Announcer: Funding for "Fine Cut Festival of Films" is generously provided by The Bridges Larson Foundation.

Voice: Hello.

Would you mind coming a bit closer?

Do you follow the census by any chance?

It says the average U.S.

household has between 2 and 3 occupants, but if you knew where to look, you would find the real number is much closer to 11,736.

Behind every wall, under every floorboard, there are hundreds of happy inhabitants peacefully living their lives--insects, arachnids, gastropods, and other miscellaneous invertebrates.

I would know because, well, I'm--I'm one of them.

It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance.

If you'll indulge me, I would like to tell you a story.

[Bach's "Air on the G String" playing] Anyway, I've been hard at work on an autobiography.

I'd like to read you a few excerpts.

[Train rumbling] [Whistle blows] Like any good story, this one begins under the floorboards with a colony of bugs.

[Clattering] [Chirping] [Laughter] This is the town I call home, and it was here that I met the love of my life, the most beautiful caterpillar I've ever seen.

This is one of her self-portraits.

She was a remarkable painter and a beautiful soul, but one day, something was different about her.

[Delibes' "Flower Duet (Lakme)" playing] I never left her side.

I waited and waited, finding myself staring for hours at a painting that she never finished.

Then one day, she left without even saying goodbye.

[Sobbing] I sealed her cocoon and kept it so I could keep some piece of her here with me.

[Sirens, horns honking] Jake Schlegel: ♪ Highways Out along the highways ♪ Snail: You could say I had a hard time dealing with the separation.

[Sobbing] [Indistinct chatter] Schlegel: ♪ Along the highways And the hedges ♪ Snail: I crawled to the top of the tallest building I could find, but before my desperation could fling me off the edge, I saw something inexplicable, tucked away in storage... and it would change everything.

Now, I would like to introduce you to perhaps the most peculiar creature in this house.

[Train clattering] [Whistle blows] [Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Cellos-II.

Largo playing] Despite having roughly 11,736 housemates, this Homo sapien spends nearly all his time alone.

[Insect buzzing] Victor Espinoza was once a successful novelist, who wrote a series of books with his father Gene.

Gene Espinoza was a giant of the literary world, but ever since his father passed, Victor hasn't managed to finish a single new book, and to put it generously, Victor was not on good terms with any of his housemates.

[Mozart's "Turkish March" playing] Every ant on the ground, every fly in the air, and spider on the wall was subject to his wrath.

[Swatting] [Buzz] Coexistence was simply not an option.

Victor: Yeah.

That's terrific.

Yeah.

Wednesday works.

Yeah.

There's a motel nearby.

Yeah.

Perfect.

Snail: And when his blood lust could no longer be contained, he turned to drastic measures.

I took the liberty of mailing a manuscript of my book to Victor's old publisher, and I wrapped this copy just for him.

Hopefully, it inspires him to break out of this terrible writer's block.

I think all he really needs is just a little... [Straining] push!

[Groans] Push!

[Grunts] [Sighs] That thing's heavier than it looks.

[Beethoven's Symphony No.

7 in A Major-II, Allegretto playing] [Birds chirping] Exterminator: All right, man.

So this level of infestation give me, like, 3 days.

I'll take care of it, all right?

Victor: Oh.

Thank you so much.

Exterminator: All right.

Victor: I really appreciate it.

Exterminator: No problem.

I'll see you in a little bit.

Victor: OK.

Man: OK.

Everybody needs to clear out of the house.

[Music continues] [Gas hissing] [Cell phone ringing] Victor: Hello?

Man: Hey, Victor.

It's Ed Marshall from Hampton Books.

Victor: Eddie.

I haven't heard from you in forever.

Ed: I--I know it's been a while.

Anyway, I just wanted to call and congratulate you on your new book.

I think it's great that you're writing again.

Victor: What do you mean?

[Music continues] [Gas hissing] [Rumbling] Ed: Our office got a manuscript in the mail this morning.

It--it came from your address.

I'm assuming that's you, right?

[Gas blowing] [Electricity crackles] [Alarms blaring] Snail: I--I wish I had more time-- [Coughing] before I perish.

I need to tell you how this... [Cough] all fits together.

[Insects chirping] Those faces, they felt so familiar, and that painting, I could never forget that painting... [Chirping stops] and suddenly I understood.

[Sebastian Pangal's "Grand Chopin Nocturne" playing] I've lived this life before with her.

We've loved each other with different bodies but always the same soul.

We had a son, and just like I lost her in this life... I lost her in that one, too.

I left my own son alone in the world, but no one is ever really gone.

I'm right where you left me, just in a different life, in a different body.

I've missed you so much, son.

Come find me.

[Schubert's "Ave Maria" playing] [Insects chirping] [Bang] [Alarm blaring] [Breathing through respirator] [Music continues] Don't be sad.

Snails don't live very long anyway.

I know it's never easy to lose someone you love or for something beautiful to end, but I've learned that you don't have to look at the world that way.

Life never really ends.

It just changes.

[Buzz] Woman: And I--and I'm looking right at--right?

OK.

OK.

I live alone, um, which is nice, uh, because I don't have to argue with anyone over who gets to shower first in the morning or whose turn it is to, uh, take out the trash or, um...that kind of stuff.

I also, um, work from home, which is good because, you know, short commute.

[Sighs] Yeah.

It sounds like your sister is looking for something you just can't give her.

I work in online customer support.

I usually get a good rating.

I think it's because I take an interest.

Ha!

Oh, my God.

You're so funny.

Ha ha ha!

Would you want to grab drinks sometime and talk about it?

Oh.

Yeah, yeah.

That was--that was a bad idea.

OK.

Um...yeah.

Yeah.

You should be back up and running now.

No, no.

Thank you.

I like my job, but I'm happy to be done at the end of the week.

That's why people say, "Thank God it's Friday."

They don't say, "Thank God it's Monday and I get to go to work."

People don't say that.

No, they don't say that.

[Man humming] Woman: Hi.

Hey.

Hi, hi.

Sorry.

Hey.

Hey.

I just--I've been noticing lately that my mailbox is kind of like sticking.

Man: Lady, I just deliver the mail.

Woman: Yeah.

Oh, totally.

[Hinge squeaks] Man: It seems fine, but you could talk to your landlord.

Woman: OK.

Yeah.

That's a--that's a great idea.

I will do that.

Uh, would you want to come in?

I could get you some water or-- Man: I got to deliver the mail.

Thanks.

Woman: OK.

Ow!

I have hobbies.

I like to stay active.

[Indistinct chatter on TV] I wouldn't say that I'm lonely.

No, I wouldn't say that.

[Exhales] [Cell phone chimes] @perfectlifeangel: OK.

Hello.

So we had some friends over for dinner last night, and I cannot tell you how perfectly our dinner party went.

@partybugs: Think that Baby Tweety is gonna get the most drunk tonight?

@luckiest...girl: You have the power to shape your reality.

Trust me, it's all about mindset.

You have to believe that you are the luckiest girl in the world.

Say it with me.

I am the luckiest girl.

Woman: I am the luckiest girl in the world.

@luckiest...girl: Everything my heart desires will come true.

Woman: Everything my heart desires will come true.

@luckiest...girl: Yes!

Now go and slay, girlie.

Woman: So I had this idea.

I'm hosting a feast.

I would love for you to come.

I'll see you there.

That's my Gran.

We're really close.

Sorry.

We were really close, and she would do this thing where she would call out like a mad woman "We're having a feast!

We're having a feast!

We're having a feast!"

Everyone would come, and she would go all out--food, dancing, decorations, and--and we just had so much fun.

Come in, come in!

I'm so happy to have you.

Too much.

It's just too much.

Welcome to my humble abode.

Who's hungry?

Oh, my God, oh, my God!

Hi.

Come in.

I'm so happy you're here.

That's it.

That's the one.

Um, so let me show you where everything's gonna be.

This will definitely have to go.

Yeah, OK.

[Cell phone vibrating] Mom: Hey.

It's mom.

I haven't heard back from you in a bit.

Call me back.

Woman two: We really need to get these customer interaction times down.

Try to stick to the script as much as possible.

Everyone got that?

All right.

Then, I think we can wrap.

Woman: Oh, sorry.

Um, I just wanted to remind everyone to RSVP to the feast.

Um, it's coming up soon, so I'll see you there.

Bye!

That's much better.

Plenty of room for dancing.

That's important.

♪ Da da da da da da Da da ♪ [Sighs] I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Everything my heart desires will come true.

There's a lot of interest.

[Chopping] [Sizzling] [Cell phone vibrates] Hey, did you get my text?

Because I can't find Gran's cake recipe anywhere.

Mom: Yeah, honey.

I have it.

Woman: OK.

Well, could you send it to me?

Because I've got all these people coming.

Mom: I've been trying to get in touch with you.

Woman: Yeah, I know, sorry.

I've just been, like, really busy with the feast and everything.

Mom: I'm worried about you.

Woman: I'm fine, Mom.

In fact, I'm great.

Mom: Hon!

Woman: Yeah?

Mom: I think you should come home.

Woman: What?

Mom: I don't think living alone is good for you.

Maybe you'd do better if you were back at home.

Woman: What are you talking about?

I just said I was great.

Mom: I--I don't think it's good for you to be so isolated.

Woman: I'm not isolated.

I'm hosting a feast.

All my friends are coming.

Mom: Are they?

Woman: Yes, they are.

Why would you--everyone is coming.

This is my night.

Please.

Mom: OK, OK.

Woman: Don't ruin this.

Mom: I'm sorry, OK?

Woman: OK.

Mom: I'll send you the recipe.

Woman: Thank you.

[Fire alarm beeping] God!

[Beeping fades] [Sniffles] [Knock on door] Woman two: Hi!

Woman: Hi.

Woman two: I found this on a street nearby, and I just--well, I just thought it was a lovely invitation, and I'm actually your neighbor, and... Oh.

Is the party over?

Woman: No one showed up.

Woman two: Well, maybe they, like, all got into a car crash.

Ha ha ha!

Woman: Heh!

Both: Would you want to-- Woman two: Oh, sorry.

Woman: Um, would--would you like to come in?

Woman two: Yeah, I'd love to.

Woman: Really?

Woman two: Sure.

Why not?

Woman: Why not?

[Laughter] Woman two: But I got to ask... Woman: I asked my Gran once why she threw feasts, and she said, "Life is long, and it's hard."

Woman two: from Vons is good.

Woman: "Sometimes we just need something magical to keep us going, and a feast, well, it sounds big.

It's actually quite small.

It's just food.

It's the people that make the difference.

Friends, music, laughter, the small, magical things that sustain us."

Woman two: Heh heh.

Oh, uh, looks like I took all the wine.

Ha!

If it's cool, can I grab some more?

Woman: Yeah.

Yeah, sure.

There should be some in the kitchen.

Yeah.

Go ahead.

Woman two: OK, cool.

I'll be right back.

Woman: I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Woman two: Did you say something?

Woman: Oh, um, I was just saying I'm the luckiest girl in the world.

Woman two: Oh.

Cool.

[Burner clicking] [Whoosh] [Shaking] [Pop] [Pop, pop] [Popping] [Music playing] [Slice] [Panting] Man: Ah-ah-achoo!

[Both speaking native languages] Blue: Ah-chow.

Yellow: Ah-choo!

Blue: Ah-chow!

Yellow: Ah-choo!

Blue: Ah-chow!

Yellow: Ah-choo!

Both: Hyah!

Red: Ah-chow!

[Timer dings] [Creaking] [Wind blows] [Man inhales] [Exhales] [Wind blowing] [Man belches] Woman: A book, simple and subtle, an invention lifeless till intention makes it limitless.

Isn't it marvelous?

A blank page more coveted than gold and emptier than a summer sky.

Upon this canvas an author's very soul is writ-- [Swing music playing] [Cell phone vibrating] Ella: Ella Grimm of Enchanted Estates, where your property's my priority.

With whom am I speaking?

[Indistinct voice] Mom, for the hundredth time, I am selling this cottage.

Mom: What about your grandparents?

Ella: I know Westover meant a lot to Grandma and Grandpa.

Mom: It's such a magical place.

Ella: Magic?

I haven't heard that before.

Mom: Oh.

Ella: Sorry.

I'm stressed.

Mom: How are you?

Ella: How am I doing?

Well, sales are up, and I'm nearing a promotion.

Mom: No, I meant your brother.

Ella: Oh, you meant-- Mom: Today's his birthday.

Ella: I didn't even realize.

Mom: He would be 21.

Ella: 21?

Alfie would be 21 today?

Mom: What about all the memories you have with Alfie?

Ella: Yeah, I remember.

All those summer plays we put on in the forest, creating new worlds when the world felt out of control.

Mom: Surely, you can't leave these behind.

Ella: Not every story has a happily ever after.

Mom: No, Ella.

I know-- [Doorbell rings] Ella: Sorry, mom.

That's the clients.

I got to go.

Mom: Bye.

[Wind blowing] [Music playing] [Wind chimes tinkling] [Kettle whistling] [Static] [Wind chimes tinkling] [Clicking] [Music stops] Ella: Aah!

[Thud] Voice: Excuse me, miss.

You dropped this.

Ella: Aah!

Voice: Aah!

Agh!

Unh!

[Groans] Man: Everything all right?

Ella: Ohh!

Oh!

Man: Hoo hoo!

Whoa!

Ella: Are you-- Man: Oh!

That'll wake you up.

Ella: I'm so sorry.

Man: Iggo!

Wake up.

Wake up!

Ohh!

He's out could.

Typical.

He always gets like this whenever there's a nightmare around.

Will you help me tickle him?

You love this.

[Iggo laughing] Ella: Did you just say nightmare?

Iggo: Ha ha!

Ella: That's it.

No more nitro cold brews before bed.

I must be dreaming.

Iggo: Of course you're dreaming.

It's as they say.

In your dreams, you go abroad to that world, the Land of Nod.

Man: And here under the rule of the Lady of the Lilies, you are graced by the presence of Sir Thomas and Iggo, Esquire.

Both: At your service.

Thomas: You don't believe?

Ella: I believe in what I can discern about the world about what's true.

Thomas: Ah.

In short, yourself.

Iggo: Boring.

Thomas: And small.

Why hide in a house when you can live under the stars?

Ella: A house is cozy, secure, and--shoot.

I need to get back to Westover.

Thomas: Westover!

[Both mumbling] Don't know about a Westover, but we're heading north.

Iggo: We've been summoned by the Lady of the Lilies to slay a nightmare.

Ella: A--a nightmare?

Iggo: Malformed creature, destroyer of dreams, born from a person's grief with gripping fingers and a screech that can paralyze its victims?

Where are you from again?

Thomas: Uh-uh-uh.

It matters not.

By code, hmm, she's welcome to join our quest.

Ella: Uh, join two strangers?

Thomas: Could always ask the nightmare for directions.

Iggo: Heh heh.

Ahem.

Hopscotch, an ancient technique.

Huh!

[Grunting] Ella: Can't wait to unpack this one with my therapist.

[Wind blows] [Troll hisses] Troll: Ha ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

[Chime] [Buzz] Ella: Ha ha!

And then when we fell and the river beast almost ate Iggo in one bite!

Iggo: It would never.

I'm too strong.

[Grunting] Hmm?

Thomas: We're on the edge of museling territory.

We'll rest here tonight.

What's a museling?

Iggo: I am.

We muselings tend to all the dreams here in the Land of Nod.

In exchange, the Lady of the Lilies protects us.

Thomas: I'm going to get us some wood.

If you can, try not to die while I'm gone.

Ella: Hmm.

Heh.

Heh.

What's his story?

Iggo: Thomas?

No one knows, him included.

Ella: What?

Iggo: Memory is strange in the Land of Nod.

Muselings were created to live here, but he wasn't.

Ella: Hmm.

Iggo, whispering: He's not a museling.

Ella: I hadn't noticed.

Iggo: It's said that upon his arrival his memory went to live with the Lady of the Lilies, so the muselings had to give him the name Thomas.

Ella: Hmm.

Iggo: Ooh!

It's also said that anyone who slays a nightmare is gifted a single wish from the Lady of the Lilies.

Thomas hopes... Ella: She will restore his memories.

Iggo: Most people want to be remembered.

Thomas just wants to remember.

Ella: I don't blame him.

Iggo: Did you lose something?

Ella: Someone.

Being here, it's almost as if-- It's--it's just a dream.

It's nothing.

[Wind blowing] [Shrieking] [Nightmare breathing heavily] Iggo: Ella!

Ella, wake up!

Oh!

Museling: Come on, muselings.

Yaah!

Museling two: For the Lady of the Lilies!

Museling: Back!

Back, you nightmare!

Get back to the mountains!

Agh!

Thomas: Ella!

Come on!

Come back to us!

Come back to us!

Come on.

Please, please, please.

We can't lose you now.

Please.

Come on.

Iggo: You can do it.

Thomas: Ella, wake up.

Iggo: Where's the nightmare gone?

Museling: We've pushed it back into the mountain, but it feeds off the girl's grief.

We must move by morning, or it will return stronger.

No one is safe.

[Fire crackling] Child: Uh, excuse me, Miss Ella.

I'm scared.

Ella: Uh... Child: Mr.

Thomas said that you might know a lullaby.

Ella: I'm afraid I don't know any.

Child: Please, Miss Ella, please.

Ella: Well, there is one my mother used to sing to my brother and I... about a little girl too scared to dream.

Child: Oh.

[Ella humming] Ella: ♪ You've whistled With the winds That blew your kite Frolicked through the flowers That are blooming just like Raced rivers, braved heights Chased trees so you could climb Found muses to author Your stories of light ♪ Thomas: ♪ You've Learned to live ♪ Ell: ♪ Now love to dream ♪ Both: ♪ They're not as different As they seem Another day, another page Lies in wait tomorrow But if you lie awake tonight With fairy tales And nightingales Sail down Their magic trails ♪ Child: Ahh.

Hmm.

[Thunder] [Nightmare shrieking] [Thunder] Boy: Ella.

Ella: Alfie?

Alfie: Ella.

Ella: Alfie?

[Gasps] [Water dripping] [Alfie giggling] Alfie: Ella!

Ella: Stop!

Stop!

This is a horrible trick.

Alfie, I'm sorry.

I didn't think I was gonna lose you so soon.

It's supposed to be a happy ending... our happy ending.

Please... forgive me.

Thomas: Ella!

Iggo: Ella!

Both: Ella!

Iggo: Oh.

Good thing we found her before the nightmare did.

Ella: Watch out!

[Gasps] [Both grunting] You!

[Draws sword] [Birds chirping] Woman: Come.

Rise with me, Ella.

Ella: Where are Thomas and Iggo?

Woman: Where are you?

Ella: Wait.

The Land of Nod.

Woman: And who am I?

Ella: The Lady of the Lilies.

Lady of the Lilies: And how do you know for sure?

Ella: I don't.

I just feel that I must.

Lady of the Lilies: Open your book.

And what is a book for?

Ella: To write in.

To live from.

Lady of the Lilies: Authorship, a most mighty task, no?

Something stirs your soul.

Ella: It's just ever since I got here I felt lost.

Now, because of it all, I feel that I'm found, but... Lady of the Lilies: Someone else still wanders.

You desire for your one wish to restore his memory, even if it means you cannot return home.

Ella: My home is beyond here, and I shall return.

Lady of the Lilies: Read.

Ella: Read?

Lady of the Lilies: Read the words before you, for as those words have been written, so, too, is your story written in the word of life.

Ella: "And as the girl looked up, her sight, guided by the glorious rays of illumination, gazed into the face of her brother, whose visage she had not yet recognized and whose memory was thus restored.

Alfie?

Alfie: Ells, is that... I can't believe it.

After all these years, and you didn't forget me.

Ella: I never forgot you, only myself.

Alfie: I know the feeling.

[Iggo sniffles] Iggo: I promised myself I wouldn't cry.

[Blows nose] Oh!

I love a happy ending!

Oh, don't forget this.

It is time to step to the next for each of you.

Your worlds beyond await.

The vast journeys of your will diverge as yet and further still.

It is proper to come of age, but this be not the final page.

Until that time when we unite in deepest, darkest points of night, free your mind, grasp your rod, and venture into this Land of Nod.

Choir: ♪ Until we meet Again, my love Until we meet up again Until we meet again, my love In the land of Nod ♪ [Iggo humming] Iggo: Huh?

You're still here?

It's over.

Go home.

Heh.

Ah.

Heh.

Mm-wha!

[Kiss] Heh heh heh!

Woman: Come on, Makayla.

You need to pack.

Why must you make me repeat myself?

Makayla: I'm not going, Mom.

Mom: Oh, yes, you are.

That is not your decision to make.

Makayla: The whole summer?

Why can't we just stay here at home?

Mom: Haiti is our home.

This is your chance to finally see where you came from, where I came from.

Aren't you excited about that?

Makayla: Not really.

Mom: We're going as a family.

Finish packing and get some rest.

We leave in the morning.

Makayla: Ugh.

Girl: Makayla.

Makayla.

Makayla!

[Speaking Haitian Creole] Oh.

Uh, um... Woman: Hey!

Girl: Heh.

I think it's time to go now.

Makayla: What?

Girl: It's time to go, Makayla.

Mom: It's time to go.

Makayla!

Makayla!

We're leaving soon.

I hope you're all packed in there.

[Makayla gasps] We're gonna be late for our... flight.

Mom!

Mom: Heh heh.

What's this for?

Makayla: I love you, Mom, and I can't wait to visit our home together.

Mom: Then let's get going, tifi.

We have a lot to do today.

Cashier: From $10, 31 cents is your change.

Mom: Thank you.

Cashier: Oh!

Sorry about that.

Mom: Oh, don't worry about it.

It's just a penny.

[Sirens] [Indistinct chatter] [Walk signal chimes] [Footsteps] [Indistinct chatter] [Rats squeaking] [Train approaching] [Doors hiss] [Drumming] [Birds chirping] [Trolley bells ringing] [Car horns honking] [Indistinct chatter] [Bells tolling] [Clank] [Birds squawking] [Gull cries] [Sea lion barks] [Gull cries] [Sea lion grunts] [Water bubbling] [Water gushing] [Wave crashes] Boy: Wow!

A lucky penny.

Mom: Honey, it's time to go.

Boy: Coming, Mom.

[Puccini's "Musetta's Aria: Quando Me'n Vo'" from "La Boheme" playing] [Woman singing in Italian] Choir: ♪ Ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Oh, oh, oh, oh In the Land of Nod Ascending mountainsides Of dreams On lonely lanes Beside the streams A whisper gently calls Beyond the waterfalls Though you seem to Have lost a love We all leave a trace If you find their footsteps You can follow to this place An oasis of glimmer For the dimmer days A silver lining to a story's gray Where paths untwine There you'll find No one's truly gone Until we meet again, my love In the Land of Nod ♪ [Waves rolling] Announcer: Funding for "Fine Cut Festival of Films" is generously provided by The Bridges Larson Foundation.