All language subtitles for Highway to Heaven S05E04 The Silent Bell_Subtitles01.ENG

[theme music]

Darryl, Thomas, come on,
it's time to go inside.

Let's go.

Oh, Tobias?

Mom, can Andrew come
over after school?

Well, I think you should
ask Andrew's father.

OK, can he, Reverend?

I'm sure that'll be fine, but
I will have to ask his mother.

I'll let you know at lunchtime.

Thanks.

Morning, Reverend, Deborah.

Morning, Alice.

Morning, Bai.

How are you feeling, Alice?

Don't ask.

How's little
Bai getting along?

Well, slowly, but surely.

He isn't talking yet, but
he's joining in a little more.

Any luck finding a new teacher?

No, not yet, but I have
another interview a little

later this morning.

I think you should look
for two new teachers.

Alice looks ready any minute.

She does seem very pregnant.

Yeah, very.

Well, when the other
classes heard what

the seniors were
going to do, you know,

they didn't want to be outdone.

So you know what they did?

They did the same thing.

They did the same thing.

What, have you
heard this already?

No, just a lucky guess.

Well, the juniors, the
sophomores, and the freshmen,

they got together, they staked
out their area of the beach,

and they spent
the whole weekend,

they cleaned the whole place up.

All on their own?

Yeah, they weren't being paid.

Nobody told them
to do it, they just

wanted everybody
to know how they

felt about their community.

You know how I've complained
about the kids of today.

What, you, complain?

Come on, make fun.

I'm just telling you
that the kids of today--

[loud music]
- Have got a little more--

What?

I said the kids of
today have got a--

can you believe that guy?

I've got blood running
out of my ears.

Hey, buddy, how about
turning down the noise?

It ain't loud, fuzzball.

It ain't loud?

It's shaking your truck.

It ain't shaking my truck.

This is shaking my truck.

What were you saying
about the kids of today?

Never mind what I said.

Impressive.

Very impressive
credentials, both of you.

Thank you, Reverend.

You know, it's
very rare to get

male teachers in a preschool.

I think it's a good
idea for the children.

Does that mean we're employed?

You are indeed, and, Jonathan,
having you bring Mark along

was a real godsend.

I couldn't have
put it better myself.

Let me call our head
teacher, Deborah Stone.

She'll show you around.

Yeah, we think the
school is very special.

We're very proud
of what we do here.

Parents from all over the
city bring their kids here.

And from what the Reverend
told me about you two,

I have a feeling you're
going to fit in pretty well.

We hope so.

Oh, believe me,
you'll love this place.

We feel that the
most important thing

in human cultural
behavior is the way

we bring our children up.

Both for the
children and for us.

My daughter, the artist.

This is a picture of our car.

Not a bad looking car.

Actually, it's a
pretty good likeness.

You've got a pretty good
ethnic mix here, don't you?

Well, we don't have
every race, creed, or color

covered but just about.

That's one of the most beautiful
things about this school

is watching them interact,
learn from each other.

It's a shame the whole
world can't get along

like the children in this room.

And bless this food
to our use and ourselves

to our loving and
faithful service.

Amen.

Amen.

Oh, did I tell you Ronald
Kester called me today.

No.

What did he want?

Well, he just wanted to
stop by tomorrow and see me.

What about?

He did say.

You know, I bet
it has something

to do with his recent election
to the church council.

Who's Ronald?

Ronald Kester, well,
he was a classmate

of mine at the seminary.

He's another Reverend?

Hm-hmm.

You know, I certainly
think it's strange

hearing from Kester after--

how long has it
been, eight years?

More like nine.

But we were never
all that close.

Well, thank goodness for that.

He was always a little
too oily for my taste.

I wouldn't say that, Peg.

Well, you have to
admit that he was always

more interested in becoming
a power in the church

than he was in being a minister.

And he's accomplished
that, so regardless

of your feelings about him,
remember, he's my boss.

He's your boss?

Hm-hmm.

I thought God was?

Next next, one at a time.

No pushing.

No pushing.

I'll put you up there.

Go on, go on, go on.

Next.

Next.

Next.

All right, go.

All right, what are
you doing up here?

You mustn't be up here.
Go on.

Go on.

Go on.

You're next.

Put your head down under there.

Hurry.
Hurry.

Excuse me?

Yeah, what can I do for you?

I'm looking for
the Reverend Bennett.

Oh, Toby?

I think I saw him over
at the office earlier.

Thank you.

Are you one of the parents?

No, I'm one of the teachers.

All right, take it easy.

Here, are you
having a good time?

You have a good time.

Bite your nose off.

Here we go.

[knocking]

Come in.

Tobias.

How good to see you
after all these years.

Ronald.

How can two old
friends like us

allow so much time to
go by between visits?

Well, it has been a while.

Yes, but now that I'm on the
council, we'll rectify that.

Oh, come on, come
on, let's sit down.

Make ourselves comfortable.

Well now, let's get
right down to business.

Are your teachers Christian?

I-- I never thought about it.

Most of the are, I guess.

Why?

Most?

Well, not all of them.

I mean, let's see.

I think three of them are
Jewish, Mrs. Azhari is Persian.

Persian?

You mean an Iranian?

I believe her parents
were originally from Tehran,

yes, she's a Muslim.

Now what is this all about?

The council has voted
on some changes, Tobias.

What kind of changes?

We want all our
teachers to be Christian.

Well, most of them are.

They belong to the congregation.

As for the others, it's
never been a problem.

It is now, Tobias.

I can't see why.

This is a nursery
school or a preschool,

whatever you want to call it.

I mean, I don't see--

This is a church
school, a Christian church

school that ought to
teach Christian ideals.

But our school has always
been separated from the church.

Come on, Ronald,
you can't expect--

It's not just me.

This decision was made
by the entire council,

and as pastor of this church,
you're bound by that decision.

Your teachers will be Christian.

Those who are not can
either embrace Christianity

or look for another job.

All right?

Wait, wait, wait a
minute, you cannot

possibly expect me to
ask people to change

their faith for a job?

Then don't, just replace them.

And from now on, religion
will be taught in the school.

Sure are quiet when
they're painting.

They love it.

Gives them a chance to
use their imaginations.

You find the Rev all right?

Yes, thank you.

You said that you're
a teacher here.

What's your name?

Mark Gordon.

Mark, a good Christian name.

Mark wrote the second
book of the New Testament.

Well, I was named
after Mark Twain.

He wrote "Huckleberry Finn."

I'm Jonathan Smith, I'm
another one of the teachers.

Ronald Kester, I'm with the
National Council of Churches.

The children seem
very well behaved.

Oh, yeah, they're
a good bunch of kids.

Very nice.

And what's your name, son?

Jason.

Well, Jason, tell us
about your painting.

I'm painting a picture of God.

Well, you can't
do that, Jason?

Why not?

Because no one knows
what God looks like.

When I'm finished, they will.

And who are you painting?

Same as Jason,
I'm painting God.

Genesis 127.

So God created man in his own
image, and the image of God

created He Him.

I don't think I'm going
to get along with that guy.

Jonathan, want a soda?

No, thanks, I'm fine.

Oh, what a day I've had.

I must have broken
up 20 fights today.

You know, it always amazes me
how children can be so angry

with each other in the morning,
and by the end of the day,

they are the best of friends.

They seem to know
how unimportant

their differences are.

We can all learn from them.

You all right, Tobias?

Hm?
Oh, yes, fine.

Fine.

I was just-- just thinking.

A couple more sips.

I got to go.

I have a house visit today.

A house visit, what's that?

I try and visit the parents
of all the new students

in their home environment,
helps me get a better handle

on them when they're here.

Sounds like a good idea.

Yeah, it is.

Tell him, he came up with it.

Well, I'm out of here.

Tobias, are you sure you're OK?

Couldn't be better.

If you say so.

See you guys tomorrow.

Take care.

Goodnight.

That's quite a
teacher you got there.

Deborah?

She's one in a million.

That must be a great
feeling for parents

to know they've got a
teacher like Deborah

watching their child.

Hm-hmm.

I'd hate to lose her.

She's not thinking
of leaving, is she?

No.
No.

No.
No.

No, she loves it here.

Well, I'm on my way.

I'll see if Mark got all
the paint off of them.

Goodnight, Tobias.

Goodnight, Jonathan.

Are you coming to bed?

Oh, soon.

Oh, honey.

What am I going to do?

I'm not sure there's
anything you can do, Tobias.

There has to be.

I mean, the council will
ruin everything we've

worked so hard to achieve.

Do you-- do you realize the
reputation the school has,

how it's brought people
together in the community?

Yes, I do, and I
know how you feel

about Deborah and
all the others,

but these are the new rules.

But they're wrong.

The rules are wrong,
and somehow I've got

to convince them to believe me.

I'm looking.

Look out, Annie,
here they come.

Mom, I can do [inaudible]

You have to admit my daughter
gets an A for enthusiasm.

That's right.

I wish she could pass some
along to Bai over there.

Yeah, he's getting
to you, isn't he?

Yeah.

Just can't figure him.

He never talks.

He ever said anything to you?

No.

No.

His mother says he's very shy.

He's quite bright though.

He learns very quickly.

He's good with puzzles.

Then think sometimes
he just sits

there quietly all by himself
and he doesn't do anything.

I notice the other kids leave
him alone during that time.

They must sense something.

You like him, don't you?

I mean, look at him.

How can you resist that?

Excuse me.

Hey, I'll tell you,
that daughter of yours

is quite an athlete.

Yeah, well, she
doesn't get it from me.

By the way, have
you seen Tobias?

I think he had a
meeting downtown.

He didn't by any chance tell
you what was bothering him,

did he?

What makes you think
something's bothering him?

Tobias is probably the
world's worst poker player.

Besides, I've
known him too long.

And I bet it has something to
do with that stuffed shirt that

was around here yesterday gazing
down on all of us poor mortals.

You don't mind saying
the way you feel, do you?

When it concerns people I
care about, yeah, I guess, I do.

Well, will you look at that?

That is the first time I
have ever seen Bai laugh.

Maybe he likes
playing with older kids.

I thought we had this
all settled yesterday?

But if I could only
help you see what

good the school accomplishes.

I am aware of what
the school does,

but this is a church
sponsored school,

and as such, it
should teach religion.

And it's your job to
see that it's done.

But you're ordering me to
turn a good school on its head,

a school that has
served a vital community

function for a long, long time.

We are merely telling you
to add to the curriculum.

Oh, Toby, Toby, why are you
anguishing so over this?

You've been given
an order, you're

expected to carry it out.

I'm not sure I can do
that in all good conscience.

I would hate to see you
throw away what is shaping up

to be a very promising
career as a pastor

over something like this.

We will assist you
in finding teachers

to replace the ones you lose.

Yes--

This meeting is over, Tobias.

How did it go?

Well, he put it in
no uncertain terms,

either I do it or I'm fired.

Then you'll have to do it.

It's not that easy.

Yes, it is.

Peg.

Listen to me, Tobias.

What will happen if
you defy the council?

Kester will appoint
someone else in my place.

Someone who will
do it Kester's way,

and you'll lose this church.

Everything you've worked
for all these years.

You built this up from a small,
bored group of church goers

to a vigorous,
active congregation.

And along the way, gained
a great deal of respect

in the religious community.

You can't just throw that away.

I can't throw the school away.

I'll put it up to
the congregation.

If enough people complain, the
council will have to listen.

If you make this an
issue, you know the church

will end up taking sides.

Something like this could
wreck the congregation.

I know you don't
want that to happen.

The Reverend Kester
has said that the order

is to be carried out
immediately, so there it is.

I am really very
sorry about this.

I tried my best to do
something to stop it,

but the council had
already decided.

Do they honestly believe
that I'm going to give

up my beliefs to save my job?

I didn't even want
to bring that up.

I just I felt
obligated to do so.

Well, I feel obligated to
tell you that it's an insult.

Let's try to talk
about this calmly.

Calmly?

I have just been told that if
I want to teach at this school

I have to deny
the faith that all

the generations of my
family have believed

in for all its history.

There is no calm here.

It's an outrage.

You must understand.

No job in the world
is worth that.

I do understand.

You do understand, but
you're allowing it to happen.

No, I am not
letting this happen.

There's just nothing
that I can do to stop it.

There must be some way.

Is this legal?

I'm afraid so, [inaudible].

The Supreme Court has held
that religious institutions

are allowed to
require conforming

values in their teachers.

And to hell with what
it does to the children

and to the school, and what
it does to everyone here.

We were like a family, and now
this family is being destroyed

in the name of religion.

You know, losing my job
isn't the difficult part

about all this.

I'm a good teacher, and
I'll find another job.

The difficult part is
explaining to my daughter

why she can't go to school
with the rest of her friends.

I must leave, too.

I'm sorry, Tobias.

I understand.

I have to tell you something.

Teaching here has probably
been the most rewarding job

I've ever had, and
being a Christian,

this thing doesn't
affect me on paper,

but I find this so against the
principles I've been taught

as a Christian, love for
and toleration of others

and their beliefs,
that I cannot in good

conscience obey that edict.

Sorry, Reverend.

Wait, Don.

How about it?

Don't we all feel the
same way Don does?

Deborah was right when she
said we were all a family,

and family should
stick together.

I say we should all walk.

So much for this assignment.

I'm going to miss teaching here.

I was starting to get
through to little Bai.

Well, if it makes
you feel any better,

you're still going
to be teaching.

What are you talking about?

We're not quitting.

Now, wait a minute, I'm not
working under Kester's rules.

And whose side are we on anyway?

The children's
side and Tobias.

We have to stay.

Believe me, I'm
right on this one.

How come nobody's talking?

Eat you dinner, Andrew.

But--

Please?

Your father has a
lot on his mind.

Oh.

Can Alice come over
tomorrow after school?

Hm?

No, not tomorrow.

Oh, please.

We wanted to make a
surprise for her mom for her

for Teacher's Day.
- I told you no.

No, that's the end of it.

You finish your
dinner, honey, OK?

I know how hard this is for
you, but it will all pass.

You'll see, it'll be
forgotten in no time.

Not by me.

You've had tough times before.

I know, but I
always had the Lord

to talk to to give me strength.

And you still do.

Talk to him.

I can't.

I am so ashamed.

I'm really, really
very grateful that you

and Mark chose to stay.

Someone had to be here to
take care of the children.

That may not be very hard.

What I mean is, between
last night and this morning,

we've had quite a few
calls from parents

withdrawing their children.

Well, I guess it's time
for Mark to ring the bell.

I know you're
disappointed in me,

but I really had no choice
but to do it this way.

You're sure of that?

Yes.

I mean, in addition
to the school,

I've got a congregation
that's my responsibility,

also a duty to them.

Why doesn't he ring the bell?

So you're going to lay
this off on the congregation?

I'm not sure I understand.

What are you going
to tell the children?

The children?

Yeah, the children.

You're going to have
to explain to them why

some of their friends can't
come to their school anymore,

a school that you built up to
teach them just the opposite.

I don't envy you
that task, Reverend.

Tobias, we've got a problem.

What's the matter?

The bell won't ring.

You when it's broken.

No, no, no, it's not broken.

Everything works fine.

You just can't get
a sound out of it.

The bell won't ring.

Good morning, children.

I wanted to take a few
minutes to explain a change

that's been made at our school.

I put you all in the
same room because, well,

some of our students aren't
with us this morning.

The teachers are gone, too.

Yes.

Yes, I'm afraid
that's true, but we

have some other teachers coming
in to replace them very soon.

But we like our teachers.

Well, I know you do.

I like them too.

Why can't they still be here?

I saw Ruth at the
ice cream please.

She said her mother couldn't
be here because she's a Jew.

Is Ruth going to hell?

No.

What would make you
think such a thing?

Because she isn't a Christian.

But that's no
reason to go to there.

See, Ruth is one
of God's creatures,

and he loves all of us.

Does he love Ruth's mother?

Yes.

And Mrs. Green and Mrs.
Azhari and Mrs. Levine?

Yes.

Then why wouldn't he
let them be teachers?

Well, it isn't God
that won't let them.

Wait a minute.

Let me see if I
can explain this.

You see, there are certain
rules and laws that we all

have to live by, and we must
be obedient to those laws,

like we don't go
over the speed limit.

Well, we shouldn't, but we
all stop at red lights, right?

Well, then, this church
also has certain laws

and we must obey them, too, the
same way we obey God's laws.

Well, you remember when God gave
the Ten Commandments to Moses?

Ruth says Moses
was a Jew like her.

That's right.

God gave those laws to
the children of Israel,

but when God did that,
He was really giving

those laws to all mankind.

Everybody has the same laws?

Well, the important ones, yes,
in one form or another, yes.

If we all have
the same laws, then

how come some of my friends
can't come to school now?

Because of Jesus.

They don't believe in Jesus.

Is that right?

Well, in a way, yes.

You see, we are a
Christian church,

and we have very strong
beliefs based on our Bible.

In John, Chapter 14, Verse
6, Jesus says, I am the way,

the truth, and the life.

No man cometh unto
the Father but by me.

Why didn't they come to us?

Why didn't who come?

Moses or Jesus?

If we're all God's
children, why did

they just come to one place?

Why didn't Jesus
come to where I live?

Well, he couldn't, Bai.

Why?

If God can do
anything, if He wanted

us all to believe in
Jesus, why didn't He

sent him to all of us?

Maybe it wasn't
so important to him

that we all believe the same?

Maybe it was just
important to Him

that we obey His commandments?

You said everybody has
the same laws pretty much.

Yeah, that's got to be it.

Otherwise, God would have
waited until Jesus could be

on TV so everybody could know.

You know, I bet
the more we learned

about each other's religions,
the more we realized

how much the same we are.

But I suppose it's
too late for that now.

Good evening, Tobias.

Jonathan, I didn't
realize anybody--

What are you doing here?

I could ask you
the same thing.

I just needed
a place to think.

Well, you couldn't
come to a better spot.

Would you like me
to leave you alone?

No, no, I'd like you to stay.

Please, do you want to sit down?

Thank you.

This may seem a
little strange--

But you need
somebody to talk to.

A stranger, someone who's
not in the congregation.

Yes.

But how did you know.

Because I know how
difficult it is sometimes

being the leader of a flock.

And they want to come to
you with their problems,

not the other way around.

Oh, Jonathan, I
just feel so lost.

I've thought so long and so
hard about this, and I know,

I'm sure I know what
needs to be done.

It's just-- if I
were alone, maybe

it would be different
to stand up to Kester.

But I'm not alone.

I have a wife and a
child, and they love

this church as much as I do.

We have such a--

such a wonderful life.

Why did this have to happen?

Maybe you're being tested.

If I am, I'm
failing, Jonathan.

Then ask for help.

No one can find
real answers alone.

If I were you, I'd
talk to the boss.

Oh, Kester, I've tried.

I'm not talking about Kester.

I thought your boss was God?

That's what my
son Andrew said.

I know.

I'll leave you now, Tobias.

Talk to Him.

God bless you.

Yes.

God bless you too, Jonathan.

It's still won't ring.

I can't figure it.

Everything works fine,
but it won't make a sound.

Well, we'll have someone
come out and take another look.

I have to go now.

Morning, Tobias.

Morning.

I'm looking forward
to your sermon today.

So am I. If you'll excuse me?

For the children of this world
are in their generation wiser

than the children of light.

These words are from the 16th
chapter of Luke, Verse 8,

are the inspiration for my
words to you this morning.

I was notified this week
that the National Council has

ordered our preschool
to teach religion

and that our faculty must
be made up only of those

of the Christian faith.

I informed the faculty
of the council's edict,

and as most of you know,
the majority of teachers

left either for religious
reasons or out of principle.

I thought, it's not my fault.
It was, after all, an order,

but still, still I wondered,
was the teaching of religion

a proper role for a
preschool teacher?

Would it not begin to cross over
and conflict with our classes

in Sunday school?

I worried that it might be
a provocation for discord

in the congregation,
and so, I could not

bring myself to
accept this new plan,

even though I knew
I would be replaced

if I did not follow the edict.

I anguished long and hard trying
to find a way to reconcile

the requirements of the
council, and what I felt

was my obligation
to the congregation

and my own conscience.

Finally, I turn to
prayer, and the answer

came, the night before last as
I knelt in this very church.

An enlightened poet
once wrote, an angel

paused on its outward flight
with the seed of love and truth

and light and cried,
oh, where should

this seed be sewn that it may
be fruitful when it is grown?

Our Savior heard and
such as he smiled, place

it far in the heart of a child.

You see, a group of
students from our preschool

helped bring me the
answer to my dilemma

by pointing out to me, in their
own special way, why religion

should be taught in our school.

I will bow to the
will of the council.

Religion will be taught,
but not just Christianity.

Judaism, Islam, Buddhism,
Hinduism, and more.

They should be taught as
part of the learning process

that each child goes through.

They should be taught so as
to increase the children's

understanding of their
brothers and sisters

throughout the
world, and they shall

be taught by our more than
competent staff of teachers,

if I can convince them
to return to work.

I know.

I know.

I know.

This may not be
acceptable to the council,

but a church is made up of
people, not of committees.

We had a school that
brought children together

in love and
understanding, and we all

know that the only chance
for peace among the people

of the world is for them
to come together and know

and appreciate the
beliefs of all men.

But this is not
for me to decide.

Finally, finally,
it's up to you,

because this is your church.

This is your school.

I will leave you now to decide.

God bless us all.

I'm sorry.

Don't be.

After listening to you just
now, I realize you were right.

You were right.

Well, I guess we'll just
have to start all over again.

We've done that before, and
now we have Andrew to help us.

And the boss.

The boss.

The congregation's decided.

Yeah, it was pretty
well unanimous.

That didn't take long.

Should have seen the
look on Kester's face

when they voted in favor
of your school plan.

What?

What are you doing out here?

You got a congregation in there.

[bell tolling]

[theme music]