Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986): Season 7, Episode 5 - Arnold's Strike - full transcript

In order to impress a girl, Arnold becomes the ringleader of a student strike formed to protest the new school dress code. However, things take a turn for the worse when he is the only one suspended from school.

♪ Now the world don't move ♪

♪ To the beat of just one drum ♪

♪ What might be right for you ♪

♪ May not be right for some ♪

♪ A man is born, he's
a man of means. ♪

♪ Then along come two, ♪

♪ they got nothing
but their jeans. ♪

♪ But they got,
Different Strokes. ♪

♪ It takes Different Strokes. ♪

♪ It takes Different
Strokes to move the world. ♪

♪ Everybody's got a
special kind of story; ♪



♪ Everybody finds
a way to shine. ♪

♪ It don't matter that
you got not a lot. ♪

♪ So what? ♪

♪ They'll have theirs,
you'll have yours, ♪

♪ And I'll have mine. ♪

♪ And together we'll be fine! ♪

♪ 'Cause it takes Different
Strokes to move the world, ♪

♪ Yes it does. ♪

♪ It takes Different
Strokes to move the world. ♪

(upbeat music)

- Right on.

(audience laughs)

(upbeat music)

(crowd claps and cheers)



- Seems like
Arnold's in love again.

- Earth to Arnold,
earth to Arnold.

- Come in, Earth.

(audience laughs)

- Forget it Arnold, I
took a shot yesterday.

I said, "Are your
lips busy tonight?"

(audience laughs)

She wouldn't even talk to me.

- Where did you get
a dumb line like that?

- You sold it to me.

(audience laughs)

- No refunds.

- Well, wouldn't you know it,

Arnold Jackson's
right at the center of a

bunch of rule breakers.

You know certain things
aren't allowed in school.

- And one of those things
should be your ugly face.

(crowd sneers)

- You'll be sorry,

school isn't the proper
place for break dancing.

- How about if I break
dance on your tongue?

(crowd cheers)

- I'd like to learn
to break dance.

- It's simple, just put
some ants in your pants.

(audience laughs)

- Ah, what's the big deal
about break dancing?

All you do is screw
yourself into the ground.

(audience laughs)

- I love break dancing.

- Me too Jennifer.

But anybody can do it

if they're blessed
with natural talent.

- Show us, hot shot.

- Well, I...

- Come on, Arnold.

I'd love to see you break dance.

- So would I.

(crowd laughs)

- Don't pay any
attention to them.

Do it for me.

(audience gasps)

- Alright, my little love bug.

(audience laughs)

Alright, blast that blast
and everybody stand back.

I can't always tell where my
moves are gonna move me.

- Alright Arnold, yeah.

- Yeah.

(crowd cheers)

- Yeah, alright, man.

- Mr. Stone, since
you're the principal,

I felt it was my duty to
tell you when lawlessness

is rampant on our
school grounds.

- Thank you, Lisa.

- Oh, don't stop me now.

I'm cooking.

I'm a dancing fool.

Yeah.

(audience laughs)

Hi, there.

- Arnold, you know the
rule against break dancing

on school property.

- I wasn't break
dancing, Mr. Stone.

- You can say that again.

(crow laughs)

- Now, people,

when I make a rule, I
expect it to be followed,

that goes for dancing, and,

ghetto blasters,
and the dress code.

- What dress code?

- The one that starts tomorrow.

There will be no more
spiked wrist bands,

sleeveless shirts, or
sneakers with holes in them.

Also, no bandanas, headbands,

shorts or jeans with
the knees ripped out.

- Well, Henry, I guess you'd
be showing up tomorrow naked.

(audience laughs)

- Too bad, this is the
proper way to dress.

- Sure, if you're
covering up a rash.

(crowd laughs)

- This is no laughing
matter, Robbie.

- It certainly isn't.

- And as for the girls,

there'll be no more
off the shoulder tops.

- But, sir.

Those shoulders
keep a guy going.

(audience laughs)

- Arnold, do you think
that kind of enthusiasm

for you studies?

- Not likely, sir.

(audience laughs)

Now, people, I'm quite
serious about this dress code.

- But sir, what do
clothes have to do with

getting an education.

- It's a discipline Arnold,

and discipline is a big part
of growing up and education.

- Just like good hygiene, sir?

- Right, Lisa.

- Hey, Lisa, don't forget
to wash behind your brain.

- Mr. Stone, I'd like to
help you keep an eye

on the more serious
offenders like Arnold Jackson.

- Thank you.

You're coming with
me, aren't you Lisa?

- Yes, sir.

- I thought so.

(audience laughs)

- Can you believe that guy?

- He's turning this
place into a prison.

- Worse.

At least in prison, they
give you bread and water,

here we got to
eat in the cafeteria.

(audience laughs)

- We can't let him
get away with this.

Who does he think
pays his salary?

Are we the taxpayers,
or are we not?

- We are not.

(audience laughs)

- I know that, but
our parents are,

and that's the same thing.

- Robbie's right,
he works for us.

- Right on.

- He'd have no school
to run without us.

- Right on.

- And I say, we go on strike.

- Right...

Strike?

You mean like picket
signs, fire hoses, billy clubs,

tear gas, and
vicious police dogs?

- Yes, isn't it exciting?

- Yeah, I can't wait.

- But wouldn't the strike
be against the rules?

- What isn't against
the rules around here?

- She's so tuned in.

(audience laughs)

- Well, as the most sensitive
and intelligent person

around here,

I say, that we have to go on
strike to protect our freedom.

Today, it's headband,
tomorrow, it's trivial pursuit.

(audience laughs)

Listen, my father went
on strike a few months ago,

so I know all about it.

- So what do we do?

- Well, the first thing
my father did was go out

and drunk.

(audience laughs)

- That never solves anything.

- Right, but what do
you say about striking?

- Let's go for it.

- I don't know, sounds
pretty dangerous.

- Hey.

Jackson's the name,
and danger's my game.

(audience laughs)

Besides, we're men of action.

- And women.

- And what a woman.

(audience laughs)

We've been pushed
around here long enough,

we're mad as heck, and we're
not gonna take it anymore.

We demand our freedom.

(crowd cheers)

Now, what do we do?

(audience laughs)

- We have to organize,
we need a place to meet

to make our picket signs.

- But it's gotta be a place
with no one's parents

will find out.

- How about my house?

They're taking a
photography class

and they'll be gone
by five o' close.

- Okay, then it's set.

Five o' clock at Arnold's.

- Our first date.

- We'll see.

- Hear that?

She's warm for my floor.

(audience laughs)

I'll get it.

- Let's do it, we're all fired
up, nothing can stop us.

- My parents are still here.

- Fire's out, let's hide.

(audience laughs)

- Now, come on,
Sam, I just wanna take

one more shot of you, okay.

Stand right over here for me.

- Oh, Phillip, stop it.

You know you're gonna
have the best picture

in class this week.

- Oh, you mean that
shot of the beautiful swan,

nurturing her
babies by the pond?

- No, the shot of the man
in the bushes going like this.

(audience laughs)

- Mama, you
mean he tried to fly?

(audience laughs)

- He did, when I came
after him with that stick.

(audience laughs)

- Dad, Maggie, I'm not gonna
write you a note from home

if you're late for your class.

- We probably we will be,

and your father
will be very happy,

he's not doing too
well in the class.

- Photography used to be fun,

but now it's loaded with so
much technical mumbo-jumbo.

- Mr. D, just apply yourself.

(audience laughs)

- Now, come on, and
have a good time in class.

- I will,

if I get Maggie alone in the
dark room like I did last week.

(audience laughs)

- I wasn't in the
dark room last week.

(audience laughs)

- You're joking aren't you?

- Mhmm, maybe.

(audience laughs)

- Bye, have a nice time,
see you later, so long.

I thought they'd never leave.

Sam, I'mma let you in on a
big secret, you know why?

- Because you trust me?

- No, because I
don't have any choice.

(audience laughs)

And if you breathe one
word of this to dad or Maggie,

you'll be the first
country wester singer

to swallow his guitar.

(audience laughs)

- I guess that's
a kind of trust.

- My friends will
be here in a minute.

- That's the big secret?

- Sam, they're coming over
because we're gonna go on strike

at school, so that we can
learn things like wrist bands,

bandanas, and off
the shoulder blouses.

- Why would you wanna wear
an off the shoulder blouse?

(audience laughs)

- The girls, Sam.

- Oh.

Hey, maybe I'll go on strike.

- Why, what do you want?

- Well, I kinda miss
the barn back home.

I'd like to have a pet pig.

(audience laughs)

- Why, we got Willis.

(audience laughs)

(bell rings)

Finally, that's Bill.

- Hi, Arnold.
- Hi.

- Henry, Jeffrey, that's
my little brother Sam.

- Hi, Sam.

- I can see the resemblance.

(audience laughs)

- What a beautiful
apartment, Arnold.

- I decorated it myself.

(audience laughs)

But it wasn't complete
until you arrived.

(audience laughs)

- Thank you, Arnold.

- What are you
dressed for, Columbo.

- I'm not taking any chances
in case there's hidden cameras.

- He's a chicken.

He wouldn't come
in without a disguise.

- He told the doorman
he was Michael Jackson.

(audience laughs)

- Did it work.

(audience laughs)

- Let's start making
our strike signs.

- Right.
- I'll make one, too?

- Do you know
how to spell strike?

- Well, I'm sure
there's a C in it.

(audience laughs)

- Sam, maybe you'd better
go make a protest song.

- Okay.

- Henry, you're safe now,
why don't you take off that

dumb disguise?

- No way, look what
happened to John Delorean.

- Hey, maybe you should
dress like that on the picket line

tomorrow, or better yet,

come as yourself and
wear a chicken costume.

(audience laughs)

- Chicken costume.

That's a great idea.

We'll all wear weird outfits,

just to show Mr. Stone, we
can wear whatever we want.

Boy, Arnold, way to go.

- It comes naturally.

(audience laughs)

- Look, now that we have
a plan, we need a leader.

- Right, we need someone
who knows about strikes.

Someone who'll sacrifice
everything for our cause.

A natural born leader.

A kid whose middle
name is charisma.

- I nominate Arnold.

- My middle name is John.

(audience laughs)

- Arnold, a leader?

Surely you jest?

(audience laughs)

- No, I mean it.

You heard Arnold's freedom
speech this afternoon.

He was so passionate,

so inspiring.

You stirred something
deep inside me.

- But I...

- Don't argue with the lady.

(audience laughs)

She knows when her
insides have been stirred.

(audience laughs)

- Does that mean you'll do it?

- Right, and I might even
choose a woman vice president.

- Yeah.
- Alright.

- Wanna hear my song?

- Go for it, Sam.

Sing your little red
headed heart out.

- Here goes.

♪ Over clothes, over shoes ♪

♪ Mr. Stone gave us the blues ♪

♪ And our wristband's,
go marching away ♪

♪ For it's high, high heat ♪

♪ It's obvious there's
no blouses for me ♪

♪ And student go
marching along ♪

Now everybody.

♪ Over clothes, over shoes ♪

♪ Mr. Stone gave us the blues ♪

♪ As our wristband's
go marching away ♪

♪ Or it's high, high, heat ♪

♪ It's obvious there's
no blouses for me ♪

♪ As your students
go marching along. ♪

♪ Yay. ♪

(crowd cheers)

(horn honks)

- Thank you.

My fellow students, the
issue here is not wristbands.

- [Crowd] Right.

- Nor is it bandanas.

- [Crowd] Right.

- Nor is it jeans, or off
the shoulder blouses.

- [Crowd] Right.

- Then what is the issue, Bozo?

(audience laughs)

- The issue is our
personal freedom.

This is for you too, Lisa.

We wanna protect your right
to be as dumb as you are.

(audience laughs)

- You're all wasting your time.

All he's qualified to lead,
is a moron's day parade.

(audience laughs)

- Don't listen to her,
she's a management goon.

- Now, now, we don't
have time for mud slinging.

However, there is time for this.

(blubbers)

- Arnold, you're so immature.

- Am not.
- Are too.

- Am not.
- Are too.

- Am not.
- Are too.

- I hate to interrupt this
meeting of the minds.

- Mr. Stone, they're on strike,

they're a bunch of
troublemakers if you ask me.

- I didn't, Lisa.

- Right.

I'm here if you need me, sir.

- Yes.

Arnold, are you the
leader of this mob?

- Yes, I mean no.

- Well, yes or no?

- Yes, I'm a leader,
no, we're not a mob.

We're on strike because we
think your dress code is unfair.

- Oh, really?

- Yes, sir, we think it's unfair,
unjust and unreasonable.

- Are you telling me
how to run this school?

- No, sir.

- Arnold, don't cave in.

- Sir, we think we should be
able to wear whatever we want.

- [Crowd] Yeah.

- Tell it like it is, Arnold.

- Sir, I'm going to exercise
my freedom of speech.

- Don't push it, Arnold.

- I'm afraid I'm
gonna have to, sir.

- You're asking for it, Arnold.

- Give me liberty,
or give me death.

- You're suspended, Arnold.

- I don't recall that
being one of the choices.

(audience laughs)

- One week suspension, Arnold.

And unless the rest of
you put down your signs

and return to classes,
you're all suspended.

- You were very firm, sir.

Have I mentioned I'm
also greatly troubled by the

noise level in the cafeteria?

- Several times.

- Today?

- No.

- Suspended, huh?

Who does he think he is?

Threats won't work
on us, right, right?

- Okay, Phillip, Sam, I wanna
capture your many moods.

Now, look happy.

Phillip, I said happy,

not like you just
stepped in something.

(audience laughs)

That's it.

Now, look angry.

Look afraid.

Now, look dignified.

Okay, now I want
you to look sad.

Now, that is sad.

Hold it, Arnold.

- What's wrong, Arnold?

And why in the world
are you dressed like that?

- Would you believe Pearl
fell behind in her laundry?

(audience laughs)

- Arnold, what is going on?

- I got suspended from school.

- Suspended? You?

- For five days.

- Five days, that must've
been some big spit ball.

(audience laughs)

- I can't believe this.

- What happened, Arnold?

- Well, the new principal
stuck us with a dress code.

We didn't like it, we thought
it was unfair and we fought,

and I got suspended.

- What happened to the "we?"

- Well, somewhere between
fought and suspended,

the "we" became "me."

I feel awful.

Oh, you poor thing.

(horn honks)

(audience laughs)

- Thanks, Maggie,
but actually I'm okay.

I mean, I've got parents who'll

stand by my side,

and fight for truth, justice
and the American way,

just like the Boston
Tea Party, right, dad?

- Wrong, Arnold.

- Oh, it was worth a try.

- And a darn good one, too.

He had me fooled.

(audience laughs)

- Arnold sit down.

Look, I'm very
disappointed in you.

Now, I don't know what happened,

but I'm sure if you go to
Mr. Stone and apologize,

that suspension can be lifted.

- Sorry, dad, I can't do that.

- Why not, Arnold?

- Don't you want me to
fight for what I believe in?

- Oh, of course, Arnold,
but a dress code?

- Well, at first, it
was the dress code.

And I was only
doing it for a girl.

- They'll get you in
trouble, every time.

(audience laughs)

- But then you know,
I thought about it,

and it became a
matter of principle.

I mean, first it's
the little things.

And then it could
get outta hand.

Somebody somebody could
decide they don't want red-headed

kids in school.

- Sounds good to me.

(audience laughs)

- This is just silly, and
it's certainly not worth

getting suspended for.

- You'd better listen
to your farther, hun.

This could go on your
record and affect your chances

of getting into college.

- I know, but dad
always taught me to do

what I thought was right.

- And he always does, sir.

- I know that, Sam,

but this is pure nonsense
and I want it stopped.

- Dad, I'm sorry, I've
always obeyed you,

but this time I can't.

- I would think about
that if I were you, Arnold.

Now you go up to your room,

you are in deep
trouble, young man.

- What a bummer.

(harmonica music)

♪ Nobody knows a drunk like me ♪

♪ Nobody knows my sorrows ♪

- Well, Arnold, I must
say, I was wrong about you.

- Really?

Aw, thank you, Lisa.

- I used to think
you were stupid,

now I'm sure of it.

(audience laughs)

- You should be the
poster child for nerds.

- Hi, Arnold.

- Dad.

What're you doing here?

- Oh, I just thought

I'd stop by on the
way to work, you know,

see how you're doing.

- Well, I got no school
to go to, no friends,

and you're mad at me.

Other than that,
things are great.

(audience laughs)

- Arnold, I'm sorry that I
wasn't more understanding.

- What?

- Sit down for a minute.

When we talked
yesterday, I am afraid

I wasn't really listening.

- You probably
learned that from me.

(audience laughs)

- No, that was just my
reaction when I heard that

you've been suspended.

I mean the idea, of
you getting into trouble,

doing something I
thought was just silly,

that was disturbing.

But I don't feel that way now.

- You like me being suspended?

- No, but I think you should
do what you feel is right.

I know that this strike
is important to you.

You know, I went on strike
once when I was a kid.

- What?

They had strikes way back then?

(audience laughs)

- Yeah, we got 'em right
after we discovered fire.

(audience laughs)

See, I had a tree house at
our summer home in New Port.

My parents wanted to
tear it down to make room

for tennis courts.

- Oh, yeah, right, I forgot
how rough you had it.

(audience laughs)

- Well,

the point is this,

that my parents didn't
think it was important.

It was very important to me,
I built that tree house myself.

So to let them know
how much it meant,

I threw myself in
front of the bulldozer.

- Man.

You really mean business.

- That's right,
and I didn't budge.

That is until the
driver showed up.

(audience laughs)

Anyway, I realized that
parents don't always understand

what's important to kids.

- You can say that again.

- But Arnold, I want you to
know that I do understand, now.

And if you still think
that you should carry on

with this strike,
I'll support you.

- Hey, my own
dad a rabble rouser.

Don't let your stock
holders find out.

(audience laughs)

- I won't.

But I think you should
understand son,

that at the end of the week,
nothing's gonna be changed.

The dress code
will still be the same.

- I know, but at least I'd
know I did everything I could

to win.

- Oh, Arnold,
you've already own.

- Huh? What do you mean?

- Well, for one
thing you stuck it out,

your friends wouldn't.

- Some friends.

- Well, don't be too
hard on 'em Arnold,

they can't all be
as gutsy as you are.

- Yeah, I got guts
all over the place.

(audience laughs)

- I'm proud of you.

The whole family's proud of you,

and we'll be just
as proud of you

if you decide to hang up that
sign and go back to school.

- I don't think
Mr. Stone will let me.

- Oh yes he will, I spoke
to him this morning.

- You did?

- Yeah, I did.

- No dad, I'm
gonna stick it out.

- Good for you,

I'm with you all the way, son

I'll see you tonight.

- Right.

(audience claps)

♪ Now, the world don't move
to the beat of just one drum, ♪

♪ What might be right for you,
may not be right for some. ♪

♪ A man is born, he's
a man of means. ♪

♪ Then along come two, they
got nothing but their jeans. ♪

♪ But they got,
Different Strokes. ♪

♪ It takes Different Strokes. ♪

♪ It takes Different
Strokes to move the world ♪

♪ Yes it does ♪

♪ It takes Different
Strokes to move the world. ♪