Original subtitles

What are you... You're not going... You are.

They closed the walls, people, and no running.

Don't panic.

He's blind.

It's probably very difficult for him.

A -E -I -O -U.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Right. Saying is a thing to do.

It's okay, Mr. Landon. I made sure all the kids were out. I have to check for

myself. They're my responsibility.

But I'm...

You gonna be much longer?

I gotta mop the floor yet before the kids get here.

No, no, not much longer.

Excuse me, would you open this classroom, please?

That's short and a little left.

He's short, but a little right.

Perfecto. Well, I gotta get to the lobby and get started on that moppy.

We're not finished here yet.

Look I ordinarily don't talk back to teach and I don't take back talk.

So I'll tell you when we're done here Okay

Bingo

like this. I don't like this. Not one little bit.

Elizabeth. Not now.

I'm counting. Count later, girl. This is important.

What is important is that I get enough worksheets to get through the day, and

of right now, I'm missing 130, page 5.

David Collins is bringing six school board members to the trimester

on the 8th. Who is David Collins? David Collins is head of the school board

budget committee.

He's never brought anybody to see what we've done before. How come now?

I imagine it's because we turned down his Debbie.

Say what?

His niece, Debbie. She auditioned for the dance program last month. You turned

her down.

I did?

Mrs. Bird, did you know it was Mr. Collins' niece who was auditioning?

Well, why didn't you let me know?

I was afraid it would seem as if influence was being brought to bear, and

you're above that sort of thing.

Lydia, I'm so proud to know that you're above that sort of thing.

Please, give my best to Mother Teresa the next time you two have lunch.

Mrs. Burke, are you taking your speed reading course?

Oh, my...

I'm just looking for the good parts.

I'm just a patsy for these bodice rippers.

Oh, for Pete's sake, why can't people watch where they're... Wait a minute,

a minute. We ran into each other, didn't we?

You take half, I'll take half.

I'm terribly sorry. I didn't realize... I mean, I didn't see... No, no, no,

that's all right. That makes two of us.

Well, I am sorry.

Oh, you dropped some stuff. Let me help.

That voice of yours doesn't sound much like a student.

No, I'm a teacher here.

Really? Me too.

You're a teacher here?

Yeah, substituting for Harper.

Singing. That's the one.

I'm Jim Landon.

Hello, I'm Elizabeth Sherwood. I teach English here.

Can I walk you to your class?

Do I turn you on, Sherwood?

Please.

Well, that has to be the reason you want to walk me to my classroom.

Because the only other one would be if you thought I needed help. And frankly,

don't.

pitcher of the Grand Rapids softball team.

Just pitch the ball stretcher.

That was outside. That hit the corner. It was a super pitch, admit it.

Pitch caught the outside corner better.

You're out of there.

All right!

That ball was outside. What are you, blind something?

I'm Jim Landon, and I'm going to be teaching this class.

until Mr. Harper comes back.

Please take your seats. Let's get down to business. And oh, please don't insult

my intelligence by sitting in someone else's seat.

You wouldn't switch seats on someone like... What's your name?

Schwartz. Doris. Well, Doris, you were about to say that you wouldn't switch

seats on someone like me.

Of course not.

Why not?

Because... Because why?

Because you're blind.

Well, I'll be damned.

Cameron, don't rush the tempo.

Stay with what's going on in this room.

Daryl, come on, honey. Stay with it. Stay with it.

Coco, I don't need you all to be talking up there. There's enough distractions

going on around here without you all running your mouths.

Hold on to it, people.

concentration was shutting you off hold on people come on come on this is not a

laughing matter this is not just a little showcase the school board budget

committee is coming in and rumor has it they're coming in to find fault now i

say we don't give them any fault to find right yeah all right so pull it

together come on no no let's take it from the top from the very top i am the

very model of a modern major general i've information mineral information

vegetable mineral animal mineral i know the kings of uh i

know the kings of england and i quote the fight historical from bob babylon

to monolo and order categorical i i'm very well acquainted with madness

mathematical mathematical i understand equations both the simple

Mr.

Landon, I can't do this stuff.

What? People from the Bronx don't talk like this. Don't is one thing, and

that's something else again.

Well, I can't, and that's the truth.

Matulo, see that wastebasket down there?

Mm -hmm. Go tap it.

Mr. Matulo, you'll find that in my classroom...

There's no such word as... Can't.

Two hours worth of thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump, thump,

thump.

Then it would stop, and I'd get the kids back to rehearsing again.

We'd be right in the middle of the dance, and it would start all over.

telling you, it was like trying to kiss on a merry -go -round if you didn't time

it right.

Sounds like you're really gonna tear into it. Oh, baby.

Lydia, remember, he's blind.

So what?

Well, it's a shame and all like that, but that doesn't give him any right to

disrupt my classroom. He steps on my toes, he's gonna hear about it.

That might be easier said than done. I think he's very much his own man.

Well, I'm very much my own.

If I counted right, this ought to be the faculty language.

Uh, yes.

There's a table right in front of you where you can rest your tray. Thank you.

I'm Sherwood. Good afternoon, Mr. Landon.

And who's the little lady that gave me the guided tour?

Miss Grant.

Lydia. Nice to meet you, Lydia.

Nice to meet you, too.

Mr. Landon, how did you know Elizabeth was in here?

It's her breath. It could stop a truck. What?

I'm sorry. I'm just joking.

It's your cologne.

Wood nymph, right?

Right. My girlfriend wears it. I noticed it when we banged into each other this

morning in the corridor.

It's a wonderful scent.

Well, that's very nice of you. Thank you very much.

What do you teach here, Miss Grant?

I teach dance, Mr. Landon.

In fact, I have the classroom directly underneath yours.

Directly underneath?

Mm -hmm.

Oh, then we have to talk, Miss Grant.

Oh, yes, I think that would be a wonderful idea.

Miss Grant, the noise from your classroom is frankly intolerable, and I

you're going to do something to tone it down.

That level just cannot continue.

I mean, my students can't even hear themselves think.

Do we understand each other, Miss Grant?

I'm not sure.

I'm working on it.

I don't care what it has to do with voice or music theory.

Mr. Harper never... Harper's a traditional kind of teacher. This guy

untraditional. I think he's trying to shake you up a bit. If you think of

in a different way.

I think he's just trying to show off.

No, he isn't.

He's very imaginative, gutsy, and committed. And I think he's terrific.

Well, I think you're giving him points because he's handicapped. If he were

like anybody else, he wouldn't feel that way.

But he's not like everybody else. He's special.

Talking about his teaching skills, Doris. So am I.

Okay. What did you learn in this class yesterday?

See, you can't name one thing.

Yes, I can. It's easy.

Name it.

Well, aside from the vocal technique and the quality.

Why put it aside?

That's what he's supposed to be teaching.

Anybody can teach that. Harper teaches that, and he's a flippy twit.

And Landon?

He teaches the most important thing in the whole silly business.

All you have to do is look at him once and know that he never thought of giving

up.

That's what he teaches and that's what I'm gonna learn and that is what makes

him special You know, I recognize that most of you people are gonna make your

livings in pop music, right?

Yes, sir, and you find that classical music can be often boring

Especially vocal exercises well this morning We're going

to prove that vocal exercises can be fun. There are five vowels Wonderful

called vowels. A, E, I, O, and U.

And if you'll snap along with me like this, we will make the vowels have fun.

Yes, sir.

I'm going to show you now. All right.

You don't think I'm kidding?

A, E, I, O, U.

Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? All right.

the people with the big voices to do this first one.

Oh.

Oh, oh, oh.

Help me with this one big guy.

You know what I mean.

then, Mr. Grant.

You just go right on wherever you're going.

You have a nice day now.

I beg your pardon very much.

with you outside, please.

Shh.

Now you understand what I'm talking about. Listen to that racket.

Could we talk about it outside?

Okay. Articulation exercises.

Doris, you're in charge.

She just can't leave me alone.

Okay.

Name me my momu.

Name me my momu. Show me back.

Name me my momu. It's more of a diaphragm.

You're training them for what production? I heard there's one on the

but that's going to feature the dancers.

Hey, when did it become a closed shop? When I found out I might have something

to prove to someone on the budget committee. That's when.

And the vocal students don't count, right?

I didn't say that.

Then why won't you let them be in the show? I can't. They're not ready. The

dancers have been rehearsing for weeks. They'll be ready.

Look, I could take my least talented performer or go on and do as well as

anybody you've got.

All they need is the motivation, and, well, this show supplies it.

I can't. This is special. The showcase is for the dance department.

Don't worry about it. I get it.

This isn't for the kids, is it? It's for you. It's for your ego, right? Wrong.

It's not that at all. Oh, no?

There's a smell around here, Miss Grant, and it sure the hell isn't wood nymph.

Take it easy.

You'll be okay.

Okay, walk it off.

Walk it off.

Walk it off.

can I find Mr. Harper's telephone number?

Well, I believe it's in that index right over there.

Is there something I can do to help?

Yes. You can get rid of that officious egomaniac who's substituting for his

class. That's what you can do.

Oh, no.

Actually, I don't think I could.

Not really.

Well, I'm going to call Mr. Harper and find out just how sick he's feeling,

because I'm not going to put up with that.

person very much longer.

What's this person's name?

His name is... Who are you?

Oh, this is Mr. Belmont.

He's working with Mr. Collins.

Mr. Collins of the school board?

That's right.

Mr. Collins has really taken an interest in our school ever since his niece

auditioned. Well, I wouldn't know anything about that. But if there's a

substitute who isn't cutting it, we could... Now, he's blind.

It's probably very difficult for him.

Mr. Belmont, I'm not interested in bringing the school board down on

maybe you ought... Hello, Mr. Harper?

Oh, hi, hi. Lydia Grant here.

Yes, how are you feeling?

Okay, Mrs. Berg, what's next on the list?

Well, I've been in touch with the fire department, and they're so pleased that

we're being so conscientious.

I'm not exactly sure that's what's motivating Mr. Collins, but mine is not

reason why. All I have to do is pull a red handle and stay out of the way.

I'm so sorry to hear that.

Well, you take good care of yourself, and we'll see you in a couple of weeks.

Okay. Bye -bye.

What are you... You're not going to... You are.

Okay, okay. Promise to drill.

Come on. Come on out to the lobby.

Right. You know what? Look, people are going to love it now.

They couldn't call people. And no running.

It's easy now.

Don't panic.

Don't panic.

Poco, Michael, our glasses are all spread.

Yeah, we got it covered tonight.

Okay.

It's okay, Mr. Landon. I made sure all the kids were out. I have to check for

myself. They're my responsibility.

But I'm sure that they're all out. Out of the way, damn it.

Is anybody here?

Can anybody hear me?

Is anybody here?

is the drill.

It won't work.

You're obviously trying to work off some demons.

Did it work?

Nope.

Try my way.

You walk out the door dressed in really great running clothes.

Then you stroll across the street to the bakery and you buy something like

that. Did it work?

Not at all. Have some.

Thank you.

I don't want to hurt your feelings.

I appreciate that.

Elizabeth, I think I got Mr. Landon in trouble with the school board.

Mrs. Burke said they called and asked for a report on him. You two aren't

exactly long -lost lovers.

Yeah, but that's me and him.

I don't mind having a fight with somebody one -on -one, but I don't feel

about it looking like I called the board down on him, you know what I mean?

Explain it to him.

Girl, in some ways the man is more deaf than he is blind.

The only thing that's going to make him happy is if I let some of his students

participate in the showcase.

And if you do that, it won't be a demonstration of how good the dance

is, and it won't get Mr. Collins off your back. And you got it. No.

I understand it.

You're the one that got it.

See ya.

That was good.

Take it one more time from your cross, okay?

Oedipus speaks.

O you, my friend, still friend, and by my side still standing by the

sightless man, your form eludes.

Oedipus.

Your voice is clear.

That voice lights up my darkness.

Man of havoc.

What made you hate your sight so?

What demon so possessed you?

Friend, it was Apollo.

The spirit of Apollo.

He made the fruit of evil fructify.

Oh, yes. I pierced my eyes, my desolate eyes.

Why not? When all that was sweet was parted from my sight.

These things are so, as you say.

Nothing left to see.

To love.

Nothing to enjoy.

No welcome and communion.

Hurry me from this plague. Take this wreck and hell of Oedipus from the gods'

hate.

Better, much better.

All right, everyone, just work on your scenes for tomorrow and be prepared.

Sorry. For what?

For being a feeling person?

For making a fool of myself.

Congratulations.

If this is your first time, I wish you'd have many, many more.

It's not funny.

No, it's not funny.

I wasn't trying to be funny.

But I'm not so sure Mark's performance was so good that it warrants putting you

away like this, either.

It wasn't Mark's scene.

I didn't think it was.

Mr. Riddon.

When you were young, younger, when you were younger,

did you ever just die because you hurt so much for another person?

Like people starving in another place or natural disasters?

Or a person who's blind?

Yeah, something like that.

Doris, I think empathy is what this business is all about.

And it wouldn't surprise me if the young people were a little more sensitive to

those kind of things than those of us who are older.

How do you make it stop?

Does the hurt go away?

Do you grow out of it?

Not if you're lucky.

You stick around and get yourself together.

I'll see you tomorrow.

I am the very model of a modern major general. I have information, vegetable,

animal, and mineral. I know the kings of England, and I qualify as historical

for marathon to Waterloo in order categorical.

Categorical.

I'm very well acquainted too with matters mathematical.

I understand equations both are simple and quadradical. About binomial

I'm dealing with a lot of news.

A lot of news. A lot of news.

With many trivial facts about the square of the hypotenuse.

I'm very good at integral and differential.

What are you doing? There's more. Danny, it's lunchtime. I'm starving.

You're supposed to be willing to starve for your art.

I am willing to starve for my art.

I'm just not willing to starve for your art.

What do you think? How was it?

You've been complaining about this Landon guy, right? About how he's being

tough on you?

Right.

I think you should go out and find more people to be tough on you because you

were really very good.

I know.

You weren't happy about being good.

Well, I mean, I made such a big deal about how I couldn't do it, and then it

turns out I can do it if I work on it.

So it looks like the only reason I didn't want to do it in the first place

because I was scared.

What is the reason?

I was scared.

Makes sense.

Can I tell you something else?

You know, this stuff isn't half bad.

I mean, if he wants to put me in the show doing this stuff, I mean, that'd be

okay. It'd be kind of fun.

It's really killing you to say that you're proud of yourself, huh?

Yeah.

Well... Congratulations, Amatulo.

You may have found yourself a Swarovski.

Hi,

Mr. Reardon.

Hi, Dwight.

What do you think?

Very impressive.

It's almost brand new.

It's a tuba.

It's very nice.

It's a sousaphone.

Sorry.

Chill. Very impressive.

People always call them tubas.

They're not.

You'd think people would learn after all these years, but they don't.

It's as if they don't even care.

Hi, I'm Dave Reardon. I teach drama here.

I'm Jim Landon. What can I do for you?

Well... I don't mean to butt in, but I thought you ought to know that I think

one of your students is developing a giant -sized case of puppy love towards

you.

Dora Schwartz.

Right. Obviously, my little helpful hint wasn't necessary.

You know, you're not the first person to come running in here with advice I just

simply don't need.

Look, I was just trying to help you out. Let me ask you something.

If I was a sighted teacher, you'd just simply figure I could handle it on my

own, wouldn't you?

Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know. I do.

I'm perfectly capable.

of handling anything that comes my way.

And though you may be very well motivated, as far as I'm concerned,

attitude is, well, it's condescending and it's parental.

And I'm not too thrilled with it, okay?

I hear you.

Okay.

Well, it's the end of the day, and I'm going to wash up and go home, and I'm

sure I'll see you around.

You bet.

Oh, pipes are broken.

You'd have to use the one at the other end of the hall.

Oh, no.

I don't believe this.

I suppose you're still here.

Yep.

Yep.

See you tomorrow.

Way from home, Mrs. Berg, eh?

Oh, my, no.

The board downtown has just been requesting all sorts of records and

They are really looking for trouble.

They're out to get us, no question.

Why would they be out to get us?

Well, apparently we made the mistake of turning down the wrong student.

Was not a mistake. The girl moved like a bowling ball with corners.

And they've got some budget people angry, so they sent the snoop, and the

ran the fire drill.

That was when Mr. Landon was in our business class. I heard about that.

That could have happened to anyone, anytime.

They can't blame us for that. They can't blame him for that matter, either. Miss

Grant, if they want to find fault, they will find fault. There's nothing you can

do about it. This week, it's your department.

Next week, it might be mine.

I would have to produce a symphony in perfect pitch.

played by totally deaf musicians and it still might not be enough.

Sorry I can't be more optimistic.

Good day.

He's probably right.

Symphony played by deaf musicians.

I don't think deaf musicians would do very well.

Am I just being old -fashioned?

Lydia, what are you thinking?

I was just... thinking what the board would say if we show them a production

number that featured a blind man dancing.

Well, they couldn't possibly say we don't have our act together if we show

that. Lydia, I suppose I am just being old -fashioned.

That's probably why I like those old -fashioned bodice rippers.

They said they want some creative initiative.

Of course, Beethoven never wrote any music for deaf musicians.

Now, if anyone was going to do it, you'd certainly think he'd be the one to, now

wouldn't you?

Maybe nobody ever suggested it to him.

Then, of course, he couldn't have heard the suggestion anyway.

That must have been what happened.

The dumbest idea I have ever heard.

You want to explain to me why it's such a dumb idea?

Sure. First of all, I'm a klutz. Well, you can walk, you can dance.

Hey, I don't need anybody's help, you know. Would you get off of that?

I've done a lot on my own, lady.

Yeah, you have, and a lot of it's been good and a lot of it's been really

rotten, but you've done it all by yourself. Well, congratulations, Mr.

Superman.

Listen, I've got to get to class.

Jim. You know, maybe you are right.

Maybe you are the only person in all of creation who doesn't need any help.

Well, in that way, you and I are very different because I do need help. And

right now, you're the person whose help I need.

You know, there are two ways that you and I are very much alike.

Really? Yeah.

We're both pretty stubborn.

That's true.

How about the other one?

We both have had people to judge us based on what they see, not based on

can do. You know what I'm talking about?

I guess prejudice.

Yeah. Well, I want you to know there's absolutely no prejudice involved in what

I'm about to say to you, but you are a boneheaded jackass. What?

Baby, I might not like you if you could see through walls, but you'd rather do

something all on your own and fail than get some help and get something done.

I guess you're just too scared to share the glory, huh?

And you know, I really do wish you could see. You know why?

Because then I wouldn't feel so guilty about wanting to make faces at you.

Come on in here, y 'all.

Go into the center floor and stretch and warm up. I'll be right with you.

Still a glut.

Not for long.

Hi, Mr. Lennon. Hi, Julie. Hi.

Oh, Amatulo.

Yo. About the Patterson. Hey, yeah. I was thinking of adding a rock beat to

right? And then we could call it the Pink Floyd Patterson.

Listen, you don't have to worry about it anymore. I'm taking you out of the

showcase.

What? Yeah, they've added a new number.

Something that wasn't planned on.

I was doing good with that song.

Agreed, agreed.

But I knew you were uncomfortable, so I thought I'd be doing you a favor by

taking you out of the showcase.

Yeah, sure thing.

Thanks a lot.

Okay.

You know, you do understand how I have to learn, don't you?

We're talking about touch.

We're talking about the braille.

Pick me? Yes. How do you feel about being groped to death? Let me ask you

Right this way, Mr. Landon. It doesn't matter to me if it's in the classroom.

far as I'm concerned, it could be on Broadway, Yankee Stadium.

That wouldn't be bad either if you had a crowd and people. Mr. Landon, you're

about to go in here and shut up and dance.

Now.

Let me try again.

Well, almost Gene Kelly, right?

Honey, maybe you can't dance.

Well, don't quit so soon.

Don't quit so soon.

Darling, four hours is not so soon. Let's just take a little break right

No, no, no, no, no. Watch.

Watch.

We're talking.

Train. Watch.

One, two, three.

Well,

it was spectacular.

Anytime anybody dances into the orchestra pit, it's considered

What if, though? Well, I mean, what happens if we try this and we fall flat

our faces?

Well, Jim, I thought about that, but you know what really made me believe this

could work?

The day of the fire drill.

I followed you when you went back upstairs to your classroom to make sure

your kids got out safe.

Only you didn't know it was just a drill, and, well, to see a blind person

running towards a fire, that took some kind of guts, some kind of faith, more

than what it takes to make something like this work.

When you followed me, did you know it was a drill?

No, I didn't.

They not say we're pretty well matched.

Let's get back to work, Lydia.

All right, Jim.

Come on out the orchestra pit. Out of the pit first. You've got to start

You can't dance with the orchestra. All right.

Now let's try the pit. I'll jump up on three right now. Sure you will. One,

up on three.

And down.

Oh, honey, let me down a little more, Jim. Sorry, I'm sorry.

You have a ticket held for Collins?

Yes. Hope you enjoy the show.

Excuse me. Do you know Jim Landon?

Yes, I do. I'm his girl.

How did you know?

Because he just gave a description of you that was unerring.

Hey, look at it this way.

Don't say anything to cheer me up. Just remove all the sharp objects from my

purse. You're a stronger person. Haven't been disappointed.

Being hurt makes you strong.

Being hurt makes you hurt.

That's all it does.

Try to make it on my own.

Believe in only the strong.

Survive. Never giving up my pride.

But now it's clear.

Finally the pictures come through to me.

Finally I found my reality.

Needing each other's help is.

It's so easy to do.

If I share it with you, I can do anything.

There just isn't a doubt in all the things I can feel.

If the feelings are real, share them with me.

There are times when you're there.

I'll give up the

Thank you.