All language subtitles for Potluck.Teacher.2025.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD.2.0.H.264-playWEB.Hi

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Check this out, man.

They got everything here.

All the Joes.

Joe Burrow,

Joe Namath,

Joe Montana.

Crazy, like
stepping back in time.

Look, there's Joe
Cool's card right there.

You mean Joe Montana?

Nah man, Joe Burrow.

That's Joe Cool's
card right there.

For what it's worth, Joe Burrow

did kinda rip off Joe
Montana's nickname.

-Oh yeah?
-Yeah.

Joe Cool was Joe
Montana's nickname

when he played for the Niners.

Except unlike the new Joe Cool,

Joe Montana backed it up
with four Super Bowl rings.

Really, Joe Burrow took
the name just like that?

Well, I doubt he
did it on purpose.

Maybe the Bengals' PR team
poached it or something.

Is Harrison boring you
two with history lessons?

Nah man, we're just talking.

All right, I just
wanted to make sure 'cause

he can be a little too free
with the lectures sometimes.

Lectures, that's funny.

Yeah, I call him Yaley

'cause he talks like he's from
Yale or someplace or another.

But one thing's for dang sure,
the man does know his sports.

Hey, you got any baseball cards?

Practically the
whole Hall of Fame.

We've even got some of
the new guys of today.

Ohtani, Trout.

Anyone in particular
you're looking for?

Nah, just checking things out.

Well, we have some up here.

You can look around the store.

We even got Pete Rose.

Poor Charlie Hustle got canceled

before there was
even a word for it.

I saw him interviewed once.

What do you mean
he got canceled?

He got blackballed.

They won't let him into the
Hall of Fame because he gambled.

Gambling, for that?

Man, every sport has gaming
ads now, that's crazy.

It's a little more
complicated than that.

I think keeping a guy out

of the Hall of Fame for
that, too austere for me.

Austere?

What does that mean?

It means Harrison's
being all Yaley again.

No really, what's it mean?

It means too
tough, too hardcore.

-Got it.
-Hey man, we gotta roll.

You got some cool stuff
here, I'll be back.

[Mike] Yeah,
thanks for the info.

Anytime.

See what I'm saying?

You bored those guys
with your lectures.

It sounded like they
appreciated the information to me.

Nah, he was just being polite.

Next time, just talk like
a normal person, all right?

'Cause we've got to move
some of this merchandise.

Yes sir.

[soda hisses]

[no audio]

Living the life, huh?

All the books you can read

and no one to
distract you anymore.

All you've lost is
everything else.

They've all moved
on and moved out,

leaving behind the
fallen warrior.

Well, read up, you
warrior of old.

No more distractions
except your own voice.

♪ I'm turning dreams
into reality ♪

♪ In the lab with the
formula and chemistry ♪

♪ The memories
spark and motivate ♪

♪ And make the industry shake ♪

♪ We put the bars
on the breaks ♪

♪ I'm talking one chance ♪

♪ One chance at best, yes ♪

♪ Painting pictures
for the culture ♪

♪ Keep the brushes fresh ♪

♪ We flipped the color,
work the drummer ♪

♪ Passion never rest ♪

♪ Freedom is our teacher ♪

All right everyone,
take your seats.

Yes Jaylen, Kennedy
is a very impressed.

Take your seat.

Hey, that was rude.

I was just getting
to the punchline.

Oh, really?

Well, why don't
you share your joke

with the rest of the
class, mister funny guy?

I can't with all y'all's
censorship going on around here.

I'll tell you after
class, it'll bust you up.

Nice, I think that's
what they call a teaser.

Now before we get started,

I did not get any suggestions
for next week's seminar.

Does anyone have any suggestions
for the guest speaker?

No ideas for the guest speaker?

All right, well I'll
need one by tomorrow

unless you guys want to do
another lesson that day.

[class grumbles]
[bell rings]

It's a pleasure talking to you.

All right, I'll see you.

So what do you think of asking

that guy from the
sports card store?

To be the guest
speaker in Willis' class?

Yeah, he seems cool.

He likes to talk.

Why not, right?

Beats listening to
her for another hour.

Yeah.

Hey, you wanna roll by there
now, see if he's up for it?

You mean the sports card shop?

Yeah, before your practice.

Yeah, let's do it,
let's go knock that out.

[door bell rings]

Hey man.

Welcome back.

We got a question for you.

I hope I can answer it.

Are you challenging
me to sports trivia?

Or is this an episode

of Stump the Clerk
at the Sports Store?

Nah man, we just wanted to see

if you'd like to come
and speak to our class.

-Your class?
-Yeah.

Our high school
class, Revere High.

I've heard of it.

One of those elite
public high schools.

Yeah, something like that.

We got small class sizes,
advantages like that.

Some people got in
through high test scores.

I got in through sports.

I got in 'cause they felt
sorry for me, disadvantaged.

And what is the reason for
me speaking to your class?

Each month, we have a seminar.

Our teacher asks us to
pick a guest speaker

to come in and talk.

Guest speaker, seminar
at a high school?

Bro, the teacher's
lazy, all right?

She gets to go hang out
in the teacher's lounge

and play on her
phone for an hour.

You don't give
any quarter, do you?

[Mike] Say what?

You call people out
straight up, don't you?

Yeah man, I keep it real.

Anyway, what do you think?

So they just let anyone
come and speak for an hour?

You gotta let them do a
criminal background check.

You know, so they make sure
that you're not some criminal.

That you're okay to
come in and speak

about something going
on in the community.

I see.

Like Jaylen said,
the teacher's lazy.

We're lazy too and
we get an hour off.

Wow, what a compliment.

Way to build a guy up.

I don't mean it like that.

We'll listen to what you
have to say obviously.

Obviously.

So what do you say?

I think I need to mull it
over, that's what I think.

That's cool, no problem.

I'm gonna shoot you a text

and you can text me back
if you want to do it.

Sure, fair enough.

Here's my card.

There you go,
just sent it to you.

My name is Jaylen, by the way.

Nice to meet you, Jaylen.

Harrison Jones.

-I'm Mike.
-Nice to meet you, Mike.

But seriously, you got a lot

of knowledge about
sports and whatever.

You could just come in and
talk to the class about

the store and what it does
for the community, whatever.

-That's it, huh?
-That's it.

[Jaylen] That's the deal.

You gotta let them do
the background check first.

You gotta talk to Ms. Willis.

Make sure that you're
okay to talk to the class.

Ms. Willis would be your
teacher at Revere High?

That's the one,
the one and only.

Look, I appreciate the thought.

Like I said, I'll think it over

but I would have to talk
to your teacher first.

Not that I don't
trust you or anything.

Nah, it's cool, understandable.

The thing is we
need to know tonight

'cause if we don't give
her a name tomorrow,

she won't have the seminar.

It'll give us more work.

Oh, we wouldn't want any
learning to happen, would we?

Bro, it ain't like that.

-Okay.
-It's not like that.

I meant to say I know
everyone would like you.

You're cool, different.

I hope you'll think about it.

Let us know, all right?

You got it.

Hey, are you guys ever
gonna buy something in here?

Bro, you gotta have as much bank

as these athletes to
buy what you're selling.

I don't know but maybe the class

can do some crowdfund
or something. [laughs]

I'm kidding.

Good day, gentlemen.

-Later.
-All right, man.

What do you think, Joe DiMaggio?

Quite the irony, isn't it?

Maybe I should consult
the other outfield.

[buttons clicking]

[phone chimes]

Thank you to everyone who
turned in your essays on time.

I should say everyone
except for two of you.

Those who didn't, I'll need
to see you after class.

I'm not gonna call you out,
even though maybe I should.

Hey, I was lining up
our guest seminar speaker.

-Hmm.
-That's not an excuse.

Okay, so who did you come up
with for the guest speaker?

[Mike] A guy who works
at a sports card store.

[students laughing]

I see.

And why did you choose this
great man of the sports world?

He's cool.

Seriously.

He's smart, knows a lot
about sports and stuff.

Sports and stuff.

What's wrong with sports?

Nothing.

We all respect your
accomplishments in that area, Jaylen.

I'm just trying to figure
out how this helps all of us.

You said we could invite
anyone from the community, right?

That's right.

So he's going to talk
to us about sports?

And these cool athletes,
their life stories.

What it's like working
there, all that stuff.

You both met him?

[Jaylen] Yep.

I hope you're not
inviting him here

just to make fun of him
because that's messed up.

Nah, it ain't like
that, he's cool.

-Ain't I a good citizen?
-Okay, that's enough.

Have him contact me and I'll
set it up for next week.

We'll broaden our horizons

and learn a bit
more about sports.

There you go, that's the spirit.

Thank you for the encouragement.

All right, let's get started.

Open your books to page 145.

[Rude Customer] How do you
come up with these prices?

I don't, sir, I just work here.

100 bucks for a
rookie Mike Schmidt.

Mike Schmidt?

I barely even remember the guy.

I think if you look around,

you'd find our prices
are very competitive.

Oh yeah, maybe I
should look around.

I mean, I'm from Philly

and I'm not shelling out 100
bucks for a Mike Schmidt.

Could you afford this?

It depends on the person, sir.

-[Rude Customer]
-Yeah, I know that.

That's why I'm asking you,
could you afford this?

I'm not sure how
to answer you, sir.

Well, how about
an honest answer?

Honest answer,

no, I couldn't.

But I'm not you.

Probably life has
smiled more upon you.

What's that supposed to mean?

It means that you probably
make more money than me.

Is that the answer
you're looking for?

Nevermind, I guess
I'll shop online.

[door bell rings]

Sorry I couldn't reel him in.

That's all right,
you're getting better.

Say, are you gonna
go through with it?

Go give a talk at that school?

Yeah, I told 'em I
would, that I'd be there.

Ain't it wild how they
found you like that?

Just discovered you right
here in this little store?

Yeah, some discovery.

They don't realize they're
in for quite a lesson

and I guess not about
sports cards either.

True.

I'm going to give them my
best for the hour I'm there.

Are you worried about
how they're gonna react?

You mean to my talk?

You know, everything
you've been through?

Well, I figure I'd just let
the chips fall where they may.

So when they do a
background check,

they take all of
me, warts and all.

Well, I can tell you one
thing, you're one brave dude.

I ever tell you I admire you?

Oh yeah?

Everything you've
been through and all.

I'm sorry life sent you here.

This place is a
blessing, a haven for me.

And being among all
the former greats,

it's inspiring in some way.

Well, good luck with those kids

and good luck with
those kids too

'cause they have no idea
what they're in for.

[Harrison laughs]

[soft music]

"Blessed are you
when people insult you,"

persecute you and falsely say

all kinds of evil against
you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, for great
is your reward in heaven.

For in the same way,

"they persecuted the prophets
who were before you."

Lord, may you grant me the words

to guide and inspire
these young people.

May you

make this last hurrah

worthy in your eyes.

Amen.

All right everyone, this
is Mr. Harrison Jones.

Jaylen and Mike met
him and were impressed

and Mr. Jones was
kind enough to share

some of his time with us today.

I've enjoyed speaking to him
and I'm sure you will too.

But I'll let him
introduce himself.

But before that, let's give
him a big round of applause.

[scattered claps]

Thanks to these two gentlemen

for the invitation
to your school.

Here's what I'd
like everyone to do.

I'm gonna hand each of
you a slip of paper.

I want you to write
down the topics

that you want to discuss today.

We'll pull out those three slips

and those will be the topics
we'll talk about for the hour.

Does that sound okay?

Here are your slips of paper.

Please write your
topics on those

and toss them into the cap.

Thank you.

All right, now all
I need is a person

of impeccable character
to choose our topics.

How about you?

You look honest.

-Okay, sure.
-Great.

Let's call them
out one at a time.

Topic number one,

joy.

Nice thought.

All right.

Joy.

All right, number two.

Topic number two,

debate.

Interesting, a little different.

Okay.

Let's see, all right.

Debate.

All right.

And the grand
finale, number three.

Topic number three,

Patrick Mahomes.

Three very different topics.

Now that's what I
call a variety pack.

I didn't catch your name.

[Gabby] Oh, it's
Gabriela but I go by Gabby.

Thank you, Gabby.

Patrick,

I'm just going to put Pat
Mahomes just for short.

Mahomes.

All right.

All right.

So okay, I see Ms. Willis
left me a seating chart here.

So I'll put this to good use.

All right, now,

let's see why you
chose these topics.

Time to fess up.

Okay, so who chose joy?

And Hannah, why
did you choose joy?

I mean, it's a good
thing to have, right, joy?

Yes, it certainly is, no doubt.

I'm just interested in why
was that your topic of choice?

My beliefs, my faith
tell me to look for joy

and give joy where I can.

Those are beautiful
thoughts and beautifully said.

We'll take up your topic
first in just a moment.

And now topic number two

is debate.

A little bleak
topic, if you ask me.

Who chose debate?

I did.

And why was that your
topic, your choice?

Well, I'm in speech and debate

and we have a really big
tournament coming up this weekend.

-Hmm.
-Man, that's dumb.

That means nothing to
everyone else, girl.

It's not dumb and don't call
me "girl," delinquent, ugh.

Oh, hold on, hold on.

Gabby, that was a fine topic.

Mike, you have a fine
head on your shoulders.

For one thing, you
certainly have an eye

for talent or I wouldn't
be here because you see,

you thought I was coming to talk

about sports and such
and we'll get into that.

But we're also going to
drill down some real issues.

Things you don't talk
about much in school today.

We're gonna talk about
that today, I promise.

And now finally,

Patrick Mahomes.

Who chose this one?

That was me, all the way.

[Harrison Jones] And
why Patrick Mahomes?

Because he's the best and
I'm coming right behind him.

You wish.

You need to check the
stat sheet, I'm on track.

I just need some more help
out there on the field.

So you're the quarterback here?

Yeah, bro.

Don't you see the news?

I thought you knew
all about sports.

Well, high school football

doesn't exactly generate
a lot of sports cards.

But that's a nice
topic you chose.

That'll be fine to work with.

Now what do you think of
when you think of joy?

Come on now, don't let
Hannah carry the load here.

What about you,

Maya?

What are your thoughts on joy?

I don't know, that
it's a good thing?

I'd like you to tell me why.

Because you see, what
we're gonna do today

is what they call
the Socratic Method.

I am gonna ply you
with questions,

a lot of questions
so that the truth

and the answers will come
from you and not from me.

So asking again, drilling
down, why is joy good for us?

I guess because without it,
we couldn't get through life.

Now that's an answer
worthy of Socrates.

Joy is essential to life.

Now who in here has joy?

Raise your hand, be honest.

Wow, not a lot of people
proclaiming joy today?

Or you're just shy?

Or you're struggling with joy?

I'll tell you what I think.

Mike, good.

Tell us.

There's a lot of bad
stuff swirling around.

It infects you, you know?

I mean, I'm happy enough.

But there's a lot of crazy
stuff you gotta power through.

It takes a lot out of you.

Enough bad stuff
to steal your joy?

I guess you could
put it that way.

And what bad stuff are you
talking about, in your life?

We're getting a
little personal now.

Hey, you invited me.

I'm just doing my thing
like I said I would.

It's just people are crazy.

Always after you to be crazy.

You are crazy, fool.

You better watch your mouth.

Or what, you'll pimp slap me?

Hold on, hold on.

Let's keep it civil.

First Mike, then Maya.

Tell me more, Mike.

What crazy stuff are
you talking about?

You know, I got feelings too.

People even in class
here, they look at me

and they judge me by my
rap sheet and my history.

But they got no idea
about the real me.

You got the cheerleader here,
the preacher's daughter there.

Maya flapping her mouth.

They all think they're better.

They all judge me but
they ain't my judge.

-Aren't.
-Aren't my judge.

"Judge not, lest ye
be judged," right?

Well actually, we're
supposed to judge.

Otherwise there wouldn't
be any right or wrong.

How do you figure?

Well, think about it.

If we can't judge, there
isn't any right or wrong.

Now you mentioned "Judge
not, lest ye judged."

We all know Jesus
Christ said that.

There was an early
Christian writer

named Tertullian who
pointed out something.

When Jesus said "Judge
not, lest ye be judged,"

He wasn't telling
us not to judge.

He was telling us
not to be hypocrites.

He was telling us
not to judge people

unless we hold ourselves
to those same standards.

Tertullian said Jesus wasn't
telling us not to judge.

In fact, He was telling
us how to judge.

[Mike] That's pretty deep.

Well, you certainly have

deep waters flowing
through you too.

Look, people can't judge
when they don't know.

When they got no idea
what you've gone through.

All we got from Dio
Papa was his name,

which is garbage 'cause
he's doing 20 years.

Beat my momma so
bad, I even remember

some of it from when I
was three, four years old.

"Frijoles tortillas."

He would call out for his food

and when it didn't
come fast enough, bam.

You wanna know why
I'm not out there

playing with Jaylen
even with my speed?

It's 'cause he broke
this arm when I was five.

I knocked over a
bottle of Modelo

and he threw me like a loaf
of bread into the wall,

then whacked me until Momma
could pull him off of me.

And 20 years didn't come
until three years later

after he took up with
some stupid woman

who just wanted a
man in the house.

Her kids don't matter,
they never matter.

I ain't gonna get hit no
more, it's that simple.

Hit me, I hit back but
harder. [fist pounds]

That kid, he turned bright red.

He just stood there.

Little twerp.

You know, they just
come in strutting around

like peacocks thinking
they got it all figured out

and then all of a
sudden, they don't.

What'd he do to
get on your bad list?

He's just a know-it-all.

He's just always
voicing his loud opinion

and like thinks he's a
Rhodes Scholar or something.

He's just arrogant, okay?

Kids like that need to be taken
down a peg or two, you know?

Introduce 'em to reality.

So I just make fun of him
a little bit, you know?

Poke fun at what he's
looking at on his phone

or what he's wearing, you know?

[Ms. Blades giggles]

-Yeah, I know how it goes.
-Yeah, thank you.

That Tessa Mays, she's
been going off lately,

rolling her eyes
and talking back.

I've gotta figure out
how to deal with her.

See, we're the end
of the line, okay?

Kids come here thinking they
have everything figured out

and they think "Oh, I can do
anything, I can be anything."

And then when they figure
out they've been lied to

by all these sunshine sellers,
they take it out on us.

Us, when we're the ones
just telling them the truth.

Huh.

Some of them have
tough backgrounds.

I feel bad for them at times.

Hmm.

Not bad enough not to gossip.

[Ms. Blades laughs]

You got a point.

A guilty pleasure I guess.

Hey, I need an outlet too.

Maya, you mentioned
being slapped.

Why'd you say that?

Because macho man Mike there

can say where he is
and where he's from

and that's how I
see him, a thug.

He tries to be the
tough guy all the time.

It's real tiring too.

Look, he's not the only one

in here who's felt
pain, you know.

I didn't have it easy neither.

[Daniel] Who has?

Daniel, thanks for joining in.

I mean, who in
here has had it easy?

I mean, look around, look at
what we're dealing with here.

-Boo hoo.
-Teacher's pet.

-Hey, don't call him that.
-Preacher's kid, butt out.

You gonna step in here or
you just gonna enjoy the show?

Yes, in a moment.

I see there are some things
that need to be worked out here

and apparently no
one has ever tried.

Well, if I speak my mind,
I'll get my butt kicked

after school or in a
dark alley or whatever.

So maybe it's best I just
keep my mouth shut, okay?

No one's gonna hurt you.

I'm not so sure.

Mike is gonna come
out of this conversation

with a new respect for
you and everyone else.

Daniel, finish your
thoughts you just had.

How do we find joy?

I didn't know I was
supposed to go looking for it.

Yes, we do.

Joy's not gonna
come and follow us

like some stray dog
following us home.

We have to go look for
it, we have to find it.

I'm just pretty
happy doing my thing.

Which is?

You know, gaming,
doing homework.

Oh, be honest, Daniel.

You're the class brains.

You have the top marks
in all of your classes.

You've got your ticket punched.

You have nothing to worry about.

Oh, really?

Yes, really.

You're gonna head
out of this place

and hire people like us to
serve you lattes and pizzas.

I do like me lattes and pizzas.

Don't be a jerk, man.

I didn't mean it like that.

What I'm trying to say is
no one here has had it easy.

Why do you say that?

Yes, Ethan.

I have to go to the bathroom.

Well, you'd better go.

Let's circle back to Daniel,

who I now know is the
star student here.

Why did you say no
one has it great?

Look, this isn't easy to talk
about in front of everyone.

You don't have to talk
about it if you don't want to.

It's up to you.

It's just

everyone thinks that they
can pick on the class nerd.

I'm the one guy that
everyone can tee off on.

You're not a nerd.

-He kind of is, sir.
-A little bit.

See, this is what
I'm talking about.

You know, you're not supposed

to judge based on people's
race or lifestyle or whatever.

But if you're smart, "Hey,
he's a nerd, open fire."

Come on man, lighten up.

We were just joking.

You think it's funny
that I don't have

as many friends as you or
that I'll never be popular?

You all laugh but you don't
know what it's like to be alone

and being picked on just for
trying to be good at something.

Daniel, did it ever occur to you

that people do that because
they envy what you have?

No.

How does that help me?

Yeah, right.

Hailey.

You wanna know what's worse?

How about not being
noticed at all?

Like a bug that gets
stepped on every day?

She speaks.

This is crazy.

Sir, you got her to speak.

She's never said
anything before now.

Why should I?

Because you've got
everything so figured out

-'cause you're super jock.
-Hold on, hold on.

Hailey, what is joy to you?

Being alive,
beating the darkness.

-What do you mean?
-Darkness is out there.

It's after all of us.

I go home, no mom, no
dad, ever and you hear

the darkness telling you
that you're all alone

and that you'll always be alone.

Hailey, you're never alone.

Yeah, I know.

I've got my best friend stashed
and waiting for me at home.

I've got two boyfriends who
love me and will never leave me.

Jack Daniels, Jim Beam.

That is some good
stuff right there.

Enough.

Hailey, why do you
say you're alone?

Because I am,
because I'm a freak.

That's how everyone here
looks at me, like a freak.

I can't get along with people.

No friends except other
rejects, no future.

That's why you start
hating yourself.

- Hailey, you don't need to-
- Do what?

Tell you how I feel?

When the darkness tells
you you're nothing,

maybe you are nothing.

Hating yourself, man,
that's just plain crazy.

Mike, stop that.

People say that
because they're sad.

Come on, they think that
way 'cause they're crazy.

-Well, I think you're crazy!
-Stop it.

Both of you.

Hailey,

you're a beautiful creation

and you're not alone,
you're never alone.

Says who?

Says the higher power.

Says the one who
made us and loved us

where we can find our
hope and joy, much joy.

All right, I want everyone
for the next five minutes

to write down a paragraph
of what they think of joy.

I'll be right back.

Ethan, come with me.

[door creaks]

Tell me what happened.

It's nothing, my
hair's just messed stop.

You can tell me what
happened, trust me.

A couple of guys were
hanging out in the bathroom.

They like to prank kids.

So what did they do?

It's nothing, can I go back?

What did they do?

They gave me a
swirly, all right?

You mean they put your head
in the toilet and flushed?

Yes.

All right, go back into
class, write a paragraph on joy.

Go in, don't look back.

-Go.
-Okay.

[door creaks]

It was awesome, wasn't it?

He was all crying.

How much money did you get?

-I'd say 20.
-20, that's it, really?

Come on, he's hoping,
yeah, maybe next week.

-Yeah, yeah, I know.
-Ah, great.

Just what I needed.

Hey, can you help me out here?

-What's up?
-I just need something

that's stuck there.

It's behind the seat,
can you grab it for me?

-Get what?
-Yeah, grab it.

Whoa, hey bro, hold up.

You can't put me in there.

You want some of this?

What are you doing?

If you ever touch that
kid that was just in here,

you ever say anything to him
or say anything bad about him,

I got you.

I'll upload this and you'll
be international in a day,

all over social media.

They're gonna call
you Mr. Swirly

because that's what I'm
gonna name the video.

"Don't put me in,
don't put me in."

Don't mess with me, boys.

I got fangs you
don't want to see.

Who are you?

-You can't be doing that.
-Oh, really?

My phone says I just did.

-[Bathroom Bully 1]
-You can't do that.

Do you see any cameras in here?

-No, it's a bathroom.
-There you go.

Goodbye for now, boys.

Who was that guy, a teacher?

They call me the
Minister of Justice

but you can just
call me the Minister.

All right, everyone done
with their paragraphs on joy?

Time for our second
topic, debate.

So debate is like a boxing
match or an MMA bout.

But it's really
about using ideas

and language to gain
power, to get an advantage.

So in your tournaments,

it's all about the
medal or the trophy.

But in real life, there's
a lot more on the line.

What's your favorite
TV show or online ad?

Anybody, it doesn't
have to be Gabby.

[Daniel] I like the ad

that talks about not
being like your parents.

-The insurance ad?
-Yeah.

You know, funny,
like cringe funny.

I think Daniel just coined
a phrase here, "cringe funny."

Got a future giant
on Madison Avenue.

-Thanks.
-How about rhetoric?

Does anyone know any
great lines from politics?

Now for my money, the folks with

the best political
putdowns are the British.

Their rhetoric is
the best, the tops.

So a few years ago, there was
an unpopular Prime Minister

and a newspaper, one of
the newspapers in London

placed a bet that
a head of lettuce

would last longer than she
would as Prime Minister.

Guess what?

They were right.

A week later, the
Prime Minister resigned

and on their live stream,
the paper placed a wig

on a head of lettuce
in celebration.

-[students laugh]
-That's cold.

Well, I'll give you
a couple more examples

before I turn it
back over to you.

How many of you heard
of Winston Churchill?

Wow.

Three hands, huh?

Well at least Patrick
Mahomes is well-known.

Winston Churchill was Prime
Minister during World War II.

But before that, he was
just a member of Parliament.

One time, he compared
the Prime Minister

of the time, Ramsay MacDonald,

to a circus sideshow
called The Boneless Wonder.

Now The Boneless Wonder was
a man who was so flexible

that he can bend
himself into a pretzel.

Churchill called MacDonald
a coward, a Boneless Wonder.

-Because he had no backbone.
-Very good.

He stood for nothing.

That's not right though.

Those circus sideshows
with the bearded women

and the little short
people running around

like Oompa-Loompas,
that was messed up.

Yes, it was.

Except that was the only way
those people could earn money.

That was the only jobs that
were available for 'em.

There were no government
programs to help.

I still say that was messed up.

Yes it is, you're right.

So remember that the next
time you're watching a video

of someone getting beat
up or a crash or whatever.

Those are the
sideshows of today.

Here's one more example of
first rate British rhetoric.

The great Prime Minister
Benjamin Disraeli

happened to be Jewish.

One time, a politician decided

to bring up his religion
during a debate.

Back then, the British were
very faithful Christians.

So having a Jewish Prime
Minister was as big a deal

as us having a Black
President, maybe bigger.

So it was a real low
blow and a cheap shot

to bring up this man's
faith to win an argument.

But Disraeli was ready.

He did what Churchill did.

He knocked him down with wit.

Quote, "Yes, I am a Jew",

and while the ancestors of
the right honorable gentleman

were brutal savages
on an unknown island,

"mine were priests in
the Temple of Solomon."

[Daniel chuckles]

Help me out here, Daniel.

What point was he making?

That his people, the Jewish
people, gave us the Bible.

When Solomon was King,

the British people were
just basically cavemen.

Bingo, and the joke worked

because the Christians
of that time in the UK

recognized that their
Christian heritage

came from the Bible and
the Jewish experience.

Disraeli's witty comment knocked
him right between the eyes.

That's cool, so he
was calling them out

-for being like racist?
-Close.

He was exposing their prejudice

and hitting 'em back at the
same time in a funny way.

[Jaylen] That's a cool story.

Well, in a way, I'm in a
business of cool stories.

Now I want to turn
it back over to you.

I ask that you all think about
the debates that you've had.

Take some time to
think about those

and I want you to
share those with us.

Hannah.

So I have a story

but maybe it's not one
I can tell in school.

Well, you know Hannah,

I don't see you as
a foul-mouthed type.

Well, oh no, I
don't mean like that.

I mean it's about my faith.

[Harrison Jones] A debate
you had about your faith?

Yeah, and I don't
wanna get like arrested

or something for talking
about it in school.

You're not going
to get arrested.

Mum's the word,
tell us your story.

You know, it's not easy
having faith these days

because you can't talk about it

or bring it into
school or whatever.

You're supposed to
leave it at the door.

Keep your mouth shut or
bad things will happen.

[Harrison Jones] What
kind of bad things?

You talk about having debates.

I mean, it's a joke.

I try to talk about the things

that are most important
to me and I'm shut down.

I'm told I'm preachy, preacher's
daughter like he said.

My faith tells me I should
share my beliefs but I can't

and it's not like I'm
trying to put people down

or make 'em feel
bad or anything.

I just want to share
what's on my heart

'cause I think it's important.

I think it's the
most important thing.

I don't think anyone
wants to hear that.

Maybe it makes people
feel bad about themselves.

Did you ever think about that?

Nope.

I get it but I mean, I'm
not trying to put people down.

Some people need to hear it.

I mean, they're drowning
and I just get shut down.

Everyone like me, and
there's a lot of us,

we get like
ridiculed, picked on.

I mean, what you're
saying is backwards.

It's beyond old school.

Nobody I respect in the media

or top universities
talk like that anymore.

It's just not relevant anymore.

Daniel, you might be the
smartest guy in this class.

You might be the smartest guy

like in the whole class,
you might be valedictorian

but to try to make
yourself sound educated,

you look up to the wrong people.

I mean, don't you
think if all the people

in the top universities and
institutions say the same thing,

shouldn't we believe them?

I think they're wrong.

I think when you put me down,

my Christian faith down
and tell me to be quiet,

they're just preaching
a religion of their own

and it's a religion of hate
towards people like me.

One day, I came to
school wearing a dress.

Not like I gown for a
ball but just a dress.

I'm in a trad wife
training group

and we were meeting right
after school that day.

It's a group of
girls who want to be

stay-at-home wives and mothers

and

everyone made fun of me.

Everyone stared.

The comments were
like really mean.

"Princess Bride," "white
trash in a dress."

Just horrible things.

I thought you were beautiful.

Really cool.

Thank you.

I don't know.

Some people just hate.

It's not right.

You should tune
those people out.

They got nothing going on.

I mean, just look at us.

I mean, listen to
us, kids these days.

It's like we grew up in
a junkyard, you know?

We see all these like scraps
and broken things around us

and we're meant to
go through everything

and figure out what still works

but everything is
broken into pieces.

Our families,

our souls.

I mean, almost every kid I know

at school is
battling depression.

I mean, think of that.

They need God in their lives

and I can't even talk about Him?

-Teachers don't help.
-Why do you say that?

Because they don't,
they just make it worse.

Teaching's a hard job,
teachers deserve respect.

They should earn it, right?

Shouldn't they earn it?

I suppose it's a two-way street.

Teaching is about
having power and trust.

Do you have problems?

When a teacher likes
to get a big laugh

by putting you down,
they lose your respect.

Lost mine.

Do you wanna share something?

I just think that a
lot of us are depressed

because the adults in our
lives are checked out.

Parents are checked out,
kids who even have parents

and you come to school and
the teachers don't help.

They just pile on.

They're not all bad.

They're not bad to you.

You're pretty and and
popular, you've got money.

Who's gonna say
anything bad to you?

It's people like
me, like the gum

you step on and wanna
pick off your shoe.

Who taught you to think
like that about yourself?

A teacher at this
school, for one.

I won't call her out
because I don't want

any more trouble
than I already got.

-[Harrison Jones]
-What'd she do?

She saw me talking to this girl

and we were just
talking, you know?

But then she thought it'd be
funny to tease me about it.

"Oh Ethan, you're
becoming a real player."

Just for laughs.

The other kids laughed.

She keeps going, "Ethan,
you got the moves.

I saw you in action."

The girl I was talking
to, she starts yelling,

"I'm not interested in him,
why are you saying that?"

And everyone's
piles on laughing.

She tried to change the subject
then but it was too late.

She never apologized.

I don't know what
to say at school.

I'm on antidepressants now,
I'm not ashamed to say it.

You get picked on enough,
what are you supposed to do?

I'm very sorry to hear that.

So now you draw the
line with teachers

because of that experience?

Yeah, I don't trust them.

They're not all like that.

I'm sorry about that and
I think you're making

a broader point about
when we hit our limit.

[Ethan] What's that?

All of us reach our
limit with a capital I.

What we're willing
to take, you know?

Unless you're a saint.

As Christians, I know Jesus

told us to give everything
to our persecutors.

If they ask for a shirt, give
them something else in return.

But soon we realize
that if we let them,

evil people will take
everything from us.

Soon, they'll even torture
us for their entertainment,

as they did to Christ.

So for most of us
mortals, we draw a line.

That's why I took care of that
thing for you earlier, Ethan

because I reached my
limit a long time ago

and somebody's gotta
stand up to those bullies.

I think we should speak
up and say what we think.

[Harrison Jones] Gabby.

I know what Ethan's
talking about.

I got into it once with my
speech and debate teacher.

Someone brought up politics

and we were all talking
about what was in the news.

I said something that
set the teacher off.

He didn't like what I'd
said and he never forgave me

and ever since, he's made it

his mission to try
and humiliate me,

What happened?

He puts me in positions

where I'd fail just
to see me fail.

He sends me off to
debate tournaments.

He gives me the wrong advice

or gives me the wrong
evidence, just for fun.

"Oh Gabriela, I wanna
make you stage manager

of our class play, 'Oklahoma.'"

So I thought great,

maybe he's finally
giving me a chance now.

But he would never
let me do anything

and anytime I made a
suggestion, he'd just ignore it

and anytime an actor forgot
their lines or missed

their marks or whatever, he
would just blow up and blame me.

He cursed me out even.

I finally just resigned
and it was evil.

That's awful.

And what kids do is no better.

Why are people so cruel?

It's in our nature.

People are marked when
they come into this world,

you could say, because
of what happened long ago

with the first man and woman.

We're selfish and mean until
we're trained not to be.

[soft piano music]

♪ Is there anybody out there ♪

♪ That can give me a lifeline ♪

♪ I've been driven
through the darkness ♪

♪ Looking for the sunrise ♪

♪ Sometimes it feels
like we're so far away ♪

♪ Trying to keep our
heads above the waves ♪

♪ Are we gonna
sink like Titanic ♪

♪ Our problems feel gigantic ♪

♪ Like falling apart
into a cold, cold ocean ♪

♪ Are we gonna run
like we're strangers ♪

♪ At the first sign of danger ♪

♪ I'll still be hanging on ♪

♪ Just tell me when
I'm going under ♪

[students laughing]

Hey, hey, everyone, everyone.

Hey, yes, I have a Dylan
listed on the seating chart.

I don't see him.

Anyone know what
happened to this Dylan?

He's checked out.

[Harrison Jones] What's that?

He takes off during class.

Takes off?

Yeah, he usually just
leaves his stuff here.

He comes at the beginning,
leaves when the bell rings

but it shows that he's here.

And the teacher
lets him do this?

She's talked to him about
it but he keeps doing it.

He just goes to the parking lot,

goes to his car and
plays on his phone.

-He's there now?
-Yeah, bro.

He's in the parking lot.

Okay.

For the next five minutes,

I want everyone to do
what they did before.

Now write a paragraph
about debate.

I'll be right back.

[Harrison Jones knocks]
Hey.

Are you Dylan?

Yeah, what's up?

[Harrison Jones] I'm
your seminar teacher today.

Oh yeah.

I ain't in that
class, thanks though.

I think you are.

Yeah, I don't
care what you think.

Look.

Dude, I'm just having a snack.

What's it to you?

A snack in the middle of class?

Yeah, I got like
big glands, you know?

Real active too,
it's not my fault.

Hey man, come on, do me a favor.

-Just step outta the car.
-For what?

Am I under arrest?

Hey, no, no, no, no,
no, no, no, no, no.

Look.

Trust me, unless
you want me to go

to the principal's office
and mark you as absent.

Hey, do it.

They don't care, they
ain't gonna do nothing.

You sure?

I hear you been
ditching this class.

What's up with that?

Gotta put first things first.

Take care of business.

You ditching my class,
that makes it my business.

All right, look.

As long as I'm on
school grounds,

I ain't counted as
absent, all right?

It's truant.

So the school gets their money

and I get to keep
working on my stuff.

How do you expect
to learn anything?

Learn what, fool's
math, fool's history?

I'm never gonna use
none of that stuff.

Hmm.

I'm out here getting good
nutrition, working on my hooks.

Your hooks?

Yeah.

My hip hop, dawg.

Come on man, I know
you heard of hip hop.

Do I gotta be the teacher now?

Yes, I've heard of hip hop.

You know, it actually
helps to learn something.

You know, to get some ideas.

Some things to write
down for your lyrics.

Oh yeah?

Yeah.

Knowledge is power.

[Dylan laughs]

Okay.

All right, appreciate it.

I think I got it covered though.

These are sweet, man.

-You got no idea.
-Hmm, really?

Try them out on me.

[Dylan laughs]

Try them? [coughs]

No offense, big dawg but
teachers ain't exactly

my target audience, you
know what I'm saying?

Understood but hey, come
on, you got an audience.

Try them out on me.

All right bro, if you insist.

[Harrison Jones] Good.

Just sit back, relax, get
ready to be dazzled, yeah?

All right, here it is.

"Passport To Amazing."

♪ Yeah, yeah, feel that sizzle ♪

♪ Heading straight for the
missile coming down the pike ♪

♪ Like three little
pigs on a spike ♪

♪ To light up your brain, a big
candle flapping in the rain ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah ♪

And that's all I got so far,
but you heard it though.

I mean, I lay it down
pretty smooth, right?

Keep it up and you'll put
Mother Goose out of business.

Okay, all right then, yeah.

Come to think of it,

you may have to pay
her some royalties.

Is she from Brooklyn?

[Harrison Jones laughs]

Come on man, humor me.

I'm only here for a few minutes.

Plus, you'll have a
backup plan if your career

in performing arts takes a
little long to get going.

It's good for you, I promise.

And you can bring
your burger with you.

Just finish it on the way.

Hey, be honest with me.

Did you like my act?

Like I said, I'm a
little out of my element

and out of my depth on
this particular field but

I see that you're dedicated
and it's half the battle.

All right then, I guess
we're on the same page.

All right.

Let's go.

[Jaylen] Yeah. [claps]

Dylan has decided to
end his long hunger strike

and join the rest of the class.

In fact, he's been working
hard on our last topic.

-Oh yeah?
-Yeah.

Right, yeah, last topic, yeah.

Which is Patrick Mahomes,

brought to us courtesy
of our star athlete.

-Show the love.
-[student laughs]

You have to start us off.

What does it mean

when you think of the
name Patrick Mahomes?

Greatness.

-Greatness?
-He's the best.

He's got the brains,
the athletic ability,

the arm, the anticipation.

Never been anyone like him.

He is great and
he's one of a kind

with rings to prove it.

But what is the downside
of being Patrick Mahomes?

Downside?

There's no downside
there, he's got it all.

Does he?

So what comes with all that
glory, all that success?

-Pressure.
-Spot on.

He can handle it.

In the pursuit of excellence,

we hold ourselves
to a high standard

and others hold us
to that standard.

Does anyone know what
I'm talking about?

Jaylen does, don't you?

Yeah,

I guess.

Sure you do.

Just like Mahomes
except in high school.

[Jaylen] It's different.

[Maya] Yeah, he's
got bank and you don't.

That's part of it.

I'll put it this way.

What if every time
a game comes on,

it's "Jaylen's next, he's
gonna get us paid like them."

Every time you go to your own
hand, you feel the pressure.

That's not pressure out
on a field from defense.

That's pressure you can
never get away from.

No pocket you can hide
in, no O-line to block it.

It's just always there, like
this weight you can't shake.

Have you ever talked about
that pressure to your family?

What am I supposed to say?

"Hey, knock it off?

Maybe I won't make it?

Maybe the chances of me
getting paid to play on Sundays

aren't a whole lot better
than winning the lottery?"

Maybe they're just
trying to encourage you

but you know they
believe in you.

No, it's not like
that, they push.

It's not like they're
big fans or something.

They want me to succeed so
they can get in on the action.

It's tough, man.

[Mike] Sorry, man.

I thought you liked football.

Bro,

I love it.

Best game in the world

and I don't mind the
pressure from the game.

It's the expectations that
follow me off the field.

But you say you want to be like

Patrick Mahomes and
follow in his footsteps.

I mean, yeah.

I wish I could play like him.

But

in a way, I'm just
expected to say that.

To step up and strive to
be the next big thing.

But if I don't get it done,

I hear about it for the rest
of my life from my family

because they want the
slice, know what I'm saying?

Hey brother, I got the
solution for you right here.

[Jaylen] What's that?

You need to
diversify, all right?

Get paid in multiple industries.

Get out here and help me
bust out some lyrics, yeah?

[Jaylen laughs]
Hey man.

Just saying,
there's no pressure.

I'm already on my way, you
just gotta hop on board.

Yeah, that'll do it.

Maya?

I hear what people are
saying and I'm thinking.

We don't talk about the obvious.

What is the obvious
we're overlooking, Maya?

Life.

Just rolling out of bed and
putting on your clothes,

pushing through the halls

out there with
everyone pushing back.

That's pressure too.

-[Harrison Jones]
-That's very well-put.

Yeah, but we don't talk
about the basics like we should

and with everyone we walk by,

talk to or sit next to, it
all holds risk, you know?

The potential to go
bad and you're judged

before you even open your
mouth and say a word.

We all have pressures, don't we?

Yes, we do.

Why do you say that, Kennedy?

It's just different
kinds of pressure.

Some last for a moment
and some last a lifetime.

[Harrison Jones] A lifetime?

Yeah, like they never go away.

Like being popular.

"Help me, I'm popular."

Nevermind.

It's all right, what
you're saying is important.

That's why they're all laughing?

Well I can laugh at
you too, you know?

It goes both ways.

No one is going to laugh at you.

We value what you have to say.

Could have fooled me.

Sorry.

[Kennedy] Okay.

Most people aren't
popular, Kennedy.

But they don't
know what it's like.

They only see the
outside of things.

It's like all these
actors and singers.

Why do so many of them end
up on drugs and die young?

It's the pressures of
living up to a reputation.

A lot of truth there.

I have feelings, a lot
of things don't go my way.

Little miss perfect, that
comes with the territory.

Don't call me that.

Why are you so mean?

-Mean?
-Your words are like poison.

Mean, you think I'm mean?

Maya, it's all right.

No, let me finish.

She's not gonna win Pity
Me Sweepstakes today, okay?

No, I don't spill my guts

to everyone like
y'all, but I got pain.

I got pain the day they
told me I wasn't the cutest,

the smartest, had
nothing going for myself

except for when my
cousin said "Hey",

you're cute.

Come on in here.

Yeah.

Take that off.

"We're gonna film you."

[Maya Abuser 1] Come on
girl, show us what you got.

[Maya Abuser 2] Go
ahead, don't be shy.

And then they take
advantage of you

and then the whole world knows
and the whole world sees,

just like everyone in here

and you don't mind
because your whole life,

you've been told you're nothing.

You've been passed over from
prom dates or any dates.

No Kennedy, I don't
feel sorry for you.

You got a silver
spoon in your mouth

and that bling around your
neck and everyone loves you.

I'm hard as nails because
that's what life gave me.

That's how I pushed through.

[soft somber music]

[Mike] It's cool, I feel you.

There you go.

Somebody gets it.

I'm so sorry.

I wasn't trying to put you down.

We know you're
not, don't we Maya?

I said my peace.

We're good.

Kennedy, go ahead and please

finish what you
had started to say.

All I was trying to say was that

I have pressure too.

We all do.

Some of you may have noticed
that I struggle with my weight.

A lot of women do but
I have a real problem.

I've gone to doctors
and the counselors

say that I have an
eating disorder.

I think you look great, Kennedy.

Thank you.

I struggle with it.

I've gone through times where
I've been way too skinny

'cause I wouldn't eat
what I was supposed to.

I'd get down to like,
I was like a skeleton.

[Maya] You don't
look that way now.

No, I don't.

You mean like anorexia?

You don't have to get into that.

I don't mind.

Everyone should know that
we all have struggles.

So yeah, I'm not
afraid to admit it.

Those are the things
that I have to fight.

I mean, crazy,
not eating enough.

The solution's right there.

Have a pizza, a soda.

There, problem solved.

That is enough, you're
missing the point.

How?

Something that's easy for you

is not always easy for others.

Like what?

She's nice and you're, shall
we say, an acquired taste.

We're all different.

We all bear our scars,
our battle scars of life.

I'm gonna give you
another saying.

This is an old one the
Romans used to say.

"Misfortune nobly
born is good fortune."

Anyone knows what that means?

Something like a fortune cookie.

Nice try.

You know how athletes always say

there's beauty in the struggle?

-Yeah, I heard that.
-That's what it means.

All of you have
heroes inside of you.

How did we get like this?

What do you mean, Daniel?

I mean, how did
things get so crazy?

It's like kids don't
know the rules nowadays.

We're practically
raising ourselves.

I like the way you said that.

Raising ourselves,
that's a good one.

Why do you feel that way?

How else should I feel?

We have no parents.

I mean, we got some
that practically

don't do anything but
put food on the table.

Teachers are always overwhelmed.

Some of 'em care,
some of 'em don't.

Everyone's into just
doing their own thing now.

We do live in an age of self.

The other day, I was watching

an old TV program
just to check it out.

It was called "The Brady Bunch."

It was about a father and
a mother and six kids.

The jokes were very cringe.

The show had heavy
use of the laugh track

but the lessons,

they were always really good.

The parents were always
there for the kids.

You've seen that show, right?

I know the show
you're talking about.

[Daniel] Then how did
we end up like this?

People stopped caring
about other people.

That's what happens.

There's nothing
complicated about that.

There's a lot of talk today

about not trusting institutions,

government, businesses,
churches, media.

What do you say about all that?

Why should we trust them
when they've failed us?

I mean, the whole
system is stacked.

Everyone older got the
houses, the big paying jobs

and left us with nothing
but debt and broken lives.

Amen, sister.

Maybe it's your time
to be great, to be noble.

Maybe you live better than
the generation before you,

the generation that
stole from you.

Maybe you set the example
of goodness and grace.

Live to be the
generation that rebuilds

what your parents and your
grandparents destroyed.

That sounds pretty noble to me.

And then she just had no-
[phone rings]

Hello, Karen Willis.

[Georgia] Ms. Willis.

This is Georgia Vines,
Casey Switzer's mom.

Oh, hi, how are you?

[Georgia] I'm okay,
I'm calling about Casey.

She told me she's not
doing well in your class.

She has been struggling.

[Georgia] Well, I talked
to her like you suggested.

And?

[Georgia] You're not
seeing any improvement?

Not in her
schoolwork, no I'm not.

[Gabby] Of course I meant
improvement in her grades.

What other improvement
could I mean?

I don't know, how about
improvement in social skills?

[Georgia] You don't
need to get smart with me.

Look, she doesn't
put in the time

or effort she needs
to to succeed.

She just doesn't care, okay?

This is not a hard class,
it's sophomore social studies.

If it makes you feel any better,

a lot of the other
students do the same.

At least she shows up for class.

[Georgia] That's gonna look
great on her resume, won't it?

"She showed up for class."

I'm just saying
it could be worse.

[Georgia] What else can I do?

Mrs. Vines, I
can't counsel you

on how to raise your child.

I only see what
shows up to class.

[Georgia] Thanks for
nothing, I'm hanging up now.

-Do you see?
-[Ms. Blades laughs]

This is why I don't try
and get close to them.

That's why, they're
like abused animals

let out of their cage
for seven hours a day

in a pen and we
just warehouse them.

Now that's a pretty
rough view of things.

Is it?

I mean, it's all I can do
to corral these savages

and get them to sit
still for a few minutes

and some of them
can't even do that.

You ever try just
talking to them?

I'm not a miracle worker

and this is not a
miracle factory.

[Ms. Blades giggles]

I have one more topic
for us, it's my own.

It's a personal privilege.

It's gonna help
us wrap up today.

We've seen and heard

a lot from the heart
and the soul today.

Courage,

honesty,

wisdom.

So our final topic today,

the solution.

[marker scrapes]

Who can help me find a solution?

You mean for life?

Yes, Daniel, exactly.

What is the solution for life

to find more joy,
peace, excellence?

So are you talking like a
code of life or something?

-[Harrison Jones]
-Maybe, what do you think?

I try to find my way and
lose myself in working out,

practicing, watching tape,
trying to be the best I can be.

Preparing, studying.

Yeah, all that.

How about you, Maya?

What do you do to find
peace, joy, to be your best?

I like listening
to those podcasts

and the YouTube channels, the
ones with the rain falling.

It may sound stupid but
it works for me anyways.

I think that's awesome.

It works for a lot of people

and I don't think they'd have
those shows if it didn't work.

I guess not.

Daniel, how about you?

I'm good with a
book and a latte.

-You travel light, huh?
-It's called an escape.

I could easily dive
into a good book.

I do a lot of that myself.

Very good.

Who else?

Mike, what do you
do for peace, joy?

I heard Jack Daniel's
name, he and I go way back.

Is there something
legal you can turn to?

I guess gaming,
hanging out with friends.

I don't know about joy
and peace and all that

but it's what I
like to do for fun.

You brought up a great point.

What we do for fun
isn't always the same

as what we do to find
joy, peace, excellence.

I was going to say that
I turn to herbal tea.

Great example.

But is that truly the solution?

Granted, we've all
gotten ourselves there.

We choose something
to eat or drink

or something to
pass the time by.

But is that the inspiration

for lasting peace,

lasting joy?

You see there's a
difference, right?

Yeah, I do.

So what do you say, sir?

Maybe my answer
will surprise you.

For me,

it's clear as day.

How do we find the solution,

the one source to
all these things?

Joy,

peace,

the pursuit of excellence.

I found that source
a long time ago

and it's steered me
straight ever since.

-Sports trivia.
-[students laughing]

Oh, funny thing,
you probably thought

you were just recruiting some
guy from a sports card store.

Nah man, I'm just kidding.

We chose three random
topics that you've written

literally picked out by
one of you out of a hat

and those topics led us here,

the source of what's
most important.

How'd you know
that would happen?

I didn't, but look
what happened here today.

Your concerns, your thoughts,

your experiences have led you

to search for something
bigger than yourselves

because we've all been
told to go find joy

and the good things in life

in a selfish way

but we learn how that fits
into a bigger picture.

God's holy picture.

Beautiful,

bright.

Just like your smiles.

Don't let anyone take
that away from you.

You know, I forgot
to do something.

What's that?

Google that guy, the
guest speaker we have today.

I mean, not that it matters.

He already passed
the background check

but I like to do it
anyhow, you know?

I don't need any issues

with my midterm review
coming along soon.

[soft ominous music]

The one time I forget.

You know, the one
time that I forget.

[Ms. Blades] Is
everything okay?

I gotta show this guy the door.

[soft ominous music]

[soft ominous music continues]

That's it, we're done.

What's up?

We had a good class today.

No, you didn't.

Mr. Jones here didn't come
clean about his background.

He managed to slip
through the cracks.

Isn't that right, Mr. Jones?

Look what I found
on the internet.

"Harrison Jones yesterday
was barred for life

from teaching and stripped
of his teacher's license

for leading his
classroom in prayer

at Sequoia High
School in Rockdale.

School administrators
terminated Jones

following a hearing
into allegations

of unapproved religious
conduct in the classroom.

Jones' teaching license
was revoked specifically

for violating the Supreme
Court's ban on prayer in school.

Jones claimed the prayers
were for a student

who had been injured
in an auto accident.

He also claimed
the ban on prayer

"was quote 'tyrannical and
unjust' and" et cetera, et cetera.

Garbage, we're done.

That picture sure does look
like you, huh Mr. Jones?

-It is.
-Yeah, that's you?

-Yes, it is.
-Yeah.

What's that?

Your seminar speaker
here was a teacher

who got barred from teaching
for the rest of his life.

That's why he's working
in a sports card shop.

Isn't that right, Mr. Jones?

Yes, I need security
down here please.

I need someone escorted
from the school grounds.

My guest speaker.

I'll explain to
Principal Janssen later.

-Wait.
-Yes.

-Why? That's not cool.
-Stay out of it, okay?

I'm not losing my job over this.

I don't feel like working at

a sports card shop for
the rest of my life.

I don't want to end
up like this loser.

-Hey, that ain't right.
-Take it easy.

It's okay.

[soft violin music]

They do make you pay for
thoughts out of season, don't they?

Growing up,

I never thought I'd
have to choose between

my God and my government.

For me, that's an easy choice.

-Principal told us to come.
-You called for security.

Yes, this gentleman
should not be here.

He needs to be escorted
out of the school.

Those essays you wrote
today, those are for you.

You pull those out

anytime someone tells
you you're worthless.

Remember just how blessed
you are to be you.

Out, Mr. Jones.

So yeah.

Such a waste.

[soft somber music]

"To thine own self, be true."

Whew, where's my disinfectant?

I do miss it so.

Did you see the
cornerstone out front?

It has the year on it.

A.D. 1977.

You know what that means?

Anno Domini, it's Latin
for "the year of our Lord."

They haven't chiseled
that out yet, have they?

Blessed to have you here.

Thank you for keeping
our young people safe.

Good seeds were planted
here today, the best.

They haven't buried us yet

and I have it on good
authority, they never will.

[inspirational music]

[inspirational music continues]

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