01x01 - The Contenders

[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 ♪

[upbeat rock music)

[electric guitar riffing)

- Day one, Solar Blue Surf Academy Final's Day.

nervous finalists have come

from all over the country for the last heats.

Today is judgment day

and seven winners get to spend the next year of their lives

eating, breathing, sleeping and surfing

away from parents for the first time.

And someone else pays for it!

Every grommit's fantasy come to life

and which little grommit won the first heat of the day?

Me, Heath Carrol, winner!

♪ Pictures of you ♪

♪ Every action and reaction ♪

♪ Pictures of you ♪

Better get out there

and see who's gonna join me in the goldfish bowl.

Look at that smile.

Dean Edgely, Edge to us ordinary mortals.

Northern bred, though his face might be frozen

into that angry young rabbit look,

or maybe he inherited it from his dad.

What do I know?

Ah, Perry Lowe, the Gold Coast fairy princess.

♪ Pictures of you ♪

♪ I take a chance when I take a shot ♪

♪ Pictures of you ♪

She's clearly got everything a girl could possibly need.

Matt, from King Island.

Told me he surfed the King Island break,

heaviest wave in Aus, so not planning to mess with him.

Bec Sanderson,

one half of the Sanderson family group.

Local kids, ain't good.

Her brother Joe's still to ride

but everyone reckons the final boys' place

is as good as his.

Okay, all we need now is to find out

who gets the final girls' place.

- Okay, Fiona and Stacey?

Your heat starts in five minutes, good luck.

- Good luck, hope we get some good waves. [laughs)

- This place is mine, so stay out of my face.

- I'm sorry?

Oh no, the fin's gone right through.

- So use one of your other boards.

- I don't have another board.

- Well, if you're gonna forfeit, you better do it soon.

- [Groans) No!

- Problem?

- I knew things were going too well.

I'm from Western Australia,

it was a big deal for my family to even get me here,

so extra boards are a bit of a luxury.

- Come on, you can use one of my short boards.

They'll be a bit heavier than yours,

but better than nothing.

You didn't walk into her, did you?

- No way.

- I've got an inbuilt radar for lying, filthy rotten toads.

It was going mental the whole time she was talking.

Take it easy on the turns,

it won't be as loose as yours.

[horn blares)

Go on, the clock's ticking!

- Thank you.

I'm Fly by the way. - Heath.

Matt, right?

- Yeah.

- We're such a long way from the action, don't you reckon?

- [Matt] Yeah, wohoo!

- [Heath] We're in the meat wagon and we're about to...

Just watch the last of the girl's finals.

Thanks, this is fine.

- She's pretty good.

- Yeah, you can say that again, my friend.

- She's coming in as a hot favorite.

Solar Blue have been watching her for years.

- Now she is pretty good.

- You can say that again, my friend.

Yeah [laughs) go Fly!

- You gonna be sick Heath?

- Nah, I get this weird feeling sometimes,

like everything's off balance.

Usually happens when something not good is going down.

- You sure it's not sea sickness?

[electric rock music)

- You stupid, stupid idiot.

Always stuffing everything up.

- Are you okay?

- You don't understand what's gonna happen

if I don't win this.

- Fly, what are you doing?

Go around her, she's not taking the waves.

If you let her block you, you'll run out of time!

♪ But I still can't see you ♪

♪ Turn up today ♪

♪ Our vacation for the waves ♪

- She got crushed by her board.

What do we do?

When are we gonna go?

Hang in there, Fly!

Get her in, quickly.

- [Matt] It's okay, Fly, we've got you.

[tense rock music, boat engine roars)

- [Simmo] Fiona, you alright?

- Lift her gently!

- So what happens now, does she forfeit?

- Stacey, I really don't know, okay?

- Really amazing. - What?

- You're too young to have a heart bypass already.

Yeah, it's okay, I'm her brother.

- Ow, don't make me smile.

- You okay? - Loose tooth.

They want me to have an x-ray.

- Yeah, is it hurting? - Not really.

It's just, I knew things were going too well.

- Look, maybe they'll let you surf the heat again.

- It's not her fault I picked a bad wave.

- It's more like my fault, for hassling you into it.

- I'm sorry about your board.

I'll get a part time job when I get back.

It might take a while, but I'll replace it.

- Nah, I hated that board.

- Fiona, I've spoken to your mum.

She told me that you're staying at your aunty's place.

She'll ring your aunty

and let her know that you're in hospital.

- Yeah. - alright.

- Yeah, I'm onto it Andrew, I've just pulled up.

[ambulance siren)

I'll call you as soon as it's sorted.

- She was only on my board 'cause Stacy trashed hers,

and she was only on the wave 'cause I hassled her into it.

Come on, there's gotta be another reheat.

- Simmo, what is going on?

- Deb, what are you doing here?

- We have to talk.

- Look, Heath, I don't know what's gonna happen.

Deb, I've gotta get the last of the boys in the water

or we'll be here 'til next week.

We'll talk later! - Simmo!

- Right, you know the drill. - Simmo.

- Not now Deb. - Now Simmo, now.

- Sorry guys, give me a minute.

Deb, what's the problem?

- You've surfed here every day of your life,

you've got it in the bag.

- I can't believe I'm so nervous.

- You're already in,

you were in since the day you were born.

- What's going on? - Dunno.

Doesn't look too friendly though.

- Bit of a problem, I'm afraid.

We're gonna have to delay the heat

for the seventh spot.

- [Everyone] What?

- I know, I'm sorry.

Look, there's nothing I can do about it,

we'll resume tomorrow.

Bec, can you take the other kids up to the house,

introduce them to Jilly?

I'll be up there as soon as I can.

- Great. - Don't freak.

- Yeah, right. - It's only one more day.

- Yeah, well that's easy for you to say, you're already in.

- I'd better show them up.

- Yeah well, guess I'm going home.

[electric rock music)

♪ What you gonna do with yourself ♪

♪ Except nothing less than best ♪

♪ What you gonna do with yourself ♪

- Is it just me or is anyone else thinking about

the fact that they actually got in?

We made it.

- [Perry] I don't think it's just you.

- [Bec] This is it!

- [Heath] Last little shack.

- [Perry] Home sweet home for the next months.

- [Bec] Everyone, this is Jilly.

Jilly, everyone. - [Everyone] Hi Jilly.

- Hello!

Well you can't stand out here like garden gnomes all day,

you better go on in

and leave your boards by the back door.

- Hey there kitties.

Welcome kits from our bosses at Solar Blue.

- It's like Christmas morning!

- Santa's come over all Hawaiian.

- How do I look?

- I think you'd look better in pink.

- Now I don't want to puncture your joy,

but this all comes with responsibilities.

Cooking, cleaning, washing, gardening.

- Who gets which room?

- Why don't you come and look,

then you'll know what you're fighting over.

This way.

- Thinking about who's gonna get the last two bags?

- Praying, actually.

- Me too.

- [Simmo] I cannot believe

this decision was made without me.

- It wasn't made without you, we had a meeting.

We sent you two emails and a fax,

but I'm beginning to wonder

whether you go into the office at all.

- My job is to train the kids.

Now, the last time I looked,

they didn't have any office equipment

attached to their boards.

- Oh wake up Simmo,

this misunderstanding is exactly the sort of thing

that Solar Blue have been worried about.

- Oh funny,

I thought that they were worried about

producing great surfers!

- Yes they are.

The last two years, the kids coming out of here

haven't been up to scratch.

That's why they've sent me here,

to try to help you out.

- You're here for good?

- We're sharing the reigns for the next year,

whether we like it or not.

The cab should be here soon,

do you want to go in and break the news first?

- Do I have a choice? - Nope.

- What are you doing?

- I needed to hang out my wet towel

and I thought this drainpipe looked dodgy, hey?

- Yeah, well you better get inside.

I've got some news for you.

So, because there's been some changes in direction

at Solar Blue this year,

the changes have sort of filtered down to us.

- What kind of changes?

- The heat for the last boys spot that we postponed today

won't be happening at all.

- Why not?

- Solar Blue have picked their own candidate this year.

A girl from Germany.

- Germany?

There's not even any surf in Germany!

- [Matt] Well there is a bit.

- This is so not fair,

it's not even meant to be a girl this year.

It's been an extra girl one year,

an extra guy the next ever since the school started.

- Bec, I know that,

but Solar Blue have changed their minds this year.

- This is so wrong.

I can't believe you let this happen.

- Look, that'll be them now.

Andrew Mitchell, the head of Solar Blue

has flown out with her

so you'll all have the chance to meet him too.

Andrew. - Hey mate, how are you?

- Good mate, come in.

Now you all met Deb at the trials.

- Hi.

This is the man responsible for you all being here,

Andrew Mitchell. - Hi, welcome.

And this is Anna. - Hi.

- Okay guys, I can't stay long,

so I just want to say well done, work hard

and listen to what these guys have to tell you.

I know they look a little prehistoric

but they usually know what they're talking about.

And also, take care of Anna.

I know a lot of you are away from home too,

but she's from a lot further away

so do what you can to help her settle in, alright?

And guys, try to have some fun, okay?

You got some cheques for me to sign?

- Yep.

- Well, let's get Anna settled.

How would you feel about helping...

Edge cook our first dinner tonight?

- Great.

- This decision about Anna has ruffled a few feathers.

- They'll get over it.

- Okay, what about Deb?

- Look, don't sweat Deb, you'll really like her in time.

- Look, she's a bean counter.

Can't she just do it from head office?

- She's more than just a bean counter.

She's a personal trainer

and she's got a degree in sports psychology.

- Oh goodie.

- Hi, look I know you're insanely busy

and it's probably a lot to think about--

- It's Heath, right?

What's your point Heath?

- I was just wondering if you had time

to think about whether there was gonna be rerun

for the last girls' heat?

- There was an injury. - They happen.

- Yeah, but it wasn't as simple as that.

- Okay, you got a song to sing, you better start singing

'cause I got a cab out the front

and the meter's now running.

- That is quite a feat.

I mean, to burn it to the point of being snappable

without actually causing a fire,

amazing really.

- Hey, so it's a little well done?

Don't eat it, alright,

no-one's forcing you to eat it.

- Sorry, it's not very good.

My coach hasn't let me near the kitchen for years.

- How sad for you.

- You had a personal surfing coach for years?

- I'm a kite boarder.

- [Bec] What?

You're not actually a surfer?

- I've been surfing for fun

but the competitions have been in kite boarding.

- [Matt] So did you win any of the comps?

- A few. - So why the change?

- Solar Blue suggested it.

They sponsor me on the kite circuit,

they wanted to see if I could cross over to surfing.

- So when did you find out you were coming here?

- About six months ago.

- They had trials in Germany six months ago?

- There were no trials.

Solar Blue just called and offered me the extra place.

- Heath and Perry, you're on dishes tonight.

- Oh, I wanted to see if I could trade.

I want to race over to the hospital

and tell Fly about the retrial.

- [Jilly] Okay. - What retrail?

- I spoke to Andrew and he agreed to let them surf again

since Fly didn't really get a fair deal.

- [Heath] Trade? - [Matt] Alright.

[melancholy guitar music)

♪ There's nowhere to run ♪

♪ And there's nowhere to hide ♪

♪ Don't want to know anymore ♪

- What's up?

Are your roomies annoying you already?

- If that was the only problem,

then there wouldn't be a problem.

- So what is the problem?

- They gave the last place to some chick from Germany.

Some stuff up between Simmo and the company.

He thought he'd sorted it out but he hadn't.

I'm gonna do something about it though.

- What?

What are you gonna do about it?

- I'll do something!

- Dad always said I'd make a good mechanic.

- Stop it.

- You've got a visitor.

- Excellent, I've already rung the train, Aunty Pat.

There's one at .

- You're such an organized young lady.

Organized, but too quick by half.

- What are you doing here?

- I was in the neighborhood.

How's your mouth?

Come on, show me.

- There's nothing to see.

- I dragged your bleeding bones out of the water,

I want to look.

- Seriously, there's nothing to see

'cause there's nothing there.

- What, you lost it?

The whole tooth?

Oh cool, come on please, show us.

I love sporting injuries.

Come on, show me.

Brilliant!

And Solar Blue are gonna pay for the replacement?

- That's what they said.

- I reckon you get a fat gold one.

So, anyway, you gonna ask me why I called you too quick?

- Um, sure.

- Well, you're not going anywhere yet.

They're going to rerun the heat in the morning.

I reckon it'd be okay to smile.

Or not, depending on how embarrassed you are

about that tooth.

- Sorry, I don't usually-- - Hug people?

- Hug strangers.

- Me neither, but I'm prepared to overlook it,

just this once, until we get to know each other better.

[muffled scream, claps on the back)

- Sorry, I didn't meant to frighten you.

I'm not getting anything right really.

- My fault.

I can't believe I voluntarily ate

another one of those sausages.

- [sighs) I feel like I'm in the wrong place,

like it was a mistake to come here

but I don't know why.

- Well, I think what's occurred here,

I got a better idea, I'll show you.

This is the video that Heath took

of Bec and Joe before they canceled the heat.

- And the winner is Bec Sanderson.

- Yes! [applause)

This guy's next,

you won't even have to bother filming the heat

because his name's been on the list since he was born.

I'm serious, no one really thought I could do it

but my bro here, he's the one to watch.

He's got it in the bag.

- I don't get it.

What's this got to do with me?

- That guy Joe, Bec's brother, he didn't get in.

- Why? - They canceled the heat

because the spot had been given to someone else.

- They didn't tell me I would be taking

someone else's place.

Joe didn't get in because of me.

And Bec's right, I didn't even have to surf for it.

[peaceful guitar music)

- I had like, seconds of sleep and I feel brilliant.

- Yeah, me too.

You know what the plan for today is?

- I think it might just be getting us settled in.

- Pinching ourselves to make sure it's real.

The usual dream come true kind of stuff.

- You really didn't think you'd get in?

- Most of the time I did,

but at three o'clock in the morning

I'd wake up sure I was gonna stuff up on the day, you?

- Thought I had no chance.

I didn't even get my dad to come up with me

'cause I wasn't expecting to have to say goodbye.

- I had the whole weeping cheer squad

for weeks before I left.

- Yeah, I saw your boyfriend?

- Ex boyfriend now, I guess.

- Ex?

- You know what they say about long distance relationships.

- Doesn't anybody care that I'm going without breakfast

on my first day away from home?

- You can have my toast.

- Hi Bec. - Bec, perhaps we could talk.

- Mornings aren't good for me, maybe later.

- I'll have a shower.

- It's not her fault, Bec.

- It's not about Anna at all.

It's the system that sucks.

- Yeah, well the system doesn't have

to share a house with you.

- Trouble in paradise so soon.

You all coming down to watch Fly in the reheat?

I'm sure she could use the support.

- Look guys, if we all work together

we can make sure Fly gets this spot.

- The new tooth looks good, you can hardly tell.

- It's just temporary 'til I get back to my own dentist.

[horn blares)

- Time to go nail this.

- Have you arranged a new board

or are you planning to walk on water?

- I borrowed one from the Academy,

it's just around the back of the tent.

- It's alright, I'll get it.

Just get your comp rashie on,

otherwise they won't know who the winner is.

Hey Stacey.

You seen Fly's board bag?

- Yeah, this must be her's.

I thought it was mine,

but when I opened it, I realized it wasn't.

This is mine.

[upbeat rock music)

♪ I get further and further ♪

♪ Should I shave my head with a rusty razor ♪

♪ Start a revolution and a dubious saviour ♪

- Good luck again, hey.

[upbeat rock music)

- Up to the gods now.

Oh no, the tilt monitor's back.

- Something's gonna happen.

You think I'm a cuckoo clock, don't you?

I tell you what, this thing is never wrong.

If I tell you I've got the tilts about you,

you stay in bed all day.

- You are a cuckoo clock,

but I think this time you're right.

- You do?

- I think Fly has accidentally on purpose lost a fin.

- How did you know?

- I think I busted Stacey loosening a screw.

- You'll need a whole new fin and screw.

- Why don't you just tell Simmo,

get her disqualified for tampering?

- I want to win this properly.

- Bec's board!

- Her board'll be too big.

- No, but she's got FCS fins, her center fin should fit.

[Heath whistles)

- Are you deaf Bec?

We need your help.

Or do you only care about fairness when it's family.

- I didn't see any of you busting your backsides

to help Joe.

- Look, there was nothing we could do about it, Bec.

So you think we shouldn't help Fly

when there's something we can do?

Look, what happened to Joe isn't fair

but if Fly loses this, then we've got two people

who deserve to be here who won't get in.

[upbeat rock beat)

- Bec, that'll have to do.

She's got minutes left as it is.

- Make it count Fly! - Go Fly!

[electric guitar, rock music)

- Bec'll come around, just give her time.

- How do you know?

You only met her yesterday.

- You got a point there Matt.

You don't know Bec from a bar of soap, really.

I, on the other hand,

have an excellent head for these things

and whatever's been off kilter lately

is getting sorted out so,

yeah, she'll come around.

- You've got a very strange manner Heath.

- Why, thank you.

I might be jumping the g*n

but, if there's any fairness in this world

there's someone who deserves to win this

and someone who deserves to lose,

making the final winner of the Solar Blue finals--

- Fiona Watson! [cheering and applause)

- Hey Bec, spoke to Anna.

Told her you'd get over it sooner or later.

- Why do I get the feeling

this is gonna be a very long year?

- Long and beautiful Bec, long and beautiful.

[electric 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 ♪