(intense music)
(upbeat rock music)
- [McGee] Ah, fall in Eastfeild.
The leaves are changing colors.
The smell of football is in the air
and all Nick can think about is his history test tomorrow.
- [Nick] McGee, have you seen my eraser?
- It's the last play of the game.
It all hinges on a field goal.
Can the mighty McGee do it?
- Okay McGee, hand over the spheroid.
- The crowd goes wild!
- Look McGee, I know you're excited about
visiting Louis in Indianapolis this weekend
to watch the Colts play Buffalo,
but if I don't study for this test,
we may as well kiss those 50 yard line seats goodbye.
- Okay, okay, keep working Einstein.
But how 'bout one last pass?
You know, to keep me in practice.
- Okay.
- McGee's going long!
Easy! Martin's gonna throw the bomb!
(screaming)
(crashing) (birds chirping)
(ominous music)
(footsteps in dry leaves)
(dog barking)
(intense spooky music)
- That's some pretty good running.
I knew that kid should've gone out for JV football.
(knocking)
(dog barking)
- Yeah Dad, he was right outside the back door.
- I'll handle it, alright?
- Alright, go, go, go on.
(intense spooky music)
- Whoever it was is gone now.
(screaming)
Okay everyone, calm down.
I pity anyone who tries to break into this house.
But, never fear, the men are here.
(knocking on door)
(screaming) (intense music)
- What's the number for 911
- It's got a note or something.
What's it say?
- I don't know.
Give me Grandma's glasses.
Michael and Ilie from Romania?
- Ilie.
- Who?
- Ilie Tinescu, my pen pal from Romania.
(cheery accordion music)
- Well, I guess we should let them in.
- Dad!
I can't meet anyone looking like this!
(speaking foreign language)
- I am Michael Tinescu.
And this is my son, Ilie.
- Hello (speaking foreign language).
Hello Nick!
I can't believe I finally get to meet you
after four years.
- Ilie, is it really you?
You're so...
Small.
- And you, you are so...
Big!
(speaking foreign language)
- Hi.
- Grandma.
- Very happy to meet you.
- What's, where is Jamie and Sarah?
- I'm Sarah, hi.
I was just looking in on Jamie.
She's got a bad case of the measles.
- I already had it.
- Oh good, yeah mom's got Jamie quarantined up in her room.
- And Sarah, she is taking care of her sister.
Now this is real American kindness.
- Please forgive the way the rest of us are dressed,
but Nick wasn't expecting Ilie til Lent.
- Lent?
Then we are exactly on time.
Today is the first day of our Christmas Lenten season.
This relief organization that I work for,
they send Ilie and me on, to a big
global gathering.
But of course, my goodness, we are an inquisition.
No, come, Ilie, come here.
No, we must not untrude on these very nice people.
- Wait!
You're not untruding.
Are they Mom?
- Oh, no.
No, of course not.
Please, stay.
David.
- Oh, I was just practicing.
Can we help you with your bags?
- Oh no, no, no, there is only one.
- Oh, well in that case, why don't you follow me upstairs.
Sarah, you can sleep with Grandma tonight.
And Nick, get the cot from the basement.
Ilie can stay with you and don't forget to lock up.
- Wow, (speaking foreign language).
- Yeah, right!
(speaking foreign language)
- Did you hear that?
Secret code!
They look like soviet agents to me.
- There are no more soviet agents.
- Oh, don't tell me you buy that whole
collapse of the Soviet Union thing.
Ha! Pure propaganda!
(buzzing)
- [Jamie] This is Jamie.
Can you bring me some ginger ale?
- Yeah.
- [Jamie] And the TV Guide.
And a graham cracker.
- Plain or cinnamon?
- [Jamie] One of each.
- I'm not so sure that making this intercom
was such a great idea.
I'm getting this strange feeling
that burglars may have been easier to deal with
than Ilie and his dad.
Of course, the thrill of putting together
Dad's old army cot added to an already bizarre evening.
- It is just as I imagined from your letters.
You are so lucky to live in such a place!
This is wonderful, Nick!
This must be the model plane you wrote about.
- Yeah, whatever happened to the model that you wrote about?
You know, the ship with the Romanian name
that rescued people from the Titanic?
- The Carpathia.
I finished it but I no longer have it.
You see, I need the wood for another project.
I think if all of this were mine,
I should not have time for anything else but play.
- Uh, what was it your dad said right before
we came upstairs?
- Ah.
It is from "Matei" (Matthew)
You should know this one, Nick.
(speaking foreign language)
- And how's that in English?
- Oh.
Matthew 22:39.
You must love your neighbor
as much as you love yourself.
My Dada knows the Bible very well.
He reminds me and my sisters of it's wisdom.
Where is the "baie" (bathroom)?
- The what?
Oh, right down the hall.
First door to the right.
- I can't believe we get to stay here a whole week!
- A week?
(intense music) No.
(comical music)
All night, Ilie went on and on about the great
stuff in my room.
By morning, I was exhausted from hearing that
even my electric pencil sharpener was somehow amazing.
- Mm, gotta make something for them.
Varsa, Romanian pumpkin cabbage casserole.
Hm, hollow out one 15-pound pumpkin.
Add nine heads of cabbage.
Boil until limp.
(doorbell ringing)
Ugh, that doorbell is driving me nuts!
- Not to worry, I am almost finished.
You know, back home, one push of the finger produces
a long, steady, forceful ring.
And when I'm finished, yours will do the same.
- Michael, I know this has been on David's fix-it list
for a while and I thank you very much for repairing it
and everything, but-- - Oh, it's my pleasure.
- Maybe next time, when guests come,
they won't have to go to back door and scare family.
- Right.
(doorbell ringing)
- Mrs. Martin.
- Oh, yes Ilie?
- Look what I made for you.
- Oh!
What is it?
- It's a noch.
- A noch, well it's very special.
- Put it on.
- Alright.
- No, no, no, you're upside down.
(giggling)
- Thank you!
- You're welcome.
(doorbell ringing)
- Someone at the door.
- Don't ask.
- Oh!
So I see the Romanian wood fiend struck again.
Look what I got, a pencil cup.
- Well, looks like somebody got up
on the wrong side of the cot today.
- There is no right side of the cot.
Even when I sleep over at Louis' house
and stay in the other bunk, it's not this bad.
- You better call Louis and let him know
you can't go to the game.
- What?
Mom, this'll be my first pro game.
- Nick!
You are Ilie's host.
You can't just up and leave in the middle of a visit!
Louis will understand and we all have to make sacrifices.
Look, it's tough enough for me to prepare
Thanksgiving dinner with your sister sick.
But throw in a last minute Romanian
pumpkin cabbage casserole--
- Oh, the bell, she is fixed.
Now I must fix faulty light.
You know, it is very perplexing.
Whenever I turn on switch instead of light
comes this terrible rumble from sink.
(rumbling)
- Oh no, no, no Michael!
No Michael, that's the disposal.
(buzzing)
- Is someone at the door?
- No, it's Jamie.
Yes honey?
- [Jamie] Mom, you forgot to bring me a spoon for my cereal.
Every time the doorbell rings,
there's static on the TV.
- My goodness, that is amazing device.
- Heh, yeah, keeps me busy.
- [Jamie] Did we get chocolate milk yet?
- (sighs) Honey, I'm sorry, I forgot.
- Oh, you know, maybe Ilie and I will go to store for you.
Yes, yes, all our lives we hear of big American
grocery store, eh?
You know, like on TV, you know,
"You Love Lucy"!
(cheery music)
- Well, great.
Why don't ya pick up a pumpkin and some more cabbage
when you're there.
Nick can show ya how to get there on his way to school.
- But Mom.
(speaking foreign language)
- old Romanian saying, "a man is a swine who denies bacon
to his neighbor".
Ilie, Ilie, we go to grocery store.
(upbeat music)
(speaking foreign language)
Oh good morning, sir.
Have a very nice day.
- Okay, this is where we split up.
I get outta school around two.
The grocery store is about a block that way.
You can't miss it.
Hey, hey, you're going the wrong way.
You guys are going the wrong way.
(groaning)
- Well, hello.
I am Michael Tinescu.
Here, let me assist you.
- No!
- Mr. Tinescu,
that's crazy Jim.
He's a bum.
- A bum?
- I prefer the term gentleman of reduced means.
James Tillman III at your service.
- Sorry crazy, I mean James.
We were just leaving.
- A word to the wise, young sir.
When escorting out of towners about,
you would do wise to advise them to keep their
hands to themselves.
Dirt, you know?
- Oh, dirt, I know.
Now, I work in the relief organization
but before, I work in steel factory here in Brazov.
- Brazov, ya don't say.
Is that near Akron?
- And here, look, here is wife.
- That's my mother.
- At voluntary aid station after this big earthquake.
James, tell me.
What's meaning of this word, crazy?
- I prefer the old English conjugation,
possessing enthusiasm or great excitement,
two of the more common definitions.
- [Boy] Nick?
- Oh great.
Hey Jordan.
Uh Jordan, this is my friend, Ilie Tinescu
and his dad from Romania.
- And this, this is my friend, James.
- Pleasure to make your acquaintanceship, Master Jordan.
- Yeah, uh, hi.
Hey, we're gonna be late to school.
- Yeah, we'd better go.
- Bye Nick!
I'll see you at home.
America is amazing!
- I can't believe this, Jordan.
First I find out I have to miss the Colts/Bills game
and now I'm on a first name basis with crazy Jim.
- Hey, maybe crazy Jim can put em up
while you go to the game.
- You never know what to expect next
with Ilie and his dad.
I heard Michael saluted the crossing guard
at the elementary school today.
If they come near the junior high,
I'm hiding in my locker.
- My friends, I want you to meet someone.
Come on.
Come in.
This is Julia.
She has been bringing letters and packages
to this house for many months
but has never met the people inside.
Can you guys believe it?
- Hello.
- It's nice to meet you.
- I haven't met a lot of people on my route, really.
- She was just telling me about Thanksgiving.
It's amazing.
- Oh, you have big plans?
- Not really.
My roommate and I will probably cook up some bird
in the microwave and watch reruns of the parade on TV.
- Oh, how nice.
- Suddenly, I am hungry,
especially with all these things you have done
for your fine feast, Mrs. Martin.
- Well, Thanksgiving is really more than just
a big meal, Ilie, it's a celebration of the time our
forefathers gave thanks for all God had given them.
It's a time of sharing our good fortune with others.
- That sounds really nice.
- What did I do with that grater?
- Well, it's been nice meeting y'all.
I better get back to my route now.
- Nice to meet you, Julia.
- Ilie, will you show Julia out?
- Yes, I would.
Come Julia.
(cheery accordion music)
(buzzing)
- What honey?
- [Jamie] Mom, Whatever ate my crackers.
- Now the dog.
I don't think I'm gonna make it.
- Well, I'm starting to think that the Tinescu's
are probably aliens from another planet.
McGee, of course, has another idea.
He's sure they're leaders in an international spy ring.
- With my new spy tracking globule,
I'll be able to keep tabs on the Tinescu's
movements at all times.
- Louis, I've tried everything.
But I'm stuck here babysitting Boris Badenov and son.
(buzzing)
(explosion)
- Hmm, needs a few adjustments.
- Yeah, I thought so too.
I mean, Ilie and I just don't have anything in common.
His idea of fun is hanging around street people
and he brought home our mail girl today.
Yeah.
I mean, Ilie was okay as a pen pal but,
he's just too much of a dweebomatic
to actually be in the same country with.
Yeah.
I wish he'd never come here in the first place.
(somber music) Yeah.
Yeah, you too.
Yeah, I'm sorry about the mix-up, man.
Alright.
Alright, bye.
- Nick, do you have Jamie's Walkman?
- Yeah, Ilie was using it over by the art table.
It was, of course, amazing.
- What's the matter with Ilie anyway?
- You want the long list or the short list?
- He seems so upset.
I just passed him outside your door
and he didn't say a word.
- Oh no!
(dramatic music)
Sarah, have you seen Ilie?
- Yeah, he and his dad just left.
- What?
- I saw em as I was coming in.
They had their suitcase, so I guess that means
I get my room back.
(somber music)
- McGee, this is never gonna work.
- But it is working.
The tracking globule I stuck to Mr. Tinescu's suitcase
is sending a strong signal.
Trust me, we'll find em in no time!
Got him, they're just around the corner, hurry!
(shouting)
- Sorry about that.
- It's okay.
Occupational hazard.
- By the way, have you seen Ilie?
You know, the little boy that--
- How could I forget?
No, I haven't seen him but I'll keep my
eye out for him, okay?
Thanks.
Good luck.
- Oww!
(groaning)
- Right around the corner, hurry up.
- Guess my tracking globule needs reglobulating.
(soft music)
- Ilie!
Mr. Tinescu!
Ilie!
♪ Come open your eyes
♪ Come and see as before
♪ To care for those around you
♪ Is one thing worth living for ♪
♪ Come, come as a child
♪ Come and then you'll see
♪ That once you start to give
♪ It's then that you'll receive ♪
♪ Please somebody tell me
♪ What ever happened to love
♪ Can't somebody tell me
♪ Just how push came to shove
♪ If we come to our senses
♪ Break down all our fences
♪ Then maybe once more, we'll remember what love was for ♪
- To Nick, my best American friend, Ilie.
Carpathia.
He made this out of his model ship.
Man, I really blew it.
- Yeah, now ya know what the turkey feels like
on Thanksgiving.
- I didn't even give him a chance McGee.
All I could think of was my own stupid self.
Now I'll probably never see Ilie again.
- Don't be so sure.
I know a guy who can find anybody!
- Oh yeah? Who's that?
- The name's Blond, James Blond.
With his suave elegance, cool detachment
and a rye humor only British super spies can effect,
James Blond pursues his arch nemesis,
Demetri Vilenov, through the narrow back streets
of an exotic European city.
Never one to lose his cool or dirty his dinner jacket,
Blond activates his all-purpose gadgetron.
(suspenseful music)
(upbeat music)
(horn honking)
A-ha.
I hope you won't think I'm a party crasher.
- As a matter of fact, you are!
- So sorry old boy.
Send the bill to Her Majesty's Cleaning Service.
(intense music)
- Thanks for the thought, McGee, but this is
one mystery I'm gonna have to solve on my own.
(somber music)
The day of the big feast is here.
So why do I feel like my stomach is full of cement?
All Ilie and his dad wanted to do
was to love their neighbors.
Ya know, that's funny 'cause these are my neighbors.
(knocking)
- Nick, come on down, we're almost ready.
- Not hungry Mom.
- Not hungry?
Ugh, I fixed enough food for an army.
With Ilie and Michael gone, I was counting on you
to eat at least the whole pumpkin
cabbage casserole by yourself.
- I really messed up, didn't I?
(sighing)
- Oh Nick.
We all did, honey.
Sometimes, sometimes,
life starts moving so fast, we forget to love other people.
We think only of ourselves.
(somber music)
- I'm sorry Mom.
- So am I honey.
So am I.
(football commentating)
Here we go.
David.
- Come on, come on, go!
In the air!
What?
Not waiting on me, I hope.
Nick, will you give thanks?
- Me?
Lord, I'm thankful that I had a friend like Ilie.
Maybe with your help, he'll be able to forgive me
for what I did.
Bless him
and bless this food.
Amen.
- Do we smell stuffing and gravy?
- Ilie!
- They're back!
- But I thought I--
Where were you guys?
- Didn't you get the note?
I was sure that I
left it here in my pocket.
Oh my friends, please forgive me.
Yesterday, Ilie and I went to Back Alley Mission
to help feed people who do not have
enough food to eat.
- You've been doing volunteer work all this time?
- There are so many people to feed
and so few to help feed them.
We wanted to do what we could.
To share what we have, like Mrs. Martin said.
- Like I said?
- Yes, Mrs. Martin!
Before in kitchen, when I hear you tell Julia,
the mail carrier how Thanksgiving is a time
of sharing good fortune with others,
I think then, you are very wise.
- So, in suitcase, we put clothes so that
we could share these with people
who do not have enough to wear.
- You gave away your clothes?
- Yes, but we also receive.
Where else could I trade for such a fashionable hat, huh?
Look (laughing), just like Indiana Jones, no?
- More like Indiana James.
(dogs barking)
- Dada, they're coming!
- Who is coming?
- I will explain.
Like you said, we invited all the people that we met,
you know, friends, neighbors.
- You invite people?
- No worry.
Knowing Mrs. Martin's spirit for giving,
I say to pastor at mission, I say,
"Hey, I know where to send all these extra people."
- But Michael, we don't have enough food!
- Did I hear someone say food?
(laughing)
- Just put it on the counter.
♪ Love those who are in love
♪ Love those who've lost their way ♪
♪ Take a chance, then you will find ♪
♪ There is love, it's calling today ♪
♪ We're all one and the same
♪ Only different by name
♪ If we open our eyes to see
♪ We'll find what love meant to be ♪
♪ Please somebody tell me
♪ Whatever happened to love
♪ Can't somebody tell me
♪ Just how push came to shove
♪ If we come to our senses
♪ Break down all our fences
♪ Maybe once more, we'll
♪ Remember what love was for
- Oh Nick, I cannot accept this.
- Please, I want you to have it.
It's just my way of saying
I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused.
- Nick, it's okay.
If you would've came to visit me
during the World Cup,
I would've thought you were dweebomatic too.
- Look, I think your son has
learned well our way of greeting.
- Michael, thank you for reminding us
what Thanksgiving is really about.
This may be our best Thanksgiving ever.
(chattering)
- Get sick for a few days and look what happens.
My family opens a restaurant.
I gotta get well fast.
(blowing up balloon)
- Forget the spy business.
I can make a fortune with my McGee cam blimp.
Going up.
(cheery music)
Nothing like a bird's eye view of the turkey.
(ominous music) (yelling)
Mayday, mayday!
I'm goin' in!
Geronimo!
(splattering)
It's like I always say,
into every bowl of gravy, a little turkey must fall.
(cheery music)
♪ Come open your eyes
♪ Come and see as before
♪ To care for those around you
♪ Is one thing worth living for ♪
♪ Come, come as a child
♪ Come and then you'll see
♪ That once you start to give
♪ It's then that you'll receive ♪
♪ Please somebody tell me
♪ Whatever happened to love
♪ Can't somebody tell me
♪ Just how push came to shove
♪ If we come to our senses
♪ Break down all our fences
♪ Maybe once more, we'll remember ♪
♪ When love was born
♪ Love those who are unloved
♪ Love those who've lost their way ♪
♪ Take a chance, then you will find ♪
♪ That is love, it's calling today ♪
♪ Cause we're all one in the same ♪
♪ Only different by name
♪ If we open our eyes to see
♪ We'll find what love meant to be ♪