[students cheering]
- [announcer] North Seattle High
- [instruments clanking]
it's pep rally time.
- So let's get loud, Bulldogs!
- [drumroll]
[marching band playing triumphant music]
[students cheering]
[cheering continues in distance]
[announcer] The prom committee's also
going to announce this year's prom theme.
Oh, yeah!
[students cheering]
[announcer] It's about to get crunk!
- [music continues]
- [cheering continues]
[announcer] Now, give it up
for the pride of North Seattle High,
your championship team, Bulldogs!
[students chanting] We are the Bulldogs,
and we're here to fight!
- Bulldogs unite!
- [announcer laughs] I love it!
[students] Go, fight, win!
[announcer] There's Graham. There he goes!
[cheering continues]
[announcer chanting] Bulldogs!
Come on, everybody! Bulldogs! Bulldogs!
[guidance counselor]
Mandy Yang, what are you doing?
We've been over this.
You cannot skip pep rallies
to steal from the lost and found.
Ms. Chen, I'm not stealing. I'm donating.
- All right. All right, fine.
- [announcer] For the win! Give it up!
I hope you're happy.
I'm a high school guidance counselor.
I'm never happy.
You're not gonna actually make me
sit through that thing?
I am.
Oh, look at that.
I guess I am happy sometimes.
[Mandy] Fine.
- [Ms. Chen] Have fun!
- [music continues]
[students chanting]
Go, Bulldogs. Go, go, go.
Go, Bulldogs. Go, Bulldogs, go!
Go, Bulldogs. Go, go, go.
Go, Bulldogs. Go, Bulldogs, go.
Go, Bulldogs. Go, go, go.
Go, Bulldogs. Go, Bulldogs, go!
Whoo! Go, Bulldogs.
- Really, Ben?
- What?
[students cheering]
- How we doing, Bulldogs?
- [music stops]
[cheering continues]
I said, how we doing, Bulldogs?
[cheering louder]
[principal laughs] There ya go.
Now, let's keep it going for your
team captain, number ten, Graham Lansing!
[students cheering]
How we doing, Bulldogs?
[cheering continues]
I said, how we... [chuckles]
Just kidding, I'm not gonna do that.
That's corny as hell. [laughs]
No offense, Principal Mossler.
Ah, you got me! [laughing]
I do that. He got me.
- [laughs] Great guy.
- [Graham] Okay
Why do people insist
on treating Graham Lansing
like he's some sort of golden god?
[scoffs] Well, because he kind of is.
Please. He's just an entitled dumb-ass
who uses his nice smile and male privilege
to fail upwards
and become king of the Everests.
Whoa, Mandy,
let's chill with the Everests, okay?
And now, for the moment
we've all been waiting for,
the reveal of this year's prom theme.
So please join me in welcoming
- It's probably old-fashioned nepotism.
- Hmm.
class president, LaToya Reynolds.
[Mandy] People let Graham Lansing get away
with m*rder because his dad is a senator.
Are you guys ready?
We should be holding him
more accountable...
Can we just... Shut up, shut up.
LaToya is about to announce
the prom theme.
[student] What's the prom theme?
Did you just tell me to shut up
so you could hear the prom theme?
Other people wanna hear it, okay?
I'm just being polite.
[LaToya] Drumroll, please!
[drumroll]
[LaToya] The prom theme is
- the '80s!
- [students cheering]
[cheering fades]
What is happening?
["Ghostbusters" playing on speakers]
[student 1] Oh, my God!
It's a promposal.
[gasps] This is not a drill, people!
[marching band playing "Ghostbusters"]
[Ghostbusters]
Promposal
[all]
Promposal
[Ghostbusters]
Promposal
- [students cheering]
- [song ends]
Graham Lansing, are you asking me to prom?
What? N-N-No, no, no, Jodi.
Me, Owen, your-your boyfriend,
is asking you to prom.
- [chatter, laughing]
- [student] Epic fail.
Oh. Yeah, sure. That's fine.
[student] Dude!
She said yes.
[light applause]
Let's hear a round of applause
for the first promposal of the year!
[students cheer, applaud]
Okay, everyone.
Ah, that was great.
Little awkward.
All right, we got about five minutes
to get back to class. Now, everybody out!
I'm gonna hit the faculty lounge
for a cranberry juice! Let's go.
- Ms. Chen.
- What are you doing here?
Is this my punishment because I forced you
to go to the pep rally?
Look, I'm still pending at Harvard,
and so, I was just wondering
if maybe you'd heard anything?
- Mandy, it doesn't work...
- [cell phone buzzing]
Oh, it's Harvard.
Hello?
Oh, hi. Yes. Mandy's right here.
You wanna give her a full ride?
And an honorary doctorate?
[chuckles] Oh, wow.
Thanks, Mr. Harvard. Thanks for calling.
I'll let her know right away.
I'll explain later, honey.
- That wasn't Harvard. That was your wife.
- No, it wasn't.
It was totally Mr. Harvard.
- It's not funny.
- It is.
You just can't see it
because you're so tightly wound.
[chuckles] "Tightly wound."
Huh. Do you want to know why
I'm so tightly wound?
Oh, no. This is a speech again, isn't it?
Because Harvard is
the best school in the world.
And Harvard is where my hero, development
economist, Dr. Ingrid Downs went.
And Harvard is where
she is a tenured professor.
And Harvard is where Dr. Downs, a woman
who has literally won two Nobel Prizes
for her work reducing global poverty,
mentors young women like me
who wanna change the world for the better!
So, please, forgive me if I seem a little
tightly wound when it comes to Harvard.
I'm sorry. I didn't catch the name
of the school. Is it "Hergerds"?
That's funny.
Mandy, there are other colleges
where you can get an amazing education.
Like where? Dartmouth? [scoffs]
Get out!
What? How am I supposed to
become Dr. Downs' favorite student
that she takes
to the UN's Woman Economic Empowerment...
- Out.
- Fine.
Bethany's staging a coup, Charles.
She's trying to overthrow me
as drum major.
I can't hear this again.
Can we talk about anything else?
- Not Harvard.
- Hmm.
People seemed to like
the whole Ghostbusters thing.
Promposals are just another example
of the patriarchy
affirming its dominance over women.
Okay, but you have to admit
the '80s theme makes it kind of fun.
The '80s theme makes them even worse.
Can you name one popular '80s movie
that isn't totally sexist?
Are you being for real? Of course I can.
- Dollar bet. Who you got?
- Mandy, duh.
- I don't know. I think Ben's got this one.
- [Ben] Okay.
Breakfast Club.
The theme is be yourself
unless you want a cute boy to like you,
- then get a makeover from Molly Ringwald.
- Fine. Fine.
Weird Science.
The perfect woman is scantily clad
and here to please.
Revenge of the Nerds?
The hero nerd tricks a girl
into believing he's her boyfriend
so she'll have sex with him.
That's not a comedy.
That's an episode of SVU.
Come on, Ben. Even I knew that one.
Pay up, Chuck.
- Calm down. I'll Venmo you.
- [school bell rings]
I don't have Venmo.
["Miss Independent" playing]
- [song continues]
- [employee on PA, indistinct]
[cell phone chimes]
[song ends]
Who you texting, huh?
Your girlfriend?
Just a friend. I don't have a girlfriend.
Obviously. [chuckles]
Man, I was joking.
You know what, Kyle?
I don't need this from you, okay?
You're a freshman. I'm a senior.
Treat me with some respect.
Come on. You're barely a senior.
You don't even drive a car.
I do! I gave you a ride home.
Right. Your janky Ford Fiesta!
It's basically a go-kart.
- You've never been to a party.
- I've been to a party.
With drinking?
I mean, I'm sure one of the adults
had a glass of wine in the other room.
I bet you've never even hooked up
with a girl.
I've kissed a girl before.
Kissed? Ugh. What are you, nine?
I'm talking about your P in a V.
I don't have to prove anything to you.
You just did.
See that guy?
His P has been in some V.
He's a senior.
He's coming.
[exhales] Don't embarrass me.
You're a bag boy, Kyle.
That ship has sailed.
- 'Sup.
- [Graham] How you guys doing?
- Uh, Graham?
- Yeah, bud?
Have you, uh,
decided where you're going to college yet?
[chuckling] Not you too.
Sorry. At a certain point you never want
to hear that question again.
You guys will understand
when you're seniors.
[giggles] He's a senior.
My bad. What school you at?
Your school.
- Right, right. You're, uh...
- Ben Plunkett.
No Nuts Plunkett. Of course!
[squeals] No Nuts Plunkett?
Someone gave this kid a Snickers
in the sixth grade field trip.
Blew up like a puffer fish, like...
It was crazy.
You okay from that?
- Yeah, I'm... I-I recovered, so
- [Graham] Cool.
Well, sorry I didn't recognize you,
No Nuts. It's just...
You look different
when you're not all swollen.
But, uh, see you at school.
And, hey! Go, Bulldogs.
[imitates barking]
Hey, girl.
It's Friday night. You got a hot date?
[sighs] Well, I didn't wanna tell you,
but yes.
I'm going out
with the most popular boy in school.
You're going out with Graham Lansing?
The Graham Lansing?
Ugh, stop.
Why do you guys know who that is?
I actually don't know who he is.
I just felt the vibe
and wanted to "Yes, and."
And now I can feel the vibe has shifted.
I'm gonna go.
So, no date with Graham?
[Mandy] Mom,
he would never date a girl like me.
What?
Don't look sad.
Let me remind you my worth is not
determined by some boy, okay?
I'm my own woman,
and I decide my worth. [exhales]
And I love that, but let me remind you
that you're only young once.
I mean, it's great that you give
all those speeches
and you were named
"Best Student Economist in America."
Okay, in North America.
Yeah, but I think
you need to have some fun,
- make some memories.
- [cell phone chimes]
Put Flamin' Hot Cheetos
in the principal's car!
Oh, it was hilarious when I did it.
[laughing]
Look, Mom. I have a very memorable
Friday night planned with Ben.
Bookstore, movies, waffles.
It's the same thing you do
every Friday night.
See? It's memorable for you too.
Hey. How was work?
Work was, uh...
I don't wanna talk about it.
Was it that little skid mark, Kyle?
What'd he say?
It wasn't just him, I... Look, I said
I didn't want to talk about it, okay?
So, can you just stop talking about it,
please?
- Okay.
- [Ben sighs]
[Ben] What're you doing?
Imagine Dragons, really?
["Believer" playing]
First things first
They were my favorite band freshman year.
I haven't listened to them in forever.
Why are you even doing this right now?
It's not like it's gonna
magically make me...
[with stereo] Pain! You made me a
You made me a believer, believer
Pain! You break me down, you build me up
Believer, believer
Pain! Oh, let the b*ll*ts fly
Oh, let them rain
My life, my love
My drive, it came from
Pain!
You made me a believer!
Believer!
Whoo!
[Imagine Dragons]
Pain! Oh, let the b*ll*ts fly
Oh, let them rain
My life, my love
My drive, it came from
Pain!
You made me a
You made me a believer! Believer!
[song ends]
["Addicted to Love" playing on speakers]
[patrons chattering, laughing]
- Thank you.
- [sighs] Thanks.
- [student] Julie, it's your promposal!
- [Julie] Yes!
So, you thinking chocolate chips
or no chocolate chips in the table waffle?
Your heart sweats, your body shakes
[Julie] That's amazing. You're so sweet.
Another kiss
Hey, do you ever feel like
we have wasted our youth sitting
on the sidelines judging people?
- So, no chocolate chips?
- [song fades]
Look at us. We... We've spent
every Friday night sitting at a diner
debating whether or not
we wanna put chocolate on a waffle.
What do you want us to be doing?
- Keg stands with the Everests?
- [scoffs] No.
Maybe. I don't know.
Um, you know, it's like, even Charles
and Zenobia do stuff, you know?
Like, they go to games,
and they go to parties and dances.
Who cares about that stuff?
You and I know the truth.
None of that matters.
Okay, real life starts
once we get out of here and go to college,
where we get to make a real difference.
Not all of us are going to Harvard.
Okay? Some of us are going to an in-state
college, like, 20 minutes down the road
with half the Everests
for the next four years,
where we're gonna have to listen
to them wax nostalgic
about their high school glory days.
Because high school is all they have.
Their lives have peaked.
That's why we call them Everests.
But don't you wanna,
just for once, feel like
like
Like what?
What if this is my peak?
[scoffs] I don't have any glory days
to look back on.
[chuckles] Okay, that's a little dramatic.
That's easy for you to say.
You're not No Nuts Plunkett.
Forget it. I will order us a waffle.
Thanks.
[Julie's date] Julie,
will you go to prom with me?
[Julie] Yes! [chuckles]
- Oh, my God!
- [guitarist 1] Yay! Congratulations!
[guitarist 2] Good job!
[sighs]
[sighs]
Prom?
Ha, ha. Very funny.
It's not a joke.
Why is this not a joke?
You want trite, I give you trite.
But only because you're my best friend.
Okay?
But no limos.
I'm not paying for hair and makeup, okay?
This is it.
And no slow dancing.
The only thing I hate more
than slow dancing is the gender wage gap.
Wow, you really know how
to make a boy feel special.
[both laughing]
So, Benjamin Walter Plunkett,
do you accept the terms and conditions
of my promposal
and agree to this prom pact?
["Addicted to Love" resumes]
Mandy Elizabeth Yang,
- it would be my honor.
- [both laugh]
Ugh.
Thank you. Yes.
There's no chocolate chips in that.
Yeah, well, I was mad at you
when I put in the order, so
[chuckles] Sorry.
[chuckles]
It's a celebratory waffle.
We're going to prom.
Might as well face it
Might as well face it
You're addicted to love
Coming up,
a sit-down with Senator Lansing.
We'll talk revitalizing and reelection,
today on NPR.
When you sleep better, you live better.
Which is why sleeping
on the wrong mattress is more
than just a pain in the neck.
Take our sleep-better quiz
to find out which mattress will
Turn that off.
You always say it's important to support
the businesses that support NPR.
I know. It's Harvard. It's updated.
[sighs]
What does it say?
[cell phone clattering]
Just leave me here.
Uh, I'll see you in seven hours.
- Mandy.
- Don't.
It's over. [sniffles]
Harvard, Dr. Downs,
saving the world, my life. It's all over.
Stop. You've been wait-listed, okay?
You haven't been rejected.
It's the same thing.
Harvard was supposed to be the place.
[chuckles] My place.
And they don't want me either.
What am I looking at?
Who is this sad, little person?
This is not the Mandy I know.
The Mandy I know would get up,
march into school
in her "Future is Female" T-shirt,
and she would figure out a way
to get into Harvard!
Be that Mandy.
Thank you.
[sighs]
I need to talk to you.
- I am with a student right now!
- Oh, that's okay. I'll wait.
Okay, the only reason I'm gonna let
that fly is because I don't like that kid.
- So...
- I got wait-listed at Harvard.
Oh. I'm sorry.
Don't be sorry.
Just help me figure out how to get in.
Mandy, let's take a b*at.
Maybe it's finally time
to start to discuss backup schools.
You know, with your grades,
community service, extracurriculars...
They've been applied to
and forgotten. Next.
Fine. You need a k*ller letter of rec.
Okay, I can't believe
I'm about to say this,
but what about Graham Lansing's dad?
The Harvard-alum senator?
That's a great idea. Ask him.
Uh, I don't know him,
but I was hoping maybe you knew him.
Oh, me? Yeah, we're super close.
Let's just call him right now.
[humming]
- Ms. Chen?
- No, be quiet.
I'm trying to psychically connect
with him.
[humming continues]
Okay, stop! You made your point.
I know that a letter from a senator
would seem big and flashy,
but unless you have a magic in with him,
get a rec from a teacher
who can speak to your passion,
your character, your Mandy-ness.
That is your best bet.
Yeah, yeah. Totally. Okay, okay.
Uh, I hear you, loud and clear.
She don't hear me.
So, Ms. Chen told you to become BFFs
with Graham Lansing
so you can ask his senator father
for a letter of recommendation?
Uh, not in so many words.
But what's with the pushback?
I thought you wanted a banal,
party-filled high school experience.
Hanging out with Graham Lansing
can give you that.
Yeah, I also said I want arm muscles,
but have you seen me sign up for a gym?
Besides, this is... this is manipulation,
okay? It's unethical.
Are you really willing to compromise
your values for some letter of rec?
Okay, this is not some letter of rec!
This is my life's ambition.
Besides, there is a long history
of men taking advantage of women
for things far less important
than Harvard.
I don't know, Mandy.
[squeals] Put me down!
He's crazy.
Okay, but we would, like,
hang out with all the Everests?
- [indistinct announcement]
- Probably.
I'm in.
Let's do it. Let's live out
this little '80s movie of yours.
Okay, this is not an '80s movie.
In an '80s movie, Molly Ringwald falls
in love with the cute boy with dimples,
going to great lengths to be with him,
future be damned.
In my movie, Molly Ringwald
falls in love with Harvard,
going to great lengths to get there,
dimples be damned.
What are you even saying?
- What are you saying?
- [Ben] What is the plan?
Let's start with what we know
and then fill in the gaps.
So, aside from being a popular womanizer
with a senator father,
what do we know about Graham Lansing?
- Uh, basketball.
- Right.
Um
Basketball team.
Okay. Um, so a lot of gaps.
Yes, lots of gaps.
It just means we check his socials.
Do some under-the-radar recon.
Recon? Okay, well, who are we gonna ask?
The only other people we talk to.
Mandy, Ben told us. We are so sorry.
We've ordered you an Edible Arrangement.
Thanks, guys.
Uh, but let's... let's talk
about something normal, yeah? [chuckles]
- Normal?
- You know, like, uh
Uh, Graham. Lansing.
What... What does he do?
You know, besides basketball.
Very under the radar.
Okay. He's probably going
to Kayla Jacobson's party tonight.
The entire senior class is going.
- I mean, besides you two.
- Ouch.
Noted. Zenobia, what about you?
We have AP Psych together.
Last week, I heard Graham talking
to the teacher about needing extra credit.
Zenob, baby, we gotta go.
Bethany's making money moves.
She's eating with the color guard girls
in the band room.
She will not stop until she has my head
on a platter. Let's go.
Okay, wait.
I got it.
Okay, we go to the party tonight
- Whoa, okay.
- talk to Graham.
I'll offer to tutor him in psych for free.
Then once I earn his trust, I will ask him
to ask his dad for the letter of rec.
Okay. Okay, so the plan is, uh,
we... we stage a run-in
with the most popular guy in school,
whom we have never spoken to before,
at a party that we were not invited to,
and then charm him by super casually
bringing up his failing grades.
And then ask him for a gigantic favor.
Yeah, see? Easy peasy.
- It's been a long time coming up
- [chattering]
Diggin' my way out of the dirt
At Ground Zero, breakin' out
Makin' my way
Above ground
Got my foot on the mound
Wind up to the pitch and let it go
Swing, batter, batter
But they never know
[music fades]
This is a party.
Cody! Yo, what's going on, man?
[song continues]
You okay, Ben?
Yeah. Yeah, why wouldn't I be?
'Cause I've spent the last four years
wishing I could be like these people
but never putting myself out there
for fear of being rejected?
I'm totally fine. Let's just...
Let's just do it. [sighs]
Okay.
[doorbell chimes]
[song stops]
Who invited the party virgins?
[all laughing]
- I regret everything.
- [song resumes]
It's okay! We can do this.
We just need to find Graham Lansing, okay?
I'll take here and upstairs,
you take the basement and the backyard.
Text if you see him. Okay?
Okay. Noticeable pit stains yet?
- You're good.
- Okay.
[song ends]
- Everybody's got somethin' to say
- [students chattering, laughing]
This chick always got somethin' to say
Say what you want
Don't be in your way
- [Jodi] Owen's coming. I'm forcing him.
- [LaToya] I don't know!
Elijah already told me
he's not coming tomorrow.
Like... I'm screwed! Look,
I'm leading the community garden build
for the basketball players
and cheerleaders tomorrow morning.
No one is gonna get up that early.
Look at everyone. They're trashed.
Yeah. They need to bring a hammer,
not show up hammered, right?
Lurk much?
Sorry, I, um... I just, um...
Would you like me to take your empties?
[song continues]
- I'm good.
- Okay.
[LaToya] So, tell anyone who isn't
completely faded to come tomorrow.
8:00 a.m.
- [friend] You got it.
- [Jodi] Copy that. Try my best.
[LaToya] Thanks, ladies.
["Coincidance" playing]
[grunts] Wanna kick it with me at prom?
You're not Erica.
No, I'm looking for Graham Lansing.
He's not here.
Close the door quickly before...
Erica! Wanna kick it with me at prom?
Erica, wait!
Hey, have you, by any chance,
seen Graham Lansing?
[song continues]
Hi, is Graham Lansing in here?
- I wish.
- Hey!
Okay, um, I'm so sorry to interrupt.
I'm an ally, so please continue.
[chuckles]
Wow, you can really dance
Thanks, No Nuts.
Wow, you can really dance
I hate my life.
I shouldn't have to tell you when
I want a drink. You should just know that.
- Have you seen Graham Lansing?
- No. [coughs]
[retches]
Who?
Graham Lansing! I know you know who he is.
You people worship the ground he walks on,
which is absurd because he's a Neanderthal
whose only forms of communication
are grunts and
- [imitates Graham] "Go, Bulldogs!"
- [song stops]
[students murmuring]
- What?
- [murmuring stops]
Go, Bulldogs!
[students cheering]
[song resumes]
Ben? We gotta get outta here.
Oh, thank God.
I just called Graham Lansing an idiot
in front of everyone,
and he definitely heard.
I can officially kiss Harvard goodbye.
Well, maybe not officially.
- I'm listening.
- LaToya Reynolds said
that the basketball team has
a community garden build tomorrow,
and as captain, I'm sure he has to go.
[sighs] That's not terrible.
Wait. [chuckles]
You talked to LaToya Reynolds?
Kind of. I mean, I...
I made a joke, and she laughed.
It was funny. I'm funny, so
[chuckles] Oh, my God.
Look at your face. You love her.
What? No, no. I j... [stammers]
That... I'm doing...
You asked me for help,
so just say thank you.
[song continues]
[stops]
[LaToya] and thanks in advance
for all your hard work.
Now, let's do this!
[grunts] What is wrong with this thing?
[scoffs, grunts]
Here. Let me help.
No... I don't need a man's help...
I mean, that would be great.
- [hose clicks]
- [air hisses]
[nail impacts wood]
Not bad for a Neanderthal, huh?
Uh, look, I...
I actually need to apologize for that.
I mean, you're clearly not a Neanderthal.
You seem very...
It's... It's cool. It's cool.
[sighs] Uh, you are in AP Psych
with my friend Zenobia, right?
I don't think so.
You don't have Ms. Allen third period?
No, I do.
Is that when your friend has her?
Yeah.
Guess we do have class together, then.
Yeah, maybe.
I took that class last year.
Are you liking it?
I do not like it, and it does not like me.
Well, um, if you ever need help,
I'd be happy to tutor you.
You know, as an apology for last night.
I'm all set.
Are you sure? Because, you know,
I got a five on the AP exam.
And I'm a great tutor. I have references.
And it's free!
I mean, what's better than free?
What's the catch?
- There's no catch. [chuckles, scoffs]
- [Graham chuckles]
We haven't spoken in ever.
And now you're crashing parties
and team service projects
and offering to tutor me just 'cause?
Come on. There's gotta be a catch.
So, what is it, hmm?
Do you want us to take a selfie
or something?
[chuckles] I do not want a selfie, okay?
I'm just a nice person
trying to do a nice thing,
and if you can't see that,
then that's your problem and not mine.
Hey.
[Ben] Yo. How'd it go?
[sighs] Well, Graham Lansing is
the narcissistic tool we thought he was.
But I'm officially his tutor.
Yes!
What about you?
You have fun with your new girlfriend?
LaToya Reynolds
is not my girlfriend, okay?
Besides, she barely even looked
at me anyway, so
So, you noticed her not looking?
No, I... Just... Well... Shut up.
[students chattering]
[typing]
- [sighs]
- [phone chimes]
You're five minutes late.
That's it? That's not bad.
So, you're big into bees, huh?
I'm into saving them.
And you should be too,
if you enjoy fruits, vegetables, life.
But we're here to talk psychology.
- So [sighs] according to your syllabus
- [camera shutter clicking]
today was about Ebbinghaus, who was fam...
[students giggling]
What was that?
It's some game the freshman girls play
where they take pictures of me.
Keep going.
Okay. Uh, so, Ebbinghaus...
- [students] Whoo!
- [student 1] Let's go, let's go!
That's it. One, two, three, go!
- [phone dings]
- [Graham] No way.
[students chattering]
[grunts]
Mei, would you come to prom with me?
[gasps] Oh, my God, yes, Edward. Yes!
[students cheering]
Would you like to go talk to your friends?
Oh, no. I don't know them.
That's just quality content.
- People eat that stuff up.
- [librarian] Get out!
You know, I...
I actually had a few questions about that.
Does Jodi even like the Ghostbusters?
No clue. Why?
Well, I just think it would be nice
if any of these promposals took
into account the girl's interests or life.
Instead of just being an excuse
for the guy to look cool
in front of his friends.
But that is just me.
Uh. Let's try this again.
[Principal] Attention, students.
Don't be wack. Get your prom tickets,
on sale in the cafeteria now.
- Hello.
- [LaToya] Hey.
One ticket for prom, please.
Okay. One ticket for
- Ben Plunkett.
- Ben Plunkett.
I know your name, Ben.
Oh, uh, sorry. I... I...
I just... did... did not think that you did.
We've had classes together
since middle school.
We did a group project
for AP Bio last year.
No, I know.
Wait. Do you not know my name?
I do. Obviously.
I mean, you're... you're like...
You're you. [chuckles]
- You don't know my name!
- No, of course I do. Of course I do.
LaToya Reynolds.
I just mean that, you know, you're like...
[chuckles]
LaToya Reynolds,
I mean, does that make any sense?
Not entirely. [chuckles]
- Try to hang on to that.
- Right.
But if you lose it, we have your name
at the door, Ben Plunkett.
Thank you, LaToya Reynolds.
[chuckles]
- There are people in line behind you.
- Right, behind... Okay, I'll...
So sorry. Um...
Ebbinghaus was famous
for his forgetting curve,
which shows that you forget about 75%
of the information you learn in a day
without relearning or repetition.
Which is kind of what makes tutoring
such an effective tool.
Can you stop with the tapping?
Sorry, but if you're just gonna sit here
and talk at me like Ms. Allen does,
I'm gonna get antsy.
Like it's my fault you have
the attention span of a golden retriever.
Well, this was fun.
Thank you. I'll let you know
how I do on the next test.
Wait. I'm sorry.
[sighs] I'm sorry.
- Can we start over?
- I don't think this is gonna work.
You're right.
Follow me.
You serious?
You said it yourself. You get antsy.
So, let's redirect that nervous energy
into something else so you can focus.
It'll be like a fidget spinner for jocks.
We prefer the term athletes.
I'm sure you do.
So, Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve says
you forget 75% of the information
you learn in one day without relearning.
- [Graham] He sh**t.
- What did I just say?
He scores.
You said
Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve says
we forget up to 75% of the things
we learn in a day without relearning them.
- You might be onto something.
- ["bad guy" playing]
The stereotype thr*at is
where someone does worse academically
because they're told
they're not good enough.
Oof. That one hits deep.
Thanks a lot, Dad.
[song continues]
Mandy, heads up.
No.
So, me being able to remember
the last thing you said
is an example of the recency effect.
That actually makes sense.
You can store that explicit memory
in your hippocampus.
- Am I right?
- You actually are.
Huh. Look at me learning.
- Mandy, I got an 88 on my quiz.
- [song continues]
- [squeals]
- [Mandy chuckles]
Did Graham Lansing just hug you?
Girl, that was not just a hug.
He slid into your DMs with his eyes.
It is on.
It is not like that.
Girl, it should be, 'cause he is hot.
I like it when you take control
Even if you know that you don't...
[student] Oh, my God. Yes, I'll go to prom
with you! Oh, my God! [laughs]
- Claire, will you go to prom with me?
- Yes, I'll go to prom with you!
I bet his girlfriend
doesn't even like John Cusack.
Bad
- It's called priming.
- I'm a bad guy [ends]
Now, get up. New plan.
You have spent all this time tutoring me.
Now let me tutor you.
No, I don't play basketball.
What? You have to.
You said that when we store memories,
we store the emotion we felt at the time.
And, well, you don't want me associating
psychology with being sad now, do you?
[sniffles]
Okay, okay. I'll do it.
Just stop making that face.
Okay. So the acronym we use
to teach sh**ting is BEEF.
Now, I'm sorry if that offends you
as a vegetarian.
How did you know I was a vegetarian?
Just assumed.
Okay. BEEF.
Balance: feet shoulder width apart.
Eyes: up and on the hoop.
Elbow: under the ball.
And, finally, follow-through.
Keep moving your hand after
you release the ball to finish your sh*t.
[scoffs] Well, that was pathetic.
Hey.
What? If I said that was good, you would
lose all respect for me as a coach.
Okay, let's try again.
Balance.
Eyes.
Elbow.
Follow-through.
Whoa! Did LeBron just get here?
Okay, get ready.
Let me just make one more tweak.
Do I have permission to touch your arm?
Yes.
You flare out just a little bit here.
Okay. You're good.
Eyes on the basket.
You sink this,
it means I'm acing my psych test.
No pressure.
[exhales]
[both cheer]
I did it! Everyone here saw it.
I leave here a champion!
[imitating Mandy] "Oh, Graham,
thank you so much for all your help.
I-I couldn't have done it without you."
Oh, thank you. You are a good coach.
[scoffs, normal] Well, I'd hope so.
I coach at the rec center.
- Really?
- Yeah.
I am the proud head coach
of the nine-year-old
West Division Co-Champ Lil Bulldogs.
Really?
I've been with them
since they were wee six-year-old pups.
- Really?
- Could you stop sounding so surprised?
Just 'cause I don't advertise it
on my T-shirt,
doesn't mean I'm not a good person.
But if you need to see it to believe it,
come with me.
[whistle blows]
["sh**ting Star" playing]
[players chattering]
- [Mandy] Oh!
- [players chattering, screaming]
- [players cheering]
- What?
Passing by at the speed of sound
- [whistle blows]
- [players] Traveling!
Or you'll miss out, oh, oh
Beautiful and amazing
Like a thunder and lightning strike
You'll never know
Till she knocks you down
But you feel it comin'
[players clamoring]
There she goes like a sh**ting star
She got fireworks in her heart
- [player] No!
- [players] Yes! Yes!
Flying higher, burning brighter
Keep on shining like a sh**ting star
[players cheering]
- Nice job.
- [whistle blows]
[song ends]
Okay, you guys were amazing today.
So amazing, I'll make you a deal.
If I make this sh*t
I'll bring doughnuts to the next practice.
- [players cheering]
- Yeah.
There will be doughnuts for everyone.
[players laughing]
- You got hops.
- Really?
No. But Coach always tells us
sportsmanship is important.
Well, he makes a good point.
But, be honest, I'm not the worst girl
he's brought here, right?
You're the only girl
he's ever brought here.
Hey. Guess what? I am tutoring Graham
at his house on Friday night.
Where he lives with Senator Lansing.
Wait. Friday night as in Mandy
and Ben's bookstore-movie-waffle night?
Yeah, I know. It sucks.
We're gonna have to skip the bookstore
and push back the movie.
Are you mad?
No. I mean, as long as we can make it
to the movie, it's fine.
It's better than fine. It's good.
The Harvard Gods have given you a sign.
You can't ignore them, or they might
smite you and make you go to Brown.
Oh, don't even joke about that.
What am I doing?
- Hi.
- You must be Mandy.
- Yeah.
- Come on in.
- Thanks.
- Mm-hmm.
It's so nice to finally meet
the miracle worker
who helped my son get
a B-plus on his test.
- Oh.
- He's so proud.
He even put it on the fridge.
- Oh.
- [laughs]
Graham?
Hey.
Oh, for God's sake, Graham,
put a shirt on.
Your tutor is here.
I'll be right down.
Oh. I'm so sorry.
Raising four boys has taught me one thing.
It's they think this whole house
is a fancy locker room.
- Oh.
- We're lucky he's wearing pants.
- So lucky.
- [Mrs. Lansing laughs]
[cell phone ringing]
- Oh. Make yourself at home, sweetie. Okay?
- Thanks.
[ringing continues]
[Mrs. Lansing] Hello.
Oh, yes. I've been meaning to call you.
You found the Lansing wall of fame.
[chuckles] It's very impressive.
Your brother went to nationals
in Academic Decathlon?
Teddy? Yeah, he got third place.
Cried afterwards.
[chuckles]
Where are you?
[chuckles] Aw.
But where's the real stuff?
You know, being crowned homecoming king
and winning basketball player of the year
or whatever.
It's called MVP.
And none of that counts for the wall.
According to my father, the wall
is reserved for actual achievements,
not silly games or popularity contests.
He's a senator. His job is literally
winning a popularity contest.
That's what I said.
And now I'm stuck on the wall
with my fifth-grade graduation picture.
Let's go get me on this wall
for real, huh?
The Babinski reflex and the Moro reflex.
[Mandy] Correct. And that's it for today.
[Graham] It looks like we got time
to work on that jumper.
So, what's the deal with your folks?
You guys get along?
Person with the ball
has to answer the questions.
It's kind of the rule
of our tutoring sessions.
Fine. Uh
Yeah, we do for the most part,
just normal annoying parent stuff.
- You?
- I don't have the ball.
I don't have to answer your question.
Hmm. Do you get along with your parents?
Uh, yeah, with my mom it's easy.
Hmm, she's a talker, but my dad
No matter how hard I try, I just...
I just can't live up to his standards.
You know, the only reason
I took this AP class
is so maybe he'd think of me
as not a complete idiot for once.
- [sighs] Sorry.
- For what?
People don't wanna listen
to Graham Lansing's daddy issues.
I'll listen.
Who's your best friend?
Ben Plunkett.
No Nuts Plunkett is your best friend?
Yes. And don't call him that.
Who's your best friend?
Owen Kirksey.
Favorite movie?
9 to 5.
Favorite book?
Unbroken.
First kiss?
Peter Garcia. Seventh grade.
Last kiss?
Sophie Homan. Kayla's party.
Did you think
I was just a dumb jock before this?
Yes.
- Did you know who I was before this?
- No.
Why'd you offer to tutor me?
Dinner in 15 when your dad gets home.
Get cleaned up.
Dad's joining us for dinner?
To what do we owe the pleasure?
Get it all out now before he gets here.
Hey, do you wanna stay for dinner?
With your parents?
- Right. That's weird. You don't have to...
- No, I want to.
Unless you wanna take it back,
in which case, I don't have to. [chuckles]
I want you to. It's why I asked.
- Okay. Then I'm in.
- Good.
- I'm gonna go wash up.
- [Mandy] Okay.
[sighs]
[cell phone chimes]
- LaToya Reynolds!
- Oh!
[sighs] Ben Plunkett, you scared me.
Oh, I'm so sorry. So sorry.
I'm just... I'm surprised to see you here.
Because I'm not going
to Corey Eckhart's party?
Yeah, yes, 'cause I...
I am definitely aware of that party.
So, why aren't you going?
Every once in a while,
I just need a break from that scene.
Yeah, I mean... [scoffs] Same. [chuckles]
I thought you could relate.
Uh... What are you here to see?
Infinite Doom.
Scary movies are not my thing, but where
Michael B. Jordan goes, I follow.
Well, I'm here to see that too.
Do you wanna go together?
Not together, of course.
Obviously not together.
I just meant, like, would you...
Would you wanna go as friends?
Or you know what?
Now that I say it out loud,
friends may be presumptuous.
I can totally hear that now.
What I mean to say is
that I have this extra ticket,
and you can totally have it
if you want it.
And it would just be, like, one classmate
helping out a fellow classmate.
Nothing more than that. You know what?
We don't even need to sit next to
each other if you don't want to, so
I'd be happy to help out
a fellow classmate.
And we can sit next to each other.
Great. 'Cause the seats are assigned.
So your dad won't be joining us. [sighs]
He got pulled into last-minute drinks
with a donor.
Can't be missed.
Reelection's right around the corner.
[Graham] Well, I, for one, am shocked.
[Mrs. Lansing] Stop it. He works hard.
So, Mandy, where are you off to next year?
The way Graham talks about you, I imagine
you must have your pick of schools.
[groans] Well... You know,
my first choice is Harvard.
I wanna study under Dr. Downs.
She's this amazing...
I know who she is.
I love her.
- I went to her book signing last year...
- Uh, me too.
- What?
- Yeah.
[laughs] Where have you been hiding?
The last girl Graham brought home asked
why we didn't live in the White House.
[chuckles] Mandy's my tutor, Mom.
- Okay? She's not like Tess.
- No.
- Or Jenna or Hannah or Taylor.
- Stop.
[laughs] Kidding.
Mandy, so please, go on.
You're going to Harvard.
Oh, hopefully.
I got wait-listed.
Oh, that's a shame.
Did you know my husband went to Harvard?
Uh, no. I had no idea.
Wow. That is so impressive. [chuckles]
You know, I would love the opportunity
to pick his brain.
See if he has any tips.
Only if he has the time.
[Mrs. Lansing] Oh, well,
clearly his schedule is unpredictable.
But, you know, next weekend there's
a fundraiser where he's being honored.
The whole family is going.
You should come.
You could talk to him then.
- You don't have to.
- I would love to.
[Mrs. Lansing] Excellent.
I will have Graham get you the details.
- [Ben] What did you think of the movie?
- [LaToya] I'm just gonna say it.
- Michael B should be in every movie.
- [Ben] Okay.
[LaToya] Even the old ones.
Titanic, Godfather, Citizen Kane.
Go back. Remake 'em all with him in it.
Okay. So, you liked it?
It... It was hard to tell.
You spent the whole movie like this.
I did not.
I'm pretty sure I have a bruise on my arm
from how hard you were leaning into me.
Shut up!
- Oh, I'm sorry. Did that hurt?
- A little. [chuckles]
Well, this is me.
I had fun.
I'm glad Mandy canceled.
You said you two usually grab waffles
after a movie?
Yep.
- Do you wanna...
- I will see you at school. [chuckles]
See you at school.
See you at school?
What are you doing, Ben? [grunts]
Why am I running?
This is only making it worse.
Why am I making it worse?
You made quite the impression
on my mom tonight.
[chuckles] I guess I have Britney,
Tiffany, Rachel and Jessica to thank.
- You're just making up those names.
- [laughs]
But how many of them
are girls you've dated?
Uh, two-ish.
Oh, I feel bad for that ish-girl.
No, she was very happy.
[chuckles] Gross.
Good night, Graham.
Wait, wait.
I'm glad you're coming to the fundraiser.
My dad's gonna freak
when I show up with a Harvard girl.
The hopeful Harvard girl.
Look, either way, he'll be very impressed.
[smacks lips]
He wouldn't even let me apply there,
and I'm a legacy basketball recruit
[sighs]
but my dad didn't think
I would be able to hack it, so
"Let's just minimize
potential embarrassment."
That's rough.
But you should've done it anyway.
You don't have to live your life
for his approval.
You my tutor or my therapist?
Sorry. [chuckles]
You didn't ask for my opinion.
No, no. I
I like hearing it.
All right. I could stay here all night,
but Coach will k*ll me if I don't
get sleep before the tournament.
- Right. Good luck.
- Don't miss me too much.
[chuckles]
[sighs]
Oh, finally. Okay.
Is this jacket '80s enough?
'Cause I asked Ruth,
and she said the women's jackets
would fit my shoulders better.
But I don't have lady shoulders, do I?
Uh, no, your shoulders are totally normal.
Whoa. I just insinuated
having lady shoulders was a bad thing,
and you didn't even notice. Are you okay?
Yeah, yeah. Sorry, I'm fine. I...
It's just that Graham Lansing
is not who I thought he was.
It's like when you find out
your parents aren't just your parents
and had a whole life before you.
It feels kinda weird, you know?
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
This one's kinda good though, right?
[Ruth] Your shoulders are too narrow
for that jacket!
Thank you, Ruth! [sighs]
- She's got a point.
- Are you serious right now?
- I'm kidding. Sort of.
- Okay.
I think you can do better.
Ooh.
["Reinvent Urself" playing]
[no audible dialogue]
You're the one that you wanna be
Reinvent yourself
Wear it like a cape.
You decide what you wanna say
- Reinvent yourself
- Yeah
A different you every single day
You can re-invent yourself
[song ends]
Great Scott, will you go to prom with me?
Oh, my God! Yes!
- Oh, my God. I love this.
- Oh, thank you.
You have to
[Principal] Attention, this is a reminder.
The library is for reading,
not for scrolling your social medias.
Mandy! Who you texting?
Uh, my mom.
- What's up?
- Where are we going Saturday night?
I'm thinking we class it up
and go to the Olive Garden.
- What are you talking about?
- My birthday dinner.
Crap.
The fundraiser with Graham's dad
is Saturday night.
Seriously? Graham again?
Not Graham. The letter.
Oh, let's do Friday night instead.
I told you we're going to my grandma's
retirement community on Friday.
[sighs] Ben, I'm so sorry.
But you can still go
with Charles and Zenobia on Saturday.
No, I can't,
because they have band competition.
Mandy, this sucks.
What am I supposed to do now?
I can't go to the Olive Garden by myself
on my birthday. That's humiliating.
I know. I know. I'm sorry.
- But Saturday night is it. Okay?
- [Ben scoffs]
Once I talk to the senator,
it'll be back to us.
You k*ll me in Scattergories while I rant
about billionaires not paying taxes.
Normal times. Promise.
[sighs]
What about LaToya Reynolds?
You said you had a good time
at the movies.
I can't ask LaToya Reynolds
to the Olive Garden on my birthday.
That's worse than shaking her hand.
Trust me,
nothing is worse than shaking her hand.
- LaToya Reynolds!
- Hey.
Ben has a question for you.
[chuckles] Hi.
Yeah. I do have a question for you
that I wanted to ask.
And I... I guess I'll...
Well, first of all, cool puffy shirt.
I just wanted to say that.
And I also just wanted to say that I am...
My birthday is coming up.
I'm having a birthday,
um, dinner on Saturday.
If you would like to come to that birthday
dinner, you can totally come to it.
- What time?
- Anytime.
- I'm in, Ben Plunkett.
- [Ben chuckles]
- [school bell rings]
- [Mandy chuckles]
- We're going to the Olive Garden!
- And she said yes.
- Okay. Get to class.
- Okay.
- Have a good day, sir.
- Thank you.
- Happy birthday!
- [screams]
- You did not have to get me all this.
- Whoa, selfish.
I am buying this for myself, thank you.
You're getting soda
with single-use plastic?
- Okay, it's all for you.
- [chuckles]
I'm sorry that I'm missing
your birthday dinner tonight.
Is there anything else you want me to get?
Just a Harvard letter
so I can get my best friend back.
[sighs]
Sorry. Cheap sh*t.
Nah, it's okay. I deserve it.
But it's for the best
that I'm not going tonight.
I wouldn't want to get in the way
of you spitting that game.
- I have no game.
- Having no game is your game.
Thank you?
Look, I'm just saying, I know dinner
with the LaToya Reynolds is a big deal.
But you are Ben Plunkett, okay?
You're smart and funny and charming,
even though you don't know it.
- She's lucky to be going out with you.
- [employee, on PA] Attention, shoppers.
- Remember that.
- [employee, on PA] Especially you, Jenny.
Nobody puts Baby in the corner.
["(I've Had) The Time of My Life"
playing on speakers]
- Turn around.
- No.
It's happening.
- No, I've never felt this way before
- Never felt this way
- Yes, I swear
- [Jenny's prom date] Yes, I swear
- Jenny, will you go to prom with me?
- Yes! [laughing]
- [song ends]
- [customers applauding]
- Oh, dear God.
- Just go.
All right. Have fun tonight.
You too.
I didn't think I would find you
When the world shut down
I didn't know what would happen
Or that I'd be found
I was safe in a chrysalis
And wonderin' if
I've been waiting my whole life
To feel these fired up vibes
You took your sweet time
But maybe I know why
[sighs] Screw it.
Phones are too addictive anyway.
- [sighs]
- [song ends]
[Mr. Yang] She was so excited.
She couldn't wait to see One Direction.
Then the concert started,
and she sobbed from the second
they walked on stage until the final bow.
Dad. Dad, uh, what are you doing?
Uh, just showing Graham some pictures.
I didn't know
you were such a One Direction fan.
[Mandy] I was 11, so
Were you 11 when you were singing,
"You Don't Know You're Beautiful"
in the shower last week?
Oh, oh
You don't know you're beautiful
Oh, oh
Okay, it's "What Makes You Beautiful,"
and, uh, we should go.
But first, I need to ask about this.
- [gasps]
- [Mr. Yang laughs]
[Mrs. Yang, singsongy]
Her Halloween costume.
She was Tom Cruise from Risky Business.
And for the next month,
she would come home from school every day,
put on one of Tom's shirts
and slide around the house in her socks.
Hmm. Letting a third-grade girl dress up
as a kid who runs a brothel.
That's very forward-thinking, Mom.
Yeah, it was. Because now I have this
adorable picture to blackmail you with.
[Mr. Yang laughs]
Uh, Mandy's right. We should head out.
Mr. and Mrs. Yang,
it was nice meeting you.
Have her back by 2:00.
- 2:00?
- Oh, 3:00.
He will have me back by midnight.
[whispers] Yes.
Have fun.
Come on. 2:00 a.m., Tom? Really?
She's never gone on a date before.
How am I supposed to know?
Well, that happened.
Those photos are the bane of my existence.
No. I liked it.
[scoffs] Please. It's not exactly
the wall of fame in there.
What are you talking about?
Your whole house is a wall of fame.
They love everything you do.
No achievements necessary.
So, have you decided
where you wanna go to college?
Uh, no, not yet.
Coach wants me to play ball at State.
Owen's pushing for ASU
so we can room together.
And then there's my dad's choice, UT.
"A respectable yet attainable Public Ivy."
Hmm. But where do you wanna go?
[sighs] I don't know.
Right now, I'm just happy to be here.
[car alarm chirps]
[Mandy] Thank you.
[patrons chattering]
[door opens]
- LaToya Reynolds!
- [gasps]
Ben, you have got to start saying my name
at a normal volume.
Sorry. I... [stammers]
You're... You're here.
Well, yeah, you invited me.
I know, but then you came, so
Should we go get a table?
Yeah, we should. That's what happens next.
I promise I've been
to a restaurant before, so
[big band music playing on speakers]
[song continues]
Wow.
Come on.
So, the key is to keep your head down
and keep moving.
Don't make eye contact with anyone.
Because if you do, you'll get stuck
in some boring conversation
with some boring donors
who just wanna butter you up
to good ol' Senator Lansing.
All right. You're exaggerating.
No, I'm not.
My brothers are all trapped right now.
There's Teddy.
And Nate.
Oh. Logan just got free.
Logan.
- Made eye contact. Rookie mistake.
- [scoffs]
[song continues]
[no audible dialogue]
You guys are quite the hot commodity
at these things.
Yep. My dad loves it.
So when you meet him tonight,
mention Harvard right away
before anyone with money swoops in.
[attendee] Hey, Graham.
Ah, we've been spotted. We gotta move.
- ["Fall On Me" playing on speakers]
- Oh, no.
I'm not slow-dancing.
Oh, come on. Just pretend it's 1D.
Sooner or later
In the lights up above
Will come down in circles
And guide me to love
Oh, you're a natural.
Just like on the court.
So, when you look back on high school,
what do you think
your biggest regret will be?
The 94 in PE that cost me valedictorian.
You?
I always thought it would be
missing the free throw in the City Finals.
But now?
That I took so long to get a tutor.
Hmm.
Do lines like that work for you?
I don't know. I never needed a line.
People just come to me
with their expectations
of who I am or who I should be
but I don't know. With you, it's
Everything's different.
Good different or bad different?
Definitely good different.
Fall on me
With open arms
Fall on me
From where you are
Still thinking about that 94 in PE?
A little bit. You should probably
kiss me one more time.
With all your light
With all your light
So, why did you come
to Kayla Jacobson's party?
I mean, besides to collect people's trash.
[chuckles] Right, um, uh, well, I...
I guess I just felt like
I was letting the authentic
high school experience pass me by.
Like, um, you know, what you all do.
Like, uh, with the fun and the games
and, um, uh, going to parties.
I wanted to see what that was like.
And?
Not for me. [chuckles]
I'm beginning to think
it's not for me either.
Cheers.
Graham Lansing?
Oh, I thought we lost him.
Go. Save yourself.
I'll meet you back at the table.
What happened this season?
[Graham sighs] I don't know.
[grunts]
- [Mandy] I'm so sorry.
- [laughing]
- [gasps] Senator Lansing. Uh...
- Yeah. Uh...
Well, that is the beauty of drinking
in dark suits. Hides all the spills.
[laughs] Um, did I see you here
with my son?
Yes, uh, Mandy Yang.
It's very nice to meet you.
- You're tutoring him, right?
- Yeah.
Yeah, well, as the man
who used to quiz him on his times tables,
I know that is not an enviable task.
Oh, he's actually doing very well.
Barely even needs me.
Oh, you're very sweet to say so.
Now, my wife tells me
that you are applying to Harvard?
Yes, sir, I am.
Well, that's my alma mater.
If there is anything I can do to say
thank you for the help, I'm happy to.
Although, I'm not so sure
even Harvard is enough payment
for what you're putting yourself through
with Graham.
That boy.
That boy is incredible.
And you should be proud of him.
He's funny and kind.
And he makes every person
he talks to feel like
the most important person in the room.
Especially me.
And so, I... I appreciate the offer
I don't need anything as a thank-you.
I'm good.
- Senator Lansing.
- Bill.
Very nice to meet you, Mandy.
You too, sir.
[Teddy] Did you see Graham making out
with that girl on the dance floor?
- Don't move. Sorry.
- [Teddy] Gotta hand it to him.
- The kid commits to a bit.
- What's that supposed to mean?
Come on.
Graham never brings a girl to these,
and the first time he does,
it's some brainiac Harvard wannabe?
Come on. It's obvious.
He's trying to show Dad he's not the dumb
kid because some smart girl likes him.
- Wait.
- [Teddy] He's parading her around tonight,
but he spent all afternoon
holed up in the basement
with that girl
he was hooking up with last summer.
[Logan] The blonde lifeguard
from the pool? [laughs]
[Teddy laughs]
No, the other one. The dancer.
[Graham] Hey, guys.
Graham, what's the name of that girl
who was over today?
[Graham] Liv. [sighs] Shut up.
Mandy might hear you.
[Teddy laughs] Oh...
[Logan] Your girlfriend?
Come on. You've got three of them.
[laughs]
- [Graham] It's not funny.
- [Teddy] Just the one?
- [Teddy, Logan laugh]
- [Teddy] Come on, man. What? Come on.
Hi.
[gasps] Mandy, you made it.
- [sobs]
- Hey, are you okay?
Yeah, I just... I don't feel well.
So I need to go. I need to leave.
Uh. Slow down. What...
Yes, I like Robert Downey Jr. too.
But Captain America is clearly
the heartbeat of the MCU.
That's why they pass on the shield,
not the Iron Man suit.
I give up. I give up. I never would have
taken you for a true believer.
I wasn't. But I told you,
where Michael B. goes, I follow.
Happy birthday to you
- Happy birthday to you
- [cell phone rings]
Spam call.
Happy birthday
Dear valued customer
Happy birthday
to you
[ringing continues]
Hello?
Ben! Ben, I don't have my phone,
and you're the only number I know.
Could you pick me up?
- Mandy?
- [Mandy sniffles]
[Mandy, on phone] I'm so stupid.
So, so stupid. This was all a mistake.
- [LaToya] What's going on?
- I...
- [LaToya, on phone] Is everything okay?
- Oh, God.
I... I shouldn't have called.
Uh... I'm so sorry. I...
Have fun. I'll figure it out, okay?
Um.
I... I have to go.
- Why? What happened?
- I... I don't know exactly, but, um
D-Do you need something?
Uh, we can't leave
until you blow out the candle.
- [servers cheering]
- All right!
- Yeah!
- Okay.
I'm so sorry, but this is an emergency,
and I will call you later, okay?
- I promise.
- Ben, wait.
Are you serious?
Take your time.
Tip's not included.
Wait. Do you take Apple Pay?
[emcee] Ladies and gentlemen,
I stand here with great honor
for the opportunity to introduce a man
who has relentlessly worked
for the American people.
There's nobody better fit for reelection
than my good friend,
the honorable Senator Lansing.
- [applause]
- Don't be so hard on yourself
Those tears are for someone else
- You didn't have to...
- Get in.
I'm such an idiot.
You know,
I thought Graham Lansing liked me.
Like... Like, like-liked me.
I mean, how stupid am I?
- You are not stupid.
- No, I am. I am.
Because Graham's dad
offered me the letter and I said no.
[sniffles]
I chose Graham,
and he chose Liv from the dance studio.
You know, I was a pawn in his game.
I got outplayed by an Everest.
And you wanna know the worst part?
I've been a terrible friend.
I mean, I've missed lunches
and Friday nights.
And your freaking birthday.
But I am gonna make it up to you.
Okay? At prom.
Limos and fancy dinners.
Okay? Whatever you want.
If you'll still go with me.
Of course I will.
You are my best friend.
Besides, we made a pact. Gotta honor it.
I'm so sorry I ruined your date
with LaToya Reynolds.
It's okay. She totally understood.
Don't cry
You're not alone
My baby
Don't cry tonight
You'll still be loved
- Gotta go.
- And bye!
- Bye.
- Peace.
Hey, did you get my texts? You okay?
Whoa. Mandy, what's going on? Can we talk?
Sure. Yeah, let's talk.
Did you have fun with Liv on Saturday?
How did... Y-You weren't supposed
to know about that.
[scoffs]
Wait! It's not what you think! Mandy.
Take the hint, dude.
LaToya...
Take the hint, No Nuts.
[sighs]
[teacher] Mmm.
Thank you. [sighs]
Mandy, go to the front office.
They have something for you.
- Now?
- No, you can go when the bell rings.
- [school bell rings]
- Boom!
Pencils down, everybody. Hand 'em in.
- LaToya Reynolds!
- That has stopped being cute, Ben.
I'm sorry about that.
And about Saturday night.
Mostly about Saturday night.
Uh... How much do I owe you for dinner?
I don't want your money.
I don't want anything from you,
'cause I'm not here to be your second
choice to Mandy Yang or anyone else.
No, no, you're not!
Can you just please, please hear me out?
You have until I get to my car. Talk fast.
Okay... Uh, okay.
and she's my best friend, so I was there.
But I can honestly say,
until that phone call came in,
that was the best birthday I ever had.
Because of you.
Hi, uh... I'm Mandy Yang. I got a note
saying there was something here for me.
If I had a time machine,
the very first thing I would do is...
Okay, I would probably stop
some wars and some genocides.
But then after that,
I would go right to Saturday night...
Okay, I get it. I get it.
- You're sorry.
- Yeah.
Nope. Nothing.
- Okay.
- But these are all just words, Ben.
I know. I know I-I... I screwed up,
and "I'm sorry" is not enough.
Uh [pants]
You never deserve to feel less than.
So, can I please,
please make it up to you?
Let me take you somewhere nicer
than the Olive Garden.
How does the Macaroni Grill sound?
[LaToya] Good. [laughs]
Okay.
But maybe instead of Macaroni Grill,
we go to prom together.
What?
Ben Plunkett,
will you go to prom with me?
Uh
[student 1] Get ready.
What the hell?
[student 2] Okay. Get ready to record.
[student 3 whispers] She has no idea.
[Mandy] Hmm?
["Old Time Rock and Roll"
playing on speakers]
A promposal? No!
No.
[lip-synching] Just take
Those old records off the shelf
I'll sit and listen to them by myself
Today's music ain't got the same soul
I like that old time rock 'n' roll
[record scratch]
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na, na, na, na
Na, na, na
Mandy, you light up my world
Like nobody else
The way that you tutor me
Gets me overwhelmed
Your fight for human rights
Makes you hot as hell
Mandy
Oh, oh, oh
Will you go to prom with me?
- [song ends]
- [students cheering, applauding]
So?
[students chanting]
Say yes! Say yes! Say yes!
Ben.
Graham just asked me to prom.
LaToya just asked me to prom.
- That's great!
- [scoffs]
Why isn't that great?
Well, when I told her
that I was going with you, she was pissed.
But, uh, what did Graham say
when you told him?
- Uh
- You didn't tell him?
You said yes?
Two nights ago, you were crying in my car
telling me that Graham Lansing was using
you and that he had a girl on the side.
I know. I know.
But I was wrong about all of it.
- She was helping him plan the promposal.
- [Ben scoffs]
My promposal.
[stammers]
So just tell LaToya what happened.
What? You want me to tell LaToya
that you got a date, so now I'm free?
Yeah, that'll go over real well.
What the hell, Mandy?
Okay. Calm down.
No! Don't tell me to calm down!
You asked me to prom! We had a pact!
We freaking double-tapped it!
I-I know. I know, and I'm... I'm sorry.
[Ben] Oh. Oh, you're sorry? You're sorry.
I... I did not realize you were sorry.
Well, then it's totally cool.
Forget about it.
Mandy,
I am supposed to be your best friend.
I am not some doormat for you to wipe
your feet on when your life falls to crap.
Do you even like Graham Lansing? Do you?
Or is this all part of your con to get
a letter for Harvard from his father?
You know what?
I... I don't even care. I don't, just...
[sighs] Have fun being an Everest, Mandy.
[car door opens]
Hey, Mandy. Come here.
I wanna show you this video.
[Ben] Do you even like Graham Lansing?
Or is this all part of your con
to get a letter for Harvard from his dad?
You know what? I don't even care.
Have fun being an Everest, Mandy.
- No, I can explain.
- You don't need to.
Made my dad write it before he left.
- Graham...
- I gotta hand it to you, Mandy.
You played me perfectly.
You even had me convinced
there wasn't a catch.
I really am a Neanderthal.
We do not wanna take sides
- in this whole thing.
- No.
You're both our friends, and we know
this was a complicated situation.
But we did invite Ben to eat with us
in the band room.
He shouldn't be alone 'cause he didn't do
anything wrong, you know?
But, again, we are not taking sides.
["Love Hurts" playing]
[camera shutter clicks]
Love hurts
- [Ms. Chen] How are you holding up?
- [Mandy] Barely.
Um, you know when I said
that you needed an in with the Senator,
you know I didn't mean
in his son's pants, right?
So, what happened, Mandy?
Well, I used tutoring to get close to him
so I could get the letter.
Hey, Mandy! I know it's short notice
'cause it's this weekend,
but my dad works at the senior center,
and I was wondering, if he writes you
a letter of recommendation,
will you go to the prom with me?
[Mandy] But things changed.
[song continues]
Feelings changed.
But that's ruined.
As is my friendship with Ben.
Ooh, love hurts
As is whatever he had with LaToya.
And now I am officially
the Hester Prynne of our school.
I know
And then
But even so
there's this.
I know a thing
Are you gonna send it in?
I have to. It's Harvard.
There's nothing that beats Harvard.
Is there?
[Ms. Chen] A few months ago,
I would have said that Harvard is the most
important thing in Mandy Yang's life.
- [Mandy] But now?
- [Ms. Chen] If you haven't mailed it in,
maybe there are other things
that are more important to you now.
[sighs]
What do I do?
I can't tell you that,
but I support any decision you make.
Thank you.
Just not publicly.
You're kind of poison right now.
[song continues]
Hey, you should really leave.
[exhales sharply]
Will you give him this? For me?
Tell him I'm sorry.
For everything.
Okay.
Graham.
[song ends]
[imitating guitar]
- "Eruption." Van Halen.
- Yes!
- How did you know?
- [laughing]
- Because I know my man.
- [moans]
And whenever you go [imitates guitar]
I know it's "Eruption."
Can I take the car?
Uh, keys are on the hook.
- Uh, where are you going?
- Prom.
- With who?
- Maybe no one. [chuckles]
Bye.
- She's going to the prom!
- The prom!
- [both laughing]
- Yes!
[stone thuds]
[stone thuds]
Go home, Mandy.
Wait! Wait, wait, wait.
Hear me out. Please.
Yeah, I screwed up. Majorly.
I took you for granted,
and I made you feel like
you weren't a priority in my life,
and I'm sorry.
But wherever our futures take us,
I need to know that you're my best friend.
And, more importantly,
I need you to know
that I'm your best friend.
Which is why
I just have one question for you.
["The Safety Dance" playing on speakers]
[passerby whistles]
Ben, Ben, Ben, Ben
Plunkett, Plunkett, Plunkett, Plunkett
[horn honks]
P P P P
R R R R
O O O O
M M M M
With me, me, me, me?
Oh, we can dance if we want to
Oh, we can leave your friends behind
Because your friends don't dance
And if they don't dance
Well, they're no friends of mine
I say, we can go where we want to
A place where they
Uh, how long does this go on for?
It's a pretty long playlist.
I still have
"I'd Stop the World and Prom with You,"
"Total Eclipse of the Prom,"
"My Per-Rom-ative."
If I say yes, will this stop?
There's only one way to find out.
We can go when we want to
The night is young, and so am I
And we can dress real neat
From our hats to
Yes, I'll go to prom with you.
- Yes!
- [bystanders cheering]
Okay. Go get changed.
Why? Prom isn't for, like, four hours.
We have to make a few stops first.
[sighs] Yes!
We can dance
Everything's out of control
I owe you a few Friday nights.
We can dance
Come on.
We can dance, we can dance
Everybody look at your hands
[laughing, indistinct]
Everybody's takin' a chance
Yeah, it's safety dance
Well, it's safety dance
Yeah, it's safety dance
Wow.
- I know. This place is fancy.
- [song ends]
But don't worry about the price.
I'm paying, so get whatever you want.
Just no bacon,
because it's terrible for the environment.
[chuckles]
[sighs] I missed you, Mandy.
I missed you too, Ben.
I'm so sorry.
Enough. You know, we... we both could have
handled things a lot differently.
I could have not screamed at you
in a parking lot full of people, you know?
And I could have done pretty much
the opposite of everything I did, so
["Love is a b*ttlefield"
playing on speakers]
Are we okay?
We're okay.
[both chuckle]
So, you thinking chocolate chips
or no chocolate chips in the table waffle?
Is that even a question?
It's like you don't even know me.
- Okay. We've made progress.
- Chocolate all the way!
[song continues]
[song continues]
- Thanks.
- Thank you.
[song fades out]
["Let's Dance" playing on speakers]
[song continues]
[student 1] Nice suit, No Nuts.
[student 2] What are they wearing?
- That dress.
- [camera shutter clicks]
[student 3] Look at that.
That's so embarrassing.
[student 4] Wait. You guys see that tie?
You guys are here? T-Together.
- So that means...
- We're good.
Although, I am really reconsidering
our clothing choices right now.
Yeah, I thought the theme was the '80s.
Everyone just kind of ignores that day of
because, you know, pictures exist.
[song ends]
And you'd know that
if you ever went to a dance before.
- Or just had Instagram.
- Thank you.
You wanna dance? Let's go.
["Mony Mony" playing on speakers]
Here she come now singin'
"Mony, Mony"
I feel like we should just go.
[sighing] Probably.
- But we are not going to.
- Oh, okay.
[song continues]
[students cheering]
Come on, come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
I feel all right
- I said, yeah
- Yeah
[song continues]
- [Mandy] Sorry.
- [Ben] Excuse me.
[pants] Any noticeable pit stains yet?
Oh, very much so. Yeah.
- Worth it.
- [chuckles]
[Principal] Yeah. Okay.
All right, everybody,
just settle for a second.
[song ends]
It is now time for us to announce
our Prom King and Queen.
[students cheering]
Whoo!
Okay, okay. We came, we conquered.
Do we have to stay
and watch Graham and LaToya win?
- Yes, we do!
- [Principal] Your Prom Queen is
- LaToya Reynolds!
- [students cheering]
[fanfare playing on speakers]
LaToya!
Okay. Ben,
I'm dumping you.
- What?
- You and I are no longer prom dates.
- Why?
- [Principal] Your Prom King is
[student] Our boy, Graham!
Ben Plunkett.
- [student 1] Huh?
- [student 2] Wait.
- [student 3] Who?
- [Principal] Is he even here?
- Ben Plunkett?
- [student 4] No Nuts?
[Principal]
Yeah, Ben Plunkett. Are you here?
[Mandy] He's right here!
[students murmuring]
Okay, go. Go.
[murmuring continues]
No Nuts!
[students chanting]
No Nuts! No Nuts! No Nuts!
[chanting continues]
[chanting continues]
[chanting fades]
- [Principal] Your Prom King and Queen!
- Whoo!
Looking from the window above
Its like a story of love
Can you hear me?
Came back only yesterday
- We don't have to...
- Let's just get through this.
Okay.
Want you near me
All I needed was the love you gave
All I needed for another day
And all I ever knew
Only you
You know what? No.
No, that's what I've done with school,
and work,
my entire life,
because... because I've been afraid
of basically this exact scenario
but screw it.
This is my life,
and I am not gonna let it pass me by.
I am No Nuts Plunkett!
- [student 5] What?
- [student 6] Oh, my God.
[student 7] What's going on?
And I am Prom King.
And I'm dancing
with the girl of my dreams.
[students] Aw.
And I wanna kiss her now.
You should've just kissed me.
[student 8] Cute!
[students cheering]
[gasps]
[song continues]
[students chanting]
No Nuts Plunkett. No Nuts Plunkett.
Oh!
- Hey!
- [students cheering]
["Last Laugh" playing on speakers]
[students cheering]
Thanks again for your help with the votes.
Would you be cool?
If anybody finds out what I did,
they'll send me back to chorus concerts.
Is your boy still icing you out?
[Mandy sighs] Yeah.
But it's okay.
Tonight wasn't about him.
[cheering continues]
[song ends]
- [Mandy] Okay, wait. One more.
- [shutter clicks]
["I Wanna Dance with Somebody" playing]
- Aw, congratulations, you two.
- Thank you.
Okay, my work here is done.
I'm gonna go home.
What? No.
I know you're
Mandy "High School is Dumb" Yang.
But it's prom. Have some fun.
I did. And now I'm gonna go home
and look at dorms for backup schools.
Oh, God. I totally forgot to ask, so
Harvard is a no?
I actually haven't checked,
but I'm starting to realize there's more
to life than just Harvard, you know?
What? No! No! I do not know!
We did not go through hell
for you to give up on Harvard.
Please check your phone.
- Check your phone right now.
- No, I...
As King and Queen of this prom,
we demand you to get out your damn phone.
[sighs]
Okay.
Hey.
Whatever happens
we can deal with it.
I got in.
[screams] I got in!
- Really? Harvard?
- Yes!
- Dr. Downs? It's really happening?
- Yes!
Oh, my God.
[both screaming]
Okay. You two are a lot.
But I'm here for it. Let's celebrate.
[song continues]
Ms. Chen! Ms. Chen!
I got into Harvard! [screams]
- Congratulations, Mandy.
- I don't even know how it happened.
I mean, I didn't send in
the letter of rec. I swear.
Well, someone else must have done it.
Like who?
It was me, dummy!
It was just a boring, unsexy teacher rec.
And who would know it? It actually worked.
I don't even know what to say.
That's all the thanks I need.
Now get out there.
No, really. I can't believe it...
Oh, would you listen to me
for once in your life?
Go! Leave me alone!
[mouthing word] Okay.
Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
- [applause]
- [song ends]
Hi, I'm Mandy Yang, your salutatorian
because I got a 94 in PE.
[students murmuring]
And today
[student clears throat]
Well, today, um,
I was going to give a speech
filled with words of wisdom from my heroes
like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Ingrid Downs.
But instead, I'd like to share some advice
I got from someone very important to me.
And that advice is: BEEF.
Balance.
Eyes.
Elbow.
Follow-through.
- What is she doing?
- I don't know, but I am gonna film it.
[Mandy] Now, for those of you who are not
sports aficionados like myself,
BEEF is how you teach someone to sh**t a
layup?
- [whispering] No.
- [Mandy] A free throw?
Free throw. A free throw.
Um, sorry.
Uh, it's how you teach someone
to sh**t a free throw.
Uh, but it also applies to life.
Balance.
It's something I didn't have enough of.
You know,
it's... it's important to have goals,
but don't let pursuing those goals
become your entire life.
Work hard but also have fun.
Laugh, dance,
fill up a car with Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
- [audience laughs]
- Yes!
Eyes. Keep them open.
You never know who you might meet.
Elbow.
Keep them safe. They're important.
[audience laughs]
And finally, follow-through.
When you take a sh*t,
make sure to finish it.
So to that end
Graham Lansing.
Thank you for making
my last semester of high school different.
Good different.
And to my fellow seniors
oh, I hope whatever life brings you next
is good different too.
Oh, and one more thing.
Go, Bulldogs!
[audience cheering]
We love you!
[groans]
I can't believe
you're going to Boston right now.
I know, but I couldn't say no
to Dr. Downs's offer to sit in on her...
- Summer lectures on Global Poverty.
- Poverty.
I know, I know. I just...
[sighs] I am gonna miss you.
- I'm gonna miss you.
- [Ben grunts]
But I will be back before Labor Day,
so you'll have to pencil me in
in between dates with your new girlfriend.
- Can you believe I have a girlfriend?
- Can you believe it's LaToya Reynolds?
At what point will you two stop
referring to me by my full name?
[Mandy] Probably never.
Oh. I should go.
Bye, Ben.
Bye, Mandy.
Oh.
Hey. Congratulations, graduate.
Double congrats to you.
That was... That was some speech.
I'll always remember
to protect my elbows because of you.
Good.
That is what I was hoping
you took from that.
[sighs] So, Harvard, huh?
Yeah. What about you?
You decide where you're going?
UT.
[Mandy] Your dad's choice.
- I mean, it's a... It's a great school.
- Yeah, I know what you mean.
But, hey, good luck.
I'll call you if I need a tutor.
And I will call you
if I join the girls' basketball team.
Bye, Graham.
Bye, Mandy.
["The Promise" playing]
You ready?
Yeah, I am. Let's go.
If you need a friend
Don't look to a stranger
You know in the end
I'll always be there
I'm gonna get a refill.
You guys want anything?
- Sure thing.
- Yes, please. Thanks.
When you're in danger
Hey, could I get a refill?
[employee] Sure.
Graham, order up!
[music fades]
[laughs] Mandy.
Graham.
Is that a Save the Bees shirt?
Is that really what you wanna talk about?
No, no. But what are you doing here?
Well, I was all set to go to UT because
that's what was gonna make my dad happy,
but someone once told me
not to live my life for his approval.
So I'm here, taking a gap year,
just trying to figure out
what I wanna do, you know?
Oh. And... And what you want is here
in... in Boston?
Yeah. Yeah, it is.
Working non-profit,
coaching inner-city kids.
It's really a great program.
Yeah. That sounds like a...
Like a perfect fit.
I'm really happy for you.
Thanks. You know, um,
there is one other reason I...
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking
Of the right words to say
I promise
I know they don't sound the way
I planned them to be
I promise
But if you wait around a while
I'll make you fall for me
I promise, I promise you
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking
Of the right words to say
I promise
I know they don't sound the way
I planned them to be
I promise
And if I had to walk the world
I'd make you fall for me
I promise you, I promise you I will
I will, I will
[song fades]
["Reinvent Urself" playing]
[song continues]
Prom Pact (2023)
Moderator: Maskath3
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