Original subtitles

(light music)

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(cars honking in distance)

(light music)

♪ Pray, pray, pray ♪

♪ I pray I make P.A. ♪

♪ I pray I make ♪

♪ I pray I make P.A. ♪

♪ Pray, pray, pray ♪

♪ I pray I make P.A. ♪

♪ I pray I make ♪

♪ I pray I make ♪

♪ P.A. ♪

♪ Pray, pray, pray ♪

♪ I pray I make P.A. ♪

♪ I pray I make ♪

♪ I pray I make ♪

♪ P.A. ♪

♪ Pray, pray ♪

♪ Pray, pray ♪

♪ Pray ♪

♪ Pray ♪

Go on.

Well?

I made it, I made it!

(energetic rock music)

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to P.A.,

the High School of the Performing Arts.

I'm your homeroom teacher, Miss Sherman.

(energetic rock music)

♪ This ain't no ♪

♪ Movie show ♪

♪ Playin' in a theater ♪

♪ Or a video ♪

♪ Fantasy ♪

♪ I was always hot to see ♪

♪ On the TV ♪

♪ I'm so hot, hot to trot ♪

♪ I can hardly wait to show them what I got ♪

♪ Wonder who'll come out shinin' ♪

♪ Like a jewel in the fame school ♪

Last year, over 4,000 young hopefuls

auditioned to get into P.A.

97 were accepted.

Yeah, baby!

That's right, you are the cream of the crop,

the best of the best,

but that doesn't mean you get a free ride.

♪ I'll be gone ♪

So if you consider slacking off,

♪ Where's the john ♪

Remember this.

Each one of you must maintain

a 2.5 grade average in academics

whilst excelling in the arts.

If you don't, you're out.

♪ Man they got me runnin' ♪

♪ In a marathon ♪

♪ Can't slow up ♪

So if you're believing you're gonna live forever,

or envision yourself dancing on top of cars

on 46th street,

you are humming to the wrong tune.

♪ I'll go home and not show up ♪

♪ Maybe throw up ♪

♪ Class to class, try'n to pass ♪

♪ Learnin' who the teachers are who bust your ass ♪

♪ Feelin' small, feelin' up against the wall ♪

♪ During roll call ♪

When I call your name, please answer.

Diaz, Carmen?

That's me!

Three times the talent and 10 times the fun.

Katz, Serena?

Here.

Speak up dear, you're in drama, aren't you?

Oh, well, I--

Metzenbaum, Schlomo?

Yeah, Schlomo, here.

Hi, it's nice to meet you Mr. Metzenbaum.

I'm a big fan of your father's.

Great.

I'm glad one of us is.

♪ Here we are ♪

Piazza, Nicholas?

Present.

♪ So bizarre ♪

By the way, I got a phone call from your agent

about an audition.

♪ This is where they show you ♪

Please tell them I'm not your personal secretary.

♪ How to be a star ♪

Sorry.

♪ I can't wait ♪

Jackson, Tyrone?

♪ I can't even concentrate ♪

Jackson, Tyrone?!

♪ I just pulsate ♪

Vegas, Jose!

Ah yeah, that's Joe!

Joe Vegas, as in Las Vegas!

I wanna thank my producers, Pepe and Maria Vegas

of the South Bronx-- Mr. Vegas!

Save your acceptance speech for Awards Night.

Hey yo.

I'm Tyrone Jackson.

Am I in the right place?

You in the right place at the wrong time.

Sorry, sweet thing.

My name isn't sweet thing.

I'm Miss Sherman, your homeroom teacher.

Don't play with me, girl.

A good lookin' woman like you?

Mr. Jackson, you could butter me up

like a stack of flapjacks.

But you still have to be on time for class!

Shit!

And no four letter words!

♪ I'm alive ♪

♪ And I will survive ♪

♪ Show the world ♪

♪ That I can take it ♪

♪ When I hit the heights ♪

♪ Put my name in lights ♪

♪ Show the world ♪

♪ That I can make it ♪

♪ By doin' ♪

Acting takes not only talent and determination.

It requires a solid technique.

Freshman year will be devoted to the discovery

of self, ♪ By doin' ♪

Who you are.

You must be in touch with your own emotions

if you expect to touch others.

We will study ballet, modern, folk, and jazz.

You will push your bodies to the limit

until every muscle ♪ Doin' ♪

Cries out for mercy.

Those who meet this challenge will be richly rewarded

for dance is the core of life.

Dance is our salvation. ♪ Whoa, whoa ♪

♪ Doin' ♪

Each music student is required

to take elementary piano.

You will play scales

until your fingers fall off. ♪ Whoa whoa ♪

At the same time

you will attempt to comprehend ♪ doin' ♪

The genius of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart.

And Pink Floyd!

♪ By doin' ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

(jazzy music)

♪ Ho ♪

♪ Hey ♪

Acting is the hardest profession in the world

♪ Hard work ♪

♪ The hardest profession in the world ♪

Dance is the hardest profession in the world.

♪ The hardest profession in the world, hard work ♪

Here we go.

Music is the hardest profession in the world.

The hardest profession in the world.

♪ Hard work ♪

♪ The hardest profession in the world ♪

♪ The hardest profession in the ♪

♪ Acting is the hardest profession in the world ♪

♪ The hardest profession is acting ♪

♪ Dance ♪

♪ Is the hardest ♪

♪ Profession in the world ♪ ♪ Is the hardest ♪

♪ profession in the world ♪

♪ The hardest profession is acting ♪

♪ Dance ♪

♪ Music ♪

♪ Is hard work is the hardest ♪

♪ The hardest profession is acting ♪

♪ Dance, music ♪

♪ Is hard work ♪

♪ Is the hardest ♪

♪ The hardest profession in the world ♪

♪ I'm alive ♪

♪ And I will survive ♪

♪ Show the world ♪

♪ That I can take it ♪

♪ When I hit the height ♪

♪ Hit the heights ♪

♪ Put my name in lights ♪

♪ I'm gonna put my name in lights, whoah ♪

♪ Show the world ♪

♪ That I can make it ♪

♪ By doin' ♪

Hey, let's go find out!

♪ Doin' ♪

♪ Doin' ♪

♪ Doin' ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

Yeah!

Come on boy!

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

Yeah!

Lightning!

Hah!

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ Hard work ♪

(crowd applauding)

(bell ringing)

Hey Goody!

This is Lambchops, the drummer I told you about.

But she's a girl!

Yeah, you got a problem with that?

No, I like girls.

I just get a bit nervous when they got sticks

in their hands.

Knock it off, guys.

If we're gonna be a band, we gotta get along.

Oh, Mr. Sheinkopf, we would like to work together

in Freshman Ensemble.

Percussion, trumpet, violin?

What kind of music would you play?

New wave.

Funk.

Classic rock.

Maybe a little disco.

We're starting a band.

Yeah, yeah, that's if this guy stops jerkin' my chain.

Oy, it's going to be a long year.

(light music)

Wait, wait, wait!

You should see her in a leotard.

Oh my God!

You remember Sheena, hmm, the Jungle Queen?

(chuckling) Bad kitty, bad kitty!

I said to her,

I said, "Carmen, listen, if you're not using your breasts,

"mind if I borrow them overnight?" (cackling)

Hey, you listening to me?

Not really.

I tuned out somewhere between curvaceous thighs

and the cute little beauty spot on her nose.

Oh, forget about a book.

A book you can replace.

But a pair of melones like that, you lose,

you lose forever.

Oh man, here she comes.

Yo, my little jalapena pepper,

how's about we go dancing Saturday night?

How's about we don't?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

But you and me, we got a lot in common.

You're Spanish, I'm Spanish.

You're gorgeous, I'm gorgeous.

You're hot.

You're not!

(laughing)

(laughing) Yeah, she's always, (laughing)

What'd I tell ya?

She's crazy about me!

Hey mammacita, wait up, baby!

Excuse me.

But aren't you?

Aren't you that guy from the peanut butter commercial?

Yeah, but do me a favor.

♪ Don't spread it around ♪

Oh my god!

I'd kill to have a national commercial on the air.

You sound like my mom.

She's been dragging me to auditions since I was three.

I wish I had a mom like that.

Trust me, you don't.

My name's Serena Katz.

I know.

Okay.

Oh my god!

Do you think?

I don't know, I don't wanna impose or anything

but can I have your autograph?

Look, I'm sorry but I came here

so I could concentrate on my studies.

Why? You're already a pro.

I bet you've even got your Actors' Equity card.

I want to be a real actor, not just some TV hack.

Have you ever read Stanislavsky?

Stan who?

Konstantine Stanislavsky.

He founded the Moscow Arts Theatre in 1897.

He and his friends struggled and starved,

but that was okay,

because they believed in what they were doing.

Wow, you're really into this.

You have to be.

The work, the craft,

that's all that really matters.

I mean,

look at this.

"The actor must learn to use the magical if.

"What if?

"From the moment of the appearance of this if,

"the actor passes through a plane of actual reality

"into the plane of another life,

"created and imagined by himself.

"Believing in this life, the actor can begin to create"

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ I wanna be bigger than I am ♪

♪ I wanna make people really care ♪

♪ Really give a damn ♪

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ I wanna breathe fire on the stage ♪

♪ I wanna make every single line ♪

♪ Jump right off the page ♪

♪ I wanna do it all from A to Z ♪

♪ I wanna do The Lion in Winter ♪

♪ Brecht and Harold Pinter ♪

♪ Sophocles ♪

♪ Eugene O'Neill ♪

♪ I really wanna see what I can be ♪

♪ Another Marlon Brando or De Niro ♪

♪ Play a tragic hero ♪

♪ Go for it all and really show the way I feel ♪

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ I want to electrify the place ♪

♪ I wanna be more than just a fool ♪

♪ With makeup on his face ♪

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ Magic ♪

♪ Magic ♪

♪ Magic ♪

(crowd applauding)

Thank you Nick, for sharing those thoughts.

Okay.

It's good to have role models,

but at this point in your training,

you need to focus on the process, not the results.

I'm sorry, it's just I've got so much

I wanna say. Don't apologize.

In my class, you get points for honesty.

'Cause emotional honesty

is what it's all about, right Carmen?

Yeah, sure, Mr. Myers, whatever you say.

Everybody, give Nick a hand.

(clapping)

Yo baby, yo baby, way to go!

Joe, front and center.

So you want what, I should tell you my goals?

'Cause like my personal hero is Freddie Prinze.

Yo, chico, you're the man, babee.

No, this time, we're gonna play a theater game

called Truth or Consequences.

Now, I want you to share with the class

a secret about yourself.

Something that reveals the essence of who you really are.

You mean like some kind of deep, dark secret,

I would only maybe tell my priest?

Exactly.

Whoah, I think I'm gonna like this game.

Mr. Myers, what's with all this true confession stuff?

Are you an acting teacher or a shrink?

A little bit of both.

Human psychology is a big part of acting.

Joe, when you're ready.

Yo, can I get some light up in here?

No, okay.

Man, now this is gonna be painful.

Schlomo, hmm hmm hmm.

You see, there's this girl I like.

And every time I see her, well,

something just comes over me.

B flat, Schlomo!

Well, you know what it's like.

♪ When you wake up in the mornin' ♪

♪ And it's hard ♪

(laughing)

♪ Standin' up straight at attention ♪

♪ Like the changin' of the guard ♪

Ooh, at ease, soldier.

♪ Or how it is in a porno shop ♪

♪ When you put your quarter in the slot ♪

♪ And you try to look cool ♪

♪ So nobody knows that you're hot ♪

♪ You go to a club ♪

♪ And you're high on some fine ♪

♪ Marijuana ♪

♪ And the singer in the band ♪

♪ Copped all of her moves from Madonna ♪

♪ And you wanna ♪

♪ Or late at night ♪

♪ You're at home in bed alone ♪

♪ And it's cold out ♪

♪ You put your hand where it's warm ♪

♪ As you open up Miss January's foldout ♪

♪ Bababadaba bap bap ♪

♪ Well that's how it is ♪

♪ When she's around ♪

♪ And I can't ♪

♪ No I can't ♪

♪ I can't keep it down ♪

♪ I can't keep it down ♪

♪ When that girl's around ♪

♪ I can't keep it ♪

♪ Under my control ♪

♪ I can't keep it, keep it down ♪

♪ No no no no I can't ♪

♪ I wanna, I wanna ♪

♪ I wanna rock and roll ♪

That's right, Schlomo baby.

Gimme the play that,

now baby, one, two, three.

Woo, check it out, wah!

Mammacita, catch!

Hey look, man!

Oh wait.

Oh wait one second. Thank you,

Mr. Vegas. Oh no.

Oh.

Well I see you don't suffer from stage fright.

Yeah well, I'm what you call an extrovert.

More like a pervert.

Okay, let's see a show of hands.

How many of you believed his story?

Serena, why?

Adolescent boys are horny all the time.

And how would you know that?

At least that's what my mother said.

Any naysayers?

Yeah. Nick.

All that stuff about porno shops and smokin' weed,

it's vintage Joe Vegas.

Like he's trying to put on a stand-up act.

Probably the only naked female he ever saw

was his big sister.

Oh, (laughing)

So, what's it to be, Joe?

Truth or consequences?

Okay.

All right.

Let me try again.

♪ I'm thinking about that time in my life ♪

♪ When I first learned what cryin' was ♪

♪ The first time I ever had to come face to face ♪

♪ With what dyin' was ♪

♪ The relatives gathered all in black ♪

♪ To mourn for my great Aunt Juanita ♪

♪ When who comes through the door ♪

♪ To pay their respects ♪

♪ But our cousin Conchita ♪

♪ The tears in her eyes ♪

♪ Only made her seem even more Spanish ♪

♪ As I watched her I swear ♪

♪ I could feel the floor under me vanish ♪

♪ So she goes to them all ♪

♪ Then she finally comes over to me ♪

♪ As she kisses my cheek, no I lower my eyes ♪

♪ I can hardly believe what I see ♪

♪ 'Cause I'm looking down ♪

♪ The front of her gown ♪

♪ And I can't, no I can't ♪

♪ I can't keep it down ♪

♪ I can't keep it down ♪

♪ Keep it down ♪

♪ No no no no I can't ♪

♪ Can't keep it down ♪ Get it, baby.

♪ I wanna, I wanna ♪

♪ I wanna rock and roll ♪

♪ Rock and roll ♪

♪ Aaaah ♪

♪ I wanna rock and roll ♪

(crowd applauding)

(bell ringing)

Okay folks, next class, emotional recall.

Thank you Joe, that was very honest.

A little X-rated, but honest.

An avalanche of emotions, that's what you wanted, right?

Hey, it's in my head.

I need help.

(energetic music)

Good morning, class.

I'd like to introduce our newest arrival.

Her name is Iris Kelly.

We are very lucky to have this young lady with us.

(speaks in foreign language) , Madame.

Mercy, Madame.

Who does she think she is, Pepe Le Pew? (laughing)

Nah Mabel, trust me.

That girl ain't no skunk.

Put your eyes back in your head, Tyrone.

She is way outta your league.

Says who?

Says the shiny black limo that dropped her off

just before homeroom.

All right, people, let's start with the adagio.

Oh, thank you for joining us, Carmen.

Sorry, Ms. Bell, I got hung up on the subway.

Third time this week.

Ready, and.

(gentle piano music)

Point your toes, Britney.

You look like you're wearing ice skates.

Chin up, chin up, eyes to the horizon.

Keep the movements fluid.

Imagine crystal clear water is flowing gently downstream.

(groaning)

Mabel!

I said water, not molasses.

What's wrong with you today?

I feel faint.

I haven't had a thing to eat since breakfast!

It's only 9:15.

I don't care what time it is.

My stomach is screaming "Feed me, feed me!"

Hang in there, Mabel.

Only three and a half hours till lunch.

Yes! Wait wait. Okay class, let's find

our partners for the Pas De Deux.

Ready, begin.

(light piano music)

Classical lines, people.

Imagine you're dancing for Balanchine.

Gently, ladies, gently.

Remember, you're ballerinas.

Whoah, you see!

Not, truck drivers,

oh my goodness. Oh really?

Iris.

Take Mabel's place.

Aw man! Go.

That's lovely, Iris.

Oh, you look like the Swan Queen.

Yo, this is boring, man.

Hold it.

We study classical dance for the same reason

we study Bach.

To build technique and learn classic form.

Think of it as a trip to the museum.

Yeah but why does it have to be like that?

Why couldn't you do ballet that was different?

Switched on, tight-wired,

like the traffic in Times Square?

Sounds like you've given this a lot of thought.

Tyrone did more than think about it.

He made up a whole new dance.

I don't suppose you'd like to see it?

Oh I'm game if you are.

Please.

Come on, y'all.

Just like you practiced.

Five, six, seven, go!

(funky music)

So?

So?

I think we've got a budding choreographer in our midst.

Move over, Alvin Ailey!

(light jazzy music)

Oh!

Oh, Mr. Sheinkopf!

I am so, so, sorry. Oh, cha cha cha cha.

I didn't mean to disturb you.

Anyway, I'm--

Shh!

What was that?

Practice.

Practice for what, to play in the subway?

May I remind you the purpose of the Freshman Ensemble

is to learn to listen to one another.

Oh come on, Mr. Sheinkopf.

We're not hurting anything.

Ooh, excepting your eardrums, huh?

Mr. Metzenbaum, I received a phone call

from your father.

He wants to make sure you practice the violin

at least three hours each day.

Aw, ain't that cute?

Oh, daddy's worried about his pint-sized Paganini.

Hmm, Mr. Metzenbaum.

I know you are eager to find your own voice,

but don't forget, musical genius runs in your family.

(drum rolling)

And musical chairs runs in yours, Miss Lamb.

Now, I believe you had a Mozart assignment?

Yeah, we practiced already.

Good.

Let me hear it.

(counting in foreign language)

("Eine Kleine Nachtmusik")

(audience laughing)

Good, good, very good.

Almost enough to begin practicing!

(mumbling)

Right, back to the good stuff.

No, Sheinkopf's right.

What would a kid raised in concert halls

know about rock?

I should be practicing my violin.

And where are you going, back to daddy?

Listen, I'm sorry I wasted your time

but this band thing, it's never gonna work.

No, no, it will work.

No, it can't.

Lamb.

Let's go!

Ask!

(drum solo)

Bam!

Schlomo!

Schlomo, Schlomo!

The crowd goes wild!

Oh, Schlomo, I love you!

Good.

Good.

Very good.

Almost good enough to begin practicing!

Then let's,

rock!

One, two, one two three four!

(jazzy rock music)

Hey Mabel, come on baby,

it's that time of the year.

Haha, I got ya.

Who wants some of the mistleJoe?

What about you, Goody?

(singing in foreign language)

(slow classic piano music)

Are you kidding me?

Mhmm.

Um.

Are you gonna lift me?

Sure.

And?

Ah!

Oh.

Ooh!

For God's sakes!

Why can't you get it together?

These steps are so basic, it's ridiculous!

I'm tryin'.

Can't you see I'm tryin'?

You don't support me in the attitude promenade,

you drop me out of my arabesque saute,

Hey yo.

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

I don't speak no French.

These are technical terms, every dancer knows them.

Well not me!

Down in my neighborhood we busted moves to hip-hop.

How you gonna say that in French?

Besides, it doesn't matter

how many times I practice my Chevrolets.

Cabriolets.

I still don't got no future in ballet.

Maybe you would if you worked harder.

Hey I work as hard as anyone.

But be honest, when was the last time you saw a brother

dancing in the Corps De Ballet?

What does race have to do with it?

Maybe you haven't heard.

Blacks can't cut ballet.

'Cause our bodies are all wrong for classical dance.

It's not your body that's the problem, Mr. Tyrone Jackson.

It's your attitude!

Hey, screw you, Iris!

You and that silver spoon you keep shoving down my throat!

♪ I don't need no rich bitch ♪

♪ To tell me which fork to use ♪

♪ I paid my dues in a rat trap city ♪

♪ Called New York ♪

♪ Living off greens, beans and pork ♪

♪ In a basement, a tenement ♪

♪ Ain't no one got to tell me what it meant ♪

♪ To be black, Jack, ace of spades ♪

♪ All the car wash washers and the day work maids ♪

♪ Can't wash it off, it never fades ♪

♪ It's who you are until you're dead ♪

♪ Now ain't that a kick upside the head ♪

Tyrone, wait.

I just--

♪ Yeah, I know about Pryor and Poitier ♪

♪ Can't get no higher than Sugar Ray ♪

♪ Muhammad Ali and Doctor J ♪

♪ And 90 percent of the NBA ♪

♪ Reggie Jackson, Jesse Jackson ♪

♪ Michael and Mahalia Jackson ♪

♪ And what's that got to do with me ♪

♪ 'Cause on the street ♪

♪ The only thing I see is crack dealers ♪

Listen, if you just understand,

♪ Pocketbook stealers ♪

♪ Coke snorters ♪

♪ Times Square daughters ♪

♪ Eight year olds who dance for quarters ♪

♪ For tokes and two line blows ♪

♪ New Adidas and stereos ♪

♪ That's us and that's it ♪

♪ So don't be tellin' me all that shit ♪

Tyrone, wait.

My family's not rich.

They can barely afford to keep me in pointe shoes.

Yeah right.

That's why every day you show up in that long black limo.

My dad's a chauffeur.

He drops me off on his way to work.

And I don't speak French either.

Then why you been putting on this act?

I was scared.

Scared of what?

You're the best dancer in this school, Iris.

Scared no one would like me.

Tyrone, I've never known anything but dance.

I've never had a boyfriend,

never been on a date,

I've never even been kissed.

Well.

Maybe I could help you,

with that.

Maybe we could help each other.

(driving rock music)

Mr. Jackson.

Save the love scene for acting class.

Come on Ms. Sherman.

I was just saying hello.

Well next time, try a handshake.

By the way, you owe me a book report.

500 words, first thing on my desk tomorrow morning.

You got it, Ms. Sherman.

Say, Iris.

Uh huh?

I don't suppose you've ever read

To Kill A Mockingbird?

Are you kidding me, that's my favorite book.

It's all about this lawyer named Atticus Finch

and his crazy neighbor Boo.

Fried chicken?

Potatoes, candy bars?

Girl, are you gonna eat all that?

I'm trying the seafood diet.

What's that?

I see food,

and I eat! (laughing)

It's a joke, Carmen.

I'm laughin', I'm laughin'.

So what's your secret, Carmen?

I never once seen you pig out.

That's the beauty of diet pills.

A handful of uppers for breakfast

and I'm good to go all day.

Girl, don't you know drugs are bad?

And I don't mean good bad, I mean bad bad.

Hey, what's to worry?

I'm young, I'm healthy, I'm gonna live forever.

Yo, Mr. Myers, I need to be excused from class on Friday.

You see, they're doing a revival of West Side Story

and I'm like perfect for the role of Anita.

Sorry, Carmen.

The last thing you need right now

is another character to hide behind.

What's that supposed to mean?

Carmen, the first rule of acting is know thyself.

If you don't learn to deal honestly with your own emotions

you're just gonna be another pretty face

that no one cares about.

You're wrong about me Mr. Myers, I'm gonna make it!

'Cause I've got what it takes.

From now on there's only three things I got to worry about.

Me, myself, and I.

One day y'all gonna see my name up in lights.

Carmen Diaz!

Sparkle girl, sparkle!

I'm talking Broadway, movies.

Atlantic City, Radio City.

People are gonna shiver when they see me comin'.

Shiver honey, shiver!

They'll say there she goes, Carmen.

Not the movie.

And not the opera.

But the human being.

♪ There she goes ♪

♪ Ain't she the picture of a real live star ♪

♪ You'll want to follow her wherever you are ♪

♪ And there she goes ♪

♪ She's passing you ♪

♪ You better hurry if you wanna look ♪

♪ Maybe you'll get her in your autograph book ♪

♪ She's passin' you ♪

♪ Reach out to touch, don't be shy ♪

♪ There ain't no reason to be scared ♪

♪ No it's too much, I can't look her in the eye ♪

♪ No, I'm not prepared ♪

Thank you ladies and gentlemen.

Thank you so much!

You've all been so wonderful to me,

I don't know how to thank you enough.

And thank you too, God,

for making me so fantastic!

♪ I'm on top of the charts ♪

♪ I'm on top in their hearts ♪

I could see the bells, baby.

♪ Look at them all ♪

♪ Look at the crowds ♪

♪ Everything is beautiful up here in the clouds ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪

♪ I'm gonna learn how to fly ♪

♪ High ♪

♪ I feel it coming together ♪

♪ People will see me and cry ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it to heaven ♪

♪ Light up the sky like a flame ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪

♪ Baby remember my name ♪

♪ Remember, remember, remember ♪

(speaks in foreign language)

♪ Remember, remember, remember ♪

(singing in foreign language)

♪ Fame ♪

(singing in foreign language)

♪ Fame ♪

(singing in foreign language)

(percussive dance music)

I've got my stick.

Yes, that's the way.

Get ready to space this.

Here we go!

♪ I'm on top of the charts ♪

♪ Whoa whoa ♪

♪ I'm on top in their hearts ♪

♪ Whoah whoah ♪

♪ Look at the crowds ♪

♪ Look at them all ♪

♪ Ay Mamacita mia ♪

♪ I'm having a ball ♪

♪ There she goes ♪

♪ There she goes ♪

♪ There she goes ♪

♪ Now wouldn't anybody wish they were her ♪

♪ Wish they were her ♪

♪ And there she goes ♪

♪ Remember, remember, remember ♪

♪ Remember ♪

♪ Remember my name ♪

(crowd applauding)

(bell ringing)

Real talent?

I have more real talent than all of you put together.

You, with your hackneyed conventions have usurped

the foremost places in art.

Go back to your charming theater and play

in your miserable, worthless plays!

I have never acted in such plays!

Leave me!

You are nothing but a Kiev petty bourgeois.

Nick, I don't like this scene.

But The Seagull is a classic play.

A classic-schmassic.

And Madame Arkadina is a great role!

I don't want to play your mother!

All right, how about Shakespeare?

A comedy?

I've got it, Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Which one would I play?

Would you stop being difficult?

I'm not being difficult,

it's just, we spent a whole year

investigating our own emotions

and you keep picking scenes I can't relate to.

Why can't we try something different?

Like what?

Like Abelard and Eloise,

or Troilus and Cressida?

Or how about Cat in a Hot Tin Roof?

I would just die to play Maggie the Cat.

I have a copy right here in my bag.

What's this?

You gave it to me.

Last semester.

You carry my headshot around?

Yes.

Uh, no. For crying out loud,

how are we going to get any work done

if you keep acting like an adolescent?

What's wrong with acting like adolescents,

when that's exactly what we are?

♪ We always seem to be ♪

♪ Sister and brotherly ♪

♪ It's such a lovely way to be ♪

♪ And I want to say what it means to me ♪

♪ How I could never be the same ♪

♪ Without you ♪

♪ And something more that I know ♪

♪ Though I never could show ♪

♪ How it kept right on growing ♪

♪ The way I know I really feel about you ♪

♪ The way I know I'll always feel about you ♪

♪ Why can't we ♪

♪ Why can't we ♪

♪ Why can't we try ♪

♪ To play a love scene ♪

♪ We don't need no violins ♪

♪ To play a love scene ♪

♪ Where we see how love begins ♪

♪ Find a way to start ♪

♪ And learn to play a part ♪

♪ A perfect scene ♪

♪ From a play unknown ♪

♪ Let's play a love scene ♪

♪ Love scene of our own ♪

Hey Serena, look.

It's obvious we're not coming from the same place.

Maybe you should find yourself another scene partner.

No.

(gasping)

(sobbing)

♪ And I want to say what it means to me ♪

♪ How I could never be the same without you ♪

♪ And something more than I know ♪

♪ Though I never could show ♪

♪ How it kept right on growing ♪

♪ The way I know I really feel about you ♪

♪ The way I know I'll always feel about you ♪

♪ Why can't we ♪

♪ Why can't we ♪

♪ Why can't we try ♪

♪ To play a love scene ♪

♪ We don't need no violins ♪

♪ To play a love scene ♪

♪ Where we see how love begins ♪

♪ Find a way to start ♪

♪ And learn to play a part ♪

♪ A perfect scene from a play unknown ♪

♪ Let's play a love scene ♪

♪ A love scene ♪

♪ Of our own ♪

(crowd applauding)

(mumbling)

(light piano music)

Hey!

Jeez.

Sorry.

I didn't hear you come in.

Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you.

Genius at work, right?

I'm hardly a genius.

You know, Schlomo, your problem is

you don't have enough confidence.

Like this piece you play all the time,

it's solid gold.

It's for Sophomore Composition.

I've been working on it for weeks, but,

I feel like something's still missing.

Maybe this'll help.

(laughing)

They're lyrics.

I wrote 'em to go with that tune.

Go ahead, check 'em out.

Carmen, that isn't a song, it's a sonata.

What difference does it make?

I know a top 10 hit when I hear one.

You really think so?

Guaranteed to go platinum like that.

But then I guess you hear this stuff all the time,

compliments and shit.

Are you kidding?

I come from a family of perfectionists.

Nothing I do is ever good enough.

Hey, I hear you.

I could win a Grammy and my Ma

would still call me a slut.

So you wanna take 'em for a test drive?

The lyrics!

Oh, yeah. (laughing)

(whimpering) It doesn't matter.

All right.

(light piano music)

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ Let it come ♪

♪ Let 'em know that we're there ♪

♪ Let 'em know we know where ♪

♪ We're coming from ♪

♪ We can make a difference ♪

♪ It's not too late ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ I can't wait ♪

It's really good.

Thanks.

No, really good.

Except the second and third lines.

Let 'em know that we're there,

let 'em know we know where,

they just don't flow.

Okay.

Do you wanna try it again?

Yeah. (chuckling)

All right.

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ Let it ♪

♪ Shine ♪

♪ Like ♪

♪ Like ♪

♪ Like the ♪

♪ Sun comin' up on a beautiful day ♪

♪ It's yours and mine ♪

♪ We can make a difference ♪

♪ It's not too late ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

You're unreal!

You're crazy!

I'm crazy, I just struck gold!

Don't you see, we're good for each other, Schlomo.

I'm what the band needs.

Yeah, sure, why not?

After all we just wrote our first song together.

Oh, man, you're too much.

I'm in the band.

I'm in the band.

Yeah. (chuckling)

All right, I gotta go, I got an audition

but I'll catch you later.

Yeah, catch me later.

You got it, Schlomo, you definitely got it.

And I got you.

(whimsical music)

(horn tooting)

Oh God!

(crowd laughing)

Goody!

We were rehearsing.

Oh yeah, sure.

For what?

No, no, no, no!

Good news, Carmen is gonna join the band.

Schlomo, now we have two chicks in the band,

and one of them doesn't even play anything!

Well, we'll give her a tambourine!

And besides, we need a lead singer for the band anyway.

So that's it, case closed.

Oh, testy today, aren't we?

Hey Schlomo, come here, I wanna show you something.

What?

Come here.

What?

(kooky piano riff)

Hey!

Kiss me (mumbling)

(shouting over each other)

Stop.

Good, very good.

You've got the choreography.

Now let's talk about the quality of movement.

It should be lyrical but strong.

Like fire and ice.

Let's take it again from the top.

Ready, and.

One, two.

Hello, Esther.

What brings you to my floor?

I understand you've chosen to feature

Iris and Tyrone in the Junior Festival?

They earned it.

Yes, Iris, that was beautiful.

Unfortunately, Tyrone won't be able to participate.

Say what?

I'm sorry, Tyrone.

You failed Sophomore English.

You flunked me?

But I did all the work.

I even handed in my term paper on time.

It bore a remarkable similarity to Iris's.

Hold up.

You accusing me of cheatin'?

Me and Tyrone study together.

So what if the papers are similar?

They weren't similar, they were identical!

Then why not accuse Iris?

Because she's a straight A student!

Let's be honest.

Iris has been carrying you in your academic subjects

this entire year!

Nobody carries me!

I do my own work in my own way!

(scoffing) You may think you do,

but your reading is substandard.

You couldn't possibly have written the paper.

Hey.

Forget this noise.

I didn't want to be in no festival anyway.

Tyrone!

Wait, wait!

(Ms. Sherman sighing)

You're not being fair, Esther.

Tyrone works hard in my class.

He's motivated in my class.

This young man has the potential

to be a true artist!

A true artist that can hardly read?

Let Tyrone pass his academic subjects,

then we could talk about his future in the arts!

No, we'll talk about it now!

♪ Artists are special, celestial fools ♪

♪ Blessed with a talent for breaking the rules ♪

♪ Unfit for confinement in cubical schools ♪

♪ Artists are special ♪

♪ Artists are people, not primitive fools ♪

♪ They learn what to do before breaking the rules ♪

♪ They know that the brain is the finest of tools ♪

♪ Artists are people ♪

♪ Whether in theater or music or dance ♪

♪ They have to be given the chance ♪

♪ To fly by the seat of their pants ♪

♪ To develop their minds ♪

♪ And be nurtured like plants ♪

♪ Artists are part of the same human race ♪

♪ As everyone else in the same goddamn place ♪

♪ Learn to survive or they fall on their face ♪

♪ Artist or not ♪

♪ Artist or not ♪

You know perfectly well,

90 percent of these kids will never make a living

in the arts.

We have to prepare them for life.

What's Tyrone gonna do if he doesn't make it

as a dancer?

Mop floors?

Tyrone will make it!

♪ I've seen them come and go for all these years ♪

♪ Kids with no talent for anything more than carrying spears ♪

♪ Another year, another shipment ♪

♪ Lacking the drive or the style ♪

♪ Or the basic equipment ♪

♪ This one is different I tell you ♪

♪ This one can dance ♪

♪ This one is special I tell you ♪

♪ Give him a chance ♪

He will make it, he will!

Fine, I wish him luck.

But this is an academic institution

with academic standards.

Oh I know we're the FAME high school now.

Ever since that movie came out, they come here

expecting to become stars.

And you people think you run the show here?

Teach them to perform and who cares

if they read or write anyway?

Just as long as they can sign their name

on the goddamn contract.

And who are you, defender of the true faith?

Exactly!

♪ What did they tell me when I was a girl ♪

♪ Learn ♪

♪ Day after day when I was a girl ♪

♪ Learn ♪

♪ The land of dreams waits over the meadow ♪

♪ If you can find your way out of the ghetto ♪

♪ Learn ♪

♪ Learn ♪

♪ Put your faith in books ♪

♪ They will protect you ♪

♪ Put your faith in books ♪

♪ And a mind of their own ♪

♪ Neither charm nor looks ♪

♪ Will make them respect you ♪

♪ You must learn to stand ♪

♪ You must learn to stand alone ♪

♪ This one is different ♪

♪ Put your faith in books ♪

♪ This one can dance ♪

♪ Put your faith in books ♪

♪ Artists are special ♪

♪ Artists are people ♪

♪ This one must have the chance ♪

♪ This one must have the chance ♪

(crowd applauding)

Tyrone?

Perhaps we could make a compromise.

If you repeat Sophomore English in summer school

and get a passing grade,

then you can participate in the dance festival next year.

Don't be doing me no favors!

I don't need this school,

and I don't need you.

Tyrone, wait, wait.

Greta, he's made his decision,

now he has to live with it.

Do you really think I'd let Tyrone just walk away

after everything I've invested in him?

Obviously, you don't know me very well.

You all knew the conditions when you enrolled.

Nobody said it was gonna be easy.

You focus on what you gotta do to get the job done.

Back to work, everyone, now.

♪ Work ♪

♪ Work ♪

♪ Work ♪

♪ Hard work ♪

♪ Work ♪

♪ Hard work ♪

♪ Work, work, work ♪

♪ Hard work, hard work ♪

♪ I'm alive ♪

♪ And I will survive ♪

♪ Show the world ♪

♪ That I can take it ♪

♪ When I hit the heights ♪

♪ Hit the heights ♪

♪ Put my name in lights ♪

♪ Yes I'm gonna put my name in lights whoah ♪

♪ Show the world ♪

♪ That I can make it ♪

♪ By doin' ♪

♪ Doin' ♪

♪ Doin' ♪

♪ Doin' ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ By doin' hard work ♪

♪ Hard work ♪

(crowd applauding)

(siren blaring)

(cars honking)

(heavy rock music)

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ I wanna take chances that are bold ♪

♪ I wanna tell stories no one knows ♪

♪ That no one ever told ♪

♪ Now the audience is still ♪

♪ And the house lights are gone ♪

♪ Curtains going up and I am on ♪

(jazzy saxophone music)

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ I wanna make magic ♪

♪ A thousand chances we can take ♪

♪ But it's all worth it when we make ♪

♪ Magic ♪

♪ Magic ♪

♪ Magic ♪

♪ Magic ♪

(crowd applauding)

Okay folks, let's move on.

Set for places, guys.

Has anyone seen Carmen?

She should be here.

I don't know, Ms. Bell.

We came in together.

Maybe she's in the bathroom.

I'm here.

Carmen, where have you been?

Sorry Ms. Bell, I just went out to get a breath

of fresh air.

Well, breathe on your own time, not on mine.

Okay, let's get this show on the road.

Now remember, the conductor is the conduit

between you and the stage.

So keep one eye on the music

and the other on me.

Mr. Sheinkopf. Yes.

We're at places.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

(intense guitar music)

♪ Carmen ♪

♪ Carmen ♪

♪ There she goes, there she goes ♪

♪ Ain't she the picture ♪

♪ of a real live star ♪ ♪ There she goes ♪

♪ You want to follow her wherever you are ♪

♪ And there she goes ♪

♪ She's passing you, she's passing you ♪

♪ You better hurry if you wanna look ♪

♪ Maybe you'll get her in your autograph book ♪

♪ She's passing you ♪

♪ Reach out to touch ♪

♪ Don't be shy ♪

♪ There ain't no reason to be scared ♪

♪ No it's too much ♪

♪ I can't look her in the eye ♪

♪ No I'm not prepared ♪

Hey!

Hey!

(rhythmic clapping and stomping)

Hah!

(rhythmic tapping)

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey.

Hey, what are you doing?

I don't wanna do this.

I know you don't

wanna do it-- Don't you see him?

What?

Carmen!

Sir!

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Hah, hah, hah, hah!

Hey!

(crowd applauding)

All right, everyone, pretty good.

Yes, get some rest.

Final dress tomorrow!

Carmen, you better get your act together fast.

♪ Carmen ♪

Mr. Vegas, please for once in your life

keep it down.

Oh, that's a good one, Mr. Myers.

What's up, baby?

You did good, Tyrone.

I'm really proud of you.

Yeah well thank you, Ms. Bell.

I understand you passed Sophomore English

in summer school.

I hope you did the work yourself this time.

You just couldn't wait to bring me down, could you?

My goal is to see you succeed.

Oh.

You sure got a funny way of showing it.

But you know what, it don't matter.

Not today, 'cause today, I'm flying high.

(laughing)

Was that really necessary?

Greta, I don't know, only time will tell.

(light piano music)

Carmen, hey, please.

Come on, come back.

No, when's Myers gonna get off my back?

Myers just wants to help. First I'm not being honest

and then I'm indicating.

And now he's got me stuck doing sense memory.

When am I gonna get to do some real acting?

Maybe you have to learn to be real

before you can learn to act.

You know, Schlomo, sometimes you sound like one of them.

One of them?

Carmen, teachers aren't some sort of alien race.

Maybe Myers could help you.

Help me with what?

You think I got some kind of problem?

Yes.

No, not like that, it's like all this stuff

about being famous all the time.

Maybe you can take a break from that?

Look, Mr. Metzenbaum.

Mr. Son of the famous violin virtuoso,

some people get handed life on a silver tray.

The rest of us have to reach out and grab it.

No, no, no, Carmen, wait, wait.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you angry.

I just wish you didn't feel

like you had to fight all the time.

I'm a survivor, that's who I am,

take it or leave it.

Okay, I'll take it, I'll take it!

Jeez.

What?

I said I'll take it.

Carmen, don't you know how crazy I am about you?

Good times or bad.

We're a team.

Hey.

I finished that new song we were working on.

It turned out pretty good.

Of course it did.

With my words and your music,

how could we lose?

Well come on, I'll play it for you.

(playful music)

Hey.

Did you see?

Myers posted the cast list for the Junior Show

and I'm so pleased for you.

Looks like you'll be playing Juliet.

(laughing) Me?

Are you serious?

Oh my God, you are serious.

Yeah.

Me, I'm playing Juliet?

As in Romeo and? (laughing)

My parents are gonna plotz!

Um.

Nick, look I'm sorry about last year,

throwing myself at you like that.

I was so immature.

But this year I plan to be a lot more focused on the work.

Serena, look, I'm not angry.

Really in fact, I care more about you

than anyone else in this school.

You do?

Yeah, I do.

Good, then we can be friends offstage

and lovers onstage?

Ah, sorry, but you'll be playing the love scenes

with someone else.

Oh. I've been cast as Mercutio!

"A plague on both your houses!

"They have made worms' meat of me."

You already know your lines?

I've been doing Shakespeare since I was in grade school.

See you at rehearsals.

Nick?

Wait a minute, if Nick is playing Mercutio, then

who's playing Romeo? (laughing)

No!

What is this?

I'll kill him, I swear, I'll kill him.

He knows I hate Shakespeare, why did he do it?

The dude hates me.

Hey, hey Myers!

He is my Romeo?

(speaks in foreign language)

Hey.

I'd take the hot Spanish guy as my Romeo

than Mr. Fruity Toots up there any day.

Fruity Toots?

Well you can't be talking about Nick.

Not my Nick.

Not Nick Piazza.

Well have you ever seen him out on a date

with a girl?

Well that's because he's so serious about his work.

At his age? Yeah.

Nobody's that serious.

Gay?

(crowd laughing)

The love of my life is gay?

Serena, please stay calm.

I thought we were friends!

We are.

Then why didn't you tell me?

Tell you what?

What exactly was I supposed to say?

Look, there's nothing wrong with being gay.

It's just, well it might get awful lonely

in that closet all by yourself.

Serena!

Read my lips, I'm not gay.

Well then if you're not gay,

then what have you been into all this time, plants?

Nothing, into nothing!

I didn't know sex was a required activity!

You make it sound like detention!

It's supposed to be fun.

Look, Serena.

I know this may be hard for you to understand

but some people think there's more to life

than screwing around.

Just my luck!

I fall for a guy with no sex drive.

Nick Piazza, you piss me off!

Serena! Leave me alone!

Go practice your death scene.

Maybe you'll fall on your own sword!

Right, right! Go on, go!

(gasping)

I feel like such a fool!

How can I be so naive!

I could just die!

I could just,

wait a minute.

That's it.

Remember this emotion.

That's what Myers taught us!

Remember this emotion.

Okay.

♪ Think of how to use it ♪

♪ Use it on the stage ♪

♪ Think of Katherine Hepburn ♪

♪ Think of Gerry Page ♪

♪ Think of all the feelings ♪

♪ Wasted on this creep ♪

♪ Think how you could use them ♪

♪ Think of Meryl Streep ♪

♪ Why should I go crazy ♪

♪ Spilling out my guts ♪

♪ Make a big explosion ♪

♪ Go completely nuts, hah ♪

♪ These are my emotions ♪

♪ Mine alone to keep ♪

♪ I know I could use them ♪

♪ Think of Meryl Streep ♪

♪ Inside me there's a world of color and light ♪

♪ Nothing has to be wrong ♪

♪ Nothing has to be right ♪

♪ Inside me are treasures that glow ♪

♪ An actress's job is to know what she's willing to show ♪

♪ And then hide all the rest so no one's the wiser ♪

♪ Save up all the best like Midas the miser ♪

(gagging)

♪ Keep every moment under control ♪

♪ Always in charge ♪

♪ Playing a role ♪

♪ Smile and shrug your shoulders ♪

♪ Make believe it's fine ♪

♪ Come up with an answer ♪

♪ Or a witty line ♪

♪ Though your heart is breaking ♪

♪ Never start to weep ♪

♪ Someday you can use it ♪

♪ Someday you can use it ♪

♪ Someday you can use it ♪

♪ Think of Meryl Streep ♪

Oh I could just kill him.

(crowd applauding)

(energetic music)

Uh, ladies.

138 pounds?!

Oh here we go again.

Those scales better be broken.

Two more pounds this week, Iris.

Really?

Two whole pounds.

I give up, I just give up.

This body's retaining more water than the Titanic.

(crowd laughing)

Wait a minute, what's that smell?

Vanilla pudding.

Oh, my favorite.

How about a sniff?

One good sniff could tide me over till lunch.

Okay, take it.

You know, it's not your body that's the problem, Mabel.

It's your head that needs fixing.

Finish it!

I can't!

I wanna die, oh Lord I wanna die.

Do you know what I go through day in and day out?

Well there's the sore muscles and the back pain

and the sweat, but worse than that,

I can't eat!

Ugh!

Oh Lord, save this hungry soul.

Take me now Jesus and get it over with!

♪ Oh Lord give me a sign ♪

♪ Give me a call on your heavenly line ♪

♪ Tell me oh Lord what it is that you want me ♪

♪ Keep me from eating ♪

♪ Whatever's in front of me ♪

♪ Oh Lord give her a sign ♪

♪ Give me assign ♪

♪ Call me up, call me up ♪

♪ On your heavenly line ♪

♪ Tell me ♪

♪ What it is that you want of her ♪

♪ Keep her from eating ♪

♪ Save me ♪

♪ Save me from eating what's in front of me ♪

♪ Oh lord give me the answer ♪

♪ Save me from bein' ♪

Oh.

Do it.

Do it, Mabel.

♪ The world's fattest dancer ♪

♪ Oh yeah ♪

(crowd applauding)

Oh.

Come to think of it,

I don't know why any of us would wanna be dancers.

Dancers are always the first to arrive

and the last to leave.

We work harder than anyone.

Sweat more.

Hurt more.

Get paid less.

(door shutting)

You're right.

It don't pay to be a dancer.

(gasping) So that's it!

I'm changing my major!

Mabel Washington's gonna be an actress, y'all.

And as God as my witness,

I will never go hungry again!

(energetic music)

Mr. Sheinkopf.

Mr. Sheinkopf.

Mr. Sheinkopf!

An F, what?

Carmen.

I just heard the news.

You're dropping out of school?

Today's my last day.

They'll be popping champagne corks

in the teachers' lounge.

I know you've had your difficulties here at P.A.

But believe me, no one's happy to see you leave.

Oh yeah?

I wish I could say the feeling's mutual.

You know, Carmen,

your anger could be your greatest asset

but you've got to make it work for you

instead of against you.

If you don't it will eat you alive.

Look, I can't make you stay.

But if you leave you'll be making the biggest mistake

of your life.

(slamming)

So you made up your mind

and I'm the last to hear about it.

Please, don't you start buggin' me too.

Carmen, I'm your friend.

I care what happens to you.

Then be my friend and get off my case.

But you hardly know this guy!

Elliot Green came to New York to scout talent,

and he found me!

He cares about me, which is more than I can say for you.

Oh, but what about the band?

What about us?

I can't pass this up.

Besides, the band ain't going nowhere.

Who says, Mr. Showbiz?

He's a professional agent.

He's a professional con artist!

Carmen, I used to see guys like this all the time

hanging around my father.

He doesn't care about you, he just wants a piece of you.

You're wrong, he does care about me.

He's got all kinds of things lined up for me in L.A.

Yeah, like your favorite white substance?

I don't do drugs anymore!

Yeah right!

Schlomo, please be happy for me!

Because tomorrow morning, I'll be on a big silver bird

winging my way to dreamland.

You know what your problem is?

You want everything too fast.

Instant fame.

Unfortunately that only happens in fairy tales.

You know Carmen,

you and me, we coulda really been somethin'.

(energetic music)

All right, class, come to order.

Well Grace, seeing that you're already up,

let's hear your summary of Death of a Salesman.

Yeah, so Willy Loman is this traveling salesman

and he is having this nervous breakdown.

Yeah I guess what he's selling is just not sellin'.

See, he's got these big dreams for his two sons,

Biff and Happy.

But trust me, nobody is happy in this play.

Oh yeah, he croaks at the end, it was real sad.

No, no, no, really, it drained my eyeballs.

(crowd laughing)

A little rough around the edges, Grace.

Well what, Tyrone, what was Mr. Miller's point?

You know, Ms. Sherman,

I didn't really relate to that play.

You see, it's all about failure

and I'm all about success, you know?

(laughing) You know.

Superman belongs on Krypton, not in school.

Hey don't be dissing the Man of Steel.

He's a role model I can relate to.

Oh really?

Well in that case, why don't you read it to us?

Out loud.

I can't.

I left my reading glasses at home.

Give it up, Tyrone.

Your vision is 20/20 and you know it.

We're waiting.

You're trying to make me look stupid.

But I ain't stupid.

You're not stupid!

But you do need help!

(banging)

Yeah help the poor nigger!

Don't be giving me that tired-ass attitude like you care!

But I do care!

Look, woman, you been disrespecting me

since day one!

No.

I have been challenging you since day one.

You wanna fail me again?

Go ahead!

I'll pass in summer school

just like I did last time!

How, by cheating?

Look, I told you!

I don't cheat, bitch!

(slapping)

(gasping)

Yo.

Ears up.

I don't need to read.

Know why, 'cause I'm a laser.

I got the moves, y'all.

I'm choreographing my own life.

Yeah, by doin' what, Tyrone?

Shakin' your ass on a street corner

for small change?

Hey, wake up, man!

I'm up!

I'm up, Mabel.

I'll get my piece of the Big Apple just dancin'.

Just dancin'.

Let me break it down for y'all.

♪ Every day I wake up in the mornin' ♪

♪ Splash my face to keep myself from yawnin' ♪

♪ I get dressed and get my bones together ♪

♪ Open the windows, check out the weather ♪

♪ Then like I seen a ghost, man ♪

♪ I'll be movin' my feet ♪

♪ Just like the postman in the cold or the heat ♪

♪ No time to talk ♪

♪ When I go dancin' ♪

♪ On the sidewalk ♪

Come on y'all, let's go now!

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Lunchtime is music to my ears ♪

♪ I'm down on Wall Street with all those financiers ♪

♪ South Street, Seaport, I am the action ♪

♪ The number one tourist attraction ♪

♪ Hip hop to the West Side ♪

♪ Where I do myself proud ♪

♪ The West Side is the best side ♪

♪ For drawin' a crowd ♪

♪ The cabbies squawk ♪

♪ When I go dancin' ♪

♪ On the sidewalk ♪

Come on y'all!

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

All right, y'all.

We gonna do this?

I said we gonna do this!

Five, six, seven, go!

Come on y'all!

Damn.

Yo baby!

Hey!

♪ Uptown I do my boogaloo ♪

♪ Stoppin' traffic on Seventh Avenue ♪

♪ Night time the corner to be on ♪

♪ Times Square under the neon ♪

♪ And for my finale ♪

♪ I'll be doin' my thing ♪

♪ In Shubert Alley ♪

♪ They're gonna crown me the king ♪

♪ Of all New York ♪

♪ When I go dancin' ♪

♪ On the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

Come on, y'all!

Keep going now!

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

♪ Dancin' on the sidewalk ♪

(crowd applauding)

(bell ringing)

Everyone, that's it for the day.

Class dismissed.

Tyrone, wait.

I am so sorry.

I swear never before have I raised my hand to a student.

Can you read at all?

A couple of words here and there.

But mostly it's all jumbled, you know?

It just don't make sense, man.

Tyrone, I believe you have a reading disorder.

It's called dyslexia.

Yeah.

You mean there's something wrong in my head, right?

A small glitch in the system.

But with effort, you can overcome it!

Uh- uh!

I ain't going to no reading class for no dummies.

Then I'll do the work with you myself.

Every day, after school.

Not me.

No way.

Tyrone, don't give up on yourself.

And don't give up on me.

(somber music)

♪ In times of trouble ♪

♪ When the world seems oh so dark ♪

♪ And I can't find a way to cope ♪

♪ When deep inside of me ♪

♪ I can no longer ♪

♪ Feel the spark ♪

♪ And I can't see no ray of hope ♪

♪ When I am lost ♪

♪ What makes it worthwhile ♪

♪ One simple thought ♪

♪ That makes me smile ♪

♪ These are my children ♪

♪ My saving grace ♪

♪ I see my calling in each and every face ♪

♪ These are my children ♪

♪ My family tree ♪

♪ And I thank God ♪

♪ For choosing me ♪

♪ Choosing me ♪

♪ I ♪

♪ I wasn't blessed ♪

♪ As other women in this life ♪

♪ To have my own ♪

♪ To be mother and wife ♪

♪ But I was blessed ♪

♪ Beyond where wildest dreams can reach ♪

♪ For I ♪

♪ Have the privilege ♪

♪ Yes ♪

♪ The privilege to teach ♪

♪ And these are my children ♪

♪ My saving grace ♪

♪ I see my calling in each and every face ♪

♪ These are my children ♪

♪ My family tree ♪

♪ And now I thank God ♪

♪ Oh I thank God ♪

♪ I thank God ♪

(crowd cheering)

♪ For choosing me ♪

(crowd cheering)

♪ Choosing me, oh yeah ♪

♪ These are my children ♪

(crowd applauding)

(energetic music)

(crowd applauding)

Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hands too much.

(crowd laughing)

Which mannerly devotion shows in this,

for saints have hands that pilgrim's hands do touch,

and palm to palm is holy palmer's kiss.

Yo, Julie, baby.

Have not saint's lips and holy palmers too, Mammacita?

Wait a minute, what's with the ad libs?

I'm drawing from my own experience, okay?

But Romeo wasn't born in the Bronx.

Damn right.

So what am I doing here?

I cast you in this role so you could stretch yourself.

Yeah, but I ain't looking to be no Jose Gielgud.

People, level with me.

Do you buy me as Romeo?

I buy you.

(audience laughing)

I buy you--

Just please, please,

stop being such an asshole!

Whoah, oh, folks, please,

can we try and keep it moving?

We open in less than two weeks.

(light music)

Have not saints?

Lips, dammit, lips.

Oh, lips, dammit, lips.

And holy palmers too.

Aye, pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer.

Oh!

Then dear saint, let lips do what hands do.

They whack off like I'm doing right now! (laughing)

Mr. Myers, I ain't gonna cut it.

You gotta replace me.

Mr. Myers, I think I know what the problem is.

Please, be my guest.

You're too busy thinking about yourself.

You should be concentrating on the beautiful girl

standing right in front of you.

Excuse me?

Why, may I ask, are you butting in?

I wanna help.

Who needs help?

We do, we do!

Sir Lawrence, ah.

Knock yourself out.

I mean, think about it.

Romeo and Juliet grew up in the same small town.

They may have seen each other every day of their lives.

But on this night, this special night,

it's as if,

it's as if he's seeing her for the very first time.

Maybe it'd make more sense if I showed you.

(crowd laughing)

Yeah.

Maybe it would.

(light piano music)

Oh, then dear saint,

let lips do what hands do, they pray,

grant thou lest faith turn to despair.

Saints do not move,

though grant for prayer's sake.

Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.

Thus from my lips,

Hey!

All right, Nicky baby!

I told you she wanted you,

I knew she did! Okay!

Let's see a show of hands.

How many of you believe that kiss?

(crowd laughing)

Well Joe, looks like you got your wish.

Woohoo!

Juliet, meet your new Romeo!

Hello, Romeo!

Yeah!

(light music)

(bell ringing)

(slamming)

Tyrone, quit following me.

I have nothing to say to you.

Yeah, right.

You ain't had nothing to say to me all semester.

Why is that, Iris?

Okay, I'll make it simple.

I don't want to be with a loser,

'cause what does that make me?

I get it.

I see what this is about.

You used me, Tyrone.

All those book reports I helped you with.

Why didn't you tell me you couldn't read?

What was I supposed to say?

Yo baby, you wanna be my girlfriend?

I'm illiterate.

Look, Iris, you don't know what it's like.

When you look at a book you see words.

Yeah.

When I look, I see garbage.

I see noise.

But thanks to Ms. Sherman, that noise

is starting to sound like music.

Listen to this.

"I celebrate myself

"and sing myself

"for what I assume you shall assume

"and every atom belonging to me

"as good belongs to you."

Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass.

That's great, Tyrone.

I'm not takin' the easy way out.

I'm repeating my senior year.

I'm gonna be the first to graduate from the new

Lincoln Center School.

I'm not a loser, Iris.

(light music)

(Mr. Myers clears throat)

(sighing)

All right.

(laughing)

(giggling)

Come on, baby.

(light piano music)

(clears throat)

(gasping)

(crowd applauding) (light rock music)

The last time, all right?

Okay.

That is not okay.

It'll never happen again,

I promise, all right, listen.

We're a class act.

I say we wear tuxedos.

We're a rock band, not a symphony orchestra.

No, Lamb, I'm not talking penguin suits.

I'm talking real sharp.

Burgundy velvet with leopard skin lapels.

Oh, okay, I get it.

It's kind of like a teenage Liberace.

No, no, no and no. Exactly like that!

Okay, right, me in lapels. Whoah!

I am out of the band! So I hear you guys

are talking a record deal.

Carmen.

Is that you?

And you're going to Julliard.

Carmen, when did you get back?

A couple of weeks ago.

I thought I'd stop by and see

if you guys found a new singer.

Our manager set us up with someone else.

Of course, she's not as good as you.

But then, there's only one Carmen Diaz.

You got that right.

Three times the talent and 10 times the fun.

So what about my warmup?

You think I should play it straight or with a twist?

Who are you kidding?

A twisted guy like you can't do anything straight.

Hey Joe, Mabel.

Look who's here.

Carmen?

Jeez, I almost didn't recognize you.

Yo, (speaks in foreign language)

(speaks in foreign language) I'm fine.

I just lost a little weight.

Girl, what you need is the seafood diet. (laughing)

I see food and I,

eat?

So how was L.A.?

Did you meet any movie stars?

Well, sure.

The town's crawling with them.

And you can see the names of the dead ones

on the pavement.

Up and down Hollywood Boulevard

up and down the boulevard of broken dreams.

♪ Out in L.A. and broke ♪

♪ On a ticket that this fella sent me ♪

♪ One change of clothes in a suitcase ♪

♪ That my girlfriend Anna lent me ♪

♪ I stayed for a while in his place ♪

♪ Runnin' with this crowd of his ♪

♪ Partying day after day ♪

♪ And meeting everybody in the biz ♪

♪ Oh they know how to do it in L.A. ♪

♪ They know how to make it seem brand new ♪

♪ Though it's true what they say ♪

♪ That it's only a dream ♪

♪ And a dream is a wish you wish for you ♪

♪ In L.A. your dreams'll come true ♪

Lambchops.

Tick tock.

Sorry Carmen, we gotta go.

We've got finals.

No problem.

It was good seeing you guys.

(speaks in foreign language)

Hey, if you get a chance,

come check me out at the Comedy Club, Mondays.

You take care girl, and don't forget to eat.

Go ahead.

I'll catch up to you later.

So, if your dreams were coming true,

why'd you come back?

♪ After the booze and the coke ♪

♪ The visions of the blue Pacific ♪

♪ After the two hundredth time ♪

♪ I told him he was just terrific ♪

♪ I woke up one late afternoon ♪

♪ And couldn't tell quite where I was ♪

♪ Leftover taste in my mouth ♪

♪ And with a morning after buzz ♪

♪ I packed my bag and split ♪

♪ And found myself a dancing job ♪

♪ Worked the bar for tips and stripped ♪

♪ For every lonely slob ♪

♪ Counted every single minute as the hours went by ♪

♪ Then fell in bed and cried ♪

♪ Till there were no more tears to cry ♪

♪ You try to stop the thought from comin' ♪

♪ That it never ends ♪

♪ You think about how far you are ♪

♪ From home and friends ♪

♪ You get through one day at a time ♪

♪ You find a way of staying numb ♪

♪ Don't look in the mirror ♪

♪ To see what you've become ♪

♪ But they know how to do it in L.A. ♪

♪ They know how to make it seem brand new ♪

♪ Though it's true what they say ♪

♪ That it's only a dream ♪

♪ And a dream is a wish you wish for you ♪

♪ In L.A. ♪

♪ In L.A. ♪

♪ In L.A. ♪

♪ The dreams ♪

♪ All come ♪

Carmen.

Are you gonna be okay?

Hey.

What's the worry?

I'm a survivor.

But right now I could use some cash.

Here.

Here, my dad gave me 50 for my birthday.

Thanks.

Promise I'll pay you back.

Listen, Carmen.

If you ever need anything,

any time, day or night,

you call, okay?

'Cause I'm always there for you.

Thanks.

Schlomo.

You're the best.

Carmen.

I love you.

Don't ever forget that.

Don't ever forget that.

(groaning)

♪ Yes they know how to do it in L.A. ♪

♪ They know that somewhere up there ♪

♪ The sky is blue ♪

♪ So smile when they say ♪

♪ It's only a dream ♪

♪ And you'll get what is coming to you ♪

♪ In L.A. ♪

♪ In L.A. ♪

(sobbing)

♪ In ♪

♪ L.A. ♪

♪ Your dreams all come ♪

♪ True ♪

(sobbing)

(siren blaring in distance)

(crowd applauding)

(Joe laughing)

Hey, hey, Nick, Serena.

Party at my house.

We're all gonna get naked and play Twister

on my mom's waterbed.

No we're not.

Yeah we are, Tyrone.

We're gonna see if this

rumor is true. Ms. Bell.

Oh. Hi.

Ms. Bell.

Come on, Mabel. The finish line!

Tonight I feel the electricity.

This wonderful current flowing

through every nerve, every cell,

every pore in my body.

I feel like shooting into space. (whooshing)

(chuckling)

A supernova!

And explode into a million pieces

and then float back down to earth.

And then I'd touch every living thing

on this gorgeous planet.

What have you been smokin'?

Just think, it's an end of an era.

We are the,

Class of '84!

The last class to graduate from this dumb, drafty,

wonderful old building.

I wonder what's gonna happen to it.

I wonder what's gonna happen to us.

Serena, I wanna try a new scene.

What have you been smoking?

♪ You were the honest friend ♪

♪ I was the great pretender ♪

♪ I hid my feelings to the end ♪

♪ Now I want to say ♪

♪ What it means to me ♪

♪ How I can never be the same without you ♪

You'll probably go off to Brooklyn College,

meet some guy and forget all about me.

And you'll probably go off to New Haven and

meet some guy and forget all about me.

(chuckling) Very funny.

♪ The way I know I really feel about you ♪

♪ The way I know I'll always feel about you ♪

♪ Why can't we ♪

♪ Why can't we ♪

♪ Why can't we try ♪

♪ To play a love scene ♪

♪ We don't need no violins to play a love scene ♪

♪ Where we see how love begins ♪

♪ Find a way to start ♪

♪ And learn to play a part ♪

♪ A perfect scene from a play unknown ♪

♪ Let's play a ♪

♪ Let's play a ♪

♪ Let's play a love scene ♪

♪ Of our own ♪

(crowd applauding)

(somber piano music)

Ladies and gentlemen,

the lyrics to our senior song

were written by a very talented student, Carmen Diaz.

Unfortunately Carmen is no longer with us.

She died a month ago today,

of a drug overdose.

This is for you, Carmen.

(light piano music)

We'll always remember your name.

♪ We have arrived ♪

♪ At a moment in our lives ♪

♪ Where the future passes into our hands ♪

♪ We can find out ♪

♪ Are we really strong enough ♪

♪ To fulfill ♪

♪ What our future demands ♪

♪ We can stand on the edge ♪

♪ And look out into space ♪

♪ And behold all the wonders we see ♪

♪ We can all make a pledge ♪

♪ To the whole human race ♪

♪ And become what we want it to be ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ Let it shine ♪

♪ Like the sun coming up on a beautiful day ♪

♪ It's yours and mine ♪

♪ We can make a difference ♪

♪ It's not too late ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

♪ Long long ago ♪

♪ In a world we never made ♪

♪ We were children who were making believe ♪

♪ Closing our eyes ♪

♪ We were travelers in air ♪

♪ To a land ♪

♪ We would not want to leave ♪

♪ But this fairy tale land ♪

♪ This fairy tale land ♪

♪ Fades away as we grow ♪

♪ Fades away as we grow ♪

♪ And we all have to say our goodbyes ♪

♪ And we now understand ♪

♪ That this world that we know ♪

♪ Can be ours if we open our eyes ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ Let it shine ♪

♪ Like the sun coming up on a beautiful day ♪

♪ It's yours and mine ♪

♪ We can make a difference ♪

♪ It's not too late ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ It's not too late ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

I love you.

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ Let it shine ♪

♪ Like the sun coming up on a beautiful day ♪

♪ It's yours and mine ♪

♪ We can make a difference ♪

♪ It's not too late ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

♪ Bring on tomorrow ♪

♪ We can't wait ♪

(crowd applauding)

(energetic music)

(energetic rock music)

♪ Baby look at me ♪

♪ And tell me what you see ♪

♪ You ain't seen the best of me yet ♪

♪ Give me time, I'll make you forget the rest ♪

♪ I got more in me ♪

♪ And you can set it free ♪

♪ I can catch the moon in my hand ♪

♪ Don't you know who I am ♪

♪ Remember my name ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪

♪ I'm gonna learn how to fly ♪

♪ High ♪

♪ I feel it comin' together ♪

♪ People will see me and cry ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it to heaven ♪

♪ Light up the sky like a flame ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪

♪ Baby remember my name ♪

♪ Remember, remember, remember ♪

(crowd cheering)

♪ Baby hold me tight ♪

♪ 'Cause you can make it right ♪

♪ You can shoot me straight to the top ♪

♪ Give me love, I'll give all I got to give ♪

♪ Baby I'll be tough ♪

♪ Too much is not enough ♪

♪ You can ride my heart till it breaks ♪

♪ 'Cause you got what it takes ♪

♪ Remember my name ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪

♪ I'm gonna learn how to fly ♪

♪ High ♪

♪ I feel it comin' together ♪

♪ People will see me and cry ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna make it to heaven ♪

♪ Light up the sky like a flame ♪

♪ Fame ♪

♪ I'm gonna live forever ♪

♪ Baby baby baby baby baby ♪ ♪ Baby remember my name ♪

♪ Remember, remember, remember ♪

♪ Remember ♪

♪ Remember my name ♪

(crowd applauding)

(energetic rock music)

(energetic band music)