Lean on Me Page #4

I want all of you

to look at this...

slovenly, sloppy boy here...

as an example

of how not to dress.

Now, if you

look like this

when you look in your mirrors

in the morning,

find something else

to put on.

Self-respect permeates

every aspect of your lives.

If you don't have it

for yourselves,

you're not going to get it

from anywhere.

Now, to prove

their self-respect,

mr. Sams and his friends here-

you boys stand up.

I'm going to

pound him.

Mr. Sams and his friends

are going to sing

our school song.

I want

absolute silence.

No one

is permitted to move

during the singing

of the school song.

All right.

Let's hear it.

Fair eastside

by the road-

mr. Darnell, no one

is permitted to move

during the song!

I was picking up

trash.

Report to my office!

Immediately!

Woo!

Quiet!

Quiet in here!

Ha ha ha!

Ha ha!

Ha ha ha!

All right. Continue.

So cheer for...?

You boys are on detention,

3 days each.

You will

learn this song,

or next time,

you'll be suspended.

This goes for everybody!

You will sing the school song

upon demand,

or you will suffer

dire consequences!

Mr. Wright, take this

riffraff to my office.

Hit the road, jack

and don't you come back?

No more, no more,

no more, no more

hit the road, jack

and don't you come back

no more

what you say?

O, o glorious

is thy name

o mighty lord

glorious is thy name-

people, what are you-

can i help you,

mr. Clark?

Yes, you may.

I want everyone

to be able to sing the

school song on demand

or be suspended.

Can you see to that?

Certainly, mr. Clark.

From the top-

mrs. Elliott, may i see

you in the hall, please?

Now?

Yes, now!

Will you see if you can

get these people together?

Mm-hmm.

If you sing like that

in new york,

we will not

be invited back.

I don't like

being ignored.

I'm sorry if you weren't

getting enough attention,

but i'm training a chorus.

You don't think the school

song is important enough

to warrant

a little interruption?

It's fine, but we

were doing mozart.

We were in the middle

of a difficult part.

If you'd like us

to respect your work,

try to appreciate ours.

Who do you think

you're talking to?

A man who seems threatened

when any other adult

does something

the children like.

Mrs. Powers, i want it quiet

in here right now!

I'd love to chat,

mr. Clark,

but i have a concert

next week in new york,

and i'd like to be

prepared.

What?

Prepared-you know

what that means-

capable, ready,

and up to your job.

What concert?

The one at lincoln center.

We do it every year.

Until now. Your concert

is canceled.

What?

Cancelled!

You know what canceled

means, don't you?

Over, finished,

terminated!

Why? They've worked

too hard!

For not telling me.

Oh, i filed a form

in your office!

And for rank

insubordination!

You've questioned my

judgment, intelligence!

You're the one who comes

around here to bother me.

You're a despicable man!

I've nothing to say to you.

Let's accommodate that.

You're fired!

You need

a psychiatrist!

Get out!

Right now!

Fine! Fired? You'll hear

from my lawyer!

Mr. Clark.

Ms. Levias, these miscreants

don't know the school song.

They've got

3 days' detention.

Mr. Darnell,

into my office.

Fellas, come on up.

What was that all about?

I said no one move

during the school song.

If you can't understand

that, find another job.

I was picking up

paper!

You contradicted me

in front of my students!

They'remystudents!

They are my students,

mr. Darnell!

Just what are you

trying to prove?

I'm working

my ass off for you.

I took the demotion.

I'm doing my job!

You're just

getting your rocks off

by treating me like trash.

No, sir. That's what

you were picking up.

God damn it!

You give me the goddamn respect

you would want yourself,

or i will kick

your black ass!

You are suspended,

sir, as of right now!

Get out!

Ahh!

Oh, my god!

What is going on?

Mr. Darnell is suspended.

Indefinitely.

You don't have the power

to suspend a teacher!

Then i can recommend.

Get me the forms.

Yes, sir.

Please, mr. Darnell is more

than a football coach.

He teaches english!

Not anymore.

The state practice test

is tomorrow. Why do this now?

Ms. Levias-

mr. Clark?

What do you want?

What?

It could wait.

Mr. Clark,

do you have any idea

of the chaos you have

caused around here?

Nobody knows

what you're doing!

That's exactly

the way i like it!

Never made first period

for one year straight

forget a diploma,

it's education i hate

i feel like droppin' my books

and just strafin' it

'cause the way i'm feelin',

i ain't makin' it

i ain't makin' it

school's the place

i don't really want to be in

the day i quit,

that's it, i'm leavin'

when people tell me

about gettin' grades up

my reply-"am i gettin' paid

or what?"

Bright in the morning,

my alarm awakes me

my mom won't, she's a witch,

she hates me

failin' all my classes,

i don't give a damn

success,

i ain't makin' it

stay to your right.

Let's get to your classes.

Come on, now.

We got 20 seconds to the bell.

Let's go. Sams, sams,

come here. Where you going?

Lunch.

Try to eat

some vegetables

for a change, ok?

Lay off

those muffins.

See you later.

Don't bunch up

down there, people.

That doesn't concern you.

We'll tell you about it later.

All right, richard.

It's all yours.

We have two groups

to thank-

the black and hispanic

alumnl-

for giving us

sofas and armchairs.

It makes the school

seem, as mr. Clark

would say, a home

away from home.

Having fun?

I am.

I haven't heard a word

about those test scores.

They'll send them-

send them how?

By pony express?

Am i supposed to

wait for them?

Get yourself

down to trenton,

where they're probably

on some desk.

Bring them back here

where they can do some good.

But now, ladies

and gentlemen,

for the grand finale-

ms. Levias,

if you would-

our very own

passaic river falls.

Good job. You're doing

very well, son.

I'm very

proud of you.

Mr. Clark,

come to the cafeteria quick!

Some guy's

beating up kid ray!

Hey, stop it!

Stop it!

Come on, old man.

I been waitin' for this.

Come on.

Come on.

Get this disgrace

to his race out of here!

You already threw

this disgrace out once.

Then what's

he doing back?

Someone must have

let him in from the inside.

I want every door

in this school

chained and locked-

all of them!

Yes, sir.

Hi, mr. Clark.

Oh, hi, kids.

How you doin'?

Hi, mr. Clark.

What's up?

Hi, nathalee.

Kaneesha, what's

the matter, doll?

Kaneesha?

Now, i told you if you

have any problems,

you come and see me.

Come on, now.

I've known you more

than half your life.

What's the matter?

How are your grades?

They're not too good.

Well, why not?

You're a smart girl.

You shouldn't be

having any problems.

I don't have

no place to live.

Well, where's

your mother?

She don't want me

no more.

Now, here.

Come with me. Come on.

I'll see what i can do

about this.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes