Episode 3:
"Chapter 3"
Original Air Date: 11.6.00
Summarized By: Kris D.
Louisa is updating Harper about w hat happened over the weekend - no arrests and no hospitalizations! We're all thankful for that. A hallway smells like sewage and he has a school board meeting on Wednesday night.
Guber is teaching a class, talking about honesty. One student claims there is no such thing as a good lie. Guber then poses the situation - what if a mentally challenged person was wearing a horrendous, fashion challenged outfit. Would you tell them? (ELG wants to propose one, too! What if a socially inept, if nice, vice-principal is practically stalking you. Would you tell him the truth? That he's just not attractive to you, or would you let him think it's because you've got a problem dating authority? :::ELG cackles:::) "Why don't you tell us your criteria for truthfulness. Whether someone's feelings would be hurt, the mental acuity of the person you're talking with, if a greater good is served by dishonesty." During his diatribe, the class starts getting giggly and restless. Guber turns and sees none other than Anthony Ward hanging outside the window, by his feet. Throwing open the window, Guber wants to know if he's alright. He's fine, sir. What is he doing? Anthony looks at his bound hands and feet. "Not a whole lot, Sir."
Roll Credits
Fire fighters are pulling Anthony Ward in the window. Harper says that Anthony still won't tell who did this to him, or who is terrorizing him. According to Guber, Anthony claims he was on the roof practicing his square knot when he fell. Both Guber and Harper smell the swiss cheese of Anthony's story and Harper claims that his "Has to stop." He walks up to Anthony and Anthony doesn't want to be taught any more jujitsu. The kid walks away and Harper turns back to Guber. He wants Anthony checked out and then wants to see him in his office.
Marla and Harvey are walking the halls. Harvey wants to Good Cop/Bad Cop their class - Marla can be bad Cop and he can be good. Marla doesn't like this particular arrangement and would like to know why she can't be good cop. Harvey claims that the students are afraid of her, she's a mental, you know. He means this as a compliment.
They pass Coach Kevin, who in a crowded hallway, is discussing the supposed homosexuality of one of his football players. "What do you mean he's gay?" Apparently a few guys on the team saw the boy (Bobby Renfro) in question "rigging" (making out) with another guy in Harvard Square. Coach Kevin claims that Bobby's sexual orientation is his business and the student agrees - they don't want him off the team or anything. They just don't want to shower with him - a few guys think Bobby looks at them funny. Like he's, you know, attracted. Apparently, Bobby's checking out the a§§. R'uh 'roh.
Anthony Ward is sitting in Steven's office. It wasn't Malcolm White who hung him upside down, he claims. So who was it? He doesn't know, they had hoods. This declaraction shoots his "It wasn't Malcolm White" to hell, and Harper calls him on it. The gist of the matter was, he didn't see any faces. This ticks Harper off - Anthony is suspended. Anthony presents a safety risk (to himself) so he can be suspended. His unwillingness to cooperate with the school keeps him from being safe so - he's out. Anthony storms out saying "You can't do anything, there's too many of them." Guber enters, wants to know what Anthony said. Harper recaps and Guber gives him the good news - Wednesday night's School Board meeting is now public. Guber thinks Harper is being set up to be fired. He also heard through Milton Buttle that Superintendant Shinn has contacted Malcolm White.
In a hallway, Guber and Harper are questioning what Milton heard. He heard Malcolm talking to some kids about it - they were discussing what happened with Harper and the business with Anthony Ward. Harper asks Milton if he has any idea who the 'many people' are that are after Anthony. Nope, Milton has no clue.
Harry's in his classroom talking to a student named Jamaal. Apparently, Jamaal didn't read his book - he read the Monarch Notes on it instead. Why? Because the book has too many words - the Monarch Notes get right to it. Did anybody in the class read the book? Nope. During his travels in the classroom, Harry notices a student asleep. Shaking his head, he makes his way back to his desk. Settling in his chair, he asks "Hey, Jamaal, what do you want to be when you grow up?" Jamaal, with all the spunk and snark a teenage boy can muster, says he's not going to be a teacher. Harry says "As a teacher, it would be inappropriate of me to call you a total screw up. So what I want you to do is go home, and ask you dad as a favor to me, to tell you you're a total screw up." Then Harry looks at the sleeping girl and blows up a balloon. Snarking sarcastically, he ties off the balloon then stands up and walks to t he sleeping girl As he finishes talking, he pops the balloon. Startled awake, the girl screams "Gun!" and hits the deck. The bell rings.
Guber, who is apparently trying to sweet talk Lauren in his own special way, is telling her that she cannot teach cannibalism in her classroom. Lauren defends herself, saying that it was just a discussion - some students wanted to know if Native Americans were cannibals, that's all. He tells her that it's dangerous, to teach such stuff about Native Americans, and Lauren gets pissy, telling Scott not to tell her what she can or cannot teach. Before he can really stun Lauren with his VP ways, Marla joins the conversation, full of piss and vinegar. According to Marla, she was told not to attend the school board meeting. This offends her, because she believes they are ashamed of her. They cannot keep her locked up in a closet. Guber tells Marla that the intent of the meeting is to remove Steven as principal, and this quiets Marla down. She wants to know why they would want to fire Steven - for several reasons, her probably being one of them. It is Guber's fear that, if Marla is brought up at the meeting, she will attempt to speak. "That bony assed b!tch can't move Steven out, can she?" For his sake, he implores her to go to a movie tomorrow night. Kevin then joins the conversation. He wants Guber's advice on his gay linebacker - Marla has advice! "Stamp homophobe on all their helmets..." Both Guber and Coach Kevin look at her funny and Guber tells him to do absolutely nothing. He can't force them to shower, they have a sexual harrassment claim and if he bans Bobby from the shower, he has a discrimination claim. But what does that make Kevin? A football coach.
At Doyle's, the Harry, Lauren, Milton and Marilyn are discussing Harry's latest mistake - calling Jamaal a total screw up. Harry is massaging the bridge of his nose when Lauren asks him if he's OK. He just can't make the kids care. Lauren claims that, in the dungeon, it just takes longer. Kevin walks up with some more beer and Milton wants to know if Bobby is really gay. "You're his coach, don't you talk about t his stuff?" Between every play, that's why they huddle. Milton claims not to be homophobic, but he doesn't think he would want to shower with somebody who's sexually interested in him. Kevin's Evil Little Gnome wants to know when the last time it was that Milton showered with someone who was sexually interested in him. While this is going on, Harry looks at Lauren and says to her that he's going to go to Harper and tell him about Dana Poole. Lauren turns to him - what about Dana Poole? Getting up, Harry makes the announcement that he kissed her. WHAT?!? Lauren's reaction sings of someone who is hurt. As Harry walks away, Marilyn is asking for clarity. "You kissed Dana Poole?" Kevin drinks his beer quietly as Marilyn has apparently reached clarity. "He kissed Dana Poole." There's a close shot on Lauren, who is still mighty stunned...and hurt.
Act II
Harper escourts Sheryl Holt into his office - what has she done now? Nothing. He knows she's friends with Anthony Ward - he wants to know what she knows about the situation. He claims she should know something about what's going on, with all the ears she has working for her. This offends Sheryl's sensibilities. She doesn't run a rat site, Mr. Harper. Harper tells her that Anthony could get her, he could have been killed. She says he'll owe her, if she needs something...OK, he agrees. It's the soccer team that has been terrorizing Anthony. They were cheating on their Civics exams - the teacher keeps the exams and answers on his computer and one of the students logged on and downloads the answers, and passes them around the team. Anthony found out what was going on, hacked in, and changed the answers. When the soccer team downloaded them, they downloaded all kinds of false information. Then Anthony went back and changed it all back to normal, so the teacher had no clue. Then Anthony's big mouth went to flapping, and he told the team what he did. So now they're out to get him. Why doesn't Anthony want to tell Harper this? Probably because he feels Harper can do anything, and probably because he can get into trouble himself for hacking into a teacher's files. Guber enters, sorry to interrupt, and wants to let Harper know that Superintendant Shinn is roaming the school. She was monitoring Lauren Davis' class and now she's roaming the halls. Sheryl exits and Harry comes in, does Steven have a second? No, is it important? Uh, yes. He kissed Dana Poole. Guber and Harper are stunned.
Harvey finds Bobby Renfro in the hallway. A little birdie told him that Bobby was a homosexual. What? There was some talk in the teacher's loung that the football team doesn't want to shower with him, because he's making eys at their buttocks. Bobby is shocked. Harvey then goes on to tell Bobby about his great-nephew, who is also a homosexual. And they treat him like family! Harvey wants the boy to know that, if he ever needs to talk...Bobby walks away.
Harry is in Harper's office explaining the blackmail and offers his resignation. Guber is staring at Harry with the look that seems to be reserved for the lowest orders of scum and Harper wants to know if they can think about it for a while. Guber's expression then changes to one of supreme shock - I didn't know his eyes could open that wide - and Harry agrees and leaves the classroom. It is then that Guber understands - "Oh my God, tomorrow night. The school board meeting. We have to sit on this, if it got out now that a teacher and a student...you don't need this." Yeah, Harper agrees. And by the way, the entire soccer team is cheating on exams and terrorizing Anthony Ward. Harper wants to talk to the soccer team, one by one. Guber doesn't think it's a good idea, but Harper won't push it back . He has to do it NOW. Louisa comes to the window and knocks. She mouths "Dragon. Lady."
Harper meets Marcia (Dragon Lady Superintendant Shinn) in the hallway. Is she refreshing herself on what a classroom looks like? More or less. She wants to know how long the social studies department has been teaching cannibalism and Harper says that maybe it's a topic that just pops up whenever she's in the room. Why is she here? She is getting calls from parents who are concerned. Harper thinks she should invite the parents down there, so they can see how things really are.
Harry comes across a pretty violent fight in the hallways. Bobby Renfro is getting beat up. Harry breaks it up by sticking his hand in his jacket and yelling "Freeze!" The students drop like rocks and Harry pulls out his hand, making a mock gun with his fingers, and says "Kidding." The kids fighting flee and Harry turns to Jamaal to find out what happened. Jamaal won't talk, so Harry tells him to get to the dungeon, now. The group "Ooohs".
In the teacher's lounge, Kevin wants to know if Harvey talked to Bobby Renfro. Yup. He just wanted to know if he was a homosexual. "WHAT?" I'll bet Lauren is real sorry she didn't take care of the Lipschultz problem when she had the chance...Coach Kevin tells Harvey to stay out of it and maybe Harvey should think before he speaks. Marla, always a card says, "Then he'd be mute." Marilyn wants to know what Kevin is going to do about this - he doens't know. He regurgitates Scott's advice and Lauren says he should talk to his team. Marla says it's not fair how many legal lines they have to walk. It's whack.
In the Dungeon with Jamaal, Harry says he really meant it when he said he was a total screw up. He tells Jamaal that he's a smart kid and that the only reason he's in the dungeon is because he's lazy. He asks Jamaal questions about himself and finds out that Jamaal spends his days thinking about dying. Harper is watching the exchange through the door. Harry wants to know why so many kids think about dying. Jamaal doesn't know, but death interests him. Harry wants Jamaal to see a friend of his - not a shrink but a guy who works in a morgue. Apparently, said friend is looking to hire some part-time help and does Jamaal think he can handle that? Should Harry set it up? Yeah.
Coach Kevin is trying to talk to Bobby Renfro. Bobby says he's not gay - that's not the issue with Kevin. But it is with Bobby. Bobby's is being scouted by a Jesuit school and it could ruin his chances. Why do they think he's gay, anyhow? Kevin retells the story about Bobby rigging with another guy in Harvard Square. It wasn't him, they've got it wrong, Bobby claims. And another player thinks Bobby is checking out his a§§ in the shower. "I'm not gay." As Bobby walks away, Kevin sees Sheryl hiding in the stairwell. He calls after her, but she doesn't stop. Great.
Act III
A soccer player is about to undergo the inquisition in Harper's office. What is sure to become normal tag-team tactics, Scott starts off the discussion with "THere are some things that you know, others that you don't. For example, you know you joined in a cheating conspiracy...what you do not know, Mr. Whitmore, is what the three players who proceeded you came to admit. You have to make a decision now, Mr. Whitmore, don't you." Harper swoops in and tells him that cheating is bad, bullying is worse. He does not want to be compounding his guilt there with a lie.
In the Morgue, Jamaal is being shown around. They're going to look at a dead guy who died of a brain anueryism a few days ago. There was an autopsy, his head is shaved, but other than that he should be pretty easy to look at. Harry wants to know if Jamaal has ever seen a dead person before. Once, his uncle died and there was a wake...Jamaal wants to look at the current dead guy from a distance. Jamaal slowly gets closer and the Morgue!Guy tells Jamaal that he can touch him, if he likes. Just as Jamaal reaches out, Harry screams "He's alive" and Jamaal beats a quick retreat. That wasn't funny, Morgue!Guy says, and Harry knows. Can Harry touch the dead guy now?
Marla wants to know about Lauren's cannibalism topic. Marla claims that it's hard enough to keep the kids interested in those "American Revolution Founding Father farts.", but to have to compete with cannibalism? All the students in her class want to be in Lauren's class, they want to know if the Indians marinated their victims first, and if we taste salty. Lauren, obviously tickled by the revelation that she's once again popular with t he student body, giggles and then claims that she's not focussing on that aspect but -- Marilyn and Buttle sweep in. Did you guys hear? Harper just cancelled the rest of the soccer season. The team was cheating, the players were suspended for a week, and the season is over.
Guber is trying to talk Harper out of his choice to end the season. He wants Harper to maybe delay the decision. Nope. But Harper is going to walk into a firestorm in 5 hours and this can't help him. Still, Harper refuses.
Louisa guides Dana Poole down a hallway to Guber's office. What did she do now? "Dana, with you it's always something." Guber addresses Dana to which she responds snarkily. "Would you like me to pee in a a cup? Would you like to watch?" He heads her into the office and tells her to sit down. He tells her that Harry confessed everything. SHe's stunned - Harry actually told? He questions her on the details - it happened in her classroom and it only happened once. Is that right? She wants to know what's going to happen and they're considering the appropriate action against Harry, but when it does, the shenanigans are going to go public. This frightens Dana and she begs him not to "do that to me". (ELG - It's all about her, isn't it? Gawd, I hope one day Sheryl Holt fries that over-indulged, stuck up little wench...:::Kris tackles the gnome:::) If they keep this quiet, Guber wants her to see a counselour. She doesn't want to, there's nothing wrong with her. Whatever. The deal is, if it's quiet, she goes to see big boy. If she refuses, he'll call her parents and make it their problem. She reluctantly agrees and he schedules the appointment for the evening, when the school is empty.
Coach Kevin finds Sheryl and steers her off the beaten path. He wants her to keep quiet the whole thing about Bobby - it could ruin his chances to get into college. She contends that gay kids are more popular than football players. He plays to her inner nerd - she knows what it's like to be an outcast, show some compassion. How far will she make it as a journalist praciticing that? Further than she might think.
Harvey has called a meeting with the football team. He gives a very long, very Harvey speech that I don't have the energy to get into. It has to do with Jackie Robinson and it boils down to "Welcome the Gay Linebacker into your shower." Ack.
Guber is preparing Harper for the meeting - the big issues will be Malcolm White and Harry Senate. He can't get a feeling for the soccer thing but thinks that people view it as Harper's Persian Gulf War, meant to throw attention elsewhere. Harper admits "This is serious, isn't it?" Guber says he's been trying to tell him that. "Steven, you hold a political position. The principal of the high school is a political position, you must be political in that room tonight otherwise--" You'll be the principal this time tomorrow. Guber doesn't want that but Harper thinks maybe they should just fire him - he doesn't hold this place together. Yes, he does, according to Guber, but what he needs to hold at the meeting is his temper and his ego. Guber wants him to play the game, play the damn game.
Act IV
Coach Kevin is yelling at Harvey about the Gay Linebacker speech. He wants Harvey to stay out of it. "You stay away from my team." Kevin, teaching today isn't as conventional as it once was. Harvey goes on about methodology. He tried to appeal to the football players as human beings, but Kevin just wants Harvey to stay away from his team.
In the meeting, all the teachers are sitting together. Marilyn doesn't like the vibe in the room, Milton wants to know why Steven didn't wait until the next day to suspend the soccer team, and Lauren claims "You know Steven." Harvey thinks the public will back Steven - they hate Soccer. THe meeting starts and Harold Shaw says the meeting was called to address concerns about the leadership of Winslow High school. There are too many concerns to list. The room is high-strung and rumbling with every statement. They start by addressing the cancellation of the soccer season and Steven stands and explains the cheating/bullying of Anthony Ward. The parents get involved by saying it never would have happened if it was football...yadda yadda.
Dana is in her meeting with Bob Lick. He's asking pretty much the same questions as Guber. Dana is onbnoxiously close-mouthed. "This is such a joke."
Back in the meeting, Superintendant Shinn is defending Steve. "Whatever you say about Steven Harper, and I've probably said the most, he doesn't act for the sake of politics. And for the record, I commend his decision to cancel the soccer season. No school can tolerate cheating, not even a little, and when it takes the form of an organized conspiracy, we have to respond quickly and severely." What worries her more is that Harper responds quickly and severely all the time. She goes through the laundry list - physically assaulting a student, not firing Harry for shooting a gun in the classroom, the head of the SS department is teaching cannibalism because it can bring the Anti-Defamation league coming down on them. And there's another teacher who abandoned her class, who is of questionable mental health. Marla stands up.
"Now wait a minute, you're talking about me, now. Never mind, Miss Hendricks. She's talking about my mental health, I'll have something to say about it.
This is character assasination we've got going on, now."
Shinn interrupts, telling Marla that she abandoned her class with a note "Gone to Kill Myself."
Marla: "You're damn right I did. You want to know why? Because I'd had it." (Steven tries to pull her back.) "I want to respond to this stuck-up ice queen. Let me tell you something, let me tell all of you something. The reason I'd had it was because I have to go into a room day after day after damn day and try to break through to a bunch of kids who don't want to listen, don't want to learn, and don't want to give me the decency of being quiet. Harry Senate shot off a gun, I would have rolled in a big cannon if I knew where to get one. I would have tried anything. And you show me a teacher who doesn't almost lose his or her mind sometimes and I'll show you a teacher who's not trying. I can show you some parents who aren't. You sent 'em to school thinking 'Job's done, it's up to the teachers now.' It doesn't work that way, you gotta get in this too. Kids coming every day, singing their jingle "Those who can't do, teach." They get that from their parents. I know what you think of us. Let me tell you something; we're in there doing every damn day, and a lot of the doing we do is parenting. You want to compare failures? Step right up. Who's first?"
School Board Member: Thank you Miss Hendricks.
Marla: That little whirl you took coming through the school (pointing at Shinn) so you could come to this meeting and say you've been there? Lady, you ain't been there. (mumbling to herself) Stuck-up, intellectual superintendant frappuccino b!tch.
Through her whole speech, the room is deadly silent. A few of the teachers look on Marla with something akin to admiration, while the parents look vaguely appalled. Shinn, trying to pull herself together, claims that the outburst you just heard is what you get when you have a principal attacking students in corridors, a principal has to lead by example. "Is Steven Harper an example we want our teachers living up to?" The room errupts in shouts and they ask Harper to respond.
Harper: My attack on Malcolm White was inexcusable. Harry Senate was wrong to fire a gun in his classroom. Marla Hendricks is frustrated. Show me a faculty member who isn't and I'll question his or her committment. The reason I didn't fire Marla Hendricks, the reason I didn't fire Harry Senate, they are gifted teachers. Lauren Davis allows her class to digress into cannabalism because she saw a spark. What Marcia Shinn left out, when she went into Lauren's class, she saw a room full of students participating. Engaged. When Harry Senate fired off that gun? I know the motivation and he will get to those kids. If he has to do it one by one, he'll do it. He'll break through to each and every one of them. Those people over there? They're teachers. It's in there hearts. You think they're easy to find? Here's a flash - kids don't go to college today, wanting to become high school faculty members, not when they can make over a million dollars on Wall Street. Not when the top salary for a teacher is under $50,000. Over half the people who get into our profession quit within the first five years. Either because it isn't in them, or because they can't continue to keep it in them. Those people sitting there? It's in them. I've seen it. They're teachers. And when a school is lucky enough to get people like that, you don't let go. You live through their mistakes. You get in their faces, you stand in front of them.
Tonight I stand behind them. I may have made my mistakes, but keeping Harry Senate isn't one of them. You want to get rid of me? Do it. But don't you be touching them.
At which point, we have a goose-bump inducing moment. Guber stands up, announcing that if they get rid of Steven Haprer, they'll be getting rid of him. Kevin stands, Lauren, Milton, Marla, Harry stands saying he'll stay forever, , Harvey, Marilyn...all the teachers end up standing. The board claims it won't be held hostage by a popularity contest. The concerns they met to addressed have been taken care of and the meeting is adjourned. Everyone claps. The teachers hug and celebrate.
Marla is in her classroom preparing her day, the night before. Steven wants to thank her for throwing herself on the grenade. The only reason she has a job is Steven, and he has no idea how grateful she is. "We're lucky people. WHat we do? What--we're lucky people. It's a beautiful room, isn't it? Is there anything more magical than a classroom?" No, Steven is emotional. "I, um, I won't keep you from your work." As he leaves, Marla begins laying papers on desks.
Fade to Black.
