Original subtitles

[theme music]

Aloha! My little hibiscus flower.

Your retirement doesn't start for another two weeks.

I know, and I can hardly wait.

You know, I don't understand how you can be so chipper

when this school's about to be demolished.

Listen, I care as much about this school as anybody.

You think I have no heart? No feelings?

[chuckles] On the other hand

I have here a brochure to a retirement condo on Maui.

[chuckles] So what the hey?

Easy come, easy go.

- Aloha, MacGregor. - Cowabunga, dude!

Can you believe him?

Ah, it could be worse. He could be wearing a grass skirt.

Come on, he's run the school for 30 years. Give him his dues.

He's entitled to go a bit coconuts every now and again.

I guess so. Well, what about you?

I mean, I know you wanted to stay in New York and teach

but now I guess there's nothing to keep you here.

Well, that's not entirely true.

Oh, sure. I bet in two weeks, you'd probably be

in Madagascar or some place.

No, I have other plans.

As a matter of fact, I was hoping to discuss them

with you over a romantic dinner. Tomorrow night?

Okay.

Darlene! Could you recommend a nice romantic restaurant?

Hm, well, there's Tavern On The Green.

This must be a special occasion.

Well, as a matter of fact, it is, yeah, yeah.

- You and Miss Meara? - That's right, yes.

So, um, are you gonna ask Miss Meara to--

Darlene, this is a matter between Miss Meara and myself.

And I would appreciate it if you didn't tell anybody.

- Okay? - Okay. Promise.

[chuckles] I promise.

[gasps] I can't believe it!

Billy's getting married!

I just told Sarah.

Oh, Billy! Yeah!

Hi, everybody, uh..

Could I have your attention, please?

- Yeah. - 'Uh..'

As we come to our last few days here at Fillmore..

Well, I realize it is possible

that I occasionally behaved unkindly over the years.

And I would just like to clear the air

with each and every one of you.

Hey, Alan, as far as I'm concerned

it's water under the bridge.

- Yeah. - No, Aristotle, it's not.

Remember the time when you screened

your first student film?

Well, I still feel badly about what I said about it.

I mean, granted, that it was amateur, it was poorly directed

and conceptually inept.

I should've had more tact.

And for that, I'm truly sorry.

And good luck with your little home movies.

[bell rings]

Mornin', geniuses!

- What's happening, Bill? - Bill!

Oh, before we have any lessons at all

I'm afraid I've got some rather sad news for ya.

- 'What's that?' - 'What is it?'

A couple of weeks after graduation

the entire school is gonna be demolished.

(Sarah) 'No way!'

[indistinct chatter]

I don't believe this. I mean, this is crazy.

But somehow, I-I thought this whole building

would be here forever.

Come on, it isn't really all that bad.

I mean, they're gonna build a new Fillmore High.

- Oh. - Oh, okay.

Mind you, it isn't gonna be here.

And it isn't gonna be called Fillmore High.

But apart for that, everything's much the same.

Well, I-I can't believe it.

My high school's gonna be gone in a couple of weeks.

Yeah.

This classroom's gonna be gone.

We've all been through so much in this room.

Yeah, I grew up in this building.

I mean, it's a part of me.

It's a part of all of us.

I got dibs on the fixtures.

- Oh, Dennis! - Oh! How can you..

Dennis, how can you be so cynical?

You didn't buy a class ring, you didn't order a yearbook.

I haven't been here nearly as long as you.

[speaking in foreign language]

Oh, I'm sorry.

I do that when I get emotional.

Look, I don't believe you guys. This is just an old building.

It's just bricks an-and wood and cockroaches.

And students.

So how about gettin' down to some work, huh?

- 'Billy!' - How about a little essay?

A little concise essay

about what a wonderful teacher I am.

[students groaning]

And you can write it..

...in my yearbook.

- Oh! - Oh, yeah!

[instrumental music]

[indistinct chatter]

Oh, Darlene?

Here's the scarf that I borrowed for the Valentine's Day dance.

I guess that while you're at Stanford and I'm at Columbia

I won't be able to borrow your clothes anymore.

And I won't be able to talk to you everyday.

How are we gonna get through the day without meeting here

to talk about guys or classes or our plans for the future?

Well, we-we'll still talk.

- I-I'll call you. - Yeah.

But it won't be the same, will it?

No.

I guess it won't.

Well, Darlene, I just want you to know that

whatever happens, wherever we wind up

I'll always be your best friend.

Me, too.

Just imagine, my best friend is gonna be a doctor!

Mm-hmm. Maybe someday, I'll even deliver your kids.

Yeah, and then, and then when you have kids

they can borrow each other's clothes.

- Yeah. - Right?

- Keep the scarf, okay? - Okay, thanks.

Oh, hey, girls! Smile!

Arvid, how can you expect us to smile

when we may never see each other again?

[clears throat]

[giggling]

Oh, hey! Would you sign my yearbook?

Yeah, sure. Okay.

- Uh.. - Wait.

[laughing] Here.

Dear Arvid

you may be a nerd on the outside

but inside, you are one stone fox.

Alright, Darlene!

Grade point average, it's the simplest

it's the fairest.

Darlene Merriman should be the valedictorian.

Good, then it's settled.

So if no one has any other further suggestions

please, excuse me.

Dr. Samuels, aren't we even gonna discuss this?

I mean, what about Sarah here?

'I mean, she's president of the student council'

an excellent role model.

- Sarah's fine. - Oh.

I-I couldn't possibly accept such an honor, I--

Fine, you're out. Next?

You know, I don't see how you could argue about this.

I mean, valedictorian of what?

A hole in the ground? I mean, let's face it.

This little world that we've created has come to an end.

Begin your descent to Earth, Miss Meara.

Okay, listen, I've got another idea.

T.J. Jones, I mean what that girl's accomplished

since she came here is absolutely remarkable.

She started in remedial, ended in the IHP.

Ho-ho! Talk about character.

- 'Whoo-hoo!' - Billy, that's a great idea!

T.J. would be an inspiration to everybody.

Smarten up, Billy!

T.J.? Her grade point average certainly isn't the highest.

And she's been in and out of trouble all through high school.

We need someone who will make Dr. Samuels proud!

- T.J.'s fine with me. - She's got my vote, sir.

All those for T.J.?

Great, now that we're done

I've gotta go buy his and her boogie boards.

Whoopty-doo!

Dr. Samuels?

You didn't seem very interested

in selecting the valedictorian there.

Well, why should I? Nobody cares about my opinions anymore.

Oh, come on! That's just not the truth!

Tell that to the board of education.

They're the ones that suggested I take early retirement.

I thought you wanted to retire?

Uh-huh, I'm thrilled to death.

I'm gonna wind up spending my golden years

walking along a beach with a metal detector

looking for...coins and broken watches.

Oh, hey, if you find a Ringo Starr watch

with a drumstick stuck at ten to four, it's mine.

Oh, come on, I know you're unhappy.

Why don't you get in touch with the board

ask them for another assignment?

I did. I applied for the job as principal of the new school.

They told me they were looking for someone a little younger.

Now, if you'll excuse me. I got work to do.

[instrumental music]

Well, remember, just, uh, write whatever you want.

And take as much space as you need.

Alright.

Don't cry, look fly.

[chuckles] Oh, that's beautiful.

W-wha-whatever it means.

Simone?

Sarah Lawrence and the University of Iowa

are twelve hundred miles apart.

Well, you can come visit me on long weekends.

You can stay in my dorm.

- Your dorm? - Yeah.

- It's co-ed. - Co-ed?

W-w-wait, wait, wait, what if you want, like

a glass of water in the middle of the night

and you go down to the kitchen and there's

some dude in a towel standing there?

I don't know, I'll get the water from the bathroom.

Yeah? Well, what if you want some juice, huh?

You know, I think we ought to get you one of those

little refrigerators, that way

you wouldn't have to leave your room ever.

Eric, I'll be fine.

Oh, sure, she'll be fine.

I'll be stuck in Iowa and you'll be seeing

this juice dude every night.

[bell rings]

- Hey, Billy! - Hi, Viki!

- 'Hey, Billy!' - Hi, geniuses!

So tonight's the big night, huh?

- Tonight's what night? - Didn't you hear?

Billy's gonna ask Miss Meara to marry him.

- 'Yeah!' - 'Whoo-hoo!'

- Are you serious, Billy? - That's right.

Billy, you can afford to get married?

Well..

I'm looking for another teachin' job right here in New York.

Well, you can't ask Miss Meara to move in

to that tiny loft of yours.

No, but between us, we could scrape up a down payment

on a fixer upper in New Jersey, though.

Well, Billy, what about the children?

"Children?" It's a bit early to talk about

terrorizing the neighborhood with tiny MacGregor's, isn't it?

Hey, Billy, I'm not sure you're quite ready for this move.

Yes, I am.

There's a crazy world out there, you know?

And I know because I've travelled in most of it.

And so when you're lucky enough to find someone you really like

in the middle of all that craziness

then you're crazy not to hang on to her.

And that's exactly what I intend to do.

Before it's too late and we're both going our separate ways.

[instrumental music]

(Dr. Samuels) 'Now hear this.'

'It has come to my attention'

'that someone has been stealing school prop..'

Dennis!

My map of the world has gone missing from my wall.

This will really have to stop.

I don't know what you're talking about.

Yes, you do! And Dr. Samuels just made

an announcement on the..

- Excuse me. - Uh..

Intercom.

Oh, what's the big deal? Just one speaker.

And they're just gonna bulldoze it anyway.

We're gonna have to have a word about this, Dennis.

Come on, let's go in here.

Okay, Dennis, the doorknob, where is it?

[bell rings] Thank you.

- 'Get in. In!' - I can't!

Sarah. Sarah, we're supposed to share everything!

- Ha-ha, no. - Our hopes, our dreams.

Who's gonna be the valedictorian?

Okay, you guys, I'm not supposed to tell you

but this is such exciting news.

The committee picked the most deserving person

in the whole school.

- You mean it's.. - T.J.!

Has an appeal procedure been established?

Uh, i-is this a joke?

'Cause if it's a joke, I don't think it's funny.

Yeah. And if somebody's toying around

with my T.J. they're gonna have to answer to me.

Aristotle, please if somebody's

toying around with your T.J.

they'll have to answer to me.

T.J.! Congratulations! Well done.

- 'Yeah, congratulations.' - 'Congratulations!'

- It's not a joke? - It certainly is not.

You're valedictorian.

Well, what am I supposed to do?

Oh, it's easy, you just make a little speech--

Ha-ha. Speech? Right, yeah.

- About what? - About what?

T.J., this is the chance of a lifetime

to tell what Fillmore High has meant to you!

You know? The doors it's opened for you.

Friendships you've developed, you know, that kinda thing.

As a matter of fact, your speech is the last thing

Fillmore students are gonna hear before they leave forever.

Yeah, I can do that.

Viki?

I would like to apologize for never asking you out.

The truth is, I always thought

you were too beautiful for me to approach.

Alan, that's really, really sweet, but it's silly.

[chuckles] I know.

Should've never put you on a pedestal.

You're not that extraordinary.

I mean, S-Simone's hair is much, much prettier and..

Darlene easily has a better figure and..

Sarah's friendlier and

and T.J. has a much better sense of humor.

So what do you say, uh..

Let bygones be bygones?

Alan, you are unbelievable.

[scoffs]

I know, Viki, but..

Please, I mean, it's too late for us now.

Alan apologized to you, huh?

- Yeah. - Ha-ha!

[instrumental music]

So...pick you up at 7:00 tonight, huh?

Uh, you know, Billy, before we go out tonight

I wanna talk to you about something.

Sure! What's the matter?

[giggling] I don't even know!

I mean, I think maybe, I should change my career

or change my life.

I just feel really burnt out.

Oh, I understand. I mean, really, I do.

But there's lots of ways you can change your life, you know?

Yeah? Well, I'm open for some suggestions.

Oh, there's lots of things. There's, pfft..

Bringing up kids in New Jersey, for instance?

Oh, come on, Billy, I'm serious.

- I just.. - Yeah.

I suppose New Jersey's ridiculous, really, isn't it?

Look, um..

Billy..

I know that we have feelings for each other

but un-until we can get this..

Until I can get this worked out

I just, I'm just not ready for a relationship.

Oh! That's okay. I mean, who is these days?

Yeah, well, I just thought that, that before anybody got hurt

that it was a good idea to sort these things out.

Very wise. Hm.

You know, actually, you're the..

...you're the one that...made me see how deep a rut I was in.

- I did? - Yeah.

With all your talk about seeing Venice

and the Taj Mahal, and climbing the Matterhorn.

I mean, these are things I never did, Billy.

These are what.. I wanna do them.

And I wanna do 'em now!

I know you understand.

Of course, I understand, Bernadette.

It's just that I wanted to, uh, get these things said so that..

Well, so that you and I could, you know, just..

...get on with our lives.

Well, I understand.

I mean, if you don't wanna have dinner with me tonight, I..

- Of course, I do. - Good.

Separate checks, though.

- I'm only kiddin'. - I know.

[instrumental music]

Line up, people, graduation rehearsal

starts in ten minutes!

Oh! I'm gonna miss you, Simone.

I'm gonna miss you, too, Dennis.

[giggles]

You know, Simone, I've made a lot of fun of a lot of people

in the IHP for a lotta years.

And I gotta hand it to you.

You're the only one who never took it personally.

Well, Dennis, Dorothy Parker said

"Ridicule isn't a weapon, it's a shield."

And I always understood that the only reason

you made fun of all those things was because

you thought if you weren't funny, people wouldn't like you.

Hm, I'd make fun of that if it weren't true.

[chuckles] Well the truth is, you're a great guy.

You're gonna accomplish great things.

I've loved everyday we spent together.

And, hey, thanks for making me laugh.

Aw, it was my pleasure, Simone.

Can I call you from college?

Sure.

As soon as you take this sign off my back.

Oh!

- Hey, Arvid! - Hi, Dennis.

Alright, hey..

...thanks for signing my yearbook, Lori.

You know, it seems like we haven't spoken in so long.

Yeah, I guess sometimes friends just move down separate paths.

Yeah, and, you know, when you know

you're never gonna see someone ever again

it gives you the courage to say things you

well, might not otherwise say, for instance

that I never really got over you and I...I still love you.

Oh, that's sweet, Arvid.

- I like you like this. - Heh.

Yeah. L-l-like what?

- Confident, honest, mature. - Yeah?

[chuckling]

So...what college are you gonna go to?

California Institute Of The Arts.

- You're going to CalArts? - Uh-huh.

I'm going to Caltech! We're both going to Cals!

Yeah, well, we should get together sometime.

We could go to Disneyland.

Hey, did I ever mention to you I-I

once had a dream about you and me on Mr. Toad's wild ride?

It's a date, Arvid.

[chuckles]

- Oh. - Oh.

[chuckles]

You really mean this, Alex?

Yeah, I mean, you and I come from the same hood.

And we really made this school work for us.

I just wanted to tell you, you know

that I was proud of you.

And, uh, you know..

...we both know how tough it was.

Yeah, well, thanks, Alex.

Well, yeah, there's one other thing, though.

Do you remember you came to the prom in that...sexy dress?

Yeah.

- You looked so fine! - Oh, "I looked so fine."

Yeah, well, don't let Aristotle hear you.

Otherwise, he'll call you out.

Then I'll have to rescue him.

And then kick the snout out of you.

Yup, yup, word to the mother.

Hmm-mm. Thanks.

Dennis, here you go.

I left an entire page for you.

Oh, Arvid, why?

[sighs] So you can write down

how much our lifelong friendship has meant to you.

Oh, do I have to? I..

Dennis, listen, I-I know you've been pretending

not to care about the school and graduation and everything, but..

Hey, come on, this is me.

Can't you for once express what you really feel?

N-no one will read it but me.

Oh, nag, nag, nag.

Gimme the book, I'll think of something.

Alright, keep it sentimental.

Yeah, I will.

And, hey, make me cry.

- Yo, Mr. Dorfman. - Yeah.

Hey, I just wanted to say thanks, you know

for helping me make valedictorian.

It was a real honor.

Ah, you're welcome, T.J.

But don't thank me, it was Mr. MacGregor's idea.

Yeah, but everyone voted for me, didn't they?

Oh, sure. We all agreed it'd be a really sweet gesture.

- "Sweet gesture?" - Oh..

Not that you're not a good student.

It's just that, well, let's face it

all those kids with higher grades..

Jasper, Darlene, Sarah.

The-they wouldn't appreciate it like we knew you would.

Yeah, I see.

I hope you've been working

on your valedictory speech.

Remember, you represent

the whole school, sort of like a mascot.

Yeah, well, Mr. Dorfman

I'm gonna make a speech that the people in this school

will never, never forget.

I could transfer to Sarah Lawrence.

But, Eric, I don't understand.

I mean, you've told me a hundred times

you don't wanna go there.

Look, I know, but..

We just can't let it end like this, Simone.

I mean, we got a lot of history together.

I know, Eric. You're right.

But what are we gonna do about it?

I don't know.

We could, um..

...get married.

Dr. Samuels.

There's three guys in hard hats

sittin' outside in a bulldozer.

Well, the city's diggin' up the streets again. So what?

Well, if they're diggin' out the streets

why do you think they're pointin' at this school

and makin' gestures like that?

I think it's the demolition team.

Well, may-maybe it's just some kind of

a preliminary inspection.

- You know what I mean? - I don't know.

'Come on, you people. Come on, line up.'

'Graduation's tomorrow.'

Hey, who are you?

ABC wrecking. What're you guys doin' here?

In 20 minutes, this place will be a parking lot.

[instrumental music]

[theme music]