Original subtitles

So… …last night was, uh, interesting.

Sure, things didn't go exactly as planned. But it wasn't a total nightmare.

It's a total nightmare!

Okay, not my best dream. But what did we learn?

We learned that without an assistant director,

things get a little…

And we learned that when the Riley-Camera is run over by a giant clam…

The clam wants me dead!

Okay, wake-ups are bad.

It means you get a new office

shed.

But it's fine! I like cozy.

And you know what? Jean still believes in me.

Mermaid Unicorn? Really?

Riley's 12, not two, Paula!

In fact, she personally recommended a new assistant director.

- Oh, and there they are.

Let's welcome my new assistant director.

I prefer co-director.

No!

No! No, no, no. Get out! Absolutely not!

Right. Well, I'll just go inform my aunt Jean.

You might know her as the head of the studio.

Oh! Absolutely not will I not ask you in!

Sorry about the screaming. I was--

I just remembered I have the oven on.

Please, come on in.

Did you need to put this trash somewhere? Because there's a bin around the corner.

This is not trash. It's my art.

Art! Yes, of course, your art.

I love it.

Why does it smell like a skunk burning nachos?

I intend to add my own aesthetic to night-dreams,

and this showcases the depth of my vision.

What he said.

Uh--

So, I have some notes on your approach to dream-making.

Wanna hear them? Good.

Let's start with the obvious. It's too much.

- Yeah, uh-- It's too unfocused. Too unimaginative.

Too cliché. Too blasé. It lacks meaning, truth, danger.

And why do you always go for the happy ending?

- Art is supposed to subvert… - Mmm.

…the audience's expectations.

Yeah? See what I mean about subversion?

Okay, you are confident.

What I do is make sweet dreams for Riley.

I want her to wake up feeling refreshed with a smile on her face.

Do you really want those smiles, though?

I saw your daydream.

How could you look at that on the page and think Riley would ever like that?

There's no page in my work. Page?

Script page.

Scripts are the instruments of cowards,

and your night-dreams are stuck in the past.

Daydreams challenge Riley.

They let her experience the now, the present.

That's why the only method I use is improvisation.

Meaning you have no idea what you're doing

and no idea what Riley really wants.

I give Riley what she needs even if she doesn't know it.

Well, seems like you hate everything we do here. So--

Oh, my gosh.

You're hired.

And I am willing to work with you.

Um, you did help your last assistant director, Janelle,

get promoted, right?

Mm-hmm.

That's dynamite. See you on set.

Okay, you're welcome.

Bye.

Did he just steal my pajama boots?

What's the plan? Well, I'm aging up my dreams.

Fortunately, we have a juicy topic tonight. Everybody's talking about it.

Oh, my gosh, y'all.

What are we going to wear to the dance?

Headquarters was abuzz.

- We have nothing to wear. - Oh.

Wh-What about the jumpsuit?

An outfit from last year? Seriously? I can't.

What will Riley wear to the dance?

See, this is where dreams can really shine.

It's just like Farewell My Paci, you know?

Hit dreams can help drive Riley

- in a way Headquarters can't sometimes. - Whoa! Watch out!

And not to honk my own horn,

but I have a pretty good instinct in which way Riley should go.

I just have to age up my dreams. That's all.

My next hit dream will be so bright, this studio won't know what hit 'em!

- You hit my Death prop. - What the--

I made that for our dream where Riley plays Go Fish with Death.

- The symbolism is very rich. - No. We're not using the death prop.

I'm a director. I should be consulted.

For the last time, you are an assistant director.

The only thing you direct is the assistance you give to me.

This is so crazy. I was looking online,

and my old dress is back in style.

- It's toxic! - It's not a costume party, Mom!

- But we don't want to hurt Mom's feelings. - Or get her really mad at us.

- Or we don't die of embarrassment. - Whoa, whoa, okay.

It's not that bad. Uh…

Uh, yeah, Mom. There's some cool things about it.

Uh, I like the stripe part.

- It's just so-- - It's vintage.

Yeah.

- Oh, it's Grace. I should probably-- - Oh, go, go, go.

You look amazing.

Hey.

Riley, check it out. My sister took me shopping,

- and I got a dress for the dance! - Wow.

I don't know if it shows as good on camera, but I promise it's amazing.

- And she said I can wear her heels! - They look great.

What are you wearing?

- Did you get a dress for the dance too? - Huh? Oh!

No. No, no, no.

This is, uh, maybe a Halloween costume.

- We haven't gone shopping yet. - Oh. Okay.

- Well, that's just great. - Yeah, we're not wearing that.

What do we do?

Well, let's just sleep on it.

I did research, and I had the writers whip up a killer, really mature script.

- Very hip. - Ah.

- Lots of tween vibes. - Oh, mercy.

I need this to be a hit. So, I need a star.

I left Rainbow Unicorn a few messages,

but she hasn't gotten back to me yet because she's just so busy.

She's probably called already a million times.

But hey, I'm busy. Sorry.

Or she's super mad at you because your dreams are destroying her career.

You. Silly.

Wait at the door.

Rainbow! How are you?

Oh, look, I brought you some wheatgrass.

And… …are those new horseshoes?

What?

Stop! Hey! Ouch!

Okay, great talk, Rainbow.

Love you too. Bye.

She'll do it! She loves the pages. She loves the new direction

and loves that she's now getting my reserved parking spot.

Crew, we are making a major pivot today!

I did a lot of research, and Mom is right.

- The '80s are back! - Stop, stop.

- So we are going to be making a hip… - No.

- …cool, off-the-chain… - No.

…rad, bodacious dream!

None of those things should be said by you.

Also, we have a new assistant director.

This is Xeni.

So, Xeni, why don't you introduce yourself?

I will.

People! I'm here to cure you of your overly sentimental

and mundane method of dream-making.

That's not a way to warm up to people.

First, we will not be using any fancy equipment, like lights.

- No, n-now stop! - And, I…

Okay, e-everyone, let's get to work.

Xeni, could you come here for a second?

- Allow me to enlighten you about your job. - Mmm.

Janelle, my former AD,

would stand right here, on the other side of the camera, okay?

Good, yes.

Now, when we would start rolling, Janelle would listen to what I'd say.

And then she'd make it happen, and she'd make it great.

So, let's practice that.

Like role-play? Yes, I'm good at that. Let's go.

Great! Yes!

So, imagine we're shooting something

that requires balloons to fall from the sky, okay?

- When I say action, what should you do? - I'd do this!

- Oh, no! What are you doing? - Put the camera down.

Going handheld!

I'm going to run straight into the set and attack the action

as if I'm the action.

- Whoa, easy, new guy. Easy. - Hey!

I'm destroying form!

Stop!

There's no camera anymore. There's only visions.

Xeni, put the Riley cam down now!

Ziggy runs the camera. That is not your job!

Fine. Gah, you're bourgeois.

Xeni, this isn't a daydream. We are making a mature night-dream, okay?

- Fifteen seconds, Paula. - Thanks, Noriko.

Naseem, how does Rainbow look?

In a word, powerful.

Just observe.

All right, play to the camera, everyone.

Riley is the camera. We are on in four, three…

Age up my dreams, huh? Well, watch this.

Get dressed for the dance.

Vintage is now.

Riley, what are you wearing? Did you get a dress for the dance too?

Just make it stop.

This is so aged up.

Paula, see here?

You realize, of course,

this is simply your old Forest Dance Party dream,

just without the color.

No, no, no. It's completely different.

Well, at least it doesn't have…

glitter.

There you go. That's the hit we need.

So uncool.

I know. The dream wasn't that bad.

Not sure I deserve to be downsized. Again.

I meant the dream.

Like, I thought it was uncool purposely,

which is kind of cool,

but it was accidentally uncool, which is very uncool.

You wanna know what's not cool?

Rainbow, I was just talking about our dream.

Oh, what's this? Reviews. Great! Finally.

"Rainbow Unicorn is embarrassing

in this ill-conceived sludge bucket of a dream."

Ouch.

Well, that's just one critic who probably hates everything.

He's a crank pot.

"Rainbow Unicorn's latest dream was so bad

that Riley forgot it while she was dreaming it."

Okay, that's just mean.

Okay, the '80s Goth dream was a bad idea.

I can understand why you might not trust me.

Heck, I'd even get it if you turned and walked away--

Hey, where are you going? I don't get it!

Wait, wait, Rainbow Unicorn. Come on!

I took a chance on you when no one else would!

- Stupid metaphor. - Hey, watch it!

No, no, no, don't go! I'm sorry.

But you can't just quit on me.

We've got so much to do! So much to say!

You know what? I don't need you! My career wasn't based on you!

Well, I foresaw all of this.

I suppose some people can only learn by hitting rock bottom.

Well, now that you're there, we can truly shake things up, Paula.

You're fired! Get out!

You're firing me? Why?

Because as my assistant director,

you are supposed to support my vision for the project.

Take Janelle, for example. She was my best friend on the set.

I could always count on her to--

Wait, you hired me to be a best friend?

I mean, not literally, no.

But in a way, yes. Definitely.

I'm afraid I cannot be your best friend, Paula.

So, I hereby counter your firing

by tendering my resignation, effective retroactively,

before you began shooting that horrific dream.

And I'd reconsider hiring someone who's simply going to pat you on the back.

You've had too much of that already.

Nice talk, worst friend!

Come on, Jeff.

Best friends are for children and golden retrievers.

And apparently Paula.

-

Fancy little pointy-headed horse.

I use this. Most of the time.

Okay, okay, you ready? You gotta get this.

Paula and Janelle Hall of Fame.

Amazing!

Did you get that?

We make such a good team.

It's a hit.

Why does she have to grow up?

I'm gonna remember this one forever.

This is gonna be amazing. Our next hit.

- Whoo-hoo! - Whoo!

Now that's what I'm talking about.

I gotta get Janelle back.

Looking great, Jenna! Roll back to first position.

Wow.

Mel!

Aw! How's my good girl, huh? My little Melatonin!

Paula, I'm so glad you're here. Kinda like old times, right?

Well, you know, I just came to watch you fly, JJ!

So happy for ya.

Aw, thank you.

Aw, what's your name, little pup, huh?

- Oh, hey, uh, careful. She's-- - No, no, no, no, wait, wait.

Aren't you cu--

So, you think you're ready?

I feel ready. I've got my shot list tight, my camera moves rehearsed.

Oh, check out the set. What do you think?

Oh, uh, well, it looks great. Maybe it needs to be more fun?

Hey! How about throwing in Bubblegum Fairy? Or Cupcake Twins?

Um, no, I don't think that's the vibe we're going for here.

There's my new star director! You got everything you need?

Yes, ma'am! Everything's great!

Feels like a lot.

Ms. Janelle? Charlie says there's a safety issue with the wires.

- Charlie and I talked about it-- - Janelle, where's the frame exactly?

- It's right above-- - Is it okay if my meemaw visits set?

- Your who? - I need you to sign off on purchases.

- Well-- - Okay, yeah, let's check in after this.

Is this the right dress for the dance?

Are we supposed to stand here?

This can't be the right rug for Riley's room.

- Uh-- - Should we go?

Uh, Riley's had that rug since she was three. Right, Janelle?

- Oh, that's right. - You.

We'll need a full report on the safety issues.

- Uh, what? - Janelle runs a closed set.

Riley doesn't care about your meemaw.

- Dang. - Sorry.

Okay, thanks, Paula. But I--

Don't worry, J. I know this is hard. I got your back.

Okay, crew. Listen up. We're gonna turn this sinking ship around.

I want a full copy of the script, a red marker and a latte.

Just like old times, right?

- Paula, w-what are you doing? - Hang on, crew.

Just helping out, you know? I mean, I get it. It's a lot.

So many details to track. It's overwhelming.

And it's okay to admit that you might not be ready.

You know, after we wrap up here, why don't you come back and work for me?

Oh. That's why you're here.

Okay, I think you should go.

Come on, Jaygh. We do our best work together.

And there's still so much I could teach you.

I'll make you my co-director! One day.

No, you won't.

You hired me as an assistant, and you'll always see me that way.

That's not true.

And yes, this might be a mess. But it's my mess!

All right, everyone.

Riley's falling asleep!

Shh!

We are live in five, four, three, two…

Cue fog.

Uh-oh, Riley doesn't like that much fog.

I don't know what I'm looking at.

- Cue mirror. - Riley's gonna hate this.

Cue Mom.

Riley, you look so cute in my dress.

Huh? Oh.

Wow.

Cut!

- Janelle, that was awesome! - I can't believe we did it.

Oh, no. That's good.

We did it!

Janelle's dream redefined the medium. I hate her.

But I love her. I also hate her.

"Janelle stuns where Paula stumbles." What?

- Oh, Paula. - Jean! Oh, hi.

Walk with me. I wanna thank you for hiring Lenny.

- Uh, you mean Xeni? - Xeni. How's he doin' anyway?

He's doing great. We're just getting warmed up, of course.

I-I mean, I bet in a few nights, uh,

Team Paula and Xeni will really be on a roll.

Speaking of "on a roll," did you catch Janelle's dream last night?

It had a real impact.

Riley had a good long talk with Mom.

Mom, I am not wearing your old dress to the dance.

Okay.

Okay.

Now, that is the sort of confidence boost our dreams can provide.

Wait, Riley's not gonna wear Mom's dress?

I know. Can you imagine if she wore that?

Her social life would be over.

Janelle really gets Riley. I'm never letting her retire.

If I think about it, it looks like we have too many directors now, huh?

Guess we have to get rid of someone, don't we?

Hey, there. How you doing?