Original subtitles

Counterpoint involves the sensitivity to the other players.

At the end of every year, we will start to go just a little bit crazy.

The faculty puts on shows.

The students start sniffing spring.

You no doubt have heard about Ms. Sherwood and Ms. Grant switching

The crazy strike again.

You've got big dreams.

You want fame.

Well, fame costs.

And right here is where you start paying.

Wait.

Tell me the truth Gregory Andrew Crandall. I love you Tell

me the truth Gregory Andrew Crandall. I love you

Tell

me the truth Gregory

Andrew Crandall.

I love you

Tell me the truth.

Gregory Andrew Crandall, I love you.

Tell me the truth.

Gregory Andrew Crandall, I love you.

Everybody get the blinds, please.

You all go back to your seats.

It was very interesting.

Any ideas what we might learn from that?

I'm a Tullo.

Well, we learned that you probably had a really bad night last night and that

your ego needed a lot of stroking. So we hope you feel better.

The purpose of this exercise was to get you used to the idea that as actors,

you're going to be called upon to say things and do things that society says

shouldn't. Like, you don't say I love you to somebody.

With 15 other people looking on, right?

So we all passed?

No. What was requested of you was the truth.

Tell me the truth, I said.

Some of you giggled, some of you smirked, couldn't look me in the eye.

The reality that I expect from you is the emotional truth.

And you don't tell someone, I love you with an embarrassed grin on your face.

That is the truth.

By the way, I do feel a lot better.

the jokes you want about it. But the fact is, you and I were the only people

Crandall's class who chickened out.

Everybody else looked right at him and told him the truth.

You and I act like school kids.

Have you forgotten we are school kids?

More jokes.

Give it a break, will you? Why are you making such a big deal about it?

Have you ever seen the English movie The Four Feathers?

No. It's about cowardice and the nature of courage.

And I am formally calling you and I cowards for just the things that

was talking about.

Telling the truth?

No. Instead of being... We're always cute or copping out.

Okay, what do you recommend?

We take a pledge.

Do what?

It is now 10 o 'clock in the morning. From now until the end of the school

you and I will tell nothing but the absolute truth.

No matter how much we want to sugarcoat it or tell a white lie, we must tell the

absolute bottom line truth and nothing but it.

The longer it takes you to answer me, the more I'm becoming disappointed in

Doris, have you thought about this?

Of course not.

Don't you think we ought to think about it a little bit?

Montgomery, you are standing on the edge of the high board of life.

Are you going to think it through or are you going to jump?

The rest of the day, nothing but the truth.

What's so funny?

I was just going over the tentative list for the faculty show that Mr. Shroffke

drew up.

He's got Miss Sherwood down to do an African tribal dance.

Good luck.

Miss Grant, what do you think about this for Michelle in the ballet finale?

Uh, turn around, Michelle.

Oh, it's... It's different.

It's original.

Don't you think so, Darth?

Come on, what do you think, Darth?

I think it's a pukey color and it makes you look incredibly hippie.

What?

It makes me look huge. It does not.

Michelle, you look fine in that.

I'm not going to wear this. There's no way.

Michelle, you liked it this morning.

No, no, there was always a little bit of doubt.

Doris spelled it out.

It makes me look hippie, right?

Incredibly. Doris, you should talk. Go warm up.

On my way.

Michelle, sweetheart, you're overreacting. The costume is fine. It's

It is.

If anything, it makes your hips look smaller. Yeah.

too big class would you get in places for the end of that one please honey you

did fine

You're on key and in tempo, but that's not enough.

Counterpoint involves the sensitivity to the other players.

Minute adjustments of one to the other.

This is messy. I don't know why, but it's messy.

Was there enough time for all of you to get together and rehearse?

Well, we rehearsed for a couple of hours last night.

Well, I'd appreciate someone telling me why you didn't come together then.

Because we didn't rehearse this number.

You didn't rehearse the assignment given you?

Well, maybe not as much as we should have.

How much time did you give it, please?

About 15 minutes, tops.

What, Montgomery says it's true?

Yes, sir.

And the rest of the time was spent what, please?

New song I wrote.

You concentrated on a new song of yours instead of a variation from Bach, yes?

Yes, sir.

And what is the title of the song that is so much better than Bach? I didn't

it was better. What's the title, Martelli?

My baby mind never babies me.

Get out. You're dismissed.

Dismissed, but the period's not over yet. It's over as far as I'm concerned.

out. Mr.

Sharofsky, if we leave now without hall permits, the hall monitor's going to

write us up.

Give them my regards.

Is there an assignment for tomorrow?

Your assignment is to learn to play the bag as it was intended to be performed.

If you are unable to accomplish that, your second assignment is to be honest

about it and not betray my trust in you.

I'm sorry to say that today you failed miserably at doing either.

Mr. Sharofsky... Out!

I can't believe what you just did. What the...

Yeah, anything to do with a couple more rehearsals. We could have had the

variation down pat.

What was the point in telling? No, we couldn't have.

Who says?

Julie said she said your keyboard technique isn't good enough for the

parts of the variation.

When you say that? This morning before first bell.

Excuse me, you people have hall permits?

No, we don't have hall permits.

I'm going to have to write you all up. Great.

You're Martelli, aren't you?

We got chemistry together. Yes, sir, Martelli, and yes, we have chemistry

together. Not the kind of chemistry that Jane Fonda and Robert Redford have.

Now, listen, pal, don't get smart with me, because I can write you up for that,

too.

You and I got chemistry together next hour. I'll write you up on the way

The rest of you, well, just don't be out here without a hall permit. That's all.

Sure. It's nothing. I think I pulled a muscle last night.

Oh, when you were rehearsing your dance routine?

Dory, how do you know about that? That's supposed to be a surprise for the

faculty show.

Oh, I guess Miss Grant let it slip.

How much did she tell you?

Her exact words were, Miss Sherwood's down for an African tribal dance. Good

luck.

Good luck.

Oh, Mr. Sharofsky. What now?

One of your first -hour students was written up by a hall monitor, but the

student says you ordered him out of the room.

And if that's the case, we can't justify a summon.

May I ask a question?

Of course.

Why was only one student written up? I sent five of them out.

But you can't do that.

I already did it.

But it's unfair to the student involved. The student was not involved.

That's precisely the problem. He was rehearsing Beat My Baby or something

that. What?

Mrs. Byrd, the papers today told of an earthquake in Chile.

Hundreds are missing.

There's famine in India. There's injustice everywhere. These things are

important. But the straddle of hall monitors is not worth my time or

Therefore, you can take the summons and... Don't you dare!

Oh, Mrs. Burns, do you have the forms that I asked you for the filling? Stop

Never mind, dear. I'll find them myself.

I'd like to talk to you, please.

How about lunch? How about now?

What can I do for you?

I want to know if I'm in this faculty show as some kind of comic relief.

Of course not. You're doing a dance, right?

The quote that was reported to me was, Sherwood's doing an African tribal

Good luck.

Who told you that?

Doris.

I'll kill her.

No, you did say it.

Well, not the way you said it. You had to be there. I was just... I was... I

just wishing a fellow performer good luck.

You were wishing me good luck and I wasn't even in the room?

Well, look, it was just like if I heard Mr. Shirovsky was going skydiving. If I

heard that, I might just say, oh, Mr.

Shirovsky's going skydiving. Good luck.

And do you think the comparison between Shirovsky skydiving and me dancing is a

fair one, do you?

I'm digging my grave with my own mouth.

Elizabeth.

All I meant to say was that you're not a dancer, not a trained dancer, and it

might present some obstacles for you.

Well, all you do is teach English.

All I do is teach English? Oh, terrific.

Come on, Elizabeth, be real now. It might be a lot easier for me to do your

thing than it would be for you to do mine.

Fat chance.

What class do you have, fourth period?

Comparative Contemporary Literature.

Sounds like fun. I have modern jazz trends in choreography.

I'll be there.

Bet.

You've never talked to me like that before.

Never. 20 years.

Not once, have you ever?

Michelle.

Why are you wearing your coat on the inside?

Because I've got incredibly big hips.

And I hate myself!

Time out, somebody. Somebody... Time out. Time out.

You always laugh. You laughed at my jokes a million times.

Mostly to be polite. We didn't want to hurt your feelings.

And what are you doing now? Just telling it like it is.

Look, we're not saying you never tell a funny joke, and your delivery is good,

but you need better material.

Oh, so people are just being polite and laughing at my jokes, huh?

Most of the time.

Not all of the time.

Every once in a while, you came up with a good one.

You know, this isn't as hard as I thought it would be.

Aren't some people getting mad at you?

Some yes, some no.

Michelle thanked me for being honest about her costume.

Miss Sherwood said she was grateful. She said it all averages out.

Deirdre Maxwell.

What about her?

I've been kind of working on her for the past couple months and... Nothing.

Maybe I should stop playing games and do what we've been doing. Be straight,

level with her.

Don't come with me.

I really think we're on to something here. I really do.

Go for it.

Coco's over there having a wardrobe conference.

And, uh, I wonder if composing something looks like.

Julie's buying her cello a bite to eat.

Danny's providing the floor show.

And Montgomery's... Never mind about

Montgomery. I can see that for myself.

Just the man I want to see.

What a limited social life you must have.

I know you're in charge of the faculty show.

I don't know if you know it or not, but I play a little jazz piano.

Just how tall an instrument are we talking about?

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, forgive me. This happens near the end of every year.

The crazies. We are all crumbling.

I don't follow you.

I've been here longer than you have, Mr. Crandall.

I've been here longer than a furnace, for heaven's sake.

At the end of every year, we will start to go just a little bit crazy.

The faculty puts on shows.

The students start sniffing spring and freedom.

For instance, you no doubt have heard about Miss Sherwood and Miss Grant

switching classes.

Really? The crazy strike again.

Throne style.

Now, I'd like for you all to give me the names of some writers that had

different styles.

Now, don't give me anybody too far out. Danny? Ernest Hemingway. Good.

Hemingway.

Give me another.

Coco. Thomas Wolfe. Very good thinking.

Now, these are two very good examples because both of these writers have very

different styles.

Hemingway wrote short phrases and crisp rhythms.

Say short phrases.

Short phrases.

Say crisp rhythms.

Now we'll put them together. Short phrases and crisp rhythm. Short phrases

crisp rhythm. Short phrases and crisp rhythm. Short phrases and crisp rhythm.

much, Doris, for bringing that to my attention.

You've been very helpful this morning to so many people.

That was very good.

I mean, really, it was.

I think when you get some of the rough edges off, it'll be spectacular.

What rough edges?

Well, maybe that's too strong a word.

It just, it seemed to me that it's all a

little usual.

I mean, there are no real surprises.

Well, teacher, you have to tell us what you're talking about.

Well, I was thinking while I was watching it that it's all very modern,

it? I mean, the sounds and the moves, and I thought it might be interesting if

you inserted something that wasn't quite so contemporary.

Like the way they use the body in the Irish clog dance.

Watch, I'll show you.

We've never seen that like that before. That's real interesting.

Dismissed. Uh, Leroy, hang on a second. I'd like to talk to you.

I guess you've heard about the faculty show coming up?

Sure.

Well, Lydia, Miss Grant, seems to feel that I'm in over my head.

What do you think?

Well, everybody's entitled to their own opinion.

I think it's your... Well, it's your dancing. I mean, that...

That clog stuff, I mean... Thank you for your tact and honesty.

I think I have a question to ask you.

I'm waiting.

Leroy, can you teach me how to dance?

You gotta be kidding.

Teach you how to dance?

Well, I'd love to.

I mean why not?

The question is, are we done?

I mean, is the pledge supposed to last all day or just through the school day?

You know, I don't think we should give this up.

We've accomplished a lot today.

I mean, we've helped a lot of people open up the lines of communication.

Fine. I don't have a technique for bopping. Get somebody else.

All I thought was your technique was fast and improving.

But not yours, right?

Perfection. You should change your name to Nadia Comaneci.

Look, if you can't stand a little constructive criticism... Constructive

criticism? When Leonard Bernstein says it, it's constructive criticism. When

say it, not quite the same thing. It's like Jerry Ford saying that Fred Astaire

lost his step.

But you could do it. I know you could.

Danny, I am not going to write comedy material for you.

You're always saying funny things.

I mean, kids think your class is the funniest one in the whole school.

Is it pay? Is that it?

It is not pay. It's just that I already have a very full schedule.

Okay, how about this? If I hear you say anything funny, I get to use it in my

act. And I give you special credit for your work, so it's not like I'm stealing

from you.

Terrific compromise.

In all fairness, I should tell you, I don't plan on

saying anything funny between here and the subway.

Walka, walka, walka. I know this sounds corny.

But I think you'll understand because we're in this together.

I really feel good about the people we helped today.

That's all right.

Michelle, what about this one? This brings out the color in your hair.

Nobody's going to be looking at my hair.

Michelle, they're going to be looking at my hips and wondering if I'm wearing

some new kind of water wing.

I didn't think we could stick it out.

I'm kind of proud that we did it.

You have every right to be proud.

We did it. Good. What do you mean you gave them an assignment? Any class

taught properly should have homework. I have a lesson plan that's laid out for

the entire semester.

Then it ought to include homework. It does include homework, and you know it.

May I ask what was the assignment you gave them?

Essay. On what?

The importance of dance in society.

Well, that's better than trying to put some old tied clog dance in the middle

a jazz number. Just trying to give the number a little pizzazz.

Pizzazz, please.

Numbers that I choreographed don't need that kind of pizzazz, my dear.

Well, now, that's a matter of opinion, isn't it?

Are you ready?

Yes.

I'm giving Leroy some extra tutoring.

You're tutoring me? Yes.

Right.

Are you ready to tutor me now?

Look, I'm... I just want you to know that I'll have the box thing ready by

Friday. Good.

I look forward to hearing it.

You can't forget about the hall permit problem.

I've cleared you with the authorities.

Appreciate it.

Martelli, do you think that I'm too hard on you sometimes?

I think you get angrier with me quicker than you do the other kids.

You may be correct.

You are correct.

Is that likely to change?

I will stop being hard on you when you start being hard enough on yourself.

That hasn't happened yet.

I've got writing to do. Good day.

Well, how come you have to do an African tribal dance?

Not my style.

Well, you're not exactly Watusi.

Thank you.

I noticed.

I didn't mean nothing by that.

Look, I just know that when an announcer stands up and says, Miss Sherwood would

now honor us with an African tribal dance, it's check out the water fountain

time, because ain't nobody going to stay around for that.

I'm open to suggestion.

Well, if you just change your music to something more lightweight.

That way you can just keep doing the same steps. All you have to do is add a

little boogie into it and everything will just be fine.

I had no idea.

I didn't have any idea either until I started calling around and finding you

Montgomery at ground zero of everything that came up all day.

Michelle's really down on herself, Doris.

And she's the lead dancer in your choreography final. Yeah, that's right.

I'm gonna have to apologize to half the Western Hemisphere.

No. Only those people with names that begin with the letter of the alphabet.

I feel so dumb.

Doris, don't get down. I'm not alone.

She's entitled to feel proud when she's good, and she's just as entitled to feel

dumb when she's dumb.

I was just trying to make things better.

Doris, when something's working, you don't try and fix it.

Hey, listen to this.

Prelude to a Remedy?

Come on, Doris. You know how it goes.

To make it right Or should I just stay out of sight

Said too much already

Nothing left to say

Love's gone wrong Falling apart

When I said

It's probably Jacob Marley wanting to borrow my chain.

Is he going to be okay?

They think so.

They think so? What does that mean?

Just what it says. They think he'll be fine.

It's just going to take a little while, that's all.

He's got to get better.

The last thing that happened between us was me lying to him and getting caught

and not having the guts to apologize.

Miss Grant...

You okay?

God's sake.

I am not being heartless. I'm being pragmatic and realistic.

Greg, nobody gives a tinker damn about the faculty show now.

That's not the point.

Well, then you'd better educate me because I'm not hopping on this

Look, I am not being callous. I am not a believer in the show going on in the

face of someone's anguish. However, we have students who are working in the

and they are getting credit for their efforts.

They are being graded and that affects their finals.

And that affects whether or not they will get a scholarship.

If we cancel this show, we're going to blow some of our seniors right out of

college.

Can I at least get on your bandwagon one step at a time?

Forget it, Mr.

Sharofsky. Morale is at a low point.

You're being sentimental and foolish.

I hate sentimental things.

We are simplifying the show. We're going to make it like an exam presentation.

That way the kids will get the grades and we don't have to feel like

singing and dancing while you're laid up in the hospital.

You should write greeting cards for a living.

This is embarrassing.

Mr. Swarovski, you are not getting a vote in this. I'm simply informing you

about what's been decided.

Sentimental twaddle.

Well, I'm glad to hear you're getting better, because the nastier you get, the

more I recognize you.

Now, I'll call you tomorrow and let you know how it went.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Good morning.

Someone stole the geranium out of your planter.

Mr. Gregory Crandall, who will be accompanied by Mr. Jeffrey Cummings on

and Peter Yates on drums.

Ah, Crandall here.

Hope to find some of your old favorites to set your toes and tap it.

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Sounds like an old fuse.

And...

Nurse?

I'm Dr. Westheim. We've not met before, I believe.

No, doctor.

I have a patient in 311, Mr. Sharofsky.

You should notify your superiors.

He's gone.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

Did everything we could, but he slipped away.

No pain. Went very quickly.

I'll call Dr. Stanley.

Wait 15 or 20 minutes. All his family is in there with him now.

Of course, Doctor.

He just slipped away very quietly.

Probably for the best.

I thought so for sure.

I'd like to take part, please.

You want to do something in the show, Mrs. Burr? Yes, if I may.

Oh, of course, Mrs. Burr.

I believe one could say that this is in the nature of a dramatic reading.

When Mr.

Sharofsky was injured, one of the things the police found on the floor was a

letter he had written.

He wrote it to me.

I would like to share it with you.

Dear Mrs. Bird, we have reached that time of the school year when tempers get

short and voices are raised in anger.

Some say this is because this is a school for artists and that we are

This is not true.

There is art and creativity in any task.

that is done with love.

If a file is kept with love and not despair, then the person who keeps that

file is worthy of our respect and our compassion.

I denied you both those things with my anger, and I humbly beg your

I am among the most fortunate of men to be able to do what I love with those

whom I love.

You are an important part of a world I never wish to change.

Please accept my apology.

Your devoted friend, Benjamin Sharofsky.

Someone get the diabetics out of this room before it is too late.

Mr. Sharofsky.

Well, you got here late.

But at least you got here in time to see the last act.

And it's pretty hot, too.

It's me.

All right, Bruno.

Every day is a great day.