Shakespeare School Year (2014) - full transcript
VO - "Let me be that I am and
not seek to alter me."
Hmmm.
Your first assignment in
English 101 will be to read
Shakespeare's
Much Ado About Nothing and
discuss a time in your life
that resembled five
act structure.
VO - Much Ado is about Hero and
Claudio
two young lovers who play
matchmaker to their friends
Beatrice and
Benedict
but Don John tries to ruin
everyone's lives by tricking
Claudio into believing
that Hero loves another man.
What are you writing about
Celeste? I can't think of
anything.
I think I'm going to write
about how Much Ado About
Nothing reminds me about life
in Middle School.
You know, people fall head over
heels in love with someone
just to fall in love with
someone else the next day.
People spread lies about you to
destroy your life
because they're jealous of you.
You'll pretend to be someone
you're not just to escape from
bullies.
Your friends turn out to be
your enemies
and your enemies turn out to be
your friends.
Yeah, I can see that.
Why didn't I think of that.
VO - There is good advice in
the words that Shakespeare wrote
"Let me be that I am and not
seek to alter me."
My dad told me something like
that my first day of middle
school.
"Be yourself and everything
will be just fine."
I tried to listen to him, but
it's not always that simple.
I had to learn it the hard way.
My first year of middle school
was a lot like Much Ado About
Nothing.
There were times of tragedy and
times of comedy
twists and turns and surprises
I could've never predicted at
the start of the year.
Such is Much Ado About Nothing.
And such was my Shakespeare
School Year
Hey guys, how were your summers?
Oh Celeste, you won't believe
the shoes I bought this summer.
There a little too dressy for
school, but
I'll definitely wear them to
the first dance.
Oh Danielle, we finally get
school dances.
I know, it's gonna be great!
Especially since Zach Johnson
and I
started going out this summer.
So, did you do anything
interesting this summer?
Not much, I went to the beach
for a few weeks-
Oh sounds interesting...
Well at least you're back at
school now and you can hang out
with your friends.
Good morning.
If you would, please have a
seat on the floor.
Thank you. Hi!
My name is Mr. Anderson
and... I am your
PE teacher.
Let me be the first welcome you
to Messina Ridge Middle School.
I have
a very strict policy
on rule breaking.
The first time it happens
I give you a warning
The second time it happens, I
send
you to the principal's office
No exceptions!
Alright! Since this is your
first day here at school
I have something very special
planned for you
I'm gonna let you play
basketball
So...
Go, just go have some fun.
I said have fun!
Go have fun!
Hey! You're pretty good.
What are you doing around here
this time of day
Ain't you supposed to be in
school?
I'm just running a little late
this morning
I'm Charlie, what's your name?
Ashton Harrell.
You know I'm into music too,
but I'm more of a singer.
Maybe sometime we can get
together and jam.
Okay sir.
Sir, what this sir stuff all
about. Call me Charlie.
Sir makes me feel old.
Okay. Charlie.
Ain't you supposed to go to
school. You don't want to turn
out like me
do you?
No sir. Then you better get on.
Go on, take care.
Hey, careful!
Be careful!
Hey!
Hello. What's your name?
Ashton Harrell
Well, try not to be late to my
class again.
Ashton Harrell, if that is your
real name.
Next time you step outta line,
I'm sending you to the
principal's office
understand?
Alright, go play some
basketball.
No. No. No. That is not how you
play basketball. Put him down!
Thanks loser!
That was mine. You can't have
it.
What are you gonna do about it?
Take it away from me?
Come on let's go play some ball.
You know you shouldn't let him
talk to you like taht.
Well, you saw what he did.
Do I have much of a choice.
Hi! I'm Celeste. I've known him
for years.
He used to be nice, but now
he's just a jerk.
Well he is the captain of the
football team.
That still doesn't give him the
right to treat you like that.
What are you two standing
around talking about.
You're supposed to be playing
basketball.
Now get out there and have some
fun!
Hey Celeste. Hey Zach
I was wondering if you wanted
to
go out sometime and you know
hang out
or something.
Zach, I've known you for a long
time, but
Come on, it'll be fun. We'll
just hang out as friends.
I don't think I can,
I mean, we're friends and all,
but Danielle and I are friends
too
And I know y'all are going out.
I really don't
think it's right of you to ask
me this.
Whatever.
Hey Celeste.
Don't you think that me and
Zach make a great couple?
Don't you?
Sorry what?
Don't you think me and Zach
make a great couple?
Yeah Danielle, I definitely do.
I gotta go, I have to get ready
for class.
You'll text me tonight, right?
Of course I will!
Hello?
Ashton, honey I am so sorry to
call you this late.
I can't pick you up.
Can you get a ride home.
Uhhh - no I don't think so.
But I guess I could walk home.
Of course you can. I'll see you
later, love you.
Love you too.
Aww, widdle Ashton woves his
mommy.
I'm surprised you aren't
sucking on your thumb you
little baby.
You know what?
Just shut up.
What did you say to me?
I said shut up.
Wait Zach, wait - Prinicpal!
Ashton!
Ashton!
I'll see you at school
tomorrow, and I might just have
to teach you a little respect.
Hey! What are you kids doing
hanging around this theater?
I could ask you the same
question?
Why don't you go and get
yourself a job?
What did you say?
You ain't nothing but a bum. Go
on get outta here.
I think you ought to leave son.
Where am I?
Oh well, at least I'm safe in
here.
I can't stand him.
Zach thinks he's so much better
than everyone else, just
because he plays sports.
So what he can throw a football
big deal.
I'm bet I'm good at a lot of
things Zach isn't.
The smile on my face is there
to hide.
The loneliness that I feel
inside.
Why can't everybody see.
It ain't easy being me.
I pretend everything is okay.
But I look myself in the mirror
each day.
I tell myself that they can't
see.
It ain't easy being me.
Why can't I just be myself?
Why do I have to be someone
else.
Maybe one day the world will
see.
I just wanna be me.
No one said that life was
fair.
But I hate my clothes and I
hate my hair.
Maybe one day the world will
see.
It ain't easy beingme.
I just want to be me.
Just like the beginning of a
Shakespeare play, the first act
of my year had started.
The first act is called
Exposition. We meet all the
characters and time and place
are established.
The exposition of Much Ado
introduces Hero and Claudio and
their friend
and the evil Don John.
This is a lot like my first day
of middle school. We met all
the people who would
populate our little world for
the net year.
We met those who would be our
friends, crushes
and our antagonists.
But we didn't always know who
that was at the time.
Hey Ashton. I think we have
some unfinished business.
Meet me in the bus lot. 15
minutes.
You better be there.
What was that all about?
Nothing. Zach just wanted to
talk to me.
What did he say?
He wants me to meet him in the
bus lot, to fight.
Ashton, you don't have to do
that.
I do! I need to stand up to him.
You don't need to prove
yourself to him.
Not to him, but to myself. I
know this sounds crazy,
but I gotta do this.
I just have to do this.
Now, here's the thing
I don't really want to fight
Zach
I mean, who would. He must work
out like everyday.
But if I don't, he'll just make
my life miserable
forever. And on top of that
the whole school will think I'm
afraid or something.
So, at least if I get beat up,
then everyone will know I stood
up to him, right?
Hey Ashton! I thought you would
chicken out.
Look Zach, is there anyway we
can talk this
out?
Let me think. No.
Agh. I'll get you for that.
Now you're gonna pay.
Zach. Ashton. What are you two
doing?
Put that thing away.
Alright, you just earned
yourself
a trip to the prinicpal's
office.
Come back here, young man.
Oh no.
You're not gonna get away
with the silent treatment
Alright.
Just tell me what happened.
It's no big deal.
Well it was a bit enough deal
for the principal
to call me away from work.
But I wasn't doing anything
wrong.
Then why did she want to send
you home?
I don't know.
Well, I do Ashton.
It's just that I"m having a
hard time picturing it.
You, in the school bus lot
fighting with another boy?
It wasn't my fault. he made me
fight him.
Ashton, no one can make you
fight them. You can always
choose to walk away.
But it's not like that.
Well it looks like that to me.
Ashton there are rules in place.
Fighting is totally
unacceptable.
But I-
There's no buts Ashton.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to
ground you. No TV,
no earbuds. And no texting.
Give me your phone.
Do you understand?
Yes.
I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear
that.
Yes, ma'am.
That's better. Oh, look at the
time.
Well you'll have plenty of it
today to finish your homework.
So, what's going on with you
and Celeste?
Um, I... She... I
She was asking me out. I was
really surprised.
Well I'm sure Danielle will be
excited to know that you had
nothing to do with this.
Nothing to do with it at all.
Alright, see you.
I can't believe it. My best
friend Celeste is trying to
steal my boyfriend. Make that
ex-best friend.
I'll show her to mess with me.
Or my Zach. What are you going
to do to her Danielle?
I don't know.
Public embarrassment
usually works best, don't you
think
What are you thinking of,
starting a rumor.
No, I wouldn't start a rumor.
I'm just going to tell everyone
the truth about her.
I'm going to make sure she
never messes with me
again.
Hey Becca. Hey Celeste.
I need to tell you -
This is so weird. I can't
figure out why no one will
speak to me all the sudden. I
think I may know.
What is it?
I overheard Danielle planning
to start a rumor about you or
something.
Hey Danielle,
is it true that you started a
rumor about me?
What? No. I just explained to
everyone the truth
about you. You're a boyfriend
stealer, I guess
no one wants to talk to you
know, they're probably
too afraid you'll steal their
boyfriend, like you did with me.
But Danielle, I wasn't trying
to do anything to you and Zach.
Zach asked me out. Oh please, I
can't believe
you think I'm such an idiot.
What about you? Whose side are
you on?
I'm with Celeste.
You'd be willing to give up
everything for her.
You said you were my friend.
Well that can't be true.
Cause the lies that you tell.
When my back's turned on you.
I can't believe you turned out
this way.
You're just a friend to my face.
We have grown apart.
Gone our
separate ways.
Yeah, but that's no excuse.
For the things that you say.
I can't believe you think that
I'm that way.
You're just a friend to my face.
I can't believe that I've been
so betrayed.
You're just a friend to my face.
So um, what happened
between you two
for Danielle to get into such
a...
Zach asked me out
I said no, but Danielle must
have read something else into
it.
Or that weasel Zach could've
told him
that you were the one asking
him out.
Uh
Celeste.
Come on, let's get outta here.
Come on. In here.
Wow, look at this place.
Is anybody here?
Woah.
Don't be scared, it's just me,
Charlie.
It's okay, I don't bite.
You scared us to death.
What are you doing here?
Well, I hang around here.
Isn't it hard, you know, living
here all by yourself?
I been hanging around
this old theater for many years.
Sometimes it does get hard.
Sometimes people throw rocks at
the windows.
Make noises. Probably Zach.
But yesterday I'd had someone
come inside the theater
in a long time.
A young boy your age, came in
and sang a song
He couldn't see me,
but I could sure hear him.
This other kid was yelling at
him, chasing him I believe.
Now that definitely sounds like
Zach.
He was probably chasing Ashton.
Yeah Ashton. That does sound
familiar.
I believe I met him on the
street
the other day. But I didn't
know he sang.
If that's him, he could sing.
I hear him.
Wow. Never would've guessed.
You should never judge a book
by its cover.
You never really no somebody
until you know somebody.
Celeste.
Is everything alright?
Yeah, everything is fine.
No, everything is not alright.
What's the matter baby?
I hate school. I hate
everything.
Is this about your father and I?
No. Well..
yes, but it's more about my
friends and school and
everything else.
Oh sweetie.
I think that this is just a
natural thing.
And you've been through a lot
this past year.
And I'll tell you the truth...
Middle school is no easy thing.
It was hard for me, and
it'll be hard for you, but it's
just something
you have to go through.
But you don't understand.
You couldn't understand.
Okay then...
I'll leave.
Shakespeare said "friendship is
constant in all other things.
That's what Becca was for me.
The only real friend I had...
What's the sheet say about Act
II.
After making it through the
inciting incident.
the second act of the play
starts.
The second act of a Shakespeare
play is referred to
as the rising action or
complication.
Well in the second act of Much
Ado, things definitely seem
more complicated. Don John
arranges details
so that it appears that Hero is
in love with another man
and Claudio refuses to marry
her. Instead, he tries to
publicly
embarrass her. So what
embarrassing middle school
moment are you going to choose?
Well after Danielle banished me
from her clique,
things in middle school got
incredibly complicated for me.
I was balancing
school work and falling in love
with the idea of the old
capital theater.
VO - In Shakespeare's comedies,
the climax often seems like
tragedy.
In Much Ado, Hero and Claudio
think
that their lives are ruined.
Just like the characters in
Much Ado, things were building
in my life
and I couldn't see that tragedy
was just around the corner.
Hey Ashton.
Have you ever been in the old
Capitol Theater?
Yeah, have you? We found it
yesterday, when we
were hiding from Danielle.
We're going to start meeting
there after school
to do music, dance, whatever we
want.
Well, I've been grounded for
fighting in schoo.
You should be able to convince
your grandmother that you've
joined a club
she won't stop you from
attending meetings.
And the best part is, no one
else knows about the theater.
Actually, someone else does
know about the theater.
His name's Charlie. What the
bum that lives on main street?
Charlie's homeless. He lives in
the theater.
I never knew that.
Okay, so, we're going to meet
at the Capitol Theater after
school, right?
The capitol theater?
I haven't heard that name in
years.
Oh, that was a great plac.e
I remember the good old days
when that
theater was brand new.
Well, what happened to it.
It's said that old man Spencer
just let
go of it after his wife died.
They say he just gave up on it.
But why?
Ah. That's the real mystery.
He always seemed to just love
that theater, doesn't make
sense.
It never did. Now I suppose
we'll
never know.
What happened to him?
Oh, no one has seen him in
years. They say he doesn't ever
leave his house any more.
Well that's a good thing, cause
he'll never find out we're
using his
theater.
Excuse me, I do have to take
this.
Hello?
Oh Ashton, are you alright?
Hey, I wanted to call you. I
was wondering if I could stay
late
for a club this afternoon?
Well I think that would
probably be alright.
A club would be good for you. I
want you home though, by six
Perfect.
Alright hon, I'll see you. Bye.
Well, well, well
Look who's come back to my
home.
The three stooges.
Now that you're all here
together,
why don't you sing something.
But we don't know anything.
Well then I'll start.
Hey Ashton, we're calling you
out.
We want to know what you are
all about.
I can make any song sound
rock and roll
So give me a beat boys
and I'll be ready to go.
Hey Celeste,
we're calling you out,
we want to know what you are
all about.
I can sing country with a lot
of soul
So give me a beat boys
and I'll be ready to go.
You're kinda country, I'm down
with that
And a rockin guitar is where
you're at
Music brings us together
don't you know.
So give us a beat boys
and we'll be ready to go.
Good news
What is it dad?
My company's got another job.
We're bring a new strip mall in
town.
Dad that's great. It'll be nice
to have a place to shop for a
change.
We actually won't start
building it until the spring.
Cause we have to tear down some
other buildings first.
You know where the old
capital theater is?
What's wrong?
That's not one of the buildings
you're tearing down, is it?
Yes it is, why?
I like that theater.
I thought you said it would be
nice to do some shopping for a
change.
But the theater's a landmark.
It's been here forever.
Well, this spring it's going to
be a new strip mall.
No dad, don't take the job.
Sweetie, we already have,
besides
even if we didn't, it would
just go to the next higher
bidder anyway.
Meet me at the theater.
At 12.
SOS.
We've got problems.
What is it Celeste. I'm tired.
They're going to tear down the
theater. What? Who?
My dad's building company.
They're making a new strip mall.
They can't.
When are they planning on doing
this?
Next spring.
What?
You have us sneak out of our
houses and come down here,
when we have until spring to
figure something out?
Do you know how much trouble I
could get into?
If my grandmother finds out- I
know!
But we need to start thinking
and I thought you'd want to
know this immediately.
Yeah, we need to start planning
now.
Maybe we can figure out a way
to stop this.
We can't let this project go
through. We just have to do
something.
Hey, let's just ask Charlie.
I bet he'll know what to do.
Yeah, you're right, we should
tell him.
Charlie. Charlie.
That's weird. I wonder where he
is.
Somehow it seems
a little more scary at night.
I hope he's okay. Maybe we
should go look for him.
Ashton, we need to go now.
Okay, we'll go, just one more
minute.
Charlie.
Are you here?
What's that?
I don't know.
Ashton, I don't think that's
such a good idea.
Shh-
I wonder who she is.
She's beautiful.
I bet that's old man Spencer's
wife.
Maybe. I wish we could find
Charlie.
It would make me feel better to
know he's safe.
Me too, but I think it's time
for us to get home. I don't
feel safe anymore.
Yeah, you guys are right.
Let's get outta here.
So that was that.
The theater was going to be
torn down.
At the time we thought it was
the end of the story. It was
all tragedy.
Listen, I think your paper's
gonna be fine, but what you
effectively need to do
is compare the last two acts of
Much Ado with your
life as you remember it
The fourth act of the play is
referred to as the Falling
Action
The conflict begins to get
resolved.
Professor, that is exactly like
my life in middle school
After we found out the theater
was going to be destroyed,
Ashton, Becca, and I
teamed up to try and fix the
problem that had been handed to
us.
Even though the odds were
against us, we didn't give up.
Things won are done, joy's soul
lies in the doing, right?
So write it down, I can't wait
to read it.
We've got some bad news for you.
My dad told me his building
company's gonna
tear down the theater to make
way for a strip mall.
Really. Now I know that can't
be true.
I used to know Mr. Spencer
the man that owns this theater.
He loves this old thing.
He sure doesn't take good care
of it.
No.
Come on guys, we need to get to
school,
or else we're gonna be late.
Bye Charlie. Bye!
Hey, I wonder if Charlie
is right and Mr. Spencer does
love the theater,
maybe we can convince him not
to tear it down.
Maybe he just thinks that no
one else cares about the
theater.
We'll go talk to him after
school.
Richard I need those reports
after lunch,
if you don't have them done by
then, don't even worry about
coming back to work.
Yes sir...
Lucy, I don't want to be
bothered, okay.
Okay Mr. Spencer, sir.
Morning Jack!
Morning Frank.
Have you thought any more about
my proposal?
Yes, I have and there are a few
more things I'd like to talk
about-
That's great, I want to do
everything to get the ball
rolling on this project.
How soon do you think we can
start getting things ready?
We're going to begin heavy
demolition no later than the
earliest part of spring.
If that's the best you can do.
Jack,
we've got to wait until after
Christmas.
There's no way we can start
construction until
after the winter passes anyway.
But I assure you, I am going to
complete this project
to your utmost satisfaction as
soon as I possibly can.
That's fine Frank. Thank you.
Hello James.
Hello Mr. Spencer. Your father
had to step out, but he should
be back at any time now.
Come on in.
Maybe this isn't such a good
idea.
Well it's better than doing
nothing, right?
James.
James.
Hello. If you're selling
something for school
I'm not interested.
No sir, we're not trying to
sell you anything.
Well then, what do you want?
We're here to talk to Mr.
Spencer about the Capitol
Theater on main street.
Oh yeah, what about?
Sir, we heard the theater in
town is going to be torn down.
How did you find out about that?
Nevermind how we found out. We
just don't want the theater to
get destroyed.
Look, this
project is confidential. Now I
don't know how you the three of
you found out about it
but I'd advise you not to talk
about it.
Mr. Spencer, I know this deal
means a lot to you, but the
theater means
a lot
to us and to other people in
the town.
Maybe we could raise enough
money to buy it from you.
Ha. That's impossible. Look,
I'm sorry
but there's nothing you can do
to stop this deal.
Sorry. Have a nice day.
We will find a way to stop the
theater from getting torn down.
That's great kid. Why don't you
see me once you've raised some
money.
I told you it wasn't going to
work.
It was a good plan.
Well I wish it would've worked,
if not for us, for Charlie.
Where will he go once the
theater's knocked down.
What are we talking about,
listen to ourselves, we've
already given up.
There's not much more we can do
is there?
Mr. Spencer told us to come
back when we had money. So,
let's see what
we can do between now and
Christmas.
Hey, I asked you kids to leave!
You actually have a piggy bank?
Well, I've had it since I was a
kid, and really don't want to
break it.
Do you want to save the theater
or not?
Okay, here it goes.
I just can't do it.
Fine then, I'll do it.
Well,
looks like you've got $152.23
Well, we just have to keep
working. I guess I can mow some
lawns
We can ask around for donations.
Let's just face it guys, it's
still not going to be enough
money.
Well, let's see what we can do.
Good afternoon Jack.
How are you?
I'm well, how are you?
Same. Now what is it that you
need?
Always down to business, Jack?
I was just like you
when I was your age.
Let me give you a piece of
advice.
You need to slow down a bit
You'll look back one day
and wish you had spent more
time enjoying your life.
Yeah.
Now you mentioned something
about the finances.
Well,
my lawyers have been urging me
to
transfer control of all my
assets to you
Because, well, I am getting old.
Well, I've thought about, but
well considering that I'm still
alive
and well and quite active
if I do say so myself.
I've decided to keep control
of everything, for now.
That's great.
Is that all you wanted from me.
Yes, that's it.
I did hope that we could
get a chance to talk some
though.
I'd love to dad, but
I've got to get back to work.
I see.
I'll talk to you soon.
Alright.
Hey Ashton,
I'm surprised you're here. I
didn't even think you knew what
a girl was.
So what, you're here alone?
No, he's here
with me.
Hey Celeste.
Hey Zach,
what are you doing all the way
over here?
I was just seeing how this
couple was doing.
They seem pretty happy don't
you think?
I can't stand them.
They think they're so much
better than everyone else.
I can not believe I used to be
friends with her.
Hey guys, sorry I'm late.
So did the play go well? Yeah,
it was a packed house.
I've got it. I think I've got a
way we can save the theater?
What is it Celeste?
I can't believe I didn't think
of it before.
We need to hold a play.
Sell tickets, fix up the
theater. We should be able to
raise enough
money to
at least attract Mr. Spencer's
attention.
Celeste, that's a great idea!
Merry Christmas, Charlie!
We've got a present for you.
Oh. It's not much.
Thank you, thank you very much!
Look at that.
Any luck, raising money?
Not much, but
I think we've got an idea.
That's great. Tell me about it.
We're going to fix up the
theater and hold a play.
We hope we can raise enough
money to catch Mr. Spencer's
attention.
That's a very good idea. What
play are you going to do?
We haven't thought that far
ahead yet.
You know I was here when they
did the first play.
Want to know what it was?
Tell us!
Shakespeare's Much Ado About
Nothing.
Ugh. Shakespeare.
It wasn't so bad, especially if
you could understand what they
were saying.
Yeah, let's do a modern day
version
and we could put music and
dance in it
There you go, I like that.
But Shakespeare?
Quiet down everybody.
Hello everybody, hope
everybody's doing okay
this morning. Late again, Mr.
Jeremy.
Time for morning announcements.
Let's watch.
Hey guys, you need to look at
this.
This is the capitol theater.
It's the oldest theater in
town.
Yeah it's going to be knocked
down to make way for a strip
mall. I know
it doesn't mean a lot to you
but it means a lot to us and
the people of this town, so
we're trying to
save
this landmark and we can't do
it alone. Yeah, we need your
help.
Just come talk to us if you'd
like to help us.
We need all the help we can get.
What are you three doing here?
Yeah, why don't you just get
out of here.
Look, I can understand why you
don't want us here.
But I just came to tell Celeste
that
I'm sorry.
I don't know what to say.
I know, I'm just sorry about
the way I acted earlier this
year.
I didn't know Zach was such a
jerk.
Yeah he can get kinda weird
sometimes.
Well, I guess we should go.
Wait you guys.
It's fine.
You can stay. Right now, we
need all the help we can get.
Right guys?
Hey Ashton, heard about your
stupid little play.
I thought I'd come down here
and see what was going on.
Why don't you just leave.
Nobody wants you here.
So you guys actually want to
save this piece of trash.
Pretty sad.
It's a part of this town. Yeah.
A part that needs to be
destroyed.
We're going to make sure that
doesn't happen.
I can't believe you have sunk
this low.
Hanging out with them, you had
it so good with me.
Why don't you just get out of
here.
I would, but I know something
no one else does.
I know that you guys have been
sneaking in here illegally
and to top that off, my dad
knows Mr. Spencer
I could have your little play
shut down.
No, you can't
Not after all the hard work
we've put into this play. I can,
and I will.
What are you going to do about
it, cry to your mommy?
You better not do anything to
shut our play down.
Or it's the last thing you'll
do.
You'll be sorry you did this!
Come here guys
you won't believe this!
Wow. This should definitely
help raise enough money.
Ruth, I want you to guard the
front
do you understand me? Do not
let Mr. Spencer through
Stall him any way you can.
Yes sir.
Let's go do this.
Welcome to Much Ado About
Middle School
Thank you so much for coming,
we hope you enjoy the show.
Gonna tell you a story
you might have read about two
young lovers
before they were wed. It a
story that's been told a
thousand ways
so we put it to our own beat if
that's okay.
My name's Claudio, but call me
Chris
and I'm all set for romantic
bliss. There's a big dance
coming
and I'm ready to go. With my
new girlfriend,
she's Hero.
My name's Hero
I'm queen of the dance and I
like to get involved with
everybody's romance
here at school you may think
she's chillin' but my friend
Pricilla is nothing but a
villain.
I like to get
down and plot and plan
I've got a new scheme to steal
me a man
I'm gonna trick Chris with the
help of my friends
let's get this party started
and see how it ends.
So sit right back, get ready to
go
cause the No Limit Kids are
gonna put on a show
It's a Shakespeare story we
think is cool, we call it.
Much Ado About Middle School.
Celeste, get to the stage, your
scene's up.
Pricilla,
How are you today? Oh Hero,
I'm fine. I hope you and Chris
are happy together.
We are. He's taking me
to the big dance this Friday.
That's wonderful.
I have to go. I have homework
to do. Goodbye.
I need to find a way to break
them up.
They are too happy together
I know what I'll do. I'll make
Chris believe that Hero
loves someone else.
Hey Brandon, I've got a trick
to play on Chris.
Do you think that you could
make it look like Hero is in
love with you?
Yeah, I could probably do that.
Maybe we could pretend that
Margaret is Hero and you can
make sure that
Chris is watching.
Margaret does look an awful lot
like Her.
I'll go find Chris, you find
Margaret.
Woah sir, we're all sold out.
Kid, I own this theater.
Hero, I have something
to say. What is it Chris?
We need to see other people.
Why?
I saw you with Brandon the
other day.
Pricilla told me all about it.
I never.
Kid I'm warning you. Back off.
But, the fire marshal said we
can't have one more person
in here.
Chris, have you heard, Hero's
run away from home.
Really? I don't care.
Aren't you worried about her?
Hello, yes. Can I have a police
officer at 364 Main Street.
Thank you.
Let's just see how this works
out.
I can't believe we actually
pulled that off.
I mean Chris really believed
that Margaret was Hero.
Thanks so much for helping me
break them up.
Hey Chris, you'll never believe
this, but Hero never
loved Brandon. It was all a
trick by Pricilla.
What, then she's run away for
nothing.
What have I done.
Chris wait, stop. Stop! Stop!
Hold everything!
This play is now canceled.
I am sorry folks, but this
theater was broken into and used
by these children without my
permission.
Mr. Spencer, the only reason we
held this play is so we could
raise enough money to buy the
theater from you. We just
wanted to save it
from destruction. A noble idea.
But nonetheless, this theater
is going to be destroyed.
The plans have already been set
into motion.
Now if everyone could please
leave
Woah! This theater is not going
to be
torn down.
Jack, what are you doing?
I- I don't know what you're
talking about.
That's Charlie.
We only wanted to save the
theater for him.
Charlie.
Charles Spencer, the rightful
owner of this theater.
You can't be Charles Spencer,
he was a very wealthy man.
Yeah, I've seen you
lurking around this theater for
years.
You're nothing but a homeless
bum.
So, we had lost. We couldn't
save Charlie's home.
The defining moment came and we
dropped the ball.
So in Much Ado, Hero tries to
fake her own death
to see if Claudio really loves
her or not. So what did you do?
Did you save the theater.
I'm getting there. All seems
lost for Claudio when Hero dies.
He's challenged to a duel by
Hero's angry friends and
relatives.
It seems like he's facing
certain death.
But the theater!
I said I'm getting there. In
Much Ado there's an Act 5.
Hero's not really dead,
Don John's tricks are revealed
to a night watchman
who exposes him to Don Pedro.
There's a final act to my story
too! Oh my gosh, it's getting
late...
Finish the story.
I'll have to finish it
tomorrow. I need to go to bed.
Celeste come on!
Good night, good night, parting
is such sweet sorrow,
that I shall say goodnight til
it be morrow.
I'll take it from here.
Jack I can't believe
you would go behind my back and
try to
destroy something that was dear
to me.
And dear to your mother.
But dad, I - Your mother built
this place before I even met her
She was trying to build
something that the whole
community could enjoy.
And you would go behind my back
and try to destroy that?
Just look at yourself, after
mom died,
you quit caring about
everything. You let the theater
go
you let your business go, you
let me go.
You're right,
I haven't been a good father.
But this place is a wreck,
a piece of junk, an eyesore to
this whole community.
You didn't even care enough
about it to keep it up.
Nah, you just let it all go.
Jack, you've been wrong about a
lot of things.
But you're right about
that. I have let this place go.
I let you go.
When your mother passed,
I lost interest in everything.
It was hard to be around you
for the same reason.
In fact, it was hard to be
Charles Spencer.
That's why I took to being
Charlie.
I don't know why, but it
made it easier to face this
town.
Being someone else,
made it easier to forget the
past.
I guess that's
what made it so hard
Finally found my way back to
the theater,
and you come along behind my
back
and try to destroy it.
I knew you loved this theater,
but
I didn't understand why it
meant so much to you.
I should have told you
I should have
been there for you.
I'm sorry son.
I let you down.
I cannot believe you would do
something like this!
Let's see, breaking and
entering, damage to private
property
trespassing, I don't even know
where to begin.
Don't you have anything to say
for yourselves?
We just wanted to save
the theater. Save the theater!
From what?
My project. Didn't you stop to
think
that maybe we need this
business Celete?
Come on in.
Excuse me.
Charlie! Yeah, I'm
man that you know as Charlie.
But actually my name is
Charles Spencer.
Mr. Spencer,
they are very sorry for
the way that they have acted
and they will
never go near your theater
again.
Oh, that won't be necessary. I
have
no reason to keep them away.
I'm very sorry for the
intrusion, but
I was wondering if I might
speak to the kids for just
a moment.
Certainly.
You all did a wonderful job
with the play tonight.
In fact, I see the same
passion for the theater
that my wife had, in all of you.
She
loved the theater, maybe more
than me.
So I'm gonna give the theater
to you.
I know that you'll take care of
it in the same way
that my wife would've wanted me
to.
Thank you so much Mr. Spencer!
Frank, I understand you
were gonna be the foreman of
the job
my son was putting together.
Yes sir, that's correct.
I have another job for you, if
you're interested.
The theater's looking a little
ragged on the outside, and the
inside.
No offense to you
kids, you did a great job
cleaning it up.
Mr. Spencer, I would be honored.
Well, you kids stay out of
trouble.
So that was Act 5. The
Resolution.
The happily ever after, if you
will.
Act 5 is where everything is
wrapped up and the characters'
lives are better off
than they were when the story
began. To borrow another
Shakespeare quote.
"The wheel has come full
circle."
In Much Ado, Hero is revealed
to be alive
she and Claudio are married,
and Don John is captured.
The play ends on an extreme
high. This is the same as our
lives
in Middle School. The year
started out and we didn't know
what to expect.
We had conflict, drama, we had
ups and downs. We had to deal
with bullies who
wanted to ruin our lives just
because we were happy and they
were not.
But ultimately, life in middle
school was a comedy.
Shakespeare's comedies weren't
always funny, but the
character's
lives turned out alright in the
end. Shakespeare said in
another play
"To thine own self be true."
Charlie knew that, and that's
what he taught us.
It's the same message in Much
Ado About Nothing. "Let me be
that I am
and not seek to alter me." Good
advice for anyone in middle
school
Looking out across the water.
Some days it seems
so high.
But if we
hold tight to each other.
We'll wind up on the other side.
There's no limit
if we can dream it and do our
best to achieve.
There is much more than we can
hope for
if we only believe, there's no
limit.
to your dreams.
Now the mountain before us
Sometimes it seems to high.
But when we're leaning on each
other.
There's no mountain we can't
climb.
There's no limit
if we can dream it and do our
best to achieve.
There is much more than we can
hope for.
If we only believe
There's not limit.
To your dreams.
not seek to alter me."
Hmmm.
Your first assignment in
English 101 will be to read
Shakespeare's
Much Ado About Nothing and
discuss a time in your life
that resembled five
act structure.
VO - Much Ado is about Hero and
Claudio
two young lovers who play
matchmaker to their friends
Beatrice and
Benedict
but Don John tries to ruin
everyone's lives by tricking
Claudio into believing
that Hero loves another man.
What are you writing about
Celeste? I can't think of
anything.
I think I'm going to write
about how Much Ado About
Nothing reminds me about life
in Middle School.
You know, people fall head over
heels in love with someone
just to fall in love with
someone else the next day.
People spread lies about you to
destroy your life
because they're jealous of you.
You'll pretend to be someone
you're not just to escape from
bullies.
Your friends turn out to be
your enemies
and your enemies turn out to be
your friends.
Yeah, I can see that.
Why didn't I think of that.
VO - There is good advice in
the words that Shakespeare wrote
"Let me be that I am and not
seek to alter me."
My dad told me something like
that my first day of middle
school.
"Be yourself and everything
will be just fine."
I tried to listen to him, but
it's not always that simple.
I had to learn it the hard way.
My first year of middle school
was a lot like Much Ado About
Nothing.
There were times of tragedy and
times of comedy
twists and turns and surprises
I could've never predicted at
the start of the year.
Such is Much Ado About Nothing.
And such was my Shakespeare
School Year
Hey guys, how were your summers?
Oh Celeste, you won't believe
the shoes I bought this summer.
There a little too dressy for
school, but
I'll definitely wear them to
the first dance.
Oh Danielle, we finally get
school dances.
I know, it's gonna be great!
Especially since Zach Johnson
and I
started going out this summer.
So, did you do anything
interesting this summer?
Not much, I went to the beach
for a few weeks-
Oh sounds interesting...
Well at least you're back at
school now and you can hang out
with your friends.
Good morning.
If you would, please have a
seat on the floor.
Thank you. Hi!
My name is Mr. Anderson
and... I am your
PE teacher.
Let me be the first welcome you
to Messina Ridge Middle School.
I have
a very strict policy
on rule breaking.
The first time it happens
I give you a warning
The second time it happens, I
send
you to the principal's office
No exceptions!
Alright! Since this is your
first day here at school
I have something very special
planned for you
I'm gonna let you play
basketball
So...
Go, just go have some fun.
I said have fun!
Go have fun!
Hey! You're pretty good.
What are you doing around here
this time of day
Ain't you supposed to be in
school?
I'm just running a little late
this morning
I'm Charlie, what's your name?
Ashton Harrell.
You know I'm into music too,
but I'm more of a singer.
Maybe sometime we can get
together and jam.
Okay sir.
Sir, what this sir stuff all
about. Call me Charlie.
Sir makes me feel old.
Okay. Charlie.
Ain't you supposed to go to
school. You don't want to turn
out like me
do you?
No sir. Then you better get on.
Go on, take care.
Hey, careful!
Be careful!
Hey!
Hello. What's your name?
Ashton Harrell
Well, try not to be late to my
class again.
Ashton Harrell, if that is your
real name.
Next time you step outta line,
I'm sending you to the
principal's office
understand?
Alright, go play some
basketball.
No. No. No. That is not how you
play basketball. Put him down!
Thanks loser!
That was mine. You can't have
it.
What are you gonna do about it?
Take it away from me?
Come on let's go play some ball.
You know you shouldn't let him
talk to you like taht.
Well, you saw what he did.
Do I have much of a choice.
Hi! I'm Celeste. I've known him
for years.
He used to be nice, but now
he's just a jerk.
Well he is the captain of the
football team.
That still doesn't give him the
right to treat you like that.
What are you two standing
around talking about.
You're supposed to be playing
basketball.
Now get out there and have some
fun!
Hey Celeste. Hey Zach
I was wondering if you wanted
to
go out sometime and you know
hang out
or something.
Zach, I've known you for a long
time, but
Come on, it'll be fun. We'll
just hang out as friends.
I don't think I can,
I mean, we're friends and all,
but Danielle and I are friends
too
And I know y'all are going out.
I really don't
think it's right of you to ask
me this.
Whatever.
Hey Celeste.
Don't you think that me and
Zach make a great couple?
Don't you?
Sorry what?
Don't you think me and Zach
make a great couple?
Yeah Danielle, I definitely do.
I gotta go, I have to get ready
for class.
You'll text me tonight, right?
Of course I will!
Hello?
Ashton, honey I am so sorry to
call you this late.
I can't pick you up.
Can you get a ride home.
Uhhh - no I don't think so.
But I guess I could walk home.
Of course you can. I'll see you
later, love you.
Love you too.
Aww, widdle Ashton woves his
mommy.
I'm surprised you aren't
sucking on your thumb you
little baby.
You know what?
Just shut up.
What did you say to me?
I said shut up.
Wait Zach, wait - Prinicpal!
Ashton!
Ashton!
I'll see you at school
tomorrow, and I might just have
to teach you a little respect.
Hey! What are you kids doing
hanging around this theater?
I could ask you the same
question?
Why don't you go and get
yourself a job?
What did you say?
You ain't nothing but a bum. Go
on get outta here.
I think you ought to leave son.
Where am I?
Oh well, at least I'm safe in
here.
I can't stand him.
Zach thinks he's so much better
than everyone else, just
because he plays sports.
So what he can throw a football
big deal.
I'm bet I'm good at a lot of
things Zach isn't.
The smile on my face is there
to hide.
The loneliness that I feel
inside.
Why can't everybody see.
It ain't easy being me.
I pretend everything is okay.
But I look myself in the mirror
each day.
I tell myself that they can't
see.
It ain't easy being me.
Why can't I just be myself?
Why do I have to be someone
else.
Maybe one day the world will
see.
I just wanna be me.
No one said that life was
fair.
But I hate my clothes and I
hate my hair.
Maybe one day the world will
see.
It ain't easy beingme.
I just want to be me.
Just like the beginning of a
Shakespeare play, the first act
of my year had started.
The first act is called
Exposition. We meet all the
characters and time and place
are established.
The exposition of Much Ado
introduces Hero and Claudio and
their friend
and the evil Don John.
This is a lot like my first day
of middle school. We met all
the people who would
populate our little world for
the net year.
We met those who would be our
friends, crushes
and our antagonists.
But we didn't always know who
that was at the time.
Hey Ashton. I think we have
some unfinished business.
Meet me in the bus lot. 15
minutes.
You better be there.
What was that all about?
Nothing. Zach just wanted to
talk to me.
What did he say?
He wants me to meet him in the
bus lot, to fight.
Ashton, you don't have to do
that.
I do! I need to stand up to him.
You don't need to prove
yourself to him.
Not to him, but to myself. I
know this sounds crazy,
but I gotta do this.
I just have to do this.
Now, here's the thing
I don't really want to fight
Zach
I mean, who would. He must work
out like everyday.
But if I don't, he'll just make
my life miserable
forever. And on top of that
the whole school will think I'm
afraid or something.
So, at least if I get beat up,
then everyone will know I stood
up to him, right?
Hey Ashton! I thought you would
chicken out.
Look Zach, is there anyway we
can talk this
out?
Let me think. No.
Agh. I'll get you for that.
Now you're gonna pay.
Zach. Ashton. What are you two
doing?
Put that thing away.
Alright, you just earned
yourself
a trip to the prinicpal's
office.
Come back here, young man.
Oh no.
You're not gonna get away
with the silent treatment
Alright.
Just tell me what happened.
It's no big deal.
Well it was a bit enough deal
for the principal
to call me away from work.
But I wasn't doing anything
wrong.
Then why did she want to send
you home?
I don't know.
Well, I do Ashton.
It's just that I"m having a
hard time picturing it.
You, in the school bus lot
fighting with another boy?
It wasn't my fault. he made me
fight him.
Ashton, no one can make you
fight them. You can always
choose to walk away.
But it's not like that.
Well it looks like that to me.
Ashton there are rules in place.
Fighting is totally
unacceptable.
But I-
There's no buts Ashton.
I'm afraid I'm going to have to
ground you. No TV,
no earbuds. And no texting.
Give me your phone.
Do you understand?
Yes.
I'm sorry, I didn't quite hear
that.
Yes, ma'am.
That's better. Oh, look at the
time.
Well you'll have plenty of it
today to finish your homework.
So, what's going on with you
and Celeste?
Um, I... She... I
She was asking me out. I was
really surprised.
Well I'm sure Danielle will be
excited to know that you had
nothing to do with this.
Nothing to do with it at all.
Alright, see you.
I can't believe it. My best
friend Celeste is trying to
steal my boyfriend. Make that
ex-best friend.
I'll show her to mess with me.
Or my Zach. What are you going
to do to her Danielle?
I don't know.
Public embarrassment
usually works best, don't you
think
What are you thinking of,
starting a rumor.
No, I wouldn't start a rumor.
I'm just going to tell everyone
the truth about her.
I'm going to make sure she
never messes with me
again.
Hey Becca. Hey Celeste.
I need to tell you -
This is so weird. I can't
figure out why no one will
speak to me all the sudden. I
think I may know.
What is it?
I overheard Danielle planning
to start a rumor about you or
something.
Hey Danielle,
is it true that you started a
rumor about me?
What? No. I just explained to
everyone the truth
about you. You're a boyfriend
stealer, I guess
no one wants to talk to you
know, they're probably
too afraid you'll steal their
boyfriend, like you did with me.
But Danielle, I wasn't trying
to do anything to you and Zach.
Zach asked me out. Oh please, I
can't believe
you think I'm such an idiot.
What about you? Whose side are
you on?
I'm with Celeste.
You'd be willing to give up
everything for her.
You said you were my friend.
Well that can't be true.
Cause the lies that you tell.
When my back's turned on you.
I can't believe you turned out
this way.
You're just a friend to my face.
We have grown apart.
Gone our
separate ways.
Yeah, but that's no excuse.
For the things that you say.
I can't believe you think that
I'm that way.
You're just a friend to my face.
I can't believe that I've been
so betrayed.
You're just a friend to my face.
So um, what happened
between you two
for Danielle to get into such
a...
Zach asked me out
I said no, but Danielle must
have read something else into
it.
Or that weasel Zach could've
told him
that you were the one asking
him out.
Uh
Celeste.
Come on, let's get outta here.
Come on. In here.
Wow, look at this place.
Is anybody here?
Woah.
Don't be scared, it's just me,
Charlie.
It's okay, I don't bite.
You scared us to death.
What are you doing here?
Well, I hang around here.
Isn't it hard, you know, living
here all by yourself?
I been hanging around
this old theater for many years.
Sometimes it does get hard.
Sometimes people throw rocks at
the windows.
Make noises. Probably Zach.
But yesterday I'd had someone
come inside the theater
in a long time.
A young boy your age, came in
and sang a song
He couldn't see me,
but I could sure hear him.
This other kid was yelling at
him, chasing him I believe.
Now that definitely sounds like
Zach.
He was probably chasing Ashton.
Yeah Ashton. That does sound
familiar.
I believe I met him on the
street
the other day. But I didn't
know he sang.
If that's him, he could sing.
I hear him.
Wow. Never would've guessed.
You should never judge a book
by its cover.
You never really no somebody
until you know somebody.
Celeste.
Is everything alright?
Yeah, everything is fine.
No, everything is not alright.
What's the matter baby?
I hate school. I hate
everything.
Is this about your father and I?
No. Well..
yes, but it's more about my
friends and school and
everything else.
Oh sweetie.
I think that this is just a
natural thing.
And you've been through a lot
this past year.
And I'll tell you the truth...
Middle school is no easy thing.
It was hard for me, and
it'll be hard for you, but it's
just something
you have to go through.
But you don't understand.
You couldn't understand.
Okay then...
I'll leave.
Shakespeare said "friendship is
constant in all other things.
That's what Becca was for me.
The only real friend I had...
What's the sheet say about Act
II.
After making it through the
inciting incident.
the second act of the play
starts.
The second act of a Shakespeare
play is referred to
as the rising action or
complication.
Well in the second act of Much
Ado, things definitely seem
more complicated. Don John
arranges details
so that it appears that Hero is
in love with another man
and Claudio refuses to marry
her. Instead, he tries to
publicly
embarrass her. So what
embarrassing middle school
moment are you going to choose?
Well after Danielle banished me
from her clique,
things in middle school got
incredibly complicated for me.
I was balancing
school work and falling in love
with the idea of the old
capital theater.
VO - In Shakespeare's comedies,
the climax often seems like
tragedy.
In Much Ado, Hero and Claudio
think
that their lives are ruined.
Just like the characters in
Much Ado, things were building
in my life
and I couldn't see that tragedy
was just around the corner.
Hey Ashton.
Have you ever been in the old
Capitol Theater?
Yeah, have you? We found it
yesterday, when we
were hiding from Danielle.
We're going to start meeting
there after school
to do music, dance, whatever we
want.
Well, I've been grounded for
fighting in schoo.
You should be able to convince
your grandmother that you've
joined a club
she won't stop you from
attending meetings.
And the best part is, no one
else knows about the theater.
Actually, someone else does
know about the theater.
His name's Charlie. What the
bum that lives on main street?
Charlie's homeless. He lives in
the theater.
I never knew that.
Okay, so, we're going to meet
at the Capitol Theater after
school, right?
The capitol theater?
I haven't heard that name in
years.
Oh, that was a great plac.e
I remember the good old days
when that
theater was brand new.
Well, what happened to it.
It's said that old man Spencer
just let
go of it after his wife died.
They say he just gave up on it.
But why?
Ah. That's the real mystery.
He always seemed to just love
that theater, doesn't make
sense.
It never did. Now I suppose
we'll
never know.
What happened to him?
Oh, no one has seen him in
years. They say he doesn't ever
leave his house any more.
Well that's a good thing, cause
he'll never find out we're
using his
theater.
Excuse me, I do have to take
this.
Hello?
Oh Ashton, are you alright?
Hey, I wanted to call you. I
was wondering if I could stay
late
for a club this afternoon?
Well I think that would
probably be alright.
A club would be good for you. I
want you home though, by six
Perfect.
Alright hon, I'll see you. Bye.
Well, well, well
Look who's come back to my
home.
The three stooges.
Now that you're all here
together,
why don't you sing something.
But we don't know anything.
Well then I'll start.
Hey Ashton, we're calling you
out.
We want to know what you are
all about.
I can make any song sound
rock and roll
So give me a beat boys
and I'll be ready to go.
Hey Celeste,
we're calling you out,
we want to know what you are
all about.
I can sing country with a lot
of soul
So give me a beat boys
and I'll be ready to go.
You're kinda country, I'm down
with that
And a rockin guitar is where
you're at
Music brings us together
don't you know.
So give us a beat boys
and we'll be ready to go.
Good news
What is it dad?
My company's got another job.
We're bring a new strip mall in
town.
Dad that's great. It'll be nice
to have a place to shop for a
change.
We actually won't start
building it until the spring.
Cause we have to tear down some
other buildings first.
You know where the old
capital theater is?
What's wrong?
That's not one of the buildings
you're tearing down, is it?
Yes it is, why?
I like that theater.
I thought you said it would be
nice to do some shopping for a
change.
But the theater's a landmark.
It's been here forever.
Well, this spring it's going to
be a new strip mall.
No dad, don't take the job.
Sweetie, we already have,
besides
even if we didn't, it would
just go to the next higher
bidder anyway.
Meet me at the theater.
At 12.
SOS.
We've got problems.
What is it Celeste. I'm tired.
They're going to tear down the
theater. What? Who?
My dad's building company.
They're making a new strip mall.
They can't.
When are they planning on doing
this?
Next spring.
What?
You have us sneak out of our
houses and come down here,
when we have until spring to
figure something out?
Do you know how much trouble I
could get into?
If my grandmother finds out- I
know!
But we need to start thinking
and I thought you'd want to
know this immediately.
Yeah, we need to start planning
now.
Maybe we can figure out a way
to stop this.
We can't let this project go
through. We just have to do
something.
Hey, let's just ask Charlie.
I bet he'll know what to do.
Yeah, you're right, we should
tell him.
Charlie. Charlie.
That's weird. I wonder where he
is.
Somehow it seems
a little more scary at night.
I hope he's okay. Maybe we
should go look for him.
Ashton, we need to go now.
Okay, we'll go, just one more
minute.
Charlie.
Are you here?
What's that?
I don't know.
Ashton, I don't think that's
such a good idea.
Shh-
I wonder who she is.
She's beautiful.
I bet that's old man Spencer's
wife.
Maybe. I wish we could find
Charlie.
It would make me feel better to
know he's safe.
Me too, but I think it's time
for us to get home. I don't
feel safe anymore.
Yeah, you guys are right.
Let's get outta here.
So that was that.
The theater was going to be
torn down.
At the time we thought it was
the end of the story. It was
all tragedy.
Listen, I think your paper's
gonna be fine, but what you
effectively need to do
is compare the last two acts of
Much Ado with your
life as you remember it
The fourth act of the play is
referred to as the Falling
Action
The conflict begins to get
resolved.
Professor, that is exactly like
my life in middle school
After we found out the theater
was going to be destroyed,
Ashton, Becca, and I
teamed up to try and fix the
problem that had been handed to
us.
Even though the odds were
against us, we didn't give up.
Things won are done, joy's soul
lies in the doing, right?
So write it down, I can't wait
to read it.
We've got some bad news for you.
My dad told me his building
company's gonna
tear down the theater to make
way for a strip mall.
Really. Now I know that can't
be true.
I used to know Mr. Spencer
the man that owns this theater.
He loves this old thing.
He sure doesn't take good care
of it.
No.
Come on guys, we need to get to
school,
or else we're gonna be late.
Bye Charlie. Bye!
Hey, I wonder if Charlie
is right and Mr. Spencer does
love the theater,
maybe we can convince him not
to tear it down.
Maybe he just thinks that no
one else cares about the
theater.
We'll go talk to him after
school.
Richard I need those reports
after lunch,
if you don't have them done by
then, don't even worry about
coming back to work.
Yes sir...
Lucy, I don't want to be
bothered, okay.
Okay Mr. Spencer, sir.
Morning Jack!
Morning Frank.
Have you thought any more about
my proposal?
Yes, I have and there are a few
more things I'd like to talk
about-
That's great, I want to do
everything to get the ball
rolling on this project.
How soon do you think we can
start getting things ready?
We're going to begin heavy
demolition no later than the
earliest part of spring.
If that's the best you can do.
Jack,
we've got to wait until after
Christmas.
There's no way we can start
construction until
after the winter passes anyway.
But I assure you, I am going to
complete this project
to your utmost satisfaction as
soon as I possibly can.
That's fine Frank. Thank you.
Hello James.
Hello Mr. Spencer. Your father
had to step out, but he should
be back at any time now.
Come on in.
Maybe this isn't such a good
idea.
Well it's better than doing
nothing, right?
James.
James.
Hello. If you're selling
something for school
I'm not interested.
No sir, we're not trying to
sell you anything.
Well then, what do you want?
We're here to talk to Mr.
Spencer about the Capitol
Theater on main street.
Oh yeah, what about?
Sir, we heard the theater in
town is going to be torn down.
How did you find out about that?
Nevermind how we found out. We
just don't want the theater to
get destroyed.
Look, this
project is confidential. Now I
don't know how you the three of
you found out about it
but I'd advise you not to talk
about it.
Mr. Spencer, I know this deal
means a lot to you, but the
theater means
a lot
to us and to other people in
the town.
Maybe we could raise enough
money to buy it from you.
Ha. That's impossible. Look,
I'm sorry
but there's nothing you can do
to stop this deal.
Sorry. Have a nice day.
We will find a way to stop the
theater from getting torn down.
That's great kid. Why don't you
see me once you've raised some
money.
I told you it wasn't going to
work.
It was a good plan.
Well I wish it would've worked,
if not for us, for Charlie.
Where will he go once the
theater's knocked down.
What are we talking about,
listen to ourselves, we've
already given up.
There's not much more we can do
is there?
Mr. Spencer told us to come
back when we had money. So,
let's see what
we can do between now and
Christmas.
Hey, I asked you kids to leave!
You actually have a piggy bank?
Well, I've had it since I was a
kid, and really don't want to
break it.
Do you want to save the theater
or not?
Okay, here it goes.
I just can't do it.
Fine then, I'll do it.
Well,
looks like you've got $152.23
Well, we just have to keep
working. I guess I can mow some
lawns
We can ask around for donations.
Let's just face it guys, it's
still not going to be enough
money.
Well, let's see what we can do.
Good afternoon Jack.
How are you?
I'm well, how are you?
Same. Now what is it that you
need?
Always down to business, Jack?
I was just like you
when I was your age.
Let me give you a piece of
advice.
You need to slow down a bit
You'll look back one day
and wish you had spent more
time enjoying your life.
Yeah.
Now you mentioned something
about the finances.
Well,
my lawyers have been urging me
to
transfer control of all my
assets to you
Because, well, I am getting old.
Well, I've thought about, but
well considering that I'm still
alive
and well and quite active
if I do say so myself.
I've decided to keep control
of everything, for now.
That's great.
Is that all you wanted from me.
Yes, that's it.
I did hope that we could
get a chance to talk some
though.
I'd love to dad, but
I've got to get back to work.
I see.
I'll talk to you soon.
Alright.
Hey Ashton,
I'm surprised you're here. I
didn't even think you knew what
a girl was.
So what, you're here alone?
No, he's here
with me.
Hey Celeste.
Hey Zach,
what are you doing all the way
over here?
I was just seeing how this
couple was doing.
They seem pretty happy don't
you think?
I can't stand them.
They think they're so much
better than everyone else.
I can not believe I used to be
friends with her.
Hey guys, sorry I'm late.
So did the play go well? Yeah,
it was a packed house.
I've got it. I think I've got a
way we can save the theater?
What is it Celeste?
I can't believe I didn't think
of it before.
We need to hold a play.
Sell tickets, fix up the
theater. We should be able to
raise enough
money to
at least attract Mr. Spencer's
attention.
Celeste, that's a great idea!
Merry Christmas, Charlie!
We've got a present for you.
Oh. It's not much.
Thank you, thank you very much!
Look at that.
Any luck, raising money?
Not much, but
I think we've got an idea.
That's great. Tell me about it.
We're going to fix up the
theater and hold a play.
We hope we can raise enough
money to catch Mr. Spencer's
attention.
That's a very good idea. What
play are you going to do?
We haven't thought that far
ahead yet.
You know I was here when they
did the first play.
Want to know what it was?
Tell us!
Shakespeare's Much Ado About
Nothing.
Ugh. Shakespeare.
It wasn't so bad, especially if
you could understand what they
were saying.
Yeah, let's do a modern day
version
and we could put music and
dance in it
There you go, I like that.
But Shakespeare?
Quiet down everybody.
Hello everybody, hope
everybody's doing okay
this morning. Late again, Mr.
Jeremy.
Time for morning announcements.
Let's watch.
Hey guys, you need to look at
this.
This is the capitol theater.
It's the oldest theater in
town.
Yeah it's going to be knocked
down to make way for a strip
mall. I know
it doesn't mean a lot to you
but it means a lot to us and
the people of this town, so
we're trying to
save
this landmark and we can't do
it alone. Yeah, we need your
help.
Just come talk to us if you'd
like to help us.
We need all the help we can get.
What are you three doing here?
Yeah, why don't you just get
out of here.
Look, I can understand why you
don't want us here.
But I just came to tell Celeste
that
I'm sorry.
I don't know what to say.
I know, I'm just sorry about
the way I acted earlier this
year.
I didn't know Zach was such a
jerk.
Yeah he can get kinda weird
sometimes.
Well, I guess we should go.
Wait you guys.
It's fine.
You can stay. Right now, we
need all the help we can get.
Right guys?
Hey Ashton, heard about your
stupid little play.
I thought I'd come down here
and see what was going on.
Why don't you just leave.
Nobody wants you here.
So you guys actually want to
save this piece of trash.
Pretty sad.
It's a part of this town. Yeah.
A part that needs to be
destroyed.
We're going to make sure that
doesn't happen.
I can't believe you have sunk
this low.
Hanging out with them, you had
it so good with me.
Why don't you just get out of
here.
I would, but I know something
no one else does.
I know that you guys have been
sneaking in here illegally
and to top that off, my dad
knows Mr. Spencer
I could have your little play
shut down.
No, you can't
Not after all the hard work
we've put into this play. I can,
and I will.
What are you going to do about
it, cry to your mommy?
You better not do anything to
shut our play down.
Or it's the last thing you'll
do.
You'll be sorry you did this!
Come here guys
you won't believe this!
Wow. This should definitely
help raise enough money.
Ruth, I want you to guard the
front
do you understand me? Do not
let Mr. Spencer through
Stall him any way you can.
Yes sir.
Let's go do this.
Welcome to Much Ado About
Middle School
Thank you so much for coming,
we hope you enjoy the show.
Gonna tell you a story
you might have read about two
young lovers
before they were wed. It a
story that's been told a
thousand ways
so we put it to our own beat if
that's okay.
My name's Claudio, but call me
Chris
and I'm all set for romantic
bliss. There's a big dance
coming
and I'm ready to go. With my
new girlfriend,
she's Hero.
My name's Hero
I'm queen of the dance and I
like to get involved with
everybody's romance
here at school you may think
she's chillin' but my friend
Pricilla is nothing but a
villain.
I like to get
down and plot and plan
I've got a new scheme to steal
me a man
I'm gonna trick Chris with the
help of my friends
let's get this party started
and see how it ends.
So sit right back, get ready to
go
cause the No Limit Kids are
gonna put on a show
It's a Shakespeare story we
think is cool, we call it.
Much Ado About Middle School.
Celeste, get to the stage, your
scene's up.
Pricilla,
How are you today? Oh Hero,
I'm fine. I hope you and Chris
are happy together.
We are. He's taking me
to the big dance this Friday.
That's wonderful.
I have to go. I have homework
to do. Goodbye.
I need to find a way to break
them up.
They are too happy together
I know what I'll do. I'll make
Chris believe that Hero
loves someone else.
Hey Brandon, I've got a trick
to play on Chris.
Do you think that you could
make it look like Hero is in
love with you?
Yeah, I could probably do that.
Maybe we could pretend that
Margaret is Hero and you can
make sure that
Chris is watching.
Margaret does look an awful lot
like Her.
I'll go find Chris, you find
Margaret.
Woah sir, we're all sold out.
Kid, I own this theater.
Hero, I have something
to say. What is it Chris?
We need to see other people.
Why?
I saw you with Brandon the
other day.
Pricilla told me all about it.
I never.
Kid I'm warning you. Back off.
But, the fire marshal said we
can't have one more person
in here.
Chris, have you heard, Hero's
run away from home.
Really? I don't care.
Aren't you worried about her?
Hello, yes. Can I have a police
officer at 364 Main Street.
Thank you.
Let's just see how this works
out.
I can't believe we actually
pulled that off.
I mean Chris really believed
that Margaret was Hero.
Thanks so much for helping me
break them up.
Hey Chris, you'll never believe
this, but Hero never
loved Brandon. It was all a
trick by Pricilla.
What, then she's run away for
nothing.
What have I done.
Chris wait, stop. Stop! Stop!
Hold everything!
This play is now canceled.
I am sorry folks, but this
theater was broken into and used
by these children without my
permission.
Mr. Spencer, the only reason we
held this play is so we could
raise enough money to buy the
theater from you. We just
wanted to save it
from destruction. A noble idea.
But nonetheless, this theater
is going to be destroyed.
The plans have already been set
into motion.
Now if everyone could please
leave
Woah! This theater is not going
to be
torn down.
Jack, what are you doing?
I- I don't know what you're
talking about.
That's Charlie.
We only wanted to save the
theater for him.
Charlie.
Charles Spencer, the rightful
owner of this theater.
You can't be Charles Spencer,
he was a very wealthy man.
Yeah, I've seen you
lurking around this theater for
years.
You're nothing but a homeless
bum.
So, we had lost. We couldn't
save Charlie's home.
The defining moment came and we
dropped the ball.
So in Much Ado, Hero tries to
fake her own death
to see if Claudio really loves
her or not. So what did you do?
Did you save the theater.
I'm getting there. All seems
lost for Claudio when Hero dies.
He's challenged to a duel by
Hero's angry friends and
relatives.
It seems like he's facing
certain death.
But the theater!
I said I'm getting there. In
Much Ado there's an Act 5.
Hero's not really dead,
Don John's tricks are revealed
to a night watchman
who exposes him to Don Pedro.
There's a final act to my story
too! Oh my gosh, it's getting
late...
Finish the story.
I'll have to finish it
tomorrow. I need to go to bed.
Celeste come on!
Good night, good night, parting
is such sweet sorrow,
that I shall say goodnight til
it be morrow.
I'll take it from here.
Jack I can't believe
you would go behind my back and
try to
destroy something that was dear
to me.
And dear to your mother.
But dad, I - Your mother built
this place before I even met her
She was trying to build
something that the whole
community could enjoy.
And you would go behind my back
and try to destroy that?
Just look at yourself, after
mom died,
you quit caring about
everything. You let the theater
go
you let your business go, you
let me go.
You're right,
I haven't been a good father.
But this place is a wreck,
a piece of junk, an eyesore to
this whole community.
You didn't even care enough
about it to keep it up.
Nah, you just let it all go.
Jack, you've been wrong about a
lot of things.
But you're right about
that. I have let this place go.
I let you go.
When your mother passed,
I lost interest in everything.
It was hard to be around you
for the same reason.
In fact, it was hard to be
Charles Spencer.
That's why I took to being
Charlie.
I don't know why, but it
made it easier to face this
town.
Being someone else,
made it easier to forget the
past.
I guess that's
what made it so hard
Finally found my way back to
the theater,
and you come along behind my
back
and try to destroy it.
I knew you loved this theater,
but
I didn't understand why it
meant so much to you.
I should have told you
I should have
been there for you.
I'm sorry son.
I let you down.
I cannot believe you would do
something like this!
Let's see, breaking and
entering, damage to private
property
trespassing, I don't even know
where to begin.
Don't you have anything to say
for yourselves?
We just wanted to save
the theater. Save the theater!
From what?
My project. Didn't you stop to
think
that maybe we need this
business Celete?
Come on in.
Excuse me.
Charlie! Yeah, I'm
man that you know as Charlie.
But actually my name is
Charles Spencer.
Mr. Spencer,
they are very sorry for
the way that they have acted
and they will
never go near your theater
again.
Oh, that won't be necessary. I
have
no reason to keep them away.
I'm very sorry for the
intrusion, but
I was wondering if I might
speak to the kids for just
a moment.
Certainly.
You all did a wonderful job
with the play tonight.
In fact, I see the same
passion for the theater
that my wife had, in all of you.
She
loved the theater, maybe more
than me.
So I'm gonna give the theater
to you.
I know that you'll take care of
it in the same way
that my wife would've wanted me
to.
Thank you so much Mr. Spencer!
Frank, I understand you
were gonna be the foreman of
the job
my son was putting together.
Yes sir, that's correct.
I have another job for you, if
you're interested.
The theater's looking a little
ragged on the outside, and the
inside.
No offense to you
kids, you did a great job
cleaning it up.
Mr. Spencer, I would be honored.
Well, you kids stay out of
trouble.
So that was Act 5. The
Resolution.
The happily ever after, if you
will.
Act 5 is where everything is
wrapped up and the characters'
lives are better off
than they were when the story
began. To borrow another
Shakespeare quote.
"The wheel has come full
circle."
In Much Ado, Hero is revealed
to be alive
she and Claudio are married,
and Don John is captured.
The play ends on an extreme
high. This is the same as our
lives
in Middle School. The year
started out and we didn't know
what to expect.
We had conflict, drama, we had
ups and downs. We had to deal
with bullies who
wanted to ruin our lives just
because we were happy and they
were not.
But ultimately, life in middle
school was a comedy.
Shakespeare's comedies weren't
always funny, but the
character's
lives turned out alright in the
end. Shakespeare said in
another play
"To thine own self be true."
Charlie knew that, and that's
what he taught us.
It's the same message in Much
Ado About Nothing. "Let me be
that I am
and not seek to alter me." Good
advice for anyone in middle
school
Looking out across the water.
Some days it seems
so high.
But if we
hold tight to each other.
We'll wind up on the other side.
There's no limit
if we can dream it and do our
best to achieve.
There is much more than we can
hope for
if we only believe, there's no
limit.
to your dreams.
Now the mountain before us
Sometimes it seems to high.
But when we're leaning on each
other.
There's no mountain we can't
climb.
There's no limit
if we can dream it and do our
best to achieve.
There is much more than we can
hope for.
If we only believe
There's not limit.
To your dreams.