Why Shoot the Teacher? (1977) Movie Script

[TRAIN WHISTLE]

TRAIN ANNOUNCER: The

Canadian National Railway

announces the departure

of the Continental Limited

for Montreal,

Winnipeg, Saskatoon,

Edmonton, Jasper and Vancouver.

MAX'S FATHER: What money?

You lent him money?

MAX'S MOTHER: Bill,

take off your scarf.

MAX'S FATHER: You should watch

your money more carefully.

A man shouldn't borrow.

Money is hard to

get, that's all.

-That's all you

talk about, anyway.

MAX (NARRATING): Times are bad.

I've never left

my family before,

my brother, my dad, my

mother, my sister, Laura.

CONDUCTOR: Excuse me.

All aboard, please.

MAX'S SISTER: Max?

MAX'S MOTHER: Give

him this photo.

CONDUCTOR: All aboard!

MAX'S MOTHER: This is so

you won't forget us, Max.

MAX (NARRATING): You know, the

thought of leaving home never

really entered my mind.

2,000 miles.

God knows I worked hard

looking for this job.

Here I am, on my way.

MAX'S FATHER: Look at him.

Lazy, good for nothing--

-Where you headed for, son?

Willowgreen?

What takes you out there?

-I'm gonna be the new teacher.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MR. MCDOUGALL: Hey, you!

You the new teacher?

-Yes, I am.

I'm Max Brown.

You must be Mr. McDougall.

-Hurry up.

We've got a 12-mile

drive up the district.

[TRAIN WHISTLE]

-Really?

That far?

-If you don't keep moving,

you get frost bite.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MR. MCDOUGALL: Whoa!

Whoa.

You go in, I'll unhitch.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-These here is some of

your class, Teacher.

Charles, Myron, and Anne,

who'll be in first grade.

Todd and Beth have a

few years to go yet.

-Hello.

Uh, I'm sorry, Charlie.

What grade did you

say you were in?

-He's the teacher, and he

doesn't know what grade I'm in?

-The teacher's

new here, Charlie.

-I've got something else to do.

-You must excuse Charlie.

He's not usually

so shy with people.

You know how it is,

you being a teacher.

-Hey.

Know what time it is?

"Amos and Andy" time.

It's my favorite program.

I never miss it at home.

-We don't have a radio.

-We have a radio, but

the tube is busted.

-Well, you may not have a

radio, but you've got Max Brown.

And I read a terrific joke

in the "Star of Phoenix."

Shall we hear it?

OK.

A little boy is

sitting on the curb

crying and sobbing

his heart out.

And a man comes up

to him and says,

little boy, what

are you crying for?

And the little kid

goes, [SNIFF] Father

called Mother a waddling goose.

And the man says, yes?

Uh, and the little boy goes,

[SNIFF] and yesterday, Mother

called Father a stupid jackass.

And the man says, well, yes.

But why are you crying?

And the little boy says,

well, what does that make me?

[CHUCKLES] [CLEARS THROAT]

-[BELCH] Time to go to bed.

Got to be up early

in the morning.

CHARLIE: Why does he

have to sleep in my room?

MYRON: Because Pa says so.

CHARLIE: He isn't

even our teacher yet.

Why can't he sleep--

MAX: Goodnight, everybody.

-Goodnight.

CHARLIE: Why can't he

sleep at the school,

like Miss Williams did?

-This is a cold room.

-Well--

--[SIGHS] We can't stoke

the fire all night.

Coal is scarce.

Well, goodnight.

-Goodnight.

Thank you, very much,

for the lovely dinner.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

CHARLIE: Git!

Come on, boy!

Git!

Heyah!

Git, boy!

Heyah!

[BABY CRYING]

-Good morning.

-Sit and have some

breakfast, before you go.

-No.

Really, I couldn't.

-At least have some coffee.

It'll warm you up.

-Really, I couldn't right now.

I'll be back in a minute.

[COW MOOS]

[CHICKEN CLUCKS]

[COW MOOS]

ANNE: Do you want

to see our calf?

-Oh, uh, yes.

Yes, I do.

Uh.

-We had two, but

the other one died.

-Aw.

-Dad says it was just

as well, because there

wasn't enough feed anyways.

-Well, he's a nice calf.

-You ought to go and

see our baby pig.

-Oh, uh, maybe later.

Huh?

-Team's hitched.

Time to go.

MAX: Brr.

Brr.

-What do you want to see first?

-I would like to see

the toilets, please.

-Downstairs.

Chemical toilets.

Best in the country.

Watch your head.

-Oh, my god.

-Come on.

I'll show you the

rest of the place.

Nice place, eh?

Well, how do you like it?

-Is there somewhere else

where-- where I could stay?

-Nobody wants to take

the teacher full-time.

But some agreed to take

you for about a month.

-I have to move every month?

-It's a question of taxes.

-I don't understand.

-Well, the government

work's still gotta be done,

roads graded, coal's

hauled to the school,

miserable jobs like that.

Folks get a tax credit for it.

-And boarding the teacher is

one of the miserable jobs.

[CRACK]

-Your strap.

Gotta show these

kids who's boss.

-I won't be using that.

-You'd better get

used to using it.

There's some pretty

big kids in grade nine.

[CRACK]

[LAUGHS]

-I borrowed money from

my brother to come here.

(YELLS) How can I buy food?

MR. MCDOUGALL: (YELLS)

We'll see you don't starve.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Somebody get a pail.

Somebody get water.

-If you don't keep the lids on

tight, you'll get a gut ache.

-This is yours.

It's freshly killed.

-What do I do with the, uh--

-Cook it, of course, and eat it.

-I don't know how to cook meat.

-City folks.

-The only thing he

knows about meat's

what he sees in brown paper.

-I'm cutting you off a ham.

Roast this in your oven.

It's about a 12-pounder.

And you can eat it

hot and then cold.

And here.

We heard about you

running behind the sleigh.

Go on downstairs and let

us tend to our duties.

-Thank you, ladies.

-He won't even last a month.

-Oh!

Oh, you surprised me.

-I'm sorry.

-That's all right.

I washed the shelves

and painted them.

-Oh, nice.

Thank you.

-The stove's a disaster.

-Did-- did-- are you,

uh, are you English?

-[SCOFFS] How can you tell?

I think I've got a Union

Jack painted on my tongue.

-It's a nice to-- it--

it's a nice accent.

Well, uh, I'll let

you finish here.

-Where are you from?

-I'm an Eastern city boy.

-City boy?

Lord, how you gonna

stand it here?

Well, I-- I didn't mean that.

Really.

Canada's a nice country--

in the spring-- sometimes.

ONE OF WOMEN: Alice?

[KNOCK ON FLOOR]

-Sometimes.

-Where did you live

before you came here?

-London.

Thank you.

I was a war bride, one of the

thousands of British girls

who were led to the planes

like lambs into the wilderness.

-You must have been quite young.

-Ooh, I was that green.

I used to tease Bert.

Bert's my husband.

I used to say, are

there any Indians?

He'd say, sure, Indians

all over the place,

just like in the movies.

Bert was one to tease.

ONE OF WOMEN: Alice?

[KNOCK ON FLOOR]

-Some raw fish, darling.

Here.

Good for ya.

-Good for what?

-Good for making porridge.

Just put it in a double boiler.

It'll stick to your ribs.

Come on, Alice.

It'll be getting dark soon.

-Uh, thank you,

for the, uh, help.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Class stand, please.

We'll repeat our Lord's prayer.

Our Father, which art in

heaven, hallowed by thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done in

Earth, as it is in heaven.

Class begins at 9:00 AM.

-Well, I had to take the

team down to the barn

and unhitch 'em.

-Would you please allow

extra time for that?

-Well, I had to drive 11 miles

picking up some of the kids.

-Who are you?

-Jake Stevenson.

-Give us this day

our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as-- as we forgive

those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Amen.

-Boss says you can

use the water that's

left for cooking and all.

He's not as pretty

as the last one.

[LAUGHTER]

-Before we begin our class,

I'm going to take the role.

Now if we can go

from front to back,

loud and clear, please stand

when you say your name.

-Cathy Friesen.

-You already know my name.

-Oh, uh, of course, I do, Anne.

Hi.

-John Stevenson.

-Pearlie Sinclair.

-Summer Littlewood.

Sammy and me are in grade five.

-Sammy Sinclair?

-Yes.

-All right.

-Myron McDougall.

-Myron, what-- what

grade are you in?

-Grade five.

-Can-- would grades one to

five raise their hand, please?

Uh, grade six?

Name, please?

-[MUMBLES]

-I'm sorry, I can't hear you.

Would you stand up, please?

-[MUMBLES].

-Her name's Mary Field.

-Oh, Mary Field.

I know your mother.

-[SNICKERS]

-Grade seven?

-Charlie McDougall.

-Charlie.

-Bill Field.

-Grade eight?

-Bob Sanderson.

-Grade-- grade nine?

-Betty Bishop.

-Carl Wells.

I missed two years

because I was sick.

-Uh, grade 10?

-Paul Friesen.

-And Donald Duck. [QUACKS]

[LAUGHTER]

-Thank you, very much, Mr. Duck.

All right, let's get busy.

We have a lot of work to do.

-Teacher?

You didn't tell us your name.

-I did-- thank you, Summer.

My na--

[LAUGHTER]

My name is Max Brown.

-[READING OUT LOUD]

-Perfect, Myron.

Wonderful.

What?

Are you boys having recess

a little early today?

Come on.

Get back to your work.

-I have nothing to do.

-You have your algebra problems.

-We finished both of these.

What do we do now?

-Teacher?

-What, Betty?

-The first graders are

finished with these.

-All right.

Would you get them a

book out of the shelf,

please, and read it to them?

-What should I read?

-Whatever you find,

something appropriate.

Are you sick?

What's the matter with you?

Let me see your algebra problem.

-Don't know nothing

about algebra.

-Me neither.

-Where is Bob Sanderson?

-Downstairs.

He had to go make

a little visit.

-He had to go and

make a little visit.

How are you boys

gonna learn anything

about algebra making

little visits?

Bob?

What are you doing

asleep on my toilet?

[APPLAUSE]

[CHEERS]

[WHISTLES]

--[BETTY READING QUIETLY] where

virgins were abducted from

their beds by painted thugs

and painted [INAUDIBLE],

where they would be transported

to ships ready to carry them

to all corners of the

world, where every man were

willing to pay the

price of their--

-What are you reading?

Where did you get this?

-There.

-Thank you, Betty.

That will be enough

reading for today.

-I'm sorry, sir.

-I'm not going to be disturbed

by you boys back there again.

Now I don't want you

sitting together.

-But these are

the bigger chairs.

The others are for

the smaller kids.

-Teacher?

You can move the chairs.

That's what Miss

Williams had to do.

-Please, Summer.

Thank you.

-Teacher, he got my chair.

[CRIES]

-All right, Jake, give

your brother back his seat.

-He can have mine.

-[CRYING]

-Teacher, you know

what John's doing?

-I see what John's--

uh, all right.

Class dismiss--

[LAUGHTER]

Who took my clapper?

Get out of here.

Go on, get out of here.

Get out of here!

[MUSIC PLAYING]

I've gotta get out of here.

[BANG]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Mr. Bishop?

I would like for you to find

me another place to live.

And Mr. Bishop, I wish you

would tell the parents,

please, not to give their kids

things like-- like bullets,

and to make sure that

their kids are housebroken,

and to tell them to

leave my clapper alone.

And Mr. Bishop, something's

got to be done about the food

that I've been getting.

That pig thing that I was given

yesterday was still breathing.

It wasn't even cooked.

And finally,

finally, Mr. Bishop,

I would like my

salary in advance!

MAN (ON RADIO): I'd have been

the first one to grab him.

MAN (ON RADIO): Man

has more courage

when he sees it, by golly.

MAN (ON RADIO): He got him.

Just made it.

Hands is lifting him up on deck.

MAN (ON RADIO): Good for him.

MAN (ON RADIO): Boy!

Oh boy!

MAN (ON RADIO):

Good for the lot.

Men, gimme a cheer.

The lad's won his way

across to the rescue.

Let everything outside hear it.

[CHEERS ON RADIO]

MAN (ON RADIO): So Jack reaches

the Pelican safely at last.

But will there be time to rescue

Captain Hann and the crew?

Be sure to listen in at

the same time tomorrow

evening to find out

what happens next.

-So how was your first day?

-I got through it.

-Are you staying for supper?

-Well, I'd like to, eh, uh,

if it would be no trouble.

-No, it's no trouble at all.

-Thank you.

MAN (ON RADIO): --as a hot meal.

Eat Wheaties tomorrow morning.

Eat Wheaties and sliced bananas

for breakfast some mornings

too.

You will say it's a

marvelous combination.

-Well, what is it?

-Uh, well, it's,

uh, uh, my salary.

-Your salary?

-Just as matter of, uh, detail.

Uh, when am I going to be paid?

-Oh, there's-- there's

plenty of time for that.

MAN (ON RADIO): David

Owens, David [INAUDIBLE],

and the makers of Wheaties.

They're who--

[CLICK]

[YODELING AND GUITAR MUSIC]

-Uh, about the salary-- uh--

[YODELING AND MUSIC END]

MAN (ON RADIO): This Saturday,

the Montreal Canadians

will meet the

Toronto Maple Leafs

at Maple Leaf Garden

for the last--

-Do you like baseball?

-Yes, I do.

I really like hockey.

-Oh, I look forward

to every spring,

because it brings baseball.

Leading up to that World Series.

Boy, them New York Yankees, eh?

[MUSIC PLAYING ON RADIO]

-Could we talk salary?

-Well you-- tonight?

-Yes.

I would like to.

I thought, because you were the

chairman of the school board.

McDougall said

something about $450.

Now I presume that's

for the six months.

-No.

That's for the year.

And figuring the year is 10

months, that figures to $45

a month.

-Well, that seems very low.

-Well, how-- of

course, we'll, uh,

have to take off for the

food that folks is providing.

-Food that folks are providing?

-That figures to,

uh, about 20 a month.

-Tw-- tw-- that

barely leaves, uh--

-And then there's heating

and, uh, additional repairs.

-Oh, I see.

Uh, in other words, I'm--

I'm paying you $45 a month

for the privilege

of teaching here.

-No, not quite.

You have something

to show for it.

Still leaves you about

20 a month clear.

-That's not enough.

-Well, in-- in a sense, you're,

uh, sorta learning on the job,

as they say.

And--

-$20 a month?

I would never have come.

-It's a hell of a lot more than

a lot of farmer with 30 years

experience are

getting right now.

-When-- when-- when am I going

to receive the first $20?

-Well, why you in such a hurry?

-I'm-- I-- I borrowed

money to come here.

I borrowed money from

my brother to come here.

I need clothes.

-Well, what for?

You ain't going no place.

-Mr. Bishop, I

would like to know,

please, when am I

going to receive

my first month's salary?

-Well, we can't

give you any cash.

You'll have to take

a promissory note.

I'll be damned if I won't

be able to make that good.

-Promissory note?

MR. BISHOP: Yeah.

MAN (ON RADIO):

(SINGING) --I can't, I

can't give you

anything but love.

-Uh, I have to leave.

-Uh, what about dinner?

-I'm-- I'm-- I'm not hungry.

MR. BISHOP: Yeah,

well, my wife's--

-How we doing over here?

John, what are you doing?

You're kneeling on Halifax.

Come on.

Get up.

Move over.

What is Vancouver Island doing

in the middle of, Hudson Bay?

That's where I'm from.

-You mean that's

the whole country?

-Well, no.

We've made it to scale,

or at least we've tried.

But, uh, may I have

a pencil, uh, Myron?

Thank you.

The difference

between Ottawa here,

which is the capital of

Canada, and Edmonton, which

is capital of Alberta,

is 2,210 feet.

-You mean miles.

-I mean miles.

-Ottawa has a canal.

I visit my aunt there.

-Oh, all right.

Well, uh, you're right.

You're right, Summer.

Let's make a canal right here.

-The map's falling apart.

-OK.

-The map's falling apart.

-All right.

All right.

Calm down.

Uh-- all right, I have an idea.

Let's draw the map.

Draw it in pencil, and then,

uh, we'll fill in the colors

afterward.

All right?

-My pencil's broken.

-I can't find mine.

-You take that pencil.

And uh, I have some

more downstairs.

I'll go get them.

Excuse me.

I'll be right back.

Those of you who have

pencils, go ahead.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

-Leave it alone!

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

-Did you make this?

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

-All right!

What is happening here!

What have you got here?

-It's just a drawing.

-It's very nice.

I'm glad to see somebody in

this classroom is creative.

They're excellent.

Very nice.

-That map wasn't worth a

piece of horse manure anyway.

-I beg your pardon?

-Oh, nothing.

Hey, would you like me to

take this to the rubbage dump?

-Yes, I would.

Thank you.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MAX: Mr. Bishop?

I've having a lot of trouble

with Jake Stevenson in school.

I-- I don't know what I'm

going to do about him.

-Look.

My old teacher, Dwight

Tucker, was tough.

The old skunk.

He always said there was three

things to remember in a class.

Don't be too pouty.

Remember, you're the teacher.

They're the student.

Never punish two kids together.

You can get the

other one next time.

And never get yourself

into a position

where you have to do

something drastic.

Avoid showdowns.

Hm?

-I don't-- but, uh, what am

I going to do about Jake?

-Oh, it's time for that mystery.

-Lyle?

That Harris Montgomery

is here to see you.

-Oh, damn.

What does he want?

-Sorry to bother ya,

Lyle, but it's important,

you being the chairman

of the school board.

-What is it?

-Like to use the

schoolhouse for a meeting.

-What sort of a meeting?

-A political meeting for

the new socialist party

that's being formed.

-Nope.

-Dan Throwbridge is coming

over from Kindersly.

He really knows how

to run a meeting.

-I know all about Dan

Throwbridge and his kind.

Come and spend scarce tax

money to educate the idle,

and then what happens?

Our educated ones come back

here and cause a lot of trouble.

Damned eggheads.

Eh, sorry, teacher.

I'm not speaking about you.

-So you're the new teacher.

-Hello.

How are you?

-I don't want the school

house used for politics.

-You let a liberal candidate

speak there in the spring.

-That was different.

-Sure!

That's different.

He's your nephew.

[DOOR SLAMS]

MAN (ON RADIO): That was swell.

MAN (ON RADIO): I'm glad

you liked it, Harry.

MAN (ON RADIO): But

tell me, how does

it feel when you're in love?

-Pleased to meet you, teacher.

I'll see you at the dance.

MAN (ON RADIO): And

that, folks, is exactly

the way you feel in the

famous Dodge Air Glide Ride.

Visit the show room of

your local Dodge dealer.

-Ah, damned rattle head.

-Rattle head?

-Yeah.

That's what we

call, uh, uh, people

who are always wanting

to change everything.

You know, uh, radicals.

Harris Montgomery, the great

free thinker and non-worker.

One thing I'll say

for this depression.

It's made 10 million experts

that never knew nothing before.

MAN (ON RADIO):

The Shadow knows.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Has he asked for me?

-Will you know if he has?

-We will proceed no

further in his business.

-We will proceed no

further with this business.

It's lunchtime.

Come on, end it.

-Then I asked if he wanted

to see our baby pig,

and he said no.

And then I pushed him along.

Then he pulled me back.

-Thank you, Myron.

Pearlie?

Here's an extra egg

and some cheese.

You take them.

-Thank you.

-You're welcome.

Sammie?

Come here.

Why don't you take this?

I can't eat all this.

All right?

Uh, Violet?

You?

Huh?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Come on, Mary.

Don't dawdle.

-Oops.

Mrs. Field?

-Oh.

-Hello.

-Oh, what a nice horse.

-Ah, she's old, but I like her.

Bert thinks she's useless.

Well, did the porridge

stick to your ribs?

-It stuck to my ribs, it

stuck to the floor, stuck

to the ceiling, it stuck

to the, uh, oven lid.

Like cement, it stuck.

-How are you getting

on at the teacherage?

-Uh, the teacherage

is a combination

of a bottomless

pit, the Moose River

Mine, and the Black

Hole of Calcutta.

-[LAUGHS]

-Actually, I think

it's, uh, haunted

by the ghosts of teachers

who have lived there

in the past who have

died of loneliness.

-I told Bert about

you in the teacherage.

He laughed.

But then he thinks anyone

that's not from here

abouts is a bit--

well, is a bit daft.

Well, we've got to be going.

-Oh, would you mind if I spoke

to you for a minute about Mary?

-Oh, I know.

She's a-- she's a little shy.

-Oh, no.

No.

She's showing a

talent for drawing.

Her notebook is just

filled with sketches

that are really quite good.

-Oh, thank you

for your interest.

Mary?

Come on, sweet.

Got to be going.

-I think we should

really try to encourage

any signs that she may show.

-I think that anything

you do to encourage her

will be very well appreciated.

Well, bye-bye, then.

-Bye-bye.

Hope to see you soon.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

--[SINGING LOUDLY, OFF TUNE]

Oh, sweet mystery

of life at last I've found you.

Oh, at last I know

the secret of it all.

Oh, the burning, yearning,

churning, yearning, burning.

-You keep coming all this way to

bring Mary those art materials.

-Well, uh, it's a beginning.

But, uh, I really feel that she

could use some finer materials.

And, uh, I hope you don't, but

I've-- I've written a little

list of things that

I thought would be

helpful and an

address on the back.

I thought perhaps your husband,

uh, might write away for them.

-Oh, I-- I don't know what

Bert would think about that.

But I could put a

mail order in the post

when I go to, uh,

Alsask next week.

-Well, that would be great.

-No, no, no butter.

No.

This is, uh-- hot

bread on a winter day,

this is wonderful just as it is.

Uh, could I ask you a favor?

You're going to go to the

post office at Alsask?

Would you post a letter for me?

-Of course.

-Um, never mind.

-To a girlfriend, eh?

-I wish.

To my ugly brother

who has a job.

-So do you.

-I can't even get paid.

Look at this.

Promissory note.

I'd like to tell Bishop what to

do with that promissory note.

-[LAUGHS]

-You can't eat a

promissory note.

-Depends what sauce

you put on it.

[TRAIN WHISTLE FAR OFF]

-I tell you, sometimes I

feel like chasing that train

and jumping a ride back home.

-Why don't you?

-Yeah.

Well, a classmate of mine

once jumped a box car

to Vancouver looking for work.

He never made it.

He stayed on top of the

car when the train pulled

through the tunnel

in the Rockies.

He fell under the wheels.

He was overcome

by the, uh, smoke

and the ashes from the engines.

-Dear lord.

-He wanted me to go with him.

It's frightening how

much we take for granted.

Dammit.

God, I miss my family.

All my life, I'm used to

having people around me.

That's Roger or Laura.

[SIGHS] When you're

from a family,

you're never really alone.

There's always somebody to

talk to, water in the taps,

light in the bulbs.

[BABY CRIES]

-Well, sorry.

Little Davie must

have a problem.

[BABY CRYING]

Mary?

Why is Davie crying?

Is he wet?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

You should have

brought him in, Mary.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[SQUARE DANCE MUSIC]

-Hey, Bill.

You watch it, eh?

-How are you?

We're a little late

because Bert was trying

to find the neighbor to

put a new engine in--

-Alice, what a pretty dress.

Never seen you wear that before.

-Oh, it's, uh, from a friend

of mine's trunk in London.

Don't get too many

chances to wear it here.

-It's pretty.

-People just dance

themselves to death.

I got so many trunks

when I first came here.

I thought Bert's

brother was going

to faint when he saw how many.

He was the one that had to

cart them over to Bert's farm.

Bert told him, here's

the girl from England.

She only brought half of it.

The rest of it's

on the next train.

Bert thought that

was so funny, he

laughed for a good half hour.

-Have you never been back?

-No.

[COUNTRY MUSIC]

-He's fallen.

Are you all right?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-You're the teacher, ain't ya?

-Yes, I am.

-I'm Lester Sinclair.

You have three of my

kids in your class.

-Sure.

I have Sammie and Pearlie and--

-You've been giving them food,

and they don't need charity.

-What?

-Shaming them in front

of the other kids,

and me in front of my neighbors.

I can provide for them.

-Oh-- oh--

-Just listen to me, teacher.

-But, sir--

-You put stuff in

their heads, and I'll

put stuff on the table.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Let's go somewheres quiet

where we can talk, hm?

MAN: You should be working

to improve society.

-Oh, my god.

[BABIES CRYING]

-Poor Sinclair.

He got so desperate, he had to

feed his sheep Russian thistle.

Two of his lambs scoured

so badly they died.

Look at that there.

"Unemployment Reaches New High."

These are rough

times, I'll tell ya.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Mr. Eberhard over in Alberta

want to give people the money,

$25 a month to every

man, woman and child.

-Without earning it?

-Well, don't you see?

He earns it by being a consumer.

You pay a man for consuming.

So he buys things, keeps the

wheels of industry turning.

-You'll wake the baby.

-Oh, my god.

Let's go somewheres else.

[BABIES CRYING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

--Stand up!

[MUSIC STOPS]

-Get out!

Get out!

[ANGRY VOICES]

ONE OF THE MEN: Allow me.

[ANGRY VOICES]

-Cool down.

[ANGRY VOICES]

ONE OF THE MEN: Jeez,

don't back down.

ONE OF THE MEN: Not in

front of the children.

ONE OF THE WOMEN:

Oh, break it up.

ONE OF THE MEN: Come on.

Grow up.

-Go shake on the thing.

Come on, shake hands with him.

-Did you downstep?

ANGRY MAN: Let go of me!

-Come on here.

This is a school house.

[ANGRY VOICES]

ONE OF THE MEN: Hey,

that's the blamed teacher.

[CHILDREN CRYING]

-I don't know what's going on

around here, but boy, oh boy.

Quiet, everybody.

Quiet, please.

There's nobody hurt, and

it's been a long night.

So I think we ought to go

home and milk the cows.

Let's all sing a

little song you know.

Go ahead.

Take the lead.

[PLAYING MUSIC]

-You all right?

-I'm all right.

I had the wind

knocked out of me.

-Jay, let's go.

-That's no concern

of yours, woman.

Mary, where's your brother?

Bill, come on.

We're going home.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-[READING ALOUD FROM SCIENCE

BOOK]

-How's that?

This one here.

This one must be-- I think so.

Looks good, huh?

[READING CONTINUES]

-What are you doing?

-Nothing, teacher.

-Nothing?

What do you mean, nothing?

-Well, I didn't do that.

The pictures were loose already.

Somebody else must've done it.

-What are you lying for?

It's a brand new encyclopedia.

It's never been touched before.

-Well, what's a few pictures?

There's lots more in that book.

-You have to stay after

school today, Jake.

-I can't do that, teacher.

I've got to help my old

man saw some pauper poles.

-Just the same, you

stay after school.

-And after that, I've

got to milk four cows

and separate the milk.

-All right.

I'll give you a choice.

You either stay after

school, or you get the strap.

-I'll take the lickin'.

-Class dismissed.

-But we still have

20 minutes to go.

-Well, class is dismissed.

20 minutes early today.

Go on.

That's enough.

You can go now.

Close the-- close the

front door on your way out.

[SNAPPING SOUND]

[SQUEAKING]

-Well, how do you do?

How do you do?

I guess I'm supposed to

feel sorry for you, huh?

Well, I don't.

Well, crawl off then.

Go on.

Get the hell outta here.

[SOUND OF WIND]

-Blow, blow, thou

wind winter wind,

but thou art not so unkind

as man's ingratitude.

Thy tooth is not so keen,

because it is not seen,

although thy breath be crude.

-Teacher?

It sounds like Shakespeare spent

his winters in Saskatchewan.

-Well, Shakespeare's

from Saskatchewan.

-Oh.

-Don't you children

know anything?

Shakespeare is

from Saskatchewan.

-Where's the water today, Jake?

-My pa says I don't have

to bring it no more.

-Well, I depend

on that water for,

uh-- the children depend on it.

I-- I depend on

it for my cooking.

-My pa says I don't

have to bring it.

-Well, what am I going to do?

-I don't know.

-Well, all right.

Well, uh, let's clean

up this classroom.

-You know, my old teacher,

he'd never of strapped Jake

and risked having his water cut.

-All right.

Thank you, very much.

-Oh, you're welcome.

Any time.

[WIND BLOWING]

ALICE: I've left home.

I've left home for good.

These trousers are Bert's.

I know they're not

very flattering,

but-- but they were warm.

Thank you.

-I'm going to make

something hot to drink.

-I'm fine now.

I'm just going to

catch my breath.

I-- I've got to go.

-Well, where are you going?

-I don't know.

I--

-You're not going

out in that weather.

I made some very nice soup.

I'm sorry.

I wasn't expecting anybody for--

-Please.

Please?

It was awful of me to come

here in the first place.

I-- I didn't mean to.

I just got on Nellie's

back and rode away.

Did you ever feel you

had to-- to go away?

Away from where you were?

And no matter what you

did, you had to go?

-Yes.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Yeah.

That's the way I felt

this morning when

I-- when I knew-- when

I knew-- oh, dear god.

I feel-- I feel almost silly,

silly talking to you like this,

but I had to talk with someone.

These hard winters

are so long, so long.

And I'm cooped up

with the children.

I love my kids, but the same

noses to wipe, the same diapers

to change, the quarreling and

the fighting and the questions.

-I know.

I know.

-And Bert-- do you think

it's possible to hate

a man, to detest him because

of something he says?

Well, we never

died of winter yet.

Over and over again.

[WIND BLOWING]

I still remember that train ride

from Halifax to Saskatchewan.

Of course, I was

only 19, I remember.

The country was so big.

I looked out of

the train window,

and I could just see all

these beautiful scenes.

And I said to Bert, is that what

our farm is going to be like?

He laughed and he said,

hell, in Saskatchewan,

we don't even that a farm.

Wait 'til you see it, honey.

Wait 'til you see it.

(QUIETLY) And when I-- I

saw it, I started crying.

It-- it was just--

-Alice, what are you doing?

-I shouldn't have come here.

I have to go.

I have no right to bother

you with my problems.

They don't even

know that I'm here.

-Alice, this is a blizzard.

You can't go out

in this weather.

People die in blizzards.

-Cruel are you, so

cruel in every way.

I got three kids.

When I left him, I

meant never to go back.

Where do I go?

If I'd have known [INAUDIBLE]

or-- or this life.

Maybe a man has-- has to

be cruel to survive here.

-Maybe.

Maybe, sometimes.

-Oh.

You've got plays.

"Arms And The Man,"

"Private Lives.

I used to do drama

when I was at school.

Director said I was very good.

Sybil and Ellie.

Hm.

"Ellie, Ellie, dear.

Do come out.

It's so lovely.

It's heavenly.

Look at the lights of the

yacht reflected in the water.

Oh, dear.

I'm so-- Oh, dear.

I'm so happy.

Oh, could-- could we

read this together?

Could we?

Oh, please.

"I believe in being

kind to everyone

and giving money

to old beggar women

and being as gay as possible."

-"Would you be young or

old, if you could choose?"

-"No, I don't think so,

not if it meant having

awful bull's glands

popped into me.

-"Cows for you, dear.

Bulls for me.

-We certainly live in a

marvelous age." [LAUGHS]

-"I do love you so."

-"I don't know, dear heart.

It gives me the shivers."

-Swivel your face

around a bit more."

-Oh, that-- I-- I've got a line.

Shall we do it again?

-"Sw-- swivel your face

around a bit more."

-"Is that better?"

-Very much.

Thank you, kindly."

-"Darling, you are so

terribly, terribly dear,

and sweet, and attractive."

-That's very good.

-Oh, you-- you are too.

-You're wonderful.

You're really wonderful.

That director was right.

-Do you get cold

living down here?

-Sure, sometimes.

But, uh, I have-- I

have warm blankets.

And, uh, actually,

this coal back here

keeps it pretty comfortable

most of the time.

-I feel terrible putting

you out of your bed.

-Don't be silly.

I have a lot of reading.

And, uh, I've got a

lot of things to do.

I've got reading

and a lot of work.

-Where do you keep the blankets?

-There, under the bed.

-I can't find it.

Could you help me?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

ALICE: I-- I-- I-- I can't.

I can't.

-What's the matter?

-Well, it-- it's [SIGHS]

-What is it?

-I-- I--

-[SIGHS] [INAUDIBLE]?

-It's, uh-- yeah.

Max?

Oh, god.

I wanna go home.

Oh, dear god.

[WEEPING] Sorry.

-[INAUDIBLE]

-[WEEPING]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-There ya are.

Go on, woman.

Get your things on.

-Uh, she was, uh-- she was lost.

And, uh, she was

stranded in the storm.

There was, uh, there-- there--

there was no way to possibly

even, uh, even get

back, if we wanted to.

-She does these crazy

things sometimes.

Be damned if I know

why she does 'em.

Of course, she's in

a family way now.

Maybe that accounts for it.

Sorry, if she bothered ya.

I'll take her home now.

-Bert, Bert, wait a minute.

I wanna-- I wanna talk to you.

-Get Nellie out of the barn.

Well?

-Well, uh, it's, uh, it's Alice.

It's, uh, it's

being-- being away

from her life in England

and, uh, her family.

You have-- you have to--

-What you gettin' at?

-You've gotta do

more for her, Bert.

You-- you've gotta help her--

-Look here, teacher.

Look after the kids, eh?

I'll look after the woman.

I don't know what you

two did here last night,

and I don't wanna know.

You mention to anyone she was

here, I'll break your back.

Well, woman, you never

have died of winter yet.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Teacher?

Whoa.

Better let Sinclair be.

You can't help him.

I offered to take up

a collection for him,

but he didn't want

no part of it.

Better just leave him alone.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-What's the bank want this

house and land for anyway?

Hardly enough to

keep a gopher alive,

let alone a family of seven.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-(SINGING) I'm a

long way from home.

And my thoughts ever roam to

old Erin far over the sea.

For my heart, it is there,

where the skies are so fair,

and old Ireland

is calling for me.

Oh, I want to go back to

that tumble down shack

where the wild roses

bloom round the door, just

to pillow my head in

that old trundle bed,

just to see my old

mother once more.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

-Real nice.

No, no, no.

Don't get up.

Go ahead washing.

Surely to god, there's

no need for petty words

or false modesty here.

-I think I've had

a heart attack.

-I know how hard it is to

get warm water for a bath

and keep it that way.

You just go ahead and go

ahead, and I'll just sit here.

-Ooh.

-I take a bath every 24th of

May, whether I need it or not.

I'm having that

meeting in two weeks.

-What meeting?

-For the new Socialist party.

I tell you, we're a

gonna sweep this country.

We've got to teach the

voters, in a real democracy,

the people must think,

not just work for someone

because you might get

a road job out of it.

Can we, uh, can we count on you?

-Well, sure.

I've got nowhere else to go.

-No, no, no, no.

As a speaker, I mean.

A new voice.

The voice of you, put pride

in its rightful place.

-No, no, no.

-Forced to teach school

at a starvation wage.

-Well--

-Teaching children as poor and

downtrodden as the Sinclairs.

-Hm.

-So you with us?

-No.

No.

-No?

What do you mean, no?

-Harris, I have

a lot on my mind.

I-- I have Jake to contend with.

I have to work two

hours every day to--

-What am I gonna do?

I already announced

that you'd be there.

-Announced?

What do you mean you

announced that I'd be there?

Without even asking me?

-I knew you wouldn't refuse.

-Harris, I have refused you.

-I knew we could count on you.

-Harris?

-You're the hope of the future.

-Harris?

HARRIS: The hope of the future.

-Harris, I said no.

MR. BISHOP: What's

this about you

speaking at that

Communist meeting?

-Well, I disagree

with it, Mr. Bishop,

but it's beside the point.

I'm not speaking at the meeting.

-Well, Montgomery's putting

it around the district

you are gonna speak.

-Well, it's a misunderstanding.

I'm not going to--

-The folks in this area

are not gonna take kindly

to the teacher speaking

at a [INAUDIBLE] meeting.

-What I do with my life

is my own business.

-Well, they might not take

you on for another term.

-Oh, for ano-- for $450 lousy,

stinking dollars a year that I

haven't even seen

one cent of yet?

-Now listen, you.

I-- I plan to make

them notes good.

-For this, I'm supposed

to give up my right

to say what I want to say

when I want to say it?

What's happened to free speech?

-There's a time and a

place for free speech.

This isn't it.

-You have no right to tell me

when and where I can speak.

Am I right, Mr. Bishop?

-Well, yes.

You're right.

Your 100% right, up

to a certain point.

Yes, but you're not gonna speak.

-Is this or is this

not a democracy?

-You're damned right, it is.

-Yes.

Damned right.

-Yeah.

What?

-Harris?

Harris?

MRS. MONTGOMERY:

Harris is sleeping.

Who is that?

-Mrs. Montgomery,

it's me, teacher, Max.

I want to talk to your husband.

MRS. MONTGOMERY: No.

Harris is sleeping.

Come back in the morning when

it's time to make visits.

HARRIS: What's wrong?

MRS. MONTGOMERY: It's nothing.

-I'll do it.

MRS. MONTGOMERY: Go back to bed.

-Do what?

-I'll speak at the meeting.

-I knew I could count on you.

Come back tomorrow,

and we'll discuss it.

-No, no.

I want to talk about it now.

I want to talk about poverty

in the midst of plenty

and about poorly

equipped schools

and about-- I want to speak

for all the young men who

are riding the rails, no

hope, no dreams, no future.

MRS. MONTGOMERY: Harris!

-Save the rest of

that for the meeting.

Let me get some rest.

MRS. MONTGOMERY:

Everybody, go to bed.

-I want to talk

about my friend who

went to Vancouver

looking for a job.

He never made it.

I want to talk about--

MRS. MONTGOMERY:

Go away, already.

HARRIS: I am happy

we are all here

under this beautiful sky

and God's own fresh air.

We are here to

discuss a new party.

Why, you ask, do we need a new

party, when the ones that we've

got are already causing

enough problems?

We want to find the

answers, answers

to why we are poor

when so many are rich.

I ask you why is a bushel of

wheat, worth $2 10 years ago,

now worth $0.45?

-Why, you're damned right.

-Why?

And now, Max Brown

will speak to us

from the point of view of you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Uh, Ladies and

Gentlemen, uh, I, myself,

have a little joke that I

would like to share with you,

if I may, uh, a

story that dramatizes

the situation that

we find ourselves in.

A man fell into the

Saskatchewan River.

Five men saw this and,

leaning over the bridge,

began shouting questions at him.

When they learned his name

and place of business,

they ran off, hoping

to get the man's job,

and leaving the man to drown.

Here, we have a fine

generation of young people.

Here, we have a

fine-- here, we have

a fine generation

of young people.

-Sounds like a bloody fool.

MAX: Their bodies are sound

with the athletic support

that we have given them.

The prospect of youth is bleak.

Thank you.

-Well, how was your speech?

-I'd rather not talk about

it, if you don't mind.

-Well, if you will listen to

crackpots and rattle heads--

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-How do you like my

new Bennett buggy?

-Your what?

-You see, a car is useless

without gasoline to run it.

And gasoline is

unavailable without cash.

You may have noticed there's

a considerable lack of that

around.

-Yeah, I've noticed.

-So I'm driving a two-horsepower

Bennett buggy, named

after our esteemed

prime minister,

R.B. Bennett, who sits

on his broad posterior

down there in Ottawa without a

thought of suffering humanity.

I had something

important to tell you,

but I forgot what it was.

Hop in.

-I thought you was

busy seeding by now.

-No siree.

Get up.

Get up there.

What's the use of putting wheat

in the ground to be blown away?

If I sowed anyone's fields,

it'd be my neighbors,

because the wind might

blow it back on my land.

-Do you think it's

going to let up at all?

-It's getting worse.

The only way to tell

if it's letting up

is to toss a gopher in the air.

And if he digs a

hole up there, you

know it's too rough

to go into the field.

I just remembered what

I come to tell you.

The school inspector's

coming tomorrow.

-What?

-Yep.

The wife spotted

him over in Alsask.

Where you going?

Whoa!

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I've got a lot of work to do.

-Well, stay here.

I'll give you a lift.

MAX: I can get

there faster myself.

-We were just

having a good talk.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

That's the trouble with

everybody, just sit here, let

everything go to pot, without

trying to do anything about it.

Git up.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-All right, during the

past million years,

withing the past million

years, 97% of Canada

was covered by what?

-Glacier ice.

-That's right.

I hope you're all

as smart as Paul

when the inspector comes in.

Who can spell Chrysanthemum?

-C-R--

-C-R-Y?

-C- R- I- S--

-C-H- R- Y- S- A- N- T- H- E-

M- U- M. C- H- R- Y- S- A- N- T-

H- E- M- U- M. All right, who

here can name the great lakes?

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

[SOUND OF CAR PULLING UP]

-Teacher?

It's only a Ford.

The school inspector always

comes with a Chrysler.

-Are you sure?

-I'm sure.

-All right.

Thank you, Summer.

Could we please all go and have

a very quiet, calm, nice lunch?

Everyone, just at

your desk eating

very quietly, calm,

and-- all right?

Where's everyone going?

ONE OF THE BOYS: There he goes!

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MAX: Mother of God,

what are you doing?

That's cruel.

These are-- give me that.

These are our furry,

furry friends.

-Yeah.

Get him!

-They're varmints.

They eat the wheat

and spoil the crops.

-They're loving creatures.

-Critters tear up

my dad's fields.

-That's why the

government gives us

a cent for each tail,

the little bastards!

-Bob!

Watch that mouth!

Summer!

-I've got two tails.

-I'm gonna be sick.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[SQUEAKING]

-[SCREAM]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I've got a gopher.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Hello?

Anyone here?

[RATTLING AND BANGING FROM

BASEMENT]

-(TO SELF] Late.

[RATTLE AND THUD FROM BASEMENT]

Oh, uh, my name is

Woods, school inspector.

Just a friendly visit.

-How do you do?

Nice to meet you.

I'm Max Brown.

I'm the teacher.

-How do you do.

Uh, tell me.

What time do we begin

afternoon classes?

-1 o'clock sharp.

There's so much to do, it's

important to use every minute.

-Well, in that case, your

pupils have exactly two minutes

to appear back.

[HUMMING] [SINGING IN GERMAN]

[YELLING WILDLY]

-There he goes!

-Go get it!

-Yeah!

Yeah!

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Mary, for heaven's

sake, where is everybody?

-(OUT OF BREATH) They're

catching all the gophers.

-These gophers are-- are very

destructive to the wheat.

And the children get

a cent for each tail.

-The species around

here are not gophers,

they are Richardson's

ground squirrels.

Richards, R- I- C- H- A- R-

D- S- O- N- S. In 1820, one,

eight, two, oh, named

after Sir John Richardson,

a distinguished naturalist and

explorer. after their heritage.

Now, if you don't mind,

I'll go downstairs

and have a look at

the chemical toilets.

Well, and your room.

-My-- my room?

-And call me when your pupils

decide to return, will you?

-God.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]

-You left everyone.

-You have to collect the

tails and keep score.

Then you tell the

government, and they pay us.

-All right.

I want you-- you're 20

minutes late from lunch.

Now sit down in your seats.

Get out of my way.

-Alan, come on.

Think.

Concentrate.

You had it yesterday,

the capital of Portugal.

Latin country.

Next to Spain.

-All right.

Thank you, Mr. Brown.

Now, I'd like to

ask a few questions.

This should be an easy one.

What is the capital of Canada?

Yes, boy?

-The capital of Canada

is C. That's right,

isn't it, teacher?

-Well, we'll try another one.

A plane-- pay attention, boy!

A plain in Canada, extends

for about 1,900 miles

from the Rocky Mountains

to the Appalachians.

The plain is composed

of ancient, worn down

rocks which are called what?

-I know.

I know.

-Good.

Good.

-The spear.

-The what?

-He means the Shield.

-Yeah, that's what I meant.

-What is an island?

Yes?

-A piece of land completely

surrounded by water.

-What is a lake?

Yes, girl?

-A body of water completely

surrounded by land.

-What is a beach?

Come on, girl, stand up.

-No.

INSPECTOR: Get up and speak up.

I can't hear you.

Come on.

Stand up, girl.

What is a beach?

-A female dog.

[LAUGHTER]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Could I see your

daily journal, please?

-My what?

My-- oh.

Oh, I-- I don't ha--

I don't have one.

Well, with 10 grades, I'm much

too busy preparing my lessons

and teaching them.

-Mr. Brown?

There are distinct advantages

in orderliness and neatness,

cleanliness and punctuality.

Your own bedroom, disgusting.

I am sorry to tell you, Mr.

Brown, that I have never seen

such a badly taught class in

many, many years of experience.

-I'm sorry.

-Not very well organized.

I mean, how do you find-- look!

What is that?

-It's my lunch.

-Your lunch.

A duck!

I dirtied my suit.

What-- what were they?

-Well, they're-- they're

the tails of-- of the, uh--

-I'm getting out

of here, pronto.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-Mr. Woods?

Mr. Woods, please.

-Mr. Brown, I'll

be frank with you.

I am going to recommend that

you are not to be re-hired.

You are not fit to

teach children anywhere.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-If you want to judge me by

what you've seen here today,

that's fine.

But I have something I

would like to say to you.

-Please, Mr. Brown, I've got

a long journey ahead of me.

What are you doing?

-What do you know

about rural children?

-Will you kindly

give my hat back?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I've listened to

you all afternoon,

now you can listen to me.

-You are clearly deranged.

-Do you think the boundaries

of Canada end with Ontario?

That rural Saskatchewan children

are opposed to know everything

printed in books, uh, fr--

from Toronto, New York, even.

-For god sake, get

a grip on yourself.

-Books that show perfect people

who live in little cities

and get along so well

with their neighbors.

-Oh.

Oh, look.

This is going down

on your record.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-And in all their

learning, not even

one word about their

own environment?

-Will you kindly let

me get in my car?

-If you were not so

unbendingly efficient,

we might have sat and

talked about education

and the problems these

children are having.

-I know how to do

my job, Mr. Brown.

-You might have opened up their

minds with tales of the places

that you have visited

in this world, countries

that they might even not-- not

even get the chance to see.

Instead, you quote them

details, and I play the bum.

-Let me tell you

this, Mr. Brown.

You will be fortunate to

find another job anywhere,

from one end of this great

dominion to the other.

These are hard times, Mr. Brown.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

-I don't care!

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Class dismissed.

Maybe you can catch

some more gophers.

Anne?

Cathy?

John?

May I have your

attention, please?

I'm very happy to

announce that you

have all passed

into the next grade.

Some of you even deserve it.

[LAUGHTER]

Well, there-- there should be

something wise and wonderful

to say to you all

today, but, uh, frankly,

I can't think of a darn thing.

So, uh, good luck.

Class dis--

[LAUGHTER]

(ALL SINGING] Sing your way

home at the close of the day.

Sing your way home,

drive the shadows away.

Smile every mile, for wherever

you roam it will brighten

your road, it will

lighten your load,

if you sing your way home.

-OK, come on.

Get out of here.

[LAUGHTER AND CHEERS]

-Bye!

-Good bye!

-Bye!

-Good bye.

You're free?

You're free.

Good bye!

You're free!

I'm free.

I made it!

I'm free!

MAX (NARRATING):

On June 18, 1935,

I left Willowgreen, no longer

to suffer the cold, the dust,

the students, the

parents who want

to live in the black

hole of Calcutta.

-Going home, eh?

-Mm-hm!

[MUSIC PLAYING]

MAX (NARRATING): On

September 8, 1935,

I returned to Willowgreen

to teach another year.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

Why Shoot the Teacher? (1977) - full transcript