Lean On Me (1989)

1. 'As the tension mounts throughout the free world.'

2. 'The ladies have jumped off to a surprising'

3. 'fifteen to nothing lead over the boys.'

4. Now, next question, bonus question for 20 points.

5. What is the origin of our civil rights?

6. The magna carta.

7. No, Tom, no.

8. - Ellen, take it. - English common law.

9. English common law, 20 point bonus.

10. The boys lose 10 points for ringing the bell

11. without knowing the answer. It's a ten point loss.

12. Alright, the magna carta it was a document guaranteeing rights

13. but the rights of whom? Uh, Stacey.

14. - The aristocracy. - The aristocracy.

15. Ten point bonus for the girls.

16. The aristocracy vis-a-vis the king.

17. The people, the people got their rights from the common well.

18. The common well. Hence.. Come on, come on, who knows?

19. - I know. - Uh, Anthony.

20. - Common wealth? - Common wealth.

21. Ten point bonus for the boys.

22. Alright, that's good, but, guys, watch out.

23. The girls have a 45-0 lead over you. You're not doing too well.

24. Okay, next two. Come on. Let's go, quickly.

25. Alright. Here we go. Bonus question for ten points.

26. Define the word, "Imbrue."

27. Aha. I'll spell it for you.

28. I-M-B-R-U-E. Imbrue.

29. Mr. Clark, could your class

30. do without you for a minute or two?

31. Surely. Kids, take your seats. Quickly.

32. 'Come on. Quickly.'

33. Take out your pencils. Write this down.

34. Imbrue, to taint, to stain.

35. The cancer of racism

36. imbrues our national character.

37. It stains the spirit

38. taints the soul.

39. It is a blot

40. a shameful, greasy spot

41. on the fabric of our national conscience.

42. Imbrue

43. to taint, to stain.

44. 30 words tomorrow. Test.

45. What's the matter?

46. They're holding a meeting

47. of the union executive board.

48. - Without us? - They didn't tell me, either.

49. Frank, I told you, I told you we couldn't trust them.

50. - Keep it down. - Keep it down?

51. Those no-good bastards sell us out

52. out of a union we got started?

53. Betray us like a bunch of Judases?

54. Well, then I got to crucify me.

55. No, sir, no. I got the hammer and the nails.

56. I'm not gonna be anybody's martyr, Frank. Nobody's.

57. - Okay. You.. - Now, don't contradict me, man.

58. I am sick and tired of weasels

59. and spineless gutless jellyfish!

60. Okay, okay, save it for the meeting.

61. Why, man? I got plenty.

62. I'm the Rockefeller of outrage.

63. What the hell are you people doing?

64. - We're having a meeting here. - You're selling us out, Lott.

65. Joe, nobody's selling you...

66. We cannot have an effective voice here.

67. Now, say in our own curriculum

68. be anything but impotent if we're gonna sell out

69. every time they threaten us.

70. Now, if you're gonna talk about this, call me in.

71. We have to stick together!

72. What we have to do is pay our bills.

73. You want to carry picket signs, get your picture in the paper.

74. Well, we just want to work.

75. We are tired of the agitation.

76. The-the posturing of crazy...

77. Posturing? How the hell can you talk about posturing, Lott?

78. When you're all the time bent over

79. kissing posteriors down at the school board?

80. Who the hell do you think you're talkin' to?

81. You want to step outside? Come on, come on.

82. If you had any nerve at all, you'd be fightin' on my side.

83. 'Mr. Clark, I'm afraid that's a moot point.'

84. Now, we just found out ourselves that the board of education

85. has decided to grant us our salary increments

86. if we agree to accept their condition

87. 'that you be transferred to school six..'

88. and we agreed.

89. God bless you, man.

90. Pay your bills.

91. - Joe? - They can go to hell.

92. Come on, Joe.

93. This place deserves exactly what it gets.

94. It's alright. Shh. It's alright.

95. It's alright. It's alright.

96. What are you doing? Go back to your class.

97. Leave me alone!

98. What's up, Brian?

99. Yo! Yo! Where's my money?

100. I said where's my money?

101. Where's my money?

102. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Stop it, stop it, stop it.

103. Hey, why you fightin' us, man.

104. - Get in the locker. - Come on, man.

105. You're messin' up my books, man.

106. - I'm gonna tell... - Markus, what are you doing?

107. Come on let's go.

108. - Let him out. - What are you sayin'? He'sfine.

109. He lives in there. He likes it.

110. Somebody!

111. Somebody, help! Somebody, help!

112. 'Help somebody, please.'

113. 'Help!'

114. 'Somebody help!'

115. 'Please, let me out!'

116. 'Let me out, please! Help!'

117. 'Somebody let me out!'

118. 'I can't breathe!'

119. 'Somebody let me out, please!'

120. 'I can't breathe. Somebody help me, please!'

121. 'I can't breathe! Somebody open up the door!'

122. 'Open the door, please! Somebody let me out!'

123. I don't believe it. I just don't goddamn believe it.

124. I-I've got an election coming up

125. and you hit me with this now?

126. Well, sir, the state report came in from Trenton just now.

127. And we.. Well, actually, they ranked the schools

128. and we were last in the state.

129. Oh, that's a crock.

130. They can't just take my schools away.

131. Sir, uh, you're quite right.

132. That's what I thought.

133. But, well, no, see, now, actually, they can.

134. You see, the house passed a bill last week.

135. Seventy-five percent of high school students

136. must pass the minimum basic skills test

137. or the state takes control by the end of the school year.

138. Well, how many passed last year?

139. About 38%.

140. Thirty-eight percent?

141. What in God's name are they doing

142. down there at Eastside?

143. They were your appointees, Don.

144. Eh, now, wait a minute. Don't try to pin all this on me.

145. You're the superintendent of schools, remember?

146. Now, look, I'm not goin' down the tubes

147. just because those kids can't pass some test.

148. It's a can of worms, Don.

149. The only person who would take this job

150. is someone with nothing to lose and then

151. the question becomes what do we want with him?

152. I'm sitting here racking my brain trying...

153. You're sitting there settin' me up, Frank.

154. Look, I know you like a book.

155. No, wait a minute.

156. No!

157. No, no, no, no, no. Not that nut. No!

158. No way!

159. He's the only guy I can think of.

160. Oh, Lord, help us.

161. Shift.. Derrick, Derrick, Derrick, slow down, now.

162. - I am, Mr. Clark. - Atta boy.

163. - Slow down! - Bye, Mr. Clark.

164. - Bye, bye, baby. - Bye, Mr. Clark.

165. - So long, kids. - Hey, Joe.

166. Am I in some kind of trouble? You gotta bring your lawyer?

167. - Nah! - Rosenberg.

168. Hey, Joe. Hot for October.

169. - Oh, you're telling me. - How's it goin' over here?

170. Okay. Same old, same old. What brings you down here?

171. We just came from the mayor's office.

172. Seems they need a new principal at Eastside High.

173. Gotta get those test scores up.

174. He specifically thought of you.

175. Sure.

176. Okay. I thought of you.

177. All this time I've been stuck down here

178. and you come and ask me now, Frank?

179. I'm not a miracle worker, Joe.

180. Hello, Dr. Napier. I just saw your wife the other day.

181. Mr. Clark, before you go, the girls still need that room.

182. They've got their baking class.

183. And you know, we continue to find chewing gum

184. under the desks.

185. I will make an announcement in the morning

186. Mrs. Hamilton. Will that satisfy you?

187. Mrs. Hamilton, you know Mr. Rosenberg

188. the school board attorney.

189. Oh, yes. How are you, Mr. Rosenberg?

190. Excuse us, Mrs. Hamilton.

191. Dr. Napier wants to inspect our new sandbox.

192. Our sandbox? Oh, well, I didn't mean to interrupt.

193. It's-it's good to see you, Dr. Napier.

194. Yes, yes.

195. Uh, Joe, I want you to forget

196. about what happened before.

197. This is a chance for us to make some changes

198. stop blowin' smoke up each other's butts

199. go in and see if we can turn this thing around.

200. You mean nobody else wants the job?

201. Well, nobody I'd want.

202. Well, you add my name to the list.

203. You know what? You're bullshit.

204. Frank, you're bullshit.

205. Don't talk to me about savin' those kids.

206. The mayor wants to save his budget

207. and you want to save your ass.

208. Well, so what?

209. You want the truth, Joe?

210. Yeah, Frank. Let's have some truth.

211. The truth is that for all your talkin'

212. and all your crazy Joe routine

213. what have you ever done? Nothing!

214. You're nothing but an insignificant man!

215. It's like you were never born.

216. Your life hasn't made one bit of difference

217. and neither has mine.

218. Want to take that to the grave?

219. We want to, uh, welcome Mr. Clark to Eastside.

220. 'We've heard so much about you.'

221. A-and to tell you what we have done in anticipation

222. of your arrival, uh, uh, Ms. Levias

223. your other vice principal, and I have appointed

224. an executive committee to oversee certain areas

225. where we have noted a need for improvement.

226. Uh, Mr. Zirella for example...

227. You may sit down, Mr. O'Malley.

228. You think you can run this school?

229. If you could, then I wouldn't be here, would I?

230. No one talks in my meetings.

231. No one!

232. You take out your pencils and write.

233. I want the names of every hoodlum

234. drug dealer, and miscreant

235. who's done nothing but take this place apart

236. on my desk by noon today.

237. - Reverend Slappy. - 'Yes, sir.'

238. You are now the chief custodian, Reverend Slappy.

239. You will scour this building clean.

240. Graffiti goes up, it's off the next day. Is that clear?

241. Yes, sir. The very next day.

242. Detention students can help you.

243. Let them scrub this place for a while.

244. And tear down those cages in the cafeteria.

245. You treat them like animals

246. that's exactly how they'll behave.

247. This is my new dean of security

248. Mr. William Wright.

249. He will be my avenging angel

250. as you teachers reclaim the halls.

251. This is an institution of learning, ladies and gentlemen.

252. If you can't control it, how can you teach?

253. Discipline is not the enemy of enthusiasm.

254. - Mr. Zirella. - Yes, sir?

255. Mr. Zirella, you are now my new head football coach.

256. Mr. Darnell. Stand up, Mr. Darnell.

257. Mr. Darnell will be your assistant.

258. You know why you're being demoted, Mr. Darnell?

259. Because I'm sick and tired of our football team

260. getting pushed all over the field. Thank you. Sit down.

261. I want precision. I want a weight program.

262. And if you don't like it, Mr. Darnell, you can quit.

263. 'Same goes for the rest of ya.'

264. You've tried it your way for years.

265. And your students can't even get past

266. a minimum basic skills test.

267. That means they can hardly read!

268. They've given me less than one year

269. one school year to turn this place around.

270. To get those test scores up

271. so the state will not take us over

272. to perform the task which you have failed to do.

273. To educate our children!

274. Forget about the way it used to be.

275. This is not a damn democracy.

276. We are in a state of emergency

277. and my word is law!

278. There's only one boss in this place

279. and that's me, the H-N-I-C.

280. Are there any questions?

281. Mr. Wright.

282. The H-N-I-C?

283. The Head Nigger In Charge.

284. Everybody, right up here, right here.

285. Check this out.

286. George, Brian, Sams? They want you onstage.

287. Let's go. Right now.

288. - Mrs. Santos, what about us? - What about us?

289. What about you? What about me, huh?

290. Sit down. I said sit down.

291. - What do they want us for? - I don't know. Go. Go.

292. What you got to do around here

293. to get picked for somethin'?

294. - Maria, sit down. - You dirtbag!

295. Hey, check it out, look at Chita, Holmes.

296. Hey, man. Let her check me out, man.

297. What's wrong with you, man? What are you afraid of the girlies?

298. Go flash some cash, boy.

299. You want some? I'll give you some.

300. Go buy her some stupid gold.

301. Man, step off, man.

302. Ah, you're a chump.

303. - Is this normal? - I'm afraid it is.

304. Is everybody on the list up on the stage?

305. Yes, sir, I-I gave their names

306. to all the homeroom teachers.

307. - Mr. Clark! - Oh, hello.

308. Don't you remember me? Kaneesha.

309. Kaneesha, how are you, baby?

310. - Hey, you know him? - Yeah.

311. - Oh, we go way back. - Fifth grade.

312. Yeah. How are things going?

313. - Well, okay. - Just okay?

314. Listen, you have any problems

315. I mean any problems, you come and see me.

316. I'm in my office every morning at 6 o'clock, okay?

317. Okay. Good to see ya.

318. He was my elementary school principal.

319. Alright, people. Settle down now.

320. You people, get down off the seats.

321. Settle down.

322. Settle down, boys and girls. Settle down.

323. May I have your attention?

324. Quiet!

325. Quiet down. Take your seats.

326. You people, sit down! Sit down!

327. Quiet down.

328. I am your new principal.

329. My name is Joe Clark.

330. I want you to be quiet!

331. I want you to listen!

332. From here out, there will be no smoking in this school!

333. All of you who are smoking,

334. put out your cigarettes on the soles of your shoes.

335. Put the butts in your pockets. Now!

336. You, there. You.

337. Put out your cigarette.

338. I'm going to ask the people onstage

339. to open with our school song.

340. Mr. Roland.

341. 'Do you believe this guy?'

342. Suck my dick!

343. Yo! You sing the song. You sing it.

344. 'Alright. That's enough, Mr. Roland. That's enough.'

345. I want all of you to take a good look

346. at these people on the risers behind me.

347. These people have been here up to five years

348. and done absolutely nothing.

349. These people are drug dealers and drug users.

350. They have taken up space.

351. They have disrupted this school.

352. They have harassed your teachers

353. and they have intimidated you.

354. Well, times are about to change.

355. You will not be bothered in Joe Clark's school.

356. - Yeah! - Shh!

357. These people are incorrigible

358. and since none of them could graduate anyway

359. you are all expurgated.

360. You are dismissed.

361. You are out of here forever.

362. - I wish you well. - Oh, shit.

363. Mr. Wright.

364. I don't need your school.

365. I'm goin' in the air force, man.

366. Know what I'm sayin'?

367. You know what I'm sayin'?

368. I told you, man.

369. You ain't nobody. You ain't nobody, man.

370. I'm gonna get you, man. You ain't nobody, money.

371. Next time it may be you.

372. If you do no better than they did

373. next time it will be you.

374. They said this school was dead

375. 'like the cemetery it's built on'

376. but we call our Eastside teams Ghosts, don't we?

377. And what are ghosts?

378. Ghosts are spirits that rise from the dead.

379. I want you to be my ghosts.

380. You are going to lead our resurrection

381. 'by defying the expectation'

382. that all of us are doomed to failure.

383. My motto is simple.

384. If you do not succeed in life

385. I don't want you to blame your parents.

386. 'I don't want you to blame the white man.'

387. I want you to blame yourselves.

388. The responsibility is yours!

389. In two weeks, we have a practice exam

390. and the minimum basic skills test on April 13th.

391. That's a 110 school days from now.

392. But it's not just about those test scores.

393. If you do not have these basic skills

394. you will find yourselves locked out

395. 'locked out of that American dream'

396. that you see advertised on TV

397. that they tell you is so easy to get.

398. You are here for one reason

399. one reason only

400. to learn

401. to work for what you want.

402. The alternative is to waste your time

403. and to fall into the trap

404. of crime, drugs, and death.

405. Does everyone understand that?

406. Do all of you understand me?

407. Then welcome to the new Eastside High.

408. Mr. Clark don't play.

409. What happened this mornin' is an outrage.

410. My boy's no criminal.

411. He and those children belong in school

412. not back out on the street.

413. - 'You're a fascist, Clark!' - Our kids don't deserve this!

414. Some of those children are smart.

415. They're just discouraged about

416. what chances they got out there.

417. What kind of jobs they got waitin' for them.

418. Now, what kind of chance do they have?

419. He insulted the black football coach.

420. - Oh, sit down! - The man's gone crazy.

421. He's declared war on his own people.

422. May I remind you Ms. Barrett

423. that Mr. Clark was nice enough

424. to come to this emergency meeting.

425. - After a very trying day. - That's what he gets paid for.

426. I think we owe him a chance to respond.

427. They say, "One bad apple spoils the bunch."

428. 'My son ain't no bad apple!'

429. Well, what about 300?

430. Rotten to the core.

431. Now, you're right, Mrs. Barrett.

432. 'This is a war.'

433. It's a war to save 2700 other students

434. most of whom don't have the basic skills

435. to pass the state exam.

436. Now, if you want to help us, fine.

437. Sit down with your kids and make 'em study at night.

438. Go get your families off welfare.

439. How dare you talk to these people about welfare!

440. Give our children some pride.

441. Let 'em get their priorities straight.

442. When Dr. Napier came to me offering this job

443. I saw the lightning flash.

444. - 'Alright!' - I heard the thunder roll.

445. I felt breakers crashing, swamping my soul.

446. We are not in church, Mr. Clark!

447. I fell down on my knees

448. and I cried, "My God!

449. Why has Thou forsaken me?"

450. Tell 'em about it.

451. And the Lord said, "Joe..

452. You're no damn good."

453. No, no. I mean this

454. more than you realize.

455. "You're no earthly good at all

456. "unless you take this opportunity

457. and do whatever you have to."

458. And he didn't say, "Joe, be polite."

459. Do whatever you have to to transform

460. and transmogrify this school into a special place

461. where the hearts and souls and minds

462. of the young can rise

463. where they can grow tall and blossom

464. out from under the shadows of the past

465. where the minds of the young are set free.

466. That's right!

467. And I gave my word to God.

468. And that's why I threw those bastards out.

469. And that's all I'm going to say.

470. Mr. Clark, I wanted to talk to you

471. about those kids you threw out yesterday.

472. Well, what about them?

473. Well, I was one of 'em

474. but you made some kinda mistake.

475. - Mistake? - Yes, sir.

476. What's your name, son?

477. Sams. Thomas Sams.

478. Thomas Sams. Thomas Sams.

479. - You're a freshman? - Yes, sir.

480. Cutting class and smoking crack, Mr. Sams.

481. There's no mistake.

482. No, sir. It wasn't me, sir.

483. I swear it wasn't.

484. - It wasn't you, huh? - No.

485. Do you think I'm stupid, son?

486. No, sir.

487. Yes, you do.

488. You're tryin' to con a con man.

489. You're not even learning anything

490. on the streets, are you?

491. You come with me.

492. What are you doin'? What's up here?

493. Now, let me tell you something.

494. The trouble with being a teenager

495. is you don't know nothin'.

496. The problem with teenagers is you think you're smarter

497. than people who've already been down

498. the road you're travelin'.

499. You know what I'm tryin' to say to you, boy?

500. - Do you? - Yes, sir.

501. Did you tell your father I threw you out of school?

502. - Look at me, damn it! - No, sir.

503. Why not? No guts, huh?

504. Afraid of what he's gonna say to you, aren't ya?

505. My father doesn't live with us anymore, sir.

506. Oh, is that what you're doin', now?

507. Goin' around feeling sorry

508. for yourself, boy, huh?

509. Go on, get outta here! You're wastin' my time!

510. Please let me back, sir.

511. I have to get back at school.

512. I can't go home and tell my mama

513. I got kicked outta school.

514. Now, why should I let you back into my school, Sams?

515. 'Cause I'm gonna do better, sir.

516. How?

517. - By doin' my work. - What else?

518. And stayin' out of trouble.

519. What have you been thinkin' about all this time?

520. Why should I believe you now?

521. Because I changed my ways.

522. I don't believe you, Sams.

523. I don't think you've changed a thing. Go on, jump!

524. - No. I don't wanna jump. - Yes, you do!

525. You smoke crack, don't you?

526. You smoke crack, don't you?

527. Look at me, boy! Don't you smoke crack?

528. Y-y-yes, sir.

529. You know what that does to ya, huh?

530. No, sir.

531. It kills your brain cells, son.

532. It kills your brain cells.

533. Now, when you're destroying your brain cells

534. you're doing the same thing as killing yourself

535. you're just doing it slower!

536. Now, as to if you want to kill yourself

537. don't fuck around with it, go on and do it expeditiously!

538. Now, go on and jump! Jump.

539. No. I don't want to kill myself, sir.

540. You're quite sure about this, are ya?

541. Yes, sir.

542. Alright, Sams, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.

543. I'm gonna go back on my own word just this once

544. and let you back into my school

545. 'cause you're still a baby, and you don't know shit.

546. But you understand this, boy.

547. You're not gonna get a moment's rest.

548. I'm gonna be on your case every minute.

549. You mess up just once

550. and you're outta here.

551. Now, you understand me?

552. Do you understand me?

553. Yes, sir.

554. Now, go on back downstairs.

555. Alright, people. Let's settle down in here.

556. Now, settle down. Quiet down.

557. Let those who are trying to eat their lunch digest.

558. Robert, boy, get outta here, you had lunch

559. at fourth period. Go on.

560. If Mr. O'Malley didn't do anything

561. Mr. Clark isn't gonna do anything.

562. Louisa, you're lookin' mighty good today.

563. Gonna have to tell these boys to watch out.

564. You kids having any problems?

565. Yeah. I mean, she is.

566. - Tell him. - Louisa?

567. Well, Mr. Clark, why do I have to take Home Ec?

568. I wanna take auto shop.

569. I have brothers and sisters. My mother works.

570. I have been cooking for 11 years.

571. Does it look like I don't cook?

572. I want you to take this to Mr. O'Malley.

573. You know how much auto mechanics make?

574. Seventeen dollars an hour.

575. 'That girl right there, man.'

576. Yo, sweetheart. Right here. I got hunger pains, baby.

577. You could be my lunch. Just come on over. Ah! Ah!

578. Boy, get off this table! Sit down.

579. - Get your hormones together! - No hormones.

580. This ain't no hormones. She's fly, man. She's a fox.

581. Didn't I just see you downstairs with your arms around Clarisse?

582. - Clarisse? - Clarisse.

583. You honked out with that skeezer?

584. No, no, no, no, no. I never.. Check it out.

585. Check it out, check it out. It was only one time.

586. - One time. - Chill out, man!

587. - Richard, Richard. - Yes, sir.

588. Listen, for your first job as class president

589. I want to build us an atrium.

590. You come and track me down tomorrow

591. and we'll talk about it, okay?

592. Alright, don't worry about it, Mr. Clark.

593. - Hey, hi, Mr. Clark. What's up? - Hey, how you doin', brother?

594. Good to see you. Alright. Oh, you? Hey!

595. - Yes, Mr. Clark? - What's your name, son?

596. - Kid Ray. How you doin'? - Kid Ray, huh? Nice suit.

597. Hey, just like you, Mr. Clark.

598. Gotta look the part. Gotta have the juice.

599. Ha! These kids don't understand that.

600. - Hey! What are you... - Sams!

601. Put it back! Put it back!

602. How many times have I told you, boy? Put that down.

603. Put something in your head and not on it.

604. Pull your pants up!

605. Show some kind of dignity!

606. Have some sense!

607. What's he doin' hangin' out with you boys. You're all seniors?

608. You're providing a deleterious influence here.

609. Uh, Mr. Clark, he's my cousin.

610. We was just goin' over music.

611. Music, huh?

612. Come here.

613. Let me have your attention. Everyone quiet down!

614. I want all radios off instantaneously.

615. All radios off.

616. I want all of you to look at this..

617. Slovenly, sloppy boy here..

618. as an example of how not to dress.

619. 'Now, if you look like this'

620. 'when you look in your mirrors in the morning'

621. find something else to put on.

622. Self-respect permeates every aspect of your lives.

623. If you don't have it for yourselves

624. you're not gonna get it from anywhere.

625. Now, to prove their self-respect

626. Mr. Sams and his friends here. You boys stand up.

627. - Shit, man. - I'm gonna pound him.

628. Mr. Sams and his friends are going to sing

629. our school song.

630. I want absolute silence.

631. No one is permitted to move

632. during the singing of the school song.

633. Alright. Let's hear it.

634. Mr. Darnell, no one is permitted to move during

635. the singing of the song!

636. I was picking up a piece of trash.

637. Report to my office! Immediately!

638. - Woo! - Quiet! Quiet in here!

639. Alright. Continue.

640. You boys are on detention. Three days each.

641. You will learn this song or next time

642. you'll be suspended.

643. This goes for everybody!

644. You will sing the school song upon demand

645. or you will suffer dire consequences!

646. Mr. Wright, take this riffraff to my office.

647. People, what are you.. Can I help you, Mr. Clark?

648. Yes, you may, Mrs. Elliott.

649. I want everyone in Eastside High to learn the school song

650. and to sing it on demand or be suspended.

651. - Now, can you see to that? - Yes. Certainly, Mr. Clark.

652. Alright, everyone from the top...

653. Mrs. Elliott, may I see you in the hall, please?

654. - Now? - Yes, now!

655. Mrs. Powers, will you please see

656. if you can get these people together?

657. Mm-hmm.

658. If you sing like that in New York

659. we will not be invited back.

660. Mrs. Elliot, I don't like being ignored like that.

661. I'm sorry, Mr. Clark, if you weren't getting enough attention

662. but I'm trying to train a chorus.

663. And you don't think the school song is important enough

664. to warrant a little interruption, is that right?

665. The school song is fine, but we were doing Mozart.

666. I was right in the middle of a difficult part.

667. If you would like us to respect your work

668. you could try to appreciate ours.

669. Who do you think you're talkin' to?

670. A man who seems to be threatened when any other adult

671. in this school does something that the children like.

672. Mrs. Powers, I want it quiet in here right now!

673. I would love to chat, Mr. Clark

674. but I have a concert next week in New York

675. and I would like to be prepared.

676. - What? - Prepared.

677. You do know what that means.

678. It means capable, ready, and up to your job.

679. - What concert, Mrs. Elliot? - The one at Lincoln Center.

680. - We do it every year. - Until now.

681. Your concert is canceled.

682. - What? - Cancelled!

683. You do know what canceled means, don't you, Ms. Elliot?

684. Over, finished, terminated!

685. Why? These children have worked too hard!

686. For not telling me for one thing.

687. Oh, I filed a form in your office! Why don't you...

688. And for rank insubordination!

689. You've questioned my judgment

690. my competence, my intelligence!

691. You're the one who comes around here to bother me.

692. You're a bully, a despicable man! I've nothing to say to you.

693. Alright. Let's accommodate that, Mrs. Elliot. You're fired!

694. - You need a psychiatrist! - Get out! Right now!

695. Fine! Fine. Fired? Fired. You will hear from my lawyer!

696. - Mr. Clark. - Ms. Levias.

697. These miscreants don't know the school song.

698. They've got three days detention.

699. Mr. Darnell, into my office.

700. Okay, fellas, come on up.

701. Mr. Clark, just what was that all about?

702. I distinctly said no one move

703. during the singing of the school song.

704. Now, if you can't understand that

705. find yourself another place to work.

706. I was picking up a piece of paper!

707. You contradicted me in front of my students!

708. They're my students too!

709. They are my students, Mr. Darnell!

710. Just what are you tryin' to prove?

711. I'm workin' my ass off for you.

712. Took the demotion. I'm doing my job!

713. Now, you're just getting your rocks off

714. by treating me like trash.

715. No, sir. That's what you were picking up.

716. Goddamn it!

717. You give me the goddamn respect

718. you would damn well want yourself

719. or I will kick your black ass!

720. You are suspended, sir, as of right now!

721. Get out!

722. Ah!

723. - Oh, my God! - What is going on?

724. Mr. Darnell is suspended, indefinitely.

725. You don't have the power to suspend a teacher!

726. Then I can recommend. Ms. Ruiz, get me the forms.

727. Yes, sir.

728. Mr. Clark, please.

729. Mr. Darnell is more than just a football coach.

730. - He teaches English! - Not anymore.

731. But the state practice test is tomorrow.

732. Do you have to do this now?

733. - Ms. Levias, if I said... - Mr. Clark?

734. What do you want? What?

735. Uh-uh, it could wait.

736. Mr. Clark, do you have any idea

737. of the chaos you have caused around here?

738. Nobody knows what you're doing!

739. That's exactly the way I like it!

740. Stay to your right.

741. You know where your classes are, now, get to them.

742. Alright, people, come on, now.

743. We got 20 seconds to the bell. Let's go.

744. Sams. Sams? Come here.

745. - Where you going? - Lunch.

746. - Huh? - Lunch.

747. Alright, now, listen try to eat some vegetables

748. for a change, okay? Lay off those muffins.

749. Alright, I'll see you later, Mr. Clark.

750. Alright, now, don't bunch up down there, people.

751. That doesn't concern you, now.

752. We'll tell you about it later.

753. Alright, Richard. It's all yours.

754. We have two groups we'd like to thank today.

755. The Black and Hispanic alumni groups

756. for giving us the sofas and the armchairs.

757. It kind of makes the school seem, as Mr. Clark would say

758. a home away from home.

759. - We'd also like to thank... - Having fun?

760. As a matter of fact I am.

761. The fact of the matter is I haven't heard a word

762. about those test scores.

763. They'll send them as they've processed...

764. Send them how, by Pony Express?

765. Am I supposed to wait for them?

766. Why don't you get yourself down to Trenton

767. where they're probably rotting on some desk.

768. Bring them back here where they can do some good.

769. The town, but didn't live quite long enough to regret it.

770. But now, ladies and gentlemen, for the grand finale

771. Ms. Levias, if you would..

772. Our very own Passaic River Falls.

773. Good job. You're doin' very well, son.

774. - I'm very proud of you. - 'Mr. Clark!'

775. Mr. Clark, come to the cafeteria quick!

776. Some guy beatin' up Kid Ray!

777. Hey, stop it! Stop it!

778. Come on, old man. I been waitin' for this.

779. Come on. Come on.

780. Get this disgrace to his race out of here!

781. You already threw this disgrace out once.

782. Then what's he doing back, Mr. Wright?

783. Someone musta let him in from the inside.

784. I want every door in this school

785. chained and locked.

786. - All of 'em! - Yes, sir.

787. Hi, Mr. Clark.

788. Oh, hi, kids. How ya doin'?

789. - Hi. - Fine.

790. Hi, Mr. Clark. What's up?

791. Hi, Nathalee.

792. Kaneesha?

793. What's the matter, doll?

794. Kaneesha?

795. Now, I told you if you have any problems

796. you come and see me.

797. Come on, now. I've known you more than half your life.

798. What's the matter?

799. How are your grades?

800. - Hmm. - They're not too good.

801. Well, why not? You're a smart girl.

802. You shouldn't be having any problems.

803. I don't have no place to live.

804. Well, where's your mother?

805. She don't want me no more.

806. Now, here. Come with me. Come on.

807. I'll see what I can do about this.

808. Come on.

809. Ms. Levias? You know Kaneesha Carter here.

810. You go on into Ms. Ruiz.

811. - Is he alright? - He'll survive.

812. Kaneesha here is havin' a problem at home.

813. I want you to pull her file

814. talk to her, and then get back to me.

815. Okay. Come on, Kaneesha.

816. Who's there?

817. 'Mrs. Carter?'

818. Mrs. Carter doesn't live here.

819. 'Mama, it's me.'

820. 'Mrs. Carter, it's Joan Levias from Eastside.'

821. 'I'm here with Mr. Clark.'

822. Been a long time, Mrs. Carter.

823. Please.

824. Come in.

825. I've been meaning to come by and talk to you.

826. Mind if I try and act civilized for a moment?

827. Offered you two a seat.

828. Mrs. Carter, I ran into Kaneesha in the halls.

829. Talkin' about her grades.

830. 'She says you don't want her around anymore.'

831. I don't expect your sympathy, but I ruined my life.

832. I know that's my business to deal with that.

833. It's been hard enough.

834. 'When Kaneesha was in the fifth grade, '

835. you were one of my most active parents.

836. You were always at school helping out. I don't...

837. We don't mean to pry, Mrs. Carter

838. but... Kaneesha has a gift.

839. She has that spark and we have to look after her.

840. Why would she think you wouldn't want her?

841. I had Kaneesha when I was 15.

842. I didn't want no welfare so I quit school

843. worked, came home at night

844. didn't have no life.

845. So, when she was old enough to take care of herself

846. so I thought I ran out and got one. Facts.

847. Is that what you're doing now?

848. I'm just now getting back on my feet, you know?

849. As I get clean..

850. I see myself for what I am..

851. And I hate it..

852. And I don't want her to see me like this no more.

853. So, when the people from the foster home came by

854. I thought it was the right thing to do.

855. Why would I want to get rid of her?

856. I love her..

857. '... more than myself.'

858. Mrs. Carter..

859. If we helped you find a job

860. a... better place to live..

861. Would that help?

862. Because, frankly, I don't see

863. Kaneesha makin' it without you.

864. Do you understand?

865. Yeah.

866. Good.

867. Thanks, Bob. We'll talk tomorrow.

868. - What was that all about? - Chains on the doors.

869. Thought you people didn't like chains.

870. You see this yet?

871. 'You know, all of your shit comes down on my head.'

872. Oh, Frank, look. This is...

873. Let me talk.

874. It's like you're a big bird with radar.

875. And I'm tired of getting hit.

876. Is this my fault?

877. This is nothing!

878. I've got union lawyers threatening me.

879. - And there's talk of a walkout. - Well, let 'em!

880. They're not teachin' anything down there anyway!

881. Then it's your job to do something about it!

882. Not one of 'em has a personal stake in that school!

883. Frank, not one!

884. The fire chief was just here

885. he says it's illegal to bar those doors.

886. Mrs. Barrett is organizing a parents' group

887. to try to get you removed

888. since you insulted them at that meeting the other night

889. when you just suggested that they get off welfare!

890. Oh, I didn't mean it.

891. Because the fact is quite a few of them need it.

892. Look, I wasn't talking to all of 'em, Frank.

893. Now, look, you came and recruited me, man.

894. You disappoint me, brother.

895. You disappoint me.

896. The disappointment here is you!

897. - Me? - Yes!

898. Look, you know who I am. You've known me 30 years.

899. You knew what I would do? You know how I operate...

900. Nigger, can you keep quiet?

901. The fact is you're screwin' up!

902. You're alienating everybody!

903. Look at you, you have no life.

904. Your wife left you. I ought to walk out on you myself!

905. Well, go ahead, bail the hell on out!

906. But said I said I'd back you up!

907. That's what you said, Frank! That's what you said.

908. Brother, I'll go through the fire with you

909. but you are not taking care of business.

910. This shit you're pulling now

911. you've just gone plain loco!

912. And you suspend Darnell! What the hell was that?

913. Darnell is symptomatic of the disciplinary...

914. He is a good, strong, young black teacher!

915. So, he dumped that desk right on top of your head.

916. Well, right on. Good for him.

917. You will reinstate that man! You hear?

918. And then you fire Mrs. Elliott. Why?

919. 'Cause she didn't want to kiss your ass.

920. Well, I wouldn't either! How 'bout that?

921. Mrs. Elliott has an ego problem.

922. Yeah, well, you lost the best teacher we had!

923. We couldn't get her back now if we wanted to...

924. I don't have time for Mrs. Elliott's problem!

925. Then you better make time!

926. We're being crucified by a process

927. that's turning blacks into a permanent underclass here, Frank

928. a permanent underclass.

929. No, oh, see? Nobody wants to talk about that! Nobody.

930. Mrs. Elliott's missionary zeal about Mozart

931. has nothing to do with our problem! Nothin'!

932. What good is Mozart gonna do to a bunch of children

933. who can't go out and get a job?

934. Joe..

935. Your personal battles are gonna cost us the war.

936. Worry about the test scores.

937. What the hell you think I'm worried about, Frank!

938. End of discussion! Debate is over!

939. You will write a formal apology.

940. - I will what? - A formal apology.

941. For your treatment of Mrs. Elliott and Darnell

942. and for your vicious and thoughtless insult

943. to the women of this community!

944. You will kowtow, you will step and fetch.

945. - Frank, if you think you... - Get used to it!

946. It's the way of the world!

947. If you're so hot on discipline

948. then, goddammit start by accepting mine

949. 'cause contrary to popular opinion

950. I am the head nigger in charge!

951. Come on. Let's get somethin' to eat.

952. You really think you bad, don't you?

953. You're all in violation of the fire code!

954. And you cannot prevent me from going into this building.

955. Look, how many times do I have to tell you.

956. You're not getting in, and that's that.

957. You have no right to lock these doors.

958. I have a duty to respect this plant.

959. This is not a plant, Chief Gaines. This is my school.

960. If you wanna get in here you'll apply for a pass

961. just like everyone else. You and your TV friends here.

962. - What the hell is the bat for? - Yeah?

963. They used to call me crazy Joe.

964. Well, now they can call me a batman.

965. I got thugs, drug dealers and business of all kinds

966. trying to get into my school.

967. You might be one. I don't know.

968. Are you crazy? Are you nuts?

969. I got all day, Chief Gaines. How much time do you have?

970. I'll be back, Clark. I'll be back!

971. Thanks, Mr. Darnell. Good to have you back.

972. Mr. Clark, you shouldn't have fired me in the first place.

973. Well, you're right, but don't get used to it.

974. Mr. Clark, why did you lock the school?

975. Aren't you concerned about your students' safety?

976. Get these people back to their classes.

977. Yes sir. Alright, kids, please.

978. Come on honey, get back to your class.

979. You're playing right into his hands.

980. That was the fire chief.

981. You know what he's saying right now?

982. "Black bastard can't throw me out!"

983. Do you know where he's saying it?

984. Out in the parking lot.

985. Mr. Clark, a baseball bat?

986. Is that the image you wanna project?

987. If they'd got me those emergency doors

988. that sound an alarm when you open them up

989. like the ones the white schools have

990. I wouldn't have to chain 'em.

991. Those doors cost a fortune.

992. We don't have enough money for books.

993. Well, tell the mayor that!

994. Call the Federal Government and tell me get me more money.

995. Never mind what I'm doing.

996. Why don't you do what I ask you to do?

997. Where are those test scores I asked you to get me?

998. 'Hey, Mr. Clark.'

999. - Hi, kid. How you doing? - Alright.

1000. Where 've you been the last couple of days?

1001. - I was sick. - Sick, huh?

1002. - Hi Mr. Clark. - Hi, Eric.

1003. What was that altercation about?

1004. Alteration? What, are my pants too tight?

1005. The fight you had in the cafeteria.

1006. Now, come on, son. Don't get cute with me.

1007. Mr. Clark, I've already had enough shit from this. Okay?

1008. Well, why did he come after you?

1009. You dealing drugs in my school?

1010. Mr. Clark, we don't need to get into this.

1011. I just came here to tell you something.

1012. I don't think I'm cut out for this, you know, school and all.

1013. I just came to say goodbye.

1014. Droppin' out on me, huh?

1015. I'm not droppin' out. I'm movin' on. I got...

1016. You'll be dead in a year, son.

1017. You hear what I'm sayin'?

1018. You'll be dead in a year.

1019. Mr. Clark, I gotta go.

1020. You know, baby, I look at you

1021. and I want to do the hootchie-cootchie.

1022. Hootchie-cootchie, that's what I'm doing, baby.

1023. You know, sometime, baby..

1024. Oh, come on, fellas. Not again.

1025. Come on.

1026. Sams, freeze.

1027. Where are you running off to?

1028. And why don't you have a book in your hand?

1029. I got lunch and gym and the teachers...

1030. Why did I let you back in here?

1031. To get an education, sir.

1032. How you gonna get an education if you don't read?

1033. I read.

1034. When do you get your report card?

1035. Next week. Ms. James says I'm gettin' a B.

1036. - I knew you were smart. - I know it, too, huh.

1037. See you later, okay, Mr. Clark.

1038. Nice tie.

1039. Sams? Get back here.

1040. Let's see what you got in here.

1041. You don't wanna go in there, Mr. Clark. It stinks.

1042. My, my, my.

1043. Aren't you my little songbirds from the cafeteria?

1044. Weren't they with you?

1045. Who, these guys? Heh-heh.

1046. Well, I'm sure you've learned the school song by now.

1047. You better know it

1048. because this time if you don't get it right

1049. you're suspended for 10 days each.

1050. Now, is that clear?

1051. - Is that clear? - Yes, sir.

1052. Alright, then, the school song

1053. let me hear it.

1054. Alright, fellas, let him hear it.

1055. Alright, alright!

1056. Who taught you that?

1057. Answer me!

1058. I know you didn't do it yourselves.

1059. - Sams! - What?

1060. Who taught you this song?

1061. Speak up!

1062. Mrs. Powers.

1063. Mrs. Powers, eh?

1064. 'Come with me. All of you.'

1065. No, no, no, people. Oh, no, no, no.

1066. Now, you must remember

1067. we need intonation

1068. phonation, accuracy, and pitch!

1069. Now, this is your note.

1070. - Mrs. Powers. - Yes, sir.

1071. These hoodlums have told me something I can't believe.

1072. Are you the one who changed the school song like that?

1073. - Mrs. Powers... - Let her answer.

1074. Well, sir, the children thought

1075. the song was a bit boring.

1076. Boring, huh?

1077. Mrs. Powers, I have never heard a school song like that.

1078. And I certainly never authorized you to change it.

1079. Did I?

1080. Did I?

1081. No, you didn't.

1082. I want everyone in this school to learn that song

1083. in English and Spanish. Immediately.

1084. Take a bow, Mrs. Powers. You've rewritten our Alma Mater.

1085. How's it going?

1086. What you got in there, Malachi?

1087. - My future. - Alright.

1088. How's it going, Mr. Darnell?

1089. Good, good, good. That's great.

1090. Hi.

1091. Ms. Levias..

1092. - Hi, Mr. Clark. - Hi, kids.

1093. I just heard something you would not believe.

1094. You would not believe.

1095. - Uh, Mr. Clark, - Mr. Clark.

1096. Mr. O'Malley just brought this from Trenton.

1097. The school's practice test.

1098. I had to wait all this time for this?

1099. Next time I order you to go get something

1100. you better damn well go get it yourself!

1101. - Oh, no. - Oh, my God.

1102. Alright, gimme your attention up here, everyone.

1103. Settle down.

1104. First three rows take 4 steps forward.

1105. Right now! Come on!

1106. One, two, three, four.

1107. Okay, that's good. Turn around.

1108. Hold it, Mr. O'Malley!

1109. What's your excuse?

1110. I, I had this big stack of forms I was filling out

1111. I, I looked up, I didn't know what time it was.

1112. Mr. Clark, what can you do?

1113. This is a prime example of the kind of

1114. inefficiency and apathy

1115. that is destroying this school, people.

1116. Mr. O'Malley, I can't believe you as bad as you seem.

1117. So, I'm going to give you a chance to revitalize your image.

1118. I want you to set up a student-peer tutoring program.

1119. Yes, sir.

1120. We'll see if the students can't help themselves.

1121. Lord knows you teachers aren't doing the job.

1122. - Ms. Levias. - Yes, sir.

1123. I want remedial reading on Saturdays.

1124. Yes, Mr. Clark.

1125. We'll have to ask for volunteers at regular pay

1126. because we can't afford overtime.

1127. - Mr. Clark. - Yes, Mrs. Santos?

1128. The problem isn't our pay.

1129. What is the problem as you see it, Mrs. Santos?

1130. How to get the students in on Saturday, sir.

1131. You hear that, people?

1132. Mrs. Santos asked how do we get the students

1133. in on Saturdays for remedial reading?

1134. Well, I'll tell you how.

1135. We'll go to their homes.

1136. We will talk to their folks.

1137. If their folks can't read

1138. they can come in too.

1139. The only way we're going to get anything done

1140. is to get everyone involved.

1141. And that goes for all of you!

1142. It's time to get involved.

1143. Everyone in this section

1144. put both your hands above your heads.

1145. Raise your hands!

1146. Put 'em up!

1147. You people represent the 70 percent of our students

1148. who just failed the practice exam.

1149. Seventy percent!

1150. But that is not their failure.

1151. 'I don't blame them.'

1152. The failure is yours.

1153. That's right, yours.

1154. How many hours do you spend preparing your lesson plans?

1155. How often do you stay after school

1156. to give those children, the ones you know need it

1157. the extra help that they require?

1158. Keep your hands up.

1159. Now you are getting a hint

1160. of the kind of hopelessness and shame

1161. that makes those failing students

1162. throw up their hands at the thought of facing a world

1163. for which you have not prepared them.

1164. You are getting the merest inkling of the despair

1165. they feel when left to the mercy of the streets.

1166. Keep your hands up high.

1167. Now, look around at yourselves.

1168. Turn and look at yourselves!

1169. Because you are failing to educate them

1170. this is the posture that many of our students will wind up in

1171. only they'll be staring down the barrel of a gun!

1172. Alright, you guys. Forget it, forget it.

1173. Alright, man. Uh.. I got one. I got one.

1174. Who's this? Who's this?

1175. Alright, people, move to the right of the halls.

1176. Move expeditiously. How you doin'?

1177. Francesca, darling. Come on over here.

1178. How you doin'? Good to see you.

1179. - Fine, Mr. Clark. - How's your sister doin'?

1180. Oh, not so good, Mr. Clark. I think she broke her leg.

1181. She broke her leg? That's good. That's good. Yeah.

1182. Listen, uh, you have any problem whatsoever

1183. you come to my office. You understand?

1184. - I'm gonna give you the key. - Ooh, your office?

1185. Ooh, that ain't the key.

1186. Sams, Sams. Where's Sams? Anybody see Sams? Sams?

1187. - Pull your pants up, son. - Stop, stop, stop..

1188. I tell you, put somethin' in your..

1189. Clarence, come here. Get your hormones under control, boy.

1190. Let, let me feel your butt. Turn around.

1191. Clarence.

1192. Clarence, just what do you think you're doing?

1193. I was just..

1194. I was just, um.. Oh, I was..

1195. Francesca, come here.

1196. What is he doing? Is that me?

1197. Can he do me? Does he have the juice?

1198. No way, Mr. Clark.

1199. Clarence, you report to my office.

1200. Yo, Mr. Clark, I was just foolin' around.

1201. Got ya.

1202. Come on, Sams! You can do it.

1203. Don't give up!

1204. That's it, Sams!

1205. Stay with it, boy! Don't give up, son.

1206. Don't give up!

1207. Oh, Holy cow!

1208. I'm outta here.

1209. Clark can't even get them past that test.

1210. Look, I thought we'd settled this.

1211. And now with the doors chained over there

1212. that school is a firetrap.

1213. And your fire chief agrees.

1214. Son of bitch is laughin' at us, Don.

1215. Don, the man has a legitimate problem.

1216. How does he keep drug pushers out of his school

1217. if their buddies can just push open the exit doors

1218. and let 'em walk on in?

1219. He's got a point, sir.

1220. Rosenberg, this doesn't concern you.

1221. Look, Don. The county needs some months.

1222. We can both go to jail.

1223. By statute, we are legally responsible.

1224. If a fire broke out and a kid got hurt..

1225. Oh, Christ. They're going to get trampled.

1226. They're a bunch of savages down there anyway.

1227. - Savages? - 'Let's get out of here.'

1228. 'Don, can't you control your men?'

1229. Uh, ladies and gentlemen, I'm gonna have to ask all of you

1230. to please leave me alone now with Mrs. Barrett.

1231. Come on, Don. I want to talk to you.

1232. 'I'll call you later at your office, okay?'

1233. Thank you very much. Thank you, Frank.

1234. Close the door, eh?

1235. I want to apologize for the chief's use of language.

1236. I don't like none of you people.

1237. Oh, well, then in that case why don't we

1238. cut right through the formalities.

1239. Eh, what do you want?

1240. - Clark! - Just like that, huh?

1241. Head on a platter.

1242. You think I got an attitude.

1243. Well, let me just tell you what I think.

1244. I know why you like Clark.

1245. He's a guard dog

1246. Does your dirty work, keeps the black folk in line.

1247. That's fine, but you got to get re-elected.

1248. I got enough folks lined up with me

1249. to give you a damn hard time, and I will get more.

1250. I will organize, I will beat the streets.

1251. Unless I do what?

1252. Appoint me to the school board

1253. so we can vote Clark out.

1254. Otherwise we'll just have to vote you out.

1255. Vote me out.

1256. You know it's always a pleasure to see citizens

1257. avail themselves of the democratic process.

1258. My job's gonna be easy.

1259. You're not too popular these days, are you?

1260. Alright, I'll sic the fire chief on Clark.

1261. - Will that satisfy you? - Yes.

1262. And then I'll get the school board to dismiss him.

1263. And then you'll come out publicly for me.

1264. It'll be my pleasure, Mr. Mayor.

1265. That Barrett is a bitch on wheels, huh?

1266. Smart. She's smart.

1267. Yeah. She got your number.

1268. When am I supposed to do this?

1269. Now we'd just disrupt things.

1270. Give him another week to prepare for that test.

1271. Then we'll catch him with those chains on the doors.

1272. Heh-heh.

1273. We nail him and we make her happy.

1274. Politics.

1275. 'What a business.'

1276. Ah, it's just like yours, puttin' out fires.

1277. The Mayor's gonna nail me, huh?

1278. What do I always say, Bob?

1279. He says he's got the hammer and nails himself.

1280. I believe it.

1281. Rosenberg, these are some of my white students.

1282. Ah... Frankie, Bernard, Steve.

1283. Boys, this is Mr. Rosenberg, school attorney.

1284. I want to let him hear the school song.

1285. - Come on, Mr. Clark. - Come on, now. Let me hear it.

1286. Alright! Alright! I can't stand this.

1287. Needs work, fellas. Needs work.

1288. Some things you just can't teach.

1289. Bad singing is not genetic.

1290. - How's your mother comin'? - Oh, she got that job.

1291. - She's feelin' good. - Good, good.

1292. Why aren't you girls studying? Lily, what are you doing?

1293. The phone's broken. My baby's sick.

1294. - I gotta call my mother. - Well, come with me.

1295. You can make your call from the guidance office.

1296. When are you girls ever gonna learn?

1297. Mr. Clark, I ain't ashamed about my baby.

1298. You know what? Nobody's saying you should be ashamed.

1299. And she ain't ashamed of me.

1300. Whenever she look up at me, Mr. Clark

1301. she don't see no wrong.

1302. Okay. Go on and make your call.

1303. - Mr. Vanzetti? - Yes, sir.

1304. Let these girls make a phone call.

1305. - Hey, Mr. Clark. - How you doin'?

1306. Alright.

1307. Now, we can't let them know who told you.

1308. - Why not? - Why not?

1309. Mr. Clark, we got us a problem.

1310. Alright, I'm listening.

1311. How come you always leave us out?

1312. Everything's always for the black kids.

1313. - That's right. Everything. - Yeah.

1314. The gospel chorus is for the blacks.

1315. Football for the blacks. Basketball, blacks.

1316. Look at me, I'm short. Can I play basketball?

1317. No. The point is, you're ignoring us

1318. and we're getting really ticked off.

1319. You know, with a mouth like yours

1320. you ought to study law.

1321. - Really? - Really.

1322. You kids wait for me in my office. We'll talk about this.

1323. If you're gonna all talk at me at one time

1324. I'm not gonna be able to do anything.

1325. Markus, I know your problem. Now, sit down.

1326. I'll be with you ladies in a minute.

1327. Boss, I think you and Mr. Rosenberg

1328. better wait for me out here.

1329. Now, Ms. Louise. Ms. Lynn?

1330. - 'Yes.' - Give Markus a pass.

1331. - Levias, is everyone here? - Yes, sir.

1332. - Everyone you asked for. - Good. Sit down please.

1333. Let me have your attention.

1334. With the help of my ubiquitous, clandestine informants

1335. I have learned that the mayor has told the fire chief

1336. to catch me with those chains on the doors.

1337. 'They want to prosecute me and get me the hell outta here!'

1338. Now, the security guards are our first line of defense.

1339. If you see the fire chief coming, stop him at the gates!

1340. Get on your walkie-talkies, call in code ten, got that?

1341. - Code ten. - Yes, sir.

1342. We will repeat code ten on the P.A. system.

1343. All teachers and guards have keys to the exit doors.

1344. So, when you hear code ten, you will proceed

1345. expeditiously to your assigned door and remove the chains.

1346. - Is that understood? Good. - Yes, sir.

1347. Guards, resume your posts. Ms. Levias, take over.

1348. Louise, tell those kids in my office they have to go back

1349. to class. I'll meet 'em here at seventh period.

1350. - Yes, sir. - How did it go?

1351. I think we got it under control.

1352. - Mr. Clark? - Yes, Ms. Levias.

1353. I have the progress report on the reading program.

1354. - Good. - We're running out of time.

1355. I thought you might like to hear it.

1356. I would like to hear it, Ms. Levias.

1357. I would also like to hear the kids in my office

1358. and Mr. Rosenberg and Dr. Napier.

1359. But I can't be in ten different places at the same time.

1360. Can I?

1361. So, maybe my vice principal can do

1362. something without me for once!

1363. - Uh, Mr. Clark. - Kids, seventh period.

1364. I'll help you at seventh period, okay?

1365. - Excuse me. - Yeah.

1366. Excuse me.

1367. - Goodnight, Mr. Clark. - Goodnight.

1368. - Mr. Clark? - Yes, Ms. Levias.

1369. May I talk to you for a minute, please?

1370. - What do you want? - I want you to transfer me.

1371. - To where? - Out of here.

1372. You know, this doesn't surprise me one bit, Ms. Levias.

1373. I have sensed resistance in you since our very first meeting.

1374. You're an egomaniacal windbag.

1375. - Who you talkin' to? - I'm talkin' to you!

1376. You like to whip people who can't fight back.

1377. I thought I could take it because I had a father in the

1378. same kind of pain that makes you such a bastard but I was wrong.

1379. Life is much too short. I will not endure you any longer!

1380. You will not endure me?

1381. The only reason I haven't walked out

1382. and half the staff along with me

1383. is because those children need us here.

1384. You're so busy talking discipline

1385. you forget to educate!

1386. - Is that so? - Yes, that's so.

1387. Then what the hell do you think

1388. I've been doing here all this time?

1389. So you cleaned it up.

1390. - That was the easy part. - That's the easy part?

1391. Those children want to be helped.

1392. They have worked their hearts out for you, Joe.

1393. Done everything we've asked and believe what we've told them.

1394. But I feel sorry for them.

1395. They're not ready to take that test.

1396. What the hell you talkin' about?

1397. I have done everything. Everything...

1398. I, I! It is always I.

1399. There are 300 teachers on the faculty here.

1400. You don't do it all alone.

1401. I don't have to stay here and listen to these accusations.

1402. You will listen!

1403. You will stand there and you will listen!

1404. Alright, Ms. Levias. Alright, go ahead and talk.

1405. For the past seven months you've been flappin' your mouth

1406. and you haven't heard a thing.

1407. You haven't even seen what's painfully obvious.

1408. - I'll tell you what I do... - No!

1409. I'm talking now. Let me finish!

1410. Everybody here may not like you as a person

1411. 'but we all applaud your effort.'

1412. But what you don't understand

1413. is the same people who support you

1414. are the ones that you're beating up!

1415. You don't even take the time to say, "Thank you."

1416. "Job well done." Nothing.

1417. You just step in their necks, constantly abuse them...

1418. Ms. Levias, what do you want from me?

1419. What the hell do you want?

1420. I want you to get this straight.

1421. Most of the teachers are here because they care

1422. about those children out there, this school, this fight.

1423. They're in it with you. They take it home

1424. at night the same as you.

1425. They are part of those children's lives.

1426. You are thoughtless and cruel

1427. and it hurts

1428. and none of them deserve it.

1429. They are sick of it, and so am I.

1430. - Ms. Levias. - What's this?

1431. The transfer you asked for.

1432. Alright, people. Here we are.

1433. This is the day.

1434. In one hour

1435. you are going to take an exam administered by the state

1436. to test your basic skills

1437. and the quality of education at Eastside High.

1438. And I want to tell you what the people out there

1439. are saying about you and what they think about your chances.

1440. They say you are inferior.

1441. "You are just a bunch of niggers and spics and poor white trash."

1442. "Education is wasted on you."

1443. "You cannot learn!"

1444. "You're lost!"

1445. I mean all of you.

1446. I, I want all the white students to stand up.

1447. All my white students, stand up.

1448. Right now. Stand up. Come on.

1449. All my white students, stand up. Stand up.

1450. That's it. Come on, stand up.

1451. These are my white children

1452. 'and they're the same as all of you.'

1453. They've got no place to go.

1454. If they had they would've abandoned us a long time ago

1455. like everybody else did, but they couldn't.

1456. So, here they are at Eastside High

1457. just like the rest of us.

1458. You can sit down.

1459. Are you getting my point, people?

1460. Yes.

1461. Is it beginning to sink in?

1462. - Yes! - Yes!

1463. We sink, we swim

1464. we rise, we fall.

1465. We meet our fate together!

1466. Now... it took the help

1467. of a good, good friend

1468. to make me know and understand that.

1469. And I do understand it, and I'm grateful.

1470. I'm eternally grateful.

1471. And now I've got a message for those people out there

1472. who've abandoned you and written you off.

1473. - Can you hear me? - Yes!

1474. - Can you hear me? - Yes!

1475. Good!

1476. You are not inferior!

1477. Your grades may be.

1478. Your school may have been

1479. but you can turn that around

1480. and make liars out of those bastards

1481. in exactly one hour

1482. when you take that test and pass it, and win!

1483. So, here's what I want you to do.

1484. When you find your minds wandering

1485. I want you to knuckle back down and concentrate.

1486. Concentrate!

1487. 'Remember what's at stake'

1488. and show them what Eastside High is all about..

1489. A spirit that will not die!

1490. Eastside! Eastside! Eastside! Eastside! Eastside! Eastside!

1491. Eastside! Eastside! Eastside! Eastside! Eastside! Eastside!

1492. I told you these things take time.

1493. Don't tell me these things take time.

1494. Just how long am I supposed to wait?

1495. Now, you boys are messing with the wrong female.

1496. I've been over there, he won't let me in.

1497. - Oh, poor little boy. - What?

1498. Alright, what the hell's goin' on here?

1499. - Thank God. - What?

1500. - Would you talk to her? - I thought we had made a deal.

1501. You don't have to broadcast it all over town, do ya?

1502. I have got a school board meeting tonight

1503. and enough votes to get Clark kicked out

1504. if I can show some proof he's got chains on those doors.

1505. Now, we can still get that if you move on him today.

1506. Chief Gaines has already tried that.

1507. Bullshit! I've made promises of my own.

1508. I've got people lined up with me right now

1509. and if I can't deliver any better than you

1510. my credibility is shot.

1511. And I do not issue idle threats.

1512. Then don't, huh? Because I don't want to hear it.

1513. Okay, chief.

1514. Now, Mrs. Barrett here was promised some action.

1515. I think it's time we get a court order

1516. and get you past those guards.

1517. Sounds good to me.

1518. He ain't worth it.

1519. - He's a jerk. - That's right. He's a jerk.

1520. I told you that. You don't listen to me.

1521. What are you two ladies doing in here?

1522. Lillian, aren't you supposed to be in class?

1523. Huh?

1524. Kaneesha?

1525. What's going on here?

1526. Lillian, what is this?

1527. You'll have to ask her, Mr. Clark.

1528. Kaneesha, what's the matter?

1529. I got pregnant.

1530. Please don't be mad at me.

1531. Lillian, let me talk to her alone for a minute.

1532. Did you tell your mother?

1533. I can't.

1534. Reggie's the father?

1535. He says it's not his, but I know it is

1536. 'cause I've never been with no other boys.

1537. I never meant for this to happen.

1538. You girls never do.

1539. So many of you bringin' babies into this world

1540. just to prove you can accomplish something.

1541. And you're doing so well now, Kaneesha.

1542. Well, there are other alternatives.

1543. I'm scared. I don't know what to do.

1544. It's alright, I'll tell you what we're going to do.

1545. We're gonna have your mother come to the school.

1546. Don't worry now. The three of us will put our heads together

1547. and... I'm sure we'll be able to help you decide

1548. what's best for you to do.

1549. Alright? Do you trust me?

1550. - Alright, I'm gonna help you. - Mr. Clark!

1551. Eight o'clock in the morning I'll call your mother myself.

1552. - What is it, Mr. Wright? - The fire chief.

1553. - Where is he? - He got past the gate.

1554. Code ten! Code ten, this is Joe Clark!

1555. Get those chains off the door! The enemy's here!

1556. 'The doors are all gotten locked, Mr. Clark.'

1557. Mr. Clark, you're under arrest.

1558. For what?

1559. Basically for being an asshole

1560. but specifically for conspiracy

1561. to violate the fire code.

1562. I got no problem with the fire code, chief.

1563. The only problem here is you.

1564. And your problem is your mouth.

1565. 'Code ten! Code ten!'

1566. 'This is Joe Clark!'

1567. 'Get those chains off the doors!'

1568. 'The enemy's here!'

1569. 'Doors all gotten locked, Mr. Clark.'

1570. Cuff him!

1571. Hey, Mr. Clark? What did they get you for?

1572. What's the charge? What's this all about?

1573. It's about someone finally standing up to this man

1574. instead of taking his orders like a maid.

1575. How dare you speak about people like that!

1576. - Mrs. Barrett, you think you... - Shut up! You're finished!

1577. The school board is gonna hear this at 7 o'clock

1578. and we are gonna vote your black ass out.

1579. - Yo, bitch, vote on this! - Sams, you go to class!

1580. Ms. Levias, you're acting principal now.

1581. I expect you to perform as I would.

1582. What, what's goin' on? What's happening, Mr. Clark?

1583. Mr. Clark, what happened? What did you do?

1584. I chained the doors.

1585. Now, you break the law, you pay the price.

1586. Hey, yo, Mr. Clark, we still got to go to class?

1587. Yes, you have to go to.. All of you, get back to class!

1588. Now!

1589. - 'Mr. Clark... ' - Go on!

1590. Who's gonna look after the school, Mr. Clark?

1591. Go on! Get back into class!

1592. 'I mean it now.'

1593. Get back in there, all of ya! Go on!

1594. Ms. Levias, they're your responsibility!

1595. 'I guess we ought to be getting out of here, Joe.'

1596. 'That school board meeting's about to begin.'

1597. Do whatever we can.

1598. Have you thought about a new line of work?

1599. Perhaps an exciting career in electronics?

1600. It's just a little joke.

1601. I'm going.

1602. I've got no complaints, Joe.

1603. As far as I'm concerned

1604. what you accomplished down at that school

1605. was a goddamn miracle.

1606. Those kids have a light in their eyes now

1607. that was never, never there before.

1608. Thanks, boss.

1609. You know, I'm always tryin' to teach my kids

1610. to stay outta jail.

1611. Look at me.

1612. You go on. Do what you gotta do.

1613. He has failed at his professional task.

1614. We brought him in to save our school

1615. from a takeover from the state.

1616. That was the mandate from our mayor.

1617. But the test scores on the practice exam

1618. were 35 percent below passing.

1619. Now, maybe if we dump him now

1620. and get a new principal ourselves

1621. show the state that we are doing something

1622. 'we can pre-empt the takeover, but only if we get him out'

1623. 'before those final test scores come back.'

1624. After that, it'll be too late.

1625. This board won't have any power.

1626. It'll be nothing but a rubber stamp.

1627. Mrs. Arthur, those are the facts.

1628. Now, I appreciate your personal loyalty to Mr. Clark

1629. but he has let our children down

1630. and our loyalty should be to them.

1631. Our loyalty should be to the man we hired.

1632. 'Order! Order!'

1633. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1634. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1635. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1636. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1637. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1638. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1639. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1640. 'Order, ladies and gentlemen.'

1641. 'Order! Order, please!'

1642. 'We cannot continue this meeting with this kind of chaos here!'

1643. - 'Please! Sit down!' - 'Is this thing on?'

1644. - 'Come to order, please!' - Dr. Napier.

1645. Dr. Napier, I think you should call the question now.

1646. 'I cannot call the question.'

1647. 'All points of view seem to have been'

1648. 'exhausted here.'

1649. 'No further purpose is going to be served by this.'

1650. Why don't you have someone on the board...

1651. Mr. Mayor, it seems that Mr. Clark's students

1652. have assembled outside in an exercise

1653. of their first amendment rights.

1654. - How many? - It looks like all of them.

1655. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1656. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1657. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1658. We're in a tough spot here

1659. 'and I have to ask your help, Joe.'

1660. 'Uh, it's not for me. It's for those kids out there.'

1661. Now, they're very emotional. They're-they're all jacked up.

1662. You have to send them home.

1663. I don't have to do nothin' but stay black and die.

1664. Oh, for cryin' out loud.

1665. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1666. 'Free Mr. Clark!'

1667. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1668. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1669. People, before this gets out of hand

1670. 'listen, for your own safety, listen to me!'

1671. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1672. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1673. Alright, Joe. Let me put it this way.

1674. First, I wanted you to succeed.

1675. Now, don't think that I ever wanted anything else.

1676. But you're a realist, Joe, just like me.

1677. And I want you to think what would happen

1678. if there was a riot out there

1679. and cops had to go in and clear that square, huh?

1680. I'd have law and order on my side

1681. and the only people who'd be hurt would be your kids.

1682. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1683. Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!

1684. Listen to me!

1685. People, please!

1686. You must all disperse and return to your homes!

1687. Your presence here is helping no one.

1688. Why don't you use your brains and listen?

1689. 'Free Mr. Clark! Free Mr. Clark!'

1690. - 'Free Mr. Clark!' - 'Woo!'

1691. Thank you. Everybody, just, come on.

1692. Come on. Everybody, listen up. Listen up.

1693. Now, let's just settle down. Give her a chance to talk.

1694. She might actually have something to say.

1695. So, everybody just chill. Settle down.

1696. Let's listen to the old loudmouth wench.

1697. Here you go, Barrett.

1698. You can call me what you want

1699. but the simple fact is Mr. Clark has broken the laws

1700. of this state

1701. and exposed you all to grave danger.

1702. His behavior is irresponsible.

1703. Chaining those doors was a criminal act.

1704. Why do you think they call him "Crazy Joe?"

1705. 'Cause y'all don't understand him.

1706. 'Yeah. That's right!'

1707. He chained those doors to keep out the drug dealers.

1708. To make us all feel safe.

1709. Now, you talk about the law

1710. but you're twisting the law.

1711. The laws are made to protect the people

1712. 'and that's what he's doin' for us.'

1713. - Yes! - Yes!

1714. The thing that you don't understand

1715. is that Mr. Clark believes in us.

1716. - He... - He doesn't believe in you!

1717. 'Cause you don't take care of your responsibility!

1718. 'Despite what he himself may believe'

1719. Mr. Clark is not Eastside High!

1720. Mr. Clark is not only Eastside High.

1721. Mr. Clark is like a father, he's the only father

1722. that some of us who don't have fathers know.

1723. You don't know a thing about Mr. Clark!

1724. 'People! People, just hear me!'

1725. The school board is meeting right now

1726. and I promise you we will give you

1727. what Eastside High deserves, a good principal.

1728. We don't want a good principal!

1729. We want Mr. Clark!

1730. You may think you know what you want

1731. but the question is what is best for you

1732. 'best for Eastside High and best for..'

1733. This thing's getting out of hand.

1734. Talk to them, please.

1735. '... common interest tonight.'

1736. To see that this gets resolved

1737. so that you can continue your education.

1738. - Free Mr. Clark! - I am requesting you..

1739. - Free Mr. Clark! - Free Mr. Clark!

1740. People! People..

1741. Yay! Yay!

1742. Alright!

1743. I wonder why I can't get this kind of turnout for study hall.

1744. Alright, now.

1745. Kids, this is all very nice

1746. but now I'm going to insist that you all go home

1747. and let the laws of the land prevail.

1748. - 'No!' - 'No!'

1749. No! No! No! No!

1750. Now, listen. Listen.

1751. If I've taught you anything

1752. I have tried to give you respect for the law.

1753. Now, I want you all to go home

1754. 'in an orderly fashion!'

1755. No! No! No! No!

1756. 'Your voices have been heard!'

1757. No! No! No! No!

1758. 'I appreciate your concern for me.'

1759. No! No! No! No!

1760. But now is the time to go home.

1761. No! No! No! No!

1762. Kids, listen. You're not helping the matters any.

1763. Listen to me. You're not helping our cause if you stay here!

1764. - No! No! - Mr. Clark.

1765. I thought I left you in charge of these students.

1766. You've got to read this.

1767. Is this what you call taking care of your responsibility?

1768. Read this! Read it!

1769. No! No! No! No!

1770. Boss.

1771. 'No! No! No! No!'

1772. Dr. Napier, it is my duty

1773. it is my privilege and my honor to report to you

1774. that the students of Eastside High

1775. have passed the minimum basic skills test!

1776. - Mr. Mayor? - 'Yeah! Alright!'

1777. 'Alright, yeah!'

1778. Mr. Mayor, on behalf of myself

1779. and on behalf of the students of Eastside High

1780. you can tell the state to go to hell.

1781. I told you. You should not have brought him here..

1782. Joe Louis Clark is not goin' anywhere.

1783. Are you ready, my ghosts?

1784. - Yes! - Let me hear it.

1785. One, two, three!

1786. Congratulations.

1787. Come on, son.