Original subtitles

[theme music]

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[instrumental music]

[school bell ringing]

Today, we begin our discussion of those fabulous '50s.

Fabulous? I heard it was the most boring decade in history.

Well, that's why we're gonna talk about it, Dennis.

Was it boring if you were involved in the beginning

of a struggle for civil rights?

Uh, if you were part of the Korean peace talks?

Was it boring if you lost your job

because of Senator McCarthy's witch hunt?

Was it boring when Pat Boone sang "Tutti Frutti?"

Yes.

I'll give you that.

Excuse me, Mr. Moore.

- Yes, do come in. - 'Thank you.'

I just want to take a moment to congratulate you

on completing your training program

and to give you your certificates.

You are now officially peer counselors.

- Alright. - Great.

Now, remember, a peer counselor is not a psychologist.

You talk with the other kids

about the things that are bothering them.

And either you try to help them work things out

or you refer them to someone who can.

Now, of course, if somebody is in physical jeopardy

or could cause harm to another, or really has a serious problem

I want you please to come to either Mr. Moore or to me.

Otherwise, anything that you hear

'is strictly confidential.'

- May I add a small note? - Oh, please.

I-I think it's a great idea.

But, uh, I-I just want to say

I don't think you should go out there

expecting to save everyone.

I mean, it's not that easy.

There are serious problems

'and simply because you've had couple of weekends of training'

doesn't mean you're equipped to handle those kinds of problems.

Oh, you're right. I'm sorry, I'm not ready for this.

Oh, I think I'm having an anxiety attack.

Arvid. Arvid, take some deep breaths.

[gasping]

Remem-remember, Arvid, that we all have

the same fears and apprehensions.

Arvid, these people are our own age.

They're not judging us.

They just want somebody to listen to them.

I think you're right, Sarah.

Hey, thanks a lot. I feel a little better.

Sarah, you're good.

Well, I guess I have the gift.

[instrumental music]

Okay, I've got looks, I've got a body.

But there's got to be more, you know.

Really?

Oh, uh, uh..

Yeah, yeah. More.

Sometimes, I just refuse to go out.

I spend the whole weekend lying around in my nightie

reading and eating popsicles.

Can you imagine?

[instrumental music]

I feel so inadequate.

I know.

I think it's because of my parents.

- I know, I know. - They're so critical.

- Yeah, I know. - What's wrong with me?

Nothing. It's your parents.

[instrumental music]

Hi, T.J. My name is--

Who gives a flying fat burger what your name is?

Miss Bernadette Do-gooder sent me here

to take a rap for bad attitude.

I did the crime, so I'm doin' my time.

For rich girls like you who play the I'm-white game

give me a major pain in my black-is-beautiful butt.

Hey, lighten up. I don't play that game.

Oh, yeah, Miss Wannabe.

That's why you're sitting here trying to get an A

on your assignment to out Mother Theresa.

Look, T.J.

I think we got off on the wrong foot here.

You did, I didn't.

I know what we're here for.

I'm what is called "Extra credit."

I'm a rung on your ladder to graduation, college

and a house in the burbs.

'So get real, Camille.'

You kids get special classes, special books, special trips.

You walk around this school like Samuels' pet poodles.

Okay, we get some privileges.

But I'm not gonna feel guilty about that

because I work hard.

I've had some rough times too, okay. So, what?

You, you take the lemons and you throw them at people.

Me, I take the lemons and I try to make lemonade.

Nice. I saw it on "Peanuts."

T.J., T.J.

I'm sorry.

Look, why don't we call it a tie and start over?

Okay?

You ain't gettin' it, gidget.

I ain't no one's special project, free ride, or lost dog.

I'm me, see? That's what T.J.'s about.

Session over and out.

I'm here if you need me!

[instrumental music]

I know you'll like this collection.

- It's new literature, the '50s. - Excuse me.

- See you at 4:00, Eric. - Yeah, see you.

All the poets, you know.

- Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Corso. - Oh, Eric.

- 4:20. - I'll be there.

Playwrights like John Osborne and Leroy Jones. Plus--

- Hi, Eric. 4:40, don't forget. - Uh, and I won't.

Jeri Southern.. What's happening, Eric?

Ah, it's peer counseling, Mr. Moore.

Yeah. I never realized there are so many needy girls out there.

Eric, are you sure you still wanna go out with me

Saturday night? Maybe you'll be too busy.

Helping the needy.

Simone, I'm like a doctor.

I'm doing very important work here.

Someone should phone the Nobel Prize Committee.

I feel foolish taking up your time with my complaining.

Oh, complain. Complain.

It's just that I'm so lonely, you know.

Yeah.

No. You?

I go out with football players, basketball players.

Guys of every athletic inclination

but I still feel so alone.

No one understands me..

...but you, Arvid.

Funny, isn't it?

Hilarious.

[instrumental music]

My mom says I'm a slob.

She...she says my room looks like a garbage dump.

I tried to convince her it was performance art

but she wouldn't go for it.

Well, Jeff, you are a slob.

But you've come to the right person.

I myself will sometimes go four to five weeks

between room overhauls.

- Really? - Oh, yeah.

- How? - Well, it's easy.

You gotta be able to sense out the situation.

You gotta be able to find that moment

when your parents are just about ready

to kick you out of the house.

- And then you clean up? - No.

Then you buy your mother a gift.

Now, it doesn't matter what the gift is just as

long as you be sure to include a note that says..

"I love you, mom."

You do that, and I guarantee you an extra two weeks

of underwear hangin' on your lamp.

Dude, you're my hero.

Well, uh, we got a lot of time left. Hungry?

- Yeah. - Let's get out of here.

Hi, T.J., glad to see you.

Welcome, T.J., I'm here to help.

Hey, T.J., what it is?

Same song. Second verse.

Miss Meara's got this thing about my attitude.

Wants me to turn into Miss Peppy Pants like you.

You know, T.J., I bet we got a lot more

in common than you think.

Like what? Besides, we're both breathin'.

Well, I like movies.

Too long. I watch TV.

I love a nice juicy hamburger.

Hot dog's better.

- A summer day. - Too hot. Spring.

- Magic Johnson. - Michael Jordan.

- Alice Walker. - Langston Hughes.

- Janet Jackson. - La Toya.

Wait a minute, I heard something.

Huh?

I heard you say Langston Hughes.

He's a poet. You read poetry.

So what? Just 'cause I'm in the bonehead class

doesn't mean I don't read or write.

- You write poetry too? - I didn't say that.

You didn't deny it.

Come on, T.J., read me something of yours.

You don't read it, baby, you rap it.

So, rap it.

- You really wanna hear this? - Yeah.

Okay.

♪ Girl in the street no cold and no heat ♪

♪ A crazy outlook a torn up book but she can't compete ♪

♪ Girl on fire with her desire ♪

♪ She stalls it and balls it she'll go much higher ♪♪

- That's enough. - T.J.

What're you stopping for?

What are you pretending you're interested for?

I am interested. You have something to say.

No one cares what I have to say.

- How do you know that? - Because of where they put me.

In the sit down and shut up class.

- Remedial? - It's cool.

They don't bother me, and I don't bother them.

Are you sure you like it that way?

Well? Do you?

I gotta go.

[instrumental music]

Oh, Sarah, I can't show you T.J.'s file

that would be a definite invasion of privacy

which will be a violation of district code number 427--

I just have a feeling that there's more to T.J.

than an, an encyclopedia of insults.

Well, of course, there is.

I mean, she was an honors student

all the way through the sixth grade.

She made straight A's, and then all of a sudden

her grades just started dropping.

And now, looks like all she's passing is

homeroom and phys ed.

- What happened? - Sarah, that's confidential.

I cannot tell you.

Wait a minute.

That's it?

A former honors student has practically

dropped out of school and nobody cares?

We care, Sarah.

But sometimes, a student gets lost in the system

because there's not enough time or teachers or resources.

That's why what your class is doing is so important.

I mean, maybe, just maybe you can really help this girl.

Yes.

Mr. Moore.

I need your help. Or T.J. does.

You see, she's stuck in a class where she doesn't belong.

In a life where she doesn't belong.

I found out that she used to get straight A's.

Then suddenly, she's in remedial.

I want her to know that there's a way to get back.

You know, I think that she should be around people

who like to read and learn, and-and discuss things.

You know, people who have ideals. People who have dreams.

Mm-hmm. Like the IHP.

That's it.

She needs to sit in on our class.

That'll help her. That'll really inspire her.

That'll turn her whole life around.

Mr. Moore, if anybody can do it, you can. What a great idea!

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

You what?

I invited T.J. to sit in on our class.

- Oh. - Right.

Well, I think she's really a smart and sensitive girl

who's just gotten some bad breaks.

And I think she could get a lot out of

seeing what a really good class is like.

Now, wait a minute. Mr. Moore, do you condone this?

- Yeah, it's worth a try. - Okay.

But you all have to promise to be nice to her.

We'll be very understanding, Sarah.

I'm sure we all know what it's like to feel out of place.

We'll make her feel welcome, loved, and nurtured.

Don't make her feel nauseous.

Just be nice to her.

[bell ringing]

Here she comes.

Hey, I'm T.J.

(all) Hi, T.J.

What is this? An AAA meeting?

Well, hi, T.J. Uh, welcome to class.

I'm glad you could come. Why don't you find a seat?

Sit over here.

T.J.

Is it true that the rats in the projects

are as big as dogs?

- Janice. - Yeah. We call ours Spot.

[laughing] Spot.

Well, it's very nice you could visit, T.J.

Sarah has said so many nice things about you.

That's a nice coat you're wearing, T.J.

Stop it with the nice crap.

I must be the first nasty person who has ever sat in here.

Hey, what am I? John Denver?

You ain't that hip.

T.J., you've got a wonderful mean streak

that I find awfully attractive.

Like I care what a boob with bangs thinks.

You should take your seat, Dennis.

No, I wouldn't push it.

Uh, now, it's probably time for me to start teaching.

Uh, Eisenhower.

You know, many people said that he was

slightly more somnambulant

than Calvin Coolidge.

You know, Mr. Moore, there's this really delightful anecdote

I heard somewhere when Dorothy Parker heard..

Uh, she was a famous writer.

When Dorothy..

Dorothy Parker heard that Coolidge had died she said..

"Oh, really? How can they tell?"

What's so funny?

Well, Coolidge was so quiet, so boring.

I get the joke, but I don't think it's funny. It's stupid.

Where did you get the right to call Dorothy Parker stupid?

I ain't callin' Dorothy Parker stupid. I'm callin' you stupid.

Mr. Moore, could we please get through two minutes

of this class without her butting in?

- Yeah. - Excuse me.

When did butting in become this

radical concept for this class?

Uh, as long as we are slowed down for a moment

perhaps we could reflect

on the words "Patronizing" and "Rude."

So, you want me to shut up, right?

No, I'm talking about them too.

Yeah. Yeah, they're all smart here in the smart class.

Well, let me tell you somethin'.

When somebody comes into the dummy class

we don't put them down for not being dumb enough.

I gotta go.

Okay, back to Eisenhower.

[instrumental music]

And tomorrow, we'll take a whimsical look

at Lyndon Johnson.

The playful, and very public president.

Who preferred to hold his press conferences in the bathroom.

Don't forget those essays. We'll see you tomorrow.

- See you. - Bye, Mr. Moore.

Mr. Moore.

I'm sorry. I mean, about T.J.

I'm, I'm sorry, I pushed her off on you.

Uh, I think having her in class

made for a couple of interesting moments.

T.J. is very smart.

She's fearless..

...and she's honest.

I mean, these are all things that it takes

to make a great scholar.

I'm not sure if she wants to be one, but..

Yeah, well, it doesn't matter now.

It's like you said.

"Some people you just can't help."

No, I never said that.

I said, "Don't expect to save everyone."

See, saving's kinda one-way

but helping people is a two-way street.

'And, uh, you're makin' some real progress with her.'

Mr. Moore, how can you say that

after she ripped the class to shreds?

- She came to class, didn't she? - Well, yeah.

Well, I think it'll be a shame

to turn around and walk away now.

Mr. Moore, the way she acts, it just makes me furious.

Well, I'm sure some of the things you and the others do

make her pretty angry too.

- Oh, like what? - Oh, I don't know.

I'm sure she'd be glad to tell you.

Look...seems to me, maybe you reached somebody here

that nobody has paid attention to for..

...maybe years.

So, I think you should keep doin' it.

[instrumental music]

Oh, T.J., I've been lookin' for you.

Yeah? Well, thanks for nothin', man.

That action in your class today

was a total disaster.

You really know how to make a person feel like sludge.

Wait a minute. T.J.

I thought it would be nice for you.

You know, you were welcome to stay for the whole class.

Well, isn't that a dream come true.

Sit in a nice clean desk with no dirty words carved in it.

Everyone dressed like it was Easter Sunday.

And a teacher who treats you better than your own mamma.

And an hour later, I get sent back to the real world.

And that's a last I see a Disney Land.

But that's not the way I meant it to be.

You know, you could be in a better class.

You could be in IHP.

Yeah, and Dr. Samuels could be Mr. Universe.

Now, you may have the personality of a pit bull

but one thing you are is intelligent.

And I thought I could help you do something with that.

Well, I'm sorry if I went about it all wrong.

Okay. Well, I'm sorry if I made you feel like

a mush-brained dweeb in front of your whole class.

Wait a minute.

Alright. Apology accepted.

Friends?

[instrumental music]

I mean, what do you think she meant, Mr. Moore?

I think she wants you to ask her out.

Oh, I-I was afraid of that. I-I can't.

I mean, we have a client therapist relationship here

that can't be violated by the intrusion

of my obvious animal magnetism.

And-and then, of course, there is the, the-the moral issue

the psychological implications, and, and furthermore..

Oh, God, Mr. Moore, I have to have the girl.

Please tell me it's okay.

Arvid, don't ask me to do that.

Now, you yourself just said it would be unfair to ask

her out based on information you got in a session.

- She started it. - Arvid.

- Alright. - Okay.

[bell ringing]

- Mornin'. - Hi.

Okay, as soon as you're ready we're gonna dive headlong

into 1963, when Lyndon Johnson be-be..

Excuse me.

Hello! Hello!

Hello! I have a history class over here.

Oh, sorry, Mr. Moore. Peer counseling.

Uh-oh. Call security.

- Hi. - Uh.

I thought I'll give you a second chance.

- Oh-oh. - So, what you doing?

Copying garbage off the board? Or garbage out of a book?

Actually, we're discussing the Johnson administration.

Oh. Garbage out of Washington.

You know, actually, it was during

the Johnson administration that a book was first published.

"The Fire Next Time."

This book examined racism in a completely new way.

And the author of the book who had a great deal in common

with another social commentator at the time, Tom Wolfe.

- Bull. - I'm sorry?

I said, bull.

You want me to go to

Dr. Samuels' office or straight home?

No. I want you to tell me why you think it's bull.

I just got kicked out of a class for sayin' bull.

You can say bull in here but you have

to be able to back it up.

Okay.

It's like this, see..

...the dude you're talkin' about

is James Baldwin, man.

Except, he ain't nothing like Tom Wolfe.

'Baldwin grew up poor in Harlem'

'with nine brothers and sisters and a step daddy'

who couldn't stand his guts.

He made it on his own. Worked loading boxcars.

His mamma was a maid, didn't have time

to tell him to do his homework, and don't be late for school

and someday you can be a writer. I just know you can.

Shoot, if there's food on the table

and everybody's sittin' around it in one piece.

You're doin' alright. That's how it is.

- You know what I'm sayin'. - Yeah.

I do, T.J.

I was pushing you, wasn't I?

You were giving me a Park Avenue answer

to a 129th Street problem.

- I'm sorry. - Forget it.

You're alright.

And for a teacher, you're alright too.

This is the first time I ever got to say

more than three words in class.

Well, that's a damn shame. You got some good ideas.

Yeah, you know, I'm startin' to dig this class.

In here, you sit next to a computer.

In my class, I sit next to a guy with a tattoo

that says, "Born To Drool."

[laughing]

These are my kind of people.

Even the slob and the snob.

Sign me up.

Well, that's a good idea, T.J., but it's not that easy.

You got a lot to do before you can get into this class.

You gotta bring your grade level up.

- Huh. - Who says I can even do it?

- I do. - Yeah? That's pretty fresh.

Well, you know, I bet there's some other people

who'd be willing to help you.

- Yeah, T.J. - We'll help you.

Why? Do you get some kinda extra credit for it?

- No. - No.

Although, it's not a bad idea.

Look, uh, you do your part, they'll do theirs.

I'll talk to Miss Meara and Dr. Samuels

about your situation, okay?

You got a deal.

- Well, better get goin'. - What's you hurry?

You can stick around till class is over.

Uh, if it's okay with everybody else?

- Yeah, sure. - Yeah, sure.

And, uh, T.J., I just got to ask you this.

Who does your hair?

Okay, back to Lyndon Johnson.

[instrumental music]

[instrumental music]

Mr. Moore, I just want you to know

that my counseling session went great today

and everything worked out.

I'm glad to hear it, Arvid.

I guess you let her down easily, huh?

Yeah. You know, but I do think I had some influence on her.

Uh..

[laughing]

Ooh.

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