The Moon and Back (2022) Movie Script
1
- Finally got you alone.
- Are you zooming in on me?
- What? No.
- Peter, I can see you.
- Come
on, I would never.
- Why did we even
hire a videographer
if you were just
gonna do it yourself?
- Well, you
better get used to it.
You're stuck with me.
- I am?
- Yeah, unfortunately.
We just got married.
- We did?
- Yes.
- That's terrible.
- I know.
- Is there any way
to take it back?
- I don't think so.
Stop, stop.
- Hey, there's
that handsome face.
- Yeah, right?
Get a good luck while you can.
- Where you going?
- No, I'm taking off after this.
- Okay, cool. It's fine.
- You're not so bad
yourself, you know.
- Really?
- I love you to
the moon and back.
You know that, right?
- Say it again.
- To the moon and back
and back and back.
- That'll do.
- That'll do.
- Ah, ha ha!
And so here he is.
My very own, Mr. Hitchcock.
- Oh it's Alfred to you, please.
- I'm so sorry.
- That's okay.
- Tell us
how you proceed.
- It's a complicated processes.
It all starts here,
and sadly I can't
reveal any of it to you.
- Ah, ah, ah!
- Hi, baby.
- We can't wait to meet you.
You're gonna look back on this
and be astonished about how
attractive your parents are.
- Yeah.
Right, look at this.
- This is the
perfect angle for us.
- Nice to meet you.
- We're so proud of you.
- Say hi, daddy.
- Oh, wow.
Hey, it looks just like me.
Maybe that's my
lack of sleep here.
What in the world am I?
Ah, that's the great puzzle.
- Daddy said we're
gonna get a big house.
- And?
- And?
What else are we gonna
have in the house?
- A movie theater!
- Yes, good idea.
- And popcorn.
- The biggest there
is, definitely. Definitely.
- Definitely popcorn,
and we can find
the best spot in the house
every night, and hold hands.
- And eat popcorn.
- Yes.
You're flying!
Yes, we will definitely
have popcorn,
and we will hold hands
until our fingers
get all wrinkly and old.
- That's why you're
never leaving the house.
- Dad, no filming.
- Okay, okay.
I'm turning it off.
- You're so annoying,
you know that?
- That's my job.
- You're really good at it.
- I know.
Good night, Ladybug.
- Night, Dad.
- Ah, get up there. Go on.
- Again, again.
- Another spin,
and then, whoop.
- Ah.
- Oh my God, Dad!
Dad?
- Hey.
Ready?
- Mom!
I told you not to pack my stuff.
This is a new low, Mom.
Even for you.
- On my shift today, I
had to feed an old woman,
spoonfeed an old
woman mashed peas,
and do you know what she did?
- What?
- She yelled at me,
she cussed me out
and then she spit
them out in my face.
And you know what I thought?
Wow, this feels like just
another day at home with Lydia.
- That's incredibly rude.
- And do you know what I did?
- What?
- I took care of it,
just like I do with you.
- Look, just because
I don't wanna move
doesn't mean that I--
- It's not your choice, Lydia.
Neither were the mashed peas.
Now, you can either
work with me on this,
or I can do it myself.
- One day,
you are going to wake
up and ask yourself,
where did I go wrong?
- Mm.
- Didn't I have a daughter?
Now I just have a
black hole in my heart
where a daughter used to be.
- Now that is a
refreshing thought.
I can almost feel the
stress melting away already.
- Mom!
- I'm kidding, honey.
Listen, I love you. You
know that I love you.
- Oh, sure.
- But this house is
expensive, and so is college,
so something has gotta give.
- I'm not even going to college.
- Mashed peas, Lydia,
not your choice.
- Hm.
Hey, Dad. No, that was, God.
Um, hey, man. I just
called my dad man.
Father!
No.
This is so stupid. I'm sorry.
Okay, yeah.
Hey.
I miss you.
Things have been kind
of shitty lately.
Like beyond shitty.
As you might say, I'm
about a million light-years
from where I wanna be.
You know that feeling when your
shirt shrinks in the dryer?
All day, you can feel it
digging into your skin?
That's how this town
feels right now.
Like an old, crappy,
too-small shirt.
- Oh, geez, geez.
- Geez, watch
where you're going!
- You crashed into
me. Are you okay?
Damn, Lydia, long time no see.
- Yes, fine. Can I
please have my camera back?
- Wait, this is sick.
What year is this,
like '92, three?
- I don't
know. It was my dad's.
- I'm sorry.
- Yeah, so I'd appreciate it
if you'd stop touching it.
- I forgot your dad
loved camera stuff.
You know, AV team still
meets every Wednesday
if you ever wanna roll through.
- Simon, just because
I'm holding a camera
doesn't mean I wanna
join your club.
- Excuse me, we're an
audiovisual society, and
we've got free pizza.
It's kinda the shit, huh?
- Yeah, whatever, I gotta go.
- Hey, do you, do you wanna
walk to school tog ...
Okay, it was nice
to see you too!
- Feeder kids, check.
Popular kids, check.
Ugh, most stereotypical ...
- Do you think these
actually motivate anyone?
- I think you're
getting distracted.
- What? No, no, no no,
hey, I'm listening.
- Hm.
- I just ...
I, okay, I got a little,
little distracted
by your awesome posters.
- You think they're awesome?
- Absolutely I do.
- Really?
- Yeah, I do.
- Do you really?
- They're really cool.
- Well thank you, Lydia.
No no, no no no, we're not
doing this. Lydia, Lydia.
- What?
- You're not listening.
Look, Lydia, it's
been a year now,
and I know this is hard,
but I think it's important
for you to start having
lunch somewhere else.
Yeah.
- No, hey, I hear you.
- Okay.
- And, I respect you.
- Great.
- But unfortunately,
I've just evolved too far
for the cavemen
that roam the halls
of this sweet institution.
You know, it's a real tragic
twist of evolution, but
what else can a woman do?
I know.
- Okay, Lydia, look,
these office hours
are for students who actually
need, they need guidance.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- So, so, so then just guide me.
- Guide you?
- Formally.
- Right now?
- This is the
moment you're ready?
- I wanna be guided.
- Really?
- Yes.
- All right, let's go.
Have you actually thought
about where you're applying?
- No, no, no no.
See, it's just too,
too expensive, so
I'm not gonna apply.
- If it's too
expensive, that's okay.
Okay, because schools,
right, they have
financial aid packages,
they have scholarships.
Yes, fresh list just came out.
Hot off the press,
a scholarship list.
Stay with me, Lydia.
Tulane, right here.
Write an essay about
a charitable act
that impacted you.
That's adorable.
Penn State, here
we go, 2,000 words.
You can do this, 2,000
words on the ways
you choose to better yourself.
And you have fallen asleep.
All right, I have got
other things here.
Harvard.
Maybe we'll just skip that one.
NYU, Big Apple, tell us a story
of who you are,
can be any medium.
- My dad actually went to NYU.
- Your dad, okay.
This is great. You're
a legacy, perfect.
Okay, right, what do they want?
Tell us a story of who you are.
Lydia, who are you?
- Mm.
- Mm.
- Mr. Martin, you've,
you've suddenly become
a monstrous bummer so.
- Right,
okay, whatever you say.
- I'm gonna, um, yeah.
- You're gonna go?
- I'm gonna take a couple
of these and then leave.
- All right, that's
fine, okay. All right.
Lydia, before you go,
though, do me a favor?
- Yeah.
- Hang in there.
- Ay yi yi, yi yi.
- Hey, think about
that. Who are you, Lids?
Who are you? Who are you?
Who am I?
- Ugh, that song
gives me a headache.
- You always have a headache.
- Well, maybe that's because
you're the headache. No?
So how's school?
- Talking about it
gives me a headache.
- Excuse me.
- I just, I don't know
why you always ask that
when you literally
don't even care.
- Of course I care
or I wouldn't ask.
- You're just asking
for the sake of asking.
I have a mom that cares!
- Turn the radio off!
- What are you gonna
do with all that stuff?
- Box it up?
- Aw, we could just leave it.
- I mean, we could
if we just stayed.
- Lydia.
- Where did Dad get
all this stuff anyway?
- I don't know, everywhere.
He was the easiest person
to give presents to.
People were always
giving him stuff.
He wasn't a hard
guy to make happy.
That's George. He's come to
take a look at Dad's computer.
- George?
- He's our neighbor.
He's sweet, but I think
he's really lonely.
Be nice.
- I'm always nice.
- I know.
- There we go.
Hear that baby purr.
- I can't thank you
enough for this.
- Oh, it was no problem
at all.
Oh.
- Are you okay?
- Mm.
- Mm-hm.
All good, occupational hazard.
- I never
knew IT support was
such a dangerous job.
- Tell me about it.
- Well, you'll
have to come over
for dinner this week.
You know, as a thank you.
- Oh no, there's
no need to do that.
- Are you sure?
I'm a pretty amazing cook.
Right, Lydia?
See?
- Well, it's been a long time
since I've had a
home-cooked meal.
- Okay, good. Right,
well, I'll show you out.
- Space Chronicles.
- I can't believe
you went through his files.
- I can't believe you
never told me about this.
Dad was a screenwriter,
and I never even knew.
- I wouldn't exactly
call him a screenwriter.
He never even finished it.
- So? It's still amazing.
- Is it?
- What is his problem?
- You should
be nicer to him.
- Are you serious?
- He's never been
anything but sweet to you.
He used to come to
our house every day.
- Don't remind me.
We were like, four?
- Yeah, you two
were inseparable.
And we used to call you
Ladybug and him Roly-Poly.
- What?
Wait, I don't remember that.
- It's not such a nice
nickname in retrospect,
but he was such a fat baby.
- No way. No, he's
like a string bean.
- Well thank
God for growth spurts.
It's been a tough year for
him. You should make an effort.
- Oh wow. Tough year,
wonder what that feels like.
- I'm just saying, it wouldn't
kill you to be a little nice.
- I'm afraid we're
forgetting about you, Dad.
I miss your patience.
Miss your big,
stupid belly laugh.
I miss knowing you
were proud of me and
never needing to ask.
- Last year of high school,
huh? That's exciting.
- Not sure what's so
exciting about it.
- Have you started
thinking about college?
- What's that supposed to mean?
- He's just trying to be polite.
You don't have to keep asking.
- No, I'm curious.
- She's a little sensitive
because he hasn't
decided yet what
she wants to study.
- I'm right here, Mom.
I can speak for myself.
- Oh, I was just like
that my senior year.
18 years old, and
all I wanted to do
was talk to girls
and drink beer.
Now if they had a major in that,
I'm sure I would've ended
up with a PhD.
Sorry.
- Right, that
sounds just like me.
- Well,
what do you like?
Okay.
What do you do for fun?
- Talk to girls and drink beer.
- I'm sorry, but
you know how it is.
Frankly, she's never
even had a job.
- Mom!
- You know, if it's work
experience you're looking for,
you're more than welcome
to come work for me.
- Oh, no, I don't think so.
- Hey, George,
that would be fantastic.
- What?
- Lydia.
- Listen, this could be
great for your resume.
There's nothing else
there at the moment,
and it might be nice
to learn a new skill.
- No, I don't want to.
- Only if you want to.
- She definitely, she
definitely wants to.
Honey, you need to do
something to grow, okay?
You've spent the
last year on pause.
- But, you like IT stuff, right?
- Mostly IT, but I fix a
little bit of everything.
Computers,
appliances, even cars.
- I, um ...
- They're
good things to learn.
- What do you say?
- I'm actually making a movie.
- What?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I'm, I'm making
Dad's script, so I can't,
because I'm, I'm gonna be
really busy with that, like,
100% of my time.
- You are making "Space Quest"?
- "Space Chronicles,"
"Chronicles."
- "Chronicles"?
- It's the silliest script.
She is not making a--
- It is not silly.
It's the most
brilliant piece of art
you've ever seen in
your goddam life.
- Honey.
- Because my dad was a genius.
- Honey.
- Just wait and see.
- Do you even know
how to make a movie?
- Do I even know
how to make a ...
- I have no idea
how to make a movie.
I have no money, obviously.
The script is ...
Well,
let's just say that
the space alien
rap battle was a surprise, Dad.
I need help.
Or someone who
actually listens to me,
you know, like an assistant,
or an intern or ...
Yeah.
- Simon!
- Lydia.
- Okay, I'm good.
I'm making a movie,
and I kinda need your help.
Yeah.
Nice dog.
- Hey, Simon, nice
to see you, hm?
Whoa, whoa, yeah, it has
been a long time, hasn't it?
I didn't even.
That's you.
That's what you're
supposed to say,
as a normal person in
this situation, hm?
She's a, she's a
really nice dog.
- I don't,
I don't really know how
to be a normal person, so.
- Yeah, I know. Me neither.
Fine, I'm listening.
But, you have to walk
to school with us. Okay?
- Oh.
- Say hi.
- You are strong.
You are beautiful.
- Thank you.
- You
are in control.
Say it with me.
- You are strong.
- I am strong.
- You are beautiful.
- I am beautiful.
- I am in control.
- Mr. Martin!
- I'm getting that
NYU scholarship. With this.
- Wait, what?
- You are beautiful.
- Ignore this. I'm sorry.
- You are in control.
- This is, okay.
- Quiet, you foul
beast, stop, stop.
This is a little technique.
It's for the kids.
- Yeah, well, don't
let me interrupt you.
I've got a movie to make.
- Wait, stop stop.
So you're not gonna
have lunch here today?
- No, no, I have a meeting.
- Ha!
Well, okay.
Come on.
I'm strong, I'm beautiful.
I'm strong, let's go.
- You really don't need to
finish it right now. I uh--
- Hey, does glorp
milk come from like,
like an animal called a glorp,
or is it more of like a, like
an almond milk type of thing?
- Um.
You ...
Open for interpretation.
- Uh-huh, uh-huh.
- Yeah.
- Totally.
- How do you plan on shooting
this alien birthing hive?
There are like 10 planet
explosions in this.
Do you think we can afford that?
How does the story end?
This version just kinda
cuts off mid-worm fights.
- Okay, this was
a terrible idea.
You should, uh,
you should just go.
- I find your lack
of faith disturbing.
- What?
- This should be exciting!
That's all.
The uncertainty is,
God, it's exciting.
- Why are you so into this?
- AV club has restrained
me to medium close-ups
of the morning announcements
for way too long.
- Aw.
Whatever.
Seriously, you can leave now.
- Do you think Mr.
Martin would let us
use the school auditorium?
- Why?
- All right,
listen you two,
if you need anything, I will
be right around the corner
in my office, just
let me know, honestly.
Anything, just give
a holler, okay?
- Thanks, Mr. Martin.
- Sure.
- Sweet hat, by the way.
- Oh, this?
I didn't even know I
had this on my head, oh gosh.
- It's very, British.
- Ooh, well, thank you,
Simon. You're too kind.
Okay, come, sit down,
every mother's son, and
rehearse your parts.
- Well, thanks
again, Mr. Martin.
- Figured I'm walking the
boards, a little Shakespeare.
Midsummer's, okay, I'm gonna go.
All right, I'm outta
here. Here we go, woo!
All right, swish. Nope.
Theater!
- I am reading for the
role Maxman Gilbour.
- Ga -- Galfour.
- The year was 3052, a
century after the collapse
of the Galahee Kingdom.
- Then the rise of
the Keruwhon Empire.
- To be born on Keruwhon was
to have a life of luxury.
Of freedom.
- But me, I'm no
Keruwhon emperor.
I'm no high and
mighty Florg king.
- Make it glorp milk, too.
Two every damn day the same.
- Make enough glorp milk.
- Make enough glorp milk.
- Make enough glorp milk.
To survive
Every day.
- Okay, yeah,
exit on your left, please.
- All right, thank you.
- You're being mean.
- He was overacting.
- He was trying his best.
- Well that's pretty
sad for him then.
- Are, uh, are you
in the right place?
- I can't believe I'm
doing this, but hi.
I'm Mariana, and I
am auditioning for
the role of Delilah.
I have the sides memorized,
and I have a monologue
that I can do, if you want.
I go to auditions in the
city like all the time.
- Oh.
This is unexpected.
And you uh, you read the sides?
- Yeah.
- And you don't think
this is too lame for you?
- I wanna be an actress.
And if this is a somewhat
humiliating but necessary step
on the journey to becoming one,
I can make my peace with that.
- And you know this
character has to do
the space pirate
rap battle, right?
- Here we go!
- First day of auditions, check.
- Don't touch that.
- High-five?
- Everyone was awful.
- Come on, just a quick one.
- I don't wanna.
- Oh, you can give me a
little high-five, huh?
Long day at work.
Oh, look at him, Lydia.
Oh, he's shaking.
He wants a high-five so bad.
- You need a
high-five? I got it.
I will never let a
high-five down. I'm coming.
I am coming!
- Come one.
- Here you go.
- Oh ho ho, too slow. Woo!
It's exciting. Auditions,
the energy, it's fun.
I wanna know what happened.
Ah, the theater. What do we got?
What are we doing? Talk to me.
Tell me everything.
- Everything was great.
- It was terrible.
- She's just being pessimistic.
Everything was fine.
- And he's being a spineless
Pollyanna and he knows it.
- Okay, surely it cannot
have been that bad.
- The auditions were a disaster.
We have no cast, no
money, no experience
and no leading actor, okay!
This, this was a terrible idea!
- Hey hey, hey hey,
whoa whoa, whoa whoa.
Hey listen, stop, stop.
There's no reason to hurt
yourself or each other.
Please sit down,
both of you. Sit.
Just sit.
Breathe, okay?
Look, you two, when
I was your age,
I spent every moment I
could in the theater.
I loved it. I
absolutely adored it.
And I promise you, in
every single production,
there comes a moment where
you think to yourself,
this is impossible.
There's no sets, there's no
costumes, there's no cast.
And yet, we prevail.
And opening night arrives,
and the cast bows,
and the audience sings
and dances and goes crazy,
and the costumes dazzle.
And you think to
yourself, my God.
My God, I just participated
in something, magical.
Am I really doing this?
I don't know if I, all right,
here we go, I'm gonna do it.
Woo.
Hello.
My name is Thomas.
I'm sorry, perhaps you
know me as Mr. Martin.
And I suppose I'm reading
the part of, let's see,
Maximilian Galathor.
- You're doing great!
- Uh.
- The year was 3000, 30 - 52.
A century after the collapse
of the Galahee Kingdom
and the rise of the
Keruwhon Empire.
To be bone on, I'm
sorry, to be born
on Keruwhon was to inherit a
life of luxury, of freedom.
But me,
I'm no Keruwhon Emperor.
I'm no high and
mighty Florg king.
Oh no.
I live this life of mine on
the fringes of our galaxy.
Every day the same.
Moon rise, moon set.
Moon rise, moon set.
Make enough glorp milk
to survive another day.
- Great!
- Did you like that?
Get outta here.
Really?
Well it was fun.
I had a nice time
walking the boards.
The theater!
- I live this
life of mine on the fringes.
- Are you studying?
- Yeah.
- Hey, come on, Lid.
No camera, not while
you're working.
- This is work.
- You know what I mean.
- Maybe I'll just
go to film school.
- Okay, great, you can
end up just like your dad.
- What, is that a bad thing?
No, seriously, what's so
wrong with ending up like Dad?
- Lydia, if you wanna
end up a broke copywriter
with a few unfinished
screenplays, be my guest.
- So it's about money.
- No it's about
being comfortable.
I mean, I loved your dad.
He'd keep me up late,
telling stories about what
he was gonna do, what
he was gonna create.
It was so fun and exciting
when we were younger.
You know, his next big thing
is right around the corner.
- And?
What happened?
- Nothing, he died.
- I'm so sorry my
dad dying draggged
your life down so much.
- Well I don't want you
to end up like me either.
- Obviously, I don't
wanna end up like you.
- Can you remind me
again exactly how
you're paying for
your little movie?
- This is
a terrible idea.
- Here, hold Stella.
She'll calm you down.
- I don't like it when
dogs have human names.
- Tut, tut, she's not
just a dog. She's a star.
Stella!
- Shit.
- Hey hey, hey hey!
Come buy some pity cookies.
- The world is trash. Buy
some mediocre baked goods.
- Well, we're honestly
amazing at selling.
Is it weird, buying cookies
from people our age?
- Why would that be weird?
- Like, if I were to see us,
I'd think for sure those
cookies have weed in them.
- Is that Josh?
- Duh. You can spot
that dude from the moon.
He's huge.
Josh!
- What are you doing?
- Play cool, play
cool, play cool.
- What's up, you guys?
Bake sale? Hell yeah.
- Yeah, we're actually having
a fundraiser. For a movie.
- Sweet. I love movies.
- You should be
in it. The movie.
- Wait, she's kidding.
I mean, unless you
want to. Or, you know.
Whatever.
- Acting's pretty dope.
I was actually a baby
model when I was younger.
- No way.
- Yeah. You guys ever
eat those strawberry
yogurts tubes as kids?
- Yeah.
- Uh, you're welcome.
- So, you'll do it?
- Catch you guys later.
- Maximilian and Delilah
strain against their
shackles, but to no avail.
The ground shakes. A shadow
blocks the alien moon.
Boom! An enormous worm crashes
to the ground, roaring.
Uh, Josh. It's your ...
- My bad, my bad.
You'll never take us alive!
- The galaxy will never accept
you as your leader. Never.
- Remember your training,
Apollo night stroller.
Remember, your, training.
- Maximilian, no!
- The worm roars, its
monstrous teeth gnashing.
- What are we gonna do?
- Quick, grab your lasers!
Wait wait, my script's
missing the next page.
- Me too.
- Um.
Yeah, we still need to
figure the ending out.
- He didn't write one?
- Life, life got in the way.
- Lydia's been working
on something amazing.
I'm sure.
- Right. That's right, yes.
And I truly cannot wait
to share it with you.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Great.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
I can't do this!
- It's gonna be fine.
- Nope, I quit.
I'm, I'm, I'm going
to move, to Kentucky.
And, and marry a goat
and make cheese for
the rest of my life.
- Sh, deep breaths.
- What am I even going
to say when we start?
Hello, I'm Lydia Gilbert.
I am radically underqualified,
and you have to
listen to me now.
- Something like that, yeah.
You know, if it makes
you feel any better,
you can be a good director
and still marry a
goat in Kentucky.
Right, they're not like
mutually exclusive.
- Why would that
make me feel better?
- Look, everyone's just making
it up all the time anyway.
- What?
- Yeah, people just mimic
other people. That's art.
I mean, have you
seen "Pulp Fiction"?
- No.
- "I said Goddamn, Goddamn!"
- I'm sorry. Am I
missing something?
- Okay, look, all I'm saying is,
everyone steals, all right.
You just need to,
learn from the greats.
- What do you mean?
- Here.
I'll show you.
So this shot's all about
foreground and background.
- And you're like a sexy mom?
- Yeah.
- Okay, direct engagement
with the camera can add a lot.
Just say, I'm ready for
my closeup, Mr. DeMille.
- I'm ready for my
closeup, Mr. DeMille.
- Okay, close enough.
- Why are we so close together?
- Because, this is an
intense scene, kid.
And sometimes, simple
framing's the best.
- Oh, Rick.
- This one's all about light.
Lydia, I am your father!
What's wrong?
- It's getting
late. You should go.
- Oh, okay.
Do you, do you want
me to clean up?
- It's fine.
- No, hey,
I really don't mind.
- I just really don't need
your help anymore, okay?
- Okay.
Fine.
- Disengage help mode.
Engage friend mode.
- What?
- Friend feel sad.
Simon 2000 provide
emotional comfort
- You're so bizarre.
- Beep, everyone bizarre.
Some people just better at
hiding it than others.
It's okay if you're upset.
But I'm not just
like a co-worker.
Or a robot.
I miss being your
real friend too.
- Thanks.
I haven't seen Robot
Simon in years.
It's great.
Hey, do you uh ...
Wanna do something else?
- Like what?
- Is that
someone from our school?
- Oh my God, woman,
don't film them.
Hey, seriously, put that away.
- Fine, fine, I'll stop.
God.
Mm.
Oh, this is nasty. What is this?
- I think it's like vodka,
tequila, whiskey and triple sec.
What, is that bad?
- I don't think you're
supposed to mix.
- Hey, I had to take a
little from every bottle.
Otherwise, it'd be too obvious.
- Ugh, gross.
Oh, man.
- Hey, you know what I
was just thinking about?
- Mm, what?
- How come we used
to call you Ladybug?
- Dad used to call me that.
- But why?
- Uh.
I um.
I don't know.
- I'm really sorry
about your dad.
- That's okay.
I mean,
it's not okay.
Shit happens, I guess.
- He was such a great guy.
- Yeah.
I know.
What happened with
um, your dad anyway?
- Oh, God.
Opposite of a great guy.
- Why'd he leave?
- The real question is,
what took him so long?
- I mean, were you
guys, real close?
- Uh, when I was
really little, maybe.
But, I don't know. I ...
I think he wanted like,
like a classic,
manly, athletic son.
And I was
never that.
- So you're not athletic.
You're still his son.
- Yeah, I know.
- And, hey, you turned
out pretty cool, right?
I mean, look at this hunk.
- Oh my God.
- Oh my God!
- Stop.
- Yes.
- A filmmaker ready to
take the world by storm, you.
- Is that's what's in
there? Is that what you see.
- Yes, that's what's in there.
Stop. Stop it.
Stop it. Not me.
No, I'm the filmmaker. I
do not go on the camera.
Shut up! Stop it.
Hello, we are making a movie.
Look at us.
- How could you not
love it.
- What's that song?
- What?
- What's that song?
You're, you're hum,
you're humming something.
Like, um, uh ...
- I think I was just
trying to fill the silence.
- It's, it's pretty, it's
pretty good actually, yeah.
For sure, yeah.
Wait wait, wait wait
wait. Come here.
Let me see.
Delilah and Apollo's love song.
Delilah and Apollo's, come here!
Get your butt over here.
If tomorrow, if
tomorrow, if tomorrow.
And then, wait, we
fell out of this.
- I'm so talented.
- Oh my God, yes!
- Wait wait wait.
- What's next?
- Okay, you go low, I high.
Okay, pause.
Oh my God.
- It doesn't
like to navigate that.
Do you know it's
got the wings, see?
This is how it flies.
- I wanna call it Lady.
- I love that name.
- Send in the worms!
- Uh-huh.
Wait wait, wait wait.
Simon, get back in
the shot real quick.
- Like this?
- Yeah, but look off to the
side like you're a king.
Okay, now um ...
Look down and up.
Like you're sentencing a
servant to exile or something.
But meaner.
Come on, like, you're banished.
- You're banished.
- Come on, I'm like not even
a little banished right now.
- I thought we were
gonna get a burger today.
- Yeah, you
know, we still can.
- No, but like, when I said
can we get a burger today,
I kinda meant can we do
that and maybe not do this?
For a change.
- Okay. Yeah, let's,
let's get a burger then.
You know, maybe we
can run some lines.
- No, I ...
I don't wanna run lines.
- Okay.
Wait, Simon, the eyes, they're--
- I heard back from
Columbia today.
- Did you get in?
- Yeah, I did.
- Oh.
Nice, congrats.
- Thanks.
Are you still filming?
- You actually look
really regal right now.
Can you just hold
that for two seconds?
- I need to go to the bathroom.
- Wait, Simon.
Simon.
- Just finish
the script, Lydia.
- And, action!
Cut!
Simon, the whole back
half is drooping.
- There's
literally like nothing
I can do about it, okay.
- I'm sorry, can we
take a break? I rea--
- Hey, if we
don't get this done today.
- I've been holding
this thing for an hour.
- Hey, how much longer
are we thinking for tonight?
- Jesus, none of you
give a shit, do you?
- We've
been out here all day.
- Chill, guys. Let's
just try to get this done.
Okay?
- Action.
Cut!
Simon, what the hell?
- Are you okay?
- Do you think this
thing is ruined,
or maybe we can try
it one more time?
- I think he's
hurt. Are you crazy?
- And, act ...
Simon, you're supposed to
wait for me to say action.
- Jesus Christ, Lydia.
- What? Is that so hard?
- You try it.
You hold the worm, huh?
- No, there's no way
I'm putting that on.
- I been holding it for hours.
I think you could do
it for once, right?
- No!
What the hell are you do ...
Oh my, oh my God,
the frame is cracked.
- Lydia.
- Shut up!
- Just, shut up.
- Maybe it's not
broken, maybe if you just--
- It was my dad's.
- Are you okay?
- What do you even want from me?
- What?
- You're not fighting for this,
so just tell me what you want.
- Are you kidding me? I've
been working with you nonstop.
My grades are slipping,
okay, I'm exhausted but ...
God, I know you've been
through so much and I--
- Whoa, I don't want your pity.
That is the absolute
last thing I want.
- It's okay to have
a tough time, okay?
It's okay to go through shit,
but don't take it out on--
- Look, Simon, I don't need
anything from you right now,
so I really don't know
why you're still here.
- Fine.
(kids talking
- Mom?
Are you here? I
had to walk home.
- I thought
that you were stay--
- You left me at school
to hang out with George?
- No.
I thought that you and Simon
were working on your project.
- We're not talking.
I told you that.
- Oh, honey, I'm sorry.
- No, hm. No, I
don't wanna hear it.
George, you're just
my mom's new project
because she can't fix me.
Can you please get
out of our house?
- Lydia?
- No!
- Lydia.
Look, I'm sorry.
- It was bad enough losing Dad.
But at least he gave a
singular shit about me.
But you ...
Mom,
you're right here.
And I'm still losing you.
- Oh, honey.
That is not true.
I loved your dad. Oh
God, I loved him so much.
But there is never
gonna be one person
on this planet that
I love more than you.
- What about off this planet?
- That's still you.
To the moon and back.
Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Ooh.
There's so much I
wish I could ask you.
Like,
what order should I watch
the "Star Wars" movies in?
I'm kidding.
How does this story end, Dad?
- I am strong, ah.
I am beautiful, yes I am.
I am in control.
- What is up, Mr. M?
- Oh come on!
Lydia, it's just common courtesy
to knock on someone's
office door.
- Well, you know, I
woke up this morning
and thought to myself,
wow, I haven't had lunch
with my friend Mr.
Martin in so long,
so I should really
check in on him.
- Right.
- How are you?
Come on, come on!
How's your life?
How's your,
uh, what, wife?
Husband?
Cat?
- Lydia, why are
you really here?
- I'm sorry.
It's just ...
Simon won't talk to me.
I don't even know how this
stupid script ends and
the NYU deadline's in a week.
It's just a lot.
- Right.
But you do know it needs to
be mailed by Monday, right?
- What?
- That's the postmark deadline.
- Oh my God!
- I'm sorry, I'm
sorry. Look, breathe.
Breathe, breathe, breathe.
- Why do I even bother?
You know, we're
all going to die.
We're all going
to turn into soil
and ash, and mushrooms are just
gonna grow out of our heads!
- Perhaps, perhaps.
I actually plan on having a
sunflower grow outta mine.
I did. I looked into.
It's very expensive, but I
think I'm worth it. I do.
Breathe, breathe.
Come on, you can do
this. I know you can.
Here we go.
One thing at a time, ready?
Focus. Look at me.
How's the editing coming?
- Editing?
- Oh Jesus.
- Lydia?
- I'm so sorry for
the way I treated you.
I was just afraid I
was gonna lose my mom,
and I know that I have
like a really bad attitude.
But I swear there's
like a good part of me
somewhere deep in there.
It's really far deep
in there, but it's--
- Whoa whoa, whoa whoa.
Easy.
What's going on?
- I really hate to
ask this of you.
But do you have any
idea how to edit?
- You're in luck. I have
all the right cables.
- I, I can't thank you
enough for doing this.
- It's no problem.
Just, be nice to your
mom for me, okay?
- Yeah.
- Are you zooming in on me?
- Why did we
even hire a videographer
if you were just
gonna do it yourself?
- We did. That's terrible.
Is there any way to take it
back. - I don't think so.
- Yeah right. Get a
good luck while you can.
- I didn't
know you watched these.
- Almost every night
after your dad passed.
Almost every night.
- I love you
to the moon and back.
You know that, right?
- What's that?
- To the moon and
back and back and back.
- Daddy said we're
gonna get a big house.
- And?
- And?
- A movie theater!
And popcorn!
- He made me feel so safe.
- Yeah, me too.
- And eat popcorn.
- Yes, we will
definitely have popcorn.
- But this is your life. Not
on screen, that's a movie.
We don't get to
sit back and enjoy
our happy endings in real life.
We don't get to hit pause.
We just have to
keep moving and
let go and hope that that happy
ending isn't our last one.
- It won't be.
- I know.
- I promise.
- I know what I need to do, Dad.
I know how to end it.
You're gonna get
your happy ending.
Promise.
- Simon!
Shit.
- What the hell?
You know, you're
not being original.
- Not trying to be.
- This is like textbook,
movie cliche unoriginal.
It's like next-level bad.
- Learned it from the best.
Oh, shit.
- Hey, you know you're
paying for that, but ...
- As friends.
That is, if you do me the
honor of being my friend.
- But it's tonight.
- Better late than never, right?
- I don't know, Lydia.
I need to think about it.
- Yeah.
No right, I ...
I, I understand.
Engage friend mode.
System broken.
Need friend to fix.
- Oh my God.
- Please accept apology
or else
system will self-destruct.
- Lydia.
- And.
10,
nine,
eight,
seven,
six,
five,
four,
three,
two.
One.
- Friend mode activated
Going in for a hug.
- Yes!
- Oh, oh, Simon.
I'm,
I'm sorry.
For everything.
I, I, I was an asshole.
And I don't deserve you.
But,
I wanna finish what we started.
Together.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Prom's everything I
thought it would be.
- Cheers to that.
- Absolutely not.
- Oh come on, Mom.
You have a face
destined for the screen.
- Do you think so?
- Mm-hm.
- Yeah, well, flattery
is not gonna get you
where you need to
go, either of you.
- Do you have the headband?
- Okay, just put
these on, please.
- What is that?
- Just put it on your head.
- Oh.
- Yes. Yes!
- Ms. Gilbert. Oh, you
look absolutely fantastic.
- Okay, if I do this,
you know what I'm gonna
need from you, right?
This time, I won't pack for you.
- Yeah, I know.
- Okay, I'll do it.
- Yes!
- Now just get outta here.
I gotta learn my lines.
- Mm, mm.
- This is
awesome. It's awesome.
- Hey, Dad.
I wish you could see our movie.
I think you'd really like it.
And I hope you
approve of the ending.
I'm gonna miss this house.
And,
I'm gonna miss you
for the rest of my life.
But I can't help but think that,
if the world's a
halfway decent place,
you're up there somewhere,
watching us in a big, heavenly
movie theater in the stars.
God, I love you, Dad.
- Thank you all so
much for coming.
I'm going to keep this short,
mostly because I'm
the ugliest crier
and I wanna spare you.
- That's true.
- This is "Space
Chronicles: The Movie."
Whoa!
- The year was 3052,
a century after the collapse
of the Galahee Kingdom,
and the rise of the
Keruwhon Empire.
To be born a Keruwhon
was to inherit
a life of luxury, of freedom.
Make enough glorp milk.
- Wow.
- To survive another day.
- I am beautiful.
I am fucking beautiful.
- Space Chronicles!
- Hey, space lady,
I'm on a mission
and I need your help.
- If you ever think
for even a second
that I will ever in all my life
help a brutish, no-good,
absolutely terrible,
disgusting space timer like you!
- Send in the worms!
- That was a problem.
- I been fighting
worms for too long.
No heart left for the fight.
Oh how I long to
see my love again.
Some way.
Somehow.
Across this galaxy of ours.
Queen Diana!
Queen Diana!
- Did somebody say worm fight?
- Queen Diana?
I thought I lost you!
- You'll never lose me!
- They won
the battle that day.
They won many more
across many moons.
And one day, they'd have
this beautiful baby girl,
who they totally loved,
even though she could
be a pain sometimes.
And together they'd
get a spaceship
with an enormous, intergalactic
movie theater to the stars.
And their family would spend
their days eating space popcorn
and holding hands
till their fingers
were all wrinkly and old.
And they'd fly up,
up, up and away.
To the moon and back.
And back.
And back and back and
back and back and back.
- Yes!
Woo!
Woo!
- Lid, you
gotta let it go, baby.
- I don't
wanna let her go.
- I know.
- Where will it go?
- I don't know. But
you know what I do know?
- What?
- It'll be magical.
- I think we're
supposed to rap battle.
What if he's right?
- Finally got you alone.
- Are you zooming in on me?
- What? No.
- Peter, I can see you.
- Come
on, I would never.
- Why did we even
hire a videographer
if you were just
gonna do it yourself?
- Well, you
better get used to it.
You're stuck with me.
- I am?
- Yeah, unfortunately.
We just got married.
- We did?
- Yes.
- That's terrible.
- I know.
- Is there any way
to take it back?
- I don't think so.
Stop, stop.
- Hey, there's
that handsome face.
- Yeah, right?
Get a good luck while you can.
- Where you going?
- No, I'm taking off after this.
- Okay, cool. It's fine.
- You're not so bad
yourself, you know.
- Really?
- I love you to
the moon and back.
You know that, right?
- Say it again.
- To the moon and back
and back and back.
- That'll do.
- That'll do.
- Ah, ha ha!
And so here he is.
My very own, Mr. Hitchcock.
- Oh it's Alfred to you, please.
- I'm so sorry.
- That's okay.
- Tell us
how you proceed.
- It's a complicated processes.
It all starts here,
and sadly I can't
reveal any of it to you.
- Ah, ah, ah!
- Hi, baby.
- We can't wait to meet you.
You're gonna look back on this
and be astonished about how
attractive your parents are.
- Yeah.
Right, look at this.
- This is the
perfect angle for us.
- Nice to meet you.
- We're so proud of you.
- Say hi, daddy.
- Oh, wow.
Hey, it looks just like me.
Maybe that's my
lack of sleep here.
What in the world am I?
Ah, that's the great puzzle.
- Daddy said we're
gonna get a big house.
- And?
- And?
What else are we gonna
have in the house?
- A movie theater!
- Yes, good idea.
- And popcorn.
- The biggest there
is, definitely. Definitely.
- Definitely popcorn,
and we can find
the best spot in the house
every night, and hold hands.
- And eat popcorn.
- Yes.
You're flying!
Yes, we will definitely
have popcorn,
and we will hold hands
until our fingers
get all wrinkly and old.
- That's why you're
never leaving the house.
- Dad, no filming.
- Okay, okay.
I'm turning it off.
- You're so annoying,
you know that?
- That's my job.
- You're really good at it.
- I know.
Good night, Ladybug.
- Night, Dad.
- Ah, get up there. Go on.
- Again, again.
- Another spin,
and then, whoop.
- Ah.
- Oh my God, Dad!
Dad?
- Hey.
Ready?
- Mom!
I told you not to pack my stuff.
This is a new low, Mom.
Even for you.
- On my shift today, I
had to feed an old woman,
spoonfeed an old
woman mashed peas,
and do you know what she did?
- What?
- She yelled at me,
she cussed me out
and then she spit
them out in my face.
And you know what I thought?
Wow, this feels like just
another day at home with Lydia.
- That's incredibly rude.
- And do you know what I did?
- What?
- I took care of it,
just like I do with you.
- Look, just because
I don't wanna move
doesn't mean that I--
- It's not your choice, Lydia.
Neither were the mashed peas.
Now, you can either
work with me on this,
or I can do it myself.
- One day,
you are going to wake
up and ask yourself,
where did I go wrong?
- Mm.
- Didn't I have a daughter?
Now I just have a
black hole in my heart
where a daughter used to be.
- Now that is a
refreshing thought.
I can almost feel the
stress melting away already.
- Mom!
- I'm kidding, honey.
Listen, I love you. You
know that I love you.
- Oh, sure.
- But this house is
expensive, and so is college,
so something has gotta give.
- I'm not even going to college.
- Mashed peas, Lydia,
not your choice.
- Hm.
Hey, Dad. No, that was, God.
Um, hey, man. I just
called my dad man.
Father!
No.
This is so stupid. I'm sorry.
Okay, yeah.
Hey.
I miss you.
Things have been kind
of shitty lately.
Like beyond shitty.
As you might say, I'm
about a million light-years
from where I wanna be.
You know that feeling when your
shirt shrinks in the dryer?
All day, you can feel it
digging into your skin?
That's how this town
feels right now.
Like an old, crappy,
too-small shirt.
- Oh, geez, geez.
- Geez, watch
where you're going!
- You crashed into
me. Are you okay?
Damn, Lydia, long time no see.
- Yes, fine. Can I
please have my camera back?
- Wait, this is sick.
What year is this,
like '92, three?
- I don't
know. It was my dad's.
- I'm sorry.
- Yeah, so I'd appreciate it
if you'd stop touching it.
- I forgot your dad
loved camera stuff.
You know, AV team still
meets every Wednesday
if you ever wanna roll through.
- Simon, just because
I'm holding a camera
doesn't mean I wanna
join your club.
- Excuse me, we're an
audiovisual society, and
we've got free pizza.
It's kinda the shit, huh?
- Yeah, whatever, I gotta go.
- Hey, do you, do you wanna
walk to school tog ...
Okay, it was nice
to see you too!
- Feeder kids, check.
Popular kids, check.
Ugh, most stereotypical ...
- Do you think these
actually motivate anyone?
- I think you're
getting distracted.
- What? No, no, no no,
hey, I'm listening.
- Hm.
- I just ...
I, okay, I got a little,
little distracted
by your awesome posters.
- You think they're awesome?
- Absolutely I do.
- Really?
- Yeah, I do.
- Do you really?
- They're really cool.
- Well thank you, Lydia.
No no, no no no, we're not
doing this. Lydia, Lydia.
- What?
- You're not listening.
Look, Lydia, it's
been a year now,
and I know this is hard,
but I think it's important
for you to start having
lunch somewhere else.
Yeah.
- No, hey, I hear you.
- Okay.
- And, I respect you.
- Great.
- But unfortunately,
I've just evolved too far
for the cavemen
that roam the halls
of this sweet institution.
You know, it's a real tragic
twist of evolution, but
what else can a woman do?
I know.
- Okay, Lydia, look,
these office hours
are for students who actually
need, they need guidance.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- So, so, so then just guide me.
- Guide you?
- Formally.
- Right now?
- This is the
moment you're ready?
- I wanna be guided.
- Really?
- Yes.
- All right, let's go.
Have you actually thought
about where you're applying?
- No, no, no no.
See, it's just too,
too expensive, so
I'm not gonna apply.
- If it's too
expensive, that's okay.
Okay, because schools,
right, they have
financial aid packages,
they have scholarships.
Yes, fresh list just came out.
Hot off the press,
a scholarship list.
Stay with me, Lydia.
Tulane, right here.
Write an essay about
a charitable act
that impacted you.
That's adorable.
Penn State, here
we go, 2,000 words.
You can do this, 2,000
words on the ways
you choose to better yourself.
And you have fallen asleep.
All right, I have got
other things here.
Harvard.
Maybe we'll just skip that one.
NYU, Big Apple, tell us a story
of who you are,
can be any medium.
- My dad actually went to NYU.
- Your dad, okay.
This is great. You're
a legacy, perfect.
Okay, right, what do they want?
Tell us a story of who you are.
Lydia, who are you?
- Mm.
- Mm.
- Mr. Martin, you've,
you've suddenly become
a monstrous bummer so.
- Right,
okay, whatever you say.
- I'm gonna, um, yeah.
- You're gonna go?
- I'm gonna take a couple
of these and then leave.
- All right, that's
fine, okay. All right.
Lydia, before you go,
though, do me a favor?
- Yeah.
- Hang in there.
- Ay yi yi, yi yi.
- Hey, think about
that. Who are you, Lids?
Who are you? Who are you?
Who am I?
- Ugh, that song
gives me a headache.
- You always have a headache.
- Well, maybe that's because
you're the headache. No?
So how's school?
- Talking about it
gives me a headache.
- Excuse me.
- I just, I don't know
why you always ask that
when you literally
don't even care.
- Of course I care
or I wouldn't ask.
- You're just asking
for the sake of asking.
I have a mom that cares!
- Turn the radio off!
- What are you gonna
do with all that stuff?
- Box it up?
- Aw, we could just leave it.
- I mean, we could
if we just stayed.
- Lydia.
- Where did Dad get
all this stuff anyway?
- I don't know, everywhere.
He was the easiest person
to give presents to.
People were always
giving him stuff.
He wasn't a hard
guy to make happy.
That's George. He's come to
take a look at Dad's computer.
- George?
- He's our neighbor.
He's sweet, but I think
he's really lonely.
Be nice.
- I'm always nice.
- I know.
- There we go.
Hear that baby purr.
- I can't thank you
enough for this.
- Oh, it was no problem
at all.
Oh.
- Are you okay?
- Mm.
- Mm-hm.
All good, occupational hazard.
- I never
knew IT support was
such a dangerous job.
- Tell me about it.
- Well, you'll
have to come over
for dinner this week.
You know, as a thank you.
- Oh no, there's
no need to do that.
- Are you sure?
I'm a pretty amazing cook.
Right, Lydia?
See?
- Well, it's been a long time
since I've had a
home-cooked meal.
- Okay, good. Right,
well, I'll show you out.
- Space Chronicles.
- I can't believe
you went through his files.
- I can't believe you
never told me about this.
Dad was a screenwriter,
and I never even knew.
- I wouldn't exactly
call him a screenwriter.
He never even finished it.
- So? It's still amazing.
- Is it?
- What is his problem?
- You should
be nicer to him.
- Are you serious?
- He's never been
anything but sweet to you.
He used to come to
our house every day.
- Don't remind me.
We were like, four?
- Yeah, you two
were inseparable.
And we used to call you
Ladybug and him Roly-Poly.
- What?
Wait, I don't remember that.
- It's not such a nice
nickname in retrospect,
but he was such a fat baby.
- No way. No, he's
like a string bean.
- Well thank
God for growth spurts.
It's been a tough year for
him. You should make an effort.
- Oh wow. Tough year,
wonder what that feels like.
- I'm just saying, it wouldn't
kill you to be a little nice.
- I'm afraid we're
forgetting about you, Dad.
I miss your patience.
Miss your big,
stupid belly laugh.
I miss knowing you
were proud of me and
never needing to ask.
- Last year of high school,
huh? That's exciting.
- Not sure what's so
exciting about it.
- Have you started
thinking about college?
- What's that supposed to mean?
- He's just trying to be polite.
You don't have to keep asking.
- No, I'm curious.
- She's a little sensitive
because he hasn't
decided yet what
she wants to study.
- I'm right here, Mom.
I can speak for myself.
- Oh, I was just like
that my senior year.
18 years old, and
all I wanted to do
was talk to girls
and drink beer.
Now if they had a major in that,
I'm sure I would've ended
up with a PhD.
Sorry.
- Right, that
sounds just like me.
- Well,
what do you like?
Okay.
What do you do for fun?
- Talk to girls and drink beer.
- I'm sorry, but
you know how it is.
Frankly, she's never
even had a job.
- Mom!
- You know, if it's work
experience you're looking for,
you're more than welcome
to come work for me.
- Oh, no, I don't think so.
- Hey, George,
that would be fantastic.
- What?
- Lydia.
- Listen, this could be
great for your resume.
There's nothing else
there at the moment,
and it might be nice
to learn a new skill.
- No, I don't want to.
- Only if you want to.
- She definitely, she
definitely wants to.
Honey, you need to do
something to grow, okay?
You've spent the
last year on pause.
- But, you like IT stuff, right?
- Mostly IT, but I fix a
little bit of everything.
Computers,
appliances, even cars.
- I, um ...
- They're
good things to learn.
- What do you say?
- I'm actually making a movie.
- What?
- Yeah.
Yeah, I'm, I'm making
Dad's script, so I can't,
because I'm, I'm gonna be
really busy with that, like,
100% of my time.
- You are making "Space Quest"?
- "Space Chronicles,"
"Chronicles."
- "Chronicles"?
- It's the silliest script.
She is not making a--
- It is not silly.
It's the most
brilliant piece of art
you've ever seen in
your goddam life.
- Honey.
- Because my dad was a genius.
- Honey.
- Just wait and see.
- Do you even know
how to make a movie?
- Do I even know
how to make a ...
- I have no idea
how to make a movie.
I have no money, obviously.
The script is ...
Well,
let's just say that
the space alien
rap battle was a surprise, Dad.
I need help.
Or someone who
actually listens to me,
you know, like an assistant,
or an intern or ...
Yeah.
- Simon!
- Lydia.
- Okay, I'm good.
I'm making a movie,
and I kinda need your help.
Yeah.
Nice dog.
- Hey, Simon, nice
to see you, hm?
Whoa, whoa, yeah, it has
been a long time, hasn't it?
I didn't even.
That's you.
That's what you're
supposed to say,
as a normal person in
this situation, hm?
She's a, she's a
really nice dog.
- I don't,
I don't really know how
to be a normal person, so.
- Yeah, I know. Me neither.
Fine, I'm listening.
But, you have to walk
to school with us. Okay?
- Oh.
- Say hi.
- You are strong.
You are beautiful.
- Thank you.
- You
are in control.
Say it with me.
- You are strong.
- I am strong.
- You are beautiful.
- I am beautiful.
- I am in control.
- Mr. Martin!
- I'm getting that
NYU scholarship. With this.
- Wait, what?
- You are beautiful.
- Ignore this. I'm sorry.
- You are in control.
- This is, okay.
- Quiet, you foul
beast, stop, stop.
This is a little technique.
It's for the kids.
- Yeah, well, don't
let me interrupt you.
I've got a movie to make.
- Wait, stop stop.
So you're not gonna
have lunch here today?
- No, no, I have a meeting.
- Ha!
Well, okay.
Come on.
I'm strong, I'm beautiful.
I'm strong, let's go.
- You really don't need to
finish it right now. I uh--
- Hey, does glorp
milk come from like,
like an animal called a glorp,
or is it more of like a, like
an almond milk type of thing?
- Um.
You ...
Open for interpretation.
- Uh-huh, uh-huh.
- Yeah.
- Totally.
- How do you plan on shooting
this alien birthing hive?
There are like 10 planet
explosions in this.
Do you think we can afford that?
How does the story end?
This version just kinda
cuts off mid-worm fights.
- Okay, this was
a terrible idea.
You should, uh,
you should just go.
- I find your lack
of faith disturbing.
- What?
- This should be exciting!
That's all.
The uncertainty is,
God, it's exciting.
- Why are you so into this?
- AV club has restrained
me to medium close-ups
of the morning announcements
for way too long.
- Aw.
Whatever.
Seriously, you can leave now.
- Do you think Mr.
Martin would let us
use the school auditorium?
- Why?
- All right,
listen you two,
if you need anything, I will
be right around the corner
in my office, just
let me know, honestly.
Anything, just give
a holler, okay?
- Thanks, Mr. Martin.
- Sure.
- Sweet hat, by the way.
- Oh, this?
I didn't even know I
had this on my head, oh gosh.
- It's very, British.
- Ooh, well, thank you,
Simon. You're too kind.
Okay, come, sit down,
every mother's son, and
rehearse your parts.
- Well, thanks
again, Mr. Martin.
- Figured I'm walking the
boards, a little Shakespeare.
Midsummer's, okay, I'm gonna go.
All right, I'm outta
here. Here we go, woo!
All right, swish. Nope.
Theater!
- I am reading for the
role Maxman Gilbour.
- Ga -- Galfour.
- The year was 3052, a
century after the collapse
of the Galahee Kingdom.
- Then the rise of
the Keruwhon Empire.
- To be born on Keruwhon was
to have a life of luxury.
Of freedom.
- But me, I'm no
Keruwhon emperor.
I'm no high and
mighty Florg king.
- Make it glorp milk, too.
Two every damn day the same.
- Make enough glorp milk.
- Make enough glorp milk.
- Make enough glorp milk.
To survive
Every day.
- Okay, yeah,
exit on your left, please.
- All right, thank you.
- You're being mean.
- He was overacting.
- He was trying his best.
- Well that's pretty
sad for him then.
- Are, uh, are you
in the right place?
- I can't believe I'm
doing this, but hi.
I'm Mariana, and I
am auditioning for
the role of Delilah.
I have the sides memorized,
and I have a monologue
that I can do, if you want.
I go to auditions in the
city like all the time.
- Oh.
This is unexpected.
And you uh, you read the sides?
- Yeah.
- And you don't think
this is too lame for you?
- I wanna be an actress.
And if this is a somewhat
humiliating but necessary step
on the journey to becoming one,
I can make my peace with that.
- And you know this
character has to do
the space pirate
rap battle, right?
- Here we go!
- First day of auditions, check.
- Don't touch that.
- High-five?
- Everyone was awful.
- Come on, just a quick one.
- I don't wanna.
- Oh, you can give me a
little high-five, huh?
Long day at work.
Oh, look at him, Lydia.
Oh, he's shaking.
He wants a high-five so bad.
- You need a
high-five? I got it.
I will never let a
high-five down. I'm coming.
I am coming!
- Come one.
- Here you go.
- Oh ho ho, too slow. Woo!
It's exciting. Auditions,
the energy, it's fun.
I wanna know what happened.
Ah, the theater. What do we got?
What are we doing? Talk to me.
Tell me everything.
- Everything was great.
- It was terrible.
- She's just being pessimistic.
Everything was fine.
- And he's being a spineless
Pollyanna and he knows it.
- Okay, surely it cannot
have been that bad.
- The auditions were a disaster.
We have no cast, no
money, no experience
and no leading actor, okay!
This, this was a terrible idea!
- Hey hey, hey hey,
whoa whoa, whoa whoa.
Hey listen, stop, stop.
There's no reason to hurt
yourself or each other.
Please sit down,
both of you. Sit.
Just sit.
Breathe, okay?
Look, you two, when
I was your age,
I spent every moment I
could in the theater.
I loved it. I
absolutely adored it.
And I promise you, in
every single production,
there comes a moment where
you think to yourself,
this is impossible.
There's no sets, there's no
costumes, there's no cast.
And yet, we prevail.
And opening night arrives,
and the cast bows,
and the audience sings
and dances and goes crazy,
and the costumes dazzle.
And you think to
yourself, my God.
My God, I just participated
in something, magical.
Am I really doing this?
I don't know if I, all right,
here we go, I'm gonna do it.
Woo.
Hello.
My name is Thomas.
I'm sorry, perhaps you
know me as Mr. Martin.
And I suppose I'm reading
the part of, let's see,
Maximilian Galathor.
- You're doing great!
- Uh.
- The year was 3000, 30 - 52.
A century after the collapse
of the Galahee Kingdom
and the rise of the
Keruwhon Empire.
To be bone on, I'm
sorry, to be born
on Keruwhon was to inherit a
life of luxury, of freedom.
But me,
I'm no Keruwhon Emperor.
I'm no high and
mighty Florg king.
Oh no.
I live this life of mine on
the fringes of our galaxy.
Every day the same.
Moon rise, moon set.
Moon rise, moon set.
Make enough glorp milk
to survive another day.
- Great!
- Did you like that?
Get outta here.
Really?
Well it was fun.
I had a nice time
walking the boards.
The theater!
- I live this
life of mine on the fringes.
- Are you studying?
- Yeah.
- Hey, come on, Lid.
No camera, not while
you're working.
- This is work.
- You know what I mean.
- Maybe I'll just
go to film school.
- Okay, great, you can
end up just like your dad.
- What, is that a bad thing?
No, seriously, what's so
wrong with ending up like Dad?
- Lydia, if you wanna
end up a broke copywriter
with a few unfinished
screenplays, be my guest.
- So it's about money.
- No it's about
being comfortable.
I mean, I loved your dad.
He'd keep me up late,
telling stories about what
he was gonna do, what
he was gonna create.
It was so fun and exciting
when we were younger.
You know, his next big thing
is right around the corner.
- And?
What happened?
- Nothing, he died.
- I'm so sorry my
dad dying draggged
your life down so much.
- Well I don't want you
to end up like me either.
- Obviously, I don't
wanna end up like you.
- Can you remind me
again exactly how
you're paying for
your little movie?
- This is
a terrible idea.
- Here, hold Stella.
She'll calm you down.
- I don't like it when
dogs have human names.
- Tut, tut, she's not
just a dog. She's a star.
Stella!
- Shit.
- Hey hey, hey hey!
Come buy some pity cookies.
- The world is trash. Buy
some mediocre baked goods.
- Well, we're honestly
amazing at selling.
Is it weird, buying cookies
from people our age?
- Why would that be weird?
- Like, if I were to see us,
I'd think for sure those
cookies have weed in them.
- Is that Josh?
- Duh. You can spot
that dude from the moon.
He's huge.
Josh!
- What are you doing?
- Play cool, play
cool, play cool.
- What's up, you guys?
Bake sale? Hell yeah.
- Yeah, we're actually having
a fundraiser. For a movie.
- Sweet. I love movies.
- You should be
in it. The movie.
- Wait, she's kidding.
I mean, unless you
want to. Or, you know.
Whatever.
- Acting's pretty dope.
I was actually a baby
model when I was younger.
- No way.
- Yeah. You guys ever
eat those strawberry
yogurts tubes as kids?
- Yeah.
- Uh, you're welcome.
- So, you'll do it?
- Catch you guys later.
- Maximilian and Delilah
strain against their
shackles, but to no avail.
The ground shakes. A shadow
blocks the alien moon.
Boom! An enormous worm crashes
to the ground, roaring.
Uh, Josh. It's your ...
- My bad, my bad.
You'll never take us alive!
- The galaxy will never accept
you as your leader. Never.
- Remember your training,
Apollo night stroller.
Remember, your, training.
- Maximilian, no!
- The worm roars, its
monstrous teeth gnashing.
- What are we gonna do?
- Quick, grab your lasers!
Wait wait, my script's
missing the next page.
- Me too.
- Um.
Yeah, we still need to
figure the ending out.
- He didn't write one?
- Life, life got in the way.
- Lydia's been working
on something amazing.
I'm sure.
- Right. That's right, yes.
And I truly cannot wait
to share it with you.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
- Great.
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
I can't do this!
- It's gonna be fine.
- Nope, I quit.
I'm, I'm, I'm going
to move, to Kentucky.
And, and marry a goat
and make cheese for
the rest of my life.
- Sh, deep breaths.
- What am I even going
to say when we start?
Hello, I'm Lydia Gilbert.
I am radically underqualified,
and you have to
listen to me now.
- Something like that, yeah.
You know, if it makes
you feel any better,
you can be a good director
and still marry a
goat in Kentucky.
Right, they're not like
mutually exclusive.
- Why would that
make me feel better?
- Look, everyone's just making
it up all the time anyway.
- What?
- Yeah, people just mimic
other people. That's art.
I mean, have you
seen "Pulp Fiction"?
- No.
- "I said Goddamn, Goddamn!"
- I'm sorry. Am I
missing something?
- Okay, look, all I'm saying is,
everyone steals, all right.
You just need to,
learn from the greats.
- What do you mean?
- Here.
I'll show you.
So this shot's all about
foreground and background.
- And you're like a sexy mom?
- Yeah.
- Okay, direct engagement
with the camera can add a lot.
Just say, I'm ready for
my closeup, Mr. DeMille.
- I'm ready for my
closeup, Mr. DeMille.
- Okay, close enough.
- Why are we so close together?
- Because, this is an
intense scene, kid.
And sometimes, simple
framing's the best.
- Oh, Rick.
- This one's all about light.
Lydia, I am your father!
What's wrong?
- It's getting
late. You should go.
- Oh, okay.
Do you, do you want
me to clean up?
- It's fine.
- No, hey,
I really don't mind.
- I just really don't need
your help anymore, okay?
- Okay.
Fine.
- Disengage help mode.
Engage friend mode.
- What?
- Friend feel sad.
Simon 2000 provide
emotional comfort
- You're so bizarre.
- Beep, everyone bizarre.
Some people just better at
hiding it than others.
It's okay if you're upset.
But I'm not just
like a co-worker.
Or a robot.
I miss being your
real friend too.
- Thanks.
I haven't seen Robot
Simon in years.
It's great.
Hey, do you uh ...
Wanna do something else?
- Like what?
- Is that
someone from our school?
- Oh my God, woman,
don't film them.
Hey, seriously, put that away.
- Fine, fine, I'll stop.
God.
Mm.
Oh, this is nasty. What is this?
- I think it's like vodka,
tequila, whiskey and triple sec.
What, is that bad?
- I don't think you're
supposed to mix.
- Hey, I had to take a
little from every bottle.
Otherwise, it'd be too obvious.
- Ugh, gross.
Oh, man.
- Hey, you know what I
was just thinking about?
- Mm, what?
- How come we used
to call you Ladybug?
- Dad used to call me that.
- But why?
- Uh.
I um.
I don't know.
- I'm really sorry
about your dad.
- That's okay.
I mean,
it's not okay.
Shit happens, I guess.
- He was such a great guy.
- Yeah.
I know.
What happened with
um, your dad anyway?
- Oh, God.
Opposite of a great guy.
- Why'd he leave?
- The real question is,
what took him so long?
- I mean, were you
guys, real close?
- Uh, when I was
really little, maybe.
But, I don't know. I ...
I think he wanted like,
like a classic,
manly, athletic son.
And I was
never that.
- So you're not athletic.
You're still his son.
- Yeah, I know.
- And, hey, you turned
out pretty cool, right?
I mean, look at this hunk.
- Oh my God.
- Oh my God!
- Stop.
- Yes.
- A filmmaker ready to
take the world by storm, you.
- Is that's what's in
there? Is that what you see.
- Yes, that's what's in there.
Stop. Stop it.
Stop it. Not me.
No, I'm the filmmaker. I
do not go on the camera.
Shut up! Stop it.
Hello, we are making a movie.
Look at us.
- How could you not
love it.
- What's that song?
- What?
- What's that song?
You're, you're hum,
you're humming something.
Like, um, uh ...
- I think I was just
trying to fill the silence.
- It's, it's pretty, it's
pretty good actually, yeah.
For sure, yeah.
Wait wait, wait wait
wait. Come here.
Let me see.
Delilah and Apollo's love song.
Delilah and Apollo's, come here!
Get your butt over here.
If tomorrow, if
tomorrow, if tomorrow.
And then, wait, we
fell out of this.
- I'm so talented.
- Oh my God, yes!
- Wait wait wait.
- What's next?
- Okay, you go low, I high.
Okay, pause.
Oh my God.
- It doesn't
like to navigate that.
Do you know it's
got the wings, see?
This is how it flies.
- I wanna call it Lady.
- I love that name.
- Send in the worms!
- Uh-huh.
Wait wait, wait wait.
Simon, get back in
the shot real quick.
- Like this?
- Yeah, but look off to the
side like you're a king.
Okay, now um ...
Look down and up.
Like you're sentencing a
servant to exile or something.
But meaner.
Come on, like, you're banished.
- You're banished.
- Come on, I'm like not even
a little banished right now.
- I thought we were
gonna get a burger today.
- Yeah, you
know, we still can.
- No, but like, when I said
can we get a burger today,
I kinda meant can we do
that and maybe not do this?
For a change.
- Okay. Yeah, let's,
let's get a burger then.
You know, maybe we
can run some lines.
- No, I ...
I don't wanna run lines.
- Okay.
Wait, Simon, the eyes, they're--
- I heard back from
Columbia today.
- Did you get in?
- Yeah, I did.
- Oh.
Nice, congrats.
- Thanks.
Are you still filming?
- You actually look
really regal right now.
Can you just hold
that for two seconds?
- I need to go to the bathroom.
- Wait, Simon.
Simon.
- Just finish
the script, Lydia.
- And, action!
Cut!
Simon, the whole back
half is drooping.
- There's
literally like nothing
I can do about it, okay.
- I'm sorry, can we
take a break? I rea--
- Hey, if we
don't get this done today.
- I've been holding
this thing for an hour.
- Hey, how much longer
are we thinking for tonight?
- Jesus, none of you
give a shit, do you?
- We've
been out here all day.
- Chill, guys. Let's
just try to get this done.
Okay?
- Action.
Cut!
Simon, what the hell?
- Are you okay?
- Do you think this
thing is ruined,
or maybe we can try
it one more time?
- I think he's
hurt. Are you crazy?
- And, act ...
Simon, you're supposed to
wait for me to say action.
- Jesus Christ, Lydia.
- What? Is that so hard?
- You try it.
You hold the worm, huh?
- No, there's no way
I'm putting that on.
- I been holding it for hours.
I think you could do
it for once, right?
- No!
What the hell are you do ...
Oh my, oh my God,
the frame is cracked.
- Lydia.
- Shut up!
- Just, shut up.
- Maybe it's not
broken, maybe if you just--
- It was my dad's.
- Are you okay?
- What do you even want from me?
- What?
- You're not fighting for this,
so just tell me what you want.
- Are you kidding me? I've
been working with you nonstop.
My grades are slipping,
okay, I'm exhausted but ...
God, I know you've been
through so much and I--
- Whoa, I don't want your pity.
That is the absolute
last thing I want.
- It's okay to have
a tough time, okay?
It's okay to go through shit,
but don't take it out on--
- Look, Simon, I don't need
anything from you right now,
so I really don't know
why you're still here.
- Fine.
(kids talking
- Mom?
Are you here? I
had to walk home.
- I thought
that you were stay--
- You left me at school
to hang out with George?
- No.
I thought that you and Simon
were working on your project.
- We're not talking.
I told you that.
- Oh, honey, I'm sorry.
- No, hm. No, I
don't wanna hear it.
George, you're just
my mom's new project
because she can't fix me.
Can you please get
out of our house?
- Lydia?
- No!
- Lydia.
Look, I'm sorry.
- It was bad enough losing Dad.
But at least he gave a
singular shit about me.
But you ...
Mom,
you're right here.
And I'm still losing you.
- Oh, honey.
That is not true.
I loved your dad. Oh
God, I loved him so much.
But there is never
gonna be one person
on this planet that
I love more than you.
- What about off this planet?
- That's still you.
To the moon and back.
Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Ooh.
There's so much I
wish I could ask you.
Like,
what order should I watch
the "Star Wars" movies in?
I'm kidding.
How does this story end, Dad?
- I am strong, ah.
I am beautiful, yes I am.
I am in control.
- What is up, Mr. M?
- Oh come on!
Lydia, it's just common courtesy
to knock on someone's
office door.
- Well, you know, I
woke up this morning
and thought to myself,
wow, I haven't had lunch
with my friend Mr.
Martin in so long,
so I should really
check in on him.
- Right.
- How are you?
Come on, come on!
How's your life?
How's your,
uh, what, wife?
Husband?
Cat?
- Lydia, why are
you really here?
- I'm sorry.
It's just ...
Simon won't talk to me.
I don't even know how this
stupid script ends and
the NYU deadline's in a week.
It's just a lot.
- Right.
But you do know it needs to
be mailed by Monday, right?
- What?
- That's the postmark deadline.
- Oh my God!
- I'm sorry, I'm
sorry. Look, breathe.
Breathe, breathe, breathe.
- Why do I even bother?
You know, we're
all going to die.
We're all going
to turn into soil
and ash, and mushrooms are just
gonna grow out of our heads!
- Perhaps, perhaps.
I actually plan on having a
sunflower grow outta mine.
I did. I looked into.
It's very expensive, but I
think I'm worth it. I do.
Breathe, breathe.
Come on, you can do
this. I know you can.
Here we go.
One thing at a time, ready?
Focus. Look at me.
How's the editing coming?
- Editing?
- Oh Jesus.
- Lydia?
- I'm so sorry for
the way I treated you.
I was just afraid I
was gonna lose my mom,
and I know that I have
like a really bad attitude.
But I swear there's
like a good part of me
somewhere deep in there.
It's really far deep
in there, but it's--
- Whoa whoa, whoa whoa.
Easy.
What's going on?
- I really hate to
ask this of you.
But do you have any
idea how to edit?
- You're in luck. I have
all the right cables.
- I, I can't thank you
enough for doing this.
- It's no problem.
Just, be nice to your
mom for me, okay?
- Yeah.
- Are you zooming in on me?
- Why did we
even hire a videographer
if you were just
gonna do it yourself?
- We did. That's terrible.
Is there any way to take it
back. - I don't think so.
- Yeah right. Get a
good luck while you can.
- I didn't
know you watched these.
- Almost every night
after your dad passed.
Almost every night.
- I love you
to the moon and back.
You know that, right?
- What's that?
- To the moon and
back and back and back.
- Daddy said we're
gonna get a big house.
- And?
- And?
- A movie theater!
And popcorn!
- He made me feel so safe.
- Yeah, me too.
- And eat popcorn.
- Yes, we will
definitely have popcorn.
- But this is your life. Not
on screen, that's a movie.
We don't get to
sit back and enjoy
our happy endings in real life.
We don't get to hit pause.
We just have to
keep moving and
let go and hope that that happy
ending isn't our last one.
- It won't be.
- I know.
- I promise.
- I know what I need to do, Dad.
I know how to end it.
You're gonna get
your happy ending.
Promise.
- Simon!
Shit.
- What the hell?
You know, you're
not being original.
- Not trying to be.
- This is like textbook,
movie cliche unoriginal.
It's like next-level bad.
- Learned it from the best.
Oh, shit.
- Hey, you know you're
paying for that, but ...
- As friends.
That is, if you do me the
honor of being my friend.
- But it's tonight.
- Better late than never, right?
- I don't know, Lydia.
I need to think about it.
- Yeah.
No right, I ...
I, I understand.
Engage friend mode.
System broken.
Need friend to fix.
- Oh my God.
- Please accept apology
or else
system will self-destruct.
- Lydia.
- And.
10,
nine,
eight,
seven,
six,
five,
four,
three,
two.
One.
- Friend mode activated
Going in for a hug.
- Yes!
- Oh, oh, Simon.
I'm,
I'm sorry.
For everything.
I, I, I was an asshole.
And I don't deserve you.
But,
I wanna finish what we started.
Together.
- Yeah?
- Yeah.
- Prom's everything I
thought it would be.
- Cheers to that.
- Absolutely not.
- Oh come on, Mom.
You have a face
destined for the screen.
- Do you think so?
- Mm-hm.
- Yeah, well, flattery
is not gonna get you
where you need to
go, either of you.
- Do you have the headband?
- Okay, just put
these on, please.
- What is that?
- Just put it on your head.
- Oh.
- Yes. Yes!
- Ms. Gilbert. Oh, you
look absolutely fantastic.
- Okay, if I do this,
you know what I'm gonna
need from you, right?
This time, I won't pack for you.
- Yeah, I know.
- Okay, I'll do it.
- Yes!
- Now just get outta here.
I gotta learn my lines.
- Mm, mm.
- This is
awesome. It's awesome.
- Hey, Dad.
I wish you could see our movie.
I think you'd really like it.
And I hope you
approve of the ending.
I'm gonna miss this house.
And,
I'm gonna miss you
for the rest of my life.
But I can't help but think that,
if the world's a
halfway decent place,
you're up there somewhere,
watching us in a big, heavenly
movie theater in the stars.
God, I love you, Dad.
- Thank you all so
much for coming.
I'm going to keep this short,
mostly because I'm
the ugliest crier
and I wanna spare you.
- That's true.
- This is "Space
Chronicles: The Movie."
Whoa!
- The year was 3052,
a century after the collapse
of the Galahee Kingdom,
and the rise of the
Keruwhon Empire.
To be born a Keruwhon
was to inherit
a life of luxury, of freedom.
Make enough glorp milk.
- Wow.
- To survive another day.
- I am beautiful.
I am fucking beautiful.
- Space Chronicles!
- Hey, space lady,
I'm on a mission
and I need your help.
- If you ever think
for even a second
that I will ever in all my life
help a brutish, no-good,
absolutely terrible,
disgusting space timer like you!
- Send in the worms!
- That was a problem.
- I been fighting
worms for too long.
No heart left for the fight.
Oh how I long to
see my love again.
Some way.
Somehow.
Across this galaxy of ours.
Queen Diana!
Queen Diana!
- Did somebody say worm fight?
- Queen Diana?
I thought I lost you!
- You'll never lose me!
- They won
the battle that day.
They won many more
across many moons.
And one day, they'd have
this beautiful baby girl,
who they totally loved,
even though she could
be a pain sometimes.
And together they'd
get a spaceship
with an enormous, intergalactic
movie theater to the stars.
And their family would spend
their days eating space popcorn
and holding hands
till their fingers
were all wrinkly and old.
And they'd fly up,
up, up and away.
To the moon and back.
And back.
And back and back and
back and back and back.
- Yes!
Woo!
Woo!
- Lid, you
gotta let it go, baby.
- I don't
wanna let her go.
- I know.
- Where will it go?
- I don't know. But
you know what I do know?
- What?
- It'll be magical.
- I think we're
supposed to rap battle.
What if he's right?