The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (2005) - full transcript

The movie is based on the young adult book, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, by Anne Brashares. As four best friends spend their first summer apart from one another, they share a magical pair of jeans. Despite being of various shapes and sizes, each one of them fits perfectly into the pants. To keep in touch they pass these pants to each other as well as the adventures they are going through while apart.

( piano playing

"As Time Goes By" )

( song concludes

with a flourish )

* *

GIRL:

I'd like to think that fate

had a hand in what happened

that summer.

That it was the pants' destiny

to find us.

Where they came from

and why they chose us,

well, that will always

be a mystery.

But perhaps that was part

of their miracle,

that they sensed in that moment

how much we needed them,

how much we needed some little

bit of faith to hold on to,

when it seemed like

everything we believed in

was about to slip away.

* *

But wait a minute,

I'm getting ahead of myself.

So that makes it...

Beautiful dress!

We'd been a foursome for

as long as I could remember.

Where are we going?

( all talking )

In fact, we were a foursome

before we were born.

And seven.

Anyone feel any kicking?

Our mothers met

at a prenatal aerobics class.

They really didn't have

anything in common...

except their due dates.

One, and relax.

Good work.

The first one out of the gate

was Bridget.

Uh-oh...

Ladies, let's

keep it together.

The rest of us followed

within the week.

( piano playing )

Bridget liked to take charge.

Way to go, Lena!

I'll handle this.

And you know what?

Sometimes that worked

in our favor.

Ah! No!

Oh, my God.

( piano continues playing )

Ah! Help!

And that's how it always was

with us:

give and take.

( door closes )

But mostly give.

Lena, I don't think

he's coming back this time.

LENA ( over phone ):

It's gonna be okay, Carmen.

I'll come over

first thing tomorrow.

And Tibby and Bridget, too.

Just stay on the phone with me

until you fall asleep.

What Were They Thinking?

take seven.

We were there for each other,

to understand the things that

no one else in the world could.

What were they thinking?

Having another baby

at their age!

And what was I,

just some experiment

from their hippie days

and now it's time

to start their real family?

Go ahead.

They're out of their minds.

It sucks.

Totally.

Cut! Lena, don't you realize

this is a tragedy?

Can't you give me

a bit more enthusiasm?

There were some things

we would never make sense of.

Grief is never

an easy burden to bear.

And we were there

for those, too.

PRIEST:

And as we mourn the loss

of this beloved wife,

mother and friend,

it only makes her choice

that much more unfathomable.

What measure of despair

compels one to commit

such an act?

We can only take comfort

in the fact that she is

in a better place now

than she found here among us.

My deepest sympathies.

Bridget.

We were there for the things

we couldn't face alone.

Hey.

Hey, B,

you okay?

Yeah. I will be

as soon as I get out

of these stupid heels. Here.

Hold them for me, will you?

I think I'll run home.

Or...

the ones we didn't want

to face at all.

* *

Together it was as if we formed

one single, complete person:

wild, unstoppable Bridget;

shy and beautiful Lena;

Tibby the rebel;

and me, Carmen, the writer.

You can't buy anything new

at a vintage store.

We were 16

and had never been apart.

And all that

was about to change.

How about this one?

It's great, if you

want to go to Greece

looking like

Laverne De Fazio.

Who?

'70s TV icon.

Am I the only one who's not

culturally deprived around here?

Oh, somebody forgot to take

her happy pill this morning.

No. Actually,

I'm saving them up

for when I'm stuck

doing time at Wallmans

while the rest of you jet off

on your little adventures.

Aw, boo-hoo, Tibby, you

are such a drama queen.

I am going to

South Carolina.

That is only, like,

three states away.

It's abandonment,

nevertheless.

I hate you all.

Oh, please, you're the one who

wanted to stay here all summer

and angst it out

making your documentary.

Yeah, it's gonna be

a huge hit.

Enthralling footage

on how to stack deodorant.

You know, I think I'm gonna

start my own genre,

call it the suck-umentary.

Lena, look at this.

Oh, my goodness.

( gasps ):

They're perfect.

I can't wear a bikini.

Carmen, duh, don't you know

that all the beaches

in Greece are nude? What?!

BRIDGET:

She's just kidding, Lena.

God, I envy you--

you get to go to a place

where there's actually guys.

I thought you were

looking forward

to, um, el campo de futbol.

She sure was

until she found out

it was girls-only.

No boys allowed.

I don't want

to talk about it.

Hey, pierce alert,

pierce alert.

BRIDGET:

Mm-mm. Sorry, young lady.

No more holes. I've told you...

Tibby?

Take those out right now

and try these on. Look.

Put them on.

Go. Go, go, go, go.

Carmen...

* Ta-da! *

Tibby, you're

a babe!

Wow! Tibby,

you look amazing.

Look at you!

Turn around.

Carmen!

You look wonderful.

You look good!

They look great on you.

Please buy them.

You try them on, then.

But I don't wear jeans.

Yeah. Or bikinis

or miniskirts

or anything else

that might actually

show you have a shape.

I do not.

Tibby, those look

so great on you.

Why can't you just admit it?

Oh, because I'm

wallowing in self-pity.

( gasps )

Ay, Dios mio!

Lena... you have a body!

Are you serious?

Lena Kaligaras

has a body!

Shh. Stop it.

When did this happen?

You look good

in those!

Look at you!

You look good!

Little Lena.

LENA:

Bridget, you're the one

who loves jeans so much,

why don't you try them?

Uh, maybe 'cause I'm three

inches taller than you.

Fair is fair.

Hey, how can they be perfect

on you, too?

Wow, that is

a little weird.

I don't know, but, um,

it's really starting

to freak me out.

Okay, Carmen,

it's your turn.

( eerily ):

* Ooh, woo, ooh... *

Carmen, you try them on.

You have to.

Oh, come on, B, honestly.

Are you serious?

You think that a pair of jeans

that fits all three of you

is going to fit...

all of this?

Put them on. Now.

We'll help your thighs

get into them.

Don't worry about it.

Tibby!

Oh, come on.

Will you help me

get out of them?

Carmen, we all

tried them on.

Yeah.

Just try them.

All right.

( grunts )

( giggling )

My thighs.

( laughter )

Sassy britches.

( grunts )

Okay, here we go.

What?

I told you guys,

I'm just gonna

take them off,

and we're gonna pretend

like this never...

( others objecting )

Come over here and

look at yourself.

They look amazing on you.

Look at them.

Call me crazy, but it's

scientifically impossible

that a pair of pants

could fit me...

And me... And me...

( chuckles ):

And me.

TIBBY:

This is crazy.

CARMEN:

Look, Tib, something

happened today

that I can't explain

and you can't explain.

Okay, whatever,

let's just ignore it.

We can't just ignore...

we can't just ignore it.

Why?

Because it's a sign...

Shh. Be quiet.

( squeals )

Sometimes you

are just...

LENA:

B, be careful!

I'm fine, Lena.

Oh, my God.

All I know is, it makes every

one of our butts look good.

That's enough for me.

That's right.

Amen.

Get up there. Go on.

Look, there is more going on

here than, like...

But there's

probably Lycra.

( laughter )

( whispering ):

All right, guys,

are we ready for this?

In the name of the Father,

the Son...

Oh, my God,

here we go.

Oh, Carmen.

This isn't church!

You guys! But it's still

a sacred place.

I mean, this is where

our moms met, right?

Anyway, look,

we're gathered here today

to honor a gift

that has been sent to us.

Then why'd we have

to pay for 'em?

Tibby, just go with it.

Carmen, go ahead.

I know.

Tonight, on the eve

of our separation,

magic has come to us

in a pair of pants.

( laughter )

What? And I'm proposing

that we share them equally,

and that this summer

they travel among us,

and they'll link us

in hearts and spirits,

even though we're far apart

from each other.

That's sweet.

I think that tonight

we're the sisters

of these pantalones.

Yes!

Sisters of the Pants?

Yes!

We need rules.

Every sisterhood

has rules.

Thank you. A manifesto.

Okay.

Good point! I love it!

Okay, rule number one.

Um, each sister is going

to keep the pants for...

LENA:

A week. A week.

BRIDGET:

I think that Lena

should be first, 'cause Greece

is the furthest away.

Yes.

Okay.

Tibby, you next.

Uh, what's your rule?

I don't have a rule.

Yes, you do.

Come on.

Uh, no picking your nose

when wearing the pants.

Honestly!

That's not...

Well, you can

casually scratch

while really...

picking, a little.

Thanks for the allowance.

BRIDGET:

Okay, when sending the pants,

we should write a letter

that details

the most exciting thing

that happened to you

while wearing the pants.

CARMEN:

That's a good rule.

So the most exciting thing

that happens to you.

TIBBY:

And what if nothing

exciting happens?

CARMEN:

Something exciting

is gonna have to.

TIBBY:

No, I really doubt it.

CARMEN:

Oh, and when

it happens,

and we reunite,

we will document it

on the pants themselves.

BRIDGET:

That's good.

That's rule number six.

Rule number seven.

Any removal of the pants

must be done

by the wearer herself.

( gasps ) Yes, you.

( inhales )

Touché.

Touché.

He works, you know.

So he may not have that much

time to spend with you.

So if you get lonely, I want

you to come home, okay?

I'm gonna be fine, Mom.

CARMEN:

We will never, ever

wash these pants.

Ew, Carmen, that's

so unnecessary. Why not?

Because you can't

wash the pants.

Why?

Carmen, we have

to wash the pants.

What, are you gonna wash

the magic out of the pants?

That is not sanitary.

TIBBY:

No, better one--

I have a better one:

no double cuffing.

Double cuffing the pants

at the bottom-- it's tacky.

It's totally tacky.

CARMEN:

You know what else is tacky?

Uh, tucking in your shirt

and wearing a belt

at the same time.

Oh! That's a good one!

LENA:

I don't do that anymore.

I did that one time.

( indistinct, overlapping

conversation )

CARMEN:

No cuffs, no tucking.

( indistinct, overlapping

conversation )

Okay, yes, B?

You can never say you look fat

while wearing the pants.

Ouch! Ow...

You can't even think it!

And, uh, take care.

And... be sure

to write, huh?

You, too. Bye.

You better get going.

Looks like they're

starting to board.

CARMEN:

That's nine.

We need one more.

We need a final rule.

Final rule.

Okay, pants equal love.

Love your sisters

and love yourself.

To the pants.

And the sisterhood.

And this summer.

And the rest of our lives.

Together and apart.

( all exhale )

( "Zorba the Greek" playing )

( donkey braying )

* *

You know, Papou,

I really wouldn't mind walking.

I'm sorry that my...

my Greek isn't so good.

Um... ( shrieks )

Mom said that I'd pick it up

in no time.

You know, with all the...

the talking,

just with you and with Yia Yia.

( clears throat )

* *

( gasps, mutters )

* *

( yells )

( woman speaking Greek )

( people speaking Greek )

( all conversing in Greek )

Lena!

Lena!

Puh-puh-puh-

puh-puh-puh. Oh, uh...

It's the evil eye. Oh.

Oh, Lena, I think I'll die

and never see my Lena!

I think I'll never

see you, my Lena.

( violin playing,

people talking )

You like your room?

Eh? And your bed?

I have put the most special

sheets and lace.

And from this window,

the most beautiful view, eh?

( woman speaking Greek )

She's special, eh?

Like a jewel.

Ah, we guard you

like a jewel. Eh?

( speaking Greek )

You need rest, eh?

Good rest.

( continues in Greek )

( children singing )

* Para bailar La Bamba *

* Se necesita una poca

de gracia *

* Una poca de gracia

por mi y por ti *

* Y arriba y arriba... *

( Latin dance song playing )

* *

( man singing in Spanish )

When you hear your name called

and the color of your team,

run over and join your coach.

Alber, Megan, green.

( cheering )

Anderson, Alice, green.

( woman continues calling names

and colors over loud cheering )

Please, God,

let me sprain my ankle

as soon as possible.

Come again?

This whole thing was

my mother's idea.

She couldn't wait

to get rid of me.

God, mine has been

sobbing all week.

"I don't know what

I'm gonna do without you."

I'm like, "Get a life, Ma,"

you know?

What's yours do?

Oh, um, nothing.

Hey, who's that?

Don't even think

about it.

It's against the rules

to have flings with the coaches.

Darcet, Olivia! Red!

( whooping )

Come on!

Vreeland, Bridget! Red!

( cheering continues )

* *

( song ends )

( pop ballad intro )

* I could feel you *

* You were there *

* I could hold you *

* But you're not there *

* I *

* I'm going away *

* I'm going away *

Hey, baby.

* I just *

* Want you to know... *

Here it is.

I asked the school to

postpone sending this

because, Dad, I wanted

to surprise you.

* Ta-da! *

Straight A's.

That's fantastic!

Dad, I brought

my tennis gear,

and I have been practicing

like crazy,

so I want you to serve to me

your absolute hardest, okay?

I'll do that.

You know, I was

calculating it on the train.

I haven't spent

more than four straight days

with you since I was ten.

I mean, I love it

when you come for Christmas,

but a whole summer?

Just the two of us?

Did I tell you that Mom taught

me how to make arroz con pollo?

I'm gonna cook that

for you.

And platanos, too.

Wait, where are we?

* *

I have a surprise

for you.

I moved out of Charleston.

And into a development?

Dad...

but you hate developments.

When did I say that?

At the Frederick Law Olmsted

exhibit at the Smithsonian.

You said there's city

and there's country,

and everything else

is a wasteland.

I was nine years old,

and you came to DC for one day

to visit with

a plastics company.

You remember everything.

I don't remember

you telling me you moved.

* *

Who is that?!

Is that your neighbor?

Actually...

we live together.

Hey!

You must be Carmen.

Ooh.

Your daddy has told me

so much about you.

I just know

we're gonna have

the most wonderful

summer together.

Kids! Kids,

come on out here!

Kids?

They're not kids.

They're teenagers,

just like you.

They live with you?

Carmen...

this is Krista,

and this is Paul.

We're gonna be

bridesmaids together.

Excuse me?!

I... hadn't quite gotten

to that part of

the surprise yet.

WOMAN:

Sweetheart?

Oh, sweetheart,

I... ( sighs )

We're getting married.

August 19.

( bland music playing

over store speakers )

Say, you're a real

natural with that thing.

Took me weeks before

I got the hang of it.

Yeah, well, we all have

our special talents.

MAN:

Tibby.

I thought I made it

perfectly clear

that employee headsets

are to be worn

at all times.

Don't make me mention it again.

GIRL:

Excuse me?

Where are the shampoos?

Aisle seven.

( giggling )

( crashing in distance )

( whispers ):

Oh, my God.

Somebody help.

Girl down.

Somebody call an ambulance!

( indistinct radio

communication )

You got a price sticker

on your forehead.

( siren wails )

( Greek music playing )

* *

* *

( shrieking )

* *

( gasping )

( speaking Greek )

I'm sorry, I...

I don't speak

Greek very well.

Well, we'll have to work

on that, won't we?

( bell dinging )

Thanks for lending me a shirt.

It looks

good on you.

( chuckles )

Sorry if it

smells like fish.

Is this your boat?

My grandfather's. Yeah.

Mm.

All the ones

with the blue flags

are his.

Do you work for him?

No, just in the summer.

I go to the university

in Athens.

Kostas Dunas.

Lena Kaligaras.

Lena Kaligaras.

Then you are

Greek, too, eh?

Mm-hmm.

So how do you, uh,

know English so well?

Well, I lived with

my parents in Chicago

until I was 12.

Oh, my parents moved

to the U.S., too.

Yeah.

But I'm just here

for the summer.

I'm staying with

my grandparents.

I have to throw

the small ones back.

Would you like to help?

Um... no.

That's okay. No.

Okay, here.

I'll show you.

Give me your hand.

Uh... um...

Put your hand

on my hand.

( squeals )

( chuckling )

Good? Mm-hmm.

There.

Luck was on his side today.

I have to go. I should go.

But, uh, thank you, again,

for saving my life.

Do you dance better

than you swim?

Uh...

Excuse me?

Saturday night.

Meet me.

Uh, I'm sorry, I ca...

I can't.

Pick it up!

* I am unwritten *

* Can't read my mind *

* I'm undefined *

* I'm just beginning... *

Hi.

Hi.

I'm Bridget.

Eric.

I know.

So, um, I hear you

go to Columbia.

Yep.

Well, what have you

heard about me?

Your high school

won Nationals.

MVP. I play forward.

So I've noticed.

I'm 17.

Come on,

I'll race you.

* No one else

can feel it for you *

* Only you can let it in *

* No one else, no one else can

speak the words on your lips *

* Today is where

your book begins *

* The rest is still unwritten *

* Yeah. *

( panting )

That's it.

Seven miles.

Oh, God,

don't you love to run?

Yeah.

It's the best high there is.

Exactly.

It's-It's... It's like

you're just in this place

where-where nothing bad

can ever happen, you know?

Like,

if you just

push a bit further,

if you just keep moving...

Nothing can touch you.

Of course,

the endorphins

don't suck either.

( chuckles )

DAD:

So Tammy's feeling okay?

KRISTA:

Yeah.

So is she going to do

baton twirling with you?

We don't know yet.

She might just have

to hold the banner.

Sweetheart,

why don't we say grace

before we start eating dinner.

I would love to.

Bless us, O Lord,

for these, Thy gifts,

which we are about to receive,

from Thy bounty, through

Christ our Lord...

ALL:

Amen.

Dig in. This looks great.

( phone ringing )

I will get that.

Oh, it's okay.

We don't answer

the phone during dinner.

KRISTA:

Except that one time.

Tell us again

how you guys met.

Oh...

We've told that

story so many times.

Do you want to tell it?

No, I don't want to tell it.

You want me

to tell it?

All right.

I dialed the wrong number...

And I answered.

During dinner.

Just that one time.

And Lydia agreed

to go out

with a perfect stranger.

Is that how

it happened?

Oh, no.

Come on.

No, no, no.

That is exactly what happened.

We went bowling.

It was so much fun.

Do you remember?

You bowled a two.

A two is a bad score.

At least I didn't get the

bowling ball stuck on my thumb.

CARMEN:

The water in the toilet is blue.

Blue?

Yes, Mom, blue.

And by the way,

doesn't Dad hate bowling?

Bowling?

Well, he's down here bowling.

And he says grace.

Grace?!

He says Grace, Mom.

Like, he gives thanks

to God before he eats.

We couldn't get him to go

to church with us once.

Who is this guy?

I don't even...

Okay, you need

to talk to him, Carmen.

Just... ( speaks Spanish )

tell him how you feel.

I do. I do talk to him.

I talk to him all the time.

Yeah, like you talk to me? No.

This is important Carmensita.

What he did was wrong.

I'm gonna get on a plane and

I'm just gonna come down there.

No, Mom, look--

Okay, you'd never

want him to be happy,

and that's why you blame him

and this

is gonna work out great.

It's going to be fine.

( phone beeps off )

LENA:

Dear Tibby,

I think we may have been

very, very wrong

about the pants.

The one time I wore them,

I almost drowned,

and then got plucked

onto a fishing boat

by a guy who made me

touch a live fish.

It was disgusting.

At least I'm getting

some good sketching in.

I love everything

about this island.

Well, except

that you're not with me.

Infinite X's and O's.

Lena.

( men shouting in Greek )

How was town?

Fine.

I have found this

in the laundry.

Is it yours?

No, actually, um...

( chuckles )

I, uh, I sort of

borrowed it.

When I went down

to the, um,

harbor,

I went swimming,

and someone just lent it to me.

Oh, someone.

Someone who?

A boy, yeah?

Which one?

I know everyone.

Don't mind them,

they're your cousins.

( speaking Greek )

They're cousins, too?

How many do I have?

Plenty of them.

Don't change the subject.

Come, out with it.

Out, out.

His name is Kostas Dunas.

( indistinct

conversations in Greek )

Dunas?

He's a Dunas?!

( all speaking Greek excitedly )

Shh! ( shouts in Greek )

You must never

speak of them.

They are liars,

they are thieves,

they are barbarians!

( speaking Greek )

Your grandfather would die

if he know about this.

You must never see

this boy again.

You understand?

Yes.

No, that's not enough.

You have to swear.

I swear.

Okay.

( speaking Greek )

* *

* *

* *

What exactly am I supposed

to be saying here?

TIBBY ( on tape ):

Oh, just stuff about your life.

Oh, ain't nothing

too interesting.

TIBBY:

Well, we're not really looking

for interesting,

just real, you know.

That's the point

of a documentary.

A what?

A documentary.

Oh.

Like a movie,

only boring.

( Tibby and woman laughing

on tape )

( doorbell chimes )

Um, hi.

I think this is yours.

They delivered it

to my house by mistake.

They must have got

the numbers screwed up.

See, this says 721 and I'm 271.

I'm Bailey.

Yeah, you're the one...

that, um, that fainted

the other day, right?

At Wallmans. I was there.

Oh, yeah.

You're the weird girl with the

price sticker on your forehead.

Wait here,

I got something for you.

It was lying

next to you.

I opened it up to see if

there was an I.D. in it.

So you ripped off

my wallet?

Ooh...

that's kind of like a

thank you, but different?

I think I had more than

four dollars in here.

( chuckles ):

Do you seriously think

I would steal your money?

I opened it to see

if there was an I.D. in there.

Okay? There wasn't.

There was a school photo and

a pathetic picture of a kitten.

Oh, so what's in yours?

A Wallmans employee card

or license to ride a bike?

Oh, excuse me.

I get my learner's permit

next week and...

How old are you, like, ten?

Twelve.

Whatever.

Same difference.

No, it's not.

When I was ten,

I didn't have an iPod.

Oh, you're so cool.

And what are you

listening to in there?

Teletubbies' Hit Parade?

( baby crying )

You woke her up.

Thank you.

( crying )

Must suck.

What?

Having to baby-sit

on your day off.

Why are you

working there anyway?

It just

so happens

that I need some extra money

for new video equipment,

and when I finally got around

to looking for a new job,

Wallmans was the...

Why am I telling you this?

Don't you have somewhere

you need to be?

Not really.

Looks like

you got a lot already.

Are you making

a movie or something?

More like an ode.

To what?

Lives of quiet desperation.

Human existence at its lamest.

Oh, fascinating.

Maybe you need an assistant.

Maybe I don't.

You wouldn't have

to pay me or anything.

I could just help you carry

equipment and stuff.

Hi, honey.

Oh, I'm sorry I'm late.

( groans )

Who's your friend?

She's not my...

Bailey. Bailey Graffman.

Well, I got to go.

See you around, Tibby.

( sighs )

There you are.

Hi. Hey.

We should play

tennis tomorrow.

Really?

Yeah.

Yeah.

In the morning?

Yeah.

Are you ready for this,

old man?

You think your knees,

your knees can take it?

Seriously, do you

actually think

that you can return my serve?

I do, Dad, I do.

Would you like to put

some money on that?

I'll put some money

on it.

Uh, sweetheart?

Yeah?

I got to meet

the caterers at the hotel.

Would you mind

stopping by Paul's game?

Sure.

He's an unbelievable

soccer player.

Mm-hmm.

We'll just stop

for one second, okay?

It's right on the way.

Yeah, yeah, okay.

( shouting )

( whistle blows )

* *

Oh, hey.

How are you?

Good.

Didn't think your team was

scrimmaging till later today.

They're not,

I just came out early

to check out the competition.

Oh...

Well, you're

looking at her.

( chuckling )

You're awfully

sure of yourself, huh?

When I know what I want.

( whistle blowing )

( cheering )

Take it down! Take it down!

( players, crowd shouting )

( whistle blows )

MAN:

Overtime!

All right!

Overtime.

Which one of

those is yours?

Uh, Paul. Paul Rodman.

Oh, so you're the

golden boy's dad.

He's a good player.

Yeah, he is.

Al?!

( indistinct conversation,

crowd cheering )

COACH:

Okay, let's see you pass!

Pass, Vreeland!

Now!

( whooping, cheering )

Yep, nice shot.

GIRLS:

We're not worthy.

We're not worthy.

COACH:

Come on, ladies!

Sub!

Vreeland, you're out!

This is a scrimmage,

Vreeland,

as in practice,

as in everyone

on the team needs

to get some.

We all know you're

a superstar.

Okay, we got it.

Now save it for

the championship.

Who do we got, Diana?

Katie, you're up.

Okay, Katie, let's go,

let's go, let's go!

( coach shouting

indistinct instructions )

The hotel that's

doing our wedding

had a water main break.

The whole place is flooded.

And the repairs won't

be done for months.

Oh, my God, the place

was just so perfect.

I'm never going to find

another place in time.

I'm just...

We will find a place.

I'm sorry.

Lydia never had

a real wedding.

My, uh, my dad died just

before my first and, uh...

AL:

Come on, let's get you home.

We'll work this out.

Hey, uh, Paul,

you want to play

tennis with Carmen?

Great shot, Paul.

What?

Lydia needs me, sweetie.

Besides, it'll be a good chance

for you guys

to get to know each other.

Dad, Paul doesn't talk.

Yeah, he's

a little shy.

Go on. It'll be fun.

We'll play tomorrow, okay?

Okay.

( grunting )

( grunting )

Oh, my God. Are you okay?

Oh, my gosh.

Are you okay?

I'm so sorry. I'm sorry.

( gasps ):

It's swelling.

I'm so sorry.

It's no big deal.

We should just stop.

I'm tired anyway.

* *

* *

( grunting )

* *

Oh!

( speaks Greek )

No, I thought...

I didn't...

( chuckles )

Well, here's your shirt.

Thanks again.

Lena, wait!

I was just about

to take her out.

Come with me.

No, I shouldn't even

be here at all.

( chuckles )

They told you, didn't they?

You think this is funny?

Our grandparents

hate each other.

You knew my name.

Why didn't you just say

something the other day?

Well, because...

the arguments of old men

have nothing to do with us.

Well, they're not

arguing about nothing.

What is... what was

the fight about?

What everything

here is about.

Money and fish.

My grandfather says your

grandfather cheat him.

Your grandfather says my

grandfather sold him fish

that make his whole

restaurant sick.

So what's the truth?

The truth is... that it's

a beautiful day and...

why should the rest

of it matter?

Because it does.

( bland music playing

over speakers )

Tibby...

Tibby?

Tibby, now I've had

another complaint

of receipt withholding.

So this is your

second offense and...

You're going to have

to dock my pay.

That's right.

Also, the dress code

strictly prohibits blue jeans.

No problem!

Great.

( sighs )

Wha-What are you doing

with my stuff?

Your mom gave it to me.

I told her I was

your assistant.

You what? Wha...

She seemed to think

it was a good idea.

Okay, look, you seem

like a sweet kid.

No, you seem like a pain

in the ass.

But look, I have

my own friends.

Three best friends.

And even though they left me

here to rot this summer,

I'm not looking

for any new ones.

Neither am I.

I just think

it'd be cool to learn

about filmmaking.

Besides,

I think I found a good subject

for an interview.

His name is Brian McBrian,

king of Dragon's Lair.

I heard he's broken

every record there is.

Okay, so he's definitely

not what you'd call lame,

but I figured he'd be

a good contrast

to all the loser types

in the movie.

Start setting up.

Go stand next to him.

Pretend like

you're a fan.

Like you watch him all

the time or something.

Right.

And...

action.

Video arcade wizards

are fixtures at most

convenience stores.

Brian McBrian is

a fixture at this one.

Dragon's Lair, he says,

is his calling.

Brian, you spend

a lot of time here?

Uh... sometimes, all day.

TIBBY:

So, you prefer to spend

most of your time here

at the Quick Mart

instead of out

in the real world?

BAILEY:

Well, maybe he finds the

world of Dragon's Lair

more interesting.

Tell us about it,

Brian.

Well, uh...

basically, uh,

you're... Dirk the Daring

in the year 1305 A.D.

See, the goal is to

rescue Princess Daphne

who's being guarded by

a sinister dragon.

See, chamber number one

is the snake room.

See, snakes slither

from the ceiling.

Really?

And you don't even get

to see the dragon

until chamber number 23.

( laughing ):

Yeah!

Come on, come

on, come on.

Yeah...

He's right behind you!

Go, go, go.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

I got it. I got it.

Watch this. Ready?

Run fast!

Go!

Ooh.

( Dirk yells )

( sighs )

( game bleeps )

( beeping )

Oh, you must have

run out of tape.

Oh!

What about the rest

of the interview?

Um...

well, we could...

we could always

come back tomorrow, I guess.

I mean, if that's...

if that's cool with you.

Yeah.

Buenos dias.

Como estan?

Que dia tan bueno, no?

Papi, como dormistes, bien?

You all right?

Claro que si, porque no?

Is she speaking

Spanish?

Oh, is that okay?

Is that all right?

Oh, sure, sure.

It's just that nobody

understands it, sweetie.

Oh, come on, Dad, you

know that is not true.

He and my mom, they used to

speak Spanish all the time.

Especially when they

started being all gushy

and they didn't

want me to...

Oh, wow, is it..?

It's 9:00?!

I've got to drop

that check off.

...you know, know what

they were saying,

so they would just, like,

bust out in Spanish.

But I totally

understood them. It was...

Uh, Carmen! Carmen, you're

not going to believe this.

We have decided to have the

wedding right here at home.

KRISTA:

With a big party

in the backyard.

LYDIA:

Mm-hmm!

Dancing under the stars.

It's gonna be perfect.

Oh, it'll be fabulous.

Que bueno.

Where's, um, Paul?

Oh, he, uh, he had

an appointment.

At the hospital?

Why-Why would

you say that?

CARMEN:

Well, we were playing tennis

the other day

and, well, I hit him,

but it was an accident and...

Oh, no,

no, no. He's fine.

He's okay, he's okay.

He just, uh...

He just had

to do something.

( mumbles )

Yeah... ( laughs )

Dad, Dad.

Yo.

Dad...

Um, what's going on?

Where exactly is Paul?

He's in Atlanta, honey.

Visiting his father.

His dad's in a facility.

He's an alcoholic.

Every month, Paul

takes a bus to visit him.

Krista refuses to see him.

She's, she's not

ready for that.

Lydia doesn't want to upset her

by talking about it,

so we just say that Paul

is out for the day.

Okay.

( Latin pop song playing )

Natasha...

Olivia...

Bridget...

Polly...

Jana...

Oh, tampons!

That's special, Mom!

Joe...

Welcome to camp.

Tampons.

Diana...

Uh-huh. Shampoo.

Very, very practical, Mother.

Hamburgers.

( chuckles ):

Every day...

Oh, did you guys hear?

Actually, they're, uh,

finally giving

us Saturday off.

Oh, hallelujah.

Can you say "cantina"?

Hey, where's the cantina?

I don't know.

I think somewhere

up the road. Why?

He wants me to go.

What?

He wants me to go.

Come on, why else

would he have said that

right in front of me?

Oh, this is

my favorite part.

When he takes the big risk

and launches the catapults.

Shh, Bailey, come on.

I'm trying to see

if there's something

we can use from this.

( mutters ):

This whole thing...

What was in the package?

Uh, just, mm...

just those pair

of pants over there.

I'm sharing them with

my friends for the summer.

These?

( sighs )

What's so great about

an old pair of jeans?

Uh, nothing.

They... They just happened

to mysteriously

fit us all perfectly.

Really?

I wonder what they'd

look like on me.

You know,

on the off chance

you'd ever let me

try them on...?

Like now, for example.

Bailey, go ahead.

Just do whatever you want, okay?

I need some quiet.

( baby cries in distance )

( sighs )

MOM:

Tibby!

I need you

to take the baby!

( tapping keys )

TIBBY:

My Carmapoochiez--

I'm writing from the post

office, and this express mail

costs more than I make

in two hours at Wallmans,

so these jeans better

get to you tomorrow.

Here we are on a typical

Bethesda corner,

where generations

of young entrepreneurs

have proved the old adage,

when life hands you lemons,

make lemonade.

So the question on my mind is:

Is this fresh-squeezed

or powder?

What does it matter,

if it's good lemonade?

Shh, Bailey, let me...

let me ask

the questions.

TIBBY:

I'm sad to report

that absolutely nothing

of consequence happened to me

while wearing the pants.

Um, I spilled a Sprite

and Duncan,

my rat-faced manager,

accused me

of receipt withholding.

Receipt withholding.

In rat-faced manager lingo,

that means forgetting to give

the customer a sales slip.

You know, I was reading

that Bill Gates,

when he was younger,

he ran a lemonade stand.

That... you don't

know that. That's not...

Yeah, I do. I read

it in a magazine.

Where... what...

where did you read that?

In a magazine.

TIBBY:

Other than that, the only thing

that I have

to show for the pants

is the kid that delivered them.

Some wiseass, pain in the neck

who's decided to permanently

glue herself to my hip.

...she's just tired.

That's what she is.

She's been there a really

long time-- all day.

What is she doing

right there? Tell me.

She's-She's just thinking.

She's strategizing.

She's thinking?

And that's what

you can't see.

I think she's trying to grow a

brain, that's what she's doing.

Too bad you can't

express mail 12-year-olds.

...and I wish you

the very best

of luck on

this endeavor.

* *

* *

Hey.

Hey, there, sleepy head.

Hey, Carmen.

Hey, time to wake up.

Hi.

Hi, there.

Good morning.

Sorry to wake you,

but I was just wondering if

Maria could grab your sheets.

Maria?

Our housekeeper.

I told her

you usually slept

late, but uh,

I don't think she understood me.

Her-Her English isn't real good.

( chuckling ):

Um...

okay, right.

Uh... could I...

I'll just wash my own sheets.

No, no, no, no.

Don't be silly.

Maria can certainly

do your sheets--

not a problem.

Lydia, it's really, it's...

It's a beautiful day.

There's no reason why you

should be washing sheets.

Oh, it's not a problem at all.

I usually do it

myself, anyway.

I do it all the time.

I'm so used to it.

People wash their sheets

all the time.

Okay.

( various conversations

in Greek )

( shouting, conversation

continues )

( conversation continues )

Been here long?

Kostas...

what are you doing here?

It's a fish market.

This is where

I sell my fish.

Right.

But you already

knew that, eh?

Excuse me?

Yeah, no one sits near

a smelly fish market

unless they're

waiting for someone.

Um, well, I don't know

what you're talking about.

I mean, I just came

to sketch

that old church

over there, so...

May I?

Um... well, it's...

it's not finished.

You didn't tell me

you were an artist.

I'm not, really.

Lena, you are.

My parents were married

in that church before they left

for the United States.

Why did they come

back to Greece?

They didn't.

They were killed in a car

accident when I was 12.

I come back to live

with my grandfather.

I'm sorry.

What made you choose

to paint this?

Uh, I don't know.

Um, I liked it because,

when you first look at it,

it looks kind of

forgotten, and then...

but then you realize that

that's why it's beautiful.

It's... It's perfect

in all its loneliness.

You see?

Lena Kaligaras,

you are an artist.

And you should finish it.

Well, maybe some other time.

I mean, I really should go.

If my grandparents

saw me here, they...

They what?

Is it really them

you're afraid of?

Or is it something else?

( laughs weakly )

What do you mean?

You don't even know me.

I'm trying to.

Can't you see that?

* *

* *

* *

LENA:

He's right, Car.

I am afraid.

There's a part of me

that wants to let him in,

but then I feel myself

put this wall up.

And I don't understand why.

Maybe that's what strikes me

most about Kostas.

That despite everything

he suffered, he can still

look at life in the most

uncomplicated way.

I've never known

that kind of faith.

It makes me so sad that people

like Kostas and Bridget,

who have lost everything,

can still be open to love.

While I, who have

lost nothing, am not.

( sobbing quietly )

* Can I ask you

a question, please? *

* Promise you won't

laugh at me *

* Honestly, I'm standing here *

* Afraid I'll be betrayed *

* As twisted as it seems *

* I only feel love

when it's in my dreams *

* So let in the morning light *

* And let the

darkness fade away *

* Can you turn

my black roses red? *

* Can you turn my black roses

red? *

* Yeah, I feel like

I've never known love *

* I feel like

I've never known love *

* Love...*

( song fades )

She's at the doctor's.

MAN:

Who is?

Little girl next door.

I don't know why, though.

I heard they were

stopping treatment.

Treatment?

She has leukemia.

Found it a couple

of years ago, poor thing.

( girl giggling )

Is that her?

Yeah.

( giggling )

( sighs )

( ring tone plays )

What is that?!

Oh! ( giggling )

( speaking Spanish )

* ...enamorado

por un rato, por un rato *

* No se acuerda ni tu nombre *

* Por un rato, por un rato *

( indistinct conversation )

Hi.

What are you doing here?

You shouldn't be here.

I'm not drinking.

But if you don't dance with

me, I might have to start.

( Latin music playing )

* Well,

when the boogie starts *

* I start flippin'

with my left hand *

* Before I get to the last lap *

* And that's the passion

that I feel for this *

* A little more than blood,

sweat for this *

* Ay, cabron, ya llego *

* Negrito de Los Angelitos

with my people *

* Everybody, come on,

get y'all grito *

* I'm-a do it

till you're feeling it... *

( sings in Spanish )

* You deliver the goods

like Doritos *

* Every time I step to the mic *

* It's like freedom *

( singing in Spanish )

* Insane, loco,

mad in the coco... *

Bridget...

I... I can't.

I... I can't do this.

I'm sorry.

( song continues )

* Hey, kid, your time

has come to change *

...not at all.

* Though I need you more

than I've needed anyone *

* In any way tonight *

* Hey, kid, yeah,

I know it won't be long *

* The captain's calling... *

( squeals )

* Come to see you back

where we belong *

* Something inside me

is breaking *

Don't forget to steer.

That's good.

* Something inside says *

( screams )

Slow down,

slow down.

* There's somewhere

better than this *

* Sunset sailing

on April skies *

* Bloodshot fire clouds

in her eyes *

* I can't say

what I might believe *

* But if God made you *

* Yeah, He's in love *

* With me *

* Yeah *

* He's in love with me *

* Love, love, love,

love, love. *

TIBBY:

So, uh, Bertie, what

do you like best

about working

here at Wallmans?

Pays the bills.

Well, most of them anyway.

I also work part-time

over at the sweet

shop across the way.

They've got one of them,

um, blending machines,

you know, for the mixings,

and whenever I get bored I...

I do experiments.

BAILEY:

Experiments?

Oh, that's

so cool.

Here, plug that in.

Sorry I'm late.

It's okay.

What's your best one so far?

Uh... gee, I

don't know. I...

Oh, there was one

the other day

and it turned out

really good.

It had, um, pralines,

blueberries

and a whole bunch

of graham crackers.

Awesome.

You know Baskin-Robbins?

They hire these

ice cream scientists

whose job is to invent

three new flavors every month.

Really?

Yeah.

You know who'd be good

at something like that?

You.

You think so?

Oh, geez, I got

to get back to work.

Duncan's gonna have a hissy fit.

See you later.

( chuckles )

Sorry.

I know you hate it when I butt

in like that, I just...

It's okay.

I didn't mean to mess up

the whole interview...

You didn't.

You... You were good.

So, uh, who told you?

Uh, told me what?

You found out, didn't you?

We still have time

for one more interview.

It's called leukemia.

Yeah, and I would

like to come with you.

But are you just asking

'cause you feel sorry for me?

I don't know.

Maybe.

Okay.

O-Okay.

* *

WOMAN:

I'll just take the hem up

and it'll be perfect.

You look

beautiful.

I love it, Mama.

Carmen?

Carmen, you're next, sweetheart.

( Carmen speaking Spanish )

Uh, I-I beg your pardon?

I look like a tramp.

Oh, dear.

Um...

I'm-I'm sure Barbara can, uh,

can-can work on this for you.

Here you go.

Oh, well, let's,

let's see here.

Uh, well, we need

to let this out here.

Um, right, right.

Way out.

And, um...

hopefully, we can dig

up some extra fabric.

And maybe we can...

This needs

some serious work here.

Frankly, I think

we're better off

just starting from

scratch on this one.

Okay, good, um,

can I take this off now?

Oh, sure.

Certainly, darling.

Go ahead.

Barbara,

I'm so sorry.

I had no idea her

father would be so off

when he guessed

her size.

Well, usually, a roughly

constructed prototype

works as

a starting point,

but in this case...

Maybe we could add

a long-line corset lift?

Yes, that'll cinch it in.

Right, beautiful.

It is a wedding,

and I do want it

to... to look uniform.

I mean, will she

look like Krista?

Definitely.

You know, just never mind.

We will fix the hem on Krista's

and we'll just, uh...

start over on the other one.

Carmen.

The other one's name,

it's Carmen.

Car-men.

And you know what, Lydia?

Just forget

about the dress, okay?

We can just tell everybody

that Carmen's Puerto Rican,

and it never

occurred to you

that she might be

built differently.

Or that unlike you

and your daughter,

she has an ass

that the tailor

didn't have enough

bolts of material to cover.

Or better yet, just tell

everyone there is no Carmen.

Carmen doesn't exist.

Carmen, honey...

Carmen!

( players clamoring )

( whistle blows )

GIRLS:

One, two, three!

Okay, ladies, time

to call out the cavalry.

Now, listen up.

To secure a spot

in the playoffs,

we're gonna

shake it up a little bit.

Just get the ball to Wendy

and Carrie to midfield.

Bridget's the sweeper.

What?!

You heard me.

I don't want to see you

go past midfield.

You got that? Now go!

( shouting )

BRIDGET:

Dear Lena,

when I got your letter I

screamed for about ten minutes.

So, you found

a hottie after all, huh?

Well, me, too.

His name is Eric.

Did I mention he's one of the

coaches and 100% off-limits?

But I don't care.

I've never wanted anything

this much in my entire life.

I'm still waiting

for Carmapoochiez

to send me the pants.

And in the meantime, I'm

throwing all my pent-up energy

into soccer,

although that only seems

to get me in more trouble.

What can I say?

I'm obsessed.

And as we all know,

obsessed girls cannot be

responsible

for our actions, can we?

* You can't stop this feeling *

* You cannot run away *

Pass, Vreeland!

* Baby, I want

some of your mind *

* Can't stop this feeling *

* There's no escape *

( cheering )

* No sleep tonight *

* No sleep tonight,

no sleep tonight *

* No sleep tonight. *

Hey.

Hey.

Saw you watch me play today.

What'd you think?

( chuckles ):

Uh...

I don't know

if I've ever seen anyone...

with that much intensity.

Ever.

Well, I think I might have been

showing off for you

just a little bit.

Just a little bit?

Yeah.

( laughs )

No.

You know, it's more than that.

You scare the hell out of me.

Single-minded

to the point of recklessness.

What?

It's what the school

shrink called me.

After my mom died, a few

of the teachers thought that,

I don't know, I needed

to be evaluated or something.

So I met with a guy.

I talked and he wrote.

I've never told

anyone that before.

Okay, Bridget, I...

No, don't say

anything.

Not now, okay?

Hey, come on, I'll race you.

( conversing in Greek )

* *

* *

Here you go.

You got a key,

honey?

No.

Doesn't look like

anybody's home.

They're probably

out looking for me,

but I'll be fine.

Thank you.

All right.

( taxi drives off )

( laughter in distance )

( indistinct conversation )

( grunts )

( indistinct announcement

over P.A. )

( over phone ):

Hi, this is Tibby.

Here comes the beep.

Hopefully you know

what to do with it.

( beep )

Tib, it's me. It's Carmen.

I'm coming home.

Everything got screwed up and I

snapped and I don't care and...

I'm just fed up

and I can't be here, so...

I called you 'cause I knew...

( beep )

...knew you'd understand.

You know what I like

most about the stars?

You look at 'em--

at all of 'em up there--

and you just know

there's got to be

something more than...

Life?

There has to be.

Are you scared?

Not of dying, really.

It's more that

I'm afraid of... time.

Not having enough of it.

Time to figure out

who I'm supposed to be,

to find my place in the world

before I have to leave it.

( voice breaking ):

I'm afraid of what I'll miss.

What?

N-Nothing.

LENA:

Well, Bridget

just lights

everything up.

She makes everything more fun.

And Carmen...

is brilliant, but

she doesn't know it.

And Tibby... well,

Tibby kind of

marches

to her own drum.

I'm kind of

jealous of her.

Why?

Um...

well, because

she knows who she is.

Don't you?

Um, I don't know.

I think I know who I want to be.

What you were saying

the other day

about me

being afraid,

well...

it's hard to explain.

Um... all my life,

everybody's always kind

of seen me a certain way,

um, and I didn't,

I don't...

That's all right;

I understand.

Do you?

Yeah.

Some people show off

their beauty

because they want

the world to see it.

Others try to hide

their beauty because...

they want the world

to see something else.

And what do you see?

Everything.

( engine humming )

CARMEN:

Dear Bridget,

I guess I was kidding myself

to think that,

when the pants arrived,

they were somehow gonna

make everything better.

I mean, I don't blame them

for what happened, but...

Anyway, I do hope

that they bring you better

luck than they did me.

And even more than that, B,

may they bring you good sense.

I know it sounds boring,

but trust me

from recent experience,

a little common sense,

it's not such a bad thing, B.

Wear them well.

Love you, Carmen.

Your dad called.

He wanted to make sure

you got home okay.

I'm so sorry, baby.

I knew this would happen.

Mom, please.

Now you know why I was so

afraid of you going there.

I don't want to say

I told you so, but...

Then don't.

( stamp clacking )

( dog barking )

Morning!

Don't you

ever sleep?

What for?

This just

came for you.

Oh, my God.

They're finally here.

What's here?

Do you guys realize

what this means?

That you're hugging

a pair of jeans?

These aren't

just jeans.

They make things happen.

Sweet.

I felt like I was

living in some freak show

known as the Land

of the Blondes,

and guess who was the freak.

I'm sure it wasn't that bad.

It was!

It was horrible!

Okay, Paul-- he doesn't talk.

He didn't say a word.

And Krista,

she's this

perky little...

nightmare.

And her and her mom, they're,

like, sunshine twins on uppers,

except when,

God forbid,

something happened

with the wedding plans.

Because, Tibby, I don't think

there was a single conversation

that didn't revolve around

flowers or hors d'oeuvre menus

or guest lists

or tablecloths or...

I'm sure they were just excited.

( stammers )

Tib, can you pretend

to be on my side?

It's not

about sides,

Car, there are worse things

than your dad getting married.

Sure, he probably could

have handled it better...

Tibby, he didn't

handle it at all.

Tell him that.

Why should

I have to?

You shouldn't have to throw

a rock at him, either.

I didn't throw a rock at him.

I threw it at them.

They're the problem, Tibby.

They're the ones

who ruined everything.

And why are you giving me

this hypocritical

lecture about

treating people decently

when you walk

around screaming

"Screw the world!"

because that's easier

than feeling something?

* *

* *

( door creaks )

* *

* *

* *

* *

I think she's

getting

too much sun.

You're probably right.

Maybe I'll go for a walk,

get some fresh air.

( barking )

Oh, look out.

( playing festive melody )

Can't you stay

another week?

My classes start on Monday.

I have to go.

I just...

I feel like...

I know. Me, too.

I love you, Lena.

( shouting in Greek )

Lena!

Kostas!

Lena!

( spits )

( gasps )

He makes you drunk.

It was nothing.

We were

just dancing!

You make

promise to me.

Does that mean nothing

to you, too, huh?

Does not mean nothing to break

the hearts of

those who love you?

You call that... nothing?

I'm sorry.

In this life,

family is the most

precious gift

we are given...

the most sacred.

Turn your back on them,

and that is when

you truly have nothing.

( slams )

( door opens )

* *

BRIDGET:

It happened just how

I always imagined it would,

so why do I feel this way,

Lena?

How can something

that's supposed

to make you feel so complete

end up leaving you so empty?

I just wish so much

I could talk to my mom.

I need her...

and that scares me.

Mom, I... I told you

I can't baby-sit today--

Bailey and I have an inter...

Bailey's in the hospital,

sweetheart.

Her mom called.

Honey, she's...

she's not doing well.

Oh.

It's Bethesda

Memorial.

I tried

calling you.

Come on, I'll-I'll-I'll

drive you over to see her.

That's okay,

I'll, um...

I'll go by there if I...

if I have time.

MAN ( on tape ):

But, I mean, if you're, like,

shooting squirrels

or something like...

I am mad at my dad.

I am mad... at my dad.

Why is that so hard

for me to say, Tibby?

I have no problem

being mad at you.

I noticed.

( clears throat )

I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry, Tibby.

What I said--

it was not nice.

It was... it was

awful, and I'm sorry.

Well, maybe sometimes

it's easier to be...

mad at the people

you trust.

Why? Why? Why is that?

'Cause you know they'll

always love you, no matter what.

Hmm?

( both laughing )

Well, your mom told me

about your friend Bailey.

Yeah. Bailey.

Yeah. She's not

really my friend.

Well, you know, I mean, yeah...

yeah, a little,

but, you know, she's 12.

Your letters--

they made her sound like, um...

Oh, she drives you crazy.

I mean, we'll be doing

interviews, right,

talking to people,

and she'll just jump in

out of nowhere

and start asking

these questions.

She just asks them anything

she wants about their lives

like she's trying to get

to know them or something.

Well, is she going

to be okay?

I don't know.

I don't know.

( bells jingling )

( man speaking Greek )

* *

( speaking Greek )

Papou!

I need to say

something to you.

You can pretend that

you don't understand me,

but I know you do.

People have always said

to me that I...

that I take after Yia Yia,

that I have her

face and her smile,

but what no one

ever sees is that...

there's this whole other part

of me that is just like you:

quiet and... and stubborn

and afraid of

showing too much.

And then I met someone

who changed

everything, and he

showed me that I can

take a chance, even if it's

only for a moment.

Lena.

Shh!

( speaking Greek )

You had

that same moment once,

when you met Yia Yia

and you risked everything

for it.

That was your chance,

Papou, and I'm asking

now to have mine.

Go.

* *

* If I could take you away *

* Pretend I was queen *

* What would you say? *

* Would you think I'm unreal *

* 'Cause everybody's got

their way I should feel *

* And everybody's talking how

I can't, can't be your love... *

Kostas!

* But I want, want, want

to be your love... *

Kostas!

* Want to be your love

for real *

* Everybody's talking how

I can't, can't be your love *

* But I want, want, want

to be your love *

* Want to be your love

for real *

* Everything will be

all right... *

I thought I'd never

see you again.

I love you.

* And everybody's talking how

I can't, can't be your love *

* But I want, want, want

to be your love *

* Want to be your love

for real *

* Everybody's talking how

I can't, can't be your love *

* But I want, want, want

to be your love *

* Want to be your love

for real. *

( song fades out )

( clunk )

( phone beeps on )

( sighs )

( keypad beeping )

We need to get

this box style...

( phone ringing )

Be right back.

Hello.

( inhales )

AL:

Hello?

Dad? It's Carmen.

Um...

I'm glad you called.

Um...

I just...

I want...

It's-It's all right;

you-you don't...

you don't have to apologize,

sweetheart.

You were... upset. I know.

Um, no, Dad,

you don't know.

That's just it.

You've never known,

because I've never

been able to tell you.

T-T-Tell me what?

That I'm angry with you, Dad.

This entire thing about you

and Lydia and, and the kids...

It's my fault.

I-I... I should've told you

about them... before,

and I'm-I'm... I'm sorry.

Yeah, you should've warned me,

but it's more than that.

It's... It's the fact

that you've found

yourself this new family,

and I feel like some outsider

who doesn't even

belong to you anymore.

It's like you

traded me and Mom in

for something that you

thought was better,

and I want to know why.

Are you ashamed of me?

Are you embarrassed?

Just tell me, Dad,

what did I do wrong?

( sobbing, sighing )

Why did you leave?

Why did you have to go

and then tell me

that we were going to be closer,

but that never happened?

Dad, why does Paul visit

his alcoholic dad every month,

but you only visit me

twice a year?

And I know

you-you just seem so happy

about being Paul

and Krista's dad,

but you never even had

the time to be mine.

I'm sorry.

I'm-I'm so sorry.

I wish that were enough, Dad.

( phone beeps off )

( sobs )

( lighter clicking )

Where's your little friend

these days?

Kind of got used

to having her hanging around.

Couple of weeks ago,

she saw I was having

a bad time of it...

asked me

if I wanted to talk.

She's kind of special

that way, huh?

LENA:

Dear Tibby,

my heart is too full

to write about it just now,

and you won't believe

I'm saying this,

but I really think

the pants did bring this to me.

We were right all along, Tibby.

The pants are magic.

And I know

that if you let them,

they'll bring you some, too.

All my love. Lena.

* *

* *

* *

It's about time you showed up.

What's, uh, what's that?

That's Dragon's Lair.

Brian came by yesterday

and dropped it off.

He said it wasn't as good

as the real thing,

but at least

it'd keep me practicing.

He helped me get

to level ten...

the one where the castle's

under siege.

( laughs ):

That's cool.

He's a pretty decent guy,

Brian is.

Yeah, he is.

Oh, man, you were right,

and I was wrong,

but I'm... I'm wrong

about most people, so...

The important thing is...

...you always change

your mind about 'em.

I brought

something for you.

* Ta-da! *

The traveling pants.

Yeah. I just... I just got 'em

back from Lena.

The one in Greece?

Yeah, um... she said

that we were right all along,

that they

really are magic, and...

I don't know the details,

but I do know Lena,

and for her to say that

means that, um...

that it must be true.

So I-I was thinking,

you know, maybe you could,

um, have them for awhile.

They didn't fit me, remember?

Yeah, I know.

I know, but that doesn't

really matter.

You know.

None of it

really matters.

Listen, you-you have

to take them, Bailey.

Okay? You have to

let them help you.

Please.

I know that you're

tired, okay,

but you can't

give up.

These pants will give you

a miracle.

You-You just...

you have to believe.

Tibby...

the pants

have already worked

their magic on me.

They brought me to you.

( crying )

I want... you

to do something for me.

What?

Finish your movie.

Why?

Because you can.

( phone ringing

in the distance )

MOM:

Hello.

I'll let her know.

( singing in Spanish )

( girls clapping along )

Painted the porch.

Say, what do you say

we go to Mario's

to celebrate

your homecoming?

Maybe later, Dad.

I'm pretty tired

from the trip.

* *

* *

Hey, it's me, Bailey.

You don't have to use this

in your movie or anything,

although now

that I think of it,

fainting in Wallmans does

kind of qualify me as a loser.

But then again, wearing

a price sticker on your forehead

probably makes you one, too.

You know, I don't know, Tibby.

Maybe the truth is

there's a little bit of loser

in all of us, you know?

Being happy isn't

having everything

in your life be perfect.

Maybe it's about

stringing together

all the little things--

like wearing these pants or...

getting to a new level

of Dragon's Lair--

making those count for more

than the bad stuff.

Maybe we just get through it...

and that's all we can ask for.

( clattering )

* *

( phone ringing )

* We went to church *

* Praying Santa Maria *

* Send me guidance *

* Send me guidance... *

Hello.

( on phone ):

Carmen, it's Lena.

I-I have to talk

to you about something.

Hey, don't you answer

your phone anymore?

Carmen, I really

don't have time...

Tib, Bridget

needs us.

( birds chirping outside )

( soft crinkling )

Shh...

What?

( whispering )

Hey!

See? I told you the smell of

junk food would wake her up.

We have invited ourselves over

for a sleep-over.

But it seems you are

already... asleep.

Yeah.

I feel so tired.

Well, then...

you should talk to us,

so that we...

( sighs )

...can fix this.

This is the

perfect pizza.

It's the bacon.

I think it's the olives.

The bacon.

Honestly, you two.

Maggie! What...

Maggie, no!

Hey.

You know who would

have loved this, B?

Your mom.

Yeah.

I remember this one time,

she decided that, um,

that she'd make one herself.

She always

woke up starving

after one of

her episodes.

I was just sitting

in the kitchen

doing my homework, and...

she just walked in and just...

started making this... thing.

You know, I

don't even know

if you could

call it a pizza.

It was more like

the entire contents

of our refrigerator

on a round crust.

( laughter )

Craziest part is,

we actually ate it.

'Course you did.

We ate

every single bit

of that pizza

in, like, ten minutes.

Yeah.

And we were laughing

the whole time.

It was great.

I remember

thinking that

maybe there won't be

any more bad spells,

maybe she'll

just be happy

like this forever.

It's okay to miss her, B.

I mean, as hard as it is

to be sad about it,

don't you think maybe

it's harder not to be?

You don't understand.

( whispers ):

Bridge...

( voice breaks ):

I can't.

It hurts too much.

I know.

( crying ):

No, you don't know.

You just want to feel good

and happy and alive.

'Cause...

if I feel alive...

it doesn't seem

like she's dead.

And...

if I'm not sad,

then... it proves

that I'm not like her.

You don't have to prove that

to anybody.

I mean, you have a strength

in you that your mom never had.

As much as she wanted to,

she couldn't find it.

And you have

something else, too.

What?

You have us.

We're not gonna let

you go anywhere, okay?

Thank you.

Come here.

( sobbing )

( indistinct conversations )

( people talking excitedly )

Come back.

Bye.

( talking excitedly )

( harness bell jingles )

( speaking Greek )

Miss you, too.

( birds chirping )

No, Maggie.

Maggie!

( shouts ):

Mag-gie!

Morning.

Get back here, now!

I mean it.

Maggie! Excuse me.

Maggs!

Sorry.

Maggie.

Did you lose these?

Um...

yeah, I, uh, think I did.

Thanks.

Yeah.

So, um, what are

you doing here?

I was looking for you,

actually.

Oh, yeah, we're on

Hobart Place, not Street.

It's really confusing.

Yeah, that would do it.

That would do it.

So I'm on my way

back to Columbia.

It's not exactly nearby.

No, it's not exactly nearby.

I just want to say

that what happened between us...

was my fault.

Your fault?

Not fault.

My responsibility.

I should've known better.

It's just...

Well, I didn't exactly

tell you to slow down.

Problem is...

I wanted it for all

the wrong reasons.

And all the things

that I was trying

to run away from

just ended up catching up

with me that much sooner.

Anyway, friends.

Hey, friends.

( Eric sighs )

Mm... when you're 20

and, um, probably

a soccer star

at some huge college

and there's a million guys

after you,

promise me

you'll give me a shot.

Deal.

All right.

Thank you.

Take care.

You, too.

( tires screech )

( talking quietly )

Oh...

My...

Oh, my God.

BRIDGET:

Lena, look at you.

You're all here.

CARMEN:

I missed you so much.

B, I am so sorry.

When I found your letter,

I tried to come sooner.

Do you forgive me?

Forgive you?

Who the hell are you?

Hey, I wasn't sure

I'd see you here.

I thought maybe

you'd change your mind

about your

dad's wedding.

Nope.

Which is why we decided

we'd change it for her.

Yeah, Carmen,

how about a little road trip?

What are you talking about?

Come on...

No!

CARMEN:

No, no...

( all talking at once )

It's your father's wedding.

Carmen, stop.

Don't you think it's important

for you to be there?

Absolutely.

Lena, if it was

that important,

then my dad would

pick up the phone

and tell me that himself.

Well, maybe

he's still recovering

from the last conversation

you had.

I'm not sure that was

entirely helpful, Tibby.

I'm just saying,

you know, parents screw up.

It's what they're good at.

BRIDGET:

And it's up to us

to see the things

that they can't.

Yeah, well, he's going to

throw me out of the wedding.

He's not going to throw

you out of the wedding.

No, he's not.

That's so overdramatic.

And if he does, we'll

be there for you.

Don't worry about it.

What aren't you guys

understanding?

I am not going...

Let's go.

You are going

to this wedding!

* *

LENA:

So this is the view

from my window.

And these

are my cousins' donkeys.

This is George and George Jr.

( girls laughing )

My grandparents,

caldera.

Oh, God,

forget the caldera.

I want to see the guy.

Yeah, where's the boy?

CARMEN:

I'm sneaking in the back

once the ceremony begins.

You know the caldera's

actually the top of a volcano...

TIBBY:

Okay, Lena...

CARMEN:

Once the ceremony's

done, we're leaving.

Look.

We're not hanging around.

Oh, my God.

Lena!

I know.

Isn't he gorgeous?

I was referring to

you holding a fish.

Oh, you know what?

Hey, hey.

Hey, no fair

attacking the driver.

Stop. Oh, my gosh.

Is it fair to

bribe the driver

to turn around

and go back home?

Oh, yeah, with what money,

'cause Tibby is the only one

of us working this summer.

TIBBY:

Hey, hey, hey.

I actually stocked my

last shelf at Wallmans.

Thank you very much.

Congratulations.

Wait, so does this mean

there's going to be

a ceremonial burning

of the smock?

No, no. Actually,

Duncan took the smock.

But I do have

my name tag.

Can we burn it?

( laughter )

Hey, how did your suck-umentary

turn out?

Uh... uh...

well, it actually evolved

into something quite different

than I expected, so...

What are you going

to call it?

Mm...

"Bailey."

* It's all right *

* Run with me, dream with me *

* Play with me, call on me *

* Whenever you need me,

I'll be by your side *

* As sure as

the sun's gonna rise... *

( knocking on door )

TIBBY:

Carmabelle, come on.

We're going to be late.

What is she doing in there?

Carmen?

CARMEN:

I changed my mind, guys.

I can't do this.

Yes, you can.

No, Lena, I can't.

( knocks on door )

Carmen?

What?

Carmen, please come out.

I promise you,

everything's going to be okay.

CARMEN:

B, how do you know that?

'Cause of what I'm holding.

Wear them.

They'll make you brave.

B, I can't wear a pair

of jeans to a wedding.

And besides,

your week isn't up.

Well, rule number 11:

In the event

of an emergency,

the pants will

automatically go

to the sister in need,

regardless of

the schedule.

B, there is no

rule number 11.

Well, I think

there should be.

And I'm invoking it now.

Yeah, that sounds like

a really good rule to me,

actually.

Yeah. Mm-hmm.

So, um,

are you going to

put them on yourself,

are we going to have

to do it for you?

( playing lively

classical melody )

( indistinct conversations )

Come on.

( song ends )

( "The Wedding March"

intro plays )

( "The Wedding March" plays )

* *

* *

( song fades )

MINISTER:

Dearly beloved,

we are assembled here

in the presence of God

and these witnesses

to celebrate the joining

of this man and this woman

in the unity of marriage.

Um, sorry, could you

hold that thought...

for one minute?

I'm sorry.

There's an important

member of our family

who should be

up here with us.

My daughter.

Carmen?

Dad, I'm not...

I'm not dressed. I...

I need you.

( Carmen crying )

( softly ):

I'm sorry.

( sniffles )

I gotta get married.

Okay. ( laughs softly )

( laughs )

( quietly ):

Sorry.

You can go ahead.

( Lydia laughs softly )

Dearly beloved,

we are assembled here

in the presence of God

and these witnesses

to celebrate the joining

of this man and this woman

in the unity of marriage.

There are no

obligations on earth

sweeter or tenderer

than those...

CARMEN:

It would be easy to say

that the pants

changed everything that summer.

But looking back now,

I feel like our lives changed

because they had to,

and that

the real magic of the pants

was in bearing witness

to all of this

and in somehow

holding us together

when it felt like nothing

would ever be the same again.

( indistinct conversations )

CARMEN:

Some things never would be.

LENA:

But we knew now that no matter

how far we traveled

on our own separate paths...

BRIDGET:

Somehow we would always find

our way back to each other.

TIBBY:

And with that,

we could get through anything.

BRIDGET:

To us--

who we were and who we are,

and who we'll be.

TIBBY:

To the pants...

LENA:

And the sisterhood.

CARMEN:

And this moment

and the rest of our lives.

ALL:

Together and apart.

* What's this life anyway? *

* What's it to you and me? *

* What's it to anyone? *

* Who are we supposed to be? *

* Make me a storybook *

* And write me away from here *

* I need a different now *

* Where we can

wear each other for awhile *

* And I'll lend you my tears *

* If I could borrow your smile *

* And we'll

get through tomorrow *

* Some other day *

* Happy after *

* Once upon these days *

* It's for roads to anywhere *

* For ways to everything *

* We were unbreakable *

* We spoke our destiny *

* Let's take a moment out *

* Oh, and go where we never go *

* Let's make a new world now *

* Where we can

wear each other for awhile *

* And I'll lend you my tears *

* If I could borrow your smile *

* And we'll

get through tomorrow *

* Some other day *

* Happy after *

* Once upon these days *

* And then one day we'll find *

* When we're looking back

on this time *

* Wondering how

we've come so far from this *

* And when

we close our eyes... *

* What's this life anyway? *

* What's it to you and me? *

* What are we doing here? *

* And who are we

supposed to be? *

* I'll take a better world *

* Oh, I'll take anything *

* I'll take a little more now *

* Where we can

wear each other for awhile *

* And I'll lend you my tears *

* If I could borrow your smile *

* And we'll

get through tomorrow *

* Some other day *

* Happy after *

* Once upon these days *

* Once upon these days. *

( song ends )

( playful Greek melody plays )

* *

* *

( song ends )

( serene melody plays )

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *

* *