Panda Meilin quotes from Turning Red (2022)

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.]

You want your money? Then get your butt down here now!

Forget your money, and forget you!

Miriam

Mei! Let's just go.

What about our deal?!

SHOVE YOUR DEAL!

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!

Take it back! Don't talk about my family like THAT!

Miriam

Mei, you're hurting him!

I HATE YOU!!!

Ming

Mei-Mei, STOP! [showing up] What is going on here?!

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

I can't believe you girls would use her like this.

Miriam

What?

Priya

But we didn't.

Abby

No, we'd never.

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

Dude.

Ming

Come on, Mei-Mei. [holds out her hand] Let's go.

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!

Grandma Wu

Sun Yee, give me strength. [takes off her panda bracelet and throws it on the ground, breaking it, poofs into her panda form, and rushes over to help her granddaughter] Pull, Mei-Mei!

Grandma?

Panda Grandma Wu

I am not losing my daughter! [to the aunties] Don't just stand there!

Make room for your elders, Mei-Mei!

What?

We're with you!

What are you doing?! What if you can't turn back?!

Your mom needs us!

She's family!

Panda Grandma Wu

Less talking, more pulling!