Notes from Dad (2013) - full transcript
Gifted trumpet player Clay Allen accepts a job as high-school music teacher. The music department is threatened by budget cuts. To raise community support, he tries to resurrect the school orchestra and do well in schools competition. That can only work if the only naturally brilliant pupil stars, but he's torn between sincere sympathy for both saxophone and Clay, who proves a great mentor, on the one hand and his equally gifted big brother's determination to stay away from jazz, due to a family trauma. Meanwhile divorced Clay worries that his wonderful son, who feels unintentionally neglected, is getting estranged.
[cheers and applause]
[trumpet music]
♪
[cheers and applause]
[alarm beeps]
- [exhales]
[gargling]
[school bell rings]
[tires screech]
- MR. ALLEN.
WE DON'T FEEL
IT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT
OUR EDUCATORS ARRIVE ON TIME,
ESPECIALLY FIRST DAY OF CLASS.
- I KNOW, I'M SORRY.
IN MY...
IN MY ATTEMPT
TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION,
I LOST TRACK OF TIME.
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN,
I PROMISE.
OH, GOOD.
I SEE THERE'S COFFEE.
- YES,
IN THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE.
- OH, GOOD.
- I'M SURE TOMORROW
YOU'LL BE HERE EARLY ENOUGH
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT FACT.
- WHOA, WHOA. WATCH IT.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M JUST LATE TO CLASS.
- MITCH FRANKLIN.
- CLAY ALLEN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
- NEW MUSIC TEACHER,
RIGHT?
- YEAH.
- YEAH, I HEARD.
ANY CHANCE YOU'LL STICK AROUND
LONGER THAN THE LAST GUY?
- WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE LAST GUY?
- OH, FOUND OUT HE COULD
MAKE MORE MONEY AT THE DMV.
- THINK
THEY'RE STILL HIRING?
- [laughs]
[hip-hop music playing]
[classroom chatter]
- ♪ I'VE GOT THE TORCH NOW
NO PASSING THE FLAME ♪
♪ 'CAUSE THE FACTS ARE THE SAME,
YOU JUST GASSING MY FLAME ♪
♪ I GOTTA CATCH THE FAME,
MAN, I HAVE TO REMAIN ♪
♪ ON MY ON MY GROUND TILL
THE DAY THAT I MASTER THE GAME ♪
♪ IT'S CHRISTMAS AND THINGS,
YOU GET JEWELS AND GIFTS ♪
[overlapping chatter]
♪ WE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE NOW,
NO JOKE ♪
[chatter continues]
♪ I'LL MAKE YOUR BIG DAY
SEEM LIKE OLD NEWS ♪
♪ SUCH A FACE IN A...
[music stops]
- OH.
- QUE PASO?
- FOR REAL?
- SAY, MAN,
SUPPOSED TO BE A MUSIC CLASS,
AIN'T IT?
- HIP-HOP IS NOT
PART OF THE CURRICULUM.
- YEAH, WELL,
IT SHOULD BE.
- [laughs]
- WORD.
[chatter]
- MY NAME
IS MR. ALLEN.
WELL, WELCOME.
WELCOME
TO MUSIC APPRECIATION,
WHERE EVERYBODY GETS AN "A"
JUST FOR SHOWING UP, RIGHT?
[laughter]
[general agreement]
WELL, NOT ANYMORE. NOW, YOU GUYS
ARE GONNA HAVE TO EARN IT.
ALTHOUGH I AM
OPENED UP TO BRIBES.
CUPCAKES,
THEY SEEM TO WORK.
RED VELVET,
IF ANYONE'S TAKING NOTES.
[laughter]
YES, UM...
- CARMEN.
I HEARD YOU WERE, LIKE,
THIS AMAZING TRUMPET PLAYER.
- I WOULDN'T SAY AMAZING.
AWESOME, CERTAINLY,
BUT NOT AMAZING.
- WELL,
IF YOU'RE SO AWESOME,
THEN WHY ARE YOU
TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL?
all: OH!
[laughter]
- WELL, I BELIEVE MUSIC
CAN UPLIFT US, TOUCH OUR SOUL.
PLUS,
I NEEDED A JOB.
[laughter]
- YO,
WHAT'S IN THE CASE?
- THAT'S MY TRUMPET.
IT GOES WHERE I GO.
YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHY?
- 'CAUSE YOU CRAZY?
[laughter]
- YOU SOUND
JUST LIKE MY EX-WIFE.
[laughter]
NO, SERIOUSLY, YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHY SOMEBODY WOULD
CARRY THEIR TRUMPET AROUND
WITH THEM WHEREVER THEY GO?
ANY IDEAS?
COME ON, PEOPLE.
I'M NEW AT THIS. HELP ME OUT.
YES?
- 'CAUSE
IT'S A PART OF YOU.
- I'M SORRY,
I DIDN'T GET THAT.
- BECAUSE
IT'S A PART OF YOU.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S A PART OF ME.
LET'S OPEN UP OUR TEXTBOOKS
TO CHAPTER ONE.
"MUSIC, MUSIC EVERYWHERE."
- SORRY.
- PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT
YOU'VE GOTTEN YOURSELF INTO.
- YOU KNOW,
THESE KIDS LOOK AT ME
LIKE I'M SPEAKING
A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
- [chuckles] YOU ARE,
TO THEM, AT LEAST.
TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE
LIKE WHEN WE WERE THEIR AGE.
- YOU TRYING TO SCARE ME?
- [laughs]
YOU GOT ANY KIDS?
- I GOT ONE,
A SON IN COLLEGE.
- THINK ABOUT
HOW YOU CONNECT WITH HIM.
- [over walkie-talkie]
MR. MANNY, PLEASE REPORT
TO THE CAFETERIA
WITH A MOP AND BUCKET...
A LARGE BUCKET.
- ON MY WAY.
CLEAN UP ON AISLE 11.
BY THE WAY,
NAME'S MANNY GAUZA.
- SO WHAT, THAT'S ALL
YOU GOT FOR ME, MANNY?
"THINK ABOUT
WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE?"
- YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
- WHAT MAKES YOU
SO SURE?
- 'CAUSE THEY NEED YOU,
WHETHER THEY KNOW IT, OR NOT.
- OH, CLAY.
I WASN'T EXPECTING YOU.
IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
- EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I JUST WANTED TO DROP OFF
THE CHECK FOR NATE'S TUITION.
- WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE THAT?
IS SOMETHING WRONG?
- I GOT A JOB.
A REAL JOB, WITH BENEFITS,
AND EVERYTHING.
- SO DOES THIS NEW JOB INVOLVE
PLAYING THE TRUMPET IN CLUBS
TILL 3:00 IN THE MORNING?
- NO, NO. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
- WELL, ARE YOU AT LEAST
GONNA TELL ME WHAT IT IS?
- TEACHING
HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC.
[door opening]
- NATE.
THERE'S MY BOY.
DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WERE BACK IN TOWN.
YEAH, HOW WAS
YOUR FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL?
- IT WAS COOL.
- IT WAS GOOD?
WHERE YOU OFF TO?
- RAFTING.
- RAFTING?
I THOUGHT
YOU HATED THE OUTDOORS.
- NO, DAD.
THAT'S YOU.
- YEAH,
THERE'S TOO MANY BUGS.
- LOOK, YOU KNOW,
I GOTTA BOUNCE.
- OKAY. LOOK,
NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN TOWN,
GIVE ME A CALL, ALL RIGHT?
WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GET TOGETHER.
- DEFINITELY.
- YEAH,
BE CAREFUL, HONEY.
WEAR LOTS OF SUNSCREEN,
OKAY?
- SEE YOU LATER.
HE'S NOT GONNA CALL,
IS HE?
WELL, HEY, I'LL GET YOU...
I'LL GET YOU THE REST
NEXT WEEK, OKAY?
- YEAH.
- THE THREE "Bs"
OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.
WHO ARE THEY,
AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
- WE DON'T.
- BUT YOU SHOULD.
[laughter]
OKAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT.
THE FIRST ONE...
- BEYONCE?
[laughter]
- NO, BUT THANKS
FOR PLAYING.
ALL RIGHT,
HOW ABOUT ANOTHER HINT.
[Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
playing]
- OH, BEASTIE BOYS.
- NO, THAT WOULD BE
MORE LIKE THIS.
[record scratching]
[classical music continues
with hip-hop beat]
♪
[record scratching]
♪
WELL, DON'T LOOK
SO SURPRISED.
MR. A'S
GOT SOME SKILLS.
[laughter]
OH, LOOK,
THERE YOU GO.
SOMEBODY'S FEELING IT.
LOOK AT THAT.
[laughter and chatter]
COME ON, GET UP. SHOW ME
WHAT YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT RHYTHM.
[overlapping chatter]
♪
YEAH.
THERE YOU GO.
[laughter]
- WHOO. I LIKE IT.
- CHECK THIS OUT.
♪
[record scratching]
♪
WHAT'S WRONG?
♪
[record scratch, music ends]
MS. SUTTON.
WE WERE...WE WERE JUST
GOING OVER THE, UM...
UM...
[laughter]
WE WERE JUST GOING OVER
THE, UH...
- BEETHOVEN, BACH, BRAHMS.
- YES.
THAT'S RIGHT, THE THREE "Bs"
OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.
- I'D REALLY LOVE TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT THIS AFTER SCHOOL.
[snickering]
- BUSTED.
[laughter]
- MR. A IN TROUBLE.
- AH, DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
I'M NOT IN TROUBLE.
I'M NOT, OKAY?
AM I?
all: YEAH.
[school bell rings]
- ALL RIGHT,
CLASS, LISTEN.
DON'T FORGET TO READ
THAT CHAPTER ON CLASSICAL MUSIC.
THERE'S GONNA BE A TEST
TOMORROW.
LOOK AT ME.
THIS IS MY "NOT KIDDING" FACE.
OKAY? READ.
- HEY, IT'S T.J.,
ISN'T IT?
THANK YOU
FOR JUMPING IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU SEEM TO BE
THE ONLY ONE IN CLASS
WHO KNOWS
OR EVEN CARES ABOUT MUSIC.
- THEY LIKE MUSIC,
JUST NOT YOUR KIND.
- SO LET'S TALK
ABOUT FIRST PERIOD.
- I KNOW, I KNOW
THE WHOLE DJ THING
MAY SEEM A LITTLE UNORTHODOX,
BUT AT THIS POINT,
I'M WILLING
TO TRY ANYTHING,
AND IT'S NOT JUST FIRST PERIOD,
IT'S ALL MY CLASSES.
I DON'T SEEM TO BE
GETTING THROUGH TO THEM.
- AND YOU THINK TURNING
THE CLASSROOM INTO A HOUSE PARTY
IS THE BEST WAY
TO GET THEIR ATTENTION?
- IT WORKED, BRIEFLY.
I WANT THESE KIDS TO APPRECIATE
ALL FORMS OF MUSIC,
AND NOT JUST
WHAT'S POPULAR.
- BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND,
BUT I STILL NEED YOU
TO TEACH
THE APPROVED CURRICULUM.
- OF COURSE.
- RIGHT, THANK YOU.
SEND IN MY NEXT VICTIM.
- RIGHT AWAY.
GO ON IN.
- THANKS
FOR MEETING ME.
- SATURDAY'S MY FAVORITE DAY
TO BE HERE. NO KIDS.
WHAT'S ALL THIS?
- THAT'S MY LIFE.
[plays several notes]
- OH, YOU PLAY?
- EH, USED TO,
LONG TIME AGO.
- WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC?
- CLASSICAL, JAZZ,
YOU NAME IT.
HEY, LET'S SEE...
LET'S SEE IF I CAN REMEMBER.
[playing Chopsticks]
- [laughs]
♪
[playing Beethoven's
Moonlight Sonata]
♪
[trilling all keys]
- OH, YEAH.
KEEP GOING.
- [chuckles]
I'LL JUST EMBARRASS MYSELF.
- OH, COME ON, MAN.
YOU KNOW YOU CAN PLAY.
- MAYBE YEARS AGO.
- IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.
- [scoffs]
WELL, I'M 40 YEARS OLD,
AND I WORK AS A JANITOR,
AND THAT'S COOL.
I MADE MY CHOICES.
IT'D BE NICE IF, UH,
THESE KIDS AT LEAST GOT
SOME OF THE CHANCES I HAD.
- TO DO WHAT?
- PLAY IN A BAND.
- A BAND?
- YEAH.
- HERE
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL?
- YEAH, WHY NOT?
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BAND HALL
BACK WHEN I WENT HERE.
- OH, YEAH?
- [laughs]
DIRECTOR'S NAME WAS DR. MOSELY,
AND THIS GUY, MAN,
HE LOVED MUSIC
LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.
HE WAS COOL TOO.
YOU COULD TALK TO HIM.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
- EH, RETIRED
MY JUNIOR YEAR.
WITHOUT HIM HERE
FIGHTING FOR IT,
THE SCHOOL BOARD
CUT FUNDING FOR THE BAND.
NOW, WE GOT YOU.
- YEAH.
HEY! HEY!
SOMEBODY STOLE MY HORN.
[scales playing on a trumpet]
♪
♪
- I'M SORRY.
I WAS JUST BORROWING IT.
- NO, THAT'S OKAY.
WAIT A SECOND.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WHOA.
WHERE'D YOU LEARN TO PLAY
LIKE THAT?
NO, NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'S OKAY.
- GOOD MORNING.
[chatter]
HAS ANYONE SEEN T.J.?
OH, HI.
IS, UH,
IS YOUR MOM HOME?
- HANK, I...
- HI, I'M CLAY ALLEN,
T.J.'S MUSIC TEACHER,
I LEFT YOU
A COUPLE MESSAGES.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU...
- WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
- I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD
TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR SON.
- IS HE IN TROUBLE?
- NO, NOT EXACTLY.
- OH, CAN WE DO THIS
ANOTHER TIME?
'CAUSE I'M REALLY
RUNNING LATE.
- THIS IS ONLY GONNA
TAKE A SECOND.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU WERE
AWARE HOW TALENTED YOUR SON IS
WHEN IT COMES TO THE TRUMPET.
WITH THE RIGHT GUIDANCE,
HE COULD DEFINITELY...
- WAIT, GUIDANCE?
LOOK, MR., UM...
- ALLEN.
- ALLEN. I APPRECIATE
YOUR INTEREST,
BUT I WANT MY SON CONCENTRATING
ON HIS STUDIES, NOT THE TRUMPET.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
- MAYBE WE CAN WORK
AFTER SCHOOL.
- HE NEEDS TO BE HOME
AFTER SCHOOL,
WATCHING HIS BROTHER
AND SISTER.
NOW, IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME,
I AM REALLY LATE.
- IS THERE A BETTER TIME
WE CAN TALK?
- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
[laughs] I SPEND ENOUGH TIME
IN HERE AS IT IS.
- I HEAR YOU.
HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER,
NOT SO MUCH A DEER
IN THE HEADLIGHTS.
- OH, NO, TRUST ME.
THAT'S ALL A FACADE.
HEY, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS T.J. KID?
- RUSSELL'S BROTHER?
- WHO'S RUSSELL?
- HO, HO, WHOA.
THE BEST RUNNING BACK
THIS SCHOOL'S EVER HAD.
YO, MOVES
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.
HE'S THE ONLY PLAYER
WE HAD
EVER GOT OFF
WITH MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS.
- SO WHERE'D HE GO?
- DIDN'T.
YOU BUY ME A BURGER,
AND I'LL FILL YOU IN.
- DEAL.
SO ARE YOU GONNA TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHY DIDN'T HE
GO TO COLLEGE?
- HIS FATHER WALKED OUT
ON THE FAMILY THREE YEARS AGO.
- AND?
- RUSSELL BECOMES
THE MAN OF THE HOUSE,
HE QUITS FOOTBALL,
DROPS OUT,
GETS A JOB
AT A BURGER JOINT.
- ALL RIGHT, YEAH.
TWO SOFT DRINKS
AND A BUCKAROO BURGER.
LET'S DO THAT.
- THAT'S RUSSELL?
- THAT'S RUSSELL.
IT'S FUNNY,
THEIR FATHER PLAYED TRUMPET
IN JAZZ CLUBS, JUST LIKE YOU.
I'M GUESSING HIS MOM
DOESN'T WANT T.J.
FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER'S
FOOTSTEPS,
OR YOURS,
FOR THAT MATTER.
- [sighs]
- HEY, RUSSELL?
CAN I TALK TO YOU
FOR A SEC?
UM...OH, I'M SORRY.
I'M CLAY ALLEN.
I'M T.J.'S MUSIC TEACHER.
MAYBE HE'S MENTIONED ME.
NO? ANYWAY,
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
I WAS WONDERING
IF I COULD
TALK TO YOU ABOUT T.J.
FOR A SEC.
- WHAT'S HE DONE?
- NOTHING, NOTHING.
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
HIS ABILITY TO PLAY THE TRUMPET.
- YEAH, WHAT ABOUT IT?
- WELL, HE'S GOT TALENT.
I THINK WITH THE RIGHT GUIDANCE,
HE COULD BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
- LISTEN, MISTER,
T.J. AND I, WE'VE GOT A PLAN,
AND IT DOES NOT
INVOLVE THE TRUMPET.
YO, T.J.!
WHAT'S UP, MUNCHKINS?
- SORRY.
WE WERE OUT BACK, PLAYING.
- THIS PLACE IS A MESS,
T.J.
- ALL RIGHT, GUYS, FOOD'S HERE,
SO GO WASH UP, OKAY? HURRY.
- YOU AT LEAST
DO YOUR HOMEWORK?
- NOT YET,
BUT I WILL.
- SO I SPOKE
TO YOUR MUSIC TEACHER.
HE SAID YOU HAVE
A REAL SHOT
AT MAKING SOMETHING
OUT OF THE TRUMPET IF YOU TRY.
- WHAT'S THE POINT?
YOU SAID YOU'D GET ME A JOB
WITH YOU NEXT YEAR.
- THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT?
SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
FLIPPING BURGERS?
- YOU DO IT.
- I DO IT
'CAUSE I HAVE TO, T.J.
THE POINT IS, YOU MIGHT NOT,
NOT YET, ANYWAYS.
YOU SHOULD AT LEAST TALK TO HIM,
BUT DON'T TELL MOM.
[football announcers
chatter on TV]
[blowing air through trumpet]
[blowing air through trumpet]
- MY BROTHER SAID
THAT I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU...
ABOUT THE TRUMPET,
AND STUFF.
- MISSED YOU IN CLASS
TODAY AGAIN.
IF YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED,
THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.
THAT MEANS NOT JUST SHOWING UP
AFTER SCHOOL.
YOU'VE GOT TO
COME TO CLASS.
- OKAY, AND IF I DO,
THEN WHAT?
- WELL, THEN WE'LL
WORK ON YOUR TECHNIQUE:
SIGHT-READING,
IMPROVISATION...
MAKE YOU A BETTER PLAYER.
WHAT YOU DO AFTER THAT
IS UP TO YOU.
- I DON'T HAVE
A TRUMPET.
- WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT
LATER.
UNTIL THEN...
USE MINE. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
SOME EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
ALL RIGHT,
WHY DON'T WE START OFF
WITH A BASIC BLUES SCALE?
- OKAY.
[playing trumpet well]
♪
YEAH.
YEAH, THAT'LL WORK.
SHOW OFF.
AH, COME ON, PEOPLE. AT LEAST
PRETEND THAT YOU CARE.
WE HAD ONLY ONE HIGH GRADE
IN THIS CLASS...ONE.
WITHOUT THAT, THE REST
OF THE CLASS AVERAGED A C-MINUS.
- EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS CLASS
IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EASY "A."
- LISTEN, IT WOULD MAKE MY LIFE
A LOT EASIER
IF I JUST LET YOU ALL SKATE;
NO HOMEWORK, NO TESTS.
[general agreement]
THAT'S NOT GONNA DO YOU GUYS
ANY FAVORS.
LIFE DOESN'T GIVE ANY OF US
A FREE PASS.
I EXPECT YOU
TO STUDY FOR THIS CLASS,
JUST LIKE YOU WOULD
ANY OTHER.
- I DON'T STUDY FOR THOSE
EITHER.
- YEAH, WE NOTICED.
- YOU ALWAYS GOT
SOMETHING TO SAY, DON'T YOU?
- DEREK, YOU TRYING
TO GO TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE?
IS THAT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
I ARRANGED A LITTLE SOMETHING
FOR YOU GUYS,
SOMETHING THAT
I CERTAINLY HOPE
WILL INSPIRE YOU ALL
TO TRY A LITTLE HARDER.
[murmuring]
I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE,
AND THE TEACHERS
THAT ACTUALLY INSPIRED ME,
THE ONES WHO'S PASSION
MADE ME WANT TO KNOW MORE,
THE ONES WHO DIDN'T
JUST TALK THE TALK,
BUT ALSO
WALKED THE WALK.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO.
[Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
playing]
[laughter]
♪
[jazz version continues
with trumpet]
♪
- OH, AWESOME.
- NICE.
[applause]
- ALL RIGHT!
- STILL A CLASSIC.
- YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT.
[school bell rings]
LISTEN, I EXPECT ALL OF YOU,
A LITTLE MORE EFFORT.
OKAY? FROM NOW ON,
A LITTLE MORE EFFORT.
HEY.
NOT EVERYTHING'S
WORTH FIGHTING OVER, OKAY?
REMEMBER OUR LITTLE FIELD TRIP
THIS AFTERNOON.
- [sobbing quietly]
[sobbing]
- WERE WE
REALLY THAT BAD?
- [sobbing]
- UM...
YOU KNOW, IF YOU...
IF YOU EVER NEED TO,
OR WANT IF YOU WANT...
OH, OKAY, GOOD.
I MEAN...I MEAN,
GOOD THAT YOU'RE OKAY.
- WHAT?
- I'M JUST WONDERING
WHY YOU WERE CRYING, THAT'S ALL.
- IT'S NONE
OF YOUR BUSINESS.
AND IF YOU KEEP ON FOLLOWING ME,
I'LL USE MY PEPPER SPRAY.
- READY?
- YEAH.
- COME ON.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
COME ON.
[doorbell chimes]
- WHOA. [chuckles]
- IT'S PRETTY SWEET, HUH?
- YEAH.
- YOU WON'T FIND
PLACES LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
IT'S DEFINITELY
OLD SCHOOL.
HEY, POPS!
- CLAY ALLEN,
AS I LIVE AND BREATHE.
- HOW YOU BEEN
- EH, YOU KNOW.
SAME OLD SAME OLD.
THIS YOUR BOY?
- UH, NO, NO,
IT'S A STUDENT OF MINE.
T.J. HARRIS,
POPS O'REILLY.
- T.J.
- HI.
- ALL RIGHT.
- SO WE'RE
LOOKING FOR A TRUMPET.
I'M THINKING SOMETHING VINTAGE,
SOMETHING WITH SOME MILES ON IT.
GOT ANYTHING?
- [scoffs]
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CALL
FOR CLASSIC HORNS ANYMORE,
BUT I GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING
HERE YOU MIGHT TRY.
THERE'S A SWEET NUMBER.
- YEAH.
- GIVE THAT A TRY.
SOMETHING YOU CAN GROW INTO.
- WHOA.
[playing trumpet well]
♪
- YEAH, SEE,
HE DOES THAT.
- OH, HO, HO, HO.
- [chuckles]
HOW MUCH?
- WELL,
BECAUSE IT'S YOU,
I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU
AT MY COST.
JUST DON'T TELL
ANYBODY.
AND THAT COMES TO $557 PLUS TAX.
UNCLE SAM NEEDS HIS PIECE.
- THANK YOU.
I'VE GOT TO GO.
- T.J.,
HOLD ON A SECOND.
GOT ANYTHING CHEAPER?
- NO, NOT FOR HIS CHOPS.
PLEASURE
NOT DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU.
- HEY.
- HEY. LOOKING FOR MOM?
- NO, UH,
YOU, ACTUALLY.
SHE SAID YOU'D BE HOME
THIS WEEKEND DOING LAUNDRY.
- YUP.
- HOW ARE YOUR CLASSES.
- EH, PRETTY GOOD.
- YEAH? PROFESSORS?
- OKAY. YOU KNOW,
MOSTLY GRAD STUDENTS.
- HOW ABOUT THE GIRLS, HUH?
YOU MEET ANY GIRLS?
- YOU KNOW, A FEW.
- OH, GOOD.
LOOK, ANYWAY,
I WAS WONDERING, UM,
REMEMBER THAT TRUMPET
THAT I GAVE YOU IN THIRD GRADE,
THE ONE I TAUGHT YOU
HOW TO PLAY?
THERE'S THIS KID,
A STUDENT OF MINE,
AND THIS KID CAN REALLY PLAY,
BUT HE NEEDS AN INSTRUMENT.
MAYBE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND,
HE COULD BORROW YOURS.
- THAT TRUMPET'S GONE.
I SOLD IT YEARS AGO.
- YOU SOLD IT?
- SORRY,
I SHOULD'VE TOLD YOU.
- HEY,
IT'S YOUR TRUMPET.
OKAY. HEY, I'LL LET YOU
GET BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
- YEAH, YEAH.
- OKAY.
- I'LL SEE YOU.
- HEY, GOT A SEC?
- CAN'T YOU JUST
TELL ME?
- WAY MORE IMPRESSIVE IN PERSON.
HERE IT IS.
WATCH YOURSELF.
- OH, YES, QUITE A BOX.
- BE PATIENT.
YOU SOUND LIKE MY KIDS.
THEY'VE BEEN IN STORAGE
FOR YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[chuckles]
- OH, UM...
THIS IS YOURS.
- NO, I TOLD YOU,
I CANT AFFORD IT.
- THIS IS FREE.
IT'S COURTESY
OF THE CORVILLE
HIGH SCHOOL BAND, 1986.
I HAD POPS GIVE IT AN ACID BATH
AND ADJUST THE VALVES.
LOOK, I KNOW IT'S OLD
AND NOT AS SHINY
AS THE ONE THE OTHER DAY,
BUT IT'S GOT SOME LIFE.
GIVE IT A TRY.
- VALVE'S STICKING.
- DID I MENTION TO YOU
THE FREE PART? DID YOU GET THAT?
[chuckles]
WHERE'D YOU LEARN
TO DO THAT?
- MY DAD.
- WHAT ELSE
DID HE SHOW YOU?
- NOT MUCH.
- I HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE
FOR THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR,
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU'RE LUCKY COACH FRANKLIN
SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T START IT,
OTHERWISE, I'D HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO SUSPEND YOU.
YOU'RE A GOOD KID, DEREK.
YOU KNOW BETTER.
NOW, GET OUT OF HERE
BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND.
- CLAY? UH, ANY CHANCE
YOU CAN GET THE BAND READY
IN TIME
FOR BASKETBALL?
YOU GET
ONE OF THOSE PEP BANDS
UP IN THE STANDS, AND THE CROWD
REALLY GETS INTO IT.
- YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING TO MANNY.
- YEAH. YEAH, HE MENTIONED
YOU GUYS UP HERE PAST MIDNIGHT,
POLISHING UP OLD INSTRUMENTS
YOU PULLED OUT OF STORAGE.
THAT'S NICE, AND I ALSO HEAR
THAT THIS KID, HARRIS, CAN PLAY.
- WELL, IT TAKES MORE
THAN ONE KID TO MAKE IT A BAND.
THAT'S WHY
THEY CALL IT A BAND.
- YEAH, LOOK,
I COACHED HIS BROTHER.
HE SHOWED A LOT OF POTENTIAL,
AND NOW, LOOK AT HIM.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE
THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO T.J.,
AND I'M PRETTY SURE
YOU DON'T EITHER.
- EVEN IF...
IFI DECIDE TO DO THIS,
I WOULD STILL HAVE TO
RUN IT BY THE PRINCIPAL,
AND LET'S FACE IT,
I DON'T SEEM TO BE
HER FAVORITE PERSON
RIGHT NOW.
- JUST TELL HER
WHAT'S IN IT FOR HER.
- THAT WOULD BE WHAT?
- YOU KNOW,
THAT THE...
HOW SHOULD I KNOW?
I'M JUST A COACH.
[dialing numbers]
[phone ringing]
- [recording on phone]
HEY, IT'S ME.
HAD TO BOUNCE.
LEAVE A MESSAGE.
[beep]
- HEY, NATE, IT'S YOUR DAD.
LOOK, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT I'M GONNA BE PLAYING
UP AT CYRUS'S TONIGHT,
THE JAZZ CLUB BY THE UNIVERSITY.
I KNOW IT'S SHORT NOTICE,
BUT IT'S BEEN AWHILE
SINCE YOU'VE HEARD ME PLAY,
PLUS, I DON'T...
I JUST, I'D REALLY
LOVE TO SEE YOU.
WELL, I HOPE YOU GET THIS,
AND I MISS YOU.
OKAY, BYE.
[sighs]
[jazz music]
♪
- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MR. CLAY ALLEN.
[cheers and applause]
SHOW HIM SOME LOVE.
[cheers and applause]
- THANK YOU FOR MEETING ME.
- THANK YOU.
- YEAH.
- SURE.
OKAY, WELL,
I CAN'T STAY TOO LONG.
- OH, NO, I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK,
I PROMISE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN
A COUPLE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE ASKED ME,
MAYBE I SHOULD
THINK ABOUT REFORMING
THE BAND.
- THE SCHOOL BAND?
- YEAH.
WE FOUND ALL THE INSTRUMENTS
IN STORAGE,
BUT, UH, I HAVE
MY SIXTH PERIOD FREE.
THOUGHT WE COULD REHEARSE THEN.
- ALL RIGHT,
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
LOOK AT THAT.
- YEAH, OKAY,
THAT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS.
- YES, THAT'S
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET,
OR RATHER,
WHAT'S LEFT OF IT.
- SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR A BAND?
- WELL, I'M SAYING
IT'S NOT A PRIORITY.
I SPENT SEVEN YEARS...SEVEN...
AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
AND AT THE END OF LAST YEAR,
THEY FINALLY
MOVED ME OVER TO CORVILLE.
IT'S LIKE BEING HANDED THE KEYS
TO THE TITANICAND BEING TOLD,
"GOOD LUCK."
- I'M PRETTY SURE
THE TITANICDIDN'T HAVE KEYS.
[sighs] IF WE DON'T
GET OUR TEST SCORES UP,
AND ENROLLMENT,
ATTENDANCE,
OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTIONS,
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT,
IF WE DON'T DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE,
THEY'RE GONNA
CLOSE THE SCHOOL.
- WHAT?
- [sighs]
SORRY, MY HANDS ARE TIED.
- LOOK, WHAT IF...
I DON'T KNOW, WHAT IF THE BAND
BRINGS AWARENESS TO THE SCHOOL?
WHAT IF IT SHOWS THE COMMUNITY
WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF
- YOU THINK REFORMING THE BAND
WOULD KEEP US OPEN?
- NO, I'M NOT SAYING THAT,
I'M JUST...
LOOK, I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE.
I MEAN, IF IT WORKS,
I WILL SAY IT WAS YOUR IDEA.
- AND IF IT DOESN'T?
- I WILL SAY
IT WAS YOUR IDEA.
- OH, NICE.
- [laughs]
- OKAY, DO WE HAVE ANY STUDENTS
THAT CAN PLAY?
- WE HAVE ONE
THAT I KNOW OF.
- ONE? THAT'S NOT A LOT
TO GO OFF OF. [laughs]
- NO, I KNOW. CAN YOU
JUST THINK ABOUT IT, THEN?
- [sighs]
OKAY, I'M DESPERATE.
THANK YOU,
AND SEE YOU ON THE TITANIC.
- [laughing] OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ALL RIGHT,
YOU GUYS MADE IT. HERE.
- WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
- OH, WELL, WE ARE
GOING TO TURN THIS PLACE
BACK INTO A REAL BAND HALL,
STARTING TODAY.
- SO MS. SUTTON SIGNED OFF
ON THE BAND IDEA?
- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, SORT OF.
LOOK, SHE WILL,
AS SOON AS SHE SEES
HOW LITTLE
IT'S GONNA COST.
- I'M ALL FOR
FIXING THIS PLACE UP,
BUT DON'T YOU THINK
IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA
TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS
CAN ACTUALLY PLAY?
- OH, YEAH, YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.
AUDITIONS
ARE IN A FEW HOURS.
- "WE"?
[playing flute terribly]
♪
[playing tuba terribly]
♪
[drumming well]
♪
[playing saxophone well]
[playing accordion terribly]
♪
- OKAY. WITH EVERYONE
WHO AUDITIONED, WE HAVE...
11 WHO CAN
SLIGHTLY PLAY AN INSTRUMENT.
- WELL, THE KID
WITH THE ACCORDION WAS NICE,
IF YOU LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
A YOUNG LAWRENCE WELK TYPE.
- WHAT ABOUT T.J.?
- I DON'T KNOW.
HE SAID HE WAS GONNA BE HERE.
- LET'S FACE IT, I MEAN,
WITHOUT THAT KID,
THIS THING IS OVER
BEFORE IT STARTS.
[soft jazz playing]
♪
[dialing numbers]
[phone ringing]
- [recording on phone] HI,
THIS IS THE HARRIS RESIDENCE.
IF YOU NEED TO REACH T.J.,
MOM, OR RUSSELL,
LEAVE A MESSAGE AFTER THE BEEP.
[beep]
[rock music]
- ♪ I'M NOT SOLID ON THE CONCEPT
THAT I AM SUPPOSED TO SELL ♪
♪
♪ TIME TO FINISH IN A MINUTE
THEN I SEND 'EM BACK TO HELL ♪
- EH,
LOOKS A LITTLE BIG.
- OH, YOU A SKATER?
- NO, BUT IT LOOKS
LIKE FUN.
KINDA LIKE SURFING
WITHOUT THE SHARKS.
- [chuckles]
- THAT'S A INTERESTING WAY
OF TESTING IT OUT.
THAT THE ONE?
- IT'S A LITTLE PRICEY.
THEY ALL ARE. I'LL PROBABLY
JUST STICK WITH THE ONE I GOT.
- HMM.
LOOKS LIKE MY SIZE.
EXCUSE ME,
TAKE THIS ONE.
- WHAT?
- THAT'S FOR ME,
NOT YOU.
- YOU JUST SAID
YOU DIDN'T BOARD.
- CAN'T BE THAT HARD.
♪
- WHOA! OH.
UGH!
- ALL RIGHT.
- WHOA,
A LITTLE HELP?
- BY THE WAY,
NICE RIDE.
- OH, YEAH, THANKS.
IT WAS MY DAD'S.
I THINK HE LOVED IT
MORE THAN HE LOVED ME.
HERE, YOU DRIVE?
- WHAT? NO, SKATEBOARD.
- YOU'RE 17,
AND YOU DON'T DRIVE?
- NOPE.
OH!
THIS IS GONNA BE HARD.
- THANKS FOR THE LIFT.
- YEAH.
THANKS
FOR THE SKATEBOARD LESSON,
AND FOR NOT LAUGHING
AT ME...MUCH.
- [chuckles]
- OH, HEY.
PROMISE YOU'LL GIVE IT BACK
TO ME WHEN I WANT IT, OKAY?
SEE YOU MONDAY.
HEY.
WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
- THIS IS IT.
- WELL, MAYBE THIS WASN'T
SUCH A GOOD IDEA.
- EXCUSE ME.
- I SEE YOU'VE BROUGHT
YOUR TRUMPET.
[murmuring]
HAVE A SEAT.
ALL RIGHT, CLASS. I KNOW
THERE'S NOT MANY OF US, BUT...
HOW ABOUT WE GO OVER
WHAT WE WORKED ON YESTERDAY,
AMAZING GRACE.YOU GUYS
ALL HAVE THE SHEET MUSIC?
T.J.
- I'M GOOD.
- OKAY.
IS EVERYONE READY?
ONE, TWO, THREE.
[Amazing Graceplaying]
♪
[instruments dropping out]
[trumpet playing alone]
♪
IT'S NOT BAD.
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL,
GUYS.
AM I IN TROUBLE?
- SHOULD YOU BE?
- OH, JUST SOMETHING
ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE
THAT'S
ALWAYS INTIMIDATING.
- NO, ACTUALLY, I WANTED
TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU'VE PUT INTO THE BAND,
AS WELL AS YOUR CLASSES.
- OH. THANKS.
- MM-HMM.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR
MUSIC STUDENTS ARE COMPLAINING
THAT YOU'RE GIVING THEM
TOO MUCH HOMEWORK.
- LOOK, IF MUSIC'S
GONNA BE AN EASY "A,"
THEN NO ONE'S
GONNA CARE,
AND IF NO ONE CARES,
NO ONE'S GONNA LEARN.
THE ARTS ARE JUST AS ESSENTIAL
TO AN EDUCATION
AS ENGLISH,
OR ALGEBRA.
- JUST ENCOURAGE THEM,
AND MAYBE COME UP WITH SOMETHING
TO HELP THEM.
- OKAY.
I WILL TRY.
ANY ELSE?
- UM...YUP,
THA...THAT'S IT. NOTHING ELSE.
- I GUESS
I BETTER BOUNCE.
HEY, I DON'T SUPPOSE
THAT YOU'D...
YOU KNOW,
NEVER MIND.
I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
- ALL RIGHT.
[big band music playing]
♪
- OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S BETTER, RIGHT?
NOW, DON'T FORGET,
COUNT DURING YOUR RESTS,
SO YOU'LL KNOW
WHEN TO COME IN, OKAY?
- SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
YOU TWO,
LET'S GO, NOW.
- HEY, DEREK.
WHERE YOU GOING?
- UH,
BASKETBALL PRACTICE.
- CAN'T YOU DO BOTH?
- TALK TO COACH.
- YOU SOUND PRETTY GOOD OUT
THERE TONIGHT, CLAY.
- THANKS.
- THANKS FOR COMING UP
ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.
- OH, HAPPY TO,
WHENEVER YOU NEED ME, CYRUS.
- OH, BEFORE I FORGET.
UH, LET'S SEE.
I'M AFRAID
IT'S NOT MUCH.
- EVERY LITTLE BIT
HELPS.
- YEAH. YOU OKAY?
YOU SEEM A LITTLE DOWN.
- EH, I WAS HOPING
MY SON WOULD SHOW TONIGHT.
GUESS HE HAD
OTHER PLANS.
- AH, YOU KNOW KIDS
TODAY.
THEY AIN'T NEVER GOT NO TIME
FOR THEIR DADDIES.
LISTEN,
DON'T YOU BE NO STRANGER.
- ALL RIGHT.
- MY MAN.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
- ALL RIGHT,
I WANT YOU GUYS TO SEE
HOW THE GYM
IS GONNA AFFECT OUR SOUND.
- WATCH THE PICK!
WATCH THE PI...
- [groans]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MAN?
- HEY!
GUYS!
- [yells]
- YOU TRYING TO HURT SOMEBODY?
- HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!
- LET'S GO THEN.
YOU TRYING TO HURT ME?
- GUYS, STOP IT!
- WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
- STOP IT.
- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT,
COACH? ME?
- HIT THE SHOWERS.
- DID YOU NOT SEE THAT?
- HIT THE SHOWERS!
- DID YOU NOT SEE THAT?
- HIT THE SHOWERS! NOW!
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
BACK IN THE GAME. LET'S GO!
- ALL RIGHT, CARMEN,
YOU'RE IN CHARGE.
- BUT...MR. A!
- [grunts]
- DEREK!
DEREK,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MAN?
- LOOK, GUY THROWS A DIRTY PICK,
AND THEN COACH IS ALL OVER ME!
- OH, YEAH.
YEAH, WELL, GUESS WHAT?
SOMEONE IS ALWAYS
GONNA BE ALL OVER YOU.
THE OTHER TEAM,
COACHES,
YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR BOSSES,
CO-WORKERS, FAMILY,
FRIENDS,
AND HOW YOU HANDLE IT
IS GONNA DETERMINE WHAT SORT
OF MAN YOU'RE GONNA BE.
- SO I'M SUPPOSED TO JUST
TAKE IT THEN, RIGHT?
- WELL, YOU THINK THAT GETTING
ANGRY AND FIGHTING ALL THE TIME
IS GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
- LOOK, I DON'T KNOW, OKAY?
LOOK, SOMETIMES
IT JUST FEELS LIKE
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN
GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO ME,
YOU KNOW?
- YEAH.
I'M LISTENING TO YOU NOW,
AREN'T I?
DO YOU WANT TO WIN?
AND I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT BASKETBALL,
AND FORGET ABOUT THE BAND.
IF YOU WANT TO WIN...
THEN SOMETIMES, YOU'RE GONNA
NEED TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH
AND START USING THIS,
AND NOT THIS.
HOW'S YOUR HAND?
- I...UH...
IT HURTS.
- GOOD.
WHY DON'T YOU REMEMBER THAT
THE NEXT TIME
YOU DECIDE
TO PUNCH SOMETHING.
- YOU KNOW, YOU, UH...
I DON'T KNOW, I THINK
YOU MAKE A PRETTY GOOD COACH.
- COACH?
DOESN'T PAY ENOUGH.
- [laughs]
[big band playing]
♪
[music finishes]
[laughter and cheering]
[cheers and applause]
- OH, NICE SHOT.
- YEAH, WELL,
A NICE SHOT WOULD BE
HITTING IT
NEAR THAT BUCKET.
- OH, I SEE.
- YEAH.
THE ANSWER IS NO,
YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM.
- HEY, WAIT, WAIT, AREN'T YOU
THE ONE THAT CAME TO ME,
ASKING FOR A PEP BAND
TO PLAY DURING THE GAMES?
- I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GONNA
TAKE TWO OF MY GUYS.
- LOOK, I KNOW TEAM SPORTS
ARE IMPORTANT,
BUT THESE KIDS
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN TWO THINGS THEY'RE
PASSIONATE ABOUT.
- SEE THAT?
THAT'S A NICE SHOT.
- YOU A BETTING MAN?
- EH, DEPENDS
ON WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND.
- I DON'T KNOW,
WHAT IF I GET THE BALL
CLOSER TO THE BUCKET THAN
YOU JUST DID?
THE KIDS WILL STILL
STAY IN THE BAND,
AND WE WILL ALTERNATE
START TIMES. HOW ABOUT THAT?
- AND IF YOU DON'T?
- WELL, IF I DON'T,
YOU KEEP 'EM.
I WON'T BOTHER YOU
AGAIN.
- YEAH, SURE.
- SHOULD I USE THIS?
- [laughs] NO.
THIS ONE.
- OH, OKAY.
- YOU SURE
YOU WANT TO DO THIS?
- WELL,
WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE?
- OH! [grunts]
- [laughs]
- BOOM.
- [laughs]
OH, GOD.
[laughing] I CAN'T BELIEVE
I JUST GOT HUSTLED.
- LUCKY SHOT.
- [laughs]
[laughs]
[hip-hop music]
- THE REASON LINCOLN
DIDN'T FREE THE SLAVES SOONER
WAS HE WAS CONCERNED
IT WOULD PUSH THE BORDER STATES
INTO THE CONFEDERACY.
YOU GOT THAT?
- ♪ OH!
CARMEN. CARMEN?
♪
HERE, JUST...
JUST KEEP READING.
[music stops]
I'M SO...I'M SORRY
ABOUT THE MUSIC.
I KNOW IT WAS LOUD.
UH...
WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF THE STUDY GROUP?
- SURPRISED.
IN A GOOD WAY.
- YEAH?
- MM-HMM.
LOOK, THEY, UM,
THEY ALL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE TO GET
OUR TEST SCORES UP,
THEY'RE WILLING TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
- WELL,
I USED TO TEACH ALGEBRA.
YOU KNOW, THE SUBJECT
THAT NO ONE USES.
- YOU DID?
- LET ME KNOW
IF YOU NEED MY HELP.
- OH, YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
[sighs]
WHAT?
- SO ARE YOU GONNA
ASK HER OUT?
- ASK HER OUT?
NO, I'M NOT GONNA ASK HER OUT.
SHE'S MY BOSS.
- THAT WOMAN IS
DEFINITELY INTO YOU.
- OH, YOU THINK SO?
- WELL, IF SHE SAYS NO,
THEN YOU'RE NO WORSE OFF
THAN YOU ARE NOW,
JUST LAMER.
- UH, MS. SUTTON?
- YES?
- HEY, UH,
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.
- NO.
- I WAS JUST WONDERING
IF YOU, UH, IF YOU LIKE...
YOU KNOW,
IF YOU EAT.
- I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO EAT
ON OCCASION.
- DINNER. I'M S...I MEANT,
IF YOU...IF YOU EAT DINNER...
IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO EAT DINNER WITH ME?
UM, YOU KNOW, IF...
I KNOW I'M NOT
MAKING ANY SENSE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
I'VE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
- SINCE
YOU'VE EATEN DINNER?
- [laughs] NO,
SINCE I'VE, UM, YOU KNOW,
ASKED SOMEBODY OUT.
- OH, OH,
SO YOU'RE ASKING ME OUT?
- WELL, NO. NO, NOT NECESSARILY,
NOT ON A DATE NECESSARILY,
I'M JUST...I'M TALKING ABOUT
TWO PEOPLE JUST GOING TO DINNER,
YOU KNOW, TOGETHER,
SIMULTANEOUSLY EATING.
UH, [chuckles]
WELL, YOU'RE NOT MAKING THIS
VERY EASY ON ME,
ARE YOU?
- [sighs]
I HOPE
YOU LIKE JAPANESE.
- SUSHI?
I LOVE IT.
- YOU MADE IT COOL
TO BE IN THE BAND,
WHICH SOUNDS GREAT,
BY THE WAY,
AND SUPPORT'S GOING WELL.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED.
I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND
ME SAYING THIS,
BUT YOU DON'T STRIKE ME
AS THE TYPE OF MAN
WHO'S ALWAYS DREAMT
OF BEING A TEACHER.
- YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT
ABOUT THAT.
UM, MY PASSION
WAS ALWAYS MUSIC
AND PLAYING THE TRUMPET,
ACTUALLY,
BUT THAT PASSION UNFORTUNATELY
COST ME MY MARRIAGE
AND MADE ME
A STRANGER TO MY SON.
- SO WHAT CHANGED?
- WELL,
WHEN MY FATHER DIED,
I WAS CLEANING OUT
HIS APARTMENT,
AND I FOUND A BOX
WITH ALL THESE MEDALS
THAT HE HAD EARNED
FROM VIETNAM,
AND LETTERS FROM MEN
WHOSE LIVES HE HAD SAVED,
AND IT MADE ME REALIZE
HOW LITTLE
I'D ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE,
YOU KNOW,
WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS
THAT ACTUALLY MATTER.
I GUESS I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I FIGURED TEACHING MIGHT BE
THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT,
AND NOW, I'M GETTING
REALLY DEPRESSED.
- OKAY.
- [clears throat]
- LET'S START OVER.
WE WON'T TALK ABOUT FAMILY,
REGRETS, OR SCHOOL.
DEAL?
- DEAL, DEAL.
- [chuckles]
- YOU NEVER TOLD ME.
- TOLD YOU WHAT?
- WHY YOU WERE CRYING
THAT DAY WHEN MANNY AND MR. A
WERE PLAYING
TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR.
- MY MOM USED TO SING IT TO ME
WHEN I WAS LITTLE
WHEN SHE TUCKED ME IN.
NOW, ALL SHE DOES
IS YELL AT ME,
TELL ME HOW PRETTY
I USED TO BE,
HOW SHE HATES MY HAIR,
HOW SHE WANTS ME
OUT OF THE HOUSE.
JUST HEARING THAT SONG
MADE ME WISH I WAS YOUNG AGAIN.
YOU KNOW,
WHEN THINGS WERE...
SIMPLER.
- I DON'T CARE
WHAT YOUR MOTHER SAYS.
I THINK
YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL.
[trumpets playing jazz]
♪
- ALL RIGHT.
- [laughs]
- NOW, THAT WAS NICE.
YOU SEE THAT?
YOU WANT TO PLAY
A LITTLE BEHIND THE BEAT
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN,
BUT BESIDES THAT, IT WAS GREAT.
I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT.
- AWESOME.
YOU NEVER TOLD ME
YOU HAD A SON.
SO WHAT'S YOUR SON INTO?
- I DON'T KNOW.
UH...
RAFTING, I THINK.
- RAFTING?
WHAT'S THAT LIKE?
- I DON'T KNOW,
I'VE NEVER BEEN.
- YOU'VE NEVER
GONE WITH HIM BEFORE?
- NOPE.
- HEY, DO I LOOK
ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH, YOU LOOK GOOD.
HERE, HOLD ON.
- LOOSEN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.
THERE WE GO.
- THAT'S A NICE TIE,
BY THE WAY.
- OH, THANKS. IT WAS...
IT WAS ACTUALLY FOR MY DAD,
BUT HE LEFT BEFORE I COULD
GIVE IT TO HIM.
- WELL, TRUST ME,
HIS LOSS.
[smooth jazz music playing]
♪
[music ending]
[cheers and applause]
- THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL
FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT,
AND AS YOU KNOW,
IT IS A SATURDAY TRADITION
HERE AT CYRUS'S TO INVITE ANYONE
WHO WANTS TO SIT IN WITH US
TO COME ON UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE
WHO WANTS TO COME ON UP HERE
AND SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT?
[soft jazz music]
ANYBODY?
- WELL,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- WHAT?
- GET UP THERE.
- ME?
- YEAH, YOU. COME ON.
- [scoffs]
- COME ON.
- CAN I?
- CAN YOU? OF COURSE, YOU CAN.
COME ON,
SHOW 'EM WHAT YOU GOT.
- OH, WELL, COME ON UP,
YOUNG MAN.
- WELL, WE GOT US A YOUNG ONE
TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
♪
[song finishes]
[playing scales]
- [laughs] ALL RIGHT,
UM, CAN I GET BLUES IN "E"?
THAT OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
TWO, THREE, FOUR,
[grunts]
[blues music playing]
♪
[audience ohs]
- TWO, THREE, COME ON!
♪
- T.J. HEY, T.J.!
T.J., WAIT!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- LOOK, I TOLD YOU,
I CAN'T DO THIS, OKAY?
- DO WHAT?
- YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU JUST DON'T GET IT!
HE WAS RIGHT!
- WHO WAS RIGHT?
- MY DAD!
HE SAID THAT I WOULD NEVER
PLAY AS GOOD AS HIM,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S WHY HE LEFT,
SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO, OKAY?
JUST DO THE SAME.
- YOUR DAD DIDN'T LEAVE
BECAUSE OF YOU.
YOUR DAD LEFT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T
HAVE HIS PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
TRUST ME, I KNOW.
- [sniffs]
- DON'T LET ANYONE EVER TELL YOU
THAT YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
BECAUSE YOU ARE.
YOU GOT THAT?
- [sobs]
- HEY.
IT'S FUNNY,
I WAS JUST SITTING HERE,
THINKING ABOUT YOUR
FIFTH BIRTHDAY.
YOU REMEMBER THAT?
- YEAH.
- [chuckles]
- YEAH, I DO.
- GRANDDAD HAD JUST GIVEN ME
THE KEYS TO THE CONVERTIBLE,
AND I PULLED UP
TO YOUR PARTY,
AND LOADED UP
ALL YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS,
AND WE DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK
WITH THE TOP DOWN.
- OH, YEAH. YOU, UH, LET ME
SIT IN YOUR LAP AND STEER.
- [laughs]
THAT'S RIGHT.
OH, THANK GOD
THERE WERE NO COPS AROUND THEN.
- [laughs] YEAH.
BEST BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
EVER.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY THAT YOU ALWAYS HAD TO
CELEBRATE WITHOUT ME. IT'S...
I'M SORRY THAT I ALWAYS
HAD TO CALL FROM THE ROAD,
AND...
I KNOW
THAT WASN'T FAIR.
I KNOW YOU NEEDED ME.
JUST...
[exhales]
I'M SORRY I COULD NEVER
GET MY PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
UM...
I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
- [chuckles] WOW.
GRANDDAD'S COMPASS.
- YEAH.
HE...HE LOVED THAT THING,
AND HE...
HE GAVE IT TO ME
JUST BEFORE I LEFT FOR COLLEGE.
HE SAID IT'D HELP ME
FIND MY WAY HOME.
MAYBE IT COULD
DO THE SAME FOR YOU.
AND IT'S WATERPROOF TOO.
- SO I CAN
TAKE THIS RAFTING.
- [laughs] ABSOLUTELY.
- THANKS.
- YEAH.
HEY, UM,
YOU BETTER GET TO IT,
ALL RIGHT?
I'M SURE YOUR MOM
HAS SOMETHING PLANNED.
- USUALLY.
[clears throat]
[mouthing words]
- I-I LOVE YOU TOO, DAD.
UH, HEY, DAD?
THANKS.
- THIS IS A SURPRISE.
WHAT'S THIS?
- IT'S AN INVITATION.
- TO WHAT?
- I MADE A COUPLE OF CALLS
TO THE UNIVERSITY,
AND I MANAGED
TO GET US
INTO THIS YEAR'S
BATTLE OF THE BANDS.
- BATTLE OF THE BANDS?
- I THOUGHT
YOU'D BE THRILLED.
- UH, YEAH...
WE'RE REALLY...
THERE'S NO WAY
WE'RE READY FOR THIS.
- IF WE DON'T GET
SOME RECOGNITION, AND SOON,
EVERYTHING YOU'VE WORKED FOR
THIS YEAR IS WORTH NOTHING.
- THAT BAD, HUH?
- THE BOARD HAS OFFICIALLY
PLACED US ON THE LIST OF SCHOOLS
THAT THEY'D CONSIDER
CLOSING.
- [sighs]
- [sighs]
- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY
WE CAN WIN THIS.
- OH, I'M NOT
ASKING YOU TO WIN.
I JUST WANT THEM TO SEE
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS
THEY'LL BE LOSING
IF THEY CLOSE THIS SCHOOL.
[big band music]
♪
[music ends]
- NICE. NICE JOB.
ALL RIGHT.
SO NEXT YEAR,
THIS IS EXACTLY
WHERE WE WILL BE SITTING
WHEN WE PLAY.
- YOU MEAN IF THERE IS
A NEXT YEAR.
- YOU'VE HEARD.
- HEARD WHAT?
- THE SCHOOL, DUDE.
THEY'RE SHUTTING IT DOWN.
IT'S OVER.
- OKAY, OKAY,
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
NOTHING'S BEEN DECIDED.
- MY MOM SAYS
IT'S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE
TO KEEP
THIS SCHOOL OPEN.
- WE MAY HAVE A SHOT.
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- MS. SUTTON HAS ARRANGED
FOR US TO COMPETE
IN THIS YEAR'S
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
AT THE UNIVERSITY.
- WE CAN'T WIN.
- IT'S ALL RIGHT.
LOOK, IT'S NOT ABOUT WINNING.
SHE JUST FEELS, IF WE CAN
IMPRESS ENOUGH PEOPLE, THAT,
YOU KNOW,
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
- THEN LET'S DO IT THEN.
- NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHAT IF WE GET THERE
AND WE'RE NOT READY.
- ALL RIGHT, HOW ABOUT
WE TAKE IT TO A VOTE?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF COMPETING
IN THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS,
RAISE YOU HANDS.
ALL RIGHT, SO I GUESS THAT'S IT.
WE WILL COMPETE.
DETAILS WILL FOLLOW.
UNTIL THEN, REMEMBER...
all: WE LIVE TO PRACTICE,
WE PRACTICE TO LIVE.
- ONE MORE TIME.
all: WE LIVE TO PRACTICE,
WE PRACTICE TO LIVE.
- THANK YOU.
GET OUT OF HERE.
[laughter]
YOU ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH.
CAN I ASK YOU A FAVOR?
- SURE.
- CAN YOU GIVE ME A RIDE
SOMEWHERE?
- HI.
IS CARMEN HOME?
- CARMEN,
THE BOY IS HERE.
- THAT YOUR FATHER?
HE BETTER
KEEP AN EYE ON YOU.
- HEY.
- HAVE HER BACK
BY 11:00.
both: [chuckling]
- WOW, CARMEN.
YOU LOOK LOVELY.
ALL RIGHT, KIDS.
DON'T DO ANYTHING I WOULDN'T DO.
- UH, MR. A?
ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING
TONIGHT?
- I GUESS I AM NOW.
GET IN.
YOU'VE NEVER RIDDEN A MOTORCYCLE
BEFORE, HAVE YOU?
- AW, COME ON,
I'M NOT THAT BAD.
- YOU JUST RAN OVER
A LITTLE, OLD LADY.
- YOU SAID I GOT EXTRA POINTS
WHENEVER I HIT SOMEONE.
- I SAID
YOU GOT EXTRA POINTS
WHENEVER YOU DON'T
RUN OVER SOMEONE.
- [scoffs] OH, COME
ON, THAT'S NOT NEARLY AS FUN.
- YEAH, WELL, MAYBE NOT,
BUT YOU STILL CAN'T DO IT.
- OH.
[game beeping]
- THREE, TWO, ONE...
GAME OVER.
- [sighs]
- NOT BAD.
- [gasps] [laughs]
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CALLED
TO ASK ME OUT,
I DIDN'T REALIZE
THIS IS WHAT YOU MEANT.
- I KNOW, I GUESS I SHOULD'VE
BEEN A LITTLE MORE FORTHCOMING.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO TELL YOU
I GOT STUCK CHAPERONING
TWO OF MY STUDENTS.
- OH, IT'S OKAY.
- I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU BEING HERE.
- OH, THANK YOU.
[chuckles]
- EVERYTHING
ALL RIGHT?
YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK SAFE ENOUGH,
DON'T YOU THINK?
LET'S GO OUTSIDE.
- OH, I THOUGHT
YOU'D NEVER ASK.
- [laughs]
- NO, YOU KNOW,
YOU WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE
ON THAT MOTORCYCLE.
both: [laugh]
- HEY, DID YOUR SON LIKE
THAT COMPASS? YOU NEVER TOLD ME.
- YEAH, YEAH, I THINK...
I THINK HE WAS THRILLED.
- OH.
- FOR A MOMENT,
SITTING THERE TALKING WITH HIM,
IT ACTUALLY FELT
LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO,
LIKE FATHER AND SON.
IT WAS NICE.
I JUST WISH I COULD'VE SHARED
THOSE MOMENTS WITH HIM EARLIER,
BUT YOU KNOW, FOR A MUSICIAN,
I HAVE PRETTY LOUSY TIMING.
- WHAT, YOU THINK
BECAUSE HE'S GROWN,
HE NO LONGER
NEEDS YOU?
I CALL MY DAD TWO OR THREE TIMES
A WEEK FOR ADVICE.
- OH, YEAH?
WHAT DOES HE SAY?
- [low voice]
STAY AWAY FROM MUSICIANS.
both: [laugh]
- DAD'S GOT
A WEIRD VOICE.
both: [laugh]
- WELL...
- YEAH.
- HE IS
A VERY SMART MAN.
- YEAH, HE IS.
- TOO BAD I DON'T ALWAYS
LISTEN TO HIM.
- NATE!
HEY.
- HEY.
UH, ONE SECOND, ALL RIGHT?
YO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING
HERE?
- OH, I CAME TO CHECK OUT
THE AUDITORIUM.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
IS NEXT WEEK,
AND I'M BRINGING UP
THE KIDS.
- MIND IF I COME?
- NO.
I'D LOVE
FOR YOU TO BE THERE.
IF YOU'VE GOT TIME, WE COULD USE
ALL THE SUPPORT WE COULD GET.
- YEAH, YOU KNOW,
I'D LIKE TO BE THERE, ACTUALLY.
- YEAH?
- UH, I GOTTA BOUNCE.
WHAT DAY NEXT WEEKEND?
- SATURDAY,
IN THE AFTERNOON.
- ALL RIGHT.
- OH, AND BRING A FRIEND.
- YEAH. LATER.
- IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HEY, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
- [sighs]
[big band music playing]
♪
[straining on a high note]
[music ends]
- I CAN'T DO IT.
I CAN'T PLAY THAT HIGH.
- T.J., YOU'VE PLAYED THAT NOTE
MANY A TIMES.
- YEAH, WELL,
NOW, I CAN'T!
- MRS. HARRIS.
- I CAME HOME FROM WORK
JUST NOW TO FIND MY TWO CHILDREN
IN THE HOUSE ALONE,
CRYING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW THAT MAKES ME FEEL?
- MRS. JACKSON
WAS SUPPOSED TO TO WATCH THEM.
- I AM NOT
ADDRESSING YOU.
WHY WAS T.J.'S PARTICIPATION
KEPT FROM ME?
- WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I ASSUMED THAT YOU KNEW.
YOU SIGNED
HIS PERMISSION SLIPS.
- T.J...
T.J., YOU COME BACK HERE!
- T.J.?
T.J.!
- TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T
BEEN OUT HERE ALL NIGHT.
- I SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT
TRYING TO FIND T.J.,
AND THEN THIS MORNING,
I WENT BACK TO THE SKATE PARK,
AND THEN I CAME HERE.
- YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
FROM HIM?
- YOU KNOW,
THIS IS ALL MY FAULT.
- SO WHAT ARE WE
GONNA DO?
'CAUSE I GOTTA TELL YOU,
I'M NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP,
NOT WHEN THERE'S THIS MUCH
AT STAKE.
I KNOW THE BAND'S
A WORK IN PROGRESS,
BUT THIS IS AS MUCH THEIR MOMENT
AS IT IS T.J.'S.
YOU TAKE THIS
AWAY FROM THEM,
THEY'RE NEVER
GONNA TRUST YOU AGAIN.
- WELL,
MAYBE THEY SHOULDN'T.
- WOW.
YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP
THAT EASILY?
I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED,
'CAUSE THAT NIGHT AT THE ARCADE,
I GATHERED THAT YOU WERE NOT
SOMEONE WHO JUST GIVES UP LIKE...
- THE ARCADE. HOLD THEM OFF
AS LONG AS YOU CAN, OKAY?
- WAIT, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- I'M GONNA GO FIND T.J.
[machine gunfire]
[sighs]
DID YOU GET MUCH SLEEP?
- NOT REALLY.
YOU?
NO, NOT MUCH.
I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE
TO YOU.
- FOR WHAT?
- NOT REALIZING
WHAT YOU MUST BE FEELING.
- I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO,
JUST KNOW THAT I'M HERE,
IF YOU EVER
WANT TO TALK.
- MY MOM THINKS
I'M GONNA TURN OUT LIKE MY DAD.
- WELL,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- HE IS MY OLD MAN.
- THAT'S TRUE, YEAH.
BUT THAT DOESN'T
MAKE YOU HIM.
- BUT THE TRUMPET.
- I WOULDN'T LET IT DEFINE YOU,
OR YOUR DAD, OR YOUR MOM.
YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE
WHO YOU'RE GONNA BE
IN LIFE,
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
MAKE OF IT.
NOBODY ELSE CAN MAKE
THAT DECISION FOR YOU.
- LET'S GO.
- WHERE?
- THERE'S SOMETHING
I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.
[door opening]
- [gasps] OH, GOD.
THANK GOD.
WHERE WERE YOU ALL NIGHT?
- IT'S OKAY, MOM.
I'M OKAY.
SORRY, OKAY?
I'M REALLY SORRY.
- [sobbing]
OKAY. OKAY.
WERE YOU WITH HIM?
- NO.
- WHAT IS HE DOING
OUT THERE?
- MOM, I'M GOING
TO THE COMPETITION.
- NO, YOU ARE NOT.
I FORBID IT!
- WHY?
- I JUST FORBID IT!
- MOM!
- [sobs]
- DO YOU KNOW WHY?
IT'S BECAUSE
YOU'RE SO...
YOU'RE SO SCARED OF ME
BECOMING DAD,
YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE ME...
- WHAT? THAT HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT AT ALL.
- FOR WHO I AM.
- YES,
LET ME FINISH!
DAD DIDN'T JUST LEAVE YOU,
ALL RIGHT? HE LEFT ALL OF US,
AND I MISS HIM.
I MISS HIM JUST AS MUCH
AS YOU, OKAY,
BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN
I'M GONNA BECOME HIM.
I KNOW THAT.
YOU SHOULD TOO.
MOM, YOU GOTTA TRUST
THAT FACT THAT YOU...
YOU RAISED ME GOOD ENOUGH
TO DO A GOOD JOB AT THAT.
- [sobs]
[sobs]
- LET'S GO.
- IS YOUR MOM OKAY
WITH THIS?
- AS MUCH AS SHE CAN BE.
- ALL RIGHT, IF WE HURRY,
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THERE.
[car stalling]
OH, NO, NO, NO.
COME ON, DON'T DO THIS.
[car stalling]
COME ON. COME ON!
- IF HE DOESN'T TURN UP
IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES,
THEY'RE NOT GONNA
LET US GO ON.
- OH, I THINK
I SEE HIM.
- OH, I'LL TELL THEM
HE'S HERE.
[brakes squealing]
- HEY, TAKE CARE OF HER,
ALL RIGHT?
I CAN'T AFFORD
A NEW ONE.
- MS. SUTTON'S
GOT US CHECKED IN,
BUT WE GOTTA HURRY UP.
- OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
HEY, WHERE'D YOU GUYS
GET THE SHIRTS?
- I GOT A DEAL ON THEM.
DON'T ASK.
- YEAH? ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GO, GUYS. COME ON.
- IT'S TOO LATE.
THE COMPETITION JUST ENDED.
- WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
- I'M SORRY, CLAY,
IT'S OVER.
- NEXT YEAR, MAN.
- THERE ISN'T GONNA BE
A NEXT YEAR.
- NO, NO, NO, NO. NO,
THIS ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN, OKAY?
WE'VE WORKED TOO HARD.
NOBODY IS GONNA STOP US
FROM PLAYING.
I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY
IN FORMATION OVER HERE. COME ON.
- WHAT,
YOU MEAN OUT HERE?
- YEAH, RIGHT HERE.
LET'S GO.
- ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
- IT'S NEVER STOPPED ME
BEFORE, HAS IT?
COME ON, LET'S GO!
- WHOA, WHOA.
HERE THEY COME.
- OKAY, GUYS,
INSTRUMENTS UP. LET'S GO.
LET'S SHOW 'EM WHAT WE GOT,
OKAY?
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.
[drum intro playing]
[big band music playing]
♪
[high note playing]
[cheers]
YEAH!
- [laughs]
[cheers and applause]
- WHOO!
[cheers and applause]
- THEY LOVE IT, MAN.
- MUST HAVE BEEN THE SHIRTS.
[laughter]
[cheers and applause]
- ALL RIGHT,
GREAT JOB, BABIES!
[cheers and applause]
- [laughs]
- [laughs]
- [laughs]
[laughter and applause]
- THAT WAS AMAZING, DAD.
- OH, THANK YOU.
I JUST, YOU KNOW,
WAVE MY HANDS.
THEY DO ALL THE PLAYING.
- WELL, THIS IS THE FRIEND
YOU TOLD ME TO BRING.
MADDIE,
THIS IS MY DAD.
- NATE TALKS ABOUT YOU
ALL THE TIME.
- HE DOES? WELL,
I HOPE ALL GOOD THINGS.
- MOSTLY GOOD THINGS.
- YEAH? MOSTLY.
- YEAH.
- THANK YOU.
THANKS.
[laughter]
DUDE, LOOK AT THIS.
- LOOK AT YOU, MAN,
BETTER THAN THE OLD MAN.
- HEY, MR. A?
MR. A, COME HERE.
- HEY, LISTEN,
DON'T GO ANYWHERE, OKAY?
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- YOU MUST BE NATE.
- HEY.
- I'M APRIL SUTTON,
YOUR FATHER'S PRINCIPAL.
HE'S TOLD ME
SO MUCH ABOUT YOU.
- WELL, I...REALLY?
- YES. HI.
- HI.
- APRIL.
- MADDIE.
- NICE TO MEET YOU.
- YOU TOO.
- SHOW HIM THE CARD.
- WOW, THIS GUY'S
THE DIRECTOR
OF THE WIND ENSEMBLE
AT THE NEW CONSERVATORY.
YOU KNOW THAT?
- YEAH.
- WHATEVER. HE JUST WANTS
T.J. TO AUDITION.
PRETTY EXTREME ABOUT IT.
- DO YOU THINK I SHOULD?
- UH, YEAH, I THINK
YOU SHOULD.
- YEAH?
- HEY, UM, I'M GLAD
YOU COULD MAKE IT.
- YEAH.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
MOM WISHES SHE COULD COME.
SHE'S WORKING, AND I'VE
GOT TO GET TO WORK TOO.
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
GIVE HIM A RIDE HOME?
- I'LL GET HIM HOME.
- ALL RIGHT.
- THANKS FOR COMING.
- CONGRATS.
- THANK YOU.
- THAT'S NO JOKE.
- I KNOW.
SO, WHEN ARE WE GOING ON
ANOTHER DOUBLE DATE AGAIN?
- THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
- [laughs] OKAY.
- HEY, DID WE MISS HIM?
- NO, HE'S STILL PACKING.
- OH.
- YOU JUST MISSED MOM.
SHE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING.
- GLAD I COULD HELP.
HOW'S THE NEW JOB?
- IT'S GOOD.
TIPS ARE GOOD.
- I SEE THAT.
WOW.
STILL, I DON'T THINK
YOU'RE PLANNING
ON WORKING THERE
YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, RIGHT?
- I HAVE MY GED.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?
- WELL, ACTUALLY, COACH FRANKLIN
TALKED TO HIS BUDDY
WHO COACHES OVER AT
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
AND THEY'D LOVE FOR YOU
TO TRY OUT.
- ARE YOU KIDDING?
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
CONDITIONING THAT WILL TAKE?
- YEAH, I DO,
BUT YOU'LL DO IT, RIGHT?
- OF COURSE I'LL DO IT.
- [laughs]
- HEY.
- HEY, YOU BRING
YOUR TRUMPET?
I THOUGHT THE CONSERVATORY
WAS BUYING YOU A NEW ONE.
- YEAH, WELL,
I LIKE THIS ONE.
- SO DO I.
- HEY.
- HEY.
WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT NEED A RIDE
TO THE BUS STATION, SO...
- IS THAT OKAY?
- SAVES ME THE TROUBLE.
GIVE ME A CALL
WHEN YOU GET THERE.
- THANKS, BUDDY.
- TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
- LISTEN, DON'T, UH,
DON'T BE A STRANGER.
I MEAN IT.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
- THANK YOU.
OH, I GOT THAT, MAN.
THANKS.
EXCUSE ME.
- BYE, SWEETIE.
I'M GONNA MISS YOU A LOT.
- BYE.
- SO, I HEAR YOU GUYS
ARE GETTING MARRIED.
- WHAT?
- WHAT?
- JUST KIDDING.
- [laughs]
JUST THINK. WE HAVE HER
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
- LOOK AT THOSE TWO.
HEY, PUT YOUR SEAT BELTS ON.
- IT FEELS GOOD,
DOESN'T IT?
- YEAH, IT DOES.
IT'S ONLY GONNA BE THREE
OR FOUR DAYS, ALL RIGHT?
- OH, I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THIS.
WHAT AM I GONNA DO
WITH MYSELF?
- YOU'LL BE FINE.
- COME ON.
YOU'RE BEING SILLY.
I JUST...I WANT TO KNOW.
WHAT IS THIS
MYSTERIOUS THING
YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING
ALL WEEK?
- IT'S SOMETHING I SHOULD
HAVE DONE A LONG TIME AGO.
- ARE YOU STILL NOT GONNA
TELL ME WHAT IT IS?
- I DON'T WANT TO JINX IT.
I'LL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT
WHEN I GET BACK.
- IS IT ANOTHER WOMAN?
THAT'S IT, RIGHT?
- OH, COME ON.
YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
- DO YOU TWO REALLY THINK
THAT'S APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
IN THE FACULTY PARKING LOT?
- I THINK I'LL MAKE
AN EXCEPTION.
- ARE YOU READY
FOR ANOTHER YEAR?
- I'M JUST GLAD WE HAVE
ANOTHER YEAR.
- RIGHT.
[engine starts]
ALL RIGHT. SO, IS EVERYTHING
SET FOR MONDAY?
- I'M WORKING ON IT.
GOT A FEW TOILETS TO CLEAN.
- [laughs]
- YOU READY?
- YEP.
- GOT YOUR COMPASS?
THERE IT IS.
GOOD.
I DON'T WANT TO GET LOST.
- DID YOU BRING
YOUR BUG SPRAY?
- OH, DON'T WORRY.
I GOT THAT.
- [laughs]
WHERE'S YOUR TRUMPET?
- OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME
I LEFT IT BEHIND,
FOR A WHILE AT LEAST.
SO, YOU NEVER DID
TELL ME,
JUST HOW SERIOUS ARE YOU
AND THIS MADDIE GIRL?
- I DON'T KNOW.
JUST HOW SERIOUS
ARE YOU AND THE PRINCIPAL?
- I ASKED YOU FIRST.
- SO?
- SO? I'M YOUR FATHER.
[engine starts]
- [laughs]
- UHH! SO, I'M REALLY
GOING RAFTING, HUH?
[both laugh]
- YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT'S A NICE BLUE SHIRT.
- OKAY.
- OFF WE GO.
[upbeat music]
♪
[trumpet music]
♪
[cheers and applause]
[alarm beeps]
- [exhales]
[gargling]
[school bell rings]
[tires screech]
- MR. ALLEN.
WE DON'T FEEL
IT'S TOO MUCH TO ASK THAT
OUR EDUCATORS ARRIVE ON TIME,
ESPECIALLY FIRST DAY OF CLASS.
- I KNOW, I'M SORRY.
IN MY...
IN MY ATTEMPT
TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION,
I LOST TRACK OF TIME.
IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN,
I PROMISE.
OH, GOOD.
I SEE THERE'S COFFEE.
- YES,
IN THE TEACHER'S LOUNGE.
- OH, GOOD.
- I'M SURE TOMORROW
YOU'LL BE HERE EARLY ENOUGH
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT FACT.
- WHOA, WHOA. WATCH IT.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M JUST LATE TO CLASS.
- MITCH FRANKLIN.
- CLAY ALLEN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.
- NEW MUSIC TEACHER,
RIGHT?
- YEAH.
- YEAH, I HEARD.
ANY CHANCE YOU'LL STICK AROUND
LONGER THAN THE LAST GUY?
- WHAT HAPPENED
TO THE LAST GUY?
- OH, FOUND OUT HE COULD
MAKE MORE MONEY AT THE DMV.
- THINK
THEY'RE STILL HIRING?
- [laughs]
[hip-hop music playing]
[classroom chatter]
- ♪ I'VE GOT THE TORCH NOW
NO PASSING THE FLAME ♪
♪ 'CAUSE THE FACTS ARE THE SAME,
YOU JUST GASSING MY FLAME ♪
♪ I GOTTA CATCH THE FAME,
MAN, I HAVE TO REMAIN ♪
♪ ON MY ON MY GROUND TILL
THE DAY THAT I MASTER THE GAME ♪
♪ IT'S CHRISTMAS AND THINGS,
YOU GET JEWELS AND GIFTS ♪
[overlapping chatter]
♪ WE IN THE MAJOR LEAGUE NOW,
NO JOKE ♪
[chatter continues]
♪ I'LL MAKE YOUR BIG DAY
SEEM LIKE OLD NEWS ♪
♪ SUCH A FACE IN A...
[music stops]
- OH.
- QUE PASO?
- FOR REAL?
- SAY, MAN,
SUPPOSED TO BE A MUSIC CLASS,
AIN'T IT?
- HIP-HOP IS NOT
PART OF THE CURRICULUM.
- YEAH, WELL,
IT SHOULD BE.
- [laughs]
- WORD.
[chatter]
- MY NAME
IS MR. ALLEN.
WELL, WELCOME.
WELCOME
TO MUSIC APPRECIATION,
WHERE EVERYBODY GETS AN "A"
JUST FOR SHOWING UP, RIGHT?
[laughter]
[general agreement]
WELL, NOT ANYMORE. NOW, YOU GUYS
ARE GONNA HAVE TO EARN IT.
ALTHOUGH I AM
OPENED UP TO BRIBES.
CUPCAKES,
THEY SEEM TO WORK.
RED VELVET,
IF ANYONE'S TAKING NOTES.
[laughter]
YES, UM...
- CARMEN.
I HEARD YOU WERE, LIKE,
THIS AMAZING TRUMPET PLAYER.
- I WOULDN'T SAY AMAZING.
AWESOME, CERTAINLY,
BUT NOT AMAZING.
- WELL,
IF YOU'RE SO AWESOME,
THEN WHY ARE YOU
TEACHING HIGH SCHOOL?
all: OH!
[laughter]
- WELL, I BELIEVE MUSIC
CAN UPLIFT US, TOUCH OUR SOUL.
PLUS,
I NEEDED A JOB.
[laughter]
- YO,
WHAT'S IN THE CASE?
- THAT'S MY TRUMPET.
IT GOES WHERE I GO.
YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHY?
- 'CAUSE YOU CRAZY?
[laughter]
- YOU SOUND
JUST LIKE MY EX-WIFE.
[laughter]
NO, SERIOUSLY, YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
WHY SOMEBODY WOULD
CARRY THEIR TRUMPET AROUND
WITH THEM WHEREVER THEY GO?
ANY IDEAS?
COME ON, PEOPLE.
I'M NEW AT THIS. HELP ME OUT.
YES?
- 'CAUSE
IT'S A PART OF YOU.
- I'M SORRY,
I DIDN'T GET THAT.
- BECAUSE
IT'S A PART OF YOU.
- THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S A PART OF ME.
LET'S OPEN UP OUR TEXTBOOKS
TO CHAPTER ONE.
"MUSIC, MUSIC EVERYWHERE."
- SORRY.
- PROBABLY WONDERING WHAT
YOU'VE GOTTEN YOURSELF INTO.
- YOU KNOW,
THESE KIDS LOOK AT ME
LIKE I'M SPEAKING
A FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
- [chuckles] YOU ARE,
TO THEM, AT LEAST.
TRY TO REMEMBER WHAT WE WERE
LIKE WHEN WE WERE THEIR AGE.
- YOU TRYING TO SCARE ME?
- [laughs]
YOU GOT ANY KIDS?
- I GOT ONE,
A SON IN COLLEGE.
- THINK ABOUT
HOW YOU CONNECT WITH HIM.
- [over walkie-talkie]
MR. MANNY, PLEASE REPORT
TO THE CAFETERIA
WITH A MOP AND BUCKET...
A LARGE BUCKET.
- ON MY WAY.
CLEAN UP ON AISLE 11.
BY THE WAY,
NAME'S MANNY GAUZA.
- SO WHAT, THAT'S ALL
YOU GOT FOR ME, MANNY?
"THINK ABOUT
WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE?"
- YOU'LL FIGURE IT OUT.
- WHAT MAKES YOU
SO SURE?
- 'CAUSE THEY NEED YOU,
WHETHER THEY KNOW IT, OR NOT.
- OH, CLAY.
I WASN'T EXPECTING YOU.
IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT?
- EVERYTHING'S FINE.
I JUST WANTED TO DROP OFF
THE CHECK FOR NATE'S TUITION.
- WHY ARE YOU DRESSED LIKE THAT?
IS SOMETHING WRONG?
- I GOT A JOB.
A REAL JOB, WITH BENEFITS,
AND EVERYTHING.
- SO DOES THIS NEW JOB INVOLVE
PLAYING THE TRUMPET IN CLUBS
TILL 3:00 IN THE MORNING?
- NO, NO. NOT EVEN CLOSE.
- WELL, ARE YOU AT LEAST
GONNA TELL ME WHAT IT IS?
- TEACHING
HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC.
[door opening]
- NATE.
THERE'S MY BOY.
DIDN'T KNOW
YOU WERE BACK IN TOWN.
YEAH, HOW WAS
YOUR FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL?
- IT WAS COOL.
- IT WAS GOOD?
WHERE YOU OFF TO?
- RAFTING.
- RAFTING?
I THOUGHT
YOU HATED THE OUTDOORS.
- NO, DAD.
THAT'S YOU.
- YEAH,
THERE'S TOO MANY BUGS.
- LOOK, YOU KNOW,
I GOTTA BOUNCE.
- OKAY. LOOK,
NEXT TIME YOU'RE IN TOWN,
GIVE ME A CALL, ALL RIGHT?
WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GET TOGETHER.
- DEFINITELY.
- YEAH,
BE CAREFUL, HONEY.
WEAR LOTS OF SUNSCREEN,
OKAY?
- SEE YOU LATER.
HE'S NOT GONNA CALL,
IS HE?
WELL, HEY, I'LL GET YOU...
I'LL GET YOU THE REST
NEXT WEEK, OKAY?
- YEAH.
- THE THREE "Bs"
OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.
WHO ARE THEY,
AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
- WE DON'T.
- BUT YOU SHOULD.
[laughter]
OKAY, I'LL GIVE YOU A HINT.
THE FIRST ONE...
- BEYONCE?
[laughter]
- NO, BUT THANKS
FOR PLAYING.
ALL RIGHT,
HOW ABOUT ANOTHER HINT.
[Beethoven's Fifth Symphony
playing]
- OH, BEASTIE BOYS.
- NO, THAT WOULD BE
MORE LIKE THIS.
[record scratching]
[classical music continues
with hip-hop beat]
♪
[record scratching]
♪
WELL, DON'T LOOK
SO SURPRISED.
MR. A'S
GOT SOME SKILLS.
[laughter]
OH, LOOK,
THERE YOU GO.
SOMEBODY'S FEELING IT.
LOOK AT THAT.
[laughter and chatter]
COME ON, GET UP. SHOW ME
WHAT YOU GUYS KNOW ABOUT RHYTHM.
[overlapping chatter]
♪
YEAH.
THERE YOU GO.
[laughter]
- WHOO. I LIKE IT.
- CHECK THIS OUT.
♪
[record scratching]
♪
WHAT'S WRONG?
♪
[record scratch, music ends]
MS. SUTTON.
WE WERE...WE WERE JUST
GOING OVER THE, UM...
UM...
[laughter]
WE WERE JUST GOING OVER
THE, UH...
- BEETHOVEN, BACH, BRAHMS.
- YES.
THAT'S RIGHT, THE THREE "Bs"
OF CLASSICAL MUSIC.
- I'D REALLY LOVE TO HEAR
MORE ABOUT THIS AFTER SCHOOL.
[snickering]
- BUSTED.
[laughter]
- MR. A IN TROUBLE.
- AH, DON'T BE RIDICULOUS.
I'M NOT IN TROUBLE.
I'M NOT, OKAY?
AM I?
all: YEAH.
[school bell rings]
- ALL RIGHT,
CLASS, LISTEN.
DON'T FORGET TO READ
THAT CHAPTER ON CLASSICAL MUSIC.
THERE'S GONNA BE A TEST
TOMORROW.
LOOK AT ME.
THIS IS MY "NOT KIDDING" FACE.
OKAY? READ.
- HEY, IT'S T.J.,
ISN'T IT?
THANK YOU
FOR JUMPING IN THERE.
YOU KNOW, YOU SEEM TO BE
THE ONLY ONE IN CLASS
WHO KNOWS
OR EVEN CARES ABOUT MUSIC.
- THEY LIKE MUSIC,
JUST NOT YOUR KIND.
- SO LET'S TALK
ABOUT FIRST PERIOD.
- I KNOW, I KNOW
THE WHOLE DJ THING
MAY SEEM A LITTLE UNORTHODOX,
BUT AT THIS POINT,
I'M WILLING
TO TRY ANYTHING,
AND IT'S NOT JUST FIRST PERIOD,
IT'S ALL MY CLASSES.
I DON'T SEEM TO BE
GETTING THROUGH TO THEM.
- AND YOU THINK TURNING
THE CLASSROOM INTO A HOUSE PARTY
IS THE BEST WAY
TO GET THEIR ATTENTION?
- IT WORKED, BRIEFLY.
I WANT THESE KIDS TO APPRECIATE
ALL FORMS OF MUSIC,
AND NOT JUST
WHAT'S POPULAR.
- BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND,
BUT I STILL NEED YOU
TO TEACH
THE APPROVED CURRICULUM.
- OF COURSE.
- RIGHT, THANK YOU.
SEND IN MY NEXT VICTIM.
- RIGHT AWAY.
GO ON IN.
- THANKS
FOR MEETING ME.
- SATURDAY'S MY FAVORITE DAY
TO BE HERE. NO KIDS.
WHAT'S ALL THIS?
- THAT'S MY LIFE.
[plays several notes]
- OH, YOU PLAY?
- EH, USED TO,
LONG TIME AGO.
- WHAT TYPE OF MUSIC?
- CLASSICAL, JAZZ,
YOU NAME IT.
HEY, LET'S SEE...
LET'S SEE IF I CAN REMEMBER.
[playing Chopsticks]
- [laughs]
♪
[playing Beethoven's
Moonlight Sonata]
♪
[trilling all keys]
- OH, YEAH.
KEEP GOING.
- [chuckles]
I'LL JUST EMBARRASS MYSELF.
- OH, COME ON, MAN.
YOU KNOW YOU CAN PLAY.
- MAYBE YEARS AGO.
- IT'S NEVER TOO LATE.
- [scoffs]
WELL, I'M 40 YEARS OLD,
AND I WORK AS A JANITOR,
AND THAT'S COOL.
I MADE MY CHOICES.
IT'D BE NICE IF, UH,
THESE KIDS AT LEAST GOT
SOME OF THE CHANCES I HAD.
- TO DO WHAT?
- PLAY IN A BAND.
- A BAND?
- YEAH.
- HERE
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL?
- YEAH, WHY NOT?
YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A BAND HALL
BACK WHEN I WENT HERE.
- OH, YEAH?
- [laughs]
DIRECTOR'S NAME WAS DR. MOSELY,
AND THIS GUY, MAN,
HE LOVED MUSIC
LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.
HE WAS COOL TOO.
YOU COULD TALK TO HIM.
- WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM?
- EH, RETIRED
MY JUNIOR YEAR.
WITHOUT HIM HERE
FIGHTING FOR IT,
THE SCHOOL BOARD
CUT FUNDING FOR THE BAND.
NOW, WE GOT YOU.
- YEAH.
HEY! HEY!
SOMEBODY STOLE MY HORN.
[scales playing on a trumpet]
♪
♪
- I'M SORRY.
I WAS JUST BORROWING IT.
- NO, THAT'S OKAY.
WAIT A SECOND.
WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. WHOA.
WHERE'D YOU LEARN TO PLAY
LIKE THAT?
NO, NO, IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'S OKAY.
- GOOD MORNING.
[chatter]
HAS ANYONE SEEN T.J.?
OH, HI.
IS, UH,
IS YOUR MOM HOME?
- HANK, I...
- HI, I'M CLAY ALLEN,
T.J.'S MUSIC TEACHER,
I LEFT YOU
A COUPLE MESSAGES.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU...
- WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?
- I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD
TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR SON.
- IS HE IN TROUBLE?
- NO, NOT EXACTLY.
- OH, CAN WE DO THIS
ANOTHER TIME?
'CAUSE I'M REALLY
RUNNING LATE.
- THIS IS ONLY GONNA
TAKE A SECOND.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF YOU WERE
AWARE HOW TALENTED YOUR SON IS
WHEN IT COMES TO THE TRUMPET.
WITH THE RIGHT GUIDANCE,
HE COULD DEFINITELY...
- WAIT, GUIDANCE?
LOOK, MR., UM...
- ALLEN.
- ALLEN. I APPRECIATE
YOUR INTEREST,
BUT I WANT MY SON CONCENTRATING
ON HIS STUDIES, NOT THE TRUMPET.
HAVE A NICE DAY.
- MAYBE WE CAN WORK
AFTER SCHOOL.
- HE NEEDS TO BE HOME
AFTER SCHOOL,
WATCHING HIS BROTHER
AND SISTER.
NOW, IF YOU WILL EXCUSE ME,
I AM REALLY LATE.
- IS THERE A BETTER TIME
WE CAN TALK?
- WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
[laughs] I SPEND ENOUGH TIME
IN HERE AS IT IS.
- I HEAR YOU.
HOW YOU DOING, MAN?
YOU'RE LOOKING BETTER,
NOT SO MUCH A DEER
IN THE HEADLIGHTS.
- OH, NO, TRUST ME.
THAT'S ALL A FACADE.
HEY, DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING
ABOUT THIS T.J. KID?
- RUSSELL'S BROTHER?
- WHO'S RUSSELL?
- HO, HO, WHOA.
THE BEST RUNNING BACK
THIS SCHOOL'S EVER HAD.
YO, MOVES
YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE.
HE'S THE ONLY PLAYER
WE HAD
EVER GOT OFF
WITH MULTIPLE SCHOLARSHIPS.
- SO WHERE'D HE GO?
- DIDN'T.
YOU BUY ME A BURGER,
AND I'LL FILL YOU IN.
- DEAL.
SO ARE YOU GONNA TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED?
WHY DIDN'T HE
GO TO COLLEGE?
- HIS FATHER WALKED OUT
ON THE FAMILY THREE YEARS AGO.
- AND?
- RUSSELL BECOMES
THE MAN OF THE HOUSE,
HE QUITS FOOTBALL,
DROPS OUT,
GETS A JOB
AT A BURGER JOINT.
- ALL RIGHT, YEAH.
TWO SOFT DRINKS
AND A BUCKAROO BURGER.
LET'S DO THAT.
- THAT'S RUSSELL?
- THAT'S RUSSELL.
IT'S FUNNY,
THEIR FATHER PLAYED TRUMPET
IN JAZZ CLUBS, JUST LIKE YOU.
I'M GUESSING HIS MOM
DOESN'T WANT T.J.
FOLLOWING IN HIS FATHER'S
FOOTSTEPS,
OR YOURS,
FOR THAT MATTER.
- [sighs]
- HEY, RUSSELL?
CAN I TALK TO YOU
FOR A SEC?
UM...OH, I'M SORRY.
I'M CLAY ALLEN.
I'M T.J.'S MUSIC TEACHER.
MAYBE HE'S MENTIONED ME.
NO? ANYWAY,
IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU.
I WAS WONDERING
IF I COULD
TALK TO YOU ABOUT T.J.
FOR A SEC.
- WHAT'S HE DONE?
- NOTHING, NOTHING.
I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT
HIS ABILITY TO PLAY THE TRUMPET.
- YEAH, WHAT ABOUT IT?
- WELL, HE'S GOT TALENT.
I THINK WITH THE RIGHT GUIDANCE,
HE COULD BE SOMETHING SPECIAL.
- LISTEN, MISTER,
T.J. AND I, WE'VE GOT A PLAN,
AND IT DOES NOT
INVOLVE THE TRUMPET.
YO, T.J.!
WHAT'S UP, MUNCHKINS?
- SORRY.
WE WERE OUT BACK, PLAYING.
- THIS PLACE IS A MESS,
T.J.
- ALL RIGHT, GUYS, FOOD'S HERE,
SO GO WASH UP, OKAY? HURRY.
- YOU AT LEAST
DO YOUR HOMEWORK?
- NOT YET,
BUT I WILL.
- SO I SPOKE
TO YOUR MUSIC TEACHER.
HE SAID YOU HAVE
A REAL SHOT
AT MAKING SOMETHING
OUT OF THE TRUMPET IF YOU TRY.
- WHAT'S THE POINT?
YOU SAID YOU'D GET ME A JOB
WITH YOU NEXT YEAR.
- THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT?
SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE
FLIPPING BURGERS?
- YOU DO IT.
- I DO IT
'CAUSE I HAVE TO, T.J.
THE POINT IS, YOU MIGHT NOT,
NOT YET, ANYWAYS.
YOU SHOULD AT LEAST TALK TO HIM,
BUT DON'T TELL MOM.
[football announcers
chatter on TV]
[blowing air through trumpet]
[blowing air through trumpet]
- MY BROTHER SAID
THAT I HAVE TO TALK TO YOU...
ABOUT THE TRUMPET,
AND STUFF.
- MISSED YOU IN CLASS
TODAY AGAIN.
IF YOU'RE NOT COMMITTED,
THIS ISN'T GONNA WORK.
THAT MEANS NOT JUST SHOWING UP
AFTER SCHOOL.
YOU'VE GOT TO
COME TO CLASS.
- OKAY, AND IF I DO,
THEN WHAT?
- WELL, THEN WE'LL
WORK ON YOUR TECHNIQUE:
SIGHT-READING,
IMPROVISATION...
MAKE YOU A BETTER PLAYER.
WHAT YOU DO AFTER THAT
IS UP TO YOU.
- I DON'T HAVE
A TRUMPET.
- WE CAN FIGURE THAT OUT
LATER.
UNTIL THEN...
USE MINE. I BELIEVE YOU HAVE
SOME EXPERIENCE WITH IT.
ALL RIGHT,
WHY DON'T WE START OFF
WITH A BASIC BLUES SCALE?
- OKAY.
[playing trumpet well]
♪
YEAH.
YEAH, THAT'LL WORK.
SHOW OFF.
AH, COME ON, PEOPLE. AT LEAST
PRETEND THAT YOU CARE.
WE HAD ONLY ONE HIGH GRADE
IN THIS CLASS...ONE.
WITHOUT THAT, THE REST
OF THE CLASS AVERAGED A C-MINUS.
- EVERYBODY KNOWS THIS CLASS
IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN EASY "A."
- LISTEN, IT WOULD MAKE MY LIFE
A LOT EASIER
IF I JUST LET YOU ALL SKATE;
NO HOMEWORK, NO TESTS.
[general agreement]
THAT'S NOT GONNA DO YOU GUYS
ANY FAVORS.
LIFE DOESN'T GIVE ANY OF US
A FREE PASS.
I EXPECT YOU
TO STUDY FOR THIS CLASS,
JUST LIKE YOU WOULD
ANY OTHER.
- I DON'T STUDY FOR THOSE
EITHER.
- YEAH, WE NOTICED.
- YOU ALWAYS GOT
SOMETHING TO SAY, DON'T YOU?
- DEREK, YOU TRYING
TO GO TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE?
IS THAT
WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
I ARRANGED A LITTLE SOMETHING
FOR YOU GUYS,
SOMETHING THAT
I CERTAINLY HOPE
WILL INSPIRE YOU ALL
TO TRY A LITTLE HARDER.
[murmuring]
I'VE BEEN THINKING
ABOUT WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE,
AND THE TEACHERS
THAT ACTUALLY INSPIRED ME,
THE ONES WHO'S PASSION
MADE ME WANT TO KNOW MORE,
THE ONES WHO DIDN'T
JUST TALK THE TALK,
BUT ALSO
WALKED THE WALK.
SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO.
[Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
playing]
[laughter]
♪
[jazz version continues
with trumpet]
♪
- OH, AWESOME.
- NICE.
[applause]
- ALL RIGHT!
- STILL A CLASSIC.
- YEAH.
- ALL RIGHT.
[school bell rings]
LISTEN, I EXPECT ALL OF YOU,
A LITTLE MORE EFFORT.
OKAY? FROM NOW ON,
A LITTLE MORE EFFORT.
HEY.
NOT EVERYTHING'S
WORTH FIGHTING OVER, OKAY?
REMEMBER OUR LITTLE FIELD TRIP
THIS AFTERNOON.
- [sobbing quietly]
[sobbing]
- WERE WE
REALLY THAT BAD?
- [sobbing]
- UM...
YOU KNOW, IF YOU...
IF YOU EVER NEED TO,
OR WANT IF YOU WANT...
OH, OKAY, GOOD.
I MEAN...I MEAN,
GOOD THAT YOU'RE OKAY.
- WHAT?
- I'M JUST WONDERING
WHY YOU WERE CRYING, THAT'S ALL.
- IT'S NONE
OF YOUR BUSINESS.
AND IF YOU KEEP ON FOLLOWING ME,
I'LL USE MY PEPPER SPRAY.
- READY?
- YEAH.
- COME ON.
- GOOD TO SEE YOU.
COME ON.
[doorbell chimes]
- WHOA. [chuckles]
- IT'S PRETTY SWEET, HUH?
- YEAH.
- YOU WON'T FIND
PLACES LIKE THIS ANYMORE.
IT'S DEFINITELY
OLD SCHOOL.
HEY, POPS!
- CLAY ALLEN,
AS I LIVE AND BREATHE.
- HOW YOU BEEN
- EH, YOU KNOW.
SAME OLD SAME OLD.
THIS YOUR BOY?
- UH, NO, NO,
IT'S A STUDENT OF MINE.
T.J. HARRIS,
POPS O'REILLY.
- T.J.
- HI.
- ALL RIGHT.
- SO WE'RE
LOOKING FOR A TRUMPET.
I'M THINKING SOMETHING VINTAGE,
SOMETHING WITH SOME MILES ON IT.
GOT ANYTHING?
- [scoffs]
WE DON'T HAVE MUCH CALL
FOR CLASSIC HORNS ANYMORE,
BUT I GOT A LITTLE SOMETHING
HERE YOU MIGHT TRY.
THERE'S A SWEET NUMBER.
- YEAH.
- GIVE THAT A TRY.
SOMETHING YOU CAN GROW INTO.
- WHOA.
[playing trumpet well]
♪
- YEAH, SEE,
HE DOES THAT.
- OH, HO, HO, HO.
- [chuckles]
HOW MUCH?
- WELL,
BECAUSE IT'S YOU,
I'M GONNA GIVE IT TO YOU
AT MY COST.
JUST DON'T TELL
ANYBODY.
AND THAT COMES TO $557 PLUS TAX.
UNCLE SAM NEEDS HIS PIECE.
- THANK YOU.
I'VE GOT TO GO.
- T.J.,
HOLD ON A SECOND.
GOT ANYTHING CHEAPER?
- NO, NOT FOR HIS CHOPS.
PLEASURE
NOT DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU.
- HEY.
- HEY. LOOKING FOR MOM?
- NO, UH,
YOU, ACTUALLY.
SHE SAID YOU'D BE HOME
THIS WEEKEND DOING LAUNDRY.
- YUP.
- HOW ARE YOUR CLASSES.
- EH, PRETTY GOOD.
- YEAH? PROFESSORS?
- OKAY. YOU KNOW,
MOSTLY GRAD STUDENTS.
- HOW ABOUT THE GIRLS, HUH?
YOU MEET ANY GIRLS?
- YOU KNOW, A FEW.
- OH, GOOD.
LOOK, ANYWAY,
I WAS WONDERING, UM,
REMEMBER THAT TRUMPET
THAT I GAVE YOU IN THIRD GRADE,
THE ONE I TAUGHT YOU
HOW TO PLAY?
THERE'S THIS KID,
A STUDENT OF MINE,
AND THIS KID CAN REALLY PLAY,
BUT HE NEEDS AN INSTRUMENT.
MAYBE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND,
HE COULD BORROW YOURS.
- THAT TRUMPET'S GONE.
I SOLD IT YEARS AGO.
- YOU SOLD IT?
- SORRY,
I SHOULD'VE TOLD YOU.
- HEY,
IT'S YOUR TRUMPET.
OKAY. HEY, I'LL LET YOU
GET BACK TO WHAT YOU WERE DOING.
- YEAH, YEAH.
- OKAY.
- I'LL SEE YOU.
- HEY, GOT A SEC?
- CAN'T YOU JUST
TELL ME?
- WAY MORE IMPRESSIVE IN PERSON.
HERE IT IS.
WATCH YOURSELF.
- OH, YES, QUITE A BOX.
- BE PATIENT.
YOU SOUND LIKE MY KIDS.
THEY'VE BEEN IN STORAGE
FOR YEARS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
[chuckles]
- OH, UM...
THIS IS YOURS.
- NO, I TOLD YOU,
I CANT AFFORD IT.
- THIS IS FREE.
IT'S COURTESY
OF THE CORVILLE
HIGH SCHOOL BAND, 1986.
I HAD POPS GIVE IT AN ACID BATH
AND ADJUST THE VALVES.
LOOK, I KNOW IT'S OLD
AND NOT AS SHINY
AS THE ONE THE OTHER DAY,
BUT IT'S GOT SOME LIFE.
GIVE IT A TRY.
- VALVE'S STICKING.
- DID I MENTION TO YOU
THE FREE PART? DID YOU GET THAT?
[chuckles]
WHERE'D YOU LEARN
TO DO THAT?
- MY DAD.
- WHAT ELSE
DID HE SHOW YOU?
- NOT MUCH.
- I HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE
FOR THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR,
DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
YOU'RE LUCKY COACH FRANKLIN
SAID THAT YOU DIDN'T START IT,
OTHERWISE, I'D HAVE NO CHOICE
BUT TO SUSPEND YOU.
YOU'RE A GOOD KID, DEREK.
YOU KNOW BETTER.
NOW, GET OUT OF HERE
BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND.
- CLAY? UH, ANY CHANCE
YOU CAN GET THE BAND READY
IN TIME
FOR BASKETBALL?
YOU GET
ONE OF THOSE PEP BANDS
UP IN THE STANDS, AND THE CROWD
REALLY GETS INTO IT.
- YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING TO MANNY.
- YEAH. YEAH, HE MENTIONED
YOU GUYS UP HERE PAST MIDNIGHT,
POLISHING UP OLD INSTRUMENTS
YOU PULLED OUT OF STORAGE.
THAT'S NICE, AND I ALSO HEAR
THAT THIS KID, HARRIS, CAN PLAY.
- WELL, IT TAKES MORE
THAN ONE KID TO MAKE IT A BAND.
THAT'S WHY
THEY CALL IT A BAND.
- YEAH, LOOK,
I COACHED HIS BROTHER.
HE SHOWED A LOT OF POTENTIAL,
AND NOW, LOOK AT HIM.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE
THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO T.J.,
AND I'M PRETTY SURE
YOU DON'T EITHER.
- EVEN IF...
IFI DECIDE TO DO THIS,
I WOULD STILL HAVE TO
RUN IT BY THE PRINCIPAL,
AND LET'S FACE IT,
I DON'T SEEM TO BE
HER FAVORITE PERSON
RIGHT NOW.
- JUST TELL HER
WHAT'S IN IT FOR HER.
- THAT WOULD BE WHAT?
- YOU KNOW,
THAT THE...
HOW SHOULD I KNOW?
I'M JUST A COACH.
[dialing numbers]
[phone ringing]
- [recording on phone]
HEY, IT'S ME.
HAD TO BOUNCE.
LEAVE A MESSAGE.
[beep]
- HEY, NATE, IT'S YOUR DAD.
LOOK, I WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW
THAT I'M GONNA BE PLAYING
UP AT CYRUS'S TONIGHT,
THE JAZZ CLUB BY THE UNIVERSITY.
I KNOW IT'S SHORT NOTICE,
BUT IT'S BEEN AWHILE
SINCE YOU'VE HEARD ME PLAY,
PLUS, I DON'T...
I JUST, I'D REALLY
LOVE TO SEE YOU.
WELL, I HOPE YOU GET THIS,
AND I MISS YOU.
OKAY, BYE.
[sighs]
[jazz music]
♪
- LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MR. CLAY ALLEN.
[cheers and applause]
SHOW HIM SOME LOVE.
[cheers and applause]
- THANK YOU FOR MEETING ME.
- THANK YOU.
- YEAH.
- SURE.
OKAY, WELL,
I CAN'T STAY TOO LONG.
- OH, NO, I'LL MAKE THIS QUICK,
I PROMISE.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN
A COUPLE PEOPLE
THAT HAVE ASKED ME,
MAYBE I SHOULD
THINK ABOUT REFORMING
THE BAND.
- THE SCHOOL BAND?
- YEAH.
WE FOUND ALL THE INSTRUMENTS
IN STORAGE,
BUT, UH, I HAVE
MY SIXTH PERIOD FREE.
THOUGHT WE COULD REHEARSE THEN.
- ALL RIGHT,
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING.
LOOK AT THAT.
- YEAH, OKAY,
THAT'S A LOT OF NUMBERS.
- YES, THAT'S
NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET,
OR RATHER,
WHAT'S LEFT OF IT.
- SO YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S
NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR A BAND?
- WELL, I'M SAYING
IT'S NOT A PRIORITY.
I SPENT SEVEN YEARS...SEVEN...
AS AN ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL.
AND AT THE END OF LAST YEAR,
THEY FINALLY
MOVED ME OVER TO CORVILLE.
IT'S LIKE BEING HANDED THE KEYS
TO THE TITANICAND BEING TOLD,
"GOOD LUCK."
- I'M PRETTY SURE
THE TITANICDIDN'T HAVE KEYS.
[sighs] IF WE DON'T
GET OUR TEST SCORES UP,
AND ENROLLMENT,
ATTENDANCE,
OUTSIDE CONTRIBUTIONS,
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT,
IF WE DON'T DO
EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE,
THEY'RE GONNA
CLOSE THE SCHOOL.
- WHAT?
- [sighs]
SORRY, MY HANDS ARE TIED.
- LOOK, WHAT IF...
I DON'T KNOW, WHAT IF THE BAND
BRINGS AWARENESS TO THE SCHOOL?
WHAT IF IT SHOWS THE COMMUNITY
WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF
- YOU THINK REFORMING THE BAND
WOULD KEEP US OPEN?
- NO, I'M NOT SAYING THAT,
I'M JUST...
LOOK, I DON'T KNOW.
MAYBE.
I MEAN, IF IT WORKS,
I WILL SAY IT WAS YOUR IDEA.
- AND IF IT DOESN'T?
- I WILL SAY
IT WAS YOUR IDEA.
- OH, NICE.
- [laughs]
- OKAY, DO WE HAVE ANY STUDENTS
THAT CAN PLAY?
- WE HAVE ONE
THAT I KNOW OF.
- ONE? THAT'S NOT A LOT
TO GO OFF OF. [laughs]
- NO, I KNOW. CAN YOU
JUST THINK ABOUT IT, THEN?
- [sighs]
OKAY, I'M DESPERATE.
THANK YOU,
AND SEE YOU ON THE TITANIC.
- [laughing] OKAY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
ALL RIGHT,
YOU GUYS MADE IT. HERE.
- WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
- OH, WELL, WE ARE
GOING TO TURN THIS PLACE
BACK INTO A REAL BAND HALL,
STARTING TODAY.
- SO MS. SUTTON SIGNED OFF
ON THE BAND IDEA?
- YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, SORT OF.
LOOK, SHE WILL,
AS SOON AS SHE SEES
HOW LITTLE
IT'S GONNA COST.
- I'M ALL FOR
FIXING THIS PLACE UP,
BUT DON'T YOU THINK
IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA
TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS
CAN ACTUALLY PLAY?
- OH, YEAH, YEAH.
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT.
AUDITIONS
ARE IN A FEW HOURS.
- "WE"?
[playing flute terribly]
♪
[playing tuba terribly]
♪
[drumming well]
♪
[playing saxophone well]
[playing accordion terribly]
♪
- OKAY. WITH EVERYONE
WHO AUDITIONED, WE HAVE...
11 WHO CAN
SLIGHTLY PLAY AN INSTRUMENT.
- WELL, THE KID
WITH THE ACCORDION WAS NICE,
IF YOU LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF
A YOUNG LAWRENCE WELK TYPE.
- WHAT ABOUT T.J.?
- I DON'T KNOW.
HE SAID HE WAS GONNA BE HERE.
- LET'S FACE IT, I MEAN,
WITHOUT THAT KID,
THIS THING IS OVER
BEFORE IT STARTS.
[soft jazz playing]
♪
[dialing numbers]
[phone ringing]
- [recording on phone] HI,
THIS IS THE HARRIS RESIDENCE.
IF YOU NEED TO REACH T.J.,
MOM, OR RUSSELL,
LEAVE A MESSAGE AFTER THE BEEP.
[beep]
[rock music]
- ♪ I'M NOT SOLID ON THE CONCEPT
THAT I AM SUPPOSED TO SELL ♪
♪
♪ TIME TO FINISH IN A MINUTE
THEN I SEND 'EM BACK TO HELL ♪
- EH,
LOOKS A LITTLE BIG.
- OH, YOU A SKATER?
- NO, BUT IT LOOKS
LIKE FUN.
KINDA LIKE SURFING
WITHOUT THE SHARKS.
- [chuckles]
- THAT'S A INTERESTING WAY
OF TESTING IT OUT.
THAT THE ONE?
- IT'S A LITTLE PRICEY.
THEY ALL ARE. I'LL PROBABLY
JUST STICK WITH THE ONE I GOT.
- HMM.
LOOKS LIKE MY SIZE.
EXCUSE ME,
TAKE THIS ONE.
- WHAT?
- THAT'S FOR ME,
NOT YOU.
- YOU JUST SAID
YOU DIDN'T BOARD.
- CAN'T BE THAT HARD.
♪
- WHOA! OH.
UGH!
- ALL RIGHT.
- WHOA,
A LITTLE HELP?
- BY THE WAY,
NICE RIDE.
- OH, YEAH, THANKS.
IT WAS MY DAD'S.
I THINK HE LOVED IT
MORE THAN HE LOVED ME.
HERE, YOU DRIVE?
- WHAT? NO, SKATEBOARD.
- YOU'RE 17,
AND YOU DON'T DRIVE?
- NOPE.
OH!
THIS IS GONNA BE HARD.
- THANKS FOR THE LIFT.
- YEAH.
THANKS
FOR THE SKATEBOARD LESSON,
AND FOR NOT LAUGHING
AT ME...MUCH.
- [chuckles]
- OH, HEY.
PROMISE YOU'LL GIVE IT BACK
TO ME WHEN I WANT IT, OKAY?
SEE YOU MONDAY.
HEY.
WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
- THIS IS IT.
- WELL, MAYBE THIS WASN'T
SUCH A GOOD IDEA.
- EXCUSE ME.
- I SEE YOU'VE BROUGHT
YOUR TRUMPET.
[murmuring]
HAVE A SEAT.
ALL RIGHT, CLASS. I KNOW
THERE'S NOT MANY OF US, BUT...
HOW ABOUT WE GO OVER
WHAT WE WORKED ON YESTERDAY,
AMAZING GRACE.YOU GUYS
ALL HAVE THE SHEET MUSIC?
T.J.
- I'M GOOD.
- OKAY.
IS EVERYONE READY?
ONE, TWO, THREE.
[Amazing Graceplaying]
♪
[instruments dropping out]
[trumpet playing alone]
♪
IT'S NOT BAD.
THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL,
GUYS.
AM I IN TROUBLE?
- SHOULD YOU BE?
- OH, JUST SOMETHING
ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE
THAT'S
ALWAYS INTIMIDATING.
- NO, ACTUALLY, I WANTED
TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK
YOU'VE PUT INTO THE BAND,
AS WELL AS YOUR CLASSES.
- OH. THANKS.
- MM-HMM.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOUR
MUSIC STUDENTS ARE COMPLAINING
THAT YOU'RE GIVING THEM
TOO MUCH HOMEWORK.
- LOOK, IF MUSIC'S
GONNA BE AN EASY "A,"
THEN NO ONE'S
GONNA CARE,
AND IF NO ONE CARES,
NO ONE'S GONNA LEARN.
THE ARTS ARE JUST AS ESSENTIAL
TO AN EDUCATION
AS ENGLISH,
OR ALGEBRA.
- JUST ENCOURAGE THEM,
AND MAYBE COME UP WITH SOMETHING
TO HELP THEM.
- OKAY.
I WILL TRY.
ANY ELSE?
- UM...YUP,
THA...THAT'S IT. NOTHING ELSE.
- I GUESS
I BETTER BOUNCE.
HEY, I DON'T SUPPOSE
THAT YOU'D...
YOU KNOW,
NEVER MIND.
I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
- ALL RIGHT.
[big band music playing]
♪
- OKAY, ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S BETTER, RIGHT?
NOW, DON'T FORGET,
COUNT DURING YOUR RESTS,
SO YOU'LL KNOW
WHEN TO COME IN, OKAY?
- SORRY TO INTERRUPT.
YOU TWO,
LET'S GO, NOW.
- HEY, DEREK.
WHERE YOU GOING?
- UH,
BASKETBALL PRACTICE.
- CAN'T YOU DO BOTH?
- TALK TO COACH.
- YOU SOUND PRETTY GOOD OUT
THERE TONIGHT, CLAY.
- THANKS.
- THANKS FOR COMING UP
ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE.
- OH, HAPPY TO,
WHENEVER YOU NEED ME, CYRUS.
- OH, BEFORE I FORGET.
UH, LET'S SEE.
I'M AFRAID
IT'S NOT MUCH.
- EVERY LITTLE BIT
HELPS.
- YEAH. YOU OKAY?
YOU SEEM A LITTLE DOWN.
- EH, I WAS HOPING
MY SON WOULD SHOW TONIGHT.
GUESS HE HAD
OTHER PLANS.
- AH, YOU KNOW KIDS
TODAY.
THEY AIN'T NEVER GOT NO TIME
FOR THEIR DADDIES.
LISTEN,
DON'T YOU BE NO STRANGER.
- ALL RIGHT.
- MY MAN.
HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
- ALL RIGHT,
I WANT YOU GUYS TO SEE
HOW THE GYM
IS GONNA AFFECT OUR SOUND.
- WATCH THE PICK!
WATCH THE PI...
- [groans]
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MAN?
- HEY!
GUYS!
- [yells]
- YOU TRYING TO HURT SOMEBODY?
- HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!
- LET'S GO THEN.
YOU TRYING TO HURT ME?
- GUYS, STOP IT!
- WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU?
- STOP IT.
- WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT,
COACH? ME?
- HIT THE SHOWERS.
- DID YOU NOT SEE THAT?
- HIT THE SHOWERS!
- DID YOU NOT SEE THAT?
- HIT THE SHOWERS! NOW!
ALL RIGHT, GUYS.
BACK IN THE GAME. LET'S GO!
- ALL RIGHT, CARMEN,
YOU'RE IN CHARGE.
- BUT...MR. A!
- [grunts]
- DEREK!
DEREK,
WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MAN?
- LOOK, GUY THROWS A DIRTY PICK,
AND THEN COACH IS ALL OVER ME!
- OH, YEAH.
YEAH, WELL, GUESS WHAT?
SOMEONE IS ALWAYS
GONNA BE ALL OVER YOU.
THE OTHER TEAM,
COACHES,
YOUR TEACHERS, YOUR BOSSES,
CO-WORKERS, FAMILY,
FRIENDS,
AND HOW YOU HANDLE IT
IS GONNA DETERMINE WHAT SORT
OF MAN YOU'RE GONNA BE.
- SO I'M SUPPOSED TO JUST
TAKE IT THEN, RIGHT?
- WELL, YOU THINK THAT GETTING
ANGRY AND FIGHTING ALL THE TIME
IS GONNA MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
- LOOK, I DON'T KNOW, OKAY?
LOOK, SOMETIMES
IT JUST FEELS LIKE
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY I CAN
GET PEOPLE TO LISTEN TO ME,
YOU KNOW?
- YEAH.
I'M LISTENING TO YOU NOW,
AREN'T I?
DO YOU WANT TO WIN?
AND I'M NOT TALKING
ABOUT BASKETBALL,
AND FORGET ABOUT THE BAND.
IF YOU WANT TO WIN...
THEN SOMETIMES, YOU'RE GONNA
NEED TO TAKE A DEEP BREATH
AND START USING THIS,
AND NOT THIS.
HOW'S YOUR HAND?
- I...UH...
IT HURTS.
- GOOD.
WHY DON'T YOU REMEMBER THAT
THE NEXT TIME
YOU DECIDE
TO PUNCH SOMETHING.
- YOU KNOW, YOU, UH...
I DON'T KNOW, I THINK
YOU MAKE A PRETTY GOOD COACH.
- COACH?
DOESN'T PAY ENOUGH.
- [laughs]
[big band playing]
♪
[music finishes]
[laughter and cheering]
[cheers and applause]
- OH, NICE SHOT.
- YEAH, WELL,
A NICE SHOT WOULD BE
HITTING IT
NEAR THAT BUCKET.
- OH, I SEE.
- YEAH.
THE ANSWER IS NO,
YOU CAN'T HAVE HIM.
- HEY, WAIT, WAIT, AREN'T YOU
THE ONE THAT CAME TO ME,
ASKING FOR A PEP BAND
TO PLAY DURING THE GAMES?
- I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE GONNA
TAKE TWO OF MY GUYS.
- LOOK, I KNOW TEAM SPORTS
ARE IMPORTANT,
BUT THESE KIDS
SHOULDN'T HAVE TO CHOOSE
BETWEEN TWO THINGS THEY'RE
PASSIONATE ABOUT.
- SEE THAT?
THAT'S A NICE SHOT.
- YOU A BETTING MAN?
- EH, DEPENDS
ON WHAT YOU HAVE IN MIND.
- I DON'T KNOW,
WHAT IF I GET THE BALL
CLOSER TO THE BUCKET THAN
YOU JUST DID?
THE KIDS WILL STILL
STAY IN THE BAND,
AND WE WILL ALTERNATE
START TIMES. HOW ABOUT THAT?
- AND IF YOU DON'T?
- WELL, IF I DON'T,
YOU KEEP 'EM.
I WON'T BOTHER YOU
AGAIN.
- YEAH, SURE.
- SHOULD I USE THIS?
- [laughs] NO.
THIS ONE.
- OH, OKAY.
- YOU SURE
YOU WANT TO DO THIS?
- WELL,
WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE?
- OH! [grunts]
- [laughs]
- BOOM.
- [laughs]
OH, GOD.
[laughing] I CAN'T BELIEVE
I JUST GOT HUSTLED.
- LUCKY SHOT.
- [laughs]
[laughs]
[hip-hop music]
- THE REASON LINCOLN
DIDN'T FREE THE SLAVES SOONER
WAS HE WAS CONCERNED
IT WOULD PUSH THE BORDER STATES
INTO THE CONFEDERACY.
YOU GOT THAT?
- ♪ OH!
CARMEN. CARMEN?
♪
HERE, JUST...
JUST KEEP READING.
[music stops]
I'M SO...I'M SORRY
ABOUT THE MUSIC.
I KNOW IT WAS LOUD.
UH...
WELL, WHAT DO YOU THINK
OF THE STUDY GROUP?
- SURPRISED.
IN A GOOD WAY.
- YEAH?
- MM-HMM.
LOOK, THEY, UM,
THEY ALL KNOW
THAT WE HAVE TO GET
OUR TEST SCORES UP,
THEY'RE WILLING TO DO
WHATEVER IT TAKES.
- WELL,
I USED TO TEACH ALGEBRA.
YOU KNOW, THE SUBJECT
THAT NO ONE USES.
- YOU DID?
- LET ME KNOW
IF YOU NEED MY HELP.
- OH, YEAH.
ABSOLUTELY.
[sighs]
WHAT?
- SO ARE YOU GONNA
ASK HER OUT?
- ASK HER OUT?
NO, I'M NOT GONNA ASK HER OUT.
SHE'S MY BOSS.
- THAT WOMAN IS
DEFINITELY INTO YOU.
- OH, YOU THINK SO?
- WELL, IF SHE SAYS NO,
THEN YOU'RE NO WORSE OFF
THAN YOU ARE NOW,
JUST LAMER.
- UH, MS. SUTTON?
- YES?
- HEY, UH,
SORRY TO BOTHER YOU.
- NO.
- I WAS JUST WONDERING
IF YOU, UH, IF YOU LIKE...
YOU KNOW,
IF YOU EAT.
- I'VE BEEN KNOWN TO EAT
ON OCCASION.
- DINNER. I'M S...I MEANT,
IF YOU...IF YOU EAT DINNER...
IF YOU WOULD
LIKE TO EAT DINNER WITH ME?
UM, YOU KNOW, IF...
I KNOW I'M NOT
MAKING ANY SENSE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
I'VE DONE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
- SINCE
YOU'VE EATEN DINNER?
- [laughs] NO,
SINCE I'VE, UM, YOU KNOW,
ASKED SOMEBODY OUT.
- OH, OH,
SO YOU'RE ASKING ME OUT?
- WELL, NO. NO, NOT NECESSARILY,
NOT ON A DATE NECESSARILY,
I'M JUST...I'M TALKING ABOUT
TWO PEOPLE JUST GOING TO DINNER,
YOU KNOW, TOGETHER,
SIMULTANEOUSLY EATING.
UH, [chuckles]
WELL, YOU'RE NOT MAKING THIS
VERY EASY ON ME,
ARE YOU?
- [sighs]
I HOPE
YOU LIKE JAPANESE.
- SUSHI?
I LOVE IT.
- YOU MADE IT COOL
TO BE IN THE BAND,
WHICH SOUNDS GREAT,
BY THE WAY,
AND SUPPORT'S GOING WELL.
I'M VERY IMPRESSED.
I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND
ME SAYING THIS,
BUT YOU DON'T STRIKE ME
AS THE TYPE OF MAN
WHO'S ALWAYS DREAMT
OF BEING A TEACHER.
- YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT
ABOUT THAT.
UM, MY PASSION
WAS ALWAYS MUSIC
AND PLAYING THE TRUMPET,
ACTUALLY,
BUT THAT PASSION UNFORTUNATELY
COST ME MY MARRIAGE
AND MADE ME
A STRANGER TO MY SON.
- SO WHAT CHANGED?
- WELL,
WHEN MY FATHER DIED,
I WAS CLEANING OUT
HIS APARTMENT,
AND I FOUND A BOX
WITH ALL THESE MEDALS
THAT HE HAD EARNED
FROM VIETNAM,
AND LETTERS FROM MEN
WHOSE LIVES HE HAD SAVED,
AND IT MADE ME REALIZE
HOW LITTLE
I'D ACCOMPLISHED IN MY LIFE,
YOU KNOW,
WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS
THAT ACTUALLY MATTER.
I GUESS I JUST
WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
I FIGURED TEACHING MIGHT BE
THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT,
AND NOW, I'M GETTING
REALLY DEPRESSED.
- OKAY.
- [clears throat]
- LET'S START OVER.
WE WON'T TALK ABOUT FAMILY,
REGRETS, OR SCHOOL.
DEAL?
- DEAL, DEAL.
- [chuckles]
- YOU NEVER TOLD ME.
- TOLD YOU WHAT?
- WHY YOU WERE CRYING
THAT DAY WHEN MANNY AND MR. A
WERE PLAYING
TWINKLE, TWINKLE, LITTLE STAR.
- MY MOM USED TO SING IT TO ME
WHEN I WAS LITTLE
WHEN SHE TUCKED ME IN.
NOW, ALL SHE DOES
IS YELL AT ME,
TELL ME HOW PRETTY
I USED TO BE,
HOW SHE HATES MY HAIR,
HOW SHE WANTS ME
OUT OF THE HOUSE.
JUST HEARING THAT SONG
MADE ME WISH I WAS YOUNG AGAIN.
YOU KNOW,
WHEN THINGS WERE...
SIMPLER.
- I DON'T CARE
WHAT YOUR MOTHER SAYS.
I THINK
YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL.
[trumpets playing jazz]
♪
- ALL RIGHT.
- [laughs]
- NOW, THAT WAS NICE.
YOU SEE THAT?
YOU WANT TO PLAY
A LITTLE BEHIND THE BEAT
IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT YOUR OWN,
BUT BESIDES THAT, IT WAS GREAT.
I'LL SEE YOU TONIGHT.
- AWESOME.
YOU NEVER TOLD ME
YOU HAD A SON.
SO WHAT'S YOUR SON INTO?
- I DON'T KNOW.
UH...
RAFTING, I THINK.
- RAFTING?
WHAT'S THAT LIKE?
- I DON'T KNOW,
I'VE NEVER BEEN.
- YOU'VE NEVER
GONE WITH HIM BEFORE?
- NOPE.
- HEY, DO I LOOK
ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH, YOU LOOK GOOD.
HERE, HOLD ON.
- LOOSEN THIS UP A LITTLE BIT.
THERE WE GO.
- THAT'S A NICE TIE,
BY THE WAY.
- OH, THANKS. IT WAS...
IT WAS ACTUALLY FOR MY DAD,
BUT HE LEFT BEFORE I COULD
GIVE IT TO HIM.
- WELL, TRUST ME,
HIS LOSS.
[smooth jazz music playing]
♪
[music ending]
[cheers and applause]
- THANK YOU.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL
FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT,
AND AS YOU KNOW,
IT IS A SATURDAY TRADITION
HERE AT CYRUS'S TO INVITE ANYONE
WHO WANTS TO SIT IN WITH US
TO COME ON UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE
WHO WANTS TO COME ON UP HERE
AND SHOW US WHAT YOU GOT?
[soft jazz music]
ANYBODY?
- WELL,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- WHAT?
- GET UP THERE.
- ME?
- YEAH, YOU. COME ON.
- [scoffs]
- COME ON.
- CAN I?
- CAN YOU? OF COURSE, YOU CAN.
COME ON,
SHOW 'EM WHAT YOU GOT.
- OH, WELL, COME ON UP,
YOUNG MAN.
- WELL, WE GOT US A YOUNG ONE
TONIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
♪
[song finishes]
[playing scales]
- [laughs] ALL RIGHT,
UM, CAN I GET BLUES IN "E"?
THAT OKAY?
ALL RIGHT.
TWO, THREE, FOUR,
[grunts]
[blues music playing]
♪
[audience ohs]
- TWO, THREE, COME ON!
♪
- T.J. HEY, T.J.!
T.J., WAIT!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- LOOK, I TOLD YOU,
I CAN'T DO THIS, OKAY?
- DO WHAT?
- YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU JUST DON'T GET IT!
HE WAS RIGHT!
- WHO WAS RIGHT?
- MY DAD!
HE SAID THAT I WOULD NEVER
PLAY AS GOOD AS HIM,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
THAT'S WHY HE LEFT,
SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST GO, OKAY?
JUST DO THE SAME.
- YOUR DAD DIDN'T LEAVE
BECAUSE OF YOU.
YOUR DAD LEFT BECAUSE HE DIDN'T
HAVE HIS PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
TRUST ME, I KNOW.
- [sniffs]
- DON'T LET ANYONE EVER TELL YOU
THAT YOU'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH,
BECAUSE YOU ARE.
YOU GOT THAT?
- [sobs]
- HEY.
IT'S FUNNY,
I WAS JUST SITTING HERE,
THINKING ABOUT YOUR
FIFTH BIRTHDAY.
YOU REMEMBER THAT?
- YEAH.
- [chuckles]
- YEAH, I DO.
- GRANDDAD HAD JUST GIVEN ME
THE KEYS TO THE CONVERTIBLE,
AND I PULLED UP
TO YOUR PARTY,
AND LOADED UP
ALL YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS,
AND WE DROVE AROUND THE BLOCK
WITH THE TOP DOWN.
- OH, YEAH. YOU, UH, LET ME
SIT IN YOUR LAP AND STEER.
- [laughs]
THAT'S RIGHT.
OH, THANK GOD
THERE WERE NO COPS AROUND THEN.
- [laughs] YEAH.
BEST BIRTHDAY SURPRISE
EVER.
- I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY THAT YOU ALWAYS HAD TO
CELEBRATE WITHOUT ME. IT'S...
I'M SORRY THAT I ALWAYS
HAD TO CALL FROM THE ROAD,
AND...
I KNOW
THAT WASN'T FAIR.
I KNOW YOU NEEDED ME.
JUST...
[exhales]
I'M SORRY I COULD NEVER
GET MY PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.
UM...
I WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.
- [chuckles] WOW.
GRANDDAD'S COMPASS.
- YEAH.
HE...HE LOVED THAT THING,
AND HE...
HE GAVE IT TO ME
JUST BEFORE I LEFT FOR COLLEGE.
HE SAID IT'D HELP ME
FIND MY WAY HOME.
MAYBE IT COULD
DO THE SAME FOR YOU.
AND IT'S WATERPROOF TOO.
- SO I CAN
TAKE THIS RAFTING.
- [laughs] ABSOLUTELY.
- THANKS.
- YEAH.
HEY, UM,
YOU BETTER GET TO IT,
ALL RIGHT?
I'M SURE YOUR MOM
HAS SOMETHING PLANNED.
- USUALLY.
[clears throat]
[mouthing words]
- I-I LOVE YOU TOO, DAD.
UH, HEY, DAD?
THANKS.
- THIS IS A SURPRISE.
WHAT'S THIS?
- IT'S AN INVITATION.
- TO WHAT?
- I MADE A COUPLE OF CALLS
TO THE UNIVERSITY,
AND I MANAGED
TO GET US
INTO THIS YEAR'S
BATTLE OF THE BANDS.
- BATTLE OF THE BANDS?
- I THOUGHT
YOU'D BE THRILLED.
- UH, YEAH...
WE'RE REALLY...
THERE'S NO WAY
WE'RE READY FOR THIS.
- IF WE DON'T GET
SOME RECOGNITION, AND SOON,
EVERYTHING YOU'VE WORKED FOR
THIS YEAR IS WORTH NOTHING.
- THAT BAD, HUH?
- THE BOARD HAS OFFICIALLY
PLACED US ON THE LIST OF SCHOOLS
THAT THEY'D CONSIDER
CLOSING.
- [sighs]
- [sighs]
- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY
WE CAN WIN THIS.
- OH, I'M NOT
ASKING YOU TO WIN.
I JUST WANT THEM TO SEE
ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS
THEY'LL BE LOSING
IF THEY CLOSE THIS SCHOOL.
[big band music]
♪
[music ends]
- NICE. NICE JOB.
ALL RIGHT.
SO NEXT YEAR,
THIS IS EXACTLY
WHERE WE WILL BE SITTING
WHEN WE PLAY.
- YOU MEAN IF THERE IS
A NEXT YEAR.
- YOU'VE HEARD.
- HEARD WHAT?
- THE SCHOOL, DUDE.
THEY'RE SHUTTING IT DOWN.
IT'S OVER.
- OKAY, OKAY,
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO.
WE DON'T KNOW THAT.
NOTHING'S BEEN DECIDED.
- MY MOM SAYS
IT'S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE
TO KEEP
THIS SCHOOL OPEN.
- WE MAY HAVE A SHOT.
- WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
- MS. SUTTON HAS ARRANGED
FOR US TO COMPETE
IN THIS YEAR'S
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
AT THE UNIVERSITY.
- WE CAN'T WIN.
- IT'S ALL RIGHT.
LOOK, IT'S NOT ABOUT WINNING.
SHE JUST FEELS, IF WE CAN
IMPRESS ENOUGH PEOPLE, THAT,
YOU KNOW,
EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS.
- THEN LET'S DO IT THEN.
- NO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND.
WHAT IF WE GET THERE
AND WE'RE NOT READY.
- ALL RIGHT, HOW ABOUT
WE TAKE IT TO A VOTE?
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF COMPETING
IN THE BATTLE OF THE BANDS,
RAISE YOU HANDS.
ALL RIGHT, SO I GUESS THAT'S IT.
WE WILL COMPETE.
DETAILS WILL FOLLOW.
UNTIL THEN, REMEMBER...
all: WE LIVE TO PRACTICE,
WE PRACTICE TO LIVE.
- ONE MORE TIME.
all: WE LIVE TO PRACTICE,
WE PRACTICE TO LIVE.
- THANK YOU.
GET OUT OF HERE.
[laughter]
YOU ALL RIGHT?
- YEAH.
CAN I ASK YOU A FAVOR?
- SURE.
- CAN YOU GIVE ME A RIDE
SOMEWHERE?
- HI.
IS CARMEN HOME?
- CARMEN,
THE BOY IS HERE.
- THAT YOUR FATHER?
HE BETTER
KEEP AN EYE ON YOU.
- HEY.
- HAVE HER BACK
BY 11:00.
both: [chuckling]
- WOW, CARMEN.
YOU LOOK LOVELY.
ALL RIGHT, KIDS.
DON'T DO ANYTHING I WOULDN'T DO.
- UH, MR. A?
ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING
TONIGHT?
- I GUESS I AM NOW.
GET IN.
YOU'VE NEVER RIDDEN A MOTORCYCLE
BEFORE, HAVE YOU?
- AW, COME ON,
I'M NOT THAT BAD.
- YOU JUST RAN OVER
A LITTLE, OLD LADY.
- YOU SAID I GOT EXTRA POINTS
WHENEVER I HIT SOMEONE.
- I SAID
YOU GOT EXTRA POINTS
WHENEVER YOU DON'T
RUN OVER SOMEONE.
- [scoffs] OH, COME
ON, THAT'S NOT NEARLY AS FUN.
- YEAH, WELL, MAYBE NOT,
BUT YOU STILL CAN'T DO IT.
- OH.
[game beeping]
- THREE, TWO, ONE...
GAME OVER.
- [sighs]
- NOT BAD.
- [gasps] [laughs]
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CALLED
TO ASK ME OUT,
I DIDN'T REALIZE
THIS IS WHAT YOU MEANT.
- I KNOW, I GUESS I SHOULD'VE
BEEN A LITTLE MORE FORTHCOMING.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO TELL YOU
I GOT STUCK CHAPERONING
TWO OF MY STUDENTS.
- OH, IT'S OKAY.
- I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOU BEING HERE.
- OH, THANK YOU.
[chuckles]
- EVERYTHING
ALL RIGHT?
YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK SAFE ENOUGH,
DON'T YOU THINK?
LET'S GO OUTSIDE.
- OH, I THOUGHT
YOU'D NEVER ASK.
- [laughs]
- NO, YOU KNOW,
YOU WERE VERY IMPRESSIVE
ON THAT MOTORCYCLE.
both: [laugh]
- HEY, DID YOUR SON LIKE
THAT COMPASS? YOU NEVER TOLD ME.
- YEAH, YEAH, I THINK...
I THINK HE WAS THRILLED.
- OH.
- FOR A MOMENT,
SITTING THERE TALKING WITH HIM,
IT ACTUALLY FELT
LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED TO,
LIKE FATHER AND SON.
IT WAS NICE.
I JUST WISH I COULD'VE SHARED
THOSE MOMENTS WITH HIM EARLIER,
BUT YOU KNOW, FOR A MUSICIAN,
I HAVE PRETTY LOUSY TIMING.
- WHAT, YOU THINK
BECAUSE HE'S GROWN,
HE NO LONGER
NEEDS YOU?
I CALL MY DAD TWO OR THREE TIMES
A WEEK FOR ADVICE.
- OH, YEAH?
WHAT DOES HE SAY?
- [low voice]
STAY AWAY FROM MUSICIANS.
both: [laugh]
- DAD'S GOT
A WEIRD VOICE.
both: [laugh]
- WELL...
- YEAH.
- HE IS
A VERY SMART MAN.
- YEAH, HE IS.
- TOO BAD I DON'T ALWAYS
LISTEN TO HIM.
- NATE!
HEY.
- HEY.
UH, ONE SECOND, ALL RIGHT?
YO, WHAT ARE YOU DOING
HERE?
- OH, I CAME TO CHECK OUT
THE AUDITORIUM.
BATTLE OF THE BANDS
IS NEXT WEEK,
AND I'M BRINGING UP
THE KIDS.
- MIND IF I COME?
- NO.
I'D LOVE
FOR YOU TO BE THERE.
IF YOU'VE GOT TIME, WE COULD USE
ALL THE SUPPORT WE COULD GET.
- YEAH, YOU KNOW,
I'D LIKE TO BE THERE, ACTUALLY.
- YEAH?
- UH, I GOTTA BOUNCE.
WHAT DAY NEXT WEEKEND?
- SATURDAY,
IN THE AFTERNOON.
- ALL RIGHT.
- OH, AND BRING A FRIEND.
- YEAH. LATER.
- IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
HEY, SORRY ABOUT THAT.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
- [sighs]
[big band music playing]
♪
[straining on a high note]
[music ends]
- I CAN'T DO IT.
I CAN'T PLAY THAT HIGH.
- T.J., YOU'VE PLAYED THAT NOTE
MANY A TIMES.
- YEAH, WELL,
NOW, I CAN'T!
- MRS. HARRIS.
- I CAME HOME FROM WORK
JUST NOW TO FIND MY TWO CHILDREN
IN THE HOUSE ALONE,
CRYING.
DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA
HOW THAT MAKES ME FEEL?
- MRS. JACKSON
WAS SUPPOSED TO TO WATCH THEM.
- I AM NOT
ADDRESSING YOU.
WHY WAS T.J.'S PARTICIPATION
KEPT FROM ME?
- WELL, I DON'T UNDERSTAND.
I ASSUMED THAT YOU KNEW.
YOU SIGNED
HIS PERMISSION SLIPS.
- T.J...
T.J., YOU COME BACK HERE!
- T.J.?
T.J.!
- TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T
BEEN OUT HERE ALL NIGHT.
- I SPENT MOST OF THE NIGHT
TRYING TO FIND T.J.,
AND THEN THIS MORNING,
I WENT BACK TO THE SKATE PARK,
AND THEN I CAME HERE.
- YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
FROM HIM?
- YOU KNOW,
THIS IS ALL MY FAULT.
- SO WHAT ARE WE
GONNA DO?
'CAUSE I GOTTA TELL YOU,
I'M NOT WILLING TO GIVE UP,
NOT WHEN THERE'S THIS MUCH
AT STAKE.
I KNOW THE BAND'S
A WORK IN PROGRESS,
BUT THIS IS AS MUCH THEIR MOMENT
AS IT IS T.J.'S.
YOU TAKE THIS
AWAY FROM THEM,
THEY'RE NEVER
GONNA TRUST YOU AGAIN.
- WELL,
MAYBE THEY SHOULDN'T.
- WOW.
YOU'RE WILLING TO GIVE UP
THAT EASILY?
I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED,
'CAUSE THAT NIGHT AT THE ARCADE,
I GATHERED THAT YOU WERE NOT
SOMEONE WHO JUST GIVES UP LIKE...
- THE ARCADE. HOLD THEM OFF
AS LONG AS YOU CAN, OKAY?
- WAIT, WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
- I'M GONNA GO FIND T.J.
[machine gunfire]
[sighs]
DID YOU GET MUCH SLEEP?
- NOT REALLY.
YOU?
NO, NOT MUCH.
I HAVE TO APOLOGIZE
TO YOU.
- FOR WHAT?
- NOT REALIZING
WHAT YOU MUST BE FEELING.
- I CAN'T TELL YOU WHAT TO DO,
JUST KNOW THAT I'M HERE,
IF YOU EVER
WANT TO TALK.
- MY MOM THINKS
I'M GONNA TURN OUT LIKE MY DAD.
- WELL,
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
- HE IS MY OLD MAN.
- THAT'S TRUE, YEAH.
BUT THAT DOESN'T
MAKE YOU HIM.
- BUT THE TRUMPET.
- I WOULDN'T LET IT DEFINE YOU,
OR YOUR DAD, OR YOUR MOM.
YOU KNOW,
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DECIDE
WHO YOU'RE GONNA BE
IN LIFE,
AND WHAT YOU'RE GONNA
MAKE OF IT.
NOBODY ELSE CAN MAKE
THAT DECISION FOR YOU.
- LET'S GO.
- WHERE?
- THERE'S SOMETHING
I HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF.
[door opening]
- [gasps] OH, GOD.
THANK GOD.
WHERE WERE YOU ALL NIGHT?
- IT'S OKAY, MOM.
I'M OKAY.
SORRY, OKAY?
I'M REALLY SORRY.
- [sobbing]
OKAY. OKAY.
WERE YOU WITH HIM?
- NO.
- WHAT IS HE DOING
OUT THERE?
- MOM, I'M GOING
TO THE COMPETITION.
- NO, YOU ARE NOT.
I FORBID IT!
- WHY?
- I JUST FORBID IT!
- MOM!
- [sobs]
- DO YOU KNOW WHY?
IT'S BECAUSE
YOU'RE SO...
YOU'RE SO SCARED OF ME
BECOMING DAD,
YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE ME...
- WHAT? THAT HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT AT ALL.
- FOR WHO I AM.
- YES,
LET ME FINISH!
DAD DIDN'T JUST LEAVE YOU,
ALL RIGHT? HE LEFT ALL OF US,
AND I MISS HIM.
I MISS HIM JUST AS MUCH
AS YOU, OKAY,
BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN
I'M GONNA BECOME HIM.
I KNOW THAT.
YOU SHOULD TOO.
MOM, YOU GOTTA TRUST
THAT FACT THAT YOU...
YOU RAISED ME GOOD ENOUGH
TO DO A GOOD JOB AT THAT.
- [sobs]
[sobs]
- LET'S GO.
- IS YOUR MOM OKAY
WITH THIS?
- AS MUCH AS SHE CAN BE.
- ALL RIGHT, IF WE HURRY,
WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET THERE.
[car stalling]
OH, NO, NO, NO.
COME ON, DON'T DO THIS.
[car stalling]
COME ON. COME ON!
- IF HE DOESN'T TURN UP
IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES,
THEY'RE NOT GONNA
LET US GO ON.
- OH, I THINK
I SEE HIM.
- OH, I'LL TELL THEM
HE'S HERE.
[brakes squealing]
- HEY, TAKE CARE OF HER,
ALL RIGHT?
I CAN'T AFFORD
A NEW ONE.
- MS. SUTTON'S
GOT US CHECKED IN,
BUT WE GOTTA HURRY UP.
- OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
HEY, WHERE'D YOU GUYS
GET THE SHIRTS?
- I GOT A DEAL ON THEM.
DON'T ASK.
- YEAH? ALL RIGHT,
LET'S GO, GUYS. COME ON.
- IT'S TOO LATE.
THE COMPETITION JUST ENDED.
- WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
- I'M SORRY, CLAY,
IT'S OVER.
- NEXT YEAR, MAN.
- THERE ISN'T GONNA BE
A NEXT YEAR.
- NO, NO, NO, NO. NO,
THIS ISN'T GONNA HAPPEN, OKAY?
WE'VE WORKED TOO HARD.
NOBODY IS GONNA STOP US
FROM PLAYING.
I WANT TO SEE EVERYBODY
IN FORMATION OVER HERE. COME ON.
- WHAT,
YOU MEAN OUT HERE?
- YEAH, RIGHT HERE.
LET'S GO.
- ARE YOU SURE YOU KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
- IT'S NEVER STOPPED ME
BEFORE, HAS IT?
COME ON, LET'S GO!
- WHOA, WHOA.
HERE THEY COME.
- OKAY, GUYS,
INSTRUMENTS UP. LET'S GO.
LET'S SHOW 'EM WHAT WE GOT,
OKAY?
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.
[drum intro playing]
[big band music playing]
♪
[high note playing]
[cheers]
YEAH!
- [laughs]
[cheers and applause]
- WHOO!
[cheers and applause]
- THEY LOVE IT, MAN.
- MUST HAVE BEEN THE SHIRTS.
[laughter]
[cheers and applause]
- ALL RIGHT,
GREAT JOB, BABIES!
[cheers and applause]
- [laughs]
- [laughs]
- [laughs]
[laughter and applause]
- THAT WAS AMAZING, DAD.
- OH, THANK YOU.
I JUST, YOU KNOW,
WAVE MY HANDS.
THEY DO ALL THE PLAYING.
- WELL, THIS IS THE FRIEND
YOU TOLD ME TO BRING.
MADDIE,
THIS IS MY DAD.
- NATE TALKS ABOUT YOU
ALL THE TIME.
- HE DOES? WELL,
I HOPE ALL GOOD THINGS.
- MOSTLY GOOD THINGS.
- YEAH? MOSTLY.
- YEAH.
- THANK YOU.
THANKS.
[laughter]
DUDE, LOOK AT THIS.
- LOOK AT YOU, MAN,
BETTER THAN THE OLD MAN.
- HEY, MR. A?
MR. A, COME HERE.
- HEY, LISTEN,
DON'T GO ANYWHERE, OKAY?
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU GUYS.
I'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
- YOU MUST BE NATE.
- HEY.
- I'M APRIL SUTTON,
YOUR FATHER'S PRINCIPAL.
HE'S TOLD ME
SO MUCH ABOUT YOU.
- WELL, I...REALLY?
- YES. HI.
- HI.
- APRIL.
- MADDIE.
- NICE TO MEET YOU.
- YOU TOO.
- SHOW HIM THE CARD.
- WOW, THIS GUY'S
THE DIRECTOR
OF THE WIND ENSEMBLE
AT THE NEW CONSERVATORY.
YOU KNOW THAT?
- YEAH.
- WHATEVER. HE JUST WANTS
T.J. TO AUDITION.
PRETTY EXTREME ABOUT IT.
- DO YOU THINK I SHOULD?
- UH, YEAH, I THINK
YOU SHOULD.
- YEAH?
- HEY, UM, I'M GLAD
YOU COULD MAKE IT.
- YEAH.
I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.
MOM WISHES SHE COULD COME.
SHE'S WORKING, AND I'VE
GOT TO GET TO WORK TOO.
DO YOU THINK YOU COULD
GIVE HIM A RIDE HOME?
- I'LL GET HIM HOME.
- ALL RIGHT.
- THANKS FOR COMING.
- CONGRATS.
- THANK YOU.
- THAT'S NO JOKE.
- I KNOW.
SO, WHEN ARE WE GOING ON
ANOTHER DOUBLE DATE AGAIN?
- THAT'S NOT GONNA HAPPEN.
- [laughs] OKAY.
- HEY, DID WE MISS HIM?
- NO, HE'S STILL PACKING.
- OH.
- YOU JUST MISSED MOM.
SHE WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU
FOR EVERYTHING.
- GLAD I COULD HELP.
HOW'S THE NEW JOB?
- IT'S GOOD.
TIPS ARE GOOD.
- I SEE THAT.
WOW.
STILL, I DON'T THINK
YOU'RE PLANNING
ON WORKING THERE
YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, RIGHT?
- I HAVE MY GED.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?
- WELL, ACTUALLY, COACH FRANKLIN
TALKED TO HIS BUDDY
WHO COACHES OVER AT
THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE,
AND THEY'D LOVE FOR YOU
TO TRY OUT.
- ARE YOU KIDDING?
DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH
CONDITIONING THAT WILL TAKE?
- YEAH, I DO,
BUT YOU'LL DO IT, RIGHT?
- OF COURSE I'LL DO IT.
- [laughs]
- HEY.
- HEY, YOU BRING
YOUR TRUMPET?
I THOUGHT THE CONSERVATORY
WAS BUYING YOU A NEW ONE.
- YEAH, WELL,
I LIKE THIS ONE.
- SO DO I.
- HEY.
- HEY.
WE THOUGHT YOU MIGHT NEED A RIDE
TO THE BUS STATION, SO...
- IS THAT OKAY?
- SAVES ME THE TROUBLE.
GIVE ME A CALL
WHEN YOU GET THERE.
- THANKS, BUDDY.
- TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
- LISTEN, DON'T, UH,
DON'T BE A STRANGER.
I MEAN IT.
I'M PROUD OF YOU.
- THANK YOU.
OH, I GOT THAT, MAN.
THANKS.
EXCUSE ME.
- BYE, SWEETIE.
I'M GONNA MISS YOU A LOT.
- BYE.
- SO, I HEAR YOU GUYS
ARE GETTING MARRIED.
- WHAT?
- WHAT?
- JUST KIDDING.
- [laughs]
JUST THINK. WE HAVE HER
FOR ANOTHER YEAR.
- LOOK AT THOSE TWO.
HEY, PUT YOUR SEAT BELTS ON.
- IT FEELS GOOD,
DOESN'T IT?
- YEAH, IT DOES.
IT'S ONLY GONNA BE THREE
OR FOUR DAYS, ALL RIGHT?
- OH, I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THIS.
WHAT AM I GONNA DO
WITH MYSELF?
- YOU'LL BE FINE.
- COME ON.
YOU'RE BEING SILLY.
I JUST...I WANT TO KNOW.
WHAT IS THIS
MYSTERIOUS THING
YOU'RE GONNA BE DOING
ALL WEEK?
- IT'S SOMETHING I SHOULD
HAVE DONE A LONG TIME AGO.
- ARE YOU STILL NOT GONNA
TELL ME WHAT IT IS?
- I DON'T WANT TO JINX IT.
I'LL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT
WHEN I GET BACK.
- IS IT ANOTHER WOMAN?
THAT'S IT, RIGHT?
- OH, COME ON.
YOU KNOW BETTER THAN THAT.
- DO YOU TWO REALLY THINK
THAT'S APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
IN THE FACULTY PARKING LOT?
- I THINK I'LL MAKE
AN EXCEPTION.
- ARE YOU READY
FOR ANOTHER YEAR?
- I'M JUST GLAD WE HAVE
ANOTHER YEAR.
- RIGHT.
[engine starts]
ALL RIGHT. SO, IS EVERYTHING
SET FOR MONDAY?
- I'M WORKING ON IT.
GOT A FEW TOILETS TO CLEAN.
- [laughs]
- YOU READY?
- YEP.
- GOT YOUR COMPASS?
THERE IT IS.
GOOD.
I DON'T WANT TO GET LOST.
- DID YOU BRING
YOUR BUG SPRAY?
- OH, DON'T WORRY.
I GOT THAT.
- [laughs]
WHERE'S YOUR TRUMPET?
- OH, I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME
I LEFT IT BEHIND,
FOR A WHILE AT LEAST.
SO, YOU NEVER DID
TELL ME,
JUST HOW SERIOUS ARE YOU
AND THIS MADDIE GIRL?
- I DON'T KNOW.
JUST HOW SERIOUS
ARE YOU AND THE PRINCIPAL?
- I ASKED YOU FIRST.
- SO?
- SO? I'M YOUR FATHER.
[engine starts]
- [laughs]
- UHH! SO, I'M REALLY
GOING RAFTING, HUH?
[both laugh]
- YOU'RE RIGHT.
THAT'S A NICE BLUE SHIRT.
- OKAY.
- OFF WE GO.
[upbeat music]
♪