Gortimer: I've lived my whole life on Normal Street.
There's a lake at one end,
and a forest of shady trees at the other.
But what lies in between is anything but normal.
Gortimer: It's been said that in every end,
there is also a beginning.
Life is always changing.
Always evolving.
Triumph follows defeat.
Joy follows sadness.
On and on, and round and round.
But every now and then come feelings you wish you could hold on to forever.
And sometimes in those moments you're reminded...
of just how quickly life can shake things up.
Wow, quite a spread.
Did you make all this?
In the way that one removes leftovers from the fridge
and arranges them on a plate, yes, yes, I did.
[chuckles]
Well, here's to your leftover skills.
- What's that? - Uh, it's nothing.
You carved your initials into a tree?
You're not supposed to do that. It's bad for the tree.
I was little. It's a long story.
Tell me.
Well, before I was born,
my dad was working on an island off the coast of Chile.
When it was time to leave,
one of the islanders gave him a special seed to plant
in honor of his first born.
The tree, he was told,
would grow with his child and watch over him all his life.
So after my parents came home from the hospital with me,
one of the very first things they did was plant the seed.
When I got older, I would climb the tree,
swing from it, have big adventures with it,
or just fall asleep beneath it.
It put its roots down as I put mine down.
But wait. What's the weird part?
When did you carve your initials into it?
Yeah, that's the thing.
What I remember, which sounds crazy,
is that it was almost like the tree reached down
and placed one of its branches into my hands.
like it guided me to etch my name into its trunk.
Abigail: With its own branch?
Gortimer: That's what I remember.
You're right. That's weird.
But kind of beautiful.
Well, it's probably not true.
I'm sure my dad did it and told me the story.
How did it get so tall in 15 years?
Well, it's just kind of a strange tree.
[wood creaking]
Well, anyway...
I kind of always thought we'd have this house
and the tree would sort of watch over my family forever.
But I guess not.
How is this all going to work when you move?
We'll figure it out. September is still far away.
We got a long summer ahead of us.
It'll be great.
You didn't eat much. You okay?
Yeah. Yeah, I'm great.
I was just already kind of full.
The thing about being in a thing with someone
is that there's a lot of food involved.
Like, today Abigail and I had brunch and late lunch.
Tomorrow, we have dinner, snack, dessert.
I'm gonna have to start jogging in between meals.
[chuckles]
That really-- That's great.
Mom, what's wrong?
[sighs]
There's something I have to tell you.
What? What is it?
[sighs]
I don't know how to say it,
so I'm just gonna say it.
We got an offer on the house.
Our house? What do you mean?
It's not even up for sale yet.
I know, but our broker knew someone who was looking
and showed it to them.
They made an incredible offer,
-one I just couldn't say no to. -Okay.
But they have to move in by the end of the month,
which means we'd have to leave in two weeks.
- Two weeks? - I know, it's way too fast.
I couldn't believe it, either.
But we can stay at Adam's apartment in the city
while we look for a more permanent place,
and your dad will come back early. We'll just--
- We'll make the best of it. - Wait. So you agreed to it?
It's not how I wanted this to go,
but it was take it or leave it, and I had no time to decide.
Otherwise, I would have consulted you. I just had no choice.
Really? It seems I'm the only one here that has no choice.
When were you gonna tell me this?
I just made the decision this morning.
I was waiting for the right time, which I guess--
I guess doesn't exist.
But, come on, honey, we can figure something out.
We'll make it work.
I need a minute.
[sighs]
I can't believe this.
- Two weeks? - Yep.
You know what I wished for at the wishing well?
Wait. Don't say it or else it won't come true.
It already didn't.
So that's it?
You're just gonna go off to the city?
-What choice do I have? - Maybe you could stay.
And what, get a job? Rent an apartment? I'm 15.
[rumbling]
Whoa, did you feel that? I think we just had an earthquake.
Really? I didn't feel anything.
Anyway, just forget it.
Obviously, you're really upset.
No, uh, I'm-- I'm fine.
Actually, I think I'm gonna be okay with this.
Well, I'm not.
[sighs]
Sorry.
I don't think I can talk right now. I'll--
I'll call you tomorrow, okay?
Okay.
- Good morning, Mom. - Hi.
Honey, um, we should talk about last night.
It's okay.
I thought about it, and like you said,
you had no choice, so I may as well deal with it,
and I shouldn't have gotten that upset about everything.
Gortimer, there's nothing wrong with being upset.
I mean, I would be if I were you.
No, I'm okay. Really.
Anyway, I'm gonna head down to Egg's
and get some packing supplies.
You want anything while I'm there?
I think I'm covered.
Okay. See you soon.
[bell jingles]
Gortimer?
Gortimer, where have you been?
We haven't seen you in forever.
Technically, it's only been three days.
What's all that?
I'm really sorry, guys.
I was planning to talk to you later.
About office supplies?
No, it's for packing.
My mom sold our house, and we have to move in two weeks.
- Gortimer. - I know.
Are you kidding?
I can't believe this. Two weeks?
Mel: We had months. That--
- This doesn't seem fair. - It isn't.
No, Mel, y-you're gonna make me cry. Ple--
[rumbling]
Well, it doesn't seem like it did any damage.
Except that.
Since when is there a fault underneath Normal Street?
You were right. There's nothing there.
Is there anything else that could have caused it?
There are no deep wells. No excavation.
No indication of hydraulic fracking anywhere nearby.
- Does this show volcanoes? - We've been over this many times.
There are no volcanoes within 500 miles.
My biggest complaint about this town.
Seems like it's a fluke then.
Great, let's get back to the important problem.
- Gortimer, you can't leave. - Ranger's right.
You have to figure out a way to stay.
- Like how? - You could stay with me.
It'll be just like our old sleepovers.
You could sleep on the floor.
But I'd probably bring some earplugs,
because my grandpa says that sometimes you can hear me snoring
from two rooms away.
Or you can sleep outside. Your choice.
I think my mom needs me. Gardner, too.
Besides, the decision's already been made.
I'm not gonna spend what little time I have left upset being about it.
- But what are you going to do? - There's nothing I can do. Don't you understand that?
- Well, don't take it out on us. - Yeah, we're on your side.
I'm not taking it out on you.
I'm not taking it out on anybody.
[rumbling]
Okay, I know I say this a lot...
but whoa.
Was that an aftershock?
It felt bigger. Aftershocks are usually smaller.
We have to figure out what's going on.
Your old police radio scanner.
That's from the weekend when we all wanted to be superheroes.
And I still think that Danger Ranger was a pretty solid name.
- For the record. - Better than Gortimerman.
- Which, for the record, I never liked. - Shh!
Man: Widening seismic rupture. Damage reported.
City personnel report to the intersection of Topeka and Normal.
Repeating, report to the intersection of Topeka and Normal.
- Let's go. - This is not a drill.
- Can you believe this? - Do you know what's going on?
Nobody knows. The Normal University Geology Team is doing surveys,
but so far it's a mystery.
Gortimer, Abigail was here looking for you.
She seemed pretty upset.
Something happen with you two?
Something happened with Gortimer.
It's just-- I have to move in two weeks.
What? Why? I don't understand.
I thought you had until the end of the summer.
We had so many plans. This is so unfair. Can't you figure out--
[rumbling]
- [car alarms wailing] - What is happening?
Does it kind of seem like every time Gortimer gets upset about leaving,
- the ground starts shaking? - Ranger, come on.
When did the first earthquake happen?
Last night, when I was talking to Abigail...
about leaving.
- And when was the second one? - At the minimart,
when I was telling you guys about--
That's ridiculous. Correlation is not causation.
Says you. What does that mean?
[air raid siren blaring]
- What's that? - The Normal emergency alert.
It hasn't been used in 40 years.
I can see why. It's really annoying.
It means we're supposed to gather by the wishing well
for further instructions.
Hurry!
Honey, are you okay?
We've been worried about you.
I'm fine, really.
Look, Gortimer, I know you got a lot going on.
I moved a lot as a kid. I've been through it.
So if you ever want to talk or just, you know--
Yeah. Yeah. Sure. Thanks.
Mm, I'm sorry about the way I got off the phone last night.
I just felt like everything I wanted to say
- would make it worse. - No, no.
I'm the one that should be sorry, okay?
I shouldn't have gotten mad.
It's not your fault.
Citizens of Normal,
I am Kaci Marshe, the official aide to Mayor Lee,
who is safe, deep in an underground bunker.
As of now, I'm in charge on the ground.
Yes, ma'am.
Understood. Of course.
Correction. Mayor Lee remains fully in charge.
Please remain here to wait for her further instructions.
What's going on? What's causing this?
We don't know exactly. I just got a report.
"Massive tendrils underneath Normal Street
"causing seismic instability.
If quakes persist, evacuation is advised"?
I wouldn't worry. I don't think we'll need to evacuate.
I'm sorry. What I think is not important.
Evacuation is a possibility.
In the meantime, they're using radar
to follow the tendrils back to the source.
Thank you.
Tendrils? Like tentacles?
It's what I've always feared:
giant underground squid.
It's not squid.
But I think I know what it might be.
Incredible. Look at this.
Wow. Hypermytosis.
What does that mean?
The cells are dividing
in a highly accelerated rate.
But what's this thing?
It's a tree root.
They're expanding so fast
that they're displacing all the rock and soil.
The roots are causing the earthquakes.
Here.
Pinus Custos: a rare type of conifer.
Gortimer, that's your tree.
Well, it looks like it,
but I don't understand what's happening.
"It's referred to as the 'Guardian Pine'.
"Legend has it that this tree species
"has developed a powerful root system
"to support its huge branches,
which"-- get this--
"lift the troubles of the people it loves."
I-- I-- I don't know.
When we were having the picnic
and the sun got in your eye,
the tree moved its branch to give you shade.
It wants to protect you.
Which is why, every time you get upset,
the tree takes those feelings onto itself.
And they go away.
It's literally lifting your troubles.
And the roots are growing to support the weight of them.
- Whoa. - How do we stop it?
Easy. We just need to keep Gortimer from feeling bad
about anything and everything,
especially moving.
It's impossible.
What about cutting down the tree?
What? No!
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you angry.
No, it-- it's just--
that tree's special to me.
Plus, if someone cut down the tree,
all the anger and sadness it's carrying
could flood back into Gortimer,
resulting in--
In what?
Let's not find out.
We need to get down there now.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Step back.
You're making a mistake. You can't cut down the tree.
It's trying to protect my friend.
Yeah? Well, right now my job is to protect your friend, too,
and everyone else.
The roots on this tree are tearing up our street,
and we're going to return the favor, so move back.
You can't do this. You don't understand.
Ranger, Ranger, stop.
Look, ordinarily, a bunch of guys with chainsaws
on your lawn would be awesome,
but you heard Mel.
If they cut down that tree, you could be in danger.
If they don't, our town will be.
- But, Gortimer-- - I'm not going to let
Normal Street be destroyed because of me.
[chainsaws buzzing]
But I'd rather not watch.
Let's go inside.
Okay, okay. We can do this.
All we need to do is make Gortimer happy.
Uh...
Oh. Do you remember the time
we went fishing on Normal Creek
and the fish jumped into our canoe
and we both freaked out and tipped over?
Yeah, and then a baby trout got trapped in your shorts.
That was-- That was hilarious.
I'm going to miss adventures like those.
Do you know what?
The city's not that far away.
You can come back for fishing trips
and camping trips, whatever.
We'll still do all of those things.
And we can come to you.
You could show us the city.
It'll be fun.
So much fun. It'll be an adventure.
Thanks for trying, guys.
This is private property. This is my home.
It's okay. It's okay.
Gortimer, they're going to cut down our tree.
I know. I know.
They're saying that the roots
are causing the earthquakes or something.
I mean, this is crazy. This is crazy.
They didn't give us any warning.
It's not right.
Please, Ms. Gibbon.
We're trying not to upset him.
Well, this is upsetting.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. It's just all--
It's all catching up with me--
having to move so suddenly, these earthquakes,
now the-- the tree.
I just don't know how this could all happen like this.
We planted that tree when you were born.
It's part of our family.
[chainsaws buzzing]
Oh!
Honey.
It's your fault.
- What? - You caused this, all of it.
Gortimer, that's not fair.
Well, it's not fair to me!
Nobody asked me what I wanted!
This was your choice!
Well, I have to decide what's best for our family.
By taking me away from my friends?
The girl I care about? My school?
My home? My street? My entire life?
Just because it's best for you, your career?
That's what's best for our family?
Do you even care how I feel?
Of course I do. I love you.
Well, I don't love you!
Gortimer, enough.
You don't mean that.
Yes, I do. I hate you!
I hate all of you!
- [rumbling] - Oh, my--
- [glass shatters] - All right, everyone--
everyone get under a table
or a doorway.
Gardner.
Come on. Go, go, go, go, go.
- [crash] - Get down. Get down.
Come on. Gortimer, come on.
Quickly, quickly.
[car alarm blaring]
Is everyone okay? Is everyone okay?
- Okay? - Yeah.
Adam: Are you okay?
[sniffling]
I'm sorry, Mom.
Hey. Hey.
Shh. Shh shh shh shh shh.
I'm sorry, everybody else.
Okay.
Adam, Mel, Ranger...
It's okay.
I'm sorry, Mom.
It's okay. Shh. Shh shh shh shh
shh shh.
I don't want to go.
Hey.
Kaci: Citizens of Normal Street,
the faults have closed.
The roots are gone. The danger has passed.
The mayor will be in charge
of cleanup and recovery efforts.
Correction. The mayor is taking a well-earned vacation.
I will be in charge of cleanup and recovery efforts.
So what happened exactly?
Gortimer finally got it out.
And without all that heavy emotion to carry,
the tree's roots retracted,
which made the faults collapse.
Causing the last earthquake.
The squid would have been way cooler.
Well, on the positive side,
there will be fewer plates to pack.
[sigh]
Mom, what I said before, I didn't mean it.
Look, even if you did, it would be okay.
Gortimer, you are a profoundly good person,
but this situation sucks for you.
I know it. I'd be worried if you weren't mad.
But I shouldn't have yelled like that.
Well, you have to be honest about your feelings--
not just with me,
with Dad, with your friends,
with yourself,
even if it's messy,
even if it's ugly or uncomfortable.
Look, a lot of things are going to be different now.
There's going to be big adjustments
for all of us.
But we're in it together,
so let's be straight with each other,
no matter what. Okay?
Okay.
I love you, Mom.
I love you, too.
You know, I wished for the same thing you did.
Some wishing well.
We should get our 2 cents back.
So what now?
I mean...
we can call each other every night.
It's not like a different time zone or anything.
Yeah. And my mom or my dad could drive me back to Normal Street
for some weekends.
And I-- I can come to the city, too.
At least once in a while.
Maybe a couple times a year.
Awesome.
Definitely.
You'll remember me, right?
I'll never forget you, Gortimer Gibbon.
The only thing about life that anyone knows for certain
is that it's always changing.
The moment you think you know where you stand...
the ground shifts beneath your feet.
And I guess the most any of us can hope for
is to fully love
and be touched by the people we have met
and the places we've been on this journey.
And to know that,
though we may only be passing through,
we are not forgotten
because we too have left an indelible mark. pan>