Original subtitles

I take it we have a new student. Remember the name, Troy Phillips.

In a word of mediocrity, this boy is an exception.

I'm afraid you're right.

He is an exception.

What then music blending sends you dancing on down the aisles?

A notice just went up. The singing auditions for the festival are off. I

ask him to do that.

Well, you must have done something.

It was a mistake. I made a mistake. No, you did not make a mistake.

You did a very brave thing and I have the greatest respect for you.

You want fame?

Well, fame comes.

And right here is where you starve pain and sweat.

I can go with you.

It's okay, Mom.

I'm okay.

Troy, maybe this is... Mom.

Please.

Well,

that's kind of played out.

Played out?

Are you kidding?

Hot is what it is, Miss Coco.

Well, I don't know.

I know you don't know. That's why I just told you.

Tom, you start facing a bit of truth.

We are the best dancers in the school. Don't nobody in the school dance better

than us?

Listen, Leroy, will you not let that swelling that is in your head go to

All right, all right.

This gig is ours.

This is not a gig.

This is the International Festival for the Musical Arts.

So?

So there can only be one lead singer.

And I wonder who that's going to be.

That's going to be me.

That better be me.

What do you think?

Beautiful.

See, he knows we're at that.

No, I don't.

I'm lost.

I'm looking for Mr.

Shekhar. Shirovsky.

Don't worry, we all mess up his name, especially me.

Listen, he's in room 317 upstairs.

Thank you.

You're late.

The piano player is late.

The pianist is detained.

Can we get some work done here?

That's all you've been doing, is work.

You work on the dance with Leroy, you work on the song with me. When do you

I'm covering all sides for this audition, all right?

Okay. Look, there are other things besides this festival.

Yeah, name me two.

Songs are around whenever you need them.

Songs... follow you wherever you lead them.

This boy coming into audition at 11, should I set up a folder or

a file or maybe even one of those?

Yes.

Very well.

What's the application you filled out?

Worst membership I've ever seen.

I can barely make out the name.

Looks like...

Mrs. Berg, may I see that application?

Oh, oh, my, no.

I'm sorry.

Please, may I see that application?

Why not?

Miss Sherwood, as you know, these are official documents of the State Board of

Education. We are expressly forbidden... Mrs. Berg.

Mrs. Berg, I am an official employee of the State Board of Education.

Oh.

Never mind.

Just relax and focus your concentration.

Now, what I want you to do in this exercise is to be a mirror to your

One leads, the other follows.

It's important to stay alert. Don't look at me.

Don't look at me. Look at your partners.

You always look into your partner's eyes.

On stage, there'll be times when you can't communicate with words.

You must use other means, other languages, to get your message across.

Now you lead.

That's good, weren't it?

All right, one leads and the other follows.

one needs you know robert redford does this exercise too

he does he says the best part of it is going out

afterwards and discussing it really all right now i want you to concentrate on

conveying a specific message come on what do you say we go out you know

It appears your mirror is just a bit cracked.

Seven years of bad luck.

I was just trying to... We know what you were trying, Emmett Tudor.

All right, now, once again.

You're changing, darling.

I have two quarters and two dimes and three nickels, and I need to keep it.

Okay, I wouldn't want to deprive you.

I can make the call later. It's okay.

I haven't seen you before.

I have an audition at 11.

Well, you got 20 minutes to wait. 22.

I have 22 minutes.

Not that you're watching the time or anything, but... Nervous?

What's your specialty?

Oh.

Aficionado. Music. That's my thing.

I sing.

And play the guitar sometimes.

Hmm. I compose.

Bruno Martelli.

Nice to meet you.

My name's Troy.

Phillips.

Mrs. Phillips?

Is it?

Helen, Philip.

Hello, Helen. It's Elizabeth Sherwood. Do you remember... Yes.

Yes, it has been years.

I teach English now at the School of the Arts.

That's what I said.

Helen, is this your son's application I'm holding, Troy?

No, I think that...

To be honest?

Helen, I'm not sure what I think.

Over there is the cafeteria.

You can survive with food there. You can survive anything.

I like peanut butter.

I think they got that.

They do?

Yeah, except they insist on calling it beef stew.

Oh, about Sharofsky. When you audition, keep a low profile.

Low profile? Yeah, never, ever.

point out the error of his ways, especially if you're not into classical.

What am I saying? He'll like you. You're quiet and polite.

Doesn't he like you?

Swarovski?

He's crazy about me.

He just has trouble expressing his feelings.

Well, I gotta go.

Break a leg.

Why would I do that?

break a leg you never heard of that before i i don't want to hurt myself i

want to be in the school no no it's old showbiz talk man it means good luck

thank you maybe i'll see you after my audition yeah i like that we'll get

together and jam jam oh yeah you mean with the peanut butter yeah

Chivalry lives.

Oh, you sure didn't pick it up from this one.

Hey, if you cut me, do I not bleed?

Oh, please. I saw the way you handled Diane Huddleston in Reardon's class.

The worst. Hey, what do you know?

I know that you have the subtlety of an elephant in feet.

That's an interesting observation.

I'm the most subtlest guy you could ever meet.

Hey, hi, Diana.

Hi.

Needs help.

Psychiatrists are expensive.

I'm not.

Try it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I discovered a new talent in the hallway this morning.

Joyce Phillips meets Doris Schwartz, our actress -in -waiting in... Danny

Amatulo, our comic in residence.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Comic, huh?

Tell it to the lady over there.

That's your problem.

What, I don't make her laugh?

No, you don't treat her like a lady.

What am I going to do, send her monogrammed flowers or something?

Look, your problem is that when the stuff is written down and you have to

memorize it, you're good. When you have to wing it?

Amatulo, the girl wants romance.

Hey, I'm trying everything I know.

You're not a woman.

Doris, you've ruined the surprise.

What you need is a script.

No, I do my own material.

Well, that's your first mistake. Come on, let me have a crack at it. You?

Yeah. Well, you're going to tell me how to talk to Diana.

I'll write the dialogue.

I got it memorized?

Yeah, well, first, we'll write her a letter. I'll write it. You slip it to

This is crazy.

How desperate are you?

You're hired.

But I still think this is dumb.

Troy, what do you think?

I hope you sing better than you cut your food.

Look, why can't we just make a decision on the lead singer?

The rules say we can enter a whole show, but we can only have one lead singer.

And let's face it, Coco's got it wrapped up, right?

Wrapped up?

Not after 11 o 'clock this morning, she doesn't. Why the magical number?

Because. Dad's been a new boy auditioned. Sings like a dream.

I take it we have a new student.

Immediately, remember the name. Troy Phillips.

He's got a wonderful voice.

Real special.

Special is a good word.

You know the boy?

I know his parents.

Mr. Shirovsky, didn't you notice anything peculiar about Troy?

He's shy.

Did you ask about his background? Where he's been going to school?

Come to think of it, when I did ask him, he simply began to sing again.

And then I guess I forgot to ask him. He was probably afraid you wouldn't accept

him if you knew the truth.

Nothing he could say would change my mind.

In a world of mediocrity, this boy is an exception.

I'm afraid you're right.

He is an exception.

That boy with the wonderful voice already goes to a special school with

special children.

What do you mean?

Special. Well, in a less enlightened age, the term was retarded.

Well, did you give her the letter? Yesterday afternoon.

Well? You're good, boss.

You're very good.

She's one of my many talents.

Good,

Danny. Very good.

Excuse me? The letter.

It was wonderful.

That good, huh?

Better.

Well, it's your... Diana, it's your loveliness that inspired me.

From the moment I saw you, I've had a smile in my heart.

Danny, not here.

I woke this morning and a poem

filled my head.

A poem about you, the loveliest creature in the universe.

Danny, you're fabulous.

I'm a hit.

As he examines our return, you may feel a wave of nausea.

Apparently the subject of harmony failed to capture your enthusiasm.

Let's hope it does on Friday when you have another examine on this material.

Lucky for you, we can begin preparing almost immediately.

First, I should like to introduce a new student, Troy Phillips.

Mr. Phillips is a very fine singer indeed, and I invite you to hear him at

earliest possible convenience.

It will be worth it.

Now, if we all turn... Come on now.

Excuse me?

How about if he sings for us now?

But what of our rules of harmony?

Mr. Chorofsky, the basic rules of harmony have been with us for centuries

centuries, long before today's fickle musical styles have permeated our

backgrounds and will be around for many, many... I get the gist.

But if the rest of the class is willing to postpone the inevitable...

You know Penny Lane?

Yeah.

Penny Lane, there is a barber showing photographs Of every head he's had the

pleasure to have known And all the people that come and go Stop and say

hello

On the corner there's a banker with a motor car.

The little children laugh at him behind his back.

And the banker never wears a mac.

In the pouring rain, very strange, Penny Lane is in my

ears and in my eyes.

There beneath the blue suburban sky, I sit and eat.

while back. In Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass and in his

is a portrait of a queen.

He likes to keep his fire engine clean.

It's a clean machine.

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes.

Full of fish and finger pies in summer.

Back behind a shelter in the middle of a roundabout A pretty nurse is selling

poppies from a tray And though she feels as if she's in a play She is

anyway Penny Lane is in my ears and

in my eyes There beneath the blue

suburban skies I sit

very shy.

I think you overwhelmed him. Please fend for yourselves until I return.

What?

She was right.

She was right.

Who was right?

Mother said to stay.

Stay where, Troy?

Can you keep a secret, Mr.

Swarovski? I can.

Tight.

I go to another school, too.

You won't tell?

I won't tell.

It's a school for kids like me.

I'm not like those kids.

I'm different.

I'll never be like those kids.

They're better than me.

I don't think that's true.

The other school, they're all like me.

That school, I'm better.

It was a mistake. I made a mistake. I'll go back.

No, you did not make a mistake.

You did a very brave thing, and I have the greatest respect for you. Listen to

me. Next month, there's a very important music festival.

I would like you to be the lead singer representing this school.

Will you stay?

You what?

I'm sure he said he canceled all the auditions.

That's what he said, all right.

Then why... It's all right, Mrs. Berg. Just checking. Thank you. Oh, glad to be

of help.

Anytime.

He was going to leave the school. I had to do something.

I thought the whole idea behind mainstreaming was to treat him like any

kid. Do the other kids know about this yet?

No, I... Well, I suggest when they find out, you better think seriously about

hiring a bodyguard.

It's so easy for all of you.

Is he taking dance?

No. Is he taking English? No. Is he taking drama?

No. Yes.

You gonna put that boy in drama class?

Why not?

David, he can barely read.

But he can read.

Acting is acting, reading is reading.

It just might help build his confidence, you know.

And it just might tear him apart.

It could tear anybody apart.

Okay. There's one thing that's certain.

This kid has got guts. And if he wants to be treated like every other kid, I

let's give him a real shot at it, not some kind of a free ride.

It does seem to go against everything we wanted for Troy.

You're right, and you're right, and even you're right.

I suspect in the long run I'm guilty of a slight error in judgment.

But I would like to have seen any one of you listen to that frightened voice and

look into those confused eyes and do anything different.

George, how are you doing?

Hi, Bruno.

I'm doing fine. Did you see him at school?

Want to look at the scene I'm doing in drama?

Heavy violin material.

Let me ask you something. Do you have some kind of weird schedule or

I mean, I never see you in English or chemistry.

I don't have to take those classes.

What's the secret?

I don't have a secret. I have tutors.

Tutors?

Special tutors.

I got behind in my grades, and because I was sick, I skipped a year.

Someone who's supposed to be so shy, you sure do know some moves.

Excuse me? No, I don't think I will.

Coco, what's going on?

A notice just went up. The singing auditions for the festival are off.

I didn't ask him to do that.

Well, you must have done something.

Wait, I don't understand. Why are the auditions off?

They already made their choice.

And who do they choose?

Why don't you ask your friend here? He seems to have all the right answers.

I'll be late for class.

Troy, you got 15 minutes.

Man, it's not fair.

I had to say something.

Feel better?

Okay, class, settle down.

Lawrence, Roy, whenever you're ready.

When is she coming to town? The truth this time.

You want the truth?

I don't know, and I don't care.

We've been through this before. I just don't believe you anymore.

Thanks. Can we start again?

Yes, please do.

So you memorized both parts, huh?

It's easier...

to learn the whole page rather than half.

All right, just start again.

When is she coming to town?

The truth this time.

You want the truth?

I don't know.

I don't care.

We've been... I know the line.

I was just acting.

Take it easy.

Sorry.

Um... Dick, why don't we just start once again from the top, okay?

When is she coming to town?

The truth this time.

I don't know the truth. I don't know, and I don't care.

We've been through this before. I just can't believe you anymore.

I forgot to take off the jacket.

It's okay.

No, it's not.

Strange.

All right.

Listen, um, don't worry about it.

Why don't we just go down to the second scene and feel free to use your books,

okay?

The price of all your meanderings is high.

Um, a lot.

Maybe he should sing the part.

Girl, please.

You know, he didn't have to audition.

I heard.

Why?

I don't know.

I can't find it.

Can't do it.

Can't do it.

Can't do it.

Can't do it.

Dono, Waddell, you want to come up and be seen from King Lear?

Let's go.

I've been looking all over for you.

I'm here.

You're supposed to be in music.

I can't go to music.

Why not?

That's where you belong.

I don't belong in music. I don't belong in this school.

Troy, you've got talent. You've got a lot of talent. I have a place to sing.

A special group for the educationally handicapped.

That's fine.

I just think you want more than that.

The kids in the school, I don't know how to act with them.

Why not just be you?

Me?

I'm not good enough.

Yes, you are.

They're perfect. They're normal.

Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Perfect and normal are two

different things.

I'm never going to be perfect or normal.

Ever.

I don't belong here.

I belong in the Chase School for the Educationally Handicapped.

Hey, Troy.

Leave me alone.

Man, thank goodness I found you. Doris, you gotta help me.

In exactly 18 minutes, I have got a text on the Civil War, and I am three

battles behind.

Oh, Doris, sophisticated one.

Beautiful one. Friend of little animals.

Come on, I gotta meet Diana in 10 minutes.

Tell her you got laryngitis.

Just one little line, that's all I ask.

Amatulo, it is time for the birdie to leave the nest.

Fly away.

Fly away!

Did you receive special treatment?

Yeah.

I received special treatment.

I didn't much like it.

Treated you like a freak, huh?

Troy, would you sing a song just for me?

Sure.

This song's for everybody, Karen.

Not just for you.

Ralph, would you get the guitar?

I have one friend at the other school.

His name is Bruno Martelli.

Thanks.

He wrote this song.

What's your student name?

Never mind.

They seem to come alive each time you sing them.

Songs, you can play them straight or you can swing them.

Songs, don't know how we'd get on without them.

Songs, you can hum them with or shout them.

Keep you company when you're alone.

So find a song you can call your own. No, you can't go wrong.

All you need is a song.

They get you humming.

You start a strumming. Just keep them coming. They get you going.

You snap your fingers.

The music lingers.

You get some singers to make a show in. Words and music blending send you

dancing all down the aisles.

Songs can bring you memories of good times.

Big smiles. The band is jumping.

The music's thumping.

It's really something that hits the ceiling.

A hot piano.

A hot soprano.

do what they can for a happy

Dance me up, Danny. I'm a tool on nobody.

Who would do such a thing? Just tell me his name. I'll tear him apart.

You! You stood me up. Why would I do that?

I don't know.

That's what I'm trying to figure out.

Probably another girl.

Don't bite your tongue.

There's probably a million of them.

No way.

A couple hundred thousand tops.

Danny, say something nice.

You know, something about how you feel.

How I feel?

Uh... Uh... Let us... Yes, Danny?

Let us talk about this in a couple hours. What do you say? Then it won't be

spontaneous.

I want you to tell me now, while I'm in the mood.

Your hair?

It smells like a million grains of sand flowing. Sand?

Come on, Danny, quit joking.

Who's joking?

Hey, look, I'm hot for you, you're hot for me, so why don't we, you know...

Hot?

And I thought you were different.

I really thought you were special.

Well, I was wrong.

You're not special.

Enough!

I'm trying my best. No, no, this is not your best.

I've seen you. This is not it.

Not today.

That's too bad about Troy, right?

His parents come to take him out of school.

Why?

Now they have to hold auditions for the festival.

Now you got a shot at it. Isn't that what you wanted?

I wanted a shot at it, but not this way.

Where you going?

Find a friendly place.

Thanks for everything, Doris.

No, no, don't say nothing.

I just want to let you know how grateful I am for everything you did for me.

While you were busy with the Civil War, I lost Diana.

You lost a girl in one day?

I used my own material, but she didn't go for it.

Amatulo, I put the boat in the water. You can't expect me to sail it, too.

She'd have liked me a lot longer if you'd have stuck around.

Who did you want her to love?

You were me.

Because as long as I was writing you dialogue, Diana thought you were

you weren't.

Now at least you know.

Hello?

Hello, Troy.

Uh, they said you wanted to see me.

You want to sit down?

I've never been in a school like this before.

I have.

Troy, everybody misses you back at school. I mean, Leroy and Bruno and... I

don't want to hear it.

I miss you too, Troy.

You hurt me.

I know.

And I'm sorry.

And I want to make it up to you, Troy.

Here. It's where I belong.

No place else.

But it's going to stay that way if you don't try.

I did try.

I want to stay here.

I want you to come back.

Mr. Sharofsky's holding new auditions.

If I come back and they let me sing, it'll only be because I'm different. No.

Not this time.

If you win, it'll be because of your heart and your voice, and I can handle

that. You don't understand.

I understand that you're scared.

I'm scared, too.

Sometimes when I get up in front of an audience to sing or to dance, I think

they can see me shaking.

It's different for you.

No, it's not.

It comes with the territory.

If you're going to perform, you're going to be scared.

And you don't have the corner on being scared just because you're different.

But I am. I know what you are, Troy. You are a singer.

And that's what counts.

What happens when it's over?

Or you'll be on unemployment like the rest of us.

That's your business.

I have nothing to say to you. That's great, because I've got enough to say

both of us.

Hey, look, all that, uh, moon, June, spoon stuff wasn't me. That was Doris

Schwartz's lines. I just delivered them.

That was dumb.

No, what's dumb is that you went for them. I certainly... Hey, lock, stock,

barrel it.

Diana, you went for the words instead of me.

I mean, maybe when I talk, I don't sound like William Shakespeare or even Doris

Schwartz.

Yeah, but I had feelings for you.

Real feelings.

And you know what's even dumber?

That I tried the whole thing in the first place, that was dumb.

From now on, the kid's going to trust the kid, period.

And I'm sure you did the right thing.

Yeah, but to give Troy an open shot like that, I want to sing the lead in that

festival.

And I practically begged him to come back.

Do you honestly hope that he does?

I want to be a performer more than anything.

Am I crazy to give someone else a chance?

You're not being crazy. You're being a mensch. A mensch? What's that?

A person.

You're being a person.

You're thinking about somebody else instead of yourself.

You're growing up, Cookie.

Try. You belong.

them. Songs that seem to come alive each time you sing

them. Songs you can play them straight or you can swing

them. Songs don't know how we get on without them.

Songs you can hum them with or shout them.

Songs keep you company when you're alone.

So find a song you can call your own. You can't go wrong.

All you need is a song.

Oh, they get you humming.

You start a strumming. Just keep them coming. They get you going.

You snap your fingers.

The music lingers.

You get some singers to make a show, and words and music blending sends you

dancing on down the aisles.

Songs can bring you memories of good times, big smiles.

The band is jumping, the music's thumping, it's really something, they

ceiling. A hot piano, a high soprano, do what they can for a happy...

to make a show and words and music blending and you dancing on down

the aisle songs can bring your memories up good times

big smiles don't know how we get on without them well it's something they

hit the