Original subtitles

This is Peter McIntosh, for BBC, London.

The weather forecast for today...

Man: Let's take a look at south America.

I am a lady, I am.

Hey, Bert, Eve was just about to show us a new and valuable trick.

I thought I'd find you here.

I was just thinking about you.

Lots of memories.

Every brick and floorboard.

I feel too young to be retiring.

I'm so glad you came.

Oh, for a hug like this...

Ooh, I'd have died for this, years ago.

I hear your son's at university.

Yes. You see, we are getting older.

Mm-hmm.

I suppose that means I'd better go face the music.

Well, I've been told that Oxford has offered him a position

at the school of education.

Oh, I rather imagine he'd want to take

a little time to finish his book.

I'd heard he'd been invited to Yale,

but I'm not sure he's interested in America.

It's, you know, so...

- American. - Quite!

Oh, look, here he comes.

♪ Those schoolgirl days

♪ I know they will

♪ still live on and on

♪ but how do you thank someone

♪ who has taken you from crayons to perfume?

♪ It isn't easy, but I'll try

♪ if you wanted the sky

♪ I would write across the sky in letters

♪ that would soar a thousand feet high

♪ "to sir

♪ "with love" ♪

In 30 years... 20 of them in his classroom,

the last 10 developing and administering a program

that has given hope and direction to education in the inner city

Mark Thackeray has served his community.

We are proud of our school, and that pride is the legacy

that Mark Thackeray leaves behind.

Mark.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

The one thing I take exception to

in the reMarks I've heard here tonight is

who it is who's thanking whom.

You've got it all backwards, people.

I came to this country a stranger.

You gave me a home.

You trusted this stranger with the care of your children,

and there is no greater job in the world than that.

I found my wife here.

My only regret is that she didn't live to see this day.

We never had children of our own,

but over 30 years I have been privileged to have

over 900 of your children,

and for that, allow me to say...

From sir, with very much love.

I thank you.

Oh, oh, oh.

I almost forgot. I know a lot of you have been wondering

what I will be doing with my retirement.

I've taken a teaching position in Chicago.

At the university of Chicago. Isn't that a wonderful idea?

Actually, it's at an inner-city high school in Chicago.

♪ The beginning saw existence

♪ of a chosen dream

♪ but then came pain with energy striking

♪ on those she knew would uncover her lies

♪ she knew she must destroy everything

♪ that we had prayed for

♪ so she sent shameful claim in her lies

♪ she wants us to be what's going on in her mind... ♪

Would 3711 forrest Avenue be far out of the way?

- A mile or two. - Could we stop there for a moment, please?

♪ Hold on to love

♪ hold on to love

♪ the music takes you round and round and round

♪ and round and round

♪ hold on to love ♪

You sure this is the right address?

It's the address you give me.

Is there a police station or a post office?

Now let me get this straight.

You come here from england, you've never been here,

but you're looking for a family that was here 30 years ago?

That's right. The name was Douglas.

The gentleman owned a contracting company.

What am I gonna do, file a missing persons report?

- He could be dead. - It's possible.

- But there were children. - Oh. Gee...

- Well, thank you for listening. - All right, all right.

Here's what I can do. No promises. I'll check around.

Maybe there's some kind of records.

Man, you a punk!

Wilsie, let's go!

Get over there!

Get off me, man!

Wilsie, will you settle down?

That's all right!

I'm gonna make sure you get served!

Chump!

Pretty unruly. What did he do?

That bum and his gang is into enough major felonies to fill a law book.

Name it, he's done it. Shakedowns, that's extortion in your country.

They steal anything and sell it,

and they go after the other gangs like there's no tomorrow,

which happens often enough.

He'll go to jail?

I wish. He'll be out by breakfast.

Maybe you people have a better way of handling this in england.

Around here, we're just about tapped out.

- I'll let you know if I find anything. - Thank you.

Oh, where are you staying, Mr. Thackeray?

♪ The music takes you round and round

♪ and round and round and round

♪ hold on to love

♪ hold on to love

♪ the music takes you round and round

♪ and round and round and round

♪ hold on to love smiling again

♪ hold on to love

♪ nah nah nah nah, hold on

♪ nah nah nah nah, hold on

♪ nah nah nah nah

♪ nah nah nah nah, hold on

♪ nah nah nah nah, hold on ♪

Excuse me.

Mark, you son of a gun!

You're a day early.

Changed my flight. Was eager to get here.

We're not even ready for you. We're setting up a classroom.

Horace, Horace, just say you're glad to see me!

Well, I-i-I'm thrilled. I'm thrilled.

- Luggage? - I've already been to the flat you got me.

It's very nice.

You son of a gun. I can't tell you how glad I am you're here.

Come on, let's get you to work.

I'm afraid we're a couple of decades behind in our maintenance.

After all these years... How long has it been?

Since you've been in London? It's only been... 15 years?

It has been that long, hasn't it?

Excuse me.

I want to introduce this son of a gun

who snuck in a day early. Mark Thackeray.

He'll be joining us, teaching honors history.

Horace tells us you're gonna teach us a thing or two.

Our Leonardo Da Vinci over there is luisa Rodriguez.

She teaches social studies. This is her room.

But feel free to grab a roller if the spirit moves you.

Rob doerr. Teaches 11th and 12th-grade math.

Welcome to our fair city.

Mr. Weaver, we have a serious problem.

Introduce yourselves. I'll be with you in a minute.

I'm Helen goldfarb. I teach physical science. Welcome.

Greg Emory. History.

I'm bill plummer.

This is Joan Warren. We're in the English department.

Don't let me keep you from your work. If there's anything I can do,

- let me know. - By all means.

Ohh.

We're all thrilled that you're here.

Horace talks about the two years he spent with you in england

as a high point in his education as a teacher.

Those were good years for all of us.

I read your articles in modern education.

Very impressive.

When you teach as long as I have, you can't help but learn a few things.

I'm amazed that you're here.

- Oh? -As far as education goes,

this is pretty much a town where the train doesn't stop anymore.

That's an interesting metaphor.

Have you heard of the blackboard jungle? This is more of a swamp.

Trouble brewing. I think jonesie has chickened out on us.

The school runs on tracks "a", for the brightest kids

and "h", for the incorrigible.

Gil Jones taught "h" last year.

One of many. Can't even remember their names.

One left after a month.

Next one left after Frankie Davanon broke the guy's arm.

Two left after less than three weeks apiece. Jonesie finished out the year.

He said he'd be back, but I guess he thought better of it.

- What did he teach? - History.

- What about Greg? - He won't do it. You know that.

- I will. - Wouldn't be a good idea.

- Of course it is. - We've got an honors course for you.

Really, Mark.

You didn't come from London to get in a quagmire like this.

That's what I do, Horace. Give me a good quagmire any day.

How long since you were in a classroom?

Too long. That's the point.

No. No. It's out of the question.

Not only are these kids uneducable...

- There's no such thing. - I wish that were the case,

but the fact is, they're not only impossible to teach,

they're dangerous. Greg,

I want you to take over the "h" section.

Mark will take your class.

That's a union matter. If you want to take that up...

All right, I don't have time for that.

You don't have anyone to teach the course.

I'm here. And I'm willing.

All right.

Just till I can find somebody suitable.

Excuse me. Excuse me.

Go right ahead, sir.

Girl, you too fat to fit through.

- Good morning, Mr. Thackeray. - Miss Rodriguez.

- How are you? - Very well, thank you.

- - Man: Come on, people. Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Omar, how you doing?

Looks like you were in shop.

"Once more into the breach, dear friends."

All right! Stop!

Now! Get out of that briefcase! Move it! Move it!

Move away from that window! Erase that board! Come on! Get off of him!

Get off of him! All right, break it up! Break it up! Break it up!

Take your seats!

All right, arrange these desks. Get them in order and take your seats.

This class is in session. Sit! Move it! Move it!

- I just wanted to make sure that everyone's sitting down. -

All right, now let's make sure we're all in the right place. This is room 202.

202? No, no, no. I'm in the wrong place, guys. I'm out of here.

Let me see your schedule. Nice try. Sit back down.

Have a seat, miss marena. You, too. Anyone else feel that his or

her schedule needs checking? Now I think we're ready to start.

The course is American history, and my name is Mr. Thackeray.

- Hackeray? - Thwackeray? Did he say "thwackeray"?

- - You, miss... do you think you can say that? Thackeray?

- Thackeray. - Good. Now try "Mr. Thackeray."

All: Oooh! Give it to him, Evie! Give it to him!

- Mr. Thackeray. - Good.

- Beautiful! Beautiful! - My name is not "dude." Or "bro" or "man."

I'm sure you can all manage to address me as "Mr. Thackeray."

Yeah, but,

- what if we can't? - Then you will address me as "sir."

All: Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

I thought you got popped, man.

You supposed to be in this class?

- That's right, brother. - It's Thackeray.

Mr. Thackeray. Say it, please.

- You must be new here. - That's right.

Don't even look like you're from around here.

- No. England. - Is that new england? Like up in Boston?

- Not new england, stupid. England. - Ever been there?

Yeah.

I zip over every weekend. When you zip over, do you take

a train, a bus, a plane, a boat?

He's just trying to figure out

- if you know where it is, stupid. - She hitchhikes.

Ooh! Looking good.

What about you, Mr. Laredo? Do you know where it is?

- I never told you my name, man. - No, but I told you mine.

He looked at your schedule. What's with this "mister" stuff?

- You're calling Danny "mister"? - It's called respect, miss...

- Hillis. But you can call me Evie. - No, thank you.

Ooooh.

Maybe you can tell me where england is, miss hillis.

Europe. And it's an island, so you have to take a boat.

You could fly there.

I could get there in about five minutes.

And nose candy'll

- get you there in one. Phew! - Yo, man, you think

that's funny? Huh? You're all a bunch of fools, you know that?

Don't you see what this man is trying to do?

This brother is trying to mess with your heads already.

That's what I'm here for.

Now, maybe you've forgotten, but I asked you to say my name.

Then I'm going to ask you to sit down.

- Kind of hot in here, ain't it? - Sit down, Mr. Laredo.

You didn't get permission to make any trips.

Like the man said, it's hot in here.

It's a warm day. Sit down.

- Come on. It's hot. - We're smarter if we're comfortable.

- I'm gonna faint. - Let me open one window, "man."

"Man"?

- Sir. - Open a window.

- Gonna need more than one, yo. - That's for sure.

Man: don't you look cute?

Check out the windows.

- Look what he did. - Come on. Come in.

- Did you see the windows? - Turn that off. Turn that off.

Get in your seats.

Hey, look at the windows.

- Where's my seat? - Over there.

That ain't my seat.

Take it for the time being. Okay, sit. Sit.

- Sit right there. - That's Wayne's seat.

Come on, just take your seats. Come, come. Get in your seats.

You know where you were. To your seat, please. To your seat.

- All right, sit there. - That ain't my seat.

Put that down.

- Put that down! - All: Ohhh!

- - History... It wouldn't make much sense to

get on a subway if we didn't know where we wanted to go, would it?

- Stan does it all the time. He's cruisin'.

- Bastard. - Enough of that. When you want to speak,

you will raise your hand and I will call on you. My point is

it matters where we are going. History is how we know who we are.

We are all products of history. What's so funny,

- Mr. Laredo? - I didn't say nothin', man.

- But you're laughing. - Why don't you ask him?

I'm asking you.

He says he don't know squat about history, but he sure as hell know who he is.

But does he?

Frankie don't know who he is?

Maybe your boy think he Elvis.

Why don't you have your mom

- put your name on your mittens, Frankie? - All right!

- Sit. Sit. Sit. - Come on.

Sit down.

We're all pretty much agreed that it's a very funny idea someone not knowing

who he is... But let's see what we actually know.

- Who would like to go first? Tell me who you are. - You're the one we don't know

- nothin' about. - Word up!

- Yeah, Mr. Thackeray. - That's right.

I was born and raised in a country called Guyana

that's in south America. It's a very poor country, very poor.

So when I was about a year or so older than most of you are now,

I moved to england, where I had a much better chance of finding a job,

and I found one, teaching in a school very much like this school.

- Man, that sounds like one messed-up country. - Most places are kind of

messed up, Mr. Laredo. The only way that's going to change

is if we can get most people educated. In any event, that's basically

the story of my life. I taught in London until I retired earlier this year.

Retired? Man, you must be old.

Frankie, you're so stupid. don't you know better than callin' old people "old"?

How come you came here?

That's really not your concern.

Sure it is! Nobody in their right mind

comes to a hole like this. They send us a teacher who's not in his right mind,

- I think we deserve to know. - I have my reasons for being here,

and I assure you, I am in my right mind. Now, why don't you take

- a turn, Mr. Laredo? Tell us who you are. - Sure thing.

- "Who I am," by Danny Laredo. I'm the man. - The man?

That's right you need somethin' around here, come talk to me.

Such as what?

All right, I'll leave that alone.

But assuming I knew what it was I wanted,

- you are the man I'd see? - That's right.

And that's who you are?

- Right again. - Let's say I wanted something you couldn't get.

Who would that make you then, Mr. Laredo?

- Come on, Billy. - Billy, come on.

Now, uh, that could be arranged, Luis.

That definitely could be arranged.

What do you mean, arranged?

Oh, you're interested.

Come on.

Yo, wilsie, look up!

Yo, yo, yo, rise up. Raise up. Here.

Well, well, well... If it isn't the "ca-smothers brothers."

Can we play, too?

Brother, you step over here, it won't be no playin'.

Oh, is that right, dark side?

Let's say, we, uh, get this party started.

You ain't said nothin' but a word, brother. You said nothin'.

- Uh! - Hey!

Come on, man! Come on! Come on!

- Get off me, man! - Ahhh!

Wilsie! Arch!

- Behind you! - Uhhh!

Get up, punk! Get up, punk!

I didn't say nothin', dark side!

What are you gonna do, boy? Huh? What you got?

--Cops! Cops!

- Come on, man, let's go. - This ain't over!

Get the hell out of here!

- Come on, man! - Come on!

Straight, straight up.

Hey!

All right, party's over.

Don't worry, arch, they won't be able to hold me.

Don't sweat it.

Don't worry about it. They got nothin' on him.

- You screw up again, arch? - Shut up, man!

My family is from santo domingo,

and I'm proud to be dominicana.

Ole!

My mom's Italian and my dad's Polish.

- What does that make me? A pizza with sausage! -

That was a very good answer, miss guzman. A lot of us define ourselves

by where our families come from. Who else?

Mr. radatz, who are you?

- Uh, Leo radatz. - That's certainly an answer

to my question. What about you, miss torrado?

- A set of boobs that talks. - Somebody hold Jimmy down.

My name is Rebecca torrado, and I am the hottest thing here.

All right. All right, enough of that.

So, your definition of yourself has to do with how you see

yourself as a woman, as a young lady. Is that right?

Yeah. I mean, that's what I am, right? I'm no genius,

you know what I mean? But I got some things goin' for me.

- And that's important? - Being popular? You kidding?

- That's what it's all about. - That's sick! Bein' popular don't mean Jack.

- It don't mean a thing. - What does?

Look, a woman wants

to be popular, so she puts out or whatever. The way she dresses with the

tight clothes and the makeup that ain't got nothin' to do with who she is.

It's just a male stereotype.

Shut up. Let her finish. Shut up.

It's simple. All you guys

got these pictures in your heads relating to what women are supposed to be like,

and we get sucked in tryin' to be like those pictures,

but it's just a trap!

Yeah? Well, maybe it's a trap if you don't got it,

but I got it, and I'd be a damn fool if I acted like I didn't.

- So that's who I am, Mr. Thackeray, sir. - I can't believe...

This is stupid, you know that?

Why is it stupid, Mr. Camilli?

This whole thing about who you are is great if you're somebody,

but if you're nobody, what's the point?

I'm not sure there is such a thing as being "nobody."

Yeah, there is, and it's your own damn fault.

You're a nobody because you let yourself be.

You let everybody push you around.

Who pushes him around?

Everybody.

- You? - Yeah, me... everybody.

It don't make him nobody, because everybody's somebody.

All it means is that maybe he's got better things to do with his time

than fighting a bunch of idiots.

The only nobody is people that go around beating up on people

that ain't even fighting back.

This bitch ever make any sense in her whole life?

Oh, that's it! We're out of here.

All right, we'll pick this up tomorrow.

Girl: You're out of your mind! don't try to make sense, all right?

That's the last time I listen to you!

Boy: If she wants you, man...

- Just a minute. - Yeah, what?

I think you should go to the nurse and have that looked at.

I thought I hold you to stay out of my brother's face.

Is that hard for you?

At the moment it is, and I wasn't talking to you, I was talking...

No, listen you listen to me, okay.

I've been listenin' to you ever since you got here.

I understand where you're comin' from.

I know all about this deep, carin' line of crap

that you handed us, and I ain't buyin' that.

Neither is my brother.

The sooner you figure that out,

the less chance you got of gettin' hurt.

Let's go.

Told you they was gonna let me go.

You wanted to see me?

You heard about the gang incident last night?

It's a medieval situation.

An atrocity on one side has to be answered by an atrocity on the other.

Do the police know who was involved?

The Carrouthers gang, wilsie, his brother arch.

They're both in your class. I've got to get an experienced teacher in there.

Experienced?

I have 28 years of teaching.

In London! And you're retired!

I can be drawn and quartered if I don't get somebody

in there who knows these kids, what they're like.

You mean someone who's made up his mind what they're like.

Without even meeting them?

That's not experience, Horace... that's prejudice,

and you know it.

For god's sake, you know me better than that.

The minute those kids were put in "h" section,

their futures were closed. That's prejudice.

They don't look bright and shiny like winners,

so you settle for letting them lose...

That's prejudice! I'm...

I'm trying to open up their minds, Horace,

but what good is that if your mind is already closed?

Thackeray: The battle was against segregation at restaurants

and lunch counters in the south.

The principle those people used

was something called "passive resistance."

When people poured coffee and mustard and ketchup on them, they just sat there.

Sometimes not fighting back can be a powerful answer.

I would have clocked them.

It's just plain dumb letting people do that to you.

- They won. - Aaahhh.

All right, all right,

if stannie boy don't want to fight back, he don't have to.

Is that what you're doin', Stan, this possessive whatever...

Not possessive... passive... Passive resistance.

I just don't want to...

Yeah, it is.

That's what it is.

Mr. Camilli seems to have a pretty good sense of who he is.

What about you, Mr. Davanon?

I don't have to

'cause everybody knows who I am.

Is that who you are?

Someone everybody knows?

Damn straight.

It's crap, Frankie. Are you even listening to yourself?

Are any of you even listening to yourselves?

"Everybody knows who I am." "I'm the hottest thing here." "I'm the man."

You all talk about who you are like you know,

like it's easy, like all you gotta do is look in the mirror.

It's hard to know who you are. Is that what you're saying?

It's a game. The only honest one here is Stan.

Everybody is pretending to be something

'cause they're not really and they're scared.

What are they afraid of?

Everything. Bein' nothin', graduation' this place,

and then what are they gonna do?

I'm home free.

Look, my mom is an actress, and she says...

- What's she in this time... "Cats"? -"Les miserables"?

She's touring, and she says that being an actress

is just making yourself somebody you're not.

She says that we do it all the time.

I wrote a poem, Mr. Thackeray...

About what we were talking about... And I'd like to read it.

Yes, I would like very much to hear it.

Ugh.

"I'm new at this, but you, mom,

"have got the art down to a science

"being what you're not.

"Was it fun when you started?

"Maybe you could get a part where you play a mother, mom,

"like Rebecca plays the tramp,

"and Danny plays at being Danny.

"It is fun, isn't it, being what you're not?

"Except in the mornings sometimes,

"or late at night,

"when the room is empty except for myself,

"and it's time to stop pretending.

"There's no one to fool in an empty room.

"I can be me in an empty room.

"What's the matter, Evie?

"You've been someone else your whole life.

"Try being Evie in an empty room.

"Did you forget...

"Or didn't you ever know?"

Hi.

Hi!

I heard your students talking.

What did you do today?

Evie hillis read a poem she wrote...

Amazing... really.

- Let me help you. - Thank you.

Evie's very talented.

Why is she in section "h"?

She worked her way down there, Mark.

It's a pity.

I once tried to get her to write for the school paper.

I gotta go.

Hey, how you doin', Mr. T?

Hot little class we had today, huh?

Yes, it was.

Man, what'd I tell you about stayin' out of my business?

What is your problem, brother?

At the moment, my problem is what you've got under your jacket.

- What might that be? - Well, I'd have to assume it's something

you can't get past the metal detector at the front door.

My guess, it's a gun.

Yeah, well, say it is...

What you gonna do?

Take it away from me?

No.

You're gonna give it to me.

Man, either I got a gun or I don't,

which means you're either wrong or you're crazy.

Well, let me explain it to you, Mr. Carrouthers.

I'm aware you don't like me very much,

but I assume that's nothing personal.

Now, I don't know what problems you have

that would make you think you need a gun in this school.

Whatever those problems are, they've got nothing to do with me.

- That's right, isn't it? - Nope, nothin' at all.

I mean, you don't want to shoot me.

No, I wasn't thinkin' about it, but, you know, it's changin' real fast.

Let's think about that a little, Mr. Carrouthers.

If you just look at the two of us,

you see I'm not going to move.

Now, think about where we are.

Right above the police in the lobby.

If you shot me,

you wouldn't make it out of this room before they got here.

I don't think you want to throw your life away on account of me.

You got it all figured out, don't you, man?

You know I do, son.

Now give me the gun.

Then what?

I turn the gun in.

Either way, I'm cooked then, aren't I?

I said I'd turn the gun in, not you.

They're gonna ask you a lot of questions... Where you got it.

You let me figure that out.

There's a lot of people lookin' to waste me, you know that?

You just made it damned easy for 'em.

- Tommie's outside. He's waitin' for us. - Come on.

- You got the piece, didn't you? - Let's go.

He's got a piece.

In the second-floor washroom, I found... this.

- You found it? - That's right.

Look, if you took that off of some kid,

we need to know who that kid is.

I said I found it.

Now, are you the person I turn it over to or not?

Thank you.

Come on, listen to me, man...

I thought someone was gonna get hurt.

I thought somebody was gonna get killed

or maybe shot or somethin'.

Nobody even got hurt. Nothin' happened.

You lost, sir?

Oh, no, no. Not at all.

Maybe you can help me.

The douglases used to live here.

Oh, they've been gone a long time.

Long time.

Whether we make it or not, whether we continue to exist or stop existing.

The question before us is...

What do we need in order to survive

in a country like this?

- A job. - Connections.

You gotta be smart.

You mean get an education?

Not in this sorry-ass school. You could forget about that.

You don't think you can get an education here?

You can get a education in a drugstore

if they got books or something, but it don't count.

Why doesn't it count?

'Cause they're not givin' us jobs anyway.

There ain't gonna be welfare around much longer,

so what are you gonna do then?

My mama don't get welfare, punk!

Relax. Hold it. Relax. Relax.

Let me ask you a question, Mr. Сarrouthers.

Does your mother have an education?

No.

Hold up. Leave my family out of this, all right?

My mama got two jobs,

and she work her ass off, that's what she does.

And she survived. All of us are here because of our mothers or our fathers.

Or someone figured out some way to survive.

Now, it's your turn.

That's what I want you to think about for tomorrow.

How you're going to help yourselves... survive.

That's a bunch of crap, man.

This is class "h,"

and if they put you in class "h," they got a pretty good damn idea

that you ain't gonna survive.

That's what "h" means.

It means you goin' to hell.

They got their minds made up about us, Mr. Thackeray.

- Then change them. - Girl: Yeah, right.

Maybe that would work where you're from or where you went.

You know, you run off to england, and you teach in some school,

and you really think you're somethin', don't you?

I am something. Everyone is.

Well, in this country, you're nothin'.

It don't matter how many schools you teach in.

You and me walk down the street, all people are gonna see is black skin.

What do you want them to see?

Me.

Who are you? Do you see you the way you want to be seen?

Then you must see character in yourself...

Discipline in yourself...

Determination in yourself...

To survive with dignity,

no matter how tough the world around you is.

Is that who you are?

If not, is that who you want to be?

If so, come.

Let's go walk down a street and see what we can get them to see.

Well, aren't you coming?

What up, bro?

And on your left...

We goin' shopping?

We're conducting an experiment.

I need a volunteer.

How about you, Mr. Davanon?

We want to see what we can learn about how people react to us.

You see that woman over there by the bus stop?

I want you to walk up to her and ask her what she thought

when she saw you walking up to her.

- That's it? - That's it.

Then you come back here and tell us what she said.

All right, Frankie.

- All right, Frankie! - Get her name!

He's white. It don't prove a thing.

When you conduct an experiment,

you need what scientists call a control.

Mr. Davanon is our control.

Yo!

You can't take the hood out of that boy!

Oh, man!

She dissed him!

You're goin' nowhere with that.

Girl: Way to go, Frankie!

Hey, Frankie, give it up, bro!

- Now I need another volunteer. - I will.

Arch.

I wanna talk to you about it first.

Girl: Hey, what you talkin' about?

Good job.

Excuse me, ma'am. Could I talk to you?

My name is Archie Carrouthers. I'm a student at John Adams.

I'm workin' on a school project.

I was wonderin' if you could help me out.

What we saw out there yesterday is that,

to a considerable extent, we control how we are perceived.

"Yo!"...

...gets you one response.

"Excuse me, sir", another.

When we address someone with respect,

we are more than likely to get respect.

Not always, but more often than you think.

And if you're smart, that ought to be enough.

Common courtesy...

"Please," "thank you," "excuse me"...

Magical words, magical words.

Yo! Mr. Thackeray?

Miss Torrado, how are you doing?

I was wondering if we could talk.

Of course. What's on your mind?

Um... I've been thinking.

You know, some of that stuff we're talkin' about...

I mean, like, you know, the way Evie says

that sometimes we really don't know who we are?

Sometimes, it's very hard.

Yeah, okay, but see...

I was thinking, what if, like, we know who we are,

and that's not who we wanna be anymore.

People can change.

I get up in the morning and...

I gotta think about what I'm gonna put on.

And my hair and my makeup... It drives me crazy.

Sometimes, I just wanna cry.

Make you wonder why you do it?

I mean, I know why I do it.

Nobody likes a girl that's, you know,

that doesn't take care of herself.

I know I'm kind of good-looking, and they like that, and...

And that's important to you.

I mean, you gotta have some self-respect.

I don't know.

If nobody likes you, but...

But you've got to like yourself first, isn't that right?

Yo! Rebecca!

Where the hell you goin'?

I gotta go, Mr. Thackeray. Thanks for listening.

I just ran into Mr. Thackeray, and we...

Yeah, well, I was waitin'.

Mr. Thackeray. Come on.

See you, Mr. Thackeray.

You kept me waitin'.

That don't cut it, bitch.

Frankie, I'm sorry...

Sorry? What does sorry do for me?

Your face is all messed up. You look like a cheap whore!

I just need a minute. I can get it together.

Forget it. Nobody gives a damn what your face looks like anyway.

Hey, she's a little late.

She's here. Party time?

Frankie... I don't know if I wanna do this anymore.

Come on. Here she comes.

I'm sorry she's late. Say you're sorry.

"I'm sorry."

- Come on, say it. - I'm sorry.

She's sorry, guys. Come on. Give me some money.

Give me the money before we do anything.

They're beautiful.

Oh, hi, Mr. Thackeray.

You do this often?

Off and on whenever I get the chance.

I like growing stuff.

They're beautiful.

I had a garden in the back of my flat in London.

Yeah. Well...

I'll let you get back to your work.

- See you in class tomorrow. - Mr. Thackeray,

maybe you better not mention this in class.

The kids give me a hard enough time.

There's nothing wrong with flowers, Mr. Camilli,

and there's nothing wrong with making the neighborhood a little prettier.

But don't worry. If you don't want me to, I won't say anything.

Excuse me, miss.

Yes, sir? May I help you?

Yes. Yes, I think you can.

- Get off me, man! Get off me! - Shh!

Don't worry, little bro.

I ain't gonna cut you too bad.

As a favor...

Would you be so kind as to deliver a message to your brother for me?

Ask him,

how does it feel to be a dead man?

Mr. Thackeray, that's so great! That's great!

Thanks. It's nice.

You will go to see him?

Yeah, I will.

All right.

Okay, um... I have an announcement to make.

I will be talking to business people in the community,

anywhere from contractors to computer stores

to the gas company.

Any one of you interested in after-school work, let me know...

Is this gonna be more of this "help for the disadvantaged" crap?

I didn't see your hand, Mr. Davanon.

I am sick and tired of everybody taking care of everybody else.

- What about us? - Who's "us"?

Well, it don't include you, that's for sure.

If you have a point, Mr. Davanon...

Yeah, I got a point.

Everybody's fallin' all over themself

to try to help out the blacks and puerto ricans

and the fruits and the women.

I'm a white guy...

So don't figure I'm on anybody's list.

Yeah, that's dumb, Frankie.

Let me tell you why, all right?

In the first place, ain't nobody givin' nobody nothin'.

If old boy wanna get you a job,

you gotta keep that job or you up outta there.

Second place, man, is all these favors you talkin' about

where they lettin' black people into jobs.

Those are jobs where they ain't never had no black people in them,

so what that means, baby boy, is that

all this time, all them jobs was goin' to white people.

I didn't hear you complainin' about that then.

The third thing is, man, you ain't never, in your lazy, flashback-to-the-'70s life,

even looked for no damn job,

so you don't know what the hell you talkin' about.

Yeah, well, maybe he doesn't!

But my dad says he always has to hire a black guy 'cause his boss says he...

Your father a foreman?

Yeah, you bet he is.

Why don't you tell me how many black foremen they got?

That was very impressive.

Yeah, it's the simple truth, man.

Wait.

Simple truth is the best kind, Mr. Carrouthers.

You don't speak up in class very often.

When I got somethin' to say, I just say it.

People listen to you. You ever notice that?

No.

Because you have more important concerns?

Yeah, like keepin' my ass alive.

And I don't need no brother in no fancy suit

tryin' to give me no la-di-da lessons

on things that ain't got nothin' to do where I'm comin' from.

If you got some point you're tryin' to make, why don't you make it?

You have a gang, don't you?

"Gang"... man, that's cop talk.

"Gang leader"... They put that on your record.

Oh, so you're not a leader.

I must be talking to the wrong person.

You must be.

When are you gonna grow up, Mr. Carrouthers?

Leadership quality is in short supply.

It's born in a person.

You didn't ask for it, but you've got it.

You've also got people willing to follow you,

but you've got no place to take them.

So you don't like the way the system works.

I mean, that's pretty clear. Why don't you take that talent you've got

and that anger and try to get something done?

Look, man, I do things for myself. That's what I wanna get done, all right?

What... get into fights? Protect that pathetic square inch of turf?

There's no such thing as a 25-year-old gang leader,

and you are pushing 20 already.

Things happen, man.

Dying is one thing. Dying for nothing is stupid.

I don't think you're stupid.

Well, maybe I just don't give a damn.

Your brother is one of those people following you into nowhere.

Do you give a damn what happens to him?

Maybe you can answer a question for me.

Arch and wilsie Carrouthers...

They're about a year and a half apart in age, aren't they?

I think so... About two years.

But they're in the same class.

Wilsie repeated eighth grade...

And eleventh.

What is the law in this country? Is he required to graduate?

No, you can quit at age 16. Why?

Because he's still here.

See you tomorrow.

Yo, man... whoa, scratch that. How you doin', Mr. Thackeray?

Good afternoon, Mr. Laredo.

You seem to be in very good spirits.

Yeah! About that job stuff you were talkin' about...

I was thinking... You know, I'm always thinking.

I think it's the coolest thing in the world that you care about us.

And then I got to talkin' to herbie and angel,

and they were tellin' me they could use a job,

only they're scared to ask you.

You're not relaying this information

out of the goodness of your heart.

You're charging them something for these services.

They take care of me and I'll take care of you.

I'm not interested in your taking care of me.

That's what I figured. You're one of these "altuist" kind of dudes...

In the first place, it's "altruist."

In the second place, let me set you straight about something.

I'm not interested in your little scheme

because I'm not interested in a cut of a percentage of someone's part-time job.

It's not worth my while.

- Hey, I'm doin' the best I can. - No, you're not.

You don't come even close to doing the best you can,

and you never will, as long as you're looking for nickels here and dimes there

and playing the angles.

You're a very smart boy.

- I do okay. - No, you don't do okay.

That's the point.

You're always hustling... But you never get anywhere...

Do you?

Evie: Yeah, I'm comin'.

Oh, Mr. Thackeray.

I stopped at the clarion. You never went by to see them.

Yeah, well, uh... I don't really need a job.

Um...

- Can I speak with your mother? - She's not here right now.

Is there some reason I can't come in?

No. No. Of course not.

She... she's not home.

You could come back if you want, but...

I'm sure she'd say it's up to me.

You talked it over with her,

- and she didn't think... - She said that it's up to me,

so there's really no reason to talk to her, okay?

Your mother doesn't live here, does she, Evie?

She's on tour... But she's gonna be back.

She's gonna be back soon...

I know that she is... As soon as she can.

It's important to her career.

Otherwise, she... She wouldn't have...

She's not on tour.

She's not in a play.

I have to stay here, Mr. Thackeray.

If anyone knew, they would put me in a foster home.

But she's gonna come back.

I have to be here.

I have to take care of her.

She doesn't have anyone else, Mr. Thackeray. Please.

Where is she, Evie?

She's in jail.

But she's in a drug program...

And it's a good program!

She's gonna stay off this time!

I wouldn't put you in a foster home, Evie.

Don't worry about that.

How...

...would it be if I found someone to stay here with you?

Can you really do that?

Harder things than that get done all the time, Evie, all the time.

All I'm sayin' is you go out with a girl,

it's not like hangin' with the guys, you know?

You expect somethin'.

So a girl's supposed to put out because you bought her a hamburger!

Who you kiddin', Laverne?

Girls want the exact same thing guys do.

In your dreams, Laredo!

You don't think that's true.

Sex is sex, okay?

It's just guys are dogs.

The minute they think there's gonna be any kind of action,

their brains drop down to their shorts,

and their hands are like an octopus.

I've seen you Friday night with your see-through shirt,

your skirt so tight, it don't make no sense.

If you want guys to chill out, what you doin' gettin' them all heated up for?

I don't think that it's that girls want to avoid sex.

I think that it's just gotta mean something is all.

Is that really the difference?

Mr. Lopatynski.

Everybody thinks that all a guy wants to do is score.

Like every single time I'm with a chick, all I wanna do is get in her pants.

- And you don't? - Not always.

They have it in their heads what we're gonna do, even if we're not.

Which means nobody knows where you're coming from...

You know, like, just two people.

All: Yeah.

I mean, that's what it ought to be.

And then whatever happens, happens.

Very interesting.

So, Mr. Thackeray... What about you?

You got a little squeeze goin' on?

No, no, no. That's a fair question.

- I was married. - You leave your wife back in england?

You just heard him say he was married, stupid.

My wife died a number of years ago.

Was she English?

You shut up.

Yes, she was English.

Black... If you're wondering.

So, you got somethin' goin' on over here?

Not now.

We're finally gettin' into it, aren't we, Mr. Thackeray?

It seems we are.

Are you gonna tell us what "not now" means?

Years ago...

When I was much younger, I knew a woman from around here.

Oh, so you was here before?

She was from here.

But she was in Guyana.

Her family was there for a year.

And you wasn't married?

It was before I met my wife years before.

What happened between you and this south side lady?

I don't know.

I really don't know.

I've sometimes thought

when something is good between a man and a woman,

it lasts.

A whole lifetime.

Sometimes more.

Sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Weaver wants to see you in the office.

Fine.

I will be there as soon as this period's over.

He said for me to take over the class.

Mark, these are detectives Dennis and Alvarez.

They have some questions for you.

Would you rather I leave the room?

That shouldn't be necessary. Please, sit down, Mr. Thackeray.

Do you recall turning in a gun some time ago?

Yes. I certainly do.

Good. We ran some tests on it.

It seems the same weapon was used in a shooting 5 months ago.

A police officer was critically wounded.

I'm sorry to hear that.

We wanna know who you got it from.

I wish I could help you, but I can't tell you that.

That gun shot a cop.

But that doesn't make anyone here the shooter.

You let us worry about that, pal.

I'm afraid I can't help you. I gave my word.

You're obstructing justice, Mr. Thackeray.

You're hindering a police investigation, concealing a felony.

Let's not start flinging charges around.

I mean, you wouldn't have that gun if someone didn't trust me.

That hasn't changed...

And it's not going to.

Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I have to get back to my class.

Mark...

I'm sorry, but I don't really have any choice.

Under the circumstances, I don't see how you can be teaching here.

Emory will take over your class until I can find a suitable replacement.

I heard Mr. Emory gave you a composition.

I hope you were ready.

How come you're leaving, Mr. Thackeray?

It's personal... Nothing we ought to get into.

You did a lot of personal stuff in here, too.

What'd you do, get a better job?

Yeah, teaching kids who know how to survive?

I bet it just got a little too hot for him, that's all.

What the hell are you talking about?

I was downstairs after class,

and he was coming out of Weaver's office with some cops.

I bet he ratted someone out, and now he can't stick around anymore.

Step off with that, Rebecca. I don't believe that.

I don't know what the procedure is for turning in your keys,

so I thought I would just give them to you.

I'm sorry this had to happen.

Had to?

You made your choice. You didn't leave me any.

I gave one of the students my word.

What are we teaching if that doesn't count?

That's easy to say from where you stand.

But I have to think about the stability of the whole school,

not just one isolated student or another.

That's all a school is, Horace...

One kid...

And another...

And another.

- You used to know that. - Now, wait a minute,

before you start laying blame where it doesn't belong.

Once you start compromising with that fact, it's hard to stop.

Tell that to the school board.

One day you wake up, and you've made one compromise too many.

Tell that to city fathers, the state, the federal people.

That's the day you realize you may have protected your job,

but whatever it is you're running is not a school anymore.

Mark, what's wrong here can't be fixed here.

This is just where the dust settles. Can't you see that?

Each man has to draw his own line, Horace,

and stand there...

No matter what.

That's what I see.

And that's what you don't see...

Yet.

I wish you luck.

You too.

Any problem?

No. I was just wondering...

Does the newspaper keep files of all the old papers?

There's 45 years of 'em, kid,

all the way back to the first issue. Why?

Evie!

What are you doing... Come in! Come in!

My goodness!

Is there anything wrong?

I wanted to ask...

You are leaving!

You know, Mr. Thackeray, everybody's got us pegged as a bunch of losers,

but we didn't quit on you!

You got Danny thinking about college,

Rebecca's through turning tricks for Frankie...

I even went down to that newspaper.

Evie, that's wonderful.

Only you're quittin' on us, aren't you?

I can't help it if that's the way it seems.

What is it you wanted to see me about?

There's not a problem with that roommate...

It's not about me.

This lady that you used to know...

Was her name Emily Douglas?

How did you know that?

I was working at the newspaper,

and they have all the old newspapers there, so I was looking through them,

and in the business section,

I found this guy named Lawrence Douglas who was a contractor,

and he had a big contract to put up a mall or something in Guyana.

There was a really big write-up.

That's very resourceful.

I'm impressed.

And then I looked in the yellow pages, but his company doesn't exist anymore.

I tried the phone book, Evie.

I even tried the police.

Yeah, but I bet you didn't try the social pages.

What?

Emily Douglas got married 26 years ago

to a man named Jack Taylor.

The wedding announcement gave the parents' addresses.

All it took was a few phone calls.

Her husband died about two years ago,

but she has a son. He wants to meet you.

Woman: Dr. Graham, admitting desk, please.

Dr. Graham.

I'll call you later.

I'm supposed to meet someone here, a Mr. Taylor.

Oh, that's me.

How are you, Mr. Thackeray?

- My mother's been very ill. - Oh? I'm sorry to hear that.

Come on. I'll take you to her.

I suppose I ought to explain what this is all about.

A long time ago, your mother and I had a very close relationship.

She was very much in love with you, Mr. Thackeray.

- She told you that? - Yeah.

- Then, why did... - Why did she leave?

I think I'm gonna have to let her explain that to you.

She just vanished. I wrote a dozen letters, and they all came back.

My grandfather confiscated those letters.

He was the one who had them sent back.

I see.

After my wife died,

I never really cared about getting married again.

But more and more, as I got older,

I found myself wondering what happened to your mother,

and when I was offered this job here in Chicago, I took it.

I guess I wanted one more chance to find her.

You did.

Ma...

I've got someone here to see you.

I'm gonna go get a cup of coffee. You two will want to talk.

It's been a long time, Emily.

A long, long time.

Well, just look at us, Mark.

- How many years is it? - It's been years.

It feels like yesterday.

Oh, Mark.

Thank god you haven't changed.

You always knew exactly what to say to me.

I thought a lot about you these last few months.

I wanted so much to see you one last time before the end.

Is that what this is?

Let's not talk about that.

I've had a good life.

Sit down here.

Mark... Did you get married?

She passed away quite a long time ago.

But she made you happy?

She did.

Good. I'm glad.

I've spent the better part of 30 years going over the year and a half we had,

and I've wondered

is that what it would have been like if, we had had the chance to be together?

The garden.

I can still feel your hands on my skin in that garden.

Is anything really that perfect, Mark?

We can't ever lose that.

It can't ever change.

And the way the stars seemed to get tangled up in the leaves.

- We always thought they'd get stuck there.

And they did, Emily.

They're still there.

Oh, Mark.

Mark...

Then... then why...

I was so terribly confused. So confused.

My father got us out of there as fast as he could.

My head was spinning.

And I...

Hadn't exactly conducted myself quite properly, now, had I?

Not for those times, anyway.

Oh, it hurt so much sometimes thinking about you, Mark.

Your pain was my pain,

Emily Lee.

No. No, Mark.

It was much harder for you, alone, not knowing.

At least I wasn't alone.

I had your son.

Sorry to break this up, but the doctor said she's got to...

She told you.

Where the hell have you been? I've been waiting for you!

- Waiting? - There's gonna be trouble.

Calm down. What kind of trouble?

Wilsie, he's got another piece.

That's a gun.

I know what it means. What do you mean, another?

- The one you took off of him... - He told you about that?

I'm the guy who gets everything, remember?

Wilsie asked me if I could get him a piece and get it delivered through the window.

Are you saying that wasn't his gun?

I got that off of some dude I do business with.

The police said it was used in a shooting.

Wilsie never saw that gun until it went through the window.

Tell that to the police.

Are you crazy?

He could go to jail for shooting a police officer, and he had nothing to do with it.

You should've thought about that before you handed him over.

I didn't!

I said they were looking for whomever had that gun.

They didn't know it was wilsie!

You handed over the piece, but you never said a name?

They're not gonna let you get away with...

They didn't let you get away with it.

That's why you got canned.

See, wilsie don't know that.

He thinks that the cops are lookin' for him.

He told me that he was gonna get a piece and he was settling up with tommie rahwn.

One of them's gonna be dead or both of them,

'cause he figures he's got nothin' to lose.

Danny, we've got to find him,

and when we do, will you stand up for him?

You did it, you got canned.

What do you think is gonna happen to me?

That's not the point, is it? That's what you're tryin' to say.

- I'm not saying anything. - Oh, yes, you are, man.

Sir, Mr. Thackeray...

I don't know how you're talkin' me into this.

You find him, and I'll stand up for him.

All right, Mr. Thackeray. Uh, this is it.

I'm outta here.

Yeah?

What the hell are you doin' here?

I'd like to talk to your mother.

You got a lot of balls comin' around here after what you done to wilsie.

Who is it, Archie?

I know wilsie could've quit school two years ago, but he didn't.

And it occurred to me that the only reason for that

must be that he's got the kind of mother

who's had an awful lot of impact on his life,

and that's why I am hoping that you will help me now.

Help me help wilsie.

This man don't want to help wilsie.

He the one that got him in trouble!

You be quiet, boy. Let me hear the man out.

What kind of trouble is my boy in, Mr. Thackeray?

So far, I don't think it's anything too serious.

But he doesn't know that. He's desperate.

He had a gun, and he turned it over to me.

You gave him up to the cops.

I said shush up. Am I gonna have to tell you again?

I gave the gun to the police, not your brother's name.

He thinks the police are after him.

He's got another gun. I've got to find him before he makes any more mistakes.

He's only gonna help the cops find wilsie!

You don't know anything if you don't know who you can trust.

Now, I trust this man, and you had better, too.

You know where your brother is hid. You take him there.

Wilsie!

Wilsie!

It's me, arch.

I'm comin' in.

- Who's that with you? - Thackeray.

Man, stop right there.

Get out of here, arch.

- It's all right, man... - Man, I'm handlin' this.

Go.

Now, you don't think that little magic act of yours is gonna work again, do you?

I know that gun you had was involved in a police shooting,

and I know you had nothing to do with it.

Oh, is that right?

- Bring the cops? - No.

But they're lookin' for me.

- No! - Stop lyin', man!

Rebecca said she saw you with them!

You don't have the nerve to call me a liar without that gun in your hand, do you, boy?

This better? Huh, old man?

Now, you tell me again that you didn't talk to the cops.

Don't be an idiot.

Of course I was talking to them,

but I didn't give them your name. Why do you think I left the school?

They fired me!

Why do you think they did that?

Man, why am I supposed to believe that?

You know something?

The one thing I try to do in my class

is to get all my students to think for themselves.

It wouldn't be a bad idea for you to do a little of that right now

before your whole life goes up in smoke.

Well, you just let me worry about that.

Your mother worries about that.

Leave my mother out of this!

How am I gonna do that?

Man, I'm not gonna stand here talkin' to you.

If we go to the police...

Man, I said leave it alone!

Yeah, nice try, tommie!

I got four pieces!

How many you got?

You don't worry about that!

You can't shoot your way out of this, wilsie.

Yeah, well, I'm just gonna even the odds up a little bit.

Yo! Yo, man!

Let's say we make this between you and me, all right?

Now, you stand up,

and I stand up,

and that way, me and you settle this.

Hey, man, what you doin'? Hey, man! Get down, man!

You can't do that, man!

- Hey, man, who the hell is that? - What's he doin'?

It's Thackeray.

- Thackeray? - Is he crazy?

I'm not armed.

Hey, man, they'll kill you!

Just walk out of here.

There's got to be some cops or somethin', man.

Man, he's still comin'.

Chill, chill. Wait, wait, wait.

Make up your minds.

You're either going to shoot me or you're going to leave.

Come on! Get down!

- Man, there ain't no one. - Wait! Wait! Wait!

Man, nobody walks into a gun.

You've only got a few more seconds to figure it out.

We pop a teacher, and we're toast.

- Let's get outta here. - Come on!

Man, you are one mean mother...

Mr. Thackeray.

Man, 'cause you be straight trippin'. Straight up, man.

Here.

I already handed one in.

It's your turn.

All right, man. You be trippin', man.

I want to turn this in.

I guess someone's gonna want to talk to me for questioning.

And I'd like to make a statement. Where do I find a detective?

Dude, the way I got it, they busted wilsie last night.

I heard they got Danny, too.

Take your seats.

- I'd like to introduce... - What happened to Danny and wilsie?

That's not your concern. Sit down, all of you.

You know what happened. Why won't you tell us?

Why isn't Mr. Thackeray here?

This is a history class, not a discussion group.

Mr. Vollick will be your teacher.

Get in your seats and open your books.

I don't think so!

He's not our teacher.

Last time I checked, our teacher was black.

Then get out paper and pencils. You might want to give them a quiz.

Hey, I thought you guys got busted.

No, man. Everything's cool.

Mr. Thackeray took care of everything.

It was like having a lawyer.

Okay, you got your answer.

Sit down, and let's get started.

No! We're not doing it.

No one is sitting down until you tell us why Mr. Thackeray isn't here.

- That's none of your concern. - He's our teacher.

Your teacher, I believe, is boarding a plane to London this morning.

- That's not true! - We want him back!

Now, look, I want order here.

- I want... - You want respect, Mr. Weaver?

Then you'd better give us some.

See, Mr. Weaver, we finally got ourselves a real teacher,

and you ain't takin' him away.

You ever hear of a sit-in, Mr. Weaver?

Except we're all standing.

Yeah. Passive resistance.

- Still in there, huh? - For the duration.

Girl 1: What you gonna do, Mr. Thackeray?

Girl 2: Yeah, Mr. Thackeray! What's gonna happen?

Did you put them up to this?

I guess so.

I taught them a little history.

Well, then you'd better get in there.

All: Thackeray! Thackeray!

All: Thackeray! Thackeray!

All: Thackeray! Thackeray!

All: Thackeray! Thackeray!

All: Whoo!

I, uh, I guess I might as well leave, hmm?

Mr. Vollick

had a rather difficult time with you people.

I'd like to hear you thank him for his troubles.

- Thank you, Mr. Vollick. - Thanks, Mr. Vollick.

That's better.

Now, let's sit down. We've got work to do.

I believe we were talking about the healthcare issue

and the upcoming national elections.

Welcome back.

Oh, hi.

Good to be back.

Well, that's all I wanted to say. I'll see you tomorrow.

See you tomorrow.

No. There was one other thing.

I think you're the most reMarkable man I've ever met.

Man: William Lopatynski...

Arch Carrouthers...

Laverne marena...

Laverne has signed on as an intern in senator Butler's campaign.

I think the senator is in for more than he can handle.

...Danny Laredo...

...Rebecca torrado...

...Evie hillis...

Thackeray: Evie is taking journalism classes at night.

...wilsie Carrouthers...

Wilsie is working for the federal outreach program for street gangs.

...lynn guzman...

There must've been times when you didn't think they'd make it.

There were times when I didn't think I would make it.

Mr. Thackeray, what do you think?

I made all the floral arrangements myself.

I'll bet there never was a graduation like it.

You're a genius. It's so beautiful!

Come on. You want to dance?

Hey, Mr. Thackeray, you have to see all the catalogs I've gotten.

There's, like, 500 classes I could take.

Well, don't take them all in the first year.

I'll try, huh?

- Frankie... - Hey, what's he doing here?

He didn't even graduate.

- What the hell are you doing? - Dancing with a friend!

You dance with who I tell you.

When are you gonna get it through your head?

I told you, I am through with you!

- Is that what you said? - That's what just happened, Frankie!

Take a look around!

I just graduated from John Adams,

and I graduated from you a long time ago!

Now, get your hand off of my arm, or I'll take it off.

Nobody walks out on me.

Sister made herself clear, man.

Keep your hands off.

You gonna make me do that?

Yeah, if I have to.

You gonna bring your whole gang?

I'm here.

- Yeah. Me too, man. - And me.

Well...

Why are we just standing here?

Music.

May I have this dance?

I thought you were supposed to ask him.

- I will! - When?

I don't know. Later, I guess.

No. How about now?

Come on.

Excuse me, Mr. Thackeray.

Uh, we all wanted to say goodbye.

Well, let's not say goodbye yet. The party's not over.

And we kind of wondered when you were going back to england.

I've given that a lot of thought.

In London, you know, they put me out to pasture.

I think maybe... This is the pasture.

♪ Those schoolgirl days

♪ of telling tales and biting nails

♪ are gone

♪ but in my mind

♪ I know they will still live on and on

♪ but how do you thank someone

♪ who has taken you from crayons to perfume?

♪ It isn't easy, but I'll try

♪ if you wanted the sky

♪ I would write across the sky in letters

♪ that would soar a thousand feet high

♪ "to sir with love"

♪ the time has come...

♪ For closing books... ♪