汉:是的,先生,我不拿薪水。
杰贝:什么时候能开始?
洛汉:现在,先生。
杰贝:现在就很好。走吧。
洛汉:真的吗,先生?
杰贝:真的。
(杰贝和布兰达在视讯通话。)
杰贝:勒克瑙的征选获得了巨大成功。我们在那儿发掘了四个年轻人,接着好运连连。抵达果亚时,我们又发掘了16个年轻人。我是说,这些孩子中,有一半从未背井离乡,所以他们很兴奋来到孟买受训,参加决赛。我们送他们到艾米教棒球的一所小学校。艾米负责安排。他很重要,因为这些年轻人都不太懂英语。事实上,我邀请他到美国,担任获胜者的翻译。雷爽快地答应留下来,训练这些男孩参加决赛。他好像乐在其中。艾米成为雷的徒弟,学习他的方法,不分好坏。
布兰达: 嗯,听起来很好。
杰贝:不知道好不好,但至少有按计划进行着。
布兰达:什么?杰贝,你在孟买。你在做你想做的事,那需要勇气。从个人的角度来说,我迫不及待想要听到结果了。
杰贝:那你要请我喝瓶酒。
布兰达:一瓶苏格兰威士忌。杰贝:那更好了。
布兰达:一言为定。能看看你的办公室吗?
杰贝:呃,我现在在楼顶,因为空调坏掉了。真令人惊讶。但这是我能看到的。
布兰达:哇。
杰贝:还好吧?
布兰达:那真的很酷。
杰贝:是啊,要闻到味道才能完全感受到。
布兰达:很难闻吗?杰贝:是的,有时是。有时香气宜人。就像研究极端事物,印度的任何东西都是如此。
布兰达:嗯。我能看看泰姬陵吗?
杰贝:大约在700英里外。
布兰达:哦,讨厌。
《百万金臂》顺利进入尾声,幸运的Rinku和Dinesh成为冠亚军,之后随JB来到美国进行训练。赞助商给的时限在一步步接近,两个印度少年训练的进展有限,JB担心他们是否能参加职业棒球大联盟的甄选。另外,文化的差异还给JB带来了不少麻烦。善解人意的Brenda与JB谈心,使JB认识到他将生意看得太重,而未给予他们足够的关心。
JB: Alright, I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I was supposed to run a contest, not become a primary caregiver. I mean, my house is a mess, the pool is filthy, my car smells like 19)puke. I’m late to everything.
Brenda: You sound like every one of my married friends.
JB: But I’m not married. I don’t wanna be married.
Brenda: All right, Mr. Sensitive. I think you just need to accept the fact that your life’s gonna be different for a couple of months. And then it’s gonna go back to your old life.
JB: Yeah, but there may not be an old life to go back to if this doesn’t work out. That’s what you don’t understand. This thing, these kids…This is my last best shot.
Brenda: Come on. You got your big house, your fancy car. You’re gonna be fine. JB: No, I am miles away from fine. All this stuff is from my old life, when I made money before I stupidly decided to go out on my own. Now I can barely pay my bills.
Brenda: Really?
JB: Really.
Brenda: Sorry. Okay, so if they’re your last shot, then don’t you think you should be paying a little more attention to ’em? I mean, it’s not like it’s easy for these guys, you know. They’re far from home. They miss their families.
JB: How do you know all this?
Brenda: ’Cause they told me.
JB: You talk to them?
Brenda: Yeah, I talk to them. They just need to see that you care.
JB: Yeah, maybe I need to create a…create a better environment for their success.
Brenda: Something like that, yeah. You just need to commit to it and then you’ll figure out the rest.
杰贝:好吧,我不知道我还能撑多久,我应该要管理比赛,而不是变成保姆。我是说,房子凌乱、水池肮脏、车里满是呕吐味。做什么事都慢一步。
布兰达:你听起来好像我那些已婚朋友。
杰贝:但我还没有结婚,我不想结婚。布兰达:好吧,敏感先生。我想你只需要接受这是个事实,这几个月你的生活会有所不同。几个月后就会恢复正常了。
杰贝:是的,但是如果失败了,就回不到正常的生活了。那是你无法理解的。这件事,这些孩子……是我最后的翻身机会。
布兰达:拜托。你坐拥豪宅名车,不会有事的。
杰贝:不,我麻烦大着呢。这些都是以前赚钱买的,后来我愚蠢地决定自己开公司。现在我连账单都快付不起了。
布兰达:真的?
杰贝:真的。
布兰达:对不起。好吧,如果他们是你最后的翻身机会,那么为什么你不觉得该多关心他们吗?我是说,他们也不好受,你知道的。他们背井离乡,他们想念家人。
杰贝:这些你怎么知道的?
布兰达:因为是他们告诉我的。
杰贝:你和他们聊过吗?
布兰达:是的,我和他们聊天。他们只需要看到你的关心。
杰贝:是啊,也许我需要创造一个……创造一个更好的环境让他们成功。
布兰达:诸如此类,对。你只要用心去做,事情就会水到渠成。
球探甄选按照赞助商给的时限如期进行,Rinku和Dinesh表现不佳,并没有获得任何球队的青睐。JB很内疚,觉得不能因为商业的操作而断送他们的前途,于是带领他的团队力劝球探们给予新的机会,却一一遭到拒绝。所幸,在Ray的帮助下,JB为他们争取到第二次甄选的机会。在经历了第一次失败后,JB也明白了棒球对他来说,不仅仅是生意,而是一项乐在其中的运动。
Dinesh: We are trying to thank you with this meal. Rinku: And we also wanted to say that we are very, very sorry, sir. Because we are letting you down at the tryouts.
Rohan: We can never repay what you’ve given us, JB Sir.
JB: Repay me? Guys, come on. What are you talking about?
Rohan: Okay, we all are here together, so let’s thank God and let’s do a prayer.
Brenda: Okay.
(The phone is ringing.)
JB: Sorry.
Brenda: JB.
JB: I have to take this. It’s Ash.
Brenda: Really? Now?
JB: I’m sorry.
Rohan: JB Sir, no.
JB: (answering the phone) Hey. Yes, yeah, I’m sorry. I’m in the middle of a prayer right now. But, uh, I wanted to let you know we got the second tryout from MLB. Yeah, it’s gonna be in two weeks at USC. So get ready. Alright, I’ll call you later and fill you in. Yeah, bye. (to Rohan) Sorry, where were you? We were praying? Rinku: Are you messing with us, dude?
JB: No, I’m not messing with you. You got a second tryout.
All right. So start stretching.
(Laughters.)
JB: Yeah. But this time, we’re gonna do it a little different.
Rinku: Yes, we’re gonna pitch good.
JB: Ideally, you will pitch better, yes. But this time, guys, I…I just want you to have fun.
Dinesh: Yes, sir.
JB: Okay. Now, last time we did this, it was all business and that was my fault. But baseball shouldn’t be just about business, okay? You should have fun. (to Rohan) How are you not writing this down?

Rohan: Oh, yes, I need to write that. Noted, JB Sir.
JB: And listen to me, guys, no matter what happens, I want you to know that you could never, ever, let me down. Okay? I have never been more proud of anyone in my entire life. So I wanna thank you. I really love you guys.
迪尼斯:我们想用这顿饭谢谢你。
林库:我们也想跟你说,我们非常非常抱歉,先生。因为我们在甄选中让你失望了。
洛汉:我们永远无法回报你,杰贝先生。
杰贝:回报我?别这样,伙计们。你们在说什么?
洛汉:好了,我们齐聚于此,让我们感谢神,一起祷告吧。布兰达:好。
(电话响了。)
杰贝:对不起。
布兰达:杰贝。
杰贝:我得接电话,是艾旭。
布兰达:真的吗?现在?
杰贝:对不起。
洛汉:杰贝先生,别这样。
杰贝:(接电话)嘿,是的,是的,对不起,我正在祷告。但是,呃,我想让你知道我们争取到第二次大联盟的甄选机会。是的,两个星期后在南加州大学。所以作好准备吧。好的,我迟些再给你打电话告诉你最新进展。好的,再见。(对洛汉说)对不起,刚说到哪儿了?我们在祷告?
林库:你在耍我们吗,伙计?
杰贝:不,我没有耍你们。你们得到第二次甄选机会。好吧,开始热身吧。
(笑声。)
杰贝:是的,但是这次我们要干得不一样。
林库:是的,我们会好好投。
杰贝:最理想的情况是,你们会投得更好,是的,但是这次,伙计,我……我只想要你们乐在其中。
迪尼斯:好的,先生。
杰贝:好的。上次甄选都是在谈生意,那是我的错。但棒球不该只有生意,对吗?你们应该乐在其中。(对洛汉说)你怎么不记下来?
洛汉:哦,是啊,我要记下来。记好了,杰贝先生。
杰贝:听我说,伙计们,不管发生什么事,我想要你们知道,你们永远不会让我失望。好吗?我这辈子都没这么为任何人骄傲过。所以我要谢谢你们。我真的爱你们。
印度元素和美国梦贯穿其中的影片《百万金臂(Million Dollar Arm)》根据真人真事改编而成,事业和人生面临危机的美国职业体育经纪人JB Bernstein、怀揣梦想的印度少年Rinku和Dinesh、先天条件不足却热爱棒球的印度棒球老师Rohan……他们的梦想一脉相承,影片试图通过他们的故事向观众传达这样一个信念——只要努力,没有完成不了的梦想。
JB Bernstein: How about that baseball owner you know? What was his name?
JB’s partner: William Chang. Big money guy out of San Francisco, looking for investment opportunities in Asia. Except we don’t have anything in Asia.
JB: Maybe we should find something. Think about Yao Ming. That 1)dude’s worth a hundred million in Chinese 2)endorsements. We just need to find our Yao.
JB’s partner: Okay. When it comes to China, we are late to the party. China’s tapped.
JB: South Korea.
JB’s partner: Tapped.
JB: North Korea.
JB’s partner: Great. I’ll set up a meeting.
JB: All right. Well, then, this. What if we go young?
JB’s partner: Mmm-hmm.
JB: Find some kid, develop the talent. Get in on the ground floor.
JB’s partner: Mmm. Hey, the Red Sox just signed an 8-year-old.
JB: All right. Maybe we hang out at 3)maternity wards.
JB’s partner: Yeah, last time I did that, I came home with twins.
JB: Alright. Bad idea.
JB’s partner: Hey, listen, you are gonna love it when it happens to you. Ah, look at that. 4)Cricket.
JB: Oh, come on.
JB’s partner: Come on. It relaxes me, all right? I used to watch this with my dad. It’s a great game.
JB: It’s not a great game.
JB’s partner: It is a great game.
JB: It looks like an insane 5)asylum was opened up and all the 6)inmates were allowed to create a sport. JB’s partner: That is just not true. Okay? A billion people play this game.
JB: I don’t care. It’s because anybody can play it. There’s no 7)discernible rules. You hit the ball anywhere you want and it’s apparently fair. And then you run back and forth and tag each other with bats. This is nonsense. 8)Toddlers can play this game.
JB’s partner: Okay, are you even listening to yourself right now? Do you realize how stupid you sound? It is a brilliant game.
William Chang: They don’t play baseball in India.
JB’s partner: That’s right. They don’t. They play cricket. But we think that we can convert a cricket 9)bowler into a baseball 10)pitcher. Look, India is the last great untapped market. We find new fans there for American baseball, the financial opportunities are endless. JB: Mr. Chang, if we can deliver to Major League Baseball its first Indian ballplayer, that’s a billion new fans. What do a billion new fans need? Billion hats. Billion T-shirts.
Chang: And you wanna set this up like it’s a talent contest?
JB: Exactly. That will ensure maximum exposure of talent to press. See, once we go over there and find these guys, we bring them back here, we train them in L.A., and then we get them signed with a professional 11)franchise. Chang: What’s your timeline?
JB: Two years.
Chang: Can you do it in one?
JB: Sure.
JB: Hello, I’m JB Bernstein.
Vivek: JBB Sir. Hello, I’m Vivek.
JB: Weren’t you supposed to pick me up at the airport today?
Vivek: Yes, but that is tomorrow.
JB: No, Vivek, today. That’s why I’m standing here.
Vivek: I was certain that it was tomorrow, JB Sir.
JB: I tried calling you all day.
Vivek: The telephone lines are not up yet. And I’ve been busy on my cell phone, you know, trying to resolve the issue. But anyway, you are here now. We are all very excited about “Million Dollar Arm,” JBB Sir. JB: Thank you. And it’s
just JB.
Vivek: Okay.
JB: One B.
Vivek: JB.
JB: No “sir.” So this is our
office?
Vivek: Yes, JB.
JB: Is there always this much traffic?
Vivek: There’s always traffic in Mumbai, JB.
JB: What’s with the honking?
Vivek: Indians love honking, JB. I don’t know why. It doesn’t help. Anyway, you settle down, and then whenever you are ready, we can have a status report meeting.
JB: Great. I’m ready. Let’s do it.
Vivek: Right away?
JB: Yes.
Vivek: Oh, okay. First of all, I am happy to inform you that all our plans are running smoothly and on time.
JB: Great. Can I see the 12)flyers?
Vivek: Flyers are not here yet. They are at the printers. We are trying to get them.
JB: Okay. How about the T-shirts?
Vivek: They are at the warehouse. We are trying to get them, too.
JB: Okay, but the equipment that we sent over, the batting cages, balls, bats, that’s all here?
Vivek: Yes. I’m happy to confirm that they all are here in India. JB: But you don’t have them here?
Vivek: No, they are at the 13)customs. I think we should be working on that.
JB: Okay, Vivek, I need things to run on time and smoothly. But actually run on time and smoothly, not Indian on time and smoothly. Vivek: Well, you know, here in India, we do things a little differently than in the U.S..
JB: Okay, so, what do we have to do to get our stuff?
Vivek: Uh, we have to pay money.
JB: Pay money. Like a 14)bribe?
Vivek: Oh, no, no, no. Not a…not a bribe. I mean, why use such words? We call it “bypassing the system.” The systems in India are very slow, so we bypass them.
JB: By paying money.
Vivek: That’s the Indian way. Indians love honking and bypassing the system.
JB: Okay, let’s do it.
杰贝·柏斯丁:你认识的那个棒球老板怎么样?他叫什么名字?
杰贝的搭档:张威廉。旧金山的大财主,他在寻找亚洲的投资机会。但我们没有亚洲球星。
杰贝:也许我们该找个亚洲球星。想想姚明吧。那家伙身价过亿,身兼多个中国代言。只要找到我们的姚明。
杰贝的搭档:好吧,说到中国,我们不再有利可图了。中国被榨干了。
杰贝:韩国。
杰贝的搭档:榨干了。
杰贝:朝鲜。
杰贝的搭档:好极了。我会安排你们见面的。
杰贝:好吧,呃,这样吧。如果我们找年轻的会怎么样?
杰贝的搭档:嗯。
杰贝:找些年轻人,发掘天赋,先下手为强。
杰贝的搭档:嗯,嘿,红袜队刚签下一个八岁的球员。
杰贝:好吧,也许我们去产房找好了。
杰贝的搭档:是啊,上次我去产房,带了一对双胞胎回家。
杰贝:没错,馊主意。
杰贝的搭档:嘿,听好了,等你有了孩子,就会喜欢的。啊,快看啊,板球。
杰贝:哦,拜托了。
杰贝的搭档:拜托,它能让我放松,好吧?我以前常和我爸看板球,很好看。杰贝:才不是呢。
杰贝的搭档:很好看。
杰贝:它看起来像是一所疯人院被打开,所有病人自创的一项运动。
杰贝的搭档:别胡扯了,好吗?有十亿人在玩这种运动。
杰贝:我不管。因为任何人都能打板球。没有清晰的规则。你把球击到任何一个你想要的地方,似乎都算界内。然后你来回跑,带球棒玩捉人游戏。太扯了,连学走路的小孩都会打。
杰贝的搭档:好吧,你刚刚有在听自己说话吗?你意识到你听起来有多愚蠢吗?这是一项绝妙的运动。
张威廉:印度人不打棒球。
杰贝的搭档:没错,他们不打棒球,他们打板球。但我们认为我们可以把板球投手变成棒球投手。看吧,印度是最后一个尚未被开发的好市场。我们替美国棒球找到新球迷,商机无限。
杰贝:张先生,如果我们能为职业棒球大联盟输送第一个印度球员,那就增加了十亿新球迷。十亿新球迷需要什么?十亿顶球帽。十亿件T恤。
张:你想设计成选秀比赛的形式进行吗?
杰贝:没错。那将会最大限度地提高新秀的媒体曝光。想想,一旦我们到那里找到这些人才,把他们带回洛杉矶受训,再让他们和专业球队签约。张:你需要多长时间?杰贝:两年。
张:你能在一年内做到吗?杰贝:当然能。
杰贝:你好,我是杰贝·柏斯丁。
威韦克:杰贝贝先生,你好,我是威韦克。杰贝:你今天不是要来机场接我吗?威韦克:是的,但那是明天的事啊。
杰贝:不,威韦克,是今天。所以我才站在这里。
威韦克:我确定是明天,杰贝先生。
杰贝:我打电话找你一整天了。
威韦克:电话线还没有接好。我忙着用手机联络,你知道的,想要解决这个问题。但无论如何,你现在已经到这儿了。我们都很期待《百万金臂》比赛,杰贝贝先生。
杰贝:谢谢,叫我杰贝就好了。
威韦克:好的。
杰贝:一个贝就行了。
威韦克:杰贝。
杰贝:别叫“先生”。那么,这是我们的办公室吗?威韦克:是的,杰贝。
杰贝:路上总是这么塞车吗?威韦克:孟买到处都塞车,杰贝。
杰贝:为什么老按喇叭?
威韦克:印度人爱按喇叭,杰贝。我不知道为什么。这完全没用。无论如何,你整理下,什么时候作好准备,我们就开进度报告会议。
杰贝:好极了,我准备好了,开会吧。
威韦克:现在吗?
杰贝:是的。
威韦克:哦,好的。首先,我很高兴向你汇报,我们所有的计划按时间安排进展顺利。杰贝:很好,我能看看传单吗?
威韦克:传单还没有送过来。它们还在印刷厂,我们正要去取。
杰贝:好吧。T恤呢?
威韦克:T恤在仓库里。我们也正要去取。
杰贝:好,但我们寄过来的设备,击球练习挡网、球、球棒,都在这里吗?威韦克:是的。很高兴跟你确认设备都在印度了。
杰贝:但都不在这里?
威韦克:不在这里,设备在海关。我想我们会去想办法的。
杰贝:好的,威韦克,我要事情按时间进度顺利进行。但是是真正的按部就班,而不是印度人的那套。 威韦克:嗯,你知道,在印度这儿,我们做事的方式和在美国有点不同。杰贝:好吧,那么,我们要怎么做才能拿到我们的东西?
威韦克:呃,我们得付钱。
杰贝:付钱,像是贿赂吗?
威韦克:哦,不,不,不。不是……不是贿赂。我是说,为什么用这样的词呢?我们称之为“绕过体制”。印度体制效率很慢,所以我们绕过体制。
杰贝:用付钱绕过体制。
威韦克:那是印度人做事的方式。印度人爱按喇叭和绕过体制。
杰贝:好吧,就这么干吧。
Rohan是一个棒球迷,他来到JB居住的酒店,毛遂自荐,希望得到与其共事的机会。
Amit Rohan: Uh, excuse me, sir. Are you JB Bernstein?
JB: Yes, I am,
Rohan: Hello, sir. I am Amit Rohan. I love baseball. I would like very much to work with you on “The Million Dollar Arm.”JB: Great. 15)Tryouts in Mumbai are at the end of the month. Come on by.
Rohan: JB Sir, I don’t play baseball. Look at me, too small to compete. But I teach baseball in New Mumbai.
JB: You do?
Rohan: Yes, sir. At my college I have 7 students. Ask me any question about the game of baseball. I will tell you. Ask me.
JB: Okay. How many 16)innings does a starting pitcher have to pitch to get the win?
Rohan: Can you ask me a different question?
JB: No. Goodbye.
Rohan: Sir, sir, I’ll work for free, sir.
JB: Really?
Rohan: Yes, sir. I’ll work for free.
JB: When can you start?
Rohan: Now, sir.
JB: Now is good. Let’s go.
Rohan: Really, sir?
JB: Yes.
(JB and Brenda are skyping.)
JB: Lucknow was huge for us. We found 4 guys there, and then we got on a roll. By the time we got to Goa, we had somehow found 16 more. I mean, half these kids never traveled before, so they were thrilled to come to Mumbai and train for the finals. We put ’em up in a small college where Amit teaches. Amit hooked it up. He’s been key, ’cause none of these guys really speak English. In fact, I asked him to come to the U.S. and be the translator for the winners. Ray has 17)graciously offered to stay and train the boys for the final. He actually seems to be enjoying himself. And Amit has become Ray’s 18)protégé, studying all his methods, good and bad. Brenda: Hmm. Sounds great.
JB: I don’t know if it’s great, but at least it’s coming together.
Brenda: What? JB, you’re in Mumbai. You’re doing exactly what you want. That takes guts. Personally, I just can’t wait to hear how it all turns out.
JB: That’ll cost you a bottle of wine.
Brenda: Bottle of Scotch.
JB: Better.
Brenda: Deal. So can I see your office?
JB: Well, I’m on the roof now because the air conditioner is broken. Shocker. But here’s my view.
Brenda: Wow. JB: Right?
Brenda: That is really cool.
JB: Yeah, you kind of have to have the smells to get the full effect.
Brenda: Does it smell so bad?
JB: Yeah, sometimes. And then sometimes it smells amazing. It’s a study in extremes, just like everything else in this place.
Brenda: Hmm. Can I see the Taj Mahal?
JB: It’s about 700 miles away.
Brenda: Oh, damn.
艾米·洛汉:呃,打扰了,先生。你是杰贝·柏斯丁吗?
杰贝:是的,我是。
洛汉:你好,先生,我是艾米·洛汉。我爱棒球。我很想跟你为《百万金臂》工作。
杰贝:好极了。孟买征选在月底进行。记得来参加。
洛汉:杰贝先生,我不打棒球。看看我,个子太矮了没法竞争。但是我在新孟买教打棒球。
杰贝:是吗?
洛汉:是的,先生。我在学校有七个学生。问我任何有关棒球的问题吧。我都能回答,问我吧。
杰贝:好吧。先发投手要投几局才能拿下胜投?
洛汉:能问我一个别的问题吗?
杰贝:不能。再见。
洛汉:先生,先生,我愿意不拿薪水工作,先生。
杰贝:真的?
洛汉:是的,先生,我不拿薪水。
杰贝:什么时候能开始?
洛汉:现在,先生。
杰贝:现在就很好。走吧。
洛汉:真的吗,先生?
杰贝:真的。
(杰贝和布兰达在视讯通话。)
杰贝:勒克瑙的征选获得了巨大成功。我们在那儿发掘了四个年轻人,接着好运连连。抵达果亚时,我们又发掘了16个年轻人。我是说,这些孩子中,有一半从未背井离乡,所以他们很兴奋来到孟买受训,参加决赛。我们送他们到艾米教棒球的一所小学校。艾米负责安排。他很重要,因为这些年轻人都不太懂英语。事实上,我邀请他到美国,担任获胜者的翻译。雷爽快地答应留下来,训练这些男孩参加决赛。他好像乐在其中。艾米成为雷的徒弟,学习他的方法,不分好坏。
布兰达: 嗯,听起来很好。
杰贝:不知道好不好,但至少有按计划进行着。
布兰达:什么?杰贝,你在孟买。你在做你想做的事,那需要勇气。从个人的角度来说,我迫不及待想要听到结果了。
杰贝:那你要请我喝瓶酒。
布兰达:一瓶苏格兰威士忌。杰贝:那更好了。
布兰达:一言为定。能看看你的办公室吗?
杰贝:呃,我现在在楼顶,因为空调坏掉了。真令人惊讶。但这是我能看到的。
布兰达:哇。
杰贝:还好吧?
布兰达:那真的很酷。
杰贝:是啊,要闻到味道才能完全感受到。
布兰达:很难闻吗?杰贝:是的,有时是。有时香气宜人。就像研究极端事物,印度的任何东西都是如此。
布兰达:嗯。我能看看泰姬陵吗?
杰贝:大约在700英里外。
布兰达:哦,讨厌。
《百万金臂》顺利进入尾声,幸运的Rinku和Dinesh成为冠亚军,之后随JB来到美国进行训练。赞助商给的时限在一步步接近,两个印度少年训练的进展有限,JB担心他们是否能参加职业棒球大联盟的甄选。另外,文化的差异还给JB带来了不少麻烦。善解人意的Brenda与JB谈心,使JB认识到他将生意看得太重,而未给予他们足够的关心。
JB: Alright, I don’t know how much longer I can do this. I was supposed to run a contest, not become a primary caregiver. I mean, my house is a mess, the pool is filthy, my car smells like 19)puke. I’m late to everything.
Brenda: You sound like every one of my married friends.
JB: But I’m not married. I don’t wanna be married.
Brenda: All right, Mr. Sensitive. I think you just need to accept the fact that your life’s gonna be different for a couple of months. And then it’s gonna go back to your old life.
JB: Yeah, but there may not be an old life to go back to if this doesn’t work out. That’s what you don’t understand. This thing, these kids…This is my last best shot.
Brenda: Come on. You got your big house, your fancy car. You’re gonna be fine. JB: No, I am miles away from fine. All this stuff is from my old life, when I made money before I stupidly decided to go out on my own. Now I can barely pay my bills.
Brenda: Really?
JB: Really.
Brenda: Sorry. Okay, so if they’re your last shot, then don’t you think you should be paying a little more attention to ’em? I mean, it’s not like it’s easy for these guys, you know. They’re far from home. They miss their families.
JB: How do you know all this?
Brenda: ’Cause they told me.
JB: You talk to them?
Brenda: Yeah, I talk to them. They just need to see that you care.
JB: Yeah, maybe I need to create a…create a better environment for their success.
Brenda: Something like that, yeah. You just need to commit to it and then you’ll figure out the rest.
杰贝:好吧,我不知道我还能撑多久,我应该要管理比赛,而不是变成保姆。我是说,房子凌乱、水池肮脏、车里满是呕吐味。做什么事都慢一步。
布兰达:你听起来好像我那些已婚朋友。
杰贝:但我还没有结婚,我不想结婚。布兰达:好吧,敏感先生。我想你只需要接受这是个事实,这几个月你的生活会有所不同。几个月后就会恢复正常了。
杰贝:是的,但是如果失败了,就回不到正常的生活了。那是你无法理解的。这件事,这些孩子……是我最后的翻身机会。
布兰达:拜托。你坐拥豪宅名车,不会有事的。
杰贝:不,我麻烦大着呢。这些都是以前赚钱买的,后来我愚蠢地决定自己开公司。现在我连账单都快付不起了。
布兰达:真的?
杰贝:真的。
布兰达:对不起。好吧,如果他们是你最后的翻身机会,那么为什么你不觉得该多关心他们吗?我是说,他们也不好受,你知道的。他们背井离乡,他们想念家人。
杰贝:这些你怎么知道的?
布兰达:因为是他们告诉我的。
杰贝:你和他们聊过吗?
布兰达:是的,我和他们聊天。他们只需要看到你的关心。
杰贝:是啊,也许我需要创造一个……创造一个更好的环境让他们成功。
布兰达:诸如此类,对。你只要用心去做,事情就会水到渠成。
球探甄选按照赞助商给的时限如期进行,Rinku和Dinesh表现不佳,并没有获得任何球队的青睐。JB很内疚,觉得不能因为商业的操作而断送他们的前途,于是带领他的团队力劝球探们给予新的机会,却一一遭到拒绝。所幸,在Ray的帮助下,JB为他们争取到第二次甄选的机会。在经历了第一次失败后,JB也明白了棒球对他来说,不仅仅是生意,而是一项乐在其中的运动。
Dinesh: We are trying to thank you with this meal. Rinku: And we also wanted to say that we are very, very sorry, sir. Because we are letting you down at the tryouts.
Rohan: We can never repay what you’ve given us, JB Sir.
JB: Repay me? Guys, come on. What are you talking about?
Rohan: Okay, we all are here together, so let’s thank God and let’s do a prayer.
Brenda: Okay.
(The phone is ringing.)
JB: Sorry.
Brenda: JB.
JB: I have to take this. It’s Ash.
Brenda: Really? Now?
JB: I’m sorry.
Rohan: JB Sir, no.
JB: (answering the phone) Hey. Yes, yeah, I’m sorry. I’m in the middle of a prayer right now. But, uh, I wanted to let you know we got the second tryout from MLB. Yeah, it’s gonna be in two weeks at USC. So get ready. Alright, I’ll call you later and fill you in. Yeah, bye. (to Rohan) Sorry, where were you? We were praying? Rinku: Are you messing with us, dude?
JB: No, I’m not messing with you. You got a second tryout.
All right. So start stretching.
(Laughters.)
JB: Yeah. But this time, we’re gonna do it a little different.
Rinku: Yes, we’re gonna pitch good.
JB: Ideally, you will pitch better, yes. But this time, guys, I…I just want you to have fun.
Dinesh: Yes, sir.
JB: Okay. Now, last time we did this, it was all business and that was my fault. But baseball shouldn’t be just about business, okay? You should have fun. (to Rohan) How are you not writing this down?

Rohan: Oh, yes, I need to write that. Noted, JB Sir.
JB: And listen to me, guys, no matter what happens, I want you to know that you could never, ever, let me down. Okay? I have never been more proud of anyone in my entire life. So I wanna thank you. I really love you guys.
迪尼斯:我们想用这顿饭谢谢你。
林库:我们也想跟你说,我们非常非常抱歉,先生。因为我们在甄选中让你失望了。
洛汉:我们永远无法回报你,杰贝先生。
杰贝:回报我?别这样,伙计们。你们在说什么?
洛汉:好了,我们齐聚于此,让我们感谢神,一起祷告吧。布兰达:好。
(电话响了。)
杰贝:对不起。
布兰达:杰贝。
杰贝:我得接电话,是艾旭。
布兰达:真的吗?现在?
杰贝:对不起。
洛汉:杰贝先生,别这样。
杰贝:(接电话)嘿,是的,是的,对不起,我正在祷告。但是,呃,我想让你知道我们争取到第二次大联盟的甄选机会。是的,两个星期后在南加州大学。所以作好准备吧。好的,我迟些再给你打电话告诉你最新进展。好的,再见。(对洛汉说)对不起,刚说到哪儿了?我们在祷告?
林库:你在耍我们吗,伙计?
杰贝:不,我没有耍你们。你们得到第二次甄选机会。好吧,开始热身吧。
(笑声。)
杰贝:是的,但是这次我们要干得不一样。
林库:是的,我们会好好投。
杰贝:最理想的情况是,你们会投得更好,是的,但是这次,伙计,我……我只想要你们乐在其中。
迪尼斯:好的,先生。
杰贝:好的。上次甄选都是在谈生意,那是我的错。但棒球不该只有生意,对吗?你们应该乐在其中。(对洛汉说)你怎么不记下来?
洛汉:哦,是啊,我要记下来。记好了,杰贝先生。
杰贝:听我说,伙计们,不管发生什么事,我想要你们知道,你们永远不会让我失望。好吗?我这辈子都没这么为任何人骄傲过。所以我要谢谢你们。我真的爱你们。