The Middle

"The Trip"

Here in the middle,

we have a long tradition of kids raising

money for their school by hitting up their neighbours,

to buy crap they don't want or need.

Following in that great tradition,

Sue is selling cheese and sausage for Orson Junior High.

Four exciting varities of sausage to match

whatever sausage meat you may find yourself in.

I think what makes Sue such a good seller

is that she can take rejection.

Probably cause she's had so much practice.

Or maybe you can, perhaps,

show your love of cheese, cheese ball...

I'll just wait here at the door in case you change your mind.

Let me tell you:

When it come to selling cheese and sausage,

Sue was driven.

She was driven by Mike all over Indiana.

Mike took her to Terre Haute...

They went to Gary.

She hit almost every county in the state.

'Cause if she sells $3,000 worth,

she wins a free trip, all the way...

to Indianapolis.

So it's okay to sell your stuff, Sue,

but, remember, this is a place of business.

People are busy.

Oh, hey, Bob.

Would you like to help my school and send me on a trip

to the state capital by buying some delicious--

I'll take ten.

Really? Oh, my God. That's great!

I love food you don't have to refrigerate.

Fridges-- they just tie you down.

That's why I just have a hot plate and a P.O. Box.

Okay, that'll be $284.

What? Are you... Ehlert.

Just casually scatter.

Oh, hi, Mr. Ehlert. Would you like to help my--

No. Frances! You forgot to make coffee again.

You got me walking around here like an idiot

with a doughnut and nothing to dunk it in.

Mr. Ehlert, how come I'm the one

who's always asked to make the coffee?

I'm beginning to think it's because I'm a woman.

Well, of course it's because you're a woman.

The day I start telling men to make coffee for women,

you have my permission to put a bullet in my head.

Wow. Mom, that is so unfair.

You are not going to make that coffee, are you?

Eh. Not worth the fight.

All personnel-- I've been informed there will be fresh coffee shortly.

Hey, can I interest you in a cheese sampler,

so I can win a trip to my state capital?

**Put me down for the jalapeno cheddar ball.

Yes!

Oh, and if you get that,

I can throw in the wild game sausage trio at half price.

Fine.

Sue was really kicking butt.

She was a shining beacon of motivation.

Axl? Not so much.

Axl, how many times do I have to say it?

Turn off that TV and get dressed for school!

It'll take me, like, two seconds. Chill.

Hey, hey. Only one to a customer.

It's for Olivia.

I'm sorry, honey. Who?

Olivia, my girlfriend.

So this girlfriend of yours-- Is she...

here right now?

No. She's at her house.

So how did this happen?

You're my boyfriend now.

Okay.

Wow, Brick. That's great!

So this Olivia-- Do you like her?

She says I do.

Is she cute? Is she nice?

She has a red ribbon in her hair.

I like red ribbons.

All Heck men like red ribbons.

Red ribbons.

Ma, we're out of cereal. You going to the store or what?

Hey. I will go to the store

when I decide it's time to go to the store.

Actually, we're almost out of a lot of stuff.

I'm going after work.

First I gotta go to the post office.

Then I'm gonna swing by Aunt Edie and Aunt Ginny'S.

They're hosting bridge club, and they're almost out of scotch.

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

I did it.

I sold over $3,000 worth of cheese and sausage!

Oh! Honey!

- That's great, Sue. - That's terrific!

Look at you.

I know.

I just have to send the checks to the company,

and then I am off to Indianapolis...

the capital!

Oh, honey, I am so proud of you.

You worked hard, and it paid off.

And now you get to see close-up how Indiana state government works.

I know. It's like a dream!

Damn it, Axl!

I told you, turn off the TV and get ready for school!

Now the bus is here, and you're not ready.

Told you, two seconds. Chill.

How the hell does he do that?

Now that you're my boyfriend, you have to buy me ice cream,

tell me I'm pretty

and walk me to and from recess and lunch.

I made you a list so you don't forget.

Okay.

The crash rating on this baby?

Two stars. Not one, but two.

Out of how many?

Five. But who cares?

'Cause if you crash, the doors are so thin,

they will cut you out like that.

Sue. What are you doing here?

The school put up a list of winners for the field trip,

and my name wasn't on it.

- What? - Does this car have--

Yeah, yeah, it has everything. Just give me a minute.

But you were a top seller.

I know. Can you believe it?

Unfortunately, I could believe it.

This was Sue's whole life in a nutshell.

She tries and tries and never gets any recognition.

It's like people don't even see her.

Sue Heck?

Here.

Sue Heck?

Here.

Okay. Not here.

Pizza or fish?

Pizza, please.

Oh. Okay.

# Happy birthday to you, #

# Happy birthday to you, #

# Happy birthday dear... #

# Happy birthday to you #

Oh, honey. That's just not fair.

What's not fair?

Sue sold enough sausage and cheese to win the big trip,

and she's not on the list to go.

Oh, those monsters.

I'm gonna cancel my check.

Looks like I'm not going to Indianapolis.

I was really looking forward to it, too.

What are you talking about?

This is just a mistake.

Things like this happen all the time.

Yes, more often to you, but we'll straighten it out.

Eh. It's not worth the fight.

Great. Why do I have to be the only mom in the world

whose teenager listens to what they say?

Then Sue turns to me and says, "Eh, it's not worth the fight."

Well, that's your fault. She gets that from you.

I said it once!

- You say it all the time! - I do not!

Hey, we don't wear flip-flops to church.

Jesus wore sandals.

Eh, it's not worth the fight.

I'm not paying $6 a month for other fees

unless you can tell me what those other fees are.

No, don't transfer me to India.

Don't transfer me-- Eh, it's not worth the fight.

Well, the kids are asleep, so...

Honey, I am so exhausted.

Eh, it's not worth the fight.

And I said it to Mr. Ehlert right in front of her.

Oh, my God!

Am I a horrible mother?

Too soon to tell.

It's just so unfair.

I mean, for once in her life, Sue finally wins something, and--

And then that stupid school has to go and screw it all up.

She earned that trip. We earned that trip.

Hell, yeah! I'm the one that spent 50 hours in the car with her.

Oh, did you know that her friend Stacy likes a boy named Ben,

but Ben likes Stacy's friend Madison,

so now they're not talking to her?

You want more? I got lots more.

I have got to fix this.

Sue has to stand up for herself.

I mean, if this isn't worth the fight, Mike,

I don't know what is.

Hey, Sue, get in here.

You know what this is?

A teachable moment.

I saw that on "Oprah," or "Project Runway" or something.

I don't remember, but it's teachable.

Am I in trouble?

Sue, I want you to march into that school,

talk to who's ever in charge and get yourself on that trip.

I don't know.