NARRATOR: At some point in your teenage years, if you're lucky, you make a discovery.
[Shot of B&W picture of a smiling woman throwing a vase on a pottery wheel.]
NARRATOR: You find out you're actually good at something.
[Shot of B&W photo of a stage play.]
NARRATOR: It's that critical juncture, where talent becomes...expertise - kinda.
[Shot of B&W photo of a boy holding his bird-house project.]
NARRATOR: It's your chance to star. Or...
[Shot of B&W photo of another stage-play.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: ...end up flat on your face.
[Sound of whistle.]
P.E. TEACHER: Two points - take down! Good move, Arnold!
[KEVIN and CHUCK are wrestling.]
NARRATOR: Around the middle of my junior year, I found out something about myself.
CHUCK: Kevin, I can't breathe!
KEVIN: It'll just take a second.
NARRATOR: For some strange reason - don't ask me how, don't ask me why...
[The teacher slaps the mat.]
PE TEACHER: Pin!
NARRATOR: I was good at wrestling.
PE TEACHER: Good combinations in there! Alright - who's next, for Arnold?
[The guys hem and haw nervously.]
[Shot of KEVIN standing, and CHUCK still on the mat, recovering.]
NARRATOR: Not to brag, or anything.
Cut to
KEVIN: Hey, sorry, Chuck! I guess you're just havin' a bad day...
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Course, I didn't mind gloating a little.
[Close shot of CHUCK turning from his locker.]
CHUCK: I don't understand it - I did everything right!
[Close shot of JEFF sitting on the bench.]
JEFF: Ah, no, when you do everything right - it's the other guy who's sore.
[Close shot of CHUCK. He smirks at JEFF off-screen.]
CHUCK: That's very funny.
[CHUCK looks at KEVIN off-screen.]
CHUCK: I just wish we'd start softball, again.
[CHUCK slams his locker.]
[Wide shot of the locker room.]
KEVIN: Well, you are showing improvement.
[CHUCK shakes his heads and limps away.]
NARRATOR: Face it. Some guys had it, some guys didn't. And some guys...
JEFF: Hey, Kev? Why don't you go out for the wrestling team?
[Shot of KEVIN turning and frowning.]
KEVIN: What!?
NARRATOR: ...were lazy.
[Close shot of JEFF.]
JEFF: Well, why not? I mean you have this weird natural ability, right?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Hey! [Gestures.] How much time do I want to spend jammed into some guy's armpit?
[Wide shot of the lockers. JEFF gets up, glances at KEVIN, and exits toward the camera.]
NARRATOR: The way I saw it, having a weird natural ability was one thing, but getting serious about it was another.
Cut to
COACH: You're Arnold, right?
NARRATOR: Until I ran in to...Mr.Clean.
KEVIN: Uh...I guess so.
COACH: What do you mean - you're not sure?
KEVIN: No, I'm sure.
NARRATOR: But I still didn't know who this guy was.
[Close shot of COACH SILVA.]
COACH: I'm Silva, the wrestling coach.
[Wider shot of both. A student walks by.]
KEVIN: Oh! Hey, how ya doing?
COACH: Your P.E. teacher gave me your name - I heard you can wrestle.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Well, you know, I'm not that good.
[Close shot of COACH SILVA. He glances off.]
COACH: I didn't say I heard you were good - I said I heard you can wrestle.
KEVIN: Well...yeah, I guess I can.
[Shot of COACH SILVA looking KEVIN over.]
COACH: I hate to see talent go to waste. What are you - about one-forty?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Yeah. Of course I had that jelly donut after lunch.
COACH: I got a slot open at one-forty - want to give it a shot?
KEVIN: Well...
NARRATOR: And there you had it. I'd been wooed, recruited and signed, without so much as a tryout. So, of course, I said -
KEVIN: I don't think so. I mean...you know. It just seems like too much...work.
COACH: Well, if that's how you feel about it.
KEVIN: I kinda do.
COACH: Fine. But you might do yourself some good. You get to compete, get yourself in shape - maybe lose some of that baby fat.
NARRATOR: Wait a minute. Baby fat?
[KEVIN turns from his locker slowly and gestures.]
KEVIN: Look, I just have a lot of things to do these days!
COACH: Alright - suit yourself.
[Silva walks away.]
NARRATOR: I mean, hey - I didn't have to stand there and put up with those insults. Baby fat?
[KEVIN rubs his stomach and frowns.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: In fact, I'd just put the whole thing out of my mind.
[KEVIN looks down as he pinches his stomach.]
KEVIN: Wayne? Does this look like fat?
WAYNE: What?! Nah, look.
[WAYNE sets his soda down and pinches his stomach.]
WAYNE: Everybody gets that. It's part of what they call "the maturing process".
NARRATOR: Evidently the only part in which Wayne participated.
WAYNE: Why? You watching your figure, or something? Hahahahah.
KEVIN: No...just the coach asked me to try out for the wrestling team.
WAYNE: You? Uh-hhahaha.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
KEVIN: What's so funny?
[JACK walks into the living room with his coat over his shoulder, and carrying a newspaper.]
WAYNE: Dad! Butthead's going out for wrestling.
[JACK tosses the newspaper into the chair, and looks at KEVIN.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward JACK off-screen.]
NARRATOR: OK. It was time for a little encouraging moral support.
[Close shot of JACK.]
JACK: The wrestling team?
[JACK smiles as he loosens his tie.]
[Shot of JACK sitting on the couch next to WAYNE and KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Why? What's wrong with that?
JACK: Nothing - it's just a pretty big commitment.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: So? I commit! I've committed to lots of things. [Gestures.]
WAYNE [V/O]: Ahhahahahah, yeah, right. "Mr. Commitment".
[Close shot of WAYNE.]
WAYNE: Ah-hahhahhaha.
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at WAYNE off-screen, then looking off.]
NARRATOR: Then again, I didn't have to sit around here with a bunch of fat guys.
Cut to
[Several pairs of wrestlers are practicing.]
[KEVIN walks into the gym.]
NARRATOR: I...was a wrestler. So I decided to give it a shot. Show up for practice - help out the team.
COACH [V/O]: Work that mat, work that mat. Good! Get outta that...
[Shot of COACH SILVA pointing at an unseen wrestler, then looking at KEVIN off-screen.]
NARRATOR: I mean, the guy had practically given me an engraved invitation.
COACH [V/O]: Good, good!
[Shot of KEVIN. He waves a little.]
KEVIN: Hey, Coach!
[Shot of COACH SILVA. He pauses, frowns, and points at KEVIN off-screen.]
COACH: You're late!
NARRATOR: Unless, of course, it got lost in the mail.
[KEVIN appraoches COACH SILVA, as the coach points at his watch.]
COACH: Practice starts at three-fory-five. You're late for practice, you do five extra laps. You're late two days in a row, don't bother showing up on day three.
[Silva blows his whistle.]
KEVIN: Nice seeing you, too.
COACH: What?!
KEVIN: Nothing...[Gestures.]
COACH [to group]: Alright...[points]...you, you, you, over here. Lets try some break-downs.
[KEVIN walks off to the side.]
NARRATOR: Still, maybe this wouldn't be so tough. Figured I'd watch a some demonstrations, see a few holds...
[Coach points at KEVIN.]
COACH: Arnold! You're up.
[Shot of KEVIN looking surprised and glancing around.]
NARRATOR: Or...be the guinea pig.
[KEVIN points at his chest.]
KEVIN: Me?
COACH: Spider! Come here.
COACH: Let's see what this guy can do.
[COACH SILVA and a small wrestler approaches.]
NARRATOR: OK, then - I could handle this. It was pretty clear I had a basic advantage over this guy.
COACH: Starting positions.
NARRATOR: Mainly - poundage.
COACH: You know what to do?
KEVIN: Yeah, sure.
NARRATOR: Yeah, this was going to be a piece of cake.
COACH: OK...wrestle!
[SPIDER grabs KEVIN's legs and takes him down.]
NARRATOR: Hmmm.
COACH [V/O]: Arnold. You get the point, here, right?
[Shot of COACH SILVA gesturing.]
COACH: He makes a move - you counter!
KEVIN: Yeah. Yeah - I just...wasn't ready...
[KEVIN stands up.]
COACH: Awright. Once more.
[SPIDER gets in position.]
COACH: You ready?
KEVIN: Yeah, yeah.
[KEVIN gets in position.]
NARRATOR: Heh-heh. Fool me once...shame on you.
COACH: Wrestle!
[SPIDER flips KEVIN.]
[Wide shot of KEVIN and SPIDER on the mat, and COACH SILVA watching.]
[Close shot of COACH SILVA.]
COACH: Awright, awright - get some leverage. Get some leverage in there!
[Close shot of KEVIN and SPIDER struggling.]
NARRATOR: The thing was, this was really a lot like gym class...
[Wide shot of the gym as KEVIN and SPIDER struggle, with COACH SILVA standing nearby.]
NARRATOR: But with one small difference.
[SPIDER gets KEVIN in a pretzel hold.]
NARRATOR: In gym class, I was the guy on top.
COACH [V/O]: Awright - that's enough!
[Shot of COACH SILVA as he blows his whistle.]
[Shot of KEVIN on his back as SPIDER gets up.]
NARRATOR: Not that I wasn't having fun.
COACH: Awright, Spider. Thanks.
[Shot of SPIDER walking of the mat.]
SPIDER: Piece of cake.
[Wide shot of the gym.]
COACH: The rest of you...[claps]...pair up by weight-class...let's get to work on some counters.
[Close shot of KEVIN standing up as guys pair-off.]
KEVIN: Wait a minute - that's it?! [Gestures.]
[Shot of COACH SILVA and wrestlers as KEVIN approaches.]
COACH: Why'd you let him pin you like that?
NARRATOR: Course, looking back, I probably just should have promised to do better. But instead -
KEVIN: Yeah, well...you know, these shorts are really hard to wrestle in!
NARRATOR: ...I made excuses.
COACH: I see.
[COACH SILVA walks away - KEVIN follows.]
KEVIN: And anyway - I didn't let him pin me. He was pretty much there. And besides, gotta save somethin' for meets, right?
COACH: Alright, Rodgers, show me that pinning combo! Come on!
[KEVIN walks after COACH SILVA.]
KEVIN: I just don't think you've seen what I can do yet!
COACH: I've seen enough for one day.
[COACH SILVA walks away as he speaks to the group.]
COACH: Keep working, keep working!
NARRATOR: I couldn't believe it!
Cut to
[Close shot of WINNIE.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
["Let's Get It On" plays on the radio.]
KEVIN: How could you even call that a practice? I mean, first, I wasn't even ready. And the kid pulled this...
[Shot of KEVIN and WINNIE.]
KEVIN: Pretzel-hold I've never even seen before.
NARRATOR: I'd about had it.
KEVIN: Why do I put myself through this?
[KEVIN frowns and looks off. WINNIE looks off and smiles a little.]
NARRATOR: After one afternoon, I'd decided to put an end to my wrestling career.
[WINNIE looks at KEVIN and frowns.]
WINNIE: That must really hurt.
NARRATOR: Then again...
[KEVIN looks at WINNIE with surprise.]
[WINNIE kisses KEVIN's cheek.]
KEVIN: He also...mashed my chin. It'll probably look a lot worse tomorrow.
[WINNIE kisses his chin.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: And you should have seen the guy - he was a giant.
[Close shot of WINNIE.]
WINNIE: I never knew what it would be like.
KEVIN: What?
WINNIE: You know...dating a jock...
KEVIN: Oh...[Smiles.]
[Shot of WINNIE and KEVIN as he puts his arm around her.]
WINNIE: I just wish I could make it all better.
[WINNIE snuggles closer. KEVIN looks over his shoulder at the camera and grins.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: So, I decided to give the sport...another chance.
KEVIN: Hey, Coach! We've been at this an hour! How about a break?!
COACH: Oh, I see. Now that you've mastered it.
NARRATOR: Woops. Seeing maybe the coach and I had gotten of on the wrong foot - metaphorically speaking -
KEVIN: Listen...Coach - I think you're maybe gettin' the wrong idea about me.
COACH: Uh-huh, and why is that?
KEVIN: Well, I'm a lot better than I'm showin' you here!
COACH: Oh, is that right?
KEVIN: Yeah. I mean, I beat every guy in P.E.
COACH: Oh - and who were they again?
NARRATOR: I suddenly realized the names "Chuck Coleman" and "'Skeeter' Lutz" weren't guaranteed to impress.
KEVIN: Look! Everyone knows I'm good at this!
[COACH SILVA blows his whistle.]
COACH: In case anybody didn't hear! Arnold, here, says he's better than he looks!
Group: Alright, Arnold...Yoo-hoo...
[COACH SILVA looks at KEVIN.]
COACH: Now, everybody knows.
[He blows his whistle.]
COACH: That's it for today! How about five laps to celebrate Mr. Arnold's greatness? [Gestures.]
[Group grumbles.]
NARRATOR: I guess the message was clear. In two days, I went from blue-chip prospect...to team laughing-stock.
[KEVIN shakes his head as he trots off. He looks back, then exits through the gym doors.]
Cut to
[Guys join KEVIN.]
COACH [V/O]: I guess some guys have so much talent...
[KEVIN looks up.]
[Shot past KEVIN of COACH SILVA standing between banks of lockers.]
COACH: They don't even need to run laps - is that right, Arnold?
KEVIN: No. I'm just really beat.
COACH: You're beat? Arnold, in the next couple of days, I'm going to make up a list of the new members of this team. Do you want to be on that list, or not?
NARRATOR: Of course I said what any self-respecting teenager would say in this situation...
KEVIN: I don't care...
COACH: Speak up. Look - I don't have time to screw around with you. Do you want to be on this team or not?! I want an answer - yes, or no.
NARRATOR: I wanted to tell him exactly where he and his team could go. But what I heard myself say was -
KEVIN: Yes.
[COACH SILVA walks away.]
NARRATOR: And the worst part was...
[KEVIN straightens up, and looks after COACH SILVA.]
NARRATOR: I really meant it.
Cut to
CHUCK [V/O]: So how's it going, hay-stacks?
[Close shot past CHUCK of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: How's what going?
[Close shot of CHUCK.]
CHUCK: The wrestling, what else!
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Well, it's going...OK, Chuck?
NARRATOR: During the next couple of days, the pressure began to build.
[Shot past KEVIN of CHUCK and JEFF.]
JEFF: A little edgy, aren't we?
CHUCK: It's just that the first meet is coming up. You gonna wrestle that guy, Gurney?
JEFF: What's a Gurney?
CHUCK: Doug Gurney! This guy took State, last year. The kid's made out of like, titanium, or something!
[KEVIN tosses his fork down in exasperation.]
KEVIN: Chuck!
CHUCK: He's pinned everybody he's faced. He's like, the King Kong of wrestling! I'm definitely going to this match.
JEFF: I wouldn't miss it.
KEVIN: No, you don't want to do that! I mean, I might not even get to wrestle.
NARRATOR: Much less make the team.
CHUCK: Of course you're gonna get a chance to wrestle - you're a natural! Heh, you beat me, didn't you?
JEFF: Face it, Kev - you've, you've, you've got a gift. [Gestures.]
NARRATOR: Terrific. I was the only non-starter with his personalized fanclub.
CHUCK: You're gonna be great!
JEFF: Can't wait to see you out there.
KEVIN: Thanks.
NARRATOR: Yeah.
[CHUCK & JEFF exit.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: There was only one thing to do. Fall back on my God-given talent.
COACH: Aren't you ever gonna get that reversal right?
KEVIN: I'm doin' the best I can.
COACH: Are you?
KEVIN: What's that supposed to mean?
COACH: It means what it means.
NARRATOR: Great - I'm talking talent - this guy's giving me Zen logic.
Cut to
COACH: Alright, listen up! We got a big match coming up against the Spartans. Not only do they have Doug Gurney, but they 're tough in every weight-class. I'll be posting the new team roster tomorrow.
NARRATOR: But I didn't need a pep talk. And I didn't need any team roster to tell me exactly where I stood with this guy.
[KEVIN throws his headgear at the lockers.]
Cut to
COACH: What can I do for ya?
NARRATOR: Heck, no sense in dragging this out.
KEVIN: Well, uh...I thought we could talk. Ya know, about this whole thing...I mean, I guess we both know, it's really not working out, right?
NARRATOR: It was time to end it - no hard feelings.
KEVIN: Not that it's anyone's fault or anything. [Gestures.]
COACH: It's just you want out!
KEVIN: What?!
COACH: I'm not surprised. You wanted to quit ever since you first came in here.
KEVIN: Well, no...that's not exactly true! I mean, you're the one who asked me to be a part-
COACH: Ah! Maybe I made a mistake. [Gestures.]
KEVIN: Huh, what's that supposed to mean?
COACH: What it means is, some kids have what it takes...and some kids just have excuses!
[Shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: I couldn't believe it! I'd come to bury the hatchet, and this guy wanted my scalp!
[KEVIN walks forward.]
KEVIN: Yeah, well, for your information, you haven't really given me much of a chance!
[COACH SILVA stands.]
COACH: Is that so?
KEVIN: Yeah.
COACH: OK, in that case...[gestures]...now's your chance.
[COACH SILVA takes a step forward.]
KEVIN: What?!
COACH: You say you can wrestle - show me.
KEVIN: What - here? With you?
[COACH SILVA looks around.]
COACH: Do you see anybody else standin' around here? Come on, Arnold. What? Are you afraid you might look foolish?
KEVIN: No...
COACH: Or just afraid?
[COACH SILVA starts to turn away.]
KEVIN: No! That's not it!
COACH: I've seen your act, I've heard your alibi's, I've heard your stories...Here's your chance - show me what you're made of.
NARRATOR: And even though I knew it was a trap, I just saw red.
[KEVIN lunges at COACH SILVA, who throws him down. They struggle.]
COACH: Why don't you give up?
KEVIN: No.
COACH: Come on - give up! You know you want to...
[KEVIN tenses up, then relaxes, realizing he is beaten. COACH SILVA gets up, grabs the equipment and walks off.]
NARRATOR: It was just about the worst moment of my life. And then...
[COACH SILVA pauses and turns to KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: ...it got worse.
COACH: Oh yeah, by the way - you made the team.
Cut to
NARRATOR: The rest of that week I felt like I'd fallen into a bottomless pit - with no way out. The thing that hurt most was...something I had been good at once, had somehow turned bad. I failed. Yet for some reason, there I was - a member of the team. And I didn't know why.
Fade to
NARRATOR: That Friday night, the place was packed.
[COACH SILVA is watching, wearing a coat and tie. He points.]
COACH: Don't let him get that ankle!
[The RFK wrestler takes down the other, and pins him. The referee flops down and taps out the opponent.]
NARRATOR: It seemed like half the high school had shown up.
[Shot of the wrestlers and referee on the mat.]
[Wide shot of the crowd, including CHUCK, WINNIE and JEFF.]
NARRATOR: Including my fan club.
[Closer shot of CHUCK, WINNIE and JEFF standing and clapping.]
[Close shot of KEVIN watching, seriously.]
NARRATOR: Of course I was there, too - on the bench. I'd been too embarassed to call in sick with the flu.
[Close shot of JACK taking off his cap, and sitting in the stands.]
[Shot from behind as the referee holds up the RFK wrestler's hand. The crowd cheers.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: But even if I was wearing the uniform, I knew one thing for sure - I was never gonna wrestle.
[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward COACH SILVA off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Not on this team - not in a million years.
[Shot of COACH SILVA watching the mat, then holding his pencil to his lips and thinking.]
[Shot of COACH SILVA looking at his clipboard. The team is seated behind him, and the crowd is behind them.]
ANNOUNCER: Will the 140-pound weight-class...
[COACH SILVA glances toward the team behind him.]
ANNOUNCER: ...please prepare for their match.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: Nope. I was just gonna sit here - forever.
[KEVIN glances around.]
ANNOUNCER: Doug Gurney for the "green" team!
[Shot of DOUG GURNEY standing and ripping open his jacket. The crowd cheers.]
[Shot of COACH SILVA, team, and crowd.]
ANNOUNCER: Bill Marsden for the "red" team!
[Shot from behind the team of COACH SILVA. He quickly turns toward a particular wrestler.]
COACH: Marsden, I'm moving you up a weight-class. Sit this one out.
[COACH SILVA walks quickly along the row of wrestlers, and pauses in front of KEVIN.]
COACH: Arnold - your up!
[Close shot of KEVIN looking up.]
KEVIN: Me?!
[He taps his chest.]
[Close shot of Coach glancing over his shoulder, from his clipboard toward KEVIN.]
COACH: You're the one I'm looking at.
KEVIN: But that's Doug Gurney's out there!
[KEVIN points, and frowns.]
[Shot from behind KEVIN of COACH SILVA looking toward the mat.]
COACH: Yeah?
[COACH SILVA nods once, then marks his clipboard.]
[Close shot of DOUG GURNEY putting on his headgear.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking upset.]
NARRATOR: I realized it wasn't enough to have me under his thumb.
[Close shot of the back of COACH SILVA's head as he turns toward KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: He wanted to totally destroy me.
[COACH SILVA crosses his arms and looks at KEVIN off-screen.]
[Shot past DOUG GURNEY as he warms up, of KEVIN still sitting, and looking around.]
PA: May I have your attention please...There's been a change in the line-up. Kevin Arnold will now be wrestling Doug Gurney!
[Close shot of JACK perking up and smiling.]
NARRATOR: In front of everyone.
[Close shot of WINNIE perking up and smiling as she starts to clap.]
[Shot past DOUG GURNEY of KEVIN tossing his jacket on a chair.]
[Close shot of DOUG GURNEY doing warmup windmills.]
[Wide shot of COACH SILVA holding his clipboard, and KEVIN approaching, putting on his headgear.]
NARRATOR: So, there was only one thing to do - set out like a lamb to slaughter.
[KEVIN walks toward the mat adjusting his headgear. COACH SILVA turns toward the mat and crosses his arms, in the background.]
NARRATOR: I mean, what did I really have to lose?
[The referee stands between the wrestlers.]
REFEREE: Gentlemen, shake hands.
[He backs away as KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY shake hands.]
[Close shot of JACK cheering KEVIN on.]
JACK: Go get 'em, Kev!
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: I prepared myself to be torn to pieces.
[Close shot of JEFF. He points.]
JEFF: Come on, you can take him, Kev!
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Ripped limb from limb. And then, the impossible happened.
[High shot of both wrestlers and the referee. The referee drops his hand, blow his whistle, and steps back.]
[DOUG GURNEY lunges for KEVIN, but slides by him.]
[Shot of DOUG GURNEY falling on his chest with KEVIN wrapped around him.]
NARRATOR: I actually scored two points.
[Wide shot of the crowd. Many hold up signs.]
[Close shot of the referee pointing.]
REFEREE: Two - take down, "red".
[Close shot of WINNIE clapping and smiling.]
WINNIE: Alright, Kevin!
[Close shot of DOUG GURNEY and KEVIN struggling.]
NARRATOR: It was astonishing! It was a miracle! It was temporary.
[Wider shot of both wrestlers and the kneeling referee. DOUG GURNEY bicycles around and gets a reversal on KEVIN.]
REFEREE: Two points, "green", reverse.
[Close shot of JEFF looking concerned.]
[Shot from above KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY as they struggle on the mat.]
NARRATOR: Next thing I knew...
[DOUG GURNEY has KEVIN in a pretzel hold.]
NARRATOR: This guy had me in a hold I'd never even seen before.
[Close shot of WINNIE frowning and sighing.]
WINNIE: Come on, Kevin!
[Close shot of KEVIN on his back as DOUG GURNEY tries to get him down.]
NARRATOR: So I did what came naturally...
[KEVIN struggles away and dives out of the circle as DOUG GURNEY grabs his legs.]
NARRATOR: I fled.
[Close shot of COACH SILVA watching, bent over with his hands on his knees, then pacing.]
COACH: Good move.
[Close shot of the referee signaling.]
REFEREE: That's a warning, "red" - fleeing the mat. OK, "red", you're down.
[Shot of KEVIN approaching the center.]
NARRATOR: It was embarrassing, humiliating - but there was no way out.
[KEVIN kneels.]
NARRATOR: It was a living, breathing nightmare.
[DOUG GURNEY gets in position.]
[Shot from above as the whistle blows. DOUG GURNEY takes KEVIN down.]
[KEVIN is trying to get out of bounds.]
[Close shot of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY as they struggle.]
NARRATOR: And that's when it happened.
DOUG GURNEY: Come on, kid - make it easy on yourself.
NARRATOR: I was beaten. Finished.
[Shot of COACH SILVA pacing, and looking at the wrestlers off-screen.]
COACH: Don't let him pin you, don't let him pin you...!
[Shot of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY. KEVIN has one shoulder off the mat.]
NARRATOR: All I wanted to do was lay my shoulder against that mat...
[KEVIN works himself up a little bit.]
NARRATOR: But for some reason...
[Shot of CHUCK and WINNIE.]
WINNIE: Come on!
[She gestures and watches KEVIN. CHUCK glances at her, then back.]
NARRATOR: I didn't. Something inside wouldn't let me.
[Shot of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY. KEVIN is nearly pinned.]
DOUG GURNEY: Just lay down!
[KEVIN is pushing on DOUG GURNEY's head, while being held in a headlock.]
KEVIN: You first!
[Close shot of JACK looking on and frowning.]
JACK: That's the way to fight him! Fight him!
[Shot of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY as they roll over.]
NARRATOR: No matter how many points this guy racked up...
[KEVIN groans as he struggles to get free.]
NARRATOR: ...I wasn't gonna let him pin me.
[Fade to a wider shot. KEVIN is face down as DOUG GURNEY tries to roll him.]
[Fade to shot from above as they fall to the mat. KEVIN gets rolled over and DOUG GURNEY is trying to pin him.]
[Fade to close shot of WINNIE.]
WINNIE: Come on, do it!
[Camera pans slightly to include CHUCK, who is smacking his gum.]
NARRATOR: That night - maybe for the first time...
[Shot of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY struggling.]
NARRATOR: I committed myself to something.
[Close shot of JACK as he gestures with his fist.]
JACK: Come on, Kev! Do it! Do it!
[Wider shot of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY.]
NARRATOR: I left the excuses, I dumped the alibi's - I went for broke.
[Fade to shot of them standing, locked together.]
[DOUG GURNEY pulls KEVIN down and rolls him over.]
NARRATOR: I was a wrestler. And I gave it everything I had.
[Shot of COACH SILVA bent over, watching intently, with the crowd behind him.]
COACH: Come on!
[Shot of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY struggling. KEVIN is in a head-lock, nearly pinned.]
[The buzzer sounds. DOUG GURNEY looks up, and relaxes.]
[Shot of the crowd standing and cheering.]
[Closer shot of CHUCK, WINNIE and JEFF cheering.]
[Close shot of JACK clapping.]
[JACK glances toward the person next to him, then smiles in KEVIN's direction.]
[Shot over COACH SILVA's shoulder of KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY. The referee motions.]
REFEREE: Shake hands.
[KEVIN and DOUG GURNEY shake hands.]
NARRATOR: Sure, maybe the score may have been lop-sided...
[The referee raises DOUG GURNEY's hand.]
[Shot from behind of the referee and wrestlers facing the crowd.]
NARRATOR: And maybe a kid named Gurney got the win.
[Shot over COACH SILVA's shoulder of KEVIN approaching, unloosening his chin-strap.]
NARRATOR: But for me - it was a victory.
[Close shot past KEVIN of COACH SILVA. He looks at KEVIN and indicates DOUG GURNEY with his pencil.]
COACH: Fifteen...
[He points to KEVIN.]
COACH: Two.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Yeah...
[He pulls his headgear off.]
KEVIN: I told ya I was good.
[KEVIN looks off, smiles, and walks past COACH SILVA.]
[COACH SILVA frowns and turns toward KEVIN, then back, and smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN approaching his team-mates. One puts out his hand.]
TEAMMATE: Hi, Kevin!
[KEVIN sits down, and gets congratulatory handshakes.]
[KEVIN rests his arms on his knees, looks up and smiles.]
Fade to
Fade to