[Joe cocker's "with a little
help from my friends" plays]
-♪ Baby ♪
-♪ By with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ Said I'm gonna make
it with my friends ♪
-♪ Try with a little
help from my friends ♪
-♪ Oh, I'm gonna
keep on trying ♪
-♪ High with a little
help from my friends ♪
♪ I'm gonna keep on
trying now, baby ♪
-♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪
-At some point in
your teenage years,
If you're lucky, you
make a discovery.
You find out you're
actually good at something.
It's that critical juncture
Where talent
becomes expertise...
Kinda.
It's your chance to star.
Or...
[Whistle blows]
End up flat on your face.
-Two points... Takedown!
Good move, arnold!
-Around the middle
of my junior year,
I found out something
about myself.
-Kevin, I can't breathe!
-This'll just take a second.
-For some strange reason...
Don't ask me how,
don't ask me why...
[Whistle blows]
-Pin!
- I was good at wrestling.
-Good combinations in there.
All right. Who's
next for arnold?
-[Clears throat]
-Not to brag or anything.
-Hey, sorry, chuck.
I guess you're just
havin' a bad day.
-Of course, I didn't
mind gloating a little.
-I don't understand it.
I did everything right.
-Uh, no, when you
do everything right,
It's the other guy who's sore.
-That's very funny.
I just wish we'd
start softball again.
-Well, you are
showing improvement.
-Face it...
Some guys had it,
some guys didn't.
And some guys...
-Hey, kev, why don't you go
out for the wrestling team?
-What?!
- Were lazy.
- Well, why not?
I mean, you got this weird
natural ability, right?
-Hey, how much time
do I want to spend
Jammed into some guy's armpit?
-The way I saw it,
Having a weird natural
ability was one thing,
But getting serious
about it was another.
[School bell rings]
- you're arnold, right?
-Until I ran into mr. Clean.
-Uh... I guess so.
-What do you mean?
You're not sure?
-No, I'm sure.
-But I still didn't
know who this guy was.
-I'm silva, the wrestling coach.
Oh. Hey, how you doing?
-Your p.e. Teacher
gave me your name.
I heard you can wrestle.
-Well...
You know, I'm not that good.
-I didn't say I heard
you were good.
I said I heard you can wrestle.
-Well... Yeah, I guess I can.
-I hate to see
talent go to waste.
What are you... About 140?
-Yeah.
Of course I had that jelly
doughnut after lunch.
-I got a slot open at 140.
You want to give it a sh*t?
-Well...
-And there you had it.
I'd been wooed,
recruited, and signed,
Without so much as a tryout.
So, of course, I said...
-I don't think so.
I mean... You know...
It just seems like
too much... Work.
-Well, if that's how
you feel about it.
-I kind of do.
-Fine.
But you might do
yourself some good.
You get to compete,
get yourself in shape...
Maybe lose some
of that baby fat.
-Wait a minute. Baby fat?
-Look, I've just got a lot
of things to do these days.
[School bell rings]
-All right. Suit yourself.
-I mean, hey, I didn't
have to stand there
And put up with those insults.
Baby fat? Pfft!
In fact, I'd just put the
whole thing out of my mind.
[Tv chatter]
-Wayne?
Does this look like fat?
-What?!
Nah, look.
Everybody gets that.
It's part of what they
call the maturing process.
-Evidently the only part
in which wayne participated.
-What, are you watching
your figure or something?
- [Chuckles]
- no.
Just the coach asked me to
try out for the wrestling team.
-You?
[Laughs] [door opens]
-What's so funny?
[Door closes]
-Dad, butthead's going
out for wrestling.
-Okay. It was time for a little
encouraging moral support.
-The wrestling team?
-Come on. What's
wrong with that?
-Nothing.
It's just a pretty
big commitment.
-So? I commit!
I've committed
to lots of things.
-[Laughs] yeah, right.
Mr. Commitment.
[Laughs]
-Then again, I didn't
have to sit around here
With a bunch of fat guys.
[Whistle blows]
-Let's go. Let's
see some energy.
-I... Was a wrestler.
So I decided to
give it a sh*t...
Show up for practice,
Help out the team.
-Work that mat.
Good. Get out of that.
-I mean, the guy
Had practically given
me an engraved invitation.
-Good. Good.
-Hey, coach.
-You're late!
-Unless, of course,
it got lost in the mail.
-Practice starts at 3:45.
You're late for practice,
you do five extra laps.
You're late two days in a row,
Don't bother showing
up on day three.
[Whistle blows]
- Nice seeing you, too.
- What?
-Nothing.
-All right. You,
you, you, over here.
Let's try some breakdowns.
-Still, maybe this
wouldn't be so tough.
Figured I'd watch
some demonstrations,
See a few holds...
-Arnold.
You're up.
- Or be the guinea pig.
-Me?
-Spider. Come here.
Let's see what this guy can do.
-Okay, then. I
could handle this.
It was pretty clear
I had a basic advantage
over this guy...
-Starting positions.
- Mainly, poundage.
-You know what to do?
-Yeah, sure.
-Yeah, this was gonna
be a piece of cake.
-Okay...
Wrestle!
-[Grunts]
-Hmm.
-Arnold, you get
the point here, right?
He makes a move, you counter.
-Yeah. Yeah, I
just... Wasn't ready.
-All right. Once more.
-You ready?
-Yeah.
-[ Chuckles]
Fool me once, shame on you.
-Wrestle!
All right, arnold,
get some leverage.
Get some leverage in there!
-The thing was,
This was really a
lot like gym class,
With one small difference...
In gym class, I
was the guy on top.
-All right, that's enough.
[Whistle blows]
-Not that I wasn't having fun.
-All right, spider. Thanks.
-Piece of cake.
-The rest of you...
Pair up by weight class.
Let's get to work
on some counters.
-Wait a minute.
That's it?
-Why'd you let him
pin you like that?
-Of course, looking back,
I probably just should
have promised to do better.
But instead...
-Yeah, well...
You know, these shorts
are really hard to wrestle in!
- I made excuses.
-I see.
-And anyway, I
didn't let him pin me.
He was pretty much there.
And besides,
You got to save something
for the meets, right?
-Oh, is that right?
Rodgers, come on, show
me that pinning combo!
Come on!
-Look, I just don't think
you've seen what I can do yet.
-I've seen enough for one day.
Keep working, keep working!
-I couldn't believe it.
-How could you even
call that a practice?
I mean, first, I
wasn't even ready.
And then the kid pulls this...
Pretzel hold I've
never even seen before.
-I'd about had it.
-Why do I put
myself through this?
-After one afternoon,
I'd decided to put an end
to my wrestling career.
-That must really hurt.
-♪ Let's get it on ♪
-Then again...
-♪ Let's get it on ♪
♪ Let's love, baby ♪
-He also mashed my chin.
It'll probably look a
lot worse tomorrow.
-♪ Let's get it on ♪
♪ Whoo-hoo ♪
-And you should
have seen the guy.
He was a giant.
-I never knew what
it would be like.
-What?
-You know... Dating a jock.
-Oh.
-I just wish I could
make it all better.
-♪ There's nothin'... ♪
-So, I decided to give the
sport another chance.
-Hey, coach!
We've been at this an
hour! How about a break?
-Oh, I see.
Now that you've mastered it.
-Whoops.
See, maybe the coach and I
Had gotten off on
the wrong foot...
Metaphorically speaking.
-Listen, coach, I think
Maybe you're gettin'
the wrong idea about me.
-Uh-huh. And why is that?
-Well, you know,
I'm a lot better
Than I'm showing you here.
-Oh, is that right?
-Yeah.
[Scoffs]
I mean, I b*at every guy in p.e.
-Uh-huh. And who
were they again?
-I suddenly realized the names
Chuck coleman and skeeter lutz
Weren't guaranteed to impress.
-Look, everyone
knows I'm good at this!
[Whistle blows]
-In case anybody didn't hear,
Arnold here says he's a
lot better than he looks!
[Laughter]
Now everybody knows.
[Whistle blows]
That's it for today!
How about five laps to
celebrate mr. Arnold's greatness?
-Guess the message was clear.
In two days, I'd gone
from blue-chip prospect
To team laughingstock.
-Okay, you guys,
let's hit the showers!
I guess some guys
have so much talent...
They don't even
need to run laps.
Is that right, arnold?
-No.
I'm just really b*at.
-You're b*at?
Arnold, in the next
couple of days,
I'm gonna make up a list of
the new members of this team.
Do you want to be
on that list or not?
-Now, of course I said
What any
self-respecting teenager
Would say in this situation...
-I don't care.
-Speak up.
I don't have time to screw
around with you, arnold.
Do you want to be
on this team or not?!
I want an answer... Yes or no.
-I wanted to tell him exactly
Where he and his team could go.
But what I heard
myself say was...
-Yes.
-And the worst part was...
I really meant it.
[Indistinct conversations,
cash register dings]
-So, how's it going, haystacks?
-How's what going?
-The wrestling! What else?
-Well, it's going. Okay, chuck?
-During the next couple of days,
The pressure began to build.
-A little edgy, aren't we?
-It's just that the
first meet is coming up.
You gonna wrestle
that guy gurney?
-What's a gurney?
-Doug gurney!
This guy took state last year.
Kid's made out of,
like, titanium, or something!
- Chuck!
-I mean, he's pinned
everybody he's faced.
He's, like, the king
kong of wrestling!
I'm definitely
going to this match.
-I wouldn't miss it.
-You don't want to do that.
I mean, I might not
even get to wrestle.
-Much less make the team.
-Of course you're
gonna get to wrestle.
You're a natural!
You b*at me, didn't you?
-Face it, kev... I mean,
you've got a gift.
-Terrific.
I was the only nonstarter
With his own
personalized fan club.
-You're gonna be great!
-Can't wait to see
you out there, man.
-Thanks.
-Yeah.
There was only
one thing to do...
Fall back on my
god-given talent.
-Aren't you ever gonna
get that reversal right?
-[Sighs] I'm doin'
the best I can.
-Are you?
-What's that supposed to mean?
-It means what it means.
-Great. I'm talking talent,
this guy's giving me zen logic.
-[Groans]
[whistle blows]
-All right, listen up!
We got a big match coming
up against the spartans.
Not only do they
have doug gurney,
But they're tough
in every weight class.
I'll be posting the new
team roster tomorrow.
-But I didn't need a pep talk,
And I didn't need
any team roster
To tell me exactly where
I stood with this guy.
-What can I do for you?
-Heck, no sense in
dragging this out.
-Well, uh... I thought
we could talk...
You know, about
this whole thing.
I mean...
I guess we both know
That it's really not
working out, right?
-It was time to end
it... No hard feelings.
-Not that it's anyone's
fault or anything.
-It's just you want out.
-What?
-I'm not surprised.
You wanted to quit ever
since you first came in here.
-Well, no, that's
not exactly true.
I mean, you're the one
who asked me to be a part...
-Well, maybe I made a mistake.
-What's that supposed to mean?
-What it means is,
Some kids have what it takes,
And some kids just have excuses!
-I couldn't believe it.
I had come to bury the hatchet,
And this guy wanted my scalp.
-Yeah, well, for
your information,
You haven't really given
me much of a chance!
-Is that so?
-Yeah.
-Okay, in that case...
Now's your chance.
-What?
-You say you can wrestle?
Show me.
-What, here?
With you?
-Do you see anybody else
standing around here?
Come on, arnold.
What, are you afraid
you might look foolish?
- No.
- Or are you just afraid?
- No! That's not it!
-Come on, arnold.
I've seen your act,
I've heard your alibis,
I've heard your stories.
Here's your chance. Show
me what you're made of.
-And even though I
knew it was a trap,
At that moment, I just saw red.
-[Grunting]
-Why don't you give up?
-No.
-Come on. Give up!
You know you want to.
[Exhales sharply]
-It was just about the
worst moment of my life.
And then it got worse.
-Oh, yeah, by the way...
You made the team.
-The rest of that week
I felt like I'd fallen
into a bottomless pit,
With no way out.
The thing that hurt most was
Something I had
been good at once
Had somehow turned bad.
I'd failed.
Yet, for some
reason, there I was,
A member of the team.
And I didn't know why.
[Crowd cheering]
That friday night,
the place was packed.
-Don't let him get that ankle!
-It seemed like half the
high school had shown up...
[Whistle blows]
Including my fan club.
Of course I was there,
too... On the bench.
I'd been too embarrassed
to call in sick with the flu.
[Cheers and applause]
But even if I was
wearing the uniform,
I knew one thing for sure...
I was never gonna wrestle.
Not on this team,
not in a million years.
-Will the contestants of
the 140-pound weight class
Please prepare for their match?
-Nope. I was just gonna
sit here... Forever.
-Doug gurney for the green team!
[Cheers and applause]
And bill larsen
from the red team.
-Larsen, I'm moving
you up in weight class.
Sit this one out.
Arnold, you're up.
-Me?
-You're the one I'm looking at.
-But that's doug
gurney out there!
-Yeah?
[Crowd chanting "gurney!"]
-I realized it wasn't enough
to have me under his thumb,
He wanted to
totally destroy me...
-May I have your
attention, please?
There's been a
change in the lineup.
Kevin arnold will now
be wrestling doug gurney.
- In front of everyone.
[Cheers and applause]
So, there was only
one thing to do...
Set out like a
lamb to slaughter.
I mean, what did I
really have to lose?
-Gentlemen, shake hands.
-Go get 'im, kev!
-I prepared myself
to be torn to pieces...
-Come on, you can take him, kev!
- Ripped limb from limb.
And then the
impossible happened.
[Whistle blows]
I actually scored two points.
-Two... Takedown, red.
-All right, kevin!
-It was astonishing,
it was a miracle...
[Both grunting]
It was temporary.
And suddenly, this
guy had me in a hold
I'd never even seen before.
-Come on, kevin!
-So I did what came naturally...
I fled.
-Good move. Good move.
[Whistle blows]
-That's gonna be a warning,
red... Fleeing the mat.
Hey, red, you're down.
-It was embarrassing,
humiliating,
But there was no way out.
It was a living,
breathing nightmare.
[Whistle blows]
And that's when it happened.
-Come on, kid, give up.
Make it easy on yourself.
-I was beaten, finished.
-Don't let him pin you.
Don't let him pin you!
-All I wanted to do
was lay my shoulder
Against that mat,
but for some reason...
- Come on!
- I didn't.
Something inside
wouldn't let me.
-[Straining] just lay down.
-[Straining] you first.
-Come on, kev,
fight him! Fight him!
-No matter how many
points this guy racked up,
I wasn't gonna let him pin me.
That night, maybe for
the first time in my life,
I committed myself to something.
-Come on, kev. Do it! Do it!
-I left the excuses,
I dumped the alibis,
I went for broke.
I was a wrestler,
And I gave it everything I had.
-Hang tough, kid.
[Buzzer sounds]
[Cheers and applause]
-Shake hands.
-Sure, maybe the score
may have been lopsided,
And maybe a kid named
gurney got the win,
But for me, it was a victory.
-15... 2.
-Yeah.
I told you I was good.
-All right, kevin.
-Way to go. Good job.