Original subtitles

[light playful music]

- Attention, Mapleviewers!

Get hyped for the most exciting time of year,

Student Representative Electioneering Season.

[air horn blares]

Next week is our Student Council election.

Presidential candidates can sign up in the hall.

I've always wanted to be president,

but I became a principal instead.

- Question. - Aah!

- Why do you have student elections?

Do the children run your country?

It would certainly explain a lot.

- No, no matter how many times I write to parliament.

But students do have a say in how we run our school.

- [gasps] You should totally run for president, Dimitri.

- What? - Why not?

He came from the birthplace of democracy.

- Actually scholars have discovered evidence

that democratic processes were developed in Egypt

and the Near East long before Athenian--

- And you already lost.

You don't get elected class president by knowin' stuff.

It's just a popularity contest.

- Why can't Student Council elections be about

sticking up for the little guy,

about shaking things up,

about the actual issues?

- They are.

The issue of who's the most popular kid in school.

- Ah, this is most excellent.

A way to make new friends. - Yeah.

- Sweet, naive Dimitri.

Here's the tea.

To know the elections, you need to know the Anglades.

Addison Anglade, she's a shoe-in.

She's the most popular girl in school.

Her sister Florence was too.

She was elected president, class of 2020,

her mom, class of '89,

and even her great-great- grandma Gweneviere was elected

class president in 1928.

The Anglades are a dynasty.

Why even bother running against them

when you already know-- - Hey, Lyd.

- Excuse me for a moment.

May I borrow your pen?

[bright music]

- This is gonna be interesting. - This is gonna be a disaster.

[upbeat music]

- Oh, yeah!

All right!

Oh, yeah!

- Okay, I know you have your doubts about Dimitri,

but I think you'll be surprised by our next experiment.

Is running for Student Council more

than just a popularity contest?

- Um, no. It isn't.

I mean, just look at Addison's reach already.

She's got this race locked up.

- Okay, sure, maybe Addison has racked up the popular vote.

But that doesn't mean she'll get the most votes.

- That's literally what it means, Jules.

- The popular kids will vote for her,

but there are plenty of overlooked demographics, Lydia.

Some of the art geeks might vote for Dimitri.

You've got your suburban dorks, your NASCAR dweebs,

and your insufferable band geeks.

If Dimitri can run up the margins on these ignored demos

and expand his appeal to all these other nerds,

he's got this.

- Wow, you really did your homework.

- My dads watch a lot of MSNBC.

- Okay. [scoffs]

But how is Dimitri

going to compete with her?

She's a legacy.

- Do you really think she should win

just because of her last name?

- Name one time nepotism had a consequence.

- Dimitri is a nice guy.

The people who know him like him.

- So what's that, like, three votes?

- For now. But here's how we get more.

Step one,

become Dimitri's campaign managers.

Step two, get his name out there.

Step three, once he wins, make Dimitri my puppet,

installed to dismantle the institution of popularity

from within the halls of power.

[laughs] [dramatic music]

Through the legitimate means of the democratic process,

of course.

- Okay, well, I guess I can always do some polling

to show you how wrong you are.

- Dimitri's running for president?

- I think you have that wrong.

It's pronounced "Addison."

- "Dimitri," like the line that runs through a circle?

- That's "diameter."

Dimitri's a person.

- I like that they named a geometric concept after him.

- I like that he brings extra tzatziki for me at lunch.

- Person?

- Mm-hmm.

Will you vote for him?

- No, definitely not.

- I'm Team Addison.

- I just think it's weird he's running on

this whole math platform.

- What do you think about this one?

- Here is my biggest concern.

I love it. I love it all.

- Well, I have some bad but expected news.

You're not polling well with middle schoolers.

- What about elementary schoolers?

- I don't know since we go to a middle school.

You're behind 85-15.

- That's 13 more than this morning.

Looks like our campaign is working.

- It's not.

But come to think of it, our data is incomplete

without observing the winning campaign.

- But this is the winning campaign.

- Really?

- Nato!

- We're gonna shake the foundation.

We're gonna shock the world.

Just as soon as we pound the pavement.

- Oh, no.

I do not believe in political violence.

- I mean shake some hands and kiss some babies.

It's electioneering season.

[adventurous music]

- Have a good day.

I would love to have your vote.

[baby coos]

- Where did the baby come from?

- I babysit on weekends,

uh, which connotes trustworthiness, no?

- [laughs]

I think this is working.

- And the best part?

I'm having so much fun.

And bring me the next baby.

- Hey everyone, come over here.

I'm Mike Cavalleri, and I'm here to recruit you.

So what will I do as class president?

Nothing! [cheers and applause]

Yeah. - Yeah!

- When will I do it?

All the time.

[cheering] [laughs] Yeah.

Why? Because student elections are stupid.

- Yeah, they are!

Cavalleri out.

[cheers and applause]

- Mike!

- Addison?

Hi. I'm in your math class.

I'm-- both: Lydia.

- You don't have to introduce yourself

every time you talk to me.

- Right. I, um--

I just had some data I thought could be an asset.

- Oh, thanks, that's so helpful.

Wait, why am I not at 100%?

Who is everyone voting for?

- Well, you'll win in a landslide, but now

that Mike's running, obviously as some sick joke, you might--

- Wait, Dimitri's not voting for me?

But Florence won unanimously.

Mom won unanimously.

Even Great-MeeMaw Gweneviere won unanimously.

And women weren't allowed to hold office then.

- I'm sure you can win every one of those votes back.

- You mean we.

I need your help, Lydia.

You're on the team.

- [squeals]

- Fancy bracelets. I love them.

- This is a great way to stay on message.

- And have fun.

Not to mention practice my small motor skills.

- I have some news. - Wait.

- Ah, Lydia, we made this special for you.

It's a fancy bracelet. - Aww. Thanks.

You're looking at Addison's new campaign manager!

- What?

- You're running two campaigns? Impressive.

- What is so wrong with observing Addison?

- Observing is one thing.

You didn't say you'd be running her campaign.

[toilet flushes]

- Should we get out of the bathroom?

- [sighs] So what are you gonna do,

give Addison all our campaign secrets,

sabotage Dimitri's chance?

- What campaign secrets?

What chance?

- So you never believed in Dimitri.

- That's what I've been saying this whole time.

- Wow.

- Jules, this is great news.

I spend time with the most popular girl in school and--

[toilet flushes]

- Um, I think I clogged the toilet.

- Did you think about Dimitri's feelings in all this?

- That wasn't an established variable in our experiment.

[toilet flushes] - Oh, no.

I'm just making it worse. - Should we help her?

- I can't believe you'd betray me!

- What can I say?

Sometimes friends are on the opposite sides

of the political spectrum!

- Then I guess this means war.

[water sloshes]

- Uh-oh.

Could someone call the janitor?

[light uplifting music]

- Next question, anyone?

Uh, Spit Valve, you've got your finger on the pulse.

What do you got for us?

- Well, sometimes school just feels

a little uninspiring.

- Mm. I hear you.

And I see you.

- Terrible.

Headgear Henry, what's keeping you up at night?

- Probably people calling me "Headgear Henry."

- Oh.

I'm sorry, Henry.

I didn't know.

- I will use all my administrative powers to help.

- Thank you, Dimitri.

You know, you could really learn a lot from him, Julie.

- [speaking greek]

- Let's get this kid a friendship bracelet.

[cheers and applause]

[light classical music] - Wow.

This place is everything I imagined.

- You imagined a regular house?

Macaron?

So how bad is it?

- Well, I'm not gonna sugarcoat it.

My last poll shows Dimitri gaining five points.

- How?

- Well, he's made inroads with the theater nerds

and tonight he's having dinner

with some very influential band geeks.

- Can Sage help with the theater kids?

- Nah, they find her annoying and kind of one-note.

Okay, maybe that's just me that feels that way.

- [slurping]

- Hey, Flo.

- So... who's this?

- I'm Lydia.

I'm Addison's new campaign manager.

- Oh.

So are you smart, Linda?

Is that why you're here?

- She's helping salvage this train wreck.

- I had some thoughts.

- Don't overthink it.

Student government is about one thing

and one thing only--

school dances.

- Not according to my data.

- Why don't you use my old posters?

- Oh. Okay.

"Go with the Flo-rence."

Maybe we could spruce 'em up a little bit with,

I don't know, Addison's name instead of Florence?

Just spitballing here, but maybe we could try

"Be Raddison, Vote for Addison."

Or "You'll be glad if you elect Add-ison"?

- I don't get it. Will we be paying

for everyone's room at the Radisson?

- Or we could try

"Addison her name to your ballots."

I could go on all day.

- Please don't.

Just use these so you can focus on planning that dance.

- Are you sure about this?

- Oh, and how many elections have you won, Larissa?

[slurps]

[soft electronic music]

- We're so close to the popularity-iarchy coming down.

I can taste it.

We just need something to put you

over the top at the debate.

- It's okay if we don't win,

as long as we try our best.

- But we have to beat Addison.

And not to mention that doofus Mike.

There will be no justice in this world

if either of them wins based solely on their social status.

- Julie, don't focus on what makes you upset.

You need to focus on what brings you joy.

You need some kefi.

- Oh, my dads don't allow me to have caffeine.

- Oh. [laughs]

Not "coffee."

Kefi.

It is a Greek saying. - Huh.

- When a moment is so overwhelmingly enjoyable,

like how I feel when I eat my yia-yia's baklava

or when I'm campaigning with you.

Kefi is connecting with new friends

and finding joy in the company of others.

- That's it, Dimitri.

We need to help the Spit Valves and the Henrys

find their joy at this school.

- Yes, we should help everyone at Mapleview find their kefi!

- It really sounds like you're saying "coffee."

- Here. - Ooh, baklava.

- Here.

Try some baklava. - Oh.

- Come. Dance with us.

And live a life full of kefi.

- Is that cardamom?

Such a nice touch.

- My yia-yia's recipe. - Mmm.

[uplifting music]

- Okay. Enjoy.

- Heh. - Whoa.

- What?

- So this is a joke to you?

- It's a political statement.

- This is important to some of us.

Elections have consequences. - No, they don't.

At least not in a way that matters to most of us.

Look, it's all a sham.

Empty suits making empty promises.

Upholding a status quo that only works for the 1%.

Why do they need more when they already have everything?

- I had no idea. I thought--

- I'm more than a class clown, Julie.

I contain multiples. - Multitudes?

You should come out and say this to everyone.

People need to hear it. - Come on, Julie.

People laugh at whatever I say.

No one's gonna listen to my ideas

unless they think it's a joke.

- They will if you're honest.

- No. They won't. Face it.

If I'm gonna shake up the system,

making a mockery of it is the only way.

- I can't believe I agree with Mike.

- Bad news--my latest poll says you're tied with Dimitri.

- I mean, that baklava was divine.

- No need to panic.

We just drop our divisive dance rhetoric

and get you some face time with students.

- But I don't think I can.

I've always had trouble connecting.

I'm always awkward around everyone.

- You did place third in a poll of which candidate

voters would want to share a root beer with.

- Does everyone know root beer makes me gassy

or that I don't get jokes?

This is worse than I thought.

What do we do?

- Be vulnerable.

Lots of people have the same insecurities, you know?

- They do?

- Hey, girls. I have an idea.

You go negative.

I've got a bunch of oppo research.

I can get my hands dirty so you don't have to.

- You're the best, Flo. - Uh-huh.

- But she's railroading you.

And more importantly, she's railroading me!

You know what?

Let's just focus on the debate.

I have some speaking notes color coded by topic.

Let's just add a few cards about how you're shy.

That'll play really well with the AV dorks.

- Thanks, Lydia.

I'm so lucky to have both of you on my team.

[tense music]

- Dimitri may seem friendly,

but what do we really know about him?

And who's making all that baklava?

According to his own campaign, Dimitri's yia-yia.

If Dimitri exploits his grandmother,

imagine what he'd do to yours.

He claims he wants everyone to feel joy.

But how is he gonna pay for that?

Out of your pocket. That's how.

And is he actually Greek?

I know I've never seen his birth certificate.

Have you?

Pretty great, right?

- We absolutely cannot run this.

- We can't?

Right. We can't.

- Okay, if you think you can win

on a non-dance platform, be my guest.

[punchy music]

- It's been a hard-fought campaign,

but it all comes down to today's debate.

- You got this.

- Oh, you're right. That was a really big knot.

- Please welcome to the stage Mike Cavalleri...

Addison Anglade, and Dimitri Loukanis.

My first question is for Mike.

What do you believe is the most important issue

facing students today?

[farting noises]

[laughter]

- Oh, uh, tech crew, can we cut his mic, please?

Thank you.

Uh, Dimitri, same question.

- Uh, thank you, Morgan.

And excellent point, Mike.

In my conversations with students

all across these halls...

- It's been a slog.

We may have said things we regret.

But all is fair in love and politics.

- May the best candidate win.

- Basketballs will be fully inflated.

And I promise to make sure everyone here

feels like they belong.

[cheers and applause]

- And that's why I'm glad I hitched my wagon

to the right star.

- I wouldn't get too confident.

- Just you wait till you see what Addison's got.

- Um, Addison, a rebuttal.

- [clears throat] I think we can't lose sight

of the most important issue facing students today...

The issue of the dance.

[clapping]

When is it?

What's the theme? - Psst.

Will there be a DJ, or is it more

of a preselected playlist sitch?

- My question was about student mental health.

- If I may... - Mm-hmm.

- Dances are important,

but they are only a small part

of bringing joy to students' lives.

- Oh, yeah, that's what I was getting at.

- But we need that feeling every day.

Like my friend Spit Valve,

who just wishes school were more inspiring.

Or Henry, who wishes everyone would drop the "Headgear"

in front of his name.

If elected, I promise to keep listening,

to make sure everyone feels accepted here.

When you walk in those doors,

I want you to find your kefi.

I want you to find your joy.

[cheers and applause]

[grand orchestral music]

- Whoo!

- Addison, is there anything you'd like to close with?

- Oh. Just wow.

Dimitri, that was really sweet and inspiring.

- Eh. - Strong words.

- [groans] - The polls are open,

and it is up to the students to decide.

Will it be Mike?

- Don't vote! This is all a sham.

- Addison.

[gentle music]

Or Dimitri.

[cheers and applause]

[uplifting music]

- Whoo! Go Dimitri!

- The results of the elections are in,

and the winner is Dimitri by a landslide!

- [gasps] You did it! [air horn blares]

- Yes. This is amazing. I'm so happy.

- Did he really need to say it was a landslide?

- Recount, recount, recount!

Come on, recount, re-- - Nope, no recounts, Mike.

- Am I a loser?

I've never failed before.

- Are you kidding me?

I fail all the time.

It's totally normal.

Julie and I flame out at everything we try.

It's kind of our thing.

- I mean, you two look like you're always having a blast.

- Well, it's more fun when you do it with friends.

Plus, if nothing else,

this can always be a fun inside joke

for our maid of honor toasts.

[sweet gentle music]

- You really are a great friend, Lydia.

- Can I get a commitment

on that maid of honor thing now or?

You know what, it can wait.

- So what am I gonna do with 200 congratulation cupcakes?

[knocking]

- Hey, um, it's big of you to show up like this.

- You were right.

Not just about the experiment, but about everything.

Student elections aren't about popularity.

They're about listening to people

and making sure they feel heard.

Do you forgive me?

- Um, well...

hmm, I'll take this one.

Can I take a whole box of these home?

- If you play your cards right, you can take five of them.

So are you using this hard-won victory

to dismantle popularity once and for all?

- I wish.

Dimitri was not receptive to my ideas.

He's just not ready to build a truly classless middle school.

- The nerve.

- Mm-hmm.

- Well, it's nice to see him get a win.

- So on the patented Julie-Lydia rating system,

what do we give running for student president

to be popular?

- I'd give it a solid 79 votes out of 100.

- That really was a landslide, huh?

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