The Curious.
They say he collects strange tales.
And if you ever hear his whistle,
you know something creepy is about to unfold.
Have you ever felt not good enough?
If someone offered you a chance to succeed,
but it meant others would fail,
would you take it?
Five, six, seven, eight.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight.
Nice job. Awesome.
That's it. Okay, set it up.
Hips, hips!
Two points, Alexa.
- That's it. - Come on, Alexa!
Sit down and turn in.
One point, Phoenix. Nice recovery.
That's what I want to see, Alexa. Think your way out of it.
Come on, Phoenix, take her.
Use your size! Come on!
Nice! Finish it.
Get up!
Come on, man!
Yes!
Alexa wins. Nice job.
That was a classic example of brains over brute force.
I hope you took note of that, Lincoln.
I knew you had it.
Whoo! That was amazing.
Thanks for the cheers, Captain.
Well, you need all the help you can get. You know, being the only girl and all.
- Oh. - I'm kidding.
I know you could totally take him.
- Oh, you bet I could. - Grab and hold
and close up the space.
- Yes, Coach. - Take the overhook
- and get control, and you can work... - So I'm guessing
no good-luck message from your dad?
Nope.
Oh, look, it's the cheerleaders.
You know you got lucky back there, right?
Whatever. She's the best in the group by miles.
Always three moves ahead.
That was a nice job, Alexa. I got some good news for you.
I've decided you're ready to compete against the boys
for a spot in the regionals.
Good job.
If you don't like it, beat her.
A girl going for my spot?
Don't just stand around, grab a partner and scrimmage.
Don't listen to him, all right? You got this, all right?
I want you guys working setups... collar arm to single,
collar arm to double, collar arm to duck under.
Looks like a cloudless night tonight.
So if you're outside, look up to catch the beautiful Aurora Borealis.
A reminder
that temperatures remain very low with continuing winds from the north...
No way am I good enough to go up against the boys. I'm dead.
Alexa...
If you could only see how good you are...
What does good have to do with anything?
Do you see the size of those guys?
You need a hand? Here.
- Cheers to root beers. - Cheers to root beers.
"I am Trudi. You have been chosen.
You can't escape.
Text me back the gift you want.
I will take it from someone else.
If you don't, I'll hide under your bed
and take something anyway."
What is this?
Total spam. Just block her.
Whoa, it's too hot.
Okay.
What "gift"?
Wait, how is she texting me?
I just blocked her.
"I am Trudi...
escape... text me back if you want..."
I heard about this.
This kid got one of these.
It's that chain text thing.
He hated his glasses.
He asked for better eyes, I guess,
and out of nowhere he gets perfect vision.
But then, this other kid went blind.
Is that true?
Of course not. It's an urban legend. Just ignore it.
Yeah, maybe you're right.
But if you do that to me again, I will take you down.
Okay, okay. Sorry.
I want... physical strength.
"A gift has been given to you."
- Alexa, get up! - Mom, I'm up.
I'm up, I'm up.
Oh, my gosh!
Ah, my finger!
Oh! Oh!
Ah...
You think this is easy? I'd like to see you do it, chickadee.
Hang on, let me put it to more of an Alexa weight.
If you actually want to get somewhere, you should, uh,
join the cheerleading squad.
You know what? Move!
Hey, come on, take a look at this!
- Alexa, want me to spot you? - Oh, come on.
Here, let me get some weight off that for you.
Rr-rr!
Okay, guys, back to work.
All right, here, can you spot me for this?
- Yeah. - All right.
- So, go ahead. - Whoa.
Wait, it actually worked?
Only what I've been saying all morning.
"A gift has been taken from you"?
What do you mean? What's been taken?
What could she have taken? I don't feel like anything's missing.
Do you really think someone is getting weaker because of this?
Do I look shorter to you?
What?
I'm trying to figure out what Trudi took.
And you're sure I don't look shorter to you? Wait, wait.
Where's my binder? Do you think maybe she took my binder?
You know what she might have taken? Is your logic.
What are you doing?
Regionals.
I have my first trials after school tomorrow... I need all the help I can get.
- All right. Get your jacket. You ready? - Yes!
Let's go.
All right, take a knee. Listen up.
Let's go, let's go!
So, little Lincoln here has the "sniffles."
- It's a virus, Coach. - Sure it is, big guy.
So he'll be sitting out for now.
And George and...
Alexa.
You two will face off, best of three, to see who will challenge him
for the coveted spot in regionals.
Let's see who wants this more.
You two step up. Let's go!
Whoo! Let's go, Alexa!
Remember, pain is temporary. Pride is forever.
Come on, Alexa!
- Come on, George. Take her down. - Stay focused.
Hip out, underhook.
There you go.
That's it. Drive off your toes.
Finish. Chest to chest.
Very nice!
- That's a win for Alexa. - Yes!
That is one out of three. Nicely done.
And you, George, you have to bring your A-game next match, all right?
I've never been strong enough
to use those moves before!
Here.
- Can I interest you in a rag? - Thank you.
Now, can you hand me that socket wrench
- that's over on the counter? - Sure.
- There you go. - Thanks.
All right. So...
I see your mom is still driving like a maniac.
- Dad? - There's a reason
I have to keep coming over here all the time to tune this baby up.
All right.
So, why didn't you tell me
you were going for the regionals spot, hmm?
I had to hear it from your mom? This is huge!
You sound surprised.
I'm happy for you. I'm glad you're doing so well.
It's just that I worry about you sometimes.
Because I'm a girl?
Because it's a tough sport.
It's not the sport I would have thought of for you.
But if I was a boy, would you have thought of it for me then?
You know that's not what I meant. Come on, this is exciting!
The regionals is the big time!
I'm happy for you.
What's going on? Everything okay?
Um... yeah. Just nervous about tryouts.
Tell you what. Why don't I go and watch your tryouts?
Really?
Can't miss my kid making the regionals, just like her old man.
Whew...!
What just happened?
Are... are you okay?
Well, that was lucky, huh?
Yeah.
- Come on, George. - You got this, buddy.
All right, shake hands.
All right, match two. You ready?
Good luck to both of you.
That's a point, Alexa.
Come on, George, get back to your position.
Hey, George, back to your position.
Coach, I can't.
You can't what?
Lose?
No, she's just...
Too strong for you?
No, she's too rough, Coach.
This is wrestling, son.
Come on, Georgie boy.
Okay, it's crunch time, George.
- You either wrestle or you forfeit. - I...
Forfeit.
And you just gave up on yourself.
Well, Alexa, you're through to the next round.
That was good work, but you can't just force your moves all the time.
All right? Not everyone is gonna forfeit. Need to remember your technique.
Hey, come here.
What's wrong with you?
Look at Lincoln.
I don't want to sound crazy or anything,
but I think you're getting your strength from Lincoln.
Why can't you just let me enjoy this?
Every single time you made a big move, he looked like
someone just sucker-punched him in the face.
He has a virus. He said so himself.
You're just being paranoid.
Alexa!
Don't worry, I come in peace.
Peace offering.
You have a bottle opener?
Don't need one.
There you go. Cheers to root beers!
I, uh, thought you had cheer practice.
Yeah, me too.
I go there and it's a total no-show, again.
- What are you gonna do? - I don't know.
I texted an ultimatum,
"Either you come tomorrow or you're kicked off the squad."
You know you have to stop, right?
- You can see that Lincoln can't take this? - What do you want me to do?
Text "IamTrudi" and say, "Hey, no thanks. Take my gift back"?
Do it.
My dad is finally coming tomorrow. I can't!
But you're not even wrestling as good as you used to!
You used to wrestle smart, like a tactical beast.
I don't need to play that way anymore.
I finally have what it takes to be a champion.
Alexa, I'm just trying to look out for you, okay?
I'm just trying to be there for you. We're best friends, okay? I just...
Wait, are you seriously texting for more?
- Again? - I need strength!
So does Lincoln!
You don't care.
If you're not gonna do the right thing, then I am.
- What are you... - Don't!
- You lost it! - Get out!
And don't even bother coming tomorrow.
I was told she's doing really well.
Yeah.
Hey! Sorry I'm late, kiddo.
You came!
You got this!
- All right? - Yeah.
You look... better.
It was just a virus. What?
Though it was gonna last forever?
- Pfft! - Too bad for you.
I didn't get my strength from him?
Positions.
Only one of you gets to place at regionals.
Ready?
Ah!
Two points, Lincoln. Perfect technique.
The boy's learning.
Come on, Alexa, what'd I tell you about using brute force?
Use your head, all right?
I can't.
Missing something?
My tactics.
Come on.
Trudi gave us pretty good gifts, huh?
Two points, Lincoln.
I'm guessing you asked for strength.
Sorry to tell you it didn't come from me.
Two points, Lincoln.
Come on, Alexa, start using your tactics.
All I lost was my sense of smell.
Small price to pay for getting your technique.
See? I need to put you out to win.
Gotta spot, Alexa.
- Give him those legs. - You wasted your skills.
But I won't.
Lincoln wins.
Lincoln McDonald, going to regionals!
Whoa, very nice!
- Good wrestling, lad! - Nice job, well done.
- Thanks, Coach. - Come on, young lady.
Let's go, boys. What'd I tell you?
Alexa, what happened out there?
I mean, you had this thing in the palm of your hand and you just...
I mean, you blew it.
Hey, hey, don't beat yourself up about it, okay?
He's just on a different level.
In time you'll get there.
It's just gotta be harder for you being the only...
I'll wait for you out in the car, okay?
Yeah, I won. I'm going to regionals.
Oh, my! What is going on?
Lucky?
Did I get my strength from them?
Wait, Luck... how do I stop this?
Oh!
Trudi.
- Where is it? - Are they okay?
Look at me, look at me!
Hey! What are you doing?
"If you break the chain, you break it for all."
What does that mean?
If you break the chain, everyone loses everything they got.
I don't care.
You can't do it! Everyone's gonna lose everything!
No!
Oh!
You're crazy. She doesn't even know what she's doing.
Keep breathing, keep breathing...
That's it. In and out, in and out.
Open up your eyes. Open up your eyes and look at me.
It's done!
I'm sorry!
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I can't!
You okay?
You were great tonight. You're always great.
You know, I wish I could take all the belief I have in you
out of my head and put it into yours.
I wasn't good today, Dad. I messed up.
Drop that. Come on.
Okay? I'm proud of you.
You know, I'm always bragging to the guys about you.
The only girl on the wrestling team.
I'm just trying to be the son you always wished you had.
Is that what you think?
No, I never wanted a son.
No, I always wanted a girl.
You know, I even asked for one.
Really? You never wanted a son?
I had four brothers growing up!
All that I could picture when I had a little baby was...
a little girl.
Wait... what do you mean you asked for a girl?
Okay, you're gonna laugh, but...
back in the day we had these chain letters that would go around.
I got one when your mom was pregnant and it said that I had been chosen
and that I could ask for anything that I wanted.
Uh, it said that I would get a gift and that, um, uh...
ah, I forget the rest.
But yeah.
Yeah, I asked for my gift to be a little girl.
Sometimes a fear of failure can lead to bad choices.
So next time,
maybe try believing in yourself first.
You never know where it might take you.