Most scenes together: Joe Clark & Thomas Sams (3), Joe Clark & Dr. Frank Napier (2), Joe Clark & Ms. Levias (2)
Fair Eastside,
By thy sign, we'll stand, and always, praise thy name
(Praise Thy Name, Praise Thy Naaaaaame
To heaven, yea
Lend our hearts, and hands, to help increase, thy fame
Ooh Lord, thee honor, yea
Of all eastside high, cross forth our loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty
Dr. Frank Napier(holding the newspaper): You see this yet?
You know all your shit comes down on my head.
Oh Frank, look-
No, let me talk. It's like you're a big bird with radar, and I'm tired of getting hit!
Is this my fault?
This is nothing! I've got Union Lawyers threatening me, and there's talk of a walkout.
Well let 'em! They're not teaching down there anyway!
Then it's your job not-
None of them has a personal stake in that school Frank, not one.
The Fire Chief was just here, he says it's illegal to bar those doors. Mrs. Barrett is organizing a parent's group to try to get you removed, since you insulted them at that meeting the other night when you suggested that they "get off welfare".
Oh, I just-
Cause the fact is quite a few of them need it.
I wasn't talking to all of them, Frank. Now look, you came and recruited me, man. You disappoint me brother, you disappoint me.
The disappointment here is you!
Me?!
Yes!
Look, you know who I am. You know me 30 years, you knew what I would do! You know how I'm ready.
Quiet! The fact is you're screwing up. You're alienating everybody! Look at you; you have no life, your wife left you! I oughta walk out on you myself!
Well, go ahead! Bail the hell on out!
But I said I would back you up!
That's what you said, Frank! That's what you said!
Brother, I will go through the... fire with you! But you are not taking care of business! This shit you're pulling now, is just gone plain loco! And you suspend Darnell, what the hell was that?
Darnell is symptomatic of the disciplinary problems that we have in this entire-
He is a good, strong, young black teacher! So, he, dumped that desk right on top of your head, well right on! Good for him! You will reinstate that man, you hear? [Clark waves his hand in acknowledgment.] And then you fire Mrs. Elliot, why?! Because she didn't want to kiss your ass, well I wouldn't either, how about that?!
Mrs. Elliot has an ego problem!
Yeah, well, you lost the best teacher we had. We couldn't get her back now if we wanted to.
I don't have time for Mrs. Elliott's problem!
You better make time!
We are being crucified by a process that is turning blacks into a permanent underclass here, Frank. A permanent underclass!
No-oh, see? Nobody wants to talk about that. Nobody! Mrs. Elliott's missionary zeal about Mozart has nothing to do with our problem. Nothing! What good is Mozart going to do a bunch of children who can't go out and get a job?!
Joe, your personal battles are gonna cost us the war. Worry about the test scores.
End of discussion! Debate is over; you will write a formal apology!
I will what?!
A formal apology! For your treatment of Mrs. Elliott and Darnell and for your vicious and thoughtless insults to the women of this community! You will kowtow, you will step and fetch!
Frank, if you think-
Get used to it, it's the way of the world! If you're so hot on discipline, then goddamn it... [Slams a fist on his briefcase] start by accepting mine. Because contrary to popular opinion, I'm the head **** in charge! [Savagely grabs his briefcase and heads for the door, then turns back to a speechless Clark] Come on, let's get something to eat.
You really think you're bad, don't you?
Don, the man has a legitimate problem. How's he supposed to keep drug dealers out of his school if their buddies can just push open the exit doors and let 'em walk on in?
Mr. Rosenberg He's got a point, sir.
Mayor Don Bottman Rosenberg, this doesn't concern you.
Don't talk to me about saving those kids. The mayor wants to save his budget. And you wanna save your ass!
Well, so what? You want the truth?
Yeah, Frank. Let's have some truth.
The truth is that for all your talking, all your 'Crazy Joe' routine, what have you ever done? Nothing. You're nothing but an insignificant man. It's like you were never born. Your life hasn't made one bit of difference, and neither has mine. Wanna take that to the grave?
Now let me tell you something. The trouble of being a teenager is you don't know nothing. The problem with teenagers is you think you're smarter than people who already been down the road you're traveling. You know what I'm tryin' to say to you, boy? DO YOU?!
Yes sir.
Did you tell your father I threw you out of school? [Sams, with his head down, doesn't answer] [picks Sams' head up; yells] Look at me DAMN IT!
Why not? No guts, huh? Afraid of what he's gonna say to you, aren't ya?
My father doesn't live with us anymore, sir.
Oh, is that what you're doing now? Going around, feeling sorry for yourself, boy? Huh? Go on. Get outta here! You're wasting my time!
Please let me back in, sir. I have to get back to school. I can't go home and tell my mama I got kick out of school.
Now why should I let you back into my school, Sams?
'Cause I'm gonna do better, sir.
How?
By doin' my work.
What else?
And stayin' out of trouble.
What have you been thinking about all this time? Why should I believe you now?
'Cause I've changed my ways.
I don't believe you, Sams. I don't think you changed a thing. Go on, jump!
Yes, you do! You smoke crack, don't ya? You smoke crack, don't ya? LOOK AT ME, BOY! Don't you smoke crack?
Y-yes, sir.
You know what that does to you? Huh?
No, sir.
It kill your brain cells, son. It kill your brain cells! Now when you're destroying your brain cells, your doing the same thing as killing yourself. You just doing it slower! Now, when I say if wanna kill yourself, don't **** around with it. Go on and do it expeditiously! Now go on and jump! JUMP!
You're quite sure about this, are you?
Yes, sir.
All right, Sams. I'll tell you what I gonna do: I'm gonna go back on my own word just this once and let you back into my school, because you're still a baby and you don't know shit. But you understand this, boy: You're not gonna get a moment's rest. I'm gonna be on your case every minute. You mess up just once and your outta here. Now you understand me? Do you understand me?
Yes, sir.
You think you can run this school? If you could, then I wouldn't be here, would I? No one talks in my meetings. NO ONE! Take out your pencils and write. I want the names of every hoodlum, drug dealer, and miscreant who's done nothing but take this place apart on my desk by noon today. Reverend Slappy...you are now the chief custodian, Reverend Slappy. You will scour this building clean. Graffiti goes up, it's off the next day. Is that clear?... Detention students can help you. Let them scrub this place for awhile, and tear down those cages in the cafeteria. You treat them like animals, that's exactly how they'll behave! This is my new Dean of Security, Mr. William Wright. He will be my Avenging Angel, as you teachers reclaim the halls. This is an institution of learning, ladies and gentlemen. If you can't control it, HOW CAN YOU TEACH?! Discipline is not the enemy of enthusiasm! Mr. Zorella...Mr. Zorella, you are now my new Head Football Coach. Mr. Darnell. Stand up, Mr. Darnell. Mr. Darnell will be your assistant. You know why you're being demoted, Mr. Darnell? Because I'm sick and tired of our football team getting pushed all over the field. Thank you. Sit down. I want precision. I want a weight program. And if you don't like it, Mr. Darnell, you can quit. Same goes for the rest of ya. You tried it your way for years. And your students can't even get past the Minimum Basic Skills Test. THAT MEANS THEY CAN HARDLY READ! They've given me less than one year, one school year to turn this place around, to get those test scores up, so the state will not take us over to perform the tasks which you have failed to do! TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN! Forget about the way it used to be. This is not a damn democracy. We are in a state of emergency and my word is law. There's only one boss in this place, and that's me - the "HNIC." Are there any questions? Mr Wright.
Mr. O'Malley "HNIC"?
The "Head **** in charge".
Mayor Don Bottman What do you want?
Leonna Barrett Clark!
Mayor Don Bottman Just like that, huh? Head on a platter.
Leonna Barrett You think I got an attitude. Well, let me tell you what I think. I know why you like Clark. He's a guard dog. Does your dirty work. Keeps the black folk in line - that's fine. But you've got to get re-elected. I've got enough folks lined up with me to give you a DAMN hard time, and I will get more. I will organize. I will beat the streets.
Mayor Don Bottman Unless I do what?
Leonna Barrett Appoint me to the school board so we can vote Clark out. Otherwise, we'll just have to vote you out.
Mayor Don Bottman Vote me out? You know, it's always good to see citizens avail themselves of the democratic process.
Leonna Barrett My job's gonna be easy. You're not too popular these days, are ya?
Mr. Darnell Mr. Clark, just what was that all about?
I distinctly said, "No one move, during the singing of the school song". Now, if you can't understand that, find yourself another place to work!
Mr. Darnell I was picking up a piece of paper!
You're contradicting me in front of my students.
Mr. Darnell They're my students, too!
They are my students, Mr. Darnell!
Mr. Darnell Just what are you trying to prove? I'm working my ass off of you, took the demotion and I'm doin' my job! You're just getting your rocks off for treating me like trash!
No sir, that's what you were picking up.
Mr. Darnell Goddamn it! You give me the goddamn respect you would damn well want yourself, or I will kick your black ass!
You are suspended sir, as of right now! Get out!
[Mr. Darnell yells out of frustration and upturns Mr. Clark's desk. They stare at each other briefly, then Mr. Darnell angrily storms out of the room]
Mrs. Elliott I would love to chat, Mr. Clark, but I have a concert next week in New York and I would like to be prepared.
What?
Mrs. Elliott Prepare. You do know what that means. It means capable, ready, and up to your job.
What concert, Mrs. Elliott?
Mrs. Elliott The one at Lincoln Center. We do it every year.
Until now. Your concert is cancelled.
Mrs. Elliott What?
CANCELLED! You do know what cancelled means, don't you Mrs. Elliott? Over! Finished! Terminated!
Mrs. Elliott WHY? These children have worked too hard!
And for not telling me for one thing!
Mrs. Elliott I filed a form in your office! Why don't you talk to...
And for RANK insubordination! You've questioned my judgement, my intelligence!
Mrs. Elliott You're the one that comes around here to bother me! You're a bully, and a despicable man! I have nothing to say to you!
Alright, let's just accommodate that, Mrs. Elliott! YOU'RE FIRED!
Mrs. Elliott You need a psychiatrist!
GET OUT! RIGHT NOW!
Mrs. Elliott Fine, fine! Fired? Fired? YOU WILL HEAR FROM MY LAWYER! [Hits the wall]
Mr. Clark.
Yes, Ms. Levias?
May I talk to you for a minute, please?
What do you want?
I want you to transfer me.
To where?
Out of here.
You know, this doesn't surprise me one bit, Ms. Levias. I've sensed resistance in you since our very first meeting.
You're an egomanical windbag.
Who are you talking to?
I'm talking to you. You like to whip people who can't fight back. I thought I could take it because I had a father in the same kind of pain that makes you such a bastard, but I was wrong. Life is much too short. I will not endure you any longer!
You will not endure me!?
The only reason I haven't walked out and half the staff along with me is because those children need us here.
Oh, the children need you?
You're so busy talking discipline, you forget to educate!
Is that so? Then what the hell do you think I've been doing all this time?
So you cleaned it up. That was the easy part.
That's the easy part?
Those children want to be helped. They have worked their hearts out for you, Joe. Done everything we've asked them, believed what we told them. But I feel sorry for them. They're not ready to take that test!
What the hell are you talking about? I have done everything——
I! I! It it always I! There are 300 teachers on the faculty here! You do NOT do it all alone!
I don't have to stand here and listen to these accusations.
You WILL listen! You will stand there and you will listen!
All right, Ms. Levias. All right, go ahead and talk.
For the past seven months, you've been flapping your mouth and you haven't heard a thing. You haven't even seen what's painfully obvious.
I'll tell you what I DO see, lady——
NO! I'M talking now! Let me finish! Everybody here may not like you as a person, but we all applaud your effort. But what you don't understand is that the same people who support you are the ones that you're beating up! You don't even take the time to say, "Thank You", "Job Well Done", nothing. You just step in their necks, constantly abuse them, criticize them.
Ms. Levias, what do you want from me? What the HELL do you want?!
I want you to get this straight. Most of the teachers that are here are here because they care about those children out there, this school, this fight. They are in it with you. They take it home at night the same as you. They are part of those children's lives. You are thoughtless and cruel. And it hurts. And none of them deserve it. They are sick of it and so am I.
Hey, Mr. Clark, what did they get you for?
What's the charge? What's this all about?
It's about someone finally standing up to this man instead of taking his orders like a maid.
How dare you speak about people like that? Who do you think you are?
Mrs. Barrett, if you think you can-
Leonna Barrett SHUT UP! You're finished! [holds up the tape recorder] The school board's gonna hear this at 7:00, and we're gonna vote your black ass out.
Sams, you go to class. Ms. Levias you're acting principal now. I expect you to perform as I would.
Let's see what you got in here.
You don't want to go in there Mr. Clark, it stinks!
[Clark grabs Sams and they go into the boys restroom]
Mrs. Elliott I would love to chat, Mr. Clark, but we have a concert next week in New York and I want these students to be prepared for it.
You want what!?
Mrs. Elliott To be prepared. That's what rehearsal is for, isn't it?
What concert, Mrs. Elliott?
Mrs. Elliott The one at Lincoln Center. We give it every year.
Until now. Your concert is cancelled.
Mrs. Elliott What?
CANCELLED! You do know what cancelled means, don't you? Over! Finished! Terminated!
Mrs. Elliott I can't tell Lincoln Center that! These young people have worked too hard for too long!
Also for not telling me!
Mrs. Elliott I filed a form in your office! Didn't you see it?
AND for blatant insubordination! You've openly challenged my judgement, my competence, my intelligence!
Mrs. Elliott I don't want to get into this! You barged in on me to pick a fight, not the other way around! You're a despicable bully, and I have nothing more to say to you!
Alright; let's just accommodate that, Mrs. Elliott! YOU'RE FIRED!
Mrs. Elliott You need a psychiatrist!
GET OUT! RIGHT NOW!
Mrs. Elliott Fine! Fired!? You will hear from my LAWYER! [hits the wall]
Because you are failing to educate them, this is the posture that many of our students will wind up in. Only they'll be staring down the barrel of a gun!
