Most scenes together: Meilin "Mei" Lee & Ming Lee (13), Meilin "Mei" Lee & Miriam (8), Ming Lee & Jin (8)
THIS ISN'T YOU!
This IS ME! [angrily bites Mingzilla's paw as she poofs into her panda form]
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!
The ritual. [claps her hands] Everyone in position!
Your mom must've gone nuclear.
Who cares? What's she gonna do, ground me?
Toronto! Who knows what's up?
You want your money? Then get your butt down here now!
Forget your money, and forget you!
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!
Mei, no!
Take it back! Don't talk about my family like THAT!
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.
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]
What?
But we didn't.
No, we'd never.
What?
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?
We didn't mean to, we just wanted to see 4-Town.
4-Town! You manipulated her for a bunch of tacky delinquents?!
No! She wanted to…
Don't you blame her. She is a good girl, and you've taken advantage of her.
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]
What?
Come on, Mei-Mei. [holds out her hand] Let's go.
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!
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.
You mean Miriam? That girl is odd.
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!
Mei-Mei, what's going on honey? Are you sick? Is it a fever? A stomach ache? Chills? Constipation?
No!
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?
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]
Excuse me?
I didn't mean that. I'm a gross red monster! [sobs] Stop it! Stop talking! [slaps herself]
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.
Mei-Mei. Perhaps we should talk about why this is happening.
No! I mean, nah. It's okay.
You are a woman now. And your body is starting to change.
It's nothing to be embarrassed about.
Mom, please!
No, no, no, no!
...who must protect your delicate petals and clean them regularly.
Uh, Ming?! Ming!
My porridge! [opens the door and runs out of the bathroom] Jin. Jin!
Mei-Mei, can I have a word with you?
Uh, sure. What's up?
I found this. Strange for a girl who hasn't let her panda out.
It's, uh… [chuckles nervously] It's not mine.
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.
Has that ever happened?
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.
I'm sorry... It's all my fault.
What happened?
I... I hurt her!
Who?
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!
I know it feels that way. Like, all the time. But it isn't true.
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]
NO!
Mei-Mei, NO!
IT'S A CURSE!
She meant it as a blessing!
YOU CURSED US! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!
Mei-Mei, stop! Listen to me! Listen! There's a cure!
Because... it happened to me.
Why didn't you warn me?!
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.
That's a whole month away!
We'll wait it out together. And I'll be with you every step of the way.
Hey, Dad. I-- I'm almost ready.
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.
Huh. You sound like your mother. What has she told about her panda?
Nothing. She won't talk about it.
It was quite destructive. [chuckles] And big. She almost took out half the temple.
You... you saw it?
Only once. She and your grandma had a terrible fight.
Over what?
Your grandma didn't approve of me but, you should've seen your mom. She was... incredible.
But I'm a monster.
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.
What are you doing? [following her mother] No, no, no, no, no, no! No, no, no, no, no, no!
Oh, snap!
Mom, no!
Uh, who?
Meilin Lee, right here! [points to Mei, standing next to him]
I should report you to the police. How old are you? 30?
I'm 17.
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]
Mom! NOOOOOOOOOO!! [echoes]
What?!
What a weirdo! [mocks her by kissing the air]
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?
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]
Poor dear. It must be so difficult keeping that unruly beast at bay. Your family is here now, Mei-Mei. And we will take care of everything.
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.
This is a disaster! Unbelievable! Ming! How could you let this happen?! She's out of control!
