Original subtitles

It's not fair.

No, we ought to be able to do something, not just gripe about it. They want to

take over and run everything.

The bureaucrats.

The kids.

This is showtime.

My heart starts to pound. My spirit goes up when the lights go down.

Everybody fixes things a little. It's not cheating, it's just surviving.

Here's your grading pencil, Mr. Amatulo. Come on, man, you double -crossed

everybody.

why do you think we elected you they wanted responsibility they got

responsibility they blew it

Forecast says the skies are not cloudy all day, and that's okay because it's 15

minutes on the skinny side of 7, and your man Jack is the only one with a

word to bolster up your bruised spirit this Monday morning. Just about the only

thing better than the sound of my wonderful voice would be just some

sounds that might get your heart pumping out there. How'd you like me to put

that on your plate this morning? Get it!

You're going to have to hang a bell around your neck about sneaking up on me

like this all the time.

Didn't want to interrupt the performance.

Or was it a rehearsal?

It was a rehearsal.

For what?

You know the male -stopped competition?

There's a whole lot of heat around this place about being in that one.

There seems to be a lot of heat around this place about every show that gets

on. Wish I could say the same about English class.

Now, Miss Sherwood, how'd you like my answers on that last test you gave?

You know, the one where you asked us to explain the poem?

Well... I thought it was pretty cool.

I mean, you asked me to explain a poem, and to explain it, I wrote you one back.

That was a poem?

Yeah. Street rap, same thing.

It rhymes.

It's English.

I mean, people in my neighborhood even think it's poetry.

Yes.

Well, you see, sometimes poetry doesn't explain as well. So what?

We've got to have a faculty meeting as soon as possible this morning.

Excuse me.

What did you just call me?

Sherwood, that is your name.

It's Miss Sherwood.

Morlock. Miss Sherwood, I, more than most, am aware of the rules of

but there are times when situational ethics come into play.

What does that mean?

That means we've got ourselves one hell of a problem here.

Now, this letter arrived at my place last night, delivered by messenger, I

add. It's from the mayor's office.

Now skip the first paragraph, which is not germane, and cut to the second,

is.

In light of the fact that this event is being sponsored by the mayor's office,

we feel the need to implement certain guidelines in regard to academic

excellence. They want to be certain the students can read and write.

Therefore...

Students participating in the show must maintain a C average.

A representative from the mayor's office will be sent to audit the students'

grades. Well, that doesn't seem all that unfair.

I think you're overreacting, Mr. Morlock.

Well, listen to this next paragraph and see if you still think so.

The mayor's representative will also monitor the quality of your work.

to make certain it's in keeping with the evening's events.

Wait a minute. You mean they're going to audit the students and my show?

And the music department?

Please call to acknowledge acceptance of these guidelines or send notice of your

decision not to partake in competition for the Mayor's Cup.

Come on, Mr. Morlock. It's an outrage. You can't expect us to put on a show

under those circumstances. Thank you.

I know I flunked it.

I had to wait midnight for Marcelli to get off work so he could help me with my

song. No, you didn't flunk. But that kind of work is going to pull your

way down.

An F?

What do you mean, give me an F? I don't deserve this.

I asked you to explain the poem, not write it. I did explain it. The problem

you just didn't understand it. Your job is to make me understand.

It's English.

It's the way people talk. Everybody in my neighborhood understands it. I'm not

from your neighborhood.

Yeah, you sure ain't.

All you understand is that book garbage, and I didn't come here to study that,

and neither did nobody else in this class you're looking at.

Mr. Johnson, you have not been dismissed.

Miss Sherwood, we come here to dance and sing, or do whatever it is that we do.

Do us a favor. I'm getting in the way.

realize that we only study English so you can read the street signs to get to

your auditions. It's just this whole C average thing. It's got everybody ticked

off. You know, we work for weeks to put together a show and then if one person

flunks out of the show, the whole thing could go down the tube.

Everybody loses.

It's not fair. Not even close.

No, we ought to be able to do something, not just gripe about it. If you're

thinking of burning down the school, you're a little late. We did all that

in the 60s.

Hey, I don't want to burn down no building, but if they're going to give

grade rules that could take us out of a show, well, then I think that we ought

to have some kind of say about it. Yeah, all right. Yeah.

What kind of a say? Well, like in the test you give us.

And how we get graded. That's what I do. That's my responsibility.

So then give us some of that responsibility and you'll wind up with

responsible students. And that's a promise.

Yeah.

One word to say about all of this.

Hamlet. Tet. Day after tomorrow. Be responsible for that.

The show goes on in three weeks. The grades come out in two.

Do they expect us to wait for the grades and then put the whole show together in

one week? It's really not their problem, is it?

Mr. Morlock, you don't understand.

You see, this is the first time I've tried to direct an entire show without

Grant. It means a lot to me.

Sounds to me like you're scared.

I'm not scared.

But I know there are certain people looking to see if I want to stub my toe

this one, and I don't need the added pressure.

Well, possibly you'd like to postpone the show until Miss Grant gets back from

her seminar.

No, I'd like to get on with the business of staging the show without the

interference of... No, it is a school show.

School means students.

Students get grades.

That's why we have to stay within the guidelines.

A C average and no excuses.

Okay. So be it.

Pressure makes diamonds.

These people have no right to send bureaucrats to evaluate my work or Mr.

Reardon's work.

They're responsible for the show. They want to evaluate the quality of the

What's wrong with that? My thoughts exactly.

Pardon me.

Did you and I just agree with each other?

We did.

I'm sorry.

I just gave back a set of exams. The kids really put me through the wringer.

Before this, the average rule, they would have grumbled, but today they

practically started a revolution.

I often thought the students were revolting.

but I had a different meaning in mind.

You're not amused.

I'm tired of always being the bad guy.

The kids come to this school because they love to perform. I'm always telling

them they can't perform.

I'm the bad guy.

I know this isn't the right time to ask, but how did Leroy do?

He's looking at a D or worse.

Any chance he can bring it up?

I'm a... teacher, not a bookie. I don't figure odds.

They want to take over and run everything.

The bureaucrats?

The kids.

The kids?

Let them do it. It would show them what we have to go through.

So I stay up all night long working on my song so I can get into the show?

Because of that, I flunked the test and it might take me out of the show.

Well, what's the song?

Maybe I can take your place.

Your concern over my getting kicked out of the show really touches me.

Where it touches me is something else.

Leroy?

I need to see you over here, please.

Look, I don't know how to say this, so I'm just going to say it.

Sounds like something I don't want to hear.

I think I'm going to have Chris Donnan dance the lead in the show.

But I haven't even auditioned yet. It has nothing to do with your ability as a

dancer.

Well, then what is it? It's your grade, Leroy.

Look. If I cast you in the lead and you don't maintain a C average, we won't be

able to put the show on.

Oh, so you're kicking me out because of something I might do.

That's the way it's got to be.

Look, I have a responsibility to the show.

Wait, can I ask you a question?

If Ms. Grant was here, do you think she'd kick me out because of something

I might do?

Leroy, I don't think she'd have much of a choice.

Look, this isn't something I take joy in. No, but do it, man.

Because I've had it up to here with teachers telling me how they don't want

do stuff, but they got to do it anyway.

You got your rules. You stick with it. Fine.

But if you ever want me in your corner, don't count on it because I won't be

there.

Eartha, come on. We got work to do.

Okay. You wanted to know what school is like from this side of the desk?

You got it.

Now, I don't think anyone actually wants to teach the class. Am I right?

Not this one.

I didn't think so.

You will be given the opportunity to elect three people. One person to make

the test, another person to grade them, and a third person to act as some sort

of class monitor.

Now, if you decide to take me up on this, I will not look over anyone's

shoulder. I will not offer guidance.

I will not tell anyone how to make out the test. I will not tell anyone how to

grade them. However, if you decide to do this, you'd better know it's not a

game. If you decide later on that you don't like how it's going or you don't

like how your test is graded, you don't come running to me. I will not bail

anyone out for any reason whatsoever.

Is that clear?

Hey, elect me to make out the test.

I mean, at least you'll get a test that's about you and not about some

who wrote a textbook.

All right!

You know Leroy's going to make out an easy test. He can't stand English.

I nominate Leroy Johnson to make out our test.

I second.

All in favor?

Leroy!

Wait a minute. If Leroy makes out the exam, he's bound to make an A.

I have nothing against Leroy making an A, but is that responsible?

You're right on it, Dwight.

So why don't you make out my test, and I'll make out one for everybody else.

Oh, and while we're at it, I nominate you for class monitor.

Yeah.

Hey,

and I nominate Danny Amatulo to grade the paper. He was the one talking

yesterday about more responsibility.

No, no, I appreciate that, but no thank you. No.

Come on, Amatulo.

The whole idea was yours in the first place, man. I second Danny Amatulo. You

second everything.

Here's your grading pencil, Mr. Amatulo.

The authority is in your hands now.

I think

it's going to be a real test.

If I have to answer a question using street rap, I don't know what I'm going

do. I know one thing that's going to be on it for sure.

What? Well, the first three letters of a play spell a style of acting made

famous by Dara Schwartz for a weekend in Hawaii. Name that play.

Hamlet. Right.

Must be a real interesting play.

I don't know if the play is all that interesting, but this test show is going

be.

Give me a for instance.

No.

Got coffee and donuts. Want some?

No, it might look like a bribe.

Hey, man, I'm just trying to be friendly.

Sorry we didn't kick you out of the show, but that's life in the big city.

It's not a tragedy.

No, it's not a tragedy.

Now take Hamlet for instance. That's a real tragedy.

And anybody who didn't get up on it real good, that's going to be a second kind

of tragedy.

You're really serious about this thing, aren't you?

Leave it.

All right, all right. If you don't tell us the exact question, you know, just

tell us the kinds of questions. Well, it's the kind you can have fun with. I

mean, it's all about you, but you still have to know all about Hamlet. Oh, come

on. We're the general area.

Look, don't... Ask for answers if you please. Rather seek the advice given

laertes.

I knew it. I knew it. He's gonna have street rap on there.

Quiet, please.

Oh, I'm sorry. It's just this question about... No talking.

Mr. Rooks, may I ask you a question?

Don't ask me. Ask me what?

It's this one about Hamlet and Ophelia.

Did Hamlet really dig Ophelia, or did he just want to mess around?

What's confusing about that?

Oh, it's not that part that worries me.

Explain using examples from your own love life.

What if you don't have a love life?

Is that your question?

No.

If Amatulo's grading, if this was a textbook, there would either be a right

wrong.

This way, it's kind of for grabs.

I want you to write about what the play means to your own life. Not Hamlet's.

He's been done to death.

You better be the teacher.

And we had better get going.

We have ten minutes.

How'd you do?

It was simple. I mean, it wasn't like I studied or nothing, but since I made out

my own tests anyway... I'm sorry, Leroy. I could have warned you. You might have

learned something.

Well, don't worry, Miss Sherwood. It won't happen again.

Hey,

why don't you come with me? I'm going to tell you where I was coming from with

these questions. Yeah, I got to hang out and collect the rest of the tests, man.

All right.

Leroy.

Your test was wonderful.

Thank you.

Thank you.

How many more of those do I have to do?

Two.

I'll try to come up with something better on the next one.

Daddy, I'm a too low. I gotta tell you, you are some kind of genius.

Leroy Johnson is excited about English.

I don't have any test grade.

When I'm at the movies tonight, I'll think about how I owe it all to you.

You

should

have checked with me first.

I'm not about to let the mayor's representatives come here to monitor the

classes and find out that the students have made out their own grades.

The first test has already been given.

It was excellent.

I couldn't have done better myself.

You see, this gives them a feeling that they're part of things.

No, that's not the point.

The point is that we have guidelines maintaining a C average.

Now, for the students to achieve this by grading their own tests does not fall

within those guidelines.

Why not?

Sounds like simple democracy in action to me.

What politician could disagree with that?

I don't want to discuss this any further. I want you to make out a new

I want you to grade it.

No.

Today I saw a student excited about English literature.

A student I thought might never be excited about English literature.

So... No, Mr. Morlock.

I'm not going to change what we're doing. I'm going to ride this one out.

Miss Sherwood, I'm giving you an order.

You're very good at that, giving orders.

Problem is, I'm not very good at taking them.

Here I go again.

Talking myself out of you again.

Just when I thought we held it all in our hands.

Something inside me knew you wouldn't stay.

There you are again.

All of my dreams are filled with you Wondering where

to turn and who to turn to If only

this time you wouldn't turn away Turn to

me

The big lock on the wall will spin the odds away.

You and I could keep our eyes searching.

Now...

Turn to me.

Turn to me.

Very nice, Miss Schwartz.

We'll let you know.

You keep her out of the show and I'll yank that beard out by some roots.

Threats will always get you results.

All right, when you're ready, just take it from the corner, please.

Cool. Real cool.

What? That test you made up.

What are you talking about?

I get the lead and you can't stand it. So you make up a test trying to flunk me

out of the show.

Ain't nobody trying to flunk you out of no show. Come on, man, you double

-crossed everybody.

Why do you think we elected you?

Because we thought Leroy Johnson was going to make up a hard test?

Look, I wasn't trying to double -cross nobody. I was trying to prove something

to Sherwood. Yeah, well, you didn't prove nothing to nobody, except that

do anything you can to get rid of competition.

Thank you very much. We'll let you know.

Dancer's next.

Okay. people, let's go. We got a lot of work to do. I don't want some pencil

pusher coming down here and telling me you're not good enough for the show.

is what we're going to do.

We're going to go through the dance number one time and the male vocals will

follow. We'll go in this order.

Covelli, Hall, and Amatulo.

Good, I go last. I can finish grading the paper.

You're supposed to be nervous. You're supposed to be prepared for your art.

Look at Holly Laird. Now that art.

Now go ahead and give her an A+. Amatulo, give her an A +, just for being

Yo, amateur don't fix no grades for nobody.

Not even if they look like that.

Hey, let me see what you gave me. Give me the papers, man. Give me the papers.

I would like to answer that. Come on, man. Give me the papers. That don't self

be true. You're getting me in trouble, man. It bothered me so much that it kept

me from doing a good job. See, man, now you screwed up the whole stack. I

already graded that one.

But it's no grade on you. Give me that.

Man, I remember grading this one about ten minutes ago. Man, it says Holly

right there, and there's no grade on it. I mean, it can't be two of the exact

same.

Less.

Hey, let me see. Hey, man, if you think this is a library, get out of here.

You're going to give it an A +, but I don't blame you.

I would, too.

All I can say is just be cool.

Okay, you may all vote for auditions. Let's go.

Here's the second test.

Terrific. I'm looking forward.

Leroy.

Hold on. I want to talk to you.

I got history next period.

You've got a history, my friend. This is living right up to it. What is this?

What was Shakespeare's first name? Where was he born?

Was Claudia the king or the politician who thought up the rule about

the C average?

Come on.

It's some kind of joke.

It's exactly the kind of test they thought they was going to get when they

elected me. They didn't elect you to make up a dumb test.

The hell they didn't.

They think I spell cat with a K and two T's.

If I do anything better to show them they're wrong, then I'm double -crossing

them. And you're worried about double -crossing them?

Uh -huh.

What about the fact you're double -crossing me?

What about the fact that I really put myself on the line, trusting you to

deliver, and now you're... What, hanging you out to dry?

Hanging me out to dry, yeah.

Thank you very much. Ms. Sherwood, this is what the people want. It's what they

expect out of me.

What does that mean?

Leroy is supposed to be happy.

Leroy is supposed to care about nothing else but dancing. He's supposed to be a

cool -talking, finger -popping jerk.

If I do anything different, it throws people.

They don't like it. So I give the audience what they want.

I hear that.

Let me tell you something, Leroy.

You turn in this test, those people who think Leroy Johnson is a cool -talking,

finger -popping jerk, they're dead right.

Adios.

Take this from the top.

In place.

Five, six, seven, eight. And one, two. And four, five, six, seven, eight. And

one, two.

And up.

And head, head, head. And one, two.

At this point, one of the chorus will step forward and do a solo.

Why aren't we seeing it now?

We just chose the soloist yesterday.

The song is not integrated into the dance yet.

I bet you'll get a chance to hear it after lunch, along with the stand -up.

Stand -up?

What's that?

A comedian.

Oh, a comedian, yes.

Sounds like fun.

I'm sure the mayor will like that.

What are you doing?

You look like the thinker.

What's wrong?

Dolls, we've been friends for a long time, right?

Yeah.

Well, what would you do if you thought somebody cheated and you were grading?

Did someone cheat?

I didn't say that. I said, what if? What would you do?

Well, I guess you'd have to find out if it was true or not.

And if it was?

Then I guess you'd have to do something, because if you didn't, then you'd be

the one who was cheating.

How'd you do on the test?

I think that's what I ought to be asking you.

Well, see, I want to ask you about one of your answers so I can grade the test

more fairly.

Sure. It's the one about Polonius' advice.

I can't believe you guys are taking this thing so seriously.

This is really funny.

Yeah, well, look, on that question, I just told what happened to me like Leroy

wanted. I told how I kind of conned my way to get into the dance company.

So what is it you want to know?

Polonius was Hammer's father, right?

You're the professor.

Yeah, well, like I was saying, Polonius was Hamlet's old man, right?

Yeah, right.

So you based your answer on the part where Polonius was giving all that

advice to Hamlet, right?

Yeah. What is all this?

Polonius wasn't Hamlet's father, man.

I didn't say he was. You said.

Okay, Amatula, what are you trying to say?

I mean, did you copy Holly's paper? And if you say no, that means she cheated on

you, and I'm going to have to turn her in.

Man, have you gone crazy?

Why do you have to turn anybody in? Because that's my job.

People put trust in me, and if I look the other way, then I'm the one who's

lying. What's that going to hurt?

Look, Danny, everybody fixes things a little.

It's not cheating.

It's just surviving.

Just doing what you have to do to get by.

So let's just calm down about this whole thing, okay?

Hey, Chris.

Chris, we did it.

We're in.

Our debts got approved.

Isn't that terrific?

What's the matter with him?

Nothing.

Forget it. Forget it.

What?

I ain't gonna grade the rest of the test.

Would you like to tell me why?

You said this whole thing was an experiment, right? Well, it didn't work.

Are you willing to live with the results?

What results?

Well, the people who made bad grades won't get them, but the people who made

good grades and need them won't get them either.

They can pull them up on their next test, and you grade them.

Oh, there you are, Miss Sherwood.

I don't mean to be a nag, but I'm going to have to have the grades for your

third period class by tomorrow morning.

The mayor's person is a stickler for schedules and things.

Probably a Virgo.

You can have the grades right now, Mrs. Berg.

My, aren't you the prompt one, though?

Everyone in the class gets a zero.

Is that right, Danny?

That's right.

Oh,

it's accurate.

It isn't right.

Not by a long shot.

Okay, let's take it from the top.

Take it from the top of the stairs.

Take your time.

Take your time.

And the lights go down.

Schwartz! Now, we've got a problem here. According to your records, you're

presently below a C average in English. And the same for you, Miss Laird.

Amatulo blew it.

He didn't grade the test.

Hey, Danny, what's happening with the test? Schwartz!

How come with me, it's Schwartz, and with Miss Peaches and Cream over there,

it's Miss Laird?

Another time, perhaps.

Danny!

Your students call their teachers by their first names?

No, no, no. Danny's not a teacher. He's one of the students.

He's what?

You see, when you people started this whole C average thing, we figured it'd

a good idea if we elected one student to make out the test and another student

to grade him.

Then we got into this whole big mishigas.

Look, I can't explain. Let me just run right down to Miss Sherwood's room.

fix this whole thing up. I'll be back in a jiffy. No problem.

Danny, why don't we go with your stand -up routine?

Mr. Irwin, we need the grades on the test. We need them right away.

The guy from the mayor's office is getting all confused by the paperwork.

He says that half of us are going to be out of the show, and that's because

Amatulo is out to lunch. Doris, there's a problem.

You're telling me.

I'm just about to.

My job is to tell jokes. So naturally, at a gathering like this, I'm going to

tell jokes about politicians.

Like the cannibal said to his girlfriend, what's a gathering of

without a big roast, right?

Um, uh, you ever hear the one about the crooked politician? Why?

Why have you not graded those tests?

Thanks for your comments. I'll get back to you in a minute.

See, um, this is just a setup to see if I can handle a tough audience.

Um, back to the crooked politician. You caught somebody cheating. That's why you

asked me about that stuff.

He looked the other way so much. You caught somebody cheating and now you

turn the papers in.

Hey, I'm sorry. Maybe we can do this another time.

What does this mean?

Are we out of the show or something?

It's one way of putting it. Hell, it is.

Don't want anybody wandering off. You keep working. It's an order.

Thanks. For what?

For not turning in those tests.

Yeah, I didn't even want a real favor, didn't I?

You're making sure we have a show.

No, I'm making sure that half the people who belong in the show won't be in it.

Danny, you gotta thank us. Hey man, do me a favor. Just leave me alone and get

out of here. And don't thank me for nothing.

No, I won't grade the TED.

Period. Not negotiable. You're being stubborn and selfish.

You got it.

Elizabeth. David, it's really very simple. They wanted responsibility.

They got responsibility. They blew it.

What you and Morlock are asking me to do is to come in and save the day.

Well, in real life, that doesn't happen. Nobody rides in to save the day, and it

isn't going to happen now.

I told them if we were going to do this, we were going to do it for real. No

games. And that's the way I'm keeping it.

There is one thing I'm real sorry about, though.

I'm sorry they didn't rise to the occasion.

I thought they would.

You know, there's one thing you ought to consider.

More like gave you orders. I'm not doing that. I'm asking as one friend to

another.

I'm sorry you didn't rise to the occasion.

I thought you would.

Here I go again Losing

my head like a fool again

Wishing that all the pain we're feeling would end.

Longing to find the comfort of a friend.

Here we are again.

All of the answers far from view.

One thing we know we've got to show.

is me and you haven't we always seen each

other

Lost, I'll be your guide.

Turn to me.

Hey man, what you doing?

Making out another test.

What for?

Cause I ain't no cool talking jerk.

I got my own kind of smarts.

I got my own kind of thing to do.

And I can't go around trying to please everybody in the world.

Man, I'm not giving up on something this important.

I'm not.

Well, neither am I.

The ruffle of the curtain.

The hustle of the crew.

Everybody says the night depends on you.

It's magic there for the moment.

You look again and it's gone.

They say it's like...

You work on your timing.

You wait for the break.

But no one ever sees the toll the wave can take.

Some never make it. They don't understand.

How to hold your heart and your emotions in

your...

It feels shame it won't see the light of day.

Hey, hold it. Yes, it will.

After the test, the exams, they've been graded. They've been graded for two days

already.

Hernandez and Schwartz and Ladd and everyone else in the show, except for

Cameron. Sorry, Cameron.

Everyone else pulled up their grades to a C or better.

Maybe I should apologize for the delay of the test, but maybe we should talk

about that in private.

Anything you have to say about all this better be said right now.

Fine. The reason for the delay is because I found out that... That what?

I found out that someone cheated on the test.

This guy cheated on the test because he was scared he couldn't get in the show

legit.

And it means so much to him.

So he figured he'd weasel his way in, because that's the way a lot of things

done in this world.

I'm not around here, man.

Yeah, that's what this guy found out.

And you found out that guys don't think on people around here.

Which is okay.

I guess because people around here take responsibility for what they do.

Which is tough for some people to learn.

Love like me.

Mr. Morlock?

Does the fact that someone's not in the show anymore mean that he can't help his

friends rehearse?

Not at all, Miss Laird.

Laird again.

I'm not mistaken.

Me and you are both from big old southern families.

You're not mistaken.

And me, always fighting with my brothers.

How about you?

All the time.

Families tend to do that, don't they?

What did you...