All language subtitles for Patrice.The.Movie.2024.1080p.WEB.h264-BETTY3

-So, between me and you, do you
think you're ready for tomorrow?

-Oh, I'm ready, ready.

-[ Chuckles ]

####

-You're going to be, like,
worrying about nothing.

-Well, I'll run through it.

Tell me if I've got it right.

You do the two jumps
on the skates,

and I look like I'm doing...

-It's one jump.
-Oh, one jump. Okay.

We start to go into
our two-person turns.

-No, we're doing
side-by-side spins.

-Okay, side-by-side spins.

-It's a one-foot glide
to a lunge.

-Yeah.
-And then we finish.

####

-I know you're going to do well.

-Well, so are you.
-Thanks.

[ Groans ]
Yeah, that's it.

-And here he goes,
the great Olympic swimmer.

-I'm in, I think.

[ Both laugh ]

-Geronimo!
-Oh, geez!

Oh, you're something else.
You know that?

-Yeah.
-Oh, man.

That's part of the reason
why I love you.

-Love you, too.
Good night, hon.

-Good night.
-Okay.

-Might be a nice idea if we
turned out the lights, though.

That's one thing we forgot.
-I don't feel like getting up.

I'm comfortable now.

-Well, I guess we're going
to sleep with the light on then!

-Yes. Think of it
as a hotel night-light.

This way, you don't fall out
the bed in the dark.

-Yeah, but it's not gonna stop
me from falling out of the bed.

-It's not going to stop me
from laughing, either.

[ Laughs ]

Okay, okay! I'm sorry.
[ Laughs ]

-Okay. Good night, hon.

####

-Good night, hon.
-Good night.

####

####

####

[ Coughs ]

####

-Today is our first time
doing Special Olympics pairs

for figure skating.

-Please welcome
our next skaters,

Patrice Jetter
and Garry Wickham.

-I do the choreography,
and Garry picks the music.

-## O, Fortuna ##

## Statu variabilis ##

## Semper crescis ##

## Aut decrescis ##

## Vita detestabilis ##

## Corde pulsum tangite ##

## Mecum omnes plangite ##

####

####

[ Cheers and applause ]

-I love you.

####

####

-I really love skating
with Garry a lot.

I can't even describe it.
He's everything.

When I'm skating,
I feel like I'm free.

But in real life,
things aren't so easy.

Hi. My name is Patrice.

I am a totally cool person
with a disability

who could do most anything with
the exception of bungee jumping,

pyrotechnics,
and uber-dangerous stunts,

because then I need
a stunt double for that.

Yes!

-Patrice is a big magnet
for people.

-She is, hands down,
the most famous crossing guard

in Hamilton Township.

She might as well be Madonna.

Do that sound, hon, because
you're good at doing the...

-[ Growls ]
-[ Laughs ]

-I didn't really have any
friends before I met Patrice.

-She's the funnest
possible aunt.

Like "Whoo!
The party has arrived."

-She's good at making
dreams come true for anybody.

Never been in a hot tub before.

-You got to get hit
with one of these bubble jets.

-Ooh, I get it in my back.
-Yeah, there you go.

-Ooh.

Patrice always sees
the best side of life.

If it can be done,
she will do it.

-Whee!
[ Crowd cheers ]

-I couldn't find any
store-bought costumes

in my size,

so I decided that
I was going to sew a costume,

and then I know it would fit me.

-It was like magic
to see the way she could draw.

-She even created her
own kids' television show.

-Kids like me because if I see
something fun...

[ Crowd cheers ]

...I want to do it.

####

[ Clock ticking ]

When I turned 50,

I realized that I had stories
in my life that need to be told.

And one day, when I'm not here,

there'll be nobody
to tell those things.

And when you tell
a true story to people,

you need the pictures
to go with the story.

So, I started making
drawings for all of my stories.

I'm just thankful that I'm
able to remember all this stuff

because if I couldn't
remember some of this stuff,

we wouldn't have
an interesting movie.

This is
Palisades Amusement Park.

That was the first amusement
park that I ever went to.

I was six years old
at the time.

-## Palisades has the rides,
Palisades has the fun ##

## Come on over ##

-I had never seen anything
like that in my life.

Mom, this is amazing!

I was raised by a single mom.

She never had time
for stuff like that.

-So, what do you want to do
first, Patrice?

-Everything!

Mom let me ride
the kiddie coaster,

and we played games,
and we rode on the monorail.

Even though Mom had a fear
of heights,

it was one of my most
favorite days with Mom ever.

I started kindergarten
that same year.

I didn't know that Mom tried
to pass me off as a kid

without a disability.

-Whatever you do, don't stand
out, and no one will notice.

-Notice what?
-Don't worry about it.

-Okay.

-You'll be great.
-Okay.

But the problem was when I went
to school, people did notice.

-What's wrong with you?

-[ Sighs ]

I was the only kid made
to wear a harness

with a five-foot leash on it.

[ School bell rings ]

Standing out at school
was a bad thing.

[ Kids laugh ]

You never got invited
to go to birthday parties.

They would beat me up,
steal my stuff,

and throw flaming pieces
of paper at me.

-Get out here, you retard,
so we can pound you.

-I wasn't aware
that I had a disability

until the other kids
treated me different.

My eyes were opened
to something

that was never there before.

London broil that's rare,
with fried potatoes and onions.

-Oh, man! Aw!

It's been a while since
we can afford to have steak.

I tell you that, boy.

-Well, I found a deal.
Buy one, get one free.

-You know what's going to happen
later with these onions.

[ Both laugh ]

Oops.

-You might as well forget
that one.

-You know there's
at least one drop per meal.

-That just can't be helped.
It is what it is.

You're like a spiller
and a dribbler.

-[ Laughs ]

If we were out to dinner
somewhere,

and I'd knock over a glass
by mistake

or whatever
and it'd spill on the table,

my dad, he'd be rolling
his eyes in his head,

like everything I did
was embarrassing to him.

-I would say or do something,
being myself,

and sometimes I wasn't
even aware

that my family was embarrassed
by it.

To us.

-To us.

Later, if you want,
I'll rub your feet.

-Hmm. Okay.

[ Birds chirping ]

-Alexa, play Anne Murray's

"May I Have This Dance?"

-Playing specific songs

is only available
with Amazon Music Unlimited.

-You bitchy...
You bitch, just play it!

[ Both laugh ]

Alexa, play "May I Have
This Dance?" by Anne Murray.

####

One night,
we were going to sleep.

And I just looked at her
and I said,

"Would you like to be my wife?"

## Could I have this dance
for the rest of my life? ##

-I hugged him, and I gave him
a big kiss and I told him yes.

####

####

-But then, somebody
had to drop the anvil and say,

"No, you can't get married

because you're going to lose
your benefits."

-If you get married,

and you're collecting
a Social Security benefit

through Supplemental
Security Income,

SSI, your benefit will be cut,
period.

That's it.
It just will be cut.

And you would probably lose
your Medicaid benefits.

-For me, personally,
I have cerebral palsy.

I was born with it.

The Medicare and Medicaid
thing, I have to have it.

-Right.

-I mean, we'd never be
able to pay for the bills.

-Well, they don't care.
It's just simple as that.

-It's just not right.

-They punish you
for feeling feelings

that everybody else feels, and
it's like, "Oh, you're disabled.

You're not like everybody else."

-It's completely true,

but it's not just actually
legally getting married.

Even if you're living together,
that could jeopardize benefits.

And, again, your Social Security
would be reduced or lost,

and the same for your Medicaid.

It would be, um...

it would have to be
a very unique circumstance

for there to be no negative
impact on the two of you

to actually get married.

####

So, you have to be very careful.

####

####

####

####

[ Birds chirping ]

[ Lift motor humming ]

-The hardest thing is never
being able to live with Garry.

Garry is only 20 minutes away,

but it feels like we're
in a long-distance relationship.

[ Birds chirping ]

-When I come back to my
apartment, and she's not there,

there's just like a piece
of me missing.

Up until five years ago, I was
always living with my parents.

When they died,
my sister died, my dad died,

and my mom,
I was scared to death.

I didn't want to spend
the rest of my life just alone.

####

-I've been working on making

my own model-train world
for 20 years.

It's called P-Town --
"P" as in Patrice.

P-Town is like a world where
everything is happy and fun

and the way I like it.

P-Town is based
on Palisades Amusement Park.

It's like an escape
from reality sometimes.

-When I was younger, my parents
were very, very protective.

I wasn't really allowed
to do anything

if it was out of the house.

I would watch TV,
play video games.

I know it sounds boring,

but that was the extent
of my life.

My parents were worried about

whether I could take care
of myself.

My dad was an EMT, and he was
in a video with Public Enemy

called "911 Is a Joke."

-## So, get up, get,
get, get down ##

-The White guy throwing
the body in the ambulance?

That's my dad.
[ Laughs ]

My parents, unfortunately,
as much as I love them,

they were basically bigots.

For me to date
someone of another race

would've upset them.

My mom once told me,

"If you have a Black child
or something,

I'm going to disown you."

I'm tired of people
telling me who I can

and who I can't spend
the rest of my life with.

####

[ Insects chirping ]

####

####

####

####

####

-Alexa,
turn off the bedroom lights.

-Okay.

####

[ Birds chirping ]

[ Clock ticking in background ]

-Whatcha smiling about?

-Because I look good.
-[ Laughing ] Okay. All right.

Okay.
[ Laughs ]

-I just don't want
to look like --

I just don't want to look like
some porn star.

-Oh, hell. Heck, no.
-Okay.

-We can talk about that
after the ceremony.

-Shut up.
-[ Laughs ]

-Since we can't get
legally married,

we decided to have
a commitment ceremony.

-These are promise rings.

And, hopefully, someday
when we actually get married,

if they change the laws, we can
turn these into wedding rings.

####

-[ Chuckles ]

I brought invitations

so that everybody has
their information for the day.

-I don't normally take risks
like this

because I want to fly
under the radar,

but this is so important,
and I love her so much,

and I'm willing
to take that risk.

-We got to get
a black dress shirt.

Oh, you need pants, too.
-Okay, no problem.

-We just said, "Fuck this shit.
We're doing this."

-Right behind you. I got you.

-They can stop us
from getting married,

they can stop us
from living together,

but they're never going to stop
us from loving each other.

Isn't it worth it just to take
one single day for ourselves,

God forbid, whether we have
a roof over our heads or not?

-I don't take anything
for granted because I know

that I can lose
everything just like that.

####

####

Before I was born, Mom always
dreamed of being a dancer,

but she had to do
other jobs instead.

####

Mom used to work
in Willowbrook Hospital.

It was a notorious institution

where they used to keep people
with developmental disabilities

and it wasn't a nice place.

[ Door slams, woman screams ]

My mom couldn't take it.
She quit.

[ Screaming continues ]

Mom knew that I could end up
in one of those places,

and she always got worried

when I attracted
too much attention to myself.

-She did what?!

-And I was good at that.

-[ Sighs ]

-Ow, ow, ow!

-You do not act up
in front of your teacher!

You do not tell strangers
to smell your feet!

You do not hit your sister!
Where did you learn that?!

-I got hit a lot.

- ## I'm fine ##

-I was in counseling.

I've been having
anxiety attacks.

But my mom didn't trust anybody
in the system.

-Well, Patrice,

it seems to me that your
mother is very quick to anger,

and it's the reason
why you are having anxiety.

-Okay, this is over.
I'm not going to sit here

and let this quack fill
your head with such nonsense.

How dare you call me
quick to anger,

you simple-looking motherfu...

-I had to start taking
medication.

I became combative,
and I would hit.

[ Bell dings ]

[ Kids screaming ]

I just didn't give a rat's
butt anymore.

My mom would get mad
and call me the B-word.

Ahh!

-Patrice, stop it
right now, you little B-word!

-B-word? You're the "B"
for calling me a "B."

-You can't call me the B-word.
I'm your mother.

-Well, I'm your kid,
and I'm only nine.

A social worker told my mom

that she found me a group
home with kids my own age.

[ People talking indistinctly ]

-3:00, in Room 5 now.

-What she found me was
a juvenile-detention facility.

When you're
in that kind of environment,

you have to do whatever
the other kids tell you to do.

Mom, I don't like this place.

My mom got me out of there,

and she gave the social worker
a piece of her mind.

[ Alarm blares ]

I went back to school and
finally ended up in Special Ed.

And for the first time,
I blended in.

The people there were equipped
and knew how to talk to me.

I'm feeling angry.
-Far out, man.

Let's make space
for those feelings.

-Really?
-Just start drawing,

and you can totally channel
all that anger

into something beautiful, man.

-Really? Okay.

Every time I started drawing,
I began to calm down,

and I learned how to use
my artwork to feel better.

I met my first childhood friend
at 12 years old

in the special-ed class.

-[ Sniffing ] Mm.
Smells like popcorn.

-Ew, you farted! Ew!

-Got ya!

-That was my first friend
of many.

####

Elizabeth and Delaney
are two of my closest friends.

They were younger skaters,

and they needed
an older skater like myself

to be a role model
and give them guidance.

They're going to be bridesmaids
at our commitment ceremony.

-Oh, my God!

-It's more about
how it feels than the style.

I wouldn't like that bit.
-Oh, okay.

-Having autism,

for me it's visible enough
that people know I'm different

but don't always know
what it is.

If I don't like them,

it's probably more
to do with sensory issues

than the actual dress.
-Than the actual dress.

-Yeah.
-Ooh, feel this, Elizabeth.

-Sometimes, I just tell them

because I'd rather people don't
label me, like, weird or stupid.

-I think this would look
very pretty on you.

-I like that one.
-Okay.

-Yeah, just keep it like that.

-You can relax.

-I don't want to get married.
Not interested.

I have so many sensory issues
that just, like, kissing

and doing stuff with another
person is, like, too much.

-Oh, pretty!
-That is so awesome! Oh, man!

-Wow.

-That is really pretty.
I love it.

-I do, too.

-Do you ever want to get
married? Do you know?

-If I find the right guy.
-Yeah, maybe?

Have you even had a boyfriend?
-Yeah.

-I never did,
but I also don't really care.

I don't know why.
-I mean,

like, all my friends had
a boyfriend,

so, like, I said, "I might
as well get one."

-Yeah, because everyone else
is doing it.

-Yeah,
so I wouldn't feel left out.

Yeah.
-[ Gasps ]

-Look at all the ruffly.
-So pretty.

-I've only ever seen a picture.

I don't think I've seen it
in person.

It's got a little train.
-It looks so cute.

-Aw!

####

-That's so pretty.
-Here. Patrice, smile.

-Ha!

####

[ Camera shutter clicks ]

-They both have, um,
disabilities.

And when two people
with disabilities marry,

they take away
your monthly benefits.

So, they're marrying, but
they're not marrying legally.

They're marrying
like a commitment ceremony.

So, they're going through
the whole marriage.

-Isn't that special?
-Yeah.

I mean, it's good
that they can do that,

but it'd be better
if they could marry legally,

and they wouldn't take
away their benefits.

-That would be very nice.

I don't understand
government sometimes.

-Yeah.

[ Birds chirping ]

-For millions of Americans
with disabilities,

tying the knot can mean losing
federal benefits they rely on.

Last month, Congressman
Jimmy Panetta of California

introduced
the Marriage Equality

for Disabled Adults Act

in the U.S. House
of Representatives.

It would ensure...

-So, there is this bill
in Congress

that would eliminate
the marriage penalty.

Every year,
every two years it gets renewed,

and then it just sits there
in Congress.

So, we could try
to push that through.

-Oh, yeah. All right.

-Should I make the bride
and groom

with happy faces or sad faces?

-Well, they'd be happy
if they got married,

but they're sad that they can't.

-Disability rights are
human rights!

Disability rights are
human rights!

-Disability rights are
human rights!

-Disability rights are
human rights!

-Repeal the marriage penalty.
[ Crowd cheers ]

-Yeah, clap it up.

-Can I talk to you
about the Marriage Equality Act?

-My friend Elizabeth has flyers,
and she's standing right there.

-We're trying to collect
signatures to tell Congress

that disabled people
should be able to marry.

-I want to get married.

I want to be able to live
in the same house as my spouse.

I want to have enough money...
-Wrong with the system

is that people think people
with disabilities have no value.

You're lazy. You can't work.
Go get a job.

We're not contributing
to society in the same way,

so nobody cares
if you can get married or not.

-Marriage equality
for all people.

So, come take action.
[ Crowd cheers ]

-## ...will be a better place ##

## And the world... ##

[ Chimes ringing ]

-So, this is mine.

-Yeah, so she got her color.

-Oh, Patrice.
This is so pretty.

That is cool.

-Believe it or not,
that's a $20 ring from Walmart.

-Really? Wow.

-All right, so everybody take
a handful of the kinetic sand

and put it in your fishbowl.

-So, what are these for,
the tables?

-Yeah.
-Yeah.

-These were, um, centerpieces
from another person's wedding.

And when they were
done with them,

they sold them
on Facebook Marketplace.

-Oh, cool.

-And since we're
on a tight budget,

that's where we're at.

-That's really pretty.

[ Garry laughs ]

-I don't like loud noises.

I don't like when there's
a bazillion people talking.

-Okay. No, I got it.

-Kelly, am I doing every one
of these?

-No, I put two pens
inside my clipboard.

-You just feel it all
over your body.

Your whole body just feels
dysregulated and awful.

####

I can't just stand there and
pretend I'm having a great time.

-No, that's the second part!

-[ Panting ]

[ Squealing ]

The annoying part is when
somebody sees you overwhelmed,

then they think it's a problem,

where actually that was
a problem.

This is not a problem.
This is me calming down.

This is the opposite
of a problem.

Usually,
when people see me frustrated,

this is when they step in.

This is when I'm like, "Don't
step in. Just leave me alone."

I feel like I'm stuck
in this one room right now.

[ Whimpers ]

[ Rattling window blind ]

[ Humming ]

[ Telephone dialing ]

Hi.
-Hey, how are you?

-Um, I'm fine now,
but...it was stressful,

but thanks for checking in
on me.

I don't really ever have
friends check up on me.

-Well, that's what friends
are for,

so that's one thing

that you'll never have to worry
about ever again.

-That's awesome.

-You take care.

-All right.
Thanks, Patrice. Bye.

-Bye-bye.
-Bye.

-Glad she's in good spirits.

[ Clock ticking ]

-Welcome to Wells Fargo online.

Please tell me the reason
for your call.

You can say things like...

-Account balance.

-Okay. Account balance.

Your checking account has
an available balance of...

...$58.82.

-Okay. Everything
is all cleared up and paid off.

I got 58 bucks to play with,

but I got to save 30
of that 58 bucks for my phone

and for the computer.

So, I got like 28 bucks
to play with.

So, we're good.

I'm actually glad that I'm
ahead of the game for a change.

It doesn't happen too often
at the end of the month.

-I just made the payment
on the water bill.

And then,
when I get my check in January,

I'll pay the rest of it.
-Yeah.

####

Putting together
a commitment ceremony,

we're running into
how expensive it is.

Once you count all
the decorations, the food,

the venue,
it's going to be close.

-Trying to even save money
is impossible

because I'm only allowed to have
$2,000 in the bank.

If I go $1 over that,
I'm going to lose my Medicaid,

and I could never pay for
my medications out of pocket

because they cost
a small fortune.

But even with my benefits,

I have virtually no money
left to save anything.

-This is $2.49.

-Well, you know what?
This one's $2.22.

So, it's like
I'm on this hamster wheel

that just keeps going round and
round, and you can't get off.

####

Okay.

-No, I wasn't...

That guy's screaming.

-Hey, Mike. Dessert is ready.

And we have to wait
because I gotta say something

before we eat it.

-Oh, okay. Of course.
-No problem.

-In celebration of Mom's
100th birthday,

happy heavenly birthday, Mom.

-Happy birthday.

-And now we celebrate
with Mom's favorite cake,

strawberry shortcake.

I wish my big sister was here.

She's like the exact opposite
of Mom.

-Your mom. Boy. Oof.

I never got to meet her,

and somehow,
I feel like I didn't miss out

on anything from the attitude

that she gave Trish about some
of the guys she hung out with.

-Yep.
-She probably would've said,

"Oh, he's a nice guy," and then
if the relationship broke up,

my mom would've said, "The only
person that loves you is me.

That's why you need to stay
away from all these guys."

-I mean,
when I used to come visit you,

Lee didn't like it
that I was there.

-My mom had issues of her own.

I think that she
didn't want to be by herself.

-So, in other words,

your mother felt you
should grow old like an old maid

and just live home by yourself.

[ Dance music plays ]

####

-I had never been to a club.

I was 21 years old.

The DJ is playing
all this great music,

and all of a sudden...
[ Music stops ]

-Ladies and gentlemen, may
I please have your attention?

Patrice Jetter...
your mother just called.

And she wants you to go
home right now.

She says it's too late
for you to be out.

She also says,

"Only drug dealers and
prostitutes stay out this late."

[ Laughter ]

-Mom, how could you humiliate me
like that?

-Patrice, I'm not going to
let you go out

and come home all pregnant.

Do you know what would happen
to you if it wasn't for me?

-I'd have a life?
-You ungrateful little B-word!

While you live in my house,
you will follow my rules.

-I'm going to live my life,
and you can't stop me!

-Ugh!

-You're not supposed
to hit your mom,

but I was angry, and
I didn't know what else to do.

[ Siren wails ]

What's going on?

-Officers, this woman
is no longer allowed

to live in my home.
-What?!

-I just can't take care of her
anymore.

I don't know who can.
-Come with us, please.

-## And since we've no place
to go ##

## Let it snow, let it snow,
let it snow ##

-My mom spent most of her life
trying to keep me

out of institutions,

but it was somewhat ironic
that she was the one

that ended up putting me there.

-## Let it snow, let it... ##

[ Alarm blares ]

####

####

When I was in that place,

me and a couple of my friends
were being physically

and sexually abused
by a couple of the staff.

I had to testify as a witness,

and the staff were trying
to stop me.

-Come with us, Jetter.

-They stripped me out of
my clothing, and it was cold.

And they doused me
with a bucket of water

and made me stand there.

I know my mom didn't want
anything bad to happen to me.

She didn't know what to do.

####

Mom was abused as a child.

She ended up in foster care.

Mom's first husband
was abusive, too.

When I was born,
my mom already had four kids

who were a lot older than me.

I don't think my mom was
expecting to be a mom again.

You're up.
Good morning to you, too.

I know. I got to go to work.
I know.

## She brings happiness
to all the children ##

## She's a very, very special
friend ##

## Who is that lady
who crosses the children ##

## Who walk to school? ##

## She waves hi to us
on the yellow school bus ##

## It's Trish,
the crossing guard, Trish ##

####

My favorite part about being
a crossing guard is those kids.

Okay, guys.

-Thank you, Miss Patrice.

-You're welcome.
See you tomorrow.

####

See you tomorrow.
-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

####

Growing up,

it was really hard
for me to make friends with kids

my own age, so I just played
with the little kids.

Hey, guys.
How was your day?

-Good.
-All right!

-Thank you.
-You're welcome.

See you tomorrow.

And nobody picked on the little
kids because I wasn't having it.

Hey!
[ Laughs ]

See you tomorrow.
-Thank you.

Have a good day.
-You're welcome. You too.

I'm still protecting little kids
after all these years.

####

[ Engine starts ]

I have to take the van
to get it inspected.

There.

I had this van for three years,

and I just finished making
the payment six months ago.

I don't know what they're
going to find wrong with it,

if they find something.

[ Beeping ]

Like this stupid beeping,

And it's been
to, like, four different places,

and they don't know where
the beeping is coming from.

So, we're keeping
the fingers crossed.

-What's actually happened with
the van is it's rotting out.

Um, rotting out
causes everything to sag,

so everything doesn't work
properly.

Doors don't line up.
Car can split in half.

-Yeah, I don't need that.
-Mm-hmm.

Um, you have other issues.

Your gas lines are
extremely rusty.

Basic risk is an explosion.
[ Laughs ]

Um, this car should
not be on the road.

It is very unsafe to drive.

To be honest, it's
at its life span, to be honest.

If it was my van,
it would be at a junkyard...

to be honest.

####

####

####

####

####

####

[ Telephone dialing ]

-Good morning.
Traffic.

-Hey, it's Patrice.
-Hi.

-I have to talk to you,
um, about my situation.

-Mm-hmm.

-My van broke down
over the weekend.

-Sorry to hear that.

-And I know that at this time,

all the posts that are close
by my house are already taken.

-Right.

-And If I have to take Uber
every day,

it's going to take
an entire paycheck.

-Right. Right.

Um...I have no idea.

I mean, we could just put you
out without pay.

[ Clock ticking ]

[ Indistinct talking ]

####

-We're looking for

a new wheelchair-accessible van
for us.

How much you think,

ballpark figure,
I would need to come up with

to get a reliable vehicle?

-We have some good used,
reliable vehicles.

Right now, we have them
starting about $40,000

for a good pre-owned.

If they need anything from
brakes to tires to mobility,

we go over all the equipment,
make sure

that we get you a vehicle
that's in excellent condition.

####

####

-We were looking at vans
when we went to the expo.

$66,000, $70,000, $82,000.

-It's just a complete insult
to want that much money

for an accessible van.

Your average person
with a disability

barely get a thousand dollars,
and they want...pfft.

Everything is an arm
and both your legs,

and they basically tie...

-Yeah, because they're
not going to take the other arm

because then you can't hand
them the check.

-[ Laughing ] Right.

Is there any way
you can get you a cheaper car

while you're saving for the one
you really want?

-None of these cars
out here are cheap.

I can't keep throwing
money away on cars

that only last two years.

It's not happening.
-Yeah, I know. I know.

-You deserve to have at least
one decent car in your life.

[ Clock ticking ]

-Here's yours.
-Thank you.

-And here's yours.

-Oh, thank you.
Haven't had a real meal in days.

-I don't know what they expect
people like us to do.

Not pay my rent and bills

and then I'm going to find
myself getting

an eviction notice.

And then, I'm going to be living
in my car like my friend is.

-Yeah, I know.

-I'm just -- I'm scared.

####

-[ Sighs ]

####

####

-The only reason

why I was able to get
the last van I had is

because of raising money
through GoFundMe.

I didn't know
that GoFundMe counted as income

against my benefits.

So, the government cut me off.

I ended up
in homelessness prevention,

and I had got
extremely depressed.

####

I have no idea

how I'm going to be able
to raise the money this time.

[ Birds chirping,
chimes ringing ]

Okay.

"Enter the loan amount
you would like to borrow."

I'm going to see what happens
if I ask for, um, 15.

Okay. Going to ask
for 84 months.

-It's like 40...
It's 8 years.

-Well, yeah, but if I ask for
sooner, we're going to end up...

What are we going to do?
Pay $1,000 a month?

-Okay, okay. All right.
Yeah.

-"Are you trading in?"
Nope, I'm not.

Then I got to put down
gross annual income.

So, that's my annual
gross income.

[ Clock ticking ]

Right.
Let's see what happens.

"After careful review
of your credit report,

your application was denied."

-Well it was worth a try.
We have to try.

[ Ticking continues ]

I know, honey. I know.
Believe me, I know.

-I just think that my chances
of going back to work

are just going to be
real slim right now.

-Yeah.

Well, that is something that we
can't really do anything about.

-I-I don't know

if we're going to be able to do
the commitment ceremony.

-Yeah.

[ Thunder rumbles ]

Last couple of days, she's been
down in the dumps so far.

I can just about barely pull her
out of the hole.

Mike and I are trying
to pull her up,

and, you know,
she just keeps slipping

longer and lower into the hole.

And I'm trying to be
as supportive as I can be,

but I don't know what
to say anymore.

It just bothers me more
that I can't do more.

-Yikes. That's not good.
-What happened?

-Okay.

-Okay, so what are we testing
so I know what I'm looking for?

-I don't see it.

-All right. Lights on.

-Oh, wait. Let me try.
Wait, shoot.

I hate that.

[ Farts ]
Sorry.

[ Both laugh ]

-Oh, God!

-Yeah. I'm a stinker like that.
-What am I going to do with you?

####

####

####

####

-Garry and I met when we were
both working at the same job.

-Hi. I'm Garry.
-Hey.

And I met Mike there, too.

What got to me was the laugh.

-[ Laughs ]

-I had never heard
anybody laugh the way he did.

[ Both laugh ]

-We became best friends.

####

And then, a few years ago,

I was starting to have
these feelings.

I said, "No, I can't have
those kind of feelings

for my best friend."

And I just took a chance,
and I just wrote a letter.

I was like...

Well, what if?

After I mailed it, I'm like,

"Oh, man, what did I do
that for?

Now I'm going to ruin my
friendship with my best friend.

I don't want that."

Hey, I accidentally mailed
a letter to you

that I wasn't supposed
to send to you.

So, when you get it,
can you just send it back to me?

But then it turned out
that he read it.

-I just like you like a friend.

-Oh, okay.

Sometime after that,
Garry got really sick.

-[ Groans ]

-He could barely
hold himself up.

Garry!

-If you came in here even
one day later, you'd be dead.

She saved your life.

-Why don't you come back
and recover at my place?

-Okay.

[ TV plays ]

####

-We just kept getting closer
and closer,

and we realized that we were
destined to be together.

####

-We were sitting in the room
talking.

And then I said,

"I'm getting ready to go to bed,
so let's go to bed."

And she was getting ready
to go sleep on the couch.

And I'm like, "No, you're
not sleeping on the couch.

You're coming in the room
with me."

She barely -- she just
about tripped over her own feet.

[ Laughs ]
Yeah.

And that's about as far as
I'm going to go with that night.

I learned a few things.
[ Laughs ]

-Mm-hmm.

####

####

####

-Next to being in Trish's arms,
being in water is heaven to me.

If the whole world was covered
with four feet of water,

it would be accessible for me.

But that's another one
of those dreams

like in a fantasy movie
or something.

####

I could get really used to this.

-Yeah.

-If I had a dream house,

everything would just be
ranch-type house.

and I'd have my
own bocce court in the back.

And oh, what the heck?
Outdoor bowling alley.

-How about his-and-hers
accessible vans?

-Yeah, but I don't drive.
So, why would I need one?

-Well, because I could drive
the other one

when the other one is
in the shop.

-True, true, true.
Okay, we'll make it two vans.

Oh, God.

-You want to get out?

All right, take your time.

I'm going to go get the chair.
Okay?

-All right.

-Aah!

Shit.

Okay.

[ Tablet beeps ]

-Hi, everybody.

It's your girl Patrice,
and there's Garry.

-Hey.

-And Elizabeth.
-Hi.

-We are in the process of
having to pay for a newer van.

Now, these special vans are
not cheap.

So, instead of throwing out
your cans,

you put them aside
and donate them to us.

We're going to take
the cans to Scarpati's.

They'll pay us 70 cents a pound,
so it adds up.

See ya!

-Okay, now I'm getting
a little beer on me.

Whoop.

There's a lot of sensory things
involved with cans.

They're loud.

I hate feeling all
the wetness and textures.

Now he's got to weigh 'em.

-Thank you very much.
-Thank you.

-If I wasn't doing this for
Patrice, I just wouldn't do it.

But I go through stuff like that
for Patrice, I think.

-$51.35.

-That's great.
-Yeah.

####

####

Is there anyone in sales

that I could just have
a conversation with?

-Yeah, I don't have anything
in that price range.

-All right, no problem.
We're plugging away at it.

So, we got 60 bucks.
-Oh, real good.

-Yes.

-## It's good enough for me ##

## Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah ##

####

-It's in the floor.

####

You can get your picture taken
with Santa.

####

-Aahhh!

-## It's good enough for me ##

-That's a lot of cat food.

We are having
an artwork fundraiser.

This piece is for sale.
This totally cool piece, too.

$27.15.

-## It's good, it's good enough ##

## It's good enough for me ##

-Okay. That's disgusting!

####

-Some more cans.
-Thanks.

-Yep.
-I got them.

-You know you only got,
like, $16?

-What?!
Yeah, like, seriously.

-I guess cost of aluminum
fluctuates on the market,

so, when it drops,
they pay out less.

-I just have a love-hate
relationship with these cans.

-Well, it's free money.
-I get it.

It's free money,
but, like, I lug six bags.

I spent an hour going over there
bringing them back,

and then you got, like,
16 bucks.

-I mean, hell, to get 20 bucks,

what they got to be,
30 bags or what?

-A lot of bags.
-This is not working out.

I mean...

-It was just worth trying
to see what we could get

for a few months.

-Oh, yeah, I totally get it.

-But if we're going to get
so little money,

at this rate, we're never going
to get there if we're --

-$16. Is it worth it?

[ Clock ticking ]

-We had a good run.

-But...
something's got to change.

The Disability
Marriage Equality Act,

it's cycling around in limbo.

Why is that?

Is there just
not enough attention to it?

Do people not understand
the bill?

Why is it stuck?

-Right, so according
to their calculations,

the big problem that's standing
in the way is cost...

...at least the way
they're accounting it.

But there isn't really
a thought to what would happen

if people lose their benefits

and have to be
in an institution,

which is also
much more expensive.

-I worry about what would happen

if I end up back
in another state institution.

I'm so afraid
because I can't go back.

-I'm so sorry.

-I had to learn
how to be outside all over again

because it's
like a self-contained world,

and that took a while
to get used to.

And the fear of ending up
back in one of these places,

I don't take anything
that I have for granted.

Even combs,

they never sold any hair
products for people like myself.

They always give you the
little combs that don't work.

-With the fine teeth.
The fine-teeth combs?

-Yes, it always --
-They break in my hair.

I need, like, 150 combs...

[ Both laugh ]

-But I just want to say
I just get pissed off.

It costs way more money,
and it's dehumanizing,

and it's ableist,
and it's just not...

You're a human being.

Like, you need to, like, tell
your story and people can listen

and say this is why.

This is why benefits are
extremely important.

-I agree.
One thing that, you know,

we've been working on
is in action in D.C.

to call for marriage equality.

And you might be interested
in joining us

and helping to speak
directly about

how important this issue is.

-Done.
-Okay. All right. Thank you.

This will be great.

-I was committed because
people thought I had bipolar,

which I did not.

It was a short-term psych ward.

Patrice's was a long-term.

There was a point

where they threatened
to put me in a long-term thing,

but my parents would
not let that happen.

So, we did not have
the same experiences.

-After two and a half years,
I got out of the institution,

and I could finally make
my own decisions.

[ Gavel bangs ]

My mom wanted me
to live with her,

but I wanted to live on my own.

I was the last person
in Montclair

to receive a housing voucher

before the senior Bush
administration cut the funding.

####

Living on my own was a dream.

####

I decided I was going to do
everything

that I couldn't do
living with my mom.

I remember having ice cream
at 4:30 a.m.

just because I could.

I also had ice cream
for breakfast

because I could do that, too.

-## Gloria ##

-I had never experienced
that kind of freedom...

[ Music fades ]

...but I had no idea
how much anything cost.

I had to start looking
for work.

I would like to apply
for the crossing-guard job.

The ad said
no experience necessary.

-Do you have any experience?

-No.
-Great. We'll let you know.

-Okay.

I got turned down due
to lack of experience,

so I just reapplied.

-Do you have any experience?
-No.

And got denied again and again.

The only job I was able to find
was at a sheltered workshop.

-Okay, so for each one
you assemble, you get 5 cents.

So, the only limit
to your earning potential

is your drive and ambition.

-A sheltered workshop is
something like a sweatshop

for disabled people.

All we did was glue tips
on American flags.

And then we had
all these holidays

that needed American flags
back to back...

Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of
July, Labor Day, Veterans Day.

[ "Yankee Doodle" plays ]

####

####

####

-We shouldn't have people
sacrificing

them being on medical benefits

just because they want to get
married,

and that's
why I put forward this bill.

And we're slowly seeing
people get on board with this.

-But why is it so slow?
Like, who doesn't agree

that disabled people shouldn't
have the right to get married?

-Yeah.
I wish it was that simple.

It's not just about making
people happy, unfortunately.

It's also about paying for it.

And that's what makes
it difficult.

-I don't see how this is a cost.

-It's about the federal
government paying for

the Medicaid benefits.
-But they already are

because if two people
are having Medicaid benefits,

and then those
two people get married,

and they just don't lose
their benefits,

how is the government making
or losing any money?

They just like to have
someone lose their benefits?

Like, this does not make sense.

-I wouldn't say they like
to do it.

I just think, like I said --
-They would rather that happen?

-So, if they lose
those benefits,

that's what
the federal government

doesn't have to pay for.

If they keep the benefits,
which my bill puts in place,

which it should,

then the federal government
has to step up

and provide that sort of funding
for that.

-But they're providing it
in the first place.

The system is so complicated

that a small percentage
of people who aren't aware

are probably getting
married,

losing their medical insurance.

And now, the government has
a cost saving?

That's
where they're saving money?

-Yes.

The federal government wouldn't
have to pay for it anymore.

-They can knock them off it.
-That's... Yep.

-I don't understand
why they would want to take away

from people
who really don't have anything.

-It literally doesn't
make sense to me.

-We're not taking that much
money away from Congress.

-You know, a bill like this

that would affect as many people
as it would,

which is going to be

in the millions and hundreds
of millions.

But that being said,
it's worth it,

and that takes --
uh, it's a long time.

We got a lot of work
to do to make sure

that this bill gets passed
into law.

-Until we all
become a united front

and try to keep fighting this,
it's not going to change.

-Years ago, when all
of the benefits were organized,

they were made available
to serve people in institutions

because
everyone was in an institution.

And when people were
in institutions,

they didn't have rights.
They couldn't make choices.

So, there was no assumption
anyone would get married,

let alone have a job
or live independently.

-And now we've got something
embedded in federal policies

that precludes people
from getting married,

which is a violation of civil
and human rights

and it needs to be fixed.

-Living with a disability
is hard enough,

and then add on
to the top of it

that you have to fight
for services

that you actually really need.

-Right now,
the push is to try to make sure

that the people
who are in Congress

care enough to try
to get this bill through.

-A lot of elected officials

don't understand
the real-life implications

that a marriage penalty has on
two people who love each other,

and we need people driving
the conversation.

It's got to be front and center.

-What if we got different
couples with disabilities

to go to Washington and
talk to the legislators there?

-So, our next meeting is
in Washington?

-Yes, party train.
Yes. Yes, guys.

[ Clock ticking ]

-So, what have we got?
-The art show, we raised $281.

-Okay. I'll take that.

-Well, also, too, one
of my friends found a nonprofit

that helps people
with disabilities

like myself raise money
for stuff that we need.

So, the money doesn't come
to me,

and they can't count it
as income.

-Well, I hope it works better,

because I think you're
going to make a lot more money

just by sharing a link,

because you can reach
so many more people.

You have friends
at all different places.

-Yeah.

-Are you going to post it
on social media?

-I hate asking people for money

because it always feels
like you're begging, and, then,

sometimes, they get mad
and they never let you forget

that they gave you something.
-Yeah.

-Like, for those cans,

I was afraid that
you were going to get mad at me.

-No. Why would I be mad?

-Because, sometimes, when
you need money, people get mad.

-There shouldn't be
contingencies to friendship.

Right?

But I think you've had people in
your past who have gotten mad.

-Well, an adjective
that was used to describe me

by some of the people that were
my friends was "needy."

And even though they tell you

that you shouldn't care about
what other people think,

sometimes you do.

-Yeah, I just,

I know you don't really
like asking people for money,

but, in this case,
you kinda have to.

Right?

[ Clock ticking ]

[ Beeps ]

-Hi, guys.

This is your girl Patrice here.

I need to go back
to my crossing-guard job

because I miss the kids,

so I really need your help
to get my dream van.

And I do appreciate everyone's
generosity.

Thank you.

[ Clock ticking ]

[ Beeps ]

All right.
I just sent it.

[ Bell rings ]

I was never able to make
enough money

at the sheltered workshop.

If I brought home $35,
that was a good week.

One time, I had a paycheck
that was 77 cents.

I couldn't afford food.

-Paging Dr. Harris...
Dr. Kyla Harris.

-I didn't know
that I was making myself sick.

My older sister
would send me money.

And Mom would help me out
when she could,

but she didn't have a lot
of money, either.

-If you managed your money
better,

you would have food
in the house.

This is your problem.
You're on your own.

I can't afford to bail you out.

-I felt like such a failure.

-You get Social Security
benefits, you get Section 8,

and you get food stamps.

-And you still don't have
enough money?

-It's got to be your fault.

-[ Echoing ] I don't get
any help, and I manage.

-I was determined
to get the crossing-guard job.

After applying 13 times,
I went to see the mayor.

-Uh, I'll call you back later.

-Mr. Mayor, I can't prove that
I'm being discriminated against,

but I can prove
that I'm being treated unfairly.

-Oh!

-And I turned out to be one

of the best crossing guards
they had.

[ Whistle blows ]

-Ta-da!
Trish, the crossing guard.

Trish takes an oath
to keep all the children safe,

smiling
as she crosses the children.

Trish is happy that
the first day of school is here.

-Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep.

The unusual, awesome Tina
herself now reporting live.

-All you Patrice Jetter Facebook
fans...

-The situation is now dire.

-We need some more money
for this van.

-We're trying,

but none of our fundraisers
are bringing in that much money.

-These vehicles are
down payments on a home.

-She needs a van to go to work.
She needs a van to be social.

-And do Special Olympics
with me.

-I'm really hoping
there are people out there

that can help us.

-We want her to be happy
because we love her to death.

-Hey, everybody.
-Hi, guys. It's Delaney.

-Coach Jen here, coming at you
from Iceland Arena.

-Reaching out to you
today with a favor.

-Listen up, chumps.
My Aunt Patrice needs a new van.

-Just wondering if anybody
can chip in some couple dollars.

-Every little penny,
dime, nickel.

-Every little bit helps.

-Patrice is this person
who I love.

-Patrice is so nice,

and she always makes
everybody feel welcome.

-She says hi to everybody.
-She's just an amazing person.

-One of my favorite aunties.
-She buys me model trains.

-She'll give you the shirt
off her back.

-The rink needs Patrice.

-She's a wonderful lady
in the world.

-If you like what you have seen
and heard or like,

"Yes, Queen" or whatever,
click the link.

-Click on the link.
-Anything you can contribute.

-Any amount.

-Whatever you can,
help her, please.

-Help my baby sister.

-Everybody should help
Patrice get a new van.

-Please, everyone.
-Help Patrice get a van.

-Let's get on the ball, and get
her a van. Woo-hoo!

-Thank you and goodbye.

-So, fundraising.

Because we've got
the link out there...

-Yeah.
-Um, other ideas?

Fundraising.
-For fund...

We thought about having
a penny drive.

-What is a penny drive?
What is a penny drive?

-When people have pennies
they don't want.

Well, I mean, like...
-How many pennies?

-You can't predict ahead of time

how many pennies
you're going to get.

-Yeah.
We'll take whatever, you know,

whatever we can get
our hands on.

-Yeah, we got to do something.

-Or else who's going to do it?
I mean, you know, it just...

-This is -- you can't --
you're so limited

in what you can do,
and I'm here.

I'm helping you 100%,
but, even for me, this is a lot.

-Well, getting frustrated
isn't going to help me.

-Yeah, I get it does nothing,

but, like, how come you're not
just like annoyed all the time?

-Well, I'm tired.
-Yeah.

-It almost makes me
sometimes not want to do it,

but I have to do something.

-Can I see how much you have?

Is there a way
to show me on there?

-Yeah. All right, so...

What the hell?

-What?
-What?

-We got 50 -- what the hell?

-Wow! Well, wait a minute. What?
-That's got to be a mistake.

-It's got to -- wait a minute.
-No, that can't be right.

-Wait, wait, wait, wait,
but who's put anything?

-I don't -- it's not $55,000.
-No, but total funds raised.

-That can't be right.

[ Telephone ringing ]

-This is Jen.
How can we help you?

-Hi, Jen.
This is Patrice Jetter calling.

Today, my campaign is showing
that I'm at $55,000.

-Oh, my gosh.

-And I just wanted to make
sure I didn't make a mistake,

because that means I
can finally get my van,

and I just was double-checking.

-Okay. Let me look.

Let's see.

All right. It looks
like something's weird.

Um, wait a minute.

I need to double-check
with finance.

I'm seeing two
different numbers.

-Okay.

[ Clock ticking ]

-Hang on one second.
[ Typing ]

Oh, there we go.

Okay.

That amount is accurate.

-Oh, my gosh!

-It's real.

-[ Laughs ]

-I'm so happy for you.

-[ Laughs ]

Oh, my gosh.

-Have an awesome afternoon.

-[ Crying ]

-Oh, my God!

-I gotcha. I got you.

-I know!
[ Laughs ]

-We did it.

We did it.

####

The last day I spent
with my mom,

I had lunch with her
at the hospital.

We had a nice afternoon
together,

and there was no fighting
and stuff.

And she passed away
the next morning.

At that moment,

none of that stuff
that we fought over mattered.

####

And I felt my heart break.

I still love Mom,
and I know that she loved me.

It was just sorta like
my mom felt very alone and sad.

If my mom got to be a dancer,

I know that her life would
have been a lot different.

The world would've loved Mom.

####

[ Birds chirping ]

####

[ Horn honks ]

####

####

-I can't believe this is hers.

Oh!

Oh, it's just --
it's just crazy.

####

-Patrice, it's all yours.

-Thank you.

-I hope you have it
for years and years,

and it brings you
so much joy and happiness.

####

####

####

####

[ Engine starts ]

####

####

####

-[ Laughs ]

This is great.

####

-I just got my new car!

[ All cheering ]

Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah.

####

[ Horn honks ]

What do you think?

-## It had been a long night ##

-## Sitting by the fire ##

-This is like not real.

-Yeah.

-## It may only last a moment ##

## But a moment
can last a lifetime ##

####

-It's just so cool
that all of us are together.

####

####

-Everyone came through.

That was a miracle,
which we're thankful for,

but it doesn't change
the problem with the system.

Disabled people
shouldn't have to fundraise

to get their needs met.

It just means
that the system is broken.

####

####

####

####

-This law needs to change,

and we're going to do what we
have to do to make this happen.

-Patrice is going to lead
an event in D.C.,

and we're hoping to have
people from all over the country

declare their love,

celebrate their love,
and also call for change.

-Thank you.

-Washington, D.C.,

we haven't quite figured
out what we want to do yet.

You're very theatrical.

You know
what performance art is?

-Like theater, right?
-Basically. Okay.

-This one is my favorite.
-Oh, that's pretty cool.

Say, we had a performance thing

where you could "pretend" to
marry people as a demonstration.

-Do you promise to push forward
disabled marriage equality?

-You can put a little
more attitude into it.

I know you have the attitude
in you.

-We are planning a big event
in Washington, D.C.

Be there.

-Repeal the marriage penalty!
-Repeal the marriage penalty.

-Say it again!
-Repeal the marriage penalty!

-## We belong to the light,
we belong to the thunder ##

## We belong ##

## We belong,
we belong together ##

-## We belong ##

####

####

-Dearly beloved,

we are all gathered here
today to create radical change.

-We must make it clear
to our legislators and society

that our love matters.

-It is a fundamental human right
that should never be denied.

[ Crowd cheers ]

-Who wants to get married?
-I do!

-Yes!
-Come on up.

Repeat after me.

We would like to get married...
-We would like to get married...

-And be able to go
to the doctor.

-And be able
to go to the doctor.

-We would like to get married...
-We would like to get married...

-And be able to buy
groceries and medicine.

-And be able
to buy groceries and medicine.

-We would like to get married...
-We would like to get married...

-And be able to pay rent
and bills.

-And be able
to pay rent and bills.

-And not end up living...
-And not end up living...

-in a cardboard box.
-in a cardboard box.

-By the powers invested in me,
I pronounce you all together.

[ Crowd cheers ]

####

####

####

We got to have our commitment
ceremony, and it was beautiful.

####

####

But we still can't get married.

-Okay, kids,
gather up all that stuff.

-I'm afraid he did, even though
it was just a fantastic effort.

-Well, you're the boss, Jim.
Would you excuse me?

-We still can't live together.

-## We wish you
a merry Christmas ##

## We wish you
a merry Christmas ##

## We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy new year ##

-We still can't ever call
each other husband and wife...

-## We wish you
a Merry Christmas ##

[ Horn honks ]

-Hey!

-But at least we still have
each other.

-[ Laughs ]

[ Crowd cheers ]

####

-Let's go, Patrice!

Let's go, Patrice!

Let's go, Patrice!

####

-Are you ready for this?
-Yeah.

-Here they come to the ice.

####

[ Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers'
"Islands in the Stream" plays ]

####

## Baby, when I met you,
there was peace unknown ##

## I set out to get you
with a fine-tooth comb ##

-## I was soft inside ##

## There was something
going on ##

## Islands in the stream,
that is what we are ##

## No one in between,
how can we be wrong? ##

## Sail away with me
to another world ##

-## And we rely on each other ##

-## Uh-huh ##

## From one lover to another,
uh-huh ##

## Islands in the stream,
that is what we are ##

## No one in between,
how can we be wrong? ##

## Sail away with me
to another world ##

####

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