[Amber] Dear Diary, I love my new earrings.
Does my smile seem different?
[sighs] Sure seems to feel different.
It's just not feeling…
I don't know.
Easy to smile.
Maybe it's 'cause I'm keeping a secret.
This ear-piercing secret.
[sighs]
It's been so exhausting hiding my ears from Mom.
I, Amber Brown, wonder,
can you ever even have a good time or be truly happy
when you're keeping a secret?
I have to tell my mom.
It's the right thing to do.
- Yeah, it is. - Yeah.
Can't believe you got the store to do it.
Well…
So fun.
Yeah, a fun night.
Crazy fun night. So fun.
[laughs] Sure, I'll send you the pics right now.
They're hilarious.
And then call me right back. Okay.
[chuckling]
Can I help you?
I was here the other day.
You did my ears.
And?
I'm her friend, and I wanna get my ears pierced.
[sighs]
You need a parent or guardian present.
- Come on. - [gasps]
Oh, good! Your mom's here.
They need a yes to get her ears pierced.
Okay, great.
That'll be 24.99 with purchase of earrings or $40 if you supply earrings.
If you confess now, there might be no going to the dance tonight.
Well, yeah, but it's the right thing to do.
- Yeah. - Yep. [sighs]
But, on the other hand…
It's our first dance ever.
Yeah, we can't miss it.
So, do the right thing and tell,
but just wait to do the right thing till after the dance.
So, wait to tell? Hmm.
Should we vote?
Okay.
All in favor of Operation Delayed Truth-Telling,
say "aye."
- [Justin] Aye. - [both] Aye.
[sighs]
I keep staring at your ears.
I have to be careful.
One of these times, your mom is going to follow
- my eyes up to your ears-- - [Sarah] Knock, knock.
- [kids scream] - Oh, my goodness. What is going on?
- [chuckles] Um… - We're telling ghost stories.
[laughs] Yeah.
Oh. Okay. Well, hope they're good and scary.
Um, hey, Amber. So I was just thinking, since you borrowed a dress
from Brandi for the dance tonight, we saved a little money.
So, we could spring for some new fancy shoes.
You wanna come downstairs and we'll go to the mall?
Oh, is that--
Oh, hey, Justin.
Hey, Mrs. Brown.
[laughs] Okay, see you down there!
[door closes]
[Justin] She's so innocent.
Has no idea.
None at all.
I don't deserve the shoes.
You don't.
[Justin] Definitely not.
But on the other hand…
New shoes. Fancy shoes!
If I don't confess beforehand.
[Justin] Yep.
[sighs] Feeling so guilty.
Uh-oh.
Stay strong.
I'll stay with you to make sure you don't confess. Yet.
Yeah. Okay. I'll definitely need backup.
This meeting is adjourned
and Operation Truth-Blocker Brandi now in play.
[sighs]
["All Good" playing]
Maybe I should act like I don't like any of the shoes.
But that's another big lie.
It'll make me feel less guilt if I don't get shoes.
Okay. Okay.
Girls, you wanna get some lunch?
- Amber, the wind. - Oh.
[wind gusting]
Um, sure. Lunch sounds good.
Uh, okay. Where do you wanna go?
Any place is fine.
Seriously, picky eater?
Stop. Stop. What-- What are you doing?
Um… Talking to you?
Are you okay?
Well, Mom, I, um…
I went…
Well, Mom, I, um…
I went…
- I have to tell-- [speaks inaudibly] - [beep]
- I have to tell you-- - She wants high heels.
No. No, no, no, no, no.
Not yet. No high heels.
Low heel, okay. High heels, no way.
Oh, that was close.
You were going under the mom spell.
- For sure. - Stay focused.
School dance, then full confession.
It's okay. You're a good person, Amber Brown.
It's just pierced ears.
Yeah. Just my ears.
[sighs]
If it's just pierced ears, just my ears,
then why does my heart feel like it's aching?
Is this what not listening to your mom and doing whatever you want
and not telling the truth feels like?
I, Amber Brown, made a bad choice.
[bell on door jingles]
[earrings chime]
- [sighs] - [knock on door]
Phil? You're here early.
After the traffic the night of The Wizard of Oz,
I didn't wanna risk being late for her first school dance.
Oh, I just made some cinnamon apple tea. Want some?
[Phil] Fine.
Paint color's different in here.
Uh, no. No. Nothing's really changed.
I don't know about that.
[sighs] Feels good to be back.
You mean back in the States?
Yeah, that too.
This feels very familiar.
Sitting here in our kitchen?
The indirect conversation.
- I'm not sure what you mean. - Exactly.
Hey, you.
- Phil. - Max.
- Sarah. - Honey.
- Yeah? - Yes?
Well, these are for Amber. I'm just gonna put these in water.
Oh, no. Keep them wrapped up. You can hand them directly to her.
- Oh. - That's so thoughtful.
- [Max] Yeah. - [Sarah] She's gonna feel so grown-up.
- [Max] Absolutely. - [Aunt Pam] Whoo-hoo!
I'm just gonna go ahead and say this out loud.
- Ever think of doing a reality show? - Mmm.
- And here's Pammy. - Yep.
Sarah.
- Pam. - Phil.
- Max. - Pam.
Sarah.
I hope that makeup is for you.
Ouch.
Come on. Funny. It's for Amber.
I promised I'd do her makeup. Don't worry!
Nothing heavy. Just light pink and translucent powder.
- [Phil sighs] - No eye shadow. And no mascara!
No problem.
You said nothing about fake eyelashes.
No! No!
- Pam. - [laughs]
- [gasps] Wow, look at you! - [giggles]
Twirl.
- Yeah! - It's from Brandi's shape collection.
- Oh. - Mm-hmm.
[singsongy] Look what I have for you.
- What? - Mm-hmm.
- Is that mine? - Yeah.
So, you're actually telling me that my mom said that I could wear makeup?
Yes. Yes, she did.
Oh, so cool.
Very cool. Not that you need it, but it sure is fun.
- Finally, Mom let me have some fun. - Oh, come on.
You know your mom's always looking out for you.
[giggles]
Hello.
[gasps] Oh, I forgot for a second.
Does your mom know?
No.
What?
Amber.
Oh, I don't like it when you say my name that way.
[Aunt Pam] Why?
It's not like you to go against a very clear rule set by your mom.
Well, I was mad. Very upset.
Because-- 'Cause so many things that I can't-- I don't have any say in.
You have to tell your mom.
But then she won't let me go to the dance.
Oh, no, no, no. Your mom is much bigger than that.
Sure, she'll-- she'll be upset and very, very disappointed,
but I know, for sure, she'll understand
and she'll appreciate you telling her.
And you'll still go to the dance.
[sighs] Please, no.
Please let me wait.
I'll tell her the truth tomorrow.
Please.
- Okay. Okay. - [breathes shakily]
[gasps] I love you.
Hmm. I love you too.
[both] Doo do-do doo!
- [Sarah] Doo doo doo do-do doo! - [cheering]
- Whoa! - Yeah!
- [cheering continues] - [Max] Look at you!
- Dad. [giggles] - [chuckles]
- [Max] Here. - Here you go, sweetheart.
- [gasps] Thanks, Mom! - You're welcome. Mmm.
- [giggles] - [camera clicks]
Wait, guys, this light is so good, by the tree!
- Get over here. Where's Sarah? - Uh, she's getting her lipstick.
- She never used to wear lipstick. - She does now.
- Uh-huh. - [Sarah] Okay, I'm ready.
- Do I look good? - Let me see your teeth.
Did you have spinach?
- She looks fine. - She looks fine.
- [Max] Here, look at me. - All right, let's do Amber and Dad first.
- Father and daughter, first. - Absolutely.
- [Aunt Pam] Okay, so, you… Yeah. - [Max] Yeah. [chuckles]
I just love this in the background. That texture, and-- Good.
Okay, so, come and look at each other, guys.
Okay. And look up at your dad.
And, Phil, look at your daughter.
- [Sarah chuckles] - [camera clicking]
Or not. No, you're not doing that. You're looking at me.
No one look at each other. Like, ever. Who needs it?
- [laughs] - [camera clicks]
Oh, I love it. So good.
- Did you get it? - Yeah. What? I'm sorry.
I couldn't hear you over your shirt.
- Funny. You're a comedian now, Pam. - I like your shirt.
- [Sarah] It is loud. - It looks good.
- Thank you. Thank you. - Looking good, Phil.
- Thank you, Max. See? - [Sarah] Really?
Like your, uh, shoes.
Thanks.
Just trying to build a bridge, through fashion. [sniffs]
Okay.
[Aunt Pam] And, so sweet, smile.
- [Phil] So, are we good, or-- - Amber, you want me to fix your hair?
No, I just-- I just-- Trying to keep it neat.
Let's do mother and daughter. Mother and daughter.
- Yes! - Come on!
All right. You're out. You're Audi 5000.
- Here we go. - Here we go.
Okay. Oh, guys, it's so good. This light is good.
- And smile. So sweet! - [chuckles]
- And look at each other. - Mmm.
- [camera clicks] - Don't look at each other!
Don't look at each other. You're not looking at each other.
You're looking-- Just look right at me.
Just look directly at your old Aunt Pam.
[Phil] Good.
[camera clicking]
[Amber] Classic Aunt Pam,
doing everything she can
to keep all the attention away from my earlobes.
- Let's get the family. - [Sarah] Oh, yeah!
- Get the family. - [chattering]
- Family. All right, good. - Okay.
- Here, you go in the middle. - [Aunt Pam] Here we go, guys. Oh, so cute.
- I'm good. - [Aunt Pam] Okay, I'm-- Ready?
Here we go.
[camera clicks]
Uh-oh, we got a photobomber.
And not a photobombing. I was just leaving.
- What-- - Tell that to the judge.
I do want to get a picture of the three of us.
- It's about the family. - I'm gonna wait inside.
No, don't wait inside. We're going to be done in a second.
- Can we get one with the family? - Hold on! The light just shifted.
Do you feel it? Can you take one with me and Amber?
- Did you get one of-- - Yeah, I got you guys!
- You got us? - Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[Aunt Pam] It's so good that the light-- let's see,
- and my spirit. - Do you want one alone?
- [Max] Do you-- - Is that bad if I get one alone--
Just one alone? It's just-- It's like--
- Wait, wait, wait! - Here's this light.
- It's like-- It's like-- Work it. - [Max] I'm trying to--
Got it. Love it.
- Thank you. It's not a big deal. - [Max] Come on.
- It's just fun. It's fun! - [chattering, laughing]
Brandi! I thought you were going to your grandma's for pictures?
I'm going there now.
- I didn't even get a picture. - [Brandi] My dad just got home.
- Oh, I'm so excited! - [both giggling]
Brandi, I promise we're gonna get a picture of you guys,
but first I've got to get Max and Sarah and Amber.
- [Sarah] Yes! - So fast. Here we go.
- You hold the flowers. - Ready?
All right, here we go.
- [giggles] - [Aunt Pam] All right. Cute.
[camera clicks]
Phil, you're being weird.
Phil, get out.
Can you-- I just-- There you go. Perfect.
- [Aunt Pam] Good. - [laughing]
[Aunt Pam] Perfect, you guys. I love it.
Okay, now get out. Now, Brandi, get on in there.
- [Brandi] Hi! Oh, my gosh. - Yeah, yeah. You're out. Out, out, out.
- Okay, girls, hands on hips! - Okay.
[Aunt Pam] Let's get your hands on your hips.
- And smile. - [laughing]
And put your hands in the air like you just don't care!
[cheering]
This is so good, you guys! I think we got it.
Say hi to your grandma for me!
- Hold! You guys… - Can you put these in water?
- Yeah, sure. -…my skin is translucent.
- Are you-- Put the family. - I look fresh!
- A lot of good pictures of Pam. - [Aunt Pam] Oh, I look really good.
Oh, my goodness. Come here. Look at you!
- [giggles] - Aw.
[sighs] The brightest light.
The dearest girl.
I am so proud of you.
- [Phil] He tried to give me the flop. - You go straight to your room, young lady!
- Whoa! - No, wait! Stop!
Stop! Tell your father why you're not going to the dance.
Not going?
You said Mom would let me go!
If you told her. Did you tell her?
- You knew? - No!
- Yes. - Knew what?
Our daughter took it upon herself to disobey me.
To deliberately go behind my back.
Okay. Take it easy, Sarah.
I wouldn't step in the crosswalk.
- She went and got her ears pierced. - Is that such a big deal?
Not really?
- I agree, not really. - I'm her father. I can say, "not really."
I believe you went with, "Not such a big deal,"
- so I went with, "Not really." - It is-- It is a big deal.
It is. You're right.
I think you're still allowed to go to the dance.
- [Sarah] What? - I agree.
- What? - Or not.
Aunt Pam, you said I'd still be able to go to the dance.
- Did you do this? - No! No!
I saw her with the earrings upstairs for the first time.
[sighs] And they look fabulous.
[sighs] Brandi's gonna wonder where I am.
At least she told you, Sarah.
[smacks lips]
I didn't.
- What? - She didn't.
I discovered them.
Oh, yeah. Then you can't go to the dance.
- What? - [Sarah] See?
- I got your back, sis. - Thank you!
- [Aunt Pam] Mm-hmm. - [sighs] I'd like to talk to Amber alone.
The group thing's working for me.
- I'll stay. - Go.
[sighs]
So, I-I take it we're not gonna go to the dance?
There'll be other dances, Max.
- [sighs] - [sighs] Amber?
[grumbles]
Honey, I know you're awake. I am-- I'm really trying to calm down here.
[sighs]
I'm so sorry, Mom. So sorry.
I'll take the earrings out and let the holes close up.
I'm not upset about the earrings.
I'm upset about the choice.
The choice you made to do something that I… very specifically said no to.
That you knew would-- would really upset me!
Why?
- Pancake breakfast? - What?
- Changing my weekend with Dad. - You mean not being married to Dad.
- Duh. - Duh.
Max as chaperone?
Oh, he was so excited.
- Volleyball? - You could be so good at it.
- Math tutor. - You could be so good at it.
[scoffs] Friends? That I need more friends?
We all need more friends, honey. [chuckles]
[groans]
- [sighs] Okay, I'm so-- - [sighs]
I hear you. Okay?
I hear you.
But, honey… [scoffs]
…none of that stuff in any way justifies your choice.
It might explain your motivation, but--
I thought that it would make me feel better,
to do what I want when I want.
But I felt sad the moment my ears were pierced.
All I wanted to do was run home and tell you.
[sighs]
Honey, next time you just gotta tell me first, okay?
[sighs] Come here, honey.
Oh. [exhales sharply]
I'm not mad.
- I am mad, but I'm-- - [sighs]
[sighs] I'm more hurt.
No, Mom. No. I-I didn't think--
[sighs]
I never wanted to hurt you.
- Honey, we just-- - [sighs]
I just-- I don't-- I don't want us to ever lie to each other.
That's what makes us us.
Right? Trust.
I love us, and I trust us.
And I never, ever want to lose us.
I know.
I am so sorry, Mom.
Don't worry, we're still us. [cries]
Yeah.
- [moans, sniffs] - I love you.
- I love you so much, honey. - [exhales sharply]
[moans, kisses]
[groans]
- How'd it go? - Uh, it went--
We're good.
Nice work, Sarah.
Thank you, Phil.
- I'll give Amber a call tomorrow. - Okay.
- Max. - Phil.
- [sighs] - [door opens, closes]
I was finally taking you to a school dance.
- Rain check? - Yeah.
[sighs]
Hey, where's Pam?
Well, she took over our chaperoning duties.
- Mmm. - [clears throat]
Said that I should be here for you.
- [groans] - [chuckles]
And you are.
Always.
I'm missing my first school dance.
And my new friend is there having a great time without me.
[sighs]
I, Amber Brown, don't wanna make decisions based on anger or frustration,
because it only leads to anger and frustration.
I'm also kinda realizing that I take after my dad more than my mom.
And that's okay.
[ball bounces]
You okay?
What are you doing home?
I left when I got your text.
I can't stay at the dance without my friend.
[chuckles] I can't believe you're missing the dance because of me.
We're not missing it.
We're still wearing our fancy dresses.
[chuckles]
["Backyard Boy" playing]
["Backyard Boy" continues]