Mary Watches Star Wars
One early May night, Bruce and Carrie laid on top of their bed with Carrie recounting the tale of Mary and the Doppleganger, how their daughter briefly had an identity crisis which was saved by a quick trip to Lucasfilms and some movie magic with George.
Unfortunately the crisis had taken place on a work day where Bruce was at the film lot inspecting some renovations and then giving a small press tour to hype up future Lucasfilms productions and draw in more talent.
When Bruce arrived home, he could tell that something was wrong as Mary was very tired and moody while Carrie appeared rather exhausted and was visibly in one of her depressive days, but Bruce felt it was just an off day and then did his best to be a loving and attentive husband and father. It wasn't until later when Carrie requested an early retirement that he learned of the whole tale, and instantly he felt great pain and regret at not being present, though he was at least thankful there was a happy ending and Brandon had been great at helping.
"I don't understand Carrie, why didn't you just call me to help you with Mary?" Bruce asked.
"Because you were busy with work and I didn't want to bother you." Carrie stated.
"Nothing today was critical and absolutely nothing in the world is more important than the two of you. Everything could have been postponed for another day and I would have gladly dropped everything to help. All you had to do was-"
"I didn't call you because I'm sick of being a part time burden as a parent!" Carrie shouted with a semi-hostile tone towards Bruce.
Bruce wasn't at all hurt by the outburst as he experienced well before hand that Carrie could get rather hostile and confrontational during her depressive episodes. Often times it was minor inconveniences exaggerated into great problems or conflicts being started out of nothing, such as one time where Debbie informed Carrie that she was thinking about writing a memoir and Carrie exploded into a rage over her role as "Author" in the family being usurped by Debbie, though she apologized and supported her mother after Bruce calmed her down.
Still, the meaning of her statement was unusual, "Care, you're never-"
"Everytime I have a manic or depressive moment, I have to take a break from being a parent and let you or Mom look out for Mary when it's my responsibility. What's worse is that Mary knows when I'm off and she tries to act and play different just to go at my pace and keep me happy. That's something she shouldn't
have to do."
"Maybe, but Mary only does it because she loves you so much and
slow days never bother her, they just put her in a different pace." Bruce reminded.
Carrie knew that Bruce was right but it still felt wrong, "Today was probably the worst because Mary was having the worst moment of her life, she thought she was being replaced and going through her own personal torture, and she was still considerate of me, being
sorry that she was suffering while I had a slow day and needing to be my priority. I...I just had to fix everything on my own. If you were home I would have happily had you involved, but I can't give up when Mary needs me. What kind of a mother is that?" Carrie vented, her frustrations releasing tears as the weight of the day's events became too much.
Bruce moved in and held Carrie in a warm and loving embrace, whispering sweet nothings to calm her where for a while it was just the two on the bed, silently being in a comforting craddle.
"Carebear, from the day Mary was born you've been the best mom in the world, and you did a wonderful thing today by being there when Mary needed you most and helping her with her greatest fear. You did this while being down, and you always try your best when manic or depressed. You have so much strength and I always pray I can be half as great a parent as you." Bruce said tenderly.
"I ask for the same thing." Carrie said, with her and Bruce then laughing softly at how they saw the grass being greener.
"You're fine, Mary's fine, the Lying Things issue is being fixed. Today is a good day." Bruce affirmed, to which Carrie nodded.
Bruce and Carrie then exchanged a series of kisses, though it was absent the usual passion and more an interaction of simple love and gratitude. After a period, Bruce then looked briefly pensive, "Care, you weren't planning on...being intimate tonight were you?" Bruce asked. Since they had returned from filming Empire, most nights had involved some passion in an effort to get Gosling number two as well as receiving pleasure.
"No, not really, kind of just wanted to hit the sack early. If you really want to then we can-" Carrie said, slightly lowering the straps of her nightdress.
"Oh, that's good." Bruce said, then climbing out of the bed and exiting the room, leaving a fuming Carrie for being teased.
Although she quickly understood what he meant by the questioning when Bruce returned with a sleepy Mary in his arms, who he then gently laid down between Bruce and her.
"Mommy, Daddy? I no have bad dream and it no rain night." Mary said drowsily with a rub of her eyes. Whenever the little Gosling had nightmares or it was a stormy night, she usually would retreat to her parent's room. Mary wanted to sleep with Bruce and Carrie every night, but she knew they were really happy when they could sleep alone, especially after they had a loud night.
"I know Mary, but I heard from Mommy you had a bad day." Bruce said.
Mary nodded, "Lying Me....Two Dee person Mary was on Kermit Box. I no like it. Mommy, Uncle George and Brandon show it no lie, but acting story game. It still mean trick, specialty silly recording voices, but Mary....Mary learn." Mary said with a sour pout. Even if she was starting to come to terms with Lying Things, it didn't mean that she was suddenly a big fan as a small lifetime of fear and distrust was hard to break in one afternoon.
Bruce smiled and gave Mary a Daddy kiss which made her tickle and feel slightly better, "I'm really proud of you Mary."
"Why?" Mary asked.
"Because you faced your fears and you're working on them."
"I got a job?" Mary asked making both her parents giggle.
"Sort of. You're just one really brave girl, and because you were so brave today, you get to sleep with Mommy and Daddy tonight." Bruce promised.
"Yay!" Mary yelled happily, snuggling in with her Kermit under the covers. If being brave meant she got to sleep with her Mom and Dad then she'd be a brave girl everyday!
"I learn the story game and all of the acting, tricks and recording rules. I promise." Mary swore.
Both her parents smiled widely, "I know you will Mary. You can worry about that tomorrow, just focus on sleep right now." Carrie said, with Mary nodding, already on the verge of passing out after such a tiring and stressful day.
Bruce and Carrie laid on their sides and watched the slumbering Mary with pure joy and happiness, the pair joined by jumping plops of Ginger and Natalie who sat at the base of the bed, making tonight a compact O'Brian gathering.
Both eyes drifted upwards with Bruce and Carrie staring into each other longingly, and then both reaching over slightly for a deep kiss, "I love you." Bruce pledged devotingly.
"I know Daddy." Mary said with a yawn, making her parents giggle and ending the day on a happy note.
For the next week it was a rather happy time for Mary in an uplifting reversal of what had been her worst day in her short time on this world. Her Daddy had taken a break from work and was off everyday which meant every day was a fun day with her parents by her side all day and that made Mary very happy.
However, Mary made sure to not relent on her bravery and she kept to her promise of learning about the two dee people and what records and Kermit Box story games were. Instead of destroying music boxes, she sat and listened to recordings of her mommy and tried to see the songs as good music instead of fake music. With her Mommy nearby, Mary knew she wasn't being tricked to and she could finally appreciate her mother's songs without fear of loss or replacement, thus instead of being angry, she was happy and trying to sing the same songs.
There were other methods of learning the story game. She watched Uncle Todd movies of her as a baby girl and Mommy-Daddy stories of them before she born. The baby Mary records were weird because she couldn't talk and didn't have lots of hair, but she loved the Mommy-Daddy stories because they were always happy and playing romance really well. She watched Grandma movies long before she was a Grandma, and Mary very much enjoyed the singing dancing and music.
Perhaps what was helping most through her phobia was watching the Mork and Mindy show. It was one thing to watch records of her family just being themselves, but watching her Uncle Robin play the silly alien Mork and go on all kinds of adventures with Mindy helped Mary to understand that the acting game was meant to be a fun time and it was supposed to make you happy and entertained, allowing Mary to have Uncle Robin time when he wasn't at home.
Then came the most important test, the next Friday when her best friend Wally and his parents Uncle George and Aunt Marcia came to visit. Not only would they be bringing the Squire Brandon movie, but they would be bringing a Mommy and Daddy movie, "Star Wars".
Mary had never seen Star Wars, but she knew all about it. Everywhere she went, she saw Star Wars toys, clothes and pictures. Everyone loved Star Wars, and when Mary was with her parents and people recognized them, they wanted to talk with them about Star Wars. Mary knew her parents were in Star Wars with Mister Mark, that her Mommy was a princess and her Dad was the number one person (That's what Solo meant right, one?), and Wally always liked to talk and play Star Wars when Mary was at his house, it was what his room was covered in. However, Mary had always kept away from watching Star Wars for fear of being tricked with Lying Thing Fakers and having a bad time. Now she resolved to be brave and watch her parents movie.
Apparently watching Star Wars was a very important thing. It was so important that her Uncle Todd came over with his camera and was gonna make an Uncle Todd movie.
"Todd, why are you gonna make a home video that's just my daughter watching Star Wars." Carrie asked her brother as he set up the camera, with Mary observing in high interest.
"This is Mary's first time watching Star Wars, this is an important moment in her life. I guarantee you that once Star Wars comes out on VHS, then everyone is gonna be making films of their kids watching and reacting for the first time. Besides, she's Han and Leia's daughter and watching it with George Lucas' son, that alone makes it an event worth recording." Todd explained.
Mary plopped down in shock. Watching the Star movie was important? Well if it was then Mary was gonna do a great job watching and be a big girl audience member.
Only...Star Wars had the Lying Things of her parents. Whenever Wally tried to get Mary to watch it at his house, she always ran away as she didn't want to be lied to on the Kermit Box and spend two hours in sadness. However, Mary was fine watching her mommy in the Muppet Movie in her small part, even though Mary wished that Carrie was a friend to the Muppets instead of trying to stop them from having a show. But that was different, that was a Kermit movie, Kermit movies were always great.
Not knowing what to do or what was right, Mary decided to speak with Wally before they watched the movie together, to see things from his perspective so Mary could be in a good mood and not run away.
"Wally, why am I a weirdo?" Mary asked Wally. The two of them were sitting at a kid's table, eating mashed potatoes as a small treat before the movie while their parents had grown up talk in the living room.
"Why you say that?" Wally asked his best friend.
Mary slumped, really wishing she didn't have to confront her problems, but Mommy and Daddy expected her to be a brave big girl and that's what Mary would be, "Cause I no like movies with Mommy Daddy Lying Things. Everyone in world loves Lying Things, like you. Why do people like? It stinky fakers! Only I see."
"Lying Things?" Wally asked. Throughout their friendship he never really understood the concept.
"The Pretend people who say they you on the Kermit Box but they not, they liars playing the acting game. Recording trick people." Mary tried to explain, to which she only received blank stares from Wally.
Mary slumped, "The game where Mommy is princess and Daddy the number one space hero."
"Han and Leia?" Wally asked in recognition, to which Mary nodded, "You say they Lying Things and you no like?" Wally asked, to which Mary nodded again. "You weird Mary." Wally said nonchalantly, as to him anyone who didn't love Star Wars was weird.
Mary slumped further, almost rolling of her plastic chair in sadness. She then ate large spoonfuls of her mashed potatoes with a great pout, "Why you like Lying Things and Trick Games?" Mary questioned.
"They not Lying Tricks, they stories." Wally said. "Stories with pretend games. Pretenders play game so we see, they actor people. Uncle Bruce Aunt Carrie actor people."
Mary blinked in confusion before she remembered her parents had the names Bruce and Carrie that everyone but her called them. Sometimes Mary liked to be silly and call her parents by their other names, that always got funny reactions.
"Is Mommy Daddy movie good?" Mary asked.
"The bestest movie ever!" Wally proudly proclaimed.
"Why?"
"Cause it's Daddy Mommy movie." Wally answered.
Mary shook her head, "They my Mommy Daddy, not yours."
"No, my Mommy Daddy." Wally stressed, "They make Star Wars, Uncle Bruce Aunt Carrie just actor people. Daddy is Director, Mommy is Editor."
"What that?" Mary asked.
"They the boss people of movies. Daddy tells actor people what to do, and he writes story papers."
"Like Kermit and Muppets!" Mary realized, with Wally nodding.
"Mommy cleans Daddy's messes and picks movie parts to stay. She adds movie magic Daddy makes."
"Your Daddy a wizard?" Mary gasped in shock, to which Wally nodded with confidence.
"He Wizard and Jedi. He work with Magic people. They make light and magic for all the movies ever." Wally explained.
"Wow." Mary said in amazement. When he put it like that, her parents acting games didn't sound too impressive. Sure Mommy sang really good and Daddy could pretty dance and fight anyone, but Wally's parents were magic, that was way cooler.
The way Wally was talking he made Star Wars sound cool, but Mary was still scared and unsure. Could she really sit through a whole movie where two dee recording people were her parents but they weren't? What if there was a fake Mary in there? She never wanted to go through that scary experience again. It was bad enough to see her family as Two Dee, but what if Wally fell for the trick.
"Wally, when we watch the Star Wars, please promise you no be tricked by the two dee people. You always know who real and who pretender. That you know real Mary?" Mary asked with trepidation.
"Yes I promise." Wally instantly agreed. He had no idea what Mary was talking about, but he was good at keeping promises and would always help his best friend.
Mary smiled at that, she could always trust Wally to keep his word. "You good friend Wally."
"Thank you."
"Is my voice super squeaky?" Mary asked, remembering the other revelation last week she didn't like.
"Yes." Wally answered simply, to which Mary pouted and crossed her arms.
"Your voice squeaky too."
"No, got normal boy voice."
A while later, both kids sat in the center of the living room with a projector screen on the wall above the Kermit box where the film would be played. Mary and Wally were on bean bags on the floor, Wally bouncing up and down in anticipation while Mary did her best to feel safe with her favorite blanket wrapped around her, holding tight onto Kermit, while Natalie laid at the kids side.
"Alright kids, we're gonna be watching Star Wars today." Marcia announced.
"Yay! Star Wars!" Wally yelled happily, clapping excitedly in joy over the event. To Wally, Star Wars time was the best times, even though he had seen the movie for pretty much half of his life.
All the adults present turned to George with knowing smirk who reacted defensively, "Hey, I didn't try to indoctrinate my son, he just really loves Star Wars like Mary and the Muppets."
"How many times has Wally watched Star Wars?" Todd asked with a smile as he was capturing the scene,
"I lost count after we crossed 100." Marcia said in complete seriousness.
Meanwhile Mary was very pensive and curled up, holding tightly onto Kermit.
Recognizing this, Bruce and Carrie moved to Mary's side with Carrie giving Mary a kiss which helped her to calm down, "Mary, I know it might be a scary movie, and it's okay to feel that way. Just remember that it's a recording, and Daddy and I will be right here behind you. We know you're real and will never mistake you for anyone else." Carrie said warmly.
"It Just Two Dee people playing pretend acting." Mary said in agreement, trying to warm herself up for the idea.
"It's a great movie Mary. It's my favorite movie and the first one your mommy and I did together. It's very special." Bruce added.
"Okay, I try." Mary said with determination.
"Do or do not Mary, no try." Wally quoted.
"Okay I do."
The lights then dimmed and Mary watched as the Lucasfilms logo played with trumpets, and then it cut to a black screen where words simply said, "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."
This had Mary instantly hooked as it was beginning just like the stories her daddy and Grandpa read her at bedtime and Mary loved bed stories so maybe this would be like a bed story but with acting people.
A very loud noise then played with the words "STAR WARS" in black and yellow fading into space, and then yellow text kept on rising which gave the introduction to the story.
While Wally had always regarded the text as just background stuff before the cool space scenes, Mary who was a genius literate took her time to read it and was intrigued. Apparently there was a Civil War going on between the Rebels and an evil Empire. Mary was confused at first because from what she knew of the Civil War, the Rebels were evil because they wanted to kill America and enslave Black people. But here being a Rebel was good and the Empire was bad.
Mary didn't understand, but then she remembered her daddy watching Mister Reagan talk about the Soviets being an Evil Empire. Plus she remembered dinner times where Grandpa was mad about the British Empire and how evil they were to Irish people like her. Ah, so the Empire were British Communists and the Rebels were good like President Washington or the Romanians. That made sense.
The music was probably the best music Mary ever heard besides her mom's music, so that helped Mary to be at ease for the movie.
The movie properly began when it showed a planet, and then one spaceship being chased by a huge white pizza spaceship. Mary was in total amazement at the sight, it being the biggest thing she had ever seen in a movie, and she was impressed that Uncle George was also an astronaut to record such footage.
It was also nice to not watch it alone with Wally at Mary's side making things more exciting and interesting with his commentary. When scenes happened, Wally would explain things to Mary which slowly began to ease the anxieties since it reinforced that the movie was an acting game and not a Lying Trick out to replace Mary.
"Those Artoo and Threepio. They droids, robot people and Luke friends. They silly funny."
"That Darth Vader. He Sith Lord, Evil Wizard, want to rule galaxy."
"Why good guys no wear armor? They stupid?" Mary questioned.
"Yeah." Wally agreed, with everyone laughing at George's expense who blushed furiously as he was responsible for the Rebel designs.
The movie then quickly showed Carrie as Princess Leia interacting with Artoo. Seeing her mom on the screen got Mary really scared and nervous, breathing quicking as she was confronted with her biggest fear.
Mary quickly turned around and she saw her mommy sitting with her daddy on the couch, with Carrie smiling wide at Mary,
"It's okay Mary, I'm right here." Carrie said softly.
Receiving reassurance that her mother was with her, Mary turned back to the screen where it showed the Rebels being taken prisoner.
"That you mommy, Princess Leia. She pretty princess who fight Empire, lead Rebels." Wally informed with a compliment.
Mary observed Wally who unlike her scared self, was as happy as could be and looked at the movie with rapt attention. Not feeling brave enough yet to watch and relax, Mary leaned in and hugged Wally's arm as Darth Vader entered the screen, producing an adorable sight with Carrie rushing to get a polaroid of the two.
Mary experienced another scary scene when she saw her mom get shot by the storm people, though Wally was quick to assure that it was a stun blast and she was alright, though to Mary who was unused to her parents in such vivid action, held onto Wally tighter.
Fortunately for Mary, exactly half a minute later she did see her mom walking unharmed so she no longer had to worry. Mary then witnessed Leia confront Darth Vader, and despite the fact all of her friends were dead or captured and Leia lost Artoo and Threepio, she was very brave before the scary Vader, not cowering and standing her ground, fighting with words and attitude as Mary witnessed her parents on the news sometimes.
Seeing Leia be so brave gave Mary confidence and inspiration that she had to be brave, for if Mommy could do so then so could Mary as that's what she was, a big brave girl. She still held onto Wally, but was relaxing more as the reality of watching a Mommy Daddy movie was settling in.
"Mommy, why you no wear donut hair? You look real pretty." Mary asked. Despite the fact that Mary saw her mother everywhere as Leia with the donuts, she never once wore it at home, always wearing her hair straight or curly, sometimes with bows Mary put on.
"Umm....Mommy just likes her normal hair, that's all." Carrie said, trying to suppress the dreaded bun hair PTSD and fearing what she had just unleashed.
"Daddy you like mommy donut hair?" Mary asked.
"Mommy is a very beautiful princess as Leia." Bruce complimented, hugging Carrie with a kiss on the cheek.
"Wear donut hair mommy, make Daddy happy." Mary commanded.
Everyone laughed as Carrie sank into the couch in horror for what she had unleashed.
After that scene, Mary's fears started slipping away as her exposure theory was postponed as the movie simply switched focus to Artoo and Threepio along with Mister Mark as the hero Luke and his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Not seeing Lying Things allowed Mary to appreciate the movie for what it was with her seeing the same experience that lead so many to declare Star Wars as the best movie ever. To Mary, it was a great magic adventure that was better than all the ones her Dad said, and it had a lot of elements similar to her beloved Dinner stories. Luke was the hero trying to become a great knight like Squire Brandon. There was Mommy as the Princess. Obi-wan was like her Daddy or Mister Chuck, and the droids felt like characters her Uncle Robin could play. Now only if there was a dragon, then it could be a really amazing movie.
It was also nice watching the movie with Wally. He answered any and all questions she had about what was going on with lots of detail and passion, and in quiet scenes they shared what they liked about the movie, Mary liking the adventure and Wally liking the movie magic. Seeing Luke use a lightsaber and Obi-wan talk about the Force also made Mary recall the many Star Wars games she played with Wally or her Aunts Joely and Tricia, and seeing such happy memories be played onto a movie made Mary get really invested into the movie.
Ironically despite it being her biggest fear, Mary actually started to get antsy as she didn't see her mommy again save for her hologram person and a brief talk with Vader, and her daddy was nowhere in sight. Now that Mary was enjoying Star Wars, she wanted to see her parents in it but it was just Mister Luke and the droids.
Wally kept on assuring Mary that there would be more scenes with her parents, and soon he proved right when they got into the cantina and after Obi-wan fought some nasty people, Daddy was finally in the movie with a giant dog at his side.
"Han Solo, I'm Captain of the Millenium Falcon." Two Dee Bruce said with cool suave.
"It's number one guy!" Mary noticed.
Mary liked watching her Daddy. He was an amazing actor and was so cool in every second with how he handled the conversation and acted like he was a awesome space pirate and how he defeated the bad guy.
However, Mary was getting mixed messages in presentation, "Daddy, is Han bad guy?" Mary asked
"No, he good guy!" Wally instantly defended.
"Why do you ask that Mary?" Bruce inquired.
"Han got dog friend and is nice to Chewie so he good. He help Luke with ship so he good. But he kill lizard guy sneaky and he talk like mean guy." Mary explained.
"Han is a good guy Mary, but he's got a messy and rough life which makes him act mean because he doesn't want to be hurt. He's a scoundrel whose done some messy things, but he wants to do good, and now he can with Luke and Leia." Bruce explained, with Mary nodding in satisfaction and returning to the movie.
"You see Bruce, I told you that Greedo should have shot first, it's not heroic for Han to shoot first." George complained.
"it was a first strike self defense, Greedo's a slimy bounty hunter for Jabba. He deserves it." Bruce countered, with both men getting into another one of their nerd debates while their wives rolled their eyes.
As the movie went on, Mary started becoming so invested in the story that she gradually began to lose her fears and anxieties over seeing Lying Things, seeing Han and Leia less as impostors and more as just recordings of her parents who were playing acting roles in a game. Mary started to understand it was no different than her mommy playing the Princess and her daddy the fairy king, it's just that she couldn't touch Han and Leia. But Mary knew her parents were behind her with each time she checked as she turned around, so it was okay.
It also helped that there was plenty of cool stuff to be entertained by, like Daddy being an astronaut man and going into space with hyperspace being real pretty. Although, Mary now thought NASA was kind of stupid if they didn't go back to the moon but her daddy could fly all the way around the galaxy.
Mary didn't much like the scene that came after the space trip, when Princess Leia had to watch her planet blow up. It was not good seeing mommy sad and cry.
After the explosion, Mary got up out of her seat and walked to her mom, "Mommy hug." Mary demanded, with Carrie reaching down and hugging her daughter.
"What's this for Mary?" Carrie asked sweetly.
"No one hug Leia when she lose home, Mary hug mommy, Mary hug Leia." Mary explained.
There was a collective awe at that statement, "Well that's very sweet of you Mary." Carrie said proudly, strengthening her hug and kissing her on the forehead.
Mary then turned to Bruce, "Daddy you beat up Vader and Tar-ken." Mary ordered.
"No that Luke job." Wally protested.
The movie continued with the heroes arriving at the Death Star, Mary getting very excited at her mommy and daddy finally meeting and Daddy playing the role of hero. Although, Han wasn't acting very hero like when he was word fighting with Luke and having a mean attitude.
"Han be better right?" Mary asked Wally to which she received a nod.
At last the heroes arrived and rescued the princess, but Mary was a little grumpy that it was Luke who first met Leia and not Han, "Daddy the prince hero, he one who wake sleepy Mommy with kiss and save day." Mary argued with arms cross.
"Han Leia kiss lots in Star Wars Two." Wally informed, as he was a frequent guest in the editing room with Marcia and was present for many of the romance scenes being filmed.
"Han is a hero Mary, but Luke is the protagonist of Star Wars and this is his hero's journey." George informed.
"Want Daddy movie." Mary requested.
"We'll see what we can do Mary." Bruce said.
It was weird to Mary seeing her mommy and daddy argue and be at odds, but she had a feeling they liked each other still and Wally said that was Han and Leia's flirt talk and they didn't know each other much. Plus it was kind of funny seeing them talk to one another which made it okay even if Mary wanted them to do lots of loving romance.
The trash compactor scene was real scary as Mary thought her parents would get squished, but fortunately Artoo rescued them and thus the adventure continued. Mary was happy to see the adventure going, but when the group split up Mary saw what was probably the most horrifying image she had ever seen in her short life.
Luke and Leia were shooting at Stormtroopers and trying to cross a hole with no bridge. Luke used a grappling hook and grabbed onto Leia as they were about to cross. Leia then kissed Luke on the cheek, "For Luck."
Mary screamed loudly in shock, "
NOOOO!!!!" She yelled in horror, then rushing up and hitting Carrie's legs, which with Mary's little fists were simple pats in power, "Mommy no kiss Mister Mark, Mommy love Daddy, Mommy kiss Daddy only."
Carrie grabbed Mary who was fighting to escape, "Daddy, Mommy kiss Mister Mark, put Mommy in timeout." Mary demanded.
"Mary Frances O'Brian." Carrie said sternly.
"NO FULL NAME! Mary no trouble.
You Carrie Frances O'brian! You trouble." Mary said, tears welling up in her eyes. It was her worst fears coming true, the Lying Things were being horrible pretender people and doing bad things.
"Mary it's okay, nothing bad happened." Bruce interjected.
"But Daddy, she kiss Mister Mark. Mommies only kiss daddies, it's Bible law." Mary argued.
"I do kiss your Daddy and only love him. That wasn't me kissing Mark, Mary, that was Leia kissing Luke. It's pretend kiss, not real." Carrie reasoned.
"What?" Mary asked in confusion.
"Mary, your Mommy and I are actors. With our job, sometimes we have to kiss people who we don't love as part of the game. That's a pretend kiss that's only between the characters. I love Mommy and she's the only person I want to have real kisses with." Bruce explained.
"Why story have Luke Leia kiss?" Mary questioned.
"Because Luke and Leia just met, they're in a really intense situation and they both think they're cut, but they're not in love with each other. It's just a spontaneous thing, and it was only on the cheek Mary." Bruce said.
"Besides, Mark doesn't love me Mary, he's in love with his wife Marilou. You remember her?" Carrie asked.
Mary nodded, she remembered Miss Marilou coming over to the house a few times and she was a nice lady dentist who showed Mary how to keep her teeth super clean and white.
"Mark only gives real romance kisses to Marilou just like how I only give real romance kisses to Mommy. They're also having a baby boy in a month." Bruce added.
"Pretend kisses no good yes?" Mary asked Carrie for reassurance.
Carrie shook her head, "After I filmed that scene I wiped my mouth and used mouthwash." Carrie said with exaggerated disgust, making Mary giggle.
Mary sniffled and wiped her tears away, satisfied with the answer and being reassured. "Okay, Mommy you only give Daddy real kisses. Daddy cool handsome, Mister Mark Ugly." Mary ordered, causing the entire room to uproar in laughter as Mary went back to her seat.
"You ok Mary?" Wally asked, helping to wipe some of Mary's tears and snot with his sleeve.
"I no like, but ok." Mary said with resignation
"Leia Luke friends, but Leia Han love like Mommy Daddy, promise Mary." Wally said, making Mary feel better.
"I guess this means that I should cut out the Luke kiss scene from Empire." Marcia whispered to George.
"Eh, she'll probably be fine by that point. It's important for the relationships, kicks off the Han-Leia romance by giving Han motivation." George said.
"It's just a shame that we can't settle the love triangle easy like Luke and Leia being siblings." Marcia said, a metaphorical light bulb going off in George's head.
Mary was in a much lower mood than before, but she thankfully started to recover when the next scene was the coolest sword fight and pretty dancing she had ever seen with Obi-wan and Vader. It was just like how all of Mary's imagination fights were when she was playing Princess and Dragon with Wally or listening to Daddy stories of knights. Watching Obi-wan die was sad, but Mary had used all her tears over the kiss and hearing Obi-wan's voice again made Mary believe he was invisible and hiding.
The escape was cool and fun with them shooting the bow-tie spaceships, and Mary was glad that the movie knew her Mommy and Daddy were better together with them being given quiet romance scenes and Han starting to like Leia and want to be with her. Mary didn't like how Han ran away, but Wally explained that Han was scared and confused and he'd come back. Since Wally was always right so far, Mary choose to believe him.
Finally there was the big battle with the Rebels vs the Death Star. It was very scary and intense with almost all of the Rebel guys dying while barely doing anything to the Empire. Mary was worried that all was lost, especially when Vader entered which had Mary on the edge of her seat as he hunted Luke. But fortunately as always, her Daddy was the hero who came in and saved Luke from Vader, allowing Luke to shoot the Death Star's heart and blow it up, saving the day and the galaxy.
The movie then came to a close with the medal ceremony where the heroes were all reward, and Mary was real excited and happy seeing Han and Leia give each other love looks that her parents usually did while Luke was unreciprocated, showing that Han and Leia did love each other.
As the movie ended, Mary rewarded Wally with a hug and cheek kiss for being her patient companion through the movie and never falling for the Lying Things, "Thank you for watching movie Wally." Mary said.
"You welcome. We watch again later?" Wally asked, to which Mary slowly nodded which made Mary very happy.
"So Mary what'd you think, pretty good movie right?" George asked.
"It good egg sept for fake kiss, that make it nine-ten, not ten-ten." Mary critiqued.
"Is it your favorite movie?" Bruce asked.
Mary shook her head, "Muppet Movie best ever." Nothing could ever beat Kermit and the Muppets.
Although now that she was okay with seeing her parents in movies, Mary hoped to see them in more soon.
