C'mon C'mon (2021) - full transcript

Okay, I'm gonna
ask you a series of questions,

and there are no right
or wrong answers.

So when you think
about the future,

how do you imagine it'll be?

Like, what will nature
be like?

How will your city change?

Will families be the same?

What will stay with you,
and what will you forget?

What scares you?

What makes you angry?

Do you feel lonely?



What makes you happy?

So we are goin'
around the country,

goin' to different cities
and interviewing kids,

ranging in age, um,
just about their... their life

and what they think
about the future.

If I ask you anything
that you don't wanna answer,

or you don't like a question
or whatever,

you can just be like, "No."

I want you
to just feel comfortable,

and if there's anything
that I ask you about

that you don't wanna
talk about,

say "I don't really wanna
talk about that."

I think adults always think
they're the boss,

and they always gotta
be the boss of everything.



And I think that some adults
have that mindset

where "I'm right
and you're wrong."

When you think
about the future,

how do you imagine it'll be?

I...

I imagine and hope
it'll be good.

And do you ever think,

like, what could adults
have done

to have made sure that
we went in the right path?

Definitely most of all,
paid more attention

to, like, what's going on
around them,

'cause I feel like
that's a big problem

with, like,
literally everything.

Like, that's a big, big thing.

They'll be like,
"Oh, you're from Detroit."

I was like, "Yeah."

Like, "It's really
dangerous there.

"The schools
are really terrible

"and, like,
nothing's good there."

I was like,
"Well, how would you know?

"You don't live there,

"and you don't
go to school there.

"You weren't raised
in Detroit.

"Like, I've been raised
in Detroit all my life."

America, uh, it's so much...

It's so much tragedy,

and some people
aren't treated fairly,

because of race,
because of who they like,

because of where they live,

because of
how much money they have.

So I would want it
to become a better place

and people to know

that just because someone
isn't like you

doesn't mean
that they're wrong,

but then I'm not sure.

We're at the point right now

where we have to
change things,

and just based on
our morals as people,

I don't really see
that happening anytime soon.

So, you're...
You're hopeful for the future?

Like, when you think
about the future,

you think it'll be better
or worse?

For me,
personally,

I feel like
things are gonna get better,

because I have a lot
of opportunities right now.

I'm hopeful for myself,

for other people.

I don't know if things
are gonna get better,

it's really on the side,

but I really hope things
get better.

Um, but for the overall world,

once again
I hope it gets better,

but it might not,
like everything.

If you
could have one superpower,

what would it be?

That's a hard question.

Um, that's one of
the popular questions

that I ask people.

Some people say...

Detroit was the future.

So we came to...

We came to Detroit
to talk to young people, kids.

You know, we came to Detroit
to talk to kids, young people,

and to ask them

what they thought
their lives would be like,

how it's changing for them,

what are they inspired by
and excited by,

and what are their lives
like now?

Hey.

Hey.

- Hi.
- Hi.

It's nice that you called.

I didn't know
if I was gonna call

or if you would...

If no one would...

It's a good day to talk.

Maybe Mom's listening.

Yeah, maybe.

It doesn't feel
like it's been a year to me.

Does it to you?

No, it's weird.

I didn't know what to do
with myself today.

Yeah, I know.
If I just, um, work,

then I feel like
I'm not mourning

in the right way or whatever.

And if I sit
in this depressing hotel room

and just think about Mom,

then, yeah,
it's just pretty brutal.

So, yeah, I called you.

Where are you?

Um, I'm in Detroit.

I've been, um,
interviewing kids.

Uh, so that was cool.

- Cool.
- Yeah.

Jesse heard you
on the radio the other day.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah, we were driving,

and there you were
on the radio as usual,

and I had to tell him
it was you.

- Really?
- He's nine, you know?

He didn't recognize
your voice,

it's been a year.

It's a long time for a kid.

Wow.

All right.

Yeah.

How's Jesse?

Uh, he's so good.

He's smart, and he's so weird.

He's older, and he's funny,
and I don't know, he's...

He's...
he's a whole little person.

Um, and Paul moved to Oakland.

He did?

Yeah.

Whoa, really?

Yeah, it's okay.

I... It's... I think so.

Jesse is dealing
with it well so far,

but Paul's not.

- He is...
- Hmm.

I mean, he... I'm just...

He's fine.

I just have to go up
and help a little.

Help him settle in.

Oh, yeah?

Yeah.

So I'm heading up there soon,
but we're good.

So you taking...
You taking Jesse?

No.

No, I don't think
it's that kind of trip.

So who's watching Jesse?

I haven't
gotten there yet.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Hi.

Hey.

Say hi.

"Hi, how are you?"

How are you?

I'm good. How are you?

I'm good.

Hmm.

Wanna ask
Uncle Johnny to come in?

You should ask me
if I wanna come in.

Do you wanna come in?

- Thank you.
- Okay.

I get a hug?

- Hi.
- Hi.

We have, um, her dresses

um, all my homework stuff.

Hmm, cool.

Mom says you're gonna
sleep up here tonight

in her extra-big, cozy bed,
best bed in the house.

So there are these, um,
big, big, big, big,

big, um,
little like fungus tubes

or tubes that are fungus,

and they're connecting
all the trees.

- so they're up here.
- Mm-hmm.

And they'd be really tall.

They get all the food,
and then you kinda,

like, go through the tubes
into another tree.

And then, um,
well, they...

They would, like,
get all the food

and then it'll go through.

And so the tree needs...

So what's goin' on
with Paul? How's he doin'?

Oh, I don't know.

I mean, he was offered this,
you know, incredible position

at the San Francisco Symphony,

which he totally deserves,

but the transition
fucked him up.

- Mm-hmm.
- Like transitions always do.

And... And then
he got a fucking dog,

which he should
not have gotten, so...

- No. No.
- So, yeah. It's just...

It's... It's...
It's a total mess as usual.

And you have
to clean it up?

Yeah.

Yeah, that's Paul.

What about Jesse?
What does he know?

Nothing. I said I was gonna
help him get organized,

so we'll go together later.

He gonna be okay
just with me?

Like, what...

He loves it
when I'm not around.

He'll have so much fun.

Yeah?

It's really good
to see you.

Hello?

Is anyone home?

- Hello?
- Uh, are you ready for this?

God, what?

- Hello?
- Brace yourself.

There's this, uh,
little orphan

who likes to come visit me.

In fact, he will probably
come visit you,

and he likes to pretend that,
uh, I have some dead children,

and he asks me a lot of
questions about what they did,

so he can do
those same things.

- That's fucked up.
- Yeah.

It's really...
It's totally normal.

All the kids do this.

Is anyone home?

I'm coming.

- Hi.
- Hi.

Is this the orphan?

Mm-hmm.

Can I sleep here tonight?

They only have bunk beds
at the orphanage

and all the kids snore.

Hmm, of course you can.

Uh, actually, my son's
not here tonight, so...

I could take his place
if you want.

That's a good idea.

He usually goes to bed
right now.

You know, this way,
I happen to have a room

with a bed just your size.

You wanna check it out?

"Dorothy lived in the midst

"of the great Kansas prairies

"with Uncle Henry,
who was a farmer,

"and Aunt Em,
who was the farmer's wife."

She hugged me,
and she felt different,

or I felt different,

and, yeah, Jesse maybe
vaguely remembered me.

Maybe. Maybe not.

Da, da. Da, da, da, da.

He told me about trees
communicating with each other

and how connected they were

by an underground network
of fungus.

Love you, love you, love you,
love you, love you.

Mmm.

Love you, love you, love you.

Oh, cozy.
Okay, go back to sleep.

Good morning.

It's loud!

It's Saturday.

I get to be loud on Saturdays.

- Mom just left?
- Uh-huh.

She said
you might be a bit awkward.

What?

She said
you might be a bit awkward.

But you'll get used to things.

Will you turn it down
a little?

She left you some notes
in the kitchen.

Is that a microphone

or is it a...
in the headphones?

Huh?

Is it... Is the mic
in the headphones and...

Or is that the mic?

This is the mic,

and I'm just gonna
get a quick little level.

Careful.

Da, da, da, da, da, da, da.

So when you think
about the future,

what do you imagine?

Um, I don't wan...
I don't wanna.

You don't wanna imagine
what the future's like?

I don't wanna do
the questions.

- Uh-uh.
- Oh, what's that?

- Um...
- There's a screw there,

and there's loads
of little buttons.

Well, that's the...
That's the gain.

The gain?

Well, it's how you know
how much...

Here, put these on.

Do you see this?

Here.

- Can you hear that?
- I can...

- Yes.
- ...hear that.

Yeah. So this is what you
adjust for an input volume.

Now it's super quiet.

So turn it all the way up,

you can feel that.

Having fun?

It all sounds
amazing in here.

My dad would love this.

Johnny!

You need something?

My mom tells me stories.

It can be fiction
or non-fiction.

Oh, boy,
I don't know any stories.

Um...

Can we just talk
and get to know each other?

Why did she stop
talkin' to you?

Um, we talk.

No, you don't.

I mean, I don't know.

Did you used to
talk a lot?

Yeah.

Johnny, where have you been?

- Hi.
- You can help me.

Yeah, what do you need?

He's coming to get me.

Who's coming?

I have to get dressed.

My dad's taking me
to the DMV.

My sweater was over there.

Help me up.

I'm gonna get my license.

I don't know why
you give in

to those delusions like that.

Are you serious?

Yeah, I'm serious.

Are you fucking serious?

Easy, I got you.

Hurry.

Why wouldn't
I entertain it?

Just let her have that.
Why you...

What's going on?

My dad's coming to get me.

Mom, why don't you, um...

Why don't we wait
for your dad lying down?

You just give in to her!

You always just
give in to her!

- This is precisely...
- Whatever she wants!

...what you should
give in to.

- What are you talking about?
- It's not her, though.

It's not even her...

What is your problem?

You know
what my problem is?

- Yeah, yeah.
- It's that

for our entire lives,
I am the only one

whoever challenged them.

Really? Really?
For our entire lives?

Yes. Yes, really.

So easy for you.

They made me feel like
I was a crazy person

again and again,

and you just
went along with it.

You don't exactly
make it easy to help you.

Well, maybe,
but I needed your help.

Look, you're losing a mom
who adored you.

She just did.

And I'm losing one
who never understood me.

Okay, Mom.

"'It is kind of you

"'to wear that, ' said Boq.

"'Blue is the color
of the Munchkins,

"'and white
is the witch color.

"'So we know
you are a friendly witch.'

"Dorothy didn't know
what to say.

"Dorothy did not know
what to say to this,

"for all the people seemed
to think her a witch,

- "and she knew..."
- Why aren't you married?

Um, I was with...

I was with somebody
for a long time, Louisa.

"And she knew very well

"she was only
an ordinary little girl

"who had come by the chance
of a cyclone

- "into a strange land."
- Did you love her?

I still do.

Then why did you break up?

I don't know.

Um... "When she had tired
watching the dancing,

"Boq...
Boq led her into the house,

"where he gave her a room
with a pretty bed in it."

I don't think
it was my choice.

Mm, I think, um,

you love each other,

and then
you still love each other,

but find it hard to express
that love to each other,

and so then
you look at each other,

and you do this.

And you go, "Oh."

You... You know, I mean,

I hope you don't have
the experience,

but you probably will.

It's all right, actually.

Um, "The sh..."

"Pretty bed in it.

"The sheets were
made of blue cloth,

"and Dorothy slept soundly..."

Okay, good night.

Um, so what happened...

Read him
The Wizard of Oz,

kissed him on the head,

and said good night,

and he asked me
why am I not married.

I didn't tell him
that I wanna be,

that I miss Louisa.

I made it into a weird joke.

Why'd I do that?

Not so long ago,

in an Arctic village far away,

there lived
a polar bear family.

There was a papa polar bear,
a mama polar bear,

and a baby polar bear,

and they all loved
each other very much,

but something
was not quite right.

Baby bear knew
something was wrong.

He never said a word,
but he worried all the time.

He worried about his papa.

You see,
Papa Bear had a hard time

controlling his feelings

and sometimes
he did things that upset,

and even scared Mama
and Baby Bear.

So should I call you
like "Papa"

or "Dad" or just "Johnny"?

You can call me

whatever feels
comfortable to you.

Uh, I... I don't know,

it's just I'm not used
to being able to choose.

Maybe we can just
take this process slowly

and...
And see... See how it feels.

Mm-hmm, yeah.

And I'm just really sorry
that your children died.

Um, you know, I don't think
I can do that part.

Yeah, I... I told you
that's how me and Mom do it.

If it's... makes sense
for your mom to do that,

that's cool, but it doesn't
make sense for me

and that's what I was
explaining to you.

Why it doesn't
make sense for you? It's...

Because it's ridiculous.

- Is it...
- It's sad.

The question is
why do you wanna do it.

You are just
terrible at this.

Oh, man, I'm tryin'.

Let... Let me ask you
a question.

Why does everything have to be
like this kind of weird,

- eccentric thing that you do?
- 'Cause I like it.

Yeah, but why not just

- do something normal?
- What's normal?

Like everything
in your real life...

What's normal?

Okay, fine. Good point.

The only thing that I do have

is that I know
what I'm saying.

I'm in a home
where people care about me

and I have friends
that care about me and...

That's the total randomness.

Like there was nothing.

It was like a triangle one
on this one

and a square on this one,

and half of the block
would be a triangle,

and the other half
would be a word,

and they'll be like,
"Can you figure it out?"

It looked very similar
to this floor here.

Hi.

Hey, what's...
what's going on?

Oh, it's really bad.

He really needs
to go somewhere for help

and he's not letting me,
uh, get him there.

I'm sleeping,
I'm going to work,

- I have...
- Are you sleeping?

I am sleeping!

How many hours
do you usually...

Does that matter?

I'm sleeping,
I'm sleeping!

You know,
he's totally fucking paranoid.

Just the second
I bring it up...

Yeah, you know, I just tried
to put some things in a bag

and he totally fucking
lost his mind.

And you took
all these clothes

if I'm gonna be there
for a month or two months

- or whatever.
- No, no, no, we don't...

we don't have to.
No, no, no.

Because I want
all my things there.

I know that I can
get him to check himself in,

but I've just...
I've gotta lay off

and just slow down.

So can you stay
with Jesse for me

for another couple of days?

I called Jesse's school
and put you on the list,

and you can... You can
just bring him to school

and pick him up.

Can you do that?

Yeah, I can.

Um...

Oh, thank you.

But, uh, Viv, you know,

I'm supposed to do these,
um, interviews on Friday

back in New York,
um, but I'll figure it out.

You will? You can...
You can do that?

Yeah, don't...
I'll figure somethin' out.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And listen, you just don't say
anything to him, okay?

Yeah, okay.

I think our first one

is maybe 9:00 on Saturday.
Will you be back for that?

Yeah, definitely.

Cool.

Is that something where
I'll see you before that

or should I send you
the pre-interview notes

Fernando gave us
for like the plane?

Um... Yeah, I'll be there,

but, um, yeah, just send it,

just... just so I have it
and I'll look at it,

but, no,
I'll be in, um, Friday.

Well, I don't know, I haven't
figured out a ticket yet,

- but, um...
- Okay.

I'll figure somethin' out.

And how's...
How's like Vivs and stuff?

Good.

- Yeah?
- Good. Yeah.

Yeah, it's, um,
I mean, you know,

we're just working out,

but, um,
this kid is fucking great.

Yeah?

He's got...

He's got the gear on
and he's, uh...

Oh, have you been showing him
like audio recording stuff?

Have you
been to New York?

No.

Never been to New York?

Never ever been to New York.

You don't think all the,
like, sunshine and sand,

and bodies is kinda boring?

No.

Oh, man.

You know,
you should come with me.

What?

Yeah, come with me
to New York.

Like... Like, right now?

Well, not right now,
but, yeah,

I have to go this weekend

to do interviews and stuff,
and you can help me.

You know, record sound

and maybe I can,

like, weave that
into the show.

I think it'd be fun.

I'd love that.

Hi!

Come here.

Paul?

Paul?

Uh, so Paul is gone.

Paul?

Uh, he doesn't
answer his phone,

I don't know where he went.

Uh, does he even want help?

I feel like he just...

He just wants you back
taking care of him.

Oh, God. Oh, please,
don't... Don't start.

I can't do this
with you right now.

Just hear me out for a second.
I know you're stressed out,

but just hear me out
for a second.

What if Jesse came with me
to New York?

He said that he wanted to
and I think that, um...

What do mean,
he said he wanted to?

You already asked him?

No, we talked about
New York...

Oh, God,
you already asked him.

And he said
he'd never been there.

Calm down.

Johnny, you don't ask
a nine-year-old kid

if they want go to New York
before you ask their mother!

Viv, I wanna help,
I wanna help.

- Jesus Christ!
- Listen to me.

I'm tryin' to help you and
this is a way that I can help.

Well, that's not helpful.

Uh...

I'll call somebody else.

I'll figure it out.

And I sat on the wall

waiting for him
to come out of school,

and then I heard all the kids
coming out of school,

running down the steps,
talking loud,

and then he came down.

And then,
this stupid little voice

with this cute
little fucking hair and face,

he was like,
"Did you talk to Mom?"

I said, "Yeah."

"Well, what did she say?"

"She loves you very much."

'Cause I couldn't tell him.

Hey.

So listen, can you find
somebody in New York

to watch him
when you're working?

Is that a realistic plan
that you could make happen?

Yes.

- Yeah?
- Yes.

Who would that person be?

I'll find someone.

I'll figure it out, I promise.

Okay. Okay.

I called Jesse's teacher,

and said
there's a family emergency,

and I'll be out
for about a week.

I'll send you his assignments.

Don't worry.

Okay, okay.

- Okay.
- Okay.

"Motherhood
is the place in our culture

"where we lodge,
or rather bury,

"the reality
of our own conflicts,

"of what it means
to be fully human.

"It is the ultimate scapegoat
for our personal

"and political failings,

"for everything that is wrong
with the world,

"which it becomes the task,
unrealizable of course,

"of mothers to repair."

"What are we doin' to mothers
when we expect them

"to carry the burden
of everything

"that is hardest to
contemplate about our society

"and ourselves.

"Mothers cannot help,
but be in touch

"with the most
difficult aspects

"of any fully-lived life."

"Why on earth
should it fall to them

"to paint things bright,
and innocent, and safe."

It's gonna rock you dead,

come upside your head.
You get ready?

You said, here we go.
Yay, all right, come on.

Come on. Come on, let's go.

Yeah.

All right, everybody,
get down on your basement.

Get ready, yeah, okay.

♪ Hey, put your hands up

♪ Upside your knees

- ♪ Now do the ostrich
- CHORUS: ♪ Do the ostrich

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah

♪ Do the ostrich

♪ Hey, take this forward
and step on your head

♪ And do the ostrich

- ♪ Do the ostrich
- ♪ All right

♪ Do the ostrich

♪ Here, we go, oh, whoa!

- ♪ Whoa
- ♪ Whoa

- ♪ Whoa
- ♪ Whoa

- ♪ Whoa
- ♪ All right

♪ Do the ostrich

♪ You take a step forward
then you turn to the right

- ♪ And do the ostrich
- ♪ Do the ostrich

♪ Oh, oh, whoa, whoa,
yeah, yeah

♪ Do the ostrich

♪ You turn to left

♪ And then you feet
upside your left

- ♪ And do the ostrich
- ♪ Do the ostrich

- ♪ Oh, oh, oh, oh
- ♪ Do the ostrich

♪ Now, you go, whoa... ♪

It's so long.

Do you like it here?

What?

Do you like it here
in New York?

Yeah.

What do you like better?

Recording here
or at the beach?

Here.

But I like the...
I like the skaters.

You like the skaters?

Yeah.

Yeah, you know,
what I love about recording?

What I love
about recording?

You can hear me?

- Yep.
- Oh, whatever, I'm so...

- No, no, no, no!
- No, no.

- No, just...
- Oh, okay, okay.

And in a way it's cool,

because you get
to keep these sounds, right?

You keep it forever.

You make
like this mundane thing,

like be immortal,
and that's cool and fun.

- Look here.
- Hey.

- Hey.
- What's up, man?

- Hey, what's up?
- Hello.

- Nice to meet you.
- This is Jesse.

- Jesse.
- Jesse, this is Fern.

- Fernando Thomas.
- Hello.

This is
the sweetest man in New York.

He's gonna help take care
of you while I'm workin'.

Also notice how Johnny
just like lights up?

I know.

He is like a...
like a mini Johnny.

Right.

With the...
with the...

- With the little hoods...
- Yeah, the little hoods.

And the flopsy hair.

What? Yeah.

- Just hangin' out.
- Uh-huh.

- Mm-hmm.
- You know, we're gonna

hold off till we eat more.

We're gonna hold off
till we eat more.

I'm sorry.

We're gonna hold off
till we eat more.

- It's right here.
- Mm-hmm.

So if you eat this,
'cause it's melting,

if you eat this
as quick as you can,

not too fast, but just get
so many... A few more bites

and you can have
the ice cream.

Go for it. You did it.

- Enough. Enough.
- Mm.

Craziest thing
you've seen on the internet.

- Okay.
- Go.

So I...
I like conspiracies.

Perfect.

- Great.
- Tell us...

Uh, let's eat...
Just a little bit of broccoli

- and then talk about...
- Yeah.

- I love conspiracies.
- Okay, a little bit

of broccoli and then
we can talk? Uh-huh.

Yeah, and talk... then ou can
talk about conspiracies.

Yeah, the government
got, like, a colony of ants.

This is how
I think it happened.

- Okay.
- And like in the rock

and they place it
inside a dead person.

- Okay.
- And they made him alive

and he has a plan...
planets of ants inside of him.

- Oh, ants...
- Oh, this is scary stuff.

- Fern.
- Do, um...

- Fern.
- Uh, I know one.

- Hey, hey, hey.
- Oh, I'll show you SCP.

- Yeah.
- No screen time.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- Do SCP 1.

Not screen time right now,
come on.

One of them, it was
a big thing that they found

in like a forest

and they took
the face off of it.

Wait, like...

And injected it
with a bunch of injections

- to make it powerful.
- Whoa.

It was meant to be
like a government weapon...

...they were gonna use.

Do you...
Do all your friends act like you?

And that
would be a big no.

Johnny.

Hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey.

What up,
Sunny Spa E Broadway?

I don't know
what that says.

Hey, hey,
hey, hey, hey, hey.

- Whoa!
- Come on. Hey.

- Hey, what's goin' on?
- Oh.

Made it back.

And I was tired.

so tired,

but he wasn't.

So do you have
your toothbrush,

- 'cause I don't see it.
- No.

Come on, I...
I told you to pack it.

What? You didn't bring it?

Um, I didn't.

Do you have trouble
expressing your emotion?

Well, I'm feeling
pretty frustrated right now.

That's good.

Just sit down,
you can let it all come out.

Hey, you okay?

My friends don't talk like me,
because...

I don't really have friends.

I mostly hang out with adults.

No, Jesse, no.
Back to bed.

I did? I don't...
I don't remember saying that.

I took him to the couch,
I laid him down,

and I sat with him
till he was asleep.

I got up and slowly started
walking back to my room.

Can't I just sleep
with you tonight?

Oh, why did you let me
eat all that sugar?

Mom would not
let me eat that.

Oh, my God, you said
that she would let you.

Can you tell me about Mom
when she was a little girl?

I said, "She was cute."

He said...

I heard
about her boyfriends,

and she ran away,
and she got in trouble

all the time.

And I heard
that she got an abortion.

What the fuck
do I say to that?

I didn't even know about it.

You know,
a woman's body is, um,

like a...
um, maybe every person.

Like you have the right...

...of your own body

and a woman certainly
has the right.

It's like... it's called
"the right to choose".

Okay, now fuck that. Um...

Let me tell you
how my mom puts me to sleep.

Now, lay down.

Okay.

Rest your feet,
rest your legs.

Rest your hands,
rest your arms.

My mom
would never do this.

Rest your eyes.

Rest your mouth.

Rest your jaw.

Rest your mind.

No more thoughts tonight.

No worries.

Just stars in the sky.

So what? Does he
have something that it...

Is it a sleeping problem?

Listen, he's probably

just over stimulated.
Did you give him sugar?

Did you let him watch shit
on your computer?

No.

'Cause that makes him crazy.

You're just, uh,
used to this.

Like, why are there
so many scratches?

I'm not used to it.

I fucking hate it sometimes.

I mean, I love him
more than I...

I can even understand

and that makes it
even worse when I can

barely stand to be
in the same room with him,

going on and on,
talking, talking...

Another stick.

Relentlessly about nothing
random nothingness,

interrupting every thought
I might have...

- Kick, kick, kick, kick.
- Oh, God, and I know.

From making him lunch
and doing the dishes,

from making lunch
and then doing the dishes,

from making dinner
and then doing the dishes,

from lunch, and then
going grocery shopping,

on, and on, and on, and on,
he never stops.

Bees!

It's a fucking nightmare.

Yeah.

Slow down!

Do you think I'm horrible now?

No, no,
I have so much sympathy.

Listen, you just have to get
some protein into him, okay?

You know, those
disgusting little, uh, rolls,

the salami and cheese things,
just... He loves them.

Where are we going now?

I have to find you

some disgusting salami
and cheese rolls.

Historically,
New York represents the future

and possibility
for so many immigrants.

We ask
today's children of immigrants

what they think
about the future

and the world
they live in now.

I never thought
that I would be this scared

about like what might happen
in the future,

but then now,

I'm starting
to think about it,

like, I can't...
I can't...

I just can't imagine
animals going extinct,

pollution, like, the Earth
dying, basically.

So my fears
would be like loneliness

and, like, you know,

just like people
not understanding you

even though they're there
to understand you

and stuff like that.

It's just really scary,

'cause it feels
like you have nobody.

My mom
always tells me like,

"I hate kids that cry."

There was one time I told her,
"Oh, my gosh, I can...

"Like, I could cry, uh,

"like, it's like a human thing
to do," and then she's like,

"No, you're supposed to be,
uh, strong and stuff."

So, yeah, I think
that's what I hate the most.

When people
end up saying,

"Oh, words don't hurt,"

it... like it gets to me
so bad.

People will just judge you
without even knowing.

It's like not even their fault
that they don't know.

They probably just
wasn't raised like I am

knowing how to treat people,
how not to treat people.

I don't like
when everyone's

just in a stressed mindset

and they're very closed
into themselves.

They just don't speak
to each other

and they're just
like kind of hiding away

from like real life.

I feel like people

who try to express
their emotions,

like they...
they would get a lot of hate.

It happened
like more in the 20th century.

So instead of
letting them be them,

they wanted to oppose them
in like bad horrible ways.

But I feel like now you could
speak your feelings easier,

but not easily.

Oh, sorry.

Texting. Texting.

- Ha, ha, ha.
- I am tex...

Oh, what...
what are you doing?

Uh, hey,
who are you mimicking here

with that fancy texting
you're doing?

You're doing fancy texting.

But I'm actually
texting something.

- No, you're not.
- Uh, here.

Health and beauty.

Oh, here it is.

All right, grab one of those
and I'll find toothpaste.

For some reason,
they're not in the same aisle.

♪ I am a toothbrush

Mm-mm, not... Not that one.

That'll flip your mom out.

♪ I am your toothbrush ♪

You can't get that one.

Come on,
find which one you want.

Oh, she's not here, so...

Well, she's right.

- So...
- Can I please have it?

Oh, come on, you...
You don't need a song...

- Please.
- ...to brush your teeth to.

The next thing you know,
you're gonna need

electronic stimuli
for everything you do.

You know, it's important
to just live in it, you know?

Peace and quiet.

Your generation
is completely lost.

Mm...

Jesse?

Hey, did you see a little kid
running around here?

- Did you see a kid here?
- No.

Jesse!

Jesse!

What are you doin'?

You should see your face.

Hey, you can't do that,
you understand?

You can't do that
to somebody.

You're freakin' out.

- Stop it.
- Stop it.

- You stop it.
- You stop it.

- Stop!
- Stop!

- Enough!
- Enough!

- You stop now!
- Get off!

Sorry, it's so ridiculous.

Do you know I just...
I just said, you know,

"You can't
have that toothbrush,"

and I went around the corner

for a second
to grab toothpaste,

and then he disappeared.

So I'm runnin' after him,
tryin' to find him,

and he jumps out, scares me,

and, yeah, I... I got angry
and I yelled at him.

I yelled at him.

That's... It's...

It's...
It's fucking awful.

I've done it.

I know that look
in those little eyes,

it's the worst.

But it's okay also.

You know, you just have to
explain to him

that you were scared,
and that's why you yelled,

and then you apologize,
you know?

He's... he's a person,
you just be honest with him.

It's called "doing a repair."

There's...
There's scripts for it online.

Okay, sounds...

- Let me... Let me...
- Sounds easy.

- This is not...
- Okay.

This is not easy.

No, I know.
I know, it's not.

Um, yeah.

- Let me talk to him and...
- Okay.

Now, I'll yell at him.

All right, thank you
for talking me down.

Now, hold on.

Hey, Jesse, it's your mom.

- Hello.
- Hi, sweetie.

Hi. Are you okay?

I'm okay.

I was just jokin' around,
he didn't need to call you.

I know. I know you were,

but you really scared him,
Jesse, okay?

You can't do that.

Mom, why are you
taking his side?

I'm not on his side.
Sweetie, there are no sides,

but you have to listen
to Johnny, okay?

You're staying at his house,
he's taking care of you.

Why?

Why is he taking care of me?

Sweetie, come on.

Just be nice to Johnny.

♪ I am a toothbrush

♪ My name is funky brush ♪

I don't even know you.

Why my mom let me
come with you?

Hey, man, come on.

Jesse, you wanted to come.

I didn't really have a choice.

She's a horrible,
horrible mom.

I know you don't
really feel that way.

My feelings are inside me.

You don't know what they are.

I think you're mad at me,

because I scared you and...

No, she just does
what she wants.

No, that's not true, Jesse.

You don't know what you're
talkin' about. She does!

Well, why do you think
you're here?

Do you think that your mom

really wants
to be away from you?

Really?

She's tryin'
to help your dad.

Well, why does
he need help?

He, um...

What's wrong with him?

He just... He...

Do you wanna call her?

I want my mom.

Hey, I'm so sorry.

Hey, hey, Jesse.

Jesse.

I thought
I was helping,

and somehow
it got away from me.

I don't know even how.

What... What does he know?
Did... Did he know?

Does he know everything?

Yeah, he knows.

Um, let me talk to him.

Hey, Jesse.

Just tell her I'm fine.

Come on,
just talk to her.

She's impossible.

Hey, hey, hold on,
hold on, hold on.

Viv, you're...
You're on speaker.

Jesse, honey, listen to me,

your dad's gonna be fine.

Okay?

Is it like before?

Yeah.

Yeah, it's like before,

but he's gonna be fine, okay?

And I didn't wanna worry you,
but I messed up, okay?

I should have told you,
I'm sorry.

Tell her I'm fine.

Um...

Viv, I'm so sorry, uh...

It's fine, it's fine.

Um, just tell him I love him
and I miss him, okay?

Okay.

I'm gonna go get him.

Is your child like, you know,

fighting about
washing his hair,

'cause I could
do that anytime.

You don't wanna talk?

Mm, I am talking.

Are you gonna
be like normal?

I am talking, like,
you know, normal.

Okay.

We have to wash our own hair
at the orphanage.

- Ooh, that's harsh.
- It is.

Hmm, sorry about that.

It is harsh.

Not even
as a punishment, just,

"Wash your hair,
you dumb kids."

Yeah.

What an awful place.

Yeah.

Okay.

Do you want to fight
about washing your hair

and then I'll wash your hair?

All right, I think we have
to wash your hair, young man.

Why don't you wash your hair,
old man?

Well, you first.

No, you first.

I'm telling you right now,

you're gonna have
to wash your hair.

I'm telling you right now

you're gonna
wash your hair, old man.

Nice.
Is that how I sound?

- Yeah.
- Ugh.

You're like old Johnny,
Johnny.

I'm Johnny.

Yeah, well, that's the way
to wash your hair, old man.

"The Tin Woodman

"gave a sigh of satisfaction
and lowered his ax.

"'This is a great comfort, '
he said.

"'I have been holding that ax
in the air ever since I rusted

"'and I'm glad
to put it down at last.

"'Now, if you will
oil the joints of my legs,

"'I shall be all right
once more.'

"So they oiled his legs

"until he could
move them freely,

"and he thanked them again
and again for his release."

Are you guys still there?

Keep reading, Mama.

Okay.

"'I might have
stood there always

"'if you had not come along, '
he said.

"'How did you
happen to be here?'

"'We are on our way
to the Emerald City

"'to see the great Oz, '
she answered."

So does he just like
walk in to a room

and pretend
to be an orphan?

There's different
scenarios.

- Okay.
- It's... It's... Listen...

Okay.

You don't wanna get into that,
I promise you.

Okay. All right,
I'll leave that between you.

I'm trying like to figure out
how to talk to him

and so I'll try
to play along...

- Yeah.
- In an indirect way

and like, this is ridiculous.
He wants to say something.

I have to be open
and so I say,

"Hey, man, I know

- "you wanna talk about something?"
- Yeah.

And... Yeah,
and I look at him like this,

- like real earnest.
- Yeah, sincere.

And then,
he just is like dismissive,

and makes me feel stupid,
and then I feel crushed...

And... And...

And...
I know it's funny now,

but when it happens,
it's... It's frustrating.

Yeah.

He seems like
he's doing good.

He is, but he should be
holding the mic

if he wants to get that,
you hold the mic up.

No, he's gotta
find his own way!

- Yes.
- That's how we all did.

Let's say
somebody your age

that was coming
from another...

- Another country...
- Yeah.

What would you tell them
about the US?

You come here
and you'll see a lot of bad,

but it's beautiful.

Even though there could be like
problems here and there, you know,

you see all these good people
who just have kind hearts

and, you know,
and they don't even know you.

There's been a lot of issues
with my dad.

He's in jail right now,

so everything is, like, crazy,
you know?

My little sister,
she didn't, like, really see

what was actually going on.

The stuff that I went through,
I don't want her

to know any of that
or just be,

like, have to think
about that.

You have a lot of
responsibilities in your life,

and sometimes
they just come to you,

and you can't really
do anything about them.

They're just there.

I feel like a responsibility

to like that
I'm proud to take,

because I love her a lot,

and basically,
it wouldn't matter to me

if she sees me as a father
or a brother.

Yeah, that's pretty much it.

You're a good man.

How... How often do you...
do you get to visit your dad?

Always.

Yeah, I feel like that's
one of my like motivations

to just think
about the future.

Everything
that could happen...

"I ask for trust,
cooperation, and permission

"without knowing
where the experience

"will lead the subject.

"I can and will leave a place,
a situation, a problem,

"but the people
I interview cannot.

"The work offers
the interviewer

"access and a reason

"to stay in a world
that's not my own,

"complete distraction
from my own life,

"a sense of invincibility,
a sense of invisibility.

"I traffic in hope

"without the ability to know

"what will happen
in the future.

"The work offers the subjects
a chance to speak

"of things they have
never spoken of,

"a chance to see themselves
as subjects

"worthy of time and attention.

"The work offers the subjects

"the creation
of an image of self,

"the distribution of which
they cannot control

"on a global scale,
in perpetuity."

...you know, there's, like,

a lot of Chinese people
actually,

so it's not, like,
hard to communicate.

Sometimes in other places,
I'm actually...

You let
Johnny interview you yet?

Oh, God, no.

That seems
like a smart move.

Too many questions
with that guy, right?

Not enough answers.

Oh, I miss you
so much, babe.

I miss you, too, Mama.

Excuse me, please.

Thank you.

We've been goin' around
the country asking kids

what they think the future
would be like.

Uh-huh.

Um...

If there's anything
you don't wanna answer,

you can just say
"skip" or "no,"

or "I do not want
to do this question".

Okay.

Why don't you and my mom
act like brother and sister?

- This one?
- Yep.

Why are you alone?

I mean, who cares?
Blah, blah, blah.

The same...

Yeah, exactly, who cares?

Did you tell my mom to leave
my dad when he first got sick?

Did you?

I told her
to take care of herself.

Blah, blah, blah.

No, it's not
blah, blah, blah.

- It is.
- No, it's not.

It is.

Okay...

- Means you did it.
- There were many things

that were done,
and everybody said a lot of things,

and there was
a lot of concern,

and sometimes
we don't completely understand

why we're doing the things
that we're doing, right?

But I never did anything

because I wanted
to hurt your mom

or hurt your dad
or hurt you.

I only wanted
everything to be okay.

Oh, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah.

Hmm.

Maybe... Maybe it is blah,
blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Blah, blah, blah,
blah, blah, blah.

Exactly.

Coming from somewhere unknown,

he's as tall
as a small person!

Jesse the Man!

Watch it, man.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.
Have to do my expression, too.

You can't just
jump right into it, okay?

- Go back.
- Do your introduction.

All right!

It will destroy you!

That's how you do it.

Then, he just said,
"Pack my bag, get my stuff,

"take me to the hospital.

"If you don't, I'm just
gonna run away again, right?"

Which is true.

So I took him to the ER,

which was fucking awful.

Absolutely, Paul.

The milligrams
have to be specific...

We'll make sure
that they are.

Because Dr. Marklin
said that,

and he worked on it
for three months,

and it was still
going back and forth.

Well, I'm not
Dr. Marklin, I'm...

I mean,
you can't believe it, Johnny,

it's so humiliating.

They just asked him
the same questions

over and over, and over again.

I have been eating

and I have been sleeping
the regular amount

that I usually eat and sleep.

You ask me a question,
I answer it,

and then all of a sudden
you ask her.

Like, just why don't you
ask her

the goddamn question.

And then we finally
got him into a real center.

I've done this before,
I know it all.

Yeah, no shoelaces,
you're right.

He was so scared.

I'm gonna
have you sign off

that you're gonna be
taking those things home.

- Okay, sure, right here?
- Yeah.

And then when I was leaving,
he asked me in the sweetest...

In the sweetest way
if I could just stay

until he was a little better.

That's what he said,
"Just a little better."

Oh, I'm so sorry.

And I want Jesse
to have his dad, you know?

I mean,
what the fuck can I do?

I've gotta...

Yeah, you gotta stay with him.

Really, Viv, we're doin' okay.

You just take care
of what you need to.

Jesse can keep
staying here with me.

We're havin' a great time.

I found
someone in New Orleans

who can get us kids
and I think we should do it.

Okay, I know,

but I got Jesse
and I just don't know

if I can make
that, um, trip right now.

Uh, I don't wanna go solo.

No, it's sort of like

we told, like, audiences,
and funders...

- Johnny!
- And everybody that we...

- Johnny!
- ...were gonna go

- to multiple cities.
- Johnny.

- Johnny, let's go to the park.
- I think we have to do it.

- Stop, stop. Please.
- Johnny.

- Stop.
- Unfortunately...

- Get off your phone.
- Yeah, what?

Are...

Are you...
Are you with Jesse?

- How's it going?
- Yeah, yeah, fine.

So what...
Where we at with things?

I think New Orleans
is a good idea.

I know someone down there.

She can get us kids.

We just need to tell them
we wanna do that

and then we can have Fern,

like, start booking
everything for us.

I know, but a lot...

Jesse?

Can you hear me?

Hold on a second.

Just, like, give me a sec.

You were jazzed about the idea
like two days ago.

- Jesse?
- You were like we just need

to get you back to that spot.

This is not a great time.

- Yeah, yeah.
- I, uh...

Listen, let me, um...

Let me call you back, okay?
I'll call you back.

Okay, okay.

Jesse?

Jesse.

Fuck. Oh, fuck.

Oh, fuck.

Oh.

Jesse?

Jesse!

Wait, wait! Jesse.

Where'd you go?

- I was right there!
- No, you weren't!

I was on the phone,
I turned around one second

and you were gone!

Hey, listen,
you can't do that,

- you understand?
- You lost me!

- I didn't lose you.
- You did.

I lost you?
Okay, okay, I lost you.

I'm the worst uncle
in the world!

What... What are you doin'?

You, uh...
Hey, come here!

What are we doin' here, huh?

I don't know.

That could have been
really, really bad.

I don't need you.

You so need me.

He can feel how fucked up
things are right now, okay?

So in his... In his little
inarticulate kid way,

he's saying, "I'm feeling
out of control right now.

"Can you handle it?

"Can you take care of me
feeling this way?

"If I run away from you,
if I hide from you,

"even if I jump on this bus,
am I gonna be okay?"

Oh, I'm just, like,
in this fucking fantasy

that you know,
I got everything under control

and, uh, you know, I'll...
I'll be there,

I'll figure it out,
I'll get you snacks,

and I'll pack your bags,

and we'll go off,
I'm thinking of goin',

"I don't know
what the fuck I'm doing."

Yeah.

Yeah, welcome
to my fucking life.

I... Nobody knows
what they're doing.

Nobody knows what
they're doing with these kids.

You just have to
keep doing it.

I ran up and down the street
calling out his name.

I saw him
from across the street

as a bus passed
in front of me.

I ran towards him,

screaming out
his name, "Jesse."

He was mad at me,
he was scared.

He turned, and he walked away,
and got onto a bus.

I don't like feeling this,
but I feel like he's spoiled,

or I am.

I can't believe
you're doing this.

I know, but I can't
take care of you right now.

- You can.
- No, but as soon

as I get done with work,
I'll come out to LA and...

And we'll do
whatever you want.

All right?
How do you like that?

My stomach hurts.

I'm sorry.

I need to poop.

- You do?
- Right now.

- Really?
- I need to poop.

You can't...
you can't hold it.

I can't hold my poop.

Okay. Um, excuse me, sir,
could you please pull over

at a gas station or diner?

- Okay.
- Thank you.

Okay, just hold on.

Okay, I'll be right back.

Here.

Hey, is there a bathroom
he can use?

- Down over there.
- Thank you.

Okay, hold it,
just hold, hold on.

- You okay?
- No.

Okay, well, hurry up,

'cause we got...
We gotta go to the airport.

- No.
- What?

Are you going poop?

No.

Do you even have
to go to the bathroom?

- Huh?
- No.

You got me. You got me.

You got me. You... Shit.

All right,
fun time's over, let's go.

- Time to come out.
- No!

Jesse, come out right now.

- No!
- Jesse, come out right now!

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I hid,
I'm sorry I ran onto the bus,

I'm sorry, Johnny,
I am sorry!

I heard you talking
on the phone.

You can't take care of me.

I don't wanna go home.

My mom is just gonna
be sad about my dad

and my dad's
not even there.

Okay.

Okay.

All right, just, um...

I'll be right back,
stay in there.

♪ Anyone

♪ Anyone

♪ Anyone

♪ Anyone

♪ You can blame me

♪ Try to shame me

♪ And still I'll care for you

♪ You can run around

♪ Even put me down

♪ Still I'll be there
for you... ♪

New Orleans
is like... Is very different.

You don't see it anywhere else

and, like,
sometimes I understand

why people wanna come here,

because it's like so beautiful
and just so different

to where it's, like,

sometimes we need something
different in our lives.

I feel like people
are sometimes being selfish

when they come here,
so they're like,

"Oh, I wanna
go see something different,"

but you're not takin'
in consideration

about where you are.

If they keep it up,

like buildin' Airbnbs
and everything,

all of it is gonna be gone.

There is not gonna be
a New Orleans,

but I also think that,
like, we, as people

and who live in New Orleans,
make it New Orleans.

Yes.

- Hey, how are you?
- I'm good.

This is Jesse.

Nice meeting you,
Jesse. I'm Sunni.

- Hey.
- Hey.

- Thank you for having us.
- Absolutely.

- Come on in, come on in.
- I'm excited.

- Hi, I'm Fern.
- Hey, how are you?

Hey, Fern.
Nice meeting you.

Through this way
in the kitchen here,

and then there are
two rooms back here.

So Johnny and Jesse, I figure,
you can be here.

There's a bathroom...

She mentioned
that she doesn't think

that humans are innately
violent, which I thought

- was really interesting.
- Mm-hmm.

Um, and she said
she thinks the violence

- took place a long time ago.
- Mm-hmm.

And has just been
passed down.

- Passed down?
- Yeah.

- She did speak about it.
- And then she said that, um,

it's in people's
genetic makeup.

But we have the power...

- There you go.
- ...to override that.

- Yeah.
- Which I was like...

- Yeah.
- ...wow!

I'm like,
"What PDFs are you reading?"

What?

Yeah, can you believe...

So my fears
would be like loneliness

and like people
not understanding you

even though, they're there
to understand you

and stuff like that.

It's just really scary,

'cause it feels
like you have nobody.

All right, listen,
it's lesson time.

"So first, as the adult,

"take time for the sad, mad,

"or scared feelings
to work their way through.

"How this happens will
depend on your personality.

"Calmly invite your child
to hear you out.

"You can try,
'Hey, I made a mistake

"'and I would like
to talk to you about that.

"'May I come in?'"

Sure.

"Try to..."

"Try... Try something like,

"'Did you feel hurt that
I was gonna send you home?'"

Yeah, I did.

Yeah.

Uh, then I say...

"I feel badly
about how I behaved.

"Are you feeling mad at me?

"It's okay if you are

"and I'd like to hear whatever
you're feeling and thinking."

Mmm...

I thought that you were
being a pain in the ass.

Yeah.

Then, "I..."

"I am feeling very..."
Use a feeling word.

Shitty, stupid,
totally out of touch,

and also, um, sad.

Sorry, I shouldn't.

"Then, from the bottom
of your heart,

"look your child in the eye
and say you're sorry."

Oh, come on.

Say it.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, too.

Your mom does all this?

Yeah, but she doesn't
have to read it

from a stupid phone.

Now, no more
phone time for you.

No more...
No more screen time.

Can I sleep with you?

- Hmm?
- Can I sleep with you?

Yeah. Hmm.

Can I be an orphan?

Mm-hmm.

You okay?

I just want to be the orphan.

Okay.

Is there anything
about my past

you'd like to ask me?

What was your mom like?

She was nice.

Hmm, yeah.

Do you remember her?

Yeah.

She always took baths,

but she'd have like
she never got to take 'em,

but she always took them.

When she'd get home from work,
she cleaned up the kitchen,

all bangy and loud.

Then I'd say,
"Why are you being so loud?

"Are you mad?"

Then she'd say,
"I'm not being loud."

She wrote books,
fiction and non-fiction.

♪ When you skip-to-my-lou

♪ My darlin'

She's always
singing old songs

from when she was a kid.

♪ I'm gonna get ya

♪ I bet you a bottom dollar
You were best under pressure

♪ Yo, Sandy
I wanna like taste you

♪ Get your, get your lips wet
'Cause it's time to have Pep

♪ On yourmark, get set, go
Let me go, let me shoop ♪

And in that place,
you have...

She thought about
weird things, like ghosts

and incarnation,
all that stuff.

She'd loved it here.

She taught her classes.

When she was stressed out,

she would just
cook herself a big steak

and just eat it.

She loved hanging out
with her friends.

She says even though
we love each other,

she'll never know
everything about me

and I'll never know
everything about her.

It's just the way it is.

Stop.

- Um...
- You're weird.

Okay, yeah.
Time to screen time as much

- screen time as he wants.
- Okay.

He can watch
anything he wants.

All the screen time he wants.
Here, here, here, here.

R-rated, anything,
anything he wants.

You know,
here's your screen time.

- Yeah, give it to him.
- Here's your screen time.

You have to mak sure
your eyelids stay open.

Get as much screen time
as possible.

If he cries or anything,
no screen time, all right?

- All right.
- Yeah.

Okay, that was it,
that was your screen time.

- Nice.
- Yeah.

Do you feel screenful?

I feel screenful.

- Yeah.
- Screenish.

So do you feel
like adults understand

what kids are going through?

Um, I definitely think
lots of moms do,

because... I think they do.

I'm curious,
like, you said this was

one of the hardest hit areas
of Katrina,

like, what are the stories
you've heard?

Um,
a guy died in this house,

but I like to believe
that ghosts are nice

and they don't try
to scare people,

unless that's their intention.

Tell me about that, uh,

tattoo you've got on your arm.

- It is nothing.
- Oh!

his is what I... I've learned

about Devante so far.

Devante is like,
"My business is mine.

"What's about that?

"I don't feel like talking
about that right now."

"What's the tattoo?"

"Don't worry
about what's the tattoo."

You know, this kinda thing.

So, uh, you know,
what I appreciate about you?

I appreciate the fact
that you, um...

You hold
what is sacred, right?

So what do you think
happens to you after you die?

Well,
me and my mom are Baptists.

Uh, well, I would say heaven,
I feel.

I don't know
how it would be like,

but what I imagine it, uh,
I would say a meadow

with a one big tree,

and you just lay on the grass
with flowers

and you just stare up
into the sun

with a lot of breeze,
obviously.

You don't want it
to be too hot.

Yeah, that's what
I kind of imagine.

That's really beautiful.

Do you think
that the world is fair?

No,
nothing's really that fair.

There's always gonna be, uh,

like, probably
gonna be more war,

since there's more things
to fight about

if you keep on building
onto what's in the past.

What causes
flooding within yourself,

within whether
it's in your mind,

within your heart,
within your spirit?

What causes
flooding, um, within you?

Um,
I think it would be, like,

not, like, feeling that,

like I said no one cares
or, like, just feeling that

I'm, like, alone sometimes.

But I know a lot of kids
are saying,

"Oh, the world's gonna end
and all that."

I don't think
the world's gonna end.

I just think the world's
not gonna be as clean

as it used to be.

Say if your parents
were your children...

What's something
you would want them to learn?

What's something
you would teach 'em?

Not to be selfish,
not to be bad, and not to...

And not to disrespect,
and not to have...

And to have close feelings

for your friends,
your parents,

and not to be...

if I were the one to be a lead.

If you could change
one thing about yourself,

what would it be?

My attitude.

Hey, what's wrong
with your attitude?

You seem like
you have a great attitude.

What would you change
about yourself?

My anger.

"There, colors,
sensations, and sounds

"will wash over you
constantly.

"You will see
so many living things."

- Hey.
- Hey, what's up?

"Beyond imagining..."

How's it going?

- "Sensations and sounds..."
- Thank you.

"...will wash
over you constantly."

- No problem.
- Hey. You're good?

- Yeah.
- I'm sorry.

- Yeah.
- What happened?

No. It's okay.

He just...
There were some tears...

- Why?
- ...we ran out of snacks,

the iPad died,
it was like thing after thing.

We only have raisins left.

- Shit.
- We don't like raisins.

I didn't plan well,
I'm so sorry.

No, don't cuss.

Hey, sorry.

- It's fine.
- You all right?

Yeah, I'm gonna
go find Maurice.

- Okay.
- And I'll be back.

Thanks, Fern.

Hey.

- Hey.
- You okay?

I'm embarrassed.

- You're embarrassed?
- That I cried.

You're embarrassed
that you cried,

don't be embarrassed.

Because I don't
usually cry that much.

Huh?

I don't usually
cry that much.

It's okay.

It's all right.

You mad at me?

Mmm-mmm.

Can you finish that book?

- Yeah.
- Please.

"To visit planet Earth,

"you will have to be born
as a human child.

"At first,
you'll have to learn

"to use your new body,

"to move your arms and legs,
to pull yourself upright.

"You will learn to walk
and run, to use your hands

"to make sounds
and form words.

"Slowly, you will learn
to take care of yourself.

"Here, it is still
and peaceful,

"but there,
the colors, sensations,

"and sounds will wash
over you constantly.

"You will see
so many living things,

"plants and animals,
beyond imagining.

"Here, it is always the same,

"but there,
everything is in motion,

"everything
is always changing.

"You will be plunged
into Earth's river of time.

"There will be so much
for you to learn

"and so much for you to feel,

"pleasure and fear,
joy and disappointment,

"sadness and wonder.

"In your confusion
and delight,

"you will forget
where you came from.

"You will grow up,
travel, and work.

"Perhaps,
you'll have children,

"even grandchildren
of your own.

"Over the years,
you will try to make sense

"of that happy,
sad, full, empty,

"always-shifting life
you're in.

"And when the time comes
to return to your star,

"it may be hard
to say 'goodbye'

"to that strangely
beautiful world."

Damn this book.

- You're crying.
- No, I'm not.

Yes, you are.

You're definitely cry...
See, you're cry...

No, it's just...
It's true.

We forget everything.

No, I don't, you do.
You're stupid.

Yeah, you'll barely
remember this.

You'll have, like,
a few blurry memories

of this whole trip.

That's...
That's very stupid.

You're just
the stupidest stupid person.

Ever. And, like, you have
the lesser brain capacity

than an actual
deceased dead person.

So eating steaks,

I know this and...

- Oh!
- You used to give mom

so much shit about that.

I did, didn't I?

I can't fucking believe it.

Yes, I am.
God, that little shit

needs to learn
how to keep secrets.

- Uh-huh?
- Uh-huh.

Why are you still up?

Good question. I'm so
exhausted I can't sleep.

I just...
I'm gonna tell you something

that as a mother you won't
be able to understand,

but you're gonna
have to trust me.

Taking care of him and working
at the same time is...

- Yeah.
- ...a little too much.

It just takes
a lot out of you.

So tomorrow,
I'm gonna take him to a parade

that Sunni told me about.

You're doing so good.

Yeah,
he's been such a trouper,

I feel like I owe him
a good time.

Even though, he, um,
keeps asking me

why we don't talk.

Oh!

Cool. I like this kid.

And what do you say?

Apparently, some bullshit.

He didn't let you
get away with that, did he?

No.

I just don't know
what to do anymore.

I'll probably
run out of bullshit I guess.

Well, you could
tell him the truth.

That sounds fun.

Just tell your
9-year-old the truth. What...

Which... Which part?

That I...

messed up with you and Paul,
that I got in the middle

of something
I didn't understand?

That part?

Oh, yeah, that's good.

That's...
That's a really good start.

Or was it when Mom died,
we got in...

into all that weird shit
when Mom died.

That part?

You mean,
like all that weird shit

of our entire lives?
That stuff?

Yeah,
our entire lives.

Or was it when Louisa left me

and everything just exploded.

You know, that's the first
time you've said that.

Yeah, which part?

All of it.

Johnny.

Johnny. Johnny, Johnny!

Johnny.

I'm okay.

- You okay?
- Are you all right?

- Uh, I'm okay.
- Johnny.

- I'm okay.
- Stop, Johnny!

Johnny!

Whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa.

Take it slow.
Take it slow.

- It's okay, it's okay.
- Okay.

It's okay.

Did I drop you?

I jumped.

Okay, good move.

I don't know what that was.

You fainted.

What?

Okay, I fainted.

Uh, maybe we shouldn't
talk about it with anyone,

'cause it's embarrassing.

It's not embarrassing!

That must have been
scary for you.

Nah-uh.

No, really?

I was fine.

I don't think I was fine

and I don't think
you were fine.

We have a zone of resiliency.

When we're out of the zone,
we can meditate.

Just think of something
that can bring you joy.

When you're stressed out,

you can use
some of these techniques.

Shoulder-tapping,
rock-tossing.

Finger-touching.

Or mindful breathing.

And, or you can
just shake it off...

Yeah.

That's amazing.

Thank you.

Do you think we're alike?

God, no.

Yeah, we are.

- We are, we are.
- No, we are not.

No, we are not.

- Yeah, we are.
- No, we're not.

No, we are not!

- Well, I wanna be.
- I don't faint like you do.

No.

But I know
a lot of kids are saying,

"Oh, the world's gonna end"
and all that.

I don't think
the world's gonna end.

I just think the world's
not gonna be as clean

or as easy to get around
or easy to breathe

or easy stuff like that.

Yeah.
Thank you so much.

This was really fun.

Have you ever thought
about the future?

Oh...

Have you ever
thought about the future?

Uh, yeah.

Uh, whatever
you plan on happening,

never happens.

Stuff you would
never think of happens.

So you just have to...
you have to come on,

come on, come on,
come on, come on,

come on, come on, come on,

come on, come on,
come on, come on.

Uh, so he slept.

He slept
for two whole nights

and he's responding
to his meds,

so the doctor said
he can do outpatient care.

He just told me
he can go home.

- He did?
- Yeah.

Wow. Um...

And how are you?
You doin' all right?

I don't know. Yeah, just fine.

Um, you wanna
tell Jesse now?

Yeah.

Johnny, thank you so much.

Okay.

Jesse, it's your mom.

Hello.

Hi, sweetie,
how are you?

- I'm good.
- Oh, good.

So listen, your dad's
doing so much better.

The doctors are gonna
keep helping him,

but they thought
he was well enough to go home.

So I'm gonna
come get you, okay?

I'm just driving Moses home

and then I'm gonna be on
the first flight out tomorrow.

Oh, I'm so excited,
I can't wait to see you.

Yep.

- Jesse?
- Oh, take the phone,

take the phone,
take the phone!

Jesse.
Sweetie, are you there?

Jesse?

You don't have to
follow me everywhere.

Come on, man.

I'm fine.

Oh, yeah?

You can be not fine.

But I'm fine.

Okay, you know,
when you're not in your zone,

like, your zone
of resiliency, it's...

It's okay to not be fine,
you know?

Like, you can be

you know, angry,
and... And sad,

and... And lost, and confused,

and that's okay.

But I'm fine!

Okay, but if you're
ever not fine,

you can kick the air,
you can throw a fit,

you can yell,

- and it would be okay.
- I'm fine!

It'd be a totally
reasonable response!

It'd be reasonable!

- You're not fine.
- I'm fine!

Yeah, I'm not fine!

I'm fine!

I'm not fine and that's
a totally reasonable response!

Come on, man.

Yeah.

- I'm not fine!
- Yeah.

And that is a totally
reasonable response!

Yeah. This is fucked up
and that makes sense!

This is fucked up
and that makes sense!

How could this
being so fucked up make sense?

It's fucked!

Yeah.

Are you laughing or crying?
I can't... I can't tell.

I wanna have
the appropriate reaction.

Hey, man, come here.

Let me...
Let me look at you.

- Mm.
- Are you laughing?

Is that a smile?

Is that your big
stupid smile?

- Are you all right?
- Yeah.

All right.

Are you gonna faint?

No.

I got my shoulder-touching,
finger-tapping,

rock-throwing.

Why are you throwing rocks,
by the way?

Do you think I'm gonna
be like my dad when I'm older?

I think you have it
better, Jesse.

Why?

'Cause you are just...
I don't know.

You know yourself more,

you're able
to like express yourself

and your feeling, that's
what your mom taught you.

So you are way ahead
of the game, believe me.

Means you're looking better.

Lots of blah, blah, blah.

Lots of blah, blah, blah.

Be funny, comma,
when you can, period.

What's that?

My dad used to say
that to me.

- Really?
- Yeah.

That's funny.

Hi!

Mama!

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Hi.
- Hi, hi, hi.

- Hi.
- Oh.

Hey. Hey.

...two, three...

- Bye, you guys.
- Bye.

So he needs a lot of protein
with every meal

and no screen time
on the weekdays.

Weekends, one hour a day
and that's it, all right?

Bye.

I love you.

I love you.

Have you
ever thought about the future?

Have you
ever thought about the future?

Uh, yeah.

Uh, whatever
you plan on happening,

never happens.

Stuff you would
never think of happens.

So you just have to...
You have to come on,

come on, come on,
come on, come on,

come on, come on,
come on, come on.

Johnny, Johnny, Johnny,
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny.

Johnny is a bit strange.

Um, he's really fun.

He makes me laugh.

He's really funny
when he wrestles.

He might be my best friend,

'cause he only has only has
two... two...

He only has two friends,

but he might be
my best friend.

I don't know.

Blah, bablah, blah, blah.

I would say so blah, blah,

blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

You ready?

Hey, Jesse, this is Mozart,

your intense
and overly emotional uncle.

When I woke up, you were
blaring crazy opera music.

I was surprised
that your mom had left,

but you didn't seem
bothered about it.

You just pretty much...

...accepted me.

I showed you my recorder,

but you didn't want
to be interviewed.

You recorded the beach,
the sounds of the city.

I had to go back to New York

and I asked you
to come with me,

and you just said,
"I'd love that."

And you couldn't sleep,

and you were just
talking a mile a minute,

and you had
so many things to say,

and what about approaches,

and how to record...

And I could
never actually stop you,

and then I kept trying,
and I wish I wouldn't have.

Now I wanna hear
all of your crazy thoughts

and cool ideas.

And then we were in bed,
you asked...

Are you gonna remember
any of this?

Maybe.

And that's, like,
our awesome sleepovers.

And you said
you won't remember it.

No, I said,
"You won't remember it."

I'll remember it.

I won't remember?

I said,
"I hope you do,"

and you got so upset,

and I said,

"I'll remind you
of everything."

Do you think it's easy
to understand your feelings?

Like, do you have access to...
To what you feel or...

Hmm, the only thing
that I do have

is that I know that I'm safe.

- That's beautiful.
- Hmm.

Uh, what...
What makes you feel safe?

I'm in a home where
people care about me.

- Mm-hmm.
- And I have friends

that care about me

and everything like that.

Um, I would definitely

take a lot
of what my parents did

into account of how I parent
my future children.

I would talk to them
about what they want,

and, like, what they feel
would be the best for them,

and make it known,
like they could talk,

but I wouldn't force them.

I wouldn't be like,
"Hey, just so you know

"we can talk all the time,"

'cause sometimes
parents do that.

- Mm-hmm.
- And it gets annoying

and they'll be like...

It's sort of scary, uh,

to talk to other people
sometimes.

- Mm-hmm.
- Because, um, uh, personally,

I feel like you never know
what they're gonna say next.

- So...
- ...right?

In your...
If you had this...

this superpower,
what'd you do?

What would it be?

I don't know.
I don't think

I would ever,
like, use a superpower.

I think I would just be me.

- Like, me is my superpower.
- Yeah.

And like I use it to help
people and use it in ways that's...

that have
never been done before.

Mmm.

Yeah.

That's super.

What about you,
London?

What's the worst thing
that's ever happened to you?

Uh, it would probably be
either the fact that

I can I have
a nasty personality

that clashes with my siblings
or the fact that

I might have to have surgery

when I'm older
on this one tooth

- 'cause it's like...
- Well,

uh, maybe humanity ends,

just humans cease to exist
on this earth.

I mean, uh...

I don't really know

if that's a good thing
or a bad thing.

Uh, I mean, if we're...

Yeah, like I want

everybody to be kind
to each other and

I don't know, like, any harm

or any anger towards anybody.
Like, why? Why?

Wouldn't...
Wouldn't you rather be happy

than angry at someone?

Mm-hmm.

And why do those things

when you can
just come together...

So... What...
Describe adults for me.

Like, what do you think
an adult is?

It's... An adult, mm...

All adults have to do
is get money

and have to pay student loans.
Got 'em.

I think
that I get excited

'cause I know that I can do
something to make the world,

the world a better place
and I also think that

it's kinda devastating,
because, like, I'm 14,

why should I be worried
about the way the world looks,

or like,
I should be able to...

Do you ever think about

what happens after you die?

Even though, like,
the scientific thing to say

is that we don't think at all,

our bodies decompose

and, uh, like,
life continues on without us.

Mm-hmm.

But why would we
be made to just die?

- Mm-hmm.
- There's probably that...

There's probably not a reason

but there might be
a reason behind it.

Somehow, I don't know,
I'm not sure.

Kids tend to think freely.

Adults when they think,
they think in a tight space.

- You get what I'm saying...
- I think...

it's hard.
I think it's probably a cross

between mind reading
and flying.

Mind reading
because if someone's sad,

they usually won't tell you
what's going on.

And I'm a little bit of a...

that kind of person
that is a little...

Apparently,
scientific studies,

I'm not saying this is
completely true or whatever,

it's just what I've heard,

but, uh, your brain

has to knock out
some old memories

to be able to save new ones.

So I feel like there's
two types of Americans, like,

people who can constantly
get what they want

and have what they need,

and then
there's the other type

where they kind of
have to struggle

and work harder
for the things that they need.

It's not the way
we look,

but it's, like, how we are
on the inside that's...

Just like you can't judge
a book by its cover,

it's the same with humans.

So I like to look at
the positive side of things.

Um, I like to think about,

um, like new inventions
that might

actually help save the world.

I think about going into space
and discovering a new planet

and then maybe like
building a life there.

What do you hope
that you really remember

about your mom and your dad?

That they were
always there for me,

that they always love me.
They say...

I tell her

"good night"
every night and...

I always tell her
that I love her,

just like out of the blue
and she would do the same.

And I really feel

that strong connection
with her.

If you could
have any superpower,

what would it be?

The ability
to bend space and time.

If you were what
you believe is a good person

and you ask
whoever you believe in,

"Hey, can I be reincarnated

"into, I don't know,
like a tiger?"

And you were a good person
then they would be like,

"Yeah, you can be a tiger,
go ahead."

Well,
I feel like if we die,

like, we don't
really feel anything,

all like memories
are gone and stuff.

And we're just like,
we'll just see you wait

becoming a baby.

And, yeah,

getting born and then
just restarting life.

Like, I'm not sure 'cause
I've never been dead before.

Sit down

and close your eyes,

and try to find yourself.

Because I feel like that's
what you really have to do,

to know what you want.

Like, find a way that you feel
comfortable finding yourself.

You know,
you gotta find to find.