American Girl

A couple of months ago,

I was happy and care-free

and full of

hope... comparatively.

I was secretly dating

the most popular guy in school.

Nice print.

Check it out.

Hey, Rena! Where'd you get

that snappy outfit,

lost and found?

Funny.

How much wide-mouth

suburban trash

does it take to screw in

a light bulb?

How much?

If you don't know,

nobody does.

Where do you get off

calling us trash?

If you'd like to make a call,

please hang up and try again.

Hurry up before

someone sees.

Hey, Kenton.

You know the rule.

I know.

Stay put.

Hi!

Stay down.

I know.

It's nice here,

don't you think?

It's better

than the car.

Oh, yeah.

I can't do anything

today, Kenton.

What do you mean?

Look... do you want to

come to dinner with us?

It doesn't have to be

anywhere public.

It can just be

at our house, right?

Wait here.

(car door opens, closes)

(engine starts,

car drives away)

Kenton and me had us

a real unusual relationship.

He summed it up once

by saying,

"put out or get out."

So I decided to get out.

Mama says that the road to hell

is paved with good intentions.

I was barreling

down the express lane.

And I sure as hell never saw

any damn exit ramps, either.

So I started to try

and construct

my own exit ramps.

So much is missing

with daddy missing.

I wonder who's going to miss me

when I go missing.

Mama married daddy forever,

until death do them part.

Ironically, that obligation

was killing her.

Rena Jo Grubb,

what the hell are you doing?

Dying a slow and torturous death.

Baby, I've been doing that

for the last five years.

You hear anything about your brother?

He'll be home tonight, mama.

Don't worry.

Honey, get dressed.

I'll bet he's grown a foot.

Hope y'all recognize him.

Hey, boys and girls,

moms and dads,

come on down

to fun fun city

with rides, attractions,

amusements, and candy...

you better come in here

and do the dishes.

Mama wants things nice.

'Cause Jay's coming home.

So exciting...

you got any idea why

your sister's in that pool

like some mental patient?

What are you doing out there?

Sh*t!

Do they bite right in here?

Uncle Arno!

I got a...

thanks, uncle Arno,

for taking me fishing,

letting me tinker on the bikes

and stuff.

Don't you go changing.

That was the longest

four weeks of my life.

It's a lot like

being with daddy,

only he's a lot slower

and don't hit quite as hard.

Hey, Rena.

Welcome home, sissy boy.

Don't get up.

Mom.

Jay!

Baby.

It is so good

to see you!

Oh, my goodness,

you grew.

Did you like fishing

with your uncle Arno?

It was okay.

Yeah? Did you catch

anything?

I don't know.

Does he have anything?

You...

(laughing)

I'm going to go change.

Okay.

Rena, get your butt in here!

Your skings going to get all pruney.

Honey, your daddy

sent you another postcard.

Don't you even think about

tracking that mud in here.

Jay, get your sister a towel.

Jay!

Whatever, whatever.

Just give me this.

I love to read you

nursery rhymes

me and you, you know,

it's our private time

and I'll always

be with you

welcome home, Jay,

welcome home, Jay

welcome home, Jay,

Jay junior

welcome home, Jay,

welcome home, Jay

welcome home, Jay, Jay jun...

come on, you guys.

welcome home, Jay,

welcome home, Jay

welcome home,

Jay, Jay junior

Christ, he was only three trailers away.

Try eight.

I know, but we missed

our little baby boy.

So long as we're celebrating

and everything...

are we going to go

to daddy's picnic?

What picnic is that, honey?

The one they have every year.

The picnic.

You know, I think

it's the last weekend in June.

The annual picnic they have

every year in June, mama.

Honey, I probably

have to work that day.

It's been eight years.

I think it's important that

we go and see him sometimes.

We're not going.

I damn sure am not going.

Mama, I think we should go.

Please?

I'll think about it.

Yeah, well, don't hurt yourself,

all right?

I hate it when you think

about things.

It always means "no."

I wrote him saying we'd go,

so he's expecting us.

Did he mention the picnic

in his postcard?

No.

Interesting.

Morning, Faye.

Morning, Madge.

Your garden is looking so nice.

I've been meaning to tell you.

What do you want, Madge?

I've been thinking about taking

the kids to see John.

You think that's a good idea?

I think it's a dreadful idea.

But you should take Rena.

She needs to meet the son of a b*tch.

Right.

Okay, Faye, thanks.

You have a nice day now. OK.

Yeah, OK.

So we going?

I don't know.

What do you think?

I think it's a bad idea.

Well, I've still got a month

to get used to it.

You hungry?

Hm-mm.

Here.

All right.

Good night.

Night, baby.

"And slippery, slippery Sam,

he fell upon the ham."

It's bedtime now,

all right, Rena?

Your daddy loves you, okay?

Morning, Faye.

You know what I realized?

Our problems come

from not having a daddy around.

Everything sucks

'cause he's not around.

Why don't we just

go and see him?

It's not like

he's dead or nothing.

Especially since we practically

have ourselves an invitation.

I know he thinks about us.

I have every single postcard

he's ever sent me.

I thought I heard you

babbling away.

Want some cookies, hon?

No, that's okay.

But I made you... a rose.

I know you don't like

to pick yours, so...

how lovely.

I need it back, though, okay?

You know, Rena...

I think it is time

you did see your daddy.

You think so?

Uh-huh.

Yeah, I think so, too.

Hey, mama.

I brought you this.

Thank you, Rena.

What do you want?

Do you ever think that maybe

daddy doesn't do anything

because we never

tell him nothing?

Five minutes

of peace, please.

Well, I think he deserves

a chance to be a daddy.

Baby, sometimes I think

you don't remember

your daddy so good.

There's not that much

to remember.

A kiss on the cheek,

a bedtime story...

I just really

want to go, mama.

What is so important about

this damn picnic this year?

Because it is!

He's my dad!

Mama, please!

I really want to go.

Mama, please!

Okay, we'll go.

Okay, honey.

Will you go get me

a beer, please?

(delighted shriek)

Hurry up,

before someone sees.

Hey.

You know the rule.

I know.

Stay put.

I'm staying.

(rap music plays

on radio)

Knock, knock.

What do you want?

Baby, I said, "knock, knock."

How do you feel about

going to see your daddy?

I don't know.

It might be a good idea

for us all to go and see him.

I mean, is it something

you want to do,

or do you want to talk about...

I'll go.

Okay, we might have fun.

I don't know.

I'll be home after 6:00.

Why are you so sweaty?

It's hot in here.

Hey, you ever think about

going to the magic kingdom?

Not particularly.

I bet it's just about

the happiest place on earth.

Yeah, that's why

they call it

"the happiest place

on earth," mom.

I sure wish we could go there

instead of to see your daddy.

You're not really thinking

about going there, are you?

Rena wants to go.

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