Original subtitles

Okay, now, what is the text mostly about?

- Kira. - Is it recess yet?

No, not recess yet, guys, we still have a couple of minutes.

But I wanna go now.

Guys, we have to be patient, okay?

Patience is a virtue. A very important virtue.

Like, you can know you're going to recess, you know?

Like, you know. 'Cause Ava...

Principal Coleman, told you you were going to recess.

Yeah, you never thought you were going to recess.

In fact, your mom told you you would never go to recess

'cause she's never been to recess.

- She said that? - Yeah, your mom said that, right?

But now you know that recess is happening, but you can't go looking for recess.

You don't wanna go looking for it.

You can't find it if you tried.

You really wanna know if it's emerald or it's princess cut.

- I love princesses. - Who doesn't, Kira?

But the thing is, you know recess is happening,

and you didn't even know it was happening.

You thought you were getting a dog, but guess what?

No, you're going to recess!

You're going to recess!

Yeah!

Turning challenging curriculum into a game creates excitement to learn.

Not Monopoly though.

The school year is only 181 days long.

I try to attend all seminars that pertain to my students and me,

and sometimes there's useful information, but all of the time there is catering.

And as liaison representative, I attend every... every seminar,

but my favorites are the ones with Barb

because we get ice cream and gab afterwards.

That happened one time.

Oh. Every tradition started with a single event.

Yes?

This is my first year and I'm noticing

that a few students need a little more time on certain lessons.

Is it better to follow the mandated curriculum or to--

Follow the mandated curriculum. Yeah, teach to the test.

Even if you run the risk of having to hold a student back at the end of the year?

Um... If you did your best, and they did their best, they can move up.

Of course, he's not saying pass a student who's failing.

I wouldn't say that. No.

Um, it is the district's belief

that students can't succeed when they fail.

And a bird can't fly if it's a moose. What are we doing here?

I had to kind of adjust what qualifies as an F.

- You're kidding? - No, I do that too.

Wait, does everybody do this?

L-Let's all take a breather. Um...

I have some more slides.

So, uh...

- I don't know why you're surprised though. - Because we don't do this at Abbott.

Hey. What... No... We don't.

Oh, wow, man. It's fun to laugh, huh?

And for transportation?

We have my SUV, Lynn's minivan and your party bus.

So that should fit all the Steppers.

Minivan?

Sucks to have kids, huh?

I'll cover the snacks and water.

You wanted to see me?

Yes, your janitors' union bonus check came.

Not sure why you had it sent here, but here you go.

Probably had it sent here to remind someone she forgot to congratulate me.

I emailed you.

When I check my email next month, I'll forgive you.

Uh, you texted me, "Come to my office, and don't say it's a bad time."

But it feels like it's a bad time.

No, no, no, it's pressing. Follow me.

You still cool with Dom?

Yeah, Dom's great.

Kind of sees me as a mentor.

- Great, you need to fire him. - Huh?

So Dom's missed 23 days this year.

We get ten.

He's gotten several warnings, but I don't wanna fire him.

He's the only one around here I can actually dap up,

and sometimes that's really all you need at the end of a long day.

Well, I kind of set aside today to work on my proposal.

- You can't really do it at home because-- - Gregory, this is your job.

Relationships end, jobs last.

Oh, and you need to follow union protocol on this.

So Gregory, Melissa. Melissa, Gregory.

You know what? We should start over. How you doing?

What's going on?

As union representative, you need to help Gregory fire Dom

in a way that doesn't get us sued.

You're firing Dom?

Typical corporate penny-pinching.

Well, you know what? I fight for the little guy, Greggy.

- Ava. - Janine's gonna say no.

Look at that. I just freed up your day.

Crazy.

So tell me why my dad got me, a 13-year-old,

a princess bed for his new apartment.

- Well, tell me it was at least Tiana. - Cinderella.

Ooh.

Courtney has really been taking me up on my open-door policy.

She's been here before school, after school, sometimes at lunch.

It's usually just to vent, but sometimes we chat.

I'm just so happy that she's finally opening up.

Oh, my God.

I can't even laugh about it with my mom because she'll use it against him.

It's so stupid.

Ugh. Well, look, I know it feels bad,

but it is totally okay to be mad at your parents. Trust me.

- I don't think I'm mad at them. - Hmm.

I think I'm just sad.

Oh.

So are you an IShowSpeed girl or a Kai Cenat fan?

They're both cool.

I haven't been laughed at since I tried stand-up back in 1987.

Yeah, they're a bunch of slugs, the whole lot of them.

Oh!

Mr. Morton, man of scientific excellence.

You wouldn't just pass a failing student, would you?

- Ah, I knew it. - I haven't even answered the question yet.

But yeah, sometimes I'll let a few slip through.

- What? - I don't wanna get chewed out

by the district again. Hey, I was next.

Tasha, same question.

Pass a failing student? I literally do it all the time.

- Damn it, Tasha! - What?

What? Don't get mad at me. It was basically obligatory at my old school.

I just figured it was the same thing here.

I can't believe what I'm hearing.

Is this what happens to my sweet babies once they leave my class?

This ain't Dead Poets Society, Barb.

You don't talk to her.

That was the best one yet.

All right, quick water break, we'll run it again.

Principal Coleman, what do you think of these?

Ooh! These are cute.

Right? They have multiple colors too.

But wearing these will take us to the next level.

I can't fight you on that.

- How much? - So they're $200 each.

And that includes shoes.

Like, we'd win in these for sure.

Like you always say, it's what's on the outside that matters.

I do say that.

$200 per kid? You're dancing in wedding dresses?

The competition is next weekend.

This is when having an NBA boyfriend would come in handy,

but no, stay for love, they said.

Look, I can talk princesses and school gossip all day,

but the more emotional stuff is just trickier terrain.

Then I remembered, we have someone for that.

Hey, Ms. Alomar, did you get my email?

The one you sent four minutes ago? Yeah, I got it.

Okay, good. Then it sent.

Um, well, then as you know, I think I could really use your help.

Courtney's in a delicate place,

and I just really don't wanna say the wrong thing to her.

Well, since Courtney didn't come to me herself,

I'd recommend the three of us just meet in your classroom.

Great idea. Love that. Oh, God.

That's why you're so good at your job.

Happy I came in here and thought to kind of reach out. Sorry.

- Do you need something else? - No, actually.

I just feel so safe with you and then I followed you in here.

Okay. I'll see you later.

- One, two, three... - Hey, guys.

You wanted to see me in the library?

- Yeah, this is my new office. - Office?

Yeah, you know I'm assistant principal now.

Bro, what? Congratulations, man.

Always good to see a brother in this role.

You're an inspiration, man.

- Thanks, man. - Hey.

So, um, Dom, please, you know I got your back, right?

So as, um, your representative for the teachers' union...

Teachers' union? Nice.

Good to see a Sicilian sister in this role.

Thank you, Dom.

Um...

Okay, but we do have something serious to discuss.

- Uh... - Mm-hmm.

Go ahead, Gregory.

Uh...

Y-Yeah, yeah. Okay, yes.

So the thing, uh, is... The thing of, um...

The-The-The matter is--

The matter at hand...

- Um... - Um...

We just wanna say hi.

Yeah, how you doing? You doing good?

- Yeah, I'm doing great, guys. - Okay.

Well, great. That's it. We never got to check in

and, um, I'm happy we did it, you know?

- Okay. Yeah. Awesome. Yeah. - All right. Yeah, for sure.

Keep that up, you know?

- There you go. You got it. - Okay. You get out there with that energy.

Bye, guys.

- Okay. All right. - Keep looking out.

- You bailed. No. - You bailed. Totally.

- You were supposed to say it first... - You were supposed to set me up.

- ...it's in the note. But you... - You said you'd go in there...

Forgot my work bag.

- You need that. - You'll need that for work.

You got all your things and...

- All right, now. - All right. Have a good one now.

Yeah. Okay. Take care.

- Damn it. - God, Sicilian sister, I love that.

- Perfect. I need to borrow 2K. - The video game?

You are so poor.

Okay, listen, we tried to fire Dom and we just couldn't.

Well, it's your job.

If you can't do it, you should just turn in your badge and--

- Why-Why can't you do it? - Yeah.

Why couldn't you do it?

The man is... He's precious. Look at him.

I don't care. Take care of him.

You know that means something different where I come from.

I'm not asking you to put a hit out on Dom, Melissa.

But hypothetically, how much does a hit woman make after taxes?

I know you're kidding, but I'm not. You don't have the stomach for it.

I just don't know how they live with themselves.

Hey, Melissa, are you privy to this?

I am privy to a lot of things.

What thing are you talking about specifically?

The district's off-the-record mandate to change the grades

of the students who are failing so that they pass.

Oh, yeah. Well-aware.

I tried to hold a kid back a few years ago,

but the district passed him anyway.

- Melissa. - Barb.

- Jacob. - Melissa, you are an educator.

But you have a responsibility to--

Okay, no, wait, you guys have never had to fail a kid, right?

You both know I do my job.

I do it well, but sometimes it's not the teacher.

It's the kid just needs a little more time.

But you passed him.

I didn't want to.

The district made the decision.

- Okay, but you didn't fight back? - Oh, yeah.

No, I'm sorry, I forgot about all that extra time I got on my hands. Golly.

Now if you wanna lecture someone, go down and lecture the district.

They're the ones calling the shots.

- Are you ready? - Oh, perfect timing. Good.

Hey, wait, when did you two start hanging out?

Around the same time that the two of you got up on that high horse.

Boom.

- What we dropping mics for? - Come on. Let's go.

- Rude. - You know what?

Maybe this is a fight we need to pick with the district.

Ow! Why?

Because I'm about ready to say something

you've said I've said many times in your dreams.

Ah! Brainstorm at your house?

Brainstorm at my house.

I figured it out.

I ran into Black Thought at urgent care yesterday,

so I put a bet on Rewards Arena for $500

plus 600 odds that he'd miss Fallon today.

Ugh!

He just posted from rehearsals. I knew his ass was faking it.

I thought I ate some bad blueberries, but I'm in the clear.

What's up, J.T.?

Hey, Courtney. Excited to hang.

Also wanted to let you know

we're gonna have a very special guest joining us today, Ms. Alomar.

Yeah.

And-And, Courtney, you can tell Ms. Alomar absolutely anything.

Hey, Courtney, what's been going on?

Well, I fell in with the gang.

- Oh, my God. - Yeah, the Tank Gang.

It was me, Gill, Gurgle, Bloat, some others.

It was cool until Darla showed up.

No one survives Darla.

Oh, Courtney.

Since I'm the smallest, I was the only one who could escape.

But of course, I have a weak fin, if you will, and--

Listen, it's okay if you don't wanna open up, Courtney,

but I'd like you to know I am here when you're ready to, okay?

Don't hold your gills.

See? Wh-- What is going on?

It is so weird how all the members of her gang

have the exact same name as the fish from...

- That was Finding Nemo. - It was Finding Nemo, Janine.

- That was Finding Nemo. - Yeah, mm-hmm.

Ugh. No tenure, only a year into teaching and a paper trail of warnings.

It is not looking good for our boy.

- Gregory. - Mmm?

Am I talking to myself here?

"Twenty-five unique ways to propose." Well, Gregory, I'm taken.

- It's for Janine. - Yeah, duh.

Congrats, by the way.

Why are you outsourcing proposal ideas?

You know, I wanna do something special,

but everything I come up with just isn't it.

Okay, so where did you two meet?

Here.

- In the reverse-y toilet, actually. - Mmm.

Little secret, I was proposed to in this school.

- Sucked. - I know. It's not really a secret.

A lot of people were there. Jalen Hurts was here.

Well, okay, so you know what not to do.

Uh-oh, study party.

You trying to get into college, Greg?

Little tip, it's where your diploma is from, not where you started.

You know what, he's right.

Two years of community college, then you transfer. That's what you do.

Oh, my God, that's what we do.

We get Dom transferred.

Yes, I can call around to a bunch of schools and see if they have any openings.

Yeah, okay, I'll check the union website and see what's out there.

And I'ma take out this trash.

Everybody, break.

I love being on a team... ...yeah.

Mm-hmm.

- ...erupted in the streets of... - I just...

I keep coming back to wanting to start with the perfect acronym

and then sort of working backwards from there.

No, Jacob, let's focus on the facts.

- This is district-wide. - Teachers are unhappy about it.

And they don't have a choice.

But what if we gave them one?

What if we told the higher-ups that we want to use Abbott as a test school?

Yes, and then we can show the district

that fair, honest grading would help the kids.

And their mandate does more harm than good.

Wrong! What is "You're an idiot"?

Oh.

Not you. I'm just saying what Ken Jennings can't.

Oh. Okay. Well, good idea.

- And this is a good idea. - Yes.

And I'm gonna set the meeting, and we should do this more often.

- Wrong. - Tell 'em.

No, that one was for you.

- What? - Just kidding.

Well, good one.

Oh, my God, I have to go, um, because Melissa, uh, locks me out.

Good night, Barb.

Good night, Jacob. Thank you.

- Good night, Gerald. - Good night.

- What is it, sweetheart? - I'm scared to say it.

Come on, go ahead.

I thought we talked about winding down towards retirement this year.

And we are.

This doesn't look like winding down to me.

Plus, the music club and night classes.

Well, I...

I guess I see your point.

- Just give it some thought, is all. - Yeah.

Hey, Dommy, baby, we got great news for you.

We saved your job.

Wait, what?

- Oh. Yeah, you were gonna get fired, but... - But not anymore.

After making quite a few phone calls and using several favors,

we got you transferred to another school.

Damn it.

Is that a happy "damn it" or...

Like, "Damn it, thank you."

No. No, no, no.

It's a "damn it" as in I was hoping to get fired.

What the hell are you talking about, you're hoping to get fired?

Well, I started doing real estate part-time,

and it turns out I'm actually pretty good at it.

They tell me this face closes deals.

- I'm trying to go full-time. - Are you serious?

I mean, listen, I'd buy a house from you, but why don't you just quit this job?

I-I was trying to use the severance package to cover the transition period.

You know what?

You're not fired.

Nope, in fact, you are promoted.

- Really? - Nope, not promoted.

Not promoted. Take that.

I'll see you tomorrow at your job. Should have left him at the mall.

Kids wanna know if you got those uniforms yet.

I know. They asked me a million times during yesterday's practice.

I think it's over.

I've tried everything, but Janine's bank alerted her to fraud.

Then what are you gonna do?

I'll just lie and say it's what's on the inside that counts.

Hey.

Courtney, what was with that bogus story? What, do you not like the counselor?

I don't like strangers.

I was just talking with you about this stuff.

Oh. Well, are you okay?

Why don't you ask Ms. Alomar if I'm okay?

Okay, yeah, I will. I'll ask her right now, actually.

That was a burn.

That was a burn.

So, you're telling me you wanna fail your students?

We're telling you we want to grade them fairly and honestly.

- And not just teach to the test. - Yes.

Hey, listen, it's a wonderful thought.

And a nice presentation.

- It could have used an acronym. - Yes, thank you.

I said that. I said that.

But at the end of the day, this is about state funding.

When students don't pass, we don't get the funds.

Well, what good are funds if they're not used to really help the children?

- Hmm... Touché. - So, can we do it?

Fine. But if there are students failing,

it's gonna look bad on your school, not the district.

And there will be consequences for you, not the district.

- May I? - Please.

That's good.

Terrific. Oh, wow. Yeah.

- Oh, yeah. Hmm. - Yeah.

Hey, guys.

Dominic.

You busy?

I don't know. Are we?

I just wanted to say how sorry I am.

I had no idea how much you guys were doing.

Well, when that smile fades, it's like the sun goes down.

I feel terrible.

And I'm about to go tell Ava I quit right now.

Aw, come on, get back here, you beautiful doe-eyed bastard.

You are fired!

No, I can't accept that. It's not right after all you've done.

Hey, hey, hey!

You listen to me.

You get your crap, and you get out of here.

And you take your big, gorgeous severance package with you.

Really? I can't believe it.

You two are the best. I owe you both.

- Oh, no, you don't owe us a thing. - Us? No, no, no, no.

Except maybe a big hug. Come on, bring it in, big guy.

Hey, it took a lot of maturity for you to come here.

- I'm proud of you. - Thanks.

I just don't know what to do now, you know?

Like, I don't know how to help her.

Her reaction's super common. She'll come around eventually.

And if she just wants to talk to you,

I can help advise you on how to best support her.

I do this all the time.

Well, that sounds good. Wow, okay.

Maybe should've gone with that plan the first time.

- What's that? - Nothing. Thank you.

Wait, did we do all that work for nothing?

You went above and beyond for an employee today.

That is not nothing.

Yeah, I guess.

I don't.

You did good.

I still haven't figured out how I'm gonna propose to Janine.

Man, quit overthinking it.

Getting down on one knee in a nice restaurant is a classic for a reason.

- Yeah, that's true. - Yeah.

And if you need any help with a reservation south of Ellsworth, hit me up.

Oh, you'd help a corporate penny-pincher?

Hey, don't piss me off. I'm in a mood.

I just helped fire the brightest star in the sky.

Oh, my God.

These are fire. Thank you, Principal Coleman.

Whoa! You know I love credit, but this wasn't me.

Who sent these?

Was it Oprah? I thought she blocked me.

Thank you.

Bonus check well spent.

I always wanted to be an anonymous benefactor.

Was the sage too much?

- Hello, Courtney. - Hello, traitor.

All right, look, I know you think that I broke your trust,

but I'm a teacher, and I'm an adult, and if I hear something concerning,

then it's my responsibility to go to Ms. Alomar, okay?

That's nonnegotiable.

So I'm sorry for the way I went about it, but what I'm not sorry for

is looking out for you,

and I need you to trust me to know the difference.

Okay?

- Okay. - Okay.

Now, give me some fin.

Yeah.

Not the only one who likes that movie.

Yeah, I mean, I'm gonna miss the people here.

Some really good people at this school.

Kids are tough.

Teaching is just not for me, and I feel like I can say this now,

but I'm not gonna miss teaching at all.

And that's how I know I'm making the right decision.

Oh. Hey, Dom. Long time, no see.

Oh, my God, what happened?

I got fired, but--

- Not on my watch. - Wait, no.

Ah! Put that box down, buddy!

The 51st district liaison representative is on the case.