Lean on Me Quotes
The dedicated but tyrannical Joe Clark is appointed the principal of a decaying inner-city school that he is determined to improve.
Joe Clark: [Clark's roof-top pep-talk to Thomas Sams] Now let me tell you something: The trouble with being a teenager is you don't know nothing. The problem with teenagers is you think you're smarter than people who already been down the road you're traveling. You know what I'm tryin' to say to you, boy? DO YOU?
Thomas Sams: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: Did you tell your father I threw out of school?
[Sams, with his head down, doesn't answer]
Joe Clark: [picks Sams' head up; yells] Look at me DAMNIT!
Thomas Sams: [sobs] No, sir.
Joe Clark: Why not? No guts, huh? Afraid of what he's gonna say to you, aren't ya?
Thomas Sams: My father doesn't live with us anymore, sir.
Joe Clark: Oh, is that you're doing right now? Going around, feeling sorry for yourself, boy? Huh? Go on. Get outta here! You're wasting my time!
Thomas Sams: [crying] Please let me back in, sir. I have to get back to school. I can't go home and tell my mama I got kick out of school.
Joe Clark: Now why should I let you back into my school, Sams?
Thomas Sams: 'Cause I'm gonna do better, sir.
Joe Clark: How?
Thomas Sams: By doin' my work.
Joe Clark: What else?
Thomas Sams: And stayin' out of trouble.
Joe Clark: What have you been thinking about all this time? Why should I believe you now?
Thomas Sams: 'Cause I've changed my ways.
Joe Clark: I don't believe you, Sams. I don't think you changed a thing. Go on, jump!
Thomas Sams: [sobs] No, I don't wanna jump!
Joe Clark: Yes, you do! You smoke crack, don't ya? You smoke crack, don't ya? LOOK AT ME, BOY! Don't you smoke crack?
Thomas Sams: Y-yes, sir.
Joe Clark: You know what that does to you? Huh?
Thomas Sams: No, sir.
Joe Clark: [taps Sams' head with his finger] It kill your brain cells, son. It kill your brain cells! Now when you're destroying your brain cells, your doing the same thing as killing yourself. You just doing it slower! Now, I say, if wanna kill yourself, don't fuck around with it. Go on and do it expeditiously! Now go on and jump! JUMP!
Thomas Sams: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: Did you tell your father I threw out of school?
[Sams, with his head down, doesn't answer]
Joe Clark: [picks Sams' head up; yells] Look at me DAMNIT!
Thomas Sams: [sobs] No, sir.
Joe Clark: Why not? No guts, huh? Afraid of what he's gonna say to you, aren't ya?
Thomas Sams: My father doesn't live with us anymore, sir.
Joe Clark: Oh, is that you're doing right now? Going around, feeling sorry for yourself, boy? Huh? Go on. Get outta here! You're wasting my time!
Thomas Sams: [crying] Please let me back in, sir. I have to get back to school. I can't go home and tell my mama I got kick out of school.
Joe Clark: Now why should I let you back into my school, Sams?
Thomas Sams: 'Cause I'm gonna do better, sir.
Joe Clark: How?
Thomas Sams: By doin' my work.
Joe Clark: What else?
Thomas Sams: And stayin' out of trouble.
Joe Clark: What have you been thinking about all this time? Why should I believe you now?
Thomas Sams: 'Cause I've changed my ways.
Joe Clark: I don't believe you, Sams. I don't think you changed a thing. Go on, jump!
Thomas Sams: [sobs] No, I don't wanna jump!
Joe Clark: Yes, you do! You smoke crack, don't ya? You smoke crack, don't ya? LOOK AT ME, BOY! Don't you smoke crack?
Thomas Sams: Y-yes, sir.
Joe Clark: You know what that does to you? Huh?
Thomas Sams: No, sir.
Joe Clark: [taps Sams' head with his finger] It kill your brain cells, son. It kill your brain cells! Now when you're destroying your brain cells, your doing the same thing as killing yourself. You just doing it slower! Now, I say, if wanna kill yourself, don't fuck around with it. Go on and do it expeditiously! Now go on and jump! JUMP!
Joe Clark: I don't have time for Mrs. Elliott's problem!
Dr. Frank Napier: You better make time!
Joe Clark: We are being crucified by a process that is turning blacks into a permanent underclass here, Frank. A permanent underclass!
[Dr. Napier turns away from him and puts some papers in his briefcase]
Joe Clark: See! See, nobody wants to talk about that! NOBODY! Mrs. Elliott's missionary zeal about Mozart has nothing to do with our problem. Nothing! What good is Mozart going to do a bunch of children who can't go out and get a job?
Dr. Frank Napier: Joe, your personal battles are gonna cost us the war. Worry about the test scores.
Joe Clark: WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK I'M WORRIED ABOUT?
Dr. Frank Napier: END OF DISCUSSION! Debate is over! You will write a formal apology!
Joe Clark: I will what?
Dr. Frank Napier: A formal apology for your treatment of Mrs. Elliott and Darnell and for your vicious and thoughtless insults to the women of this community! You will kow tow. You will step and fetch!
Joe Clark: If you think that I'm gonna...
Dr. Frank Napier: [slams briefcase shut] Get used to it! It's the WAY OF THE WORLD! If you're so hot on discipline, then goddammit
[pounds on briefcase]
Dr. Frank Napier: start by accepting mine because contrary to popular opinion, I'M THE HEAD NIGGER IN CHARGE!
[He grabs his briefcase and heads for the door]
Dr. Frank Napier: Come on, let's get something to eat.
Joe Clark: [following him to the door and walking out with him] Boy... you really think you bad, don't you?
Dr. Frank Napier: You better make time!
Joe Clark: We are being crucified by a process that is turning blacks into a permanent underclass here, Frank. A permanent underclass!
[Dr. Napier turns away from him and puts some papers in his briefcase]
Joe Clark: See! See, nobody wants to talk about that! NOBODY! Mrs. Elliott's missionary zeal about Mozart has nothing to do with our problem. Nothing! What good is Mozart going to do a bunch of children who can't go out and get a job?
Dr. Frank Napier: Joe, your personal battles are gonna cost us the war. Worry about the test scores.
Joe Clark: WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK I'M WORRIED ABOUT?
Dr. Frank Napier: END OF DISCUSSION! Debate is over! You will write a formal apology!
Joe Clark: I will what?
Dr. Frank Napier: A formal apology for your treatment of Mrs. Elliott and Darnell and for your vicious and thoughtless insults to the women of this community! You will kow tow. You will step and fetch!
Joe Clark: If you think that I'm gonna...
Dr. Frank Napier: [slams briefcase shut] Get used to it! It's the WAY OF THE WORLD! If you're so hot on discipline, then goddammit
[pounds on briefcase]
Dr. Frank Napier: start by accepting mine because contrary to popular opinion, I'M THE HEAD NIGGER IN CHARGE!
[He grabs his briefcase and heads for the door]
Dr. Frank Napier: Come on, let's get something to eat.
Joe Clark: [following him to the door and walking out with him] Boy... you really think you bad, don't you?
Leonna Barrett: What happened this morning is an outrage! My boy's no criminal! He and those children belong in school, not back out on the streets! Our kids don't deserve this! Some of those children are smart. They're just discouraged what chances they got out there, what kind of jobs they got waiting for them. What chance do they have now? He insulted the black football coach! The man's gone crazy! He's declared war on his own people!
Mrs. Arthur: May I remind you, Miss Barrett, that Mr. Clark was nice enough to come to this emergency meeting after a very trying day?
Leonna Barrett: That's what he gets paid for!
Mrs. Arthur: I think we owe him a chance to respond.
[the audience claps in agreemeet]
Joe Clark: [getting up and stand before the group] They say one bad apple spoils the bunch.
[shouts of protest]
Joe Clark: But what about 300? Rotten to the core! Now, you're right, Mrs. Barrett. This is a war. It's a war to save 2700 other students, most of whom don't have the basic skills to pass the state exam.
[some applause]
Joe Clark: Now if you want to help us, fine.
[coming over to her]
Joe Clark: Sit down with your kids and make them study at night. Go get your families off welfare.
Leonna Barrett: [getting up in his face] How dare you talk to these people about welfare!
Joe Clark: Give our children some pride! Tell them to get their priorities straight!
[Mrs. Barrett sits down. He walks on down the center of the audience]
Joe Clark: When Dr. Napier came to me offering this job, I saw the lightning flash. I heard the thunder roll! I felt breakers crashing, swamping my soul!
Leonna Barrett: [getting up again] We are NOT in church, Mr. Clark!
Joe Clark: [facing her] I fell down on my knees
[Mrs. Barrett sits down in exasperation]
Joe Clark: and I cried "My God, why has thou forsaken me?" and the Lord said "Joe, you're no damn good. No, I mean this! More than you realize, you're no earthly good at all unless you take this opportunity and do whatever you have to." And he didn't say "Joe, be polite".
[the people clap in agreement]
Joe Clark: Do whatever you have to to transform and transmogrify this school into a special place where the hearts and souls and minds of the young can rise.
[more clapping in agreement]
Joe Clark: Where they can grow tall and blossom out from under the shadows of the past. Where the minds of the young are set free. And I gave my word to God, and that's why I threw those bastards out
[the crowd starts to shout in both agreement and protest]
Joe Clark: And that's all I'm gonna say!
[He walks out as the audience gets loud and boisterous]
Mrs. Arthur: May I remind you, Miss Barrett, that Mr. Clark was nice enough to come to this emergency meeting after a very trying day?
Leonna Barrett: That's what he gets paid for!
Mrs. Arthur: I think we owe him a chance to respond.
[the audience claps in agreemeet]
Joe Clark: [getting up and stand before the group] They say one bad apple spoils the bunch.
[shouts of protest]
Joe Clark: But what about 300? Rotten to the core! Now, you're right, Mrs. Barrett. This is a war. It's a war to save 2700 other students, most of whom don't have the basic skills to pass the state exam.
[some applause]
Joe Clark: Now if you want to help us, fine.
[coming over to her]
Joe Clark: Sit down with your kids and make them study at night. Go get your families off welfare.
Leonna Barrett: [getting up in his face] How dare you talk to these people about welfare!
Joe Clark: Give our children some pride! Tell them to get their priorities straight!
[Mrs. Barrett sits down. He walks on down the center of the audience]
Joe Clark: When Dr. Napier came to me offering this job, I saw the lightning flash. I heard the thunder roll! I felt breakers crashing, swamping my soul!
Leonna Barrett: [getting up again] We are NOT in church, Mr. Clark!
Joe Clark: [facing her] I fell down on my knees
[Mrs. Barrett sits down in exasperation]
Joe Clark: and I cried "My God, why has thou forsaken me?" and the Lord said "Joe, you're no damn good. No, I mean this! More than you realize, you're no earthly good at all unless you take this opportunity and do whatever you have to." And he didn't say "Joe, be polite".
[the people clap in agreement]
Joe Clark: Do whatever you have to to transform and transmogrify this school into a special place where the hearts and souls and minds of the young can rise.
[more clapping in agreement]
Joe Clark: Where they can grow tall and blossom out from under the shadows of the past. Where the minds of the young are set free. And I gave my word to God, and that's why I threw those bastards out
[the crowd starts to shout in both agreement and protest]
Joe Clark: And that's all I'm gonna say!
[He walks out as the audience gets loud and boisterous]
Joe Clark: I'll tell you what I do see here...
Ms. Levias: No! I'm talking now! Let me finish! Everybody here may not like you as a person, but we all applaud your efforts. But what you don't understand is the same people that support you are the ones you're beating up! You don't even take the time to say 'Thank you. Job well done'. Nothing! You just step on their necks! Constantly abuse them!
Joe Clark: Ms. Levias...
Ms. Levias: Criticize them!
Joe Clark: What do you want from me?
[Faces her]
Joe Clark: What the HELL do you want?
Ms. Levias: I want you to get this straight! Most of the teachers here are here because they care! About those children out there! This school, this fight, they are in it with you! They take it home at night, the same as you! They are a part of those children's lives! You are thoughtless and cruel, and it hurts! And none of them deserve it! They are sick of it, and so am I!
Ms. Levias: No! I'm talking now! Let me finish! Everybody here may not like you as a person, but we all applaud your efforts. But what you don't understand is the same people that support you are the ones you're beating up! You don't even take the time to say 'Thank you. Job well done'. Nothing! You just step on their necks! Constantly abuse them!
Joe Clark: Ms. Levias...
Ms. Levias: Criticize them!
Joe Clark: What do you want from me?
[Faces her]
Joe Clark: What the HELL do you want?
Ms. Levias: I want you to get this straight! Most of the teachers here are here because they care! About those children out there! This school, this fight, they are in it with you! They take it home at night, the same as you! They are a part of those children's lives! You are thoughtless and cruel, and it hurts! And none of them deserve it! They are sick of it, and so am I!
Joe Clark: [at the first teachers' meeting] ... You are now my chief custodian, Reverend Slappy. You will scour this building clean. Any graffiti that goes up, comes off the next day. Is that clear? Detention students can help you. Let them scrub this place for a while, discover what a fine living you make doing this. And tear down those cages in the cafeteria! If we treat our students like animals, that's exactly how they'll behave!
Joe Clark: [at school assembly before the skills test] And I've got a message out there for those people who have abandoned you and written you off. You are NOT inferior. Your grades may be. Your school may have been. But you can turn all that around and make liars out of those bastards in exactly one hour, when you take that test, pass it, and win!
Ms. Levias: [as Mr. Clark is walking down a hallway, she is running up to him] Mr. Clark!
Joe Clark: Yes, Ms. Levias?
Ms. Levias: May I talk to you for a minute please?
Joe Clark: What is it?
Ms. Levias: I want you to transfer me.
Joe Clark: To where?
Ms. Levias: Out of here!
Joe Clark: You know, this doesn't surprise me one bit, Ms. Levias. I have sensed resistance in you since our very first meeting.
Ms. Levias: You're an egomaniacal windbag
Joe Clark: Who are you talking to?
Ms. Levias: I'm talking to you! You like to whip people who can't fight back. I thought I could take it because I had a father in the same kind of pain that makes you just a bastard, but I was wrong. Life is much too short. I will NOT endure you any longer!
Joe Clark: You will not endure me?
Ms. Levias: The reason I haven't walked out and half the staff along with me is because those children need us here! You're so busy talking discipline that you fail to educate!
Joe Clark: Is THAT SO?
Ms. Levias: YES!
Joe Clark: What in the hell do you think I've been doing here all this time?
Ms. Levias: So you cleaned it up. That was the easy part.
Joe Clark: That's the easy part?
Ms. Levias: Those children want to be helped! They've worked their hearts out for you, done everything you asked them to, believed what we told them. But I feel sorry for them! They're not ready to take that test!
Joe Clark: What the hell are you talking about? I have done everything, everything I...
Ms. Levias: I, I, I! It is always I! There are 300 teachers on the faculty here, you do NOT do it alone!
Joe Clark: [walking away] I don't have to stand here and listen to these accusations!
Ms. Levias: You will listen! YOU WILL STAND THERE AND YOU WILL LISTEN!
Joe Clark: [stops and faces her] Why, Mrs. Levias? Huh? Go ahead and talk!
Ms. Levias: For the past seven months, you've been flapping your mouth and you haven't heard a thing. You haven't even seen what's painfully obvious!
Joe Clark: Yes, Ms. Levias?
Ms. Levias: May I talk to you for a minute please?
Joe Clark: What is it?
Ms. Levias: I want you to transfer me.
Joe Clark: To where?
Ms. Levias: Out of here!
Joe Clark: You know, this doesn't surprise me one bit, Ms. Levias. I have sensed resistance in you since our very first meeting.
Ms. Levias: You're an egomaniacal windbag
Joe Clark: Who are you talking to?
Ms. Levias: I'm talking to you! You like to whip people who can't fight back. I thought I could take it because I had a father in the same kind of pain that makes you just a bastard, but I was wrong. Life is much too short. I will NOT endure you any longer!
Joe Clark: You will not endure me?
Ms. Levias: The reason I haven't walked out and half the staff along with me is because those children need us here! You're so busy talking discipline that you fail to educate!
Joe Clark: Is THAT SO?
Ms. Levias: YES!
Joe Clark: What in the hell do you think I've been doing here all this time?
Ms. Levias: So you cleaned it up. That was the easy part.
Joe Clark: That's the easy part?
Ms. Levias: Those children want to be helped! They've worked their hearts out for you, done everything you asked them to, believed what we told them. But I feel sorry for them! They're not ready to take that test!
Joe Clark: What the hell are you talking about? I have done everything, everything I...
Ms. Levias: I, I, I! It is always I! There are 300 teachers on the faculty here, you do NOT do it alone!
Joe Clark: [walking away] I don't have to stand here and listen to these accusations!
Ms. Levias: You will listen! YOU WILL STAND THERE AND YOU WILL LISTEN!
Joe Clark: [stops and faces her] Why, Mrs. Levias? Huh? Go ahead and talk!
Ms. Levias: For the past seven months, you've been flapping your mouth and you haven't heard a thing. You haven't even seen what's painfully obvious!
Joe Clark: [at lunch, in the cafeteria, Clark has singled out Sams] ... I want all of you to take a good look at this slovenly, sloppy boy - as an example of how NOT to dress. If you look like THIS in the morning, find some other clothes to wear. Self-respect permeates every aspect of your existence. If you don't have respect for yourself, you're not gonna get it from anyone else.
Dr. Frank Napier: Did you see this yet?
[holding up newspaper story about Clark's fight with a former student]
Dr. Frank Napier: You know, a lot of your shits comes down on my head.
Joe Clark: Oh, Frank! Look, this is...
Dr. Frank Napier: No, You let me talk! It's like you're a big bird with radar and I'm tired of getting hit!
Joe Clark: Th... this is my fault?
Dr. Frank Napier: This is nothing! I've got union lawyers threatening me and there's talk of a walk-out!
Joe Clark: Well, let 'em! They're not doing anything down there anyway!
Dr. Frank Napier: It is your job to...
Joe Clark: None of them have a personal stake at that school! Not one!
Dr. Frank Napier: The fire chief was just in here. He said it was illegal to bar those doors. Mrs. Barrett is organizing a parents' group to try and get you removed since you insulted them at that meeting the other night when you suggested they should get off welfare...
Joe Clark: Oh, I didn't mean all of...
Dr. Frank Napier: ...because the fact is quite a few of them need it.
Joe Clark: I wasn't talking to all of them, Frank! Look, you came and recruited me, man, but you disappoint me, brother. You disappoint me!
Dr. Frank Napier: The disappointment here is you!
Joe Clark: Me?
Dr. Frank Napier: Yes!
Joe Clark: You know who I am. You've known me thirty years! You knew what I would do! You know how I operate!
Dr. Frank Napier: Nigger, will you keep quiet! the fact is you're screwing up! You're alienating everybody! Look at you, you have no life! Your wife left you! Hell, I oughta walk out on you myself!
Joe Clark: Well, go ahead! Bail the hell out!
Dr. Frank Napier: But I said I'd back you up!
Joe Clark: That's what you said, man! That's what you said!
Dr. Frank Napier: I would go through the... fire with you, but you are not taking care of business! This shit you're pulling now, you've just gone plain loco! Now you suspend Darnell! What the hell was that?
Joe Clark: Darnell is symptomatic of the disciplinary problems...
Dr. Frank Napier: He is a good, strong, young Black teacher! So he... dumped that desk right on top of your head. Well, right on! Good for him! You will reinstate that man, you hear? And you fire Mrs. Elliott! Why? Because she didn't want to kiss your ass! I wouldn't neither! How about that?
Joe Clark: Mrs. Elliott has an ego problem!
Dr. Frank Napier: Well, you lost the best teacher we ever had! We couldn't get her back now if we wanted to!
[holding up newspaper story about Clark's fight with a former student]
Dr. Frank Napier: You know, a lot of your shits comes down on my head.
Joe Clark: Oh, Frank! Look, this is...
Dr. Frank Napier: No, You let me talk! It's like you're a big bird with radar and I'm tired of getting hit!
Joe Clark: Th... this is my fault?
Dr. Frank Napier: This is nothing! I've got union lawyers threatening me and there's talk of a walk-out!
Joe Clark: Well, let 'em! They're not doing anything down there anyway!
Dr. Frank Napier: It is your job to...
Joe Clark: None of them have a personal stake at that school! Not one!
Dr. Frank Napier: The fire chief was just in here. He said it was illegal to bar those doors. Mrs. Barrett is organizing a parents' group to try and get you removed since you insulted them at that meeting the other night when you suggested they should get off welfare...
Joe Clark: Oh, I didn't mean all of...
Dr. Frank Napier: ...because the fact is quite a few of them need it.
Joe Clark: I wasn't talking to all of them, Frank! Look, you came and recruited me, man, but you disappoint me, brother. You disappoint me!
Dr. Frank Napier: The disappointment here is you!
Joe Clark: Me?
Dr. Frank Napier: Yes!
Joe Clark: You know who I am. You've known me thirty years! You knew what I would do! You know how I operate!
Dr. Frank Napier: Nigger, will you keep quiet! the fact is you're screwing up! You're alienating everybody! Look at you, you have no life! Your wife left you! Hell, I oughta walk out on you myself!
Joe Clark: Well, go ahead! Bail the hell out!
Dr. Frank Napier: But I said I'd back you up!
Joe Clark: That's what you said, man! That's what you said!
Dr. Frank Napier: I would go through the... fire with you, but you are not taking care of business! This shit you're pulling now, you've just gone plain loco! Now you suspend Darnell! What the hell was that?
Joe Clark: Darnell is symptomatic of the disciplinary problems...
Dr. Frank Napier: He is a good, strong, young Black teacher! So he... dumped that desk right on top of your head. Well, right on! Good for him! You will reinstate that man, you hear? And you fire Mrs. Elliott! Why? Because she didn't want to kiss your ass! I wouldn't neither! How about that?
Joe Clark: Mrs. Elliott has an ego problem!
Dr. Frank Napier: Well, you lost the best teacher we ever had! We couldn't get her back now if we wanted to!
Leonna Barrett: [at the demonstration outside City Hall] ... Children, you have my word that we will get you what Eastside High deserves: a GOOD principal!
Thomas Sams: We don't WANT a "good principal!" We WANT Mr. Clark!
Leonna Barrett: You may THINK you know what you want, but...
[the students applaud wildly, seeing that Clark has just walked up behind Barrett, unnoticed by her]
Thomas Sams: We don't WANT a "good principal!" We WANT Mr. Clark!
Leonna Barrett: You may THINK you know what you want, but...
[the students applaud wildly, seeing that Clark has just walked up behind Barrett, unnoticed by her]
Joe Clark: [at an assembly] I want all of you to take a good look at these people on the risers behind me. These people have been here roughly five years, and done absolutely nothing. These people are drug dealers and drug users. They have taken up space. They have disrupted this school. They have harassed your teachers. And they have intimidated you. Well, times are about to change. You will not be bothered in Joe Clark's school. These people are incorrigible. And since none of them could graduate anyway...
[to those onstage]
Joe Clark: ... you are all expurgated. You are dismissed! You are out of here, forever. I wish you well! Mr. Wright...
[after Security Dean William Wright and Eastside's new guards eject all the "problem" kids from school, Clark's audience in the decaying auditorium grows silent]
Joe Clark: Next time, it may be you. If you do no better than they did, next time it WILL be you. They said this school was dead, like the cemetery it's built on. But we call our Eastside teams "Ghosts", don't we? And what are ghosts? Ghosts are spirits that rise from the dead. I want you to be my ghosts. You are going to lead our resurrection, by defying the expectation that all of us are doomed to failure. My motto is simple: If you do not succeed in life, I don't want you to blame your parents. I don't want you to blame the White Man. I want you to blame yourselves. The responsibility is yours! In two weeks we have a practice exam, and on April 13th we have the Minimum Basic Skills Test itself. That's 110 school days from now. But it's not just about those test scores. If you do not have these basic skills, you will find yourselves locked out. Locked out of that American Dream that you see advertised on TV, and that they tell you is so easy to get. You are here for one reason. One reason only: To learn. To work for what you believe in. The alternative is to waste your time, to fall into the trap of crime and drugs and death. Does everybody understand that? Do all of you understand me? Then welcome to the new Eastside High.
[to those onstage]
Joe Clark: ... you are all expurgated. You are dismissed! You are out of here, forever. I wish you well! Mr. Wright...
[after Security Dean William Wright and Eastside's new guards eject all the "problem" kids from school, Clark's audience in the decaying auditorium grows silent]
Joe Clark: Next time, it may be you. If you do no better than they did, next time it WILL be you. They said this school was dead, like the cemetery it's built on. But we call our Eastside teams "Ghosts", don't we? And what are ghosts? Ghosts are spirits that rise from the dead. I want you to be my ghosts. You are going to lead our resurrection, by defying the expectation that all of us are doomed to failure. My motto is simple: If you do not succeed in life, I don't want you to blame your parents. I don't want you to blame the White Man. I want you to blame yourselves. The responsibility is yours! In two weeks we have a practice exam, and on April 13th we have the Minimum Basic Skills Test itself. That's 110 school days from now. But it's not just about those test scores. If you do not have these basic skills, you will find yourselves locked out. Locked out of that American Dream that you see advertised on TV, and that they tell you is so easy to get. You are here for one reason. One reason only: To learn. To work for what you believe in. The alternative is to waste your time, to fall into the trap of crime and drugs and death. Does everybody understand that? Do all of you understand me? Then welcome to the new Eastside High.
Mrs. Elliott: I would love to stay and chat, Mr. Clark, but I've a concert in New York in two weeks and I would like to be prepared.
Joe Clark: What?
Mrs. Elliott: Prepare. You do know what prepare means, don't you? It means ready, capable and up to your job.
Joe Clark: What concert, Mrs. Elliott?
Mrs. Elliott: The one at Lincoln Center. We do one every year.
Joe Clark: Until now. As of this moment, your little concert is cancelled.
Mrs. Elliott: What?
Joe Clark: CANCELLED! You do know what cancelled means, don't you? Called off! Terminated!
Mrs. Elliott: WHY? Those children have worked too hard!
Joe Clark: And for not telling me!
Mrs. Elliott: I filed a form in your office! Why don't you talk to...
Joe Clark: And for RANK insubordination! You have insulted my intellegence, my authority...
Mrs. Elliott: You're the one that always comes to pick on me! I'll tell you what! You're a bully, you're a despicable man and I've got nothing more to say to you!
Joe Clark: Let's just accommodate that, Mrs. Elliott! YOU'RE FIRED!
Mrs. Elliott: You need a psychiatrist!
Joe Clark: GET OUT!
Mrs. Elliott: All right, fine! Fired? YOU WILL HEAR FROM MY LAWYER!
Joe Clark: What?
Mrs. Elliott: Prepare. You do know what prepare means, don't you? It means ready, capable and up to your job.
Joe Clark: What concert, Mrs. Elliott?
Mrs. Elliott: The one at Lincoln Center. We do one every year.
Joe Clark: Until now. As of this moment, your little concert is cancelled.
Mrs. Elliott: What?
Joe Clark: CANCELLED! You do know what cancelled means, don't you? Called off! Terminated!
Mrs. Elliott: WHY? Those children have worked too hard!
Joe Clark: And for not telling me!
Mrs. Elliott: I filed a form in your office! Why don't you talk to...
Joe Clark: And for RANK insubordination! You have insulted my intellegence, my authority...
Mrs. Elliott: You're the one that always comes to pick on me! I'll tell you what! You're a bully, you're a despicable man and I've got nothing more to say to you!
Joe Clark: Let's just accommodate that, Mrs. Elliott! YOU'RE FIRED!
Mrs. Elliott: You need a psychiatrist!
Joe Clark: GET OUT!
Mrs. Elliott: All right, fine! Fired? YOU WILL HEAR FROM MY LAWYER!
Joe Clark: You've tried it your way for years, and your students can't even pass the State's Minimum Basic Skills Test. THAT MEANS THEY CAN BARELY READ! Now, they've given me one year to turn this place around - to get those test scores up - so that the State will not take us over to perform the task which YOU have failed to accomplish: the task of EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN! So forget about the way it used to be. This is not a damn democracy! We are in a state of emergency and my word is law! There's only one boss around here, and that's me. The HNIC.
[exits]
Mr. O'Malley: HNIC?
Ms. Levias: Head Nigger In Charge.
[exits]
Mr. O'Malley: HNIC?
Ms. Levias: Head Nigger In Charge.
Joe Clark: Alright people, here we are. In one hour, you are going to take an exam administered by the State to test your basic skills and the quality of education at East Side High. I want to tell you what the people are saying about you and what they think about your chances. They say you're inferior! You are just a bunch of niggers and spics and poor white trash! Education is wasted on you! You cannot learn! You're lost! I mean ALL of you! I want all the white students to stand up. All my white students, stand up. Stand up. C'mon, stand up. These are my white children and they're the same as all of you! They've got no place to go, if they had, they'd have abandoned us a long time ago like everybody else did. So, here they are in East Side High, just like the rest of us. You can sit down. Are you getting my point, people? Is it beginning to sink in? We sink, we swim, we rise, we fall, we meet our fate together! Now, it took the help of a good, good friend to make me know and understand that and I do understand that and I'm grateful. I'm eternally grateful. And now, I've got a message for those people out there who've abandoned you and written you off! Can you hear me? Can you hear me? Good! You are NOT inferior! Your grades may be, your school may have been. But you can turn that around and make liars out of those bastards in exactly one hour when you take that test and pass it and win! So here's what I want you to do. When you find your thoughts wandering, I want you to knuckle back down and concentrate. Concentrate! Remember what's at stake and show them what East Side High's all about: a spirit that will not die!
Leonna Barrett: [as the crowd is chanting "FREE MR. CLARK"] Listen to me! People, please! You must all disperse and return to your homes! Your presence here is helping no one! Why don't you use your brains and listen?
Clarence: [stepping up to take the megaphone and turn on the siren] Everybody, come on, listen up, listen up! Now let's just settle down, give her a chance to talk. She might actually have something to say. Now everybody just chill, settle down and let's listen to the old loudmouth wench!
[Everyone laughs and cheers as he hands her back the megaphone]
Leonna Barrett: [as she is talking on the megaphone, Mr. Clark approaches the doorway at the top of the City Hall stairs] You can call me what you want, but the simple fact is Mr. Clark has broken the laws in this state and exposed you all to grave danger.
[Everyone boos and protests]
Leonna Barrett: His behavior is irresponsible. Chaining those doors was a criminal act. Why do you think they call him Crazy Joe?
Thomas Sams: Because you all don't understand him!
Maria: Yeah that's right! He chained those doors to keep out the drug dealers. To make us all feel safe. You talk about the law but you're twisting the law. The laws are made to protect the people and that's what he's doing for us
[Everyone applauds in agreement]
Reggie: The thing you don't understand is that Mr. Clark believes in us. He's provided an environ...
Kaneesha Carter: [to Reggie] He don't believe in you, 'cause you don't take care of your responsibilities!
[everyone points and laughs at him]
Leonna Barrett: Despite what he himself may believe, Mr. Clark is not Eastside High!
Kaneesha Carter: Mr. Clark is not only Eastside High! Mr. Clark is like a father! He's the only father that some of us who don't have fathers know. You don't know a thing about Mr. Clark!
Leonna Barrett: People, just hear me! The school board is meeting right now and I promise you, we will give you what Eastside High deserves- a good principal!
Thomas Sams: We don't WANT a good principal! WE WANT MR. CLARK!
Clarence: [stepping up to take the megaphone and turn on the siren] Everybody, come on, listen up, listen up! Now let's just settle down, give her a chance to talk. She might actually have something to say. Now everybody just chill, settle down and let's listen to the old loudmouth wench!
[Everyone laughs and cheers as he hands her back the megaphone]
Leonna Barrett: [as she is talking on the megaphone, Mr. Clark approaches the doorway at the top of the City Hall stairs] You can call me what you want, but the simple fact is Mr. Clark has broken the laws in this state and exposed you all to grave danger.
[Everyone boos and protests]
Leonna Barrett: His behavior is irresponsible. Chaining those doors was a criminal act. Why do you think they call him Crazy Joe?
Thomas Sams: Because you all don't understand him!
Maria: Yeah that's right! He chained those doors to keep out the drug dealers. To make us all feel safe. You talk about the law but you're twisting the law. The laws are made to protect the people and that's what he's doing for us
[Everyone applauds in agreement]
Reggie: The thing you don't understand is that Mr. Clark believes in us. He's provided an environ...
Kaneesha Carter: [to Reggie] He don't believe in you, 'cause you don't take care of your responsibilities!
[everyone points and laughs at him]
Leonna Barrett: Despite what he himself may believe, Mr. Clark is not Eastside High!
Kaneesha Carter: Mr. Clark is not only Eastside High! Mr. Clark is like a father! He's the only father that some of us who don't have fathers know. You don't know a thing about Mr. Clark!
Leonna Barrett: People, just hear me! The school board is meeting right now and I promise you, we will give you what Eastside High deserves- a good principal!
Thomas Sams: We don't WANT a good principal! WE WANT MR. CLARK!
Maria: The Gospel chorus is for the blacks! Football for the blacks! Basketball, blacks!
Maria: Look at me, I'm short! Can I play basketball? NO! The point is, you're ignoring us, and we're getting really ticked off!
Joe Clark: You know, with a mouth like yours, You oughta study Law.
Maria: Really?
Joe Clark: Really.
Maria: Look at me, I'm short! Can I play basketball? NO! The point is, you're ignoring us, and we're getting really ticked off!
Joe Clark: You know, with a mouth like yours, You oughta study Law.
Maria: Really?
Joe Clark: Really.
Mayor Don Bottman: What do you want?
Leonna Barrett: Clark!
Mayor Don Bottman: Just like that, huh? Head on a platter.
Leonna Barrett: You think I got an attitude. Well, let me tell you what I think. I know why you like Clark. He's a guard dog. Does your dirty work. Keeps the black folk in line - that's fine. But you've got to get re-elected. I've got enough folks lined up with me to give you a DAMN hard time, and I will get more. I will organize. I will beat the streets.
Mayor Don Bottman: Unless I do what?
Leonna Barrett: Appoint me to the school board so we can vote Clark out. Otherwise, we'll just have to vote you out.
Mayor Don Bottman: Vote me out? You know, it's always good to see citizens avail themselves of the democratic process.
Leonna Barrett: My job's gonna be easy. You're not too popular these days, are ya?
Leonna Barrett: Clark!
Mayor Don Bottman: Just like that, huh? Head on a platter.
Leonna Barrett: You think I got an attitude. Well, let me tell you what I think. I know why you like Clark. He's a guard dog. Does your dirty work. Keeps the black folk in line - that's fine. But you've got to get re-elected. I've got enough folks lined up with me to give you a DAMN hard time, and I will get more. I will organize. I will beat the streets.
Mayor Don Bottman: Unless I do what?
Leonna Barrett: Appoint me to the school board so we can vote Clark out. Otherwise, we'll just have to vote you out.
Mayor Don Bottman: Vote me out? You know, it's always good to see citizens avail themselves of the democratic process.
Leonna Barrett: My job's gonna be easy. You're not too popular these days, are ya?
Thomas Sams: Hey, Mr. Clark, what did they get you for?
Ms. Levias: What's the charge? What's this all about?
Leonna Barrett: It's about someone finally stood up to this man, instead of taking his orders like a maid.
Ms. Levias: How dare you speak about people like that? Who do you think you are?
Joe Clark: Mrs. Barrett, if you think you can...
Leonna Barrett: Shut up! You're finished!
[holds up the tape recorder]
Leonna Barrett: The school board's going to hear this at 7:00, and we are going to vote your black ass out!
Thomas Sams: Yo, bitch! Vote on THIS!
[gestures angrily]
Joe Clark: That won't help me, Sams.
Ms. Levias: What's the charge? What's this all about?
Leonna Barrett: It's about someone finally stood up to this man, instead of taking his orders like a maid.
Ms. Levias: How dare you speak about people like that? Who do you think you are?
Joe Clark: Mrs. Barrett, if you think you can...
Leonna Barrett: Shut up! You're finished!
[holds up the tape recorder]
Leonna Barrett: The school board's going to hear this at 7:00, and we are going to vote your black ass out!
Thomas Sams: Yo, bitch! Vote on THIS!
[gestures angrily]
Joe Clark: That won't help me, Sams.
Joe Clark: Don't talk to me about saving those kids. The mayor wants to save his budget. And you wanna save your ass!
Dr. Frank Napier: Well, so what? You want the truth?
Joe Clark: Yeah, Frank. Let's have some truth.
Dr. Frank Napier: The truth is that for all your talking, all your 'Crazy Joe' routine, what have you ever done? Nothing. You're nothing but an insignificant man. It's like you were never born. Your life hasn't made one bit of difference, and neither has mine. Wanna take that to the grave?
Dr. Frank Napier: Well, so what? You want the truth?
Joe Clark: Yeah, Frank. Let's have some truth.
Dr. Frank Napier: The truth is that for all your talking, all your 'Crazy Joe' routine, what have you ever done? Nothing. You're nothing but an insignificant man. It's like you were never born. Your life hasn't made one bit of difference, and neither has mine. Wanna take that to the grave?
Mr. Darnell: Mr. Clark, just what was that all about?
Joe Clark: I distinctly said, "No one move, during the singing of the school song", Now if you can't understand that, find yourself another place to work.
Mr. Darnell: [yells] I was picking up a piece of paper!
Joe Clark: Then you contradicted me in front of my students.
Mr. Darnell: They're my students, too!
Joe Clark: THEY ARE MY STUDENTS, MR. DARNELL!
Mr. Darnell: Just what are you tryin' to prove? I'm workin my ass off of you, took the demotion and I'm doin' my job! You just getting your rocks off by treating me like trash!
Joe Clark: No sir, that's what you're picking up.
Mr. Darnell: [slamming the folders onto Clark's desk; screaming] Goddamn it! YOU GIVE ME THE GODDDAMN RESPECT YOU WOULD DAMN WELL WANT YOURSELF, OR I WILL KICK YOUR BLACK ASS!
Joe Clark: You are suspended sir, as of RIGHT NOW! GET OUT!
Mr. Darnell: AHHH!
[dumps Clark's desk on it's side]
Joe Clark: I distinctly said, "No one move, during the singing of the school song", Now if you can't understand that, find yourself another place to work.
Mr. Darnell: [yells] I was picking up a piece of paper!
Joe Clark: Then you contradicted me in front of my students.
Mr. Darnell: They're my students, too!
Joe Clark: THEY ARE MY STUDENTS, MR. DARNELL!
Mr. Darnell: Just what are you tryin' to prove? I'm workin my ass off of you, took the demotion and I'm doin' my job! You just getting your rocks off by treating me like trash!
Joe Clark: No sir, that's what you're picking up.
Mr. Darnell: [slamming the folders onto Clark's desk; screaming] Goddamn it! YOU GIVE ME THE GODDDAMN RESPECT YOU WOULD DAMN WELL WANT YOURSELF, OR I WILL KICK YOUR BLACK ASS!
Joe Clark: You are suspended sir, as of RIGHT NOW! GET OUT!
Mr. Darnell: AHHH!
[dumps Clark's desk on it's side]
[after seeing the dilapidated, crime-infested interior of Eastside High School, Joe Clark, the new elected principal, is introduced to the school board]
Mr. O'Malley: We want to welcome Mr. Clark to Eastside. We've heard so much about you and tell you what we've done in anticipation of your arrival, uh, Ms. Levias, your other vice-principal and I have appointed an executive committee to oversee certain areas where we have noted a need for improvement. Mr. Zirella, for example...
Joe Clark: [cuts him off] You may sit down, Mr. O'Malley.
[Mr. O'Malley takes a seat]
Joe Clark: [addresses the teachers and the board] You think you run this school? If you could, then I wouldn't be here, would I? No one talks in my meetings. No one! You take out your pencils and write. I want the names of every hoodlum, drug dealer, and miscreant who's done nothing but take this place apart on my desk by noon today. Reverend Slappy?
Rev. Slappy: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: You are now the Chief Custodian, Reverend Slappy. You will scour this building clean. Graffiti goes up, it's off the next day. Is that clear?
Rev. Slappy: Yes, sir. The very next day.
Joe Clark: Detention students can help you. Let them scrub this place for a while. And tear down those cages in the cafeteria. You treat them like animals, that exactly how they'll behave.
Joe Clark: [to the new head of security] This is my new Dean of Security, Mr. William Wright. He will my Avenging Angel, as you teachers reclaim the halls. This is an institution of learning, ladies and gentlemen. If you can't control it, how can you teach? Discipline is not the enemy of enthusiasm! Mr. Zirella?
Mr. Zirella: [stands up] Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: Mr. Zirella, you are now my new head football coach. Mr. Darnell? Stand up, Mr. Darnell.
[Mr. Darnell stands up]
Joe Clark: Mr. Darnell will be your assistant. You know why you're being demoted, Mr. Darnell? Because I'm sick and tired of our football team getting push all over the field. Thank you, sit down! I want precision. I want a weight program. And if you don't like it, Mr. Darnell, you can quit. Same goes for the rest of you. You tried it your way for years, and your students can't even get past the Minimum Basic Skills Test. That means they can HARDLY READ! They've given me less than one year, one school year to turn this place around, to get those test scores up so the state will not take us over to perform the task which you have failed to DO: TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN! Forget about the way it used to be. This is not a damn democracy! We are in a state of emergency and my word is law! There's only one boss around in this place. And that's me, the H.N.I.C. Are there any questions?
[the board becomes silent]
Joe Clark: Mr. Wright.
[Principal Clark and Mr Wright leave the meeting room]
Mr. O'Malley: [to Ms. Levias] The H.N.I.C.?
Ms. Levias: The Head Nigger in Charge.
Mr. O'Malley: We want to welcome Mr. Clark to Eastside. We've heard so much about you and tell you what we've done in anticipation of your arrival, uh, Ms. Levias, your other vice-principal and I have appointed an executive committee to oversee certain areas where we have noted a need for improvement. Mr. Zirella, for example...
Joe Clark: [cuts him off] You may sit down, Mr. O'Malley.
[Mr. O'Malley takes a seat]
Joe Clark: [addresses the teachers and the board] You think you run this school? If you could, then I wouldn't be here, would I? No one talks in my meetings. No one! You take out your pencils and write. I want the names of every hoodlum, drug dealer, and miscreant who's done nothing but take this place apart on my desk by noon today. Reverend Slappy?
Rev. Slappy: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: You are now the Chief Custodian, Reverend Slappy. You will scour this building clean. Graffiti goes up, it's off the next day. Is that clear?
Rev. Slappy: Yes, sir. The very next day.
Joe Clark: Detention students can help you. Let them scrub this place for a while. And tear down those cages in the cafeteria. You treat them like animals, that exactly how they'll behave.
Joe Clark: [to the new head of security] This is my new Dean of Security, Mr. William Wright. He will my Avenging Angel, as you teachers reclaim the halls. This is an institution of learning, ladies and gentlemen. If you can't control it, how can you teach? Discipline is not the enemy of enthusiasm! Mr. Zirella?
Mr. Zirella: [stands up] Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: Mr. Zirella, you are now my new head football coach. Mr. Darnell? Stand up, Mr. Darnell.
[Mr. Darnell stands up]
Joe Clark: Mr. Darnell will be your assistant. You know why you're being demoted, Mr. Darnell? Because I'm sick and tired of our football team getting push all over the field. Thank you, sit down! I want precision. I want a weight program. And if you don't like it, Mr. Darnell, you can quit. Same goes for the rest of you. You tried it your way for years, and your students can't even get past the Minimum Basic Skills Test. That means they can HARDLY READ! They've given me less than one year, one school year to turn this place around, to get those test scores up so the state will not take us over to perform the task which you have failed to DO: TO EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN! Forget about the way it used to be. This is not a damn democracy! We are in a state of emergency and my word is law! There's only one boss around in this place. And that's me, the H.N.I.C. Are there any questions?
[the board becomes silent]
Joe Clark: Mr. Wright.
[Principal Clark and Mr Wright leave the meeting room]
Mr. O'Malley: [to Ms. Levias] The H.N.I.C.?
Ms. Levias: The Head Nigger in Charge.
Joe Clark: [addressing teachers] You think you can run this school? If you could, then I wouldn't be here, would I? No one talks at my meetings. NO ONE! You take out your pencils and write. I want the names... of every hoodlum, drug dealer, and miscreant who's done nothing but take this place apart on my desk by noon today.
Joe Clark: [at the first teachers' meeting] Mr. Zarella, you are my new head football coach. Mr. Darnell will be your assistant. Mr, Darnell, stand up. You know why you're being demoted, Mr. Darnell? Because I'm sick and tired of our football team getting pushed all over the field; thank you, sit down! I want PRECISION. I want a WEIGHT PROGRAM. And if you don't like it, Mr. Darnell, you can QUIT! Same goes for the rest of you.
Thomas Sams: [sobbing in tears] No! I don't wanna kill myself, sir!
Joe Clark: You're quite sure about this, are ya?
Thomas Sams: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: All right, Sams. I'll tell you what I gonna do: I'm gonna go back on my own word just this once and let you back into my school, because you're still a baby and you don't know shit. But you understand this, boy: You're not gonna get a moment's rest. I'm gonna be on your case every minute. You mess up just once and your outta here. Now you understand me? Do you understand me?
Thomas Sams: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: [calms down] Now go on back downstairs.
Joe Clark: You're quite sure about this, are ya?
Thomas Sams: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: All right, Sams. I'll tell you what I gonna do: I'm gonna go back on my own word just this once and let you back into my school, because you're still a baby and you don't know shit. But you understand this, boy: You're not gonna get a moment's rest. I'm gonna be on your case every minute. You mess up just once and your outta here. Now you understand me? Do you understand me?
Thomas Sams: Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: [calms down] Now go on back downstairs.
