Original subtitles

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(overlapping chatter)

How do I look?

Oh, that'll look great with your high heels.

Hey, you look great.

Hey, guys. Yo, brother.

Hi.

Hi.

I, uh, called you yesterday.

Did your grandma give you the message?

Yeah. I'm sorry, I, uh, I had to study for finals.

You know, if I want to beat Joey Wong for valedictorian,

I got to work my tail off.

You still could have called me, you know?

All right. Okay.

The reason I didn't call you back is

because I didn't stop what was going on in the hotel room.

I started it, and you stopped it.

Come on, Andrea, we've been around this track too many times.

I didn't want us to do anything we were gonna regret.

Brandon, you're right, you are absolutely right,

but if I don't do something that I'm gonna regret soon,

I am gonna scream.

(both laugh)

(rock music playing over speaker)

♪ Look into the future ♪

♪ Well, it's all right ♪

♪ You know it comes and goes ♪

Can I hide out in here all day?

What are you doing here? I didn't think you'd show.

My parents made me come.

I tried calling you all weekend, but your mother wouldn't

let me through. I know.

Oh, God, David, I'm so embarrassed

about all of this, I could just die.

I'm glad you're here.

I'm sorry.

I can't believe my mom's blaming your dad for all of this.

Yeah, well, she's got to blame somebody.

I'm scared.

What if they don't let me graduate?

That'll never happen. I mean, think about it.

If the board really decided to suspend you,

don't you think you would've heard something by now?

I don't know.

All the board members know your mother.

This whole thing'll blow over.

I hope you're right.

♪ Don't you wonder, ooh ♪

♪ I'm standing underground ♪

Hey, guys, I guess Donna got off the hook.

What do you mean? Well, she's here.

I guess that means she's not suspended.

Oh, come on, nobody's gonna suspend Donna Martin-- not the way

her mother's connected.

I don't know, I think they might try to fry her.

Hey, Donna, David.

Hey. Hey, are you okay?

Hi, guys.

Um, yeah. My mom's freaking out.

I guess I'm not doing so good, either.

It'll be all right. You'll see.

I just want to graduate so badly.

You will. (sighs)

Here, try this baby on for size.

(laughs)

Thanks.

And a cap to boot.

(laughing): I think it goes like this.

You look great.

You really think I'm gonna get

to wear this with you guys?

Donna, you've never done anything wrong before.

I don't think the school board's looking for a scapegoat.

Hi, guys.

Uh, Donna, listen, I hate to rain

on your parade here, but Mrs. Teasley wants to see you

in her office, now.

Oh, God.

This is it.

I'll walk you down. Okay.

Thanks, Kel. You're welcome.

KELLY: Good luck.

Not looking for a scapegoat, huh?

Oh my God, my parents are here.

It's gonna be bad, huh?

Come on.

Hello, Dr. Martin, Mrs. Martin.

Hello, David.

I'll call you later.

I'm sorry, Daddy.

It's a little late for that.

Honey, save the apologies for in there.

They're the ones that need to hear it now.

Dr. and Mrs. Martin, Donna, we'll see you now.

(quietly): Come on.

Donna, this is Superintendent Ephardt.

I believe you already know each other.

FELICE: Yes, of course.

Hello, George. Felice.

Believe me when I say I wish we were meeting

under different circumstances.

Please, be seated.

Donna, last week

an announcement was made in one of your classes-- did you hear it?

Yes.

In that case, I'd like you to tell us

what you understood it to mean?

That if anyone was drunk at prom,

they wouldn't be able to graduate.

That's the gist of it.

Were you drunk, Donna?

I don't know. You don't know?

Mrs. Teasley said you collapsed

on the floor of the lobby

of the Bel Age Hotel-- that, in fact,

you were so drunk you could barely make it to the car.

I don't exactly remember.

Well, let's start earlier in the evening.

What do you remember?

Do you remember how much you had to drink?

I just had two glasses of champagne.

Two glasses?

Two, maybe three.

Where did you have

these two... or three glasses?

At a pre-prom party at a friend's house.

His father poured a little bit for everyone who wasn't driving.

I hadn't eaten all day, Mr. Ephardt.

I didn't know it would hit me like that.

Donna, do you know the legal drinking age

in this state?

No one sold her any liquor, George.

She drank some wine at a private home.

Do you, Donna?

Yes, I do.

What's going to happen to me?

Someone please tell me.

I'm sorry, Donna, you're hereby suspended,

pending a hearing tonight by a disciplinary panel

of the Board of Education.

Tonight?

Look, that's not enough time.

I'm sorry.

The hearing will begin at 5:30.

You're entitled to counsel.

I'll see you then.

(door opens, closes)

What is the matter with you two?

Donna Martin practically throws up

on the principal's shoes, gets thrown out of school,

and you don't want to write about it in the Blaze?

MEYERS: Tobi, your point is well taken.

However, the final edition is locked.

Well, I say, stop the presses.

Or we publish an extra.

Hell, you two should be writing

an eyewitness account-- you were there.

We were not!

I thought you and Brandon

were sitting at Donna's table. We were.

We just weren't actually there when it actually came down.

HOWARD: Oh, what'd you two do,

get a room or something?

(fake chuckle) That's funny.

Howard, don't waste your breath.

They just want to publish the usual treacle:

a nice, bland senior edition

with the cute little senior poll,

cute little senior wills,

just like all the rest of the fluff they've published this year.

You know, I resent that.

You know, in a sick way,

what's happening to Donna Martin is an appropriate epitaph

for the dead spirit of the entire class of '93.

Over and out.

JACKIE: Mel, what were you thinking,

giving those kids champagne?

Somebody ought to have you arrested!

Yeah, well, you're going to go over there

and you're going to see that poor girl's parents,

and you're going to apologize!

David and Kelly just walked in.

Yeah, I'll, uh, talk to you later.

My dad didn't mean for this to happen.

No, David, he never means for anything to happen.

Mom, Mel didn't get anybody drunk.

He just had a couple of bottles of champagne,

enough for everybody to make a toast to.

Oh, now he's got you defending him?

Mother.

All right, look, let's just forget it.

We have something infinitely more important to talk about.

We're moving.

What?

Remember the Browers?

Well, they finally met our offer.

And because they've already sold

their house, they want to move in as soon as possible.

Well, how soon?

Escrow closes in ten days.

I cannot believe this.

I mean, this is some graduation present.

I'm sorry, honey.

Has anyone ever told you you have really lousy timing?

Story of my life.

MARTIN: Felice?

Uh, Jay, would you hold on a minute, please?

I talked to Gordon.

He thinks that he wants to be with us

at the hearing.

No. I told you, I don't want a lawyer.

Why not?

Because I'm close to these people.

I don't want to alienate anyone.

W-Were you at the same meeting that I was at this morning?

Jay, can I call you back?

Thanks.

MARTIN: Look, a simple mea culpa is not

going to make this thing go away.

This is so humiliating for me.

I'm sorry, Mom.

I'm sorry this is so horrible for you.

But what else can I say?

How do you think I feel.

I'm the one who isn't gonna graduate.

Well, I guess you should've thought

of that before you got drunk.

Mom, everyone drank.

Why do you think Drive Alive

gave us quarters for the telephone?

Donna,

you passed out in front of the vice principal.

MARTIN: Honey,

I want you go upstairs and get dressed, all right?

We don't want to be late for the meeting.

Go ahead.

Okay, Daddy.

FELICE: Would you please try to find something dignified to wear?

KELLY: So how long is this hearing supposed to last?

I don't know.

The disciplinary committee hearings

take place behind closed doors.

I've never been to one before.

Well, maybe we should all go down there.

She just said the hearing is closed.

Besides, it's probably over by now.

NAT: Donna's on the phone.

Who wants to take it?

I will.

Donna, what happened?

I lost.

(voice breaking): They won't let me graduate with you guys.

Oh, Donna.

I'm suspended

for five days,

and then I can come back,

but I can't participate in graduation

or any other senior activities.

I'm so sorry.

And I have to go to summer school till August,

and then I can get my diploma.

And I have to go into a substance abuse program

at the Maple Center.

You?

You don't have a drinking problem.

Maybe I do.

Donna, that's ridiculous.

This whole thing is ridiculous.

I know, but my parents won't even appeal.

And my mother says that I deserve it.

Maybe I do.

Brenda, it's just not fair.

I just want to get my diploma with you guys.

We're with you, Donna.

Just hold it together, okay?

(softly): Yeah.

Well?

You guys are never going to believe this.

They're throwing her out of school.

She's not going to get to graduate.

STEVE: Man!

I told you.

So much for Felice Martin's influence-peddling.

BRENDA: And get this:

Mrs. Martin is totally caving.

They're not even going to file an appeal.

She's got a lot of integrity, that Felice.

Maybe we should tell them

that we were all drinking Saturday night.

What, are you crazy? What good would that do?

Well, if they could see that Donna wasn't the only one...

They'd throw us all out of school, David.

Look, they all know we were together.

She just better not name names.

Donna wouldn't do that, you know it.

Well, I guess this is all pretty hopeless

then, isn't it? ANDREA: Yeah.

Especially up against those lip service

hypocrites on the school board.

Guys, I love Donna.

I'd love to hang out here all night,

but I got to study for the finals.

Yeah, me, too.

Yeah, and I have to put the entire contents of my life

into a moving box.

Adios, amigos.

Andrea, wait a second, wait a second.

Are we all just wimping out here?

You mean were Howard and Tobi right about us?

Yeah.

You and I both know the only thing Donna did

that we all didn't do was get caught.

Brandon, at this point, that is totally irrelevant.

I mean, they are looking to make an example of her.

If there's not going to be an appeal,

there's not a whole lot we can do about it.

I'm sorry.

KELLY: I can't study.

I just keep thinking about Donna.

Yeah?

Yeah, I mean, I can't believe her parents won't appeal.

My mom would stick up for me.

I know she would.

Oh, well, your mom's pretty cool.

You're not going to believe how cool.

How cool?

Well...

I asked her if I could spend the night here.

Guess what she said?

Really?

Really.

Well, not really.

But she's so stressed out with the move and everything

that I don't think she even heard me.

We'll give her the benefit of the doubt.

How 'bout that?

You really want to go to Berkeley, don't you?

I don't know.

I mean, I like it there.

I'd miss you.

Come on, Kel,

there are planes leaving for the Bay Area every half an hour,

and besides, no one's going anywhere yet.

I've got to get in first.

Well, just don't ask me

for a letter of recommendation, okay?

Yeah, well, if I don't do some studying tonight,

I don't think that'll be an issue.

In that case, you come here.

MEL: I hope I didn't do anything to offend either of you.

In my family, we always served a little wine

to celebrate a special occasion.

I had no idea it would affect Donna that way.

Hey, it's all right.

I'm going over there tonight

to apologize to Donna's parents.

And try and get 'em to appeal this whole thing.

Good luck.

Felice Martin is a very stubborn woman.

Well, I may not like Felice's politics,

but I suppose I owe her an apology.

After all, if this is anybody's fault, it's mine.

You know, we all drank that night,

none of the rest of us got sick.

Wait a minute, has it occurred to anybody

that nobody's even bothered to prove Donna was drunk?

Maybe she had a virus.

If this was a real courtroom,

someone would at least have to ask

that question.

Well, it sounds like unless her parents appeal,

no one's going to have a chance to ask any questions.

(doorbell rings)

Mel.

Hello, Felice.

Uh, may we come in?

No, you may not.

Then I'll say what I have to say right here.

I served our children champagne

to celebrate their graduation.

It was my decision,

and Donna didn't do anything wrong.

Mrs. Martin, it's not fair.

You've got to appeal this.

There was a rule.

Donna broke it.

I thank you both for stopping by.

Mel, I appreciate your honesty.

Well, can I

talk to Donna? No.

Well, that went over big.

I don't understand, Mom.

Dr. Silver's right.

Why aren't we appealing this?

I just want to graduate with my friends.

Please, Mom.

Donna, listen to me.

I have done everything

in my power.

I have used all my influence

with the board, and nothing has worked.

Now, I refuse to put this family or you

through any further humiliation.

You can't forgive me, can you, Mom?

That's what this is really about.

It's not about the board, it's about you.

You're great at making the rules,

but you don't exactly live by them.

What is that supposed to mean?

Come on, Mom, do you really want me to have to say it?

Okay. You had an affair-- do you remember that? Donna!

You were just having some harmless fun.

In fact, it was at the Bel Age Hotel, just like me.

And just like me, you got caught.

I caught you.

That has nothing to do with this.

Yes, it has something to do with this.

This is about forgiveness.

Mom, Daddy and I forgave you.

Why can't you just forgive me?

What are you guys doing here?

Got called out of AP English.

We're supposed to see Mrs. Teasley.

Me, too.

Damn, Donna sold us out.

I don't believe it.

Me either.

Well, at least you're in the clear, bro.

Everybody knows you don't touch the stuff.

Guilty by association.

It's true.

Hi. Is this what I think it is?

STEVE: Bingo.

What's going on?

Well, it seems that Donna sold us out.

BRANDON: Steve. Well, what are we gonna tell 'em?

STEVE: Nothing.

We're gonna tell them nothing.

Steve, if Donna already said

that we were drinking, there's no use

in lying to them.

Hey, come on,

it's her word against ours, right?

No, Steve, you're missing the point, man.

We're here to corroborate.

They want to talk to us

so they can build a case against Donna.

You really think they would do that?

I think they'd do anything at this point.

So, guys, we tell them nothing, okay?

That's right, that's my point exactly.

Good, I'm glad you're all here.

You're all Donna's best friends,

and I know you were all together Saturday night.

I just spoke to the school board,

and I want you all to know that

the Martins have changed their mind and requested an appeal.

They have?

It's scheduled for 10:00 tomorrow morning.

And I just thought since you're all so close,

you might want to write some letters on Donna's behalf.

Well, you'll all be taking finals in the morning,

so you won't be able to make the hearing,

but if you get the letters to me,

I'll enter them into the record for you.

You do want to help her, don't you?

Of course we do. Good.

I knew Donna could count on you.

Now, make sure you get the letters to me

by 3:00, okay?

I can't believe you thought Donna ratted on us.

Oh, come off it, Brenda.

We all did.

You know we all did.

Steve's right, we were all thinking about

how we were gonna save our own hides.

We have to write letters that are gonna tear their hearts out.

Come on, Andrea, we all know

that the letters are not going to do any good.

ANDREA: "Donna has always been a leader,

helping students less fortunate than herself.

Oh, Brandon, why does this sound so...

I don't know, just...

Useless?

Exactly.

Brandon, can I talk to you for a second in the hallway?

Sure.

Your instincts are right, you know.

What?

Donna's being railroaded here.

This hearing's nothing but a kangaroo court.

So what do we do?

No, what do you do.

I've been asking myself that same question all day.

Listen, when the Supreme Court hears a case,

thousands of people march on Washington

in support of whatever side they're on.

You want to change the world, start with the school board.

You mean we should have some kind of demonstration?

You figure it out.

I've already said enough to get me fired.

Wait a minute, Gil,

West Beverly is the most apathetic school in America,

and the class of '93

is the most apathetic class in the school.

Nobody's going to march anywhere,

except maybe to a sale at Fred Segal's.

Listen, they would if they had a leader.

You know, Brandon,

when I first met you, that's what I thought you were.

Hey, what a nice surprise.

You never visit me in the middle of the day.

I need to talk to you about something, Dad.

Is everything okay?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, everything's, uh...

everything's fine.

Okay, what's on your mind?

Well, uh...

remember when you were in college in the 60s

and there were all the Vietnam War demonstrations?

Yeah.

You went, right?

Oh, sure, everybody did.

(chuckling): Yeah, it was the thing to do.

Everybody? Oh, yeah.

I remember taking a bus down to Chicago for the moratorium.

Must've been over a hundred thousand people in Grant Park.

Of course, when the cops came it thinned out a little bit.

Brandon?

What's going on?

Dad, I'm thinking about doing something that could get me

in a lot of trouble,

and I thought maybe I should tell you about it

before I did it. What are you planning?

Someone's got to stand up for Donna, Dad.

(sighs)

Just do me one favor, Brandon...

don't get yourself arrested.

ANDREA: We have finals tomorrow. We can't do this.

BRANDON: Don't you see?

Finals are the key to this whole thing.

We get the entire senior class to walk out on finals

and march on the school board. Think about it.

No one takes finals, no one graduates.

Shh!

What, free Donna or fail us all?

What do you think?

It could work.

So why do you look so nervous?

Because I have a lot at stake here.

And so do a lot of other kids.

I mean, who's going to take that kind of risk?

Andrea, we at least have to try.

Brandon, if I don't take finals tomorrow,

I can't be valedictorian.

Oh, come on, Andrea.

You're the one who's always saying you want

to make a mark around here,

that the class of '93 should be remembered for something.

Do you really want to be valedictorian of a class

that hasn't done a single noteworthy thing all year?

No.

We can do this.

No way, I've come too far.

Look, if I walk out on finals,

forget suspension; I get expelled.

Not if everybody walks out with you, Steve.

They're not going to suspend the entire class of '93.

Are you going to guarantee me that, Andrea?

Look, I care about Donna just as much

as you guys do, all right?

Normally, I would do anything for her,

but I'm on probation! I can't!

Yesterday, we all thought that Donna sold us out.

Well, she didn't.

And she'd be the first one to do this for any of us.

You ready to sell her out?

I can't.

I'm sorry.

Steve, bro,

it's time to lay it on the line

and not just for Donna,

but because what they're trying to do here is wrong.

Brandon, get in the real world, man.

Nobody is going to go along with this.

So she goes to summer school.

She'll graduate in August.

Nobody's going to blow their finals

so she can wear a cap and a gown.

That's not what this is about, Dylan!

This is about making a statement, being heard!

It's about trying to do something,

even if it doesn't work.

DYLAN: What about you?

Silver, what about you?

Are you gonna ditch the finals and miss your chance

at getting out of this place a year early?

Yeah, yeah. For Donna, I would.

So would I.

All right, I'll do it.

Great.

Let's hit the phones.

You guys are crazy.

Maybe we are, but Donna's my best friend.

You heard Brandon-- she would do that for anybody here.

Kel, don't you understand where I'm coming from here?

I mean, for the first time in my life

I finally have some direction, I know what I want to do.

I got to do good on those exams. I'm sorry.

I don't think I'm the one you should be apologizing to.

Where are you going? I thought you were going to come over.

I've got calls to make now.

That's right. At 10:00 exactly you walk out.

Listen, I'm sure you've heard about what's happening

to Donna Martin...

All you got to do is get up from whatever exam

you're taking and walk out the door...

No, you don't need a note from your mother...

Everyone's going to be doing it

and you don't want to be left there sitting alone...

See you tomorrow, cool. Bye.

(sighs)

Ten out of ten.

Yeah, me, too. I just finished up the last call.

I never realized how much people care about Donna.

I mean, you should have heard everybody.

I know.

Everybody felt so guilty, like it could have happened

to any one of them.

That what's they kept saying, over and over.

Do you think it's gonna work?

I hope so.

Otherwise, we just talked a lot of people

into throwing away their high school careers for nothing.

STEVE: You know, I'm beginning to wonder.

Maybe Dylan was right. Maybe this is a mistake.

Just forget about Dylan.

He's on his own trip.

Steve, we've been over this a hundred times.

I know, I know. I'm just a little nervous, okay?

Listen, guys, I told Donna what's going down.

She said to say she loves you all.

Let's just hope for her sake that this works.

I know this is going to sound kind of stupid,

but shouldn't we, like,

synchronize our watches or something?

No, we should go by the classroom clocks.

10:00 a.m. we walk.

Okay.

Well, in a few hours from now, we'll either

all be heroes... or big-time losers.

So, Walsh,

looks like the rooster's come home to crow.

Where'd you learn that, Tobi, The Farmer's Almanac?

(laughs)

Last week when our dress code came down

and it didn't affect you,

you didn't give a damn what happened at this school.

Now we hear through the grapevine

that there's some massive senior mobilization

to save Donna Martin.

Well, you heard right.

Well, we just wanted to, uh, say...

we're with you.

Thanks.

And we talked to a lot of juniors.

If you can somehow add dumping the dress code

to your list of demands,

you've got 300 more kids walking with you.

What do you say, guys?

I never really liked dress codes.

I say stick it to 'em.

Absolutely. Cool. All right!

All right then.

Oh, Jackie!

Oh, I'm so glad you're here.

Well, someone had to show up to speak for Donna.

Hopefully, we can make a difference.

Yeah.

Felice?

Hi, Donna.

Hi, Dr. Silver.

How're you holding up?

Okay, I guess.

Good.

Felice, I'm going to testify on Donna's behalf today,

and I just want to say I think you made the right decision.

I'm so glad you think so.

We just wanted to wish you all good luck.

Thank you.

Well, to tell you the truth, at first I was against this.

JACKIE: You know, Felice,

I've thought an awful lot about this.

You know I've had my own share of problems

with drugs and alcohol,

and if I really believed

that making an example of Donna

would convince even one kid not to drink too much,

I would be leading the fight against her,

but you can't scare people into sobriety.

It doesn't work for kids and it doesn't work for adults.

Well, right now,

all I want is to see my daughter graduate.

MEYERS: Finals will commence at 10:00 sharp.

Please place all your books under your seats.

All you will need are two sharp pencils.

If you finish early,

you may turn in your test booklet and leave the room.

When the 10:00 bell rings, pick up your pencil

and begin your exam.

When the bell rings for the end of the period,

put down your pencils and close your blue books.

And if I catch anyone's eyes wandering, I can assure you

that you'll be taking the same test next year.

(bell rings)

What's going on?

We're walking out.

What the hell is this?

It's a march.

Donna Martin graduates or none of us do.

Want to come?

Well, you know what they say.

If you can't beat 'em...

Go on, everybody else has.

I figure if I'm going to be going to Berkeley,

I'm going to have to learn to do this thing anyway.

(laughs)

(chanting): Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Yo, good to see you're with us, my man.

A little peer pressure every time.

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Maybe I was wrong, Brandon.

Maybe the class of '93

has life left in it after all.

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

(gavel raps)

This meeting will come to order.

Let the record show that all board members are present,

including Melanie Silverman,

who cut her vacation short to be here.

This hearing was called at the request

of Dr. and Mrs. John Martin

to appeal a decision of the disciplinary committee

in regards to their daughter,

West Beverly senior Donna Martin.

The committee voted to suspend Miss Martin

and revoke all senior privileges, including graduation

after she was found to be intoxicated

at the West Beverly senior prom.

There will be an opportunity

to hear from character witnesses in Miss Martin's behalf.

Also, it should be noted for the record

that we have received several dozens of letters

in support of Miss Martin.

Right now, I think we'd like to talk

to the young woman herself.

Miss Martin,

will you step forward, please?

I love you, sweetheart.

I'm scared.

I know.

It'll be okay.

Just tell the truth.

Okay.

Donna, before we talk to your parents

or hear from the others here,

I'd like you to tell me why

you think this board should consider

overturning the decision

of the disciplinary committee.

Because... I'm sorry for what I did.

I'm sorry I got drunk,

but all I was doing was celebrating with my friends

on prom night.

And Dr. Silver, well, he made a toast to us,

and it was really nice.

And I didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

I loved being in high school.

I love West Beverly.

And I would love more than anything in this whole world,

to be able to walk up there and get my diploma

with the rest of my class.

With my friends.

Please, please, believe me.

I didn't plan to get drunk.

(wild shouting outside)

I'm sorry.

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

What's that?

Sounds like a revolution.

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

This is bigger than I ever imagined.

Look at all these people.

Yeah, well, it's not over yet.

What if they call the police, Brandon?

We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Yes? I think we have a problem.

What's going on?

There's a mob outside.

What?!

Send someone outside to find out what on earth

is going on. Okay.

(chanting continues)

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

(chanting continues)

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Mrs. Teasley, am I correct

in assuming that the students outside this building

should be taking their finals right now? Yes, sir.

ANDREA: Excuse me.

Superintendent Ephardt?

Um... some of us thought that we should come down here

and stand by our friend.

Did you know anything about this?

No.

Very well, Miss Zuckerman. Proceed.

I have a statement that I would like to read.

"Recent actions

"of the school board have prompted strong reactions

"on the part of the students

"at West Beverly High School.

"The junior and senior class refuse

"to take finals unless Donna Martin graduates.

Suspend Donna, suspend us all."

That's nonsense.

There are a lot of angry people out there.

You can't just ignore them.

I allowed you to speak today as a character witness,

Miss Zuckerman.

Your threats do nothing to enhance

my perception of Miss Martin's character or of yours.

I'm going to call a recess here.

We'll return in 30 minutes, by which time

I expect to have the situation outside under control.

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Stop this! Do you hear me? Stop this!

What do you all think you're doing here?

Do you think you're helping anyone?

We're all here to show our support for Donna, Mrs. Martin.

She has spent the entire morning in there

apologizing to the board.

This little demonstration, you can be sure,

has just thrown all that out the window!

Yeah, well, we all thought we needed to be here.

You all are the last thing I need here right now.

Do you honestly think that anyone in there

is going to respond to your threats?

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

(chanting continues)

EPHARDT: I'm calling the Beverly Hills Police Department.

SILVERMAN: I think you're taking this too far, George.

Give the kid a slap on the wrist

and everyone goes home.

Mr. Ephardt, for the record,

Donna Martin has never been a problem at West Beverly.

In fact, this is a kid who overcame a learning disability

and against all odds climbed her way

to the top half of her class.

I hate to see this happening to her.

It could really hurt.

The no-drinking rule was passed unanimously

by this board.

What kind of a message do you think it sends

when the first student that breaks it gets off?

I wasn't here when you passed that motion,

but did any of you consider the students' reactions?

Oh, so now the students control the school board?

I don't think so.

What do they think this is, the Vietnam War?

Well, I am not caving in to a bunch of hippie wannabes.

With all due respect, sir, there are over 500 students out there.

I don't care how many there are out there.

We'll call parents, we'll notify colleges.

Recommendations will be revoked.

You can't do that.

Watch me.

ALL: Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Brandon, Brandon.

I assume you had something to do with this.

Yeah.

Well, Superintendent Ephardt has a message for you.

Hey, hey, hey, everybody!

Everybody shut up!

Shut up!

Thank you.

What's it say?

It says if we drop the whole thing right now,

they won't go ahead and flunk all of us.

Can they do that?

Listen, I know how important Donna Martin is to all of you,

but Superintendent Ephardt is serious about this,

and I'd hate to see you throw

your entire high school careers

down the drain for this.

Tell Superintendent Ephardt

that, uh, summer school registration is going

to break the record this year.

STEVE: Donna Martin graduates.

Donna Martin graduates.

Donna Martin graduates.

ALL: Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Brandon, maybe this has gone too far.

Maybe you should just tell everybody to go home.

Dad, come on, you sound like Spiro Agnew.

Everybody, come on, we're going in!

(cheering loudly)

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates! Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

This meeting will come to order.

Donna Martin graduates!

(gavel banging)

This meeting will come back to order.

Donna Martin graduates!

Donna Martin graduates!

Superintendent Ephardt.

You're out of order, Mr. Walsh.

I think we've gone a little beyond Robert's Rules at this point, George.

I'd like to hear what Brandon has to say.

(bystanders agreeing) Thank you.

Now, the students have taken your "threats"

very seriously, Superintendent Ephardt,

but I think you can judge by their reaction

that no one's going anywhere,

so unless you're prepared to call the police

to make us all go home,

I think you ought to take what we're saying

a little more seriously.

GIRL: Yeah.

Now we're all here because we believe in something.

You all would have been very happy

if you hadn't caught someone

with an unblemished school record,

someone that you could have very easily made

an example out of.

That's what this rule was all about, wasn't it?

However, ladies and gentlemen, you caught the wrong person.

You caught someone that doesn't deserve to be treated like this.

You caught our friend,

Donna Martin.

Donna Martin is the kind of girl that goes

out of her way for people.

That's why all these people here are going

out of their way for her.

We love Donna,

and we're not going to see her hurt.

(people applauding)

Right on.

Thank you, Mr. Walsh.

(girl clears throat)

Oh, one more thing.

I don't think you're going

to have much success matriculating

the juniors unless, uh,

you drop this whole dress code thing.

(people cheering)

We'll take that under advisement.

Any questions?

Yeah.

I'd just like to say that I, for one, am not prepared

to call the police here today.

Therefore, I move we vote to allow Donna Martin

to graduate, provided she enroll in a drug

and alcohol counseling program at the Maple Center.

Second.

I also suggest that we review the dress code situation,

or we're going to have a demonstration

like this the first week of school in September.

Right. That's right.

Very well.

An aye vote signifies Miss Martin will graduate.

A nay vote signifies the decision

of the disciplinary committee

will stand.

Mr. Chang.

Nay.

EPHARDT: Mrs. Richter.

Aye.

Ms. Silverman?

Aye.

Mr. Pula?

Nay.

Mrs. Lufrano for the final deciding vote.

Aye.

(cheering)

Thank God.

Congratulations.

Mm. (sighs)

Congratulations.

STEVE: All right, I got a great idea.

Let's all get drunk.

(cheering)

Steven, I know I didn't hear that.

Okay, everybody, fun's over.

Let's go back to school.

Afternoon finals will proceed as scheduled.

(all groaning)

You, too, Donna.

You know, Mrs. T., I have never been so happy

to take a final in my entire life.

Congratulations, my sweetheart, and welcome back.

And in honor of Donna,

a piece of pie of your choice is on you know who.

(laughs)

Thank you, Nat.

(grunting): The man of the hour.

Hail to the conquering hero.

Donna, I, uh, I got a little present for you.

What is it? Just open it.

It's something you worked long and hard for.

Okay.

Oh...

Thanks, guys.

No one could ever, ever have friends like you guys.

♪ I said baby, can't you see? ♪

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you...

the graduate.

Whoo! Whoo!

Ha, ha!

♪ I know I made you mad ♪

♪ Forgive me... ♪