7th Heaven (1996–2007): Season 2, Episode 2 - See You in September - full transcript

Eric and Annie selfishly expect the kids to start the school-year on routine so they can enjoy a lazy day alone incommunicado, but ill-prepared means in trouble. Nazi-style principal Russel has plenty of collaborating staff to enforce draconian discipline for 'gang and drug offenses' according to absurd new rules non saw coming, such as Simon's cutlery earning a suspension for 'concealed weapons'. Only Mary is happy with an ex-Olympic new basketball coach Koper, who meanwhile terrorizes Matt on account of the beeper pa forget when he borrowed the good boy's jacket again. Simon's buddy system only helps against a potential bully. Lucy makes her own life paranoid hell while Mary rudely fails to work in new kid Mark 'Marcus', a natural flirt. The whole school buzzes about Lucy's classmate Peter McKinley's apparent suicide attempt. In fact Eric, called in by the police, discovers it's a desperate cry for help after 13 years of deaf tyranny from his insensitive, clueless single ma.

ERIC:
Five minutes and counting.

Can you believe that in exactly
four minutes and 40 seconds,

our five children will leave the house

and go to school
for seven whole hours?

You call the church secretary?

I told her I'm taking the day off
and there'd be no calling

or faxing or beeping.

And no last-minute emergencies?

Absolutely no
last-minute emergencies

because today is dedicated
to my wife for life.

Can you believe it?
Ruthie at school for the whole day.



- That means we have the whole day.
- Not to mention the whole house.

To ourselves.
How we doing on time?

Three minutes and 30 seconds.

- Close enough, let's call them.
- They should be early anyway.

- I mean, first day, it's important.
- Makes an impression.

- Sets the tone for the whole year.
- Mm-hm.

What's wrong, sweetheart?

Aside from the fact
that I didn't sleep a wink last night

and that my stomach hurts so bad
I think I'm going to throw up, nothing.

It's just the first-day jitters.

Jitters? I'm having a complete nervous
breakdown and you're calling it jitters?

Did you know
that it isn't actually physically possible

for nerves to break down?

Oh, that's helpful.



Okay...

Let's try this.

What frightens you the most
about starting high school?

What do you mean
what frightens me the most?

Opening my locker.

But I gave you my lucky lock, which
got me through high school, and--

College and seminary.

So maybe the luck ran out.
It's, like, ancient.

- I offered to get you a new one.
- Why didn't you insist?

When you say ancient--?

Oh, what if I run into Jimmy Moon
and Ashley?

Why do I have to be tortured? Why
can't I just transfer to another school?

Then you'd be tortured
by kids in a different zip code

and we can't have that,
now, can we?

Oh.

MARY: Scared?
- Just of the snakes.

- Snakes?
- The ones in the toilets.

The janitors put them there
to clean out the pipes.

But then they escape
and live in the basement

and multiply until there's bazillions
of them.

Did Simon tell you that?

Look, it's not true.

And don't let Simon
or any of the other kids

or even the teacher try
to say anything to make you scared.

Would you rather have the other kids
thinking you're a scaredy-cat

or cool as a cucumber?

Cool as a cucumber?

That's right.

Go brush your cool teeth.

So how you doing?

I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?

I don't know, just thought
it might be tough

not being on the team this year.

No big deal. I'll be back.

Oh! Uh-- Hey.

I'm fine, okay?

If you don't feel like showing that
new kid, Marcus, around, I can do it.

Dad asked me to do it,
it's not like I have a choice.

How you doing, kid?

Get out of my face.

You'll be okay.

SIMON:
Oh, leftover chicken, perfect.

Protein.

So, Simon, looking forward
to your first day of junior high?

Definitely.

You are so naive.

LUCY: Wait till you get a look
at those eighth graders.

You're the low man on the totem pole
now, pal, just like me.

Yes, but unlike you,
I have a master plan.

And that would be?

Nigel and I.
We're using the buddy system.

You know, it's kind
of like when you go swimming.

A pal you'd like to take down
when you're drowning.

I might point out that the pal is there
to save you, not to go down with you.

No, he's right, it's school.

We're all going down.

Life's hell.

Heck, heck. Life's heck.

Uh...

Isn't that my jacket?

Dad, it's mine, but if you wanna borrow
it again, I can go upstairs and--

No, no, it's okay, I had it yesterday.

I just thought that it...

But it's yours.

Oh, well, time to get going.

Don't look too upset.

Now get out there
and make us proud.

- Love you.
- Love you.

Love you.

Oh. Oh.

Are you sure you don't want Mommy
to take you?

I'm a big girl, I can handle it.

[SIGHS]

[DOG BARKING]

[DOG WHIMPERS]

[PAPER RUSTLING]

- I'm just gonna grab a quick bath.
- Oh.

Actually, I'm going
to take a long bath.

A long luxurious bath,
totally undisturbed.

Bye.

I'll be back.

And, uh...

I'll be right here, listening
to the silent sounds of September.

Ohhh.

- Happy first day of school.
- Hmm.

Happy first day of school.

[CHUCKLING]

- I hope the kids are okay.
- Oh, I'm sure they're fine.

[ERIC SIGHS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

GIRL 1: I'm fine.
BOY: Okay.

GIRL 2:
Oh, yeah, I do better things than you.

GIRL 3:
I got plenty.

How are we doing here, Ruth?

My name is Ruthie, Ruthie Camden.

Well, why don't we call you
by your proper name, Ruth?

Ruthie is my proper name.

It's the name my mommy
and daddy gave me.

And this is the hat they gave me.

Do you think your mommy and daddy
know the rules we have about hats?

In particular, rule number seven.

It says that no gang clothing
or insignia of any kind

may be worn or displayed
on school premises.

My mommy and daddy
know everything.

I'm sure they do.

But rule number seven
means no hats worn backwards.

We have that rule
because gang members

wear their hats backwards.

But this isn't a gang hat.

It's just a regular hat
for regular people like me.

Put the hat away, please. Hmm?

Unless you'd like me to take it.

[SIGHS]

[CHILDREN CHATTERING]

She thinks I'm a gang member.

[BOTH GIGGLING]

Ruth.

Where were you?
Where's your schedule?

I guess we got different homerooms.

We don't have one class together.

Well, we have lunch
at the same time.

Move.

Look, we just gotta keep in mind
that in junior high,

the jerks are bigger,
but they're still just jerks.

Did you just call me a jerk?

Well, I said the word jerk,

but I was talking about a...

Well, a jerk, but...

You don't know him
because you're not a jerk

so I couldn't have been talking
about you, right?

Look, if you get to lunch first,
you save me a seat.

- If I get there first, I'll save you a seat.
- Right.

If we both survive till lunch.

[BELL RINGING]

[LOCKER DOOR CLOSES]

[RATTLING]

ASHLEY:
Having trouble with that?

- Hey.
- Hey.

What a curious coincidence
that my new girlfriend

has the locker right next to my old.

ASHLEY:
See you around, Luce.

Like what, ten times a day?

Come on.

Yeah, see you.

Are you feeling okay?

- Of course, why?
- You look like you're gonna barf.

I assure you, I'm not gonna barf.

Must be a drag being at the peak
of your basketball season

and then have an accident like that.

Your dad told my mom
you were high-season scorer, right?

Yep.

Hey, Luce, how's it going?

You'd think that having Dad
as a minister,

God wouldn't hate me so much.

You know, of course,
you being sidelined

does give us a little quality time
to get to know each other.

Hey, what's up with Lucy?

God hates her.

Still? I mean, I think after 13 years,
he'd move on to someone else.

- Who was that?
- My brother.

Oh, that's a relief.

I thought it might've been some kind
of boyfriend, you know, past, present...

Future.

I have a boyfriend.
He goes to another school.

Yeah, but those
two-school relationships never work.

Trust me, B.T.D.T.

"Been there, done that"?

Uh-huh.

Look, I'm just trying to give you
the benefit of my experience here.

A guy like me could rock your world.

Some other time. This is my class.

[CHUCKLES]
Hey, mine too.

Let the rocking begin.

[BELL RINGING]

Lost or merely confused?

[STUDENTS CHUCKLING MILDLY]

Is this Ms. Peabody's
English Lit class?

Mm-hm.
Mrs. Peabody has decided

- to take an early retirement.
- How come?

[ALL CHUCKLING]

Well, for your information,
Mrs. Peabody met someone

while playing bridge on the deck
of an Alaskan cruise ship.

She was married in August
and she's not coming back.

So take a seat.

STUDENT:
Whoa.

I'd just like for you all to just take a look
to the person at your right.

Go ahead.

Now the person to your left.

Take a good look, because one
of those two people

will not be sitting next to you
wearing a cap and gown come June.

This class isn't gonna be a cakewalk
for anyone, I can assure you.

That's the bad news.

The good news
is you've been forewarned.

I am really looking forward
to seeing just exactly which one of you

is going to step up to the plate
throughout the course of the year.

Open your books to Page 7.

The essays of Francis Bacon.

STUDENT:
Man, there's no way.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Is there a problem, gentlemen?

[IN UNISON]
No, sir.

[DRAMATIC MUSIC PLAYING]

[SNORING]

[MOANS]

[MAN SPEAKING
INDISTINCTLY OVER TV]

Boy, you must have really been tired.

Yeah, well,
it was an exhausting summer.

Maybe you'd be more comfortable
upstairs?

[TURNS OFF TV, PHONE RINGING]

- Oh.
- Heh. He...

Hello?

It's Sergeant Michaels.

And whatever it is,
I'm going with you.

- We're spending the day together.
- Okay.

Yeah?

Hey, Reverend.
I've got a little situation here

I could use your help with.

Looks like we may have a jumper.

DISPATCHER [OVER RADIO]:
That's Maple,

south of Fife, 356 parking lot.

[INDISTINCT CHATTERING]

Hey, Luce, guess who's threatening
to jump off the roof

of an apartment building.

Me?

I don't know, and I don't care.

I'm just looking out for you
because you're Matt's sister,

and I thought it'd be cool
if you, a freshman,

were the first to be in on something
only the seniors know.

Who's threatening
to jump off a building?

A kid in your class, Peter McKinley,
is on the roof of his apartment building,

and the cops
are swarming the place.

That's terrible.

I know, but you're one of the first
to hear about it.

- Still can't open your lock?
- No, I got it.

It's just that I got a lot of books.

- You know Peter McKinley?
- Yeah.

Yeah, we heard he's threatening
to jump off a building.

Huh.

Hey, listen, you know this guy,
Peter Something?

McKinley, he's...

Was in my math class,
he goes to our church.

A guy told me
he's on the roof of his building.

Do you think I live in a cave
or something?

I know, okay? I know.

[SIGHS]

So, uh, you a Lakers fan?

I don't watch much basketball.
I'd rather be playing.

Yeah, but, you know,
since you're not gonna be playing,

I thought maybe we could catch
some games together.

You know,
Shaq had knee problems.

Did the whole rehab thing,
came back better than ever.

Until he blew out his ankle,
probably because of a weak knee.

Thanks, that's really encouraging.

Mary doesn't seem
like she's having a good time.

- Who is?
- What's with all the books?

Dad's lucky lock, that's what.
I can't get my locker open.

You want me to try?

No, thanks.

[BELL RINGING]

Planning to be late for all your classes
today, Mr. Camden?

No, sir.

I mean, I asked him to take
the garbage out, for crying out loud.

And then the neighbour
says he's on the roof.

I knew he was annoyed with me,
but I'm a single mom.

It comes with the territory.
I'm used to it.

You can't be a mother and a father
to a kid

without him getting upset sometimes.

I just...

I had no idea he was this upset.

You sure you have no idea
what set him off?

We argued about the usual.

Jeans, sneakers, hair, lunch.
That's it, nothing out of the ordinary.

It must be tough raising him
all on your own.

Well, actually, up until now,
I thought I had him under control.

[SIGHS]

[INDISTINCT
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

[ANNIE AND JUNE GASP]

Oh, no.

[SIGHS]

[STUDENTS CHATTERING,
LAUGHING]

Guess what, there's a ninth grader
on top of a 30-storey building.

And he was gonna jump,
but the police came,

and the fire department
and they've got dogs

and they're surrounding
the whole building.

I heard it was just
good old Sergeant Michaels.

Possibly.
You wanna go check it out at lunch?

- We can't, who's going to drive us?
- Oh, yeah. Too bad.

It's really gonna be good.
Might have even gotten on the news.

If we'd gotten on, don't think our
parents would know we were there?

So this day could've gotten worse.

See you.

[BELL RINGING]

Let's form a circle
and I'll read you a story.

Ruth Camden, are you going to insist
on wearing that cap backwards

and looking like a gang member?

Because I would hate for you
to get a time-out

on your very first day of school.

I'm sorry, I forgot.

That's more like it.

All right.
Any questions before we begin?

RICKY:
Questions about what?

About anything.

I have a question.

Yes, Ruth?

Is anyone in here in a gang?

KIDS [CHUCKLING]:
No.

I know Ruthie really good
and she's not in a gang, I swear.

Everyone wears their hat backwards
like that.

Whether or not Ruth is in a gang,
the rules are the same for everyone.

Now perhaps,
we can get on with our story.

Unless
there are any more questions?

- Yes, Ricky?
- I missed the bus this morning

because it came earlier
than they said it was going to.

And while I was waiting for my mom

to get done yelling at the school people
on the phone so she could take me,

I saw this boy on the roof and he was
saying he was gonna jump off.

Oh. Were the police there?

Because we all know police officers
are our friends

and they come to help us
when we're in trouble.

Did the police call the boy's mother?

Yeah, but she wasn't working out
so good,

so I think the cop
was calling a superhero to help him.

- A superhero?
- Like Batman.

Or Batgirl.
Batgirl could probably get him down.

Yeah, Batgirl could definitely do it.

[INDISTINCT
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

- I'm going up.
- I don't think that's such a good idea.

And since when have you become
an expert on my son?

I know it's hard, but try to wait it out
a little longer, June.

He has had all morning.

And if he were gonna do something
drastic, he would have done it by now.

Still, when anyone makes the kind
of threat Peter's making,

we have to take that threat seriously.

This is Peter we're talking about.

You actually think he's the type
to jump off a building?

Uh-- There isn't really a type of person
who has these kinds of problems.

It could just be your average kid,
or adult for that matter,

who gets a little confused
and convinces himself

this is the only way out.

Peter is not confused.

He's just trying to make a point,
and now it is my turn to make a point

So if you don't wanna go up there,
then I will.

Peter, this is your mother talking!

I've had just about enough of this,
young man!

I want you to come down here
right now!

Don't let my mom come up here,
Reverend!

I mean it, don't let her come up here!

[INDISTINCT
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

Come on, June, let's take a walk.

Okay, now's your chance.
Why don't you give it another shot?

Hey, Peter.

Hey, come on. Let's talk about this
man to man, just the two of us.

What do you say?

Just leave me alone.

I'd like to try to get closer to him.

There's a fire escape on the back side
of the building

and the inside stairs
lead up to the roof.

I checked it out earlier.

Yeah, but I don't think we wanna make
any unannounced visits.

Not yet, anyway.

Peter, I'm gonna come up there,
so we don't have to shout

where everybody can hear us.

I won't come near you, I promise.

No! Stay away!

If you come up here,
she'll come up here, believe me!

Okay, I believe you.

I'd really like to talk to you,
but I'll wait till you're ready.

[WHISPERS]
You're doing great.

Just have patience, wait it out.

"And they lived happily ever after."

The end.

Which means it's time for recess.

ALL:
Yay!

[CHATTERING AND LAUGHING]

Okay, Ruth, that's it. Time-out.

Oops. I forgot.

Well, maybe a little time-out
will help you remember.

Go.

Can I have a time-out too?

All right, time-out for you too.

Thank you.

[CHATTERING]

Hey, thanks for saving me a spot.

Well, it's not like kids
are just dying to sit with us.

Too bad we're missing that guy
who's jumping off that building.

Yeah, I guess.

Hey, wanna go check it out
after lunch?

Everyone else is going.

No, I don't really need to see a jumper.
I've had a bad enough day already.

What are you two squirts doing
at my table?

SIMON:
I...

We didn't know
that this was your table.

We were just eating,
or we were going to eat.

Eat what?

Chicken. You want half?

Sure.

Drop the knife, son.

Come with me.

What was that?

Concealed weapon.

Bummer.

See, there's this one operation

where they drill a hole
through your knee

and then suck all the fluid out
with a needle.

MARY:
Excuse me.

[THUDDING]

[TAPPING]

Luce?

- What are you doing?
- Hiding.

- From who?
- It's whom.

Ashley. She has the locker
right next to me.

I'm gonna have to look at her
and Jimmy Moon all year.

That's why you're carrying your books?
You're avoiding your locker?

No, I can't get my locker to open.

Every class, I get a new book,
so by the end of the day

my books are gonna weigh
more than I do

and my arms are killing me.

Well, you can put your books
in my locker.

And I've got some aspirin. Come on.

GIRL 1:
Hi, Mary.

[GIRLS CHUCKLING]

GIRL 2: Hi, Mary.
- Hi.

How's your knee?

It hurts a little.

But not as much
as not being able to play.

So you ladies done
putting on your faces?

What?

The lipstick, blush,
the makeup thing.

Putting on our faces?

Who talks like that?
Do you know what year it is?

Yeah, that sounds like something
Mrs. Cleaver would say.

Yeah, well, I like a little makeup
on my woman.

You know, I think you know your way
around here well enough

to go find one on your own.

[SIGHS]

Freak.

Welcome back, ladies.

Is this a good time
to discuss the school's drug policy?

It's only aspirin.

You know the rules, Mary.

I don't, I'm new.
I don't know the rules.

Well, the nice thing about them is they
are not difficult at all to remember.

No drugs. Illegal or legal,
prescription or non-prescription.

I think this is the point
in the conversation

where you both follow me down
to my office.

Let's go now.

I think I'm gonna puke.

Let's hope Mrs. Peabody's marriage
doesn't work out.

Because if she doesn't come back,
we're not gonna graduate.

What are you worried about?
Koper hates me the most.

He hates us both.

Maybe that's why that kid's
jumping off the building.

Maybe he heard he's got Koper
for ninth-grade English.

Where'd they get this guy, anyway?

Don't they have enough teachers
torturing us,

they had to call in
some prison warden?

[PAGER BEEPING]

You know, I could have sworn
that the school handbook

listed beepers
as drug paraphernalia,

which can get you suspended
if you're lucky,

arrested if you're not.

KOPER:
Let's go.

[SIGHS]

Well, come on.
I'll make you a cup of coffee.

Oh, thanks.

You know, Peter's father
was totally irresponsible.

Took off the minute I got pregnant.
I haven't heard from him since.

That must have been hard for you,
June.

Well, it was in the beginning,
but I made it work.

At least I thought I had until now.
You know, I just...

I can't believe
he would do something like this.

Well, maybe it has nothing to do
with you.

Maybe he just can't face
going back to school.

It's not like when we were there.
There's a lot of pressure.

But he does well at school,
he makes good grades.

Why wouldn't he wanna go back?

I mean, all summer, all I've heard
is that finally this year,

he's gonna be in high school.

Does he have a lot of friends?

He's kind of a loner,
but he always has been.

There's nothing wrong with that.

Well, my daughter, Mary,
was a bit of a loner

until she got involved in sports.

Does Peter play any sports?

He begged me to let him go out
for soccer.

But I was worried either he'd get hurt
or it would affect his grades.

Okay, you know what? Um...

I've had enough.

I'm gonna go up on the roof.
This has gone on long enough.

June, please. Sergeant Michaels says
that these things take time,

and Eric is very good with kids.

I tried really hard to teach Peter
how to be responsible.

And up until now,
he's pretty much done as I said.

So I resent it
when people in authority

try to tell me what to do
with my own child.

[INDISTINCT
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

ANNIE:
She's going up. I couldn't stop her.

Where's my mom?

Where's my mom,
Reverend Camden?

Just stay cool, Peter.

Okay. Okay, son,

now let's just pull ourselves together
and get to school.

- Told you not to come up here.
- I am the mother, you're the child.

It's not appropriate
for you to tell me what to do.

Now let's just get going.

We can talk about this
when I get back from work.

What's the point?

You never listen to me.

I told you,
I can't wear these pants to school.

This is all about these pants?
Those pants are fine.

No, they're not fine.

It's not just the pants,
it's the last 13 years.

What?

Wa-- Uh...

I wasn't gonna jump.

I just wanted to be heard.

Nobody understands.

Nobody understands
what it's like at school.

I don't wanna go.

Please, don't make me go.

[TOILET FLUSHING]

[BOTH GIGGLING]

[FLUSHING]

[FLUSHING,
GIGGLING CONTINUES]

- What are we doing?
- Trying to get Ruthie's hat.

What?

- I had to go to the bathroom.
- Me too.

- Only, I was afraid of the snakes.
- Me too.

What snakes?

The ones my brother said
the janitors put in the toilets

and then they multiply in the basement
until there's bazillions of them.

And while we were looking for them,
my hat fell in the toilet.

And we've been trying to get it out.

Any luck?

- Well, it was a cute hat.
- Mm. Well, maybe I can help.

Okay, Ruth, now, do you promise

never to wear that hat
to school again?

Yes, ma'am, but can you try
to call me Ruthie, please, Mrs. Rainy?

I'll try.

Now, you hold this
and I'll go look for a plastic bag, okay?

You're never gonna wear
that hat again.

No, it was in the toilet.

I'll give it to Simon.

[BOTH GIGGLING]

You know, threatening
to jump off a building

is not the way
to solve your problems.

I want you to promise me
you're never gonna do this again.

Again? I was never gonna jump.

It looked like you were gonna jump.

I just came up here to ditch.

Would you go to school
looking like I do?

I'm not quite following you.

Take a look, man, are you blind?

These are Hunky Boy jeans.

I asked for baggy pants,

and the woman tries
to send me to school in Hunky Boys.

Uh-huh. I'd rather be dead
than be the guy

that has to wear these pants
all through high school.

Well, I understand, yeah.

Um... Would you mind
if I come out and talk?

Yeah, okay.

I'm sorry, I heard what you said
and I don't understand.

What's wrong with the guy you are?

- You're such a bright boy.
- That's part of the problem.

If I were stupid,
I wouldn't know I was a geek.

Oh, you are not a geek.

How would you know?

You don't know what school is like.

You don't know
what the other kids are like.

PETER: I'm a geek
and you made me that way.

I'm such a geek, I let you.

Okay.

Okay, now tell the truth,
is Peter a geek?

Tell her.

[SIGHS]

Listen, you know,
it's really a matter of perspective.

The things that parents value,

like good grades or responsibility
or courtesy,

aren't necessarily the first things
that a peer group looks at.

Well, you can't let
what the other kids say get to you.

What kind of world are you living in?

Of course it gets to me.

I'm with these people
eight hours a day.

Yeah, see, that's kind of why
they call them peers.

So, what happens
when these same peers

want you to drink or do drugs?

Are you going to listen
to them then?

Don't you know me better than that?

No, I'm sorry to say I don't.

Because until today,

I never had my kid on a roof
threatening to jump off.

How many times do I have to say it?

I was not going to jump.

You're still not listening.

I'm sorry.

I listen when you tell me something
that's important to you.

I just wish you'd try to listen
when I tell you something

that's important to me.

That sounds fair.

[SIGHS]

Okay, Peter, I'm listening.

I'm really listening.

Hey, how's it going, little man?

- I got suspended for a day.
BUCK: Ah.

A one-day pass
for the chicken blade?

- Seems reasonable.
- What is so reasonable?

When they get through to my mom
and dad, I'll never see chicken again.

Who put that knife
in your lunchbox anyway?

Mom.

It was my mom.

Now that's a weapon. Use it.

Man, I'm kind of afraid to have Buck
as a friend.

Really? I'm kind of afraid not to.

How come the principal
couldn't get ahold of your dad?

I don't know.
They beeped him at least 50 times.

[BEEPING]

You know I'm not selling drugs,
it's my dad's beeper.

Matt, I believe you.

But I have to apply the rules
to the kids I trust

the same way I apply them
to kids that I don't trust.

Even when it makes me
look like a jerk.

For the record, I trust you.

Come on, please,
it's the first day of school.

[PHONE RINGING]

You wouldn't happen
to be Mary Camden, would you?

Yeah. I mean, yes, sir.

I'm Mr. Koper,
the new assistant basketball coach.

And when Coach Mayfield
leaves next year,

I'll be talking over for him as coach.

I didn't know Coach Mayfield
was leaving.

But then, I wouldn't,
since I'm off the team.

Well, if it's any consolation to you,
I'm sure they're hurting

as badly without you
as you must be without them.

How's the rehabilitation
coming along?

- Slow.
- Well, what do you say we fix that?

If we work out every single day
after school, we should have you back

by midseason
if you're willing to work on it.

Good. You've met.

Coach Koper trained the women's
Olympic basketball team.

We're very lucky to have him.

- Why didn't you go with the WNBA?
- Because I love teaching.

Speaking of which,

I would like a little assignment
from you for tomorrow.

Say, three pages, based on the essays
that we talked about in class.

Well, I'm not gonna be around
tomorrow, I'm suspended.

KOPER:
Yeah, I knew you would be.

So you should have plenty of time
to write, right? Problem?

- No, sir.
KOPER: Good.

For a guy who's as talented a writer
as you are,

an assignment like this
shouldn't be a problem.

Mrs. Peabody left me your file.

And, well, you do possess
a little bit of talent.

I just wanted to see
what would happen

if you actually applied
a little self-discipline.

How you feeling, Lucy?

So, what about us?

I'll tell you what.

I'm gonna give the three of you
the family rate.

One-day suspension each.

I'll see you Wednesday.

Oh, Lucy, I almost forgot.

Two, two, two.

Voila.

I get the concept.
My lock just doesn't work.

When you're ready, we can have
the janitor cut off the old lock

and you can use this one.

You know that girl, Ashley Something,
who has that locker next to you?

Well, apparently, someone dropped
a plate of spaghetti in the lunch room,

and she slipped and slid
right across the floor.

And from what I'm told,
she mooned the entire Chess Club

with her Pocahontas underwear.

[CHUCKLES]

Welcome to high school, Luce.

You'll have better days, I promise.

You all will.

Sorry we had to spend
our day together this way.

[LAUGHS]

- Do you think Peter's gonna be okay?
- Yeah, I think they both are.

And they're gonna come see me
once a week so I can make sure.

[CHUCKLES]

I'm also gonna suggest
they rent a one-storey house.

You know, we are so lucky
with our kids.

I don't know if it's just luck.
We do a pretty good job raising them.

[INDISTINCT
POLICE RADIO CHATTER]

- Hey, Reverend.
- Hey, sarge.

Your kids' schools
have been trying to reach you.

I guess your beeper's off.

I don't even have my beeper.

- Which school, which kid?
- All three schools, all five kids.

And what did you say
to Ms. Russell?

I told her I'm not dealing drugs
and Dad left his beeper in my jacket.

MATT:
Didn't matter.

I won't let it happen again.

So you're not gonna wear
my jacket anymore?

No, I'll be more careful
in the future. I love that jacket.

You know, I told Ms. Russell that you
gave me aspirin and I gave it to Lucy.

I know. No more aspirin.

Not that I would've needed it
if Dad's lucky lock had worked.

Which, as I think I've already
mentioned many, many times,

I'm very, very sorry about.

ERIC: But I don't mind saying it again
because I did a terrible thing.

It's okay, I'm over it. Kind of.

Yeah, and I'm kind of over the fact

that my lucky ancient lock
was sawed in half.

How'd it go with Marcus?

First of all, his real name isn't Marcus,
it's Mark.

He just uses Marcus to be cool.

And secondly, he's not cool.

He kept needling me
about not being on the team.

And this new guy that Matt hates,
what's-his-name?

- Mr. Koper.
- He's gonna help you out, right?

Yeah, and I'm kind of excited about it.

- I'd like to see you back on the team.
- Me too.

You know,
I didn't think of it at the time,

but I think I should have told them
that Mom put the knife in my lunchbox.

- Actually, I explained that to them.
- And still I'm suspended?

Well, we tried, but evidently

a concealed-weapons charge
is pretty serious.

And, Ruthie, what did you learn
from your little experience?

Not that much, but I still think
that sometimes a hat is just a hat.

Think Mrs. Rainy
would agree with that?

No, which is why I can't wear the hat
to school anymore.

I'll take it.

[LAUGHING]

So did anything else happen today
that we should know about?

Well, I heard Peter McKinley tried
to jump off a building

because he didn't wanna go
to school.

That wasn't it at all.

- How do you know?
- Because we were there.

Well, what happened?

Well, I probably
shouldn't just blab this all around,

but it will be all over school
tomorrow anyway.

Peter was leaving for school
this morning

and he saw a burglary in progress.

Somebody was trying to break into one
of the neighbour's apartments,

so he chased the burglar
up onto the roof

and held him at bay
until the SWAT team arrived.

His mom was yelling at him,
like, the whole time to come down.

ERIC: He wouldn't.
- Oh, yeah.

He stuck it out till the very end.

- He's a brave guy, that Peter.
- Very brave.

- Wow.
- Cool.

Way cool.

[QUIETLY]
Yeah.

Well, I think it's time
that everybody go upstairs and study.

Yes.

[MATT SIGHS]

That was a very lame story.

- Yeah, but spread it around, will you?
- Yeah.

So 9:00
and they're suspended for one day.

Thirty-six hours and counting.