Becker (1998–2004): Season 3, Episode 15 - 2001 1/2: A Graduation Odyssey - full transcript

Becker is asked to perform a speech in front of a class of graduating students in the Mayor's absence. He is eagerly brainstorming things to say, little does he know the graduating class is the class of "2001 and a half".

Uh, Linda, would you come out here,
please?

I have been calling you
for ten minutes.

Did you call me all the way out here
just to tell me that?

Don't you start with me.

These lab reports need to be sorted.

But I'm trying to study.

If you were watching TV,
just say so.

No, really. I decided to go back
to school and finish my degree.

Linda, that is wonderful.
What type of degree?

Two-year? Four-year?

Manicure. I'll be out by Friday.



That's good too.

I thought it would be a good idea,
just as a backup plan.

I mean, what if something happened
to Dr. Becker,

like he lost his medical licence
or got hit by a truck,

or someone poisoned him
or clubbed him to death,

or put him in a bag in chains
in the trunk of a car,

or you know what would be cool,
they could tie a...

We'll talk later.

- Good morning, John.
- Oh, yeah, yeah, just great.

Yeah, I got a toilet that won't stop,
car that won't go.

I got neighbours that won't shut up
and a breakfast that won't stay down.

Like sands through an hourglass,
these are the days of my life.

You've got a patient in 2.

Oh, and Mr. Tipton
from Harding High School dropped by.



He's in your office.

You let him in my office?

Oh, come on, Margaret,
he's such a long-winded gasbag.

Then you two can compare notes.
Go!

But he's so boring.

Last time he was here,
he went on and on

about those nitwits
he calls a soccer team.

I mean, they're so bad,

their mascot should be some guy
beating a dead horse.

Stop it.

All right.

Hey, but actually, you know,
give me two minutes

then come in,
tell me I got a phone call.

No, I'm not gonna do it.

I don't like to lie. It's wrong.

- Says who?
- The Lord.

The Lord?
Margaret, this is the Bronx.

Believe me, he's not here.

All right, John, two minutes.

- Now please go.
All right.

- Two minutes, Margaret.
- Oh.

Dr. Becker, hello.

Oh, you should've been
at last week's soccer game.

The boys came this close
to scoring a goal.

Ah.

Listen, uh, I'm kind of busy today.

- Maybe if you...
- Then let me get right to the point.

Harding High School would like you

to be this year's
commencement speaker.

What?

It's next week.

And I do apologise
for the short notice,

but the mayor had a last minute
change in his schedule.

The mayor?

Really?

Sit down, sit down.

Of course,
as soon as he dropped out,

well, your name immediately came
to mind.

Oh.

We think that you would be
an inspiration to the graduates.

Not only are you a respected member
of the community,

but you graduated at the top
of your class,

and from Harvard no less.

Well, yes, that's, uh, all true.

In a lot of ways
you're more relevant to these kids

than some
of the so-called big names.

You're one of the quiet heroes...

John? John, you have a call.

Yeah, Margaret, I'm kind of busy here.
Who is it?

What?

Who's on the phone?

Uh, it's that call.

You know,
the call you were expecting.

Oh, uh, yeah,
I don't need that call anymore.

I'm in the middle of an important
discussion with Mr. Tipton.

- But I just...
- Just handle it for me, will you?

I'm sorry about this.

Fine. I'll just tell the county psych ward
that you are on the way.

Oh, hey, Jake,
where have you been?

Because I was...

Did you get your hair cut?

As a matter of fact, I did.

Just a little trim.
I didn't think you'd notice. Ha, ha.

Oh, not notice?

Everyday for the last three years
I've had nothing else to do

but stare at you.

All day long.

You stare at me? That's creepy.

I mean, how'd you like it
if I stared at you?

Jake, I'm over here.

Hey, Reg, coffee, please.

And then leave me alone.

I've gotta make some notes
on something.

It's pretty important stuff.

Did you notice? Jake got a haircut.

I tried a new place.

Yeah, yeah, good, good.

Oh, hell, you're gonna find out
eventually. Uh.

Harding High School asked me to be
this year's commencement speaker.

Do I smell oranges?

Yeah,
they used orange-scented shampoo.

Jake, you've inspired me.
I'm gonna get my hair cut too.

You should. It will make you feel
like a brand new person.

If you two ladies would get out
from under the hair dryer for a second,

I'm trying to tell you I'm gonna be
speaking at a graduation next week.

Wait, hold it. Next week?

Who graduates
in the middle of winter?

Oh, some of the bigger schools
have these midyear graduations.

Don't take this the wrong way,
Becker,

but why in the world
did they pick you?

As a matter of fact,

the, uh, principal said
that I was an inspiration

to the people of the community.

In his words, a quiet hero.

You're a hero? Ha-ha-ha.

That must be the part
he's trying to keep quiet.

Hello, losers. Bob is one happy man.

Anyone care to guess why?

A truck full of breast implants
broke down in front of your building?

Like I'd be here.

Bob, we're talking
about something here.

So I'll skip ahead.

Bob just won big in Atlantic City.

Picture this,
I'm standing out in front of this casino.

Let me guess. Someone dropped
their credit card and you picked it up?

No. They dropped cash.

Anyway, as a man driven
by a strong sense of right and wrong,

you can imagine my pain as I silently
watched the poor schmuck limp away.

But I'm guessing you got over it.

To the tune of 100 clams.

As impressed as we all are, Bob,
that basically you stole from a cripple,

I was just saying that I've been given
the distinct honour

of giving the graduation speech
at Harding High School this year.

They, uh, called me when they needed
someone to fill in for the mayor.

Jake, did you get a haircut?

Hey, guys, I think I settled on a theme
for my graduation speech.

I'm gonna talk about the future.

- Bold choice. Now, Linda...
See?

See, future and kids got me thinking

about how a lot of the leaders
in this country,

they started out as kids,
but they ended up, uh, as leaders.

So you're saying that a lot of adults
used to be children?

All right, all right, it's just a first draft.

Okay, Linda, back to your test.

Um, what should you drink
to strengthen your nails?

A mixture of water and gelatine.

Well, that's close, Linda.
It's orange juice and gelatine.

Orange juice. Orange juice.

How am I gonna remember that?

Well, you need a memory trick.

Uh, for instance, think of Florida.

A lot of orange juice
comes from Florida.

Think Florida,
remember orange juice.

No, I'm just gonna write it
on my hand.

Florida.

I can't decide
if I want a whole new hairstyle,

or if I just wanna trim it up a little bit.

Well, let me see.

You know, it does feel a little thick
back here.

- John, can you take a look?
- No, thanks.

I see enough of her hair in my food.

All you need to do is take out
about a quarter of an inch.

Even I could do that for you.

Let's see...

Blind man, scissors, my head.

I detect a problem.

Okay, okay, okay.

Hey, guys, I just, uh,
finished a draft of my speech.

I think it's pretty good.
I wanna try it out on you.

Oh, come on.

All right.

"As I look out over this sea
of eager young faces..."

Well, Bob is back.

Hey, I'm talking here, Bob.

Not anymore.

Bob used his Atlantic City windfall
and bought himself a watch.

A Cybertech 3,000.

So you bought a watch. Big deal.

No, no, no, not just a watch.

It's also a compass, a calculator,
a heart monitor, it glows in the dark,

and you press this button,
it tells you what city you're in.

New York.

Now that's amazing.

How does it know?

Beats me. I don't even know
how it glows in the dark.

Hey I hate to break up
this Short Bus Science Fair,

but I was about to read you
my speech here.

Now I want you to be brutally honest,
okay?

Okay.
I really don't wanna hear your speech.

All right. Uh...

"As I look out over this sea
of eager young faces,

I'm heartened to find a new generation
of Americans who will one day..."

Excuse me.

New generation of Americans?

Kennedy kind of did that, didn't he?

All right, okay.

Brutally honest. That's good.

All right, I'll fix it. Uh...

"...who will one day, uh, reach a point
where they must make a choice and..."

- John, John.
What?

This isn't going to a fork in the road,
is it?

No, it's not going
to a fork in the road.

That's good,
because I can't think of a bigger clich?.

Yeah, "When you leave
these hallowed halls..."

I stand corrected.

"When you leave
these hallowed halls,

your education does not end
with school."

You know,
thanks a lot for your help.

I'm gonna be standing in front
of hundreds of young people tonight,

they'll be waiting for me
to say something insightful,

and all I've got, you know,
I've got squat.

Yeah, thanks a lot.

Well, he told us to be honest.

- Yeah, and it honestly did suck.
Mm-hm.

Oh, well.
Say, Bob, what time you got?

I got no idea.

- John?
- Yeah.

You have a patient in 1,
a follow-up on pneumonia. Then lunch.

Yeah, order in for me, will you?
I gotta work on this speech.

I'm really stuck here.

We're all stuck here.

Hey, Margaret,
let me ask you something.

If you were gonna give a speech
to a graduating class,

what would you say?

- Me?
- Yeah.

Oh.

Well, you know,
I've thought about this.

Um, I would tell them that a career
is about more than just making money.

And then I would tell them to balance
their work with a strong spiritual life.

And then I would tell them
to imagine

that they are telling the story
of their life to their grandchildren,

and what would they want
that story to be.

Ah, I don't see it.

Hi, doc, how you doing?

What's going on here?

Well, I have to practise for my exam,

and Chuck said he wouldn't mind
if I gave him a manicure.

I've really been letting my nails go.

Linda, aren't there other things
you should be doing?

Oh, you're right.
I have a pedicure in Room 2.

Great. Now what am I supposed to do
with this pinkie?

Yeah, don't make me answer that.

Chuck,
let's go take an x-ray of your lungs,

see if that pneumonia
has cleared up.

I'll be honest, doc. I feel pretty.

Oh, great, great, you guys are here.

I just finished my speech.
I wanna read it to you.

- Oh, John...
- Oh, you guys are great.

Nice to know when the chips
are down, I have you to ridicule me.

Okay, John, we're sorry.
Let's hear it.

Thank you, Margaret. Uh...

All right. "As I look out over this sea
of eager young faces..."

Could you all turn around, please?

Thank you.
"As I look out over this sea..."

Hey, everyone,
I passed my nail test.

I was so nervous at first,
but I got the highest grade in my class.

Oh, good girl.

Congratulations.

Really. Congratulations.

You know, thanks a lot.

You know, I wanted to try this speech
out on you guys,

and now I have no idea
if it works or not.

You know,
where does that leave me?

New York.

And then after the graduates come in,
our valedictorian will speak,

and then it's your turn.

Well, here we are.

You know, they say
that the two biggest fears people have

are death and public speaking.

I guess no one wants to make a fool
of themselves

in front of hundreds
and hundreds of people.

Ha, ha. Certainly not.

- Uh, your fly's open.
- What?

Oh.

This is, uh...

Oh, I know, this is where
we're gonna have coffee

before the actual ceremony, right?

No, this is the place.

Well, what about the students
and the band?

Where are you gonna put the band?

That is all taken care of.

You see, I recorded the band
at last June's graduation.

Man, oh, man, that was something.

A 50-pierce ensemble,
800 graduates, 2,000 guests. Mm.

Well, how...?
How many are graduating tonight?

Say, we better get this show
on the road.

- Pretty small class.
- Hmm.

Any chance
these are the honour students?

The ones who are getting out early?

Early? Ha, ha.

Well, if you consider six years
in high school early, then, yeah.

Who's that?

Jim Lippman. Works for the state.

He's handcuffed
to Kyle Stemp there.

Hell of a nice guy.

Jim is, I mean.

Kyle, I could drop kick off
a speeding train

without a second thought.

- Can I speak to you just for a second?
- Sure.

Mayor Giuliani was really gonna talk
to these kids?

Yes, he was.

But then he cancelled
as soon as he found out,

well, you know, who they were.

Well, better get started.

Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,

and graduates of Harding High School,
class of 2001 and a half.

Before we hear from our distinguished
keynote speaker this evening,

our valedictorian, Gary Lowenhower,
is going to say a few words.

Gary?

"Today we are leaving high school.

High school was fun.
We learned a lot.

But leaving high school
is a scary pro...

Propo...

Propo..."

Sound it out, Gary.

Remember what we said
about T-l-O-N.

Dumb-ass.

Oh, you think that's funny, McCall?

You think you could do any better?
Because I know for a fact you can't!

So either keep your mouth shut
or get out!

Go ahead, Gary.

"After high school,
we hope to be very suspect..."

No, um, "Sucspessful..."

Successful, you moron.

That's it! McCall, out!

But I was trying to help.

Out! Now!

Goodbye, kid.
Ha, ha!

Anybody else want some of that?

Good.

Okay, we're gonna have
to hurry things along now,

so, Gary,
why don't you just, uh, sit down.

Now it is time for our keynote speaker,
Dr. John Becker.

He has a small practise
in the Bronx.

John?

What about all that quiet hero stuff?

Damn, I forgot.

Good evening. Uh...

"As I look out over this sea
of eager young faces...

I see that you,
the architects of the new millennium..."

- You suck!
Ha-ha-ha!

Look, people, I don't wanna be here
any more than you do,

but the sooner he's done,
the sooner we can all leave.

Please continue.

Where was I?
"...eager young faces."

Oh, here, here we are. All right. Um.

Yeah. It's, uh...

"It's, uh... It's important to realise that
every leader in our country's history

started out as a kid just like you."

Excuse me.
Is this gonna be on the test?

Dude, there are no more tests.

You know, excuse me,

I think that, uh, Ralph Waldo Emerson
said it best...

Who?
Ha-ha-ha!

You know,
I'm just trying to give a speech here.

Yeah, a boring speech.

You know something?
I don't need this.

You know,
I had better stuff to do today,

but this guy showed up at my office

and blew a bunch of smoke up
my shorts

and I believed him.

My own stupid fault, you know,
for getting my hopes up.

I broke my number one rule:

No expectations,
no disappointments.

See, I expected to come here
and make a difference.

You know, I expected
this would be a dignified occasion,

and that I would be talking
to intelligent people.

And I expected a big band.

Oh, yeah, and I also expected
my friends to support me,

but I guess that was too much
to ask for.

Oh, what the hell, though.
You know, that's life, right?

Here, let me give you
some advice here.

You know, don't dream, don't hope,

you're never gonna make
a difference,

and you're never gonna get
what you want.

Or who knows? Maybe your life
will turn out better than mine.

Oh, and I'll tell you something,

Principal Tipton,
you show up in my office

and ask me for a favour again,

I will kick your lying ass right out
on the street.

- All right!
- Ha, ha! Yeah!

Yeah.
Whoo!

- Dr. John Becker.
Whoo!

Oh, damn. We missed it.

What are you guys doing here?

John, we felt bad
about ignoring you lately.

Yeah, so we came down
to hear your speech.

Sorry we missed it, Becker.

Yeah, we wanted to be on time,
but my watch stopped.

Sounds like the audience loved it,
though.

- I mean, listen to them.
- Yeah.

Well, you know, it's safe to say
I made an impression.

Let's... Let's split.

Oh, Dr. Becker,
I'm glad I caught you.

Yeah, yeah.

Goodbye, good luck
and don't do drugs.

Come on.

That was the greatest speech
I ever heard.

What? Hold on, hold on a second.

We thought we're gonna hear one
of those boring graduation speeches,

but you blew everyone away.

It's so cool that someone
like you would come right out

and tell us the truth,
you know, the things you said.

No one's ever been so honest
with us before,

so thanks, Dr. Becker.

John, I'm really impressed.

Well, you know what they say,
Margaret,

if you reach one kid,
it's all worthwhile.

John, I really am...

Let's go ahead.