Original subtitles

Previously on SAF3.

You're not gonna recognize the face you see in the mirror.

I don't know.

Every time I turn my back on the water,

I just get this nervous feeling in my stomach.

[music playing]

[coughing]

It may get a little crazy, but wait for me.

I messed up again.

He's bent.

Kicking up the shock.

He's back.

I'll be me.

[music playing]

[splashing]

[music playing]

[panting]

[music playing]

Help!

Help me!

Help me bring her in.

We've got her.

Come on.

What's going on?

What happened?

Somebody call 911.

Somebody call 911 now!

MAN: I got it.

I got it.

Breathe.

Breathe.

WOMAN: What's wrong with her?

Oh my god.

Please Laurie, breathe.

EMT: I need to get through.

Back up.

OK, on the count of three, let's lift her up--

one, two, three.

OK, put her back down.

Now give me space.

WOMAN: Oh my god.

OK, lift her up-- one, two, three.

OK, we've got her.

Easy.

Good.

Where are you taking her?

Our Lady of Malibu Hospital.

[ambulance siren]

[theme music]

THEME SONG: Sunlight breaks the day.

Feel the cold rush in our veins.

Arms entwined, keep us safe.

Give us strength to love--

not to fade.

One light, not to fade, down to the dark descent.

White light, keep us safe,

and I will pull you up and I will break.

White light, my fate, I will pull up even if it pulls me in.

My fate, keep us safe.

Keep us safe.

I'll keep you safe.

Jared.

Get over here man.

Man up.

Help me get this thing in the water.

I didn't realize it was so heavy.

What are you doing Messing with Eriksson's dory, anyway?

Eriksson asked me to row with him.

OTW 10 minutes.

So I want to get the dory prepped.

Yeah. I've got you.

Hey, why'd he ask you to row with him?

I'm better in the water, and you have no hand

eye coordination whatsoever.

Because I'm the star, and you're not.

I don't think he's rowed with anyone since Dunnigan died.

I know.

This is huge.

I just want to know, how does he move this thing all by himself?

[grunting]

Is there any new information on Laurie Adams?

No, I'm sorry.

Hey.

Hey.

Thank you so much for what you did.

I was so scared.

I didn't know what to do.

You're welcome.

Any news?

The nurse won't tell me anything.

You're Charley Frazer.

Yeah.

Laurie and I go to West Coast High with you.

I know.

She sang in the choir.

She has an amazing voice.

Yeah.

She just got a scholarship to SC.

You're a summa, right?

Yeah.

On my way to UCLA.

That's Laurie's parents.

I'm going to go talk to them.

[soundtrack music - no dialogue]

The fire was crest of the ridge just to the east of us.

And I could hear the roar.

And it seemed like the black smoke just burst into flames.

There was a funnel licking up the hill

that was coming right at me.

All of a sudden, I was surrounded

by this wall of fire.

I couldn't outrun it.

And there was no way out, so I had to deploy my fire shelter.

Now we all know that they are a last resort.

It's why they call them shake and bakes [laughs]..

When I deployed my shelter, I had a nine-year-old girl

in my arms.

There wasn't enough time to dig a trench,

and the winds had picked up to 40 miles an hour.

And all I wanted to do was to get my shelter open,

but I couldn't because I had my gloves on.

So I took them off.

That was a big mistake.

When I finally got it open, I had to get the two of us

in a shelter -- made for one.

Now, I wanted to protect this little girl with my body.

I laid her face down on the ground, but with enough room

where she could still breathe.

But because my face was higher up,

I was exposed to most of the heat.

You guys, once you're in there, you try to stay calm.

But all you could think about is how in seconds, you

could literally burn to death.

The sound of the fire outside the shelter

still haunts me to this day.

I kept telling Colby to stay calm.

I was going to get her back to her mom.

To be honest, I think that's what got me through.

They said the whole thing lasted about 10 minutes.

But to me, it seemed like a lifetime.

Chief Topar thought it was very important for all of you

to hear, firsthand, what the experience

is like being in the shelter.

I'm an example of what can happen, but how you handle

it really comes down to the basic instincts

that you learn while training.

It's that training that not only saved my life,

but it also saved the life of that little girl, Colby.

I want to thank all of you for allowing me the opportunity

to share my story.

Thank you.

[applause]

Mike, do you mind if I have a word with the lieutenant

in private, please?

OK.

Hi, sir.

Hi.

I heard some of your speech in there.

Thanks for taking the time.

Sir, I was glad to do it.

I know it can't be easy, but I do believe that hearing

your story will make an impact.

Well, thank you.

I mean, I sure hope it does.

I'm not sure if you've been notified,

but I wanted to congratulate you in person on being a nominee

for this year's medal of valor.

Me?

Sir, I appreciate that.

But Captain Dunnigan deserves it.

He's receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award.

I love that.

You know, I can't think of anyone

who deserves the recognition more that you two.

I guess I'll see you here for the ceremony.

Yes, sir.

I'm looking forward to seeing your name added to the wall

over there.

So, this is your first row since Dunnigan died, huh?

I'm honored, sir.

So this is how you get your guns, huh?

You row like this every day?

I didn't bring you out here for a row.

I brought you here because you put the team at risk one

too many times.

You don't fit.

What?

Stars aren't team players, Texas.

SAF3 is a team--

a team that has a dysfunction.

You're a weak link.

I'm reassigning you back to swift water rescue.

You're a wonderful guy.

You'll always be welcome at headquarters,

but I have to let you go.

Hey, I could use some help in here.

Yeah, I'll be right there.

Lily, just who I was looking for.

Hey.

What are you doing?

Oh, just checking the coils on all of our lifelines.

Oh, that's so helpful.

Thank you.

At least someone appreciates what I'm doing in here.

[laughs] I got you something.

Really? That's so sweet.

What is it?

Open it?

[laughs] It's a garter just like yours.

Thank you, and pink, my favorite color.

I told you I'll get you one.

Let's plan a night out.

We have to.

What's up?

Trouble.

Yeah, I need to go shower.

Did you guys hear about last night?

No, what?

We were all having a bonfire on the beach,

and some girl fell off the rocks,

and Charley tried to save her.

Oh, no.

Is she OK?

Yeah, what happened.

I don't think she made it.

I haven't seen Charley since.

And she's not answering her phone.

PHONE: At the tone, leave a message.

[beep]

Dad, it's me.

I need you.

Hey.

Nice to see you guys.

Hey, Bryce.

We're looking for Charley.

Yeah, we heard about what happened last night.

Yeah, she took it pretty hard--

she resigned.

What?

Oh no.

I'm going to call her.

Did anyone try to talk her out of it?

I don't know.

I haven't seen her yet.

Charley, hey.

It's Lily.

Graciela and I want to see you.

OK.

Yeah, OK.

What time should we meet you, then?

Texas, why are you holding out, man.

What are you talking about?

I just came from giving a talk downtown.

And guess whose name I saw on a plaque.

You won the Medal of Valor?

How did you win such an award, and no one here knows about it.

What's up with that, man?

Yeah, well.

It wasn't a good time for me.

What's going on, man?

Eriksson thought it'd be best if I was reassigned

back to Swift Water Rescue.

You're kidding, right?

No, man.

I wish.

CHARLEY: I just can't get the image

of her face out of my head.

She's my age.

She went to my high school.

She's going off to college in the fall, just like me.

I just keep thinking if, maybe I've gotten to her sooner,

she wouldn't be dead.

LILY: You can't do this to yourself, Charley.

You don't know the circumstances.

Yes, I do.

It started at the party.

Do you want another?

No thanks, one's my limit.

Ooh, turn it up.

I love this song.

I keep replaying it over and over in my head.

You weren't on duty, Charley.

You were out having fun with your friends.

Yeah, you can't blame yourself.

No, you guys.

It was more than just having fun.

I had too much to drink.

Drink up.

I already had one.

One beer, Charley.

OK, here's to summer nights.

And the boys of summer.

I'll drink to that.

Laurie's friend Autumn was calling for help,

and who knows how long it was before anyone even heard her.

Help!

Help, she's gonna drown.

[screaming for help] I can't swim.

I don't see her.

CHARLEY [VOICEOVER]: thought I saw

her head slip under the water.

And then I fell on the rocks.

By the time I got to the water, I had lost

my visual point of reference.

And I wore my sweatshirt into the water which is something,

in training, you learn never to do.

It slows you way down.

So stupid.

I didn't even call 911 until after I made the rescue.

Somebody call 911.

Somebody call 911.

Call 911 now.

I just did so many things wrong.

You know, I thought this job was going to be about saving lives.

I never thought I'd actually lose one.

It was a tragedy, but it wasn't your fault, Charley.

It started off as one of the proudest days of my life.

Then I got drunk and made a fool out of myself.

OFFICER: This is harbor patrol.

We advise you to get down from there now.

You're trespassing in very dangerous conditions.

What?

Dangerous conditions.

Whoa, you a big boy, ain't you?

How about your fat boy butt come on up here

and get us if you want us down so much, right?

[laughs] Look at the Pillsbury Doughboy trying to talk to me.

Are you hungry?

I think we know that, man.

How about this?

If you want us down, you come up, and you bring us down.

OFFICER: I advise you to calm down right now, young man.

And don't jump.

Don't jump?

You've got your boys trying to surround us.

Obviously, you didn't hear me.

You don't know who I am.

You know who I am?

I am this year's medal of valor winner, buddy.

OK, the lifeguard from Swift Water Rescue.

I do what I want.

So what I suggest you do, is you and your posse go get

some chicken wings, a couple donuts,

or I'm going to dive in under your patrol boat

and kill myself with the props.

How you like that?

[laughs] You should try to get some Apple Jacks.

[laughs]

Yeah, fat boy.

Come catch us.

You nothing but a fat boy on a boat.

Lard head.

Twinkie neck.

[laughs]

What did I tell you, huh?

Don't nobody mess with Texas.

Yeah?

All right, all right, take it easy.

Relax.

Dry off, boys.

We're taking you home.

OK.

We're going home, Leander.

I'm hungry anyway.

Come on.

How you doing.

You all right?

I've been better.

And then me being brought home by my superiors.

He tells my parents that they just wanted to make

sure that I got home safely.

So they covered for you?

Yeah.

And I thought that was the end of it.

I mean, Alfonso, I was so drunk, I barely remember anything

that happened that day.

Then I got a call from Dunnigan.

Captain Dunnigan, I am honored to be invited here today, sir.

I know that you're busy.

It was enough that you came to my medal ceremony yesterday.

That's not why I called you in here, son.

I got calls from the Harbor Patrol,

Long Beach Lifeguard Division, the Coast

Guard, and the Fire Department.

Seems you had quite an afternoon yesterday.

The actions had won you the award for valor

have been overshadowed by this embarrassing and extremely

disrespectful incident.

Regardless of your medal, you've shamed this organization.

I'd like your resignation on my desk immediately.

So he fired you.

Texas, you'd been with the fire department for 12 years.

The only reason why I'm still part of the fire department

is because of my dad, man.

I literally went to every single guy I offended to apologize.

My dad was right there by my side.

Two weeks later, I get a call from Dunnigan

again, asking me to come see him.

He told me making mistakes was a part of life.

But it's what you do about those mistake is what counts.

He reinstated me with a six month suspension.

I vowed to never mess up again.

I guess I did.

And my dad's on his way from Texas

to help me through once more.

I just feel so sad.

I know you do.

I've been where you are.

Unfortunately, I know exactly what you're feeling.

It's literally all I can think about.

You know, Charley, sometimes there are no answers.

I just know that if I didn't have you, this team,

this job to come back to, I don't know how

I would have gotten through.

Look, I'm not telling you what to do.

But maybe lifeguarding isn't the job for you--

although, I think it is.

It doesn't feel like it.

Charley, if you're going to be in this line of work,

you gotta understand that you can't save everybody.

It's just something you have to learn to live this.

If you quit, you've got to make sure you're

doing it for the right reason.

Because you've got to understand that

this decision will affect you for the rest of your life.

I just have so many questions, you know?

I totally understand.

After Dunnigan died, I blamed myself.

And I had 100 what ifs floating through my mind.

But I finally had to go back and find out exactly what happened.

The volume of the fire, the wind conditions,

I needed to know exactly what went wrong.

Maybe if you do that, it'll help you, too.

Hi, I'm Charley Frazier.

I've been expecting.

You Lieutenant Rivera called.

He said you were going to drop by.

Thank you for your time.

No problem.

I'm a lifeguard.

I was the one who pulled Laurie Adams out of the water

last night, even though I wasn't on duty.

That's what I heard.

I know this must be tough for you.

This is my first experience of somebody dying.

So what do you want to know?

I just feel like if I would have gotten there faster,

Laurie might not have drowned.

Ms. Adams didn't drown.

I mean, yeah her lungs were filled with water.

But that was not the cause of death.

She suffered a severe trauma to her skull,

most likely caused by her fall.

She was probably deceased before she even touched the water.

Oh.

Thank you.

No problem.

Yo, man.

I was just about to call you.

Yeah, I was just on my way to the airport to pick up my pops.

And just decided to stop by and get the rest of my things.

Hold up, man.

I wanted to ask you for a favor.

Yeah.

For you, anything, man.

The Medal of Valor dinner Saturday night.

And I know you don't have the fondest

memories of your experience.

But they really want a former recipient to present the award.

And I was hoping that maybe you would consider

standing up there next to me.

Yeah, thanks man.

But I don't know about that.

Oh-- I thought you might say that.

So I did a little research.

And from what I read, it was one of the biggest

floods in Los Angeles history.

The water was moving so fast that three different engine

companies couldn't get far enough

ahead of the young six-year-old boy to save him.

Engineer Texas Daly saw the young boy

go by and knew that this was the last chance

before he was sure to drown.

Daly ran to the river jetty, dove in, he hooked on to him,

riding three miles protecting him from obstacles that

might have cost him his life.

Texas, this boy is alive because of you, man.

Wow.

I haven't thought about this in a long time.

Dunnigan gave you a second chance.

It's time you give yourself one.

Captain Eriksson, sir?

Wow, sharp.

Don't tell me do this for me.

Yeah, well my dad taught me well.

Sir, I've been spending a lot of time thinking

about what you said.

And I know that you're right, I have a lot of inner challenges

that I have to deal with, challenges that I

haven't been able to conquer.

You know, sometimes I do things without thinking.

And I know, because of that, I've

been a weak link a few times.

One thing I never want to do is let this team down.

I learned that early on when I let my father down a few times.

You see, sir, I want to be the son that he's proud of.

But I also want to be proud of my own action.

Captain Eriksson, I believe that everyone

deserves a second chance, an opportunity

to fix what isn't working.

Now, if you send me away to Swift Water Rescue

without giving me the chance to fix my mistakes, then how can

I ever correct them, sir?

I know I can be accountable and responsible.

As much as I don't want to disappoint this team,

I also don't want to disappoint my father, sir.

So I'm asking you to please reconsider my reassignment.

I'm asking for a second chance.

Welcome back, Mr. Daly.

Thank you, sir.

Character, loyalty, courage, integrity.

These are all words used to describe what

makes a good man of service.

Alfonso Rivera and Howard Dunnigan

exemplify all of those traits.

The Medal of Valor is presented to an individual who

has exhibited courage above and beyond the call of duty

and risked their own lives by placing themselves

under extreme personal risk.

Alfonso is receiving this honor for an heroic rescue

he made with his mentor, Howard Dunnigan.

How appropriate that How is being awarded at same time--

GIRL: That man, he was carrying me in the fire.

He told me to run.

He saved me, too.

TEXAS: And I am honored to have been a teammate of theirs.

Alfonso would be the first to tell you that being singled out

doesn't go with his job.

When he first found out that he was receiving this honor,

his response was, I was just glad to go to work that day.

All this from a man who nearly lost his life in the fire.

Captain Dunnigan always said that men are the same

in every area of their lives.

Well, this is true with Alfonso.

He's all about serving and selflessness.

One of his first thoughts when coming out of his coma

was, how soon does he get to suit up

and get back to saving lives?

The downside to our job is that not all

rescues end up happy endings.

We have our sad days, and tragedy.

There are things that we cannot control or fix.

But hopefully, it's about the good we do,

and the difference that we do make.

It's what we choose to see--

something my friend reminded me of this week.

Nine years ago, I stood here and received the same award.

I rescued a little boy, Jay Baker, who I hadn't seen since.

Alfonso invited that young man here tonight.

You see, that's just the type of man Alfonso is.

He found a way to use his own award to give a gift to me.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure

to present to you this year's Medal

of Valor to a Alfonso Rivera--

a friend, a man of honor, and a true hero.

[applause]

[soundtrack music - no dialogue]

CHARLEY: So, you were right about seeing the coroner.

Oh yeah.

Yeah.

Finding some of the answers to Laurie's cause of death

kind of gave me a little peace.

That's good.

You know, what you went through is--

it's common.

Yeah, I guess.

But I've been doing a lot of thinking.

And I realized my resigning wasn't for the right reasons.

I asked Chief Topar for of my job back.

And?

And he said he never even took my name off the list.

I'm so proud of you.

What are you talking about?

You're the Medal of Valor winner.

I'm the one who's proud.

Do you remember that night in the hospital

when you told me that one day, I would know

why all this happened to me?

Well, you were right.

I feel like I have a new purpose.

I'm glad.

These talks that I've been doing,

they just helped me realize that there's

another way to save lives.

You know, whether I'm talking to patients at a burn center,

or firefighters about prevention.

I just-- I just feel like I have a new way to serve.

[theme music]