Original subtitles

[upbeat R&B music]

Ooh, that was... that was mighty fine.

Hey, Efe!

-Hey, you up awfully early. -Hey, Miss Cora,

Mr. Brown, good morning.

-Ooh, you look so busy. -Ah, schoolwork.

-[Efe chuckles] -[Cora] Hah!

You know, I'm so proud of you goin' back to school.

-You know, I'm enjoying it. -That is so good.

I bet you you the oldest student that the college ever seen, too!

-Oh, Mr. Brown. -I may be.

You probably older than the teachers and stuff, huh?

-I am. -You probably older

than the president and everybody else that ever--

I don't know, Mr. Brown. Maybe, I don't know.

Mr. Brown, leave Efe alone.

I'm just sayin', he probably too old to even be in school.

No, you are never too old to learn.

Oh. Mr. Brown, you could do with one or two classes yourself.

No, I can't do with no one or two classes.

I... I... I got knowledge. I'm edumacated.

-My point exactly. -[Cora] Edumacated? Ha ha!

-So what's your assignment, Efe? -Oh, I have to...

I have to submit my first lesson plan today.

Oh, your first lesson plan? That is so exciting.

Okay, what... what's... what's your lesson plan?

Okay, it's a civics lesson about the role

of us as citizens in a democratic society

that's part of a global community.

-Ooh... -Now that sounds sophishicated.

That's deep, that's deep.

It is not sophisticated, Mr. Brown,

I'm sure you took social studies when you were in school.

No, I ain't take none of that.

You must be about to teach the smart kids.

No, I hope to teach all kids.

-Good, good. -That's good!

[Mr. Brown] Teach all of 'em

'cause I, I don't know nothin' about that.

-[Efe] Yeah, yeah. -Hey!

-Hey, Jeremy. -Hey, everybody.

Hey, are you okay?

-Not really. -What's the matter?

I got word from the court. The trial is next week.

Oh, of the guys that carjacked you?

For thekids that carjacked me.

Oh, it's true. I heard they were very young.

Yeah, like 13, 14. Can you believe that?

-No, I cannot believe it. -That is so sad.

Yeah, did you give a statement to the... to the officer

-that he wanted? -I did.

And I just hope that I don't regret it.

Y... Your statement? Why would you regret it?

Yeah, well, they want me to say I was in fear for my life.

Well, I'm sure that you were afraid.

Yeah, but with that statement, they'll be tried as adults.

-As adults? -Yeah.

This is why I'm getting into education.

-Our kids are in trouble. -They are.

And knowin' that,

I just don't feel right about puttin' these kids away.

[somber music]

♪ I love you No matter where you go ♪

♪ I'm behind you for sure ♪

♪ Always remember blood ain't never water ♪

♪ We'll make it if we stay together ♪

-[smooth music] -[sighing]

I can tell this situation is weighing very heavily on Jeremy.

-Yeah. -Yeah, yeah! He told 'em.

But I told him if they old enough to do the crime,

they old enough to do the time.

Ah, Mr. Brown, it is not that easy for Jeremy now.

I mean, this situation is... is...

is tragic for everyone involved.

Well, the tragedy is them kids puttin' that gun up

to his head and carjackin' him.

Did nobody tell them to do that.

I wish there was something I could do.

You are doin' it, Mr. Efe.

You about to be teachin' these kids just like those boys,

and showin' them a positive way to... to... to live their lives.

[sighing] I hope so.

But first, I have to pass these classes

to get my teacher certification.

Right, right... Well, let's... let's focus on that.

-Okay. -[Mr. Brown] Yeah.

'Cause if you fail, you ain't gonna be able to help nobody.

[Cora] Come on, Mr. Brown. Now don't put that in the air

Efe is gonna pass with flyin' colors.

No, no. Mr. Brown is right. I have to do very well here.

You know, I'm actually very nervous about this,

um, student teaching exercise.

Well, you know what? Nervousness is good.

-It helps you to be prepared. -Ah, yes...

But, you know, I'm nervous when I talk in front of people.

-Really? -Our teacher was saying

that children can tell when you're not confident.

That's true. Them kids'll eat you alive.

M-M-Mr. Brown, you-you're not helpin'.

Well, Cora, if he ain't sure of hisself and confident,

when he's standin' up there they'll tear his tail up.

Whoa. That is what I'm afraid of.

You know what? You should practice.

Ooh, that's a good idea, Mr. Brown.

-I know. -What?

Yes, you should practice.

-Where? -[Cora] Here, with us!

What's your lesson? You should practice.

And you know what? We can be the students.

-Yes! -Here?

-Yeah! -[chuckling]

I don't know about that, though.

If you can survive this group, those kids won't be nothin'.

You know... you might be right.

Okay! Okay!

Hey, you know, I'ma go set it up.

Get us ready. Hey, we gonna be students!

-Okay... -Okay! Okay, okay, okay, okay!

-Hey, baby! -Hey, babe. What you doin'?

Oh, just tryin' to listen to the doctor and rest.

Good. What you watchin'?

The news. That's all that was on, honey.

I don't know how you watch the news.

-It's too depressin' for me. -It can be. What you got there?

Mail came in.

A letter from the court came, uh,

the trial is next week for Troy Smith and Darrell Benson.

-Next week? -[Jeremy] Yeah.

I know you'll be happy to get that behind you.

Man, they tryin' these kids as adults.

Yeah, that new DA don't play.

-How you feel about it? -Same. Torn.

I just can't make up my mind about it.

Prinn Collins is tryin' to be harder on crime

to protect people.

[scoffs] There's so many crimes bein' committed.

Yeah... Turn that up.

[News Reporter] A man and his wife

are dead after a home invasion last night.

The robbers appear to have surprised a man and his wife.

After a brief struggle,

the bandit shot and killed the couple.

Police are asking for the public's help.

If you know anything about the crime,

please contact police.

Baby, this is so scary.

You know, I thank God every day you got outta

that situation okay.

Yeah.

The detective keeps remindin' me

that it could have been so much worse.

Yeah, we hear about this stuff happening every day.

-That's why he's hounding you. -I know, I'm cooperatin'.

You worried about those boys, huh?

It's crazy, ain't it?

They carjacked me, andI feel bad.

Yeah, well, that's 'cause you're a good man, Jeremy.

So what side of the fence are you on with this?

[inhaling deeply]

You know, I've just tried

to be a good soundin' board for you, baby.

I, uh, I wanted you to make up your mind

without my opinions cloudin' it.

Yeah, baby, but I want your opinion.

I think you need to do everything you can

to get them off the street.

Yeah, I kind of knew you were feelin' that way.

They could have killed you, Jeremy.

But...

Do we have any responsibility

as African Americans in this community?

My issue is that so many Black and Brown kids

are goin' to jail for these long sentences,

and that just don't sit right with me.

I get it.

I must admit that the incarceration rate

is outta control in our communities.

And, I mean,

we oftentimes do get sentences that are too harsh

for the crimes committed.

That's my point.

I just feel like I should

be doin' somethin' to help the situation.

-You're doin' it. -What am I doin'?

You are doin' your part by bein' a good father

to your children, Jeremy.

I hate to say this, but...

all you can do for Troy and Darrell is pray for them.

[gentle music]

-Come on! Efe, you ready? -Ah, I'm so nervous.

Oh, you'll be fine.

Look, I'm gonna sit and watch, and I'm gonna take notes

and let you know where you need to improve.

-Oh, I appreciate that, Cora. -Oh, sure, sure.

That's the least I could do

after all these years of teaching.

Oh, thank you so much for helping me.

Oh, you're so welcome. So you ready?

-I hope so. -All right.

-[bell ringing] -[indistinct yelling]

Okay, class. Okay. Okay. Okay, stop, class.

[laughing]

-Stop, stop, please. -[Vinny] Hey, hey, hey, man!

Settle down.

You sound funny. Where are you from, Africa?

[laughing]

Actually, yes, yes, yes. Yes!

I'm from Africa. I'm from Africa.

Okay, so let's settle down and let us begin.

-So, uh. Okay. My name is Mr... -[Vinny, mocking] "Mista"...

-[Efe] Uh.... uh... Efe Omowale. -What?

-Oma-whale? -[laughing]

-I don't think that's it. -I can't read it.

Why you look so nervous?

Well, no, this is my first time in front of a class.

-We can tell. -[laughing]

He ain't got no experience in teachin' at all.

-Okay, everybody. -Teach, Teach, I got a question.

-[Efe] Yes, young man. -I forgot.

-[laughing] -You got him!

Wait, wait, wait, wait! I got a good one!

Uh, do we need textbooks for this class?

Yes, we are going to use books

because books are very important.

-"Books are very important." -[laughing]

"Books are very important."

-Um... Excuse me, Teacher? -[Efe] Yes.

So books don't really go with my feng shui.

-F-F-Feng... -[Sandra] Yeah, I mean,

what would someone as fabulous

as me look like carrying around a textbook?

[laughing]

-Not! -[laughing] "Not!"

You know what, Teach? Your books are outdated.

-That's what they are. -[laughing]

They're outdated 'cause he can't read.

You know who else can't read? Your mama and your daddy.

Y'all didn't know what he looked like.

-A swole-up grape. -[laughing]

-What? -[indistinct clamoring]

Stand up and say it to my face.

-Oh, you are standin' up! -Wait, wait, wait.

-Fight, fight, fight! -Please, students, please!

I was gonna get in his ass!

I swear I was gettin' in his ass!

Please do not get in his ass.

You all cussing in school?

-Please, please. -I was gonna whup his ass.

Okay, look, look. Okay... If you...

If you people don't want textbooks,

uh... we won't use textbooks.

-Yeah, okay. -Sure, I like you already.

-Teach! -Yes, yes.

-[Philip] I got a question. -Don't tell me.

-I'm the guy! -[laughing]

No, no, no, no, no.

-Can we watch a movie? -Yes.

No, we cannot watch a movie.

We have a lesson plan to get through, okay?

Well, when is this lesson gonna [indistinct] get started

'cause I got social media content to make.

-Pose, pose, pose! -Please sit down.

-Bam, bam! -[Efe] Please, please sit down.

-[applauding] -[laughing]

-Please. Thank you. -[Mr. Brown] Shaqueeda got it!

What kinda class is this, anyway?

Oh, this is a social studies class.

[Vinny] You know what?

Look, look, I hate social studies, okay?

-[Mr. Brown] You, too? -Hate it, hate it.

Wait, wait! Social studies is a collection of subjects.

It's about us as citizens.

It is about history and civics and geography.

-And... -A-a-and it's boring.

-[laughing] -No, no, no! It is not boring.

It is not boring.

I'm about to use on myself. I gotta go to the bathroom.

-Go to the bathroom! -Oh, God!

-[laughing] -He almost died!

♪ He almost died, he almost died ♪

Hey! Hey!

I'm not cut out to be a teacher.

♪ He almost died, he almost died, he almost died ♪

♪ He almost died ♪

-♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ -♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪

[gentle music]

-The teacher done quit. -Oh, I'm glad he quit.

He was borin' and he talked funny.

-That didn't take long. -Okay, that's lunch!

-Lunch! -[cheering]

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Everybody right back here!

Come on back here. Come on back!

-[Vinny groans] -Cora, I'm hungry.

Well, that's too bad, Mr. Brown. Have a seat.

-Oh, man. No lunch? -No. No lunch, Mr. Vinny.

Can you make me a bagged lunch?

-No lunch. -I need a lunch.

I'm a diabetic.

Hey, Efe.

-Hey. -How'd your mock class go?

Not good.

I don't think I'm cut out to be a teacher.

And you came to that conclusion that fast?

Oh, my first class was a disaster.

I can't believe y'all.

Well, look who you was teachin'.

Efe, I know you're not givin' up that easy.

-You saw it. -[Cora] I did.

-It did not go well. -No, it did not go well.

So there.

Efe, it doesn't go well the first time for anybody.

I mean, this takes skill and practice and years,

years of studyin' to master it.

You okay, Mr. Efe?

Yes. I'm fine.

I just don't think I'm cut out to being a teacher,

-especially at this age. -Oh, come on,

you're not forgetting about your vision board already, are you?

Yeah, man, you said you wanted to be a part

of helping these kids get on the right track.

Man, my stomach is in knots

about these kids that carjacked me.

They're about to be in prison for over ten years.

You said you were gonna do your part to help the situation.

-Yes, yes, I know. -Yeah. So was that just talking?

No, no, no, no, it wasn't just talk.

So, you know, Efe,

you always have a proverb from your country.

So what would your country say about this situation?

[scoffs]

You know,

my papa would always say, "Even a split tree still grows."

Yeah, that.

What the hell did that mean?

It speaks to the fact that, in life,

we have many setbacks and problems at different points

-in our life. -[Cora] Right, right.

But nonetheless, we still move forward.

Growth still happens even though there are setbacks.

Yeah, yeah, that right there.

-Yeah, I like that. -Now you know what to do.

Yes, yes.

Okay, can I give you some advice, Mr. Efe?

Oh yes. I'll take any advice, please.

Look, we respect the teachers

that are strong and stand up for themselves.

-[Efe] Okay. -If you want us to use books,

don't give in just 'cause we say we don't want them.

-[Jeremy] Mm-hmm. -Make us do what you want

us to do.

Okay.

Thank you, Princess. That is good advice. Thank you.

-So just settle yourself. -Okay.

And get in there and get 'em!

-Okay. -You got it!

So what do they say in your country about havin' a backbone?

[sighing]

The lion stands upright and focused,

and he offers no apologies.

-That's good. -Yes.

A man makes a decision and sticks by it.

[Leah] Jeremy!

Yeah. Hey...

Hey, I gotta go, Mr. Efe. Good luck, man.

-Thank you. -All right.

[smooth R&B music]

Yeah, babe?

-I hate to do this to you. -What is it?

The detective put a letter in here for you.

-A letter? -Mm-hmm.

"Mr. Washington, this letter is

"from Darrell Benson's grandmother.

"She asked that we pass it along to you.

"You don't have to read it.

"If I were in your shoes,

I don't know that I would care to read it."

I agree with the detective, baby.

This decision has already been hard enough.

Readin' that letter might not be a good idea.

Baby, you know I gotta read the letter.

[somber music]

[Vinny] Here we go with this again.

[Mr. Brown] I see that!

I can go in and get out of here.

[Efe clears throat]

-Ah, yes. -You good, Teach?

My name is Mr. Omowale, not Teach.

-My bad! -Ooh! Guess he told you!

And you! Do not speak out of turn.

If you have something to say or contribute, raise your hand.

-Oh! I guess he shut you up! -And you as well!

Shut your mouth and raise your hand

if you have something to say.

Man, you must not know who you're talkin' to.

And who are you talking to, Mister?

-What is your name, old man? -Old man? Man, my name is Vinny.

Well, Mr. Vinny, now you have detention

since you are unable to learn not to speak out of turn.

Anybody else would like detention... Huh?

Very good.

I have some textbooks to hand out to you people.

Do we need textbooks? Is that really necessary?

Oh, and there will

be a detention for you as well, Leroy!

-Detention? -Yes.

And for that outburst, we will make it two hours.

-Damn, Brown! You so stupid. -And you, too, have two hours!

I want you to turn to...

chapter 26.

That is the chapter I would like you to read as homework tonight.

Homework? Come on, Teach. You trippin'.

Ah, Mr. Young Philip. You, too, will get detention.

In my own house?

Yes, in your own house. I want you to keep them company.

No, no...

Today's civics lesson...

I'd like you to take a look at this picture...

and tell me what you see... yes.

-Oh! Ah! -[Efe] Yes, Anastasia.

He looks like a construction worker or something.

Ah, very good. Someone else? Ah, Sandra.

-He's African-American. -Very good, yes.

-Someone else? Mm-hmm. -Um, he's in his 30s.

Ah, very good.

So what else can you tell from this picture?

-Someone else? Yes. -He's cute!

Okay, yes, uh, many of you have

noticed that he's cute and he's handsome.

But is there anything else you notice?

-Vinny? -He looks like he's happy.

Very good. He does look like he's happy.

-Anything else? Mr. Brown? -Uh...

He got a ring on, so he must be married.

Very good, Mr. Brown. He is married.

I got this picture out of a magazine.

This gentleman is Lavell Sampson.

He's doing community service from a speeding ticket

that resulted in a failure to appear.

Yes, Sandra?

So he's not

-a construction worker? -[Efe] No.

He's doing road work that was ordered by the court.

Yes, Anastasia?

So if he's not a construction worker,

what does he do for a living?

Well, he's actually a security guard

for a local department store.

-[Efe] Yes? -A security guard, really?

Yes. Mr. Lavell Sampson is married.

He has one stepchild, a son.

He's a high school graduate

and lives with his wife and son in a home.

I would like to discuss Mr. Samson today.

-[Efe] Yes? -So why are we studying him?

Well, we'll get to that.

But first, I need your help answering a question.

-Yes, Mr. Brown? -What's the question?

[Efe] The question is:

is this gentleman, Lavell Sampson,

a productive and contributing member to American society?

This is a great lesson. Efe, you're a natural.

[whispers] Thank you, Miss Cora.

[clears throat]

So the question is: is this gentleman, Lavell Sampson,

a productive and contributing member to the American society?

Very good.

[smooth R&B music]

[somber music]

"Dear Mr. Washington, my name is Elaine Benson.

"I am the grandmother of Darrell Benson,

"the young man who is accused of carjacking you at gunpoint.

"When I heard about Darrell's actions, I was heartbroken.

"I've tried my best with Darrell,

"but he has continually made bad choices.

"I just wanted to apologize for my grandson's actions.

"I apologize to you and your family

"for the strife he has caused.

"Darrell was once a good kid who dreamed of being a fireman.

"I don't know what happened, but I am sorry.

"I hope you can one day forgive me

"and Darrell for the pain we have caused you.

"I'll be praying for you and for your family.

"I also hope...

"I'm not out of line

"to ask that you also pray for my grandson.

"He seems to be in a bad place right now.

"But deep down inside,

"he is a good boy.

Respectfully, Elaine Benson."

[upbeat R&B music]

[rousing music]

[gentle music]

[energetic music]