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