7th Heaven (1996–2007): Season 10, Episode 14 - The Magic of Gershwin - full transcript

Ruthie is having a hard time getting over Martin, who is finally making an effort to be there for Sandy and the baby. Ruthie meets a new friend, Maggie, and they must both sit in detention after school. The teacher in charge at detention, a music teacher called Feinstein, manages to get the students' attention by giving them some new insights on music and its relation to history. He also plays Gershwin songs on the piano, which seem to calm Ruthie's heartache.

Hi.

Welcome.

Thanks, I guess.

This is detention,
isn't it?

Yes, it is...

...Ms. Camden.

I'm Mr. Feinstein,
head of the Music Department,

or what's left of it.

Only this week,
I have detention, too.

What'd you do?

Me? Just a...



slight error in timing.

I chose music education
as a career

almost precisely
when schools decided

they could no longer
afford to offer it.

What'd you do?

Nothing, really.

What a coincidence.

That's the same reason
everyone else is here.

If someone can tell me
the name of the person

who wrote this song, I'll
let them out 15 minutes early.

Porky and Bess?

Close...

and yet so, so far.

It's Porgy and Bess.



That's the name of the opera
that the song comes from,

but I'm looking
for the composer.

Uh... anyone else?

You know?

Raise your hand.

It'll get your
mind off him.

Ms. Hamilton?

Do you have anything to add?

The... song is "Summertime."

Yes, it is.

But who is the composer
of "Summertime"?

Ms. Camden?

I'm not sure.

She can't think right now.

She's got a broken heart.

Oh.

I see.

George Gershwin
and Ira Gershwin,

and some other people
who also wrote the play.

Excellent. And it was
DuBose and Dorothy Heyward

who wrote the play.

Ms. Camden, at a quarter of,
you're a free woman.

Can I go, too?

I knew the name of the song.

I was looking for the composer.

But why do I have a feeling

that there's a story
behind you and this song?

My story's worth more
than 15 minutes.

Want to share it with the class?

Nope.

Fair enough.

Maybe Ms. Camden'll
send you a postcard

from the outside world.

Oh come on, your not trying.

Nobody's worth that kind of
dehydration.

I can't help it.

Hey, yo, come on, man.

This is only
supposed

to be detention, not torture.

All right? We treat
prisoners better than this.

Could you please make it stop?

I really hate that music.

Why?

'Cause it's the same old
white guy music

my grandfather used to play,
and you know what,

I think he died from it.

What did your grandfather play?

He played the piano mostly.

Do you by chance play any piano?

Yeah, I play some.

Doesn't mean I will.
Okay. Looks like

I'll have to continue
my solo career.

Hey, you know any 50 Cent?

Actually,
I'm not familiar

with his music,

but I do know something
about rap.

Are you all fans
of rap music?

I'm not.

Why is that?
I'm not,
that's all.

You really know
something about rap,

or are you just putting us on?

I know something about history.
and, like all forms of music,

rap evolved
from something else.

Have you ever listened
to... protest music?

Hey, man,
if it's more of that stuff

you was playing earlier,
I protest.

And somehow, no matter
what era we're in,

certain artists seem
to sear themselves

on our consciousness.

Whether it's...

Eminem...

or Ray Charles...

or The Beatles,

Gershwin, Cole Porter,

once you hear them,

it's hard to imagine
a world...

Eli.

What about Harry Warren?

You know
Harry Warren's music, Eli?
Well, no,

I never heard of him until
yesterday, but my grandmother

said he's one of the most
important songwriters ever.
Sure.

"Lullaby of Broadway."

"The Boulevard
of Broken Dreams."

"I Found a Million Dollar Baby."

Very significant.

I think she meant
important, like...

if it weren't for him,
I wouldn't be here.

Eli, you have our attention.

She said that's
how she met my grandfather.

They were at some movie
call 42nd Street,

and they were sitting
up in the balcony.

He was sitting behind her
singing along with the music.

She turned around
to tell him to shut up,

and they fell in love,
and now here I am.

I mean, first my parents,
and now here I am.

See? That's one more reason
why they should ban that music.

Are we gonna listen
to any music today,

or are we just
gonna talk?

Ruthie needs something
to heal her heart.

Everyone needs something
to heal their heart.

Music heals.

Wait a minute, is this
about that Martin Brewer guy?

I don't think Ms. Camden
wants to share the details

of her life with us right now.

Oh, come on, the guy had
a baby with someone else.

Let it go already.

I let it go, all right?

Just leave me alone.

It's a process, okay?

And I think a little
Gershwin would help.

Look, all I'm saying is
that that old music

doesn't mean
anything to me.

No one talks
like that.

"Embrace me,
my sweet embraceable you."

I don't even think they
talked like that back then.

It's just fake.

Maybe people were just
more embraceable back then?

Rap music is real, all right?

The artists are for real;
you can't just fake rap.

Eminem?
What, he's white,
so he's a fake?

He's as much a rap artist
as any other rap artist.

It's not about the color.
Or maybe it is.

My dad says that some people
felt the same way about Elvis

that some people
feel about Eminem.

Like he took black music
and made it acceptable

for white people who didn't want
to listen to black artists.

Elvis was a
genius, okay?

He didn't steal music
so they can sell it to
prejudiced white people.

He loved gospel music;
that was his inspiration.

Let's get back to what
you like about rap music.

It's for black people,

and that's what
I really like about it.

It's just for black people.

Well, you know
it's mostly white men

who are buying it, don't you?

Over 70% of the sales
come from white,

suburban males.

You know, Ruthie
brings up a good point.

I don't think it's just for us.

It's for them--
you know, the buyers.

And some of these guys
are just putting
on a show, man,

and I don't like the show.

I don't like what they're...

they're calling
our sisters and our mothers.

Hey, who bought
jazz records?

White people
and black people, right?

Just 'cause I'm not black
doesn't mean I can't relate.

So what if white males
are the only ones buying rap?

I'll tell you so what--
if you're buying this stuff,

then you're perpetuating
an image of my community

that I think
is harmful to my people.

Well, which brings us
right back to Gershwin.

It does?

We're talking about
what music everyone likes,

and I don't know
that there is one artist

that everyone likes,
unless we go back

to yesterday's music,

like Gershwin.

He's timeless;
people still talk about him.

New artists
still record his stuff.

You can hear Gershwin
in commercials,

in love scenes
in a movie.

Can you say that
about Kanye West or 50 Cent?

Just give us a little time,
little sister-- we'll get there.

We'll get there.

Porgy and Bess
was based on a book

written by a white man

and adapted by his wife,
who was a white woman,

and they found these
two white guy brothers,

and they all made
it into a musical.

True.

Or you could say it was written
by a poet and novelist,

and his wife, a playwright,

adapted it
for the stage,

and then they
collaborated

with a composer
and lyricist

and turned it into an opera.

What about Porgy and Bess
makes it an issue of race?

The facts do.

And what happens
when people of all races

are bought together by music
and they transcend the facts?

You get Bob Geldof
and the Live Aid?

Look who got
her sense of humor back.
Finally.

And I think the good news is--

aside from Ruthie
rediscovering her
sense of humor--

is that you're starting
to see how music and history

and literature
are all tied together.

Just like rap.

Ugh! Talk about letting it go.

But you guys aren't
giving rap its due.

I mean, it's
the poetry of the street,

plain and simple.

I don't see how talking
about my butt is poetry.

Mr. Feinstein,

Mrs. Hadgraft wants
to see you in her office.

I guess that does it
for the week.

Thank you all.

You can go.

Are they firing you?

I don't think so-- I mean,

they're letting me go
at the end of the year anyway.

Why?

Budget cuts.

So, you won't be in
detention next week.

No. My week is up,

and I'll be filling in
somewhere else.

So remember that
if you were thinking

about doing anything
to get detention next week.

Yeah, but we didn't
do anything, remember?

I learned more in detention

than I did
in any other class this week.

Thanks.

I appreciate that.

Have a nice weekend, everyone.

Thank you for the week.

How was your day?

It was fine.

Just like all the other days.

I think I'm gonna
go start my homework.

Uh, whenever I
had detention,

I used to do homework.

Mrs. Piece,
your counselor, called.

You've had detention
all week, Ruthie?

Unofficially.

Unofficial detention?
I just had it

on Monday because I was talking

to someone in the bathroom,
so I was late for class.

That was the official one.

But then I just went the rest
of the week because I liked it.

You liked detention?

It was great.

Mr. Feinstein,

the music teacher,
he was in charge.

And he started on Monday
with Gershwin,

and then the discussion moved on
to protest music and rap

and how music has evolved.

And by today, there were
30 people in detention

who did stuff just to get in

because Mr. Feinstein
made it so fun.

And... I should have told you.

Yes, you should have.

So, you were just
talking to someone

in the restroom
and you missed class?

I was just late,
I didn't miss the whole class.

I see.

So, uh, did you say it was
Gershwin you were listening to?

All the discussions
were centered around him.

Gershwin is like magic.

After listening to him all week,
I feel like a different person.

Good.

Good for you.

Thank you, Gershwin.

Hi.

I teach music at your
daughter's high school.

Uh, Ruthie might have
mentioned me.

Mr. Feinstein.

Hey.

Eric Camden. Come in.

Hi.

Don't tell me Ruthie

broke down and took my advice
and signed up for a music class.

Not exactly.

And the school board
voted to phase out

the music program this year,

so there
really aren't

any classes to sign up for.

What kind of class is it?

More of a study hall.

Hmm.

Anyway, Ruthie
mentioned

that you're a minister and that
you're a musician and...

You want to hear this song
that I've been working on?

I'm sorry.

It-it's like a nervous tic.

Somehow, I don't think
you came by to hear me play.

Another time.

Yeah.

Anyway, I just got out of
the principal's office.

You don't seem like the type
of guy to get into any trouble.

Sorry.

Another kind of tic.

Sit down, please.

I-I think I've stopped ticking.

Reverend Camden,

I talked to the principal
about one of my students

who might be having
some real trouble.

Her name is Maggie.

And I have a feeling that Ruthie
might know something about her

that the rest of us don't.

Oh!

Oh,I'm so sorry.

I'm such a
klutz today.

Oh, chill, they're just books.

They're not breakable
or anything.

Kennedy High School?

My sister Ruthie
goes to Kennedy.

I-I'm Lucy the
associate pastor at...

Yeah, thanks.

Uh, I got to go.

There's my bus.

She hustled me.

I don't believe it.

Oh, hi, Reverend
Kinkirk.

Who hustled you?

Uh, that girl who was just here.

What, do you know her?

No, I-I just bumped into her.

What do mean
she hustled you?

She gave me a five
for some peanut butter,

and I was giving her her change,
and she was talking about school

and stuff, and then she
asked me to break a 20,

and then she just kept on
talking about school, music,

class-- just talking.

And all I know is I gave her
the change for the 20

but she never gave me a 20.

Great, just great.

Tell you what,
I'll take care of it.

I have a soft spot
for teenage girls.

I think I used to be one.

And I'll, uh, take some milk.

Okay.

How's Ruthie?

Uh, school's been
tough this year.

I mean, not academically, but...

Boyfriend?

Yeah, sort of.

That girl,
d-does she live around here?

Because this isn't
the right neighborhood

for Kennedy High School.

I don't know where she lives,

but she's always got
that bag with her.

Looks like it weighs 50 pounds,

splitting at
the seams.

Yeah, that is
a pretty big book bag.

Someone who has to hustle like
she did must need some help.

D-Do you know
anything else about her?

Not much.

She always pays with change,
lots of change.

I should have known
she didn't have a 20.

Hmm.

Oh, did you give me my change?

Not you, too, Reverend Kinkirk.

Oh, yeah, sorry.

♪ The world will pardon my mush♪

♪ Cause I got a crush my baby on
you ♪

That's sweet.

And kind of silly.

I like it.

I wish I could
play the piano.

Oh, it's not
too late to learn.

I could teach you.

Think I'm more of a listener.

Or a singer.

You've got a great voice.

Does Mr. Feinstein know that?
No, but

I think he's getting fired,
so it doesn't really matter.

Fired?

Well, maybe not
technically fired.

But they're letting him go
at the end of the year

because they're eliminating
the music program.

Oh, what a shame.

Yeah.

And you know, some students only
come to school for the music.

Any of those students
in detention?

Maybe.

Did the girl
you were

talking to in the bathroom
get detention, too?

Yeah.
Must have been

a pretty interesting
conversation

for you to have
been late for class.

Maybe sometime
I'll tell you about it.

When?

When the other girl
tells me I can.

I understand.

Hello.

Hey, let me speak to Mom or Dad.

Well, hi to you, too.

Okay. Uh, do you know anything

about music
that's timeless or classic?

Well, sure.

You mean like Gershwin?

Yeah, yeah.

Th-That's a good start.

Gershwin, okay.

Uh, do you know
about Gershwin?

Actually, I do.

I was in detention all week
and it turned out to be

this whole thing
on Gershwin.

It was incredible.

Really?

Gershwin in detention?

What did you get
detention for?

Nothing.

I wouldn't want
to bore you.

I was late
for class.

You're right,
that is boring.

Okay, now I-I want you
to say some names

of Gershwin songs
for Rose and me, okay?

Now, now, Rose wants to plan our
whole wedding around our song.

I'm supposed to
pick out your song?

Don't you guys
have a song?

No, no, we don't, okay?
We're doomed.

Now, do you want to help me

or do you want my failed
marriage on your head?

Okay.

Well... "Somebody
To Watch Over Me."

"Love Is Here
to Stay."

"Somebody Loves Me."

"He Loves and
She Loves."

"Shall We Dance."

"It's Wonderful."

Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Wait a minute.

Th-That's way
too many choices, okay?

Now, I want you
to take your best shot.

Think about Rose and me.

What's the first song
that comes to mind?

"Let's Call the
Whole Thing Off."

That's funny.
That's really funny.

You know, thanks for your help.

Let's get back to let me
talk to Mom or Dad.

No, I'm sorry.

What about

"Embraceable You?"

Hey.

Yeah, that's good.

That's really good.
Thanks.

You're welcome.

You know, Ruthie,
you sound great.

You really sound like
you've turned the corner

on the whole Martin thing.

Yeah, I have.

I don't even think about him.

Can you believe that
he's actually going over

to Sandy's house tomorrow
to, like,

help take care of the baby?

Really?

That's nice.

Yeah, he even
offered to stay over.

Great.

Sounds like
he's coming around, too.

Uh, well, listen,
thanks for your help.

I got to get back
to studying, okay?

Sure, you're welcome.

Kevin!

I need a favor!

Kevin!

In here!

♪ Nothing seems to be lasting ♪

♪ But that isn't our affair ♪

♪ We've got
something permanent ♪

Hey. I ran into this girl
at the convenience store,

so I've got to call Ruthie
and find out if she knows her.

I-I think you should
run a check on her.

I think she might be
a runaway or something.

I can't check on people
for you anymore.

But I love you.

And I love you, too.

And you can get someone
to run a check.

I mean, Captain Michaels
would do it.

Are we eating in here?

I put Savannah down early.

She had a big day at the park.

I thought we could have dinner
in front of the fireplace.

Ah, I get it.

The fire, the food, Gershwin.

The calendar.

Yeah, I know,
we're on a schedule.

Yeah, it's really
out of my hands.

It has nothing to do with me.

It's strictly
a scheduling matter.

Oh, and I love our schedule
and you know that,

but I think this girl
is in trouble.

I mean, she hustled Will
at the convenience store.

And I think she goes
to Ruthie's school,

but as soon as I mentioned
Ruthie's name, she took off.

And I totally understand, but
I think you just need to relax

and forget about all that
and have a nice, quiet evening

at home with your husband.

I can't.

Sure, you can.

Here, have
some wine.

That's not wine,
that's grape juice.

I know.

We're out of wine,
but we can pretend.

I don't need wine
to be with you.

I love you.

I'm just distracted.

Maybe I can distract you
from your distractions.

Come on, Luce, it's Friday.

Take the night off.

Take the weekend off.

Take a lot of things off.

All right, all right.

I love what you're trying
to do here.

You know, with the fire
and the music and--

Wait, is that Gershwin?

That's Johnny Mathis,
singing Gershwin.

Okay.

I have to talk to Ruthie,
and then I'll be fine.

I'll be right back.

Keep the fire going.

♪ But... ♪

Annie.
Oh.

Uh, this is
Ruthie's teacher.

Oh, Mr. Feinstein.
Hi.

You didn't get
fired, did you?

No, uh, but nice to meet you.

He just wanted to talk
to Ruthie about...

Someone in detention?

Wow, things move fast in here.

Detention?

You said study hall.

A euphemism.

It was detention,
but it's a long story.

Hi. Anybody home?

Hey, Luce.

This is Mr. Feinstein--
Hi.

Ruthie's study hall-
detention-euphemism teacher.

It's a long story.

What's going on?

Mr. Feinstein, what
are you doing here?

You didn't get
fired, did you?

No, he didn't get fired.
He just...

Oh, no, I can't.

I can't tell you
anything about Maggie.

That's what you're
here for, isn't it?

So you do know
your friend's in trouble?

Do you know what kind
of trouble she's in?

That's her name? Maggie?

Big book bag, sweet and
friendly but spooks easy?

I bumped into her at
the convenience store.

She was short-changing the
manager-- maybe stealing food.

- Ruthie?
- Ruthie, maybe you could just

tell us where we
could find her.

Did you promise
her you wouldn't?

Not exactly, but I don't
think she wants anyone to know

what her situation is.

Do you think she'd tell me
whatever she told you?

Maybe.

Well, I think
we should talk to her.

It sounds like she could use it.

Big time.

Ruthie, do you know
where we can find her?

♪ Summertime ♪

♪ And the livin' is easy ♪

♪ Fish are jumpin' ♪

♪ And the cotton is high ♪

♪ You're daddy's rich ♪

♪ And your mother... ♪
Why don't I take it from here?

With all due respect,
I think I should handle this.

Excuse me, didn't you
both come to me for help?

I was trying to get to Ruthie
so I could get to Maggie.
Yeah, me, too.

Well, I'm the only one of us

that she doesn't know
and won't recognize.

Don't forget, the idea here is

not to scare her
into running again.

♪ Don't you cry. ♪

You have a pretty voice.

Gershwin brings out
the best in a girl.

Hmm.

Here.

Thanks, but if you think

this is gonna get you
more than a song...

No, I don't.

It's just a donation.

You do know that there are
some shelters in the area.

Been there, too dangerous.

Well, you can't just

stay out on the streets.

Don't worry, I won't.

Good night.

Look, um, my wife and I
have this garage apartment,

and maybe you could stay
there for a few nights,

you know, while you're
looking for something else.

My name is Eric
and your name is...?

Do I know you?

Am I supposed to know you?

I'm Ruthie's dad.

Ruthie didn't tell me

that you're here.

I-I don't think she even knew.

I mean, she knew that you were
working for some extra cash

singing on weekends
somewhere around here.

Uh, Mr. Feinstein was worried
about you, and...

Oh, Feinstein, let me guess--

when he went to the principal

they told him that I'm late
to school every day,

and that all the mail,
including my report cards,

are returned back to the school
because it's not a real address,

but they don't want
to kick me out

because they tend
to feel horrible

about kicking people out
who they think are homeless.

Yes, that's what they think.

Feinstein, why does he care?

I don't know.

Just seems like a caring guy.

Teachers are like that.

Most of them aren't
in it for the money.

Yeah, well, tell Mr. Feinstein
thanks for caring,

but right now,
I have a bus I have to catch.

Ah, you know, I can drive
you to the bus stop

or wherever the bus
is taking you.

Shouldn't you be at home taking
care of your own daughter?

Ruthie?

What's wrong
with Ruthie?

For starters, she's has
a hole in her heart

you could drive a truck through.

What do you mean?

She's feeling better
about that Martin guy,

but she's not there yet.

Believe me she's hurting.

She barely got through
this week at school.

I got to go.

Maggie, wait.

I find it very touching,
that you in your situation,

would be concerned about Ruthie,

and I'll talk to her
when I get home,

but please, let me help you.

I can't, Reverend Camden.

I just can't.

But thank you.

Oh, great.
Man, I can use that.

Thanks, Rose. I really
appreciate this.

I figured you were probably
running low on fuel about now.

You're incredible.

I'm so sorry
that you're doing

all of our wedding
stuff on your own.

I just, I don't know
anything about that stuff

and I... I probably
sound lame right now, huh?

A little, but cute lame.

I did come up with
a few ideas for our song.

You did?

Mm-hmm.

What do you think about
"Embraceable You"?

It's a Gershwin song.

Of course it is.

Oh, Simon, it's perfect.

Oh, it couldn't be more perfect.

Luce?

I'm sorry I'm so late, baby.

I was hanging out with my mom
until my dad got home

and then I think I
just woke up Savannah

when I was checking on her.

How'd your dad make out?

Did he get her into a shelter?

She wouldn't let him,

but he gave her
a little bit of money

and hopefully that'll help.

At least it'll pay for bus fare
to wherever she's going.

Bus, huh?

You know what bus line?

Uh, I think the one

outside the convenience store
was the number seven.

I made a point
of noticing this afternoon.

You want to go for a ride?

A ride where?

To find out where
the number seven bus goes.

Now?

I mean, couldn't we just get
that information on-line

or from the
transit authority?

I'm more interested in
knowing who's on the bus.

We're all awake anyway.

Come on, let's go.

I knew she wasn't
over Martin,

but I didn't know she
was crying at school.

How could we know?

Look, you think we did the
right thing letting her go

to the hospital when
Martin's baby was born?

Yes, I think so.

Ruthie's just going to have
to deal with this,

no matter how hard it is.

She gonna have to get over
this guy, let him go.

She just has to.

What are you guys doing up?
It's the middle of the night.

We're hungry.

Ruthie woke us up.
She was crying.

So we went up to see her
and watch her cry.

It was sad.

Then we got hungry.

When I went upstairs,
she was asleep.

She was pretending.

She did that to us, too.

All right, I'll make you
a quick snack

and then you have
to go back to bed,

and since Ruthie's still up...
I'm on my way.

Ruthie?

I'm sorry,
did I wake you up, too?

No, no, I was still up.

Just give me a minute
and I'll be okay.

I thought I was going
to be okay, but I'm not.

I love him

and now he has a baby

and he loves the baby

and he loves her
and it'll never be okay.

You'll get through this, Ruthie.

Maybe it doesn't look like it
now, but you will.

I don't want to get through it.

I don't see how I'll ever love
anyone as much as I love Martin.

Careful, you don't want to
break Lucy's crying record.

Everything's broken.

I just love him.

What am I going to do, Dad?

Oh.

As much fun as this is,

I just don't think that Maggie
is gonna come here again.

You never know-- this is the
last stop on the bus route.

And?

And... just wait.

Well, if she does come by

and sees us feeding our dogs
ice cream, I'll die.

It's just so wrong.

I don't think our being
in a position

to make our dogs
sick to their stomachs

has anything to do
with Maggie's situation.

Whatever you say,
Officer Kinkirk.

Thank you, Reverend.

Homeless people sometimes
ride the bus all night,

just to have
a warm place to stay.

I'm going to give them
money for a hotel for a week

and you're going to get them

into a more permanent place,
all right?

I love you.

Hey, I'm not doing
this for them, it's for me.

I can't relax unless you relax,

and you won't relax
unless they get settled.

And then, I can relax.

See what a selfish jerk I am?

No, you're not.

You're the nicest person I know.

Morning, Dad. Up already?

I never really got to sleep.

I'm sorry, I kept you up so
long and upset you so much.

You seem to be... better?

Yeah, I am.

I talked to Luce.

So did I.

I should have thought
about Maggie and her family.

For some reason
I was thinking runaway.

Yeah, well...

Is that the part

you couldn't tell me?

About her family,
that they're all homeless?

No, I still can' tell you
the part I didn't tell you.

Hello.

You're a genius,
you're a musical genius.

I am?

Rose loved
your suggestion.

"Embraceable You"
that's our song, thanks to you.

Oh, and guess what else?

Rose can sing.

She sings like, like one of
those birds that can sing.

Great. Rose can sing.

Oh, it's a grand day.

Guess what else?

What else could top that?

We went out to breakfast
with Sandy and Martin

and I got to hold the baby.

Oh.

The baby looks
just like Martin.

I mean, you should
have seen him.

For a guy who didn't really want
to have a baby,

you should have seen him.
He loves the kid.

I wouldn't be surprised if
Sandy and Martin got married.

Ruthie? Ruthie?

What happened?

Simon says Sandy and Martin
might get married.

It's okay, Ruthie,
it's okay.

It'll be fine.

No, I won't.

I need Maggie.

I need detention

and Mr. Feinstein doesn't
have detention anymore.

There's no music,
there's no music in school.

All we need is music.

Hey, you, weepy, knock it off.

I need total concentration here.

Come on out of there, weepy.

You're the preacher girl, right?

I guess.

What are you crying about?

It's nothing.

Nothing, huh?

A guy. It's nothing.

I'm going to be late for class.

What guy?

A guy who I thought I was
going to marry one day

who got another girl pregnant

and had a baby with her.

Oh, Martin Brewer.

Yeah, I think there's another
girl around school crying.

Meredith--
she was his girlfriend.

Guy had a lot of girlfriends.

We were friends.

The kind of friends who
eventually fall in love

and get married only he took
a left turn somewhere.

The whole thing's stupid.

I don't know why
I can't quit crying.

Here's what I do.

Since I pretty much feel like
crying every day, I schedule it.

I wait till
I'm on a bus

and no one is around, or
maybe they are, I don't care.

And then I bawl for
no more than 15 minutes.

15 minutes,
then I quit.

Just like that?

Yep. And then I listen to music,

something really good,
really soulful and I sing.

I sing out on the sidewalk,
when no one runs me off.

What do you cry about?

Hand me that belt would you?

I'm homeless.

My family is homeless

and I'd let your dad,
or the counselor,

or someone know, but it's just
so humiliating for my parents.

People have tried
to help us out...

Okay, promise you won't
tell anyone this part.

Okay.

No, promise.

I promise.

My mom and dad can't read.

They just never learned and
they dropped out of school,

so it's hard and they're like
really embarrassed about it.

I have to fill out job
applications for them,

but it doesn't really help
because most jobs,

well, you have to read something
on the job, you know?

Well, I'm sorry.

I'm trying to get
something other than singing.

I sing out on the street,

but lots of people
sing on the street.

They've got some great
voices out there singing
for their supper.

Well, maybe my dad

could help your family out.

I don't know. It's so hard.

My folks are real proud.

And you, you have
problems yourself.

I can't believe that you think
that I've got problems.

It's just a guy.

It's not just a guy.

It's a heart and it's broken.

And it doesn't matter
why your heart gets broken,

it still hurts.

Pain is pain.

Maggie, I thought
I might find you here,

but Ruthie
I didn't expect.

Maggie...
I know, detention.

Ruthie, class started
five minutes ago.

You're more than
just a little late.

Sorry, you have
detention, too.

This isn't your first
detention, is it?

Yeah, it is.

Wow, but you're
in for a treat.

It's Mr. Feinstein this
week, the music teacher.

I was hoping to take band

or chorus or music appreciation
from him

when I transferred here,

but the music classes are
being phased out.

Oh, I sing a little bit,

but I've never taken
any music classes here.

That's the only subject I know
anything about, music.

It's the reason I learned
how to read and write,

the reason I can do math,

the reason I stayed
in school,

the reason I'm still alive.

Oh, maybe we can get him
to play Gershwin.

Gershwin is magic.

I think we could use a little
magic around here.

See you later, preacher girl.

What'd you do?

Nothing, really.

What a coincidence.

That's the same reason
everyone else is here.