“Wonder” – the film (2)

The film follows a year in the life of August Pullman, Auggie, for short, a ten- year-old boy who lives in Manhattan with his parents, his sister Olivia, “Via” and their dog Daisy.
He was born with a facial deformity, and has undergone 27 surgeries to help him see, breathe, and make him look somewhat more “normal”. He loves science, is a big fan of “Star Wars”, and Halloween is his favourite holiday because he can wear a mask like anyone else and not feel like a freak. He wishes every day could be Halloween, when disguised people could freely walk around and get to know each other before seeing what they look like under the masks.

Owing to his facial deformity, he has been home-schooled and he frequently wears an astronaut helmet to hide his face. (“I know I’ll never be an ordinary kid. People don’t like to touch me, because they think I’m contagious.”)

However, as he approaches fifth grade, his parents decide to send him to a private school, where he hopes to be considered as an ordinary kid, not different from the rest of the world, but he is terrified (“Next week I start fifth grade, and since I’ve never been to a real school before I’m pretty much totally petrified. Absolutely.”)

The whole family goes to take Auggie to school on his first day. They are worried because the boy is going to be with other kids who will probably be mean to him, but they try to reassure him. His sister whispers into his ear: “If they stare let them stare. You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.”
As they watch him walk into school his mother Isabel says: “Dear God, please let them be nice to him.”

 

Transcript:

First day
I’ll meet you right here after school. Okay? Right here. I love you.
Love you, too.
I’ll see you later.
Can you hear me? If they stare let them stare. You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.
We’re gonna have a little man-to-man. Now, I gotta stop here, because past this point is a No Dad Zone and you don’t wanna walk up with your parents because it’s not cool.
But you’re cool.
I know I am, but technically most dads aren’t, so… And neither are these helmets. Two rules. First, only raise your hand once a class, no matter how many answers you know. Except for science. Crush that one. Second, you’re gonna feel like you’re all alone, Auggie. But you’re not. Check. Should we lose this? Come on, costumes are for Halloween. Prepare for blastoff. I love you. Love you, too.
Have fun.
Bye.
(Radio) Have an excellent mission and Godspeed… We are ready to proceed at this time… 10. 9. 8. 7.
Dear God, please, make them be nice to him.

(to be continued)