03x08 - No Turning Back Part 2

[bunniefuu]

♪ Someone once told me th♪ On the other side. r ♪

♪ Well, I paid a visit

♪ While it's possible I missed it ♪

♪ It seemed different yet exactly the same ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

♪Till further notice♪

♪ Till further notice

♪I'm in between♪

♪ I'm in between

♪From where I'm standing♪

♪ From where I'm standing

♪ My grass is green.

♪ Someone once told me the grass is much greener ♪

♪ On the other side.

HOODSEY: Let's just give something stupid away

like maybe this old toe tag or maybe the ear wax collection.

Doesn't pack the same punch, Hoods.

You know it and I know it.

I'm afraid Polly might be right.

Oh, come on, Carl,

the girl's a raving lunatic.

She made us eat birdseed, for crying out loud.

Noelle says she puts down newspaper

in the girls' room

before she... you know, goes.

What she said made sense.

What sense is there

in giving something away that makes us happy

just for the sake of growing up?!

You think Blake would give up his tonsils? No, sir.

The more I examine my attachment to this eyeball,

the more I want to give it up...

if only to know that I can.

Oh, brother.

Fine, Carl, fine-- I'm done arguing with you.

Go ahead and put that eyeball in the time capsule,

and I'll give up my favorite hooded sweatshirt,

the purple one.

Last thing I want is to be told

I'm more immature than a girl who lays golf balls

like they're eggs.

[chuckles]

[squawks quietly]

GINGER: Until Mom mentioned it, I don't think I fully realized

how much change is going on in my life,

and it's all happening so fast.

Mom's engaged, I'm going to be starting high school,

even Carl's been acting more mature lately.

I actually had a normal conversation with him

at breakfast this morning

where he didn't try to pull one single gross-out.

Kind of disappointed me, actually.

It's funny, I always thought I couldn't wait to grow up.

Turns out... I can.

[gasps]

Oh, my gosh, I've been looking

for this tartan plaid scrunchy since September.

That's got to be good luck-- and I really need it.

The luck or the scrunchy?

The luck, of course, to get on the pep squad.

Okay, here's my plan: I strut into the cafeteria

while the squad members are eating their pep burgers--

or whatever they eat to be so darn peppy--

and then I break out into a special routine.

Which I'm choreographing all by myself.

Ooh, preview.

[doing breathy cheer]

Go... Goats!

I'm still working on it.

Yeah.You better be, Bishop.

No freshman has ever been admitted to the squad.

You're going to need a lot more than a...

Don't let these two psyche you out, Dodie.

Leandra!Hey, Leandra. Hey, Leandra.

Never underestimate the power

of positive thinking, my friends.

I've positively moved mountains just by keeping optimistic.

Thanks.

GINGER: Man, Zorski should have asked Leandra

to make the graduation speech.

I haven't had anything positive to say in days.

Well, personally, I'm inspired.

I'm going to go work on my moves.

Oh, hey, Leandra, wait up!

Well, I've got my own to-do list

forming in my mind's library.

Want to do all I can

to catch a certain someone's lazy eye.

[chuckles]

Later much.

Sure, later.

No problem.

Don't even worry about me.

I'll just, uh, worry about myself.

Today, you cats leave behind yesterday

as an investment in tomorrow.

Dumb, Carl, D-U-M, dumb.

Who wants to go first?

Blake-man, what's your contribution?

I surrender herewith my infected tonsils of youth--

the fleshy remains of my grim encounter

with the medical system.

Oh, man.

A dear friend, mentor and a fellow bird enthusiast,

Polly Schuster, once said that a boy is not a man

until he has lost what he holds dear.

And while I find that sentiment

incredibly depressing,

I surrender these pulpous nuggets

in the off chance that she is right.

According to Polly,

it takes a certain type of maturity

to make these kind of decisions.

To maturity.

To manhood.

To Polly.

This is sick.

Sick, sick, sick!

DODIE: B-I-S-H-O-P,

Thank you.

Ginger Foutley.

Macie Lightfoot, ma'am.

M-A-C-I...

There.

Oh, yeah, sorry.

Oh, this is it, our futures.

The single slip of paper that tells us

when to learn, lunch, laugh and in what order.

DARREN: Hey, don't start

without me!

[all murmuring]

But wait...

We all chose World Cultures,

but you have it seventh period,

you have it third and I have it first.

Uh, Mrs. Jackson, there's been a mistake.

You see, we're BFFs.

Darren's sort of an honorary BFF.

And we all filled out our class requests

with the same classes in the exact same order.

Since we always do everything together.

But none of us are in any of the same classes.

Uh-huh?

Mayhaps there's been an oversight?

While I'm touched at the depth of your friendship--

I really am--

I think this little "oversight" is a perfect example

of what we in the high school trade

call "conquering our fears."

Embrace it, kids;

change is a good thing--

that's what growing up is all about.

Make new friends, expand your universe,

try salad instead of fries,

because next thing you know, you'll be on your way to college

in different corners of the globe--

this one in Tibet...

that one in Detroit.

Detroit!

What's in Detroit?

Tibet, huh?

Always curious about yakback riding.

Uh-huh.

Hey, Ginger!

Ginger, wait up!

Hey, what's with you?

I'm tired of fighting the inevitable.

The winds are blowing us in different directions

and there's nothing I can do but roll with it.

Everyone besides me seems to be handling the changes just fine,

so I guess it's my problem.

Now, come on, babe.

So what if we're not in the same classes?

It's not like we won't be seeing each other

all day long anyway.

See? You're okay with it, too.

Yeah, because I know nothing is going to come

between the two of us.

I promise.

Hey, why don't we go get some fried cheese

and talk about nothing, like old times.

Right now?

In minutes--

right after football practice.

See?! It's starting already, Darren.

Soon it's going to be football games for you,

student council meetings for me,

pep squad for old Detroit here.

Pep squad-- you really think so?!

And lazy eye for Macie!

Oh...

Our universe is expanding, right?

So let's just embrace it...

later!

[sighs]

Of course...

It's a pile of laundry, Carl, clean linens.

What'd you expect?

Don't be so juvenile.

[clattering]

Ready to roll, brother?

What happened to the patient?

It was just sitting outside the bathroom door.

Hoodsey, someone may actually need that!

Go put it back!

Right-- that's, uh, very responsible of you there, Carl.

LOIS: Carl, what are you doing here

besides challenging the infirmed?

No such thing, Mother.

We just dropped by to say hello

and to give you these.

Oh, isn't that sweet?

Carl?

No one had to die for those, Mother.

I've turned over a new leaf-- promise.

He's right, Mrs. Foutley.

We bought them at cost

from a discharged patient.

Well, would you boys care to join us

for dinner in the cafeteria?

It is Salisbury steak night, you know.

Sounds delightful.

What he said.

Carl, want baked potato

to go with that Jell-O of yours?

That's vile.

Maybe so, but it's his fave.

The kid has some quirky food preferences, I tell you.

Those days are behind me now;

I have matured.

I can enjoy the Salisbury steak, the potatoes

and the creamed spinach just as they are served to me.

I'll save my dessert for dessert.

Hmm, I'm impressed.

So, it's Jell-O inside the potato, you say?

I got to admit, I was a little concerned

about how you two kids would fare

with all that's going on,

but talk about your shining colors.

Carl, it's like you're a whole different person.

Yeah...

Hmm, that's not bad, not bad at all.

I just want you to know, I'm proud of you, Carl--

I mean that.

You hear that, Hoods?

My mother is proud of me.

You know, I really think

you might be on to something here.

Mother, as best man at your wedding,

I would like to nominate Hoodsey

to be a fellow groomsman in the party.

It may not yet be noticed by the human eye,

but he, too, is on the road to maturity.

Plus, I clean up pretty good.

No arguments here.

We'd love to have you, Hoodsey.

Would you just try this, Lois, please?

They say that high school is the first step

towards the blah, blah, blah, blah, blah...

[yawns]

[class bell ringing]

[distorted]: Hi, guys.

What's up?

Dode, Mace, guys?

Wait up.

Huh?

[door creaks]

[gasps]

Hey, hey, hey, over here.

That's what I'm talking about.

Look out!

[screams]

My nose!

Dodie, are you okay?

Darren?

Guys?

Come back.

Ben!

[laughs]

Don't.

JONAS: Sit, Ben.

Ben, sit.

Dad, hi.

Hi!

You, uh, doing your homework?

Um, trying to write my graduation speech.

Graduation?

Am I invited?

Depends. Are you going to show up?

Will there be free food?

I'm kidding, sweetheart,

I'm kidding.

Badly timed jokes--

they're my forte, you know.

Yeah, well, just promise

not to throw free food at me

when I b*mb tomorrow, okay?

You won't b*mb, I know you won't.

It's impossible to write an uplifting speech

when I don't have anything good to say

about graduating.

I'm the only one of all my friends

who's not excited about moving on.

Why's that?

I don't know.

Maybe because it involves letting go

and I'm all about... holding on.

But you can't hold on too tight, right?

Or else something that was born to fly might just...

Die-- Dad, let it go.

I will.

I was just making a point.

See how beautiful that looks, up there in the sky?

I... I guess.

Here's the thing.

The tighter you hold on to something,

especially something that needs change and growth,

the more great a chance you stand of losing it.

I think I might have learned that the hard way.

But if you let it go, if you let it fly

at the time that it most desperately needs to,

well, there's a darn good chance it may come back to you.

Hey.

[chuckles]: Whew.

Thanks for backing me up on that one, little guy.

You don't know how lucky you are

that you don't have to give a graduation speech.

You know, there's a legend that says

if you tell your wish to a butterfly,

it'll carry it up to the Great Spirit

and grant it for you.

Really?

It's worth a try.

See you tomorrow, Ginger.

[barks]

Ben, no!

[Ben barking]

[whispering]: I wish...

GINGER: Maybe life is like a cross-country road trip.

You can get so focused on the enormity of the mission ahead,

of staring straight out at the expanse of road,

that you fail to notice the stuff you're passing by

right at that moment.

[shuddering]

[electrical zapping]

[shudder]

CARL: Hoods!

I've got chest hair!

As well you should, Carl.

We're adults now.

There's hair everywhere.

Look at my ears.

But we're, like, .

Are we?

Are we really?

We don't act like it.

We're mature, grown up, well-behaved

and we practice proper hygiene.

My good knee aches.

Must be fixing to rain.

I don't want to be a man.

This is all wrong.

I'll tell you what's wrong--

those ratty sneakers of yours.

There's nothing more depressing

than a grown man dressing like a kid.

But, Hoods...

Save it, Carl.

The bulldozer's about to level the dog house.

What?

[crickets chirping]

[motor chugging]

Polly, no!

You got to give it up sometime.

No!

[Polly screams]

Be a man!

[yells]

CARL:No!

No!

[squeals]

Hoods, wake up!

It's practically an emergency.

Carl, I was just about to swim with dolphins

that sang in a rock band.

Well, I just saw our future.

I was covered in hair and your knee went bad

and we're totally boring.

Come on, let's get down to that school

to reclaim the spirit of our youth

that we buried in that dumb time capsule.

What do you mean my knee went bad?

How bad?

Maybe I should go easy on it.

Maybe you should carry me.

Oh, carry me, Carl!

Maybe this isn't a good idea, Carl.

I mean, we're talking school property.

It's my property.

My boyish charm is in that eyeball, Hoods,

and I want it back.

Yeah, well I hope they let you take it to prison

when you're doing ten to .

[Polly grunting]

Got to be here somewhere.

[squawks]

Polly?!

[squawks]

I knew it.

All that talk of maturity,

"freeing yourself from the ties that bind."

It was just a load of bird poop.

[squawks]

How could you?

Finders keepers.

Back up off me, brother.

[grunting]

Drop the shovel, Ms. Schuster.

Losers weepers.

You all gave up the goods, now take a hike!

[squawks]

She's mean.

It's every man for himself.

[all grunting]

She bamboozled us.

Like, she's the biggest con artist

to walk the face of the...

[squawks]

[yells]

[all grunting]

Noelle,

help us.

Yeah.

Can you unearth the time capsule--

you know, telekinetically?

Hey, Noelle, come back!

Carl, found it.

Ta-dah.

Wow!

Mom, you look... great.

Thanks-- of course, I can't eat as much as a carrot stick

or else the seams will give out, but I'm in it!

Oh, I am so proud of you, Mom.

I'm the one that should be proud--

the graduate speaker.

I saw how late you were working on that speech of yours.

Believe it or not, something Dad said

helped me gain new perspective on the thing.

Well, I'll be.

I can't wait to see you up there today, kiddo.

Oh!

It's almost :.

I have to get ready.

Yeah, I better wake Carl

before he sleeps through the whole graduation shindig.

What's for breakfast, Mom Rock?

Because me and Feldman, we're starved.

Carl, what did I tell you about bringing body parts

to the breakfast table?

I'm back!

Who is it?

A certain friend who's been a total freak-out maniac lately.

Sorry, Dode.

That's okay, Ginger.

You haven't used nearly as many freak-out chips

as Macie and I have over the years.

Oh!

I didn't mean to hold on so tight.

I just got a little clingy.

We may be heading different ways in high school,

but I just want you to know,

I'll always be here for you.

Best friends forever, remember?

[Macie clears throat]

Cola Number Five.

You like?

Oh, wow, Macie.

You look hot.

[laughs]

Figured it was time to kick it up a notch.

You know, we're almost not in junior high school anymore.

ALL: Oh.

I have something for you, Mace.

Sweet.

[grunts]

DODIE: Ow, my nose!

[grunting]

[laughter]

Hello, boy.

Long time, no see.

Oh, no offense intended.

About that favor...

As promised.

I intend to chat you up to any girl in my grade.

You just say who and when.

Her, and now.

Ohh!

Consider it done.

[kisses]

Hey, guys-- big day.

Hello, Darren.

Hi, Darren.

Whoa, Dodie, are you okay?

Oh, yep, sure.

Almost stopped.

Darren, I, um...

No, no, me first.

The tiniest flower is the tiniest step towards...

I don't know, not biting each other's heads off anymore?

It's me, Darren.

I'm sorry.

I've been so wound up about everything.

I want you to know I'm committed

to being your boyfriend for as long as you'll have me,

and I won't let anything get in the way of that.

I'm not going to give up.

If you become president of the student council,

then I'll just be Mr. and Mrs. President.

[giggles]

Oh, I'd be just as happy

to be the quarterback's girl.

Let's form two lines, kids.

You look great.

Congratulations to you all.

[students cheering]

GINGER: There's a big difference between the things we want

and the things we wish for.

The things we want are usually pretty superficial--

a new outfit, an invitation to some cool kid's party.

But when we dare to make a wish,

it's usually for something more important

and sometimes more elusive,

the kind of thing that you can't really control,

but you hope will come true,

like holding on to your best friends forever

or seeing your dad show up at graduation.

[applause]

When we came to Lucky Junior High,

we looked funny, we walked funny.

We built cocoons around ourselves

until we could figure out who we really were.

We made friends, we lost friends.

Transformation is never easy, but it made us who we are today.

Butterflies--

all of us here today are butterflies.

We come in different shapes and colors...

including Cola Number Five.

[laughing]

But we all have one thing in common.

We stand here today,

poised to spread our wings and take flight.

According to Native American legend,

you can tell a butterfly your wish

and it will take that wish up to the heavens

and grant it for you.

I taught her that.

So make your wish, butterflies--

all of you.

[crowd cheering]

[applause and cheers]

Don't let her get too far away from me, okay?

[no dialogue]

[no dialogue]

DODIE: Detroit?!

What's in Detroit?!