Original subtitles

Tell the truth. Don't you really think? This week, this day, this moment, that

your class is more important. You want the truth? She taped us without our

knowledge. She did what?

Born too late, died too soon, and got his terrible crime.

They think a lot more about succeeding, because that's what they're talking

about. They encourage us to reach inside and believe in

what's inside of us.

You broke out of jail?

You can just break right back in.

I've been over everything.

I've been over everything.

All right, people, all right, all right. Why don't we just stop for a minute and

think? Why don't we forget about thinking and just stop?

Miss Grant, do you think it's legal for Velazquez to do a hillbilly musical?

Miss Grant, we're city kids.

What do we know about Appalachia? We can't relate to it. Honey, calm down. We

are not doing a hillbilly musical.

People, we are trying to make a statement. What statement? That the

That's not funny, Jesse.

All right, so we don't have the right piece of music yet.

But when we do, you will be able to relate to it. It'll be some music that

brings out the spirit of America.

Oh, stop that.

But until we get the music, I want to see what we have done right now, full

with some conviction and no fooling around.

Come on, let's go. Turn this way, away from the mirror.

Let's take it just before the bridge and to the end.

Okay.

Seven and...

Miss Grant, that's great.

music great dancing good lord you kids have fun don't you so what do i own the

great honor of this interruption well i've got a little announcement to make

day watch new york the most popular afternoon show in the city wants to find

what makes us tick down here at the school of the arts so i gave them

to do a feature about the show what show

This show, the one you're doing, they're going to start shooting tomorrow. And

then every afternoon at 3 o 'clock, we're going to be on for a solid week.

get to watch yourselves on TV, okay?

Oh, no, Mr. Morlock. This is a work in progress. This show is not ready to be

seen by anybody yet.

When will it be?

What century are we in?

Oh, come on now. You kids are going to be great. You're going to be terrific. I

don't know how you do it. See you on the tube.

Amazing, isn't it? How he could walk into a room.

Size up a situation and be wrong all the time.

Nicole!

Nicole!

Don't talk. Let go of my arm.

What?

Hey,

what's bugging you?

What do you think, Jesse?

First you chase me all over the place trying to get a date.

And when you finally do, you tell me I'm crowding you?

I didn't say crowding. Oh, no. I think suffocating is much closer.

You said you couldn't breathe.

I said I needed room to breathe.

So take it.

You can't park this equipment here and clog up this stairway. This is the main

thoroughfare. Excuse me, Becky, can I stay and watch New York? Can I help you?

You're Miss Guest? Yes.

Gee, you look familiar.

I do.

Yeah.

Wait a minute.

Hatcher Toledo Mudhens.

Regular Charlie Hustle.

285, 17 homers.

You had quite an arm.

Quentin Morlock.

Well, that's remarkable.

I'm right, aren't I? Yeah.

I was a cup reporter.

Must have been your high school paper.

Oh, don't I wish.

I did an interview with you. My first sports interview.

I didn't know a thing.

You were very nice to me.

Well, you know, it's easy to be nice to somebody who's, uh, nice.

Well, I'm sorry about all this. We'll get out of your way as quickly as we

Oh, hey, this is showbiz.

We don't understand that at this school, where would they?

Well, we certainly appreciate your understanding.

Well, it was nice to see you again. Yeah.

Bye.

Mr. Borlaug, are you married?

Beautiful, positive, bright music.

And you fellas, what does it mean to you to be a student?

It means everything.

I've got a lot of hopes and dreams.

Well, all of us do.

And, uh, cool is what we're going to make happen.

Think about failing.

Yeah, I think about failing. But I think a lot more about succeeding.

Because that's what we're taught here.

They encourage us.

Does that mean hi?

Okay, great. Yeah, I guess you could say that. I guess you could say that.

But isn't talent just unique?

Very special.

Come on, you're like no hotel.

I think that there's something special.

Something that all of us have to say.

Okay, come on.

I can hardly wait. Yes, will you please quit?

Could we, uh, chat?

Yeah, I mean, chatting is one of my favorite things.

Could you fix us some tea, Mrs. Berg?

Since when does he drink tea?

Since when does he chat?

Oh, do I detect a tone of jealousy in your voice?

Have you lost your mind?

Well, you know, Mr. Morlock is always...

Quentin Morlock can chat his brains out for all I care.

I'm just checking, darling.

Excuse me.

Yes, Mr. Morlock.

A reservation for two at La Trobe Grove.

Eight o 'clock.

You got it, Chief.

I love you here. This is great.

Dancing is everything to me.

You know, sometimes when I dance, I forget where I'm at.

Which, if you knew my neighborhood, you'd know that ain't such a bad thing.

I was raised in a ghetto with a lot of other people.

I figured this school would be my way out. If you know the ghetto, you know

that's not the greatest place to be.

I have a lot of brothers out there that are struggling. Very few of them make

it.

Some do.

B, I'm going to dance my way out of here. You better believe it.

I'm not saying I want a loose arrangement so that I can date other

But if it came up?

We'd still be together. We'd just be loose.

Loose.

We do things because we wanted to, not because we felt obligated. You know what

I mean? Yeah, but if it came up?

It's not primary.

Oh, Nicole, I have a letter for you.

A letter? Who would write me this?

Well, I'm sure I don't know, dear. I'm not going to have it both in the other

people's mail.

But the return address says Manhattan Juvenile Hall.

And it does feel like there's a cassette inside.

Would you like me to open it?

Thank you, Mrs. Berg.

Any time.

Dear Miss Chapman, I saw you on TV and what you said really meant a lot to me.

All that stuff about talent and being unique.

and all those things you don't hear too much around here.

We ain't encouraged much to express ourselves, so I try to do it with my

But what good is music when there's nobody to hear it?

I sure would appreciate it if you'd listen and let me know what you think.

I also would be greatly honored if you would come and talk to me.

I've been in the hall for seven months, and the words spirit and energy hardly

ever come up.

The prospect and admiration brings Glaxo.

It's a beautiful letter.

What a lovely young man.

You're not thinking of going out, are you, Cole?

I'm thinking of music.

Because if you are, you can forget it, no way.

Then it's good.

No, I mean it.

Listen to this thing.

That book?

Things got rough, things got tough, things got harder and harder.

We was just trying to make a living off our backyard.

We were born too late, died too soon, anxiety's a terrible crime.

Can't come down, don't come at all, just a crooked piece of time.

Crooked piece of time that we live in.

It was a crooked piece of time.

All in all, all in all, all in all, it was a crooked piece of time.

Where did you learn to make music like that?

Down in Kentucky.

That's where I brought it from.

It's incredible.

I like it.

Boy, you're saying about music. Oh, yeah. Um, okay.

It's gonna sound a little crazy.

But, um, you know, we're doing a show at school.

It's a musical show.

And if the faculty likes it, would you mind if we used your music for it?

What am I?

I'd be honored.

Okay. All right, good.

Can I ask you something?

Mm -hmm.

You got anybody?

No.

I'm not sure. I... I don't know.

Because I sure do like you.

No, Correa, I wouldn't want you to get the wrong idea or anything.

Oh, yeah.

No, I mean I like you.

I like you.

Well, that's nice.

That's real nice.

And I want you to know, you know, I don't take you coming here lightly.

I know it was a tough thing for you to do, to come to a place like this and

But I want you to know that...

It kind of gives me hope.

I think somebody like you would take interest in somebody like me.

It's not hard to take interest in someone like you with the talent you've

Well, I was hoping you were kind of feeling beyond the talent.

I was hoping you were seeing me.

I think I am.

That's it for today, folks. Visit the Niles up home.

Did you

see that?

I've got a zero and something to give.

half of these lyrics?

To tell you the truth, Miss Grant, I'm not too crazy about the song.

The first time ever I saw your face.

The first time ever I kissed you.

Ladies!

Am I missing something? Don't you see it? What? The way the sun comes through

the window and hits the flowers and leaves a shadow on the plotter.

Oh, yeah.

Very nice.

Nice? It's amazing.

This is a beautiful day.

He had a lunch date with Becky Getz.

She's not that attractive.

Yeah, she is.

I don't care.

Ladies, there's a bird on my windowsill.

A little bird in the middle of winter.

It's a miracle.

It may be crazy, but I'm not stupid.

Danny, I need you.

You know, I've been waiting forever to get you to see that house. Can you get

serious? I am.

Danny, look.

I found him out in the depths of the school.

I think he's sick.

He must be for hanging out here in the winter when he could be with his friends

in Miami.

Danny, I'm worried.

So then just take him home, Holly. We're not allowed any pets in the building.

What about your house?

Holly, I got three cats. That girl could go.

Bye, kids. Have a great day.

Bye.

My mother's a singer and dancer, so I guess that's why I want to be in show

business. I mean, she told me it's hard, and the odds are impossible, and I

might get hurt.

And, you know, maybe she's right.

But you just get on stage once, and you give a performance, and you hear that

applause, and you forget everything else.

You know that's what you want.

What?

You're going there again?

None of your business, Jesse. No, I'm making it my business. I don't want you

throwing yourself at no prisoners.

I'm not throwing myself at anyone. I'm just going because of his music.

Well, I'll tell you one thing.

No way I'm singing it.

You're kidding.

They really like it?

They didn't just like it. They loved it.

They loved it.

Nobody's ever performed my music before.

I thought you'd be happy.

Oh, I am.

I am. It's just dawned on me I ain't gonna be there to see it.

Well, we're taping the show. You can watch it with everyone here, right?

Yeah, but I ain't gonna be there.

Ray.

Remember what you wrote me in your letter?

You mean about no one ever hearing your music?

Well, they're gonna hear it now.

Everyone is gonna hear it.

It's something.

Yeah.

Here's something.

Um, look, I know it's none of my business, but... I stole a car.

Why?

I don't know.

It was dumb, I guess.

But I could sell it.

You see, Nicole, where I come from, folks can barely scratch out a living.

I've been on my own since I was 14.

And what about your parents?

My daddy worked himself to death in a coal mine.

Mama, she kind of wrote me off a long time ago.

Guess I was a little too wild for her to handle.

Anyway, I didn't know where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do.

One day I picked up this guitar and started strumming.

Found out I could make music.

So I came up here to do that.

Thought I was going to be something special.

But then I needed money.

For the car, you know.

Yeah.

Found out I was special, all right.

They gave me a whole year I was so special.

Yeah, it's no big tragedy.

Nice view.

I'll tell you something, though.

I'll tell you, it is a big tragedy.

There's gonna be a whole lot harder staying in here than you out there.

You're a beautiful girl, Nicole.

Ray, I think I should be fair to you and remind you that I'm here for your

music.

You didn't try to tell me that's the only reason.

Well, I wouldn't say I was the favorite teacher.

I've heard some of the pet names the kids have for me.

But I would say that I teach one of their favorite subjects.

Thank you.

Miss Lydia Grant, head of the dance department, and contrary to what she

one of the most loved teachers at the School of the Arts.

Thanks. That was good. Well, for you, it was fun.

Thank you. What?

One more. You're kidding.

I'm sorry, Lydia. Would you mind doing that again?

What? Well, they've had a little problem with the camera, so if you could just

pick it up from... I wouldn't say I was the most favorite teacher.

The whole thing?

Yeah, same energy, same everything.

Oh, okay. Yeah, you were wonderful.

Oh, okay. Thank you.

Now? You rolling?

Yeah. Oh.

I wouldn't say that I was the favorite teacher.

I've heard some of the pet names the kids have for me, but I would say that I

teach one of their favorite subjects.

We got it. Very good.

Thank you.

Yeah. Okay, see you later.

Yeah.

Lady, I want you to talk.

What is it, Elizabeth?

It's my course on Hemingway. I've spent weeks preparing it, and now I can't get

the kids to take it seriously because of what's going on around here.

What's going on around here?

Your show. It's consuming them. They spend so much effort in rehearsal, they

don't have any time or energy left for their other classes. Well, Elizabeth, I

would like to think that they are inspired by this project.

Elizabeth, these kids are really touched deep inside by this music. That's

wonderful. Don't you think they can be touched by Hemingway?

I didn't say that. I don't remember saying that. Lydia.

Tell the truth.

Don't you really think this week, this day, this moment, that your class is

important? Yes. The truth is, we're really working hard on this piece of

and they may have to wait till next week, yes, to get to Hemingway. Next

it's always... Where's Morlock? Having his hair styled.

Come and get him. The minute he's back.

With winged feet.

It's better than general.

I just can't believe what a sleazy thing that woman did.

Quiet, my friend. The walls have ears.

Jealous.

Jealous?

Jealous, is that what you think? You think I'm jealous of a criminal?

Don't call him names, Jeff. Oh, no, no, no. He did something, Nicole.

He happens to be very talented. Yeah, he's probably the most talented guy in

this jail. No, you're my girl, and I don't want you going there anymore.

Is this your idea of a loose relationship?

You're giving me pain, woman.

Jesse, the guy is locked up. I'm not going to get involved with this.

I've decided not to go back and see him anyway. Is that okay?

Okay.

Hi.

What's about to play? Is that to come down and check it out?

How did you get here?

I sure didn't get no pass.

Well, don't be sore, Nicole.

You're not sore, are you?

No, I'm not sore.

Oh, Nicole, I was just looking for you.

Guys, I need you to set up right around here. I understand that the boy that

wrote your music is in the juvenile detention center.

It's quite a story. I was wondering if you'd talk about it in front of the

cameras.

No, ma 'am, I can't because I have a class I have to get to, and so does he.

Well, it would just take a minute. Maybe later.

What are you doing here?

What were you thinking?

I wasn't thinking anything. I just wanted to be here to hear my music.

Terrific. Then what?

Well, if nothing else matters, I could have told you something, Nicole. I'd

done anything to get here, to be here with you.

all my fault.

I saw this happening from the beginning. I could feel it and I didn't stop it. I

didn't want to stop it because you feel the same way I do.

This is crazy, Ray.

What are you saying, Nicole?

I know you feel something for me. You must.

I can feel it.

Okay, maybe I do.

I kept telling myself it was just the music.

But it was more than that.

It was you.

You made me feel... what you said.

I just never thought it would come this far.

What were you thinking?

You knew I wasn't going to be in there forever.

I guess I just wasn't thinking this far ahead, Ray.

Nicole, I got my whole life ahead of me. Look, I stole a car.

I'm not really a thief.

I can change. I can make you proud of me.

I'm sorry.

All right, nobody else, huh?

Well, I blew it this time.

I really blew it this time.

Ray, maybe there's a way out of this.

I mean, maybe we can get you back in.

We have to.

Wait here for me. I need to get Jesse.

Jesse?

Yeah.

Vicious.

Sneaky.

Libelous.

These are hardly words to describe Becky Guest, a member of Greenpeace since its

inception. A strong supporter of both seals and whales. A gourmet cook.

A lover of football, yet feminine. Mr. Morlock, don't you think you're being

just a wee bit biased here? She taped us without our knowledge.

She did what?

Elvis was the king.

He did it for me.

I was about nine years old, and my father took me to see one of his

on Long Island.

I'd never seen him before.

Out comes this guy, bigger than life.

I mean, the audience, they went crazy. They really loved him.

I remember, I didn't know what was really happening until he started

Then I went crazy, too.

He was singing Heartbreak Hotel.

I feel so lonely, baby. I feel so lonely.

for me, Elvis.

Who's the king?

Hi. How you doing?

All right.

I was just going to wait for somebody.

No problem, man. You can wait.

Better go find her.

Oh, Danny, I'm worried.

It's only been a couple of days, Holly.

You know, as long as we keep feeding this bird seed and water, he's going to

make it.

You really think so? Mm -hmm.

He just looks so depressed and mopey.

Hey, I got a feeling about this bird.

I'm feeling as good as this bird's going to make it.

I certainly didn't mean to embarrass anyone.

I mean, the whole point was to show passionate women care about their jobs.

Yeah, but all the same, when I gave your crew permission to come in here, I had

no idea you'd be taping people without letting them know.

I'm sorry.

Really.

This is hardly a scoop we're talking about.

This piece of film is not going to jettison me into a network news anchor

Is that what you want to do?

Seems to me like you already got a pretty good job.

Well, it's not the most stimulating work.

Truth to tell, my interviewer sent you to the refrigerator to get a beer.

So, uh, you don't regard this as the last stop, huh? Oh, I hope not.

Promise me you won't do this anymore.

I promise.

Am I forgiven?

You better be, or I'd sure have a lousy time at dinner tonight.

Veal piccata. I'll give you the Jets and two points over the Raiders.

And winner gets to choose dessert.

I don't know why you picked me, but thank you.

I came to this school to get girls.

So far, I haven't gotten any, but I heard I'm still young, so I'm waiting.

Another reason I came to this school was to be a serious actor, you know, to

make people cry.

No one day had hit me. The world doesn't need Danny Amatillo to make them sad.

There's enough sadness in the world. What this world needs is laughter.

That's why I say, thank God for Rodney Daniels.

Hey, guys, I didn't notice that, huh?

That was quite elegant.

No more? I don't think so.

There.

Jesse, I need your help.

Oh, now you need me.

Don't give me any of your macho man reasons because I don't need them right

please.

Ray Claxton is sitting in the makeup room right now.

He broke my tension line.

He what?

You're kidding.

What are you doing?

It's Ray.

And you got parole real fast, or you're out of your mind.

Keep it down, Jeffy.

Look, man, I don't know you, and your life is your own. You can do what you

want. You take a chance on getting this lady mixed up in something that you

gotta answer to me.

Now you listen to me and you listen good.

You broke out of jail, you can just break right back in.

We gotta help him. No, we don't have to help anyone.

What do you think we're talking about here, Nicole?

This guy's an escaped convict. He's not an escaped convict. He is a human being.

He just happens to have lost his way and I intend to help him find him.

With or without him?

Why should I help him?

You're right.

You don't owe me nothing.

I'm just some guy that fell for your girl.

I called him and he didn't call back.

I'm a lucky guy.

If you'd have had a little bit of your luck, I wouldn't be in this place.

Oh, my God, they are taping us.

Hey, you can't do that!

Ray! Nicole!

You have no right to shoot that tape. I think you're confused. That boy is an

escaped convict hiding in your school, and that's not wrong. No, but that was a

private conversation. You were eavesdropping. I'm a reporter, and this

Excuse me.

privacy, man.

You think just because you're in the news you can go anywhere?

Where do you draw the line?

Ray!

Ray!

Hey,

don't look too kindly on guys skipping out.

But if you run, they're just going to catch you. They're not going to catch

What? What am I giving up? What have I got?

You've got yourself.

That ain't enough.

It's not enough. It's a hell of a lot more than stealing cars and getting

in jail for the rest of your life.

You could be something great. I know it.

I can see it. And if I can see it, so can everyone else.

You can be.

I can.

You've just got a whole lot more faith in me than I do in Nicole.

I want you to know what's worth it.

It's just knowing you for a short time.

Do you really want to put this on

television? Yes, of course.

It's more like she was spying on me. No, she wasn't spying on you. Wait a

minute, Becky.

We've got a real problem here. If the police wanted to get really technical,

they could make a case against Nicole as an accomplice. I don't think so.

But I can't sit on this. The boy is a fugitive.

Have you already called the police?

No. All right, well, I'll phone the authorities. I'll tell them all about

Claxton boy, and forget about this.

Quentin, I'm a journalist, not a social worker.

Yeah, I know, but this is just me and you talking.

I understand.

But what you're asking me to do is unethical.

Well, is the way you got this story so damned ethical?

That's not fair.

Well, is it fair for you to use these kids as stepping stones for your own

career? What are you saying?

You finally got your hard news story.

You got your scoop.

Is that what you think?

Yeah, I'm afraid I do.

He's erasing the tape.

No, I erased the tape.

Son, you shouldn't have done that. This could get you in deep trouble. Jesse,

that was wrong. He's destroyed evidence.

I don't care what happens to me. I just don't want anything to happen to Nicole.

I don't want anything to happen to either one of you. Nothing is going to

to either of them.

Quentin, I didn't want to hurt these kids any more than you do.

It's my job to report the news, not to decide what the news is.

That's quite simply what I was doing.

Well, I guess we just think that different things are important.

Yes.

I guess we did.

I can count it. I'll take my place.

Just one time. Look the other.

Wait,

Bill.

Yes, it is.

Where's Miss Guest?

I don't know. Back at the station, I suppose.

Why? I don't know.

I thought you two were having a romance.

No.

You know how it is.

Easy come, easy go.

I'd like to sing a song for somebody who couldn't be here tonight.

Somebody who I didn't understand at first.

But a very special lady made me realize that he was just the guy who lost his

way.

So I dedicate this song to Ray Claxton, who wrote it.

I really dig his music.

And you

see the light.

Get off tingling cause you're cruising with a dick Looking for the heart

of Saturday night Then you comb your

hair Shave your face Trying to wipe out every

drain Of all the other days

and you're battling down the boulevard looking

for the heart of saturday night tell me is it the

cracker

Is it the vomit that's smiling from the corner of her eye?

The magic of the melancholy tear in your eye?

Makes you kind of quiver down in your core.

Cause you're dreaming of them Saturdays that came before it found you stumbling.

Stumbling under the...

Yeah,

tumbling, tumbling under the heart of Saturday night.

Is he okay?

It's a bird.

He's sick. I found him out in the street.

He's not sick.

He's just not supposed to be in a cage. It's a wild bird. We should let it go.

That's right.

Hey, come on. Open the window, Chris.

Can you get the water?

Yeah. The water?

Can't do it.

We never named him.

We'll call Ray.

I told you he was gonna make it hard