Cheap Heat

**Cheap Heat** is the third episode of the first season of the Starz original wrestling drama *Heels*.

## Synopsis

In an attempt to drum up more heat, Jack enlists the help of wrestling veteran, Ricky Rabies, setting Ace up with a full house for his comeback match against Bobby Pin.

## Plot

On the morning of his death, Tom Spade went on his daily run before returning home to mowed the lawn as well as other household chores like putting up a sign for Carol's garden. He then went inside, grabbed a gun, and shot himself in the head on the porch. Ace followed the gunfire to the back, where he found his dad's lifeless body.

Bobby Pin's day job is working security at a strip club. He takes a break to call his mom and dad and inform them that he's going to be in the main event against Ace. He then escorts a customer out after she touches one of the girls.

Jack has arranged for Ricky Rabies to come in as a special guest. He claims that he's about 45 minutes away and assures Jack he will be there on time.

Ace prepares his speech for the crowd, with Crystal providing assistance. She worries that it's a bit too positive and suggests taking a different angle. Jack asks Crystal for a moment alone with Ace, and they argue over Ace's closing line, which eventually Jack concedes and agrees to let Ace have it his way. Jack then apologizes for what he did to Ace in their last match and tells his brother that he doesn't need a big corporation and will always be a big star within the DWL.

Willie sends Eddie and Annie Earl to Jack's office to wait. When Jack finally arrives, Eddie points out that his banner is missing the verse from Revelation that he sent over to them. Jack assures him it will be fixed and even offers to have his name across the entire apron with a couple more of his favorite bible verses, as Eddie's title pawn has been sponsoring the DWL. Eddie recalls the deal he had with Tom and how they did a commercial, suggesting that perhaps he and Jack do the same thing.

Staci meets up with a few of her friends for dinner.

Diego and Apocalypse sneak a Smirnoff Ice into Bobby Pin's bag, and after he discovers it, they force him to get down on one knee and chug the entire bottle as tradition. They then give Ace a main event ice, which he chugs as well. Rooster enters with an attitude after learning that Bobby Pin, who just got to the DWL, is already in the main event match with Ace. Diego then informs the guys Ricky Rabies has arrived.

Jack introduces Ace and Crystal to Ricky, his son Wolfgang, and his valet Vicky. When Ricky mentions blood, Ace is surprised, as DWL is supposed to be about family entertainment, though Ricky explains that the blood isn't for the match, rather a new component of his entrance that also incorporates Wolfgang into the act. It's more of a blood-unifying, Ricky explains. When Crystal shows the Rabies out, Ace confronts Jack, as he was promised the night, but it's more so been promoted as a Ricky Rabies return. While Ace and Bobby may be on the main event poster, Jack vs Ricky is the real fight people are coming to see, but Jack assures Ace that Ricky is nothing more than a draw to bring people in.

Staci's diner with her friends come to an end. As she gets ready to cover the bill, the waiter tells her that it is on the house. He recalls serving Staci on her anniversary and says that it's an honor to serve her again. He then asks if the ladies are going to see the match and if Jack is going to screw someone else over. However, the ladies were unaware of the match, but are now insisting on seeing it.

Bobby Pin puts an ice in Rooster's urinal, which he doesn't notice until Bobby points it out. Tradition demands that he drink it now, but Rooster refuses and yells at Bobby Pin to take the bottle elsewhere, as he isn't in the main event. Diego and Apocalypse come to Bobby's defense, explaining that it's not his fault he got the main event and that he should go talk to Jack.

Vicky asks for Crystal's help with making the blood, explaining that a valet's job is figuring out what her man needs. While the industry isn't so female friendly, the rest will take care of itself should you find the right wrestler, she reveals. She's been with Ricky since she was about Crystal's age. She advises Crystal to treat Ace right, because in return, he will take her with him.

Following Vicky's advice, Crystal offers to help Ace oil up for his match.

Ace and Crystal exit to a booing crowd. Ace is taunted while giving a speech to the crowd, who isn't interested in what he has to say. To make matters worse, a girl in the rafters begins to heckle Ace, referring to him as a crybaby and throwing tissue at his feet. The crowd then begins to fill the ring with tissue and call him a crybaby. Ace charges into the back to confront Jack, as he doesn't appreciate being booed. However, Jack argues that Ace would make a really good heel if he'd only capitalize on this moment, but Ace refuses to be heel, exclaiming that their dad was a face, so he intends to remain one as well, though Jack scoffs at the notion, as their father wasn't a good man. He even killed himself, knowing that Ace was home.

Staci and her friends sit on one end of the arena, while the Earls sit on the other end and watch as Apocalypse faces off with Diego.

Crystal finds Ace in the laundry room having a meltdown. She enters and locks the door behind her. She then proceeds to kiss Ace, and they have sex.

Jack and Ricky prepare for their match. Ricky reveals that with time, his body aches regularly and there's not much that he can do, but he does appreciate Jack booking him, as it's putting food on the table.

Rooster approaches Jack, but he already seems to know what about. Jack explains that he chose Bobby for the main event because he needed someone who could fall to Ace. Admittedly, Rooster is one of the best guys they have, but Jack essentially tells him that he won't be getting a chance at the belt anytime soon.

Jack comes out and verbally attacks the crowd before accepting an open challenge, in which Ricky Rabies exits with Vicky and Wolfgang, who has a drone wrapped in possum fur that spews blood in Jack's face. The match then gets underway.

Ace heads out back, where he sees Rooster watching a viral video of Wild Bill naked on a plane. Rooster recalls the first time he saw Bill wrestle. It was right before he left DWL. Rooster has been dreaming about getting in the ring ever since. By 16, he was part of the EGL. Then Cobb County. Then the AGA. He's been apart of every single indie league. While he may be athletic, have raw talent, and personality, he never won a belt, stating that it only stands out when it gets a white backdrop. He was a prodigy, and now he's a vet with no championship. Rooster can't believe he thought it would be any different with Jack taking over. Ace agrees that Jack has no idea what he's doing, however, Rooster does in fact agree that Ace would make a great heel.

When Ricky blows out his knee mid-fight, Jack decides to end it with a reverse DDT, getting the win.

After the match, Jack goes looking for Ace, but no one can find him. So, Jack intends to wrestle Bobby for the main event and tells Willie to cue Bobby Pin's music up, which is a rap song that he wrote himself. Fortunately, Ace shows up just in time to go on.

Ace heads to the ring with Crystal in tow and wrestles Bobby. Having taken it under consideration, Ace decides to make his heel turn. He low blows Bobby and stuffs his mouth with tissues before ending the match with a super kick to Bobby Pin's head.

Ace and Bobby return backstage to a standing ovation, but Ace is in a less than celebratory mood. He pushes Crystal away and calls Willie a "bitch," forcing Jack to pull him to the side. Ace explains that he's simply giving Jack what he wanted; he's a heel now.

By the end of the night and once all earnings are totaled, Willie reveals that they did good and that Jack was right about bringing in Ricky. She then confronts him about hiring that girl in the audience to taunt Ace with tissue.

Vicky embraces Crystal and says that she has a psychic feeling about her. She's certain that Crystal is going to go on to do good things. Ricky prepares to head home, revealing that his actual wife, Betty, is waiting for him. Vicky then gives Crystal one last piece of advice: to stay skinny. "Tuna for lunch, gummy bears for dinner. That's how I stay skinny."

Staci says goodbye to her friends in the parking lot of the Dome, though she is sad to see them go.

Rooster enters his car to find a Smirnoff Ice waiting for him and Bobby waving. He tells Rooster to send him a video of him drinking it later.

Willie returns home to find Wild Bill waiting. He reveals that he messed up pretty bad.

Bobby calls his parents from on top of the water tower to tell them about his first main event match. He thanks them for being the greatest parents and always supporting him.

On the ride to Carol's to pick up Thomas, Staci asks Jack if he's ever heard of Machu Picchu, as she wants them to go together, but Jack keeps coming up with excuses on why they can't. He fears that DWL will collapse without him, but she's tired of DWL being their whole life. As they head inside to join Carol, Ace is at his dad's grave, mourning in the darkness.

## 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
* Duke Davis Roberts as Big Jim Kitchen
* Alice Barrett-Mitchell as Carol Spade
* Erica Pappas as Melanie Kitchen
* Joel Murray as Eddie Earl
* Bonnie Somerville as Vicky Rabies
* Marcia DeBonis as Debbie
* Eliza Coyle as Annie Earl
* Ryann Redmond as Whitney
* Danielle Gross as Courtney
* Katie Carpenter as Kate
* John Siciliano as N/A
* Phil Brooks as Ricky Rabies

Co-Starring* Becca Potter as Cheryl
* Erin Ownbey as Tawny
* Elliott Dixon as Tony
* Stone Garcia as Wolfgang
* Di Quon as Flight Attendant
* Chase Steven Anderson as Waiter
* Pj Hawx as Denny the Ref
* Bob Banks as Old Man/Roger
* Liz McGeever as Inebriated Woman (Terri)

## Gallery

### Videos

'Cheap Heat' Ep. 3 Preview - Heels - STARZThe Cast Discusses Ep. 3 - Heels - STARZ-2‘Getting Iced’ Ep. 3 Clip - Heels - STARZ‘Jack vs. Ricky Rabies’ Ep. 3 Clip - Heels - STARZHeels Free Full Episode 3 - 'Cheap Heat' - Season 1