American Grit (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Moving Camp - full transcript

JOHN: Previously,
on "American Grit"...

I brought four
military heroes together

who handpicked their teams
of ordinary people.

All right,
now we're ready to go.

These civilians
have been put through

what we call Evolutions...

-There you go.
-Every second counts here.

JOHN: Challenges based
on military training.

In the last Evolution,

the teams took to the water.

-Why are we going in circles?
-Pick it up!



JOHN:
On fisherman Clare's prowess,

Team Noah took the lead.

You need leverage.
Figure it out.

JOHN:
And despite being down a man,

Team Tee made it a fight
to the finish.

TEE:
They came in strong.

It was a proud mama moment.

JOHN: But it was not enough,

and Team Noah were once again

saved from the Circus.

Y'all are making my job so easy.

JOHN:
Back at base camp,

Maria's grit was called
into question.

Do you want to ring out?



I would rather be home
with my kids.

JOHN: In the end,

Marine daughter Haze,

the injured yogi KJoy,

and the obstacle course
athlete Brooke

were put into the Circus.

Submerge!
Let's go.

JOHN: They battled
hard to the bitter end

before Brooke's
chances of winning...

-Brooke, no, uh-uh.
JOHN: Collapsed.

Tonight...
Step up.

Team Tee has a tough battle

after losing another teammate.

TEE:
We are down to just two people.

I got to remotivate
the rest of my team.

JOHN: And with
Team Nick suffering physically,

and Team Rorke
suffering mentally...

What's going on down
there, what is this?

JOHN: Both teams
need to find their grit.

I want to prove
a point to my team

that you can't let injuries

get in the way of anything.

No matter how much pain

we're in, we never quit.

We're here to win it.

RORKE: I can't make a team

better than it is,

but I can definitely
make them perform

at their highest ability,

and I don't think
we've done that.

JOHN: Who will be the next
contestant to give up,

ring out, and go home

on "American Grit"?

(sobbing)

(dramatic percussive music)

(man)
♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Whoa-oh-oh ♪

♪ All alone now ♪

♪ We in the fire ♪

♪ Gonna burn it down ♪

♪ Get out alive ♪

♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh ♪

(dramatic music)

ALL:
Hey!

-KJoy's here!
-KJoy!

-Hey, welcome back.
-I told you.

DAVID: Brooke didn't
come back from the Circus?

Whoa, that's just a huge shock.

She was probably one of
the strongest women here.

DAVID:
What was the endurance?

It was jumping in ice baths.

-That's insane!
-Completely submerged.

LISA: When I heard that
they were jumping into

buckets of ice,
that freaked me out.

That's from Navy Seal training,

and I understand
why it is that they do it

because you have to know
how to be a warrior

and get through that.

I don't know that I can.

She never gave up.

She hit the floor--thud.

LISA:
She gave all.

-She passed out?
-Yeah.

-She went down.
-Yep.

-What?
-Not a joke, man.

TONY: The thing is,
if I was gonna go out,

that's the way I'm going out.

Wow.

TONY: This sucks.

We're down two members already.

We look like the team that's
about to be exterminated.

You need to trust me,
I need to trust you,

because that's
all we have now.

We can't worry about
Brooke anymore.

We can't worry about
Chris anymore.

It's done--now it's just
focusing on you and I.

IVETTE:
Everything I do in my life,

people underestimate
my strengths.

I do modeling,
but I grew up on a ranch.

My exercise was riding horses
and cleaning horse stalls,

so I'm a little bit of a tomboy

and a little bit of a diva.

You know, I'm a tough cookie,

and I'm gonna hang in there,

and so is--so is Tony.

Neither one of us can
go to Circus anymore

because we can't lose again.

Exactly.

Hug it out.

♪ ♪

JOHN:
Good morning, everybody.

ALL: Good morning.
JOHN: Brooke's performance

in the Circus was nothing
short of heroic.

She feels great.

She's walking with her head
high, as she should.

She gave all she could.

TEE:
I'm always gonna be sad

when you lose a member
of your own team.

As heartbreaking as that is,
we got to keep moving forward.

Just like in the military,
sometimes you lose

a critical member of your team,

but to continue the mission,

you got to keep moving forward.

JOHN:
Right now I'd like to make

something crystal clear,
and that is

remember why you are here--

to be pushed.

Do not under any
circumstances think

that you will not be called on

once or multiple times

to give the same effort,
because you will.

If you think your stay
in this competition

consists of waltzing
into these Evolutions

and holding grab-ass tournaments
back at base camp,

do yourself, the teams,
and the competition a favor.

Back at base camp
there's a bell.

It is your ticket home.

Ring it.

Okay, now that's
out of the way.

Today's Evolution

is called Moving Camp.

We'll test skills that

US military members
have had to master:

ingenuity
and thinking on your feet.

You will have to break down
every piece of this camp

including the base of the tent,

which consists
of a complex puzzle.

Put it in your crate and cross
the frigid water to dry land

where you will then
construct a wheelbarrow

from just a few materials.

Use it to transport your crate

and whatever leftover materials

to the new location...

and then reset your camp.

First team to set up camp

exactly how it was
wins the Evolution.

Win the Evolution,

safe from the Circus.

Safe from going home.

Team Tee,

you will only break down a camp

built for two competitors.

Does this all make sense?
ALL: Yes, sir!

All righty, Cadre,
get with your team

and get a game plan.

Work as a team.
Slow is smooth.

-Smooth is fast.
-That's it.

We need this win
more than any.

Yes.

TEE:
Today is do or die.

We can't afford to lose
another team member.

So you're not a strong swimmer.

So if you could walk
that water--

'cause we don't know
how deep it is...

I think Tee's team,

they have 50% of the work to do.

They're gonna be
a threat today.

It's not gonna be how fast
we get across the lake.

It's gonna be solving
this puzzle,

or if they don't get this
puzzle solved, it's over.

My first idea was to maybe
create a spiral design

and then piece it back together.

KJoy suggested to do numbers,

and I said that's
an even better idea.

It won't stick.

But in the end, they decided

that they're gonna do
what was easiest for them.

But how I really want it
to go down is,

you get done with
your tent first,

help the other...
This is what I do,

as a light infantry soldier
with the 101st,

you would break down
and set up camp.

In training, in combat,
this is my game right here.

Keep moving, all right,
and keep calm.

JOHN: All right, Cadre,
let's get everybody prepped

to the starting line.

-Team Nick!
-Team Tee!

-Noah's Ark!
-Ooh, yeah.

Three, two, one, go!

(horn blares)

♪ ♪

Drag it.

-Open it.
-Start working together.

Let's get 'em open,
get 'em open.

TEE:
All right, get these tents out.

Get these off now.

Focus and communication

is the strategy today.

If we can focus,

and do it
with speed and accuracy,

then we should be able to get
through this and be number one.

Get the poles,
get the poles.

Damn, Team Tee looking
mighty quick.

Is quick effective?

Methodical--
slow and smooth.

Take your time.
Be deliberate.

RORKE:
Being methodical

is what's gonna win the day.

It's not gonna be raw speed.

It's gonna be taking
efficiencies,

and you move in a way
that you're thinking.

Hey, you might want
to start tasking

exactly like Goldie's doing.

Start breaking
other things down.

Come on, throw it in,
Lisa, come on.

Come on, you're
overthinking it.

People have started
to break down

the base of their tents.

Get them into the thing.
Get them in.

MARIA:
After I take down the tent,

I start writing numbers
with mud all over the puzzle

because I know the
puzzle's gonna be the--

the dealbreaker at the end.

Come on, come on, come on.

TEE:
Taking too long.

There we go.
Sit on it.

JOHN:
Tony looks like he's me

packing for a road trip.

Shove everything in the crate

and then hope she closes.

RORKE: Using a lot
of time up right here.

Machine, help him tuck in.

We got to get this thing closed
so we can move on.

RORKE:
I'm frustrated because I feel

what I'm saying
just isn't sustaining

once we get into the fight.

We got to speed up a bit.

This is not uncommon,

but in my mind,
that's the difference

between professionals
and civilians.

Come on, start talking.

We got to get this done.

TEE:
Let's go, let's go, let's go.

-Tony, a side!
TEE: Let's go.

There we go.

JOHN:
Tony, Tee, and Ivette

are headed towards the water.

The team of two is
already moving.

Troops, we got to accelerate
our speed.

We got a team
that's already gone.

TEE:
Got to go, got to go, got to go!

Sprint.
Get out there.

Pick up those feet and go!

They're not even in
the water yet, guys.

Come on, hurry up.

Part of the case broke.

Broken case--there
you go, ingenuity.

-Pronto.
-Okay, are we good?

We're good, all right,
we're good.

When I woke up in the hospital

and two of my limbs were gone,

I could've easily have
stopped right then,

but I chose to push on,

and that's one thing
I tell my team,

is to no matter what happens,
keep moving forward.

You're doing good, Lisa.
You're doing good.

See, everybody's moving.
You're good.

Get out there, Tony.

Tony's not a strong swimmer.

As a Marine, sometimes you get

thrown off the deep end,

and you got to just
adapt and overcome.

Let's go.
Get out there, Tony.

And I got folks in the water.

RORKE: Come on, guys,
let's go, let's go!

-Let's move it!
TEE: Let's go, Tony!

TONY: I feel my feet
touch the ground,

and then I started coming up--
I was floating,

so I started kicking
in front of me.

I was like,
"Well, this ain't working.

"I ain't going nowhere.

Now I'm getting tired because

I don't swim--I don't know how

to conserve energy as a swimmer.

(Tony breathing heavily)

MARIA:
I was trying to help Tony,

but it is so cold.

I'm from California.

I don't do this

cold weather (bleep).

NICK:
Work it, work it, work it.

Let's go.

Tony and Ivette are about
to get some company.

NICK:
Go, go, go!

Come on, KJoy.

Tony?

Come on, they're coming.

(Tony breathing heavily)

Grab my hand.

Grab my hand.

Don't freak out.

Come on, Tony.

Kick, Tony.

Don't freak out.

Kick harder!

(Tony grunting)
-Come on, Tony!

-(breathing heavily)
-Come on, Tony!

I think that you're
slowing it down.

-Tony, you're not even moving.
TEE: Let's go!

Even though Tony can't swim,

that's a team issue,
and unless they come up

with a team solution
to this problem,

Team Tee is all gonna drown.

Kick, Tony.

Still in this.
We're still in it.

We're still in it.

Walk as far as you can.

LISA:
It is freezing.

I live in Austin, Texas.

We don't go traipsing
through water that's icy.

Stand up!

Stand up, come on.

TONY:
I was extremely happy

to have my feet on ground.

After this is all said and done,

I'm gonna learn how to swim.

(grunts)

Quickly, we still got
a lot of stuff to do!

Let's go.

Hurry up, hurry up.

Let's go, Ivette!

TONY:
We dragged our cases over

and we see the wheelbarrow.

I'm looking at all the blocks.

I'm like,
"Why we have all this stuff?"

We don't need all this.

All you have to do
is make something simple.

Here we go.

Let's go.
They're coming.

JOHN:
We have Team Tee

still in first place...

-Pick it up.
JOHN: Team Noah in second.

-Let's go!
-You got it, you got it!

JOHN:
Team Nick a close third,

and Team Rorke
bringing up the rear.

Come on, blue!

I never give up.

That's why people know me
as The Machine.

I was a fat kid growing up,

and I was made fun of.

I decided that I wanted
to get in shape.

That's why I am
where I am today.

Now it's time to prove to Rorke

that I'm the strongest person
out here.

JOHN:
Team Tee with a great start.

Trying to keep it going.

We can't afford the Circus.

Let's go.

JOHN:
Teams, remember,

any materials you don't use

to make your wheelbarrows

must also be brought
to the campsite.

Get it together.
It's a wheelbarrow.

I've been in Boy Scouts
for most of my life.

I'm very comfortable with knots.

Here, you got to tie
a clove hitch first.

Then use this,

and then a clove hitch.

NOAH:
My team takes their time,

which I see as a critical part
of this Evolution,

to make sure that we don't get

ten feet into it,
and it collapses.

Wrap it around here
and around here.

What's going on down there?
What is this?

The wheelbarrow
was an equalizer.

I mean, unless you were

an engineer, you didn't
know what you were doing.

The fork with these two.

Do exactly what Jim is doing.

Come on, guys.

When you're in the field

and you encounter a problem,

and someone finds a solution,

it's important that person

disseminates that information.

If everyone has
the same knowledge,

everyone's able to work
together as a team.

I would recommend
you look at Jim's.

You can't leave
anything behind.

-Yep.
-Pick everything up.

-What about Machine?
-Machine's just trying to

figure out where to stick
some stuff in.

Machine's solution
to the problem set was,

I'm just gonna take
this burden with no function

so he starts sticking
2x4s in his life jacket.

He's got pants that look
absolutely ridiculous.

So his problem solving
at this point

just kind of dipped.

Well, we got to get ready
to get on the road,

or we're gonna be
too far behind.

JOHN:
Look at this.

Team Tee leading
the wheelbarrow.

Nice and steady.

JOHN: That wheelbarrow does not

look like it's
gonna last long.

Blue team should be
ready to move.

(groans)

TEE:
Get up, Ivette.

Get up, Ivette.

Team Noah's passing Team Tee
right now.

TONY:
Team Noah passes us.

Okay, don't panic.

They still got to get
four people.

-Don't look at them.
-I'm not.

TONY:
I'll take one.

We'll go back and get
the other one,

and then we'll just
shift it out there.

I'm not leaving my teammate.

I'm not leaving her.

Slow and steady,
steady and slow.

-Yep.
JOHN: Team Nick right behind.

We got ourselves a close race.

Guys, we had
a complete malfunction.

Right here.
We're still in this.

Okay, we got it.

They got it, they got it.

Oh, we're right there.

-It's right there, y'all.
-Let's go.

Aah!
(grunts)

Team Noah up front.

No surprise there as they are

trying to stay undefeated
in Evolutions.

Get those cases open!

TEE:
Let's go, come on.

Team Tee very, very close.

-Open.
-Red team!

The finish line's
right there.

JOHN:
Nick motivating his troops

to get to that finish line.
- All right, let's get to work.

RORKE:
We need to do one big tie

so those cannot come apart.

Not only do I need
to give guidance

on
"Hey, here's the big picture"...

If we can do that,
we can move these things.

I actually think I need
to get a little bit

more in the weeds and say,

"This is how you tie a knot."

Puzzles can make up
a lot of ground.

They could be dying
on puzzles.

We just got to get down there
and get in a fight.

Yeah, I liked puzzles

till I got here.

NOAH: My team has proven
they're a powerhouse.

For the final part
of this Evolution,

each one of these tents
has a different puzzle piece,

and that's gonna require
a lot of thinking,

and that makes me nervous.

Remember there was a piece
that went lower here

because it looked like
a place for my kid to sit?

You get the base lines,
you get the rest of the puzzle.

Trying to figure the--
trying to place some pieces.

Yep, got one.

Ha-ha, you jerk!

I got you.

All right, Clare, down to Lisa.

Ooh, we got a base--a one,
ten finish.

Maria, I need you
to get over here

because you remember
these pieces.

-I did.
-Maria, you need to get...

over here and do it then.
-All right, then--

-Good job, good job, Maria.
-Dude, Cameron,

you have no idea.
(laughs)

Drag like you've never
dragged before.

JOHN:
Team Rorke inches closer

to setting up camp.

I'm good.

I got you.

Tony has a base figured out.

Finally.

Ha, is this it?

-(frustrated sigh)
BOTH: Okay.

Start working on your poles.

Team Noah, three bases complete.

That might not be
the two, Maria.

-I know.
-It doesn't look like it.

Maria had a really good strategy

numbering all the pieces.

We all should've
picked up on that,

and followed her lead, and I,

you know, take the bullet
for that one.

If we did our numbers,
we'd be done by now.

Yeah.

-Okay, guys.
-Blue, we are in this.

-We are in this thing.
-Hey, you guys start building.

-I'll get the lids.
-We're in this.

Let's not lose it here.

No, I don't want
to do a puzzle.

Who feels like doing
a puzzle right now?

There you go, cross to C.

-There we go.
-Oh, God.

Come on, baby,
start putting them in.

Team Tee's got their
second base up.

If they can get that
tent set up correct,

they could win the Evolution
and be safe from the Circus.

We'll get it,
we'll get it.

NOAH:
They have got their last one.

Their puzzle is done.

We got to get this together.

This isn't right...
or it might be.

It might be.

LISA:
We got everything up.

All we have to do is just get

David's puzzle, but it's

the mother of all messes.

Ah.

I'm telling you, this thing

is not over,
as crazy as it sounds.

Maybe just get together
and do one.

If we get one down,
we build on that.

Here, try to flip it.
Here we go.

Tony and Ivette
still trying to figure out

that tent setup.

Come on, guys,
we almost got it.

JOHN:
Team Noah still

trying to figure out
that one base.

Yep, yep.

Okay, okay, here we go.

Hallelujah--and
it's all there!

-Slow down, David.
-It's all there!

Slow down, slow down.

I had it all together.

JOHN:
Team Noah finishes up

on that last piece,
but it is not over yet.

They have one last tent
to set up,

and Team Tee's also
on their last tent.

That might be
the middle, come on.

We need to find this pole,

'cause we find this pole,
it's over.

Give me a short one.

-Here, take that one.
-This short one?

JOHN:
It's Team Tee and Team Noah

down to the wire!

Safety from the Circus
is on the line.

Move it, Tony,
let's go.

That's too high.
That's too high.

-Team Tee's scrambling.
-You missing a pole.

Where's the pole?

You're missing a pole.

Where's the triangle?

This didn't have a long pin.

JOHN:
It is not over yet.

It is not over yet.

Both teams finishing
their tents.

Done.

Team Noah has won
the Evolution...

(cheering)

(cheering continues)

JOHN: Which means they are
safe from the Circus.

TEE: Right now
I'm feeling kind of bummed.

Second means nothing.
You need to be first.

Come on, Machine,
bring it in and get warm.

Losing isn't something
you want to be.

On some level, that
starts sinking in, and so

this round might be--
get a little bit mad.

Aww, I love you guys!

-Yes!
-All right, all right.

Team Noah, congratulations.

You're one step closer to
winning up to $1 million.

Team Rorke,
Team Tee, Team Nick,

you will have to choose
which team member

must face the Circus,

and the Circus does not end

until one of you gives up,
rings out, goes home.

-Man.
-Whoo.

I am nervous about the Circus

'cause it's unknown.

You don't find out
until you get there.

I'm nervous.
I'm not gonna lie.

I'm nervous to go to Circus.

I'm not trippin'

over the Circus,
'cause there's worse.

I admire the fact
that you are so positive,

but not all of us
are the same.

I don't have patience
for negativity.

I'm all about positivity,
optimism, and success.

That's not something
to dwell on.

That's an opportunity.

That's how you look at it,
but when she

looks at it, she's nervous.

She's scared.

She don't want to go home.

I'm just not afraid
of the competitive side.

I'm not worried about that.

Are you serious?

You know what I've gone through?

Broken hands, broken legs.

Been kicked, bit.

My sport includes a wild animal.

I mean, he's a bodybuilder.

I want to see him
try to do what I do.

You don't know
what real suffering is.

I know what suffering is.

Losing your family members--

real suffering.
-No, it isn't.

We've all lost family members.

-Welcome to the club.
-You're such a--

Losing my father was the worst
thing that ever happened to me.

I lost my father.
Welcome to the club.

No, but you're saying
it's not a big deal.

I'm not asking for
people to pat me...

-On the back for it.
-I'm not asking for that.

I can't do this.

It's stupid.

Okay.

You're such an ass.

TONY:
Let it go, bro.

Let it go.

No, I'm telling you,
let it go.

A little compassion
goes a long way.

Just a little bit.

You and Clare are the only
people I talk to in here.

Right.

I don't get close
to anybody else.

Haze is a really cool girl.

I think she's really cute.

HAZE:
I want another pillow.

CAM:
She's a lot of fun to talk to.

HAZE:
Get under these blankets.

She's different from
other girls back home,

and even from other girls
in the house.

I do enjoy spending time
with her.

Oh, my God, I could totally
fall asleep to this right now.

Me and Cam are just
very talkative and touchy.

I mean, I'm never gonna
pass up some hair play.

All right.

(Haze laughing)
Oh, my God.

(tense music)

♪ ♪

JOHN:
We need to recognize the winners

of the Evolution.

-Whoo!
-Team Noah,

congratulations to you guys.

Get on your way.

-Thank you.
-Have fun, guys.

MARK:
We get a little picnic

and we get to go on a hike
for winning today,

so that was pretty cool
to get out of the house

finally for a little bit.

JOHN:
What do you guys think

Team Noah is doing right?

I feel like they're

selecting a leader each time.

I feel like they're
listening to one person

and following through
with that.

MARIO:
They haven't been involved

in the--the bickering

and the nonsense that's
happening in the house,

and they were just
focused on their game.

I mean, I'm used to competing,

so I got to leave it
all out here.

I've done things
my entire life.

I've been a good runner,
a good swimmer, and a cyclist,

and my strength is my mind.

Your body can take so much,
but your mind

can literally go as far
as you push it.

You told me they have
great leadership,

and you told me
that they're focused,

so it's time for all of you
to step your game up.

Keep that in mind.

(serene music)

♪ ♪

Whoa, don't be falling
off the edge.

I just keep going...
(laughing)

It's a long fall.

This is to me, like,
the best one so far.

Here's cups.

Oh, fruit, fruit, fruit!

Raspberries.

All right, who knows how
to make sandwiches?

I do.

Here's, like, silverware.

Oh, pepper jack cheese.

I know you haven't seen
the Circus or anything,

but do you have
any advice?

-I'm really scared.
-Don't overthink it.

Just think about
something different.

-Okay.
-Every time I've found

myself in a physical spot

where it's like,
when we were out training

or even deployed,
I would think,

"How much stronger
is this making me?"

You have to find
the happy place.

I was in Iraq
my first deployment,

we were about to
go on a patrol

and I'm smiling,
got all my stuff ready,

and one of the guys goes,

"Why are you so happy?

We live in hell."

And I looked at him,
I said, "Because most people

"go to the movies
to experience this.

We're living it."

You're here to challenge
yourself

to see what you're made of,

and say you're not gonna
stop until you break.

-I like that.
-Okay.

Cool, I got one more thing
to say.

You have beautiful eyes.

(laughter)

NOAH:
Thank you.

-Yo!
-Rorke!

Hey-o, Rorke!

RORKE:
I'm frustrated at this point.

As a Navy man,
it's a little bit

of a pill to swallow
to have lost

three in a row to,
uh, my Army brother.

Yesterday I felt like
we forgot how to tie our shoes.

Wrap it around here
and around here.

What's going on down there?

-What is this?
-Dang it.

You're not gonna
learn the knots

I'm gonna teach you right now
right now,

but there's no doubt
in my mind

we're gonna see this again.

The first one I want to show
you is one of the most

simple knots that exists
in the world,

but I think this would've
been great yesterday

'cause it just gives you
a quick, functional knot.

It's called a taut line.

Let's say this is the wood
on the opposite side.

So if I just bring
this thing around--

so I go through
that hole I created.

I go through again.

That goes through here,

and it kind of looks like
a boa constrictor.

Secretly,
I'm just really confused.

I'm like, "What?"

Basically, the rabbit goes
up through the hole,

it goes around the tree,
and you got yourself a knot.

Rabbit? Uh?

Pull that through and
you've got that perfect square.

Oh.

Boom, I did it...
(laughing)

Let's talk a little bit
about the Circus.

This one I am, like,
looking at you two.

MARC:
You know, we're both

up for the job.

Fair enough.

I'd love to be able to tell you

I had an easy weak link,

an individual to throw
into the Circus,

but right now,
they're all weak links.

TEE: This was the same
course you did yesterday.

-It's so beautiful, but...
-It is.

I don't want to get
back in it, though.

In it, though.
(laughter)

Yeah? I want you all to
take your backpacks off.

I put something special
in each one.

Going to the Circus,
I wanted to remotivate them,

so I have a gift for each
of them, and remind them

Brooke is gone,
but you're still here.

That was a special gift
from Brooke for you.

-That is too sweet.
-Oh, look at that.

That was her tagline,
"Beast Mode Barbie"

She reminded me that
I'm here to prove a point,

and that's what I'm gonna do.

Your true reason for being here

was not Brooke.

It was not Chris.

It was to show yourself

that you can do this,

and then the same
thing for you.

When we deploy, we keep
a picture of a loved one.

That way we remember
why we do what we do.

That's why.

I really needed this...

to remember why I came here for.

My mom, she's been bedridden
for over seven years.

You know, it's why I came here.

This is what it's all about.

I'm also glad to
have a teammate

to help me out.

When I deployed,
I left my daughter.

I was a single mom at the time.

It was hard, so you just put

everything into that mission,

and being able to go home safe.

All right,
let's march it back home.

What do you think
about the Circus?

It's gonna be a hard one.

I swear, I mean,
I like Cam and I mean,

as an individual you're
so strong, you know?

-I agree.
-Yeah.

Maria is pushing for me to go,

and it's funny
'cause she pushes

for everybody to go in
but herself.

No doubt he's gonna come back.

I bet it's just
a weird coincidence.

Got it.
I don't want to give up

my strongest guy,

because I might need him later,

and there's no one really weak,

but at the same time,

I could see Maria
going to the Circus,

so it's a really tough decision.

ALL:
Reaper!

(dramatic music)

Welcome, everyone.

The teams here tonight

have lost today's Evolution.

Each team's Cadre will
pick one competitor

to participate in
tomorrow's Circus,

and although Team Tee
is down to just two,

there are still three teams

that are intact.

Keep in mind,
if you can stay intact,

the team can walk home
with $1 million.

Tonight, we're gonna choose
three to face the Circus.

One will give up.

Ring out, go home.

What we don't know is how.

The endurance platform--
forever changing.

It tests strength, mental
toughness, physical well-being,

until someone rings out.

Rorke, who are you
sending to the Circus?

Keep in mind you cannot choose

the same competitor
two weeks in a row.

I can't send Haze,

and, uh, Goldie's done
her work for right now,

so I think this one's

for my big man,
so I'm putting The Machine in.

-You got this.
-Marc, The Machine...

-That's right.
-Gonna crush it.

JOHN:
Rorke has selected you
to face the Circus.

All right, brother.

I'm doing this for
my daughter, my family.

I got to represent.

I always tell them go 120%.

I guarantee you
I'm gonna give it 120%.

Rorke, why Machine?

I think he wants to have

a solo performance.

I think he was a little bit down

on this last race.

I think he's tired of losing,

and I think to
give him a shot

to control the fate
on his own

is gonna be nothing but

positive coming back.

Nick?

I can't put KJoy in.

She proved herself.

Jim has proven enough
with the team right now.

He's put in a lot
of hard work.

Maria and Cam, I could send
either one of those two in,

and they're gonna
come out on top.

It was a little bit
of a toss up.

But it's going to be...

Cam.

-Cam.
-All right.

You've been chosen
to face the Circus.

-That's it.
-Go on, Cam.

NICK:
Take it easy.

Thank you.

-Take it easy.
-You bet.

Cam, thoughts?

I did come here with
a lot to prove, uh,

to a lot of people back home.

Uh, so when it comes
to the Circus,

I'm gonna take it
from dud to stud.

(laughter)
And I'm gonna show everybody

that I am too Cam
to give a damn.

JOHN:
Oh, you.

For some reason, man,
there's something about you

that just makes me smile.

-Thank you.
-Clearly reminds me of Nick.

-Right there, all Nick.
-Oh, yeah?

(Nick laughing)

Nick, anything more to add
on why you chose Cam?

I look at Cam, he's 21.

When I was 21 I was on my second
or third deployment.

Unstoppable.

Like I said, I don't think
he's felt pain.

He hasn't pushed himself
to where--

-21 and bulletproof.
-Yeah.

21 and bulletproof, yeah,
that's Cam,

He's gonna explode
on this one.

JOHN:
We will see tomorrow.

Tee, your strategy
so far has been

send the person I feel
who will come back,

and for whatever reason,

they've both gone home.

So, Tee,

who do you choose
to face the Circus?

Right now I got to go with

what's best for the team
overall.

I pick Tony.

JOHN:
Tony, you've been chosen

to face the Circus.

TEE:
You got this.

All day, every day.

Tee, what went through
your mind choosing Tony?

-He's NFL, through and through.
-Mm-hmm.

He's got what it takes.

He's gonna do what it takes.

-Tony?
-You know what I mean,

you got to do what you got to do

'cause I'm out here
fighting for my mom.

Machine, Tony, Cam,

you've all been chosen
to face the Circus,

and you will do so tomorrow.

I wish you all the best of luck.

I'd like to catch up
with you all

individually tomorrow
before your run.

Please remember, tomorrow,

one of you will give up.

One of you will ring out.

One of you will go home.

Head back to base camp.

(exciting music)

♪ ♪

I'm scared.
I'm nervous, because I need...

you to come back.
-Right.

I'm serious.

I'm going all out.

I have to 'cause I'm sorry

to say this about
the Green team,

but I got to knock
y'all down one.

(laughing)
Got to get you down one.

Well, I'll tell you,
I am definitely

going to be rooting for you

because on that first day
on the bridge,

when I was a basket case...

-That's okay.
-You were there for me.

So this, um, was the dog tag

from my first bodybuilding show.

-Okay.
-And I came in dead last...

but that was okay,
because I had lost 50 pounds,

and I said to myself,
some day I'm gonna win,

and I won this year

so it's my good luck charm.

You can keep it with you.

I really appreciate
what you did for me.

Thanks so much.

I am nervous.

I hope you know that.

-You don't look nervous.
-Okay, good.

This is the biggest
opportunity of your life.

That's--that's 110% true.

My journey from when I saw

John Cena wrestle
for the first time,

to now performing

in front of John Cena--

He is your audience.

He is.

-You're on stage.
-Mm-hmm.

-He's watching you.
-I know.

My kids wrote me some letters.

My daughter wrote,
"Since you are gone

"for this long,
you better kick some butt,

"and try your best not
to get hurt or killed...

(laughter)
But still go 120."

I'm excited to be
able to demonstrate

everything I tell to my kids.

Always give it 120%.

Is anyone in this world gonna
take that victory away from you?

-No.
-Absolutely not.

-Uh-uh.
-No.

Especially not
one of those guys.

Nope.

These two guys at first glance

might underestimate me,
but I think

when it comes time for Circus,

um, they're not looking
at the boy who doesn't belong.

They're gonna be
looking at the man

who's gonna knock them
on their ass

and make them ring that bell.

So I get to spend a little
time with The Machine.

Yes, you do.

And facing the Circus,

have you scoped
your competition?

What do you feel
about those guys?

Well, Tony, he's the one guy

I look up to most in the house.

-Why's that?
-'Cause he did something

I always wanted
to do as a kid.

He played in the NFL.

I wasn't good enough,

so for me this is an opportunity

to go up against someone

who did something
I could never do.

And--and best him?

I don't look ahead
and say I'm gonna win.

I'm not gonna do that
because I've lost in life,

but I'm gonna do everything
within my ability

to make sure that
doesn't happen today.

You say you've
lost in life?

You know,
I've had setbacks.

I've had family tragedies.

I've had marital issues.

At the end of the day,
you work through them.

-Mm-hmm.
-And you persevere.

Well said.

I wish you the best
of luck, okay.

Appreciate it, brother.

JOHN:
Marc has a hardened exterior,

and I think he is
in the beginning process

of peeling that back
and revealing

the human being that is Marc.

When I look at someone
called "The Machine,"

I can't help but jump
to a stereotype,

and when he proves me
wrong on that,

it makes me feel good
that he's here.

You coming back
to us tonight?

-That's the plan.
-Absolutely.

That's the plan, girl.

-Bring it home.
-I will.

JOHN:
First of all, why--

why pro wrestling?

Um, you know, it's funny.

There was a Raw

and my dad took
my brother and I,

and, uh, you were in the
main event against Edge.

Son of a bitch.

And I think, like,
ever since then

I said to myself,
like, you know,

I want to be a pro wrestler.

I want to be a WWE superstar
one day.

I'm not gonna ask you who you
were cheering for that night,

and please don't tell me,
even if you're lying...

but, uh, why are you here?

I think I have a lot,
you know, to prove.

What about today?
What do you feel about today?

I'm scared, you know.

I'm with a few grown-ass men

so it's time for
me to step up.

(chuckles)

Don't go home today.

-Definitely not.
-All right.

The other two guys,
if they win,

they can help support
other people.

Cam will be able to support
chasing his dream.

From a guy like me,

that's really important,

but Cam has the least to lose.

That doesn't mean he has
the least to fight for.

-You all right?
-I'm all right.

-You all right?
-I'm good, yeah.

-I know you are.
-He's awesome.

Look at him, he looks good,

-Yeah.
-Feels good.

JOHN:
Touchdown Tony.

We all have inspiration.

You had mentioned that you
draw a lot from your mom.

She worked as a nurse
for 37 years,

and then she was paralyzed,

so all the money I had as
an NFL player, CFL player,

I was using it
trying to make sure

she had that opportunity
to walk again

and she didn't, and that
was it, and that's fine.

You know what I mean, she, uh,

she lived with it and
I had to live with it too.

What would surviving this
competition mean to you?

Like, just to prove
to my mom, like,

you gave everything you got,
so did I.

JOHN:
Knowing that he will go

to great odds for his family,

I'm sure when faced
with the Circus itself,

he is gonna find the ability

to dig deep.

When you're fighting for

more than yourself,

you tend to push
beyond your limits.

(suspenseful music)

♪ ♪

Hello, everybody.

Welcome to the Circus,

a beautiful,
intimidating monster.

Tony, you, Cam and Machine
will face the Circus.

For one of you,
the jeopardy of your team

dwindling down to one
hangs in the balance.

Gentlemen, this is not

just a circus for you.

This is a proving ground.

Step up.

Which leads me to
today's endurance test.

It is called "Post Up,"
and it goes like this.

When you arrive on that
endurance platform,

you'll see a succession of posts

from smaller to taller,

from wide to narrow.

You will start on
the first post standing,

and in 15 minutes,
you will be asked to do

what I've constantly
asked you to do.

Step up.

But you will step up
to a taller,

more narrow post.

15 minutes after that,

you'll do the same again.

The first competitor
to fall,

to abandon their post,

must ring out,

and when you ring out,
your journey

on "American Grit" is over.

Is that clear?

ALL:
Yes, sir.

Now for the advantages.

If you are last
to the platform,

there is no advantage.

Stand on a post,

and we start that clock.

Five minutes after that,

the competitor
that arrives second

stands on their first post.

Five minutes after that,

the competitor
that arrives first

stands on their post.

It's time to make your way
to the starting line.

-Let's go, Machine!
-Let's go, Tony.

-Go, Cam!
- Go, Cameron.

Cam has a really good

combination of speed,
youth, and strength.

If I can just get Cam to bust
his ass on this obstacle course,

there's no way
anyone can beat him.

That ten-minute advantage
is huge.

-Machine!
-Whoo!

RORKE:
Machine needs this Circus.

He needs to go in there to kind
of fight in an individual arena

and prove his medal
to come back to us

as a strong team competitor.

Let's go, Tony!

We got two remaining members.

We have to make it through.

I'm hoping that picture
of Tony's mom

that I gave him as a reminder
of why he's here,

would actually help today.

JOHN: Turn around
and look at that bell.

Do not ring that bell.

Three, two, one...
(air horn blows)

-Whoo!
-You got this!

-Go, Tony!
-Cam!

-You've got this!
-Tony, go, Tony!

-You got this, Cam!
-Get in your zone!

-Get in your zone, baby!
-You got this!

All right, Cam!

-You got it!
-Come on!

-Come on, Tony!
-Focus, Tony!

JOHN: I figured
Cam would jump up

to an early lead, and he has.

That's right, Tony!
Let's go!

Come on, Machine!
Let's get up there!

JOHN: Machine fighting
with something to prove.

-Tony, the same.
-Come on, Tony!

JOHN:
Tony gaining on him.

Usually the person that gets up

and over first is the person

to come to
the finish line first.

Come on, Machine,
let's get over!

-Cam up and over first.
-Come on, Cam!

Stuck in the net.
He's stuck in the net.

Go, Cam, go!

JOHN:
Cam up and over first.

-Go, Cam!
-Stuck in the net.

-He's stuck in the net.
-Come on, Cam.

Go, Cam, go!
Go, Cam, go!

-(grunting)
-Come on, Cam.

JOHN:
Tony off the obstacle first.

How about that?

Let's go, Tony!

-Come on, Machine!
-Machine struggling.

Let's get in it!

-Easy day.
-There you go, Cam.

On your game.
On your game, Cam.

-You got it!
-Neck and neck right now

on the second obstacle.

Tony, get in your zone!

-Tony!
-You got it, Machine!

JOHN:
Machine finally off the net.

On to the second obstacle.

NICK:
Hey, don't--

-Don't burn your legs out.
-Okay.

Use those legs.
Stand up.

TEE:
Your limbs too tall.

You too tall not
to use those limbs.

Tony's halfway up the ladder.

I see you, Tony,
I see you!

JOHN:
Cam's on his trail.

It is neck and neck.

This is so far the closest
obstacle challenge we've had.

-Go, Cam!
-Let's go, Cam.

Honestly, it's neck and neck
up there.

-Let's go, Cam.
-That's still the record.

JOHN: Tony on beam.

Cam is gonna be
right behind him.

Cam on the beam,

and it's looking
pretty slick.

-Whoo!
-Come on, Cam!

-Whoo-hoo!
-Look at him.

-So cute.
-So cute.

-Let's go, Machine!
-I'll see you down there,

Machine, good job.

JOHN: Cam trying
to figure the net out.

Tony smoking his way
across the Burma bridge.

Touchdown Tony's cruising
on this one.

I figured Cam's youth

would work to his
advantage here.

I've been proven
wrong already.

(grunting)

Cam almost
diving down that last crawl.

So we have the first sign
of Tony.

We do.
He's the first one.

-Whoo!
-Tony!

I'm so proud of you, baby!

You got this!

Certainly with something
to prove,

and trying to keep
his team intact.

Look at this.

He's giving it all he's got.

Just don't hurt yourself,
please.

First to the endurance
platform is Tony!

Whoo-hoo!
So proud of you, Tony!

JOHN: And will receive a huge

ten-minute advantage
in the endurance test.

-Come here, Tony.
-That's my team!

That's my team right there.

Get in the zone.

My plan was to make sure
I get first because

I want to keep off that peg
as long as possible.

I wanted to be the last one
stepping on, at all costs.

-Roll it.
-Okay.

-Roll it.
-Look at him go!

-Look at this kid.
-Watch out!

-Easy.
-Cam, Cam!

-Good job.
-Cam, Cam, Cam.

Second to the endurance platform

is Cam with a big,
five-minute advantage

in the endurance test.

All right, Machine!

JOHN: Here comes The Machine

looking totally exhausted.

(bleep) God.

(Machine grunting)

-Focus.
-Take a breath, Machine.

-Take a breath.
-Good job, Marc.

JOHN:
Machine is third and final

to reach
the endurance platform.

Remove your tethers and we'll
get the endurance test started.

Machine, up and ready?

Start the clock.

15 minutes on the first peg.

I'll be keeping time.

Cam, you'll jump
up on my mark,

and then later, Tony.

Yeah, it's hard.

Just catch your wind.

Keep your focus.

CAM:
My hands are frozen.

Should go under your armpits.

You can do it
again, Machine.

JOHN:
The freezing temperature,
certainly, and the shakes

is not good when
you have to balance.

Five minutes has elapsed.

Cam, your advantage is over.

Step up.

Ten minutes has elapsed.

Tony, your advantage is done.

Step up.

All three competitors
are on the platform.

Five minutes from
now, you will all

step up to the next peg.

Today is your day.

Competitors, prepare to step up.

Step up.

All right, very deliberate.

Yep, get solid

and make a transition up.

-Come on, Machine.
-There you go.

-Good job, Machine.
-Great job.

-Keep it, keep it.
-Great job.

JOHN: Looks like
everybody's made it.

You will have 15 minutes
in this position.

JOHN:
Machine is a little wobbly

in the early stages of this.

I'm looking at Tony's feet.

There he goes.

Tony's wobbling, Machine.

-You got this.
-Shots fired.

No you're not, baby,
no you're not.

You're good.

♪ ♪

Cam seemed pretty cold
before he started.

I honestly think the cold

is gonna be
the deciding factor.

(coughing)

(whispering)
You got this.

I promise.

You're kicking ass, Machine.

It is time to step up
to the next obstacle.

Three, two, one.

Step up.

-Oh!
-Let's go, Cam.

Come on, Tony!

You got this, Tony!

-Cam! Cam!
-Come on, Machine.

Tony!

Machine, no!

Come on, come on, here we go.

-Tony!
-(coughing)

-Go, Cam!
-Come on, man.

Come on, come on, come on.

-Yeah, Cam!
-Whoo!

That's it, Tony.

Yeah, Cam!

Come on, baby.

-Come on.
-I'm coming home.

JOHN: Touchdown Tony
with it all on the line,

proves true.

Come here, guys,
come here.

Listen, can you feel something?

-Love you, Marc.
-You're gonna kick ass.

Tony,

Cam, you survived the Circus.

-Green team!
-Green team, green team!

I'm telling you, you've been
an engine for us, brother.

-You have.
-Appreciate it.

It was why I picked you.

Machine is going home now,

and I'm sad to see him go.

There may be a benefit, though,
that our team

will see there are consequences

to losing that Evolution.

-Machine, be proud, brother.
-That was me.

JOHN: Marc,

you must ring out.

Proudly.

Bring it home, Rorke.

(bell ringing)

MARC:
Losing today sucked.

I need that money,

but I set forth
what I wanted to do,

and that showed that I can
compete with the best of them.

I'm proud.
I gave it all I got.

ALL:
Ooh, yeah!

You don't know what
the Circus is gonna bring.

For me to step
onto a three-inch post,

is essentially like putting
a bowling ball on a golf tee.

-JOHN: Next time...
-Do you want to tell

Team Noah about
the Circus today?

No, we shouldn't.

JOHN: Team Noah's

winning streak has begun

to divide the house.

KJOY:
It's really important that

Team Noah does not win
the Evolution.

It's time to start
playing dirty.

JOHN:
Meanwhile, Team Nick

have begun to divide
themselves.

I've never had to deal
with negative energy

that was actually
sleeping next to me.

JOHN: Who will be the next
contestant to give up...

-She's going for it!
-Go for it!

JOHN: Ring out, and go home

on "American Grit"?

We got ourselves a race!