The Musical (2026) Movie Script
1
Before Abigail,
I never had
a real relationship.
She said she
just needed some time.
But eight weeks feels
a little long for a break.
Woohoo!
Beautiful day!
The first day of school,
an opportunity
for a fresh start.
For second chances.
I bet Eugene O'Neill
never had to work
at a middle school.
Hey, Doug!
You in there?
Hey, uh, just
a quickie reminder,
we have a "no-lock doors"
policy at the school.
Right, sorry.
Oh, no, it's early enough.
There are no kids here,
so I guess we can
let it slide.
Uh, come on in.
Clark Gable.
Gone with the Wind, right?
Yeah, it's a little
problematic today though.
Yeah.
Hmm.
Yeah, I wanted to pop in
and tell you I saw
your car in the parking lot.
Uh, what you got there, Lexus?
Korean, right?
- Japanese.
- Ah!
Sick.
Anyway, so I saw the car,
it has last year's
parking pass.
Yeah, sorry about that.
I've been meaning
to get on that.
I got a lot going on.
It's early in the year.
A lot of stuff's happening.
Yeah, that's it.
Just, um, you know,
fix the parking pass.
People look up to us.
We lead by example.
Yeah. I'll get right on it.
Oh.
Don't forget,
we have the all-hands
at the gymnatorium.
I'll be there with bells on.
Good to see you, Doug.
This time last year,
Abigail and I
were just getting started.
Late rehearsals,
takeout becomes dinner
in my office.
Just need to get through
that first conversation.
Seriously,
all the Danishes are gone.
-Ugh.
-Yeah, yeah.
-I bet you it was Mrs. Grant.
-Hmm.
All right.
Good morning, everyone.
I just wanna do
a couple of housekeeping notes
before we get started
on an amazing Cedarhurst year.
I can't believe
those long summer nights
are over already.
Okay.
First, and this is a big one.
I have heard
through the grape vine,
and possibly a source
in the city council's office,
my brother,
that we are this close
to getting added
to the Southern California
Blue Ribbon Schools List.
And it's--
and it's been a team effort.
But when I got here
just two years ago,
it was at the top
of my priorities.
And now here we are.
But it doesn't happen without
everybody in this room.
All right. So let's make sure
we keep the learning train
chugging
with Reading
and Science and Espaol.
Excellent.
It's very important
to have everything buttoned up
because the committee
is paying attention.
We all saw what happened
to Woodcliff
when they started
teaching Harry Potter.
The left
thought it was anti-trans.
The right thought
it was anti-Christian.
And I think
they're not winning
the Blue Ribbon this year.
Okay.
Um, all right.
Let's talk extracurricular.
I said, Doug,
what do we got cooking
for the school play?
Uh, West Side Story.
Uh, we're gonna do West Side--
- West Side Story.
- Oh.
Maria, Maria
Oh, that sounds
like Carlos Santana.
Yeah, and I think it is.
The Blue Ribbon panel
will love it.
Next year, we'll do Ironman.
Okay.
I guess that's it.
Everyone, thank you.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
There's--we have a birthday.
Um, this woman is not only
an amazing teacher,
but she is a fantastic artist.
Abigail Morris,
we love you so much.
You're an amazing woman.
Hey, Doug,
I sang alto in college
if you need anybody.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday,
dear Abigail
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Fuck!
Mr. L?
Sorry.
Move! Move!
We can do this all year.
If nobody shows up
within 15 minutes,
we're legally allowed
to leave.
Where would we go?
It's not like we have a ride.
-Hey, Mr. L?
-Yes, Lata?
Do know when sign-ups
are going up?
I will make an announcement
to the class about sign-ups
at the appropriate time.
Okay, great.
Mikey, pass out those scripts!
Yes, Mr. L.
Who knows what a tragedy is?
We'll pick this up tomorrow.
-Abigail?
-Oh. Hi, Doug.
Hi, I'm sorry. I was--
I was trying to talk to you.
Actually, I need to talk
to you too.
Oh, real--really?
Um, well, great.
Uh, I was just on my way up
to my classroom
if you wanna...
Yeah, that sounds fine, yeah.
Okay. Well...
- Okay.
- ...after you.
West Side Story.
Wow, so fun.
Yeah, I mean,
it's not the most original
idea in the world,
but it could be fun.
Um, and, you know,
maybe we could
build a fire escape.
Yeah. I don't know that
insurance would cover that,
but--but maybe.
You said you wanted
to talk to me about something.
-Is that what it was?
-Yeah.
Yeah--well, no.
-I--
-Well, um, wait one sec.
Um, I know
that it's your birthday.
So I...
got you this.
Wow.
Oh, wow.
Doug, I...
Um, and I also--
I just wanted to say
I am really sorry,
um, for how I was about...
PDA.
-Hmm.
-And also about
intimacy in general.
Um...
my therapist,
uh, said that I have a PTSD
response to human touch.
Wow. Um, I'm so happy for you.
I mean,
because of the therapy,
not because of the P...
Right, yeah.
I--well I--
so I was just wondering
if maybe you wanted
to, um, go out and try again
-and maybe get a drink?
-Doug,
-wow, Doug--
-Because I just--
-I feel like--
-Doug, Doug...
What--sorry. You say
what you wanted to say.
I wanted you to hear it
from me first,
before you heard it
from somebody else.
I'm seeing Michael.
Principal Brady.
So, are we still on a break?
Yeah, but not really a break.
It's more like we're broken.
I'm really sorry, Doug.
But, you know,
I think we can still
work together just fine
because nobody even knew
we were dating.
Totally.
Yeah.
See you--
see you around campus.
The writer is a paradox.
He has to step back
from the world
in order to understand it.
And yet, be immersed in it,
to absorb every
excruciating detail.
He finds meaning in a world
that makes no sense.
Principal Brady?
How does that even happen?
You know what?
I bet it was teacher's
retreat. That's so classic.
What a fucking snake.
Whatever.
It was a distraction anyway.
Now I can really focus,
get the fellowship.
-Go to New York.
-Yes. Awesome.
Yes. This is a speed bump,
brother.
There's only one Broadway,
and it's in New York!
You know she, um, messaged me
about the fundraiser
you were having?
-She texted you?
-Oh, God.
I think just like about
the venue and hosting it here.
Or we don't have to at all.
Don't mean to step
on your toes.
Let's--
no. No, no, no. It's fine.
I just don't know
what she sees in him.
That guy is like a--
a boiled cabbage of a person.
Bet he hasn't read a book
since high school.
You're gonna be fine.
Truly, you know?
You just have to move forward
and accept it.
I mean, if plans change,
you shift it up.
And if you're
getting stressed out,
put that
into your creative work.
All right.
I wanna thank everyone
for coming out today.
You all made the time to--
Hi!
I'm sorry,
did you start already?
Just one second.
Oh, look at you.
You look amazing.
- Hey, girl.
- Yes.
-What are you doing here?
-Oh, well,
it's auditions.
-It's so exciting.
-Right.
I was thinking
for the set we could--
What? You don't need
to be here.
Well, I mean,
I was here last year.
Last year was different.
Well, I already started
working on the model
-for New York.
-Right.
I'll send Mikey to grab it
when it's ready.
I'm sure it's great.
It's a quarter past.
Thank you, Mikey.
Then I guess I'll just finish
the model and get it to you.
Find a way
to lock these doors.
As I was saying...
you've all been
working very hard,
but not everyone
can get a starring role.
In fact, most of you
won't get a starring role.
I ain't got nobody
And somebody cares for me
I'm so sad and lonely
Won't somebody come
and take a chance...
Because sometimes
what you have to offer
isn't what other people think
they're looking for.
Even if you disagree.
Even if you think
that's stupid.
That's just the way it is.
And you gotta deal with it.
There's no going back
in time.
No resets.
No do-overs.
So you just gotta become
a massive success...
to prove them wrong.
I want you to post the list
and get back here
as fast as you can.
All right.
Mikey is posting
the cast list.
All decisions are final.
Worried about the chorus.
You can always pair it down.
You chose Cindy for the lead?
Lata, you're an
amazing dancer.
Cindy is an amazing singer.
But she's White.
It says she's supposed
to be Puerto Rican.
Are you Puerto Rican?
She doesn't even
speak Spanish.
Cindy!
Do you speak Spanish?
Let me tell you something,
Lata.
The thing about life
is, sometimes you win.
But sometimes,
you watch your enemy
steal what could
have been yours.
There are no small parts,
only small actors.
- But--
- No, no.
You're number one
in the ensemble.
This is erasure.
I dunno
what I was thinking
to sign up
to chaperone a zoo trip.
Okay. I wanted to see
the pandas, so sue me.
Hey, can I scan
while you print?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
And then these
stupid little perverts
wanna get their grubby
little hands on everything.
Pretty soon Danny DelCole's
got his arm stuck
in the tortoise enclosure,
and he's screaming.
Ugh.
Ooh. Look, pretty crazy, huh?
Yeah, I think
it's pretty inappropriate.
Apparently, her last boyfriend
was a real hot mess.
I mean, emotionally, you
know.
-Did she say that?
-Oh, no.
Principal Brady did.
Well, did--any idea
who it was?
Not a clue.
They've been going out
for a while.
They didn't want anyone
to know,
they don't want the old guy
to find out.
But I mean,
what's he gonna do?
Principal Brady
does jiu-jitsu.
- Are you okay?
- Huh? Well, yeah.
I put the holes
on the wrong side...
-Everybody.
-...of the thing.
Last minute additions
to the morning announcement?
Doug?
All locked up then. All
right.
Jiu-jitsu.
Hello, students,
and welcome
to another beautiful day
here at Cedarhurst
Middle School.
I just wanna
let everyone know
that our Art teacher,
Abigail Morris,
is much happier now
that she is having
the best sex of her life.
Her previous boyfriend
can't definitively say
whether he's ever
given a woman an orgasm.
So if you see him
in the halls,
make sure you look
right at him and say nothing.
He will know what you mean.
Finally, a reminder
to look out for each other.
Here at Cedarhurst,
we're a community
and we rise
and fall together.
Special delivery.
Mikey, go to class.
All right, Mr.--
Sometimes, it feels
like a dream.
And then I remember...
Principal Brady.
When the muse calls,
you answer.
Look at him. Big salami.
Good luck
getting the Blue Ribbon
when every paper
in the country
is calling for your head.
All right, people.
Circle up.
All right. Now, I know
everyone's excited.
But do we really wanna
do the same play
that every other school does?
Or do we wanna do something
special, contemporary?
Is this about me
not being Spanish or whatever?
Latina.
I just think
that the best parts
go to the best people.
I mean, we're all actors,
right? Let us act.
It's not like there's a lot
of roles for Latina girls.
Shouldn't we at least
try to be realistic?
Okay. So Black people
can't play Hamlet then?
- That's not what I mean.
- And what do you mean?
Okay. Okay.
This is what
I'm talking about.
We are arguing about something
that is a hundred years old
when we could be talking
about something new.
You said this play has
never been done before, right?
What if that's
because it sucks?
Okay. It doesn't suck.
You know what? If anything,
West Side Story sucks.
This is about real people
and how they stand up
for what they think is right,
for what they believe in,
even if it means
breaking the rules.
Not about killing
your girlfriend's brother
just because you're sad.
Is that what happens?
Will we have
to audition again?
Audition?
No, everyone who has a lead
stays a lead.
Well then,
I think we should do it.
-It's--
-Listen, listen.
Acting is about trust.
You trust your scene partner
to support you
and you trust your director
to have a vision,
and you trust yourself
to step out on that stage
in front of an audience
and deliver.
Do you trust me?
Okay.
There's just one more thing.
We can't tell anybody
what we're doing.
Parents, friends,
no one can know.
You want us to lie?
What? No. No.
Not lie, just not tell
anyone.
I tell my parents everything.
Well, think about it
like this.
Remember when you found out
Santa wasn't real?
So your parents lie to you
but it's not a bad thing.
Sure they're fibbing, but
only
'cause they want Christmas
to be that much better.
In my house,
we celebrate Hanukkah.
Instead of one night--
It's eight nights, yeah,
we all know.
Look, let me let you in
on a little secret.
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise.
When we perform
for our audience,
do we wanna give them
the best Christmas ever,
or do we wanna make them cry
because Santa isn't real?
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise.
The superpower of the theater
-is the element of surprise.
-Again.
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise!
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise!
Okay, people.
Let's get to work!
Put on your blacks!
See you later.
Don't listen to them, Mikey.
What?
The people
that want you to settle.
When I got out
of undergrad, Wesleyan,
I had a grant for a play.
Small opening, well-reviewed.
We were all set
to open Off-Broadway
and the producer disappeared.
He said
it was a pulmonary embolism.
I know he took that money.
- Oh.
- So I moved back in
with my mom in Sylmar.
Do you know where Sylmar is,
Mikey?
And then she got sick.
I thought I'd work here
for a year.
It's you against the world,
Mikey.
We got those flow-y robes,
right?
It says they're in transit.
Well, if that's it,
I better get going
before I miss my bus.
Your bus? I'll take you home.
- You don't have to.
- Don't be crazy.
Come on.
You know,
Lexus was the first car
to have seat warmers?
That's cool.
You ever use them?
It's nice to have the option.
Mr. L?
Wazzup?
I was wondering,
why do we have
to keep the play a secret?
Why? I already told you,
the superpower
of the theater--
Well, I know that.
Would it really matter
if my parents knew?
Did you tell your parents?
No, definitely not.
Well, okay. That's good.
That's good.
This is your house here?
Yeah.
Not everyone
is going to understand
what we're doing.
And...
people are afraid
of what they don't understand.
It's okay to lie
if it's for the right reasons.
We wanna blow everyone away,
right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thanks for taking me home,
Mr. L.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, and...
for the record,
I don't think you're settling.
Not anymore.
People don't understand
the burden of a writer.
Relationships end.
Civilizations crumble.
But literature endures.
- Hello?
- Hey. Hey, Mr., uh, Rothman.
This is Doug Leibowitz.
Sorry, who is this?
I, uh, was one
of the applicants
for the fellowship
and I just got rejected.
Oh. Oh. How did you--
Well, I found
your phone number
in an email signature
from a playwriting festival
that we were at together
in 2014.
I had just written
"The Bells and Whistles"
out of Wesleyan.
Right. Right,
I think I remember you.
"Bells and Whistles."
Though I meet a lot of
aspiring playwrights, so...
Yeah, yeah. So, um, yeah.
So, I just got
this rejection letter
and I was--thought, you know,
that I would call
and see if I could get
a little insight into, um,
the decision-making process.
Yeah. Look, Mr. Leibowitz,
this is really unusual.
-Definitely not--
-Yeah, I know.
We haven't been in touch
for a while,
but I'm just--um,
it's not like my writing
has gotten worse, you know.
I--I'm wondering
if I was good enough then,
why I'm not good enough now,
you know?
Well, the fellowship
is highly selective
and we always
have many talented writers
who for one reason
or another just can't--
What did I do wrong?
What? What?
Can you just get--
could you look up
my application
and tell me why
I was rejected?
Okay, uh...
It seems I actually
did recommend you.
I didn't like the work
you submitted very much,
but I thought
there was something
in the personal statement.
-An edge.
-Uh-huh.
But our selection process
is by committee,
and it seems
that the other board members
reacted quite strongly
in a negative sense.
They felt your work
was too impersonal.
One colleague wrote,
"The candidate seems
to prefer intellectualism
to emotion.
We're here for theater,
not a treatise
on the theater."
Heh.
Well, harsh criticism
is the only kind
worth hearing, right, Mr.--
All right.
Phones in the basket.
Phones!
Today, we're gonna
watch a movie.
It's called
The Manchurian Candidate.
It's from 1962.
It's about how people in
power
will do anything
to maintain control.
You don't have
to pay attention.
But one day when you
wake up powerless
at the hands of the machine,
you might just wish
you were ready.
Mikey, lights.
Mr. L, what's The Machine?
The algorithm.
The government.
An anonymous review board.
Everything that's trying
to keep you down.
Imagine you only have one job
and it's to spin a wheel.
But every time
you ask a question
or get tired or try
to speak up for yourself,
you get replaced
because there are a thousand
other wheel spinners out there
and they're all just itching
to replace you.
It doesn't matter
if you graduated
at the top of your class,
if you went to a good school,
or if you read books
and know about art,
because at the end of the
day,
your dreams don't matter.
It's "What can you do for me?
How well can you
spin the wheel?"
Your friends will move away.
Your parents will die.
And at the end of all things,
the best you can
possibly ask for
is that someone maybe...
will remember you.
That's the machine.
Hey, Mr. L.
Hello, Lata.
I've been thinking
about what you said.
Sometimes people
who maybe don't work as hard,
or want it as bad,
or even care
about getting into the top
performing arts high school,
get the best parts.
But it's like what you said.
There are no small parts,
just small actors.
And I've been thinking
about the cab driver role
you assigned to me.
And I wrote a monologue
that I think could really
set the stage at the end
of the first act.
"How many people
shared my taxi?
A small world, divided
by a sheet of plastic."
Stop. Stop, stop, stop.
Lata, what are you doing?
You said no small parts.
So I'm making it bigger,
beefing it.
The cab driver
doesn't need any beefing.
But I research--
I researched it and--
Lata, I don't think
you're hearing me.
It's not that you don't have
something to offer, you do.
You're talented. You're
smart.
You work very hard.
It's just that
your performance,
it's a little bit...
intellectual.
We're looking
for a cab driver,
not a treatise
on a cab driver.
Honestly, maybe it's too much
for you.
Maybe you'd find more success
as the Fire Hydrant.
Oh, a fire hydrant.
Yeah. Okay.
I thought you were trying
to make me work harder
because you
recognized my gifts.
Sometimes the best way
to stand out
is by blending in.
-I'm sorry, Lata.
-I don't want an apology.
Well, that's just how
the business works.
What do you know
about how the business works?
You teach at a middle school.
Stop! Stop!
Wrong!
How many times do we have
to watch the videos?
It is North tower
and then South.
There's just no feeling.
There's no depth.
It has to be personal.
When she crashes
into those towers,
the whole world changes...
forever!
And you become
collateral damage!
You are lost in a conflict
that you didn't start,
but it is now up to you
to finish it.
Brian...
your parents are divorced,
right?
What your character is going
through is just like that.
You want to do
the right thing,
but you don't even know what
the right thing is anymore.
You're caught
between two worlds.
The world you knew...
and your uncertain future.
And... you are alone.
And that goes for all of you.
From there, right away,
back to one. Let's go.
9/11
It's a story about greed
9/11
Jet fuel doesn't
melt steel beams
9/11
All brown guys
are a threat
9/11
9/11
Hashtag
Never forget
Could I have a Manhattan
straight up, please?
Uh-hmm.
Hi.
Oh. Hey.
I wish
we could be friends.
Friends?
You wanna be friends
so that you don't feel
guilty anymore.
What?
You broke up with me
and then immediately
started dating our boss,
like, the next day.
Is that what you think?
It did not happen like that.
Doug.
Doug, it wasn't the next day.
Oh, was it during?
Sorry.
Sorry.
Can we at least be civil,
then?
We work at the same school.
I see you every day.
Honestly, I don't know
how much longer
I'm gonna be
at Cedarhurst, so...
Wait, did you
get the fellowship?
Are you moving to New York?
Do we cheers?
To new beginnings!
Doug in New York.
All right!
What are we celebrating?
-What's happened?
-Oh, Doug.
I did--I just saved a
boatload
of money on my car insurance.
Right on.
Hey, can I borrow you
-for a moment?
-Uh-hmm.
Another Manhattan?
Excuse me, where's your head?
Oh, around the corner.
Hey. We gotta talk.
Could you come by the office
tomorrow?
Uh, yeah, sure. Okay.
What do we got
goin' on here? Huh?
-A piercing?
-No.
All right.
I'm gonna go tinkle.
I wonder what
he wants to talk to you about.
Ah, there he is.
Sorry I kept you waiting.
Yeah. How was last night,
man? It was fun, right?
Oh, it was.
Yes, um--
So, I actually have
rehearsal in a few minutes.
Here's the thing.
I'm hearing some potentially
concerning chitter-chatter
about the show.
Something about Cindy
playing a...
person of color.
Well, Cindy
does actually have
the stronger singing voice.
I don't wanna
make it political.
I'm not gonna go there.
But...
the play's already
pretty racy, theme-wise.
And I just think
with the parents,
and the board, and the
culture
that we are navigating,
we cannot have
any controversy.
Well, there's no controversy.
There is just too much
on the line.
I mean, we're talking about
a Blue Ribbon here, Doug.
Cindy is out. Lata's in.
-We'll figure it out.
-Thanks.
-I knew you'd understand.
-Sure.
Thing is, I was--
I wish it were different.
I wish we were living
in different times.
Boy howdy.
And the script's clean?
Squeaky. It's totally PG.
- Okay.
- Great.
I just have to sit in
on rehearsals.
What?
Sorry, I--no.
Well, I just--
I have a very specific
creative relationship
with the students.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You'll have
all the creative control.
I'm there
to use my eyeballs, man.
You know, make sure
everything's A-OK,
needs to be top-shape,
and make sure
we're keeping our eye
on the ball there.
You won't even know I'm
there.
-Okay.
-We should start tonight.
-Good with you?
-Sure.
-We're good right now.
-Yeah.
Tonight I have jiu-jitsu.
- Rats.
- Um...
Maureen, call the dojo,
cancel, tell 'em I'm goin'
to rehearsal.
Yes!
-Oh, I gotta take this call.
-Okay.
Then I'll see--I'll see you
in a little bit.
Yeah, I'll see you
in a minute.
Mikey.
Mikey, open the fucking door!
Mikey, you gotta
lock that door!
It's happening!
We're resetting everything!
Everybody flip the world.
Cindy, grab the booklets.
-What's happening?
-Grab the booklets!
- He's coming!
- The Machine?
Stop screaming! Piano kid,
get rid of that music.
Everybody, like we practiced.
Go, go, go!
Hi.
Hey, what did we say
about locked doors?
Come on, man.
You're better than that.
These doors are weird.
Wow! Look at this set?!
Am I in New York City?
The Big Apple?
Wow!
Why is she dressed like that?
Uh, well, we're--uh,
we wanted to depict
the diversity
of New York City accurately.
And her grandmother
is Middle Eastern.
Oh, of course. 'Course.
Right. Smart.
Because here at Cedarhurst,
we welcome everyone, right?
All right.
Let's have some theatre!
Never mind me,
I'll be invisible.
All right, everybody.
So, um, a little change.
Lata, Cindy,
would you two switch places?
Lata, you're now Maria.
Let's go.
Let's keep it professional.
All right.
West Side Story.
Uh, I'm telling you,
I'm tired of these guys
hanging out on our streets.
Well, I say we do away
with them once and for all.
Uh, but how are we
gonna do that?
Oh, I's tell you how.
We're gonna challenge them
to a rumble.
Why, I, uh, I, uh...
Oughta.
Why, I oughta...
Wait, is that my line?
All right. All right. Great.
Let's, um, let's work through
some of the choreo
that we've been working on.
So, everybody,
let's start doing some snaps.
Great.
All right.
Really nice, everyone.
Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
We should cancel the play.
No, please don't say that.
We can't present something
that isn't, uh,
you know, just...
perfect.
Like, perfect perfect.
I can see you're nervous,
but it'll all come together.
It all clicks.
-Clicks?
-It clicks.
The kids are shaken up
right now
because of the cast change.
Trust me.
I feel terrible about that,
but it's the right thing
to do.
Uh-hmm.
Uh, when's the performance
again?
Oh, a couple weeks.
Couple weeks? Time flies.
Hey, everybody, everybody,
everybody, hey.
Uh, I just wanna say...
you're awesome,
every one of you.
Regardless of your race
or sexual orientation,
what kind of religion
you're doin',
you're all just good humans.
They really appreciate that.
-Thank you.
-Yeah.
Hey, thank you
for that pep talk.
I think I needed it.
I think it's just
first rehearsal jitters.
-Yeah.
-You know?
We can always cancel
in a couple of days.
-Yeah.
-All right.
Uh, same time tomorrow.
Looking forward
to seein' it click.
Yeah.
Thank you, Principal Brady.
Did that feel good?
Did that feel good?
No.
No, it didn't.
But there are some people,
outsiders
who want us to feel that way
all the time.
In fact...
they're already threatening
to cancel us.
-No!
-I moved my Bar Mitzvah!
But we have a trick
up our sleeves.
What do we always say?
The superpower of the theatre
-is the element of surprise.
-Louder!
The superpower of the theatre
is the element of surprise!
Exactly.
Now, if we're really
all in this together,
if we really wanna make
something special,
then were going to have to
commit harder to the surprise.
The only way we stay alive
is if we learn their play.
It's gonna be twice
as much material.
And we're gonna have
to do double the rehearsals.
Mornings will be for us.
After school...
that's for them.
If we can fake them out,
they can't shut us down.
Yeah.
When that curtain opens
and they see
what we've created,
their minds will melt
in their seats.
Let's go!
Hello?
Hey.
- What's going on?
- That's a good question,
Mikey. That's a very
good question.
Brady is problem number one.
But we've got another fish
to fry.
Or more specifically, a rat.
Who?
Maybe we can do a full cast
talkback session or...
No, no, no. No.
Think about it.
Why would somebody tattle
without giving away
our secret?
For leverage, Mikey.
They're trying
to apply pressure
without ruining the show.
Our rat wants more cheese.
Cheese?
-Lata wants a bigger part.
-You think it's Lata?
- I know it is.
- How?
Because it's what I
would've done.
Keep this between us, Mikey.
And let me know if she does
anything suspicious.
And so we walk
the razor's edge.
Hello, Lata.
Hello?
You're here early?
I can rehearse somewhere else
if that's a problem.
Lata Ramos.
The perfect student.
I know what you did.
I dunno what you're
talking about.
Okay.
Okay.
You're tired
of being overlooked.
Waiting in the wings.
Playing the fire hydrant.
Honestly, I'm impressed.
You are a killer, Lata.
I think I might just have
the perfect role for you.
I'm already the lead.
Hmm.
You're the lead of a charade.
Principal Brady
says the Toluca Times
should do a profile on me.
I'm not just
offering you a lead.
I'm offering you
a starring role
in something that could
really put you on the map.
I'm talking L.A. Times,
New York Times.
Sky's the limit.
Be selfish.
There are two types
of people in this world.
Givers...
and Takers.
People who build fires
and people who stay warm
by the flames.
Ernst Rothman told me
my writing wasn't personal.
Well, it's personal now.
Uh-oh!
We have a superstar
in the house.
I gotta say,
I was--I was skeptical.
Honestly,
I didn't believe you,
but it is--it's clicking,
it's clicking
all over the place.
I'm really connecting
with these kids.
Totally.
And I didn't know how things
were gonna go with us,
you know?
I mean, because of the whole
Abigail situation,
but you've been just...
such a mensch.
-Am I saying that right?
-Yeah. Yeah.
Well, you know,
we're all mature adults here.
There's no reason
why we can't move on.
That's what I love about you,
Doug.
You're a--you're very mature,
you know.
And... we all rise
and fall together.
So, I wanted
to ask you a question.
Sure, Doug, I'm an open book.
You can ask me anything.
Well, I was thinking
and I just wonder,
how would you feel
about giving the introductory
speech for the show?
You want me
to introduce the play?
Well, you've just been
so helpful over the past
couple of weeks
and with the Blue Ribbon
on the line...
I'd be honored.
Hi.
-Speak of the devil.
-Sorry.
I didn't wanna interrupt.
-Not at all.
-No. Come on in.
Hey, hi. Oh, wow.
Wow. Look at what you did
with the set.
You really took it,
um, in your own direction.
And that is amazing. Good
job.
It's really coming together.
A lot of talent
in this building.
-Mm.
-You ready to scoot?
Um, can I get one second?
Yeah, sure.
I'll be in my office.
-Okay.
-Someone may have gotten...
Everybody quiet down!
-Hi.
-Hi.
So, I've really been
trying to give you space,
but we're getting
very close to opening night,
and I would just
really hate it
if we ended the semester
like this.
Like what?
Oh, I don't know. I--weird.
It's fine.
You know...
I've been hearing really
great things about the show.
Apparently,
Lata is just killing it.
I'm really trying here, Doug.
Abigail,
it's a middle school show.
And you know what?
You'll probably be
running this whole thing
anyway next year.
So, you're really going?
Yeah.
Well, the kids
are really gonna miss you.
But I know you've always
talked about wanting
to move on from here,
so I'm happy for you.
I didn't get the fellowship.
Can I give you a hug?
I'm really sorry, Doug.
But you know what?
Those people kinda
look like douchebags anyway.
And I know you don't
wanna hear this
but you're such
a good teacher.
-Wait.
-And who even cares about
a fellowship anyway?
How do you know
what they look like?
Did you look it up?
Well, yeah.
I mean, Michael wanted to do
a whole press release
about the show
and about you
and the theatre department
as he wanted
to get you more money
-and attention.
-Oh, my God.
You were gonna use me
for the school.
I'm not gonna use you.
It's for the kids
and to celebrate you.
How is this guy
not so obvious to you?
What? Obvious what?
He was trying to help.
He wants to get money
for the school
-and for the children.
-Oh, yeah.
He really wants
to help the children.
Not everybody
has a nefarious plan, Doug.
You know, this is
all a part of my job
and you've completely
excluded me from it.
And I'm tired of dancing
around your hurt feelings...
Yeah. That's easy
for you to say.
I didn't fall in love
with your boss.
I hope you get whatever it is
that you're looking for.
You and Principal Brady
think you're better than me?
What do you say about me?
I'll bet you two just love
talking about me.
What the hell is going on?
Oh, mind your own
fucking business!
What?
- Hey.
- Hey, shut up!
-I see right through you...
-Whoa!
...motherfucker!
Hey, Doug,
I'm just checking
to make sure
your mental health leave
is going A-okay.
Um, no hard feelings,
of course.
Everybody has big emotions
sometimes.
Um, you know what they say,
a healthy community
begins in the mind,
so don't worry about anything.
Don't worry about the play.
I've got it all handled,
uh, but I am gonna need you
to pay any outstanding fines.
And when you're cleared
to come back to work,
we can discuss next steps.
Okey-dokey?
All right.
We'll, uh, talk soon.
All right. Cindy.
Cindy, don't forget,
when you turn around,
big smile, big,
big, big, big, big.
Okay? All right.
Just like that.
All right. Thanks. All right.
See you all tomorrow.
-Okay.
-Wrap it up, brother.
I heard Mr. L punched
Principal Brady in the face.
I heard he had
a nervous breakdown
and pissed on his desk.
Oh, my gosh.
So much for The Heroes.
Oh!
Mikey, you scared me.
Is everything okay?
No, not really.
Oh, honey, come here.
Come here, sit down.
Come here.
Here.
All right.
So, tell me what's going on.
It's Mr. L.
You two are friends, right?
Um, yeah,
I'd say we're friendly.
He's not been coming
to rehearsal
for a couple days now.
Do you think...
maybe his parents
are getting a divorce?
Uh...
I don't know.
I'm really worried about him.
If you want,
you could write him a card?
I think he's gonna be okay.
Loser!
You suck!
Get off the stage!
Doug, open up the door.
Doug, open it up, okay?
I saw your car
in the driveway.
Please tell me you're
in there.
Doug. Open the door, Doug.
Jesus fucking Christ, man.
-Are you okay?
-Yeah, I'm fine.
God. Ugh.
Look, I--I've been trying
to reach you, man.
I heard about everything
that happened.
Did Abigail tell you?
Well, I mean, yeah.
She told me.
Okay. Well,
if that's everything...
This is from your students.
She wanted me
to give it to you.
You don't realize that people
care about you.
It's okay to lie
as long as it's
for the right reasons.
- Never settle.
- You're a teacher.
Kids look up to you, man.
So, whatever this is...
figure it out.
-Thanks for checkin' in.
-Wow, dude.
Everyone talks
about the power of love,
but nobody talks
about the power of spite.
You realize I'm
the arts and culture reporter
at the Toluca Times, right?
Well, the suspicious activity
I wanted to report
is about the school play.
Okay.
I don't know how much I can
really say over the phone,
but the principal
is making these students
do some... pretty crazy stuff.
Should we involve
child services?
No, no.
I just think...
you really need
to see the play.
Some cultures burn whole
forests to start new again,
to come back stronger,
like a phoenix hardened
by the lessons of the past.
I got your letter.
So, no one else made it, huh?
I wouldn't say that.
A lot of you
are probably pretty...
pissed at me right now.
And rightly so.
I almost let the machine win.
I'm sorry I couldn't--
I want to apologize.
Not for being selfish
but for telling someone
who could never understand
what we've built.
Outsiders can't be trusted,
my mentor taught me that.
Well, what are we doing
sitting around?
Curtains are tomorrow, people!
Let's go! Let's go!
If you could please
take your seats.
The show is about to start.
Whoo!
Oh, thanks, thanks, thanks.
That's, uh, that's very nice.
Uh, this is a project
that's very near
and dear to my heart.
And it's not just because
I was intimately involved
in every aspect
of, uh, putting it together.
This is a story
about two groups of people
who don't understand
each other.
And it's not
because they can't,
it's because they won't.
At Cedarhurst,
we challenge our students
to see beyond our differences.
When I see what these kids
have done,
it reminds me
of why I became an educator
in the first place.
I see art
and knowledge
coming together for change.
So, I'd like--I wanna--
I wanna give
a special shout-out
to our amazing set designer,
Abigail Morris.
So, enjoy the show.
You're gonna love it.
Sit back and break a leg.
I'm walking here.
Uh, yeah.
Go, go, go.
What will become of me,
Rudy Giuliani,
nursing the wounds
of a lost race for senator.
Would the skies not open up
and bestow the gift
of a sterling reputation?
Payback shall be mine
and thy name is Hillary!
I'm falling
behind in the polls!
What could we do to get
the people behind me?
We need a controversy!
Something!
We can make more arrests.
Bigger!
And what about
helping the vets?
Bigger!
How about a win for the Jets?
Bigger!
It's--it's perfect.
You should stop the show.
Stop it.
-I can't do that.
-Stop the show.
Love
Devotion
Feeling
Emotion
Don't be afraid
to be weak
Don't be too proud
to be strong
Just look
into your heart...
You turned the gymnatorium
into Ground Zero,
are you fucking ill?
To yourself
The return to innocence
The return to innocence
And if you want,
then start to laugh
If you must,
then start to cry
Be yourself, don't hide
Just believe in destiny
Don't care
what people say
Just follow your own way
Don't give up
and use the chance
To return to innocence
That's not the beginning
of the end
That's the return
to yourself
The return to innocence
After the play,
things got pretty crazy.
They took my teaching licence
which, I think,
was for the best.
The service industry
is simpler
and much more straightforward
than working
at a school ever was.
Separating my job
from my work as a writer
has actually been
really helpful.
And I realized there was
nothing really stopping me
from coming to New York
after all,
no matter what
some fellowship says.
I don't know
how to tell you this, but...
I've been sleeping
with Principal Grady.
So you're cheating on me!
-Please.
-Okay.
Okay, great.
Let's save it for showtime.
Doors open in five.
-Thank you, Pipe.
-Thank you, Pipe.
It's crazy to think about,
but in a weird way,
I ended up exactly
where I'm supposed to be...
in New York doing theater.
That's Jen.
She works at the post office,
but really has a knack
for the stage.
We kind of have
a thing going,
but I learned my lesson
and we're taking it slow.
Before Abigail,
I never had
a real relationship.
She said she
just needed some time.
But eight weeks feels
a little long for a break.
Woohoo!
Beautiful day!
The first day of school,
an opportunity
for a fresh start.
For second chances.
I bet Eugene O'Neill
never had to work
at a middle school.
Hey, Doug!
You in there?
Hey, uh, just
a quickie reminder,
we have a "no-lock doors"
policy at the school.
Right, sorry.
Oh, no, it's early enough.
There are no kids here,
so I guess we can
let it slide.
Uh, come on in.
Clark Gable.
Gone with the Wind, right?
Yeah, it's a little
problematic today though.
Yeah.
Hmm.
Yeah, I wanted to pop in
and tell you I saw
your car in the parking lot.
Uh, what you got there, Lexus?
Korean, right?
- Japanese.
- Ah!
Sick.
Anyway, so I saw the car,
it has last year's
parking pass.
Yeah, sorry about that.
I've been meaning
to get on that.
I got a lot going on.
It's early in the year.
A lot of stuff's happening.
Yeah, that's it.
Just, um, you know,
fix the parking pass.
People look up to us.
We lead by example.
Yeah. I'll get right on it.
Oh.
Don't forget,
we have the all-hands
at the gymnatorium.
I'll be there with bells on.
Good to see you, Doug.
This time last year,
Abigail and I
were just getting started.
Late rehearsals,
takeout becomes dinner
in my office.
Just need to get through
that first conversation.
Seriously,
all the Danishes are gone.
-Ugh.
-Yeah, yeah.
-I bet you it was Mrs. Grant.
-Hmm.
All right.
Good morning, everyone.
I just wanna do
a couple of housekeeping notes
before we get started
on an amazing Cedarhurst year.
I can't believe
those long summer nights
are over already.
Okay.
First, and this is a big one.
I have heard
through the grape vine,
and possibly a source
in the city council's office,
my brother,
that we are this close
to getting added
to the Southern California
Blue Ribbon Schools List.
And it's--
and it's been a team effort.
But when I got here
just two years ago,
it was at the top
of my priorities.
And now here we are.
But it doesn't happen without
everybody in this room.
All right. So let's make sure
we keep the learning train
chugging
with Reading
and Science and Espaol.
Excellent.
It's very important
to have everything buttoned up
because the committee
is paying attention.
We all saw what happened
to Woodcliff
when they started
teaching Harry Potter.
The left
thought it was anti-trans.
The right thought
it was anti-Christian.
And I think
they're not winning
the Blue Ribbon this year.
Okay.
Um, all right.
Let's talk extracurricular.
I said, Doug,
what do we got cooking
for the school play?
Uh, West Side Story.
Uh, we're gonna do West Side--
- West Side Story.
- Oh.
Maria, Maria
Oh, that sounds
like Carlos Santana.
Yeah, and I think it is.
The Blue Ribbon panel
will love it.
Next year, we'll do Ironman.
Okay.
I guess that's it.
Everyone, thank you.
Oh, I'm so sorry.
There's--we have a birthday.
Um, this woman is not only
an amazing teacher,
but she is a fantastic artist.
Abigail Morris,
we love you so much.
You're an amazing woman.
Hey, Doug,
I sang alto in college
if you need anybody.
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday,
dear Abigail
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Fuck!
Mr. L?
Sorry.
Move! Move!
We can do this all year.
If nobody shows up
within 15 minutes,
we're legally allowed
to leave.
Where would we go?
It's not like we have a ride.
-Hey, Mr. L?
-Yes, Lata?
Do know when sign-ups
are going up?
I will make an announcement
to the class about sign-ups
at the appropriate time.
Okay, great.
Mikey, pass out those scripts!
Yes, Mr. L.
Who knows what a tragedy is?
We'll pick this up tomorrow.
-Abigail?
-Oh. Hi, Doug.
Hi, I'm sorry. I was--
I was trying to talk to you.
Actually, I need to talk
to you too.
Oh, real--really?
Um, well, great.
Uh, I was just on my way up
to my classroom
if you wanna...
Yeah, that sounds fine, yeah.
Okay. Well...
- Okay.
- ...after you.
West Side Story.
Wow, so fun.
Yeah, I mean,
it's not the most original
idea in the world,
but it could be fun.
Um, and, you know,
maybe we could
build a fire escape.
Yeah. I don't know that
insurance would cover that,
but--but maybe.
You said you wanted
to talk to me about something.
-Is that what it was?
-Yeah.
Yeah--well, no.
-I--
-Well, um, wait one sec.
Um, I know
that it's your birthday.
So I...
got you this.
Wow.
Oh, wow.
Doug, I...
Um, and I also--
I just wanted to say
I am really sorry,
um, for how I was about...
PDA.
-Hmm.
-And also about
intimacy in general.
Um...
my therapist,
uh, said that I have a PTSD
response to human touch.
Wow. Um, I'm so happy for you.
I mean,
because of the therapy,
not because of the P...
Right, yeah.
I--well I--
so I was just wondering
if maybe you wanted
to, um, go out and try again
-and maybe get a drink?
-Doug,
-wow, Doug--
-Because I just--
-I feel like--
-Doug, Doug...
What--sorry. You say
what you wanted to say.
I wanted you to hear it
from me first,
before you heard it
from somebody else.
I'm seeing Michael.
Principal Brady.
So, are we still on a break?
Yeah, but not really a break.
It's more like we're broken.
I'm really sorry, Doug.
But, you know,
I think we can still
work together just fine
because nobody even knew
we were dating.
Totally.
Yeah.
See you--
see you around campus.
The writer is a paradox.
He has to step back
from the world
in order to understand it.
And yet, be immersed in it,
to absorb every
excruciating detail.
He finds meaning in a world
that makes no sense.
Principal Brady?
How does that even happen?
You know what?
I bet it was teacher's
retreat. That's so classic.
What a fucking snake.
Whatever.
It was a distraction anyway.
Now I can really focus,
get the fellowship.
-Go to New York.
-Yes. Awesome.
Yes. This is a speed bump,
brother.
There's only one Broadway,
and it's in New York!
You know she, um, messaged me
about the fundraiser
you were having?
-She texted you?
-Oh, God.
I think just like about
the venue and hosting it here.
Or we don't have to at all.
Don't mean to step
on your toes.
Let's--
no. No, no, no. It's fine.
I just don't know
what she sees in him.
That guy is like a--
a boiled cabbage of a person.
Bet he hasn't read a book
since high school.
You're gonna be fine.
Truly, you know?
You just have to move forward
and accept it.
I mean, if plans change,
you shift it up.
And if you're
getting stressed out,
put that
into your creative work.
All right.
I wanna thank everyone
for coming out today.
You all made the time to--
Hi!
I'm sorry,
did you start already?
Just one second.
Oh, look at you.
You look amazing.
- Hey, girl.
- Yes.
-What are you doing here?
-Oh, well,
it's auditions.
-It's so exciting.
-Right.
I was thinking
for the set we could--
What? You don't need
to be here.
Well, I mean,
I was here last year.
Last year was different.
Well, I already started
working on the model
-for New York.
-Right.
I'll send Mikey to grab it
when it's ready.
I'm sure it's great.
It's a quarter past.
Thank you, Mikey.
Then I guess I'll just finish
the model and get it to you.
Find a way
to lock these doors.
As I was saying...
you've all been
working very hard,
but not everyone
can get a starring role.
In fact, most of you
won't get a starring role.
I ain't got nobody
And somebody cares for me
I'm so sad and lonely
Won't somebody come
and take a chance...
Because sometimes
what you have to offer
isn't what other people think
they're looking for.
Even if you disagree.
Even if you think
that's stupid.
That's just the way it is.
And you gotta deal with it.
There's no going back
in time.
No resets.
No do-overs.
So you just gotta become
a massive success...
to prove them wrong.
I want you to post the list
and get back here
as fast as you can.
All right.
Mikey is posting
the cast list.
All decisions are final.
Worried about the chorus.
You can always pair it down.
You chose Cindy for the lead?
Lata, you're an
amazing dancer.
Cindy is an amazing singer.
But she's White.
It says she's supposed
to be Puerto Rican.
Are you Puerto Rican?
She doesn't even
speak Spanish.
Cindy!
Do you speak Spanish?
Let me tell you something,
Lata.
The thing about life
is, sometimes you win.
But sometimes,
you watch your enemy
steal what could
have been yours.
There are no small parts,
only small actors.
- But--
- No, no.
You're number one
in the ensemble.
This is erasure.
I dunno
what I was thinking
to sign up
to chaperone a zoo trip.
Okay. I wanted to see
the pandas, so sue me.
Hey, can I scan
while you print?
- Yeah.
- Yeah.
And then these
stupid little perverts
wanna get their grubby
little hands on everything.
Pretty soon Danny DelCole's
got his arm stuck
in the tortoise enclosure,
and he's screaming.
Ugh.
Ooh. Look, pretty crazy, huh?
Yeah, I think
it's pretty inappropriate.
Apparently, her last boyfriend
was a real hot mess.
I mean, emotionally, you
know.
-Did she say that?
-Oh, no.
Principal Brady did.
Well, did--any idea
who it was?
Not a clue.
They've been going out
for a while.
They didn't want anyone
to know,
they don't want the old guy
to find out.
But I mean,
what's he gonna do?
Principal Brady
does jiu-jitsu.
- Are you okay?
- Huh? Well, yeah.
I put the holes
on the wrong side...
-Everybody.
-...of the thing.
Last minute additions
to the morning announcement?
Doug?
All locked up then. All
right.
Jiu-jitsu.
Hello, students,
and welcome
to another beautiful day
here at Cedarhurst
Middle School.
I just wanna
let everyone know
that our Art teacher,
Abigail Morris,
is much happier now
that she is having
the best sex of her life.
Her previous boyfriend
can't definitively say
whether he's ever
given a woman an orgasm.
So if you see him
in the halls,
make sure you look
right at him and say nothing.
He will know what you mean.
Finally, a reminder
to look out for each other.
Here at Cedarhurst,
we're a community
and we rise
and fall together.
Special delivery.
Mikey, go to class.
All right, Mr.--
Sometimes, it feels
like a dream.
And then I remember...
Principal Brady.
When the muse calls,
you answer.
Look at him. Big salami.
Good luck
getting the Blue Ribbon
when every paper
in the country
is calling for your head.
All right, people.
Circle up.
All right. Now, I know
everyone's excited.
But do we really wanna
do the same play
that every other school does?
Or do we wanna do something
special, contemporary?
Is this about me
not being Spanish or whatever?
Latina.
I just think
that the best parts
go to the best people.
I mean, we're all actors,
right? Let us act.
It's not like there's a lot
of roles for Latina girls.
Shouldn't we at least
try to be realistic?
Okay. So Black people
can't play Hamlet then?
- That's not what I mean.
- And what do you mean?
Okay. Okay.
This is what
I'm talking about.
We are arguing about something
that is a hundred years old
when we could be talking
about something new.
You said this play has
never been done before, right?
What if that's
because it sucks?
Okay. It doesn't suck.
You know what? If anything,
West Side Story sucks.
This is about real people
and how they stand up
for what they think is right,
for what they believe in,
even if it means
breaking the rules.
Not about killing
your girlfriend's brother
just because you're sad.
Is that what happens?
Will we have
to audition again?
Audition?
No, everyone who has a lead
stays a lead.
Well then,
I think we should do it.
-It's--
-Listen, listen.
Acting is about trust.
You trust your scene partner
to support you
and you trust your director
to have a vision,
and you trust yourself
to step out on that stage
in front of an audience
and deliver.
Do you trust me?
Okay.
There's just one more thing.
We can't tell anybody
what we're doing.
Parents, friends,
no one can know.
You want us to lie?
What? No. No.
Not lie, just not tell
anyone.
I tell my parents everything.
Well, think about it
like this.
Remember when you found out
Santa wasn't real?
So your parents lie to you
but it's not a bad thing.
Sure they're fibbing, but
only
'cause they want Christmas
to be that much better.
In my house,
we celebrate Hanukkah.
Instead of one night--
It's eight nights, yeah,
we all know.
Look, let me let you in
on a little secret.
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise.
When we perform
for our audience,
do we wanna give them
the best Christmas ever,
or do we wanna make them cry
because Santa isn't real?
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise.
The superpower of the theater
-is the element of surprise.
-Again.
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise!
The superpower of the theater
is the element of surprise!
Okay, people.
Let's get to work!
Put on your blacks!
See you later.
Don't listen to them, Mikey.
What?
The people
that want you to settle.
When I got out
of undergrad, Wesleyan,
I had a grant for a play.
Small opening, well-reviewed.
We were all set
to open Off-Broadway
and the producer disappeared.
He said
it was a pulmonary embolism.
I know he took that money.
- Oh.
- So I moved back in
with my mom in Sylmar.
Do you know where Sylmar is,
Mikey?
And then she got sick.
I thought I'd work here
for a year.
It's you against the world,
Mikey.
We got those flow-y robes,
right?
It says they're in transit.
Well, if that's it,
I better get going
before I miss my bus.
Your bus? I'll take you home.
- You don't have to.
- Don't be crazy.
Come on.
You know,
Lexus was the first car
to have seat warmers?
That's cool.
You ever use them?
It's nice to have the option.
Mr. L?
Wazzup?
I was wondering,
why do we have
to keep the play a secret?
Why? I already told you,
the superpower
of the theater--
Well, I know that.
Would it really matter
if my parents knew?
Did you tell your parents?
No, definitely not.
Well, okay. That's good.
That's good.
This is your house here?
Yeah.
Not everyone
is going to understand
what we're doing.
And...
people are afraid
of what they don't understand.
It's okay to lie
if it's for the right reasons.
We wanna blow everyone away,
right?
Yeah.
Yeah.
Thanks for taking me home,
Mr. L.
I really appreciate it.
Oh, and...
for the record,
I don't think you're settling.
Not anymore.
People don't understand
the burden of a writer.
Relationships end.
Civilizations crumble.
But literature endures.
- Hello?
- Hey. Hey, Mr., uh, Rothman.
This is Doug Leibowitz.
Sorry, who is this?
I, uh, was one
of the applicants
for the fellowship
and I just got rejected.
Oh. Oh. How did you--
Well, I found
your phone number
in an email signature
from a playwriting festival
that we were at together
in 2014.
I had just written
"The Bells and Whistles"
out of Wesleyan.
Right. Right,
I think I remember you.
"Bells and Whistles."
Though I meet a lot of
aspiring playwrights, so...
Yeah, yeah. So, um, yeah.
So, I just got
this rejection letter
and I was--thought, you know,
that I would call
and see if I could get
a little insight into, um,
the decision-making process.
Yeah. Look, Mr. Leibowitz,
this is really unusual.
-Definitely not--
-Yeah, I know.
We haven't been in touch
for a while,
but I'm just--um,
it's not like my writing
has gotten worse, you know.
I--I'm wondering
if I was good enough then,
why I'm not good enough now,
you know?
Well, the fellowship
is highly selective
and we always
have many talented writers
who for one reason
or another just can't--
What did I do wrong?
What? What?
Can you just get--
could you look up
my application
and tell me why
I was rejected?
Okay, uh...
It seems I actually
did recommend you.
I didn't like the work
you submitted very much,
but I thought
there was something
in the personal statement.
-An edge.
-Uh-huh.
But our selection process
is by committee,
and it seems
that the other board members
reacted quite strongly
in a negative sense.
They felt your work
was too impersonal.
One colleague wrote,
"The candidate seems
to prefer intellectualism
to emotion.
We're here for theater,
not a treatise
on the theater."
Heh.
Well, harsh criticism
is the only kind
worth hearing, right, Mr.--
All right.
Phones in the basket.
Phones!
Today, we're gonna
watch a movie.
It's called
The Manchurian Candidate.
It's from 1962.
It's about how people in
power
will do anything
to maintain control.
You don't have
to pay attention.
But one day when you
wake up powerless
at the hands of the machine,
you might just wish
you were ready.
Mikey, lights.
Mr. L, what's The Machine?
The algorithm.
The government.
An anonymous review board.
Everything that's trying
to keep you down.
Imagine you only have one job
and it's to spin a wheel.
But every time
you ask a question
or get tired or try
to speak up for yourself,
you get replaced
because there are a thousand
other wheel spinners out there
and they're all just itching
to replace you.
It doesn't matter
if you graduated
at the top of your class,
if you went to a good school,
or if you read books
and know about art,
because at the end of the
day,
your dreams don't matter.
It's "What can you do for me?
How well can you
spin the wheel?"
Your friends will move away.
Your parents will die.
And at the end of all things,
the best you can
possibly ask for
is that someone maybe...
will remember you.
That's the machine.
Hey, Mr. L.
Hello, Lata.
I've been thinking
about what you said.
Sometimes people
who maybe don't work as hard,
or want it as bad,
or even care
about getting into the top
performing arts high school,
get the best parts.
But it's like what you said.
There are no small parts,
just small actors.
And I've been thinking
about the cab driver role
you assigned to me.
And I wrote a monologue
that I think could really
set the stage at the end
of the first act.
"How many people
shared my taxi?
A small world, divided
by a sheet of plastic."
Stop. Stop, stop, stop.
Lata, what are you doing?
You said no small parts.
So I'm making it bigger,
beefing it.
The cab driver
doesn't need any beefing.
But I research--
I researched it and--
Lata, I don't think
you're hearing me.
It's not that you don't have
something to offer, you do.
You're talented. You're
smart.
You work very hard.
It's just that
your performance,
it's a little bit...
intellectual.
We're looking
for a cab driver,
not a treatise
on a cab driver.
Honestly, maybe it's too much
for you.
Maybe you'd find more success
as the Fire Hydrant.
Oh, a fire hydrant.
Yeah. Okay.
I thought you were trying
to make me work harder
because you
recognized my gifts.
Sometimes the best way
to stand out
is by blending in.
-I'm sorry, Lata.
-I don't want an apology.
Well, that's just how
the business works.
What do you know
about how the business works?
You teach at a middle school.
Stop! Stop!
Wrong!
How many times do we have
to watch the videos?
It is North tower
and then South.
There's just no feeling.
There's no depth.
It has to be personal.
When she crashes
into those towers,
the whole world changes...
forever!
And you become
collateral damage!
You are lost in a conflict
that you didn't start,
but it is now up to you
to finish it.
Brian...
your parents are divorced,
right?
What your character is going
through is just like that.
You want to do
the right thing,
but you don't even know what
the right thing is anymore.
You're caught
between two worlds.
The world you knew...
and your uncertain future.
And... you are alone.
And that goes for all of you.
From there, right away,
back to one. Let's go.
9/11
It's a story about greed
9/11
Jet fuel doesn't
melt steel beams
9/11
All brown guys
are a threat
9/11
9/11
Hashtag
Never forget
Could I have a Manhattan
straight up, please?
Uh-hmm.
Hi.
Oh. Hey.
I wish
we could be friends.
Friends?
You wanna be friends
so that you don't feel
guilty anymore.
What?
You broke up with me
and then immediately
started dating our boss,
like, the next day.
Is that what you think?
It did not happen like that.
Doug.
Doug, it wasn't the next day.
Oh, was it during?
Sorry.
Sorry.
Can we at least be civil,
then?
We work at the same school.
I see you every day.
Honestly, I don't know
how much longer
I'm gonna be
at Cedarhurst, so...
Wait, did you
get the fellowship?
Are you moving to New York?
Do we cheers?
To new beginnings!
Doug in New York.
All right!
What are we celebrating?
-What's happened?
-Oh, Doug.
I did--I just saved a
boatload
of money on my car insurance.
Right on.
Hey, can I borrow you
-for a moment?
-Uh-hmm.
Another Manhattan?
Excuse me, where's your head?
Oh, around the corner.
Hey. We gotta talk.
Could you come by the office
tomorrow?
Uh, yeah, sure. Okay.
What do we got
goin' on here? Huh?
-A piercing?
-No.
All right.
I'm gonna go tinkle.
I wonder what
he wants to talk to you about.
Ah, there he is.
Sorry I kept you waiting.
Yeah. How was last night,
man? It was fun, right?
Oh, it was.
Yes, um--
So, I actually have
rehearsal in a few minutes.
Here's the thing.
I'm hearing some potentially
concerning chitter-chatter
about the show.
Something about Cindy
playing a...
person of color.
Well, Cindy
does actually have
the stronger singing voice.
I don't wanna
make it political.
I'm not gonna go there.
But...
the play's already
pretty racy, theme-wise.
And I just think
with the parents,
and the board, and the
culture
that we are navigating,
we cannot have
any controversy.
Well, there's no controversy.
There is just too much
on the line.
I mean, we're talking about
a Blue Ribbon here, Doug.
Cindy is out. Lata's in.
-We'll figure it out.
-Thanks.
-I knew you'd understand.
-Sure.
Thing is, I was--
I wish it were different.
I wish we were living
in different times.
Boy howdy.
And the script's clean?
Squeaky. It's totally PG.
- Okay.
- Great.
I just have to sit in
on rehearsals.
What?
Sorry, I--no.
Well, I just--
I have a very specific
creative relationship
with the students.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
You'll have
all the creative control.
I'm there
to use my eyeballs, man.
You know, make sure
everything's A-OK,
needs to be top-shape,
and make sure
we're keeping our eye
on the ball there.
You won't even know I'm
there.
-Okay.
-We should start tonight.
-Good with you?
-Sure.
-We're good right now.
-Yeah.
Tonight I have jiu-jitsu.
- Rats.
- Um...
Maureen, call the dojo,
cancel, tell 'em I'm goin'
to rehearsal.
Yes!
-Oh, I gotta take this call.
-Okay.
Then I'll see--I'll see you
in a little bit.
Yeah, I'll see you
in a minute.
Mikey.
Mikey, open the fucking door!
Mikey, you gotta
lock that door!
It's happening!
We're resetting everything!
Everybody flip the world.
Cindy, grab the booklets.
-What's happening?
-Grab the booklets!
- He's coming!
- The Machine?
Stop screaming! Piano kid,
get rid of that music.
Everybody, like we practiced.
Go, go, go!
Hi.
Hey, what did we say
about locked doors?
Come on, man.
You're better than that.
These doors are weird.
Wow! Look at this set?!
Am I in New York City?
The Big Apple?
Wow!
Why is she dressed like that?
Uh, well, we're--uh,
we wanted to depict
the diversity
of New York City accurately.
And her grandmother
is Middle Eastern.
Oh, of course. 'Course.
Right. Smart.
Because here at Cedarhurst,
we welcome everyone, right?
All right.
Let's have some theatre!
Never mind me,
I'll be invisible.
All right, everybody.
So, um, a little change.
Lata, Cindy,
would you two switch places?
Lata, you're now Maria.
Let's go.
Let's keep it professional.
All right.
West Side Story.
Uh, I'm telling you,
I'm tired of these guys
hanging out on our streets.
Well, I say we do away
with them once and for all.
Uh, but how are we
gonna do that?
Oh, I's tell you how.
We're gonna challenge them
to a rumble.
Why, I, uh, I, uh...
Oughta.
Why, I oughta...
Wait, is that my line?
All right. All right. Great.
Let's, um, let's work through
some of the choreo
that we've been working on.
So, everybody,
let's start doing some snaps.
Great.
All right.
Really nice, everyone.
Snap, snap, snap, snap, snap.
We should cancel the play.
No, please don't say that.
We can't present something
that isn't, uh,
you know, just...
perfect.
Like, perfect perfect.
I can see you're nervous,
but it'll all come together.
It all clicks.
-Clicks?
-It clicks.
The kids are shaken up
right now
because of the cast change.
Trust me.
I feel terrible about that,
but it's the right thing
to do.
Uh-hmm.
Uh, when's the performance
again?
Oh, a couple weeks.
Couple weeks? Time flies.
Hey, everybody, everybody,
everybody, hey.
Uh, I just wanna say...
you're awesome,
every one of you.
Regardless of your race
or sexual orientation,
what kind of religion
you're doin',
you're all just good humans.
They really appreciate that.
-Thank you.
-Yeah.
Hey, thank you
for that pep talk.
I think I needed it.
I think it's just
first rehearsal jitters.
-Yeah.
-You know?
We can always cancel
in a couple of days.
-Yeah.
-All right.
Uh, same time tomorrow.
Looking forward
to seein' it click.
Yeah.
Thank you, Principal Brady.
Did that feel good?
Did that feel good?
No.
No, it didn't.
But there are some people,
outsiders
who want us to feel that way
all the time.
In fact...
they're already threatening
to cancel us.
-No!
-I moved my Bar Mitzvah!
But we have a trick
up our sleeves.
What do we always say?
The superpower of the theatre
-is the element of surprise.
-Louder!
The superpower of the theatre
is the element of surprise!
Exactly.
Now, if we're really
all in this together,
if we really wanna make
something special,
then were going to have to
commit harder to the surprise.
The only way we stay alive
is if we learn their play.
It's gonna be twice
as much material.
And we're gonna have
to do double the rehearsals.
Mornings will be for us.
After school...
that's for them.
If we can fake them out,
they can't shut us down.
Yeah.
When that curtain opens
and they see
what we've created,
their minds will melt
in their seats.
Let's go!
Hello?
Hey.
- What's going on?
- That's a good question,
Mikey. That's a very
good question.
Brady is problem number one.
But we've got another fish
to fry.
Or more specifically, a rat.
Who?
Maybe we can do a full cast
talkback session or...
No, no, no. No.
Think about it.
Why would somebody tattle
without giving away
our secret?
For leverage, Mikey.
They're trying
to apply pressure
without ruining the show.
Our rat wants more cheese.
Cheese?
-Lata wants a bigger part.
-You think it's Lata?
- I know it is.
- How?
Because it's what I
would've done.
Keep this between us, Mikey.
And let me know if she does
anything suspicious.
And so we walk
the razor's edge.
Hello, Lata.
Hello?
You're here early?
I can rehearse somewhere else
if that's a problem.
Lata Ramos.
The perfect student.
I know what you did.
I dunno what you're
talking about.
Okay.
Okay.
You're tired
of being overlooked.
Waiting in the wings.
Playing the fire hydrant.
Honestly, I'm impressed.
You are a killer, Lata.
I think I might just have
the perfect role for you.
I'm already the lead.
Hmm.
You're the lead of a charade.
Principal Brady
says the Toluca Times
should do a profile on me.
I'm not just
offering you a lead.
I'm offering you
a starring role
in something that could
really put you on the map.
I'm talking L.A. Times,
New York Times.
Sky's the limit.
Be selfish.
There are two types
of people in this world.
Givers...
and Takers.
People who build fires
and people who stay warm
by the flames.
Ernst Rothman told me
my writing wasn't personal.
Well, it's personal now.
Uh-oh!
We have a superstar
in the house.
I gotta say,
I was--I was skeptical.
Honestly,
I didn't believe you,
but it is--it's clicking,
it's clicking
all over the place.
I'm really connecting
with these kids.
Totally.
And I didn't know how things
were gonna go with us,
you know?
I mean, because of the whole
Abigail situation,
but you've been just...
such a mensch.
-Am I saying that right?
-Yeah. Yeah.
Well, you know,
we're all mature adults here.
There's no reason
why we can't move on.
That's what I love about you,
Doug.
You're a--you're very mature,
you know.
And... we all rise
and fall together.
So, I wanted
to ask you a question.
Sure, Doug, I'm an open book.
You can ask me anything.
Well, I was thinking
and I just wonder,
how would you feel
about giving the introductory
speech for the show?
You want me
to introduce the play?
Well, you've just been
so helpful over the past
couple of weeks
and with the Blue Ribbon
on the line...
I'd be honored.
Hi.
-Speak of the devil.
-Sorry.
I didn't wanna interrupt.
-Not at all.
-No. Come on in.
Hey, hi. Oh, wow.
Wow. Look at what you did
with the set.
You really took it,
um, in your own direction.
And that is amazing. Good
job.
It's really coming together.
A lot of talent
in this building.
-Mm.
-You ready to scoot?
Um, can I get one second?
Yeah, sure.
I'll be in my office.
-Okay.
-Someone may have gotten...
Everybody quiet down!
-Hi.
-Hi.
So, I've really been
trying to give you space,
but we're getting
very close to opening night,
and I would just
really hate it
if we ended the semester
like this.
Like what?
Oh, I don't know. I--weird.
It's fine.
You know...
I've been hearing really
great things about the show.
Apparently,
Lata is just killing it.
I'm really trying here, Doug.
Abigail,
it's a middle school show.
And you know what?
You'll probably be
running this whole thing
anyway next year.
So, you're really going?
Yeah.
Well, the kids
are really gonna miss you.
But I know you've always
talked about wanting
to move on from here,
so I'm happy for you.
I didn't get the fellowship.
Can I give you a hug?
I'm really sorry, Doug.
But you know what?
Those people kinda
look like douchebags anyway.
And I know you don't
wanna hear this
but you're such
a good teacher.
-Wait.
-And who even cares about
a fellowship anyway?
How do you know
what they look like?
Did you look it up?
Well, yeah.
I mean, Michael wanted to do
a whole press release
about the show
and about you
and the theatre department
as he wanted
to get you more money
-and attention.
-Oh, my God.
You were gonna use me
for the school.
I'm not gonna use you.
It's for the kids
and to celebrate you.
How is this guy
not so obvious to you?
What? Obvious what?
He was trying to help.
He wants to get money
for the school
-and for the children.
-Oh, yeah.
He really wants
to help the children.
Not everybody
has a nefarious plan, Doug.
You know, this is
all a part of my job
and you've completely
excluded me from it.
And I'm tired of dancing
around your hurt feelings...
Yeah. That's easy
for you to say.
I didn't fall in love
with your boss.
I hope you get whatever it is
that you're looking for.
You and Principal Brady
think you're better than me?
What do you say about me?
I'll bet you two just love
talking about me.
What the hell is going on?
Oh, mind your own
fucking business!
What?
- Hey.
- Hey, shut up!
-I see right through you...
-Whoa!
...motherfucker!
Hey, Doug,
I'm just checking
to make sure
your mental health leave
is going A-okay.
Um, no hard feelings,
of course.
Everybody has big emotions
sometimes.
Um, you know what they say,
a healthy community
begins in the mind,
so don't worry about anything.
Don't worry about the play.
I've got it all handled,
uh, but I am gonna need you
to pay any outstanding fines.
And when you're cleared
to come back to work,
we can discuss next steps.
Okey-dokey?
All right.
We'll, uh, talk soon.
All right. Cindy.
Cindy, don't forget,
when you turn around,
big smile, big,
big, big, big, big.
Okay? All right.
Just like that.
All right. Thanks. All right.
See you all tomorrow.
-Okay.
-Wrap it up, brother.
I heard Mr. L punched
Principal Brady in the face.
I heard he had
a nervous breakdown
and pissed on his desk.
Oh, my gosh.
So much for The Heroes.
Oh!
Mikey, you scared me.
Is everything okay?
No, not really.
Oh, honey, come here.
Come here, sit down.
Come here.
Here.
All right.
So, tell me what's going on.
It's Mr. L.
You two are friends, right?
Um, yeah,
I'd say we're friendly.
He's not been coming
to rehearsal
for a couple days now.
Do you think...
maybe his parents
are getting a divorce?
Uh...
I don't know.
I'm really worried about him.
If you want,
you could write him a card?
I think he's gonna be okay.
Loser!
You suck!
Get off the stage!
Doug, open up the door.
Doug, open it up, okay?
I saw your car
in the driveway.
Please tell me you're
in there.
Doug. Open the door, Doug.
Jesus fucking Christ, man.
-Are you okay?
-Yeah, I'm fine.
God. Ugh.
Look, I--I've been trying
to reach you, man.
I heard about everything
that happened.
Did Abigail tell you?
Well, I mean, yeah.
She told me.
Okay. Well,
if that's everything...
This is from your students.
She wanted me
to give it to you.
You don't realize that people
care about you.
It's okay to lie
as long as it's
for the right reasons.
- Never settle.
- You're a teacher.
Kids look up to you, man.
So, whatever this is...
figure it out.
-Thanks for checkin' in.
-Wow, dude.
Everyone talks
about the power of love,
but nobody talks
about the power of spite.
You realize I'm
the arts and culture reporter
at the Toluca Times, right?
Well, the suspicious activity
I wanted to report
is about the school play.
Okay.
I don't know how much I can
really say over the phone,
but the principal
is making these students
do some... pretty crazy stuff.
Should we involve
child services?
No, no.
I just think...
you really need
to see the play.
Some cultures burn whole
forests to start new again,
to come back stronger,
like a phoenix hardened
by the lessons of the past.
I got your letter.
So, no one else made it, huh?
I wouldn't say that.
A lot of you
are probably pretty...
pissed at me right now.
And rightly so.
I almost let the machine win.
I'm sorry I couldn't--
I want to apologize.
Not for being selfish
but for telling someone
who could never understand
what we've built.
Outsiders can't be trusted,
my mentor taught me that.
Well, what are we doing
sitting around?
Curtains are tomorrow, people!
Let's go! Let's go!
If you could please
take your seats.
The show is about to start.
Whoo!
Oh, thanks, thanks, thanks.
That's, uh, that's very nice.
Uh, this is a project
that's very near
and dear to my heart.
And it's not just because
I was intimately involved
in every aspect
of, uh, putting it together.
This is a story
about two groups of people
who don't understand
each other.
And it's not
because they can't,
it's because they won't.
At Cedarhurst,
we challenge our students
to see beyond our differences.
When I see what these kids
have done,
it reminds me
of why I became an educator
in the first place.
I see art
and knowledge
coming together for change.
So, I'd like--I wanna--
I wanna give
a special shout-out
to our amazing set designer,
Abigail Morris.
So, enjoy the show.
You're gonna love it.
Sit back and break a leg.
I'm walking here.
Uh, yeah.
Go, go, go.
What will become of me,
Rudy Giuliani,
nursing the wounds
of a lost race for senator.
Would the skies not open up
and bestow the gift
of a sterling reputation?
Payback shall be mine
and thy name is Hillary!
I'm falling
behind in the polls!
What could we do to get
the people behind me?
We need a controversy!
Something!
We can make more arrests.
Bigger!
And what about
helping the vets?
Bigger!
How about a win for the Jets?
Bigger!
It's--it's perfect.
You should stop the show.
Stop it.
-I can't do that.
-Stop the show.
Love
Devotion
Feeling
Emotion
Don't be afraid
to be weak
Don't be too proud
to be strong
Just look
into your heart...
You turned the gymnatorium
into Ground Zero,
are you fucking ill?
To yourself
The return to innocence
The return to innocence
And if you want,
then start to laugh
If you must,
then start to cry
Be yourself, don't hide
Just believe in destiny
Don't care
what people say
Just follow your own way
Don't give up
and use the chance
To return to innocence
That's not the beginning
of the end
That's the return
to yourself
The return to innocence
After the play,
things got pretty crazy.
They took my teaching licence
which, I think,
was for the best.
The service industry
is simpler
and much more straightforward
than working
at a school ever was.
Separating my job
from my work as a writer
has actually been
really helpful.
And I realized there was
nothing really stopping me
from coming to New York
after all,
no matter what
some fellowship says.
I don't know
how to tell you this, but...
I've been sleeping
with Principal Grady.
So you're cheating on me!
-Please.
-Okay.
Okay, great.
Let's save it for showtime.
Doors open in five.
-Thank you, Pipe.
-Thank you, Pipe.
It's crazy to think about,
but in a weird way,
I ended up exactly
where I'm supposed to be...
in New York doing theater.
That's Jen.
She works at the post office,
but really has a knack
for the stage.
We kind of have
a thing going,
but I learned my lesson
and we're taking it slow.