Key Player

Mia learns she is getting a “C.” Her dreams of journalism camp dissolve. She begs Mr. Antwell to let her do extra credit but he tells her to try harder on the field.

Back at the motel, Mia feels too down to read her fan mail from readers who follow her column in a student newspaper in China she started on a previous family trip. Dad shows off a raincoat he bought at a yard sale. Now that Mom has a stable job teaching at the high school and the motel is doing well, Dad steps out during the day to go house-hunting. Dad dreams of having a fireplace. Mom wants a kitchen island. Mia is fixated on getting a dog. Dad gives Mia the raincoat to keep her warm in San Francisco. Mia can’t bring herself to tell him that she might not be able to attend the camp.

Mia runs into Jason, restaurant cook and son of the motel’s former owner, Mr. Yao, at the restaurant but doesn’t want to talk even though he has something he wants to say about his future. Mia steals away to the bottom of the back staircase and lets herself cry. Hank, the cook from the restaurant, finds her there. Hank encourages Mia to talk to the school counselor. Mia feels determined to defend her dreams. Hank reveals that a fancy restaurant called asking to partner with him to sell his famous saltine burgers.

Mia goes to see Mr. Ingleton, the guidance counselor. Mr. Ingleton notes that programs like the journalism camp want students to be “well-rounded.” He also expresses his belief that all great leaders in the US are good at sports. He insinuates that high schools and colleges don’t want a “homework robot” like Mia (24).

Mia sits alone in the Newsroom, where she and Da-Shawn usually work on the school paper. Mia worries that she will never be completely American if she isn’t good at sports. When Da-Shawn returns, Mia suggests they run an article asking whether PE should be optional. Da-Shawn, who is good at sports, doesn’t understand why Mia hates PE so much.

Back at home, Mom makes mapo tofu, Mia’s favorite meal. Mom describes her own struggles trying to be heard during staff meetings and worrying about her English. Mia runs into Jason again, who tells her he plans to use some of his dad’s money to invest in the Calivista’s restaurant. Mia refuses to entertain the idea after how poorly Mr. Yao treated her parents when he owned the motel. Mia talks it over with Mom who shares her trepidation but understands why Jason wants to be involved.

Mia goes for a ride with Hank and talks over her dilemma. Hank encourages Mia to take a chance on a great employee. They pass a sign advertising Mia Hamm and the world cup final between the US and China. Mia has an idea to interview one of the players. Hank notes that security will be tight around the US players. Mia considers the possibility of interviewing Team China. Mia notes that Hank considers Jason family now and feels invested in his future. Mia reconsiders her feelings about Mr. Yao.

Mia accompanies Hank into the Pasadena Grill to discuss the partnership. They meet with Mr. Wamble, the manager. Mr. Wamble pressures Hank to hand over the recipe, bragging about all the important actors and athletes who eat at the restaurant. Hank doesn’t trust Mr. Wamble and asks to see a contract. When Mr. Wamble makes excuses, Hank can’t resist the possibility of achieving his goal and hands over the recipe despite his reservations.

Mia and Hank imagine soccer players and politicians eating Hank’s burgers. Mia wonders if she could find her way to some of the players through the Pasadena Grill. Mia goes back with Hank to the condo he bought with his Calivista money. He tells her that owning your own home feels peaceful. She hopes for that peace.

Back at the motel, Mia finds Mr. Yao trying to get Jason to go home to watch the Lakers with him. Mia realizes that Mr. Yao misses his son. Mia tells Jason that she thinks he should be part of the motel. Dad comes home and hears Mia’s plan to interview the Chinese players. He thinks it’s a great idea and tells her the players just landed that morning. They must be staying somewhere cheap because the team doesn’t have that much money. Some of the players even worked factory jobs before joining Team China. Mia can’t wait to hear their stories.

Lupe helps Mia look up hotels near the Rose Bowl. She tells Mia about how badly math cup is going. The coach didn’t show up, and they didn’t practice any math. Lupe tries to understand why the high school girls like boys so much when she doesn’t. She worries she is weird and wonders when those feelings will arrive. Mia thinks back to having a crush on Da-Shawn last year. Mom offers to drive them to a hotel near the Rose Bowl. While they drive, Lupe tells Mom about the math cup team. Mom knows the coach, Mr. Jammer, as the teacher who always talks over everyone in meetings. Mom offers to ask the administration if she can coach the team instead. They pull into the hotel parking lot.

Mia asks the receptionist if any of the soccer players are staying there, but the woman refuses to tell them. Familiar with hotel reception, Mia runs around the front desk and tries to look on the computer, but the receptionist tells her to stay away from the staff area. They decide to wait in the lobby and see if the players show up. They overhear some tourists speaking about the Chinese players in a derogatory way and insulting their food. Lupe jumps in and tells off the tourist, attracting the attention of the security guard who kicks Lupe and Mia out of the lobby. Mia tells her mom about the derogatory comments and worries that the soccer game will pull the American and Chinese sides of her life apart.

Back at the motel, Jason makes dumplings for Mia, Mom, and Lupe. Mr. Yao comes over to deliver the investment check. Mia’s family and the other investors have decided that Mr. Yao can only be involved in the restaurant, not the motel. Mr. Yao walks in and immediately starts giving his opinions. By the end of the walk-through, Jason pulls his hair in frustration. Mr. Yao declares his goal for the restaurant to host the Team USA victory dinner.

Mia finds Jason in her spot on the back stairs. She encourages him to ignore his dad’s criticism, but Jason wants to make him proud. He says they’ll never book Team USA for the victory dinner. Mia feels conflicted about who she wants to win the game.

Mia looks at pictures of the world cup players in the newspaper. She doesn’t feel much like Mia Hamm, but she also doesn’t feel like the Chinese team represents her completely.

The next day, Mia and her family get in their old car to visit open houses. Dad hopes for a fireplace even if the weather is too hot for it. Mom imagines storing all the math cup worksheets in the fireplace. The first house they visit has no stove, ants everywhere, and a hole in the roof, but the agent expects $200,000. Their family friends Auntie Ling and Uncle Zhang look for houses with them. They all worry they can’t compete in the housing market. Uncle Zhang tells Dad that even though he is pre-approved for a loan, the real estate agents want clients with more cash in the bank. Dad resolves to keep looking.

Mia finds Mr. Yao answering phones back at the motel. He says he’s there to visit Jason, but Jason’s too busy in the restaurant. Mia brags about house-hunting even though they won’t buy the house they saw. Mr. Yao berates Mia for leaving the motel, claiming that he hired the Tangs to be there in case of emergency. Mia reminds him that they do not work for him anymore.

In the restaurant, Jason sets up all the new tables Mr. Yao ordered to pack in more customers. Jason tells Mia that his dad grew up in a restaurant and ran the phones, much like what Mia does at the motel. They read Mr. Yao’s old diary where he’s written about watching his parents work hard and hoping to one day go to Disneyland. Mia realizes that she and Mr. Yao are the same and wonders why he ended up the way he did. Mr. Yao arrives to go over the menu, but Jason has already finished it with Hank. Jason offers him a churro but Mr. Yao refuses.

Mia wishes she could go back in time and visit Mr. Yao’s restaurant to leave him a huge tip. Mia and Da-Shawn work on a new issue of the school paper featuring letters students write to their future selves. Most letters are earnest, but Bethany writes about being nice to people in case their parents are important. Mia asks Da-Shawn’s advice for talking to Mr. Yao about his diary. Da-Shawn recommends interviewing Mr. Yao, but Mia would rather keep looking for the Chinese soccer team.

During PE, Bethany comments on Mia’s shoes, causing Mia to feel insecure. Mia witnesses Stuart asking Joanne to go to a World Cup game on a date. Mia promises not to write about it in her column. Mia waits to be picked for a team in PE and wonders when her body will change. Jason picks her for his team, but Mia still can’t bring herself to go after the ball. After class, Mia makes a deal with Mr. Antwell. If she can get a real interview with either World Cup team, he will change her grade. Mia overhears Bethany and Joanne talking about the new burgers at the Pasadena Grill.