Turning Red

"[first lines of the film] [She lifts a tray to her mom in a photo] The number one rule in my family? Honor your parents. They're the supreme beings who gave you life who sweated and sacrificed so much to put a roof over your head, food on your plate, [Ming gives Mei a whole load off food] an epic amount of food. [Ming and Mei do the peace sign] The least you can do in return is [Ming and Mei holding a trophy] every single thing they ask. [In the spa with Mei and Ming] Of course some people are like, "Be careful". Honoring your parents sounds great, [Mei now grown up in her teen years lifts the tray to her mother Ming] but if you take it too far, well, you might forget to honor yourself. [the scene cuts to her in close-up; to the viewers] Luckily, I don't have that problem. [She leaps out of the picture frame and lands onto the sidewalk, carrying a case] I'm Meilin Lee. And ever since I turned 13, I've been doing my own thing, making my own moves; 24/7, 365! I wear what I want, [revealing her case] say what I want, and I will not hesitate to do a spontaneous cartwheel if I feel so moved! [She tries to do a cartwheel] Crap! [crashes and quickly collects her stuff; on the trolley] Not to brag, but being 13 means I'm officially a grown-up. [Showing her card to the driver] At least according to the Toronto Transit Commission."

"Jesse went to art school. Tae Young fosters injured doves. Robaire speaks French. And Aaron T. and Aaron Z. are, like, really talented too. We are 4*Townies, remember? Ride or die!"

"Okay. I know what it looks like. I am my own person, but that doesn't mean doing whatever I want. Like most adults, I have responsibilities. (Don't get me wrong.) It's not all about me, you know? I do make my own moves, it's just that… some of my moves are also hers."

"[thinking] Don't look at the notebook, don't look at the notebook, don't! [glances down at her notebook] No!"

"[scolding herself after Ming confronted Devon about her private drawings and being publicly embarrassed] You sicko! What were you thinking?! Why would you draw those things? THOSE HORRIBLE, AWFUL, SEXY THINGS?!"

"[hugging a photo of her and Ming] Mommy, I'M SO SORRY!"

"[scolding to her reflection] You are her pride and joy, so ACT LIKE IT! [slaps herself]"

"I'm a gross red monster! [sobs] Stop it! STOP TALKING!"

"Tyler is an insecure jerk wad. Words were exchanged. Slightly uncomfortable secrets were revealed."

"Don't look at me! Stay back!"

"[furiously trying to rip the tapestry of Sun Yee into shreds] YOU CURSED US! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!"

"I hate this! I'm slobby, I'm smelly! My mom won't even look at me, and now 4*Town? When are they coming? (Abby: May 18th. They just announced it.) The 18th?! There's no way this will be gone by then! Just go...go become women without me! (Miriam: Mei, it's gonna be okay.) No, it's...it's not! I'm...I'm a freak! Just… [sighs] Just leave me alone."

"(Ming: How is this possible? What happened to your panda?) It's easy. When I start to get emotional, all I do is imagine the people I love most in the whole world… Which is you guys."

"I know my mom's worried, but sometimes she's just so… so… (Miriam: Wacko?)"

"We need to see this concert! Why doesn't my mom get that?! I never ask for anything! My whole life, I've been her perfect little Mei-Mei. Temple duties, grades… (Abby: Violin!) (Priya: Tap dancing.) Yeah. We've been so good. If they don't trust us anyway, then what's the point? (Miriam: Wow. Who are you? I love it.)"

"All right, troops, listen up. The boys are coming to the SkyDome, May 18th. Our goal: Four tickets. That's 800 bucks!"

"[to Tyler] Hey, dorkbag. We're in. But you only get the panda for an hour. And we're not bringing any presents. (Tyler: [holds out his hand] Deal.)"

"Just one last time. Hey, Tyler! You want the panda? You're getting the panda! Let's hear it for the birthday boy!"

"I can't be like this forever. My whole family would freak. Especially my mom. All her hopes and dreams are pinned on me."

"[freaking out when she learns that 4*Town's concert and the red moon ritual are on the same night and realizes she can't be in two places at once] I CAN'T MISS 4*TOWN! WE WORKED SO HARD! But...but the ritual. I'LL LET EVERYONE DOWN!"

"[to Tyler] Buzz off, jerkface! I'm busy!"

"The panda's dangerous… outta control."

"I'm keeping it."

"The panda's a part of me, and you guys are too."

"[seeing that Tyler's a fan of 4*Town] You are a 4*Townie?!"

"Oh, that's nothing! You wanna see crass?! [starts shaking her butt at Mingzilla]"

"[while fighting Mingzilla] WELL, SORRY, I'M NOT PERFECT! SORRY, I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH! [flies directly towards her] AND SORRY, I'LL NEVER BE LIKE YOU!"

"I'm changing, Mom. I'm finally figuring out who I am, but… I'm scared it'll take me away from you."

"[to Sun Yee] I'm not going to regret this, am I?"

"I'm Meilin Lee, and ever since I turned 13, life's been a lot. People still talk about Pandapocalypse 2002. Mom and I just call it... growing pains."

"What? Mr. Gao had to put her panda in something. You should see Grandma's!"

"My panda, my choice, Mom."

"O-M-G! I'm so excited for the new album."

"[final lines of the film] Sometimes, I miss how things were, but… nothing stays the same forever. We've all got an inner beast. We've all got a messy, loud, weird part of ourselves hidden away. And a lot of us never let it out. But I did. How 'bout you?"

"[from trailer] My whole life, I've been perfect little Mei-Mei… but maybe I like this new me."

"Sun Yee, revered ancestor, guardian of the red pandas, we humbly thank you for protecting and guiding us. Especially Mei-Mei."

"Who are these hip-hoppers? And why are they called "4*Town" if there are five of them?"

"The Daisy Mart has lost a loyal customer today."

"Did the red peony bloom?"

"[as a school security is trying to keep her out] Mei-Mei! Tell him it's me! Mei-Mei! Tell him it's mommy! Mei-Mei! Tell him you forgot your PADS!"

"As you know, our ancestor Sun Yee, had a mystical connection with red pandas. In fact, she loved them so much…that she asked the gods to turn her into one. [narrating] It was wartime. The men were all gone. Sun Yee was desperate for a way to protect herself and her daughters. Then one night, during a red moon, the gods granted her wish. They gave her the ability to harness her emotions, to transform into a powerful mystical beast. She was able to fend off bandits, protect her village, and save her family from ruin. Sun Yee passed this gift to her daughters, for when they came of age. And they passed it to theirs. But over time, our family chose to come to a new world. And what was a blessing became… an inconvenience."

"No one can see her like this. I never wanted this for her."

"It's one thing to stay calm at home or school. But a concert? You'll get whipped up into a frenzy and panda all over the place."

"This isn't music, this is filth! And it's not worth jeopardizing your life over."

"What was that? Am I the only one who sees the danger here? There's no way she could keep her panda in. And $200?! For what?! Who do they think they are, Celine Dion? Hmph. Unbelievable. I saw that look. Where does she get that from? Treating her own mother like that."

"[while trying to apologize to Tyler's parents after Meilin attacked their son] I am so sorry. She's never done anything like this before. I don't know what came over her."

"[scolding Miriam, Priya, and Abby] I knew you were trouble. Putting all these thoughts into Mei-Mei's head, parading her around. Now she's lying, sneaking out. She attacked a defenceless boy! You think this is a joke? Do you know how dangerous this is?"

"She is a good girl, and you've taken advantage of her!"

"You can do it! Keep going!"

"[after Mei runs off to the concert] GET BACK HERE! [trips herself] No."

"How could she? [growls as her sadness turns to fury] How could she do this to…her own… mother?! [her talisman pendant necklace breaks, releasing her red panda spirit as it merges into her body; everyone steps back in horror as she rises in mid-air with her eyes glowing red] MEI-MEI!!!"

"Mei-Mei! [angrily picks up her daughter] You are in big trouble, young lady! (Meilin: Mom, let go!) I'm shutting this down, RIGHT NOW! Everyone, GO HOME! Where are your parents?! Put some clothes on!"

"Get back here! (Meilin: MAKE ME!) You think you're so mature! Lying to me! Blaming me! How could you be so…so… CRASS?!"

"[as Panda Meilin twirks her butt at her; disgusted] What are you doing?! Stop moving like that!"

"I see you, Mei-Mei. You try to make everyone happy but are so hard on yourself. And if I taught you that…I'm sorry. So, don't hold back. For anyone. The farther you go, the prouder I'll be."

"This thing's hungry all the time. [starts feeding her digital pet red panda] Eat up, little one. Oh, you're so hungry. Munch, munch, munch."

"Hold on. You're not going out like that, are you?"

"[to Meilin] We love you Mei."

"[to Meilin] Panda or no panda, no matter what."

"Guys, if we can't all go, then none of us should go... Right?"

"Mei, what if you didn't do the ritual? What if you kept the panda?"

"Oh, no. 4*Town's the same night as the ritual?"

"Tickets to 4*Town are like, a bajillion dollars, and Devon's right here. (Abby: And free!)"

"Sick. I've always wanted a tail."

"Uh… This says Toledo."

"LET'S BURN THIS PLACE TO THE GROUND!"

"4-Town's coming to Toronto!"

"WHAT THE HECK IS TOLEDO?!"

"[rooting for Meilin as she fights Mingzilla] DESTROY HER WITH YOUR BIG BUTT!"

"(Meilin: Hey, Grandma.) Poor dear. It must be so difficult keeping that unruly beast at bay. Your family is here now, Mei-Mei. And we will take care of everything."

"I know how hard it is to keep the beast in. It feels so good to let it out. So free. But each time you do, the stronger it gets. And then you'll be bound to it forever, and the ritual will fail."

"Your mother and I were close once, but the red panda took that away. I couldn't bear to see that happen to you. So no more panda. I know you'll do what's right."

"Ming, this is a critical time. Mei-Mei needs a strong hand now more than ever. Don't let her out of your sight. (Ming: I won't, Mother.)"

"[looks up and sees 4-Town logos projected by searchlights in the sky] What is that?! (Ming: Um, I think it's coming from the SkyDome, Mother.) [scoffs in disgust] Four is the worst number."

"Long ago, the spirits blessed the women of our family with a great challenge. Mei-Mei, tonight is your turn. Like all the women around this table, you too will banish the beast within and finally become your true self. May Sun Yee guide you and keep you safe."

"[after Meilin abandons the ritual and dashes off to the SkyDome, deciding to keep her panda] This is a disaster! Unbelievable! Ming! (Lily: Too good to be true.) How could you let this happen?! She's out of control!"

"Sun Yee give me strength. [transforms into her red panda]"

"You don't have to apologize. I'm your mother."

"[turns to the viewers, wearing a red 4-Town pendant; annoyingly disgusted] So unlucky."

"Set in Toronto between 2002 and 2003, Turning Red centers around Meilin "Mei" Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese-Canadian. One morning, she is horrified to discover that whenever she gets too excited or stressed, she poofs into an eight-foot-tall red panda, but can turn back, if calm. Soon Mei later learns that her ancestors have a shared history with the species as a family curse. Soon she must try maintain her new lifestyle as a teenager."

"Rosalie Chiang as Meilin "Mei" Lee"

"Sandra Oh as Ming Lee"

"Orion Lee as Jin Lee"

"Ava Morse as Miriam"

"Maitreyi Ramakrishnan as Priya"

"Hyein Park as Abbey"

"Wai Ching Ho as Wu"

"Tristan Allerick Chen as Tyler"

"Addy Chandler as Devon"

"James Hong as Mr. Gao"

"Jordan Fisher as Robaire"

"Finneas O'Connell as Jesse"

"Josh Levi as Aaron Z."

"Topher Ngo as Aaron T."

"Grayson Villanueva as Tae Young"