Brink!

Brink!

Transcribed Script

Written by Jeff Schechter

Directed by Greg Beeman

Transcribed by Jonathan Brewer

Originally released on August 29th, 1998

GIVE BY THE SUICIDE MACHINES

Brink grabs his bag with skates, runs downstairs, bumps into Mom.

MOM:
Oh! Good morning!

BRINK:
What up, Katie?

KATIE:
Let me guess, going to Venice Beach?

Brink squirts chocolate syrup in his mouth.

BRINK:
You know it!

MOM:
Oh, would you stop foraging? Sit down and eat something!

BRINK:
I can’t, mom, I’m late.

MOM:
Wait, wait, wait! Did you clean your room?

BRINK:
No, I’m late!

MOM:
Uh.

Dad comes downstairs, Brink bumps into him.

DAD:
Hey… hey, watch it!

BRINK:
What up, dad!

DAD:
English, Dad up.

________________________________________

Waiting at bus stop.

PETER:
He’ll be here. He said he’d be here.

JORDY:
Maybe something happened to him. I mean, maybe he got hit by a car, or, or maybe his dad’s back started acting up again, and they had to rush him to the hospital.

GABRIELLA:
Or maybe he got kidnapped by aliens.

JORDY:
Don’t joke, that happened to an uncle of mine.

Laughs

GABRIELLA:
You’re a lunatic, you know that?

Bus drives by.

PETER:
Oh man.

GABRIELLA:
Great! This is the weekend. Do you know how long we’re gonna have to wait for the next bus?

BRINK:
Yo guys. What up?

PETER:
Uh, lateness.

BRINK:
Dude, choirnage, my mom made me clean my room before I could leave.

PETER:
Fine, but we missed the bus. Now we’re gonna be late and have to wait to use the pit.

BRINK:
I don’t think so! Haha!

JORDY:
W-w-wait a minute. Wait a minute. You’re not thinking about skating to the beach are you?

BRINK:
Why not Jordy?

JORDY:
Well guys! It’s like a million miles away!

BRINK:
Ahhh, Jordy, Jordy, Jordy! When you woke up this morning, did you say to yourself, “Today I’m gonna talk,” or “Today I’m gonna skate”?

GABRIELLA:
Come on, put em on!

________________________________________

SOONER OR LATER BY FASTBALL

BRINK:
Haha! I told you guys! This is gonna be the perfect start to the last day of summer vacation!

PETER:
Aw, man! Why’d you have to remind us?

Shouting

ALL:
Ah, woohoo, yeah, alright, alright, woo, alright, yeah, woah, haha, yeah

GABRIELLA:
Alright! Move it! Come on!

PETER:
Oh yeah! Ah ha! Come on guys!

BRINK:
Haha, yeah! Come on guys! Let’s get some speed!

GABRIELLA:
Stop saying guys all the time. I’m not a guy.

PETER:
It’s just an expression.

GABRIELLA:
Yeah, well so is, “Cut it out before I deck you.”

BRINK:
Yeah! The beach!

PETER:
Oh yeah! Okay!

Brink, Peter, Gabriella, and Jordy all celebrate.

BRINK:
Aw, yo Peter, that was an ill grab man! Jordy that was sweet man. Gabriella, watch that back leg.

GABRIELLA:
Watch your own back leg.

BRINK:
Hehe

PETER:
Hey yo, check it out. He’s from In-Line Magazine.

GABRIELLA:
What’s he doin here?

PETER:
He musta heard about us.

BRINK:
Cool! Let’s go show em what soul skatin’s all about!

JORDY:
Hey, what’s he waiting for?

JIMMY:
Yeah baby, here we go. Come on boys. Here we go. Yeah! Alright, come on. Lookin good, lookin good. Move it, move it. Alright, give me some shots of the skates. Make sure you get the skates, and get Val center. Val look hip. Come on, look edgy, look good. Good, sell it, come on. Work it.

PETER:
Team Xbladz.

BRINK:
Forget them. We still got the pit, right? Come on big Pete. I wanna see a 540, let’s go! Woo!

Peter attempts the trick, but falls to the ground.

PETER:
Woah! Ah!

JIMMY:
Ow. That hurt.

BRINK:
Aw man. You got warped. You alright bro?

VAL:
He tried to go bio on a 540. 1½ rotations, horizontal in the air.

JIMMY:
Hm. You do that, right?

VAL:
In my sleep.

PETER:
I’m never gonna get that 540.

BRINK:
Sure you will, just not talking like that.

PHOTOGRAPHER:
Jimmy! I’m on a tight schedule here. Can we get these shots somewhere else?

JIMMY:
Nah, nah. I gotta get a picture of the Bladz in the pit. I just gotta figure out how to get rid of these losers.

VAL:
I know em. I’ll just ask em to leave.

JIMMY:
And they’ll do that for you?

VAL:
Of course.

JIMMY:
Cool.

BRINK:
Alright, look. Try to turn your shoulder into the rotation more. It’ll help you out.

PETER:
Right. Thanks man.

Brink skates away.

VAL:
Hoo-oahhh!

Val steps in front of him, forcing him to miss the ramp and fly into the concrete wall.

BRINK:
Ahhh! Woah!

VAL:
Ow!

BRINK:
Ah. Uh.

PETER:
Yo man, you okay?

BRINK:
Yeah man, no problemo.

VAL:
Yo Brink what’s up? Now, you gonna do that at the Invitational, or save it for the Championship?

BRINK:
Say, you know what Val? I don’t think you skate so good anymore, man. I don’t know, maybe you should bag both competitions.

VAL:
Nah. Then I’d have to give back all this cool stuff.

PETER:
Ooh. Sponsored skaters. Big deal.

WORM:
It is a big deal. Team Xbladz rules. Everybody knows that.

VAL:
Speakin of which, we got a photo shoot we’re tryin to do here. Mind getting lost?

GABRIELLA:
Mind if I kick your butt?

BRINK:
Wait. We had the pit first. You know how it is.

VAL:
Yeah, but we have it now. See, you guys left the pit. B.J.’s using it. Aren’t you Beej?

B.J.:
I’m the man.

JORDY:
You guys snake didn’t even know it.

VAL:
You guys should’ve left someone to save your place. You know how it is.

GABRIELLA:
Val, you are such a jerk. And that goes for you too, worm.

WORM:
Hey Gabriella, ever get arrested for impersonating a boy?

GABRIELLA:
No. You?

BRINK:
Haha.

VAL:
Forget about em. Maybe in a couple of years they’ll be good enough and someone will wanna put their pictures in a magazine. Maybe not.

BRINK:
Come on let’s go.

Brink, Peter, Gabriella, and Jordy skate away.

BRINK:
Check it out, I got an idea.

They approach a group of skateboarders.

BRINK:
Um, excuse me, can I ask you guys a question? All skateboarders aren’t really wusses are they? I mean, no no no, they all can’t be no-talent, no-skill, half-smart, in-line skating wannabes, am I right?

SKATEBOARD GUY:
What was that?

BRINK:
Dude, dude, personally, I don’t think that at all, alright? But that’s exactly what those guys over there told us.

SKATEBOARD GUY:
Those guys said that?

BRINK:
Yeah man!

SKATEBOARD GUY:
Let’s go.

Skateboard guy and crew go over to the Pit to rough up Val and the Xbladz crew.

PETER:
Oh that was rough man.

JORDY:
Val’s gonna freak!

SKATEBOARD GUY:
Hey! I heard you been talkin about me!

GABRIELLA:
If he lives!

SKATEBOARD GUY:
You got something to say? Why don’t you say it to my face? Huh? You been talkin about me? You got something to say?

________________________________________

BRINK:
Yo, wassup fam!

DAD:
It’s just not normal, that’s all.

MOM:
Ralph, please.

DAD:
No one should be that happy all the time.

MOM:
Well what’s the matter with being happy? He’s a great kid.

DAD:
It’s just not normal. That’s all.

MOM:
Hahahaha

KATIE:
Do I have to go to school? Why can’t I be home-schooled like the Wyatts?

DAD:
Now you see? Katie is a normal child. Today’s the first day of school, and she’s miserable.

MOM:
Because, sweetheart, home-schooling is expensive. Besides, the Wyatts are Mormon.

KATIE:
Why can’t we be Mormons?

MOM:
I’ll look into it.

BRINK:
Yo, let the games begin!

DAD:
Katie, you’re the future of this family. Now go to school.

MOM:
You ready for your first day of school, sweetheart?

BRINK:
Absolutely!

DAD:
Then why don’t you wear something that doesn’t look like somebody just let the air out of it?

BRINK:
Dad, the kids at school are down with this style! Hey, so how’s the back treatin you today? Thanks mom.

DAD:
Well if you ask me, I feel good enough to be goin back to work already.

MOM:
Soon.

MOM:
Listen, Andy, are you sure you don’t want me to drop you?

BRINK:
Got it covered. What’s for lunch today dad?

DAD:
What’s your least favorite?

BRINK:
Mmmm, bologna on white with extra mayo.

DAD:
That’s what I made for you.

BRINK:
Aw, yeah! Peace out!

________________________________________

Walking up to the front steps at school.

BRINK:
Hey Pete, Jordy, what’s up guys!

PETER:
Hey Brink.

BRINK:
Hey you guys look bumming. What’s goin on?

JORDY:
Nine more months until summer vacation comes again.

BRINK:
Hey, did you guys hear about what happened to Gabriella?

JORDY:
Is she okay?

PETER:
Man.

BRINK:
Dude, what happened?

PETER:
It’s awful.

JORDY:
What?

PETER:
She… uh, it’s too bad. I can’t say it.

Gabriella gets out of the bus.

BRINK:
No. I – I – I’m seeing things, aren’t I?

JORDY:
I didn’t even know she owned one of those.

PETER:
It’s a dress, man.

GABRIELLA:
Anybody say anything, and I’ll hand you a body part.

BRINK:
Hey Gab, personally I think it’s phat. Mad cool, right guys?

JORDY:
Absolutely. Beautiful.

BRINK:
Yeah, totally.

PETER:
I think it’s great. I love it.

GABRIELLA:
Yeah, ok. Look my mom made me wear this dress. “Back in Peru all the girls wear dresses on their first day of school.” I’s like, “Ma, this isn’t Peru.” She says, “It is if I say it is.”

WORM:
Heads up!

GABRIELLA:
What?

Val grabs Peter’s shoes.

PETER:
Hey, give me those.

BRINK:
Come on man, give em back.

VAL:
Why don’t you get your skateboarder friends to make me?

BRINK:
Haha! That was pretty dope, huh? Haha.

VAL:
Oh yeah. I’m still laughing about it.

Val throws Peter’s shoes up on a line.

STUDENTS:
Woah!

VAL:
Hahaha. Oh, now that’s dope.

GABRIELLA:
Val! What is your problem?

BOOMER:
Hey man, I thought we were only gonna mess with em.

VAL:
Hey, that’s what we’re doin! You narc on me, you leave me no choices.

PETER:
This is just great!

Bell rings.

GABRIELLA:
Here you go, man. If you don’t lace em up, they’ll probably fit you. See, I was planning on changing into some real clothes when I got here.

PETER:
You mean, you’re gonna go through an entire first day of school wearing… those for me?

GABRIELLA:
Just take em before I change my mind, okay?

BRINK:
Aw man, you guys see that? Soul skaters! I mean, together there is nothing we can’t do.

PETER:
That’s right guys, soul skaters!

BRINK:
Yes.

PETER:
Alright!

BRINK:
Uh!

________________________________________

SCIENCE TEACHER:
Earthworm is the uh, uh common name that is given to over 1000 different species of worms in a class of the annelid phylum. Uh, earthworms are cylindrical in shape and they…

PETER:
Yo man, are we gonna have Val on our cases all year?

BRINK:
I got a plan!

JORDY:
Brink, my man, Val’s not exactly playing with a full deck. Let’s not do anything we’re gonna regret.

GABRIELLA:
Hey! What’s the plan?

SCIENCE TEACHER:
…as large as 11 feet. Imagine that.

________________________________________

Jordy walks by Val and crew and intentionally spills milk on their table.

JORDY:
Oh man! I’m so sorry. Ah man.

Gabriella takes Val’s sandwich when he’s not looking, Brink puts handful of worms in his sandwich, Peter places it back at Val’s table.

VAL:
See ya buddy.

WORM:
Hey you’re not finished man! What’s his problem?

VAL:
He’s a soul skater. That’s his problem man.

Val takes bite of worm-filled sandwich.

ALL:
Oh! Ah!

Lot’s of oh’s

TEACHER:
Is there a problem, Val?

Jordy, Brink, Gabriella, and Peter hold up signs saying “Don’t be a wuss.”

VAL:
No, I, um, thought I saw a bug or something.

TEACHER:
Well get over it.

PETER:
Hey! You know in some countries, worms are considered a delicacy. Go figure!

VAL:
You, us, right now out back.

________________________________________

STUDENTS:
Fight, fight! Hey guys check it out!

BRINK:
Say, it’s uh, very nice Val. Have you ever thought about working with garbage cans for a living?

VAL:
Hm, you ever give that mouth of yours a rest?

BRINK:
I don’t know. Do I?

VAL:
Personally, I just wanna pound the snot outta ya. Boomer suggested a race instead. We race, you win, we stop giving you beef. You lose, and man, it’s like open season on your butts. Deal?

BRINK:
Come on, you know there’s no skating allowed at school.

VAL:
Yeah, I knew you couldn’t step up. What did I tell ya. No heart.

STUDENTS:
Oooh!

BRINK:
Let’s do it.

STUDENTS:
Yeah! Come on! Yeah!

JORDY:
Brink! We could get in trouble, man!

BRINK:
Dude, we’re gonna have to skate against these guys sooner or later. Why not sooner?

GABRIELLA:
Yeah, why not?

VAL:
Alright, we go side by side. When you get to the relay point, you gotta slap the next guy’s hand.

PETER:
Or girl’s hand.

GABRIELLA:
Thank you.

VAL:
Whatever. Before he can go.

PETER:
Or she can go.

GABRIELLA:
Thank you.

VAL:
Crissy, call the start. Let’s go.

CRISSY:
Alright. On your marks.

GABRIELLA:
You don’t talk much.

CRISSY:
Get set.

GABRIELLA:
I like that in a man.

CRISSY:
Go!

JORDY:
Go Gabriella! Let’s go!

PETER:
Come on, buddy!

BRINK:
Pete! Come on Pete!

VAL:
Let’s go!

Boomer hits rail, goes down hard.

VAL:
Come on, Boomer, you wuss!

BOOMER:
Ahhh!

Brink turns back to help Boomer.

PETER:
Brink, man, what are you doing?

BRINK:
Lay still, man. This happened to me last time. Now you just gotta lay still and lie down.

BOOMER:
Oh!

BRINK:
Just don’t get up. Kimbal, you go get a nurse, tell her to bring some ice, right now! Go! Go!

BOOMER:
What are you doing?

BRINK:
Easy man. Dude, I’m gonna have the nurse take a look at it.

JORDY:
Brink, man, the race!

BRINK:
Relax. Just relax, man.

BOOMER:
You lost the race to help me? Brink, man, I don’t get you.

BRINK:
Take a number.

STUDENTS:
Teachers! Teachers!

VAL:
Nice!

BOOMER:
Ahhh!

________________________________________

DAD:
I think it’s a record. I’m pretty sure it is.

BRINK:
Yo dad, please.

DAD:
What was it? 4 ½ hours into the new school year before being suspended?

BRINK:
It’s only for today. And besides I can explain to you what happened.

DAD:
No no, don’t don’t don’t, wait, I’ll just read about it in the papers. A record like this has gotta attract media attention.

BRINK:
Dad! Val and his crew were dissin us, so we started givin em beef right back, and then they wanted to hit it right there at school. And clearly, we couldn’t step off, so we had to battle!

DAD:
Who are you? What have you done with my son?

BRINK:
Gah, dad!

DAD:
Don’t they teach English at your school? No, wait a minute, what am I asking you for? You haven’t been there long enough to find out.

BRINK:
Dad, you’re not listening to me!

DAD:
Sure I am! You got dissed, you ate beef. Did I miss anything?

Car hissing

DAD:
Great. Lovely. Just lovely.

Gets out, smacks car hood.

________________________________________

DAD:
Well, let’s recap, shall we. The, um, car’s gonna cost us $900. Dentist called to say that if we don’t spend $300 bucks on Katie’s night brace she’s going to have a smile like a Picasso painting. I called Beckman today to see if there was going to be a job waiting for me when my disability was over, and he said that he couldn’t promise anything, and your son was suspended from school on his first day. So. How was your day?

MOM:
It was fine.

DAD:
Sell any houses?

MOM:
Uh, no.

DAD:
Show any houses?

MOM:
No.

DAD:
Well then. Our troubles are over.

MOM:
Oh come on. Be nice.

DAD:
Sorry.

MOM:
It’s gonna be okay. Ralph, we have been through much worse than this.

DAD:
If you say so.

MOM:
Ralph, do you remember when you fell off that beam? Honey, we didn’t even know if you were gonna walk again. Yeah, I’d say that was worse. And now look at you. Struttin around, you can’t wait to get back to work.

DAD:
All I need is my job back.

MOM:
Don’t worry about the money. We’re gonna be okay. Hey, the mortgage isn’t due til the first of the month.

Brink eavesdrops from behind the corner.

MOM:
We’ll figure it out. We always do.

________________________________________

GABRIELLA:
Well, there was screaming and then yelling and then there was crying and hugging. It was all very Peruvian. So how’d your fam deal with it, Jordy?

JORDY:
Well, there was sitting and staring. And then afterwards, there was some more sitting and staring. I mean, for all I know, my parents are still in the living room sitting and staring.

PETER:
Yeah well, Jerry handled it kind of the way it was done at Gabriella’s. There was screaming, yelling, crying, and hugging. Only without the hugging. My mother was conveniently hiding in the next room.

GABRIELLA:
Hey, at least you got two parents.

PETER:
I got a mom and a Jerry. Do the math. That’s one parent.

BRINK:
Look uh, guys, things got a little out of hand the other day, you know. We, we just, we gotta chill and let things blow over. Alright?

PETER:
Hey check it out. Jerkweeds at 2 o’clock.

WORM:
Hi ya children!

GABRIELLA:
Excuse me, but I believe we out skated your sorry butts yesterday, old man.

WORM:
Anytime you wanna go at it again I’ll…

VAL:
Cut it out! Guess you heard about Boomer.

BRINK:
Yeah. How long is he gonna be out?

VAL:
A couple of weeks. For sure is out of the Invitational. Means there’s an open spot on the team.

BRINK:
Ha, yeah right. Like we’re gonna try out for Team Xbladz.

PETER:
Yeah.

GABRIELLA:
Haha.

VAL:
Like any of you have the talent. I’m telling you so that you garments know you’re not invited.

GABRIELLA:
Good, you told us. Now beat it!

VAL:
You don’t get it do you? Being a sponsored skater is cool. I get all the newest gear whenever I need it. Get my picture in every skating magazine on the planet.

GABRIELLA:
Oh, now I’m nauseous.

BRINK:
Hehe.

VAL:
And, I make a lot of money. Just think about that. Being known as the best. Gettin paid at the same time. What could be sweeter?

PETER:
Hey look, we don’t care about any of that stuff. We skate for fun. We’re soul skaters. Right Brink?

BRINK:
[Pauses] Right, right.

VAL:
Why is it that the losers always say they’re in it for fun? Come on.

GABRIELLA:
Could you believe that guy?

PETER:
Skatin for money.

JORDY:
Sell out.

WORM:
Think he’ll show?

VAL:
You know it.

________________________________________

JORDY:
Ok dude, give us a 540. I wanna see it laid out and inverted. You can do it!

Peter attempts 540 and falls.

GABRIELLA:
Ah man.

PETER:
Eh, there’s gotta be a better way to do this.

GABRIELLA:
There is! Don’t fall!

Brink slides on rail, slips off, and falls.

BRINK:
Uh!

PETER:
You okay dude?

BRINK:
Ah, yeah man.

JORDY:
Hey man, what’s up with you today? You’re lookin so sketchy.

BRINK:
Nothing man. I’m fine.

GABRIELLA:
Cool.

BRINK:
Hey guys, look. I gotta get goin. I got this family thing to do this afternoon.

GABRIELLA:
Wait a minute. What about our session? The Invitational’s in two weeks. It’s the last competition before the championship.

BRINK:
Yeah I know. Look, you guys keep on training, and, um, Peter keep on working on that 540 and I’ll do some of my own stuff on my own, alright?

PETER:
Okay.

BRINK:
Alright.

Brink skates away.

JORDY:
Bye!

________________________________________

UNKNOWN SONG PLAYING

[…that reminds me of things way back then

Like dark clouds over memory that’s haunting me I really do care

All of… ]

VAL:
Alright, that’s it for now. I’ve got your numbers, I’ll call you if you made it.

BOOMER:
What about Brad.

VAL:
No good. Too buckled. Right?

B.J.:
Yeah.

BOOMER:
Markoff?

VAL:
No way! Nobody wants to session with him.

WORM:
We only need him for one month, and after that never gotta talk to him again. What do you think Beej?

B.J.:
Naw man, I don’t think so.

WORM:
Too bad your secret weapon was a no show.

Brink skates in.

BOOMER:
I don’t believe it.

VAL:
What did I tell ya? Watch this. No way man, no way!

BRINK:
How much?

VAL:
What?

BRINK:
Does Xbladz pay? How much?

VAL:
Well, $200 a week, plus all equipment, plus an extra $200 bonus for each of us when we win tournaments, but there’s no way I’m gonna let you on the team.

BRINK:
Yeah, well there’s no way I wanted to be here, but I need the money.

WORM:
Oh what for? Grandma needs a new kitty?

VAL:
Besides, I thought you were a, uh w-what do you guys call that? Oh, soul skater. So how bout you turn around and soul skate on outta here.

BOOMER:
Yeah, Brink, man, get outta here.

BRINK:
Fine.

VAL:
Wait a second. You got 30 seconds. Street run. One chance.

Brink skates very well.

VAL:
Times up. How are you on vert?

BRINK:
Just as good as street, maybe better.

VAL:
Downhill?

BRINK:
I can do it all.

BOOMER:
Hey, uh, how bout Peter and the rest? They know you’re doin this?

WORM:
This is gonna be good. I can’t wait to see the look on their faces.

BRINK:
No way. Look, this is just for the Invitational until Boomer gets back on his feet. If this gets out, then I don’t skate with you and you got nobody. Got that?

VAL:
Hey, [puts arm around Brink] we won’t say anything, but you have to be at every practice.

BRINK:
Alright.

VAL:
And, um, no more baggin on me in front of people. From now on, you start showin me some respect, you got that?

Brink shrugs Val’s arm off of his shoulder.

BRINK:
Yeah, got it.

VAL:
Let’s go see Jimmy.

________________________________________

Watching footage of Val skating.

JIMMY:
Oh! You went big there my man. Hahahaha. You see Andy, uh oh, you mind if I call you Andy?

BRINK:
Uh, Brink. I like Brink.

JIMMY:
Brink. I love that! Brink! Hahaha. Yeah, you see that’s what Xbladz is all about my man. Goin big. I’m in 1200 outlets nationwide. Last year, I moved over 10 million dollars worth of merchandise. And all because of Team Xblade. So, I guess the big question is, are you ready to go big for Xblade?

BRINK:
Big as you want.

JIMMY:
Ha! Haha, did you hear that? As big as I want! Oh, you guy, you better watch your back or this boy here’s liable to put you out of a job.

VAL:
Don’t worry about that, Jimmy.

JIMMY:
So, Val uh, he told you about the money and how that works, and you’re uh, you’re okay with that, right?

BRINK:
Yeah.

JIMMY:
Alright. Well it’s official then. You’re part of the team. From now on, there’ll be no competin unless you’re flying the Xblade colors. You got that?

BRINK:
Alright.

JIMMY:
Alright? I’m gonna need you 24/7 for like photo shoots, promos, industry shows, stuff like that.

BRINK:
Okay.

JIMMY:
Okay. Hahaha. Well then…

Reaches out hand for handshake, pulls back.

JIMMY:
Ah, parents? Your parents know about this?

BRINK:
My parents?

JIMMY:
Yeah, they’re down with this? Your parents are cool with this?

BRINK:
Oh, my parents, yeah, totally.

JIMMY:
Okay, alright, okay! Well then… welcome to Team Xbladz.

They shake hands.

________________________________________

BRINK:
Sup Katie?

KATIE:
What’s in the bag?

BRINK:
Some stuff.

KATIE:
You got more stuff now than when you left. What’s in the bag?

BRINK:
Nunya.

KATIE:
Nunya?

BRINK:
Nunya business.

KATIE:
Hehe.

________________________________________

Brink pulls out new gear.

BRINK:
Whoa. Ah, cool. Wait a second. Um.

Hides gear. Flops down on bed.

BRINK:
Ah man, what am I doin?

________________________________________

Brinker family at the dinner table. Katie is eating fast.

DAD:
[Laughing] Hmhmhmhmhm.

MOM:
Katie. Honey, why don’t you slow down a little bit?

KATIE:
What’s the point of having a fast metabolism if I don’t use it?

MOM:
Well, she’s got something there. Andy, are you okay? You’ve hardly eaten anything.

BRINK:
Um, with dad not working around here and stuff, I think that maybe it’s time I got a job, to help out around here, you know, with the money and stuff.

MOM:
Oh Andy, that is a wonderful offer, but you don’t have to do that. Mr. Beckman’s gonna give dad his job back. And I, and I just showed a house today to some people. I think they’re very interested.

DAD:
No, I don’t, no no no, w-w-wait a second, wait a second, wait a second. I think it’s good. What kind of a job you talkin about?

BRINK:
Well I know these kids who make extra money skating.

DAD:
Skating.

BRINK:
Yeah, you see they got on a sponsored team. And then the sponsor pays them to wear their gear and stuff. It’s kinda like, um, advertising.

KATIE:
I thought you skated just for fun.

MOM:
You know, maybe he could save it for school.

DAD:
How much money does a sponsored skater make?

BRINK:
Couple hundred a week. More if the team wins.

KATIE:
Whoa! Couple of hundred bucks a week, I like!

DAD:
That’s a lot of money. No.

BRINK:
But dad! I’m thinkin like the car needs fixing.

DAD:
No!

MOM:
What?

DAD:
Isn’t this the kid who was just suspended from school for, um, geez uh, what was it, um…

KATIE:
Skating.

DAD:
Thank you, sweetheart.

MOM:
Skating.

DAD:
Yeah. Yeah. What do we need him to be on a sponsored team for? So he can spend all of his time thinking about skating instead of just most of it? Look buddy, you wanna get a job, I think that’s great. Not skating.

BRINK:
Dad, it’s 200 dollars a week!

DAD:
Not skating!

________________________________________

Brink in bedroom on the phone with Peter.

PETER:
So, Jordy, he hits the rail, pulls it halfway then lands it right on his crotch! Oh man, the poor dude got worked. I thought Gabriella was gonna need oxygen she was laughing so hard. I thought he should put some ice on it, but he just kept saying, “No ice! No ice!”

STEPDAD:
Peter! I need the phone!

PETER:
Hold on a sec. You can use it when I’m done! You know, we did okay after you took off, but it just wasn’t the same without you.

BRINK:
Come on man, you don’t mean that.

PETER:
Excuse me? You’re the captain of our team remember? We can’t have our captain missing any more sessions.

BRINK:
Hey Peter, look there’s something I gotta tell you right now man.

PETER:
Wait a sec.

STEPDAD:
Now Peter!

PETER:
I’m getting off! Brink, man, I’m sorry. Stepdad is about to go postal on me if I don’t let him use the phone. I’ll see ya at school tomorrow.

Peter hangs up.

BRINK:
Wait, wait, Pete! Pete! Gah!

________________________________________

In home ec. class baking

JORDY:
You need more baking powder.

GABRIELLA:
What?

JORDY:
The recipe has a large TS above it. That means tablespoon. A small T means teaspoon.

GABRIELLA:
Why are you even watching me?

PETER:
Here you go. Hey, you okay, man? It’s only a cake.

BRINK:
Yeah, yeah. Hey, uh, you guys ever notice that baking a cake is a lot like friendship?

PETER:
Excuse me?

BRINK:
Nah, I mean… alright, you put a lotta work into it, right? And sometimes it doesn’t turn out the way you expected it to. But it still tastes good.

GABRIELLA:
I told you not to eat that spoonful of frosting.

PETER:
Yeah man, sugar can mess you up.

JORDY:
It’s true. I have this cousin, and she’s not allowed to eat any sugar. But one day she had like 4 jelly beans and she started bouncing off the walls like a pinball! I mean, it was like…

GABRIELLA:
Shut up Jordy! Please.

BRINK:
Alright, look guys, there’s something I’m trying to tell you.

GABRIELLA:
There you go with that “guy” stuff again.

BRINK:
Gabriella, chill out for a second. I gotta talk to you guys about the Invitational.

PETER:
Ah yeah man. We’re gonna have a good time, huh?

GABRIELLA:
Sweet!

Val walks in.

VAL:
Hey Betty Crockers! Oh, love the aprons! So, how’s the training going? I mean, the Invitational’s right around the corner. Last two years, the team that won the Invitational did go on to win the championship. Now what team was that? Hm. Oh, that’s right, Team Xbladz!

GABRIELLA:
Val, could you be any more of a jerk?

Val makes kissy face at Gabriella.

GABRIELLA:
No, I don’t think so.

VAL:
Is that what you think? You think I’m a jerk?

BRINK:
Ah, come on Val, we’re working here man.

VAL:
Hey! I asked you something. Do you think I’m a jerk?

BRINK:
No.

VAL:
Oh, excuse me?

BRINK:
No, I don’t think you’re a jerk.

VAL:
Oh, thank you. See ya this afternoon, Brink.

Val walks out.

PETER:
Yo, buddy, what happened?

GABRIELLA:
Yeah, what’s up with that? You just let Val slime all over you?

BRINK:
He’s not worth it.

JORDY:
What did he mean he’d see you this afternoon?

BRINK:
Uh, who knows? Huh.

________________________________________

Brink skating at Xbladz facility, doing well.

WORM:
Hey man, good job.

BRINK:
Thanks man.

GIRL:
That was rad, Brink!

Brink sits to rest.

VAL:
What was that?

BRINK:
Excuse me?

VAL:
I just wanted to know what that was because if you call that going big, I’m gonna quit skating.

BRINK:
Well we’re all gonna miss you buddy.

WORM:
Hahahaha, gotcha!

VAL:
Hit it again.

BRINK:
You’re kidding me right?

VAL:
Hit it again.

WORM:
Come on Val, he’s doin okay.

VAL:
Who’s running the show here? Who?

WORM:
You.

VAL:
That’s right. Do it or vacate.

Brink gets up, slings water bottle, goes to skate again.

VAL:
Good doggie

________________________________________

JORDY:
Maybe something happened to him.

PETER:
Like what?

GABRIELLA:
And please don’t start with that alien stuff again.

BRINK:
Yo, what up?

PETER:
Hey where you been man? We’ve been waiting here for two hours. I gotta be home by 5:30. Jerry’s having his boss over for dinner, and I gotta pretend I worship the ground he walks on.

BRINK:
Well then, what are we all doing standing around talkin?

PETER:
Hey, did you guys hear? Val found someone to replace Boomer.

GABRIELLA:
Yeah, I heard that too.

BRINK:
Yeah, yeah I heard it too. I heard, I heard the guy was a big guy, big guy, like Korean, I think. Wait, no no no, he was Native American. Yeah, that was it.

JORDY:
I heard he’s really good.

PETER:
Hey, I don’t care how good he is. He isn’t better than my man here.

GABRIELLA:
Look, that just means that we gotta hit it twice as hard. Let’s do it!

BRINK:
[to himself, unenthusiastically and very tired] Yeah. Let’s do it.

________________________________________

BRINK:
Sup dad?

DAD:
Just tryin to fix the beast here without any real knowledge of auto mechanics.

Brink yawns.

DAD:
What’s the matter with you?

BRINK:
Uh, nothing really. I’m just a little tired.

DAD:
Too much skating?

BRINK:
Skating? Too much? Me? No way.

DAD:
Well, you won’t have to worry about that anymore. I got you a job.

BRINK:
A job?

DAD:
My friend, Benny, he’s got the dog grooming place, he’s looking for somebody to help out a couple of afternoons a week.

BRINK:
Well that’s great dad, but I, I, I don’t know a thing about animals.

DAD:
You babysit your sister, Katie, don’t you? It can’t be a lot different than that. Come on, what’s wrong? I thought you wanted to help out around here.

BRINK:
Ah no, dad, I do. I just, I don’t have the time for a job right now.

DAD:
Why? And please don’t tell me skating. Because you know what my response is going to be.

BRINK:
When do I start?

________________________________________

GIVE BY THE SUICIDE MACHINES

Montage of Brink hitting alarm clock, falling out of bed, loading backpack, falling asleep in class, falling asleep at lunch while friends look at him weird, running to work, washing dog, dog jumps out and makes a mess, leaving work, at Xbladz practice, knees are wobbling, skating to the Pit to practice with friends, slowly walking home, doing homework, passing out in bed, Mom comes in late and tucks him in.

________________________________________

Peter comes over to see Brink who is in bed faking sick.

PETER:
Brink?

BRINK:
Hey man.

PETER:
I came as soon as I could. How you feelin?

BRINK:
Ah, not so good.

PETER:
You look terrible. You’re soaked with sweat.

BRINK:
I know man. Hey, look, I can’t make it to the Invitational today. I’m sorry.

PETER:
Hey no big. Just feel better, okay? Yeah. Hey could you do me a huge favor and get me a tissue over there?

PETER:
Sure.

Peter turns to grab tissue. Brink squirts water on face.

PETER:
Here you go.

BRINK:
Thanks man.

PETER:
Hey, you’ll tell the others for me?

PETER:
Sure. Hey, we’ll go down there and check it out anyway.

BRINK:
[Jumping up] No! [Laying back down] I mean, no man, don’t. I mean, you know, the Invitational, it’s only a warm up for the championship. You guys should session instead.

PETER:
Okay, you’re the boss. Take it easy.

They shake hands.

BRINK:
Alright man.

Peter wipes his hand on his shirt and leaves.

BRINK:
Ah man.

________________________________________

VAL:
[Inaudible] But I told him to be here an hour ago.

WORM:
He’ll be here.

VAL:
Since when did you start stickin up for him?

B.J.:
Hey.

VAL:
What do you think you’re doin?

BRINK:
Hey guys.

VAL:
So, uh, what’s with the shades?

BRINK:
It’s a look. There’s nothing wrong with a look.

GUY:
Yo XBladz! You’re up.

VAL:
Well that look of yours better come with some skating attached.

________________________________________

GABRIELLA:
This is nuts! We should at least check out the Invitational. See who our competition is!

JORDY:
Yeah, maybe get a glimpse of the XBladz mystery man.

PETER:
Hey, come on guys. Brink said we should session.

GABRIELLA:
And we will! After. Come on. We should at least catch the last round. Are you coming?

________________________________________

ANNOUNCER:
Next up, Ricky Grinds. Team Lightyear. [Ricky skates well.] 92.

GUY:
Yeah! Alright! Great job!

ANNOUNCER:
Team Lightyear.

VAL:
Look at that! We need at least a 96 to win. I’ve been carrying your sorry butts all day, and I’m just about ready to drop all three of you. And you, I thought you were supposed to be something – “As big as you want!” – well, I want real big. And I want it right now, you got that?

BRINK:
Got it.

ANNOUNCER:
Next up, Andy “Brink” Brinker.

GUY:
3, 2, 1, go!

Brink skates well.

JORDY:
That must be the new kid. He doesn’t look Korean.

GABRIELLA:
That’s because he’s not.

Brink finishes his run.

BRINK:
Woo! Haha! How was that?

VAL:
I’ll tell you in a few seconds. Oh. Nice.

ANNOUNCER:
97. Team Xbladz.

JIMMY:
My man, Val.

VAL:
Hey alright.

JIMMY:
Hahahaha. And you my man. Now I knew you would be good, but I did not know you would be great!

BRINK:
Thanks Jimmy.

JIMMY:
You guys kill. You’re gonna be unstoppable at the Championship. Look, I got a little something, huh? It’s a bonus for winning. 200 dollars. Not bad for a day’s work, huh?

Gabriella runs up and shoves Brink to the ground.

BRINK:
Uh! Oh!

GABRIELLA:
I knew it! All those excuses! All that sneaking away! You ditched us so you could join these sell-outs!

BRINK:
Gabriella, I can explain everything!

JORDY:
Explain how you lied to us? How you bailed out on us so you could join Team Xbladz?

PETER:
Do you have any idea how many times I stuck up for you?

BRINK:
Peter!

PETER:
And your stupid fever. Come on.

BRINK:
Come on, wait! I can explain…

VAL:
Alright, play time’s over. I say we get together tonight and go over some drills for the Championship.

Brink throws helmet at Val and walks off.

JIMMY:
Well, looks like we just lost our fourth man.

VAL:
I don’t think so, Jimmy.

________________________________________

Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella at the Pier eating.

PETER:
Okay, it’s like this. We need four people to compete in the Championship, right? We’ll get Benji.

GABRIELLA:
Mmm. No, not Benji. His style is so sketchy.

JORDY:
She’s right, he’s like two steps above a poser.

PETER:
No, I know. But we just get him to sign up with us, then we keep rotating ourselves in instead of him.

JORDY:
Yeah, but what about the downhill? Which one of us can handle that?

PETER:
Alright, we’ll go check out the downhill course. See who can do it?

GABRIELLA:
Hm.

Brink walks up.

BRINK:
How bout me? Um, okay if I sit down?

PETER:
Sure, it’s okay.

Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella get up and walk off.

BRINK:
Wait! Wait! You guys come on! I quit Val’s team. I quit!

VAL:
You wanna know the difference between them and me? You bailed on them, and you bailed on me. The difference is, I’m willing to be your friend again. Boomer’s not gonna be ready for the Championship. Them… they’re going nowhere fast. But us, we got a Championship to win.

WORM:
Alright! Welcome back!

________________________________________

DAD:
It’s just not normal, that’s all.

MOM:
He’s tired. And he’s a teenager.

DAD:
Nobody’s that unhappy all the time. I mean, it’s been two weeks.

MOM:
Didn’t you use to complain because he was too happy?

DAD:
Yeah, I guess I just hoped he’d settle somewhere in the middle. It’s so depressing to talk to him. And what about his friends?

KATIE:
They’re still mad at him over something. They won’t say what.

MOM:
Why don’t you talk to him?

DAD:
Me?

MOM:
Yeah.

DAD:
Talk to Brink? You mean with words?

MOM:
Yeah.

DAD:
You know how hard it is for me to have a conversation with him?

KATIE:
I know. He’s such a moody little sack of hormones.

MOM:
Honey, talk to him. He needs you. Go.

________________________________________

Brink sitting on the porch. Dad walks up.

BRINK:
Yo dad.

DAD:
Yo. Could I talk to you for a second?

BRINK:
Yeah.

DAD:
So, I haven’t seen Peter or Jordy for a while. Why’s that?

BRINK:
Just a thing.

DAD:
A thing? Alright. Answers that question. Everything okay with them?

BRINK:
Yeah dad, it’s fine.

DAD:
Is that fine as in good, or fine as in leave me alone?

BRINK:
I don’t know dad, I just don’t feel like talkin about it, okay?

DAD:
Okay. It’s none of my business. Except, Andy, you’re my son. Taking care of you is my business. You can tell me or don’t tell me, it’s okay. But that doesn’t change my job description. You change your mind, I’m here, buddy.

________________________________________

VAL:
The Championship has three parts: street, vert, and downhill. This is gonna be the downhill course. The two teams who have the highest scores on street and vert send one person right here. Yo, earth to Brink! Pay attention! What are you looking at?

BRINK:
Well, I’s just thinking about how fun it might be to do a launch off one of those driveways right there, go up and over the roof of the next house, and land right back on the road below.

VAL:
Fun.

BRINK:
Yeah! Fun.

VAL:
Well, if you don’t mind coming back from fantasy land for a minute. This is about winning, not fun.

GABRIELLA:
Oh this is just great.

PETER:
I guess they’ll let anybody skate here.

VAL:
What are you guys, following us?

JORDY:
We came to use the downhill course.

WORM:
Well, when we’re done with it, it’s all yours.

JORDY:
When’s that gonna be?

WORM:
After the Championship. Hahaha.

VAL:
Come on now, run along.

GABRIELLA:
This is a free country, we can be here if we want.

VAL:
Look, if you don’t like it here, why don’t you go back to Mexico?

GABRIELLA:
I’m from Peru, estupido!

VAL:
I’ll make you a deal. How bout we race to see who stays and who goes. One of you against one of us.

BRINK:
Come on man, just let em have it.

PETER:
Why don’t you just stay out of this?

GABRIELLA:
Yeah, we can handle ourselves.

VAL:
Well let’s see. Who’s skating for your crew?

GABRIELLA:
Me.

WORM:
Hahahaha.

VAL:
Cool. You ready?

BRINK:
What?

VAL:
You against Gabriella. Whoever loses has to take off. And you better not lose, man.

BRINK:
Come on man, you can’t make me do that.

GABRIELLA:
Come on man. What are you afraid?

BRINK:
I’m not skating against you.

PETER:
Hey why not? You’ve been doing it for weeks.

VAL:
Cool. We’ll go down to the beach. First one there wins. I’ll skate down to the finish line to make sure there’s no cheating. [Whispering to Brink] There’s a big turn just before Ketner, stay on the outside.

BRINK:
What? W-wait wait, you never stay on the outside of a turn.

VAL:
Just do it.

BRINK:
Gabriella, please don’t do this.

GABRIELLA:
When you woke up this morning, did you say to yourself, “Today I’m gonna talk” or “Today I’m gonna skate”?

PETER:
Okay, on your marks…

GABRIELLA:
Oh and uh…

PETER:
Get set…

GABRIELLA:
Don’t hold back.

PETER:
Go!

GABRIELLA:
Move! [Jumps off of landscaping truck ramp.] Woo!

PETER:
Did you see that?

JORDY:
Whoa!

BRINK:
Gabriella! Move to the outside!

GABRIELLA:
Yeah right! [Slips on gravel, goes down hard rolling on the ground] Ah! Oh! Uh!

JORDY:
Oh man!

PETER:
Gabriella!

JORDY:
Gabriella!

BRINK:
Gabby!

WORM:
What happened? Val?

VAL:
I don’t know.

JORDY:
Gabriella!

PETER:
She’s hurt man.

JORDY:
Oh no.

BRINK:
Oh man.

Peter and Jordy look at Brink. Brink looks at Val.

________________________________________

APOLOGY BY CLARISSA

BRINK:
Hi. How’s she doin?

JORDY:
Not dead.

BRINK:
It’s all my fault.

PETER:
You got that right. Come on Jord.

MS. DELAMA:
Hello Brink.

BRINK:
Um, hi Misses DeLama. How’s she doin?

MS. DELAMA:
Thank God, Gabriella’s doing fine. Nothing’s broken. The doctor said she needs to stay in bed for a while.

BRINK:
Glad she’s okay.

MS. DELAMA:
Yeah. Maybe you should come in and say hello to her.

BRINK:
I…

MS. DELAMA:
No it’s okay, come on.

Brink walks into Gabriella’s room. Gabriella is lying in bed.

BRINK:
Gabby. I’m really sorry. I honestly didn’t think anyone would get hurt.

GABRIELLA:
Then I guess for once you didn’t think of everything.

BRINK:
But Gab, you gotta understand…

GABRIELLA:
You were the one who told me about soul skating. About skating from the heart. And only skating for the love of it. And I believed you because you were my friend.

BRINK:
But it was only gonna be for a little while. My family really needed the money.

GABRIELLA:
We all need the money Brink. What does that have to do with it? That’s how it starts you know? First, you do something that you really love. And then you start doing it for the money. And before you know it, you’re just another sell-out.

________________________________________

DAD:
Yo.

BRINK:
Hey dad.

DAD:
What are you doing?

BRINK:
Just, um, looking at my old skates. Why’d you and mom save all these?

DAD:
I don’t know. Maybe we were planning on having another kid. Or maybe just because we’re a couple of pack rats that never throw away anything. I remember when I got you these. You were four, maybe five years old. I figured, hell, I like skatin. Maybe he will too. Course I, uh, didn’t know it was gonna take over your life.

BRINK:
Me neither.

DAD:
How’s Gabriella? Mom called Jordy’s mother. You were racing?

BRINK:
I didn’t listen to you dad. I tried out for this sponsored team.

DAD:
And I told you no.

BRINK:
We needed the money.

DAD:
Not so bad, buddy, that we needed you to disobey us.

BRINK:
I know. I guess it wasn’t just for the money either. I wanted to be a part of Team Xbladz. I wanted to have my picture in every magazine. I wanted to be somebody. I don’t know if you get that.

DAD:
You know, you and me, we’re a lot alike. I used to love being construction foreman. Huh. “Hi! How ya doin? I’m Ralph Brinker. I’m the construction foreman.” I used to love saying that. People looked up to me. Then I got injured. Suddenly, no more construction foreman. Wanna know the worst part about being on disability? I didn’t know who I was anymore. I used to define myself by my job title. But you wanna know something? After being laid off for six months, I finally figured out that construction foreman is what I do, not who I am. Andy, you are defined by the company you keep and how well you keep it. Not by what you just happen to do. I mean, kids who skate, come on, California is filthy with em. You, you are Andy Brinker. You are a good son. And you are a good friend… who just happens to skate. And tomorrow i-if you never skate again, you’re still Andy Brinker. I, um, I understand there’s gonna be a, uh, a big, uh, tournament this weekend.

BRINK:
Yeah. A.A.I.L.S. Championship. Biggest national tournament there is.

DAD:
You going to compete?

BRINK:
Nah, I don’t think so.

DAD:
Well, if you change your mind, let me know. I’d, uh, like to watch.

BRINK:
Really?

DAD:
Yeah. Sounds like a lot of fun. [clears throat] Come on let’s, uh, “split for the pad.”

BRINK:
Pft. Come on dad, you and I both know that no one talks like that anymore.

DAD:
Did we just come dangerously close to having a conversation?

BRINK:
Huh, yeah. Don’t tell mom. Hehe.

DAD:
No, no, no sense in letting her get her hopes up.

BRINK:
Hehe.

________________________________________

VAL:
It’s about time man! Don’t give me strawberry. Do I look like I’m wearing a dress? I get chocolate.

CRISSY:
Hey!

WORM:
I’m totally gonna pull a 720 flat spin at the championship.

Brink walks up and throws his skates on the pizza.

WORM:
Whoa!

BRINK:
There’s your skates. I’m through. I quit. Here’s your helmet. Oh yeah, and I’d give you back your clothes too, but I accidentally threw em in a garbage bin I saw across the street.

VAL:
This is about your little friend isn’t it?

BRINK:
You put the gravel in the road. You realize you could’ve killed her?

VAL:
Man, you are such a wuss. I’m the one who should be mad at you. You didn’t even have the brains to finish the race.

BRINK:
Maybe not, but I do have the brains to finish this.

Brink throws milkshake on Val’s face.

Gasps.

VAL:
You are so dead!

BOOMER:
Hey hey hey, not today man, not today!

VAL:
Boomer. I didn’t think you’d turn on me.

BOOMER:
That’s your problem man, you don’t think.

BRINK:
Nah, that’s not it. You know what your problem is? You’re just no fun to skate with. You got beef with me, you take it up with me Sunday at the championship.

VAL:
Oh, we’ll get it on for sure.

________________________________________

GABRIELLA:
You need more air.

JORDY:
More air?

GABRIELLA:
More air. And you, Peter, what’s up with that flat spin 540. I’ve got a grandmother back in Lima. She can do a 540.

PETER:
What’s with you today?

JORDY:
Yeah, if you got beef, why don’t you come here and try it yourself.

GABRIELLA:
Fine!

Gabriella jumps up.

PETER:
Hey, cut it out. You know you’re not supposed to skate until the weekend.

JORDY:
Peter, this is nuts. Gabriella can’t practice. We only have three people. I mean, what’s the point of even competing?

PETER:
Because it’s fun! Now let’s quit complaining and skate!

Peter falls, and his skates break.

PETER:
Ah uh!

GABRIELLA:
Peter!

PETER:
Ahhh! Aw this is just great! I can’t fix this!

JORDY:
This is fine! Now we don’t even have the right gear to compete. This is a joke!

Brink walks up with bags of gear.

BRINK:
You guys ever think of getting a sponsor?

PETER:
Sponsors are no fun.

BRINK:
Well, it depends on the sponsor.

Tosses t-shirts to them.

JORDY:
Thanks, but we already have shirts.

BRINK:
Well, how bout skates? I think I got the sizes right.

Tosses skates.

PETER:
These are new.

JORDY:
You convinced the dog groomer to sponsor us?

BRINK:
Well, actually, I’m kinda the sponsor.

GABRIELLA:
Kinda?

BRINK:
Well, you see, I kinda, got my pay in advance so I could get you guys this stuff.

JORDY:
How far in advance?

BRINK:
About four months. Huh. Yeah. Well, um, good luck on Sunday, okay?

GABRIELLA:
W-well hold on a sec. Did you really throw that vanilla shake in Val’s face?

BRINK:
Chocolate.

PETER:
How did it feel?

BRINK:
It was cool, and it was su-weet!

ALL:
Hahaha.

PETER:
So, uh um…

JORDY:
Well, you see what Peter’s tryin to say is that, well…

GABRIELLA:
What are you doin on Sunday?

________________________________________

MC:
It’s Zuma Beach, California, site of the third annual aggressive in-line skating championship. Eric, what we’ve got here are the nation’s top ten teams going head-to-head in three events: street, vert, and downhill.

GABRIELLA:
Hey, check it out, ESPN!

JORDY:
Oh man, this is the big time! We got every magazine covering this! We’ve got scouts from all the biggest companies watching!

BRINK:
Hey, but that doesn’t matter right guys? We’re in this for fun! We’re soul skaters!

PETER:
Right man, soul skaters!

BRINK:
Yeah brother!

ALL:
Haha.

VAL:
Oh my gosh! It’s Team Pup N Suds! I heard about you guys.

WORM:
You guys get paid in Kibbles N Bits, right?

WORM & B.J.:
Hahaha.

VAL:
Now I want you guys to practice saying this: “Really, we tried, but we’re just too lame.”

WORM:
Aww!

VAL:
“At least we had a good time!”

WORM:
Aww! Hahaha.

Val, Worm, and B.J. walk off.

PETER:
Ah, I think they like us!

ALL:
Hahaha.

BRINK:
Let’s get out of here.

________________________________________

MC:
In the championship format, each skater’s run from street and vert counts towards a team total. The two top scoring teams will select a skater for a head- to-head race in the downhill. Well let’s get right to the street competition.

BRINK:
Alright Gabriella!

JORDY:
Yeah!

SOONER OR LATER BY FASTBALL

BRINK:
Show em what soul skatin’s all about!

JORDY:
Yeah!

VAL:
She hasn’t trained in four days, she’s got nothing.

CROWD:
Woohoo!

Gabriella skates.

MC:
Our first skater up, a virtual unknown, Gabriella DeLama from Team Pup N Suds. Well, coming in with a nice mute grab, one of the few girls out here. Skating all the way across the course. We don’t know a whole lot about this team, but beautiful top soul, nice style on the mini-ramp.

JORDY:
Come on! Yeah!

MC:
And a great run so far from an unknown skater. Nice style, there the Lucaine grab transfer, and a 540 up in the difficulty. She has time for one more trick, with less than 5 seconds. A huge 540, nice Lucaine grab. Excellent style, solid first run.

ALL:
Yeah! Alright!

ANNOUNCER:
A 93. Next up, Val Horrigan, Team Xbladz.

Val skates.

MC:
Here stands the nation’s top ranked skater on the top ranked team. Prepare to be dazzled. Val Horrigan going off. He does more big tricks than anyone else in the same amount of time. The huge unity all the way down the rail. Such a beautiful mixture of airs, lines, and spins. Nice consistency. Kickin out the 540.

ANNOUNCER:
Time’s up!

MC:
An incredible run. Probably the top one so far today. A 98! Exactly what he deserves.

ANNOUNCER:
Next up, Andy Brinker, Team Pup N Suds.

Brink skates.

MC:
Now we’ve seen him skate before. He’s not that well known, but he always seems to do well in the competitions. Brink’s a guy who’s gonna definitely try to use the course a little bit differently than all the other skaters. He’s a very creative skater. Now coming up to the vert wall. And Eric, this is what I was talking about, going into the mini-ramp. Huge transfer backing it up with a huge gap all the way to the bank. Brink’s skating with tons of speed setting up for a soul cry… aw…

Brink falls.

VAL:
Yeah, go soul skaters!

MC:
And with falls like that it is going to be difficult to compete with the other skaters having such flawless runs here today. Brink losing his rhythm. He’s gotta put something together here to stay competitive. The nice way out all the way down the rail. And another way out into the mini-ramp. Brink able to get back in the groove finishing the ride out with a nice mid vert over the hip.

ANNOUNCER:
Time’s up!

MC:
He looks slightly disappointed, a score of 89 for Brink.

ANNOUNCER:
Team Pup N Suds, 89.

Brink goes to see his Mom and Katie in the stands.

BRINK:
Mom! Katie! Excuse me, excuse me.

MOM:
Yeah! Are you okay, cause that was a great run.

BRINK:
Yeah, but I got worked on that fall. But it’s okay, we’ll make it up. Where’s dad?

MOM:
Oh, don’t worry. H-he’ll be here. He got called down at the construction site. Mr. Beckman wants to talk to him about something.

BRINK:
Is that good?

MOM:
Well, we’ll find out, huh?

KATIE:
Hey. Can I give you some advice? Skate better.

BRINK:
Skate better. Skate better! Mom, skate better!

MOM:
Well there you go.

BRINK:
All I have to do is skate better! Skate better!

Brink skates away.

MOM:
Come on. Let’s go watch him skate better.

________________________________________

APOLOGY BY CLARISSA

Montage of skaters competing.

ALL:
Woo! Come on Peter! Woo!

MC:
And a huge stylish flyfish!

ANNOUNCER:
Time’s up!

MC:
With runs like this, Team Pup N Suds is definitely the surprise here today. A score of 97 puts them in fourth place.

________________________________________

JORDY:
Fourth place?

BRINK:
It’s alright man, and besides we got the vert comin up. You know we rule on the vert. Oh and Pete man…

PETER:
Yeah?

BRINK:
I’m gonna need to see an awesome 540 out of you, okay?

PETER:
You got it bud.

BRINK:
You can do it.

PETER:
Alright!

________________________________________

MC:
The vert event is next. Team Xbladz has the commanding lead, but there are many teams battling for second and a spot in the grueling downhill.

DAD:
Hey.

MOM:
Hi. Well? Oh no Ralph, they’re gonna let you go?

DAD:
I start again on Monday.

MOM:
Oh my god! Oh! Hahahaha! That’s so great! I’m so happy!

Mom hits Dad in the arm.

DAD:
Ow!

MOM:
Don’t you scare me like that!

DAD:
Okay, okay, there he is! Yo Brink!

Brink waves and gives a confused thumbs up, Dad gives a thumbs up back.

BRINK:
Yeah! Alright dad man!

ANNOUNCER:
Team Pup N Suds, you’re up. Skating first, Andy “Brink” Brinker!

GABRIELLA:
Yeah Brink!

ANNOUNCER:
3, 2,… go!

Brink skates.

MC:
Now he has some making up to do for that fall in the street run, but starts it off with a nice solid invert.

DAD:
Whoa!

MC:
Brink starting to get high in the air. A huge safety grab 540 well over head high. Back-to-back 540s, right into another 540, unnatural. Spinning his opposite direction, now working the coping. With a run like this, Team Pup N Suds could be today’s wild card. A huge 900, two and a half full spins! Yes! And an awesome run from Andy Brinker, and today’s longshot team, Team Pup N Suds. Their chance to make it to the downhill, slight but possible, and with a score of a 98 it could happen!

DAD:
Yes! Yes! That’s my boy! He was all over that ramp!

BRINK:
Yeah!

ANNOUNCER:
Up next, Val Horrigan, Team Xbladz.

BRINK:
Haha!

PETER:
Alright!

MC:
Currently, Team Xbladz is running away with yet another competition. Val Horrigan, very comfortable being in first place. And in typical form, the huge air. Mixing it up, getting very acrobatic. Val is one of those skaters so comfortable with the spins. Great orientation on the halfpipe. Some difficult tricks, but no coping tricks. And it’s that lack of lip tricks that might have cost him a couple points. He ends with still a high score, a 97.

ANNOUNCER:
97, Team Xbladz.

________________________________________

Dramatic montage of more skating, ending with Gabriella’s run.

________________________________________

MC:
Another great run for Team Pup N Suds, but it’s not gonna be enough. If Ben Kelly from Team G-Force can even pull off a reasonable run, it’s going to be G-Force versus Xbladz in the downhill.

JORDY:
Kelly’s been nailing it all day.

BRINK:
Well it ain’t over til it’s over, right man.

Kelly does a backflip.

GABRIELLA:
Well that’s it for us.

MC:
And a great carving 540, over rotates it, goes down hard all the way down to the flat bottom. And he’s completely off the ramp, not moving. Being tended right now by the medics. He rises to his feet. He’s okay. Getting the support from the crowd. An unfortunate circumstance for Team G-Force, however, an opportunity for Team Pup N Suds with one skater to go.

DAD:
What?

KATIE:
Dad, we could win.

DAD:
We could win now? We could win.

MOM:
We could win?

DAD:
We could win.

MOM:
We could win.

DAD:
We could win.

BRINK:
Alright Pete man, I have to put any pressure on you…

PETER:
I know. I know.

JORDY:
Come on Peter.

GABRIELLA:
Alright Petey! Woo!

BRINK:
You can do it!

JORDY:
Go Peter!

GABRIELLA:
You the man!

ANNOUNCER:
Next up, Peter Calhoun, Team Pup N Suds.

Peter skates.

MC:
Peter Calhoun is going to need the run of all runs if he’s going to bring Team Pup N Suds to the downhill race. Starting off with huge amplitude. Everything he does, he’s gonna try to do well overhead. Back-to -back airs. Good definition on the grabs. And a huge 720, but lands awfully low. With that low landing, he’s gonna have to pull something incredible.

BRINK:
Here it comes, here it comes, the 540!

Peter pulls off the 540.

MC:
Oh! There it is! There it is! There is the incredible trick. An inverted 540, lands up high on the vert.

ALL:
Yeah! Yeah! Woo!

MC:
One and a half full body rotations, completely upside down. Beautiful style. Peter Calhoun, mixing it up with spins, huge airs, he could very well be bringing Team Pup N Suds to the finals.

ALL:
Woo!

ANNOUNCER:
98, Team Pup N Suds wins!

MC:
98, they have done it! What a great way to end the vert championships. Downhill, last run. It’s going to be one skater from Pup N Suds versus one skater from Xbladz on a treacherous downhill race. Winner takes all.

________________________________________

GUY:
So wassup everybody! Welcome to the Friendship Bell downhill. This is the most dangerous course in competition today.

BRINK:
Okay you guys. We did it. We came this far. And I’m not gonna let you guys down, you hear me? Just remember one thing: win or lose, skating is what we do, not who we are.

JORDY:
Man, that was like, deep.

GUY:
Pup N Suds, you guys got one minute.

PETER:
Okay dude, this is it. Good luck. See you at the bottom.

VAL:
You know, before I just wanted to beat you. Now I’m gonna humiliate you.

BRINK:
You ever hear that winning isn’t everything?

VAL:
Oh well sure. Didn’t believe it then, I don’t believe it now. And neither do you.

BRINK:
Yeah, I wanna win. But no matter what, win or lose, at the end of the day, I’m not you. So it’s still a good day.

ANNOUNCER:
Skaters to your marks [intense looking], get set [starting gun raised], [starting gun fired] go!

PETER:
Come on buddy. You can do it.

MC:
Both skaters just flying down the course neck-in-neck. This is the section in the course where the top speeds will be reached. Both totally in a tuck. Whoever can be the most aerodynamic is gonna start to pull away. 42 ½ miles per hour! That is a new course record!

PETER:
Yeah!

GABRIELLA:
Woohoo!

ALL:
Yeah!

Brink falls at bottom of steps.

BRINK:
Oh!

JIMMY:
Go! My man, Val!

Jordy pulling on Peter’s arm.

PETER:
Jordy man! My arm’s goin numb.

Screen goes black.

MOM:
Oh where’d it go? Where is he?

GABRIELLA:
There’s a blind turn up ahead. We’ll see em in a minute.

MOM:
Ah, okay, okay.

With cameras off, Val attempts to hit Brink multiple times.

BRINK:
Is that all you got?

Val swings elbow at Brink ferociously and falls.

VAL:
Whoa! Ah!

CAMERA DIRECTOR:
Let’s get a shot of it. Come on!

CAMERAMAN:
Alright!

CAMERA DIRECTOR:
Get in close! Get that kid.

Brink stops and goes back to help Val.

BRINK:
Dude are you okay?

VAL:
Ah!

BRINK:
Come on, let’s get you outta here. Come on, let’s go.

VAL:
You never did have the brains to finish the race when someone was down.

BRINK:
Guess not.

VAL:
That’s what I was counting on.

Val pulls Brink to the ground.

BRINK:
Uh! Ah!

CAMERA DIRECTOR:
Get it?

CAMERAMAN:
You bet. I got it all.

CAMERA DIRECTOR:
Let’s go!

MC:
As expected, Val Horrigan in the lead.

Brink takes a shortcut and jumps out of an alley.

MC:
A huge air out of the alley, coming out of nowhere, and they’re back!

CROWD:
Woo!

MOM:
Ahhh!

GABRIELLA:
My move! My move!

MC:
Back to the neck-in- neck position they’ve had throughout the race. It’s into the tucks. This is it, a dead sprint. This is all heart. Both skaters totally exhausted. [Brink and Val hit ramps. Brink, midair, barely crosses finish line first.] Oh! There, yes! [inaudible] They’ve done it! Team Pup N Suds from behind grabs the championship. An incredible finish!

MOM:
That was excellent! Oh my goodness!

Brink hugs Dad, picks up Katie.

BRINK:
Kaite! Haha!

DAD:
How does it feel?

BRINK:
It feels great, dad!

DAD:
Hahahaha!

Val looks on while bystanders are booing him. Then he skates away.

CROWD:
You cheated man! You stink man! You cheated!

CROWD:
You’re a cheater man!

Brink hugs Gabriella, Peter, and Jordy.

GABRIELLA:
Yeah! Woo! Brink!

WORM:
Hey. Hey, I didn’t know Val would do something like that man. I’m sorry.

B.J.:
Yeah man, me too.

BRINK:
It’s okay, you guys didn’t know.

JIMMY:
Brink! We need to talk. Listen, Val, he’s out. The cheating’s a bad thing man. You, you’re in. You’re my man!

BRINK:
Wait, you want me to be the captain of Team Xbladz?

JIMMY:
You got it. Money, sponsorship, you know how the drill works. Come on. What do you say?

BRINK:
I was on Team Xbladz once. It wasn’t any fun. I’m sorry man. I’ll see you around. [Turning to friends.]

BRINK:
Yeah!

Peter sees trophy. Brink is handed the trophy and lifts it high overhead.

BRINK:
Soul Skaters! There’s nothing we can’t do!

Jordy and Peter lift Brink on their shoulders as everyone celebrates.

________________________________________

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