♪ ♪
(birds chirping faintly)
(quiet chatter)
♪ A lot of people ain't got no supper tonight ♪
("Justice Tonight/Kick It Over" by The Clash playing)
♪ A lot of people gonna have to stand up and fight ♪
♪ It's your action ♪
(scatting)
♪ Your action... ♪
(lyrics fading)
-(students chattering) -MAN: All right, come on.
-(clapping) -All right.
All right, everybody, settle down.
-(students shushing) -All right.
Welcome to first day of school.
My name is Mr. Turkeltaub.
(students laughing)
Mr. Turkeltaub.
You are in sixth grade now, which means
every one of you has added responsibility.
So, up here on the board,
every day, I am going to write down your homework
and your assignments
and the due date.
You're going to be responsible
because you're the leaders of this school.
Okay, then.
Time for attendance.
Jennifer Ashkenazi.
JENNIFER: Here.
MR. TURKELTAUB: Keith Breslow.
-KEITH: Here. -(student chuckles)
MR. TURKELTAUB: Michelle Chen.
-MICHELLE: Here. -MR. TURKELTAUB: Sharon Cohen.
STUDENT (whispers): Let me see.
SHARON: Here.
-(quiet laughter) -All right.
Hey, hey, hey. All right, give me that.
Give me that right now, you. Yeah, you.
(clicks tongue)
Who did this?
(laughter)
Who did this?
Hmm?
No one admits to it, there's no gym.
(students gasping softly, murmuring)
One.
Two.
Ah.
Thought it might be you.
What's your name?
Paul Graff.
You think this is appropriate?
I'm asking you a question.
(sighs)
I just wanted to make everyone laugh.
Oh.
Comedian, huh?
You want to be Mr. Popularity, is that it?
Okay. Stand up there, in front.
Go on.
Joanne Darsch.
JOANNE: Here.
Jonathan Davis.
The name's Bond. James Bond.
(laughter)
MR. TURKELTAUB: Jonathan Davis!
Jonathan Davis, get down here right now!
We're gonna have order in this classroom this year.
You're back for a repeat performance, I see.
No wonder it's your second time through sixth grade with me,
'cause you got nothing up here.
JOHNNY: Look who taught me.
Animal.
(chiming over intercom)
MAN (over intercom): Good morning, students.
This is Principal Sebell.
-Would you all please rise... -(laughing)
Exchange one ten for ten ones.
Class, exchange
-one ten for ten ones. -CLASS: One ten for ten ones.
And that is how you subtract large numbers, right?
Sub-traction. Yeah.
Mr. Turkeytaub, I don't understand...
Turkeltaub. I just explained it to you, Mister, uh...
Edgar Romanelli.
Mr. Romanelli, were you not listening?
All right, you just repeat it to yourself.
-You'll learn it. -(students laughing)
I have eyes in the back of my head, Mr. Davis.
I didn't even do anything.
MR. TURKELTAUB: I will not tolerate any nonsense.
Cut it out, or you will go to Principal Sebell's office.
JOHNNY: Damn.
MR. TURKELTAUB: Right. Now, class,
-exchange one ten... -CLASS: Exchange one ten...
-Okay, it's time to get ready for gym. -(excited murmuring)
Okay, but first, you all need to get your permission slips,
okay, for a trip next week to the Guggenheim Museum.
-(excited chatter) -All right.
All right, now, everybody, line up against the wall.
Shortest to tallest. Let's go.
No, no, not you, not you. Not you two troublemakers.
Gym is a privilege.
Especially not you, Mr. Disruptor.
Sit back down.
("Alley Cat" by Bill Justis playing)
Freeze.
Continue.
And freeze.
Continue.
Uh, Johnny?
Yeah?
I would've, um, said something if you really got in trouble.
Don't matter, Graff.
Turkey acts like he can see behind him,
like he's got special powers and shit,
but he don't ever do nothing.
What are you looking at?
-Apollo mission patch stickers. -(Paul chuckles)
Whoa. That's so cool.
I got the whole set.
My stepbrother gave them to me.
He's in the Air Force, down in Florida.
Right near NASA.
("A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy playing outside)
Turkey's still playing that disco shit?
I know.
And, like, disco totally sucks.
You know Kurtis Blow or Sugarhill Gang?
No, but I have a lot of records at home.
What do you got?
I have The Beatles-- the Red and Blue albums--
which is basically all their best songs.
I heard they might get back together soon.
You can borrow 'em if you want.
-(school bell ringing) -(students clamoring outside)
PAUL: I really like your stickers.
JOHNNY: Thanks.
Can I see?
I got to be careful with them.
I don't want Turkey to take them,
-like he took your drawing. -I know.
But my mother, she's president of the PTA.
She could get him in a lot of trouble.
Oh, that I want to see.
Turkey shitting himself would be excellent.
Yeah.
You going on the school trip?
I don't know.
It's expensive.
I could probably get the money for you.
My family's, like, super rich.
We went to Big Ben last year in England with my grandpa.
-Cool. -(chuckles softly)
So, if you get your mother to sign,
it could totally be party time.
Actually, I stay with my grandma.
And she don't remember nothing.
(chuckling): Sometimes she don't even remember me.
-That's so weird. -(engine starts)
-Where you live again? -Hollis.
(horn honks)
-Got to get on the bus. -Oh.
-Cool hanging with you, Graff. -Yeah.
-Uh, see you later. -See you tomorrow. Ten-hut!
See you.
♪ ♪
(indistinct chatter)
Ted?
Ma? Dad?
♪ ♪
Hey, Turkey.
Hey, Turkey, I'm heavyweight champion of the world.
(grunting)
MUHAMMAD ALI: I am the greatest!
(Paul imitates roaring crowd)
PAUL: I am the greatest!
X-ray vision.
-(mimics weapon blasting) -(door opens)
-MAN: Hello. -(door closes)
PAUL: Grandpa.
-Hey, young man. -Hey. Hey, Grandpa.
-Hugga-mugga. (chuckles) -(Paul grunts)
♪ Tumbalalaika, tumba... ♪
How you doing? Okay?
-Good. -Good.
-So, check this baby out. -What's that?
-New one? -It's... Yeah.
Captain United. I made my own superhero.
Hey.
-Hey, that's great. -(chuckles)
Flying high over the city.
Hey, you're good.
This is really impressive. You know that?
-Thank you, my good man. -Good for you.
-(chuckles) -Good for y...
That's wonderful.
Uh, oh, by the way,
-I got some jelly beans. -Oh.
-Shh. Okay? -Mm-hmm.
(Grandpa chuckles)
Ma says I can't eat 'em.
-They're bad for my teeth. -Oh, get out of here.
I've been eating jelly beans all my life.
And look at my teeth.
They're perfect.
(chuckles)
-Hey, Grandpa? -What?
I think I want to be a famous artist when I grow up.
Oh. You want to be famous,
you can do what you like, but if you're gonna be famous,
you got to sign the drawings first.
All the great artists sign their work. Go and do it.
Oh, yeah, I forgot.
GRANDPA: Yeah.
I heard that, uh, today was your first day at school.
Is that right?
Yes, indeed.
-I hung out with my friend Johnny. -Yeah?
And we're going to the Guggenheim Museum next week.
-The Giggly-heim. Okay, good. -(chuckles)
Very nice. Um...
I just remembered we talked about something.
What the heck was it? We talked... Do you remember?
Oh, yes. I remember. We talked about
a "going back to school" present, yeah?
Go and look in the bag.
(rummaging)
PAUL: Holy cow.
The rocket! You got it.
-Do you like it? -That's amazing!
-Can we make it? -Yeah.
We'll go to Flushing Meadow, and we'll launch it.
First steps first.
You know, they're coming over for dinner,
so, um, don't tell your mama.
This is our secret project, okay?
Got it, Grandpa.
-Thank you so much. -You're welcome.
PAUL (fading): This is the one that went to the moon, Grandpa.
RUTH: Oh, my God!
-G-G-Get... get it away! -TED: It's a ham...
-That thing, i-it's a rat! -No, it's a hamster.
-She's not gonna hurt you. -In the house!
-It's a rat. It's a rat! -It's-it's not a rat.
-It's a hamster, Aunt Ruth. -Get it...
-Get that thing away! -It's from a science project.
-Look, I'll put it on... -Aah! My God!
-Get it out of here! -It's not gonna hurt...
-It's not gonna hurt you. -Get it the hell out of here!
-Ruthie, please, it's just the kids' pet. -RUTH: Stop it!
I'm putting it away. I'm putting it away.
We had enough of those growing up, Mickey.
Hey, Grandpa.
-Hey. How you doing? -PAUL: Seriously?
What are you reading?
-What's that? -Hey, you.
-Stop. -What's the rocket?
It's for school.
You mean fake school?
You actually have to work at my school
and get real punishment.
Ask me if I care, Ted.
ESTHER: All right, everybody, get ready for dinner.
IRVING (grunts): Well, it's not the compressor.
(radio playing indistinctly)
Irving, I need my oven.
IRVING: Esther, I have to fix this.
What's going on here?
-Hi, Dad. -Hi.
-I don't know the story. -What's happening?
IRVING: Aaron, maybe you could...
maybe you could help me with this.
I'm trying to figure out why it's making
this grinding sound.
And, uh, I think maybe
-the Freon... Freon lines... -(Grandpa stammering)
-ESTHER: Dad, watch your suit. -GRANDPA: Yeah.
There's a defrost timer. Try that.
-The defrost timer? -Yeah.
-What you need? -Can you get me my socket set?
-(making whooshing noises) -(indistinct chatter)
-What are you doing? -Ow! Why'd you do that?
-Because I felt like it. -Stop, you idiot!
Yeah, whatever, shithead.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
-Um... -PAUL: Ma?
Ted pinged my ear.
-Ma! -What? I heard you.
So?
And you're totally innocent, I'm sure.
-Yes, I am! -(mocking): "But I am, Ma."
-Yes. I... (sighs) -"Yes."
-(Esther babbling mockingly) -I am innocent, Ma!
-(smooching) -(Paul gagging)
How was school, buster?
-It was fine. -Yeah?
I have Mr. Turkeltaub.
-Can you sign a permission slip? -Hmm?
We're going on a class trip next week.
-Ah. -Into the city with my friends.
Guess whose mother already did it in my school meeting.
-Ma? -Yeah?
How much power do you have at school?
Like, do you run everything or...
(snickers)
(laughing)
ESTHER (laughing): No.
No, I'm the president of the PTA. Why?
-Mm. Just wondering. -Hmm.
What is that?
It's a type of fish. It's very nice.
It's called scrod.
Well, I'm definitely not eating scrod.
Look, what does it matter what it's called?
It flakes. That means it's fresh.
-Like fresh doggy doo. -Hey.
I'll just eat the spaghetti
and order dumplings from Fan Fan for delivery.
Don't you dare. Don't you dare.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I have made plenty of food.
You're not ordering dumplings.
We'll soon see about that.
Excuse me?
Hey, jelly bean, come here.
Eat this.
Have this.
Behave yourself.
Don't give your mother a hard time.
-(Paul grunts) -Now, get out of here.
Tell your brother to behave, too.
PAUL: Okay.
IRVING: Now, I like the Throgs Neck.
-I like the suspension bridge. -(slurping)
ESTHER: Don't slurp.
IRVING: The Kosciuszko Bridge is a nice bridge.
-It's a comely bridge. -Don't slurp.
For me, a truss bridge is-is the best bridge.
-ALL: A truss bridge? -IRVING: A truss bridge.
I thought that's what you wear around your back.
GRANDPA: Here. Bloody worms.
IRVING: A truss bridge of, uh, interconnected triangles,
and a triangle cannot be distorted by stress,
-so it's perfectly load-bearing. -(Ted chuckling)
LOUIS: You know, we go over the Kosciuszko...
IRVING: What are you laughing about?
Your father's making a really good point.
It's perfectly load-bearing. It's not distorted by stress.
ESTHER: I actually have a little announcement.
RUTH: Esther would like to talk.
(clears throat)
I've decided with, uh, your support
that I'm gonna run for the district school board.
-GRANDMA: Oh, that's wonderful. -(clapping)
Wonderful.
ESTHER: Thank you. Okay, okay.
You gonna win?
With your support, yeah, yeah, I might.
(chuckles) It sounds like you're not gonna.
(Ted laughs)
I said I needed your support, not rude comments, all right?
Did you hear what he said to me?
Hey, don't make yourself objectionable for once, okay?
Wipe your face. Wipe your face.
GRANDMA: Esther, dear,
why would you run for the school board
with Teddy in private school?
ESTHER: For Paul's sake.
And to make a difference in the community.
GRANDMA: I'm sorry, I think that's absolutely crazy.
Paulie should be in Ted's school anyway.
And we can help.
-Can't we, Aaron? -GRANDPA: Yeah, we can help.
GRANDMA: Absolutely.
He's fine where he is now, Ma.
GRANDMA: I'm just saying that the public school system
is just not what it was when we taught there.
Am I right?
GRANDPA: It's changed, I guess.
Grandma, I like school.
All my friends are there.
My dear boy, you will be able to make friends everywhere.
Let me tell you something.
The class sizes there are out of control,
and they are now bringing kids in
from all over those neighborhoods.
The Blacks are coming in...
-Ma! -GRANDMA: I'm sorry.
Come on. They got nowhere else to go.
Their schools are broken.
He should be going to private school, Aaron.
-RUTH: I don't believe this. -GRANDMA: You know that.
RUTH: These are my kiddush cups.
I brought them back from Czechoslovakia.
GRANDMA: Congratulations.
You were in Czechoslovakia, Aunt Ruth?
Yes.
I worked for the Pentagon right after the war.
I was relocating displaced persons in Prague.
TED: That's so cool.
Your great-aunt is a very impressive person.
I went into this thrift store there,
and I saw all these kiddush cups.
Then I looked at the bottom of the cups,
-and I saw all these names. -Wow.
I knew they were stolen from Jews
that went to the camps.
-I almost fell over. -(coughing)
(Irving gags)
(gasping, gagging)
(Paul and Ted laughing)
RUTH: What are you laughing at?
How can you laugh at that?
What are you laughing at?
RUTH: How can you kids...
The Nazis took 'em to the camps.
Esther, they're laughing about Nazis.
-Irving. -RUTH: That's not funny.
-IRVING: Behave. -RUTH: What are you...
-What are you laughing at? -Behave!
-ESTHER: Aah! Irving. -RUTH: That's not funny.
-That's all. Eat the meat. -ESTHER: No, no, no, no, no.
-I don't want to hear any reasons. -IRVING: Here.
ESTHER: There's no excuse for that. I'm so sorry.
You're gonna catch your father's temper.
GRANDPA: It's not funny.
I can't see why we just don't have dumplings every night.
This is disgusting.
ESTHER: It's not disgusting.
And we can't have dumplings every night,
because then we'd never have
a single dollar for anything else.
-IRVING: Eat it. -You know what I teach, buddy?
I teach home economics.
All right? You know what that means?
It means I teach how to stay on a budget.
-All right? -IRVING: What did I say?
-ESTHER: He has no idea. -IRVING: Eat it.
ESTHER: He has no idea the meaning of a dollar.
He has no idea how hard we work.
He just... he does not get it at all.
(mock babbling)
Hey, stop that. No, no.
(sighs) Dumplings, suckers.
ESTHER: Paul, what are you... Don't you dare.
Paul, don't you dare.
-Paul, what are you doing? -Hey.
Hey, get me some fried.
No. What, now you don't like dinner?
-TED: It's got all this water in it, Ma. -No, it doesn't.
TED: It's slipping and sliding on the plate. Look.
ESTHER: No, it doesn't! It's just like Antonio's.
-TED: It's not. -ESTHER: Paul?
Paul, don't you dial that num... Irving.
IRVING: Hang up the phone right now.
No ching chang cho food tonight, okay?
-ESTHER: Paul? -You stop! Your mother made dinner.
ESTHER: I am not joking right now, okay?
-Put down the phone. -Paul, hang up the phone.
-Paul, put the phone down. -Paul.
-Do not order that... -Paul, put down the phone!
-Paul? -ESTHER: Have some respect.
-IRVING: I'm warning you. Hang it up. -♪ Hey, Mama ♪
-♪ Your pasta ain't so great. ♪ -Put the phone down!
-IRVING: You, too. Sit down. -(all clamoring)
You're gonna wind up with it all over the rug.
Hey, you shut up. You stop it.
...one order roast pork fried rice.
IRVING: Put down the phone!
And one order fried dumplings.
ESTHER: Paul, put down the phone!
-Hey, put the... -IRVING: Oh!
Goddamn it!
What did I say?
I am gonna rap you one!
-175-23 74th Avenue. -(others murmuring)
I'm gonna get a towel.
-I'm so sorry. -LOUIS: No, don't worry.
It's good. Just a little bit of sauce...
No, actually two order fried dumplings.
...if we don't do it now, if we let this be
another Sodom and Gomorrah, that...
GRANDMA: Terrible governor.
...maybe we might be
the generation that sees Armageddon?
What a schmuck.
ESTHER: Hey, does anybody want the Chinese leftovers?
Otherwise, I'm gonna throw 'em out.
No, no, d-don't throw 'em away. I'll eat 'em.
(sighs): Okay.
GRANDPA: Hey, you okay?
-Hmm? -You dizzy or something?
Oh. No, no, no, no, no. I just have a headache.
-You got a headache? -Yeah.
Okay. Come here.
I have a knee ache, and you got a headache.
(both laugh)
-Hey, let's have a dance. -We're quite a pair.
-(Esther laughs) -(hums a tune)
-GRANDPA: Fantastic. -(both laugh)
-(Esther groans softly) -Hey, you're gonna be okay.
These kids could drive you nuts, though.
(door opens)
GRANDPA: Hey, you.
-Why don't you go to sleep? -(sets book aside)
Mm, can you stay with me?
Oh, you know, someday you may not want me here.
That will never happen.
I don't know. You're already giving your mother...
a hard time.
PAUL: Hmm.
Why do you do that?
Huh?
(sighs)
-Hey, Grandpa? -What?
Today, when you said the spaghetti was bloody worms,
-what did you mean? -Oh, that.
Well, my mother, you know, when we came over here,
uh, to America, through Ellis Island,
uh, they served spaghetti there on Ellis Island.
And my mother thought it was, uh, worms.
She said, "Ach, they just... worms, bloody worms."
So she wouldn't have it in the house.
Yeah, I could see that.
But then why'd she come here?
'Cause they wanted to kill her. That's why.
Who would?
Uh...
she was born and raised in a small town
called Ostropil in, uh, the Ukraine.
And her parents had a store there in the main street.
It was a shop, and, uh...
But there were troops of soldiers
in the garrison who were drunk
and Cossacks who were crazy, always were.
And sometimes they'd go out looking for Jews.
They'd say, "We're looking for the Jews."
And one night, they rode into the town,
and, um, they broke into her parents' store,
and, uh, they stabbed both of them for no reason.
They stabbed both of them to death right there
in front of my mama, and, uh... (scoffs)
She was a young girl. She was 15, 16.
She told me she had nightmares about it as long as she lived.
She said you should never, ever forget the past
because you never know when they may come looking for you.
And she... she was right.
Yeah.
But she survived. She got away.
She got out. She left her country.
She left the Ukraine, and she was unstoppable.
She got through Poland and Denmark, I think,
and then to Liverpool.
(chuckles) That's where The Beatles are from.
The Beatles.
Anyway, she met, uh, my father then,
and they got married and they had me, and, uh...
So she said, "Okay, come on, let's go."
And we got on the boat and we came over here to America.
The land of dreams.
(speaking Ukrainian)
Can you sing the funny song?
Which one is that?
The one that goes "mairzy ohs" and, uh...
I forgot, but you sung it to me once.
What's it... What is it called?
It's, uh... ♪ Mairzy doats and dozy... ♪
♪ Mairzy doats and dozy doats and liddle lamzy divey ♪
♪ A kiddley divey, too, wouldn't you? ♪
(as Jerry Lewis): Hey, lady.
(laughing)
ESTHER: Dad?
Mom wants to get going.
Yeah. Help me up, will you?
God, don't ever get old.
God. Whew. (chuckles)
It's Grandpa's birthday. You'll see him soon.
Oh, don't remind me. I feel like...
-(grunts playfully) Love you. -...200 years old.
Okay, kid, and, uh, have fun at school, all right?
You take care of yourself, and remember your past.
All right. Good night, jelly bean.
Love you, Grandpa.
GRANDPA: Love you, too.
Love you.
♪ ♪
IRVING (distant): Good night, Aaron.
ESTHER (distant): Good night. See you Sunday for brunch.
GRANDPA: Sometimes they'd go out looking for Jews.
They'd say, "We're looking for the Jews."
-(gasps) -(dog barking in distance)
They stabbed both of them to death
right there in front of my mama.
For no reason.
She had nightmares about it as long as she lived.
IRVING: ♪ Good morning to you ♪
-♪ Good morning, good morning ♪ -(rhythmic tapping)
-Stop! -♪ Good morning to you ♪
♪ Good morning to you... ♪
♪ Good morning, good morning ♪
(chuckles): ♪ Good morning ♪
(inhales deeply)
♪ Rise and shine ♪
♪ And don't be ♪
-♪ A lug nut, lug nut. ♪ -(Paul yells)
Wake up.
Up and at 'em.
Come on. I-I-I can't, uh...
I-I got a steam boiler to fix at 9:00.
I can't hang around.
Up.
What do we have here?
("Fairytale in the Supermarket" by The Raincoats playing)
♪ A clock, a clock, a clock ♪
♪ Cups of tea are a clock ♪
♪ A clock, a clock, a clock ♪
♪ The times I forgot... ♪
IRVING: Holy smoke.
This is real oonga-boonga music.
Who can listen to this?
Another... another classic.
Another sterling record in your brother's collection.
Come on.
IRVING: ♪ It's time for school... ♪
MR. TURKELTAUB: Down there. Hold up the plaque.
Guys, hold it up. Hey, hey. Stop.
And don't stand so close together.
Remember, lice is not your friend.
All right, hold up the sign. Down there, hold it up.
-Smile for the camera. -STUDENTS: Cheese.
(camera clicks)
All right. Permission slips.
Let's go. Let's go.
And leave your backpacks, everybody.
You'll be here tomorrow. Don't worry.
-PAUL: You gonna come? -JOHNNY: No, I'm good.
Dude, I told you.
My family's really rich.
Here, take it.
We're going into the city.
-It'll be so much fun. -MR. TURKELTAUB: Good.
And everyone needs to find a buddy.
Find a buddy.
This is your mother's signature?
My grandma's.
So, if I call your home,
your grandmother will say she signed this?
I don't know. We don't got a phone right in the house.
Okay. Get on the bus.
Now, I want good behavior.
(students clamoring)
MR. TURKELTAUB: Sit down!
Right now, sit down. That is a bus rule.
Stop...
PAUL: Goes down so far.
-JOHNNY: It's like a cupcake. -(Paul laughs)
Watch this. Pop and lock it.
-(laughs) -PAUL: Pop and lock?
-MR. TURKELTAUB: Mr. Davis. -GUIDE: Follow me.
MR. TURKELTAUB: Don't make me throw you out, because I will.
-GUIDE: All right, right here. -Get back with the group.
GUIDE: This is a good place, okay?
Okay, now, uh, let's go, everybody.
Here's a little gift from us here at the Guggenheim.
They're postcards of the artist's work
who you're looking at.
(laughing): There's some for everybody.
Be careful. Everybody will get one.
Careful. I'm glad to see you're so enthusiastic,
-but let's take a look here. -(clapping)
Let's take a look at this painting
by the artist Kandinsky.
This painting is called abstract art.
What do you think?
What do you think "abstract" means?
-STUDENT: Light. -STUDENT 2: A lot of colors?
(overlapping chatter)
♪ ♪
PAUL: Kandinsky.
CROWD (chanting): Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!
Paul! Paul! Paul!
-Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul! -GUIDE: Paul?
-(chant fades) -Paul, you are a genius.
You have a pure understanding of the work
far above anyone else here.
And you'll be a millionaire soon.
Look around. You're already famous.
(cheering)
-(clamoring) -(cameras clicking)
MR. TURKELTAUB: Paul Graff.
Your grandfather donated a painting to us,
and we have judged this painting
to be the greatest superhero painting
that we have ever seen.
And we just happen to have it right here
for the museum's permanent collection.
CROWD: Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!
Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!
Paul! Paul! Paul!
Paul! Paul!
Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!
(chant fades)
Mr. Graff. What are you doing?
Get back with the group. All right.
Come on. Everybody, let's go. Let's go downstairs.
Let's meet the rest of the class.
-GUIDE: Let's go, everybody. -MR. TURKELTAUB: Come on.
-Okay, kids, let's go. -Come on.
Uh, Lenore, can you please help make sure we get everybody?
Thank you.
JOHNNY: Turkey didn't do a head count.
You want to split?
-Right now? -Yeah. Go wherever.
-(Johnny chuckles) -Yeah.
♪ ♪
Whoo!
(both laughing)
PAUL: Whoo!
JOHNNY (laughing): Cops are coming!
(laughing continues)
Cops are coming!
PAUL: They're getting closer!
Okay, so just, let's not get into anything worse, okay?
JOHNNY: It's cool. My cousin's visiting,
so I don't have to go home and take care of my grandma.
-We got the whole day. -(woman shouts)
JOHNNY: Whoa. Watch out.
MAN: Hey, hey, leave me alone.
WOMAN: Fuck you in the ass!
♪ Roller coaster of love ♪
-♪ Say what? ♪ -♪ Roller coaster ♪
Look, look, look, look.
-♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ -♪ Roller coaster... ♪
You think they're gonna know we cut out?
(scoffs) No way.
Um, I just hope they don't check.
Nothing's gonna happen to you, man.
You're, like, rich,
and your mother is president of the school.
Turkey ain't gonna touch you.
I knew that.
But what about you, though?
'Cause Turkey picks on you all the time.
He don't mean shit to me.
ANNOUNCER: The Sugarhill Gang,
October 6, 7, 8 at the Ritz...
(chuckling): Oh, shit. Sugarhill Gang.
-I told you about them. -Mm-hmm.
You and me, we're going to that show next month.
-Cut out from school early. -All right. I'm in.
Let's go to Colony Records. We can get the album.
Oh, yeah. (chuckles)
It's a tilt.
Energy.
PAUL: I mean, when you think about it,
it's just a bunch of lines and shapes and dots,
and you think, "Well, this guy is, like, a dumb idiot."
Which I can understand, but it's actually super hard
'cause look how he crossed through the triangle.
Look, there's, like, a moon and then, like, a frowny face
-with one eyeball. -Oh, yeah, 'cause the eyeballs.
So, this is frowny face, and then when you flip it...
BOTH: Happy face.
(both chuckle)
PAUL: Cool.
And this one right here, it looks like a spaceship.
-(makes whooshing sounds) -Speaking of spaceships.
I got doubles.
-You can have one if you want. -Really?
Wait, which one's the first one with Neil Armstrong?
That ain't the first one.
That's 11, with the eagle on it.
It's worth the most.
Really valuable. Here.
-PAUL: That's so fly. -JOHNNY: Yeah.
PAUL: Thanks so much.
I walk on Mars, they make a patch,
and it's the Davis mission.
I'd come with you.
JOHNNY: You know, I could do that,
be an astronaut.
Hey, fool.
What's that game?
Ain't no game. It's from NASA.
NASA?
They ain't gonna let your Black ass in
even through the back door.
(scoffs)
-Dumbass motherfucker. -(man laughing)
Fuck them, man.
Yeah.
They suck.
(train clacking and screeching)
PAUL: Wait.
Are you getting off?
That's right.
Do I got to have permission?
Is everything okay?
It's not 'cause of you, Graff.
I'm just tired of taking shit from everybody.
S-Sorry.
(train wheels screeching)
Well, I'll see you in class.
Bye.
("Rapper's Delight" by The Sugarhill Gang playing)
♪ I said a-hip-hop, the hippie, the hippie ♪
♪ To the hip, hip-hop, and you don't stop the rockin' ♪
♪ To the bang-bang boogie, say up jump the boogie ♪
♪ To the rhythm of the boogie, the beat ♪
♪ Now, what you hear is not a test ♪
♪ I'm rapping to the beat ♪
♪ And me, the groove and my friends ♪
♪ Are gonna try to move your feet ♪
♪ You see, I am Wonder Mike, and I'd like to say hello ♪
ESTHER: Paul? Can you come down, please?
♪ To the black, to the white, the red and the brown ♪
♪ The purple and yellow, but first... ♪
(song continues playing in distance)
Hey.
Have a seat.
What's up? Everything cool?
ESTHER: Hmm. So...
-it's Grandpa's birthday. -Hi.
But he got you a present.
'Cause he's always thinking of you.
What is it?
GRANDPA: Well, have a look.
Open it up.
And be careful, 'cause they can make quite a mess.
We'd be in big trouble.
I had a set just like that when I was your age.
(Grandpa chuckles)
Holy cow.
Thank you so much, my good man.
It's-it's like a set for professionals.
Well, you want to be a professional, don't you?
Well, let's say it's very good to have as a hobby.
PAUL: Hey, Grandpa.
Now we really need to get you something.
No, no. Seeing you is my birthday present.
How about that?
ESTHER: Go put your shoes on.
We're gonna go to the Sly Fox Inn and then a movie.
GRANDPA: Yeah. What are we gonna see?
♪ ♪
LOUIS: Wait for me, wait for me, wait for me.
ESTHER: Oh, here we go.
IRVING: She's really something.
I'd like it that she showed me her dog tags.
ESTHER: She was a liberated woman.
You know, she was a JAP, but she grew up.
She was supposed to be Japanese?
See, I didn't get that.
No, Lobby, she was a Jewish American princess.
I never heard of that in all my life.
Oh, my... Lobby.
You'll use that paint set I gave you, won't you?
-Of course I will, partner. -Good.
Yeah, it was a good movie. What's her name, Golda?
-GRANDMA: Goldie Hawn. -Goldie Hawn.
-She was excellent. -Yeah.
(groaning): Oh, God.
-GRANDMA: What is it? -(Ted laughs)
-PAUL: Stop! Stop! -GRANDPA: It's my leg.
-Okay, okay. Enough. -You're so annoying!
-Just stop! -Enough. That...
-PAUL: He hit me first! -RUTH: Stop, stop, stop, stop.
Show me where. Show me. Show me. I don't understand.
-Is it a sharp pain, or is it just... -Grandpa?
It's down in the shins, and I can't feel my feet.
-What happened? -I'm okay, jelly bean.
-Dad? -No, it's there, there down in the shin. Yeah.
GRANDMA: We're gonna wrap it in ice and get some...
You all right? Is he all right?
Whoa, whoa, big guy. You okay?
-GRANDMA: I don't know. -ESTHER: Is it your leg?
-GRANDPA: Yes. -LOUIS: Have you seen the doctor, Aaron?
GRANDPA: Yeah, I saw Benzi. He says I got arthritis.
LOUIS: The car's around the corner. I'm gonna go get it.
-ESTHER: He's fine. -You got to be careful.
I'm being careful. Stop fussing.
You're all fussing around me.
Come on, I'm okay. I'm okay.
♪ ♪
TED: Where are we going?
ESTHER: We're looking at houses.
People have more money than God.
Oh, see, that one I like.
-That one, the Tudor style. -IRVING: Which one?
Oh, yeah.
What do you think?
It's a gold mine for home improvement here.
Gold mine.
Our ship is coming in.
You'll see.
I think I want to be an artist when I grow up.
That'll make you a ton of money.
(Ted snickering)
Is that true, Ma?
Well, it's a very hard industry, and...
(chuckling): we don't have a lot of contacts.
IRVING: You know what I'm gonna do?
I'm gonna give you a wonderful book by Edward de Bono
called The Art of Success.
That's the only art you need to concern yourself with.
You study something you can fall back on.
Like, uh... like computer graphics.
-ESTHER: Hmm. -IRVING: Now, that's a growth industry.
That's a job.
MR. TURKELTAUB: I know how inspired
we all were by our trip to the Guggenheim
and seeing those paintings by Kandinsky.
So, today, we're gonna try our very own art project.
Right? So, you find a word,
a word that is a noun.
You all know what a noun is.
STUDENTS: A person, place or a thing.
-BOY: That ends in... -GIRL: That ends in L-Y.
No, no, no. (chuckles)
No L-Y. That's an adverb.
So, you take a word that is a noun...
(voice fading): and you write it out in letters
made up of that exact thing.
So I want you to...
(laughter)
-For example, books. -Oh, my God. -Look at Johnny.
Books, Mr. Davis, something you don't know anything about.
Fuck you, Turkey.
-(students gasp) -Get up.
Get over there.
Go on. Go, go, go.
You are not doing this project.
You're just gonna sit there!
Fine by me.
MR. TURKELTAUB: You're just gonna sit right there.
Now, all the paper should be covered with a color.
All right? And use your imaginations.
And be...
-original. -STUDENTS: Original.
MR. TURKELTAUB: Color the drawings, not the desk.
(Mr. Turkeltaub clears throat)
What's this?
Uh, it's a Kandinsky.
Stand up.
All right. (sighs)
Class, we went to the museum.
Who saw paintings like this?
I remember. That's a copy.
MR. TURKELTAUB: Now, what did I say to you,
Mr. Graff, about doing your own work here?
Look, this is a copy.
And it's not the assignment, so you weren't listening.
-The drawing's excellent, man. -(students gasp)
Mr. Davis, I didn't ask you.
That's 'cause you're a goddamn turkey
-and I'll fuck you up! -(students gasping)
MR. TURKELTAUB: All right. That's it! That's it! Right...
Right to Mr. Sebell's right now!
-(students murmuring) -(door opens)
(door bangs shut)
MR. TURKELTAUB: These are Cuisenaire rods.
Okay?
Okay, so now you put the green rod
on the number six row with the "A" column.
Okay? Green rod, number six row.
I need a piece of graph paper.
Forget it. You're too far behind now.
You can either sit quietly or clean up the paintbrushes.
Up to you.
Oh.
Good, Mr. Davis, helping out for a change.
All right, who'd like to go on cleanup duty and, uh, help out?
Who'd like to volunteer?
Oh, look, his buddy Paul.
Don't take too long.
-Now... -PAUL: Hey.
-Thanks for sticking up for me. -Yeah, man.
How'd it go with you? Did you get in trouble?
No. I was down there for a while,
and nobody even come talk to me.
-Huh. -Not the whole time.
So I just come back up.
-Wow. -Check this out.
What is that?
My cousin gave it to me.
He said you smoke 'em,
you just, like, laugh and laugh.
(both chuckle)
So, you gonna do it?
-Like, now? -Yeah, man.
Suck it in. It's made of tea and shit.
(whispers): In here.
(lighter flicking)
Let's boldly go where no man's gone before.
(both laugh)
(coughing)
Try it, man.
Hold it in.
(both coughing)
(both laughing)
(chatter nearby)
He went... he went... (yelps)
(laughing continues)
(Johnny coughing)
-How dare you! -Shit.
You're a menace! A menace, the two of you!
That's unbelievable! Go! Get out!
PRINCIPAL SEBELL: Paul, do you know
what was in that cigarette?
Young man, what you were smoking is illegal,
and you could go to jail.
Now, is that what you want?
Would you please answer him?
No, obviously not.
ESTHER: Principal Sebell.
I can promise you he had no idea what he was doing.
We don't have anything like that in our house,
and, uh, he wasn't the one who brought it into the school.
And...
I think it's incumbent upon the school
not only to look at class size--
take a good, long look at class size--
but also who is in what class.
Mrs. Graff...
I know you're thinking about running for the district board,
but have you ever thought about remedial classes for Paul?
ESTHER: Remedial?
PRINCIPAL SEBELL: Yes.
It might be an option for you and your family
moving forward, because...
he may be a bit slow.
My son is not slow.
No, sir.
PRINCIPAL SEBELL: Mrs. Graff...
ESTHER: No, I've heard enough.
Get up. Time to go.
(muffled, indistinct chatter)
(door opens)
(distorted laughing)
-(door bangs shut) -(snapping fingers)
What were you thinking?!
How could you do that?
-Huh? -(sighs): Oh, my God.
How am I supposed to know it's against the law, Ma?
-Oh, my God. -Besides, it's fine.
You're the president of the school.
No, I'm not. I am in the PTA, for God's sa...
I don't even think I can run for the board
or anything else after this little episode.
Thank you.
Okey doke.
No, it's not okey doke. Okey dokey?
This is not a respectful response.
-Where did you learn this disrespect? -Stop.
-Ow! -What?!
Where did you get that cigarette?
Hmm?
Did that Black boy that was sitting there...
did he give it to you?
Well, you're not to associate with him again.
What do you mean? Why?
I think you know what I mean.
-You mean 'cause he's Black? -S-Stop it.
-I hung out with him last year, too, if you care. -Stop it.
(mouthing)
It's not 'cause he's Black.
All right, he could be green or purple
or orange, for all I care.
The principal said that he was held back.
So?
(Esther sighs)
That means he's not very bright.
-No, it doesn't. -Yes, it does.
-He's super smart and really... -(stammers) I can't with you.
-You just don't know him. -I can't...
-Your father's gonna have to deal with you. -What?
Your father's gonna have to deal with you.
Why? What's he gonna do?
Guess, genius.
I'm done sticking up for you.
Ma? Ma, wait.
(thunder rumbling)
Ma! Ma!
ESTHER: Irving? Irving?
-Please don't. -I need to talk to you.
IRVING: What?
(lock clicking)
(panting)
(Esther and Irving shouting indistinctly in distance)
(footsteps rapidly approaching)
(doorknob rattling)
IRVING: Open the door.
I can't.
Paul...
(door rattling)
Open the door.
-You'll hit me, Dad. -Open it up!
I'm not doing it.
Your mother just said you and some Black kid
were smoking drugs in school?
-I didn't know what it was. -(door banging)
IRVING: Open the goddamn door!
(crying)
Please.
You're gonna get it, kid.
You are gonna get it.
-(Paul yells) -Come here!
Stop!
-(Irving grunts) -(sobs)
Stop! Please stop.
-The hell is the matter with you? -Please!
-(sobbing) -Get up!
Please.
S-Stop.
Please stop.
(coughs)
(whimpers)
(sobbing softly)
That's enough. Stop crying.
Stop blubbering.
The hell are you laughing at?!
There's not a single goddamn thing
that's amusing about this.
Get out of here, you asshole!
IRVING: Get cleaned up for dinner.
And-and wash your teeth after with the Waterpik.
Your breath is like trench mouth.
I hate you.
I hate this family.
What did you say?
Nothing.
-What did you say to me? -Nothing.
What did you say to me?
I said nothing. (yells)
-What did you say?! -Nothing!
What did you say to me?!
Nothing!
-Huh? -Nothing.
IRVING: What did you say to me?!
-(thumping) -PAUL: Aah! Nothing.
Nothing. I promise.
(whimpers, coughs)
You made me break the goddamn door.
(panting)
(crying softly)
Someday he'll learn he's not
the smartest kid on planet Earth.
ESTHER: I've had it with that school, Irving.
He needs a place with real discipline.
We need to send him to Ted's school now.
No way.
I'm not changing schools.
-Uh-uh. Sorry, buddy. -You think that's smart?
You think that's smart? Say another word.
Do it. Do it.
You don't get to call the shots around here.
Okay? I call the shots.
You understand me? You understand me?
I call the shots.
Things are gonna be different around here.
And your friend's from hunger.
You're not gonna talk to him anymore.
(whispers): I hate this family.
♪ ♪
(rock taps window)
Hey. Checking in on you.
Hey. How-how did you know where I live?
From that chart they had on you.
It had all the information.
Well... just come here.
This is my clubhouse.
JOHNNY: Whoa. You could just move in here.
Yeah. My dad built it for me a couple years ago.
Your dad built this whole thing for you?
-PAUL: Mm. -JOHNNY: Wow.
When he wasn't in an asshole mood.
It's got a window and everything.
Yeah, it's a good place to hang out, I guess.
What's this?
Um, Johnny?
M-My parents are gonna try to send me to my brother's school.
Wow. That sucks.
But I'm gonna try and get my grandpa
to change their minds, maybe.
Yeah, I hope he does.
I hope he does, too.
What about you?
They sent me up to the third floor
with, like, all the retards.
So I decided I'm cutting out for good.
Do my own thing.
That's so cool.
Yeah, so...
I'll be seeing you, I guess.
Hey, I'm going to that
Sugarhill Gang concert next week.
You want to catch that?
Next Monday night?
-For sure. -Excellent.
If you're not back at school, I'll find you
at the other place at the end of the day.
What's that called?
Forest Manor.
Forest Manor, yeah.
The show's gonna be special.
Mm. Good luck.
Thanks.
GRANDMA: Not too much, Aaron.
Are you coming with the bagels?
GRANDMA: She's coming, Irv.
She's coming.
(sighing): Okay, okay.
I don't know what everybody wants,
-so you just have to choose. -Thank you. -Beautiful.
Paul, your waffles will be out in a second, okay?
TED: Of course, he couldn't eat what everybody else eats.
ESTHER: Leave him alone.
He's in a mood.
You put me in a mood.
Trying to make me change schools.
But I'm not going, so...
RUTH: Eat something.
-I'll take some. -IRVING: It's not bad.
LOUIS: Hey, you give me this.
-Look at that. See that? -Thank you.
(speaks Ukrainian)
Yes. Yes, he needs to hear it.
Okay.
I told your parents to do that.
You did?
Yes, I did.
Because the game is rigged,
and we want to take care of you and your brother.
That's why.
Listen to what he's telling you.
I am listening.
Right. I want you to just really listen
for the first time in your life.
Because what he's saying is important.
-Just listen to Grandpa. -GRANDPA: Listen to me.
When I was young, I was a very good student,
but my name was Rabinowitz.
And, um, in college after college,
during the interviews, those people,
whoever the hell they were, they would look at me,
they'd smile at me, look at me up and down, eh,
like I was some kind of freak in the circus,
and then they'd say with a big smile,
"Oh, thank you. And sorry,
"but we don't need any more Spinowitzes this year.
"Uh, you know, danke schön and auf Wiedersehen.
Next." Yeah.
-ESTHER: That's right. -Do you get my meaning?
IRVING: You know what he's telling you?
Do you know what that means?
"We have enough Spinowitzes here"?
N-No.
It means they don't want any more Jews.
That's right. They hated us then,
they didn't want us, and they still hate us.
And screw 'em. I don't care.
But that's why I'm doing this for you.
Now, your name is Graff. That's a better name.
You can blend in, and why not?
And, uh, this new school could, uh,
introduce you to a whole new group of friends.
And, uh, you can go to the college you want to go to.
Okay?
I know, but college doesn't matter
if you want to be an artist.
ESTHER: Uh, you're going to college.
(chuckles) You're gonna be an artist if you want to be.
Nothing's gonna stop you.
But college is better. I'm...
I'm trying to help this smart-ass here
and you to have a good education. That's all.
That's what we're trying to do.
It's not punishment.
And I'll tell you something else.
Our families-- your father's family
and our family, your grandma--
you know, we, uh... we came to this country
and, um, we didn't have much.
We didn't have the good fortune.
But we saved-- your grandmother and I, we saved--
and now we can help your parents.
-And we're going to help you, darling. -Yeah.
Thank you.
IRVING: So, then... so, then it's settled.
He's going?
-Huh? -GRANDPA: Yeah.
-GRANDMA: Yes. -IRVING: Good.
Yeah.
GRANDPA: Hey. Hey, listen.
In your life, you're gonna have your ups and your downs.
You'll have big highs, and you're gonna have big lows.
-Yabba dabba doo. So what? -IRVING: Are you kidding me?
He'll have dinner with kings if he plays his cards right.
-Mm-hmm. -I'm with you, Irving.
This is a new chapter for you.
New chapter.
ESTHER: Do you want nova, Irving?
-IRVING: Yes, please. -GRANDPA: You'll be okay, kid.
REPORTER (on TV): ...the president has leveled
one of his sharpest attacks yet on Ronald Reagan,
telling a Chicago audience the Republican candidate
is a divisive force in American politics.
(newscast continues indistinctly)
Come on! Get up. Come on, get up.
Time to get into uniform. Let's go, let's go, let's go.
-(sighs, mutters) -Nice clip-on.
It's what Mom got me.
Why don't you just leave me alone
for once in your life, you dick.
Sit still. Stop it.
Just fit in and act cool.
Don't talk a lot.
If you're weak for even a second,
they'll jump all over you.
-You got it? -Mm-hmm.
-I got it. -Schmuck. All right, let's go.
Come on. Get up. Don't make me late.
(indistinct, overlapping chatter)
Oh. (chuckles)
IRVING: Oh, look at you.
Come here.
-IRVING: Look at you. -ESTHER: Aw...
A young man.
First day of the rest of your life.
-You look absolutely gorgeous. -(gags)
-(Esther gags) -I-I look like a total idiot.
No, you don't.
I can't even have a normal knapsack.
A normal knapsack? Why would you want
a normal knapsack when you can have this?
This is an attaché case. This is class A1.
Th-This says, "I am ready to work.
I come as a student."
You just want me to be like you.
-IRVING: What? -You just want me to be like you.
IRVING: No. No, big boy.
I want you to be a whole lot better than me.
That's what I want.
You got that?
Now, time for you to go.
-Aren't you taking me? -No. You're taking the subway.
-Go away. -But-but I don't...
It's time to grow up.
-Go. -Ma?
What? What? I'm not getting involved.
Oh, my God!
You do look like an idiot.
Ted...
-Don't be late. -(Esther sighs)
♪ ♪
-(birds chirping) -(school bell ringing)
PAUL: We're gonna meet after school
and go on the subway together?
TED: No, you dope. I have a life.
PAUL: Wait. Where do I go?
Wait. Ted?
(students chattering)
Excuse me.
You.
Yeah, you.
Are you a student at this school?
Um, today is my first day.
What's your name?
Paul... Graff.
Graff?
What kind of name is Graff?
Well, it was originally Greizerstein.
Well, since you're new here, Mr., uh, Greizerstein,
you should know we have a tradition here.
Yes, sir.
And you have the obligation to live up to that tradition.
We have an assembly this morning.
I want you to go right straight through those doors, young man.
Thank you, sir.
-Keep going. -Oh.
(indistinct chatter)
Good morning, Forest Manor.
I know I speak for the entire school community
about how proud we are to have one of our own
come visit all of us for assembly today.
But before we hear from our guest,
a special thanks to her father,
who is leading the fundraising drive for our new library.
The Trump family is our family.
So, Fred, please stand up, would you?
(applause)
-(cheering) -Fred Trump, everyone.
Now, we have an election coming up.
-STUDENTS: Reagan! Reagan! -(chuckles)
(more students joining in): Reagan! Reagan! Reagan! Reagan!
-Reagan! Reagan! -No, no, no.
I'm talking about our student elections.
I would encourage each and every one of you
who is thinking of running to listen today, hmm?
And with that, please welcome
United States Attorney Maryanne Trump.
Maryanne?
(cheering)
MARYANNE: Thank you so much, Headmaster Fitzroy.
And thank you, Father.
Today, I'm not here to give you the same old talk.
Today, I'm gonna give it to you straight.
You're gonna want to go to a good college.
You're gonna want to succeed.
But you're not going to.
Hmm-mm. That's right.
Unless...
unless you follow the example
that I'm gonna set forth for you.
You may be saying to yourself, "What does she know?"
Well, when I came here,
no one handed me anything for free.
How did I succeed?
By good old-fashioned hard work.
And that's how you're gonna make it.
I knew there was no free lunch.
Through college, law school,
the U.S. Attorneys Office,
I was a woman in a man's business.
But I kept on fighting.
That's right, girls.
I'm talking to you, too.
Mm-hmm. You can be anything you want to be in this,
the greatest country in the world.
You people in this institution
are gonna wind up on top.
And you'll know, at the end of the day,
it won't be because of a handout.
Right?
It'll be because you earned your way there.
(cheering)
-We're so proud of you. -(microphone feedback squeals)
(cheering continues)
(students whispering)
What you doing?
Um, just drawing a picture of my hand.
Why you doing that?
Um...
I don't know.
Well, my name's Topper.
What's your name?
My name's Paul.
Cool.
All right, well, nice drawing.
Hello, everyone.
STUDENTS: Good morning, Miss Hellman.
We have a new student in the grade
joining us today, Paul Graff.
Hello, Paul.
I'm Miss Hellman.
Hello, Miss Hellman.
Straighten that collar.
Now, please.
Your respect for the uniform
reflects your respect for the school.
So, Columbus Day is next week...
(students chattering)
(whistle blowing)
MAN: Keep all the balls inside the yard, please.
Make sure that gate is closed.
(dog barking in distance)
JOHNNY: Hey, Paul.
That you?
Paul.
(glass bottle clatters)
What's going on, man?
Hey.
So, what up?
You coming to Sugarhill Gang?
Sugarhill?
The Sugarhill Gang show, tonight.
Uh, I-I don't know if I can.
-Sorry. -Oh.
That's too bad.
Shit's gonna be killin'.
Listen, no big deal, but...
I got these dudes from the city coming around
and looking for me.
They're trying to put me in some foster shit.
So I might have to stay at your clubhouse for a little bit,
if that's all right.
Uh, well, could be kind of cold.
I don't know. Okay?
Just, I got to get back to class, okay?
All right, well...
I'll see you later, maybe at your place.
Mm. Yeah, okay, I'll see you.
Yeah. Okay.
♪ ♪
CHAD: Who was that?
Somebody from my old school.
I-I don't really know him.
Did you go to school with niggers?
Did they ever come to your house?
One came once, maybe.
Oh, my God. He had one at his house.
Nah, I'm just kidding.
-All right, stop, stop. -(school bell ringing)
What class you have next?
Gap session, whatever that is.
Oh, it's just, like, total bullshit.
I don't know. Maybe if you start crying,
she'll let you plant your face in the middle of her boobies.
Hey, Chad.
CHAD: Here's a secret.
He had one at his house.
♪ ♪
-Is this...? -Yeah, that's great.
-Go ahead. So... -Okay.
Okay.
This is a place where we can express our feelings
openly and honestly.
Is there anything you think we should talk about?
I don't know.
Okay. Um...
Is there anything you're worried about?
No. No, not really.
It's just... this-this tie feels like it's choking me.
Mm-hmm.
At my old school, you could just wear whatever.
Hmm. Don't you think everyone looks nice?
I guess.
I mean, at my old school,
even the textbooks were all torn and written in.
Here, they're all new and...
I've never even seen a computer before,
but here, there's a whole bunch.
-So it's pretty different. -Mm.
How do those differences make you feel?
-Like it's more serious kinda. -Hmm.
I don't know.
Right now I'm just trying to fit in and make friends,
even though I don't really feel like I belong.
Your new friends aren't being nice to you?
Well, they're okay.
I just can't really tell if they mean it or not.
I saw you in the yard.
Things seemed to be going well, no?
Sometimes I just want to run away.
Uh, I'm afraid I'll say something
the other kids will think is stupid
and then they'll all think I'm not cool.
And then I'll get angry at myself.
Can you tell me more about why you're angry?
Running away is pretty serious.
I don't... I don't really mean angry.
("Justice Tonight/Kick It Over" by The Clash playing)
(indistinct chatter)
(song fades)
ESTHER: Paul?
Oh, my God, I fell asleep.
Where were you? What time is it?
Is it late?
I took an express train by accident.
-(Esther sighs) -I'm sorry.
(sighs)
P-Paul, you need to see, uh, see your grandfather this week.
Okay.
Is everything all right?
Oh, yeah, yeah. Everything's fine.
He just, um...
He wants to spend some time with you. That's all.
He said that the two of you would launch your rocket.
-Oh, yeah, I got to finish it. -Mm.
Ma?
Uh, I had a pretty good day at school.
Good.
All my hopes are with you and your brother now.
You're my angels, and you're everything to me.
You're my whole life.
But we're all still here.
I'm not feeling so hot, buster. I'm gonna go upstairs.
(sighs)
Be careful. Your father saw a Black boy
sneaking around the alleyway,
so make sure you lock everything up.
-Okay. -Okay.
(whispers): Johnny?
Johnny, you there?
Grandpa.
GRANDPA: It's a little windy today,
so, uh, that might affect it.
If we're lucky, it'll go straight up
and come straight down near us.
I put these markings on the side of the rocket.
Yeah, I saw that.
"USA," and you got the old payload markings.
-Yeah. -Nice.
You got a lot more patience than I have, jelly bean.
-Great job. -Thanks, Grandpa.
Okay. What happens next? You want that?
Yeah, I'm gonna need that.
Listen, I just wanted to talk to you
about something, and, uh...
There's something I wanted to tell you.
I'm gonna have to go away for a few days.
Uh, on a trip. Um...
-Uh, hope... -A trip?
Yes, so hopefully not too long.
It'll be, uh... I'll be back soon.
It's not too far-- just out on the island.
I have to go check out some things.
And I wanted to tell you myself so that you're not wondering
where I am if, uh, you don't see me around, okay?
Okay, but you better be back soon.
I will, okay?
-Now what? You gonna launch? -Yeah.
-Is there the... -Is this what you want?
Yes, I need that.
-Good. -Oh.
You'll end up a rocket scientist
-instead of an artist. -Mm.
(robotically): I shall check the connectors.
So, how you doing?
How are things at the new school?
Mm...
Something's bugging you. What is it?
Sometimes kids say stuff.
Kids say stuff. Yeah, they do.
But, like, what kind of stuff?
I don't know, they'll...
say stuff, like, about other kids.
Come on. Come here. I can't hear you.
Well, they'll just say stuff about other kids.
Like what?
Well, they'll say bad words about the Black kids.
Oh, yeah?
Yeah, okay.
And, uh...
what do you do when that happens?
Come on, tell me.
Obviously nothing, of course.
"Nothing, of course." Yeah.
You think that's funny? You think that's smart?
Well, I'll tell you what I think.
I think that's a crock of old horseshit.
I said a bad word.
You got a problem with that? Tough.
I'm gonna tell you. Now, you got to do something.
You got to say something, okay?
Do you know why? 'Cause you're on the ball.
Right? Come on, man.
You were raised better than that.
Jesus Christ.
I'm going to tell you something.
I've learned over the years, those bastards
who say all that crap and garbage to your face
will then say the same stuff behind your back.
And they'll shove a knife straight in your gut.
And they'll smile as they do it.
Fuck 'em.
Yeah, I said another bad word.
You remember one thing.
Next time those schmucks say anything bad
about those Black kids or those Hispanics,
you be a mensch to those kids, okay?
They never had your advantage.
Give me a handshake.
You're gonna be a mensch, okay?
Firm handshake. Okay, give me a hug.
-PAUL: Love you. -GRANDPA: Love you, too.
Okay, let's get on with the launch.
Oh, I'm so nervous.
Don't be nervous. Be bold.
-Yes, bold. Okay. -Go on.
-Ready? -Yeah.
Here we go. (imitates radio static)
Roger. Ready for liftoff.
(imitates radio static) Over. Copy.
(imitates radio static)
Ten, nine, eight,
seven, six, five, four,
three, two, one.
Oh!
(laughs)
-Hey, that's something. Yeah. -Whoa!
Whoa!
♪ ♪
PAUL: Oh, man!
PAUL: Oh!
(Paul breathing heavily)
Paul. Paul.
-(gasping breaths) -Hey.
Get dressed.
You need to get up right now.
-What? -Get dressed.
-Not for school. -(groans softly)
PAUL: What's going on?
Grandpa had surgery this morning.
For what?
They said bone cancer.
Mom knew like a month ago, but Dad said
they were worried about how you'd take it.
What do you mean? I can take anything.
I'm just...
kind of worried about Mom, how she'll react.
She'll freak out if he dies.
(Grandpa taking deep, raspy breaths)
(deep, raspy breaths continue)
IRVING: Ted, why don't you take your brother out.
-Come on. -No, I want to stay.
(whispers): He shouldn't see him like this.
I'm gonna stay.
(airplane engine rumbling in distance)
(airplane passing)
IRVING: We don't need to stay too long.
All right, just let your mother alone.
We can just stay here in the car.
Why are we staying in the car?
Doesn't Mom want us out there?
No, it's all right. Let-let her, you know...
Let her have her feelings, and then...
and then we can swing around and go home.
You know, you have schoolwork.
Your grandfather, he, uh...
...he was very kind to me.
He respected me. He's the only one.
The rest of your mother's family, they heard my father
-was a plumber, and... -(snaps fingers)
...bang, they just turned their nose up.
Not him.
He was... he was a terrific guy.
He held us all together.
I guess it's all on me now.
Goodbye, Aaron.
Goodbye, Grandpa.
IRVING: Lock the doors.
(Esther muttering)
-Mom? -Oh.
(humming)
"Louisiana Lightning" Rod Guidry.
JOHNNY: Hey. How you doing?
Hey.
You were here before.
-Right? -Yeah, I was.
Those dudes come by my grandma's place again, so...
I'm here for a little bit, till it's cool to go back.
I think they're gonna put her in a home soon.
Wow.
I'm sorry I...
I couldn't really talk at school.
They're really strict.
Oh, I could see that for sure.
Whoa.
Hey, your toes, they're all cut up and bleeding.
You should get some Band-Aids.
Come inside.
Actually, it's getting a lot better.
But looks like you're all set up with your stylin' suit.
Looking good.
It's for my grandpa's funeral.
Oh, damn.
That's heavy.
You know, I've been thinking about it for a while.
My stepbro, he's in Florida, right?
Soon as I get the cash, I go down there,
make some money and do shit
until I can sign up with the Air Force or NASA.
But they're building this thing in Orlando called EPCOT.
Here, look-it.
You could draw there.
Like you do in class.
Make money that way.
Seems kind of far.
Shit, man, what are you staying around here for?
I know.
Here, I'm gonna get you a blanket.
Okay.
But I ain't gonna stick around long, probably.
But I'm thinking Florida soon.
Okay. I'll be right back.
All right.
♪ ♪
JOHNNY: Grandma.
We can't stay together.
They're gonna take you away.
I'm gonna make you proud.
IRVING: And we already had to schmear the school but good,
just to get him in.
The-the report, it says he's-he's...
he's not paying attention in class.
This was supposed to be the answer.
I mean, what the hell are we supposed to do now?
Irving, I don't want to talk about this now.
He doesn't have the same potential that Ted does.
He doesn't have it.
-They assessed him as slow. -ESTHER: Fuck them.
-IRVING: There's something wrong with him. -Fuck them.
ESTHER: Are you serious?
IRVING: He talks about being an artist.
An artist. His head is in the clouds.
He's not living in reality.
And this has to stop.
It has to stop, Esther.
-And the school... -ESTHER: Irving.
...the school will cost your mother an arm and a leg.
-Please, please... -Who knows when she'll need more help
now that she's alone, she's on her own.
We're-we're completely dependent on her.
Who's... who will figure it out?
The tuition's... I can't pay.
I-I-I feel the-the goddamn pressure in my chest.
ESTHER: What do you want me to do?
With my father gone, there isn't anyone
that can reach him.
(voice shaking): Not you.
N-Not anyone.
MS. MOUSTAKAS (faint, echoing): And each time we try
to draw ourselves, we are drawing
not only what we think we see but who we are inside.
Our essence.
(normal): If you need any inspiration on essence,
you can see the essence of Paul Gauguin
in this self-portrait.
Look at the colors Paul Gauguin uses to express himself, right?
Blues, oranges, pinks.
Paul?
Earth to Paul.
(chuckles)
It's a spaceship drawn by our very own space cadet.
-(laughter) -(sighs): Okay.
Hey, this isn't the assignment, but it is beautiful.
So expressive.
The colors he's using here.
You're very talented.
(whispers): Now let's do the assignment.
What are you gonna do with it?
That's none of your beeswax, Miss Bronfman.
Uh, and like I was mentioning...
-(school bell ringing) -Um, that-- Pencils.
(Esther crying)
IRVING: Stop, Esther.
That's enough!
GRANDPA: You want to be famous,
you can do what you like, but if you're gonna be famous,
you got to sign the drawings first.
All the great artists sign their work.
-(gasps) -You're gonna be an artist if you want to be.
Nothing's gonna stop you.
-(siren wailing in distance) -(heavy breathing)
(Johnny grunts softly)
-PAUL (whispers): Johnny. -JOHNNY: What?
PAUL: I think I know how to make everything okay.
My school has a bunch of computers.
Let's take one.
Take what?
Computer. We can get it so easy.
I know how to get in and everything.
We go through the window.
They keep them open all the time.
You must be out of your mind.
No, we can do it.
We'll run away to Florida.
Let's do it. Let's go.
A computer?
Yeah, we sell it. It pays for the whole trip.
You'll go to NASA, and I can draw.
You're coming with me.
(scoffs)
You can even see your stepbrother soon.
The school is just three subway stops away.
Come on.
Nobody will ever know.
(shuddering breaths)
(Paul muttering quietly)
I told you, we can't get in.
PAUL: Wait.
There's no point.
PAUL: Ah, shit.
JOHNNY (whispers): There's no point.
I told you. I told you. I told you.
(taking slow, deep breaths)
(breath trembling)
(door creaking)
CROWD (echoing): Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!
Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!
Paul! Paul! Paul! Paul!
-(chant fades) -(rocket engine whooshes)
JOHNNY (whispers): Dude. What are you doing?
-I'm... -What are you doing out here?
This is dangerous.
-Okay. -Are you sure this is all that we need?
Yeah, I-I think so.
Okay. Let's go.
-Okay. Okay. -Come on, let's go.
Just go. Just go. Just go.
♪ ♪
(siren wailing in distance)
(both panting)
(whispers): I can't believe this.
(whispers): What-what do we do with it now?
I got a guy.
And he's got a pawnshop on Sutphin Boulevard.
And I bet he's gonna want this.
So, I could take it to him tomorrow.
And then it's Florida, my man. (laughs)
That's excellent. Okay, so we'll take a car,
a bus or a-a train.
I don't know. Uh...
-Uh, bus could be good. -A bus.
-All right, man. Yes. -(squeals excitedly)
(Johnny sighs)
(whoops) Yeah. (chuckles)
PAUL: Yes!
-JOHNNY: We did it! -(Paul whoops)
TOPPER: It's my lowest grade.
I had, like, straight A's, and now I have a B.
It's not gonna be good.
PAUL: Do your parents care about grades?
TOPPER: Yes. So do I.
GEORGE: Hey, Graff. Did you study for the test?
PAUL: No.
Oh, my God, it's like a third of your grade.
TOPPER: Dude, he's probably just too busy
drawing pictures of his hand over and over again.
I'm cutting out of here real soon.
What's that supposed to mean?
-You'll see. -Ooh, Graff's making a move.
("Armagideon Time" by The Clash playing)
♪ Oh! ♪
♪ A lot of people won't get no supper tonight ♪
♪ A lot of people won't get no justice tonight ♪
Dumb suitcase.
♪ The battle is getting hotter ♪
♪ In this iration ♪
♪ Armagideon time ♪
IRVING: Hello? Hello?
(whistling a tune)
-(hums softly) -(rummaging)
Who's that there?
It's just me.
Gonna go around back to the clubhouse for a bit.
All right, then put out the cans.
They're coming tomorrow.
And, uh, your mother's sitting shiva for your grandfather,
so we'll be eating late.
Okay.
MAN: Stand by for mode 1 Charlie.
MAN 2: Stand by for mode 1 Charlie.
-Mark. -Mark.
Mode 1 Charlie.
(indistinct radio chatter)
PAUL: Hey, Johnny.
Johnny, I'm ready.
♪ Remember to kick it over ♪
♪ No one will guide you... ♪
Okay. I'm going inside, get the cash,
and then I'll go around to the other side of the street.
Johnny.
I can come with you.
No, man. He trusts me.
So you go and wait till I come out.
All right, all right. I'll wait here.
We're close. We're close, man.
It's gonna work out.
Coast is clear. Go, go.
♪ A lot of people ♪
♪ Use a calculator ♪
♪ A lot of people won't get no ♪
♪ Supper tonight ♪
♪ A lot of people sitting down ♪
♪ By the light, light, light ♪
♪ The battle is getting hotter ♪
♪ Iration ♪
♪ Armagideon time. ♪
(song fades)
WOMAN: I'm swimming with the dolphins
here at one of Florida's spectacular resorts.
(upbeat jingle plays)
(jingle fades)
(Paul's breath trembling softly)
♪ ♪
(siren whoops)
JOHNNY: I didn't do anything.
(indistinct chatter)
(trembling breaths)
(indistinct police radio chatter)
OFFICER: Right inside here.
JOHNNY: I didn't do anything.
Any weapons?
10-28 requesting backup... (continues indistinctly)
(panting)
(sirens wailing)
(train clanking and screeching)
(dog barking)
(engine revving)
(tires squeal)
(siren whoops)
(distant, indistinct chatter)
We just wrapped up a 52 around the corner.
Pawnshop owner called it in.
It's... bad serial number on the unit, I think.
Black kid had the computer on him.
There's no contact info for him.
Could be homeless. We don't know yet.
(door bangs shut)
You know this young man?
Who is he?
My friend.
Your friend's in big trouble.
He stole a computer.
You want to tell me about it?
I don't really know what happened.
SERGEANT: Then what were you doing there?
Huh? What are you, a little angel?
Your friend did it all?
Hey!
Your friend did it all?
I... It...
(sergeant mock stammering)
No words all of a sudden, you big shot?
You want to tell me about it, or do I have to guess?
We both did it.
From where I go to school.
I made him come with me.
It was my idea.
(takes deep breath)
If there's something going on at home,
if there's a family problem, Paul,
we can help you with that.
Okay?
We can help.
You hear what I'm saying to you?
He didn't do anything.
He wasn't even in there.
SERGEANT: Oh, now you want to talk to me.
-(door opens) -I don't...
(indistinct whispering)
We're gonna sort these little fairy tales out later.
Okay?
(door opens)
Why are you saying that?
SERGEANT: Keep an eye on 'em.
(door closes)
SERGEANT: Mr. Graff.
Yes.
Irving Graff?
Yes.
Tom D'Arienzo.
We have a mutual friend, Nick Bloom.
-Oh, yes. -Yeah.
Yes, of course. (chuckles)
Tom D'Arienzo, yes.
How are you?
My son is... involved in something?
(sighs)
Let me talk to you in here. Come on.
OFFICER: Just sit tight.
Just trying to get somebody down here to talk to you.
But we're all friends here.
(chuckles): You ain't my friend.
If you're my friend,
how come you guys ain't offering me no help?
It's 'cause you don't care, and you're never gonna care.
There ain't no one else gonna stick up for me except me.
OFFICER: You get it all out?
-Feel better? -(scoffs)
(footsteps approaching)
Come with me.
Come with me right now.
SERGEANT: Listen to your father.
Let it go, man.
Don't make no difference.
Let it go.
IRVING: Paul.
I said come on.
♪ ♪
Bye, Johnny.
♪ ♪
(engine shuts off)
Please, Dad, can we just go in the house?
You don't have to hit me this time.
I won't get in trouble again. I promise.
I'm not gonna hit you, Paul.
But, uh, we got very, very lucky.
I-I-I fixed that cop's hot water heater
a few years ago, and I didn't charge him.
And that's the only reason why
you're not up shit's creek right now,
sitting in a juvenile detention center somewhere.
What's gonna happen to my friend?
My guess is you never see him again.
It wasn't his fault.
He wasn't the one that came up with the idea.
Shut your mouth. Shut your mouth.
Listen to me.
It's unfair that your friend is gonna take the blame.
All right? It's unfair, and-and I know it hurts you.
But life is unfair.
Sometimes, some people get a raw deal.
And I hate that.
It's-it's-it's the worst thing in the world. It's...
But you have to survive.
So...
...all you can do now is-is
you make the most of your break and do not look back.
I don't know, maybe I've not done a good job.
I'm not your grandfather.
I don't know... I don't know how to...
But I-I-I learned a long time ago
you got to be thankful...
...when you're given a leg up.
♪ ♪
(sighs) All right, let's-let's... let's go inside.
I don't want to hear another word about this.
And your mother doesn't need to know anything about it.
She's already having a rough enough time lately.
All right?
♪ ♪
JOHN CHANCELLOR (on TV): We have been polling
around the country in the key states,
NBC News and the Associated Press,
and what we're learning in the key states
is that... makes us believe that Ronald Reagan will win
a very substantial victory tonight.
-Very substantial. -Oh... -Oh, my...
What have we come to?
IRVING: Morons.
Morons from sea to shining sea.
CHANCELLOR: ...projected states in the presidential race...
There's gonna be a nuclear war.
GRANDMA: You know, I'm glad that Aaron
isn't around to see this.
It would break his heart.
RUTH: Mm.
Where's Paul?
Doing his homework.
RUTH: He's doing his homework?
Is this Paul Graff we're talking about?
GRANDMA: It's wonderful.
He's finally at the school where he should be,
after all this time.
Both our kids will get a real seat at the table.
CHANCELLOR: ...two states projected so far.
We have another... (continues indistinctly)
(newscast fades)
♪ ♪
It's hard to fight, isn't it?
I tried.
How do you think you did?
I'm sorry about your friend, kid.
I guess you let him down.
But you keep trying.
Don't ever give in to those bastards.
Never give in, jelly bean.
TOPPER: Show us some dance moves.
PAUL: Pop and lock it.
TOPPER (chuckling): Hey. Nice.
Where'd you learn that?
Uh, just an old friend of mine.
Nice.
(microphone thudding, feedback squealing)
FRED TRUMP: Okay, everyone, gather round.
First of all...
Happy Thanksgiving.
This is a wonderful tradition we have.
That our family has sponsored over the years.
Uh...
the annual Forest Manor Thanksgiving Dance.
It's a chance to come together,
be grateful for all we've been given
and all the positive things in life.
Personally, when I look out
and I see all these beautiful kids,
you're ready to face the world.
But it's not all fun and games.
Because you have an obligation to be the leaders
in business, in finance, politics,
to be CEOs and senators and presidents.
You are the elite.
("Justice Tonight/Kick It Over" by The Clash playing)
I couldn't have more hope than I do
at this very moment in our future.
(fading): Kids, you've got your whole life ahead of you.
(cheering and applause)
(breathing deeply)
(train rattling nearby)
(siren wailing in distance)
♪ Remember to kick it over ♪
♪ No one will guide you ♪
♪ Through Armagideon time. ♪
(song fades)
♪ ♪
(music fades)
(children chattering faintly)
(children's chatter continues)
(bell chiming)
(jet engine whirring)
(bell continues chiming)
(chiming fades)
(train screeching and clacking)
(siren wailing)
(train wheels screeching)