Original subtitles

‐ You know that little voice in the back of your head that makes you do the right thing

even when you'd way rather being doing something more fun?

Yeah, that voice and I are good friends.

(lighthearted, folksy music)

‐ You've been practicing.

‐ I mean, it's really just about using the right markers but yes,

I have been practicing. ‐ Presentation matters.

If I'm going to win the state science fair,

then I'm going to need all the help I can get.

‐ Your project is amazing, Ames.

This is just the icing on the cake.

‐ It's all really happening, Hols.

You're going to be a rock star, I'm going to MIT,

and then we're going to reconvene at 30 and buy adjoining mansions.

‐ Don't you mean use our millions to save the world?

‐ No, bo‐ring!

‐ I'm just excited for people outside of Collinsville to hear my music;

but let's see if Oscar and I win this contest first.

If the song I wrote about all the stuff I went through with the musical

wins us an opening spot for Gwen Taylor, it might have almost been worth it.

Almost.

‐ Is this on right?

‐ Not in the slightest.

‐ Stop staring at your phone, you're stressing me out!

(phone buzzes) ‐ They said they were announcing the winners at 7:00.

It is now 7:00. ‐ I'm well aware.

Why do you think I'm trying to distract myself?

(phone buzzes)

(phone keeps buzzing)

‐ Hello?

‐ [Holly Hobbie?] ‐ Oh my gosh.

Yes? ‐ [Great. Hold on a moment.]

(Holly gasps) ‐ Is that‐‐

[Hey, y'all. Gwen Taylor here.]

[Is that Hollie and Oscar?] ‐ Yes, yes!

That's us! ‐ [Congratulations, you two! Your song won!]

[You're gonna perform with me in Collinsville!]

(phone crashes to the floor) ‐ Oh my gosh!

I just dropped Gwen Taylor. I am so sorry!

I'm such a huge fan. ‐ [Aw, thanks sweetheart.]

[I'm a fan too! That song you two wrote is really something.]

‐ Thank you, thank you so much! [Are you two ready to show the world what you got?]

‐ Yes, yes! We can't wait! [Good to hear!]

[Get yourselves camera‐ready.]

[My publicity team will be in town tomorrow to shoot some promo material.]

[I'll see y'all real soon!] (excited screaming)

(laughter)

‐ ♪♪ You and me run to a different beat ♪

♪ We are brave, lead the way ♪

♪ Lead the way! Be the you inside ♪

♪ And watch the world ♪

♪ Take flight, we are brave ♪

♪ Lead the way, lead the way! ♪

♪ Be the change! ♪

♪ Be the change! ♪

♪ Gotta be the change ♪♪

(optimistic banjo twang)

‐ Can you pass me the data sets,

please? ‐ Sure.

(Amy exclaims in surprise and discomfort)

Woah.

You ok?

‐ Totally fine, just a little nervous.

‐ But you're like, among your people.

Look at all these smarty‐pants. I literally

don't understand any of this.

Woah. ‐ What?

‐ That girl's project is like, the exact same as yours.

‐ Yeah.

Exactly the same except a million times better.

This is a nightmare.

Like, literally I have had this nightmare.

She totally 3D‐printed her brace.

‐ Does that matter that much? ‐ Of course it matters,

how am I supposed to compete when all I had access to

was whatever I pulled out of the garbage

behind Collinsville Middle School?

‐ You found an EMS machine in the garbage!?

‐ I'm being hyperbolic.

‐ Well, maybe it's not as similar as you think.

‐ The titles on our boards are exactly the same.

‐ At least your last name starts with an A, right? That means you'll present first.

‐ Yeah, getting my project in front of the judges before hers is my best,

Well, my only shot.

‐ Yeah, a little problem. That girl's last name is Aarons. Two A's.

‐ This can't be happening.

Do you know how hard I've been working on this? ‐ I do, actually.

Look, you just have to have faith that your project is good enough.

(instinct chatter in background)

‐ Or...

‐ Why do I feel like you think there's another option?

(mischievous music)

‐ Hi.

Two coffees, on the house?

‐ We're good, but thank you so much.

And thanks for letting us shoot our interview here.

‐ Oh, no problem. And if you want any dirt on Holly,

you know, when she was younger?

I'd be more than happy to oblige.

‐ Grandma!

‐ As tempting as that sounds,

I only need to talk to Holly and Oscar for now.

‐ Uh, sure. Okay. (Holly chuckles)

‐ Can you tell us a bit about the open mic you run here, Holly?

This is a very cute set‐up. ‐ Oh yeah, um. Well actually,

my grandma ran one when she was younger and it inspired me to do the same.

‐ Can you tell me a bit about how you two work together?

‐ I mean, the songs are all Holly.

I just help with the production a bit.

‐ He means he makes me sound amazing.

‐ I heard there's a new musical going up in town.

Directed by Jason Ryan Reeves, no less.

Seems like something a musical firecracker like yourself

would be involved in, Holly.

‐ (hesitatingly): Yeah, uh... No, not this time.

‐ Let's talk about your song! You refer to "making it through the dark".

‐ Oh, yeah that was just kind of like a metaphor.

‐ Really? Because it feels like you're writing about

something bad that happened to you.

‐ I mean, it was just kind of like a general dark?

‐ (Grandma): You know, if you want to get to know Holly,

you should really get to know her town.

Why don't you give them a tour?

‐ Yeah, this town is what made me who I am today.

‐ Then let's go!

‐ And over there,

you'll see Town Square.

‐ Seems like a pretty idyllic place to grow up in!

‐ I wouldn't be the same person I am today without Collinsville.

I feel pretty lucky to call it home.

‐ Do you find it hard to find things to write about?

Seems pretty sleepy around here.

‐ That actually hasn't been an issue.

‐ Savannah!

How dare you run out during rehearsal? Who do you think you are?

Get back in there. Now.

‐ Any idea what's going on there?

‐ No, not at all.

Why don't we head this way? I can show you the site

of the famous Collinsville Polka Heist.

‐ Sounds good. ‐ Okay.

‐ Did you know that the contest you won is sponsored by Pink Coast?

Do you think that means you'll get a bunch of free clothes?

‐ Maybe. ‐ I feel like you should be way,

way, way more excited about this.

Okay, well then maybe you'll be excited about this:

my mom decided that we're going to stay in Collinsville.

She talked to her company and they're going to

let her work remotely. ‐ Piper, that's amazing!

‐ Kinda disappointed we won't be roomies though.

‐ Maybe in college! But there's still something on your mind?

‐ How have rehearsals been going?

‐ For the musical? Are you sure you want to talk about this?

‐ Yeah, I really do.

‐ Well, Jason's been super‐stressed

and he keeps changing things and I'm like, opening is soon

and no one is off book because he keeps re‐writing.

‐ Has he been hard on Savannah?

‐ There was this thing with the ladder.

He wanted her to climb it without a harness

but if she fell, she could have really hurt herself.

‐ That seems really unsafe.

‐ She didn't want to do it but he made it sound like if she didn't...

‐ He'd recast her? ‐ Yep.

‐ Ginger‐lemon‐honey tea. Not too hot.

‐ Congrats on winning the contest.

‐ Oh, wow. Um, thanks.

Are you okay?

‐ What do you mean?

‐ Piper told me about the ladder.

‐ Oh, that. That was nothing, just a minor misunderstanding.

‐ But I saw you

and Jason outside the theatre today.

You were crying. Look, I know what it's like.

‐ It's nothing like that. Jason is happy with my performance;

we're just working through a few bumps.

I think it would be best if you just focused

on your creative endeavours while I focus on mine. Okay?

‐ Okay.

(wistful music)

‐ Sorry, so what's the plan here?

‐ To not lose this competition before I've even presented.

Oh, hello! Hi, Dr. Manning.

I noticed my name was spelled wrong on my registration.

‐ Oh, sorry. What's the error?

‐ Well, you have me down as Amy Abbasi

with one A. It actually has two A's.

‐ Oh, Amy with two A's. I've never heard of that before.

‐ No, no, no. "Abbasi" with two A's. Yeah, A‐A‐B‐B‐A‐S‐I.

‐ That makes sense. Yeah, if I could just see a piece of ID.

I can make that change ASAP.

‐ I think I just left my wallet at my station.

(in an undertone): Do you know how to doctor an ID?

‐ I am not going to answer that question.

‐ Please, please. I won't tell anyone.

What's the point? We should just go home.

‐ You want to leave? ‐ Yes.

If I fail here, it'll be a black mark on my scientific career forever.

I might as well go home and brainstorm other life paths.

‐ Okay, come here.

Look, that is not true. If you fail here,

no one will ever care or remember.

You'll just be one of the millions of people

who waltzed through here

and wowed everybody with their mediocrity.

And who cares if these people think you're meh?

Because I'll know the real truth.

‐ And what's the truth?

‐ That you are an amazing genius

who just happened to be born in a small town

with no 3D printers.

‐ (Reeves): Oh, I'm sorry. Do you not know what "stage left" means?

Have you ever been in a theatre before?

Holly.

What a pleasant surprise.

We've missed you at rehearsals.

Although, I hear you've kept busy.

Congratulations on your big win.

‐ Thanks.

Do people wear harnesses when they go on that?

It looks really unsafe. ‐ It's not nearly as high as it looks.

‐ Look, I saw you yelling at Savannah outside the theatre.

It's not okay, the way you treated me

and now the way you're treating her.

‐ Sorry, what is my alleged transgression?

‐ You yelled and you're being really mean.

‐ I'm doing my job,

which is to get the best performance possible out my actors.

‐ You're asking people to do things that are really unsafe.

‐ Okay, and we're back to the ladder thing again?

I understand it must have been hard to be replaced by Savannah,

but don't you think you should be putting your energy into practicing for your big debut

with Gwen Taylor? You know,

we're still very close friends, Gwen and I.

We kept in touch after I gave her her big break.

I've always been a mentor for her. And you know,

one thing I know about Gwen is how much she hates drama.

It just...

It makes her miserable to be around negative energy,

and I just don't think she'd want an opening act who's running around,

stirring things up unnecessarily.

I'd hate to make a phone call.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

Oh, how are you possibly making it worse?

Left! STAGE left!

Forget it. Do it wrong, it's fine.

(sad music)

‐ Amy, you still in there? ‐ Yeah, I just need a sec.

‐ Okay, sure. I just think you're needed soon

but, uh... Take your time.

‐ Okay. Let's do this thing.

‐ Everything cool?

‐ Yeah. Why wouldn't it be?

‐ Well, I just thought maybe you wanted to talk about...

‐ Oh, that? Yeah, that was just an imbalance of hormones

that elicited an unwarranted chemical reaction.

It doesn't mean what you think it means.

‐ Well, unwarranted or not, it was cute.

I'm flattered. Look, I think any guy would be lucky to kiss you.

It's just you're just too‐‐ ‐ Cool?

‐ No, young. You know, we just can't really...

‐ (over intercom): [All scientists please report to your display stations.]

[Judging will commence shortly.]

‐ Forget about it.

Let's just go win this thing. ‐ Okay, then.

‐ (singing): ♪♪ It was me, ♪

It was you, all the things we could do

and we talked underneath apple trees.

All our dreams, everything that we hoped we could be

‐ Wanted more chocolate cake just for me.

(keyboard cuts out) ‐ Told me I can't do that, say I'm a kid‐‐

Hey! ‐ You're off your game, Hobby! What's going on?

‐ The director knows Gwen Taylor

so he might torpedo our chance of performing.

‐ (scoffing): What you talking about, Hobby?

‐ All I want to do is move on.

I want to enjoy all of this

but I saw Jason Ryan Reeves outside the theatre today being hard on Savannah

and everything I've been trying to forget about came back.

Just like that. ‐ Everything?

‐ He yelled at me a lot.

‐ You're a kid doing community theatre! He shouldn't be yelling at you.

He shouldn't be yelling at anyone!

‐ Piper and I weren't even sure that what he was doing was terrible

and Savannah wants to keep her role.

Everyone will just think I'm being whiny or sour grapes.

‐ You can't let him get away with this.

‐ Okay, but we could lose the competition

and the play would suffer and Savannah...

Gosh, I wish she would just talk to me.

I want her to know that she's not alone.

‐ Well, neither are you.

‐ You're right.

‐ I made a brace that stimulates the subject's musculature

with built‐in electrodes to see if it could speed up the recovery of his torn MCL.

‐ And where are the electrodes in the brace?

‐ They're here, here

(she grunts softly) and here.

‐ Is this aluminium? ‐ Yes.

‐ And what was your methodology for its conductibility?

‐ Well, I had to insulate the electrodes from the brace.

It would have worked better with titanium.

‐ Titanium? That would have been an innovative choice. What stopped you from using it?

‐ Oh, I can't get titanium in Collinsville

but with a stronger metal and better fitting,

I would have been able to actually confirm

if the brace actually improves the ligament tear.

‐ So, you need to do further testing?

‐ Thank you very much, Miss Abbasi.

This is truly a wonderful project.

‐ He yelled at you! How many times?

‐ Too many to count.

‐ And he called you stupid?

‐ Why didn't you come to us sooner? ‐ I don't know.

Maybe you guys can help me figure out what to do next? ‐ Oh, I know what to do.

‐ Mom, where are you going? ‐ That director is trash

and he deserves what's coming for him.

‐ You can't just barge into rehearsals. ‐ Holly,

you've been dealing with this on your own for long enough. Okay?

Honey, you are wise beyond your years but it is not your responsibility

to hold an adult man accountable. Okay?

‐ Thank you.

‐ You know that I would walk through fire for you, baby.

Let's roll.

(applause) ‐ Okay, okay. Young scientists,

it is time for the Biology Awards.

‐ You think I have a chance? The judge was very impressed.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

‐ Third place goes to...

Michael Paas! (applause)

‐ There's always second, right? ‐ Second place prize goes to...

Harper Aarons! (applause)

And the top prize goes to Michelle Park.

(applause)

Please join me in congratulating the biology winners!

‐ Sorry. ‐ It's okay.

There's always next year.

‐ I came to tell you that

I was very impressed by what you achieved

given your limited access to materials.

‐ Thank you for saying that.

‐ I didn't have much when I started out, either.

You've been chosen to receive the Special Judges Award.

It's for projects that show potential

but could benefit from additional resources.

‐ That's amazing, thank you. ‐ It's a monetary prize

to help take your research and development to the next level.

I know you'll use it well.

‐ Yes. Yes, yes! I will! Thank you so much.

‐ Congratulations.

‐ That's so much better than a trophy!

‐ Uh...Here.

‐ Yeah.

‐ Congrats.

‐ Thank you.

‐ (singing out of breath): ♪♪ I'm off to be a great explorer ♪

♪ I'll return with tales of glory ♪ ‐ (chorus): ♪ Until then ♪

♪ Be well, my friend ♪♪

‐ What kind of a man yells at a 14 year old girl? ‐ Excuse me!

‐ And you threatened her chances of performing with Gwen Taylor?

‐ What is this about? ‐ (Reeves): Nothing to be worried about.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm in the middle of rehearsal.

Thank you. ‐ I don't give a flying hoot about your rehearsal.

‐ Look, I don't know what Holly's been telling you but it's not true.

‐ Are you calling my daughter a liar?

‐ She's upset that I re‐cast her, which is understandable.

‐ Oh, you're making yourself the victim. That is very classy.

‐ I certainly didn't say that. The Hobbies sure like

to twist words, don't they?

‐ Nobody's twisting anything.

‐ You going to say anything, Holly? Huh?

You're just going to stand there and let your parents do your dirty work?

‐ This isn't because you re‐cast me.

It's because of the way you treated me and...

And that's it. ‐ (Mom): Okay, honey.

Do you think that it was easy for her to come and tell her parents

that her director, an adult, was bullying her?

‐ Whoops, okay. Hold on a minute; let's not use words like "bullying". Okay?

It's a very exciting time for Collinsville.

Mr. Reeves' vision is innovative and will bring so much to this town.

I'd really rather not go down this road

unless we have evidence.

‐ Mayor, it's Holly's word against mine.

‐ Well, clearly there's been a misunderstanding.

‐ (Reeves): Back to ones, people!

‐ Holly's telling the truth.

He yells and insults me.

When I didn't want to climb the rickety staircase,

he called me garbage.

Every day, I feel like I'm not doing anything right.

And I was there when he was doing the same thing to Holly.

‐ I saw everything happen too, and Holly, I'm sorry for not speaking up sooner

‐ Is that enough evidence for you, Mayor Flaherty?

‐ Okay. Council will put this to a vote.

‐ Thank you.

‐ ♪♪ When things break ♪

♪ And I can feel my world shake ♪

♪ I know that I'll be okay ♪

♪ 'cause I could take on anything ♪

♪ When good things s all go wrong ♪

♪ I'm strong ♪♪

‐ Wow. I can't believe you just wrote that.

You really took a crummy situation and made it into an amazing song.

‐ I couldn't have done it without you.

‐ I'm not going to take any of the credit. Just say thank you, Hols.

‐ Okay, "Thank you, Hols".

It's just part of my everyday gig of saving the world,

one bully at a time.

(phone buzzes)

‐ Sorry!

One second.

It's Piper. Town Council voted to fire Jason Ryan Reeves.

‐ Hey! Justice is served.

(cow moos)

So, what about the play?

‐ Cancelled. Which I would be feeling horribly guilty about

but according to Piper, everyone in the cast is thrilled.

They dreaded going to rehearsal with that creep.

‐ So what now?

‐ I finally get to put this behind me

and we get to focus on kicking butt together on stage.

‐ Nothing I'd like more.

(cow moos) ‐ One, two, three, four!

Turns out that voice in your head is usually right.