Phoebe In Wonderland

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Happy birthday.

The next rule is:

"Good Job Jenny asks questions...

...only when it's time

for asking questions."

How will we know

when it's time for questions?

What did I just say

about asking questions?

But...

You may ask

when you can ask questions...

...when it's time

for asking questions.

Huh?

In this classroom,

we have some rules.

These are the same rules

we had last year.

Is that a question?

Class, what is the rule

about asking questions?

What do we know about

Good Job Jenny?

She deserves a slow

and painful death.

Anyone?

"'T was brillig...

"and the slithy toves

did gyre and gimble in the wabe.

"All mlmsy

were the borogoves...

...and the mome raths outgrabe."

That's Miss Dodger,

the new theater teacher.

Attend the tea party.

Writing?

Summoning the courage, failing.

Blackthorne's gonna publish me.

Oh, Peter.

It's a tiny academic press.

No, that's great.

Nobody'll read it.

It's great.

It is great.

It's the greatest thing

in the history of great.

I think you are.

Till I shrivel up

with resentment?

How was your day?

Good.

The girls?

Terrific.

I don't know

how you do it.

So yourwork examlnes

Alice in Wonderland?

Well, actually it's...it's...

"I have angst.

Sincerely, Olivia."

How does a seven-year-old

have angst?

You don't know the half of it.

Mozart was six when he wrote

his first opera.

I'm seven.

Well, he's only got a year

on you, sweetie.

You don't understand.

See?

A house of women

speaking their minds.

And...and her poetry,

it's like E.E. Cummings...

Phoebe too,

these rhythms and rhymes...

...and internal monologues.

You've never seen

anything like it.

Hillary is a terrific mother.

Mm, well...

Oh, no, please,

I insist, let me.

Thank you.

How's the book coming along?

Precarlous Enchantment.:

Wonderland and Perverslon,

right?

God, how awful.

So...

Well, sometimes I actually have time

to write a whole sentence.

Remember that next tlme

you cry, baby.

But don't you love

belng a mother?

God, yes.

Break your mother's back.

Step on a crack,

break your mother's back.

Step on a crack,

break your mother's back.

Step on a crack,

break your mother's back.

Is that a Patriot Girl doll

in your locker?

Katherine,

girl of strength and spirit...

...growing up in Philadelphia

during the American Revolution.

I had her.

I stuck needles

in her eyes.

I have Mary.

Mary, she's a Patriot Girl too,

except British.

She escaped the bombing

of London during World War II.

I know who she is.

She's a loser.

You think?

"You think?"

What are you looking for?

Money.

Yesterday I found a dollar.

I'm saving up

for Sings With Birds...

...the noble Sioux girl

growing up in 1732.

Do you want

my Katherine one?

Thanks, but I have it.

No!

No, don't touch me!

- No!

- I got you!

No, you didn't!

I'm not it!

Yes, you are.

No, you don't understand.

I can't be it.

Please don't make me be it.

Phoebe's it!

No!

I'm sorry.

Please don't tell.

Miss Reiter...

Phoebe spit at me!

Phoebe, it's only a game.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to.

Something's going on

with Phoebe.

Because she got upset

during tag?

She spat.

As I understand it,

all the other kids were running at her.

They were playing tag.

Exactly, it seems

pretty innocent to me.

It was the way it happened.

This is why little boys

who kiss little girls...

...get expelled

for sexual assault.

- All right, Hillary.

- No, I'm sorry.

It's just, we want

our kids to care...

...and then we worry

when they do.

We want them to show spirit,

and then punish it.

I really don't see

the problem here.

Is there something

going on at home?

I'm finishing a book.

That's about it.

Anythlng else?

Children are good at hiding.

No.

Do you think that something's

going on with Phoebe?

Something's always going on

with Phoebe.

She's different.

That's good.

But do you think...

No, I think it's just

the way they are.

This god damn

what-to-expect-this-second parenting.

You ever wonder if we're

too tuned in to our kids?

She wasn't accusing you

of anything.

Of course she was.

I hope Phoebe got her

with a good loogie.

Maybe I'm not spending

enough time with her.

We work.

Right?

I'll figure out

something special.

Please take you seats.

Look at the chandelier.

Thank you.

I can't wait.

I know.

Go.

Come on.

Here, take off your coat.

Oh, It's startlng.

She's changing.

The swan is turning

into a princess.

Look.

Why'd she take off her dress?

It's just her costume.

If I had a dress like that,

I'd never take it off.

You'd have to,

to wash it.

No, 'cause maybe

if I wore it long enough...

...one day I'd wake up,

and I'd be that person.

Smart girl.

You'd have to choose

your part carefully.

Oh, I would.

Believe me, I would.

Hey, don't look.

No room, no room.

I'm here to try out

for the play.

I'm the Mad Hatter.

This is the March Hare,

and that's the Dormouse.

Whatever.

I want to be Alice,

and I always get the lead.

How strange everything is today.

Let me think.

Was I the same

when I got up this morning?

Thank you.

Wouldn't you like to attend

the party as the White Queen?

Alice.

Right.

Dive in.

How strange is everything today.

Let me thlnk.

Was I the same when I got up

thls mornlng?

I'll make a killer Alice.

I look just like her.

Just Alice.

My daddy is sick rich.

I want Alice...

...and you should know

that I'm a depressive.

No room, no room.

Excuse me?

Oh, may I have some tea?

Welcome to the tea party.

A gift?

Most recently,

I did two seasons...

...in the Essex Playhouse

Theater Arts Workshop.

Indeed.

In The King and I,

I was featured as Phra Alack...

...the head servant.

Hmm.

Which role would you like

to try out for...

...the King of Hearts,

the White Knight?

The Queen of Hearts.

Unless...

No, no, no, no, no.

Please, be my guest.

Off with her head.

Phoebe Lichten?

Here.

Your tea party was scheduled

for 20 minutes ago.

"Your tea party was scheduled

for 20 minutes ago."

Sorry.

I'm so sorry.

I was washing

my hands.

I suppose you want to read

for Alice.

Hmm.

How strange everything

is today.

Let me think.

Thank you.

- That's it?

- That's it.

You don't want me

to read anymore?

No, thank you.

Can I please try it again?

That won't be necessary.

I'm sorry I was late.

I really am.

I had to...

I have to wash my hands

a certain number of times.

You can try again,

a little slower.

Go on.

Jump.

How strange everything is today.

Let me think.

Was I the same

when I got up this morning?

I almost think I can remember

feeling a little different.

But if I'm not the same,

the next question is...

...who in the world am I?

How'd your tryouts go?

How'd you find me here?

I made thls house.

It took a whlle.

How'd it go?

I think mine went well.

I practiced forever.

I was better at home.

Auditions are stressful.

When I wanted my baklng klt...

I prayed to God every night

for a whole month to get it.

Is that what you have to do?

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