Vision Quest

My name's Louden, Louden Swain.

Last week, I turned 18.

I wasn't ready for it.

I haven't done anything yet.

So I made this deal with myself.

This is the year I make my mark.

All right, fellas.

It should be clear to all of us

that we've got the makings

of a championship squad this year.

Yes, sir! Yes, sir!

As most of you know, once a week,

we have wrestle-offs for varsity position.

For you new fellows who just joined us,

it's the fairest thing in the world.

Any man who can beat the number-one man at his weight class

gets to wrestle varsity at that position.

Anyone who wants to challenge

the number-one man in his weight class,

raise your hand.

Louden, you're already number one at 190.

I know. I want to wrestle off for 178.

What's this shit, man?

You dropped to 178?

Stay in your own division.

I ain't giving up my spot.

How did you drop the weight?

Just working out.

Okay. Billy, I want you

to run the skills drill for me.

Louden, I want a word with you.

Okay, guys. Go and get your headgear

and get paired up, okay?

What's going on?

I want to drop a weight.

Why make life difficult on yourself?

I'm going to drop two weights, coach.

I'm serious. I want to wrestle 168.

Look, it was easy to drop 12 pounds.

You only had to wring the water out of your system.

I'm going to wrestle Shute this year, coach.

Shute? Nobody wants to wrestle Shute.

Louden, you're out of your mind.

To tell you the truth, I kind of worry about that.

I'm going to let you wrestle off against Kuch at 178,

but if he kicks your butt,

I want you to put those pounds right back on.

All right.

Number-one man, cross leg single.

All right, on the whistle.

First round.

Come on, Kuch!

Come on, Kuch!

Drive him over! Arch your shoulder!

Elmo, it smells great in here.

I can't believe they actually pay me

to work here.

Neither can I, kid. What have we got here?

Two lemon pies and a coffee.

I guess I can handle that.

Did you make your big announcement yet?

I told the coach I was down to 178.

He pulled me aside.

I told him the whole story.

Did he shit?

Yeah, slightly.

Slightly? You're too much.

Hey, Elmo, you think I'm crazy?

I pretty much have the feeling

that's going to be the consensus on this.

I don't know.

Is this Shute character

the terror they say he is?

Yeah, he's pretty bad.

Well, in that case,

this might be a move a reasonable man would avoid.

You could end up getting crippled.

You think so, huh?

Room service.

Come on in. It's open.

Just put it down.

I'll sign that now.

What is that stuff?

T'ai chi-- national form of exercise in China.

I'm going to put your tip on this, okay?

Can you get a workout that way?

800 million Chinese can't be wrong.

It's mainly a matter of getting the mind into the muscles.

I use it when I'm on the road.

It helps me sleep like a baby.

Really?

I'm on a 600-calorie-a-day diet,

working out like a madman.

I'm so wired when I hit the rack, I can't sleep at all.

I lie there for about six hours

thinking about my life and stuff

before I finally drop off.

My name is Kevin.

Louden. Louden Swain.

Let me show you how it's done, Louden.

It'll help you sleep.

All right.

Stand there. Face this way.

Just sort of catch me

out of the corner of your eyes.

Okay, now breathe in.

Raise the arms.

Keep the movements slow, fluid.

Breathe out.

Shift your weight to the left.

Step onto the right.

Stack your hands over the knee.

Step back to the left. Move your arms.

Step back to the left.

Stack your arms the other way.

Step out.

I think I got it now.

I'll try it on my own when I get a chance.

Do you want to come up later?

No. I don't think so.

I got to get home.

I'm in training.

Training, huh? What sport?

Wrestling.

Wrestling.

I sell sporting goods for a living.

As a matter of fact, I carry wrestling shoes.

Just leave the tray by the door when you're finished.

Hey, Kuch.

You kicked the holy-living shit out of me today.

I guess I was just really up for it.

Besides, you weren't at your best.

Only had the worst off-day of my whole life.

Like I said.

Shit. I couldn't beat you on my best day.

You work there, in that hotel?

Yeah, I deliver room service.

Yeah? You get any pussy that way?

Not yet.

A guy tonight tried to grab my wad, though.

Kind of actually grabbed it,

if you want to know the truth.

What did you do?

Took off. I was a little freaked.

Nobody ever tried that before.

Kuch, forget about today.

You'll be wrestling first in the 178$ before long.

Oh, yeah?

Cut me a clue, man. How do I do that?

I ain't going to be in that division too long.

No shit?

This is like a gift.

Hey, Kuch never forgets a gift, man.

Yo, Louden!

Hey, man, where are you going to be?

I'm dropping down to 168.

I'm going to take on Shute.

Shute?

Shute's a monster, man.

A genuine teratoid.

Get real.

His father has to use a live wire

to keep him from fucking the fireplace.

Yeah, I know about all that.

I'm going to lose the weight

and get down on the mat with him.

Like, why?

It's now or never.

I'd keep this thing a big secret.

This isn't the kind of thing

you want everybody to know about.

I wouldn't want Shute to know.

I told the coach, a guy I work with, and now you.

It's an honor, man.

Your secret will die with me.

Hey, how's it going?

Catch you after school, brother.

Hey, where's my change, man?

That was Sammy Hagar, I'll fall in love again.

Ratman Rouse here spinning the gold

for your lunchtime pleasure.

Talk about magic moments.

Will Louden Swain need one, two, or a big bunch?

Our man at 190 says he's dropping to 168--

Are you ready for this-- To wrestle the Shute.

Good luck, Swain.

Now here's Hot Blooded.

You're a real asshole, you know that?

Kick his ass!

Sure, Otto.

What good will it do the team?

I don't know. Maybe no good at all.

If the coach wouldn't fire my ass,

I'd take you apart myself

and save Shute the satisfaction.

You piss me off.

Well, it isn't intentional.

Only unbelievable, Louden.

I'm going to do an editorial for the school paper--

"When determination becomes insanity."