Original subtitles

As some of you seem to have heard, I'm going to be away for a week or ten days.

Oh, no, you don't have to know how to dance. Come on, you just jump right in.

I said no.

Now, please, leave me alone.

Denny.

That was your nickname.

Denny. I know where I belong.

There's my star, moving faster.

I am a substitute English teacher, period, and in a week I'm gone.

It's that simple.

You've got big dreams.

You want fame.

Fame comes.

And right here is where you start paying.

sure what's going on some kind of seminar we are gonna have a substitute

days what are you sure would i lie to you you would i'm not well then let's

party okay i'll take first watch all right

Now, play fair.

Well, actually, it's none of your business.

Look, just give me a little bitty hint.

You're not going back to one of those male stripper joints, are you? Mr.

Morlock. Sorry.

Well, as you can see, Miss Daniels, we've got more than our fair share of

airheads around this place.

The kids. I'm talking about the kids.

I mean, they're nice enough. It's just that there's...

Something about this school that seems to make him go a little soft between the

ears if you get my meaning.

I think I do. I used to be an airhead here myself.

Really? You went to school here? I did, and I happen to agree with Mr. Morlock.

You do?

I take it that's the music class?

I wish that were true, but it isn't.

That's an English class.

Well, they were... And I was trying to... But then,

sometimes a person just gets caught up in something.

Dwight, sit.

Now, as some of you seem to have heard, I'm going to be away for a week or ten

days. Filling in for me will be Miss Dinora Daniels.

Me, a kidda? You know, Mr. Morlock, you disappoint me.

I take that as a compliment.

Now, the rest of you, listen up.

If one of you is even thinking about pulling your usual substitute scams on

Daniels, I must remind you that she was once a student here herself,

and anything that you could possibly...

probably invented.

Did you have something to say, Danny?

Well, it's just that we've had many substitute teachers before.

And? Well, none of them look half as good as this one.

What was your major, Miss Daniels?

I don't think that's important now.

What is important is that we pick up where Miss Sherwood left off.

I like your style.

If you need anything, just give me a call.

Good luck.

Adios, amigo.

Adios, amigo. Mexico!

You're going to Mexico?

Listen, I want you to pick me up one of those paintings.

I love those black velvet jobs.

Now, if you all please get out your paper and pencils, we'll begin.

You're joining one of them... Dwight.

Your buddy.

He's short.

I only have one pencil. No, I think Dwight's falling in love.

Can I hit on it?

Yes?

My name is Dwight Mendenhall.

Yes, I know.

Mr. and Mrs. Mendenhall's boy.

What is it you want, Dwight?

Don't I know you from someplace?

Six by my count. How about yours?

Yeah, that's what I get, too.

Six tardies and fourth period.

That's going to cost you one week's detention after school. Detention?

We don't even have detention in this school.

We do since I came on board.

Mr. Morlock, won't you even listen to an explanation?

No. See, there may be an explanation for one tardy. There may even be an excuse

for two.

But six, it better be the song of songs with the original cast.

This isn't over.

Are you threatening me?

Because if you are, I'll be glad to put on the gloves and go a few rounds.

But no matter how that turns out, you'll still end up with one week's detention.

You were saying?

I wasn't saying anything. Yes, you were.

You were saying goodbye.

This is the mercy.

Hey, come on, Michael. Give her a break.

Hey, why do we show wheelie clips around the screen?

Why?

Micro?

What's that all about?

It's what the whole school is about.

You okay?

Fine.

I'd just like to be left alone.

Okay.

But there's one thing I need to say first.

Those kids back there, they didn't mean any harm.

It's just... It's just their way of saying hello.

I know I'm not doing so good for somebody who said he'd leave you alone.

I don't mean to be.

Sometimes I'm a bit pushy.

I have been ever since I was a little kid.

Well, it's about time you grew out of it. Excuse me?

I asked to be left alone, didn't I?

Sorry.

Why,

are you

okay? Donna Schwartz, were you listening? Why would I be listening?

I'm fine.

Fine. You try to explain and the woman practically bites your head off. How

could you be fine?

I thought you said you weren't listening.

Bits and pieces.

The lady wants to be alone.

She has a right.

Well, why did you have to be so prissy about it? I mean, I want to be alone.

I mean, what's her problem?

I thought you said you only got bits and pieces.

Stop trying to change the subject.

Good morning, Mr. Morlock. Would you like a cup of coffee?

No, I'm in a bit of a hurry, Mr. Morlock.

I just got time to sign these things.

And then you what?

Mr. Morlock, are you all right?

Mr. Morlock.

of my God is going to receive my everlasting... I bet the

next word is gratitude.

We'll work something out.

Sir, you're back.

To stay, I swear it.

How do I know this isn't like all the rest of the time?

You don't know, for sure.

Well,

if that's the best you can do,

then welcome back.

And

what

was that supposed to be?

A scene.

I asked for a book report.

It was from the book.

You know, Miss Sherwood lets us dramatize a little bit. And she even

credit for it. I'm not Miss Sherwood.

And I want a real book report on my desk tomorrow.

How about you,

Michael?

You have something for us today?

You were assigned some poetry?

If you didn't like theirs, mine isn't going to make your day.

Why's that?

Well, I read the poems.

I really did.

But I put together sort of a dance. A dance?

What is it with you people?

Now, we are supposed to study English in this class.

This is not a kindergarten, and I am not going to babysit a bunch of oversized

infants. That's it.

That's where I know you from.

I thought you told me to get a more original line.

I told you time was everything.

Evidently, he didn't get it.

Your last name used to be Griffin, right?

Wrong.

Used to keep house for my folks about ten years ago, right?

Wrong.

You were a singer, and you were determined to get me interested in

Didn't he?

That was your nickname, Denny.

Short for Dinora.

Right?

Why? Why what?

Why'd you quit singing?

I remember when my folks used to follow your career.

We were all convinced you were going to be the super superstar.

Then you just disappeared without a trace.

Nothing.

Why?

Dwight, do you know what nodes are on the vocal cords?

Not exactly.

Didn't Frank Sinatra have them?

Well, apparently if he did, his were treatable.

Mine aren't.

I can't sing anymore.

Not a note.

Believe me, I would if I could.

You were great. There's got to be something they can do.

Dwight, you asked your question, and now you've got your answer.

Let's just leave it at that, okay?

I'm on your side, remember?

If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't even be a musician.

You know what they get to play the tuba.

I suppose you meant to say through the phone.

Absolutely.

Michael, it's you.

Well, uh, forbid from me to stand in Cupid's way.

Carry on.

Excuse me, Mr. Morlock.

I hate to even ask you this. No.

Go ahead, please.

Well, a bunch of us are going down to Caruso's tonight.

And I was hoping maybe I could hit you up for a fin. What?

You know, borrow a couple of dollars.

Just until Tuesday.

Don't be silly, son. It's the least I can do.

I'll pay you back.

Well, uh... As you were.

Well, another day has come After all is said and

done You are here Like you were

before And it feels as if we've

been Through it all and back again

Now I know

be something more.

No more tears left

to hide.

We have made it through a long and lonely

night.

Better

is now an admirer of you.

I was good.

Really.

The problem is, in the music world, good will get you four weddings and six bar

mitzvahs per month.

If by any chance your dreams soar any higher than that, I suggest you spend

time in rehearsal.

You may escape.

Mr. Chilovsky, may I speak to you?

Yes, of course. But I prefer it if you sing to me.

I thought I was alone in the auditorium.

So did I.

I find it relaxing to be alone in the theater.

And then you started to sing. Well, I couldn't very well walk out.

I didn't want to. You know, you have a marvelous voice. That's what I wanted to

speak to you about. And I have a marvelous idea.

We are putting on a student faculty show, and we would be honored to have

the program. I can't. But why?

I'm not a singer.

Miss Daniels, you are a singer. I know what I've heard. What you heard is

something I'm asking you to keep to yourself.

I am a substitute English teacher, period, and in a week I'm gone.

It's that simple.

Miss Daniels, part of my task as a teacher is to uncover hidden talent.

And part of your task as a human being ought to be to avoid those times when

might cause another human being pain.

I hope you understand.

I don't understand any of this.

But of course I will respect your wishes.

Lunch.

Mr. Shrofsky, do you know anything about nodes on the vocal cords?

Why do you want to know? Your voice fainting?

Sorry, man.

No, it's... Miss Daniels, the lady who's been substituting for Miss Sherwood.

She's got them.

She used to be a wonderful singer.

I was just asking in case you might know of some new treatments that might be

able to help her.

You say she used to be a wonderful singer?

Can't say at all now.

Like something from a movie of the week.

Closer than you think.

Do you know what we haven't had around here in a long time?

Pheasant under glass?

Better than that.

Something tells me this isn't going to be a constructive gesture.

No, what we haven't had around here is a food fight.

Oh, no.

Wait a minute.

Now, if my memory serves me correctly, the last time we had a food fight, we

in a lot of major league trouble.

Wallach had a cow.

Well, that's happened sooner or later. I mean, any man that full of... Michael,

please. Anyway, I bet we don't get into any trouble this time.

I bet we do.

I bet we don't.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have just passed the point of no return.

movie series.

You're making that up.

Mr. Moorlach, Cafeteria Case Pines, Airborne, Jell -O, the works.

Mrs. Berg, is there a fire? Is this a life and death matter?

You lead, I'll follow.

I wonder why they call him Little Beaver.

I never started this little free -for -all.

Dwight Mendenhall, front and center. I didn't start it.

I know you didn't start it, but I'd venture to say you know who did. Now,

me his name.

With all due respect, sir, I am not a fink.

Dwight, you're going to be in a whole lot of trouble if you... I started it.

Michael, as you live and breathe.

He let Michael off with a warning.

I don't think I've ever seen Morlock give a warning.

You know, the last kid that started a food fight got two weeks suspension and

Michael gets a warning?

Uh -uh.

He must have a real scam going on, Morlock.

Frankly, I'm jealous.

Well, I don't like it.

Michael's a dancer and he needs discipline.

Morlock can't be taking that away from him.

Miss Grant, you've tried to convince Mr. Morlock about a number of things

before. What makes you think you'll have any better luck this time? Because it's

not Mr. Morlock I'm going to be talking to.

I think I should tell you that you're very attractive and pleasant and that I

don't believe I like you very much.

What brought this on?

I don't like liars, and you lied to Dwight Mendenhall.

And if I'm to do as you've asked me, I will find myself in a position of lying

to him, too, and I very much resent that.

Well...

I have to go teach a class.

Hard for me to understand how someone can teach when she clearly has so much

learn.

Jenny, it's Daniel.

I really hate to be a pain, but I found this book about things that can go wrong

with the throat.

Now, it's mainly a singer's training book, but some of the stuff they say...

Dwight, do you have any band practice or rehearsal after school today?

No. Can you meet me in the auditorium after school?

Sure. After school, then.

Hi, this is Elizabeth.

Sorry to interrupt. your call, but if you'll leave your name and number, I'll

get back to you as soon as I can. Please don't hang up. I can't deal with hang

-ups. You've got 30 seconds.

Bye.

Hello, Elizabeth. This is me.

Girl, I don't know what this seminar of yours is all about, but you better get

your buns back here fast before Morlock and I go to war.

He's trying to turn one of my best dances into trash and flesh, and that

come close to what's going on in your English class.

Ooh, girl, that is absolutely...

They don't call me Mother Teresa for nothing.

Just wish they wouldn't keep forgetting the Teresa part.

Hi.

I brought a friend.

Doris is just about the best singer in school.

I figured if we're going to talk about vocal cord and stuff that I found in

book, then... Oh, look, if this is private between you and Dwight, I'm out

here. No, stay.

Did Dwight fill you in on everything I told him?

Yeah. Well, forget it.

It was a lie.

Not one syllable of it was true.

Your voice is okay?

Never better, physically.

Well, then what happened?

What happened was a man named Daniel, whom I loved, and who was going to make

a star.

He told me what to sing and how to sing it, how to wear my hair, how to dress,

how much I should weigh, how to speak and smile and

be.

I was like a doll.

But it wasn't so bad, really. I didn't have to worry about a thing as long as

was there.

And then, one day, he wasn't there anymore.

The year after he died, I barely set foot outside my apartment.

It might be hard for someone your age to understand.

But when you do everything for a person, you cripple them.

And you make them afraid of so many things.

Maybe that's why you never change the lesson plan.

Maybe that's why you always go by the book.

So you don't have to make a decision.

So you can keep everything in control.

It might be.

But, Dwight, I wanted to be honest with you.

You've been there for me, and I really appreciate it.

There's a lot of other people who'll be there for you, too.

If you'll let us.

And I'll bet that being afraid to sing stuff only applies to strangers.

I'll bet you could sing like dynamite if it was for friends.

When you used to work for my folks,

You sang with me all the time.

See if you remember this one.

Red and yellow and pink and green

Purple and orange and blue

I can sing a rainbow song

Sing a rainbow.

Sing a rainbow too.

Listen with your eyes.

Listen with your eyes.

And sing everything you see.

You can sing a rainbow.

Sing a rainbow.

Sing along with me.

I can't remember the second verse.

Do you remember the words?

Good morning.

Sit down. We have to talk. I don't have much time.

This is my office.

You don't sit down in your own office?

No, I meant, what are you doing here?

Mr. Koenig let me in. Why?

The conversation you and I are about to have shouldn't take place in the

corridor. Besides, there's no place to sit out there.

There's coffee on your desk.

Thank you.

You owe me 50 cents.

Well, you're certainly feisty this morning. Mr. Morlock, my seminar starts

hour in the village. I don't have time to chat, so real quick.

You will change your attitude towards Michael, or I'll know the reason why.

And in case you have any doubts, that's a demand.

Mr. Sherwood, he saved my life.

Then you better find him real quick, because you're going to need him if you

don't see the light.

Now, answer a question for me.

Where do I find a Nora Daniels?

Stage fright.

It happens.

Nothing to be ashamed of.

Actors go up in their lines.

Concert pianists forget the note they're supposed to start on.

There's a rule that passes with time.

Well, you are looking at the exception to that rule.

I'm not convinced.

What did it take?

I told you what happened.

Yes, you did.

But I'm more convinced by what I heard on that stage a couple of nights ago.

Miss Daniels, you have a voice.

Correction, you have a gift. And I'm trying to figure out why you're so

reluctant to share that gift.

You don't strike me as a selfish person.

No, I don't think I am selfish.

I'm afraid.

Afraid of what?

Failure, I guess.

Congratulations, you joined a very large club.

But this fear stops me cold.

It didn't stop you from going to Dwight Mendenhall and admitting you told him a

lie, did it?

No, it didn't.

You know why?

I have a theory.

When you went to Dwight, you were worried about him, concerned that he'd

understand. But when you attempted to sing, who were you concentrating on

Me.

Good morning, Auntie Sharofsky. You're looking well.

I need to speak to Miss Daniels. Hello, how are you? I'm fine, thank you very

much. We'll go to my room. I'm sorry to be in such a rush, but I have to be to

Sheridan Square by 8 .30.

Nice to see you again, Mr. Sharocki. Say hello to Lydia for me. See you next

week.

Nice chatting with you, too.

I swear to you, this is not normally my way of doing things, but I only have two

more days at this course, and I can't afford to be late for a thing. I don't

think I've ever seen anybody so academically turned on. To quote Mae

academics had nothing to do with it.

That's part of what you have to remember when you're teaching these kids.

They're bombarded with creative input in all their other classes.

Here, sit down. And you've got to match that if you're going to get them excited

about English.

These kids are used to a free -form atmosphere.

It isn't really lack of discipline. It's more, um, going with the flow.

You can't control them like you would another bunch of kids. Going with the

is not exactly what I'm good at.

It took me a while, too, but believe me, it can be done.

Pardon me, this is really none of my business, but what is the seminar you're

anxious to get back to? It must be something really special.

If I don't tell somebody, I'm going to bust.

About face, out of here, now!

I'm terrified of flying.

I always have been.

And there's this guy.

I met him about a month ago.

And... we have something going that could be important.

And he's invited me to go to Puerto Rico with him on a business trip.

And the seminar is? Four days of intensive everything to get me on that

one piece.

It's a crash course.

Bad choice of words.

But if it takes, this gentleman and I will have our holiday in San Juan.

Holiday? What holiday is coming up?

When I get that man to San Juan, you better believe it's going to be a

I've got to go.

Good luck.

You too.

How you doing, Michelle?

Keep talking.

Maybe so.

I thought you were sick.

Miss Schwartz, Mr.

Amatulo, that scene you were doing the other day, I want you to do it again.

But this time, I want you to switch parts.

Maybe you can give some new insight into the characters.

I ain't playing no girl. Then you're flunk.

You mean you're really changing the lesson plan?

You're going to make a switch?

That's my decision.

Come on, Louise, let's play.

Michael, I want to see that dance of yours tomorrow.

Miss Daniels, I can't. Why not?

Mr. Morlock put me back on detention.

I see.

Dwight, you're in charge.

you were right and i was wrong i created this fear and i can destroy it i mean

if a bunch of 16 year old kids who don't even know if they've got it or not can

find a way to get up on that stage and share what's inside of themselves to

a way to make that thing click between themselves and the audience well then

someone who knows they've got it who knows they've got a song to share had

well better find a way to make it happen

Postcard for you.

Puerto Rico.

All right, girl, you better go get them.

I got a hunger running deep.

I got a pain that you can't see.

Here in the city, I'll feel free to chase what's calling me.

Now in a world that's laid for keep, there is a party in the street.

Gonna do what I have to do to make a life for me.

Give them time till you get your mind on your own.

I work all day, it's wasting time.

It pays the bills, it kills my mind.

But I do what I have to do to keep my dream alive.

And when the moonlight hits the tree, I feel the thunder of the beast.

Suddenly I know what I've been waiting for.

you some time till you get you a mind of your own tonight

i'll be what i wanna be the nights are gonna rescue

me cause you know that i'm living deep in the city tonight