Original subtitles

This is really the cast list?

Hi.

Fellow Leroy Johnson, Iago, Danny, Amatulo, Desdemona, Julie Miller.

This is a play about passion.

When a fellow loves, he does it with incredible emotion from his heart.

When he hates, it's with intense rage.

Capable of murder.

Mr. Martelli, you're talking about a Shakespeare festival, not an evening

Con Edison.

big dream.

You want fame.

Did they post the cast list yet? I hope not.

Well, Danny, what's up? Hey, I'll let you know when they put up the cast list.

heard that.

Then you have to go through the script and find out what characters are in the

same scene and come up with a rehearsal schedule.

Okay. Montgomery, you have to find out what the kids' after -school commitments

are. That is not a piece of cake.

I know that one, I volunteer.

Knowing it up here is one thing, child, but actually doing it is something else.

The stage manager's always gonna be on the spot now.

The director's gonna be snapping at you. The acts are gonna be complaining that

you're being too tough on them.

It's lonely at the top, but it's no better roses in the middle, either. I

you're just trying to scare me.

You bet I am, and I hope it's working for your sake.

Remember, when the director's not around, it becomes the stage manager's

Yeah, but you're gonna be around.

Yeah, well, that's the plan, at any rate.

What do you mean?

Here, this is the cash list. Go run off some copies and post them.

You are gonna be around, aren't you?

Montgomery, didn't I just tell you the director would be snapping at you? Well,

I didn't mean to get started before rehearsals. Run off copies of the cast

and post them, please.

Now.

This is really the cast list?

Goodbye, Montgomery.

A lot of people are going to get bummed out about the copies of the cast list

and post it. Right on. Go on now.

It's going to be rough.

Leroy, could you give us a break?

like one of those bobblehead dolls or something.

If you want to talk to him, you're gonna have to go down to the radio station.

Earth to Leroy, you there?

What? Man, could you cool out? We're not in the mood.

That's your problem.

I wish he'd post the cast list already.

What's the big deal? It's just a play. We do plays all the time.

Othello is not just a play.

And the musical version of Othello isn't even just Othello. And the winners

aren't even winners because they get to tour in what they win because they're

winners because they're winning.

I know what I meant to say. That's what counts.

Oh, Mr.

Sharofsky, there you are.

Good morning, Miss Sherwood. Good morning. Listen, I've been trying for

to talk to you. I'm going to have to wait. Mrs. Spurge is expecting me

for a meeting.

And I'm late. Excuse me. But... Good morning. Good morning, Mrs. Berg.

Mr. Shirovsky just left to meet with you.

To meet me for what?

Didn't you have a meeting with Mr. Shirovsky this morning? No.

Why? Because...

Leroy Johnson, Iago, Danny, Amatulo, Desdemona, Julie Miller, Amelia Dorshaw.

Hey, Montgomery, I'm telling you right now, I want my own dressing room. No

Okay, then I'll share with you.

No.

Congratulations, you guys.

Congratulations to you, too.

Congratulations for what?

You got the part of Desdemona.

You're kidding.

Don't I wish?

Coco, wait!

That's how she handles good news. I don't want to be around when she gets

news. I don't think I can take it.

Strings just don't do it for me.

What do you mean they don't do it for you?

This is a play about passion.

When a fellow loves, he does it with incredible emotion from his heart.

When he hates, it's with intense rage, capable of murder.

I don't hear violins.

What do you hear?

I hear synthesizers.

A bass with a heavy backbeat. Even congas.

Mr. Martelli, talk about a Shakespeare festival.

Not an evening with Con Edison.

What we're talking about is a show where the lead is a black kid from 128th

Street.

Excuse me. You talk to him.

Got a minute?

Tell you the truth, I'm writing a little something. Mr. Sharofsky, are you

coming to the strike meeting after school or not?

Not.

You have to come.

Have to?

I left have to when I left Germany.

This isn't a dictator's order, Mr. Sharofsky. It's your fellow teacher's.

I gave Mr. Weiler my proxy.

That's enough. No, it isn't.

It's lazy and uncaring.

And that's not like you.

Miss Sherwood, I'm a public employee, and I do not believe public employees

should strike. Fine.

Come to the meeting. Convince us of your point of view.

Impossible. Your minds are made up. And yours is so open? It certainly is.

Hmm.

Two thoughts.

Someone who's seen what it's like when a country loses its way should be the

last one to send in a proxy.

And what's the second?

You're too old to pout.

Heaven bless us, say you.

It is not lost, but what and if it were?

How? I say it is not lost.

Fetch it. Let me see it.

Why so I can sir, but I will not now why so I can sir, but I She was

in the library after school. He's checking out a copy of Othello like me

he's been ducking me all day and I can't set up a rehearsal schedule with Adam.

I'll track him down Can I ask you a question? Sure come on in

Why did Miss Grant choose me for this part?

She didn't discuss it with me. Why do you think? I don't know.

I didn't ask what you know. I asked what you thought.

We both know Coco's a better actress than I am. Not true.

We know Coco's a good actress, but we don't know if she's better than you

because we don't know how good you are.

You haven't had a chance to show anyone yet.

Maybe that's why Miss Grant chose you.

She wanted to give you a chance to show everyone.

You know what I think?

No.

I think Coco would have gotten the part if she was white.

You're probably right.

If you were black and male, you might make a dynamite Othello.

You think I'm being silly?

I think you've been given a chance, and when you get a chance, you go with it as

far as it takes you. You don't question it.

You... Quiet.

Listen.

If we all talk at once, we aren't going to accomplish anything, so please, boys

and girls, if you'll...

If you want to keep me out of school, it's okay.

In the words of Danny Amatulo, walka, walka, walka.

Look, I don't know what this meeting is about anyway.

I mean, the strike is a foregone conclusion, isn't it? The consensus is

strike will take place. The question is, do we go out with everyone else? What

are they talking about?

I vote we don't.

Lydia, I don't believe you.

You're a member of two unions, this one and Equity.

Three, and Agva.

American Guild of Variety Audit.

So how can you refuse to strike? Because I can't afford to strike and neither

can half the teachers here.

I can't afford not to strike.

And for the same reason.

I've got a kid that's getting braces and another one that's into figure skating.

I mean, do you know how expensive a thermal tutu is?

Yeah, well, how about our kids?

Our kids aren't like most kids about school. Our kids want to learn

They want to be here. How can we walk out on that kind of attitude?

Look. We're not striking just for ourselves. We're striking for the kids,

their extended class time, for more books, for decent cafeteria food.

Nobody wants to strike, but we have to do it.

And none of you minds that while you're walking around the block, someone else,

someone who doesn't know what he or she is doing, is sitting in your classroom,

destroying everything you have accomplished with your students.

None of us wants that, Mr.

Sharofsky.

This school pays me more than money.

It pays me by being a place I want to go to each day.

I go here to teach the students and to learn from them.

I go here to be with you all, my friends.

I do not like being asked to choose sides.

Well, I think we've said all there is to be said.

The strike vote will take place tonight at the armory.

I need to know how many of you are going to be there to support the strike.

Fine.

So, if the strike vote passes...

I'll expect to see you all tomorrow morning on the picket line.

Did you hear anything?

It said on the news the schools will be run by office personnel.

What do you think that means?

Probably no Shakespeare Festival.

No Shakespeare Festival?

And eight hours of study hall.

Oh, I hope this thing doesn't last long.

My mother's already talking about finding another school.

Maybe in New Jersey.

Is there a school for the arts in New Jersey?

The problem is it's located in the equinox.

Hey, Miss Grant, you want me to carry your sign for you? Give me a break,

Amatulo.

How long do we have to keep this up?

Till first bell, then again at lunchtime.

And what do we do between then and now?

It's a little early for matinees, dear girl. I don't know.

Shop? Oh, go on strike and go shopping. Yeah, run up those bins.

Yeah, that makes about as much sense as anything else. I think I have a

solution. What?

I have a key to the freight entrance, which leads to the scene, Doc.

which adjoins the makeup room where there is a coffee pot.

Oh, I don't know.

I mean, do you think it would be right to go on school property? Elizabeth, how

can a picket line cross a picket line?

No, we don't have to give up on Othello, and no, we aren't getting a guest

director. That was just a rumor.

I heard Al Pacino may come in. Yeah, yeah.

All right, all right. Would you listen up? We got a lot of work to do.

Hey, shouldn't we wait for Leroy? Yeah, where is he? I could have taken the day

off, too. I don't know where he is. He's late. He'll be here.

Now, look. If we're going to do this thing on our own, we've got a lot of

to do. Who's in charge?

Well,

in the professional theater, when the director's not around, it becomes a

manager show.

Well, unless somebody's been hiding my paycheck, we're not in the professional

theater.

I think maybe we ought to call it off.

Look, Miss Grant can't be here, and Sharofsky can't be here to help Bruno

the score.

And it's a great excuse for you to chicken out.

I mean, you can do whatever you want to do. I just don't think you ought to kid

yourself about why you're doing it.

The teachers took a vote about going out on strike.

I say we take a vote about whether or not to get this thing up on its feet

without him.

I say we give it a shot.

Orphans of the Storm. The only way to pick it. Anybody got any cards?

We're supposed to pick it, not picnic.

Leave it to an English teacher.

Oh, hope that lets up before we do back out front again.

Whether it does or not, we are going to be there.

Yes, my captain.

Mr.

Sharofsky. Strike headquarters called me. They said I had a picket or I'd be

fine. I came down to picket. No one was there.

Mrs. Berg said you were all in here.

Could you explain that to me, please?

We're only picketing before the first bell and at lunchtime when we can be

noticed. You're obviously only picketing in good weather also.

Hey, we're not mailmen. We're pickets. Wrong, Mr. Crandall. We're not pickets.

We're teachers.

But some of us seem to have forgotten that fact.

May I please have the damn picket sign so I can get this thing over with?

Don't you at least want to wait until the rain stops?

What I want to do is get back out there before I dry off and have to get wet all

over again a second time.

A sign, please.

Thank you.

Have a nice day.

you give me for that same handkerchief?

What handkerchief, sweetheart?

What handkerchief?

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona, which you did so often bid me

Did you steal it from a baby?

What are you two doing?

We're trying to put a couple of laughs in this turkey.

Laughs? You're using your wife to get your best friend to murder his wife?

What's so funny about that?

Take my wife, please.

I tell you, I don't get no respect.

So I think I'm going to leave.

Or leave your wife, big boy, and come up and see me sometime.

Yeah. Maybe I'll do that.

Yeah.

All right, everybody take five.

Make it 25.

Hey, Montgomery, when do I get to rehearse?

I can't rehearse you until Leroy shows up. Yeah, but when do you think that'll

be? I don't know, Julie. I don't know.

music is not ready, I have to rework the score.

When do I get the music? You can't do the choreography without the music.

I know that.

What I don't know is when you'll get it.

I go to the meetings. I pay my dues.

I pick it during the day.

What's the harm in working with the kids at night?

Lydia, the union would never go for it.

I left Montgomery holding the bag.

Let's face it, that boy is not an emotional fortress.

I'd hate to see him fall on his face.

I think you're overreacting.

The strike could be over by the end of the week.

What if it isn't?

Elizabeth, those kids need help.

Especially Julie and Leroy.

I wouldn't be teaching, I'd be directing.

And this... This production is special to me. It's the festival.

It could bring a lot of good attention to the school or bad attention.

Why bad attention?

Because I put some of those kids in it so they'd have a chance to stretch.

And if I'm not there to help them, I'm afraid of how it could turn out.

It hurts to fail, Elizabeth.

Oh, I've got them in over their heads.

Lydia, if you're on strike, you don't work.

Period.

Look, I know you're not an answering service.

I know you're just the manager.

So could you just manage to knock on Leroy's door and ask him to come to the

phone?

Hello?

Hello?

Hey, how's it going?

Othello is a tragedy in more ways than one.

Got no music, no direction, no lead.

What happened to Leroy?

I'm about to take the subway up to 128th Street to find out.

Montgomery, that's not your turf, man. I don't really... You want to get off my

case, okay?

I'm heading up there. I'm not going to let this thing fall apart on me.

I'm heading for Leroy's. Montgomery.

I've been in that rehearsal studio all morning trying to put a routine together

for myself.

And you know what?

What?

It's lonely.

I miss you guys. Isn't that stupid?

Coco, I wish you were in the cast, but... Yeah, so do I, but I'm not.

So I can stay all bummed out about it or I can try and help.

If you let me.

You really want to help?

Yeah.

Could you get them to really buckle down and rehearse? I mean, they're listening

to you about the dancing and singing and stuff. When I try it, it's just me and

they won't take it seriously.

I'll do what I can.

Thanks.

Did Montgomery leave the building?

Oh, yes, Miss Berg. Oh, but he's not supposed to leave during... Shouldn't

be some class somewhere?

Miss Berg, I'm going right now. Oh, good.

Tighten your tutus, children. Your director is on her way.

You get on the wrong bus to what?

We talk?

About what?

About you.

E -Roy, you in or out?

I'm out, man.

Hey, call me next time, all right? You got it.

That's right. Who wants a car?

Want something to drink? I need Perrier.

I'm fresh out.

Ain't that always the way, though?

Actually, I was just kidding.

What you want to talk about, Montgomery?

About why you're not showing up at rehearsal.

Hey, it's a teacher's strike, man.

School's still open, Leroy, and we're trying to get Othello on its feet. Man,

ain't interested in no Shakespeare.

Then why'd you audition?

I didn't know what I was doing it for. Ms. Grant said to walk around like a

and say things like a king. That's fun to me. I can do that okay.

Then you can do the part okay.

Look, let's go outside and talk for a minute.

Hey, fellas, give me a holler next time.

All right, you got it, man.

Look, I think you better count me out of there.

Leroy, no.

Look, nobody said nothing about no Shakespeare when we tried out.

Miss Grant decided to run the auditions that way so no one would get any

preconceived notions.

So nobody would get uptight.

I ain't getting uptight.

I just ain't interested. That's all. Get yourself somebody else.

Leroy, man, you can't do this to me.

I ain't doing nothing to you. I'm doing it to me. I'm taking me out of the show.

Hey, Leroy, there you am? Yeah, man. We're done talking. You're done, baby,

I'm not.

Julie Miller is scared to death about that show, but she's there.

Amatulo's hiding behind every bit and joke he can think of, but he's there,

Coco, man, she'd kill to be in that show.

That didn't work out, but she's still there helping to direct.

And you, man, you're up here playing A .C. Doocy while your friends are going

down the drain.

You know that slaughterhouse on 12th Avenue?

Maybe you should stop in there and buy yourself some guts.

Mr. Martelli, that is music only a mother could love.

Is it lunchtime?

For me, always. For you, another hour or so.

Not going so well, I take it.

You take it right.

I just can't make this work the way Swarovski would want it to.

Are we right?

Nah, I couldn't do that. Wouldn't be fair.

If Swarovski were here, if I could argue with him, show him that my way was

okay, fine.

But to rewrite him without him getting a chance to fight back wouldn't be fair.

Why are you so worried about fair?

What's fair about any of this?

What's fair about a system that keeps a barfeteria open and closes down the rest

of the school?

So what's fair about a system that has cost of living increases that don't keep

up with the cost of living?

You sound like you've been talking to your father.

Yeah? Well, yeah.

Yeah, and I've been talking to mine.

The unions are going to ruin this country. We don't stop and they'll all

strike. Then the garbage piles up and the Blaines can't land.

And try and take a subway to school.

Hey, don't blame it on unions.

It's those other guys that are at fault.

Which is why you're on their side.

I'm not on their side. And you crossed a picket line and came to school?

Look, I crossed a picket line because if I didn't come to school, I'd get

canned. And I don't feel very good about it.

That's why you're having trouble with the music.

Maybe.

Plus, doing it behind Swarovski's back.

Well, would you have any ideas for rewriting it if he was here?

Yeah, some.

Show me.

A little luncheon music, if you please.

Here, as I watch the ships go by, I'm rooted to my

shore. I keep asking myself why, and if there's more on the

other side.

Here, as I see the friends I thought I made, a little bit of crying.

the time go by how i'd like to stay away leaving all

my past behind but i know i'd only last for a couple of days

Thank you.

Montgomery.

It looks unbelievable, man. It's finally coming together, you know? Gee, it's a

miracle worker, McNeil. I know, I know. Are you serious? Yes, I'm a serious.

This musical number is a thing of beauty. You see?

All right.

Sit down, sit down.

Yeah, but how'd you do this without Leroy?

Well, I got Willie to stand in, and when he shows up, we'll just show him the

set. What about the music? Leroy's rearranging the score. The tempo's the

and you know that's all that matters.

Great, let's see it.

So listen,

they were all at school today rehearsing.

Why weren't you?

or get fired?

Neither yet.

If I don't quit now, I'm gonna get fired soon enough.

Why?

Well, I ain't no king.

Miss Grant said, and this is a direct quote, you looked every inch for a

monarch. She said that?

Mm -hmm.

That's because she ain't heard me talk yet.

What?

I mean, she heard me say my words about being a king, but not Shakespeare's.

Montgomery doesn't like the way you say Shakespeare's words.

He ain't hear me yet either.

But you've been rehearsing.

They have.

Why haven't you?

Well, you know how you got on my case when I was doing that Casey at the Bat

poem? Mm -hmm.

Well, can you think what I would sound like reading Shakespeare?

Did you try?

And let everybody see what a dumb jerk I am? Uh -uh. Leroy, that's not true.

In no way is that true.

Now, you've had some rotten training in the past and you've got some catching up

to do now, but that's all.

There isn't any dumb about it.

Could you help me be good enough to be in this play?

Leroy, the problem is this stripe.

I'm not... You're not supposed to help.

Well, obviously a teacher is always supposed to help a student, but... You

help. Leroy, I'm not supposed... Thanks for the coffee.

Leroy. Look, you swear to me you ain't saying no because you think I'm too dumb

to learn these words.

I swear.

You getting paid while you're on strike?

No.

How are you going to manage if this goes on?

Well...

I've got some money saved.

I might be able to get a part -time job of some kind. Why?

Well, you ought to toot people.

Toot her?

Um, yeah, sometimes I do.

I got $6 .35.

How much tooting will that get me?

I'd say that.

Get you just about all the tutoring you can handle.

That's terrific, Bruno.

I agree.

Great, then let's use it.

No. Why don't you want to use it?

Because it's like doing it behind Swarovski's back.

So? I'm not going to let you use my rewrite until Swarovski says it's okay.

Yeah, but he's not here and he can't be here.

Montgomery, I know that.

I told you that would be his attitude.

Look, Bruno, if you had a cure for the common cold, would you withhold it from

the public?

I do not have a cure for the common cold.

Or hiccups. Would you hold back with that? Or hickeys? Or herpes?

Anything.

nothing, Sean.

But I do love thee, and when I love thee not, chaos is come again.

It doesn't seem like the morning is going to be as interesting as the night

must have had.

Oh, I just... I got caught up watching a late movie on TV last night. Which one?

Red Rock Canyon.

Oh, wait.

Randolph Scott.

You are a big fan of Randolph Scott Western.

Please. Never miss a one.

Elizabeth. We really should get out to the picket line.

No, hear me out.

I really think I should go to one rehearsal.

Just one.

For a couple of hours, just to see what they're doing.

I'm sure they're doing fine. You know, I think you really underestimate them.

Elizabeth, be realistic.

You can't expect high school students to mount a production of Othello by

themselves. I don't care how talented they are. They need supervision.

I'm sure Coco's doing a good job.

Coco? What do you mean, Coco?

She's their director.

Temporary director.

Where did you hear that?

One of the kids told me.

Well, how come you're talking to the kids? We really shouldn't be late.

Come on.

Major issues have not yet been resolved, but union and board of education

negotiators have reached agreement on several minor points.

Many observers anticipate a breakthrough before the end of the week.

Won't be.

Excuse me. There's a dress rehearsal after school. If this is okay with you,

using it. Nice talking to you.

Shame on you, girl. Shame on you.

Good morning, Mr.

Sharofsky.

Let me thy handkerchief.

Here, my lord.

That which I gave you.

I have it not about me.

Not? Oh, come on, man. You gotta put more meaning in it than that.

You don't know what this here play's about?

It's about some dude who gives this girl a handkerchief.

Them other brother come along, told my man Othello he seen to give it to

somebody else.

Now, this made my man Othello mad. He's burning up now.

He think his girl trying to cheat on him, you know what I mean?

Show you how it's done.

Come now, your promise.

What promise, Chuck?

I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.

I have a thought and sorry room offends me.

Lend me that handkerchief.

Here, my lord.

That which I gave you.

I have it not about me. Not?

No, indeed, my lord.

That is a fault.

That handkerchief did an Egyptian to my mother give.

She was a charmer and could almost read the thoughts of people.

She told her while she kept it, it would make her amiable.

and subdue my father entirely to her love.

But if she lost it, or made a gift of it, my father's eyes should hold her

loathe it, and its spirits would hunt after new fancies.

She dying gave it me, and bid me, when my fate would have me, wife, to give it

her.

I did so.

And take heed on it.

Make it a darling like your precious eye.

But to lose it or give it away was such perdition as nothing else could match.

This is for you.

But don't ask me where it came from.

Please?

We finally brought it together. Even with the strike, we did it. That says a

about us, you know?

We're a powerful bunch of kids, you know? We gotta believe in ourselves.

Because we can do a lot.

Seriously, we should all believe that.

You know?

All right, and on the count of three, man, let's just rock this place with a

loud noise, all right?

One, two, three!

What

time

is it?

A few minutes after three.

The payment said both sides were really close, huh?

Two peas in a pod.

Anybody hear that?

What?

Sounds like, I don't know, music.

Hard to tell way down here.

Excuse me, y 'all.

I'm going to the little girl's room.

Me too.

Little boy's room.

Manager.

I'm going to go check my box.

I have a catalog I'm expecting.

It's mailed to the school.

Plain brown wrapper.

Uh -huh.

Oh, to hell with it.

Okay, people, come on, from the top.

Thank you.

You're not her only man.