Original subtitles

How do you know how I feel? You ain't asked me nothing. This subject is not up

for discussion. Now, we are not dealing with this track's silliness, and that is

my final word on the matter, period.

Well, maybe I'm dealing with it. Go!

You can't have it both ways, Leroy.

Who says?

That's the way it is.

Don't you care enough to say goodbye to him?

Good night.

Good

night.

to get your attention.

You're going to get a lot more than my attention if you ever pull another stunt

like that.

Well, I have to talk to Mr. Johnson.

Well, he's right in the middle of a dance rehearsal. Is it that important?

Well, would I dare interrupt a dance rehearsal if it wasn't important?

But you go on my list for this.

Miss Grant, do you mean to tell me you keep a list of people who've done you

wrong? Mm -hmm, I certainly do.

Well, I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.

Let's go, Johnson.

Johnson, I just heard a disturbing piece of news about you. I didn't do it.

I wasn't even in the neighborhood. I was with my friends the whole evening, and

they all testified to it. What in Hades are you talking about?

Well, it sounded like I was about to be accused of something. The only thing I

was going to accuse you of is turning your back on a chance to be a star.

That'll be a first.

I was talking to a guy who told me you ran track before you came to this place.

Oh, that?

Yeah, that. He also told me some of your times.

Son, do you realize that most of the records you set are still unbroken to

day? If you say so. You know what times like that could mean in terms of

sponsors, scholarships, a trip to the Olympics?

Uh -uh.

I ain't going to L .A.

I realize we don't have an athletic program here yet.

But you owe it to yourself to start thinking about college. You could easily

into a junior college. Forget it.

I already had this conversation with my ex -track coach.

Now, I appreciate you thinking about me, Mr. Marlock, but I've already made my

decision.

Now, if you'll excuse me.

I don't think you really understand.

Oh, I understand.

We'll see, kid.

We'll see.

You know, what do you want from me?

You want promises?

You got them.

You know, it's like you don't trust me or something.

Of course.

I trust you.

You're still the child I remember.

Proud, loving, and full of hope.

I have to trust you and hope that you're still him.

What else have I got?

Why don't we hold it right there for a minute?

to get some feedback going.

Any comments?

Okay, Holly, what did you think?

Well, I thought Daddy was right on the money.

Okay. What about Doris?

There was a whole lot going on up there.

Some of it was pretty good stuff.

I like her choice in shawls.

Not bad, huh?

You've done better.

I'm afraid I have to agree with her, Doris.

For instance, the way your hands were shaking.

All people shake.

You're right. Some do. But they're not trying to shake. They're trying not to

shake. You see, you didn't take it that little extra step.

I'm 17 years old. How am I supposed to know how a 68 -year -old person would

act? You can't.

But you can try a whole lot harder than you have so far.

Morlocks, do you know?

That's right. It has been a long time.

Listen, you still coaching track?

Still doing your own scouting?

Well, I think I've got a prospect for you named Leroy Johnson.

Now, the only thing is, the deal's still a little rough around the edges, and I

could use your help in smoothing things out.

Well, a lot of it has to do with the school I'm at.

Bill of...

You ever heard of a place called School of the Arts?

Yeah, that's the one.

Bill.

Bill, control yourself.

Bill, tread lightly.

Lucas, you can giggle all you want to. I'm just going to say one thing. 400

meters in 45 seconds flat.

Stop the giggling, huh?

Well, uh, how about Thursday around 10 o 'clock?

Okay.

I'll call the young man in and the three of us can have ourselves a little chat.

Ciao.

Where are they?

Who's they?

Your little band of merrymakers.

They always show up just about this time to cause me a little grief.

Oh, them, yeah. Yeah, they'll be around soon. It's early.

Don't worry about it.

Worry? Look, believe me, it's not that I miss them or anything. It's just, uh,

well, you know, I was wondering. That's all.

Understood.

Excuse me. Oh, yes, ma 'am.

Could I please see your senior citizen's menu?

Oh, well, I'm sorry, ma 'am, but we don't have a special menu for senior

citizens. Well, you should.

Some of us have a fixed income.

Oh, gee, that must be nice.

Are you making fun of me?

Oh, no, no, no, ma 'am.

It's just a little joke.

Look, I know the prices here aren't rock bottom, but you've got to remember

you're not only paying for the food, you're also paying for the music.

You call that music?

Look, how about I get you a cappuccino, huh?

On the house.

Thank you. That would be very nice.

That's very pretty.

Thank you.

So what do you think?

Excuse me?

I said, what do you think?

About what?

About the character I put together.

Doris! I fooled you, didn't I? You sure did.

I've been working on this thing all afternoon.

A friend of my mom's does commercials.

He got tired of making up talk in underpants.

That's incredible.

Thank you.

You know, I normally don't go out with younger men, but just this once I might

make an exception.

It's got a ways to go yet.

Matter of fact, I've been trying to find a place where I could sit around and

watch old people, see how they act. You know about Rosenberg's?

No, but I'm about to. It's a restaurant.

It's right around the corner. Most of the clientele are senior citizens.

Rosenberg's. Right around the corner from here? Mm -hmm.

Hey, yo, Martelli.

Hey, man, have you seen Schwartz?

Uh, no. Why?

I'm supposed to meet her here at 7, but I can't make it. I got to babysit for my

brother. If you see her, just tell her that I'll see her in school tomorrow,

right? Sure.

Excuse me, young man. Would you help me up the stairs?

Sure, ma 'am.

I'm going to tell you, you better be careful, man. She blew a big fuse today

Rehan's class.

She's barking at everything.

Yeah, I know. Sometimes the darts can be a real pain in the ankle.

Are you telling me?

The worst.

No, ma 'am, it's fine.

No problem.

All Bill is saying, Johnson, is that we should get you out on a track and find

out if you're still fast.

That's all.

Now, if you don't have the speed anymore, we're just spinning our wheels.

you do, it could mean a whole new life for you. Who said I was looking for a

whole new life?

Johnson, do you have any idea what this man's offering you? Quentin, please.

Leroy, I get the feeling that you think this has to be one thing or another.

Either track or dance. Am I right?

Yeah, I suppose so.

Well, you're wrong.

Braddock College has an excellent dance department.

If you took the scholarship, you'd be getting four years of dance instruction

absolutely free.

Plus an education.

Plus an insurance policy.

What do you mean, insurance policy?

Well, there's no guarantee.

But statistically, a diploma from Braddock College.

is worth somewhere in the vicinity of $32 ,000 per year.

Sometimes less, sometimes lots more.

So wait a minute, I get four years of dance. No charge. Plus an education.

Plus $32 ,000 a year after I get out?

That's just the average.

You guys are bad.

Oh, actually, I thought we were pretty good.

That's what I just said.

Man, are you crazy. Now calm down, Miss Grant, please.

Mr. Morlock, you can forget it. And I am not going to calm down. I put too much

time and sweat into making that boy into a dancer. Only to have you sneaking

around behind my back trying to get him involved in one of your old jock

schemes. It's not a scheme.

It's a scholarship.

And not one time did I ever go behind your back.

Miss Burks, did you guys want to see me about something?

Come in, Johnson.

I want you to explain our scholarship discussion to Miss Grant here. Which I

just told Mr. Morlock we are not going for it, Jack. Is that how you feel, son?

Well, I... Look, when this child gets out of this school, he's going to have

compete with the dancers out there who have been giving 100%. Now, if he starts

separating his time, he is not going to stand a chance.

Why don't you ask Mr.

Johnson here how he feels about it? I already know how he feels about it. How

you know how I feel? You ain't asked me nothing. This subject is not up for

discussion. Now, we are not dealing with this track silliness, and that is my

final word on the matter, period.

Well, maybe I'm dealing with it.

Leroy, where are the tryouts being held?

Braddock College.

Let me know when they are. I'll be there. Leroy Johnson?

You got the name right. Maybe you just forgot there's a person attached to it.

And a big mouth, too.

Thank you, Miss Grant.

And what are you thanking me for?

Well, I couldn't even get him to go out to the track until you told him he

couldn't.

Let me take a look.

Mind if I join you?

No. Not at all.

No one sits alone in Rosenberg's deli. It's old tradition.

I'm Bert Klein.

I'm Marge.

This is my first time here.

Won't happen again.

Oh, you'll be back.

I guarantee it. It's a nice crowd we get here.

Sure seems like it.

Those are the coffee clutches. They just sit there gossiping worse than a bunch

of teenagers.

Well, I guess some things never change.

Yeah, some things.

And other things do change.

Well, life has a number of cycles.

Stages to it, don't you think so?

Why, Bert, I think you're a philosopher.

Oh, no, I was just thinking of my Anna. That used to be her table.

I lost her almost two years ago.

I'm sorry.

I didn't mean to bring up a bad memory. Don't be sorry.

It was a lovely memory, and she was a lovely lady.

That's enough about me.

I'd like to hear something about Miss Marge.

There really isn't anything to tell. I don't believe a word of it. An

woman like yourself, I'll bet you have a fascinating story to tell.

Well, let's see if I do.

I'm staying with my granddaughter, Doris.

I'll bet she's a beauty.

She's all right.

I never heard a grandmother so restrained about a grandchild.

Well, I guess I just have a way of understanding things.

Let me be the judge of that.

May I see her picture?

I don't have one.

You don't? You don't have a picture of your grandchild?

Not with me. I brought the wrong purse.

I didn't know I would be running into anyone who would want to see her

But I'll bring you a picture, Bert.

And a cassette.

Cassette? Why a cassette?

So you could hear her sing.

She's good.

She could be very good.

Did you sing when you were a girl, Marge?

Sometimes.

A little.

Yes.

And maybe one day you'll sing for me.

Look,

doesn't anybody take this serious?

I think you're serious.

Well, thank you, Elizabeth.

I also think you may be wrong.

Oh? If Leroy has a chance at a college education, a free college education,

that's something I think he ought to think about very seriously.

Well, you asked for my opinion. If I ask for no such thing, then consider it a

gift.

Well, David, I know you got two cents just burning a big old hole in your

pocket, so let's hear it.

I just think it's pretty obvious that Leroy is perfectly capable of making

decision all by himself.

David, you don't understand. They're not playing fair.

They're filling his head with all kinds of bull about big money, fancy dreams.

Leroy needs me to run interference for him. Oh, anybody would. Excuse me, but

how many of our kids are in this school because of a whole lot of bull about big

money and fancy dreams?

Maybe it's not such a problem.

What do you mean?

You say he's supposed to run that race?

Maybe he'll do poorly.

Yeah, maybe.

All right.

when I tell you this is not a complaint, but what was that for?

For turning me on to Rosenberg's. You mean a daily?

No, I mean a goldmine.

The place is absolutely wonderful.

The people are terrific.

I met this old man. His name is Tom.

He's the best.

Are you down there with you or are you in makeup?

Makeup and character and everything. He's absolutely falling in love with

I mean, we're going to see his performance. It's just going to blow him

I've been meeting Bert like every day for a late lunch.

I'm learning so much.

Doris? What?

I don't know. Sometimes when you get wound up, you tend to run on a bit.

Meaning?

Be careful.

For what?

I don't know. It just seems like somebody may get hurt.

Hurt?

Hurt.

I'm sorry about rehearsal today. I had to go check out this track thing. Look,

something went down today. I want to make sure you hear it from me before you

hear it from somebody else, okay? What happened?

It's not like I can do it. Hello, Leroy.

Hi, Ms. Grant. How you doing?

Oh, about the show.

Oh, yes. You're out of the show.

Now you know.

Why am I out of the show?

I think you are.

No, I do not know why.

Well, you have to make a decision one way or the other about this track thing.

Now, I know Morlock's putting a lot of pressure on you. Morlock?

He's not putting no pressure on me. You're the one telling me what to do.

just trying to keep you from making a giant -sized mistake.

This whole thing could be a real waste of your time. It's my time to waste. No,

it isn't. You can't have it both ways, Leroy. Who says?

That's the way it is. So I'm supposed to make a decision right here, right now.

That's right.

What do you think?

I don't know what to say.

Well, don't say anything.

Just think about it.

I know what you mean. But listen, you can't stay with your granddaughter

forever. And two can live cheaper than one. That's an ancient fact.

It's a big place.

Well, it's no secret how I feel about you.

It's only been two weeks.

I know.

I know these things should happen slowly, one step at a time.

That's fine when you're 20.

When you're our age, we have better things to do than play hard to get.

Am I right?

Of course you're right.

Then will you come and look at the place?

It's only two blocks, not even. I just want you to see how nice it could be.

All right.

Is it safe to walk?

I shall protect you.

I just wish you would take a good look at why you are doing what you're doing.

Well, don't let me stop you, Miss Grant. I'm all ears.

Well, no offense.

But, you know, sometimes athletes... Ex -athletes.

Ex -athletes bring kids into sports.

And it really doesn't have anything to do with a kid at all. It has to do with

sharing in the glory.

I wouldn't argue with that.

You wouldn't?

If you can't share the glory, Miss Grant, what can you do with it?

Mr. Morlock, this coach, Lucius... Lucas. Lucas. Is he a friend of yours?

Yeah. I mean, close friend. I mean, do you see him a lot?

No, I couldn't say that exactly. We were buddies a few years ago.

You know, I don't see what this has to do with our little disagreement.

Well, if you were good friends...

And you could guarantee his words. You know about the scholarship, the dance

training, along with the track and all of that. Maybe I could back up just a

little bit.

But you see, I know too much about scholarships and athletes and schools.

Kids graduating without educational skills.

With a diploma, if they're lucky.

Kids whose job it is at school is to...

fill a stadium, not learn what's really going on in the world out there. Leroy

Johnson could be a major talent in the dance world. All he needs is more

training, the proper guidance.

I can't see him running off with some track scholarship and giving up three

years of solid dance training and at 22 years old have nothing to show for it.

And you want me to guarantee that that's not going to happen? Yes, I wish you

could.

Well, life doesn't come with guarantees, Miss Grant.

And someone who's educating kids to go into show business should know that far

better than I.

But, Telly, what am I going to do?

It is always the East River.

Come on, there's got to be a way of getting out of this without hurting him.

You can always tell him the truth.

Oh, what, that I've been using him this entire time?

Yeah, that ought to make him feel really good.

I got an idea. Why don't you go down there and tell him the truth?

Then you're right back to the East River.

You know, Bruno, it's weird.

Doris Schwartz strikes out with guys on a regular basis, but her grandmother

walks into this place, and in two weeks, she's got the most wonderful man ready

to set up housekeeping.

You see, Doris, All you got to do is hang in there another half century and

got it made.

On your mark.

Set.

Go.

Thank you.

That dream burns like a fire through my veins.

I'm in ecstasy and pain.

All right, okay.

All right, people.

That wasn't terrible for rehearsal.

Hit the showers.

Christopher Donlan.

Can I speak to you for a minute?

I know that part needs a little work. No, no, no. Chris, you're doing fine.

Actually, I wanted to ask you a favor. Are you going to see Leroy Johnson

I could probably track him down, yeah.

Well, would you ask him to please see me after school?

There's something I'd like to tell him.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thanks for coming Chris said there was something you had to say to me There is

With every note I play, I play with love

With every word I say, it's

coming from my heart And so I

sing this song of joy for you

With all the happiness this melody brings.

With all the happiness this melody brings.

It seems you always had a prayer for me

When no one cared for me You were

so kind to me And so I sing

this song of joy for you

With all the happiness

This melody brings With all this

happiness This melody brings

That

was

beautiful.

That was for you.

You know, Leroy, I've been thinking... Uh -oh. Oh, cut that out.

No, I've been thinking that I have been kind of selfish about this whole thing.

But, you know, when I think about Leroy Johnson, I think about somebody that

kind of belongs to me, too.

But I know that you have to do what you think is best.

No matter what.

But I just want you to know that whatever you decide, I'm on your side.

Thanks, Miss Grant.

It really means a whole lot to me, especially now.

Why especially now?

Well, I signed the papers for that scholarship.

You did what?

Come on, Miss Grant. You just got finished saying that. I know what I just

I'm the one that said it.

Oh, Lord, give me strength.

Come on, try a double.

Can I help you, Mr. Johnson?

This is second period.

It is?

Then I'm in the right place. I don't think so.

Miss Grant.

We're rehearsing the show this period.

Leroy, you're not in the show.

So I suggest you find a better way to spend the hour.

No matter what you decide, Leroy, I'm on your side.

Did I leave anything out?

No, I didn't think so. You did.

Johnson.

Miss Grant, you think what you just did was fair? Boy, don't talk to me about

fair.

What are all you all looking at? Come on, let's go. From the top of the shelf.

This is better, Robert.

I don't want to hear this.

I suppose that's up to you, but I'm going to say what I got to say.

Okay, get it over with.

I think Miss Grant was wrong back there.

But I don't figure she's thinking straight.

And I bet you a week's pay you'll see an apology out of her in the very near

future. Yeah, well, since you ain't working, a week's pay would not impress

Now, would you excuse me? Hey, I'm a long way from being finished.

Now, Miss Grant is playing this thing wrong.

Maybe it's because she cares so damn much about you that it's mixing her all

Makes sense, darling.

I am making sense, man.

You know, when I first came to this school, I got a whole lot of stuff that

didn't even bargain for.

Good and bad.

And the good stuff was called Swartz, Amatillo, Laird,

and Johnson.

Somehow we're...

Something pretty close to a family.

And like it or not, you're part of it, man.

That's a hell of a thing to walk away from.

Oh, yes?

Mr. Klein?

You're Doris, aren't you?

How did you know?

Your grandmother showed me a photograph.

Oh, of course. Right.

And you're even prettier in person.

Thank you.

Can I sit down?

Oh, of course. Of course.

Of course. And please, call me Bert.

Your grandmother thinks very highly of you. Very highly indeed.

What's this?

It's a cassette. It's me singing.

I know she promised she would get you one.

And I know that she would have... She would have wanted you to have it.

Would have?

Bert, I don't know how to say this.

Oh, you poor thing. You must be in such pain.

Me?

What about you?

I don't know.

I just guess I'm lucky to have known her.

So very thankful that she went peacefully.

She was blessed.

She told me all about you.

She told me about you, too.

How well you sing.

Told me that she used to sing when she was a girl.

I'm so sorry I never got to hear her.

She used to say that your voice was a lot like hers.

So maybe when I hear you, I'll hear her.

I'll be listening to you today and yesterday all at the same time.

That's quite a miracle, Doris.

I have you to thank for that.

But I came here to thank you.

Because he taught me so much.

Well, when my grandmother would come home

in the afternoons, after she had lunch with you,

we would sit and we would talk.

Talk for hours.

You say to me, getting old is like a trick.

It's a trick your eyes play on you.

Everything changes, but nothing ever really changes.

Like love and friendship and

the touch of a kind hand.

The sound of a familiar voice.

And getting older.

All of those things become even more important.

The trust of a son who comes like silver and

gold.

Lock me outdoors.

Very good work. Very, very good work.

Who worked?

I fell in love.

There you are again All

of my dreams are filled with you

Wondering where to turn and who to turn

All right, kids, let's get rolling.

Where is everybody?

Some of the kids went to Braddock.

Why?

Well, Leroy's running for his track scholarship today.

I guess some of them just wanted to be there for him.

Sort of say goodbye.

Well, um, doesn't seem to be enough of us to get much done today.

Why don't we use this as a study period, okay?

Miss Grant, I know you don't care for what Leroy's doing, and you can't really

support it. That's correct.

But you do care about Leroy.

Don't you?

Of course I do.

Well, then don't you care enough to say goodbye to him?

Hey, man, something the matter?

Not with me.

Oh, the way you eyeballing me over there seems like you see something you don't

like. Nah, man, I'm just checking out the high competition.

Uh -huh.

You running in 440?

That's right.

You're supposed to be the man to beat.

We'll see today, won't we?

It's your first try at the scholarship?

Yeah, why?

My third shot at it, man.

Third?

Man, this must mean a lot to you.

Only everything.

You guys set?

Oh, yes, sir.

Yeah. Okay, good. Let's get in here.

Thank you, Mark.

It's set.

Leroy, what happened out there?

I just got a late start. I couldn't catch up.

It almost looked like you did it on purpose.

I didn't throw the razor, if that's what you mean.

My concentration was somewhere else.

All right, well, if you want another shot at it, it can be arranged.

Matter of fact, I do want another shot at something, but it sure ain't track.

And that dream burns like fire through my veins.

I'm in ecstasy and pain in that dream.

Like an eagle, I cut through the sky.

My heart is flying fast like a man.

In my vision, the whole world is new.

Anything that I dare, I can do.

Anything that I care I can do.