A Fine Step Page #6

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( MUSIC CHANGES )

Claire! Claire!

Claire!

You okay?

You rode out here for me.

Honey, I would ride

anywhere for you.

You're filthy. Are you hurt?

I'm okay. Wh... where's Filena?

Filena's fine.

Aw, come here.

Don't do that again.

Okay.

All right?

Let's get this horse.

( MUSIC PLAYING )

It's all my fault I admit it

I left your dear heart

Facing the wall

Oh, I can't undo the things

That I did

Maybe it's better after all

Cause I seen you act

So happy

And I seen your heart

Feel blue

Now that you're back

On your feet again

I know I should stay

Away from you

But although the love

That I traded

We lost on the way

The ashes are flying

My passion has burned

Out again

I'm waiting for the dust

To settle down

So all of the love that

We lost may soon be found

( MUSIC FADES DOWN )

Yeah, these three people.

We've, uh, we got a couple of

weeks left before the World Cup.

And I think Fandango's ready.

I just wanna thank you guys for

helping me through a difficult time.

The decision's mine, and, uh...

I want you to ride

Fandango in the World Cup.

I... I just... I don't know

what to say, Cal. I...

Then say yes.

It's just been...

a really long time.

Are you nervous about riding,

or riding against your brother?

A little bit of both.

He's your horse...

always has been.

LILY (O.S.):

All right.

Come on, aw, nice.

Good boy.

Hey, there.

Hey.

Just came to say goodnight.

We're gonna head off.

It's bedtime, huh?

Yeah.

Just wanted to also say how happy

I am that you decided to ride.

Yeah, I'm happy, too.

Claire's happy.

She took your advice.

And according to her, she's very proud of

you that you chose to take your advice, too.

Oh, your little girl

is precious. Yeah.

She is.

Whoa. Who's that?

LILY (O.S.):

Uh, looks like my father.

Um...

Uh, your father.

Mm-hm.

Um, your proudest moment.

You never told me how you felt.

I... I felt terrible.

And then, we went out

for dinner, and we talked.

It was a good talk.

It was, uh, it was the one

I cherish the most.

You'll be okay.

Oh.

Papa.

You're riding in the World Cup

now. Against me? With him?

He couldn't muck my stalls.

Get in the car.

No.

Get in the car.

This is not

your decision to make.

Liliana...

No! This is what I want.

This is what I've always wanted.

And you've kept it from me!

Papa, I am a rider. In my heart,

I've always been a rider.

I've indulged you.

I've given you everything

a woman could possibly want.

Not what I wanted.

What you wanted, for you!

What I wanted?

I wanted you not to get hurt!

And you would have.

And you may yet.

That's not enough?

Not when I can't breathe.

This is my home now.

This your home?

Let me be plain.

You ride in this Cup, on my

horse, with this family...

you're no longer my daughter.

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.):

Ladies and Gentlemen...

welcome to beautiful

Memphis, Tennessee...

home of the World Championship

Paso Fino Finals Competition.

For those of you

watching at home...

we extend a special welcome for first-time

viewers of this storied tradition.

and apologize if you tuned in for the regularly

scheduled syndication of The Waltons.

It will be back next week.

And we guarantee that.

Oh, and speaking

of first-time viewers&

we have a new face inside

the booth this afternoon.

Happy to be here, Jack.

Sitting to my right is Ken McGuire,

who is making his television debut...

following the hip surgery of my

usual co-anchor, Ted Billings.

Ted, we know you're watching

us at home...

and we hope for a speedy

recovery for you, buddy.

Well, thank you for that

introduction, Jack.

I'm... I'm extremely proud to be part

of an under recognized event...

one I'll admit that I haven't

featured in my online column.

But, nonetheless, Paso Fino.

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.): Paso Fino,

that's why we're here today.

The Annual World Cup

Paso Fino Championship.

You know, Jack, I was doing a little

research earlier on the, uh, Google.

And it turns out that Paso Fino

translates directly into "fine step"...

which is very fitting,

since the entire competition...

is a display of the Paso's

smooth four-beat gait.

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.):

That's absolutely right, Ken.

We're now minutes away from the

opening of the competition.

Remember not too much Brio.

Slow and easy.

He likes to show 'em

fast for the judges...

but, uh, today, just be steady.

All right, then.

How are you?

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.): As always,

we begin with the opening presentation.

This is where the horses and

their riders enter the ring...

in order to capture their first

impression from the judges.

Jack, what's the story

with the tuxedos?

You know, it makes me feel like

ordering a gin and tonic.

The riders do look professional,

Ken. Very professional.

( MUSIC FADES UP )

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.):

And this is very exciting.

Riding five-time Paso Fino champion,

Fandango, is Liliana Bolivar.

We haven't seen her compete

for quite some time.

And it will be the first time in the last

half decade anyone other than owner...

Cal Masterson, has ridden in competition

with the champion, Fandango.

Uh, Jack, I'm not sure if my

notes are correct,...

but it... but it seems that she's

competing against a relative?

Number one-fourteen, riding the

aptly-named, Diablo.

Is this correct, Marzo Bolivar?

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.):

Your notes are correct, Ken.

Runner-up the last five years years are

both Diablo and his rider Marzo Bolivar...

brother to Liliana.

Boo.

Sweetie, now come on,

that's not nice.

KEN McGUIRE (OVER P.A.): Well, if the drama

hasn't just ratcheted up a few notches.

Boo!

This is the plot within

a plot...

the family drama backlit by the fires

of professional equestrian competition.

( MUSIC CHANGES )

Do you think the horse

knows he's being judged...

or he came in first,

or second place, or however?

Uh...

You know, I met a wise man once

who told me a fascinating story.

Uh, because thousands of years ago,

we used to hunt and eat horses...

they really don't trust us.

So the fact that these riders

and these owners...

have such a great relationship with these

animals, is truly a remarkable situation.

Corto.

JUDGE (O.S.):

Largo your horses, please.

Largo.

"Corto," "largo." What do these

words translate to, Jack?

It's the short and

long measures of the gait.

Oh, yeah. Here it is.

JUDGE (O.S.):

Line up.

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.): Now,

they'll move on to the individual portion...

of the contest.

First up is the figure eight.

One at a time,

figure eight, and line up.

( TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYING )

KEN MCGUIRE (OVER P.A.): Jack, you know, my

son can do the same thing on a skateboard.

Absolutely blows my mind.

Reminds me, when I was a kid...

Uh, Ken, you don't have to have

an anecdote for everything.

Oh. Okay, well, I guess the

audience at home...

will just not get to hear

a good one this time.

JACK PARNELL (OVER P.A.): Something these

judges are looking for is the "brio"...

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