[Fade to a shot of a poster of Mickey Mantle.]
NARRATOR: Every kid needs a hero - everybody knows that.
[The camera pans across the poster to briefly show Ted Williams, dissolves to a portrait of three astronauts, and continues panning slowly.]
NARRATOR: They teach us about courage...about ideals...
[The camera pans to a photograph of John F. Kennedy.]
NARRATOR: About life.
[Fade to a shot of Kevin's bed. A comic book is open and lying face down on it. The camera pans across more comic books.]
NARRATOR: Sometimes heroes are easy to spot. But sometimes...they turn up in unlikely places.
[The camera stops on an open Algebra 1 book, lying upside down.]
Cut to
[Shot of Mr. Collins writing on the blackboard.]
MR. COLLINS: And square both sides of the equation, and complete your solution...and then prove it...[gestures]...by substituting both roots...in the original equation.
[Shot of Kevin at his desk, looking up toward Mr. Collins off- screen.]
NARRATOR: Mr. Collins and I had be through a lot - a lot of math, anyway.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins writing on the blackboard.]
MR. COLLINS: The square root of "X" minus two..."X" minus two times "X" minus two..."X" equals "X" squared plus "X"...
NARRATOR: We kinda started out on the wrong foot.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: But the more I got to know him, the more I, well...I liked the guy.
[Shot of Mr. Collins at the board, pointing at the equation with a big wooden compass.]
MR. COLLINS: And that is how we solve equations...involving a single radical.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: He wasn't exactly what you'd call "cool".
[Close shot of Mr. Collins turning from the board and looking toward the class off-screen as he removes his glasses.]
MR. COLLINS: Questions?
[Shot of a small group of students as a boy raises his hand.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking toward the boy off-screen and gesturing with the compass.]
MR. COLLINS: Mr. McCormick.
[Close shot of Kevin looking from Mr. Collins toward McCormick off- screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective as McCormick lowers his hand.]
McCORMICK: Is there any of this stuff we should know for the test?
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking toward McComick off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: All of it.
[Shot of McCormick in a small group of students.]
McCORMICK: All of it? [Frowns.]
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking toward McComick off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: I wouldn't teach it if I didn't think you should know it.
[Shot of McCormick looking over his shoulder toward a friend. They shake their heads.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking over the class off-screen.]
NARRATOR: But he was fair.
MR. COLLINS: I suggest in particular that you study the equation on the board...[points]...that is likely to be on your quiz.
[Close shot of Kevin looking off and smiling.]
NARRATOR: You had to respect the guy - at least I did. And I like to think that respect was mutual.
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Mr. Arnold.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Do you find something amusing?
[Wider shot of Kevin in a group of students, as they turn slightly toward him.]
KEVIN: Uh, no.
[He glances toward a student and shakes his head slightly.]
KEVIN: Nothing.
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
[Bell rings.]
[Wide shot of Kevin in the group of students, as he flips his book closed, and students start to rise.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: For tomorrow...
[The students pause and look toward Mr. Collins off-screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins standing behind his desk with his hands on his hips.]
MR. COLLINS: Review unit 14 "Roots and Radicals".
[Closer shot of Kevin as McCormick and a friend walk past. McCormick turns to his friend.]
McCORMICK: What a doofus.
[McCormick's friend laughs and looks at Kevin as they exit past him. Kevin looks after them off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Maybe to some, but to me...
[Kevin looks toward Mr. Collins off-screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins seated at his desk looking at an open book, as students walk past him.]
NARRATOR: The man was kind of a hero.
[Shot of Kevin smiling as he looks at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: He made me want to do my best.
[Kevin exits the shot.]
Cut to
[Shot from across some desks and partitions as the camera moves forward, to just behind Kevin and Paul sitting side-by-side.]
NARRATOR: Not that my best was anything to brag about. But...
[Shot from behind Kevin of Paul shaking his head.]
PAUL: This is a bear.
[Shot past Paul of Kevin looking toward him.]
[Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him.]
PAUL: Why'd I ever let Mr. Collins talk me into advanced math?
[Shot past Paul of Kevin.]
KEVIN: Come on, Paul - you're doing fine.
[Kevin looks back to his work.]
NARRATOR: At least I didn't have to suffer the anxieties...
[Kevin looks at Paul.]
[Close shot of Paul frowning slightly at his paper.]
NARRATOR: ...of a major-league math jock.
[Paul sighs and shakes his head.]
PAUL: I don't know...
[Paul looks toward Kevin off-screen and holds his paper toward him.]
PAUL: Look at what I got on my last quiz.
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward Paul off-screen.]
[Close shot of Paul holding his paper, looking at Kevin off- screen.]
PAUL: A "B".
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Paul off-screen. He smiles and gestures slightly.]
KEVIN: So what's wrong with a "B"?
[Close shot of Paul as he looks at his paper, then Kevin off- screen.]
PAUL: A "B" is like kissing you sister. [Shrugs.]
[Close shot of Kevin holding up his paper.]
KEVIN: So who am I kissing?
[Close shot of Paul.]
PAUL: Uh, look...[gestures]...I-I didn't mean it like -
[Close shot of Kevin smiling at Paul off-screen as he sets his paper down.]
KEVIN: No, it's alright, Paul. I'm fine about it, really.
[Close shot of Paul.]
PAUL: I'm gonna go...check out some books.
[Paul stands up.]
[Close shot of Kevin smiling and looking after Paul off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Fact was, I was kinda proud of my paltry "C".
[Kevin looks forward and smiles.]
NARRATOR: I'd worked hard for it. And heck...
[Close shot from in front of Kevin as he smiles in thought.]
NARRATOR: We can't all be "Joe Algebra".
[Kevin looks at his paper.]
NARRATOR: Besides, who knew? With a little more effort, and a teacher like Collins...
McCORMICK [V/O]: Right. Collins?
[Kevin frowns as he listens.]
McCORMICK [V/O]: The guy lives on the planet Pythagoras.
[Kevin looks up as he sets his paper down.]
McCORMICK [V/O]: He couldn't find his nose with both hands and a slide- rule.
[Sound of kids laughing quietly.]
NARRATOR: Wait a minute - what was this?
[Kevin starts to rise.]
[Shot of the partition as Kevin slowly rises behind it.]
BOB [V/O]: I don't know...sounds risky.
[Kevin looks toward McCormick and friends off-screen.]
McCORMICK [V/O]: You kiddin'? It's easy. Nothin' to it.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and two boys, as McCormick shows them a book.]
McCORMICK: Look at this...
BOB: It's our math book, so what?
McCORMICK: You sure about that?
[McCormick looks off.]
BOB: Whoa! It's the teacher's edition.
[Shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen, slightly surprised.]
KEN [V/O]: Where'd you get it?
McCORMICK [V/O]: Hey, I got it, OK?
[Close shot of McCormick looking down.]
McCORMICK: Collins' quizzes are straight out of the book. And this book...[nods]...has all the answers.
[McCormick smiles at a boy off-screen.]
[Shot of Kevin frowning slightly at them off-screen.]
NARRATOR: It was weird. I'd never figured McCormick for a...cheater.
KEN: I don't know...
McCORMICK [V/O]: Hey...
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of the three boys.]
McCORMICK: You were the ones complaining about your grades.
[He looks toward Bob.]
McCORMICK: If you want to start pullin' "B"'s...
[He looks toward Ken.]
McCORMICK: Instead of "D"'s...
KEN: Well...how would we do it?
[Close shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen.]
McCORMICK [V/O]: OK, um...
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of the three boys.]
McCORMICK: First we need a code. So whenever we talk about it we'll say, um..."how about those Mets?"
[Close shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen.]
KEN [V/O]: "How about those Mets?" That's great!
[Close shot of McCormick smiling, then looking toward Kevin off-screen and pausing.]
BOB [V/O]: Cool.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at them off-screen, a little surprised.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of the three boys frowning at him off- screen.]
McCORMICK: So, um...back to the grind, huh?
KEN: Yeah, let's go.
[They start to walk off.]
BOB: Yeah. Seeya, Eddie.
[Someone "shhh's" them off-screen.]
[Closer shot of McCormick pausing and frowning at Kevin off- screen.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking at McCormick off-screen, then starting to descend slowly behind the divider.]
[Close shot of Kevin as he sits down and glances around.]
NARRATOR: I couldn't believe it! Were these guys crazy? Cheating in Collins' class? That didn't seem right.
Cut to
[Shot of Mr. Cutlip standing with his hands on his hips, frowning at the kids off-screen.]
MR. CUTLIP: Morality...is a luxury in combat, men. And "fair"...is for fairy tales.
[Shot of McCormick, Kevin and Paul in a group of boys sitting on the floor.]
[Shot past the kids of Mr. Cutlip.]
MR. CUTLIP: The laws of survival...
[Mr. Cutlip starts to pace and itemize on his fingers.]
MR. CUTLIP: Cunning...
[Shot past Mr. Cutlip's legs of the boys looking at him.]
MR. CUTLIP [V/O]: Wits...kill...
[Close shot of Mr. Cutlip holding out his thumb and four fingers.]
MR. CUTLIP: Or be killed.
[He frowns and tucks his pinkie finger back, then puts his hands on his hips.]
MR. CUTLIP: Gentlemen...
[He bends over, then stands up holding a large red ball.]
MR. CUTLIP: I give you...dodge-ball.
[Close shot of Kevin in the group, looking toward Mr. Cutlip off-screen with interest.]
[Close shot of Mr. Cutlip as he winds up and throws the ball forward forcefully.]
Cut to
[Shot of Kevin and others standing, as Kevin catches the ball. He runs forward with it.]
[Wider shot as he throws the ball.]
[Shot of Paul and three other boys as the ball passes by Paul. A boy throws a different ball as another boy picks up the first ball.]
[Shot of two boys in profile as they each throw a ball simultaneously. They step back, revealing Mr. Cutlip.]
MR. CUTLIP: Bingo - direct hit.
[Shot of Paul and others as Paul throws the ball.]
[Wide shot of the gym as the boys continue to play.]
NARRATOR: Of course, in junior high school, you're never too far from the outer edge of civilization.
[Closer shot of a few boys as one runs past the camera to throw the ball, as another ball is thrown at the boys.]
[Shot of McCormick and a couple other boys as Kevin backs up past the camera.]
McCORMICK: Hey, Arnold!
[Kevin stands next to McCormick as they play.]
KEVIN: McCormick.
[Closer shot of McCormick.]
McCORMICK: You didn't happen to overhear our conversation today in the library, did you?
[McCormick ducks as a ball passes over his head.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward McCormick off-screen, then forward.]
KEVIN: Why? Worried about something?
[Shot of McCormick.]
McCORMICK: Nah, I know you'd never rat on us.
[Wide shot of Mr. Cutlip holding his clipboard as a boy throws the ball.]
MR. CUTLIP: Jungle tactics, men. Show no mercy.
[A few boys catch and throw the balls.]
[Shot of Kevin and McCormick side-by-side, as Kevin catches a ball and runs forward with it past the camera.]
[Wider shot of all as Kevin throws the ball - a repeated scene.]
[Shot of Paul and three other boys as the ball passes by Paul. A boy throws a different ball as another boy picks up the first ball - a repeated scene.]
[Shot of McCormick as Kevin backs up past the camera and stands next to him.]
McCORMICK: I was just gonna say, uh...[gestures]...if you want in...
[Closer shot of Kevin frowning.]
NARRATOR: Was he joking?
KEVIN: No...not interested.
[He shakes his head.]
[Shot of McCormick.]
McCORMICK: Have it your way!
[Close shot of Mr. Cutlip holding his clipboard watching the boys in the near foreground.]
MR. CUTLIP: Come on, let's see a little offense.
[Shot of McCormick running toward the camera with a ball.]
[Wide shot of some boys as the ball heads their way.]
[Close shot of Mr. Cutlip looking at McCormick off-screen.]
MR. CUTLIP: Very nice, McCormick.
[Close shot of Paul as he winds up and throws a ball.]
[Shot of Mr. Cutlip as the ball hits him in the side of the face, spinning his hat sideways. He frowns and straightens his hat.]
[Shot of Kevin as McCormick backs up next to him.]
KEVIN: You're never going to get away with it, you know that?
McCORMICK: Why is that?
[Close shot of Kevin frowning.]
KEVIN: 'Cause you know Collins - he'll figure it out. And he'll eat you for breakfast! [Frowns.]
[Shot of McCormick as he puts a hand on his chest.]
McCORMICK: Wow, what was I thinking?
[Shot of Kevin as he dodges a ball.]
[Shot of McCormick with his hand on his chest.]
McCORMICK: It was a dumb idea. You're right, Kevin.
[Wide shot past a boys' legs of Mr. Cutlip and other boys.]
MR. CUTLIP: Come on, focus - concentration...commitment!
[Shot of Kevin.]
KEVIN: All I'm saying is that Collins -
McCORMICK [V/O]: Come on, Arnold.
[Shot of McCormick.]
McCORMICK: Don't be a dunce. Collins isn't God.
[Shot of Kevin.]
[Shot of McCormick.]
McCORMICK: He's a middle-aged algebra teacher in a bad suit.
[Shot of Kevin shaking his head slightly.]
NARRATOR: Oh, yeah? Well, this guy was in for a surprise.
KEVIN: Alright - it's your funeral. [Smiles.]
[Shot of McCormick.]
McCORMICK: We'll see.
[McCormick ducks out of the shot as a ball flies past him.]
NARRATOR: Yeah - we'd see.
[The camera pans across to Kevin.]
NARRATOR: At least he couldn't say I hadn't warned him.
[Kevin rests his hands on his knees and looks at McCormick off- screen.]
NARRATOR: Now it was up to him if he wanted to get -
[A ball hits Kevin on the top of the head, and he falls down out of the shot.]
[Close shot of Mr. Cutlip frowning at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. CUTLIP: You're out, Arnold!
[Mr. Cutlip picks up his whistle and blows it.]
[Sound of the school bell.]
Cut to
[Shot from the rear of the class past some students of Mr. Collins handing out quizzes.]
MR. COLLINS: Have your pencils ready...
[The camera moves sideways.]
MR. COLLINS: Books off the desk.
[Mr. Collins starts to walk across the class in the opposite direction of the camera.]
MR. COLLINS: You have twenty minutes to complete this quiz.
[Shot of Kevin looking toward Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Dodge-ball was one thing...
[He looks toward McCormick off-screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick pulling out a piece of paper and unfolding it.]
NARRATOR: Mr. Collins was quite another.
[Shot past two boys of Kevin turning forward.]
NARRATOR: I almost felt sorry for these guys...
[Kevin looks toward McCormick off-screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of the three boys.]
NARRATOR: Did they actually believe they could pull this off?
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at his watch.]
MR. COLLINS: Begin.
[Shot of Kevin as he looks at his paper and picks up his pencil.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins as he starts to walk the floor.]
[Shot of Kevin working on his quiz, then looking toward Mr. Collins off- screen.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins walking down McCormick's aisle.]
[Shot of McCormick looking up casually, and slightly covering the paper.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins walking down McCormick's aisle.]
NARRATOR: Well, that didn't take long.
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin looking at him and smiling slightly.]
NARRATOR: Here it came.
[Close shot of Mr. Collins as he turns slowly.]
NARRATOR: Target sighted.
[A little dramatic music plays.]
[Wider shot of McCormick, and Mr. Collins tapping his desk with a pencil.]
NARRATOR: Lock on radar, and...
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking down at McCormick.]
[Shot of McCormick and Mr. Collins.]
NARRATOR: I believe we have contact...
[Shot of Kevin looking toward them off-screen.]
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking down at McCormick.]
[Shot of McCormick and Mr. Collins. Mr. Collins taps the desk as McCormick put his pencil on his lip.]
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking down at McCormick, then turning and walking away.]
[Music ends.]
[Shot of Kevin frowning.]
KEVIN: Huh?
NARRATOR: I couldn't believe it!
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his two buddies.]
NARRATOR: Collins had missed it.
[The boys smile slightly.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking at McCormick off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Right under his nose, and he missed it.
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: Mr. Arnold.
[Close shot of Kevin looking quickly toward Mr. Collins off- screen.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Is something distracting you?
[Close shot of Kevin looking off, then at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
KEVIN: Uh, no, sir.
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Then I would suggest you concentrate on your own work.
[Close shot of Kevin looking off, then at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
KEVIN: Yessir.
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen, then glancing at other students, then opening his book.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward McCormick off-screen.]
NARRATOR: OK, sure - if that's the way he wanted it.
[He glances forward.]
NARRATOR: Let McCormick cheat.
[Kevin resumes working on his quiz.]
NARRATOR: It wasn't my problem, anyway.
[The camera moves in slowly.]
NARRATOR: Nope - I'd just go about getting my usual "C"'s, here.
Cut to
[Close shot of hands holding a quiz marked with red felt pen.]
PAUL [V/O]: A "D"?!
[Shot of Paul as he sits down opposite Kevin.]
PAUL: You got a "D"?
KEVIN: I don't understand. I mean, I got a 72. Last week I got a 72 and it was a "C".
[Shot past Kevin of Paul looking down at the quiz.]
PAUL: Let me see this.
[Paul puts his hand on his chin.]
[Shot past Paul of Kevin.]
PAUL: Hmmm...
[Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at the quiz.]
PAUL: He must be grading on the curve.
[Shot past Paul of Kevin as he frowns.]
NARRATOR: "The curve". You heard stories about it, but you never thought it'd happen to you.
[Shot past Kevin of Paul looking at him.]
PAUL: It's kind of a parabolic way of grading.
[Paul looks at the quiz, then off.]
PAUL: Imagine...
[Shot of Kevin frowning and looking off.]
PAUL [V/O]: The grade distibution of your class - it's like a bell -
KEVIN: Paul, I know what a curve is. [Frowns.]
NARRATOR: At least I knew enough about it to smell a rat.
[Kevin looks off toward McCormick off-screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends. Ken holds his test up and smiles at another boy.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking from McCormick to Paul off-screen.]
KEVIN: So what you're saying is...if there were some students who were getting "C"'s and "D"'s last week, and this week were getting "A"'s and "B"'s...
[Close shot of Paul drinking his chocolate milk through a straw.]
PAUL: That's it! [Smiles.] That could affect your grade!
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward McCormick off-screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward McCormick off-screen.]
KEVIN: Great...
PAUL [V/O]: But I wouldn't worry about it.
[Shot past Kevin of Paul.]
PAUL: I'm sure it's just temporary. [Shrugs.]
[Shot past Paul of Kevin.]
KEVIN: What makes you think that?
[Shot past Kevin of Paul.]
PAUL: Well, the entire grade average doesn't change over night - that much is obvious.
[Paul sets his milk down.]
[Shot past Paul of Kevin.]
NARRATOR: Uh-huh. Obvious to Paul, maybe.
Cut to
[Shot of the wall of the classroom, showing a poster of Einstein, and two smaller posters.]
[A little dramatic music plays.]
[Mr. Collins walks into the shot, holding his book under his arm.]
NARRATOR: But what about Mr. Collins?
[Mr. Collins approaches the camera.]
NARRATOR: It was time for Mr. Tough-But-Fair to put a stop to this.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends taking a test.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins walking toward the camera.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward McCormick and Mr. Collins off- screen.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends, as Mr. Collins approaches behind them.]
[Close shot of Mr. Collins walking toward the camera.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins walking past McCormick. The camera pans with him as he heads up the aisle.]
[The music ends.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking at him off-screen and frowning.]
KEVIN: [Sotto voce]: Oh, come on.
NARRATOR: It was so obvious!
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends, as McCormick looks up and slides out a sheet of paper.]
NARRATOR: Right out in the open.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen and frowning.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins at the front of the teacher's desk.]
NARRATOR: Could Mr. Collins be so...blind?
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward McCormick, then Mr. Collins off- screen.]
[Bell rings.]
[Shot from behind the teacher's desk as students walk past it. Kevin is the last to rise in the background, and walks toward the camera.]
NARRATOR: It was time to have a little talk.
[The camera pans with Kevin as he stops in front of Mr. Collins, and glances over his shoulder.]
KEVIN: Mr. Collins?
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins with his head on his hand, looking at Kevin.]
MR. COLLINS: Yes?
[He puts his hand down.]
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin.]
KEVIN: It's about the quizzes, sir.
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins.]
MR. COLLINS: What about them?
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin.]
KEVIN: Well...[gestures]...do they always have to come from the book?
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins.]
MR. COLLINS: That is what I told the class...[gestures]...at the beginning of the term.
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin frowning.]
KEVIN: Yeah, well...isn't that a little bit predictable?
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins as he looks at Kevin, and rests his chin on both hands.]
NARRATOR: There. Now he was catchin' on.
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin smiling slightly.]
NARRATOR: I knew I could count on him.
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: Kevin?
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins as he looks at Kevin.]
MR. COLLINS: Are you having a problem?
[Close shot of Kevin looking off and shaking his head slightly.]
KEVIN: Uh, no! [Frowns.] It's just this...curve, sir.
[Close shot of Mr. Collins holding his hands together, looking at Kevin off-screen.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking off, then frowning at Mr. Collins off- screen.]
KEVIN: Well, don't you think it's a little unfair?
[Close shot of Mr. Collins holding his hands together, looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: No, I don't think so.
[Close shot of Kevin looking off, then at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
KEVIN: Well...it just seems to me that...this system might not be right...for...this class, anyway.
[Close shot of Mr. Collins holding his hands together, looking at Kevin off-screen.]
NARRATOR: There! I'd practically drawn him a map.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: What was he gonna to say to that?
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking down.]
MR. COLLINS: Thank you for your feedback, Mr. Arnold.
[Mr. Collins picks up the stack of tests and taps them on the desk to straighten them.]
[Close shot of Kevin frowning slightly and looking off.]
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: But I would suggest that you not concern yourself with the rest of the class.
[Close shot of Kevin glancing off.]
KEVIN: Huh?
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Every problem...contains its own solution, Mr. Arnold.
[Close shot of Kevin glancing off.]
NARRATOR: What was this guy saying?
[Kevin looks at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: It was like talking to a fortune cookie - while my grade was sinking like a -
[Wider shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin.]
MR. COLLINS: Is there anything else?
[Wider shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin looking at him.]
KEVIN: No.
[He shakes his head slightly, then heads for the door. The camera moves behind Mr. Collins and pans with Kevin.]
[Kevin looks over his shoulder, then pauses at the door. Mr. Collins takes off his glasses.]
NARRATOR: And that's when I realized I'd been wrong about the man.
[Closer shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: This was no hero...
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins wiping his glasses with his handkerchief.]
NARRATOR: This was just a middle-aged guy in a bad suit, teaching junior high algebra.
[Mr. Collins blows his nose.]
[Close shot of Kevin turning toward the door.]
Cut to
[Shot of Kevin stepping out the door, and approaching the camera up the crowded hallway.]
[Kevin pauses, and looks toward McCormick and his friends off- screen.]
NARRATOR: It wasn't fair.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends talking in the hallway.]
NARRATOR: Those jokers were getting a free ride...
[Close shot of Kevin glancing over his shoulder toward the classroom, then back toward McCormick off-screen.]
NARRATOR: ...while the conductor was asleep at the switch.
KEVIN: Hey, McCormick! [Frowns.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends looking toward him.]
McCORMICK: Yeah?
[Shot from behind McCormick as Kevin approaches.]
NARRATOR: It was time to put things right. I was gonna take control of the situation.
[Kevin pauses in front of McCormick.]
[Shot past Kevin of McCormick looking at him expectantly.]
McCORMICK: What?!
[Close shot of Kevin looking at McCormick off-screen.]
NARRATOR: It was now or never.
[Shot past Kevin of McCormick looking at him expectantly.]
KEVIN: How about those Mets?
[Close shot of Kevin looking at McCormick off-screen and sighing.]
[Shot past Kevin of McCormick smiling at him.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking off.]
[Twang of Snuffy's guitar.]
Fade to
[Shot though a bookshelf of a boy holding out a paper.]
[Shot past the boy of Kevin on the other side of the shelf as he takes the paper.]
[Some Snuffy guitar plays.]
[The boy exits, and Kevin puts a few books back in the opening.]
[Shot from behind Kevin as he turns around, and glances around.]
NARRATOR: And so began my life of crime.
Cut to
[Close shot of Kevin's hand on top of a paper on his desk. He slides a smaller sheet of paper with answers on it from under the test.]
[The camera pulls back as Kevin looks toward Mr. Collins off-screen. McCormick and friends are in the background.]
NARRATOR: The funny thing is I thought it'd be hard, but...
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins at his desk, looking in his book and making notes.]
[Shot of Kevin, and McCormick and friends in the background. They look toward each other, and McCormick smiles.]
NARRATOR: McCormick was right.
[Shot of Kevin looking toward McCormick off-screen.]
NARRATOR: It was easy.
[Closer shot of McCormick raising his eyebrows and smiling.]
[Shot of Kevin looking forward toward Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: At first.
Cut to
[Close shot of Kevin's quiz on the refrigerator.]
NORMA [V/O]: A "B"!
[Shot of Norma at the stove, looking over her shoulder and smiling.]
NORMA: Kevin this is wonderful - I'm so proud of you! [Smiles.]
[Close shot of Kevin leaning back against the refrigerator, smiling self- consciously.]
NARRATOR: Pretty soon though...
[He starts to drink his milk.]
NORMA [V/O]: See?
[Shot past Kevin of Norma looking at him. She is wearing rubber gloves and wiping the stove with a sponge.]
NORMA: When you apply yourself, you get what you deserve.
[Close shot of Kevin against the refrigerator.]
NARRATOR: Things started to get more complicated.
[He smiles and nods slightly.]
PAUL [V/O]: You got a "B-plus"?
Cut to
[Shot of Paul and Kevin in line.]
PAUL: Kevin...you math stud, you.
[They slide along, and a woman puts a spoonful of food on Paul's plate.]
NARRATOR: Then again...
PAUL: Hey - maybe I should study with you!
[Kevin smiles slightly.]
KEVIN: What can I say?
[Closer shot of Kevin looking off.]
NARRATOR: What could I say?
[He looks toward Paul off-screen.]
WINNIE [V/O]: "A minus."
Cut to
[Shot of Kevin and Winnie at the top of the stairs, approaching the camera.]
WINNIE: Kevin, I'm so proud of you! [Smiles.]
[Kevin smiles at Winnie as they descend on opposite sides of the rail. The camera rolls back with them.]
NARRATOR: It was all a little confusing.
WINNIE: I hear Mr. Collins is really hard.
[Closer shot of Kevin as he frowns and looks off, shaking his head.]
KEVIN: Well, yeah...but it...
[He smiles at Winnie off-screen.]
[Shot past Kevin of Winnie smiling slightly at him.]
WINNIE: You're so smart.
[Shot past Winnie of Kevin looking at her.]
NARRATOR: I mean...where was it all gonna lead?
[Shot past Kevin of Winnie smiling at him.]
[Twang of Snuffy guitar.]
[Shot past Winnie of Kevin looking at her.]
[Shot past Kevin of Winnie smiling slightly at him as they pause.]
WINNIE: Maybe you could help me with some of my math.
[Shot past Winnie of Kevin looking at her with his mouth open.]
Cut to
[Close shot of a loose pile of tests on a desk.]
KEVIN [V/O]: An "A"...
[Kevin's hand picks up his test, which has a "96" circled in red. The camera pans up to Kevin and pulls back.]
NARRATOR: OK - maybe I'd gone too far.
[Kevin glances toward Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: But I couldn't help myself.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins at his desk, flipping through his grade book.]
NARRATOR: After all, it was pretty clear no one was minding the store here.
[Shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: If Collins didn't care...
[Kevin turns toward the door.]
NARRATOR: ...why should I?
[The camera pans with Kevin, and includes Mr. Collins in the foreground. Mr. Collins frowns and looks toward Kevin.]
MR. COLLINS: Mr. Arnold.
[Close shot of Kevin looking over his shoulder.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins leaning back in his chair.]
MR. COLLINS: May I speak to you for a moment?
[Close shot of Kevin glancing off, and breathing heavily.]
NARRATOR: And then suddenly...I cared.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins looking at his grade book, and setting his hand on it.]
[Close shot of Kevin glancing over his shoulder.]
NARRATOR: OK - the important thing here is not to wimper.
[Kevin looks toward Mr. Collins off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Just put your head on the chopping block...
[Shot past Mr. Collins looking at his grade book, as Kevin approaches.]
NARRATOR: And pray for a clean stroke.
[Mr. Collins has his hand on his chin.]
MR. COLLINS: I've just been looking at your grades.
KEVIN: Yessir...
[Mr. Collins points at the grades with his pencil.]
MR. COLLINS: You shot up...from a 72, two weeks ago, to an 85, to an 87, to a 92, and today, a 96.
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins as he turns toward him.]
MR. COLLINS: Now, wouldn't you say that was pretty remarkable?
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin.]
KEVIN: Well...
[Kevin pauses.]
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins looking at him.]
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin looking at him.]
KEVIN: I guess so...
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins looking at him.]
MR. COLLINS: I've been thinking about what to do about it.
NARRATOR: In a way...
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen, then glancing off.]
NARRATOR: ...it was a relief. I guess on some level I just wanted the whole thing to be over.
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: I'd like to put you...in my honors math class.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
KEVIN: Ex-excuse me?
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking off.]
MR. COLLINS: We'd have to juggle your schedule...
[He looks at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: But I think we could manage that.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen, then glancing off.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: It's a very demanding class, but uh, based on your work in here - I think you're ready for it.
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at his grade book, then turning to Kevin off- screen.]
MR. COLLINS: What do you think?
[Close shot of Kevin glancing off.]
KEVIN: Sounds like fun...[Frowns.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: Good.
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking at his grade book.]
MR. COLLINS: You can start tomorrow.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen. He forces a smile.]
NARRATOR: Well, there you had it.
[Kevin frowns slightly, and exits toward the door.]
Cut to
[Shot of Mr. Collins writing on the blackboard.]
MR. COLLINS: Then prove it...
NARRATOR: I was up the proverbial creek without a slide-rule.
[Wide shot up an aisle of Kevin in the middle of a group of students. Paul sits next to him.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: In the original equation. Thus...
[Paul nudges Kevin.]
PAUL: This is gonna be great, huh? [Smiles.]
[Kevin smiles at him.]
NARRATOR: Yeah.
[Close shot of Kevin looking forward uncertainly.]
NARRATOR: "Great" was the word.
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: In order to remove the denominators...
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins at the board.]
MR. COLLINS: We multiply both sides of the equation by...five "X", times "X" minus three.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen and frowning slightly.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: And the result is...
NARRATOR: I was a stranger in a strange land.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins at the board.]
MR. COLLINS: Of course, when we solve quadratic equations by completing the square...it is necessary to make one member of the equation...
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen and frowning slightly.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: A perfect square trinomial.
[Kevin frowns and taps the shoulder of the girl in front of him.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: Both sides of the equation...
[The girl turns over her shoulder and Kevin gestures toward Mr. Collins.]
KEVIN: Did you get what he just said?
[Close shot of the girl.]
GIRL: When you solve quadratic equations by completing the square...
[Shot past the girl of Kevin.]
GIRL: You have to make one member of the equation...
[Close shot of the girl.]
GIRL: A perfect square trinomial.
[She smiles, and turns forward.]
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: Thus, we get "X" minus two squared, and...
[Shot past the girl of Kevin.]
KEVIN: Yeah.
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: Gives us "X" equals "X" squared...
KEVIN: That's uh...that's what I though he said.
MR. COLLINS [V/O]: That's four "X", plus four. Alright...
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins stepping toward the class.]
MR. COLLINS: Who can solve the equation?
[Wide shot up the aisle as everyone except Kevin raises their hand. Kevin glances around.]
NARRATOR: Ah, Isaac Newton? Enrico Fermi?
[Close shot of Mr. Collins.]
MR. COLLINS: Kevin Arnold.
[Wide shot of Kevin. Bit of dramatic music as the camera zooms in very quickly on him.]
KEVIN: Uh...
[Shot past Kevin of Paul as Kevin looks down at his book and sighs.]
KEVIN: Uh...
[Paul raises his hand.]
[Shot up the aisle of Mr. Collins as other students raise their hands.]
MR. COLLINS: Put your hands down.
[The students lower their hands, then turn toward Kevin.]
MR. COLLINS: Mr. Arnold?
[Shot past Kevin of Paul turning toward him, and lowering his hand.]
[Close shot of Kevin frowning and looking off.]
NARRATOR: I was trapped.
[He looks at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking toward Kevin off-screen.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
KEVIN: Could you repeat the question?
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking toward Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Seventy-three...two-eighty-six...twelve-twelve.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
KEVIN: What?! [Frowns.]
[Close shot of Mr. Collins looking toward Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Thirteen, four-forty, eleven-fifty-seven.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen, and tapping the girl in front of him.]
KEVIN: What's he talking about?
[Close shot of the girl.]
GIRL: Four, seven, six-fifteen, forty-two.
[Close shot of Kevin frowning at her off-screen.]
KEVIN: What?!
GIRL: Five-sixty-eight, ninety-three.
KEVIN: I don't know what you're saying!
[Wider shot of Kevin and other students as they all start to rattle off numbers to him.]
KEVIN: What?!
[Close shot of the girl looking at him off-screen. The camera tilts at an odd angle.]
GIRL: Sixty-nine, one-thousand, two-hundred...
KEVIN: But I don't know this stuff!
[Close shot of Paul looking at him off-screen. The camera tilts at an odd angle.]
PAUL: Forty-four ninety-six...twenty-seven ninety-two.
[Close shot of Kevin looking worried.]
KEVIN: What are you saying?
[Very close shot of the girls mouth.]
GIRL: Three-oh-five...one-seventy-two...
[Close shot of a boys mouth.]
BOY: The square root of fourteen minus...
[The camera pans up the boys face to his eye.]
BOY [V/O]: Three-thousand-six-hundred and twenty-two...
[Close shot of Kevin looking around him.]
KEVIN: Stop! No! Please!
[Close shot of Paul's mouth as he smiles.]
PAUL: Eighty-nine, seventeen, sixty-seven twenty-four...
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward the ceiling and yelling.]
KEVIN: Stop! No!!!!
[He drops his head forward as the camera pans quickly in a blur.]
[The camera stops on Paul as Rod Serling, on "The Twilight Zone" set, holding a lit cigarette in his crossed hands. Mathematical props are in the shot.]
PAUL [as Rod Serling]: Submitted for your approval - a boy...suffering the tortures of algebra. He went looking for easy answers, but somehow it didn't add up. Let "X" equal an unknown quantity. Let "Y" go left unanswered.
[The camera moves in slowly.]
PAUL [as Rod Serling]: If six bald men...get on a train...going a hundred miles per hour - how many stops before they reach - The Twilight Zone?
Cut to
[Shot from behind Kevin at the sink, putting water on his face. He looks into the mirror.]
NARRATOR: Well, I'd learned one thing in advanced math class.
[He grabs a paper towel.]
NARRATOR: I'd learned I was going to fail.
[He dries his face.]
NARRATOR: Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow - but soon, and for the rest of my life.
[He looks at himself and frowns.]
BOB [V/O]: Hey, McCormick - wait up!
[Kevin looks toward the door off-screen.]
[Shot of McCormick backing up with his hands in front of him, followed by his two buddies.]
McCORMICK: Hey, guys...
[Shot of Kevin at the sink, looking at McCormick off-screen.]
KEVIN: Hey, McCormick!
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends looking at him.]
[Shot of Kevin at the sink, looking at McCormick off-screen.]
KEVIN: I got a problem.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends looking at him.]
McCORMICK: Hey, man - I got my own problems. [Frowns.]
[Shot of Kevin at the sink, looking at McCormick off-screen.]
KEVIN: What are you talkin' about? [Frowns.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends looking at him.]
McCORMICK: Didn't you hear?
BOB: We all got "F's" on the unit test! And the unit test...
[Shot of Kevin at the sink, looking at McCormick off-screen.]
BOB [V/O]: Counts for fifty percent of our grade.
[Close shot of McCormick looking at his friends.]
McCORMICK: It's Collins, man. He's totally out-to-lunch.
[Shot of Kevin at the sink, looking off.]
McCORMICK [V/O]: He's supposed to take the tests out of the book.
[Kevin looks toward McCormick off-screen.]
McCORMICK [V/O]: Just like the quizzes.
[Close shot of McCormick turning toward Kevin off-screen.]
McCORMICK: He doesn't know what he's doing!
[Shot of Kevin at the sink, looking at McCormick off-screen.]
NARRATOR: May be... But suddenly I was beginning to wonder.
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of McCormick and his friends looking at each other.]
BOB: You're dead, Eddie! [Frowns.]
[McCormick frowns.]
McCORMICK: Come on, you guys...
[McCormick starts to push his way through them toward the door.]
[Shot of Kevin looking after McCormick off-screen.]
McCORMICK [V/O]: Get out of my way.
BOB [V/O]: Hold it, McCormick - we're not done with you, yet.
[Kevin turns and looks at himself in the mirror.]
NARRATOR: About a lot of things.
Cut to
[Wide shot of Norma in the kitchen, reaching up into a cabinet as Kevin enters from the livingroom in the background and pauses.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking toward the refrigerator off-screen.]
[Close shot of Kevin's test stuck on the refrigerator.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking at the refrigerator off-screen, then glancing around.]
NARRATOR: I began to realize that with the curve, if I'd just stayed put, then my "C" could have been a "B".
[Close shot of Kevin's test stuck on the refrigerator.]
NARRATOR: A real "B".
[Close shot of Kevin looking at the refrigerator, then Norma off- screen.]
[Shot of Norma turning toward Kevin off-screen and smiling.]
NARRATOR: One that I earned.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at the refrigerator off-screen.]
Fade to
[Shot across Wayne's bed of Kevin sitting on the edge of his bed, disinterestedly flipping through the pages of a comic book as the clock ticks.]
NARRATOR: The funny thing is, McCormick and the others had paid their price, while I was left alone.
[Kevin tosses the comic book on Wayne's bed.]
NARRATOR: With nothing but my conscience...
[Shot of Kevin's reflection in the dressing mirror on the wall. The camera moves in on it as he looks at himself.]
NARRATOR: ...staring me in the face.
Fade to
[Shot past Mr. Collins as Kevin enters through the door in the background and pauses.]
[Shot from Kevin's perspective of Mr. Collins writing at his desk.]
NARRATOR: This wasn't going to be easy.
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen, then looking down and stepping forward.]
[Wide shot across some desks as Kevin approaches slowly. The camera moves forward.]
[Kevin and the camera pause as Mr. Collins flips through papers, then notices Kevin.]
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins turning toward him, then looking back to his papers.]
[Shot past Mr. Collins of Kevin.]
KEVIN: Mr. Collins?
[Kevin looks off hesitantly, and Mr. Collins takes off his glasses.]
[Shot past Kevin of Mr. Collins as he leans back in his chair and looks at Kevin.]
MR. COLLINS: Had enough?
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen, slightly surprised.]
[Shot of Mr. Collins smiling slightly at Kevin off-screen.]
[Close shot of Kevin looking at Mr. Collins off-screen.]
KEVIN: But...how?
[Shot of Mr. Collins looking at Kevin off-screen.]
MR. COLLINS: Every problem has its own solution, Mr. Arnold.
Fade to
MR. COLLINS: Alright, now, please take your seats and settle down.
NARRATOR: So, it was back to long hours, hard work, and respectable "C"'s. It felt good.
MR. COLLINS: You may begin.
NARRATOR: As for why Collins had singled me out, I could only guess. But the man had said, every problem contains its own solution.
MR. COLLINS: Mr. Arnold. Do you have a question?
KEVIN: No.
NARRATOR: So, I guess he'd wanted me to solve this one...
[Kevin erases his answer and rewrites it.]
NARRATOR: On my own.
Fade to
Thanks to Jeff Kindig for a bit of the opening, and all of the final scene. :-]
Supporting Cast
Mr. Collins - Stephen Gilborn
McCormick - Chris Demetral
Mr. Cutlip - Robert Picardo
Bob - Joshua Smith
Ken - Eric Ratican
Music
"The Twilight Zone" Theme - Marius Constant
Please mail to reynders@merck.de Peter if you find any errors, or if you have any comments or suggestions.