Original subtitles

♪♪

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♪ All the people down in Golden Gate Park ♪

♪ They seem to know just where they're going ♪

♪ But you know that that's not a risk ♪

♪ That's not a risk, that's not a risk ♪

♪ Well, have you ♪

♪ Ever wanted only the blues again ♪

Counter attack!

Look, Mom.

Oh.

I'm not getting the height I need.

I have chok in the kitchen for breakfast.

And it's time for school.

Julie doesn't have to go to school today.

- None of my friends do. - You're not Julie. You're Ivy.

And Ivy's going to Chinese school

like last Saturday and the Saturday before that.

What if I skip it and promise

to help Gung Gung and Po Po at the restaurant later?

All their customers speak Chinese.

I'd learn a lot of it.

Like learning how to order plum sauce?

Off the tape.

Beam.

Come right home after school today.

We have to clean the whole house

from top to bottom before Chinese New Year.

How many people are coming again?

We invited everyone in the family.

Is everyone staying here?

I hope Cousin Jerry likes sleeping in the bathtub.

Some are staying at hotels,

some are staying with your grandparents.

Get a little excited, Ivy.

We've never celebrated Chinese New Year

with the whole family before.

Mom.

What do I do?

Oh. I'll sew it up.

But you'll fix it before the all-city gymnastics meet, right?

This is our approved competition uniform.

It has to be fixed by then.

I'll get it all done, I promise.

Here.

Not all children get to go to Chinese school.

- You're lucky. - Lucky?

Mom, trust me.

You're the only person in San Francisco

who feels that way.

Andrew:

I'm ready to go.

♪♪

Come on. We're late.

Good morning, Mrs. Lu.

Andrew, class is over.

Said to be fluent,

we should practice speaking all the time.

Hey, Ivy!

Julie, you're back!

What's the big whoop?

She comes back every weekend.

So what do you want to do today?

Clean the house. Mom and Dad said so.

Start without me, and if I'm not there in ten minutes,

just keep going.

You know, in China,

the eldest son doesn't have to lift a finger.

Cool. You should go there right now.

Donations for your plane ticket.

Oh, there's even one

of the new Bicentennial quarters.

- Lucky Andrew. - Ha ha ha ha ha!

That was hilarious.

Well, this is a collector's item,

so the joke's on you.

Ooh. Is this new? I like it.

Mom designed them exclusively for her store.

She says every successful shop

must have a signature item to get people in the door.

Mom's store has become the talk of Haight Asbury.

I'm definitely buying one

with my new Chinese New Year's money.

Oh. I almost forgot.

We got our official invite to the... drum roll, please...

Ling New Year's Eve dinner.

And?

The Albrights will be attending...

Mother, Tracy, and myself.

Thanks!

Thanks for inviting us.

We haven't done anything as a family in a while.

So today, Washington Square Park

or listen to records in my room?

I got to clean the house.

Oh. Uh, I'll help. It'll be fun.

Another airline pilot got sick.

Dad's covering a quick flight to L.A.,

so no one's home anyway.

Groovy. Let's go.

Hi, Mrs. L. Hi, Mr. L.

Hi, Julie.

Oh! Hi, Missy.

Welcome to the Ling spring cleaning

in January.

How are you? How's Tracy?

Uh, we're both fine, I guess.

Everyone's just getting used

to the divorce and everything.

It's weird living in two houses.

Adjusting to change always takes time huh?

Let us know if you need anything.

Gung hey fat choy.

Happy New Year's to you, too, little Miss Missy.

Come on, Julie.

Let's go to my room.

Uhh!

So the superstition is that dust is considered bad luck?

That's why you get rid of it?

Yeah.

I think so.

I have no idea.

My grandma always says

we have to sweep out the old bad luck

and bring in the new good luck for the coming year.

Out with the old, in with the new.

I like that.

Are you changing your hair this year, too?

Out with the old.

That includes hair.

You're lucky. Your mom lets you grow your hair out

like Marcia Brady's.

I liked your short hair last year.

You looked like Nancy Drew.

I look nothing like Nancy Drew.

Come on. We'll find you a groovy new hair style.

Man on radio: You're listeningto KFRC,

San Francisco's hit music station.

And up next is your most requested song of the week.

♪♪

None of these people look like me.

Hey. That's cool. Is it new?

I love it. We got them last week.

It took three bake sales and a car wash

to pay for them.

I meant the dress.

Oh. Mom bought that for New Year's dinner.

Hey, you're coming to the all-city gymnastics meet, right?

Whoo-hoo!

That's me practicing my cheer

when you and the tumblers win it all.

- When is it? - The 30th. 6:00.

But get there by 5:30.

Coach says it'll be a full house.

What?

That's the night

of the drum roll please Ling family dinner.

No.

Yeah.

Ah, I hate this holiday.

The date changes every year.

Sometimes it's in January, sometimes February.

You know, regular New Year's is always January 1.

What am I going to do?

Maybe if you explain it to your parents...

They won't understand.

We've never celebrated Chinese New Year's

with the entire family before.

They'll expect me to be there.

I don't hear much sweeping.

Julie, you staying for dinner?

It's going to be rice or noodles again.

It's still better than PB&J by myself.

When are you going to tell your mom

about the tournament date?

I don't know.

Coach: Way to go, tumblers.

Mary, keep those legs straight,

feet pointed all the way through the arch.

Thank you.

Susan, softer on the landing.

Soft.

Good. Cathy,

faster on that turnover.

- Yeah. - Better.

You okay?

Good as gold.

If this was a fall in competition,

you'd have missed your 10-count to get back up.

Back to basics. Handstand kick-down.

- Basics? - You're hesitating up there.

I don't want to risk an injury.

When you're ready,

you can move up to low beam.

That fall you took at our last meet

was a hard one.

Sometimes two steps back is a step forward.

Ivy.

Not bad today, tumblers,

but all-city is in two weeks.

We still have work to do.

But I know we can get there.

This is our year to win.

See everyone tomorrow.

What's that thing?

Nothing.

Boy, coaches really, really worked us today.

Yeah, but it's all-city. We want to win.

Of course. I know that.

Missy: Ivy!

Mom, did you bring a towel or water?

Ivy, I went from school to the store

to the law library to picking up Missy, then...

I forgot to pack your bag.

I'm sorry, Ivy.

It's fine.

One more thing, tumblers.

Since all-city is right around the corner,

I'm reserving the Youth Center

for additional mandatory practice on Saturdays.

Gloria, hi.

Hey, Marilyn. How's it going?

Long time, no see.

It's going well, thank you.

Any chance you can move this new practice to Sundays?

- Mom. - The boys' team

has this space on Sundays.

- Is there a problem? - No.

Ivy has Chinese school on Saturdays.

Girl, whispering: What's Chinese school?

Mom, seriously.

Okay, well, uh,

we'll just have to work harder

on the days when you are here.

Thanks.

, Ivy.

Mom, shh.

Sorry.

Let's go home.

I got it.

Hold on a sec.

Okay. I can talk now.

What's up?

Uh, nothing much.

♪ S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y ♪

Ooh. I like that song. Turn it up.

♪ On Saturday night, Saturday night ♪

♪ Dancin' to the rhythm in our heart and soul ♪

Wait. This is your cheer-me-up song.

What's going on?

It's not a big deal.

- Julie. - ♪ I-yi-yi-yi... ♪

My dad's coming to your New Year's dinner, too.

It's not my dinner. It's my parents'.

Why did they invite your dad?

I guess they thought

it would be rude to exclude him,

since they were all friends before the divorce.

My mom's actually okay with it.

You don't sound okay with it.

Remember the last time my whole family was together?

Christmas?

My sister yelled at my dad

and blamed him for the divorce

and stormed out of the Fairmont Hotel.

They haven't spoken since?

Dad says he's giving Tracy her space.

That seems like a good idea.

Yeah, but meanwhile,

she's barely talking to me.

What did you do?

She thinks I'm betraying her

by coming to Dad's on the weekends,

like I'm just supposed to stop visiting Dad?

That's not fair to him.

I'm sorry, Julie.

I just want us to learn how to be a family again.

Maybe your dad coming to dinner is a good thing.

Maybe they'll talk there.

Yeah.

I didn't think about that.

Maybe if I get them

to break the ice at the dinner,

they'll move past their differences.

Out with the old.

Got to go. Dinnertime.

Bye, Julie.

Thanks, Ivy.

- ♪ Have a ball ♪ - Bye.

♪ Saturday night, Saturday night ♪

Marilyn: Ivy, Andrew!

Chinese food again?

Do we have to eat takeout

from the Happy Jade every night?

Ivy.

I mean, it's fine.

But I walk past ten pizza parlors every day.

Marilyn, we're heading back to the restaurant.

Do you want us to pick Missy up tomorrow after school?

Thanks, Mom. Thanks, Dad.

I don't know what we'd do without you.

Probably starve. Thank you.

Bye, Po Po. Bye, Gung Gung.

Thank you for the delicious food.

Way to go.

I didn't know they were there.

You'll apologize to them later.

Here. Eat your gai lan.

Here.

My uncle called today.

He got time off work.

The whole family will be flying in

Chinese New Year morning.

That's everyone, then.

I can't remember the last time

the whole family was together.

Not since our wedding.

Andrew, how's your kung-fu?

Learning a lot?

Marilyn: There's still so much to do.

I'll plan the menu this week.

Now, Ivy,

we'll probably have Chinese food

for Chinese New Year's dinner.

Try not to insult our grandparents over it.

- Very funny, Andrew. - Ha ha ha.

Ling: I'll get back to you.

That was the Bay Street Youth Center.

They wanted to know how many tickets we'd need

for Ivy's all-city gymnastics meet.

Reminded me that it starts at 6:00 on the 30th.

I was going to tell you.

You let Andrew miss Ana Yee's wedding

because he had a kung fu tournament.

There weren't people flying in from all over the States

for Ana Yee's wedding.

The groom didn't even want to go.

Andrew.

So I'm going to miss the meet?

Your dad and I will talk about this later.

She should have told us.

She knew we wouldn't have let her go.

Of course she can't go.

Everyone has rearranged their schedules to get here.

People took time off,

bought plane tickets.

I know.

And it doesn't look good

if our eldest daughter couldn't be bothered to show up.

She's coming to the dinner.

Ivy just doesn't realize how important a family is.

I mean, law school would be impossible

if my parents weren't helping us out

every single day.

We tell her over and over again

how important family is.

Seems like it's in one ear,

out the other with her.

But if we make her miss the meet, though,

she'll.

I can definitely see her sulking

through the eight courses.

If we force this down her throat,

she might end up resenting the entire family.

You're right.

But we can't just let her skip out

on Chinese New Year's.

I want her at the dinner, too. I just...

I just want her to want to be there.

We've talked it over,

and we're going to let you decide.

You're letting me decide?

We both think you're mature enough

to make the right decision.

For the family.

I need to think about it.

Nice.

Hold your core.

Let's see the walkover, Ivy.

Kick harder. Push out of both shoulders.

Yeah.

Coach Gloria?

Is there practice tomorrow?

Of course. It's the last Saturday before all-city.

But don't sweat it.

I know you have family obligations.

See you, Mom. Don't want to be late for Chinese school.

Let's go, Andrew.

Ivy?

I'll meet you at school.

Ivy.

Don't tell Mom.

Oh, I'm so doing the opposite of that.

Come on, Andrew.

What if you had a big kung fu tournament?

Wouldn't you want to practice and practice

until you were, I don't know, perfect?

Wouldn't you want to win?

Or would you give it up before you even tried?

Don't drag me into this.

Good job today, tumblers. See you Monday.

Go, Ivy, go. Whoo-hoo!

I like that cheer.

I'll be yelling it at all-city,

uh, if you decide to go.

Oh. I guess you wouldn't be coming to our family dinner

if I'm not going.

What about your plans for Tracy and your dad?

Maybe I can time it so Tracy takes out the trash

next time Dad comes to pick me up.

I don't know.

Oh.

Hey, no big deal.

I'm talking spilled milk on a white carpet small.

As far as I know,

they'll see each other and argue again.

It is a good feeling to know that we're friends.

And you know I like you just the way you are.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Marilyn: How was Chinese school?

Hi, Mom.

Ha ha! You're in trouble.

Thanks, Andrew.

Mrs. Lu called.

She wanted to know if you knew

what the homework assignment was.

Tomorrow you'll help your grandparents

clean the restaurant.

Mom, I'm sorry I lied.

But gymnastics is important to me.

And it's all-city.

Sounds like you've made a decision.

I'll go back to Chinese school next weekend.

Ivy.

What if the tumblers win all-city?

Then we compete in regionals.

That's a big deal, right?

- I know. - So, more than likely,

there'll be more of these extra Saturday practices, too.

You know the Woo family next door?

Their children don't speak any Mandarin or Cantonese.

Their whole family tries so badly to be American,

they forget that they're Chinese.

Our culture

is important in this family.

I'll go back to Chinese school next weekend.

Julie Albright's room.

Julie Albright speaking.

- Aah! - Uh-oh.

She doesn't understand anything.

Why do I have to learn a language I'll never use?

You're not wasting your Saturdays

at German-Dutch-Irish school.

Actually, my family is also 1/13 Hungarian.

Not important.

I'm sorry, Ivy.

It's like I keep trying to tell everyone

how important gymnastics is to me.

It's more than important. It's... It's...

It's your signature item.

Exactly.

W-What does that mean?

Gymnastics is the one thing

that you specialize in

to attract people to your store.

Andrew gets the good grades.

Missy gets all the cute baby attention.

Gymnastics is the one thing that defines you.

Exactly.

Ivy?

Where's your sewing kit?

I'll do my homework later.

Now, please.

Ow.

You're up late.

Are you hungry?

And tired.

Is this your last final?

Mm-hmm.

And then I promise it'll be less crazy.

I said that last semester, too, didn't I?

Is this the New Year's menu?

Mm-hmm.

Oh.

Do we really need three of every dish?

We're not feeding all of China Town.

I skipped the roast pig for our wedding banquet,

and Yuwahi never lets me forget it.

We're sticking to this menu.

It's not that much food.

I mean, the whole family is coming.

Well, maybe minus Ivy.

So she decided to go to the meet?

She skipped Chinese school today.

I heard.

Andrew.

That's right. We're either raising a Nobel laureate,

or a mob snitch.

So Ivy, what do we do about her?

I'm all out of ideas.

We're never gonna find time to make all this.

My parents offered to help,

but they already do so much for us, I...

I want this dinner to be a thank you to them.

Just don't take on too much.

Ningo.

We can skip that.

But that's your favorite.

None of the kids like it.

If I'm making it for me,

I can do without.

Hi, Po Po. Hi, Gung Gung.

Ivy.

I, uh... I came to help you

clean the restaurant for New Year's.

All done.

Andrew came over yesterday after Chinese school.

Brought his own broom.

Ivy.

Have you eaten lunch yet?

Mm. Mm-mm.

You know, it's the juiciest hamburger in North Beach.

We get tired of eating Chinese food all the time, too.

When we first came here from China,

we didn't speak the language

so we never ate a restaurant.

It was not until I was 19 before I had

my first bite of the American hamburger.

How old were you when you first moved here, Gung Gung?

Moved here? That makes it sound like

we relocated from Berkeley to Oakland.

We immigrated here.

We uprooted our entire lives,

and left everything behind.

Let's see.

I was a little older than you.

My grandfather was brought here

to work on the Trans Continental Railroad.

Now, he intended to make money, return to China.

You know, he ended up settling in San Francisco.

- I didn't know that. - Mm-hm.

He lived here by himself?

Yeah. Eventually, they passed a law

so he could bring his family over.

By then, his only child, my father,

was already a grown man.

He had children of his own.

- You? - Mm-hm.

But he promised that we would have

a better life for the family in America.

That's why we came.

Was it better?

With everything that's going on in China right now...

cultural revolution...

we're certain that we're lucky we're here.

But in the beginning, nothing was easy.

We were foreigners in this land.

My first week in school,

I had to do a report about my family.

I was to read it in front of the entire class.

I... I was so nervous.

I hate speaking in front of the group, too.

I remember changing everyone's Chinese names to American ones.

My sister Yinwa became my sister Karen.

Sumwa became Janet.

Why?

I was embarrassed.

I did not like being so different.

When we arrived,

we did not know anyone.

We only had our families for support.

Eight brothers and sisters is a lot of support.

She could have start a whole China Town by herself.

- - You will meet them at the New Year's dinner, Ivy.

Some of them haven't even seen the restaurant yet.

I can't wait to show it off.

We would not have all these opportunities

had our families not taken the risk to come here.

Always remember that, Ivy.

Is this you, Po po?

Yes.

This is you, Gung Gung.

- You were young. - Still am.

My sister Sumwa.

She's your yipaw.

Thanks Yinwa. Another yipaw.

You have her chin.

I'm sorry about what I said the other night.

I love the food you make,

and we appreciate your help.

The whole family works hard.

We're in this together.

Po Po, Gung Gung. You know how to make ningo, right?

Ningo.

What's that?

- Ningo. I made it. - That's cool.

Jerry and I can throw them like Frisbees.

I forgot about these.

Yeah. So did Mom.

They'll probably sit there 'til next New Year's.

♪♪

Missy, shoes.

Ivy, Andrew. Dinner.

Place looks great.

If I want to name him Bartholomew, I will.

Maybe it's a girl dragon.

Fine. Then I call you Ivy.

Surprise.

You two did this?

We wanted to help.

It was Ivy's idea. She made ningo, too.

They also make excellent Frisbees.

I'm not kidding.

I know it's your favorite.

At the dinner, we should put a sign next to it.

"Made by Ivy."

You know, make sure everyone knows,

so they could thank her later.

We should certainly do that.

Come on, before it gets cold.

I'm coming to dinner.

Uh, yeah, we all are.

That's why we're headed to the kitchen.

The Chinese New Year's dinner.

I... I want to be there. I want to go.

It wouldn't be the same without you.

♪♪

Coach: Great job, tumblers!

You've all worked hard.

We've got a real shot at winning tomorrow.

Don't forget your competition uniforms.

You looked really good up there, Ivy.

Thanks.

See ya tomorrow.

Ivy.

I finished my last final early.

Finished early? That's a good sign.

Unless it's because you didn't know the answers.

Ha.

Here.

Thanks, Mom.

I see you got the height you needed.

Yeah, but my back walk over is still wobbly.

Maybe by next season, I'll be perfect.

Mom, I still need to tell Coach.

I'll wait for you in the car.

Hey, Ivy.

Everything okay?

Yes. No.

What if I couldn't...

I mean, tomorrow, I might not be able...

Ivy, it's natural to worry before a big competition,

but you'll be fine. Better than fine.

Oh, I wasn't saying... I'm not nervous.

Though I am, but not for the reason you think,

but I'm also nervous about the performing,

- I mean, but... - Ivy, you've worked hard.

And you look strong out there,

the strongest I've ever seen you.

- Strongest? - Even on beam.

You're not gonna let the team down, so quit worrying.

Okay?

Julie, help. Tell me what to do.

Nuh-uh. I can't be responsible for you missing

your family dinner or your meet.

Come on. Let's keep going.

What else do you have for pro go to meet?

I filled three notepads, Julie.

These lists aren't helping.

You know what's really unfair?

If this was Andrew and he had a big kung fu whatever,

they'd make it work.

In fact, they'd probably love it.

They could brag to the family

about how he's so good he made it to all-city.

I should go to the dinner.

There will be other meets.

I don't sound very convincing, do I?

No, no.

Goodnight, Julie.

Bye.

Ivy. It's late.

Mom, I couldn't tell Coach Gloria.

And I know I said I was going to the dinner, but...

You've got quite a list there. Can I?

This would be so much easier

if you'd just make me go to the dinner.

This is a decision you have to make on your own, Ivy.

But how do I make the decision that's right for everyone?

What's so funny?

I made a similar pro/con list.

About going to law school.

And it helped you decide to go?

Not in the least.

Everything on my list said stay away.

Working at your grandparents' restaurant

would certainly have been easier.

But being a lawyer... I don't know.

It's always something I wanted to do.

It's the one thing that defines you.

I don't know about that.

People are defined...

by more than one thing.

I want a better life for us.

But I... I knew that I had to give law school a shot,

even if it... was hard on everyone.

And you never regret it?

Only every night when the take out boxes are opened.

I almost quit my first day.

How come?

I walked into that lecture hall,

the Constitutional Law class,

and a group of men turned and looked at me

like I didn't belong there.

One even asked if I was looking for the secretarial school.

What made you stay?

That group of men who thought that

I was looking for the secretarial school.

I think I aced my finals this semester, too.

Sometimes, the decision you make...

It just has to be right for you.

Thanks, Mom.

Yeah.

♪♪

Mom.

You'll need this.

Thanks, Mom.

Hiya, hiya.

Okay, bye-bye.

Hi.

Everything okay?

You've been on the phone all day.

I'm sorry. There's just a lot of people to call.

I mean, the whole family is here.

We planned every detail of the dinner.

What else is left to do?

♪♪

Man: Next on balance beam,

Ivy Ling.

Good as gold, Ivy.

♪♪

♪♪

♪♪

Smile.

Shopping spree at your mom's store?

Yeah.

Ivy: Pop Rocks for Chinese New Year's?

Exactly. I figured it's a conversation starter.

Plus, both Tracy and Dad go bonkers for that stuff.

I hope it works.

It has to work.

Ivy: They don't look like they're fighting.

No, they don't.

Happy New Year's, Ivy.

Mrs. L.

Thanks for adding the candy to the menu.

That was really cool.

No problem.

Did you try the ningo? It's really good.

I thought you hated ningo.

It's growing on me.

Ivy.

Ivy, yourwaieewas saying what a great gymnast you are.

I know, Mom.

I know.

Come eat, everyone.

- Starving. - It looks so yummy.

Gung hey fat choy.

♪♪

♪ Have you ever been somewhere that felt so new ♪

♪ And then you found someone who really understands you ♪

♪ You can be yourself ♪

♪ Be yourself ♪

♪ With somebody who ♪

♪ With somebody who ♪

♪ Really understands you ♪

♪ Feels the same way that you do ♪

♪ About life and really lets you ♪

♪ Be yourself ♪

♪ Be yourself ♪

♪ Only way to make your dreams come true ♪

♪ Is to ♪

♪ Be yourself ♪

♪ Aah-ah ♪

♪ Aah-ah ♪

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