10-86, possible 4-17. Baker, Henry.
3000 block of Bagley, 4-17, 10-30.
Get back!
- I'll shoot her! - Oh, my God!
3-L-90. I repeat:
3-L-90, request you notify hostage negotiation team.
Have them respond to my location.
- See anything? - Get those cars out of here!
Suspect is a male Caucasian, approximately...
I'm a reporter. How long have you been here?
Domestic or drugs? ls that his girlfriend?
- Get out of here. - Who is it?
- Talk to me. - Get him out of here.
- Go on! - I got my passes.
- Shit. - I have every right to be here.
Where'd he go?
Suspect has withdrawn into the interior of the room.
We no longer have visual contact.
That was my car.
Holy...
Having a little car trouble?
That's a keen observation.
I can help you.
It's the Jag.
You want me to drive home in your car?
I want you to take my car.
I've had a lot of luck lately. I don't need it.
You're giving me a new Jaguar and you don't want anything?
I can prove it. Give me your card.
I'll be in touch.
What, you want me to kill your wife or something?
No.
Tempting, but, no.
Call it generosity between two strangers.
Generosity? It's a Jaguar.
You expect me to drive home in a new Jaguar?
- That's right. - You're a freak!
You are a freak.
You want me to get in this car? No way! It'll probably blow up.
That's real funny, bits and pieces of me raining down in the street!
You think I'm going near that thing, you're nuts!
Besides, I got a car.
Sort of.
What? You like it?
Cool blade, huh?
- You want to see it? - Keep it in your pants.
Fag.
- He's gonna kill you. - I've got pepper spray.
Apparently, none of you have ever seen a new teacher before.
I'm Mr. Simonet.
Welcome to the seventh grade.
Middle school, that hellish, shaky bridge you all must cross...
...before you become members of that undyingly enviable high school elite.
You may think you can't cross this bridge fast enough.
You'd rather close your eyes and not think about it until it's all over.
Well, I'm here to tell you...
...that is not an option in this class.
Lateness.
Tardiness.
To be late for your first class on your first day of school.
What does that indicate?
I'm having a bad hair day?
Perhaps what it indicates is a lack of respect.
You see, I'm going to be here every day for you.
And so I expect you to be here for me.
On time, no excuses.
Put that down.
Wait.
Now...
...this class is social studies.
That is you and the world. Yes.
There is a world out there and even if you don't want to meet it...
...it's still going to hit you right in the face.
Believe me.
Best start thinking about the world now and what it means to you.
What does the world mean to you?
Come on! A little class participation.
Is it just this class you want to get out of?
Your house, your street?
Any further any of you want to go than that? Yes?
The mall. That's only two miles away from me.
Let me ask you another question.
How often do you think about things that happen outside of this town?
Do you watch the news? Yes? No?
All right, so we're not global thinkers yet, but why aren't we?
Because we're 11.
Good point. What's your name?
Trevor.
Maybe Trevor's right. Why should we think about the world?
After all, what does the world expect of us?
Expect?
Of you.
What does the world expect of you?
Nothing.
My God, boys and girls, he's right.
Nothing.
Here you are. You can't drive. You can't vote.
You can't go to the bathroom without a pass. You're stuck...
...right here in the seventh grade.
But not forever...
...because one day you'll be free.
But what if on that day you're free...
...you haven't prepared, you're not ready...
...and yet you look around you and you don't like what the world is.
What if the world...
...is just a big disappointment?
We're screwed.
Unless...
Unless you take the things that you don't like about this world...
...and you flip them upside down right on their ass.
Don't tell your parents I used that word.
And you can start that...
...today.
This is your assignment.
Extra credit.
It goes on all year long.
Wait a minute. What's wrong with this?
What's the matter? Yes?
It's, like, so...
There must be a word to finish that sentence.
- Someone help her. - Weird.
Weird. Crazy.
Hard.
- Bummer. - Bummer.
Hard.
How about possible?
It's possible.
The realm of possibility...
...exists where? ln each of you.
Here.
So you can do it.
You can surprise us. It's up to you.
Or you can just sit back and let it atrophy.
Atrophy.
If there is a word you hear that you don't understand, there's a dictionary.
Look it up.
And there are these dictionaries which you will carry at all times...
...because in this class, we're going to learn to love words...
...and their meanings. Any questions?
Yeah.
So, you'll like, flunk us if we don't change the world?
No, I wouldn't do that.
But you might just squeak by with a "C".
What'd you ever do to change the world?
Well, Trevor, I get a good night's sleep.
I eat a hearty breakfast.
I show up on time...
...and then I pass the buck to you.
Now, I want you all to write your names in these books and...
What's your name?
Molly, all right. I want Molly to look up the word atrophy...
...and tell the class what it means.
No, we're not in Milwaukee.
Straight to hell. Straight to hell.
Four tequilas. Who's having the fourth one?
- You are. - Not for me, thank you.
- We bought it for you. - Thank you so much. No thanks.
- Why not? - I promised my kid.
I know, it's horrible. You guys have fun.
Wait, wait, wait. Here.
Thank you.
What are you doing, Junior?
What are you doing, Jun? What are you doing?
You got her now. You got her now.
You got him now. You got him now.
What time do you get off?
If only I weren't married.
He's married!
I'm single! I'm single!
- Hello? - Hey.
How'd it go?
- Are you there? - Yeah.
How'd it go?
What?
How'd it go? How was your first day?
Okay.
Trev, you got to speak up. I can't hear you.
Sorry I wasn 't home. I had a chance to pick up another shift.
You mad at me?
Trev, what are you doing?
Nothing.
You find the spaghetti?
I'm eating it.
Good.
Come on, tell me what happened.
I got to go.
Spoon?
Spoon.
Mom?
Mom!
My friend's coming in to take a shower, okay?
Okay.
That's not really breakfast.
You don't eat breakfast.
Well, let's have some.
I'll make some eggs. I'll have some too.
You sure you won't throw up?
- What's that mean? - What do you think?
Tell me what it means.
- You're sneaking it. - I'm not sneaking anything.
Okay.
Wait, I'm sorry. You're right.
- I want to talk. - You want to lie to me.
I don't want to lie, I want to talk.
- Do what you want. - I want us to get along.
I'm sorry.
I can't find the toilet paper.
- Who are you? - It's Jerry.
Get out! Get out of my house!
- Thanks a lot. - Get out!
- Do you need money for the bus? - No, I got it.
You said he could take a shower.
- I never said that! - You did.
I said to let a strange man into my bathroom?
He's my friend.
You can't have a friend like that.
- It's for my assignment. - What assignment?
You won't get it. Mr. Simonet will get it.
Who's Mr. Simonet? Hey, I'm talking...
He's my teacher.
Mr. Simonet?
Yes, I'm Eugene...
...Simonet.
- Hello. - Hello.
- What is this assignment? - Excuse me?
What did you say for my son to let a homeless man in my house?
I have two problems.
One, I've no idea what you're talking about...
...and two, I don't know who you are.
Arlene McKinney. My boy is in your social studies class? Trevor?
Trevor.
Yes, he's very attentive. He's very exigent, which I like.
- Exigent. Challenging, testing. - I know what it means.
Why did my kid bring a bum home?
- I have no idea. - Bullshit!
I don't know how he interpreted the assignment.
How do you think he interpreted it?
I don't know.
If you want to know, why don't you talk to your son?
I talk to him.
Really?
Then why did you come down here to ask me what the assignment is?
It's not a state secret.
Yeah? And?
It's an assignment I give out at the beginning of every year to inspire.
I don't expect them to change the world.
- You don't expect them to change... - Excuse me.
It's to get them to think, not walk on water.
An assignment they can't do? What kind of teacher are you?
I didn't say that. They make attempts.
Now and then they clean up graffiti...
This is my kid. You don't know him.
Tell him he can do something, he'll believe you.
And when he can't, it'll wipe him out.
They ought to fire your ass out of here right now.
They probably won't do that because I filled a very excellent quota.
I'm just this side of parking in the blue zone.
You think you can do whatever you want because your face is messed up?
Why don't you put down in writing your little and loud complaints...
...and I'll make sure they get put in the suggestion box.
Jesus.
You are really something.
Thanks. I appreciate the euphemism.
I've always wanted to be something.
Can I help you with something, miss?
No.
Mr. Thorsen. Hold up, man! I've been waiting all day for you.
- Why won't you return my calls? - We're not friends.
I got the pink slip for the car. Quite a stocking stuffer.
- You can't accept it? - No, that would make me a moron.
I just want to know about these instructions.
Do what they say. Pay it forward.
- Why? - Because you've accepted the car.
- You're obligated. - What if I don't feel obligated?
What if I take my new car, get some hookers and drive to Mexico?
I'll never know.
What is this? Come on, for real.
An attack of total altruism from a litigator.
I've got a meeting.
I've got a story. Okay?
A partner at Channing and Moss is giving away cars?
Tell me a reason or I'll make one up. Mine will be more interesting.
You've gone dotty, you're wearing crystals, keeping too many cats at home?
Look. Listen, please!
My ex-wife has everything. Okay?
Plus, she's in a lesbian relationship just to piss me off.
Help me out, please.
My daughter has asthma.
One night it was very bad, the worst I'd ever seen it.
It was the middle of the night, emergency room.
We were waiting forever. Couldn 't get anyone to pay attention.
Her inhaler doesn't seem to be working.
Mr. Parker, what happened?
My sister, she stabbed me.
- We were here first. - Stab wounds first.
- She can't breathe. She's scared. - I will let you know.
Somebody has to see her.
It's never been this bad. Do something.
Would you just sit down?
I'm sorry. We've been here 4 hours. You need to get a doctor.
No. Wait.
That's bullshit. Help her right now.
- Excuse me? - Why you giving me shit?
Ain't you got some oxygen?
Let me get the supervisor.
You don't need a supervisor. You the supervisor today.
You are the supervisor today. You feel me on that?
Take your ass down the hall, put the girl on the tray and supervise her...
...and get her some goddamn air.
I got your back, sis. Bitch, you're still here. Shit!
Let go of my arm, man. This ain't fair, man!
Come on! Come on, man. Damn!
I thanked him...
...and there were specific orifices in which I was told to shove my thanks.
He told me, "Just pay it forward."
Three big favors for three other people. That's it.
So it's like a pass-it-on thing, then.
You and this lowlife are in this chain of do-gooders...
...a kind of Mother Teresa conga line? That's a little New-Agey for you.
Sort of Tibetan? Are you in a cult?
Mention my name, you'll be selling your kidneys to pay for your lawsuit.
Cult.
The guy! What was the guy's name?
Sorry, I'm late for my mass wedding.
I know somebody's in here.
I know you're there.
Come out or I will find you and shoot you.
Please don't shoot.
Please.
You stay right there.
If I see you move one...
Please don't pick it up!
Please don't! I'm not moving.
Please.
What are you doing to my truck?
Let me show you. I'm just...
I'm just going to open the door, okay?
See?
Might be easier for you to sell now. Now that it works.
I didn't ask for your help.
You been living in my garage?
Not after tonight. Can I come around and...
I got a handyman job at the Royal Motel. They're giving me a room.
You stay right there!
Please, I don't like guns.
What is going on with you and my son?
He wanted to help somebody.
Wanted to get somebody back on their feet, so he gave me a little money.
- He gave you money? - Yes, ma'am.
That's his savings.
Well, it's clothes and shoes and I got the job off it.
You think you can keep it?
Looks to me like you've got yourself a little problem.
I can lick it.
How's that supposed to happen all of a sudden?
You ever been on the street?
My mom took us pretty close.
Well, you can't know, not until you're looking at a dumpster.
But when you climb in the first time, and pull the newspapers over you...
...that's when you know you've messed your life up.
Somebody comes along like your son and gives me a leg up...
...I'll take it.
Even from a kid, I'll take it.
I can't mess up again or I'll be dead.
I appreciate that you're trying to pay back Trevor...
I'm not allowed to pay back Trevor.
- Then what is it you're doing? - I'm paying it forward.
I know you want me to go.
I'll go.
What's paying it forward?
That's me.
And that's three people.
And I'm going to help them, but it has to be something really big...
...something they can't do by themselves.
So I do it for them...
...then they do it for three other people.
That's nine.
And I do three more...
That's 27, so...
I'm not really good at math but it gets big really fast. You know?
All right, all right, all right.
A little articulation, please.
- Yes? - I think it's a good idea.
- Shawn? - It's stupid.
- Adam? - It's the honor system.
- People blow off the honor system. - So what?
Just because you do.
Trevor, the class thinks that you've come up with an overly utopian idea.
Look that word up in a minute.
Like a perfect world?
So?
So what put this idea in your head?
Because...
Everything sucks.
He talked to you about this?
We've had our discussions.
But you don't have to worry...
...because I'll tell him we can't talk no more.
No, don't do that.
Would you like a cup of coffee?
Yes, ma'am.
Okay.
I called the president to talk about pollution.
But my mom said now they'll put us on some list...
...so she hung up.
For this assignment, I put up recycling fliers at two supermarkets.
I'm going to put up a website in Chinese.
It'll tell all the kids in China to jump up and down at the same time.
The goal being to knock the Earth off its axis.
- Yeah. - Thank you. Sit down.
Well, your ideas are as surprising as they are variegated.
Add that to your list of words to look up.
But I want to focus for a moment on one project we heard today.
I've been teaching for many years and it's the first new idea that also...
...requires an extreme act of faith in the goodness of people.
Trevor has made an attempt to interact with the world...
...and that was the assignment.
And if I were an effusive person given to easy praise...
...I would call that...
...admirable.
The words from today: utopian, enigma, quantum.
Add variegated. I want you to go home...
- Hey, Mr. Simonet. - Hello.
Were you just being nice?
About what?
About my idea.
Do you think it's good or were you just being teachery?
Teachery?
Bullshitting.
Do I strike you as someone falsely nice?
No.
You're not even really all that nice.
Well, it was a slip-up and it will not happen again.
What?
What happened to your face?
Did you draw the short straw today, Trevor?
It's not a very pertinent subject to social studies, is it?
Go and tell them that's what I said.
Tell who?
I'll see you tomorrow.
- You know where Jerry is? - Over there in 15.
It's more product.
Who is it?
It's Trevor.
I'm looking for Jerry.
Jerry's not here.
When will he be back?
He's not coming back. Now get out of here.
Jerry?
Get out of here!
Please come out, Jerry.
I remember in 1976 there were those programs in the school system...
- ...and now, all that's gone. - I gotta go.
You ran out of class this morning. I wanted to talk to you.
- Hello. - Hello.
Come in.
Trevor's not feeling good.
I'm sorry. What's the matter?
Just a tummy ache.
Do you want to come in?
Sure. Thank you.
- Sit down. - Thank you.
- It's a very beautiful home. - Thank you.
Have you lived in Vegas your whole life?
Yeah.
I told him if you wanted to talk to me I would come to the school.
Mrs. McKinney, I didn't ask to see you.
Well, Trevor said you did.
Yeah and he gave me a note from you...
...which you didn't write.
He gave you a note from me?
Oh, God, that's horrible. He's been so...
- No, I didn't mean you. - No explanation required.
- Don't elaborate. - It's not personal.
- I'm used to this. - Would you stop?
Can we just rewind here a little bit?
I obviously didn't realize how much Trevor likes you.
That's nothing that we can't discuss on parent-teacher night.
Then why did you come?
Why didn't you just tell me to come to the school?
Because you came to the school...
...to talk to me about your son...
...and I behaved like a...
An asshole?
Sorry.
Is that too trailer-trash a word?
How's "rat bastard" sit with you?
It's pretty good.
- "Dickhead"? - Oh, I like that.
Look, I'm...
I made all this food.
It's just sitting here.
I really don't know who else to talk to about him.
- This is good. - Thanks.
I don't understand. This is summer school?
Why do you think Trevor stopped talking to you?
I don't know.
He seems mad.
Seventh grade is difficult, but he seems happy at school.
Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's fine.
How much do you see him?
- As much as I can. - How much is that?
I'm not doing a bunch of skanky guys instead of spending time with my son.
I got two jobs.
Right. I meant that.
Couldn't have just been a question.
Mrs. McKinney, do you think there might be something...
...outside of school that might be bothering him?
I don't know.
I'm going to have to consult my spirit guides here.
You tell me Trevor's withholding from you...
...but won't tell me anything specific, and you want me to divine why.
Divine why? You always talk like that?
Yes.
You go to some big fancy school?
Yes.
Think you could stop rubbing my nose in it?
Is there a father?
He doesn't live here anymore.
I don't know where he is.
I know what that's like.
Arlene, I've called you five times.
- Bonnie. - No, listen.
You don't call your sponsor once in a while, you don't have a sponsor.
This is Eugene Simonet.
You're not supposed to date for a year.
- It isn't a date. - No, I'm Trevor's teacher.
We're having a conference.
We're done.
Were done.
How could you do that to me?
Write a letter to him, sign my name?
- Why'd you have to mess everything up? - I didn't mess this up.
What were you doing? Standing at the door listening?
- What happened to your stomachache? - Why? You always lie.
This wasn't my fault. This was embarrassing.
I did something good and you don't know it.
Honey, listen.
You can't just put two people together and make them like each other.
You only like people you can get drunk with.
You're waiting for him to come back.
- No, I'm not. - Yes, you are!
No, I'm not!
- Your father's not getting his foot... - That's what you always say.
- I mean it now. - You always mean it.
What do you want me to say? I say it, I mean it.
When he's around you don't care what happens to me.
You don't even know I'm in the house.
- That's not true. - It's true.
I love you.
I'm doing the best I can.
Don't love me. I hate the way you look.
Trevor, you need to stop.
I hate that you're my mother.
Trev, I'm going to come in, okay?
You said that an hour ago.
Do you understand my kid is missing?
If I had a car I'd be out looking for him!
What time do you think he took off?
I don't know. I'm sorry to do this to you.
Bonnie wasn't home. The cops wouldn't come.
And my friends are all drunks.
- It's okay. - And so am l.
I'm a drunk too.
I believe some people refer to that as "in recovery."
Where are you going?
Got enough?
Need a ticket somewhere? Come on, I'll get you a ticket.
Come with me. I'll get you a ticket.
I'll get you a ticket, you son of a bitch!
Honey, are you okay?
For the rest of my life, I can never be as sorry...
...as I am for what I did to you.
I didn't drink.
I wanted to, but I didn't.
You got no reason to trust me...
...and I know you don't want to hear any more promises...
...so I'm just gonna tell you the truth.
I have a problem.
I have a really bad problem.
I've got to stop.
And if you can be with me on this...
...if you can think it's possible that I can do it...
...then I think maybe I can.
If you just...
...try a little bit and help...
You're still here?
I hope it's okay.
- He's asleep. - Good, okay.
How did you know where he was?
Well, kids, they either hitchhike or they take a bus.
- Listen... - You're welcome.
No, you don't have to.
- I understand... - Wait. Goddamn, I want to thank you.
Thank you.
You're welcome.
- Wasn't quite worth it, was it? - No.
I was wondering, do you want to come back here sometime?
Have dinner with me?
I'm not entirely sure that would be appropriate.
Okay. I understand.
- Good night. - Good night.
Why'd you do that man the favor, Sidney?
No, it's like three favors, player.
You got to do three.
I'll do the other two here for my folks.
A lot of brothers need favors in here.
But who told you to do it?
It's like this idea I got.
You gonna put this on TV?
How did you come up with an idea like that?
Man, it's like...
It's like the world is a shithole. Excuse my French and shit.
And it's like...
...I just thought, like, boom!
Like the whole shit could be, like, better.
It didn't start with anyone else?
No, nigger. That shit came from here.
The shit came from my head. I can't lie.
I been through some heavy-ass shit.
But not no more, because it changed me.
And I'm changing this place, man.
I mean, people are listening to me.
People are staying clean.
I mean, it's like some cosmic Aristotle shit. You feel me?
- Yeah. - Yeah, no doubt.
- I feel you. - No doubt, dog, no doubt.
The thing is, Sidney...
...somebody else is saying that pay it forward was their idea.
I think you know who.
That bitch?
She a lying-ass bitch.
She's a lying bitch. She's got your head.
She makes a pretty good case, though, Sid.
That old crusty bag lady?
This is all from me. All from my heart, dog.
Sidney, it doesn't matter if you got it from the lady or not.
You're the one paying it forward.
In prison, no less. The parole board will eat that up.
- Oh, the parole board. - The parole board.
Oh, snap, yo. You good, man.
It's like a carrot for the mouse and shit.
No doubt. It's too bad my parole don't come up for another year, B.
What if I can make it so your parole comes up next month?
Hello.
Oh, hello.
Did you know I worked here?
No, I didn't. Really.
Just dropped in for a little game of craps?
No, I like that coffee shop.
They have good food.
Yeah, they got good pancakes.
Yeah.
Fluffy.
- Want me to bring you back something? - Oh, no, thanks.
- I get off in an hour. - Really?
Yeah, really.
Well, if you were going to eat anyway then...
If you wanted, maybe...
If you were hungry, we could...
We could, if you were, if you want to...
...eat something...
...sometime.
Give me a seven iron, please.
Yes, sir.
May I help you?
I am not stalking the governor, Jordy.
Shit. Chandler.
You scared me. You look like crap. What are you doing here?
- I want to talk to him, Jordan. - Your questions piss him off.
- Is that why I got the bounce? - He won't talk to you.
- Tell him I'm a candygram. - Stop it.
I've been sitting on a story for 2 years about a party he had.
The clean-up crew found syringes, size 12 high heels, animal droppings.
That can't be right, can it?
You really had this, you'd have used it.
Bullshit. His friends in high places had me kill it...
...but since I got fired, I'm not feeling that loyal.
- What do you want? - Four million dollars.
I'm kidding, man. Relax.
A phone call. I just need a phone call.
I need a massage for a friend's parole date. That's it.
- They kept me 40 minutes over. - Did you call him?
I couldn't remember the name of the restaurant. I remember the hotel...
If you're late he thinks it means you don't respect him.
What?
If you're late, he'll think it means you don't respect him.
Wear this.
- I want to wear the green dress. - You look like a vampire in that.
I got to take a shower.
- What? - I smell horrible.
No, you don't! You smell good. You smell like roses or something.
Let me just wash under my arms. Are you sure?
Yeah, I'm sure.