My So-Called Life (1994–1995): Season 1, Episode 6 - The Substitute - full transcript
A substitute teacher captures the hearts and minds of Angela's English class, but he may not be all he seems to be.
Girl: ♪ GO NOW... GO! ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ HEY ♪
♪ HEY ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ HEY ♪
Angela: MAYBE TEACHERS
HAVE A HIDDEN LIFE
WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY...
LIKE, HUMAN.
WHERE THEY HAVE, I DON'T KNOW...
DIGNITY.
OR MAYBE NOT.
STOP IT!
OVER THIS WAY!
ALL RIGHT!
OH, SORRY. UH, TOOTHPICK?
DOES ANYBODY ELSE...
TOOTHPICK.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. WHAT'D HE SAY?
YO, SPEAK UP, BRO.
HE SAID TOOTHPICK. RIGHT?
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU SAID?
TOOTHPICK!
SO WHY YOU HERE?
YOU A NEW SUBSTITUTE?
WHY AM I HERE?
YEAH. GOOD QUESTION?
I'M THE NEW SUBSTITUTE, YES.
I'M HERE QUITE
SIMPLY TO GET PAID.
YEAH, RIGHT.
ASSUMING ALL OF YOU
CAN READ AND WRITE...
I DON'T PERCEIVE ANY
EMERGENCY SITUATION.
THAT'S ALL.
CONTINUE WASTING YOUR LIVES.
SO, UM...
ARE WE, LIKE,
DISMISSED?
DO YOU WANT TO BE DISMISSED?
NO. YOU JUST SAID THAT...
YOU JUST SAID THAT WAS
ALL YOU HAD TO SAY, SO...
WELL, I WILL BE HERE
FOR THE NEXT 47 MINUTES.
WHETHER YOU WILL ALSO
BE HERE FOR THAT TIME
IS, TO BE CANDID, YOUR DECISION.
WHAT'S THE CATCH?
NO CATCH. YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE HERE, GO.
I'M NOT GONNA STOP YOU.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS JUST,
YOU KNOW, ONE CATCH.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
YOU IN YOUR ABSENCE.
BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT...
YEAH. RIGHT.
IT'S NO JOKE. I HAVE
NO LESSON PLANNED.
TRASHING YOU IN YOUR ABSENCE
WILL HELP PASS THE TIME.
RIGHT?
AND IT COULD POSSIBLY
BE EDUCATIONAL AS WELL.
SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?
I'VE KNOWN YOU ALL OF 5 MINUTES,
AND YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU
WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO?
FINE.
FOLLOW YOUR HEARTS AND
VEER AWAY FROM HEROIN.
NO. I MEANT IN THE
NEXT 47 MINUTES.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT.
THAT WAS SARCASM.
WHAT?
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO
DO THIS SEMESTER...
Krakow! Shh.
WAS THIS ISSUE OF THE,
UH, LITERARY MAGAZINE.
LIKE, WE EACH WROTE SOMETHING.
BUT MAYHEW...
THAT'S OUR TEACHER...
SHE, LIKE, NEVER APPROVED
THE WRITING OR WHATEVER
'CAUSE SHE JUST...
SHE QUIT, SO...
WE JUST NEVER DID IT.
THAT'S A HEARTBREAKING TALE.
WELL, WHAT I MEANT WAS THAT
I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE... I
MEAN, THE STUFF WE WROTE...
IT'S IN THERE, SO COULD YOU JUST
AT LEAST READ IT SO WE
COULD GET CREDIT FOR IT?
WHY NOT?
WAIT. LET'S GO OVER
IT ONE MORE TIME.
LOOK, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE
TO BE THERE. THIS SHOULD BE ME.
FINE.
WE'LL TAKE HIM OUT TO
DINNER AND MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT WE'LL REDO THE JOB AT COST.
FINE, WHATEVER.
NICASTRO LISTENS
TO ME. HE TRUSTS ME.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT HE...
OH, NO, NO. YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU SHOULD HANDLE IT.
ANYWAY, I NEED YOU
TO TAKE DANIELLE
TO THE COOKIE BOOTH
AND BACK TOMORROW NIGHT.
THE COOKIE BOOTH?
IT'S GIRL SCOUT
COOKIE TIME AGAIN.
I SIGNED HER UP.
OH. YOU SIGN HER UP, I
END UP AT THE BOOTH.
YEAH, WELL, FINE.
I'LL CALL NEIL, CANCEL
OUR POOL GAME.
OH. YOU HAD PLANS.
WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN CALL
ONE OF THE OTHER MOMS...
WHAT, AND MISS THE COOKIE BOOTH?
OH! I ALMOST FORGOT.
ONE OF US HAS TO CALL
ANGELA'S ENGLISH TEACHER...
HER NAME IS MAYHEW...
AND SEE IF THEY WANT US TO PRINT
THE LIT MAGAZINE AGAIN. I
RESERVED THE PRESS TIME.
ONE OF US SHOULD
CALL. YOU SHOULD.
YOU FORGOT TO BUY
KITTY LITTER AGAIN.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WOULD!
YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED?
A WIFE.
WELL, UM...
AHEM.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF READING YOUR ENTRIES
FOR THE LIBERTY LIT,
AND, UM, HOW SHALL
I DESCRIBE THEM?
GOOD QUESTION.
LET'S SEE. BORING.
THE WORD BORING COMES TO MIND.
FAKE, FALSE...
SYNTHETIC.
BOGUS.
WHAT DO THESE WORDS
HAVE IN COMMON?
YOU!
ME?
YEAH. WHAT DO THESE
WORDS HAVE IN COMMON?
YES, YES, I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GONNA SAY...
THAT THEY'RE SYNONYMS,
MEANING NOT GENUINE.
WELL, THAT'S TRUE.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
BUT WHAT ELSE? I MEAN, HOW
ELSE WOULD YOU CLASSIFY THEM?
I DON'T KNOW.
YES! YOU DO!
THINK I'M AN IDIOT?
IF I TELL YOU THAT
THE CLASS'S WORK
WAS SAFE, BANAL,
HOMOGENIZED, CUTESY,
APPALLING... ALL OF WHICH
IS TRUE, BY THE WAY...
WHAT SORT OF WORDS AM I USING?
TELL ME. DON'T GIVE
ME THAT BLANK LOOK.
YOU'RE NOT FOOLING
ANYONE. I'M ON TO YOU.
YOU KNOW THIS. YOU KNOW THIS.
NOT VERBS, NOT NOUNS, BUT...
ADJECTIVES.
ADJECTIVES! WHOO!
DON'T YOU DARE PLAY
DUMB WITH ME AGAIN.
NOW, AS FOR THE REST OF YOU,
UM...
HOW SHALL I PHRASE THIS?
I don't believe this guy.
THIS IS THE MOST GODAWFUL CRAP
I'VE EVER READ IN MY LIFE.
HEY, LOOK AT THAT!
HI.
HI.
YOU WANT TO BUY SOME
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES?
NOT REALLY.
YOU CAN OWE ME THE MONEY.
Graham: DANIELLE,
LEAVE HIM ALONE.
WHAT?
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE
SEW ON A MERIT BADGE BEFORE?
IT'S NOT A MERIT BADGE.
IT'S A PROFICIENCY BADGE.
HI, BRIAN.
ANGELA, BRIAN'S HERE.
OH, COME ON! JUST ONE BOX.
YOU COULD FREEZE
THEM AND EAT THEM LATER.
DANIELLE!
FORGET IT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. WHAT
HAVE YOU GOT THERE?
UM, JUST THIS THING
ANGELA WROTE THAT I FOUND.
HER OAK TREE POEM.
I LOVED THAT ONE!
WHY DOES IT HAVE THIS FOOTPRINT
ON IT? AND WHERE ARE THE OTHERS?
WEREN'T WE GOING
TO PRINT THEM UP?
ANGELA DIDN'T TELL YOU? HE
THREW THEM OUT THE WINDOW.
WHO?
THIS NEW SUBSTITUTE
WHO'S, LIKE, MENTALLY ILL.
SERIOUSLY.
NO, HE'S NOT MENTALLY ILL.
HE THREW THEM OUT THE WINDOW?
SO DO YOU, LIKE,
WANT THIS, OR...
I THINK THAT'S TERRIBLE.
MOM... I'M SERIOUS.
YOU WORKED VERY
HARD ON THAT POEM.
YOU PUT A LOT OF
THOUGHT INTO IT.
IT'S TRUE. YOU DID.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T
LIKE IT THAT MUCH.
WELL, HONEY,
THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
EXACTLY. I MEAN, I DON'T
CARE IF HE IS YOUR TEACHER.
HE HAS TO TREAT YOU
WITH COMMON COURTESY.
HAVEN'T WE ALWAYS TAUGHT YOU
TO STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS?
THANKS, BRIAN.
JORDAN.
THAT'S YOUR NAME, RIGHT?
LOOK, UM, I APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO
MONOPOLIZE THE DISCUSSION,
BUT, I MEAN, COME ON!
I NEED YOU. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I NEED YOU TO TALK MORE!
OK. JUST... OK.
ALL RIGHT.
JEEZ.
OH, BY THE WAY,
YOU LEFT THIS BEHIND.
I DIDN'T LEAVE THAT.
JUST TAKE IT, WILL YOU?
WE'LL DISCUSS IT TOMORROW.
WHAT?
I...
WHAT? SAY IT.
I JUST THINK WHAT YOU DID
YESTERDAY WASN'T RIGHT...
I MEAN, IN TERMS OF
COMMON COURTESY.
I JUST THINK IT SHOWED
A LACK OF RESPECT.
YOU MEAN WHEN I THREW
YOUR WORK OUT THE WINDOW?
YEAH. I MEAN, THAT
OAK TREE POEM,
THAT WAS MINE.
OH.
I PUT A LOT OF
THOUGHT INTO THAT.
DID YOU?
YES!
I MEAN, WHY'D YOU DO IT?
WHY'D I DO IT? GOOD QUESTION.
I DID IT TO CLEAR THE SLATE.
I DID IT TO WAKE YOU UP.
I DID IT TO DO
SOMETHING, TO FIND YOU.
NOW, GUESS WHAT? HERE YOU ARE,
WIDE AWAKE, RIGHT
IN FRONT OF ME.
I MEAN, WASN'T THAT WORTH IT?
I MEAN, THAT, UM, POEM.
THAT, UH, OAK TREE POEM...
THAT WAS YESTERDAY.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO WRITE TODAY?
GOOD QUESTION.
RAYANNE, YOU'RE
NOT IN THIS CLASS.
SO, NEITHER ARE HALF THESE KIDS.
COME ON, YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT HIM FOR 3 DAYS!
I GOTTA VIEW THIS GUY.
GET OUT YOUR NOTEBOOKS.
SUBSTITUTE, MY ASS.
HE IS THE REAL DEAL.
I WANT EVERYONE TO START
OVER, FROM THE BEGINNING.
START OVER ON WHAT?
I DIDN'T BRING A NOTEBOOK.
CAN'T YOU SHOW A MOVIE?
AND DON'T GIVE ME
ANYTHING QUAINT.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY
DOMESTICATED ANIMALS
OR... OR GREENERY.
I WANT ANGER.
I WANT HONESTY.
I WANT NAKEDNESS.
I'M RIGHT HERE, BABY.
UM, EXCUSE ME.
COULD I SAY SOMETHING?
NOPE.
WRITE IT DOWN.
WHATEVER YOU FEEL LIKE SAYING,
WRITE IT DOWN INSTEAD.
WHAT YOU NEVER TOLD ANYONE.
WHAT YOU NEVER
EVEN TOLD YOURSELF.
AND DON'T FEAR EXPOSURE.
NO ONE IS TO PUT HIS
OR HER NAME DOWN.
THIS WILL BE
COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.
JUST HOW I LIKE SEX.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
UH...
I'M NOT IN THIS CLASS.
YOU'RE NOT? WHERE ARE YOU?
I MEAN, UH, HOW CAN
YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT HERE?
YOU'RE HERE. I SEE YOU.
GET OUT YOUR NOTEBOOK.
I NEVER WROTE
ANYTHING FOR THE LIT.
YEAH, WELL, THEN YOU
HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.
TELL HIM ABOUT THE TOOTHPICKS.
TELL HIM ABOUT THE SOCKS!
HE ALWAYS WEARS THESE WHITE...
HE ALWAYS WEARS ONE WHITE SOCK
AND ONE BLACK SOCK.
I'VE GOT TO SEE THE SOCKS.
WELL, I, UM, I READ
ALL YOUR PAPERS,
AND, UM, I'M BEGINNING
TO SEE SIGNS OF LIFE!
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
GOOD QUESTION.
WE GO FURTHER.
THIS 102-YEAR-OLD
MAN HAS A SON...
OK, WE'LL START OVER HERE.
JUST READ IT?
JUST READ IT.
UM, I CAN'T READ THIS
PERSON'S WRITING.
YEAH. READ IT ANYWAY.
"IN THE FITTING ROOM,
"PRICE TAGS TICKLE MY SHOULDER
"AS I SLIP ON ANOTHER DRESS.
"I KNOW THIS ONE WILL FIT.
THIS ONE WILL MAKE ME FLY."
Angela.
PAINT A PICTURE. JUST TALK.
DON'T TRY AND MAKE IT
SOUND LIKE WRITING. DARRELL.
"NO ONE KNOWS I
COME OUT HERE NIGHTS.
"I LOOK AT YOUR WINDOW,
BUT YOU'RE NEVER THERE...
ANGELA.
"ONLY YOUR HORRIBLE
DOG WHO USED TO BITE...
He changed the socks!
Shut up! I'm trying to listen.
"I REALIZE I'M NOT ANGRY
AT YOU. THINGS CHANGE."
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT,
NO ONE ELSE WILL. YVETTE.
"WHEN I'M A MOTHER,
I'LL GET REVENGE.
I'LL ASK QUESTIONS THAT
MISS THE ENTIRE POINT."
FORGET GRAMMAR. FORGET
SPELLING. FORGET THE RULES.
"MY FATHER DECIDES HOW
MUCH CARS WERE WORTH
BEFORE THEY WERE
TOTALED. THAT'S HIS JOB."
"I CAN FORGIVE YOU, BUT I
WANT TO KILL YOUR DOG."
YEAH, REMEMBER, IT
ISN'T JUST EMOTION.
YOU HAVE TO SHAPE THE EMOTION.
"I'LL SMILE WHEN
YOU WANT TO KILL ME.
I'LL THROW AWAY YOUR FAVORITE
SKIRT AND NEVER ADMIT IT."
"IF I DRIVE MYSELF AND
HIS CAR OFF A BRIDGE,
WHAT WOULD BE THE
ESTIMATED DAMAGES?"
NOTICE HE DIDN'T
SIMPLY TRASH HIS FATHER.
HE FOUND AN INGENIOUS
WAY TO TRASH HIM.
UH, THIS ONE HAS A TITLE.
IT'S CALLED A FABLE.
"ONCE UPON A TIME
THERE LIVED A GIRL.
"SHE SLEPT IN A
LOVELY LITTLE COTTAGE
"MADE OF GINGERBREAD AND CANDY.
"SHE WAS ALWAYS ASLEEP.
"ONE MORNING, SHE WOKE UP,
"AND THE CANDY HAD MOLD ON IT.
"HER FATHER BLEW HER A KISS,
"AND THE HOUSE FELL DOWN.
SHE REALIZED SHE WAS LOST."
"SHE FOUND HERSELF WALKING
DOWN A CROWDED STREET.
"BUT THE PEOPLE
WERE MADE OF PAPER,
"LIKE PAPER DOLLS.
"SHE BLEW EVERYONE
A KISS GOODBYE
AND WATCHED AS THEY BLEW AWAY."
HUH?
WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?
'CAUSE IT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE.
YEAH. THAT'S TRUE, BUT, UH,
IT DOES BETTER THAN MAKE SENSE.
IT MAKES YOU FEEL.
IT MAKES YOU WONDER.
IT WAKES YOU UP.
OK. HAS EVERYONE READ?
UM...
BRIAN, READ.
I'M NOT GONNA READ THIS.
JUST READ. LOOK, I REALLY...
READ IT!
IT'S CALLED HAIKU FOR HIM.
"HE PEELS OFF MY CLOTHES
LIKE A STARVING MAN
WOULD PEEL AN ORANGE."
WOW.
"HIS LIPS TASTE MY JUI...
JUICY..."
JUICY!
I REFUSE TO READ THIS.
"HIS LIPS TASTE MY
JUICY SWEETNESS.
"MY LEGS TANGLE WITH HIS.
"WE BECOME...
"ONE BEING.
"A BURNING FURNACE
IN THE COLD CEMENT BASEMENT..."
OF LOVE."
HORMONES.
WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THEM?
COMMENTS. QUESTIONS?
UH, WHO, UH, WHO WROTE THAT?
O.K., IS THIS A REAL HAIKU?
JORDAN.
I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH, WELL, FIND OUT, HUH?
LOOK UP HAIKU.
NOW!
YES, THE EVER-POPULAR
MISS GRAFF?
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S
NOT A REAL HAIKU
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO PRINT IT IN THE PAPER, RIGHT?
'CAUSE IT'S REAL...
I MEAN, IN THE SENSE THAT...
IT'S TRUE-TO-LIFE.
YOU'RE GONNA
PRINT THAT IN THE LIT?
I DON'T SEE WHY NOT.
ALL RIGHT, VIC!
YEAH. GET OUT OF HERE.
GIVE ME YOUR WORK BACK.
GENTLY. ONE AT A TIME.
ONE AT A TIME.
DON'T SCREW THEM UP.
GENTLY. GIVE ME THE WORK.
DON'T DROP THEM ON
THE FLOOR. PICK THEM UP.
THAT WAS MINE.
I MEAN, NOT THE
HAIKU THING, BUT...
YEAH. I KNOW WHICH
ONE WAS YOURS. JORDAN!
COME HERE.
I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET.
WHAT'S THAT WORD?
DON'T LOOK AT THE WINDOW.
WHAT'S THE WORD?
UH, WHAT'S THE SOUND?
OK. FINISH THE CHAPTER
AND THE NEXT 10 POEMS TONIGHT.
WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY?
YEAH. A GOOD QUESTION.
THIS IS HAIKU POETRY.
HAIKU POETRY CONTAINS
ONLY 17 SYLLABLES PER POEM.
THAT AIN'T A LOT OF SYLLABLES.
DON'T SKIP ANY!
GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!
MY, UH... AHEM...
DAUGHTER IS IN YOUR CLASS.
I MEAN, IN THE CLASS THAT
YOU'RE SUBSTITUTING FOR.
UH, MY WIFE AND I, WE
RUN A SMALL PRINTING SHOP.
WELL, ACTUALLY, SHE RUNS IT.
UH...
ANYWAY, I'VE COME BY FOR
THE SUBMISSIONS FOR THE LIT?
ANGELA FORGOT TO MENTION
THAT THEY HAVE TO BE
AT THE SHOP BY THE MORNING OR...
KNOW THAT KID
THAT JUST LEFT HERE?
THAT EXTREMELY SMART KID.
WELL, IT SEEMS NOBODY
EVER BOTHERED TO NOTICE
THAT HE NEVER QUITE
LEARNED HOW TO READ!
I MEAN, IT PISSES ME OFF.
UH, TOOTHPICK?
OK, WE HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT WHICH ONE IS ANGELA'S.
SO WHAT IS THIS
SUBSTITUTE PERSON LIKE?
IS BRIAN KRAKOW RIGHT?
IS HE MENTALLY ILL?
POSSIBLY. HE DIDN'T GIVE
ME ANY KOOL-AID TO DRINK
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
ACTUALLY, HE'S A
PRETTY COOL GUY.
COOL?
COOL IS NOT WHAT
SUBSTITUTES ARE.
SUBSTITUTES HAVE
HARD-TO-PRONOUNCE LAST NAMES
AND BAD HAIRCUTS.
WELL, THIS SUBSTITUTE IS COOL.
HE'S NOT A SUBSTITUTE.
MAYBE HE'S A NARC.
MAYBE YOU'RE A NARC.
YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED? A
SAMPLE OF HER HANDWRITING.
WHO ARE WE, THE K.G.B.?
GOD, THESE ARE WEIRD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG
WITH THE ONE ABOUT THE OAK TREE.
YOU DON'T THINK
SHE WROTE THE ONE
WHERE THEY KILL THE DOG.
UH, MAYDAY.
IS THAT ANGELA'S? LET ME SEE.
OH, MY GOD.
"MY JUICY SWEETNESS"?
IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD.
NO. NO WAY. I'M NOT
GONNA PRINT THAT.
WHAT HAPPENED TO
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?
SCREW IT. I'LL CALL THIS
SUBSTITUTE PERSON AND EXPLAIN.
COME ON. THAT DOESN'T
BELONG IN THE LIT.
"IN THE COLD, CEMENT
BASEMENT OF LOVE."
YOU DON'T THINK...
NO.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A BASEMENT.
LET ME SEE THAT AGAIN.
HEY. GET YOUR OWN.
MR. RACINE?
WE SPOKE EARLIER.
I'M ANGELA'S MOTHER.
OH, YEAH, YEAH. HI.
HI.
YEAH, I MET YOUR
HUSBAND THE OTHER DAY.
RIGHT. WHAT I WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT WAS...
HE'S A LUCKY MAN.
WH... OH...
THANK YOU.
UM, MY HUSBAND AND I READ
THE STUFF THAT THE KIDS WROTE.
HOPE IT DIDN'T GIVE HIM
A HEART ATTACK, HUH?
WELL...
WELL, YOU KNOW, HE
SEEMS A LITTLE FRAGILE.
ACTUALLY, IT ISN'T MY
HUSBAND WHO HAD THE PROBLEM.
REALLY?
I JUST THINK THAT...
THERE'S THIS ONE PIECE...
IN PARTICULAR... THAT...
I... I JUST DON'T FEEL
COMFORTABLE PRINTING.
OH, UH, YOU'RE AFRAID
THAT ANGELA WROTE IT.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
WHETHER ANGELA WROTE IT.
OH, THIS IS JUST CENSORSHIP
FOR CENSORSHIP'S SAKE.
WHAT? OK, HAND THEM OVER.
I'LL TYPE THEM MYSELF
AND I'LL HAVE THEM XEROXED.
THESE ARE CHILDREN.
WE ARE ADULTS.
THIS IS NOT CENSORSHIP.
THIS IS GUIDING
ADOLESCENTS WHO NEED...
GUIDANCE.
THAT'S A VERY REASONABLE
OPINION AND VERY CLEARLY STATED.
UNFORTUNATELY,
IT'S TOTAL MANURE.
EXCUSE ME?
IT'S HORSE MANURE.
I SENSE YOU'RE
ANGRY, ARE YOU ANGRY?
YES. YES, I SENSED THAT.
WHY IS IT MANURE?
GOOD QUESTION.
IT IS MANURE BECAUSE THIS JOURNAL
SHOULD BE ABOUT GIVING STUDENTS A VOICE,
NOT ABOUT HAVING
THEIR THOUGHTS EDITED.
IF THESE KIDS AREN'T AFRAID TO
PUT THEIR HEARTS ON THE PAGE,
WHY SHOULD WE BE AFRAID OF THEM?
YOU SHOULD REALLY
TEACH FULL-TIME.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE
OF OPINION. FINE.
BUT DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD
BE IN THE POSITION TO BE DECIDING
BECAUSE YOU HAVE A
PRINTING PRESS AND I DON'T?
YOU EXPECT ME TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION?
YES.
NO...
I DON'T.
NEITHER DO I.
SO...
DID ANGELA WRITE IT?
SHAWNA!
I WANT TO SEE MR. RACINE
AFTER THE FINAL BELL.
YES, MR. FOSTER.
FIRST OF ALL, WHOEVER WROTE
IT HAS ZERO SELF-RESPECT.
I KNOW, I MEAN, TO DO
IT IN YOUR BASEMENT?
I KNOW! MY BASEMENT
IS, LIKE, SO FILTHY.
PLUS SHE HAS NO SELF-ESTEEM
OR SHE'D, LIKE, SIGN HER NAME.
LOOK. HE SAID
NOT TO SIGN IT, OK?
HE SAID IT SHOULD
BE ANONYMOUS, OK?
IT WAS LIKE A RULE
HE MADE IN CLASS, OK?
UM, EXCUSE ME. TRY
YOUR OWN CONVERSATION.
PLUS SOME MUSCLE RELAXER.
YOU?
SO?
YOU WROTE THAT HAIKU POEM?
YOU?
YES! WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT IT?
YOU WROTE IT?
AND YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE
TO KNOW THAT YOU WROTE IT?
OH, NO. I CAN'T WAIT
FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING TO ME?
WE HAVE NOTHING TO
SAY TO EACH OTHER.
OH, GOD, DO YOU KNOW
HOW OVER MY LIFE WILL BE
WHEN PEOPLE FIND OUT I WROTE IT?
DO YOU KNOW HOW
OVER MINE'S GOING TO BE
WHEN THEY FIND OUT I DIDN'T?
REALLY?
YOU MEAN... PEOPLE
THINK YOU WROTE IT?
WELL, YEAH. I KIND OF
GAVE OFF THAT IMPRESSION.
SO WHY CAN'T WE JUST LET
THEM KEEP THINKING THAT?
WE COULD.
IS THIS A TRICK OR SOMETHING?
NO. IT'S NOT A TRICK.
I WANT PEOPLE TO
THINK I WROTE IT.
I WISH I HAD WROTE
IT... WRITTEN IT.
I MEAN, HOW DID YOU WRITE
SOMETHING... THAT GOOD?
I DON'T KNOW.
JUST KIND OF CAME TO ME.
MY FAVORITE PART...
IS WHEN THEY BECOME THE FURNACE.
WHEW.
RAYANNE, YOU'RE NOT...
HI.
HI.
HEY.
OH, MY GOD. YOU
WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS.
ACTUALLY, YOU
SHOULD HEAR THIS, TOO.
SPIT IT OUT.
FOSTER... HAS THE LIT,
HAS IT, LIKE EVERY COPY EXCEPT A
FEW THAT PEOPLE STOLE OR SOMETHING.
HE'S REFUSING TO ALLOW
US TO DISTRIBUTE IT...
BECAUSE OF YOUR HAIKU THING.
REALLY?
SO VIC SAYS WE HAVE
SEVERAL OPTIONS.
WE COULD FILE A LAWSUIT,
LIKE, SUE THE SCHOOL
FOR DENYING US OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS,
OR WE COULD, YOU KNOW,
LIKE, STAGE A WALKOUT.
YOU WOULD NOT
BELIEVE HOW MANY BOXES
OF THIN MINTS MS.
CASTILLO BOUGHT.
NINE.
VIC HAD THE MOST AMAZING IDEA.
WE COULD STAGE A
MAKE-BELIEVE BOOK BURNING.
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
NAZIS BURNED BOOKS.
SO, IS THAT WHAT
FOSTER'S SAYING,
THAT A SCHOOL SHOULD
BURN BOOKS, LIKE NAZIS?
EXCEPT THAT MR. FOSTER HASN'T
ACTUALLY BURNED ANYTHING,
HAS HE?
HAS HE BURNED ANYTHING?
GOOD QUESTION.
NO.
BUT IT AMOUNTS
TO THE SAME THING.
VIC SAYS IF SOMEBODY CALLED A
NEWS STATION AND READ THEM OUR POEM,
WE'D HAVE CAMERA
CREWS INSTANTANEOUSLY...
ALL OVER THE SCHOOL.
IS THERE ANY MORE BRISKET?
YOU CALL YOUR TEACHER VIC?
YOU CALL HIM VIC?
IT'S HIS NAME,
AND I... I KNOW...
I'VE BEEN TALKING
A LOT ABOUT HIM,
BUT HE'S...
I JUST RESPECT HIM, YOU KNOW.
HE'S... HE'S SMART.
HE'S LIKE...
HE'S AN ADULT I
CAN LOOK UP TO...
FINALLY. I...
WHAT?
Both: NOTHING.
LOOK, SWEETIE, UM,
DON'T GET CARRIED
AWAY WITH THIS, OK?
I'M GOING TO COUNT
MY MONEY AGAIN.
I MEAN, I KNOW HOW EASY IT IS
TO GET CAUGHT
UP IN THESE THINGS.
IT'S EXCITING.
EXCITING? IT'S NOT
EXCITING. IT'S IMPORTANT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
WHAT, YOU THINK I'M DOING
THIS FOR EXCITEMENT? FOR FUN?
ANGELA!
THE POINT IS WE ARE CONCERNED.
WE CAN'T HELP IT.
WE'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT YOUR FUTURE.
EXACTLY. WE DON'T WANT YOU DOING
ANYTHING THAT COULD GET YOU INTO TROUBLE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE BORING STORIES
I'VE HAD TO SIT THROUGH MY WHOLE LIFE
ABOUT HOW COMMITTED
YOU WERE IN THE SIXTIES,
ABOUT HOW YOU
BELIEVED IN THINGS...
WE DID.
RIGHT. ONLY NOW YOU'RE SO
TERRIFIED OF CAUSING TROUBLE,
YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE
WHAT IT MEANS TO ME.
IT'S SIMPLE. I SAY
WE GO TO FOSTER
AND WE TELL HIM WE WANT IT.
TECHNICALLY, IT'S OUR PROPERTY.
IT'S OUR CLASSWORK.
HE HAS TO GIVE IT TO US.
SO WHAT DID YOU
HEAR? WHERE IS HE?
WELL, PEOPLE ARE
SAYING EVERYTHING.
THAT HE WAS FIRED,
THAT HE WAS
SLEEPING WITH A JUNIOR,
THAT HE WAS THROWN IN JAIL.
WHICH JUNIOR?
CAN EVERYONE PLEASE
TAKE YOUR SEATS?
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW,
I'VE READ THE LIBERTY LIT
AND FOUND CERTAIN
MATERIALS IN IT UNACCEPTABLE.
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE COPIES
WILL PLEASE BRING IT TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.
EXCUSE ME.
YES, THE YOUNG LADY RIGHT THERE.
HOW CAN YOU SAY
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE
IF NOBODY'S ALLOWED TO SEE IT?
YEAH, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?
CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING?
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH.
I MUST HOLD SCHOOL
AUTHORIZED PUBLICATIONS
TO CERTAIN STANDARDS OF DECENCY.
ANYONE FOUND DISTRIBUTING THE
JOURNAL WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL.
THAT'S A PROMISE.
THE NEW SUBSTITUTE WILL BE
HERE IN A MINUTE TO WORK WITH YOU
UNTIL WE FIND A
PERMANENT REPLACEMENT.
IS THAT CLEAR?
HEY, IT'S HIM! IT'S MR. RACINE!
PEOPLE, THAT'S ENOUGH.
PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS!
MR. RACINE!
UP HERE!
MR. RACINE!
HEY, COME ON BACK!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
COME ON, MR. RACINE. VIC!
MR. RACINE!
THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE.
WILL YOU KINDLY TAKE YOUR SEATS?
ALL THAT CRAP ABOUT
HONESTY AND TRUTH.
WHAT A JERK. HE
DIDN'T EVEN TEACH.
HE DID TEACH.
WHAT?
HE WAS THE BEST
TEACHER I EVER HAD.
WELL, HE WAS.
HEY, VIC!
WE'RE UPSET, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
VIC, IS IT TRUE? WERE YOU FIRED?
YEAH, YOU COULD SAY THAT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! I CAN'T
BELIEVE YOU WERE FIRED
BECAUSE OF ONE POEM.
WHY? YOU THINK INJUSTICE
LIKE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN?
IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.
WAKE UP!
THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO, UH,
FOR TAKING THE TIME.
ANYWAY, UH, I'LL
MAKE THIS BRIEF.
LET ME SEE, YOUR
DAUGHTER IS, UH...
ANGELA. ANGELA CHASE.
SHE'S A SOPHOMORE.
SHE HAD A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
IN ENGLISH THE PAST 2 WEEKS,
WHO I MET... ACTUALLY.
AND WHO ACTUALLY
SEEMS KIND OF...
MR. CHASE, THERE'S NO
NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER.
MR. RACINE IS OUT
AND WILL NO LONGER BE
SUBSTITUTE TEACHING AT LIBERTY
IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
LOOK...
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE TROUBLE,
BUT MY DAUGHTER,
HE GOT HER THINKING.
YOU KNOW?
AND QUESTIONING.
WHICH IS... I MEAN,
ISN'T THAT WHAT ALL OF THIS
IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT?
MR. CHASE...
IT'S JUST THAT SHE
WAS REALLY SHAKEN UP.
SHE BELIEVES YOU FIRED HIM.
WELL, THAT'S FASCINATING.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T.
YOU DIDN'T FIRE HIM?
NEVER HAD THAT
PARTICULAR PLEASURE, NO.
I WAS STRONGLY
CONSIDERING IT, MIND YOU,
AND THEN HE QUIT.
RIGHT AFTER I SHOWED HIM THIS.
IT'S THE COPY OF A SUBPOENA
ADDRESSED TO MR. THEODORE
VICTOR A.K.A. VICTOR RACINE,
STATING THAT THE
AFOREMENTIONED MR. RACINE
MUST APPEAR IN A NEW
HAMPSHIRE COURT WITHIN 60 DAYS
FOR FAILURE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT
TO A FAMILY HE
DESERTED MONTHS AGO,
ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
HE TOOK ONE LOOK AT THAT
AND WALKED OUT THAT DOOR.
HE DESERTED HIS FAMILY.
SO, THAT'S THE STORY
OF MR. VICTOR RACINE.
OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IS.
GOD, I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW.
I WISH HE HADN'T TOLD ME.
NOW WHAT DO I DO?
YOU TELL HER THE TRUTH.
SHE CAN HANDLE IT.
MMM.
MMM, I REMEMBERED
TO BUY KITTY LITTER.
MY HERO.
Angela: IT'S SO WEIRD...
THAT TEACHERS
ACTUALLY, LIKE, LIVE PLACES.
I LOOKED YOU UP
IN THE PHONE BOOK.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE YOU
WERE JUST RIGHT THERE.
I'M SORRY, IF THAT'S NOT
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WELL, WHAT A WASTE
OF A SATURDAY.
UH, I HEARD THAT YOU LEFT
YOUR FAMILY, ABANDONED THEM.
I SEE.
SO ARE YOU SAYING YOU DIDN'T?
I MEAN, WHAT'S THE TRUTH?
WELL, THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF TRUTHS.
ONE TRUTH IS I LEFT MY FAMILY.
THE OTHER TRUTH IS MY WIFE...
IS FAR BETTER OFF WITHOUT ME.
YES, I GOT OUT. I ESCAPED.
I BROKE OUT OF A
PRISON OF MY OWN MAKING
AND MANY PEOPLE WANT
TO PUNISH ME FOR THAT.
MAYBE, INCLUDING YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO PUNISH
ANYONE, I'M JUST...
I'M TRYING TO...
TO WHAT? TO UNDERSTAND?
LOOK, MY STRUGGLE
FOR FREEDOM IS MINE.
GET YOUR OWN.
GET OUT BEFORE IT'S
TOO LATE, AMANDA.
GET OUT?
GET OUT OF WHAT?
THAT MIND CONTROL FACTORY,
THAT WAREHOUSE THEY STORE YOU IN
BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO WITH YOU.
YOU'RE TELLING ME TO
DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL?
GOOD QUESTION. YES.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.
SAVE YOUR LIFE.
LET THE WALLS OF YOUR
GINGERBREAD HOUSE
COME CRASHING DOWN.
OR NOT.
IT'S ANGELA.
AND I HAVE TO SAY...
I DON'T THINK LEAVING
HIGH SCHOOL IS THE ANSWER.
I DON'T THINK
LEAVING ANYTHING IS.
THE THING IS...
IS I KIND OF ADMIRED YOU.
COME ON.
I'LL, UH, DRIVE YOU HOME.
WHAT?
NOTHING.
SO IS THERE, LIKE, ANYONE'S
CAR YOU WON'T GET INTO?
RIGHT. I LIVE MY LIFE
TO ANNOY YOU, KRAKOW.
YOU'RE, LIKE, MY WORLD.
SHUT UP.
I MEAN, HE'S OLD.
HE'S A TEACHER.
WHAT, YOU THINK I, LIKE,
DID SOMETHING WITH HIM?
I DON'T KNOW. HOW DO I KNOW?
ARE YOU DEMENTED?
DO YOU JUST VIEW
EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF SEX?
NOT EVERYTHING.
I HAD THINGS TO SAY
TO HIM. WE TALKED.
HE DROVE ME HOME. GOD...
OK.
I HAVE A RIGHT NOT TO LIKE HIM.
THAT'S TRUE. YOU DO.
ARE YOU OK?
PRETTY MUCH.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS REALLY
BOILS DOWN TO, SWEETHEART?
EVERY FIGHT... IS
NOT WORTH FIGHTING.
YOU'RE LEARNING THAT.
EXACTLY.
IT'S JUST PART OF GROWING UP.
AND THAT SOMETIMES,
YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE.
LOOK, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO
COMPROMISE THEIR PRINCIPLES.
BUT IF YOU NEVER LEARN TO
COMPROMISE AT ALL, THEN...
EXACTLY.
BECAUSE COMPROMISE IS...
WELL, WE ALL HAVE TO COMPROMISE.
IT'S PART OF LIFE.
IT'S PART OF MARRIAGE.
I MEAN, YOUR MOTHER AND I...
WE COMPROMISE ALL THE TIME.
EXACTLY.
AND YOU CAN'T WIN EVERY FIGHT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO
PICK YOUR BATTLES.
I KNOW... YOU'RE RIGHT.
"AND THE OAK TREE
LOOKS DOWN ON US STILL."
BEAUTIFUL...
CONCISE...
EXCELLENT GRAMMAR...
IMPECCABLE PUNCTUATION.
IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT
TO READ, OF COURSE.
WITH THIS FOOTPRINT.
IT SHOULD PROBABLY BE RETYPED.
STILL, NOTICE HOW THE AUTHOR...
I HAD HER AS A SUBSTITUTE ONCE.
VIC WAS COOL.
YEAH, HE WAS.
ALL IN ALL, AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE OF CREATIVE WRITING.
UH, WHICH ONE OF
YOU IS ANGELA CHASE?
ANGELA CHASE?
WANT A COPY OF THE LIBERTY LIT?
IT'S FREE.
LIBERTY LIT. WANT A COPY?
LIBERTY LIT.
IT'S FREE. WHAT?
NOTHING.
I COULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE
AND HAND THEM OUT UPSTAIRS.
WHY?
BECAUSE... I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, I ALSO THINK VIC IS
A COMPLETE DEGENERATE,
BUT THIS IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
YOU COULD GET SUSPENDED.
SO?
MISS CHASE, MAY
I SPEAK WITH YOU?
WANT A COPY OF THE
LIBERTY LIT, MR. DEMITRI?
MAYBE LATER. RIGHT
NOW, MR. FOSTER
WOULD LIKE TO SEE
YOU IN HIS OFFICE. OK.
SHE'S JUST PASSING OUT SOMETHING
THAT OUR ENGLISH CLASS WROTE.
SINCE WHEN IS THAT A CRIME?
WOULD YOU LIKE
TO JOIN HER, BRIAN?
I CAN GO BY MYSELF.
WHERE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE?
COMPUTER.
HERE WE ARE.
OH, NO. THEY CALLED YOU?
OF COURSE THEY CALLED US.
I CAN SEE THAT YOU REALLY TOOK
WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT
THE OTHER DAY TO HEART.
I DID.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
THIS WILL GO ON YOUR RECORD.
I WANT IT TO GO ON MY RECORD.
YOU WANT IT TO?
HEY, HEY, LET'S JUST STAY CALM.
WE'RE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.
I MEAN, WHAT IS THE
POINT OF SCHOOL
IF YOU CAN'T SAY
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING?
DO YOU HAVE TO BE THE PERSONAL
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL?
YOU TOLD ME TO PICK MY BATTLES.
WELL, THIS IS IT.
IT MAY NOT BE A WAR PROTEST
OR A CIVIL RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION,
BUT IT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY TRUE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TRUTHS.
YOU SAID I NEEDED TO
DECIDE WHAT TO FIGHT FOR.
I DECIDED.
I JUST THINK IT'S WRONG
TO CENSOR PEOPLE,
AND I'M WILLING TO
GET SUSPENDED FOR IT.
MR. AND MRS. CHASE?
ANGELA?
LISTEN, RACINE, WHAT HE DID,
WALKING OUT ON HIS FAMILY,
YOU KNOW THAT COULD
NEVER HAPPEN IN OUR FAMILY.
YOU KNOW THAT, DON'T YOU?
GRAHAM, OF COURSE SHE KNOWS IT.
COME ON.
OH, GOD, I HATE BEING
CALLED TO THE PRINCIPAL.
ANGELA, I BELIEVE I MADE IT CLEAR
TO YOU AND YOUR CLASSMATES
THAT ANYONE CAUGHT DISTRIBUTING
THIS ISSUE OF THE LIT WOULD BE SUSPENDED.
DO YOU REMEMBER HEARING THAT?
YES.
AND YET NOT ONLY
DID YOU DISTRIBUTE IT,
YOU REPRODUCED IT, USING
SCHOOL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT?
YES.
AND WHILE YOU WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE IN ENGLISH CLASS.
AND I ALSO CUT BIO YESTERDAY.
WELL... IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D
LIKE TO SAY IN YOUR OWN DEFENSE?
NO.
BECAUSE I'M WILLING TO LISTEN.
MR. FOSTER, IF I MAY...
MOM!
THERE'S NOTHING
ELSE I WANT TO SAY.
I SEE.
WELL...
I'M NOT GOING TO SUSPEND YOU.
I THINK MR. RACINE GAVE YOU KIDS
VERY DISTORTED IDEAS
ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG.
ANGELA,
THIS OBVIOUSLY ISN'T YOU.
I'M WILLING TO FORGET ABOUT
THIS ONE ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT'S OVER.
Angela: ONCE UPON A TIME,
THERE LIVED A GIRL.
SHE SLEPT IN A LOVELY COTTAGE
MADE OF GINGERBREAD AND CANDY.
SHE WAS ALWAYS ASLEEP.
ONE MORNING, SHE WOKE UP.
SHE WOKE UP.
CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC.
♪ AND DANCE BY THE
LIGHT OF THE MOON ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ HEY ♪
♪ HEY ♪
♪ AHH ♪
♪ HEY ♪
Angela: MAYBE TEACHERS
HAVE A HIDDEN LIFE
WHERE THEY'RE ACTUALLY...
LIKE, HUMAN.
WHERE THEY HAVE, I DON'T KNOW...
DIGNITY.
OR MAYBE NOT.
STOP IT!
OVER THIS WAY!
ALL RIGHT!
OH, SORRY. UH, TOOTHPICK?
DOES ANYBODY ELSE...
TOOTHPICK.
WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. WHAT'D HE SAY?
YO, SPEAK UP, BRO.
HE SAID TOOTHPICK. RIGHT?
ISN'T THAT WHAT YOU SAID?
TOOTHPICK!
SO WHY YOU HERE?
YOU A NEW SUBSTITUTE?
WHY AM I HERE?
YEAH. GOOD QUESTION?
I'M THE NEW SUBSTITUTE, YES.
I'M HERE QUITE
SIMPLY TO GET PAID.
YEAH, RIGHT.
ASSUMING ALL OF YOU
CAN READ AND WRITE...
I DON'T PERCEIVE ANY
EMERGENCY SITUATION.
THAT'S ALL.
CONTINUE WASTING YOUR LIVES.
SO, UM...
ARE WE, LIKE,
DISMISSED?
DO YOU WANT TO BE DISMISSED?
NO. YOU JUST SAID THAT...
YOU JUST SAID THAT WAS
ALL YOU HAD TO SAY, SO...
WELL, I WILL BE HERE
FOR THE NEXT 47 MINUTES.
WHETHER YOU WILL ALSO
BE HERE FOR THAT TIME
IS, TO BE CANDID, YOUR DECISION.
WHAT'S THE CATCH?
NO CATCH. YOU DON'T
WANT TO BE HERE, GO.
I'M NOT GONNA STOP YOU.
WELL, YOU KNOW, THERE IS JUST,
YOU KNOW, ONE CATCH.
WE WILL BE DISCUSSING
YOU IN YOUR ABSENCE.
BUT IF YOU DON'T MIND THAT...
YEAH. RIGHT.
IT'S NO JOKE. I HAVE
NO LESSON PLANNED.
TRASHING YOU IN YOUR ABSENCE
WILL HELP PASS THE TIME.
RIGHT?
AND IT COULD POSSIBLY
BE EDUCATIONAL AS WELL.
SO WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO?
I'VE KNOWN YOU ALL OF 5 MINUTES,
AND YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU
WHAT YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO?
FINE.
FOLLOW YOUR HEARTS AND
VEER AWAY FROM HEROIN.
NO. I MEANT IN THE
NEXT 47 MINUTES.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEANT.
THAT WAS SARCASM.
WHAT?
UM, ONE OF THE THINGS
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO
DO THIS SEMESTER...
Krakow! Shh.
WAS THIS ISSUE OF THE,
UH, LITERARY MAGAZINE.
LIKE, WE EACH WROTE SOMETHING.
BUT MAYHEW...
THAT'S OUR TEACHER...
SHE, LIKE, NEVER APPROVED
THE WRITING OR WHATEVER
'CAUSE SHE JUST...
SHE QUIT, SO...
WE JUST NEVER DID IT.
THAT'S A HEARTBREAKING TALE.
WELL, WHAT I MEANT WAS THAT
I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE... I
MEAN, THE STUFF WE WROTE...
IT'S IN THERE, SO COULD YOU JUST
AT LEAST READ IT SO WE
COULD GET CREDIT FOR IT?
WHY NOT?
WAIT. LET'S GO OVER
IT ONE MORE TIME.
LOOK, YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE
TO BE THERE. THIS SHOULD BE ME.
FINE.
WE'LL TAKE HIM OUT TO
DINNER AND MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT WE'LL REDO THE JOB AT COST.
FINE, WHATEVER.
NICASTRO LISTENS
TO ME. HE TRUSTS ME.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, NOT THAT HE...
OH, NO, NO. YOU'RE RIGHT.
YOU SHOULD HANDLE IT.
ANYWAY, I NEED YOU
TO TAKE DANIELLE
TO THE COOKIE BOOTH
AND BACK TOMORROW NIGHT.
THE COOKIE BOOTH?
IT'S GIRL SCOUT
COOKIE TIME AGAIN.
I SIGNED HER UP.
OH. YOU SIGN HER UP, I
END UP AT THE BOOTH.
YEAH, WELL, FINE.
I'LL CALL NEIL, CANCEL
OUR POOL GAME.
OH. YOU HAD PLANS.
WELL, MAYBE YOU CAN CALL
ONE OF THE OTHER MOMS...
WHAT, AND MISS THE COOKIE BOOTH?
OH! I ALMOST FORGOT.
ONE OF US HAS TO CALL
ANGELA'S ENGLISH TEACHER...
HER NAME IS MAYHEW...
AND SEE IF THEY WANT US TO PRINT
THE LIT MAGAZINE AGAIN. I
RESERVED THE PRESS TIME.
ONE OF US SHOULD
CALL. YOU SHOULD.
YOU FORGOT TO BUY
KITTY LITTER AGAIN.
I THOUGHT YOU SAID YOU WOULD!
YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED?
A WIFE.
WELL, UM...
AHEM.
I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE
OF READING YOUR ENTRIES
FOR THE LIBERTY LIT,
AND, UM, HOW SHALL
I DESCRIBE THEM?
GOOD QUESTION.
LET'S SEE. BORING.
THE WORD BORING COMES TO MIND.
FAKE, FALSE...
SYNTHETIC.
BOGUS.
WHAT DO THESE WORDS
HAVE IN COMMON?
YOU!
ME?
YEAH. WHAT DO THESE
WORDS HAVE IN COMMON?
YES, YES, I KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE GONNA SAY...
THAT THEY'RE SYNONYMS,
MEANING NOT GENUINE.
WELL, THAT'S TRUE.
THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
BUT WHAT ELSE? I MEAN, HOW
ELSE WOULD YOU CLASSIFY THEM?
I DON'T KNOW.
YES! YOU DO!
THINK I'M AN IDIOT?
IF I TELL YOU THAT
THE CLASS'S WORK
WAS SAFE, BANAL,
HOMOGENIZED, CUTESY,
APPALLING... ALL OF WHICH
IS TRUE, BY THE WAY...
WHAT SORT OF WORDS AM I USING?
TELL ME. DON'T GIVE
ME THAT BLANK LOOK.
YOU'RE NOT FOOLING
ANYONE. I'M ON TO YOU.
YOU KNOW THIS. YOU KNOW THIS.
NOT VERBS, NOT NOUNS, BUT...
ADJECTIVES.
ADJECTIVES! WHOO!
DON'T YOU DARE PLAY
DUMB WITH ME AGAIN.
NOW, AS FOR THE REST OF YOU,
UM...
HOW SHALL I PHRASE THIS?
I don't believe this guy.
THIS IS THE MOST GODAWFUL CRAP
I'VE EVER READ IN MY LIFE.
HEY, LOOK AT THAT!
HI.
HI.
YOU WANT TO BUY SOME
GIRL SCOUT COOKIES?
NOT REALLY.
YOU CAN OWE ME THE MONEY.
Graham: DANIELLE,
LEAVE HIM ALONE.
WHAT?
YOU'VE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE
SEW ON A MERIT BADGE BEFORE?
IT'S NOT A MERIT BADGE.
IT'S A PROFICIENCY BADGE.
HI, BRIAN.
ANGELA, BRIAN'S HERE.
OH, COME ON! JUST ONE BOX.
YOU COULD FREEZE
THEM AND EAT THEM LATER.
DANIELLE!
FORGET IT.
SORRY ABOUT THAT. WHAT
HAVE YOU GOT THERE?
UM, JUST THIS THING
ANGELA WROTE THAT I FOUND.
HER OAK TREE POEM.
I LOVED THAT ONE!
WHY DOES IT HAVE THIS FOOTPRINT
ON IT? AND WHERE ARE THE OTHERS?
WEREN'T WE GOING
TO PRINT THEM UP?
ANGELA DIDN'T TELL YOU? HE
THREW THEM OUT THE WINDOW.
WHO?
THIS NEW SUBSTITUTE
WHO'S, LIKE, MENTALLY ILL.
SERIOUSLY.
NO, HE'S NOT MENTALLY ILL.
HE THREW THEM OUT THE WINDOW?
SO DO YOU, LIKE,
WANT THIS, OR...
I THINK THAT'S TERRIBLE.
MOM... I'M SERIOUS.
YOU WORKED VERY
HARD ON THAT POEM.
YOU PUT A LOT OF
THOUGHT INTO IT.
IT'S TRUE. YOU DID.
I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T
LIKE IT THAT MUCH.
WELL, HONEY,
THAT'S NOT THE POINT.
EXACTLY. I MEAN, I DON'T
CARE IF HE IS YOUR TEACHER.
HE HAS TO TREAT YOU
WITH COMMON COURTESY.
HAVEN'T WE ALWAYS TAUGHT YOU
TO STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS?
THANKS, BRIAN.
JORDAN.
THAT'S YOUR NAME, RIGHT?
LOOK, UM, I APPRECIATE THE FACT
THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO
MONOPOLIZE THE DISCUSSION,
BUT, I MEAN, COME ON!
I NEED YOU. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
I NEED YOU TO TALK MORE!
OK. JUST... OK.
ALL RIGHT.
JEEZ.
OH, BY THE WAY,
YOU LEFT THIS BEHIND.
I DIDN'T LEAVE THAT.
JUST TAKE IT, WILL YOU?
WE'LL DISCUSS IT TOMORROW.
WHAT?
I...
WHAT? SAY IT.
I JUST THINK WHAT YOU DID
YESTERDAY WASN'T RIGHT...
I MEAN, IN TERMS OF
COMMON COURTESY.
I JUST THINK IT SHOWED
A LACK OF RESPECT.
YOU MEAN WHEN I THREW
YOUR WORK OUT THE WINDOW?
YEAH. I MEAN, THAT
OAK TREE POEM,
THAT WAS MINE.
OH.
I PUT A LOT OF
THOUGHT INTO THAT.
DID YOU?
YES!
I MEAN, WHY'D YOU DO IT?
WHY'D I DO IT? GOOD QUESTION.
I DID IT TO CLEAR THE SLATE.
I DID IT TO WAKE YOU UP.
I DID IT TO DO
SOMETHING, TO FIND YOU.
NOW, GUESS WHAT? HERE YOU ARE,
WIDE AWAKE, RIGHT
IN FRONT OF ME.
I MEAN, WASN'T THAT WORTH IT?
I MEAN, THAT, UM, POEM.
THAT, UH, OAK TREE POEM...
THAT WAS YESTERDAY.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING
TO WRITE TODAY?
GOOD QUESTION.
RAYANNE, YOU'RE
NOT IN THIS CLASS.
SO, NEITHER ARE HALF THESE KIDS.
COME ON, YOU'VE BEEN
TALKING ABOUT HIM FOR 3 DAYS!
I GOTTA VIEW THIS GUY.
GET OUT YOUR NOTEBOOKS.
SUBSTITUTE, MY ASS.
HE IS THE REAL DEAL.
I WANT EVERYONE TO START
OVER, FROM THE BEGINNING.
START OVER ON WHAT?
I DIDN'T BRING A NOTEBOOK.
CAN'T YOU SHOW A MOVIE?
AND DON'T GIVE ME
ANYTHING QUAINT.
I DON'T WANT TO SEE ANY
DOMESTICATED ANIMALS
OR... OR GREENERY.
I WANT ANGER.
I WANT HONESTY.
I WANT NAKEDNESS.
I'M RIGHT HERE, BABY.
UM, EXCUSE ME.
COULD I SAY SOMETHING?
NOPE.
WRITE IT DOWN.
WHATEVER YOU FEEL LIKE SAYING,
WRITE IT DOWN INSTEAD.
WHAT YOU NEVER TOLD ANYONE.
WHAT YOU NEVER
EVEN TOLD YOURSELF.
AND DON'T FEAR EXPOSURE.
NO ONE IS TO PUT HIS
OR HER NAME DOWN.
THIS WILL BE
COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS.
JUST HOW I LIKE SEX.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
UH...
I'M NOT IN THIS CLASS.
YOU'RE NOT? WHERE ARE YOU?
I MEAN, UH, HOW CAN
YOU SAY YOU'RE NOT HERE?
YOU'RE HERE. I SEE YOU.
GET OUT YOUR NOTEBOOK.
I NEVER WROTE
ANYTHING FOR THE LIT.
YEAH, WELL, THEN YOU
HAVE AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE.
TELL HIM ABOUT THE TOOTHPICKS.
TELL HIM ABOUT THE SOCKS!
HE ALWAYS WEARS THESE WHITE...
HE ALWAYS WEARS ONE WHITE SOCK
AND ONE BLACK SOCK.
I'VE GOT TO SEE THE SOCKS.
WELL, I, UM, I READ
ALL YOUR PAPERS,
AND, UM, I'M BEGINNING
TO SEE SIGNS OF LIFE!
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
GOOD QUESTION.
WE GO FURTHER.
THIS 102-YEAR-OLD
MAN HAS A SON...
OK, WE'LL START OVER HERE.
JUST READ IT?
JUST READ IT.
UM, I CAN'T READ THIS
PERSON'S WRITING.
YEAH. READ IT ANYWAY.
"IN THE FITTING ROOM,
"PRICE TAGS TICKLE MY SHOULDER
"AS I SLIP ON ANOTHER DRESS.
"I KNOW THIS ONE WILL FIT.
THIS ONE WILL MAKE ME FLY."
Angela.
PAINT A PICTURE. JUST TALK.
DON'T TRY AND MAKE IT
SOUND LIKE WRITING. DARRELL.
"NO ONE KNOWS I
COME OUT HERE NIGHTS.
"I LOOK AT YOUR WINDOW,
BUT YOU'RE NEVER THERE...
ANGELA.
"ONLY YOUR HORRIBLE
DOG WHO USED TO BITE...
He changed the socks!
Shut up! I'm trying to listen.
"I REALIZE I'M NOT ANGRY
AT YOU. THINGS CHANGE."
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT
YOU'RE WRITING ABOUT,
NO ONE ELSE WILL. YVETTE.
"WHEN I'M A MOTHER,
I'LL GET REVENGE.
I'LL ASK QUESTIONS THAT
MISS THE ENTIRE POINT."
FORGET GRAMMAR. FORGET
SPELLING. FORGET THE RULES.
"MY FATHER DECIDES HOW
MUCH CARS WERE WORTH
BEFORE THEY WERE
TOTALED. THAT'S HIS JOB."
"I CAN FORGIVE YOU, BUT I
WANT TO KILL YOUR DOG."
YEAH, REMEMBER, IT
ISN'T JUST EMOTION.
YOU HAVE TO SHAPE THE EMOTION.
"I'LL SMILE WHEN
YOU WANT TO KILL ME.
I'LL THROW AWAY YOUR FAVORITE
SKIRT AND NEVER ADMIT IT."
"IF I DRIVE MYSELF AND
HIS CAR OFF A BRIDGE,
WHAT WOULD BE THE
ESTIMATED DAMAGES?"
NOTICE HE DIDN'T
SIMPLY TRASH HIS FATHER.
HE FOUND AN INGENIOUS
WAY TO TRASH HIM.
UH, THIS ONE HAS A TITLE.
IT'S CALLED A FABLE.
"ONCE UPON A TIME
THERE LIVED A GIRL.
"SHE SLEPT IN A
LOVELY LITTLE COTTAGE
"MADE OF GINGERBREAD AND CANDY.
"SHE WAS ALWAYS ASLEEP.
"ONE MORNING, SHE WOKE UP,
"AND THE CANDY HAD MOLD ON IT.
"HER FATHER BLEW HER A KISS,
"AND THE HOUSE FELL DOWN.
SHE REALIZED SHE WAS LOST."
"SHE FOUND HERSELF WALKING
DOWN A CROWDED STREET.
"BUT THE PEOPLE
WERE MADE OF PAPER,
"LIKE PAPER DOLLS.
"SHE BLEW EVERYONE
A KISS GOODBYE
AND WATCHED AS THEY BLEW AWAY."
HUH?
WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?
'CAUSE IT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE.
YEAH. THAT'S TRUE, BUT, UH,
IT DOES BETTER THAN MAKE SENSE.
IT MAKES YOU FEEL.
IT MAKES YOU WONDER.
IT WAKES YOU UP.
OK. HAS EVERYONE READ?
UM...
BRIAN, READ.
I'M NOT GONNA READ THIS.
JUST READ. LOOK, I REALLY...
READ IT!
IT'S CALLED HAIKU FOR HIM.
"HE PEELS OFF MY CLOTHES
LIKE A STARVING MAN
WOULD PEEL AN ORANGE."
WOW.
"HIS LIPS TASTE MY JUI...
JUICY..."
JUICY!
I REFUSE TO READ THIS.
"HIS LIPS TASTE MY
JUICY SWEETNESS.
"MY LEGS TANGLE WITH HIS.
"WE BECOME...
"ONE BEING.
"A BURNING FURNACE
IN THE COLD CEMENT BASEMENT..."
OF LOVE."
HORMONES.
WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT THEM?
COMMENTS. QUESTIONS?
UH, WHO, UH, WHO WROTE THAT?
O.K., IS THIS A REAL HAIKU?
JORDAN.
I DON'T KNOW.
YEAH, WELL, FIND OUT, HUH?
LOOK UP HAIKU.
NOW!
YES, THE EVER-POPULAR
MISS GRAFF?
JUST 'CAUSE IT'S
NOT A REAL HAIKU
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE NOT
GOING TO PRINT IT IN THE PAPER, RIGHT?
'CAUSE IT'S REAL...
I MEAN, IN THE SENSE THAT...
IT'S TRUE-TO-LIFE.
YOU'RE GONNA
PRINT THAT IN THE LIT?
I DON'T SEE WHY NOT.
ALL RIGHT, VIC!
YEAH. GET OUT OF HERE.
GIVE ME YOUR WORK BACK.
GENTLY. ONE AT A TIME.
ONE AT A TIME.
DON'T SCREW THEM UP.
GENTLY. GIVE ME THE WORK.
DON'T DROP THEM ON
THE FLOOR. PICK THEM UP.
THAT WAS MINE.
I MEAN, NOT THE
HAIKU THING, BUT...
YEAH. I KNOW WHICH
ONE WAS YOURS. JORDAN!
COME HERE.
I'M NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET.
WHAT'S THAT WORD?
DON'T LOOK AT THE WINDOW.
WHAT'S THE WORD?
UH, WHAT'S THE SOUND?
OK. FINISH THE CHAPTER
AND THE NEXT 10 POEMS TONIGHT.
WHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY?
YEAH. A GOOD QUESTION.
THIS IS HAIKU POETRY.
HAIKU POETRY CONTAINS
ONLY 17 SYLLABLES PER POEM.
THAT AIN'T A LOT OF SYLLABLES.
DON'T SKIP ANY!
GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!
MY, UH... AHEM...
DAUGHTER IS IN YOUR CLASS.
I MEAN, IN THE CLASS THAT
YOU'RE SUBSTITUTING FOR.
UH, MY WIFE AND I, WE
RUN A SMALL PRINTING SHOP.
WELL, ACTUALLY, SHE RUNS IT.
UH...
ANYWAY, I'VE COME BY FOR
THE SUBMISSIONS FOR THE LIT?
ANGELA FORGOT TO MENTION
THAT THEY HAVE TO BE
AT THE SHOP BY THE MORNING OR...
KNOW THAT KID
THAT JUST LEFT HERE?
THAT EXTREMELY SMART KID.
WELL, IT SEEMS NOBODY
EVER BOTHERED TO NOTICE
THAT HE NEVER QUITE
LEARNED HOW TO READ!
I MEAN, IT PISSES ME OFF.
UH, TOOTHPICK?
OK, WE HAVE TO FIGURE
OUT WHICH ONE IS ANGELA'S.
SO WHAT IS THIS
SUBSTITUTE PERSON LIKE?
IS BRIAN KRAKOW RIGHT?
IS HE MENTALLY ILL?
POSSIBLY. HE DIDN'T GIVE
ME ANY KOOL-AID TO DRINK
OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
ACTUALLY, HE'S A
PRETTY COOL GUY.
COOL?
COOL IS NOT WHAT
SUBSTITUTES ARE.
SUBSTITUTES HAVE
HARD-TO-PRONOUNCE LAST NAMES
AND BAD HAIRCUTS.
WELL, THIS SUBSTITUTE IS COOL.
HE'S NOT A SUBSTITUTE.
MAYBE HE'S A NARC.
MAYBE YOU'RE A NARC.
YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEED? A
SAMPLE OF HER HANDWRITING.
WHO ARE WE, THE K.G.B.?
GOD, THESE ARE WEIRD.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG
WITH THE ONE ABOUT THE OAK TREE.
YOU DON'T THINK
SHE WROTE THE ONE
WHERE THEY KILL THE DOG.
UH, MAYDAY.
IS THAT ANGELA'S? LET ME SEE.
OH, MY GOD.
"MY JUICY SWEETNESS"?
IT'S THE END OF THE WORLD.
NO. NO WAY. I'M NOT
GONNA PRINT THAT.
WHAT HAPPENED TO
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?
SCREW IT. I'LL CALL THIS
SUBSTITUTE PERSON AND EXPLAIN.
COME ON. THAT DOESN'T
BELONG IN THE LIT.
"IN THE COLD, CEMENT
BASEMENT OF LOVE."
YOU DON'T THINK...
NO.
WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A BASEMENT.
LET ME SEE THAT AGAIN.
HEY. GET YOUR OWN.
MR. RACINE?
WE SPOKE EARLIER.
I'M ANGELA'S MOTHER.
OH, YEAH, YEAH. HI.
HI.
YEAH, I MET YOUR
HUSBAND THE OTHER DAY.
RIGHT. WHAT I WANTED
TO TALK ABOUT WAS...
HE'S A LUCKY MAN.
WH... OH...
THANK YOU.
UM, MY HUSBAND AND I READ
THE STUFF THAT THE KIDS WROTE.
HOPE IT DIDN'T GIVE HIM
A HEART ATTACK, HUH?
WELL...
WELL, YOU KNOW, HE
SEEMS A LITTLE FRAGILE.
ACTUALLY, IT ISN'T MY
HUSBAND WHO HAD THE PROBLEM.
REALLY?
I JUST THINK THAT...
THERE'S THIS ONE PIECE...
IN PARTICULAR... THAT...
I... I JUST DON'T FEEL
COMFORTABLE PRINTING.
OH, UH, YOU'RE AFRAID
THAT ANGELA WROTE IT.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
WHETHER ANGELA WROTE IT.
OH, THIS IS JUST CENSORSHIP
FOR CENSORSHIP'S SAKE.
WHAT? OK, HAND THEM OVER.
I'LL TYPE THEM MYSELF
AND I'LL HAVE THEM XEROXED.
THESE ARE CHILDREN.
WE ARE ADULTS.
THIS IS NOT CENSORSHIP.
THIS IS GUIDING
ADOLESCENTS WHO NEED...
GUIDANCE.
THAT'S A VERY REASONABLE
OPINION AND VERY CLEARLY STATED.
UNFORTUNATELY,
IT'S TOTAL MANURE.
EXCUSE ME?
IT'S HORSE MANURE.
I SENSE YOU'RE
ANGRY, ARE YOU ANGRY?
YES. YES, I SENSED THAT.
WHY IS IT MANURE?
GOOD QUESTION.
IT IS MANURE BECAUSE THIS JOURNAL
SHOULD BE ABOUT GIVING STUDENTS A VOICE,
NOT ABOUT HAVING
THEIR THOUGHTS EDITED.
IF THESE KIDS AREN'T AFRAID TO
PUT THEIR HEARTS ON THE PAGE,
WHY SHOULD WE BE AFRAID OF THEM?
YOU SHOULD REALLY
TEACH FULL-TIME.
WE HAVE A DIFFERENCE
OF OPINION. FINE.
BUT DO YOU THINK YOU SHOULD
BE IN THE POSITION TO BE DECIDING
BECAUSE YOU HAVE A
PRINTING PRESS AND I DON'T?
YOU EXPECT ME TO
ANSWER THAT QUESTION?
YES.
NO...
I DON'T.
NEITHER DO I.
SO...
DID ANGELA WRITE IT?
SHAWNA!
I WANT TO SEE MR. RACINE
AFTER THE FINAL BELL.
YES, MR. FOSTER.
FIRST OF ALL, WHOEVER WROTE
IT HAS ZERO SELF-RESPECT.
I KNOW, I MEAN, TO DO
IT IN YOUR BASEMENT?
I KNOW! MY BASEMENT
IS, LIKE, SO FILTHY.
PLUS SHE HAS NO SELF-ESTEEM
OR SHE'D, LIKE, SIGN HER NAME.
LOOK. HE SAID
NOT TO SIGN IT, OK?
HE SAID IT SHOULD
BE ANONYMOUS, OK?
IT WAS LIKE A RULE
HE MADE IN CLASS, OK?
UM, EXCUSE ME. TRY
YOUR OWN CONVERSATION.
PLUS SOME MUSCLE RELAXER.
YOU?
SO?
YOU WROTE THAT HAIKU POEM?
YOU?
YES! WILL YOU SHUT UP ABOUT IT?
YOU WROTE IT?
AND YOU DON'T WANT PEOPLE
TO KNOW THAT YOU WROTE IT?
OH, NO. I CAN'T WAIT
FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OUT.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
WHY ARE YOU EVEN TALKING TO ME?
WE HAVE NOTHING TO
SAY TO EACH OTHER.
OH, GOD, DO YOU KNOW
HOW OVER MY LIFE WILL BE
WHEN PEOPLE FIND OUT I WROTE IT?
DO YOU KNOW HOW
OVER MINE'S GOING TO BE
WHEN THEY FIND OUT I DIDN'T?
REALLY?
YOU MEAN... PEOPLE
THINK YOU WROTE IT?
WELL, YEAH. I KIND OF
GAVE OFF THAT IMPRESSION.
SO WHY CAN'T WE JUST LET
THEM KEEP THINKING THAT?
WE COULD.
IS THIS A TRICK OR SOMETHING?
NO. IT'S NOT A TRICK.
I WANT PEOPLE TO
THINK I WROTE IT.
I WISH I HAD WROTE
IT... WRITTEN IT.
I MEAN, HOW DID YOU WRITE
SOMETHING... THAT GOOD?
I DON'T KNOW.
JUST KIND OF CAME TO ME.
MY FAVORITE PART...
IS WHEN THEY BECOME THE FURNACE.
WHEW.
RAYANNE, YOU'RE NOT...
HI.
HI.
HEY.
OH, MY GOD. YOU
WILL NOT BELIEVE THIS.
ACTUALLY, YOU
SHOULD HEAR THIS, TOO.
SPIT IT OUT.
FOSTER... HAS THE LIT,
HAS IT, LIKE EVERY COPY EXCEPT A
FEW THAT PEOPLE STOLE OR SOMETHING.
HE'S REFUSING TO ALLOW
US TO DISTRIBUTE IT...
BECAUSE OF YOUR HAIKU THING.
REALLY?
SO VIC SAYS WE HAVE
SEVERAL OPTIONS.
WE COULD FILE A LAWSUIT,
LIKE, SUE THE SCHOOL
FOR DENYING US OUR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS,
OR WE COULD, YOU KNOW,
LIKE, STAGE A WALKOUT.
YOU WOULD NOT
BELIEVE HOW MANY BOXES
OF THIN MINTS MS.
CASTILLO BOUGHT.
NINE.
VIC HAD THE MOST AMAZING IDEA.
WE COULD STAGE A
MAKE-BELIEVE BOOK BURNING.
'CAUSE, YOU KNOW,
NAZIS BURNED BOOKS.
SO, IS THAT WHAT
FOSTER'S SAYING,
THAT A SCHOOL SHOULD
BURN BOOKS, LIKE NAZIS?
EXCEPT THAT MR. FOSTER HASN'T
ACTUALLY BURNED ANYTHING,
HAS HE?
HAS HE BURNED ANYTHING?
GOOD QUESTION.
NO.
BUT IT AMOUNTS
TO THE SAME THING.
VIC SAYS IF SOMEBODY CALLED A
NEWS STATION AND READ THEM OUR POEM,
WE'D HAVE CAMERA
CREWS INSTANTANEOUSLY...
ALL OVER THE SCHOOL.
IS THERE ANY MORE BRISKET?
YOU CALL YOUR TEACHER VIC?
YOU CALL HIM VIC?
IT'S HIS NAME,
AND I... I KNOW...
I'VE BEEN TALKING
A LOT ABOUT HIM,
BUT HE'S...
I JUST RESPECT HIM, YOU KNOW.
HE'S... HE'S SMART.
HE'S LIKE...
HE'S AN ADULT I
CAN LOOK UP TO...
FINALLY. I...
WHAT?
Both: NOTHING.
LOOK, SWEETIE, UM,
DON'T GET CARRIED
AWAY WITH THIS, OK?
I'M GOING TO COUNT
MY MONEY AGAIN.
I MEAN, I KNOW HOW EASY IT IS
TO GET CAUGHT
UP IN THESE THINGS.
IT'S EXCITING.
EXCITING? IT'S NOT
EXCITING. IT'S IMPORTANT.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT ISSUE.
WHAT, YOU THINK I'M DOING
THIS FOR EXCITEMENT? FOR FUN?
ANGELA!
THE POINT IS WE ARE CONCERNED.
WE CAN'T HELP IT.
WE'RE CONCERNED
ABOUT YOUR FUTURE.
EXACTLY. WE DON'T WANT YOU DOING
ANYTHING THAT COULD GET YOU INTO TROUBLE.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS.
WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE BORING STORIES
I'VE HAD TO SIT THROUGH MY WHOLE LIFE
ABOUT HOW COMMITTED
YOU WERE IN THE SIXTIES,
ABOUT HOW YOU
BELIEVED IN THINGS...
WE DID.
RIGHT. ONLY NOW YOU'RE SO
TERRIFIED OF CAUSING TROUBLE,
YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE
WHAT IT MEANS TO ME.
IT'S SIMPLE. I SAY
WE GO TO FOSTER
AND WE TELL HIM WE WANT IT.
TECHNICALLY, IT'S OUR PROPERTY.
IT'S OUR CLASSWORK.
HE HAS TO GIVE IT TO US.
SO WHAT DID YOU
HEAR? WHERE IS HE?
WELL, PEOPLE ARE
SAYING EVERYTHING.
THAT HE WAS FIRED,
THAT HE WAS
SLEEPING WITH A JUNIOR,
THAT HE WAS THROWN IN JAIL.
WHICH JUNIOR?
CAN EVERYONE PLEASE
TAKE YOUR SEATS?
AS SOME OF YOU KNOW,
I'VE READ THE LIBERTY LIT
AND FOUND CERTAIN
MATERIALS IN IT UNACCEPTABLE.
THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE COPIES
WILL PLEASE BRING IT TO
THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES.
EXCUSE ME.
YES, THE YOUNG LADY RIGHT THERE.
HOW CAN YOU SAY
IT'S UNACCEPTABLE
IF NOBODY'S ALLOWED TO SEE IT?
YEAH, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT?
CAN I JUST SAY SOMETHING?
ALL RIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH.
I MUST HOLD SCHOOL
AUTHORIZED PUBLICATIONS
TO CERTAIN STANDARDS OF DECENCY.
ANYONE FOUND DISTRIBUTING THE
JOURNAL WILL BE SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL.
THAT'S A PROMISE.
THE NEW SUBSTITUTE WILL BE
HERE IN A MINUTE TO WORK WITH YOU
UNTIL WE FIND A
PERMANENT REPLACEMENT.
IS THAT CLEAR?
HEY, IT'S HIM! IT'S MR. RACINE!
PEOPLE, THAT'S ENOUGH.
PLEASE REMAIN IN YOUR SEATS!
MR. RACINE!
UP HERE!
MR. RACINE!
HEY, COME ON BACK!
WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
COME ON, MR. RACINE. VIC!
MR. RACINE!
THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE.
WILL YOU KINDLY TAKE YOUR SEATS?
ALL THAT CRAP ABOUT
HONESTY AND TRUTH.
WHAT A JERK. HE
DIDN'T EVEN TEACH.
HE DID TEACH.
WHAT?
HE WAS THE BEST
TEACHER I EVER HAD.
WELL, HE WAS.
HEY, VIC!
WE'RE UPSET, YOU KNOW,
ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING.
VIC, IS IT TRUE? WERE YOU FIRED?
YEAH, YOU COULD SAY THAT.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THIS! I CAN'T
BELIEVE YOU WERE FIRED
BECAUSE OF ONE POEM.
WHY? YOU THINK INJUSTICE
LIKE THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN?
IT HAPPENS EVERY DAY.
WAKE UP!
THANK YOU FOR
TAKING THE TIME TO, UH,
FOR TAKING THE TIME.
ANYWAY, UH, I'LL
MAKE THIS BRIEF.
LET ME SEE, YOUR
DAUGHTER IS, UH...
ANGELA. ANGELA CHASE.
SHE'S A SOPHOMORE.
SHE HAD A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER
IN ENGLISH THE PAST 2 WEEKS,
WHO I MET... ACTUALLY.
AND WHO ACTUALLY
SEEMS KIND OF...
MR. CHASE, THERE'S NO
NEED TO GO ANY FURTHER.
MR. RACINE IS OUT
AND WILL NO LONGER BE
SUBSTITUTE TEACHING AT LIBERTY
IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
LOOK...
I DON'T WANT TO MAKE TROUBLE,
BUT MY DAUGHTER,
HE GOT HER THINKING.
YOU KNOW?
AND QUESTIONING.
WHICH IS... I MEAN,
ISN'T THAT WHAT ALL OF THIS
IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABOUT?
MR. CHASE...
IT'S JUST THAT SHE
WAS REALLY SHAKEN UP.
SHE BELIEVES YOU FIRED HIM.
WELL, THAT'S FASCINATING.
BECAUSE I DIDN'T.
YOU DIDN'T FIRE HIM?
NEVER HAD THAT
PARTICULAR PLEASURE, NO.
I WAS STRONGLY
CONSIDERING IT, MIND YOU,
AND THEN HE QUIT.
RIGHT AFTER I SHOWED HIM THIS.
IT'S THE COPY OF A SUBPOENA
ADDRESSED TO MR. THEODORE
VICTOR A.K.A. VICTOR RACINE,
STATING THAT THE
AFOREMENTIONED MR. RACINE
MUST APPEAR IN A NEW
HAMPSHIRE COURT WITHIN 60 DAYS
FOR FAILURE TO PAY CHILD SUPPORT
TO A FAMILY HE
DESERTED MONTHS AGO,
ET CETERA, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
HE TOOK ONE LOOK AT THAT
AND WALKED OUT THAT DOOR.
HE DESERTED HIS FAMILY.
SO, THAT'S THE STORY
OF MR. VICTOR RACINE.
OR WHATEVER HIS NAME IS.
GOD, I WISH I DIDN'T KNOW.
I WISH HE HADN'T TOLD ME.
NOW WHAT DO I DO?
YOU TELL HER THE TRUTH.
SHE CAN HANDLE IT.
MMM.
MMM, I REMEMBERED
TO BUY KITTY LITTER.
MY HERO.
Angela: IT'S SO WEIRD...
THAT TEACHERS
ACTUALLY, LIKE, LIVE PLACES.
I LOOKED YOU UP
IN THE PHONE BOOK.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE YOU
WERE JUST RIGHT THERE.
I'M SORRY, IF THAT'S NOT
THE RIGHT THING TO DO.
WELL, WHAT A WASTE
OF A SATURDAY.
UH, I HEARD THAT YOU LEFT
YOUR FAMILY, ABANDONED THEM.
I SEE.
SO ARE YOU SAYING YOU DIDN'T?
I MEAN, WHAT'S THE TRUTH?
WELL, THERE ARE A
COUPLE OF TRUTHS.
ONE TRUTH IS I LEFT MY FAMILY.
THE OTHER TRUTH IS MY WIFE...
IS FAR BETTER OFF WITHOUT ME.
YES, I GOT OUT. I ESCAPED.
I BROKE OUT OF A
PRISON OF MY OWN MAKING
AND MANY PEOPLE WANT
TO PUNISH ME FOR THAT.
MAYBE, INCLUDING YOU.
I DON'T WANT TO PUNISH
ANYONE, I'M JUST...
I'M TRYING TO...
TO WHAT? TO UNDERSTAND?
LOOK, MY STRUGGLE
FOR FREEDOM IS MINE.
GET YOUR OWN.
GET OUT BEFORE IT'S
TOO LATE, AMANDA.
GET OUT?
GET OUT OF WHAT?
THAT MIND CONTROL FACTORY,
THAT WAREHOUSE THEY STORE YOU IN
BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT ELSE TO DO WITH YOU.
YOU'RE TELLING ME TO
DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL?
GOOD QUESTION. YES.
RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.
SAVE YOUR LIFE.
LET THE WALLS OF YOUR
GINGERBREAD HOUSE
COME CRASHING DOWN.
OR NOT.
IT'S ANGELA.
AND I HAVE TO SAY...
I DON'T THINK LEAVING
HIGH SCHOOL IS THE ANSWER.
I DON'T THINK
LEAVING ANYTHING IS.
THE THING IS...
IS I KIND OF ADMIRED YOU.
COME ON.
I'LL, UH, DRIVE YOU HOME.
WHAT?
NOTHING.
SO IS THERE, LIKE, ANYONE'S
CAR YOU WON'T GET INTO?
RIGHT. I LIVE MY LIFE
TO ANNOY YOU, KRAKOW.
YOU'RE, LIKE, MY WORLD.
SHUT UP.
I MEAN, HE'S OLD.
HE'S A TEACHER.
WHAT, YOU THINK I, LIKE,
DID SOMETHING WITH HIM?
I DON'T KNOW. HOW DO I KNOW?
ARE YOU DEMENTED?
DO YOU JUST VIEW
EVERYTHING IN TERMS OF SEX?
NOT EVERYTHING.
I HAD THINGS TO SAY
TO HIM. WE TALKED.
HE DROVE ME HOME. GOD...
OK.
I HAVE A RIGHT NOT TO LIKE HIM.
THAT'S TRUE. YOU DO.
ARE YOU OK?
PRETTY MUCH.
YOU KNOW WHAT THIS REALLY
BOILS DOWN TO, SWEETHEART?
EVERY FIGHT... IS
NOT WORTH FIGHTING.
YOU'RE LEARNING THAT.
EXACTLY.
IT'S JUST PART OF GROWING UP.
AND THAT SOMETIMES,
YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE.
LOOK, NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO
COMPROMISE THEIR PRINCIPLES.
BUT IF YOU NEVER LEARN TO
COMPROMISE AT ALL, THEN...
EXACTLY.
BECAUSE COMPROMISE IS...
WELL, WE ALL HAVE TO COMPROMISE.
IT'S PART OF LIFE.
IT'S PART OF MARRIAGE.
I MEAN, YOUR MOTHER AND I...
WE COMPROMISE ALL THE TIME.
EXACTLY.
AND YOU CAN'T WIN EVERY FIGHT.
YOU JUST HAVE TO
PICK YOUR BATTLES.
I KNOW... YOU'RE RIGHT.
"AND THE OAK TREE
LOOKS DOWN ON US STILL."
BEAUTIFUL...
CONCISE...
EXCELLENT GRAMMAR...
IMPECCABLE PUNCTUATION.
IT IS A LITTLE DIFFICULT
TO READ, OF COURSE.
WITH THIS FOOTPRINT.
IT SHOULD PROBABLY BE RETYPED.
STILL, NOTICE HOW THE AUTHOR...
I HAD HER AS A SUBSTITUTE ONCE.
VIC WAS COOL.
YEAH, HE WAS.
ALL IN ALL, AN EXCELLENT
EXAMPLE OF CREATIVE WRITING.
UH, WHICH ONE OF
YOU IS ANGELA CHASE?
ANGELA CHASE?
WANT A COPY OF THE LIBERTY LIT?
IT'S FREE.
LIBERTY LIT. WANT A COPY?
LIBERTY LIT.
IT'S FREE. WHAT?
NOTHING.
I COULD TAKE SOME OF THOSE
AND HAND THEM OUT UPSTAIRS.
WHY?
BECAUSE... I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT.
I MEAN, I ALSO THINK VIC IS
A COMPLETE DEGENERATE,
BUT THIS IS FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
YOU COULD GET SUSPENDED.
SO?
MISS CHASE, MAY
I SPEAK WITH YOU?
WANT A COPY OF THE
LIBERTY LIT, MR. DEMITRI?
MAYBE LATER. RIGHT
NOW, MR. FOSTER
WOULD LIKE TO SEE
YOU IN HIS OFFICE. OK.
SHE'S JUST PASSING OUT SOMETHING
THAT OUR ENGLISH CLASS WROTE.
SINCE WHEN IS THAT A CRIME?
WOULD YOU LIKE
TO JOIN HER, BRIAN?
I CAN GO BY MYSELF.
WHERE ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO BE?
COMPUTER.
HERE WE ARE.
OH, NO. THEY CALLED YOU?
OF COURSE THEY CALLED US.
I CAN SEE THAT YOU REALLY TOOK
WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT
THE OTHER DAY TO HEART.
I DID.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS?
THIS WILL GO ON YOUR RECORD.
I WANT IT TO GO ON MY RECORD.
YOU WANT IT TO?
HEY, HEY, LET'S JUST STAY CALM.
WE'RE IN THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.
I MEAN, WHAT IS THE
POINT OF SCHOOL
IF YOU CAN'T SAY
WHAT YOU'RE THINKING?
DO YOU HAVE TO BE THE PERSONAL
SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL?
YOU TOLD ME TO PICK MY BATTLES.
WELL, THIS IS IT.
IT MAY NOT BE A WAR PROTEST
OR A CIVIL RIGHTS DEMONSTRATION,
BUT IT'S ALL I'VE GOT.
THAT'S NOT COMPLETELY TRUE.
THERE ARE A COUPLE OF TRUTHS.
YOU SAID I NEEDED TO
DECIDE WHAT TO FIGHT FOR.
I DECIDED.
I JUST THINK IT'S WRONG
TO CENSOR PEOPLE,
AND I'M WILLING TO
GET SUSPENDED FOR IT.
MR. AND MRS. CHASE?
ANGELA?
LISTEN, RACINE, WHAT HE DID,
WALKING OUT ON HIS FAMILY,
YOU KNOW THAT COULD
NEVER HAPPEN IN OUR FAMILY.
YOU KNOW THAT, DON'T YOU?
GRAHAM, OF COURSE SHE KNOWS IT.
COME ON.
OH, GOD, I HATE BEING
CALLED TO THE PRINCIPAL.
ANGELA, I BELIEVE I MADE IT CLEAR
TO YOU AND YOUR CLASSMATES
THAT ANYONE CAUGHT DISTRIBUTING
THIS ISSUE OF THE LIT WOULD BE SUSPENDED.
DO YOU REMEMBER HEARING THAT?
YES.
AND YET NOT ONLY
DID YOU DISTRIBUTE IT,
YOU REPRODUCED IT, USING
SCHOOL EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT?
YES.
AND WHILE YOU WERE
SUPPOSED TO BE IN ENGLISH CLASS.
AND I ALSO CUT BIO YESTERDAY.
WELL... IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D
LIKE TO SAY IN YOUR OWN DEFENSE?
NO.
BECAUSE I'M WILLING TO LISTEN.
MR. FOSTER, IF I MAY...
MOM!
THERE'S NOTHING
ELSE I WANT TO SAY.
I SEE.
WELL...
I'M NOT GOING TO SUSPEND YOU.
I THINK MR. RACINE GAVE YOU KIDS
VERY DISTORTED IDEAS
ABOUT RIGHT AND WRONG.
ANGELA,
THIS OBVIOUSLY ISN'T YOU.
I'M WILLING TO FORGET ABOUT
THIS ONE ISOLATED INCIDENT.
IT'S OVER.
Angela: ONCE UPON A TIME,
THERE LIVED A GIRL.
SHE SLEPT IN A LOVELY COTTAGE
MADE OF GINGERBREAD AND CANDY.
SHE WAS ALWAYS ASLEEP.
ONE MORNING, SHE WOKE UP.
SHE WOKE UP.
CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE
NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, INC.
♪ AND DANCE BY THE
LIGHT OF THE MOON ♪