SYNOPSIS:

Synopsis: Bessie Tinker is a sixty-year-old African-American woman who bears a limp and a crippled arm from a childhood bout of Lyme disease. Bessie confronts Jimmy a wayward ten-year-old youth who is being held by police for playing a prank on a local storeowner. Using her considerable influence on both, Bessie is allowed to march a sullen Jimmy off to face her justice. Bessie is concerned with Jimmies surly attitude and lack of any personal “dream” to live for. Bessie takes Jimmy home and relates her son Gerald Tinkers life story to him, infusing Jimmy with a purposeful pride. Gerald is inspired by track star Bob Hayes to win races and dream of gold medals. But first Gerald has to master beating his very fast and gifted sister Joyce. During Gerald’s frustrating attempts to defeat his sister, Gerald took football to heart and became a state champion. After finally defeating his sister racing, Gerald is forced to confront Joyce’s subsequent drug use and unsavory neighborhood elements she is involved with. Gerald goes to Memphis State and is confronted by his first tastes of racism. After injuring himself Gerald has a showdown with Spook Murphy, the Memphis athletic director. Gerald forces Spook to release him to another university sports program. Gerald rebuilds his injured leg at Kent State, while setting world records in track and field. Gerald has an affair with his math and English tutor but breaks off the relationship when he is chosen to the ’72 Olympic track team. Gerald’s Olympic training is cut short by the death of his grandfather Willie. Gerald attends the funeral and is torn at staying to help his distraught mother or return to his Olympic training. His sister now “clean “ implores him to return for the family and he does. Gerald and his cousin Larry Black are the first American cousins to run together on an Olympic team. They live and train together. At Munich they make friends with Joshua an Israeli athlete. After Larry wins an individual silver medal, Arab terrorists take over the Israeli compound killing 27 athletes including Joshua. Gerald witnesses at close range the death of fellow athlete Joshua. Deeply depressed he loses the will to compete. As Gerald prepares to leave the Olympic compound he sees a series of apparitions spurring him to run. Larry also returns his good luck medal. Gerald’s fire returns and he and Larry go on to win Olympic Gold in the 4x4 relay. Bessie finishes her story and inspires Jimmy to dream for himself. Jimmy is inspired while holding Gerald’s old good luck medal. Jimmy now has a dream, a gold medal.

DREAMS OF GOLD