Dear Zoe (2022) Movie Script
1
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[female DJ] Currently
it's 72 right now, with
those winds on the calm side.
It's just a glorious
Tuesday morning here
in Pittsburgh.
We can see around us...
[female narrator] Dear Zoe.
[male DJ] Reports of a tie-up
on I-79 north of the city...
[narrator] I have memories
of you from before
you were even born.
I just remember us
sitting around the kitchen,
arguing about
what your name should be...
[panting]
...and how that somehow
made you a real person
before I even saw you face.
[tires screech]
Mom told us Zoe means life,
that this name would
protect you...
[woman] Zoe!
but nothing could have
protected you that day,
except me, and I didn't.
-I was just an ordinary girl
with ordinary problems.
-Mom!
Divorced parents,
annoying stepdad,
lousy grades.
Kind of lousy friends.
But you,
you were extraordinary,
and I loved being
your big sister.
I'd get pissed if someone
said you were only
my half-sister,
because you were never
half of anything.
[reporter 1] ...as the towers
of the World Trade Center...
[narrator] But then you
left us
on the worst day
imaginable.
[reporter 2] It's right
on top of us right now.
We gotta get out of the way!
[narrator] On the news,
they've been saying all year
that history
will forever be divided
between what happened
before 9/11 and after.
But that erases your death,
because you died on that day
but not because of that day.
You died because of me.
[woman]
Along the way, you might
experience anxiety,
depression,
anger, even guilt.
Whenever you feel the urge,
write down in these notebooks
anything you want
to say or to remember.
Why would we want
to remember any of this?
-[child] Tessie!
-[man] Tess, get back here!
Hey, sweetie, it's okay.
Come here.
-That was rude.
-[car alarm beeps]
I'm done talking, and I won't
write in any stupid notebook.
So, you guys,
you can enjoy your trip
down "recovery road,"
but I'm not going.
You gonna tell her that?
We need to do it
to get better.
Come on, sweetie.
[scoffs]
[Zoe laughing]
[Tess] Guilt and grief
are a powerful combination.
They make you question things
you used to do before.
[man] Less time on makeup,
more time on breakfast.
Come on!
Like, how I'd get
into disturbingly
in-depth discussions with Em
about how you'd always
stink up the bathroom.
Ohhh!
And how I'd pick
my daily fight with David
about wanting
to go to art school
instead of college.
And my weekly fight with Mom
about not wanting to spend
time over at my dad's.
Or how I used to gossip
about boys with my friends
on the bus
and suffer through long,
boring days at school...
when I'd much rather
have just stayed home
and played with you all day.
Oh, come here!
Ohh! Mmm!
Then we could have all gone
to the market...
Oh, you're gonna
have a funnel cake.
...where I could have
flirted with cute Justin.
And you could have flirted
with cute Justin.
And now to bag
this sack of potatoes!
Motatoes!
Maybe if I did
something different,
things would be different.
Or maybe not.
I honestly
just don't know anymore.
Because at the end
of every goddamn day,
reality set in...
[kids laughing]
...and I was just left
with before...
and after.
October.
November.
December.
Words that meant
the same thing--
after.
[Em humming]
Hey, Em.
What are you doing in here?
I like the wallpaper.
Can I see?
What is it?
Santa lying face down, crying.
Em needs Christmas.
We don't have
a tree or anything.
Seriously?
I'm trying, Tess.
Try harder.
["Losing You" playing]
I've been sitting here
Never been so clear
Telling myself it's true
Still I need all of you
All of you
Don't you be nave
Go on feeling things
With your eyes
Closed tight
Re-living better nights
Better nights...
[Tess]
Christmas came and went.
Every moment frozen
Still...
Nothing changed.
Every moment
Safe for you
And I
Then the bitter truth
Came...
[Tess]
January, February,
March...
I was...
After.
...losing you
-[laughing]
-[cans clatter]
Oh, my God.
Is your mom okay?
I don't want to talk
about it, okay?
Let's just go.
Yeah, I
Was losing you
-[door opens]
-[Mr. Rogers] I had a dog
that I loved very much.
Her name was Mitzi.
And she grew up to be old
and she died.
And I was very sad
when she died
because she and I
were good pals,
and when she died,
I cried.
-[woman sobbing]
-I didn't want to bury her
because I thought
I'd just pretend that
she was still alive.
[sobbing]
[door opens and closes]
[David] What's that smell?
[David climbing stairs]
-[David] Goddamn it!
-[crashes]
[Tess] I basically
had no life.
I started thinking maybe if
I made a little effort again,
something good might happen.
Hiya, Tess.
How's your mother?
She's good, I guess.
[woman]
So, uh, what can I get ya?
We need a pound of turkey
and some ham.
Okay.
Hey, Tess, wait up.
Hi. How are you?
I'm good.
I'm great, actually.
Would you give this to Elly?
I-- I mean your mom.
It's her monthly statement.
Your boyfriend
gave this to me.
-Is that my dress?
-No, take it. Really.
It's beautiful.
It's poetry, honestly.
It's amazing.
Poetry? What are you...?
[sighs]
-It's not what you think.
-Or it's exactly
what I think it is.
No. You-- honey, you--
Don't touch me!
Actually, I think it's great.
Really. I hope you guys
are just so happy together,
because I didn't think
you gave a shit about
anyone, to be honest.
Especially not
your own family.
-Let me see.
-No.
Oh! Okay, wait, no, I get it.
This is, like, your thing,
right?
It's your thing because,
yeah, well, we met David
in a grocery store.
And we met Justin
in a grocery store.
-So, what, is Justin
gonna be my new dad?
-Give me that! Stop it!
This has nothing
to do with Zoe!
Everything else does!
Stop!
Stop!
["Cut the Rope" playing]
It's too late
Too late to be awake
It goes on and on
With every breath I take
Grass will grow
And hearts will break
It goes on and on
With every breath I take
I'm running in circles
I'm losing it all
From something to nothing
Do the right thing
And let me fall
You're pushing me sideways
But you won't let go
And I know you're sorry
But do the right thing
Cut the rope
And let me fall
[Tess]
If I can be honest here,
what was really bugging me
was that I was hating you,
hating your guts
for what you had done
to me and our family.
That feeling
was eating me alive.
I needed it to stop.
It's too late
Too late
To make mistakes
All flowed
With all your mind games
Time is slow
To erase the pain
But it goes on and on
With every breath I take
I'm running in circles
I'm losing it all
From something to nothing
Do the right thing
And let me fall
[dog barking]
-[dumpster clanging]
-[man shouting angrily]
[dog barking]
And I know you're sorry
But do the right thing
Cut the rope
And let me fall
Cut the rope
And let me fall
[knocking on door]
[blues guitar playing]
What...? Oh.
Hey, Tessie girl.
What are you--
what are you doing here?
Uh...
Wait. Can you give me
one minute?
-One, just...
-Yeah.
-Yeah? Yeah?
-Yeah.
One second. Okay.
You gotta go.
My kid's here.
[woman] You got a kid?
[scoffs]
[man] I'll call you later.
-[woman]
You gotta be kidding me.
-[side door opens, closes]
[music stops]
What's going on?
Is your mom okay?
-Um...
-Did you come here for a visit?
Yeah, sort of.
Wait. When's your bedtime?
Can I come in?
-[man] Get out!
-Of course you can.
-[man 2] Yo, bro!
-[man 1] Get a real job!
[screen door rattles]
[dog barking in distance]
Show's over. Okay?
Go right in.
Got a new litter of puppies.
You know, just be careful.
They're gonna get
real excited.
[car engine starts]
[car speeding off]
[puppies whimpering]
Would you just pipe down?
-You remember Tinnie girl?
-[dog whines]
Badass, right?
Totally.
You remember your old room?
-I got it.
-Thanks.
Okay.
Tessie!
What do you think?
[laughs]
It's amazing.
Ah, the ladies!
Yeah, I found those
in a box under the bed.
You, uh...
you still play with them?
I just, you know,
I've been keeping it nice
for the day when you
might finally come over.
I just, uh...
I didn't think you'd, uh...
come over
on your own free will
or without calling,
or in the middle of the night.
[laughs]
You hungry?
I can order us pizza.
I'm really glad you're here.
-Yeah, me too.
-Okay.
[host] After the break,
we'll be talking
with Secretary of State
Colin Powell.
-[ringtone playing]
-Our guest is truly
an inspiration.
Colin Powell
is our country's first
African-American
National Security Advisor
and the first
African-American chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and the first African-American
Secretary of State.
-Before all of that...
-[landline ringing]
...he was a four-star
general with a long
and distinguished career.
After retiring
from the military,
he built one of America's
largest volunteer
organizations
that supports more than
ten million children...
[ringing continues]
-Yeah?
-[Elly] You are
in such big trouble!
-Mom, Mom, Mom!
-You are so grounded!
-Jeez, pull it together.
-What?
You run off
in the middle of the night
without telling me?
You had me so worried.
Tess, you are coming home
right now.
No, no, I'm not,
because you'd have to get off
the couch to make me, so...
Nick, are you home? Nick?
Open up the door!
-[banging continues]
-Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
-What are you doing?
-Elly, What are you doing?
Why is she here?!
Why, why?
-She just came here.
-Why?
'Cause she came here.
Calm down!
-Hey, let her go! Go get her.
-Listen!
No, you listen! Elly's
the custodial parent, not you.
Huh? Not you!
You are contractually obligated
to send Tess home!
Look, I know
youse been through hell,
and I have no idea
how you're coping.
-I really don't.
-Mm-hmm.
But I know that that kid
in there is obviously
hurting too.
Come on.
You're scaring her.
Oh, honey, I'm sorry.
We were just--
we were just talking.
Give Tess some space.
David, give yourself
some space.
For the weekend at least.
I'm just letting everything
fall apart, uh...
Nah, man.
The world just blew up.
And nobody could stop it.
[car door closes]
[car engine starts]
[car drives off]
Thanks.
Good night.
[rap music playing]
You need a name, huh?
[puppy snarling]
Something that's gonna help you
grow big and strong, yeah?
Oh!
[rap music grows louder]
Jesus Christ.
Hey, turn that shit off!
[rap music continues]
[commentator] Pirates are
wrapping up a good summer
and first month.
They had 13 wins
against eight losses
going into
today's double header...
-Dad, I did something wrong.
-Already? You just got here.
-Gave this little guy a name.
-[puppy snarls]
-Ow! Ugh!
-Let me guess.
-Chompers.
-Colin Powell.
You named that pup
after the Secretary of State?
[puppy yipping]
I know who he is.
-Can we keep him?
-You may keep him.
You gotta take care of him.
That means you gotta spend
a weekend here every now
and again, all right?
Deal.
Man. Takes a puppy
to get you to come here.
-[laughs]
-Look at that freakin' omelet.
-Yeah, that's a freakin' omelet.
-Yeah.
Better than that damn nebnose
I used to slave for.
You used to?
Here's the thing about
working for the man, Tessie.
They don't have a clue,
but they're in charge.
And you're stuck under them.
Right?
In this world,
you've gotta be self-starting.
You gotta take what you want,
be a go-getter.
[laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
-You workin' for Nick?
-Yeah.
Now and again.
[Nick] Hey, hurry up!
We ain't got all day!
[man] Yo, Nick!
[horn honks]
Won't Tinnie miss her puppies?
Nah, she'll be happy
to have them out of the house.
She's already starting
to get annoyed.
I thought they'd kill for them.
Sure. Don't mean she want them
hanging around forever.
[engine revving]
[rap music playing]
[revving continues]
[man] Hey-ey-ey! Huh?
Let me take a look at you!
You are finger-lickin' good!
[laughing]
All right, Trav.
Pretty sure he's talking to you.
Are you makin' fun of me?
Well, if I were, I'd start
with that God-awful shit
you crank out at night.
So, you don't even know me,
and you're already
trashing my music.
All right. Cool, cool, cool.
I'm Tess.
I'm Jimmy.
That little one friendly?
[puppy whimpering]
Hi.
So, Tess, you run
a construction firm?
That's your shitty truck
out there with your name on it?
What are you driving,
a Porsche?
I'm not what you would
call legal to drive.
Well, how come?
You're old enough.
Let's just say, the last time
I got pulled over,
if I'd have had my license,
they would have taken it
from me, yet again.
Well, see, if I ever
get my license,
I'm not gonna treat it
like some lame-ass boyfriend
I'm not really into.
You got me there.
Come on.
So, how old are you, Tess?
Seventeen.
Well, 16, but, um, 17 soon.
-August 26th.
-Is that why you wear
so much makeup?
You're real smooth,
you know that?
I didn't mean it like that.
I just meant you don't
really need it, that's all.
You want a beer?
What?
You heard me?
-[ball game on TV]
-[Nick griping]
[Nick] Come on, ump,
get a new pair of glasses.
-Come on!
-[puppy whimpering]
Hey.
[puppy whimpering]
Giles, you overpriced,
West Coast piece of--
Hit the goddamn ball!
Put it back, and tell him
to get the hell out of here.
[scoffs] What?
Dad, come on, he's harmless.
-[in singsong] Put it back.
-Dad!
I don't want you
hanging around with him.
-Why not?
-Because I said so.
What am I supposed
to do, hang out with you
all the time?
Finally! Finally
he gets a hit! Yes!
Uh, sure, yeah.
You want to sit down?
You can hang out with Tinnie
and I and watch the Buccos?
-No.
-You can invite
your friends over.
They're from
Murdoch Farms, Dad.
They wouldn't be
caught dead in Braddock.
-[game commentary on TV]
-Dad, what's the big deal?
[Nick] 'Cause your mom
would freak out.
[Tess]
I thought you were cool,
but you're the worst!
[Nick] Why are you yelling?
[distant siren wailing]
I heard all of that.
I don't know
what his problem is.
Me?
["Break the Rules" playing]
Are you trouble?
You think that you know me
You don't
I'm right where you want me
I'm not
I think you should
Know by now...
That's your room?
[puppy grumbles]
Cool.
See you around, Tess.
Kicking down the walls
In our way
Break, break
Break the rules
This is my story
This is my song
This is my song...
-Hello, Mama.
-Tessie! How you doin', hon?
-Hi, Momo.
-Precious.
All the day long
Thank you so much,
Sister Annie,
for encouraging us to worship
the God of our salvation.
Love is an action.
On 9/11, many men and women
rushed into places
that they otherwise
would not have gone into.
They gave selflessly
of themselves.
[voice echoing]
Will you stand?
We need to sing out.
They have given their lives
in sacrifice for the lives
of the people,
and therefore
we cannot forget!
-[Zoe giggling]
-[pastor's voice echoing]
[Zoe echoing] Tessie!
[somber music over voices]
[crying]
[Tess] Dad's driving me
to school in the morning.
So, what, I mean, is he
going to give you a ride home?
No, I'm going to be
hitchhiking back.
Please don't talk
about stuff like that.
Mom, it's fine.
[Elly] Well, you know
that I worry.
Em keeps asking me
when you're coming home, so...
when are you coming home?
I need some time, okay?
-I have to clear my head.
-I mean, how much time?
I mean,
when are you gonna be home?
I don't know, like a week?
-A month?
-A month!
A month?
[distant clatter]
Look, if-if...
if this is about...
Justin...
it was nothing.
It's none of my business.
He was just someone
who I could be with
and I could talk to
or laugh
for a couple minutes,
to-- to actually feel good.
Like I said,
it's not my business.
[sighs]
[school bell rings]
[kids chatting]
[teacher] Come on,
gather around.
-[kids screaming]
-Story time.
[tapping]
[teacher]
Guys, come on.
Hi.
[teacher] Thank you.
[peaceful music playing]
You doing okay?
Are you coming back home?
You left your notebook.
There's paper everywhere.
[Em sighs]
So, why did you come here?
Because I missed you.
And I, um...
I wanted you to know
that me leaving,
it had nothing to do
with you.
Do you want a ride home?
You learned to drive?
Yeah.
[rock music playing]
[Nick] I see you lookin'.
You like my truck?
I could fall out.
-[scoffs]
-[Tess] Actually, it's like
a ride at Kennywood.
Oh, yeah,
we're hooked together.
Mm-hmm.
You know, we could pick you up
every day after school.
Would you like that?
Hmm... Yeah?
[Em giggling]
Thank you.
So you don't forget
what she looks like.
Is Mom asleep?
You gonna be okay?
Same drill tomorrow?
Just don't tell Mom
or David.
Love you.
Love you.
[Nick] You comin', Red?
-Will you teach me
how to drive?
-Oh.
-[engine idling]
-Those are scary words.
It's right up there with, uh,
"Where do babies come from?"
Hmm.
[rap music playing]
What the hell are you doing?
Huh? I can't hear you.
It's too loud!
I said, what are you doing?
I don't know
what you're trying
to say to me right now. Bye!
[rap music continues]
Oh, my God,
just turn the music off!
[music stops]
Hey.
-Hi.
-I wanna show you something.
[metallic clatter]
No, absolutely not!
No, no!
Oh, my God!
I'm fine. Oh, my God!
Jimmy, are you serious?
Uh, you're insane.
This is insane.
Oh, my God, okay, be careful.
-Hey again.
-Hi.
[softly]
Uh, what are you doing?
If my dad
finds out that you're here,
we're both screwed.
Don't trip.
Um... I know that guy.
-Are you wearing makeup?
-Yeah.
-"Guyliner," so they call it.
-Hmm.
I figured, don't knock it
till I try it, so...
Yeah, yeah, it's not bad,
actually.
-[Jimmy] Thank you.
-Yeah, mm.
Your eyebrow's messy, though.
[Jimmy] Now it is.
Um, so... where did
you go to school?
Butler High, and I still go.
-But I've been taking
the scenic route.
-Oh, my God.
Okay. That's enough of that.
Yo, this is amazing.
Oh, my God.
So, um, the scenic route,
that includes being home
a month before school ends?
Funny story, my dad sent me
to live with my grandmama,
'cause he's an asshole.
She caught me smoking weed,
sent me back here.
'Cause apparently
I'm an asshole.
Speaking of which...
you wanna fire this up?
[scoffs]
Screw your lame-ass
gateway drugs.
[laughs]
Sounds to me like
you've never smoked before.
What's that?
It's my zero gravity pendant.
You know, zero gravity.
Spacemen and weightlessness.
Yeah, no, I know
what zero gravity is.
-I'm gonna graduate on time.
-Hmm.
I'm just asking,
why do you wear it?
'Cause it's sexy.
Oh. That's debatable.
All right.
So, suburban girl.
What are you doing
here in Braddock?
I'm looking at a punk ass.
You're obviously
from somewhere better, though.
So, what's up?
["Start Right Here" playing]
Smart boy.
Now, get the hell
out of my room.
Yes, ma'am.
Start right here
Start right now
[school bell rings]
Your greatest fear
[indistinct chatter]
-Your biggest doubt...
-Oh, my goodness.
-[tires squeal]
-Will try to break you down
[puppies whimpering]
Push you around
Shout and swear
Only to disappear
For a minute
But you start
Right here
Start right now
You! [laughing]
[Em giggles]
Start...
Good, good, good! Good.
Right here
[Tess] Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! I'm doing it!
[screams] Oh, wait,
that's too fast, too fast!
Start right now
-[indistinct chatter]
-Love you.
[Tess] I'll see you soon.
Bye.
-[indistinct chatter]
-[phone playing
"charge" fanfare]
-See you soon, okay?
-Just, bothering everybody.
[fanfare repeats]
[chuckles]
Weed Wacker Enterprises.
Tess.
Okay. Yeah.
Just give me 20, huh?
All right.
[phone beeps]
Uh, I gotta go see some people.
Hopefully about a job?
Yes.
You gonna be okay
getting home?
Yeah, sure.
Oh, you know what, I'll call
my teen prostitute pals.
Turn a few tricks on the way,
shoot some heroin.
Yeah, okay, or you could
do none of that.
-[dog whimpers]
-[Tess clicks tongue]
[Travis] Hey, girlie.
You're Nick's kid, ain't ya?
Yeah.
I seen you. Naked.
[chuckles]
You was little then.
-Mmmm.
-[dog barks]
You ain't so little no more.
[chuckles]
Um, we sold all the puppies.
I ain't here for a puppy.
Oh! Where you going,
scaredy-cat?
The money's for your daddy.
He ever let you, uh...
[clicks tongue]
...sample the product?
-[chuckles]
-[engine puttering]
[Nick] Travis!
What the hell!
-[Tess] Who was that?
-[Nick] Nobody.
Oh, really?
I wish nobody
dropped off money
for me every once in a while.
No idea
what you're talking about.
So, you lost your job
at the diner and now
you're selling drugs?
Drugs? So I sell
a little weed here and there
to some friends
for some personal use.
Nothing hard.
Soft, hard, call it
what you want,
Dad, it's still drugs
and it's still illegal!
In the war on drugs,
your old man is far
from the front lines.
I am just a conscious objector
doing my part.
-Conscientious.
-Exactly!
And in my world,
if a guy works hard all day
and he wants to get baked
before supper, so be it.
Speaking of, burgers tonight.
-What happened
to the food truck idea?
-It's still moving forward.
Okay, I just got to get
a little more money
to fix the truck.
Isn't that what
the construction business
was for?
That whole thing's
a racket, okay?
Kickbacks, favors,
no room for real growth.
But you know what?
It was a blessing,
because in that madness,
that's when it all
came to me.
I could be my own boss. Right?
I could make my own hours
driving around the neighborhood,
spreading happiness to everyone,
like an ice-cream man,
but with weed.
Ice-cream man?
Dad, what are you
talking about?
Listen to me,
it's amazing, right?
You know how
the ice-cream truck has, like...
ding-di-di-ding-ding
ding-ding, right,
and everybody goes nuts?
I play the Dead from my truck,
and all these stoners
come running out
of their house, right?
But, like, slow,
when I say running, right?
Like, slow, they're like,
"Yo, dude, dude, slow down!"
Like, "Slow down, dude!
I broke my flip-flop!"
And I'm telling you,
it's working
because by the end of the year,
I'm gonna have that truck
in tiptop shape.
-Well, aren't you scared?
-Of what?
-Getting caught.
-I'm more scared of being broke.
Well, you know, there's
this thing I heard about,
it's called a job.
It ain't that easy.
Dad, it is that easy--
you work, they pay.
Not what I'm worth.
All right?
Tess, I want to be able
to give you things,
to buy you stuff.
You've got a DVD, a satellite,
a big grill outside.
How much is in
my college account?
News flash:
I'm a shitty father.
No. No, Dad, you're not.
But in prison, yeah.
In prison, you'd be
a really shitty father.
-[TV in background]
-[distant train horn blows]
-[rap music playing]
-[Tess] Hey, ladder boy.
Incoming!
Not really my type,
but thank you.
[laughs] Get over here.
[pop music in background]
[distant train horn blowing]
All right, so hit it.
Get it in your lung...
and let it out real slow.
Yeah.
I feel nothing.
Nothing, you total stud?
Yeah, nothing, swear to God.
Hmm. Just wait.
[laughing]
-There should be a film...
-Mm-hmm.
...called Lord of the Fleas.
And it's just,
it's about a bunch of fleas
fighting for dominance
on top of a dog.
-What?
-[giggles]
I'd watch that.
Colin Powell would hate it.
[Tess giggles]
It's weird, I feel like...
I feel like I'm really smart.
Mm-hmm. That's the weed.
It, like, heightens
who you actually are.
-Oh.
-Yeah.
So you think I'm smart?
Girl, you laying
here with me.
That makes you a genius.
You want to do this
again sometime?
Can I kiss you good night?
Yes.
[soft music playing]
Good night, Tess DeNunzio.
Good night.
[music continues]
So, Em, how was
your last day at school?
Hey!
You know, if you're gonna
give me the silent treatment,
I think I deserve to know why.
This is the only way
I get to see you.
What do you mean?
You've been picking me up
every day,
but school's over now.
Hey.
-Dad, keep going.
-I can't just drive off
with his kid.
[Tess] He doesn't know
we've been picking up Em.
-[Nick] It's okay.
-[Em] Daddy!
-Tessie, just--
-Dad, I can't be here!
[David] What the hell
are you doing?
Come here.
I got you, baby,
I got you, huh?
I don't ever want her
in this thing again,
do you hear me?
The door is wide open!
I know, I've been meaning
to fix that damn thing, David.
-I got this.
-[David] What about you?
Thinking about coming home
anytime soon?
Calling your mother?
You could call her, you know.
-Now is not the best time.
-[David] Now is not
the best time?
David, David, David, she just
ain't ready to come back yet.
She's doing good,
she's doing really, really good.
-[engine starts]
-Oh!
Hey, Tess DeNunzio!
What are you doing?
Move over. Move over.
What is wrong with you?
You could have killed someone!
[Zoe giggling]
-Dad, just go.
-[David softly]
It's okay, it's okay.
Dad, go!
[Em sobbing]
When you try
that bullshit, you know what
that makes me look like?
Dad, just leave it!
I'm going to tell you
something, young lady.
If you plan on staying here,
no more free rides.
You're gonna start redding up
your room and you're gonna
get a freaking job!
[bangs wall]
-Tess!
-[door slams]
-[beer can opens]
-[Tess] Cheers to me.
I can get you a job.
What kind of job?
["Honey" playing]
What kind of job? [laughs]
[girl] So you hold
the cup under, push the button,
out it comes.
Even a princess like you
can do it.
-[announcer]
Welcome to Kennywood!
-Gates are open.
Here they come.
Quick, put this on.
Uh, do I have to wear this?
[laughs]
Sunshine
Everywhere
Movin'
Walkin' away
Sunshine
Happiness
Ain't nobody gonna
Steal my honey
Sunshine everywhere
-[screams]
-Shit! I'm sorry.
-Walkin' away
-I'm so sorry!
-Sunshine, happiness
-[phone ringing]
Ain't nobody gonna
Steal my honey
-Here you go, enjoy.
-Thank you.
You know me and Jimmy
go way back, right?
I've known him
practically all my life.
So don't break his heart.
I'm just hoping
he doesn't break mine.
Yo, yo!
Is it cool
if this one knocks off early?
I guess princess
gets what princess wants.
[Tess] Thanks.
Hey.
[mouthing words]
All right, you do that.
[Tess] Bye!
[riders screeching]
They're dropping 18 stories
at 75 miles an hour.
I can ride it for free
late at night.
Which means you can too.
[riders screeching]
Looks like falling
out of the sky.
[laughs] Exactly.
Yo, you gotta try it.
No! No, there's no way
I'm going up on that thing.
["Give/Take" playing]
[shots pinging]
[targets chuckling]
[horse whinnies]
[announcer]
Winner! Player two.
That's me? Oh, my God!
Yay!
One, Two, three, four
Don't you know
What I've been waiting for?
So you want, want, want
Want, want
And you want some more
And you want, want, want
Want, want...
Whoa! Here we go.
And you want, want, want
Want, want...
[Jimmy] This is
the Skycoaster, yo!
And you want, want, want
Want, want
Till you get sore
[laughing]
One, two, three, four
Oh, man!
-Yo.
-Huh?
You feeling naughty?
You know, my brain's
telling me to say no.
All right.
What? Oh, my God!
[laughs]
How did you find this place?
I was walking on the ledge,
being a punk ass.
I fell in.
Silver lining.
It's amazing.
[soft music playing]
These guys, they just
line up and look at her.
It's so juvenile.
So, does your hot new friend
have a hot mom?
Oh, my God, Dad, no.
Eww. Gross.
Besides, don't you
already have a girlfriend?
Blonde, half-naked,
snuck out of here one night
about a month ago?
-Hmm?
-[scoffs]
She doesn't mind you have
a photo of you and mom
on display, does she?
The light's usually off.
-Hmm!
-You asked.
-[Tess] Nope.
-[Nick chuckles]
[Tess groans]
[Tess laughs]
-Hey, supper, 15.
-All right.
-[game playing on TV]
-Oh, call your mom.
You promised.
And you promised
you'd get a job,
so, really, it's your turn.
Relax.
I'm working some angles.
[sighs] You're always
working some angles.
[upbeat music playing]
Hi.
That bad?
-You're gonna be real proud
of your old man.
-No way!
-You got it?
-Hold your horses,
hold your horses.
I still gotta pass muster
with the top chef,
and then they said
I gotta come back sometime
next week and cook with him
like a test.
You'll be amazing, come here.
-[laughing]
-I'm proud of you.
See, going legit
isn't that bad, huh?
-We'll see.
-[laughs]
So, how about we call
your mom and Em and David,
we invite them over for
Fourth of July barbecue, right?
I could practice
on all of them.
-It's a great idea.
-They wouldn't come.
No, no, no, it would be
real nice, and then we'll invite
your friends from school.
-You haven't seen them in weeks.
-They wouldn't come either.
Look, you invite
who you want to invite, okay?
-How about we go celebrate?
-Yeah.
-Primanti's?
-Like you even had to ask.
Primanti's!
[upbeat rock music playing]
Thank you.
-That's good? [laughs]
-Yeah.
Are you still in love
with mom?
[chuckles]
I knew I should have
put that photo away.
Then why don't you?
'Cause it's the happiest
I've ever been.
King of the world.
Prettiest girl in my arms.
And you on the way.
[rock music playing]
So you seeing anybody?
No, Ma,
I'm taking a little breather
with the ladies
while Tess is here.
Gotta get my act together,
focus on being a parent.
Yeah?
How is that working out?
[laughs] Oh, lordy,
she looks just like
her mother at that age.
Oh, hi, how are you?
Thanks for coming.
Headstrong like her too.
That Elly O'Connor
was a real piece of work.
She never appreciated
where she came from.
Couldn't get out of here
fast enough.
Hi, thanks for coming.
Are those new clothes?
This one seems headed
the opposite direction.
Keep your eye on things.
[Jimmy and Tess
chatting indistinctly]
-Hi.
-What's up, Nick?
I don't remember inviting you.
Oh, no, Dad.
Dad, it's cool, I invited him.
I told him to dress nice
and bring something.
It's apple.
Looks delicious,
thank you, Jimmy.
Bro, chill out.
She invited me, so...
what am I gonna do?
I couldn't say no.
It would have been suspicious.
Nah. You chill, Jimmy.
In fact, get out.
Whoa, Dad, be nice.
Jimmy.
Nice one, Dad.
[Tess]
Hey, Jimmy, stop!
Please slow down!
Oh, my--
Tess, this...
this is not gonna work.
Not as long as
your father thinks that
I'm not good enough for you.
I-- I admit it, this afternoon
didn't go according to plan,
but we just
have to keep trying.
For what? You got to go
back to the burbs,
I gotta go back
to my grandmama's crib,
so maybe we should
just call it right now.
Is that what you want?
I want you, Tess.
[fireworks bursting]
[Tess]
I knew full well I didn't
deserve to be so happy,
but in the moment, it seemed
convenient to just go with it.
July melted into August.
[rap music playing]
Jimmy!
Jim...
-[cracks]
-Shit.
[laughing] I'm sorry.
And for that,
you come over here.
Yeah, just take it
step by step.
There you go,
you're almost there.
-Take your time.
-Yeah, but you have to help me.
Hey, look,
you're doing this crab walk.
-I told you, face down, ass up.
-What am I supposed to do?
I don't want to look down!
-Come on, just take my hands.
-[distant train horn blowing]
-[Tess] Hmm-mm.
-[Jimmy] Oh, duck your head.
[chuckles] See? Easy, huh?
-I hate you.
-Yeah, whatever.
[rap music in distance]
Dude, damn!
You got sexy-ass pajamas
on right now.
-Thank you.
-Yeah.
Oh, my God,
your room is crazy.
-Thank you.
-Shut up.
Ehh, "You park
like an asshole."
Somebody left that
on my dad's car
like two years ago.
Cracked me up when I saw it.
Kind of like my window, Tess?
-I keep telling you
to get a phone.
-Mm.
All the good ones
are over here, though.
Hmm.
"Think of me when you're
visiting the big cat house.
Mom."
Oh. A field trip to the zoo?
[Jimmy] Mm-hmm.
That's really sweet.
Yeah, it was.
She, uh, died that day.
The day she wrote that.
I'm sorry.
That's life, right?
How did you-- how did you
know to keep the note?
She...
she had to go
to the hospital that morning.
We didn't know
what was wrong with her.
Um...
I was so...
I was so worried
that whole day,
I couldn't eat the lunch
that she had packed me.
My stomach was turning knots.
So, when I got home...
oh, shit...
I was hungry.
I was so damn hungry.
So I sat right here,
I ate lunch.
When I got to the bottom,
I found that.
But it's your turn, though.
You gotta tell me
some really sad shit now.
Zoe!
Tell me more about your mom.
[sighs] She gave me this.
[riders screaming]
-[man] Come on, what you doing?
-Excuse me, just hang on.
Employee coming through.
[riders screaming]
Take me up.
No. You can't cut the line.
-Seriously?
-Yeah.
Besides, you're not
even tall enough to ride.
Dick.
You really want to ride?
Yes.
-[Tess] No, no, no, no, no!
-[Jimmy reassuring Tess]
[Tess]
Take me down, take me down!
No, I can't do it.
-[Jimmy] Baby, we're good.
-No, I'm scared of heights,
please.
-Trust me, I got you.
-No, I don't care.
Just tell them
to take me down!
[Jimmy] Can't turn back now,
we're already a hundred
some odd feet up.
[Tess] No, I don't care,
please, just make them stop.
-Please!
-Stop like that?
-[groans]
-Open your eyes.
-Tess, open your eyes.
-No!
Come on, open your eyes!
Hmm-mm. [sighs]
That's what you wanted.
We here now.
-Open your eyes.
-No!
Look, you gotta look at this.
Open your eyes.
I love you.
Open your eyes.
What did you say?
What-- what did you say
just now?
-What did you say just now?
-No, what did you just say?
I said, "Open your eyes,"
you gotta see...
-lemonade stand and...
-No!
...there's Vicky right there.
[laughing] No, look,
I'm serious.
I said--
I said I love you.
I said I love you, Tess.
Oh, my God, I love you!
I love you too.
Then let's fly.
[screaming]
-[laughing] Oh, my God!
-[Jimmy] Wheeee!
-[Tess] Whoo!
-[Jimmy] Yeah!
[Tess and Jimmy
screaming and laughing]
Hey, Tessie.
Your mom's on the phone.
[rap music playing]
Tess DeNunzio!
Outside now!
You stay away from him,
you hear me?
But I'm almost 17.
I'm not a little girl anymore.
-Yeah, well, it's my house
so it's my rules.
-My body, my rules.
What? Gee, your bod-- No!
No, I'm putting my foot down.
If I catch you two
together again,
I'm going to rip that stupid
piercing out of his face
and puncture
his entire body with it.
Oh, my God, I hate you!
Yeah? Good.
Good.
[chuckles]
Good.
I hated my parents too.
[dog whines]
Oh, shit.
Your mom's still
on the phone.
[Elly] Tess, do I not get
to see you on your birthday?
I'm not thinking
that far ahead, Mom. Okay?
No, it's not okay,
because you're there...
[sniffles] and I'm here,
and we're supposed
to be together.
-Mom.
-You're everything to me,
the one thing
I couldn't lose,
and now I'm--
and now I'm losing you.
I can't lose you both.
I can't.
But, Mom, Mom,
you're not losing me.
Things have been...
okay.
I got a summer job and...
Dad's been great, actually.
[scoffs]
Your dad's been great?
Okay, great,
well, I always knew
that you would run off
to him one day,
but I did not know that
it would be for stability.
So have fun. Oh.
[distant train passing]
[sighs]
[knock on door]
Hey, Tessie girl.
Um...
I never done this before.
I don't know what
I'm doing.
I realized, uh...
I ain't never asked you
what's going on.
I know you had to clear out
of there for a while.
You want to talk about it?
'Cause you can, you know.
Anytime with me.
Your mom and me...
we, uh...
we managed
to do one thing right.
[riders screaming]
[upbeat music playing]
Tess! Oh, my God!
Where have you been?
We haven't seen you in weeks.
-Yeah, well, um...
-Hey, a little help over here.
Oh. Do you work here?
-Yeah, I got a summer job.
-Eww.
Actually, it's really fun.
Get to go on rides for free
and eat cotton candy.
Besides, my dad,
he insisted that I get a job
while I'm staying with him.
You're living in Braddock?
Hey, stop babbling
and get your ass over here.
Listen, guys,
it was really nice to see you.
Um, let's catch up soon.
Sure. And we can gossip about
what a bitch your coworker is.
[Tess scoffs]
Ashley, your family
may have a lot of money,
but it doesn't mean
you have to be such a snob.
Here.
Thanks, princess.
Thanks, Vicky,
see you tomorrow.
Dad.
What-- what happened?
Why aren't you at
the restaurant?
I couldn't do it.
Tess, you wouldn't understand.
Try me.
I was going.
I was, uh, all dressed
and ready,
and...
I caught sight of myself
in the mirror,
I realized that...
I'm not the guy.
Not the guy?
Dad, what guy?
I was the guy
a million years ago.
But now I just don't know
what to do anymore.
I don't know how
to keep a job.
I don't know how
to support my family.
I don't know how to make
something more of my life.
My stupid friggin' life.
[telephone ringing]
["Sign" playing]
Hello?
[David] Tess, your...
your mom is at the hospital.
She's okay.
Gone, gone...
Elly Gladstone?
I'm gone in the sky
In the ways of the wind
No, it's nothing
That I ever hold
But it keeps me
Going on
Give me just a sign
Heaven make it mine
God I want to find
Give me just a sign
Give me
Just a sign
Heaven make it mine
God I want to find
Give me just a sign
-[Tess groans]
-[dog barking]
Yo, yo, Tess, Tess.
Yo, yo, chill, chill, chill.
It's me.
-What are you doing?
-Nothing.
What you mean, nothing?
You was just driving the truck.
My mother
tried to kill herself.
She tried, like...
she gonna be okay?
Yes, yes, but you have no idea,
so don't pretend that you do.
What you mean, I don't know?
My mom died.
-Died.
-Yeah.
Of a disease.
It's not the same thing.
What do you mean,
it's not the same thing?
What was in the lunchbox
on that last day?
What did she pack for you?
What difference
does it make?!
The last thing your mother
ever did was take care of you!
My mother doesn't give
a shit about me.
She'd rather be dead
than be a mother.
So, no, no,
you don't understand.
Give me just a sign
Damn it!
Heaven make it mine
God I want to find
Give me just a sign
[Vicky]
Don't break on me now!
[Jimmy] Yo, Vicky, what's up?
Are you two ever
gonna make up?
Shut up.
Jesus, you've been
a bitch for, like, weeks.
You know, maybe you could ask
if anything was wrong.
Okay, sorry.
Is there anything wrong?
It's none of your business.
[ringtone playing]
-Hello?
-[Nick] Hey, baby.
-Are you home?
-Yeah, I was sleeping.
I had some, uh...
the-the truck acting up again.
-I'm not sure
exactly, um, when...
-Dad?
Are you okay?
Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Um...
Dad, where are you?
[man on intercom]
Dr. Justin to the booking area.
-Ah, shit.
-[man] Where's my call?
I got busted.
I got no freakin' idea
when I'm getting out of here.
I don't know
what I'm gonna do.
-I can't believe you.
-Listen to me, Tessie...
[Jimmy] Hey, wish her
a happy birthday.
[Nick] Ah, shit.
That's right, it's your
birthday.
Was that Jimmy?
He was with you?
Great.
Surprise party, thank you.
[sighs]
[phone ringing]
Tess?
David.
I need your help.
What time is it?
What's going on?
You all right?
No, no, I'm fine,
this isn't about me.
I just...
I need you to promise
not to tell Mom, okay?
What's going on, Tess?
It's about my dad.
-[knock on door]
-[Elly] Happy birthday.
Mom?
I shouldn't have-- I shouldn't
have surprised you like this.
I'm sorry, I was--
I was going to call,
but then, um...
I was afraid that you
wouldn't want me to come, so...
I would have wanted
you to come.
Where is your dad?
Um...
he-- he's at the gym.
Tess, oh, my God.
Tessie, these are beautiful.
I'm so happy
you're drawing again.
Oh, uh, David told me
to tell you that it's handled.
Um, he said that you
would know what that means.
[sighs]
Oh, um...
Thanks.
It's obviously not a car.
[laughs]
These are really cute.
Thank you.
I love that color on you.
Your dad got me that.
I thought that you
might like it.
It's great, thank you.
-Can I ask you a question?
-Yeah.
Why did you marry Dad?
You guys are--
you're so different.
Well, I was pregnant with you,
so that might have been
part of it.
I don't know, um...
I think I was also trying
to get away from my parents.
You know,
I remember the exact moment
that I knew
that I wanted to marry him.
I was at a football game,
and he had just scored
the winning touchdown.
And after the game,
I saw him
and two of his friends
walking across the field,
and so I started
down the bleachers,
and then all of a sudden,
I saw all these guys,
I don't know, like ten of them
from the other school,
heading towards Nick
and his two buddies,
and I thought, "Oh, God,
something bad's gonna happen."
I started calling out
and Nick turns
and one of the other guys
called out to him and he said,
"You ain't so tough now,
Nicky DeNunzio."
And your dad just
turned and,
without blinking an eye,
he said,
"You ain't got enough guys."
[laughs]
I fell in love on the spot.
I know, that was
kind of stupid.
No, it's, um...
it's kind of romantic.
Well, um...
thank you.
I-- I love the presents.
Yeah. I'm so happy.
Okay.
Tess, um, I know
that this is not the sort
of thing that people talk about,
-but I need to explain
to you what happened.
-No, Mom.
-You don't have to explain.
That's fine.
-Stop, listen to me.
You need to know that
I did not try to kill myself.
After what happened,
I felt like...
the life
got knocked out of me.
And I couldn't sleep.
And so, I, um, I started
taking sleeping pills.
You know,
but no matter how many--
no matter how many I took,
it just didn't work.
-Mom, please, just stop, okay?
-You have to believe me.
You have to believe me
because I would never,
ever leave you.
Never.
[train passing]
Thank you.
[soft music playing]
[engine grinding]
[wheels squeaking]
[dog whimpers]
[door slams]
[knock on door]
Can I, uh,
can I come in real quick?
Look, I'm so sorry
that I lied to you.
I just didn't know
when the right time
or place was to tell you.
But I brought you
a birthday gift if you want it.
Happy birthday, Tess.
"This bag contains
all the makeup
Tess DeNunzio will ever need
for the rest of her life."
Yeah, very funny.
That's not supposed
to be a joke.
[soft music playing]
Hey, hey, hey.
Tess, what's wrong?
What's going on, Tess?
Talk to me.
Tess.
Hey.
[sobbing]
[screams]
I had a baby sister.
Her name was Zoe.
Wait! Hey, Wait up!
[Tess]
Mom and David both knew,
but they wouldn't say.
Even Em knew the truth.
That I was supposed
to be watching you.
I'm going to go grab
a couple things and then
I'll drive you to school.
Hey, Tess, tell your mom
a plane just hit
the Twin Towers.
Zoe, come on,
let's go inside.
-Come find me.
-Just stay there, okay?
[newscaster]
What we're seeing is a gaping
hole in one of the towers
at the World Trade Center...
Where's your sister?
-Um, she's outside.
-Go get her.
-[Zoe] My ball!
-Zoe!
[tires squeal]
[gasps] No! Mom! Mom!
[indistinct chatter]
While we waited to hear
if you were going to be okay,
I kept playing it back
over and over in my head.
What if I hadn't taken
so much time on my makeup?
Then I wouldn't
have missed the bus.
And if the weather
hadn't been so nice,
I wouldn't have been
out front playing with you.
Or what if Mrs. Martin
hadn't walked by
at that exact moment?
I couldn't stop
thinking about it,
because if someone, anyone
had just done one thing
differently that day,
the whole world
might be different!
Like, what if I had
just grabbed you
and taken you inside?
You would still be here.
Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone.
No!
Why didn't I
take you inside?
I'm your big sister.
I was supposed
to protect you.
-[sobbing]
-It's not your fault, Tess.
It's not your fault.
It was a terrible,
awful accident.
But that's all it was, Tess.
It was just an accident.
Okay?
You sure you don't want
your pendant?
Nah. You hang onto it.
Plus, I'm coming home
for Thanksgiving, so...
Are you gonna be okay?
Yeah.
Bye.
[truck engine puttering]
[Tess] I made a deal
with David that I'd come home
if he got my dad
and Jimmy out of jail.
I didn't know exactly when,
but surprisingly
someone else did.
You've got that same look
of disappointment as your mom.
And that's fair.
You're gonna figure
things out, okay?
Tessie, I am so sorry.
Worst day of my life
was when your mom drove away.
This is the second.
Come on.
[Tess] I don't
want this to come out
the wrong way, but...
it was easier to forget
about you at my dad's,
especially once Jimmy and I
started hanging out together.
Just like Mom,
I needed a little distance
to feel something
that wasn't sadness
or anger.
[soft music playing]
[engine stops]
[sobbing]
At night,
you slept with a TV remote
instead of a teddy bear.
You called potatoes
"motatoes."
And you wouldn't
ever go anywhere
without your bunny ears.
Your were precocious
and funny and loud
and sweet,
and I will never,
ever forget you.
Zoe, your name...
it means life.
-It's okay.
-[Tess sobbing]
I'll drop your stuff
by tomorrow, all right?
My, um...
my yellow notebook, it's,
um, it's on my nightstand.
And...
there's a-- there's
a picture of Mom and Zoe
and it's tucked
under my pillow.
Promise me
you won't forget that, okay?
I promise.
What about Colin Powell?
Do you mind if he
stays at your place?
At least for a little while.
Seems like staying at
my place for a little while
is becoming a thing.
[Tess laughs]
-All right.
All right, that's enough.
-[Tess laughs]
Tessie girl.
Thank you.
-[music continues]
-[truck door shuts]
[laughs]
Tess!
Hi! Come here!
Baby, come here!
I missed you!
[Em laughs]
Are you staying?
Yeah. Yeah, I am.
[Tess] I'm not saying
everything is okay,
'cause it's not,
but like the whole country,
our story is far from over.
A story about
before and after.
Before you were born
and after.
Before you left us
far too soon
-and after.
-[Em giggles]
[truck engine starts]
Before I ran away
to my dad's house...
[Em giggling]
...and after.
Before I was ready
to get better
and after.
Love always,
Tess.
["Braddock House" playing]
It seems like yesterday
That I saw you
For the first time
Mm-hmm
Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm
Out of body
I'm seeing red
Then you
What was I to do?
Ahh-ahh-ahh
Runnin' through my head
Like crosstown traffic
And jammed up
Like downtown to Braddock
And after we met
Oh, I knew
I would build a bridge
-From my world to you
-Yeah
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
It feels like yesterday
Oh, that I saw you
For the last time
Uh-huh-huh-huh
-In my body
-In my body...
I pray that you know-oh
How deeply
You are loved here
Ah-ah-ah-ah
You live forever
In our hearts
Like a roadmap
What do you see
On your way back
That is no regular
Trip home
And only you, my love
Can see it through
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
[music continues playing]
Yeah
On this trapeze
We are parallel
To a panorama view of ours
Shapemaker
It's so raw
What you can do
Ah-ah-oh
You drew the veil
Of fire
And ash rains
From the sky
Oh-oh-oh-oh
From so high, so high
So high we fall
We fall in love
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
[instrumental music playing]
[]
[female DJ] Currently
it's 72 right now, with
those winds on the calm side.
It's just a glorious
Tuesday morning here
in Pittsburgh.
We can see around us...
[female narrator] Dear Zoe.
[male DJ] Reports of a tie-up
on I-79 north of the city...
[narrator] I have memories
of you from before
you were even born.
I just remember us
sitting around the kitchen,
arguing about
what your name should be...
[panting]
...and how that somehow
made you a real person
before I even saw you face.
[tires screech]
Mom told us Zoe means life,
that this name would
protect you...
[woman] Zoe!
but nothing could have
protected you that day,
except me, and I didn't.
-I was just an ordinary girl
with ordinary problems.
-Mom!
Divorced parents,
annoying stepdad,
lousy grades.
Kind of lousy friends.
But you,
you were extraordinary,
and I loved being
your big sister.
I'd get pissed if someone
said you were only
my half-sister,
because you were never
half of anything.
[reporter 1] ...as the towers
of the World Trade Center...
[narrator] But then you
left us
on the worst day
imaginable.
[reporter 2] It's right
on top of us right now.
We gotta get out of the way!
[narrator] On the news,
they've been saying all year
that history
will forever be divided
between what happened
before 9/11 and after.
But that erases your death,
because you died on that day
but not because of that day.
You died because of me.
[woman]
Along the way, you might
experience anxiety,
depression,
anger, even guilt.
Whenever you feel the urge,
write down in these notebooks
anything you want
to say or to remember.
Why would we want
to remember any of this?
-[child] Tessie!
-[man] Tess, get back here!
Hey, sweetie, it's okay.
Come here.
-That was rude.
-[car alarm beeps]
I'm done talking, and I won't
write in any stupid notebook.
So, you guys,
you can enjoy your trip
down "recovery road,"
but I'm not going.
You gonna tell her that?
We need to do it
to get better.
Come on, sweetie.
[scoffs]
[Zoe laughing]
[Tess] Guilt and grief
are a powerful combination.
They make you question things
you used to do before.
[man] Less time on makeup,
more time on breakfast.
Come on!
Like, how I'd get
into disturbingly
in-depth discussions with Em
about how you'd always
stink up the bathroom.
Ohhh!
And how I'd pick
my daily fight with David
about wanting
to go to art school
instead of college.
And my weekly fight with Mom
about not wanting to spend
time over at my dad's.
Or how I used to gossip
about boys with my friends
on the bus
and suffer through long,
boring days at school...
when I'd much rather
have just stayed home
and played with you all day.
Oh, come here!
Ohh! Mmm!
Then we could have all gone
to the market...
Oh, you're gonna
have a funnel cake.
...where I could have
flirted with cute Justin.
And you could have flirted
with cute Justin.
And now to bag
this sack of potatoes!
Motatoes!
Maybe if I did
something different,
things would be different.
Or maybe not.
I honestly
just don't know anymore.
Because at the end
of every goddamn day,
reality set in...
[kids laughing]
...and I was just left
with before...
and after.
October.
November.
December.
Words that meant
the same thing--
after.
[Em humming]
Hey, Em.
What are you doing in here?
I like the wallpaper.
Can I see?
What is it?
Santa lying face down, crying.
Em needs Christmas.
We don't have
a tree or anything.
Seriously?
I'm trying, Tess.
Try harder.
["Losing You" playing]
I've been sitting here
Never been so clear
Telling myself it's true
Still I need all of you
All of you
Don't you be nave
Go on feeling things
With your eyes
Closed tight
Re-living better nights
Better nights...
[Tess]
Christmas came and went.
Every moment frozen
Still...
Nothing changed.
Every moment
Safe for you
And I
Then the bitter truth
Came...
[Tess]
January, February,
March...
I was...
After.
...losing you
-[laughing]
-[cans clatter]
Oh, my God.
Is your mom okay?
I don't want to talk
about it, okay?
Let's just go.
Yeah, I
Was losing you
-[door opens]
-[Mr. Rogers] I had a dog
that I loved very much.
Her name was Mitzi.
And she grew up to be old
and she died.
And I was very sad
when she died
because she and I
were good pals,
and when she died,
I cried.
-[woman sobbing]
-I didn't want to bury her
because I thought
I'd just pretend that
she was still alive.
[sobbing]
[door opens and closes]
[David] What's that smell?
[David climbing stairs]
-[David] Goddamn it!
-[crashes]
[Tess] I basically
had no life.
I started thinking maybe if
I made a little effort again,
something good might happen.
Hiya, Tess.
How's your mother?
She's good, I guess.
[woman]
So, uh, what can I get ya?
We need a pound of turkey
and some ham.
Okay.
Hey, Tess, wait up.
Hi. How are you?
I'm good.
I'm great, actually.
Would you give this to Elly?
I-- I mean your mom.
It's her monthly statement.
Your boyfriend
gave this to me.
-Is that my dress?
-No, take it. Really.
It's beautiful.
It's poetry, honestly.
It's amazing.
Poetry? What are you...?
[sighs]
-It's not what you think.
-Or it's exactly
what I think it is.
No. You-- honey, you--
Don't touch me!
Actually, I think it's great.
Really. I hope you guys
are just so happy together,
because I didn't think
you gave a shit about
anyone, to be honest.
Especially not
your own family.
-Let me see.
-No.
Oh! Okay, wait, no, I get it.
This is, like, your thing,
right?
It's your thing because,
yeah, well, we met David
in a grocery store.
And we met Justin
in a grocery store.
-So, what, is Justin
gonna be my new dad?
-Give me that! Stop it!
This has nothing
to do with Zoe!
Everything else does!
Stop!
Stop!
["Cut the Rope" playing]
It's too late
Too late to be awake
It goes on and on
With every breath I take
Grass will grow
And hearts will break
It goes on and on
With every breath I take
I'm running in circles
I'm losing it all
From something to nothing
Do the right thing
And let me fall
You're pushing me sideways
But you won't let go
And I know you're sorry
But do the right thing
Cut the rope
And let me fall
[Tess]
If I can be honest here,
what was really bugging me
was that I was hating you,
hating your guts
for what you had done
to me and our family.
That feeling
was eating me alive.
I needed it to stop.
It's too late
Too late
To make mistakes
All flowed
With all your mind games
Time is slow
To erase the pain
But it goes on and on
With every breath I take
I'm running in circles
I'm losing it all
From something to nothing
Do the right thing
And let me fall
[dog barking]
-[dumpster clanging]
-[man shouting angrily]
[dog barking]
And I know you're sorry
But do the right thing
Cut the rope
And let me fall
Cut the rope
And let me fall
[knocking on door]
[blues guitar playing]
What...? Oh.
Hey, Tessie girl.
What are you--
what are you doing here?
Uh...
Wait. Can you give me
one minute?
-One, just...
-Yeah.
-Yeah? Yeah?
-Yeah.
One second. Okay.
You gotta go.
My kid's here.
[woman] You got a kid?
[scoffs]
[man] I'll call you later.
-[woman]
You gotta be kidding me.
-[side door opens, closes]
[music stops]
What's going on?
Is your mom okay?
-Um...
-Did you come here for a visit?
Yeah, sort of.
Wait. When's your bedtime?
Can I come in?
-[man] Get out!
-Of course you can.
-[man 2] Yo, bro!
-[man 1] Get a real job!
[screen door rattles]
[dog barking in distance]
Show's over. Okay?
Go right in.
Got a new litter of puppies.
You know, just be careful.
They're gonna get
real excited.
[car engine starts]
[car speeding off]
[puppies whimpering]
Would you just pipe down?
-You remember Tinnie girl?
-[dog whines]
Badass, right?
Totally.
You remember your old room?
-I got it.
-Thanks.
Okay.
Tessie!
What do you think?
[laughs]
It's amazing.
Ah, the ladies!
Yeah, I found those
in a box under the bed.
You, uh...
you still play with them?
I just, you know,
I've been keeping it nice
for the day when you
might finally come over.
I just, uh...
I didn't think you'd, uh...
come over
on your own free will
or without calling,
or in the middle of the night.
[laughs]
You hungry?
I can order us pizza.
I'm really glad you're here.
-Yeah, me too.
-Okay.
[host] After the break,
we'll be talking
with Secretary of State
Colin Powell.
-[ringtone playing]
-Our guest is truly
an inspiration.
Colin Powell
is our country's first
African-American
National Security Advisor
and the first
African-American chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
and the first African-American
Secretary of State.
-Before all of that...
-[landline ringing]
...he was a four-star
general with a long
and distinguished career.
After retiring
from the military,
he built one of America's
largest volunteer
organizations
that supports more than
ten million children...
[ringing continues]
-Yeah?
-[Elly] You are
in such big trouble!
-Mom, Mom, Mom!
-You are so grounded!
-Jeez, pull it together.
-What?
You run off
in the middle of the night
without telling me?
You had me so worried.
Tess, you are coming home
right now.
No, no, I'm not,
because you'd have to get off
the couch to make me, so...
Nick, are you home? Nick?
Open up the door!
-[banging continues]
-Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
-What are you doing?
-Elly, What are you doing?
Why is she here?!
Why, why?
-She just came here.
-Why?
'Cause she came here.
Calm down!
-Hey, let her go! Go get her.
-Listen!
No, you listen! Elly's
the custodial parent, not you.
Huh? Not you!
You are contractually obligated
to send Tess home!
Look, I know
youse been through hell,
and I have no idea
how you're coping.
-I really don't.
-Mm-hmm.
But I know that that kid
in there is obviously
hurting too.
Come on.
You're scaring her.
Oh, honey, I'm sorry.
We were just--
we were just talking.
Give Tess some space.
David, give yourself
some space.
For the weekend at least.
I'm just letting everything
fall apart, uh...
Nah, man.
The world just blew up.
And nobody could stop it.
[car door closes]
[car engine starts]
[car drives off]
Thanks.
Good night.
[rap music playing]
You need a name, huh?
[puppy snarling]
Something that's gonna help you
grow big and strong, yeah?
Oh!
[rap music grows louder]
Jesus Christ.
Hey, turn that shit off!
[rap music continues]
[commentator] Pirates are
wrapping up a good summer
and first month.
They had 13 wins
against eight losses
going into
today's double header...
-Dad, I did something wrong.
-Already? You just got here.
-Gave this little guy a name.
-[puppy snarls]
-Ow! Ugh!
-Let me guess.
-Chompers.
-Colin Powell.
You named that pup
after the Secretary of State?
[puppy yipping]
I know who he is.
-Can we keep him?
-You may keep him.
You gotta take care of him.
That means you gotta spend
a weekend here every now
and again, all right?
Deal.
Man. Takes a puppy
to get you to come here.
-[laughs]
-Look at that freakin' omelet.
-Yeah, that's a freakin' omelet.
-Yeah.
Better than that damn nebnose
I used to slave for.
You used to?
Here's the thing about
working for the man, Tessie.
They don't have a clue,
but they're in charge.
And you're stuck under them.
Right?
In this world,
you've gotta be self-starting.
You gotta take what you want,
be a go-getter.
[laughs]
[indistinct chatter]
-You workin' for Nick?
-Yeah.
Now and again.
[Nick] Hey, hurry up!
We ain't got all day!
[man] Yo, Nick!
[horn honks]
Won't Tinnie miss her puppies?
Nah, she'll be happy
to have them out of the house.
She's already starting
to get annoyed.
I thought they'd kill for them.
Sure. Don't mean she want them
hanging around forever.
[engine revving]
[rap music playing]
[revving continues]
[man] Hey-ey-ey! Huh?
Let me take a look at you!
You are finger-lickin' good!
[laughing]
All right, Trav.
Pretty sure he's talking to you.
Are you makin' fun of me?
Well, if I were, I'd start
with that God-awful shit
you crank out at night.
So, you don't even know me,
and you're already
trashing my music.
All right. Cool, cool, cool.
I'm Tess.
I'm Jimmy.
That little one friendly?
[puppy whimpering]
Hi.
So, Tess, you run
a construction firm?
That's your shitty truck
out there with your name on it?
What are you driving,
a Porsche?
I'm not what you would
call legal to drive.
Well, how come?
You're old enough.
Let's just say, the last time
I got pulled over,
if I'd have had my license,
they would have taken it
from me, yet again.
Well, see, if I ever
get my license,
I'm not gonna treat it
like some lame-ass boyfriend
I'm not really into.
You got me there.
Come on.
So, how old are you, Tess?
Seventeen.
Well, 16, but, um, 17 soon.
-August 26th.
-Is that why you wear
so much makeup?
You're real smooth,
you know that?
I didn't mean it like that.
I just meant you don't
really need it, that's all.
You want a beer?
What?
You heard me?
-[ball game on TV]
-[Nick griping]
[Nick] Come on, ump,
get a new pair of glasses.
-Come on!
-[puppy whimpering]
Hey.
[puppy whimpering]
Giles, you overpriced,
West Coast piece of--
Hit the goddamn ball!
Put it back, and tell him
to get the hell out of here.
[scoffs] What?
Dad, come on, he's harmless.
-[in singsong] Put it back.
-Dad!
I don't want you
hanging around with him.
-Why not?
-Because I said so.
What am I supposed
to do, hang out with you
all the time?
Finally! Finally
he gets a hit! Yes!
Uh, sure, yeah.
You want to sit down?
You can hang out with Tinnie
and I and watch the Buccos?
-No.
-You can invite
your friends over.
They're from
Murdoch Farms, Dad.
They wouldn't be
caught dead in Braddock.
-[game commentary on TV]
-Dad, what's the big deal?
[Nick] 'Cause your mom
would freak out.
[Tess]
I thought you were cool,
but you're the worst!
[Nick] Why are you yelling?
[distant siren wailing]
I heard all of that.
I don't know
what his problem is.
Me?
["Break the Rules" playing]
Are you trouble?
You think that you know me
You don't
I'm right where you want me
I'm not
I think you should
Know by now...
That's your room?
[puppy grumbles]
Cool.
See you around, Tess.
Kicking down the walls
In our way
Break, break
Break the rules
This is my story
This is my song
This is my song...
-Hello, Mama.
-Tessie! How you doin', hon?
-Hi, Momo.
-Precious.
All the day long
Thank you so much,
Sister Annie,
for encouraging us to worship
the God of our salvation.
Love is an action.
On 9/11, many men and women
rushed into places
that they otherwise
would not have gone into.
They gave selflessly
of themselves.
[voice echoing]
Will you stand?
We need to sing out.
They have given their lives
in sacrifice for the lives
of the people,
and therefore
we cannot forget!
-[Zoe giggling]
-[pastor's voice echoing]
[Zoe echoing] Tessie!
[somber music over voices]
[crying]
[Tess] Dad's driving me
to school in the morning.
So, what, I mean, is he
going to give you a ride home?
No, I'm going to be
hitchhiking back.
Please don't talk
about stuff like that.
Mom, it's fine.
[Elly] Well, you know
that I worry.
Em keeps asking me
when you're coming home, so...
when are you coming home?
I need some time, okay?
-I have to clear my head.
-I mean, how much time?
I mean,
when are you gonna be home?
I don't know, like a week?
-A month?
-A month!
A month?
[distant clatter]
Look, if-if...
if this is about...
Justin...
it was nothing.
It's none of my business.
He was just someone
who I could be with
and I could talk to
or laugh
for a couple minutes,
to-- to actually feel good.
Like I said,
it's not my business.
[sighs]
[school bell rings]
[kids chatting]
[teacher] Come on,
gather around.
-[kids screaming]
-Story time.
[tapping]
[teacher]
Guys, come on.
Hi.
[teacher] Thank you.
[peaceful music playing]
You doing okay?
Are you coming back home?
You left your notebook.
There's paper everywhere.
[Em sighs]
So, why did you come here?
Because I missed you.
And I, um...
I wanted you to know
that me leaving,
it had nothing to do
with you.
Do you want a ride home?
You learned to drive?
Yeah.
[rock music playing]
[Nick] I see you lookin'.
You like my truck?
I could fall out.
-[scoffs]
-[Tess] Actually, it's like
a ride at Kennywood.
Oh, yeah,
we're hooked together.
Mm-hmm.
You know, we could pick you up
every day after school.
Would you like that?
Hmm... Yeah?
[Em giggling]
Thank you.
So you don't forget
what she looks like.
Is Mom asleep?
You gonna be okay?
Same drill tomorrow?
Just don't tell Mom
or David.
Love you.
Love you.
[Nick] You comin', Red?
-Will you teach me
how to drive?
-Oh.
-[engine idling]
-Those are scary words.
It's right up there with, uh,
"Where do babies come from?"
Hmm.
[rap music playing]
What the hell are you doing?
Huh? I can't hear you.
It's too loud!
I said, what are you doing?
I don't know
what you're trying
to say to me right now. Bye!
[rap music continues]
Oh, my God,
just turn the music off!
[music stops]
Hey.
-Hi.
-I wanna show you something.
[metallic clatter]
No, absolutely not!
No, no!
Oh, my God!
I'm fine. Oh, my God!
Jimmy, are you serious?
Uh, you're insane.
This is insane.
Oh, my God, okay, be careful.
-Hey again.
-Hi.
[softly]
Uh, what are you doing?
If my dad
finds out that you're here,
we're both screwed.
Don't trip.
Um... I know that guy.
-Are you wearing makeup?
-Yeah.
-"Guyliner," so they call it.
-Hmm.
I figured, don't knock it
till I try it, so...
Yeah, yeah, it's not bad,
actually.
-[Jimmy] Thank you.
-Yeah, mm.
Your eyebrow's messy, though.
[Jimmy] Now it is.
Um, so... where did
you go to school?
Butler High, and I still go.
-But I've been taking
the scenic route.
-Oh, my God.
Okay. That's enough of that.
Yo, this is amazing.
Oh, my God.
So, um, the scenic route,
that includes being home
a month before school ends?
Funny story, my dad sent me
to live with my grandmama,
'cause he's an asshole.
She caught me smoking weed,
sent me back here.
'Cause apparently
I'm an asshole.
Speaking of which...
you wanna fire this up?
[scoffs]
Screw your lame-ass
gateway drugs.
[laughs]
Sounds to me like
you've never smoked before.
What's that?
It's my zero gravity pendant.
You know, zero gravity.
Spacemen and weightlessness.
Yeah, no, I know
what zero gravity is.
-I'm gonna graduate on time.
-Hmm.
I'm just asking,
why do you wear it?
'Cause it's sexy.
Oh. That's debatable.
All right.
So, suburban girl.
What are you doing
here in Braddock?
I'm looking at a punk ass.
You're obviously
from somewhere better, though.
So, what's up?
["Start Right Here" playing]
Smart boy.
Now, get the hell
out of my room.
Yes, ma'am.
Start right here
Start right now
[school bell rings]
Your greatest fear
[indistinct chatter]
-Your biggest doubt...
-Oh, my goodness.
-[tires squeal]
-Will try to break you down
[puppies whimpering]
Push you around
Shout and swear
Only to disappear
For a minute
But you start
Right here
Start right now
You! [laughing]
[Em giggles]
Start...
Good, good, good! Good.
Right here
[Tess] Oh, my God!
Oh, my God! I'm doing it!
[screams] Oh, wait,
that's too fast, too fast!
Start right now
-[indistinct chatter]
-Love you.
[Tess] I'll see you soon.
Bye.
-[indistinct chatter]
-[phone playing
"charge" fanfare]
-See you soon, okay?
-Just, bothering everybody.
[fanfare repeats]
[chuckles]
Weed Wacker Enterprises.
Tess.
Okay. Yeah.
Just give me 20, huh?
All right.
[phone beeps]
Uh, I gotta go see some people.
Hopefully about a job?
Yes.
You gonna be okay
getting home?
Yeah, sure.
Oh, you know what, I'll call
my teen prostitute pals.
Turn a few tricks on the way,
shoot some heroin.
Yeah, okay, or you could
do none of that.
-[dog whimpers]
-[Tess clicks tongue]
[Travis] Hey, girlie.
You're Nick's kid, ain't ya?
Yeah.
I seen you. Naked.
[chuckles]
You was little then.
-Mmmm.
-[dog barks]
You ain't so little no more.
[chuckles]
Um, we sold all the puppies.
I ain't here for a puppy.
Oh! Where you going,
scaredy-cat?
The money's for your daddy.
He ever let you, uh...
[clicks tongue]
...sample the product?
-[chuckles]
-[engine puttering]
[Nick] Travis!
What the hell!
-[Tess] Who was that?
-[Nick] Nobody.
Oh, really?
I wish nobody
dropped off money
for me every once in a while.
No idea
what you're talking about.
So, you lost your job
at the diner and now
you're selling drugs?
Drugs? So I sell
a little weed here and there
to some friends
for some personal use.
Nothing hard.
Soft, hard, call it
what you want,
Dad, it's still drugs
and it's still illegal!
In the war on drugs,
your old man is far
from the front lines.
I am just a conscious objector
doing my part.
-Conscientious.
-Exactly!
And in my world,
if a guy works hard all day
and he wants to get baked
before supper, so be it.
Speaking of, burgers tonight.
-What happened
to the food truck idea?
-It's still moving forward.
Okay, I just got to get
a little more money
to fix the truck.
Isn't that what
the construction business
was for?
That whole thing's
a racket, okay?
Kickbacks, favors,
no room for real growth.
But you know what?
It was a blessing,
because in that madness,
that's when it all
came to me.
I could be my own boss. Right?
I could make my own hours
driving around the neighborhood,
spreading happiness to everyone,
like an ice-cream man,
but with weed.
Ice-cream man?
Dad, what are you
talking about?
Listen to me,
it's amazing, right?
You know how
the ice-cream truck has, like...
ding-di-di-ding-ding
ding-ding, right,
and everybody goes nuts?
I play the Dead from my truck,
and all these stoners
come running out
of their house, right?
But, like, slow,
when I say running, right?
Like, slow, they're like,
"Yo, dude, dude, slow down!"
Like, "Slow down, dude!
I broke my flip-flop!"
And I'm telling you,
it's working
because by the end of the year,
I'm gonna have that truck
in tiptop shape.
-Well, aren't you scared?
-Of what?
-Getting caught.
-I'm more scared of being broke.
Well, you know, there's
this thing I heard about,
it's called a job.
It ain't that easy.
Dad, it is that easy--
you work, they pay.
Not what I'm worth.
All right?
Tess, I want to be able
to give you things,
to buy you stuff.
You've got a DVD, a satellite,
a big grill outside.
How much is in
my college account?
News flash:
I'm a shitty father.
No. No, Dad, you're not.
But in prison, yeah.
In prison, you'd be
a really shitty father.
-[TV in background]
-[distant train horn blows]
-[rap music playing]
-[Tess] Hey, ladder boy.
Incoming!
Not really my type,
but thank you.
[laughs] Get over here.
[pop music in background]
[distant train horn blowing]
All right, so hit it.
Get it in your lung...
and let it out real slow.
Yeah.
I feel nothing.
Nothing, you total stud?
Yeah, nothing, swear to God.
Hmm. Just wait.
[laughing]
-There should be a film...
-Mm-hmm.
...called Lord of the Fleas.
And it's just,
it's about a bunch of fleas
fighting for dominance
on top of a dog.
-What?
-[giggles]
I'd watch that.
Colin Powell would hate it.
[Tess giggles]
It's weird, I feel like...
I feel like I'm really smart.
Mm-hmm. That's the weed.
It, like, heightens
who you actually are.
-Oh.
-Yeah.
So you think I'm smart?
Girl, you laying
here with me.
That makes you a genius.
You want to do this
again sometime?
Can I kiss you good night?
Yes.
[soft music playing]
Good night, Tess DeNunzio.
Good night.
[music continues]
So, Em, how was
your last day at school?
Hey!
You know, if you're gonna
give me the silent treatment,
I think I deserve to know why.
This is the only way
I get to see you.
What do you mean?
You've been picking me up
every day,
but school's over now.
Hey.
-Dad, keep going.
-I can't just drive off
with his kid.
[Tess] He doesn't know
we've been picking up Em.
-[Nick] It's okay.
-[Em] Daddy!
-Tessie, just--
-Dad, I can't be here!
[David] What the hell
are you doing?
Come here.
I got you, baby,
I got you, huh?
I don't ever want her
in this thing again,
do you hear me?
The door is wide open!
I know, I've been meaning
to fix that damn thing, David.
-I got this.
-[David] What about you?
Thinking about coming home
anytime soon?
Calling your mother?
You could call her, you know.
-Now is not the best time.
-[David] Now is not
the best time?
David, David, David, she just
ain't ready to come back yet.
She's doing good,
she's doing really, really good.
-[engine starts]
-Oh!
Hey, Tess DeNunzio!
What are you doing?
Move over. Move over.
What is wrong with you?
You could have killed someone!
[Zoe giggling]
-Dad, just go.
-[David softly]
It's okay, it's okay.
Dad, go!
[Em sobbing]
When you try
that bullshit, you know what
that makes me look like?
Dad, just leave it!
I'm going to tell you
something, young lady.
If you plan on staying here,
no more free rides.
You're gonna start redding up
your room and you're gonna
get a freaking job!
[bangs wall]
-Tess!
-[door slams]
-[beer can opens]
-[Tess] Cheers to me.
I can get you a job.
What kind of job?
["Honey" playing]
What kind of job? [laughs]
[girl] So you hold
the cup under, push the button,
out it comes.
Even a princess like you
can do it.
-[announcer]
Welcome to Kennywood!
-Gates are open.
Here they come.
Quick, put this on.
Uh, do I have to wear this?
[laughs]
Sunshine
Everywhere
Movin'
Walkin' away
Sunshine
Happiness
Ain't nobody gonna
Steal my honey
Sunshine everywhere
-[screams]
-Shit! I'm sorry.
-Walkin' away
-I'm so sorry!
-Sunshine, happiness
-[phone ringing]
Ain't nobody gonna
Steal my honey
-Here you go, enjoy.
-Thank you.
You know me and Jimmy
go way back, right?
I've known him
practically all my life.
So don't break his heart.
I'm just hoping
he doesn't break mine.
Yo, yo!
Is it cool
if this one knocks off early?
I guess princess
gets what princess wants.
[Tess] Thanks.
Hey.
[mouthing words]
All right, you do that.
[Tess] Bye!
[riders screeching]
They're dropping 18 stories
at 75 miles an hour.
I can ride it for free
late at night.
Which means you can too.
[riders screeching]
Looks like falling
out of the sky.
[laughs] Exactly.
Yo, you gotta try it.
No! No, there's no way
I'm going up on that thing.
["Give/Take" playing]
[shots pinging]
[targets chuckling]
[horse whinnies]
[announcer]
Winner! Player two.
That's me? Oh, my God!
Yay!
One, Two, three, four
Don't you know
What I've been waiting for?
So you want, want, want
Want, want
And you want some more
And you want, want, want
Want, want...
Whoa! Here we go.
And you want, want, want
Want, want...
[Jimmy] This is
the Skycoaster, yo!
And you want, want, want
Want, want
Till you get sore
[laughing]
One, two, three, four
Oh, man!
-Yo.
-Huh?
You feeling naughty?
You know, my brain's
telling me to say no.
All right.
What? Oh, my God!
[laughs]
How did you find this place?
I was walking on the ledge,
being a punk ass.
I fell in.
Silver lining.
It's amazing.
[soft music playing]
These guys, they just
line up and look at her.
It's so juvenile.
So, does your hot new friend
have a hot mom?
Oh, my God, Dad, no.
Eww. Gross.
Besides, don't you
already have a girlfriend?
Blonde, half-naked,
snuck out of here one night
about a month ago?
-Hmm?
-[scoffs]
She doesn't mind you have
a photo of you and mom
on display, does she?
The light's usually off.
-Hmm!
-You asked.
-[Tess] Nope.
-[Nick chuckles]
[Tess groans]
[Tess laughs]
-Hey, supper, 15.
-All right.
-[game playing on TV]
-Oh, call your mom.
You promised.
And you promised
you'd get a job,
so, really, it's your turn.
Relax.
I'm working some angles.
[sighs] You're always
working some angles.
[upbeat music playing]
Hi.
That bad?
-You're gonna be real proud
of your old man.
-No way!
-You got it?
-Hold your horses,
hold your horses.
I still gotta pass muster
with the top chef,
and then they said
I gotta come back sometime
next week and cook with him
like a test.
You'll be amazing, come here.
-[laughing]
-I'm proud of you.
See, going legit
isn't that bad, huh?
-We'll see.
-[laughs]
So, how about we call
your mom and Em and David,
we invite them over for
Fourth of July barbecue, right?
I could practice
on all of them.
-It's a great idea.
-They wouldn't come.
No, no, no, it would be
real nice, and then we'll invite
your friends from school.
-You haven't seen them in weeks.
-They wouldn't come either.
Look, you invite
who you want to invite, okay?
-How about we go celebrate?
-Yeah.
-Primanti's?
-Like you even had to ask.
Primanti's!
[upbeat rock music playing]
Thank you.
-That's good? [laughs]
-Yeah.
Are you still in love
with mom?
[chuckles]
I knew I should have
put that photo away.
Then why don't you?
'Cause it's the happiest
I've ever been.
King of the world.
Prettiest girl in my arms.
And you on the way.
[rock music playing]
So you seeing anybody?
No, Ma,
I'm taking a little breather
with the ladies
while Tess is here.
Gotta get my act together,
focus on being a parent.
Yeah?
How is that working out?
[laughs] Oh, lordy,
she looks just like
her mother at that age.
Oh, hi, how are you?
Thanks for coming.
Headstrong like her too.
That Elly O'Connor
was a real piece of work.
She never appreciated
where she came from.
Couldn't get out of here
fast enough.
Hi, thanks for coming.
Are those new clothes?
This one seems headed
the opposite direction.
Keep your eye on things.
[Jimmy and Tess
chatting indistinctly]
-Hi.
-What's up, Nick?
I don't remember inviting you.
Oh, no, Dad.
Dad, it's cool, I invited him.
I told him to dress nice
and bring something.
It's apple.
Looks delicious,
thank you, Jimmy.
Bro, chill out.
She invited me, so...
what am I gonna do?
I couldn't say no.
It would have been suspicious.
Nah. You chill, Jimmy.
In fact, get out.
Whoa, Dad, be nice.
Jimmy.
Nice one, Dad.
[Tess]
Hey, Jimmy, stop!
Please slow down!
Oh, my--
Tess, this...
this is not gonna work.
Not as long as
your father thinks that
I'm not good enough for you.
I-- I admit it, this afternoon
didn't go according to plan,
but we just
have to keep trying.
For what? You got to go
back to the burbs,
I gotta go back
to my grandmama's crib,
so maybe we should
just call it right now.
Is that what you want?
I want you, Tess.
[fireworks bursting]
[Tess]
I knew full well I didn't
deserve to be so happy,
but in the moment, it seemed
convenient to just go with it.
July melted into August.
[rap music playing]
Jimmy!
Jim...
-[cracks]
-Shit.
[laughing] I'm sorry.
And for that,
you come over here.
Yeah, just take it
step by step.
There you go,
you're almost there.
-Take your time.
-Yeah, but you have to help me.
Hey, look,
you're doing this crab walk.
-I told you, face down, ass up.
-What am I supposed to do?
I don't want to look down!
-Come on, just take my hands.
-[distant train horn blowing]
-[Tess] Hmm-mm.
-[Jimmy] Oh, duck your head.
[chuckles] See? Easy, huh?
-I hate you.
-Yeah, whatever.
[rap music in distance]
Dude, damn!
You got sexy-ass pajamas
on right now.
-Thank you.
-Yeah.
Oh, my God,
your room is crazy.
-Thank you.
-Shut up.
Ehh, "You park
like an asshole."
Somebody left that
on my dad's car
like two years ago.
Cracked me up when I saw it.
Kind of like my window, Tess?
-I keep telling you
to get a phone.
-Mm.
All the good ones
are over here, though.
Hmm.
"Think of me when you're
visiting the big cat house.
Mom."
Oh. A field trip to the zoo?
[Jimmy] Mm-hmm.
That's really sweet.
Yeah, it was.
She, uh, died that day.
The day she wrote that.
I'm sorry.
That's life, right?
How did you-- how did you
know to keep the note?
She...
she had to go
to the hospital that morning.
We didn't know
what was wrong with her.
Um...
I was so...
I was so worried
that whole day,
I couldn't eat the lunch
that she had packed me.
My stomach was turning knots.
So, when I got home...
oh, shit...
I was hungry.
I was so damn hungry.
So I sat right here,
I ate lunch.
When I got to the bottom,
I found that.
But it's your turn, though.
You gotta tell me
some really sad shit now.
Zoe!
Tell me more about your mom.
[sighs] She gave me this.
[riders screaming]
-[man] Come on, what you doing?
-Excuse me, just hang on.
Employee coming through.
[riders screaming]
Take me up.
No. You can't cut the line.
-Seriously?
-Yeah.
Besides, you're not
even tall enough to ride.
Dick.
You really want to ride?
Yes.
-[Tess] No, no, no, no, no!
-[Jimmy reassuring Tess]
[Tess]
Take me down, take me down!
No, I can't do it.
-[Jimmy] Baby, we're good.
-No, I'm scared of heights,
please.
-Trust me, I got you.
-No, I don't care.
Just tell them
to take me down!
[Jimmy] Can't turn back now,
we're already a hundred
some odd feet up.
[Tess] No, I don't care,
please, just make them stop.
-Please!
-Stop like that?
-[groans]
-Open your eyes.
-Tess, open your eyes.
-No!
Come on, open your eyes!
Hmm-mm. [sighs]
That's what you wanted.
We here now.
-Open your eyes.
-No!
Look, you gotta look at this.
Open your eyes.
I love you.
Open your eyes.
What did you say?
What-- what did you say
just now?
-What did you say just now?
-No, what did you just say?
I said, "Open your eyes,"
you gotta see...
-lemonade stand and...
-No!
...there's Vicky right there.
[laughing] No, look,
I'm serious.
I said--
I said I love you.
I said I love you, Tess.
Oh, my God, I love you!
I love you too.
Then let's fly.
[screaming]
-[laughing] Oh, my God!
-[Jimmy] Wheeee!
-[Tess] Whoo!
-[Jimmy] Yeah!
[Tess and Jimmy
screaming and laughing]
Hey, Tessie.
Your mom's on the phone.
[rap music playing]
Tess DeNunzio!
Outside now!
You stay away from him,
you hear me?
But I'm almost 17.
I'm not a little girl anymore.
-Yeah, well, it's my house
so it's my rules.
-My body, my rules.
What? Gee, your bod-- No!
No, I'm putting my foot down.
If I catch you two
together again,
I'm going to rip that stupid
piercing out of his face
and puncture
his entire body with it.
Oh, my God, I hate you!
Yeah? Good.
Good.
[chuckles]
Good.
I hated my parents too.
[dog whines]
Oh, shit.
Your mom's still
on the phone.
[Elly] Tess, do I not get
to see you on your birthday?
I'm not thinking
that far ahead, Mom. Okay?
No, it's not okay,
because you're there...
[sniffles] and I'm here,
and we're supposed
to be together.
-Mom.
-You're everything to me,
the one thing
I couldn't lose,
and now I'm--
and now I'm losing you.
I can't lose you both.
I can't.
But, Mom, Mom,
you're not losing me.
Things have been...
okay.
I got a summer job and...
Dad's been great, actually.
[scoffs]
Your dad's been great?
Okay, great,
well, I always knew
that you would run off
to him one day,
but I did not know that
it would be for stability.
So have fun. Oh.
[distant train passing]
[sighs]
[knock on door]
Hey, Tessie girl.
Um...
I never done this before.
I don't know what
I'm doing.
I realized, uh...
I ain't never asked you
what's going on.
I know you had to clear out
of there for a while.
You want to talk about it?
'Cause you can, you know.
Anytime with me.
Your mom and me...
we, uh...
we managed
to do one thing right.
[riders screaming]
[upbeat music playing]
Tess! Oh, my God!
Where have you been?
We haven't seen you in weeks.
-Yeah, well, um...
-Hey, a little help over here.
Oh. Do you work here?
-Yeah, I got a summer job.
-Eww.
Actually, it's really fun.
Get to go on rides for free
and eat cotton candy.
Besides, my dad,
he insisted that I get a job
while I'm staying with him.
You're living in Braddock?
Hey, stop babbling
and get your ass over here.
Listen, guys,
it was really nice to see you.
Um, let's catch up soon.
Sure. And we can gossip about
what a bitch your coworker is.
[Tess scoffs]
Ashley, your family
may have a lot of money,
but it doesn't mean
you have to be such a snob.
Here.
Thanks, princess.
Thanks, Vicky,
see you tomorrow.
Dad.
What-- what happened?
Why aren't you at
the restaurant?
I couldn't do it.
Tess, you wouldn't understand.
Try me.
I was going.
I was, uh, all dressed
and ready,
and...
I caught sight of myself
in the mirror,
I realized that...
I'm not the guy.
Not the guy?
Dad, what guy?
I was the guy
a million years ago.
But now I just don't know
what to do anymore.
I don't know how
to keep a job.
I don't know how
to support my family.
I don't know how to make
something more of my life.
My stupid friggin' life.
[telephone ringing]
["Sign" playing]
Hello?
[David] Tess, your...
your mom is at the hospital.
She's okay.
Gone, gone...
Elly Gladstone?
I'm gone in the sky
In the ways of the wind
No, it's nothing
That I ever hold
But it keeps me
Going on
Give me just a sign
Heaven make it mine
God I want to find
Give me just a sign
Give me
Just a sign
Heaven make it mine
God I want to find
Give me just a sign
-[Tess groans]
-[dog barking]
Yo, yo, Tess, Tess.
Yo, yo, chill, chill, chill.
It's me.
-What are you doing?
-Nothing.
What you mean, nothing?
You was just driving the truck.
My mother
tried to kill herself.
She tried, like...
she gonna be okay?
Yes, yes, but you have no idea,
so don't pretend that you do.
What you mean, I don't know?
My mom died.
-Died.
-Yeah.
Of a disease.
It's not the same thing.
What do you mean,
it's not the same thing?
What was in the lunchbox
on that last day?
What did she pack for you?
What difference
does it make?!
The last thing your mother
ever did was take care of you!
My mother doesn't give
a shit about me.
She'd rather be dead
than be a mother.
So, no, no,
you don't understand.
Give me just a sign
Damn it!
Heaven make it mine
God I want to find
Give me just a sign
[Vicky]
Don't break on me now!
[Jimmy] Yo, Vicky, what's up?
Are you two ever
gonna make up?
Shut up.
Jesus, you've been
a bitch for, like, weeks.
You know, maybe you could ask
if anything was wrong.
Okay, sorry.
Is there anything wrong?
It's none of your business.
[ringtone playing]
-Hello?
-[Nick] Hey, baby.
-Are you home?
-Yeah, I was sleeping.
I had some, uh...
the-the truck acting up again.
-I'm not sure
exactly, um, when...
-Dad?
Are you okay?
Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Um...
Dad, where are you?
[man on intercom]
Dr. Justin to the booking area.
-Ah, shit.
-[man] Where's my call?
I got busted.
I got no freakin' idea
when I'm getting out of here.
I don't know
what I'm gonna do.
-I can't believe you.
-Listen to me, Tessie...
[Jimmy] Hey, wish her
a happy birthday.
[Nick] Ah, shit.
That's right, it's your
birthday.
Was that Jimmy?
He was with you?
Great.
Surprise party, thank you.
[sighs]
[phone ringing]
Tess?
David.
I need your help.
What time is it?
What's going on?
You all right?
No, no, I'm fine,
this isn't about me.
I just...
I need you to promise
not to tell Mom, okay?
What's going on, Tess?
It's about my dad.
-[knock on door]
-[Elly] Happy birthday.
Mom?
I shouldn't have-- I shouldn't
have surprised you like this.
I'm sorry, I was--
I was going to call,
but then, um...
I was afraid that you
wouldn't want me to come, so...
I would have wanted
you to come.
Where is your dad?
Um...
he-- he's at the gym.
Tess, oh, my God.
Tessie, these are beautiful.
I'm so happy
you're drawing again.
Oh, uh, David told me
to tell you that it's handled.
Um, he said that you
would know what that means.
[sighs]
Oh, um...
Thanks.
It's obviously not a car.
[laughs]
These are really cute.
Thank you.
I love that color on you.
Your dad got me that.
I thought that you
might like it.
It's great, thank you.
-Can I ask you a question?
-Yeah.
Why did you marry Dad?
You guys are--
you're so different.
Well, I was pregnant with you,
so that might have been
part of it.
I don't know, um...
I think I was also trying
to get away from my parents.
You know,
I remember the exact moment
that I knew
that I wanted to marry him.
I was at a football game,
and he had just scored
the winning touchdown.
And after the game,
I saw him
and two of his friends
walking across the field,
and so I started
down the bleachers,
and then all of a sudden,
I saw all these guys,
I don't know, like ten of them
from the other school,
heading towards Nick
and his two buddies,
and I thought, "Oh, God,
something bad's gonna happen."
I started calling out
and Nick turns
and one of the other guys
called out to him and he said,
"You ain't so tough now,
Nicky DeNunzio."
And your dad just
turned and,
without blinking an eye,
he said,
"You ain't got enough guys."
[laughs]
I fell in love on the spot.
I know, that was
kind of stupid.
No, it's, um...
it's kind of romantic.
Well, um...
thank you.
I-- I love the presents.
Yeah. I'm so happy.
Okay.
Tess, um, I know
that this is not the sort
of thing that people talk about,
-but I need to explain
to you what happened.
-No, Mom.
-You don't have to explain.
That's fine.
-Stop, listen to me.
You need to know that
I did not try to kill myself.
After what happened,
I felt like...
the life
got knocked out of me.
And I couldn't sleep.
And so, I, um, I started
taking sleeping pills.
You know,
but no matter how many--
no matter how many I took,
it just didn't work.
-Mom, please, just stop, okay?
-You have to believe me.
You have to believe me
because I would never,
ever leave you.
Never.
[train passing]
Thank you.
[soft music playing]
[engine grinding]
[wheels squeaking]
[dog whimpers]
[door slams]
[knock on door]
Can I, uh,
can I come in real quick?
Look, I'm so sorry
that I lied to you.
I just didn't know
when the right time
or place was to tell you.
But I brought you
a birthday gift if you want it.
Happy birthday, Tess.
"This bag contains
all the makeup
Tess DeNunzio will ever need
for the rest of her life."
Yeah, very funny.
That's not supposed
to be a joke.
[soft music playing]
Hey, hey, hey.
Tess, what's wrong?
What's going on, Tess?
Talk to me.
Tess.
Hey.
[sobbing]
[screams]
I had a baby sister.
Her name was Zoe.
Wait! Hey, Wait up!
[Tess]
Mom and David both knew,
but they wouldn't say.
Even Em knew the truth.
That I was supposed
to be watching you.
I'm going to go grab
a couple things and then
I'll drive you to school.
Hey, Tess, tell your mom
a plane just hit
the Twin Towers.
Zoe, come on,
let's go inside.
-Come find me.
-Just stay there, okay?
[newscaster]
What we're seeing is a gaping
hole in one of the towers
at the World Trade Center...
Where's your sister?
-Um, she's outside.
-Go get her.
-[Zoe] My ball!
-Zoe!
[tires squeal]
[gasps] No! Mom! Mom!
[indistinct chatter]
While we waited to hear
if you were going to be okay,
I kept playing it back
over and over in my head.
What if I hadn't taken
so much time on my makeup?
Then I wouldn't
have missed the bus.
And if the weather
hadn't been so nice,
I wouldn't have been
out front playing with you.
Or what if Mrs. Martin
hadn't walked by
at that exact moment?
I couldn't stop
thinking about it,
because if someone, anyone
had just done one thing
differently that day,
the whole world
might be different!
Like, what if I had
just grabbed you
and taken you inside?
You would still be here.
Mr. and Mrs. Gladstone.
No!
Why didn't I
take you inside?
I'm your big sister.
I was supposed
to protect you.
-[sobbing]
-It's not your fault, Tess.
It's not your fault.
It was a terrible,
awful accident.
But that's all it was, Tess.
It was just an accident.
Okay?
You sure you don't want
your pendant?
Nah. You hang onto it.
Plus, I'm coming home
for Thanksgiving, so...
Are you gonna be okay?
Yeah.
Bye.
[truck engine puttering]
[Tess] I made a deal
with David that I'd come home
if he got my dad
and Jimmy out of jail.
I didn't know exactly when,
but surprisingly
someone else did.
You've got that same look
of disappointment as your mom.
And that's fair.
You're gonna figure
things out, okay?
Tessie, I am so sorry.
Worst day of my life
was when your mom drove away.
This is the second.
Come on.
[Tess] I don't
want this to come out
the wrong way, but...
it was easier to forget
about you at my dad's,
especially once Jimmy and I
started hanging out together.
Just like Mom,
I needed a little distance
to feel something
that wasn't sadness
or anger.
[soft music playing]
[engine stops]
[sobbing]
At night,
you slept with a TV remote
instead of a teddy bear.
You called potatoes
"motatoes."
And you wouldn't
ever go anywhere
without your bunny ears.
Your were precocious
and funny and loud
and sweet,
and I will never,
ever forget you.
Zoe, your name...
it means life.
-It's okay.
-[Tess sobbing]
I'll drop your stuff
by tomorrow, all right?
My, um...
my yellow notebook, it's,
um, it's on my nightstand.
And...
there's a-- there's
a picture of Mom and Zoe
and it's tucked
under my pillow.
Promise me
you won't forget that, okay?
I promise.
What about Colin Powell?
Do you mind if he
stays at your place?
At least for a little while.
Seems like staying at
my place for a little while
is becoming a thing.
[Tess laughs]
-All right.
All right, that's enough.
-[Tess laughs]
Tessie girl.
Thank you.
-[music continues]
-[truck door shuts]
[laughs]
Tess!
Hi! Come here!
Baby, come here!
I missed you!
[Em laughs]
Are you staying?
Yeah. Yeah, I am.
[Tess] I'm not saying
everything is okay,
'cause it's not,
but like the whole country,
our story is far from over.
A story about
before and after.
Before you were born
and after.
Before you left us
far too soon
-and after.
-[Em giggles]
[truck engine starts]
Before I ran away
to my dad's house...
[Em giggling]
...and after.
Before I was ready
to get better
and after.
Love always,
Tess.
["Braddock House" playing]
It seems like yesterday
That I saw you
For the first time
Mm-hmm
Mm-hmm-hmm-hmm
Out of body
I'm seeing red
Then you
What was I to do?
Ahh-ahh-ahh
Runnin' through my head
Like crosstown traffic
And jammed up
Like downtown to Braddock
And after we met
Oh, I knew
I would build a bridge
-From my world to you
-Yeah
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
It feels like yesterday
Oh, that I saw you
For the last time
Uh-huh-huh-huh
-In my body
-In my body...
I pray that you know-oh
How deeply
You are loved here
Ah-ah-ah-ah
You live forever
In our hearts
Like a roadmap
What do you see
On your way back
That is no regular
Trip home
And only you, my love
Can see it through
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
[music continues playing]
Yeah
On this trapeze
We are parallel
To a panorama view of ours
Shapemaker
It's so raw
What you can do
Ah-ah-oh
You drew the veil
Of fire
And ash rains
From the sky
Oh-oh-oh-oh
From so high, so high
So high we fall
We fall in love
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
'Cause something
In the way you move
Makes my heart break into
A million little pieces
That scramble back
Into my chest
Who said love was easy?
We both know it's hard
But to be loved by you
Is as easy as it comes
Ahh-ahh-ahh-ahh
[instrumental music playing]