Anak.
Bing.
I need you to wake up, please.
What's happening?
We have to leave, okay? I need you to wake up and hurry.
You're going to your dad's.
Go get your stuff.
Come on, go get your clothes.
Bing, I know you're sleepy,
but I need you to be awake so we can be fast,
and then after we can get some food.
What happened to your eye?
It's not safe here anymore, okay?
So we're gonna go somewhere where we're safe.
Okay?
Is that okay?
Come here.
It's gonna be okay.
Come on, Laura. Hurry up!
Not those, hey!
Get your clothes!
All this shit, Laura, anything you want to keep.
It's okay.
Oh, Edna, your face is...
Is this all you're bringing?
I have to go. I don't have very much time.
He's gonna be back soon.
Give me your hand.
Do not let go of these.
Do you understand?
Hey, Laura, Laura Lou, hey.
No crying...
No crying.
Laura, we're gonna be like little mice, okay?
Only whispers until we get outside.
Yeah?
Okay?
Laura!
You can start working at the nail salon with me.
I'll teach you, no problem.
You can stay with me until you find a place.
Thank you, Mae.
Oh, shit.
I know it's in here.
I-I just saw it, like, this morning.
Yep. I've gotta keep things moving.
Sylvie? Sylvie, sweet girl.
Get mom's big fat purse.
We have to find Johnny's health card.
Okay?
Could you maybe step to the right, or...
Can you just give me a minute, please?
Okay.
Miss, I've got other people here waiting.
Hold on a second.
It's in here.
Found it. There you go.
All right, here you go.
Get off of there, you silly goose.
Fill it out and hand it back to me
when you're done, please.
Listen.
You know what you're doing?
Maybe you don't remember,
'cause it's been a while since you been in school,
but you're going against the hypothetical oath.
Don't look at him.
I'm not going anywhere until I get on the phone
with my lawyer...
If you make a call, you need to go outside.
You know what? I'm calling my lawyer.
There are no phone calls in here.
Now, you need to go outside! There's a payphone!
That payphone doesn't work!
There's no phone calls in here?
You need to go, Sir!
Sir, I'm asking you nicely.
- Let's start... - Out!
- Let's start again. - You gotta go.
Let's start from the beginning.
You need to go!
How's your day going... Goddammit!
Wait, he's coming back. Shh!
He's four years old. He doesn't say much.
And the rest of the time, he's just humming to himself.
The other day, I threw a ball at him
and he didn't even lift his hands to protect his face.
It was a soft ball. It wasn't hard.
I just know there's something wrong.
DR.- What is it? He's back.
DR.- What did you tell him?
Same as I always do.
That we don't prescribe narcotics here.
DR.- And?
Well, he's threatening to sue us this time.
DR.- You can't sue a walk-in clinic
for not prescribing Oxycontin. Yeah, I know-
DR.- In Scarborough, no less.
But he's getting aggressive
and he's threatening to attack me, so...
DR.- Fine. I will be out in a minute.
All right.
DR.- So, Ms. Beaudoin,
let's say something is wrong with Johnny.
What do you achieve then?
Well, maybe we can find the right supports for him?
DR.- It's not like once you have a diagnosis,
that you're waving a magic wand. Um...
It's a lot of work.
And is that really what you want to do right now,
considering everything else you're dealing with?
I see from your chart that the phone number to call
is the reception desk at the Galloway shelter.
My advice would be to take one thing at a time.
Next year, Johnny will be in school,
and if there is a problem, a teacher will flag it.
I mean, right now we'll be looking at specialists,
we'd be looking at appointments,
we'd be looking at travelling across the city.
Can you really afford to add that to the current challenges
that you're dealing with?
DR.- Truth is, you know, in a couple of years,
Johnny could be fine.
I suspect he's just a little behind right now.
I gotta go.
Can I keep the gloves, Mamma?
I would want to live in this house because it's big.
Get my own room. You like that house?
Get my own room.
No problem.
While you get to sleep with Johnny.
Free chicken?
MS.- Yes, girl!
Yeah! Oh, that looks amazing.
MS.- And you know my damn cousin,
he said he can't come and fix the freezer until next week.
What am I supposed to do with that?
Huh?
Anyhow, how is the little one?
- He's good. - How are you, darling?
Eh, eh, whoa... You're hiding from me!
And Miss Sylvie... Mmhm?
MS.- How are you? I'm doing great.
MS.- You're doing great? You sure?
How is school? Mmm...
MS.- Mmm? It's fine.
Oh, geez.
MS.- Anyhow, try and eat it before it go bad, okay?
Yeah, yeah, for sure. Thank you so much.
MS.- You're welcome. Doodoo.
Ooh, it looks like our luck is turning around, girl.
- Hey, Victor! - Hey, Sylvie, what's up?
When am I gonna be on one of these?
Um...
Tell you what, if I can finish these in time,
I may have a spot for you. How does that sound?
- Really? - Yeah.
Sounds good? Yep.
See you later, Victor.
I'll see you soon, all right?
Be good.
- Hey, Sylvie. - Hey, Cindy.
Did she give birth yet?
Not yet, Love. Soon.
Might be Christmas puppies.
- Wow. - Sylvie, come on.
Let's go! Okay, see you later.
Come on. I told you, we're in a rush.
Family residence.
It is.
They're next door at the Idlewood Inn.
How may I help you?
Is he okay?
Oh, you know what? I see his wife.
I'm gonna go run and let her know.
Thank you so much.
Marie.
Marie!
- Hey. - Hey.
I got a call from the hospital.
Johnathan's in there. It's an emergency.
It's okay, he's okay. But you gotta go.
Come on. Let's get going.
Mr. George?
Hey, Mr. George!
Can you watch Sylvie?
Okay? Yeah, thank you!
Bye, sweet girl.
Wheel of Fortune!
Here's the start of our show.
Okay...
I fucked up.
Yeah, you did.
Psst! Anak, wake up.
Wake up, wake up, come on.
Hey, I need you to do me a favour, okay?
Can you do me a favour?
You see that?
You see it there on the back of my neck?
Huh?
Can you see it?
No.
Anak... please.
Take it out, please.
Please.
Anak, just take it out, please...
It hurts... It hurts!
Take it out, take it out!
Anak!
I can't!
Please take it out! It hurts so much!
- I can't! - Just take!
I ca...
Please, Anak, ay sakit.
Hey.
Where are your glasses?
Bing?
Here.
That's why we put the thing on the back
so you won't forget them.
Okay?
Cuticle cutter.
Nail cutter.
File.
Fine file.
Cuticle pusher.
Okay, Edna.
I show you everything here.
You have any question, you ask me.
Everything organized. Okay?
I have to tell you, though, sometimes...
Some people just need a good foot scrub
and a polish.
But some people need cosmetic surgery.
Sometimes, we have some people,
they come in, they have a little problem,
I don't know where.
Maybe with the eyeball, maybe with the brain.
They want to pick the colour.
Even if you know it's very ugly and no look good,
you still tell them, "Honey, that colour's perfect on you!"
Okay?
For now, you'll do walk-ins.
But soon, you will have repeat customers.
Don't worry.
It didn't work out with us,
'cause his mother expected me to make chapatis and rotis
every single day.
Like, who can go to work and make chapatis and rotis
for a family of fuckin' 10 people?
Like seriously.
You know what I mean?
Anyways, I'm dating somebody new now.
Sometimes people in here,
they want us to be like a therapist.
We don't get paid enough.
So you pretend.
You sit there, you listen, you say, "Okay, okay."
You do the nails.
You pretend, okay? Okay.
- No therapy. - Okay.
Not here.
His mom is totally freaking out.
She doesn't know where they're gonna live.
They still live at home. Like, how do you have a baby?
It doesn't make any sense to me.
I have a kid too.
It's hard. It's...
Yeah. It's hard, for sure.
But you figure it out.
- Yeah. - Yeah.
It sounds so scary, though.
You don't want any kids?
Uh, it's not that I don't want them.
I'm just not ready for that yet.
Like, I'm just not... I don't know.
I'm not done being selfish yet.
My life is so easy right now
without having to worry about somebody else.
- Hi, Mom. - Hello.
How was school? Good.
Good?
You can do your homework in the back, okay?
Okay.
Is that temperature okay?
Yeah.
I just keep thinking about what I was doing
when I was 21 years old. I just don't even know.
They're gonna have to grow up so fast.
Mm-hm.
Sometimes people come in too, men.
They want to take advantage of you.
They tell you, "Rub here. Rub there."
No rub here.
Only nails.
Hey.
You have time for a manicure?
Your hands are really shaking.
Don't be nervous.
Ow!
Sorry.
It's all right.
I like it.
Have you worked here a long time?
- No. - I can tell.
Whoa.
Got me.
It's getting a little personal, I think.
If this is what you can do with my hands...
imagine what you could do somewhere else, huh?
Mom?
Anak, you didn't tell me if you have any homework.
Are you okay?
Show me your homework, Anak.
Ms. Finnegan asked us to create a picture
of what we wanted to be when we grow up.
You want to be Jesus?
No, I want to be a Saint.
Anak, that's not a job.
Why?
No one pays for saintliness.
Grab your bag.
Isn't it a job to do saintly things while alive?
It's not a job until you're dead.
Cory?
Cory!
Yeah?
Your wife was just on the phone.
Your daughter's at the bowling alley.
Thank you, you too. Have a good day.
You too.
Jesus.
Laura, sweetie, it's Daddy.
It's Daddy. How you doing, sweetie?
You okay?
Is this your kid?
Your wife just left her here alone.
She's been here for... She's not my wife.
You can't just do that!
I'm trying to run a business here.
Why don't you get the fuck out of my face?
What? You know what?
You're lucky I didn't call the police.
Take care of her and get out!
How can you shut up?
Do not come back.
How can I get you to shut up?
What about... crossing guards?
What about crossing guards?
They must really enjoy their job if they're really old.
Yeah.
All the children love them,
and they don't really have to work long hours,
only in the mornings and the afternoons.
What?
Anak, crossing guards are volunteers.
They're old because they're retired.
Can I be retired?
No! Do you even know what that is?
- Yeah. - You do?
And you want to be retired?
Uh-huh.
No. You want to be a baby still.
I'm not a baby!
Yeah. You're still my baby.
- Mm? - Uh-huh.
But I'm not physically a baby.
No, but you're still my baby... right?
But I'm not a baby.
Well, in my eyes, you are.
In the name of the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name;
Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on Earth
as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass
against us; and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
You're a good boy.
You're smart.
I'm sorry, Anak.
Do you have a backpack for school?
Stand up.
Arms out.
Twirl.
You wanna hit me?
Okay, Mr. Mitkoswki.
You are in our catchment area, so she can attend Rouge Hill,
but she'll most likely start next week, though.
We just have to figure out which grade one classroom
she'll be in. Okay.
And the next time you bring her in,
can you please bring her health card?
Does she have any allergies or any other health risks
we need to know about?
She's had her immunizations?
Yep. She has.
Great. Okay.
Well, when we figure out which classroom she'll be in,
I'll give you a call.
And this is your phone number for during the day?
- Uh-huh, uh-huh. - Okay.
Well, for now, while you're waiting to hear back from us,
we do have the Ontario Reads Literacy Centre.
It's just down the hall there.
Sure. We're gonna go home.
Just let me know when she's ready to go to class.
I will.
They also serve food there, if you want to join them.
Are you hungry?
MS.- Oh, hi. Good morning, guys.
Are you joining us today?
Actually, I don't think we are.
MS.- You're welcome to join.
We have breakfast, as well, for everyone.
Yeah, okay. Fine.
Build them up.
Build them high up.
Build them up, up, up into the sky.
Oh...
Whoa...
Ah... Oh my God.
Oh, thank you.
Always making a mess, huh?
Yeah. I'm used to it.
When animals eat each other,
10% of the animal's energy goes to the other animal,
and then 90% stays in the animal.
If you go to space, you lose all of your bone mass.
Yeah, right.
Your legs turn into jelly.
You want to see something cool?
Okay.
Okay, give me your nail.
Whoa!
I see something. It looks like a bug.
They're germs.
It's really cool.
While I appreciate everyone coming to school today,
I strongly encourage that maybe we be on time?
Can we all do that?
Yeah. Sorry, Principal.
Thank you.
We'll do better tomorrow, yes?
Okay, thank you. Good morning, young lady.
MS.- A bit of a slow day today
since the centre has just opened.
So, it's like an after school program?
MS.- Uh, it's sort of like that,
but it's actually before school, and before lunch.
Yeah. Hi, what's your name?
Alice.
MS.- Alice, it's nice to meet you.
I'm Ms. Hina.
MS.- We just need you to fill this out when you come in.
It's just our way of letting you know that the centre
is needed in the community, and you can come in every day.
Any time you want. 00 am we open up.
We have snacks and breakfast.
You can bring the kids. You can hang out.
Today's most popular activities included the parachute...
the sand table...
Oh, no... Johnny, Johnny, Johnny, Johnny!
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny! No more water, Johnny!
Johnny, come! Johnny, baby.
MS.- and the water table.
Oh, no! Oh Johnny, oh, you're so wet.
MS.- I look forward to building relationships
with everyone in the community here.
Oh, hi. Good morning.
Hi, my name is Ms. Hina.
We open every day at-00 am.
We make fresh coffee.
But I know it'll take some time for them to trust me.
I want you to be cautious about making food
the main draw for families.
We know you are located in a low-income neighbourhood,
but there are food banks that can help them in that way.
That's why we just provide small portions of snacks.
The focus of the centres is to encourage
healthy parenting and literacy.
It's not a soup kitchen.
We're trying to cultivate the next generation
of good parents, not just full tummies.
I know your sentiments and I've felt them too once,
trust me.
MS.- Is everybody having a good time?
Yes.
Two, three, four,
five, six, seven.
One, two, three, four,
five, six, seven.
Take your time, take your time.
Watch me.
Then you just touch it to your lip
to check if it's cool.
You see?
Do you know your mama's name?
Mommy.
Oh Lord, do you know where she lives?
Well, then...
What's your name? Let's start there.
Laura.
Nice to meet you, Laura.
You had a patty before?
Taste nice?
Hey, come on, let's go.
Get your shoes.
Hold on. Are you her mother?
Yeah, I'm her mother.
Were you even looking for her?
Yeah, I was looking for her!
Obviously I found her.
Well, you can't just have a little girl
just run around the place.
Who the fuck do you think you are?
Excuse me!
You're gonna take somebody's kid
and hold them in the back of the store?
I'm gonna call the fucking authorities.
Stay away from my kid!
I never touched your kid.
Stay away from my kid
and mind your own fucking business.
Come on, Laura. Hurry up.
You make me look like an asshole.
Five little ducks went out one day
Over the hills and far away.
Mama duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack."
Only four of her ducks came back.
I've been waiting in this fucking apartment
for three hours!
You were supposed to be here this afternoon.
Bullshit, I've been waiting all day for you!
Half of that money is mine.
Jimmy, don't move. I'm coming over there.
Jimmy stay there! I'm coming over!
That's my money and I want it!
Jimmy, it's mine!
Four little ducks went out one day
Over the hills and far away.
Mama duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack."
Only three of her ducks came back.
Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da!
Here you go, baby duck.
Save some for mama duck.
Uh, we got a call,
and I'm sorry, but this is unacceptable.
No, it's just...
Who told you? Who called you to come here?
- I'm sorry. - Was it Carmen?
This is my business.
Like, I'll clean the place up.
I mean, the kids were all here today.
It doesn't usually look like this.
I'm going to have to write this up.
And someone else will come back. No, you can't.
You have to give me another chance because I am my own kid.
What am I supposed to do? I'm sorry.
We're not going to be able to let you to continue to do this.
I'm not gonna be able to pay rent!
Laura's not gonna have anywhere to live.
Get out of here!
MS.- All the way up!
Again!
Who wants to go underneath? Me!
MS.- Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go!
MS.- That was good, guys!
You were so fast.
Edna's gotta go! She's gotta sneeze.
Hey, Laura, we need a hand.
Do you want to come?
We need more people to hold the parachute up.
I got a spot right over here.
You see this one?
With your name on it.
Yeah!
Come on, you wanna take this one?
Up, up, up... Back down.
Up, up, up, up, up, up...
Go up, up, up, up, up.
It's pretty, huh?
Up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up, up, ah... back down.
Up, up, high as you can, high as you can, high as you...
Faster, faster, faster, faster, faster, faster!
The storm is coming.
Faster, faster, faster!
Okay, what's your favourite thing, Zach?
Reading books.
MS.- Reading books. That's a great one.
Yay! Everybody for reading books.
Yay.
MS.- What about you, chickadee?
What's your favourite thing?
You don't know?
That's okay.
Sometimes I have a really hard time
picking favourite things too
because there's so many things to choose from, right?
- What are you drawing? - A ducky.
Looks cute.
And he just says random words and he goes like,
"Hyah!" And he goes like, "Ahh!"
Oh, I forgot to make his eyes.
MS.- Hey.
Looks like Laura's really enjoying herself.
MS.- I was gonna give you this to take home with you.
I know lice shampoo can be kind of expensive.
This does the trick.
We actually use it here to make Play-Doh but we...
What kind of shampoo?
MS.- Lice shampoo can be expensive,
but this works just as well.
You just gotta put it in her hair for three days,
let her sleep with it on, and pick out the nits,
wash her clothes, and...
it works just as well.
We do need her to be treated
before she can come back to the... centre.
Laura. Let's go.
Grab your stuff, grab your stuff.
Let's go.
We need to get out of here.
Mom!
Johnny ruined my puzzle again.
Puzzles aren't permanent, eh?
That's why you get to take them apart
and put them back together again.
Pick that up.
Here's what we're gonna do.
You're gonna give your brother three pieces
of your puzzle, okay? No.
Give your brother three pieces of the puzzle.
That way he can play over there
and you can play with the rest over there
and I can finish what I'm doing.
Okay?
Look at me.
He's retarded.
He's not retarded.
We don't use that word.
He just has his own special language.
Okay?
Okay, sweet girl?
I'm going to the dollar store!
Come on, Mr. George!
Hey, Victor, looking great.
Hey, Sylvie. How you doing?
I'm going out to the dollar store.
See you later.
All right. Later.
MS.- What're you dressing up as this year for Halloween?
I don't know. MS.- You don't know?
Well, maybe you'll find it at the dollar store.
Yep.
It's okay. It's okay.
Hey, little Sylvie.
Mom said I can't talk to you
because you have a puppy mill in your house.
Well, you tell your mom at least I have a home.
Okay. See you.
See ya.
What will I buy with my shiny dollar?
So much good things.
I can't even decide.
Mr. George, you're a wanted man.
Put your dukes up.
Because you don't listen to me.
If I don't make a big... I hear you when I want to.
You don't hear! You don't hear.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
That's the problem, you don't hear.
Do you have to bitch all the time?
Oh my God!
Well, then why do I care?
Why do I care?
Don't need you.
You get outta my face.
Happy birthday, sweet girl.
This is your medicine box.
Not anymore.
You can put anything you want in there.
I won't look in there, your dad won't look in there,
even your brother won't look in there.
- You promise? - Mm-hm.
You know how I told you that your brother
had a special language?
Mm-hm.
Well, I forgot that you have a special language too.
I have a special language?
Mm-hm.
Like, you know when you go like this?
You want me to buy you something.
Or when you go like this...
That means "No, I don't want to."
Guess what this means in my special language.
What?
It means I want candy.
Yeah, right.
Hey, you remember what tomorrow is?
- The zoo? - Yes.
Are you gonna say hi to your real mom?
That's not true.
Yeah, it is. It is.
I seen you in the orangutan cage and you were so cute.
So I picked you up...
Shaved all my fur off and made me your daughter.
Yeah.
And that's why you're my little monkey.
Mom.
Hit by a UFO.
Gotcha!
Tic tac toe, give me a high, give me a low.
Dina told me to tell you
to go to her birthday party next weekend.
But I have to cut my hair because it has split ends.
Ew.
Three, two, one...
Ah!
Ahh, you win.
You're so weird!
Why are you so fat?
Hello?
What're you eating today, disgusting rice?
Ugh! Disgusting.
Get off of our bus.
Ms. Finnegan,
something's going on back there.
MS.- Just give me a second, okay?
Hey, guys! Let's beat this fat kid.
Yeah!
Leave it!
Leave him alone!
MS.- Settle down!
MS.- Everyone take their seats!
I will have a talk with every single one of you
when we get back to school!
Anak?
Are you okay?
What happened?
When those kids were bullying me on the bus,
I pooped my pants.
That's okay.
That's okay, Anak.
That's okay. It was just an accident.
Are you okay?
Did they hurt you?
They did?
I'm sorry...
I'm sorry.
Did you have a friend on the bus?
- Sylvie. - Sylvie?
She gave me her sweater.
That's nice of her.
You like Sylvie. Sylvie's a good person.
Right? She's your good friend.
Don't listen to them. They were being mean.
That's not nice.
But you're nice. You're good.
You love your fingers?
What about your eyes? Do you love your eyes?
How about your cheeks?
Those cheeks?
I love you, Anak.
I love you, Ma.
Why can't I just stay at Mr. George's house?
Because he's not home.
Next time I'll ask him, like ahead, okay?
Ahead of time.
The bus!
Sylvie!
Sylvie?
Argh.
Sylvie?
You want a manicure?
Uh, no, thank you.
Come on, we gotta get going. Marie?
Oh, hi.
Hi, one second. I have something for you.
This is Sylvie's.
Oh, I was wondering where that went.
She was nice enough to lend it to Bing.
Oh. Hi, Bing.
Hi.
- You work here? - Yeah, I do.
You wanna get a manicure?
- No. - No?
No. We're actually in a rush.
I gotta get my husband to his appointment.
- Oh. - Come on.
Well, Sylvie can stay here if you want.
- Really? - Yeah, I'll watch her.
They can play. Yeah, you wanna play?
- Yeah. - Okay.
Do you wanna stay with Bing?
Yeah!
Yes!
- Cool, thank you. - No problem.
- Scalpel. - There you go.
Making an incision.
Okay. Just try to be careful, doc.
Remember what happened last time.
I know my job.
Oh, no!
She's flat-lining! Crash cart!
I told you to be careful!
Clear!
- We've got a heartbeat. - Thank god.
Hey, what you guys doing?
That's customer jacket.
Give me that.
This is the 10th person we lost.
- We're finished. - Mm-hm.
On your marks, get set...
Three, two, one, go!
Hey...
Oh...
Oh, Anak. Calm down.
Bing?
You're cheating!
I win!
I'm gonna win one when we get back there.
I like Blue Diamond or...
Which one is Blue Diamond?
Blue Diamond or Ocean Spray.
Blue Crush, Pinkini.
10 more minutes.
23.
You think you can do this, Sylvie?
- No. - No?
Why not?
Because I'm bad.
Don't say that.
Bing, can you draw?
- Kind of. - Kind of?
You think there's anything else I need to do?
Mm...
Like I should make this darker?
Yeah.
Alright, Sylvie, you give this a try.
Just gonna shade this in, all right?
Make sure you're looking up every now and then,
to make sure you're doing it right.
Okay.
How's it look?
I think it looks like it.
What do you guys think?
- Mm-hm. - You think so?
No...
Oh no!
I won double.
Do you want to meet Star?
- Who's she? - She's my friend.
You have to wait until one of the white ladies come in,
so Ma won't notice, and we can sneak out.
Okay.
Smart move.
- Hi. - Hi.
Oh, let's go, let's go!
Where are you taking me?
- You'll see. - Okay.
Hi.
Hi, Bing. And who's this?
Hi, I'm Sylvie.
Hi, Sylvie. I'm Star.
Do you work at the spa, too?
Sort of. We don't do nails.
Ooh, Bing.
Got this for you.
Thank you.
BING &-
- People don't want people to know that they come here,
so they wear those.
And if I'm lucky, they forget them.
Right, Bing? Yeah.
I also have... this.
Oh, thanks.
Oh my God. BING &-
- Woo!
BING &-
- Pretty cool, huh?
Why is your hair so oily?
And why are you wearing your backpack?
It's recess, you know?
Just leave her alone.
Come on, Clara. Let's just play, okay?
Are you new or something?
She's from the literacy centre.
Dad says that's where the poor kids get breakfast.
Goddammit, Claire.
My mom says you're nothing but a snooty bitch.
I'm telling Ms. Finnegan.
Go on, go tell her.
I'm never letting you play with my skipping rope
ever, ever again. I don't care.
I've got five skipping ropes at home.
Get back here with that! Now!
Get away from me, snooty little brat.
Give me that skipping rope!
MS.- Well, hi, Laura.
Did you come inside to help me tidy up?
Hey, you can come in.
How are you today?
Looks like a cool bag. Can I see?
Whoa. It is really cool.
These are some of my favourite colours.
I love blue and pink.
And you have a lunch bag attached.
Can I look inside?
Yeah?
What a beautiful lunch bag.
I bet you this lunch bag is real good at keeping cold things cold
and hot things hot, huh?
Hey, guess what today was?
It's make your own muffin day.
While the kids were in class, all the grown-ups learned
how to make yummy oatmeal muffins.
We made extras.
Want one?
Yeah.
Daddy says you eat babies.
MS.- Do you think I eat babies?
No.
MS.- No, I don't eat babies.
That's for sure.
I do love to eat carrot cake and coffee.
It's one of my favourites.
What do you like to eat, Laura?
You don't have a favourite snack?
Let's put this inside of that bag, shall we?
Want to open it up for me?
Perfect.
What's that?
MS.- That's my hijab.
Why do you wear it?
MS.- Because it reminds me of who I am.
Hey, do you know what this is?
It's the letter H.
All these letters, they all make sounds.
And those sounds together, they can make words.
And those words together, they can make a whole story.
This one's H.
Makes a "hah" sound.
Hah, hah...
Horse.
See?
I give this to you,
promise you'll give it back to me?
But you have to tell me other words that start
with a "hah" sound, okay?
Pinky promise?
There you go.
All yours.
Better get outside and play with the other kids now, huh?
Body of Christ.
Huh?
That's when you say "Amen."
Amen?
Can I have some Jesus, too?
Sure.
Body of Christ.
Amen.
You like it?
I love it.
MS.- If you have a bottle of water and it's finished,
what do you put it in?
Recycling.
MS.- Get it, get it, get it!
Hurry, hurry, hurry! What are you guys waiting for?
Yay!
Oh, no, come on. Where's the prize?
No, no, no, no, no, no.
There you go. Bing's got it!
That was close, Sylvie!
You almost tricked me.
Do you want some?
Okay, come here. Go like this.
Oh...
Now move them together.
Okay, come, lemme see both of you.
Ooh, so pretty.
Are you gonna make your peace face?
Yeah? Let me see your peace face.
So serious.
Are you gonna make your face?
No? You don't wanna make a face?
Smile.
MS.- Are you going to smile for the photo?
Smile.
MS.- Why don't you pump your blood for the photo?
Aw yeah, that will look good in the photo!
So gross!
Perfect.
Let's see those scary faces this time, okay?
Oh yeah, it's Halloween!
A little bit closer this way, okay...
One... two...
Three!
Happy Halloween!
Perfect!
Hello, Hina!
I just got your report for today.
Halloween sounded like a hoot.
Judging by your attendance, though,
you only had 17 children and their caregivers/parents.
Did you have the chance to flyer the neighbourhood
as I'd mentioned?
MS.- Hi, Laura.
Did you have a nice time at the Halloween party today?
Yeah? Great.
What you got over there?
Did you bring me back my letter?
Did you bring me back some words too?
Yeah? Can I hear them?
H-h-happy.
H-h-have.
H-h-Halloween.
MS.- Great job, kiddo.
Those are such good words.
High five.
And guess what that starts with?
H-h-high five.
Good job, kiddo!
Also, I was watching the CBC the other day
and noticed you in the crowds at some Indian cultural event?
Was that you?
We have a right to stand by our political opinions,
but I must caution you that the centres pride themselves
on being no politics zones.
You can imagine how the simple things we do every day
can make a statement.
MS.- Look what I found, Laura.
The letter "U".
Do you know what sound that makes?
U-u-up!
Up! MS.-
You look so nice in that costume.
Do you like it?
Yeah?
Do you want to keep it?
Why don't you keep it?
I don't know if you guys go trick-or-treating or not,
but... you should just hang onto it anyway!
You can wear it any time you want, okay?
I'm gonna give you this letter too.
You remember the deal?
Gotta come back with more words for me, right?
U-u-up!
Up, up, up, up, up! MS.-
MS.- You do look so nice.
He kissed me!
I'm gonna kiss you all!
I'm gonna kiss you!
Pick a number.
Mmm...
Three.
One, two, three.
- Pink. - P-I-N-K.
MS.- This is for you, Bernard.
Thank you.
What's that for?
Don't you know?
This is the year they start testing kids
for the gifted program.
My dad says I'm gifted in other ways.
Some people are book smart, but I'm art smart.
That's why I'm part of the children's choir.
Kids in the gifted program are socially awkward,
but arts kids are social butterflies.
No one cares.
MS.- We're going to be talking about Venn diagrams.
Who knows what Venn diagrams are?
A Venn diagram is basically a thing
to compare and contrast the two subjects.
MS.- Okay!
So we have two big circles right here,
and then we have something in the middle, right?
So let's take, for instance, who knows what a herbivore is?
Clara?
Bing!
Can I see that letter Ms. Finnegan gave you?
- No, it's for Ma. - Please.
No.
Please!
No.
If you don't show me, I'm gonna tell your mom
that you used that slutty nail polish on your binder.
You can't.
MS.- Close, getting close, yeah.
I would if I had to.
MS.- A carnivore!
What about... What other ones?
Which ones are omnivores?
Which ones eat both meat and veg?
Well, a lot of people are omnivores,
but it depends on your culture.
MS.- Very true.
So you have humans, right, that are also omnivores.
Psst... Bing! Bing, can I please see it?
MS.- And it depends on your culture.
Some are vegetarians. Some are pescatarians, right?
So that means they only eat fish,
and there are all different types of diets.
So when we use Venn diagrams,
we can really use it to compare and contrast.
So what I'd like for you guys to do is to draw
some Venn diagrams, and I would like for you guys
to choose two different things,
two topics, to compare and contrast,
and show in the middle which one is the same between the two.
What do they share in common?
I watched my dad put his hand in the frying pan.
That's why we're alone now.
My mom says he's sick in the head and the heart.
But it's not his fault.
He didn't want to go to the doctor.
You're my best friend, too.
Are you really going to a gifted program?
Yeah.
But it's really far away, and I'm really scared.
Let's see the inventory. What have we got?
Cotton balls?
Check.
White glue?
Check.
What's that... What's that red thing?
He wears a belt thingy.
A belt?
Let's see, will that fit me?
Let me see that. Let's see.
Put it on me.
Oh, he's a fancy snowman.
Fancy boy.
Okay.
Build me a snowman.
A little snowman-building music?
Come on, let's get into it.
Get your mean face on. Ahh!
That's not mean.
I want you to rough and tough, huh?
A snow maniac. Yeah!
You gotta put the glue first.
Retard.
Oh my God. What are you doing?
Jesus.
Shit.
What the hell are you doing?
Are you stupid?
Is there fucking rocks in your brain?
Did you piss yourself?
Did you fucking piss yourself?
Are you fucking kidding me?
What the fuck is this? Oh shit.
Ow! Fuck, Jesus!
Fucking great! Fuck!
Look what you made me do.
Fuck.
Oh!
Fuck.
Hey, I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
Okay?
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
You want to hit me?
Do you want to hit me? You should hit me.
Come on, hit me.
Hit me.
Come on. Hey, hello?
Hit me. Come on!
Hit me.
Hit me!
Hit me in the face!
Hit me!
Ahh!
Johnny.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Those aren't your lights.
No, no, no, no, no. Come on.
MS.- Everybody, big round of applause
for Johnny's light show!
Okay, guys, it's clean-up time now, okay?
We have to hurry up and clean up so we can do stories.
Put that stuff away for me?
Bing, are you setting up for circle time?
Thank you.
How old is he?
He's four.
He's a little tiger. You really have your hands full.
Does he speak much?
He's more of a climber.
Yeah, we can see that.
Fucking bit...
MS.- That's all right.
Hi. MS.- Hi.
I was wondering if maybe we would be singing
some Christmas carols?
MS.- That's a great question.
And I have some songs in mind.
Would you help me clean this stuff up?
Thank you, I don't know who left this one here.
MS.- Micah is my Martian friend.
We're intergalactic pals until the end.
And he likes to eat... Play-Doh!
Ew!
MS.- And he likes to eat... pasta!
Yum!
MS.- With a poop on top!
Ew! MS.-
Micah is my Martian friend...
Big finish, folks!
Smash your guitars!
Now smash 'em!
Smash 'em! Smash 'em!
Good job, everyone.
Did you guys like your Christmas song?
Yeah!
MS.- Hey, everyone?
I just put some leftover food in these boxes up here.
Feel free to grab a box if you want.
It's just gonna go to waste if it stays here, so...
MS.- Yeah, exactly.
MS.- Bye, love. Bye.
See you guys later. Bye.
I'll see you later, Bing.
Oh, I'm gonna miss this face.
I'll see you soon, next year. I'll see you then.
It seems so far away, doesn't it?
Bye, Ms. Hina. Thank you so much.
MS.- Oh, bye, Edna.
Take care. You make that food.
MS.- Thanks for everything. Yeah, thank you!
I will make that recipe. Thank you!
Bye, guys.
MS.- Hi, Laura.
Are you excited for the holidays?
Yeah?
I know, it stopped snowing.
I don't know what the weather's gonna do anymore.
My letter?
You remembered.
Did you come up with any words for me?
U-u-umbrella.
MS.- Yes!
That's a great word, Laura.
I'm so proud of you.
Do you know what this letter is?
It's a "G".
It makes a "guh" sound.
"Guh."
Do you know any words that start with a "guh" sound?
G-g-goodbye.
MS.- You remember all these letters?
What if you put all those sounds together?
H-u-g.
Hug!
MS.- Yes!
Laura, you just read your first word!
Congratulations!
Laura, is it okay if I give you a hug?
What are you doing to my daughter?
MS.- Um...
Laura just read her first word.
I'm so proud of her.
MS.- Hug.
She, um...
She said the word "hug."
Uh, there's a box of food still.
You guys should take it home.
It's just gonna go bad if we...
I don't want your food box,
and I don't want you touching my kid.
- Hello, guys. - Hello, how are you?
Good, how are you doing?
- Very, very good. - Good.
How's the evening going? Good, you?
Good? Okay, you know what?
I brought gifts for you. Merry Christmas.
- Merry Christmas. - Thank you.
Merry Christmas, Miss Carlene.
- Merry Christmas. - Thank you.
What have you been up to?
I was watching some scary movies tonight.
Aw, you know I don't like scary movies.
You like scary movies? I was watching Scream.
Scream? One or two or three?
Which one? All three.
- Back-to-back? - Back-to-back.
Wow, you are good. I can't do that.
It was really, really scary.
Come in!
- Hello? - Hello.
- How is everyone doing? - Good.
Good. I came bringing gifts.
- Ooh! - For you.
Sylvie, how are you? Good.
What are you doing?
Oh, just... I'm making you.
Let me see me.
Me, I gotta see this.
Wow.
You see this?
- She's gifted. - Wow.
Picasso. I love this.
Here!
I have something for you, Miss Dr. Sylvie.
Ooh, lucky.
- Thank you! - Yeah, you're welcome.
Wow, that's a big hug.
Thank you. I love it.
I want another one. I want another one.
Cool.
In Scarlet Town, where I was born
there was a fair maid dwelling.
Made every youth cry well away...
Hey, Sylvie.
Look's like you're gonna be A-okay, sir.
Is that so?
Yep, all you do is need your meds.
That's what they tell me.
When I get better,
you wanna go to the tracks with me again?
Okay.
And slowly she came nigh him
And all she said...
We have doubles, deconstructed.
MS.- Melvin, what is this?
Doubles, de constructed?
Melvin, I sent you in the back to make doubles,
the traditional way. What is this?
W-what is this?
The chana 'round the doubles looking like goat shit!
It's presentation! MS.- Presentation?
Yeah.
MS.- Melvin, go in the back there and bring me doubles,
the traditional way.
Two doubles together with the chana in between.
I don't want no chana business. Round the table.
This is avant garde.
MS.- Avant garde, my ass.
Go in back there and bring doubles for me, please.
And where's the rest of the people's orders?
Make us some and come back with...
Damn stupidness.
That's what you sent him to school to do?
Huh, huh?
It's avant garde, Auntie.
MS.- Avant garde?
Avant garde?
Damn stupidness.
He still have an interest in local cuisine.
He just want to ensure that he diversify
so that he can get all the populations.
Toronto's a very diverse place.
MS.- I thought I put up a closed sign.
The place closed. I have a closed sign up.
Hi. MS.- May I help you?
Yeah, do you guys have any food?
MS.- Yeah, but we are closed today.
The sign is up. I see people right there.
MS.- I know, but it's my family dinner.
It's Christmas. I'm having my family over.
We are having our Christmas dinner.
Just I know that you give out food sometimes
in the neighbourhood. MS.- Yes, I do, I do.
But not today. So, I forgot that...
MS.- What? It's Christmas, I...
MS.- You forgot that it's Christmas?
And I have a daughter, and we don't have any dinner.
MS.- I'm sorry to hear that.
I thought everything was gonna be open.
MS.- Mm-hm.
But the corner store down there is open.
You'll be able to get something down there.
But I don't have any money.
I don't have any money, alright? MS.- Okay, alright.
My daughter is starving.
MS.- I'm sorry. Here, that's all I have.
What is this? What am I gonna do?
MS.- I don't know, you...
A bag of chips from a vending machine 'n shit?
MS.- Excuse me?
I need you to give me some fucking food, please.
MS.- Listen to me.
Listen to me, and listen to me very well.
I am closed today.
I'm not the reason why your child is hungry.
I'm not the reason why your child don't have any food today.
Okay? We're closed.
Okay? Bye.
Hold on. Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Hold on, you don't have to be a bitch about it!
Clara...
Clara, stop staring at the window.
Then why do we leave the curtains open all the time?
Well, that's so everyone else can look in.
It's good for the neighbourhood
to see what a proper house looks like.
MS.- Get your foot out of the door.
Get your filthy foot out of the door!
Fuck you and your fucking, dirty food.
It's fucking rotten, you bitch.
Fuck you!
I'm not going any further.
Honestly, you have to pee here?
You peed here a million times.
Hey, Cindy.
Look, right here. Right here.
I don't want to be here right now.
Come on.
Hey, Suresh.
Hey, buddy. How's it going?
It's goin' good. How are you?
I'm good. I'm good.
When are you gonna be putting me in that mural?
Um, I don't know.
I guess you'll see when I finish.
We'll see.
Hey, put that down.
- This? - Yeah, I can see you.
Fuck you. I'm looking at it, man.
Just put that shit down and get out.
How much is this?
You're not really looking for stuff, man.
How much for that?
$5.75.
All right.
I'll take a hundred of these, please.
Man, put it down. Get out.
Get the fuck out.
You guys have beer?
No, we don't have beer. Beer Store is next door.
Do you speak English?
Yeah, I speak English. Get the fuck out.
Beer Store's closed, fucking Paki.
Bro, don't do that.
He told you to leave, so just leave, man.
What'd you say?
I don't want no problems, bro.
Put it down. Get out.
What did he say to you?
None of your business. Get the fuck out.
What did you say to him, man?
- I didn't say anything. - What'd you say?
Get out. Put that shit down.
I can see it in your jacket.
What'd you tell him, man?
Bro, why don't you just leave?
Man, fuck you! Who the fuck are you?
- Get the fuck out. - Man, fuck both of you!
- Whoa. - Fuck your shit.
What are you looking at?
I don't want any problems, bro.
Hey, get the fuck out.
Fuck you, Paki.
Fuck your food. Fuck your food.
- Get the fuck out. - Fuck your food.
Hey. Hey.
I don't want any problems, man.
I'm just trying to get home.
Why are you starting problems, then?
I'm just trying to get home, man.
I'm gonna fucking crack your skull right now.
Hallelujah...
Motherfucker!
Gonna fucking kill you, bitch.
I don't want problems, bro!
Run fast like you're fucking good at it!
That's what you're good at, bitch!
Run fuck... there you go.
Fucking run, bitch!
Hallelujah...
Laura!
Hallelujah...
Mom?
Did you see that? Shh.
The spirit of the Lord is upon me
because he has anointed me
to create good things through him...
Fuck!
Fuck you!
Fuck!
Fuck you, motherfucker!
What the fuck? Holy fuck...
Fuck.
But how would the three wise men know that Baby Jesus
is the king?
Well, you know, the thing is about faith, Anak,
is that you just have to have faith.
Sometimes it's just a mystery.
Maybe an angel visited them, or...
And then we never know.
Exactly. And sometimes...
MS.- Hey, guys.
MS.- Is there anything you guys want to talk about with me?
Anything that you're feeling or any questions
you have about what's happening?
Well, it could have been me instead of her.
She was too little to die.
MS.- You're right, Sylvie.
She was too little to die, and it's not fair, is it?
I don't know why these things happen.
I don't know why we have to say goodbye to people that we love.
It's okay to feel sad about it.
Sometimes people leave.
Sometimes we have to lose people,
but we still have those really...
those really great moments, right?
We have to remember that we were lucky that we got them
even for a little while.
What was your favourite game you played with Laura?
Do you remember?
Um, when we were playing in the sand pit
and pretended the sand was sugar.
We named the game Sugar Village.
And it was illegal to not have sugar on your food.
MS.- It was illegal to not have sugar?
Yeah.
MS.- What about you, Sylvie?
That's okay, honey.
I found these letters.
The last time I was with Laura, I was sitting right over there,
and she read her first word.
Hug.
MS.- Yeah. She was so happy.
She danced when she read it.
I was thinking maybe...
maybe if each one of us got to keep a letter...
then any time you think about Laura and if you miss her...
you can just send her a big hug.
Aniin, my name is Elder Fay.
Aniin is the way that we say "Hello" in the Ojibwe language.
Can we all say, "Aniin."
Aniin.
Very good.
Today I've come here to be your mom.
I've come here to be your auntie.
I've come here to be your grandmother.
We've lost our friend, Laura.
I can see some of you are sad, and it's okay.
We can be sad.
You've all lost a friend.
A very beautiful girl.
Creator has called her back home.
And now she is going to be walking with Creator.
Tobacco is one of the four medicines that we use.
We use our tobacco when we pray.
We hold it in our left hand, and we say our prayers.
When we are done our prayer,
we're going to offer that tobacco to that fire.
And those prayers are going to go up to that spirit world.
And she's going to receive all those prayers
and all those memories that you're sharing.
So can we close our eyes for a moment?
Think of happy thoughts.
Think of those memories that you shared with Laura
while she was with us.
Ah, Miigwech.
Yes, I was afraid I'd missed you.
MS.- I'm sorry.
Uh, we're just closing up for the day.
Oh, it's me, Jane.
MS.- Jane, hi.
Uh, I was just about to get out of here.
Do you have a couple moments?
I just got your email.
MS.- Right.
So you got the email, so you know what happened?
Yes, exactly.
MS.- Jane, this is not a great time right now.
Just feeling pretty exhausted, you know?
Just a long day of kids crying, you know, and...
the adults crying. Just everybody's...
I can only imagine.
MS.- I mean, you wouldn't have to imagine.
Excuse me?
MS.- You wouldn't have to imagine, Jane,
if you'd just been there today for the ceremony.
The ceremony?
MS.- For Laura.
It was in that email.
Oh, well, I'm here about your request
for time off on Monday.
MS.- For the funeral?
Okay.
I can tell by the way you're looking at me
that you must think I'm a monster.
I just wanted to quickly check in,
make sure we're on the same page.
MS.- Thank you for checking in.
I need to go and pick up my daughter from school now.
Absolutely.
Hina, I'm going to tell you something my manager told me
when I was fresh out of my Master's.
Now, it hurt then to hear,
but I needed to hear it.
Community members are always in need.
And it can be hard to draw the line with them.
But for the sake of your own self-care,
you need to keep personal lives out of the picture.
Now, our focus here is family literacy, not social work.
Now, I know there are grey areas,
and I appreciate the love that you put into the centre.
But if we don't draw a line,
our hearts can be hurt a million times over.
Now, if you need some skills building
or whatever to support you, we can chat any time.
MS.- Wow. Any time?
Any time.
Any time at all.
So Monday instead,
I'd like to propose some strategies for self-care.
I'll be making...
MS.- You want to meet on Monday...
Instead of me going to the funeral,
you want to strategize with me?
This is what you came here to tell me?
Hina, I know this has been a very, very sad time.
MS.- Yes, it's been a very difficult time.
There's a child that died in a house fire, Jane.
I-I know.
MS.- There are people in our community that have
brushed shoulders with her family once, twice,
that are showing more emotion than you are.
I'm not sure what the disconnection is with you,
but I am deeply saddened by this.
This has been a tragic loss. Absolutely, yes.
MS.- And I have every right to feel this way, Jane.
I certainly have every right to ask for a day off
to attend her funeral.
Oh, I know. I couldn't believe it either.
When I saw it on the news, I was shocked.
MS.- Laura was more than just a news item to me, Jane.
I wasn't shocked.
I was hurt.
We failed her.
You do understand that, right?
And you showing up here and asking me to feel nothing...
you are continuing to fail her.
If we write our names in concrete,
a hundred years from now, people will know who we are.
Cool.
Someone's coming!
Okay. No.
No, no, no.
No, thank you.
That is not what... Don't touch him.
Marie, I'm not touching him.
I'm trying to get him to help clean up.
Just like everybody else.
Don't ever touch him again.
He's wildly undisciplined.
And he needs to be taught how help out and clean up.
MS.- Everything okay?
Everything is fine.
We're just trying to do a little parenting.
MS.- Fern, I don't think this is your place.
Right.
If everyone just minded their own business
while stuff like this happened,
what kind of state would the world be in?
Can you get him down? MS.- Fern, I don't think...
Why don't you come with me, and we'll...
Don't touch him.
There's a whole lot of touching happening, isn't there?
MS.- This is not your place.
Look at what he's doing. I'm trying to get him to...
His name is Johnny, and he's not like other kids.
He can't help it.
Maybe you could help it, if...
Oh.
Who could've seen that coming?
MS.- Bye. See you later.
Bye.
Bye, see you later.
Hey, how's it going?
Coffee?
Sure. Thanks.
MS.- I was wondering if you wanted to maybe have a chat
about Johnny now that it's a little quieter here?
I think that obviously I just thought we could talk
if you're open to it.
Okay.
MS.- How's your arm?
It's okay.
It looks worse than it is.
MS.- Ah, yeah, tough mama.
Marie, I've noticed that Johnny seems to be
struggling to express himself sometimes.
He's finding it challenging to...
to tell us what he wants, and...
I wish that I knew how to help him better.
I-I just...
Marie, I'm no expert.
I took him to the walk-in clinic
and the guy didn't want to assess him.
MS.- Right.
It's...
It's so complicated.
They don't do assessments at the walk-in.
They should have told you.
You actually... you need a family doctor
to be able to get the assessment,
and then the referral.
I don't have a family doctor.
MS.- Okay.
Okay.
So let's figure that out first.
I have a friend of mine that works at East York General.
I'm sure if I called her, she'd be open to seeing Johnny.
I don't even know when I'd have time to go there.
I have to pick up the kids from school,
and then I have to get them home and cook them dinner,
and then put them in bed.
And then I have to get... MS.- Marie, I'll take you.
I'd be happy to.
Look, Marie, I can't imagine
how challenging it must be to...
take all of this on.
He's my son.
MS.- I know.
And I see how much you love him.
And so it's okay, Marie.
You're doing a great job.
And you don't need to have all of the answers right now.
We can take the first step together.
Okay.
MS.- Okay.
Ever since he was born, I just knew that
there was something different about Johnny.
I know that there's a way to communicate with him.
Like, he has his own special language;
I just don't know what it is.
How does he try and talk to you?
Boing, boing, boing, boing, boing, boing.
He doesn't pay attention to us.
Like, he does his own thing.
You just have to keep an eye on him.
Like, you have to watch him constantly.
Like, you can't take your eyes off him.
You have to, like, lock cupboards.
We have to make sure that everything's put away.
If you leave something out, he'll find it.
Johnny has taken markers
and written all over everything.
His worst case scenario,
he has rubbed his poop all over the place,
and then I have to clean it up, and...
he runs all over the place
when we're at the literacy centre.
He'll go to one thing
and then he'll play with it for a little bit,
and then he'll go to something else.
And then he always goes back to the light switch,
and he turns it on and off and on and off.
And then you take him away from there,
and then he goes back.
He'll keep going back to the same thing.
And if you take him away from it,
he gets super frustrated.
See what I mean?
What are you looking at, Johnny?
You looking at the leaves out there?
Yeah, there's lots, hey?
It does appear that Johnny is displaying
autistic disorder.
And he's operating at about a 12-month capacity.
Okay?
So this could mean that Johnny may never
speak in full sentences.
We can look at some services;
we can improve his communication,
but he will not communicate like his peers
or like other children his age.
That means that Johnny might always need
supports in his life.
So Johnny may never be independent with his toileting.
He might always need personal care.
He might never live independently.
And he might always require somebody there for him.
So it's something to think about,
maybe long-term planning for yourself as you age,
and who will look after Johnny.
Okay?
As you do get older, or when you do pass away,
who will be there to look after him?
My receptionist is going to provide you
some resources at the front.
I will warn you, they're not easy to get to.
And they can be quite far apart from each other.
And each specialist, we have a limited number of sessions
you can have with each of them, okay?
A lot of these services will be done in the home,
but I understand your housing situation
is a bit unstable at the moment.
It's a lot to take in, hearing the word, "autism."
But having a diagnosis is actually a good thing.
Green, here.
You have red and green.
The red one fell.
What these specialists will do
is they'll observe Johnny's behaviours
and give him some skills, and teach him
how to communicate better
so that he's not engaging in some of the behaviours,
such as screaming and biting.
Once he can learn to communicate,
those behaviours should reduce, okay?
So these specialists are going to teach Johnny some skills,
and you'll start to see some progress.
MS.- Johnny?
Johnny?
You like Bing's painting, Johnny?
Look, apple.
Apple.
I don't know if this is gonna work.
Have faith. It will work.
MS.- It's just gonna take some time.
What about... Michael Jackson?
Bing, everybody does Michael Jackson.
What about Frank Sinatra?
Bing, you're singing for a bunch of kids,
not for old folks.
Why are you doubting yourself?
Because I'm a boy doing a girl song.
Come here.
Can you stand up?
It doesn't matter if you're a girl or a boy.
Okay?
You can be as big and cool as you want in your new outfit.
Okay?
What do you think about this fabric?
Ooh.
That's good. I should make one for myself.
What do you think? BING &- Yeah.
It's gonna look so good on you.
Oh, these look great!
I'm glad you like it.
Mm.
- Thank you. - You are so welcome.
I come here because I care about you.
I care about all of you.
I really hope that they're treating you well here.
And I hope that there's other clients who tip.
I have two hands,
The left and the right.
This is the right.
Hold them up high.
So clean and bright.
Johnny, look!
Look at my hands. Look at Edna's hands.
No? You don't want to look?
Can you clap?
Clap them softly, one, two, three.
Mm.
Yeah, that's good.
You can go deep around the thigh muscle there.
- Here? - Oh, yeah.
That's really good. Oh, yeah.
Yeah. Mmm.
Yeah, that's nice.
I like it deep.
Thank you. Okay.
Yeah.
- That's okay? - Yeah, oh...
Yeah.
Yeah, you're good at this.
Johnny, apple.
Apple.
What do you rub that in for?
So it doesn't hurt too much.
It won't hurt. I'll be fine.
"Cam came from a promise,
"that monsters do not belong under beds.
"And ladders sometimes feel like mountains,"
"especially when you're learning to climb them"
"for the first time."
Do you love your eyes?
What your cheeks?
Those cheeks. So cute.
What about your ears?
And your fingers.
Your raisin-y fingers.
Mm-hm.
I love you, Anak.
I love you, Ma.
Johnny, apple.
Apple...
Apple.
MS.- Oh, the snorkel masks.
Yeah, the snorkel masks. MS.- Yeah.
MS.- Oh, it takes practice.
You have to be able to practice
so you don't get the water in the tube.
Yeah, no, I...
I have these greens here to represent the land.
For example, like, sea turtles and stuff.
MS.- So have you decided what you're gonna be doing
for the talent show yet? Yeah.
These really awesome moves that I just love doing
from this game I saw.
MS.- Oh, yeah?
It's this game called Mortal Kombat.
And they have these awesome, all these strikes, and all that.
It's great. MS.- Cool.
Yeah. MS.- That's great.
It's like a bunch of these martial arts.
And it's really cool, and then people kind of...
And they're, like, they're doing all these super cool moves.
MS.- Oh, that's cool. Like kicking.
MS.- That sounds like fun. All sorts of awesome stuff.
I was gonna try and perfect it.
MS.- That's good.
I just think it's the most beautiful thing in the world
when you get to see the combination of the colours.
MS.- Give me one second, okay?
MARIE & MS.-
MS.- It worked!
You want a cracker? Cracker, kiddo, cracker!
Is that what you wanted? You wanted a cracker!
That's a cracker, a cracker!
MS.- Oh, lift the chair.
MS.- Yeah, you did such a good job.
Yes.
MS.- Oh my God, kiddo.
Good job.
You did it, Marie.
There are three words that my brother understands
in his special language,
"Apple," "milk," and "gently."
And my mother repeats the same three words
each time he gets it, "Great job, Johnny,"
and "You're a genius."
I have three hours where my dad could smile pain-free,
followed by three hours for his nap.
At least 20 times a day, my mama says I need to calm down
and to be good.
I had two best friends.
Minus one equals one alive, and one broken heart.
Divided by Heaven and Earth.
But thanks to the words in this poem,
we could remember her for an infinite number of years,
and infinite number of moments
in a single solitary heartbeat.
Thank you.
MS.- What a wonderful poem.
Give it up again for Sylvie, everyone.
26, 28, 32, 34...
That's not going to be enough.
Do you have anything to pawn or sell maybe?
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are.
- Bing! - You made it.
Of course.
What is that?
It's a karaoke machine.
It's what you're gonna use to sing.
How are you feeling?
- Good. - You're good?
Where are all your bracelets?
Listen, you need to relax.
Okay?
MS.- Everybody, give it up for that amazing
energetic performance. Wow.
Fantastic.
Is everybody having a good time?
Are we ready for more show?
Yes.
MS.- Wonderful. I'm so excited...
You're doing okay?
I'm scared.
You know...
you remind me of your Tito Ferdie.
He was brave, like you.
I knew he was different when we played together.
He even had a boyfriend, or a girlfriend.
I'm not actually sure what you would call him.
Remember when Tito Ferdie died?
At the funeral, Tito Ferdie's friend was there, and...
he cried, and he cried, and he cried.
We all pretended like he wasn't there.
I wish I was brave like you,
so I could tell him I cared.
That I could see him,
like I see you.
I'm so proud of you, Anak.
You're the bravest person I know.
You make me brave, because I get scared a lot too.
MS.- Welcome to the stage,
even though we are very sad that Bernard is going
to a new school next year,
we are so excited to see his performance tonight.
Can I get a huge... Good luck.
MS.- ...round of applause for Bing!
MS.- You got this.
Ah...
Yeah!
Whoo!
Hey yeah, huh
Ooh yeah, uh huh, yeah
I wanna dance.
Clock strikes upon the hour
And the sun begins to fade
Still enough time to figure out
How to chase my blues away
I've done alright up 'til now
It's the light of day that shows me how
And when the night falls
My loneliness calls
Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me
Somebody who, somebody who
Somebody who loves me
Somebody who, somebody who
To hold me in his arms, oh
I need a man who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
So when the night falls
My lonely heart calls
Oh, I wanna dance with somebody
I wanna feel the heat with somebody
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody
With somebody who loves me