Why Shoot the Teacher? (1977) - full transcript
In the 1930's, Max Brown is an urban young man from an Eastern province, fresh from college, whose only job offer is in a one-room school house in the Canadian prairie. At first he's distant, superior, lonely, and bewildered; his students are rebellious. Over the course of the year, he is drawn to Alice Field, the wife of a farmer, in a love that can lead nowhere. But, he and his students connect, a connection that matters and lasts.
[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.
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.
-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!
Heyah!
Heyah!
Git, boy!
Heyah!
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.
-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.
-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!
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.
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?
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?
Max?
Oh, god.
I wanna go home.
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.
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.
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!
-Bye!
-Good bye.
You're free?
You're free.
Good bye!
You're free!
You're free!
I'm 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]
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.
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.
-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!
Heyah!
Heyah!
Git, boy!
Heyah!
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.
-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.
-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!
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.
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?
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?
Max?
Oh, god.
I wanna go home.
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.
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.
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!
-Bye!
-Good bye.
You're free?
You're free.
Good bye!
You're free!
You're free!
I'm 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]