四月碎片 Pieces of April

Pieces of April
(Comedy) (2003)
Major Characters

April Burns...............................Katie Holmes
     A young woman living alone in New York City, who decides to make a
     Thanksgiving dinner for her family in her small and poor apartment,
     despite the fact that she has never gotten along with them.

Bobby.....................................Derek Luke
     April’s sweet African-American boyfriend, who is very much in love with her.

Joy Burns.................................Patricia Clarkson
     April’s mom, who is very sick with breast cancer, who is very hesitant
     to go to April’s home because she has been so angry at her for so long.

Jim Burns..................................Oliver Platt
     April’s father, who has real hope that April and the rest of
     the family can have a nice Thanksgiving dinner together.

Timmy Burns................................John Gallagher, Jr.
     April’s younger brother, who loves to take
     pictures of everything going on in his family.

Beth Burns..................................Alison Pill
     April’s younger sister, who feels the family should not even try to
     have dinner with April, since that would be too stressful for her mom.

Grandma Dottie..............................Alice Drummond
     April’s grandmother and Joy’s mom, who is both very sweet and losing her memory.

Wayne.......................................Sean Hayes
     April’s very strange upstairs neighbor who agrees
     to let her use his oven after her own oven stops working.


Plot Summary

This film is the story of a young woman of about 20, who is living on her own in
a small run down apartment in New York City. April has never gotten along well with
her middle class family, who live in a suburb of New York, but one day she decides
to invite them all over for a Thanksgiving dinner that she will prepare herself,
even though she doesn’t really know how to cook (Thanksgiving is probably the most
popular holiday in America because almost everyone goes to a large turkey dinner,
in which extended families and friends come together from all over the country.
It is held on the last Thursday of November, and, in theory, celebrates the meal
that the first white Americans had with the local Native Americans, in the colony
of Massachusetts, in 1621).

April’s family is very hesitant to travel to her apartment, because none of them get
along with her. Joy is the most nervous, partly because she is already very week
from fighting cancer, and partly because she doesn’t believe she can ever understand
her out of control daughter. Beth is also very much against going to New York, but
Jim feels there is always hope for a new beginning, and Timothy would simply like to
take photos of whatever happens. Meanwhile, April is going to try and make it work,
and with the help of Bobby and various  neighbors, she’s determined to show that any
family, no matter how dysfunctional (broken), can join together for at least one
warm and special meal.

Some Words and Expressions that You May not Know


            April’s family heads for New York as she and Bobby
             begin preparations for the big Thanksgiving meal.


Come on, this is gonna be your big day.
     "Come on" is the most versatile and widely used phrasal verb in English, though it
     is only used in the command form. Note that "going to" ---> gonna in rapid speech.

Would you knock?!
     The verb to use when you tap on a door with your fist or
     hands closed, in order to announce that there is someone there.

OK, everybody. Let’s move it!
    A common and  colloquial way of saying "Let’s go!"

Who got an ‘A’ in Home Ec?
     A short way of saying "Home Economics," which is an interesting term for
     a high school class in which students learn about cooking and other practical
     things around the house (An ‘A’ is the best possible grade).

Could you zip me up, please?
     "To zip up" a dress is to move the zipper up so that it is closed shut.

Screw the neighbors! Honk the goddam horn!
     "To screw" is a colloquial word meaning to have sex, though here it is used
     as a vulgar insult word. Still, it’s less crude than fuck. "To honk" a horn
     is to push on it so that it makes a warning sound. "Goddamn" is a vulgar filler
     word that is used to express emotion such as anger.

Nauseous, dizzy? :: I feel great.
     If a person is "nauseous," they feel sick to their stomach, and might even
     throw up or vomit. If a person is "dizzy," they feel like they’re going to
     fall down, usually  because they have a spinning sensation in their head.

You know, mom, all you have to say is I don't
feel up to it, and we'll all understand.
     "I don’t feel up to it" and we’ll all understand. If you "don’t feel up to"
     doing something, you don’t have the strength, ability or desire to do it.

Oh, Jesus, where’s your tie?
     A common filler word, even for non-religious people,
     to show emotion such as frustration, or in this case, worry.

So no numbness or discomfort?
     "Numbness" is the sensation of not being able
     to feel anything in a particular part of the body.

Do you feel sweaty, clammy?  Are your fingers tingly?
     If a person feels "clammy," they feel wet and cold, and if their fingers
     are "tingly,"  they feel as if lots of tiny (but not painful) pins or needles
     are being gently stuck into them. 

You can never have enough silverware.
     "Silverware" refers to forks, knives and spoons. This is one
     common way of saying "One can always use more silverware"

A hammer I was holding fell on them.
     A metal tool for driving nails into wood. This is April’s silly
     way of saying she broke them intentionally, or on purpose.

They were 50 cents. :: You got yourself a deal.
     "To get a deal" is to pay inexpensively for something that’s worth more.

At  375 degrees and fully stuffed, a 15 pound turkey will take five hours to cook.
     If a turkey is "stuffed," it is filled with food, such as celery, onions
     and a mixture of small pieces of bread (which is called stuffing ).

If you figure 20 minutes a pound.
     In this case, a word for guess or estimate (It often means to think).

Mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes.
     If potatoes are "mashed," they are crushed into a soft and smooth texture.
     "Gravy" is a sauce for meats and vegetables, and "sweet potatoes" are a
     very sweet vegetable that is often served at Thanksgiving dinners.

Sprinkle on brown sugar.
     "To sprinkle" on sugar or a spice is to pour it gently, so
     that it comes out of the container in small bits and pieces.

Green bean casserole made with green bean stuff.
     A "casserole" is a dish made with vegetables and cheese or bread, that is baked
     in an oven. "Stuff" is an overused word for things in general, and it sounds
     especially silly here (with ‘green bean’ as an adjective!)

Another dish made with crushed crackers and oysters.
     If a food is "crushed," it is smashed into little pieces. "Crackers" are
     a type of salty snack food that is small, thin and crispy, and made from a
     bread product. "Oysters" are an expensive type of shell fish.

Right before baking, barely cover it with hot milk.
     "To bake" a food is to cook it in an oven.

Cranberry sauce; Open the can, pop it
on a serving dish. How simple is that?!
     "Cranberry sauce" is a much loved food at Thanksgiving dinners, usually made
     from fresh (and not canned!) red cranberries.  "To pop" something on a plate
     is a slangy way of saying to put it there quickly.  "How  simple is that?"
     is a way of saying "That’s so simple that anybody can do it!"

Waldorf salad made with apple, celery, nuts, grapes. The dressing
is made with mayonnaise thinned with milk or cream and sweetener.
     "Waldorf Salad" is a favorite salad, described above, that’s popular at
     expensive restaurants. "Dressing" refers to salad dressing, and "mayonnaise"
     is a type of  popular American dressing made from egg-yolks that is used on a
     lot on sandwiches. If a dressing is "thinned" with milk, it is made more liquid.

Pumpkin pie. Store bought from a very, very expensive store.
     The classic American Thanksgiving dessert, made from fresh orange pumpkins (Note that
     most people would much prefer to have it made fresh, rather than bought at a store!).

Aren’t you a love!
     Grandma’s gentle way of telling Timmy that he is a very sweet and gentle boy.

Timmy’s your grandson. :: Well, you don’t say!
     A common and sweet way of expressing surprise or disbelief.

Welcome to Krispy Kreme; May I take your order?
     "Krispy Kreme" is a popular fast food doughnut restaurant. The second sentence
     is how waiters and waitresses ask what you’d like to eat (Note that the noun---
     "an order"---is not as aggressive as the verb).

I’ll have a vanilla covered cream filled, please, and two glazed crullers.
     Two types of doughnuts. Simple "glaze doughnuts," made
     with a type of liquid sugar, are the most loved and popular.

What do you think about cloth napkins?
     A fancy washable napkin that is more expensive than paper ones.

How can anyone not believe in God?
     A funny question to ask if the speaker is saying this simply because
     they can’t believe how delicious a good glazed doughnut is!

They don’t deserve decorations.
     In this context, a word for colorful balloons, ribbons and other types
     of coverings that make a place look more like a party is happening.

Nobody wants your opinion. :: Stay out of it!
     If you tell a person to "stay out of" an argument, you’re telling them
     to stay quiet and not get involved. A common and aggressive expression.

I’m the excited one, now.  I have fritos, cheetos.
     Well known brands of potato chips.

Not when she called to check out the ingredients of a certain recipe!
     The "ingredients" of a dish are the individual foods that go into it
     (such as eggs and cheese for an omelet). A "recipe" is a list of foods
     to make something, along with the instructions for how to prepare it.

I’m nipping this in the bud right now!
     "To nip something in the bud" is to stop it or kill it before it
      becomes too big or powerful. "To nip" is pinch something  between one’s
      fingers so that it is cut off or severed, and the "bud" of a plant is the
      middle part that has not yet grown or developed.

I  bet she called collect. I would never call
collect. ::  Aren’t you the most perfect ever?
     "To call collect" is to make a long-distance phone call in which
     the person who answers the phone is the one pays for the call.

Honey, that is so wasteful.
     If an action is "wasteful," it leads to the misuse, throwing
     away or waste of important resources, from water to money. 

Well, you’re a better man than me.
     A fun way for the speaker to tell  a person that they are braver or wiser than
     the speaker himself (Though note it’s usually said only between two men . 
     Otherwise, you should say person !)

Don’t get me wrong. I’m glad we’re going.
     "Don’t get me wrong" is a way of saying "Don’t misunderstand what
     I’m trying to say." If a person is "glad," they are happy or satisfied.

Instead of April showing up with some new piercing,
or some ugly new tattoo, and, God forbid, staying overnight…
     A "piercing" is a piece of jewelry that is stuck through a piece of skin
     (like earrings, though it’s now become more common to pierce all kinds of body
     parts, including one’s tongue!). A "tattoo" is a drawing that is permanently
     marked on a person’s skin. "God forbid" is a common way of expressing the hope
     that what is being discussed will never happen.

We get to show up, experience the disaster that is her life, smile
through it, and before you know it, we’re on our way back home!
     "To show up" is to arrive. A "disaster" is a catastrophe or something that
     happens which is truly horrible and destroys both lives and property."Before
     you know it" is a way of saying that time will pass very quickly.

Miss me? :: You bet!
     One way of saying yes, or absolutely.

Eddie the drug dealer is history...and she’s met this new guy.
     A "drug dealer" sells illegal drugs, often on street corners. In this context,
     if a person "is history," they are no longer considered important or may not
     even be around or near anymore.

This guy sounds promising.  :: Is that so?
     If a person is "promising," they are considered attractive because
     they have a lot of potential to do good things in the future.


          April’s neighbors help out as her oven fails to
         light, and the family gets closer to the city.


She’s white, she’s got her youth, her whole privileged life ahead
of her—I am looking forward to hearing about her problems.
     A person’s "youth" is the status or quality of being young. If a person’s
     life is "privileged," they have been given great advantages compared to
     other people, such as wealth, education, or in this case, white skin.

I can’t imagine! Eugene here could be chewing on his
supper and choke to death on a turkey bone this very day!
     "I can’t imagine" is a way of saying something is so horrible it’s hard to
      accept or understand. "Supper" is another word for a meal, especially dinner.
      If a person "chokes to death," they die after food gets caught in their
      throat and they can no longer breathe.

You don’t get along, do you? :: No, never have.
     "To get along" with a person is to both like them and enjoy passing time with them.

That will give you two hours to find another oven. How’s that sound?
     A way of asking "Is that OK with you?"

Yo, I got a message from you. Tyrone’s looking for you.
     "Yo" is a very slangy way of greeting people that is common among teenagers.

It’s a nice gesture.
     An important word for anything that is done out of politeness or kindness
     to show other people your good intentions (for example, April’s cooking a
     big Thanksgiving dinner is a nice gesture to her family).

You haven’t been back?  :: Hell, no.
     A slangy and somewhat crude way of saying "absolutely not!"

I’m the first pancake.
     A "pancake" is a popular flat cake that is served with syrup for breakfast.
     In this case, April is saying since she was the first child, she was treated
     like the first pancake that a chef throws away, before they learn to cook the
     pancakes for just the right amount of time.

Has the bird been stuffed?
     "To stuff" a turkey is to fill it with food such as vegetables and bread crumbs.

A stalk of celery. Mostly it’s just the mix from the box.
     A "stalk" is the main part of a piece of celery. "Mix" refers to any kind
     of foods that are mixed together (in this case, bread crumbs and spices for
     turkey stuffing). If food is "from the box," it is sold in a box from a store,
     rather than freshly made.

You used store-bought stuffing? :: Yeah, is that a bad thing?
     Again, if food is "store bought," it’s sold in a box or can or frozen,
     and is not freshly made at home (For Thanksgiving dinners, everyone prefers
     food that is made fresh at home!)

I’m sure it’s a great brand. A fine brand.
     An important word for the name of a company that produces a product, from
     food to cars (If a product is a good brand, it has a good reputation).

The meat’s all pink. No flavor whatsoever.
     "Whatsoever’ is another way of saying none at all, or absolutely none.

I want to take an alternate route.
     An "alternate route" is a different or alternative way to get to
     where you are going (perhaps a less known but faster street).

Back roads. See things we’ve never seen.
     "Back roads" are streets that are often in the country and not
     very well known, so that there are few drivers or people on them.

You can either let me study the map or you
can rely on my uncanny sense of direction.
     "Uncanny" is an excellent adjective that means incredible or way
     beyond what is expected or even thought humanly possible.

Sweet potato soup with buttered pecans, herbed oyster stuffing, giblet
gravy, rosemary green beans, sautéed red Swiss chard with garlic...
     "Pecans" are a delicious type of sweet nut. "Giblet gravy" is a sauce made
     with chicken organs such as stomach intestines. If food is "sautéed," it is fried
     in some fat or butter. "Chard" is a type of leafy green vegetable.

...hickory ice cream and maple pumpkin pie.
     "Hickory" is a nutty flavor, and "maple" is the sweet and
     delicious syrup found in trees, that is  often used on pancakes.

It was a squirrel. Or a very small raccoon.
     Two types of wild animals, often found on city streets.

Hop to it! :: Mom’s looking for a spot.
     "Hop to it" is a way of saying "hurry up." In this
     context, a "spot" is a particular place or piece of land.

While we’re waiting for it to dissolve, you stir.
     If food "dissolves," it melts into tiny pieces. "To stir" food
     is to mix it with a spoon while turning in a circular motion.

Yeah, you go, girl!
     A ridiculously slangy but ever more popular way of encouraging a female
     friend to continue to be determined and fight for what they believe in.

We let it simmer until it becomes a lovely texture.
      "To simmer" is to cook over a low heat. "Lovely" is a popular British word for pretty
      or attractive, and  the "texture" of something is its structure, quality or smoothness.

Don’t worry about Eugene. :: He always gets a little fussy.
     If a person is "fussy," they are very demanding or
     hard to please, like a spoiled cat that won’t eat its food.

Then the oven or the stove...I don’t know what it’s called.
      Note that the "oven" is the part of a cooking device where food is
      heated inside, while the "stove" is the part above, where food is heated
      in a pan, which is on top of a natural gas flame.

The truth is that she’s a rotten mother, so I don’t
know why you’d want to help me anyway.
     If a mother is "rotten," she’s bad and incompetent, and even mean, ill tempered
     or abusive (If food is rotten, it is spoiled because it’s too old).

There wasn’t a nice bone in her body.
     One way of saying a person is mean, nasty, abusive or unpleasant.

You can keep the mints. :: Everett, where’s the strainer?
     A "mint" is a plant flavored candy. A "strainer" is a device that is filled with holes
     that lets liquid pass through it (It’s often used to separate food from cleaning water).

I never eat anything that has a face.
     A wonderful line for a vegetarian!

But for me, to know that there was once a living, breathing soul.
     The "soul" of a person (or animal!) is the non-physical or spiritual
     part that lives on, at least in theory,  after the person dies.

I’m a vegetarian, I understand. :: Yes, but I’m a vegan.
     A "vegan" is a person who does not eat any animal products, including eggs
     and dairy food like milk and butter (Obviously, it is much harder to be a
     true vegan than to be a vegetarian!).

Even the smell of flesh cooking. I don’t think I can help you.
     "Flesh" is a word for skin, or more generally, any kind of animal meat.


           April meets the Wayne, Bobby goes looking for just the
        right clothes, and Joy warns the family about April’s cooking.


Technically, it’s a self-cleaning convection oven.
     "Technically" is a common way of saying specifically, or "if you want to be
     totally accurate..."  A "convection oven" blows hot air evenly around the food.

It has an automatic meat thermometer, audible pre-heat
signal, dual bake element, hot surface lights, roasting rack....
     A good line for an oven salesman! A "thermometer" measures temperature, and if
     something is "audible," it can be heard. "Dual" means made of two parts. "To roast"
     food is to cook it in dry heat, and a "rack" is a steel  framework for placing
     food in an oven.

...and my favorite, the frameless glass oven door, with deluxe big view mirror.
     An important word in advertising which means expensive or of the best quality.

Be my guest. We’d be delighted.
     "Be my guest" is a common way of telling a person to do whatever it is
     they asked to do (such as entering a closed door or helping themselves to
     the food on the table). If a person is "delighted," they are very happy
     because of what has just happened.

Latrell, where you at, man?
     A very slangy way of saying "Where are you?"

You got to be kidding me! You said you worked in retail!
     "To kid" a person is to lie to them or tell them something that isn’t
     true or serious, perhaps because they’re trying to be funny. "Retail" refers
     to stores that sell goods to the public, such as clothing or jewelry stores.

You told me you could get me a deal on some quality men’s clothes.
     "To get a deal" on a product such as clothes is to pay a very good
     or inexpensive price for it. As an adjective, "quality" means very
     good or excellent.

I had you all wrong...cause I thought you was the type of brother
that ain’t really need no fancy labels or no Armadi Prada bullshit.
     "To have a person wrong" is to misunderstand what they are saying or what kind
     of person they are. Note that "brother" is a very common way for black men to
     refer to other black men. A "label" is a cloth tag that has the name of the
     company that made the product. "Bullshit" is a vulgar but common and wonderful
     word for lies, half-truths or nonsense in general (You should never say the word
     ‘ain’t' which is used to (mis)conjugate the verb to be, and Armadi Prada is an
     expensive  brand of clothes).

Get out of here, man!
     An interesting expression, which in the right context, is a way to say that
     you do not believe what has just been said (Some people, upon hearing a
     ridiculous and unbelievable statement, will simply say "Get out!").

As long as people that we love can wear it, it’s going to be on that rack.
     In this context, a "rack" is a clothes hanger in a clothing store.

Pull over, Tim.
     The words to use when you want a car to stop and move to the side of the road.

Are you woozy? Do you feel sick?
      If a person feels "woozy," they feel a bit sick to their stomach or nauseous.

We need to discuss how each of you...in your own way, is going
to handle discarding food without letting our hostess know.
     In this case, "to handle" something is to deal
     with it. "To discard" food is to throw it away.

Joy, really.
     When said in a certain tone, "really" is a way
     of expressing great cynicism or disapproval.

Take a bite out of whatever it is——Let’s say the green bean casserole. Pretend to
chew, cough, spit food into napkin, excuse yourself. Drop food in toilet. Flush.
     A "casserole" is a meat or vegetable dish that is cooked in the oven.
     "To spit" something is to force or eject it out of your mouth. "To flush"
      is the verb one uses when operating the toilet.

Have I heard of Smack Daddy? :: He’s a
black singer, dad. You wouldn’t know him.
     A popular rap or hip-hop singer.

Oh no. I haven’t heard of James Brown, Barry White, Puffy the Dog.
     Well known black singers (Though the last one is probably a reference to
     Snoop Dog, since it’s not clear there is any singer named Puffy the Dog).

You know with him, it’s no one-night stand, that it’s forever.
Millions want him, but it’s as if he’s only singing to me…baby.
     A "one-night stand" is a common expression for when two people who usually
     don’t know each other have sex one time, and then often never see each other
     again. "Baby" is a very common filler word that is often used to address
     other people of the opposite sex.

He doesn’t care that I’m old and sick and
falling apart. He sees my soul. He’s not fickle.
     If a person is physically "falling apart," they are becoming extremely
     weak and sick. A "fickle" person is one who is always changing their mind,
     or a person who can’t decide what they really want.

He’s there for me. :: Like dad.
     If a person is "there for you," this means you can
     always count on them when you have problems.

Smack Daddy, man alive is he sexy.
     An interesting way of expressing great excitement ("He is so  sexy")

It does bring up some sort of nice memories.
     If something "brings up" some memories, it causes them to suddenly appear.

I was knocking on a lot of doors looking for you. Yours was ajar.
     If a door is "ajar," it is  slightly open.

No foreseeable problems.
     If a problem is "foreseeable," it can be seen or predicted before it
     arrives, usually from just thinking logically about the present situation.

Didn’t want to presume. :: That’s fine. Whatever.
     "To presume" something is to assume that another person will think what
     you’re about to do is OK. "Whatever" is a widely used and slangy way of
     saying "It doesn’t matter" or "It’s not important."

It’s a common misperception that you can just stick a turkey in the oven.
     A "misperception" is a good word for a misunderstanding, and
     one that is often mistakenly believed by a lot  of people.

Turkey needs to be tended to. It needs to be cared for lovingly.
     "To tend to" something is to take care of it with serious attention.

One must pay close attention to poultry.
     A useful word for chicken, turkey and the various birds that people eat.

It can be undercooked, which is a health hazard, and what about basting?
A "health hazard" is anything that can be dangerous to your health.
     "To baste" a turkey is to occasionally cover
     it with butter or a liquid while cooking it.

Tick tock.
     The sound that a clock makes as it moves forward, second by second.

Bernadette has a very small bladder.
     The organ in the body that stores urine, before going to the bathroom.

Can’t I just pop my head in? :: I’m afraid not.
     "To pop your head in" is to quickly take a look at something (In this case,
     the turkey in the oven). "I’m afraid not" is a long way of saying...no!

Do you know that good feeling that often comes from being helpful?
     A useful word for a person who is always helping others or who has
     done something that has truly helped a person get out of a problem.

I ask myself "It’s very clear what you are doing
for her, but what are you getting out of this?"
     In this case, one way of saying "what are you receiving for your efforts?"

Later, you can help me understand what I am getting
for this exchange, if we could call it an exchange.
     A very useful word for the trading of one thing for another.

All crap, Latrelle!....Those are pimp clothes!
     "Crap" is a crude word meaning of very poor quality, or in the right
     context, lies or nonsense (like bullshit). A "pimp" is a very negative
     word for a man who works as the manager of prostitutes.

Velvet?! Hell no!
     "Velvet" is a type of smooth, dense and expensive cloth or fabric.
     "Hell no" is a very colloquial way of saying no, or absolutely not.

I was saving this little number for myself, but I think it’s more your size.
     In this case, a slangy way of referring to a piece of clothing.

All of our children are talented.
     Another word for skilled, or for having a natural ability
     in a particular field, such as  music, writing or business.

You ever heard the phrase "Beware the occasion that warrants a new suit"?
     A "phrase" is another word for expression. "Beware" means be careful of,
     and an "occasion" is a particular event or celebration. "To warrant" a
     particular behavior is to deserve or merit it, and a "suit" is an expensive
     outfit with a set of pants and a jacket.

My mama, God rest her soul...  :: Lord, not another mama story!
     "God rest her soul" is a way of asking God to treat a dead  person
     kindly, or to let them be at peace. "Lord" is another word for God.

You didn’t even know my mother and I pity you for that.
     "To pity" a person is to feel sorry for them.

The car flipped over and I was trapped underneath the car.
     If a car "flips over," it turns completely over, with its
     roof now on the bottom and its underside on top.

Bullshit!  :: She lifted up the car and pulled me to safety.
     A crude but excellent word for lies, half-truths or nonsense.


           April gets her turkey back, the Chinese neighbors save dinner,
         Bobby returns, and after almost turning back, the Burns join
             their daughter for a very special Thanksgiving.

Bravo, encore!
     Two words that audiences often scream after a singer has given a much
     appreciated concert. "Bravo" is a way of yelling appreciation, and "encore"]
     is a request that the musician continue to sing more songs.

Who are you? :: Don’t start with that, you know who I am.
     A short way of saying "Don’t start speaking that way."

My daughter is kind and sweet and soft spoken.
      "Kind" means nice, sweet or gentle, and if a person is "soft spoken,"
     they speak in a gentle or quiet manner, instead of in a loud or angry manner.

I am so critical. It’s one of my worst faults.
     In this case, a "critical" person is one who is always criticizing others or
     who is very judgmental, though in other contexts, it can simply mean very
     important or necessary. A person’s "faults" are their bad traits or qualities,
     such as being too judgmental or angry.

Why am I so hard on, for instance, you, Beth, who
for years has been the daughter of my dreams.
     To be "hard on" a person is to treat them poorly or unfairly.
     If a person is the daughter "of your dreams," she is the best
     daughter that you could have hoped for.

Apart from your weight problems, we’re practically the same person.
     One way of saying "Except for..." If a girl has "weight problems,
     she’s probably too fat, though she might be too thin.

I’ve trying to think of nice April memories and I can only come up with one.
     In this case, "to come up with" a memory is to be able to think of it.

One vivid, beautiful memory. :: There’s gotta be more.
     "Vivid" is a nice little word that means bright, clear or easily
     remembered. Note that "have got to"---->  "gotta" in rapid speech.

It’s not important. :: Like hell, it’s not!
     A slangy and passionate way of saying "Yes it is!"

She was just gazing out the window, and she turned back
to me, and she said "Oh mother, don’t you just love every day?"
     "To gaze out" a window is to stare out, or look out with a steady focus.

What about the crayon flower she did of
the Mayflower? The one you had framed?
     A "crayon" is a colored pencil for drawing pictures. "The Mayflower" is a
     famous ship that carried European settlers from England to America, in 1620.
     If a picture is "framed," it is surrounded or bordered by wood or other
     material, to make it look better.

That was me, too.  :: Cut it out!
     An excellent colloquial expression which means "Stop it!"

I’m sorry, but it’s important that we’re accurate here.
     To be "accurate" is to be completely truthful, precise
     or exact in telling what happened in the past.

She’s absolutely right. God freaking dam it.
     "Freaking" is a less vulgar filler adverb than fucking. "Dam it" is a
     common and vulgar filler that is used to express anger or frustration.

Just off the top of my head, I have one.
     To think of something "off the top of your head" is to think
     of it quickly, without giving it much thought or effort.

She was wearing a pink nightgown.
     A type of pajama or clothes that women wear to bed.

She was sleeping in her crib, and it was lovely.
     A "crib" is little bed for babies, and "lovely" is a
     much loved word in England for pretty or attractive.

It’s just what came to mind.
     If something "comes to mind," you start to think about it.

It’s shity, Jim. All I can remember is the
petulance, the shoplifting, the fire in the kitchen.
     "Shity" is a vulgar but common word for bad, horrible or of poor quality.
     "Petulance" is the quality of being rude, disagreeable or loud and obnoxious.
     "Shoplifting" is the act of stealing things from stores.

Was it an accident the way she used to light matches and throw
them at Beth, or the time she used a lighter to trim Timmy’s bangs?
     A "lighter" is the small device used to light cigarettes. "To trim" a person’s
     hair is to cut it back just a little. A person’s "bangs" refers to the part of
     their hair that has grown a bit longer than the rest of their hair.

I mean, the drugs, the ingratitude.
     A word for complete absence or lack of appreciation or thankfulness.

She bit my nipples whenever I tried to breast feed.
    On women, the part of the breast where babies feed to get milk.

Mom needed to stretch her legs.
    "To stretch" one’s legs is to extend them, or make them as long as they
    go, often in order to relax them or make them feel more comfortable.

I’d like to report a kidnapping...He’s taken my turkey hostage.
     A "kidnapping" is the act of forcefully taking a person prisoner, often in
     order to demand money for their release. A "hostage" is a person who is
     being held forcefully against their will, often by people who are making a political
     demand for their release (such as the freeing of prisoners being held by the government).

Please give me my stupid fucking turkey!
     Here, an excellent use of a very crude filler adjective, said to show anger.

Once there were people here called Indians. Native Americans. Whatever.
     "Native Americans" is the way many liberal and ‘politically correct‘ people refer
     to the American Indians who were living  in America before Europeans arrived.
     In this case, "whatever" is a very slangy way of saying the speaker is not exactly
     sure what she is saying.

This was long ago, before we stole most of their land, and
killed most of them, and  moved the rest to reservations.
     "Reservations" are the large, enclosed areas of land where many of the
     Native Americans were forced to live after white people took their lands.

Before they lost their languages and customs.
     "Customs" is an important word that refers to the common practices of a
     society or culture, such as the way they eat meals or the games they play.

It carved dough.
     "To carve" a turkey is to slice it or cut it. "Dough"
     is the raw flour  that is used to make bread.

Hey babe, they’re here.
     A common term of endearment, like dear or sweetheart.

You need first aid.
     This refers to any kind of medical assistance after a person has been injured or hurt.

Maybe they went and ran an errand.
     A small job or task that is done outside the house,
     such as mailing a letter or buying milk at the store.

Don’t be hard on yourself. We did the right thing.
     In this case, if a person is "hard on themselves," they blame
     themselves for something bad that had just happened.

French, Russian, Blue Cheese, Thousand Island, Vinaigrette, Italian, Ranch.
    All of these refer to various kinds of salad dressing!

They’re all made on the premises. We got a
great Black Forest cake. We also got great pies.
     If a cake is made "on the premises," it is made fresh in the restaurant
     or hotel where it is served. A "pie" is a type of dessert that is baked
     with a bread-like or pastry crust, with fruit or cream in the middle.

Do you have whipped cream with that pumpkin pie?
     A type of light sweet cream that is popular with pies and other desserts.
 

Pieces of April

Possible Topics for ESL Class Discussion


1. Is your family as dysfunctional as April’s? In fact, are most families
somewhat dysfunctional, in that family members always have trouble getting
along with each other?

2. From what you could see, was April a bad
daughter or Joy a bad mom, or both, or neither?

3. Is there a similar holiday to Thanksgiving in your culture? Can you understand
why many people feel conflicted, or mixed, about Thanksgiving? How would you feel
about it if you were a Native American? Vegetarian? Without anyone to celebrate it?

4. How is this film about the diversity of American culture?

5. What did you like and not like about this movie?