04x05 - Speaking of Cancer

[bunniefuu]

[ALEXA] My mom was putting
together a fundraiser

for Stand Up to Cancer,

and we were all pitching in to help.

Okay, done sending the
e-blast for the fundraiser.

- Hey.
- The K and C keys

on my laptop are stuck,

so I had to sign it "Atie Ooper."

Aw, don't worry, Atie.

It's the thought that ounts.

I'm sorry about your laptop

and my dad's joke.

Mostly my dad's joke.

So, how are the gift bags coming?

The trick is to not overwork the tissue.

You know?

Oh, no. My watch.

Oh, hey! Come on.

I finally finished the layout
for the fundraiser.

Look. [CHUCKLES]

Uh, so, this is the main tent,

and this is where all the restaurants
are gonna hand out food.

Aw, cute. You made little drawings

of all the different
foods on the booths.

Ooh, I love the slice of pizza.

That's a chicken wing.

And that must be the sushi booth.

No, that's how she draws burritos.

- You get me.
- I do.

Mm. [CHUCKLES]

Oh, and so outside is gonna
be the carnival games.

That's where the Wired cart's gonna be.

Oh, is that happy face

- holding coffee me?
- It is.

Oh, this charity event is
gonna be so glamorous.

Oh, I should probably scrape the
caramel off my Wired apron, huh?

Hey, listen, thanks again for
helping out with this event.

Yeah, I've been looking
for a way to help people

since I quit pre-med.

And you know how my knitting with
the elderly thing went sideways.

- Mrs. Wordham will never be the same.
- Oh, boy.

It was really bad, wasn't it?

Hey, honey, listen. Um...

Look, I'm really happy
you agreed to speak.

One of the best things you
can do for these charities

is having a survivor share
their personal experience,

and it means a lot to me that
you're willing to share yours.

Well, Spencer has given me a new
perspective on dealing with cancer.

- Is he still able to come?
- Yeah,

he's coming straight from his game.
He's gonna be a little late.

And maybe a little stinky. [CHUCKLES]

I hope he showers.

So, how's your speech coming along?

Uh, so good.

Yeah. They're gonna give
speeches about my speech.

Okay, well,

just in case, I got you this notebook.

I thought it would be useful to
jot down your ideas and thoughts.

- Hm, thanks.
- Okay.

Ooh. Mini-basketball booth.

- You know where I'm gonna be.
- [CHUCKLES]

Dad, what about a friendly competition?

[SCOFFS] You're on.

Uh, you know, I once scored

baskets in a row on
one of these things.

No way.

So way.

Hm. All right.

If I win, I get to drive
your car for a month.

And when I win, you have
to wash my car for a month.

[LUCAS] Wait.

I wasn't wearing a watch.

♪ I've got you ♪

♪ When I can't take it any longer ♪

♪ You make me feel stronger ♪

♪ I've got you ♪

♪ When I can't take it ♪
♪ You make it so much better ♪

♪ We'll do this together ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh, we'll do this together ♪

♪ I've got you, oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ We'll do this together ♪

[LORI] All right.
Everything looks great.

So pretty. Okay...

Right.

The doors open in minutes, everybody!

It looks great! Wait.

[HUMMING]

Does anyone else hear that humming?

No, it's not your hiccups, Joyce.

Wait.

Please don't cry.

I can't have humming and crying.

Mom, this event is amazing.

I didn't know a tent
could look this good.

I know, right?

I mean, I would go camping
if all tents came with chefs

and flattering lighting.

Ah, I have a couple minutes if
you wanna go over your speech.

Oh, I'll be fine.

You know, it's my story. I know it well.

- I'm gonna go look around a little bit.
- Okay.

Hey, it's so big in here.

This is incredible.

I cannot wait to try all the seafood.

I just have to make sure
my kids don't see me.

You're not still telling Katie and Jack

you're all allergic to shellfish?

Of course I am.

Shellfish is expensive.

But tonight, I'm gonna eat
my weight in crab cakes.

What about crab cakes?

Oh, um...

Just that we are not gonna
go anywhere near them.

It's because we have
a shellfish allergy.

That's right, we do, mm-hm.

Hey, why don't you, uh, head outside

and get a sneak peek at all
those fun carnival games, huh?

I'm gonna play my own carnival game

called "How many coconut
shrimp can I fit in my mouth?"

We should use this cart more often.

Ooh, we could call it, uh,
"Wired . " or, um...

or "Wired on Wheels."

No.

I'm gonna go scope out the food vendors.

Oh, but they're not even open yet.

If you stand and stare long enough,
they give you food anyway.

What do you say we, uh,
wheel this cart outta here, huh?

Start our own coffee business?

- Sure. But I'm still your boss.
- [CHUCKLES]

Whatever you say, boss.

Did you... Did you just wink?

Maybe I did.

Okay, this... this is how you wink.

- Okay.
- Okay?

[CLEARS THROAT]

Ah. That was, uh... horrible.

Oh, okay.

I'll have you know, I was voted
best winker in second grade, so...

[CHUCKLES] Who voted? You and Alexa?

[CHUCKLES] Yes. We... yeah.

Hey. Wired . .

Oh! That's what I said.

Don't you, uh, need
that for your speech?

Oh, that's not for a couple hours,

so I have plenty of time
to win you a laptop.

- What?
- Mm-hm. It's one of the raffle prizes.

So, all of the tickets I win

are going straight into
the bowl for the laptop.

And with any luck, Atie,

you'll be able to turn that "Ooper"

back into a "Cooper."

Wow, that would be amazing.

Mm-mm.

Ah, got some good games here.

Yeah, you should check it out
when the carnival opens.

Or you can go right now.

[HUMMING]

Hey, guys, I'm still
hearing that humming.

[HUMS HIGH NOTE]

Hey, uh, honey?

You left your talk button open.
Everybody can hear you humming.

Oh, no.

So the cute girl who
worked the photo booth

heard me say she's cute before?

- And again, just now?
- Mm-hmm.

You know what?

I'm just gonna focus
on checking people in.

Good idea.

- That's the last of 'em.
- Mm.

You've really outdone yourself.
It's even better than our wedding.

Not better, more... impressive.

Nope, that's not it.

It's okay, honey. Thank you. [CHUCKLES]

Turns out, if you stand and stare
at people, they call security.

Where's Aiden?

Oh, uh, he just went to check
out the carnival games.

I don't think it's the carnival games

- he's interested in.
- What?

[CHUCKLES] Oh, please.

No, he's just playing Skee-Ball.

It's probably...

her job to stand that close to...

all the players and, uh...

never break eye contact.

If you're gonna have
feelings, I'm leaving.

Excuse me? Can I get a latte?

Nobody's stopping you.

- Oh, swish swish swish!
- Ah, you wish wish wish!

Hey, you know, I'm really proud of you.

What? For crushing you?

Nah, for speaking here tonight.

A year ago, you wouldn't
even come to this.

Oh, I'm trying, and talking
to Spencer has helped.

And you are clearly just
trying to distract me.

- It's pretty desperate.
- [CHUCKLES]

- Yes!
- Yes!

- Come on!
- I win!

Twenty to , game over!

Thank you.

Ah. Wow, that's gotta sting.

But you can cry about it...

when I'm driving you home.

If it makes you feel
better, you helped win

all these tickets for Katie.

Well, not as many as I did.

[LAUGHS]

Hey, let's grab some food, and
you can practice your speech.

Yeah, we could.

Or... I could give you the
chance to win your car back.

Hm, you pick the game. What do you say?

I say, let's take it to the Clown Mouth.

Sounded way tougher in my head.

Mm.

I'm so gonna win.

Can I have another lobster roll?

And another one?

This guy needs a friend.

Jack. I thought you were playing games.

That's shellfish.

It is?

Wow. [NERVOUS CHUCKLE]

[SIGHS]

Mm.

That was fun.

Oh, ah, that's right.

You were, uh... You were
off playing the games.

[CHUCKLES]

So? So, how were the games?

Pretty good.

All of them? 'Cause it seems
you were only playing that one.

I mean, um... I mean, I get it,

you know, Skee-Ball
seems like a fun game,

but, uh, maybe you should give
some of the other games a chance?

I don't know. I'm doing well over there.

But you... you haven't tried ring toss

or, uh... or Whack-A-Gator.

I mean,

who doesn't wanna whack a gator?

Nah, I'm definitely a Skee-Ball man.

Mm. Well, good for you.

If you wanna go play games,
I'll watch the cart.

Oh! No. No, I'm good.

Yeah, I don't need games in my life.

[CHUCKLES] Okay, great,

then I'm gonna go play more Skee-Ball.

Mm.

And, uh, I'll be here,
helping customers.

What do you want?

Well, your sister b*at the pants off me.

Now, I have no pants and no car.

I don't know him.

Lucas, the gift bags were supposed
to go out at the end of the event.

Sorry.

It's okay. I... Oh, yeah.

Go for Lori.

[GROANS] Oh, no. Okay.
Thanks for the update.

[SIGHS] The magician's car broke down.

She was supposed to entertain the kids.

I can entertain them.

I'll tell them some jokes.
They'll love it.

I'm going to help Dad.

I've been pretending to laugh
at his jokes for a long time.

Why do I even care?
I mean, I don't care.

He just stands there, with
his smile and his shoulders.

Well, guess what?

We all have smiles and
shoulders, you know?

Here you go. Have a good night.

Hey, everything okay over here?

Yeah, just annoyed that
Aiden's off playing Skee-Ball

while we are slammed with customers.

Oh, well, good, because
I thought maybe it was

because of that girl.

[SCOFFS] Is there a girl?
Wow, I didn't even notice.

So, you're upset

about what you didn't notice?

I'm upset because...

feminism.

Mm. Mm-mm.

I don't know.

I guess it bothers me
that it bothers me.

I mean, Aiden?

I was not expecting that.

Yeah, I've been expecting
it for a while.

Now I feel ridiculous.

Hey, you are not ridiculous.

He's ridiculous.

And forget about him.

You wanna hear some good news?
After kicking my Dad's butt,

we won you these.

[GASPS]

I just wish it was more.
I really want you to win.

Are you kidding me? Come here.

You're the best. Mm.

I just hope you didn't spend too
much time winning me raffle tickets

that you didn't get to
work on your speech.

Oh, I don't need to work on it.

So why don't you go win your
laptop, and I'll see you inside.

Okay.

You're gonna do so great. Okay?

I'm so proud of you.

Ah.

Oh.

So, I'm a pilot. [CHUCKLES]

And I know that sounds
like an exciting job,

but sometimes it can be a little, uh...

plane.

Oh, okay. Uh, that one didn't take off,

but I promise on this next one,

I'll stick the landing.

Okay, uh... not a fan of jokes.

Uh, let's get to know each other.
Hi, what's your name?

- Jill.
- Where are you from, Jill?

Where's the magician?

[SCOFFS]

Who needs a magician
when you got a funny pilot?

[LAUGHS]

Hey, guys. I'm Lucas.

Um...

I'm not a magician,
but how about a song?

Okay, uh, so, I wrote
this for my little sister.

♪ Sometimes, I feel a little small ♪

♪ Will I measure up,
will I stand tall? ♪

♪ I've outgrown everything I own ♪

♪ And there's a big,
big world out there ♪

♪ I don't know which road you'll take ♪

♪ To find your fairy tale ♪

♪ I don't know what
friends you'll make ♪

♪ Along this winding trail ♪

♪ And I don't know how far the sea ♪

♪ Will sail along for you ♪

♪ But I do know ♪

♪ I'm all in for you ♪

♪ I'm all in ♪

♪ For you ♪

Thank you.

You were amazing.

I forgot how much I missed singing.

Honey, that was so beautiful. Thank you.

Aw.

That was the first time I did
something right tonight.

I just wanted to find
a way to help people.

I think you did.

That was such a great song,
Lucas. Hm. It was beautiful.

Should she be eating shellfish?

Mom?

Oh, my gosh! What happened
to my spaghetti?

We're not allergic to shellfish, are we?

No.

I can't believe you've been
lying to me my entire life.

I can't either.

You wanna try?

Whoa!

This is so good.

I know.

- Don't tell Katie.
- Okay.

Someone else won the laptop.

I'm sorry.

Oh, you guys, that's shrimp and lobster.

- Okay, be careful.
- Oh.

Yeah. Because we have
a shellfish allergy.

That's right, we do.

Oh, gosh.

Oh. Hey. There you are.

It's almost time for your speech.

Yup. Yep. Uh, almost there.

Just... Just need another word for...

I can't do it.

Honey.

[SIGHS]

I'm sorry, Mom.

I really thought I was ready.

I wanted to be.

But there's just a part of
me that still can't stand

being identified with cancer.

I don't know why it's so hard for me.

Because it is so hard.

[SIGHS]

Sweetie, there is no right
way to process all this.

And, hey,

I would never want to push you into
something you're not ready for.

Everyone was so proud of me.

I'm sorry I let you down.

Hey.

You have never let me down.

I'll just give the speech myself.

But you haven't prepared anything.

Well, it's my story too.

I'll know what to say.

Well, I, uh...

I see you finally tore yourself
away from Skee-Ball.

[CHUCKLES] Had to.
I won something at the raffle.

Oh.

Well, this has just been a
super great night for you.

Yeah. Yeah, it has.

How else was I supposed to...

win this for you?

What? I... That's why you were... ?

[SIGHS]

I can't believe you did that.

Thank you.

[CHUCKLES]

- Wow.
- Yeah.

Yeah, well, uh, you know,
I... [CHUCKLES]

It's really a gift for me, okay?

Couldn't take any more of your
sad, old laptop stories, all right?

Now I can type them up
and e-mail them to you.

Mm. [CHUCKLES]

- Don't make me take it back.
- Okay.

Hello, I'm Lori Mendoza,

the organizer for tonight's fundraiser
benefiting Stand Up to Cancer.

[MAN] Yeah!

- Hey, Mr. Mendoza.
- Hey.

You're just in time.

I, uh... I jumped at the chance
to plan this fundraiser

because it's a cause that's very
near and dear to my family.

I am a mother

of a cancer survivor,

and...

I've been trying to...

think of how to describe what
that experience has been like.

And...

the only word I could come up with is...

"unimaginable."

When I look back, I, um...

you know, I had days where I was scared.

I had days when I was mad.

I thought maybe I couldn't
even be strong enough

for my daughter...

or for myself.

But whatever I was feeling,

it was only a fraction of what
my daughter was going through.

My daughter is here tonight,

and I could not be more grateful.

So...

I stand up to cancer

for my daughter Alexa.

I stand up to cancer

so that other families won't
have to go through what we did.

For my sister, for my parents...

I stand up to cancer.

I stand up to cancer because...
[CLEARS THROAT]

... no one should ever have to think
about losing their best friend.

We stand up to cancer for
the entire Mendoza family.

Hey, Mom.

Um, if it's okay, I'd
like to say something.

- Yeah.
- Okay.

[CLEARS THROAT]

Hi, I'm Alexa.

I was supposed to speak tonight,

but I couldn't.

Until I realized...

that having cancer isn't just about me.

It affects everyone in my life,

especially my family

and my friends,

who stood up for me when I
couldn't stand up for myself.

I would like to invite anyone else

who... would like to stand up
against this terrible disease.

I stand up to cancer

so one day every cancer patient
can become a cancer survivor.

I'd like to stand up to
cancer for my dad, Peter.

I stand up to cancer
for my friend Mariah.

I stand up to cancer in
memory of my Aunt Glo.

I stand up to cancer
for my brother Tino.

[ALEXA] It turned out that
night had been so much more

than being ready to give a
speech for Stand Up to Cancer.

It had been about remembering

those who had stood up to cancer
with me in the first place.

[THEME MUSIC PLAYING]

♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ I've got you ♪

♪ Oh-oh-oh ♪

♪ We'll do this together ♪