1 BOY: To Dean of Admission, Princeton University, The most influential... GIRL: ..person was Mother Teresa, whose example helped me overcome the arrogance which threatened after my 1,600 SAT score in National Merit Scholarship... GIRL: My most influential person taught me the most important word I've ever learned - 'aloha' - which... (Sighs) GIRL: To the Dean of Admission, Princeton University, from Cristina Moreno. Most influential person - my mother. No contest. I think I have been pointing toward this essay ever since the day, 12 years ago in Mexico, when my father left. DOGS BARK Such was my mother's need to protect me that she would not let me see her cry. Momento. The trick was - get over it as quickly and privately as possible. (Sobs) (Sighs) (Sobs) Such was my need to protect her that I never let on that I could hear her. (Mother sobs) (Sighs determinedly) (Sobs) My mother kept us in Mexico as long as possible, to root me in all things Latin. Finally, she sensed our last opportunity for change. We would leave for America. (Speaks Spanish) "One tear. "Just one. "So make it a good one," she said. She would be my Mexico. Because this admissions essay is open record, let me just say that our transportation into the United States was...economy class. In order to raise me properly, my mother needed as much of the security of her own culture as possible. So we rolled through Texas, just 34% Hispanic... Adios, Texas. ..to Los Angeles, 48% Hispanic. MAN: And your mother's saying, "Get up. Get up, honey." But, no. What of it? You can't see them. Why? 'Cause you're being killed - strangled by the psychotic Raider fans and their team. What do you have in Oakland? You've got a bunch of psychotic, you know, silver-and-black... A few minutes adrift in an alien environment... HISPANIC VOICES AND MUSIC ..then we turned a corner and we were right back home. (Giggles delightedly) My mother's favourite cousin, Monica, gave us shelter. For the next six years, neither of us ventured outside our new community. (Speaks Spanish) Mom worked two jobs paying a total of $450 a week... ..each of us doing everything we could to make things work. (Speaks Spanish) We were safe and happy. (Both converse in Spanish) If only I could have stayed six. But I was blossoming. And during my very first dance, in the time it took a boy's hand to go from my back to my bottom... (Gasps) ..it was evident that she would have to leave her night job to keep a watchful eye on me. Within days, she was on her way to a job interview. She needed $450 from ONE job, and that meant, after all her time in America... ..finally entering a foreign land. (Woman speaks Spanish) INTERCOM CHIMES WOMAN ON INTERCOM: Hello? Uh, yeah, hi. Uh, we're here for the interview with Mrs Clasky. Oh, great, great. You made it. Um...uh...well, come on in. The front door's open and we're out back. OK? Oh, and call me Deborah. OK. (Speaks Spanish) INTERCOM BEEPS CRISTINA: Holding out had helped, though. (Speaks Spanish) She was no longer intimidated. Working for Anglos now posed no problems. It would just be a job. White America beckoned. She stepped across the cultural divide. BANG! (Gasps) (Speaks Spanish) Gee-whiz in heaven! Are you OK? Oh, no, no. Don't worry. I'm not mad. (Speaks rapidly) I've been looking for decoration to put up on the glass so people would stop walking into it. Instead of taking what was in stock, which was AWFUL, I special-ordered. I'll just design something myself, which I should've done in the... (Gasps) ..first place. And what does that matter when your nose is bleeding? Shut up, Deborah! Now you've got it, Mom. There's no icepacks! Get anything frozen. Pressure! Pressure! Just pressure. Sorry. Take this! Is it strange that I just gave you money? I just felt really badly. It's OK. (Dog barks) Come on. Chum, knock it off! (Chum whines) Um, I'm sorry about the way the place looks, you know. I'm hosting a fundraiser for the school tonight. It's just a mess. A couple of hours away. Just come sit right here. Here you go. OK. Yeah, just... That's great. Yeah, just...just toss it. Um...well, um, um, she's my cousin. She has been here for a while and she understands some, but doesn't really speak English, but... Well, anyway, she lives in the apartment I manage and... So, who am I interviewing? Oh, her. You're gorgeous. You're gorgeous. (Translates into Spanish) She didn't mean it as a compliment. It's more of an accusation. Mother! Go ahead. (Sniggers) Sorry - this is my daughter, Bernie, and...and...and my mother, Evelyn Wright. Evelyn. (Translates into Spanish) Do you guys want to come in out of the sun? You want to? No, we're fine. (Translates) Do you need some sunscreen? No, no. (Speaks Spanish) She loves the sun. (Laughs) Oh, look - we're wearing the same sweater. That's good booga-booga. (Translates) You want some lemonade, maybe? 'Booga-booga'? Lemonade, please? Would you like to take some? No. No, gracias. Esta bien, gracias. No, thanks. OK. Let's...let's JUST talk. (Translates) Well, I have two children and my husband is a chef - a top chef. (Reprovingly) Like that makes ME something. Anyway, he works nights, so... Uh, do you work? Yes. No. Not right now. Why? How do you know to ask that? Well, it's OK. I can talk about it. I helped run a commercial design company up until four months ago and it was downsized to zip, and now I'm a full-time mom - gulp. Double gulp. (Laughs) Anyway, I have two children - my son George is nine, Bernie you know. And I like the house to be like me, you know? I'm very loose and meticulous, you know, at the same time. But it's all about first names and closeness here. Let her know, absolutely. But I do care about the place. I'm so sorry. I'm not leaving you time to translate. (Laughs) (Translates) What's your name? Llamo? That's one of my five Spanish words. Flor Moreno. Flor. Mmm, 'Florrrr'. 'Flor'. No. 'Florrrr'. 'F...Floooooor'. (Rolls tongue) 'Florrrrrrrrrr'. It means 'flower', right? Yes. 'Flower'. Yes. 'Flor'. What I walk on, right? 'Florrrr'. 'Florrrr'. ALL: 'Florrrr'. Is there some school of the ear that I'm flunking out of right now? (Speaks Spanish) (Speaks Spanish) No! (Speaks Spanish) What did she say? She says if you curl your tongue and then let it be loose, you'll get it, and that it's really hard for Americans, and it's great that you try so hard, 'cause most people wouldn't bother. She gets me. Que? (Translates) 'Fl-Florrrr'. Perfecto! (Laughs) (Gasps) Yay! (Laughs) Dense, but stubborn, right? Oh, now, see what you just did for me? That is just what kids need. (Translates) Patience and encouragement. Alright. Money. Dinero. Goodbye. Look forward to seeing you. Love you. So, the job is six days a week. (Translates) 7, 8, 12 hours - depends. All the housekeeping. Driving the kids. How much a week do you want? (Speaks Spanish) Whatever you say. No. No! This is a very important question. (Thumps table) Because if you ask for too little, it means you don't value yourself. You ask for too much, it means you're taking advantage. So? (Translates) $1,000. (Laughs, speaks Spanish) She's kidding! She's... Oh! (Laughs) (Evelyn laughs) (Mouths) $650. Eh? Welcome to the family. (Translates) Oh! (Laughs) (Kisses) Come on. I want to show you around. Yeah, yeah. Come on, come on, come on. CRISTINA: I had never known that my mother had been chronically worried about money until the first glimpse of her as financially unburdened. (Both pant) Can we have a table for two, please? (Speaks Spanish) We're celebrating. OK. Right this way. (Hums, sings softly) Eh? Hmm... (Both laugh) Is this good? (Speaks Spanish) Yeah, OK. Si? Gracias. You're welcome. There you go. Mm-hm. There you go. Enjoy. Gracias. You're welcome. Whoa! Expensive. (Speaks Spanish) (Speaks Spanish) Excuse me. Uh, those men would like to buy you a drink. Que? Those. (Speaks Spanish) (Laughs softly) Thank you. No. Gracias. OK. No! Momento! (Speaks Spanish) (Sighs) (Speaks Spanish) Sorry. No. (Speaks Spanish) This is so embarrassing. My mother said to tell them, "Who do you think you are? "Can't you see I'm with my daughter, for God's sakes?" (Laughs) Good. She said, "Who do you think you are? "She's with her daughter, for God's sake. Her YOUNG daughter." (Sighs) DEBORAH: Passing on the left. Left. Morning, Flor. Oh, g-g-g... See you up there. Left. Left! Hola. Hola. Oh! Hey! Hola. Hi! Hi. Hey. (Laughs nervously) Oh! Will you try this? Um... Mmm. (Laughs) Oh! Mmm! Good? (Laughs) OK. Think seriously about getting up. You don't have to get up yet, but are you thinking seriously about it? (Boy replies sleepily) Yes. OK. DEBORAH: Oh! My God! DOG GROWLS I can't believe it. It's amazing. Ow. Ow! BERNIE: A simple "It's good," will do. (Laughs) Oh! I mean, oh, that... I'm glad you like it. Mmm! By the way, you could do without this. Mmm. Mmm. NO! NO! Flor, NEVER do fetch to Chum. NEVER. Just... I'm not mad. I'm not mad. I'm...I'm thinking of YOU. This is me being nice. (Tries to speak) OK. It's just... no taking the ball from the dog. Just don't... No fetch. OK? No...NEVER do fetch with this dog, OK? NEVER. Here. Can you make us some coffee, maybe? Yeah? Mmm. OK. Right... Thank you. Whoa. (Sighs) DOOR OPENS Now? Yes. Actual up. Hey, Dad! Are you as mad at me as Mom 'cause of what happened? Uh... No, Georgie, I'm not. Are you mad at me? No. Good. Let's hope. When it comes to the kids, John, we've got to stay on the same PAGE! You know? United. Doing consistent, consistent parenting. Do you know how many books on parenting I've read?! Deb! Since high school, we've been able to read each other. Take advantage of it. OK, word for word, what did you say to Georgie exactly?! "No, I'm not mad." (Cries) Good guy. Bad guy. Oh, come on! What the hell are you doing? Everything's OK. Jigga-jigga-jigga. John! Yes? Do you really think that cupping my breast is going to solve the issue here? It's worked before. Well, now it's infuriating me. Wrong breast. Oh, my God! No, no, no, no, no, no. Look... I know what you mean, OK? Oh, my God. Don't do the calm thing. Just don't go there. Don't do that thing. Oh, my God. Here you go. This is very important to you. Us! Us. I just like to level with Georgie. That's why I answered him this way. I... Goddamn it... This is not an argument, honey. Yes! Yes, it is! We're having a fight, John. A big fight, at last. So could you stop being so stark, raving calm? Great God in heaven, save me. Hi. Whoa... I didn't know Deb found somebody. You, uh, work here? You're going to help out with the house and the kids? (Speaks Spanish) You work here and you don't speak any English at all? All she has to do is dial 911 and press '2' for Spanish. This is, uh... Flor, this is Georgie and this is John. (Tearfully) John, this is Flor. 'Florrrr'. Si. Perfecto. Great. I'll take Georgie to school. No! No, I'm doing it. I'm going to show Flor the ropes. Flor, will you come with me, please? Uh...uh, c.... Flor, uh, just... Yeah. Come. Come. Thank you. She's mad. Oh, you're fine. (Calls out) Deb? What? You love me. * OK. Not the best place to stand, fella! No, it's me. (Speaks indistinctly) I'm sorry. I-I... Not a problem. You're the new helper Alex, right? OK. Welcome. First day. Oh, John, John, John! I have something very important to tell you. (Speaks inaudibly) (Sighs) Damn! What? What? What? What? Victor...recognised a food critic over the phone. From? The 'Times'. Yes! I'll bet they sent her across the country just for us. Hey, listen, if you're nervous, take a walk. I don't need a walk. I'll walk with you. I know a breathing thing. What do you think I'm worried about? How I'm going to cook? That's not the thing. That's not the problem. I worked at a restaurant in New York that had four stars. It was like a line formed to become an asshole. People's ACCENTS changed. It... The heart went out of the place. You understand? No. I agree with everything you just said. I admire you for your feelings. I hope to adopt them as my own. (Mouths) Alright. Excuse me. Here we are, ladies. I don't know what to root for. The thought of one star gets me nauseous. But with four, there's no place to go but, "Oh, my God! They took away one of my stars!" WOMAN: The 'Times' liked the first course. You know what you want? Three and a quarter stars. Yes! That would be perfect. It would mean you're good, but not good enough to feel disappointed you just missed out on excellence. You still get enough respect. Good people want to work with you. Business is good, not crazy. You're right there below the radar, where you get to mind your own business. That's a good, solid life. (Sighs) Big wipe. Ooop! Well, I'm in the vitamin section and this little hip-hop girl... What's her name? Oooh! Nice surprise! Thank you. Oh, you want some? (Speaks Spanish) (Laughs) This little hip-hop girl - what's her name? Uh... Oh, Grammys. Oh, she's famous. You kids know her. Darn. (Sighs) God bless the language barrier. It keeps you from being bored with me. (Laughs) Anyway, well, she said, "Aren't you Evelyn Wright?" Oh, my God! First of all, that she remembered me from the old covers. Yeah. Oh, I am... And then she... Oh, please! Oh! Her name! Stop it. Oh, it makes the story so much better. It's still a good story. Oh... She said... "Whenever I think everything's..." Pardon my French. Pardon HER French. "..a mother-hm-hm... "..I put on one of your records." Ohhhhhh! Oh, my God! That's so sweet! Well, you think your life is embarrassing and then somebody finds encouragement in it. You understand? I think I do. (Laughs softly) Mom! It's not even noon. Well, it... TICK! This is going to work. I don't know anything. Free your mind. "The president whose policies "many consider responsible for the Great Depression?" I don't know. Name a vacuum cleaner. What? OK. I got it. Hoover! I said I had it! You don't trust me? OK. I no longer know nothing. OK. And Hoover was followed in office by...? (Sighs) I'm just drawing blanks. I'm embarrassed. It's my own fault. I spent all my time on math, which I'm lucky if I don't flunk anyway. Stop it. The man who you're looking for is not a ruse. What's 'ruse' mean? Phoney. Roooooo... Roosevelt! Ha ha! Ha! Very good. If I'd ever heard of that word before, that would lock it in. Aha! Hey! Surprise! New clothes! What?! Whoa! (Sighs) What did I do right? It was a warehouse sale. Oh! (Kisses) Hola, Flor! Hola. I went nuts. I got so much stuff. (Laughs) Great! She needed a boost! (Laughs) (Giggles) Ah! Huh? Oh! Ah! That came together. I wouldn't wear it together - it's a little much. (Laughs) 'Eight'? What? 'Eight'. What? What? What? 'Eight'. 'Eight'. Oh, my God. Bernie, come on. Listen. What's going on? Bernie, you're going to do it, and you're going to look beautiful. Oh, honey, I just... You are going to lose that weight, and... Oh! Uh... (Sighs) It's... (Tearfully) You know, I'm, uh... ..I'm glad you didn't get here earlier, because, uh... ..then I wouldn't be able to tell you that, uh... ..your 'gift' to me... ..is a ruse. Oh, honey, I... No, just please...just excuse me. Hey, Bernie... I just, um... I just need to be alone right now, OK? I'm sorry. It's OK. (Laughs softly) We have to be able to endure this, John, if we're going to help her. (Calls out) I'm just going to hang out here and wait for you, OK? Her paediatrician intervened on his own daughter's weight, and she is an eight. Dad, don't. Didn't you ever just need a minute? Yes. This is the "same page" that I'm talking about, John. We've got to be on the same page. That's the most important thing. I don't know why it has to be so hard. I-I need a minute. John, she's right between the two sizes. I thought about it! What am I supposed to do? Encourage her denial? Or motivate her to get herself in shape? Flor? Hmm? (Speaks Spanish) Me go. Yeah, OK. I'll take you to the bus stop. Sorry, I didn't even help you with the door. I... No, I meant I was... CRISTINA: My mother did not understand her male boss. He seemed as upset as she was over what had been done to Bernice... (Roars) Shit! ..and yet had done nothing. (Starts engine) (Yells) I am running out of excuses for the lady of the house! But, man, Bernice's final is tomorrow. She didn't need this one. And just the look on her face when she got the gifts! Like, for one second she thought all her problems with her mother had been solved! He appeared to be a good man, but to someone with first-hand knowledge of Latin macho, he seemed to have the emotions of a Mexican...woman. She had no idea how to react, except to flee. (Unfastens seatbelt) Gracias. Whoa! Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you doing? We're still moving. I'll take you all the way to the bus stop. (Speaks Spanish) You've got to let me take you... all the way. I-I'll...I'll take you. (Laughs softly) All the way. How weird was this ride? Sorry. Sorry. No, no. (Speaks Spanish) Yes, yes. You are released. Yes. Alright. Bye-bye. (Sighs) Alright. * Vodafone TV allows you to switch easily from your TV to your tablet or your mobile phone, giving you freedom like never before. The future is exciting. Ready? * (Speaks Spanish) (Speaks Spanish) CRISTINA: A simple request from my mother startled me. Her rules were bending. She was losing her battle to remain uninvolved with the Claskys. (Speaks Spanish) In ingles? Si. In ingles. Como? "Try it on." "Try..." No. No. No, no, no... (Speaks Spanish) 'J...' 'Just'. "Just try it on." "Just try on." 'Just'. 'Just'. 'Dyuss-t'. (Laughs) Lo siento. There is one particular cultural difference which I wish to explore academically at Princeton. American women, I believe, actually feel the same as Hispanic women about weight - a desire for the comfort of fullness. And when that desire is suppressed for style and deprivation allowed to rule, dieting, exercising American women... Left! ..become afraid of everything associated with being curvaceous, such as wantonness, lustfulness... Left! ..sex... Passing on the left. ..food... ..motherhood - all that is best in life. ALARM BEEPS (Sighs) Buenos dias. Hey! Buenos dias, Flor. (Sighs) Hey! Wow! Yeah, well, taste she has. Just try it on. When did you learn to speak English? Nada. Just try it on. (Laughs) It's too tight. It doesn't fit. Bernice, just try it on. Hey. It's too small. I'm too big. Just try it on! Just...! OK. OK. I'll show you. (Laughs) Thanks. Lovely way to start the day. The world's most trim Mexican learns her first sentence and uses it to watch me grunt my way...into... It fits! (Laughs) OK. No. No! No. (Growls) Hey. OK. No! No. (Laughs) De nada. Well, thanks. (Laughs) Oh! (Laughs) (Georgie and Evelyn sing) # Again # I was wrong # Now life is lonely again # And only last year # Everything seemed so sure # Now life is AWFUL # Again # A trough full of hearts # Could only be... # Whatever happened to 'Frere Jacques' or 'Itsy-Bitsy Spider'? Make room. I know. But every time he has a nightmare, I teach him one of my old songs. And that way, his nightmares have a purpose. But I don't have to sing it for anyone. Right. You're clear on that. How many did you sell of this song, Grandma? He likes to know that stuff. She was huge. Here goes. 76,000. Which is great for a jazz album. Ho-ho! (Both sing) # I'll forget you, I will... # Yeah. Yeah. (Sighs) Jesus. Fuck you. LOUD SCREAM Dad! Dad! Dad! For God's sake! Why are you screaming? Why? Crazy father, why aren't YOU screaming? Well... ..I'm working on it. Just the stunned thing has to get dealt with. "John Clasky..." No, no, no, no, no, no... Yes. Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Oh... "John Clasky, who, at 25, "made his mark on the New York restaurant scene, "has re-emerged as a young and confident veteran, "taking chances with his combinations." Dad... Your sister's talking. "Beginning with a succession of appetisers "he is constantly, yet casually daring." Dad...this is so great. EVELYN: Oh, my God. Oh, right. Here it is. (Sighs) "Eating at this perfect, smaller, passionate restaurant "inspires one's own abandonment of caution." (Emotionally) "To wit..." (Sighs) "..John Clasky is the best chef in the United States." Look how great you read it. Perfect, Dad! (Laughs) Come here. John, four stars! Oh, my God! You even look different to me. I wonder what Mom will do. I read it! I read it! Oh! (Pants) Oh! Mmm! (Laughs) Mmm! Oh... Ah. Alright. (Laughs) Alright. What is this? I don't know. I don't know. I'm just so happy for you and all your hard work. Awww... (Gags) Mmm! Oh, my goodness! (Laughs) (Grunts) Oh! Oh! Oh! (Laughs) OK! Ah! Alright. Oh... Oh! Don't worry. I'll wait for you. (Laughs) Oho! (Grunts with exertion) Ho-ho! Nice move! Ah! We are so smooth. Right on! Yes! Ladies and gentlemen, the mother of two children! Look at that! (Laughs) Ah! Yeah! Oh... Ah, you look good. You... You're too beautiful. It's ridiculous. Oh...oh...I like you. Oh, OK. OK. I love you. Go! Go. Alright. OK. Uh-oh. (Laughs) Yeah. Alright. You don't even need me, do you? (Laughs) (Moans softly) Just go. Now she's on. It's all you! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! That's right. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yes! Yes! (Laughs) Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! (Cries out in pain) Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Oh! Ohhhhhhhh, yyyyyyyyah! (Gasps) (Exhales slowly) Wheeeeeeeee! (Claps hands together) (Grunts softly, sighs) (Cries softly) No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, don't get sad. You had fun, I swear. Deb, cheer up! Deb, cheer up! (Sighs) No, no, no. What am I going to do about me? No... (Sighs) (Sighs) No, no. No, no, no, no, no! Not yet! Great sex. * (Woman pants) JOHN: Ay, ay, ay. Hi! Hi. (Speaks Spanish) Hi. It's John Clasky. Oh. OK. (Speaks Spanish) "I read your good review." I read your good review. They read me your good review. CAR HORN BEEPS Nice. Not so far. CAR HORNS BEEP REPEATEDLY (Translates in Spanish) Hey, I'm sorry. How are YOU doing? Uh... CAR HORNS CONTINUE ..uh, I do fine. (Speaks Spanish) "Be happy." Be happy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Absolutely. OK. (All applaud) (Woman squeals excitedly) Hey, OK. Congratulations. Yeah. Yeah. I need to talk to you. Oh, man. OK. You deserved it... You were terrific. Terrific. And congratulations. ..so much. You guys worked HARD. Way to go. Pietro, what's wrong? What's doing? I've gotten a fantastic offer for my own place. Everyone wants to back me since the paper came out. I can't lose you and keep the hours I'm keeping. I can't do my life... unless I hold on to you. I think I just gave you an incredible bargaining position. So you gave away 20% of the restaurant... ..without even talking to me about it? I had to right then or I would have lost him. Then I wouldn't have enough time with the family. (Sighs) I don't exist. Oh, sure you do. (Sighs) I was all worried, just trying to figure out the timing to talk to you about renting a place for the summer. Well, I think you have your timing. (Sniffs) Mom, the realtor's here. Are you coming? EVELYN: Go on. Alright. I'll be back later. Hi. Hi there. (Sighs) I'm Mike. Deborah. Hi. There's a great rental that just came on the market. So we're starting at the top. OK. Good. I'm never going to be one of those girls whose hair... (Spits out hair) ..flows perfectly in a convertible. Move your seat forward. I-I...I just... SEAT WHIRRS Yeah. Uh-huh. Just a little more. Good. WINDOWS RAISE Ah... Ah. You must be trouble. Ah. WAVES BREAK, SEAGULLS CRY Oh, huh? Look at this! Oh! Isn't it gorgeous? Oh! EVELYN: Oh. It's beautiful. It's fabulous. Perfect! What word is the same in Spanish? 'Fabulosa'. Thank you. So, this will be your room, OK? And don't worry. I'm going to put lots of nice stuff in here too. No, I-I... Did you ask her if she could live in? Well, come on. There's no buses from her to here. There's no question. Double 'come on'. The barrio, Carbon Beach. The barrio, Carbon Beach. What to do? What to do? Come on, it's going to be SO great. Come on. Come on. I'm going to get someone to explain everything to you. Come on. You must learn English. Why won't she learn English? Be careful. I'm going to have to learn "You must learn English" in Spanish. Excuse me. Excuse me, do you speak English? Yes, I do. Good. Alright, then, would you please help me? Will you translate for me with her? Sure. OK. Oh, sure. Forever! He's going to... A minute. (Laughs softly) OK. Hi. Now, I've rented a house for the summer, and so she needs to sleep at the house because of the bus schedule. Uh... (Translates in Spanish) No, sorry. What? Why? Why? Why? (Speaks Spanish) She said she can't, because her daughter. Her... You have a daughter? (Translates) A whole daughter you've never mentioned? I... This is just a little crazy that I don't know this. Oh... (Translates) No, don't translate asides. Oh. (Speaks Spanish) (Speaks Spanish) She said she can't live here, because her daughter... I got that. (Sighs) (Speaks Spanish) Her daughter can also live here for the summer. Go, tell her that. Deborah, if she didn't tell us about her child, she has to have a deep sense of privacy. (Speaks Spanish) We can figure out how she can still live at home. Hell, I don't mind driving her at night. Let's spare the world you on the roads, OK? What are we going to do? (Speaks Spanish) I'm sorry, my friend, but this is what I need. It's just for the summer. I don't want to lose you, but... (Translates) (Speaks Spanish) She said she'll live here with you. GIRL: Hey, Cristina! (Girls chant) Malibu! Malibu! Malibu! Malibu! Malibu! Malibu! CRISTINA: The first time one sees natural beauty which is privately owned - oceans as people's backyard - confounds the senses. Oh, my gosh! I didn't know God had a toystore for the rich. The beaches are so clean. It's beautiful! Oh! (Speaks Spanish) (Sighs, speaks Spanish) Three months? Three months?! We're going to be staying here for three months. (Laughs) Three months! We're going to be staying at this beach for three months! This is amazing! JOHN: You want to go swimming? (Chum barks) Hey! Flor! Look at this child! Oh, my God! You could make a fortune in surrogate pregnancy. Que? How are you doing? I'm John. Hello. Great. Come on out and meet everybody. Bernie. I'm Deborah and this is my daughter, Bernice. Hi. Hi. And here's Georgie. And my mother, Evelyn Wright. EVELYN: So glad to meet you. No comparisons, please. No comparisons. I'm not even going to respond to that. Come here. (Speaks Spanish) OK. Well, my mom says it's best if we just go, get out of your way, and put our things away. Yes, go get settled. Abs... (Mouths) Thank you so much. I'm thrilled to be here. Oh! JOHN: OK, here's the idea. I need to make a serving platter, for serving fish, out of sea glass like this, alright? It's just bits of broken glass that the ocean sand just blasts over the years. So here's the deal. You guys go hunting for it. I'll give you 50 cents for any piece you find. A dollar for any piece that's bigger than that sucker right there. Alright, $5 for any piece that isn't brown, clear or green. Do we really have to do this? What?! Come on. Let's go! Let's do this! Have fun! Come on, Chum-Chum. Go get them, kid. Me too?! Yes, of course. Thank you! (Laughs) Oh, my God! Georgie! (Laughs) WOMAN: Come on! WOMAN: Wait for me! I'm coming too! (Laughs) Hey! Hey! Cristina! Hey! Up here! Over here! (Sighs) Cristina...? What's wrong? She's wild-eyed over this. (John calls out) Flor? Flor? (Sighs) (Speaks Spanish) I'm sorry. Very sorry. I... Listen, she'll be back shortly. No, no, no. You don't have to work. Mmm! It's... Give me that. OK. Here. Here. (Tearfully) Thanks. Alright. Deb made a mistake. I understand how you feel. Do you understand what I'm saying right now at all? No. Good. (Laughs) Is 'simpatico' the word? Simpatico, si. Alright. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Uno momento. That's Italian. (Clears throat) Uh, I really am sorry that this is happening. I just wanted you to know that. I really... So sorry. Truly. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I didn't mean like... I meant just... ..just a normal sorry. Uh, so I'm going to go to work. * Thank you so much! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Thank you so much for taking me there. Would you stop? Stop thanking me. I really... I enjoyed having the company. The flea market was just... Oh, I don't know what to say. It was just...so many things. And...and...and you. You knew so much about all of them. The way you made those people lower the prices, though. I just think that you're... Never mind. No, go ahead. I can take it. I just think that you're... ..the most amazing white woman that I've ever met. That is so...nice to hear. Absurd, but deeply appreciated, Cristina. (Cristina giggles outside) Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much. That was so fun. This was the best day ever. What? Something bad happen? Cristina, tell your mother those wash right out. It's no big deal. Not right now. (Speaks Spanish) What in... I mean... You can't just take someone else's kid... No, no, Mother. Don't go there. Or I'll go 'there', and you know where 'there' is. (Hums) Well, I'm just... I mean, can you believe what a big deal Flor is making this into? It's just, I... Please, shoot me if I ever become that hard to deal with. (Sighs) (Speaks Spanish) What's this? For you. From? Mmm. OK. Look. You are not yourself. This was written in anger. Take the letter. I would just... Will you hold on? Sleep on it. If you still want me to have it, that's fine. Take the letter. I don't think you will, once calm and rational thought returns. Just sleep on it. Take the letter, Deborah. Just sleep on it. She didn't even want us to know she had a daughter, and on the first day, you take her kid away without even asking? I think that's a little... What? Insensitive? Elitist? Narcissistic? Irresponsible? Perverse? Dizzy? What? Stupid! When is anyone in this damn house, in this damn life, going to consider MY feelings? I just tried to make a lovely kid feel welcome. There is no reason to rake this over! I let it go and gave Flor the room to let it go, which I'm sure she has. It's over, so just... get on board, pal! (Gasps) I slept. (Laughs softly) Ha ha. Well, I'm broke. No, no, no. Please, don't worry about it. You really don't have to pay me. Please. Don't worry about it. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. OK, so, when you count it up, you give me a holler. I did count. Many, many times. I didn't sleep. I counted. Alright. What do I owe you? Give it to me. $640. Really? Yes. I'm...I'm really sorry. No! No...alright. It's, uh... I don't know. How about we figure this out tomorrow, OK? Well, you even told me - you said that it's $5... I know, I know, I know. I promised. It's all coming back to me now. Let me just go deal with this. (Sighs) CAR APPROACHES Cristina? Mmm. (Flor speaks angrily in Spanish) Oooh, baby. Si. Andale. My mother wishes for me to represent exactly what she says - nothing else. What? (Speaks Spanish) "May I talk to you?" You mean your mother? Yeah. Sure. You can talk to me. (Speaks Spanish) "I don't have to sleep first?" What's wrong? Come on. Come on. Sit down. (Speaks Spanish) (Whispers) I'm sorry. (Sighs) "Did you give this money to my daughter?" OK, I made a deal with the kids. All the kids. Oh, no! (Speaks Spanish) "Oh, no! Please!" (Speaks Spanish) "You don't tell or ask the mother when you give a child a fortune "for...for...for looking on the beach for stones?" Uh... (Speaks Spanish) "What is the word for this?" Sea glass. (Translates into Spanish) (Speaks Spanish) "No, not a name for the stones." (Speaks Spanish) "A name for the action - what you did." Engreido. Oh, boy. 'Engreido's going to be rough. (Sighs) "Smug!" No! I had no idea it was going to amount to that much money. I thought, sort of, tops, $50. (Translates) Oh! (Speaks Spanish) "But $50 is a lot of money." I, uh...I know. I know. I... Alright! (Translates) Oh, shit! "Ay, mierdo!" I'm sorry. Come on. I get what you're upset about. (Translates) Excuse me. It might not look it, but I am good at getting things. (Translates) I know what it's like when you feel your kid's being messed with. (Translates) It won't happen again. (Translates) It won't. (Translates) (Sighs) (Claps) Alright. "OK!" It's late. You guys get some sleep. (Translates) Sleep? Si. No. (Groans) (Speaks Spanish) "If this is small enough to be helped by some little apology, "I would be a fool to bring it up. "But I need to say, no matter what the result. "I need to be impolite! "You leave someone else's child alone. "It is simple, no? "It is too easy for children to feel contradictions, "and it encourages questioning their parents. "And that...and that makes them less safe! "Look. "Your wife takes her for little tours... "..and she changes her hair. "And you give her money. "Here! Take back the..." Money? "I didn't really mean to be angry TO you. "Only emotional, for me." Yeah, yeah. What about hypocritical? (Speaks Spanish) (Translates) Yes, you heard me! It's not like you didn't do the same thing. (Translates) No. Yes, you did. So, why don't you go lecture yourself? You won't need a translator for that one. I mean, what am I lately? A recycling bin? Anybody, dump in your garbage, hope I make something useful out of it? (Speaks Spanish) Yes, yes! You did the same thing. (Translates) You think I don't know about you altering those outfits for Bernie? She tells me her stuff. So am I missing something? Is there really a difference between that and what you're complaining about? Excuse me. (Sighs) (Speaks Spanish) "There's no difference. I interfered." You're kidding me? It's just pretty wild to say something to somebody and have the other person just... concede the point. I'm dazed here. (Translates) (Clears throat) (Speaks Spanish) "I feel really embarrassed." "And you were very right. Hypocrisy, yes." OK. That's...that's... (Laughs) ..that doesn't happen very often. She said that we'll leave whenever it is good for you. No! No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no! Come on, man! "But how can I keep working for you after we talked like this?" You can't quit the job. Even if you wanted to. And you know why. (Translates) No. Yes, you do. You know. Why? Because if you do, Cristina will blame herself for costing you the job. (Translates) And that guilt... (Sighs) (Translates) I don't know if you know about guilt. (Translates) Culpa, guilt - si. We know. We're Catholics. Culpa, si. We know. We know. You can't do that to her. (Translates) Welcome back. Goodnight. (Sighs) Goodnight. (Speaks Spanish) "You can't be translating for me all the time. "I need to learn English NOW." (Speaks Spanish) Oh. I really wasn't supposed to translate that. Listen to your mother. She knows it all. Que? (Laughs) Nada. Domino's mobile ovens didn't quite help us deliver hotter, fresher pizza, but opening more kitchens closer to more people did. For hotter, fresher pizza, choose 20-minute delivery guarantee. From Domino's. CRISTINA: Learning English would cost $599 down and 12 monthly payments of $86, which represents 22% interest. Assimilation gets expensive. You got it? But not a penny was wasted. 'Food'. WOMAN IN VIDEO: 'Food'. 'Food'. Muy bien. TAPE: I am just learning English. I am just learning English. Please repeat. Please repeat. 'Neck'. 'Neck'. 'Nariz'. 'Nose'. 'Nose'. (Growls, barks) (Gasps) No! I... Get... No! (Squeals) No! (Squeals) (Squeals) Go! No! OK. (Growls) "It is summer." TAPE: 'Winter'. 'Winter'. 'Spring'. 'Spring'! "It is summer". 'Sun...' 'Sunny'. 'Sunny'. No. 'Several'. Varios. Varias. 'Several'. BOTH: Several. Again. Several. Good. 'Several'. Demasiadas. 'Too many'. Too many. Right. 'Too many'. "How about a movie tonight?" "Have you any particular one in mind?" "I really enjoy the 'Stars Wars' trilogy by Mr George Lucas." Congratulations, John. VICTOR: Chef. It just keeps building. Hey. Yay! (Laughs) Sorry. So, should we just stop answering the phone? We are booked for four months solid. No. I want to keep some walk-in business. I want this to stay neighbourhood. The trick is, stay the same. Impossible, John. There'd be riots. You should hear the desperation in their voices. This is the best time of your life. Yes, that includes our 5:30 seating as well. I know. Can I put you on hold for one minute? Good afternoon. Reservations. We'll serve the full menu at the bar. Where will I put the people waiting for a table? It won't work, John. Just do this for me. There's no way. Do this or I'll set my hair on fire and start punching myself in the face! Huh? Yeah, yeah, you're right. That was an unusual way for me to make myself understood. TELEPHONE RINGS Phone! Oh. It's Mike. Great. Yeah, I'm just walking right out the door. Okey-dokey. OK, thanks. Great. Thank you. (Drunkenly) Thank you for the ride home, but it was not necess-essary. OBJECT SMASHES (Laughs) Oh. (Sighs) (Laughs) Alright. Yes. (Laughs) Four stars and I've never been more unhappy! Up. Up. Yes. Yes. Yes. He's got this. Incredible obstacle. WIND CHIMES CLATTER WOMAN ON TV: I don't know what to wear to the party. I don't know what to wear to the party. I'm wearing jeans. I'm wearing jeans. Do you want to wear jeans? No. Wear...what... What are you wearing to the party? (Mouths) (Dog pants) Who's always there for you at 2:30 in the morning? Chum! (Growls softly) Oh! You...you'd better do something about Chum. You're going to throw your arm out. Don't you sleep anymore? (Stiltedly) The more...you do it, the more you learn. Well, you're doing fantastic. No. Yes. Now I am like a 2-year-old. Uh-uh. No. No. Um...I finish. No, no, no, no. No, keep going. Keep going. No, not until you finish it. Uh...your wife go out. Did she say where? No. Sorry. Hey, listen, she's... I forgot she was going out. Don't be a smart-ass. I'm sorry. You and I...well... ..we communicate in apologies anyway, so.... I'm sorry. I should be...I should be whipped. I should be stoned. It's been a while. I... No, I meant to say, "Don't be smart," not a 'smart-ass'. Don't be kind. Don't be sensitive. Don't be...wonderful. Don't... I'm way too close. I'm sorry again. Hey. I meant to say, "Hi, Flor." Goodnight, Flor. That show you're watching is going to be a hit. Hey, pal, you want to... Oh. Go. Go, Chum. No. No. Chum. No. Go to him. Go! Go to him. Oh, man, you do love me. I was wondering. DEBORAH: What about the point I'M making? It's good, right? I mean, Cristina has already read, on her own, every book on Bernice's summer reading list. And she's two grades behind her. Could you imagine if she went to Bernice's school? (Sighs) I think I could probably get her a scholarship. I mean, God knows they owe me. Talk to Flor. (Scoffs) (Sarcastically) Yeah. She's so open to new things. Where are you going? Uh, just...I'm going out. I am...it's this whole... Anyway, I just... I'm probably actually going to be... And the cell's going to be bad, so I'll just check in with you later. SCHOOL BELL RINGS I just can't find my keys. (Quietly) Oh, my God. Good morning, Jackie and Chloe. GIRLS: Good morning, Miss Folsom. Wow. Deborah. Arlene! What a surprise. Oh. This is Cristina, the girl I'm always raving to you about. Cristina, this is Arlene Folsom. She's the School Director. Hi. Hello. A pleasure to meet you, Miss Folsom. Would you like a little tour? Really? Great. (Aside) She's gorgeous, isn't she? Mm-hm. Hispanic. We ran into the head of the school and Cristina knocked her out. I had nothing to do with it. Incidentally, the scholarship is worth $20,000 and early registration is tomorrow. It is too far from my home. Well, you could move into town with us. Never, thank you. (Tersely) Fine, then don't. By the way, the phrase is "NO, thank you." CRISTINA: Mom was caught in a vice of manipulation. Please, dear God, this is the most important prayer of my life. It is about my education. The health of my brain. Please, dear God, enter my mother's heart. Make her understand what this school means. SCHOOL BELL RINGS CAR DOORS SLAM (Sighs) Hi, Flor. Hi. Want some...port? No, thank you, Evelyn. How are you doing? Hi. I was just leaving. Mmm... OK. 'Bye, Mom... (Laughs) What? OK. Poor guy. (Laughs) What? (Chuckles) Nobody noticed. (Chuckles) Flor? Thanks for never judging me. I love you. I love everybody. That's what's killed me. May I talk with you? Me? (Clears throat) Uh, I just spoke to Deborah. She'll be back soon, if you need to go over something. I need to really talk... Is OK? No. No, no, no, no. Sure. Sure. Sure. Sure. I'm sorry. Outside? OK. Ay, ay, ay. You have me a little nervous here. (Chuckles) Are we ever going to stop? Just...just ask and... You know about Cristina and your...private school? Oh, that. Yeah. They did it. I don't know what to do. Don't ask me. I'm worried about my own kid going there. Because they keep sending her home anxiety-ridden, mostly over geometry. I mean, you get Bernice. In a decent world, her school should let her know how great she is, right? (Chuckles) You don't have to worry about Bernice. Nothing is going to change that heart. (Chuckles lightly) Yeah, thanks. It's just... ..great to hear someone else say that out loud. Hard to explain. I know. (Chuckles) I'm sorry. I take you here and... I make too much of this, right? No! You have a right to worry about this. This is the job. These are the decisions. Worrying about your children is sanity. And being that sane, the way you are, can drive you nuts. Someone like you, I'm sorry - if you think you're at some crossroads, you are. You are. I...I...I... Hey, I wish I could help you more. I... I never know a man who can put himself in my place like you do. How did you become that man? (Laughs) Ah... I don't know. Just... Would you get out of the damn wind?! Sit down! I didn't mean to... I...I want to be helpful. It must be hard being a widow, doing it on your own. Why do you think I am a widow? I guess I thought... ..that would be the only way a guy would leave you. (Clears throat) (Laughs) Um...so, OK... Are you going to send her? I don't know. Mmm. I think, if I do, one of two things happens. Either she will be...odd? Odd, yes. Or she will make herself the same as them. I felt the same way about my kid going there. So, between odd and the same, you've got to be rooting for odd, don't you? (Chuckles) Yes, you've got to. (Chuckles) (Hastily) Thank you. Goodnight. I go to sleep. Hey! You speaking English, it's... What? Nothing. It... It's nice meeting you. * Here they are. Hey, you guys just made it. I was getting worried. Hi, hi, hi. Oh! I picked up your books yesterday. (Grunts) I just put them in one of Bernie's old, ancient backpacks. Thank you. This is going to be a great school. I can tell by the weight. I got her just a little first-day-at-a-new-school present. It's just a little something from me and Bernie. It's OK, right? I mean, come on, it's a big day. What did we get her? Oh. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. (Gasps) Oh. BOY: Here it comes. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Oh... Oh! You... Oh, it's just... It's from all of us. Your mom too. It's not from me. OK. Let's get going. Don't be late! Come on. Thank you so much for this opportunity. And everything. Ah. Have a great year, girls. (Tuts) This is so great. (Calls out) Left! Left. Left. No left! Left. (Grunts) Left. (Pants) Left. Left. (Pants, grunts) Hey. You're fast! Better pace yourself. (Pants) Hooo! (Pants) You know, I ran college track. Watch out. (Grunts) (Both pant) (Gasps) (Groans, grunts) (Pants) Oh, look. They're delivering my table. (Grunts) (Grunts loudly) See you. (Groans) I love you for trying! (Wheezes) CRISTINA: When people exist under one roof, a tiny society forms, the stuff of 'novelas' - masters and servants unconsciously dancing in lock step, so that when things go wrong... ..traumas converge. (Children laugh) At Mrs Clasky's urging, I had invited two of my friends to her house, though I was expected at home. Monica had finally managed to get her mother here from Mexico, and my mother was making a party. RINGING TONE ON PHONE PHONE RINGS Bueno. DEBORAH: Flor? Deb. Hey, sorry to call you so late, but, uh, the girls are still studying, and I've got to go out, but I know I promised to get her back to you, so if you want me to cut off the school work, that's fine. Whatever you want. Let me think. Um...OK. You think about it, and... ..you know, and, hey, listen, Flor, if you're tired or you want to play, then just, uh, let her sleep here tonight, and I'll...I'll get her back to you in the morning. You can stay! You think about it. Call me back. 'Bye. (Hangs up) (Laughs) (Speaks Spanish) Si. Si! (Speaks Spanish) (Speaks Spanish) DOOR OPENS EVELYN: Wait! I need to talk to you privately, honey. 'Honey'? No, Mother. I can't right now. I'm really late. I've been looking all over for you. Will you watch the kids? You've my secret cell number, OK? Just give me a moment to talk here. (Sighs) What is it? Are you buzzed? No. I gave up drinking weeks ago. Yes. Nobody noticed. Which shows I probably conducted myself pretty well as a drunk. But duty called, and I'm sober. So...may I say just one thing? Y-yes, Mother, one thing. Go ahead. Thank you. Deborah... ..you are going to lose your husband if you don't stop what you are doing. And you will never find someone as good. There'll only be men who you know are cheap and shallow and have no real warmth in their souls. You may have gotten by on those surfaces once, but now...you have been spoiled by a good man. If you do not act, quickly, you will soon cement an awful fate for yourself - a life with no hope of repair, which has already begun to turn... desperate...and dumb. That's it. Oh! Drive carefully. Oh, out of coffee. It's over for me. Well, you've done it again, Mother. Made me hate myself. One of the things I can count on. Honey... ..lately your low self-esteem is just good common sense. (Sighs) CAR BEEPS SOFTLY (Starts engine) EVELYN: John. Hey, Evelyn. You'd better wait a minute. (Deborah wails) What the hell is wrong? Nothing. Can I urge you in all hopelessness not to go in there? Deb? Deb? Deb? Deb? Where are you? (Meekly) Over here. (Softly) Baby! What? J-just...stay there, John. What? What? What? (Sniffs) I suddenly get what I've got to do, but I...I've just got to get up the guts. Is it absolutely necessary to make it this...this scary? Can't you just... can't you just say it? It's not so easy. Yeah. Come on. It's me. We can talk. (Sobs) Do I ever hope so. Alright. Don't cry. Or cry. Cry, cry. I'm sorry. (Sighs) Come on. What is it? I've been seeing another man for the last 11 weeks, and it was nothing, and I ended it tonight. (Sobs) At first it was just keeping an eye on the real estate market, and then it was... (Sobs) ..what, me being insecure and searching for some ridiculous validation. Hold on, hold on, hold on. I'm....I'm...I'm...I'm missing what you're saying. I... Hey... OK. You can't... you can't keep talking... ..and expect me to follow it, um, when you start the way you did, so... Well, just what did you hear? There was a crack in the planet. (Exhales loudly) That was noisy. (Softly) Oh, man! There's an actual noise in my head. No kiddin'. I met him... (Stammers) If you talk that fast, I'm not going to hear you. There's a lot going through my mind right now. Have you said...yet... whether you slept with him? Well, so far I've just been talking about a flirtation, because it's really important... Have you said...whether you had sex with another person? Because I really...I'm... I really am missing your words, so help me out here. I've been trying to explain that for the first 10 weeks... You still haven't said yet, right? Is this your way... Yes! Yes! This is my way! This is my way of asking you whether or not you... (Sighs) Oh, man. Once I ask it... Just give me a second. I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to avoid knowing. No. Damn it. There's not. OK. You're on. Real short answer. Have you had... Yes. Really? (Sobs) I made up my mind that I was going to answer every question you had. I'll answer everything and...anything...and more. What other questions could there be? Are you really that much nicer than me? Well... ..you don't set the bar real high. John, just wait. Please, please just wait. Just... John, just listen. I think that if you listen to exactly what happened, and then you can do whatever you need to. Just please let me tell you everything. DOORBELL RINGS Oh! It's just Flor. Flor, what are you doing here? I want my daughter. I want to talk to Mrs Clasky. I want to quit. Well, I don't think you can do any of that right now. I've got to. The reason I took this chance in telling is that I want us to be good. I want us to be close. I want to feel like...like you're not nuts to be in love with me. So what...what I think we should do is I think we should just talk. Talk until we pass out. I mean, talk until we are so sick of each other that there's nothing left to do but take that first step out of hell. OK, so let's... let's not leave this room until you've heard and said everything, OK? Please, say OK. I'm sorry. What? J-John? You didn't hear me? I've got to get out of here. You keep talking. Wait... Stay put! DOOR OPEN, SHUTS * Domino's Pizza is now Domino's. While we still do great value pizzas, we also offer amazing choice. Our authentic New Yorker range, chicken sides, desserts, and hand-crafted thick shakes are totally irresistible. Taste what's different at Domino's. * (Evelyn whispers) I don't think you want to wake her up when you're feeling this upset and the others are right there too. Oh. (Sobs) Oh. (Vaguely) What are you doing? Where are you going? I am leaving. I have finally... Yeah. Me too. I'll drive you. No. Oh, it's OK. It's... I-I don't mind. I've got to, uh... If you truly don't know why I say no, let me at last say the reason. Don't worry about it. (Sighs) (Sighs) Have you no idea that I... (Chum barks) I-I've really got to get out of here, right now. Go. Goodbye, Chum. (Barks) Goodbye. Wait. I'm taking you. No. Why? Because if I don't, I'll worry about you all night long. I can't handle that right now. Come on, come on. In. Come on. Get in the car. (Starts engine) John! I quit this job. (Bellows) I quit this job! I think I meant that for someone else. I'm sorry. Sorry. Very sorry. There is the bus stop. 'Bye. Wait. Don't go! Would you be willing to hang out with me for a while? You want to hang out with me? Yes. Then I... ..I have to ask you... What? What does 'hang out' mean? It...it means... (Stammers) ..'visit'. OK. I've never seen your place. Very perfect. I'm going to cook for you. Eh, eh, eh, eh! Please, please, please. I...I am glad to visit with you. If I just left the job and never spoke with you, it...would have been... ..sin. You understand? (Sighs exasperatedly) (Sighs) Yeah. (Sighs) My hand is the only sane part of my body. Every other part wants to jump off a cliff. That's it for now. I already broke my record for smooth. I don't understand. No. It's...it's me. I'm not making any sense. But I can get you fed. Do you want a drink? No. Wait. I don't think you should either. Well, then, excuse me, because if I had the equipment, I think I'd inject the vodka. I just think it is so important that we are each clear-headed. Uh... (Laughs) It's very good... ..you didn't ask why. To keep things real, right? I wouldn't have put it so well. Uh...OK. Let's get this going here. Beautiful. So, tell me again why I can't call him on his cell again? Beside that he turned it off? (Sobs) Yeah. 40 messages start to look needy. (Snorts) Oh, Mother, you're enjoying this. No! Well, not in the way you think. You ARE enjoying it?! Jesus, Mother! I am enjoying actually being of use to my daughter. I am enjoying the fact that I really know how to advise you. And the miracle that you are so deeply disoriented that you are gobbling up everything I say. Oh! (Sobs) (Soothingly) What? There's something I want to say to you about you and me. Oh, you don't have to. No, I want to. OK. OK? Thank you. You were an alcoholic and a wildly promiscuous woman during my formative years, so that I'm in this fix because of you. It is your fault, and...I just needed that moment for us to build on. You have a solid point, dear. But right now, the lessons of my life are coming in handy for you. (John laughs) (Laughs) (Sighs) Mmm! (Laughs) (Laughs) Yes. That's it. (Laughs) That's it for you. (Laughs) I keep thinking I should tell you what happened to me tonight. But I don't want to spoil this. I don't want to spoil this. I will remember every taste... forever. I'm very glad you liked it. (Laughs) It's something, watching you. Well! Well, if it's anything at your end, imagine over here. Scratch that. The last thing you want to hear is somebody going off on your looks. Don't be crazy. Tell me every detail. OK. OK, I will. Uh-hm? They should name a gender after you. Looking at you doesn't do it. Staring is the only way that makes any sense. And trying not to blink, so you don't miss anything. And...all of that, and you're you. (Laughs) I mean... Look, forgive me. It's just you are drop-dead-crazy gorgeous! So much so that I'm actually considering looking at you again before we finish up here. Soon...please. I...I can't. I... We can't. I know, I know! We can't do anything that brings us any kind of satisfaction or release! But I'm still having a great time! CRISTINA: My mother has often referred to that evening at the restaurant as the conversation of her life. JOHN: Ever since that night at the beach... FLOR: Mm-hm? ..if I knew you were in a room, I just wouldn't go in there. (Giggles) When I hear you coming...I leave. (Laughs) (Laughs) For real? That's why we haven't seen each other a lot lately. Why is everything so damn confusing? Mmm... (Imitates clock ticking fast) (Laughs) Is your mind racing too? I would say my mind has evaporated. Feels pretty good. Like happy? Like happy. (Laughs) You think that will last? Uh... I was just kidding around. I understand what you mean. No. I don't understand what I mean. That it's getting late. The...the responsibilities... ..have entered your brain. Don't hide that from me. Don't hide that from me. Please. Yeah. Thank you. You're right. Yeah. I won't. You're great. You're great too. (Sighs) I know! (Whines) No. There are some mistakes...you cannot risk when you have children. (Tuts) Please. Are you ready to go? No! I'm not, I'm not! Stay put for a sec. Stay there. Once our feet touch that floor, I'm going to get too many brain cells back. Don't be in such a hurry. That floor! It's going to eat us alive. I love you. What?! 'Cause I've been... You can do better. Sorry? Get approval before you buy with a secured gem car loan rate at just 9.99% fixed per annum. So you can get the money faster when you find the car you want. You can do better with gem powered by Latitude. Apply today. * Oh, God. It's him. (Stammers) He's got to tell me everything. No, no, no. No. Uh-uh. No, no, no. Oh, yes. No. No! No, wait! (Grunts) Do you know that right now you are your own worst enemy? That you can't trust one thought in your brain? Duh. Then trust me, and only allow yourself to say one thing to him. One thing. "I am so glad you're back." What?! Yes. But I-I have to know whether he touched her. And...where he touched her and how he touched her and how he felt afterwards. I mean, whether they held hands when they left... DOOR SLAMS (Wails) Just those words. If you want to have a prayer of coming out of this. OK. OK. So now I... Go to him. OK! Oh, Jesus. Do I need a little make-up? You need a hose. But you don't have the time. It's fine that you look like that. It's genuine. You can use genuine. Thank you, Mom. Oh, honey. It's not the worst thing in the world to find out that you love your husband. It's late, Deborah. Well...well, I just wanted to say... Oh... I can't sleep upstairs with you. I just can't for now. I'm just so glad you're back. I am. Yeah, OK. Mom? (Sighs) KNOCK AT DOOR I'm done tonight, Deb. I don't think we can jam anything else in. BERNIE: It's me, Dad. What's wrong, honey? I-I was just...I just wanted to check that you were back and...OK and all. (Sniffs) I'm OK. OK. Because? Uh...well... (Sniffs) ..Mom was crying for six hours straight, and Grandma was in with her all that time, mostly saying, "He'll be back. He'll be back." And... I just hate that you had that kind of night. Oh, no. I... It's good for me to worry about something that really matters, you know... ..instead of the stupid stuff that's usually on my mind. Like? Uh... ..surviving? (Laughs) (Laughs) What? (Laughs) How did you come up with this? (Laughs) You are fantastic, Bernie. I love you. I love you. I know. Well, I mean, not about me being fantastic, but just... Well, sleep well. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. What? Hey, uh... (Sniffs) Listen, I... Sweetheart. (Sobs) You too. Mm-hm. Mm-hm. EVELYN: Georgie, come on. Sing it for Grandma. (Both sing) # We will never meet again # On the bumpy road to love... # Cristina. Hey, Mom. Um, is it OK if we don't leave right away, please? No. But listen... Just let me explain, please. No. We must say goodbye. Bernice is going to let me use her computer. This is for school. Listen to me. It's for school. Just listen to ME, please. I don't work here anymore! What? No. That's not fair. (Sobs) That's not fair! You can't do this to me! Cristina. (Sobs) You can't do this to me! You can't do that to me. Cristina... (Speaks Spanish) (Sobs) (Speaks Spanish) GEORGIE: Do I have to get out? No, Georgie. Stay. (Sobs) (Speaks Spanish) I think you are a wonderful boy. Be good, like you are. Thanks. Thanks a lot. I can't believe you didn't get out. Flor said. (Sobs) I don't want to get you wet. Get me wet. Thanks. You are a trip. You are. (Sobs) Thank you. Mmm. You are a beauty. Flor! Come on. Last chance to have some of you rub off on me. (Laughs) (Sobs) Listen, I'm sorry you're sad, but this could have been so much worse. Flor? Why don't you run upstairs and say goodbye to Deborah? I'm coming. Thank you. You're welcome. (Cristina sobs) I live my life for myself. You live your life for your daughter. None of it works. Thank you, Evelyn. (Cristina sobs) We're leaving for good. It's OK. It's OK. It's OK. We're not coming back! Oh, no, no. It's OK. It's OK! We're still going to see each other at school. Come on! I'm going to keep my eye on you. (Sobs) Come on. No, no, no. Come on. It's OK. I've got some great things for you. Want a computer? BEEP! Hey. I was waiting out here. Can't give you guys a lift, huh? Oh! (Laughs) God bless the guy who gets you. BEEP! GATE OPENS (Speaks Spanish) Let her keep them. Party favours. No, no... Esta bien. Cristina? (Sighs) Goodbye, Mr Clasky. I'm very sorry we won't be seeing each other as frequently. Yes. Yeah. Yes. (Speaks Spanish) Flor... (Whispers) Mi amor. (Speaks Spanish) Can I sleep at the Claskys' when I stay late at school? Shortly after we left, my mother told me of another decision she had reached. I would no longer go to the private school. Lo siento mucho... No! (Screams) No! No! You can't do that to me! You can't do that to me! No. You can't do that to me! That's... Cristina, por favor... You...you ruined everything! You ruined everything! (Speaks Spanish) This ruins my life! You've ruined everything! I will never forgive you! (Speaks Spanish) No. No. It'll never be alright. You're wrong! This is exactly what I was worried about! I will never be able to forgive you! (Speaks Spanish) I have a scholarship! And nobody gives this up! The 1.3 miles from the Clasky house to our bus stop was the longest walk I'll ever know. I had publicly scorned my mother. And yet she had not reacted. What did spark our climactic moment was my use of a common American phrase. Not right now. I need some space. Not a space between us. (Speaks Spanish) In the midst of confrontation, she found clarity. (Speaks Spanish) She expressed regret that she had to ask me to deal with the basic question of my life at such a young age. (Speaks Spanish) And then she asked it. (Speaks Spanish) "Is what you want for yourself... "..to become someone very different... "..than me?" I have been overwhelmed by your encouragement to apply to your university and your list of scholarships available to me. Though, as I hope this essay shows, your acceptance, while it would thrill me, will not define me. My identity rests firmly and happily on one fact... ..I am my mother's daughter. (Laughs) Thank you. Cristina Moreno. Supertext Captions by the Australian Caption Centre www.auscap.com.au www.able.co.nz Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. Able 2018