Original subtitles

[theme music]

[music continues]

[instrumental music]

Oh, you're bright and early this morning.

Hello, Ms. Meara. Is Dr. Samuels in?

Yes, he is, Jawaharlal, but I'm afraid he's busy.

I'll wait.

- Well, it could be a while. - I don't mind.

I mean, quite a while.

- I'll wait. - 'Are you sure?'

Sure. Heh. Patience runs in my family.

My Uncle Jawala climbed the 7000 steps of virtue

to the Temple of Truth to learn the meaning of life.

It took him two weeks.

- And? - They were closed.

Ms. Meara, make sure this goes in the morning mail.

- Hello, Jawaharlal. - Hello, sir.

- Is this it? - Yes, sir.

My entry in the Stay-In-School Poster Contest.

- Oh! - Uh..

I've never designed a poster before

I-I'm not really an artist.

You probably won't like it. Uh..

Why should you? It's-it's really not that good.

Actually, it's pretty bad.

I don't even know why I brought it in. Forget it.

- I love it! - It is rather good, isn't it?

Good morning, children!

- Good morning. - Good morning.

[humming]

Uh, "Delaney.

Feinberg."

'"Janero."'

Uh..

- 'Uh..' - Janero?

- Morning, everyone. - Good morning, Mr. Moore.

Ms. Russell?

Oh, dear.

I seem to be in the wrong classroom.

Um..

Well, uh.. Ha-ha!

I guess that's why I teach Literature and not Driver's Ed.

Well, carry on.

Oh, if Feinberg and Janero show up

tell them they're in the wrong room.

What was that all about?

Oh, you know Mrs. Russell.

She's the original absent-minded professor.

But she's fun.

Yeah, remember the time that she told us

she was Queen Elizabeth in a prior life?

But she does get our attention.

- 'Oh, yes.' - 'She does.'

Right, well, if I can get your attention

um, today, we're gonna talk about the relationship

between the press and the presidency.

So, how does the press get the president's attention?

[clamoring]

Your papers have been graded and sealed

in these envelopes and kept on

Funk and Wagnalls' porch since noon today.

No one has seen the contents

of these envelopes.

Read 'em and weep.

[bell rings]

Oh, what'd you get, Darlene?

An A, I guess.

You guess? Aren't you even gonna open it up and look?

Don't be silly, I could break a nail.

- Mrs. Russell? - Yes, Maria?

Um, this grade.

You can't be serious.

I've never got an F in my life.

I've never gotten anything lower than a B.

Besides, I know the work I turned in.

It-it was well thought out.

I did the research, I did the footnotes

the bibliography, even the typing was perfect.

I didn't even use white-out.

Maria, calm down.

But, Mrs. Russell, this is a mistake.

Maria, I don't make mistakes about grades.

And I have my rules. No refunds, no exchanges.

Well, that's not fair.

The grade is final.

Ah, what brings you here, kiddo?

That book I promised you.

"The Mysterious William Shakespeare"

by Charlton Ogburn?

Well, what's the mystery? Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare.

Will you wake up?

I mean, this is four pounds of good solid evidence

that the Shakespearean plays

were written by the Earl of Oxford.

- Edward de Vere. - Oh, please!

Look, we could have such a great argument

if you would just read the book.

Read it? I can barely lift it.

[scoffs]

And what if it's true?

I'll have to retract everything I've taught

for the past 30 years.

Dear learned teacher, I do beseech thee.

With thine eyes peruse the pages of this tope

and find its words fair flying straight from eye to brain

igniting like spark to tinder

thy intellect's keen flame!

Or, he's got good ideas.

Read the book!

Alright.

How are things going for you for this semester?

Well, balances out.

My classes are larger

my paycheck is smaller.

I finally got a parking space

and then somebody stole my car.

[chuckles]

You know, you really remind me of an English teacher

I had in high school, Ms. Wartz.

I had to recite poetry in one of her classes..

"Invictus" by Henley.

You know, the IHP enjoyed your little joke this morning.

I'm sorry, what joke was that?

In my classroom, this morning.

Oh, come now, Charlie.

I haven't been in your classroom

for weeks.

First period, today?

Really, Charlie, you keep having these memory lapses

and you'll be forgetting your own name.

[chuckles]

That may apply to some people

but not to Wendell X. Bushman.

[instrumental music]

Well, I don't care what anybody says

I think it's brilliant.

The-this-this poster speaks to me.

'It asks that eternal question.'

Who is this schmoid and why is he pointing at me?

Hey, Jaws, I wanna thank you.

You know, I almost quit school and joined the navy.

- But then you saw my poster? - Yeah, yeah,

Then I realized, no way.

They could send me to India!

[laughs]

He's got a point.

Maria. I, uh..

I got those college catalogues you wanted to see.

[sighs] Just keep 'em. Forget 'em.

I'm becoming a nun.

I'm gonna work with the homeless and the slums in a place

ravaged by bandits, corruption, pollution and violence.

At least you're not leaving New York.

Sorry, Maria. What's the problem?

Mrs. Russell gave me an F on my last paper

and it's gonna kill my quarterly grade.

An F? Hm.

- I'm gonna die. - Now, take it easy, Maria.

I mean, there, there must be an explanation.

Mr. Moore, I've already tried to talk to her about it.

She won't even listen to me.

But she probably would listen to me. Hm?

Thank you. Heh-heh. Thank you.

An Elizabethan practice

of males playing female roles in Shakespeare

had another logic.

A boy, 14, would play Juliet.

And a year or two later, he would play Romeo.

And be a better Romeo

because he had already experienced

what it was like to be Juliet.

And, as he got older, he would play Prince Hal

cavorting with a much older Falstaff

knowing that someday

he would play Falstaff

trying to keep up with the young Prince Hal.

[laughing]

And so, now we have Antony

who has been Cleopatra.

And we have..

I don't believe I told you children this before.

Oh! Dear..

I completely lost what I was going to say.

[bell rings]

Good morning!

Today, I think we'll begin

our poetry reading. Sit.

'I hope you're all prepared.'

'Do I, uh, see any volunteers?'

Charles Moore?

If, uh, I'm not interrupting your conversation

why don't we hear you first?

M-Mrs. Russell?

Oh, come now, Charles, we all wanna hear your poem.

- I don't know what you mean. - 'Your poem.'

"Invictus" by Henley, I believe.

- Well...well, uh.. - Come, come, Charles.

Our tongues are hanging out in anticipation.

We look stupid. Save us.

I'm not prepared, Mrs. Russell.

Charles, you have great potential

but you'll end up working on a rock pile

'if you don't prepare your lessons.'

Are you listening, Charles?

Yes, ma'am.

- 'You will have it tomorrow?' - Yes, Mrs. Russell.

The bell rang. Scoot. Scoot.

Uh, listen, Miranda.

Charlie, can it wait till tomorrow?

I-I'm running late.

- It-it's about Maria. - Lovely girl. Tomorrow.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Well, you don't look concerned.

I know, Alan, you're doing it.

Sure, my heart goes out to her but you saw Maria's grade.

I mean, what if Mrs. Russell zones out again

and gives me an F?

Look, uh, we-we need to discuss this

and there's obviously something wrong with Mrs. Russell.

You saw how she was with Mr. Moore.

- Yeah. - Well, what is it?

It could be a lot of things.

Shouldn't we tell Dr. Samuels?

- Maybe it's just temporary. - Yeah.

There's no point in getting her in trouble.

Seems like she is in trouble.

Uh, I'm with Sarah, let's stay out of it.

Look, I know you're all precocious

but none of you have graduated from medical school yet.

So, let's get some help with this.

- No, no, no. - No way.

No, you guys, I didn't mean to start anything.

Let's just forget it, okay?

No, no, no, I don't, I don't wanna ta--

Good morning, everyone.

[clamoring]

Hi, Dennis.

(Alan) Mr. Moore?

About Mrs. Russell..

Yeah, I know. Uh, I-I'm gonna talk to her.

And I am going to talk to her about your grade, Maria.

Mr. Moore, let's just leave it alone, okay?

I probably deserve an F, anyway.

You don't believe that you deserve an F

and I don't believe it. I don't think anybody else here does.

Mr. Moore, I just don't want to deal with it.

It's too scary.

Look, uh..

This is not the time to turn our backs on Mrs. Russell.

'She has a problem, but that doesn't mean'

we should start avoiding her. Okay?

I mean, she is a wonderful woman and she's a fine teacher.

And I don't think she would want to be unfair to you.

So, let's not be unfair to her. Hm?

- Okay. - Okay.

[humming]

Hi, Mrs. Russell. Are you busy?

Oh, just spritzing my Venus Flytrap.

Come, sit down. What can I do for you?

Well, uh, actually, Maria and I

wanted to talk about her quarterly exam grade.

She's brought all of her graded assignments

and, uh, they're all A's.

Yeah, so I guess there must be some kinda mistake, right?

No. A mistake is letting Sylvester Stallone play Hamlet.

Your grade stands, Maria.

Mrs. Russell, if you just look at my assignments..

Maria, dear, if you're having problems with your studies

I'd be more than happy to tutor you.

No, but, Mrs. Russell, you don't understand.

You come to me after school

and we'll discuss a study program.

We'll get that grade up.

Soon, you'll be doing as well as Charles here.

Charles, you'll be graduating this year.

And mark my words

you'll do things for people.

Thanks, Mrs. Russell.

The new auditorium is due for completion in 1962.

Well, they say it'll be finished in 1962

but I'll believe it when I see it.

So, what did you want to discuss?

Well, uh..

We were gonna discuss Maria's grades

but I, I-I don't think it's the right time.

Mrs. Russell, it's okay.

Because what I really wanted to tell you

was whatever your decision is, I'll accept it.

Because I've, I've always had a lot of respect for you.

I mean, you've been one of the best teachers

that I've ever had.

I just wanted you to know that.

Thank you, Maria.

And think about what I said.

I'd be more than happy to tutor you.

[instrumental music]

[laughing]

Jawaharlal, what are you doing?

Dr. Samuels, I'm withdrawing

my poster from the city competition.

Oh, no, you're not.

The school board called this morning.

Your poster made it to the final four.

- It did? - Sure did.

Wonderful! Thank you, sir.

Still going to tell me people don't take this face seriously?

(both) Yes.

[instrumental music]

"Goodnight, goodnight.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow

that I shall say goodnight till it be 'morrow."

"Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast.

"Would I were asleep and peace, so sweet to rest.

"Hence will I go to my ghostly father's cell

his help to crave and my dear hap to tell."

And as they gaze into each other's lenses

the curtain falls.

Bravo, bravo.

Very good.

Mrs. Russell, do you believe that Romeo and Juliet

were actually lovers?

Well, John Barrymore, a famous actor

was once asked if he believed

Romeo had an intimate knowledge of Juliet.

And Barrymore replied

"Well, he surely did in the Chicago company."

[laughing]

I love to walk to school in the fall.

I go through Jackson's Orchard.

Oh, the colors.

I got all A's that year.

'My parents rented a cottage by this beautiful lake.'

'Oh, what times we had.'

'I guess we're not going there this year, though.'

What was I talking about?

Well, Shakespeare.

Romeo and Juliet.

Summer cottage on the lake.

I was?

Yes.

[chuckles] What the hell has that got to do with Shakespeare?

[bell rings]

Alright, hit the road.

Maria?

I looked over your work, and of course

I'd made a mistake.

I'm sorry about the, um..

...well, let's face it

the confusion.

Well, it's just one grade.

Well, I never expected to hear that from you.

I know, it's just not as important as I thought it was.

Well, it's important to me, dear.

Because you're important to me.

I just want you to be okay.

I'm okay a lot more than I'm not okay.

Okay?

- But-- - No buts.

Okay.

[instrumental music]

(Charlie) 'Alzheimer's?'

So, what-what do we do?

I mean...how is she gonna handle this?

Would be nice to let her retire at the proper time

a year and a half from now.

I don't think she's going to make it.

It's a tough one.

If I remember, uh..

...she was a veteran teacher.

I was this..

...skinny, young, rookie principal.

I was.

I had a lotta theories on

how to run a high school.

[Harold laughs]

And she was very patient

and...eventually

she taught me how to do my job.

Finest teacher I've ever known.

If there's anything I can do..

No.

I know what I have to do.

I have to take her away from the thing

that she loves most.

I have to tell her it's time to give up teaching.

I don't know how I'm going to do that.

[instrumental music]

Charlie, if you have a moment, I'd, uh, like a word with you.

Sure. Have a seat, Miranda. Make yourself comfortable.

Thank you.

[sighs]

Oh, dear.

I don't quite know how to begin.

I was on my to talk to Harold Samuels

but I wanted to see you first.

You've been such a friend.

I have something for you.

Maria's corrected grade report, A plus.

Can you believe it?

I got her mixed up with another student.

Well, thank you, Miranda.

And I am about to hand this to Harold.

- It's your resignation. - Oh.

Come now, Charlie, we both know, don't we?

Yeah.

Harold isn't, uh

very good at handling these things

but I shouldn't be teaching.

He just hasn't had the guts to tell me.

But he is a great admirer of yours.

[sighs] It's a consolation to me.

Charlie, I'm in trouble

when I ask a student a question

and neither one of us knows

what I'm talking about.

[chuckles] Is there anything that I can do?

Continue to be my friend.

Sure.

Oh!

Here's your book.

[chuckles] Just when my mind is going

you give me something good to think about.

Charlie, stop looking so morose

you're depressing me.

I mean, there's always hope.

They're constantly experimenting with new drugs, who knows?

I mean, they may get it before it gets me.

So, what are you gonna do?

Oh, I have money. My..

I live with my sister.

Maybe we'll go to England.

I'll find out who really wrote Shakespeare.

[chuckles]

Well, anyway, I..

...never did hear you recite "Invictus."

Well, I don't know.

If I can remember it, so can you.

"And yet the menace of the years finds

and shall find me unafraid."

Come on.

"It matters not how straight the gate

"how charged with punishments the scroll

"I am the master of my fate.

- "I am the captain of my soul." - I am the captain of my soul."

[chuckles]

I was a good teacher, wasn't I?

You were one in a million.

Now, I ask you

would you buy a used car from this face?

I wouldn't buy a used yak from that face.

Do I detect a note of jealousy, boys?

I would like to be the first to congratulate Jawaharlal

on winning first prize in the state-wide

Stay-In-School Poster Contest.

Hear, hear!

Speech, speech.

- Nice going. - 'Oh, come on.'

Thank you.

This is a, a very proud moment for me.

Being from out of town, so to speak

I can tell you that most of the world

does not have the educational opportunity

that we in this country might take for granted.

Winning this contest feels good.

It would feel even better

if this poster influences kids to stay in school.

I'm sure it will, Jawaharlal.

- Congratulations, son. - Thank you once again, sir.

[bell rings]

Oh, listen, everybody, I, uh, did get

a postcard from Ms. Russell.

- Oh! - 'Anybody want to hear it?'

- Yeah. - Sure.

Okay, she writes..

"Having a wonderful time. I think.

"Only kidding.

"I miss you all very much

"and please don't worry about me.

"Remember, in the immortal words of Yogi Berra

"It ain't over till the fat lady sings.

"Love, Miranda Russell.

"P.S.

Maria, stop playing with your hair."

- It doesn't say that. - Oh, it does say that.

Where?

[laughs]

[theme music]

[music continues]