Meilin "Mei" Lee quotes from Turning Red (2022)

View Quote [first lines of the film] [She lifts a tray to her mom in a photo] The number one rule in my family? Honor your parents. They're the supreme beings who gave you life who sweated and sacrificed so much to put a roof over your head, food on your plate, [Ming gives Mei a whole load off food] an epic amount of food. [Ming and Mei do the peace sign] The least you can do in return is [Ming and Mei holding a trophy] every single thing they ask. [In the spa with Mei and Ming] Of course some people are like, "Be careful". Honoring your parents sounds great, [Mei now grown up in her teen years lifts the tray to her mother Ming] but if you take it too far, well, you might forget to honor yourself. [the scene cuts to her in close-up; to the viewers] Luckily, I don't have that problem. [She leaps out of the picture frame and lands onto the sidewalk, carrying a case] I'm Meilin Lee. And ever since I turned 13, I've been doing my own thing, making my own moves; 24/7, 365! I wear what I want, [revealing her case] say what I want, and I will not hesitate to do a spontaneous cartwheel if I feel so moved! [She tries to do a cartwheel] Crap! [crashes and quickly collects her stuff; on the trolley] Not to brag, but being 13 means I'm officially a grown-up. [Showing her card to the driver] At least according to the Toronto Transit Commission.

View Quote Jesse went to art school. Tae Young fosters injured doves. Robaire speaks French. And Aaron T. and Aaron Z. are, like, really talented too. We are 4*Townies, remember? Ride or die!

View Quote Okay. I know what it looks like. I am my own person, but that doesn't mean doing whatever I want. Like most adults, I have responsibilities. It's not all about me, you know? I do make my own moves, it's just that… some of my moves are also hers.

View Quote [thinking] Don't look at the notebook, don't look at the notebook, don't! [glances down at her notebook] No!

View Quote [scolding herself after Ming confronted Devon about her private drawings and being publicly embarrassed] You sicko! What were you thinking?! Why would you draw those things? THOSE HORRIBLE, AWFUL, SEXY THINGS?!

View Quote [hugging a photo of her and Ming] Mommy, I'M SO SORRY!

View Quote [scolding to her reflection] You are her pride and joy, so ACT LIKE IT! [slaps herself]

View Quote I'm a gross red monster! [sobs] Stop it! STOP TALKING!

View Quote Tyler is an insecure jerk wad. Words were exchanged. Slightly uncomfortable secrets were revealed.

View Quote AWOOGA!

View Quote Don't look at me! Stay back!

View Quote [furiously trying to rip the tapestry of Sun Yee into shreds] YOU CURSED US! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!

View Quote I hate this! I'm slobby, I'm smelly! My mom won't even look at me, and now 4*Town? When are they coming? (Abby: May 18th. They just announced it.) The 18th?! There's no way this will be gone by then! Just go...go become women without me! (Miriam: Mei, it's gonna be okay.) No, it's...it's not! I'm...I'm a freak! Just… [sighs] Just leave me alone.

View Quote (Ming: How is this possible? What happened to your panda?) It's easy. When I start to get emotional, all I do is imagine the people I love most in the whole world… Which is you guys.

View Quote I know my mom's worried, but sometimes she's just so… so… (Miriam: Wacko?)

View Quote We need to see this concert! Why doesn't my mom get that?! I never ask for anything! My whole life, I've been her perfect little Mei-Mei. Temple duties, grades… (Abby: Violin!) (Priya: Tap dancing.) Yeah. We've been so good. If they don't trust us anyway, then what's the point? (Miriam: Wow. Who are you? I love it.)

View Quote All right, troops, listen up. The boys are coming to the SkyDome, May 18th. Our goal: Four tickets. That's 800 bucks!

View Quote [to Tyler] Hey, dorkbag. We're in. But you only get the panda for an hour. And we're not bringing any presents. (Tyler: [holds out his hand] Deal.)

View Quote Just one last time. Hey, Tyler! You want the panda? You're getting the panda! Let's hear it for the birthday boy!

View Quote I can't be like this forever. My whole family would freak. Especially my mom. All her hopes and dreams are pinned on me.

View Quote [freaking out when she learns that 4*Town's concert and the red moon ritual are on the same night and realizes she can't be in two places at once] I CAN'T MISS 4*TOWN! WE WORKED SO HARD! But...but the ritual. I'LL LET EVERYONE DOWN!

View Quote [to Tyler] Buzz off, jerkface! I'm busy!

View Quote The panda's dangerous… outta control.

View Quote I'm keeping it.

View Quote The panda's a part of me, and you guys are too.

View Quote [seeing that Tyler's a fan of 4*Town] You are a 4*Townie?!

View Quote Oh, that's nothing! You wanna see crass?! [starts shaking her butt at Mingzilla]

View Quote [while fighting Mingzilla] WELL, SORRY, I'M NOT PERFECT! SORRY, I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH! [flies directly towards her] AND SORRY, I'LL NEVER BE LIKE YOU!

View Quote I'm changing, Mom. I'm finally figuring out who I am, but… I'm scared it'll take me away from you.

View Quote [to Sun Yee] I'm not going to regret this, am I?

View Quote I'm Meilin Lee, and ever since I turned 13, life's been a lot. People still talk about Pandapocalypse 2002. Mom and I just call it... growing pains.

View Quote What? Mr. Gao had to put her panda in something. You should see Grandma's!

View Quote My panda, my choice, Mom.

View Quote O-M-G! I'm so excited for the new album.

View Quote [final lines of the film] Sometimes, I miss how things were, but… nothing stays the same forever. We've all got an inner beast. We've all got a messy, loud, weird part of ourselves hidden away. And a lot of us never let it out. But I did. How 'bout you?

View Quote [from trailer] My whole life, I've been perfect little Mei-Mei… but maybe I like this new me.

View Quote Meilin: Besties, assemble! Miriam!
Miriam: Huh? Hey!
Meilin: Priya!
Priya: Yo.
Meilin: Abby!
Abby: [angrily shouting to other students in Korean; in English] Yeah! What's up, Mei?!
Meilin: Ready to change the world?
Miriam: So ready!
Priya: I was born to do this.
Abby: LET'S BURN THIS PLACE TO THE GROUND!

View Quote Ming: Sun Yee, revered ancestor, guardian of the red pandas. We humbly thank you for protecting and guiding us. Especially Mei-Mei.
Meilin: May we continue to serve and honor you and this community.
Both: Always.

View Quote [A commercial of 4-Town's live performance tour is shown on the T.V. while Meilin and her parents are making dinner]
TV Announcer: You've heard their hits, you've seen their moves, and now you get to experience them live! The worldwide pop sensation 4-Town will be kicking off their North American tour! Tickets on sale now!
Meilin: [gasps in excitement] Oh, my gosh!
Ming: Who are these hip-hoppers, and why are they called 4-Town if there are five of them?
Meilin: Uh, I don't know. Some of the kids at school like them.
Ming: You mean Miriam? That girl is odd.
Jin: Dinner's ready.

View Quote [Ming pulls up at the Daisy Mart after catching her daughter's drawings of her and Devon]
Meilin: What are you doing? [following her mother] No, no, no, no, no, no! No, no, no, no, no, no!
[They enter the store as Ming angrily marches over to Devon while passing Tyler]
Tyler: [laughs smugly] Oh, snap!
Meilin: Mom, no!
Ming: [points to Devon, fiercely] You! What have you done to my Mei-Mei?!
Devon: Uh, who?
Tyler: Meilin Lee, right here! [points to Mei, standing next to him]
Ming: I should report you to the police. How old are you? 30?
Devon: I'm 17.
Ming: Oh, see, see? This is what happens when you don't wear sunblock and do drugs all day! She's just a sweet, innocent child. How dare you take advantage of her! [takes out Meilin's drawings and throws them on the counter in slow-motion]
Meilin: Mom! NOOOOOOOOOO!! [echoes]
Devon: What?!
[Everyone gasps at Meilin's drawings and start laughing at her]
Tyler: [laughs] What a weirdo! [mocks her by kissing the air]
[Mei looks at everyone laughing at her and Tyler looking at her, blushing in embarrassment of humiliation]
Ming: The Daisy Mart has lost a loyal customer today. [leaves the store with her daughter as everyone continues laughing; sighs exasperatedly] Thank goodness I was here. That degenerate won't come near you again. Now, is there anything else I should know about, Mei-Mei?
Meilin: [clutching her skirt, tightly] Nope. All good. [cut to her in her bedroom a little later, screaming her head into a pillow] You sicko! What were you thinking?! Why would you draw those things? Those horrible, awful, sexy things?! [later pacing around with a panicked smile] It's fine. You'll move to another city, change your identity. [screaming under her bed whilst stomping her feet wearing her bunny slippers; then whining and moping to a framed photo of her and Ming] Mommy, I'm so sorry! [stuffing her face in a pillow on a spinning chair, the chair stops as it hits a mirror; to her reflection; angrily] You are her pride and joy, so ACT LIKE IT! [slaps herself; later rips the drawings out of her notebook and throws them in the trash can; back to her reflection] This will never happen again. [takes off her glasses, turns off the light as she gets into bed, and goes to sleep]

View Quote Ming: [pulling up at the middle school, dropping her daughter off] I know it feels strange, Mei-Mei, but I promise, nobody will notice a thing.
Meilin: [monotone] Thank you for your concern, Mother. But I'll be fine.
Ming: Well, here's your lunch. I packed extra snacks. And herbal tea. For cramps. It helps relax your…
Meilin: [panicky] I got it! Thank you! Bye!

View Quote Classmate: What's with her?
Miriam: What's with your face? [to Meilin as she buries her head on her desk] What is with you? You're being weird.
Meilin: [hesitantly] I'm just really excited about math.

View Quote Ming: [worried] This is awful. What are we gonna do?
Jin: Don't worry. We'll get through this.
Ming: No one can see her like this. I never wanted this for her. Did you see how she was in the temple? Her eyes…
[Meilin hears their conversation and cries, poofing into her panda form throughout the night; The next day, Ming and Jin hear their daughter thumping around the walls in her room, trying to get rid of her panda form]
Meilin: Please… just… go away.
Panda Meilin: No! Why? Why?
Miriam: Mei, it's us. Open up.
Meilin: Crud, no. Guys, what are you doing? Go away!
Priya: Are you okay? Tap if you can hear us.
Abby: One for yes, two for no!
Miriam: We were so worried. We thought you died of embarrassment.
Priya: You need more pads? I brought extra.
Abby: Forget that. 4-Town's coming to Toronto!
Panda Meilin: [opens up the curtains] What?
[Miriam, Abby and Priya scream at the sight of Mei's panda form, There was soon a series of screams back and front of Mei, Miriam, Abby and Priya. Quickly, Mei dragged them inside.]
Panda Meilin: Hey! It's okay, everybody be quiet! Everybody, it's just me! Shut up! It's okay, it's me! It's Mei! Calm down, all right? I'm gonna let go and you're gonna be chill. Got that?
[Her friends nod. Then Mei slowly lets them go.]

View Quote Ming: How is this possible?! What happened to your panda?
Meilin: It's easy. When I start to get emotional, all I do is imagine the people I love most in the whole world. Which is you guys.
Ming: Oh. Oh, Mei-Mei.
Meilin: So, now that that's settled, I just have one teeny-tiny favor to ask.
[scene cuts to Ming looking at Mei, not happy later that evening…]
Ming: [defiantly] No. Absolutely not.
Meilin: What?! But this is once in a lifetime!
Ming: Mei-Mei, it's one thing to stay calm at home or school, but a concert? You'll get whipped up into a frenzy and panda all over the place.
Meilin: I won't, I won't! I promise! You saw me keep it in!
Jin: Ming, maybe we should trust her.
Ming: It's them I don't trust! Look at those glittery delinquents with their… [shudders in disgust] Gyrations. Why on earth do you want to go so badly?
Meilin: [imagines herself and her friends at the concert while chugging soda, and Robaire proposing to her; back to reality] Like I said, I just want to broaden my musical horizons.
Ming: This isn't music, this is filth! And it's not worth jeopardizing your life over. Right, Jin?
Jin: Uh--
Ming: [insistently, thinking Jin agrees] See? Your father agrees. No concert, and that's final.
Meilin: [inhales sharply with a tightened sarcastic grin] Okay, well, thanks for listening. Good night. [picks up her 4-Town CDs and radio, and walks to her room with an annoyed scoff]
Ming: What was that? Am I the only one who sees the danger here? There's no way she could keep her panda in. And $200?! For what?! Who do they think they are, Celine Dion? [the phone rings and Jin gets up to answer it] Hmph. Unbelievable. I saw that look. Where does she get that from? Treating her own mother like that.
Jin: Hold on. Ming, it's your mother.
Ming: [panicking] I'm not here! [lays down on the sofa, curling in a fetal position, then takes the phone out of Jin's hand; shakily] Mother. Hello. [on speaker] How's everything in Florida?
Grandma Wu: [while putting makeup on] Ming. I know about Mei-Mei.
Ming: I was just about to call you, but everything's fine. [hesitantly] I'm gonna handle the ritual on my own.
Grandma Wu: [scoffs as she puts lipstick on] The way you "handled" Mei-Mei being on the news?
Ming: No one knows anything. They barely saw her!
Grandma Wu: I'm on my way... with reinforcements.
Ming: NO, I CAN HANDLE IT! I CAN... [Grandma Wu hangs up]

View Quote Meilin: That presentation was bomb.com! I cited all my sources, I had sparklers... [throws a dodge ball and grunts] and she still said no!
Priya: [dodging dodge balls] My parents said I could go when I'm 30.
Abby: [hitting other dodge balls with the ones she holds] Mine called it stripper music! What's wrong with that?! [catches a dodge ball with her teeth and growls]
Miriam: Mine said yes, but I have to buy the ticket. Who the heck's got that kind of cash?
Meilin: I know my mom's worried, but sometimes, she's just so... so...
Miriam: Wacko?

View Quote [As Meilin is about to sneak out through her bedroom window to head over to Tyler's birthday party, Grandma Wu suddenly enters]
Grandma Wu: Mei-Mei, can I have a word with you?
Meilin: Uh, sure. What's up?
Grandma Wu: [takes a folded cloth out behind her back and unfolds it, revealing a piece of red panda fur] I found this. Strange for a girl who hasn't let her panda out.
Meilin: It's, uh… [chuckles nervously] It's not mine.
Grandma Wu: Mei-Mei, I know what you're doing. I know how hard it is to keep the beast in. It feels so good to let it out. So free. But each time you do, the stronger it gets. And then you'll be bound to it forever, and the ritual will fail.
Meilin: Has that ever happened?
Grandma Wu: It cannot happen. [sighs] Your mother and I were close once, but the red panda took that away. I couldn't bear to see that happen to you. So, no more panda. You are your mother's whole world, Mei-Mei. I know you'll do what's right.

View Quote Tyler: You want your money? Then get your butt down here now!
Panda Meilin: Forget your money, and forget you!
Miriam: Mei! Let's just go.
Panda Meilin: [growls in anger]
Tyler: What about our deal?!
Panda Meilin: SHOVE YOUR DEAL!
Tyler: Fine, get out of here! Go back to your psycho Mom and your creepy temple, you freak! [Panda Meilin growls furiously, having to have heard that, and jumps off the roof and attacks him] Oops!
Miriam: Mei, no!
Panda Meilin: Take it back! Don't talk about my family like THAT!
Miriam: [shocked] Mei, you're hurting him!
Panda Meilin: [screams in frustration] I HATE YOU!!!
Ming: [off-screen] Mei-Mei, STOP! [showing up] What is going on here?!
[Meilin looks at her mother, then to Tyler]
Tyler: [sobbing; sickness] I'm sorry. Just get off of me, please.
[Panda Meilin looks at everyone gasping fearfully at her with a horrified expression of what she has done; Later… Tyler's parents scold Ming while Meilin remorsefully watches, along with her friends]
Tyler's Mom: [weeping] I cannot believe you would let your daughter do this! This is a civil and a society. And we see this!
Tyler's Dad: Do you understand what she did to my boy? We have invited people to have good fun.
Ming: I am so sorry. She's never done anything like this before. I don't know what came over her. [in unison] I'm sorry again.
Tyler's Dad: No! No! I don't want to hear your apologies, okay?
Tyler's Mom: [looks at Meilin as they go back inside the house] She is an animal!
Tyler's Dad: [to everybody] Alright, party's over! Everyone, go home! [Meilin braces herself as Ming walks over to her for chastising, but passes her instead]
Ming: [to Miriam, Priya and Abby; sharply] I can't believe you girls would use her like this.
Miriam: What?
Priya: But we didn't.
Abby: No, we'd never.
Meilin: What?
Ming: I knew you were trouble. Putting all these thoughts into Mei-Mei's head, parading her around. Now she's lying, sneaking out. She attacked a defenseless boy! You think this is a joke? Do you know how dangerous this is?
Miriam: We didn't mean to, we just wanted to see 4-Town.
Ming: 4-Town! You manipulated her for a bunch of tacky delinquents?!
Miriam: No! She wanted to…
Ming: Don't you blame her. She is a good girl, and you've taken advantage of her.
Miriam: Mei, tell her! [Meilin looks up at her mother and she looks down to her, then buries her face in her chest, refusing to tell since she's torn between two worlds]
Priya: What?
Abby: [provoked] Dude.
Ming: [stares coldly at the girls before turning to her daughter; starts to leave] Come on, Mei-Mei. [holds out her hand] Let's go.

View Quote [Meilin is in her room, getting ready for the ritual, and reacts frightfully when she imagines the horrifying memory of attacking Tyler in fury at his birthday party]
Meilin: [as Jin enters her room] Hey, Dad. I-- I'm almost ready.
Jin: [shows her the recorded footage of her in her panda form and her friends having fun] Did you make this?
Meilin: Here, I'll erase it. [Jin pulls the camcorder away] What? We were just being stupid. The panda's dangerous, outta control.
Jin: Huh. You sound like your mother. What has she told about her panda?
Meilin: [sighs] Nothing. She won't talk about it.
Jin: It was quite destructive. [chuckles] And big. She almost took out half the temple.
Meilin: You... you saw it?
Jin: Only once. She and your grandma had a terrible fight.
Meilin: Over what?
Jin: [points to himself] Your grandma didn't approve of me but, you should've seen your mom. She was... incredible.
Meilin: But I'm a monster.
Jin: [sighs] People have all kinds of sides to them, Mei, and some sides are messy. The point isn't to push the bad stuff away. It's to... make room for it, live with it.

View Quote Abby: Mei! You're here!
Miriam: Mei! What are you doing here?
Meilin: I couldn't do it. The panda's a part of me, and you guys are too.
Miriam: Mei, you threw us under the bus.
Meilin: I know and I'm sorry. I've been, like, obsessed with my mom's approval my whole life. I couldn't take losing it, but losing you guys feels even worse.
Miriam: [coldly] Well, too bad. 'Cause you did.

View Quote Miriam: Your mom must've gone nuclear.
Meilin: Who cares? What's she gonna do, ground me?

View Quote Jin: Mei!
Meilin: Dad?
Grandma Wu: We have to save your mother!
Chen: She's gone loco!
Jin: Mei, we have to the ritual again!
Meilin: What happened?! She's HUGE!
Jin: I told you, she was big!
Meilin: THAT BIG?!
Mingzilla: Mei-Mei!

View Quote Mingzilla: THIS ISN'T YOU!
Meilin: [savagely] This IS ME! [angrily bites Mingzilla's paw as she poofs into her panda form]
[Mingzilla roars and screams in rage and let goes of her, making her fall]
Jin: Mei, are you okay?
Panda Meilin: [angrily] I'm not your little Mei-Mei anymore! I lied, Mom!
Mingzilla: [shocked] What?!
Panda Meilin: It was my idea to hustle the panda. My idea to go to Tyler's party! It was all ME! I like boys, I like loud music, I like gyrating! [her eyes turn red] I'M 13, DEAL WITH IT!
[After a short pause, Mingzilla growls extremely livid over being lied to and ratted out by her own daughter and roars in fury]
Grandma Wu: The ritual. [claps her hands] Everyone in position!

View Quote Meilin: [fighting Mingzilla while poofing into her red panda form and her human self] All I wanted... was to go to the CONCERT!!!
Mingzilla: I never went to concerts! I put my family first! I tried to be a good daughter!
Meilin: [growls lividly] WELL, SORRY, I'M NOT PERFECT! SORRY, I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH! AND SORRY, I'LL NEVER BE LIKE YOU! [flies directly at her and headbutts her between the eyes, knocking her out, unconscious]

View Quote [In the Astral Realm, Meilin finds Ming, who looks a little younger, when she heard her sobbing]
Young Ming: [sobbing hysterically] I'm sorry... It's all my fault.
Meilin: [kneels down] What happened?
Young Ming: I... I hurt her!
Meilin: Who?
Young Ming: My mom! I got so angry, and I... and I lost control! I'm just so sick of being perfect! I'm never gonna be good enough for her... or anyone!
Meilin: I know it feels that way. Like, all the time. But it isn't true.

View Quote Ming: No! Mei-Mei, please. Just come with me. [holds out her hand, begging her daughter to come along]
Meilin: [shakes head in refusal] I'm changing, Mom. I'm finally figuring out who I am, but... [gasps softly; sadly] I'm scared it'll take me away from you.
Ming: Me, too. I see you, Mei-Mei. You try to make everyone happy, but are so hard on yourself. And if I taught you that... [short pause] I'm sorry. So, don't hold back... for anyone. The farther you go, the prouder I'll be.

View Quote Meilin: [with her panda ears and tail] Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!
Ming: [stops her] Hold on. You're not going out like that, are you?
Meilin: [scoffs] My panda, my choice, Mom. [chuckles before hugging her, remembering her not to go through their fight again] I'll be back before dinner, okay?
Ming: [sighs] Fine. Oh, um... You're welcome to join us.
Miriam: [gasps] For Mr. Lee's cooking? [in unison with Priya] Uh, yeah!
Priya: [in unison with Miriam] We are so there.
Ming: Don't load up on junk!
Meilin: Thanks for covering for me, Dad!
Jin: Have fun!