Genre: Drama
Director: Mo Buck
Writer: Mo Buck
Cast: Lucas Hedges, Elle Fanning, Mackenzie Foy, Asa Butterfield, Quinn Lord, Charlie Tahan, Joey King, Ed Harris, John Slattery, Diane Lane, Henry Winkler
Plot: Plot : People are screaming at the top of their lungs, as most residents of the small Canadian village in which our story is set all gathered in the local arena for the final of the regional junior hockey championship. The Hawks, the defending champions and local team are all set to face the Polar Bears, their bitter rivals. Our protagonist, Mo (Lucas Hedges), the brilliant and alert netminder has a fantastic game so far, only allowing one goal in powerplay. James (Quinn Lord) makes a mistake at the opposite blue line and a Polar Bear is on a breakaway, with Harry (Charlie Tahan) trying to catch him up from behind. Mo Buck is the only one standing between the forward and the game tying goal. The player is at full speed and he falls to the ground and colliding with Mo. Harry rushes to get the player away from his goalkeeper. The crowd is silent, Mo can’t get up. The Hawks’ trainer comes over, Mo can’t apply weight on his left leg. The coach, Stu Buck (John Slattery), takes him out of the game, as his mother, Diane (Diane Lane) and his sister Vicky (Joey King) watch on, worried. It killed all momentum the Hawks had, they lose the game 4-2, losing the championship.
Prognostics aren’t good for Mo, chances are he’ll end up in a wheelchair, for a lengthy period of time, which means Mo has to forget about his major junior dreams. He’ll never play for the Quebec Remparts and give up his dreams to play in the National Hockey League. That’s a tough pill to swallow. When the doctor leaves the office, Mo is discouraged, but his father is there to reassure him that they’ll do everything for him to achieve his lifelong dream of being a professional goaltender. Before they leave the hospital, Stu pushes his son around and they go over to the oncology unit where Vicky had a rendezvous with her oncologist. Things aren’t looking bright for her, but they do their best to act like nothing is happening in front of Mo. They don’t want to lower his morale even more.
Over the course of the summer, Mo tries to contact his friends, but none of them answer. He spends his days playing computer games. His mother is worried about him and does his best to cheer him up, but Mo is feeling really depressed.
Dominic (Asa Butterfield), James, Harry and Ann (Mackenzie Foy) are eating at a restaurant and they remember their prom and laugh at everything that happened, starting with the eclectic suit Harry wore. They are all cheerful, a stark contrast from Mo’s mood. Speaking of Mo, Ann receives a text from him, where he asks him if she wants to do something with him, but she doesn’t even care enough to answer, so she leaves it on seen. Mo then decides to call Dominic. As the ringtone goes off in the restaurant, the others beg Dominic not to answer as the depressed Mo will just ruin the fun they’re having. He answers anyway and he goes away for a while to talk to his friend. Mo asks him bluntly why they don’t want to do anything with him since he’s in a wheelchair. Dominic says it’s nothing personal, but when he’s around, Mo is always negative, and he does nothing to cheer up, and there are certain things they can’t do when they’re with him, because of the elephant in the room, the wheelchair, which clearly affects the mood of everyone else, so unless he changes, they won’t do anything with him. Dominic ends the call abruptly and Mo surprises himself by crying, alone in his bedroom. Diane clearly sees that her son needs to talk to someone.
Three days later, Mo is in the office of Dr. Miller (Ed Harris), is appointed psychologist, where they talk about numerous things. Miller asks Mo to unload, to get everything off his chest, to try to seize what’s bugging the young man. Mo evidently starts with his freak injury that landed him in a wheelchair for the next year. He also talks about the cancer of his twin sister Vicky and how the whole family is affected by it. He believes his parents are still in a denial phase about it and they constantly refuse to talk about it. At least Vicky is honest about it. Mo recalls a conversation he had with his sister, who told him that things aren’t looking very bright for her. When Mo tried to talk to his parents about her sister’s treatment, his mother and father both shut him down. He then proceeds to talk about his friends who don’t want to be around him. Dr. Miller didn’t choose his words carefully and he upsets Mo who thinks Miller is blaming him for what’s happening to him. Mo storms off the office as his mother looks on, discouraged.
Stu also noticed his son lost his cheerfulness in the past few things and in an effort to build a new bond with his son, he buys him a video game console, so they can play hockey together again. Stu didn’t anticipate that his son would not like to be reminded that he probably won’t be able to goaltend again, but he appreciates the gesture nevertheless. The move didn’t do wonders for his son as he expected, instead Mo closed up even more and played video games all day, alone, while his friends are out, having fun. At least, he found a little comfort with his sister and their shared love of cinema. Together they watched a film every night and for the entire summer they didn’t argue once.
TWO MONTHS LATER
It’s now time for Mo and Vicky to face a new challenge in their life, CEGEP, a gap school between high school and college, mandatory for every students in Quebec who aspire in superior studies. Vicky pushes her brother around in the corridors and they know that all the eyes are on them and not for the good reasons. Vicky is bald, due to her cancer treatment and she pushes her wheelchair-bound twin brother around, what a duo. This new school also means new environment and the kids at their high school had different choices when it comes to the CEGEPS, so all of Vicky’s friends went to another one, but Vicky chose to follow her brother, who decided to go with his friends. They finally stop at a table, where they look at their new books. They are interrupted by Dominic, who comes over to apologize for his actions over the summer. He knows what he did wasn’t right and he want them to be friends again. They’ve known each other since the first grade and he doesn’t want their friendship to end. Mo says he’ll think about it, but Vicky, who always had a thing for Dominic, invites him to stay and begs her brother to remain friends with him. Mo can’t resist his sister, even more so, when he knows she might not even have long anymore, so he says yes. It’s at this moment that all the others arrive and they all apologize for what happened over the summer. They acted like dicks and they came to the fact that everything wasn’t the same when Mo wasn’t around. All of this made Mo smile for the first time in forever. Ann looks at her watch and notices they are almost late for their first class, English with a certain Mr. Brent. It’s on the second floor and they are too late to make the detour and take the elevator. As the girls watch them and laugh, the boys carry Mo and his wheelchair up the stairs as they all laugh.
They aren’t late to the class, but they are forced to take the remaining, disparate seats. Mo, obviously seats in front right in front of the teacher’s desk. Mo turns around and looks at his classmates. He spots his friends here and there and he spots this girl, blonde hair, blue eyes, simply beautiful. James realizes he looks like an idiot fixing her and gestures him to turn around, which Mo does. Then, Mr. Brent (Henry Winkler) arrives. He introduces himself and he wants to start the year by doing a pleasant activity and you can swear that every student in that class knows what’s coming. He utters the words : Let’s get to know each other better, alright? Every student looks exasperated as Mr. Brent takes out his bowl with pieces of paper in it. He draws two names and these two students must pair together and get to know each other in English. He draws names and the gang chuckles when Dominic draws Vicky. Then he draws Mo Buck, he hopes he drew his sister, or one of his friends, but then Mr. Brent says Emma. He looks around and oh no, oh no, not her, not her, yes, the blonde girl from earlier is Emma. She smiles a bit and joins Mo who can’t really move around. Mo is relieved that she didn’t notice him before. Mo is really shy and all his friends are looking at him. Mr. Brent notices the discomfort within the two and interferes, engaging in small talk with the two of them. They then get to know why Mo is in a wheelchair and he doesn’t forget to mention his championship wins as a goalie to impress her. Vicky notices her brother is all red and first and foremost happy. She then says to Dominic that she found a new friend and she says it’s Emma. Together they plot to become friends with Emma, so maybe Mo will have his first girlfriend. Harry interrupts them and he says that there’s no way it’s happening, and Dom agrees. Vicky bets with Dominic that if they go out together because of her, he needs to bring her to a dinner date, followed with a movie. Dom is sure he’s right, so he accepts the bid, with Harry as a witness. When Mr. Brent most of the people aren’t talking anymore, they move on to something else.7
So, at that point, you were happy, right?, that’s what Dr. Miller said to Mo to get him back to the reality. Mo says he thinks so, but he could have been happier. Dr. Miller asks him if he reached that level of happiness he wanted to reach at that moment. Mo says that’s why he needs to keep telling his story without Miller interrupting him. Miller nods affirmatively and he can’t get his eyes off the cutting marks on Mo’s forearm.
Right before the end of the class, Mr. Brent announces the end of semester activity for the group and he’s genuinely excited because it’s the best end-of-semester activity he ever had the chance to do; a cultural trip to New York City! The whole crowd is excited, except Mo, up front, who doesn’t know if he’ll be allowed to go because of his wheelchair, obviously. When the class ends, they regroup around Mo’s desk, where he asks Mr. Brent if he’ll be available to come with the class and he is really comprehensive, and he says he’ll do everything he can to ensure that he can come with the others. He adds that the wheelchair shouldn’t hold him back, it should help him to become a better person. Mo doesn’t bat an eye with what Brent says and he thinks he just said that to sound like he cares about him, again the classic Mo negativity taking over. His friends reassure him and they all go down the stairs, again carrying Mo around and eat lunch, as Vicky starts her plan to become friends with Emma, she wants that date with Dominic! The rest of the group talk about how awesome it would be to go to New York. They then make a promise that if Mo can’t go, they won’t go, as a way to make up for the bad attitude over the summer. Mo leaves the school with a smile on his face today.
Back home, however, Mo quickly loses his smile. Both is parents are unsure if they want to send both of their kids on a trip to New York, as both of them have particular condition. Both Mo and Vicky are vocal about their disagreement with their parent’s decision. Mo receives an e-mail from Mr. Brent who confirms that he will be able to come with them, which gives even more momentum and arguments in their favor. Diane says she’ll think about it, but the kids got Stu. When things settle down a bit, Stu comes in Mo’s room and says he’ll ensure that he’ll go.
Over the course of the next few weeks, a quick montage shows the group enjoy good time together and Emma gradually joining them. Mo and Emma even go on a date at the restaurant and Vicky is quick to cash in on the bet she had with Dominic. It was a great time.
Dr. Miller asks Mo if he thinks Emma liked him as a boyfriend or as a friend at the time. Mo says that before New York, she liked him more as a friend.
Just a few days before the group leaves for New York with Mr. Brent, Vicky’s doctor vetoes the whole thing and prevents her from going to New York because of her condition and the treatment it requires. Vicky pressures the gang to go anyway, she doesn’t want their life to stop because her hit another step back. Mo enters the adapted bus with Dominic, Harry, James and Emma beside him. Just before Mo left, he received a good news and he chooses his moment to share it with his friends. He’ll get out of his wheelchair before winter and he should be able to fully walk again by January, or February, at the latest. A great news to start their trip. Vicky tears up as she sees the bus leaving the parking lot.
A montage shows the group around in New York, posing in front of the monuments and the usual spots. They visit Madam Tussaud, where they get to pose with their favorite celebrities. The sequence ends when they leave the World Trade Center monument. The rendezvous point is in Times Square (what a good idea, I know) and they decide they want to go in this direction. They are tired of walking and they decide to take the subway. Mo is against it and of all people, Emma decides to walk it with him. The group wants to meet in front of the Toys’R’Us at six sharp. Mo refuses that Emma pushes him, he’s able to push himself. They laugh and they talk until they are hungry and they stop in a McDonalds, where to buy lunch. It is at this very romantic spot that Mo and Emma kiss for the first time. They swear not to talk about it and continue their journey across New York.
Mo concludes his story by saying that at this moment, he was happier than he ever was. Dr. Miller asks if at this moment she liked him as a boyfriend and Mo says he thinks so. Mo then points at his scars on the forearms and says he’ll now tell what led up to this.
When Mo got back from New York, he told everything to Vicky, who was thrilled to hear the latest development in his relationship with Emma. They watch a film together, Last Tango in Paris. The following morning, Vicky isn’t feeling well and along with the whole family rushes to the hospital. Vicky’s doctor orders her to stay at the hospital indefinitely. He speaks to Stu and Diane alone, but the kids know what they are talking about, their parent’s faces don’t lie when they come back in the room. Without uttering a single word, they share a group hug, united in front of the terrible disease that is cancer.
Over the following months, Vicky stays in the hospital and Mo visits her everyday. At some point he isn’t in his wheelchair anymore and one day he’s walking on his leg again, but as Mo’s condition gets better, Vicky’s worsens. She’s losing weight at an alarming rate. Christmas passes and the New Year arrives. Before Mo senses that it’s too late, he brings a projector to the hospital and they watch one last film together; Schindler’s List, her favorite. When she cries at the end, it’s not because of Oskar Schindler’s sad ending, it’s because she knows her end is coming soon. On January 4th, 2017, Vicky Buck passed away, at the age of seventeen.
Diane and Stu are at the funeral home to discuss arrangements for Vicky’s funeral. Mo obviously broke the news to his friends who were devastated by the news, but they saw it coming, after all, they all knew it coming, they just didn’t know when. Dominic remembers the moment they all went to see her at the hospital. She seemed so frail, so fragile, they pitied her and it all brought tears to their eyes. Mo is alone in is room, crying. He didn’t just lose his twin sister, but his other half, his confident and his best friend and that hurts, a lot. Sobbing,, he goes down the stairs and he locks the door. He goes in his room and listens to music to try to calm him down, but all it does is reminding him that she’s not there anymore. He goes down in the kitchen and he grabs a knife in the drawer. He goes back upstairs and turns the volume of the music up. He looks at a picture of her and he says he can’t do it without her. He grabs the knife firmly and makes deep cuts on his left forearm. He lays in his bed, with blood pouring out. Diane and Stu are back. They park the car in the garage and they hear the loud music coming from Mo’s room. He never did this before so they go check on him to make sure he’s alright, but he’s not. Diane screams and screams and screams and so does Stu. They desperately call for an ambulance. They’re able to save him.
His friends, and especially Emma take it really hard. They see it as a sign that they weren’t there enough for him during this time of need. They all come to visit him at the hospital and they share a group hug, a symbol of their unity and strength.
Mo says this is why he tried to do “it” to Dr. Miller. Miller says that it’s normal to feel that way after what he went through, but it wasn’t the solution. Death isn’t the solution for any problem, at least for him. He asks him if he regrets his action and Mo says yes. When asked why, he says because that’s not what Vicky would’ve wanted. She would have like him to continue to live his life fully, to have fun and to live the life he wants. Miller suggests Mo should write a letter, not a suicide letter, but a letter, just for himself, to remind him why he should embrace his life, whenever he’s in a down. It doesn’t need to be all that fancy, just a couple of sentences who mean something to him, souvenirs, anything. Mo thinks it’s a great idea and he’ll do it. Their séance is over and Mo thanks him for listening to his story and it certainly went better than the first time they met. He wants to have another meeting with him and Miller agrees.
When Mo gets back to the house, he starts to write his letter, which is titled “Letter to Myself”. When he is done, he texts his friends and they meet up to their usual spot in the winter, the frozen pond, which they rename the Vicky Buck pond, symbolically, of course. They put on their hockey gear and play a pick-up game. Emma asks Mo is he ever tried to actually play again since the injury and he says no. As Mo stops a slapshot with his glove, the film ends.
