Freedom Writers Page #9

because there's word out to jump me.

So I'm gonna be living with my aunt.

See, my aunt lives even further away,

So I was just wondering if I could, like,

Stay here late with you

Stay here late with you

So I can get my homework done,

'cause it's late by the time I get home.

You can stay as late as you want.

And I can even drive you to your aunt's,

if it gets too late.

Ms. G, let's not get nuts.

I think I got your color.

Just come by the concierge

on your way out,

I'll have the directions for you.

Yep, that's fine.

Stop! That's it! Now, now! Hey!

You get an extra three seconds. Go!

... enraged them and provoked them

into acts of violence.

In 1961, an interracial civil rights group

traveled by bus through the South

to challenge segregation.

Blacks sat in the front,

whites in the back.

They were attacked, firebombed,

but they kept going.

In Montgomery, Alabama, Jim Zwerg

offered to be the first off the bus,

knowing there was a mob

waiting for them.

He was almost beaten to death

so the others could get away.

That kind of courage

is unbelievable to me.

I was afraid of just being in this class,

and I was ashamed

because I've always been the dumb kid

in school, even with my friends.

But not anymore.

And I must have some kind of courage,

because I could have lied

to get out of here, but I stayed.

I stayed.

Hi, I'm home!

Sorry, it got late. I drove the kids home.

I didn't want them taking buses.

You're never gonna believe

what happened.

I'm so tired.

It's so cute, though.

They never want to go home.

We have such a good time together.

I'm gonna take a shower.

If you have another glass,

you're gonna have a headache.

Your bags are packed and you think

the wine's gonna give me a headache?

Why are you doing this?

Because I don't

pay enough attention to you?

No. That's not it.

I just... I feel like I'm living a life

I just did not agree to.

Erin, it's just...

It's too hard.

Your life is too hard?

I think what you're doing is noble.

And it's good. And I'm proud of you.

I am.

I just want to live my life

and not feel bad about it.

- I'm not trying to make you feel bad.

- You don't have to try.

I didn't plan on becoming responsible

for these kids.

- Well, who asked you to?

- No one asked me to!

They're not even your kids!

Why do I have to be asked? Scott...

I finally realized what I'm

supposed to be doing and I love it.

When I'm helping these kids

make sense of their lives,

Everything about my life

makes sense to me.

How often does a person get that?

- Then what do you need me for?

- You're my husband.

Why can't you stand by me and be part

of it, the way wives support husbands?

Because I can't be your wife.

I wish I could make that

sound less awful.

Erin?

You know,

if you had to choose between us

And the class,

Who would you pick?

If you love me,

how could you ever ask me that?

Erin, look at me.

This is all there's ever been to me.

This is it. I'm not one of those kids.

I don't have any more potential.

See? You don't want to be here either,

'cause if you did, would you be

in the classroom every night?

That's not true. I want to be here.

I love you.

You love the idea of me.

But it's such a great idea.

I know.

Dad? Hi.

You know, I was actually trying

to call someone else,

And I automatically dialed you. I'm sorry.

Look, I'm gonna call you tomorrow,

okay?

I need to make this call. I love you.

Ms. G made us read Twelve Angry Men.

It's all about how this one juror

helped to turn the hearts of 11 jurors.

It made me feel hopeful.

At 2:
00 today, my brother

was given a verdict on his own trial.

No O. J. Dream Team,

just a court-appointed attorney

who probably thought

his ass was guilty.

And I realized Twelve Angry Men

was just a book and nothing more.

My brother got 15 years to life.

Justice don't mean

the bad guy goes to jail.

It just means somebody

pays for the crime.

So, you got time now?

Anyone know where Andre's been?

I haven't seen him on the bus.

Yeah, I haven't talked to him either.

Ms. G?

Are we gonna have

this same room next year, again?

I don't know.

You're gonna be juniors next year.

What do you mean?

Well, I teach freshman

and sophomore years.

You mean,

we're not gonna be with you next year?

Well, I...

I don't teach juniors.

I thought you guys understood that.

What? What are you talking about?

You don't wanna be our teacher

next year?

Of course I do. I can't.

- Why not?

- It's the Board of Ed.

It's regulations.

Ms. G hasn't been here long enough

to have seniority.

Who cares about seniority?

Sh*t! They can't do that!

They don't have the right!

- Ms. G, this is our kick-it spot.

- Yeah.

Everybody's cool with everybody.

Everybody knows everybody.

This is the only place

where we really get to be ourselves.

There's no place like this

out there for us.

That's true.

I'm not allowed

to teach junior and seniors.

You're not allowed?

Ms. G, we can fight this, you know,

like the Freedom Riders.

Yeah, yeah,

we'll all drive around on a bus.

Only this time, they try and bust us up,

We bust a few of them

board members' heads.

Marcus.

Or we can go to the newspapers,

media. That'll get their attention.

Or we can paint

the administration building

With the word "a**holes"

in various colors.

Hey, it's something. We can do this.

What?

These are my books, not Scott's.

I'm packing the wrong books.

Honey, take a break.

Sit down.

I can't believe I'm getting divorced.

I never thought this would happen.

What do I do now?

Next year, I won't even have my kids.

You think you should stay with them?

Or is it better they move on?

I don't know.

It's just a job, like you said.

Yeah, it is.

But is the job finished?

Listen to me now.

What you've done with those kids...

I don't even have words for it.

But one thing's for sure,

you are an amazing teacher.

Special.

You have been blessed with a burden,

my daughter.

And I envy you that.

And I admire you.

And how many fathers ever get

to say that to their daughters

And really mean it?

What she is suggesting

is in violation of our union charter.

She may not move on with her students

to teach them junior year.

She's only been here two years.

There are teachers here

who have tenure,

Who have worked and committed

themselves for far longer

To attain a position of seniority.

Not to mention their experience

in teaching students of a higher caliber.

The Distinguished Scholars Program

is under our jurisdiction.

I don't want to replace

the Distinguished Scholars Program.

I just want to stay

with my kids next year.

She can't. I have the juniors.

The Board of Education

will not allow this.

Teaching rotations will be disrupted,

Retirement schedules

will be reevaluated,

Disrespecting teachers

who have earned their way far longer

And who focus on the classroom,

Not on public relations

and newspaper articles.

Rate this script:4.0 / 2 votes