01x07 - Still, Life

[bunniefuu]

- [knocks]
- Hey, El. I have a surprise for you.

Please tell me it's my camera.

I really wanna bring it
to Ximena's sleepover,

but I can't find it anywhere.

No, sorry.

Um, listen.
I know tonight is a big night for you,

so I've decided to take a step back
and let you be totally on your own.

Why do I feel like this is a setup?

Not a setup, I promise.
I won't even call to check in.

Okay. Thank you.

So, I made a little go bag.

And there it is.

You know, at most parties
you leave with a goody bag,

not arrive with one.

Seriously, Dad?

Melatonin? Vitamin C?

Is that a laminated card
with all of my allergies?

And your blood type.

[sighs] Dad, tonight is supposed to be
about me being a regular teenage girl.

Staying up all night,
eating candy, drinking soda.

Pretend I didn't hear any of that.
That's...

You're still here?

I promise I'll be gone
as soon as I can find my camera.

I can help you with that.

Where... Where... W...

Got your favorite sweatshirt,
fresh from the dryer.

Thank you, Mom.

Please tell me you don't endorse
this portable pharmacy Dad gave me.

Carl, a laminated card with her allergies?

And her blood type.
Clearly, that should be in bold.

- [Carl] Ow! [Stammers]
- Uh, I found your camera.

Were you using it?

No!

By the way, you're almost out of film.

I'm not bringing the bag with me.

I don't wanna think about cancer
or health stuff at all tonight.

- Mm-hmm.
- It-It's one night.

She just wants to have fun
and be like everyone else.

I'm pretty sure
if I need a blood transfusion,

Ximena's mother will call.

Can we please get this show on the road
so I can be an only child for the night?

Yeah. Just one more thing.

Everyone say
"first post-cancer sleepover"!

[both] First post-cancer sleepover!

Photobomb!

- Grady!
- Why would you do that?

Uh, that's perfect now.

Ah, I finally get to do something fun
with my overnight bag again.

You brought that to the hospital?

No, the farmers' market with my dad.

- He had this thing overflowing with kale.
- [both laugh]

I can't believe it's been almost two years
since my last sleepover.

Sleepover for you, dinner party for me.

Only because Ximena's mom
won't let boys sleep over.

I'm just glad to be out of the house
on a Friday night.

- It's almost like I have a social life.
- [chuckles]

Hey, and Ximena personally invited you
this time.

She did say I couldn't arrive early,
stay past 8:00

or, under any circumstances, eat celery.

But it's progress.

- [shouts]
- [giggles]

Warn a guy
before you permanently damage his retinas.

If I warned you,
then it wouldn't be candid.

I'd ask to see if it was a good pic,
but all I can see are spots.

[both chuckle]

I'm just so excited.

Ximena and I used to have
the best sleepovers.

I can't wait to devour
some salt-and-vinegar chips,

watch scary movies...

Ooh, I even brought
a friendship bracelet kit.

Oh, and just wait until you try
the mozzarella sticks from DiMari's!

No sticks, but there's mozzarella
on the cutting board.

That's Camembert,
and it's called a charcuterie board.

That must be bougie for "cutting board."

I know it's not our old DiMari's order,
but I think we've outgrown fried cheese.

This is definitely not
what I was expecting. [Sighs]

It's even better!

- [chattering]
- [Priya] Gosh. [Speaks indistinctly]

[Ella] Ooh, could you give me a-a small...
Uh, yeah, a cheese thing?

- Oh, they look so good.
- [Priya] That looks good.

Hey, Grade, before you start playing,
we wanted to talk to you for a second.

[sighs] What did I do?

Nothing.

It's just, after our conversation
on the road trip

and hearing about what's going on
for you at school,

we wanted to be more present.

We love you.
We want you to feel supported.

And we heard you say you wanted to be
an only child for the night,

so we thought we'd make tonight
all about you.

Really?

So, like, does that mean
I get to choose what we have for dinner?

- Sure.
- Whatever you want.

Well, in that case,
let's have pepperoni pizza bagels.

- Really? Of all the things you...
- Hey.

Mmm. [Sighs deeply]
Pepperoni pizza bagels it is.

- [all laughing]
- All right, guys.

I try not to get too caught up
in what other people think,

but I got a new pair of glasses
and I can't tell how I feel about them.

What do you guys think?

- [all laughing]
- Post-worthy!

Kai, can you take a picture
with my camera?

Whoa, an actual camera? So retro.

[Ella laughs]

Ella deleted her social media.

Ugh, I know I should cut down,
but I just love cat memes.

And sea otter memes.

And don't even get me started
on sloth memes.

I have a problem.

Yeah, I just...

It was too hard for me to see what other
people were up to while I was in the…

[chuckles] It's just not my vibe.

Mine either. I'm okay with the media part,
but the social part is where you lose me.

- [whispers] Thank you.
- [Priya] That's too bad.

I would've totally tagged you.

I can see it now!

The three of us forming
our own bestie squad.

And Kai too. He'll be part of the squad.

[sniffs]

Every group needs a project.

This is amazing.

I've never seen doughnuts
on a wall before!

Oh, doughnut walls are everywhere now.

Remember the massive one
at Hernan Brown's bar mitzvah?

Oh, my God, yes!
And when his cousin tried to break-dance?

- Oh, my gosh. He was so…
- [Priya, Ximena, Kai laughing]

He attempted a windmill
that knocked down the whole wall.

Epic doughnut carnage.

[chuckles]

I took a maple-glazed to my linen slacks.

- [Kai, Ximena chuckle]
- [giggles]

Thanks for filling me in.
I'd be lost without you.

[cell phone chimes]

Sorry, Kai, my mom says
it's time for you to go.

Uh, wait! Can't we just convince her
to let him stay a little longer?

Yeah, I'd even be happy
to help her clean up.

When it comes to loading the dishwasher,
I have a whole system.

- I thought your system was for laundry.
- I have a lot of systems.

Look, I'm sorry, Kai,

but if my mom comes downstairs
and sees you're still here,

she'll make everyone go home.

Don't worry. You'll be fine without me.

I hope so.

Text me if they start talking
winter break. A lot went down.

I wasn't invited to any of it,
but I can fill you in.

[chuckles]

[breathes deeply]

Dad, first step in cooking pizza bagels is

you take this baking sheet
and you put it right back in the cupboard.

We're microwaving these puppies.

They'll cook more evenly in the oven.

Uneven cooking is part of the fun.

Is it gooey? Is it frozen?
Depends on the bite.

- [sighs] "Microwave on high for two..."
- Dad, what are you doing?

As soon as the sauce starts to pop
and explode, they're ready to plate.

I got dessert! Fresh from the gas station
down the street.

We can use the baking sheet for that.

Dad, Dad, Dad. This we eat raw.

You can't eat that raw. It has eggs.

No, it doesn't. Read the ingredients.

Oh! I wouldn't read the ingredients.

So, what should we do now?

Well, I was thinking
we could get creative and make...

Friendship bracelets? Way ahead of you.

Uh, wow. My... My sister and I
used to make these when we were little.

Yeah, Ella and I used to love
making these too.

Uh, y-you know what, never mind.
We're way past these.

[Ximena chuckles]

So, uh, what did you guys wanna do?

I was thinking we could do a dance video.

Yes! We haven't done "No Way" yet.

I've been dying to do "Jump start."

- [Priya] We could totally combine them!
- Genius!

Ella, you know these dances, right?

They're basically the same as,
uh, "Thirsty" and "Trip-Trap."

Uh…

- She's not on social, remember?
- Oh.

They're super easy. We'll teach you.

Sure. Just, uh, give me one minute.

Okay. So, I was thinking
we could involve crosses…

[line ringing]

- [Grady] Hello?
- Hey, Grady, can you put Dad on the phone?

Why?

This night isn't
what I thought it was gonna be.

I wanna come home.

What? Are you serious?

I just... [sighs]
I feel like I don't fit in.

Ella, come on.

You're the most fun,
amazing person I know.

Give it some time.

Everybody loves you
'cause you're so… strong and stuff.

Wow, you really don't want me
to come home, do you?

I really don't.

But that doesn't change the fact
that you were so excited about this.

Just find the positive. Be in the moment.

Live, laugh, love.
Isn't that your whole thing?

[laughs] Not exactly, but…

I know what you're trying to say.

- And you're right.
- Of course I'm right. Bye.

[sighs]

- [Ximena giggles]
- [Priya chuckles] Hip, jump, hip.

- [Ximena] Hip, hip, jump. Back.
- Hip, hip. Jump. Take it back.

[both laughing]

Hey!

Hey. Okay, I am ready to learn the dance.

What was it called again? "Trippy-Trap"?

[chuckles] Close enough.

- Okay. So, stand like this.
- Okay.

Now, right arm forward.
Left arm forward. Hip, hip, jump.

Okay, I'm getting it.

Th... You repeat that, then you back up.

Back up. Crisscross. Spin.

- Spin.
- That's it.

[cell phone ringing]

Hey, Grandpa.

No, sorry, I won't be home for a while.
Still practicing violin.

Just trying to nail down this concerto.

N-No, you don't have to wait up.

Okay, bye.

["Never Gonna Stop" playing]

[music stops]

It looks like I don't know what I'm doing,

but it's only because I'm so mesmerized
by how good you guys are. [Chuckles]

And I don't know what I'm doing.

I-It's back, back.

Crisscross, spin.

Right. Sorry.

- It's all good. We'll just restart again.
- [music resumes]

- Are you okay?
- [music stops]

[laughs] I think I finally understand
how Hernan Brown's cousin felt.

[Ximena chuckles]

- [Ximena] Look at that.
- [Priya] It's perfect.

- Here.
- [Ella laughing]

Good thing we didn't try that
next to the doughnut wall.

- [all chuckling]
- Okay, you almost had it.

Wait. Y-You know what?
Maybe I should just film you guys.

I'm afraid I'm gonna slow you down.

No! Ella, you're so close.

[elongated] Never… give…

What is she doing?

It's a sloth meme thing.

[normal] …up.

She really does have a problem.

[chuckles] I-It's fine.

You dance, and I'll film.
That way I can get a better angle.

[music resumes]

[sniffs]

- Grady, where you going?
- The couch?

Sit down and eat with us.
We wanna talk to you.

You said I wasn't in trouble.

Not that kind of talk.
We just wanna hang out.

Hang out?

We haven't been paying you
enough attention, and that ends tonight.

- So, what's new with you?
- Uh, nothing.

How you feeling?

Hungry.

Really, uh, how are you? Are you happy?

You're our only child.
Tonight it's all about you.

Talk to us. Tell us everything.

[sighs]

School's closing. Time to head home.

Right. Home.

[laughs] Okay.
Ximena, these are your MASH results.

You're going to live in a shack,

drive a scooter, become an astronaut,

have 13 kids and marry Abraham Lincoln.

- [Priya laughing] Yes! Yeah!
- No!

Smile with your new husband! [Giggles]

[all laughing]

[Ximena] Gimme.

Here you go.

Okay, Ella, we need your answers
for the four categories.

Okay.

For car, definitely convertible. Electric.

- I'm gonna add "pogo stick."
- Ooh, put "donkey" down.

[all laughing]

They're so adorable
and totally underrated meme-wise.

What about career?

Oh, um… I don't know.

Oh, I really like extreme sports,
so maybe something extreme?

What about a real career?

I thought you wanted to be a dancer?

That was years ago,
and you've seen me dance.

[laughs]

Okay, well, what do you plan on doing
when you grow up?

Uh, I'm not sure.

I, um, haven't really
been thinking about it.

What do you mean?
Everyone thinks about it.

- Yeah. I'm gonna be a designer.
- And I'm gonna be a vet.

[Ximena] So, what about you?

[chuckles]

Um, I don't know.

Uh, can we just…
[chuckles] …skip that one?

Sure. Okay. So, how many kids do you want?

Oh, um…

Kids, that's, uh... [breathing heavily]
It's kind of complicated.

I-It is? Why? Don't over think it.

Um, the-the doctors told me I might not…

I-I'm sorry.

What about your friend Ethan?
We haven't seen him in a while.

He moved.

What about Sunil? He was nice.
Maybe you could be friends with him.

- We don't even have classes together.
- So? Invite him over.

That's weird.

I could call Sunil's mom
and invite him over.

- That's even weirder. Please stop.
- Huh.

Look, we're just trying to be
more involved in your life

and the things that are important to you.

What's important to me are video games.

Okay.

If you wanna play video games,
then you should do it.

Thank you!

[beeps]

[Carl exhales heavily]

So, what game are we playing?

[breathes shakily]

Ella?

What's going on?

Um, I don't know.

Those questions were
kind of getting to me. [Sniffles]

MASH? It's just a stupid game.

I guess I just don't like
talking about my future.

Why not?

Isn't it kind of fun?

Not when you don't know
if you'll even have a future.

I thought your cancer was gone.

It is.

But you never know.

I'm sorry.

That must be so scary.

[sighs]

I didn't want my cancer
hanging over tonight.

But it's like everything is a reminder

that I'm never gonna be
a normal teenager anymore.

I-I'm sorry tonight was
so triggering for you.

I just wanted us all to have fun.

Me too.

[sighs] I was so excited
to get back to normal,

but nothing feels normal.

Maybe we should
just forget about the sleepover.

No.

No, I-I don't wanna give up on tonight.

Well, then, what do you wanna do?

I wanna make some new memories.

- [laughs]
- [sniffles]

[beeps, explosions on TV]

Why are you smashing
those cute furry guys?

They're ogres, and if I don't smash them,
they'll smash me.

I don't know,
I still think they're kind of cute.

How do... Hmm. How do I do a health spell?

- L2.
- Which one's L2?

Forget about it.

- We just hit a checkpoint.
- I...

Wait, why are you skipping that scene?
I wanna read it.

Don't worry about those.
Nobody reads them.

I wanna know
why you need the moon crystals so badly.

This is fascinating.

It says they have traces of tungsten.

- Can I play now?
- Just a sec.

And... Okay.

Thank you.

Now, this is how you beat the level.

- Wait, Dad, what are you doing?
- Giving you health.

- Hit L2! L2!
- I am. I am!

[game over sounds]

Great. Now I have to start over.

[Ella, Ximena, Priya giggling]

- I'm so excited. This is gonna be amazing.
- I know, it's gonna be fun! [Giggles]

[Ximena giggles]

[giggles]

[cell phone ringing]

Hello?

I've decided you can come home now.

I don't want to anymore.

- Seriously?
- Yeah, I'm having fun.

I needed to live in the moment.
You were right.

No, I was wrong. Very wrong.

Please. I don't know how you handle
all of this attention.

It started okay, but then Mom and Dad
wanted to talk about my feelings.

Ugh…

Save me.

Grady, you can get through
one night with them.

You're strong and stuff.

Ella, come on!

- Come on! Let's go!
- [Ella] I'm so excited! [Giggles]

- [Carl inhales deeply]
- [Joanne sighs]

Hey, Grade, we're heading to bed.

Uh, okay.

But you keep playing your video game.

Don't forget dessert.

Uh, Mom? Dad?

Thanks for tonight.

We love you.

Good night. We'll be just down the hall
if you need us.

[beeps]

[video game noises]

[Ximena] This is so exciting.

I know. I've always wanted to do it!

Okay, remember, on one side
you write something you wanna let go of,

and on the other,
something that you wish for.

Okay.

[exhales heavily]
I want to let go of cancer,

but I also wish to never let it go.

Having cancer was terrible,
but it also made me who I am today.

Someone who never gives up.

And I'm really happy
that I didn't give up on tonight.

[splashes]

That's way deeper than what I wrote.

I just wished to pass all my classes
and let go of animal memes.

[splashes]

[splashes]

Wait, Ximena,
we didn't get to read yours yet.

Eh, mine was too boring.

Uh, more boring than grades and memes?

Well, we still wanted to hear it.

In fact, I'm actually gonna jump in
and find it.

[Ximena gasps] No! It's embarrassing!

[both laughing]

[stammers] I'll help you look!

[laughs, speaks indistinctly]

- Where is it?
- [Priya laughing] I don't know!

["Cloudy Day" playing]

[chattering, laughing, shrieking]

[speaking indistinctly]

[chattering, laughing continues]

Okay, okay, we're getting out!

[chattering, laughing,
shrieking continues]

[Priya] Oh, my God! Oh, my gosh!

[song continues]