Swerve

**Swerve** is the fifth episode of the first season of the Starz original wrestling drama *Heels*.

## Synopsis

When the South Georgia State Fair shows interest in featuring the DWL at this year's fair, it's on Jack to close the deal with an electric night of matches; Bill, Ace and Crystal have their own ideas.

## Plot

Crystal rehearses her lines in the ring against a booing crowd. Jack is impressed, but Ace believes that it only ruins the suspense and wants to skip the promo altogether. Surprisingly, Jack agrees with him, though moving forward, he assures Crystal that he will be writing for her in the future. Willie then tells her to buy a new outfit, including a bra, reminding Crystal that they run a family show. Bobby and Ace then rehearse their main event cage match, but Bobby isn't quite comfortable on the top ropes. Willie unexpectedly gets a call from the South Georgia State Fair, who wants them to perform at the fair.

Wild Bill holds a press conference to discuss his incident on the plane and how he was fired for his actions. After a stint in rehab, Wild Bill promises that he'll be back.

Staci calls her dad and tells him that she's going to start her first day of work later that day.

Wild Bill offers Jack his expertise, but Jack isn't interested and tells him to get lost. He's even less pleased to see Bill after hearing what he said to Willie.

Jack returns home from his run and Staci gives him a hand job in the bathroom to calm his nerves as he still has to close the deal with the state fair.

Low on cash, Crystal decides to use the entirety of her $100 check to place a bet on the Reds vs Cardinals game.

On their way to the DWL, Thomas asks Jack for a gerbil, and despite Staci previously telling Jack that Thomas could not have one, Jack relents.

Jack arrives with Thomas and informs the crew that in the crowd tonight, they're going to have three people from the South Georgia State Fair Commission to determine if the DWL will perform at the fair in front of 10,000 people. Thomas then reads the rundown.

Ace arrives in the parking Lot of the DWL with Tricia just as Crystal gets word that she won on her bet. She hugs Bobby in excitement and they head into his trailer.

Willie has taken the liberty of confirming Jack's dinner with a State Fair woman named Constance. Ace then arrives and announces that Tricia is his new valet.

Staci is off to a good start on her first day at work. It's going well until she runs into Wild Bill, who has broken a jar of pickles. Bill suspects that money must be tight with Jack forcing Staci to work, but she informs him that she's working because she chose to. Staci clearly isn't interested in talking with him, but Bill continues. Staci suspects that Bill wants to stick it to Jack because he reminds Bill of Tom. While Jack isn't half as skilled, Bill does admit he's just as cocky and arrogant despite his staggering lack of accomplishments. However, Staci argues that Jack is breathing new life into the DWL while also building a family life that Bill will never have. Staci then mentions that Jack's intends to land the State Fair and that he's going to prove Wild Bill wrong.

Crystal tries on her new costume in Bobby's trailer. Meanwhile, Thomas and Apocalypse eat donuts from the stands as Diego and Rooster rehearse their match.

Jack calls Crystal and Bobby into his office, where Ace awaits with his new valet, Tricia. For tonight's match, Ace and Crystal will go down to the ring together, but Ace is then going to grab a mic and tell the audience that they're breaking up because he caught her behind his back with Bobby Pin. The angel they will paint is that Bobby and Crystal are in love. While Bobby is fine with this, Crystal is not. She asks Ace why he is doing this when he could've just talked to her, but he insists he's simply doing what's best for his character.

Jack brings Thomas with him for his lunch with the committee from the South Georgia State Fair. As they wait, Thomas begins asking questions about the family business, such as why Jack and Ace are heels and how is it Jack came to take control of the DWL.

Crystal asks Willie why Jack's bringing on a new valet if tonight's show is so important. Willie claims that he's simply following his instincts. With Willie taking the picture, Crystal and Bobby stage a romantic interaction that Ace will later show to the crowd as proof of Crystal's infidelity.

While the committee aren't exactly wrestling aficionados, they are intrigued by the concept of adding it to the fair's entertainment. So, Jack informs them about how it was created by his father 30 years ago and how the community of Duffy comes out every week to see them. When the committee asks just how they keep people entertained, Thomas explains that it ultimately comes down to storytelling.

While signing photos for fans, Crystal asks Ace why he's replacing her, but he insists it's not personal. Meanwhile, Wild Bill arrives at DWL for the fan signing. When Ace heads off to use the bathroom, Wild Bill fills his seat. He and Crystal then take photos with the fans. Debbie confronts Bill, telling him that he's not supposed to be anywhere near the DWL, but he claims that he's just trying to help them close the deal with the State Fair committee. Debbie relents, telling Bill to sit in the crowd where he can't be seen and to keep his clothes on.

The arena is packed, but Rooster is upset that he isn't getting the push he deserves. Instead, Diego's getting the push in tonight's Battle Royal, and he's tired of hearing about Rooster's constant complaining. Diego doesn't care about the battle royal or the belt. He just wants to wrestle. So, he suggests that Rooster wins tonight's Battle Royal instead. Even though Jack will be upset, Diego will claim he tripped, because he wants to see Rooster happy.

Ace and Tricia have sex in his car, with Crystal not too far away, in her jeep. She ducks down as they walk past and enter the arena. Wild Bill wishes Crystal good luck and offers her some advice. He tells her to pull her hair back when she walks down to the ring so that the crowd can see her. Her pretty face is more of an attraction than any muscles. However, Crystal reveals that after tonight, she will no longer be Ace's valet, which Bill assumes is Jack's doing due to his short-sightedness. If Jack was smart, he'd mine that drama and the buzz that the screw job caused, Bill adds. The crowd is more likely to believe when they say what they really feel. Even if it's not in the script, Bill advises Crystal to lean into her feelings and seize the moment.

As the battle Royal is underway in the ring, backstage, Crystal and Tricia get into a fight, which Ace and Bobby are forced to break up, but Crystal's costume is torn in the process, which Willie manages to patch, at least for the moment.

Rooster and Diego are going off script in the ring. Rather than Diego pulling out the win as written, Rooster intends to win. However, he has a change of heart when the crowd begins chanting his name and allows Diego to win as initially intended. Rooster then returns backstage, where Jack admits that he should allow them to improvise more, as he and Diego had the crowd riled up. However, Rooster is clearly frustrated, which doesn't go unnoticed by Jack, who offers Rooster time tomorrow for them to discuss his future in the DWL.

Ace heads down to the ring. Following Bill's advice, Crystal pins her hair back and enters the ring. Just as planned, Ace grabs the mic and prepares to tell the crowd about Crystal's infidelity, but Crystal seizes the moment and reveals to the crowd herself that she's been cheating with Bobby Pin, as Ace couldn't satisfy her, and then Crystal calls Tricia out to a booing crowd. "Let the night roar!" she exclaims as the crowd cheers while she kisses Bobby.

Wild Bill watches from the concession stand as Crystal seizes the moment, just as he advised. He is then confronted by Debbie, who suspects that he is responsible for Crystal going off script.

The match is underway, and Ace takes all his aggression out on Bobby, hitting him harder than usual. The two then both attempt to climb the cage but fall back down to the mat. After superplexing Bobby off the cage, Ace puts him in a leg bar and breaks Bobby's leg.

After Bobby is carried out on a stretcher, Wild Bill grabs a mic and enters the ring to accost Jack and Ace for their reckless actions and tarnishing King Spade's legacy. Bill claims that he came back home to rest but upon discovering the mockery they've made of the DWL, he decided to come back and challenge Jack and Ace in a three-way ladder match for the title. Enraged by his presence in the DWL, Jack comes out to the ring with the title belt in hand. He plays along with the narrative Bill has created and agrees to the match.

At the Sanctity Health Medical Center, the DWL crew sit and wait for word of Bobby's status as the doctors perform surgery on his leg. Jack then spots Ace and sends Thomas to the gift shop while he confronts his brother. Ace insists it was an accident, but Jack slams him against the soda machine, explaining to Ace that he made him a heel because he's a bad person, unaware that Thomas is watching. Jack releases Ace, and Thomas runs away in complete shock. Willie joins them and hands Jack the phone to speak with the State Fair committee, who are under the impression that Bobby Pin's injury was scripted, which Jack plays along with, as they got the fair. However, Willie is more concerned with the mental state of Thomas, who she advises Jack to speak with soon.

## 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
* Robby Ramos as Diego Cottonmouth
* Marcia DeBonis as Debbie
* Kerry O'Malley as Paula Portis
* Missy Yager as Constance Garrity
* Sir Brodie as Charles
* Ross Benjamin as Edward
* Erskin Harris as Harris
* Elizabeth Posey as Tricia

Co-Starring* Sandy Eells as Maddie
* Philip Saad as Maddie's Boyfriend
* Ricky Boynton as Cameraman Jean Claude
* Pj Hawx as Denny the Ref
* Christian Adam as Gabe
* Jef Holbrook as Todd
* Erskine C. Johnson III as Muscle Fan
* Saundra Griffith as Attendant
* Ben Bladon as Slender Fan
* Mallory Hoff as Female Reporter #1
* John Crow as Male Reporter #1
* Ryan King as Male Reporter #2
* Lace Larrabee as Female Reporter #2
* Paul Ryden as Male Reporter #3
* Mercedez McDowell as Female Reporter #3
* Joshua Vasquez as Young Fan

## Gallery

### Videos

‘Swerve' Ep. 5 Preview - Heels - STARZThe Cast Discusses Ep. 5 - Heels - STARZ-2‘Wild Bill Takes Control’ Ep. 5 Clip - Heels - STARZ‘Crystal Goes Off Script’ Ep. 5 Clip - Heels - STARZ