Touched by an Angel

Okay, let me see if I understand this correctly.

I jump up onto this bar, I swing around once...

Twice would be better.

I swing around twice, then I reach up,

pull myself up onto that one,

swing back around and slide down onto this one.

Don't forget the flip. There's a flip right in the middle.

Okay,

flip, swing, grab it in the middle,

point me two legs in either directions,

round and round, and then I jump off

and I end up facin' this way.

Uh-uh, that way.

That way. Mmm-hmm, mmm-hmm.

Oh, Tess.

You'd better start swingin', angel girl,

'cause you got a lot to learn before...

Look, there's Nadia Comaneci and Bart Conner.

Well, this is the practice gym,

but the competition's a couple miles down at the convention hall.

Now when will they start showin' up?

Oh, well, they'll start staggerin' in all day, I guess.

Mmm-hmm.

There is a good place to set up for the interviews.

You don't have time to practice now, baby, but don't worry.

When the time comes, you'll know what you need to know.

I still don't know why people do this in the first place.

Flipping and spinning and jumping

and trying to be better at it than anyone else.

Well, no, that's not what it's about, baby.

Real champions like Nadia and Bart,

they're not tryin' to beat someone else.

They're just tryin' to be the very best that they can be,

and that's what a winner is.

Somebody call me?

I will give you a gold medal right now

if you get down off that thing.

Our assignment just drove up. Already?

Yeah. They drove straight through from the last meet in L.A.

These people are serious.

And so are we.

Registration starts are noon, folks.

I've gotta get here at noon, Mom.

Right at noon exactly,

or else Nicole's gonna get here first

and hog the bars like she usually does.

It's smaller.

It's different from last time.

Everything's different since last time, honey.

Let's go.

So that's what this family is about, huh?

Winning.

No, baby.

It's all about survival.

All this family's tryin' to do these days

is to hold on and not fall down.

TJ? TJ, where are you?

TJ, I need your help, please.

Hi, guys. You just get here? Yeah.

My parents went looking for a supermarket.

Anyone wanna find a mall?

Guess what? Shelly Kramer is out.

What?

She was doing back flips on the beam...

Without a spotter.

And she fell and tore a tendon.

Oh, that's too bad.

I know, but last time she beat you out of second place.

Now it looks like you'll get there,

and I'll have a shot at third.

But Nicole's still in first.

Poor Shelly.

You know, it could happen to any of us.

Hey, what's up? Where's TJ?

In the bathroom.

Hey! Hey, what's up?

There's a skate park here. You wanna go?

Mom, can I?

My mom's takin' all the nobodies, Miss Browner.

Dylan, I wish you kids wouldn't call each other that.

Why? That's what they are. Nobodies.

Dad didn't think so.

Subject closed.

Yes, honey, you can go.

Just be back by 6:00 to have dinner with your sister.

Yes!

Oh, we're goin' to the park.

She tore a tendon?

I can't believe you guys. I'll be at the mall.

Now I know that everybody's just getting used to another new town,

but we've got two days before the meet.

I want good, safe workouts.

Shelly Kramer is missin' a shot at the Nationals

for one simple reason.

She didn't ask for help.

Now, we've got plenty of extra help this week.

This is Monica.

She's gonna be temping as a trainer and spotter.

Do not, do not fail to ask for her help.

Push yourselves, but not too far.

Practice, but not too long.

If anyone gets hurt, I just might have to put a leotard on myself,

and that will not be pretty.

Okay, let's go.

Monica, there's three girls that are comin' to the meet

that are gonna have extreme pressure on them this week,

and they're all on this team.

Kristy Cordice, she came close to third in the last meet,

and could make a dangerous mistake

just because she gets so darn excited.

Nicole Rich over here,

she's been workin' so hard

for so long to stay on top.

It could hurt her if she relaxes too much.

Now the one to really keep your eye on is Rebecca Browner.

Is it true that she's never fallen?

Oh, she's fallen before in practice.

They all have, but never durin' competition.

That's quite a record to live up to.

I've got a feelin' that that little girl

is tryin' to live up to a lot.

She wants to win, even if it kills her,

and, Monica, if she's not careful,

it just might.

Hey, didn't I tell you about bendin' your knees, girl?

Do you need some help?

Oh, no, thanks.

That's Nadia, and Bart Conner.

Wow.

How's the workout goin'?

Good. Yeah?

Rebecca, we've got to meet them or I'll die.

Well, they're covering the finals all week.

I'm sure they'll want to interview all the girls.

My mum says they only wanna talk to winners.

Hey, guys, get a load of the midgets.

Hey, guys, no diapers allowed, dudes.

Hey, this is a public park.

Yeah, show 'em your stuff, TJ.

Hey, where's your helmet?

I don't need a helmet.

Hey, hey, what's the problem?

Oh, this little boy fell down.

Yeah.

I'm fine.

You the new man around here?

Yeah, I am,

and if I see you deliberately putting anyone else in danger,

you're out of here.

Let's go.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Come here, come here, come here.

Why were you not wearin' a helmet? Huh?

Let's go.

Let's go in here.

Here we go.

I don't need anything. I'm gonna be fine.

Yep, you are gonna be fine because you're not gonna let this get infected.

And you're also gonna start wearing the proper equipment.

A helmet, elbow pads, knee pads,

and if you don't have 'em, that's fine.

It's not a problem, we've got rentals,

but until you wear them, you're not goin' back out there.

Okay?

Be right back.

Wait. Hey, what are you doin'?

Shh.

Okay, turn your head.

So, uh, you guys aren't from around here, are you?

We're nobodies from nowhere.

Actually, we're from everywhere. Our sisters are gymnasts.

We have to travel around with them.

Whether we like it or not.

Sounds like you like it maybe a little more than you like it.

Let's get out of here.

No, I'm not kidding, Oliver.

I'm standin' 20 feet away from two Olympic champions

who just finished interviewing Nicole

and totally ignored Rebecca.

I mean, she has a shot.

Why aren't they interviewing Rebecca?

Hold on, hold on.

Excuse me. Ma'am?

Excuse me, please?

Hi. I'm Rebecca Browner's mother.

Oh, Rebecca, yes.

She's a very talented young lady. Thank you.

Well, I have our publicist on the phone,

and I think you need to talk to him.

Oh, do I?

Good. I just love to talk to publicists.

Hello.

This is the KBHX Sports Segment Producer,

and if you're going to tell me how to do my job

I'd rather not waste your time.

Now, how may I help you?

That was great, but don't you think it's time you took a break?

I didn't get the landing exactly right.

I wanna do it again.