How you feelin'?
Tough crowd. But I got 'em back.
What about that heckler?
Didn't bother me one bit.
Don't forget, I'm a Tony award winning actor, Randall.
I can handle myself on stage.
No one could ever forget your vanean.
But with the Julien situation becoming a runaway freight train of bad PR,
you're now trailing in Tennessee.
That's why I came here, to assure the voters that I'm still the same candidate,
the same guy who they've known and supported before.
I just assumed you'd be a little nervous.
No. I'm used to tough crowds.
From your wrestling days?
No, before that, when I was 15, living in Nashville, Tennessee,
I was gonna be the next great country western singer.
And let me tell you something. It did not go well.
(Singing) Think about us
is that all you'd allow
I don't know, Dewey. Are you sure you wanna do this?
Definitely. This woman at the piggly wiggly said
I had the voice of an angel.
After she hit on you and said she was 40?
Yeah, I remember you saying something like that.
Oh, man, these sidewalks are crowded.
Yeah, it's Nashville. Everyone's chasing their dreams.
Look, you see, you got a piano player right there.
You got yourself a guitar player.
Always got a singer. (Chuckles)
This guy, this guy kills it, man.
I love this guy.
Oh, my god!
I knew it was coming and you still got me.
Look, I don't mean to be a downer, all right?
But some stiff competition out here and folks are mighty territorial.
I mean, you'll be lucky to get a free corner.
I don't need a corner.
I'll set up right here. Mid-block.
Whoo! Mid-block?
Hey, love you, brother.
(Singing) Baby, when imet you there was peace unknown
I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I was salty inside
I think itwould make our marriage stronger.
Why would dating other people make our marriage stronger?
Oh, I don't know. It'd finally give us something to talk about.
You mean your "bisexuality"?
See, don't do that. Don't air quotes who I am.
You're right.
What are we doing? I just want you to be happy.
I just want you to be happy.
So, how do you think this will go over?
We'll see. (Sighs)
Every news outlet was in town covering the rally,
so we'll find out here pretty soon.
Now, are you sure about this change of approach?
You can't just pretend a problem doesn't exist.
That was one of the many lessons my old man taught me, unintentionally.
Hmm. Unintentional seems to be rocky's preferred method of teaching.
(Chuckles) You're not wrong.
I told you about that time we moved to Nashville and my dad blew it
because he didn't find us a place to live
before me and my mom came into town.
Yeah. You were living in downtown Bruno's motel room,
eating eggs he made on the toilet.
You know, when my mom finally arrived in Nashville,
things eventually got a little better,
and she found us an apartment to live in.
She enrolled me in school,
but she was still really angry at my dad,
understandably so.
So, my dad had to live with downtown Bruno
every time he came into town.
But I still saw him a lot
and we would work out together after school.
And itwasn't like I wasn't angry at my dad,
because I was, but he was also my hero.
And even though things were tough, I still looked up to him.
Yo, crusher, ease up on the reps.
You don't want to pull a muscle before Saturday to a sold out show.
Sold out again?
Damn, Jerry lawler really knows how to deliver.
Yes, he does. (Laughs)
Hey, champ says ease up, I'm going to call it.
You know highway to heaven is on tonight.
I should go too. I got to get home for dinner.
Hey, how's it going over there, huh?
Everything good with the apartment?
Yes, fine.
But you're really asking about mom, aren't you?
Yeah. How's she doing?
Fine. Still mad, though.
Still? It's been a month.
Chhpslasfing alhflelonger thanusual
oh, here.
Give this to your mom. Help out with the bills.
Maybe you could give it to her yourself.
Hey, mom. Dad gave me a ride home.
Hey.
Hello.
(Chuckles) The place looks great, really feels like home.
Thanks. It's still a work in progress, but it's coming together.
Oh, dad was telling me about a Jerry lawler match on Saturday.
Said it's another sold out crowd.
That's great. It sounds like a fun show.
Wanna come?
No, I can't. I need to find a job.
That's the thing about rent, rocky. It's due every month.
About that...
From the matches last week.
Thanks. Come on, Dewey. Don't want your dinner to get cold.
Good seeing you, rocky.
Yeah, you too.
I gotta get back. Dinner plans with Bruno.
See you at the gym, son.
Bye, dad.
(Door shuts) Don't worry about him. He's fine.
He's getting dinner with Bruno.
Hey. Hey, rocky, how's your day?
Ata's still upset.
Dang, I'm sorry, brother.
You hungry? I could throw on some more eggsforyou.
I'll take four. Smart. Fill that empty heart with some protein.
(Chuckles)
Hmm. That must have beentough
seeing your parents living separately.
Well, my parents' relationship always had its ups and downs,
and this wasn't the first time I'd seen them
go through something like this.
But Nashville was pretty rough.
Why is Bruno driving your car?
It's better for Bruno to drive in areas like this.
Couple of towns out here aren't too friendly to, you know...
Wrestlers? (Laughs)
No, you know... relax, Bruno.
I know what you mean. (Chuckles)
Hey, you're driving 'cause you're white, not 'cause you're good.
Eyes on the road.
All right. Turning down main street now.
Time to tuck down.
Hey, rocky, did I tell you that pat Patterson's coming to the match tonight?
I guess he's scouting for Vince now.
Since when? Pat's not wrestling anymore?
Nope. I guess he got tired of the grind,
wanted to try something else.
Hey, but look, this could be a big deal for crusher though
so just do me a favor, make him look good, you know,
really sell them hits hard, all right?
I always sell.
(Screaming)
Come on, soulman, come on.
What do you dumb hillbillies think about this?
(Crowd booing)
(Grunting)
Get down there.
Adult rock: My dad put on a good show that day
and afterwards it was my job to take down the ring.
I worked the ring crew with Jerry lawler's son Brian,
who would eventually become one of my best friends.
And believe it or not, we were the same age.
One day, it'll be me and you in the ring.
We could even be a tag team.
The "sons of wrestling."
Yeah, I don't know about that.
I want a cool gimmick.
Maybe something beachy, hke "flip flop force."
Hmm...
Great job tonight. All right, we'll stay intouch.
(Chuckles)
Hey, Mr. Patterson.
How'd you like the show?
Ah, the name crusher yurkov is horrible.
Vince thinks so too.
It sounds like a Russian trash compactor. (Chuckles)
But aside from that, was a pretty good match.
(Laughs) Didn't hurt to have this guy selling for you.
Way to make him look good, rocky.
Nice to see you, pat.
Thank you for the match.
You know where we're supposed to put any of this stuff?
I've just has been throwing it in a pile.
Scouting for the wwf. Eh.
How's that going?
Ah, it's a change of pace, but I like it.
Can't wrestle forever, right? (Laughs)
Hey, uh”.
You gonna tell Vince about the show tonight?
That's my job, isn't it? (Laughs)
Come on, pat. You heard that crowd.
You should mention to him how much they love me out here.
Oh, rocky, come on.
Vince should know what kind of fanbase I can bring to the wwf.
All you gotta do is put me back in.
That's not gonna happen.
You broke your contract.
Vince had to make an example after Saudi Arabia.
Come on, pat. That was...
What?
Um, I was just going to ask where I'm supposed to put this stuff.
I don't know. Go ask Jerry.
Adult Dwayne: Up until now, I had only heard my dad's version of the story.
Yo, crusher, good match tonight.
Hey, thanks, Dwayne.
Can I ask you something?
The powder absorbs the moisture.
And yeah, I sweat a lot.
No. Not about that. Oh.
Yeah, sure. What's up?
A little bit ago, you mentioned the thing about my dad in Saudi Arabia.
Ishomdnthave broughtthatup. Itscool
I know he was under contract with the wwf.
He double-booked himself to wrestle with the promoter
that uncle of a was wrestling with.
I get that you shouldn't break a contract.
But is it really that bad
trying to make some extra money for your family?
Vince was trying to open that territory himself.
You know, having one of his top guys promote it on another show,
it just wasn't a good look.
And I hear Vince took what your dad did personally.
He did? Yeah, he felt betrayed.
It's just bad timing on both sides.
You know, it was right before the first wrestlemania,
and ifthings didn't go down the way they did,
your dad probably would have been in wrestlemania ii with Tony atlas
and who knows where you guys would be right now.
Then, Jennifer broke up with Frankie in a fishing shack.
Good. They're too young to get married.
(Door opens)
I have to go. I'll get the rest of your days of our lives recap later.
Lia: Okay. Remind me, I left off at Justin having second thoughts
about going to Greece because of his mother's medallion.
(Phone beeps)
What's wrong? Dad.
The whole Saudi Arabia thing.
He's always spun it like a man has the right to provide for his family.
But he also screwed over his friend Vince pretty bad.
And because he did that, he wound up screwing us over too.
Well, I definitely don't think that was his intention.
But it's true, right?
Isuppose, technically, yes.
But he didn't mean to hurt...
This is what always happens.
Dad does whatever he wants, and we just keep making excuses for him.
Dewey!
(Sighs)
Sometimes we pretend that problems don't exist
because we're trying to protect people,
but that always backfires. Mmm.
(Country music playing)
I don't love that I knew I could find you here.
Dad was making money.
He could have said no to that other promoter.
He did it because he thought he could get away with it.
He still operates that way.
I know he's a salesman.
He's always working the gimmick.
But I never thought he was working us.
I'm sorry.
You shouldn't have to deal with any of this.
You're still a kid.
Mom, I'm 15.
I'm not a kid anymore.
Another Shirley temple?
No. Give me a whiskey and coke.
Sure. Then you can give me the $2,000 fine for serving a minor.
I like her.
If dad hadn't been so selfish,
we could still be living like we were in Hawaii.
I mean, look at our lives now.
Dewey. Why do we even bother
following him around the country?
If he doesn't care about us, we don't need him.
Your dad made a mistake
and it had consequences for all of us.
But he didn't do it to hurt anyone.
He made an impulsive decision.
He's always been that way.
Ata: Rocky had a very hard time growing up.
He got kicked out of his own home by his mom when he was 13,
hitchhiked out of town.
Young Dwayne: Sounds dangerous.
Ata: Well, luckily, it was Canada.
You need a ride home there, fella?
I'm going anywhere but home.
(Horn honks) If he's out of your way, I could take him.
Whatever's easiest.
Wait, I'm sorry, who's telling this story?
Me. I'm telling you the story of a time
my mom told me a story.
Of a story your dad told her?
Exactly.
Okay, um,
so where did rocky wind up after he left home?
Everywhere. He bounced around, he found odd jobs.
He boxed.
My dad was 13 years old and he was on his own.
Until he found wrestling.
And that's how your dad met your grandpa.
It was after a wrestling match in San Francisco back in the 60s.
The high chief was the biggest draw on the west coast
and your dad had just come back from wrestling in Japan.
Randall: Sorry. So this is your mom talking? Adu it dwayn e: Yes.
Randall: It'd be a lot easier to follow if you could do a different voice for her.
Adult Dwayne: No. How about you just use your imagination?
Great show tonight, rocky. Thanks, Peter.
You too. Where you staying?
Um, I'm not sure, yet. I am. You're staying with me.
My wife, she make us her famous keke pua'a.
Ata: So, grandpa and your dad became tag team partners,
(crowd cheering)
Which is how he met me.
(Music playing)
(Indistinct conversation)
Man: (Singing) You better love your baby
let her know she drives you crazy
hey, I'm rocky Johnson.
I know who you are.
You're my dad's tag team partner.
You're ata.
I heard a lot about you.
Maybe we can grab some dinner.
You can hear a little more about me.
I'm sorry. I don't date wrestlers.
Especially ones who can't reverse a simple drop toe hold.
Rocky, get away from my daughter.
Go back to the ring rats.
See you around, now.
No, you do not date wrestlers.
Now come. I have nice Tongan dentist I want you to meet.
Young Dwayne: Why was grandma so against dating wrestlers?
Grandpa was a wrestler, and she loved him
of course. But you know how wrestlers are.
My mom wanted me to have a more stable life.
Is that what you want from me?
No. I want you to be a wrestler.
Nothing on this earth would make me happier.
But whatever you want to be, isuppofl.
Anyway, your dad and I started dating in secret.
(Music playing)
Woman: (Singing) Go play that music
it's something you never heard before
no, mom, I'm not going on a date with Dr. Fatu.
But he owns his own business.
Hey, ata, Lia. Good to see you.
As long as you're not dating him, I'm happy.
But please reconsider. Doctor fatu, dds.
I can find my own dates.
Excuse me. I need to go to the bathroom.
Ata: Everything was going great until haystacks Calhoun got involved.
Excuse me, ladies. I gotta rain yellow.
Now, haystacks Calhoun was a very sweet man,
but he couldn't keep a secret to save his life.
Man mountain Mike's favorite show is Hazel.
Tony's got a case of the you know what's...
Everyone dies at the end of butch Cassidy. Great movie.
Ata: He ruined a lot of movie endings for a lot of people.
Calhoun: Oh, mama.
Wait, so that's how people found out about your parents' secret affair?
(Chuckles) Yep.
I can't believe everyone found out from haystacks Calhoun.
That's exactly what I said.
I can't believe everyone found out from haystacks Calhoun.
Ata: Yeah. He hitched up those overalls and got to sharing.
Hey, rocky and ata are having a secret love affair.
Can you believe it?
Rocky's dating his tag team partner's daughter.
Ata: I've never seen my parents so upset.
I told you to stay away from the wrestlers.
And you lied to me.
How dare you go sneaking around with my daughter?
If you don't stop this now, we are done as partners.
And you will never wrestle in this region again.
So what is it?
Are you my partner or are you my enemy?
Ata: So my dad found a new tag team partner.
Rocky walked away from everything.
His career, his mentor.
The only family he ever really knew.
For me.
Your dad doesn't make impulsive decisions
because he doesn't care about us.
That's just who he is.
Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.
And believe me, ihavetned to get him to change, but...
(Sighs) Sometimes people are just the way they are.
It sounds like you gave up a lot, too.
How long were grandma and grandpa mad at you?
Until we had you.
(Crying)
Does he need a new diaper?
No, he'sjust a little dewy.
Little Dewey.
Wait, that's why you call me Dewey? (Laughs)
(Laughs) That's why they call you Dewey?
That's why they call me Dewey. (Laughs)
Did you have a nickname as a kid?
Yeah. You know, my cousin used to call me Twix
because I ate so many Twix.
Well, you do eat a lot of Twix.
Ata: Listen, honey.
I'm not trying to tell you how to feel aboutyourdad.
I get it if you're mad at him, I'm mad at him all the time.
Then why do you stay with him?
Because I love him.
You said earlier that we don't need him.
Maybe you're right.
Maybe we don't.
Maybe he's the one who needs us.
Keep your money in your purse, darling.
He's 15.
(Whistles) Beware, ladies.
We got us a honey pot right here.
It's hard when you have that moment of realizing your parents aren't perfect.
They're just people trying their best.
Yeah, and then sometimes, they're just people.
And it's up to us to decide what kind of relationship
we're going to have with them.
(Men laughing)
Rocky: And so these fans were like, "hey, rocky, can we get an autograph?"
And I'm like, "hey, the soulman appreciates your support,"
"but a brother's hungry."
"Let me in this drive-through line."
(All laughing)
Adult Dwayne: Even though my dad wasn't perfect...
Hey, son, you wanna spot me?
Telling the burger king story?
You know it. (Chuckles)
I wasn't gonna give up on him.
(Rockylaughs)
Crusher: Yo, rocky. What do you think about my name?
You know, crusher yurkov, it's good, right?
Yeah. It's good.
Yeah, I was talking to pat Patterson,
he's telling me him and Vince hate it.
But I like it. I don't want to go messing with it
just because they say so. You know?
Yo, crusher, just take their advice.
Those guys know what they're doing.
Hey, mom, dad's here.
Just wanted to drop off the cash from the lawler match.
Thank you. Keke pua'a?
Hell yeah!
Oh, they're hot.
Don't care. (Scoffs)
What's the occasion?
No occasion, just a family dinner.
You're welcome to join us.
Yeah, dad.
You need your protein if you want to stay in fighting shape.
And I know you're not getting enough from Bruno's toilet eggs.
(Chuckles) Sounds good, son.
I can't turn down no "ki ki pia".
(Laughs) That's not even close to how you say it.
I was telling Jerry lawler about these.
You should bring some to the Metro on Saturday.
It's going to be good. You got the soulman in the main event.
Everyone in Memphis is talking about it.
Rocky: Oh, this is so good.
All I was eating a Bruno's...
So you and your mom just kept indulging his version of what happened?
It's family.
Knowing some of the truth about what was going on
made things a little easier to deal with.
(Phone chimes)
Casey says to turn on the TV.
They are reporting about the rally.
Candidate Johnson facing flagging poll numbers
just four days before the election
held a rally in Memphis today and...
Well, take a look for yourself.
And with my new infrastructure plan, I...
Man: Hey, why'd you try to kill Dr. Julien?
I'm just saying.
Woman: Yeah! Dr. Julien.
With my new infrastructure plan, the great state of Tennessee...
(Crowd clamoring)
You know what?
Let's talk about Dr. Julien.
(Crowd cheering)
All of you out there, you are good, hard-working people,
and I'm not afraid to say it,
so am I.
So imagine if someone came up to you
and acted like you'd never earned anything that you had gotten,
who questioned who you are as a person, as a father, as a mother, and as a friend.
Well, I think you'd want to lay the smackdown on his sorry ass.
(Crowd cheering)
So, at the risk of sounding unpresidential,
Julien, welcome to the show.
'Cause you mess with a brahman bull, you get the horns.
That's right. The jabroni beating,
pie eating, trailblazing, hell raising,
people's champ is coming for you.
(Crowd cheering)
You ran towards the problem
instead of pretending it didn't happen.
Live and learn, Randall. Game on.
Oh, man. (Laughs)