Children of a Lesser God

This is the most amazing resume I've ever seen.

I've been with some really good schools. The best.

All of them. All of the best.

One right after another.

And you've also been

with the lucky Erin bar and grill.

Pittsburgh. Bartender.

And a disc jockey.

In Oklahoma.

I used to broadcast in sign language.

You've been all over the map.

I've got a lot of energy.

I'm sure you do have a lot of energy

and a lot of new ideas.

I did, too, when...

But nobody's trying to change the world around here.

Just trying to help a few deaf kids

get along a little better, that's all.

Everything else is razzle-dazzle.

Am I, uh...

Am I making myself clear?

Yes, I believe that you are.

Are we being punished?

Hi.

I'm James Leeds, and...

My signing is rusty,

so how many of you can read lips?

No one? OK. Class dismissed.

No, no, no. No, no, no.

Just testing. Sit down.

Lydia and Tony, good lip readers.

Would you mind closing your notebook?

Thank you.

Now, give me one good reason

why we should learn to speak. Tony.

To pick up hearing girls.

To pick up hearing girls. OK. Let's work on this.

All right. Now... Here.

You.

You.

OK. Here are two beautiful hearing girls.

You two guys want to pick them up.

What is the first thing you want to say, Danny?

Are you rich?

Are you r-i-i-ch? Say it.

Rich.

Good. Lydia.

I'm very rich.

Good. Tony.

Let's go somewhere and do it.

No, thank you.

Let's go somewhere and do it-t.

I would rather do it with her.

Cute. How about you guys?

You want to join us?

They don't talk.

Fair enough.

OK. Reasons to talk. Right.

If your hands are occupied.

For example, some guy owes you money.

He comes by,

but you just happen to be in a handstand.

How will you tell him to give you your money?

You can't use your hands. You've got to speak.

Give me my money, you bum.

Call me names, will you?

I don't have to stand here and take that.

You want to fight, huh?

OK. Put up your feet and fight like a man.

See?

Take your pots...

And your lousy food

and shove them...

Doesn't mince words, does she?

Mr. Leeds.

Mr. Leeds.

Oh, Leeds!

Leeds!

Join us.

Sure. OK.

Sorry.

Good thing you're out of my classroom.

Sit down, James.

Mary Lee Ochs, assistant superintendent.

Orin Dennis, math and social studies.

James Leeds.

Leeds. Hi.

Did I hear miss Ochs say

you were one of her students?

Yes. I started here at 5.

Really? Wow, that's great. I'm impressed.

For still being here?

Not what I meant.

See you all later.

Bye.

Who is that?

That's Sarah.

Never mind her.

She's a pain in the ass.

But who is she? What does she do?

She works here.

Orin, I've got an idea.

How about the kids making potholders for parents' day?

They don't sell. We've got hundreds left from last year.

We do? Oh.

Sarah came here at 5, too.

We grew up together.

Is she a teacher, too?

She was one of our brightest students.

Would you give me some of the water?

Thank you.

Leeds, you're a genius.

You will work.

Ooh.

Yeah.

Mr. Bach.

Hear that...

Cat?

Ooh.

Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang.

Again. Faster.

Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang.

One more time, faster.

Ba-boom-a-rang-rang-rang.

Great. Right.

That is great. Brilliant.

My Lydia.

Come here, Lydia.

OK. Put your hands on the speaker. Come on.

Feel that?

Good.

Feel it.

use your voice.

yeah.

a drip.

Oh! What a drip!

No. No. No! No!

That's not what I meant.

I just wanted to introduce myself.

I'm James Leeds. It's Sarah, isn't it?

Would you like to sit down?

Right here.

OK. We'll both stand up.

Oh, I see.

Very good. You got me there.

Could you look at me, please?

If you don't look at me, I can't...

So, um... Dr. Franklin tells me

that you've been here since you were 5.

Mm-hmm.

Um...

When did you graduate?

And, uh, now... now... now you work here?

Are you reading my lips?

I don't think that you are reading my lips.

Ohhh...

Gee, that was quick of me, wasn't it?

You could've told me.

Why? I don't know.

How about common courtesy?

How about me getting out of here

so you can mop the floor?

Man...

You know, if you let me,

I bet I could teach you how to speak.

And you could teach me...

But I don't want to mop the floor.

Gee, that was quick.

And you don't want to speak.

Brilliant.

Schmuck.

It's a damn shame.

Costly, too.