01x10 - Two Party System

[bunniefuu]

[Elena] Well, Diary,
things have been changing.

My mom just got out of her first
relationship since we lost my dad.

I am not avoiding him. I'm fine.

My brother made a new friend,
which came with some unexpected feelings.

Sometimes I feel like you care more
about Liam than your own girlfriend.

I think we should break up.

And my first year of middle school
had a lot of firsts.

My first ex-best friend.

Melissa could be friends with anyone
in our whole middle school,

but she picked me.

And my first fight with Sasha.

I'm so sorry.

But we were reunited
on the big class trip.

One wake-up call, please,
because I am here on an overnight trip.

And one for me as well, please.
For my mom will not be waking me up.

[both giggle]

Sasha, we are 482 miles from home.
We're practically in Georgia.

Also, we're only a few doors down
from boys.

That means Joey Feldstein is nearby, like,
with his toiletries.

[both giggle]

Okay. I almost forget to tell you,
we're gonna have a super awesome...

We're set for the party. There's like


Oh.

You're here.

Are you guys friends again?

Yeah! Isn't that great?

Sure. Cool.

Uh, wait. What party?

We're throwing a party here
tomorrow night. It's called Club 204.

Mm-hmm.

Is it someone's birthday?

That's the thing... no. [chuckles]

You can come, I guess.

Yes! We're gonna invite everyone.
Our first real, like, "party" party!

I did pack a sparkly shirt. [chuckles]

[gasps] Yay!

Okay. So, we came up with this game
called Mini-Fridge Madness.

It's super complicated.

[Elena] Sasha and I were back,
Jessica was being kinda nice,

and tomorrow's agenda included
a Senate hearing and a party.

Things were shaping up to be,
in Sasha's words, "Talla-mazing."

♪ I'm here for it ♪

♪ Facing fears and chasing dreams ♪

♪ Just winging it ♪

♪ And I'm staying true to me ♪

♪ Hello world
I wonder who I'll be ♪

♪ No matter what I do ♪

♪ It's all about my journey ♪

♪ Lo puedo lograr ♪

[clears throat]

Hey, Liam.

Uh... I just wanted to say that I, uh...

No. Since you started school here,
I've been, uh...

stuff. God.

Do you... Do you feel stuff?
Like, that I feel about...

Who talks like that? Who talks like that?

Yeah, you know what? I'm gonna text him.
Just, this is crazy. This is crazy.

So, you and Sam
are just avoiding each other?

I guess you can say
our relationship is toast.

Ay, Gabi, that was a really bad pun.

You got anything butter?

[chuckles] Oh, I see. You miss Sam.

What? Why?
Because I said a couple of bad jokes?

I called him. We talked.
And this is what I wanted, a clean break.

[sighs]

- What?
- I'm sorry.

[sighs] But you finally open your heart
after three years

of "I'm not ready" and "I can't move on."

You found someone who loves you,
who loves the kids,

who puts up with...
girl, everything you are.

[sighs] When you're with Sam
it's like your light's back, Gabi.

And now you want a "clean break"?

- I don't believe it, not for a second.
- Camila, I got it.

- What? I'm just...
- Don't tell me how I feel. I'm fine.

- I'm not trying to tell you anything.
- Enough.

Okay. Okay.

[chattering]

[Elena] Florida has some insane laws.

Did you know that it is ill*gal to sing
in public while wearing a swimsuit?

Wait. I had that karaoke pool party
when I turned ten.

- Are we gonna get arrested?
- Oh, my God.

No, 'cause, like, I can't go to jail.

Jessica. We hear you're hosting an affair.

Yeah! Party tonight in room 204.

It's called Club 204.

Guest list only, I assume?

Guest list?

Don't tell us you're lame enough
to invite everyone.

- Of course we're gonna invite ev...
- Only the guest list.

Very exclusive.
We could put your names on.

We'll consider a drop-in.

Invite only?

Everyone knows parties are only cool
if they're exclusive.

- But that isn't fair.
- [Claude] Hey, Jessica.

We were wondering
what time Club 204 starts.

I gotta take my allergy meds 30 minutes
before a social event.

Sorry, it's invite only.

Oh.

Okay. Sure.

[sighs] Jessica,
this is not at all what we talked about.

Yeah. I thought this party
was supposed to be for everyone.

What do you two know about parties anyway?

- Excuse me. My karaoke pool party was...
- ill*gal.

Look, if you're not on board,
then you don't have to come.

- [sighs]
- [Elena] Well, Diary,

at least there was a Senate hearing
for us to look forward to.

- I mean, for me to look forward to.
- [gavel raps]

[foreman] Senator Morales,
you have the floor.

[Senator Morales] Like many of you,

I was lucky enough to grow up
in the Florida public school system.

And not to brag,

but that's where I won the district
spelling bee with the word "imperative."

"Imperative" was a vocab word, remember?

Yeah. Cool.

My education gave me
the opportunity to stand here

and say it is imperative
that we use our power

to ensure that every student gets
the education they deserve.

Our leadership comes with responsibility,
and it is our responsibility to act.

This isn't about party.

It isn't about winning political points
or raising our standings in the polls.

It is about providing opportunities
to everyone,

no matter who you are
or where you come from.

Every student deserves to be included.

- [Elena] Diary, Senator Morales was right.
- Thank you.

There was an injustice here
in our state's capitol.

And I had to act.

Sasha, did you hear
what the Senator just said?

No.

What if we threw our own party?

You mean for everyone?

For all the students of Florida.

Well, our sixth grade class.

[both chuckle]

Hey, Sam. What's going on?

I just wanted to see if it would be okay

if I can go by your house
to pick up my things.

Some pastel button-downs,
sun visor, my novelty plate.

Can't forget "Platers Gonna Plate."
[chuckles]

Um, well, you can go by now.
No one's home.

I'll get in, get out, and leave my key
on the table. Sound good?

Yeah, no, that sounds great.

Thanks, Sam. [clears throat]

Sounds great.

[exhales]

[scoffs]

I was about to walk into school
but then I left.

[smacks lips] Okay.

Don't tell my mom, okay?

Uh, she's not, she's not,
she's not meeting you here, is she?

No, she's not. I won't tell her.

- Okay.
- I just came by to, uh...

get my, uh...

umbrella.

- Supposed to rain for 20 minutes today.
- Did you hear a ding?

I swear I heard a ding.

I did not hear a ding.

[sighs]

Okay. [chuckles]

[sighs]

Is there anything you need to...
talk about?

Left out of Club 204?

Why sit alone and watch the hotel
visitors' channel when you could...

Come party in room 206!

Where everyone's invited.

Okay, party checklist.

When we get back to the hotel,

I'll put shirts over the lamps
while you grab mini cereal boxes.

But it won't be breakfast time.

Talk to Josie at the front desk.
She handled my late check-in.

- She's a friend.
- Copy.

Also, Calvin's dads packed him seven bags
of microwave popcorn.

He's willing to contribute four,
but I think I can get him up to six.

This party's gonna be... poppin'.

Nice.

No list at room 206.
Ours is a party for all.

Um, excuse me.

What do you guys think you're doing?

We're throwing an inclusive party.

So many people were excluded
from Club 204.

Heard your party has an ice tub?

Claude's bringing his tub extender.

My man, Claude, coming through.
You know, our moms are friends.

You guys are so lame.

Gabi! Hey!

Hey, Esteban.

How's sandwich number nine treating you?

I love it.

Gabi, are you okay?

No.

Sam and I broke up. [chuckles]

Oh, Gabi, I'm sorry.

You know, this reminds me
of my song "Unwrap Mi Corazon."

My sister-in-law, Gloria Estefan,
says it has real promise.

Oh, Esteban, I love Sam,
but I still love Robert.

And, and now I don't have either one
of them, and everything is a mess.

I'm sorry, I know that you have things
to do with sandwiches and songs.

I just feel like I have to keep it
together for everybody all the time.

And I hate that I snapped at Camila.

But seeing Sam at work is just so hard.

It's too hard. [exhales]

♪ Unwrap mi corazon ♪

[Gabi crying]

So, you regret sending a text
to this person?

Yeah, yeah. 'Cause, uh, now we gotta talk.

- Right. Talking. So hard.
- Totally.

Not to mention feelings.

Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I don't...
I don't know. It's...

confusing.

Hey, I get it.

I hid behind a dumb yogurt joke
with your mom.

It was a lot easier making cultured puns
than it was actually being honest.

[chuckles] But I don't even know
what I would...

[sighs] say, you know?

Well, when you have something
you really need to tell someone,

even if you don't have
it totally figured out...

sometimes it's best to just start talking.

Hmm.

And if that person matters to you,
and you're being honest with them,

then it'll be, uh, chill.

That's the word, right?

Yeah. I think you're right.

[Elena] Diary, I was feeling invigorated
by our party progress when, boom!

There she was.

I guess state leaders really
are just like us.

You're Senator Morales.

I am.

Sorry. I'm a little nervous.
My name is Elena Cañero-Reed.

Do you think your bill's gonna pass?
It really seems imperative.

It's tough to say.

I get it. I'm kind of engaged
in a fight for justice myself.

It's about inclusivity, just like yours.

Wow. Looks like we have
a future leader on our hands.

You think I could be a leader?

If you're already fighting for justice,
I'd say you're well on your way.

We're gearing up for a pretty big victory.

But remember, it's not just about winning.

Being a leader also comes
with responsibility.

Right. Of course.

Um, Senator Morales,
could I get an autograph?

Sure.

Good luck with everything,
Miss Cañero-Reed.

Thanks. You too.

Oh, right. I gotta pee.

[school bell rings]

So, um...
I'm, I'm really sorry about the dance.

That wasn't cool of me.

Yeah. Not really.
Yeah, what was up with that?

Uh, that's, that's actually what I wanted
to talk to you about.

Uh... [clears throat]

It... It's because, uh, because of...
I've been wondering...

Well, I've, I've been feeling kinda...

you know, uh, confused about, um...

about, um...

tennis next year. Yeah.

It's gonna be weird being a freshman.
Bottom of the food chain, you know.

Dude. That's what you were upset about?

I mean, yeah, it'll be different, but...
You could have just told me that.

Yeah. Yeah, sorry.
It's hard to talk about.

You know, well, don't worry.

Ziggy's cousin is on the team,
and he says JV actually isn't that bad.

I mean, yeah, we'll have to wash
the older kids' uniforms

for, like, the first year,
but that's only the first year. [chuckles]

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Man, I mean...

[pop music playing]

[chattering]

Good to see you, Frank.
Glad you could come.

[boy] Sick party, Elena.

Chloe, broke out that party vest.

Oh, hey!
Don't sleep on the ice tub, people.

How's the stubbed toe, Javier?
Feeling better?

- Eh.
- Claude, my man.

- You take your meds on time?
- Yeah.

Elena! I can't believe how great
this party is.

- [chuckles]
- And Joey's here.

I know.

I think he used mousse.

Sasha, almost everyone's at our party.

[squeals]

Elena, look.

The Brits.

Another win for inclusivity.

[giggles]

It's almost time for Mini-Fridge Madness.
I left the rule book in my room.

Be right back.

[exhales]

God, dude. You could have just told him.

You know, you could have just said...

"I... feel stuff.

I think maybe...

maybe...

I'm..."

Hmm.

What? Oh...

This party's dope.
I can't believe it's nobody's birthday.

Thank you, Ryan.

It is a privilege to provide dopeness
to the entire sixth grade class.

Oh, amazing! You got the rules?

- What's wrong?
- Elena, there's no one at Jessica's party.

Yeah, 'cause our party's better.

I know, but... Jessica's really upset.

She said that she got eyeliner in her eye,
but I think she was crying.

[Elena] Wait, I never wanted to
make anyone cry.

- Maybe I should go...
- [Joey] 'Sup?

Oh.

Hi, Joey. Not much. You?

Not much. Cool party.

So, uh, you wanna share a Berry
Blizzard Blast slushy at the ice tub?

I hear they make your tongue turn blue.

[Elena] Diary, it finally happened.
Joey asked me to share a beverage.

Let me write that again.

Joey Feldstein asked me
to share a beverage.

And yet,
all I could think about was Jessica.

Are you okay?

I'm fine. I just got eyeliner in my eye.

Shouldn't you be at your amazing party?

Jessica, I'm sorry.
I just wanted everyone to be included.

Well, congrats.

Everyone seems to be having
the best night ever.

You made your party exclusive.

I had to. Melissa and the Brits...

Oh, my God. Why do you care
so much about being popular?

I'm not like you.

What do you mean?

[sighs]

I'm scared. Okay?

Going into middle school,

I was so scared I'd slip through
the cracks and nobody would notice

or care about me or whatever.

I don't wanna be invisible.

But whatever, I... Doesn't matter.

You won. Go back to your party.

You can come if you want?

You know I can't do that.
It would be humiliating.

I didn't think everyone
would come to my party.

No, well, duh. When you do things,
you do them, like, really well.

And, of course, everyone followed you.

- I mean, you made flyers.
- [chuckles]

You're gonna be popular now,
you know that?

And I'll be the nerd of seventh grade.

No.

You won't be the nerd of seventh grade.

What do you mean?

[Elena] Diary, in my fight
to include everyone, I left someone out.

If I could find a way for everyone to win,
including Jessica,

it was my responsibility to try.

[chattering]

Dr. Cooper's headed down the hall.
He's coming this way.

Oh, God.

It's okay, Claude.
If we fall, we fall together.

- Elena.
- Don't worry. It's under control.

Everyone, hide in here!

Great idea, Jessica.

Come on. Let's go.

Thank you.

[video game beeping]

Robertico.

- How was your day?
- I left school early.

But I went back and only missed World Civ,
and Danny gave me his notes.

Mm, all right.

- What's going on?
- It's fine.

I saw Sam, and we kinda talked.

He said some pretty good stuff, actually.

I'm still thinking about it.

You saw Sam? What did you talk about?

Oh, it's, um...

it's kinda dad stuff.

I mean, guy stuff.

Are you okay? That must be hard.

- Because Sam's not Dad.
- I know.

And it could bring up a lot of feelings
that Sam's a replacement.

Uh...

It's not really like that.

Okay, you know how in Escape from TriTron,

when you get to level eight,
you get a new set of gills?

Of course not, mi amor.

Okay, well,

on level eight you get a new set of gills
to breathe the electrified oxygen.

But the old gills don't go away,

'cause you still need them
to breathe the old oxygen.

So, it's like old oxygen, old gills.
New oxygen, new gills.

They work together
and give you twice the air.

And that's how you stay underwater
long enough to defeat the sharkbot.

Old and new gills?

Yeah. Level eight's the hardest.

Elena, I got a very alarming flyer
slipped under my door

that said there's a party in your room?

Um, nope. I was just reading up on some
of those crazy Florida laws.

Hey, did you know that unmarried women
cannot legally parachute on Sundays?

I did. This is my 15th Tallahassee trip.

Mini-Fridge Madness is about to begin.

- [cheering]
- [pop music playing]

That was pretty kiwi, saving the party.

Wow. Thanks, Melissa.

You can sit with the Brits
and me on the bus ride home.

Actually, no thanks. I'm good.

Ugh, whatever.

Hey.

Oh. Thanks for packing up my stuff.

This isn't your stuff. It's Robert's.

Um, I've been trying to get myself
to give it away, but I just...

I can't.

Because there's something
that I need to tell you.

I still love Robert.

Right. I know that.

I love Robert and I love you.

Well, I guess I thought that I could only
really love one of you,

and, well, that stopped me
from opening my heart.

That wasn't fair, and I'm sorry.

And, if it's okay with you, I would really
love to give this, us, another shot.

But... I understand if,
if you don't want to.

I packed your stuff.

Although I think that Elena took your
"Legal Advisor" visor to Tallahassee.

Gabi.

[sighs]

I knew I wasn't the only love
of your life. And I was honored.

"Honored," really?

Are you kidding?

The father of your two amazing kids,

the person who helped shape
all three of you.

I'm a lucky guy to share a heart with him.

I'm so sorry that it took me
so long to realize

that I can have the old
and the new... gills.

- I'm sorry, that's from Bobby's game.
- Escape from TriTron.

[chuckles]

I get it.

Gabi, I love you.

But if we're gonna do this again,
you need to be...

All in. I know. I am, if you are.

I'm still all in.

You know what?

We should go away together,
just the two of us.

Maybe that weekend in Palm Beach?

- You sure you can handle that?
- No. [chuckles]

But I wouldn't want to try
with anyone else.

By the way,
have you heard Esteban's new song?

Mm.

"Unwrap Mi Corazon."

Oh.

It wrecks me every time.

[laughs]

I can't believe how good Belinda
was in Mini-Fridge Madness.

Totally. Okay, safe space.
What do we think of Claude?

- Claude?
- Claude?

What? He's sweet.

He does have a certain je ne sais Claude.

[giggles]

Hey, uh...

I'm really sorry for everything.

You guys gave me another chance
even when I didn't deserve it.

It's okay.

Yeah. Middle school is a jungle.

I still can't believe you said no to
sharing a beverage with Joey Feldstein.

[both chuckle]

It was worth it. And plus, I can still
be the first dance at his bar mitzvah.

[Sasha sighs]

Bar mitzvah season.

Yeah.

Seventh grade is when things get real.

So, you're telling me my karaoke
pool party was against the law?

And that's not even the best part.
I met this amazing senator.

You met a senator?

Yeah, in the bathroom.

It was the zenith of the trip.

Ah, "Zenith", that's a good one.

I cannot believe you're on the Zs already.

Robertico, dinner!

Ooh, I can only eat one helping tonight.

Liam's picking me up,
and we're meeting the guys.

We're thinking about adding
sweet potato to the french fry trifecta.

[Sam] That's a good call. So, Elena,

what words are you gonna work on next year
now that you've run out of letters?

Vocab words are so sixth grade.

Seventh grade is all about
the five-paragraph essay.

Ooh, and high school is all about me not
being in the same school as you anymore.

Plus, in seventh grade
you can do yearbook, coding,

student council, honor society.

Student council. That sounds like fun.

[Elena] I gotta say, Diary, I'm pretty
excited for whatever my future holds.

[cameraman] And four, three, two.

[President Elena] Hello, America.
It's your president.

[Elena] Well, Diary, I did it.
My first year of middle school.

There was a time when someone like me

wouldn't even dream of sitting
in this office, behind this desk.

My presence here proves
that those days are over.

[Elena] There were so many changes.

Like, how there's a fourth person
at the dinner table again.

Or how even if a friendship seems lost,
you can always find your way back.

Our nation is entering a new era.

And as we move forward,

I continue to be invigorated by
the strength of our diversity,

the spirit of our ingenuity,
and the unstoppable power of our optimism.

[Elena] Oh, and guess what?

I think I'm getting closer to my raison.
You know, "reason for being"?

Every challenge we face, we face together.

Every step forward we take,
we take together.

- And we... are just getting started.
- Diary, I'm just getting started.

[sighs]