The Bronze Page #6

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- Why are you being weird?

- Sorry if I was weird.

All right, well, just step on it.

I feel my dad watching from the window

with stuffing in his mouth.

All right.

- Okay. Let's go.

- Oh, Jesus!

Ah.

- What are you doing?

- Isn't that what this is about?

- You want to f*** a gymnast?

- Uh, no.

- Uh...

- Oh.

Why?

I'm waiting for marriage.

Just how I was raised. That's all.

Uh, but, uh, here.

Uh...

Yeah. So, grab one of those.

Yeah.

- Ta-da!

- Weird being in here at night.

Yeah. Any table you like.

Oh.

A little picnic.

- Knock yourself out, bro.

- Thanks.

- Hi, Hope.

- Hi, John.

Hey, Johnny.

What's that smell?

Is something wrong with the candle?

No, it's weird that they'd make a candle

out of apples, like...

I thought apple was safe.

I mean, I haven't met a single person

that doesn't like apples.

A lot of people don't like apples.

- Sorry...

- No, no, no. It's fine.

All right. I got a couple beers here.

Let me...

Want to cheers it?

- Oh.

- There you go.

Sorry, I should have thought of

some entertainment or something.

No, it's...

Do you, um...

Do you want to play Truth or Dare?

Yeah, sure. Okay.

Truth or dare?

Uh, what the heck, I'm feeling crazy tonight.

Dare. Dare me.

Steal me a punch card from Steak USA.

- Seriously?

- Yeah.

Yeah.

Kind of have to do it now.

That's how it works.

Yeah. Yeah, here we go. Dare time.

Watch out.

- Found 'em!

- Punch 'em all out so I get a free steak.

Yeah, sure.

Jesus.

There you go. I'm shaking.

That's like the worst thing

you've ever done, right?

I mean, yeah. That's bad.

I mean, that's, uh...

That's theft. I don't do that.

Sorry. I should probably not...

Chip my tooth.

So, my turn then to ask you?

- Uh, well, truth or dare?

- Dare.

I dare you to answer the truth.

- Fine.

- Okay. Um...

What's the deal with you and Coach P?

'Cause I know when... Before,

you guys were real tight.

- We were. Till she screwed me.

- How's that?

After my injury,

I wanted to compete in the next Games.

The doctor said

I needed a few more months to recover,

but I didn't want to get rusty.

So, my dad went and begged Coach P

to let me come back.

- And was she okay with that?

- No.

But it wasn't her f***ing future on the line,

it was mine.

Right, yeah, I get that.

Couple weeks later,

I'm doing a dismount off the bars.

Hit the floor again.

The doctors say six months more rehab,

but they're wrong. It's 12.

- Oh, geez, that's terrible.

- Is this lettuce?

You don't like lettuce?

I mean, I'm surprised they don't have

a candle made out of that.

Lettuce candle?

Hope Greggory.

Anyway, when I came back,

Coach P pulls me aside

and says I should leave on a high note.

That I'd become a woman during my break,

and gymnastics was a little girl's game.

I mean, what'd you say?

I told her to f*** off and I left.

Did you talk to her after that, or...

I've answered, like, 900 truths.

Sorry.

- And it's not okay.

- I've been a real gumshoe over here.

Yeah.

And where were you the

night of the... Yeah.

- What?

- Sorry.

It's like I was pretending to be

a detective or something.

Uh, that's, uh...

This music was supposed to come on

when the candles were...

It's fine now. Thanks, John!

Actually...

Uh...

I was hoping maybe, uh,

you would want to

have a dance with me, Hope Ann.

You're not waiting for marriage?

Nope. Not for dancing.

In fact, I will lead.

- All right. One more bite.

- Okay.

And is there room for one more...

Huh. It's... Yeah.

'Cause I got a woman

Who I need to get next to...

Truth or dare?

Truth. I've had enough dares for tonight.

Have you ever tried to stop twitching?

No offense, just curious.

It's a lot better than what it was.

But, uh, I mean,

nothing's ever worked completely.

It's kind of why

I never moved forward with gymnastics.

A few seconds of twitching

can really mess you up on the rings.

Gymnasts, you somehow master

every single muscle in your body.

Probably why I like being

around it so much.

Kind of makes me feel that that

physical control is possible somehow.

I think it'd be pretty cool if I could

inspire other kids to feel like that, too.

That's kind of why

I want to keep the gym going.

- It's sorta my dream.

- Oh.

I'm just hoping

that Maggie can breathe new life into it

the same way you did

when you were training there.

Cool.

- Anyway, we should be dancing like this.

- Right.

Whoa, whoa-oh, oh-oh

Whoa, oh, oh-oh-oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh

- Giving you a semi?

- Uh...

Ah, ah, ah

So, um...

We leave for the Games in a few days.

Keeping Maggie presentation ready.

She's sucking less than she did.

Wish us luck, okay?

One for my homey.

Don't worry, it's diet.

No, it's not. I'm not gonna lie to a ghost.

Definitely not diet.

Sh*t's disgusting.

All right, you got this. Let's call it a night.

Go on, go catch some fireworks.

Don't stay out too late,

we have an early flight.

Can I do it one more time?

Just stand here and I'm gonna

do it one more time, okay?

Make it quick.

Turn the f***ing lights back on!

I'm not gonna French you!

- Maggie!

- One sec!

Surprise!

Happy birthday!

Gotcha!

We got you!

Okay, now, remember, Hope,

before I ever let you have

a piece of birthday cake,

I always gave you a Fourth of July quiz.

Oh, yeah.

All right, okay, I'll give you an easy one.

Who did our forefathers

declare their independence from?

Their p*ssy dads.

Good one. Um...

Well, we're so grateful for you, Hope.

I mean, you've been an angel.

- That's what I keep telling her.

- Don't be a poser.

Well, pretty soon, you two are gonna be

posing for the opening ceremony!

- Pretty exciting!

- Yeah.

And it kills me that

I'm not gonna be there, you know.

But I talked to my boss,

and I'm gonna be in time for the Individuals.

Well, that's terrific!

That's all I care about.

- That's great.

- All right.

- Truth or truth?

- Truth.

You like me?

I do. Very much.

- Uh, okay. My turn. Uh, truth or truth?

- Truth.

But you can't ask me the same question.

Them the rules, Twitchy.

Did you always know that you were

gonna be such a good coach?

I'm not a coach, I'm an athlete.

Dumb question.

- Ask me another.

- Sorry. Um...

Is it true that, uh...

That you tape down your breasts?

Who told you that?

- Matt from Sneaker Galaxy?

- No, no.

- Carl from the bar?

- No.

- Gas station Dan?

- No.

- The Roto-Rooter guy?

- No.

- Stacy from Quiznos?

- Jesus, no, God, stop.

That's a list. No. Uh...

I just... I brought it up

'cause, uh, I just wanted to tell you that

I think that you're super beautiful

the way you are.

And you don't need to do that.

You should be proud of yourself.

You look like a windswept phoenix.

Okay. You ready for a dare?

Sure.

All right, close your eyes.

- Close 'em. Don't be scared.

- All right.

Okay.

Okay. Uh...

- Oh.

- Oh.

- You can't do that.

- I did.

O, Canada

Where pines and maples grow...

Wow!

Welcome to the big time.

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