03x10 - Episode 10

[bunniefuu]

(upbeat rock music)

♪ There's too much choice and not enough time ♪

♪ To find what's mine ♪

♪ Aiming for your head, get down ♪

♪ You're the only one in town ♪

- Everybody has secrets, don't they?

I mean things you don't admit to anyone else.

That's normal but some secrets you bury so deep

that you don't even admit them to yourself.

Trouble is if you don't dig them out,

sooner or later, you could get buried right along with them.

I guess it all started when

we went to this new surf spot the other day.

Like everyone else, I was looking forward

to having some fun and as usual,

Guy and Bridget were having one of their

endless discussions about nothing in particular.

- Well, might as well use this time productively.

Why not practice the scene for our English assessment?

- Let me think about it.

No.

- [Bridget] Oh, but we have to do it tomorrow.

- Sorry, I'm coming down with the hour flu tomorrow.

(laughs)

- Mr. Severn will not let you off that easily, young man.

- I don't get what the big deal is.

- The big deal is that I'm scared

of making a goose of myself in front of everyone.

- Since when were you scared of anything?

- Since I had to start learning ye oldie English

and talking in rhymes instead of sentences.

I feel like a dork, I sound like a dork.

- All the more reason to practice then.

If you really are scared,

the best way to deal with it is to confront it.

- I'll think about it, okay?

- Okay.

- [Adam] For some reason,

Guy talking about being scared got me going.

I hadn't felt it in months but suddenly

it sprang up out of nowhere and hit me right in the stomach.

(relaxed rock music)

- Dusky Point, one of the best

reef breaks off the East Coast.

- And we've got it all to ourselves.

- Now do I deliver or do I deliver?

- [Bridget] We'll take our insults back, Garr.

This is fabulous.

- [Garry] Come on, let's do it.

(relaxed guitar music)

These waves are perfect for working on your takeoffs.

- Just watch that the break

doesn't suck you over those rocks

and I don't want to freak anybody,

but obviously the area isn't netted.

So you might see the odd shark over here.

- Oh great, do we get extra points for that?

- Yeah, one if you spot a shark

and three if you get away from it.

- Come on, we didn't come all this way to blab about nature.

Let's get out there and do it.

- [Adam] Of all the things Bec could have said,

why did she have to say that?

Did she somehow know what was churning through my brain?

Had she seen something in my eyes?

- You all right, Adam?

- Yeah, just

sussing out the currents.

The truth was though, I wasn't all right.

My guts were heaving and my legs were like jelly.

- Come on, mate, you're not gonna

learn anything standing there looking at it.

Get amongst it.

(relaxed rock music)

♪ Anything ♪

♪ I see all of you ♪

- [Adam] It was unbelievable.

I'd set out from home feeling ready to take on the world

and suddenly I was so freaked out, I could barely paddle.

- Here, hold this, will you?

- [Loren] Okay.

- The scariest thing about fear

is that it has a life of its own.

Like a genie in a bottle.

Once you let it out, it takes over completely.

Ah!

- Got ya.

- What are you doing?

- Adam, hey.

- That was really dumb, okay?

- It was a joke.

- Yeah, well it wasn't funny.

- I'm sorry.

♪ It's all right ♪

- [Cassie] Adam.

♪ Take you home ♪

♪ It's all right ♪

♪ Take you home ♪

- Adam's a little off his game today.

- [Garry] Yeah, he's paddling good and fast

but once he's up, he's just not flying at all.

- [Adam] The waves were there to be nailed.

But I was so choked up with fear,

I was letting them nail me.

The day was a wreck and I was too.

- Okay guys, hit the showers.

- Then you should all get some homework done before dinner.

- Can't we just have dinner and forget the homework?

- Don't you have some Shakespeare to learn?

- Yes, you do.

- No, but I don't even want--

- No excuses, time to face your demons, Lord Macbeth.

- Thanks, Loren, I won't forget this.

- What are friends for?

- [Cassie] Hey.

- Oh, hey.

- I'm sorry for grabbing your leg today.

I didn't mean to freak you out.

- Oh no, you didn't freak me out.

I was just surprised, that's all.

Sorry I snapped at you.

- So we're both sorry.

I guess that makes us square?

- Yeah, yeah, of course.

- Cool.

(relaxed guitar music)

- Okay, so I was a wimp but how could I tell her the truth?

I couldn't even admit it to myself, let alone anyone else.

And you know what the stupidest thing about my fear was?

There was no real reason for it.

It's not like I'd been mauled

by a shark as a three year old.

I didn't have nightmares about sharks.

I wasn't even scared when I first saw them in the movies.

It was a fear based on absolutely nothing, it was crazy.

- Okay, let's say this carrot is your board

and this lettuce is your wave.

Now on your takeoffs today,

you were looking straight down the face like that.

Now when the waves are steep like that,

you can get a bit anxious at the peak

and it's easy to catch an outside ride.

- Right.

- Do you reckon that's what was holding you back?

- It could have been.

Yeah, yeah, it was.

- Well you can't afford to let that happen in a competition.

If something's getting in the way, you need to deal with it.

- Uh-huh.

- You know,

one season,

I lost my focus.

I was surfing really well and then

I starting coming bottom of every column.

- What happened?

- Fear, plain and simple.

- You were afraid?

- There was this girl.

I really liked her and well,

I was too afraid to ask her out.

- You're kidding.

- No way.

Every time I spoke to her, I just froze up, you know?

- And that affected your surfing?

- Big time, I was all over the place,

I couldn't concentrate.

- So what did you do?

- Well, this other guy in the circus

started dating her and I hated him for that.

- Yeah. - So I set out to beat him

in the comps, that's what refocused me.

- But you never faced your fear.

- Correct, but in the end, she asked me out.

It turns out she liked me all along.

So all that stress, all that worry was for nothing.

It almost always is. - Yeah.

(relaxed guitar, piano music)

I decided to take Garry's words on board.

Maybe it was just a matter of relaxing.

If I didn't think about it, then it might just go away.

For a moment, it actually seemed to work.

(anxious screeching tones)

(screaming)

(steady tempo rock music)

- Adam.

Are you okay?

- I'm fine.

- [Cassie] So what just happened?

- Nothing.

- You practically picked your board up

and sprinted across the water.

Did you see something out there?

- No.

- Adam, why don't you just tell me?

- There's nothing to talk about.

- Adam. - Just drop it, okay?

- Mind if I sit down?

- [Adam] That's up to you.

- It's all right Adam, I know what's going on.

- There's nothing going on.

Don't be silly.

- You're scared of sharks.

(mid tempo drumbeat)

- You must think I'm pretty lame, hey?

- No, not at all.

You're scared of sharks.

It's not a big deal.

- It's a very big deal, I mean I'm so freaked out

by it that I don't even want to get back in the water.

- How long's this been going on?

- A year, two years.

I don't know, I've always

managed to talk myself out of it though.

But lately it's just--

- Something must have happened to set it off.

Did you hear a story about a shark attack?

- None in particular.

- Have you seen any sharks while you've been out there?

- Only in my imagination.

- Yeah, well they're the worst kind.

Look, plenty of people are scared of sharks.

Especially where I come from.

Surfing down in the Bite,

I mean that's Great White territory.

- I don't know how you even get in the water down there.

I mean aren't you terrified?

- Honestly, I don't think about it.

- I mean how can I be a competitive surfer

when every time I get in the water,

I'm panicking about some shark chomping my leg off?

- You find a way to beat it.

- Like what, start surfing in a swimming pool?

- No.

But that gives me an idea.

You see, the best way to deal

with sharks is to get up nice and close to them.

- What?

Who on earth told you that?

- Well no one, but it's perfectly logical, isn't it?

- Logic means nothing.

If logic had anything to do with it,

I wouldn't be afraid in the first place.

- That's not true, sometimes it's logical to be afraid.

- Do we really have to do this?

- Why not, and what have you got to lose?

- Like my legs?

You see that sign over there?

It says "Dangerous Australian Animals"

which suggests that there is a lot to lose.

- Look, why don't you just man up about it

and picture the sharks swimming around in their knickers?

(Adam chuckles)

See, at least you can laugh about it, come on.

(relaxed ensemble music)

What do you think?

Beautiful, isn't it?

- Yeah.

- Come on, it's perfectly safe.

Oh, wow.

That is awesome.

Come closer, have a look.

Are you okay?

- Yeah, yeah.

- Hey.

Look at it, Adam.

It's not gonna hurt you.

It's just a big fish really.

Quite graceful.

- Oh man, I gotta get outta here.

(relaxed guitar, piano music)

- Adam.

I'm so sorry, I really thought it would help.

- No, no, it's not your fault, I couldn't breathe in there.

I kept thinking the tunnel was gonna collapse

and half a dozen sharks were gonna

come flooding in on top of me.

- Are you serious?

- Yeah.

- Well maybe you need to talk to Bec and Garry about it.

Tell them what's going on.

- Are you kidding?

A surfer who's afraid of sharks,

they'd kick me out in five minutes.

- No, they wouldn't.

- Please promise me you won't tell them or anyone.

- Well of course, but I still think you need to tell them.

- [Adam] I trusted Cassie completely but

I also knew that if she'd discovered my secret,

then it wouldn't be long before everyone else knew too.

I wondered what fears they had and even more,

how they dealt with them.

- So, Act Two of Macbeth,

what themes do you think Shakespeare was exploring?

- Ambition.

- Love.

- Fear in death.

- Evil, m*rder.

- Good.

So who's ready to present their prepared scenes?

Come on.

I might be inspired to give

an extra mark to the first volunteers?

- You can do it. - No, I can't.

- We have to do it eventually.

Let's just get it over with.

- Can I take my dagger with me?

- Just so long as you don't hurt anyone.

Excellent, some brave souls prepared

to tackle their stagefright, I love it.

Well, give 'em a hand.

(class applauding)

- What man dare, I dare.

Take any shape but that,

and my firm nerves shall never tremble.

Or be alive again--

- [Adam] Maybe Guy had the right idea.

He fessed up about his fear and now he's dealing with it.

Cassie might be right, maybe I do need to talk to someone.

- [Rebecca] I'm really glad you told us.

- Yeah, now we can do something about it to help you.

If that's what you want.

- Yeah, yeah, I want it more than anything.

- Good, then we should start straightaway.

- We got a training session this afternoon.

Do you think you'd be okay to get back in the water then?

- It depends, are we going back to Dusky Point?

- Not today.

- It's not the only place you could see a shark, Adam.

- Yeah, I know but at least Blue Water Beach is netted.

What?

- Not all the time.

There's only a few nets and they move them around the area.

- You're kidding.

- Hey, think of the upside.

You've been surfing there for months

and haven't seen a shark yet.

- And you have more chance of winning

the Lotto than you have of being eaten by a shark.

- Do I get a choice?

- You know, there's pilots who have a fear of flying.

But they get control and they move on.

- You can do that too.

- Well, you have to do that, otherwise--

- Otherwise my year is over.

(relaxed guitar music)

I just wish Bec hadn't told us that they shift the nets.

- It's okay, we're all out there with you.

Nothing is going to happen.

- All righty, put your boards down, take a seat.

- Why do I get the feeling

we're not going in the water today?

- Ah, we will soon enough.

First I just want to work on a little mental preparation.

- Today we're going to try a visualization technique

that some elite athletes use to enhance their performance.

- Now it might feel a bit weird

at first but just give it a go, okay?

Because it could work for you.

- I'm willing to try anything that'll help me to win.

- Great, all right.

Let's get in a comfy position.

Close your eyes.

Take a few deep breaths.

Now imagine yourself paddling out into the surf.

- It's a beautiful day.

There's a nice offshore breeze blowing

and you're feeling really good.

- You've made the final for a big comp.

A monster set comes through.

You paddle hard to the next big wave

and you're up, you focus on nothing but the ride.

(relaxed guitar music)

(laughing)

You score a from the judges.

You paddle out for the next big wave.

- Yeah!

- You're feeling tired now

but you know you've got one last wave to ride.

This is the one.

- Yoo hoo!

- Imagine yourself surfing at your very best.

If you can imagine it, you can do it.

(anxious rock music)

(screaming)

- [Cassie] You're missing some great sets out there.

- Yeah, you can go out.

- Not until you come with me.

- Adam.

- I didn't do too well in training today, did I?

- Let's not get hung up on that.

We need to focus on the next step.

- What next step?

- You're going to learn a bit

about the thing it is you're scared of, here.

- Already went to the aquarium, not a good move.

- Okay, so we start again

but this time we take things slowly.

So looking at pictures, learning the facts about sharks.

- The facts I can handle.

It's just the actual sharks that spook me.

- [Cassie] Wow, look at this guy.

- It doesn't feel good?

- No, not great.

- Okay, well what about this one?

That's a little less threatening.

- Yeah, I would say slightly.

- Okay so now trace around the outline with your finger.

- Why?

- I know it sounds weird but give it a go.

- So, start like this.

(relaxed guitar music)

- So far, so good.

- Great, well I'll leave you to do some research.

About half an hour is ideal.

Am I seeing things or are you

actually reading one of those shark books?

- No, you were right.

There's some amazing stuff in here.

You know some sharks actually

have parts that glow in the dark?

- Wow, another week and you'll be quite the expert.

- Once I got used to looking

at the pictures, it was pretty easy.

- Good, because now we're taking it one step further.

- You're not serious, are you?

- Yes.

- There's no way I could do something that extreme.

- Yes you can, you have to.

- So I don't have a choice.

- I've made the booking for tomorrow.

You can back out if you want to but if you do,

well, I don't know where we go from there, Adam.

(relaxed guitar music)

- [Adam] You going out there alone?

- Yeah, just taking the rubbish out.

- I can do it for you if you like.

- No.

It's okay.

I've just gotta remind myself there's nothing

to be scared of just because it's dark out there.

That low howling noise is just the wind

and that dark shadow is just a wetsuit, not an ax m*rder*r.

- You have a vivid imagination.

- Yeah, which my teachers always told me was a good thing.

But sometimes, like dark nights,

it gets a little out of control.

But I'm not gonna let a little fear get in my way.

- A week ago, I would have laughed

at the idea of Loren being afraid of the dark.

But now, I was only filled with a sense of admiration

for the gutsy way she just faced up to it.

I also realized that if she could face her fears like that,

then I had no choice.

- Most of the sharks you'll see

when you're surfing around here aren't dangerous.

There's Wobbegongs, Grey Nurses.

- Yeah, that's the one we saw at the aquarium.

- Yeah, the way their teeth are found underneath like this

means that it's very hard for them to bite a person.

- Yeah, but not impossible.

- Come on, how's your attitude, mate?

- Yeah, okay.

- So what do you think Adam, are you ready to give it a go?

- It's absolutely safe, I can guarantee it.

- Is there any other way?

- What if I come with you?

- You'd do that?

- Well, yeah.

(relaxed guitar music)

Is that okay?

- I think it's a great idea.

- Okay.

Okay, if you're game, then so am I.

- When we get down there,

just stand nice and still and let the sharks come to you.

- They come up to you?

- Well, they're very curious by nature.

So it won't take long before they come and look at us.

- And you're sure they won't be curious as to how I taste

and just have a little nibble on my leg or something?

- Adam, the Grey Nurse shark only eats other fish, remember?

- I'm trying but they have a brain

like the size of a tennis ball.

How do they know I'm not a fish?

- I take people down every day.

I haven't lost anyone yet.

- That's reassuring.

- So are we all right to go?

Just nod and say "Yes."

- Yes.

- Cool.

(relaxed guitar, electronic music)

- I knew that in order to beat my fear,

I'd have to confront it but I never imagined

that I'd confront it as up close and personal as this.

I can't believe I did it!

- You were fantastic. - No.

You were fantastic, I wouldn't have done it if you hadn't.

- Are you kidding?

- Oh man, I really owe you one.

- Hey, I wouldn't have missed that for the world.

Thank you so much, Hope.

- Yeah, thank you, thank you so much.

- I'm glad you enjoyed it.

- You did really well, Adam.

- Yoo hoo!

Diving into that shark tank was definitely

the scariest thing I'd ever done.

But not nearly as scary as I'd imagined.

Garry was right, it was much worse

in my head than in reality.

- [Garry] If you make it to the Circuit,

you will have to surf your share of reefs.

- You want to get as close as you can

because that's where the fastest waves are.

- [Garry] But you do not want to get too close.

I have the leg injury to prove it.

- What we're aiming for today

is to be the deepest in on the wave.

- So, remember, pull in fast and give it all you got.

(relaxed rock music)

- The reef break was a challenge

but this was my chance to get back in the game

and prove myself to Bec and Garry.

Even more important, to prove myself to myself.

For the first time in weeks,

there were no distractions, it was just me and the wave.

Nothing else mattered.

I was back in my element and loving every moment.

I probably won't ever lose my fear of sharks completely

but what I did lose was the fear of the fear.

The idea that once my secret was out,

it would somehow lead to my entire world collapsing.

But once I did get it out

in the open, the opposite happened.

Suddenly this huge weight was lifted off my back.

I had one person to thank for that.

Cassie was there for me when I really needed her

and now it was my turn to pay her back.

Turns out she had a secret fear as well.

- Cassie, would you like to come in now?

- You know, my tooth is actually feeling much better

and if it starts to ache, I'll just call you, that's fine.

- Cass.

You'll be fine.

- I hate you.

- [Adam] From now on I've decided no more secrets.

At least not from myself anyway.

(up tempo electronic music)