Eugene Simonet Jesus Arlene, he doesn't have to. All he has to do is not love him.
Tied for most-quoted character in Pay It Forward (2000): in 13 of its 31 quotes
Most scenes with: Arlene McKinney (7), Trevor McKenney (2)
Scenes with Eugene
13 scenes Eugene Simonet Are you saying you'll flunk us if we don't change the world?
Eugene Well, no. But you might just scrape by with a C.
Jesus, you are really somethin'.
Eugene Thanks. I appreciate the euphemism. I always wanted to be somethin'.
Were you just being nice?
Eugene About what?
About my idea. Do you think it's good, or were you just being teachery?
Eugene "Teachery"?
Bullshitting.
Eugene Do I strike you as someone falsely nice?
No. You're not even really all that nice.
Eugene OK. You know, I'm going to have to consult my spirit guides here, because you tell me that Trevor is withholding from you, but you won't tell me anything specific and you still want me to sit here and divine why.
Divine why? You always talk like that?
Eugene Yes.
You go to some big, fancy school?
Eugene Yes.
Think you can stop rubbing my nose in it?
Eugene Simonet Apparently, none of you have ever seen a new teacher before. [A beat.] 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. Now, some of you might think you can't get across this bridge fast enough. That you'd rather hold your breath, close your eyes, and not think about anything until it's all over. Well, I'm here to tell you that that is not an option in this class.
Eugene Simonet [A student arrives late to class, and the students laugh.]
Lateness. Tardiness. To be late for your first class on your first day of school. What does that indicate?
Late student
I'm having a bad hair day.
Eugene Simonet [The students laugh.]
Perhaps what it indicates is a lack of respect. You see, I'm going to be here everyday for you, and so I expect you to be here for me. On time. No excuses. [to a student taking something out] Put that down.
Another student
[whispering]
Wait.
Eugene Simonet [A beat.]
Now. [A beat.] This class is social studies. That is you and the world. Yes, there is a world out there and even if you decide you don't want to meet it, it's still going to hit you right in the face. [A beat.] Believe me. So, best you start thinking about the world now and what it means to you. [A beat.] What does the world mean to you? [A beat.] Come on! A little class participation here. Is it just this class you wanna get out of? Your house? Your street? Any further any one of you wanna go than that? [A girl raises her hand.] Yes?
Girl
The mall. That's only like two miles away from me.
Eugene Simonet [The class laughs.]
Well, let me ask you another question. How often do you think about things that happen outside of this town? You watch the news? Yes? No? All right, so, we're not global thinkers yet, but why aren't we? [He points to Trevor McKinney.]
'Cause we're 11.
Eugene Simonet Good point. What's your name?
Trevor.
Eugene Simonet [to the class]
Maybe Trevor's absolutely right. Why should we think about the world? I mean, after all, what does the world expect of us? [He looks at Trevor for an answer.]
Expect?
Eugene Simonet Mm-hm. Of you. What does the world expect of you? [A beat.]
Nothing. [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Nothing. [to the class] My God, boys and girls, he's absolutely right. Nothing. I mean, here you are. You can't drive. You can't vote. You can't even go to the bathroom without a pass from me. You're stuck. Right here in the seventh grade. [A beat.] But not forever because one day, you'll be free. [The class cheers.] All right, but what if on that day you're free, you haven't prepared, you're not ready, and then, you look around you, and you don't like what the world is? What if the world is just a big disappointment?
Boy
We're screwed.
Eugene Simonet [The class laughs.]
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 you parents I used that word. [The class laughs.] And you can start that today. [He pulls up the screen and reveals the assignment written on the blackboard behind it, which says, "Think of an idea to change our world - and put it into ACTION".] This is your assignment. Extra credit. It goes on all year long. [The students grumble.]
Student
Oh, man....
Eugene Simonet Now, wait a minute. What, what, what's wrong with this? What's the matter? [The girl from earlier raises her hand, and Eugene points to her.] Yes?
Girl
It's like so . . .
Eugene Simonet So what? There must be a word to finish that sentence. Someone help her.
Another girl
"Weird".
Eugene Simonet "Weird".
Another student
"Crazy".
Eugene Simonet "Crazy".
Different girl
"Hard".
Another boy
"Bummer".
Eugene Simonet "Bummer". "Hard". How about "possible"? [A beat.] It's possible. [A beat.] The realm of possibility exists where? In each of you? [A beat. He points to his head.] Here. [A beat.] So, you can do it. [A beat.] You can surprise us. It's up to you. Or, you can just sit back and let it atrophy. [A student looks at Eugene uncertainly, and Eugene sees this.] Atrophy. If there is a word you hear that you don't understand, there's a dictionary at the front of the room. Look it up. [He starts passing out another pile of dictionaries to the class.] And there are these dictionaries, which you will carry with you 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 you'll flunk us if we don't change the world? [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Well, no, I wouldn't do that. [A beat.] But you might just squeak by with a C. [A beat.]
What'd you ever do to change the world?
Class
Whoa! [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Well, Trevor, I get a good night's sleep. I eat a hearty breakfast. I show up. [He looks to the late student.] On time. And then I pass the buck to you.
Mr. Simonet?
Eugene Simonet Yes, I'm Eugene . . .
Eugene Simonet [He turns around and sees Arlene.]
. . . uh, Simonet. [A beat.]
Hello.
Eugene Simonet Hello. [A beat.]
What is this assignment?
Eugene Simonet 'Scuse me?
What did you tell my son to make him bring a homeless man into my house? [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Uh, I have two problems. One, I have absolutely 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.
Eugene Simonet Trevor. He's very attentive. He's very, uh, exigent, which I like. [A beat. He notices some confusion on Arlene's face.] Exigent. It's challenging, testing -
I know what it means. Would you like to tell me why my kid brought a bum into my house?
Eugene Simonet I have no idea.
Bullshit.
Eugene Simonet Mrs. McKinney, I don't know how your son interpreted the assignment.
How do you think he interpreted it? [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Well, I don't know. My suggestion to you is if you wanna know, why don't you go home and talk to your son?
Hey! I talked to him.
Eugene Simonet Really? Then, why did you come all the way down here to ask me what the assignment is? [A beat. He points to the board.] It's not a state secret. [A beat.]
Yeah? And? [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet It's an assignment I give out at the beginning of every year to inspire. I don't expect them to actually change the world.
You don't expect them to change the -
Eugene Simonet Excuse me. It's to get them to think, not walk on water. It's a very good assignment.
You give them an assignment you don't think they can do? What kinda teacher are you?
Eugene Simonet I didn't say that. You know, they make attempts. Every now and then, they clean up a little graffiti before they lose interest -
Hey! This is my kid. You don't know him. [A beat.] You tell him he can do something, and he's gonna believe you. And when he can't, it's gonna wipe him out. They oughta fire your ass outta here right now.
Eugene Simonet Well, they probably won't do that because I fill a very excellent quota. I'm just this side of parking in the blue zone.
Oh, so you think you can do whatever you want just 'cause your face is messed up? [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Mrs. McKinney, 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. [A beat.]
Jesus. You are really somethin'.
Eugene Simonet Thanks. I appreciate the euphemism. I always wanted to be somethin'.
Sean
I'm gonna put up this website in Chinese. It's gonna tell all the kids in China to jump up and down at the same time. [A beat. He heads back to his seat.]
Eugene Simonet [to Sean]
The goal being to knock the earth off its axis?
Sean
Yeah.
Eugene Simonet Thank you. Sit down, Sean. [Sean sits down, and the class laughs. Eugene addresses the class.] Well, you're ideas are as surprising as they are variegated. Add this to your list of words to look up this evening. But, I wanna focus one moment on one project we heard today. [A beat.] Because I've been teaching for many years, and it really is the first new idea that also requires an extreme active 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.
Do you look down on me?
Eugene Simonet What?
Do you look down on me?
Eugene Simonet No.
'Cause I don't talk like you. I haven't read the stuff you read.
Eugene Simonet What are you talking about? That's not pertinent, and you know it.
Don't talk to me like that!
Eugene Simonet Well, I'm sorry, but that's the way I talk, you know. Words are all I have.
Why? Why? 'Cause you think you look like shit? Is that it? I don't care about your burns, Eugene, if that's even what they are. Is that what they are?
Eugene Simonet Yes.
Okay, well, whatever happened to you, you look good to me. [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet You look good to me, too.
Okay. So? [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet So, I've never been here before. [A beat.]
Okay. So, you're scared. I'm scared, too. Listen. Bad things have happened to me, okay? I can't take my shirt off with a guy without five beers in me, but I want that with you. More than I'm scared, I want that.
Eugene Simonet [Eugene walks away from Arlene and turns to try saying something to her. He then turns off the music on his stereo. A beat.]
You don't see me. [A beat.] All right? My life . . . my life is familiar. My life is . . . it's manageable. It's manageable. Everyday . . . I have a thing I do everyday. It's all I've ever known. And it's a routine and as long as I have that, as long as I have that, I'm okay. I'm okay. If I don't have it, I'm lost.
So, is that all you want? Your goddamn manageable day?
Eugene Simonet It's what I have.
No, it isn't.
Eugene Simonet It is what I've always had.
Is it what you want?
Eugene Simonet Yes, it's what I want!
I don't believe you.
[She tries kissing Eugene, but he rejects her advances. A beat.]
Okay. If that's the best I got.
Eugene Simonet [She starts leaving.]
It's not about you.
Yes, it is! Something's been offered to you here, and you don't want it! Maybe you're scared to get rejected. Well, I can't reject you! You're too quick for me!
Eugene Simonet [Eugene Simonet, having just spent the night with Arlene McKinney, goes to the bathroom, only to accidentally walk in on Trevor McKinney flushing the toilet. Eugene gasps.]
Trevor!
It worked!
Eugene Simonet Oh, God!
Eugene Simonet [He runs back to the bedroom, closing the door, but Trevor listens behind the door. Inside the room, Arlene McKinney and Eugene are getting their clothes on.]
Does he always get up this early?
What?
Eugene Simonet Oh my God! This is not good. He just saw me.
It's okay.
Eugene Simonet It's not. I'm his teacher.
Now, you have to pay it forward, too! Eugene?
Eugene Simonet [Eugene gets his stuff. A beat.]
I think you should still call me Mr. Simonet.
[He gets his stuff and heads to the door, Arlene walking behind.]
You had a sleepover, didn't you?
Eugene Simonet Why don't you go back to bed?
Why?
Eugene Simonet It's too early for you to be up, and I've got to get to school anyway.
No, it's not. It's no early. No, it's a Sunday.
Eugene Simonet It's a Sunday?
Yeah.
Eugene Simonet [to Arlene McKinney]
It's a Sunday?
It's a Sunday.
So, stay. So, stay. My mom will make you breakfast. She makes great eggs.
Eugene Simonet No, I can't. You don't understand. I have a whole schedule that you don't know about. And I do it every Sunday, and now, it's all gone cuckoo-ey.
Well, all right. We'll bring everything here. Come on.
Eugene Simonet [Eugene steps out the door.] [to Arlene McKinney]
Will you please take care of him. I'll call you later, all right.
All right.
Eugene Simonet Bye.
My God, Trevor!
You like him?
I want you to understand.
Eugene Simonet Oh, it's not necessary. Really. No explanation required.
Wait. Please don't talk to me like that. We had 13 years in, Eugene. He's sober now. We've never been sober together.
Eugene Simonet Well, I wish you luck.
I - I feel like I gotta give him a chance.
Eugene Simonet A chance. A chance for what?
To change. To try to make up for lost time.
Eugene Simonet Oh, what? To take Trevor to some ball games? Do some real daddy things with him?
Yeah. He promised to try. What do you want me to do?
Eugene Simonet Oh, I don't know. Be smart.
He's his father, Eugene.
Eugene Simonet He impregnated you, Arlene. In what other way has he been a father to Trevor? Unless knocking somebody around is a new family value.
What are you talking about? He never touched Trevor.
Eugene Simonet Oh, that's right. Only you. He only took it out on you. That's so much better. [A beat.]
What did Trevor tell you?
Eugene Simonet Enough. [A beat.] Christ, Arlene, secrets like that shouldn't be kept. What good does it do Trevor?
You weren't there. Ricky never meant to hit me. We were drunk.
Eugene Simonet Christ! What is it with women like you? Is that really something you tell yourself? "Oh, it's okay. He beat me. Trevor's okay"? Trevor has locked himself in a bathroom, and he can't breathe, and he's - and he's hoping and praying that it will stop!
Trevor never went through that.
Eugene Simonet How do you know what Trevor went through? How do you know? How do you know the next time, after you, he doesn't come for Trevor? I know what I'm talking about, Arlene! My father got on his knees and begged my mother, and my mother, she always took him back. I never understood it. She'd cover the bruises and the cuts, and she'd take him back. Because he begged, and he cried. And now, you ask me what happened after he came back.
No.
Eugene Simonet No! Go on! You said you wanted to know what happened to me! Now, ask me!
I don't like this.
Eugene Simonet Did he hurt you, Eugene? Ask me! [A beat.]
Did he hurt you?
Eugene Simonet Not for long. By 13, I was gone. I ran away. But, I missed her. So, I had to go back and see her. And so one night, I did. Now, ask me what happened that night. What happened that night you came back, Eugene?
What happened?
Eugene Simonet He was there. Drunk as usual. Only this time, I wasn't the same. I was 16 years old, and I was no longer afraid of him. And when I looked him in the eye and told him if he ever touched her again, I would kill him, he knew. He knew that he would never exist for me again. [A beat.] And I'm standing in front of the house, I'm telling her, I'm screaming for her to come out. I'm telling her she doesn't have to - she doesn't have to take it anymore. She really doesn't. She can come with me now. I don't even see it coming. He hits me in the side of the head with a two-by-four, and I'm bleeding from my ear. And then he's dragging me. He's dragging me behind the house and into the garage and then he's gone. A minute. Five minutes. I don't know. And then he's back, and he's wetting me down. He's wetting me down, and I don't understand. I don't understand why water should smell so bad. I don't understand. And then I see it. I see . . . this . . . gas can. This red gas can from his truck. [He cries. A beat.] And he looks at me one last time, and he lights a match. [A beat.] And the last thing I remember, and I'll never forget it, were his eyes. His eyes, because they were filled with this . . . immense . . . satisfaction.
Eugene Simonet Don't. Don't! Don't! Don't tell me how sorry you are for me! [A beat.] Just tell me how you're going to stop it happening to Trevor!
He would never do that.
Eugene Simonet Oh, Jesus, Arlene. He doesn't have to. All he has to do is not love him.
Eugene Simonet Trevor, what is it? [A beat.]
Are you still gonna pay it forward? [A beat.] You could say you don't have to. [Eugene gets up. A beat.] 'Cause it didn't work out. [A beat.] But I thought you still might.
Eugene Simonet [Eugene erases the blackboard and turns to Trevor. A beat.]
Trevor, I would like more than anything than to do that for you. [A beat.] And when I find something worthy of paying it forward -
I know somebody who needs something. [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Trevor, you have to let me find this on my own -
You know who it is. [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Look. [A beat.] You don't understand everything. All right? So, you do not know what you're asking.
Give her another chance. [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet I will pay it forward. I promise you that. [A beat.] But I cannot do that. [He sits down in a desk near Trevor. A beat.]
But that's why this is the one. [A beat.] Because it's supposed to be something hard. [A beat.] If you help my mom, even if you're still mad at her, if you helped her in a way nobody else could -
Eugene Simonet Did she asks you to come and talk to me about this?
No, she thinks you'll never forgive her, but I still think you could. [A beat.] If you wanted to do something really huge . . . for someone . . . or for a project . . . for me. [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Trevor, she made a choice.
She said she made a mistake.
Eugene Simonet Well, that's the beauty of hindsight. [Trevor gets up. A beat.]
You don't care. [A beat.]
Eugene Simonet Yes, I do. [A beat.] I will always care. About you, always. [A beat.]
Yeah.
[He places his assignment on the desk in which Eugene is sitting. A beat.]
You're my teacher. [A beat] They pay you to.
Eugene Simonet Arlene . . . I don't wanna be one of those people he's talking about. And I've become one. I don't wanna spend another second of wasted air. Please don't let me stay trapped in here forever.
I won't.
Eugene Simonet I don't wanna spend another second without you.
