The Fabelmans2022

Mitzi Fabelman:
When I was a girl and I felt sad, I’d go to the zoo and I’d watch the monkeys.

Monica Sherwood:
They made you laugh?

Mitzi Fabelman:
Yeah, the monkeyshines. But there was more to it than that, it was...They understand what we’ve done to them, with the cages and the people pointing. We share that with them, the truth of how cruel people are. But if you watch them for long enough, you can tell they know stuff we can’t begin to imagine, important stuff. And they’re not going to let us in on it. Because it belongs to them, it’s their own monkey business, theirs. It’s not ours. It’s, oh I dunno...

Burt Fabelman:
Self-possession.

[Mitzi looks at him, an instant of deep connection. She gives him a sad smile.]

Mitzi Fabelman:
Right. They belong to themselves.

Hadassah Fabelman:
If it belongs to itself, let it go back to where it came from.

Mitzi Fabelman:
Anyway, that’s how come I got a monkey.

Natalie Fabelman:
And a therapist.

Lisa Fabelman:
He throws his poop.

Monica Sherwood:
The therapist?

Lisa Fabelman:
No the monkey.

Hadassah Fabelman:
That’s why I’m staying in a hotel.

Burt Fabelman:
You don’t have to. We have plenty of room -

Hadassah Fabelman:
My rabbi in New Jersey says a monkey in the house isn’t Kosher.

Mitzi Fabelman:
That’s why we’re not going to eat him.

Burt Fabelman:
Did you schedule him for his polio vaccine?

Monica Sherwood:
They can get polio?

Burt Fabelman:
Well, they’re susceptible to pretty much everything humans are, so yes.

Mitzi Fabelman:
Pass the peas. He hates going to the vet. You see, Monica, in this family, it’s the scientists versus the artists. Sammy’s on my team, he takes after me, except he’s got real talent.

Sammy Fabelman:
Mom.

Natalie Fabelman:
And he’s completely terrible at science.

Reggie Fabelman:
And algebra.

Natalie Fabelman:
And sports.

Sammy Fabelman:
Will you please stop!

Monica Sherwood:
He showed me his camera.

Natalie Fabelman:
Is he good at kissing?

Monica Sherwood:
I’ll tell you later.

[the girls giggle]