Original subtitles

She's old and fat.

Yeah, with wart.

How come teachers are always ugly?

That's because women can't be pretty and smart at the same time.

My mom's smart. She's the prettiest lady in town.

She's a doctor, not a teacher.

As acting head of our new school board, it gives me great pleasure to introduce

to you our new school teacher, Miss Louise Chambers.

I want to express my appreciation for this opportunity.

Timothy, that is, Reverend Johnson, has written me so much about your wonderful

town, and now I see that it's all true.

She seems real nice.

Boy, she's ugly.

I'm going to sit in the front row. I look forward to sharing my love of

with all of your children, and I can assure you I will do everything

to give them a proper education, starting with the premise that order is

first law of heaven.

An orderly, well -disciplined child has an orderly, well -disciplined mind.

Kids around here could use a little discipline, that's for sure.

Indeed, there are times when children should be seen and not heard, and times

when children, though they may go unheard, are never unseen.

Come on out, boys.

Brian, don't you know it's not polite to eavesdrop on your elders?

We weren't eavesdropping.

We were just seeing how ugly she was.

Brian. But she ain't.

I want you to apologize to Miss Chambers at once.

Sorry.

Sorry's a start, but you must pay for your mistakes.

I want to see both of you at the school and before class tomorrow morning to

clean the blackboards.

But I got chores at home.

Well, then you'll just have to get up a bit earlier, won't you?

Now go on, both of you.

Looks to me like we got ourselves a teacher.

Welcome to our town, Miss Chambers. We're glad to have you here.

Nice to meet

you.

Nice to meet you. Oh, nice to meet you.

I think you're very sweet on her.

You know what I mean?

Time's up.

All right, let's see how you've done.

Alice, put a star by your name on the board. That's good work.

Everybody clear about their homework assignments for the weekend?

I don't want to hear one more excuse when it comes Monday morning.

All right, I have a wonderful surprise for all of you. Miss Dorothy has

furnished us with some new paint sets.

Since our third graders' math tests were most improved, they get to use them

first. You can take them home, and I want each one of you to draw a picture

your house.

We'll put them up on the wall Monday.

Tear up this room a little, all right?

Stephen. Ow!

You will wash all the slate boards after school every day next week.

and try to get to bed a little earlier at night.

One last thing. Who will volunteer to write the letter to that Library of

Congress that we talked about? I could do it.

And my Uncle Horace can send it through the telegraph.

Well, Lewis, that's a wonderful idea.

Perhaps one day your uncle can come and talk to us about the telegraph system.

You two, the next time I have to remind you to stop whispering, I will separate

you. I mean it.

Yes, Miss Chambers.

Class, we have had nearly two weeks to get to know each other, and I have gone

over and over the rules. Now it's time for us to buckle down to work.

So, beginning Monday, rules will be enforced.

Enforced was on your spelling list, right?

And so was the word consequences.

There will be consequences for any misbehavior, tardiness, or incomplete

homework. Is that clear?

Dismissed.

Benjamin Avery, stay after class.

She's not mean.

She's just stressed.

Same thing.

It is not. She's a good teacher. She shook out all our rules. She's not going

put up with misbehavior.

You and Becky were just whispering.

Miss Dorothy never reminded me that she was our teacher. What about Benjamin?

That's different.

Can I help?

Yes, you can, sir.

First, you can talk Lauren into donating wood, build some more seashells and

swings. And then you can shame your congregation into providing shoes for

of the students, and you can speak to it that the winter is mild or my children

will freeze if I have to keep using that broken old stove in there.

I could probably get the lumber and the shoes, but as far as the winter's

concerned, you might have to appeal to a higher source.

Maybe at least you can put in a word for me.

Louise, I just wanted to say... I wanted to say that I'm real glad.

You're falling behind, Reverend.

Sorry.

Catch. Louise, I am going to say this.

No, you're not. Yes, I am.

I was stupid to walk away back then.

I was just so... Young.

And stupid.

I thought I wanted a different life.

Well, it was a long time ago.

And what makes you think I would have been interested in someone who turns out

to wear his collars backwards and stands around with his arms full of wet rags

all day?

Understand, the room at the clinic is lovely.

Oh, cooped up in one room, I couldn't stand it. Well, it's time to find your

place, and I'd be glad to help.

Laura knows every piece of land around for miles.

Mr. Chambers?

I'd like to tell you I'd be happy to tell those youngsters anything I can

the telegraph business.

Not that I know that much, but you just say when, I'll be there.

Thank you, Horace.

Such a good sermon.

Thank you, Reverend. Thank you.

She's a winner, Reverend.

Jake? Better make your move before someone else gets ideas.

He says he got himself tangled up in the barn door.

There's no cuts or abrasions.

The knuckles are badly bruised.

He must be very sore, Benjamin.

I know.

Mrs. Avery, here's some orange curd. It should help. Thanks, Dr. Mike.

Ma?

Where's Matthew? Oh, he said Tyree's having supper with Ingrid.

Becky asked me to eat with her family. Can I?

What about all the food for our picnic?

Please. I'll eat it. I'm hungry.

All right, go on. Thank you.

Ma, when's Billy coming back?

As soon as he's finished checking your traps.

Miss Chambers?

How would you like to come on a picnic?

I'd love to.

I'm going with Colleen.

Brian!

I've got to hurry to catch up, Ma.

Don't blame him.

I wouldn't want to go on a picnic with my teacher either.

Well, with just the two of us, I hope you're hungry.

Famished.

I couldn't understand why I wouldn't let him bring his pet raccoon to school

with him. Swore it could do addition.

It could.

Probably better than he could.

Oh, that's sad.

Sad?

Yes, well, most of them will never visit an art museum or hear a symphony.

I wouldn't worry yourself.

That's not what they need.

When I'm through with them, at least they'll be able to read and write and do

their numbers.

They'll probably do a lot of kicking and screaming at first, but...

I will make them learn.

You must really love children to become such a dedicated teacher.

No, I wouldn't say that.

Why did you become a teacher?

Because I didn't want to be a secretary.

Where I grew up, if a girl didn't want to get married, she had two choices.

Business college or teacher's college.

So it wasn't exactly a calling.

Could the Reverend Johnson be your calling?

Once, I thought he was.

But now... I don't know.

Maybe.

Probably.

Or not.

I love a woman who knows her own mind.

It's good to find you exactly as Timothy said you would be.

I knew we'd be friends.

Well, there were some remarkable women in this town.

Some of my own age who need...

I must say, I've missed that.

I know what you mean.

Your own kind.

Sully says that everyone recognizes members of their own tribe.

Who's Sully?

Well,

that's something for a whole other picnic.

You done with that?

I'm not hungry, Matt. Come on, girl, we can't be late.

I've got a stomach ache.

Better not go to school today. We're always just worried about schoolwork. I

it done!

Sometimes it can be frightening to do your best and not know if it's going to

good enough.

You understand?

Well, I bet that Miss Chambers feels exactly the same way.

Our school is new to her, and she's trying her best, too.

She doesn't know if it's good enough, either.

I guess if I went and my stomachache got really bad, I could go to the clinic,

huh?

Of course.

Bye, Ma.

She's had a bellyache for two days. Won't go to school.

I see.

There seems to be a lot of that going around.

Becky, open your mouth, please.

Sorry. Is your neck hurt?

No.

The area around here is red and inflamed.

I had no idea. What happened?

I was bad.

Oh, Dr. Mike, you know me better than to be thinking what you're thinking.

Becky can be a handful, I'll grant you, but...

We don't back her.

It's my fault.

Miss Chambers said she'd separate us if we whispered again.

But I forgot.

I'm sorry.

I told Miss Chambers that I didn't want to move away from Colleen.

She got mad and pulled me away from her and put me in another seat.

She pulled you by the ear?

This sap should help.

Can we talk later, Dr. Mike?

Colleen, it was not your fault.

Colleen, has Miss Chambers ever struck anyone on the hand?

Benjamin, Miss Chambers uses her ruler on him sometimes.

He pulled her by her ear?

The child must have done something to deserve it. For heaven's sake, Lauren,

child can do anything to deserve having her ear damaged. We must talk to Louise.

Ah, there you go, making trouble.

I'm sure there's a perfectly good explanation. We just need to... Need to

nothing. Why, the woman's been on the job all the two weeks, and already

making a mountain out of a molehill.

I just want to have a little... Of course we will. I'll do nothing of the

Hello, Louise.

Dorothy, the paint sets were a great success. Do you suppose we could order a

few more?

Well, I'll see to it right away.

Louise, this is a bit awkward, but... Well, I treated Becky Howes

today, and she said that you pulled her ear to discipline her.

I'm sure the circumstances were a bit different from what you might have been

led to believe.

Oh? It's to be expected, Michaela. Students always test the new teacher at

first. But, well, I'd best be on my way. Louise?

What about Benjamin Avery?

That one.

These children have to learn there will be no nonsense. Otherwise, I'll spend

the entire year refereeing petty squabbles. I don't think that's what you

me to do.

Why, of course not.

Louise, you ready to go?

He's determined to teach me to play the piano. Can you imagine?

Dinner's soon, Michaela.

Huh? Huh?

I tried to tell you.

Perhaps I was wrong.

And you thought I was just bad at teaching.

Actually, I suspect you were a terrible old softy as a teacher.

But I think it was sweet of you to be the fill -in for Dorothy until I could

here. Oh, no, I'm very well known as the Right Reverend Fill -In.

I was not only fill -in teacher when Mrs. Kaiser had to help get the corn

planted, but I was fill -in pianist when Mrs. Gerard had to get the canning done

before the corn dried out.

And I was fill -in corn canner when Mrs. Landry's back.

went out.

You know this.

No, I'm afraid I don't.

What's your favorite lullaby?

Oh, I don't know any.

Everybody knows at least one.

Well, I was the oldest of seven children, and by the time we were all

put to bed, there was no time left for lullabies.

Well, I'll teach you one.

Louise?

I'm so glad you're here.

Oh, boys.

What'd you two fellas learn in school today?

Nothing.

See you later.

Hey.

Brian.

Here's the matter.

Thanks.

I was just going to Grayson's for some pie. You want to come?

I'm buying.

Dr.

Mike, something's wrong with the boy's arm. It's all right. No, it's not.

Sit down.

Ow!

It doesn't seem to be any breaks or fractures.

Did this start hurting at school?

Yeah. We were just horsing around at recess, Uncle Horst.

You fellas must have been horsing around a little too rough if you ask me.

Lewis, I need to know how you got hurt so I can treat you properly. It's

important.

I fell.

You fell?

The muscles don't seem to be compacted as they would be from a fall, and the

swelling indicates that you might have had a bad pull.

Lewis, are you sure you're telling Dr. Mike the truth?

It was that Avery boy, wasn't it? Of course. That boy is picking on Lewis all

the time.

I want you to keep your arm still and not use it for a few days.

I'll need you to wear a sling.

Sound too badly?

It should heal quickly.

Much obliged, Dr. Miley.

There you go.

to matter?

Nothing. Hey, you can tell me.

Miss Chambers grabbed my arm and she shook me real hard.

I didn't mean to fall asleep.

I just got tired.

Sometimes I get sleepy too, especially after lunch.

You do?

Sure. If I open my eyes real wide like this and take a real deep breath,

I wake right up.

You try it.

Don't you tell nobody you're here.

But you didn't do nothing wrong.

You gotta swear.

I swear.

I gotta go. I got chores to do.

Stevens?

If I see you starting to nod off or something, I'll poke you.

Thanks. I'll do the same for you, too.

Put the new bedding down two days ago. I don't want to do the bed.

That's just too bad. You know, everybody's got chores around here. I

to do what you say. Brian. You're not my boss. Stop it.

I'll do the bedding.

Brian, you feed the chicken to get the eggs.

What's going on with him?

He's just mad at everybody lately.

Brian.

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

Miss Chambers did.

Louis forgot his homework and he didn't want to stand in the corner.

It's all right, Brian.

Benjamin laughed at it.

Louis felt real bad.

Stephen didn't mean to fall asleep.

And Chambers grabbed Louis' arm and yanked it real hard.

It's true, Mom.

Why didn't you tell me?

It doesn't matter what Louis did. He shouldn't have been hurt.

People aren't supposed to hurt other people.

And children are people, too.

Very special people.

Now, this is love. And I've got just the noise.

I need to talk to you. Oh, I have to talk to you, too. I have something very

important to tell you.

The Reverend has asked me to marry him.

Oh, Michaela.

Will you be my maid of honor?

You're the best friend I have here.

Oh. Oh, Michaela, isn't it wonderful?

Will this mean you'll be giving up teaching? Oh, of course not.

Michaela, what's wrong?

I don't want to ruin this moment.

Aren't you glad for me? Of course I am.

Well, then what is it?

Louise, I know what you did to Becky and Lloyd's adventures.

I don't understand.

You make it seem as if I'm doing terrible things behind locked doors.

Beating children is terrible.

Don't be ridiculous.

Corporal punishment is perfectly acceptable in every school in the

acceptable to me.

Your job is to help us.

Mobile character.

Teach patients.

Michaela, it is not my job to mop up the messes that some parents make of their

children. I don't kiss it and make it better. I teach children.

I will not pamper them or coddle them or wipe their noses or sing them

lullabies. As a parent, that's your job.

Caring for children is everyone's job.

I'll strike a bargain with you.

I won't tell you how to run your clinic, and you won't tell me how to run my

classroom. The town will decide how you run your classroom.

You're sure that's what this is about?

I know that Timothy proposed to you once.

Well, that was ages ago, and it wasn't about the reverend and me. It was... It

was about providing homes for orphaned children.

I want you to promise me that you'll never lay a finger on another child.

I was spanked when I was a child, and it hasn't done me any harm. In fact, if it

hadn't been for strong discipline, I wouldn't be what I am today.

You're right, Queen.

Unfortunately, what you are...

The child beat him.

See this?

Bruises all up and down his arm. Well, there must be some explanation.

Stephen gets up every morning before dawn, does his chores, and walks to

more than two miles.

Ten years old he is.

We got no extra horse for getting him there, but he gets there. And no

got a right to lay a finger on my boy just because he's tired.

I find this very hard to believe, Mr. Myers.

Like I said, there must be some sort of explanation.

Why don't we talk to Miss Chambers herself?

You're the one who brought her here. You talk to her.

And you better make sure it don't happen again.

You still help me, Reverend.

If you don't, I will.

Lauren, in jail.

Politicians. They wouldn't know how to do it on this day's work.

Lauren, we have to call a town meeting.

What for?

We have to make a stand about using corporal punishment in our schools.

Why bother? No one's going to come.

How can you be so sure?

Because you're the only one complaining.

That's not true. Some people are.

Most folks think that Miss Chambers is doing a perfectly fine job.

Alice's mother was in just this morning saying how well she was doing.

But Alice has always done well. That's not the point.

The point is that we have a problem in our school.

The children are getting hurt.

Oh, they ain't getting hurt. They're just getting disciplined.

Sometimes they just don't understand you at all.

When Dorothy's husband beat her, you took her in. You condemn that kind of

physical abuse?

Oh, it's not the same thing at all. You're right.

It's not the same thing.

I was a grown woman.

I could fight back or I could leave.

A child can't do either.

I'll put a notice in tomorrow's Gazette that there's going to be a town meeting.

Thank you.

All right, everybody ready to begin?

Go. Paris.

France. Geneva.

Switzerland. London.

England. Madrid.

Calvary.

Try again, Benjamin.

My pa says the only thing you need to know about geography is where you're at

and which way to the bar.

You know the rules, Benjamin. To the corner. I don't have to.

Well, then would you please leave my schoolroom right now? Well, then please

make me.

I will not waste everyone's time.

Then what are you going to do about it?

Huh?

Oh, come on!

Don't you do it.

What's all these kids doing around here?

It's a town meeting, isn't it? They're part of the town. Oh, what goes on in

there is none of their business.

I disagree, Lauren.

It's their bodies and their minds we're here to discuss.

That makes it very much their business.

All I know is, if I give my kids a good licking, I sure get a whole lot more

respect. Don't confuse respect with fear.

Same thing. No, it isn't.

Children who are raised with respect try their best.

Children who are raised in fear just try to get even.

Well, I gotta say, I don't care how Miss Chambers is getting the job done. She

is getting it done.

Thank you.

Somebody hits the nail on the head. Excuse me. I say we got a good teacher

Excuse me.

Nobody's saying Miss Chambers is not a good teacher. I'm sure she is.

That's not the point.

It sure ain't.

Pinching and paddling, that's the point.

Can't think about learning if you're busy worrying about getting hit.

Well, that's the truth.

Becky used to love school. Now she don't anymore.

We as parents all have the responsibility to teach our children

wrong. And physical force is not the way to do it.

We need patience.

Ah, it's for their own good.

Swap now and then to plain good discipline.

No, striking children is not about discipline. It's about imposing your

over them. Yeah, it's like if you point a gun at my head. Of course I'm going to

do exactly what you tell me.

Until you take the gun away, then I'll run away from you. Exactly, Horace.

Your children will pull away from you because they've learned to be afraid of

you. I have never heard so many crybabies in my life.

I don't even know why you got us all out here.

You say don't smack them. Well, I'm saying it works.

And that's the end of it.

Spare the rod and spoil the child.

My children are not afraid of me.

You people hired me for what I know about teaching, and what I know is that

education can only happen in an environment of fair but firm discipline.

This town condones corporal punishment in our schools.

My children won't be there. I'm surprised at you, Michaela.

You're willing to sacrifice your children's education simply because you

run the school the way you want.

All right, all right. I say that's enough.

We all know how we're going to vote anyway, so why don't we just go ahead

it?

for the vote, Reverend.

Well, things being as they are, it didn't seem like I should get too

You mean because of you and Miss Chambers?

No, nothing.

I'm not a parent.

I think it's important for me to be fair and not take sides.

Being fair never kept you from taking sides before.

All in favor of allowing Miss Tanger's here to run her classroom the way she

wants, say aye.

Aye. All opposed?

No. That's it. The ayes have it. This meeting is adjourned.

Open that door!

What do you want, Lorne?

Why'd you leave?

I know how you feel about kids.

On and around.

Wild.

Nobody telling them to mind.

I've seen you take out room with a broomstick.

But you never saw me hit one of them, did you?

Did you?

Can't say as I did.

See this?

the house in the morning and the first thing I found when I come home at night.

Just hanging there like a loaded gun waiting for my ma to use whenever she

mad.

Only I never knew when that was going to be.

Sharpening razors is all these things are good

Now

it

hurts so much

I thought she was going to be my friend.

Brian, aren't you going to change your clothes before you do your chores? I can

wear my town pants.

They're going to get dirty.

No, I'll be real careful. All right.

Why don't we at least just put up with... Come on, leave him alone.

Brian, don't be so silly.

Sure.

Brian, didn't the chamber suit it to you?

Sully, look. Isn't that Benjamin Avery?

Yep.

Oh, Louise.

Don't try to get up.

Where did he hit you?

I died.

We'll get you to the clinic.

Easy now.

Let me help you.

Be careful.

I'm sure you think I deserve it.

Of course not. Nobody does.

How is she?

She's been badly beaten.

She has a black eye and at least two broken ribs.

Oh, poor woman.

I wrote out to the Averys. It seems Benjamin's run off.

Sometimes that's best, I suppose.

I'm really sorry about Brian.

Can I see her now?

Go on in.

Louise, that's not necessary.

I'm not going to let this interfere with our plan.

I'm just glad you're all right.

Timothy, is something wrong?

No.

I think just with this and with everything that's happened...

Everything?

Never mind.

You need your rest now.

I want to know what's bothering you.

At the meeting?

You were just exaggerating your position just to make a point.

No, I wasn't.

Why would you think that?

Louise, I need to ask you a question.

Yes.

What about... What about our children?

Children?

Would you discipline our own children the same way you discipline your

Timothy.

You have a church full of parents and children to take care

of.

Seven days and nights a week.

And I intend to continue teaching.

That's enough children for both of us, don't you think?

No children.

I hoped I'd be enough.

I hoped you loved me that much.

Oh, God knows I do love you.

This is about the town.

The people in the meeting.

Darling. They voted for me, allowing me to teach and discipline the way I see

fit.

I have their approval.

I don't care how they voted.

I don't care about their approval.

And I don't care that they will allow you to discipline the way you see fit.

Louise, the way you see fit is wrong.

No. I'm sorry.

Timothy.

Timothy.

Timothy.

Timothy.

Timothy.

I see a lot of families here today.

That's wonderful.

I am going to forego the sermon that I had prepared today.

I want to tell you a story.

This is a story that my grandma told me a long time ago.

Once there was a shabby town where all the people were unhappy and poor and

ignorant.

Then one day a king came to visit, and he told them that he had secretly

switched a baby in the town with his own.

Now, after the king left, the people were afraid.

They were worried that when the king returned again, he'd punish them if the

royal child was unhappy.

But since they had no idea which baby it was,

The whole town began to treat each child as though that child were royalty.

Many years later, the king did return.

By then, these children had all grown up and they had children of their own.

And the town was very different.

There were libraries, schools and hospitals and churches.

All the families were hardworking and happy.

You see, these grown -up children had no idea that they'd never heard the story

of the king.

They had no idea that there was a prince or princess among them. They were

productive, creative, happy, and kind simply because they had been loved

and educated and protected.

Treated as if each child were royalty.

An old woman on her deathbed, she asked the king, she said, I know

my wonderful grown -up daughter.

She's the princess, isn't she?

And the king told her, they are all the

one.

Louise? How far are you leaving?

No, you're not.

You're wrong.

I am sorry for you and the ribbon.

It's just as well.

I don't know any lullabies.

But you could have learned.

I suppose the truth is I don't really think they're necessary.

What's the matter, Brian?

I can't sleep.

Come here.

I want you to promise me something.

If anyone ever hurts you, I want you to promise you'll tell me.

I will, Ma.

you cry.