Original subtitles

There's something dangerous

about the boredom of teenage girls.

Coach said that once.

But she said it not like a mom,

or a teacher, or a guidance counselor.

She said it like she knew

and understood.

Coach saw something in us...

Something quivering and real.

She saw past the glitter

and the hair, and the attitude...

To everything beneath.

All our miseries.

Most of all,

she could see that we were waiting...

Had always been waiting...

for her.

It was fucking beautiful.

Until it went too far.

_

_

You like the ones with the tapered tip, right, babe?

Yeah.

If you all got some game on,

your star QB wouldn't be shipping off to basic.

The recruiters don't lie.

It's one way out of Sutton Grove.

Yeah, and come back in a body bag.

Sounds like Sarge Will's been giving you the full-on hustle, huh?

He's not a bad dude.

How hard do you think it would be?

Mm.

Sarge Will?

You're not climbing that tree.

Wanna make it interesting?

- No chance.

I gotta keep my money.

You pulling a shift tonight, Slocum?

Gotta fill that cup.

You?

Mm-hmm.

Blow it off.

Come on. We'll practice.

Yeah, you said that all summer,

Captain, and we never did.

Well, go on.

Show 'em the back tuck.

- All right.

- Oh, oh! - Ooh.

- Nice!

- Thank you.

You're getting better.

Who the fuck cares?

Does it look like I care?

I just don't wanna flame out before regionals. That's all.

What? And the new coach is gonna get us there?

Colette French?

Sounds like a porn star.

Classy one, though.

- She won't do anal.

Some fancy new coach from across the state

thinks she can come and run my squad?

And as if she's hot.

She's ancient.

She's, like, 28.

I would like to see some

28-year-old ass do this.

Come on.

- Come on.

You ready?

Up. Up!

Move!

You can bend those knees for ballers.

You can bend them for me.

Never gonna keep your thigh gap like that, Hanlon.

Again, bitches.

Move it.

Go! Move!

I think that's her.

Coming in like an OG.

I better tell Cap'n Beth.

Synced & corrected by QueenMaddie www.addic7ed.com

Kicks.

V-sits.

- Plank.

That's enough. Line up.

First game is next Friday.

What do I see?

Spray tans.

Gummy-bear thighs.

Backyard tumblers.

But I don't see a squad.

And I do not see my top girl.

Beth's top girl. She's always...

On my squads, you earn your spot.

You get strong. You rise.

That's how you get to regionals,

become champions,

get more for yourselves

than Big Gulps and ballers.

We graduated past ballers in the eighth grade.

No phones on my squad.

Tomorrow, come in a bra that fits.

- Fix this.

We don't do this.

Hey, do you have deodorant?

I really like her hair.

It's like Cinderella.

You heard Coach.

Harness those babies.

Hey, my mom said I should be proud of my body.

- RiRi, catch.

Aw!

That's gonna be stuck in my head all day.

Yeah.

- Man, she's so great. - Yeah.

What are you up to tomorrow?

I don't know.

Hey, fetus!

- I'll see you. - Okay.

Didn't you hear about Coach French's last squad?

Her top girl?

Yeah. Girl took a header.

Scalped her ponytail clean off.

- Mm. - Dad said you made that up.

You better watch it, or...

Ow! Stop!

Dad!

Your chariot, fair daughter.

Can I offer two lovely ladies a ride?

All right. You good?

Bert's ride is so "Real Housewives."

Here's a thought

blunts, Mom's Patron, Lanvers Peak.

I can't.

And I can't go home. Come on.

A crackdown at home.

Gotta study 'cause summer's officially over.

All that shit.

You call the po-po on me?

I'll text you later, B, okay?

It's been a while since you texted me for a rescue.

Yeah, well,

you always say I'm full of surprises.

Mm-hmm.

- It's me.

- Your darling daughter?

Love of your life?

Light of your loins?

Chris Brown won't quit you, huh?

Ain't no party like a Pops Slocum party.

Hey, it's Wednesday night.

Practically the weekend.

Your dad knows you're here, Michael?

Yes, ma'am.

Beats her usual partner in crime.

Everybody hating on a white girl tonight.

Hey, you were the one who pled rescue.

The new coach worked us really hard today.

Sounds like my kind of coach.

Yeah, she took two squads

to the Illinois State cheer tournament.

If we make it to state this year...

if we win...

You always dream big.

Remember when you were little

and you wanted to join the WNBA?

Mm-hmm, hanging on monkey bars for hours,

trying to make yourself taller?

You don't get it.

Kentucky, OSU, Hawaii...

Cheer scholarships are real.

Oh, like football scholarships?

Yeah, I remember your dad at your age.

"Baby, this arm is our ticket out of Sutton Grove.

By this time next year, we'll be clubbing in Miami."

And we both know how that turned out.

Dinner in 20.

She thinks if I make it into City freaking Tech,

then I'm set for life.

My pops thinks I can make

assistant manager at Sonic someday.

I just don't know why we can't go someplace real.

People do it.

Yeah, certain people.

People born on third base.

No. It can happen.

If you work hard enough,

you get strong, you rise.

Three, four.

Five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four,

five, six, seven, eight...

One, two, three, four, five.

Let's see your pyramid.

Okay.

Three, four, five, six, seven, eight...

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One.

Coming down.

Five, six, seven, eight,

one, two, three, four, five.

Okay.

Let's shake things up.

Freshman, you're up.

Her?

The JV bottom-feeder?

She's five feet of hair.

Five feet of hair, get up there.

- I... - You got this.

Don't you wanna make their jaws drop?

It could be you on game day.

Three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

- Hey.

- N... look out.

Lock out. Lock out your knees.

- No. Tighten up.

Okay. You're okay.

All right. Come on. Stand up.

- Shake it off.

Good.

Okay, let's go over the choreography.

Come on.

_

Hey.

Can I talk to you for a minute?

- Sure.

I was, uh, here three days

before I realized it wasn't plugged in.

Yeah. Coach Melvoy's screwup.

The gift that keeps on giving.

- Like herpes.

Beth says that.

But you're not Beth.

That's what I came to talk to you about.

Beth.

Look, you want to be careful with her.

Go easy on her?

Give her special treatment?

No, that's not what I mean.

Um...

Beth's dad... you know, Mr. Cassidy?

He's a big dog here.

Yeah, I got that.

He's not a great dad,

and Tacy...

Sisters never get along.

Half sisters.

Tacy's mom is Mr. Cassidy's sidepiece.

Lives right across the street.

- Still does, except now,

Beth's dad lives there too.

- Huh.

Small towns can be fucked up.

Look, I get that she's your friend.

She is.

I've known a lot of Beths.

She needs limits. I'm giving them to her.

It's that simple.

I gotta go.

Date night with Mr. Coach?

Yeah.

He likes to show me off.

Thanks.

You got no gag reflex.

That's not what her boyfriend says.

I think she lives on Fairview.

She's probably not even home.

I'm telling you, there's something off about her.

You're just pissed because she let Tacy be top girl today.

But screw it.

You'll be back on top on Friday.

What?

You should just be on my side.

We all wanted a real coach.

A winning coach. Remember?

If she's such hot shit,

why'd she move back here?

She only grew up, like, two towns over,

in that armpit Sterling Heights,

where we bought beer in junior high.

I know.

How do you know?

Anyone can Google.

This must be it.

And you said she wouldn't be home.

That's the husband?

He looks like a youth pastor.

God, I wouldn't fuck him.

He'll be heartbroken.

Come on. Let's just go. This is crazy.

Why you got such a hard-on for her?

- I don't. - I can see it from here.

It's a rando flasher hard-on.

Wait, do you wanna fuck her?

What? No!

- You wanna fuck her.

- Coach! - Stop!

Someone out here wants to fuck you!

Shh! Shut up!

Shut up!

Go! Drive!

Beth!

Is the peanut gallery still out there?

I'm telling you, these girls are nothing

but boxed wine and attitude.

Huh. That reminds me of somebody I used to know.

Do I look like a boxed wine girl to you?

Mm, nah, I bet you were more of a Mad Dog type.

Mm.

Hey, you'll whip them into shape.

I was gonna give you these after the game,

but I thought maybe you'd wanna wear them to the party.

Matt.

Jesus.

What'd your mom always say? "Every lady ought to"...

... "have a pair of red shoes like Dorothy."

Matt, we need to budget.

It's not what we can afford.

It's what you deserve.

- Okay? - Well... ah...

Look, I know we moved here for me...

- For... for this job... - It was for both of us.

Yeah, but come on.

You're the one... you're the one back where you started.

It... It's just for now.

We're gonna make it work together.

No "I" in team, Coach?

Look, I just want you to know that I haven't forgotten

all the promises I made you, okay?

Hey, gorgeous.

My lucky day.

Ah, I'm J.J. Curtis, RiRi's mom.

Hey. Colette French.

We are so happy to have you here leading our girls.

I... I don't know how Bert pulled it off.

Well, we've got a ways to go. The girls are...

Lazy.

Raised on Ritalin and free porn.

Uh, so, uh, the squad boosters.

We have these brunches,

and I would love to host one for you.

Thanks. Uh, maybe once we get settled...

RiRi is crazy about you.

How about Sunday?

Real casual... Day drinking, telling dirty jokes.

Sorry. Maybe in a few weeks, when...

Come on. Just the girls.

I can't.

I'm really focused on the game,

and it's coming up fast.

And that's what you wanted me here for, right?

Of course.

Okay. Head up.

No sloppy stuff.

Again. Trust yourself.

Better.

Did you go there?

For cheer?

Yeah.

I'm thinking of places to apply.

Maybe more places than I thought.

You should. Do your research.

I just wanna go, you know?

Hanlon, it's important to have an exit plan

that's more than just an exit.

Okay.

Open it.

Open.

Good.

It shut down when I was a kid.

Tires, right?

I used to hear the chug-chug all day long,

and one day, it just stopped.

The stadium they were building for the football team,

that stopped too.

Everything just stopped.

Reminds me of Roman ruins.

Hey, who's that, um...

that cute... cross-country kid with the curly hair?

- The one with the headphones? - Yeah.

- Yeah. - Jordy Jones?

He's nobody.

Nobody won't distract you.

Nobody'll make you feel good.

So how did you end up here?

I mean, you could be anywhere.

You could run squads anywhere.

I wanna be here.

My husband, Matt, he has a chance here.

He hasn't had many chances... Not like he thought.

And he's given me so many.

I owed him.

It's grown-up bullshit, right?

No.

I mean, I don't know.

I don't know many married people, though...

I mean, that are still married.

Maybe you'll be smarter than I was, Hanlon.

About all this.

Maybe you already are.

Uh, that's me.

You're not like the others.

But you know that, don't you?

Yes.

So that's the new coach?

The blonde lady that couldn't stop and introduce herself?

Hey, I got the, uh, stuff you wanted.

The flaxseed.

I went to three different stores.

Oh, yeah. Thanks.

He's back.

Sarge Will.

Wonder what he did all summer.

I wonder who he did all summer.

Listen, I'm gonna give you my card

with my personal cell phone on it.

- Thanks. - Oh, no.

Oh, RiRi.

- Pathetic.

Your turn.

She took your bet?

Well, it's no fun playing by yourself.

Been doing that a lot lately.

I just have important things to do.

Things I care about.

You coming to calc?

Why?

This.

Mom. Mom!

Hey, sweetie pie.

This isn't what you think.

- Your mom... - We're not your family anymore.

- Listen... - Get out.

- Get out. - Would you just listen...

to me for a second? Your mother...

Go home to your wife

and your daughter!

- Your other wife and daughter. Go! - Listen...

Baby girl. Baby girl, just listen.

I've never been able to say no to her.

Fuck you.

Remember when...

you turned six,

and we all drove down to Stony Creek and had that cookout?

- You remember that, don't you? - Sure.

We all fell asleep after Funfetti cake,

and I woke up to you saying,

"Mom! Mom! The sky turned orange."

I said it was beautiful.

You said it was pollution.

And then Dad said,

"That's not pollution, ladies.

That's progress."

I can't wait till I can get out of here.

I can't wait.

You think it's gonna be easy.

You'll leave. You'll be free!

I never thought anything would be easy.

Get hard!

Get mean!

Go, Eagles!

Get down!

Get hard!

Get mean!

Go, Eagles!

Get down!

Get hard!

Get mean!

- Go, Eagles! - This isn't good.

Get down!

- She'll be here. Get mean!

Go, Eagles!

Touchdown! Touchdown!

We want an Eagles touchdown!

Touchdown!

Hi, Dad! Dad!

We want an Eagles touchdown!

Fuck!

Well, at least he gets up quick.

- Gonna make a great Marine.

And that's the half. Stay seated.

The halftime show is about to begin.

All right, let's go.

Let's do this. Huddle up.

Huddle up!

I'm gonna tell you a secret.

There is no one better than you.

You are the strongest,

meanest, baddest women

this town has ever seen,

and you are about to show everyone what you are made of

the hard, hard gold that pounds in your chests.

You are royalty now. You're gods.

Make them bow down.

Do me proud.

Mmkay. This is it.

Fast, tight, light. Just like in practice.

That means you.

Tacy's top.

You can't be serious.

You put her up there, she's gonna break her neck.

I'm top girl.

Top girl is a girl who shows, every practice, every game.

I showed. I'm here.

Top girl is a girl who can control herself.

I'm the captain.

We're not doing captains anymore.

No, I'm captain. This is my squad.

Wrong!

It's mine.

My squads don't have captains.

You got this.

Let's go.

Lizzo! Lizzo! Lizzo!

Lizzo!

Go, Eagles!

Ugh.

What was I supposed to do?

Let her fall?

It was Coach's choice.

You chose to be her little bitch.

A diamond in a rhinestone world.

- Coach. - Wow. We pulled it off.

Oh, more than that.

I was talking to the regionals organizers.

They're interested in letting us host.

That'd be great. First round bye.

Hell yes.

Look what you did in just one week.

We're back on the map again.

They'll stop thinking of us as a Rust Belt backwater

once they get an eyeful of that stadium plan.

And we intend to get you everything you need to lay hands

on those tournament rings.

What he really means

is that we're hitching all our wagons

to your star, Coach French.

No pressure.

Pressure's how diamonds get made.

All right, all right, Sutton Grove!

- Thank you guys.

So listen.

Our football team, huh?

Got the shit kicked out of them tonight...

- Jeez. Again.

- How times have changed.

When a lot of us went to school here, everything was football, right?

We thought it would be that way forever.

We even had a plan

to build a big, gleaming

new stadium for our boys.

We had to put that dream on hold.

We were struggling.

All right? Like so many American towns...

felt left behind.

But no more.

Tonight, friends... tonight,

we witnessed a transformation.

We saw how good our girls could be.

We saw that they could take the lead.

Right?

These girls right here!

Who run the world?

Who run the w... girls!

G... girls. You've seen the T-shirt. Come on, you guys.

Leaving me hanging up here.

Now, listen. Some people say cheer is not a sport.

I think Coach French over here would disagree,

but I can tell you this

it is a business.

It's an industry.

It's the future.

And it is a future that is coming here to Sutton Grove.

- Let's hear it! Come on!

Let's hear it!

Folks, a stadium can transform a town.

A stadium can heal a town.

If we build this,

they will come!

When we have this stadium...

When we have this stadium, this beacon, this lodestar,

there is nothing we can't do.

Sutton Grove begins again!

Him? Why?

Why not?

Hey! Jordy Jones!

Get in!

It's your lucky day.

You better have weed.

Hey.

Hey.

_

Hey! Jailbait!

Is that my phone?

Hey. Soldier boy.

What else you got in that car?

Seriously?

The head push? You're pulling that shit on me?

I just... I... I don't know what you want.

Just...

Make me feel good...

Jordy Jones.

Make me feel...

You must be Matt.

- Yeah. - I'm J.J. Hi.

Welcome to our nest of vipers.

But you're probably used to that, working for Bert.

Um, no... no bites yet.

- But I just started.

I'm the project manager for the new stadium.

I know. I know.

What I don't know

is which one of you he had his eyes on first.

Uh, pardon?

Well, he's had his sights trained on your wife

since she took Jeff East to state.

We just never thought we could land her.

Never say Bert Cassidy doesn't know how to sweeten a deal.

Oh, there he is. Oh, had to make a grand entrance, huh?

- Come over here.

Guess I missed a lot. Hey.

How was, uh... How was the game?

Oh, not bad.

Uh, Mr. Cassidy has two daughters on the squad...

The little one stole the show.

People always say to me,

"Bert, I bet you wish you had sons."

You know what I say to them? "Fuck that old news."

I mean, right? Look at my girls.

Energy, swagger, balls.

Yes, well, getting any of them to actually work

- is the hard part. - All right, that's the...

It took me a while too.

Matt helped me with that.

I don't know where I would be without him.

Exactly where you are.

Hell, don't be modest.

I, uh...

I didn't realize you followed Colette's career so closely.

Oh, I follow winners.

And then I buy them.

We've had this date together from the beginning...

All three of us.

You look great. It's good to see you.

- I'm glad you could... Bill. - Thanks.

Come over here. I wanted to... I wanted to show you...

What the hell, B?

- Beth.

Beth!

Put the fucking gun down.

Listen to your friend.

What friend?

Hmm?

I had a friend.

Not anymore.

Beth.

Look at me.

She was my girl.

She was the only one.

And she's gone.

Put the fucking gun down.

Beth, come on.

Beth.

Everything's bad.

You can't fight it.

Let's just go, okay? You and me.

Let's go down to the factory

and break some windows, and go crazy.

Okay?

You and me.

Put the fucking gun down.

You and me.

Just you and me.

Like the old days.

Okay? Please?

She gonna get into trouble with your coach?

No.

No one's gonna say anything. I won't let them.

Well, she's lucky to have you.

Our coach...

had eyes in the back of his head.

You played?

Hundred years ago.

Over in Allanville.

Best time of my life.

Goes by quick, though.

And you never get it back.

I was gonna tell you.

It turns out you were right.

About the shoes, I mean.

We can't afford them.

Everything's changing.

You're changing.

No, I'm not.

Addy, you're a good person.

You don't know how it works.

People like that, they throw you away.

People like what?

Go to sleep.

Everything's okay.

It's okay.

Yeah.

- What? - My phone.

I must have left it up at Lanvers.

Coach told me something once.

She said,

"Someday, you're gonna really want something."

"That's when you'll find out who you are."

Oh. Got it.

But there's a price for everything.

You have to give up the old things...

the things that feel easy,

the things that feel safe.

Oh, my God.

This is how you become strong.

This is how you become a woman.

Beth!

Beth! Hey!

We're not saying anything.

- We're not saying... - Beth!

In the end...

I couldn't stop it.