Original subtitles

A K

L A

K E L [music] E L E L E A

K E E [music]

L A H

E K E

[music]

L A L A L K E

A

K E K E Aila Aquila Akila Ail A K E E

H.

You know that feeling where no matter

what you do or where you go, you just

don't fit in. Don't know the word for

that. Alienation,

estrangement, incompatibility.

No, those ain't right. But there's got

to be a word for it cuz it's how I feel

all the time. My name's Akila Anderson

and I'm 11 [music] years old. And this

all starts at Crunchaw Middle School in

South Los Angeles.

You're all into seventh grade now and I

know you can do better than this. So

when I give you a list of words, study

them. Akila,

how long did you study for this spelling

test?

I didn't

[laughter]

>> see me after class.

>> Okay, you two need to turn around.

Enough.

>> You know, you could be one of my very

best students, but you don't turn in

half your homework. Sometimes you don't

even show up for class. What's going on?

Have you heard of

>> Have you heard of next week's spelling

be?

>> No.

>> Well, I think you should sign up for it.

>> Does he really think I'm going to be

walking around with somebody in little

shorts like that? He crazy. Oh, is Devon

coming back today? Yeah, got it till a

week later. Your brother's fine. I got

it all figed out. Look, he gonna be the

pilot on a big commercial jet and I'm

gonna be the flight attendant. Hey,

>> got an old man girl.

>> Got me change myself.

>> Damn Derek te.

>> He been trying to get Terrence in

trouble.

>> Girl, your bro can get his own self in

trouble. So, what crosswalk?

>> Nothing. Just talking about some stupid

ass belling me.

>> You going to do it

>> or you probably be good and get up in

front of everybody?

>> I'll probably be in my pants.

>> So tell me about the boy in your class

with shorts. I think he's cute.

[singing]

[singing]

Haley, mama says go eat.

>> I'm about to get a high score. One

minute.

>> I don't care. Mama says go eat.

>> Oh yeah. I've been dreaming about your

cooking for the past 5 months. Here, let

me take that.

>> At least I got one baby. Appreciate what

I do around here.

>> We all appreciate you. Hey, give me some

sugar.

>> Where is Terrence?

>> I don't know. Maybe still a practice.

>> Practice was over an hour ago. I knew

one thing. He better not be hanging out

with no Derek T.

>> Derek T? That fool still alive?

>> Not after you get done with him?

>> That's right. Hey you.

>> So, how many plants have you shut down

supply

>> so far? Zero. But you don't do too much

shooting sitting behind a computer

screen in Nevada.

>> You look good. You stay on the ground.

Let them white boys go up there. You

stay down here where you belong.

>> Mama, I'm going to have my wings and my

college degree before you know it.

Unless, of course, this one beats me to

it. [snorts]

>> Not skipping class with Georgia Carana.

She won't

>> skipping class.

>> Only PE.

>> You better not be skipping no class.

>> Kayla, go turn off that television.

>> Hey. Hey. Flipped over ESPN real quick.

Let me check out that leg score.

No more poisonous.

>> If you spell the next word correctly,

you will be the champion.

>> What's this?

>> Kila, turn off the TV now.

>> Bronius.

>> B

R U N

E O U S. Bronius.

>> Congratulations. You are the scripts

national spelling be champion.

[cheering]

>> Aquila needs to listen. Turn it off now.

Runnas.

Runnas.

Dark brown used chiefly scientifically.

Well, why can't they just say brown?

Daddy, have you ever heard of this word?

>> Yeah,

probably did.

Carter. C A U [music] T E R I Z E.

Fortification. F O R T I F I C A T I O

N. Correspond O R R E S P O N.

Hey man, I'll catch you later.

>> Hey, freak.

>> We want you to take care of English

homework. Everybody say you a brainiac.

>> I ain't no brainiac.

>> Like hell you ain't. Always got them A's

down right.

>> Yeah,

>> she scared.

>> Don't run away from

>> I cannot thank you enough for coming

down here today, Josh. I've got the

district breathing down my back. The

test scores have gone down again this

year. As I said earlier, I appreciate

your dilemma, Bob, but I really don't

understand what it is I have to offer

you.

>> No, no. All All I want you to do is look

at these kids and tell me if you think

my idea is crazy. I think some of them

have a lot of potential.

>> Girls, why aren't you in class?

>> She hold this up.

>> Akila,

>> are you signed up for the spelling be

today?

>> No.

>> Want you to come to my office, please.

So, Miss Cross tells me you've never

missed a word on your spelling test, but

your attendance record leaves a little

to be desired.

You're 11. Did you skip a grade?

>> The second.

>> Akila, have you ever heard of the

scripts national spelling bee?

>> I think it was on TV last week.

>> Yes. Yes. They show it on ESPN every

year. Middle school students from all

over the country compete in school,

district, and regional spelling bees

trying to make it to the national

spelling bee in Washington DC next year.

I want one of our students there. So,

whoever wins the school B today gets to

represent Crenshaw at the district B

next month.

>> Why would anybody want to represent a

school that can't even put doors on the

toilet stalls?

Akquila, if we can't show our students

can perform, we're not going to have

money for books, let alone bathroom

doors. Now, I want you to do the beat

today. All right.

>> So, everybody can call me a freak and a

brainiac. No, I ain't down for no

spelling be.

>> Well, maybe you'd be down for spending

the rest of the semester in detention

for all your absences.

>> I would like to welcome you all to

Crunchaw's first schoolwide spelling

bee. We have some very special students

competing today. So, let's give them all

a round of applause.

[cheering]

>> Okay, we drew numbers to see who'd go

first, and that's Chucky Johnson from

the eighth grade.

>> Hey, hey, Chucky.

>> Mr. Welch,

>> I have a question about the basketball

nets.

>> Chucky,

>> you need to pay attention. Now, we're

going to start things off with gravel.

>> Gravel like little rocks. [laughter]

>> No, gravel like get down on your knees

and gravel.

>> Get down on my knees.

>> What?

>> Just spell the word.

>> Uh, G R A V E L.

>> Noah, Chucky, you spelled gravel. I

meant gravel. G R O V E L. You weren't

listening. Sorry, Chucky.

>> Who cares?

>> Okay, next up, Akquila Anderson.

>> You go, girl.

>> Akila, your word is doubt. Doubt.

>> D O U B T.

>> I'm sorry, Akila, you have to speak up.

>> D O U Bt.

>> Very good.

[applause]

>> Next, Calvin Baker. P L A S F I D.

Placid.

>> I'm sorry. It's P L A C I D.

[applause]

Okay, Aquila, if you get this word,

you'll be the winner. Fanciful.

F.

>> F A N C I F U L.

>> That is correct. And you have won

Krenshaw's inaugural spelling be.

Excuse [applause]

me.

Spell press the digitation.

>> I'm sorry sir, but this girl is only 11

and she's already one. Mr. Welch, what

is this?

>> Press the [music] digitation. Can you

spell it?

P R E S T I [music] D I G I T A T I O N

>> Press to digitation.

>> That's correct.

[applause]

>> Ambidextrous.

>> A M B I D E X T R O U S.

>> Pterodactyl. P t e r o e a c t y

>> pokritude. [music]

P

U L C

R

I T U D E.

>> Hocatitude.

>> That's incorrect. It's from the Latin

root hulair. And there's an H after the

C.

>> C. She ain't so smart. [laughter]

>> Akila. Wait. Where are you going? You

did great. You were spelling words I

don't know how to spell.

>> Mr. Welch, I told you I didn't want to

do this. They're laughing at me.

>> They laugh because you intimidate them.

But if you'd stood your ground, you

might have earned their respect. Bob,

the girl has potential, but she needs to

be coached.

>> Do you know who that was? That was Dr.

Joshua Larabe. He used to chair the

English department at UCLA. He and I

went to college together. But get this.

When he was a kid, you went all the way

to the National Spelling Bee, and he

thinks you have a chance of going there

yourself.

I'm sorry, but I ain't doing no more

spelling bees.

>> Aka,

>> girl, you kicked some major booty on

that stage today.

>> But I couldn't spell poker, too.

>> But you knocked all them mother words

right back at that, too.

>> They were just trick words. Everybody

knows pterodactyl starts with the P.

>> Girl, if I can spell like you, I know I

could be a flight attendant. H

Key. Hey, wake up.

Hey,

>> devil. You leaving?

>> Yeah. Got to get back to the base.

>> Hey, your principal called mama. Said

you did real good in the spelling be

last week.

>> I messed up a word.

>> Yeah, well, he said you got a lot of

them right. He also said you got an

opportunity to go to an even bigger

contest next week.

>> I don't want to do it.

>> Why not?

>> Everybody's going to be looking at me

and there's going to be tons of words I

don't know. So, you're scared, huh?

Come on. How you think I felt the first

time I had to jump out of an airplane? I

mean, my whole body said don't do it.

Sometimes your brain got to be smarter

than your body, you know.

>> But I don't like my school. Don't see

why God do anything for him.

>> Then do it for dad.

I mean, you know how he was about words.

He'd have loved to see you do something

like this.

>> What mama say about it? Well, [snorts]

you know how mama is. She got a million

things to worry about.

Tell you what, just do this [music]

contest and if you make it all the way

to DC, I will parachute down to see you.

Would you like that?

That is a wonderful decision, Akquila. A

wonderful decision.

>> You think maybe the school could buy me

a new outfit, you know, for the district

B?

>> Uh, I don't know. Maybe. Um, if you make

it to the state regional, maybe

something could be arranged. But you're

going to have to finish in the top 10 at

the district level first. And Akquila,

you're going to be going up against kids

from Santa Monica, Woodland Hills,

Beverly Hills. Some of these kids have

been doing this for years and never even

made it to DC.

>> Well, maybe I should just give up now.

>> No, no, no, no. I I'm just saying you

need to train hard with Dr. Larabe.

>> What? I don't need any help from him. I

could do this on my own.

>> Akila, the best spellers in the world

have coaches, and I finally got him to

consider taking some time during his

sbatical to work with you. Please just

talk with him here.

>> He doesn't live far from here.

>> He lives in this neighborhood.

I thought you said he was important.

>> And take this. It's a copy of last

year's spelling bee.

>> Saxopform.

>> May I have the definition, please?

>> Resembling a pouch.

>> May I have the language of origin,

please?

>> Latin.

>> Latin.

>> S A.

>> I thought this was supposed to be

English.

>> I f O R.

>> Can you tell it?

>> Can I have the definition?

>> Longus. [music]

>> Jinglamus. I'm panach [music]

into sception.

>> Hey, what's that?

>> Are there any alternate pronunciations?

>> Where you been?

>> I don't see any.

>> Mama's worried.

>> Mama should just chill. All right.

>> Intoception.

>> What you looking at?

>> I spelling B.

>> Oh yeah, I heard about that. You going

up against a bunch of rich white kids.

>> C E P.

>> They going to tear your black ass up.

into sception is I n tu ss ss u s c e p

t i [music] o n

[applause]

You're late.

>> He didn't answer the door.

>> That's because you're late. Come in.

Come. Come. Come.

So,

>> you want to learn how to spell?

>> I know how to spell.

>> Spell stafaloo coxy.

>> Um,

s t a f.

>> There is no f. It's derived from the

Greek, so there can't be an f. Staflo

coxy. S t a p h y l o c o ci. Winning

word. National Spelling Bee, 1987. The

first thing most serious spellers do is

learn all of the winning words and their

origins.

>> Well, maybe I ain't that serious.

>> Maybe neither am I.

>> So, why you home doing the day? Ain't

you got a job?

>> Do me a favor. Leave the ghetto talk

outside. All right.

>> Ghetto talk. I don't talk ghetto.

>> Ain't you got no job? You use that

language to fit in with your friends.

here. You will speak properly or you

won't speak at all. Understood?

>> Yeah,

whatever.

>> You can leave now.

>> Excuse me.

>> I said you can leave.

>> How come?

>> Because I don't have time to waste on

insulent little girls.

>> Insolent? I ain't ins I mean, I'm not

insulent. It's just the first thing you

do is start dogging on

criticizing the way I speak.

I thought this was just about spelling

words.

>> Well, then fine.

You know what?

When I put my mind to it, I can memorize

anything. And I don't need help from a

dictatorial truckulent super sillious

gardener.

I'm sorry to be so insolent

l y laboratory L A O R preglacial R I

referable I R Rithoplastic E R Y micro

zapore

>> hey baby what are you still doing up

>> got to learn more birds.

>> You going to come see me in a district

be this Saturday?

>> What is that at your school?

>> Nah, Beverly Hills.

>> Beverly Hills.

>> Look, you got other homework. You need

to focus on that. I don't want you

spending all your time on this game.

>> It ain't a game. Are you going to come

see me in it?

>> You know, I work at the hospital on

Saturday. Maybe Kiana can go with you.

>> As long as she don't bring that whining

baby. [crying]

COME ON, GIRLS. Let's go. We're going to

be late.

[crying]

>> Dang.

I hope they all hit a spell.

>> Hey, go get your number. I'll be sitting

back here.

>> Good luck, Keely.

S A R [music] P

L A T I

>> Yes. Well, you got remember

>> name? Um, Aquila Anderson

>> right here at the top. Huh?

>> I think you're the first fellow we've

ever had from Princeell Middle School.

Um, how many kids are in this thing?

>> 139.

>> Next.

>> Need some help?

>> Don't worry, I won't impale you.

>> This your first time?

>> Yeah.

>> You?

>> Second year. I made it to nationals last

year. Finished 13th.

Lucky 13.

>> You went all the way to DC. Three of us

made it from high school in Woodland

Hills.

>> See that kid right there? That's Dylan

Chew. He's coming second place in

nationals for two years in a row. This

is his last year and everybody thinks

he's going to win.

>> Frankly, I'd like to shove him off

precipice.

>> Hey, my name's Javier.

>> I'm Akila.

>> Hope you make the top 10.

>> I hope I'm not the first one out.

>> Will all the spellers take their

positions on the stage, please? Now

remember, if you don't know how to spell

a word, spell it the way it sounds. Kids

mess up all the time when they think

they're being thrown curveballs, and

they're not. Good luck.

>> Good luck to you, too.

>> Thank you.

>> E

M

B

R

I

C A

T I O N. Embation.

A

[applause]

>> Reese's.

>> Recess. May I have a definition, please?

>> A brownish yellow monkey of India.

>> Recess.

R H E S U S. Reesus.

>> That's correct.

[applause]

>> [applause]

>> Number 54.

>> Eminent.

Did you hear the word?

>> I'm not sure if you're saying eminent or

eminent.

>> Would you like a definition?

>> That'd be cool.

>> Eminent. Rising above other things or

places. High. Lofty. Eminent.

E M I N E N T.

Eminent.

>> That's correct.

[applause]

[applause]

[music]

>> That's correct.

[music]

Hypertrophic.

>> H Y P E R T R O P H I C. [music]

Hypertrophic.

>> That's correct.

[applause]

[music]

>> That's correct. [applause]

[music]

>> Concier.

Is that like a guy who stands around in

a hotel?

>> Speak into the mic, please.

>> And yes, it's a headporter [music] or

doorkeeper.

>> C O N Z I E R G E.

>> That's correct. [music]

[applause]

>> You're doing great.

>> I'm getting lucky.

>> I could be getting words like

>> polyactly.

>> [applause]

>> We're down to 11 spellers. The top 10

qualify for the Southern California

Regional Finals in the next round.

[crying]

If you miss a word, do not leave the

stage [crying]

>> as you may have an opportunity to

compete for any remaining places.

[crying]

Kiana, get that baby out of here.

>> So So

[crying]

let's begin.

>> L O G I Z E. Siligize.

>> That's correct.

[applause]

>> [applause]

>> Sectici

synctoi.

>> Sectici.

>> You want to tell me what that means? A

figure of speech in which a part is used

for a whole, an individual for a class,

a material for a thing, or the reverse

of any of these.

We need you to spell the word

>> S.

I

N

E

C

D O

K E Y

Sectici.

The correct spelling is s y n e c d o c

h e.

>> If you spell this correctly,

you'll be our 10th and last finalist.

>> Carmen,

>> could I get a definition, please? a

lively song and street dance.

Um,

C

A

R

M

A

G N O L E. Carmen Yule.

>> That's correct. And that means you are

our 10th and last finalist for the

district B. [applause]

>> They cheated. They cheated. I saw them.

That boy's mama helped him out.

>> But excuse me,

who are you?

>> I'm Keyy's sister. I was standing right

back there and I saw that boy's mama

give him the letter G. She was saying G.

He knew the word. I I mean, it's one we

studied. You He knew it.

>> Ma'am,

did you help your child spell the word?

>> Ma'am, this is serious business.

>> You're damn right it's serious. You know

you are going to give these kids ulcers.

DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG HE HAS STUDIED for

this? He knew that word.

>> No,

I didn't.

I'm sorry. Number 62,

you are disqualified from competition.

Which means number 54, if you can spell

one more word correctly, you'll be our

10th and last finalist.

pastiche.

>> P A S [music] T I C H E pastiche.

>> That's correct. And that means you

qualify for the Southern California

Regional Final. [applause]

[music]

>> Here's my number.

>> We have a spelling club in my school.

Maybe you should come practice with it

sometime.

>> Is that one? Yeah, it's cool.

>> Hey, there's my folks. I'll catch you

later.

>> Okay, bye

>> bye.

>> Hey, check it out. Look at this. USC.

>> Just think, Akila. All you've got to do

is place in the top three of the state

regionals.

You're going to Washington DC.

>> Not if I can't spell.

>> Uh oh. Y'all look

at As long as you live in our house, you

going to do what I say and what I say.

No drugs, no gang bang, and no $300

watches. Take it off.

>> What? Derek T gave me this. Mom.

>> He did. And I'm going to give it right

back.

>> Mom,

>> what? You two get inside.

>> Take it off.

>> But mom, I made it.

>> Made what?

>> Made the cut. I'm going to the regional

be.

>> Yeah. And while you doing that, I'm

going to be identifying your brother

here in Nemore.

>> No, you're not. Yes, I am. I'm getting

aside before I really embarrass your

behind.

Kila.

>> Kayla, get in here.

It's okay, Mr. Welch.

I'll see you later.

>> What is the problem?

>> Guess what?

>> I'm going to the regional beat.

I told

>> [music]

>> crime. Cold blooded killers from the

evil monster. Overdose like crazy.

[music]

Dylan.

>> Um,

>> I'm a

Javier said I can come and join the

study group today.

>> All those rejects do that. My father

coaches me privately.

Who's your coach?

>> I don't got one.

>> How many spelling bees have you won?

>> Just the one at my school.

>> Spell enthosis.

>> Z A.

>> It starts with an X. If that idiot

hadn't been caught cheating, you

wouldn't have made the cut.

Euphoric.

>> Euphoric is an adjective. Origin Greek.

It means like feeling great in

everything. Either spell the word or

take a shot. If you miss either one, you

get a strike. Three strikes, you're up.

>> Euphoric. E U P H O R I C.

Euphoric.

Psoriasis. Are you taking Latin at your

school? Psoriasis is a noun. Origin

Greek.

>> Are you kidding? My school barely has

enough money for kickballs. There's no

Latin classes.

>> Latin really helps you understand words.

Sir, I guess this is like itchy skin.

>> Maybe your mom could drive you up here

so you could take it with us.

>> I don't know. This is all starting to

sound real heavy.

>> It is heavy. Spelling bees are serious

I think I'll take a shot.

On second thought, could I spell the

word?

>> At Cornshot, they think I'm a freak.

>> Don't worry. I think we're freaks here,

too.

>> Hey, there's my mom. Need a ride?

>> Oh, nah. My mom's going to pick me up.

She should be here soon.

>> Hey, I'm having a birthday party in a

few weeks. You You want to come?

>> Maybe.

if I can.

>> It was cool seeing you again, Akila. Bye

>> bye.

Where the hell have you been?

>> Studying.

>> Studying where?

>> Woodland Hills.

>> Woodland Hills. What you doing there?

They got a spelling club.

>> Did Mr. Welch take you? Cuz ain't nobody

called me.

>> I went by myself. I didn't think the bus

route would take so long. I'm sorry,

>> Akila Anderson. You done lost your mind.

You 11 years old. You don't be taking a

bus to Woodland Hills by yourself.

>> There's nobody around to take me.

>> That's cuz I work.

>> That's what you said on the weekend. All

the other kids have their parents at the

district B.

>> Well, maybe the other kids have parents

who got more time on their hands. Look,

I'm not having another child of mine

disappearing at all hours. So, if this

spelling thing means sneaking off to the

suburbs by yourself, I'm calling it all

off.

>> We can't call it off. I'm going to the

regional be.

>> Not if you flunk out of school, you're

not. I just got a letter saying you got

to take summer school to make up for all

these classes you done skipped.

>> But mom, I hate Grenaw. It is so boring

there and nobody cares. But you think

they care about you in Woodland Hills?

>> At least they got Latin classes and the

kids don't have to study in their

stairwells.

>> Well, good for them. But until you

finish summer school at Crrenshaw, ain't

going to be no more spelling bees.

>> But mama, I got to get ready for the

state be during the summer.

>> Well, you just going to have to do that

next year now, aren't you?

>> But that's not fair.

>> Not only is it fair, it's final.

You'd let me do it.

[snorts]

1979, Macature, M A C U L A T U R E,

Origins Latin. 1990, V Fibon, F I B R A

N E, French. 1996, Velper, V I V I S E P

U L T U R E,

Latin.

I learned all the winning words since

1925,

just like you said I should.

Sorry for being so insolent last time.

That's not going to happen no more any

more. I promise.

So, I was wondering if you might

reconsider coaching me for the state B.

Cuz I need a coach

bad

>> badly. You need a coach badly.

Come in.

>> Come in. Come in.

>> That's a very pretty lady.

>> Is she your wife?

>> Listen, you got very lucky at the

district B. The competition at state

level is much stronger. So, if you and I

were to prepare for that, we'd have to

do it on my schedule. So, we'd have to

work 3 hours each morning starting at

9:00. Can you handle that?

>> Well, I do have summer school, but Mr.

Welch said working with you can take the

place of it.

>> Isn't that for students who don't

perform satisfactorily during the year?

>> Well, sometimes it's for kids who want

to get ahead by next year.

>> Yes. Please put that down. Just Yeah.

[sighs]

Have you uh have you got any goals?

>> H

>> goals. What would you like to be when

you grow up? A doctor, a lawyer, a

stand-up comic.

>> I don't know. The only thing I'm good at

is spelling.

>> Go over there and read the quotation

that's on the wall.

Read it aloud, please.

>> Our deepest fear is not that we are

inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful

beyond measure.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be

brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and

fabulous?

Actually,

who are you not to be?

We were born to make manifest the glory

of God that is within us. And as we let

our own light shine, we unconsciously

give other people permission to do the

same.

>> Does that mean anything to you?

>> I don't know.

>> It's written in plain English.

What does it mean?

>> That I'm not supposed to be afraid.

Afraid of what?

>> Afraid of

>> me.

This national spelling bee is a tough

nut. I've seen it chew kids up and spit

them out. So, if you want to get there,

you can't be a shrinking violet. You

have to stand up and show them what you

can do.

All right.

And I'll brook no nonsense. You show up

on time with no attitude or it's over.

Agreed.

>> Agreed.

>> Mama trip. She knew we bar the cop at

this.

>> That's why mama ain't going to know.

>> Come on, Georgia.

>> Um,

>> I'mma go to the mall with Kiana.

>> But I thought you went to go to this

party.

>> Hey,

>> are you sure?

>> Yeah.

Come on, let's go.

>> Oh, thank you.

>> How do you invite him? My dad's friends

with his dad. I'm surprised he showed

up.

>> Hey, you want to see my house?

>> Yeah, let's go.

>> This is my father's office. He's a

journalist and he's written like a bunch

of books.

What's your father do?

>> My daddy,

>> he used to work for the city parks.

>> Man, you got a lot of friends. I never

had a birthday party this big.

>> I'd think you'd have lots of friends.

>> Why'd you do that?

>> I had an impulse.

Are you going to sue me for sexual

harassment?

[laughter]

>> That was

>> What are they doing down here?

>> I don't know. Didn't brought a Scrabble

games.

>> Scrabble.

>> I get 30 seconds for each board. We need

one more. Who wants to play? [music] I

will.

And right [cheering] out of the gate,

Broy scores 32 points with Burke on the

double word score. Dylan counters

[music] with immediate use of Z 439. Big

ones.

Paulie test [music] the water with

Acorn.

And Dylan answers with a body blow

beacon for 20.

Holy canoli.

Right off the bat, Akita uses all her

letters, getting [music]

50 extra points for a whopping 82.

>> What will turn into? He's fighting the

clock. You could cut the tension with a

butter knife.

>> Shut up.

>> Shazam! Dylan gets his own bingo board.

76 points.

It's come down to this. After having

crushed off five opponents, Dylan has

only a kilo to beat. But she's ahead by

21 and has only a few letters left. Is

this an upset in the making?

>> What kind of birthday party is this?

>> [snorts]

>> Yaoza using the triple word score. Dylan

charges ahead [music] by six.

Just go.

Oh yeah, Akila is in the lead by 12

points and has only one letter left. But

this could be Dylan's final play.

>> Ree, sweetheart.

>> 12 points ties [music] the game, but

Dylan gets Tequila's last two points. He

wins a heartbreaker.

Wow, no one ever gets that close to

beating Dylan.

>> But I didn't beat him.

>> Girl, you pass up the mall to play

Scrabble.

>> She just got lucky.

>> If she can barely beat a little black

girl at a silly board game, how do you

expect to win the National B?

>> Listen,

we're not coming in second again this

year.

We're going to win.

Let's go.

>> He began to have a dim feeling that to

attain his place in the world, he must

be himself and not another.

Dr. Larby, this book is too heavy.

>> Good. It'll develop your arm muscles.

>> I thought we were developing my

vocabulary.

>> We are. Please continue reading.

>> But I already know most of the words in

this speech. It's not a speech. It's an

essay by Web Dubo, the first black man

to receive a PhD from Harvard

University.

>> Maybe we should be studying more big

words.

>> Spell cabalistic.

>> C A B A L I S T I C. Cabalistic.

>> And when did you learn that one?

>> About 2 minutes ago in this book. But in

the time it took to learn that one word,

Dylan probably learned 20.

>> And those 20 words won't mean anything

to him. He's just a little robot

memorizing lists of words. The people

we're studying, Dubo, Dr. King, JFK,

these people used words to change the

world.

>> And they didn't acquire their vocabulary

by wrote memorization.

>> Okay.

But when I'm at the B and [snorts] they

tell me to spell some little fish from

Australia or some weird bacteria on the

moon, we're going to wish we done a

little bit more rope memorizing and not

so much essay.

If you don't mind me saying

>> bacteria don't exist on the moon.

Let me ask you something. Where do you

think big words come from?

>> People with big brains.

All right.

What do you see?

>> A bunch of big words. I don't know. Ah,

>> look again.

What kind of power do we get from the

sun?

>> Solar.

>> So, what does soul mean?

>> Sun.

>> What does terraneous sound like?

>> Terrain

>> meaning the earth. Solid terraneous

means the sun and the earth working

together. So, where do big words come

from?

>> Little words.

>> And how many little words do you know?

>> Tons.

>> Yes. And there are tons more for you to

learn. There are Greek ones. There are

Latin ones, French ones,

and if you learn them all, you can spell

any word, no matter how big.

>> Maybe we should get back to the essay

reading.

>> Well, what's the matter? I thought you

wanted to win the national spelling be.

>> Maybe just getting there this time is

good enough.

>> Don't give me that.

>> You want to win it so badly, it keeps

you up at night. Ever since you found

out there was such a thing as the

national spelling be. You've seen

yourself holding up that trophy. But if

you can't say it, you can't win it. So

say it.

>> I want to win.

>> Say it louder, please.

>> I want to win.

>> You want to win what?

>> I WANT TO WIN. NATIONAL spell on me.

>> Good.

Good.

You'll win using my methods. By first

understanding the power of language,

then by deconstructing it, breaking it

down to its origins, to its roots.

You'll consume it. You will own it. And

then you know what? You'll be

>> tired.

>> You'll be a champion.

Are you ready? I'm ready.

>> All right, let's go.

>> Don't be late cuz we ain't got time to

tell. [music]

You and me, [singing] we're going out to

catch the baby.

Guaranteed [music] to blow your mind so

high you won't come down.

>> Yes. [music]

>> Prepare yourself for a man. Not true,

>> man. You never [music] heard a sound

like a man

[music]

start

[music] out of sight.

>> Everything he does

>> seems [music] to come out right. Once I

[singing] went to hear them play at a

club.

>> I was so surprised. I was hypnotized by

the sound.

>> I'm a moose. Amate

the school.

>> Why are you home so early?

>> Just wasn't feeling well.

>> What you got there?

>> Homework.

>> You know the regional be is coming up

soon and I was wondering if you might

want

>> Is that going to happen in Beverly Hills

too?

I don't know.

>> I told you you passed summer school,

then you can start worrying about

spelling bee.

>> But if you would just

not in the mood. All right.

>> So, how come you don't teach anymore?

>> I told you I do teach. I I administer

classes online.

Let's keep going. Effervescent.

>> E FF

E R V E

>> S E N T F of S.

>> Come on. Come on. You know this word.

>> That dog is distracting me.

>> You're going to have much bigger

distractions when you get to the

National B in DC. Now, what is that

you're doing with your hand? Huh?

>> What?

with your hand. Your hand. You You You

You tap like that. What is that?

>> I don't know.

>> So, why do you got all these toys for?

>> They belong to my niece.

>> Oh, so you got any kids you own?

>> You ask a lot of questions, don't you?

I'm naturally inquisitive.

>> Yes. Which is also sometimes confused

with being naturally obnoxious. Here,

>> let me see you jump rope.

>> Just jump.

>> Yes, just jump.

>> Is there a point to this?

>> Yes, there is. Keep going.

I said keep going.

>> Concentrate. Stay focused. Spell

effrovescent. Don't think about anything

else. Come on. Go.

>> E F

R. Good. E S C E N T. Effrovescent.

>> You see that? That's your trick. That's

your pneummonic device. Jumping rope.

>> Keeping time. Keeping time. You see kids

at the bee, they do all kinds of

[snorts] things. They They sway back and

forth. They turn around. Turn around in

circles. Anything they have to do to

stay focused. You keep time. And I bet

you if you learned the words while you

kept time, you would remember them even

better.

>> Hallelujah.

Welcome to [music]

Q U.

>> Good. But you can

c

I

game

I G A N.

[music]

So, what you going to do when things get

hot?

>> It's too bad your mother had to work

today in Kilo. But did she get to see

the new dress?

>> Oh, yeah. She thought it was cool.

>> Oh,

>> this is a very exciting day for us here

because our top three spellers will be

representing Southern California at the

National Spelling Bee in Washington DC.

[applause and cheering] Yes.

So, what do you say? Let's spell.

>> Well, Josh, you think she's got a shot

at it?

>> We'll see.

>> Alfresco.

>> A L F R E S C O. Alfresco. [music]

>> That's correct. [applause]

>> Quacious.

Aspel.

>> Jambalaya.

>> Could you repeat the words, please?

Malosismic.

>> M

A L O

S E

I S [music] M I C.

>> Melismic is M A L L O S E I S M I C.

>> [applause]

>> D O U B L U R E.

>> That's correct.

>> Somdy.

>> Definition, please.

>> Somy means the practice or art

>> of singing in songs.

>> I want my daughter off that stage right

now.

PSA.

>> I don't care what she I want her off

that stage. I didn't know she was here

and I didn't get

>> l

No. I told her she was expected not to

be here and you don't take my child

anywhere without my permission.

>> Dy

somebody.

>> That's correct.

[applause]

>> All right. Next, please.

>> Excuse me. I'm sorry. Uh, the mother of

one of the spellers needs to speak with

her. It's rather urgent.

>> Um, okay. But she must be back on the

stage before her next turn or she'll be

disqualified.

>> She'll be back.

I swear we thought you were on board

with this, Mrs. Anderson.

>> You want to tell me what the heck is

going on here? Because I never signed a

consent form.

>> I signed Daddy's name.

>> You did what?

How do you think I felt when Javier's

mother calls me to see if I need a ride

to USC? I don't know who she is or what

she's talking about.

>> Sorry, mama. I just want to do the V

>> by lying, by going behind my back for

the last six months. You might as well

say goodbye to your little friends,

Achila, because this is your last spell

in B.

>> I beg you, Mrs. Anderson, to reconsider

this. She deserves this opport.

>> Mrs. Anderson's right. Akquila does not

deserve to go to the B this year.

>> What?

>> Next speller, please. [applause]

Come on up to the mic, please.

A little faster.

Come on.

>> I apologize, Mrs. Anderson, if we've

contributed to any anguish you may be

feeling.

>> And who are you exactly?

>> My name is Joshua Laravey, ma'am. And

I've been well I've been helping Akquila

prepare herself for the spelling be.

>> Akquila's been getting extra school

credit for working with Dr. Laravey. We

designed an entire program specifically

for her.

>> Why'd you tell me about this?

>> Mama hated going behind your back. But

every time I brought the bee, you didn't

want to hear it.

I didn't know what to do.

>> Can I get the pronunciation again? He's

given it to you five times. You need to

spell the word.

>> Could you use it in a sentence?

>> He's already used it in a sentence.

>> I mean, a different sentence than used

before.

>> You only get one sentence.

>> What's up with this kid?

>> Well, you must want this thing pretty

bad because you ain't never lied to me

before in your life.

So maybe you can tell me what you think

a good punishment would be for what you

did.

>> I guess I got to miss the beat.

>> But I don't just punish you. Mr. Welch

and Dr. Larry don't put a lot of time

into this too. So you think of something

else.

>> Maybe double chores for the month. for

the next three months.

She still got time to get back up on

that stage.

>> Uh, if we move very quickly. Yes.

>> Well, I guess you better get a move on.

>> Come on. Come on.

>> Thank you, mama.

All right.

Dr. Larabe, is it?

>> Yes.

>> So, you actually think Akila has a

chance to win the national spelling be?

>> Yes.

Yes, I think she does.

>> Well,

could you use it in a song?

>> What?

>> Never mind. Ratatouille. R A T A T O U I

L L E Ratatouille.

>> Uh, that's correct. Where's number 73,

please?

>> Number two.

>> Thank you.

>> Start tap dancing.

>> Okay.

Pliosity.

>> Can I get a definition, please?

>> Pliosity means a state characterized by

much rain. Okay.

Plioity.

P L U V I O S I T Y. Pliosity.

>> That's correct. [applause]

>> [music]

[applause]

[music]

>> I'd like to uh thank you all for coming

out today to honor our own Akila

Anderson.

[cheering]

[applause]

Um,

thanks

>> a lot.

[cheering]

>> Oh, girl, you're like a movie star now.

>> I know. It's pretty crazy. Hey, my mama

said she want to take us out to

celebrate tonight.

>> Javier's pants are taking me out, but

you know, maybe we can

>> Excuse me. I'm sorry. There's a reporter

here and she wants to talk to you.

>> I don't want to talk to no reporter. Are

you kidding? This is exactly the kind of

good publicity Krenshaw needs. Excuse

us. Sorry.

>> Hi, this is Lauren Sanchez reporting

from South Los Angeles. I'm here with

11-year-old Akquila Anderson. She's a

seventh grader from Cshaw Middle School

who's heading to the National Spelling

Bee. How does it feel now that you're

going to be going to Washington DC?

>> It's pretty cool.

>> You excited? All right. Well, let's

check out the word that Akquila spells

here at the Southern California Finals

that got her to the national withite.

E R Y

>> spell Aphen Pincher.

>> Aphen what?

>> Gatorial.

>> G R A L A T.

>> Shakard.

>> Dr. Larby,

>> spell the word Jakard.

J A Q U.

>> What about the C? These are all words

that were missed in last year's national

spelling be and you can't spell one of

them.

>> Maybe because we haven't studied them

yet.

>> Why did you cancel yesterday? Hm. Were

you doing another interview? Flaunting

yourself in front of the television

cameras?

>> No, I was at the mall.

>> Look, I wasn't dissing you. I was

Christmas shopping.

>> Dissing? I thought we didn't use words

like that. I thought we only used words

from the dictionary in here.

Dising

to treat with disrespect or contempt to

find fault with. New words get added to

the dictionary every year.

>> Look, I didn't get to the national be

until I was 14 years old. I had no help.

I had no training. I had nothing. By the

time I got to the third round, I was

out. You have an opportunity

to win this thing.

>> But all we've done for 8 months is study

words. Why can't we take a break, go to

a movie, to a basketball game? Why can't

we have fun? I

>> told you, Denise, you can have fun after

the beat.

Who's Denise?

>> What?

>> Denise. You call me Denise. Who's that?

>> Dr. Larry, are you okay?

>> Yes.

>> Yes, I'm fine.

Listen, I spent all last week making

[music] these for you.

What are they?

>> They're flash cards. 5,000 new words.

The types that you will [music] run into

at the finals.

>> 5,000.

But we've only got a few months left.

What? You're going to coach me 24/7?

>> Uh, no. You're going to um learn these

on your own.

There's nothing left for me to teach

you.

>> What?

>> You You've got it all, Akila. We've got

word construction down, etmology,

memorization techniques. What you need

to do now is just focus on the words.

>> I can't learn 5,000 new words all by

myself.

>> Yes, you can. You've got a brain like a

sponge. You just sit down [music] and

you study them.

>> Dr. Ley, I swear. I promise I won't miss

any more sessions and I'll do whatever

you say. You can't stop coaching me now.

>> I told Mr. Welch, I'd get you through

the regionals, and I've done that. Now,

I don't have anything else I can teach

you. You need to just take those words

[music] and study them, and you'll be

all right.

This is why I was at the mall.

Merry Christmas.

Hello.

>> Hey, girl.

>> What you doing?

>> Watching TV.

You want to go skating this weekend? Why

don't you go with your friends from

Woodland Hills?

>> What? Girl, what's wrong with you?

>> Nothing.

>> I got homework to do. I'll see you

later.

Kaye,

>> Kaye, come on out here.

>> Girl, you on TV.

>> Akila Anderson's National Spelling Bee

has captivated her community. All of Los

Angeles is talking about her.

>> Well, if she wins a spell and be, it's

going to be like everybody in the

neighborhood wins.

>> I think it'll be real positive, you

know, good for the community.

>> I'm already saving for next year's.

[laughter]

>> What is wrong with Akila? What's wrong?

>> I don't want to do the B no more.

>> You don't want to do the B?

>> Why not?

>> Dr. Larry don't want to coach me no

more. George don't want to hang out with

me and all these people are expecting me

to win and it's just too hard. Mama, I

want it all to stop.

>> Baby, please.

Please.

>> All right. All right.

I certainly didn't mean to upset her. I

Well, I honestly thought I was

doing the best thing for her.

You know, Dr. Laramie,

my child is only 11 years old

and she has been through so much

already.

Her father was killed when she was six.

Somebody shot him on his way home from

work. Do you have any idea what it's

like for a girl to lose her father that

way?

>> I can imagine.

>> Then why do you want to cause this child

any more grief?

>> It's an unfair accusation, Mrs.

Anderson. As I've told you, I'm I'm just

not in a place where I can be of any

more help to Akila right now.

>> But she needs you.

She does.

>> Becked different for Mrs. Anderson. It's

not me that Aka needs.

>> Remember when he used to take us out to

the ball games, take us to the movies?

We'd have popcorn fights.

>> Dad again.

>> Sure.

>> I want to tell you something.

You know why I didn't want you to do the

be at first?

Cuz I saw that video of yours and I saw

one winner and 200 losers.

And I didn't want you to be one of those

losers.

Did you know your mama

went to college right after high school?

>> No.

>> I had a scholarship.

I was going to be a doctor.

What happened?

>> I just felt so out of place at that

school.

I convinced myself

that I was going to fail.

So before that could happen, I dropped

out.

I don't want you to do the same thing

with this beat.

Gabro.

A group of dark, heavy rocks.

Can you spell it for me?

>> G A

B R O

Cro. Actually, it's got two B's.

[laughter]

>> You know, Aquila, you ain't short on

people who want to help you. I bet you

just look around. You got 50,000 [music]

coaches

starting with me.

>> Mama,

you think that maybe you might go back

to college?

I just might

[laughter]

love you.

>> I love you too. I love you too.

>> Cracular. C R A Q U E L.

>> Hey yo, so why y'all punking out on the

spelling be? Huh? What you afraid of all

the suburb kids now?

>> No.

>> Hey,

>> so how you spell all these words anyway?

>> I study them. Whatever me go my ride.

>> Hey, what up dirt?

>> What up, Terence?

>> Who that?

>> Ain't nobody just my little sister.

>> What up, little thing? Been seeing you

on TV. Trying to win some big contest,

huh?

>> Answer the man.

>> You know, I won something once. Fifth

grade.

Wrote a poem. Even got myself a blue

ribbon, too.

Yeah, that's good. You wrote yourself a

poem.

>> Shut up, dog. What you think rap is?

What's that in your hand?

>> Ain't nothing. Just some stupid word.

>> Oh, you helping her?

>> Nah, man. I'm chilling with you, Ray.

>> Nah, man.

>> Stay here and help your sis.

>> Why?

>> Cuz I say so.

Let's break out.

>> What's up?

>> I want to read your poem

>> after you win the contest.

>> Let's go, man.

>> You ain't got to help me if you don't

want to.

Infranchisement.

>> You mean infranchisement?

>> Hey, whatever.

>> Can you spell it?

>> 50,000 coaches.

>> ENF.

>> Wake up everybody. [music and singing]

No more sleeping in bed.

No more back thinking. [music] Time for

thinking ahead.

The world has changed so very much from

what it used [music] to be.

>> Terry goat.

>> That right there goat.

>> Maybe you shouldn't show me the cards.

>> Oh yeah. Sorry.

[singing]

Wake up [music]

teachers. Time to teach a new way.

Maybe then [singing] they'll listen to

what you have to say.

They're the ones who's coming [music] up

and the world is in their hands. When

you teach the children, teach them the

very best you can.

R

>> you go to make us proud.

5,000. I learned them all, but I had

some help.

>> You should be very well prepared then.

>> You know, Dr.

When I was a little girl,

my daddy died.

I used to cry all the time.

But then

I found something that helped.

>> What was that?

>> I spelled over and over again and I'd

feel better.

Maybe when you're thinking of her,

you can try spelling.

It might help.

A killer.

I told you.

>> You did.

You call me by her name, Denise.

That's a jump rope, isn't it?

>> Yes.

>> Was she a little girl?

What happened to her?

She got very sick.

She was only a couple years younger than

you when she passed.

Where's your mama?

>> She moved to another city. And uh

after it happened,

my wife

Trisha and I

found it

slowly

became very

difficult to be.

Anyway, this is

this is Patricia's garden.

You see, I need I need a lot of order in

my life. That's why I don't teach in the

classrooms anymore.

It's just too unpredictable.

Like you,

this whole spelling bee business now has

become

a little too unpredictable as well.

>> Dr. Larry,

>> I I can't go to DC without you.

>> Yes, you can, Akila. You can do anything

you want.

>> I can't beat Dylan.

>> Don't say that. It's true. It doesn't

matter how many words I learn, he'll

always know more.

>> Let me tell you about Dylan.

There's only one person who can push him

to spell as well as he possibly can.

It's not his dad. It's not the spelling

be people. It's not even himself.

That person is you.

So,

when you and I get to DC,

let's make sure we give him a run for

his money.

Okay.

[music]

Hey.

>> Hi.

>> I'm off to DC tomorrow.

>> Yeah, well, have fun.

>> I'm sorry I've been so busy. It's just

this whole spelling thing's been real

intense.

But you know what?

I'd give it all up if it meant you and

me could hang again.

That's stupid. Why is it stupid?

>> Cuz people want to see you do good.

>> I want to see you do good.

>> You know what, Georgia? You're my best

friend and you always tell me I can do

things even when I think I can't.

But I got to tell you something. If you

want to be a flight attendant, you first

got to ride on a plane.

>> I will someday.

How about tomorrow?

[screaming]

>> I got to I got to talk to the captain.

Oh, forget flight attendant. I'm going

to be the pilot.

>> What's wrong with him?

>> He has an aversion to heights.

>> It's an aversion to plummeting.

>> I may puke. My brother's in the Air

Force and he says that [music] fear is

all in your head. here. He gave me this

for good luck. Don't worry, I won't

impale you. You know, I never really

thanked you for helping me at the state

be. No biggie.

>> Actually, it was very chivalous.

>> Well, not thinking about playing it all

now. Well, in that case,

>> of your tears,

there's a smile.

There's a smile

behind

all [music] of the praise.

There's a sunshine

and my

everything. [music]

Everything.

You mean everything.

You mean [music] everything.

Everything to me.

Everything to me.

Everything [music]

to me.

[laughter]

>> Tony doesn't make it.

>> Kayla, I thought you guys supposed to be

studying.

>> We are.

>> Uh-uh. It sound like a party in here.

Come on now. You got a big day tomorrow.

Y'all better call it a night.

>> How more? 15 minutes.

>> What do you think Dylan's doing now?

>> Trying to learn ancient Greek.

>> Maybe we should invite him over.

>> That turn juggler. Forget it.

>> I

>> Is Dylan here?

>> He's busy.

Well, um, me and some of the other kids

are hanging out in my room, drinking

soda pop and watching movies. We thought

maybe he'd like to come over.

>> I'm sorry, but tomorrow is the spelling

bee.

>> Well, you know, sometimes it's okay to

take a little rest right before the big

event, you know.

>> Well, perhaps that is your strategy, but

not ours.

>> Wait, wait.

This for Dylan.

Okay.

Our deepest fear is not that we are

inadequate.

Our deepest fear [music] is that we are

powerful beyond measure.

We ask ourselves who am I to be

brilliant, gorgeous, talented and

fabulous.

Actually,

who are you not to be?

Check. Check. One, two.

>> [music]

>> It's okay.

I'm Ted Saunders here with Katie Kerwin

McCrimman broadcasting live from the

main ballroom of the Grand Hyatt

Washington. Now Katie, as a former

spelling be champ yourself, who do you

think we should be looking for to do

well in this year's competition?

>> Several of the kids placed very high in

last year's beat, especially Dylan Chu.

He's come in second two years in a row.

You wouldn't believe.

>> Kick his butt. Aquila. B U T T T T T T T

T T T T T T T T T T T T T T butt.

>> But the speller I've really got my eye

on is little Aquila Anderson from Los

[cheering] Angeles.

>> She's become a bit of a media sensation.

Hey, that's my sister. That's

>> her first try at the spelling be

circuit.

>> [music]

[music]

>> Could you repeat the word, please?

>> Rashioinate.

Radiosinate.

>> What in the hell kind of word is that? R

A T I O C I N A T E. Rashiate.

That's correct.

[applause]

[cheering]

>> That's just amazing. [applause]

>> But watch out. One wrong letter and

that's it.

>> Earthstead.

>> What's the language of origin?

>> It's from a Danish name. Now I can't

stand this Korean kid.

>> He's Chinese. He's uppidity.

>> O E R S T E D. That's correct.

[applause]

[applause]

>> What's the definition?

>> Xyle is a complex tissue in the vascular

system of higher plants.

>> Zyllem. X Y L E M. Zyllem.

>> That's correct. [applause]

They thought they had me, but I was too

much, bro.

>> T H O E P Y. [music]

>> That's correct.

>> Voxilation is originally Latin.

>> Could you use it in a sentence, please?

>> Losellation.

>> Can I have a definition, please? [music]

>> That's correct.

>> Lobcout.

>> The language of origin, please.

>> The alternate pronunciations gastron.

>> You have a definition, [music] please.

Esperotic

>> radical. That's correct. Can

>> I have the definition please?

>> Earliest known time.

>> Aboriginal

>> correct. Language of origin

and bleommenium.

[music]

>> Any ratio without separation of two

phases?

>> I loo.

>> If you're just joining us, we're here in

the eighth round of the national

spelling [music] be with only 30

spellers remaining. U

R S U S excursus. [music]

>> Argulacious.

>> Excuse me.

>> Argulacious.

>> Can I have the definition, please?

>> Argulacious means of, relating to, or

containing clay or clay minerals.

>> May I have the language of origin,

please?

>> Latin.

>> Man, that's a white word if I ever heard

one. It's a trick. Stop playing. It's a

suffix that would trip up most people.

They would tend to spell it t i o u s or

c i o u s.

>> Is it derived from the Latin word argula

meaning clay?

>> That's correct.

A

R

G I L

L A.

Come on.

Can I start over?

>> You may, but you cannot change the

letters you've already spelled.

A R G I L

A C E O U S. Argulacious. That's

correct.

[applause]

>> [cheering]

>> That's my little sister. [applause]

[cheering]

[applause]

[music]

>> Well, it's the 12th round, folks. And

the five remaining spellers are Mary

Calvaretti, age 12, 13-year-old Rajie

Submonian, 12-year-old Javier Menddees,

Dylan Chu, also of Woodland Hills. Wow,

they really crank them out down there,

don't they? Of course. Akila Anderson.

[cheering]

>> Could you use the word in the sentence,

please?

>> The Maravvenian kings were known for

having long red hair.

>> Okay. Uh,

M

A R O V

I N G I A N. Meian.

>> Maravvenian is spelled M E R O V I N G I

A N.

Congratul

13 last year, good this year. Next year

I'll take it all. Now it's your turn.

[applause]

I Smatism

>> P I S C N C E recipipus.

>> That's correct. [music]

>> F I R E. Vitrifire

I N O U Sigenous.

>> That's correct. [music]

[applause]

>> [music]

>> We're going to take a small break before

Akila and Dylan commence with the

championship level words.

[snorts]

Pretty

good, huh?

>> You know what happened last year. Make

sure you stay focused, right?

This is your last national spelling bee.

If you lose to that girl, you're second

place your whole life. No way. You hear

me? No way.

>> Peeking on someone.

Just wishing Dylan good luck.

>> You've done a superb job. I'm so proud

of you. Now listen, they're going to hit

you with every trick word they've got.

You just remember the things that we've

studied. You can take these words apart,

even if you've never seen them, right?

>> But if I don't beat Dylan, has the guy

next to you, right?

>> Well, of course you do. Although I don't

know how much time we'll have to train

together. I've been asked to come back

and teach at UCLA and I've said yes.

>> Really?

>> Well, far be it from me to deny the next

web de boys the benefits of my Serbic

witness hour disposition.

What's the matter?

>> Nothing, Dr. Ley.

I should get back.

No matter what happens,

I want you to know that I couldn't have

gotten this far without you.

Akila, baby, there you are. Come on. I

got to go.

They're about to start up again.

Don't look so nervous. So, I hear she

had a pretty good coach.

>> You know, I just found out that the bee

only gives each kid two plane tickets. I

was wondering how we ended up with six.

Perhaps it was some unexpected laress on

part of the be.

Or perhaps a keyless coach is also

pretty generous.

Thanks

for everything.

>> You're welcome.

>> Ladies and gentlemen, let's welcome

Akquila and Dylan back to the stage.

Now remember, if either speller misses a

word, the other has to spell that missed

word plus another to win. Right.

>> That's right. And we could exhaust all

25 championship words. But it's never

happened. The championship words are

just too difficult.

>> Filopiotistic.

>> Can I have the definition, please?

>> Of or relating to an often excessive

veneration of ancestors or tradition.

>> Filopatistic.

F I

L I O

P I E T I S.

[music]

[applause]

Akila, you're up.

Xanthosis.

>> Zanthosis.

>> It starts with an X.

Miss Anderson

Zenthosis.

Z A N T H O

[music] S I S.

Zenthosis.

>> [cheering]

>> Dylan, it's your turn.

Zanthosis.

Zanthosis. [music] X A N

T H

O S

E S. Zanthosis.

Zanthosis is spelled X A N T H O S I S.

C can I get some water, please? Can we

please get both spellers some water?

[applause]

>> What are you doing?

>> What are you doing?

>> You just threw that word.

>> So did you.

>> You're just going to give this all away?

Your dad will be happy.

>> Who cares? He's never won anything in

his life. I won the regionals three

times in a row. And I finished second in

the nationals twice.

>> And now you can finish first.

>> I could do it next year.

>> You do your best this year.

>> Dylan, you do your best.

>> I don't want it.

>> Here's your water.

That's kind of amazing, isn't it, that

both of these incredible spellers would

stumble on that that word.

>> I think we've got some pretty nervous

kids up there.

>> Elor,

E F L E U R A G E F.

>> That's correct.

I'm telling you, this is just like

watching two star tennis players at the

net returning volleys. I mean, these

kids are incredible.

>> L A G N I A P P P P P P P P P P P P P P

P P P P P P P E L.

>> Could you use it in a sentence, please?

>> Is that a verb?

>> That's correct.

>> Frostia.

>> Is that Greek?

>> But that

>> What's the language of wardrobe, please?

>> Dwayne,

>> that's correct.

These kids are chewing through these

super tough words like they were

breakfast cereal.

>> You know, they could actually go the

distance. And most people consider that

unthinkable. We are now 13 words into

the championship level. If you make it

through the remaining 12 words, you'll

be co-ch champions. That's never

happened before. Vinegaroon.

>> Ethicis.

>> That's correct. [music]

and Akquila are trying to stage a

miracle here.

>> And to make it to the finish line, they

need each other to succeed. E R A Z

A D I A N. Shahadian.

>> That's correct.

[applause]

L O G I

C

A L. Polinological. That's correct.

[applause]

>> Ladies and gentlemen, we are down to the

final two championship words. One or

both of our spellers will walk away with

the first place trophy. Dylan, you're

up.

>> Loggeria.

>> May I have the definition, please?

>> Loggeria is excessive and often

incoherent talkiveness.

[sighs]

Loggeria.

L

O

G

O

R R

H

E A. Loggeria.

Congratulations, Dylan. You've won the

strict national spelling.

[applause]

>> [applause]

[applause]

>> Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated

for Akila's turn. [applause]

Polocritude.

Hulkritude.

It's derived from the Latin word pair

>> meaning beautiful,

isn't it?

>> That's correct.

>> P

>> U [music] L C

>> H R I

>> T

>> U

>> T

>> E

>> Pokeitude.

Congratulations

[music]

Akila.

[music]

>> You know that feeling where everything

feels right? Where you don't have to

worry about tomorrow [music] or

yesterday?

Where you feel safe and know you're

doing the best you can. There's a word

for that feeling. It's [music] called

love.

L O V E. And it's what I feel for all my

vendor and all my coaches in my

neighborhood where I come from where I

learned how to spell.

[music]

>> [music]

[music]

>> We did it.

[music]

[music]

Write

it down a thousand times for a little

[singing] word that makes me cry.

How I feel about it, I can't decide.

No, I don't know. So, I'll [singing]

improvise.

Is it living in our heart or in

[singing] our mind? And I don't know.

So world ready. [singing]

I'm not [music]

here. I go

searching for the answer.

>> And [music and singing] I'm not

going to stop

till I find

where it lives inside me. How does it

come [singing] to be?

What should it mean [music] to me?

[singing]

Teach me the definition

[music] of true love.

[singing]

I was so afraid I'd never [singing]

succeed. But you made me feel [music] I

could do anything.

Memorize the things you would say and

do. Must be loving the strength that I

found in you. [singing]

Either living in our heart [singing] or

in our mind. [music] I don't know.

You're [singing] already

on.

Here I go, [singing]

searching for the answer. [music] And

I'm not

going to stop.

Terriied [singing]

[music]

where it lives inside me. How does it

[singing] come to me?

What should you need to leave? [singing]

Teach [music] me the definition

[singing] of true love.

Love my lonely feels good. True love

always believes and it gives without

a sacrifice

[music] unconditionally.

Oh, here I go. [music and singing]

Searching for

[music and singing]

stop

till I find [singing]

where it lives inside of me

[music and singing]

to be

a name to me.

Teach me the [music] breath

shore.

>> Oh yeah.

>> Searching for

our mind

where we live inside

[music] to be.

What should it name? [singing] Tell me

what should it name? Teach me [music]

the death

[singing] of true

love.

Thank you.

I ain't too young to [singing] know

that life has it high and lows

and things won't [music] always turn

[singing] out quite like I think

[music] and though I have much to learn

to weather the twist and turns

I [music] know that I'm capable

to deal with what life brings me.

I'm [music] strong.

I'm ready

to be on my [singing] own.

Let [music] me spread my wings.

Let [music] me go.

Oh, hold so tight

cuz I can't fly alone.

I need [music] you to trust me. Have

faith and let me make it on my own.

Please let [music and singing] me your

baby

go.

>> [music]

>> Still [music] so many answers I don't

know.

There are so many answers. Realize that

to question is how we grow.

To question is to grow. So I [music]

stand out of the ordinary.

I can feel myself [music]

ascending.

I'm on my way. Can't stop [music] me

now.

You can do the same.

What have you done today [music] to make

you feel to make you feel right? Let me

hear you. Let me hear you. [music] Let

me hear you. So what have you done today

to make you feel [music] proud?

Yeah. Yeah.

Cuz you could [music] be so many people

if you make that fre.

So, what have [music] you done today to

make you feel proud? What have you done

today? Yeah, here. [music]

What have you done today?

What have you done today? What have you

done today to make you feel?

Oh, yeah.