Front of the Class Page #5

---

Oh, yeah. Sometimes it gets really personal.

I hope this question isn't too personal, Brad.

Do you make those noises in your sleep?

I don't know. I'm asleep.

No. No, I don't tic in my sleep.

When I'm relaxed, the noises give me a little bit of a break. Like just now.

Okay Brad. I want to hear more about your teaching philosophy...

Yeah. I'd love to tell you about my teaching philosophy.

We talked for nearly two hours,

it was the best interview I'd ever had

Well, Brad, it was a pleasure to meet you.

You, too. You, too.

We've still got a few more teachers to interview.

But we'll let you know when we've made a decision.

Ok, great.

Thank you. Thank you...

Still, my Constant Companion, as always,

warned me not to get my hopes up.

But hope is a hard habit to break.

I was called one last time to and asked come in

and meet with the second grade staff.

Oh, so, you student-taught second grade?

Oh, I love second grade! The kids are still so open-minded.

They're open to everything.

Yes, but you do manage to maintain a little discipline, right?

While they're being so open?

I do let them know what the boundaries are. Yes.

So, Brad. What do you think is the most important thing you have to teach?

Yeah. Ah, well. Besides the importance of reading and the value of math...

that it's okay to be yourself.

It's okay to color outside the lines

if that's who you are.

So it's okay to ignore the boundaries?

No, and I didn't...

I'm sorry but how can you expect kids to learn

when you're doing that all the time?

Oh. Come on, Brenda

No, no, no. It's OK. It's a valid question.

I want to answer it.

Before they know me,

kids sometimes do think I'm just weird, even scary.

But, once I educate them about my Tourette's

and they see that Mr. Cohen is a real person

who just happens to make funny noises,

well, then they accept me as a good teacher.

Just like they accept all of you.

Well, maybe we should all try to be more like second-graders.

Does anyone have any other questions for Mr. Cohen?

Brad thanks for coming in.

The school will be in touch with you, so just be patient.

It's hard to be patient

when you feel as though you've blown your last chance.

And patience never was my Constant Companion's strong suit

I'm guessing you never heard from that school.

No, not yet. They're still interviewing.

I'm not worried.

Okay.

Is that supposed to mean?

I just said "okay".

I know what you mean

you don't think anybody would hire me if they had a choice.

What are you, a mind-reader now?

You know what, Dad? This is gonna be my last day here?

Well, why don't you wait and see if you got the job first?

I'm gonna get the job, Dad.

I just have to stay focused.

Why can't you stay focused and realistic at the same time?

What's wrong with that?

Here.

Whoa! Are you all right, man?

You'll knock yourself out doing that!

What if that happens while you're driving?

I'm fine.

Uh, yeah, I don't know. You oughta see another doctor.

I've seen doctors my whole life, Ron. OK? They don't help.

Well, don't you think you need to see somebody?

I really don't!

So, just.

There I was.

Waiting for the phone to ring again.

I tried to convince myself something good would happen.

My kid brother...not exactly what I had in mind.

-How are you doing, Bobo? -Jeff,

what, what are you doing here?

Why didn't you tell me you were coming?

You know you're in your boxers, right?

Did, ah, Mom send you to check up on me?

Why? You need checking up on?

No, but...

Where do I put my stuff? .

That's great. You get the couch.

Whoa! Nice clubs, are these new?

Ah. They're Dad's, he let me borrow them.

Thought maybe you and I could, ah, play a little golf.

He got us a tee-time at his club.

So, what do you think? Three iron from here, little bro?

Hey, by the way, thanks for the round.

Thank Dad. Oh, wait, forgot...

...you guys aren't speaking.

I don't want to talk about Dad right now.

You're just saying that to rattle me because you know

I'm going to beat you.

I'm serious, Brad, you and Dad gotta start getting along.

We get along fine

as long as we keep it long distance.

Is that why you moved down here?

To keep it long distance?

I mean, it's not like you have anything to prove to him right?

What are you now, Jeff, a shrink? Dr. Jeff, huh?

I'm sorry, sir?

I'm going to have to ask you to stop making those noises.

Look, pal.

He's not doing it on purpose, he's got

No, no, no. I can handle it, Jeff.

I got it.

Look, it's just not fair to the other golfers.

No, I understand, that, umm, I can't help making these noises

because I have Tourette Syndrome.

It's a neurological disorder I'd like to tell you about it.

You're gonna have to leave the course.

I gotta think of the other members.

Hey, Joe. Leave the guy alone. He's fine.

Hey, man. We're a twosome and our buddies don't appear to be showing.

Would you like to join us?

lf you don't leave, I'm going to have to call security.

OK, OK. Umm...

OK. Thanks, guys. Maybe next year, all right?

Jeff, come on. Come on, buddy. Thanks.

Come on, Jeff, it's not like you haven't seen it before.

How can you stand living in a world

where everybody's so ignorant?

Everybody's not.

You saw those golfers back there.

They went to bat for me.

My life is full of people like that.

That's not always been my experience.

Well, that's because you're always getting into fights sticking up for me.

You and mom. You've always been there for me and my tics.

You know what? You're beginning to"tick" me off...

race you to the car.

-Oh, yeah? What! -Hey! HEY! Sucker!

Jeff's visit did give me a break from my worries.

And, right after he left, I got a call from the school.

The principal wanted to see me in his office.

Just like old times.

Pretty noisy, huh?

And yet somehow the kids manage, don't they?

Yes, they do. They do.

Hilarie and I discussed you with the teachers.

And, we talked about how proud we are of teaching our kids

to never let anything hold them back in life.

And, Hilarie said that if we're gonna talk the talk,

we need to walk the walk.

She's waiting to show you your classroom.

Welcome.

Second grade is overcrowded so we've had to create a new class.

Your kids are being taken out of other rooms

so some of them might be a little confused.

They've already been in school for three weeks.

There's your student roster.

The fun starts Monday, Brad.

Let me know if there's anything you need.

I need everything.

I looked down at that roster like I was announcing

the starting line-up for an all star baseball game.

Hilarie, this is, thank you...

Hey! We thought you might need these.

Hey, everybody, bring them in.

Just put them down anywhere. We'll get them arranged.

Here, let me help you with that. Thank you!

Welcome to Mountain View.

Yeah, Mom, it's phenomenal, but, you know,

it's taken me so long to get here I still have to remind myself

that I'm just at the beginning.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes