Contest

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I fly solo.

Trust me, I am not a team player.

I am not an athlete.

I don't even know how to swim.

Which is just one of the sources of ridicule I've gotten since freshman year.

And the one that the Golden Boys of Saint Raymond's swimming team are enjoying today.

That's Matt Prylek.

Our school's best swimmer and my worst nightmare.

And that's me. Tommy Dolen.

The one supplying all their laughs.

My dad tried to teach me to swim once.

With the same warmth that's going on here,

but that didn't work out so well either.

Welcome back to a new school year.

Now, if anyone had told me in this moment that, in less than a month,

I would develop the most unlikely friendship,

I would have said they swallowed way too much water.

Look, I know a lot of people are worse off than me,

even if you couldn't tell it by looking at them.

Like this kid who's been bumming coinage here the last few days.

He told me his parents lost their jobs.

Abby!

Your boss ready for me yet?

Are you kidding?

They'll kill me.

I don't mean your teachers or your principal.

I'll talk to the boys.

Maybe they just want to pal around.

They didn't know you can't swim.

Of course they knew.

All right?

Today was the worst.

But it's not just today. It's every day.

The names...

texts, online humiliation,

taking shots...

stealing lunches.

Why didn't you tell me?

I was afraid you'd invite them over for Sunday dinner.

I could make braciole.

They'd like that.

Table seven needs their check.

Listen. Just think.

If you all just got together and talked...

This week, we're announcing the finalists for our Teenage Cooking Contest

right here on Mealtime Network,

where the winner will walk off with her or his own TV show,

plus a special grand prize I'll be revealing a little later.

I already told you, all right? I'm not joining any contest.

It's past the deadline.

Should have. Could have won.

Well, it's too late now, all right.

And that's just what I want, give them more excuses.

I'll finish up here.

Go wait on the new customer.

Prylek!

I'm still hoping to hear you get life imprisonment one day,

but I think this'd do for a start.

Her family just moved here from Kansas.

She goes to your school. She's a blogger.

And she explained to me what that was.

I'll take care of tables two and four.

Here.

You take this to Sarah.

When are you gonna learn you don't have to do everything alone?

Just talk to her... for just a minute.

Our special added prize will be $50,000.

And today we're announcing our third contestant,

and this one's a local boy, Saint Raymond's own Tommy Dolen!

Thanks, Rip. Only three more contestants left to be announced.

- Then tune in next week... - I'm sorry.

- when all 16 square off to compete... - I'm sorry. I'm really, really sorry.

... and $50,000.

You told Abby about the job.

You helped her move up here.

She'll talk to her boss.

Think so?

She still isn't picking up.

I'll fix this in the morning...

moron.

Mangia, bello!

I know I should have told you

I was taking your pizzelles down to the TV station

and entering you in that contest.

I can't talk on TV, all right?

Can you please just call them and tell them that I can't do it, all right?

I'm sorry. I have to go to Ned's before school.

- Yeah, but I think... - I can't.

I just can't, all right, Gran?

I love you. Bye.

Bye.

Matty!

Matty!

Your alarm clock broken?

Five minutes, dressed and out.

Once a month, I go to pay rent to the landlord of the pizzeria, Ned Foley.

Hey, Dolen!

You brain-dead?

Like I was saying,

every month I go to Ned Foley's,

the landlord of Gran's pizzeria, to pay the rent.

But who knew today's visit would trigger something completely unexpected?

I'll see her when she shows up.

Sold it all, and I want you to level the entire block.

Now, the one problem's gonna be the old lady that runs the pizza place.

She's been there since the War of 1812,

and she doesn't get that the chain places are killing her.

My grandfather put this stupid clause in her lease.

I really hope she doesn't remember it, because I am screwed if she does.

Not that it'll help, though.

Don't think her and her goofy grandson have a dime to their names.

Look...

if she's gonna be a problem,

I may need you to help me out around this, all right?

Just like you did with the pub.

Then not only will I give the demolition job to you,

I will also recommend you to the buyer to build his brand-new...

Oh.

Hold on a second.

Yeah, no problem.

Have you withdraw me from the contest yet?

Okay, good. Don't, all right? I'll see you later.

I usually try to stay under the radar.

But I gotta do this for Gran.

Even if it makes things worse at school.

When I was curled up on that pool deck choking up water,

Matt Prylek was bragging to all his buddies

about how his brother helped his ex-girlfriend Abby

score a job as the Assistant Principal's new secretary.

But Prylek was dangerous enough before.

Now he's got a skeleton key to the school.

As per our new zero-tolerance policy,

effective immediately, you are suspended

from all extracurricular activities.

- What? That's total bull. - And any infraction of any school rules

could result in expulsion...

and home schooling until June.

Uh, Ms. Sykes...

it's Matty's senior year.

All the assistant coaches from...

from the colleges he wants to get into can finally come see him, so...

- Mr. Prylek, I'm aware of Matthew's... - Kyle, please.

Hey, swimming's Manny's whole life.

And don't let one stupid reject wreck my whole career.

Pardon?

Oh, you are not helping yourself.

Come in, please.

Oh, sorry. I didn't realize you were still in the meeting.

Uh, Coach Nadley called,

and I reconfirmed your anti-bullying campaign meeting with the board for 11:00.

Sorry to bother you.

No.

- Thanks, Abby. - Uh-huh.

Matthew...

I'll reduce your suspension...

to a one-month period if you'll...

One month? Are you out...

What do I have to do?

People look up to you.

Stop all the bullying immediately.

If you become an anti-bullying role model within 30 days,

I will restore all your extracurricular activities.

You mean like...

doing what?

I mean like for the next month,

go out of your way to be kind

to the kids who are bullied at this school.

Starting with Tommy Dolen.

Done.

Done.

Okay.

Go. Be nice. Be kind. Get out.

Okay, you got that one.

Dolen!

My mom says you're gonna be a big TV star.

Bad enough this place pumped money into Home Ec which should have gone to athletics...

Yeah.

Now you're gonna make us all look like...

Joe!

Knock it off!

But you were the one who planted the seed in her head.

How about an espresso?

- Kyle, I thought I said I need to... - Come on.

It's just coffee.

A cooking show, Dolen?

Isn't that the kid whose grandma runs the pizza joint?

Uh, yeah.

He's just been picked to be on a TV cooking contest.

The teachers were talking about it.

If he wins, he gets his own show...

and $50,000.

We're a team.

Think about it.

You volunteer to do this, and Sykes

may lift your suspension sooner than the end of the month.

I got nailed 'cause of that loser.

Not having the brains to see a whole new security system is what got you nailed.

So now I gotta help him win 50 grand?

No!