The Big Bad Fish Man

**The Big Bad Fish Man** is the seventh episode of the first season of the Starz original wrestling drama *Heels*.

## Synopsis

The South Georgia State Fair is only a couple of weeks away and Jack's doing all he can to keep his professional and personal lives intact. Staci has increasing suspicions that Jack played a larger role in Ace's unexpected Heel-turn. Thomas is acting out in school, the DWL's forced to audition additional wrestlers, and Jack stays busy warding off Charlie Gully from poaching his best talent, including Ace.

## Plot

Jack and Tom are on their way back from a doctor's appointment in Atlanta. Tom is worried that he's going to miss dinner with Eddie Earl, but Jack insists that he won't. He planted the seed that they'll need money to fix the Dome, but Tom says that he doesn't need Jack's help. Tom even confronts Jack about him planting seeds in Ace's head about wrestling. Tom doesn't want him off track, as he has a football scholarship to a D2 school. Jack explains that the DWL needs someone like Ace, who is young, athletic, and good-looking. However, Tom is determined to see to it that Ace makes it to the NFL despite the fact that the DWL is dying and they haven't had a sold-out show in five years. Since Jack would like to take over and run the DWL so badly, Tom challenges him to a wrestling match right there on the side of the road, which ends with Tom telling Jack not to come for what's his.

Present day, Paul informs Gully that Wild Bill has signed on with the DWL roster. They recall how his valets were always so hot, until they gained weight and was replaced. Admittedly, the wrestling business has treated women terribly, which is why at the FWD, they're beacons for a new hope. However, Between Bill's connections and Jack's relentlessness, the DWL is still a concern, especially with them wrestling at the South Georgia State Fair. Gully decides to up his promotional methods by gluing FWD posters all along the front entrance of the DWL with help from Paul.

Jack returns home from his run to find Crystal sitting on the porch with Staci. She hands him a letter while explaining that she's truly sorry for going off script and what happened between Bobby and Ace. She also expresses her gratitude for the chances Jack has already given her. She knows she can make an impact for the fair and guarantees to show up and prove to him just how much the league means to her if given the opportunity. He thanks her for stopping by and heads into the house. Crystal then apologizes to Staci for barging in, but Staci insists that she understands, reminding Crystal that she's a good person.

Ace, Diego, Apocalypse, and Bobby arrive at the DWL to find the flyers for an invitation to Gully's mansion party plastered all along the building. Apocalypse explains that Gully got so rich through family money from up north, which he built on by coming down south selling fishing and hunting equipment. Jack arrives soon thereafter and reveals that way back when, there was an upstart promotion that stole a couple of guys from the DWL. They called it CRAWDAD: Crazy Rassling Assholes Wrestling Dawn and Dusk. Guys would leave them and go wrestle for a few dozen meth heads, only to come crawling back to Duffy a few months later.

Debbie checks in on Willie, who is watching Bill train, as she may not be the most comfortable with Bill's return, but Willie insists that she's fine.

Bill presumes that they're headed to confront Gully for plastering his promotion all over the DWL, but Jack and Ace aren't interested, as they have greater matters to attend to. Normally, Jack would write the entire main event, but this time he wishes to have a creative discussion about the main event. Wild Bill thinks he should win. Jack agrees its time for him to give up the belt, but it's a matter of who get it. Ace and Bill debate which of the two of them should win. Jack looks to Willie for help, but she simply suggests flipping a coin.

Thomas gets into a fight with an older kid in school near the water fountain after the older kid tells him to "Get f\*cked."

Eddie and Annie Earl show up at Staci's place of work to reveals to her that Mickey Holloway wants her to sing the national anthem at the Georgia State Rodeo Championship after watching Annie's recording of Staci singing at the baptism.

Jack and Staci speak to Thomas at home after learning he got suspended from school for a week for fighting. Staci tells him that he can't hit people out of anger, though Thomas recalls how his dad hit Uncle Ace at the hospital because he's a bad person. Thomas adds that it's okay to hit someone so that they know you're mad at what they did. When Thomas excuses himself to go to the bathroom, Stacie blames Jack for hitting Ace, as it has sent Thomas the wrong message. And wrestling has only furthered that confusion since Thomas can't seem to tell what's real and what's fake. Staci then reveals that she's been asked to sing the national anthem for the Rodeo Championships.

Crystal shows up for open try-outs at the DWL and asks Debbie for the signup waver, should they be harmed during try-outs. She then informs Willie that Crystal is planning to try-out.

Ace arrives at Gully's mansion party in Florida, where he runs into Rooster, who points him in the direction of Gully, who arrives by helicopter. Ace claims that he came to kick Gully's ass for messing with the DWL, but Gully is surprisingly impressed at the lengths Ace is willing to go to defend his family's honor, referring to Ace as the "embodiment of gallantry." However, rather than fight, Gully proposes they talk about Ace's future.

Willie supervises the try-outs, in which a wrestler named "The Dad" seems to be the only stand-out talent. That is until Wild Bill enters the ring and sends him packing. Crystal then challenges Wild Bill, which ultimately ends with her impressing the crew and flipping Bill on his back with a head scissors, leaving Debbie to question why they don't have women wrestlers.

Jack arrives and asks about try-outs. Willie reveals that The Dad was the only standout. And with Rooster gone, Big Jim retired, and Bobby Pin injured, they need bodies. Willie also reveals that Crystal tried out and that she's surprisingly good. While she is small, she is also acrobatic. Jack believes that they're at a place where they have to choose between Ace and Crystal, as they can't be together anymore, but Willie disagrees, adding that the fans like Crystal just as much as Ace. Willie suggests putting Crystal in the main event against Jack, Ace, and Bill for the belt. Willie then begins to realize that Jack's reluctance to give Crystal a chance isn't because of who she is as a wrestler, but who she is as a person and how she hurt Ace. Billie replies that she wished Jack cared as much about how Bill makes her feel as he does about how Crystal makes Ace feel.

Gully insists that he means no harm, and as a show of good faith, he’s already sent a group of guys down to clean up his mess at the DWL. It was merely a plot to bring Ace to him. He explains that his world and business is functional and how he tries to foster a world where dreams can come true. He encourages Ace to join them and fulfill his destiny. Ace finally realizes that Gully is nervous. The DWL has better athletes, storylines, and a better venue. Gully denies any nervousness and attempts to convince Ace to join him. He even offers to give Ace his own merch. People see Ace as someone who will always be getting wronged by Jack. Gully is offering him another way. He proposes that Ace stay the night just to see what they’re about in order to at least make an informed decision.

Willie shows up at Crystal’s unexpectedly and tells her that she’s been fired. Willie then returns home to find the kitchen a mess after telling Robin to clean up her mess from this morning. She is noticeably more irritable than usual and takes her frustration out on Ted as well, before heading out on the porch for a drink. Ted follows her out and asks what’s wrong. He tries to help, telling her that she could always quit, but she refuses. Still, Ted reminds Willie that he loves her and that he will do whatever she needs of him, even if that means speaking to Jack and Bill, but Willie insists that she can handle herself. However, Ted is worried about her. This situation at the DWL has put her in some kind of undefinable distress. She’s even drinking more than usual. However, Willie doesn’t want to talk about any of this. She’d rather sit and drink, but when Ted continues to push further, she exclaims that she doesn’t want to talk about and heads back inside.

Ace wakes up the next morning at Gully mansion with Nozomi on top of him. Ace spends the entire day with Gully and his crew, even attending a FWD event and hooking up with Nozomi in the back room but stops and tells her that he needs a moment alone to call his mom whose in the hospital. In actuality, he calls Crystal and reveals that he’s jumping ship to FWD and wants Crystal to come with him as his partner in crime. Tonight, after the show, Gully is bringing Ace out to denounce Jack and the DWL. He invites Crystal to join him, and they could stay at Gully’s mansion. If not, he tells Crystal to call him tomorrow.

Crystal pulls up to Jack’s and informs him that Ace is at the FWD show with Gully. He’s going to go out at the end of the show and say screw the DWL. Jack questions what her angel is. Crystal claims that she simply cares about the DWL and Ace, who she fears will get hurt while working with Gully. Jack thanks Crystal for the information and heads inside where he tells Staci that he’s going after Ace, but she suggests that Jack simply let Ace go if that’s what he truly wants, as they were enjoying time together as a family after learning that Staci would be singing the national anthem.

After Jack leaves, Staci heads into the bathroom, and while grabbing a towel, she accidentally knocks a packet of tissues onto the ground, similar to the same tissues that were thrown into the ring at Ace. Suspecting that Jack may have been at the source of this, Staci heads to the Piggly Wiggly with Thomas, who reveals that he got into a fight at school because he’s sad. He feels as though his spirit is broken. Staci feels the same way and tells Thomas that they will fix that. She’s glad that he’s being truthful with her rather than keeping his emotions bottled up. Staci and Thomas then head inside and ask Howard to check for any bulk purchases of Kleenex packets, which he confirms did come from the DWL account and was picked up by Jack.

Jack arrives at the FWD just as Rooster wrestles in the ring with Bob Wired. Rooster sprinkles thumbtacks on a table, places Bob Wired on the table and then flips on top of him, crashing through the table and gaining the victory with a pin fall, winning the title belt.

Gully gifts Ace a custom FWD Jean jacket and prepares to make their announcement of Ace joining the FWD. However, Ace begins to have second thoughts when Gully says that they intend to have Ace beat Rooster for the title next when Rooster just only won the belt, suggesting lack of story and buildup. When Ace proposes allowing Rooster to keep it a little longer, Gully explains that Rooster is just the bait and that Ace is the big fish.

Gully enters the ring and calls out Ace, but Jack shows up in the ring instead. He punches Gully and slams him into the ground, telling Gully, "Don’t come for my sh\*t, boy." Ace and Rooster watch from backstage as this unfolds.

## Cast

* Alexander Ludwig as Ace Spade
* Alison Luff as Staci Spade
* Mary McCormack as Willie Day
* Kelli Berglund as Crystal Tyler
* Allen Maldonado as Rooster Robbins
* James Harrison as Apocalypse
* Roxton Garcia as Thomas Spade
* Chris Bauer as Wild Bill Hancock
* Trey Tucker as Bobby Pin
* Robby Ramos as Diego Cottonmouth
* Joel Murray as Eddie Earl
* Marcia DeBonis as Debbie
* Larry Clarke as Ted Day
* Eliza Coyle as Annie Earl
* Brian Scannell as
* Erskin Harris as Harris
* Sumi Yu as Nozomi
* Mike O'Malley as Charlie Gully

Co-Starring* Margaret Morris as Robin Day
* Sam Puefua as Bob Wired
* DJ Walton as Lucifer 78
* Andrew Henault as Kevin
* Luke Hawx as The Hole
* Kahea Sako as Tobey
* Zoe Myers as Diane Tracey
* Scott Hunter as The Dad
* Fiona O'Malley as Lucy Gully
* Jackson Smith as Matt

## Gallery

### Videos

‘The Big Bad Fish Man' Ep. 7 Preview - Heels - STARZ‘DWL Family’ Ep. 7 Clip - STARZThe Cast Discusses Ep. 7 - Heels - STARZ-2‘Jack Sneaks Into Gully’s Ring’ Ep. 7 Clip - STARZ