The Other Side of the Mountain

I think the hardest time is waking up in the morning.

Those first moments before I remember who I am,

and think instead, about who I was.

Mom, there's snow on Mount Tom.

It'll still be there on the weekend.

Don't make me go to school today.

It's the first day of snow.

There's snow on Mount Tom.

Want to sleep awhile?

Can't be late for the first day of school.

Everyone will be skiing but me.

Me, too.

I saw Jill's boobies.

Mom? I saw Jill's boobies.

Will you tell Jerry not to watch me get dressed?

Reverend Byrd called last night

and said you're going to have a full class this year.

Good morning, children.

Good morning.

I'm Jill Kinmont, your teacher.

Good morning.

So my mother puts me in the chair in the morning,

and I stay in it all day long

until she takes me out at night.

You stay in it all day?

Yep. Don't you ever go to the bathroom?

All the time.

You see, I have an in dwelling catheter.

A tube that goes inside me,

attached to a bag on the inside of my leg.

Yuck.

There. That's the place.

Isn't it beautiful?

What's the best way to catch it?

Spear it.

Okay. Who can spell spear?

Come on.

First one who gets it, gets to try for that trout.

S-P-E-E-R.

That's close. That's almost right.

But it's more like "ear."

Anyone know how to spell ear?

Eddie?

E-A-R?

Right.

So how would you spell spear?

Everybody.

S-P-E-A-R.

Right.

Nope. Nobody would want to marry you.

Think not?

They would, too. She's beautiful.

Yeah, but she can't dance or nothing.

Anybody ever ask you?

Ask me what? To get married.

Who?

You don't know him.

If he asked you, how come you didn't?

I always think I'm past it.

That it can't hurt me anymore.

Then without warning, it all comes rushing back.

Here, in Bishop more than anywhere.

Because I can still look up and see the snow.

I'm Jill Kinmont and I ski.

There. There he is.

He's the handsomest thing I've ever seen.

Fastest man on skis in the world.

"Mad Dog" Buek they call him, because he's so crazy.

He takes so many chances.

They say he's trying to kill himself.

Kill himself?

Well, that's what it says.

What if he dies before we meet him?

What if he kills himself before we get on the team?

He won't.

What if he does?

Then we don't get to meet him.

What you got?

Nothing. Come on. What you got?

Let me see. What is it?

Mind your own beeswax. Gimme the magazine, A.J.

It's Dick Buek.

I even got a letter from him this morning.

Didn't you girls know? We've been writing for some time.

He says he's looking forward to meeting me

when I... Make the Olympic Team.

Sure.

Well, anyway, he's too old for me. He's 21 or 22.

And besides, I'm in love with someone else, anyway.

Who's the lucky fella?

James Dean.

All right, listen up, everybody.

A.J.?

Okay. We have our first competition of the year this weekend

or, or next weekend, rather.

Now, I usually just take the best skiers to these races,

but this time...

I've decided to take everybody.

Herbie Johnson, keep your hands off me.

I didn't do nothing.

Herbie, take it easy.

What did I do wrong?

As if you didn't know. You have your hands all over the place.

They are not. They're right here at the end of my arms.

All right, somebody just trade places with Jill right now.

I will.

Audra Jo.

It's great. Look at that.

It's fantastic.

A.J., come back and get your skis.

A.J.?

Herbie.

Herbie tell her to come back and get her skis.

Now, let's all stick together.

All right.

As far back as I can remember,

all I ever wanted to do was ski.

It wasn't just a sport

it was a way of life.

Our coach was Dave McCoy.

An ex-champion who shaped us into a top high school team.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Go.

Our toughest competition was a team from Boulder, Colorado.

Headed by a speed demon, named Buddy Werner.

In the starting gate, number 46 Three, two, one.

From Bishop, California. Go!

10 seconds.

Skeeter Werner, Boulder, Colorado.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Go.

The best skier on the Colorado girl's team was Skeeter Werner.

And it became a personal battle to prove which team was best.

14, 10 seconds. Audra Jo Nicholson, Bishop, California,

wearing number 14. Five, four,

three, two, one.

Go.

This is her second year of competition.

Last year, finishing fourth in the finals at Big Bear, California.

Number 89, in the starting gate.

In the starting gate, Jill Kinmont, number 89.

Ranking first place...

Jill could still take her, Skeeter only got me by five seconds.

10 seconds.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Go.

Go, Jill. Go. Go, Jill. Come on do it.

Jill Kinmont, number 89, incompleted run.

Beautiful.

Want me to take your picture?

I bit my tongue.

Shouldn't stick it out while you're racing.

Want to know why you burned?

My coach will tell me, thank you.

Skiing is gravity.

Much more powerful than you are.

The less you fight it, the faster you go.

Do I know you?

No.

Get up.

What are you, a doctor or something? Nope.

Now, keep your hands out in front of you.

What's "M.D." stand for?

That's my name. Just... Just crouch down and stay loose.

Now, gravity works through the hinges. Right? Mike. Your name's Mike.

Ankles, knees, butt, elbows. Melvin.

Mark? Maurice? Max? Stick your butt out. Man, stick it way out.

Make yourself like a bullet... Hey!

You want to learn to ski or not?

Look, I'm sorry.

I don't take skiing lessons from just anybody.

I'm Jill Kinmont, and I just happen to be the best ski...

My God!

You're "Mad Dog" Buek.

We have it confirmed now...

Skeeter and Bud Werner...

I had met Dick Buek.

I thought my life would never be the same.

But summer came, and all fantasies had to be put aside.

My family ran a guest ranch called the Rocking X.

And during the summers, all of us did our share.

My best friend was Audra Jo Nicholson

and we were inseparable.

He's adorable.

There was nothing we didn't know about each other,

no dream we didn't share.

But our biggest dream was skiing.

And we lived in the constant hope

of someday making the Olympic team together.

A.J.?

A.J., are you awake?

Can I talk to you?

I'm beat.

All you have to do is listen.

Okay.

I been thinking about luck.

Wondering why I'm always so lucky.

Everything that I ever wanted I always got.

Did you ever feel that way?

Yeah, sometimes.