“And for once, I am going to listen to you.”
Why it's great
The man who always decides suddenly hands over the choice, and that lands harder than any comfort.
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And for once, I am going to let you pick the movie.
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Michael Chooses Four Hours for Leo, Explained
Arthur the King · 2024
Chapter 14 of 19 · 3'16"
Leo collapses from dehydration and needs an IV, but the treatment will cost the team four hours it cannot spare. Michael chooses the hours anyway: "I got you, Leo. You're one of us." The decision may lose the race, and Michael knows it.
Key moments
Start here, then watch the full scene- 0:10–1:03
Michael Stops the Race for Leo
53s - 1:04–1:51
❝ Monologue · 5 lines Michael Reassures Leo He Belongs
47s
Michael Chooses Four Hours for Leo, explained
What happens
During the race, Leo goes down with dehydration. A medic says he can drink fluids but really needs an IV, which would cost four hours the team cannot afford. Leo insists he is fine and can keep paddling, but Michael overrules him and stops the team anyway, trading time for Leo's health.
What's really going on
This is the film's clearest statement of what the team actually values. The race math is simple: four hours of treatment means losing ground, perhaps the win. Michael does it anyway, and the language he uses makes the reason plain — "I got you, Leo. You're one of us." He even borrows Leo's own slogan back at him, reminding him that you once said "winners win," then adds that he needs Leo healthy for that to mean anything. The scene also quietly reframes the whole journey: the stop is not a sacrifice but an investment, four hours of rest the other teams will not get. Later, Olivia talks about her father's illness and the promise she made not to race without him. Together, the two halves of the scene argue that people matter more than results — the opposite of what the race rewards.
Key lines & what they mean
- “And for once, I am going to listen to you.”
- Michael says he is finally taking Leo's advice — which means stopping, not pushing on as Leo insists.
- “I got you, Leo. You're one of us.”
- The plainest declaration of belonging in the film, said while Leo is at his weakest.
- “What more could he ask to leave behind in this world than... than you?”
- Olivia turns her father's death into a compliment to Michael: the child, and the shared sport, are what he leaves behind.
- “I'm not giving you a voice on this one.”
- Michael shuts down Leo's protest, taking responsibility for a decision Leo does not want.
Theme
- Friendship — Michael gives up four race hours for a teammate and tells him plainly that he is one of them.
- Death & grief — Olivia's confession about her dying father turns the race into something inherited, a promise she keeps for him.
What this chapter teaches
Teaching points
Review right after watchingMy level7/7
A1–C2 is the CEFR scale. Cards above the level you pick fade, and playback will not auto-pause on them.
Language points
Click a card to jump to its moment in the videoGolden lines
A great line in its own right — why and how to use it“I got you, Leo. You're one of us.”
Why it's great
One short promise of backing tells an exhausted teammate he still belongs on the team.
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Informal
Use it yourself
I got you, so don't worry about the rest.
“What more could he ask to leave behind in this world than... than you?”
Why it's great
A roundabout question turns a father's pride into something soft and unmistakable.
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literary
Use it yourself
What more could a coach ask than a player like you?
“I'm not giving you a voice on this one.”
Why it's great
He takes away the vote in plain words: not giving you a voice on this one. Care delivered as a command.
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Informal
Use it yourself
I'm not giving you a voice on this decision, sorry.
Monologue
One character carrying the scene — shadow the whole passage❝ Michael's pep talk
Guys, look, we're gonna get four hours of rest that the other teams won't have, and we get a healthy Leo. All right? Even if they come and they go out right away, they're gonna be hurting. We can catch them on a 14-hour paddle. This is our time, okay?
He reframes a four-hour penalty as an advantage and turns a broken team around.
Up next · 15put something in jeopardyThe scene: Michael Confesses to ChikiTakeaways
What you walk away with- A four-hour penalty is weighed against a teammate's health.
- Step up turns panic into a clear job.
- I got you is a promise, not small talk.
- Hard to tell keeps hope honest.
People also search
Questions, then the linesWhy does the team stop for four hours?
Leo is dehydrated and really needs an IV, which takes about four hours. Michael decides that Leo's health is worth the lost time, even though the delay could cost the team the race.
Does Leo want to stop?
No. He keeps saying he is fine and that he can paddle. Michael overrules him and makes the decision for him, saying he is not giving Leo a voice on this one.
Why does Michael bring up 'winners win'?
It is Leo's own slogan, quoted back to him. Michael argues that winners still need to be healthy to win, so resting now is part of winning rather than giving up.
Who is the team watching besides Leo?
Arthur, the stray dog, is also struggling, and Michael asks an official for a vet. When there is none, he cleans the dog up himself and checks on it before the team moves on.