Original subtitles

Kitty cop.

Am I right? That's what they call you. Kitty cop.

Not if I can help it. Somebody beats the hell out of you. All you can do is

stand there like a wimp and shake your head. I'm running out of patience.

I don't know if I'm meant to sit around here as it is.

Share a cup of a little pick -me -up on the west side.

I don't want people punching Dwight. No, no.

You tell Dwight that I am his official bodyguard as of right now.

Okay? And if anybody, I mean anybody messes with him.

They got to deal with me.

You've got big dreams.

You want fame.

Fame comes.

And right here is where you start paying.

You sweat.

are just waiting.

Dwight Mendenhall don't have a hall pass?

Boo.

Boo!

Now, you're a very lucky man.

How am I lucky?

Because I'm not the hall monitor.

And you put me through that.

Amatulo, that was rotten.

Hey, I just wanted to show you what it was like. You know, rattle your cage a

little.

Hey, man, I barely touched you.

What, did you get into a fight or something?

Well, you know me, Amatulo. I'm a player, not a fighter.

I got band practice. Later. Hey, uh, words of wisdom for the day.

A tuba player can't play with a fat lip.

Damn it, it's a fusophone.

And what?

Mr. Morlock, every September we get new students. They show up with forms, we

sign the forms, and are thus introduced.

But when they show up in the middle of the year without an audition, in the

faculty lounge, there is an end.

So?

What is it?

Well, as you might will, there's been increased drug activity around the

Well, you certainly don't mean this school, do you? Mrs. Berger.

I'm sorry, but this is just the wrong school for drugs.

Why is that?

Why, because the kids here are just naturally buzzed.

Mrs. Berg, please.

Now, because of this increased activity, the school board has made certain

specifications. Kitty cup.

Am I right? That's what they call you, kitty cup.

Not if I can help it.

Mr. Marshall, like a number of police investigators, because of his youthful

appearance... has been able to move into the schools and find out what the

students... What he is is a spy.

There is no increased drug activity around the school. This is just some

excuse to put a spy in here to let him hunt around and see what he can find. I

vote we forget it.

Whatever gave you the idea that this was an election?

Now, I neither want nor need your approval. But what I expect is your

cooperation, which includes not letting the rest of the school know who... Mr.

Marshall really is. He is just plain Larry Marshall student. Now we agreed on

that.

I don't see you giving as much choice. Miss Grant. Hey, as long as I don't have

to teach him, you can put him any place you want.

We may have a problem here.

Don't you even think it.

You're going to pose as a dance major?

Can you dance at all?

Yeah, I took lessons when I was a kid.

Social dancing kind of stuff.

And I was in the chorus of our high school musical desert song.

Is that it?

No, I'm sorry. It's just that I'm real hard to please.

And we step one, two, three, and stretch. Come on, breathe.

Muffin, honey. Keep going.

That's it, Vanessa. Very nice.

Come on, Evan. You can do better than that, baby. Come on. Suck it up. Suck it

up. It's going to help you with your guitar playing.

Yes. We need to move.

Yes.

Come alive, people. Come on, Dwight. Get to step. Come on. And left, right,

left. And stretch. Again, left.

Slow, honey. Slow. All right, people. Okay, relax. That's very good. Very

Dwight, sweetheart, I know you're a music major, but you could be better

this.

you to float like a butterfly but i'll tell you what child come here you follow

me no wonder you can't float take that shirt off

and this tie can't move and that get up here you need something looser i

really don't think it'll help dwight what is this we have modesty

here boy you better put on that t -shirt and take this shirt off Now, you know,

one of the first things we learn in this profession is there's no room or space

in the dressing room for modesty.

Oh, my God.

All right.

Now, I want to know who did it.

Now, what is that? Is that a no?

Is that a no, Mendenhall?

Does that mean...

won't tell you or no, I can't tell you. I can't tell you.

What is your problem? Somebody beats the hell out of you. All you can do is

stand there like a wimp and shake your head. I'm running out of patience.

Dwight, if you can't tell us who, how about why?

He wanted my lunch money.

He?

They.

It was two of them.

When I wouldn't give it to them, one of them, the big guy, held me while the

other one beat me.

Are these students here at our school?

Yeah.

Who are they?

No, I can't tell you.

I have enough of a myth that around here that is.

I'm sorry, but I just can't tell you.

Please, can I go now?

Yes, please.

Five, six, seven.

We have made a decision on who will be dancing the lead in the new fall

Mr.

Larry Marshall.

We'll announce the rest of the cast tomorrow.

Welcome to the School of the

Art. Yes.

I don't understand why you called me.

Uh, well, you're Richard Mendenhall, Dwight's father?

Yes.

Does it also say on that card that my wife and I have been divorced for the

seven months?

No, but there are two phone numbers on here, and when we called the first and

didn't answer, we called the second.

You didn't know anything about this beating Dwight's taken?

No. Though I'm not awfully surprised that it happened.

How come? Dwight's not some kind of a troublemaker.

No,

Dwight.

When he was 10 or 11 years old, he was bigger than the other kids.

Sometimes that'll make a big kid, you know, be a bully. And sometimes,

like Dwight, you get a kid that just because he knows that

he can whip the other kids, he just doesn't. He shies away

from violence.

That was Dwight.

So it made him kind of a patsy, huh?

No.

It just gave him a real sense of right and wrong.

Must be why he enjoys being hall monitor so much.

He's a hall monitor?

Yeah.

Hall monitor.

I didn't know that.

Wait a minute.

You see, when a marriage comes apart,

there's a certain amount of losing touch that's

almost unavoidable.

Oh.

I thought you divorced your wife, not your son.

Somebody give me another cause of ambiguity in writing.

Doris?

Obscure pronoun reference?

Good.

And an example?

Oh, uh... The cat saw the rat when it stood still.

Uninspired, but accurate.

And a correction.

Donlon?

When the cat stood still, it saw the rat.

Any others?

Homework assignment workbook, page 40. Correct all cases of ambiguity.

Speaking of rats, what do you think of some guy

who's brand new in this school and comes in and grabs off a dancing lead?

Just like that.

Well, if the guy's any good.

I guess that's lower form. You just got to stand aside.

Stand aside?

For someone who isn't even in our league?

Maybe he shouldn't even be in this school.

What kind of pull you figure this guy's got? Because that's the only way he can

get the lead.

Hey, Slick.

Who are you calling slick?

I heard about this DA once.

He'd ask the witness a real tough question. Then he'd turn and walk away

the guy could answer.

That's just what you're trying to do to me.

You got an answer?

We're listening.

We all know that I'm not good enough to dance any leads.

Matter of fact, I'm probably the worst dancer in class.

You got that right.

And... I don't even want the part.

So how come?

Like I said, pull.

Someone in the front office told Miss Grant to cast you.

Simple.

Well, you know her a whole lot better than I do.

When was the last time anybody told her who to cast in a show?

Interesting.

Nobody tells Ms. Grant to do anything.

No, not her, him.

A high school kid who's supposed to be a dancer who knows district attorneys?

Very interesting.

You still sore?

Just a little.

Here, Dwight.

Don't.

How long are you going to keep running away from this?

I'm not running away, Muffy.

You are as long as you don't talk about it.

I have talked about it to you.

I don't count.

Don't say that.

You count a lot.

I mean, when are you going to talk about it to somebody that can do something?

There's nothing anybody can do.

It'll just work itself out somehow or other.

Dwight, you don't believe that. Neither do I.

Muffin, I don't have to tell anybody.

This is my problem and I'll handle it my way, so please just leave me alone

about this.

Dwight, please don't shut me out about this.

We came here to rehearse, not to talk. We'll take it from the top.

Attitude. Attitude.

Got balance. Family.

Look at me.

Ah! Almost, Alicia.

All right, people, let's go.

Let's get into our opening place before we stop yesterday.

Um... Where's Markham?

Right here.

What happened to you?

Sprained ankle.

Mm -hmm.

I did it in the line of duty. What duty?

Dancing.

I was working on the combination you gave me.

I was practicing at home, the turn, turn, jump.

Jeté, dear, not jump.

Jeté. Right.

So anyway, I was still turning when I started to

jeté.

Sorry.

I understand.

Well, let's not make any rash decisions just yet. Why don't we run down to the

nurse and let's see what she's got to say about...

Well,

Michael, looks like you're going to be dancing the lead.

I suggest you get ready, honey. You've got a lot of stuff to catch up on now. I

think the first thing to do... Serge, why don't you take him...

Wait a minute, honey. Where are you going?

I just thought I'd get out of everybody's way.

Oh, they were so considerate of you.

But, uh, wait a minute.

How is your singing, boy?

Why? Well, you know, the cabaret number.

We can restage it so that you don't even have to move. You can just lean on a

park bench and sing your loving heart out.

Can I take a look at the music, please?

Of course.

Uh, shit, take him around the room. Y 'all warm up.

How come you were trying so hard to blow my cover?

You got a soft spot for the crud that pushes dope on these kids. Don't give me

that trash. I hate pushers as much as I hate spying cops. But there are no

pushers in this school, and you know that.

I don't know that.

What I do know, lady, is that there is dealing going on in this neighborhood.

And it's my job to find out who's doing it.

So I suggest you do your job.

We're just teaching these kids how to dance.

And let me do mine.

I wouldn't dream of interfering in your work. And I am merely treating you as

one of the other students.

Which is exactly what I was ordered to do, remember?

So here.

This is your homework.

Excuse me.

I've been looking all over for you, man.

What? What's about these dudes in school who've been beating on you? I got an

idea. How about if I appoint myself as your... Forget it. You haven't even

the idea.

I don't want to.

Thanks anyway.

Hey, Muffin.

Hey. You don't know who's been beating up Dwight, correct?

No, no, I don't know.

What are you doing?

No, come here.

What? What are you doing? I don't want to talk to you. Get out of here, man.

Come on.

Hey, listen.

I'm not going to hurt him.

Bad. I'm just going to bounce him around a little bit. You know, show him what

it's like being on the receiving end. Danny, that's really sweet of you, but

I... No, no, no buts. Hey, look, I don't want people punching Dwight.

You tell Dwight that I am his official bodyguard as of right now, okay? And if

anybody, I mean anybody messes with him, they got to deal with me. Would you

listen to me for a second?

It's nobody here at school.

So you could just quit playing detective or bodyguard or whatever it is.

If it ain't no one in the school, then who?

Up all night, double streets are getting light on the west side.

Should be tired, but there's something keeps me wired on the west side.

They're so sweet, it almost stops the aching. Just one hour, this city will be

shaking.

Now I'm soaking up the sound of the wet side.

Who you'll find on the west side.

Take a walk on the west side.

Come on.

Hey,

that was terrific.

I mean it. I am really impressed.

You are really something else.

So are you.

Thank you.

Hey, can I ask you a question?

Shoot. Okay, everybody in this school is always doing bits.

I mean, it seems like everybody goes out of their way to act like a bunch of

airheads.

You're never serious about anything?

You want serious?

I'll give you serious.

How come you have so many questions about drugs?

Who says I ask questions about drugs?

I've watched you. You always manage to steer the conversation around a dope.

You got a problem in that direction?

Me? Don't let the fact that she's the school's most notorious gossip restrict

your answer in any way.

Just think of her as your doctor.

Okay.

Doc.

Let's just suppose that I'm not totally innocent about the drug scene. And so

I'm naturally interested in what's happening in that area.

You could have asked us.

But the answer is very little.

Hey, come on.

No. Between rehearsing and performing and schoolwork, we don't have time to

out. Besides, getting high messes up a performance.

And if you haven't noticed, we're very into performing.

Doing what we do is a natural high all by itself.

All right.

Now that we've answered your question, why don't you try answering one?

Okay. Go ahead.

Why would somebody become an undercover cop?

It's a scene I'm working on in class.

It's a character in play.

Let me think about this.

It might have something to do with the background of the character you're

playing.

Like, for instance, maybe the character saw too many 12 -year -olds with scabby

needle tracks running up and down their arms.

Or maybe the character saw...

Kids selling themselves to slime on the street for a pop or maybe the

person saw babies Babies born so addicted

that the first day they spent drawing breath on this earth Was spent in

drug withdrawal Maybe a

lot of people might say that Doing this undercover stuff is being a pink.

Being unfair.

I am too young to be solo.

to be a drag.

You're forgetting your key every half day.

I'm getting tired of it.

I think I'm going to hang it on a string around your neck.

Like when you're in the third grade. Do you remember, Dwight?

Excuse me. Who are you?

I'm Miss Mendenhall.

Yes, that's right. What do you want?

It's about Dwight.

Oh, come on in.

Here, sit down.

Did you close that door?

Yes.

Dwight's okay, right?

He didn't get in an accident or anything like that.

No, no, no. Dwight's fine.

Me and Dwight are real close friends.

Good. It's about his bruises.

Yeah, what?

I mean, you never saw anybody take a drink of orange juice before?

Sure. I would offer you one, but, um... Well, I don't want to contribute to a

delinquency of a minor.

That's okay. I don't drink that much.

Well, a little drink.

Now and then, there's nothing wrong with that.

I mean, I myself have been known to take one now and then.

So you're Dwight's friend.

That's nice.

And what did he do that you had to come all the way over here to tell me about

it? Well, Dwight didn't do nothing.

He's been getting some beatings, you know, lumps and bruises.

And he says it's from some kids at school, but Muffin says it isn't.

And I figured that maybe it's him and his old man getting it on. You know how

fathers are.

I was just figuring.

If I could ask you to ask Mr. Mendenhall, what's going on?

Since I'm here, I feel real dumb.

Sorry. Oh, sneak.

You didn't come here to talk about Dwight, did you? You don't think for a

I believe that crap about Dwight's father?

Dwight's father?

All he ever did was reason with him.

And I'll tell you, you do not reason with kids because you do and they walk

over you.

Uh -uh, you didn't come here to talk about Dwight.

You're here to spy on me, aren't you?

Well, aren't you?

Who called you?

Who called you to tell you to come over here?

Mrs. Brooke, down the hall!

Did she call you to tell you? Nobody called me. I just care about Dwight.

lie to me.

Don't you lie to me.

Now, Matulo, I thought I told you to butt out.

Dwight, I'm sorry.

Sorry?

My mother is in there with her head split open, and you're sorry.

It wasn't my fault.

She was... She was what?

Nothing. I suppose she just walked into the bedroom and hit her head against the

dresser, right?

That's what happened, right?

Hey, Dwight, your friend feels bad enough about what happened. He doesn't

any help from you.

No, no, that's okay. I know what he's going through.

No, it's not okay.

Dwight, in her condition, it was bound to happen sooner or later.

Her condition?

I think you know what we're talking about here. We were very lucky that he

there to get some help.

Lucky?

If he hadn't been there sticking his nose in where it didn't belong, this

wouldn't have happened.

Dwight, Dwight, you don't know what went on. You weren't there.

Neither were you.

All right.

Agreed?

Why didn't you tell me things were getting so bad?

If you hadn't left us, you could have seen for yourself.

She was drunk.

Right?

Yeah,

I think so.

Not I think so. She was drunk.

Excuse me, why did you go to the apartment?

Well, Dwight's been having a hard time lately.

I thought his mom could help, if she knew about it.

That was a very friendly thing to do.

I appreciate it.

Thank you.

You want to see something fierce?

Check this out. Now, I'd look fine in that.

You're too short.

Just wanted you both to know that I found the dealer.

That I owe you an apology.

Come in, come in.

Who is he?

Well, who?

Well, I'm not sure I can tell you.

Now, what is that supposed to mean?

Well, you're a teacher, and I'm just another student.

And squealing on a fellow student, you know, ratting to a teacher? I guess you

think that's real funny, huh?

I guess he's right.

Oh, you are bad. You are so bad.

You're pretty good yourself, lady.

And you were right about the dealer. He wasn't here in the school.

He ran his business across the street, out of coffee shop.

Mr. Danko's place?

Oh, that poor old man. He's going to be brokenhearted to find that out.

No, seriously, Mr. Danko's had that shop for... Mr.

Danko?

Is the pusher?

All that time he asked, would there be anything else?

He wasn't talking about coffee refills.

And about 3 o 'clock in the morning, I got tired of walking, so I got on the

out to Coney Island and back a couple of times.

That's why you ought to be more careful.

You don't know who rides the subway that late at night.

They're not bad.

Most of them were just kind of old, poor and sad,

trying to get some sleep.

So did it help?

What?

All that walking and riding and staying up.

Are you still mad?

If my dad were still at home, my mom wouldn't drink.

Dwight, you don't believe that?

Yes, I do.

And Danny was way out of line.

Danny was being a friend.

Don't forget me.

For what?

Because I think I said something to Danny to make him go out to your house.

You? Mm -hmm.

So this whole thing's my fault for sending Danny.

And it's Danny's fault for going out there.

It's your father's fault for not being there in the first place. Have I got

everybody nailed?

I have to go to English.

You ought to go home and change your clothes if you're going to visit your

mother this afternoon.

You are going to visit her, aren't you?

Of course I am.

And my mother, for heaven's sake.

It's my mother.

How is she?

Doctor says she's resting comfortably.

Have you seen her?

Yeah.

She was asleep.

Do you think it would be okay if I went in?

I don't see any reason why not.

Excuse me, Mr. Mendoza.

There's some questions I have to ask you.

Oh, it's all right. He's my son, and he's old enough to hear any questions

might have.

Okay, while we were examining your wife, we, uh...

We found some things not consistent with the head wound.

Depressed white count, enlarged liver, and of course the high blood alcohol.

Does your wife have a drinking problem?

You mean is she an alcoholic?

Yes.

Yes. No.

Well, she seemed to be controlling at least while I was there. But you see, my

wife and I have been apart for...

Over seven months now, so maybe... Dwight here could give you more

as to how she is now.

Dwight.

One of the problems with growing up is... We have to do things that

we don't...

She hasn't been controlling it.

Drinking for a long time.

She's drunk every day now.

When she gets drunk, she loses control.

And she... She needs help desperately.

until she's here.

I'll go see her now.

Hey.

Why don't we go in together?

I'd like that.

Okay. Stand by. Q -17.

Danny, let's go with the cabaret number.

Q17, go.

Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood.

Hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood.

I'm taking a greyhound on the Hudson River line.

I'm in a New York state of mind.

I've seen all the movie stars in their fancy cars and their limousines.

I've been high in the Rockies.

Under the evergreen.

But I know what I'm needing.

And I don't want to waste more time.

I'm in a New York state of mind.

Out of touch with the rhythm and the blues.

But now I need a little give and take.

New York Times, the daily news.

It comes down to reality.

Because I let it slide.

I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside.

I don't have any reason.

I left them all behind.

It comes down to reality and it's fine with me cause I let it slide.

I don't care if it's Chinatown or on Riverside.

I'm taking a greyhound on the Hudson River line.

Cause I

State of mind.

You're calling me slick?