Sights and Sounds of Joe Lando - Our Strongest Link Magazine

TV Channel 50 FoxFamily, Fri, February 4, 2000, "Our Strongest Link."
Written by Bruce Miller, Directed by Tony Westman.

A minute 15 slower than last week. Oh, we're... ha You're getting old. Looks like Bob Archer's kids

from lawrence hastings academy. What are they doing up here? They've got three gyms and two weight rooms. Could you be more jealous? No. You know I saw them kayaking the other day. Think they're practicing for the x-challenge race. Saw the banner up in town. You know, maybe we ought to get together a team this year from the cliffhangers. Well, that could be a good cooperative exercise. Yeah. I just don't know if we have enough room left

in the trophy case back in school.

Come on, push it, push it! Let's go! Come on, push it, push it! That's it. That's it! Come on, gang. Let's go! Move it! Move it!

Peter, hannah, how goes it? Bob, you guys are looking awfully good. Have them cross-training six days a week. You should come by -- it'd be an education. I'd love to, except we're going to be a little busy pulling together our own team this year. Something, uh, funny, bob? Well, your faith in those delinquents is sweet, but this is a real competition. A real competition, like that weekly basketball game we used to have? You know, I haven't seen you lately. You just get tired of losing or what? I got busy -- Oh -- with the athletes that needed me -- real athletes. I smell a bet here, bob. I bet that our cliffhangers finish the x-challenge race before your guys. Loser buys dinner? Come on. You're on. Ciao

Don't, all right? Peter, you really want the cliffhangers in this race? Mm-hmm. Scott hasn't adjusted yet and the rest of them don't exactly run like a swiss watch. Well, they need it more than most. Come on, let's go. I want to beat your butt back to the lodge. Loser cooks breakfast? I sense a food theme going here. On three...One, two--

Stop. Someone might see us. No, you don't know. They're totally serious about rules here. If we get caught-- You taste good. Stop it. We'll be on restriction for like a month. ( Giggling ) peter.

Well...Eggs poached, toast dry, and, uh, herb tea. Oh, say, uh, five minutes? You're not a very good winner. You know that, don't you?

Hey, kid. You're up early. Are you on kitchens? Kitchens, um... Yeah. You okay? You look a little flushed. Not getting sick on me, are you? Huh? I need you healthy. I got to go make some breakfast. That was close.

It's called the x-challenge race. There'll be kayaking, mountain biking, and the last leg of the race is a run through the woods with a map and compass. It's gonna take you all day and you have to finish each leg of the race together as a team before you get a chance to move on. (Hannah) There'll be teams from all over the country there, but they're not all professionals. Lawrence Hastings Prep also has a team. They do it because it looks good on their Harvard applications.

( Peter ) we don't have long to train. It's gonna be a tough road. I know you guys can do it. Come on, guys, it'll be great. Hope archer doesn't have a big appetite. We need a team captain. Interested? Yes, definitely. So what if we don't want to do it? So what if we don't want to do it? It's up to you. You're in, you're out. You decide.

Two words -- no way. I'm so sick and tired of being covered head to toe in mud. Yeah, she's not a jeep. She's a jaguar. You know, I hear all the hot jocks lose like 10 pounds during the race. Really? Mm-hmm. Yeah, I ain't going out looking like no fool, either. Auggie, you know what those rich guys from lawrence hastings think? Do you? They say, "that homeboy couldn't ride a mountain bike unless he stole it." Then I say we go kick some butt.

Hey, man. One in, all in. That's the way it is around here. Don't walk away from the family. you're not my family.

What's with him? His attitude stinks. Do you remember what it's like to be new? I was never that bad. Oh, no. You were worse. He's still settling in. He needs to be part of this team. Look, I know he's supposed to be some great athlete, but I don't want him on the team, and he obviously doesn't want to be on it. Katherine, you have to help him out here. He has to know he's not alone, even if he wants to be. Has to learn to trust you guys. All right, but he should learn to keep his mouth closed. Katherine. I'm just looking out for his well-being is all, you know, before somebody shuts it for him. All right.

You don't have to be the tough guy all the time, you know. I mean, it's cute and all, but everybody wants to do the race, so... You sound like one of them. I am one of them. You were like an amazing football player, you could help us so much. This isn't football. You were so good. Would you stop telling me how good I was? I'm stuck out here in the middle of nowhere now. I'm not anything anymore. You are to me. Couldn't you just try?

Don't just use the map, kat. Look around. I don't want to do this anymore. Use the compass, map and your head, all right? Can't go on, man. Oh, my back is killing me. I'm tired, I'm hungry... You guys are doing great. I cannot function at this hour without coffee and a cigarette. Let's go. No, peter. Let's go. All right, guys. Chop-chop. This sucks. ( Katherine ) there it is -- dylan rock. Hey, I found it. Okay, guys, get moving. Harness up, helmets -- chop-chop.

Now you want to climb fast, but you don't want to get hurt. Safe and steady. All right. Piece of cake. All right. Ready to come down. Okay, two by two -- ezra and auggie. Come on, you can do it. On belay. Belay on. On belay. Belay on. Climbing. Climb on. Climbing. Climb on. Come on you guys. Nice and easy, guys. Go, auggie. Come on, ezra hey, watch your line. One foot at a time, ezra. Come on, e.z. You can do it. Come on, ezra. This is totally pathetic. You could try to help, you know.

Having a little trouble there, pete? Oh, the little girl can't even climb. Peter, i'm feeling charitable today, so if you want out of that bet-- how do you think we're doing, kat? Awesome. I agree. You want to make that bet a little more interesting, bob? Huh? You name it. How's your singing voice? If you win, I sing in front of everybody at the barbecue. If you lose, you sing. Ahhhh... You can outrun bears, kayak the nastiest rivers, but singing... You're on. Excellent. Come on, guys, we got a lot of ground to cover. Let's go. See you at the finish line. We'll be waiting there for you. Right? Yeah.

Everyone feel good? ( Scott ) rah, rah. Listen, scott, I don't want you faking any kind of enthusiasm here. I really don't. I just want to beat the lawrence hastings kids and I do not want to sing, got me? So please, just help. Give it a try, that's all i ask. Come on.

Let's go, cliffhangers. And try to keep up. Hey, we don't need you.

Paddles up. Get away. Now, from your waist down... All right, all right. Come on, please. All right. Let's go. Let's go. Stop it! Don't get me wet. All right. That's enough.

Hurts. It definitely hurts. I need a shiatsu. You guys did great. Really. Could you rest the whole cheerleader thing? You didn't do great. You're all pathetic. Lay off her, meat. She did great. Three conference championships. You know what that means, huh? What did you ever win in your entire life? I wish you would just shut up! We all know you were captain, and we all know what happened. They kicked you off because you were too stoned to run straight. Big football hero. So please, could you just shut up? Scott, if you want to help, help. We're open to suggestions. Just stay out of my way.

Hey. Your attitude's not helping here. They don't know how to win. Well, maybe not because they don't do a lot of winng around here, Scott. They do a lot of just getting through, come out and play another day. That kind of thing, pal. I want you to stick with this. Maybe you'll learn something. What am I supposed to learn from losing? What did you ever learn from winning?

Juliette thinks she has

some kind of hold on you. She'll be so sad when she finds out the truth. You love it, don't you? Two girls crushing after you. Bet I can help you decide. I don't go for used cars.

It's so nice of you young people to come and visit. Oh, I like it here, Millie.

Hey, katherine, right? We met on the trail yesterday, remember? It's me, michelle from lawrence hastings. I was visiting my grandma. You work here or something? Three days a week. I'm a falcon -- I have privileges. A falcon? How totally summer camp. It's my status. Forget it. I didn't think they let you guys out. It's a school. You think it's some kind of prison? Sure -- you're the hoods in the woods and we're the spoiled brats down by the lake. That's how everyone sees us both, right?

Listen, I was just gonna go meet some friends, just hang for a while. They're all shrews like me, but you want to come along anyway? I have to meet the van at 8:30. You won't be late. Come on. Don't you ever just want to have fun?

[music playing from a jukebox] Come on, we're dancing. Come on. Take that thing off. Little bit better.

She missed the bus. No one's seen her. It's been two hours, peter.

( Sighing ) dancing at fabian's. My head's pounding. It could be worse, peter. She could have been in a bar. You want to call her parents and tell them that, huh? Yes, it could have been worse, but there's still consequences, and she knows that.

Katherine. I said i was sorry. Still... I said i was sorry, but I'm not. I'm really not. I just wanted to go dancing. I just wanted one normal night. Once -- can't you get that? Absolutely, absolutely. But you're still responsible for being here on time. You lose your town privileges for a week. You're off the x-challenge team and you're out of the race. They'll lose without me. Then we lose. What do you want me to do, make the easy choice here? You know I can't do that, kate. I'm sorry. Go to your dorm. Face it, peter. This is really your race.

I'm sorry for letting everyone down. I know you guys will still do great in the race. Of course we will, even without Katherine on the team. Come on, don't kick her off. Just put her on restriction or something. Come on, peter. Be human just once.

We need a new team captain. Scott. You're it. What? You're it. No...No way. This team's a joke. Then make them a good joke. Let's see what you can do, three-time league champion. Give him a chance. All right, first thing. Shelby and juliette, you're gonna shut up and stop complaining. Scott. Don't you talk to her like that, meat. Auggie, you're going to drop the attitude and figure out a way to get ezra across the finish line alive. You keep in my face and I'll show you attitude. I'll camp in your face if i want to. Now, check your gear and, uh, look at the maps and try not to do anything too stupid.

Why are you making me do this? 'Cause this race is important to them. They don't care. I think they do. And I think this race is a good thing for all the kids. Man, you know what? Just leave it. It's so obvious that this race is about you -- you and your ego. You want to prove that your school is better the than lawrence hastings so we got to run some stupid race? If you're looking for a new team captain, how about yourself, huh? So what should i do? Leave you alone? Let you take it easy? Enjoy the mountain air, huh, what? No, no, no, no, please, you take it easy. Let us run the race for you.

Okay, you're right. My pride did get the cliffhangers into this race. I hate to lose. And sometimes I'm too competitive. It's not the best part of my personality, okay? You taught me something about myself, but what about you? You don't want to lead this team? I think maybe It's a good chance for you to learn something about yourself. I'm not going to learn anything from these rejects. I'm not running any more races. I'm not team captain anymore. Scott, I know things went bad at home. But you loved football, you loved being a leader. Do not throw out the things you love. Finish that race, run that last mile. Let yourself feel like a winner again.

All right. Once we take the lead, we never let up. All right?

All right. Listen up. Lawrence Hastings, you start next. All right, guys, let's do it. Lhs! Lhs! Lhs! Yeah! All right, horizon, you start with them. Grab your gear. Go get 'em, captain. We got to get ready, don't we? Don't have an aneurysm. Where is everybody?

So, you guys came all the way from seattle for a race? Should make sure you have a good time then, huh? We are next. Oh, did she tell you that she's in high school?

come on. Now! Take off. I'm dreaming about your mama. Auggie, be nice. Come on, man, let's move it.

All right, in three. Two. One... ( Gun firing ) guys, don't bunch up. Not so close together, man. Come on. Juliette, wait a second. Come on, you guys, let's go. Keep paddling! Auggie, behind me. Let's go. Come on, guys, let's go. Come on, hurry up, let's go. Let's go, guys, come on. Come on, get over here.

Horizon, I'm here. All right. The mountain bikes are out back. Hit the trail. Wait, wait. Can we rest a minute?

Scott, wait! Jerk. Maybe he'll run off the side of a cliff or something.

Horizon. Where's the rest of your team? Back there somewhere. I'm here. Well, good for you, but the time won't count until they all get here.

Lawrence hastings. We're all here. Loser.

Come on, let's move it. Come on. Okay. Can't move...Can't speak. Okay? We need a minute. You know what? Fine. You want to lose, stay here. You want to win, come with me now. Hey, you got a bad mouth, meat. You're gonna get hurt. Just step off, all right? I got a race to run. Look around. You're here because everybody gave up on you. Your parents, your teachers -- all of them. They gave up on us too. We only have each other. Pathetic, isn't it? You walk away from here, you're walking away from the only thing you've got.

I don't even see him anymore. Which way, e.z.? I don't know. Just decide, so we can get out of this nightmare. Southeast. Past the gully, around the ridge...I think. "I think"? Come on. You're more than welcome to try. Stupid map. Come on, it's this way. Move your humps. Auggie! Auggie!

no-- what are you doing? Ow! Are you okay? Get off me, get off me. Is it broke? Did you hear a wet snap? No, it's not broken. No, I just twisted it. Do you think you can get up? Come on. Come on. Ready? Uh, no, no, no, no, no, no. Juliette, do you have that rescue radio? Yeah. Here. Thanks. Hello, this is team horizon. Can anybody hear me? Ow, ow, ow. Hello, this is team horizon. Can anybody hear me?

Yo, dude.

Horizon. Heard a radio call. You got someone hurt back there. You better turn around. Bad luck, kemosabe.

Mt. Horizon? Someone was hurt. It's not serious. We're going to send a jeep around the mountain. Stay here. Stay with the radio.

Where is everyone? Who got hurt? He just left them. You did what? I finished. I did it. Yeah, you did it. You did all by yourself. You're a big football player, huh? Had 17 touchdowns my junior year. Yeah? Well, you didn't learn anything, did you? You just give up. Open your eyes! I'm here! I finished! I didn't just give up! You are team captain! This is your school! You run the place, not me. Those losers back there aren't my fault. You want to blame someone, blame yourself. Didn't you ever lose a game, Scott? Didn't you ever drop a pass, huh? Most of them, they've never won anything in their lives. Their whole life is a dropped pass, and you just threw them another one.

I was on lots of teams, and just like you, I messed up and I got thrown off, but, you know, I still remember how good it feels to be part of something. I still remember that, scott. It's a good feeling even when you lose and you had a chance to share that with them today. You had a chance to help them feel that way, but no. Just once in their lives, scott. Where's your team now, huh?

Hey, man, don't sweat it. Get 'em next time. Hey, man, don't worry about it.

Hey, man, most of them, they've never won anything. Their whole life is a dropped pass, and you just threw them another one.

Where are they already? Well, this has been just so much fun. I said i was sorry already. It's not your fault. Oh, I've never been so filthy in my entire life. Shel, what? I just keep thinking about ezra in his kayak. Nanook of the nerds. At least i was trying.

You almost drowned. Oh, look who's talking -- the homeboy mountain goat. Yeah, we lost, but... But peter has to sing. ( Juliette ) auggie, I'm sorry, but I'm so glad you fell. Now we can go home and take a shower.

No one's going home. Hey, the jerkman cometh. Do you guys want to finish? A little late to be team captain, honestly. I know. I messed that up. Like everything else. I... I'm sorry, okay? That's it. Now, I know you guys are beat, but the finish line is just over that ridge. So i don't care if we have to carry auggie, but we're gonna make it, okay? Why do you care? Because everybody in this race, everybody back at the school, they knew we couldn't do it. We sit here and we just prove them right. What's the big deal? They already know what we are. Yeah, we're losers, man. We're not even losers until we cross the finish line. We sit here and we're nothing. We move, then we're a team. At least we're that.

What happened? Auggie? Ah, nothing. I was just stupid. It's not too bad. We'll get you back. No, no, give me a sec here. Yo, you guys want to help me up here or what? Come on. Nah, i don't think i'm gonna need your ride. Auggie, that ankle... We'll get him through. Come on, hannah. We've been through too much. We have to finish. Yeah, we may be losers, but we're not quitters. Come on, guys. You got me? Yeah. Let's go. Good luck.

Auggie! All right! Come on! Right here! Yeah! Woo-hoo! Did we beat those jerks, the lawrence hastings guys? You beat them before the race even started. All right, Auggie, let's get that ankle checked out. Good work, aug. You did great, getting them back here. No...They're your team. You trained them. I just took them the last mile. Brought them home in style. Filthy, dead last and smiling. Good work.

I hate serving those jerks. Yeah, and we got to listen to peter sing. Yeah, that was really cool what you did. Coming back for us. I mean, everyone else still hates you, but...you came through You're one of us now. I guess it's not so bad being one of you. Listen, all that stuff that I said about you and the other guys. Uh, "used car." Yeah. I'm sorry. Maybe we can hang out, see if there's something about me, something you might like... Maybe? Yeah, maybe.

Hannah says, "more hot dogs." I just gave them to nick. My hands are frozen. See, that's what we get for losing.

Hey. Come on. We gotta go start cooking. What? Let's go...Have some fun.

Okay, peter. All right, everybody, let's hear it. Peter, peter, peter, I'm out of here. peter, peter, peter, peter, peter, peter, peter, peter! ( Cheering ) you could enjoy this less, you know. I believe it's time for dessert. Your just desserts, peter. Here's your lyrics. Oh, no. Oh, yeah.

(music) Playing "ymca" by the village people ) ( Peter singing off-key )