Original subtitles

Wait,

wait, what are you doing?

Watusi.

No, I don't mean that. I mean the camera. What's that for?

To take pictures of me doing the Watusi.

What for?

For a Martian report on Earth culture and stop asking questions.

This is very strenuous.

Well, I didn't know the Watusi was culture. Culture in its most

sense reflects the trends, inclinations, manners, and expressions of the times.

Today that includes Picasso, pop art, the Beatles, and the Watusi.

Hey, look, who's going to see this film on the Watusi, though? The Martian

Committee on Interplanetary Culture.

And about 30 million other Martians and one Earth woman.

One Earth woman?

The one who's watching a preview performance through our window.

Good evening.

I'm Miss Pringle.

Miss Pringle?

Hello, Tim.

Well, Miss Pringle, it's nice to see you, Miss Pringle. Very nice.

It's very, very nice.

Let's not overdo it.

I recall when just saying good morning, Miss Pringle caused you to have severe

gastronomic distress.

Oh, no, that's not at all true.

No, I have very fond memories of the times that I served under.

Studied under.

I'd like you to meet my uncle, Martin O 'Hara. Miss Pringle. How do you do, Miss

Pringle? I gather that you're one of Tim's old teachers.

Past teachers.

Age has nothing to do with it.

Um, um, Miss Pringle taught me English in Cuenca High School.

That must have been about ten years ago.

Nine. If my memory serves me, I didn't teach you much.

Well, you tried.

Except that.

You've done rather well, all things considered. You're a capable newspaper

I'm glad you stayed with it.

Miss Pringle sort of got me interested in newspaper work. She was the faculty

advisor on our school newspaper.

I still am, which brings me to the reason for my visit tonight.

We want your photo for the school paper.

Mine? Well, this will explain it, I think.

I live nearby and I thought I'd just drop it off rather than have the school

mail it.

Well, the students want me to sit on the committee to select the teacher of the

year. Well, that's wonderful, Tim.

Yes, but why me?

An alumnus is always chosen to work along with the students in these

nominations. Oh, I know.

But why me?

You're either redundant or there's an echo in this room.

He's redundant.

And in answer to why you, I suppose, the children think that a newspaper man is

a glamorous figure.

Naturally, you'll accept.

Oh, well, I... Well, I don't know how to think about it.

Indecision is not an admirable trait, Tim.

It made a mess of Hamlet.

Well, you notify the school as to your decision and get that photo to me if you

decide to accept.

Good night.

Oh, good night. It's been a pleasure, Miss Pringle. I'll see you to the door.

Oh, I glimpsed through the window before I entered.

Was that the Watusi you were attempting?

Attempting? If so, your version lacked authenticity.

The Watusi is an Aborigine ceremonial dance.

I researched primitive culture when I studied for my doctorate.

Well, you see, I don't know anything about the original. That was before my

time. I should hope so.

Aborigines have been extinct for over a thousand years.

I doubt if you're more than 40.

Sure he is.

But not much.

If you would like to see some of the original... Oh, I would. Would you mind

showing me some?

Would you mind putting on the record, Tim? Sure.

There's a bit of the basic what you see, gentlemen.

Magnificent, Miss Pringle. How about that?

You won't forget the photograph, will you, Tim?

It's the last issue of the paper for the term, and it's my final issue.

I'm retiring in two weeks.

Retiring? Well, I've had 30 years of it, and I have had plenty.

Now I'm looking forward to just being at leisure, to just doing nothing.

Good night.

Good night.

Real partner, isn't she?

You know, Uncle Martin, I just never thought that, well, that Miss Pringle

be glad to retire.

She's not.

She hasn't any choice.

She's past the age limit now.

I read her mind, Tim.

Retirement is painful to her.

You know why she came here tonight?

The letter?

That was just an excuse.

She's been visiting many of her old pupils.

She's clinging to the past.

Sentiment brought her here.

Sentiment? Miss Pringle is about as sentimental as Babyface Nelson.

Now, look, if you read her mind and you found sentiment, it was misprint.

She'd be as reluctant to admit to sentiment as you are to credit her with

But it's there, nonetheless.

Tim, she's revisiting the past because subconsciously she needs reassurance

her work was worthwhile.

Tim, you are going to serve on that committee.

I am? And you're going to get Miss Pringle nominated.

I am going to get Miss Pringle nominated.

Who do you think I am?

The miracle worker?

Oh, no, forget it.

Now, what kind of an attitude is that?

A coward.

But look, I...

The kids just can't stand her, and I can understand why. I was one of them, you

know. She's a good teacher, isn't she? She is the best, but people just don't

like her. Now, you can't get people to like people when people just don't want

to like people. No matter how much you'd like those people, I think I'm mixed

up.

Sometimes, Tim, dislike stems from a lack of communication.

If the students really understood her, they'd realize how much she's given

And that woman needs to hear someone say,

Good girl. You did a fine job.

Okay. I'll call on the phone and I'll say, good girl, you did a fine job.

That's not enough.

And you know it.

Can you arrange to have the student committee meet here?

Well, sure, but... Now, wait a minute. You're not going to pull some kind of

Martian hanky -panky. I wouldn't think of it.

Nuts? Yeah, it must be.

If I can let you convince me that we're going to try and pull this off.

I nominate Miss Pringle.

Miss Pringle?

Well, she's a good teacher, isn't she?

Well, sure, but Miss Pringle.

Well, then just give me one good reason why not.

Well, because nobody had voted for her. She's a tiger, Mr. O 'Hara.

Call me Tim.

Well, tigers are just grown -up pussycats.

Wouldn't work, Tim.

How about Miss Flaherty?

She's a doll.

Right, yeah.

All right, who else?

Miss Pringle.

How about Mr.

Robbins? Yeah, that's a good idea. He worked on the basketball dance and also

the raffle.

Excuse me.

I'll go see how the refreshments are coming.

How about Mr. Moore? What do you think?

Well, it's no use. They just won't... I thought you were preparing the food.

Well, I tried, Uncle Martin, but I told you they just will not go along on Miss

Pringle. Tim, I'm perfectly aware of what's been going on now. Would you

keep quiet?

What are you doing?

Relaying a telepathic message.

Quiet now.

Going, going.

How come?

O 'Hara.

How come O 'Hara?

Thanks a lot, Tim.

If it's all right with you, we'd like to meet tomorrow morning down at the

faculty room and wind up the nominations.

Yeah, we have to finish by tomorrow because the ballots have to go to the

shop. Yeah, well, I'll be there.

Okay. Well, let's split.

It's got a super magnetic automatic turner on. Want to see anyone?

the strangest thing.

I was working on the newspaper, and all of a sudden, I had an irresistible urge

to see you.

Oh, yes, sir.

Oh, I leave.

Oh, no, no, please, please, Miss Pringle.

Come in, one.

Oh, hello, Miss Pringle. We were just leaving.

Yes, just leaving. Oh, no hurry, no hurry. Oh, Miss Pringle, I was just

some of the Watusi, but I'm afraid I'll lack some of the finer nuance.

Uh, Miss Pringle, that's a super magnetic automatic turner -owner.

How am I doing, Miss Pringle?

Well, I think you lack more than the nuances.

It's a...

My goodness, Miss Pringle. Miss Pringle, if the rest of the kids could see you

now, why, you think I was almost human?

Well, thank you, George. I have no intention of doing the Watusi at the

assembly.

Incidentally, you all have an English final this week. I suggest you apply

yourselves. You're not being graded on the Watusi, you know.

Yes, Miss Pringle.

Well, thank you very much for everything. Good night.

Well, no one can deny that I have a talent of breaking up parties.

Yes, you sure have.

You know, you had those kids right in the palm of your hand and you blew it.

For the first time, Miss Pringle, they really liked you.

They never liked me.

Since when is that something to be proud of?

Tim.

I'm sorry, Miss Pringle.

I shouldn't have said that.

No, you're right.

They don't like me and that is nothing to be proud of.

It seems all I've accomplished is to end my 30 -year career with the loud,

relieved sighs of my students.

Good night.

Well, now, what's that going to do? Well, I just don't want you to see a

-up Martian cry.

Right here.

Thanks.

Well, anybody care to discuss the senior dance?

What for? It'll be the same jolly quilting bee it always is. Oh, come on.

think it'll be a wild time.

Are you sure you went to Coinga, Mr. O 'Hara? Oh, it's still sort of, uh... You

know it.

Foxtrot, two -step.

Oh, and the gavotte. Well, Sally's exaggerating a little bit, Mr. O 'Hara.

much. Well, look, the seniors come because they have to. It's their dance,

it's the worst.

You know, I wish once, just once, they'd let us have our own music and dance the

way we want to. Well, let's not waste our time on idle dreams.

Let's get on with the nominations. That we can do something about. Now, are

there any suggestions?

Miss Pringle.

Good

morning.

What are you doing here, Mr. O 'Hara?

Oh, I came along with Tim.

He's in with the committee. They're winding up the nominations this morning,

know. Oh, the nominations, yes.

I would like to apologize for my conduct last evening.

There's nothing to apologize for, Miss Pringle.

Oh, you have a very fine school library in there.

Yes.

Oh, that's one of the finest in the country.

When I came here 30 years ago, there was no selection at all.

Oh, I made a nuisance of myself.

I badgered the school board.

Sometimes I think I'm in my doties the way I keep referring to the past.

Wouldn't you like to see the gym or the labs or meet some of the young teachers?

I can have one of the students take you around. No, no, no, thank you, Miss

Pringle.

Something wrong?

Yes, I'm a little disappointed in Tim's alma mater, Miss Pringle.

This is a very fine school, Mr. O 'Hara. I'm sure it is in many ways.

In every way.

Well, where I come from, Miss Pringle, the educators allow the students to

express themselves freely.

But we encourage self -expression.

Then why aren't the students allowed to have their music or do their dances?

But of course the students should be allowed to express themselves in their

idiom. Including the Watusi?

Just what is wrong with the Watusi?

Not a thing.

But I guess there's nothing to be done about it.

We'll see about that.

Excuse me.

I'll be brief and to the point, Mr. Ahrens.

When you call me Mr.

Ahrens, I know I'm in for it.

What is it this time, Hortense? Don't try to soft -soak me, Joseph.

Why? Think of it.

What's on your mind, Hortense?

I know you're going to say I'm interfering.

You've been interfering for 30 years, Hortense.

But always on your students' behalf.

I don't know how they or I would have gotten along without your interference.

Well, let's not get involved.

I want to know why the students can't do their own dances at the awards.

You mean the Watusi?

What's wrong with the Watusi?

Why, the Watusi is as much a part of this time and culture as, well, as the

minuet was of another time and culture.

The Watusi?

Don't be snide, Joseph. I remember the time when you thought the bunny hug was

daring.

Am I really that much behind the times, Hortense?

Only in this, Joseph.

A man with large visions sometimes loses sight of the smaller things.

Well, do they want to see?

They want to see.

I'll tell the committee that you... Don't you dare mention my name.

Miss Pringle, for 30 years you've been beating a path to this office to fight

for something or other for your students.

A new art program.

A new library.

You've helped a hundred kids who got into trouble. And not once, not once

you permitted me to give credit where it belongs.

Not once have you heard a single student say, thank you, Miss Pringle.

Has it been worth it, Hortense?

Let's not change the subject Joseph do they want to see They want

to see

I'll blast off, Frank.

Ab!

Ab, quiet!

Come on, a little quiet, huh?

Come on, now. Quiet down just a minute.

Hey,

look, come on now. Come on, everybody quiet.

Listen.

All right.

There.

Mr.

Ahrens, members of the faculty, Mr. O 'Hara, and all the

seniors.

As you all know, every graduating class honors one teacher who they feel has

contributed above and beyond the call of duty.

We feel that every teacher deserves recognition, but that special devotion

deserves special recognition.

Now the balloting is over, and the results until now are secret.

May I have the envelope, please, Mr. O 'Hara?

By unanimous vote, teacher of the year, and I guess for the past 30 years, Miss

Pringle!

Mr.

O 'Hara, would you please escort Miss Pringle to the mic?

Uh, no, he's, uh, he's talking to me. I'm O 'Hara, remember?

You're not.

Oh, that's right. I'm exigious 12 and a half, but don't rub it in.

Miss Pringle, it's been said that all that glitters isn't gold.

In this case, we'd like to say that all that's gold doesn't glitter.

You're solid gold, Miss Pringle.

Recently, I have wondered whether I hadn't spent the last 30 years

of my life doing something for which I was not fitted.

I know now this was very foolish of me.

All I had to do was just look at

you.

It was worth it, Joseph.

Oh, Miss Pringle, you didn't get your watch yet.

I certainly didn't.

The damn thing probably won't keep time anyway.

All of it.

Go after her, Tim, and give her a handkerchief. What for?

To wipe her eyes with. She's not crying. She will be in about ten seconds.

Oh?

Oh!

Tim. Yeah?

You know, this is one of the nicest planets I've ever visited.

Come often.

That's great, Uncle Martin.

That's absolutely great.

Where are you going?

I can't stand to see a grown -up human cry.

Thank you.