Original subtitles

[opening theme music playing]

Morning, Mr. Z.

Morning, Howie.

Oh, I'm sorry, Mr. Zelinka.

Quite all right, Mr. Davis.

Next Olympics, you've got the 100-meter gold.

But from now on,

practice on the track.

What dedication.

Still rehearsing Romeo and Juliet,

and we finished that play a month ago.

That Mr. Zelinka

certainly is a character, isn't he?

I wish all my teachers were characters like him.

He's terrific.

[whistling]

Second day on the job,

and you're still in good spirits.

We always whistle while we work.

They'll write graffiti all over it again.

I hope so. Otherwise, we'll be out of job.

Man with a sense of humor about his work is a rarity.

I admire your attitude, Jonathan.

The feeling is mutual, Mr. Zelinka.

Excuse me, Mr. Zelinka.

Is that a hairstyle, Ms. Wilson, or an affliction?

Amazing the length young people will go

to upset their parents.

[bell rings]

What a zinger.

No wonder they call him Ivan the terrible.

The kids wouldn't want him any other way.

They love him.

Well, I spent last night grading your test papers.

Give you some idea

Of what an exciting evening I had.

Especially some of the answers you gave me.

Times I wonder what you do here in class.

So do we.

Jerry Michaels, we can always depend on you

for a bit of levity.

And in your test paper...

For your information, Mr. Michaels,

Death of a salesman is a play, a great play.

It was made into a movie and adapted for television.

But it was not...

And I hope to god never will be...

A music video.

Miss Morris and Miss Lindstrom,

would you be so kind just to pass out these test papers for me?

Special delivery.

Does that mean you want to play post office with me?

Sorry, I only handle first-class mail.

Ouch.

[bell rings]

If there are questions regarding your test scores,

see me after class.

Class dismissed.

"F"? I don't deserve an "F."

I agree.

Unfortunately, that's as low as I can go.

I don't think I should fail.

Why don't you grade on curve

like my other teachers do?

I refuse to do that.

Grading on a curve is an excuse

for an entire class to fail together.

Getting kids through school without teaching.

You've just got it in for me.

You're always on me.

Because I know you're bright.

But you just won't apply it yourself.

You waste your time playing the class clown.

You can't go around blaming everyone else

because you're not taking responsibility for your life.

Oh, wait a minute, Howie.

I want to talk to you.

Yes, sir?

Another "A," Howie. Congratulations.

Well, thank you, sir.

But I'm still not hearing enough from you in class.

How come?

I guess I just don't feel comfortable

standing in front of other people.

I get nervous.

I understand.

Try anyway. That's the way to get over nervousness.

Besides, I want others to hear some of your ideas.

You write so well on your tests.

Thanks. I'll try.

And the main thing:

You didn't do your homework again.

Why not?

I--I don't know. I'll do it tomorrow.

You keep saying tomorrow, but you don't do it.

Why not?

I don't know.

Howie, you write so well in these tests.

What do I have to do

to motivate you to do your homework?

It can be boring, but later in life you'll have a job.

Some parts of that may be boring.

You'll have to do them anyway.

You see, doing homework is good training.

It teaches us responsibility.

Even Jerry Michaels does some homework once in a while.

Okay, sir. I promise I'll do it.

If you don't,

no matter how good your test scores are...

I'll have to flunk you.

I know.

There you go, and make sure your parents sign it.

Susie, here's the activity schedule.

Looks like Thursday, the lecture hall is booked.

Is there some way we could get an hour in there somehow?

Morning... Or Wednesday--

Well... How about lunch? Is it free during lunch?

Oh, yeah.

You want to take your lunch hour?

We really need to get in there that day.

I see you've got a retirement notice

from the board of education, too, Mr. Zelinka.

Have you been steaming open my mail again,

Miss Minotti?

Mr. Zelinka!

No. I just received the same notice myself from the board.

Why, I'm turning 70 this month...

Just like you.

Happy birthday.

Thank you. Same to you.

Oh, I'm looking forward to retiring.

I'm going to travel around the world.

What about you? Have you made any plans?

No... No.

I knew it was coming, but not this soon.

I was trying not to think about it.

Well, you can't fight city hall.

Mr. Zelinka can't retire.

He's my favorite teacher.

He was my favorite teacher

when I was a student here, too.

He still is.

Lincoln's not going to be the same without him.

I'm really going to miss him.

We all are.

They're going to retire him

at the end of the semester.

No more Mr. Zelinka.

I'm not sure I'll miss him.

Ivan the terrible is always on me about responsibility.

You're lucky to have a teacher like Mr. Z. He cares.

We should do something nice for him.

You mean like buy him a present?

Yeah, and, um...

How about a surprise retirement party?

That's a really great idea.

Yeah...Yeah, yeah, he'd like that.

I could be the emcee.

You could ruin it all with your dumb jokes.

When should we have it?

Excuse me.

I couldn't but help overhear your conversation.

I thought you might wanna know

it's Mr. Zelinka's birthday this Friday.

You sure?

I'm positive.

All right, then. Friday it is.

We'd be glad to help you in any way we can.

Thanks. We could use all the help we can get.

We really want to make this a great party.

We gotta show Mr. Z how much we appreciate all he's done for us.

Let's make this a retirement party he'll never forget.

Yes, this is Ivan Zelinka from the Lincoln, Hi.

Fine. Oh, he is fine.

About this retirement notice he'd sent me...

Thank you very much, but,

you see, I'm not ready to retire.

Yes, I'll be 70 in a couple of weeks, but...

I don't feel it and I don't think I look it.

Yes, I know about the rules. The retirement age for state employees.

But isn't there some kind of an extension I can get?

Some sort of appeal I can file.

A letter?

But you don't think it'll do any good, eh?

Yeah, I understand. Rules are rules.

All right.

Thank you very much.

Oh, Mr. Carlyle.

Could I speak to you for a moment?

I'm late for a PTA meeting. What is it?

It's about the retirement notice I received from the board of education.

Yes, I heard about it. Congratulations.

Thank you, but

you see, I don't want to retire.

You don't? Why not?

Because, I-I like teaching.

I think I still have a lot to give.

And I thought if you could back me with the board,

maybe they'll let me stay on a little longer.

Ivan, that is a so altruistic and noble for a soul like you

but you've been teaching for 50 years.

Why don't you relax and take a nice long trip like Mrs. Minotti.

Oh, Roger--

I'd love to talk about your plans,

But I'm late for that PTA meeting.

Nothing like parents who've been kept waiting by the principal.

Good luck, old boy.

We decided to have it in the gym.

We'll hang streamers and balloons.

Make it look really nice.

Great. Sounds like you've got it all worked out.

Except, uh... For one minor detail.

What's that?

How to get Mr. Zelinka there?

That's where we need your help.

Well, he's been talking

about that Shakespeare festival

they're having in the park that night.

I could say I got two tickets for it.

Yeah, great idea. He loves Shakespeare.

And that I forgot the tickets in my gym locker,

And there we are.

Great. Right.

You know, you're really sneaky.

Have you ever worked for the CIA?

Hey, everybody. They're here.

Everybody hide! Hide!

♪ For he's A jolly good fellow ♪

♪ For he's A jolly good fellow ♪

♪ For he's A jolly good fellow ♪

♪ Which nobody can deny ♪

[applause and cheer]

Okay, Mr. Zelinka, 71 candles.

One for good luck for your retirement.

Speech!

Come on.

Speech. Speech. Speech.

Thank you. Thank you.

I know you all meant well,

and I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but...

You see, I don't want to retire.

To what?

This school, teaching, has been my whole life,

And why should I and a lot of other people

be forced to retire

because some bureaucrat said we had to at 70?

It's computers.

Computers have no compassion.

When your age and name come up, that's it.

It's over.

I'm sorry, really sorry.

I--I know you meant well,

And I appreciate it,

But I just wouldn't be any fun at this party.

If you don't mind, Miss Hancock,

I think I'll just walk home.

I'm telling you, Mr. Z's right.

Why should he be forced to retire?

We've gotta do something.

Yeah, but what can we do?

If you believe in Mr. Zelinka,

you should let the board of education know how you feel.

But what good will it do?

That's what America's about.

Petitions, sit-ins,

fighting for what you believe in.

Don't take this sitting down.

Let's picket the board of education.

-Right. -Wait a minute.

You've the right idea, but you should start with a petition first.

Saying how you feel about Mr. Z.

We can get the whole school to sign it.

Yeah, parents and teachers, too.

It don't think it'll do any good.

It's gotta do some good.

We've got to keep Mr. Zelinka here where he belongs.

I'll get teachers on our side.

Come on, Jerry. If they don't join us,

you can go to their class and tell them all your bad jokes.

I'm going to start writing that petition.

Thanks for your advice, guys.

Bye.

You have a little writer's block?

Yeah.

I can't get the words to come out right

to say what I want about Mr. Zelinka.

You really like him, don't you?

Yeah.

I've never had a teacher like him before.

I can't wait to get to his class in the morning.

And I hate when the bell rings,

and I have to leave.

You've got to be the first student in the history of the world

to ever say that.

I know the other guys would think I was weird

if I told them.

He has a special way of explaining things.

When he's reading a play,

he puts feeling into it.

I feel like he's doing it just for me.

Have you ever told him how you feel?

Nah.

No, I couldn't do that.

I have a hard time saying how I feel.

You didn't have any trouble saying how you felt just now.

You ought to write that in your petition,

what you feel about Mr. Z.

Good luck with it.

-What do you think? -I think it's a great idea.

I'm proud of you.

Do you think you can get some of the other teachers to sign?

Yes, I'll get the whole darn faculty to sign.

Everybody loves Ivan Zelinka.

Great.

-Bye bye. -Bye.

Miss Hancock will try to get the other teachers to sign.

If you'd sign it, Mr. Carlyle,

it would really make an impression on the board of education.

I bet it would, but what kind?

I'm the principal of this school, Julie.

I can't sign student petitions.

I have a reputation to uphold.

But, Mr. Carlyle, this isn't just any petition.

I know what it is,

And I'm against it.

I like Mr. Zelinka as much as anyone does.

He's a fine teacher.

But he's reached retirement age.

That's the system.

But Mr. Zelinka doesn't want to retire.

Look, Julie...

Mr. Zelinka has been teaching for a long time.

He deserves to rest.

It's time to bring in a younger teacher to take his place.

No one can ever take Mr. Zelinka's place.

Well, someone is going to.

I don't want any petition to the board of education.

I don't want them to think I'm heading a bunch of rabble-rousers.

I forbid your petition on school property.

Do I make myself perfectly clear?

Boy, was he mad.

Mr. Carlyle's a pain.

I think he's jealous of Mr. Zelinka

'cause he knows how much we love him.

What are we gonna do?

I think you should do it anyway.

But he said absolutely no petition on school property.

If I were you, I'd do it off school property.

Yeah. Why not?

Excuse me.

Could you sign this petition

asking the board of education

not to retire Mr. Zelinka?

Got it. I like that old guy.

All right. All right, thanks.

Excuse me.

Would you sign this petition

to save Mr. Zelinka's job, please?

Oh, sure.

Mr. Z's the best.

Thanks.

Bye-bye.

Didn't I tell you no petitions on school property?

How dare you disobey me like this?

I'll have you all expelled.

Excuse me, Mr. Carlyle,

but the sidewalk isn't school property.

That has nothing to do with it.

It's still a school matter.

And I'm the principal of this school.

You'll do as you're told.

Kinda out of line, isn't it?

What did you say?

I said, you're out of line.

These kids have rights.

This still is America, you know.

Mr. Uh...

Gordon.

Yes, Mr. Gordon.

Perhaps I should remind you that I am the principal

and you are a maintenance man.

Mr. Carlyle, I think

maintenance people have rights, too...

along with the students, the older teachers.

I can't tell you not to sign that petition,

But I can tell you I strongly disapprove of your signing it.

And let me remind all of you

How nice it is to teach at Lincoln

compared to some high schools downtown.

Have a nice day, Miss Hancock.

Yes?

We have a petition that we'd like to present to the president of the board.

I'm sorry, he's very busy right now.

Leave it with me. I'll see that he gets it.

We'd like to give it to him ourselves.

I'm sorry. That just won't be possible.

The board's in session now.

We'll just walk in and give it to him in there. Come on kids.

You can't do that.

Either you get him out here, or in I go.

Well, you wait right there. I'll get him.

You're really rad, Mark.

Rad?

Oh, yeah. The absolute raddest.

Hello, I'm Bill Simenton,

President of the school board.

I understand that you have a petition that just can't wait.

We're from Lincoln high school.

It's about Mr. Ivan Zelinka.

It was signed by all these kids

to keep Mr. Zelinka on as a teacher

So he wouldn't be retired.

Well, that's very impressive.

Very impressive. I know about this petition.

Mr. Carlyle phoned me,

And the board's already taken action some on this case.

We appreciate very much all the efforts you went to

getting all the signatures.

That is the democratic process, isn't it?

Very admirable.

Unfortunately, the board's decision

on retiring Mr. Zelinka is final.

I'm awfully sorry, but those are the rules.

However, we thank you for your interest.

Mr. Zelinka must be proud to have students like you.

Good afternoon.

Well, I guess it's true.

You can't fight city hall.

I know you're discouraged,

But this is no time to give up.

It all seems so hopeless, Mark

What are we gonna do.

Plan B.

Plan B?

Plan B.

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

No! Mr. Z won't go.

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

No! No! Mr. Z won't go...

Looks like they really love their Mr. Z.

I guess there's no accounting for taste these days.

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

Break this up this minute and get to your classes now.

[students continue chanting]

I said right now,

or you will all be expelled!

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

You can't expel the entire student body, Mr. Carlyle.

Just watch me.

I won't have this kind of demonstration

in front of my school.

It's not just your school. It's their school, too.

I advise you to mind your own business.

This is my business, Mr. Carlyle.

This is my school, too.

I believe in what these kids are fighting for.

Mr. Zelinka's right to keep on doing

what he loves doing: teaching.

I strongly advise you

not to join those students, Miss Hancock.

Advise or threaten, Mr. Carlyle?

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

No! No! Mr. Z won't go!

You've really botched this one, Roger.

Now you've got the TV cameras

covering this mess.

Give me the bullhorn, will you?

May I have your attention, please?

Now this concerns Mr. Zelinka.

May I have your attention?

Quiet! Quiet down.

Now, this concerns Mr. Zelinka!

Thank you.

Thank you.

I'm Bill Simenton,

President of the board of education.

I know we've had

a little difference of opinion.

You've made your feelings known to us

and I'm glad of that.

Because that's

the American way of doing things.

I'm here to tell you

that if you end this demonstration right now,

the board will hold a special meeting

to hear your side of things

and to reconsider their decision on Mr. Zelinka.

Yeah! Yeah!

So, why don't you kids go back to your class

and get the education your parents are paying for?

We'll conduct this meeting in a more orderly manner

at the board meeting tomorrow, okay?

Yay! Yay! Whoo!

"We, the undersigned students of Lincoln high,

Ask you to reconsider your decision

to retire Mr. Ivan Zelinka.

Mr. Zelinka is the best teacher we ever had.

We can't wait to get to his class in the morning,

and we hate it when the bell rings,

and we have to leave.

You leave his class educated, smiling,

and feeling glad to be alive.

He's a very special teacher who cares about us,

and we care about him.

Please let him go on teaching.

Don't retire Ivan Zelinka."

And it's signed by all of these names.

1,027.

Every kid at Lincoln high.

Thank you, Howie.

The board appreciates your involvement

with strong feelings for Mr. Zelinka.

I was in Mr. Zelinka's class.

He's a wonderful teacher.

But we must face the fact

that at his age, he has reached a point in time

where these duties are too difficult for him.

After all, he's 70 years old.

That's just not true.

Age has nothing to do

with a person's capabilities.

People have done great things

when they were a lot older than Mr. Zelinka.

I'll prove it to you.

I looked this up in the encyclopedia this morning.

Winston Churchill was 77

when he became prime minister of England

for the second time.

And 79 when he won the Nobel peace prize.

Our own Ronald Reagan was 77

when he was in office.

Grandma Moses started her new career as an artist

when she was 76 years old,

became world famous, and painted 25 pictures

one year after her 100th birthday.

Thank you, Susie,

for all the extra research you've done for us.

It's a perfectly persuasive argument.

However, the fact is that 70

is the mandatory retirement age in this state.

We can't break the rule for one individual.

So, the decision of the board stands.

Mr. Zelinka will be retired.

Now, if there are no other things to discuss,

this meeting is adjourned.

Excuse me, Mr. Simenton,

I'd like to say something.

Who are you?

My name's Jonathan Smith,

a maintenance man at Lincoln high school.

Excuse me, Mr. Smith,

But we have been here a long time,

and we would like to go home

because we are tired.

And frankly, I don't think a maintenance man

can add very much to this discussion.

I'm also a citizen and a taxpayer.

I pay your salary.

I think that takes precedent over what I do for my living.

I was wondering if you're aware of the fact

that the age discrimination act

was changed last year.

The retirement age used to be 70.

It is no longer 70.

A lot of cities and states

seem to be ignoring that change.

I imagine that's happened here.

Let me tell you.

If you insist on retiring Mr. Zelinka

because of his age,

you're going to find yourself in a lawsuit

with the equal employment opportunity commission.

And I think you're gonna lose that lawsuit,

But, of course, I'm only a maintenance man.

We seem to have been caught

with our proverbial pants down.

In the light of these new developments,

perhaps the board's decision was a bit hasty.

However, I must remind you

it is still the board's right,

I might say duty,

To determine a teacher's competency.

Therefore, Mr. Zelinka will be given a written test

to see if he is still able to conduct a class

at his age.

If he is, he may continue.

If he is not,

he will be retired.

Meeting adjourned.

All right!

What the hell do we have legal counsel for?

Shouldn't we have been made aware of this?

It was an oversight I suppose.

I don't like being made a laughingstock.

Neither do I.

Be quiet, Carlyle.

If that old man passes this test,

the local press will have a field day.

See to it.

See to what?

See to it that he can't pass the test.

[telephone rings]

[ring]

Hello.

Huh?

No.

No, you must have the wrong number.

[knock on door]

Oh, Jonathan, Mark. Come in.

Thank you.

We thought we'd come by rather than call you on the phone.

Why? Were you afraid I'd slit my wrists when I heard the news?

No, not at all.

They said you could continue teaching.

I can't believe it.

They did have one stipulation.

What? I have to Simonize Carlyle's car

once a week?

No. They want you to take a competency test.

A competency test?

It's just a formality.

Take the test, you're right back to teaching.

You mean after 47 years of teaching

I have to take a test?

Oh, no way.

No yuppie board will sit in judgment

on Ivan Zelinka.

I'd rather retire than face the humiliation.

-Ivan, listen-- -No!

What are you two doing in this, anyway?

We're just trying to help.

I didn't ask for your help.

Now, please.

Just get out of my house and leave me alone.

Go on. Get out.

I can understand why he feels the way he does.

Making him take a test

to see if he can do what he's been doing

for all those years.

The man's got pride.

Pride's got nothing to do with it. He's scared.

Scared of what?

Not passing the test.

Come on, Jon, that's ridiculous.

He's 70 years old.

He's been told he's too old to do the job.

He's starting to doubt himself.

His confidence has been shaken.

That's why he doesn't want to take the test.

He's got to take the test.

He's the best teacher I ever saw.

Wish I'd had a teacher like him.

The kids need him.

We got to convince him

to take that test.

I'm not sure we can.

Who, then?

Maybe somebody that knows him

a lot better than we do.

Hello, Howie? Jonathan Smith.

Look, Howie, I'd like to talk to you about Mr. Zelinka.

[classical music plays]

[knock on door]

Oh, Howie.

Excuse me, Mr. Zelinka, I know it's late,

but I wondered if I could talk to you.

Well, come on in.

I'll turn that off.

Now, what's on your mind?

Well, Jonathan called me tonight.

Oh, Howie, if it's about the test, don't bother.

My mind is made up.

It's an insult. I'm not going to do it,

So I'm afraid you came here for nothing.

Well, if there isn't anything else,

I think I'd like to be alone.

There is something else.

Well?

I wanted to tell you why I never do my homework.

I think we both know that, Howie

No, you don't.

See, you think it's because I'm lazy.

That's not it at all.

I like your class so much.

It's the first time I ever really liked a class.

You really care about me.

You talk to me like I'm important.

You are important, Howie.

But I never felt that way until I met you.

I-I just love being in your class.

Then why don't you do your homework?

Because I figured that if I didn't do it,

that you'd have to flunk me,

and I'd get to be in your class again.

Is that the truth?

Yeah.

Why didn't you ever tell me this before?

Because I was scared to.

Sometimes it's hard to tell the truth when you're scared

isn't it, Mr. Zelinka?

That's why you're not taking the test.

Because you're scared. I know what that feels like.

That's nonsense.

Pardon me, sir, but it's not.

I was honest with you. Why can't you be honest with me?

All right.

I'm scared.

I'm afraid those people have the truth.

I'm just an old man

who doesn't know when to quit.

But don't you see? They're not right.

Why do you think the kids have done all this?

The petitions, the picketing?

Because they're sorry for me.

They did it because you're the best teacher in the school.

They did it because you care,

and that makes them care.

It's too late, Howie.

No, it's not.

Mr. Z, remember what you told me about being scared,

about getting up in front of the class?

You said that you have to try.

That's the only way to get over being scared.

Giving me back my own platitudes--

That's hitting below the belt, Howie.

Well, I figured that you could take it.

I'll tell you what. I'll make you a deal.

You take the test,

and I'll start doing my homework.

What do you say?

You've just made me an offer I can't refuse.

Good morning, Mr. Zelinka.

If you say so.

Mr. Arnold will be with you

during the test.

Now, the test itself

consists of true and false and multiple choice.

We've allotted you three hours.

Three hours?

Oh, yes.

Of course, it covers a wide variety of subjects.

I'm sure that a man of your background

will have no trouble at all with it.

You'll begin the test at nine o' clock.

And we'll pronounce the results in chamber

at about 12:30, just prior to lunch.

That's about it.

Shall we get started?

Good luck.

If you'll excuse me,

I have a board meeting to attend.

[clock ticking]

Mr. Arnold.

Yes?

The whole second section of this

is chemistry and biology.

That's correct. It covers many subjects.

But my teaching for the past 40 years has been--

Mr. Zelinka,

The clock is running.

I'd get started if I were you.

It's 11:30.

I wonder how he's doing.

It's rigged.

What?

They rigged the test so he wouldn't pass.

How do you know?

Mark.

Oh, yeah, I'm sorry.

What are we gonna do?

The only thing we can do in case like this.

What's that?

Cheat.

Mr. Arnold?

Yes, Mr. Zelinka?

I'm finished.

You've completed the entire test?

There were a couple of sections

I couldn't answer at all,

But I did the best I could.

I'm sorry to hear that.

If you're through, you may go.

Just leave your papers on the desk.

Mr. Zelinka, what are you doing?

I don't know.

Mr. Zelinka, I thought

you were through with the test.

So did I.

Well... Are you, or aren't you?

I guess I'm not.

How did you do?

I don't know.

We'll find out soon enough.

We'd better get in the board room.

A bunch of the kids skipped class

to hear the results.

They're waiting for you in the board room.

Are you all right?

I... I don't know.

We understand your situation, Mr. Thompson.

The entire board hopes that your wife

will soon make a speedy recovery.

And so we will delay any further discussion

of the closing of Clark street elementary

until Mr. Thompson completes his report.

[door opens]

Our last piece of business

for this morning

will be the results

of Mr. Zelinka's competency test.

Mr. Zelinka, will you come up here, please?

Mr. Arnold.

Mr. Arnold. The report, please.

Mr. Zelinka scored a...

99.5.

[applause]

Order!

May we have order?

Are you sure about that score, Mr. Arnold?

It's the highest score anyone ever achieved

on this particular test.

And I'm quite sure.

Congratulations, Mr. Zelinka.

This meeting is adjourned for lunch!

No, no, Mr. Z won't go! No, no, Mr. Z won't go!

No, no, Mr. Z won't go! No, no, Mr. Z won't go!

Congratulations, Mr. Z.

Thank you, Howie.

I'll expect to see your homework in the morning.

[theme music playing]

Sferastudios