Original subtitles

.

- All right, y'all, let's see that pyramid.

Y'all gonna have to hit zero you want to compete at Daytona.

Coaching college cheer has been my life's work.

I am currently one championship shy

of being the winningest coach in college cheer history.

Can I win the title?

I can. I will. I must.

I have put together the finest,

the most athletic, the most disciplined teams

to ever take the mat.

- No, no, no! No, no! Oh!

[groaning, shouting]

- Oh, this is not them.

- *Apateu, apateu *

*Apateu, apateu *

*Apateu, apateu *

* Uh, uh-huh, uh-huh *

* Kissy face, kissy face, sent to your phone *

* But I'm tryin' to kiss your lips for real *

* Uh-huh, uh-huh, *

* Red hearts, red hearts, that's what I'm on, yeah *

* Come give me something I can... *

- This is my 14th in a row for Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College.

And that ties me with my former coach, Marg Harberg.

Yep, there she is right there. She's my inspiration.

What a monster.

Lord, Marg used to just really scream at me

and say very mean things about my legs.

And that did not make me a better cheerleader.

But it did make me a better coach...

'cause I build my athletes up-- I don't tear them down.

[mischievous music]

[door opens] [gasps]

There he is, Dean Martin.

Hey, this is the camera crew that's following me

as I pursue my 15th championship.

- Oh, hello. - [giggles]

- Listen, I was sent a disturbing--

- Speak up, honey.

If it's not interesting, they'll cut it out.

Y'all will cut it out, yeah?

- I was sent a disturbing video of you

at your team's victory party.

[upbeat music playing, cheering]

- And the award

for best booty goes to...

Dean Martin, I don't know who took that.

- You shouldn't be drinking with your team.

And you certainly shouldn't be body-shaming your cheerleaders.

- I would have killed to win best booty back in my day.

I'm a mama bear for my team, and you know that.

He knows that. [scoffs]

So I have been asked to be fired.

all: What? - I can't believe it.

- All right, come on, there's no crying in cheer.

- Why?

Move.

[tearfully] Why?

- Tammy, I need you to be strong right now.

- I'm trying.

- [high-pitched baby voice] This is [bleep].

I say if Courteney leaves, we all leave.

- Yeah. - Hey, hey, hey, hey.

No one's leaving.

Well, I am. - Right.

- And in the meantime, our best assistant coach, Tammy,

is going to be taking over.

- Uh...

- Yeah. - No!

Like, no! - Tammy.

- [sobbing]

No!

- Excuse me, Coach "Is-tiny?"

- Oh, first of all, it's pronounced "Is-tan-ey."

[chuckles] Second of all, which is really first of all,

I'm still AssistantCoach Istiny.

- Will you step up? - You know, of course.

If I'm asked to be head coach, I will, reluctantly.

- No, I mean step up so we can see you.

- Oh. [chuckles]

[chuckles] Can we start over?

- I mean, can you believe that, Boon E.?

I'm a scandal because of that dumb videotape.

I got a good mind to get a job at a school

that appreciates what I do.

And then-- - Okay, time-out, Coach, okay?

Or I'm going to have to call flag on the play.

You have not taken a day to yourself in 20 years.

You think maybe things happen for a reason?

Maybe take a little you time for once in your life?

Maybe even start a little team of our own.

Coach and I were high-school sweethearts.

And I got a scholarship to QB Texas Tech.

But the Lord had other plans.

[crunch] [groans]

- Ball's out! Whoo-hoo!

- Yeah, after I woke up and learned to, um...

oh, what's the word?

Talk again, I asked Courteney to marry me.

And I got a job coaching football

at Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College,

and she coached cheer.

Hey, did I tell y'all about my head injury?

- I just can't have my legacy be

some best booty award, you know?

- Mm-hmm.

- You let me win one more championship, all right?

And then I'll go out on top.

And then I will retire. - Mm-hmm.

- Hey, this time, I promise.

- You being for real right now?

- I'm deadass.

That's what the kids say.

- Well, okay, then.

But I think you should strategize, you know?

Don't just run and gun, okay?

You got to see what you're lined up against.

Fourth quarter... [cell phone vibrates.]

You're down by 6, but there's a lot of game left.

- I got a job interview. - That's a touchdown.

- Small junior college in Oklahoma, 80 miles away.

That's, what, 50 minutes by pickup truck?

- Easy.

Wait, what's the name of this college?

Ha--Hell--

- Hale-- - Hay--

Heya--

- Headltston, home to the world-famous

"Heedlestown" Candy Button Factory

and Candy Button Factory Gift Shop & Museum.

Open every day, except Christmas and Tuesday.

Paid for by the "Haddlestone" Tourism Bureau.

- There's an awful lot of cheerleading on here.

- Isn't that what the job is?

- No, it's a typing teacher...

who does also happen to be a cheerleading coach.

I don't see words per minute on here.

Candy button?

- No, thank you. - You sure?

- I'm going to level with you, President Nitwick.

I need to win a championship this year.

I can. I will. I must.

And when we do, I can bring in enough money

to get you a truckload of those candy buttons.

- [crunching]

- I'm officially a member of the faculty

at Hya--Haroldst--

whatever the name of this place is.

Whoo!

Now, in order to qualify for the Nationals at Daytona,

I've got to get a team to cheer camp

almost six weeks from today, okay?

The day before that is something called a show-off,

where you show off your routine.

Oh, that's my birthday right there.

[chuckles] I don't really care much about it.

You know what, though?

I will--I will draw a little party hat and a little cake,

just so we don't forget.

Oh, shoot.

I'm drawing that cat I know how to do.

- Are we supposed to be typing that or...?

[typewriter bell dings]

- What I really need to do now is put together a new team.

I'm starting at the top of the pyramid--Krystal.

God, she's my star flyer.

I mean, I discovered her.

I turned her into a cheer-lebrity.

Let's just say she owes me.

- [screams] - [shushing]

- What are you doing here?

- Okay, we've got to keep this on the down-low.

Remember how you said if I left,

you would also leave? - Yes.

Even though this is my third and final senior year

at a two-year college,

making it the most important year of my life,

I will follow you anywhere.

- Okay, I'm starting a new program at a tiny school

with an unpronounceable name.

And I want to build that program around you, okay?

You're my star flyer, Krystal. What do you say?

- [giggles] I say no.

But thank you.

Go get them!

[upbeat music playing in gym]

* *

[door closes]

- Um...

can y'all just give me some privacy, just for a minute?

I'm sorry. Thank you.

Mother[bleep] in the [bleep] ass[bleep]!

You're okay.

Rat [bleep].

Courteney, language.

[bleep] Dale Earnhardt! [groans]

All right, you're calming down.

- [in gym] * You not on my level *

* You not the baddest *

.

- It's actually fine about Krystal.

At my last tryout at Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College,

I had 75 people show up.

I only need to take 10.

Ooh, it's gon' be a big day. [laughs]

[snoring]

[sniffing]

Do y'all smell that?

Hey, hon, it's me.

- Oh, Courteney, you're alive. I feared the worst.

- I'm fine. I'm fine. But how's the team doing?

- Terrible. Like me, we're all puddles.

[slurps]

Oh, I got a brain freeze.

- I was just wondering if you had any extra cheerleaders?

They locked me out of the system.

- Oh. Oh, no.

I'm not near my computer right now.

- Coach Istiny, picture's up on the jumbotron.

- [slurps]

- Day one was a little slower than I had hoped.

But I did find that mystery smell.

So I'm going to count today as a win.

[door opens, closes]

Can I help you?

- Yeah, I'm the Headltston cheer squad.

- Just you? - Mm-hmm.

- All right. Okay.

Well, let's see what you can do.

- Okay.

Hey, hey, are you ready to play?

Say "go, team"! - Okay.

- When I say "Headle," you say "what"?

Heedle, what? Heidle, what?

- Uh, I'm going to stop you right there.

Honey, it is so good. I love your energy.

- Thank you.

- A lot of vitality, and I love that.

But I'm looking for tumblers and stumblers,

like real gymnast-type stuff, so...

- Hold my pom-poms.

Cue music, please.

[Megan Thee Stallion's "Girls in the Hood" playing]

- * Being good, I'm a bad B *

* I'm sick of mother[...] *

* Tryin' to tell me how to live *

* Wack, wack hate under my pictures on the Gram *

* You better hope I never run across your man *

* In the mall with him-- * [music stops]

- Sweetheart, you are a force of nature.

Have you ever competed before? - No.

For some reason, no one ever gave me the--the--

[groans]

Oh, yeah, I have narcolepsy.

- [whispering] Are you dead or sleeping?

- And you lay 'em out. You hear me?

- Hey, Coach. - Hey, baby.

How was first day of tryouts?

- I had a narcoleptic tumbler and a dead mama possum.

They both made the team.

- Aw, come here. - No, no, no.

Don't "aw" me. Don't "aw" me.

I'm fine. I'm great.

You know, I'd be more worried

if I didn't just have the worst two days of my career, yeah?

Which means big things are gon' happen.

- Throw it. Throw it.

What in the hell is he doing?

[whistle blows]

Dimarcus. - Whoo-hoo!

- Dimarcus leads our team in rushing yards,

as well as unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

- Yeah, it's me!

Ha!

- You know, he's--he's just--

- [grunting]

He's an [bleep].

He's a straight-up [bleep].

You got ten other men out on the field.

You cannot do everything by yourself!

- I just did. - Not on my team, young man.

- Fine.

Then I quit.

- All ri--Dimarcus let's not do this again.

Come on. No, stay in those pads.

One of these days, Dimarcus, I ain't gonna take you back.

Don't five him. Nobody fives him!

No, no, mama.

Mama, don't do it. - I know.

- But it looks like you're doing it anyway.

- I'm not.

Dimarcus!

- He's just gonna break your heart.

- I know. - Tell you what.

I never do get tired of watching her run away from me.

Mm.

- Dimarcus, you dropped something.

- I don't need it.

I said I quit. - Good.

'Cause I want you to cheer for me at my new school.

- Nah.

See, Dimarcus doesn't cheer for other people.

- It seems like Dimarcus don't play football either.

I'm giving you the opportunity to dance, flip,

toss girls in the air, and get all the attention you want

without pissing people off.

Sounds to me like it'd be perfect for you.

- You don't know me.

Damn, that's my dream.

What do I have to do? - You can't quit.

And, remember, there's no "I" in cheer.

- But there is a "he."

- [clears throat]

I'm still right here, doll.

[upbeat music]

I currently have six cheerleaders--

Dimarcus, Madonna, and four that I found on TikTok...

- * Smack it up, flip it up *

- Who were kicked off their team for being inappropriate.

- * Rub it down to the ground *

- I'm just gonna get 'em some full-coverage underwear.

They'll be fine.

But what I really need is a veteran.

And Steven was one of my best bases back in the day.

He left school his fourth sophomore year, I think.

Uh, but since there's no age limit at junior college,

I-I'm gonna see what he's up to.

- [on PA] Steven Vaughn, please come to the front.

- Hey.

Coach.

- Steven? - [chuckles]

- You got...

to be a grown man!

- Uh, yeah, I mean, it's-- - Didn't you?

- Oh, my goodness. It's been 16 years.

- Gosh, yeah.

- And I'm on track for management.

- Oh, good, honey, good. - Yeah.

- [sighs] I really love it here.

- Oh, because I'm putting together a team.

That's why I came by.

And since you never technically graduated--

- I'll do it.

Hey, everyone. [bleep]. I quit.

Let's do this.

Whoo! - There he goes.

- All right!

- Still got it.

Okay, still going. - Coming through!

Cheer was the best part of my life.

Courteney straightened me out.

She gave me the confidence that I could be something.

And, unfortunately, I took that confidence,

and I quit cheer to pursue a career

in car rentals, which ended up being

the worst mistake I ever made.

Well, that and getting a meth head pregnant, yeah.

- I have less than two weeks to find three cheerleaders

and teach them a new routine.

And I got typing papers to grade.

Jesus, be a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path.

Hey!

Get on up out of there! Shoo!

[engine revs, tires screech]

[horn honks]

Oh, my God.

Come back!

I can't run in these jeans.

[whistles]

Cheer for me. - What?

- I want you on my college cheer team.

You are the best natural athlete I've ever seen.

Come and cheer for me.

- What if I don't want to?

- I can show this video to the cops,

get you a different kind of future.

What's your name, young lady?

- Peaches.

- That's so sweet.

- I got the nickname when I bashed this girl in the head

with a can of cling peaches, and it stuck--

the peaches and the name.

- Let's get started. We got a lot to do today.

Has anybody seen my iPad?

I left it right over here-- [door opens, closes]

Nobody? - Hi.

Uh, I am here for cheer tryouts.

- This is from five weeks ago.

- Oh, gosh. Sorry.

Uh, things have been kind of crazy...

[laughs] Between classes and my job.

Plus, I just turned 18.

So my foster parents kicked me out,

which was fine because they were just starting to love me.

[laughs] - Honey, are you okay?

- Yeah.

Why?

- To be clear, Sally is not a great cheerleader.

But there is no way that she is not making this team,

not with that life.

[people murmur]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, baby, whoa.

[applause, Sally laughs]

I'm probably going to end up adopting her.

[chanting] And one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

Dimarcus, focus.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Peaches, try to smile, babe.

Five, six, seven, eight.

Sally, you're okay, honey.

Are they perfect? No.

Are they good? I wouldn't say so.

But I think they have what it takes.

They have to be able to trust you out there.

- Fine, here. - And I'm talking--

How long have you had these? - Just, like, 30 minutes.

- [screams] - Whoa! Okay--

[body thuds] Sally, are you okay?

Dimarcus, she is not a football.

- If she was, he wouldn't throw her.

- Okay, Sleeping Beauty, what's up?

What you want to do? - Oh, where you going, cupcake?

- Then turn it up, then. - I can go all night.

- Hey, cut it out! Y'all need to work as a team.

We don't have time to be dealing

with this kind of nonsense.

Am I frustrated? Yeah, yeah, a teeny bit.

Repeat it back to me. - We don't have time for this.

And you need to work-- you need to work as a team.

- Steven, let me handle this. We need to work as a team.

- Work together as a team.

- Did you hear me say not another word, Steven?

It feels like what used to be the easy part

is now the hard part,

and the hard part hasn't even happened yet.

- No, no, no, no, no, no, no!

[all groaning] - [bleep].

[indistinct shouting]

- Hey. Hey, hey. Knock it off, knock it off!

Y'all can't even throw a simple pyramid.

How you gonna compete at Daytona, huh?

Where are you going, Dimarcus?

Oh, are you gonna quit like you quit everything?

- I'm just getting my shoe.

- [sniffles]

Pra--uh, practice is over.

Please get out of my way. - Coach, where you going?

- [crying] I'm going wherever people go in this town

on their birthday.

- The Candy Button Factory, open every day,

except Christmas and Tuesday.

- [whispering] Who wants to tell her it's Tuesday?

.

[door opens, toilet flushing]

- Baby, you're not in your birthday suit.

What-- Oh, [bleep]!

- [whispering] Sorry.

- That was a freebie.

- I had the worst day.

- Oh, baby.

- Honey, I blew up at my team.

- Can I give you the "aw" now?

- Yeah. - Aw.

- That's too much.

- [sighs]

- That's better.

Look, look at how good my old team was.

- Mm-hmm.

- They didn't start out like this, though.

Remember that one kid who ate batteries for money?

You used to call him a busted can of biscuits.

What was his name? - Steven.

He's my base now.

- All right.

- I do remember that first team, though.

Lord, I had no idea what I was doing.

- You get mad at them when they didn't make it to Daytona?

- Heck, no, I was trying to make sure nobody died.

- Two years later you won your first championship.

Do what you did then.

- Well, I can't. I know too much now.

You can't forget what you already know.

- I did.

[crunch] [groans]

- You sure did.

- What you got to do is you got to be that feisty girl

that thinks outside the box.

And I know you can do it.

- Thank you, Coach. - You're welcome, Coach.

- I see you looking at my zit patch.

- Mm.

- I'm still feisty, by the way.

- Time to go, fellas. - Oh?

- Come on, now, that's your cue.

Don't let the door kiss you, 'cause I'm gonna go kiss her.

- I am so sorry for the way that I acted yesterday.

It is my job to get you all to Daytona, yeah?

And I'm going to do everything in my power

to make that happen. - [exhales sharply]

Yeah, you will.

When I say "Headle," you say "what"?

Heidle, what? Heidle, what?

- Oh, there she goes.

No, just--let's let her rest. Let's let her rest.

- I don't want to be that person, but, I mean,

we're still one short of even qualifying for Daytona.

- Oh, gosh, okay, so I would ask my sister,

but she passed away.

- Oh, okay.

Okay. Um, it's true, yeah.

We are still one away, but we can.

[door opens]

We... all: Will.

- We... - Hello!

- Krystal, what are you doing here?

- I've decided to bring my skills and cheer-lebrity

to Heedletown to help you all win

the National Championship at Daytona!

- I did tell Krystal that this documentary is about her.

And that's thinking outside the box. [laughs]

- * I'm tellin' you to loosen up my buttons, babe *

- Work it, Dimarcus! - Whoo! Yeah!

- Pop it! Squeeze it! - What? Come on.

- No, you guys, I'm serious.

You're both so naturally beautiful.

You just need to wear more makeup.

- Krystal being on our team really makes a difference.

It's like we're important, you know?

We're not just, like, a bunch of losers

or--or criminals and stuff.

[ankle monitor vibrates]

- Look, am I upset about losing Krystal?

Krystal who?

- Yes?

- Not you.

[chuckles]

Okay, I got six girls who could be flyers right now.

Heck, back in the day, I made Nationals.

Maybe if, uh, you beg, I'll show you my herkie.

Ready? Okay.

[grunts]

[dramatic music]

- I thought it was only supposed to be a few people.

- I put it on my socials.

- Are you [bleep] kidding me right now, Krystal?

Like I don't have enough to be worried about.

Y'all, come here to me. Let's gather round.

- Come on. Hands in! You heard her!

- Thank you, Steven. - Yep.

- Y'all remind me of my first teams

and why I started coaching in the first place.

I mean, cheer is so much more than just being on a team.

It's being a part of a family.

all: * Happy day after your birthday *

* To you *

- Y'all.

And for some of these kids,

it's the only family they have.

I never won a championship as a cheerleader myself.

And maybe if I would have had somebody to build me up,

I would have.

But I wouldn't be the coach that I am today.

- * Happy day after your birth-- *

- We did it. We did it. - We did do that.

- I'm so sorry, y'all. - That's okay.

School name on three. - Mm-hmm.

- One, two, three.

- Heedleston! - Hiddlestone!

- Headleton.

- Is that what it is? Okay.

- Y'all ready for this?

- And now...

your Button Cheer Team!

[2 Unlimited's "Get Ready for This" playing]

- Yeah!

* *

[cheering] - Krystal!

* *

- One, two, three, four!

all: Five, six, seven, eight!

Roll, let's roll!

- Are you ready?

- * You got my buds, like, whoa *

* Every time you step through the door *

* *

* You gotta run it, baby, run it *

* Run it, baby, run it *

* Run it, baby, run it *

* Run it, baby, run it *

* Hands in the air, hands in the air *

* I'ma make you understand, I'm a leader, yes, I am *

* I'm the best... *

- That's what I'm talking about!

* *

* We're came to get it, get it *

* We hope you rock with it *

* We're came to get it, get it *

[ankle monitor vibrates]

[cheering]

- * This moment is bigger than you can handle *

[cheers and applause]

* This is the moment you surrender *

[cheers and applause] - We love you, Krystal!

- Yes! Yes!

Can they make it to Daytona?

We can! We will!

[crunch, Krystal screams]

- What happened? - Oh!

- Dimarcus, where were you?

- [wailing] Why?

[audience murmuring]

- We might. [chuckles]