I Was You
Metadata
- I Was You
- July 15, 2022
- Content Type Documentary
- Language English
- Transcript/Script English ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: 2022 Pitch Contest Winner: I Was You HEADLINE: A Rare Look at Young Cowgirl TEASER: In the shadow of a family legacy, a young Texas girl learns to compete in rodeos PUBLISHED AT: (DATE & TIME) BYLINE: Chu Wu CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Llano, TX VIDEOGRAPHER: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Austin Ao, Chu Wu VIDEO EDITOR: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Chu Wu SCRIPT EDITORS: VIDEO SOURCE (S): PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: VID APPROVED BY: TYPE: EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) JJ Thompson grew up in the shadow of her famous cowboy father Charlie Thompson. In an effort to gain her father’s attention and approval, she dedicated herself to rodeo and won many competitions. Now with a daughter of her own, seven-year-old Bryndle, JJ strives to find balance between instilling her love for rodeo and showing love and discipline to her daughter. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Gotta get higher. Mommy. Look how high I am going. Look. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Nugget, you ready? Come on. We’ve got to go practice. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I want to go play with Barbies. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Don't argue. You're going. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Fine. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Are you ready? Come on. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Ready? One, two, three. Undo that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Now we're going to push it forward. See where it sits? That's where you want it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Did you want to get his eye booger? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Ewwww. Who wants to get his eye booger. Okay. I like to get my eye boogers. But gross, why would you get a horse's eye boogers? Okay, can you flip that over, please? Oh, I got it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You are not helpless. You can do this stuff. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Stitch. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Really trying to promote independence. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Can you hold my stool? Sorry you can never be too careful. I did it all by myself. Time to get settled. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Baby? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) The gate? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hurry, hurry, hurry. Get going. Pick up. Pick up the whip. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Wow. Pick up the whip, babe. Pick up your whip, sister. Babe. Bryndle, stop. I need you to get that whip, and you keep him going. I want to see him moving. Don't stop and trot the barrels. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm trying not to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That's what I'm saying, get the whip. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But you are pushing me. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Get the whip and make him behave. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good. Go. Go. Great. Go. Keep going. Keep going. Hurry. Pick it up. Pick it up. Pick it up. Hurry. Pick it up. Hand down. Hand down. Down. Okay, that was good. Let's do Poles. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Good boy. Good boy, Stitchy. I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) ...Like when you get back down there, you are fixing to head back, go around it two times before you head back. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Where's the plane? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You're not listening. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, I am. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Anyways, listen. Did you hear what I said? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go around it two times and then come home. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Can I do four? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Whatever. Just more than once. Okay? Now I want you to ride two handed. Go, go, go. Pick up that whip. Bryndle, get that whip. I'm not even joking. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm just sorry. I just can't. I'm sorry. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) When you get to this pole, I want you to reach down to grab that whip. ((Bryndle shakes her head.)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I'm just scared that he's gonna kick it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) How's he gonna kick it? His feet are down there and the whip's up there. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I can't make him go fast and that means that I may knock the pole down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It doesn't matter. What I'm trying to... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, it does. If I knock the pole down, it's a No Time, and if I don't get a time and that means I don't get a point. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Stop talking. This is not for time. This is for practice. We are practicing our speed drills. Go again. You want to start a little further back and get going faster. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm making him do it. (Crying) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What is your deal? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What is this "I can't" stuff? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What's in your right hand? Okay. Grab it. Whack him. That's what you do. When he won't go, that's all that you do. Stop whining now. There is no crying in rodeo. Alright. Go through it again. Use your right hand, I'm serious. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't like Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It is hard. But if you'll listen, you'll be better. You just got to keep working. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'll never be better. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You can do it. You have the power. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You can ask anyone in any...that does any sort of event with rodeo if they know my dad and they do. I mean, he is just widely, widely well known in the industry. No matter where I went, somebody would say you know: "Oh, hey, I know your dad. Oh, hey, you know, you're Charlie Thompson's daughter. That's awesome." You know? And that made me feel like a person. It made me feel cool. But as far as, like, coming to a rodeo that he wasn't already at just to watch me no. Oh, no, that wasn't going to happen. But that was my life growing up. He didn't support me outside of what was convenient for him. I would do things to see if I could get attention from my dad. And then when I found the thing that worked, that's what I did. And it was winning. Winning. He gave me a lot of positive attention when I won, so I'm like alright cool I got to win. I can do this. And I did. I mean, I won a lot. I had a lot of success. Until I didn't. And then because, you know, nobody can stay on top forever. I've been trying to figure this out my whole life, Why he wouldn't let me be a part of things. He just kept me pushed away. He'd let me be around. But out here, and I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I was a girl, and he didn't think a girl could do the things that the boys do, like with all the livestock, the bucking horses and the bulls and all that. I don't really know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Hi. How are bills and taxes doing? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It was good. Okay. There's that. What are you doing this weekend? ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Uh, I'm off Saturday night. I go back to work on Sunday. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Gotcha. We wanted to see if there was any way possible you could come to Bryndle's finals this weekend. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Oh, J, I doubt it. I mean, I am snowed under here with (s**t) to do, and nothing's coming for a long time. Anyway, I'm sorry I can't make it this week. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Come to say hi, baby. Oh, yeah. She wants to say hi. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Hi, Peepaw. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father “Peepaw”) Hi, Bryndle. How are you? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Good. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) What you have been doing? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Riding horses. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Are you ready for summer to come and have a vacation? Are you going to come stay with me? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Maybe. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Oh, maybe. Okay. Alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Alright. We're gonna get on, and she's gotta practice. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Okay. Bryndle, I miss you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I miss you, too. Bye, Peepaw. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father and Bryndle's peepaw) Okay. Bye bye. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) All right, we'll talk to you later. Bye, Dad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Always excuse. It's always what he says. He always has too much going on. It's better now because I've learned how to deal with it and you just learn what it is. You know, you don't put hope into things really anymore. You know, I mean, I would be grateful if he came. I'd be very happy. I'm like, I was even thinking about offering to fly him down. But I'm like, I can't afford that. Bryndle's entry fees are already, like four hundred dollars. This is why I'm hard on her to practice because we put a lot into it. And the horses just teach them that other level of responsibility. I learned that I at that time was very irresponsible with it. I was always nice to people. I never got arrogant. But I made a lot of money. But I blew it. I mean, I just blew it like I was Beyoncé. But when it comes to an animal, that's a different, that's a pure love. It's growing in her. At first when she was young, she was like, they don't need to eat today, you know. And she would argue with me. I'd be like, "Baby, we gotta feed." "But why?" You know. And now she actually reminds me: "Mommy, we got to feed." I want her to be the best version of herself. That's what I'm trying to teach her with this. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Her foot is broken. Right there. She tripped on something I don't know. The doctor hasn't asked that question yet. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Little mama, hello. You better go tell Johnny night night. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good night sweetheart. It's already like real late, and I meant to go to a pub dancing. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Mind your mama. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Carry me upside down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Get upside down. Tell everybody good night. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Night! Bye! ((NATS)) ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Huh? ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Don't ask serious questions. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I love you too. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) One, two, three, four, twelve, thirteen, fourteen. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hey, how many numbers does a clock have? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Twenty-five thousand. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think I paid too much for your school. Why don't you just do twelve numbers? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, that's not what a clock looks like. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's not? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. And you need to listen student because your teacher knows better. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Is that so? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes it is. I'm forty-two and you're six. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What do you want to do? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I want to sit here. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Actually, I want to do the Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Just remember how. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I have a headache. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) ...if he won't go, you have two tools on your side, okay? And you can use them. You can make him act right. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Look at you. That was good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I did it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You did it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Right, Mommy? Look I did. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That was amazing. It took a couple of times to kick. But you got it in a minute. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I got it in a minute. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Very good, babe, proud of you. And I want you to practice going really fast, okay? Go ahead, girl. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Will you please be aggressive? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm trying. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) No, you're not. You are literally just sitting there. Use your whip. Use your whip, babe. Use your whip. Alright, try again. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, I don't want to try again. I want to quit. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, well, then quit. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Cause I'll never be good at it. I always knock that pole down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm not gonna sit here and listen to you whining and crying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't like Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Whenever you're done being emotional, I want you to try again and keep pushing. I'm going to lose my temper if I don't leave. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) It's just not fair. My life is unfair. Mom is pushing me to do something I don't want to do. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I just...I'm very close to just drawing her out and canceling the whole thing this weekend. You know, we've worked all year towards this, and I just feel...I don't know, it just...it's hard for me to, like, allow this kind of behavior. But I don't know what to do. So, for me, it's very difficult to deal with. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just want to go to my dad's house. I'm never going to get yelled at. I miss my dad. It's getting chilly and cold. I just want to untack. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Bryndle, you're not getting off until I see some effort instead of just this emotional "I can't." You're not even trying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You are pushing me to do something I don't want to do and I don't like. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's just what we have to do right now. You don't have to do it, but this weekend, it's already paid for. We made a commitment. We've done it all along. We're going to finish what we started. And you’ve got to get through it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't want to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) And then you can cry or not, but you're not getting off until you put some effort out. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't want to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go. This is not productive. I would suggest you quit crying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I can't. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I miss my daddy. Mama, how long until I go to my daddy's? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Stop whining. Enough. I have reached the max. Enough whining. My patience is done with it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, ma'am. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Sorry, Mama. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You know that I'll help you with anything that you need. And I will help you to get through the stuff that's hard with your horse. I would never let anything bad happen to you. I would never ask you to do something that would hurt you. Ever. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You're just always telling me, you need to do this, ‘cause you are bad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) No, I don't tell you that you're bad. You're not bad. I would not tell you that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You want to go through there? ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Papa, sometimes I feel like my mom doesn't even love me anymore. She's forcing me to do something I just don't want to do. ((James Berryman, JJ’s Step-father, “Papa”)) I know, baby. It's tough growing up. You know what? Your mama is a good mama. She looks after you, and she takes care of you. She loves you more than anything. But it's going to be okay, I promise you. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) They already fed her today. I love Chinese food. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Besides they have the cookies. And I like to see what fortunes I get. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think they taste like cardboard. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) They're good, right? I like them. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Are you done? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, ma'am. Oh, yummy. Can I get the other one? Thank you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) This one is my fortune, and I'm going to check. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay, but I get the cookie part. See? You don't like the cookie part. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Unless your fortune is better and that one is going to be mine. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. Okay. Let me see. President presides is in store for you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Let me see. A pleasant surprise is in store for you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay, what did yours say? What did yours say? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Johnny might not agree with this one. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) What did yours say? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Passionate new romance appears in your life when you least expect it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I got the good one. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Who is it? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Papa. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello? ((James Berryman, Bryndle’s Step-grandfather)) Yeah. What's happening? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) We're eating Chinese food. You want some? ((James Berryman, Bryndle’s Step-grandfather)) No. You're not on speaker, are you? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. Hold on. Okay. What's up? We can talk about that in a moment later. I got you. Love you, too. Bye. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) What did he say? What? Tell me. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He just wanted to tell me that you went over to his house. What you said and what you told him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Oh, yes. What you told him. Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It sounds a tiny bit like manipulation. Like she's trying to manipulate Papa for attention. She didn't tell him the whole story. She just said I was mean to her in the arena and that she doesn't think I love her. I don't know. I wasn't mean to her, right? I mean, I had to walk away, or else I might have...I mean, I was boiling and so I had to walk away and I keep from saying anything that might not be nice. I mean, her dad, I can't imagine him pushing her to do anything really, either. I just know his personality, and it's not like mine. And then my stepdad, he spoils her a lot. And I've spoiled her, too. I've just now in the last year really started making her work through things, and kind of work through her emotions, and I will never abandon her. But some things she's going to have to work through and figure out on her own. Sometimes I don't feel very strong. But, then I look around and I'm like, I'm doing a lot of stuff by myself. I'm handling a lot of crap alone. I mean, I've raised her since she was two pretty much by myself. And yeah, maybe I'm not doing a perfect job but she is decent. She's seven. Like, I want her to have fun with it. But at the same time, you do have to work hard. You have to take it seriously. But then when we get there, because you've worked hard, you get to have fun. So it'll be good tomorrow. She'll have fun and we won't fight. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Only a two-day trip. No need for all of these. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Johnny, I need help. Stitch won't let me catch him. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Well, get in there and get him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I am trying. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Look at him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But his head is like this. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Turn around. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) He puts his head up and it... ((JJ's friend) Look at that, Bryndle. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Whatever. ((JJ's friend) You nailed it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) He wouldn't let me catch him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, can I load him? Mommy! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Baby, what? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I was going to load him up. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Not yet. He goes last. Jane goes first. Mayday already made a mess. Okay now. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Shut the door Mama, shut the door! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He's not going nowhere. He's got his food. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think we are ready. I think we are going go this way this time. We went this way the last time. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I'm first place in my video game. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good job. You've gotten really good at that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) With my new character, I'm so good at it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) All right, so I've got...I've got all the stuff, and we didn't get any more blue buckets, did we? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) This is like her finals, and this is her finals. Even her dad's coming. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Who's dad? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) My daddy is coming. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Good deal, that's awesome! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I mean of all the half assers in the world, that one is coming. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Daddy normally never comes to my finals. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I know he doesn't come that much. He doesn't even come to the ones where he's already at because he's roping. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mama, he tried to come. He had to do stuff. He, he actually got... Mommy, he had to get stuff done. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He could have come down and watched your pole run. He could have. He didn't have to do that stuff right then. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Are we here already? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Already. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I just, I haven't even started playing. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Well, do you want me to… ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) You are the whiniest little booger I've seen in a minute. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello? ((JJ's friend)) Hey JJ, is Bryndle not running? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah? ((JJ's friend)) Well, they just called her name. She just failed for poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Oh (s**t). I didn't know they were starting already. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) Got to give Bryndle her donuts. Because what would be the first thing you'd say? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Where are my donuts? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) She missed Poles. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I will eat this. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) They already ran Poles. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) So she gets no time. You'll be alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think that's the one you hate the most anyways, right? ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Hey, you're going to go do good in the other ones, and you're still going to have fun. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Those are the ones that are easy and fun. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Like I said, just walk okay? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah, I'm just frustrated. And, Bryndle missed her pole run this morning because I was poorly misinformed about the timeline of things. ((Rodeo final participant's parent)) Oh crap. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm freaking pissed. I've been very...there has been a big lack of information flow for me in this association, and I am very frustrated. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I never got your name. ((Josie, Rodeo final participant)) Josie. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Josie. My name is Bryndle. ((Josie, Rodeo final participant)) Well, you want to go play? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. I think I have some free time. Let's go down the elevator. There is an elevator! ((Rodeo final announcer)) Now Bryndle was not here earlier, we will call her again. So if she is not missed, you may be in this run. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) She's here. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Everybody ready? Alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Two hands, kick, kick, kick. Get to the third barrel. Let him get around it, okay? Don't let him stop before, kick, kick, kick. You can do it, you're gonna do great. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Okay, we are ready for Bryndle Denbow. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go fast, hurry! Go, go, go, go, go! Come on, hurry! Hurry! 11.740 ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) You did good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Thank you. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) You got what? Goats next? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) And then Barrels. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Okay. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Goats are my favorite. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Oh, is it, really? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) She did so good. Did you see it? She did so good. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's your...you're up, babe. All right, go all the way. Kick, kick, kick! Whoa! Go, go, go, go! Get off! Hurry! Run! 9.331 Good job! ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Go Kayden! Go Kayden! Get off, jump off! Run! Oh, what was that? ((Rodeo final announcer)) 15.884 ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) This is your last run. Focus. Okay, have fun. ((Rodeo final announcer)) So we got about ten minutes. Ten minutes and we're going to roll. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Two hands. Okay, all the way to your first barrel. Two hands. And then when you get there, drop your outside and then pull back. You got it. Come on. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Alright, let's go with Bryndle Denbow, Bryndle Denbow. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, whenever you're ready. Go ahead. Two handed. Go, go, go, go. Keep kicking, keep kicking. Come on! Go! Keep kicking! Kick, kick, kick! Come on, fast. Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry! ((Rodeo final announcer)) Good job, Bryndle. 19.723. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good job babe! You need to walk him, unless you want to hand walk him. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yea, that's what, I'm trying to get her to stay two handed so that when she gets to the barrel, she can just drop that and pull and pull his nose, and then he'll just he'll be fast, faster. Freaking awesome. And then right here, so she's not two handed. She's one handed, and she's in the middle of the rein. And what she's doing pulling back and around instead of, if her hand six more inches down. Well, it was still pretty good. ((Rodeo final announcer)) 15.689. Wow good job. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) And only 3 seconds off what these blistering kids are doing. I mean, I don't want to run against some of these kids. And that's not bad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You're not going to get a year end prize from the association because we you had to miss a couple of rodeos. Since you worked hard and you went through all of it and you did all the stuff you were supposed to and you improved every run. I want to show you something that I got you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Am I get to use it this week? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Oh, okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Ready? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Close your eye. Close them good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay I can't see. Can I open? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, now look. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yay, saddle. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I knew it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Saddle. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You don't like it? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I mean, I thought it was a puppy or a puppet. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, alright, well. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But yay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Sorry for that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I like it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That's dissapointing. All right, let's go. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, Mommy, no, wait! No, wait. No, ma'am. Wait! No, I like it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Obviously not. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) It's just not what I expected. Wait, I like it. I like it, Mama. Mommy, I like it. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm a little bit humiliated, kind of a little bit embarrassed you know. When you try to do something really nice for your kid, and then they just...And then it's like, a complete disappointment. And then you're, like, I just feeling empty. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay in a minute, when I get my shop and open for business, then you want something. It's turquoise drink. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Open for business. Do you want an aqua drink? Cause I'm selling aqua drinks. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think it goes with the whole thing. I'm just tired. I spent a lot of money trying to come here... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Pick up something, just pretend. And your total will be $5.99. Money! Thank you. I'll get your drink right now. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's like mostly my fault because I shouldn't have built it up... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Let's go. I have my own store. I made it myself. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm very tired. Emotionally tired. Mentally tired. Credits: Director: Chu Wu Cinematography: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Austin Ao, Chu Wu Video Editors: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Chu Wu Cast: JJ Thompson, Bryndle Denbow, Johnny Noe, James Berryman, Blake Denbow Senior Executive Producer: Euna Lee Producer: Weijun Chen Commissioning Editor: Euna Lee Special Thanks To: Yolanda Lopez Nadia Madjid Bill Ide Xin Chen Amy Katz Elizabeth Hughes Cheng Yue
- Transcript/Script ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: 2022 Pitch Contest Winner: I Was You HEADLINE: A Rare Look at Young Cowgirl TEASER: In the shadow of a family legacy, a young Texas girl learns to compete in rodeos PUBLISHED AT: (DATE & TIME) BYLINE: Chu Wu CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Llano, TX VIDEOGRAPHER: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Austin Ao, Chu Wu VIDEO EDITOR: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Chu Wu SCRIPT EDITORS: VIDEO SOURCE (S): PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: VID APPROVED BY: TYPE: EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) JJ Thompson grew up in the shadow of her famous cowboy father Charlie Thompson. In an effort to gain her father’s attention and approval, she dedicated herself to rodeo and won many competitions. Now with a daughter of her own, seven-year-old Bryndle, JJ strives to find balance between instilling her love for rodeo and showing love and discipline to her daughter. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Gotta get higher. Mommy. Look how high I am going. Look. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Nugget, you ready? Come on. We’ve got to go practice. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I want to go play with Barbies. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Don't argue. You're going. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Fine. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Are you ready? Come on. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Ready? One, two, three. Undo that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Now we're going to push it forward. See where it sits? That's where you want it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Did you want to get his eye booger? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Ewwww. Who wants to get his eye booger. Okay. I like to get my eye boogers. But gross, why would you get a horse's eye boogers? Okay, can you flip that over, please? Oh, I got it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You are not helpless. You can do this stuff. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Stitch. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Really trying to promote independence. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Can you hold my stool? Sorry you can never be too careful. I did it all by myself. Time to get settled. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Baby? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) The gate? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hurry, hurry, hurry. Get going. Pick up. Pick up the whip. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Wow. Pick up the whip, babe. Pick up your whip, sister. Babe. Bryndle, stop. I need you to get that whip, and you keep him going. I want to see him moving. Don't stop and trot the barrels. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm trying not to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That's what I'm saying, get the whip. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But you are pushing me. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Get the whip and make him behave. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good. Go. Go. Great. Go. Keep going. Keep going. Hurry. Pick it up. Pick it up. Pick it up. Hurry. Pick it up. Hand down. Hand down. Down. Okay, that was good. Let's do Poles. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Good boy. Good boy, Stitchy. I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) ...Like when you get back down there, you are fixing to head back, go around it two times before you head back. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Where's the plane? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You're not listening. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, I am. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Anyways, listen. Did you hear what I said? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go around it two times and then come home. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Can I do four? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Whatever. Just more than once. Okay? Now I want you to ride two handed. Go, go, go. Pick up that whip. Bryndle, get that whip. I'm not even joking. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm just sorry. I just can't. I'm sorry. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) When you get to this pole, I want you to reach down to grab that whip. ((Bryndle shakes her head.)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I'm just scared that he's gonna kick it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) How's he gonna kick it? His feet are down there and the whip's up there. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I can't make him go fast and that means that I may knock the pole down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It doesn't matter. What I'm trying to... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, it does. If I knock the pole down, it's a No Time, and if I don't get a time and that means I don't get a point. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Stop talking. This is not for time. This is for practice. We are practicing our speed drills. Go again. You want to start a little further back and get going faster. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm making him do it. (Crying) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What is your deal? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What is this "I can't" stuff? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What's in your right hand? Okay. Grab it. Whack him. That's what you do. When he won't go, that's all that you do. Stop whining now. There is no crying in rodeo. Alright. Go through it again. Use your right hand, I'm serious. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't like Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It is hard. But if you'll listen, you'll be better. You just got to keep working. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'll never be better. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You can do it. You have the power. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You can ask anyone in any...that does any sort of event with rodeo if they know my dad and they do. I mean, he is just widely, widely well known in the industry. No matter where I went, somebody would say you know: "Oh, hey, I know your dad. Oh, hey, you know, you're Charlie Thompson's daughter. That's awesome." You know? And that made me feel like a person. It made me feel cool. But as far as, like, coming to a rodeo that he wasn't already at just to watch me no. Oh, no, that wasn't going to happen. But that was my life growing up. He didn't support me outside of what was convenient for him. I would do things to see if I could get attention from my dad. And then when I found the thing that worked, that's what I did. And it was winning. Winning. He gave me a lot of positive attention when I won, so I'm like alright cool I got to win. I can do this. And I did. I mean, I won a lot. I had a lot of success. Until I didn't. And then because, you know, nobody can stay on top forever. I've been trying to figure this out my whole life, Why he wouldn't let me be a part of things. He just kept me pushed away. He'd let me be around. But out here, and I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I was a girl, and he didn't think a girl could do the things that the boys do, like with all the livestock, the bucking horses and the bulls and all that. I don't really know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Hi. How are bills and taxes doing? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It was good. Okay. There's that. What are you doing this weekend? ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Uh, I'm off Saturday night. I go back to work on Sunday. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Gotcha. We wanted to see if there was any way possible you could come to Bryndle's finals this weekend. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Oh, J, I doubt it. I mean, I am snowed under here with (s**t) to do, and nothing's coming for a long time. Anyway, I'm sorry I can't make it this week. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Come to say hi, baby. Oh, yeah. She wants to say hi. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Hi, Peepaw. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father “Peepaw”) Hi, Bryndle. How are you? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Good. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) What you have been doing? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Riding horses. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Are you ready for summer to come and have a vacation? Are you going to come stay with me? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Maybe. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Oh, maybe. Okay. Alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Alright. We're gonna get on, and she's gotta practice. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Okay. Bryndle, I miss you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I miss you, too. Bye, Peepaw. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father and Bryndle's peepaw) Okay. Bye bye. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) All right, we'll talk to you later. Bye, Dad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Always excuse. It's always what he says. He always has too much going on. It's better now because I've learned how to deal with it and you just learn what it is. You know, you don't put hope into things really anymore. You know, I mean, I would be grateful if he came. I'd be very happy. I'm like, I was even thinking about offering to fly him down. But I'm like, I can't afford that. Bryndle's entry fees are already, like four hundred dollars. This is why I'm hard on her to practice because we put a lot into it. And the horses just teach them that other level of responsibility. I learned that I at that time was very irresponsible with it. I was always nice to people. I never got arrogant. But I made a lot of money. But I blew it. I mean, I just blew it like I was Beyoncé. But when it comes to an animal, that's a different, that's a pure love. It's growing in her. At first when she was young, she was like, they don't need to eat today, you know. And she would argue with me. I'd be like, "Baby, we gotta feed." "But why?" You know. And now she actually reminds me: "Mommy, we got to feed." I want her to be the best version of herself. That's what I'm trying to teach her with this. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Her foot is broken. Right there. She tripped on something I don't know. The doctor hasn't asked that question yet. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Little mama, hello. You better go tell Johnny night night. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good night sweetheart. It's already like real late, and I meant to go to a pub dancing. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Mind your mama. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Carry me upside down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Get upside down. Tell everybody good night. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Night! Bye! ((NATS)) ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Huh? ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Don't ask serious questions. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I love you too. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) One, two, three, four, twelve, thirteen, fourteen. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hey, how many numbers does a clock have? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Twenty-five thousand. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think I paid too much for your school. Why don't you just do twelve numbers? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, that's not what a clock looks like. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's not? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. And you need to listen student because your teacher knows better. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Is that so? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes it is. I'm forty-two and you're six. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What do you want to do? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I want to sit here. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Actually, I want to do the Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Just remember how. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I have a headache. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) ...if he won't go, you have two tools on your side, okay? And you can use them. You can make him act right. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Look at you. That was good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I did it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You did it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Right, Mommy? Look I did. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That was amazing. It took a couple of times to kick. But you got it in a minute. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I got it in a minute. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Very good, babe, proud of you. And I want you to practice going really fast, okay? Go ahead, girl. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Will you please be aggressive? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm trying. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) No, you're not. You are literally just sitting there. Use your whip. Use your whip, babe. Use your whip. Alright, try again. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, I don't want to try again. I want to quit. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, well, then quit. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Cause I'll never be good at it. I always knock that pole down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm not gonna sit here and listen to you whining and crying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't like Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Whenever you're done being emotional, I want you to try again and keep pushing. I'm going to lose my temper if I don't leave. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) It's just not fair. My life is unfair. Mom is pushing me to do something I don't want to do. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I just...I'm very close to just drawing her out and canceling the whole thing this weekend. You know, we've worked all year towards this, and I just feel...I don't know, it just...it's hard for me to, like, allow this kind of behavior. But I don't know what to do. So, for me, it's very difficult to deal with. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just want to go to my dad's house. I'm never going to get yelled at. I miss my dad. It's getting chilly and cold. I just want to untack. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Bryndle, you're not getting off until I see some effort instead of just this emotional "I can't." You're not even trying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You are pushing me to do something I don't want to do and I don't like. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's just what we have to do right now. You don't have to do it, but this weekend, it's already paid for. We made a commitment. We've done it all along. We're going to finish what we started. And you’ve got to get through it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't want to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) And then you can cry or not, but you're not getting off until you put some effort out. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't want to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go. This is not productive. I would suggest you quit crying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I can't. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I miss my daddy. Mama, how long until I go to my daddy's? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Stop whining. Enough. I have reached the max. Enough whining. My patience is done with it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, ma'am. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Sorry, Mama. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You know that I'll help you with anything that you need. And I will help you to get through the stuff that's hard with your horse. I would never let anything bad happen to you. I would never ask you to do something that would hurt you. Ever. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You're just always telling me, you need to do this, ‘cause you are bad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) No, I don't tell you that you're bad. You're not bad. I would not tell you that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You want to go through there? ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Papa, sometimes I feel like my mom doesn't even love me anymore. She's forcing me to do something I just don't want to do. ((James Berryman, JJ’s Step-father, “Papa”)) I know, baby. It's tough growing up. You know what? Your mama is a good mama. She looks after you, and she takes care of you. She loves you more than anything. But it's going to be okay, I promise you. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) They already fed her today. I love Chinese food. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Besides they have the cookies. And I like to see what fortunes I get. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think they taste like cardboard. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) They're good, right? I like them. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Are you done? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, ma'am. Oh, yummy. Can I get the other one? Thank you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) This one is my fortune, and I'm going to check. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay, but I get the cookie part. See? You don't like the cookie part. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Unless your fortune is better and that one is going to be mine. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. Okay. Let me see. President presides is in store for you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Let me see. A pleasant surprise is in store for you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay, what did yours say? What did yours say? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Johnny might not agree with this one. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) What did yours say? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Passionate new romance appears in your life when you least expect it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I got the good one. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Who is it? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Papa. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello? ((James Berryman, Bryndle’s Step-grandfather)) Yeah. What's happening? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) We're eating Chinese food. You want some? ((James Berryman, Bryndle’s Step-grandfather)) No. You're not on speaker, are you? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. Hold on. Okay. What's up? We can talk about that in a moment later. I got you. Love you, too. Bye. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) What did he say? What? Tell me. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He just wanted to tell me that you went over to his house. What you said and what you told him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Oh, yes. What you told him. Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It sounds a tiny bit like manipulation. Like she's trying to manipulate Papa for attention. She didn't tell him the whole story. She just said I was mean to her in the arena and that she doesn't think I love her. I don't know. I wasn't mean to her, right? I mean, I had to walk away, or else I might have...I mean, I was boiling and so I had to walk away and I keep from saying anything that might not be nice. I mean, her dad, I can't imagine him pushing her to do anything really, either. I just know his personality, and it's not like mine. And then my stepdad, he spoils her a lot. And I've spoiled her, too. I've just now in the last year really started making her work through things, and kind of work through her emotions, and I will never abandon her. But some things she's going to have to work through and figure out on her own. Sometimes I don't feel very strong. But, then I look around and I'm like, I'm doing a lot of stuff by myself. I'm handling a lot of crap alone. I mean, I've raised her since she was two pretty much by myself. And yeah, maybe I'm not doing a perfect job but she is decent. She's seven. Like, I want her to have fun with it. But at the same time, you do have to work hard. You have to take it seriously. But then when we get there, because you've worked hard, you get to have fun. So it'll be good tomorrow. She'll have fun and we won't fight. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Only a two-day trip. No need for all of these. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Johnny, I need help. Stitch won't let me catch him. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Well, get in there and get him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I am trying. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Look at him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But his head is like this. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Turn around. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) He puts his head up and it... ((JJ's friend) Look at that, Bryndle. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Whatever. ((JJ's friend) You nailed it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) He wouldn't let me catch him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, can I load him? Mommy! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Baby, what? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I was going to load him up. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Not yet. He goes last. Jane goes first. Mayday already made a mess. Okay now. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Shut the door Mama, shut the door! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He's not going nowhere. He's got his food. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think we are ready. I think we are going go this way this time. We went this way the last time. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I'm first place in my video game. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good job. You've gotten really good at that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) With my new character, I'm so good at it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) All right, so I've got...I've got all the stuff, and we didn't get any more blue buckets, did we? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) This is like her finals, and this is her finals. Even her dad's coming. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Who's dad? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) My daddy is coming. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Good deal, that's awesome! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I mean of all the half assers in the world, that one is coming. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Daddy normally never comes to my finals. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I know he doesn't come that much. He doesn't even come to the ones where he's already at because he's roping. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mama, he tried to come. He had to do stuff. He, he actually got... Mommy, he had to get stuff done. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He could have come down and watched your pole run. He could have. He didn't have to do that stuff right then. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Are we here already? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Already. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I just, I haven't even started playing. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Well, do you want me to… ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) You are the whiniest little booger I've seen in a minute. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello? ((JJ's friend)) Hey JJ, is Bryndle not running? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah? ((JJ's friend)) Well, they just called her name. She just failed for poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Oh (s**t). I didn't know they were starting already. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) Got to give Bryndle her donuts. Because what would be the first thing you'd say? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Where are my donuts? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) She missed Poles. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I will eat this. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) They already ran Poles. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) So she gets no time. You'll be alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think that's the one you hate the most anyways, right? ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Hey, you're going to go do good in the other ones, and you're still going to have fun. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Those are the ones that are easy and fun. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Like I said, just walk okay? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah, I'm just frustrated. And, Bryndle missed her pole run this morning because I was poorly misinformed about the timeline of things. ((Rodeo final participant's parent)) Oh crap. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm freaking pissed. I've been very...there has been a big lack of information flow for me in this association, and I am very frustrated. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I never got your name. ((Josie, Rodeo final participant)) Josie. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Josie. My name is Bryndle. ((Josie, Rodeo final participant)) Well, you want to go play? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. I think I have some free time. Let's go down the elevator. There is an elevator! ((Rodeo final announcer)) Now Bryndle was not here earlier, we will call her again. So if she is not missed, you may be in this run. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) She's here. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Everybody ready? Alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Two hands, kick, kick, kick. Get to the third barrel. Let him get around it, okay? Don't let him stop before, kick, kick, kick. You can do it, you're gonna do great. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Okay, we are ready for Bryndle Denbow. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go fast, hurry! Go, go, go, go, go! Come on, hurry! Hurry! 11.740 ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) You did good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Thank you. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) You got what? Goats next? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) And then Barrels. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Okay. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Goats are my favorite. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Oh, is it, really? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) She did so good. Did you see it? She did so good. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's your...you're up, babe. All right, go all the way. Kick, kick, kick! Whoa! Go, go, go, go! Get off! Hurry! Run! 9.331 Good job! ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Go Kayden! Go Kayden! Get off, jump off! Run! Oh, what was that? ((Rodeo final announcer)) 15.884 ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) This is your last run. Focus. Okay, have fun. ((Rodeo final announcer)) So we got about ten minutes. Ten minutes and we're going to roll. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Two hands. Okay, all the way to your first barrel. Two hands. And then when you get there, drop your outside and then pull back. You got it. Come on. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Alright, let's go with Bryndle Denbow, Bryndle Denbow. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, whenever you're ready. Go ahead. Two handed. Go, go, go, go. Keep kicking, keep kicking. Come on! Go! Keep kicking! Kick, kick, kick! Come on, fast. Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry! ((Rodeo final announcer)) Good job, Bryndle. 19.723. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good job babe! You need to walk him, unless you want to hand walk him. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yea, that's what, I'm trying to get her to stay two handed so that when she gets to the barrel, she can just drop that and pull and pull his nose, and then he'll just he'll be fast, faster. Freaking awesome. And then right here, so she's not two handed. She's one handed, and she's in the middle of the rein. And what she's doing pulling back and around instead of, if her hand six more inches down. Well, it was still pretty good. ((Rodeo final announcer)) 15.689. Wow good job. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) And only 3 seconds off what these blistering kids are doing. I mean, I don't want to run against some of these kids. And that's not bad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You're not going to get a year end prize from the association because we you had to miss a couple of rodeos. Since you worked hard and you went through all of it and you did all the stuff you were supposed to and you improved every run. I want to show you something that I got you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Am I get to use it this week? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Oh, okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Ready? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Close your eye. Close them good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay I can't see. Can I open? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, now look. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yay, saddle. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I knew it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Saddle. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You don't like it? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I mean, I thought it was a puppy or a puppet. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, alright, well. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But yay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Sorry for that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I like it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That's dissapointing. All right, let's go. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, Mommy, no, wait! No, wait. No, ma'am. Wait! No, I like it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Obviously not. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) It's just not what I expected. Wait, I like it. I like it, Mama. Mommy, I like it. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm a little bit humiliated, kind of a little bit embarrassed you know. When you try to do something really nice for your kid, and then they just...And then it's like, a complete disappointment. And then you're, like, I just feeling empty. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay in a minute, when I get my shop and open for business, then you want something. It's turquoise drink. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Open for business. Do you want an aqua drink? Cause I'm selling aqua drinks. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think it goes with the whole thing. I'm just tired. I spent a lot of money trying to come here... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Pick up something, just pretend. And your total will be $5.99. Money! Thank you. I'll get your drink right now. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's like mostly my fault because I shouldn't have built it up... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Let's go. I have my own store. I made it myself. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm very tired. Emotionally tired. Mentally tired. Credits: Director: Chu Wu Cinematography: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Austin Ao, Chu Wu Video Editors: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Chu Wu Cast: JJ Thompson, Bryndle Denbow, Johnny Noe, James Berryman, Blake Denbow Senior Executive Producer: Euna Lee Producer: Weijun Chen Commissioning Editor: Euna Lee Special Thanks To: Yolanda Lopez Nadia Madjid Bill Ide Xin Chen Amy Katz Elizabeth Hughes Cheng Yue
- NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
- Network VOA
- English Title ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: 2022 Pitch Contest Winner: I Was You HEADLINE: A Rare Look at Young Cowgirl TEASER: In the shadow of a family legacy, a young Texas girl learns to compete in rodeos PUBLISHED AT: (DATE & TIME) BYLINE: Chu Wu CONTRIBUTOR: DATELINE: Llano, TX VIDEOGRAPHER: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Austin Ao, Chu Wu VIDEO EDITOR: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Chu Wu SCRIPT EDITORS: VIDEO SOURCE (S): PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __ TRT: VID APPROVED BY: TYPE: EDITOR NOTES:)) ((INTRO)) JJ Thompson grew up in the shadow of her famous cowboy father Charlie Thompson. In an effort to gain her father’s attention and approval, she dedicated herself to rodeo and won many competitions. Now with a daughter of her own, seven-year-old Bryndle, JJ strives to find balance between instilling her love for rodeo and showing love and discipline to her daughter. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Gotta get higher. Mommy. Look how high I am going. Look. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Nugget, you ready? Come on. We’ve got to go practice. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I want to go play with Barbies. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Don't argue. You're going. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Fine. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Are you ready? Come on. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Ready? One, two, three. Undo that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Now we're going to push it forward. See where it sits? That's where you want it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Did you want to get his eye booger? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Ewwww. Who wants to get his eye booger. Okay. I like to get my eye boogers. But gross, why would you get a horse's eye boogers? Okay, can you flip that over, please? Oh, I got it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You are not helpless. You can do this stuff. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Stitch. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Really trying to promote independence. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Can you hold my stool? Sorry you can never be too careful. I did it all by myself. Time to get settled. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Baby? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) The gate? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hurry, hurry, hurry. Get going. Pick up. Pick up the whip. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Wow. Pick up the whip, babe. Pick up your whip, sister. Babe. Bryndle, stop. I need you to get that whip, and you keep him going. I want to see him moving. Don't stop and trot the barrels. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm trying not to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That's what I'm saying, get the whip. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But you are pushing me. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Get the whip and make him behave. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good. Go. Go. Great. Go. Keep going. Keep going. Hurry. Pick it up. Pick it up. Pick it up. Hurry. Pick it up. Hand down. Hand down. Down. Okay, that was good. Let's do Poles. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Good boy. Good boy, Stitchy. I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) ...Like when you get back down there, you are fixing to head back, go around it two times before you head back. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Where's the plane? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You're not listening. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, I am. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Anyways, listen. Did you hear what I said? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go around it two times and then come home. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Can I do four? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Whatever. Just more than once. Okay? Now I want you to ride two handed. Go, go, go. Pick up that whip. Bryndle, get that whip. I'm not even joking. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm just sorry. I just can't. I'm sorry. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) When you get to this pole, I want you to reach down to grab that whip. ((Bryndle shakes her head.)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I'm just scared that he's gonna kick it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) How's he gonna kick it? His feet are down there and the whip's up there. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I can't make him go fast and that means that I may knock the pole down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It doesn't matter. What I'm trying to... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, it does. If I knock the pole down, it's a No Time, and if I don't get a time and that means I don't get a point. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Stop talking. This is not for time. This is for practice. We are practicing our speed drills. Go again. You want to start a little further back and get going faster. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm making him do it. (Crying) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What is your deal? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What is this "I can't" stuff? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What's in your right hand? Okay. Grab it. Whack him. That's what you do. When he won't go, that's all that you do. Stop whining now. There is no crying in rodeo. Alright. Go through it again. Use your right hand, I'm serious. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't like Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It is hard. But if you'll listen, you'll be better. You just got to keep working. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'll never be better. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You can do it. You have the power. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You can ask anyone in any...that does any sort of event with rodeo if they know my dad and they do. I mean, he is just widely, widely well known in the industry. No matter where I went, somebody would say you know: "Oh, hey, I know your dad. Oh, hey, you know, you're Charlie Thompson's daughter. That's awesome." You know? And that made me feel like a person. It made me feel cool. But as far as, like, coming to a rodeo that he wasn't already at just to watch me no. Oh, no, that wasn't going to happen. But that was my life growing up. He didn't support me outside of what was convenient for him. I would do things to see if I could get attention from my dad. And then when I found the thing that worked, that's what I did. And it was winning. Winning. He gave me a lot of positive attention when I won, so I'm like alright cool I got to win. I can do this. And I did. I mean, I won a lot. I had a lot of success. Until I didn't. And then because, you know, nobody can stay on top forever. I've been trying to figure this out my whole life, Why he wouldn't let me be a part of things. He just kept me pushed away. He'd let me be around. But out here, and I don't know why. I don't know if it's because I was a girl, and he didn't think a girl could do the things that the boys do, like with all the livestock, the bucking horses and the bulls and all that. I don't really know. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Hi. How are bills and taxes doing? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It was good. Okay. There's that. What are you doing this weekend? ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Uh, I'm off Saturday night. I go back to work on Sunday. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Gotcha. We wanted to see if there was any way possible you could come to Bryndle's finals this weekend. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”) Oh, J, I doubt it. I mean, I am snowed under here with (s**t) to do, and nothing's coming for a long time. Anyway, I'm sorry I can't make it this week. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Come to say hi, baby. Oh, yeah. She wants to say hi. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Hi, Peepaw. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father “Peepaw”) Hi, Bryndle. How are you? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Good. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) What you have been doing? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Riding horses. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Are you ready for summer to come and have a vacation? Are you going to come stay with me? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Maybe. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Oh, maybe. Okay. Alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Alright. We're gonna get on, and she's gotta practice. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father, “Peepaw”)) Okay. Bryndle, I miss you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I miss you, too. Bye, Peepaw. ((Charlie Thompson, JJ's father and Bryndle's peepaw) Okay. Bye bye. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) All right, we'll talk to you later. Bye, Dad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Always excuse. It's always what he says. He always has too much going on. It's better now because I've learned how to deal with it and you just learn what it is. You know, you don't put hope into things really anymore. You know, I mean, I would be grateful if he came. I'd be very happy. I'm like, I was even thinking about offering to fly him down. But I'm like, I can't afford that. Bryndle's entry fees are already, like four hundred dollars. This is why I'm hard on her to practice because we put a lot into it. And the horses just teach them that other level of responsibility. I learned that I at that time was very irresponsible with it. I was always nice to people. I never got arrogant. But I made a lot of money. But I blew it. I mean, I just blew it like I was Beyoncé. But when it comes to an animal, that's a different, that's a pure love. It's growing in her. At first when she was young, she was like, they don't need to eat today, you know. And she would argue with me. I'd be like, "Baby, we gotta feed." "But why?" You know. And now she actually reminds me: "Mommy, we got to feed." I want her to be the best version of herself. That's what I'm trying to teach her with this. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Her foot is broken. Right there. She tripped on something I don't know. The doctor hasn't asked that question yet. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Little mama, hello. You better go tell Johnny night night. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good night sweetheart. It's already like real late, and I meant to go to a pub dancing. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Mind your mama. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Carry me upside down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Get upside down. Tell everybody good night. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Night! Bye! ((NATS)) ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Huh? ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) I love you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Why? ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Don't ask serious questions. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I love you too. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) One, two, three, four, twelve, thirteen, fourteen. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hey, how many numbers does a clock have? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Twenty-five thousand. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think I paid too much for your school. Why don't you just do twelve numbers? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, that's not what a clock looks like. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's not? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. And you need to listen student because your teacher knows better. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Is that so? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes it is. I'm forty-two and you're six. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) What do you want to do? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I want to sit here. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Actually, I want to do the Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Just remember how. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I have a headache. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) ...if he won't go, you have two tools on your side, okay? And you can use them. You can make him act right. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Look at you. That was good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I did it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You did it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Right, Mommy? Look I did. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That was amazing. It took a couple of times to kick. But you got it in a minute. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I got it in a minute. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Very good, babe, proud of you. And I want you to practice going really fast, okay? Go ahead, girl. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Will you please be aggressive? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I'm trying. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) No, you're not. You are literally just sitting there. Use your whip. Use your whip, babe. Use your whip. Alright, try again. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, I don't want to try again. I want to quit. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, well, then quit. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Cause I'll never be good at it. I always knock that pole down. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm not gonna sit here and listen to you whining and crying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't like Poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Whenever you're done being emotional, I want you to try again and keep pushing. I'm going to lose my temper if I don't leave. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) It's just not fair. My life is unfair. Mom is pushing me to do something I don't want to do. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I just...I'm very close to just drawing her out and canceling the whole thing this weekend. You know, we've worked all year towards this, and I just feel...I don't know, it just...it's hard for me to, like, allow this kind of behavior. But I don't know what to do. So, for me, it's very difficult to deal with. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just want to go to my dad's house. I'm never going to get yelled at. I miss my dad. It's getting chilly and cold. I just want to untack. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Bryndle, you're not getting off until I see some effort instead of just this emotional "I can't." You're not even trying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You are pushing me to do something I don't want to do and I don't like. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's just what we have to do right now. You don't have to do it, but this weekend, it's already paid for. We made a commitment. We've done it all along. We're going to finish what we started. And you’ve got to get through it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I don't want to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) And then you can cry or not, but you're not getting off until you put some effort out. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I just don't want to. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go. This is not productive. I would suggest you quit crying. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I can't. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I miss my daddy. Mama, how long until I go to my daddy's? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Stop whining. Enough. I have reached the max. Enough whining. My patience is done with it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, ma'am. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Sorry, Mama. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You know that I'll help you with anything that you need. And I will help you to get through the stuff that's hard with your horse. I would never let anything bad happen to you. I would never ask you to do something that would hurt you. Ever. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You're just always telling me, you need to do this, ‘cause you are bad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) No, I don't tell you that you're bad. You're not bad. I would not tell you that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) You want to go through there? ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Papa, sometimes I feel like my mom doesn't even love me anymore. She's forcing me to do something I just don't want to do. ((James Berryman, JJ’s Step-father, “Papa”)) I know, baby. It's tough growing up. You know what? Your mama is a good mama. She looks after you, and she takes care of you. She loves you more than anything. But it's going to be okay, I promise you. ((NATS)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) They already fed her today. I love Chinese food. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Besides they have the cookies. And I like to see what fortunes I get. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think they taste like cardboard. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) They're good, right? I like them. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Are you done? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes, ma'am. Oh, yummy. Can I get the other one? Thank you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) This one is my fortune, and I'm going to check. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay, but I get the cookie part. See? You don't like the cookie part. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Unless your fortune is better and that one is going to be mine. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No. Okay. Let me see. President presides is in store for you. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Let me see. A pleasant surprise is in store for you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay, what did yours say? What did yours say? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Johnny might not agree with this one. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) What did yours say? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Passionate new romance appears in your life when you least expect it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I got the good one. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Who is it? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Papa. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello? ((James Berryman, Bryndle’s Step-grandfather)) Yeah. What's happening? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) We're eating Chinese food. You want some? ((James Berryman, Bryndle’s Step-grandfather)) No. You're not on speaker, are you? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. Hold on. Okay. What's up? We can talk about that in a moment later. I got you. Love you, too. Bye. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) What did he say? What? Tell me. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He just wanted to tell me that you went over to his house. What you said and what you told him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Oh, yes. What you told him. Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It sounds a tiny bit like manipulation. Like she's trying to manipulate Papa for attention. She didn't tell him the whole story. She just said I was mean to her in the arena and that she doesn't think I love her. I don't know. I wasn't mean to her, right? I mean, I had to walk away, or else I might have...I mean, I was boiling and so I had to walk away and I keep from saying anything that might not be nice. I mean, her dad, I can't imagine him pushing her to do anything really, either. I just know his personality, and it's not like mine. And then my stepdad, he spoils her a lot. And I've spoiled her, too. I've just now in the last year really started making her work through things, and kind of work through her emotions, and I will never abandon her. But some things she's going to have to work through and figure out on her own. Sometimes I don't feel very strong. But, then I look around and I'm like, I'm doing a lot of stuff by myself. I'm handling a lot of crap alone. I mean, I've raised her since she was two pretty much by myself. And yeah, maybe I'm not doing a perfect job but she is decent. She's seven. Like, I want her to have fun with it. But at the same time, you do have to work hard. You have to take it seriously. But then when we get there, because you've worked hard, you get to have fun. So it'll be good tomorrow. She'll have fun and we won't fight. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Only a two-day trip. No need for all of these. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Johnny, I need help. Stitch won't let me catch him. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Well, get in there and get him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I am trying. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Look at him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But his head is like this. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Turn around. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) He puts his head up and it... ((JJ's friend) Look at that, Bryndle. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Whatever. ((JJ's friend) You nailed it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) He wouldn't let me catch him. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, can I load him? Mommy! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Baby, what? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I was going to load him up. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Not yet. He goes last. Jane goes first. Mayday already made a mess. Okay now. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Shut the door Mama, shut the door! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He's not going nowhere. He's got his food. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think we are ready. I think we are going go this way this time. We went this way the last time. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I'm first place in my video game. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good job. You've gotten really good at that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) With my new character, I'm so good at it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) All right, so I've got...I've got all the stuff, and we didn't get any more blue buckets, did we? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) This is like her finals, and this is her finals. Even her dad's coming. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Who's dad? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) My daddy is coming. ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) Good deal, that's awesome! ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I mean of all the half assers in the world, that one is coming. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Daddy normally never comes to my finals. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I know he doesn't come that much. He doesn't even come to the ones where he's already at because he's roping. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mama, he tried to come. He had to do stuff. He, he actually got... Mommy, he had to get stuff done. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) He could have come down and watched your pole run. He could have. He didn't have to do that stuff right then. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Are we here already? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Already. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Mommy, I just, I haven't even started playing. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Well, do you want me to… ((Johnny Noe, JJ's boyfriend)) You are the whiniest little booger I've seen in a minute. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Hello? ((JJ's friend)) Hey JJ, is Bryndle not running? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah? ((JJ's friend)) Well, they just called her name. She just failed for poles. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Oh (s**t). I didn't know they were starting already. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) Got to give Bryndle her donuts. Because what would be the first thing you'd say? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Where are my donuts? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) She missed Poles. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I will eat this. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) They already ran Poles. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) So she gets no time. You'll be alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think that's the one you hate the most anyways, right? ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Hey, you're going to go do good in the other ones, and you're still going to have fun. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Those are the ones that are easy and fun. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Like I said, just walk okay? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yeah, I'm just frustrated. And, Bryndle missed her pole run this morning because I was poorly misinformed about the timeline of things. ((Rodeo final participant's parent)) Oh crap. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm freaking pissed. I've been very...there has been a big lack of information flow for me in this association, and I am very frustrated. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I never got your name. ((Josie, Rodeo final participant)) Josie. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Josie. My name is Bryndle. ((Josie, Rodeo final participant)) Well, you want to go play? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yeah. I think I have some free time. Let's go down the elevator. There is an elevator! ((Rodeo final announcer)) Now Bryndle was not here earlier, we will call her again. So if she is not missed, you may be in this run. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) She's here. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Everybody ready? Alright. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Two hands, kick, kick, kick. Get to the third barrel. Let him get around it, okay? Don't let him stop before, kick, kick, kick. You can do it, you're gonna do great. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Okay, we are ready for Bryndle Denbow. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Go fast, hurry! Go, go, go, go, go! Come on, hurry! Hurry! 11.740 ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) You did good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Thank you. ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) You got what? Goats next? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) And then Barrels. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Okay. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Goats are my favorite. ((Blake Denbow, JJ's ex-husband and Bryndle's father)) Oh, is it, really? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) She did so good. Did you see it? She did so good. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's your...you're up, babe. All right, go all the way. Kick, kick, kick! Whoa! Go, go, go, go! Get off! Hurry! Run! 9.331 Good job! ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Go Kayden! Go Kayden! Get off, jump off! Run! Oh, what was that? ((Rodeo final announcer)) 15.884 ((Blake Denbow, Bryndle's father)) This is your last run. Focus. Okay, have fun. ((Rodeo final announcer)) So we got about ten minutes. Ten minutes and we're going to roll. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Two hands. Okay, all the way to your first barrel. Two hands. And then when you get there, drop your outside and then pull back. You got it. Come on. ((Rodeo final announcer)) Alright, let's go with Bryndle Denbow, Bryndle Denbow. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, whenever you're ready. Go ahead. Two handed. Go, go, go, go. Keep kicking, keep kicking. Come on! Go! Keep kicking! Kick, kick, kick! Come on, fast. Hurry, hurry, hurry, hurry! ((Rodeo final announcer)) Good job, Bryndle. 19.723. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Good job babe! You need to walk him, unless you want to hand walk him. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yea, that's what, I'm trying to get her to stay two handed so that when she gets to the barrel, she can just drop that and pull and pull his nose, and then he'll just he'll be fast, faster. Freaking awesome. And then right here, so she's not two handed. She's one handed, and she's in the middle of the rein. And what she's doing pulling back and around instead of, if her hand six more inches down. Well, it was still pretty good. ((Rodeo final announcer)) 15.689. Wow good job. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) And only 3 seconds off what these blistering kids are doing. I mean, I don't want to run against some of these kids. And that's not bad. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You're not going to get a year end prize from the association because we you had to miss a couple of rodeos. Since you worked hard and you went through all of it and you did all the stuff you were supposed to and you improved every run. I want to show you something that I got you. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Am I get to use it this week? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Oh, okay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay. Ready? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yes. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Close your eye. Close them good. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay I can't see. Can I open? ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, now look. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Yay, saddle. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I knew it. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Saddle. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) You don't like it? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) I mean, I thought it was a puppy or a puppet. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Okay, alright, well. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But yay. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Sorry for that. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) But I like it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) That's dissapointing. All right, let's go. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) No, Mommy, no, wait! No, wait. No, ma'am. Wait! No, I like it. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) Obviously not. ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) It's just not what I expected. Wait, I like it. I like it, Mama. Mommy, I like it. ((NATS)) ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm a little bit humiliated, kind of a little bit embarrassed you know. When you try to do something really nice for your kid, and then they just...And then it's like, a complete disappointment. And then you're, like, I just feeling empty. ((NATS/MUSIC)) ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Okay in a minute, when I get my shop and open for business, then you want something. It's turquoise drink. Okay? ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Open for business. Do you want an aqua drink? Cause I'm selling aqua drinks. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I think it goes with the whole thing. I'm just tired. I spent a lot of money trying to come here... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Pick up something, just pretend. And your total will be $5.99. Money! Thank you. I'll get your drink right now. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) It's like mostly my fault because I shouldn't have built it up... ((Bryndle Denbow, Barrel Racer)) Let's go. I have my own store. I made it myself. ((JJ Thompson, Barrel Racer)) I'm very tired. Emotionally tired. Mentally tired. Credits: Director: Chu Wu Cinematography: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Austin Ao, Chu Wu Video Editors: Yiyi Yang, E-Ting Chung, Chu Wu Cast: JJ Thompson, Bryndle Denbow, Johnny Noe, James Berryman, Blake Denbow Senior Executive Producer: Euna Lee Producer: Weijun Chen Commissioning Editor: Euna Lee Special Thanks To: Yolanda Lopez Nadia Madjid Bill Ide Xin Chen Amy Katz Elizabeth Hughes Cheng Yue
- Embargo Date July 15, 2022 11:10 EDT
- Byline Chu Wu
- Brand / Language Service US Agency for Global Media, Voice of America - English