Lean on Me Page #5

Ms. Levias, you know

kaneesha carter here.

You go on in

to miss ruiz.

Is he all right?

He'll survive.

Kaneesha here is having

a problem at home.

Pull her file, talk to her,

get back to me.

Come on, kaneesha.

Because it

never made a difference

i never paid attention

to the sound

of my own despair

trick or treat!

There was

never no feelin'

never not needing

that child

even though

i couldn't always be there

and time don't wait

on love, now

life don't wait

for a break

in the weather

what if i'm left

with no love at all?

No love at all?

Who's there?

Mrs. Carter?

Mrs. Carter

doesn't live here.

Kaneesha:
Mama, it's me.

It's joan levias

from eastside.

I'm here

with mr. Clark.

'Cause time

don't wait on love, now

and life don't send you

an invitation

been a long time,

mrs. Carter.

Please.

Come in.

No love at all

i've been meaning to come by

and talk to you.

Mind if i try and act

civilized for a moment?

Offered you two

a seat.

Mrs. Carter, i ran into

kaneesha in the halls.

Was talking

about her grades.

She says you don't want

her around anymore.

I don't expect

your sympathy,

but i ruined my life.

I know that's my business

to deal with that.

It's been hard enough.

Joe:
When kaneesha

was in the fifth grade,

you were one of my most

active parents.

You were always

at school helping out.

We don't mean

to pry, mrs. Carter,

but kaneesha

has a gift.

She has that spark.

We have to look after her.

Why would she think

you wouldn't want her?

I had kaneesha

when i was 15.

I didn't want

no welfare,

so i quit school,

worked,

came home at night,

didn't have no life.

So when she was old enough

to take care of herself,

i ran out and got one.

Is that what

you're doing now?

I'm just now getting back

on my feet, you know?

As i get clean...

i see myself

for what i am...

and i hate it.

And i don't want her

to see me like this no more.

So when the people from

the foster home came by,

i thought it was

the right thing to do.

Why would i want

to get rid of her?

I love her...

more than myself.

Mrs. Carter...

if we helped you

find a job,

a better place

to live,

would that help?

Because, frankly,

i don't see

kaneesha making it

without you.

Do you understand?

Yeah.

Good.

Thanks, bob.

We'll talk tomorrow.

What was that

all about?

Chains on the doors.

Thought you people

didn't like chains.

You see this yet?

You know,

all of your sh*t

comes down

on my head.

Oh, frank, look.

This is-

no. You let me talk.

It's like you're

a big bird with radar.

I'm tired of getting hit.

Is this my fault?

This is nothing!

I've got union lawyers

threatening me.

There's talk

of a walkout.

Let 'em!

They're not teaching

anything anyway!

Then do something

about it!

Not one of 'em

has a personal stake

in that school!

Not one!

The fire chief says

it's illegal to bar doors.

Mrs. Barrett is organizing

a parents group to remove you

since you suggested that

they get off welfare

because quite a few

of them need it.

I wasn't talking

to all of them, frank.

Look, you came

and recruited me, man.

You disappoint me.

The disappointment

here is you!

Me?

Yes!

You've known me

30 years.

You know

how i operate.

N*gger,

can you keep quiet?

The fact is

you're screwing up!

You're alienating

everybody!

You have no life.

Your wife left you.

I ought to

walk out myself!

Go ahead,

bail out!

I said

i'd back you up!

That's what

yousaid, frank!

Brother, i'll go

through the fire with you,

but you are not

taking care of business.

But this sh*t you're

pulling now,

you've just gone

plain loco!

You suspend darnell!

What the hell was that?

Darnell is symptomatic

of disciplinary-

he is a good, strong,

young black teacher!

He dumped that desk

on top of your head.

Good for him.

You will reinstate that man!

You fire

mrs. Elliott. Why?

She didn't want to

kiss your ass.

I wouldn't either!

Mrs. Elliott

has an ego problem.

Well, you lost

the best teacher we had!

I don't have time for

mrs. Elliott's problem!

You better make time!

We're being crucified

by a process

that's turning blacks

into a permanent

underclass here!

See? Nobody wants

to talk about that!

Mrs. Elliott's missionary

zeal about mozart

has nothing to do

with our problem!

What good will mozart do

children who can't

go out and get a job?

Joe,

your personal battles

are going to

cost us the war.

Worry about

the test scores.

What the hell you think

i'm worried about?

End of discussion!

Debate is over!

You will write

a formal apology

for your treatment

of mrs. Elliott and darnell

and for your thoughtless insult

to the women of this community!

You will kowtow

and step and fetch.

Get used to it!

It's the way of the world!

If you're so hot

on discipline,

then start

by accepting mine

because contrary

to popular opinion,

i am the head n*gger

in charge!

Come on. Let's get

something to eat.

Boy...

you really think

you bad, don't you?

You're all in violation

of the fire code!

You cannot prevent me

from going in.

You're not getting in,

and that's that.

You have no right

to lock these doors.

This isn't a plant.

This is my school.

If you want

to get in here,

apply for a pass

like everyone else.

What the hell

is the bat for?

They used to call me

crazy joe.

Now they can call me

batman.

I got thugs and drug dealers

trying to get into my school.

You might be one.

I don't know.

Are you crazy?

I got all day,

chief.

How much time

do you have?

I'll be back, clark.

Thanks, mr. Darnell.

Good to have you back.

You shouldn't have fired me

in the first place.

You're right, but don't

get used to it.

Mr. Clark, why did you

lock the school?

Aren't you concerned

about students' safety?

Get these people

back to their classes.

Honey, get back

to your class.

You're playing

into his hands.

That was

the fire chief.

Know what he's saying

right now?

"Black bastard

can't throw me out,"

know where he's saying it?

Out in the parking lot.

Mr. Clark,

a baseball bat?

If they'd got me

those emergency doors

that sound an alarm

when you open them up

like the ones

white schools have,

i wouldn't

have to chain them.

Those doors cost

a fortune.

We don't have enough

money for books.

Tell the mayor that.

Call the federal government.

Never mind

what i'm doing.

Why don't you do

what i ask you?

Where are those

test scores i asked for?

Hey, mr. Clark.

Hi. Where you been?

I was sick.

Sick, huh?

Hi, eric.

What was that

altercation about?

Alteration?

Are my pants too tight?

The fight you had

in the cafeteria.

Don't get cute with me.

I've already had enough

sh*t from this.

Why did he come after you?

You dealing drugs?

We don't need

to get into this.

I just came here

to tell you something.

I don't think

i'm cut out for school.

I just came

to say good-bye.

Dropping out

on me, huh?

I'm not dropping out.

I'm moving on.

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