Original subtitles

Memorial High. That's the worst school in the whole city. A teacher was stabbed

there last week. Oh, it's certainly no prep school.

But there are some rays of hope.

Sometimes, sometimes I think if you can touch one kid, it makes it all

worthwhile. Yeah.

Steal it.

Are you crazy?

That's against the law.

Big deal. It's just a little yo -yo. But I... So take it.

I dare you.

Look, you're costing us points. Are you playing or not?

Is there anything you'd like to talk about?

Maybe I can help.

Sometimes it makes things a little better if you talk about him.

He has nothing to say.

Nicholas? You caught him doing what? Well, I don't understand it. I mean,

Nicholas has never stolen anything before in his life.

Okay, okay, okay. Leave.

Just let him go.

Yeah, what's it to you, Lee?

Why don't you just, uh...

Get out of the hall and stop terrorizing people, okay?

We feel and always will.

Oh, it is enough to fill our lives with love.

Oh, we spend our days like bright and shiny new dawn.

If we're ever puzzled by the changing time.

there's a plate of homemade wishes on the kitchen window

and it is enough to fill up

None of the above.

I got a job.

Oh, to Professor Bradford. What college, Lincoln or Chapman?

Well, it's not exactly a college.

What do you mean?

It's not exactly teaching.

I'm going to be a guidance counselor.

Oh, you're going to be a guidance counselor. At Memorial High.

Memorial High? That's the worst school in the whole city. A teacher was stabbed

there last week. No, but I need a job.

But you're overqualified. You're a Ph .D. You're trained to teach in college.

You'll find a job.

Tom. They're not hiring in colleges. They're laying off. They'll hire again.

Sure. If another baby boom gets underway tonight, they'll be hiring in about 18

years. But, Abby... Take that back. Make it 19 years.

I'm scared for you. I don't want you in the middle of a potentially violent

situation. I can handle it. Are you sure?

I'm sure.

Well, that makes one of us.

Hold it right there, mister. You can't leave it out. Why not?

You don't have your wallet, do you? Jeremy had it. I found it on the floor,

honest. You didn't say you didn't. Let me see that again.

Oh, yeah.

Dad. I didn't know I had a funny wallet.

No, Dad, the wallet's just amusing. It's the picture on the light. It's

hysterical. Dad, it's expired.

What?

Yeah, it's fired on your last birthday, Dad. That's right, it did. I'll have to

get it renewed.

Ah, but first you're going to have to take the test. And you won't be a legal

driver till you pass that. Nope. Which means I get the car. Oh, come on. I

think one more day of being a fugitive from the law is going to make any

difference. Now, come on, Dad. You wouldn't allow one of us to break the

would you? Yeah, you have to set a good example.

Come on, I'll drive you to work.

Look at it this way, Dad. You get a chance at another picture.

Only this time. Don't make a face when they shoot it. I didn't make a face the

first time.

You're such a grump. What's bugging you today?

My dad did no good on the yo -yo.

Did you tell him it was a deluxe cosmic spinner? Yeah, then he said something

about there's deluxe cosmic inflation.

Hey, look what I found in my dad's dresser last night.

A firecracker. It's leftover from the Fourth of July.

Got a bunch of them.

What are you gonna do with it?

I don't know. Light it off, maybe.

Okay, Marvin, I dare you.

Now?

No, I think I'll save it.

You too scared?

Well, why don't you do it? Because I dared you first, and besides, I won the

last dare.

Your turn.

I don't know.

I knew you were too scared.

Plug your ears, Nicholas.

Turn your butt.

What happened?

Must have been too old.

Let's get out of here.

Oh, excuse me.

If I were you, I would start riding the bus.

You see, a car like that shouldn't be parked around here.

Why? The kids will steal the hubcaps.

Oh, lady, are you from the Dark Ages?

These days they leave hubcaps. They just steal cars.

Oh, I'm Abby Bradford. I'm the new guidance counselor.

Hi, I'm Abby Bradford. Nice to meet you. So what do you do? You take the bus?

No, dear, I ride my hubcaps.

Look, I got a few minutes. I'll show you around. Okay, thank you.

You know, we don't get so many PhDs at Memorial.

No. Where'd you get your doctorate in?

Education.

Well, military tactics might come in handy here. Come on, Jack. Is it really

that bad?

Oh, certainly no prep school.

But there are some rays of hope.

Sometimes, sometimes I think if you can touch one kid, it makes it all

worthwhile. Yeah.

And tell me, what do you do if there's any trouble?

Well, the second best policy is to try and maintain a cool head and stay in

control. And the first best policy is?

A brown belt in karate. No, you're teasing.

Here's your office, Dr. Bradford. I have got to get to class.

Jackie, what about the other counselor? What happened to her?

You mean you don't know?

No, what?

She was... she was stabbed.

She's the one... Look, I've got to get to class.

Abby, good luck.

Come on, you'll do fine.

Thanks. Bye -bye. Okay.

How long do you think it'll take you to save up for a cosmic spin?

Forever. What I hear about inflation these days, by the time I save...

money, they'll raise the price.

Could go in the store and cop one.

Huh? Steal it.

Are you crazy?

That's against the law.

Big deal. It's just a little yo -yo.

You do want one, don't you?

Yeah, but I don't... So take it.

I dare you.

You're crazy.

Oh, yeah?

Well, I did your dare this morning and it was more dangerous, so now it's your

turn. Unless, of course, you're too chicken.

I'm not chicken.

I'm proven.

Hi, Jackie.

You want me to see someone?

Her name is Michelle Davis, and she's new here.

But she seems terrified, frozen.

She hardly talks at all, and she just sits there, lost in her own little

That's just what you needed on your first day, huh?

Maybe it's just what I need.

When can I see her?

She's out in the hall.

Okay,

send her in. Okay.

Michelle, come on in.

Dr. Bradford, this is Michelle. Hi.

Nice to meet you. Come on in. Sit down.

Is there anything you'd like to talk about?

Maybe I can help.

Sometimes it makes things a little better if you talk about them.

I'm a really good listener.

You have nothing to say.

Well, I'll listen anyway.

What were you going to say?

Nothing. Take all day, Nicholas.

Something I can help you with, young man?

Nothing. We were just looking. Yeah, looking.

Well, I gotta go.

Nice talking to you.

Oh, Elizabeth.

Did you get home all right?

Yeah, well, sure, Dad. What's the big deal?

Didn't you forget something?

No, I don't think so.

Like what?

Like me.

Oh, Dad, I'm sorry. I totally forgot. I guess I just got involved with my

errands. How'd you get home?

Well, I called here and nobody answered, so I took the bus home.

You came home on the bus?

No, not really, because I got on the wrong bus.

When I realized it, I got off the wrong bus and I got on the right bus.

Only it was going in the wrong direction.

So I got off and I got on the right bus going in the right direction.

Only it was an express and I was held prisoner all the way to the airport, so

took a cab home.

I'm sorry, Dad. I promise it won't happen again.

Oh, that's right. It won't happen again. Because tomorrow I'm taking the

driver's exam and getting my driver's license back.

And my car.

I know I'm late, but isn't it a little early for bed?

Oh, Tom, I'm worn out. It was a long day.

Huh. You're telling me.

How did it go at school?

It was okay.

You sure? You all right?

I'm just tired. It was fine.

Oh, I'm glad.

I was worried about you all day.

No, don't worry about me. It's just going to take time to adjust. That's

I don't know.

This little old lady on the bus said that she was afraid to walk by Memorial.

And then the stewardess told me that she's paying the tuition for her little

brother to go to a private school just to keep him out of there.

What were you doing talking to little old ladies and stewardesses?

Well, I mean, when nobody answered here and Elizabeth kept me... Oh, it's such a

long story.

Why don't I tell you all about it over dinner?

I'm not really very hungry, but you go ahead.

Who's the chicken?

Marvin's a fox. I am not.

Well, you're the one who left me in the toy store with that man.

Yeah, well, you didn't take the yo -yo, did you? So you're the... Well,

you didn't take the yo -yo, did you?

No, but I almost did.

Well, almost doesn't count in a dare.

Well, if you're such a big man, why don't you take it?

Okay, we'll make it a contest.

You steal the yo -yo, and I'll take something else.

It'll be a double dare to find out who is really the... Mark! Mark!

Mark! Mark! Okay, okay.

Hey, come on in.

You got a minute?

Sure. Getting ready for my next round.

Hamlet.

Do you reach the kids with Hamlet?

To try or not to try?

That is the question.

I figure, why not try?

What happened with Michelle yesterday? Any luck?

No, I didn't get through to her.

Well, thanks for trying.

Maybe you'll get another chance.

Jackie, there was a fight yesterday.

And a rather large one, I heard. Right outside your office.

I didn't do anything. I just froze.

Abby, I probably would have done the same thing. Don't worry about it.

I felt so helpless.

I know the feeling.

But sometimes there is nothing we can do.

You know, my education theory classes in college were never anything like this.

I don't know if I'm as prepared as I thought I was.

You'll learn.

What if I don't?

Driving with only your parking lights on is against the law, of course.

Driving with your parking lights on is advisable on dark days.

It is advisable.

Driving with only your parking lights is good practice from sunset to dark. Good

practice. It is. It's good practice.

No, that's stupid.

It's none of the above.

It's a trick question.

None of the above.

Window five, picture.

Next.

Hi. Hello.

Sorry. I hope you don't grade our neatness.

We should. We really should.

I can hardly read what you've written.

People these days simply can't write a decent hand.

I can't make out what you wrote here under occupation.

Oh, I'm a writer.

My occupation is a writer.

Let's see, Mr.

Bradford.

Bradford.

Bradford.

It's not your fault. It's the way I write.

I'm

afraid

you failed.

Next. What?

You failed. The law allows five mistakes, you missed seven. No, no,

impossible. I've been driving for 30 years.

You've probably been riding for longer than that, but you don't do that too

either.

I never failed a test before in my whole life.

It's not the end of the world, Dad. You can always retake it. Only next time,

why don't you study the handbook just a little bit better? Better? I never

studied the handbook at all.

I mean, after 30 years of driving, why should I study a handbook?

I passed the test.

Now, look, until you do, you're just going to have to remain a passenger.

So, just sit back and leave the driving to us.

It was a tricky catch.

I know what it's like to be scared, Michelle.

Sure you do.

Get lost, Eddie.

Says who?

Says all of us.

Maybe you didn't hear.

We just bought this hall. Now it's ours.

Gonna have to find yourself another way, Eddie boy.

Okay, okay, okay.

Leave. Let him go.

What's it to you, honey?

Dr. Bradford.

Oh.

Dr. Bradford.

I don't see no white coat.

Cute, why don't you just get out of the hall and stop terrorizing people, okay?

Okay.

We made our point.

Didn't we, Eddie?

Spread the word, man.

Oh, you go too, okay, Eddie?

And remember, now you've got to steal something, too.

I thought of the plan, didn't I? Come on.

Did you get it? Yeah.

What did you get?

Um, I got something.

Well, I don't believe you. Let me see what you got.

I got this.

Marvin, you already had that.

I did not.

I saw it yesterday.

You did not. Come on, we gotta get out of here.

Why did they change the speed law near a school from 15 miles an hour to 25

miles an hour? That doesn't make sense.

Well, Dad, maybe children are better at dodging cars these days.

Aren't you going a little too fast?

I'm going the speed limit.

But no, no, the basic law specifically says you must never drive faster than is

safe depending on road conditions.

The road conditions are perfect, Dad. They could change.

Oh, wait a minute. Didn't you want to turn there?

If I wanted to turn back there, I would have turned back there.

No, but that way is much faster.

Yes, but this way is no...

Oh, Eddie.

Did you want something?

Shouldn't have stepped in on that today.

I was just trying to help.

I don't need your help.

I got my own way dealing with those punks.

Sure.

And I want to make sure you understand the rules around here.

Very simple, Tom.

Don't get involved.

You mean to say that you didn't even report it? I was too frightened, Tom. I

just wanted to come home.

But that boy should be arrested and thrown in jail.

He just wanted to warn me.

Warn you about what?

Not to meddle.

Well, it won't happen again because you're not going back to that school.

I can't just quit.

Yes, you can. You can't be exposed to the dangers there.

Please, Abby, now, for me.

And admit I was wrong for ever going there in the first place?

At least admit that you can't solve all those problems at Memorial.

That you don't belong there.

I won't.

I have to do this, Tom.

Abby... You don't have to prove anything.

There must be a thief around here.

Thief?

Somebody keeps stealing my guitar picks.

I didn't do it. It's just a figure of speech.

There's got to be one around here somewhere.

Tommy, what does prosecuted mean?

Arrested and tried in court.

What? Uh, just wondering.

Under the bed.

What? There's always one under the bed.

No, I don't think so.

cleaned under there.

Yeah.

Well, you didn't do too well. Look what I found.

I'm late for rehearsals. I'll see you.

Yeah.

Well, I think Abby's a lot more scared than she's letting on to be.

Yeah. I think you're right. Yeah, it must be pretty rough on her. I wouldn't

back there. Me either.

Bye. Bye.

Ice cream.

Just what I need to soothe my nerves.

Where you been? Out driving with Dad to the drugstore.

What are we going to do about him, guys? I don't know, but I'm going to go

bananas if I have to drive him again. I mean, he is like a little old lady.

It's just until he gets his license back. Oh, yeah, but who knows when

be. He intends to memorize the entire handbook word for word.

Why don't we just hire him a chauffeur?

Wait a minute.

Who needs a chauffeur when you have Tommy, What? He hasn't had his turn yet.

That's right, you guys. He's got the time and the car.

So we just make sure that tomorrow he gets stuck with the job.

Oh, now that's mean.

But it's good.

Stopping distance at 25 miles an hour is 61 .4 feet.

Stopping distance at 35 miles an hour...

105 feet.

Stopping distance at 45 miles an hour...

Parking on a hill wheels away from the curb.

Parking on a curb wheels away from the hill.

That's not right.

Oh, listen, can one of you girls drive me to work? I have an early meeting.

Oh, gee, Dad, I'm already late for work and, well, your office is sort of out of

the way. Elizabeth. Well, Dad, a friend's picking me up. Well, who has my

Mary took it. She had to get to the hospital early. And then Joanie's

from her and she's picking me up and... And the cheese stands alone.

How am I going to get to the office?

Well, Dad, there's still one person with a car who's not busy.

That's right, Tommy. Dad, I think he's still in bed.

It works. I know. Poor Tommy.

Jeremy, can I talk to you a second? Sure, talk.

Well, I think that maybe... Nice talking to you, Nicholas. Gotta run.

We'll have to do it again sometime.

Tommy, wake up. I gotta talk to you.

Nicholas. Tommy, wake up. I've got to talk to you about something important.

Nicholas, I was rehearsing until 3 a .m. this morning. It can wait.

No, Tommy, it can't wait. I think I made a crucial mistake.

Tommy, wake up. I need you.

Dad, I was rehearsing until 3 a .m. I need a ride to work. You're it.

How can I give you a ride to work if I can't even think?

Five minutes, Tommy. I'm late enough as it is. I don't have time to argue.

Nicholas, shouldn't you be leaving for school?

I guess so.

Are you all right?

Yeah.

What, are you still fretting about wanting that yo -yo? What do you call

speed roller?

A deluxe cosmic spinner. And now I don't want one. I wish I never even heard of

one. Good. Thinking that material possessions is the most important thing

life is a big mistake.

Tommy, hurry up!

I'm coming!

I'm coming!

I'm curious.

How do you feel?

I feel good.

Good as new. Good?

Slightly used.

You sure you want to go back?

Yeah.

No.

I'm not sure I want to go. Well?

But I've got to.

Why? Because of Dad?

No, because I wanted to work.

Well, Abby, you know, lots of times when people are attacked, they get, um...

Well, they feel like it's their fault, you know, for some reason, and then they

overcompensate.

I guess I just came in here to say that nobody is going to blame you

if you decide not to go.

explain it.

Sounds sick.

Well, can you cure it?

It might take a while.

I've got to get to work.

I'm the one without the license.

Abby?

Where are you?

I'm in here, Tom.

Abby?

Are you all right? What's the matter? I'm fine.

Why are you home from school?

I've been sitting here all day long.

This morning I went to school.

You know the kid with the knife?

He was up on the stairs.

I know it was probably my imagination, but I felt like he was there waiting for

me.

I couldn't get out of the car. I just turned around and came home.

When I saw your car outside, I had a feeling that maybe something terrible

happened to you again.

I guess it all just caught up with me.

I couldn't face it.

I was too frightened.

No, no, no. You were smart.

And I'm glad.

And relieved.

I feel so foolish. I feel like such a coward, you know.

I mean, I have... I feel like I've failed myself.

I've never run away from anything in my life.

No, no, now don't blame yourself.

Memorial is an impossible challenge. I mean, the risks are too great, and you

just chose not to take any.

Look, let other people do the crusading at Memorial.

You've got a beautiful future ahead of you.

It never gets here.

Well, it will.

What brought you home so early?

A taxi.

And believe me, it's the last ride I ever intend to take. I rushed home here

that I could study every single page of that driver's handbook so I could

salvage some dignity before it's too late.

Well, anyway, at least there's one less thing to worry about.

Toy store.

The toy store?

Yeah. I gotta bring the yo -yo back.

It must be nice.

I gotta. I made one crucial mistake.

What?

Taking it in the first place is driving me crazy.

Why don't you just bury it or something?

I'd still know that I took it.

Sure are chicken.

I don't care if you think I'm a chicken. I'm taking it back.

See you around, sucker.

Nicholas? You caught him doing what?

I'll be right there.

Nicholas.

Oh, hi, Dad. Hey, listen, I found out what was wrong with the van. The fuel

was clogged. Give me the keys.

Good, good. Give me the keys.

But you're not supposed to drive.

Please, this is an emergency.

Oh, yeah, here, sure.

Look, can I help? I'll go with...

Excuse me, are you the manager?

Yes, Mr. Gregory.

Oh, you must be Al Capone's father.

Yeah, Tom Bradford. I'm sorry to have to call you. That's okay. Where is

Nicholas? He's sitting in my office.

Seems a little nervous.

Yeah, well, he should be. Boy, I don't understand it. I mean, Nicholas has

stolen anything before in his life.

Actually, he wasn't stealing it. He was trying to put it back.

What? Well, he evidently had taken the yo -yo yesterday.

The deluxe cosmic spinner?

Yeah. Seems his conscience was getting the better of him, so he decided to

return it.

He keeps talking about one crucial mistake.

Hey, look, I'm willing to let matters drop.

I think he's learned his lesson.

He seems like a decent kid.

Right now, I'm not so sure.

All right, Nicholas.

Let's go.

Am I going to be prosecuted?

No. Not this time.

You mean we don't have to go to court?

This time.

You've just got me to worry about.

Hello?

Yes, who's calling?

Just a minute, please.

Oh, hi, Abby. It's for you. Who is it? I don't know. Somebody named Michelle?

Hello, Michelle.

Very disappointed in you, Nicholas.

I know you wanted that yo -yo, but I thought I had taught you better than to

a thing like that.

Breaking the law is a very serious thing. It's not something that you do on

dare.

I'm glad that you decided to return it on your own.

But that doesn't excuse the fact that you stole it.

Just to make sure that you get the point.

There's going to be a lot of extra things for you to do around the house.

You've got to learn to respect the law.

Oh, no.

What seems to be the problem?

You didn't make a full stop back there at that stop sign.

Stop sign?

Mm -hmm.

Say, nice passion pitch you got here.

Oh. Oh, yes. Thank you very much.

You look a little old for it, though.

Well, no, it's not mine. It's my son's.

He looks a little young for it.

Not this son.

No, no, my oldest son.

He loan it to you, does he?

No, not exactly. What happened is I lent my car to my daughter because my

life... It's a long story. I'm sure you don't want me to sit here and bore you

with it.

That's right.

I just want to see your license.

My license?

I hated moving to Sacramento.

I hated leaving all my friends and all.

I'd never been to school's biggest memorial.

It can be really lonely when you're surrounded by strangers.

Yeah.

What about your family?

It's just my father.

What does he do?

Oh, he works nights.

Factory.

You do? What do you do?

Mostly I just daydream, I guess.

I used to dream.

I had this dream that I was going to grow up and be somebody else.

Someone really special.

And you?

Maybe I... I don't know, maybe I just like to be somebody like... like you.

What made you call me?

I heard how you charged in there when those guys were hassling Eddie.

I said to myself, you know, I should stop being so scared of every

little thing, you know?

I was scared to death.

Yeah, I know, but you did it anyway.

That's what was so terrific.

I don't know if it was so terrific.

It may have been really stupid.

You're not coming back, are you?

Hi. I see Dad sentenced you to hard labor.

Yeah, two weeks.

Sorry I didn't let you tell me about it this morning. I probably could have

saved you some droppin'. That's okay. I guess it was sort of one of those

problems I had to work out for myself.

Yeah, I know. I stole a candy bar once, ate it, and was sick for three days.

What did Dad say?

The usual.

He got kind of quiet after the cops stopped him.

I'll bet.

Have you talked to Marvin?

Yeah. I called him up and gave him another dare.

What kind of dare?

I dared him to come over.

The speed limit when you come within 100 feet of a railroad crossing where you

cannot see the tracks for 400 feet in both directions.

Well, how do you know enough to slow down if you can't see the tracks?

Are you studying hard? Oh, with vengeance. I cannot go into traffic

I pass this stupid test. I know. I heard all about it.

This is one of the most humiliating things that's ever happened to me. Where

were you when I got home?

I was out walking with a friend.

It's a girl named Michelle Davis.

She's one of the students at school that I tried to counsel, but I failed. At

least I thought I failed. And today she counseled me.

Oh, about what?

About courage.

Standing up for yourself.

Tom, I've decided I'm going to go back to Memorial. I'm going to give it

try. Back to Memorial?

But... We had that all settled. Well, it was all settled until I talked to

Michelle.

And now I realize I have a really good reason for being there.

Tom, I helped her.

I got through to her.

And what about the boy with the knife?

Well, I'll report it. I mean, I'll have to be careful, but I'm not going to run

away. And listen, I know I can do it.

Abby.

I want your support, Tom.

I need that the most of all.

You can bet on it.

Hey, you're back.

Yeah, hi. I thought we'd lost you. Almost.

What happened? You find something you like about this place?

Yeah, a small ray of hope.

Just like you said, I mean...

Helping one, one kid just seems so important.

Well, Michelle must have been pretty persuasive.

How did you know we'd talk?

Who do you think gave her your phone number?

Welcome back, Dr. Bradford.

Dad, would you... Um, I got to get going.

What a trick. Hey, buddy.

Hi, Dad. Hey, Tom, how was your day in court? Well, since I had passed the

the judge decided to be lenient. He said that my story was too unbelievable to

be unbelievable.

So I am finally a free man. I'm just waiting now for my license to come in

mail. Oh, well, you got a letter from the DMV today. Maybe that's it.

Where? Where?

Right here, Dad.

We just all wanted to be here when you opened it up. Oh, no, no. I'm not

suffering any more jokes about my picture. Oh, come on, Dad. I think he's

chicken. That's right. I am chicken.

All right, you can open it, but promise not to laugh. It's a promise.

Oh, it's nice.

Not bad.

Great. Let me see.

Oh, yeah, it's not bad.

It's better than it was. So cute.