03x07 - Sarian

[bunniefuu]

Your son's class
is studying the solar system.

Each child is asked to do
a report on one of the planets.

His teacher informs me

that your son has refused
to complete the assignment

unless he can do it
on a planet that doesn't exist.

It might.
There are billions of galaxies.

Who says Planet Tarturus isn't
in one of them?

Scientists.

But they're constantly discovering
new planets, and I think...

This is exactly why
I called you in today.

Arguing with staff. Failing his classes.
Fighting with his fellow students.

Dennis Hogan is a stupid d*ck!

Language, young man.

To say we are concerned
is an understatement.

- I'm concerned, too.
- Perhaps not enough.

I know he's... he's struggling,

but maybe the teachers can... they
can explain it in-in a different way.

Our teachers cannot be expected
to teach a child who refuses to learn.

That responsibility falls on him
and, frankly, his parents.

Parent.

Either way, he is already
in our third track program.

If his grades do not improve, he
will be placed in remedial classes.

No!
That's where all the freaks are!

Please. Sweetie, please
sit down. Please, sit down.

Is there anything
that we can do?

You can start by seeing that
his assignment is completed.

That may improve his grade.

But the improvement in his
attitude is his responsibility.

Of course.

Don't worry. He will get
exactly what he deserves.

Mom, I know
I shouldn't yell at my teachers,

but I just try to do what they
say and they don't listen, and...

You know what, Ian?
Save it. Here.

What's this?

What you deserve.

And Dennis Hogan is a d*ck.

Come on.

Huh?

- Hey.
- Oy! Enough syrup.

Listen to your mom.

I would listen
if I spoke Tagalog.

You could learn. I did
when I was not much older than you.

Only 'cause you had to.

Well, it also helped her
bag a handsome husband. Hmm?

Tagalog's the language of love.

So? What do you
have planned for this weekend?

Mmm, playing with
Freya and the g*ng. Ooh.

Freya? Who's that?
Is that a new friend?

No. It's a character in Final
Fantasy, Mom. It's a video game.

Oh, it is epic.

Her words.

So epic.

I made it all the way
to the final boss, Kuja.

I'm about to b*at the whole
game. I think I could do it today.

Yeah.

- No. No video games.
- No. No.

If you want to play something, you
could play piano. That would be fun.

Ah. I don't
think she knows what fun is.

No, your mother's right.

You have to practice if you're going
to put everyone to shame at the recital.

- Mm-hmm.
- I don't care about the stupid recital.

Why can't I play my game?

No. You spend too much time
with video games.

I wouldn't have to
if we got the Internet.

Then I could look up a
walk-through and b*at it faster.

- Yeah.
- Well, if you want a walk-through,

you could walk through the front
door and go outside like your sister.

I don't know what to do anymore.

I mean, we've tried punishments,
rewards, no-sugar diet, all-sugar diet.

- Have you tried a swift kick in the ass?
- Dad.

Look, Sarah, I didn't
wanna have to tell you this,

but you got another letter
from that assh*le's lawyer.

- Again?
- Mmm.

He doesn't mean it.
He just does it to piss me off.

Well, if he's gonna take you
to court, he might have a case.

What case? I'm his mother.

His mother with struggles.

Sarah, he could win.

He won't.

He won't.

Look, you're a good mom.
I know that.

But you gotta get that kid
on the right track.

I'll figure it out.

How's it going, kiddo?

How do you think
it's going? I'm dumb.

Don't say that.

You're a smart kid.

You just... You think
differently than the other kids.

But maybe if you...
If you try a little harder...

I am trying!

That's how I know I'm dumb!

I'm trying as hard as I can
and I still can't do it.

I know you're frustrated.

And I wanna help.
I just... I don't know how.

Maybe you're dumb too.

Maybe I am.

You read all these?

I can read, you know.
I'm dumb, not stupid.

Wait. This is actually,
like, pretty dirty.

It's sci-fi erotica.

Oh, okay. Sci-fi erotica.
Sure. Yep.

Who cares about
stupid Saturn anyway?

Like, there are so many planets
cooler than this.

I just can't get it from my dumb
brain onto the stupid paper.

- Come with me.
- Where are we going?

Somewhere cool.

Dad. The final boss, Kuja,

he uses an att*ck
called Flare Star

that does, like, crazy damage
to your whole party.

Sounds cool. Practice.

But I reckon if we equip
against Holy damage...

Focus.

Also, I can't decide
between Eiko or Dagger.

Poppy, why don't you take
all this energy you have

for learning how to b*at video games
and put it into learning your piano?

'Cause I hate piano.
It's boring.

Think of this like it's one of
your video games. Hmm?

This recital is an evil boss
you have to conquer.

Okay, then what do I win?

When you conquer a boss,
you win something cool,

like treasure or armor
or a new w*apon.

Okay, um,
if you practice really hard,

and you defeat this recital,

- I will buy you something.
- The Internet?

No, not that.

Something cool that we could
sneak past your mother.

You can't sneak anything
past her.

You've snuck that you understand
Tagalog past her for years.

What? I do not.

Really?

- Oh, sh*t.
- Language.

Sorry.

Okay. Deal. Something cool.

The whole piece.

Okay.

Hey, Dad. Do you wanna
watch me fight Kuja?

Okay, I'm first.

Hmm.
Tell me about your planet.

It has rings. It's the
sixth planet from the sun.

And it has an iron-nickel core.

Not Saturn.
Everyone knows about that stuff.

Well, I didn't know about the
iron-nickel thing, but who cares?

Tell me about your planet. The one
that you wanted to do your report on.

Tarturus?

Yeah. Tell me about Tarturus.

Mom.

It's outside our nebula,
so the atmosphere is different.

It's a breathable red vapor.

Kinda like...

this?

What else? Hmm?

- There's water.
- Mm-hmm.

But it's filled with
bioluminescent nanokrill.

Bioluminescent?

Bioluminescent...

nanokrill.

Yeah! And the mountains,
they're not like mountains on Earth.

They glide across
the planet's surface,

pulled along by the gravity
of the planet's moons.

That's incredible. I mean,
how many moons are we talking?

Like 50. And each one has
its own orbital rate and pattern.

Kinda like this?

Hey! What the hell
do you think you're doing?

Run!

- You better pay for that!
- Sorry!

I can't believe
we left all that mess!

Mess? What mess?
That was your genius!

I am in awe of your brain.

You are the smartest kid
I have ever met.

Mom.

You have a gift.

Other people might not see it,
but that doesn't mean it isn't real.

It is real.
It's as real as Tarturus.

I love you so much, baby.

I love you too.

Ah.

Now we need to get stuff
to build your planet.

- Okay.
- Let's see.

Um, ooh, some glue. Tape.

Ooh, paints. Over here.

Um, these balls. Um...

- Mom.
- What?

Are you sure
I don't have to do the report?

No, screw that. You can do your
project however you want to do it.

- But...
- No. But I will deal with your teacher.

Okay?

You must be hungry. I'm
gonna make you pancakes. Yeah.

Yes, like, brain food.
And chocolate chips.

And, um, whipped cream...
Thumbtacks!

- Thumbtacks?
- Yes. For your planet!

Oh, my God,
I know they're somewhere.

I know they're somewhere here.
They must be here.

Well, here's tape. No, you just
go... You go... I'll bring them to you.

Just go. Go. Oh, and gum thing.

Oh, it's here. And, um...

Oh, nice.
That did a ton of damage.

Yeah, but we aren't healing
fast enough.

- Oy, h-hit him!
- I'm gonna try Thunder.

Oh.

I don't think that helped.

Oh. Oh, no,
he's going to blast us.

Oh, no!

- Oh!
- Damn it!

We were so close.

Let's play again.

You know what? This is epic.

I know.

What is this?

- Well, I was just...
- U-Um.

Just taking a break
from practice.

Well, that's five minutes.
Uh, switch it off.

- But we didn't save the game.
- Poppy Liwanag, you heard me.

Right.
Right.

- No.
- Wh...

Mom!

- Mom?
- Mmm?

I, uh, finished my project.
It looks pretty cool.

I decided to name it "Sarian"
because it's our planet.

That's so great, baby.

Can you...
...take me to school?

I'm so tired. I...

Maybe you could ask Grand pop?

He's still at work.

Oh.

It's okay, Mom.

Tracy, I'm proud of you too. Okay?

Hey, Dad.
Mmm.

I figured out something cool
you can get me

for b*ating the recital boss.

I want a bicycle.

A bicycle?
Wait, is that a video game?

No, like with wheels and pedals
and handlebars and everything.

That way I can play outside
with my friends.

You got it, Pop.

I was never good
at music, but I was a break dancer.

- Can you believe that?
- No.

Ah, back so soon.
What is it this time?

My teacher said
I need a late pass.

You certainly are late.

It's almost 10:15.

Doesn't your mother
usually bring you to school?

Yeah,
but she's having a bed day.

A bed day?

Mm-hmm.

Does that happen a lot?

Is there anyone else at home

to help you out
when your mom is... sick?

Grand pop, but he works nights.

I see.

Am I in trouble?

No.

Not at all.

Give this to Miss Miller

and ask her to stop by
my office at lunchtime.

Grand pop!

Grand pop!
Look at my project!

My teacher said it was the
wrong planet and not an essay,

but my explanation was lengthy

which I guess is good
'cause she gave me a D!

I'm gonna go tell Mom
about my grade.

Ian.

Hey, pal.

Dad?

I, uh...
I packed some things for you.

You're gonna stay with me
for a little while.

- I don't want to.
- It's for the best.

- Look, I can take care of the boy...
- Stay out of it, Joe.

If I were you, I would
take care of your own kid.

And make sure
she's taking her meds.

Okay, let's go.

- Don't make me go.
- Ian...

His name is Ian.

Okay, um...

Pal, your mom...
...she can't take care of you.

But she can.
No, she can't.

She's just tired.
So you're...

And that's why... She'll wake up!

- No! Come on! Ian!
- Mom! Mom!

- Mom! No! No! No!
- Come on! Ian!

- Come on.
- Mom!

Mom, wake up!

Mom! Dad! I'm gonna go ride
bikes with Tracy!

Watch out,
here comes the Freakazoid.

Hey, where are you going?

Eat sh*t, Tracy!

Mace of Zeus?

Doomsday spell? Nice!

Shh!

Sorry.

Wait, he's not the final boss?

- Shh!
- Oh, piss off!

Whoa.

They asked me to sit on
a stool. I'll tell you something.

Sitting is a convention.

The man wants you to sit
on a stool.

We don't sit
just 'cause they tell us. Right?

Now, I'm gonna sit
'cause yesterday was leg day.

Sure, some might say that
I was wrong about Twin Daggers.

Although, 2.1 million units sold
is hard to argue with, no?

Yeah. Uh, anyway,
it's been about three hours.

I'd say class dismissed.

Oh, and all this sh*t
that the last guy wrote up here,

you're not gonna use it,
so just throw it out.

- Hi. Uh, Mr. Grimm. Can I just...
- Uh, Ian.

Your game inspired me to
become a programmer. My name's Poppy.

Oh.
Well, you wouldn't be the first.

Twin Daggers has, uh...
Oh, no, no. I...

...had a ripple effect
across the culture.

No, I was, um... I was actually
talking about Sarian.

Sarian?
Yeah.

Huh. I haven't thought about
that game in a long time.

Yeah, it was the most
beautiful thing that I'd ever seen.

Of course, I was ten,

so I didn't realize
that the code was sh*t.

- You're fun.
- So, are you, uh... are you working on anything new, or...

Yeah. I am actually.
I could tell you about it.

You could tell me
how it's all a bunch of sh*t.

Totally!

That was a joke.

You don't know
what a joke is, do you?

Yeah, I do. I...

I-I like your beard.

Oh, you do? Thanks.
No, I was making a joke.

Okay. I'm gonna... I'm
gonna walk out. I'll follow you.

Okay.

- You wanna hear about that game?
- Yeah!

All right. Well, I'm thinking about a
massive multiplayer role-playing game.

Sort of a medieval bent.

- Epic.
- Yeah.

I think I'm gonna call it
Grimm Quest.

- Is that a working title or...
- Yeah, that's good. It's good.

- I'd go with something...
- It's the final...

- ...that's a little less egotistical.
- It's the final title.