The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold

It's been a day of disappointment...

...at the U.S. Women's Figure Skating Championship.

Jacqueline Dorsey should easily repeat last year's victory.

Well, let's not get too far ahead of ourselves...

...because as we've already seen here today, anything can happen.

Okay, now, listen to me. I don't want you to push it.

Take out everything but the first triple. Doubles will win this.

- And the spin at the transition. - No.

It is not a required element. You can't push it.

The most important thing is to skate a clean program.

No. The most important thing is to win.

- And that is why... - Mom.

It's not worth winning if you don't have to fight for it.

I think you were the one who taught me that.

Well, who knew you ever listened?

Do me a favour...

...just try to come back without too much ice on your butt, okay?

As of now, it's hers to lose.

Well, I'm glad you said it, Oksana, because I think...

...her best skating is still to come.

And that, friends, is straight from her father's mouth.

"Ladi"e"s and g"e"ntl"e"m"e"n, on th"e "ic"e"..."

"Two-tim"e "U.S. Singl"e"s champion" "Jacki"e "Dors"e"y."

She usually begins her routine with her most difficult element:

The triple axel.

And she nailed it.

Now she's lining up for her first double combination.

Unbelievable. She replaced it with a triple-triple combination.

She is not just beating this competition, she is destroying it.

Just one more jump in her program and she's home free.

- Why isn't she getting up? - I think she's really hurt.

"Ladi"e"s and g"e"ntl"e"m"e"n," "pl"e"as"e "stay in yo"u"r s"e"ats."

Get back.

"Pl"e"as"e "r"e"main s"e"at"e"d."

As I suspected, the fracture was to both bones in the lower leg.

I wouldn't worry.

Though the break was complicated, you should be up...

...and walking around in no time. - That's not what I asked you.

Let's just take it one step at a time, okay, honey?

You have to walk before you can glide.

Don't care about walking.

Next year is an Olympic year.

And I am not retiring.

- Tell them. - Nobody said anything about retiring.

I've done everything I can do, Jackie.

- The rest is up to you. - Good.

Then we should have nothing to worry about.

Good. Now keep your head up and really, really lift off this time.

- Better. - Better? That was amazing.

For a double, it was okay. But for a triple, it sucked.

Jackie, the fact that after only four months...

...you can even hit a double is amazing.

Doubles are meaningless. This isn't pairs.

In hockey they'd call her for high-sticking.

Believe me, what I wouldn't give for a whistle and a penalty box.

All right, let's go again.

Jackie.

- Are you all right? - Not a word.

You cannot keep pushing yourself like this.

If you don't like it, you don't have to watch.

Why are you always so damn stubborn?

Because I take after my father.

I suppose that accounts for the sweet disposition also.

No. That's all Mom.

I know you don't wanna talk about this...

...but what if you can't ever...? - Right, I don't wanna talk about that.

All I'm asking is that you take some time off, all right? Rest.

Don't think about skating for a while. See if there's something more to life.

Nice. Especially coming from you, who built this multi-rinked palace.

- Jackie. - What?

And I don't want any of your hockey goons messing up my ice.

Hey, those hockey goons are helping to pay for this ice.

- She'll never go. - She'll go.

Hey.

Where the hell are my skates?

- Good workout? - No.

The gym was a total joke. Then I tried to do some laps...

Vacation, Jack. Muscles are supposed to atrophy.

Just look at Elisa. Her butt was rock hard before we got here.

Listen, guys, I'm sorry if I've been kind of a bitch lately.

Oh, come on, I've been horrible.

Oh, we know. I was just shocked that you said "kind of" when it's...

Yeah, pretty much been full-on.

But it's okay. We know what you've been going through.

Plus, we said terrible things behind your back.

So it's just like junior nationals all over again.

I am still bitter.

Can I get you ladies anything?

You're that skating girl, aren't you?

Yes, "Skating Girl." That's my superhero name.

I don't watch a whole lot of skating, but even I saw you wipe out.

Man, that had to hurt. They showed that, like, all the time.

Yeah, it's my own personal agony of defeat.

- Jackie. - So, what are you doing...

...now that you're retired?

- I'm not retired. - Hey, Sparky...

...why don't you bring us another round...

...with an extra splash of tact this time.

Thanks.

Boy, pose for the cover of one Wheaties box, you know?

- I'm getting out of here. - Come on, Jackie. Come on.

No, just let her go. I think she just needs to be alone.

Yeah, it's not all she needs.

Of course, I'm too much of a lady to say what.

No, you're not.

True. Sad but true.

Thank you.

You gotta get out there, man.

It's nice and tight with just a little curve.

We got a little bit of that around here too.

- Oh, yeah? What's the story? - I don't know.

- Anybody try? - Shot down three of our finest.

She's a lot tougher than she looks, man.

- You going in? - No.

I think I'll let her come to me.

Hey.

- I wouldn't go out there if I were you. - Really? And why not?

Well, it's kind of rough.

- You didn't seem to have a problem. - There's an undertow.

I think I can handle it.

It looked like your top was about to come undone.

Dude.

Will you give that back?

You want me to come in there, or you wanna come out here?

Give that back.

Keep your eyes closed. Are they closed?

They're closed. Hurry up.

- All right, I'm almost finished. - Come on, already.

Okay, you can open up your eyes now.

Heads up.

I tried to warn you.

- Hi. Alex. - Jackie.

You wouldn't dare. No. No.

- I should give that kid a buck. - Only a buck?

So you ever been on skates before?

Wondered if you knew or not.

Wondered what? If you'd ever been on blades before?

No. I just wondered if you knew how to skate or not.

Yeah, a little.

A little.

Come on, I'll have you doing it in no time. It's easy.

I don't know...

Looks kind of scary.

Oh, no. No, no. See, you'd have to have a death wish.

No, but it helps.

- All right, wait here. I'll be right back. - Alex.

Hey, Alex.

Alex.

- Hey, thanks for the helmet, bro. - No problem, Alex.

That was amazing. How could you ever learn to do that?

- Yeah, well... - Can I have your autograph, please?

Sure.

- What's the name? - Kayla.

All right, Kayla.

- Here you go. - Can I see that?

I know, I know. It's a horrible picture.

Thank you.

- See you later. - Come on, sweetie, let's go.

Will you let me go. Gosh.

Okay, so go on.

So then I decided to turn pro and medalled at the X Games.

"Pro"? As in "professional"?

- You do this for a living? - Yeah. More or less.

I'm actually signing with a new sponsor this week.

I was supposed to meet up with them this morning...

...but the waves just looked too damn good.

So good. It's a good thing you're so damn irresponsible.

Otherwise we would've never met.

Works for me.

Here's to being irresponsible.

- You promise? - I promise.

- No, do you really promise? - I really promise.

All right.

She promised.

He's just... He's hard to describe.

Which is odd, because you've done nothing...

...but describe him for the last three hours.

I know. But there's just something about him.

Maybe it's the fact he doesn't spend all day in a leotard and a dancebelt.

- Maybe it's his tattoos. He has three. - There she is.

- That you've seen. - Yes, that I've seen.

I can't believe you haven't told him who you are.

I will. It's just...

You know, for once, it was just...

It was nice. There was no agenda. It was just a girl meeting a boy.

And it was nice.

I don't even know how you can try and say that without blushing.

Luanne and Elisa, my friends.

Any chance we get to meet him?

Yeah, there's a very good chance that you could meet him.

That's him.

- Here you go. - Thank you very much, sir.

All right, have a good one.

Alex?

You really clean up. What are you doing here?

We're staying here.

These are my friends, Luanne and Elisa.

- Ladies. - Alex.

Oh, this is obviously the "more or less" part of my life.

I don't know what else to say. Can I get you your car?