Ribbons

On Sunday afternoon, Grandmother offers to take Robin and Ian for a walk, eager to give Mom and Dad some time to themselves. Mom agrees, but she hovers over Robin and Ian, making sure they’re dressed properly. As Grandmother, Robin, and Ian head toward the park, they notice Mom watching them. Encouraged by Grandmother, Robin runs back and tells Mom to head back inside. 

The trio makes it to the park and finds a bench to rest. They watch as cyclists and skaters, dressed in neon clothing, whiz by. They eventually meander to the Conservatory of Flowers. There, Grandmother rests, enjoying the humid greenhouse. Then, they walk to the bandshell, where Grandmother treats them to ice cream. As they sit on a bench and enjoy their treats, Robin wonders what Grandmother might like to explore next. Grandmother, however, suggests they return home, as Mom is likely to be worried. Robin and Ian ask if Mom was always so serious. Grandmother says yes, she was, but wonders if her own hectic work schedule had forced Mom to mature too quickly. 

Walking out of the park, Robin’s feet ache, and Grandmother and Ian also begin to tire. However, whenever Grandmother notices a sign for a garage sale, she perks up. After Robin explains that garage sales typically have good bargains, Grandmother insists that they go. 

The sale is mobbed with people, though Grandmother easily pushes into the crowd. In the fray, Robin loses sight of Grandmother. As she wiggles forward, she hears Ian call out behind her: His sweatshirt has fallen to the ground, and an opportunistic buyer has mistaken it for merchandise. Ian and the buyer argue, and Robin weighs in on Ian’s behalf. Eventually, once Robin points out a few ice cream stains, the buyer loses interest. 

Robin and Ian decide to collect Grandmother and leave. They find her mid-altercation, vying with another shopper for a bag of yarn. As Robin gets closer, she recognizes Grandmother’s opponent: Madame Oblamov.

Robin introduces Grandmother to Madame. Grandmother mentions that she’s watched Robin’s recital and compliments Madame’s teaching. Robin, realizing that Grandmother and Madame are in many ways alike, proposes a compromise: They buy the yarn and split it. Amenable to the idea, Grandmother and Madame haggle with the saleswoman until they reach an agreeable price. Before they leave the sale, however, Madame proposes that they continue shopping. 

Eyeing Grandmother’s canes, Madame wonders if Grandmother’s feet hurt. Grandmother explains that she’s used to the pain, and Madame mentions that she’d once performed Swan Lake with a broken foot. Grandmother takes to Madame immediately, recognizing a kindred spirit. 

When Grandmother mentions that she’s out of money, Madame offers to spot her, so that they can continue shopping together. Grandmother, deeply touched, accepts. Together, they recruit Ian to wiggle between shoppers and fetch their treasure, buying him a new set of dinosaurs as payment. Once they’re finished, they perch on the sidewalk and divvy up their spoils. 

Madame finds a chair for Grandmother, who admits that she’s beginning to tire. When Madame asks if Robin has continued her practice, Robin answers vaguely. Grandmother warns Robin not to work too hard, but Madame, indignant, insists that practice is vital. Grandmother, thinking of her feet, argues that beauty isn’t everything, though Madame again disagrees. Robin, to quell the dispute, explains that dance transcends beauty. 

Madame again regrets that Robin has quit classes. When Grandmother asks why, Ian awkwardly blurts that the family doesn’t have enough money. Grandmother, unaware of any financial difficulty, presses Robin for details. At Grandmother’s urging, Robin reveals that Mom and Dad exclusively funded her arrival, without any help from Georgie and Eddy. Robin begs Grandmother not to tell Mom, afraid that she’ll be punished, and insists that the sacrifice was worth it. Grandmother agrees but announces, vaguely, that she needs to straighten things out. 

Madame escorts the trio home. Before Madame leaves, Robin grabs some cash and reimburses her. Madame and Grandmother make plans to meet again at a church fair next Sunday. 

When Grandmother, Ian, and Robin step inside, Mom is relieved, admitting that she’d been worried. Ian shows off his new dinosaur toys, while Grandmother mentions that she’d like to use the phone. Robin sets up the phone in her old room and helps Grandmother dial a local number. Grandmother asks her to leave, anticipating that she’ll need to use some colorful Chinese. Robin lets her be.

Mom escorts Robin to the medical center for her doctor’s appointment. Robin’s doctor is Dr. Brown, Leah’s mother. Robin goes into the exam room alone and kicks off her shoes. Dr. Brown carefully examines Robin’s feet. Even though Robin insists that she can’t feel any pain, Dr. Brown isn’t fooled. She diagnoses Robin with hammer toes, a correctable condition usually resulting from too-tight shoes and strenuous exercise. When Robin shyly admits that she’s been practicing ballet on concrete, wearing shoes that haven’t been replaced in a year, Dr. Brown confirms her diagnosis. To correct hammer toes, Dr. Brown explains, Robin will need to undergo surgery and likely never dance again. Robin, horrified, asks if she might forego the operation. Dr. Brown says she might stop the condition from worsening, but Robin will still have to endure terrible pain when dancing. 

Dr. Brown calls Mom into the exam room and explains Robin’s diagnosis. Robin and Mom argue back and forth; Robin hopes to continue dancing, while Mom insists that she go forward with the operation. As they leave the office, Robin imagines that Mom will continue to delay her dance lessons, citing both medical and financial concerns. 

Back home, both Robin and Mom seek Grandmother’s opinion. After hearing the facts, Grandmother sides with Mom and encourages Robin to undergo the surgery. Robin, however, protests, arguing that Dr. Brown can easily stop the condition from worsening. Grandmother reminds Robin that the pain will be akin to walking on knives, just like the Little Mermaid, and worries she might not understand its cost to her life. Robin, however, draws a distinction between dance and footbinding and speaks passionately about her love for ballet. Grandmother, remembering the recital tape, considers Robin’s plea. Robin assures her that with new shoes, she won’t further harm her feet. Grandmother, convinced, urges Mom to support Robin. Mom listens but insists that she’ll need to consider it further.

That evening, Georgie and Eddy show up for a surprise dinner. When Mom worries that she doesn’t have anything prepared, Georgie offers to pick up some takeout. Robin finds Grandmother in her bedroom and announces Georgie and Eddy’s arrival. Grandmother pretends to be surprised, but Robin notices that she’s wearing makeup and nice clothes. 

Grandmother comes into the living room and greets her sons. Eddy discreetly hands her a package, and Robin deduces that their visit has been planned. Grandmother asks Robin to play the recital tape for Eddy and Georgie, so that they can appreciate her talent. After the tape ends, Grandmother orders Georgie to grab some dinner and scolds him and Eddy for turning up empty handed. 

Once Georgie leaves, Eddy mentions he has a spare bedroom available and invites Grandmother to live with him and his wife. Grandmother accepts, eager to give Robin and Ian space to grow. Robin is distraught and begs Grandmother not to leave. Grandmother, however, insists, and Eddy reminds Robin that she can always visit. Robin learns that Grandmother will leave in only two weeks’ time. 

Georgie returns with a generous meal, and the family sits down together. Over dinner, Georgie and Eddy swap stories about Hong Kong. They remember Mom’s fiery temper, mentioning how she’d defended them against a bully. Grandmother, thinking of the past, confesses that she’d sent her children to America as soon as she could, hopeful of a better life for them. Robin marvels at her fortitude and sense of self-sacrifice. 

As the family compares Chinese and American cultures, Grandmother worries that American children are too idle and proposes that Robin resume dance lessons. Mom says nothing, but Grandmother silently cues Eddy and Georgie to hand over two red envelopes. Mom accepts hers silently, content to open it later, but Dad rips into his envelope right away. In it, he finds a substantial check. Georgie and Eddy explain that they’re ready to repay Mom for her sacrifice. 

Later, once Georgie and Eddy have gone, Robin chats with Grandmother and correctly guesses that she encouraged their generosity. Grandmother explains that it was time for them to step up and equal Mom’s sacrifice. Robin confesses that she’ll miss Grandmother terribly, though she and Grandmother promise to visit each other regularly. 

Grandmother hands Robin the secret package, and Robin opens it to reveal a new, larger pair of pointe shoes. When Grandmother guesses that the new shoes might need ribbons, Mom comes over and offers to sew them on. Grandmother, however, insists on doing it herself. 

Using Mom’s sewing tools, Grandmother carefully sews Robin’s old ribbons onto her new shoes. As Robin watches her sew, she realizes how similarly their hands look. Once Grandmother finishes, she hands the shoes to Robin and asks her to dance for both of them. Robin, overjoyed, slips the shoes on and thanks Grandmother profusely, pulling her into a hug. Robin, Grandmother, and Mom all begin to cry.

Ian wanders into the room and wonders why they’re all crying. Robin only laughs and hugs him tightly. Grandmother, too, presses her cheek to Ian’s. Mom looks on as Grandmother and Robin tickle Ian. Together, they all laugh happily.