Jin quotes from Turning Red (2022)

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!

Oh, my gosh!

Ming

Who are these hip-hoppers, and why are they called 4-Town if there are five of them?

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.

This isn't happening, this isn't happening! [whimpers in panic, sniffs the scent of her panda form and gags and starts to sob] WAKE UP, WAKE UP, WAKE UP!

Ming

Mei-Mei, is everything okay?

DON'T COME IN HERE!

Ming

Mei-Mei, what's going on honey? Are you sick? Is it a fever? A stomach ache? Chills? Constipation?

No!

Ming

Wait. Is it… that? [Jin stops in his tracks, swallows something in his mouth and backs away slowly] Did the-- Did the red peony bloom?

No! Maybe?

Ming

But it's too soon. Don't worry, Mei-Mei. I'll get everything you need. Mommy's here! Jin. Jin! IT'S HAPPENING!

NO, IT'S NOT! WILL YOU JUST GET OUT?! [she covers her mouth]

Ming

Excuse me?

I didn't mean that. I'm a gross red monster! [sobs] Stop it! Stop talking! [slaps herself]

Ming

Mei-Mei, I know this is upsetting, but we are going to get through this together. I have ibuprofen, vitamin B, a hot water bottle, and...pads. Regular, overnight, scented, unscented, thin, ultra-thin, ultra-thin with wings--

Uh-huh. All right. Awesome. Just leave them by the sink.

Ming

Mei-Mei. Perhaps we should talk about why this is happening.

No! I mean, nah. It's okay.

Ming

You are a woman now. And your body is starting to change.

Mmm-hmm.

Ming

It's nothing to be embarrassed about.

Mom, please!

Ming

You are now a beautiful, strong flower...

No, no, no, no!

Ming

...who must protect your delicate petals and clean them regularly.

Jin

Uh, Ming?! Ming!

Ming

My porridge! [opens the door and runs out of the bathroom] Jin. Jin!

Ming

As you know, our ancestor, Sun Yee, had a mystical connection with red pandas. [opens the chest and takes out a small scroll] In fact, she loved them so much…that she asked the gods to turn her into one. [opens the scroll, revealing a story] It was wartime. The men were all gone. Sun Yee was desperate for a way to protect herself and her daughters. Then one night, during a red moon, the gods granted her wish. They gave her the ability to harness her emotions, to transform into a powerful mystical beast. She was able to fend off bandits, protect her village, and save her family from ruin. Sun Yee passed this gift to her daughters, for when they came of age. [back to reality] And they passed it to theirs. But over time, our family chose to come to a new world. And what was a blessing became… [smiles sheepishly] an inconvenience. [bites her lower lip]

Are... you... [with her eyes glowing red; outraged] SERIOUS?! [angrily tries to tear it into shreds as her parents try holding her back]

Jin

NO!

Ming

Mei-Mei, NO!

IT'S A CURSE!

Ming

She meant it as a blessing!

YOU CURSED US! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!

Ming

Mei-Mei, stop! Listen to me! Listen! There's a cure!

Really? How do you know?

Ming

Because... it happened to me.

Why didn't you warn me?!

Ming

I thought I had more time! You're just a child. I thought, if I watched you like a hawk, I'd see the signs and be able to prepare. But it's going to be fine. I overcame it and you will too. On the next red moon, you'll undergo a ritual that will seal your red panda spirit into one of these. [holds up her panda necklace] And then you'll be cured. For good. Just like me. But any strong emotion will release the panda. And the more you release it, the more difficult the ritual will be. There is a darkness to the panda, Mei-Mei. You only have one chance to banish it, and you cannot fail. Otherwise, you'll never be free.

Jin

Let's see, the next red moon will be the 25th.

That's a whole month away!

Ming

We'll wait it out together. And I'll be with you every step of the way.

Ming

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…

Please… just… go away.

No! Why? Why?

Miriam

Mei, it's us. Open up.

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!

What?

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.]

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.

Ming

Oh. Oh, Mei-Mei.

So, now that that's settled, I just have one teeny-tiny favor to ask.

Ming

No. Absolutely not.

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.

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?

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

See? Your father agrees. No concert, and that's final.

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

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

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

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]

Hey, Dad. I-- I'm almost ready.

Jin

Did you make this?

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?

Nothing. She won't talk about it.

Jin

It was quite destructive. [chuckles] And big. She almost took out half the temple.

You... you saw it?

Jin

Only once. She and your grandma had a terrible fight.

Over what?

Jin

Your grandma didn't approve of me but, you should've seen your mom. She was... incredible.

But I'm a monster.

Jin

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.

Jin

Mei!

Dad?

Grandma Wu

We have to save your mother!

She's gone loco!

Jin

Mei, we have to the ritual again!

What happened?! She's HUGE!

Jin

I told you, she was big!

THAT BIG?!

Mei-Mei!

THIS ISN'T YOU!

This IS ME! [angrily bites Mingzilla's paw as she poofs into her panda form]

Jin

Mei, are you okay?

I'm not your little Mei-Mei anymore! I lied, Mom!

What?!

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!

Grandma Wu

The ritual. [claps her hands] Everyone in position!

Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad!

Ming

Hold on. You're not going out like that, are you?

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

Fine. Oh, um... You're welcome to join us.

Miriam

For Mr. Lee's cooking? [in unison with Priya] Uh, yeah!

Priya

We are so there.

Ming

Don't load up on junk!

Thanks for covering for me, Dad!

Jin

Have fun!