Alice Upside Down

Do you ever feel like every time you turn around,

your life is being flipped upside-down?

That nothing you ever expect to happen ever does?

My name's Alice, and welcome to my world.

Hey. Come on, Al. We need a hand.

Thinking about your Mom?

I feel like we're leaving her here.

No, it's just the memories that are here.

You know, wherever we go, she'll be with us.

- Do we really have to move? - It's gonna be great.

Before you know it, Silver Spring will seem like your home.

Oh, and did I mention there's a great pizza place about five minutes away?

Great reason, Dad.

Got to give me credit for trying.

Come on. We got to go.

Up. Lester.

See you.

See you.

Here's my girl.

There's enough in here for everybody.

- Okay? - Thanks. I got that.

Thank you, honey. I wish you the best.

- All right. Bye. - Bye, sweetheart.

- I love you so much. - Take care.

Take care of yourself. Floss those teeth.

Here's my lovely. Oh, I'm so proud of you.

Listen, I want you to call me if you need anything at all, honey.

In fact, I want you to call me from the road.

Does your daddy have a phone?

- We got it. - Don't take your shoes off.

You never know what's on the floor of these things.

- Okay? Bye, bye. - Bye, Aunt Sally.

You must be the new neighbors.

I'm Sheila Price, and this is my daughter, Elizabeth.

Hi! I'm Alice!

You look so

beautiful.

These clothes? I just threw these rags on this morning.

I'm Alice.

Hi.

We figured you might not have time to eat,

so we brought over dinner.

It's homemade meat loaf.

Meat loaf.

Thanks. Um, we're actually going out for pizza tonight.

Uh, no, no problem.

You should keep it, though.

Leftovers come in handy.

But it's still hot. I'm sure someone would take it.

Well, of course. We'll eat it.

Thank you very much. I'm, uh, Ben McKinley.

Sheila Price.

We really appreciate this. Looks good.

Just let us know if you need anything.

Hey, maybe we can get the girls together sometime.

That would be wonderful.

Bye.

It's not like I try to do embarrassing things.

They just... happen to me.

How do I learn to avoid them?

All I have are Dad and Lester to teach me.

You see my problem?

Mom died when I was five, so I pretty much have to figure out things on my own.

I just never seem to get them right.

Mm, not bad.

You should ask her out.

- She's married. - Could be divorced.

Never date your neighbor, okay?

If doesn't work out, she lives right next door.

What's the worst that could happen?

Besides, it's not like you're, you know,

getting any younger.

Well, I'm 42.

Yeah, that's halfway to the grave.

- Lester! - Got to face the facts, Al.

Dad's days are numbered. Might as well try

to have a little happiness while he still can.

Lester, your confidence in me is astounding.

Anyway

don't you ever feel the need to, you know,

have a little company?

I think Dad has enough company with us.

Not the kind of company I was talking about.

Lester, do you really expect me to take dating advice

from someone that shaved their head

to get a girl who broke up with him a week later?

Hey, I like it, okay?

Plus, I'm just trying to help.

Okay, you want to help?

Take your sister to the mall tomorrow, get some school clothes.

Yes!

Who's the new girl?

I don't know, but I hope she's in my class.

- Nice outfit. - You look so cool.

You want to come to my house after school?

I don't understand why we can't get your school clothes

at Kmart like we always do.

Because some of us have a sense of fashion.

Okay, these are the smallest ones they have.

- These don't fit. - No kidding.

I don't know. Your body must just be weird or something.

You're not helping, Lester!

This is the boys' section.

She should be shopping in the girls' department.

How was I supposed to know? Come on.

Hey, what do boys know about clothes anyway? Nothing.

I can hear you.

Oh, my gosh!

Al, still alive?

I'm not coming out. Not ever.

- He's gone. - I can still hear him breathing.

That's just your imagination.

Come on.

Could've been worse.

Could've been you standing there in your underpants.

Look, I'm sorry I got dirt on your hand

and didn't want your mom's meat loaf,

but I don't know anyone else at this school,

and I wish you'd just talk because I'm really scared.

Me too.

You are?

Well, then we'll get through this together, all right?

All right.

All 6th graders into the auditorium.

The door's to your left.

All 6th graders, the door's to your left.

This is where we get assigned our homeroom teachers.

They teach us everything but math and science.

That's Miss Cole.

She's supposed to be really nice.

And that's Mr. Weber. He's cool too.

And that is Mrs. Plotkin.

Everyone says she's mean.

That is so funny.

I have to be in Miss Cole's class.

I mean, look at her. She's beautiful

and smart and confident.

She even dresses the way I wish I could.

There's no way I would be such a loser

if I could just learn from her.

Okay, everybody, please listen.

Each teacher will read a list of students.

When you hear your name, please line up in front of your teacher.

I'll begin.

Gary Anderson,

David Bower,

Stephanie Brooks,

Joshua Gluckman,

Gillian Lambert,

Patrick Loughton,

Alice McKinley,

Judy Maclnerney,

Amy Roger,

Brendan Scott,

Brianna Trenton,

Julia Turner,

Michelle Winston,

- Charlie Williams... - Hey.

- and Leslie Woods. - Don't I know you?

I don't think so. I'm new.

- What? - My class.

You're that girl from the store.

Oh, my gosh!

His name's Patrick,

and he doesn't care at all that I've seen him in his underwear.

What am I supposed to say now? "Were those Fruit of the Looms?"

Guys are weird.

Good morning. I'm Mrs. Plotkin,

and as you all know by now, I'm considered the toughest 6th grade teacher.

Well, it's true.

I believe in challenging my students.

You may not like it now,

but in ten years you'll probably thank me.

Alice. Is that correct?

I think I'm in the wrong class.

Wrong class?

Mm, no, can't be. You're on my class list. Okay, so...

No, I'm supposed to be in Miss Cole's class.

My dad called weeks ago. I'm certain the list is wrong.

The names are generated through a computer

and chosen randomly, Alice.

Perhaps your father misunderstood.

No, I'm really supposed to be in Miss Cole's room.

That's what he, he told me.

Perhaps you'd like to take it up with Mr. Edgecombe,

the principal.

- Yes. - Come on up here. Get your hall pass. Come on.

He's right down the hall. Go, quick. Go, go.

His office is right down the hall that way.

What can I do for you?

I know names are chosen randomly,

but my dad said he really wanted me to be in Miss Cole's class,

'cause he said that she's cool and confident,

and he said that she's the most amazing person ever,

so he really wanted me to be in her class.

Well, your dad said that, right?

Okay, when was this?

Last week, um,

because we just moved here.

Well, if you are new to our school,