Original subtitles

I'd like you to meet the new Julie Miller.

That was my number.

I'm not going to lose out to a mannequin.

I'm going to your apartment to get some background material on you.

And that's all?

It's easy to fall under the spell of these kids, Jeff.

You and I have had our differences, but the one thing I used to be able to say

about you was at least you could mind your own business.

Happy dream.

You want fame.

Well, fame comes.

And right here is where you start paying.

Lower. Lower.

Inhale.

Exhale. Come on, Mom. Slow.

Inhale. Exhale.

That's right. Relax.

Exhale.

That's right.

I'm okay now.

Of course you are.

There's nothing so scary about job hunting.

Mom, you only hyperventilate when things are going badly. This is something

good.

Miss Grant says she'll probably be able to help you find a job.

But Miss Grant has better things to do than offer job counseling to one of her

students' mothers. She wants to help you out.

It's what she does all the time for the kids. But, Julie, I am not one of the

kids.

That's why I think this is some kind of imposition.

Can we debate this on the way to school?

I've got a rehearsal. I'm going to be late unless we get a move on. You go

ahead. I'll be along.

Are you sure you're not going to chicken out?

I'll be late for one rehearsal.

That's no big deal.

Where's Miller?

I did not get up before I was barely asleep to be told to hang out.

Feature performer did not hang out.

Darn, lighten up.

No, if you let these things fly, they get to be habit -forming.

And so does this.

Look, you leaving ain't going to make things any better.

Yes, it will.

Trust me.

What's with her? She thinks she's the only one that's got to get up?

Some people wake up better than others.

The only one who's got to dar us with a poker is the Leroy.

Hold up, hold up.

You mean to tell me I came in here early for nothing?

No, I get to try on your headphones.

Come on, man, chill out. You want private sounds, you buy your own

People, we came here to rehearse.

We are rehearsing. I'm getting queues. So cue me. Come on, tell me, where can I

get these things cheap? Here, here.

Hold it!

You wanted to rehearse?

I'd like you to meet the new Julie Miller.

You think this is a joke?

This is not a joke.

I am dead serious.

She was going to play the part of a mannequin anyway.

We might as well use the real thing.

She's gonna have a fit if you do that.

No, wait, maybe it will work, you know? Listen, we have to rehearse. That's the

important thing anyway.

I tell y 'all what.

Y 'all tell her. I don't want to have no part in that conversation.

I'll tell her. She'll understand.

She's an adult.

If she's an adult, what's she doing here?

Look, if we're not gonna get anything accomplished... Yeah, come on, let's

the music and let's do it, all right? Come on.

They don't see you as I do.

You're the image of perfection standing there.

With your somewhat sunny pose and your very uptown nose. But I know you'll

hurt me and you surely won't desert me. And I love you. So everybody's there.

And what's that mean?

Well, if you think that conversation with Julie is going to be tough when you

tell her you replaced her for rehearsal with a dress dummy, imagine that

conversation when you tell her you replaced her, period.

With a dress dummy, period.

Are you serious?

It was better with a dress dummy than with a human being.

Julie will...

Without a replacement, she'll be terminal.

May I have your attention, please?

Who is he?

That's curiosity, Leroy. I ask for attention.

Would you join us, Mr. Harris, please?

Class, I'd like to introduce Mr. Jeffrey Harris.

Hiya. Yeah, but who is he?

I'll tell you, Leroy.

I'm that lower form of humanity known as a student teacher.

I'm sorry, Michelle.

I forgot to explain.

After that.

Mr. Harris is a graduate student. He'll be assisting me for a few weeks.

Any questions?

You will notice, Mr. Harris, that when one asks for attention, one often gets

questions. And when one asks for questions, one gets... nothing.

I like surprises.

Now, let me see. I should have something in here that applies to someone who's

not still in school.

Meaning someone my age.

No. Meaning someone who's not still in school.

Period.

I sure hope you don't come on like that to would -be employers, putting yourself

down before they get a chance to.

I might, if you ever get a chance to face a would -be employer.

That's a no -no, isn't it?

Yeah, and so is baby talk like no -no.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Mrs. Miller, let me decide that, okay?

It's just that I haven't done anything except be a mother to Julie and a wife

my husband.

Well, I sort of got fired off that job, too.

Well, what about volunteer work, hobbies, personal interests?

Do they count?

Sure they do if they're all you have.

Well, then, I guess they count.

Fill this out for me, okay?

A mannequin?

Look, Julie, losing a part, that kind of thing happens in show business all the

time. John Wilkes Booth hardly worked at all towards the end of his career. That

was my number.

I'm not going to lose out to a mannequin.

Julie, the number works better this way.

Hey, okay, I'm sorry. I was late.

You know, it couldn't be helped. You don't have to punish me for it. Julie,

that's not what's happening. It's nothing personal towards you, isn't it?

How come you weren't replaced?

Or you?

Because we showed up on time.

This seat taken?

No.

It is now?

I was beginning to think I was going to have to eat with the teachers.

You make that sound terrible.

No, it's not terrible if you happen to like teachers. Well, that's some

for someone who's going to be a teacher.

Don't you want to be a teacher?

Well, let's just say I'm not exactly obsessed with it. That's all. Then why

it?

Do you get to do everything you want to do?

No, not always.

Maybe we ought to start a club.

The we'll be happy even if we can't do everything we want to do club.

Two members, you and me.

Okay. Oh, we have a quorum.

Any old business?

Any new business? Any ideas for a secret handshake?

Any reason why cafeteria food always has to look like this?

As soon as your mother returns the questionnaire, I'll figure out where to

it. Oh, thanks a lot, Miss Grant. I really appreciate your help in that.

She's so timid about all this. I don't see why.

New York is just like Grand Rapids. Just bigger, noisier, more terrifying. Tell

me about it.

Well, you don't look terrified.

You look happy.

I do?

In fact, you look positively radiant.

Thank you.

Look, excuse me, Miss Grant.

I gotta run. I promised Mr. Harris to tour the place.

Thanks again.

What do you think about that?

I think just what you think.

So, what's the verdict after one day in the trenches?

Fascinating. Confusing, fascinating, scary, and fascinating.

It's easy to fall under the spell of these kids, Jeff.

That's what makes teaching here all the more difficult.

Take Julie Miller.

What about her?

You'll be reading some of her compositions.

They're beautiful.

As beautiful as she is.

They make me remember what it was like to be 17.

So tentative.

Vulnerable. I've noticed that about Julie.

Really? Yeah. We had lunch together and she gave me a walk -around tour of the

place.

Okay. I'm glad you said that. Now we can get right down to cases.

Sit down.

They tell you in the education classes these days.

But I know how it works here.

It's a thin line we have to draw with these kids.

We have to care, to listen, to teach.

But we can't step over that line.

It can't become personal.

Did I give the impression that it was?

I don't give this mini -lecture unless I think it might be required.

I'm sorry.

I should have realized you couldn't know what I was doing.

Which was?

Education was not my first major in college.

Journalism, yes?

I check up on the people I'm going to be working with.

Well, I just thought there might be a way to combine the two.

How?

I'd like to do an article about the school.

Oh?

For a newspaper?

Well, I'll hit some of the little magazines I sold to as an undergrad. I

publicity couldn't hurt a place like this. What does Julie Miller have to do

with this?

I want to write it from her point of view.

The Grand Rapids girl in the Big Apple.

Has she agreed to it?

She loves the idea.

Okay.

Sorry.

Wrong lecture.

An article about me?

Yeah. Well, from your point of view... I don't know. Why not?

You know, some of the older kids, they could tell you a lot more about the

school. No, I thought about that, but I want the readers to learn about the

school just the way you did.

Besides, you have to do it.

I told Miss Sherwood you'd already agreed.

But you didn't even ask me.

So I'm asking you now.

How would you like us to spend lots of time together without people looking at

us cross -eyed?

Unless, of course, you can't stand to hang out with someone of my generation.

Your turn to work tomorrow. Creative writing in class.

Bring pencils. No excuses.

Julie, can we work during lunch?

Sure, sir.

How's the article developing?

Oh, it's really coming together, Miss Sherwood.

So's your teaching.

Not too bad.

You know...

Mr. Chips was one of my favorite movies, but I wonder if we could drop some of

the teacher -student stuff between you and me.

Such as?

Forget the mister.

Me, Jeff, you, Julie?

Sure.

You told me when you first came here that you thought your father was right

stay in Grand Rapids and you and your mom were wrong in coming here.

Yeah, I did think that then.

But I didn't realize what the school was.

I didn't even think I could fit in here.

But I can and I do.

And I'm glad.

Craft counselor in a summer camp.

Decorations chairwoman for the PTA. Oh, that's good.

Luncheon coordinator for your golf club.

Well, that's pretty creative in its own way.

Edward had another name for me. He called me a dilettante.

I bet you never had that problem, did you?

I bet you never flitted around looking for something to do.

Who? Girl, I had to find something that quick, or else there'd be no me left to

do it with.

Me too, now.

But dancing isn't just something to do, is it?

It means much more than that to you.

True.

Well, see, I never had that.

Julie's growing. She needs me less and less with each passing day.

And frankly, I am scared and lonely and a whole bunch of things. None of them

good. And that's exactly what we're going to change, Mrs. Miller, starting

Why are you spending all this extra time with me?

Because you're worth it.

And once you believe that, you're not going to need me or anybody else to help

you out.

Now let's figure out your schedule.

Hold it. Hold it, everybody.

You want something?

I'd just like to watch.

Mr. Harris, teachers aren't supposed to watch rehearsals.

They're kind of supposed to let it sink or swim on our own.

Don't you want to be written up in a magazine article?

What kind of a magazine?

Well, I'm not sure yet, but somebody will be interested enough to publish it.

Well, I'm sort of the star of this number, and if you want to know how my

is, Belle, it's L -E -R...

Let's just let the man watch the rehearsal.

We can figure out your billing later.

Right. Just forget I'm here.

All right, y 'all, let's take it from the break.

A five, a six, a five, six, seven, eight.

Look. It might be old hat to you, but to someone like me who's never seen a

number put together before, it was a trip. Yeah, I suppose so.

Just that particular number. It's not my kind of thing.

You know, what I'd really like is to take a tour of your old high school.

of a study in contrast.

But I don't think the subway goes to Grand Rapids. No? No, but I'd be willing

bet you brought your old yearbook with you to New York.

As a matter of fact, I'll bet you were on the yearbook committee.

You mean at shows?

Assistant editor, right?

No, I sold ads.

Actually, I sold one ad to my father.

Well, show it to me.

At my apartment?

Yeah. I don't know. Julie, what's the big deal?

I'm going to your apartment to get some background material on you.

And that's all?

And... Because I don't want to wait until tomorrow to see you again.

Oh, no, you can't look at this now. Oh, that's like a million years ago.

It was another world back there. Yeah.

Well, yes and no.

People in Grand Rapids were always warning Mom and me about how rude and

New York was going to be.

But it's not like that.

And you know, the other thing is, kids in school, they always say how out of

touch and square everyone is in the Midwest.

Well, that's not true either.

I don't think they believe me.

How could anyone not believe you?

Can I ask you a question?

Sure.

I've asked enough of you.

Why are you teaching if what you really want to be is a journalist?

Well, teaching is steadier, is less risky, and...

And what?

And there's a part of me that's afraid I'm not quite good enough to cut it as a

journalist. Hey, welcome to the club.

You know, everyone in the school has some of that.

And wondering whether or not we have something special inside That just comes

with the territory

Say

no and I'm gone

I wasn't sure if I should cough or throw cold water on you. Mom, I didn't expect

you back, Susan. This is Mr. Harris. What?

Mister. You're not on a first -name basis, at least. Well, he's a teacher at

school. Well, actually, I'm just a student teacher.

No, you're not, Mr. Harris.

Not after I call the school.

I'm really sorry Miss Grant didn't have any job leads for you.

But she's going to keep trying, right, Mom?

Maybe I'll make us some tea.

I don't want any tea, thank you.

How long is this going to go on?

What? The silent treatment.

Julie, you told me about the article.

Okay, I take that into consideration.

You tell me it's a first -time thing.

Okay, I'll hold off calling the school.

But if you expect me to be delighted or outgoing about the whole thing...

I think that's expecting a bit much. Mom, nothing happened between Jeff and

and nothing will.

No, but there's something you ought to know.

He's the first guy I met since we left Grand Rapids that I really care about.

I hope you don't take that away from me, too.

Mr. Swarovski, you're a musical person.

I like the thing, sir.

Then you can't pass up the best buy ever made by a musical person, can you?

I have a strong feeling I can do just that quite easily.

Without even listening to what it is?

You have exactly one minute and 43 seconds.

This place that sells radio, stereo, stuff like that, they're having a two

-one sale.

On what?

Or am I going to be sorry I asked?

On a portable cassette player.

With a funny little earphone? That's it. See, I could swing half the price on

one if you'd... Music is meant to be enjoyed by everyone, Mr. Amatullo. It is

not something one uses to tune out the world while one tunes in on bad music

worse ballgames. It is also not something one uses to avoid listening to

teachers or learning one's schoolwork.

Over here.

Listen, I want to thank you for coming. No problem.

Have a seat, please.

Thanks.

Close, but no signal.

You're kidding.

Jeff, two years ago I would have bought it.

It's clear, nice, interesting.

Yeah, and that's no longer in style?

Right. What are you talking about?

I'm talking about my magazine having a new owner who has a philosophy about our

readership. They want short words, simple ideas, served up with a little

and scandal.

It's not the way you used to operate.

Things change. Life goes on.

Tell me I sold out, I'll have to agree.

And I'll also have to add, I got a hell of a good price.

Sorry, my friend.

Look, I want to wish you the best of luck with this teaching thing.

David, wait a minute, please.

Look, this teaching thing might turn out to be short -term for me. I think I can

deliver what you want.

I'd like to take another shot at it.

Okay. Great.

Just as long as you understand what we're looking for.

Short words, simple ideas, flesh and scandal.

Have fun.

Talk to you soon.

It's the newest thing.

It's kind of the pirate look meets the sweatsuit.

Looks like Donald Duck meets a creature from the Black Lagoon.

You think I made that up? That is a direct quote from Glamour East magazine.

Do you hate it?

Does it come in lavender?

No, no, no. Lavender is dead wrong.

Hey, you're not wearing it. Coco is.

Not unless it's lavender, I'm not.

What do you think, Mr. Harris?

I guess Coco should have the color she wants.

Dorth, I won't wear it if it's going to... Coco, if I return it once, my

figures it's okay. She figured I inherited it by not being able to make

mind. But more than once, and she's going to get suspicious.

Suspicious about what?

Well, come on. What's she talking about?

Won't you see sometime?

Doris, dummy up.

Hey, I'm not going to use it. I'm just curious. That's all. See sometime.

Doris, you better let her tell. She'll explode if you don't.

Are you saying you have to buy your own costumes?

What buy? Use a credit card.

You have a credit card?

No, I have a mother who has a credit card.

So you buy the costume, use it in the show, and then return it.

I admire your ingenuity.

We didn't do stuff with ingenuity. The only play we'd be able to do around here

is Old Calcutta.

Hey, look, we got time for one more rehearsal. Let's not blow it.

Hey, Mr. Harris, you interested in the great bargain? Annie, come on.

One, two, three, brawl.

I talked to my mother last night. Julie, not here, okay?

Everything's going to be all right. I mean, she's not exactly thrilled, but

everything's going to be all right.

It was a really long session. We'll get together after school, and I'll fill you

in then, okay?

Thank you, Miss Miller.

Now, take your seat, please.

Julie, what are you doing after school?

I'm not sure.

Why? Well, I thought you'd like to stop by and see the number.

Kind of rubbing my nose in it, aren't you?

No, I want you to see that the number is better and that we weren't picking on

you or punishing you.

Oh, I can't.

I have some stuff to do with the article.

And the article writer?

Yeah, he's doing it from my point of view.

I bet he is.

Coco, you and I have had our differences, but the one thing I used to

say about you was at least you could mind your own business.

Now, if you're taking up fleas as a hot...

Mr. Harris, when you're ready.

Okay.

Time out for education.

Yesterday we were talking about the tools of journalism, which are... True

clarity in the past.

I am so proud of you, I can't be straight.

And the best part is you got it all on your own.

What are you trying to do, put me out of a job?

Don't you try.

Mr. Shrofsky. Hi.

You know the coffee they talk about on radio and TV?

The stuff the man did not buy because it wasn't good enough?

Mm -hmm.

Somebody bought it.

Mr. Harris, has Danny Amatella mentioned anything about a sale on cassette

players to you?

Yeah, he said something about... Did you agree to buy it?

No.

Well, I'm sure you'll find his way back to me.

Yeah. Is Mr. Cobb in for Jeff Harris, please?

And at first I was there just to apply for the hostess job at his coffee shop.

You know, showing people to their tables, that kind of thing. But I guess

something in me because he decided to try me out as a kind of collector.

You mean like for unpaid bills? Oh, no, no, no. This is just going around to

other bars and restaurants he has contacts with and picking up, I don't

receipts and things.

Charlotte, dear.

I think you better tell me more about this job of yours.

Mr. Sherrod, have you seen Jeff Harris?

Tackle me lunch.

Thank you.

A numbers runner?

They thought I looked like someone who could be a numbers runner?

No, they thought you looked like the last person in the world who would be a

numbers runner. That's why they picked you.

I feel so... I am so dumb.

Charlotte. Oh, damn.

Okay, then try this.

There's a credit card scam for ripping off department stores. They use the

credit card thing to get costumes, and some of the costumes would knock your

socks off.

Yeah, yeah, photo opportunity, correct.

I think we could build a case for some racial tension between some of the

students.

Drugs. Well, that's something I didn't get into, but it's safe to say there

be some drugs around. There is in every other school I ever heard about.

I mean the angle is these artsy -craftsy kids are tripping out on the taxpayers'

money while the rest of us go to hell in a handbasket. That's what I...

Are you really into whatever that is, or can we talk for a minute?

No, not really.

But I don't think I'm much good for talking either.

Certainly not about Jeff.

Or me being on the outs with the other kids.

I sort of had something else in mind.

But I suppose it's related in a way.

Your job, honey?

Also related.

But no.

Then what?

Julie, I think it's time you and I started to consider some, um...

unpleasant realities.

We're both terribly unhappy.

And maybe we ought to consider the possibility that this really isn't the

for us.

And we ought to think about going home.

Back to Grand Rapids?

Just something to think about.

I know you're not into performing.

So why do I have the feeling I'm about to hear a song and dance?

No.

No way.

What you are going to hear is the straight door.

This whole place runs on one thing.

Ambition. Wanting the spotlight.

If you understand that, then you can understand that...

An ambitious person has to do things that he or she isn't always thrilled

That's my situation.

I'm going to have to hype this piece in order to get it published, and that's

what I'm going to do.

If that doesn't mesh with some romantic fantasies you've got about life, so be

it. Regardless of who it hurts?

This place is nothing but young people, Julie.

They bounce back real quick.

Am I interrupting something?

Not the way I was just playing.

Here. Hey, what's this?

Peace offering.

Bruno, I didn't know we were mad at each other.

Oh, we're not.

We're not you and I.

It's just you and Coco and Leroy and Darth and this whole mannequin thing.

breaking up that old gang of mine.

Makes a nice song title, but a lousy lifestyle.

What piece is this?

It's a poem you wrote for Sherwood's class a couple of months ago.

I bet you didn't know you could write lyrics, huh?

Hey, look, I got chemistry third floor next hour. Let me know what you think,

okay? Hey, Bruno, I'm not a singer.

Don't be silly. Up until 30 seconds ago, you weren't a lyricist either.

Ciao.

The moon's up and the sun's down, and a

thousand starry eyes have caught me crying.

You don't die of a broken heart,

you just lie down and...

cover from her little adventure yesterday?

No. Tell her I'll call her tonight.

I'm not going to let a little thing like that get her down.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Shrovsky. Beg your pardon? I said I'm sorry for bumping

you. No problem.

World Series.

You like baseball?

What baseball?

The New York Philharmonic versus the London Symphony.

Can't beat them?

Join them.

Hello? Julie, why aren't you in school? What's wrong?

Look, I'm fine, Mom, really. I am in school.

Look, I've got to talk to you before you do something rash.

Like canceling a lease. You haven't had it, because if you have, you still have

time to stop it.

Julie, slow down. I can't understand a word you're saying.

I can't leave New York.

I just can't leave.

And you can't either.

I'm not going to let you just give up. Honey, we'll talk about it when you calm

down. Well, I'm not going to calm down.

I'm in love.

I'm really in love.

After what you said he was going to do in the article?

Oh, I don't mean Jeff. I don't care about him.

I'm in love with this place.

With this dirty, grimy, loud city.

Mom.

I'm in love with people that dance with the dress mannequins.

You better give me everything you've done so far and forget about sending it

into the magazine.

Because if you do...

There's going to be a letter to the editor a week later telling how you hit

a certain female student in order to get some of that information.

They don't print anonymous letters.

It won't be anonymous.

I guarantee you.

You wouldn't do that.

You told me this place runs on ambition. Well, that's true, but it also runs on

people knowing what they want and being willing to pay the price.

If the price that I have to pay is my reputation getting scuffed up a little.

I'll pay it.

That's all.

Julie, you haven't got the guts.

Try me.

Mr. Harris?

Well, I've got some...

Papers here to return to you.

Pretty good, most of them.

For example, Montgomery.

Here's the Atlantic Monthly piece you turned in.

Terrific stuff.

Martelli.

The Rolling Stone column could have been lifted from the magazine, it was so

exact.

That's because it was lifted from the magazine.

Miss Miller.

Here's your version of the New York Times book reviews.

And here's the research material you handed in with it.

I must say I was surprised by the...

strength in your work.

It was very mature.

If it was mature, I'm surprised you could understand it.

Especially since I didn't hand in any research material.

My friends say I'm a fool, it doesn't matter.

They don't see you as I do.

You're the image of perfection standing there.

With your somewhat study pose and your very uptown nose.

But I know you'll never hurt me and you surely won't desert me. And I love you,

though everybody says.

I love you, I love you, I do.

Mannequin!

I love your frozen grin.

Mannequin!

You got it all over most humans.

You're insistent, I'm not superstitious.

Mannequin!

up your mannequin.

Hello, everyone.