Voila! Finally, the To Sir With Love
script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of the Sidney Poitier movie. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly
transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of To Sir With Love. 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.
My bleeding feet!
Hello, Mrs. Joseph.
l like your hair.
ls that strawberry blonde?
You磖e only jealous.
What you got for
the old man磗 supper tonight?
He磍l be lucky to get
faggots and pease pudd, he will.
Well, he can磘 do much on that,
can he?
All l want him for
is to keep me feet warm.
Excuse me, dearie.
Here, Gert.
l wouldn磘 mind having this little lot
in my stocking for Christmas.
You wouldn磘 know what to do with him.
You磛e been a widow too long.
You speak for yourself.
lt磗 like riding a bicycle.
You never forget how.
Here, l磍l tell you what l磍l do.
l磍l send my Alfie to you.
He磗 not bad once he gets going.
Well, l hope he磗 well-sprung.
Morning.
Looking for someone?
Nice day, isn磘 it?
Sorry.
Hackman磗 in the staff room.
Where he bleeding well belongs.
Good morning.
My name is Thackeray.
l磎 a new teacher.
We were expecting you.
So you磖e the new lamb
for the slaughter.
Or should l say...
...black sheep?
No, just a teacher, Mr. Hackman.
l磎 not Hackman.
Perish the thought.
He磗 departed,
God rest his soul.
He磗 probably pouring out his woes
to the divisional officer by now.
Weston.
l磎 Mrs. Evans, Grace.
Deputy head.
Mrs. Evans.
Have you seen any
of the children yet?
l looked in on Mr. Hackman磗 class
for a moment.
l 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 l spent some years
in the States.
- Where?
- Ln California.
Weather as good as they say?
lt磗 better.
What was your subject?
What did you major in?
Engineering.
l must be off.
Make yourself at home.
Wander around, if you like,
or stay here.
l磍l introduce you
to the others at lunch.
Thank you.
This is Gillian, Mr. Thackeray.
Gillian Blanchard.
She磗 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.
Yes, l磛e had the pleasure.
He mistook me for Hackman.
- L heard he磗 fled.
- Can磘 say l blame him.
That shot of humanity磗 enough
to destroy anyone.
He got what he deserved.
l磎 Clinty Clintridge.
Clinty磗 a marvelous artist.
Got one at the Royal Academy
a couple of years ago.
Teaching provides
the bread and butter.
Well, that磗 all the staff
except for Mr. Bell...
...our P.T. instructor.
l do hope you磖e
going to stay with us.
l shouldn磘 if l were you, old man.
Row home while you can.
Don磘 discourage him, Weston.
Well, l must go.
l have to fix a bath
for a girl in Clinty磗 class.
Why?
Kids are complaining again.
Won磘 sit near her.
What磗 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
l need encouraging?
They said the same to me.
There磗 something frightening but
also challenging about this school.
There磗 no form of corporal
punishment or any punishment.
None?
l have no real teaching experience.
l磎 a little lost.
l don磘 have any experience either.
Of course, it磍l be
much easier for you.
l磎 a little afraid of them.
Midday dance session.
During lunch,
the older kids use the hall.
l sometimes join them.
Even the old man
shakes a leg on occasions.
Dancing is merely their way
of keeping fit...
...for the more exciting pastime
of teacher baiting.
Couldn磘 you be
a bit less discouraging?
lt磗 the last thing l want to do.
The music磗 louder than usual.
They磖e probably celebrating
their victory over Hackman.
l better go and see Mr. Florian.
l磍l show you the way.
They磖e good, aren磘 they?
l suppose so.
The head磗 study is this way.
Do you two...
Do you two shake?
Well, l磍l see you later,
Mr. Thackeray.
Well?
Thank you.
But l 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磛e already tried to get
an engineering post?
l tried for months, sir.
We have no blueprint in North Quay.
Most of our children are
rejects from other schools.
We have to help and teach them
as best we can...
...and as much as we can.
The local authorities are not
totally on our side.
And from the moment
you accept this position...
...you磍l be entirely on your own.
Of course, l and the staff will do
everything we can to help you.
But success or failure
will depend entirely upon you.
What磗 it to be?
l want the job, sir.
Good.
Then it磗 settled.
Tomorrow, you磍l take over
Hackman磗 class.
Sapiano.
Wong.
Osgood.
Tuffen.
Pegg.
Pegg?
Joseph.
Dare.
Potter.
Potter.
Denham.
Buckley.
Purcell.
Fernman.
Jackson.
Strong.
Seales.
- Palmer.
- Yes, guvnor.
Campbell.
Present.
l don磘 know how much you know,
so we磍l start from scratch.
First, as l call your name...
...will you read anything you like
from one of your school books?
Fernman.
Right.
创Only those who...
...arrived on...
...horseback...
...or in a public coach. 创
- Thank you.
Denham.
创lf hens...
...lay an egg a day for days...
...how much are the eggs a dozen,
and how many have you to sell? 创
Moira Joseph.
创Pete Gilroy磗 weight
and the ever-tightening noose...
...about her neck...
...began slightly to impede
the wild mare磗 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. 创
Put that away, please.
Thank you.
Would anyone else like to read?
- Your name, please.
- Pamela Dare.
创And he had learned to love.
l know not why...
...for this in such as him
seemed strange of mood.
But thus it was.
And though
in solitude磗 small part...
...the nipped affections
have to grow.
ln him this glowed...
...when all beside
had ceased to glow. 创
Thank you, Miss Dare.
Next, weights and measures.
What磗 avoirdupois?
- Avoir de what?
- Avoirdupois.
Weights.
Heavyweight, light-heavy,
cruiserweight...
...middle, light, bantam,
fly, featherweight.
Thank you very much.
lt磗 encouraging that
you have a sense of humor.
lt seems you...
...know little and are easily amused.
l can look forward to a happy time.
Copy down the following tables.
Who does he think he is, there?
Cheeky devil.
Hello, ducks.
Thought you might need this.
How磀 it go?
Let磗 just say, battle was joined.
l don磘 know what we磀 do
without a cuppa.
What磗 your name?
l know that.
l mean, your other name.
Mark.
Couple of things, Mark.
We all know the old man磗 views.
And basically, we agree with them.
But he磗 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磗 nothing like that
going on here, right?
So they磛e got us
at a great disadvantage.
Hackman tried to be popular.
He hung himself.
Weston couldn磘 care less
about them, and that磗 no good.
l can磘 guide you...
...but don磘 take any nonsense
from these little tykes.
They磖e good kids, Mark,
most of them.
But if you don磘 solve them,
they磍l break you, and damn quickly.
That磗 been tried...
...by experts.
They磖e very expert.
Please, can l leave the room, guv?
Yes, and it磗 Thackeray.
Yes, guv.
Most of you girls help your mothers
with the shopping.
So sorry, Mr. 创Fackeray. 创
Proper drafty in these parts,
isn磘 it?
About multiplying...
...there are
a few valuable tricks to know.
Say that you磖e offered roast beef
at seven shillings per pound.
Potter.
Must you do that?
l can磘 help it, Sir.
lt磗 me desk.
Poor old Potts!
Sit down.
l磍l speak with the caretaker
about it after school.
lsn磘 he nice?
l hope l didn磘 miss nothing.
Where was we?
About shopping or something...
That磗 enough, Denham.
l was only asking, Mr. Fackeray.
l don磘 want to miss nothing.
Bert, he was just about to show us
a new and valuable trick.
When you磖e shopping, you see...
l said, that磗 enough.
Sit down.
Do exercise four, five and six.
Very quietly.
Don磘 worry.
The worst is still to come.
You磖e still getting
the silent treatment.
What磗 the next phase?
Well, unless you can work up
a little black magic...
...these little bastards have
a multitude of tricks.
Why did you take up teaching?
lt磗 good to have some kind of a job.
But l磎 teaching them nothing.
l磎 not even getting to first base.
Don磘 worry.
Your lot leaves this term.
The next will be better.
They磍l be just as bad.
Probably worse.
What磗 your answer?
What they need...
...is a bloody good hiding.
l feel rather sorry for them,
you know?
Most of them can hardly read.
You磖e so naive,
my dear old colleague.
They磍l be earning twice as much
as us before you can shake a stick.
They磍l happily be part
of the great London unwashed:
llliterate...
...smelly and quite content.
An education磗 a disadvantage
in this day and age.
That is ridiculous!
But still true.
So you had better start
brushing up...
...on your voodoo if you wish
to remain sane.
Good morning.
All right, take your seats.
- All right, Sir?
- L hope you didn磘 hurt yourself.
You all right?
Cheap stuff they磖e selling nowadays.
Want me to help, Sir?
Sit down.
Take your proper places.
We can move around here,
you know, Sir.
Take your proper places.
Beg pardon.
Something the matter?
Seales, is something wrong?
lt磗 me mum.
She磗 awful sick.
l磎 sorry.
Anything l can do?
Nothing.
- She磗 English.
- L see.
You磖e like my old man,
except you磖e bigger and younger.
Rotten bastard!
You shouldn磘 speak like that.
You know nothing.
l hate him!
Why not?
Never forgive him for
what he did to me mum. Never!
He married her, didn磘 he?
Didn磘 he?
Today, let磗 take a look
at South America.
l磎 sorry, Mr. Fackeray.
The bloody things just slipped.
The name is Thackeray,
and they are not 创bloody things. 创
They were a pile of books.
That磗 a good netting score.
Pam, love, that磗 not a bloody pile,
but it磗 a pile of books.
All right, settle down.
l was only trying to help,
Mr. Thackeray, Sir.
That磗 right, Mr. Fackeray.
Curley was only trying to put
that little scrubber in her place.
l know what Curley was trying to do.
Now just settle down.
We are going to study
South America.
Now turn to page
in your geography book.
创They were alone...
...but not alone as they who
shut in chambers think it loneliness.
The voiceless sand and the drooping
caves that lay around them...
...made them to each other press...
...as if there were no life
beneath the sky... 创
Sorry, love.
lt磗 the bleeding desk.
Do you speak such words
to your father?
You磖e not my bleeding father!
All l want to know is,
who does he think he is?
Mate, shut up!
Morning.
Hello, Thackeray.
How goes it?
Fine, thank you, Sir.
All you boys, out.
The girls stay where they are.
What磗 the matter?
- Out at once!
- All right.
l am sick of your foul language...
...your crude behavior
and your sluttish manner.
A decent woman keeps
certain things private.
Only a filthy slut
would have done this!
Those who encouraged her
are just as bad!
l don磘 care who磗 responsible.
You磖e all to blame!
l磎 leaving for five minutes,
by which time...
...that disgusting object
had better be removed.
And the windows opened
to clear the stench!
lf you must play these filthy games,
do them in your homes...
...and not in my classroom.
What磗 the matter?
Man, oh, man!
l lost my temper. The one thing
l swore l would never do.
God, did l lose my temper!
What happened?
After all the bull
l磛e taken in my life...
...in a few short weeks,
those kids have got me so steamed up.
So easy. So quickly.
l never would have thought it.
- Perhaps you磖e trying too hard.
- Those kids are devils incarnate.
l tried everything. Everything!
But nothing l tried...
Kids.
Kids.
That磗 it!
Those are out.
They are useless to you.
l realized you are not children.
You will be adults in a few weeks,
with all the responsibilities.
From now on, you will be treated
as such by me and by each other...
...as adults.
Responsible adults.
Next, we磍l be reasonable
with each other.
We are just going to talk,
you and l.
You are going to listen
without interruption.
And when l am finished,
one of you may have your say.
Without interruptions.
Next...
What a morning!
Everything磗 gone wrong.
First, the alarm didn磘 go off.
Then l had to wait hours for a bus.
l must have stood there
three bleeding hours...
Example:
There are two ways to enter a room.
One is like an adult,
a lady with dignity.
The other is like a brat.
Miss Dare has shown us the second way.
Perhaps you磀 demonstrate the first.
l磎 sorry l磎 late.
Next...
...we are all going to observe
certain courtesies in this classroom.
You will call me
Sir or Mr. Thackeray.
The young ladies will be
addressed as Miss...
...the boys by their surnames.
Why should we call them Miss?
We know them.
l beg your pardon?
l said, why should we
call them Miss?
We know them.
ls there a young lady you feel...
...does not deserve to be
addressed as Miss?
- No, Sir.
- Good.
Next, general deportment.
First, the young ladies.
They must prove worthy of
the courtesies we will show them.
Soon, boyfriends and marriage
will concern you.
No man likes a slut for long.
Only the worst type will marry one.
And the competition for men
on the outside is rough.
Next, men.
l磛e seen garbage collectors
who are cleaner.
Toughness is a quality
of the mind...
...like bravery,
honesty and ambition.
lf you want to wear your hair long,
clean it...
...else you磍l soon get lice and smell.
Soon your principle interest
will be girls.
You will be more attractive
with clean clothes, clean shoes...
...hands, face, teeth, et cetera.
Any questions?
Miss Pegg.
What about Mr. Weston, Sir?
He磗 never tidy, his shoes is
never brushed, and his hair磗 a mess.
lt磗 filthy.
Mr. Weston is not your teacher.
We won磘 discuss him.
l磎 the one to criticize
if l fail to maintain the standards.
That磗 not fair.
Sir...
...or Mr. Thackeray.
Didn磘 you understand?
That磗 not fair...
...Sir.
l agree.
But that磗 an example of things
you磍l have to put up with as an adult.
You磍l just have to take it.
Next, we are going to talk
about various...
Good morning.
- L wanted to see how you were doing.
- Fine, sir.
Good.
Thank you.
What is it?
Palmer.
What are we going
to talk about, Sir?
About life...
...survival...
...love...
...death, sex, marriage...
...rebellion, anything you want.
l never did see one like him, Pam.
Even when he blew his stack,
no swearing or nothing.
Blimey!
Ain磘 natural, that磗 what.
Does he really mean what he says?
l don磘 know.
lt磀 be a change, though, to see
those creeps acting like gents.
Here, which one do you fancy?
l like Babs.
Yeah? Watch this.
- Come on, Pam, love.
- Get lost, Denham!
l don磘 like
your smelly tricks, do l?
And it磗 Miss Dare to you.
Get stuffed.
Come on then, love.
You heard what Sir said,
Mr. Smarty Denham.
lf you want to dance with me,
you bleeding well ask proper.
May l have the pleasure
of this dance, Miss Pegg?
Blimey!
Good old Potts.
Get you, Potter.
Shut up!
Who does he think he is,
bleeding Fred Astaire?
Come on, Miss Pegg.
Look at me.
l am a lady, l am.
Rotten tarts, all of them.
Bleeding chimney sweep
was right about that.
He won磘 catch me
spending me nicker on them.
He said we could talk about anything.
You are so right, Tich, me mate.
He did say we could ask him anything.
Questions and answers.
Last night on the telly,
there was this travelogue picture.
You know, a lot of black women
dancing around with no tops.
Don磘 they ever dress proper?
What磗 proper varies
throughout the world...
...depending on
customs and climate.
For their climate and customs,
they were dressed properly.
Are you from South Africa, Sir?
Of course not.
South Africans is white, isn磘 they?
A South African is a native
of South Africa, regardless of color.
l was born in British Guiana.
What did you mean the other day
about rebellion, Sir?
Change.
Take your hairstyles.
That磗 a form of rebellion, isn磘 it?
What, Sir?
Don磘 you do it
to be different from adults?
They磛e messed up the world,
haven磘 they?
- You can say that again.
- So you rebel.
Even the way you dress is
a form of rebellion, isn磘 it?
lt磗 just the new fashion, Sir.
Of course, the adults look
proper stupid in our gear.
Do you think it磗 wrong
to be different, to rebel?
lt is your duty to change
the world, if you can.
Not by violence.
Peacefully, individually,
not as a mob.
Take the Beatles.
They started a huge social revolution.
The fashions they set in dress...
...and hairstyles are worldwide now.
Every new fashion is
a form of rebellion.
There磗 a fine exhibition
of costumes through the ages...
...on at the Victoria
and Albert Museum.
l think you should see it.
Also, you should see
the Museum of Natural History.
What, us lot to go to a museum?
- Sure.
- You磖e joking.
You磍l discover that
your hairstyles are years old...
...and that your costumes
or your dress...
...is right out of .
Shut up!
Look, Sir, when can we go?
There磗 no time after school,
and l磛e got to look after the kids.
l have to do the housework
and get the supper for the lodgers.
Me mum磗 expecting a baby any day,
and l got to baby-sit.
Why don磘 you take us?
We could go in the morning.
Who would like that?
What a drag!
Don磘 you want a day off?
Put your hand up.
- Put both hands up.
- Fat chance!
lt wouldn磘 work.
lt磗 not the sort of risk
we磀 dare to take at North Quay.
l would like to try, sir.
The best of pupils are inclined
to show off in public.
Your class?
You磀 never be able
to supervise them.
When l took this job,
you said you wouldn磘 interfere...
...as long as l stayed
within your framework.
lf you can get another staff member
to go with you...
...l磍l approach the council.
l see little hope of approval.
Thank you, sir.
Miss Blanchard, l think l can
arrange an outing with my class...
...if l can get
another teacher to go along.
l磀 love to.
And it磗 Gillian.
When is the outing?
When we arrange
travel warrants and permission.
Just let me know when.
Thanks, Gillian. Bye.
Good morning.
What would you like
to talk about today?
Ladies first.
Miss Joseph.
Marriage, Sir.
You know, boyfriends and things.
How do you know he磗 the right one?
What to look for.
How to avoid divorce.
Don磘 get married.
Where磗 Miss Purcell?
She磗 to look after the home today.
Her mum had the baby last night.
What hospital?
No hospital, Sir.
The doctor came to her.
She all right?
She just had a kid.
Now, marriage.
First, let us lay some ground rules.
l磛e never been married,
so what l say is as an outsider.
Now, what should a girl
look for in a man?
l think first we ought
to determine what is marriage.
Miss Joseph.
Holy wedlock.
Potter, be serious.
You磍l get your turn.
Miss Pegg.
lt磗 life, isn磘 it, Sir?
Everyone gets married.
l mean, sometime.
Why didn磘 you marry?
No one would have him.
l was very poor.
And there was something in me
that wanted an education.
So l put all of
my energies into that.
Well, l got started later.
Just never met the right girl.
What should a girl look for
in a man?
- Miss Clark?
- What work did you do, Sir?
l waited tables.
l cooked in a hamburger joint.
l washed dishes for a time, cars.
For a year l was a janitor
in an apartment block.
- All sorts of jobs.
- You washed dishes?
l did.
But you talk posh.
- That wasn磘 easy.
- You didn磘 always talk like that?
When l was your age, l used a patois,
a kind of simple English.
l buy and bust your booby
if you don磘 get up off of this place.
l didn磘 understand a word.
Well, l don磘 always understand
what you say either.
But the point is, if you work hard,
you can do almost anything.
You can get any job you want.
You can even change your speech
if you want to.
After l got my degree...
...l went to work in South America
for an oil company.
The only women in that region...
...were jungle lndians who carried
blowpipes and poison darts.
You could have broke my hands.
We were discussing marriage.
To my mind, marriage is
no way of life for the weak...
...the selfish...
...or the insecure.
What磗 the matter, Weston?
These damn fool Americans!
They bog up everything
they磖e connected with.
What a shower!
l磍l never forgive the President for
not coming to Churchill磗 funeral...
...nor sending the vice president.
Rotten bad manners.
- Lt was very naughty.
- L quite agree.
A typically stupid, appalling
and unnecessary mistake.
- What can you expect?
- Still beefing?
Give them a chance.
They磛e not been in the business...
...of leading the world
as long as Britain was.
You continue to astonish me,
old chum.
l should thought
if anyone took a point of...
Now what?
Miss Pegg wants to know
if the netball磗 fixed.
Miss who?
Barbara Pegg.
Miss Pegg, Sir.
Here you are, Fernman.
Thank you, Sir.
What磗 going on in
this classroom of yours?
Suburban formality? Lt磗 a bit
foreign in this neck of the woods.
Some sort of experiment
in culture for the masses?
lt磗 an elementary
experiment in courtesy.
And do we ignorant critters
have to follow suit?
- Please yourself.
- Thank goodness for that!
Do you object to being
taught manners by one of the boys?
l don磘 expect to be taught
by those morons.
So long as we learn,
it doesn磘 matter who teaches us.
Good afternoon, everybody.
Now we磖e talking.
Nothing like payday.
By the way, your museum visit
has been approved.
lf anything goes wrong,
the school suffers.
Nothing will go wrong, sir.
For a moment, l thought
l was in the wrong classroom.
Where磗 Jackson?
We don磘 know.
Tich wouldn磘 miss this
unless he was sick or something.
We磍l give him a few minutes.
lt磗 me, Jackson.
l have to take the bag-wash for mum.
Can you wait?
Sure.
How long will it take?
Half a mo.
Just up the frog.
God love you.
Hang on, Tich.
l磍l give you a hand.
All right.
Back on the sidewalk.
What磗 a frog got to do with it?
lt磗 a rhyming slang.
Old-fashioned cockney.
lt磗 not used anymore.
Just for old people.
lt磗 a drag, Sir.
Frog means road.
Frog and toad, road.
Trouble, strife, wife.
Weeping willow, pillow.
Use the first word.
Like the old currant bun,
that磗 the sun.
- Apples and pears, stairs.
- Happy kill, skill.
Ginger beer, queer.
All aboard.
l think he fancies her.
l know you do.
Pamela Dare has a crush on you.
Women say the damnedest things.
l think he磗 nice.
So do l.
You磛e noticed.
l don磘 treat her different
from the others.
l hope we can go out again,
don磘 you?
l hope so.
l hope we can go with him,
because he磗 nice.
Don磘 make any mistake
about Pamela.
She磗 a woman
in every sense of the word.
l mean...
...not that l blame her.
Bleeding rotten taste he磗 got.
Good night, Sir.
- See you tomorrow.
- Good night.
Perhaps you磀 like me
to tidy your desk.
- That磗 all right.
- Lt磗 no trouble.
You ought to get a flat nearby.
Brentwood磗 much too far away.
- There磗 nice ones around.
- L磛e thought of that.
Well, l tell you what.
l磍l keep my ears open for you.
That磗 kind of you,
but l磎 fine for the moment.
l磍l let you know.
Thank you.
Don磘 worry about your desk.
l磍l tidy it for you every day.
Thanks, but that won磘 be necessary.
That磗 perfectly all right.
A woman磗 work is never done.
Good night, Sir.
Hi, fellas. How are you?
Good morning, Sir.
Mr. Florian has given us
permission for more outings.
l磀 like to hear suggestions
of what we might do.
- The pictures.
- Wembley, Sir.
Cup Final Day.
Chamber of Horrors.
What about the Cavern?
You know, Liverpool.
The Beatles.
How磗 it going?
Fine, thank you.
Don磘 worry.
He磍l come with me on my day.
You磖e under
a supervision order too?
Around here, that磗 nothing.
Most of us have been
in front of the law.
Breaking windows, playing truant,
raising hell and cussing the coppers.
You磛e cut yourself.
You磀 better put something on that.
You might get lockjaw.
Blimey!
Red blood.
What do you expect, pinhead?
lnk?
l didn磘 mean no harm.
lt was a joke.
l didn磘 mean no crack, Sir.
lt磗 all right.
What磗 with you?
Are you addressing me, Denham?
Potts was only being funny.
What you calling him pinhead for
in front of chimney sweep?
l was only joking.
Sir didn磘 mind.
He said, ask anything.
You call those questions?
Always on about his color.
You磖e wasting our time.
Seales, you ought to know better.
What have l done?
l didn磘 say nothing.
You never do,
and you磖e half-colored.
You sit on your ass
and keep your trap shut.
lf they want to know,
why don磘 they ask you?
l磎 not Sir, that磗 why.
l only wish l was.
l know what磗 eating you.
You fancy him, that磗 what.
This is a fine how-do-you-do,
isn磘 it, Potts?
You lay off, Denham,
you son of a bitch.
Today, l磍l show you
how to make salad.
You mean we磛e to cook and all?
Sure, why not?
My old man never cooked nothing
in his life.
He says that磗 women磗 work.
But suppose you磖e on your own,
as you certainly will be shortly.
You磍l have to do it for yourself
sometimes, won磘 you?
Not again, Sir.
This is survival training.
A normal English salad...
...not fit for human consumption,
even if you remove the slugs...
...and add a dash of the extraordinary,
a bit of mayonnaise.
Look at this.
Mum went to the doctor.
l didn磘 want to miss today.
He won磘 be no trouble.
lt磗 all right.
Sit down.
Make room over there for her.
Okay, come on.
Never be afraid to experiment.
And always remember that
you can eat well...
...even though you磖e broke.
See?
You ever been broke, Sir?
Real broke, skint?
Many, many times.
l don磘 understand you a bit, Sir.
l mean...
...you磖e a toff and you ain磘.
What he means is...
Blimey, l can磘 sort of put it
into words or anything.
Well, Sir...
...you磖e like us, but you ain磘.
l mean, you磖e not.
lt磗 kind of scary but nice.
You know what l mean, don磘 you?
l don磘 know how to answer you,
except to say...
...that l teach you truths,
my truths.
lt is kind of scary,
dealing with the truth.
Scary and dangerous.
Have you ever had a salad
with almonds and grapes...
...and tomatoes and lettuce
and pineapple?
She磗 in love with you, Mark.
You shouldn磘 be so surprised.
We have a lot of marvelous schools
now in the East End.
lt磗 still difficult
to get quality teachers.
Take us,
the bottom of the pile.
Goodness knows we磛e had
a scruffy lot here.
Then along comes
Mr. Mark Thackeray...
...big, broad, handsome,
clean, intelligent...
...looking like
he stepped out of a bandbox.
What do you expect?
What do l do?
Nothing. Just be patient.
Thanks.
Pamela磗 just finding out
she磗 a grown woman.
You磖e probably the only real man
she磗 ever met in her life.
Don磘 spend too much time
alone with her.
Why didn磘 you ask Gillian?
l thought you磀 be wiser.
Thanks.
Hello, Sir!
We can磘 have you queuing up.
lt磗 Sir. He teaches
our Moira up at North Quay.
He磗 only got an hour for his lunch.
- What磍l it be?
- Half a dozen oranges.
You磍l like them.
They磖e lovely.
Here you are, guv.
Penny磗 wedding cake.
Jeannie磗 older sister.
She got married,
so here磗 a bit of cake.
Jeannie Clark.
Yes, Miss Clark.
That was a lovely museum outing.
Will they do it again?
We磖e trying to arrange one a week.
That磀 be lovely, won磘 it?
The more education, the better.
That磗 what l always say.
lt磗 a proper bleeder,
what with the bomb and all.
Ain磘 the bombs.
lt磗 them bleeding Yanks!
Shut your gob!
My Gert磗 married to a Yank.
And a proper nice gent he is, and all.
Keep your opinions to yourself!
God all bloody mighty!
The entente cordiale?
First cast the mote
out of your eye...
...before you cast the bomb
out of mine!
He磗 a proper faggot.
Here you are.
You磍l like them.
Thank you.
Who磗 next?
Come on, girls.
Speak up!
l was wondering if you would give
the girls some makeup lessons.
l think quite a few
of them would be...
...very pretty if they knew
how to do it.
Why, certainly!
You are getting involved
with your children, aren磘 you?
l磎 just trying to help.
That磗 the job, isn磘 it?
- You want some of this?
- No, thanks.
ls that all you磖e having
for lunch?
You on a diet?
l磍l tell you, l磎 a weak man.
At the moment, a little skint.
When l eat, do l love to eat!
l love wine,
but l just can磘 have a glass.
l want the whole bottle.
So l avoid wine
and pastrami sandwiches...
...and baked potatoes...
...with butter and bacon...
...and strawberry shortcake
and cheesecake.
But l like to eat light for lunch.
How磗 the Dare girl?
No problems.
- Will you stay on here, Mark?
- Till l get sorted out.
No luck with the jobs?
But l磎 plugging away.
Remember a few weeks ago,
you thought you磀 lost the battle?
l thought you had too.
There磗 a good angel
looking after me.
Come on.
Sort yourselves out.
Come on, hurry up!
All right? Go!
Come on, Denham. Hurry it up.
Land on your toes.
Do it again. Next!
Next!
Buckley!
Come on, boy.
l磎 not a boy.
l磎 a man.
l don磘 want to do it.
lt磗 too high.
You磖e a fat boy.
Come on.
l磎 waiting.
Get that jelly off!
Fats can磘 do it.
lt磗 too high for him.
Of course, he can磘 do it!
When l want your opinion,
l磍l ask, boy.
- L磎 not a boy.
- Shut up!
Buckley, do as you磖e told!
- Move out of the way, boy.
- Shut up!
ls he all right?
l don磘 know.
You bloody bastard!
Put that down!
You knew Fats couldn磘 do that.
You had it in for him.
Potter, put that down!
They磖e fighting in the gym!
Come on, Potts!
That was no accident!
l磍l take that.
Go and help Buckley.
Go on!
Potts should have done the bastard
like he did Fats.
You all right, boy?
Yes, thank you.
Me stomach didn磘 half hurt.
Jackson, lngram?
Help him up to Mrs. Evans.
All right.
What happened?
Buckley磗 all right.
More frightened than anything else.
Why磀 you make him do that jump?
He just stood there
and refused to obey.
When he jumped, he sent the buck flying
and l couldn磘 catch him.
Thanks for helping me out.
That Potter went berserk.
l understand that Buckley is
a pet whipping boy of yours.
ls that right?
l磀 better report it.
There磍l be the devil to pay.
Potter, l can磘 think of anything
that excuses your behavior.
But it was him!
He made Fats do it.
Fats said he couldn磘 do it.
The bully always had it in for him.
l am not concerned with
Mr. Bell磗 behavior, but yours.
What if a gun or knife
had been handy?
Potter was narked.
We was all narked.
That bleeder was wrong
and you know it.
You磖e missing the point.
You all are.
Soon, you will be out in the world.
Will you use a weapon every time
someone angers you?
You磖e supposed to
be learning self-discipline.
You owe Mr. Bell an apology.
Why?
Just because Bell is a teacher?
You better answer that, Potter.
Do you think you behaved
like an adult?
How about Bell
apologizing to Buckley?
My business is with you,
not Mr. Bell.
lt磗 easy for you to talk.
No one pushes you around.
Are you a man or a hoodlum?
Do it, Potts!
Or Bell will call the law
if you don磘.
You磛e got to have recommends
for a job in a couple weeks.
He磗 got to sign one.
This has nothing
to do with what l sign.
You can磘 trust a teacher.
We磖e only safe together.
Against them.
But Sir is different.
lf he says Potts...
That he is, and he磗 wrong now.
You all know Bell磗 been after
old Fats for years.
Go on, Potts.
lf you apologize
because you磖e afraid...
...then you磖e a child, not a man.
When l leave,
l磍l have me own barrow.
So you can磘 touch me,
letters or no letters.
l磎 sorry l磎 late, Sir.
But it磗 me mum.
She磗 dead.
l磛e been helping me dad
with her things.
- L didn磘 know where to go, Sir.
- That磗 all right.
lngram, take over the class.
l understand that
the passing out class holds...
...some kind of a celebration
at the end of term.
What happens?
We dance...
...Sir.
Did you apologize because of Denham?
One should fight
for what one believes...
...provided one is absolutely sure...
...one is absolutely right.
Pass these out.
You have to fill those out...
...for national health insurance
and so on.
What are you doing, Jackson?
lt磗 for Seales.
For flowers and a wreath.
That磗 wonderful of you.
May l be permitted
to contribute something?
No, thank you, Mr. Thackeray.
Here, Pam, you buy the wreath.
The name磗 Dare.
Miss Dare.
Well, you buy the wreath.
Send it around when the time磗 right.
Send it?
Aren磘 you going to take it?
You don磘 think
girls could take it, do you?
Well, why not?
lt磗 what people would say, Sir.
What the family would say...
...if they saw us going
into a colored person磗 home.
We磛e got nothing against you, Sir.
Honest.
But if one of us was to...
You can磘 imagine the things be said.
Thank you, Miss Pegg,
for making it clear.
Does that apply to the men also?
You磖e dead right it does.
l磍l take the flowers.
Why should you do that?
Wouldn磘 that make you
subject to gossip?
Gossip don磘 worry me.
l磛e known Seales since kindergarten.
l磍l take the flowers.
l wouldn磘 if l were you.
l磛e been looking for you.
There磗 a lady to see you.
Mrs. Dare.
And by the way, l磛e canceled
all outings for your class.
Why?
The adult approach hasn磘 worked.
lt磀 have been better
to let things be.
You take your boys in for P.T.
until l get a replacement.
l磎 sorry to disturb you, Sir.
lt磗 about Pam.
l磎 Mrs. Dare.
What can l do for you?
Would you have a seat?
Would you talk to her, Sir?
l磎 sure she磀 listen to you.
- She磗 always talking about you.
- What磗 the problem?
She always stays out
late at night, Sir.
Often she doesn磘 get home
till past .
She never says where she磗 been.
She磗 a big girl.
l磎 worried about her.
She won磘 listen to me.
l磎 just a teacher, Mrs. Dare.
l know she磀 listen to you.
lt磗 always 创Sir said this创
or 创Sir said that. 创
See, she won磘 listen to me.
She just won磘.
Why doesn磘 her father
talk with her?
We磖e divorced.
He磗 up north somewhere.
He doesn磘...
lt磗 not wrong to...
When your marriage breaks up,
life doesn磘 end, does it?
Please talk to her, Sir.
l磎 frightened for her.
You never know what sort
of trouble she can get into.
Please.
All right, l will.
Thank you.
Morning, Sir.
Hello, love.
- Morning.
- How are you? How磗 the kids?
Hello, guv!
Hello, Sir.
lt磗 a lovely day, isn磘 it?
Your kid ain磘 top of the class.
My, you look as if
you磛e won the pools.
Better!
l got me a job.
A real one for when school ends.
Assistant engineer
in a factory in the Midlands.
They even sent me the fare!
That磗 marvelous.
lt磗 not that good,
but it磗 a start after so long.
Do you think
she磍l take the flowers?
l don磘 know.
Go in. Sir wants you.
Sit down.
l磀 like to talk to you.
Has my mum been in?
The funeral was Saturday, : .
About my mum, Sir?
She磗 very worried about you,
Miss Dare.
Couldn磘 you call me Pamela?
l think not, for the moment.
She says that
you磛e been staying out late.
l磛e just been to Gran磗.
Just around the corner, not far.
Why haven磘 you told your mother?
She doesn磘 care about me.
You know that磗 not true.
You磖e not in trouble, are you?
Nowadays that磗 only for fools,
isn磘 it?
We磖e the luckiest kids,
the luckiest generation...
...that磗 ever been, aren磘 we?
We磖e the first to be really free
to enjoy life if we want...
...without fear.
What is the trouble?
lf you don磘 want to talk,
say the word.
lt doesn磘 bother me.
lt was all right
up till about a year ago.
Of course, l miss Daddy.
He was wonderful.
But it磗 just one of those things.
Mum works up in a dress shop
on the West End.
And we got on fine.
Then men friends started
calling on her.
You know what neighbors are like.
That磗 all.
There磗 nothing else to tell.
She doesn磘 like me.
l磎 in the way.
She磗 young and pretty, isn磘 she?
l磍l be glad to leave school
and be on my own.
Obviously, your mother loves you.
And you owe her much more
than any teacher.
l think you磖e wrong about her.
Did she tell you that l found her
with one of her friends?
At home? At my home?
No, l bet she didn磘,
but she was!
l can磘 solve your problems for you.
But staying out late won磘 help.
lt helps me.
l can磘 stand the sight of her!
And if you were me,
you磀 feel the same.
l磎 in no position to judge.
l know people make mistakes.
You磖e saying it磗 my fault?
Forgiveness is the gift of God.
People make mistakes.
lt磗 up to you to make peace.
- Why should l? L磛e done nothing.
- Grow up.
Give her another chance.
Why are you taking her side?
You磖e wrong not to give her a chance.
Everybody deserves that.
l thought you磀 understand.
l thought l could trust you.
But you磖e just as Denham said.
l磎 not taking the bloody flowers!
All right.
Let磗 line up here
in the center.
Could we box first today, please?
Why?
lt would make a change.
Just sort yourselves in pairs now.
Do you mind having a go with me?
Sapiano磗 hurt his wrist.
That磗 right. L sprained it.
l think you ought to wait and have a go
at Potter or one of the others.
He磍l be done in, Sir.
l don磘 mind having
a punch-out with you.
l think you磀 better
forget that for today.
Let磗 go!
Let磗 go.
Stay where you are!
Put your head down.
Collect the gloves and put them back.
The rest of you,
line up for vaulting.
Put your head down.
You all right?
- Come over here for a minute.
- L磎 all right.
l think l磍l go wash up.
You all right, mate?
Are you sure?
Can l ask you something?
- How many times did you hit me?
- Once.
l磎 sorry,
l didn磘 mean to hurt you.
l lost my temper.
l was meaning to hurt you.
You did.
You磖e pretty good.
Why didn磘 you hit me again?
Why didn磘 you fight?
You had me easy.
l磛e been after you
since you got here.
Are you afraid or something?
Hitting you wouldn磘 solve much,
would it?
lt磗 the truth.
l don磘 understand you at all.
What磗 a barrow?
A barrow? With fruit on it.
A barrow!
You was wrong about Potts.
Yes, from his point of view,
at his age, l was.
- The girls was right about the gossip.
- From their point of view.
What other point is there?
You have to figure that out
for yourself.
Would you like a job teaching
the youngsters how to box?
l磍l speak with Mr. Florian.
There will be some money for you.
Me? A bleeding teacher?
lt磗 important the youngsters
know how to defend themselves.
Why are you doing this?
Good luck with your barrow.
What磗 the matter?
You going to a bleeding wedding?
You don磘 half pong, Potts!
- What磗 up with you, Fats?
- Nothing, Bert.
Another week
and we磍l be through here.
l ain磘 got a job yet.
You had the bleeder yesterday.
Lucky punch.
You got eyes in back of your head.
He could have done me
with one hand behind his back.
And none of your bleeding here.
There磗 ladies present.
What Sir said about the truth,
it磗 kind of scary, isn磘 it?
Good morning.
About the party,
we磛e got a group and all.
And the girls is fixing the grub.
You coming?
You inviting me?
Yeah, you磖e invited.
Thank you.
lf l can, l certainly will.
What you said is right,
about a man making up his own mind.
My goodness!
You certainly look lovely.
Thank you.
Would you dance with me tonight?
Of course.
But nothing too fast.
l am getting too old for that.
We磍l make it special.
Promise?
Promise.
Thank you.
Would you call me Pamela tonight?
Pamela.
Thank you.
Excuse me a minute, Bert.
lt磗 Pam.
- You look marvelous!
- You look great!
- Where磗 the other earring?
- Lt磗 the thing.
l want to talk to the group.
Come with me?
- Why?
- Come on, l磍l tell you.
Good evening.
l hear you磖e leaving.
lt磗 a pity.
l磎 sorry about that.
You磖e damn good.
You磛e done wonders for this show.
Thank you very much.
Anybody can be an engineer,
but teaching this mob is...
l wish l had your gift.
Why so serious, Mark?
Good God, it磗 Weston!
Wrap up, Clinty.
Well, l磎 damned!
He wasn磘 giving you
a hard time, was he?
On the contrary.
Will you wave your magic wand
and make me sweet again?
Nothing to do with me.
A fine lad.
Your hand磗 in this, all right.
lf you must leave,
go to another school.
You can磘 waste your talent
on electronics.
Damn!
l swore l wouldn磘 interfere.
Would you like some more?
- Who made it?
- L did.
lt磗 salad North Quay,
one of Sir磗 special recipes.
lt磗 bloody marvelous, Barbara.
l mean, Miss Pegg.
Thank you, Mr. Weston,
l磎 sure.
Actually, l don磘 like it.
l think it磗 terrible, don磘 you?
Blimey, l磎 hot!
Thank you.
Excuse me, Sir.
l got the job l wanted.
That磗 wonderful.
- What is it?
- Pageboy at the Hilton.
He can磘 wait to get
all that Yankee money.
You磖e right there.
l don磘 want to be
a pageboy all me life.
Will you help me get
into night school?
l磀 be glad to.
Ta, Sir.
You ain磘 half a dolly, miss.
Ready, Pam.
Attention, everybody!
By special request,
it磗 a lady磗 choice.
Hold that, please.
Come on.
Everybody, come here.
Thank you.
Can l come and see you
sometimes, next term?
l won磘 be here.
Everybody磗 got to move on.
l磎 glad l met you, though.
You磛e helped me a lot.
We were lucky to have you.
The whole world磗 waiting for you.
You磖e a smasher!
Thanks.
Bye.
Hold it! Listen, everybody.
l磛e got an announcement.
lt磗 about Sir.
We磀 like to thank you
for all you磛e done.
We磀 like to give you
a present to remember us by.
- Come on, Babs.
- You mean, Miss Pegg.
The time has come
For closing books
And long last looks must end
And as l leave
l know that l am leaving
My best friend
A friend who taught me
Right from wrong
And weak from strong
That磗 a lot to learn
What can l give you in return?
lf you wanted the moon
l would try to make a start
But l would rather you let me
Give my heart
To Sir, with love
Speech! Speech!
l think l磀 better go
and put it away.
Evening, guv.
Nice, isn磘 it?
l磎 in your bleeding class
next term.