Original subtitles

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The '60s are hard enough to understand now

when it's only 20 years later

so imagine what it would be like a thousand years from now.

Let's say there's an archeological dig

in Greenwich village

and they come up with one of these.

Well, what is it?

[sighs]

Obviously, it's a draft card.

That's because you recognize it in context

but what if you didn't? Uh..

We know that in the 1960s

people enjoyed games of chance

and we think that this is a lottery ticket.

Now, it seems that, uh, holders of winning tickets

were offered a free trip to this place called Vietnam.

And it was customary

for those who did not want to travel there

to signify this by burning their lottery tickets

and accepting the consolation prize

a trip to Canada.

Okay, so you want us to look at history

from a lot of different angles

before we make up our minds about who's lying.

Look, what happened in the '60s

was a whole generation of wasted time.

And tear gas.

I grant you that, uh, many demonstrations in the era

turned ugly, but they started for good reasons.

I mean, the fight for civil rights, the fight for peace

the, the fight to live your life according to your own beliefs.

[bell rings]

Unlike the fight to be first to leave the classroom.

More on this tomorrow. Peace.

Hey, Jawaharlal, buddy, how are the folks?

Sorry, Dennis, I'm broke.

- Mr. Moore, a small favor? - How small?

Three bucks for a burger from Izzy's?

[chuckles] But you can't leave for lunch.

I phone 'em and they deliver it.

What's wrong with the cafeteria, Dennis?

I don't know, I'm not a cafeteria kind of guy.

The big beans are green, the hot dogs have rabies.

Alright, this is my last offer. Buck fifty, please?

Sorry.

Tell you what?

- Will this help? - Thanks, Mr. Moore.

I can maybe sell this and buy some real food.

[instrumental music]

Oh, excuse me, ladies, you'll wanna go around the other way.

Please, thank you.

Excuse me, you have to go around.. Oh, hi, Eric.

Dennis, what are you doin' here?

I'm being humiliated. What does it look like I'm doing?

- What about Izzy's? - Yeah, great.

You wanna lend me two bucks?

- Have a nice lunch. - Hey..

- Arvid, pay for this, will ya? - Sure, Eric.

Oh! Ohh! Mr. Marshall, excuse me.

Are raisins supposed to have legs?

Ohh! Dennis, that is so gross.

How am I supposed to eat this now?

Try tweezers.

Ew! Oh, my God. I think I do see legs.

Knock it off, Blunden.

Those are not cockroaches, and you know it. Arvid.

Dennis, please, I-I'm gonna have to escort you out.

I've never had to do that before.

- Hey! - There's legs!

Would you mind breakin' up the nerd convention?

We're trying to get some lunch here.

I'm sorry.

Hey, just back off, eraser head.

Hey, shouldn't you be floatin' over

to Monday night football game?

[laughs]

No, no, no, no, I'm just gonna have a piece of pie here.

A little pie? Look at this clown! He takes the whole pie.

Oh, it is selfish of me. I should share.

I-I don't know what..

You're like a recurring nightmare.

A dull endless toothache.

A gas pain.

Whatever possessed you to start a food fight in the cafeteria?

Dr. Samuels, I did not start any food fight.

- I was trying to get-- - Do it standing!

I was..

I was protesting.

Yeah, I was protesting

the quality of the food in the cafeteria.

You know, not to mention the lack of seating space.

It's all part of a new social consciousness.

Where did you hear this malarkey?

I-in class. School.

Fillmore High. Perhaps you've heard of it.

Spare me the foreplay, Dennis.

Who?

Dr. Samuels, to reveal the name of that teacher

would violate every ethical standard I believe in.

- Mr. Moore? - God, you're good.

Mr. Moore told you to start a food fight in the cafeteria?

He-he didn't exactly tell me--

Ms. Meara, you tell Mr. Moore I wanna see him now!

Dr. Samuels, I don't think you should bring Mr. Moore

into this. I mean, he-he didn't mean any harm, he was just try--

You will mop up the cafeteria after lunch every day

for the next two weeks.

I will mop up Mr. Moore.

- But, Dr. Samuels-- - Get out!

Get out of here!

Call Mr. Moore, pronto!

- If you can just-- - You just get out of here!

My God, look at my doorknob!

- Get out! - Can't you--

Get out!

The anti-war sit-in at Columbia University.

The Civil Rights March on Washington.

The New York women's "Burn The Bra" rally.

These are very different

but all very effective forms of social protest.

[bell rings]

- 'See you Monday.' - Bye.

(Moore) 'Uh, Dennis. Freeze.'

- Hi. - Hi.

I'd like you to give me an example

of the food fight as social protest.

[sighs]

- I'm busted, right? - Oh, yeah.

Listen, if you're gonna use the '60s as an excuse

to get yourself out of trouble and you get me in it

then I have news for you, my friend, you are in trouble.

You're not gonna get out of the '60s

till you dig your way out.

You dig?

- "Soul On Ice?" - Yeah.

It's Eldridge Cleaver's book on the black power movement.

A videotape, "Medium Cool?"

Haskell Wexler, docudrama

on the Chicago Democratic Convention in '68.

"Bringing It All Back Home".

Yes, Bob Dylan, it's sort of a landmark '60s album.

Martin Luther King's "Letters From Montgomery Jail."

"The Gulf Of Tonkin Resolution".

Thanks a lot, Mr. Moore, I really appreciate all this

and I'll be sure to get to it sometime in the near future.

Well, I hope so, Dennis, because the near future

is Monday morning, that's when I'll expect a written impression

on each of those topics.

- You can't be serious? - Yes, I can be serious.

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Peace, man.

Love between my brothers and my sisters

all over this la-a-and

We are stardust, we are golden.

You are brain-dead.

Hey, make love, not war.

With you? War.

I just feel so benevolent toward the human race today.

Dennis, aren't you a little early for Halloween?

Janice, baby, I know my threads look a little silly to you

but I have to say that for the first time in my life

they truly reflect my inner being.

If that were true, Dennis

you'd be wearing a ding-dong wrapper.

Beautiful, beautiful! I can dig it. I can dig it.

Dennis, uh, thank you for the flower.

My pleasure, Mr. Moore, and I have to tell you this

in front of everybody 'cause we're all on this

one crazy planet together. Right, folks?

- You are beautiful. - Oh..

'You're real, and you're together.'

Man, I love you.

- 'Aaah.' - Uhmm.

- 'Oh.' - Aha.

Dennis, I think your headband's too tight.

So, I gather you read all the books I gave you?

More or less.

Well, tell us about Emmett Till?

[clears throat] Actually less.

Well, nevertheless, you are authentic.

- I am? - This man is pure '60s.

(Dennis) 'Thank you.'

We used to see people like you

all the time at demonstrations.

Show up, you know, wearing the perfect threads.

They speak the language, they, they know all the songs.

Of course, they were always there to sell souvenirs

and pick up the checks, but..

Dennis, you, you are just too much, really.

You're right on, you're the perfect '60s phony.

[applause]

(Moore) 'Where were we?'

Okay, Mr. Moore.

I was goofin' on you, I admit it.

I'm just a little tired of all this reverence for the '60s.

You know, so you guys put on the funny headbands

and you passed out the flowers

and you sang "Puff The Magic Dragon."

So what?

How did you change the real world?

Dennis, what people did in the '60s

by trying to secure civil rights, by trying to end the war

was to try to make the world a better place.

And they did it because they cared.

Obviously, none of their work has made an impression on you.

Mr. Moore, I'm just a guy who wants to get into MIT

maybe have a few laughs along the way.

Now, don't pop an artery over this.

It's not worth it.

[scoffs] You're probably right.

It's probably not worth it.

Ah..

You do your thing

I'll do my thing.

Your thing just seems to be

not giving a damn about anything.

Okay, Mr. Moore, you made your point.

Hey, you're not really mad, right?

Wrong.

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Is this nauseating or what?

Cleaning it up's a picnic.

Eating it is nauseating.

Dry wit, I like that in a woman.

Thanks, I saw your food fight. You were disgusting.

I like that in a man.

Thank you.

Seem to be paying the price for it now though, huh?

You don't come around here so often?

No.

Usually, I, uh, get takeout from Izzy's

but my line of credit's kinda used up there

so, looks like I'll be eating around here for a while.

Yeah? My condolences to your guts.

Yeah, I see that.

Hey, tell me, is the food here half as bad as it looks?

Yeah, plus, you get your minimum daily requirement

of insecticides, preservatives and artificial colorings.

Great, one of those.

"One of those" who wanna live past 30, yeah.

No, one of those dweebs who never gets a chance to eat

'cause she's too damn busy reading labels.

You find one ingredient with less than 15 letters in it

in the food here, and I will personally

carry you to school on my back for a month.

Interesting visual. So, why do you eat here?

Oh, it's one of the few high schools

that take Diners Club.

Seriously?

Man, it's what's available for the money I get.

Half the kids in here, this is the only real meal

they get all day.

I just wish it could be a little less hazardous

to people's health.

So, if you don't like it

why don't you do something about it?

I have tried, alright.

I have written letters, I have complained--

Ooh, verbal terrorism, that'll shake 'em up.

Oh, you're one of those?

- One of what? - All mouth, no moves.

Oh, yeah, no moves, me?

- What about my food fight? - I loved your food fight.

You know, we could really do something.

We could harness all that useless energy you got.

Yeah, do what? Stuff envelopes?

Forget it.

[instrumental music]

♪ Johnny's in the basement ♪

♪ Mixin' up medicine I'm on the.. ♪

Get real, Dennis.

I already ran three articles

on the cafeteria situation in the school newspaper.

- And what happened? - Nothing happened.

We're dealing with people who consider

ketchup a vegetable.

But..

♪ You better duck down the alleyway looking for a new.. ♪

Blunden, there are chemicals in the air.

Does it stop you from breathin'?

But..

I'm a principal, not a caterer.

The distributor supplied the food

Mr. Marshall supplied the menus

I only supplied the students.

- But it-- - Bu-bu-bu..

♪ Talkin' that the heat put plants in the bed ♪

♪ But the phone's tapped anyway.. ♪♪

Superintendent Harris, please? Dennis Blunden.

Yeah, tell them it's about the food.

Fillmore High's cafeteria.

Well, it's not that great.

Things like sodium alumina silicate.

So-so.. S-O.. Hello?

Hello?

[music continues]

Mr. Moore, I see what you mean about being dedicated

to a cause back in the '60s.

I took on the situation in the cafeteria.

It is sick what people are being forced to eat there.

- That's great, Dennis. - Yeah, thanks.

Ahh, so what happened?

- Nothing happened. - Huh.

Well, I tried.

I banged on door, I made phone calls.

I mean, let's face it, a lone idealist can't beat the systems.

But I tried, gave it a shot. You gotta respect that.

Well, sure, I mean, you found a cause

you gave it a shot, it didn't pay off

so, you folded.

How could I not respect that?

Oh, Mr. Moore, don't do this to me.

Dennis, what do you think happened in the '60s, anyway?

Think we all sat around, linked arms

and sang "Let The Sunshine In," and peace broke out?

What do you want from me?

Well, what do you want from me?

You want a medal, Mr. One-Shot?

I mean, how about a little persistence, you know?

How about a little imagination?

How about I get back to you?

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Well, you have to go.. Hi, Dennis.

It's somethin' in the air. I smell trouble.

Maybe it's the sauerkraut.

[chuckles]

Just keep on your toes, okay?

Hey, how's the letter-writing coming?

Hey. It's the loud-mouth I was telling you guys about.

His idea of a balanced meal is a hamburger in each hand.

[laughing]

Check out my letter-writing.

Hey!

May I have your attention, please?

Before you inhale another fork-full

of what's passing for food here beware and be aware.

The macaroni and cheese is an impostor

called disodium guanylate.

The noodles in the chicken soup are doing the dead-man's float

in monosodium glutamate and dipotassium phosphate.

Read all about it.

The flyers tell the whole sordid story.

Dennis, please. Uh-uh-uh..

It is my, uh, responsibility as

a-as lunchroom monitor to inform you--

You're a scientist. Read this.

Okay.

Throw down your forks and knives, ladies and gentlemen

and raise your voices against dangerous dining.

We're talkin' questionable cuisine here.

'Noxious noshing.'

All of a sudden, Dennis hates food and loves alliteration.

Wow, it's nice to see Dennis committed to something.

- Yeah. - How about Bellevue?

Blunden, what are you doin'?

Mr. Marshall, we demand a meeting

with the Board of Education.

We want to discuss rectifying

this cafeteria problem.

- Yeah, that's right. - That's right.

- What problem? - Didn't you hear the man?

He's talkin' about this toxic waste dump you call a cafeteria.

(all) Yeah!

If you both don't lower your voices

I am gonna dump you.

- Hey, Mr. Marshall-- - The game is over!

Everyone, sit down!

Eat!

Not that easy, Mr. Marshall.

We're serious this time!

Nobody's goin' back to class till we have some answers.

- Alright! - Yeah!

Hell, no! We won't go!

[all chanting] Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

[chanting continues] Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Hell, no! We won't go!

Get down off that table!

- Hell, no! We won't go! - Alright!

- Alright! Hold on! - Hell, no! We won't go!

Stop!

What's this I hear about you, uh

getting choosy about what you eat?

We got a list of demands

and nobody here is goin' back to class

until the superintendent of schools hears us.

(all) Yeah!

Wait a minute, nobody is going to listen to any demands

until you all go back to school.

So, move it!

You heard the man.

- Dennis, come on! - Dennis, wait!

[indistinct chatter]

And..

...if you all don't disperse in the next five seconds

I'll introduce you all to the term

"Lifetime detention."

I'm not goin' anywhere..

...until we talk deal.

- Who's with me? - Yeah!

I've got more sadistic plans for you, Blunden.

Where's the keys to those things?

I swallowed it.

[burps]

Dr. Samuels, why don't you just listen to what he has to say?

At least, read the flyer.

Give me that.

With all due respect, Dr. Samuels

you cannot turn a deaf ear to the entire student body.

- Alright! - Yeah!

Don't you see? It's passive resistance.

Now, it's a flyer.

You know what, I didn't feel like goin' to my next class

anyway. I think I'll just stay here with Dennis.

[indistinct chatter]

What are you doing, Simone?

We all know Dennis is a little crazy

b-but the rest of you IHP kids

you're supposed to be the smart ones.

Dr. Samuels, I'm sorry, I-I'm afraid Dennis is right, I..

- I have to resign my post. - 'Yeah!'

(all) Arvid!

[applause]

You're a disgrace to your badge.

- Alan? - Come on, Alan.

- Alan? - Come on.

Oh, wow, look at the time.

I'm late for biology.

[indistinct chatter]

Alright, Blunden. Give me your demands.

If I can find an excuse not to suspend you

I'll think about it.

No, sir, there's only one guy

you can carry our demands to the superintendent.

- Mr. Moore. - You are good.

[instrumental music]

♪ Puff the magic dragon ♪

♪ Lived by the sea ♪

Come on!

♪ And frolicked in the autumn ♪♪

What's wrong with you people? Let's sing! Come on!

Sure this is a protest song?

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, here he is! Here he is!

Well, he told me, but I didn't believe it.

Tell him.

Mr. Moore, we wanted you to be the one

to read our list of demands to the superintendent

because you have an understanding of these things.

- Yeah. - Yes, sir.

- What are they? - Here.

- "Fresh fruit." - 'Yes, sir.'

Uh, "Ban from the menu all ingredients

that begin with mono and end with ate?"

- Yes. - Dirty chemicals.

"No fish from places where people aren't allowed to swim?"

[indistinct chatter]

"Salad bar for people who can't eat any of the above."

(all) Yeah.

And complete amnesty for myself and everyone else

who took part in this demonstration.

[indistinct chatter]

- I'll make the call. - 'Alright!'

[cheering]

[instrumental music]

- 'Wait-wait-wait.' - 'Yeah.'

Okay, okay. How'd we do?

- Fresh fruit? - He laughed.

(all) Oh!

What about the ban on preservatives?

It died an unnatural death.

- Oh! - Oh! Mr. Moore.

- How about the fish? - Belly-up.

(all) Oh!

- We struck out. - Not really.

You did get yourselves a salad bar.

(all) Salad bar!

[cheering]

Wait. Just wait. Wait.

The amnesty. What about the amnesty?

No.

(all) Oh.

Sorry.

You guys, we got a salad bar.

Yeah, Dennis. You did great.

- Yeah! - Yeah!

[indistinct chatter]

Got a salad bar. We got a salad bar.

It's not bad. It's salad bar.

Al..

A salad bar.

I hate salad.

[instrumental music]

The salad bar.

- It's something. - Yeah.

I mean, the kids who have to eat here, now have a little

more choice, thanks to you.

Must make you feel good.

Yeah, it really does. It's amazing.

Of course, you're gonna be doing some hard time

for Warden Samuels.

[Dennis sighs]

Any regrets?

Yeah, actually, one.

I should've handcuffed myself closer to the potato chips.

[chuckles]

It was all worth it, though.

I think I got a little respect around here.

Yeah.

- Around here, too. - Really?

Yeah.

♪ R-E-S-P-E-C-T ♪

♪ Find out what it means to me ♪

♪ R-E-S-P-E-C-T ♪

♪ Take care T-C-B ♪

♪ Sock it to me sock it to me ♪

♪ Sock it to me sock it to me ♪♪

[theme music]