Original subtitles

[♪♪]

[PHONE RINGING]

[BEEP]

OH... THAT'S SO NOT GOOD.

[♪♪]

[POP]

[GAGS]

[SPITS]

[♪♪]

EM!

EMILY!

T-MINUS 20 MINUTES.

[♪♪]

WHERE'D YOU GET THAT, KIDDO?

YOU'RE NOT OLD ENOUGH TO HAVE MOMMY'S JEWELRY YET.

PUT THAT BACK WHERE YOU FOUND IT, PLEASE.

I DON'T WANT TO WEAR IT. I JUST WANT TO HAVE IT.

I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT JUST...

NOT YET, OKAY?

[♪♪]

AH! SORRY.

ONE, TWO THREE, FOUR, FIVE--

DO YOU HAVE YOUR PERMISSION SLIP FOR TOMORROW'S FIELD TRIP?

...FOUR, FIVE.

DID YOU KNOW THIS IS HOW YOUR DAD STARTED MAKING MAPS?

YEP. WHEN I WAS A KID,

I COUNTED SIDEWALK SQUARES TOO,

SO I COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO SCALE MY MAPS.

NOW, IF WE WERE TO MAP THIS BLOCK,

WHERE DO WE START? REMEMBER?

FIND THE FOCAL POINT.

RIGHT! A FIXED POINT THAT DOESN'T CHANGE,

LIKE AN ANCHOR.

NOW, WHERE WOULD OUR FIXED POINT BE?

HOW ABOUT THAT YELLOW BUILDING?

GREAT! NOW WE NEED SOME LANDMARKS.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE STREET LAMPS?

THAT'S RIGHT! AND HOW DO WE DETERMINE

SPATIAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN LANDMARKS?

COUNT THE STEPS BETWEEN EACH LAMP?

EXACTLY!

[♪♪]

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR...

NO, NO, NO! WAIT!

AHH! COME ON!

YOU READY FOR A GREAT DAY AT SCHOOL?

[♪♪]

BYE.

[♪♪]

AND FIVE... FOUR... THREE... TWO...

ONE.

[♪♪]

"ATTACHMENT THEORY"...

SHARES A COMMON THREAD

WITH THE CONCEPT OF "OBJECT PERMANENCE."

IF YOU SHOW AN INFANT A BALL,

AND THEN HIDE THAT BALL BEHIND YOUR BACK,

THE CHILD HAS NO IDEA WHERE THE BALL HAS GONE.

-ONLY-- -[OBJECT THUDS ON FLOOR]

...THAT IT HAS DISAPPEARED

AND WILL NEVER RETURN.

UNTIL HE LEARNS OBJECT PERMANENCE,

THE BALL'S DISAPPEARANCE

WILL BE A TRAUMATIC EVENT FOR THE CHILD.

HOW WAS SCHOOL?

WHAT WAS THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TODAY?

THERE WASN'T A BEST THING.

OKAY, WAS THERE A "WORST THING"?

WELL, SO, HOW ARE YOU, EMILY?

FINE.

[TAKES A BREATH]

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE BUILDING A CASTLE,

YOU NEED MUCH BIGGER WALLS.

THESE WALLS CAN WITHSTAND

AN ONSLAUGHT OF ENEMY ARROWS...

BUT--

GOTTA TELL THE CASTLE GUARD TO WATCH OUT FOR RABBITS.

I NOW PRONOUNCE

THESE VITAMIN-D FORTIFIED WALLS,

"THE CASTLE OF...

...CARROTY ROCK."

[CHUCKLES]

EAT YOUR CHICKEN,

AND WE'LL BUILD A MOAT OUT OF GRAVY. DEAL?

OKAY.

[MAN]: THANKS FOR COMING IN THIS MORNING.

OKAY, THIS IS SO CUTE,

BUT PEOPLE DON'T FRAME THEIR SELFIES, WALT.

I'M RE-ENERGIZING THE MEDIUM.

BENEDICT CUMBERCAT II LOOKS ESPECIALLY DAPPER.

AH, WELL, HE CAN'T HELP IT. THE CAMERA LOVES HIM.

OH, HO.

HOW'S YOUR THESIS COMING?

THAT'S IT? NO CHIT-CHAT? NO "HOW ARE YOU?"

OH, NO, WE'VE MOVED WELL BEYOND

THE CHIT-CHAT STAGE IN OUR RELATIONSHIP.

WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS.

TSK. DEFINE "IDEA."

OH, WELL, EDUCATION IS MEANT TO BE A MEANS TO AN END.

THE END IS COMING, MY DEAR.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT

A RESEARCH TOPIC FOR YOUR THESIS.

I STOPPED BY FOR A FRIENDLY VISIT.

THIS IS ME BEING FRIENDLY.

IT'S CALLED "TOUGH LOVE." IT'S WHAT ADVISORS DO.

ACTUALLY, YOU'RE MY ENGLISH ADVISOR.

I'M A PSYCH MAJOR NOW.

OH, THAT'S RIGHT.

THIS IS WHAT, YOUR THIRD MAJOR?

[STAMMERS PLAYFULLY]

WHY AREN'T YOU

HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOUR PSYCHOLOGY ADVISOR?

BECAUSE HE SAYS TERRIFYING THINGS, LIKE,

"YOU NEED TO DECIDE ON

A RESEARCH TOPIC FOR YOUR THESIS."

AH-HAH! [CHUCKLES]

YOU LIKE YOUR CHILD PSYCHOLOGY COURSE.

WHY DON'T YOU DO SOMETHING WITH KIDS?

KIDS ARE FASCINATING.

SAYS THE MAN WITH NO KIDS.

IF I HAD LITTLE KIDS,

HOW WOULD I DEAL WITH ALL OF MY OVERGROWN ONES,

LIKE YOU, WHO DON'T TAKE MY ADVICE?

FINE! FINE.

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT.

AHEM, MY NIECE TEACHES A FOURTH-GRADE CLASS.

I'M GOING TO SUGGEST

THAT YOU GO AND YOU MEET WITH HER,

AND YOU OBSERVE THE CLASS,

AND MAYBE IT WILL LEAD TO AN IDEA.

OR IT WILL LEAD TO A CUT-THROAT GAME OF DODGEBALL.

EITHER WAY, IT'S A WIN-WIN.

[♪♪]

-SO, I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY... -THIS ONE?

-YEAH. -OKAY.

-OKAY. -OKAY. GOOD LUCK.

OH, HI! YOU MUST BE BECCA.

SORRY I'M LATE. I MISSED THE BUS.

HOW CAN I HELP?

JUST GIVE ME A TASK.

IS IT "MS." OR "MRS." GODFREY?

PLEASE. CALL ME AMY.

SO...

MY UNCLE TELLS ME THAT YOU ARE...

LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?

WELL, POSSIBLY.

MY THESIS IS STILL IN THE GESTATION PHASE.

BUT MAYBE I COULD BE

YOUR UNOFFICIAL TEACHER'S ASSISTANT?

I COULD START BY OBSERVING A CLASS--

DONE!

REALLY? THAT'S IT?

NO INTERVIEW?

WELL, UNCLE WALT SAYS THAT YOU WERE HIS BEST STUDENT,

AND I COULD USE THE HELP.

SO, HOW ABOUT 10:00 TO NOON ON WEEKDAYS?

THAT WOULD BE PERFECT!

THANK YOU.

THEN YOU CAN START RIGHT AWAY.

WE ARE PLAYING "NATURE DETECTIVE."

THE KIDS NEED TO IDENTIFY AND DRAW

FIVE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PLANTS.

COOL! I'LL, UH, SEE WHO NEEDS HELP.

GREAT. THANKS!

75, 76, 77, 78...

79, 80...

81, 82...

-83, EIGHTY-F-- -WHATCHA DOING?

DON'T WORRY, I'M NOT SOME RANDO.

I'M A FIELD TRIP CHAPERONE.

I'M MAKING A MAP.

REALLY?

THAT SOUNDS COOL. CAN I SEE IT?

AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME

DO MY "NATURE DETECTIVE" WORKSHEET?

THE FUN THING ABOUT BEING A GROWN-UP...

IS YOU GET TO MAKE YOUR OWN RULES.

SO FIRST... I WANT TO SEE YOUR MAP.

IT'S SO DETAILED!

THESE NUMBERS ON THE SIDE, IS THIS...

IS THIS TO SCALE?

CAN I HAVE MY MAP BACK NOW?

I'M NOT DONE CHARTING THE TREES.

AS YOU WERE.

86... 87...

88, 89, 90...

[KNOCK AT DOOR]

IT'S OPEN.

DO WE HAVE PLANS TONIGHT?

NO, BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU FOR A FEW DAYS.

SORRY, AMBER.

I'VE BEEN SLAMMED WITH SCHOOL.

I GET IT, I'M SLAMMED AT THE YOGA STUDIO TOO,

BUT BEING SLAMMED IS A STATE OF MIND.

MM.

AND THE BEST WAY TO GET THAT OUT OF YOUR HEAD

IS TO PUT THIS MAC'N'CHEESE INTO YOUR MOUTH.

CLASSY.

IT'S MY MOM'S RECIPE.

IT'S THE BEST MAC'N'CHEESE YOU'LL EVER EAT.

THAT IS UNREAL.

MM-HMM. IT'S MY GO-TO COMFORT FOOD.

AND I FIGURED YOU COULD USE SOME COMFORT,

SEEING AS YOU JUST BROKE UP WITH JACOB.

HOW'D YOU KNOW I JUST BROKE UP WITH JACOB?

PLEASE, BECCA. IT'S BEEN SIX MONTHS.

THAT'S YOUR AVERAGE RELATIONSHIP EXPIRATION DATE.

IT'S JUST... JACOB AND I...

WE WERE ALWAYS JUST GONNA BE "JACOB AND I."

IT WAS NEVER GONNA BE "US."

I WOULD KILL FOR AN "US."

[QUIET CHATTER]

CAN YOU HELP ME WITH MY MATH?

UH... MATH ISN'T MY STRONG SUIT.

IT'S FOURTH-GRADE MATH.

AND YOUR POINT IS?

I'M KIDDING.

LET ME SEE WHAT I CAN DO.

OH! I ACTUALLY KNOW THIS.

OKAY.

SO FIRST, YOU'RE GONNA SIMPLIFY THE FRACTION...

[♪♪]

YEAH! THERE YOU GO.

YOU GOT IT.

KELLY, CARRIE, CRISTEN, AND ALISHA ARE MY BESTIES.

WE DO EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

BRIAN M., BRIAN S., AND BRIAN D.

ARE THE CUTEST BOYS.

BUT BRIAN B. IS NOT CUTE AT ALL,

EVEN THOUGH HE'S A "BRIAN."

JEN IS THE BEST AT SPORTS,

AND SAM HAS

A MINIATURE WIENER DOG NAMED ORSON.

WHAT ABOUT EMILY?

SHE BARELY TALKS SINCE HER MOM DIED.

WAIT! WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I'M NOT DONE TELLING YOU WHO EVERYONE IS.

HOW ARE YOU?

FINE.

YOU KNOW WHAT?

THAT WAS A DUMB QUESTION.

PEOPLE EXPECT YOU TO SAY YOU'RE "FINE,"

BUT WHEN YOU DO,

THEY'RE NOT EVEN LISTENING.

NEXT TIME SOMEONE ASKS HOW YOU ARE,

WHAT IF YOU GAVE THEM AN ANSWER

THAT ACTUALLY MAKES THEM THINK?

LIKE, IF YOU'RE SAD, YOU COULD SAY,

"I'M A BALLOON WITHOUT ANY AIR IN IT."

OR IF YOU'RE HAPPY, YOU COULD SAY,

"I'M A SUNNY DAY AT THE BEACH,"

WHICH IS SELF-EXPLANATORY,

BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPIER

THAN A SUNNY DAY AT THE BEACH?

BUT THE PERSON WHO ASKS "HOW ARE YOU"

IS GONNA THINK ABOUT YOUR ANSWER,

BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SAY "I'M FINE,"

LIKE THEY EXPECTED.

THEY'LL HEAR YOU IN A WAY THAT THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE.

YOU KNOW?

I'M BECCA.

I DON'T THINK I SAID THAT YESTERDAY.

HI, BECCA. YOU'RE DIFFERENT.

IS THAT A GOOD THING?

YEAH... AND YOU TALK A LOT.

YOU'RE LIKE A KID.

I LIKE YOU, EMILY.

YOU GET ME.

CAN WE BE FRIENDS?

WE CAN BE FRIENDS.

[LAUGHS]

COOL.

WHEW!

SO, HOW ARE YOU TODAY, EM?

I'M A SUNNY DAY AT THE BEACH.

YOU'RE A WHAT?

A SUNNY DAY AT THE BEACH.

[LAUGHS] THAT SOUNDS LOVELY.

SO, IT WAS A GOOD DAY AT SCHOOL?

I MADE A NEW FRIEND.

HER NAME'S BECCA AND SHE'S FUNNY.

SO IT WAS A REALLY GOOD DAY?

WELL, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE A PLAY DATE WITH BECCA?

HOW ABOUT THIS THURSDAY?

ASK BECCA TO ASK HER PARENTS, OKAY?

THANKS, DAD.

SO, TALKING ABOUT KIDS, YOU WERE IN AMY'S CLASS.

DID YOU COME UP WITH ANY KIND OF INSPIRATION?

NO. IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT, THOUGH.

THEY'RE ALL GREAT KIDS.

DARN THEM FOR ALL BEING SO WELL-ADJUSTED.

MM, WELL, YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO

DO YOUR THESIS ON A PROBLEM.

HOW ABOUT FRIENDSHIP DYNAMICS?

OR PLAYGROUND HIERARCHY, OR...?

I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, MAYBE.

THERE IS THIS ONE GIRL, EMILY WILLIAMS.

SHE BREAKS MY HEART.

SHE'S GOING THROUGH SO MUCH.

HER MOM PASSED AWAY.

AMY SAID IT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO,

BUT YOU CAN TELL IT'S STILL RAW.

SO, YOU HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON.

MY MOM DIED MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT.

ANYWAY, I DON'T THINK

THAT THERE'S ANYTHING TO WRITE ABOUT THERE.

ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?

THERE'S NO INSPIRATION? NO IDEAS?

NOT AN AVENUE I'M INTERESTED IN EXPLORING.

HEY, I WAS READING

THOSE LIT JOURNALS OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE

AND I SAW YOU GOT PUBLISHED AGAIN.

THAT WAS JUST A LITTLE ARTICLE

ON THE FINNISH ORIGINS OF THE ELVEN LANGUAGE

IN TOLKIEN'S LORD OF THE RINGS.

SO MUCH NERD JUST HAPPENED THERE.

NOW, YOU CAN TEASE ME ALL YOU WANT.

I WRITE ABOUT THINGS THAT HAVE AFFECTED ME.

YOU MIGHT TRY IT SOMEDAY.

[KIDS LAUGHING AND SHOUTING]

FROZEN APPLE SAUCE!

FROZEN APPLE SAUCE!

COME ON, SOMEONE UNFREEZE ME!

EMILY! COME PLAY WITH US.

I CAN'T! I'M FROZEN.

DO YOU WANT TO HAVE A PLAY DATE?

ON THURSDAY.

YOU CAN SAY NO IF YOU DON'T WANT TO.

I'D LOVE TO HAVE A PLAY DATE!

HAVE YOU BEEN TO JACKSON'S ICE CREAM SHOP?

I LOVE JACKSON'S!

ME TOO.

I'LL MEET YOU THERE AT 4:00.

[BELL RINGS]

WAIT! UNFREEZE ME BEFORE YOU GO!

YOU GUYS!

THIS IS SO UNFAIR.

[♪♪]

GUYS?

DO YOU EVER FEEL LIKE

SISYPHUS PUSHING THAT BOULDER UP A HILL?

LET ME GUESS. UH, YOU MISSED YOUR BUS?

WELL, AT LEAST I'M CONSISTENT.

UM, SO I HAVE A BOUNDARIES QUESTION.

REMEMBER THAT LITTLE GIRL I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT?

EMILY? SHE INVITED ME FOR A PLAY DATE.

SHE WAS SO, SO SWEET I COULDN'T SAY NO.

IS THAT KOSHER,

FOR A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT

TO GO ON A PLAY DATE WITH A STUDENT?

WHY DO YOU THINK SHE ASKED YOU?

I THINK SHE THINKS I'M FUN.

WELL, THEN I SAY DO IT.

BETTER HURRY UP.

I'M SURE YOU'RE LATE TO CLASS.

LIKE I SAID. CONSISTENT.

[♪♪]

[NATE]: ARE ONE OF THOSE TWO BECCA?

[EMILY]: NO.

THERE SHE IS!

[♪♪]

DAD...

THIS IS BECCA.

HI. I'M DAD.

UH, EMILY'S DAD.

NATE.

SORRY. I'M NATE.

YOU WERE EXPECTING A NINE-YEAR-OLD.

I'M A T.A. IN EMILY'S CLASS.

OH, RIGHT.

[BEGINS SPEAKING FRENCH]

[EMILY REPLIES IN FRENCH]

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE FLAVOR?

MINE IS CHOCOLATE FUDGE. OR BUBBLE GUM.

IT'S SO HARD TO DECIDE.

I THINK THE ONLY SAFE CHOICE IS TO ORDER THEM ALL

AND GET "THE AVALANCHE."

THE AVALANCHE IS SO BIG!

20 SCOOPS, BUT IF WE FINISH,

WE GET FREE HATS.

CAN I GO ON RECORD AND SAY I THINK THIS IS A BAD IDEA?

THAT'S NOT A "NO," THOUGH... RIGHT?

ONE AVALANCHE, PLEASE.

WE HAVE AN AVALANCHE WARNING!

[BECCA LAUGHS]

YES! [GIGGLES]

[♪♪]

IT'S THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!

OKAY, I HAVE TO FOCUS, IF WE WANT HATS.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DON'T GET HATS?

NOTHING. WE'LL HAVE AN UN-HAT DAY.

WHICH IS JUST AS FUN AS A HAT DAY, IF YOU ASK ME,

BECAUSE YOU DON'T NEED A HAT TO HAVE FUN.

YOU DO NEED A HEAD, THOUGH, AND WE HAVE THREE OF THOSE,

SO WE'RE GOOD.

YOU'RE WEIRD.

THANK YOU.

SO, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A T.A.?

SINCE MONDAY. SO FAR, SO GOOD.

TEACHING'S A NOBLE PROFESSION.

I CAN SEE WHY YOU'D WANT TO DO IT.

OH, I DON'T WANT TO BE A TEACHER.

OKAY. THEN WHY ARE YOU A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT?

I THOUGHT THAT WAS A STEPPING STONE OR SOMETHING.

YES. JUST... NOT FOR ME, I THINK.

I COULD USE SOME HELP HERE.

EM, WHAT'S THE BEST THING THAT'S HAPPENED TO YOU TODAY?

THIS AVALANCHE.

WHAT'S THE BEST NON-ICE CREAM THING THAT'S HAPPENED TODAY?

BECCA.

YOU MIGHT NOT WANT TO BE A TEACHER,

BUT YOU CERTAINLY HAVE A FAN.

ACTUALLY... I HAVE A FRIEND.

YEAH, DAD. WE'RE FRIENDS.

AND MAYBE I WILL TEACH. WHO KNOWS?

I'M JUST EXPLORING CAREER CHOICES

WHILE I FINISH MY MASTER'S.

WHAT'S YOUR MAJOR?

THAT'S ACTUALLY A LOADED QUESTION.

MY FIRST MAJOR WAS ENGLISH LIT.

REALLY? THAT WAS MY WIFE'S MAJOR.

SHE, UH, SHE LOVED SHAKESPEARE.

SHE HAD GOOD TASTE.

"NOTHING IS EITHER GOOD OR BAD, BUT THINKING MAKES IT SO."

THAT ONE BOUNCES AROUND MY HEAD A LOT.

WHICH IS IRONIC, BECAUSE HE'S SAYING

"DON'T THINK SO MUCH."

SORRY TO RAMBLE. IT'S JUST...

I WISH WE STILL USED LANGUAGE LIKE THAT.

WOW.

I'M IMPRESSED. YOU'RE A FONT OF INFORMATION.

OH, I'M 30 AND STILL IN COLLEGE.

I'VE TURNED THINKING INTO A CAREER.

NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.

MM. TELL THAT TO MY ADVISOR.

YOU KNOW, LIFE MAKES HARD CHOICES FOR US.

I SAY WE JUST HAVE AS MUCH FUN AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW.

RIGHT, EM?

AS MUCH FUN AS WE CAN RIGHT NOW.

MM-HMM!

[LAUGHS]

[NATE]: YOU KNOW, SHE'S SO QUIET,

MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO TALK TO HER.

BUT I DON'T KNOW, SHE-- SHE LIGHTS UP

WHEN SHE'S AROUND YOU.

YOU'VE GOT A GOOD KID THERE.

WELL, IT WASN'T ALL ME.

HONESTLY, I'M JUST TRYING NOT TO UNDO

ALL THE GOOD THAT HER MOM DID.

BUT YOU'RE REALLY GOOD WITH HER.

WELL, THIS IS THE MOST FUN PLAY DATE I'VE EVER HAD.

[LAUGHING]

SO YOU GO ON A LOT OF PLAY DATES?

NO. THIS WAS MY FIRST ONE, ACTUALLY.

THEN HOW DO YOU KNOW IT WAS A GOOD ONE?

I THINK SOMETIMES YOU JUST KNOW.

[LAUGHS] WELL...

YOU'RE A PRO, AT PLAY DATES.

[LAUGHING] THANKS.

UM, I GOTTA GET EMILY HOME NOW,

BUT SHE HAD A FANTASTIC TIME.

OH. I MEANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FRENCH THING.

IT WAS REALLY CUTE.

YEAH, EMILY'S MOTHER WAS FRENCH,

AND WE WANTED TO RAISE HER BILINGUAL,

SO I TRY TO SPEAK FRENCH TO HER AS MUCH AS I CAN.

I THINK MAGGIE WOULD'VE WANTED IT THAT WAY.

EM LOVES IT,

BECAUSE IT'S LIKE OUR OWN SECRET LANGUAGE.

BUT, UH...

THANKS...

BECCA.

ANYTIME.

H-E-L...

"P"-- OH, MAN.

"P." THAT'S "PEPPERS."

DOUBLE-TIME!

[BECCA LAUGHS]

EM!

DO YOU WANT A TURN?

NO?

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S TRY THAT AGAIN.

H-E...

DADDY!

DADDY!

IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY. IT'S OKAY.

I'M RIGHT HERE.

YOU OKAY?

YOU WERE GONE.

[HE SIGHS]

DADDY'S NEVER GONNA LEAVE YOU. IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.

YOU'RE OKAY.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

NATE?

HEY. HI.

BECCA?

WHAT ARE YOU--? [CHUCKLES]

I'M DESIGNING AN INTERACTIVE MAP

FOR THE SCHOOL WEBSITE.

HAVE YOU BEEN HERE BEFORE?

I COULD SHOW YOU AROUND. IF YOU'RE DESIGNING A MAP,

YOU PROBABLY KNOW WHERE EVERYTHING IS ALREADY,

STOP ME IF I'M RAMBLING.

I JUST... THE WORDS KEEP COMING OUT.

I HAVE NO CONTROL. JUST... WORDS.

A-AREN'T YOU LATE?

WHY WOULD YOU THINK I WAS LATE?

YOU WERE RUNNING SO FAST TO CLASS,

THAT YOU HAVEN'T CAUGHT YOUR BREATH YET.

OH. THAT. [LAUGHS]

NO, UH...

I WAS JUST DOING MY CARDIO.

I'VE GOT LOTS OF TIME.

I HAD FUN THE OTHER NIGHT.

SO DID WE.

YOU'RE ALL EMILY'S TALKED ABOUT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HER THAT ANIMATED SINCE...

IT'S BEEN A REALLY LONG TIME.

WANT TO CHECK OUT THE ART WALK?

YEAH.

[BECCA]: THE WORST THING ABOUT BEING AN ART MAJOR

IS ANALYZING ART.

ART SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED.

NOT ANALYZED.

THOUGHT YOU WERE AN ENGLISH MAJOR?

MY FIRST MAJOR WAS ENGLISH.

MY SECOND WAS ART.

BUT STUDYING PAINTING TOOK THE FUN OUT OF IT.

EMILY GETS SUPER-SERIOUS

ABOUT HER PAINTING.

I SEE MYSELF IN THAT AND IT SCARES ME A LITTLE.

WHEN I'M, LIKE, ON A DEADLINE,

I FORGET TO ENJOY

THE FACT THAT I GET TO DRAW MAPS FOR WORK.

I MEAN, HOW AWESOME IS THAT?

I FEEL LIKE EM SEES ME GET SUPER-SERIOUS ABOUT IT,

AND SHE MIMICS ME.

I WANT TO SAY "DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN,"

WITHOUT SOUNDING LIKE SUCH A DAD.

THAT'S THE RIGHT KIND OF DAD TO SOUND LIKE.

THANKS.

[CHUCKLES]

SO...

WERE YOU A "MAP MAJOR"?

IS THAT A THING?

NO, UH, GEOGRAPHY. BUT I LOVED ART.

WHEN I WAS A KID,

I WOULD DRAW THESE ALTERNATE UNIVERSES

OF LABYRINTHS AND MAPS-- I WAS OBSESSED.

I DIDN'T THINK I'D GET TO DO IT FOR A LIVING, BUT...

THOSE WERE MY FIRST MAPS.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU FOUND A WAY TO KEEP THE JOY IN IT.

YEAH. I GUESS SO.

[DEEP BREATH]

I GOTTA GO.

I REALLY WAS LATE WHEN I WAS RUNNING PAST YOU

LIKE A CRAZY PERSON.

YEAH, WELL, UM...

WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY MINIATURE GOLF TOMORROW?

EMILY WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

ANOTHER PLAY DATE?

YEAH. [LAUGHS]

YEAH. ABSOLUTELY.

SOUNDS GOOD.

OKAY.

[♪♪]

THAT'S YOUR FIFTH HOLE-IN-ONE!

THAT'S IT?

I KNEW I SHOULD'VE BEEN WORRIED

WHEN THE CASHIER KNEW YOU BY NAME.

DON'T BE A SORE LOSER, DAD!

BECCA CAN'T HELP IT IF SHE'S AMAZING.

MM. YOU HEAR THAT?

I'M AMAZING.

I CAN STILL MAKE AN EPIC COMEBACK.

OH, PLEASE. I COULD BEAT YOU WITH MY EYES CLOSED.

TIME TO GET SERIOUS.

OH, SO YOU WERE "LETTING" US TAKE A LEAD,

AND NOW YOU'RE FINALLY GONNA BRING IT ON HOLE NUMBER 16?

POSSIBLY.

YOU CAN DO IT, DAD.

YOU CAN DO IT!

[SIGHS AS CLUB HITS GROUND]

UGH.

OR NOT.

[BECCA]: CAREFUL.

[♪♪]

DO YOU SEE IT?

OH!

[♪♪]

WELL, UM... THAT'S A WATER PENALTY,

SO YOU MIGHT AS WELL SURRENDER NOW.

[LAUGHS]

I NEVER SURRENDER.

I CAN'T TELL YOU

HOW GOOD THIS HAS BEEN FOR EMILY.

THE KIDS IN HER CLASS HAVE TALKED ABOUT HER SILENCE.

TALKED, OR TEASED?

YOU KNOW HOW KIDS ARE.

IF THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING,

THEY CAN BE MEAN.

WELL... NOT ALL KIDS.

EMILY STARTED WITHDRAWING

WHEN HER MOM WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LEUKEMIA.

EM WAS SIX.

SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND,

BUT SHE KNEW IT WAS BAD.

THAT'S SO HARD.

AFTER MAGGIE DIED,

I TOOK EM TO A COUNSELOR,

BUT HE DIDN'T GIVE HER TOOLS NEEDED

TO DEAL WITH HER GRIEF.

I'VE TRIED TO FIND OTHER COUNSELORS,

BUT SHE STOPPED TALKING.

JUST SHUT DOWN.

YOU WANT SOME NACHOS?

[LAUGHS]

IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT MOMENT

TO BE CHOMPING ON NACHOS.

I HAVE A HARD TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS,

SO MIGHT BE EASIER

IF THERE WAS CHIPS CRUNCHED IN THE BACKGROUND.

THEN LET THE, UH,

INAPPROPRIATE CHIP-CRUNCHING BEGIN.

WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST

IS I HAVEN'T SEEN EMILY CRY SINCE SHE LOST HER MOM.

[EMILY]: I GOT A HOLE-IN-ONE IN THE WISHING WELL!

THINK YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN?

LET'S TRY TOGETHER.

[♪♪]

MISS HOWARD. HOW'S YOUR THESIS COMING?

MY THESIS?

YES. THE ONE YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO

TURN IN AN ABSTRACT FOR LAST WEEK.

OH. THAT ONE.

UH, IT'S... COMING.

OH, SO YOU HAVE A TOPIC?

NO, BUT I THINK I MIGHT BE ONTO SOMETHING.

I'M FORMULATING.

"FORMULATING."

"FORM-U-LAT-ING."

YOU SURE THAT'S NOT FRENCH FOR "PROCRASTINATING"?

PRETTY SURE.

UH, I'M RUNNING LATE, THOUGH.

READY FOR SOME GALACTIC FUN?

CAN'T YOU COME WITH US, DAD?

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, HONEY.

I'D LOVE TO COME, BUT I HAVE TO WORK TODAY.

YOU'LL HAVE A LOT OF FUN WITH BECCA.

SHE'S YOUR FRIEND.

SORRY, THIS DEADLINE CREPT UP ON ME.

THANKS FOR STEPPING IN AT THE LAST MINUTE LIKE THIS.

I'LL HAVE HER BACK IN A FEW HOURS.

READY?

FIVE... FOUR...

THREE... TWO...

ONE.

[♪♪]

WHY DO YOU THINK SATURN HAS RINGS,

BUT THE EARTH DOESN'T?

MAYBE SATURN FELT LIKE IT WASN'T PRETTY ENOUGH,

SO IT DECIDED TO ACCESSORIZE,

BUT THE EARTH IS BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY IT IS.

DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT?

SURE. EVERYONE KNOWS

THAT TOO MUCH BLING CAN RUIN A LOOK.

COME ON. NEXT EXHIBIT.

[♪♪]

IS THAT A NEW PLANET?

MM-HMM.

IT'S IN A DIFFERENT GALAXY.

A GALAXY NO ONE ON EARTH HAS DISCOVERED YET.

I LOVE THAT.

I'M PAINTING THE GALAXY YOUR PLANET'S IN.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU DISCOVER A NEW PLANET,

YOU GET TO NAME IT.

HMM...

HOW ABOUT...

"BECTUNE"?

I LIKE IT.

OR MAYBE...

"BUPITUR."

"BUPITUR" IS UNIQUE.

AND I LIKE UNIQUE.

I NOW PRONOUNCE THIS PLANET

"BUPITUR OF THE EMDROMEDA GALAXY."

EMDROMEDA? COOL!

MM-HMM.

LET'S CHECK OUT THE HIDDEN WONDERS EXHIBIT.

I'LL GET US HEADPHONES.

HI. TWO, PLEASE.

THANKS.

THANKS.

EMILY?

[♪♪]

EMILY?

EMILY!

BECCA?

EXCUSE ME?

DID YOU SEE THE LITTLE GIRL THAT WAS JUST WITH ME?

EMILY?

[♪♪]

HAS ANYONE SEEN THE LITTLE GIRL WHO WAS WITH ME?

SHE'S THIS TALL--

[POUNDING] BECCA!

BECCA!

HAVE YOU SEEN A LITTLE GIRL?

SHE WAS WITH ME EARLIER? LONG BLONDE HAIR?

[♪♪]

YOU HAVE TO FIND HER. YOU HAVE TO HELP ME FIND HER.

YOU HAVE TO FIND HER.

BECCA?

EMILY!

BECCA!

OKAY. THERE YOU GO.

I'M SO SORRY.

ARE YOU OKAY?

DID ANYTHING HAPPEN?

I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE.

I'M SO SORRY, SWEETIE.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE EITHER.

BUT WE FOUND EACH OTHER.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

I'M A BALLOON WITH NO AIR IN IT.

[BECCA SIGHS SADLY]

I'M SO SORRY.

[♪♪]

SHE OKAY?

YEAH, SHE'S FINE. SHE JUST HAD A FULL FEW HOURS.

DO YOU WANT TO STAY FOR SOME COFFEE?

I JUST MADE A FRESH POT.

I LOST EMILY.

WHAT?

AT THE PLANETARIUM.

WE WERE WALKING TO AN EXHIBIT,

AND I TURNED AROUND FOR, LIKE, A SECOND,

AND SHE WAS GONE

AND SHE WAS ONLY OUT OF MY SIGHT

FOR, LIKE, A FEW MINUTES.

NOTHING BAD HAPPENED, BESIDES THE LOSING-HER THING--

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY BAD.

[LAUGHS]

YOU WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I'VE LOST EMILY?

FIVE TIMES.

FIVE.

[RELIEVED LAUGH]

KIDS, THEY WANDER OFF.

THEY'RE SMALL, THEY'RE WILY,

THEY DISAPPEAR, I...

WHAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU FOUND HER.

UM... MAYBE YOU SHOULDN'T

GIVE ME THAT MUCH RESPONSIBILITY.

YOU KNOW, MY TRACK RECORD THERE ISN'T STELLAR.

[LAUGHS] YOU'RE BEING WAY TOO HARD ON YOURSELF.

SHE'S FINE. YOU'RE FINE.

WE'RE GOOD.

I SHOULD GO.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]

[DOOR CREAKS]

I COULDN'T FIND BECCA.

YEAH. SHE TOLD ME.

BUT IT'S OKAY.

YOU'RE HOME,

AND BECCA'S REALLY SORRY SHE COULDN'T FIND YOU.

I DON'T LIKE IT WHEN PEOPLE DISAPPEAR.

I DON'T LIKE IT EITHER.

YOU WON'T DISAPPEAR...

WILL YOU, DADDY?

NO.

NOT A CHANCE.

I'M YOUR FIXED POINT, EM. I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

COME HERE.

[♪♪]

MAYBE CHILD PSYCHOLOGY

ISN'T THE RIGHT FIELD FOR ME.

WHAT IF I EMOTIONALLY TRAUMATIZED EMILY

BY LOSING HER?

YOU ARE OVERREACTING.

NO! DAMAGE DONE IN YOUR FORMATIVE YEARS

LASTS A LIFETIME.

THAT'S WAY TOO MUCH PRESSURE.

I SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED TO WORK WITH KIDS.

WOULD YOU STOP IT?

I AM NOT GONNA LET YOU QUIT AGAIN.

YOU'RE A PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR

AND YOU'RE STICKING WITH IT.

YOU SHOW REAL APTITUDE FOR THIS KIND OF WORK.

WHETHER YOU WANT TO SEE IT OR NOT

DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE, I SEE IT,

AND I AM NOT GOING TO ALLOW YOU TO BACKSLIDE ANYMORE.

YOU'RE GOING FORWARD FROM THIS POINT.

AM I CLEAR?

WHEN DID YOU GET SO MEAN?

WHEN I MET YOU.

YOU'RE NOTHING IF NOT CHALLENGING.

[CHUCKLES]

YOU'RE LATE TO CLASS?

YEAH. YEAH.

[♪♪]

[GASPS]

I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!

I'M DYING TO KNOW

WHAT YOU'RE SO EXCITED TO DO AT THE MALL.

DON'T LOOK AT ME.

THIS WAS EMILY'S IDEA.

SHE WANTED TO SURPRISE YOU.

DAD...

YOU WAIT HERE.

WE'LL GET YOU WHEN WE'RE READY.

[♪♪]

LET'S GET A PRETTY "PRINCESS" MAKEOVER.

YOU DON'T NEED A MAKEOVER.

YOU ARE PERFECT JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.

BUT I REALLY WANT ONE. PLEASE?

PLEASE?

OKAY, YOU'RE TOO YOUNG TO UNDERSTAND THIS,

BUT MAKEOVERS ARE A CULTURAL CONSTRUCT OF BEAUTY

USED BY OUR PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

TO KEEP WOMEN IN SUBSERVIENT ROLES.

MY MOM ALWAYS SAID BEAUTY'S ON THE INSIDE,

BUT IT'S ALWAYS FUN TO MAKE YOUR OUTSIDE SPARKLE.

OH. OKAY.

BUT WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT YOUR DAD TO COME IN?

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS WITH DAD.

[LAUGHS]

THEN IT'S TIME TO SPARKLE.

[GIGGLING]

I HAD NO IDEA IT WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN

TO BE A PRETTY PINK PRINCESS.

UH...

EM? WHERE'D YOU GET THAT?

TOOK IT WITHOUT ASKING.

YOU STOLE IT? FROM HERE IN THE MALL?

NO!

I TOOK IT FROM MY DAD'S CLOSET.

IT'S MY MOM'S FAVORITE NECKLACE.

OH... I SEE.

HE SAYS I'M NOT OLD ENOUGH

TO HAVE IT YET,

BUT I WON'T LOSE IT... I PROMISE.

WILL YOU TELL HIM?

I THINK YOU SHOULD TELL HIM.

BUT HE'LL BE MAD I TOOK IT.

IF YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO WEAR IT,

YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH TO TELL HIM THAT YOU TOOK IT.

DON'T YOU AGREE?

[PHONE CHIMES]

[EMILY GIGGLING]

I LOVE YOUR DRESS!

[BECCA]: THANK YOU! YOURS LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, TOO.

[EMILY]: THANK YOU! YOUR CROWN IS ACTUALLY MADE--

HELLO?

[BECCA]: COME IN.

[SWOOSH]

WELL, I DID NOT KNOW ROYALTY WAS IN TOWN.

AND AT THE MALL, NO LESS.

[QUIETLY]: I HAVE TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

YOU WENT INTO MY CLOSET

AND TOOK THIS WITHOUT ASKING?

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS, EM.

I KNOW, BUT, IT'S JUST...

EMILY, CAN I TALK TO YOUR DAD FOR A SECOND?

DON'T YOU THINK THAT TOOK BRAVERY,

FOR HER TO TELL YOU THAT SHE TOOK IT?

I MEAN, I KNOW I'M NOT AN EXPERT IN PARENTING,

BUT IT'S HARD TO ADMIT WHEN YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG.

MAYBE WE SHOULD ASK HER WHY SHE TOOK IT.

SOMETIMES, THE "WHYS" ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE HOW.

DON'T YOU THINK, NATE?

[NATE]: EMILY, YOU CAN COME BACK NOW.

WHY DID YOU TAKE THIS?

WHY DIDN'T YOU ASK ME FIRST?

I TRIED TO ASK.

IT'S JUST...

I WAS AFRAID YOU'D SAY NO,

AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT A LOT...

AND I'M READY TO WEAR IT.

EM, I WANT YOU TO KNOW YOU CAN ALWAYS TALK TO ME.

YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO ASK ME ANYTHING,

OKAY, SWEETIE?

I THINK YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO WEAR IT.

AND... YOU'RE GONNA TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE OF IT.

THANK YOU!

[♪♪]

WELL... YOU KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO HANDLE THAT.

HOW DID YOU KNOW HOW TO DO THAT SO WELL?

I KNOW HOW KIDS THINK, I GUESS.

DO YOU DEAL WITH A LOT OF KIDS

AT THE ROYAL CASTLE?

[CHUCKLES] OH...

YOU MAY BOW, MY LIEGE.

OH! AHEM.

[♪♪]

CAN I TAKE BECCA ON A HOUSE TOUR?

SHOULDN'T WE HELP YOUR DAD COOK?

NO, GO.

NO, I CAN TAKE CARE OF THE COOKING.

OKAY.

THIS IS WHERE I DO MY PAINTINGS...

AND THESE ARE MY PAINT BRUSHES,

AND THIS IS MY DAD'S ROOM.

AND THIS IS MINE! COME ON!

THAT'S MY BED

AND THIS IS MY FAVORITE COMFORTER.

OH, AND MY DAD MADE THESE PAINTINGS.

AND... THAT'S MY LIBRARY.

DO YOU WANT TO BORROW A BOOK?

IS THIS YOUR MOM?

THIS ONE'S MY FAVORITE.

ARE YOU OKAY, EM?

OH, I SHOULDN'T HAVE ASKED HOW YOU ARE.

WE'RE BEYOND THAT BORING QUESTION.

WHAT ARE YOU READING?

[GASPS] THE VELVETEEN RABBIT?

I REMEMBER THAT BOOK FROM WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

CAN I?

OKAY.

"WEEKS PASSED,

"AND THE LITTLE RABBIT GREW VERY OLD AND SHABBY,

"BUT THE BOY LOVED HIM JUST AS MUCH.

"HE LOVED HIM SO HARD,

"THAT HE LOVED ALL OF HIS WHISKERS OFF,

"AND THE PINK LINING TO HIS EARS TURNED GRAY,

"AND HIS BROWN SPOTS FADED.

"HE EVEN BEGAN TO LOSE HIS SHAPE,

"AND HE SCARCELY LOOKED LIKE A RABBIT ANYMORE,

"EXCEPT TO THE BOY.

"TO HIM, HE WAS ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL,

"AND THAT WAS ALL THE LITTLE RABBIT CARED ABOUT.

"HE DIDN'T MIND HOW HE LOOKED TO OTHER PEOPLE,

"BECAUSE THE NURSERY MAGIC HAD MADE HIM REAL,

"AND WHEN YOU ARE REAL... SHABBINESS DOESN'T MATTER.

"AND THEN, ONE DAY... THE BOY WAS ILL.

"HIS FACE GREW VERY FLUSHED,

"AND HE TALKED IN HIS SLEEP,

"AND HIS LITTLE BODY WAS SO HOT,

"THAT IT BURNED THE RABBIT WHEN HE HELD HIM CLOSE.

"STRANGE PEOPLE CAME AND WENT IN THE NURSERY,

"AND A LIGHT BURNED ALL NIGHT...

[VOICE CRACKING]: "AND THROUGH IT ALL,

"THE LITTLE VELVETEEN RABBIT LAY THERE,

"HIDDEN FROM SIGHT, UNDER THE BEDCLOTHES,

"AND HE NEVER STIRRED...

[TEARING UP]: "FOR HE WAS AFRAID,

"IF THEY FOUND HIM...

"SOMEONE MIGHT TAKE HIM AWAY,

AND HE KNEW THAT THE BOY NEEDED HIM."

[BECCA SOBS]

BECCA, ARE YOU OKAY?

[BECCA SNIFFS AND SOBS]

MY MOM...

READ THIS TO ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE.

[SNIFFS]

I GUESS SHE WAS GETTING ME READY,

BUT I DIDN'T REALIZE IT.

I LOST MY MOM... LIKE YOU DID.

AND I MISS HER.

I MISS HER A LOT.

SOMETIMES, IT-- IT HITS ME WHEN I'M NOT EXPECTING IT,

AND... I GET SAD.

LIKE RIGHT NOW?

YOU'RE SAD?

[EXHALES DEEPLY] YEAH.

BUT IT'S OKAY TO BE SAD.

IT IS?

ABSOLUTELY.

YOU CAN BORROW THE VELVETEEN RABBIT,

IF YOU WANT.

NO.

I THINK YOU SHOULD KEEP IT.

[BECCA CHUCKLES SADLY, SOBS]

IS THAT YOUR NORMAL DINNER?

UH, LATELY, YES. SCHOOL HAS ME BUSY.

THAT'S NOT ENTIRELY TRUE.

I AM BUSY,

BUT THE "TOP RAMEN" THING IS REALLY JUST A BAD HABIT.

IT'S EASY...

AND I LIKE EASY.

YOU KNOW WHAT-- YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

TOP RAMEN IS A LOW-COST INVESTMENT MEAL.

MY GRAM AND POP HAVE A COOL CABIN.

WE'RE GOING THERE THIS WEEKEND.

THAT SOUNDS LIKE FUN.

YOU SHOULD COME, TOO. CAN SHE, DAD?

[GULPS] UM...

A WEEKEND'S A... A WEEKEND'S A PRETTY BIG COMMITMENT, EMILY.

BECCA ALREADY SAID HOW BUSY SHE WAS.

THAT'S RIGHT, I DID SAY THAT.

AWW, BUT WE'D HAVE SO MUCH FUN.

YOU CAN BE UN-BUSY FOR TWO DAYS, RIGHT?

YOU MAKE A COMPELLING ARGUMENT.

OKAY.

IF BECCA DOESN'T THINK SHE'S TOO BUSY,

SHE'S MORE THAN WELCOME.

YES! [GIGGLES]

[FOOTSTEPS]

EMILY IS OUT LIKE A LIGHT.

SHE HAD A BIG DAY.

THIS HAS BEEN NICE.

WHAT'S NICE IS FINALLY HAVING AN ADULT TO TALK WITH.

IT'S REFRESHING.

I HOPE YOU DON'T MEAN ME.

ADULT'S A SCARY WORD.

I SPEND SO MUCH TIME WORKING ALONE, OR WITH EM,

SO THIS IS...

NICE?

RIGHT. IT'S NICE.

HOW MANY MORE TIMES DO YOU THINK

WE CAN SAY "NICE"?

AT LEAST A DOZEN.

[CHUCKLES]

SO, ABOUT THE CABIN.

I DON'T WANT TO IMPOSE ON YOUR FAMILY TIME.

NO, YOU'RE NOT.

BESIDES, MY PARENTS WILL BE THRILLED

TO SEE HOW WELL EM'S DOING.

THAT'S ALL BECAUSE OF YOU.

SO THIS KINDA FEELS LIKE A DATE.

OH! BUT IT'S NOT. HA, OBVIOUSLY.

I MEAN, WHY... WHY WOULD IT BE A DATE?

YOU AND I... DATING?

MM.

-I DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY THAT-- -[HE LAUGHS]

...DATING YOU WOULD BE-- BE BAD,

IT WOULDN'T.

DATING YOU WOULD BE...

"NICE"?

[LAUGHS] NICE.

EXACTLY.

I'M A PRO AT FIRST DATES.

IT'S THE ONES THAT COME AFTER

THAT ARE TRICKY.

WHAT'S, UH, TRICKY ABOUT THEM?

UH...

WELL, YOU EVENTUALLY REALIZE

YOU'RE IN A RELATIONSHIP,

AND RELATIONSHIPS AREN'T MY STRONG SUIT,

SO MY EXPIRATION DATE IS TYPICALLY SIX MONTHS.

WHY IS THAT?

UH...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME THAT.

NO, I THINK I'M AFRAID OF COMMITMENT,

BECAUSE...

LIFE IS SO UNPREDICTABLE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

YEAH, BUT THAT PERSON WE MEET,

THAT MAKES THE UNPREDICTABLE LESS SCARY...

LIKE WHAT I HAD WITH MAGGIE...

...THAT MAKES IT ALL WORTH IT.

DO YOU THINK THAT...

YOU COULD HAVE THAT WITH SOMEONE AGAIN?

HMM. HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW.

I HOPE SO.

I THINK SHE'D WANT ME TO FIND SOMEONE.

[EMILY YELLS]: DADDY! DADDY!

[♪♪]

IT'S OKAY, BABY. IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.

I'M RIGHT HERE.

SORRY.

NO. DON'T BE.

I SHOULD GO. THANKS AGAIN FOR DINNER.

[♪♪]

YOU'RE NOT GONNA WANT TO HEAR THIS,

BUT YOU HAVE TO--

YOU'VE GOT TO START YOUR THESIS, BECCA!

-YOU'RE TOO INDECISIVE! -I STARTED.

NO, YOU HAVE BEEN INDECISIVE EVER SINCE WE MET.

I CHOSE MY TOPIC.

YOU HAVE TO CHOO-- WHAT?

DID YOU-- YOU'VE CHOSEN A TOPIC?

I'M GONNA WRITE ABOUT HOW KIDS DEAL WITH GRIEF,

AND HOW ADULTS FAIL THEM

BY NOT GIVING THEM THE PROPER TOOLS

TO PROCESS THEIR EMOTIONS.

WHEN NATE TOLD ME THAT EMILY HADN'T CRIED SINCE HER MOM DIED,

I STARTED THINKING--

HOW MANY KIDS HAVE TROUBLE ACCESSING THEIR EMOTIONS

WHEN THEY GO THROUGH SOMETHING TRAUMATIC?

WE NEED TO FIND BETTER WAYS TO TALK TO THOSE KIDS.

IT'S INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW MUCH EMILY HAS CHANGED

SINCE WE STARTED HANGING OUT,

HOW MUCH SHE'S GROWN AND COME OUT OF HER SHELL...

I'M REALLY HAVING FUN HANGING OUT WITH HER.

I'VE ALSO NOTICED

YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH NATE, TOO. IT'S...

I MAKE AN IMPASSIONED SPEECH, AND THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FROM IT?

I'M JUST MAKING AN OBSERVATION.

[FRUSTRATED SIGH] I THOUGHT YOU'D BE HAPPY

THAT I FINALLY CHOSE SOMETHING TO WRITE ABOUT.

OH, I AM, I JUST WANT YOU TO BE CAREFUL

NOT TO GET, YOU KNOW, TOO CLOSE TO THE SITUATION.

I'M NOT TOO CLOSE.

WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN ANYWAY?

WHAT I'M SAYING IS, YOU HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED

ON WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT IS FINISHING YOUR THESIS

GRADUATING FINALLY,

AND NOT WASTING YOUR TIME

FLIRTING WITH SOME GUY YOU JUST MET.

STOP. IF I WAS A MAN, YOU WOULDN'T EVEN

START THAT SENTENCE, SO DON'T BOTHER FINISHING IT.

BECCA!

I CAN FLIRT WITH WHOEVER I WANT,

AND FINISH MY THESIS, I ASSURE YOU.

WELL, I'M SORRY,

I DIDN'T MEAN TO IMPLY YOU WERE BEING UNPROFESSIONAL.

YOU DIDN'T IMPLY IT, YOU SAID IT.

YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT.

THAT WAS UNCALLED FOR.

I JUST WANT YOU TO SUCCEED.

IN EVERYTHING.

THAT'S ALL.

I KNOW.

IT'S OKAY, I'M NOT MAD...

...MUCH.

BUT I HAVE TO GO WORK ON MY PAPER, SO...

I'LL CALL YOU IN A FEW DAYS.

OKAY.

[DOOR CREAKS SHUT]

[CELL PHONE STARTS RINGING]

[CHUCKLES]

I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT YOU.

I MEAN, THINKING ABOUT YOU. I MEAN... WHAT?

HELLO. HI, NATE.

HEY, BECCA.

HEY, NATE.

I SAID THAT ALREADY.

YOU CAN SAY IT AGAIN IF YOU WANT.

TWO TIMES IS CHARMING,

THREE TIMES IS A LITTLE WEIRD.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE MET AT JACKSON'S,

EMILY SAID YOU WERE WEIRD.

SHE WAS SO RIGHT.

SO, HOW'S EM?

WELL, WHEN WE GOT HOME TODAY, SHE PUT ON HER PRINCESS DRESS.

YOU KNOW, SHE, UH,

REALLY LIKED HAVING YOU OVER.

I LIKED BEING OVER.

UH, THAT REMINDS ME-- YOU LEFT YOUR JACKET OVER HERE.

UM, SO...

IF YOU LIKE, I COULD DROP IT OFF, UM...

IN CASE YOU NEEDED IT?

YOU THINK I MIGHT NEED IT URGENTLY?

WELL, I JUST DIDN'T WANT YOU TO GET COLD

AND FIND YOURSELF IN A JACKETLESS SITUATION.

TRUE.

YOU COULD BRING IT OVER.

I COULD COOK YOU DINNER,

JUST GIVE ME AN HOUR.

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD. SEE YOU THEN.

[♪♪]

I INVITED NATE OVER. HE'S ON HIS WAY NOW.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME?

MY PLACE IS A MESS!

MY PLACE CAN'T BE A MESS,

BECAUSE THEN HE'LL THINK I'M A MESS!

THIS IS A DISASTER.

CALM DOWN! THIS IS GREAT.

I ALSO TOLD HIM I'D COOK FOR HIM.

BUT YOU CAN'T COOK.

I WAS IN THE MOMENT! IT JUST CAME OUT.

IT'S OKAY, YOU CAN DO THIS.

CAN I JUST ASK--

YOU'VE NEVER CARED WHAT YOUR PLACE LOOKED LIKE BEFORE.

WHY DO YOU CARE NOW?

I DATED BOYS BEFORE. NATE'S A MAN.

HE NEEDS A WOMAN WITH A WOMAN'S APARTMENT,

AND A WOMAN WHO CAN COOK.

WHY AM I NOT COOKING YET?

WHEN I SAID "WHY AM I NOT COOKING YET,"

I MEANT, "WHY AREN'T YOU COOKING YET?" COME ON!

[♪♪]

[HARD BAGUETTE THUDS]

YOU CAME JUST IN TIME.

I WAS STARTING TO GET REALLY COLD.

I KNEW THERE WAS AN URGENT JACKET SITUATION.

HERE.

THANKS.

THIS LOOKS AMAZING.

DID YOU MAKE THIS YOURSELF?

I MAY HAVE HAD SOME HELP FROM MY UPSTAIRS NEIGHBOR.

AND BY "HELP," I MEAN,

SHE MAY HAVE MADE THE ENTIRE THING.

BUT I DID SUPPLY THE DISH.

DISH SELECTION

IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A GOOD MEAL.

DO YOU NOTICE THAT ALL WE DO TOGETHER IS EAT?

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE IN A JULIA CHILD MOVIE.

IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE YOU'D RATHER BE DOING WITH ME?

THAT'S A LOADED QUESTION.

[CHUCKLES]

I MEANT, UM...

WE COULD GO TO A... A MOVIE.

NOT TONIGHT, OBVIOUSLY,

BUT WE COULD MAKE SOME PLANS.

YEAH. PLANS... PLANS WOULD BE GOOD.

YEAH.

SO YOU'RE SAYING

YOU WANT TO MAKE SOME PLANS?

DEFINITELY. YEAH.

OKAY.

DO YOU EVER FEEL STUCK?

LIKE YOU CAN...

SEE YOURSELF MOVING FORWARD,

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE THAT FIRST STEP?

EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE.

ME TOO.

REALLY?

I WOULD'VE THOUGHT

FIRST STEPS WOULD BE EASY FOR MAPMAKERS.

ISN'T THAT WHAT MAPS ARE ALL ABOUT?

CHARTING THE UNKNOWN?

I CAN DRAW A MAP FOR SOMEONE ELSE, NO PROBLEM.

JUST NOT MYSELF.

BECAUSE YOU'RE STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF IT.

YOU NEED TO TAKE A STEP OUT

SO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

MAYBE YOU'RE RIGHT.

I'VE BEEN STUCK IN THE SAME SPOT

FOR A LONG TIME.

SEEMS LIKE MAYBE YOU ARE, TOO.

IN A WAY.

I HAVE TO RELIEVE THE, UM, BABYSITTER.

RIGHT. UM, AHEM. OF COURSE.

UM...

[SMOOCH]

WELL, UH...

TELL EMILY I SAID HI.

OKAY.

♪ CINDERELLA ♪

♪ BROKE HER UMBRELLA ♪

♪ STUCK IN THE RAIN ♪

♪ ON THE WAY TO COACHELLA ♪

♪ LOOKED FOR A TAXI SHE COULD TAKE ♪

♪ HOW MANY LEFT HER IN THEIR WAKE? ♪

ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!

WHO'S NEXT?

EM, WANNA TRY?

GO FOR IT, EM!

[KIDS JOIN IN]: ♪ CINDERELLA BROKE HER UMBRELLA ♪

YOU DID SO WELL. YOU TRIED!

CAN I GO BACK TO THE CLASSROOM AND DRAW?

YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY AGAIN?

OKAY.

I'LL SEE YOU AFTER SCHOOL,

WHEN WE GO TO YOUR CABIN.

[♪♪]

HI! [LAUGHING]

COME HERE, YOU!

-OH... -GRAM!

I MISSED YOU!

HEY.

HEY. HOW ARE YOU TWO?

GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS.

BECCA, THESE ARE MY PARENTS, CHUCK AND ESSIE.

OH, PLEASE, CALL US "GRAM" AND "POP."

THAT'S WHAT WE BECAME AS SOON AS THIS LITTLE ONE WAS BORN.

AND OF ALL THE NAMES I'VE BEEN CALLED IN MY LIFE,

I'D SAY "GRAM" WAS BY FAR MY FAVORITE.

LET ME HELP YOU WITH THAT BAG.

OH, IT'S FINE. I CAN-- I CAN GET IT.

NO ONE WHO MAKES MY EMILY SO HAPPY

EVER HAS TO CARRY THEIR OWN BAG.

-OH! -[LAUGHTER]

[GRAM]: WELL, COME ON.

SO, WHAT'S YOUR CARD GAME OF CHOICE?

OH, AND IT GETS COLD AT NIGHT, BUT I HAVE LOTS OF SWEATERS.

DO YOU HAVE ALLERGIES? I'M ALLERGIC TO EVERYTHING.

FRESHLY SQUEEZED.

-OH, THANK YOU. -YOU'RE WELCOME.

-EMILY? -YES?

COME HERE. I BAKED YOUR FAVORITE COOKIES,

AND YOU CAN HAVE ONE BEFORE DINNER.

-YES! -OFF YOU GO.

SO, BECCA...

COME IN! SIT DOWN.

SO, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

ARE YOU CLOSE TO YOUR FAMILY,

OR...?

CAN SHE GET SETTLED

BEFORE YOU MAKE HER THE COVER STORY, MA?

[SCOFFS]

DON'T MAKE FUN OF YOUR MOTHER.

I DON'T MIND QUESTIONS.

UM, I WAS BORN IN L.A. AND RAISED BY MY GRANDPARENTS.

THEY'RE IN FLORIDA NOW,

AND THEN I MOVED UP TO SAN FRAN FOR SCHOOL.

OH! WHERE WERE YOUR PARENTS?

WELL, MY DAD WAS NEVER IN THE PICTURE,

AND MY MOM PASSED AWAY WHEN I WAS SEVEN.

WE'RE SORRY TO HEAR THAT, BECCA.

BECCA!

WANT TO SEE GRAM AND POP'S BOARD GAMES?

THEY HAVE EVERY GAME EVER!

AND WANT TO LOOK FOR SHOOTING STARS TONIGHT?

YOU CAN SEE SO MANY MORE STARS HERE THAN IN THE CITY.

I AM SO DOWN FOR THAT.

AND GRAM, DID YOU KNOW

THAT ON A CLEAR, MOONLESS NIGHT, YOU CAN SEE

UP TO 10,000 STARS IN THE SKY?

AND YOU CAN SEE THE FIVE BRIGHTEST PLANETS.

-COOL, RIGHT? -YES.

WE LEARNED THAT AT THE PLANETARIUM.

I'M IMPRESSED.

EMILY IS SO MUCH MORE TALKATIVE

THAN WHEN WE LAST SAW HER.

SHE LIGHTS UP AROUND BECCA.

[SIGHS] FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE MAGGIE DIED,

I THINK EMILY'S GONNA BE OKAY.

YEAH.

I THINK SO, TOO.

AND YOU WILL BE STAYING IN HERE.

YOU SURE YOU DON'T MIND GIVING UP YOUR ROOM?

OH, I'VE BEEN TOO TALL FOR THIS BED

SINCE MY GROWTH SPURT AT 17.

[LAUGHS]

WE HAD THE SAME TASTE WHEN WE WERE TEENAGERS.

GARP IS SO GOOD.

YEAH, BUT OWEN MEANY WAS THE BEST.

OBVIOUSLY.

OH! SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU.

UH...

[RUMMAGING IN DRAWER]

THIS IS ONE OF MY EARLY SKETCHBOOKS.

OH! THE MAZES YOU WERE TELLING ME ABOUT.

WOW! YOU REALLY WERE OBSESSIVE.

YOU MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO FIND AN EXIT, THOUGH.

MOST OF THE MAZES I DREW BACK THEN LED TO DEAD ENDS.

[LAUGHS]

OH. EVEN WITHOUT EXITS, THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

SO DO YOU HAVE A TWO?

NO. GO FISH.

OKAY. OKAY.

[NATE]: HEY, YOU GUYS?

WE'RE GONNA WALK OFF SOME OF THAT DINNER.

WE'LL BE BACK BY 9:00.

PRIME STAR-WATCHING TIME.

WHAT IF THERE AREN'T ANY SHOOTING STARS

FOR US TO SEE?

THEN WE'LL LOOK FOR SOME CONSTELLATIONS.

I PROMISE, WE'LL FIND SOME GOOD ONES.

[GRAM]: I THINK IT'S YOUR TURN.

OH, RIGHT! YEAH. DO YOU HAVE ANY TENS?

NO. GO FISH.

SO WHY WOULD A PIRATE COME ALL THE WAY OUT HERE

TO BURY TREASURE?

I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS LOGICAL.

I WAS A KID.

IT WAS AFTER I HAD EMILY,

I REALIZED HOW UNIQUE KID LOGIC IS.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU WERE A PRETTY SWEET KID.

I NEVER FOUND ANY TREASURE, THOUGH.

SO WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?

YOU WANT TO KEEP LOOKING FOR IT?

IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO DO?

YOU'RE NOT GONNA LET ME LIVE THIS DOWN, ARE YOU?

HEY, IF THERE'S PIRATE TREASURE,

I WANT IN ON IT.

EMILY SHOULD BE IN ON IT, TOO.

WE COULD SPLIT IT THREE WAYS.

LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.

["BRIGHT" BY ECHOSMITH PLAYS]

♪ I THINK THE UNIVERSE IS ON MY SIDE ♪

♪ HEAVEN AND EARTH HAVE FINALLY ALIGNED ♪

♪ DAYS ARE GOOD ♪

♪ AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ♪

[BECCA]: IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

♪ YOU SPRINKLE STAR DUST ON MY PILLOW CASE ♪

♪ IT'S LIKE A MOONBEAM BRUSHED ACROSS MY FACE ♪

♪ NIGHTS ARE GOOD ♪

♪ AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ♪

♪ YOU MAKE ME SING ♪

♪ OH, LA, LA, LA ♪

♪ YOU MAKE A GIRL GO OH, OH ♪

♪ I'M IN LOVE, LOVE ♪

♪ DID YOU SEE THAT SHOOTING STAR TONIGHT? ♪

PRETTY GOOD, HUH?

MM-HMM.

[POP]: IT'S YOUR TURN, EM.

♪ DID YOU AND JUPITER CONSPIRE TO GET ME? ♪

CAN YOU BLAME ME

FOR HOW MUCH TIME I WANT TO SPENT OUT HERE?

♪ 'CAUSE NOW I'M SHINING ♪

LOOK AT THAT.

♪ BRIGHT SO BRIGHT ♪

[BECCA]: IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

♪ BRIGHT SO BRIGHT ♪

IT REALLY IS.

♪ AND I SEE COLORS IN A DIFFERENT WAY ♪

♪ YOU MAKE WHAT DOESN'T MATTER FADE TO GRAY ♪

♪ LIFE IS GOOD ♪

THIS WAS SO MUCH BETTER THAT THE EAR KISS.

♪ AND THAT'S THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ♪

I JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO MOVE TOO FAST.

I DON'T WANT TO CONFUSE EMILY,

SO IF--

HOW LONG HAVE WE BEEN HERE?

IT'S PROBABLY 9:30.

[GROANS] STAR- WATCHING WITH EM!

I'M SO LATE.

♪ DID YOU SEE THAT SHOOTING STAR TONIGHT? ♪

♪ WERE YOU DAZZLED ♪

I'M SO SORRY, EM!

I DIDN'T MEAN IT, REALLY.

I JUST LOST TRACK OF TIME.

[GRAM]: COME ON.

I WAS JUST TALKING WITH YOUR DAD.

[NATE]: IT'S MY FAULT WE'RE LATE, KIDDO.

IT'S BOTH OUR FAULTS.

WE JUST NEEDED A LITTLE ADULT TIME.

SHE'S MY FRIEND, DAD.

I SHOULD GO TALK TO HER.

NO. IT'S ME SHE'S MAD AT.

I'M SUCH AN IDIOT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

EM WAS DOING SO WELL WITH YOU,

AND I JUST THOUGHT SHE'D BE OKAY WITH YOU AND I,

BUT I HAVE TO STOP THINKING LIKE THAT,

BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST ME...

IT'S ME AND HER.

MAYBE WE SHOULD STOP SEEING EACH OTHER FOR AWHILE

AFTER THIS WEEKEND.

EM'S YOUR NUMBER-ONE.

YOU SHOULD GO CHECK ON HER.

[WORDS CATCH]

[♪♪]

YOU READY FOR A GREAT DAY AT SCHOOL?

DO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CABIN?

NO.

[♪♪]

DO YOU WANT TO PLAY SOME FROZEN APPLE SAUCE, EM?

NO, THANKS.

[♪♪]

ARE YOU GIVING UP THAT EASILY?

I THOUGHT WE HAD EXTRA STOMACHS

FOR DESSERT.

THAT'S COWS, DAD. WE'RE NOT COWS.

YEAH, THAT'S TRUE. OKAY...

I SURRENDER.

DEFEATED BY THE AVALANCHE.

DO YOU STILL MISS HER?

YOUR MOM?

EVERY DAY.

ME TOO.

SOMETIMES, I FORGET SHE'S GONE

AND THEN IT HURTS AGAIN

WHEN I REMEMBER.

HEY.

SHE'S IN OUR HEARTS FOREVER.

YOU KNOW THAT, RIGHT?

I MISS BECCA, TOO.

YOU'RE NOT STILL MAD SHE MISSED OUT

ON STAR-WATCHING WITH YOU?

SHE SAID SHE'S SORRY.

YOU KNOW, I'M SORRY, TOO.

YOU WERE RIGHT. BECCA'S YOUR FRIEND.

I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU LIKE HER.

YOU LIKE HER, TOO.

[LAUGHS] THAT'S TRUE.

SHE CAN BE BOTH OUR FRIENDS.

IS THAT WHAT YOU'D LIKE?

CAN WE INVITE HER OVER AFTER SCHOOL TOMORROW?

WILL YOU CALL HER?

RIGHT NOW?

OF COURSE. I'LL SEE IF SHE CAN JOIN US

FOR DINNER TOMORROW NIGHT.

OKAY. SO I KNOW WE MISSED OUT ON LOOKING FOR SHOOTING STARS,

AND I WANTED TO MAKE UP FOR THAT,

AND... I FOUND A FEW IN YOUR ROOM.

YOU CAN OPEN YOUR EYES NOW.

I DON'T SEE ANYTHING.

JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE IT,

DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT THERE.

[CLICK]

WOW.

THIS IS AMAZING.

WOW...

WHEN YOU GO TO SLEEP AT NIGHT,

WHEN YOU MISS YOUR MOM,

I WANT YOU TO PICTURE HER IN THESE STARS,

SMILING DOWN ON YOU,

BECAUSE SHE IS ALWAYS THERE,

WATCHING OUT FOR YOU,

EVEN IF YOU CAN'T SEE HER.

THANK YOU, BECCA.

SO WE'RE OKAY?

[SPEAKING FRENCH]

[ADULTS CHUCKLING]

[KEYBOARD CLACKING]

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

[PRINTER WHIRRING AND CLACKING]

[PHONE RINGS]

HEY.

SO NOW THAT I HAVE MY DAUGHTER'S APPROVAL,

I'M CALLING TO OFFICIALLY ASK YOU OUT.

THIS IS NATE, BY THE WAY.

[LAUGHS] LIKE I HAVE

SO MANY OTHER GUYS CALLING TO ASK ME OUT.

YOU'RE A SMART, FUNNY, ATTRACTIVE, WOMAN.

I'M SURE COLLEGE GUYS ARE LINING UP TO ASK YOU OUT.

I'VE DATED ENOUGH COLLEGE GUYS

TO KNOW I AM DONE WITH COLLEGE GUYS.

WAIT. I'M-- I'M SORRY, SO YOU'RE SAYING

YOU DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE FRAT PARTY

AT PI BETA KAPPA GAMMA SIGMA DELTA OMEGA TONIGHT?

WAS THAT EVERY GREEK LETTER THAT YOU KNOW?

BASICALLY, YEAH.

[LAUGHS]

UM... [SIGHS]

NATE, I'D LOVE TO GO OUT WITH YOU

TONIGHT, BUT--

NO-NO-NO-NO-NO. DON'T, DON'T.

DON'T SAY "BUT." SAY...

"YES." BUT'S MY LEAST-FAVORITE WORD.

[SIGHS] YES.

[♪♪]

OKAY. SOUNDS GOOD.

PICK YOU UP AT 8:00.

[♪♪]

[GIGGLES]

YOU LOOK LIKE A DAD!

YOU LOOK LIKE MY PRINCIPAL.

[♪♪]

BE GOOD FOR THE BABYSITTER, OKAY?

OKAY.

WELL?

I LOVE IT.

IT'S FUN, YET CLASSY.

SEXY AND RESPECTABLE.

FLIRTY, YET FUN.

I KNOW I SAID "FUN" TWICE,

BUT THAT'S BECAUSE IT IS.

OKAY, I THINK I CAN LIVE WITH THAT.

YOU'VE ALREADY GONE OUT WITH NATE A FEW TIMES.

WHY ARE YOU NERVOUS?

I DON'T KNOW. [SIGHING]

I'VE ALREADY MET HIS PARENTS.

HIS DAUGHTER APPROVES OF ME.

I JUST FEEL LIKE NOW IT ACTUALLY MEANS SOMETHING.

I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU BROUGHT ME BACK HERE FOR A REMATCH.

BECAUSE YOU HUSTLED ME.

I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE

A PROFESSIONAL MINIATURE GOLFER.

SO I DECIDED TO LEVEL THE PLAYING FIELD.

YOU SAID YOU COULD BEAT ME BLINDFOLDED.

SO...

[LAUGHING] OH!

OKAY. I'M GAME.

PUT IT ON ME.

[LAUGHS]

ALL RIGHT.

THAT TOO TIGHT?

NO, THAT'S GOOD.

-ALL RIGHT? -OKAY.

-CAN YOU SEE? NO? -NO.

HERE WE GO.

TURN THE CLUB.

-ALL SET? -THERE YOU GO.

[BALL RATTLES AND THUDS]

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME!

WHAT HAPPENED?

YOU MADE A HOLE-IN-ONE, BLIND!

THIS WAS YOUR IDEA!

WHAT--

WHAT, ARE YOU TRYING TO PUNISH ME?

YOU LIKE IT.

OKAY.

JUST DON'T LEAD ME INTO ANY PONDS.

I'M NOT MAKING ANY PROMISES.

[KEYS CLACKING]

[♪♪]

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

HERE GOES NOTHING.

[♪♪]

WOW.

ON TIME AGAIN TO CLASS?

THIRD TIME THIS WEEK, MISS HOWARD.

THIS SURELY MUST BE A SIGN OF END TIMES.

NO, SIR. JUST A VALIDATION

OF YOUR MAD TEACHING SKILLS.

I SEE YOUR BROWN-NOSING HAS IMPROVED AS WELL.

IT'S NOT BROWN-NOSING IF IT'S TRUE.

PERHAPS.

I'M HAPPY TO SEE YOU APPLYING YOURSELF BECAUSE--

I'M NOT SURE I SHOULD FINISH THAT THOUGHT,

I DON'T WANT IT TO GO TO YOUR HEAD.

TAKE THE RISK. FINISH THE THOUGHT.

WHEN YOU APPLY YOURSELF,

YOU'RE ONE OF MY BRIGHTEST STUDENTS, BECCA.

I'M REALLY HAPPY TO SEE YOU TAKING IT THIS SERIOUSLY.

SO...

GO BACK TO WORK.

I HOPE YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY, SWEETHEART.

OKAY, DAD.

ALL RIGHT. BYE.

[♪♪]

FIVE... FOUR...

THREE... TWO...

ONE....

[♪♪]

[GIRLS]: PEACHES, PEARS AND PLUMS!

TELL ME WHEN YOUR BIRTHDAY COMES!

JANUARY, FEBRUARY...

[NATE]: HEY, EM, IT'S PAST YOUR BEDTIME.

WHY DON'T YOU PUT ON YOUR PAJAMAS?

AWW! BUT WE'RE HAVING SO MUCH FUN.

CAN'T I STAY UP A LITTLE LATER?

I THINK I GAVE YOU THAT ANSWER 30 MINUTES AGO.

NOW IT'S REALLY TIME.

[THUMP]

[STOMPING UP STEPS]

THIS HAS BEEN REALLY NICE.

HANGING OUT WITH THE TWO OF YOU.

YEAH, ALMOST FEELS LIKE WE'RE...

UM, THERE IS SOMETHING

I WANTED TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT.

YOU TOLD ME THAT...

SIX MONTHS WAS

YOUR RELATIONSHIP EXPIRATION DATE.

I DID SAY THAT.

I UNDERSTAND.

I GET THAT, I DO.

BUT I LIKE YOU, BECCA--

I LIKE YOU, TOO.

AND YOUR EXPIRATION DATE SCARES ME.

BECAUSE I CAN'T DO THIS

IF I THINK YOU MIGHT RUN IN SIX MONTHS.

I-I'M-- I DON'T MEAN TO PUT ANY PRESSURE ON YOU,

BUT THIS IS BIGGER THAN YOU AND ME.

I HAVE TO THINK ABOUT EMILY.

SO I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU THINK

YOU MAY RUN AWAY FOR NO REASON SIX MONTHS FROM NOW.

WILL YOU TUCK ME IN, BECCA?

[EXHALES DEEPLY]

TO BE CONTINUED. GO.

[♪♪]

[THUD]

OKAY. ALL TUCKED IN.

YOU COMFY?

MM-HMM!

ARE YOU?

[LAUGHING]

KIND OF.

YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND, BECCA.

DITTO, KIDDO.

MM. [SMOOCH]

MOVE OVER.

[GIGGLING]

[♪♪]

I THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID.

WHAT IS THIS?

YOU'VE BEEN USING EMILY.

YOU'VE...

BOILED HER DOWN

INTO SCIENTIFIC TERMS AND PSYCHOBABBLE.

NO. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

"THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LOSING A PARENT."

THIS IS ALL EMILY'S BEEN TO YOU, THE WHOLE TIME?

A TEST SUBJECT?

NO. YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.

I... I WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT EMILY.

IF YOU JUST READ THE REST OF IT--

I'VE READ ENOUGH.

NATE, PLEASE--

IF IT ONLY HAD BEEN ME YOU LIED TO,

THAT WOULD BE ONE THING, BUT YOU LIED TO EMILY.

THAT'S THE PART THAT HURTS.

LET ME EXPLAIN.

I DON'T WANT YOUR EXPLANATIONS, BECCA.

I WANT YOU TO LEAVE ME AND MY DAUGHTER ALONE.

NATE, NO, LISTEN! I WANT THIS.

I WANT US. I WANT ALL OF IT.

I'M NOT GOING TO RUN.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT ME TO BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU SAY,

AFTER YOU WRITE SOMETHING LIKE THIS BEHIND MY BACK?

BEHIND MY DAUGHTER'S BACK?

[QUIET GASP]

[DOOR CREAKS]

PLEASE.

[♪♪]

[♪♪]

DID YOU HEAR US FIGHTING?

WHY ARE YOU MAD AT BECCA?

BECAUSE I JUST FOUND OUT THAT SHE'S...

UH, EM, SHE'S LIKE A... DOCTOR.

UM...

SHE WANTED TO HELP YOU, AND THAT'S GOOD...

BUT SHE DIDN'T TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT SOME THINGS.

I'M REALLY SORRY, EM.

I RUINED EVERYTHING.

I'M SURE THAT'S NOT TRUE.

[SOBS]

NO. NO, IT IS.

I FINALLY FOUND SOMETHING THAT REALLY MATTERED...

AND I RUINED IT.

I RUIN EVERYTHING, AMBER.

[TEARFULLY]: "WEEKS PASSED,

"AND THE LITTLE RABBIT GREW VERY OLD AND SHABBY,

"BUT THE BOY LOVED HIM JUST AS MUCH.

"HE LOVED HIM SO HARD,

"THAT HE LOVED ALL HIS WHISKERS OFF,

"AND THE PINK LINING TO HIS EARS TURNED GRAY,

AND HIS BROWN SPOTS FADED."

[CRYING]

I'M SO SORRY.

I DID NOT MEAN TO UPSET YOU, EM.

IT'S OKAY TO BE SAD.

NOW CAN I PLEASE BE ALONE?

[♪♪]

[CRYING]

[KNOCKING]

I CAN'T TALK ANYMORE, AMBER.

I'M ALL TALKED OUT.

BREAKING AND ENTERING IS A FELONY.

YOUR FRIEND, AMBER, LET ME IN.

I DON'T WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT NOW.

I READ YOUR THESIS, BECCA. IT'S BRILLIANT!

YOU'RE REALLY GONNA FLOOR PEOPLE WITH THIS PRESENTATION.

NO, I'M NOT. I'M QUITTING.

NO. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. I WON'T ALLOW IT.

IT'S NOT UP TO YOU.

OH, REALLY?

[SETS THESIS DOWN]

YOU KNOW, I HAVE...

I HAVE BEEN THERE FOR YOUR ENGLISH DEGREE,

I'VE BEEN THERE FOR YOUR ART DEGREE,

I'VE BEEN THERE THROUGH IT ALL,

AND I HAVE WATCHED YOU FIND YOURSELF,

BY WORKING WITH THIS LITTLE GIRL.

YOU'RE WRONG.

ALL I DID WAS HURT EVERYONE.

NO. MM-MM.

THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO IN YOUR LIFE, BECCA.

THIS IS WHERE YOU MAKE YOUR MARK.

THIS IS WHERE YOU GROW UP...

...AND BE WHAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE--

THE PERSON YOU ALREADY ARE.

NATE THINKS I WAS STUDYING EMILY.

AND NOW HE HATES ME.

NO, YOU MIGHT BE A LOT OF THINGS, BECCA,

BUT YOU'RE NOT A COWARD.

YOU KNOW WHAT MARK TWAIN SAID?

"COURAGE IS NOT THE LACK OF FEAR,

IT'S ACTING IN SPITE OF IT."

OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

[LAUGHS]

I AM SO PROUD OF WHAT YOU WROTE...

AND I AM PROUD OF YOU.

AND YOU SHOULD BE, TOO.

WELL, I AM, UM,

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR PRESENTATION, BECCA.

PROMISE ME YOU'LL AT LEAST THINK ABOUT IT.

[♪♪]

MR. WILLIAMS?

I'M WALT GODFREY.

GODFREY?

MY NIECE, AMY, IS EMILY'S TEACHER,

AND I AM BECCA'S COLLEGE ADVISOR.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY, MR. GODFREY.

YOU SEE, I THINK

YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG, MR. WILLIAMS.

I THINK YOU SHOULD GIVE BECCA A CHANCE,

LET HER EXPLAIN.

I DON'T WANT EXPLANATIONS.

OH, I THINK YOU DO,

BECAUSE I THINK THAT YOU LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER

MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD,

AND BECCA HAS HELPED EMILY,

AND EMILY HAS HELPED BECCA MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER KNOW,

AND NOW BECCA IS PRESENTING WHAT SHE HAS LEARNED TOMORROW

IN FRONT OF THE THESIS COMMITTEE,

AND I THINK... YOU SHOULD HEAR HER OUT.

AND I THINK YOU SHOULD BRING EMILY.

HERE. SEE THIS?

IT'S A DRAWING THAT YOUR DAUGHTER DID.

NOT BECAUSE SHE WAS ASKED TO,

BUT BECAUSE SHE WANTED TO.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL GARDEN.

[♪♪]

[BECCA]: THANK YOU FOR COMING.

MY RESEARCH CENTERS AROUND

"THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LOSING A PARENT."

AHEM.

I STUDIED A SHY GIRL WHO LOST HER MOM

AND THEN STOPPED TALKING,

A GIRL WHO SHUT HERSELF OFF FROM THE WORLD.

THE IDEA OF "LOSING" SOMEONE

IS SO MUCH MORE COMPLICATED THAN THE WORD IMPLIES.

YOU LOSE YOUR KEYS, YOU LOSE A QUARTER,

YOU DON'T LOSE A PERSON.

IT JUST MAKES DEATH SOUND SO TRIVIAL.

BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS

THAT NEVER GETS EASY TO TALK ABOUT,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL,

WHO DOESN'T WANT TO ACCEPT THAT KIND OF PERMANENCE.

A GIRL WHO--

[♪♪]

A GIRL WHO...

[BECCA FIGHTING TEARS]

[SOFTLY]: OH...

GO ON.

THE GIRL IN MY STUDY,

MY SUBJECT...

WAS ME.

I NEVER GOT OVER THE DEATH OF MY MOM.

[CHOKES UP] I NEVER GREW UP.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT...

GROWING UP MEANT I-- I HAD TO LET GO,

AND I COULDN'T DO THAT.

SO I JUST FOCUSED ON HAVING FUN...

BUT WHEN YOU FOCUS ON FUN,

YOU NEVER END UP FINISHING ANYTHING,

AND THEN, AFTER A WHILE,

IT FEELS LIKE YOUR LIFE IS FLOATING PAST YOU.

BUT THEN I MET A FRIEND NAMED EMILY,

WHO ALSO LOST HER MOM.

SHE'S GOING THROUGH SOME OF SOME OF THE SAME THINGS

I WENT THROUGH WHEN I WAS HER AGE,

BUT SHE HAS THE KIND OF SUPPORT SYSTEM I NEVER HAD.

SHE'S SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO LOVE HER,

WHICH DOESN'T MAKE HER JOURNEY ANY EASIER.

BUT ONE THING OUR FRIENDSHIP HAS SHOWN ME

IS THAT SHE'S GONNA GET THROUGH THIS.

I'VE TAUGHT HER HOW TO HAVE FUN,

AND, IRONICALLY, SHE TAUGHT ME HOW TO BE AN ADULT,

BECAUSE SHE'S WISER AT NINE THAN I'VE EVER BEEN.

PART OF GROWING UP

MEANS LEARNING HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

I KNOW HOW TO DO THAT NOW.

[EMILY]: EXCUSE ME!

CAN WE ASK QUESTIONS?

QUESTIONS ARE NORMALLY RESERVED FOR THE END,

BUT... GO FOR IT.

I MISS YOU,

YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND...

AND I WAS JUST WONDERING...

CAN WE HAVE ANOTHER PLAY DATE?

[LAUGHS]

[♪♪]

WE CAN HAVE AS MANY PLAY DATES AS YOU WANT,

AS LONG AS IT'S OKAY WITH YOUR DAD.

IT'S OKAY BY ME.

I MISSED YOU.

I MISSED YOU, TOO.

[♪♪]

[APPLAUDING]

I'M PROUD OF YOU, GIRL.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE OPERATIVE WORD IS?

"WHEW!"

[LAUGHING]

BYE.

GREATEST THESIS PRESENTATION EVER!

-SEE YOU LATER. -SEEYA.

WELL...

OKAY, WELL, IF WE'RE GONNA DO THIS,

WE HAVE TO BE TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY HONEST,

AND I HAVE ONE LAST CONFESSION TO MAKE.

JE PARLE FRANCAIS.

I'M TOTALLY FLUENT.

SO I KNEW WHEN YOU GUYS WERE TALKING ABOUT ME,

I KNEW WHAT YOU WERE SAYING,

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY CUTE.

SO MANY DEGREES.

SHOULD'VE KNOWN ONE WOULD BE FRENCH.

NO, ACTUALLY.

"ROSETTA STONE."

[EMILY]: YOU DID REALLY GOOD!

YOU THINK SO?

ANYONE UP FOR A PLAY DATE?

[♪♪]

ICE CREAM?

-FINE. -YES!