Mirabel, carrying way too much, enters the courtyard where preparations for Antonio's gift ceremony are in full swing: flowers everywhere, Casita creating stairs, and moving furniture. She nearly knocks into passing musicians. "Oh sorry... excuse me..."
Mirabel tries to balance the groceries as the wind picks up. Pepa is creating a tornado as she nervously paces, "My baby's night has to be perfect, and it's not perfect, and people are going to be coming, and nothing's ready, the whole town will be here-"
"Pepi, Pepi, Pepita - you're tornadoing the flowers - the flowers!" Felix calls out, calming his wife. "Did someone say 'flowers'?" Isabela descends above Mirabel on a flowering vine, and flowers bloom all around her like a goddamn angel. "Please, don't clap." Isabela lands next to Mirabel but doesn't see her as she turns and bumps into her, covering both in flowers. As they walk side-by-side, Mirabel tries to get the petals off of her. Isabela makes herself perfect.
"Uch, a little sisterly advice: if you weren't always trying too hard, you wouldn't be in the way."
"Actually, Isa, this is called helping, and I'm not in the way, you ar--oof--" Mirabel collides with a post, and Isabela rolls her eyes. Casita follows Mirabel and helps as she hefts a ton of supplies onto the kitchen counter.
Julieta notices Mirabel is clearly overcompensating. Concerned but trying not to show it, Julieta sidles over, "Whoa. Mi Vida, you okay? You don't have to overdo it." Knowing Dolores's hearing and her lack of secrets, Mirabel falsely grins, "I know, Mamá, I just want to do my part like the rest of the family."
Mirabel lifts a heavy object on the counter, and Casita shuffles it away. Agustin appears; his nose is covered in gross welts that are impossible not to stare at. "She's right, Amor--" Both Casita and Mirabel cringed, "Eee--"
"First gift ceremony since yours, lot of emotions - and I've been there--"
Mirabel turns to Julieta, "Bee stings." Julieta turns around, "Ay, Agustín." Julieta sighs and starts working on a cure. "--when me and your Tio Félix married into the family - outsiders who had no gift, never ever would, surrounded by the exceptional, it was easy to feel... 'un-ceptional'--"
"--Okay, Papi --"
"--I'm just saying I get it--" Julieta jams an arepa in Agustín's mouth, healing him, and shoves him away, "Eat." She turns to Mirabel, "Mi amor, if you ever want to talk --"
"I gotta put out the stuff. The house isn't gonna decorate itself -" Mirabel spoke before noticing the decorations fall slightly, "Sorry, you could. You look great." Casita raises her decorations back up. As Mirabel leaves with a bunch of stuff, Julieta looks on.
Casita follows Mirabel in worry. Her daughter arranges a bunch of candles around the second floor, and she is really working hard. As Mirabel lights the candles, she pulls out a decoration for Abuela that she's worked extra hard on. Next to Mirabel are... pictures of her extraordinary family. She's not on that wall. Mirabel stares at it for just a beat.
"One hour!"
Mirabel startles and drops the candle, which ignites the candle doily she made for Abuela, "No, no, no--" As Mirabel tries to put it out, Abuela Alma's voice is heard above her, "Maybe you should leave the decorations to someone else?" Mirabel peers up to see... Abuela watching her, who couldn't look more incompetent as she stomped the fire.
"No, I actually made these as a surprise - for you-- ooo--" As Mirabel holds up the doily, it smolders. Abuela sighs, "Mirabel, I know you want to help. But tonight must go perfectly. The whole town relies on our family, on our gifts. So the best way for... some of us to help is... to step aside, let the rest of the family do what they do best. Okay?"
Abuela looks at Mirabel with a tight-lipped smile and an awkward beat. Mirabel nods, wanting to be a team player, "Mm-hmm." Abuela looks at Mirabel, an awkward beat. Before anyone can say anything... a gust of wind blows, and Abuela leaves, "Pepa, you have a cloud!"
"I know, Mamá, but now I can't find Antonio! What do you want from me?!" As Pepa literally 'storms off', Abuela steps away too. On her own again, Mirabel heads for her room but overhears her Tia talking to Abuela.
"Mamá, be nice to Mirabel okay. You know tonight will be hard for her."
"If the gift ceremony doesn't go well this time, tonight will be hard for us all..."
Mirabel plops down on her bed, trying to shake off her conversation with Abuela. Not wanting to wallow, Mirabel opens a drawer and pulls out a wrapped package stenciled with designs the same style as her dress. Mirabel dangles it under the bed, looking off toward nothing in particular. "Everyone's looking for you." Casita watches in amusement as Mirabel moves the gift in her hand.
"This present will self-destruct if you don't take it in three, two, one... oh!"
Two tiny hands pop out from under the bed, grab the present, and disappear below. Smiling, Mirabel scoots under the bed and joins Antonio. Mirabel sees he's anxious, plays it slow, and treats him like a cohort instead of a little kid.
"Nervous?"
Antonio nods. "You have nothing to worry about. You're gonna get your gift and open that door... and it's gonna be the coolest ever. I know it." Mirabel whispers. Antonio looks at her, "What if it doesn't work?"
"Well... in that impossible scenario... you'd stay in here in the nursery... with me. Forever. And I'd get you all to myself." Mirabel teases, making him smile lightly. "I wish you could have a door." Mirabel considers this for a moment, it clearly pains her, but she puts on a brave face for Antonio. "You know what? You don't have to worry about me, 'cause I have an amazing family... and an amazing house, and an amazing you. And seeing you get your special gift and your door... that's gonna make me way more happy than anything."
She walks her fingers over to the present and pulls it close, "But alas, I am going to miss having the world's best roomie..." She gestures to the present. Antonio opens it, revealing... a hand-knitted jaguar in the style of her dress.
Casita grins and looks at the clock as Mirabel continues talking, "I know you're an animal guy. And I made this, so when you move into your cool new room, you always have something to snuggle with." Antonio lies his head on her shoulder. Casita grins but then moves the floorboards to draw their attention to the time.
Mirabel becomes faux-serious, "Alright, hombrecito, you ready?" Antonio nods, ready. Mirabel moves to leave but sneaks another hug, "Sorry, I gotta get one more squeeze." Casita playfully pulls them out from under the bed. Antonio laughs as Mirabel tries to stop from hitting her head on the frame.
"Okay, okay, we're going! Ow!"
As the crowds arrive at the House, Luisa is the valet, taking people's donkeys and moving the donkeys to the 'parking area.' Camilo changes sizes so that he can look at each person entering and shake hands with them face-to-face, "Oye, Osvaldo! / Hola Señora. / Cecilia, up top!" The house takes people's hats as they head through the archway. Luisa walks by with a platter of food as kids climb on her. Isabella showers guests with flower petals. Mariano admires her from afar. Antonio's door catches the attention of two kids. They rush up the staircase, which suddenly becomes a slide. The children laugh and run up it again.
Mirabel walks Antonio to the foyer, which is sort of 'backstage' from where his ceremony will begin. Pepa, Félix, Camilo and Dolores see Antonio and cheer. "There you are!" Felix grins. Casita stands next to Mirabel as Antonio's family wishes him luck. "We'll be waiting at your door!" Pepa spoke, and they walked away from Antonio.
As Félix yanks Camilo out, Mirabel is watching Antonio. Casita could see Mirabel's anxiety beginning to bubble. Drums play, and Abuela stands in the courtyard, holding the Magic Candle. She is anxious as well, "Fifty years ago, in our darkest moment, this candle blessed us with a miracle." Older members of the crowd nodding along.
"And the greatest honor of our family has been to use our blessings to serve this beloved community. Tonight, we come together once more as another steps into the light... to make us proud."
The crowd cheers, and the curtains open to reveal Antonio. He freezes, too scared to move. Casita moves behind Antonio and encourages him, but he won't budge. Antonio turns to Mirabel, hand outstretched, asking for help. Mirabel looks to Abuela, whose rules for tonight are clear, then back to Antonio, torn. "I can't..."
"I need you." Antonio motions to Mirabel again. Mirabel wonders if she can do this... if she has the strength to step out and face the reminders of the worst night of her life. Then, as everyone watches, Mirabel steps out and takes Antonio's hand.
"Come on. Let's get you to your door."
The family, the town, and Abuela see Mirabel join Antonio. Abuela looks anxious, but Antonio holds Mirabel's hand tightly; he needs her... and they begin to walk. With every step, it gets harder for Mirabel... the memory of walking to her own door still so fresh in her mind. Mirabel looks to the Magic Candle in Abuela's hands. As they climb the stairs to Antonio's glowing door, every step is a painful reminder. Casita remembered the moment Mirabel's door vanished. This is the moment everyone's expectations of Mirabel changed... when Abuela looked at her differently... when Mirabel looked at herself differently. But Mirabel pushes through the pain of those memories and helps Antonio reach his door, handing him off to Abuela.
"Will you use your gift to honor our miracle? Will you serve this community and strengthen our home?"
Antonio nods, and Alma gestures to the door. Will it work? Mirabel sees Antonio worry for just a moment, but then... as he touches the doorknob, he is filled with magic. And... a toucan lands on Antonio's arm and chirps. Antonio smiles, delighted, "Uh-huh, uh-huh, I understand you. Of course, they can come!"
And then dozens of animals and birds flock to him... and his door forms into an Animal Menagerie. Abuela is overjoyed and hugely relieved, "WE HAVE A NEW GIFT!!" People cheer and fireworks go off, and Antonio's new, magical room opens to reveal... an enormous Choco Rainforest. Animals race through the crowd, and the kids gawk. A jaguar races past and to Antonio's delight, the jaguar scoops him up onto his back and races through the room - every kid's dream come true.
The jaguar and Antonio stop near the family. Félix celebrates, and the Jaguar leaps onto Agustín, nearly knocking him over. Mirabel watches, relieved for Antonio... but the moment turns as Abuela hurries over to Antonio, proud and relieved, and pulls him in for a hug, her eyes full of pride.
"I knew you could do it... a gift just as special as you." The words pierce Mirabel's heart... avoiding her feelings is no longer possible. She's so alone... and unworthy, watching her family she feels she is not truly a part of. Casita wraps her arms around her daughter as the Madrigals gather for a picture, "LA FAMILIA MADRIGAL!"
Casita gasps and returns to her room, gripping her head and chest.