(CLASSICAL CELLO MUSIC) YOUNG WOMAN: At the age of 26, Ludwig van Beethoven went deaf, ending his career as a successful concert pianist. But determined not to let a little thing like his hearing end his music career, my pal Ludwig became a composer. Turned out the new gig suited him. It's like that old saying: "Life is what happens when you're busy making other plans." Take my dad. When my little brother Teddy was born, he quit his band to get a real job, but... then he fell in love with teaching. Now he spends his days in the mosh pit that is high school English class. Or my Mom-- a Riot Grrrl who found her calling as a part-time travel agent and a full-time super mom. These days she only moshes with Teddy. MOM: Scooch over, dude. (DANDY WARHOL'S 'BOHEMIAN LIKE YOU') (voice-over): And then there's me. I thought I knew where I was going. I thought I had it all mapped out. Turns out I had... no idea. Your coffee, maestro. -Thank you. -TEDDY: Me, too. I want some. DAD: No way, dude-- you don't give crack to somebody who's already on speed. Don't worry, we switched him to decaf. -Whoa. As long as you don't switch me. -No, baby, that would be child abuse. Hey, did you see this? I got a Google alert about it yesterday. That's the most we've seen of him in a few months. I know. Oh, my God, is he really opening up for the Shins? Yeah. When they play in Portland tonight. -That's huge. -Yeah, I know. It's kind of crazy. Everything he's ever wanted is actually coming true. I know you guys haven't been talking... Mom, I really don't want to talk about it, okay? I'm just saying that if you miss each other, it's okay to reach out. -DAD: Okay. -(claps hands) Come on. If you guys want a ride, we got to go. MAN (on radio): Now let's update you on the snowstorm and school closures... Baby, turn that up. ...are now calling for a snow day. All schools in Portland and Clackamas districts will be closed for the day. Yes! That means no school, kids. Well, ain't that a bitch. TEDDY: School's out forever! (grunts) Did you really just quote Alice Cooper? My God, son, have I taught you nothing? -Let's go make a snow monster. -We can try. It looks like it's not really sticking out there, though. You guys are all playing hooky without me? It's not hooky if it's a snow day. So not fair. -Life isn't fair. -MOM: That is true. But sometimes you got to, like, noodge it a little. (coughs) (fake coughing) Ooh, it'd be bad to go to work with this cough, spreading my germs around. (voice-over): You know how when you meet someone and they just already are the person they're meant to be? That was Adam. Nobody outside Portland had ever heard of his band, but... he already was somebody. Everybody knew who he was. (PLAYS BACH'S 'CELLO SUITE NO. 1' Me? Not so much. (cello continues playing) (CONTINUES PLAYING BACH'S 'CELLO SUITE NO. 1' What class was this? Uh, Advanced Composition. What's she doing? She's... more advanced. Adam. What's up? I think everyone left. Let's get some lunch. I am... starvin', Marvin. Oh, and, um, by the way, that Adam rocker dude was totally checking you out. -Adam Wilde saw me geeking out? -He saw you -blissing out, and he was into it. -(groans) (chuckles): No, he isn't... into it, Kim. Uh, yeah, he is, Mia. -He's way into you. -Do not take his picture, Kim. I'm not an amateur. (click) You're welcome. (bell ringing) MIA (voice-over): Over the next couple of weeks, I noticed Adam hanging around while I was practicing my cello. You're Mia. -Yeah. -Good. I just wanted to clear that up. There were rumors. I'm Adam. I know... Um... Hi. Wow. Yo-Yo Ma much? -Kind of. -What's the deal with that? Is that, like, street or something? -"Yo-Yo Mama"? -It's Chinese. And don't mock the master. It's... blasphemous. I'm sorry. My bad. Hey, I got some tickets to see a cellist. Really? Yeah. You interested? You're asking me on a date? Yeah, well, a friend of the family had the tickets and can't go. Anyhow, it's this Friday. I could pick you up. What? You can't hide in that rehearsal room forever. It's too late. I see you. Hey. I'm Kim. Hi. Okay. I'll see you guys later. Bye. Oh... (laughs) my God. -What? -I told you he was into you. No, no. He just had a question about classical music. -Mm. Okay. -(groans) He better be nice to you, or else I'll crush him like the bug he is. God. All right, we get it, you're in love. Go away. You know, two types of girls in this world, Mia: girls who have boyfriends in high school... And girls like us who wait till college. So much happier. MOM: I'm totally off the hook. What are we doing today, hmm? We can go to the farm, visit Henry, Willow and the baby? Stop by my folks' place for a late lunch? Mia, you gonna come with us? I don't know. There's this tricky part of the Beethoven sonata that I've really got to nail, and... well, the letters were mailed on Friday. (voice-over): Juilliard. The audition was two months ago, but I can still feel it in my fingers. Okay, this is painful to watch. Look, who knows what time the mail's even gonna be delivered today? Come on, you got to come with us. Come on, baby, pretty soon you're gonna be off to college no matter where you're going. How many snow days are we gonna be able to spend together? Are you really playing the guilt card right now? We'll let you pick the music. And bribery. Honey, guilt and bribery are the glue that have held parents and teenagers together for generations. Don't fight tradition. Fine. Boom! (IGGY POP'S 'THE PASSENGER') I thought you said I'd pick the music. Oh, yeah. She's right, Teddy. Fire up the jams, sister. Let's hear something old-school. -How about I kick out a few tunes from our favorite Austrian melody maker, -Franz Schubert. -Not that old-school. TEDDY: Iggy Pop! -Iggy Pop! -DAD: Teddy, you can listen to Iggy on your iPod, but nothing after 1978, you understand me, young man? -Yes, sir. -Well, I choose Ludwig van Beethoven. TEDDY: Surprise. (BEETHOVEN'S 'CELLO SONATA NO. 3 IN A MAJOR' PLAYS) (PIANO JOINS CELLO) (voice-over): I've always wondered if Mom and Dad were disappointed that I didn't turn out more like them. I tried to. I mean, Mom and I went to all of Dad's shows. Dad's band was called Nasty Bruises. Embarrassing, I know. They were what you might call big in our town, and for a while everyone thought they might get bigger. # If you and me just got out of this place...# That was my preschool. But then one day in second grade... (VARIOUS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS PLAYING CACOPHONOUSLY) (PLUCKS STRING) I want to play it. -(playing simple exercise) -Cellos are crazy expensive, so I borrowed a crappy one from school. Mom and Dad found a student from a local college to teach me, and I rehearsed day and night. I couldn't get enough. -(CELLO EXERCISE CONTINUES) -MOM: I love her, but I'm about ready to stab my eyeballs out. This is exactly why I could never procreate. Amen, sister. (CELLO EXERCISE CONTINUES) (voice-over): I loved the order... -the structure... -(intricate playing) but what really hooked me was that feeling I got in my chest. (PLAYS RAPID SCALE) It's like my heart was beating with the cello. (CELLO CONTINUES PLAYING) (CELLO PLAYS ENDING CHORDS) (CELLO STARTS MUSIC FROM BEGINNING) (CONTINUES PLAYING SCALE) (sighs): Dude... she's been at it since this afternoon. (CONTINUES PLAYING SCALE) You want me to tell her to hang it up for the night? No. You go in there, you'll probably get clubbed with a bow. I wouldn't risk it. (CELLO CONTINUES) I wonder where she gets that from. Uh-uh. Nah, guys play music for two reasons: to get laid... and because they got rage. But mostly to get laid. Well, that's probably not her motivation. No, exactly. She's not doing it to get anything; she's just doing it out of pure... (CONTINUES PLAYING SCALE) We made that. (EXCITING CLASSICAL MUSIC) (voice-over): The next day, Dad came home with a present-- a cello of my very own. (UPLIFTING MUSIC) (BEETHOVEN'S 'CELLO SONATA NO. 3 IN A MAJOR' PLAYS) (voice-over): Isn't it amazing how life is one thing, and then, in an instant, it becomes something else? Like here I am... Mia... the girl who thinks about the cello and Adam and whether a letter is waiting for me at home, and just like that... (MUSIC CRESCENDOES) (LOUD CRASH, SCREECHING TIRES ECHOING) (DEBRIS CLATTERING) (WIND WHISTLING SOFTLY) (BIRD SQUAWKING IN DISTANCE) (WHOOSHING) (WIND WHISTLING SOFTLY) (DISTORTED INHALE) (DISTORTED EXHALE) (DISTORTED, SOFT BREATHING) (SOFT, ECHOING BREATH) (WIND CONTINUES WHISTLING SOFTLY) (FAINT, INDISTINCT TALKING NEARBY) -(SOFT, DISTORTED BREATHING) -(ENGINE IDLING, DOOR CLOSES) MAN: Get some cribbing in there. Support those columns. MAN 2: We need a full spinal immobilization. -MIA: Hello? -All right, we're gonna do an assessment. MAN 3: Our resources are good right now. Excuse me? Sir, excuse me? -MAN 3: We still got three trapped. -Hello? MAN 4: Gonna look at the other side, all right? MAN 3: Roger that. We got a solo vehicle. Three are trapped, one ejected. MAN 4: Get a collar on the adult male before we get him out. (trembling): Mom... Teddy! Dad? (EMTs and firemen chatting indistinctly) (Mia panting) Not responsive. We might have to just run with her. We have foreshortening in his left leg. Yeah. Might be a compound femur. Get support around it. Get a fracture splint on it. (TENSE MUSIC) (TENSE MUSIC SWELLS) No, just grab the Ambu bag for now. MIA: No. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (EXHALES) (ECHOING) Wake up! (WHISPERS) Wake up. (TENSE MUSIC) (ECHOING WHISPER) Wake up, wake up, wake up... (GASPS) (EXHALES) (TENSE MUSIC) EMTs: One, two, three. WOMAN: All right, come on, guys. Let's move. Her Glasgow Coma's at a seven. MAN: Tell Portland to have a trauma team ready. Glasgow Coma? Why do you need a trauma team? One female, late teens, critical, en route to Portland now. One eight-year-old male conscious... Mom! Dad! Teddy! WOMAN: Let's go, Dimitri. Hang in there, baby. We'll be in Portland soon. (ENGINE RUMBLING) (SIREN WAILING) (TENSE MUSIC) (SIREN FADING) You okay? -No. -You want to hit up my closet? Your closet's terrifying. I don't even want to go. Come on, he's just a guy, Mia. Yeah, but he's the first guy I've ever gone on a maybe date with, and I don't know whether to wear date clothes or casual clothes or... Just wear, you know, something you feel good in. And if this Adam dude doesn't see how amazing you are, -then he's a total... -TEDDY: Shithead. -MOM: Yeah. -(doorbell rings) Mom, I think I'm gonna puke. (Mia groans) Better before than during. You must be Adam. Uh, yeah, I am. Yeah. Nice threads. Come on in. I'm the old man, Denny. I know. You were in Nasty Bruises, right? Oh, wow, you're impressing me already. Well, I have your CDs. -You're the one. -(laughs) They make great coasters, right? Come on. Adam's here. Is that Mia? Yeah. That's our little rock and roll. She was Nasty Bruises' original groupie. Oh, no. Are they telling you old war stories? -Hey. -We should probably go. -Okay. -MOM: Okay, you kids be careful out there. I hear it gets pretty wild at the symphony. -(laughs): Good-bye. -Bye. -Bye. Your parents seem pretty cool. (laughs): So they tell me. (CELLO PLAYING SLOW, MINOR-KEY MELODY) (CELLIST PLAYS) (CELLIST CONTINUES PLAYING) (CELLIST CONTINUES PLAYING) (CELLIST CONTINUES PLAYING) -(LAST NOTE FADES) -ADAM: Seriously, I respect any musician who just leaves it all on the stage like that. -She was awesome. -I thought you were -a little bored there at the beginning. -No. -That snoring was the lady next to me. -(laughs) I loved every minute of it. All right, Hall, so what's your story? How did parents like yours end up having a kid like you? Well, I was certainly bred to be a rocker. -Mm-hmm. -But I have this theory -that I was switched at birth. -Okay. That explains it. No, but seriously... I don't know, I've always kind of felt like this... Martian in my family. I don't look like either of my parents. My mom's this tough chick, and my dad's all outgoing, and... I went and chose Beethoven and the cello. ADAM: When I was eight, I saw this... old video of the Ramones playing "I Wanna Be Sedated," and it felt like my head exploded. And I was like, I have to learn to play the guitar, so... my uncle hooked me up with this old Fender. Yeah, that thing... saved my life. (POIGNANT MUSIC) You didn't really get those tickets from a family friend, did you? That was two weeks of pizza delivery tips. Why? Why me? 'Cause I like to watch you play. You go to another place. And you're beautiful. And you get this crease on your forehead right there. Why do I have this feeling you're about to mess up my entire life? A little mess never hurt anybody. MIA (voice-over): A week later, Adam invited me -to see his band play. -ADAM: Liz, Mia. Mia, Liz. Uh, I got to change the tube on this amp. I'll see you in there. Okay. (ROCK MUSIC PLAYS) One, two, three, four! (WHOOPS, SHOUTS) (CROWD SHOUTS RHYTHMICALLY) # I was looking for something # To sink my teeth into # I didn't know what I wanted # I never do # I want what you have, I want what you # Have now # Give it to me # You make it look so good # 'Cause you # Know what's up # You know exactly # What to do # Yeah... # I want what you have, I want what # You have now # Give it to me -(laughing): Yeah. All right. # I want what you have, I want what you have # Now # Give it to me, give it to me # Give it to me. -(SONG ENDS) -(CHEERING, WHOOPING) Thank you. Good night. -(INDISTINCT CHATTER) So, what other bands are you into? Um... classical, mostly. Right on. I love classic rock. Mia. Hey. -Are you okay? -I'm kind of miscommunicating with people. -The usual. -LIZ: Yo, Adam, after-party at Darren's. You coming? Yeah. Yeah, we're in. Yeah. -You in? -Guys, let's go! I have my curfew. -Curfew? -Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll set you loose early. Thanks for slumming it with us tonight. Yeah. No problem. GUY: Yo, Adam! Just kiss her, and let's go, man! -(MIA LAUGHS SOFTLY) -Come on. We're cool, right? You and me? -Yeah. We're cool. -Hey, you finally got to meet Liz. -Yeah. You two have a lot in common. You ever, like... hooked up or... Actually, I'm glad you brought that up. We do have a lot in common. For instance, we're both... into girls. She's with Astrid. MIA: Oh, wow. (laughs): Go, Astrid. Hey, now we've got that out of the way... (EXHALES) I'm bummed you can't stay out with us tonight. (softly): Yeah, I know. MOM: Mia, just go. Have fun. -Mom? -DAD: Kat, get away from the window. -Dad? -KAT: Sorry. Like, your mom and dad are cool with you staying out, but you don't want to? Or... Um... Look, I think I'm... I think I'm coming down with something. Right. Yeah, well... just give me a shout when you get over it. I'll see you around. -Hey, Adam... -Mom, get back inside. We always do these stragglers' dinners on Sunday. You should come by sometime. Thanks. Maybe I'll check it out. You know, that was wrong on so many levels. (CAR DEPARTING) What? She shouldn't be scared to hang out with those guys. They're us. (SIREN WAILING) -What do we got here? -Collapsed lung, broken ribs. -Looks like three. -Abrasions to the legs, face. -Brain contusions, full extent unknown. -And an internal bleed. Rest of the family's on the way in. Ultrasound, X-ray, 12-chem, type and cross-match. Let's get the RT down here, please? WOMAN: On my count. One, two, three. (TENSE MUSIC) Hey, excuse me, I need to check on my family. It's... it's Kathleen Hall, Dennis Hall and Theodore Hall. -(trembling, panting) -MAN: Good to go. Hello? Hey, I was trying to look at that. Ruptured spleen. We need to move. We're taking Mia Hall into Operating Room One. All right, let's get her in there. We've got to remove the spleen, drain the lung and figure out what's causing the bleed. If she wants to live, she better start fighting. Start fighting? How am I supposed to start fighting? Someone just talk to me, please. Just help me! -WOMAN: Pulse ox is low. -MAN: Okay, let's go, folks. WOMAN: All right, you have that? Your sutures. -Mm-hmm. -Arterial line set. MAN: Okay, let's get it cleaned up. WOMAN: Your cut-down tray is almost prepped. MAN: Let's go, let's go. Thank you. WOMAN: GCS still looks high. MIA: Am I gonna die? Is that what this is? Here's the secret, baby. You control this whole thing. If you live, if you die-- it's all up to you. So, whatever fight you got in you, you got to pull it out now. (LOW WHOOSHING) (FAINT, ECHOED LAUGHING) MAN: Call the blood bank. I need two units of O neg. Keep two on hold. I think we're gonna need a lot more than that. Let's see if we can track down her relatives, please. WOMAN: Right away, sir. One of her parents is on their way to O.R. Four now. -Dad? -MAN: We just have to relieve the swelling. For a guy who was in such a bad car wreck, he really lucked out. DENNY (voice-over): Hey, Mia, look what I found loitering out front. Do we want him? I was hungry. Well, I'm-I'm glad you came. Because you're hungry, and we have food... for you to eat, or... Well, food to eat is my favorite. WOMAN: Out of my way, people. I just worked a double, and I need to feast. I'm eating dim sum for a twosome. -DENNY: Hey, what's up, Willow? -KAT: Welcome, Adam. It's nice to see you. Play your cards right, we might make you a regular. Okay, Mom, we got it. Thanks. Come on. (exhales) (INDISTINCT CHATTER) (LAUGHING) -KAT: Dear, headlights... -John Deere, Deere... DENNY: Okay, so who is it? Bobby Schayer from Bad Religion. -ADAM: Tim Leitch from Fear. -Tim Leitch from Fear. -Yeah, the guy from Dead Moon. -Andrew Loomis. -Right. -ADAM: And the guy from the Wipers, -Sam... Henry. -Uh, Sam Henry. So, if you think about it, Portland's kind of -like a haven for legendary -Hey, Mia. -punk drummers, right? -Let me sit here. DENNY: That's a good point. Mia, your man knows his punk rock history. ADAM: Thanks. -(buzzing) -Ow! Oh, my God! Oh! God, something just stung me! -Oh, who does that? -A bee? -KAT: Babe, are you sure it's a bee? -ADAM: Oh, yeah. We got to get this stinger out. -No, we're not doing that. -Trust me, this is the only thing I learned in Boy Scouts. Got it. (OTHERS CLAPPING) -Wow. -WILLOW: Way hotter than tweezers. Stand down, woman. You're already knocked up. You know, you should get stung more often. I'm sorry to say that's the furthest we've gotten since our first date. Yeah. Maybe we should do something about that. I like where your head's at, Hall. (UPBEAT MUSIC) (ORCHESTRAL CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYING) (PHONE VIBRATES) (CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) Adam? (WHISPERS) I'm coming up. No, you cannot come up. I have something to tell you. Besides, it's too late; I'm already climbing. Oh, God. -(CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES) -(SIGHS) Um... (MUSIC STOPS) Okay, uh... (EXHALES) Ah, Schroeder. Um... Okay. (SHORT EXHALE) -(EXHALES) -(DOOR OPENS) Hey. Hey. I thought you went home. I got lost. (MIA LAUGHS SOFTLY) Did you actually learn that bee sting thing from the Boy Scouts? No, I totally made it up. I just really wanted to suck your hand in front of all your parents' friends. (LAUGHS) What did you want to tell me? Today was awesome. You guys are like a real family here. I don't think I've ever seen one of those up close. It's impressive. Yeah, well, trust me, it hasn't always been that way. When I was a kid, things were so chaotic. They'd be up late, so I was up late, and... my dad would be on the road for weeks at a time. They didn't really get it together until Teddy was born. What about you? What are your parents like? They're not really a part of my life. Honestly, I can't remember them ever being in the same place for a meal. And if you want to track down the old man, that's gonna take a while. -So... -Adam. It's cool. I'm good at being mostly alone. But that's the thing. You're not alone. Not anymore. Wait. I need to take it slow, okay? I love slow. (BEN HOWARD'S 'PROMISE') (MUSIC STOPS ABRUPTLY) -Is that enough room? -A little more underneath, please. -Suture. -There we go. All right. Suture. MIA (voice-over): The surgery's been going on for hours, and they're nowhere near done. MAN: Ah, that's looking good. MIA (voice-over): I need to find my family. (TENSE MUSIC) Kim? Kim, wait! (PANTING) KIM: I came here as soon as I could. -What happened? Is everyone okay? -We don't know. -Gran. Gramps. -MAN: We need to find out what the hell is going on here. E-Excuse me. My name is -Estelle Hall. -Our son, Denny Hall, his wife Kathleen, and their two kids got in a car accident this morning, and we'd like to find out how they're doing. WOMAN: Yes, of course. Mr. and Mrs. Hall, I'm Liddy-- I'm your social worker. I've just been assigned your case. I am so sorry for what's happened. Now, I haven't been able to speak to anyone's doctors yet, but I do know that Mia and Dennis are still in surgery. Most likely, they'll be heading to the ICU. There is no information on Kathleen in the system yet. -But Theodore... -Teddy? Yes. Teddy. He was conscious when he arrived. He's getting a CAT scan now. Why don't you make yourselves as comfortable as you can, and I will come and get you the second I have any new information, okay? Thank you. Hey, Henry and Willow are on their way, and I tried calling Adam and left a couple messages, but I haven't heard anything yet. MIA (voice-over): There are two types of people in this world, Kim-- those who like real coffee and those who like frou-frou drinks with ridiculous names. Um, wow. You know, I'm not ashamed to be a cinnamon spice chai latte lover. -Thank you very much. -Yeah, well, it kind of smells -like Christmas threw up in your mug. -Fine by me. So, Adam. Is it awesome? It feels... big. It's crazy-- I can't eat, I can't sleep. -But...? -For starters, -I hate going to his shows. -Do you not -like his music, or...? -No, I love his music. He writes these amazing songs, and... I don't know, when he comes off stage, I just want to, like... lick the side of his face. Oh, baby. But when I hang out with his crowd, -I just feel like.. -Like a fish out of water? Like a fish on Mars. Come on, it's not his friends you're afraid of; it's him. I mean, he's older, he's in a band... all those girls surrounding him. I mean... it's scary. I get it. What if it doesn't work out? You gonna be there to pick up the pieces? Every last one of them. But if it gets serious, you better not turn into one of those girlfriends who only speaks in the first-person plural. "We love the winter." "We never use deodorant." "We only like quinoa." If you ever turn into one of those girls, -I'm a-gonna shoot you. -If I ever turn into one of those girls, I'm a-gonna give you the gun. Hey, Mom? Who's the toughest, hottest rocker chick you can think of? -Debbie Harry. -Okay. Cool. Or Patti Smith. Or Joan Jett. Lucinda Williams, even though she's country. Kim Gordon. What is this, a social studies project? No, it's... it's for Halloween. Tonight, with Adam. Oh, you're gonna use the rocker chick. I don't even want to go. Bunny rabbit... what's up? I want to dive into Adam's world. You know? I want to be like his friends, but what if I can't pull it off? The whole messy, punk rocker, live-in-the-moment thing. Then you return all the clothes to my closet in the morning and go about your life. Baby, it's one night, right? I mean, I know it's not your thing, but... why not try out messy and in the moment, and see how it feels? You might be surprised. (UPBEAT MUSIC) Hey, Adam. Whoa, Hall. I didn't think you had it in you. Whoa, yourself. -I'm Beethoven. -(gasps) -Ludwig. (laughs) -Come on, let's go. MAN: What's up, Adam? Debbie Harry always said a shot before showtime does the trick. So, bottoms up. Oh, I'm good. Okay, well, it's there if you want it. LIZ: Yo, Adam! -We're going on. -Okay. I've got to go do my set. No running off with some me wannabe. I'll try. (chuckles) Have fun. Oh, my God, Mia. You look amazing. Did you get this in Seattle? Hey, wanna bone? -You're freaking embarrassing yourself. -Oh, no. Come on, at least give me your bone number! ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, Willamette Stone. (applause) ADAM: Happy Halloween. (CROWD WHOOPING) Are you coming? (MOUTHING) (ROCK SONG BEGINS) # I've got to say, I'm feeling # Better than I should # Don't got a lot, but I know # Life is always good # Oh, come on over, bring some friends -# We'll have a good time -Mia? -You have to come. -Wait. # But right now I'm feeling fine Hey. Excuse me! Move it! # So tell me now # Are you in or are you not? -Yeah! # I don't want to rule the world # I just want to sit on top -Oh... # Let's raise our glasses # To the best and to the worst # Here's to the feeling # That you just can't put to words (INSTRUMENTAL INTERLUDE) (CHEERING) # We got tonight, we got tonight # Forever yours # Forever mine # I'm feeling good, I'm feeling high # I'm feeling like # I never... ah! # We got tonight, we got tonight # Forever yours # Forever mine... Bye, Adam. Bye, rocker Mia. -Bye, you guys. -Bye. So... Do you like me like this? At last, you finally figured it out. (chuckles) No, come on. I mean, do you like me how I am tonight? You know what I liked? I liked how into the show you were. How you actually wanted to dance and hang out with us riffraff afterwards. That was cool. Yeah, but do you like me better? You know... like this? Better than what? Better than the normal Mia. You know, with the hair and the makeup and the clothing. (JOKINGLY GROWLS) Mia, I don't give a shit about your clothes. Don't you get it? The you you are now is the same you I was in love with yesterday, the same you I'll be in love with tomorrow. (MOVING MUSIC) (SIGHS) Can we go somewhere? (WHISPERING) Yeah. (RELAXING MUSIC) Wow. What is this place? It's an old boat work shed. One day, me and the band are gonna fix it up and we're gonna rehearse and record here. It's perfect. So are you. (ANE BRUN AND LINNEA OLSSON'S 'HALO') Adam? Yeah? I've never... Just think of it like we're playing music together. - Adam, that doesn't make any sense. - Yes, it does. All right, well, take your jacket off. Okay. ## THEY DIDN'T EVEN PUT UP A FIGHT, All right. So... We have four strings. We have the C string. And G, D... and A. And if I were to play glissando, it'd feel like this. And if I were to play pizzicato, it'd feel like this. And if I were to play forte... I know forte. # EVERYWHERE I'M LOOKING NOW # I'M SURROUNDED BY YOUR EMBRACE, # BABY, I CAN SEE YOUR HALO # YOU KNOW YOU'RE MY SAVING GRACE. (GENTLE HARP CONTINUES) NURSE: Intensive Care Unit. (MACHINES BEEPING) (MUSIC FADES) How are we, beautiful? I told them that I don't want to leave you. I'm not gonna let you out of my sight. (BEEPING CONTINUES, DOOR OPENS) MAN: We have another one from the accident, Nurse Davis. WOMAN: Okay, did you contact the family yet? MIA (sighs): Dad. Thank God. Oh, my God, George! Is he going to be okay? MAN: We're updating his chart right now. Dad? Where is he? Where'd you guys take him? MAN: I'll just finish writing the orders, and then she's all yours. WOMAN: Girl's been through the ringer. MAN: Yeah, and this is the easy part. Accident like that? Mom was DOA, Dad died on the table. Poor kid's waking up an orphan, if she wakes up. -(SIRENS WAILING) -MIA: Mom? -(INDISTINCT SHOUTING) -Dad? (PANTING) (INDISTINCT RADIO TRANSMISSIONS, FRANTIC CHATTER) (GASPING) (MIA CHUCKLES) (LAUGHING) I'm getting you! (WHOOPING) (MELANCHOLY, DRAMATIC MUSIC) KAT: I love you. (SOBBING) Teddy. (SOMBRE MUSIC, FRANTIC MUSIC SWELLS) (GIGGLING) (MUTTERING) Teddy. WILLOW: Hey, little man, look at this room. You've got the best place in the joint. (WHISPERING) Thank God you're okay. That's right. You just get some rest. I'm not going anywhere. (GASPS) Gran. Hey, I just got here. They're saying he's through the worst of it. They were assigning his room, so I thought I'd come here before I checked in on Kat and Denny. They didn't... WILLOW: Oh, my God. Excuse me. -(MACHINES BEEPING) -(MIA WHISTLES SOFTLY) You're mine now, Teddy. And no matter what, I will never leave you. And we're gonna make it. Listen, I need to do something. But I promise you, Teddy. (PANTING) Adam, you came. (TENSE MUSIC) Listen, you can't let Teddy grow up without a family. You have got to fight. You can do this. You have to do this. Mia! -WOMAN: Excuse me. -MAN: Sir... -ADAM: Mia! -You can't go in there. -Adam. -Mia! Mia! (SOFT CELLO MUSIC) (CELLO PLAYING) MIA (voice-over): Being with Adam was like learning to fly. It was exciting and scary all at the same time. That spring was a magical time. Adam's band was playing bigger clubs and festivals in different cities. Once he graduated, they started getting booked even more. By the fall, record labels were taking notice. People were taking notice of me, too. I was the first high school student ever invited to perform solo at the college's fall recital. And even though Adam was away a lot, when he was in town, we spent all of our time together. I can't believe I'm stuck at school for another year. Oh, it'll go by fast. You still thinking of applying to Lewis and Clark? Yeah, of course. They have a great music program. I need someplace with financial aid. Maybe we can live around the corner from each other. Or we could shorten the commute and get a place together. Really? That actually sounds kind of perfect. (ADAM CHUCKLES) (PLAYS VIBRATO) (APPLAUSE) Kid's good. -Sir, I told you, you can't go in there. -What do you mean, I can't go in there? This is bullshit. MAN: Sir, you can't be in there! WOMAN: You need to calm down. ICU visitations are restricted to immediate family only. Are you family? All right, you got me; I'm not family. Come on, just let him in! WOMAN: Do I need to call security? Adam. (SOMBRE MUSIC) Juilliard? Just look on the computer like you do, and see what it takes to get in there. They say it's the best there is. Of course it is, but it's... it's across the country. You know, and Lewis and Clark has an amazing performance studies program. Besides, my whole life is here. (SIGHS) (PUNK ROCK PLAYING) (TURNS VOLUME DOWN) Dad, can I ask you a question? Always. Do you ever miss being in your band? What brought this on? You always say that you left your band to become a better dad, but you were a great dad when you were in the band. You didn't have to give up something you loved so much just for us. No, baby, I didn't give anything up. I played that adventure out, and then it was time for a new adventure with you guys. Sometimes you make choices in life, and sometimes choices make you. Does that make any sense? Yeah. I mean, I think that... I think that the cello was a choice that made me. There you go. (SIGHS, TURNS VOLUME UP) (LAUGHTER, INDISTINCT CHATTER) Do you think the band would ever relocate? No. Why? I don't know. To see someplace new. Maybe New York? I can't imagine. Portland's where we're from, you know? (QUIETLY) Yeah. I got to tell you something. I have to listen to what you have to tell me. I am going to buy all of these albums. Whoa. The whole three bucks? Slow down, big spender. (PLAYS BACH'S 'CELLO SUITE NO. 1 IN G MAJOR' (CLAPPING, WHOOPING) Whoa, Mom. Seriously, that just makes me more nervous. -Sorry. Just ignore me. -TEDDY: Yeah. Just pretend we're not here. Dad, honestly, how was that one? I thought it was fantastic, Mia. You say that about everything. Because you're awesome. They have to give you an audition. Yeah, but you don't understand. This is Juilliard. This isn't just some punk album where you can throw music at a wall and hope it sounds all right. KAT: Whoa. I'm sorry. I really didn't mean that. This is pointless. I'm not good enough. I thought the last one was amazing. Really? I think I can do better. Then let's do it. (SIGHS) Okay. Yeah, let's do it. (PLAYS BACH'S 'CELLO SUITE NO. 1 IN G MAJOR' MIA: I miss you every time you go. ADAM: It'll just be a few days. Maybe more. Well, I know you guys are gonna kill it at City Limits. You sure you can't come? I'm pretty sure I can fit you in my guitar case. -(LAUGHTER) -I would, but I got school. -(SCHOOL BELL RINGING) -Wow. Never thought I'd hear that again. -MAN: Come on, man, we got to hit the road. -Okay. (ENGINE STARTS) I'll be back before you know it. -Okay. -Okay? -Come on, we got to go. -We'll bring him back. -All right? -Bye. -Have fun. We will. (LAUGHTER) KIM (voice-over): So, what's the whatty-what from Austin? Hear from Adam? MIA: No. I called him, but I haven't heard back. It's fine. I mean, he's slammed. Yeah, life on the road. Don't give me that face. -(PHONE BUZZING) -(GRUNTS) Speaking of the devil. Hello? -(SHOUTING, WHOOPING) -Hey, babe. -MIA: So, you all rich and famous now? -Not yet, but Merge Records made an offer to sign us. It's been crazy. (CHUCKLES) Shut up. That's amazing, Adam. Yeah, they're throwing us a party right now. -Well, I miss you. -(POPS, SHOUTING) Dude, you got champagne all over my phone! -(BEEPING) Hello? (PANTING) (THOUGHTFUL MUSIC) (CHUCKLES) (LIGHTLY TENSE MUSIC) (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) # Waiting for the rejection # It comes in waves, and it feels like a throb # You wanted only the ending # But what you got was much too long # I can't be near you, no # My heart is underground # Well, I think it was different # I think we can turn it... Wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait. (MUSIC STOPS) Sorry. Mia, wait. Sorry. Didn't see you there. No worries. Just bringing food for you guys. Oh, cool, thanks. We're just getting ready for tomorrow night. It's gonna be a total homecoming. It's our first gig in town since we got signed. Adam... Yeah? I applied to Juilliard. - What? - Yeah. It's this amazing school. Yeah, I know what Juilliard is. Well, it was just on a whim. Isn't it in New York? Yeah. Wow. Why didn't you tell me? Well, I tried, but I figured, why tell you until it was real? Okay, so why are you telling me now? I got an audition in San Francisco. (SOFTLY) Wow. Wow, Juilliard. Mia, that's... Way to go. That's cool. Yeah, well, I-I won't get in, but it's kind of a big deal that I even got an audition. Most people don't. Well, Yo Mama better watch his back, right? (FEEDBACK SQUEALING) (ROCK MUSIC PLAYING) # I can't get you out of my mind # I # I can't get you out of my mind # I, I MIA (voice-over): The homecoming concert was different than any show the band had played. They were tighter, better, more confident than ever before. And Adam seemed, well, like he was becoming a full-blown star. (GUITAR SOLO) # I can't get you out of my mind # I. (MUSIC ENDS, APPLAUSE) They're really good. I've been following them. ADAM: Thanks. Thank for coming. Did you like the show? -Yes. -Good. -Thanks, guys. -GIRLS: Aw... Hey. You guys were insanely good up there. Well, I'm glad you could make it. Of course I made it. - A-Bomb. - Hey, man. - I can't believe you came. - What's going on, bro? - Tight set tonight. - GIRL: Can I get your autograph? Yeah, sure. Oh, wow, okay. It says Willamette Stone. ADAM: Yeah, I can... I can see that. There you go. That's cool. If you're so bored you have to read, maybe you should've just stayed home. (MIA SIGHS) I'm just trying to get some homework done and researching what phrase I'm gonna have tattooed over my left boob. - What's all this? - We got booked last minute to do a string of shows in Seattle. We got to leave tonight, so... For how long? I don't know-- like, a week, ten days. It's hard to say. Yeah, but we had plans. Remember, for my birthday dinner? Oh, right. Shit. Sorry. It's fine. I just wish you would've told me. Oh, like you told me about Juilliard? And for the record, I didn't even hear about the tour until tonight right before the show, so... So that's what "glad you could make it" was all about? That's why you're so pissed at me? Why would I be pissed about you going to a school -3,000 miles away? -I'm not going there, Adam. It's just... it's an audition. Which you didn't even tell me about, Mia. And besides, this isn't about Juilliard. This is about you ditching on our plans. -You're a liar. -Whoa! - Screw you, Adam. I haven't ditched out on anything. Am I crazy, or did you say that us getting a place together would be perfect? -Huh? -That's... No, you know what? It's fine. Whatever. What, you get to follow your dreams, but I can't follow mine unless I have your permission? And I just have to sit here and wait around hoping that you'll come home every few weeks? - How is that fair? - You lied to me, Mia. - We had plans. - Adam... One minute, it's one thing; the next minute, it's the other. I grew up with that shit, okay? I don't... I don't need it. Even if I do go to Juilliard, we can figure it out. Baby, we can text and we can Skype... Skype? Skype? Jesus, Mia, have you ever even had a long-distance relationship? It's bullshit, okay? It's like dating a ghost. But Skype, it solves everything, right? You know what, you're so naive, man. You don't know shit about the world. I can't believe you just said that to me. What, you want me to write it down for you? -(HORN HONKS) -LIZ: Adam. Sorry, dude, but we got to jet if we want to make it to the motel before sunup. No! No, you cannot leave me -like that. -Why didn't you tell me?! Maybe because I am terrified of losing you. You know what, you do your thing. I'm gonna do mine. Fine, but for the record, you're the one who's getting -in the van. -Yeah, whatever. (ENGINE STARTS) (SOMBRE MUSIC) (CRYING) WOMAN: Mr. and Mrs. Hall? GRAMPS: Yes? So, Mia's still unconscious. The respiratory therapists are going to run some tests to see when they can wean her off the ventilator. So, that's good news. If she can breathe on her own. With comatose patients, the first 24 hours are critical. If she shows any signs of awareness, then her chances... - KIM: Adam. - I'm sorry, I got to go. (BECK'S 'MORNING' # WOKE UP THIS MORNING # FOUND A LOVE LIGHT IN THE STORM # LOOKED UP THIS MORNING # SAW THE ROSES FULL OF THORNS # YEAH, TIE IT ALL DOWN. # AND BURY ME UNDERNEATH THE WAVES. When are we gonna open presents? -Mia? -That'll be fun. - Yeah, honey, you want to do that, huh? - Yeah, sure. # I'VE GONE ALL AROUND # TIL THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO SAY # WE'VE WORN IT ALL DOWN # INTO SOMETHING THAT COULDN'T BE SAID... # (MUSIC FADES) I thought you were supposed to be, uh, in Seattle. No show tonight, so I just... I thought I'd drive down for the day. MIA: What's that? ADAM: It's a replica of Jolari Hall in San Francisco, where you'll be auditioning for Juilliard. That's the ceiling. I put it up there. MIA: It's intense. Yeah, I figured, you know, if you look at it every night, it won't seem so scary when you get there. What do you want, Adam? Mia, I'm sorry. I know I suck, but... No, no, you can't just disappear from my life like that and pop back into it -whenever you feel like it. -I know, it's just... The people in my life have a habit of disappearing on me, and when you started making plans... You're not gonna lose me. Adam, I love you. But these last few days... have been brutal. I know. I know, for me, too. Happy birthday. At least I know the wrapping's yours. Shut up and just open it. Come on. ADAM: It's a cello and a guitar. Do you get it? (CHUCKLES) (SIGHS) God, I hate you. (SOFT MUSIC) When did you know you were good at playing music? Oh, I don't know. Come on. What was, like, the moment? Actually, there was one night, when we first started playing out. Right before the show, Liz talked me into going to the liquor store and getting her a Red Bull. So I go in, and... there's this drunk dude buying a bottle of Jack. And I realize it's him. It's my old man. And I just stop cold. (SIGHS) And he just looks right at me and walks out. No idea who I was. Shit, Adam. And that night, I just... I played like I was on fire. I don't know if I thought I was good. I just... knew that nothing else mattered. Till now. Till you. (ADAM SIGHS) (MIA SIGHS) When I play... I kind of picture myself inside the cello. It's like my little house. Really? Actually, no-- I'm totally just in it for the guys. Oh. I got you, didn't I? - Yeah. - Yeah. -(SLOW, STEADY BEEPING) (SOMBRE MUSIC) MIA (voice-over): How am I supposed to find the strength to stay? What would it feel like to wake up an orphan? To never smell Dad cooking pancakes. To never stand next to Mom quietly talking as we do the dishes. But how could I go? The nurse said I control this whole thing. If I live, if I die... it's all up to me. And that terrifies me more than anything else. MAN: Mia Hall. -(EXHALES) -Good luck. (MIA WALKS ONTO STAGE) (MOVING MUSIC) (PANTING SOFTLY) (POIGNANT MUSIC) (MIA EXHALES) (SNIFFLES) (PIANO ACCOMPANYING CELLO IN DRAMATIC MUSIC) (PLAYS CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS' 'CELLO CONCERT IN A MINOR' (PLAYS FINAL NOTE) (PANTING) (CONTINUES PANTING) (CRICKETS CHIRPING) (VEHICLE APPROACHING) (BRAKES SQUEAK) (TURNS ENGINE OFF) -Thanks for driving me, Gramps. -Mm. I mean, that was... (LAUGHS SOFTLY) (EXHALES) Thank you. Mia. I just wanted to tell you that, uh... I watched your audition from backstage. I wasn't too sure if that cello was gonna make it out alive. I know. I didn't know I had it in me. (LAUGHS) Well, you do. You were fearless. You played your guts out up there. Mia... (SIGHS) you've got something special. Your dad had it, too, but... I never told him. I never... made too much fuss about his music, and... I don't want to make the same mistake with you. If those Juilliard people don't take you, they are damn fools, because what you did up there was magic. (LAUGHS SOFTLY) Thank you, Gramps. (MID-TEMPO GUITAR INTRO PLAYING) ADAM: # I spend these hollow nights # All alone # Safe from the looking glass # Which you can't hold # I started seeing you # It was a mirage # It wasn't even so # I played the odds # I never wanted to go # But now I'm letting you know # I just wanted to feel # The life in me. (SONG ENDS) Oh, hey. You're back. That was a really beautiful song, Adam. (CHUCKLES) It's getting there. How'd it go? Did you kill the audition? -Hmm. -They gonna let you in on a full scholarship? (LAUGHS) I did all right, I guess. It was kind of like... playing to statues. Oh, come on. I bet you did better than you think. And if not... Actually... well, I played better than I have in my entire life. It was like I was possessed, and the music, it just... it poured out of me. God, I've never felt anything like that before. Wow. I wish I could have seen that. Yeah, me, too. You know, for once, I actually felt like... I could do this. ADAM: Why didn't you... call me after the audition to brag? I know. I know I should have, but... I don't want to fight, okay? I know. I don't want to fight. (SIGHS) Okay, well, you played better than you have in your entire life-- we should celebrate. (SOFT GUITAR MUSIC) MIA: So, how come you've never written a song for me? I don't know. I'm-I'm no good at writing about things that make me happy. If you want a song, you're gonna have to, like, cheat on me or something. What do I have to do for a whole album? Come on, don't get greedy. (BOTH LAUGH) You know, I don't think I'll even get in. There were, like, a hundred other kids there. Then I don't have to choose, right? But if you do get in, the choice is already made, isn't it? Mia, come on. I'm not gonna be that asshole that stops you from going to Juilliard. If it was me, you'd let me go. Yeah, but in a way, I already have. You know, you're going to your own Juilliard. Yeah, I know. But I'm still here. Okay? And I'm still crazy in love with you. (SOFTLY) Yeah, me, too. -(CRICKETS CHIRPING) There you are. Been looking everywhere for you. Guess your... big show got canceled, huh? Like I give a shit. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm just... No, that's fine. I get it. The first day, man. The first day... I walked past that room and saw her playing, that was it. God, I am such an asshole. No, Adam, don't. She get in? To Juilliard? I don't know. Letters sent out Friday. I think she was supposed to hear today. I can't... I can't lose her again. Let's go. (MACHINES BEEPING) What now? ADAM: Well, I've got to get in there. I've got to see her. (SIGHS) Excuse me? Hi. There's this girl, and-and she's having a baby in the bathroom on the third floor, and she's down there, and she's just grunting and screaming and there's blood everywhere, and it's really unsanitary, and we really need someone down there right now. - Okay. - We really need someone - down there right now! - Okay. Okay! Okay! Shit! (WHISPERING) Go. WOMAN: Excuse me, young man. I've told you, you can't be here. Security. Get me security right now. Mia Hall? (PANTING) Please, I just... I just want to feel you touch me. - Mia. - Please. MAN: Hands off. -Come on. -No. ADAM: What are you doing? Get off me! You can't do this to him! -You know, I tried to do this the nice way. -KIM: Come on. You wouldn't know nice if it bit you in the ass, lady. Hey, knock it off. ADAM: Willow? -Willow? -Willow? -What the hell is going on? They were trying to break into the ICU. Yeah, 'cause Jabba the Nurse wouldn't let us in to see Mia. WILLOW: Well, I know these kids personally, so why don't you just let me handle it from here? Fine. Then just keep them in the waiting room. What the hell were you guys thinking? I need to see Mia. She's gonna need you now more than ever. Hey, what's going on? Willow, what's happening? Willow, why aren't you with Teddy? - (GASPS) - Willow... Shit. Teddy! Mr. and Mrs. Hall... Teddy. I'm Dr. DeVenne. - Teddy? - DeVENNE: I am so sorry. MIA: Where is he? He had an epidural hemorrhage in the brain. We did everything we could to save him. No! (voice-over): He will never graduate from T-ball to baseball. And never learn to drive, -never kiss a girl, -TEDDY: You can't catch me! never fall in love. (SOBBING) God! No. God! I don't want... I don't want to do this anymore. I want it to be over! (MACHINES BEEPING RAPIDLY) (BEEPING CONTINUES) MAN: Give me the chart. WOMAN: Abdomen's rigid, full of fluid. MAN: Jesus. Splenectomy, brain contusions, -collapsed lung. -WOMAN: It's a goddamn mess. WOMAN: BP and pulse ox are dropping. Okay, let's get here back to surgery. Let's go. Come on. -Swipe the door, please! -Get that elevator. Out of the way. They know we're coming? All right, sweetheart, we can only carry you so far. After that, it's all you. (ELEVATOR BELL DINGS) ADAM: Oh, my God, Mia. Adam. Bye, Adam. It's almost time! -It's almost time! -I'll take some of that. Yeah. - Thank you! - Do not! - Cheers. - Ooh! CROWD: Nine, eight, - seven, six... - There you are. Here I am! ALL: ...five, four, three, two, one. Happy New Year! (WHOOPING) (FIREWORKS POPPING) "Even when they were just wasting time, "they weren't wasting time. "It was as if no time they spent together could ever be wasted." Who said that? (CHUCKLES) Some guy in some book. And what was he talking about? Some couple in some movie. - My-my point is... - Yes, maestro? My point is... is he could've been talking about us. - That he could. - (CHUCKLING) Promise me. I promise you. (CHUCKLING) Wait, what am I promising? That we'll spend next New Year's together. Even if we're in different places, you'll still be with me. No, that's not good enough. Not Skyping, not texting. Together. Baby, you know we can't promise each other that. I guess we both know where this is heading. (ROCK MUSIC PLAYS) Yeah, I guess so. (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION) -(LAUGHTER) -DENNY: What are you looking at? KAT: Because we're fascinated. WILLOW: You're fascinating. HENRY: You're a spatula man now. -(LAUGHTER) -KAT: Look, a drummer. WILLOW: He's totally drumming with it. DENNY: Come on, give me your plate. All right, get ready. - Hey, there she is! - Oh! Hey! KAT: Happy New Year! DENNY: If you're still drunk, you're totally grounded. If not, I'm gonna let it slide. I'm definitely not drunk. WILLOW: Well, you were still out all night, - so come on, spill. - How was the party? Fine. KAT: How was Adam? WILLOW: Let's go! Let's go! Okay, everybody, let's move this party to another room. Take your mimosas. DENNY: We'll go watch the Rose Parade. WILLOW: Come on. Let's go. (CRYING) I'm sorry. Oh, God, it's gross. It's not gross. Oh, God. (SNIFFLES) You wash, I'll dry. (sighs) Yeah. Make us feel better. Warm water, soap. MIA (sighs): Oh, God. I'm such a mess. You know, we had this... perfect year and a half together. And now we're just... moving in different directions. Is it over? Yeah. You're supposed to break up with someone because you're not in love with them, not because you're completely in love with them. What do I know, right? You know plenty. It's just very inconvenient to fall in love at your age, especially if it's the real thing. You know, if we weren't musicians, we could just... (sighs) we could just go to college together. You know, like normal people do. There's no such thing as normal, Mia. Every relationship is rough. I don't have to tell you that. - Yeah, I know. - Don't blame it on music. Yeah, but music's the reason we're breaking up. That is bullshit, Mia. You know that. What am I gonna do? I am being completely torn in half. You're going to go to Juilliard and play the hell out of your cello. Or you're not. You're going to stay with Adam and have lots of amazing adventures. Or you're not. Or maybe tomorrow the Earth's gonna smash into a meteor. Or it's not. Life is this big, fat, gigantic, stinking mess. But that's the beauty of it, too. Whatever you do, I support you. Either way, you win. And also, either way, there's something that you lose. What can I say, baby? True love's a bitch. (MIA SNIFFLES) (MACHINES BEEPING) (SOMBRE MUSIC) Gramps. Gramps, what do I do? I've been trying to think of what Denny would want me to say to you. The kid was a hell of a dad, wasn't he? He sure had me beat. I remember... the day that he... he quit the band. He just, uh... he up and said, "That's it. The time has come." I was surprised. I... I never really liked the way the band sounded, but... I knew how important it was to him, and so I asked him, I said, "Why are you quitting?" And he said, "You make sacrifices for your kids." For your kids. He said that without even blinking. That's why he quit the band. For Teddy. For you. It was when he heard you play so well. I think that... that's when it clicked for him. Your incredible talent that... he-he just... he couldn't believe it. And all he wanted to do was to give you more, so... he quit the band. He sold his drum kit, and he bought you that cello. Sacrifice. That's what we do for the people that we love. And here's mine, Mia. I want you to live. I want that more than anything in this world. I want you to fight like hell to stay with us. But... with everybody else gone, I know it-it might not be what you wanted. Might be too hard for you to keep fighting. So... If you want to go, I want you to know it's okay. It's okay. I... I understand. Thank you. (GASPING) Gramps? (SOMBRE MUSIC) Hey. Hey. (CHUCKLES) So many people have come to see you, I've lost count of them all. There are, like, 30 people in that waiting room. Some are related to you and some aren't, but... but we're your family. You still have a family, Mia. (CHUCKLES) Look. (SNIFFLES) This is my favorite picture of you. Ever. You were so happy that day. (CHUCKLES) And no matter what, that's the way I'm always gonna remember you. MIA (voice-over): The best day of my life is one I never even saw coming. It was Labor Day. Early this fall, before things started to go bad with Adam. In some ways, it was just like a usual potluck dinner, but there was a special feel to it. People kept on showing up. All the old friends from Dad's band days and all the new ones from Adam's band. Willow and Henry were there with their newborn baby. Dad hauled the barbecue out of the basement, and he and Teddy spent the day flipping burgers. And when it started to get dark, Henry had the bright idea to start a bonfire. (PLAYS GUITAR) DENNY: Mia! No way. I'm not playing for you guys. Not for us; with us. Seriously, Mia, if you don't, I will. And have you ever heard the sound of a thousand dying cats? Come on, Hall. We're playing together. I really hate you all. (CLAPPING, WHOOPING) (LAUGHTER) All right, make some room. -WOMAN: All right, Mia. -MAN: Gotta play for us, Mia. -(PLAYS GUITAR) -(SCATTERED CHEERS) MIA (voice-over): I've always thought of the cello as a solo instrument. It's probably why it's always made me so comfortable. Just me and my cello. But that night, sitting around the bonfire, jamming with Adam and everyone else, I realized I was wrong. The cello isn't a solo instrument. It's part of something bigger. # Today is the greatest day I've ever known # Can't live for tomorrow # Tomorrow's much too long # I'll burn my eyes out # Before I get out # I wanted more # Than life could ever # Grant me # Bored by the chore # Of saving face GROUP: # Today is the greatest # Day I've never known # Can't wait for tomorrow # I might not have that long # I'll tear my heart out # Before I get out... MIA (voice-over): The thing is, Mom and Dad always had their scene, and Adam had his, and I was always jealous because I didn't have mine. Until the night of the bonfire. That was my scene. That was where I belonged. # Today is the greatest... That's what happiness felt like. # Today is the greatest day But that could never exist again. (MACHINES BEEPING) (POIGNANT MUSIC) (POIGNANT MUSIC) (POIGNANT MUSIC BUILDS) (CHUCKLES) (SIGHS) (CHUCKLES) (CELLO PLAYING OVER P.A.) Just after this piece. (CELLO CONTINUES PLAYING) (MUFFLED CELLO PLAYING, MACHINES BEEPING) Adam. (BEEPING CONTINUES) Mia... - Don't. - Stay. I know a huge part of your life is forever ruined because of what happened today, and I'm not dumb enough to think that I can fix it. You can't. But I went to your house. And I had to climb up the balcony to get in, like I used to. I found this in your mail slot. (SNIFFLES) (SIGHS) I totally broke and entered and stole your mail, so the Feds may be kind of after me. (SOFTLY)Oh. "Dear Mia, "It gives me tremendous pleasure..." Mia, you got in. (SNIFFLES) To Juilliard, yeah, you did it. I got in. And if you want me to come with you, I will. Okay? I'll move to New York. And I'll do whatever you want. Just please stay. You're my home, Mia. I don't care where we are. I just care that we're together. I know that now. I will do anything if you stay. I can't. You know I can't. (SIGHS) I'm still kind of working on this thing, but... (CLEARS THROAT) (GUITAR PLAYING SOFTLY) You wrote me a song. # Breathe deep, breathe clear # Know that I'm here # Know that I'm here waiting # Stay strong, stay gold # You don't have to fear # You don't have to fear waiting # I'll # See you soon # I'll see you soon # How could a heart like yours # Ever love a heart like mine? # How could I live before? -# How could I... -(GASPS) (SONG FADES, DISTORTS) KIM (voice-over): You still have a family. ADAM (voice-over): I'll do anything if you stay. GRAMPS (voice-over): If you want to go, I want you to know that's okay. (DRAMATIC MUSIC) (RUMBLING) (MUSIC, RUMBLING STOP) (GASPS) (MACHINES BEEPING) Mia. (TOM ODELL'S 'HEAL') ABLE 2018