Thailand is not only home to the durian fruit,
the Monkey Festival,
and the world's smallest
and therefore cutest mammal,
the "Kitti's hog-nosed bat..."
[gasping]
Thailand was also home to my grandparents,
Nin and Pant Suksai.
They bravely traveled all the way to...
- Jazz hands. - ...Los Angeles, California
and made a new home in Thai Town.
There, they raised two children:
my mom and Uncle David.
I picked out that photo.
Behind the scenes support... That's my bag. I think.
Uncle David and my cousin Emmie live all the way in New York,
taking our Thai culture with them.
But today, they're coming to visit us here in Brighton!
And bring it home with the pun...
- It's gonna be Thai-riffic! - Thai-riffic.
[Molly chuckles]
Kap kun ka. That means "thank you" in Thai.
[applause]
Whoo! Molly! You crushed it!
Have fun following that, kid!
You know, it's really less satisfying when they can't hear my zings.
Are they here yet?
Molly!
- Ahh! - [giggling]
Ooh, Emmie! Great hug strength!
I've missed you so much! [Thai music]
[gasps] Is this Scratch?
- Whoa! - So squishy!
Is everyone in your family like this?
Mm! Yes. Yes we are. Heard you have a bit of a sweet tooth, Scratch.
Honey flavor? Milk flavor?
You can have all the hugs you want!
Molly! You're so grown up!
Well, I have lost every single one of my...
baby teeth since the last time you saw me, so...
Hope you're not too old for me to buy your love with gifts.
[gasps] You know my weakness for long-nosed plushies!
I will call you Trunky.
Kap kun ka, Uncle David!
[speaks in Thai]
Uh... Kap kun ka?
Uh, sorry I don't know many Thai words.
Just "hello," "goodbye," "I'm here to en-happify."
Oh, sorry. We speak Thai at home,
and I just got excited to have someone else to talk to!
[speaks in Thai]
You getting any of this?
- You getting any of this? - [grunts]
[speaks in Thai]
Yes! [speaks in Thai]
I'm so rusty. This is why you need to visit more!
Uh, didn't realize how much Thai my family spoke...
Yeah, crazy... Uh-oh.
[groans]
It was delicious, but it hurts.
Who's ready for a Suksai family game night?
Oh, I'm ready... to take you to the cleaners!
So what're we thinkin'? I'm-Not Sorry?
Famished Famished Ferrets? Ooh! Mega City?
- How about Makruk? - What's Markuk?
- It's like Thai chess. - Oh. I've never heard of it.
Don't worry. Darryl and I don't know how to play either.
[Darryl imitates buzzer]
I've been playing Makruk online for months.
Oh, my grandchildren make me so happy!
Emmie speaks Thai and plays Makruk?
She's good, too. She advanced that bia to the sixth row
for a promotion! Unbelievable!
Anyone hungry? We brought spicy snacks!
Lay it on me. Suksais can hold their spice!
Yeah, serve me up some o' that seaweed goodness!
- But, Molly, it's really spi-- - [gulps]
Ahh! Ahh!
This comes from the ocean?! Ahh! Why is it like this?!
It can't be that hot--
Ahhh!
[chuckles] You two are so funny!
Mmm!
Bleh! How are you eating those?!
They're like a volcano in your mouth!
[chuckles] You can blame your McGee side for that one, kiddo.
[pants]
Hot! So hot!
And I didn't even eat one. It's just in the air.
Ah! The after-burn!
[Scratch] It's my turn!
- Three chugs a pass! You said it! - Stop! Give it!
But I have a McGee tongue!
It's great at giving words of encouragement,
but it's very weak against spice!
- Give me! - Save me one sip!
- Oh! - Oh! Oh, corn.
Why didn't Mom give me the Suksai spice tolerance?
Or teach me Thai? Or Makruk?
I only have one Thai parent, and Emmie has two.
So I'm only half Thai and... maybe that's not enough?
Okay, Scratch, you gotta pick Molly up. Inspirational speech time.
You got this, buddy.
I know this identity stuff can be really confusing and really personal.
Lotta feelings to go around. But...
Uh... eh... puppies?
- That's it! - It was? See, Scratch? You nailed it.
Oh. no, you definitely didn't. But...
I figured out what I need to do anyway!
Stay up all night and learn everything I can about being Thai!
Time to... culture cram!
Well, I'm emotionally wiped out from my inspirational speech,
but sure, let's Pump! Up! The! Cram!
[Thai-themed upbeat music]
Ahh!
♪ Might take all night But she ain't slowin' ♪
- Ahh! - ♪ Ate so much spice ♪
-♪ Her tongue It started glowing ♪ - Hot! Hot!
♪ She's gonna work She's gonna bite ♪
♪ Speak fluently By morning light ♪
[speaks in Thai]
Um, not quite.
[singing in Thai]
♪ She's in a race ♪
♪ Against the clock ♪
[singing in Thai]
♪ And now she's Not gonna stop ♪
- Milk! -♪ Thai-ai-ai ♪
♪ Culture Cram ♪
♪ Thai-ai-ai ♪
♪ Learning as fast as she can ♪
♪ Thai-ai-ai ♪
[speaking in Thai] Wha-bam!
♪ Trying to connect With her fam ♪
- [singing in Thai] - ♪ Culture Cram ♪
Welcome Suksais and McGees
to Molly's Thai banquet.
Have a seat, please.
- [Mom] Wow! - Just like Thailand!
- I'm drooling! - It smells so good!
This evening we have khao tom mat, pad kra pao- -
Don't forget mango sticky rice.
A traditional Thai feast all prepared by me,
Molly Suksai McGee.
And for you, the chef has prepared a "McGee Special."
No spice, all nice!
[laughs] Thank you.
But the rest of the food is super spicy,
just like how us Suksais like it!
Molly, you don't like spicy food.
What are you talking about? Of course, I do. I'm a Suksai. See!
[fire sizzles]
You got this. This is what we trained for, kid!
The pain... really brings out the flavor!
Mm. So, uh... [sniffles]
So, Uncle David and Emmie. I've been meaning to ask you...
[speaks in Thai]
[gasps] [speaks in Thai]
[continues to speak in Thai]
Uh... Oops, I dropped my fork,
and now I must go under the table to retrieve it.
Scratch, won't you join me? [nervous chuckle]
Scratch, she's talking way faster than that calm lady on my learning app!
Don't worry, Moll, I got ya.
Okay, take 'er up!
[speaks in Thai]
Come on, Scratch, hurry!
All I got so far is soup.
[Emmie speaks in Thai]
[continues to speak in Thai]
[giggling]
[speaks in Thai]
[laughter]
Gah! All I got so far is something about life insurance?
[laughing continues]
[Thai dialogue overwhelms Molly]
[screams]
Sp... spi... spicy shrimp. [chuckles nervously]
[clears throat] Hey, who'd like to hear a joke?
[speaks in Thai]
[all laugh]
Even you know Thai?
I've been practicing that joke for months
to impress Grandma Nin and I... nailed it!
I stayed up all night, but I'm still not Thai enough.
[somber music]
Inhale the plushie joy... [inhales]
Exhale the bad sad. [exhales]
Inhale the plushie joy... [inhales]
Exhale the bad sad. [exhales]
Okay, last time, my inspiration game was a little off,
but this time, I got me a backs-up.
Inspirational phrases!
[clears throat]
"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
What? That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.
How can you miss a shot you never take?
Don't try to cheer me up, Scratch.
Just let me wallow in my plushie kingdom of sadness...
Hold on, I'll find a good one. Give me a minute.
Something about cats, eagles, boats...
Hey, kiddo. What's this about you not being Thai enough?
[sighs] After seeing how Thai all of you are...
I'm feeling like I'm only Thai-ish...
Which doesn't feel like enough.
You know, I've felt the exact same way myself.
- Really? You have? - Yes!
Especially since moving away and letting my Thai get rusty.
Same here. My wife grew up in Thailand,
but I've never even been there...
which makes me feel like she
has more "Thai points" than me.
Why do you think I learned Makruk?
Sometimes I feel not Thai enough, too...
What, I'm not allowed to have complex emotions?
[Grandma Nin] I can't hear what you're saying up there!
- Is it my turn yet?! - Grandma Nin?
[Grandma Nin] Yes! But I'm not climbing that ladder!
When I moved to the U.S.,
my sister made fun of me for being too American.
Hold on, I got one, I got one.
"When life gives you lemons..."
No. I'll keep looking here.
Being Thai isn't about what language you speak...
Or how much spice you can eat...
Or the games you play...
[Grandma Nin] Or your judgmental sister!
Being Thai is part of you.
And there's no right or wrong way to be you.
I mean, that's pretty much what I said...
just different words. Whatever.
Okay, okay, ah! Here we go.
The proof is in the pudding.
We love you exactly the way you are, Molly.
You're right. I'm not not enough of anything.
I'm 100% Molly McGee!
Aww!
[Grandma Nin] What is going on up there?
Am I missing the group hug?
♪ The Ghost And Molly McGee! ♪
[closing theme plays]