This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:08] Iyvon Edebiri: Hello everyone. Welcome to the Parsnip Ship. I'm your host, Iyvon Edebiri. And tonight we are hearing a special episode from our Radio Roots writers group member Javier DeBruin.

[0:23] Iyvon Edebiri: Yay. Radio Roots supports dynamic playwrights interested in reengaging with playwriting through audio-focused storytelling. And we are recording tonight at the Mark O'Donnell Theater at the Entertainment Community Fund Arts Center in downtown Brooklyn. Thank you again for having us.

[0:44] Iyvon Edebiri: All right. So tonight we are hearing the play HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANGEL DEAREST by Javier Rivera DeBruin directed by Janelle Zapata Castellano. And our musician tonight is Miss Olithia.

[1:03] Iyvon Edebiri: OK. So we would like to begin our night by asking our playwright one question before we get to our first song and the play. Javier, what would the world be missing if it didn't have this play? And I'm going to say I've asked you this question probably the most out of all of the Parsnip playwrights. So I hope by now you have a process to answering this and you are no longer shy. OK. You can go.

[1:33] Javier Rivera DeBruin: Shyness cured. Without this play, the world would be missing a love letter to trans siblinghood specifically to me and my sibling and all of the wonderful genderful play that we had as children. And now that's my super awkward very shy.

[2:04] Iyvon Edebiri: You know the process to answer that you have gotten down. I love that for you. I think the next time when we have you I'm going to switch it up somehow. So I'm going to change a word or something. I'm going to trip it up.

[2:20] Iyvon Edebiri: OK. So we're going to get started with our night with our first song by our wonderful musician who I would love love love to welcome back. And I'm so glad that they're part of this other Parsnip episode. Miss Olithia. Thank you.

[2:45] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[3:15] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[3:45] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:15] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:18] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:21] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:24] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:27] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:30] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:33] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:36] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:39] Miss Olithia: Thank you.

[4:42] Miss Olithia: I should wear a warning. It's dangerous.

[4:47] Miss Olithia: I'm y'all know this one.

[4:58] Miss Olithia: I need to hit baby give me. It's dangerous.

[5:10] Miss Olithia: I can't come down. Losing my head spinning round and round.

[5:21] Miss Olithia: Do you feel me now? With a taste of your lips I'm on a ride. You're toxic I'm slipping.

[5:35] Miss Olithia: Undone taste of a fortress I'm addicted to you. Don't you know that you're toxic?

[5:44] Miss Olithia: Hey. Don't you know that you're toxic?

[5:50] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[5:53] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[5:56] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[5:59] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:02] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:05] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:08] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:11] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:14] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:17] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:20] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

[6:23] Miss Olithia: Ooh, yeah.

[6:26] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

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[6:35] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

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[6:40] Miss Olithia: Ooh, yeah.

[6:43] Miss Olithia: Yeah.

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[11:19] Miss Olithia: Okay.

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[14:00] Johnny the Pirate: Yeah.

[14:04] Johnny the Pirate: Johnny the Pirate lounges in a cramped basement atop a throne made of boxes, broken furniture, junk. From the ceiling, Angel falls. She lands in a heap of boxes with a loud thud.

[14:38] Johnny the Pirate: You made it! Well, that's funky.

[14:44] Johnny the Pirate: Uh, this looks like the basement of my parents' house.

[14:48] Johnny the Pirate: Where do you think you are?

[14:51] Angel: Uh, well, I was in the hospital so this is either...

[14:56] Johnny the Pirate: A fugue state or I'm astral projecting again.

[14:59] Angel: Astral projection?

[15:01] Johnny the Pirate: Neat trick if you can control it. Few people can though.

[15:04] Johnny the Pirate: Too messy if you ask me.

[15:06] Johnny the Pirate: No, no, no. What we have here is a simple space-time compression.

[15:11] Johnny the Pirate: Basically, I summoned you.

[15:14] Angel: Summoned me? With what?

[15:16] Johnny the Pirate: This.

[15:17] Angel: Is that a 1997 limited edition talk girl?

[15:21] Johnny the Pirate: Quite something.

[15:22] Angel: Can I look at it?

[15:24] Johnny the Pirate: In good time, Angel. But we're skipping past the usual social graces.

[15:29] Johnny the Pirate: I'm Johnny the Pirate.

[15:31] Angel: Hello, Johnny the Pirate.

[15:34] Angel: I'm Angel.

[15:35] Johnny the Pirate: I know. I summoned you.

[15:37] Angel: Oh yeah, right. Hey, can I ask a question?

[15:44] Johnny the Pirate: Be my guest.

[15:45] Angel: Why are you in my parents' basement anyway?

[15:50] Johnny the Pirate: A funny story, that one. You probably guessed by now that I'm a time pirate.

[15:55] Angel: Yeah, duh.

[16:00] Johnny the Pirate: Well, so you know that us time pirates, we're fairly nomadic beings like. It's always one dimension to another like bees to flowers, plucking up sentimental objects and pollinating a little chaos as we go. I used to be like that myself. But I'm tired, Angel. I'm tired of living off scraps of sentimentality. So I thought to myself, Johnny, why not do something truly unexpected and settle down?

[16:29] Angel: Ah, so you chose my parents' basement.

[16:31] Johnny the Pirate: It's quite elegant, wouldn't you say? Yes, this place is dripping with memory. There's got to be at least two, three generations worth of sentimentality down here. It beats the hospital.

[16:44] Johnny the Pirate: Got room for one more?

[16:45] Angel: I was hoping you'd ask. It'd be a pleasure to share this space with you. In fact, you can come here whenever you want.

[16:52] Johnny the Pirate: Get away from it.

[16:53] Angel: Where do I sign up?

[16:55] Johnny the Pirate: Well, it's not quite as simple as all that. I need permission. Let's just say us time pirates aren't exactly beloved. Some even see us as a nuisance. Takes the right kind of energy to compress space time.

[17:15] Angel: Ah, so that's why you're nomads.

[17:17] Johnny the Pirate: Partly, yes. It's delicate to stay in one place for any length of time. That, and we're mostly Geminis.

[17:25] Angel: I'm an Aquarius.

[17:28] Johnny the Pirate: Air signs usually understand.

[17:38] Johnny the Pirate: What was that?

[17:39] Johnny the Pirate: Right on cue. You feel that, Angel? That is the house trying to push me out. I don't have permission to be here yet. It's kind of like an immune system. Places like this, they can feel the energy disturbance of a time pirate. They reject us, try to force us out. We need energetic permission.

[18:02] Angel: So how do you get permission?

[18:05] Johnny the Pirate: I live here.

[18:05] Angel: Can I give it to you?

[18:07] Johnny the Pirate: Not quite, but you're on the right track. It's repetition that's key. You've got to have a retelling, a recapitulation of things past. Something strong enough to hang on to. Really get a hook into it.

[18:22] Angel: I think I do that a lot already.

[18:25] Johnny the Pirate: Yes, well, it's a delicate process. You know what? It's dry, really terribly boring. And after bringing you all this way, I'm more interested in you, Angel. So, Miss Aquarius, you have a birthday coming up?

[18:42] Angel: I don't know if I want to talk about that.

[18:44] Johnny the Pirate: Oh, come now. It's another year of life. The greatest gift of all. It deserves attention, honor, celebration.

[18:53] Angel: Yeah, well, how am I supposed to light my birthday candles? Can't have lighters in the hospital.

[19:01] Johnny the Pirate: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. The hospital is no place to have a birthday. We'll have to do something about that.

[19:09] Angel: Godspeed. I sure haven't had much luck.

[19:12] Johnny the Pirate: Angel, my dear, I'm hardly omnipotent. But being a time pirate does come with some perks. Let me see what I can do. More importantly, what do you want for your birthday?

[19:34] Angel: Well, there's this ice cream cake from Carvel. Ice cream cake, chocolate base, log cake, vanilla frosting, nut crunch outside, crunchy layer inside. Delicious all over. With a cherry on top.

[19:55] Johnny the Pirate: Bingo!

[20:07] Juno: Juno?

[20:16] Juno: Juno!

[20:18] Juno: Juno!

[20:22] Juno: Oh, Dios! You scared me! Come here and give me a hug.

[20:27] Angel: Sorry, June. I'm knocked, but I guess you didn't hear me. The door was open.

[20:30] Juno: Oh, don't worry about it. Lalo must have left it unlocked when he left to get Angel. I'm just so glad you're here. Please excuse the mess. I was just tidying up.

[20:39] Angel: Please don't apologize. Is there anything I can help with?

[20:42] Juno: Oh, don't be silly. Sit, sit. Can I get you anything? Water, tea, beer?

[20:47] Angel: Beer would be great. Thanks, June.

[20:50] Juno: They should be back any minute now. Oh, Angel would just be so thrilled to see you, Bobby.

[20:56] Bobby: Here you go.

[20:56] Juno: Thank you. I'm so glad I was in town for this.

[21:00] Bobby: How's Angel doing?

[21:02] Juno: Well, it's been a tough year, Bob. But touch wood, I think she's doing much better this go-around.

[21:08] Bobby: Glad to hear it. We weren't sure if they would let her out, but she's been on her best behavior lately, and everybody agreed this would be a nice thing for her. So she's got a six-hour pass.

[21:17] Juno: She's a special kid, that one. Always has been.

[21:20] Bobby: And how are you and Lalo holding up?

[21:25] Juno: We're fine. Just taking it all as it comes. It hasn't been easy, but today makes up for everything. I'm just so excited to have you all here. And Girlie's coming from the city. It's going to be a lovely little celebration.

[21:41] Bobby: That's great. I haven't seen Girlie in years. How's she doing?

[21:45] Juno: They. She, um, she uses they, them pronouns now. That is, um, they, Girlie goes by they now.

[21:55] Bobby: Oh, I didn't know. Cool. Now that you mention it, I think I did see something on Facebook. Well, thanks for the heads up.

[22:04] Juno: I'm not sure I understand it all myself, honestly. I mean, sometimes I think, what did I do as a parent to have two? But, you know, it's, it's not important. I don't have to get it to love my kids. I don't think any of us have to get it to love them. I think we just have to take them as they are. Didn't our parents have to do the same with us?

[22:27] Bobby: You got me there, Bob. But June, I don't think it's not anything you did. It's just, I think it's just who they both are.

[22:35] Juno: Well, they certainly always have been unmistakably themselves. And thank goodness for that. They're lucky to have you and Lalo as parents too, you know. Not everyone is as patient as you two.

[22:48] Bobby: It isn't always easy. But what else could I do but love them both with all my heart? Anyway, I'm just glad we can all spend this day together.

[22:58] Juno: Me too, June. Oh, speak of the devil. I think that must be Lalo and Angel.

[23:10] Angel: Hi. I swear they were playing Angel by Madonna at the Valley Drugs. And I think it was a sign because Emily used to always sing that to me.

[23:21] Juno: Hi, my girl. Yeah, give me a hug. I haven't seen Emily in years, but, you know, she's always trying to get in touch with me.

[23:29] Angel: Hi, Angel. Uncle Bobby's here. In the flesh.

[23:34] Angel: Wow. Well, this is a surprise.

[23:40] Angel: It must be my birthday.

[23:44] Angel: Hi, Bobby.

[23:45] Bobby: That's what a little birdie told me. Come here and give this old fogey a hug.

[23:50] Angel: Where's your dad?

[23:51] Angel: A car. He's coming.

[23:55] Angel: Where are you going, Angel?

[23:56] Angel: I want to get something from my room.

[23:57] Juno: Angel, we have a guest. Don't be rude.

[24:01] Angel: Not rude. I just have a thing to do.

[24:03] Lalo: Let her go, June. I'm sure she could use a little alone time.

[24:08] Lalo: Bobby, my man. How's it going?

[24:12] Bobby: Good to see you, bud. Sit down, take a load off. Have beer with me.

[24:16] Lalo: I would love a beer. I can get you one. How'd everything go?

[24:20] Bobby: Oh, fine. The nurses were lovely. They always say Angel is their favorite. Took us 20 minutes to get her dressed and ready to go. But I could have told you that would happen.

[24:32] Lalo: Have you heard from Gurley?

[24:34] Bobby: Not yet, and I'm beginning to worry. They said they pick up the cake on their way.

[24:40] Lalo: Gurley's a sharp kid. I'm sure they'll figure it out if anything comes up.

[24:45] Bobby: You've heard about the they thing, right, Bobby?

[24:49] Bobby: Yeah, I've been brought up to speed.

[24:52] Lalo: Well, with Angel, it was, well, not simple, but the change, it made sense to me. You know, a man, woman, take your pick. I guess I'm just very used to it being black and white, this and that. I love Gurley, and we told them nothing's going to change that. It's just hard to wrap my head around sometimes.

[25:19] Lalo: I'm adjusting. We're adjusting. We're all adjusted.

[25:23] Bobby: It's okay, Lalo.

[25:28] Lalo: Is that Bowie?

[25:30] Bobby: She always did have good taste in music, that one.

[25:33] Lalo: Angel! Turn it down, Coño, you'll bust your eardrums.

[25:38] Bobby: Sorry about that, Bobby.

[25:39] Lalo: Let her have her fun. A little Bowie never hurt no one. Plus, I can't remember the last time I got to jam out with a couple beers and Lalo here. Cheers, brother.

[25:50] Juno: Gurley, you made it!

[25:53] Gurley: Wes, what took you so long?

[25:55] Juno: Hi, Ma. Nice to see you, too.

[25:57] Gurley: Okay. Damelo, let me look at this cake.

[26:01] Juno: Hey there, stranger. Welcome, Bobby. It's so good to see you.

[26:05] Gurley: The cake looks great. I'll put it in the freezer.

[26:08] Juno: Thank you, Mije. Come give your pa a hug.

[26:11] Gurley: Hi, pa. Is Angel here?

[26:13] Juno: Upstairs. Join us, Gurley. We were just enjoying some beers while Angel DJs.

[26:18] Gurley: Are you staying the night?

[26:20] Gurley: I can't. I have a meeting tomorrow.

[26:22] Juno: On a Sunday?

[26:23] Gurley: Freelance life.

[26:24] Juno: What do you do these days, Gurley?

[26:26] Gurley: For money or fun? Take your pick.

[26:29] Juno: For money, I'm an editor.

[26:30] Gurley: Like, for films.

[26:32] Juno: For fun...

[26:34] Gurley: They're a drag queen!

[26:37] Juno: Hey, happy birthday, Glamour Puss! Angel, wow! Check you out! We fancy Angel!

[26:44] Juno: Now, what about this about you being a drag queen, Gurley?

[26:50] Gurley: That's it. I'm a drag queen. I do drag.

[26:52] Juno: Girl drag or boy drag?

[26:59] Gurley: A little of both. But my main persona is a high femme queen.

[27:04] Juno: Boys, I don't mean to be offensive, sweetie. But doesn't that defeat the purpose?

[27:14] Gurley: Of what?

[27:17] Juno: All this.

[27:20] Gurley: The purpose of all this is that I can dress however I want to dress. And that includes drag.

[27:26] Juno: Got any shows coming up? I'd love to check it out sometime.

[27:29] Gurley: What? I mean it! Maybe we could all go see one while I'm in town.

[27:32] Juno: That's okay, Uncle Bobby. I'm still getting back into the scene over here. Plus, work has been keeping me pretty busy. But I'll let you know, though, next time you're up this way.

[27:41] Juno: Maybe we could put on a show after dinner. For old time's sake, remember when we used to do those?

[27:48] Gurley: Maybe next time, Angel. So we can rehearse. Can I have a hug?

[27:55] Angel: You cut your hair.

[27:56] Gurley: I did.

[27:57] Angel: I like it.

[28:00] Gurley: You look very pretty, boy butch.

[28:04] Angel: A delicate dyke, if you will.

[28:07] Juno: Angel! Language! That's inappropriate.

[28:11] Gurley: It's okay, Ma. She can call me a dyke.

[28:16] Juno: Girlie, can I get you a drink?

[28:18] Gurley: Water's fine, thanks. I'd love some Malibu, if we have it.

[28:22] Juno: Absolutely not! No alcohol with your meds.

[28:27] Gurley: It's my birthday.

[28:29] Juno: Yes! And we can have a nice non-alcoholic surprise for you later.

[28:36] Juno: Come on in!

[28:37] Liam: Hello there, Ortiz-Bensons!

[28:40] Juno: Liam, what a lovely surprise!

[28:42] Liam: I... I invited him.

[28:46] Juno: Yes, I was summoned. If I'd known I was a surprise, I'd have brought confetti.

[28:51] Juno: Make yourself at home. Liam, this is my brother Bobby.

[28:55] Bobby: Half.

[28:57] Juno: Bobby is your half-brother.

[28:59] Liam: Yes, Angel. Bobby's my half-brother. But a brother's a brother, right?

[29:05] Bobby: Bobby, this is our neighbor, Mr. Quinn.

[29:08] Liam: Family's family in my book. Pleasure to meet you, Bobby.

[29:11] Bobby: Is this THE famous Mr. Quinn I've heard so much about?

[29:15] Liam: Well, if you've heard Wicked Little Things, that's probably me.

[29:18] Bobby: Far from it! The way Lalo here tells it, you're just as much family as any of us. They've certainly known each other long enough. Something special about watching each other's kids grow up before your eyes.

[29:28] Juno: Speaking of, happy birthday, Angel! How many years you got on you now?

[29:33] Angel: Thirty-three.

[29:35] Juno: You and Jesus. Watch out for those Romans, Angel.

[29:41] Liam: And who's this strapping young fella?

[29:44] Bobby: Hi, Mr. Quinn.

[29:46] Gurley: Girly! I hardly recognize you at this haircut. Very sharp. How you stayin'?

[29:54] Angel: It's good. I miss the weather. You can't beat Cali sunshine, but it's nice to be home.

[29:59] Girlie: I can't stand the sunshine. Not that much of it anyways.

[30:03] Angel: Damned if I trust somewhere this sunny all the time.

[30:06] Girlie: Glad to have you back on this coast.

[30:08] Liam: Well Angel, being that it's your birthday, I took the liberty of bringing you a little present. A little poem.

[30:15] Liam: Pearls of wisdom from someone who's been on this earth a lot longer than you.

[30:19] Angel: Okay.

[30:22] Liam: The Deacon's Masterpiece or the Wonderful One-Hoss Shea.

[30:30] Liam: A logical story by Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1809-1894.

[30:36] Angel: What the heck is a one-hoss shea?

[30:40] Liam: It's a horse and buggy, kind of like the carriages you see in Central Park.

[30:47] Angel: How does anyone write a whole poem about a horse and buggy?

[30:50] Liam: It's a delicate process. I'd imagine you'd have to read it to find out.

[30:57] Liam: Have you heard of the Wonderful One-Hoss Shea?

[31:03] Girlie: Not now, Angel. Dinner's almost ready.

[31:06] Liam: That was built in such a logical way, it ran a hundred years to a day.

[31:14] Angel: So this horse and buggy ran for a hundred years?

[31:17] Liam: They don't make them like they used to.

[31:19] Girlie: Angel, did you hear me?

[31:21] Angel: I heard you. I'll read until dinner.

[31:37] Girlie: What if we read it together? We could take turns and each read a couple of lines.

[31:41] Angel: I like that idea.

[31:42] Girlie: Fine by me.

[31:43] Liam: I think you lost the popular vote in this one, Lola.

[31:45] Girlie: All right, all right.

[31:48] Liam: I'll go.

[31:50] Liam: Find it somewhere you must and will, above or below, or within or without.

[31:56] Liam: And that's the reason, beyond a doubt, a shea's breaks down but doesn't wear out.

[32:01] Angel: So if you could really just identify the weakling in something, in anything really, wouldn't you just fix that and solve everything?

[32:10] Girlie: Sounds like you and the deacon have the same idea.

[32:13] Angel: I don't know, Angel. Do you really think it's that simple? Wouldn't there just be some other problem to pop up and replace it?

[32:20] Angel: Let's find out.

[32:22] Liam: The deacon swore, as deacons do, he'd build one shea that couldn't break down.

[32:27] Liam: For, said the deacon, tis mighty plain that the weakest place must stand the strain.

[32:34] Liam: And the way to fit it, I maintain, is only just to make that place as strong as the rest.

[32:40] Girlie: Guess it's my turn.

[32:42] Girlie: She was a wonder and nothing less.

[32:45] Girlie: Colts grew horses, beards turned grey, deacon and deaconers dropped away.

[32:50] Girlie: But there stood the stout old one-horse shea.

[32:53] Girlie: There are traces of age in the one-horse shea, a general flavor of mild decay, but nothing local, as one might say.

[33:00] Angel: See? It's perfect.

[33:02] Girlie: Ah, but the poem's not done yet.

[33:04] Angel: Jeez, how long is this thing?

[33:07] Girlie: Okay, okay, I'll read it.

[33:12] Girlie: And yet, as a whole, it is past a doubt.

[33:17] Girlie: In another hour it will be worn out.

[33:21] Girlie: First of November, fifty-five.

[33:24] Girlie: This morning the parson takes a drive.

[33:28] Girlie: Now, small boys, get out of the way.

[33:31] Girlie: Here comes the wonderful one-horse shea.

[33:36] Girlie: All at once the horse stood still.

[33:38] Girlie: First a shiver and then a thrill.

[33:40] Girlie: Then something decidedly like a spill.

[33:43] Girlie: The poor old shea is in a heap or bound, as if it had been to the mill and ground.

[33:48] Angel: What?

[33:50] Girlie: To see, of course, if you are not a dunce, how it went to pieces all at once.

[33:55] Girlie: All at once and nothing first, just as bubbles do when they burst.

[34:00] Girlie: And the wonderful one-horse shea.

[34:03] Girlie: Logic is logic, that's all I'll say.

[34:06] Angel: Shit.

[34:09] Angel: I can't believe it just fell to pieces like that.

[34:13] June: Dinner's ready.

[34:15] June: Liam, please stay. There's plenty to go around.

[34:18] Liam: I'd be delighted.

[34:20] Liam: Though I'm afraid you just missed a rousing group reading of Angel's birthday poem.

[34:24] June: Perhaps this calls for an encore?

[34:26] Liam: Oh, I think I caught enough of it.

[34:29] June: All right, great. Dinner time.

[34:35] Angel: Maybe there was something the deacon missed.

[34:38] Angel: I mean, for the magnificent one-horse shea to just fall apart like that, it doesn't make sense.

[34:45] Girlie: And what can we learn from that?

[34:47] Angel: Sometimes things fall apart.

[34:49] Girlie: Maybe there's nothing we can ever really do to prevent that.

[34:52] Angel: Well, I don't agree with that.

[34:54] Angel: I have to believe that something different is possible.

[34:57] Angel: It's never just over and done with like that.

[35:00] Angel: You just need to rebuild.

[35:03] Girlie: Now there's a thought.

[35:05] Girlie: When it falls to pieces, rebuild.

[35:08] Angel: Question is, with what materials?

[35:12] Girlie: Whatever's left.

[35:14] Girlie: Whatever's around.

[35:16] Angel: I guess you can replace some parts if you need to, but you can't just give up.

[35:20] Girlie: People give up on things too quickly.

[35:23] Angel: You've got a point there, Angel.

[35:25] Angel: Seems like these days everything is disposable.

[35:27] Girlie: Time was, if something broke, you just fixed it.

[35:29] Angel: Now it doesn't even have to be broken.

[35:31] Angel: We just replace it.

[35:33] Girlie: Like cell phones.

[35:35] Angel: Girlies always trying to get me to change mine.

[35:39] Angel: And I keep telling them it works just fine.

[35:43] Girlie: Pa, you have a flip phone.

[35:55] Angel: So you can barely text with that thing.

[35:57] Girlie: Let alone check your email or look something up.

[36:00] Angel: I have my computer for that.

[36:02] Angel: Besides, my phone bill stays low and my battery lasts for days.

[36:10] Girlie: That's more than I can save for your fancy iPhone.

[36:14] Liam: He's got you there.

[36:16] Girlie: What is so wrong with replacing things?

[36:18] Girlie: I mean, it's all supposed to work for me, right?

[36:21] Girlie: I don't get this arbitrary loyalty to objects.

[36:24] Girlie: We are supposed to own our stuff, not the other way around.

[36:27] Angel: And would you say you own your phone or would you say your phone owns you?

[36:34] Girlie: I see what you're doing, but it's different.

[36:38] Girlie: Phones are more than just phones now.

[36:41] Girlie: They have more uses.

[36:43] Liam: Aye, and along with that, more dependencies.

[36:46] Liam: How many times have you checked your phone today?

[36:49] Girlie: So far, I count 12 times in the last hour.

[36:52] Liam: I got to say, those things are really messing with our attention spans.

[36:56] Liam: Time used to be we sat down and read the paper each morning.

[36:59] Girlie: Now we stare at our phones.

[37:01] Angel: I still read the paper.

[37:03] Girlie: Me too.

[37:04] Girlie: The sports section, anyway.

[37:06] Liam: But you can read the news on your phone.

[37:09] Girlie: What's the difference if you're doing it one way or another?

[37:12] Liam: I'll tell you the difference.

[37:14] Liam: It's addiction.

[37:16] Liam: A newspaper is just a newspaper.

[37:19] Liam: But a phone is a whole portal to another dimension.

[37:24] Girlie: Sure, it starts with the news.

[37:28] Girlie: But then before you know it, you're already halfway to the dark web.

[37:32] Angel: That shit's like virtual heroin.

[37:35] Angel: Once you dip your toes in, there's no turning back.

[37:38] Girlie: Don't you think that's a little extreme?

[37:41] Angel: Have you ever been to the dark web?

[37:46] Girlie: I can't say that I have.

[37:50] Angel: Is that a website or something?

[37:52] Girlie: Well, I have.

[37:55] Girlie: It's a sick and twisted place.

[37:57] Girlie: But I got out.

[37:59] Angel: You got to be ecstatically resilient to get yourself out of a place like that.

[38:04] Girlie: You definitely are that.

[38:06] Angel: Mostly.

[38:07] Angel: I just got lucky.

[38:08] Angel: I am no superhero after all.

[38:10] Angel: I'm just a normal gal.

[38:12] Girlie: It's scary how normal I am now.

[38:16] Angel: No thanks, the dark web.

[38:19] Girlie: I'm not so sure normal's all it's cracked up to be.

[38:22] Girlie: There are scarier places than the dark web.

[38:24] Angel: And I've seen those too.

[38:26] Girlie: But the problem with the dark web is you've got no control.

[38:30] Angel: It's the illusion of control.

[38:32] Girlie: But it's a lie.

[38:34] Angel: Wouldn't you say control's a lie?

[38:37] Girlie: No matter where you are?

[38:39] Angel: No.

[38:40] Angel: We can always control how we treat other people.

[38:43] Angel: That's not a lie.

[38:45] Girlie: We all got to have some kind of responsibility to each other.

[38:48] Angel: That's true.

[38:49] Angel: Girlie, I have to show you something.

[38:51] Girlie: What is it, Angel?

[38:52] Angel: I think you just need to see it to understand.

[38:54] Girlie: All right.

[38:55] Angel: Where is it?

[38:56] Angel: The basement.

[38:57] Girlie: What's that about the basement?

[39:00] Liam: Angel wants to show us something.

[39:01] Angel: No, not you. Just Girlie.

[39:02] Girlie: Angel, I don't want you going down to that basement.

[39:04] Girlie: There's junk everywhere.

[39:06] Girlie: I'm not even sure there's a clear path to walk through.

[39:09] Angel: Ma, maybe we could just look quickly.

[39:10] Angel: If it takes too long, we'll come right back up.

[39:12] Angel: I know exactly where it is.

[39:14] Girlie: Obviously.

[39:15] Girlie: I'm still going through your abuela's things, and I don't want anything to get messed up or misplaced.

[39:20] Angel: Look, I can handle the dark web. I can handle the basement.

[39:25] Girlie: Well, you'll have to handle it another time, or dinner will be cold.

[39:29] June: This smells delicious, June.

[39:31] June: What did you say it is?

[39:33] June: Arroz con dulce.

[39:35] June: Rice and pigeon peas.

[39:37] Angel: Does this have any ham in it?

[39:38] June: I don't eat pork.

[39:40] Girlie: Since when?

[39:41] Angel: I'm kosher now.

[39:42] Angel: Keeps my mind clear.

[39:46] June: Well, you're lucky I made it vegetarian for Girlie.

[39:49] Girlie: Oh, I'm not a vegetarian anymore.

[39:51] Girlie: I can't keep up with you kids.

[39:55] June: Great, Ma. He's perfect.

[39:57] June: Well, I'm thrilled.

[39:58] June: Last time I had rice and peas, I was in the Bronx visiting a dear old friend of mine, Johnny the Pirate.

[40:06] Angel: Did you say Johnny the Pirate?

[40:09] June: Oh, yes.

[40:11] June: He's a real pirate, too.

[40:13] June: Used to sneak on rich folks' boats in the City Island Yacht Club.

[40:17] June: I think he stole a skull from the Smithsonian once.

[40:22] Girlie: Robbing a thief.

[40:24] Girlie: It sounds like Robin Hood.

[40:26] Angel: How did you meet a real-life pirate?

[40:28] June: Well, it's a funny story.

[40:32] June: I taught in the Bronx for many years.

[40:35] June: And one year, I went to a Halloween party being thrown by an English teacher.

[40:39] June: And Johnny was there, too.

[40:41] June: And full regalia.

[40:43] June: At the time, I assumed it was a costume.

[40:46] June: Cut to the end of the night, and I'm walking back to the train.

[40:50] June: I'm sorry to say I had indulged in one too many drinks.

[40:56] June: And so I'm stumbling along Fordham Road.

[40:59] June: And these two kids come up behind me and start heckling me for my wallet.

[41:03] June: When out of nowhere, who should appear but Johnny the Pirate?

[41:07] June: The kids laughed him off, and I didn't blame them.

[41:10] June: Until he pulled a broadsword out of his scabbard.

[41:13] June: He chased him a block and a half with that thing before bursting out in laughter.

[41:17] June: I asked what he planned to do if he caught him.

[41:20] June: He just laughed again and said he'd never heard of fella pirate.

[41:23] June: But he had to teach him a valuable lesson.

[41:26] June: If you're gonna start trouble, always carry the bigger sword.

[41:32] Girlie: Odd fella.

[41:34] June: Still, I felt indebted to him in a way.

[41:37] June: He used to visit him from time to time, but I haven't seen him in years.

[41:40] June: I didn't even know if he's still alive.

[41:43] Angel: I've met him.

[41:45] Girlie: Well, I wouldn't put it past either of you.

[41:48] June: Johnny is over here popping up when you least expect it.

[41:51] June: He's coming tonight. I invited him.

[41:54] Angel: I hope he leaves the sword at home.

[41:57] June: Why don't we say grace, yes?

[41:59] Girlie: Great idea, honey. I can say it tonight.

[42:02] Angel: I'd like to say grace, actually.

[42:05] June: All right, Angel, go ahead.

[42:09] Angel: Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ our Lord.

[42:18] June: Amen.

[42:19] Angel: I wasn't done yet.

[42:23] Angel: Thank you, Lord, for bringing all of us here today.

[42:27] Angel: I know it hasn't been easy to pull off, but I want to say it's worth it.

[42:35] June: Amen.

[42:36] Liam: That was a top-notch prayer, Angel.

[42:39] June: Yes, it was lovely.

[42:41] Girlie: Okay, dig in, everyone.

[42:47] June: Delicious, June.

[42:48] June: It's no accident, you know, that we're all together like this.

[42:53] Angel: It's no accident.

[42:55] Angel: It's your birthday.

[42:56] Angel: Did you like your dinner?

[42:58] Angel: Yeah, it's great.

[42:59] Angel: But what I mean to say is, there is kismet in the air tonight, if you will.

[43:04] Girlie: What kind of kismet?

[43:11] Angel: The healing kind.

[43:14] Angel: We had to get the tone and the ratio of people just right.

[43:18] Angel: It had to have the right energy.

[43:20] Girlie: What energy?

[43:21] Angel: Well, I can't say exactly. Magician's secret.

[43:25] Girlie: You practice brujería, don't you, girly?

[43:28] Angel: It's a ritual that's done to help the friends and the family.

[43:31] Girlie: Why?

[43:32] Angel: You trying to cast a spell?

[43:34] Girlie: Kind of.

[43:35] Angel: More of a ritual, spiritual journey.

[43:39] Girlie: I don't know about all this woo-woo stuff at the dinner table.

[43:44] Angel: That's the best place to talk about woo-woo stuff.

[43:47] Angel: Sharing a meal is a kind of spiritual practice.

[43:50] Girlie: That's why you always say grace first.

[43:52] Angel: You didn't say a word during grace.

[43:54] Girlie: Not all prayers are spoken, pa.

[43:57] Angel: Prayers.

[43:58] Angel: Prayers come in all forms, mi amor.

[44:00] Girlie: I don't know.

[44:01] Girlie: Careful there, Lalo.

[44:03] Girlie: Your Catholic upbringing is showing.

[44:05] Angel: I should know.

[44:06] Angel: I've got Irish Catholic battle scars that run deep as the rest of them.

[44:10] Girlie: Are you still Catholic?

[44:12] Angel: Agnostic.

[44:14] Girlie: I didn't know I was up there pulling the strings to all this.

[44:17] Angel: But I'll be damned if any thousand-year-old book will tell me.

[44:20] Angel: I'm a Catholic by birth, but I'm thinking my vibe is a bit more Unitarian Universalist, which is pretty close to agnostic, I guess.

[44:34] Angel: I think it's all true a little bit, but I do like rituals.

[44:39] Angel: Catholics have good rituals.

[44:42] Angel: You know, a lot of traditional African and indigenous religious practices hid their deities behind Catholic iconography.

[44:50] Angel: So, in a way, the ritual helped protect some pre-colonial traditions.

[44:55] Girlie: Mira, none of that Santeria crap.

[44:59] Angel: Quiere de malarlo.

[45:01] Girlie: You know our abuelas were all brujas.

[45:04] Angel: I'm sure they're proud to know some of the tradition lives on. It's a celebration of ancestors and nature.

[45:10] Girlie: It's racism that created this fear around it.

[45:14] Angel: I don't know.

[45:16] Girlie: Well, I think we can all agree to each their own and respect each other's right to believe in whatever they want. It's what America's all about, isn't it?

[45:23] Angel: Sometimes.

[45:31] Girlie: Okay, but I think we're straying from the point here, which is that, since it's my birthday, I called you all here today, and there's a very special purpose besides eating ice cream cake.

[45:39] Angel: What's that?

[45:48] Girlie: I'm on a spiritual mission.

[45:50] Angel: What kind of spiritual mission?

[45:52] Girlie: I'll get to that. But first, girly, could I speak to you privately for a moment in the kitchen?

[45:59] Angel: Angel, we're just starting.

[46:00] Girlie: Okay, Angel, let's go. It'll just be a minute. It's fine.

[46:06] Angel: She barely even touched her food.

[46:08] Girlie: What's up, Angel?

[46:09] Angel: Okay, girly, I have something very important to show you. I can't tell you here. The others, they're not ready yet. Follow me.

[46:21] Girlie: Is this the basement thing?

[46:23] Angel: Okay, but we got to be quiet and quick, or I think we're going to give Ma a heart attack.

[46:29] Girlie: I don't know.

[46:31] Angel: Maybe Ma was right.

[46:33] Girlie: No.

[46:34] Angel: It's pretty gnarly down here.

[46:35] Girlie: Nah, no, it's perfect. Some of this stuff must be older than we are. I mean, I guess it's always been down here. I just never really thought of it that way for whatever reason.

[46:45] Angel: Yeah, I must be the patron saint of forgotten things.

[46:51] Girlie: Listen, I'm sorry I've been MIA recently. I haven't forgotten about you. I know it must be lonely, and it's not that I don't care. It's just it's hard for me to get up there without a car, you know? And I never know if I'm going to be able to reach you on the payphone. I tried calling a couple of times. It's no excuse, really. But I've been busy at work. And the move. I guess I just want you to know I'm still thinking of you. I love you, Angel.

[47:26] Angel: I think someone must have moved it. I swear, it was right here in this bin.

[47:32] Girlie: Angel, did you hear what I said?

[47:34] Angel: Yeah, I heard. It's okay. I know you're there. Plus, sometimes when I can't get you on the phone, I try to reach you other ways. We're psychically linked, you know.

[47:48] Girlie: Yeah, I know. But it would still be nice to hear your voice on the phone sometimes, too.

[47:56] Angel: Ah! I found it.

[47:58] Girlie: So, what is it?

[48:00] Angel: This.

[48:02] Girlie: A cassette player?

[48:04] Angel: Is that a talk girl?

[48:06] Girlie: It's a time machine.

[48:14] Angel: This is not a time machine.

[48:24] Narrator: A small, mid-90s bedroom. A pastel palace cluttered with second-hand toys. Angel and Girlie sit in a heap of doll parts.

[48:37] Ken: Hey, baby. What's up? I'm Ken. Do you like my leg?

[48:41] Girlie: But, Ken! Where are all your clothes?

[48:47] Ken: Who needs clothes when you have these abs?

[48:51] Girlie: Ken, can I see your, um, thing?

[48:57] Ken: It's a bulge, baby. You like it?

[49:01] Girlie: But, Ken! It's so smooth!

[49:07] Ken: Uh, yeah. It's so smooth, baby.

[49:10] Girlie: Ew! Ken! Stop!

[49:13] Ken: Not baby. I'm on a rock.

[49:15] Girlie: Ah!

[49:17] Ken: Uh-oh. What's that? Is that...

[49:21] Girlie: Is that a... I think it's a...

[49:23] Ken: Earthquake!

[49:25] Girlie: No!

[49:29] Ken: Oh, no, Ken! You've been crushed by a bulldozer!

[49:33] Girlie: Don't worry, baby. Nothing can demolish this bod.

[49:40] Angel: Oh, Ken. I'm so glad you're safe.

[49:44] Ken: All in a day's work, babe.

[49:47] Girlie: Ken, stop! I have to fix my hair.

[49:53] Angel: Uh, Angel?

[49:55] Girlie: I'm fixing her hair.

[49:57] Angel: Her hair is fine now, Angel. Come on.

[49:59] Girlie: Just one more sec.

[50:00] Angel: You're always doing this. Why are you so obsessed with her hair, anyway?

[50:03] Girlie: It's red.

[50:04] Angel: You're ruining the game.

[50:05] Girlie: It's no game.

[50:06] Angel: Whatever. If you don't play it right, I'm not gonna play Que Barbara with you.

[50:09] Girlie: What? Oh! I wanna play Que Barbara! Can we play now?

[50:12] Angel: I'm not even in the mood anymore.

[50:14] Girlie: No, please! We gotta play anything for Que Barbara!

[50:19] Angel: Okay, fine. We can play, but you have to do the dance first. So I know you're serious about this.

[50:25] Girlie: Look at her! Ay, Que Barbara! See her strut in those heels!

[50:36] Angel: The dream of a million boys, oh, so pretty! Can come true in the big, bright city!

[50:46] Girlie: You could even turn out to be the queen of femininity!

[50:51] Angel: Mira tú, ay, Que Bárbara! When you look as pretty as you feel!

[51:00] Girlie: With so many beauties, she'll take the town by storm with her guapissima face and form!

[51:09] Angel: Ay, Bárbara, she is walking on air! She is más linda of them all she is!

[51:18] Girlie: Ay, Que Bárbara! There she is, ladies and gentlemen, La Bárbara, 1997!

[51:30] Angel: Thank you, thank you. Wow, what an honor! I just want to say, if it weren't for all of you who believed in me, I wouldn't be here today, and I want you to know you're all beautiful, each and every single one of you.

[51:56] Girlie: Woo, woo, you're La Bárbara!

[52:00] Angel: Okay, okay, it's my turn. I want to be Bárbara, disco diva edition.

[52:05] Girlie: Oh, can we be like a 70s girl group?

[52:09] Angel: Angel, it's my turn. And there's only two of us, so two isn't a group. It's pretend.

[52:16] Girlie: Fine, but I sing lead.

[52:17] Angel: Okay, can I be the sexy one? There's always a sexy one in the girl groups.

[52:27] Girlie: Well, if you really want to be the sexy one, you have to wear dark red lipstick. You got any?

[52:32] Angel: Duh. Here it is. Mystic Merlot.

[52:40] Girlie: Where'd you get all that? Aunt Magali, hold still.

[52:46] Angel: Okay, now press.

[52:50] Girlie: Okay, there. I look good.

[52:56] Angel: We should do your eye makeup. Blue Lagoon or Electric Eel.

[53:00] Girlie: Jade Dragon.

[53:03] Angel: Do you think it goes?

[53:04] Girlie: That's the one that I want.

[53:05] Angel: Okay, pick a color for the crease.

[53:08] Girlie: Peacock Parade.

[53:11] Angel: Look at her. Ay, que bárbara. Am I pretty?

[53:19] Girlie: I don't know. You're a boy.

[53:22] Angel: Boys can be pretty.

[53:24] Girlie: Like who?

[53:25] Angel: Boy...

[53:27] Girlie: George.

[53:29] Angel: Who's that?

[53:32] Girlie: Leonardo DiCaprio.

[53:34] Angel: I guess. Hanson.

[53:37] Girlie: Ew, they look like girls.

[53:39] Angel: So? They're pretty.

[53:40] Girlie: I don't like it.

[53:41] Angel: Why?

[53:42] Girlie: Girls are supposed to be girls and boys are supposed to be boys.

[53:46] Angel: That's boring.

[53:48] Girlie: What about G.I. Jane?

[53:51] Angel: I like her.

[53:56] Girlie: Well, she dresses like a boy and she has short hair. She's still pretty though. Maybe people can be tough and pretty.

[54:06] Angel: I guess, but not boys.

[54:08] Girlie: Why not?

[54:09] Angel: I don't know, it just is. Some things just are. Boys are boys or else they're gay.

[54:16] Girlie: What are gay boys then?

[54:20] Angel: I guess they're girly boys.

[54:22] Girlie: You're a girly boy.

[54:24] Angel: Hey!

[54:25] Girlie: Ow!

[54:26] Angel: Sorry.

[54:27] Girlie: Just girly then. That could be your nickname.

[54:33] Angel: Girly.

[54:34] Girlie: I like that. I mean, I guess gay boys are better anyway. They're more fun.

[54:39] Angel: What about gay girls?

[54:42] Girlie: They are not fun.

[54:45] Angel: Not even G.I. Jane?

[54:47] Girlie: G.I. Jane isn't gay. She's just badass.

[54:50] Angel: Gay girls? They just wear a lot of plaid and shop at Home Depot.

[54:59] Girlie: G.I. Jane wears camo. But she's still pretty.

[55:03] Angel: It's important to be pretty.

[55:05] Girlie: I guess. What I want to know is how come drag queens get to have all the fun? They get to wear big makeup and sparkles and have fun.

[55:15] Angel: Don't all girls?

[55:17] Girlie: Not like drag queens. They get to do it extra big.

[55:21] Angel: So? Why can't you?

[55:24] Girlie: I don't know. It would be weird. People would say, you wear too much makeup.

[55:28] Angel: But drag queens get to dance and lip sync and put on a show.

[55:32] Girlie: We could put on a show.

[55:36] Angel: What kind of show?

[55:38] Girlie: Whatever we want.

[55:42] Angel: Careful. I'm going to mess up your eyes.

[55:44] Girlie: Okay, okay. But do you want to do it?

[55:46] Angel: Well, yeah. I mean, what kind of girl group would we be if we didn't put on a show?

[55:51] Girlie: But I want makeup too.

[55:54] Angel: Okay. Do you want me to do it?

[55:56] Girlie: Do you even know how to do makeup?

[55:58] Angel: How hard could it be?

[55:59] Girlie: It's kind of an art, Angel.

[56:01] Angel: So?

[56:03] Girlie: Let me practice.

[56:05] Angel: Well, okay. But you got to let me show you what to do first.

[56:08] Girlie: Oh, we're going to be superstars.

[56:12] Angel: Done. Take a look.

[56:16] Girlie: I'm beautiful.

[56:18] Angel: Way prettier than handsome.

[56:21] Girlie: Okay, my turn. I want bubblegum blush on my lips. And then for my eyes, baby spice blue and perfect pearl.

[56:30] Angel: Okay, so first you're going to put this color all over my eyes. It's important to put the lightest one on all over first. Then you take the baby spice and you put it here.

[56:39] Girlie: Like that?

[56:42] Angel: No, no, Angel, that's too much. Even for a drag queen?

[56:45] Girlie: But I can't be a drag queen. I'm a girl.

[56:49] Angel: Says who?

[56:51] Girlie: The rules.

[56:55] Angel: Does G.I. Jane follow the rules?

[57:00] Girlie: No.

[57:01] Angel: So why should we?

[57:04] Girlie: Okay.

[57:06] Angel: Then I want glitter. Lots.

[57:09] Girlie: Okay, other eye now. You know, if we're going to be drag queen pop stars, we should really have good stage names.

[57:15] Angel: I want to be Cat Sparkles.

[57:22] Girlie: I'll be Mistress Genesis Flores. Miss Jenny, if you're nasty.

[57:27] Angel: You're weird. Are you done yet?

[57:36] Girlie: Almost.

[57:39] Angel: Angel.

[57:41] Girlie: I don't want to be a girl all the time.

[57:43] Angel: Be a girl part time.

[57:47] Girlie: What would I be the rest of the time?

[57:49] Angel: You would just be you. You'd be girly.

[57:51] Girlie: I think I'm a girl sometimes too.

[57:57] Angel: But Angel, you are a girl.

[57:59] Girlie: All done.

[58:01] Angel: Okay. I'm a drag queen.

[58:08] Girlie: That was fun. I can't believe you clocked me as a pretty boy queen so young. I should have listened to you sooner.

[58:16] Angel: But what did you want to show me here?

[58:19] Girlie: Angel! Meds!

[58:22] Angel: Shit. Not yet.

[58:24] Girlie: Oh, it's too early.

[58:26] Angel: Angel, what's wrong?

[58:28] Girlie: Why did you...

[58:30] Angel: You weren't supposed to...

[58:32] Girlie: I wanted to show you...

[58:34] Angel: Angel! Meds!

[58:36] Girlie: Just a minute, Mother!

[58:37] Angel: Show me what?

[58:39] Girlie: We could be like that again. The way things used to be.

[58:44] Angel: What do you mean?

[58:45] Girlie: Angel! Meds!

[58:47] Angel: Just a minute, Mother!

[58:48] Girlie: Why does Mom's voice sound like that?

[58:50] Angel: It's unspooling. We haven't got much time. We have to get back.

[58:53] Girlie: I still don't know how we got here.

[58:56] Angel: The talk girl.

[58:58] Girlie: Johnny the pirate showed me.

[59:00] Angel: Angel, I don't think he's...

[59:01] Girlie: There's no time for that. We could be like that again. A team. Together.

[59:09] Angel: Angel! Meds!

[59:11] Girlie: Just a minute, Mother!

[59:13] Angel: I don't know what you mean. You're scaring me.

[59:17] Girlie: I want to come home.

[59:19] Angel: I know that, but you can't right now. Not until you're better.

[59:22] Girlie: No. Not this home. I want to come live with you.

[59:29] Angel: Angel, I don't think that's a good idea.

[59:31] Girlie: Angel! Meds!

[59:34] Angel: Well, it's either you or the basement.

[59:36] Girlie: The basement? It's too late.

[59:47] Girlie: Angel! Meds!

[59:49] Johnny: Round the world and home again, that's the sailor's way.

[59:53] Angel: I want something else.

[59:55] 9-1-1 Operator: Is she a danger to herself or others?

[59:57] Girlie: Faster!

[59:58] Johnny: We're going too fast.

[59:59] Girlie: In between.

[1:00:00] 9-1-1 Operator: 9-1-1, what's your emergency?

[1:00:02] Angel: I want something else.

[1:00:04] Girlie: They're trying to kill me!

[1:00:06] Johnny: Go to bed, girly. You're not helping.

[1:00:08] Angel: To get me through this.

[1:00:10] Girlie: In between.

[1:00:11] 9-1-1 Operator: I'm gonna need you to calm down.

[1:00:13] Johnny: We're going too fast.

[1:00:14] 9-1-1 Operator: What is the patient's name?

[1:00:16] Girlie: There she is! I get butterflies!

[1:00:19] 9-1-1 Operator: Is she a danger to herself or others?

[1:00:22] 9-1-1 Operator: I'm sorry, you can't go in there. Wait here, please.

[1:00:24] 9-1-1 Operator: I'm gonna need you to calm down.

[1:00:29] 9-1-1 Operator: What's your emergency?

[1:00:30] Angel: To get me through this.

[1:00:32] Girlie: She wants to know what you think she should do.

[1:00:34] Girlie: Should she go to the hospital?

[1:00:36] Angel: There's no earthly way or no one.

[1:00:38] Girlie: In between.

[1:00:40] Girlie: Which direction we're going?

[1:00:42] Angel: They're trying to kill me!

[1:00:44] Girlie: Faster! Faster!

[1:00:46] Johnny: To bed!

[1:00:47] Angel: I want something else.

[1:00:49] 9-1-1 Operator: 9-1-1, what's your emergency?

[1:00:51] Girlie: Hello? It's my sister.

[1:00:53] Girlie: Something's not right. I think she needs help.

[1:00:56] Johnny: We're there!

[1:00:57] Girlie: Where?

[1:00:58] Johnny: Here!

[1:00:59] Johnny: All ashore!

[1:01:03] Girlie: Angel?

[1:01:06] Girlie: Are you okay?

[1:01:09] Girlie: Where are you?

[1:01:11] Girlie: Angel?

[1:01:14] Girlie: Say something, please!

[1:01:17] Girlie: Angel?

[1:01:19] Girlie: What's happening? Are you there?

[1:01:22] Girlie: Angel!

[1:01:24] Angel: I'm sorry!

[1:01:26] Angel: I take it back!

[1:01:28] Angel: I'm sorry!

[1:01:31] Girlie: I think you dropped this.

[1:01:33] Girlie: What the?

[1:01:35] Girlie: This lipstick's yours, isn't it?

[1:01:37] Angel: Give me that! Why do you have a sword?

[1:01:39] Johnny: Oh, this thing.

[1:01:42] Johnny: No, no, no, it's just a very large pencil, see?

[1:01:46] Girlie: Okay, why do you have a very large pencil that looks like a sword?

[1:01:50] Johnny: For the cassette tape.

[1:01:52] Johnny: Johnny, nice to meet you.

[1:01:55] Girlie: Sure. Have you seen Angel? We were just...

[1:01:58] Johnny: But then there was a... And then you...

[1:02:00] Johnny: Oh, she's just fine.

[1:02:02] Johnny: You, on the other hand...

[1:02:04] Johnny: That's one tangled mess of tape you got there.

[1:02:07] Girlie: Right. Um...

[1:02:09] Girlie: Could you help me with some of this?

[1:02:14] Johnny: Thanks.

[1:02:16] Johnny: So...

[1:02:18] Johnny: You're a pirate or something?

[1:02:20] Johnny: Thanks.

[1:02:22] Johnny: So...

[1:02:24] Johnny: You're a pirate or something?

[1:02:26] Johnny: I'd have made a shite liar looking like this, don't you think?

[1:02:30] Girlie: How long have you been down here?

[1:02:32] Johnny: I've always been here.

[1:02:34] Johnny: Time isn't a whole thing down here.

[1:02:37] Johnny: You're new, though.

[1:02:39] Johnny: I think the real question is what brings you to my lair now, girly?

[1:02:44] Girlie: How do you know my name?

[1:02:46] Johnny: I know everyone here.

[1:02:49] Johnny: Oh, lots of folks.

[1:02:51] Johnny: But that's not your concern, love.

[1:02:53] Johnny: You're just a visitor.

[1:02:54] Girlie: Is Angel down here?

[1:02:56] Johnny: In a way.

[1:02:58] Girlie: Did you mean what you said just earlier?

[1:03:00] Girlie: Are you sorry?

[1:03:01] Johnny: That's between me and Angel.

[1:03:03] Johnny: Humour me, sweetheart.

[1:03:05] Johnny: After all, you did just come crashing into my territory with this here time machine quite unceremonious-like.

[1:03:12] Girlie: I just meant...

[1:03:14] Girlie: I wish I hadn't...

[1:03:16] Girlie: done something...

[1:03:18] Girlie: a long time ago...

[1:03:19] Girlie: the way that I did.

[1:03:21] Johnny: You know, Angel, she's a good friend of mine.

[1:03:24] Johnny: She's a good egg, that one.

[1:03:26] Johnny: Shame her genius goes unappreciated up there.

[1:03:30] Johnny: One thing I'll say, though, she speaks very highly of you.

[1:03:34] Girlie: What did she tell you?

[1:03:36] Johnny: She told me everything, girly.

[1:03:38] Johnny: Where do you think she got that there time machine?

[1:03:41] Girlie: But wait, how did you have it?

[1:03:43] Johnny: You said it yourself, girly. I'm a pirate.

[1:03:46] Girlie: You stole it.

[1:03:47] Johnny: Don't be so close-minded.

[1:03:50] Johnny: I... borrowed it.

[1:03:53] Johnny: Well, I borrowed the memories anyway.

[1:03:56] Johnny: Strung them up on this here tape.

[1:03:58] Johnny: One might call me a curator of memories.

[1:04:01] Johnny: Course, it only works if you're in a time void.

[1:04:05] Girlie: The basement... is a time void?

[1:04:09] Johnny: It's not that uncommon, really.

[1:04:11] Johnny: Lots of basements are.

[1:04:12] Johnny: All you really need to make a time void is a convergence of artifacts and sentimental value.

[1:04:18] Johnny: A literal time capsule.

[1:04:21] Johnny: Why do you think people avoid places like this?

[1:04:24] Johnny: It's too much.

[1:04:25] Johnny: They need an anchor, a sensor now.

[1:04:28] Johnny: Or they could lose hours, days, years, even.

[1:04:32] Johnny: Not Angel, though.

[1:04:34] Johnny: She's always got her toes in a couple of different timelines at once.

[1:04:38] Johnny: Multi-dimensional, that one.

[1:04:40] Girlie: Is that how you two met? Time traveling?

[1:04:43] Johnny: In a manner of speaking.

[1:04:45] Johnny: In a way, we're always meeting.

[1:04:48] Girlie: But if you've always been here, how come no one else has seen you before?

[1:04:52] Johnny: People see what they want to see.

[1:04:54] Johnny: Most don't want to acknowledge a time pirate living in their basement.

[1:04:59] Johnny: So they never do.

[1:05:00] Johnny: Course, not every basement's lucky enough to have someone like me in it.

[1:05:05] Girlie: So why us? Why these memories? Where is Angel?

[1:05:09] Johnny: You ask a lot of questions.

[1:05:11] Girlie: What did you do with Angel?

[1:05:13] Johnny: Easy now.

[1:05:14] Johnny: She told me you were a live wire.

[1:05:17] Johnny: Angel's fine.

[1:05:19] Johnny: She's right here with us.

[1:05:21] Johnny: In the basement.

[1:05:22] Johnny: You just can't see her at the moment.

[1:05:24] Girlie: Don't bullshit me.

[1:05:25] Johnny: Look, I've been trying to help you get all this back in order, but you're not doing yourself any favors by pointing that thing at me.

[1:05:29] Johnny: Right now, all this loose tape is the mess you need to fix.

[1:05:38] Girlie: Why'd you use an old cassette tape and a talk girl anyway?

[1:05:42] Johnny: Everyone's a critic.

[1:05:44] Girlie: How many time machines have you built?

[1:05:46] Johnny: Well, just saying, you could have gone with something a little bit more reliable.

[1:05:50] Johnny: I use what is available to me.

[1:05:54] Johnny: Time machines are delicate.

[1:05:56] Johnny: They must contain just the right ratio of emotion to memory.

[1:06:01] Johnny: The object itself is very important, a kind of talisman.

[1:06:07] Johnny: Angel wanted to bring you back to very specific moments.

[1:06:12] Johnny: I had to find something that would take you there.

[1:06:15] Johnny: Unfortunately, you bungled it all up when you acknowledged the moment.

[1:06:21] Johnny: You've got to stick to the script when you're in the past.

[1:06:24] Johnny: You can't change things, not even a little.

[1:06:27] Johnny: Haven't you seen any time travel movies? It's the butterfly effect.

[1:06:34] Johnny: So I had to orchestrate a little intervention.

[1:06:38] Girlie: Why show me any of it if I can't change it for the better? What's the point?

[1:06:43] Johnny: Really, I'm surprised you don't get it yet.

[1:06:46] Johnny: You're smarter than this, girlie.

[1:06:49] Johnny: You can't change the past in the past.

[1:06:54] Johnny: Or anyway, it never works out the way people think it will.

[1:06:58] Johnny: Sometimes you just have to commit to the mistake.

[1:07:02] Johnny: Time isn't an ordered thing.

[1:07:05] Johnny: You all just try and put some order to it.

[1:07:08] Johnny: No, the best way to fix the past is in the present.

[1:07:13] Johnny: It's the only way to keep it building without ever collapsing in on itself.

[1:07:17] Girlie: How? What do I do?

[1:07:19] Johnny: First, you get back to winding this tape.

[1:07:23] Johnny: We're not going to sort any of this out with it in this state.

[1:07:28] Johnny: She wants your forgiveness.

[1:07:32] Girlie: What is there to forgive?

[1:07:34] Girlie: It's not like any of this is her fault.

[1:07:36] Girlie: She didn't ask to be sick.

[1:07:38] Girlie: She didn't ask for any of this.

[1:07:40] Johnny: What kind of monster would hold that against somebody?

[1:07:43] Johnny: A human.

[1:07:46] Johnny: Resentment is part of the human condition, I'm afraid.

[1:07:49] Johnny: It grows like mold if you don't pay attention to it.

[1:07:52] Girlie: And what if you don't?

[1:07:54] Johnny: It grows like mold if you don't pay attention to it.

[1:07:56] Girlie: And what if I did resent her? What do I do with that?

[1:08:00] Girlie: No, it's too fucked up.

[1:08:02] Girlie: If I don't give my energy to it, it doesn't exist.

[1:08:05] Johnny: Fungus is what grows in darkness.

[1:08:08] Girlie: I'm getting tired of your games.

[1:08:10] Girlie: If you know so much about our lives, why toy with us when you could help us?

[1:08:14] Girlie: Like, I get it, you're a time pirate who lives in our basement, and I'm supposed to what? Just trust you as some beacon of wisdom and insight?

[1:08:22] Johnny: You can do whatever you like.

[1:08:28] Johnny: I'm perfectly content down here as things are.

[1:08:31] Johnny: I love the smell of mildew.

[1:08:34] Girlie: Fucking freak.

[1:08:36] Johnny: Is that why you resent Angel? She can't help it if she's a freak.

[1:08:41] Johnny: But at least she isn't afraid of it, not like you.

[1:08:44] Girlie: I never said that. Don't put words in my mouth.

[1:08:46] Johnny: You're right.

[1:08:48] Johnny: What do I know? You've clearly got a handle on everything.

[1:08:51] Johnny: I'll just leave you here to sort it all out.

[1:08:53] Girlie: No, wait! Please, just tell me how to get Angel back. I need your help.

[1:09:01] Johnny: Hmm...

[1:09:03] Johnny: I suppose it'd be awful dreary to watch you sit here and brood indefinitely.

[1:09:09] Johnny: You just love brooding when you think no one else is watching, don't you?

[1:09:15] Johnny: *LAUGHTER*

[1:09:20] Johnny: OK.

[1:09:22] Johnny: You're not going to like this, but here it is.

[1:09:28] Johnny: There is no trick.

[1:09:30] Johnny: There's no divine intervention, no grand solution.

[1:09:34] Johnny: You wind a tape and you press play.

[1:09:38] Johnny: You can rewind again or fast forward if you like.

[1:09:41] Johnny: But there's no substitute for patience and persistence.

[1:09:46] Johnny: You know how to make things right with Angel.

[1:09:49] Johnny: With yourself.

[1:09:51] Johnny: It'll take time.

[1:09:54] Johnny: Whether that's in the past, present or future.

[1:09:59] Johnny: Your choice.

[1:10:03] Girlie: I want to forgive her. To forgive myself. I need to.

[1:10:07] Johnny: Think of the adventures you could have then!

[1:10:11] Girlie: I think I get it.

[1:10:13] Girlie: Here's your pencil.

[1:10:15] Johnny: Well then, what are you waiting for?

[1:10:18] Girlie: Will I see you again?

[1:10:20] Johnny: I think that's up to you.

[1:10:23] Johnny: Oh!

[1:10:25] Johnny: One more thing.

[1:10:27] Johnny: Thanks.

[1:10:32] Angel: You made it back!

[1:10:33] Girlie: Angel, you're here!

[1:10:35] Angel: Thank God!

[1:10:36] Girlie: Where else would she be?

[1:10:38] Angel: You're the one who disappeared down to that basement.

[1:10:41] Angel: I warn you, it's a mess.

[1:10:43] Girlie: You should have listened to your mind.

[1:10:45] Angel: You have dust bunnies in your hair.

[1:10:48] Girlie: Did you see?

[1:10:50] Angel: I did.

[1:10:51] Angel: Welcome back to the land of the living, kiddo.

[1:10:53] Girlie: What were you doing down there?

[1:10:56] Angel: Looking for something.

[1:10:58] Girlie: Did you find it?

[1:11:00] Angel: No, not quite.

[1:11:03] Girlie: Shame.

[1:11:05] Girlie: Maybe you need another set of eyes.

[1:11:07] Girlie: People see what they want to see, after all.

[1:11:10] Johnny: Good luck finding anything down there, girlie.

[1:11:15] Girlie: I keep telling Ma, we gotta get rid of some stuff.

[1:11:20] Girlie: But I swear, it's only multiplying.

[1:11:23] Girlie: As memories tend to do.

[1:11:25] Johnny: All right, everyone, time for cake!

[1:11:29] Ensemble: Happy birthday to you!

[1:11:34] Ensemble: Happy birthday to you!

[1:11:39] Ensemble: Happy birthday, angel dearest!

[1:11:45] Ensemble: Happy birthday to you!

[1:11:50] Ensemble: And many more!

[1:11:53] Girlie: Make a wish, angel.

[1:11:56] Girlie: Come on, blow out the candles.

[1:12:04] Girlie: Angel, the ice cream's gonna melt.

[1:12:06] Angel: I'm thinking.

[1:12:07] Girlie: What are you thinking about?

[1:12:09] Angel: Wait.

[1:12:11] Angel: I've almost got it.

[1:12:16] Angel: Angel, please.

[1:12:17] Angel: I've got it!

[1:12:21] Angel: I had to think of the right wish.

[1:12:24] Angel: This opportunity only comes once a year, you know.

[1:12:27] Girlie: That's some sound logic.

[1:12:30] Girlie: What'd you wish for, angel?

[1:12:32] Angel: Can't tell ya. Won't come true.

[1:12:35] Girlie: Okay.

[1:12:36] Girlie: What'd you wish for, angel?

[1:12:39] Angel: I wish I could make a wish.

[1:12:42] Angel: I wish I could make a wish.

[1:12:45] Angel: I wish I could make a wish.

[1:12:49] Girlie: Okay.

[1:12:50] Girlie: Well, let's cut this thing before it melts, yeah?

[1:12:53] Ensemble: Happy birthday, angel dearest.

[1:12:57] Angel: It says that on the cake every year.

[1:13:00] Girlie: We know, angel.

[1:13:01] Angel: No, I mean for Uncle Bobby. He doesn't know.

[1:13:04] Girlie: The more you know.

[1:13:06] Ensemble: Yes.

[1:13:08] Angel: Every year, the cake says, happy birthday, angel dearest.

[1:13:11] Angel: It's the same cake, too.

[1:13:14] Angel: A Carvel ice cream cake.

[1:13:20] Angel: Ice cream cake. Chocolate base.

[1:13:23] Angel: Log cake. Vanilla frosting.

[1:13:26] Angel: Nut crunch outside. Crunchy layer inside.

[1:13:30] Angel: Delicious all over. With a cherry on top.

[1:13:35] Girlie: That's one heck of a cake.

[1:13:37] Girlie: You better let the rest of us have a piece.

[1:13:39] Angel: Of course. It's to share.

[1:13:42] Girlie: Well, there you go, Bob.

[1:13:44] Bob: Thank you, ma'am.

[1:13:45] Liam: Many thanks, indeed.

[1:13:47] Honey: Thank you.

[1:13:49] Girlie: It's the cherries that really make it, I think.

[1:13:55] Angel: You don't see cherries on very many birthday cakes.

[1:14:00] Girlie: I suppose that's because it's not really a true birthday cake.

[1:14:04] Angel: I mean, it's a birthday cake because it's my birthday, and we're all eating it.

[1:14:11] Angel: But it's not a birthday cake by design.

[1:14:14] Angel: Which is to say, if you look in the freezer at Carvel, with all the other birthday cakes, it's not there.

[1:14:22] Angel: They didn't create it as a birthday cake.

[1:14:25] Angel: They didn't create it as a birthday cake.

[1:14:28] Angel: But look at us all here, enjoying it as one.

[1:14:33] Angel: No one questions when the cake comes out with candles all over it that it must be someone's birthday.

[1:14:41] Angel: Kind of like life, if you ask me.

[1:14:44] Angel: We never seem to come out as we're intended to be. Isn't that right, Girlie?

[1:14:50] Girlie: Yeah, I think so. Guess we might as well enjoy the cherries.

[1:14:55] Angel: Amen! I think it's been years since I've had any kind of ice cream cake at all. You know, I used to know—

[1:15:02] Angel: There's something I gotta say.

[1:15:04] Girlie: I'm sorry to interrupt you, Mr. Quinn, but I gotta say it.

[1:15:08] Angel: What is it, Angel?

[1:15:09] Girlie: It's Girlie.

[1:15:10] Angel: What about me?

[1:15:11] Girlie: Well, it's not about you so much as it's— as it's— as it's—

[1:15:15] Angel: Do you?

[1:15:16] Girlie: I have to apologize to my sibling and my mom and my dad.

[1:15:20] Angel: Angel, why don't we wait until after—

[1:15:22] Girlie: No, nope, nope, nope. I gotta say this now before I forget.

[1:15:24] Mom: It's okay, Mom. Go ahead, Angel.

[1:15:26] Angel: I need to apologize.

[1:15:30] Girlie: Apologize for what, Angel?

[1:15:33] Angel: Well—

[1:15:34] **FARTS**

[1:15:46] Girlie: That's the first time you've ever apologized for one of those.

[1:15:52] Angel: What?

[1:15:53] Girlie: What a heck of an announcement. Angel, you farted really loud.

[1:15:59] Angel: I—I know. Anyway, I do have an announcement to make. If you could all collect yourselves for a moment, please.

[1:16:10] Girlie: Go ahead, Angel. We're listening.

[1:16:12] Angel: Well, you see, I've been thinking about life. About my life, specifically, since it's my birthday. And I'd like some things to be different.

[1:16:20] Mom: Oh, Angel.

[1:16:25] Girlie: Of course there will always be things we wish were different. We love you. Your family loves you.

[1:16:31] Angel: I know you love me. What's that got to do with anything? I'm talking about the things we regret. The things we've done we wish we didn't do. And there are some things I wish I never did.

[1:16:45] Girlie: Well, sure, but all you can do is learn from those things and move on.

[1:16:49] Angel: I'm not sure I can move on.

[1:16:52] Dad: What time is it? Did she take her meds?

[1:16:55] Mom: It's a little early still.

[1:16:56] Girlie: Dad, stop it. That's not helping.

[1:16:58] Dad: Angel, I've lived a fairly long life now. And I can tell you, those things you can't let go of will eat you alive. Truth is, there's no divine intervention. No grand solution. Whatever it is that's troubling you, it can't be worth the punishment you're giving yourself holding on to it. Maybe it's time to release it.

[1:17:24] Angel: I understand. But I just gotta say this. Girlie?

[1:17:29] Girlie: Yeah?

[1:17:30] Angel: I was thinking of when you were innocent and silly. And I've been thinking about how much of it just never went away. But it changed, Girlie. We changed. I changed. And I put things on you that I never should have put. And that changed you too. And I would hate to think I robbed you of a little piece of that silliness or that innocence.

[1:18:03] Girlie: Angel, I don't see it that way.

[1:18:05] Angel: But it doesn't change the fact that I shouldn't have made you call the police that night. I shouldn't have put you in that situation.

[1:18:14] Girlie: No, you didn't make me do anything, Angel. I'm the one who did that. It's my responsibility. It's my responsibility. It's my fault.

[1:18:22] Angel: No, no, no. I shouldn't have put you in between me and Mom and Dad like that. You were too young.

[1:18:29] Girlie: I was 19, Angel. It's not like I was a little kid. And you didn't put me in between anyone.

[1:18:34] Angel: Look, it wasn't like you chose any of it.

[1:18:36] Girlie: Well, sure. No one chooses to have their parents attempt to murder them.

[1:18:44] Angel: How can you say that? Is that what you really believe, Angel? Do you really think we would ever do something like that to you? Your own flesh and blood?

[1:18:56] Girlie: She doesn't know any better. She's delusional.

[1:18:57] Angel: I'm not delusional. I was there. I didn't want to leave it either, but I went back and I saw it again. And I've seen it twice now with my own two eyes. You were hovering over me. You were waiting for me to make your move.

[1:19:16] Girlie: Angel, I was trying to get you to go to bed. You hadn't slept in days. And I was worried about you. I told you that night. I've told you and told you. It's been, what, 10 years since that happened? It's like a freaking nightmare time machine.

[1:19:40] Angel: Girlie, you weren't well. Your pa and I, we were doing the best we could. You had never had a break like that before. We didn't know what we know now. I can't believe you still think I would.

[1:20:01] Girlie: How could you sit down to dinner with us, look us in the eyes, if you really thought we were capable of doing something like that to you?

[1:20:13] Angel: Well, I forgave you. I forgive you. I have a forgiving nature. I just hope you can be forgiving too.

[1:20:24] Girlie: Angel, of course we forgive you.

[1:20:26] Angel: I am talking to Girlie.

[1:20:28] Girlie: Angel, I never wanted to put you in the hospital. I just wanted you to be safe. I didn't know what else to do.

[1:20:35] Angel: You didn't put me in the hospital. I told them to take me there.

[1:20:41] Girlie: Yeah, because I called 911. I told you to go. I told you to trust them.

[1:20:46] Angel: Well, you shouldn't have been put in that situation. I shouldn't have put you in that position. Don't blame yourself for this.

[1:20:53] Girlie: I never should have called the cops. I'm just sorry. I'm so sorry.

[1:21:00] Angel: You only did what you thought would help, Mije. This isn't your fault. This isn't anyone's fault. Don't be so hard on yourself, Girlie. Angel couldn't ask for more love and sibling. It's okay. I'm okay.

[1:21:14] Girlie: It must have been so scary for you, Angel. I can only imagine how horrible that must have felt. I hope you know that we all love you. All of us. We just want you to be happy and safe. That's literally all we've ever wanted.

[1:21:29] Angel: Like I've said, I'm forgiving. I've made peace with it. And you're more than okay, Girlie. You're great. You're sparkles. That's what I want you to see in yourself again.

[1:21:46] Girlie: I just feel like I took it from you somehow.

[1:21:50] Angel: My sparkle is all mine, Angel. You didn't give it to me, and you could never take it away.

[1:21:56] Girlie: Yeah, but maybe if I had...

[1:21:59] Angel: It sounds like they've forgiven you, Angel.

[1:22:03] Girlie: I have. Do you forgive me?

[1:22:09] Angel: I just want us to sparkle again. We... We used to be so sparkly.

[1:22:17] Girlie: We still are, Miss Jenny. I want you to know I'm different now, Girlie. Even though I'm back at the hospital, it's different this time. I knew when I had to go, and I asked them to take me before things got bad.

[1:22:34] Mom: Yes, Angel. You were very responsible and showed remarkable self-awareness.

[1:22:39] Angel: I just want you to know it would be different if I got sick again. You wouldn't have to make that kind of call.

[1:22:44] Girlie: I don't think it's fair to anyone to promise that. I wouldn't have to do that again if I came to live with you.

[1:22:58] Angel: Angel, I can't. You can't. Hear me out! I think it's a very good idea. It's not safe out there, Girlie. There's beaters. There's knifers. There's rapers. And not to mention stray dogs. You do want to be careful of those stray dogs?

[1:23:19] Girlie: I can take care of myself, Angel. You don't have to worry.

[1:23:23] Angel: Look, look, I know you're a strong and independent bisexual demigirl, but a kid sibling still needs someone to watch out for them, and I could do that for you. But I need you to forgive me first. I have to know you forgive me. I have to know you can still trust me.

[1:23:44] Girlie: I'm sorry. Angel, you said you're sorry. We've accepted it. There's nothing more to say. You don't have to beat yourself up over it. I accept your apology, Angel. Now I need you to accept mine, okay?

[1:23:55] Angel: I do. I forgive you.

[1:23:57] Girlie: Okay, I hope you'll forgive me one more time because you can't come live with me.

[1:24:05] Angel: Why not?

[1:24:08] Girlie: Angel, I have a partner, a cat, a whole other life, and I want to share that with you, but not this way. I need my space to be my space. Do you understand?

[1:24:31] Angel: Are you rich now? That sounds very rich to me.

[1:24:37] Girlie: I'm not rich. No, just very stubborn.

[1:24:42] Angel: That definitely runs in the family. I love a place of my own.

[1:24:46] Girlie: I know. And one day I hope you'll have one too. But in the meantime, you have a place here with us. Yeah, mija? Your room will be waiting when you get out.

[1:25:01] Angel: Yeah, well, I have options. And I'm definitely going to get out soon because all the nurses have a crush on me.

[1:25:12] Mom: We love you, kid. Happy birthday.

[1:25:16] Girlie: Yes, we love you. Happy birthday, my girl.

[1:25:20] All: Happy birthday, Angel. Yes, happy birthday.

[1:25:25] Angel: Is there any more of that cake?

[1:25:28] Girlie: I'll tell you what. That ice cream cake never disappoints. I think I need another piece.

[1:25:35] Mom: You'll have to take it to go. Lala, we need to get her back to the hospital by 8 for night meds.

[1:25:44] Girlie: I'm getting my shoes. Girlie, you need a ride to the train station? It's on my way back to the hotel.

[1:25:51] Girlie: Oh, yeah, that would be great. Thanks.

[1:25:53] Mom: You want to come along, mama?

[1:25:55] Girlie: Let me get my coat. Well, I'm going to go get the car warmed up. Girlie, come on out whenever you're ready.

[1:26:01] Angel: June, thank you for the delicious meal. Lalo, Liam, a pleasure. Bring it in, Angel. The house will feel so empty without you all here.

[1:26:11] Girlie: Lucky for you, I'm just a hop, skip and a jump away. And I'm welcome whenever I like.

[1:26:18] Angel: You know, that really does help, Liam. Happy birthday, Angel. It was one heck of a celebration. See you soon.

[1:26:30] Girlie: Patience and persistence, Girlie. You'll find what you're looking for. Good night, all.

[1:26:40] All: All right, kiddies. Let's get this show on the road.

[1:26:45] Girlie: Actually, Pike, can I have a second with Angel? I'll lock up behind us.

[1:26:50] Pike: All right, but we got a jet in five. See you, cariño.

[1:26:56] Angel: Bye, mije. I love you. Don't be a stranger, eh?

[1:27:01] Girlie: Love you too, ma. I'm really glad we got to celebrate you today.

[1:27:09] Angel: So what do you think? Should we let him stay?

[1:27:14] Girlie: Johnny the Pirate? Is that what you want?

[1:27:19] Angel: Yeah, I think so. We're friends now.

[1:27:24] Girlie: I don't know. He doesn't seem trustworthy.

[1:27:28] Angel: I think trust is more of a decision than a personality trait.

[1:27:35] Girlie: Still, what do you see in him? How do you get out of this?

[1:27:40] Angel: Sometimes I'm lonely. Sometimes I'd give my right arm for some alone time. Johnny listens to me. And it's quiet in the time bubble. And I have a time machine. It's like I can just do me. But all my family and friends are there with me.

[1:28:00] Girlie: But you know we can't stay in a time bubble forever. Angel, it's kind of a mirage.

[1:28:06] Angel: Isn't everything? I'll visit you more this year, Angel. I promise.

[1:28:12] Girlie: It's bigger than that. It's about my future. It's something to look forward to.

[1:28:18] Angel: Won't it be kind of hard to look forward if you're hiding in memories?

[1:28:22] Girlie: I want my own place. Do me a favor. Give the unknown a chance. Sure, it can be scary. But try leaving room for some happy surprises. You don't need to settle for the first time pirate who drops into your basement.

[1:28:40] Angel: Promise me you'll explore some other options first before disappearing into space-time compression.

[1:28:50] Girlie: I think I could do that.

[1:28:52] Angel: All right. Well, we probably should get out there. But first, one more present for you.

[1:29:01] Angel: It's lipstick. Mystic Merlot. I brought it back with me. Our memories were never Johnny the Pirate's to own. This is ours. We get to decide what we do with it. And I think you should have it so you can visit the memories whenever you want. On your terms.

[1:29:20] Girlie: Will it work?

[1:29:23] Angel: You just have to try it and find out, won't you?

[1:29:29] Angel puts on the lipstick. She pierces her lips with a peel of chimes. She is transformed into an evolution of the girl group disco diva of her childhood.

[1:29:40] Unknown speaker: With a snap of her fingers, a disco ball emerges from the ceiling.

[1:29:44] Unknown speaker: The house is transformed into an ethereal, sparkling dance floor.

[1:29:49] Unknown speaker: Angel, you're beautiful!

[1:29:51] Angel: That's mischievous, jazzy, and splorish to you, cat sparkles!

[1:29:56] Unknown speaker: Angel twirls girly, who transforms into an androgynous disco babe in a leisure suit dipped in sparkles.

[1:30:04] Angel: Okay baby girl, let's boogie!

[1:30:06] Unknown speaker: Come on Miss Jenny, the world is waiting! You ready?

[1:30:12] Unknown speaker: Let's give it to him!

[1:30:15] Angel: Hey girly.

[1:30:17] Girlie: Yeah?

[1:30:18] Angel: I'm glad we came out normal.

[1:30:22] Girlie: Me too, sis.

[1:30:25] Unknown speaker: And in the basement, Johnny the Pirate steps off his troll, laughs to himself, puts on a hat, bows deeply, and disappears.

[1:30:42] Unknown speaker: End of play.

[1:30:54] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:31:24] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:31:30] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:31:38] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:31:46] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:31:53] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:32:01] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:32:09] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:32:16] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:32:24] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:32:32] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:32:38] Unknown speaker: The moon is in its seventh house.

[1:32:46] Unknown speaker: And Jupiter aligned with Mars.

[1:32:53] Unknown speaker: Then peace will guide the planet.

[1:33:01] Unknown speaker: And love will steer the stars.

[1:33:06] Unknown speaker: This is Aquarius.

[1:33:10] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:33:18] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:33:25] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:33:33] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:33:40] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:33:48] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:33:56] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:34:03] Unknown speaker: This is the Dawn of Aquarius.

[1:34:16] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:34:17] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:34:19] Unknown speaker: Thank you.

[1:34:27] Unknown speaker: Okay, before we get started in our interview,

[1:34:30] Unknown speaker: I just want to give a wonderful round of applause to our wonderful cast tonight.

[1:34:36] Unknown speaker: Excellent, excellent work.

[1:34:40] Iyvon Edebiri: Javi, Javier, Javi. I know you're by Javi now at this point. We're friends.

[1:34:44] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Yeah.

[1:34:46] Iyvon Edebiri: We've been places together.

[1:34:47] Javi Rivera DeBruin: You've been places.

[1:34:48] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes.

[1:34:51] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah, I think you've been here the most as a playwright so far. How did that happen?

[1:34:55] Javi Rivera DeBruin: You tell me.

[1:34:59] Iyvon Edebiri: You're the one who keeps coming back, I guess, so.

[1:35:05] Javi Rivera DeBruin: But we love you.

[1:35:06] Iyvon Edebiri: We love you.

[1:35:08] Iyvon Edebiri: And so this play, we commissioned it in like 2019. It's part of the Radio Roots Writers Group.

[1:35:17] Iyvon Edebiri: And here we are, like three, four years later. We're here, which is amazing.

[1:35:21] Javi Rivera DeBruin: We did it.

[1:35:24] Iyvon Edebiri: We did it, Joe.

[1:35:25] Javi Rivera DeBruin: We did it.

[1:35:26] Iyvon Edebiri: And so it's just been really great to see this play shape and develop over the last few years.

[1:35:36] Iyvon Edebiri: And so I know you spoke to it a little bit. And I know that this is a commissioned piece for the Parsnip Ship. But outside of that, what inspired you to write this specific story?

[1:35:48] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Yeah. This specific story is a heavily editorialized page from a very specific evening of my life at my own sibling's 33rd birthday party some years ago. And at the time, there were so many things throughout the night that I was just like, am I actually in Puerto Rican Long Day's Journey Into Night? What's happening here?

[1:36:20] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Yes. And I felt that I was like, there was something about that particular celebration that I just felt like said a lot about my family, represented a lot of the true grab bag that we are. And I felt like that was something I wanted to share because it's not something that I really see often on stage. And like, hey, we can have kitchen sink plays too. It's just a little spicier, I guess.

[1:37:00] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:37:01] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Yeah. So that was what originally inspired this play.

[1:37:05] Iyvon Edebiri: I love that. And one thing upon, you know, really listening to the play tonight was and really struck me. I think also on a personal level is like the dynamic between and relationship between Gurley and Angel. It's very compelling and, you know, feels very real and also not always stable at times. And so what I found also really compelling is how it just really felt like through these rewinds, we saw the evolution of play, like you mentioned in your response to the intro question. And there's also the fantasy meets reality and also boundaries and also their queerness. I'm just interested in how did you approach writing those two and their dynamics with each other?

[1:37:57] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Yeah. You know, I wanted to look at what they shared because I feel like this is, I think I said earlier, like this is a love letter to my sibling and I and our like funky, fun, wacky relationship that I sometimes, you know, have a hard time explaining to people because we're very close. We are psychically linked and yet it looks really different from many other sibling relationships that I've seen. But I know that we're not that different. You know, I think there's a lot more siblings out there like us than you probably see.

[1:38:44] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:38:45] Javi Rivera DeBruin: And like, I don't know, I felt very much like, yeah, I wanted to talk about our shared exploration and fuckery of gender because that's something that's always united us. I feel like a deep and encyclopedic love for pop culture has always united us. And then through the times that, you know, we have gone through some shit as a family, I feel like we've always tried to come to each other from a place of understanding. Like we've always tried to do that. I think across the board with my family, I feel really lucky in that way. But in particular between my sibling and I, I feel like there's always this like we got each other, you know?

[1:39:33] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:39:35] Javi Rivera DeBruin: And, you know, I wanted to write a very honest play about like a family that has a lot going on, like multicultural, there's a lot of gender dynamics at play. And there's neurodivergence. There's mental illness, but I didn't want that to be who these people are. Nor did I want it to be a caricature of those things, because I think we see people at their worst who live with these things, right? I just wanted to see this family at its fullest. And this moment felt like it had that for me. It had the funny, absurd stuff. It had the love and it had, but you saw it, but you see the struggle. Right. But you also see, again, like what unites them.

[1:40:34] Iyvon Edebiri: Yeah.

[1:40:35] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Which is that common ground. And yeah, there's such deep, fierce love given to, by all the characters to each other, which I also found incredibly beautiful.

[1:40:45] Iyvon Edebiri: One thing, another thing that struck me, and I remember as I was listening to this, I was like, oh my God, I remember we were in that green room and I think you showed me this poem.

[1:40:55] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Oh my God.

[1:40:56] Iyvon Edebiri: And I remember reading it and going, what the fuck is this? I was like, all right. I mean, if you like it, I love it. It's a wonderful, wonderful poem. Can you talk about that poem that was read and like where did it come from and how and why you put it in this play?

[1:41:17] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Yeah, I would love to. Yeah, I vividly remember that day. I was like, so I want to write this play. I don't really have a lot yet, but here's this like 20 minute long poem, which is highly edited from what's read.

[1:41:30] Iyvon Edebiri: You have me a 20 minute poem.

[1:41:31] Javi Rivera DeBruin: It really went on, which I kind of didn't realize how long it had taken because it's like, I don't know, in the moment. But yeah, I was like, oh, I've lost everybody. But it was really important for me to include it because this was actually a birth. That was my wonderful neighbor's present to my sibling on this day was literally a computer printout of that poem. And it was read in its entirety, in its entirety at that dinner. It really, you know, really like top notch dramatic form too by my sibling. And I was like, yeah, it says something to me about, you know, it sort of like then launches them into this conversation about what's disposable and what's not. And to me, I was like, there's something there, you know, like we really want to fix things, right?

We really want to like take the things that seem like, oh, this is going to break this down. This is going to make, this is inconvenient. And we want to fix it in people and in each other and in family dynamics. And like in the poem, it's basically like someone trying to make the perfect car and it lasts for like 100 years. And then one day it just all falls apart because that's not attainable, right? And so to me, that said a lot about families in general, right? Like you can't fix the thing. You can be there with each other and like enjoy the ride. But that's it.

[1:43:08] Javi Rivera DeBruin: So working this, you know, long poem, finding ways to work it into it felt important to me, felt like it was, you know, a moment that I wanted to preserve and share in a manageable way, not versus the 20-minute full version. We don't need this to be, you know, a theater of cruelty. No disrespect to those facilitators up there.

[1:43:42] Iyvon Edebiri: And, you know, this play being a commission, a big part of that was, you know, sound, being a part of how you wrote this piece to get it to here, where we are in front of all these people. And so just wanted to ask, like, what did it feel like to have sound design and sound for sound Foley, or, you know, the element of sound, you know, that that was an important ingredient in this story. And I think also like a part B to that is, you know, since we've been with you and such huge fans of your writing for a while now, how has your writing, how do you feel like you've changed as a writer?

[1:44:27] Javi Rivera DeBruin: Yeah. I'm so, I don't know. I guess like I've always been such a very like auditorily.

[1:44:37] Javier Rivera DeBruin: And it's been really cool to be able to pinpoint that and work that specifically into my work. Actually was talking to one of the actors asked, was this something that I had envisioned as an audio piece specifically? And I was like, well, it's always going to get written. But really, truly, the exercise of sitting with sound was such a really freeing and fun moment. I think a lot of the playful elements from the play to me came, like the audio gave me that permission and that freedom to just be like, take it wherever I wanted to go and trust that the audience would go with me. And I think it's a hard play to read. But hearing it tonight felt really affirming because I feel like, but you got to hear it when you hear it.

It comes together in a way for me that resonates. And I hope for everybody as well. Yeah. So it was really, I also think in coming back to things my sibling and I share being a connector for this piece, we both are really into music. And I feel like that's been something we've always shared is a love of music. And again, going into that deep pop culture dive of hits from the 80s, 90s, and today. Now that's what I call music. Yeah. So yeah, it's been really fulfilling to be able to find that part of this puzzle that is storytelling. And I think since overall that's something that's been brought to me in working with pieces for Parsnip Ship is just, it doesn't have to be a limiting thing. I think it's something that is additive and that I will take with me to pieces that I write in the future is that experience of what is not just what is the audience seeing and hearing in terms of dialogue, what are they hearing in terms of the world of this play? What sounds can make it come alive? Yeah. Yeah. It was very alive tonight. Very, very alive. It was beautiful. Quick question for you. What is a moment you would time travel to and why?

[1:47:07] Javier Rivera DeBruin: My gosh. Wait, I'm going to clarify. What is a moment you would time travel to where you can't do nothing about it? It is what it is, but you want to be there and vibe and rock or witness. And what is a moment you would go back to and be like, nah, we're going to change this. Rework this. Yeah. That is a good question. Time that I would go back to just to be there is a time that maybe the first time that I had some friends over and we put my sibling in drag in my cute little skirt and all this stuff. And it was everybody was having such a good time. We were just all in that way that kids will play if given permission to even with gender. And it was just so much fun. And like that moment of like coming down the stairs and the reveal.

And then my mom's face of being like, oh, that's nice. Maybe go put on your pants. I wouldn't I don't think I can change it. I might, you know, give my sibling a different world and a different reaction, but in a perfect world and give myself that. Right. Um, but that was just a lot of fun. So I would definitely that would be a riot to watch. I don't actually think it maybe is like trite to say, I don't there's a lot that I would like to be different. And yet I don't think there's a lot I would change. Go back to change. Yeah. There might be things I would add that I would say to people because I feel like we never say enough. There's always things we like mean to express to people that we take for granted that they know. That's why you take showers and you tell them what you should have told them. So I might need to pepper some shower thoughts in there.

[1:49:11] Javier Rivera DeBruin: Exactly. But yeah. Okay, so we're gonna start to wrap up. Last couple questions for you are what does queerness mean to you personally, artistically, privately, publicly, however you take that? That is the question we're asking all of our season six playwrights, even though this is technically not a season six play. But I think it still is very much in alignment with who you are, Javier. So to ask the question again, what does queerness mean to you?

[1:49:44] Javier Rivera DeBruin: Queerness means to me, fuck it up. Just fuck it up. Whatever it's supposed to be. And so hey, it's not part of season six. Fuck it up. Yeah, exactly. You know, like don't queerness means to me. Yeah, just don't you don't have to play by someone else's rules. You don't have to agree. You can disagree. And do you? Do you? I love that.

[1:50:17] Javier Rivera DeBruin: And last question. What did you have for breakfast this morning?

[1:50:23] Javier Rivera DeBruin: My hub? What did I have for breakfast this morning? I think I obnoxiously had one of the like, Starbucks protein boxes. They'll slap those on the way here. But at like lunchtime. It was a busy day. Yes. But you know what? It was good. Yes. You enjoyed them two apple slices. I did. There were four apples and two slices of cheese. Oh, you know, Starbucks, giving, giving back some honey, peanut butter. Okay, shameless plugs.

[1:51:04] Iyvon Edebiri: Yes. Brand sponsorship.

[1:51:12] Iyvon Edebiri: Well, thank you so much, Javier for being here and for your play. We are going to start to wrap up with just giving some thank yous to our wonderful artistic collaborators who are part of this episode. So again, to our wonderful, wonderful cast tonight. Dario Angeles, Tori Ashley Matos, Dan Drew, Tanya Perez, Mel Nieves, and Danny Newman.

[1:51:40] Iyvon Edebiri: Thank you to our wonderful director Janelle Zapata Castellano.

[1:51:45] Iyvon Edebiri: And our musician tonight, who I'm so again, so excited to have had back tonight, Miss Olythia.

[1:51:57] Iyvon Edebiri: The sound design for today's episode was created by Rachel Breeze.

[1:52:04] Iyvon Edebiri: Our sound operator is Prince Bewa. And our stage manager is Lauren Jackson.

[1:52:15] Iyvon Edebiri: And dramaturgy by Al Parker and Gabriella Steinberg.

[1:52:23] Iyvon Edebiri: Happy Birthday Angel Dearest was written by Javier Rivera de Bruin.

[1:52:30] Iyvon Edebiri: And thank you to our sound engineer and editor Luke DeCola.

[1:52:36] Iyvon Edebiri: And thank you to our TPS team and producer Business Lunch Productions.

[1:52:43] Iyvon Edebiri: BLP is a leading creative agency based in New York City. And thank you to the Mark O'Donnell Theater at the Entertainment Community Fund Arts Center for having us in their space in downtown Brooklyn. Before we get to hear our last song from Miss Olythia to close out the night, we want to remind you all to please follow us on Facebook and Instagram at The Parsnip Ship NY. You can help TPS reach new audiences by sharing your experience and your favorite episodes across social media networks. You can listen to all of our past seasons on iTunes, Spotify, Broadway Podcast Network, and anywhere you hear your podcast. Join us in person next week for Sad Boy Hours by Mary Harriman. And next month we have on on June 12th, our Radio Roots Fellow for the year Jesse J. Hoon's play 12 Cheers.

And on June 26th for MLM is for Murder or Your Side Hustle is Killing Us by John Bovoso. All three plays are amazing and great. This episode was produced by The Parsnip Ship and Business Lunch Productions. New plays, new music. This is how we hear theater. And I'm going to turn it over to our dope as fuck musician Miss Olythia to close us out for the night. Thank you all.

[1:54:22] Miss Olythia: This song is a prayer. It's an affirmation that I always love to do. It's something that I always try to remind myself of and I give to you.

[1:54:48] ♪ Musical number: "Grow" — performed by Miss Olythia ♪

[1:59:21] Miss Olythia: Thank you.