Stand and Deliver Page #5

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It does not reflect upon your school

or its administration.

We'd like to resolve this

with as little publicity as possible.

I'd appreciate that.

You think they got the test ahead of time?

Claudia was having emotional problems.

Pancho was way behind.

Do you really think anyone cheated?

No.

But my father does.

Damn sh*t!

Look at this sh*t!

If I'd taken that job with my uncle,

I'd have a new car by now!

It's all right. You can fix it.

You can fix it. Just relax.

I didn't know you two were a thing now.

Just something for the summer.

You're an a**hole, Pancho.

Sh*t!

Lots of stars up there, homey.

Not too polluted.

The stars aren't really there, ese.

What you're looking at

is where they used to be.

It takes the light...

...1,000 years to reach the earth.

For all we know,

they burned out a long time ago.

God pulled the plug on us.

He didn't tell nobody.

The stars are out there, homeboy.

I don't care what you say.

Hey, homeboy!

Throw me a kiss, baby!

That's right! That's all you know.

Can't you afford a knife?

Use a pencil, go to jail.

You've got a tough mouth.

You better watch yourself.

Mucho gusto, officer.

That was real smart, ese!

Get away from my ride!

Get up!

Get up!

Where are you going?

Come back!

Well, does anyone have anything to say?

I've known your family for years.

Tell us the truth.

Nothing happened.

- Don't lie to me.

- Nothing happened!

Leave her alone.

She didn't do anything wrong.

Then tell us who did.

We're not cops.

We're not here to put anybody behind bars.

If you cheated,

let us know so you can go home...

...and enjoy the rest of your summer.

I come from this neighborhood.

I know that sometimes we're tempted

to take shortcuts.

Tell me the truth. What happened?

We're busted. Let's admit it.

How did you do it?

I got the test ahead of time

and passed it out.

How did you get it?

The mailman.

I strangled him.

His body's decomposing in my locker.

No sense in continuing

if they won't cooperate.

Do you know how this got in my box?

A letter of resignation.

Anonymous.

My guess is that it has something to do

with the mess this school is in.

Do you think the students cheated?

Mr. Escalante, you put these kids

under an awful lot of pressure.

They would have gone to any lengths

to please you.

You didn't answer my question.

Every night I watch the news on Tv.

I see a lot of people go on trial.

They deny everything or their lawyers say

they were insane when they did it.

A lot of them get off.

But I believe most people

who get caught today are guilty...

...don't you?

Yep, I know what you mean.

Have you seen my car?

Do you need a ride home?

No, thank you!

Kimo, let me take you home!

Want to talk about it?

I may have made a mistake trying

to teach them calculus.

Regardless of whether they passed

that test or not...

...they learned.

They learned if you try real hard,

nothing changes.

Quit.

If that's all you have left to teach...

...quit.

What kills me...

...is that they lost the confidence...

...in the system they are now

finally qualified to be a part of.

I don't know why I'm losing sleep over this.

I don't need it.

I could make twice the money

and less hours...

...and have people treat me with respect.

Respect?

Jaime, those kids love you.

Hey, Kimo!

Check out your ride!

We fixed it up for you.

It's going downtown

to take action on those E.T.S. Boys.

Dad, check out your new car!

We got to talk about the payments,

though.

I'm Jaime Escalante. I'm the A.P.

Calculus teacher from Garfield High.

I'm Dr. Pearson...

...and this is Dr. Ramirez.

I feel I have a right to know

why you think my students cheated.

I'm sorry you drove all the way out here...

...but we're not at liberty

to discuss the controversy.

I'd just like to see the test, that's all.

I understand what you're going through...

...but the problem is between the E.T.S.

And the students.

I'd just like to see

what kind of mistakes were made.

I'm their teacher. I know my kids.

Mr. Escalante, have a seat.

No, thank you.

There were some...

...unorthodox, even illogical, computations

for students of this caliber.

Mistakes in simple math.

Because they have the same teacher

teaching them the same program.

I taught them step by step,

all the same way.

Your students averaged fewer than

four wrong on the multiple choice...

...where other schools average

14 to 18 incorrect answers.

Most of your kids finished

with time to spare.

They should be rewarded, not punished.

The Educational Testing Service...

...does not act capriciously.

Every major university in the US

subscribes to our service.

I'd just like to see proof of wrongdoing.

I'd like to see the tests.

There is no proof of wrongdoing,

only a suspicion of cheating.

In this country...

...one is innocent until proven guilty.

Not vice versa.

If you are so confident of their abilities,

encourage them to retest.

Why?

If they don't,

everyone will assume they cheated.

Everyone will assume

they cheated if they do.

I want to see the test!

Mr. Escalante, we are psychometricians,

thorough to the point of boring.

We're not out to get anyone.

Wait.

A situation of two students

cheating is one thing.

This blanket accusation is saying

there was a conspiracy.

Every conspiracy has a leader.

Who better qualify to be the leader

than the teacher?

Nobody is accusing you here of anything.

Not only me, the school, the parents,

the entire community!

Scores this high would be questioned

regardless of the school.

But if this was Beverly Hills High

they wouldn't have sent you to investigate.

I hope you're not insinuating

that we haven't earned our position here.

No one has given me a damn thing.

You are letting your emotions

get the best of you.

If no one gave you a damn thing,

you shouldn't take away from my kids!

The identity of the students

was concealed...

...until it was determined

that irregularities existed.

No one would have questioned the scores

if my kids didn't have Spanish surnames...

...and come from barrio schools!

All right. We've explained our position

and heard your complaints, but now...

...our conversation is over.

Something is going on

that nobody is talking about.

And you know what it is!

No one has the right to accuse me

of racism. No one has that right!

I know well how to spell discrimination!

I thought this was over long ago.

Why do this to my kids?

There are two kinds of racism,

Mr. Escalante.

Singling out a group

who are members of a minority...

...and not singling out a group

who are members of a minority.

My kids could teach you

a thing or two, Johnny!

I'll call security

if you can't control yourself.

Do it!

You didn't prove anything.

My kids didn't do anything!

I'll prove you guys wrong.

I hope you do

because this is not between you and me.

Maybe not.

But if I catch you on the street,

I'll kick the sh*t out of you.

This is Guadalupe Escobar.

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