funding for this program [with captioning] was provided by: additional funding is provided by: and: narrator: each video episode has three parts. watch the program, read your book, discuss the program and... rebecca: ♪ that would be enough, enough for me ♪

♪ everybody needs a dream catcher ♪ ♪ catch me! talked to your mother last night. am i going to see her this weekend? yup. she and norman want to talk to you about something important. what is it? norman got a new job... in los angeles. they're moving to l.a. mommy's moving? when? the end of the month. when am i going to see mommy? well... she and norman want you to move to l.a. with them.

you're kidding, right? no, i'm not. it's not fair. it's just not fair. ramón: alex, come back here! i think we should talk about this. i hate you. i really, really hate all of you! alex... alex, i didn't want to upset you. i'm sorry. ( sighs ) i just want you to know how much i love you, and... this is ridiculous! how about if i sit down? remember how we used to sit and talk about important things... like, uh, when your bike was stolen...

or when you broke the kitchen window? ( sighs ) so... your mom wants you to move, and i want you to stay. somehow, we're going to have to work this out. you understand? i want it the way it was-- with you and mommy and me together. i don't think that's possible. why not? because you don't love each other anymore? what about me? what am i supposed to do? where you going? out. no, you're not. alex! alex... alex, come back here! i mean it! don't you show your anger to me. this is not the way to solve our problem.

( sighs ) look, this isn't easy... for you, for me, or for your mother. but i promise i'll try to do what's best for you. why can't we be a family again? why can't you and mommy love each other again? ( computer playing classical music ) are you quitting already? i have to. i'm going to a big party tonight. aren't you the lucky one? can you get me an invitation? mmm, i don't think so. it's a retirement party for... ugh, forget it. retirement party? no way.

they're really nice people. old people make me nervous. you are terrible. ain't that the truth? see you. bye. ( guitar playing "cielito lindo" ) man: ♪ ese lunar que tienes, cielito lindo, ♪ ♪ junto a la boca, ♪ ♪ no se lo des a nadie, cielito lindo, ♪ ♪ que a mí me toca. ♪ ♪ ese lunar que tienes, cielito lindo, ♪ ♪ junto a la boca, ♪ ♪ no se lo des a nadie, cielito lindo, ♪ ♪ que a mí me toca. ♪ ♪ ay, ay, ay, ay, ♪ ♪ canta y no llores ♪

♪ por que cantando se alegran, ♪ ♪ cielito lindo, los corazones. ♪ ♪ ay, ay, ay, ay, ♪ ♪ canta y no llores ♪ ♪ por que cantando se alegran, cielito lindo, ♪ ♪ los corazones. ♪ congratulations, congratulations! thank you. well, thank you, thank you. i hope we enjoy our retirement as much as we love our restaurant. hi, ms. casey. alex, don't you look nice? can i take your coat? i would love that. here, will you take this for me as well?

there. thank you. all set? yeah. hey! how are you? woman; cómo estás? bien? woman: hola, alberto, que tal? mucho gusto. i won't give you a kiss. how are you? how are you? cómo estás? um... this is gloria diaz. she's a friend of the family. nice to meet you, gloria. hello. tell me, how did you and alberto meet? oh, i was driving across country and my car broke down on the desert. alberto just appeared out of the blue. actually, out of the desert. i was taking pictures and i noticed a car parked, stranded in the middle of nowhere. i tried to help, but her car attacked me. rebecca: it was an accident. the hood of my car fell on his head. i recovered... by spending the rest of the night in the back seat of my car. how romantic!

i was alone, gloria. oh, thank you, alex. they look delicious. alberto: rebecca's studying music. she's going to be a songwriter someday. i'm hoping to be a songwriter. and she works at the after-school program that alex attends. alex is a super baseball player and a very talented guitar player. gloria: he's so adorable. gloria, cuéntame ¿cómo te fue en tu viaje en acapulco? oh, magnífico. lús hombres en acapulco son muy guapos. what did she say? it's about... it's about her trip to acapulco. i want to hear the rest of this. just... just a minute. gloria: sí... bueno. hay mucho la tequila... that's phoenix for you. i don't even know my neighbors. they're all retired people. all they do is stay home. but aren't there lots of activities for people like you? sure, but its not easy to make new friends. to tell you the truth, retirement can get a little boring.

don't say that! here i am... about to retire. you'll get used to it... eventually. so tell me, what are your plans? well, we are hoping to go back to mexico for christmas to spend some time with our relatives. that's nice. did i show you pictures of me in front of my condominium? wow! that's some swimsuit, alice. alberto: hello! mama, papa, you remember rebecca. of course. how are you, rebecca? very good, thanks. it's so good to see you again. it's a pleasure to be here. this is alice goodman, an old friend. she came all the way from arizona to be with us tonight. oh, wonderful. this is rebecca casey. nice to meet you. hello, rebecca. i knew this guy when he was just a little boy. he liked girls even back then. okay! something i should know about? we'd better go before they start telling stories about my childhood. nice seeing you. so what do you think?

very attractive, but a little too skinny. i think it's time for alberto to settle down, have a family. mr. mendoza: you women are terrible. me voy y las dejo. what ever happened to patricia? patricia? they still go out once in a while. i was hoping they would get married. she's a mexican american, you know? but not such luck. how, uh, old is this rebecca, anyway? i'm not sure... maybe 29? alberto better make up his mind fast if he's going to have kids. you're right. i would like to have more grandchildren. you have alex. you're lucky. yes! but you can never have too many grandchildren. alice: so, uh, rebecca and ramón are friends? mrs. mendoza: yes. he got her a job at alex's after- school program.

looks like he's quite fond of her. no, they're just friends. she's alex's teacher, that's all. don't be too sure. man: ♪ quisiera haberte sido infiel ♪ ♪ y pagarte con una traición. ♪ ♪ eres como una espinita ♪ ♪ que se me ha clavado en el corazón ♪ ♪ suave, que me estás sangrando, ♪ ♪ que estás acabando con mi amor ♪ ♪ suave, que me estás sangrando, ♪ ♪ que estás acabando con mi amor... ♪ rebecca and alberto are at a retirement party. for the mendozas. speaker: everybody's having a great time. speaker: alberto didn't seem too concerned about rebecca. what did she say? it's about her trip to acapulco. i want to hear the rest of this. just... just a minute. gloria: hay mucho la tequila...

the old friend of the family is called alice goodman. this is alice goodman, an old friend. she suddenly notices ramón and rebecca instead of alberto and rebecca. alice: so, uh, rebecca and ramón are friends? mrs. mendoza: yes. looks like he's quite fond of her. no, they're just friends. don't be too sure. speaker: she's just puzzled what's going on. is this girl with ramón or with alberto? i think that you can be in love with two people at the same time. ( laughing ) fun party, huh? your grandmother's a good dancer. i guess so. alex, is there something wrong?

i have to move with my mother to los angeles. your father told me. it's going to be hard on everyone. i don't want to go. i want to stay here. i'm sorry. you must be very upset. ( music continues ) ♪ suave, que me estás sangrando, ♪ ♪ que estás acabando con mi amor... ♪ ♪ no quiso entrar por tu culpa ♪ ♪ este gran martillo que te da tu amor. ♪ ♪ no me importa lo que me hagas ♪ ♪ ni en tu pecho anido con tanta ilusion ♪ ♪ ni aunque pase lo que pase, ♪ ♪ este pecho amante es lo más de ti ♪ ♪ aunque yo quisiera, ♪ ♪ no podré olvidarte, ♪ ♪ porque siempre estás dentro de mí. ♪ ♪ suave, que me estás sangrando, ♪ ♪ que estás acabando con mi amor... ♪ ♪ quisiera verte si lo entiendo ♪ ♪ y pagarte con una traición. ♪

♪ eres como una espinita ♪ ♪ que se me ha clavado en el corazón. ♪ ♪ suave, que me estás sangrando... ♪ ♪ ...junto a la boca, ♪ ♪ no se lo des a nadie ♪ ♪ cielito lindo... ♪ hey. got a little surprise for you to cheer you up. what kind of surprise? something my brother gave me. what is it? it's a four-leaf clover. it's supposed to bring you good luck. i don't know if it's true, but i hope it brings you good luck. thank you, ms. casey. why don't you call me rebecca? "ms. casey" sounds so old. o.k.? o.k.... rebecca. that's better. excuse me, you two. alex, now is the time. can you sit for a while and visit? not yet. i've been in the kitchen all day and now is the time to present my masterpiece. our masterpiece, dad. you're right-- our masterpiece.

what is it? should we tell her or let her wait? let her wait. you two! you've given your parents a great party! thanks. bye. remember, save me a dance. i will. ( music ends ) ( guests applaud ) ( cheering and applause ) attention, everyone! quiet, please, quiet! before we cut into this beautiful cake, made with loving care by us, their loving sons, a few words from the guests of honor. ( applause ) thank you, my very dearriends. we wish to thank you all for coming here to join us in our party tonight.

yes, we are retiring, but we will never forget the good times we've had here with you over the last 30 years. now, i know there's been a rumor that we are selling the restaurant, but i am here tonight to assure you that the mendoza tradition will continue. so here's to the next 30 years of the casa mendoza restaurant. may they be as joyful as the first 30 years. to all of you, god bless, salud, dinero y amor! all: salud! ( applause ) we have been very lucky to have all of you as friends. and we have been very lucky to have each other, too. the only thing i regret in all these years is that my husband is such a good cook!

( laughing ) alberto: i'd like to propose a toast to my warm and loving parents. may your life continue to be an adventure, and may it be joyful and fruitful. to you. ( applause ) to the greatest parents anyone ever had. may every day be better than the last. dios le bendiga. salud! ( applause ) and now the couple of honor will lead us in a dance. bueno. both: ♪ y volver, volver, volver... ♪ ( band begins playing ) ♪ a tus brazos otra vez ♪ ♪ llegaré hasta donde estés ♪ ♪ yo sé perder, yo sé perder ♪ ♪ quiero volver, volver, volver... ♪

♪ a tus brazos otra vez ♪ ♪ yo llegaré hasta donde estés... ♪ excuse me, miss. may i have this dance? with pleasure. i'm glad your parents decided not to sell. me, too. you know, alex is crazy about you. every day, it's "miss casey this... miss casey that..." i'm crazy about him, too. i told him he could call me rebecca, if he likes.

really? i wanted him to know that i was his friend. you have a beautiful smile... and a beautiful spirit. thank you. i gave your son a present tonight. what was that? my four-leaf clover. good luck charm. mm-hmm. my brother gave it to me before i left home. that must be very special to you. why alex? what good is luck if you can't share it with the people you love? oh, i'm sorry, we're closed. this is a private party. we're looking for rebecca casey. i see. yes, it's very important. i'll get her.

i'm sorry, rebecca. uh, there's somebody asking for you. for me! yes. if you'll excuse me. rebecca: nancy, angela, what on earth are you doing here? your brother called. he said it was an emergency. he wants you to call him. what is it? it's your father. he's in the hospital. i have to call home. my father's in the hospital. may i use your phone? of course. there's a phone in the kitchen. it'll be quieter there. what happened? did they say? no. suzy... you can use this phone right here. if you need anything, we'll be outside would you like a glass of water? no, that's o.k.

kevin, it's me. oh, my god! is he o.k.? well, what did the doctor say? i will. i'll take the next flight out, whatever it costs. kevin, hang in there, o.k.? bye. you sure you're going to be all right? yeah. nancy will take me back to the house. i'll pick up some clothes, and then we'll head to the airport. i'll catch the next flight to boston. are you sure you don't want me to drive you to the airport? no, no, thank you. go back to the party. this is your parents' night. i'll call when i get to boston. my brother's checking with the airlines. he'll call you and let you know which flight has a seat available, o.k.? o.k. i'm sorry to be so much trouble. no, no, shh. i just hope your father will be all right.

come here. thank you for everything. no problem. bye. alex tells rebecca he's upset because he will have to move to l.a. so he's very sad. alex, is there something wrong? i have to move with my mother to los angeles. she gives alex a four-leaf clover. a four-leaf clover brings you luck. i've got a little surprise for you

to cheer you up. what is it? it's a four-leaf clover. it's supposed to bring you good luck. i don't know if it's true. mr. mendoza announces at the retirement party that his family's not going to sell the restaurant. there's been a rumor that we are selling the restaurant, but i am here tonight to assure you that the mendoza tradition will continue. there are toasts. to all of you, god bless, salud, dinero y amor! all: salud! rebecca's godmother, nancy, and angela... they came to the party to give the bad news to rebecca. what is it? it's your father. he's in the hospital. her father is in the hospital. she doesn't quite know what happened to him. rebecca is looking for a phone to call her brother, kevin. rebecca rushes to the airport. are you sure you're going to be all right? yeah.

nancy will take me back to the house. i'll pick up some clothes, and then we'll head to the airport. i'll catch the next flight to boston. i remember when i get first news about my father. he was sick in hospital, and i was so nervous, and my hands are shaking. i just rushed to the hospital. and it just... ambulance in my head all the time, all night long. it must be a long time ago for me to get bad news, but when i was away in school-- and most of my life i was away in school-- i got the news that my father passed away, and when i heard about it, it just make me numb. the lessons of life are the ones that make people endure and feel good and discover that they can do it. and when you reflect and look back at those experiences, you realize that you can do many things. i would really react badly to something like that.

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