Dandelion | Award-Winning Queer Short Film

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>> Another chance? This was her chance. We tried to help her despite the attitude, her lack of tidiness, even her refusal to join us in prayer. But I will not tolerate theft. No. >> [laughter]

>> And I certainly cannot have her lusting after the other girls. It is not safe. Her parents were smart enough to know that. Well, that is no longer our problem. I don't care who you send. She is not staying the night. >> [music] [music] [music] [music]

>> Hi. Sorry I am late. I got lost in traffic. There was uh lots of traffic and then I got lost, so what are you going to do? Nothing. Hi, you must be Margaret. Who the hell are you? >> Levine. No, it's fine. I'm Joyce Harris. Where's Nancy? Nancy sent me, actually. >> Where is she? That old crone always

comes. How do you know she's not trying to kidnap me? Nope, not trying to kidnap anybody. I'm here to help you find a new placement tonight. And that is a death trap. >> Nope, it's fine. It's a Pinto. What happened to thou shall not name thy children? >> Levine, get in the car now.

Make me. You will get in that car right now. >> Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, hey, whoa whoa. We are fine. Really. We're fine.

What do you say? Get my suitcase. My suitcase.

Hey, it just takes a second. Uh okay.

Um uh Margaret, what do you what do you do for fun? How much is Nancy paying you? Uh she is not. I'm a volunteer. >> [snorts] >> For what? I help foster kids find safe homes. It's late. You don't have anything better to do? Actually, I do. >> Knitting? You look like you knit.

But I heard your case is unique and you're running out of options. And you have options. I know people Nancy doesn't. It's not going to work. Maybe then tomorrow I can just drop you back off at social services, pretend this night never happened. But for now, you are my responsibility. Come on. Make yourself useful.

Read the first address. 1710 Finchley Street. Finchley. Finchley. And running. What? For fun. I like running. >> [music] >> Come on. Let's go. I can stay in the car. Oh, this is for you. You should want to see. Come on. Come on. Thank you. This is great. Oh, [ __ ] Joyce. >> Lisa, hi. I'm sorry to bother you. I was

just looking for a placement for Margaret. I forgot about your uh situation. You look like you have your hands full. This is great. Congratulations. Must be um so fun. Great. Do you want to hold her? I would. I would love to, but we can't. We are running out of time. I want to

hold the baby. >> Uh no, we uh need to get out of your hair because we need to get going. So, we are going to leave. Give my best to Pat, okay? So, Wasn't going to bite. Doesn't have teeth. How do you know the baby lady? Uh we run in similar circles. >> Mhm. Crochet club?

I'm not at liberty to say. >> Oh, you're not at liberty to say. No, no, no. But why?

>> Fine. I need to eat. Can we stop? We do not have time, but there's some in the back. You can find it, you can eat it. Why do you have so many of these? Nope. Open it up. Ow. What? What? Sorry. It's fine. >> Sorry. It's fine. >> I didn't >> It's nothing. It's fine.

I'm sorry. Um Okay.

Next to dress. She is completely self-sufficient. The government will give you a stipend of $362 a month for expenses. [music] Uh I heard your arrangement went through. That's going to make things easier. Yeah, but if you change your mind Okay. Just Okay. It's fine. I seriously might only get a dollar. Joyce, hi. Hi, how are you?

Look, I [music] I know it's nerve-wracking. I do. But we would warn you before any government visits. That's not how that works. Everything will go through the organization. Good luck. What organization is this? Margaret, your is 17. [music] Barely a commitment. Uh blink and it's over. To leave in less. I'm frail.

She might So determined not to help you, you could at least say nothing at all.

Ow. Ow what? Oh god. Oh god. >> It's fine. It's fine. It's just [ __ ] blood. It's And it's >> cuz we're pulling over and we're just going to stop and that's fine. And it's fine. And it is fine. Thank you for saying that. Mice are mighty. They're predators. They started the plague.

Okay, just don't pick at it, please. In the light. Come on. You're a very bossy woman. Anyone ever tell you that? Couple times. I didn't lose a limb. Yeah it's hands please Thank you.

You're a volunteer doctor, too? Uh no, I was a nurse in the army. Really? No. Ow, Jesus [ __ ] Christ. Oh my god, you're enjoying this, aren't you? I'm a child in distress and you're laughing. It's not funny. It's not funny. It's not funny. Right, sorry. It's not. I'm sorry.

Have we got a piece of the other guy? The ruler? Or the keeper of it? You're hoping I punched a nun. No, of course not. I just wouldn't blame you if you did.

Sometimes it's easier to point at you instead of it themselves, what they do, what they say. It doesn't make it right.

Thank you. One last thing. It's all they had. So juvenile.

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>> Hi. No. Just wait. Just wait, please. Please wait. It's urgent. This is my first time with a juvenile delinquent. I can't do it. Oh my god. I know you'd be a good fit here. I'm not. I'm asking you if I had any other options. I've gone through my entire network. I can't send her back. I

can't do it again. You of all people know how difficult Jeremy is. Hey Margaret. Can you grab some waters? Yeah. She's going to behave. I think. Come on. Sit.

So, you like her? She's a [ __ ] smart ass. Won't take no for an answer even when it's good for her. She's tough. And sharp. You know, usually when kids get to us, they've already given up. Resigned to the fact that they're just going to go from place to place, and that's the best that they can hope for.

But, Margaret. Do you know what? She's been in the system since she was 13. 13, and she still has some fight in her. I don't know. She's just She's different. Yeah. [ __ ] Rich, it isn't till January. January. She needs us more than she knows. Please. Please. Why don't you just take her?

No. No. I No, I I I can't. Okay, maybe I can move some things temporarily. >> Thank you. Margaret. Margaret, open the door. Margaret. [ __ ] Margaret. Come on, Janet. [ __ ] go. I want to go. [ __ ] [screaming] No. >> Rich, go. Let me [ __ ] go. Get [ __ ] [laughter] off. [ __ ] off,

Janet. Janet.

He was going to say yes. You couldn't behave for one more minute? Then what? Let you leave me with the first sucker that says yes? >> Yes. Yes, that is the point of this, to find you a home. I had a home. And they didn't want me either.

I'm not doing this again. Rich is a good person. All of these people are good people. They're my people. They're trying to help. I am trying to help you. >> want your help. You got Oh my god, you got to keep your head down for 8 months and then you're free. >> Oh, [ __ ] you. You have no idea what this

is like for me. >> Trust me, I do. >> No, you don't. If you did, you would just let me go. Just leave me alone. If everybody would just leave me alone, I would be fine. >> the plan, Margaret? Crawl out the window and then and then what? Live on the street? >> Yeah, maybe. I'd figure it out.

You don't care what happens to me, Joyce. I'll end up where I'll end up and you'll find another charity case to make you feel better about yourself.

Okay. Okay, yeah. Hi, Paul. Um I'll take you back to Nancy. Yeah. >> [music] >> Yeah.

Come on. On. Come on. [ __ ] Got to find a phone. Come on. You are still my responsibility and I'm not losing you to the state, so let's go. Move. I'm not kidding. [music]

Thank you.

>> Come on, it's still going on. Dammit, Bruce. Okay, just stay right here. Please don't touch anything. Just hands Joyce, you're here. Hi, baby. You all right? I'm late. What happened and not bringing your work home with you? Wasn't exactly the plan in the car today. This is Margaret. Margaret, this is my

um Ruth, this is Ruth. Hi. Well, you must be something special. Joyce is usually pretty cagey about her personal life. >> [clears throat] >> Oh. I will leave you to it. Thanks so much, Jenny. Just Okay. >> [music]

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>> You hungry? >> [music] >> to say. >> [singing] >> What? Yeah, Ruth always buys too much food. If you're hungry, you can stay.

If not, just be careful.

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>> Woo.