Medalist (2025) s01e08 Episode Script

1
KYOTO UJI ICE ARENA
Okay, uh, got my yoga mat and my skates
Oh, that's right, they're in my suitcase.
Uh
Huh. Where'd I put it? Oh, man.
What if someone thought it was theirs
and took it by accident?
Um, I got to the arena,
and they said this is where
I was supposed to leave my stuff.
So I came and put my yoga mat
and my backpack down by the wall
Oh, no, I didn't have it then either.
My skates. I don't have my skates!
WESTERN POWERHOUSES
How did I lose my suitcase?
Where could I have left it?
I had it when I left the house,
I had at the station, and I had it
when we got off the bullet train.
Inori, don't let go of my hand, okay?
Uh-huh.
Hey. Do you want me
to put your bag up top for you, honey?
Huh?
Oh Yes. Thanks so much.
There we go.
I'm so sorry.
It's okay. And you're pretty
sure you left it on the train, yeah?
Yeah.
Okay, I'm gonna call the railway company.
Yes. Good idea.
This is all my fault. I should have been
the one keeping track of that bag.
Are you mad?
Nope! Keep it together.
We're not gonna freak out!
No worrying, no sighing!
Not even a bit.
We're gonna figure this out, okay?
Mmm
I found it!
It was turned in to the lost and found
at a station ten stops away.
That's a miracle.
But ten stops is a lot.
Don't worry, I got it. You guys stay here.
Start warming up
when they start calling for group two.
Huh?
I'll call you a taxi.
No, that'll take too long.
I can run it.
- It's over a mile away.
- I know.
I don't care what it takes,
Inori is going to compete today.
Coach Tsukasa!
I'm so sorry.
Don't worry about it!
This is all part of the job, kiddo!
You hang here and take it easy.
I'll be back before you know it.
It's 10:20 now.
Women's Level One starts at 11:30.
Inori is in group three
so she'll probably be up at 12:20.
I swear I'll make it in time!
CHANGING ROOM
That's it. Can't stretch.
Just a little more.
Yikes. And Tsukasa's goin' after them?
Yes. Our head coach isn't here today.
She's off chaperoning
another meet in Tokyo.
That's unfortunate. Well, if either
of y'all need anything, just holler at me.
Thank you so much.
I did it again,
caused trouble.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry you're stuck
with someone like me.
You could train your entire life
and you'd never out-skate Hikaru.
No!
- I can't waste time beating myself up
- Huh?
about an accident!
If Coach Tsukasa makes it back
with my skates,
and I'm too upset
to give a good performance,
that would really be awful.
- Ma'am.
- Yes?
I just went and took a peek
at the schedule.
I think Prelims are running fast.
Someone had to withdraw.
Inori should start preppin' right now.
But what if Coach isn't back in time?
She may just have to forfeit.
Oh.
- Well, I'm gonna go warm up, then.
- Honey.
Right now, I gotta focus
on doing my routine as best I can.
Coach said I'm gonna compete today
no matter what, and I believe in him!
KYOTO UJI ICE ARENA
Inori, aren't you overdoing it
with the running?
Am I?
Maybe you should think about
taking a little break.
I don't want you to wear yourself out now.
It's that girl.
When a girl gets labeled
as a genius,
I always start to wonder,
what was she before that?
If she pops up out of nowhere
and stuns the world, she's a natural.
And if she dedicates her life
to honing her skill,
she's a prodigy.
But what about the rest of us,
all of the nobodies who don't get a label?
When we step out on the ice,
all we have is our love of the sport,
and hope for the future.
Seira Shishido's score is 23.37.
She is currently in first place.
Twenty-three?
"Shishido"? Do you think she's related
to that speed skater Shishido?
Probably so.
Something wrong?
I'm okay. I wanna warm up again.
You see, what did I tell ya?
They totally loved my jumps!
Your doubles are only impressive
because you're in level one.
So don't get a big head.
Yeah, level one, schmevel one!
I ought to be in level six already!
Coach was saying we should run through
the program, so that's what I'll do.
Duh. I can't do a double jump
on land. I need the momentum.
Great, then just try us.
Just try me Just try me!
I want to win!
People tell me that I'm fast,
but Seira was way faster.
So I have to be in tip-top shape
if I want to beat her.
And I have to trust myself!
Coach Tsukasa said we can win.
And I say we will win!
I always used to assume that I'd fail
at things before I even started.
But Coach really believes in my dreams.
He didn't laugh or brush me off when
I said I wanted this impossible thing.
He's believed in me
from the second I told him.
I want to learn how to feel that way, too.
I want to feel like I can do anything.
I want to be more like the girl
Coach Tsukasa believes in!
- Inori!
- Huh?
You're back!
I made it!
Do you know what number they're on?
Did it rain or something coach?
You're totally drenched.
What? Oh, you mean all this?
- No, it's just sweat.
- Sweat?
Ta-da!
You really did it!
Ema. Are you ready to do this thing?
Mmm.
That Seira girl, or whatever her name is
She thinks she's all that,
getting the high score.
I'll take her down no matter what.
I'm not gonna lose to Seira.
I have to come out ahead!
Miss Yuitsuka?
Number 24, Inori Yuitsuka?
Huh?
I'm Inori Yuitsuka.
Great, okay then. I'm glad you made it.
- Hey!
- Ow!
Ew, why are you wet? Get a towel, my guy.
Uh Sorry, I, uh
Next time, tie her skates around
your waist if you have to!
You can't be pullin'
crazy stunts like that.
Yeah. I cut it pretty close.
- Coach.
- Hmm?
From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
I feel good. I was able to relax.
And now, after your pep talk,
and how hard you worked to get my skates,
I'm bursting with energy!
So let's do this!
I-Inori
Okay, follow me.
Here I go.
She's growing up so fast,
and I didn't even do anything!
Yeah, kids that age'll do that.
You look away for a couple seconds
and boom, they're independent.
- It's crazy.
- Yeah.
And yet, even that's something
us coaches need to keep an eye on.
Huh?
You remember what I told you about Ema?
She couldn't take the Badge Test in Kyoto
'cause of a fever?
Sure.
RINK ENTRANCE
'Bout a year ago,
Ema had a sudden growth spurt and
the growing pains were just killin' her.
So I wanted to take a break
from practicing jumps.
But she was desperate.
Practiced on her own,
ended up in even more pain.
She'd take a break, then start back up.
Immediately hurt herself again
from too much practice.
We went 'round and 'round like that
for a long time.
Getting her into level one was awful.
She failed the test twice.
Huh?
I keep trying to tell her
not to overdo it,
but she just can't help herself.
That ain't all her fault, though.
I was real anxious, too. I didn't wanna
let her fall behind the others.
I get that. I really do.
May not seem like it
all the time,
but kids are pretty good
at picking up on adults' feelings.
I think Ema subconsciously picking up
on my own worries
contributed to her doin' all that.
Made it so she ended up
taking the long way around to get here.
But she's come this far because she's
the one consistently putting in the work.
You know? I ain't doing nothing special.
Now,
I don't say that to freak you out!
But being careful is a good way
of approachin' your coachin'!
Athletes in group three,
your practice period begins now.
You have five minutes on the ice.
A successful double loop.
Good. She's on a roll!
How's it going here?
You think Sacchan's gonna podium?
Oh, no.
That Shishido girl scored
something like 23 points.
Oh, I've seen her.
Her dad is a big-shot athlete.
This rice ball's so good!
So she has a pedigree! Guess I can't
be too surprised about that score.
Hmm
- Excuse me?
- Huh?
Are you the receptionist at the Osu rink?
Aw, crap. She didn't find out
I used to let her daughter into the rink
in exchange for worms, did she? Who told?
Thanks for all that you do there.
So, what brings you here today?
Wh-What do I say? Do I lie?
No. Best not to.
I have to be honest with her.
Well, I heard Inori said she was going
to be competing in level one, so
LIKABILITY METER
What? No! Is that true?
You came all the way here just for Inori?
Goodness. May I sit?
Yes! Please do.
The practice period is over.
Athletes, please exit the ice
and return to the rinkside.
- Huh? Hey, Mom.
- Huh?
Why is she still out on the ice?
Oh, her? She's first!
If she leaves, she'll just have
to come right back out to perform.
Number 17.
Kanna Kitora from Fukuoka Park FSC.
Mmm
And, jump.
That's the same single Lutz
and double toe loop that Seira did. But
That height
She jumps even higher
than Mittens!
A toe loop usually
leaves a hole when you launch off the ice.
But she left a freaking canyon!
She's so little, but so strong.
Kanna Kitora's score is 23.03.
She is currently in second place.
Oh.
That's another 23.
Inori, let's get ready.
Uh Okay.
Seriously? You again?
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Ritsuki, cool the attitude.
You know she didn't do that on purpose.
I am cool. Being calm under pressure
is my biggest strength.
Number 19,
Ritsuki Koguma from Okayama Tina FSC.
First, a double Salchow
into a single Axel.
Damn it!
That hole messed up my combination.
It's fine, it's fine.
I'll just change my next jump
and it won't even matter.
DOUBLE JUMP - SINGLE JUMP
I could do a double toe loop
with a single Axel,
or a double regular loop
with a single Axel.
Might as well pick the one I'm better at.
Double toe loop!
Single Axel!
Yes! A successful recovery!
Ooh.
That was some good improvising.
Ritsuki Koguma's score is 23.28.
She is currently in second place.
Whoa! Look at those numbers!
Now everybody's catchin' up to me!
This is so exciting!
Oh, wow. She scored a 23, too?
Don't worry.
Your program is just as good as theirs.
You got a flying sit spin, a broken leg,
plus two double rotations. You'll be fine.
Think of it
like a deluxe strawberry taiyaki,
with two whole strawberries!
Yeah!
A deluxe strawberry taiyaki!
If we can avoid major mistakes,
you're gonna out-score all of them.
Okay.
Number 20, Miihi Kurosawa
from Star Hiroshima FSC.
I won't lose to Seira.
I'm the one who switched from
speed skating to figure skating first.
Seira just copied me.
And the only reason she did it at all is
because she thinks she's better than me!
Take that!
I love skating way more than she does.
She doesn't deserve to win!
Wow, that's a smooth spiral for a girl
who's still in level one.
Seriously, she's super flexible.
Seira thinks good figure skating is
all about tricks and jumping.
She's one hundred percent power
and zero grace.
But the judges award points
for performance, too.
And that's where my skating really shines.
It's my favorite thing about this sport.
And that is how I'm gonna win.
Wow!
She's so pretty!
Yes!
At this rate, I know I can score higher.
I know I can beat her!
Miihi Kurosawa's score is 23.34.
- She is currently in second place.
- It's what?
- No Three hundredths of a point? Why?
- Ah.
My gosh. They're scoring so high.
The first girl earned big points
with her jumps
even though her performance was lacking.
Another girl calmly recovered
from an accident.
And this one used her flexibility
to boost her dance score.
All unique, all exceptional.
Oh, Inori.
There.
Shoelaces are nice and neat.
I'm so happy to put these on.
It feels like the very first time.
Aw, I love that!
Me too.
Inori looks more comfortable
out there than ever before.
All that's left is
to give a great performance, as usual.
Coach.
Yeah?
Do you think
that I should maybe try to add
a double jump to my combination, or no?
Why do you ask?
Everyone who scored over 23 points did it.
I know I'm not really ready for it yet,
but I thought,
you know, maybe I could go for it and see
I didn't decide
against the high-scoring jumps
because I don't think you can do them.
Huh?
If you can perfect the jumps
you're doing right now,
you'll get more points
than if you try something flashy.
Oh Really?
Make sure you take off
from the correct edge, one.
And two, think about the flow
into your landings.
'Cause if you can just focus in on those
two little things, that's extra points.
Just focus.
Yep. So get out there and nail it
like I know you can.
And you're gonna knock the socks
off all these guys.
Keep calm and skate on.
That face
He really believes I can win. I can tell.
Number 24, Inori Yuitsuka
from Lux Higashiyama FSC.
- Knock 'em dead!
- Okay!
What did you Oh.
I'm going to do my absolute best!
Wait. What?
- Why did I fall?
- Inori!
Your set hasn't started, it's okay!
Just get in place quick!
Okay.
Well,
that took a few years off my life
I think
that just about killed me.
What a huge burst of speed.
How did I do that?
I was focusing on my skates,
making sure I started out firm
Wait. That's the stuff
Coach Tsukasa is always telling me to do.
Her victory today is riding
on a perfect run.
No falls, no missteps, no mistakes.
Please recover.
You can do it.