Austin PBS Shorts
Love, from Ellie
Special | 15m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
A young girl visits her veteran dad's memorial to throw him the perfect birthday party.
A precocious 9-year-old girl visits her late veteran dad's memorial on his birthday, dragging along her unhoused uncle as her only chaperone. Determined to throw the perfect party, she finds her carefully laid plans derailed by unforeseen circumstances, forcing her to give up control and confront the messy truths of grief, family, and what it really means to say goodbye.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Austin PBS Shorts is a local public television program presented by Austin PBS
Austin PBS Shorts
Love, from Ellie
Special | 15m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
A precocious 9-year-old girl visits her late veteran dad's memorial on his birthday, dragging along her unhoused uncle as her only chaperone. Determined to throw the perfect party, she finds her carefully laid plans derailed by unforeseen circumstances, forcing her to give up control and confront the messy truths of grief, family, and what it really means to say goodbye.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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(upbeat music) - [Ellie's mom] There's roast chicken and veggies in the fridge for lunch.
No candy, chips, or video games, okay?
- [Female voice] Okay.
- [Ellie's mom] Call me if you need anything, okay?
- [Female voice] We'll be fine.
- [Ellie's Mom] Feel better, sweetie, okay?
- Thanks.
(upbeat music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) - You got the cake!
Chocolate was his favorite.
Thanks, Uncle George.
(soft music) Yes.
(soft music) (soft music continues) This is it.
- Come on then.
- No!
It's ruined.
- It's fine, kid.
- But.
- He won't notice, I promise.
Come on.
All right, let's get this party started.
Where'd you get that?
- It's his birthday.
- You can't just go carrying alcohol around on your person.
- You do.
- I'm not a minor.
You got any other illegal shit in there?
- Nope.
- Let's get to move on.
- Happy birthday, dad.
Sorry, mom and grandma aren't here.
They said it'd be too sad.
I brought Uncle George instead.
He smells a little, but it's not his fault.
- Hey, kid, I'm sitting right here.
- Sorry.
Tell my dad everything.
Anyway, please just give him a chance.
He misses you.
I've been making this book of our adventures and writing down things that you've.
(weed eater buzzes) I said that I'm- I'll just read it to you!
May 5th, 2019.
Can you please tell him to stop?
- I can't, kid.
(weed eater buzzes) - We had dad's day at school today.
It was weird, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.
I told the class about how you were the best at fishing and about the time you showed me how to scale and cook a fish when we went camping.
I tried to make kanafeh again.
I didn't burn it this time.
Love, from Ellie.
Your turn.
- Huh?
- To talk to dad.
- I don't think so, kid.
- You can talk about one of your favorite memories with him.
- No.
- But that's why we're here.
- I'm here as your chaperone, Ellie.
I'm not here to have some come to Jesus moment with my dead brother.
- But I said.
- I said no!
(thunder rumbles) - No.
Everything is going wrong.
We have to leave soon.
- We just got here.
- We have to get the 3:00 p.m.
bus back to Austin.
My mom gets home at 5:30.
- You didn't tell your mother?
- No.
- You promised me you would.
- I'm sorry I couldn't risk it.
She would've said no.
- Jesus, kid, I'm not trying to get arrested for kidnapping.
- I'm sorry.
(thunder rumbles) - We got to get out of here.
- What are you doing?
- We can't leave until we sing happy birthday.
Stop it.
- This is crazy, Ellie.
I shouldn't be here.
I don't deserve to be here.
- Yes, you do, you're his brother.
- You don't get it, Ellie.
I stole from him.
He hated me.
- He didn't hate you.
- He forbid me from seeing you.
- Stop it, you're gonna rip them.
Birthdays were his favorite and we haven't even had cakes.
- He won't know, Ellie, he's dead.
(thunder rumbles) - He will know.
We have to celebrate, otherwise, he'll be forgotten.
(rain falls) Today was supposed to be perfect.
- Who says it's not?
(rain falls) (soft music) - Oh, poor cake.
(soft music) It's not working.
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ ♪ Happy birthday dear, John ♪ ♪ Happy birthday to you ♪ - Forgot to bring a cake knife.
- You brought a Busty magazine, but you forgot a cake knife.
It wasn't always like this, you know?
I had a family and a house.
- My dad told me they died in a car crash.
I'm sorry, Uncle George, it's not fair.
Will it ever stop hurting so much?
- No, not really.
I don't know, maybe you get used to it or something.
I'm sorry, kid.
(soft music) We better wrap this up or we're gonna miss our bus.
- Okay.
(soft music) - Happy birthday.
She's a good kid.
(soft music) Well, this is where I leave you, kid.
- Thanks for coming with me today.
I hope I don't get you into trouble.
- I'm sure it'll be all right.
- Bye Uncle George.
No, no, no, no, no.
- Ellie, Ellie.
Where have you been?
I've been driving around like a crazy person trying to find you.
Your grandma said you snuck out?
- I'm sorry, mom.
I didn't mean to upset you.
- Please don't disappear like that again.
Honey, where were you?
- I went to see dad.
- With who?
- No one.
- Don't lie to me.
They wouldn't let you on the bus without an adult.
- I pretended I was with an old lady.
- I know you miss him, honey, but you can't just go off like that on your own.
You're only nine years old.
Anything could have happened to you.
- I'm sorry.
- Promise me you will not do that again.
- I promise.
- Good.
Now go inside.
You're grounded.
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Austin PBS Shorts is a local public television program presented by Austin PBS