BRING IT ON MANIA
The Script Page

PART 3

(scene shift - Torrance alone at the backstage)

Cheer Official  Torrance shipman?

Torrance  Yes.

Cheer Official  Ted Freeman, universal cheer association.

We have a problem.

Torrance  A problem?

Cheer Official  Oh, yes.

A very big problem.

(scene shift - Missy is looking at Torrance a few meters away)

Cliff  Hey.

Missy  Hey.

I don't know if you Can Imagine the sense of deja vu in this place.

Cheer Official  As I was watching that last routine...

But it does look as if...

(Cliff wanted to go to Torrance)

Missy  I wouldn't just now.

Cliff  Why?

Missy  Official cheer business.

Cliff  Not to me.

Hey, Torrance!

Cheer Official  You see, I...

(Cheer Official were distracted by Cliff's calling. Torrance told him to laid off)

Missy  That's smooth.

Real smooth.

Cliff  I'll see you later.

Missy  All rightie.

Cliff  Oh! Uh, by the way, nice spirit fingers.

Missy  Yeah.

Well, here's another.

Cliff  Thanks.

(scene shift - back to Torrance and the officials)

Cheer Officials  Obviously your toros are not the only squad with this particular routine.

Does the name...Sparky Polastri mean anything to you?

Torrance  Sparky Polastri?

Cheer Officials  Apparently he's been peddling the same routine up and down

The California coast.

Six squads total.

We're holding an emergency session of the discretionary panel.

Torrance  About what?

Cheer Officials  We've never had a situation like this before.

We really should disqualify you--

Torrance  No, no, don't punish the squad!

It was my choice to hire sparky, not theirs.

Don't penalize everyone for my bad judgment-- but...

Cheer Officials
Since there's no precedent for this, there is nothing in the rule books that forbids it.
It's simply...frowned upon, and I suppose we can't disqualify you on those grounds alone.
As defending champions, you are guaranteed a bid to Florida,
But know that we'll be watching you. And don't expect to show up at finals with that routine.

(the official leaves, while Big Red and Aaron approached her)

Big Red
What are you doing? You're wrecking everything I built!

Aaron
Hey, it's not totally her fault. I was the one who...

Big Red
This season should've been gravy, ok?
I handpicked the squad, I delivered an idiot-proof routine...
Now, brother...nationals, hello?

Torrance
Don't you mean a stolen routine?

Big Red
Don't be so naive, Torrance. Look, the truth is I was real hitter, ok?
I did what I had to do to win a nationals,
And ever since I handed the reins over to you,
You've run my squad straight into the ground!
If I made any mistake as a squad leader, it wasn't borrowing cheers.
It was announcing you as my successor.

Aaron
Uh-uh. Not cool.

(Torrance is running away when Aaron manage to caught up with her)

Aaron  Hey, Torr! Torr! Wait, wait, wait!

Torrance
Let me go! I just want to get out of here!

Aaron
Hey, big red's a bitch. We all know that. Even she knows that.

Torrance
I don't know what to do here, Aaron.

Aaron
Look, I know I haven't always been there for you
Since I went to college. It's been a rough transition.
For both of us. But I still care about you as much as I ever did.
You know that, right?

Torrance
You do?

Aaron
Of course. Which is why I hate to see you like this, all stressed out.
It's not good for you. You're a great cheerleader, Torr, and you're cute as hell.
It's just that maybe..maybe..you're just not captain material,
and there's nothing wrong with that.
Maybe you should consider letting Courtney and Whitney take over the squad.
They're just like Big red.

Torrance
You want me to give up captain?

Aaron
Let them deal with the politics.
You just do what you do best, Torr.
You cheer! Cheer, Torr. Ok? I just want to see you happy.

(Scene shift - in front of Torrance's house. Aaron was driving her home)

Aaron  (kissed Torrance) Bye. Sleep tight, sweetie.

Cliff  Friend of yours?

Torrance  He's my boyfriend.

Look, cliff, I can explain.

Cliff  No. It's cool.

Here. Um...I made you a tape, too.

Torrance  Cliff!

(scene shift - Torrance inside her own bedroom, listening to Cliff's tape)

Cliff  (sounds from the tape) Uh, here's a... I wrote something for you, so...

Here it is. Ahem!

(singing) Oh, Torrance I can't stand your cheerleading squad

But I love your pompoms I'd feed you bonbons all night

1, 2, 3, 4!

Yeah, you got me to feel all those butterflies

Inside in your locker I would hide  the truth--

It's only you I see  and you're just what I need

I'll bring you flowers

Every day  just to roll you in the hay

Well, I'm feeling fine, I'm out of time

I know I'll get my way

Hey and you're just, just what I need  and you're just,

Just what I need not everything works out,

It seems is that so hard to believe?

'Cause you're just what I need  and you're just,

Just what I need not everything works out,

It seems  is that so hard to believe?

Shout 

(scene shift - the next morning, inside the gymnasium)

Courtney  Aaron called us last night.

He told us you're turning the squad over to us.

Whitney  We want you to know that just because you bit the big one

As captain does not mean we're gonna be super hard on you.

Courtney  We'll treat you as if you didn't screw us into the ground.

Torrance  Gee, thanks.

Whitney  Everyone...

Torrance is not to be harmed.

Courtney  We've already decided on a course of action.

We're gonna forego nationals this year.

Everyone's already agreed to it.

Missy  Uh, except me.

Les  And me.

Courtney  Both of you can be replaced.

Torrance:

I can't believe you guys!

The only person who can officially resign the post of captain

Is the captain, and I'm not going anywhere.

Whitney  Then we'll have to overthrow you.

Courtney  Which we will.

Torrance  Enough!

Our whole cheering career, we've staked our reputation on being the best...

The most inventive.
Now we finally have a chance to truly be original,

And you're all running scared.

Courtney  She's crazy! Ha ha!

Torrance  I'm not crazy, and I'm not resigning as captain either.

You're gonna have to kill me first.

Whitney  That can be arranged.

Kasey  Shut it, Whitney!

Let her talk!

Torrance  Look, I know I've screwed up royally as captain,
But I believe in this squad, and I know we can bounce back from this.

I'm not saying it's gonna be easy.

It's gonna be hard work.

We'll need a new routine, something amazing and fresh,
And we've got less than three weeks to nationals.

But if we can do it--

If we can pull this off--

Then we can really call ourselves original.

Now, who's with me?

The Toros  Yeah!

All right!

Yeah!

Torrance  How about it, girls?

It's gonna be hard without you two.

Courtney  Fine.

Whitney  Sure. Whatever.

Torrance  Ok.

Let's do this.

We're gonna devote every waking hour to practice.

Before school, in-between classes, and after school.

Afternoon practices will have to be twice as long.

We've got to do whatever it takes to be in perfect physical shape.

(scene shift - the Toros practicing in various places)

Missy  Yeah. A little harder...

There.  There.

Yeah, that feels good.

Footballer 1  Maybe we should join the squad.

Footballer 2 You fag!

Torrance: and since the football team sucks no matter how hard we cheer,
We'll use night games to practice, too.

But that's not all.

We're gonna study other types of movement, from swing dance...
To interpretive dance...

...when you bloom and you bloom!

Even... Mime.

We'll draw inspiration from martial arts...musicals...everything.

You guys know we've got the talent.

We've just gotta work our asses off and trust our instincts.

All of our instincts.

(scene shift - Torrance is standing at the front door of Aaron's dorm room)

Aaron  (opening the door)  Torr!

Wow! What are you doing here?

Torrance  Just wanted to come by and see you.

Is this a bad time?

Aaron  Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

I'm super busy. I'm working on this project.

Torrance  Yeah. You sound super busy.

I guess that's it.

You were too busy to believe in me.

Oh! No, no, but wait...

You weren't too busy to sell me out to Courtney and Whitney, were you?

Gee...

Now I'm confused.

Well...I hope you're not too busy to hear this: Kiss my ass, Aaron!

It's over! (hit the door open)

You're a great cheerleader, Aaron, it's just that...

Maybe you're not exactly boyfriend material.

Bye bye.

(woman inside Aaron's room came out)

Woman  You're a cheerleader?

(scene shift - The Toros are working out in their gym)

Missy  UCA. Just posted the nationals list on the internet.

East Compton isn't on it.

They couldn't raise the money in time.

They're not going.

Torrance  What do you mean they're not going?

Jan  Torrance...

That's good news.

Torrance  They cannot not go.

That's not good news.

Jan  What are you talking about?

They don't go, we win, once again we're the best.

Torrance  I define best as competing against the best there is out there

And beating them.

They have to go.

(scene shift - Torrance and her parents are having a conversation in their kitchen)

Torrance  It's so unfair!

The first inner-city squad ever to get to nationals

And they can't afford to go?

Justin  Look, mom, her head is spinning off into another dimension.

Mr. Shipman  The company gets hit up for money all the time.

I just can't.

Torrance  It's not that much money, Mr. Level playing field.

Tell them the deal.

Maybe they'll want to help.

Mr. Shipman  Yeah?

Ok, I'll make the call, but...

I tell you, they'll probably say no.

Torrance  Don't let them!

Think of how much it'll mean to east Compton.

They deserve to go.

Do the right thing, dad!

Mrs. Shipman  Did that just happen?

Mr. Shipman  Yeah.

(scene shift - The Clovers having a meeting at their gymnasium)

Isis  (reading out) "where we come from, cheer is not a word we hear very often."

Lava  "they should call us inspiration leaders instead."

Jenelope  That's deep.

I like that.

LaFred  I don't know why we're running to some show host
Like we're begging for charity.

Isis  It's not charity.

Pauletta Patton's from our neighborhood.

She'll understand why we need the money.

LaFred  Tell her we need mcdonors.

Her big butt will understand that.

Jenelope  Stop being counterproductive,

'Right?

LaFred  Lava, please tell her to stop using big words before she choke on one.

Jenelope  No, better I choke you, Lafred.

LaFred  Look, Janelle--

Isis  You guys, stop! Please.

Damn!

LaFred  Well, tell her about the late-night practices we've been having.

Isis  There you go.

That's the kind of stuff she wants to hear about.

Now we're talking!

(the main door opens. Enter Torrance)

Torrance  You guys have to go to nationals.

Isis  You come up here just to tell me that?

Torrance  Here.

I got my dad's company to sponsor you guys.

Isis  Oh. What is this, hush money?

Torrance  No.

Isis  Oh, right.

It's guilt money.

Pay our way, and you sleep better at night

Knowing how your whole world is based on one big old fat lie?

Well, you know what? (tearing up the cheque)

We don't need you.

Torrance  Why do you have to be so mean?

I'm just trying to do the right thing here.

Isis  Look, I'm trying to be strong for my squad, ok?

That's what a captain does.

Torrance  Well, I'm a captain too, you know, and I'm trying to make it right.

Isis  You wanna make it right?

Then when you go to nationals...

Bring it.

Don't slack off because you feel sorry for us.

That way, when we beat you, we'll know it's because we're better.

Torrance  I'll bring it.

Don't worry.

Isis  I never do.

(scene shift - Torrance is walking with the others in school when she saw Cliff)

Torrance  Ok, bye.

The others  Bye.

Torrance  (taking Cliff earphone off) I listened to your tape.

I loved it.

Cliff  Great.

Torrance  Can I talk to you?

I was upset that night.

Aaron gave me a ride home.

It was just a good night kiss.

It meant nothing.

Cliff  Oh. I'm sorry.

Torrance  And I wanted you to know that...I broke up with him.

Cliff  Congratulations. (walking away)

Torrance  He didn't believe in me!

You did!

Cliff  Whatever.

Torrance  That's important to me!

You believed in me!!

(scene shift - in the Pantone residents, Missy was practicing her routines when Cliff tried to mimic her moves)

Missy  Bite me.

Cliff  You know, the airhead has really sharpened your verbal skills, huh?

Missy  Screw you.

Cliff  Said the cheerleader.

Missy  That's right.

I am a cheerleader, and you're a dumb ass.

Torrance likes you, ok?

She likes you.

Cliff  She has an odd way of showing it.

Missy  Don't be stupid.

She broke up with her boyfriend for you.

Cliff  Yeah.

Missy  Look,

Do us all a favor and get over yourself and tell her how you feel.

Cliff  I thought... I had.

Missy  Well, try again.

And let me give you a little tip from a cheerleader:

Be aggressive.

B.e. Aggressive.

(scene shift - to the TV talk show, The Pauletta Show)

Announcer: Now back to...

Pauletta  Thank you, thank you.

Today on Paulette, it's wish day.

Audience  Yay!

Yay!

Pauletta  Today's letter comes from East Compton, California.

(reading out) "Dear pauletta, where we come from, cheer is not a word
That you hear very often, but that's what we are--
The cheerleaders of east Compton high school.
They should really call us inspiration leaders, because that's what we do.
We inspire the people from our neighborhood to believe
That our team can win. That's why we're asking you to fulfill our wish
To send us to the national cheerleading competition for the first time."

Well, clovers, you got your wish.

Audience, the east Compton clovers!

(zoomed to the Clovers)

The Clovers  Hi, pauletta.

Isis  We just want to say how thankful we are for all of your help.

Jenelope  Pauletta, you my girl!

You look pow, baby!

LaFred  Ooh, pauletta, girl, we love you so much!

We wanna say you don't have to lose a pound!

Girl, we love you just the way you are!

Isis  Pauletta, we're gonna make you an honorary clover for life!

Thank you so much!

(a guy led out a Clovers cheerleading uniform to Pauletta)

Pauletta  Ooh. Ain't I gonna look good in this, y'all?

(scene shift - The Toros arriving at the nationals venue)

Torrance  So, is your family coming?

Missy  I don't know if cliff's coming.

Torrance  I totally blew it with cliff.

Missy  Forget it.

My brother's an idiot.

Torrance  You're his sister.

You don't see him like I do.

Missy  Yeah. And that's a good thing, 'cause that would be a crime.

Jan  (looking at the girls on the swimming pool) Hey, ladies, want to see my spirit stick?

(scene shift - to a couple of different places, beginning with Torrance trying to call Cliff on the phone)

Cliff  (answering machine) Hey, this is cliff. Leave your message after the...

Hello.

Hello?

(a few cheerleaders jogged down the stairs to the venue)

Announcer: Lock your doors, bolt your windows.
Daytona, Florida, has been invaded by teenage cheerleaders,
And what do they want?

The chance to be the number one cheerleading squad in the country.

You know, in high school, I couldn't pay a cheerleader to talk to me.

Now I'm surrounded by them, and let's face it:

Any sport that combines gymnastics, dance, and short skirts is ok by me.

Espn-2 welcomes you to sunny Daytona, Florida,

For the Universal Cheer Association Nationals 2000.

50 squads from 50 high schools across the nation

Are gathered here to duke it out.

Wanna talk pressure? Ho ho!

These kids are feeling it.

One individual mistake can cost a squad everything.

Who's got spirit?

We do, baby, only on the deuce.

(scene shift - the backstage of the venue)

Torrance
Hey. Watch going out of bounds.
They deduct like crazy for that stuff.

Isis
What, are you going for sainthood or something?

Torrance
You don't want to blow it on something tiny.

Isis
Look, me and my squad made it to the big show without any of your help.
I think we can handle it. Stay in bounds.
If any of you step outside that ugly blue carpet, you are dead! Happy?

Torrance
Yes.

Isis
Tell your girl, she's about a half second early on all her moves.

Torrance
Ok, I will. Happy?

Isis
Yup. Hey... remember...bring it.

Jenelope
And what the hell was that about?

Isis
We just understand each other, that's all.

All right, let's do this.

1, 2, 3...

Clovers!

(scene shift - to a couple of different events at the venue, mainly cheer performances)

Announcer  Will move on to tomorrow's finals.

Defending champs, the toros, have managed to come back
From a humiliating showing at regional,
But the real Cinderella story here, of course,
Is the clovers of East Compton, California.

(scene shift - in the Toros girls rooms)

Darcy  Kasey's popping zits again.

Gross, Kasey!

You're totally bedaubing the mirror.

Clean it off.

Kasey  Ok, ok.

Missy  I don't know what's scarier, neurotic cheerleaders or the pressure to win.

I can make a killing selling something like diet Prozac.

Torrance  Thank god you're here this season, missy.

I couldn't have done it alone.

Missy  Aww...

Tear.

Torrance  Oh, no! I mean it!

Missy  (looking down at the window) Shut up!

If you don't have it yet, you don't have it!

Give it up already!

(scene shift - to the nationals venue)

Announcer  Espn-2:
Daytona, Florida, day number two.

By sundown, only one squad can call themselves UCA. National champions 2000.

(scene shift - at the backstage of the venue)

Courtney  Shit!

Where the hell are my spanky pants?

Girl:
What's that on his head?

Justin  (walking pass the cheerleaders) Don't be shy, ladies.

Donations are always welcome.

(stopped in front of Missy, Torrance and Jan) Hey, babe!

Are you in a giving mood?

Missy  Sure (smack his head)

Torrance  Get lost, freak, or I'm gonna tell all your friends that you were at
A cheerleading competition.

Justin  You wouldn't.

Torrance  Oh, I would.

Jan  Hey, I recognize these.

(scene shift - somewhere else at the backstage)

Cheerleader 1  That was perfect.

Your basket toss was amazing, and... No one saw that landing.

Bleeding Cheerleader  Really?

Cheerleader 1 We should find your tooth.

Announcer  (outside the backstage) Espn-2:
Those were the coyotes of Colorado springs, Colorado!

(a group of cheerleaders came running inside the backstage)

Les  Hey.

That last lift you did was a... Amazing.

Tim  Thanks.

Uh, good luck out there.

Les  Thanks, man.

I'm les.

Tim  I'm-- I'm Tim.

Nice to meet you.

Hey, I'll, uh, see you around.

Les  Yeah.

(somewhere else at the backstage)

Coach  Ok now, focus and don't be nervous.

Cheerleader  I'm not nervous.

Coach  Just try not to think about the stakes, ok?

Cheerleader  I'm totally cool.

I'm so ready.

Coach  The main thing that you must remember is always smile!

Cheerleader  (puke on her coach)  Sorry...

(somewhere else at the backstage)

The Clovers  Man, my stomach is killing me!

Yo, relax, girl.

You making me even more nervous.

Isis  You guys...look, gather up.

Guys, we got this.

We have done this routine a million times.

Just relax.

Forget about all those faces out there and just imagine that

We're back at our school, at our gym, just doing our thing.

We fine.

Cheer Officials
East Compton clovers, you're up!

Isis  All right now, let's do this, clovers.

The Clovers  Yeah!

Raise the ceiling!

Let's go, baby!

1, 2, 3...

You go!

(scene shift - outside the backstage, spectators are gathering up)

Announcer

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome from east Compton, California, the clovers!

The Clovers  Ready! Go!

(the background music starts, the Clovers began to do their routines)

Spectators  East Compton! Come on!

Yeah! Good show!

Announcer
Let's hear it for the east Compton clovers!

(zoomed to the Toros at the backstage doorway)

Torrance  Nothing hits the floor.

We stick it.  Hands in.

(Everyone put their hands in)

Les  Thrust on 3.

1, 2, 3...

The Toros  Toros!

Come on, toros!

Announcer
Welcome the five-time national champions from san Diego,
California, the rancho carne toros!

The Toros  Yay!

Yay!

Come on, toros!

Go, toros!

Toros! Yeah!

Yeah, come on! Cheer!

Whoooo!

Whoo!

(background music starts, the Toros began to do their routines)

Announcer
Let's hear it for the defending champions the rancho carne toros!

(a while later, every squad was on the podium)

Announcer  Ladies and gentlemen, our five finalist teams have taken the stage,
So please give a warm welcome to our emcees, editor of cheer fashion

Magazine Ms. Brandi Tytersall, and UCA. President Mr. Johnny Garrison.

Announcer
And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for,
The awards ceremony for U.C.A. 2000.
Five finalists squads, and only one will walk away
With the grand prize trophy and a check for $20,000.
And so, in third place...from New Pope high school in New Pope,
Mississippi, the new pope cavaliers! Let's hear it for 'em!
Well done, ladies! And now, Brandi, would you do the honors?

Brandy
And in second place--and this was a tough decision,
as there were two outstanding performances this year, in second place...
from San Diego, California, the Rancho Carne Toros!

Courtney
Second place? Oh, yeah! Yeah! Yay!

Cliff
Yay! Yes! Yes!

Announcer
And now the winners of this year's national high school
Cheerleading championships, the east Compton clovers from east Compton, California!
Congratulations, Clovers! Let's hear it! We're number one! Yeah!
Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it out there! Let's hear it for all of our squads!

(scene shift - back to the squads gathering on the podium)

Isis
Torrance...

Torrance
Wow. Nice cheque

Isis
Hey, I just want to say, you know, captain to captain,
I respect what you guys did out there. You guys were good.

Torrance
Thanks. You were better.

Isis
We were, huh?

(Isis left, leaving Torrance and Missy alone)

Missy  Look. My very own spirit stick.

So, you think the curse is broken?

Torrance  I don't be-- believe in curses anymore.

Missy  Oh, really?

Torrance  No.

(Missy purposely drops the stick)

Torrance  (picking it up) Well, maybe we should burn that just in case.

Missy  Right (hugged Torrance)

(Cliff appears beside Missy)

Cliff  Congratulations.

Missy  Oh, thanks.

Uh, you remember my friend Torrance, right?

Cliff  Yeah, I think so.

Missy  We'll talk later.

Les! Hey, come here a sec! (Missy leaves both Torrance and Cliff alone)

Cliff  So... Second place?

How's it feel?

Torrance  It feels like first (grabbed Cliff for a kiss)

(the camera zooms to the entire podium. The scene shift to the girls performing the 'Mickey' song at the end of the movie, plus some bloopers)

 

THE END! 

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