Original subtitles

[Rm]

J“ please, don't let this feeling end j“

j“ it's everything I am j“

j“ everything I want to be j“

j“ I can see what's mine now j“

j“ finding out what's true j“

j“ since I found you j“

j“ looking through the eyes of love j“

j“ now, I can take the time j“

j“ I can see my life j“

j“ as it comes up shining now j“

j“ reaching out to touch you j“

j“ I can feel so much j“

j“ since I found you j“

j“ looking through the eyes of love j“

j“ and now I do believe j“

j“ that even in the storm j“

j“ we'll find some light j“

j“ knowing you're beside me j“

j“ I'm all right j“

j“ please, don't let this feeling end j“

j“ it might not come again j“

j“ and I want to remember j“

j“ how it feels to touch you j“

j“ howl feel so much j“

j“ since I found you j“

j“ looking through the eyes of love j“j“

[Bowling pins clattering]

Hey, Charlie.

- Man 1: Hi, Nick. - How you doing?

Man 1: Beats the hell out of me.

What are you doing home?

Beats the hell out of me.

Man 2: Hey, beulah, rack 'em up. Come on!

Howdy, les.

Hey, Nick!

What the hell are you doing here?

Beats the hell out of me.

Beulah: Straighter!

Get your head up. Your back will follow along.

Are you on your tracings?

Lexie: Pretty much.

Beulah: "Pretty much" ain't good enough.

Your threes aren't good enough.

Beulah: Hey, that was the fastest premed course in history!

- What are you doing home? - I couldn't stay away from my girls.

- The hell you say. - What'd they do, kick you out?

I quit.

What'd you go and do a dumb thing like that for?

None of your goddamn business.

Well, at least we all know what not to talk about.

- Want to go home? - In a while. Her figures are lousy.

For once in her life, she's gonna show what she can really do.

- No big deal. - Yeah, it is.

I got to go home and face the folks.

I'll see you later.

Anything'll be fun after the folks.

- You rat. - Bozo.

Come on, go, go, go!

Nick: Hang on!

Watch out for the limbs!

Lexie: So, bozo, what are you doing home?

Nick: I told you, it's none of your goddamn business. What do you think you are, special?

Hey, let's see if I've lost my touch.

[Lexie shouting and laughing]

[Whoops]

You were scared.

I was not.

Don't give me that.

- Let me see. Take off your gloves. - No.

No, Nick!

I want it.

All right.

Sweaty palms.

Sweaty palms?

- You were scared shitless. - Oh, come on!

It's healthy to sweatjust before you die.

[J“j“j“]

[Crowd cheering]

Come on, Nick, skate! Go!

Man 1: Set it up! Set it up!

Come on!

Hey, junior, your skate's untied!

Hey, junior!

Man 2: High sticking! High sticking!

Jesus, Nick, this ain't the NHL, you know.

The only kid suicidal enough for hockey.

Good to hear someone say something nice about that kid, finally.

Lexie: Come on, daddy!

Make room for the pregnant lady!

Lexie: Get in there! Get it!

Come on, you pansies! Get in there!

Don't check with your goddamn wrists.

Let's have a little blood flow on that ice.

Lexie: Come on, Nicky, go!

Come on, go for it!

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

[All cheering]

Good pass, man. All right.

[Yells]

[Rock music playing over speakers]

[Indistinct chatter]

Hey, Nick, your old man sell off those holsteins yet?

Yep.

What's he gonna do?

He's gonna crossbreed with polar bears and spend the rest of the winter in Hawaii.

Lexie: Uh—huh.

He's gonna leave you in charge of the farm while he's off in old waikiki, huh?

Me and Mike, the half-wit.

- Oh, well, two of a kind. - Of a kind.

Well, if we're through with that, there's something I'd like to discuss.

What could be more important than finding out what old buddy here

is doing home in the middle of his first year?

Lexie's competition.

Well, subject closed.

Well, I'm glad to see at least you have an open mind.

Marcus: Lexie's a fine skater.

But there's a big difference in this seven counties kiwanis competition!

Now, this is bigtime things.

It's worse than being professional.

Little country girl go up there, they eat her alive.

I just don't want you to get hurt, honey.

Marcus Winston, you are so full of bull that it boggles the mind.

Where the hell are you coming from? You're what's hurting her.

She's good.

She's got more natural talent than anyone I've ever seen.

And that includes those girls at the Olympics.

Let me go, daddy.

I know it's scary, but I really want to do it.

Christ, Marcus, it's one competition!

- She's too young. - I'm too old!

It's already too late.

If I wait any longer, there won't be any chance at all.

For what?

For me.

Just for me.

- You're killing her. - Ahem.

You're gonna hold her so tight, you're gonna suffocate her to death.

- She's gonna hate the hell out of you. - What would you know?

You run this goddamn broken-down bowling alley and this ice-skating rink

in this crummy, small town!

And you wear those goddamn stupid-looking clothes.

You think you're some kind of character?

What do you know? What do you know?

I won the regionals.

Twenty-five years ago.

[J“j“j“]

It's a little loose here.

I'll just take a tuck in.

It's pretty.

Mmm. Well, of course, I was a lot bigger.

Don't laugh.

Even then.

Looks all right, eh?

Thank you.

Well...

It was a good-luck dress.

Come on, get down.

We'll put on the collar.

Daddy?

Hey, dad?

Marcus: On your way, huh, babe?

They'll be here any minute.

I'll be back in a couple days.

Three at the most.

[Car horn honking]

Well, I guess that's your ride.

Wish me luck.

Please, dad?

Yeah, sure, honey.

Hell, knock 'em dead.

[Car horn honking]

[J“j“j“]

[Indistinct chatter]

Girl: Do you know who's judging?

Woman: Smile. Girl: You're joking.

She sold herself...

I hate this.

Girl 1: Did you ever see her? In the blue. Girl 2: Who?

Girl 3: Who's that girl over there in the blue?

Girl 4: I never saw her. Woman: Oh, my god.

Girl 3: Do you know her?

I love her little collar.

Girl 4: She's probably wearing it to cover hickeys.

[Girls laughing]

Girl 4: Bye.

[Rock music playing over speakers]

[Crowd cheering]

Announcer: Sandra Miller.

Pretty good. You've still got a chance though.

For god's sake, anything you're not sure of, don't try.

Why?

These judges are sticklers for perfection. I've been watching them all evening.

Announcer: 5.5, 5.7,

5.6, 5.7, 5.6.

I don't stand a chance of making up enough points.

- I might as well... - Hey.

You just have a ball.

Announcer: The final skater of the evening, ladies and gentlemen.

Have a ball.

Alexis "Lexie" Winston from waverly, Iowa.

Let's give her a real warm welcome.

[Scattered applause]

[Classical music playing over speakers]

[Applause growing louder]

[Crowd cheering]

[Music stops]

[Music resumes playing]

[Music stops]

[Rapturous applause]

Beautiful!

Announcer: The scores are 5.2, 5.0...

[Crowd murmuring]

4.8, 5.0, 5.2.

Nick: Those bastards!

[Crowd booing]

They didn't believe it.

They couldn't believe their eyes.

[Crowd clapping in unison]

They want you, Lexie! They want you to circle the ice!

Go, go, go!

[Speaking indistinctly]

[Crowd cheering]

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, let me give you the final standings once again.

In first place, from des moines skating club, Sandra Miller.

Second, Amy styler from caro, Illinois.

Third, Susan blackley, Chicago skating club.

[J“j“j“]

Beulah: What's going on? Where are we? Marcus: Don't wake up, baby.

What are you doing here, Marcus?

I live here.

- They threw me flowers, daddy. - Bye, she was great.

Lexie: They threw me flowers.

Deborah: You're her coach?

You do good work.

How old is she?

Look, miss mackland, let's start over.

I know who you are.

And we both know that Lexie's training has been lousy.

She's had work in figures?

She's a natural talent.

She's very impressive.

You want to train her?

I want to find out what her goals are.

You think she's that good, eh?

She looked good.

Of course, it was only a regional.

You want to train her.

I want to train her.

How old is she?

Sixteen.

Sorry to have wasted your time.

She's very quick.

Pardon?

I mean, I've seen her see someone on television, you know, like, uh...

Dorothy hamill or someone.

And she can pick up those moves.

But the figures.

She's too old.

Figures are only 30 percent of the score now.

Yes, they are, aren't they?

Well, now, you said she's too old.

What's the point in putting her through all that trouble?

I said that normally the best skaters are well-trained much younger.

Six or seven, yeah, well...

Looks like you're a decade late, miss mackland.

Lexie can do it, Marcus.

I wouldn't be here if I didn't think so.

- I can't afford to waste my time. - Good to hear. Who can?

I appreciate you coming by.

Damn it, Marcus, give her a chance to be something!

She is something.

Deborah: You afraid she might make it?

What would happen if she became a champion?

She'd probably leave here.

Come back only for Christmas?

You should have seen me.

I walked on that rink like I owned the place.

Took a few of my Nick, old-patented slap shots and they just asked me to try out.

[Pop music playing over speakers]

That's great.

When do you go?

In two weeks.

Whose car is that?

Lexie: I don't know.

Do you want to do that? Play hockey?

Oh, hell yeah.

It's fun.

Come on, I'm only gonna be gone a few weeks.

What if you make it?

That's why I'm going.

Look, I know I'm supposed to...

Go to college and I know I'm supposed to be a doctor.

I know I'm supposed to...

Get married and have kids.

I'm supposed to end up just like my folks.

Every time I start something, I see where it's going and I don't like it.

But, um, that doesn't mean that I don't love you.

Man [on radio]: Hey, Johnny holiday just laid on you another triple-golden sweep

from golden-weekend time at kxla in ames, Iowa.

It's 3:11 on a Saturday afternoon. Got a beautiful weekend looking forward to.

Where the hell have you kids been?

Nick's got a tryout with the northstars.

Beulah: You're kidding!

Marcus: Hey, Nick, that's just your speed, bumping into walls for a living, huh?

- Excuse me. - Lexie, Deborah mackland.

She's a coach. She wants to train you.

I saw you at the regionals in cedar rapids. I think you're wonderful.

You have a natural gift.

It'd be a shame not to let it take you as far as you can go.

It's fantastic.

Hey, that's fantastic.

As far as you can go.

Well, how's the big "0"?

The big Olympics.

[J“j“j“]

Daddy, I want to do this.

- Remember when we used to come here, the three of us? - I really do.

You and your mom and this damn pond. Heh.

She'd lean down, pull you around in your skates, talking to you, left, right.

Now glide.

You looking down at the ice, scared you'd fall.

Hell, it wouldn't have been very far. You were only 3 feet tall.

This was her favorite place.

Hell, if you're not from around here, it all iooksjust white.

But she could see more than that.

Never had a chance to show you.

By the time you were old enough to remember, she couldn't come out here anymore.

And you thought you were born in those damn things.

It struck me you ought to try and look at this place, try to see it the way she did.

You see that rise over there?

You can hardly see it except for that slight shadow line.

Then there's that hill over there with all those different tones of white.

Then when the ground fog comes...

You can hardly tell where the fog starts...

And the snow stops...

And the sky begins.

Daddy.

Marcus: What's so sad is that you never really knew your mom.

I know we talk about her and you remember a kind of an image.

But that lady...

I'm not mom, dad.

Daddy?

I felt a power in me.

And the sound that crowd makes...

I wanted that sound.

Ihearyou, babe.

You, uh...

Better get on back, otherwise you're gonna miss the bus.

[J“j“j“]

Get along now.

You better label everything in the kitchen, otherwise I'm gonna starve to death.

I think my daddy's growing up!

You're not queer, are you? It's all right if you are, no law against it.

There was a girl here last year.

I never knew what a lesbian was until one night we were up late talking.

She kissed me right on the mouth. Brother!

To each his own, but it kind of takes you by surprise.

Here's where we play. Whatever you were doing, caught you!

Oh, brother.

- Lexie: Hi. - Come on. I'll show you the rest of the jail.

Twenty-five girls live here on and off, most of them off, if you know what I mean.

It's better than reform school, almost.

Did your parents try and get rid of you or do you skate good?

I skate good.

I was afraid of that. We already heard all about you. This place has no secrets.

- Lexie: Hi. - Actually, the business is no secret.

- "Business"? - Of course. The amateur skating business.

You're in it now, so you better learn about it.

We know you haven't qualified for any major competition.

So Deborah's gonna defy the amateur skating association

by taking in an older... ahem.

Over the hill age-wise, as they say,

and transform her into a world champ. Maybe Olympics.

Right, cinderella?

I hope they don't send the pumpkin.

Deborah: I got you specialized time. Had to call in a few debts to do it.

You'll get static from the girls down at the dorm, but don't let that...

- I don't mind taking the bad ice times. - We need it.

You can't imagine what you've gotten yourself into.

You got all the raw talent, but you're virtually untrained.

- I thought you said that beulah's... - Amateur talk.

We're talking about the Olympics. I want you to understand what we have to do.

It's never been done before. I'm not sure we'll be able to pull it off.

- How do your boots feel? - I haven't fallen, yet.

You'll get used to them, just like you got used to your new skates.

Here we are.

There are five girls the judges have been look at since the...

Sit down. Since the last Olympics.

So they're the ones that everyone expects to win.

Even if you're as good as they are, they're gonna win.

The judges are gonna think you're a flash in the pan.

- But if I can't win... - I didn't say that.

I just want you to know what we're up against.

I don't know.

If you're not tough enough, you're never gonna make it.

The pressure, the pace, even the other girls are gonna kill you.

Alexis.

All this takes a lot of time and money, and I can't afford to waste my time.

There's sponsors that have put up a lot of their money behind my judgment.

And if I didn't believe in you, we wouldn't be here.

The only question is how much do you want to win?

How much do you really want to win?

Man: Let's go!

[Shouting indistinctly]

Move on him! Move on him!

- Come on, let's go! Let's go! Let's go! - Let's go!

[Whistle blowing]

Back off.

Back off!

Hey, let him go! Let him go!

Damn it!

Break it up!

Last few days of tryouts. How do you feel?

How should I feel? I feel pretty good.

- Wait up for me, ai. - Al: We'll go get a beer.

If I were a pretty good shot, skate pretty fast, once in a while score a few goals,

I guess I'd still be worried as hell about someone who could skate harder,

shoot harder and is more suicidal.

There ain't nobody, nobody, more suicidal than me.

I don't know why you want to beat yourself to death playing hockey.

I mean, you even speak English, for Christ sake.

- I didn't make the cut? - What were you taking in college?

Premed someone told me.

You're gonna be on the other side of the stitches in this game.

Well, am I cut or not?

What would a kid, smart, not too ugly, want to play hockey for?

If I had any brains, could have gone to college...

Goddamn it, don't give me that! Am I cut or not?

You're going to Lincoln.

- What's Lincoln? - It's one of our farm clubs.

You go down there and play with some of those killers for a while.

Hey, that's great.

I'm going to Lincoln.

Where's Lincoln?

[J“j“j“]

[Inaudible dialogue]

She's good.

She's a machine. Ever talk to her?

Ten minutes on "how I found somebody to sharpen my skates."

Then she runs out of interesting conversation.

- Lexie: Isn't Annette supposed to win nationals? - She's got it sewed up.

Fourth in the Olympics, second in last year's worlds.

Number one, retired to make a mint with ice capades.

So, normally, that would've meant number two, a French girl, ceceil something.

But she got hurt, or so they say. I think she went bonkers.

Whenever a skater disappears, you hear she got hurt.

But you never really know what happened.

- Lexie: I bet she can't do a triple. - Who can?

Besides, she doesn't think she has to.

And you know what's really rotten? She doesn't.

Yay, Lexie! Heh.

Deborah: Next time you pull a stunt like that, it's over. You hear me?

You can get hurt very easily and then where are we?

Stupid showoff thing with a triple.

But I did it.

I've been working on it and I wanted to surprise you.

It was a lousy triple.

- You didn't even see it. - You're not good enough for a triple.

You're not good enough.

Let me tell you something.

Triples may be big crowd-pleasers, but to judges, it's a piece of showoff acrobatics.

You can't win at this game with that kind of crap.

You know what the judges want, and you do it better than anybody else. And that's what wins.

Annette knows that. Every goddamn coach here does.

I'm a goddamn laughingstock.

Make a fool out of yourself, not me.

Now, which is it?

My way? Or do I drive you to the airport right now?

Control yourself. You're not a baby.

Which is it?

I want to stay.

Please.

Deborah: Did you see his face when they missed that film cue?

[Brian laughs]

Brian: You look terrific! When'd you get in? Deborah: Just now.

Brian: Take off your coat. It's so hot. Deborah: Take off your shirt if you're hot.

Oh, well, speaking of that, perhaps later.

Raven, we've got to pick up the cue after that third spot, thank you.

- How good is she? - Deborah: I've never seen such a gift.

It's something in her. It's natural. You look at her and you know what it's about.

She's a little rough and old-fashioned, but she's got it.

I cannot read that. How rough?

- I can have her ready by the '80 Olympics. - They'll never let you.

- Brian, sorry about the film. - Forget it.

-Am I gonna have that cue right for tonight? Man: Yeah.

Skating is one place where they don't like upstarts. You know that.

If we can build up enough media interest, they can't stop it.

- _||we h? - Yes.

It's what you like to do.

It's what's gotten you where you are

and it's gonna get you out of a midwest affiliate to a network.

And because you're a darling.

- Does she know what's about to happen? - She wants it.

She may not know what she wants, but when she heard that little crowd in cedar rapids,

it knocked her right on her ass.

She wants it.

I see this as a kind of an Olga korbut thing.

Everybody's darling. Hell, we all ended up liking the Russians.

It's gonna be good for both of us.

No more "one of the best women coaches in the country"?

That's right.

What are you doing?

Good morning, Mary.

Alexis?

- Am I late? - No, no, it's all right.

- I've got a surprise for you. - Surprise?

Yes. Act natural.

Act natural?

Deborah: Come here.

[Both laugh]

Hello, all you out in TV land.

Stretch your arms. Center, center, center.

And in, up and out.

Good. Now, what's this?

Brian: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.

This is Brian dockett with another sports essay.

Better, better. Do that ending now.

What does it take to become a world-class skater in six months?

[Piano playing upbeat music]

Man: And one, two, stretch the arms!

Press, up, check.

Brian: You're about to find out as we follow the training

and preparation of Alexis Winston, a skater who appeared from nowhere.

Electrifying the audience of the central midwest regionals last month.

Come on, spin, spin! Come on, puii!

That's it, go and into the jump.

Come on, move. Good, push, push.

Into the knee. Come on, jump up, Alexis.

Brian: Our cameras will follow the transformation of an exceptional raw talent

into a world-class skater, under the guidance of top American coach Deborah mackland.

It is only fitting that her training is taking place here,

at the famous broadmoor world arena, where such skaters as Peggy Fleming,

Amanda Smith and Dorothy hamill trained,

as well as the current favorite for the 1980 Olympics, Annette brash/out,

runner-up in last year's world competitions.

The sensation from waverly has yet to win a major competition.

But has already won the heart of everyone she has met.

Attack it!

And attack!

Better. Whip. Again.

Faster.

Again. Right now.

Get your left arm and shoulder down. And whip!

Okay, cut it. That's good. We're all a little bit tired.

- We got a lot of good stuff today. - You don't have to shoot it.

There are 15 girls in this country that can do that move twice as well as you can.

Now, let's get to work.

Okay, shoot it.

And snap!

[Indistinct chatter]

Here she comes.

[J“j“j“]

Where's your TV crew?

Snubbing everybody or is there a list?

Oh, god, I've got a disease.

Yeah. Success. It's all right. It isn't catching. Just irritating.

Thanks a lot.

Look, I'm easy. It's hard for some of the girls.

They've been doing this for a long time. You come along, take their ice time.

It's fantastic. Nobody ever got anything like that before. Sure they're pissed.

Screw them.

So much for the dumb bozo from the sticks.

I mean, after a while it gets a little old.

- I mean, I'm working my tail off. - What's worse is they know how good you are.

I can't believe it. It's set?

An expanded version of the essay series to be made part of Christmas in america.

- And Alexis is in? - They bought it all.

- And only one turndown from the top five. - Annette?

Mm-hm. The only one who doesn't think she needs the exposure.

Bobbie braker, Sally Richards, the Canadian champion,

wen-an sun from Taiwan, and the best.

The French have been heard from. Ceceil monchet, number two in the world.

I thought she was bonkers.

Talked to thimitch myself. Apparently, she's all right.

He wouldn't admit what went wrong,

but he is anxious to get her back into the minds of the American judges.

In a nice, non-competitive exhibition, no pressure.

No pressure.

[Phone rings]

Nick: Hello. Lexie [over phone]: Hi.

How's it going?

Did you see the cover?

Yeah... it's great.

Sports illustrated.

You're doing all right.

They were so nice. They had two photographers and everything.

Well... you're a star.

- I'm sorry. - Thanks for the clipping on your game.

Lex?

Two goals, that's pretty good.

Lex... Lex, I want to...

- Sioux falls is a hard team. - Lex.

I quit today.

I'm just kidding myself here.

- I don't want to play hockey. - Oh, baby.

Don't worry about it.

I don't even think I give a damn.

I don't know what I want.

All right? What I'm telling you, I don't know what I want to do.

Look, what difference does it make?

[J“j“j“]

Can you come here...

- For the TV special around Christmas? - Uh...

I don't think so, okay? Not right now. I, um...

I love you.

Yeah, I love you too.

[Christmas music playing over speakers]

Man: Okay, very nice, girls.

Come on in now, very quickly, please. You all looked good.

Brian: These, ladies and gentlemen, are the competitors for the 1980 world Olympics.

This is Brian dockett, presenting as part of Christmas in america,

a winter olympic preview.

We 're happy to be a part of your Christmas morning

and proud to present six young, international skating competitors

heading for the 1980 Olympics.

From France, and currently favored to be the next world champion, ceceil monchet,

from California, and second in the senior ladies nationals last year, Bobbie braker.

Canadian champion Sally Richards.

And introducing Alexis Winston.

[Disco music playing over speakers]

[In French] Ceceil, it's not important.

Ceceil, it's not important. Only you matter.

Ceceil, come.

Brian: Ladies and gentlemen, the French national champion, ceceil monchet,

[indistinct chatter]

[Classical music playing over speakers]

Man 1: There she goes again. Do you want to stay on this?

Okay, if she goes down again...

Man 2: Okay, here we go. Smile, let's go quickly!

[Christmas music playing over speakers]

Man 2: Kill that spot.

Somebody get rid of her. Kill the spot! Give her a break.

It's nothing. Don't worry.

[Speaking in French]

Deborah: Alexis?

It's nothing to do with you.

Everybody knows she wasn't well. Maybe she shouldn't be skating anymore.

You were a smash.

Everything we've been working for, hoping for, it's happened!

What's important is that yesterday, nobody knew of Alexis Winston.

You've qualified for the sectionals.

Come on.

Come on.

I won't let anything happen to you, okay?

You were wonderful! Absolutely wonderful!

[Indistinct chatter]

Man: Yes, I know!

Woman: Hello.

Wonderful.

Congratulations.

Let me introduce you.

These are your sponsors.

Mr. Atwood. Alexis Winston.

[J“j“j“]

All gone.

What do they want?

Nothing.

See you.

Touch something that's exciting.

A winner.

And that's what you are, Lexie.

Why do they have to touch me like that?

Because...

Because they want to touch someone who can do something they can't.

- We're on display, aren't we? - That's right.

And damned lucky somebody wants us to be.

Everybody out there tonight, everybody who saw you today...

Would change places with you in a minute.

Don't worry about it.

You're the star.

Do you want to give it up?

[J“j“j“]

I don't... I don't know what I'm scared of.

Nothing.

You're not afraid of anything.

Brian: Okay, here we go.

- Deborah: Remember, concentrate. - We're in a tight shot.

Don't zoom in yet.

Lead her, lead her.

Announcer: Reviewing the overall standings here at the broadmoor world arena,

where the 23rd annual midwest sectionals will, we hope,

send a champion to the nationals next month.

Brian: All the training, all the sacrifices could end here.

And I don't mind telling you, ladies and gentlemen,

I think I'm more nervous than Alexis here.

- But this is the bottom line. - Okay.

Announcer: And fourth overall, the astounding new skating discovery

who is also training here at broadmoor, Alexis Winston.

[Applause]

Nothing, you're not afraid of anything.

Remember, nothing.

Announcer: Now, ladies and gentlemen, the girl from waverly, Iowa,

in fourth place overall, miss Alexis Winston.

Man: We'd like to see the performance. Woman: Will you sit down?

Okay, okay. Hold your horses.

[Disco music playing over speakers]

[Crowd cheering]

[Speaking indistinctly]

Brian: Fabulous!

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, here are the scores for miss Winston:

5.8, 5.7, 5.7,

5.6, 5.9, 5.8.

And we have a new midwest regional champion, miss Alexis Winston!

Announcer: This shows that a person like Alexis Winston,

anybody with the energy and the spirit, to them, no door is closed.

- Lexie: Thank you, thank you. - Come here, you.

Iloveifllloveifl

announcer: Everything is in place for the awarding of the trophy...

To be presented by the president of the broadmoor skating club.

Brian: Beautiful!

Deborah: Lexie, you hear them?

Announcer: In third place, representing the north skating club...

Announcer: Susan Blake.

- Congratulations, Susan. - Nick, you came.

Announcer: In second place, the defending national champion, a fine skater...

Come on.

- Who'll be a strong challenger... - Lexie: Come on.

And later in the world competition, Annette brashlout.

Please, Nick, I have to go.

It looks like you've got everything you need.

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, Alexis Winston.

[Crowd cheering]

Why don't you just go try out for another hockey team?

[Indistinct chatter]

[Pop music playing over speakers]

[J“j“j“]

[Speaking indistinctly]

[Crowd clapping in unison]

Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, this is what amateur skating is all about.

We at the broadmoor arena...

[J“j“j“]

[Speaking indistinctly]

Announcer: And now, we're sure that this next champion is one of america's olympic hopes.

Ladies and gentlemen...

[Crowd continues clapping]

[J“j“j“]

Woman: Oh, god, Lexie?

[Inaudible dialogue]

[Whimpering]

Doctor: Here we have the first slice of the examination.

Through the base of the brain, we see some of the bony structures here.

And the brain itself looks fine at this point.

We're beginning to see a bit of abnormality with just a little swelling in this area.

Here's the real problem.

This white area represents a blood clot in the brain.

And this darker area around it represents some swelling of the brain tissue.

- It's a nice scan, Diana. - Thank you.

And here we seem to be right in the middle of the blood clot here.

It looks like it's a little bit smaller than it was on the prior study, a few days ago.

So there has been some iysis.

What is that? Lysis?

That, more or less, just means it's dissolving. The body is taking care of the clot.

I don't see any new clot.

This was the one done the day that she came in and was injured.

It's a bit bigger here on this first day.

And this, I believe, was three days later.

And it's a little smaller then, and it appears to be even smaller now.

I don't see any new bleeding into the area.

Let's print them, Diana.

Marcus: Hi, babe.

Daddy?

Marcus: Is she blind or isn't she?

Well, when she first woke up from the coma, she said she couldn't see anything but darkness.

At least now she reports seeing some light and shadows.

Usually this sort of thing either gets better or worse in a few days after the injury.

After that, what you have is what you have.

I'm sorry we couldn't do more. I understand she was very promising.

Yes, she was very promising.

[Objects clattering]

Marcus: Lexie?

[Knocking on door]

Honey, Brian's on the phone again.

Come on, Lexie, he just wants to know how you are.

Lexie: Tell him.

Marcus: What?

Oh, goddamn it, I'm not talking through closed doors in my own house.

Tell him what?!

Lexie: I said, tell him how I am.

Tell him I can't see.

Marcus: Is that what you want? Tell him that you just sit here and you don't see?

Lexie: Yes!

Marcus: It's still a pretty place, Lex.

And I'll bet, if you shut your eyes,

you can put together a pretty good picture of this place, can't you?

I want to go home.

[Bowling ball thuds]

[Pins clattering]

Beulah: Hey, hey, hey!

What the hell's going on?

[Bowling ball thuds]

Hey, Marcus, what the hell do you think you're doing?

Marcus, what's the matter with you? You drunk or something?

Christ, Marcus, I'm not out of the pit yet!

Damn it. Stop it!

What the hell is he trying to do?

What the hell are you trying to do, Marcus?!

I said, stop it, Marcus!

You get out of here or I'm gonna get Matt down here.

Get Matt down here. Get him to set those pins. There's no pins down there.

You've got 10 seconds to get your ass out of here.

She ever talk to you?

Huh?

You just go to the house and go up to her room. Is that it?

What do you talk about? What do you talk about, beulah?! You go up...

You're both skaters. You both won the regionals.

- What the hell, you got a lot to talk about! - She won the sectionals.

We watch TV.

What?

I said, we watch TV.

But she can't see it.

She listens.

She listens, and I watch.

All right?

I don't know what to do with her.

She says, "what's the point in graduating from high school?"

The least she could do is graduate. Right?

Why?

You're a great goddamn help, bea.

If you hadn't filled her with all that crap!

[Imitating beulah] "Everybody's got to do it just once in their life."

Well, she did it just once!

Don't you start up with me, Marcus!

Don't you dare start up with me.

Sitting out there, hanging on to her like some damn doll!

I just want her to be okay.

She's dying out there.

Maybe it's my fault. I don't know, I don't care.

I just don't want it to be like this.

She's all there is.

[J“j“j“]

Lexie?

Honey?

This your mother's stuff?

Come on, Lexie. Let's go downstairs.

Lex, you've got to get out of here.

Is that your mother's sweater, Lex?

Are you taking stuff out of that trunk?

- Take it off. - Leave me alone.

Leave me alone.

If you can get around, get it off.

If you can come up here, take that damn sweater off!

Come on, Lexie!

Give it to me. I won't have you wearing that sweater!

Poor, little Lexie Winston. She was so promising.

Now she just sits in the attic in her dead mother's clothes.

- Lexie: Who the hell are you? - I'll tell you who the hell I am.

I'll tell you who I am.

I'll tell you who the hell I am.

I'm a stupid character, in stupid clothes...

Who runs a goddamn stupid bowling alley...

And ice rink, a goddamn pathetic rink.

And I come up here and I look at you.

And I see...

Oh, god, I see...

Somebody I thought could be different.

But you're just like the rest of us, another damned invalid.

Nobody's gonna blame a helpless invalid for giving up.

Isn't that what you were thinking when you took that jump?

You wanted to find a way out.

Well, you sure as hell found it!

Son of a bitch!

I'm sorry, honey.

I just can't stand it.

You can't...? Ow.

Lexi.

Please.

[J“j“j“]

Beulah: Pretty tough...

For someone who is blind...

And 4'10".

Lexie: 5'3".

I didn't mean to hurt myself.

I didn't want to hurt myself.

I didn't.

It's all right, baby.

It doesn't matter.

It's okay.

We just want you back.

We love you.

Please, baby, come back to us.

Marcus: And it's plenty thick, so you don't have to worry about that.

Lexie: All I'm worried about is standing up, not falling through.

Marcus: Well, you go, we both go. All right?

Just let me try to pull you along a little bit, okay?

Yeah, that's it.

Now come on, you're making more of this than is necessary.

I'm scared.

There's no point to be scared. Old daddy has you.

Oh, this is fun.

With you.

I'm more liable to fall than you. Now, you know that.

Okay, let's turn around...

And try to...

I'm going to pull you a little bit. Okay?

Now, hold on to me so I don't fall.

[J“j“j“]

Okay. Nothing to it.

You skate like you've done this before. Have you?

- Lexie: Not recently. - Ha-ha.

Marcus: Oops. I should tie my shoelaces so you don't trip over them.

Nothing to it.

Let's see now.

Lexie: Dad, it's scary.

- Marcus: Am I going too fast? - Dad?

Marcus: Okay. You want to try it again?

Okay, come on, pick up some speed now.

You're doing good.

You're heading towards the edge.

Nick: Here. There's a hand in front of you. Grab it.

What are you doing here?

I came to see you break your ass.

Can't see you very well.

I don't know if you're kidding.

Just listen to my voice.

I'm not kidding.

You don't have to see where you're going. I'll guide you.

Ikeep"_

The ice feels tilted.

I keep trying to see where I am.

See the edge.

Nick: Try shutting your eyes.

Just get the feel of the ice.

Balance. Feel your balance.

Nick?

Nick?

Keep coming.

Don't act helpless with me. Come on, keep working.

Around, around, around.

That's right.

Follow me.

Follow me. Don't make me control you.

Feel where I'm going.

Just skate, don't be so stiff.

Feel the ice. Right.

Left.

Right.

Left.

Do you feel the turn?

I'm gonna come around you.

Give me your hand. I'm all right. Right here.

Don't lean so much. Stand up straight.

Okay, we're gonna turn around. Come on, turn, I've got you.

I've got you. That's it.

Now, we're gonna glide.

That's it. Ready?

Glide.

Just glide.

[Lexie gasps]

- Do an Axel. - No!

You hear what I said? You're gonna do an Axel.

Nick, I can't.

Don't give me that.

You're gonna set up.

No! What are you doing?!

We're gonna go around and when we straighten...

- No, Nick! - You're gonna do an Axel. Shut up!

You're gutless.

- You bastard. - Can't you do it without the TV cameras?

You shouldn't have opened your eyes.

You bastard!

Bastard.

You're sure a better skater than you are a fighter.

[Sobbing]

I hate you. I really hate you.

I guess that makes us even.

Well, are you gonna sit there and get your ass all wet?

I don't need your hand to help me up.

Well, you want to quit?

Why are you doing this?

I tried to hurt her.

I really wanted to hurt her.

That's three in a row. Quit at being a doctor, quit at being a hockey player...

And now you're gonna quit on Lexie.

Ah, you're too much.

It just seems to me that you have to get away from anything that looks tough.

You ever skate on a pro team?!

That's easy. You just get beat up.

I know what you're talking about...

- Maybe I know the moves well. - Don't give me that.

If you want to fool around half your life, making up your mind about what you feel like doing, that's fine.

But finally, you've got to make a move or turn out like the rest of us.

Nick: You're on your own.

Make a circle. Go faster.

That's it.

Okay. You're gonna cut towards the center, cut towards me. Listen to where my voice is.

That's it. Now make a sharp turn towards your right hand. You're coming towards the wall.

You've got about 10 feet. Five feet, turn, turn.

That's it.

All right. Now, go into a sit spin.

Yeah. You're in the middle of the rink.

Hell, I did that when I could see.

[J“j“j“]

Whoo! Oh, baby, ha! You did a double.

[Speaking indistinctly]

- It wasn't perfect. - Well, it was damn good.

What a girl. Oh, what a girl.

I love you.

I know you don't like me very much anymore.

But I love you.

[J“j“j“]

I want you.

Lexie: Now?

Come on.

Lexie: What about beulah?

Nick: It's early. She doesn't get here.

It's only 6:00.

Lexie: I was beginning to think you didn't know how.

[Both laughing]

I don't know where you come up with those harebrained ideas.

She can do it.

It's five months until the first competition. That's plenty of time.

- I don't care about any of that. - Yeah, you do.

If you could see, you'd be right back in there at the broadmoor with that whole business.

- I wouldn't. - I don't believe you.

I can't.

You don't have to do anything you don't want to.

If nobody made her do anything, she'd be sitting up in that room, staring at the walls.

I don't know if she can do it.

I just know she's got to try.

For who? For you or for her?

For both of us.

If she doesn't try...

It's gonna be second best...

For us.

Whatever it is.

Hell, man, she can skate.

I don't know who took that seriously in the first place, even her, but she can.

She just won the sectionals. That's all the skaters in the middle of this country.

- That's saying something. - It's pointless and cruel.

Don't give me that. Not trying is pointless and cruel.

Not trying is wondering your whole life if you gave up too soon.

Who the hell needs that?

They'll laugh at me.

They might.

Well, they can't know I can't see, otherwise they'll just feel sorry for me.

- That's gonna be harder. - Well, they can't know.

Okay.

Lexie: Dad?

The kid's never seemed too smart.

But he's right. I'm with you, baby.

Goddamn, I sure am.

Marcus: Here we are, the team!

Nick: The flying wedge.

- Beulah: Fearless! - Suicidal!

We have the fastest blade-changing time of any pit crew on the circuit.

Call-out distances, the wall's louder.

You guys are crazy. You're all crazy.

- Lucky for you, I'd say. - Thank god for the loony bin.

God protects little children and fools.

And she knows she's got her hands full with this crowd.

Beulah: Wow.

Lexie: It seems huge.

- Nick: Yeah? Just wait till it's full. - Thanks a lot.

Marcus: Twenty bucks a night, three nights a week, before the preliminaries.

Any time we want, as long as it's between 1 and 4 in the morning.

- That's great. - That's plenty of time.

Okay. I'd say the tunnel is 15 feet wide.

There's about 30 feet, 35 feet open to the ice.

- Let's cover this up there. - With a mask.

- I'll get some adhesive tape down there. - Great.

- Ready, babe? - Yeah, I guess so.

Beulah: Without your skates?

Between all of you, you think of everything, don't you?

We try.

Nick: Good even boards. They're easy to see, huh?

Lexie: Easy for you to see.

Nick: Yeah, don't give me that. You're coming into the corner.

- Do you know where you are? - Beulah: Push, push, push!

Lexie: Really fast ice. Feels pretty good.

Nick: Easy corners. How you feel?

Lexie: Feels okay. Nick: Good. That's it.

Do a figure eight. That's it.

Time it in your head from the corner to the blue line.

Come on.

Okay, now, one, two, three, blue line, blue line!

Announcer: I want to remind you...

I felt a little sloppy.

We finally got some decent scores out of those judges.

- At least you're on the board. - Excuse me. Whoa.

Marcus: Here she comes.

- Which way? - Let's do our stuff.

- Okay, which way? - She's about 10 feet.

She's got a lot of people around her.

Lexie: Congratulations, Annette! Annette: Not yet. Good luck.

- With this act, we should go on the road. - Marcus: That was pretty damn good.

Nick: If it's any comfort, the crowd still loves Annette brashlout.

Beulah: How'd you like a punch in the nose?

I can't believe I got that 5.6.

- Half of the judges have glasses. - I wish they all would.

Brian: Hi, Lexie.

[Softly] Jesus!

What the hell are you doing here?

Could we have a minute, please?

- No, this is a private... - Yeah.

Sure you can.

[Door closes]

You can't tell.

I mean, I saw the program.

I can't believe it.

- Here. - Oh, I can do it.

You look lovely, Lexie.

When I saw you out there, I fell in love with you all over again.

Only while skating?

It's a funny relationship.

You didn't take my calls.

Do you remember me?

I missed you.

I missed you.

Want to try again?

I don't miss you anymore, Brian.

Does anybody know?

Would you ask my friends to come back in, please?

Sure.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Announcer: That was Laurie fostan from the Baton Rouge skating rink.

Hey.

You gonna tell anybody?

You know, I really loved her.

Is that for me, or for her, or for you?

Maybe for everybody.

Are you gonna tell anybody?

Not everybody who doesn't happen to be from waverly is a complete shit.

[Crowd cheering]

Announcer: Now, in first place in overall standings the reigning national champion,

Annette brashlout.

[Crowd cheering]

[Classical music playing over speakers]

Nice to see it again.

How does it look?

Beautiful.

[Crowd cheering]

Good old Annette.

How do you think I look?

Well, you're just about the sexiest bozo ever to wear a funny blue dress.

[Music stops]

[Crowd cheering]

Announcer: Miss brashlout scores are 5.8, 5.9, 5.7,

5.8, 5.7.

A fantastic performance.

Ladies and gentlemen, the girl who will undoubtedly

be the national champion for the second straight year,

Annette brashlout.

[Crowd cheering]

You okay?

I'm fine.

Man: Congratulations!

I'm fine.

Daddy?

Right here.

Lexie: I love you.

Thanks for being my daddy.

Announcer: The next skater to perform her long program will be Lexie Winston.

Now, this will be miss Winston's first appearance since being hurt last year.

Let's welcome her back. Ladies and gentlemen, Alexis Winston.

[Crowd cheering]

[Piano music playing over speakers]

Here's for my mom.

[J“j“j“]

[Crowd cheering]

[Music stops]

[Crowd clapping in unison]

Lex, the flowers!

[Crowd silences]

[Woman speaks indistinctly]

We forgot about the flowers.

[Crowd cheering]

[J“j“j“]

Stay with me.

J“ reaching out to touch you j“

j“ I can feel so much j“

j“ since I found you j“

j“ looking through the eyes of love j“

j“ and now I do believe j“

j“ that even in the storm we 'il find some light j“

j“ knowing you're beside me j“

j“ I'm all right j“

j“ please, don't let this feeling end j“

j“ it might not come again j“

j“ and I want to remember j“

j“ how it feels to touch you j“

j“ howl feel so much j“

j“ since I found you j“

j“ looking through j“

j“ the eyes j“

j“ of love j“j“