Original subtitles

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): When people talk about what they love most

about Medora, Wisconsin, almost no one

mentions the brutal, endless winters.

Justin, I was gonna eat that.

It's a family banana.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): Tempers can get a little short.

Oh, my goodness.

It is so cool.

What were you doing outside?

Shoveling the walk.

How many times did they ask you?

None. It needed shoveling.

Well, yeah. It's winter.

The walk always needs shoveling.

Our job is to make getting us to do it so difficult

that Mom does it herself.

We have very different views on what

is appropriate for women, as your taste in bedtime reading

makes clear. - OK.

Well, did you at least do a bad job?

Justin, the Prophet Muhammad-- peace be upon him--

said that failure to perfect your work

is injustice to yourself.

Justin, Raja shoveled the front walk.

You can at least take down the Christmas lights.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): Maybe it was just the cold,

but Raja's novelty was definitely wearing off.

We were all starting to feel it.

Raja?

In the future, could I drop you off to be with your friend

Ahmad at 3:00 instead of 4:00?

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): Ahmad is the only other Muslim

in a 50-mile radius.

He drives Raja to their mosque.

It is just that I will be standing and waiting for him

in the cold for one hour. - Oh.

Well, why don't you wear a warmer jacket

over that boy blouse of yours?

Salwar kameez.

Just stay out of my closet.

I can understand you eating that

in a country that doesn't have cereal, Jar Jar, but we do.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): He was even starting to grate on my dad.

Who wants to watch "Terror Cell"?

Gar.

I'm kidding.

I meant yet another dancing show.

Actually, I enjoy seeing people such as myself

on television, even when we are portrayed as one-dimensional

supervillains.

But it ruins it for me.

FRANNY: I tell you, Vancouver cannot come fast enough.

[gasp]

Right now, it's 51 degrees there.

50?

5-0?

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): About the only thing

that kept us from tearing each other apart was

our upcoming trip to Vancouver.

I am not getting out of the pool.

You better long enough to go shopping.

Do they have malls yet in Canada?

Gar, you and your Canada jokes.

I'll have you know they've got a Gap there.

And a Banana Republic.

You don't say.

Well, it's practically our 51st state.

Oh.

You gotta love the price.

You know, five people, four nights, $3.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): My mom won the trip at a silent auction

to support my school choir.

Somehow, she was the only bidder.

[music - "space oddity"]

CHOIR (SINGING): This is Major Tom to Ground Control.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): I know requires sounds dorky,

but it's not just old church songs.

We do old rock ones, too.

Mainly, choir is its own little universe,

where everything is backwards.

Our parents' music is cool.

I'm the team superstar.

And puberty mostly passing me by is a good thing.

(HIGH-PITCHED SINGING) For here am I,

sitting in a tin can.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): My mom never misses a recital.

Neither does Raja.

Even Claire occasionally comes.

(HIGH-PITCHED SINGING) Planet Earth is blue--

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): Our dad never does, though.

He always has a different excuse.

Packers game.

Dodgers game.

Galaxy game.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): But I didn't care.

One day, he'd be old and feeble, and I'd get mine.

[cheering]

Justin!

OK, gang.

Is everybody packed?

You made us pack six days ago.

Yeah, I've been using a toothbrush

I found in the garage.

Justin!

There are 14 perfectly good ones in the gift

basket from Downtown Dental.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): My mother pulled her silent auction stunt

to get several of the prizes.

Come on, hon.

Gotta get a move on.

The plane is in four hours.

So what?

I've never been to a foreign country before.

Me either.

Canada is barely either, but OK.

ANNOUNCER: Announcing the delay of TransCoastal

flight 52 to Vancouver.

We're not gonna get there till 7:00 now.

The stores will all be closed.

Do they even do night landings there?

Gar, some of these people might be Canadian.

No.

They'd be loaded down with toilet paper and lighters.

Whoa, whoa.

What are you doing?

Praying.

Here?

Prior to taking off in a blizzard

is not a good time to cut corners with God.

Yeah, I get that.

But it's just the whole uncomfortable-with-Muslims

thing some people have here really gets kicked up

a notch at the airport.

Then, please, I will be brief.

[gasping]

Stop him.

- How? - Excuse me, sir.

Can I have a word with you?

Um, now?

Security, we have a situation here.

[THEME - PJ OLSSON AND SALMAN AHMAD,

"(WHAT'S SO FUNNY 'BOUT) PEACE, LOVE, AND UNDERSTANDING"]

THEME SONG: What's so funny 'bout

peace, love, and understanding?

I have to pray five times each day.

We know, Raja.

And it is forbidden to interrupt a prayer.

Yeah, but those people don't know that

and they have to make spot judgments.

For such an advanced country, Americans

can be quite ignorant.

You're the one who couldn't figure that out.

That's enough, Claire.

And Raja, don't tease America.

I was actually praying for our safe passage.

We know, Raja. Now shush.

It's 53 in Vancouver today.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): The reason Vancouver

was so important to me was, without it, my dad

and I would be forced to talk.

And usually that doesn't go so well.

It's ridiculous that a small-market team like

the Brewers has to compete with a team like the Yankees,

who has a $200 million payroll.

Yeah.

We need baseball players to get home runs.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): So instead, he

tries to teach me things, which usually goes much, much worse.

As long as you're gonna lay around all day,

how about I teach you to drive?

Wha-- it's a snowstorm.

Well, you learn how to drive in the snow

and then you know how in the sun and the rain, too.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): This was how my bad

approached teaching everything.

From catch--

Can't we start with the softball?

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): --to bike riding--

- Please, no! - Whee!

Mommy!

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): --to swimming.

- Whee! - Mama!

You're 16 already.

What, do you wanna walk around the rest of your life?

Well, I'd like to hang on to the option.

This is so unfair.

I didn't need an exchange student to be popular.

And now he's cost me my vacation, my extra room

for clothes and shoes, my--

Claire, we were all disappointed by what happened

at the airport yesterday, but it was not Raja's fault.

You gotta keep that in your mind, front and center,

at all times, or your mind goes all kinds of places.

You hold me responsible, too?

No.

You can't help that you're a very stubborn young man when it

comes to your personal habits. - This is culture.

These are not personal quirks.

We are talking about the fundamental tenets of my faith.

You're in America now.

Here, we go to church Christmas and Easter, say grace

Thanksgiving, and that's it.

You are saying your God is better?

No.

Maybe less of a diva.

N-- just try and blend in a little better,

because if you don't, we're the ones that get

picked on at school, and we're the ones

who get our vacations ruined.

I can only do so much.

I cannot uneducate myself, become lazy,

or not be startled by women who dress like strumpets.

I did not mean you in particular.

What's a strumpet?

No one is saying you're any happier with this arrangement

than we are.

I never said I was not happy.

No, you-- you sure didn't.

You know, this morning, I thought you would all

be concerned with the poor treatment

I had received at the airport, but I should not have worried.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): No one knew quite how to act.

So we did what most American families

do when things get dicey.

It was comforting to watch a show that

was at least shot in Canada.

COP (ON TV): Freeze, eh.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): Whatever the case, the next morning,

our anger was gone.

I mean, we're responsible.

What's going on?

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): And so was Raja.

Well, where did he go?

He says he's with people more like him.

He'll be fine, and he wants us to enjoy Vancouver.

Yeah.

I got up early and saw that.

Van's packed.

We don't even know when the next plane is.

8:45 And 10:15.

Really, 9:31, but it got delayed in St. Louis.

Hey!

We can't leave without Raja.

He wants us to.

What kind of friend are you? - No.

He says he wants us to because we made him feel like crap

for making us miss Vancouver when he wasn't

even doing anything wrong.

Justin's right.

You were terrible to him.

Me? It's Claire!

- You raised me. - OK.

It doesn't matter.

We just need to find him so we can apologize.

Maybe he's with that Ahmad person

who drives him to prayers?

Fine.

We'll go to his Muslim church. - Mosque.

His mosque church.

Where is it?

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): We realized that, for all Raja

knew about our lives, we really didn't know much about his.

Well, this isn't scary at all.

That mosque in "Terrorist Cell" gave me the willies.

Well, let's see if he's in here.

Please, no women.

You don't allow women in here?

Here, just not in here.

Muslim men and women do a lot of things separately.

Your brother would love this place.

Shush!

Uh, we're looking for our foreign exchange student, Raja.

Raja-- what is his last name?

I know it always makes me giggle.

Musharaff.

Oh, that's right.

Raja Musharraf.

Um.

Black hair, dark skin, very Middle Eastern features.

Yeah, m-- maybe Justin and me should take a look and--

Yes, from the back.

Huma will take your daughter and you to the women.

(OVERENUNCIATING) Oh, no. We don't wanna buy anything.

Could-- could-- could--

To lend.

Your clothes are only appropriate for a--

Strumpet.

We've heard.

Hijab.

Well, it's not so bad, I suppose.

[gasp]

And that is darling.

Ugh.

Gotta get a shot.

You would not believe how many pieces that can fly into.

Excuse me.

I am Dalwah Sadaqatmal, and this is my daughter, Sadika.

Well, hello.

Franny and Claire Tolchuck from Medora.

Umar said you are looking for our exchange student?

What?

No.

We're looking for our exchange student.

You have one, too?

Silvio.

From Germany.

Oh.

[gasping]

[swooning]

Where is yours from?

Pakistan.

[swooning]

Oh, great.

How much are these things gonna set me back?

Oh, don't worry, Gar.

They're just loner hijabs. Chap

Well, who can say if he's in there.

No one will stay up long enough to get a look.

He's not in there.

But I, uh--

I talked to someone who knows Ahmad

and he says that Raja and him go to a closer mosque that's

in, like, some guy's house?

Yes.

Fazal.

Much nearer to Medora.

No women, though.

Well, I guess you can wait in the car.

- It's freezing. - OK.

So we'll drop you off, double back.

It's not a problem. Gas is cheap.

Wouldn't it be more sensible for you to wait in our home?

That's not necessary.

And you can meet Silvio.

Yes.

Well, but that means that it would just be Dad and me.

I can teach you to drive.

Raja.

How'd you get in here?

There are countless ways in.

Couples use them at night.

They do?

Oh, if I were you, I would clean my desk

most thoroughly each morning.

I will.

But you're not here with a girl.

Oh, goodness, no.

Not for years still.

You're lucky I'm in a hurry.

I just stopped by to get this on the way to the hospital.

My sister just had a baby. Now come on.

I-- I was hoping to wait inside,

as my ride to the mosque does not come until 4:00

and I might freeze to death.

Why can't you wait at the Tolchucks?

Actually, next week, I would like

to make inquiries about being placed with a new family.

Step into my office.

But your sister and her baby.

This is a magical day.

She has one a year.

At this point, it's about magical as Wednesday night

poker.

JUSTIN: OK.

So I can drive now. Thanks.

Should I just pull over here?

There's nothing to be scared of.

One wrong move and we die.

You won't make that move.

When have I not made that move?

[tires spinning]

Yeah, maybe stop up here.

[screeching]

Not here!

Here! - Dad!

Dad!

- Don't let go! - [screaming]

Don't wet your pants!

Don't wet your pants!

[music playing]

Silvio is so different from us.

Mm.

Raja, too.

We try to make him feel at home.

We cook his native foods.

We invite over every German national we meet.

I'm sure you do the same for Raja.

Of course.

What are we, monsters?

But, um, there has been beer and the cursing.

And we have caught him with pictures

of partially-clothed women.

Oh.

He sounds like a boy.

I love how different Raja is.

You know, he's so devout and sincere.

He seems like a dream come true.

So does Silvio.

But I just wish sometimes that it was easier.

Easier.

For him and for us.

Yes.

What's wrong with it?

It hit a tree.

That's what's wrong with it, Justin.

Uff, it's freezing.

Why did you have to make me drive?

Why did you have to--

Mess up?

Like always, right?

No, that's not what I said.

I made sure not to say it, Justin.

No. You think I'm just--

I'm just some sort of, like, screwup.

You know, I can't drive a car.

I can't throw a ball.

I-- I am good at stuff.

I know you are, Justin.

I know that!

Like what?

Choir.

Only you wouldn't know because you never come, and it sucks.

I've been meaning to.

Oh, yeah.

Sure.

I'm sure you'll make it when the-- the Bears

aren't playing the Bruins.

They wouldn't play.

They're-- they're two different, uh--

[sighing]

[sighing]

It is not just me.

I am a burden to the Tolchucks, too.

Every day, there are a thousand slides back and forth,

and it is just too much.

Raja, Raja, Raja.

When I came to Medora High, I was the only African-American

on staff.

People had a hard time reacting to me.

Some of them had real problems working alongside a black man.

Those people are now in different professions

and didn't know what hit them.

Other people, good people, they also said hurtful things,

but out of ignorance.

So I cut them some slack, and they came around.

That is a very beautiful story, Mr. Matthews.

But Medora High has many African-American faculty,

and you have been here just two years.

My point still stands.

The Tolchucks are good people.

Mr. Matthews--

Listen to me.

Have you ever seen Franny or Gary come down on Justin?

Yes, with enormous spite.

How about Claire?

They have said some unforgivable things to Claire.

And now you're not getting along.

Why?

Because I am family?

Yes!

You see, in America, we are only truly

horrible to the people we love.

So why don't you give them a call?

Raja!

Oh, thank God!

You had us worried sick.

Don't you ever--

She is quite angry.

--behaving this stupid ever again.

I'm telling--

She has just called me stupid.

FRANNY (ON PHONE): --we practically had the Medora

Police Department out--

I think it's time to go home, son.

--'cause I don't know where any of your friends are!

Yes.

Raja's OK.

I think I have a date with Silvio.

[gasp]

Could I ask one more favor?

It's kind of big.

So, uh, what did you guys, uh, sing?

What?

What did you guys sing in the choir?

- We sang a Beatles medley. - Really?

Hm. - Yeah.

I also had a solo in "Space Oddity".

David Bowie?

I love that record.

I know.

That's how I first heard it.

Because you used to play it when we were younger.

You know, when I first got that, I was your age.

My dad was so mad when I brought that album home.

He said Bowie looked like a girl,

and he broke the record over my head.

Said, no son of his--

He broke it over your head?

What, is that interesting?

He was always breaking things over my head.

Then God forbid you tried to fight back because then he'd

come at you with an uppercut.

Which reminds me.

If you're ever in a fight, go for the windpipe.

It cuts off the air supply to the brain.

Wow.

I'm sorry, Dad.

I didn't know that Pop-Pop was like that.

All he ever did to me was pull candy out of my ear.

Yeah, well, he had this idea of what a man was.

And you know, I thought I came close, too,

but I was never enough.

I told myself, one day I am gonna have a son,

and that's not how I'll be, but maybe I didn't

do as well as I'd hoped, huh?

No, it's fine, Dad.

It's fine.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): It was fine.

Because sometimes, where someone is

isn't nearly as important as how far they've come.

So can I hear it?

Hear what?

Hear your solo.

What, right here?

Why not?

Well, I guess we're gonna die here, anyway.

(SINGING) Though I'm past 100,000 miles,

I'm feeling very still.

And I think my spaceship knows which way to go.

(SINGING) Tell my wife I love her very much.

BOTH (SINGING): She knows.

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): My dad had come 100,000 miles.

And he wasn't the only one to hear me sing that day.

Turns out we were a lot closer to Ahmad's mosque

than we realized.

JUSTIN (HIGH-PITCHED SINGING): Can you hear me, Major Tom?

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): Ahmad gave us a ride home.

And mom's big favor from Dalwah was

to have her prepare a Pakistani feast for Raja's return

and invite a few friends.

[MUSIC - DAVID BOWIE, "SPACE ODDITY"]

Far above the world, Planet Earth is blue and--

Raja.

Welcome home.

Thank you, Mrs. Tolchuck.

This--

JUSTIN (VOICEOVER): Maybe some people

can't traverse the whole distance that lay between them,

but we can all try.

JUSTIN: It's Raja!

[cheering]

Though I'm past 100,000 miles, I'm feeling very still.

And I think my spaceship knows which way to go.

[THEME - PJ OLSSON AND SALMAN AHMAD,

"(WHAT'S SO FUNNY 'BOUT) PEACE, LOVE, AND UNDERSTANDING"]

THEME SONG: What's so funny 'bout

peace, love, and understanding?

Oh.

What's so funny 'bout peace, love, and understanding?

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