LET'S UM, LET'S NOT
HAVE PEOPLE COME IN, I'D LIKE TO
DO THIS WITHOUT ANYBODY IN HERE.
COULD EVERYBODY SPLIT THAT
DOESN'T HAVE TO BE HERE? THANKS.
AND CLOSE THE DOOR.
MAYBE KEEP PEOPLE AWAY
FROM THE DOOR. ALL GOOD?
>>YEP.
I WASN'T GOOD IN
SCHOOL. I DIDN'T CARE FOR
SCHOOL. IT WAS NICE SOCIALLY,
MY OWN EXPERIENCE, BUT I KIND
OF JUST WENT ALONG.
I STARTED OFF AS A
MUSIC MAJOR, I WAS GOING TO BE A
ROCK AND ROLL STAR. BUT THAT
DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT.
IN 1985, DURING THE
HURRICANE, HURRICANE GLORIA,
I WAS TAKING A TRAIN INTO THE
CITY TO WORK. I HAD GOTTEN TO
WORK, AND I WAS ON THE PHONE
WITH MY BROTHER IN LAW, WHO
HAD JUST STARTED TEACHING, AND
HE SAID THAT HE WAS OFF FROM
SCHOOL. I WAS LIKE "WAIT A
SECOND. YOU'RE OFF FROM SCHOOL
FOR THE HURRICANE, AND I'M GOING
INTO... GOING INTO THE CITY TO
WORK IN AN OFFICE BUILDING?
THAT'S A PRETTY GOOD GIG, RIGHT?
MY MOTHER WAS A
TEACHER, AND I KNEW
WITHOUT A SHADOW OF A DOUBT FROM
EARLY CHILDHOOD, THAT THE ONE
JOB I WOULD NEVER DO WAS BECOME
A TEACHER. NEVER EVER, I WOULD
TAKE TOLL CARDS ON THE TURNPIKE,
I'LL BE A SHEPHERD,
ANYTHING RATHER THAN BECOME A
TEACHER.
>>AND I DECIDED TO BECOME A
TEACHER BECAUSE I WANTED TO DO
SOMETHING WITH MY LIFE BESIDES
WHAT I WAS DOING WHICH WAS
DRIVING A TRUCK FOR A COMPANY.
AND UM, I DECIDED I WANTED TO
DO A LITTLE BIT BETTER FOR
MYSELF SO I GOT INTO
TEACHING A LITTLE BIT.
I WENT BACK TO SCHOOL.
AND AT THE AGE OF 37.
FRIEND OF MINE FROM
COLLEGE, HIS AUNT WAS THE
PRINCIPAL OF AN ALL GIRLS INNER
CITY SCHOOL IN NEWARK NEW
JERSEY, AND THEY WERE DESPERATE
FOR TEACHERS.
SO I THOUGHT, GREAT.
I CAN DO THIS FOR A YEAR, IT
WOULD KEEP MY FATHER FROM MAKING
ME GET A JOB AT
PRUDENTIAL, AND THEN I'LL FIGURE
OUT WHAT I WANT TO DO.
MY FATHER CALLED ME
UP, ASKING ME TO GO ON AN
INTERVIEW. AND I HAPPEN TO GET
THE JOB IN A JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
IN QUEENS. AND I ENDED UP UH,
STARTING MY, WHAT'S NOW MY
THIRTIETH YEAR.
>>MOST OF THE
TEACHERS HERE, AT ONE POINT,
THEY BELIEVED THAT THEY COULD
MAKE A DIFFERENCE. I KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT IT IS TO UH... HAVE
GUIDANCE AND TO HAVE...
SOMEONE HELP UNDERSTAND THE
COMPLEXITIES OF THE WORLD THAT
WE LIVE IN. I DIDN'T REALLY HAVE
THAT GROWING UP.
I AM MONEY.
I CHANGE HANDS LIKE A DOLLAR
BILL. I GO OUT AND BUY A LAMP.
BUT THE GENIE APPEARED AND CRIED
LOUDLY. WITH VOLUME. BUT THE
TEARS ARE ALL FOR MYSELF.
AND THAT'S WHERE IT ALL WENT
WRONG.
UH HI LUPE, DEAN VARGAS
HERE, UM, I'M SICK AND, UH,
WON'T BE COMING IN TODAY,
ALRIGHT?
GET TO THE POINT
DR. HART, I'VE GOT A SCHOOL
TO RUN.
>>Dr. Hart: YOUR STATE SCORES
HAVE GONE DOWN THE LAST THREE
YEARS. YOU'RE NOT DELIVERING.
>>DON'T PRETEND
LIKE YOU DON'T KNOW THE GAME.
YOU EARMARKED MY SCHOOL
AS A TRANSFER DUMP FOR THE WORST
KIDS IN THE DISTRICT.
>>WELL KIDS DESERVE AN
EDUCATION, DON'T YOU AGREE?
>>I AGREE YOU'RE JERKING OFF
AND WASTING MY TIME.
GET TO THE POINT, DR. HART...
>>WE NEED CONSENSUS BUILDERS.
NEW METHODOLOGY.
>>YOU'RE CORPORATIZING THE
SYSTEM.
>>NO.
WE'RE CLEANING HOUSE.
THE SUPERINTENDENT FEELS IT'S
TIME YOU STEPPED DOWN.
>>BABE, YOU GOT SOME FUCKING
NERVE COMING INTO MY YARD WITH
THE HARD FUCKING SELL.
>>CAROL. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN
YOU WERE AN EDUCATOR.
YOU WERE VERY WELL RESPECTED.
WHY DON'T YOU GO OUT ON TOP?
>>Mr. Wiatt: ALRIGHT, EVERYBODY
SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP OR I START
PULLING OUT THE REFERRALS.
SIT... SIT DOWN.
I AM STARTING THE DVD.
>>BARTH OR BARTHES?
>>BARTHES. BARTHES, MA'AM.
>>MR. BARTHES.
HENRY BARTHES.
SO YOU'VE TAKEN LONG-TERM
ASSIGNMENTS AT LOCKE AND
MACARTHUR.
THE FRINGE.
>>WELL THAT'S, THAT'S WHERE THE
WORK'S AT.
>>THIS IS A MONTH LONG
ASSIGNMENT, UNTIL I CAN FILL IT
PERMANENTLY. I ASKED TO
MEET WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU COME
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AS THE BEST
SUB ON THE CALL SHEET.
>>THAT'S A SOMEWHAT DUBIOUS
ENDORSEMENT.
>>I AGREE, MR. BARTHES. YOU WILL
FIND MANY OF YOUR STUDENTS
FUNCTIONING WELL BELOW GRADE
LEVEL. IT'S YOUR TASK TO TRY AND
GET THEM CAUGHT UP.
TEACH THE CURRICULUM MOST
IMPORTANTLY. UNDERSTOOD?
>>GOOD MORNING.
GOOD MORNING.
>>I'M MR. BARTHES. FOR THOSE OF
YOU WHO HAVEN'T HEARD, THIS IS
ENGLISH 11A.
LISTEN UP. I HAVE ONE RULE,
JUST ONE. IF YOU DON'T WISH TO
BE HERE, DON'T COME.
>>DUDE WHAT AH, WHAT DOES THAT
MEAN?
>>IT'S NOT DUDE, IT'S MR.
BARTHES.
THE 'S' IS SILENT.
>>YOU'RE FUCKING GAY.
MARCUS, SHUT UP.
>>NO YOU SHUT UP.
YOU DYKE BITCH.
>>HEY MARCUS. GUESS WHAT?
>>WHAT?
>>YOU'RE FREE TO LEAVE.
>>LIKE RIGHT NOW?
>>LIKE RIGHT NOW.
>>I'LL CATCH YOU LATER, MAN.
WHAT THE FUCK?
DO YOU WANT ME TO GO TO THE
DEAN'S OFFICE OR YOU...
>>I DON'T CARE WHERE YOU GO.
EVERYONE PULL OUT A SHEET OF
PAPER. NOW I'D LIKE TO ASSESS
WHERE YOUR INDIVIDUAL WRITING
SKILLS ARE.
YO, WHAT IF WE AIN'T
GOT NO PAPER?
>>OKAY, HERE'S THE SITUATION.
YOU'RE DEAD. ALRIGHT?
WRITE A BRIEF, BUT DETAILED
ESSAY ABOUT...
>>HEY JACKASS.
I ASKED YOU A FUCKING QUESTION!
>>...ABOUT WHAT A FRIEND OR A
PARENT MIGHT SAY ABOUT YOU
DURING YOUR FUNERAL.
YOU HAVE THIRTY MINUTES.
OH SHIT.
>>I ASKED YOU A MOTHERFUCKING
QUESTION, DIDN'T I?
>>ANYTHING ELSE?
>>YOU BETTER BACK THE FUCK UP
BEFORE I FUCKING ROCK YOUR SHIT.
>>THAT BAG, IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY
FEELINGS. IT'S EMPTY.
I DON'T HAVE ANY FEELINGS
YOU CAN HURT EITHER. OKAY?
I UNDERSTAND YOU'RE ANGRY.
I USED TO BE VERY ANGRY TOO
OKAY? I GET IT.
YOU HAVE NO REASON TO BE ANGRY
WITH ME BECAUSE I'M ONE OF THE
FEW PEOPLE THAT'S HERE TRYING TO
GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY.
NOW I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO JUST
SIT DOWN, AND DO YOUR BEST. AND
I'LL GIVE YOU A PIECE OF PAPER.
HOW'S THAT?
>>CAN I GET A FUCKING PEN TOO?
>>KIDS DON'T HAVE ANY
ATTENTION SPAN. THEY'RE BORED.
SO HOW ARE YOU
SUPPOSED TO REEL THEM
IN WITH CLASSIC LITERATURE IF
THEY DON'T... IF THEY DON'T
BELIEVE ... THAT YOU... HAVE
SOMETHING MEANINGFUL TO SHARE.
THANK YOU.
>>WHY DID YOU THROW MARCUS OUT
OF CLASS, BUT NOT JERRY?
>>WELL, I HAD TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE
OUT OF SOMEBODY.
ANYWAY, MARCUS VERBALLY
ASSAULTED YOU, AND THAT'S NOT
ALLOWED IN MY CLASSROOM.
WHAT THEY SAY TO ME IS
IMMATERIAL.
WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>>MEREDITH.
>>NICE TO MEET YOU, MEREDITH.
>>SO YOU REALLY DON'T CARE WHAT
THE KIDS SAY TO YOU?
>>PERHAPS I'VE GOTTEN USED TO
IT.
>>I WISH I COULD BE THAT STRONG.
>>IT DOESN'T TAKE STRENGTH,
MEREDITH. YOU GOTTA...
UNDERSTAND THAT UNFORTUNATELY
MOST PEOPLE LACK SELF-AWARENESS.
YOU SHOULD REALLY KEEP THAT IN
MIND, AS YOU HEAD INTO THE
TRENCHES OF SECOND PERIOD.
YOU'LL MEET THEM AGAIN.
AT EVERY AGE.
I WANT TO SEE
THE PRINCIPAL.
THAT'S HER, MOM.
>>YOU THE BITCH THAT EXPELLED MY
BABY? AND FOR WHAT?
EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME.
MAYBE YOU WOULD LIKE TO...
>>BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HANDLE IT.
THEN BITCH, WHY ARE YOU HERE?
YOU WANT TO BE AT HOME WITH HER
THE WHOLE DAY? I DON'T HAVE TIME
FOR THIS BULLSHIT.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?
WHY ARE YOU HERE?
HEY MA'AM, CALM DOWN.
WE'LL GO TALK ABOUT THIS IN
THE DEAN'S OFFICE.
>>I AIN'T GOING NOWHERE WITH
YOU.
>>LOOK MISS, I KNOW YOU'RE
ANGRY. BUT THEY WON'T LISTEN TO
YOU. YOU NEED TO TALK TO ME.
>>RACIST BITCH, I'MMA SUE YOUR
ASS.
>>OKAY. COME ON LADIES,
THIS WAY. LADIES...
WHAT HAPPENED?
>>BITCH YOU GIVE ME ANY MORE
SHIT IN CLASS, AND I'M GONNA
HAVE MY NIGGAS FUCKING GANG RAPE
YOUR ASS.
>>Ms. Madison: EXCUSE ME, ARE
YOU NEW HERE?
>>IT'S UH, FIRST DAY.
>>WELCOME. THAT WAS QUITE A
SCENE BACK THERE.
I WAS A LITTLE STUNNED.
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY SAFE HERE.
SORRY, I'M MS. MADISON.
>>I'M HENRY. HENRY BARTHES.
WHATEVER IS ON MY MIND, I SAY
IT AS I FEEL IT. I'M TRUTHFUL TO
MYSELF. I'M YOUNG AND I'M OLD
AND I'VE BEEN BOUGHT AND I'VE
BEEN SOLD. SO MANY TIMES.
I AM HARD FACED, I AM GONE,
I AM JUST LIKE YOU.
TRICIA?
PATRICIA? PATRICIA?
>>HELLO?
HENRY, IT'S RITA FROM
THE HOSPITAL. HE'S DONE IT
AGAIN.
>>WHAT?
>>YOU NEED TO GET DOWN HERE.
>>BASTARDS. LEAVE ME ALONE!
>>AND WHY AREN'T YOU HANDLING
THIS?
>>I CAN'T GET HIM OUT.
YOU COME AND GET HIM.
>>PATRICIA?
>>THANKS.
GRAMPA COME ON, IT'S HENRY.
OPEN THE DOOR.
>>PATRICIA?
>>NO, IT'S HENRY. IT'S HENRY.
>>WHO?
>>IT'S HENRY. GRAMPA, PLEASE
OPEN... OPEN THE DOOR.
>>OH, HI SWEETHEART.
I... I... I THOUGHT...
YOU WERE YOUR MOM.
>>YOU'RE DRESSED, OKAY.
YOU GOING SOMEWHERE?
>>I'M GOING TO WORK.
>>GRAMPA, YOU'RE RETIRED.
YOU'RE RETIRED. OKAY?
IT'S VERY VERY LATE,
SO I NEED YOU TO GO TO SLEEP.
OKAY?
LET'S GO TO BED.
HOW YOU DOIN' HUH?
>>SOME OLD PEOPLE SLEEP A
LOT BEFORE THEY DIE.
ISN'T THAT SILLY?
>>EVERYTHING OKAY?
>>YOU SHUT UP. YOU LISTEN.
NOW I KNOW YOU'RE JUST SOME
UNDER-EDUCATED DRONE PASSING THE
TIME WITH THESE OLD DYING
PEOPLE. BUT I'M PAYING FOR HIS
ASSISTED LIVING. AND YOU'RE NOT
ASSISTING HIM. I TOLD YOU,
TAKE THE LOCK OFF OF HIS
BATHROOM DOOR. YOU KNOW HOW
HE GETS AT NIGHT, HE FORGETS. SO
YOU NEED TO BE THERE FOR HIM.
TO MAKE HIM FEEL SAFE.
LET ME BE VERY CLEAR HERE.
YOU STOP NEGLECTING HIS NEEDS,
OR I WILL START
FUCKING WITH YOURS.
I WILL HAVE YOU FIRED.
THEN IT'S GONNA BE YOUR FAMILY.
YOUR CHILDREN ARE GONNA BE AT
RISK. YOU GOT IT?
DON'T YOU EVER MAKE ME COME DOWN
HERE AGAIN AT THIS HOUR. OKAY?
GIVE ME THE FUCKING
MONEY. YOU HEARD ME.
GIVE ME THE FUCKING MONEY.
GIVE ME THE FUCKING MONEY NOW.
YOU THINK I LIKE YOU?
GIVE ME THE FUCKING MONEY.
YOU WANT MONEY?
>>NOW!
>>WHY YOU FOLLOWING ME?
>>I'M NOT.
>>HUH?
>>IT'S LATE. YOU SHOULD BE HOME,
IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT.
>>WHAT? YOU CRAZY MAN?
WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR DEAL, HUH?
>>GET AWAY FROM ME.
>>WHY'D YOU LET THAT GUY BEAT
THE SHIT OUT OF ME?
HUH?
YOU JUST SAT THERE LIKE WITH A
FUCKING LEMON OR SOMETHING.
>>EXCUSE ME.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
>>YOU DON'T THINK THAT THERE'S
SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT?
>>LISTEN, LITTLE KID, I DON'T
KNOW HOW OLD YOU WERE WHEN IT
ALL WENT WRONG, BUT THIS ISN'T
THE FUCKING ANSWER OK? GO FIGURE
IT OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING
TO GET OLD REALLY QUICK,
YOU KNOW THAT.
>>HUH? WHY YOU SO
MEAN TO ME, HUH?
YOU DON'T THINK I HAVE FEELINGS?
>>DO YOU? DO YOU HAVE FEELINGS?
>>LISTEN PAL, I MEAN BETWEEN
YOU AND ME, YOU LOOK LIKE YOU'VE
GOT MORE PROBLEMS THAN ME.
>>OH, REALLY?
>>YEAH, REALLY.
SO COME ON, I'LL... I'LL
MAKE IT BETTER.
>>WHAT ARE YOU DOING? GET OFF
ME. ARE YOU FLIRTING WITH ME?
>>NOTHING. JUST, I'M OFFERING TO
HANG OUT IF YOU WANT.
>>I DON'T WANT TO HANG OUT.
>>I DON'T KNOW, YOU SEEM KIND OF
LONELY. MAYBE WE GO BACK TO YOUR
PLACE. JUST, RELAX.
AFRAID YOU'LL LIKE IT?
>>NO, I'M AFRAID YOU'VE BEEN
FUCKED AND THROWN AWAY SO MANY
TIMES, YOU GOT USED TO IT.
>>FUCK YOU, MAN.
FUCK OFF, QUEER.
>>HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.
>>FUCK YOU. YEAH YEAH,
JUST WALK AWAY, MAN.
HEY! WHERE YOU GOING?...
>>HE JUST FUCKS THEIR SHIT UP.
AND THE LADIES CRY FOR ME
AT THE FUNERAL. CAUSE I AIN'T
AROUND NO MORE TO DICKS THAT
SPLIT UP RAW AND SHIT.
AND MY BOYS ALL GETS FADED,
BLAZING THAT SKUNK SHIT AND
FUCK.
YOU KNOW IT'S FUNNY, I SPENT A
LOT OF TIME TRYING TO NOT HAVE
TO DEAL. TO NOT REALLY COMMIT.
I'M A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.
THERE'S NO REAL RESPONSIBILITY
TO TEACH. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY IS
TO MAINTAIN ORDER.
MAKE SURE NOBODY KILLS ANYBODY
IN YOUR CLASSROOM, AND THEN THEY
GET TO THEIR NEXT PERIOD.
SHE USED TO BE A SWEET GIRL.
SHE NEVER SEEMED DISSATISFIED
WITH HER LIFE, AND WHY SHOULD
SHE HAVE BEEN?
HER MOTHER AND I GAVE HER
EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED.
SO WHY DID SHE BECOME SO ANGRY?
SO MISERABLE AND MEAN ALL OF A
SUDDEN? WE DON'T KNOW.
FRANKLY IT
DOESN'T REFLECT ON US.
WE WERE GOOD PARENTS.
BUT STILL SHE REPAID US FOR ALL
WE'VE DONE, BY KILLING HERSELF.
STUPID SELFISH CHILD. NOW SHE'LL
NEVER GET INTO PRINCETON.
NO NAME.
>>HI LUPE, DEAN VARGAS AGAIN.
I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE. I UM...
I QUIT.
>>Mr. Seaboldt: WELL IF IT ISN'T
THE LOVELY DR. PARKER.
WOULD YOU LIKE A HAPPY PILL,
HELP GET YOU THROUGH THE DAY?
THEY'RE YUMMY.
>>Dr. Parker: I NEED YOU TO FILL
IN FOR DEAN VARGAS
SECOND PERIOD.
I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU, CHARLIE.
>>I JUST UH, REALLY LOVE
WATCHING YOU LEAVE THE ROOM.
>>AH MR. SEABOLDT, HE MAINTAINED
A SENSE OF HUMOR.
I THINK A SENSE OF HUMOR
IS KEY. I DON'T POSSESS IT.
I MEAN, I DO IN A TRAGIC SORT OF
WAY.
WHAT YOU DOING HERE,
MR. SEA?
>>UM, FILLING IN FOR DEAN
VARGAS.
VARGAS, IS A BITCH.
TALK SHIT, AND YOU GET SLAPPED
LIKE A BITCH.
YOU'RE NOT GONNA GIVE ME NO
DETENTION NEITHER, OR I'M GONNA
UNFUCK YOUR SHIT UP TIGHT.
MOTHERFUCKER.
>>I'M SHIT, NO, I'M FUCK YOUR
SHIT UP TIGHT, MOTHERFUCKER.
WOW. THAT IS I MEAN REALLY
POETIC. I MEAN, IT'S TRULY
LYRICAL. YOU SHOULD TAKE THAT ON
THE STAGE. I MEAN THAT SHIT
SELLS ITSELF. HMM.
I, WHOSE PROTUBERANCE WALKS
ACCORDING TO SAYS
I'M GOING TO UNFUCK YOUR SHIT
UPTIGHT, MOTHERFUCKER.
TAKE IT LADDIE, AND I'LL FUCK
YOUR SHIT UP TIGHT, AND I'LL
FUCK IT RIGHT UP TIGHT UP YOUR
ASS, YOU MOTHERFUCKER.
I'M GOING TO
UNFUCK YOUR SHIT UPTIGHT, YOU
MOTHERFUCKER. I'LL TELL YOU
WHAT, UM... WHY
DON'T YOU HAVE A SEAT, OKAY? AND
THEN, UM, I'LL BE BACK SHORTLY
AND WE'LL DISCUSS YOUR BRIGHT
FUTURE, OKAY, MY MAN?
I MEAN MY MOTHERFUCKER.
OK, MAE WEST.
ELLEN, CAN I SEE YOUR NIPPLES?
>>WHAT? NO.
>>WRONG. SEE ACTUALLY, I CAN.
SEE THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT.
YOU HAVE TO WEAR A BRA TO
SCHOOL.
>>LOOK, MR. SEABOLDT, I'M JUST
BEING ME. I DON'T TELL YOU HOW
TO DRESS, SO YOU DON'T TELL ME.
CAPECHE?
>>ELLEN, YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS?
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF A
SUNSET IN HAWAII. IT'S RATHER
PRETTY ISN'T IT?
NOW ELLEN, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT
IS? THAT'S A VAGINA INFECTED
WITH GONORRHEA.
>>THAT'S FUCKING GROSS.
>>YES, VERY. SO YOU SEE, WHEN
YOU COME TO SCHOOL DRESSED LIKE
THAT, YOU GIVE, YOU GIVE OUT THE
WRONG SIGNAL. DON'T YOU WANT
PEOPLE TO TREAT YOU WITH
RESPECT?
>>YO, I GET RESPECT.
I DON'T GIVE IT UP TO EVERY DICK
IN MY FACE.
>>EVERY DICK IN YOUR FACE?
THAT'S RESPECTFUL.
PUT THIS ON, WEAR THAT FOR THE
REST OF THE... I SAID WEAR THAT
FOR THE REST OF THE DAY. OKAY?
>>CAN I GO NOW?
>>I SUPPOSE YOU CAN.
I MEAN UM, IF WE'RE DONE,
ARE WE DONE?
>>WE'RE DONE.
ANOTHER STUDENT SAVED.
COME OUT OF THE
BATHROOM, GRANDMA.
COME ON GRANDMA, OPEN THE DOOR.
>>HEY GRAMPA. GRAMPA.
GRAMPA? YOU OK?
HEY GRAMPA, IT'S HENRY.
GRAMPA, IT'S HENRY.
ARE YOU IN PAIN?
>>I... I PISSED MYSELF AGAIN.
>>COME ON GRANDMA, OPEN THE
DOOR.
>>EXCUSE ME? EXCUSE ME. CAN YOU
UH, CAN YOU COME IN HERE,
PLEASE?
>>YOU HAVE A LITTLE ACCIDENT?
>>YEAH.
>>YEAH, NO PROBLEM.
>>DON'T, DON'T, DON'T.
>>SEE, WE'RE TAKING CARE OF IT.
SEE? YOU'RE OK. ALRIGHT?
YEAH? YOU FEEL BETTER?
>>HAVE YOU BEEN DOING ANY
WRITING, GRAMPA?
HAVE YOU BEEN DOING WRITING?
IN THE JOURNAL?
>>NO. MY... MY LIFE... MY LIFE
ISN'T WORTH MEMOIRS.
>>IT'S OKAY, GRAMPA.
IT'S OKAY.
>>I DON'T WANT TO GO...
OUT LIKE THIS.
>>WELL, COME ON.
>>I HATE BEING A BURDEN.
>>YOU'RE NOT A BURDEN. OKAY?
YOU'RE NOT A BURDEN.
>>SURE.
YOU... YOU LIKE COMING HERE.
YOUR MOTHER CAME BY TODAY.
HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO HER LATELY?
>>NO.
BUT YOU TELL HER I'M FINE.
>>YOU ALWAYS SAY YOU'RE FINE BUT
I KNOW YOU HIDE THINGS FROM ME.
YOU ALWAYS BEEN CLOSED OFF.
EVER SINCE YOU WERE A KID.
WHY IS THAT? HUH?
WHY?
YOU'RE UPSET. I SHOULDN'T SAY
THESE THINGS TO YOU.
I... I... I DON'T MEAN TO MAKE
YOU...
>>YOU HAVEN'T UPSET ME, GRAMPA.
I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
PAST.
YOU AND I REMEMBER IT VERY
DIFFERENTLY. JUST REST, OKAY?
CLOSE YOUR EYES. I'M HERE.
I'LL BE HERE WITH YOU.
>>WHEN YOU STOP COMING HENRY,
I'LL DIE.
>>FUCK.
>>YOU GOT A SMOKE?
>>NO I DON'T HAVE A SMOKE.
>>WHERE'D YOU GO, HUH?
WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO NOW?
>>WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO, KID?
>>I DON'T KNOW.
CAN YOU LEND ME TEN BUCKS?
COME ON MAN, I'M HUNGRY.
>>I MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT AT
MY PLACE.
COME IN, WASH YOUR HANDS.
THERE'S SOAP OVER THERE.
SIT DOWN.
>>REALLY NICE PLACE YOU GOT.
THANKS.
YOU GOT ANYTHING STRONGER?
>>EAT YOUR SANDWICH.
>>HEY, HOLD ON MAN.
THAT'S A HUNDRED BUCKS.
>>RELAX.
>>WHAT?
>>HAVE YOU BEEN RAPED RECENTLY?
>>WHAT DO YOU CARE?
>>I'M NOT SURE THAT I DO,
PARTICULARLY.
BUT I CAN PUT SOMETHING ON IT.
>>LOOK, I'VE GOT TO GET BACK.
>>BACK? BACK WHERE?
>>LISTEN BUDDY,
IF YOU DON'T GOT THE MONEY,
IT'S COOL. I MEAN YOU KNOW I
LIKE YOU, I'LL BLOW YOU FOR
FIFTY.
>>LISTEN TO ME, KNOCK OFF THE
BULLSHIT, OKAY?
COME IN THE BATHROOM.
IT'S GONNA STING A LITTLE BIT.
>>WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?
>>TAKE A SHOWER.
HERE YOU GO.
THIS IS A FRESH TOWEL.
GO TO SLEEP.
>>HELLO, THIS IS DR. PARKER.
MY SON'S
GOT ADHD, I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE
AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S GOT.
NOW YOU'VE GOT TO GIVE HIM HIS
FREE LAPTOP.
>>MR. CAMDEN, YOUR SON OLIVER
INJURED A STUDENT.
HIS PROBLEMS ARE BEHAVIORAL.
>>HEY, MY KID'S GOT A
DISABILITY, AND HE'S NOT
LEARNING ANYTHING, AND IT'S YOUR
FAULT.
>>HEY HEY HEY, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING? WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH
YOU?
>>AS IT IS, OUR RESOURCES ARE
EMACIATED AND I HAVE REAL LD
KIDS THAT NEED MY ATTENTION.
>>HE'S ALWAYS MAD ALL THE TIME
BECAUSE HE'S NOT GETTING THE
SERVICES HE NEEDS.
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND PROMISES
MY RIGHTS. YOU'LL BE HEARING
FROM MY LAWYER.
>>MR....
>>HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
WHAT IS THIS?
WHAT IS THIS, FUNNY?
GET TO CLASS.
GET TO CLASS RIGHT NOW.
WHAT'S THE JOKE, I DON'T GET THE
JOKE, HUH?
IS THIS FUNNY?
DOES THAT LOOK GOOD TO YOU?
YOU LIKE HURTING ANIMALS, HUH?
IS THAT WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO?
ANSWER ME DO YOU LIKE HURTING
ANIMALS? YOU LIKE THIS?
COME HERE. GO.
LET'S GO. COME ON.
>>UM MR. RAYMOND, STUDIES HAVE
SHOWN THAT KIDS WHO ARE PRONE
TO HURTING ANIMALS AT AN EARLY
AGE EVENTUALLY FALL INTO A HIGH
PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS WHO MAY
FAIL TO DEVELOP EVEN THE MOST
BASIC FEELING FOR PEOPLE.
>>DAVID...
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS?
I FEEL... TRAPPED.
LIKE THE CAT.
HEY WHO ARE YOU? HEY WHAT
WHAT?
>>DID YOU PAY HER?
DID YOU PAY HER?
>>YEAH, ALRIGHT HERE. YEAH,
YEAH. ALRIGHT?
HERE. ALRIGHT? HERE.
>>WHAT ARE YOU PAYING ME FOR,
HUH? WASN'T IN MY MOUTH.
>>GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE.
GET OUTTA HERE.
>>DON'T HURT ME.
>>HERE.
CHANGE THE SHEETS.
HOW DO YOU DO IT, KID?
>>PLEASE DON'T BE MAD AT ME.
>>I'M NOT MAD AT YOU.
>>DON'T THINK BADLY OF ME.
I WON'T DO IT ANYMORE.
I PROMISE.
>>LOOK, YOU DON'T NEED TO
PROMISE ME.
OKAY?
DON'T PROMISE ME.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU FEEL
THAT YOU NEED TO DO, YOU DO IT.
BUT YOU DON'T DO IT HERE. OKAY?
WHAT, WHAT ARE
YOU DOING, MER?
>>DON'T YOU KNOCK?
>>SO WHAT IS ALL THIS SUPPOSED
TO BE, ARE YOU A TORTURED SOUL?
WHY DON'T YOU PAINT SOMETHING
CHEERFUL. LIKE... LIKE HAPPY
WITH COLOR.
>>WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME DAD,
BESIDES FOR ME TO HAVE BEEN BORN
WITH A PENIS?
>>I DON'T WORK ALL DAY TO HAVE
MY NIGHT RUINED BY YOUR TEEN
ANGST...
...MOSTLY A'S MIGHT GET YOU A
FULL RIDE TO STANFORD IF YOU
WERE SOME MINORITY KID, AND I AM
NOT GOING TO SUPPORT YOU, AND
YOUR LITTLE CREATIVE HABITS
OKAY? I'VE HAD IT WITH ALL YOUR
LITTLE ART PROJECTS, THAT ARE
GOING NOWHERE.
>>YOU ALWAYS KNOW WHAT TO SAY,
DAD.
>>YOU KNOW IF YOU GREW YOUR
HAIR OUT, AND YOU LOST SOME
WEIGHT, YOU CAN ATTRACT A NICE
BOY, WHO KNOWS?
>>THERE SHOULD BE A...
A PREREQUISITE.
A CURRICULUM FOR BEING A PARENT
BEFORE PEOPLE ATTEMPT.
DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME.
EAT THESE.
>>WHAT WERE THOSE?
>>YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO ASK ME
BEFORE YOU TAKE THEM.
THEY'RE VITAMINS. AND ASPIRIN.
AT SOME POINT UM...
YOU SHOULD GET AN HIV TEST.
AT SOME POINT.
>>WHY WERE YOU CRYING ON THE
BUS?
>>GO TO SLEEP.
HE A FRIEND OF YOURS?
>>A FRIEND UM, NO.
NO NO NO. CLAUSEN HAD NO
FRIENDS, HE WAS UM...
>>Mrs. Perkins: ... A TOTAL
ASSHOLE.
>>WHAT WAS HIS PROBLEM?
>>HE CHOSE A VOCATION THAT DID
NOT CHOOSE HIM. AND THEN HE
SPENT HIS WHOLE CAREER CASTING
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE. HE TALKED
LIKE THAT.
>>YEAH UM, A CHILD HATER
BASICALLY.
>>HE TRIED TO PURGE STEINBECK
AND FAULKNER FROM OUR REQUIRED
READING LIST.
>>OH YES.
>>AND LET IT BE
SAID FROM THE SAFETY OF HIS
SABBATICAL, CLAUSEN YOU CAN DO
NO MORE HARM.
>>HOW DID HE DIE?
>>WHO KNOWS AND UM, WHO CARES?
CLAUSEN...
LUPE, IT'S
DRUDGERY. THIS LIFE OF
DETENTION, SUSPENSION,
EXPULSION, STAFF MEETINGS, THE
PAPER CUTS, THE VACANT PARENTS,
THEIR VICIOUS KIDS, THEY'RE THE
DREGS, LUPE. THEY SPAT ON MY
SOUL. THIS HUMILIATION MUST
STOP. DISCIPLINE MUST BE
RESTORED. THESE KIDS HAVE US ON
THE RUN. WE'RE THE ONES ON
TRIAL. IT'S FUCKING MADNESS!
LIKE EVERY CHILD HAS VALUE, IS
A WINNER, AND WORTHY OF A
PRIVATE EDUCATION. FUCKING KIDS
WHO HAVE NO DESIRE, NO FIRE, NO
MINDS TO FEED...
>>WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
TO TAKE SOMETHING IN.
>>OKAY, EXCELLENT.
TO ABSORB.
ANYONE?
>>EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME.
>>SO WHAT IS...
UBIQUITOUS ASSIMILATION?
ALWAYS ABSORBING
EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL THE
TIME.
>>WELL DONE, GEORGE.
>>HOW ARE YOU TO IMAGINE
ANYTHING, IF THE IMAGES ARE
ALWAYS PROVIDED FOR YOU?
WHO HERE READ 1984 LAST YEAR?
GOOD.
ANYONE?
MEREDITH?
>>HAVING TWO OPPOSING BELIEFS
AT ONCE AND, BELIEVING THAT BOTH
ARE TRUE.
>>EXCELLENT, MEREDITH.
>>WHY DO YOU ALWAYS SUCK HIS
DICK, YOU FUCKING KISSASS?
>>TO DELIBERATELY BELIEVE IN
LIES, WHILE KNOWING THEY'RE
FALSE.
EXAMPLES OF THIS IN EVERYDAY
OH I NEED TO BE PRETTY TO
BE HAPPY.
I NEED SURGERY TO BE PRETTY.
I NEED TO BE THIN, FAMOUS,
FASHIONABLE.
OUR YOUNG MEN TODAY ARE BEING
TOLD THAT WOMEN ARE WHORES.
BITCHES. THINGS TO BE SCREWED.
BEATEN. SHIT ON. AND SHAMED.
THIS IS A MARKETING HOLOCAUST.
TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY, FOR THE
REST OF OUR LIVES, THE POWERS
AT BE ARE HARD AT WORK, DUMBING
US TO DEATH. SO, TO DEFEND
OURSELVES, AND FIGHT AGAINST
ASSIMILATING THIS DULLNESS INTO
OUR THOUGHT PROCESSES, WE MUST
LEARN TO READ.
TO STIMULATE OUR OWN
IMAGINATIONS.
TO CULTIVATE OUR OWN
CONSCIOUSNESS. OUR OWN BELIEF
SYSTEMS. WE ALL NEED THESE
SKILLS, TO DEFEND, TO PRESERVE,
OUR OWN MINDS.
>>JUST VERY CAREFUL, THAT'S
PERFECT. GREAT. LOOK.
YOU JUST MADE YOUR OWN
TESSELLATION.
WOW.
>>I DON'T CARE WHAT THEY SAY
HUN, YOU'RE DOING GREAT.
I HAD A HARD TIME WITH MATH TOO,
IT TAKES TIME.
>>WOW, THAT IS DAMN COOL.
HI GUYS.
THANKS FOR STAYING LATE.
ALL... FIFTEEN OR TWENTY OF YOU.
>>TODAY WE WILL BE
PRESENTED WITH NEW
COURSEWORK, ENGINEERED TO BOOST
STATE EXAM PERFORMANCE, AS
MANDATED BY 'NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND.'
>>Mr. Mathias: GOOD AFTERNOON
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S MY
PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
I'VE COME TODAY WITH SOME
EDIFYING MATERIALS TO HELP YOUR
MATRICULATING
AND NON-MATRIC STUDENTS TO
BETTER PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING
STATE EXAM THIS MAY.
LET ME START BY STATING,
I LOVE TEACHERS. I LOVE WHAT YOU
DO, WHAT YOU STAND FOR, YOU GUYS
ARE THE REAL HEROES. NOW THE
ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IN ALL
MY YEARS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, IS THAT REAL ESTATE
GENERATES REVENUE. AND
BURGEONING PROPERTY VALUES WILL
BE THIS SCHOOL'S SAVING GRACE.
BUT YOUR SCHOOL'S LOW TEST
SCORES, ARE BRINGING DOWN HOME
RESALE VALUE IN THIS
NEIGHBORHOOD, DURING A MARKET
ALREADY IN DECLINE. WE GOT TO
GET SCORES UP. NEW FAMILIES IN
OUR DISTRICT, AND MORE MOTIVATED
KIDS IN YOUR SCHOOL. AND I'M
NOT PLACING ANY BLAME.
>>EXCUSE ME, ARE YOU HERE TO
SELL SOME TEST MATERIALS, OR TO
AIR YOUR CONCERNS AS A PROPERTY
OWNER?
>>LISTEN UM, I'M CURIOUS.
ARE YOU GIVING AWAY POPCORN WITH
THIS CRAP THAT YOU'RE PUSHING?
>>THIS FACULTY HAS SPENT THEIR
LIVES ON THE BOARDS AND YOU
TELL US THAT OUR CAREERS ARE
ABOUT RESALE VALUE?
BULLSHIT!
>>GIVE EM HELL EDIE, STORM THE
GATES.
YOU'RE OVERSIMPLIFYING
MA'AM, THAT'S A HASSLE WE
CAN'T AFFORD.
>>THAT SOUNDS LIKE A THREAT.
>>THAT'S ENOUGH, COULD YOU
PLEASE SIT DOWN? CAN WE HAVE
SOME ORDER HERE PLEASE?
>>DR. HART WAS RIGHT. YOUR
SCHOOL IS THE PRIDE OF THE
DISTRICT.
>>YOU BET PAL.
WOULD YOU FINISH YOUR PITCH?
WE'D LIKE TO GO HOME.
>>WHAT'S YOUR HURRY, HUH?
I HEARD THEY PUT YOU OUT TO
PASTURE. SO ENJOY RUNNING
THIS RELIC FOR A FEW MORE
MONTHS. YOU'RE A FOSSIL, AND
YOU'RE FUCKING DONE.
>>YOU EVER DREAD GOING HOME?
LATELY I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO
WITH MYSELF WHEN I'M NOT IN MY
CLASSROOM.
SOME FRIDAY AFTERNOONS I'M
AFRAID TO GO HOME.
AFRAID OF ALL THAT TIME ALONE.
>>YEAH.
>>...MY MOTHER HATES MY FATHER
PASSIONATELY... I'M THERE FOR
THEM ON A PERMANENT BASIS...
...WATCHES A LOT OF TV...
...PROBABLY THE ONLY TIME I
DON'T FEEL NAKED... NOT A
...TEMPORARY ONE... I TEACH FOR
SELFISH REASONS... MY MOTHER WAS
A MS. MADISON... BETTER THAN
THAT... IN CONTROL, I FEEL
NAKED... SHE TAUGHT SIXTH GRADE
AT SAMUEL... SHE MOSTLY LIVES
LIKE A SHUT-IN...
...I'M UP THERE EVERY DAY IN
FRONT OF...
...BEST TEACHER I EVER HAD.
SO WHAT'S YOUR STORY?
>>MY STORY?
I'M JUST UM... I'M JUST TAKING
IT ONE THING AT A TIME.
>>WHY ARE YOU WASTING YOUR LIFE?
YOU KNOW SUBBING'S A DODGE.
>>I TEACH EVERY DAY, I MEAN,
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
I MEAN, YOU DON'T REALLY
KNOW ME.
>>SO WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?
YOU DON'T WANT SOMETHING MORE
PERMANENT?
>>HI.
>>WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?
>>WHAT? I WAS OUT.
WITH A COLLEAGUE.
>>BOY OR A GIRL?
>>A WOMAN.
>>YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO STUPID.
WHY DO YOU TREAT ME LIKE A KID?
>>WELL YOU ARE A KID.
I'M SORRY.
I'M SORRY, I... I... I WASN'T
EXPECTING THIS.
>>ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS TELL ME
YOU WERE GOING TO BE HOME LATER.
>>LOOK BACK UP, ALRIGHT?
I'M NOT BEHOLDEN TO YOU.
OKAY?
I MEAN YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY
HERE, BUT YOU DON'T GET TO HAVE
EXPECTATIONS OF ME. ALRIGHT?
THIS IS, THIS IS A TEMPORARY
THING. YOU... YOU... YOU'RE ABLE
TO STAY HERE, BUT EVENTUALLY
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO GO, YOU
UNDERSTAND THAT? I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT THAT YOU...
>>IT'S CLEAR. I GET IT, YOU
WANT ME TO
GO NOW? I GOT BETTER THINGS TO
DO THAN CLEAN UP THIS DUMP.
>>CAN'T BELIEVE YOU MADE DINNER.
WITH WHAT?
>>GROCERIES. FROM THE
GROCERY STORE.
>>WOW. IT'S UH, IT'S REALLY NICE
KID. IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE
SOMEBODY'S COOKED ME A HOME
COOKED MEAL. THANK YOU, ERICA.
WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS, WE ALL
HAVE THINGS THAT WE'RE DEALING
WITH. AND WE ALL UH...
TAKE THEM HOME WITH US AT NIGHT.
TAKE SOME TO WORK WITH US IN THE
MORNING.
I THINK THAT
HELPLESSNESS, THAT REALIZATION,
THAT FOREBODING, OF BEING ADRIFT
IN A SEA, WITH NO...
BUOY, NO SAFETY NET. WHEN YOU
THOUGHT YOU'D BE THE ONE
THROWING THE BUOY.
>>HI. ANYTHING FOR DINNER?
TELL ME ALL ABOUT
IT, FROM THE BEGINNING.
>>YOU DON'T CARE.
>>OH, THAT'S SO UNTRUE, MY LOVE.
>>YOU ARE SO CONDESCENDING.
>>GIMME A KISS, HM?
COME ON.
NO ONE'S LOOKING. IT'LL SOLVE
EVERYTHING...
>>STOP IT.
>>DO YOU REMEMBER, WHEN I
BOUGHT YOU THIS?
THAT BEAUTIFUL SUMMER IN
VENICE, BEFORE OUR TRAVELS WERE
RESIGNED TO REVIVING OLD
PASSIONS, HM?
>>IS THAT MEAT?
>>YEAH.
>>AHH.
GRAMPA, YOU DOING ANY WRITING?
FROM THE JOURNAL?
>>I DON'T REMEMBER MUCH.
I LOST THE HABIT. YOU CAN'T
THINK IN THIS PLACE. YOU CAN'T
MAKE NEW MEMORIES.
>>YOU ALRIGHT?
>>WHAT? YOU SEE ME?
YOU SEE ME STANDING HERE?
>>YEAH, I SEE YOU.
>>OH GOD, IT'S SO RELENTLESS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
>>Dr. Hart: CAROL, THERE'S
NO NICE WAY FOR ME TO DO
THIS. I'VE SPOKEN TO THE
SUPERINTENDENT, HE'S AGREED
TO LET YOU RIDE OUT THE REST OF
THE YEAR. IT IS WHAT IT IS.
TAKE YOUR PENSION.
GO TO THAT BEAUTIFUL HOUSE OF
YOURS, SEND MR. DEARDEN MY BEST.
>>HAVEN'T YOU EVER HAD ENOUGH?
HAVEN'T YOU EVER JUST WANTED TO
TELL SOMEONE TO FUCK OFF?
>>I THINK I'M SICK.
I CROSSED THE LINE TODAY.
>>I MEAN THE WHOLE... THE WHOLE
THING IS FUCKED. THE WHOLE THING
IS FUCKED. IS IT NOT?
WHAT UP, DR. PARKER.
CAN WE GET THIS OVER WITH?
I'VE GOT SHIT TO DO.
>>OKAY SO WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS
AFTER HIGH SCHOOL MISSY, SINCE
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COLLEGE?
>>I DON'T KNOW, HANG OUT WITH MY
BOYFRIEND. DO SOME MODELING
SHIT, AND BE IN MY FRIEND'S
BAND.
>>WELL, I HAVE YOUR TEN WEEK
GRADE REPORT.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT SAYS?
F, F, F, F, F.
>>F, F, F, YEAH.
>>DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS,
IT MEANS YOU DON'T CARE.
>>YOU'RE BRILLIANT.
CAN I GO NOW?
>>GOD YOU ARE A SHALLOW
DISGUSTING CREATURE. YOU WANT TO
KNOW THE TRUTH?
ONE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN A
BAND, OR A MODEL, MISSY.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO AMBITION.
WITH NO SKILLS YOU'LL BE
COMPETING WITH 80% OF THE U.S.
WORK FORCE FOR A MINIMUM WAGE
JOB, WHICH YOU'LL WORK AT FOR
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. TILL
YOU'RE REPLACED BY A COMPUTER.
>>I DON'T CARE.
>>TWO, THE ONLY TALENT YOU'LL
EVER HAVE IS GETTING MEN TO FUCK
YOU. YOUR LIFE WILL BASICALLY
BECOME A CARNIVAL OF PAIN.
AND WHEN YOU CAN'T STAND IT, NOT
ONE MORE DAY, NOT ONE MORE
HOUR, IT WILL GET WORSE, MUCH
WORSE. EVERY DAY I COME INTO
THIS OFFICE, AND I LISTEN TO
YOU KIDS SHIT ALL OVER
YOURSELVES.
IT IS SO EASY TO BE CALLOUS.
IT TAKES COURAGE AND CHARACTER
TO CARE, NOT THAT YOU HAVE
ANY OF THOSE QUALITIES.
GET OUT! JUST GET OUT!
GET OUT!
>>FUCK YOU!
>>I'M A TOTAL BURNOUT.
>>YOU ARE NOT.
>>I AM.
>>I MEAN I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU
MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY.
HONESTLY LISTEN, SERIOUSLY, WHAT
DO YOU THINK I TAKE THESE PILLS
FOR? WHY?
I MEAN, THAT'S A RUBBER ROOM IN
THERE. LOOK CONNIE, IF I DIDN'T
TAKE THINGS I... I'D... I'D BE
COMMITTING MASS MURDER ON HALF
OF THESE PARENTS.
AND I'D BE HELPING
THEM THROW THEIR FUCKING KIDS
OUT THE WINDOW. COME ON.
YOU'RE THE BEST.
LOOK IT, I'LL TELL YOU MY
OPINION, THE WORST THING ABOUT
THIS JOB IS
THAT NOBODY SAYS THANK YOU.
>>NO.
WELL I AM HERE, TO SAY THANK
YOU.
FOR DOING THE JOB THAT NONE OF
US CAN DO. NONE OF US.
GRACE?
>>HAVE I EVER TOLD YOU THAT
YOU'RE THE ONLY PERSON I HAVE
TO TALK TO?
>>HI HENRY.
>>WHAT HAPPENED?
>>THEY CALLED YOUR HOUSE.
>>YOUR GRANDFATHER FELT SOME
CHEST PAINS.
>>AND?
>>THE DOCTOR SAYS HE'S STABLE.
HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF TIME.
I'M SO SORRY, HENRY.
>>HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE?
>>SINCE THIS MORNING.
I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO GET A HOLD
OF YOU. I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU
WORK.
>>YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALL DAY
WITH HIM?
HI GRAMPA.
STILL HANGING IN THERE, I SEE.
>>OH, HI SWEETHEART.
>>HEY.
>>YOUR MOTHER WAS WITH ME TODAY.
DID... DID YOU SEE HER?
>>NO.
>>I TOLD HER, I WAS AFRAID TO
LEAVE YOU. BUT SHE PROMISED,
THAT SHE'D LOOK AFTER YOU.
>>WELL, I'M SURE SHE MEANT IT.
>>PATRICIA DARLING, YOU'VE
FORGIVEN ME, HAVEN'T YOU?
>>WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BE
FORGIVEN FOR, DADDY?
>>OH THOSE THINGS, YOU
KNOW, THE THINGS I DID.
>>ALL YOU EVER DID WAS TAKE CARE
OF ME. ALWAYS LOOKED AFTER ME.
>>WEREN'T YOU AFRAID OF ME?
>>NO, DADDY. NO SIR.
YOU KNOW HOW YOU GET SOMETIMES.
YOU GET A LITTLE MIXED UP. YOU
FEEL... RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS
YOU DIDN'T DO.
>>SO I WASN'T THE ONE THAT HURT
YOU?
>>NO SIR. THAT WASN'T YOU.
>>I HOPED IT WASN'T TRUE.
PATRICIA, DARLING,
I'VE ALWAYS LOVED YOU.
>>DADDY, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO
LEAVE, WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
YOU KNOW THAT? IT'S OKAY.
THERE'S NOTHING TO FEAR.
COME ON, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
>>IS PATRICIA YOUR MOM?
WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
>>SHE LEFT A WHILE AGO.
>>YOU MEAN SHE DIED.
HOW DID SHE DIE?
>>MY FATHER LEFT WHEN I WAS A
KID, SO I
DON'T REALLY REMEMBER HIM.
IT WAS ALWAYS THE THREE OF US.
IT WAS MY MOTHER, GRAMPA AND I,
TOGETHER IN HIS HOUSE.
I FOUND HER ON THE FLOOR.
SHE'D TAKEN ENOUGH PILLS.
AND UH GRAMPA, IN THE MOMENT,
KIND OF LOST IT.
I SAT WITH GRAMPA ON THE PORCH,
AND WE WATCHED AS THEY CAME
AND TOOK HER AWAY.
>>HOW OLD WERE YOU?
>>SSS... SEVEN.
I DON'T KNOW FOR
SURE, BUT I THINK THAT WHEN MY
MOTHER WAS YOUNG, SOMETHING
HAPPENED WITH HER AND GRAMPA.
>>WERE YOU AFRAID OF HIM?
>>NO.
>>DID SHE EVER SAY ANYTHING TO
YOU?
>>NOPE. BUT UH,
LOOKING BACK ON IT, I THINK SHE
PROTECTED ME IN HER OWN WAY.
>>HOW?
>>SHE MADE ME LOCK MY DOOR
AT NIGHT.
>>THE PARK IS NOW EMPTY AND
BARE, WITH AN ABANDONED
SHAME ABOUT IT. THE
JUNGLE GYM, THE SLIDE,
AND THE SWING HAVE RUSTED
TOGETHER. THEY'RE ALL SO
TERRIBLY ALONE NOW.
WHERE DID ALL THE CHILDREN GO?
DIDN'T THEY KNOW THAT THE PARK
NEEDED THEM?
A CHILD'S INTELLIGENT HEART CAN
FATHOM THE DEPTH OF MANY DARK
PLACES.
BUT CAN IT FATHOM THE DELICATE
MOMENT OF IT'S OWN DETACHMENT?
>>HI MR. BARTHES.
>>HI MEREDITH.
HOW'S IT GOING?
>>FINE.
I UH, I MADE A PICTURE FOR YOU.
>>COME IN.
YOU DID?
>>YEAH.
>>WOW. IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S...
YOU'RE REALLY TALENTED.
>>THANKS.
>>YOU BEEN DOING THIS A LONG
TIME?
>>YEAH, I'VE BEEN DOING IT SINCE
I WAS A KID.
>>A FACELESS MAN IN AN EMPTY
ROOM. IS THAT HOW YOU SEE ME,
MEREDITH?
>>I DON'T KNOW HOW I SEE YOU.
IT'S JUST HOW I THOUGHT OF YOU
IN THE SITUATION.
I MEAN, DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT
WHO YOUR TEACHERS WERE ON THE
OUTSIDE? IN REAL LIFE?
>>I GUESS SO, YEAH.
DOES THIS PLACE SEEM UNREAL TO
YOU?
>>I WATCH YOU AROUND SCHOOL, AND
YOU ALWAYS SEEM SO SAD.
LIKE... MAYBE YOU HAVE A HARD
TIME WITH THINGS.
YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK TO.
>>MEREDITH...
>>YES?
>>DO YOU NEED SOMEONE TO TALK
TO?
>>YEAH. WILL YOU TALK TO ME?
WHEN YOU TALK TO ME, WHEN
YOU LOOK AT ME, IT'S LIKE YOU
REALLY SEE ME.
>>I DO SEE YOU, MEREDITH.
YOU WANNA GO SEE DR. PARKER...
>>OH COME ON, DON'T BLOW ME OFF
WITH THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR.
>>I'M NOT. I'M NOT.
WHAT CAN I DO?
>>IT'S LIKE YOU SAID WE'RE...
WE'RE BORN INTO THIS. THERE'S
NOTHING LEFT, NOTHING BUT TO
REALIZE HOW FUCKED UP THINGS
ARE. IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
I WON'T LAST.
>>LISTEN TO ME. JUST LISTEN.
WE'RE ALL THE SAME.
WE ALL FEEL PAIN. WE ALL HAVE
CHAOS IN OUR LIVES. LIFE IS VERY
VERY CONFUSING, I KNOW.
I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWERS BUT
I... I KNOW, THAT IF YOU RIDE IT
OUT, IT'LL ALL BE OKAY.
>>MR. BARTHES, DO YOU LIKE ME?
>>YES, OF COURSE I DO.
MEREDITH?
>>NO.
>>MEREDITH, I'D LIKE TO HELP YOU
>>PLEASE, PLEASE! YOU SAID YOU
LIKED ME, PLEASE!
JUST PLEASE NO PLEASE,
PLEASE JUST HOLD ON TO ME AND
TELL ME EVERYTHING'S GONNA BE
OKAY.
>>EVERYTHING'S OKAY. IT IS OKAY.
PLEASE.
>>NO! NO!
>>MEREDITH, WAIT A SECOND.
MEREDITH...
>>WHAT IS GOING ON?
>>WHAT? HEY MEREDITH...
>>WHAT WERE YOU JUST DOING?
>>MEREDITH, I'M SORRY.
>>WHAT WERE YOU DOING?
>>WHAT?
>>WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
>>EXCUSE ME?
>>YOU WERE JUST TOUCHING HER.
>>WHAT ARE YOU... WHAT ARE
YOU... WHAT ARE YOU INSINUATING?
>>THAT IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO BE
IN HERE ALONE WITH THAT YOUNG
GIRL.
>>IT'S INAPPROPRIATE? SHE NEEDED
SOMEONE TO TALK TO.
WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING, HUH
LADY?
>>I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE
DOING.
>>WHAT DO YOU THINK, I'M A
FUCKING PERVERT?
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE INSINUATING?
SHE NEEDED SOMEONE TO TALK TO
HER.
>>WELL THEN WHY WERE YOU
TOUCHING HER?
>>I WASN'T TOUCHING HER.
SHUT UP!
>>PATRICIA?
>>I'M NOT.. NOT SOME SICK
OLD MAN. IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK
OF ME?
IS THAT WHAT YOU THINK?
I JUST WANTED TO HELP HER.
EXCUSE ME. EXCUSE ME.
>>WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO THINK?
>>WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO
THINK? STOP BEING SO FUCKING
JUDGMENTAL.
>>HELLO?
NO, HE'S NOT HOME.
HELLO, MR. BARTHES.
UH, WHENEVER YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU'RE READY WE UH, DO HAVE
SOME PAPERWORK DOWNSTAIRS THAT
WE NEED YOU TO TAKE CARE OF.
I'M SORRY.
>>I... WISH THINGS WERE
DIFFERENT.
I TRIED, YOU KNOW?
FUCKED UP THING IS, WE ALL...
WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS.
WE ALL HAVE THINGS THAT WE'RE
DEALING WITH, RIGHT?
SOME DAYS WE'RE BETTER THAN
OTHERS.
SOME DAYS WE'RE... WE'RE NOT SO
GREAT.
SOME DAYS WE HAVE UH, LIMITED
SPACE.
FOR OTHERS.
HEY.
GO GET DRESSED.
I MADE BREAKFAST.
WANT SOME MILK?
THESE KIDS NEED...
SOMETHING ELSE.
THEY DON'T NEED ME.
>>YOU OKAY?
>>YEAH, I'M NOT HUNGRY.
YOU KNOW YOU CAN'T, YOU CAN'T
KEEP LIVING ON THE STREET.
I'M NOT, I MEAN I'M STAYING HERE
WITH YOU.
>>YEAH, WELL YOU... YOU CAN'T
CONTINUE TO STAY HERE WITH ME.
I MEAN, I'M NOT GOOD FOR YOU.
>>THAT'S NOT TRUE.
>>YOU'RE LIKE THE ONLY FAMILY
I'VE EVER HAD.
>>WELL I... I CAN'T BE YOUR
FAMILY.
I CAN'T GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED.
YOU... YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND,
YOU SHOULD BE...
>>YOU'RE GOOD AND GENTLE
YOU'RE THE MOST KIND.
I LOVE YOU HENRY.
>>COME ON IN.
HI.
>>HI.
>>HELLO THERE.
>>ERICA...
>>DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME,
PLEASE.
NO! YOU'RE ALL THAT I HAVE.
PLEASE!
DON'T LET ME GO!
I'M SORRY SWEETHEART, YOU HAVE
TO LEAVE...
>>NO! NO! HENRY! HENRY!
YOU HAVE TO LET GO.
>>HENRY! HENRY! HENRY!
>>YOU HAVE TO LET GO NOW.
GOT HER THINGS?
>>YEAH.
>>HENRY! HENRY!
NO! DON'T DO THIS! NO!
>>IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
>>NO! NO!
>>Ms. Perkins: WELL I FEEL JUST
AWFUL FOR HER.
>>Dr. Parker: FOR WHO?
>>OUR SCHOOL.
IT MAY SOUND BAROQUE BUT I HAVE
ALWAYS FELT THAT THIS SCHOOL HAD
A SPIRIT.
THESE AREN'T JUST ALL
A BUNCH OF OLD BUILDINGS.
THEY'RE ALIVE.
I... I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND IT.
WHERE ARE ALL THE PARENTS?
>>I DON'T KNOW.
>>I WAS IN MY ROOM FOR TWO HOURS
AND SAW ONE PARENT.
WHERE ARE THEY?
WHERE IS EVERYBODY?
>>WE DON'T KNOW.
>>IT'S UNCANNY.
NO AIR RAID SIRENS,
NO BOMBS.
IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY.
IT STARTS
IN A WHISPER AND THEN NOTHING.
>>WE HAD OUR MUSIC ONCE,
DIDN'T WE?
>>YES WE DID.
>>HEY, DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE
NIGHTS WHEN WE HAD TWO PARENTS
AT A TIME, AND THEN THERE WERE
MORE, THERE WERE MANY MORE
WAITING IN THE WINGS,
AND THE HALLS WERE FILLED WITH
JOY AND CELEBRATION, NOW
IT'S NOTHING.
REMEMBRANCE, OF THINGS PAST.
>>I ACTUALLY FELT QUITE AT
HOME. BUT THERE WERE NO PARENTS.
I THOUGHT, HOW APPROPRIATE.
IT WAS LIKE A MOMENT OF INSIGHT.
THE REALITY OF THE FUCKING
PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SOME OF US BELIEVE THAT WE CAN
MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND THEN SOMETIMES, WE WAKE UP,
AND WE REALIZE WE FAILED.
HI THIS IS GRETCHEN
CALLING FROM THE FREE CLINIC.
ERICA LEWIS' TEST RESULTS ARE
BACK. PLEASE GIVE US A CALL AT
YOUR EARLIEST CONVENIENCE.
THANK YOU.
WE WERE GOOD
PARENTS...
YA DYKE
BITCH...
WHAT
IS ALL THIS SUPPOSED TO BE, YOUR
TORTURED SOUL?
I WON'T LAST...
...LOST SOME
WEIGHT...
IT'LL ALL BE OKAY.
GOOD MORNING.
>>ALRIGHT, BEFORE WE TAKE ROLL,
I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT UM,
TODAY WILL BE MY LAST DAY
WITH YOU.
YOU'RE GONNA HAVE A PERMANENT
TEACHER ON MONDAY.
>>WHERE YOU GOIN', MR. BARTHES?
>>I'LL GO TO ANOTHER SCHOOL.
>>I'M GONNA MISS YOU, MAN.
I FUCKED WITH YOU.
>>YEAH?
>>ALL THE OTHER TEACHERS IN THIS
PLACE, THEY'RE DICKHEADS.
YOU DON'T GET TIRED OF
MOVING AROUND ALL THE TIME?
>>IT'S UH, IT'S HOW MY JOB
WORKS, TANYA.
I... I COME IN
HERE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME SO YOU
DON'T HAVE TWENTY SUBS IN AND
OUT OF HERE,
AND THEN YOU HAVE A PERMANENT
TEACHER COME IN AND, I LEAVE.
>>P.A.: ATTENTION ALL TEACHERS.
THIS IS A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE.
THERE WILL BE AN ALL FACULTY
MEETING TODAY DURING NUTRITION.
STUDENT NUTRITION WILL BE
EXTENDED BY TEN MINUTES. THANK
YOU.
>>UM...
I INVITED YOU HERE TODAY TO
DISCUSS THE STATE OF THINGS.
I KNOW THAT THERE WASN'T...
I KNOW THAT THERE ISN'T...
I'M SORRY.
>>WE ALL NEED SOMETHING TO
DISTRACT US FROM... COMPLEXITY
AND REALITY.
NO ONE WANTS TO THINK ABOUT
WHERE THAT CAME FROM.
NO ONE WANTS TO THINK ABOUT THE
STRUGGLE THAT IT TAKES,
TO BECOME SOMEBODY.
TO GET OUT OF...
TO GET OUT OF THE SEA OF PAIN
THAT WE ALL HAVE TO GET
OUT OF.
HI MEREDITH.
>>HEY.
>>I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN CLASS
LATELY. WHERE'VE YOU BEEN?
>>BAKING.
>>I SEE.
>>YUP.
>>I'M HAPPY I GET TO SEE YOU,
YOU KNOW, TODAY'S MY LAST DAY.
>>HOW IRONIC.
>>LISTEN, I UM, I WAS THINKING
YOU KNOW, I BOUGHT
THIS FOR MYSELF, BUT MAYBE YOU
COULD UH, MAKE BETTER USE OF IT.
I LIKE THAT ONE THE BEST.
>>CAN'T HAVE THAT ONE. IT'S
MINE.
BUT, YOU CAN HAVE THIS ONE.
IT'S BETTER FOR YOU ANYWAY.
>>WELL, THANKS.
I'M SORRY. IF I HURT YOU IN
ANYWAY, I UM,
I KNOW THAT IT'S TOUGH RIGHT
NOW. FOR YOU.
BUT IT'S NOT ALWAYS GOING TO
BE THIS WAY.
>>GOODBYE, MR. BARTHES.
>>GOODBYE, MEREDITH.
>>THEY SAY THAT SUICIDE IS A
PERMANENT SOLUTION TO A
TEMPORARY PROBLEM.
I'LL LET YOU KNOW.
MY NAME IS MEREDITH, AND I'M
GOING TO KILL MYSELF.
>>HEY, MEREDITH.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY. IT'S GONNA
BE OKAY.
IT'S GONNA TO BE OKAY.
IT'S GONNA BE OKAY.
WE HAVE SUCH A
RESPONSIBILITY TO GUIDE OUR
YOUNG, SO THAT THEY DON'T
END UP, FALLING APART.
FALLING BY THE WAYSIDE.
BECOMING INSIGNIFICANT.
I REALIZED SOMETHING TODAY.
I'M A NON-PERSON, SARAH.
YOU SHOULDN'T BE HERE.
I'M NOT HERE.
YOU MAY SEE ME, BUT I'M HOLLOW.
WE'RE FAILING.
WE FAILED IN THE SENSE THAT
WE HAVE LET... EVERYONE DOWN.
INCLUDING OURSELVES.
YOU'RE WALKING DOWN THE HALLWAY,
YOU'RE IN CLASS, HOW MANY OF YOU
HAVE EVER FELT THE WEIGHT
PRESSING DOWN ON YOU?
I HAVE.
EVERYONE?
WELL, POE WROTE ABOUT THESE
THINGS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
SO, AS WE READ, WE CAN SEE
THE... THE HOUSE OF USHER IS NOT
MERELY AN OLD DECREPIT CASTLE IN
DISREPAIR.
IT'S ALSO A STATE OF BEING.
DURING THE WHOLE OF THE DULL,
DARK AND SOUNDLESS DAY IN THE
AUTUMN OF THAT YEAR, WHEN THE
CLOUDS HUNG OPPRESSIVELY
LOW IN THE HEAVENS, I HAD
BEEN PASSING ALONE ON
HORSEBACK THROUGH A SINGULARLY
DREARY TRACT OF COUNTRY. AND AT
LENGTH FOUND MYSELF AS THE
SHADES OF EVENING DREW ON
WITHIN VIEW OF A MELANCHOLY
HOUSE OF USHER.
I KNOW NOT HOW IT WAS, BUT WITH
THE FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE
BUILDING, A SENSE OF
INSUFFERABLE GLOOM PERVADED MY
SPIRIT. I LOOKED UPON
THE SIMPLE LANDSCAPE OF THE
DOMAIN, UPON THE BLEAK WALLS,
UPON THE WHITE TRUNKS OF DECAYED
TREES. WITH AN UTTER DEPRESSION
OF SOUL, THERE WAS AN ICINESS,
A SINKING,
A SICKENING OF THE HEART.