To Sir, with Love

My bleeding feet!

Hello, Mrs. Joseph.

I like your hair.

Is that strawberry blonde?

You're only jealous.

What's for the old man's

supper tonight?

He'll be lucky to get

faggots and pease pudd, he will.

Well, he can't do much

on that, can he?

All I want him for

is to keep me feet warm.

Excuse me, dearie.

Here, Gert.

I wouldn't mind having this little lot

in my stocking for Christmas.

What would you do with him?

You've been a widow too long.

You speak for yourself.

It's like riding a bicycle.

You never forget how.

I'll tell you what I'll do.

I'll send my Alfie to you.

He's not bad once he gets going.

Well, I hope he's well-sprung.

Morning.

Looking for someone, mate?

Nice day, isn't it?

Sorry.

Hackman's in the staff room.

Where he bleeding well belongs.

Good morning.

My name is Thackeray.

I'm a new teacher.

We were expecting you.

So you're the new lamb

for the slaughter.

Or should I say...

...black sheep?

No, just a teacher, Mr. Hackman.

I'm not Hackman.

Perish the thought.

He's departed,

God rest his soul.

He's probably pouring out his woes

to the divisional officer by now.

Weston.

I'm Mrs. Evans, Grace.

Deputy head.

Mrs. Evans.

Have you seen any children yet?

I looked in on Mr. Hackman's class

for a moment.

I take them for domestic science.

Like a cup of tea?

No, thank you, not just now.

You been teaching long?

This is my first appointment.

We call them jobs.

American, are you?

British, from British Guiana.

But I spent some years

in the States.

- Where?

- In California.

Weather as good as they say?

It's better.

What was your subject?

What did you major in?

Engineering.

I must be off.

Make yourself at home.

Wander around, if you like,

or stay here.

I'll introduce you at lunch.

Thank you.

This is Gillian, Mr. Thackeray.

Gillian Blanchard.

She's new here too.

Came the day before yesterday.

- Tea, Gillian?

- Thank you.

This is Mr. Mark Thackeray,

the new replacement.

Jose Dawes,

Euphemia Phillips.

They teach the little ones.

Theo Weston, you know.

I've had the pleasure.

He mistook me for Hackman.

- He's fled.

- I don't blame him.

That's enough to destroy anybody.

He got what he deserved.

I'm Clinty Clintridge.

Clinty's a marvelous artist.

Got one at the Royal Academy

a couple of years ago.

Teaching provides the bread and butter.

Well, that's all the staff

except for Mr. Bell...

...our P.T. Instructor.

I hope you're

going to stay with us.

I shouldn't if I were you, old man.

Row home while you can.

Don't discourage him, Weston.

Well, I must go.

I have to fix a bath

for a girl in Clinty's class.

Why?

Kids complained again.

Won't sit near her.

What's the matter?

Personal hygiene problems.

Fourteen and helpless.

You men are lucky.

The things we women have to do

for these kids.

Gillian, dear...

...encourage him to stay.

Why is it everyone thinks

I need encouraging?

They said the same to me.

There's something frightening but

also challenging about this school.

There's no form of corporal

punishment or any punishment.

None?

I have no real teaching experience.

I'm lost.

I don't have any experience either.

But it'll be much easier for you.

I'm a little afraid of them.

Midday dance session.

At lunch, the older kids use the hall.

I sometimes join them.

Even the old man shakes a leg.

Dancing is merely their way

of keeping fit...

...for the more exciting pastime

of teacher baiting.

Couldn't you be

a bit less discouraging?

It's the last thing I want to do.

The music's louder than usual.

They're probably celebrating

victory over Hackman.

I better go and see Mr. Florian.

I'll show you the way.

- They're good, aren't they?

- I suppose so.

The head's study is this way.

Do you two...

Do you two shake?

Well, I'll see you later,

Mr. Thackeray.

Well?

Thank you.

But I have to go

and see the principal.

You have excellent qualifications,

astonishing ones, in fact...

...as a communications engineer.

Field experience in South America...

Why do you want to be a teacher?

Reasons.

You've already tried to get

an engineering post?

I tried for 18 months, sir.

We have no blueprint in North Quay.

Most of our children are

rejects from other schools.

We must help and teach them

as best we can...

...and as much as we can.

The local authorities are not

totally on our side.

And if you accept this position,

you'll be entirely on your own.

I and the staff will do

everything we can to help you...

...but success or failure

will depend entirely upon you.

What's it to be?

I want the job, sir.

Good.

Then it's settled.

Tomorrow, you'll take over

Hackman's class.

Sapiano.

Wong.

Osgood.

Tuffen.

Pegg.

Pegg?

Joseph.

Dare.

Potter.

Potter.

Denham.

Buckley.

Purcell.

Fernman.

Jackson.

Strong.

Seales.

- Palmer.

- Yes, Guvnor.

Campbell.

Present.

I don't know how much you know,

so we'll start from scratch.

First, as I call your name...

...will you read anything you like

from one of your schoolbooks?

Fernman.

Right.

"Only those who...

...arrived on...

...horseback...

...or in a public coach. "

- Thank you.

Denham.

"If 14 hens lay an egg

a day for 30 days...

...how much are the eggs a dozen,

and how many have you to sell?"

Moira Joseph.

"Pete Gilroy's weight

and the ever-tightening noose...

...about her neck...

...began slightly to impede

the wild mare's speed.

But Pete was only too fully aware

of what his fate would be...

...for he could not hope

to escape death...

...from being battered and crushed. "

Put that away, please.

Thank you.

Would anyone else like to read?

- Your name, please.

- Pamela Dare.

"And he had learned to love.

I know not why...

...for this in such as him

seemed strange of mood.

But thus it was.

And though

in solitude's small part...

...the nipped affections

have to grow.

In him this glowed...

...when all beside

had ceased to glow. "

Thank you, Miss Dare.

Next, weights and measures.

What's avoirdupois?

- Avoir de what?

- Avoirdupois.

Weights.

Heavyweight, light-heavy,

cruiserweight...

...middle, light, bantam,

fly, featherweight.

Thank you very much.

It's encouraging that

you have a sense of humour.

It seems you know so little

and are easily amused...

...I can look forward to a happy time.

Copy down the following tables.

Who does he think he is, there?

The cheeky devil.

Hello, ducks.

Thought you might need this.

How'd it go?

Let's just say, battle was joined.

I don't know what we'd do

without a cuppa.

What's your name?

I know that.

I mean, your other name.

Mark.

Couple of things, Mark.

We all know the old man's views.

Basically, we agree with them.

But he's safe in an office.

These kids come from homes where

an order is accompanied by a blow.

One rude word to their parents,

the roof will hit them.

There's nothing like that

going on here, right?

So they've got us

at a great disadvantage.

Hackman tried to be popular.

He hung himself.

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