Permanent Page #8

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I just had to get that

off my chest.

Good, good.

And since this is

a space where people

say what they need to say

to each other,

and you seem to be

pretty agitated, Jeannie...

Maybe you should

get the ball rolling.

Jeanne:
Okay.

Jerry, you're very nice.

And I love that

you see me as an artist.

But when you suddenly

start talking about...

somebody's breasts...

they might start thinking

you're a dirty old man.

Jeannie,

I'm your therapist here.

We can discuss this in private.

I don't care

to be together privately.

And Jim...

What I want to say to you is...

I'm a free spirit.

My spirit wants to be free,

and creative!

Jim, if you want

to stay married to me...

you need to see me as I am.

I'm a little bit...

outside of everything.

I don't want to be

outside with you too.

I wanted you to be

interested in me!

Genuinely interested.

But you never were.

Jeanne...

If you were a magazine...

I would buy a subscription.

What does that mean?

It means that I did not

always buy a subscription

in the past, Jerry.

I would go to the newsstand.

Sometimes I would buy an issue.

But sometimes...

I would not.

And by God,

I wanna be a subscriber!

I almost lost

this wonderful magazine

and I realize now...

that I love it!

And I wanna read

every article, Jerry!

Every article!

Cover to cover!

Think about the bullies!

Think about them!

Isn't it a little early

for her to spar?

No, you're supposed to do that,

even on the first day.

Does that mean

you and me could do it?

If you wanted to.

Absolutely, we could.

Cat stance!

Don't forget your cat stance.

Cat stance!

All right, Orala, here we go.

Show him it's not just

a little girl he's messing with.

Okay, go in there and kick.

- Instructor:
Good!

- Jim:
Nice!

Oh, good kick, yeah!

Block it, block it!

Instructor:
That's it.

Kick, Orala, kick!

(crowd groans)

Match goes to Sam.

Orala, next time

you just got to kick more!

You don't show what

you're made of, you know?

- Aurelie:
Mm-Hmm.

- Are you feeling ok?

You just got to kick

a little more, okay?

Kick like a cat!

(karate noise)

Are all of you here?

And did you all get your numbers

from your home room?

Here, let's see one.

Six, five, eight, nine, ten...

Where's 14?

I thought I had 14 kids,

where's Lydia Johnson?

She's coming.

Oh, good, good...

Now, that is the order

in which we'll be calling you.

So, when it's your turn,

I will find you here,

and then I'm gonna

lead you to the "go" position,

where you all need

to listen carefully...

for your chime, all right?

Also, I want to point out to you

that our judge and patron,

Mrs. Florence Jacks,

she's sitting right out there

in the very front row!

So, smile big and do

your very best, all right?

(gasps) Isn't that wonderful!

Do you remember

what the SH sound is?

What sound does that make?

Sh...

Sh*t.

Let's not curse.

Okay.

Remember like

when we want to be quiet?

What nice words start with SH?

Sh...

Sh*t!

You don't want to be

held back again, do you?

What sound does a teapot make?

(knocking on door)

Excuse me?

Lydia Johnson is needed

in the principal's office.

For what?

You're in trouble, I guess.

- Who wrote this?

- Beats me.

I'm supposed to take Lydia

to the principal's office.

What the hell? What did I do?

Aurelie:
Nothing.

Here, I brought you a folder.

It's for the poetry competition.

I signed you up.

What?

Well, unsign me up!

I'm not doing

that damn poetry competition!

Look, all you have to do

is read the poem!

Don't you wanna do that

instead of going back

to the retard class?

Maybe you'll win!

You think I could win?

How am I gonna win?

Just read the poem.

You might be really good at it.

Aurelie:
Come on,

we have no time.

Come on.

How'd you choose this poem?

"I am a woman,

sick for passion."

You think I'm gonna read this?

Yes, my lady. No, my lady...

This is ridiculous!

I thought it was romantic.

Where's one and two?

Oh, Kelly, you're gonna be

number one, all right?

Now, in exactly five minutes,

we are gonna start!

So, anybody has to pee,

you better do it now!

I didn't have to pee

until she said that.

You're nervous, just hold it!

I can't! Here...

Aurelie:
Take my bag

and my folder.

And I'll be back.

(sound of Aurelie peeing)

We done told you not to enter

this poetry competition!

You're not the boss of me.

Oh, yeah? Come on out,

and we'll see who's boss.

(applause)

Audience member:

Come on, Kelly!

(crowd cheering on Kelly)

I just wanna say,

I love Mark Twain!

He's my favorite famous person.

I think he was such a genius.

So, I chose a poem by him...

Isn't that the bully girl?

I think so.

...did young Stephen sicken,

and did young Stephen die?

And did the sad hearts thicken,

and did the mourners cry?

- Isn't she doing good?

- She is doing so good.

She's precious...

...impaired the sacred name

Of Stephen Dowling Botes...

Bots.

Thank you.

Come on, Oral,

you chicken or something?

Mary John!

Excuse me!

Why are you not

at the assembly?

I was using the bathroom.

I'm on my way, Mrs. Tripp!

Hey, Mary John,

did you forget your brush?

Get to the assembly!

Mary John, you stay right here,

I need to talk to you

about your mathematics grade.

I thought you knew your math

better than that.

(sound of peeing)

Have you been working

with your tutor?

Your mother told me

you were working with the tutor,

Mary John!

If I run real fast,

I probably can make it.

Go ahead and try, Oral.

Do you want

to fight me instead?

- You wanna fight me?

- Aurelie:
No.

But I'm not gonna run anymore.

You wanna fight, go ahead.

"Stopping by Woods

on a Snowy Evening"

by Robert Frost

Whose woods these are

I think I know

His house is in

the village though...

He will not see me...

You're lucky

I don't wanna mess my hair up.

Or I'd beat you up

some more right now.

Wait!

What the hell

is that crazy thing?

I dare you.

He gives

his harness bells a shake

To ask if there...

I bet Aurelie

can beat these girls.

I can't believe it.

You never hold my hand.

That was the old me.

This is the new.

(grunting)

"Casey at the Bat"

by Ernest L. Thayer.

The outlook wasn't brilliant

for the Mudville nine that day,

The score stood four to two,

but with one inning

more to play.

And then when Cooney

died at first,

and Barrows did the same...

Where's 13 and 14?

13 and 14, we're ready for you!

Where...?

Where's Orila?

I think she went

to the bathroom,

I'll just go get her...

No, Greta,

we have an audience out there,

somebody has to go on!

But I'm scared!

You'll be okay, Lydia.

You're gonna be lucky number 13!

Lucky number!

I'm gonna go

raise the mike for you.

Come on, Lydia, you can do this.

Just show Mrs. Jacks

what you got.

It's almost over,

where's Aurelie?

(applause)

Birds...

flying high...

You know how I feel...

Sun...

in the sky...

You know how I feel...

Lydia:
It's a new dawn...

(heavy breathing)

It is a new day...

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