American Grit (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 9 - Tired Out - full transcript

Previously on this season
ofAmerican Grit...

Welcome to the toughest
challenge of your life.

I brought four decorated heroes
of America's Armed Forces

together to show the
world what it takes

to be the best of the best.

- Go, go, go, go!
- Make it hurt!

Navy SEAL Commander
Rorke Denver.

I led assault teams
all around the world.

Marine Gunnery
Sergeant Tee Hanible.

I was the only female to deploy

in one of the first
units in Iraq.



Army Ranger Nick
"The Reaper" Irving.

I killed 33 enemy
combatants in 3 1/2 months.

And Army Sergeant Noah Galloway.

My Humvee hit a roadside bomb,

and I lost my left
arm and left leg.

Each member of this cadre

hand-picked a team
of four civilians.

- Let's go!
- I want the lumberjack.

Who doesn't want the lumberjack?

And pushed them to
their breaking point

to measure their grit.

- Suck it up!
- It's all up in your mind.

Let's go! Get down here now!

We can go harder.



Come on. Finish strong.

And each week, some competitors

prove that pain was
only temporary,

while others gave out
under the pressure.

I can't keep going like this.

No! No! No!

I slam doors

to keep from slamming my
fist in somebody's face.

Eight have been
forced to ring out,

and now only eight remain.

After losing WWE hopeful
Cam last week...

Team Nick is down
to the sole brawn

of Boston cop Jim.

I am the greatest ever!

Team Tee, the few and the proud,

- and its only member, Tony.
- Jump! Move!

Team Rorke, rallying with
roller derby mom Goldie,

Marine daughter Haze,

and world-ranked
triathlete Mario.

Figure out a way to dig deep.

And Team Noah's army of three

in lumberjack Mark,

Olympic gold medalist David,

and fisherman Clare.

- Who's having fun now?
- All right.

In the end, only one team

will stand victorious

with their cadre
leader by their side.

Thank you for believing in me.

Tonight... Keep digging!

On the two hour season
finale ofAmerican Grit...

Greatness has nothing to do
about winning or losing.

- Go.
- Teams will confront

their most punishing

and back-breaking
Evolutions yet.

- Go!
- Let's go, Goldie. Good job.

And the competitors that
manage to survive...

You got to go. Come on. Now.
Pick it up. Let's go.

Will face a final Circus

like they've never seen before.

Don't you drop that rope,
you son of a bitch!

The grand prize is on the line.

Black out or win. There's
no other option.

Only one team can be
crowned the winner

and show the world that
they have American grit.

♪ 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

- Aah!
- Oh!

It's over!

♪ Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

♪

Hey!

Oh, my God.

Cam.

I'm the new Tony.

Oh, sorry.

I'm not gonna think about Cam.

I have to think
about saving myself

and getting the job done.

You gonna miss your little man?

I am gonna miss Cam.

Sorry, Jim.

My strategy was for me
to be on that platform

to distract Cam.

It hurts 'cause I
feel like it worked.

Do I feel bad that our
mind game worked on him?

No.

I'm actually pretty impressed

that the outcome was
exactly what we wanted.

So, congratulations.

You're to the finals.
Congratulations.

You're all the way
to the finals.

- Congratulations.
- Thank you.

And the rest of us got to
find out how to get there.

- One more.
- Five more tickets.

- One more person gone.
- Five more tickets

- to the final Circus.
- Five more tickets.

Ultimately, we want
to make Noah proud.

We want to make ourselves proud

knowing that we're
working hard as a unit,

and also the $250,000
is at stake.

So, we hope to be the
last team standing.

Let's win this
Evolution tomorrow.

And then you don't have to
worry about the Circus.

I know. That's what I'm saying.

Tear the roof down, Mario.

- Ha-ha! Good morning.
- Hey.

- Hi, Rorke.
- There he is.

Today is target practice.
Follow me.

Today's the ninth Evolution,
and we haven't won once,

so today we're gonna have
some fun, de-stress,

and be ready to focus when
we get to the task at hand.

- Who is that?
- Oh, yeah.

Is that Reaper, Tee, and Noah?

- Oh, yeah.
- This is awesome!

And this is what we're
gonna shoot with.

Aah!

The deadly water
balloon launcher.

Yeah.

This has been a long, hard road,

so getting to do some
target practice...

This is gonna be fun.

- Ready?
- Ready!

Aim.

Fire.

- Oh!
- Awesome!

- Fire.
- Oh!

- A little bit more left.
- A little bit more left.

- Little more left.
- Fire.

- Oh!
- Oh, it's beautiful.

- Coming for you, Reaper.
- We gonna get you, Reaper.

That's me. This is very creepy.

What's going on, gents?

- Wow.
- Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

If you want to replace
yourselves, go ahead.

- Wait a minute.
- Ready.

Aim. As far back as you can.

- Fire.
- Oh!

Hey, I think this team
just blew themselves up.

♪

- Good morning, everybody.
- Good morning.

Oh, I am especially excited
today, and so are you.

As our numbers dwindle,
the competition

becomes more and more intense.

Whoever makes it through this
next Evolution and Circus

will experience the most
grueling few days of your lives

'cause you'll be in the
finale of "American Grit."

Only one team can win.

The rest of you will be pushed
to a breaking point, guaranteed.

Mark and Goldie secured a spot

in the finals of
this competition,

and the team that wins
today's Evolution

will also secure a
spot in the finals.

This is the Evolution to
win, because we win it,

nobody goes to Circus,

and everyone on the team
goes to the finale.

Today's Evolution will
be the most difficult

and challenging you've
seen until now.

It's called Tired Out,

and it goes like this.

You'll race off to four
different obstacles

hidden in this forest.

Obstacle number one
is a tire shuffle.

Number two, you must free a tire

from a puzzle.

Next, you must crawl
through a mud pit,

and finally, solve a puzzle
affixed to a hitching post.

After you traverse
each obstacle,

you will grab a tire
of your team's color,

which you must race back
to the start/finish line

and mount on your team's post.

Teams must travel together.

But one competitor
will be responsible

for getting and bringing back
the tire from each obstacle.

Jim, Tony, you guys will
be doing all the work.

The first team to bring
back all four tires

wins the Evolution.

If you win the Evolution,
you're safe from the Circus

and you punch your ticket

to the final round
of this competition

and a chance to win $250,000.

Cadre, get with your
team, form a game plan.

Get in front of Team
Noah at all times.

Don't ever let them
get in front of you.

- Right.
- It's just him,

so he's got to do each
and every obstacle

by himself.

So he is gonna truly
be tired out.

Let's do assignments first.
You go in one.

Gonna have you go
in two for puzzle.

Have you go three for mud pit.

- Then back to you for four.
- Okay.

So, you're working
both puzzles today.

Goldie is not gonna be able

to go as fast as Haze and Mario,

so we should just take advantage

of the stuff we know.

Communicate well.

Take time so you're
not moving quicker

than you can think
through a problem,

and work together, you know?

I think if they do
that, they'll be fine.

You know what? I'm
glad it's just me.

Yeah.

Because I don't have to wait
for everybody following me.

I'll be there to motivate
and strategize with him,

but it's gonna come down
to how bad he wants it.

Don't stress out,
and just go into it

and keep moving.

I chose Clare to do the
last two obstacles

because Clare's really
good with knots...

Tying them and untying them.

So, she's gonna
take that one on.

Green Team on three.
One. Two. Three.

Green Team!

Competitors, at the ready.

The Evolution course is
five miles in total,

so there will be a lot of
running between obstacles.

Three. Two. One.

Go!

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

Come on, Jim. Come on, Jim.
Right here, baby.

Wait for them to come.

Get it going. Grab it and go.
Grab it and go.

Grab it and go. Faster.
Faster. Faster.

- Faster. Come on.
- Aah!

One left. Go. Go.

As a team, you must hustle
all 12 tires through

until the colored tire is first.

- Slowing down on me. Come on.
- Back through. Back through.

Right there. Turn around.
Let's go.

Tony's got the advantage
of being a single player

because he don't have to wait

for a team to
complete the obstacle

before you continue on.

So, Tony's up front?

There you go. Just like that.

Followed by Team Rorke,
followed by Jim in Team Nick,

and then Team Noah.

Grab and go. Come on.
Now. Pick it up.

Let's go. Come on. Come on.

I can hear Nick in his
scary Reaper voice.

Pick it up. Let's go.

Right now. Pick it up now.

Let's go. Come on, Jim.
Hurry up.

I'm so glad he's not my cadre,

'cause I would have
myself by now.

Get through it. This
is where we pick up.

Right here. Come on, Jim.

- Let's kill it.
- Let's go. Let's go. Faster.

We have to finish. Come on.

We're going to finale, y'all.
Come on.

We got two left. Two left

- and you are off to the races.
- There you go.

Jim and Tony are neck and neck.

Both of them have
only one tire left.

Come on, Jim. Hurry up.
Let's go.

Go, go. Run, run. Come on.

Get out of there. Go, go, go.
Get out of there.

Go. No, you're done. Hurry up.

Tony is racing back towards
the start/finish line,

Jim on his heels.

And look at this. Jim
moves into first place.

- Every second counts here.
- Go, go.

Looks like Team Rorke
is in third place

as they grab their tire and head
back to the start/finish line.

Go, go. Get it, get it.

Team Noah has left the obstacle.

All teams back on their way
to the start/finish line.

Who are we gonna see first?

Jim up front.

We got Tony on his heels.

Team Rorke in the distance.
Team Noah in the distance.

Tire on the post.

Get going. Tire on the post.

Get going.

Teams must travel
together, Mario.

Remember that. Teams
must travel together.

Got to wait for your team.

Just stay together. Stay together.
Keep digging.

Hurry, hurry. Go. Come on.

- Come on, Goldie!
- And back out you go.

- Got it. Go, go.
- Let's go. Let's go.

Jim is in first place,

Tony right on his heels,

and although Team Rorke
was ahead of Team Noah,

they are quickly falling
into last place.

- Mario?
- Where's Goldie? Where's Goldie?

Come on, Goldie!

Goldie is not built
or designed to run.

Breathe deep. Breathe deep.

I think she's a good
pick for the puzzles.

I feel like, you know,
kind of just be like,

"Hey, this is your job today
is to work out those puzzles

and we'll see how we do."

So, the team's off
to the next obstacle

where they'll have
to undo a puzzle

to release the next tire.

Doing these puzzles
is perfect for me,

because now I get
to get some rest

versus constantly running.

Go get it, girl.

Work smarter, not harder, Goldie.
You got this.

Only one person per team

can solve the puzzle...

There you go, Goldie.

So, teammates must
wait by the markers

until it's solved and
the tire becomes free.

- Good job, Tony.
- So, Tony has cracked the code

and is first out of
the second obstacle.

He's racing back to the
start/finish line.

Team Noah's second
out of the obstacle.

They're racing back to
the start/finish line.

Team Tee and Team Noah
are neck and neck

as they fight for first place.

Jim and Goldie are
struggling with that puzzle.

They got to unlock that tire

and get back to the
start/finish line.

It's all you, Clare. Here we go.

Team Tee and Team
Noah at a dead heat

as they hit the mud pit.

There you go.

Good job, guys.

Come on. Dive in. Let's go.
Get lower.

Get lower. Get lower. Get lower.

♪

Let's go.

What are we doing?

I'm a little bit
worried right now

because Tony's had
problems before

with endurance and
long distances.

You're walking. Come on.
Get back in there.

- There you go, Clare.
- Come on.

He's gassed at this point,

but I'm just telling
him to focus,

try to keep that pace that
we talked about earlier.

Push it through. Push
it through, baby.

Push it through.

Let's make it hurt
right here at the end.

Come on. Now get up and run.

Run, Tony. Pick it up, Tony.

Pick it up, you need this.

Meanwhile, at the
second obstacle...

There you go, Goldie.

Right.. Now let's go!

Let's go, Goldie. Good job.

Goldie is out of the puzzle;
she's got the tire.

- Good job, Goldie.
- Take deep breaths.

It seemed like I
was the first one

on that tire puzzle,

and then I was the last one out.

That really frustrates
the crap out of me.

Three down. One to go.

Come on, come on, come on.

This is the last one.

This is the last one.
Go, go, go.

Find it, find it, find it.
Come on.

Team Tee and Team Noah continue
to fight for first place

as they run to the
final obstacle,

passing Team Rorke
along the way.

Jim, the last surviving
member of Team Nick,

is lagging behind in last place.

To the mud we go. Come on.

Put it on. Let's go.

- Tire up and in.
- Here we go.

Jim hot on their heels.

Here we go. Get that tire on.

Get back out in the mud pit.
Win and you're in.

Come on, now.

Jim, you might be in last,
but it can change quickly.

You just got to keep with it.

- Here we go.
- Ah!

The final obstacle is
the farthest away.

You need to run a mile
there, solve the puzzle,

and a mile back before you
can win this Evolution.

We have to pace
ourselves, you guys.

- Go easy on me.
- Just talk to me.

I'm hurting a little bit,

but we just keep
moving as a team.

I mean, I'm 47 years old,

and pain is one of those things

that, you know, someone
says, "Oh, are you sore?"

I'm like, "I'm always sore."

The pace now wearing on Tony

as Team Tee lags
behind Team Noah.

This is where they excel.
They are always efficient.

You got it, girl.

- Good job, Goldie.
- Come on, Jim.

- Just keep that head down.
- Only a few feet behind.

Hey, Jim, just crawl.
Crawl through.

- Get on your stomach. Crawl.
- She's got it.

She's got it, Mario.
She looks good.

Come on, Jim. We're just rolling.
Go, go, go.

Goldie, you can beat
'em on this puzzle.

It's just mud. It's just mud.
Come on, Jim.

Come on, come on, come on.

Now, go. Go back out. Back out.

Last one. Let's go.

Grab it and go. Over
your shoulder, Jim.

Over your shoulder.

Perfect.

- Oh, the hill!
- Use that hill.

There it is, Goldie.

- All we've got, Goldie!
- There it is.

There it is.

- Nothing left!
- Here we go. Here we go.

Don't listen. You got it.
Just keep it going.

Team Rorke has now
joined Team Tee

and Team Noah at
the final puzzle.

Oh, God. Please help me.

The last obstacle looks simple,

but it's not that easy.

You got to break that tire free

and race it back to the
start/finish line.

We got to get it, everybody!

- Ugh!
- Jim has finally reached

the final puzzle.

All teams at the
fourth obstacle.

I'm really happy to
see every other team

still fighting for this puzzle.

I know I'm still in it; if I
can figure this puzzle out,

I could win this whole thing.

The only thing preventing you

from winning this Evolution

and getting to the finale
is freeing that tire.

Still anybody's game, Goldie.
You've got this.

Jesus, please help me.

♪

Let it hang. Look
at the problem.

Yeah. Let it hang.

Winning this Evolution gives
each and every one of us

a pass to the final Circus.

This is the most
important Evolution.

This is one we want to win.

I can generally
figure out puzzles,

but I think the key
is that I'm gassed.

My brain's not working
the way it should.

Tony's doing something
a bit different.

Looks like he's onto something.

Just relax and think.

You got it. You got it, Clare.
Good job.

There you go, girl.

Working the knots.
Working them angles.

♪

He solved it. Tony's
tire is free.

All he has to do is run it back.

- Go, Tony.
- Pick it up, Tony!

- Win and you're in!
- Oh, ! Let's go!

Win and you're in!
Come on, my man.

- Buddy, pick it up.
- Let's go, baby!

Here we go. Here we go.
Here we go.

Team Tee! Team Tee! Team Tee!

Boom! Evolution over!

- Whoo!
- Oh, man.

You are in the finals!

You did this, baby. You did it.

This one is for Tee and myself.

We made it to the finals.

I'm so stinkin' proud of you.

She's pushed me harder

than I've probably been
pushed in a long time.

It's nice to feel
that love again

of someone pushing you
so hard that it's like,

"You still got more. I
know you got more."

And I'm like, "I do. I do."

- Don't die on me, though.
- I ain't gonna die.

- You still got tomorrow.
- Ugh!

Team Tee to the finals, baby.

All the way.

I was so glad when
I saw you there.

If I couldn't win, then I
wanted to see Tony win.

As long as someone
beat Noah's team,

I'm happy about that.

Teams, gather around, please.

Jim, you, as the sole
member of Team Nick,

will be facing the Circus.

Noah, Rorke,

very difficult decisions to make

because you must choose
a member of your team

to face the Circus,

and keep in mind: the members
that you don't choose

will automatically get a
ticket to the finals.

Tony might have won
the Evolution,

but all of you
will get a reward.

Your cadre have a
very special surprise

in store for you.

Head back to base camp.
We'll see you later on.

Who's ready for a shower?

True American heroes.

It's because of them
we can play this game.

- That's true.
- Right. Right.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- Who's she with?
- Okay, house,

I want to introduce you
to a close friend.

This is Sergeant
Major Robin Fortner.

- How we doing?
- Hi.

- Hi. Nice to meet you.
- Nice to meet you.

Sergeant Major Robin,

she's headed up the
Marine Corps Task Force

on integrating females
into combat roles,

and she's always
been instrumental

in being a mentor for me.

- Tony.
- Hi. Nice to meet you, Tony.

I think Robin will be
able to help Tony.

Give him some
inspirational words

and help inspire him to
take him to the end.

This is Jerry, a
good friend of mine.

He was my platoon leader my
second deployment to Iraq.

So, my other cadre members

get to bring in a
special guest as well.

This is really what
we need today.

- Pleasure to meet you, Jim.
- Paul, pleasure to meet you.

Yeah. All right. So,
you're the last survivor?

I'm the lone survivor
from Team Nick.

Yeah. How many
missions were we on

like that where it's
you and your rifle

and you got to get it done, man?

Yeah, the bond I have with Paul,

it's one of those bonds
that are forged in fire.

Been so many times to
where we didn't think

we were gonna make it out,
and having that mind-set

brought to the table
really is gonna, you know,

impact Jim hopefully a lot.

Me and Nick had fought
our way through Marja'

with the platoon we were
attached to all night long,

and about every 400 meters or
so we were getting ambushed,

you know, and it'd be rockets,
and then it'd be machine guns,

and then it'd be machine
guns and rockets.

These guys have fought
the real battles...

The life-and-death battles.

It's an honor to meet you guys

and to have worked with
you all this time.

- Yeah.
- I read books

about guys like you.

You're everything
I wanted to be.

Appreciate it.

I might cry a little bit there.

- It's very humbling.
- Don't cry yet.

Not yet.

- So, how you feeling, though?
- I'm feeling good.

You know, I've been fighting
for a long time, so...

- Fighting?
- Yeah.

Like, we were one of those teams

that's like everybody's looking
at, "We can get him out."

Mm-hmm.
- And we survived this long.

One thing I notice that
you keep saying "we,"

so you already got
the right mind-set

that you started as team and
you're gonna end as a team.

- Yep.
- You've definitely overcome

a lot of challenges,

and I think we both can
relate to that as well.

- Yeah. That's true.
- There's 7% of us are females,

and we got to stand right
next to our brothers

so they see that it is possible
and that it can happen.

It's the few and the
proud, I got that,

but sometimes it's the
fewest of the proudest

at the same time.

I was inspired

to just watch two women take
it to the max in the military.

It made me feel like, "Yeah.

"I can still take it to the max.

"When you think you can't
do it, Tony, do more.

You can get more
out of yourself,"

and that's what I'm gonna do.

It was so hard today
not to mention

that it was the
10-year anniversary.

I wanted to wait and
say it tonight,

and it's just a really
special day for us.

Jerry was my platoon leader

on my second deployment to Iraq.

He was actually in the
Humvee when I got hit.

He doesn't remember a thing, but
we obviously went to Baghdad

then went to Germany, and I was
able to see him in the hospital.

He got the worst of the
physical injuries,

but I can't even
forget it, you know?

I just... Thinking
about it right now.

It was... I cried. Cried
then looking at him.

I lost two of my limbs, but
it affected both of us.

This has changed us as people,

but because we've stayed close,

it has made a positive
thing out of it.

He watched me as, you know,

I got out of the hospital
to this depression.

He was a witness to all of that.

The care that Noah
shows to us as a team,

he gets that directly
from the lessons

he learned from Jerry.

It's definitely a
good experience

to hear those stories.

I couldn't ask for
a better cadre.

This next Circus, there
may be a part of it

that you're not gonna
be next to each other,

you know, giving each
other, you know,

the words of encouragement.

You have to always keep in mind

that you are still
connected as one team.

Thank you for taking time out
to come here and be with us.

- Yeah.
- The pleasure's all mine.

My very first platoon
was with Sonny.

He's just one of those guys

that you can count
on for any job

we can ask a SEAL to go do.

I know Sonny would move heaven
and Earth to take care of me.

I'd do the same for him.

We were talking earlier, and
he was mentioning to me

how he felt you guys were really
pushing yourself to the extremes

to impress him,

and he wanted to tell you
guys to throttle back

because you didn't need
to prove anything else.

- Yeah.
- But then I reminded him

about when we were young
guys going through workups.

We didn't do it just because
we thought it was cool.

The things we did were to
impress our teammates.

Sonny... he really put
it into perspective.

Not only are we here to
challenge ourselves,

but we're here to impress
our team members,

and I'm not giving up

because I don't want to let
Goldie and Mario down.

You guys have gotten to know me.

I get emotional when I talk
about things I care about.

Sonny's seen me do it.

It's just the way I'm hardwired,

but the thing that's
neat about greatness

is greatness, while it usually

displays itself on a
platform in a stadium,

is born and nurtured
in tough places.

You know, it acts in the
eyes and in the hands

and in the body and the legs,
but it lives in the soul.

And greatness has nothing to
do about winning or losing.

Rorke has been amazing. I mean,

he's been everything from
motivating to inspiring,

and most importantly,
he's been honest.

He's showed us things
that we'll carry

for the rest of our lives.

We'll see you tomorrow,
and we'll go get it done.

This is a man who has
carried us this far

in this competition,

and I know personally that
for the rest of my life

he will definitely
have an impact

on everything that I do.

- Hooyah.
- Hooyah.

Obviously, I'm going to Circus.

Tony ain't going.

Goldie ain't going.
Haze might be going.

But I'm thinking Mario.

Who would you guess
is going from Noah?

- I think David's going.
- I'm thinking David.

If David's going in,
he's lacking confidence.

Good. I'm gonna get in his head.

- This is a competition.
- Yeah.

How much do you want it?

Overall, when it
comes down to it,

Team Noah is on the mark
to take one of them out

and split that three up.

I'm gonna give it hell.

That's all we want, baby.

We're gonna burn them down.

Interested to see
what happens today.

Circus sentencing, huh?

One. Two.

Three.

- Is that what you're planning?
- Wow.

- That's what you think, huh?
- That's your prediction?

That's my prediction.

I actually think the same thing.

I want to see David jump
farther than the lumberjack.

Oh!

- Whoa!
- Whoa! My goodness!

What?

You loosened up the anchors
on that cargo net.

I know. You better be careful
when you guys go down it.

Someone's gonna fall to
their death on that thing.

I'm thinking about this Circus,

and that's what freaks me out.

Everyone, deep down,
is a little scared

of what they're
gonna have to do.

At least I know for
sure I'm going.

You know for sure you're going?

Nope.

Do you want to go?

That's a no.

Whatever we do, we
need to make sure

that all three of you
are in the finale.

Kind of want to get
y'all's opinion

on who goes to the Circus,

'cause we got two people to
choose from straight up.

Well, in all honesty,

I feel like I was hit
by a truck yesterday.

- Yeah.
- And I'm doing everything

in my power to recover,
but I have some concerns.

Mm-hmm.

And it's not where I want to be.

Give me a sec.

I've been having trouble
with my hamstring,

and the sprinting all
out really kills it.

Admitting your weaknesses
is hard for anyone to do.

It's very humbling.

My only concern is, is I don't
want a free ride to the finale.

There is no free ride.

Y'all have dominated

because you all have
pushed yourself so hard.

So, it makes sense that
there is some breakdown.

I want to finish three-strong.
I mean, we all do.

It sucks. I'd much rather
just go run it myself.

Let's go.

♪

For the first time, we have
decided to tip our caps

to let you wonder what may be
in store for you tomorrow.

A rather demonic structure
in the background.

A lot of stress and
a lot of strategy

on the shoulder of the cadre.

Rorke, Noah,

the competitors you
decide not to choose

will be in the finals.

Nick, you have one
competitor left in Jim.

You have been chosen
to face the Circus.

Should you fail, not
only is your journey

on "American Grit" over,

but Nick, so is your team's.

John, I've survived
the Circus twice,

and one of those tickets
to the finals is mine.

Bold words.

Rorke, Goldie the Circus
slayer is immune.

You have two very tough
competitors to choose from.

The person you don't select
will be in the finals.

Who are you sending
to the Circus?

I'm telling you, Haze, I know,
is rip-roaring ready to go,

but tonight I'm gonna
go with my man, Mario.

Mario, you've been chosen
to face the Circus,

which leads me to Noah.

Who are you sending
to the Circus?

I want the team to
go in three-strong,

and in order to do that,

I feel like one of them

might need just one
more extra day of rest.

So, I'm sending to
the Circus David.

Me, Jim, and Mario,

I think it's gonna be a
very tough competition.

We're all strong-willed.

We all have some power and
a little bit of speed.

It would be a fight,
tooth and nails.

Jim, David, Mario,

you've been chosen
to face the Circus.

Two of you will survive
and remain in the running

for a chance to win $250,000.

One of the three chosen tonight
will ring out and go home.

And to come this far, that
is a tough pill to swallow.

Tomorrow will, indeed,

be one of our most challenging
Circuses to date.

I will see you bright
and early tomorrow.

Let's go, Mario.

I love you. Don't hurt yourself.

With what we saw
tonight at Circus,

you have the biggest advantage.

Are you just so excited?

I don't know what it's gonna be,

but it looks like it's
gonna be climbing.

Just think how it's
gonna be tomorrow

when Mario takes down an
Olympic gold medalist.

Mario takes down a man

who helped take down
the Boston Bomber.

Ooh. I got goose bumps.

I got goose bumps.

Mario, the Olympic slayer.

I'm loving it.

How you feeling, bro?

You know, obviously
there's nerves,

- but we're gonna be there.
- Mm-hmm.

I don't expect not to feel any
kind of nerves, you know?

As a preacher, I'm able to tap
into some spiritual things

that kind of help center me.

They help me focus on what it is

that I'm sent here to do.

And I'm not gonna
underestimate either of 'em.

Yeah. You shouldn't. Yeah.

I'm gonna go into it,
put the burners on,

and let it rip.

You got no problem, man.
I ain't worried at all.

Make 'em both go home.

♪

Welcome to your last
individual Circus.

I say that because, as you know,

in the final Circus you'll
be competing as teams

and running a much more
grueling obstacle course,

and the $250,000 prize

will be given to every
surviving competitor

on the team that wins
this very competition.

Two of you will
survive the Circus

and make it to the finals.

One of you will give up,
ring out, and go home.

Allow me to explain this
rather intimidating structure

you've had the evening
to think about.

It isAmerican Grit'sversion
of a treadmill.

It is an endless ladder

suspended two
stories in the air.

When your test begins,
you will climb down,

under, up,

and over your ladder.

When you make it to the
top of your ladder,

you will see a button,

and you must hit it to signify
you've completed one rotation.

Once you hit that button,

you must wait for
all the competitors

to hit their buttons

before you start the
next revolution.

You have a minute to
complete a single rotation.

Does this make sense?

- Yes.
- Yes.

Now let's talk about
the advantages

of moving swiftly through
the obstacle portion.

Competitor to arrive third,
they get no advantage.

They start climbing immediately.

After one rotation,

competitor to arrive
second begins the fray.

After another rotation,

the competitor to arrive
first joins the test,

and then you climb and we watch
to see who will ring out.

Yep.

All we ask is all you got.

Make your way to
the starting line.

- Mario!
- Mario, You got this!

Come on, David.

- Still in it.
- It's all gonna

come down to his
mental toughness.

Jim has to suck it up on this.

Like in the military, you
make a mental mistake

on the battlefield, it
costs you your life

or your teammate's life.

We love you.

I like the match-ups for Mario.

Good luck, Jim.

And that's the best I can do
is try and pair my athlete

against the skill set
of the other athletes

which I felt that we'd face.

It's wet out there, so
watch your footing.

- Good luck, David.
- We love you, Mario.

I'm probably as excited

to see this thing down
here as any in a while.

This is gonna be good.

It's gonna be a tough Circus.

David is an Olympic athlete, but
he's going up against Mario,

who is just tough as nails.

And Jim is wanting to
win this for his team.

He's the only one left.

A strong field and
a brutal test.

This is the last time you
will run this course

before it's altered
for the final Circus.

Competitors at the ready.

Three. Two. One. Go!

- Go, David.
- Go, Mario!

It's David's first
time up there.

Let's see how he's gonna
do against Circus veterans

Jim and Mario.

- Good job, David. Good job.
- You go!

Use your legs. Come on, David.

Way to go, Jim. Way to go, Jim.

Mario, you're in the lead.

Mario, get it!

- Yeah, Mario! Let's go!
- Let's go, Jim.

Here we go. Go, Jim.

- Look ahead.
- Keep that lead, Mario!

Advantages are crucial here.

Mario up and over first.

Good job, Mario.

David in second place.

Will he be able to
catch up with Mario?

Jim giving it
everything he's got.

- Here we go, David.
- Let's go, Jim.

- Good job, Mario.
- Good job, Jim.

Nice. Nice, Jim.

Catch him. Catch him.

Jim gaining on David.

How can they keep this pace up?

David pulls away.

Come on. Come on, David.

Come on, David. Come on, David.

Come on, Jim.

Killing it, guys.
You're killing it.

We looking for you, Mario.

Get up that ladder. You got it.

Mario up the Giant's Ladder.

- I'll see you down there, Mario.
- Nice, nice.

You're good, baby. You're good.
Nice and smooth, baby.

Nice and smooth.

Mario on the wet beam.

Good job, Mario.

Mario across the wet beam
and onto the Burma bridge.

Come on, Jim. Still
in there, Jim.

Jim might be the oldest
competitor out there,

but he's keeping up with an
Olympic gold medalist, David.

- You got this!
- Mario! Mario!

- David across the beam.
- Yeah! Yeah, Jim!

Look at Jim vying for
that second place finish.

- Go get them, Jim!
- You got to catch them, Jim.

Mario! Mario! Mario!

Mario cruising to
a big advantage

in the endurance test,

but who will get the
last advantage?

David or Jim?

David through the Burma bridge,
but Jim right on his heels.

Mario at the cargo
net on the way down.

Good job, Mario.

Here we go, David!

It is official.

You get some extra
study time, Mario.

You're the first to
arrive on the platform.

Good job, David. Come on.

- Good job, David.
- All right. Here we go, David.

- David up in the net.
- There you go, David.

How far behind is Jim?

- Here is Jim.
- Get him, Jim!

We got ourselves a finish.

We got ourselves a finish.

Everything on the
line for Team Reaper.

Down the stretch they come.
Here we go.

Oh, my God!

We got ourselves a finish.

- Get him, Jim!
- Down the stretch they come.

Here we go.

Everything on the
line for Team Reaper.

An advantage on the line.

Who is gonna hit first?

- Good work, Jim!
- Oh, my God!

- Get over here, Jim! Let's go!
- Two feet on the platform.

Let's do it, baby! Yes!

It's Jim. He gets an advantage.

- That's what I'm talking about.
- It's all right, David.

- It's all right.
- You're good.

That's that net. It'll grab you.

Let's get David up
on the platform

and the test will
start immediately.

Let's go.

That's the grit, baby.
That's the grit.

Mario, you get two rotations.
Jim, you get one.

Let's start climbing
those ladders.

David, this is it right here.

He's making you
nervous, isn't he?

- They always do.
- Mm-hmm.

Your hair looks terrible.

- It's pretty bad.
- It's terrible.

- At least I have a hairline.
- Worst I've ever seen it.

It's the worst
I've ever seen it.

Wow.

You got this, Mario.

This is made for you.

David, begin.

- You got it, buddy.
- You have one minute

to complete your rotation
and push your button.

- Get a feel for it, David.
- There you go, David!

Nice. Steady.
David, that's good.

Go, Green.

Good job, David. Good job.

There you go. You're doing good.

Going to the top to sit down.
You got it.

Keep this thing going, Jim.

Don't forget to hit your button.

Button hit. Okay, Jim, start.

- Go, go, go.
- There we go, Jim!

Jim, you're not alone.

You got people cheering
for you, too, baby.

Jim, you look strong.
You're doing good.

Down and back up.

We're gonna do it
over and over again.

This rain is only making
the challenge harder.

Those rungs have got
to be slippery.

- Be steady, David.
- Good hands and feet.

Good hands and feet.

Mario, you'll start on
the next revolution.

Don't forget to hit your button.

25 seconds left.

Just sit down, David.

- 20.
- Wait for it.

- Good job, David.
- Good job, you guys!

Remember: the rotation
isn't finished

until you press the button.

It would behoove you to hit
the button before zero.

Why is he not pushing
it right away?

I don't want to rush him.
If he needs the rest,

- I'll let him have it.
- Mm-hmm.

The endurance is very well split

between your physical
capacity for work

and your ability to focus.

Knowing when to push the button.

Your rotation is not complete
until you hit your button.

Five, four, three...

All right. The button's
on you, David.

- The clock's reset again.
- Here we go. Here we go, Mario.

A little bit of clock
strategy by David.

I like it.

Just like before, David.

Smooth. Yeah, smooth.

- Good focus.
- Good job, Mario.

- You're right on pace, David.
- Good job.

Holy crap.

- Oh, be careful, David.
- Come on.

Be deliberate in there.

Wouldn't want to slip
and ruin this thing.

Good job, Mario. All right.

Wait for it, David.
Keep the same pace.

Same pace.

David, push the button, man.

Let's go. Let's get
this thing going.

Don't listen to him.

He's pissing me off right now.

I'm telling him to cut it out.

- Seven, six...
- He's getting my head.

Five, four, three.

Clock is reset.

You gentlemen now know the pace.

Be prepared for a lot of these.

Good job, David. Good job.

Got a good wife at home, Jim.
Think about it.

Oh, we're gonna be
here a while, man.

40 seconds!

Hit the button. Let's go.
Come on.

Want to race? Let's race.

- Let's go.
- I'll stand here all day.

Cadre's already getting
tired over here, David.

We're wearing them out.

- Yep.
- Nick's complaining.

Six, five.

All or nothing.

It's a jungle gym, Mario.

Can't let Boston
down today, Jim.

This is easier than
being in the Olympics.

Careful footing. It's wet
and slippery up there.

You made it through nine weeks.

It'd be great to get
to that final round.

- Get focused.
- If I had a slingshot,

I'd start hitting red buttons.

The Navy SEAL's getting tired
of standing in the rain.

Six, five, four, three, two.

Clock is reset.

Mario, get them hands warm.

If your hands get cold,

think about how holding
$250,000 will warm them up.

- Press the button.
- Does the sniper lack patience?

- Four, three, two...
- Don't miss it.

Clock reset.

- Every grip has to count, Jim.
- Good job, Mario.

Gentlemen, you've
been around 42 times.

Now it's getting fun.
We just started.

This isn't about how far
you can go physically.

This is about how far you
can go mentally, Mario.

Congratulations, gentlemen.
71 times.

71?

I say we can make
100 at this pace.

Be all grey and grizzled
by the time they're done.

I bet I'll have a grandbaby
by the time they get done.

I'm thinking we're gonna have
another ambulance removal.

Yeah, yeah.

Gentlemen, you've
been around 90 times.

They have got to be freezing.

Oh, David on top first.

That's something new.

Seems like David is warmed up.

He's ready to pick up the pace.

David switching up the
strategy a little bit.

Looks like Mario might be
getting a little tired.

This is the first time he was
the last one up the ladder.

Good job, Mario.
You're holding strong.

Be smart.

Mario, you hit the button?

Five, four, three...

Did you hit it? I didn't
see if you hit it.

Two, one, zero.

- Oh.
- Wait, what?

Looks like Mario

might be getting a little tired.

This is the first time

he was the last one
up the ladder.

Mario, you hit the button?

Five, four, three...

Did you hit it? I didn't
see if you hit it.

Two, one, zero.

Oh!

- Time is out.
- Wait, what?

Mario, you've made a very
fatal mental mistake.

You failed to hit your button.

- No.
- What?

Your time has reached zero.
You must ring out.

- What? Are you serious?
- Competitors,

the challenge is over.

- Yes!
- Good job, Jim. Nice.

David!

- David. You got it.
- No.

- Good job, David.
- What?

Oh, my God.

No. No!

Hey, dude, you're a
hell of a athlete.

It happens, you know.

You good, bro.

He was probably my
strongest athlete,

and it's just tremendously
disappointing to go out

on the part of the game

that was no effort needed
to be exerted other than,

"You've got to hit this button."

I guarantee you the game has
now changed significantly

in the minds of the
other competitors,

because he was someone
to be counted on

to be there at the end.

David, Jim,

you have survived the Circus

and have made it to the
finals of this competition.

Mario had nothing short of
a tragic mental mistake.

Your journey on
American Gritis over.

Now you must ring out.

I love you, man.

This was yours to win, man.
You know it.

- You make us proud, Mario.
- We love you, Mario.

Thank you for everything.

It's part of the game, and
I did not hit the button.

It's my fault. I accept that.

The past nine weeks

is definitely something that...
That I'll grow from.

Congratulations to
all of you left.

You are finalists in
this competition.

You have earned a
spot to compete

for a $250,000 grand prize.

And I told you, as the
numbers dwindled,

the competition itself would
become more and more intense.

This news may be tougher
on some than others.

You have 30 minutes to get
back to base camp, gear up,

and get ready for
your next challenge.

- All right.
- Get your heads right.

- Go, go, go!
- Come on, Goldie.

We got to hurry.

What the hell is going on?

- Hey.
- All right, so, hey...

So, Mario didn't make it,

but now we only
have half an hour

and we have to get ready and
go to start the finale.

Let's do it, baby.

Put your game shoes on.

- We in the finale.
- Whoo-hoo-hoo.

Still a team of three here.

I'm so beat right
now, I don't know

what I'm gonna be
able to do out there,

but I'm gonna give
it my best shot.

Hands, muscles a little sore,

a little cramped up, but
it's fine, you know?

I got to do what I got to do.

We got to take it
home for Mario.

Hey. Let's go. Evolution time.
Let's go.

I'm ready. I'm ready.
You got your hat?

♪

♪

One challenge to go before
for the final Circus,

and the challenge today
is facing your fears,

because the one thing standing

between you and that
Circus platform

is this 125-foot-high waterfall.

This is a simple test of speed.

You will cross the
waterfall hand-over-hand,

suspended from a cable above.

The challenge may sound simple.

When you're up there
on that line,

you certainly will have
to face your fears.

You will each cross
individually.

Team Rorke and Team Noah,

the average time

of all your team members
will be what counts.

Tony, Jim, you are teams of one,

so your individual times will
be what counts for your teams.

The team that is most efficient
today will be rewarded as such

and will earn an important
advantage in the final Circus.

You will need every single
advantage you can get.

Team Rorke is up first.

Haze making her way to
the starting point.

I miss Cam.

He helped escape the stresses

that go into Evolution
and the Circus.

He made me smile.

Let's go, Haze!

Three, two, one. Go!

And away she goes.

Come on, Haze.

Keep coming, Haze!

♪

Every second counts. Come on!

Come on!

Seeing Haze up on this traverse

is really making me think

of this journey with
her the whole time.

She's about halfway across.

It just seems like she's
where she should be.

It's starting to
wear on her a bit.

Come on, Haze! Come on, Haze!

- What's happening?
- Keep digging, girl!

Keep digging!

With a Marine as a father,

that discipline and that focus

and desire to win...

I saw her being here at the end.

She's giving it all she's got.

She's stuck. Come on.

Come on, Haze!

She's going barehanded now.

Come on, Haze!

It's tremendously
satisfying to know

she's gonna compete right
to the bitter end.

Good job, Haze!

- Keep coming!
- Come on!

Five feet from the finish.
Come on!

It's right there!

And...

- Home free.
- Phenomenal. Phenomenal.

Holy. That was hard.

Trying to pull myself and
I'm not going anywhere,

So, I, you know,
gloves had to go,

and as soon as I felt the rope

against skin I knew I
had a better grip.

Good job, girl.

You couldn't have
done it any faster.

It absolutely took every ounce.

Like, John Cena wants
all that we got.

I'm pretty sure I gave him
all that I have just now.

And now Goldie is
getting into position.

We'll average her
time with Haze's 4:04

to get Team Rorke's
official results.

You got this!

Three, two, one. Go.

- Here she comes.
- Let's go!

Great start, Goldie. Come on.

Good job, Goldie.

Hand over hand. Inch by inch.
Inch by inch.

I think this
experience is gonna be

life-changing for Goldie,

and it's been the same for
me having her on my team.

She's halfway.

Now is when it gets tough.
Come on, Goldie!

She's had the
physical challenge:

multiple Circus rounds to go
up against tough competitors.

Keep fighting, Goldie!
Keep fighting!

She's got something inside her

that just drives her
to stay in the fight,

and that's what we
look for in SEALs.

We look for somebody that's
never gonna give up.

That's who Goldie is.

- Couple more pulls!
- Couple more pulls!

A couple more pulls!

Just a few more!
Come on, Goldie!

Another big pull.
Hit that yellow.

- Yes! Yay!
- Good job!

Good job, Goldie!

I've never had an
advantage in the Circus.

I've always been the last
one on the platform.

To go into the final...
The moneymaker,

the most important one...
With an advantage,

we need it.

We need it right now.

- Ladies.
- Yeah?

What was most
challenging about this?

For me, it was the second half.

It felt like I was
climbing uphill.

You were.

Your team average: 4:22.

- Nice.
- Congratulations.

And now it's up to
Tony to beat that time

and earn an advantage
in the Circus.

Here we go, Tony!

Three, two, one. Go!

And Tony is away.

- Come on.
- Come on. Come on. Come on.

♪

Cruising through the first half.

You know what this is like.

He's about to
probably hit a wall

at 30 yards from the finish.

Hand over hand. Hand over hand.
Hand over hand.

He's got the grit to go

all the way through
at this pace,

which is breakneck.

Keep going, Tony! Come on, Tony!

- Come on, Tony!
- Come on, Tony! Let's go!

He's cruising right now.

- Almost there. Let's go.
- Come on, Tony!

Make it hurt. Make it hurt.

Grab the yellow!

- Amazing time indeed.
- Wow.

1:08.

This is a power event.
A power event.

It's been a tough
stack of loses.

I lose Mario in a very,
very brutal Circus,

and then now I lose an
advantage that I'm sure

is gonna pay big dividends,

and, look, my two
girls can use it.

You did it. You did it.
You did it.

Let's hope you got that time.

Let's hope you set that bar.

Team Tee needs a big win.

Hopefully, none of them beat it,

I get my advantage into the
Circus, to the final Circus,

and Team Tee, we're
going up one.

Mark will kick things
off for Team Noah.

Once again, it will
be the average time

of the whole team that counts.

Whoo.

1:08 is the time to beat.

In three, two, one. Go!

And it's the big man, Mark,

off to the races.

Here we go, Mark.

He is ripping through
the course so far.

Come on, Mark. You got it.

Seeing Mark up there
on that zip line,

I feel confident that I
made the best decision

to fight to get him on our team.

Halfway there. Come on, Mark!

Mark is a huge part

of why our team has
been so successful.

I mean, whatever it is,
Mark answers the call.

He is just a tough SOB

that will push himself
to the furthest limits.

Starting to wear on him a bit.

- Good job, man. Just keep going.
- 15 yards from the finish.

Pull, Mark! Come on!

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Ten yards.

Five yards.

Yes, Mark. That's what
I'm talking about.

And he is across.

- Ah!
- 55 seconds.

Mark with the fastest
time so far.

Let's see if Clare
can match that pace.

- Come on, Clare!
- Here she goes.

In three, two, one. Go!

Come on, Clare.

Go, go, go.

Little bit of a rough start.

Keep going. Keep pulling.

Come on, Clare.

Come on.

- Man, she is trucking.
- Come on. Keep going.

Clare is huge part

of why our team has
been so successful.

Nothing's going to stop her.

You know, no matter how
difficult the challenge,

she's going to push
herself to that limit

and go a little bit more.

Home stretch! Push it.
You got it.

- Just like that.
- You got it.

She is cruising. 20
yards from the finish.

- Keep going. Keep going.
- Good job, Clare. Good job.

Power through. Come on, Clare.

- Ten yards.
- You got it.

Keep pulling, Clare. You got it.

The final stretch.

- Come on. Come on.
- All the way. Touch it.

- And she is... across!
- Touch it. Touch it.

- Oh!
- Good job, Clare.

Man. She had a great time

through the whole stretch.

Now it's up to David
to maintain that pace

and bring their team's average
in under Team Tee's 1:08.

The average time of
all team members

will be what counts.

He looks like he's set.

In three, two, one. Go!

- Come on, David.
- Here we go, David!

♪

- Look over there.
- Come on, David.

- Come on.
- Come on. Come on.

- Come on, David! Pull!
- Good job!

Keep pulling. Come on.

- Every second crucial.
- Come on, David!

Halfway through.

You're almost there, David.
Come on. Pull, pull.

- Starting that slide uphill.
- Come on, David! Pull!

- Come on.
- Pull! Pull!

- Reach. Reach.
- Come on, David!

-Keep pulling!

He dropped the wire.
He's got to regroup.

Keep pulling. Go, go, go.

He's back at it.

- Keep pulling. Pull.
- 20 yards from the finish.

- Come on. Yeah.
- Come on, David.

- Keep going.
- Come on. Come on.

- Keep pulling.
- Come on, go! Go!

- Pull!
- Those big arms.

He's using everything he's got.

- You got it.
- Five yards, and he's across.

All three of you were fast.

Did you expect any less?

No.

I'd have said "Cut the line."

Right out there in the middle,

"Let her go! Let her go!"

As a team, you moved quite fast.

Your team average as
a whole: one minute.

A very fast run as a team.

It's gonna be very
tough to beat.

Thank you.

Being on the SWAT
team for 16 years,

yeah, I've done some
traverse lines before.

On a good day, this
would be my event.

I don't think anyone
here could touch me.

But I was at the Circus.

My arms and my legs are
both bruised and hurt

but I'm gonna give it
everything I have left.

It all comes down to Jim.

The time to beat is one
minute, set by Team Noah.

Let's go, Jim!

In three, two, one. Go!

And Jim's away.

He can't make any mistakes here.

It all comes down to Jim.

The time to beat is one
minute, set by Team Noah.

Let's go, Jim!

In three, two, one. Go!

And Jim's away.

He can't make any mistakes here.

He dropped the wire.

Pick it up, Jim!

He's halfway through.

Every second counts.

This is where it means
everything, right here.

Get up here. Come on, Jim.

He can do it if he
keeps this pace.

Come on, Jim.
Everything you got.

Come on, baby. Come on.
Hurry up.

He could do it.

Nice. Nice. He is across.

Great run. We'll see
if it's enough.

That was a good job. Good job, man.
Good job.

- How was it?
- Was it fast or what?

I think you were fast, dude.
I think you were fast.

You know, I didn't even have
time to think about it.

- Nice.
- I was just going hand-over-hand

as fast as I could...
that's all.

Glad you did it.

- That was good, man.
- That's a beautiful view.

I didn't even notice there was
a waterfall underneath me.

Fantastic performance
by everyone today.

Not only did you show that
you were all fearless,

but at stake was a
crucial advantage

in that final Circus.

Now it's time for the results.

It has come down to Team
Noah and Team Nick.

Team Noah, your average time:

one minute.

Team Nick:

Your time is...

1:04.

- Yes!
- Ugh!

Damn.

- Whoo!
- Team Noah has, yet again,

won the challenge

and will gain a
crucial advantage

in the final Circus.

Everything leading up to this
moment has been training.

It has gotten us ready for
where we are right now,

because this next Circus,

somebody, or a team of people,

are each leaving with $250,000.

Tomorrow, we will see
who has the grit

to win this competition.

Tomorrow, you will face
your toughest challenge

here onAmerican Grit:

a bigger, badder,

transformed Circus.

Jim was so close.

He lost it by just
a few seconds.

He's just gonna have to
dig really, really deep

and find something
in him to win it.

Bring your A-game.

You will absolutely need it.

♪

How you feeling, brother?

The money keeps popping
up in my head.

Like, "$250,000.

That's a lot of money,"
you know what I'm saying?

- I got to earn it.
- Yep.

We're two teams of one.

Keep pushing till
they tell me to stop.

I'm sure there is
a breaking point.

I don't know where it is,

but I'm sure it's
there somewhere.

Oh, it's there. It hurts.

Team Rorke hasn't won
a single challenge,

and that was the
one that counts.

Team Rorke has come so far
to go home empty-handed.

You don't become a Navy SEAL
by taking the easy route.

And we've taken the
hard, hard route...

- The hard, hard route.
- This whole way,

and we have maintained.

I feel like we're
a major threat.

Women have strength that
no man can imagine.

I feel like we are
the best-prepared

going into this final.

When we're in this
Circus today together,

I'm doing this for you.

I'm not gonna fall. I'm
not gonna give up.

And I'm doing that for you,

and I'm gonna do that for Rorke.

This will be Clare's
first run at the Circus.

The unknown factor is,
how far can Haze go?

- Right.
- Give me a hug.

And we know how far
Tony's endurance lasts.

I kind of know where
their tap-out point is.

- Mm-hmm.
- I've been having issues

with my hamstrings.

Everybody has gotten a
tweak here or there,

and I'll give it my all,
'cause that's just who I am.

Just got to go out there and
do what we've been doing.

Lay it all out on the line.

Just give it everything we got,

and we should go in
this three-strong

and come out three-strong.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

♪

- Hey.
- John Cena!

- Hey.
- You mind if I sit?

- Yeah. Sit down.
- Hello.

I'm so proud of all of you.

You got to understand it's
been my job to push you.

It's been my job to sometimes
put you in a place

where you are uncomfortable.

It's been a wonderful ride,

but along the ride, you just...

You develop a little
bit of a thick skin,

and what this has been about

is making you better,
stronger human beings,

and y'all were...

You guys were already there.

Acts of kindness, teamwork...

It's in your DNA.

And you've made me

a better, stronger human being.

I guess I just wanted
to say thank you.

So, I have a gift for you
guys that I'd like to go get.

I'm gonna go get it. I'ma
bring it right back.

Thank you.

John Cena is a genuine guy.

He cares about us.

But you have to be the best,

and that's what he asks of you:

to just give the
best that you give

and give everything you have.

♪

Aah!

I have a gift for you guys.

I'm gonna go get it. I'ma
bring it right back.

Thank you.

John has a surprise for us.

I'm thinking, "New rain gear!
Okay!"

Here's all our families.

This is, like, the best day
of the competition ever.

I am blown away.

Hi, my love.

Daddy!

Oh, my gosh.

My dad, Alan.

To have my mom and dad here,

I know that they're proud of me,

and I'm gonna fight every
step of the way with my team

to pull through on
the other side.

- I made you a book thing.
- Oh, yeah?

Oh!

- Isn't that amazing?
- It's amazing.

I can't wait to see it.

It's our first baby,
and I'm so excited.

I mean, my family's
what drives me.

I've been pushing myself.

Like, every competition

I put everything
out on the line,

but there has not
been a point yet

where I've ever
wanted to give up.

Yeah!

She's happy she's
got her daddy now.

I have thoroughly
enjoyed my time here.

I'm challenging myself...

Pushing myself through
these Evolutions.

- Is that your bed?
- Yeah, that's my bed.

You want to sit down?

I'm doing this for my family

to make a better life for us.

Having them here, that's
just gonna make it

all that much better to
come away with the win.

Let me see you do it.

This the one... I said I'm gonna
put one of these in my house.

- I would do that.
- I'm doing it for Tee, myself,

my family, my daughters,

and I want to win bad
so everyone knows,

like, even a team of one
can make it all happen.

If you don't make it

or you get beat out by
your other competitors,

then, you know, you
get sent home.

My babies, they don't know
how brutal it has been,

so for them to actually
get to see the grit

that it takes to do it,
it's gonna be amazing.

They're gonna be
really proud of me.

I can't believe y'all are here.

I can't believe it.

You have inspired me...

Really?

Through some tough obstacles.

And today...

is the final day

where they're gonna try
and force me to break.

So, you know, have at it.

Good luck.

'Cause they haven't done it yet.

The experience here, it
has pushed me farther

than I've ever gone.

I think, "Do this for
Robyn," my wife.

"Do this for Anthony," my son.

"Do this for Christina,"
my daughter.

I want them to be proud of you.

I want them to say,
"That's my dad."

I want my wife to
say, "That's my Jim."

That's what keeps me going.

♪

Welcome to the final
Circus ofAmerican Grit.

You are our finalists.

You've all earned
your spot to be here.

It'll be my honor to watch you
all compete today on this field.

For a little added incentive,

we've brought back your
former team members

to cheer you on.

We've brought back your
families to cheer you up.

And the cadre has
specially requested

some very important individuals

that represent the
United States of America

be here to cheer you on as well.

You all know what's
at stake today.

The surviving
finalists of the team

that wins this competition
will each win

the $250,000 grand prize.

Should you ring out
during the final Circus,

your journey is over,

and the endurance will continue,
and that bell will keep ringing

over and over

until there's only
one team standing.

Well, with the stakes that
high at an event this big,

we decided to make some changes.

We made changes to
the Circus itself.

It is more challenging.

Obstacles you have
never seen before.

We also made changes on how
the Circus itself is run.

Today, all seven of you will run
the course at the same time.

All of you will be
running it twice.

After the first run, there will
be a 15 minute endurance test,

and after the second run,

we will keep going until
we have a winner.

After each run, the
first full teams

to reach the platform will
each win an advantage.

The last team to arrive
on this platform

receives no advantage.

Their test begins immediately.

One minute later, the
third place team

will join the fray.

Two minutes later, the
second place team jumps in.

Three minutes later,

the team that was
quickest joins the test.

- Understood?
- Yep.

The test is called
Hold Your Own.

You will go to your
designated station

and you will see a rope there.

You will set yourself
up on your post,

and the first time around,
you will hold the top knot

for 15 minutes.

Then you will run
the Circus again.

After that, you'll climb
back up on your post

and you'll hang on
to the lower knot.

And we will wait while you hold.

And we will wait until
there is a winner.

Yesterday, Team Noah won
the final Evolution,

and they receive a one
minute head start

in the Circus.

Makes sense?

All righty. One thing
left to find out:

what team today will prove
that it has American grit?

Let's suit up and get
to the starting line.

You got this! Let's go!

As I look at the course today,
this is gonna be savage.

I mean, we are gonna have
some genuine suffering.

But if anybody can do it,
Haze and Goldie can.

That's what we look
for in the SEALs.

We look for somebody that's
never gonna give up.

We just think we
can beat anybody

that we go head-to-head with,

and because we believe
that, we pretty much can.

Let's go, Tony!

Tony was a professional
football player.

So, you don't come
into a game like this

just wanting to
take the slow road.

You want to prove yourself,

and he's gonna show
his American grit.

Yeah! Come on, David!

I wanted to go into
the final Circus

with as many people as possible.

We are the largest team.
We have three-strong.

If my team can stick
it out together

all the way to the end,

each wins $250,000.

- Whoo, Jim!
- Yeah, Jim!

Jim was really worried

about not representing
me in the finale.

I told him, you know,
free himself of that.

Don't worry about it.

It's not about me.
It's about him.

He has to put forth
everything he has

and hopefully knock
it out the park.

The time for talk is over.

Each of you have
persevered to get here.

Now you have one last chance

to make yourself and
your cadre proud.

Remember: all we ask
is all you got.

It's time to find out what
team truly has American grit.

Team Noah has earned a
one-minute head start.

Team Noah at the ready.

Three, two, one.

All right, here we go.

Competitors at the ready.

Team Noah has a
one-minute head start.

Three, two, one.

All right, here we go.

- Nice, good steps, guys.
- Come on, Clare!

Team Noah's advantage is done.

All other competitors
at the ready.

Three, two, one.

Let's go. Let's go.

Get up that wall, Tony.
Let's go.

Come on, guys.

Team Noah up and
over the cargo net.

Let's see if the other
teams can catch up.

- Tony!
- Come on, Jim.

Let's get this party started.

- Yeah, Jim!
- You got this, Tony.

You got this.

Team Tee is now in second place,

followed closely by Team Nick.

Clare's having a hard time.
She's hurting.

Team Rorke is finally
up and over,

but in last place.

All teams trying to catch the
head start of Team Noah,

who has reached the
Giant's Ladder.

There's new obstacles up there.

David, no stranger to hurdles,
handles them with ease.

Mark choosing a very unique
method over the hurdles.

Good job, guys.

Clare!

Here we go. Nice. Nice.

Let's go, baby. Let's go.

Team Rorke is struggling
with the hurdles,

but Team Noah still has to crawl
through the barbed wire mud pit.

Make your money right here.

Make your money!

Tony making his way across.

Jim should be not far behind.

Come on, Jim.

Team Noah approaching
the final descent.

Mark doing his human cannonball.

- Let's go, Tony.
- Good job, guys.

All right, Green.

Team Noah has arrived
on the platform first

and has received a
three-minute advantage.

Good work.

Here is Touchdown Tony.

Let's go! Let's go!

Team Tee has reached
the platform second.

You will have a
two-minute advantage.

Should be seeing Jim
any minute now.

Let's go, Jim.

Team Nick has arrived.

You get yourself a
one-minute advantage.

And here we are.

Haze and Goldie
arrive as a pair.

Good job, girls. Good job.

Girls of the grit!
Girls of the grit!

Team Rorke has arrived.
Man your posts.

We'll start the endurance
test immediately.

This is where we live, Blue.

Haze and Goldie alone,
grab the highest knot,

lean back, hold on.

And hold.

Girls, get that good position.

Goldie, get in your spot.

Jim, in under a
minute, you'll begin.

You girls just hold. Just hold.

Less than 30 seconds.

Jim, you have less
than ten seconds.

Get ready, Jim.

Three, two, one. Hold.

Lock in, Jim. Find
your spot, Jim.

Tony, less than one minute.

We've been here before, Jim.

Three, two, one. Hold.

Easy there.

Team Noah, you have
less than one minute.

Everybody's in it soon, girls.

Stay right there.

Yep.

Keep it up, Jim.

It's just you, Jim.

Team Noah. Three, two, one.
Hold.

There's a reason why
you guys are here.

You're all winners.

This test will last
for 15 minutes,

and then we will run
the Circus again.

Great job by everybody.
Hold on there tight.

Nothing to it, Blue.
Nothing to it.

One minute left.

Let's go, girls. Stay in there.

You're not allowed to stop, Jim.

You tell your body what to do.

Make it burn, David.
You got to want it.

- Come on, Goldie.
- Under ten seconds.

Three, two, one.

Yeah!

Let's make our way to
the starting line.

For the final run
through the Circus,

no team will have a head start,

but at stake is the
same advantage

for the one, two, and
three-minute rest.

Tony, you got this, baby.

Haze, Goldie, save those arms.
Get up there with legs.

- Stand at the starting line.
- Hey, Jim.

Next time, breathe. Breathe.

Green, y'all got
to run this one.

There you go.

Finalists at the ready.

Three, two, one.

Go, Tony! Let's go!

Let's go, baby! Let's go!

Anybody's ball game.
Anybody's ball game.

Come on!

Mark, up and over.

There you go! There you go!

David, up and over.

- Come on, Clare.
- Tony! Tony! Tony!

Tony, up and over.

- Jim right behind him.
- There you go.

You're doing great, Goldie.
You're doing great.

- Use those legs.
- Haze, up and over.

Clare, up and over.

Keep pushing, Goldie!

Mark and David are first
to the Giant's Ladder,

but their teammate
Clare is far behind.

She might be struggling
with that hamstring.

Keep in mind: they
have to hit as a team

to count for the advantage.

Mark is waiting for Clare.

Tony passes him.

Let's go, Tony.

Come on, Clare. All right, Clare.
Pick it up.

Go. Go.

All advantage is crucial here,

and it's Touchdown Tony
first to cross the beam.

Let's go, Tony!

David right behind.

Jim up and over,

but Clare is still
trailing behind.

And now Jim passes
Mark and Clare.

Team Rorke has finally
started the Giant's Ladder.

Tony firmly in the lead.

Jim vying for that
second-place finish,

but right on his tail,
Mark and Clare.

Tony better hurry.

He has an Olympic gold medal
winning sprinter on his tail.

Mark overtakes Jim
at the Burma bridge.

Exhaustion might be
taking its toll.

No one has ever run the
Circus twice in a row.

Team Rorke still
gambling on pace.

And here is Tony knowing how
crucial that advantage is.

Tony! Tony! Tony! Tony! Tony!

You'll receive a
three-minute advantage.

Here is David rounding the
bend, Mark right behind him.

Good job. Go!

But Clare still has to
beat Jim to the platform

for the Green Team to get
that two-minute advantage.

Hey, Jim, you got to pick it up!

Here comes Jim and
Clare neck and neck.

We're gonna have
ourselves a finish.

Go! Come on, Jim.

Everybody tumbling down.

They must finish as a team.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

We got a pile of bodies!

Go! Come on, Jim!

Everybody tumbling down,

but they must finish as a team.

We got a pile of bodies!

Jim struggling
from the position.

I have one from Team Noah.

All right, good job!

Jim is here and
defeats the remainder

of Team Noah for second place.

You'll have a
two-minute advantage.

- Nice!
- Hell of a finish, guys.

Team Noah, you get yourself
a one-minute advantage.

- You know the drill.
- There's Goldie.

Right behind her, Haze.

Great job.

All legs.

To your post.

Come on, girls. You can do it.

Ladies, mount up and hold on.

Haze, Goldie. This time,

you're gonna be using
the lower knot,

so it's gonna be
much more difficult.

- The clock has started.
- All day, Blue.

This is where we live.
This is where we live.

Team Noah, in under a minute,
you will join the fray.

You girls go where you go.

♪

Five, four, three,

two, one.

Hang and hold.

- Find your spot.
- You're in.

Jim, in under a
minute, you'll begin.

Put your mind where you need it.

Five, four, three,

two, one.

Hold and hang.

There you go, Jim.

Tony, you got under a minute.

Touch your hands, baby.

Let them warm each other.
You got this.

You're good, Goldie.
Find that spot.

You'll be here all day, girls.

It's just a rope, Jim.
It's just a rope.

Four, three, two, one.

Hang and hold.

Everybody's in. Now
we're gonna wait.

Come on, Haze!

Let's go, Goldie. Let's go.

Goldie, Haze, hang in there.

♪

All right, Haze. We got this.

Good job there, Haze.

Stay right in your game.
Stay right in your game.

Green Team, either
black out or win.

There's no other option.

You got to want it.

Hey, Jim. Thrust your pelvis.

Take some weight off
your pelvis, Jim.

Jim, you're good.

Find that zone and
you stay there.

$250,000 on the line.

Do not drop.

Stay in there, Haze.
Stay in there.

Stay in it.

Make it burn, David.
You got to want it.

Come on, Haze.

You got this, Haze.

Hey, Jim. Look at
me one second, Jim.

Do not drop.

Remember what's
on the line here.

All your work, all your pain.

Stay in it, girls.
Stay in it, girls.

You got it, Haze.

You got it. You got it.
You got it.

You got to want it!

Hold it, David. Hold it!

Stay in it. Stay in it.

- Hold the rope!
- Stay in it.

Do not drop.

♪

Haze, you must ring out.

It's all right, Haze.
It's all right, girl.

Rorke has been a teacher,

a father,

a friend,

an incredible cadre.

I did not win,

but I am definitely walking away

with a lifetime of memories.

Let's go, Blue. You
got one horse left.

Team Rorke and Goldie, you
can still win this thing,

but you have to
outlast everyone.

All four teams still got
a chance at the money.

Who wants it more?

You can hear the bell,
but don't ring it.

Goldie, hang in there, damn it!

Hey, Jim!

You are not letting go.

People are hurting, Goldie. Trust me.
They're hurting.

Clare, hold it.

I promise you, you got this.

Try not to move, David.
Try not to move.

Don't drop that rope!
Don't you drop that rope!

They're going, Goldie.
They're going.

Goldie, do not drop!
Do not drop!

Come on, Clare.

Find that spot.

I know your bodies are burning,

but do not let go!

- Pain is an illusion.
- Hold the rope!

Hold the rope, David!
Hold the rope!

They're falling, Goldie.
They're falling.

Just zone out, Clare.

- Aah!
- Focus, David.

Stay strong.

♪

David, you did awesome.

Head high, David.
You must ring out.

I definitely gave it everything

I possibly could give it.

Head high, David.

I'm gonna keep doing
what I've been doing.

I'm a minister, so I'll continue

to preach God's message,

and I will remember
this forever.

All four teams are still alive.

You outlasted an Olympian.
Can you outlast each other?

You're almost there, baby.

This tests your arms,
back, your legs.

Every part of your body
is gonna be feeling this.

This is where we separate
success from failure.

Clare, put yourself
somewhere else.

You can still do it, Goldie.
You can still do it.

Come on, Clare. Just hang on.

Jim, you hold onto that rope!

Hold onto that rope!

I didn't win $250,000,

but I faced a lot of fears

that I never thought
that I would.

But ringing out sucks.

Head up, Goldie.

Seeing Haze and Goldie
come just footsteps shy

of taking this thing
home was tough.

I would not have thought

I would get so connected
to these four athletes

and get so invested in the game

that it meant as
much as it's meant.

That's actually a gift
they've given to me.

All right. You heard the bell.

You do not want to
ring that thing.

Three teams still
alive for the prize.

Touchdown Tony representing
Team Tee the Marine.

This ain't it. You got this.

Nick and the Rangers have Jim,

the grizzled veteran cop.

You have done way
more than this, Jim.

And Army Veteran Noah still has

Clare and Mark hanging on.

Mark, you got a baby
that needs this.

Hold it, Clare. Hold still.

Every second counts.

Aah!

Hey, Jim! Suck it up!

You found your zone, Green.
Stay there.

Aah!

♪

I came here for a challenge,

and I gave it everything,

but American Grit
found my limit.

This competition
really affected me

more than I thought it would.

I don't really get
attached to people,

and it kind of forced me
to invest my emotion.

I hated seeing
individuals go home.

Kind of almost had
me drop a few tears,

but can't do that, so...

We are down to three left.

$250,000 on the line.

If you're tired, that's a
friggin' wake-up call.

You're all holding your
entire body weight.

Who can last the longest?

Big Mark, don't you
drop that rope,

you son of a bitch.

This is it. This is it.

Tony, don't you give up on me.

You hang in there, young man.

- Come on, Tony.
- Come on.

You need it.

You hold the rope. Hold it.
Don't give up.

They're about to drop.
You just got to hold on.

Come on, Clare. Just hang on.

Hold on! Hold on!

Hold it, Mark. You got it.

Come on! Hang in there!
Hang in there!

Stay focused. Stay focused.
Hold it.

- Hold on.
- Hold it.

They're dropping.

Stay, Clare. Stay, Mark.
Come on.

- It is over.
- Yeah!

Whoo! Whoo!

- Yeah!
- Oh!

Hey, man.

- Yeah!
- Yeah!

Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony.

Whoo!

I can't use my arms.

- Whoo!
- I don't.

Everybody who performed today
showed true American grit.

So, it is with great honor

that I announce the winners

of the very first competition
ofAmerican Grit.

Representing Team Noah,

taking home a combined total of

half a million dollars,
Clare and Mark.

Congratulations.

Good job, man.

Noah's an incredible
inspiration,

and for some reason,
he saw something

in each one of us

and pieced us together to
make a real solid team.

- Mark, how do you feel?
- I feel great.

It was amazing to
have this chance

to compete with and against
so many amazing people.

Seriously. It was awesome.

Leading my team onAmerican Grit

has been great for me.

I miss being in the military,

and to have these four
tough men and women

that were here to be pushed
and to be challenged,

that makes me proud.

They have wonAmerican Grit.

♪