CHRISTOPHER DE PAOLA
Ep. 6 Low To High
FAULT
Tommy goes to Trace for help with the Olivia/US Open problem. Trace says he’ll take care of it.
Tommy takes Olivia to a tennis wall, his way of helping her through her panic attacks- a stress reliever. Olivia tells him she has enough to write a story implicating him in some shady business at the US Open final. He tells her Trace tried to see him, but security would not let him in- end of story. Tommy asks her how TheRinger.com interview went. How does he know? He got her the interview. Olivia doesn’t know how to handle this gesture.
Justine and Jupiter meet for the first time. Jupiter crushes Justine 6-2 6-2. Justine slams water bottles, screams at lines people, breaks rackets and is penalized points. The one thing that worked for her was what Tommy stressed: step in on the return of serve. When Justine did this, she broke Jupiter’s serve and won 4 games. At the post match press conference, Justine punches a reporter. Tommy watches the whole affair on tv.
Real Justine can walk for periods of time. She’s tired of watching her twin sister destroy her sparkling reputation. Real Justine insists on being the “off-court face” of the sisters. She will do all press conferences, sponsor events, guest appearances, promos, etc in place of her sister.
Justine, realizing her mistake, re-hires Tommy. Tommy’s one condition is that she control her anger. They become closer.
Trace gives Tommy back the BE #1 paper he retrieved. We learn Trace had 12 year-old Tommy write that paper the day he arrived on the estate for training. Tommy opens up and we learn how much being #1 meant to him, and just how difficult it’s been dealing with his lack of achievement.
TEASER FLASHBACK: The US Open finals 10 years ago, Tommy alone in the locker room before the match, a recreation of the flashback scenes in the pilot… Outside, Trace attempts to get access to Tommy. The security guard will not let him in. Tommy sits alone in the locker room. Trace is forceful, but the guard won’t be swayed. Tommy is left standing alone in the locker room.