Jessie swims to shore and hits the grass. She is exhausted and disappointed with her times. Allie is there waiting for her. She is distressed because the Xterra games are in just ten days and, because of all the training they have done as a team, she has not been practicing. She even had Bally’s sponsor her. Now, she is afraid it is too late and she cannot win. Allie tries to reassure her, but it is no good. Dawn has overheard everything.
Back at headquarters, Jessie asks Sean to skip the morning and evening work outs for more focused training. He tells her he thought she was committed to the team. If she chooses the race, then it will be “goodbye.” But whatever she does, he will support her. Jessie is devastated. Dawn, having overheard, tells Sean she is willing to train Jessie on the side-after all, Mitch sent her to Hawaii to help the team improve in all areas. But Sean feels that the distraction of the race will hurt the team-and Dawn should know that. Dawn then approaches Jessie. She tells Jessie that it’s not her stroke, it’s her focus. If she would like, Dawn offers to take her to the Bally’s and give her a computerized test that will measure her body’s real potential. Jessie is con-cerned that Sean has threatened to fire her if she continues the race. Dawn tells her she has already spoken with Sean and he has agreed to let Dawn help Jessie reach her potential. Dawn’s payback is she can make Sean a believer in her tech-niques. She does not tell Jessie that Sean has still vetoed the race.
Jessie tells JD of her plans. Even though he pretends like he isn’t hurt that she is no longer going to train with him, he is. However, he will do anything to help her win. Despite Dawn’s rationalization for her sudden largess, Allie remains skeptical. She feels that Dawn is up to something, and warns her that if Jessie is hurt in any way, Dawn will have to answer to her.
Dawn takes Jessie to the local Bally’s, where she hooks her up to a number of elaborate computer gizmos that will test everything from Jessie’s body dimensions to her fitness level. Of course, Jessie’s passes the fitness test with flying colors. Then, Dawn gives her the bad news: her proportions just aren’t good enough to win the bicycling part of the race. While she can definitely pull a lead in the swimming and running, the biking will be her downfall. Jessie is devastated. Allie has overheard everything. She steps in: Dawn might have measured Jessie physiologically, but did she measure her heart and her commitment? No. Allie feels that the race will be won and lost on Jessie’s desire to win. Jessie feels motivated again.
That evening, Allie confronts Dawn. She’s heard all about the tests and their results. Allie is just about to sock her when Jessie shows up. Despite her body’s limitations, she wants Dawn to train her; make her the best she can be. Dawn readily agrees: she was hoping Jessie would realize that her psychological commitment was the most im-portant. Allie now begins to realize that Dawn might not be so bad after all. She apologizes for misjudging her motivations. As she rolls over to go to sleep, Dawn smiles to herself.
Over the next few days, Jessie undergoes rigorous training and a host of experimental exercises to increase her breathing capacity. This includes weight training and upside down sit-ups. She is excited about her prospects of winning. Sean overhears her talking to Dawn. Dawn realizes the jig is up and confesses that she thought Jessie might quit before the day of the race. Both Jessie and Sean are appalled. But, Dawn makes a big pitch for Jessie being allowed to run and Sean finally relents-although he warns her he will not allow Dawn to manipulate him like this ever again.
By the day of the race, even JD has gotten into the excitement, and says that he might enter the next year. Jason reminds him that this year is Jessie’s turn. At the luau the night before, Jessie loads up on carbs and refuses to drink, even though everyone else is. When Jessie gets JD to the side, she tells him she wants to win the race-not just the woman’s portion, but the whole thing. Dawn tempts Sean with a Mai Tai. He shares the drink with her.
The morning of the race arrives. Sean gives Jessie his final blessing and wishes her luck. Allie has some exciting news: she will be piloting the helicopter for ESPN and will be covering the race! The only down side is that she must share the seat with TED, an arrogant newsman who is intent on promoting his career at all costs-and making whatever passes at Allie he can get away with.
The race is about to begin. From the line up, Jessie notices that Sean is tapping the other members of the team on the shoulder, and they take off running after him. She is torn: does she do the race, or does she join the team? It is not much of a choice: she leaves the starting line just as the gun goes off, chases down the truck, and jumps on board. The team is headed for Molokini. A tourist boat’s anchor had accidentally picked up a piece of unexploded ordinance. The piece had fallen, and then detonated. The detonation had then set off other pieces of unexploded ordinance. The resulting rough water has capsized the catamaran, and all the passengers are in the water. The ship’s captain and first mate are doing what they can, but they need help. Allie hears the report on the chopper’s headphones and wants to go help. Ted refuses, reminding her who is paying her for the day.
JD and Dawn help the captain with an unconscious man who goes into cardiac arrest. They use the paddles and revive him. Dawn Nextels the Coast Guard so they will have adequate supplies ready. Jessie and Kekoa tell a group that are floating on some wreckage the way to get to shore by using the rip current rather than fighting it. Allie hears the distress calls and, not caring if she is fired, veers the chopper towards the scene of the accident. Back on Molokini, Jessie thinks she hears something. Kekoa doesn’t. Jessie sees a boat out in the harbor. It appears to be okay. As Kekoa leaves, Jessie spots smoke coming from the boat, but Kekoa is out of earshot. Realizing that there is no time to be wasted, and that because of the race she doesn’t have her Nextel, she hurries for the water. The technical director of the TV camera crew sees Jessie, wearing her race outfit, running in the opposite direction and heading for a boat on fire. He calls Ted and tells him to cover the accident. Allie calls the Coast Guard and they head to help Jessie.
Jessie arrives at the boat. It is on fire, but the man inside won’t jump off because he has no life vests and his daughter can’t swim. Jessie creates a makeshift floatation de-vice out of the seat cushions and brings them safely into the water. Jessie is the star of the rescue, which has eclipsed the Xterra games in terms of audience involvement.
Now that everything is over, newsmen all want to talk to Jessie. She decides to leave all that to Sean. The entire race thing has just been a way for her to prove to herself that she can handle a race. Her first devotion is to the team. Now, she needs to have a Mai Tai with JD. Sean watches her, proud that the team truly is coming together.
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Main Cast
