Voila! Finally, the Dangerous Minds
script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the movie starring
Michelle Pfeiffer. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly
transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Dangerous Minds. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and I'll be eternally
tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to
drop me a line. You won't
hurt my feelings. Honest.
As I walk through the Valley
of the Shadow of Death
I take a look at my life
and realize there is nothing left
Because I been blastin'
and laughing so long
That even my mama thinks
that my mind is gone
I really hate to trip
but I gotta loc
As they croak I see myself
in the pistol smoke
Fool, I'm the kind of "G"
the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
saying prayers in the street light
Been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
They been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
Look at the situation
they got me facing
I can't live with no hope
I was raised by the state
So I gotta be down
with the hood team
Took much television-watching
got me chasing dreams
I'm a educated fool
with money on my mind
Got my tin in my hand
and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loc'd out gangsta
set tripping banga
And my homies is down
So don't arouse my anger
Fool, death ain't nothing
but a heartbeat away
I'm living life do or die
What can I say
I'm never will I live
to see
The way things is going
I don't know
Tell me why are we
so blind to see
That the ones we hurt
are you and me
Been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
They been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
Power and the money
Money and the power
Minute after minute
Hour after hour
Everybody's running, but half of them
ain't looked what's going on in the kitchen
But I don't know what's cooking
They say I got to learn
but nobody's here to teach me
lf they can't understand it
how can they reach me
I guess they can't
I guess they won't
I guess they front, that's why
I know my life it outta luck, fool
Been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
They been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
And-Yeah, I'm just gonna
have to check the schedule.
Thank you. Mm-hmm. Okay.
Let me write that down.
Carla? My friend Louanne
Johnson's here to see you.
Oh, God, is that today?
Hal, it's-it's not a good time.
Well, she came in.
All right. Uh, I'm gonna have to
call you back. Thank you.
Louanne, I'd like you to meet, uh,
Carla Nichols, our assistant principal.
Hello.
Carla, Louanne Johnson.
I'll wait outside.
Uh, please, uh,
have a, have a seat.
Thank you for seeing me.
Oh, well,
Mr Griffith-Uh, Hal
has told me so much about you.
I hope not everything.
Oh
Oh. No, only-only good.
And I must say, it-it isn't often
that we have an applicant
of your maturity and, uh,
varied experience.
Um, B.A. in English Lit,
public relations, telemarketing.
M-Marine.
Mm-hmm.
You don't look like a Marine.
Oh, well.
Long sleeves. Hides the tattoos.
Uh, fully accredited, except for one
term of, of supervised student teaching.
Why did you stop so close
to being certified?
Well, I met my husband and
started working for his company.
Uh, w-we're divorcing.
W-Well, it would be no problem to
get you emergency certification.
When could you start?
Start?
Teaching.
Miss Johnson,
I'lI-I'll cut to the chase.
One of our, uh, academy
teachers, Mrs. Shepherd, left,
and since then we've had
three substitute teachers.
The last one, Mrs. Gingrich,
fell ill just this morning.
So we have a fulI-time position
and we need to fill it now.
I-Um-Full time.
Yes.
I'm sorry, um, I thought this was an
interview to, uh, t-to student teach.
WelI
Uh, w-w-w-w-wh-Um, what is a
What-What is
an academy teacher?
Uh, well, the academy is, uh
lt lt's sort of a school
within a school.
Uh, special kids. Passionate,
energetic, challenging.
The, uh, salary is, is $ a year.
Are you interested?
Yes, I-Yes, I'm, I'm,
I'm interested.
Oh, that's wonderful.
That-Great. Great.
Okay, so-Oh, welI-So, uh,
these-these are for you.
Uh, curriculum, schedule
and, uh, whatnot.
And if you would just
follow me.
We have a new teacher.
Great!
Congratulations!
Full time.
What? Yeah.
Yes. Uh, starting tomorrow,
Mrs. Johnson is going to be
teaching one of our academy classes.
I'm afraid Mrs. Gingrich
is no longer with us.
Carla, they Mr Griffith's classroom
is right next to yours.
So would you meet her outside
tomorrow and show her ?
Right.
Thank you.
I just know this is gonna work out.
Thank you so much.
Thank you.
Full time.
Louanne
Hal! -Louanne, d-did she t-tell you
about, uh, the academy programme?
Yeah, yeah. No,
she told me all about it.
She said, you know,
bright, special kids and
Uh, Louanne,
I wanna teach, Hal!
lf I have any questions, I'll know who
to ask, right? Yeah. I'll be counting on it.
Fly ho's and chains
and swingin' thangs
Save me
Just another young nigger
having thangs
Just a-having thangs
Fly ho's and chains
and swingin' thangs
Why must I feel like that
Just another young nigger
having thangs
lt's to your right.
I guess Miss Shepherd's lesson
plans will be in her desk.
Very possibly.
This is your classroom.
Noisy bunch, aren't they? Yes, but if
you stand there long enough,
they'll usually quiet down.
Don't try and shout over them.
Right. Thanks.
Louanne.
I'm right next door. I wrote this about my life
because it's my shit you never heard before
Why don't you live in my world That's my
point that you been searchin' for Thanks.
I know that you need to relax
A supported fact
A little history
and history of government
lmmobilizing your physical
and your brain
With the emotion
of subliminal motivation
Look at that!
No, no, no. Not yours.
White bread. Snappin' my fingers
appropriately when I rip
You get flipped and then I pass
the microphone to my homegirl Chris
Now I see you runnin'
I'm comin', boom, how stunnin'
Fast as I step
Got to earn a big rep
For huntin' homies like deer
Crack a beer and some heads
Then go find another poor person
I can trap in my cage for a night
Let loose, fool, run
Because my first meal is done
May I have your attention, please?
How long y'all been together?
You run, I'll shoot
Because your homies said 'boo' to me
Your life is a joke
Smoked by the A to the K
You went to bed without a trace
lnfrared dot marks the spot
So duck or find your ass shot
What happened to Miss Shepherd?
Better not do that.
What?
What happened to Miss Shepherd? Ooh, no,
she ain't askin' about Miss triflin'-ass Shepherd.
You playin' yourself.
Playin' yourself.
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo!
Listen up! Yo, listen up!
White Bread wanna know
what happened to Miss Shepherd.
We killed the bitch.
Kick it, kick it, kick it,
kick it, kick it. Hey!
I was beginning to like
the puta!
Ohh! No, no, no.
Everybody, everybody. Emilio ate her.
Bullshit.
That bitch was too ugly to eat.
Yeah!
Fed her to my dogs.
But I'll eat you.
What is your name?
Emilio Ramirez.
Now, Emilio!
Emilio, you in trouble!
Emilio! Emilio! Emilio!
Emilio! Emilio!
Emilio! Emilio! Emilio! Emilio!
Oh, my God. What's that?
Come on, come on, come on, come on,
come on. You know what they're like. Come on.
Emilio! Emilio! Emilio! Emilio!
Emilio! Emilio! Emilio! Emilio!
Madison surrendered
to the nationalists.
Hamilton himself could have already have
composed the message that embraced
Donna. Donna,
take over the class.
Shut up!
What happened to Miss Shepherd?
Well, she quit.
Why?
Well, she was a very
high-strung individual.
What, did she have a breakdown?
No. She quit before that.
One of the substitutes,
she had a breakdown.
That's how they weed them out.
Who are these kids, rejects from hell?
No. They're bright kids with
little or no educational skills
and what we politely call
a lot of social problems.
Damn it, Griffith,
you could've warned me!
Hey, Louanne,
you said you wanted to teach.
Now, is that a load of bull or what?
No!
So teach.
I ca... What?
I can't teach them!
Yes, you can. All you gotta do
is get their attention.
Or quit.
I'm back!
"She decided that if Brian broke a rule
she would utilize these consequences:
The first time he broke a rule his name
would be put on the board."
This is the life
This is the life
This is the life
Okay, you little bastards.
Come on
Put your back into it
Come on
Put your back into it
Come on
Put your back into it
Come on
Put your back into it
Come on
Put your back into the beat
Achieve the goals
in which you seek
Don't let nobody
steer you wrong
Or you'll be singin'
that same old song
How someone's always holdin you down
There she is.
Just keep your two feet on the ground
Girl, you didn't get enough yesterday?
And when you come you be direct
'cause punks get no respect
My eyes to the west side
East side, west side
How you doin'? Yeah.
Hey, everybody, everybody, look!
A cowboy!
Put your back into it
Put your back into it
Put your back into it Don't talk
about-Don't talk about yourself like that.
"I am a"
Shut up! Y'all sound like them
fifth-graders! You shut up! You shut up!
"Does anyone
know"
What's "karate"?
Karate, you stupid asshole.
You're so stupid.
You're a Marine? A for-real Marine?
Discharged, but yes.
Estupido.
I'll try some karate
with you, Miss Johnson.
I'm sorry, but I'm not allowed
to touch a student.
But if you really think you know
what you're doin', come on up here.
Hey, sounds like a challenge to me,
ése. You'd better get up there.
Oh, I know what I'm doin'. there is no
sense doin' it though if you can't touch me.
Okay, anybody else know
any karate? What about you?
Durrell Chang Chang.
I know some motherfuckin' karate.
Whoo! Durrell, gimme it!
Durrell.
Shit.
What about you? You know any karate?
Raul. Yeah, I know enough.
Okay, Raul.
Go on up there.
Come on up here.
All right. Yeah, shit. I'm gonna take
that motherfucker. Come on, Nacho.
Shit. All right.
Come on, let's go, ése.
Let's go.
Shit!
You guys
Wait, wait, wait. Whoa!
You guys don't know shit.
"l don't know shit," man. I know what I'm
doin', lady. You don't even know any throws.
Now, I heard that a Marine can kill a
man with his, uh, bare hands. ls that true?
Absolutely.
Oh, shit.
Okay, h-here's how it starts.
Um, okay, where's a-Can you two move
that desk down there a little bit?
Um, okay, everything is
slow motion at first.
Um, Durrell.
Yeah.
Okay, you, um, you move into
Raul like you're gonna hit him.
Yeah, I can do that.
Okay.
Nacho.
Now, Raul, you're gonna
step into Durrell
and you're gonna
grab his wrist, okay?
You're gonna turn your body away from
him so that your butt is in his stomach. Okay?
Fuck you!
Get the fuck off me, man!
What you gonna do?
Man, you wish, homes! You wish, man!
Bring it on, homes!
Fuck you! Get your hands off me!
Bring it on, Nacho. You wish, man!
Bring it on. Now, it's a hip throw.
lt's a hip throw.
Okay, take your fighting
stance again, okay. Nacho.
Okay, grab his wrist.
Okay.
Now, now this time,
as you move in,
you're gonna take this hand,
you're gonna grab onto this shoulder.
Okay? Ready?
Oh, shit!
Thank you! Hey! Hey!
All right!
Ow, man! I'll kick your motherfuckin'
ass, ése! Sucker! Sucker!
Well, that was "A" work.
You'd make good Marines.
ln fact, from this moment,
each one of you
is like an inductee
Who's a duck?
with a clean record. Quack.
So, if you wanna pass,
Quack quack.
all you have to do is try.
Oh, homes.
Because at this point,
everyone has an "A."
What?
ls she serious?
But it's up to you to keep it.
-Bullshit.
Yo, why don't you shut up, man.
What if it ain't bullshit? Ain't
never had no fuckin' "A" before.
I once knew a man
who couldn't read
He said it ain't no thang
'cause I graduated twice
With the game I possess
Bulletproof vest
to the chest
But when his kids needed help
to prepare for a test
lt was stress 'cause Pops
didn't achieve any academics
And true, indeed
This problem is an epidemic
Who want to work five long hard days
through it and get taxed
So that's a message
for your mind
The story's been told
about a thousand times
So here's a message
for your mind
One thousand-one
One thousand-two
So here's a message
for your mind
Morning.
Okay, today we are going
to conjugate some verbs. What? What?
Hey, what about karate?
Well, I can't just teach you karate.
I'll show you another hold next week.
Get outta here!
Belt it out, too.
I wanna hear it.
We eat green beans for dinner.
What you do with 'em?
"We eat green beans for dinner."
Okay
Hey, Pam. Pam!
Ye-Yo, Chris!
Hey. Hey. Hey, what's up?
Hey, man, it's not
a big deal, okay?
ls that true?
lf we wanna die?
Shit, no.
We want you to die.
ls that true? Well, if it was between
you and us, hell yeah.
Okay. Hey! Hey! I don't care
if I live or die!
What about that? Suicide, man.
What's all this bullshit with dying?
You want us dead? No, darlin', but I do
want you to keep your "A."
So, no, I'm gonna make it
real easy on you, okay?
All you have to do is tell me the verb
that makes this sentence true.
We choose to do some karate.
Yeah, right. Okay, give me a verb
instead of "choose."
We're going to die?
We must die, okay.
Okay, "we must die." ls "must"
a verb? Can you, uh No, "must" ain't no verb.
Can you "must" something? Yeah. I must
piss right now. You'd better believe it.
Okay, what verb that we used
today is the most powerful?
Die.
Piss.
Oh, you so stupid!
Choose.
Choose.
What's your name?
Callie.
Callie, why?
Because that's the difference between
owning your life and being afraid.
Saying "l choose"
no matter what.
You mean, like a guy's got
a gun to your head
and he's pulling the trigger
and you say, "l choose to die"?
No, you ain't choosin' to die, but you can
choose to die without screaming, right?
I mean, you could always
choose somethin'.
Not where I live.
Shit.
Did you read that somewhere
in this class?
No. ln our class we readin' this book
called My Darling, My Hamburger.
From this.
My what?
My Darling, My Hamburger.
Hamburger?
Possessive pronoun, noun,
possessive pronoun.
Oh, watch it, girl.
Let's see.
E-Excuse me.
Excuse me, Miss Johnson.
Uh-Oh, yes.
Would you stop by the principaI's office
before your next class, please?
Mr Grandey would like
to speak to you.
The principal!
Oooh, White Bread in trouble!
Yes. I'll talk to you later.
Bye-bye.
Miss Johnson, this is an office.
We knock before we enter.
Oh, I'm sorry.
Please.
Now, Miss Johnson, I'm taking into
consideration the fact that you're new
and therefore don't know that teaching
karate is against school policy
and can lead to a lawsuit
in case of an injury.
But you can avoid this kind of error
you simply follow the curriculum
dictated by
the Board of Education.
Well, um, sir, that's
almost impossible, um
Most of my students don't
even know what a verb is.
lf you're going to teach them,
I'm sure there is a better sentence
than "We choose to die."
I'm sure there are, but I I-I needed a
sentence that would get their attention
Mmm. and, well, it had to
be better than this.
Miss Johnson, that is the approved
curriculum for second period.
Your class.
Now, I know the newer the teacher,
the smarter she is,
but I-I'm afraid you're just going to
have to go along with our policies,
even if you don't
agree with them.
All right?
Mm-hmm.
What a fuckin' idiot.
Griffith.
Don't let them get to you.
I'm not. I-ln fact, I'm about to
challenge the entire curriculum.
lf I could just find the paper in the Xerox
room. You can't. There isn't any.
What do you mean?
I mean there isn't any.
I mean, we're out of Xerox paper and art
paper and we're short on pencils.
But we do have plenty of students.
I guess that, uh, balances things out.
Thanks.
Another fuckin' idiot.
No, I can't run, I can't hide
from all this pressure
lf I sell out, that means
I'm coppin' to a lesser charge
And whenever there is a will
baby, there is a way. Shit!
Each one teach one I always say
the murder rate is risin'
Society ain't scarin' me. Life is like a puzzle
Ain't no tellin' when they'll bury me
Problems, problems. How are we gonna
solve 'em? So, what's on today's lesson plan?
A little kickboxing?
Some, uh, target practice, huh?
No. My own little
secret weapon.
Problems, problems
How are we gonna solve 'em
Okay, so, "never" is
lt's a verb! Adverb! Adverb!
Adverb! Adverb!
Adverb! Fantastic!
Whoo!
You guys'll be reading poetry soon.
You guys are sharp.
Oh, my
Whoa!
Okay.
Homeboy!
King of the calle!
Sit down, sit down, sit down.
Sit down.
Honourable sensei. Hmm.
lt's obvious that "homeboy"
is a noun.
Noun is correct!
Well, give me my damn candy bar.
Whoo!
Thank you.
Boy, poetry will be a piece
of cake for this crowd.
Yo, how come you keep saying poetry?
What's poetry got to do with this shit?
Poetry? WelI
Because if you can read poetry,
you can read just about anything, hon.
When you're ready for poetry, you're
ready for bear. I say bring on the bear!
I'm always ready for bear. Shit.
I'm always ready to see you bare.
Whoa! Oh, shut up, you stupid!
Oh, yeah? Ohh! Ohh!
Well, okay, here's the bear.
So what the fuck is that?
I just happen to have copies
of-of-of a poem, Wait for me! Shit!
That's okay.
written by the greatest poet.
My Darling, My Hamburger.
How's that?
Okay, here's the deal.
She was joking about the bear.
When we finish this assignment,
I am gonna take
all of you
to a place that has
the highest parachute jumps,
the biggest roller coaster,
the best rides,
the most delicious hot dogs,
the hardest games
and the best prizes
in the world.
You're kiddin'.
For real?
And we don't gotta pay for it?
Huh?
And we don't gotta pay for it?
Not a penny.
So then, who pays?
The Board of Education.
Lord, did you hear that?
I don't believe it.
Sound good?
Hey!
That's bullshit, man!
I'm sorry?
Since when has the Board of Education
done anything for us, huh?
Yeah, man, we fuckin'
barely get lunch.
Well, I'm sorry you feel
that way, Emilio.
Good.
Uh, Durrell, you wanna read the first
four lines? Oh, man, you tripping, man.
I ain't readin'. You tripping.
Okay, how about the f-- You've got
to read it. How about the first line?
I'm scared to death, motherfucker,
all right? That's all.
Move slowly to the right, people.
Yep, yep
Miss Johnson.
You better be for real.
Yep, yep
Yep, yep
Miss Johnson?
Yes, Callie?
lf you wanna get the class
to listen, get Emilio.
Yep, yep
lt's all right
lt's all right
As you may have heard
Yeah
To smoke a fat one
To smoke a fat one
And drink a Thunderbird
Drink a Thunderbird
lt's okay
lt's okay
To play this loud
Mister DJ, don't mean
to sweat you down. Wait
I'll get you, you little fucker.
Yep
Poetry?
Poetry, yeah.
These kids?
Why not these kids?
Well, hey, go for it.
No, but I gotta find a gimmick first, you know
Something that'll grab their attention.
Who's your favourite poet, Griffith?
My favourite?
Oh, there are so many.
How do I choose? I'm serious.
Mmm. Serious. Okay.
Big D. Dylan.
Get out!
Why not?
Well, I don-He's n-You know,
he's not for everybody.
I mean, he's a little
long-winded, don't you think?
I suppose that's 'cause
he wrote drunk.
He had a drinking problem?
Well, the guy's Welsh.
There ain't a lot to do there.
I thought he was from Minnesota.
You know, if the guy's your favourite poet,
you might want to read up on him a little bit.
He was Welsh and
he drank himself to death.
Dead? He's not dead.
I saw him yesterday on MTV.
You saw Dylan Thomas on MTV.
No. Bob Dylan.
Oh
Bob Dylan? Ohh!
He looked dead. He looked dead.
Ohh!
Hey, Mr Tambourine Man
Play a song for me
"Hey, Mr Tambourine Man"
Tambourine! Tambourine!
Tangerine.
"T-Tambourine Man,
Play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there is
no place I'm going to"
Wow, he can read.
Thank you. Taiwana?
The next three lines, Taiwana.
"Hey, Mr Tambourine Man
Play a song for me
ln the jingle-jangle morning
I'll come following you"
Good.
All right.
Yes.
What does that mean?
What do you think it means?
What, some guy's
got a tambourine
and this other guy wants him to
play it 'cause he can't sleep.
Okay. Yeah, but how come he want
to play the tambourine?
Don't he got a radio or somethin'?
You know what I'm saying?
Well, you kn-That's a good point.
I mean, i-i-it's-it's a weird choice.
So, what if I told you
that Mr Tambourine Man
is a code name?
A code name for what?
James Bond.
A drug dealer.
ls it?
Well, a lot of people think so.
You know, this song is from the ' s,
when you couldn't sing about drugs,
so they had to make up codes.
So what was the code? What does "Hey, Mr
Tambourine Man Play a song for me" mean?
Well, you figure "Play a song for me"
means "give me the stuff."
Yeah, it's like that nigger been out
drinkin' all night and smokin' some shit
and everybody broke out on his
ass, you know what I'm saying?
And he's high-he's still high, but he's kinda
low and shaky. You know-"jingle-jangle."
Yeah, and he needs something, like
a big hit of crack or cocaine and shit.
He's crazy, okay?
So, what do you think, Emilio?
Do you think that Raul is right?
All right, it's too personal
to discuss. What?
You mean you choose not to
participate in the discussion?
Boy's too slick.
Not about somethin' so personal.
Wanna draw for it?
What?
High card, you don't have to
discuss anything.
Why do I gotta draw for it?
That's the way it is now.
Listen to this.
Name one of the most influential
presidents of the th century.
Roosevelt.
Simple, right?
Wrong.
A history teacher's nightmare.
How about Snoop Doggy Dogg
for an answer?
Joe Montana. Winston Churchill.
But this-this is the best.
"l will not answer this question on the
grounds that it is culturally biased
against individuals
such as myself."
Actually, for this answer I'm
gonna give him partial credit.
Louanne, you lose your
sense of humour, it's over.
Uh, here.
New pictures of the rug rats.
Oh, God. People are supposed
to ask first, Griffith. Shut up.
Ohh. They look like Maggie.
Thank God.
Oh, I don't know. Harry with his thumb
in his mouth, he kinda looks like me.
ls that his thumb?
I thought that was a cigarette.
How is Maggie?
Good.
She wants you to come over
for dinner.
We had some fun times, you and Maggie
and me and-what's his name?
I remember.
Yeah.
I remember too. That's why it's
hard for me to come to dinner.
Seeing anybody?
No.
How do you do that? You walk around
with a bag over your head?
No.
Louanne, it's over six months.
I'm not ready, Hal.
You know, I thought you guys always stuck
together. What are you sitting here with me for?
You know, he was my best friend,
Louanne. "Was" is the operative word.
He isn't worth your spit.
What was that for?
Just tell Maggie
she's a lucky lady, Griffith.
Yeah, when they made me they
broke the mold. Both of them.
Good morning, ladies.
Good morning.
We gotta stop meeting like this.
You sound awful.
I refuse to take
medical advice
from somebody who eats Cheetos
at : in the morning.
Yeah, well, you shouldn't smoke.
Listen to that cough!
You know
I'll see you inside. You're gonna finish
the cigarette, aren't you?
No, I'm not. Really.
Honest. I swear.
Here! Right here! Yeah!
Guys are off playin' pool.
You wanna smoke a cigarette?
I gave you your money, man. bucks!
Three-fifty?
What are you talkin' about, homes?
Are you callin' me a liar?
What, do you think I'm fuckin' stupid?
Yo, man, no. Don't get loud, motherfucker!
I'm gonna kick your fuckin'
spic ass!
Fuck you, man! Jump back,
motherfucker! Fight! Fight!
Get back, get back. You fuckin'
pendejo! Okay, okay, okay!
Back off! Hey, hey, hey, hey!
Hey! Hey! Hey!
iPuto! One of you makes a move,
I will call security!
Aw, bullshit! Big fuckin' deal.
They don't care.
Okay, get to your classes.
Okay. lt's all over. Move!
You are stronger than these two put together,
and you know it! -Bullshit, man!
iVato!
He wishes, man!
You could all be expelled if I report
this to the office, and you know that.
Okay, if you give me your word that
it ends here, I'll forget it.
ls it over?
Yeah.
How about you?
Yeah, simón.
Absolutely.
Okay, I trust you.
Now get to your classes.
See you later, puto.
Catch you later, ése.
lf you hit those kids,
you'll pay for it. I swear.
Get to your class
and behave yourself.
You shouldn't have done that.
Oh? Why not? Because you just
shouldn't mess with Emilio.
Raul knows that if you make a deal
with Emilio and you fuck up on him,
you get your locker smashed in
with your head.
Everybody knows that.
Well, maybe they'll all have
time to think about it
before they get to
the locker-smashing stage.
They're gonna fight,
no matter what they tell you.
What do you mean?
When? Now?
Where? Angela! Where?
Come on, motherfucker! Come on!
Get him!
Keep fightin'!
Keep kickin' his ass!
Shit! Fuck!
Ohh!
Oh, shit.
Come on! Fuckin' come on!
Fuck that!
Shit!
Come on, break it up!
Break it up!
Get the fuck off me! Get outta there!
iPuto! You motherfucker!
Get back! Now!
Get back! Get back!
All of you! Comin' through!
Watch your head.
Kickin', man.
No. Wait a minute. Wait. No, no.
Gimme-G-Just give me a minute.
You promised!
Yeah, but we had to,
or we couldn't walk around
with our heads up no more.
We got a reputation to protect.
You a Marine. You understand.
Like, if America didn't stand up
everyone would attack it.
Well, in our neighbourhood if you don't
stand up you can't walk down the street,
'cause everyone will attack you,
you know?
Rata, you fuckin' puto.
Man, I cracked that motherfucker's head,
ése. See you in the fuckin neighbourhood, ése.
Okay, I see.
And I made it worse and I made you and
Gusmaro look bad in front of everyone
by saying that Emilio was
stronger than the both of you.
Yeah, well, you thought
you was helpin' us.
Ma'am, I'm sorry. We really have to go.
I gotta get 'em home.
Nasty cut.
You mind telling me what the fight
was about in the first place?
Yeah.
I really would like to know what happened.
I'm not gonna make any trouble for you.
I just wanna know, was it worth it?
Yeah, it was worth it.
Why? Because it felt good
hittin' him in the face.
I got him good, man.
Yeah, you like to hit people?
Yeah, I like to hit people.
Why?
You feel angry
a lot of the time?
So now you're gonna
try and psychologize me?
You're gonna try and figure
me out? I'll help you.
I come from a broken home,
and we're poor. Okay?
I see the same fuckin' movies
you do, man.
I would like to help you,
Emilio.
Thank you very much. And how
would you like to do that?
You gonna give me some good
advice? "Just say no"?
You gonna get me off
the streets? Well, forget it!
How the fuck you gonna
save me from my life, huh?
Yep, yep
Karen?
I have three, uh,
student files here
and I can't find a phone number in
any of 'em. Yep, yep
Well, sometimes they don't
give a number
and sometimes they don't
have a phone. Yep, yep
lt's all right lt's all right
As you might have heard
Yeah To smoke a fat one
To smoke a fat one
And drink a 'Bird
A Thunderbird
lt's okay
lt's okay
To play this loud
Oh, play it loud
Mister DJ, don't mean
to sweat you down
lt's all right
lt's all right
As you may have heard
Yeah
To smoke a fat one
Smoke a fat one
And drink a 'Bird
A Thunderbird, now
lt's okay
Come on. Come on.
Do your homework.
You have a lovely family,
Mrs. Sanchero. Thank you.
We know why you're here,
Miss Johnson.
I warned Raul to
stay out of trouble.
He's first in our family to
maybe graduate high school.
So he gonna get punished big
for what he done.
Don't you worry about that.
But he didn't do anything wrong.
But he expelled for three days.
l know. No, I know.
But he didn't start the fight. He was
defending himself from a bigger boy.
He was protecting himself.
Uh, why they send him home?
lt's just school policy.
I-I-lt gives the other boy
time to cool down.
Actually,
I'm here because I just wanted
to tell you both personally
what a pleasure it's been having
Raul in my class this semester.
You must be very proud.
Yes.
He's, um
Well, he's very bright
and funny, articulate.
The truth is, he's
he's one of my favourites.
Uh, soy Louanne Johnson.
Oh.
"l will not go down underground
Because somebody tells me
that death's comin' 'round"
Okay, this is another
Dylan poem.
Now, is that a code, or does
that just mean what it says?
"And I will not carry myself
down to die
When I go to my grave
My head will be high"
"My head will be high."
What does that mean?
Anybody.
Nobody.
ls there something
I should know?
Yeah. I'll tell you.
You ratted on Raul,
Gusmaro and Emilio.
Yeah. You got Emilio
put into detention.
lt wasn't none of your
business, chismosa.
And you got Raul
and Gusmaro suspended.
Now they're gonna get their fuckin'
asses kicked. And you got Emilio
Hey, I didn't rat on anybody. Wasn't none
of your business anyway, you chismosa.
Bullshit. Let this..
Told you she was full of shit.
Snitches get stitches, bitch.
Do you wanna talk about this?
On you, shit. Whatever
floats your boat, teach.
We don't have no choices
in this room.
Well, if you all feel that strongly
about it, leave the room.
What?
Hey, listen.
Nobody's forcing you to be here. You have
a choice. You can stay, or you can leave.
Lady, why are you playin' this
game? We don't have a choice.
You don't have a choice? You don't have
a choice on whether or not you're here?
No. lf we leave, we don't get to graduate.
lf we stay, we gotta put up with you.
Well, that's a choice, isn't it?
You have a choice.
You either don't graduate
or you have to put up with me.
lt may not be a choice you like,
but it is a choice.
Man, you don't understand nothing. l
mean, you don't come from where we live.
You-You're not bussed here.
Do you have a choice to get on that bus?
Man, you come and live in my
neighbourhood for one week
and then you tell me
if you got a choice.
There are a lot of people who live in your
neighbourhood who choose not to get on that bus.
What do they choose to do?
They choose to go out and sell drugs.
They choose to go out and kill people.
They choose to do a lot of other things.
But they choose not to
get on that bus.
The people who choose to get on that bus,
which are you, are the people who are saying,
"l will not carry myself
down to die
When I go to my grave
My head will be high"
That is a choice.
There are no victims
in this classroom!
Why do you care anyway?
You just here for the money.
Because I make a choice to care.
And, honey, the money ain't that good.
Whatever.
Read it again, Miss Johnson.
What?
Read those lines you just read again.
"l will not go down underground
Because somebody tells me
that death's comin' 'round"
Does that mean
just what it says?
No, it don't mean
just what it says.
Because
you wouldn't go
under the ground
if someone told you
death was comin'.
But you would go into the ground
if you were already dead.
Do the rest of you
agree with that?
Well, I kinda agree with it,
but I think
it just means that
he ain't gonna help death out,
you know?
lt's not like he's just gonna
lay down and wait for it.
I think he's gonna choose-No,
I think he's gonna make the choice
to die hard.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I agree with that.
Yeah, me too.
That's what it sounds like to me.
Okay.
Well, what about, uh,
the rest of it? Um
"When I go to my grave
My head will be high"
"Head will be high."
What does that mean?
You're gonna die with pride.
Right.
See you tomorrow.
Callie, wait up!
You went to RauI's house last
night, and Gusmaro's too, right?
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, that's what they told me.
That's cool.
Hold up, wait a minute
Don't go there 'cause I ain't with it
Hold up, wait a minute
Don't go there 'cause I ain't with it
What you want
Baby, I got it
What you need
Babe, you got it
All I'm askin'
is for a little respect
Yo, kick it, homes!
What you waitin' for, man?
Are you trying to steal my $ . ése?
Ah, go, go, go.
Man, that ain't shit.
Go faster, man. Go faster, man.
Come on, come on Faster, man, faster!
You got to gimme, gimme
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
I got to get it, get it
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
You got to gimme, gimme
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
I got to get it, get it
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Come on, get back.
Are you all right, man? That looked
like a real bitch right then.
Hey, get the fuck out of there, man.
Look at you! You look like my grandma, man.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Miss Johnson,
the-the School Board would have every
right to insist on your dismissal.
You informed no one.
You got no permission slips.
Oh, but there was no one to inform. All the kids just
decided to go to the amusement park at the last minute.
And then they let me come along.
Did they pay for you?
No, I paid for them.
I was just so moved
by the invitation.
This wasn't, by any chance,
their reward for reading
poetry, was it, Miss Johnson?
ln my class, Mr Grandey,
poetry is its own reward.
Angela, would you read
the first line?
"Appetizers. Freshly cut bay shrimp
grilled to perfection."
This is a Xerox of a menu.
That is correct.
lt's from The Flowering Peach,
the best restaurant in town.
Ever hear of it?
Yeah, we heard of it.
lt's supposed to be like
some special restaurant or somethin'.
Mm-hmm.
So, does it sound good?
Because whoever wins the, uh,
the-the Dylan-Dylan contest
The what?
goes there for dinner with me.
Hey, what's the Dylan-Dylan
contest about?
Well.
there is Bob Dylan,
who we've been reading.
And then
there is Dylan Thomas,
who also wrote poems.
lf you can find the poem
written by Dylan Thomas
that is like a poem
written by Bob Dylan,
you win the Dylan-Dylan contest.
Hey, Mr Tambourine Man
Play a song for me
I'm not sleepy and there
is no place I'm going to
Hey, Mr Tambourine Man
Play a song for me
ln the jingle-jangle morning
I'll come following you
Yo, every fuckin' poem Dylan Thomas
wrote is about death, man.
Now, how we supposed to know
which one to write?
"The sniper laid him low,
and strewed his brains.
One would not think
the greenness of this valley
could let a day be sick
with so much blood."
Man, that's some Rambo-Schwarzenegger
bullshit you found.
That's how it's supposed to be, right?
No.
there is supposed to be killing shit.
But it-But it don't
But it don't even mean the same as
"l will not go under the ground."
Now you're some sort of
poetic critic, now, right?
Oh, well, it don't.
Thank you.
Okay. Listen to this.
"Do not go gentle
into that good night.
Old age should burn
and rave at close of day.
Rage, rage against
the dying of the light."
Where's the code?
Where's the death?
Night. All that stuff
about night. That's death.
So it's "Don't go gentle
into that good death."
Yeah, but I think "good"
is sarcastic.
When he say, "Do not go gentle,"
that's like saying, "Don't go easy."
So it's the same as "l will not go down."
We just won us a motherfucking chicken.
Shh.
This is the life
Everyone has to be somewhere
Oh
I am here
This is the life
This is the life
This is my Well, the results of the
Dylan-Dylan contest are in.
Life
The winners are
That's me. Right here.
Sit down. I am Bob Dylan. Sit down.
Yo, shh! Shh!
Sorry, Miss Johnson.
Shh.
Shh.
Raul, Durrell and Callie!
Congratulations.
Thanks.
Here's your certificate.
Hey! Congratulations.
Congratulations, Callie.
Okay!
But there are no losers in this class.
You guys did great.
You all get to pick a prize
from the box.
How come they get a prize
when they got the wrong answer?
Well, because sometimes it takes a lot
of wrong answers to get to the right one.
Hey, everyone can't be right,
'cept for us!
Come on up.
Miss Johnson?
Hey, Callie.
Um, I wanted to talk to you
about the restaurant. Uh-huh.
I can't go.
Why?
Because I have to work at this supermarket
every night until June and I already told them
Oh, isn't there any way
to get out of it?
No. Because of the schedule
and everything, I have to do it.
But thank you anyway.
Well, o-okay. Well.
Shoot.
Well, no, it's okay. lf you can't come to dinner,
then, uh, well, we'll bring dinner to you.
Really?
Mm-hmm.
Thank you.
I'm taking orders, Miss Roberts.
I couldn't find
a parking space.
lt's okay.
I just got here myself.
Oh, you look very handsome.
How 'bout this jacket?
lt's fantastic.
Go ahead, touch it.
lt's real leather.
Ooh!
Hey, where's Callie?
Oh, she had to work.
Where's Durrell?
Oh, he had to work too.
Oh.
Well, I guess it's just
you and me, handsome.
I guess so.
Oh. Ladies first.
Thank you.
Hey, are you sure they got chicken?
Mm-hmm.
May I tell you a little
about this evening's specials?
The chef is featuring foie gras with smoked
duck and figs on a hill of bulgar.
Uh, salmon tartar
in potato gaufrette
over wild mushrooms,
and fennel salad.
Uh, for the entree
we're featuring
a complex shellfish
pan roast with orso,
a touch of comfit and a broth
thickened with lobster shell oil.
All very, very good.
Could we have a few minutes, please?
Ah, yes.
Thank you.
Are you sure they got chicken?
Yes.
Here. See, it's right there,
sweetie. You see? Poulet.
And when the waiter comes back,
you may as well talk to him.
lt'll be good practice
for your summer job interviews.
I can't talk to that guy. He probably
thinks I'm weird or something.
He does not. He can't help
but notice your natural charm.
You just look him straight in the eye and
you talk to him like you would anyone else.
Now, go ahead and call him over.
Go ahead. Just give him
a little nod.
Are we ready?
Okay, I'll have the chicken.
A whole one.
And I'll have the same.
And one to go, please.
One to go. Thank you.
Hey, Miss J?
I was wondering maybe, like,
in the next couple of days, if I...
ls everything all right?
Everything's fine. Thank you.
All right.
Now don't be mad or nothing,
but I gotta be absent
for a couple of days
without your coming to my house.
lt's important.
You'll have to tell me why.
I got some shit to do.
I gotta make some money
to pay back this guy.
This doesn't sound important
enough to cut school.
lt is. I gotta pay
for this jacket.
See, I got it off the street
from this guy for dollars,
and he said he'd trust me
for it until Friday.
Why did you buy it on the street
instead of in a store?
Are you crazy? You know how much
this would cost in a store?
I needed a nice jacket and fast, and I got it
from this guy 'cause he cut me a deal
'cause he stole it,
probably.
So, are you gonna go out and get a job or are you
gonna go out and steal too to pay him back?
Miss J, I gotta pay him back.
He'll kill me.
I didn't have nothing to wear!
Fine. I'll lend it to you.
I can't take your money.
Teachers are poor. Everyone knows that.
Well, you don't really
have a choice, do you?
lf you don't pay the guy back,
he'll kill you.
lf you cut school, I'll tell
your father and he'll kill you.
So I'm your only way out.
Oh, man.
But I do have one condition.
Big?
Huge.
What do you want, interest?
Mm-mmm. Bigger.
Jesus Christ, what is it?
Well.
Would you like dessert?
No!
Another glass of wine?
Oh, no, I'm fine. Thank you.
Coffee, perhaps?
Hey, man, we're talking!
So, what's the condition?
You have to pay me back
on the day you graduate.
But-But what if
I don't graduate?
Well, then you'll never
pay me back the money.
But I know that
if you say you will,
you'll kill yourself
keeping your word.
Well, what do you say?
I don't get it. Why do you
care so much if I graduate?
Weird, isn't it?
All right, I'll pay you back.
You have my word.
Hey.
lt is a very nice jacket.
Thank you.
Hey.
Oh, hi! Hi.
How you doin'?
Oh, good.
I think this is the first time I ever
brought food into a supermarket.
Yeah, I can smell it from here.
-Yeah. Good. Thanks.
Well, Raul says if you don't like it,
he'll take it off your hands.
Oh, please.
Like hell he will.
Callie, could you help load
in aisle three, please?
Be right there. I'm telling you, this place
would fall to pieces if it wasn't for me.
You know, Callie,
just between you and me,
with your scores, I think you should
consider going into Advanced English.
Oh, but I'm gonna be at Clearview.
You didn't know? No.
You didn't see my record?
I tell you.
No, I-I didn't know.
Bye now.
Yeah.
ln the middle of a semester?
Are-Are you moving?
No. I'm pregnant.
And since I'm startin' to show,
they thought it was time, you know?
Who thought it was time? The school.They
don't let you stay there if you're pregnant.
But they told me they have this really good
programme at Clearview for, like, teenage mothers.
And they teach you stuff like parenting
and nutrition, all kinds of stuff.
So I thought it would
be good for me, you know?
Yeah.
Aisle three.
"Degrade first the arts
if you'd mankind degrade."
Hey, that's the spray can poem.
Hey, hey, what's the code word? The code
word is "great rides and great prizes."
I'm keeping it undercover
But comin' soon, I surmises
Does anybody know where, um,
Durrell and Lionel are today?
Durrell and Lionel.
No. They around.
Yeah, so what's the prize we're
gonna get for learning this poem?
Learning is the prize.
Yeah.
Knowing how to read something
and understand it is the prize.
Okay? Knowing how to think
is the prize.
I know how to think right now. Okay. Well,
yeah, well, you know how to run too.
But not the way you
could run if you trained.
You know, the mind
is like a muscle.
Okay? And if you want it to be really
powerful, you got to work it out. Okay?
Each new fact
gives you another choice.
Each new idea builds
another muscle, okay?
And it's those muscles that are
gonna make you really strong.
Those are your weapons,
and in this unsafe world
I want to arm you.
And that's what these poems
are supposed to do? Yeah.
Hey, try it. You're just
sittin' here anyway.
Look. Okay.
lf at the end of the term,
you're not faster, stronger
and smarter,
you will have lost nothing.
But if you are,
you'll be that much tougher
to knock down.
So what's "Hire idiots to paint
with cold light and hot shade"?
They're being sarcastic, Raul.
I mean, 'cause you know that light
is supposed to be warm, right?
And shade is supposed to be what?
Cold?
Exactly. But if you go and hire an idiot
to do the job, he's gonna do it backwards.
Hello.
There you go. Hmm.
Don't make a big fuss
about this, Louanne.
You have to help me. You have
no idea how bright this girl is.
Yes, I do. And there is nothing
I can do about it.
Oh! That just makes me crazy!
What right do these miserable, self-righteous
sons of bitches from the Board of Education
have to make a moral judgment
on Callie Roberts?
Do you know Louanne, there are
parents in the next room.
Look, I don't c...
I'm gonna fight this ruling.
I'm gonna write an open letter to every newspaper
condemning the entire School Board.
Oh, you can't do that.
Why not?
Well, first of all, the Board
has nothing to do with it.
We prefer that these girls go to
the mother-to-be programme at Clearview.
Oh, wait a minute.
You mean this isn't a rule?
You mean this is your preference?
Well, yes.
You mean Callie Roberts is free
to go to any school she wants?
lncluding this one? Unless she's absent
for more than days.
And then she has to wait until the baby's
born before she can come back here.
But, Louanne, once these girls have babies, very
few of them come back to school anyway.
I see.
So you make them think
they have to leave.
You just push 'em out a little earlier,
make it a little harder,
make it a little more hopeless.
I do what I have to do
because it is dangerous to have
a pregnant girl in a classroom.
lt's not a warning, Louanne. I-lt's
prestige, it's stardom, it's attention.
You know, not all these girls
become pregnant by accident.
Pregnancy is contagious.
Yep, yep
lt's all right
lt's all right
As you may have heard
Yeah... To smoke a fat one
To smoke a fat one
And drink a 'Bird
Drink a Thunderbird
lt's okay
lt's okay
To play this loud
Play it loud
Mister DJ, don't mean
to sweat you down
Who is it?
lt's Louanne Johnson,
Callie's second period teacher.
Hi.
Um, Callie's getting ready
to go to work.
Come on in.
Thank you.
Curiosity killed the cat
Oh.
Hi. Hi, there.
What you doing?
Watching TV.
What's your name?
Tyeisha.
Oh, that's a pretty name.
She just love her TV.
Why ain't you in bed?
Come here, baby.
Callie? Honey?
Your teacher's here.
Hi.
Hi.
I'm sorry to just bust in on you like this,
but I have the most wonderful news
and I wanted to come
tell you personally.
You do not have to go
to Clearview.
There is nothing in the rules that says
you can't stay exactly where you are.
But, uh, she already
enrolled in Clearview.
Uh, well, that's all right. She-that
But she doesn't have to go there.
Yeah, but Kimboley wants me to take the mother
to-be programme at Clearview, you know.
He thought it would be a good idea if I learned
how to take care of the baby and stuff.
I don't understand.
Do you not want to stay
at Parkmont?
Well, yeah, but I gotta learn how
to take care of us, you know.
I mean, we're getting our own
place and everything, so
Callie, just don't throw away
all you can become.
Kimboley was so right.
He was so right.
He told me that you'd probably
try to talk me out of this.
You want to know
what else he said?
He said that you probably
don't even like men
and that you're probably not married
and you don't want anybody else to be.
That's why you're always
in everybody else's life.
Look, I'm not saying
that I agree with him, okay?
Well, Kimboley's wrong.
I was married
and I was pregnant.
So what happened?
We got divorced
and I had an abortion.
He beat me.
Well, sometimes
you start out wrong
and just keep going.
Hey, don't touch me.
Oh, get outta here!
I'll see you.
You took something that
fuckin' belonged to me, ése.
Man, she came to me
with open arms.
Besides, you gotta have
one of these.
You're dead.
As I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life
and realize there is nothing left
Because I've been blastin'
and laughing so long
That even my mama thinks
that my mind is gone
I really hate to trip
but I gotta loc
As they croak I see myself
in the pistol smoke
Fool, I'm the kind of "G"
the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
saying prayers in the street light
Been spendin' most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
Hey, Miss Johnson.
Hey! Been spendin' most their lives
Haven't seen you guys in a week.
living in a gangsta's paradise
Thought maybe you got lost
on your way to class.
I wanted to help you
find your way back.
Get on inside.
Clean up that pigsty of a room.
Hi. I'm Louanne Johnson.
I'm the boys' teacher.
I know who you are.
You're that white-bread bitch
messin' with my babies' minds.
I beg your pardon?
My boys don't go to your school
no more, and that's gonna be it.
You took 'em out of school?
You're damn right I did.
I saw what they were bringing
home-poetry and shit.
A waste of time. They got
more important things to worry about.
Don't you think that finishing high
school will be valuable to their future?
That's not in their future.
I ain't raising no doctors and lawyers
here. They got bills to pay.
Why don't you just
get on outta here.
Go find yourself some other
poor boys to save.
Mama! I could stand
some lemonade.
"lt is easier
to forgive an enemy
than to forgive a friend.
The man who permits you
to injure him
deserves your vengeance.
He also will receive it."
Wow, who wrote that?
Some Mafia guy?
You know, let's go on
with this poem tomorrow.
Why don't you-Take out your work
sheets and do the vocabulary drill.
Say what? Oh, man!
Man, I don't wanna do no vocabulary.
I don't wanna do
no damn vocabulary.
Then don't.
What do you mean?
You mean I have a choice?
You're not gonna let me get away with
not learnin' my vocabulary, right?
That's right. You have to do
your vocabulary.
Words are thoughts
and we can't think without 'em.
So-Please?
And so let's just do it, man. She's
gonna be down our back in a minute.
Whatever. She's grouchy.
Grouch.
Thanks, Louanne.
Grouch, grouch.
Thank you, Louanne.
Such a nice lady, Louanne.
What do I do?
What the fuck you want from me?
Who, my teacher? You think I'm
gonna fuckin' talk to a teacher?
Like they're gonna
really help me, huh? Huh?
Teachers aren't gonna
fuckin' help me, okay?
Miss Johnson! Miss Johnson,
we gotta talk to you.
there is nothing to talk about,
Angela! What, are you Superman?
ls your ass bulletproof?
ls that what you think? Tell her!
Tell her what you're gonna do.
What is it?
He's strapped. Shut the fuck up!
She don't need to know my business.
ls your business dying? No!
there is this crackhead named
Shorty. He just came out of jail.
He says that I'm his girl and
that Emilio took me from him.
And now he wants to kill Emilio.
Emilio, if this boy is threatening
you, we can go to the police.
Look, this is nothing you
can do anything about.
This guy is looking for me to kill me,
and the only way for me to stop him
is for me to kill him first.
That's just the way it is,
all right?
Wait, Emilio, wait, wait, wait, wait,
no! Can we-Can we talk about this?
Come to my house.
Yeah, right.
Oh, what?
You're too proud to hide?
lt's better to wander
the streets all night?
Come on.
Please?
Please, just go.
Go. Go.
Can we drop you?
Just go.
ls this boy your age?
Yeah.
Does he go to Parkmont?
I won't tell you who it is.
No, don't.
But if you tell Mr Grandey
about him
not about his threatening you,
but about his being on crack
he'll be turned over to the juvenile
court for-for drug abuse in school.
H-He won't serve hard time,
but by the time he gets out and he's detoxed,
he-he will have gotten over trying to kill you.
No, I can't rat on him.
Right. Kill him.
That's better.
Man,
you don't understand.
You asked me once how I was
gonna save you from your life.
This is how. This moment.
Right now.
This will make the difference
in your life forever.
Emilio?
Emilio?
Oh, Mr Grandey.
ls there a problem, Miss Johnson?
Shouldn't you be in class?
Yes, I'm late.
Um, I just wanted to ask. Did Emilio
Ramirez come to your office this morning?
Yes.
Oh, God. Oh, thank God.
Did you talk to him?
No, I sent him away.
You-What do you mean?
I mean I sent him away.
Why?
Because he didn't knock,
Miss Johnson.
Here we are.
Because he didn't knock?
Yes, Miss Johnson. I'm trying to teach
these children how to live in the world.
And in the world, you just don't
burst into someone's office.
Because he didn't knock?
Damn it!
Uh, Louanne.
Mr Grandey is with the police.
Yes?
Um.
They just found Emilio Ramirez
three blocks from the school.
He was shot this morning.
ls he dead?
He's dead.
I'm very sorry.
Um
are you going to tell them now?
Do you think that's wise?
Yeah.
Well, uh, perhaps if you talk
to them a little bit about death
and-and-and what it means.
What would you like me to say?
That if you don't want to die,
remember to knock?
That's not fair.
What is?
Bad news.
Emilio was shot this morning.
ls he dead?
Yes, baby, he's dead.
Oh, no.
Yo! Listen up. Miss Johnson
got something to say!
Shh.
Thank you.
I just want to say
l, uh-I won't, um
I will not be here next year.
I'm not coming back.
How come?
ls it something we did?
No. No, no, no. No. Um
I-l never intended to stay.
Um, this was an unexpected job.
So if you knew you wasn't gonna stay, how
come you made me promise what I promised?
I..
At that time,
I thought I would stay.
So how come you're leaving?
I just
have my reasons,
certain reasons.
ls it because it's too sad for you,
what happened to Emilio?
Maybe.
And Durrell and Lionel
and Callie. And I just...
I just think that
So if you love us so much and you're
so interested in our graduating,
how come you choose to leave?
Yeah.
You sad about Durrell and Callie
and Emilio and Lionel, but we're here.
What about us, huh?
None of us make you feel happy?
We been working hard and we stayed
in school, man. What about us?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Why are you packing up today
when tomorrow is your last day?
Oh, just gettin' a head start.
Oh, I see.
What you did, when you
gave me the dollars?
That was the nicest thing
anybody ever did for me.
I don't know anybody else
who would give dollars
to a Mexican kid
on his word of honour.
S-So you gotta let me
pay you back.
Even if I don't graduate,
all right?
Why wouldn't you graduate?
Ain't no other teacher
gonna give me no "A."
Yes, they will, if you work for them
the way you worked for me.
No, but it was different with you.
You gave me an "A" to start with.
I didn't have to earn it. I just had
to keep it. Are you kidding?
Keeping an "A" is harder than getting an
"A." Almost anyone can get an "A" once.
But keeping it,
that's an accomplishment.
You think so?
Oh, I know so.
Do you realize the work
you did this term?
Do you realize that
the poetry that we read
is given to people in college?
ln college.
These same poems?
Yes.
But they weren't even so hard.
So, you see?
Keep working.
You'll graduate.
I might even see you
in college.
What do you think?
I feel so bad about leaving
I can hardly breathe.
I know, but-Oh, what the hell.
You're right.
You gotta be crazy to stay here
and teach these programme classes.
there is no money.
lt's killer work.
Why do you stay?
Why do I smoke?
I'm crazy.
You need any more help?
No. Thanks.
I'll see you tomorrow.
Yeah. Bye.
This is the life
Everyone has to be somewhere
Oh
I am here
This is the life
This is the life
Because this is my life
This is my life
Hi.
Well. Welcome back.
This is the th day,
the last day I have to come back.
So, am I still okay
for next term?
Yeah.
Did, uh,
did you come back because
it was your last day or did somebody
ask you to come today
to talk me into staying?
Well, it was both, really.
See, 'cause I wasn't really sure
what I wanted to do
until I heard that you
were leaving and...
Because up until then,
I don't know, I thought
that you'd always be here
for me, you know.
You know, whenever I came back.
But then Raul tells me
that you're leaving
just like that.
And I realized that this
was my last chance.
And I decided...
We decided that
we're not gonna just
let you leave like that.
Yeah, we realized
like the poem said:
You can't give in.
"You can't go gentle.
You got to rage against
the dying of the light." Yeah.
Yeah, you gotta go for yours.
You know that, right?
Yeah.
You gotta kick it in and get it up.
Wait a minute, wait a minute.
No, no. Wait, wait. I'm not giving in.
Um, this is my choice.
I have no reason to "rage
against the dying of the light."
Because you're not the one who's raging.
We're the ones who are raging.
See, 'cause we see you
as being our light.
What?
You're our Tambourine Man.
Oh, I'm your drug dealer?
You got the stuff, Miss J?
You're our teacher. You got
what we need. lt's the same thing.
Come on, Miss J. All the poems
you taught us say you can't give in.
You can't give up.
Well, we ain't giving you up.
No way.
Now, listen, baby, we gonna have to
tie you down to the chair and gag you
'cause you know
we want you to stay.
What you need to stay, girl?
You want a candy bar?
Okay, on the left and on the right,
a "Louanne, Louanne." Uh, here we go.
Louanne, Louanne,
Louanne, Louanne.
Louanne, Louanne, Louanne, Louanne.
Come on!
Louanne, Louanne,
Louanne, Louanne.
You have to go first. I don't want
to go first. Come on. You have to.
Ready? You go like this. Go.
lt go like this.
This how you do it.
Go, Louanne. Go, Louanne.
Go, Louanne. Go, Louanne.
Go, Louanne. Go, Louanne.
Go, Louanne.
Let me see.
Excuse me.
Are you okay? Yeah.
You want to sign my book?
Yeah, I'll sign your book.
How'd they get you
to come back?
They gave me candy
and called me "the light."
That'll do it.
I won't do you wrong
I'll do you right
You can roll with me
for the rest of the night
No need to fuss
'cause I don't wanna joke
Baby, sit right here
and let the chronic smoke
So hang around, love
And give it up
Because all the real "G"s
know what I'm thinkin' of
Because you wanna be down, down
so give it up
there is a party over here
So, baby, show your love
Because I got the gin and juice
Yeah
You know that, you know that
I got the gin and juice
Yeah
Because I got the gin and juice
Yeah
I got the, I got the gin and juice
Yeah
I got the answer
Because I got the gin and juice
As I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life
and realize there is nothing left
Because I've been blastin'
and laughing so long
That even my mama thinks
that my mind is gone
I really hate to trip
but I gotta loc
As they croak I see myself
in the pistol smoke
Fool, I'm the kind of "G"
the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
saying prayers in the street light
Been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
living in a gangsta's paradise
You spent so many nights
in heat
And out of control
Like that
Waiting impatiently to see
What's under my clothes
Like that
I just wanna take time
to get right into the point
Now you got your choice, girl
To come and rock this funky joint
Like that
Don't you take too long, baby
I'll be waitin' here
for you, baby, baby
Here's a gift
to you from me
Just you wait and see
lt's the curiosity
lt's the curiosity
Curiosity
Do you wanna feel my body
Like that
Girl, all night long, yeah
lt's the curiosity
Why not now
Oh, yeah
Oh, yeah
lt's the curiosity
For you, for me
lt's the curiosity