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Chapter 3

THE ORDEAL : 1934

1934The obsession for success

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Joseph-Armand is sitting at the table, still holding a pencil. Dinner seems just about ready; the cauldrons are fuming and it seems to smell delicious. Yvonne is cooking in the background, and Joseph-Armand’s two young sons are sitting at the table.

Hmmm, if it’s too expensive, we’ll do it ourselves.

Armand?

Close-up of Joseph-Armand, who seems deep in focus, eyes squinting. He appears to be talking to himself.

And if I can’t find the parts, we’ll make them ourselves.

Armand?

And if it’s not possible to do... we’ll do it anyways.

Yvonne, who is wearing an apron, brings a dish over and places it on the table.

Dinner is ready!

Some time has passed as we see Léopold examining a sheet of paper looking focused. Joseph-Armand is standing next to him, smiling.

Valcourt, winter 1934. Joseph-Armand Bombardier decided to stop trying to adapt an existing Ford T model, and instead created a brand new prototype from scratch.

So? What do you think?

It looks like a rocket.

Or rather, it looks like a bomb!

A sketch of Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s prototype on yellow paper. The front is narrow and has a triangular shape, whereas the rear is cubic.

That’s normal, Léopold.

It’s Bombardier!

Joseph-Armand Bombardier shows a sheet of paper to his three friends.

We’ll start all over again.

Again?

This time, it's for real!

Joseph-Armand takes the sheet back, smiling with confidence.

I have thought of everything.

To make the machine even lighter, we’ll build a wooden frame.

We’ll fit a smaller engine for better floatability and traction.

We’ll mount the engine at the rear, on top of the tracks. The counterweight from the back will prevent the skis from sinking into the snow in the front.

The three men observe Joseph-Armand Bombardier’s invention. Isaïe bends down to look inside; the snowmobile is very small.

Look at this fine work!

Isn’t this thing a bit small?

Our parish priest will never fit in there.

The tallest of Joseph-Armand’s sons bursts into the garage, alarmed.

Dad! Dad! Hurry up! Hurry up! Yvon... he’s... he’s....

The four men hurriedly follow the boy outside.

The youngest son lies in the snow, wincing in pain and his eyes shut.

Appendicitis attack. Peritonitis.

The doctor is standing in front of the youngest son’s room, which can be seen in the background. He is surrounded by Joseph-Armand’s family.

If we don’t get him to a hospital right away....

But Doctor Langlois, it’s going to take hours to get to Sherbrooke through this storm!

Joseph-Armand slips on his coat without uttering a word and steps outside into the snow.

Armand?

Léopold follows him outside, while putting on his coat. He runs to catch up with Joseph-Armand.

Armand? You can’t be serious

If I don’t try this now, what’s the point?

Joseph-Armand and Léopold push the invention out of the garage. Snow is still falling heavily.

Joseph-Armand drives the machine through the snow.

The snowmobile’s engine is smoking.

Joseph-Armand climbs out of the machine and collapses in the snow. Léopold runs to him.

Armand?

Leopold helps his brother to his feet. Both men look disheartened.

Armand?

The men walk back home. Yvonne is outside with the doctor, who is holding his hat in his hand, against his chest. Yvonne’s head is lowered in sadness.

The doctor puts on his hat and leaves, with a solemn look on his face. Yvonne is standing in the doorway, crying.

Joseph-Armand, stunned and sitting down near his smoking machine, cries with his head in his hands. Léopold stands next to him, looking heartbroken.

Some time later inside the house, Joseph-Armand is holding a pencil while sitting at his desk, lost in thought. It is dark outside and it is still snowing heavily.

It’s got to work! It’s got to work!

First, a larger cabin, so Dr. Langlois can drive his patients into town.

Joseph-Armand looks worried and is trying to come up with a solution.

Then an engine with enough power and a fairly light body. But first, I need to find a solution for the tracks.