Akeelah
This is all starting to sound heavy.
Boy
It is heavy. Spelling bees are serious shit. I think I'll take a shot. [throws the ball, but misses the hoop] On second thought, can I spell the word?
A line from Akeelah Anderson
You know that feeling where everything feels right? Where you don't have to worry about tomorrow or yesterday, where you feel safe and know you're doing the best you can? There's a word for that, it's called love. L-O-V-E.
Scenes with Akeelah Anderson
6 scenes Akeelah
Mr. Welch
So whoever wins the school bee today gets to represent Crenshaw at the district bee next month.
Akeelah
Why would anybody want to represent a school where they can't even put doors on the toilet stalls?
Mr. Welch
Akeelah, if we can't show students can perform, we're not going to have money for books, let alone bathroom doors. Now, I want you to do the bee today, okay?
Akeelah
So everyone can call me a freak and a brainiac? No, I ain't down for no spelling bee.
Mr. Welch
Well, maybe you'd be down for spending the rest of the semester in detention for all your absences?
Akeelah
[quoting Marianne Williamson]
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Dr. Larabee
Does that mean anything to you?
Akeelah
I don't know.
Dr. Larabee
It's written in plain English. What does it mean?
Akeelah
That I'm not supposed to be afraid?
Dr. Larabee
Afraid of what?
Akeelah
Afraid of... me?
Akeelah
I'm naturally inquisitive.
Dr. Larabee
Yes, which is also sometimes confused with being naturally obnoxious.
Dr. Larabee
Where do you think big words come from?
Akeelah
People with big brains?
Akeelah
Okay. But when I'm at the bee, and they tell me to spell some little fish from Australia or some weird bacteria on the Moon, we're going to wish we'd done a little bit more "rote-morizing" and not so much essay reading. If you don't mind me saying.
Dr. Larabee
Bacteria don't exist on the Moon.
