Speak

I don't want to know.

There's chicken pot pie defrosting on the counter. Dad is not home and I'm going to therapy.

First stop of the day. Just you and me, kid.

Just... pick a seat...

Any seat.

It's my first day of high school.

I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate and a stomachache.

Hi I'm Heather. I'm new here.

Are you? We moved in here Saturday.

- Cool shoes. - Oh, thanks. I got them at a back to school sale.

I mean, I wanted them in black but I wear an 8 1/2.

And they were a bit small, so I had to find 9s. They only had a 9 in pink.

But they look good.

Name.

Name, freshman. It's for the yearbook.

Melinda Sordino.

The school board decided that Trojans didn't send a strong message of abstinence.

So now we've become the Merry weather Hornets.

What are we supposed to cheer? 'We are the Hornets, the horny horny Hornets!'?

Got a hall pass, young lady? Come here.

Hustle, young lady!

Seven minutes past grace period.

Name.

Don't make this difficult. Name!

Melinda Sordino.

- Grade? - Ninth.

That's one demerit, Sordino. Get to class.

Biology... is the study of...

Is the study of... good...

Good.

Oh hello, dear. Do you have a late pass?

It is the first day. Just don't make it a habit of it.

- And your name is? - Melinda Sordino.

Ok, your lab partner must be... uh, let's see...

Oh, excellent! And your name is?

Dave Petrakis.

My English teacher has no face.

I call her "Hair Woman".

Grada Walkancros... from Belgium.

We're so pleased to have you here in America.

She doesn't speak English.

- Heather Billings. - Here.

Rachel Bruin.

Rochelle. Ah, Rochelle. Rochelle.

Rachel Bruin. My ex-best friend.

Oh, and class? Please tell me if I

pronounce your surname wrong or if you have a preferred nickname.

911, what is the nature of your emergency?

Hello? Hold the line, we'll try to find your location.

- Rachel, wait... - Are you nuts?

Where's Melinda? I don't care!

Hi everybody. Uh, welcome to Art.

The only class that will teach you how to survive.

This is where you can find your soul.

If you dare.

Don't ask me to show you how to draw a face.

Ask me to help you find the wind.

Good! Right, that's good! Can you tell me what you're feeling?

Right now.

Ok, can anybody tell me what they're actually feeling right now?

Does Algebra move you to tears?

Are numbers and words more important than images?

Can anybody tell me what this is?

A-globe? A-globe.

What are you guys 13, 14? You've already let them beat the creativity out of you?

It's ok.

I used to let my daughters kick this around my studio when it was too wet to play outside.

And one day, Jennie put her foot right through Texas and

the entire United States, crumbled into the sea. See?

I mean, you could, you could, ahem, paint a wet muzzled dog chewing Alaska, right?

I mean, the possibilities are endless.

It's almost too much, but uh, you all are important enough to give it to. So.

Alright, so um, here you go. In here is a piece of paper.

Great. And on that piece of paper is a word.

You're gonna spend the rest of the year turning that object into art.

- Mr Freeman. - Mm-hmm?

When I was little, I was really scared of clowns and I don't want to relapse and have to go back into therapy.

Oh, yeah well fear is a great place to begin art.

Hey! Whoa! You just chose your destiny. You can't change that.

I learned how to draw a tree in like the second grade.

Oh, really?

Well, you gonna show me? It's ok, I won't grade you.

No commentary, please.

That's a pretty good start.

Let's see what it looks like at the end of the year, huh?

It's Melinda Sordino.

Called the cops. You know, and busted everyone...

You know, my buddy? You know Jeff, his brother?

See you tomorrow!

Are you sick?

How was your first day?

- Fine. - Look what I got at the store.

You don't like it, we can always get store credit.

Where's the sweater?

I thought you said it was returnable.

No, I got it on sale. Don't wear it, don't wear it. It's fine.

Well then why'd you say that it...

All that crap you hear on tv about communication and expressing feelings

is a lie.

No one really cares what you have to say.

So here's the plan. We join 5 clubs, one for every day of the week.

But not like Latin club. Cool stuff.

What do you want to join? Hey, maybe we can tutor kids at the elementary school.

What about your friends from last year? Don't you know Nicole?

I wonder how long it would take for anyone to notice

if I just stopped talking.

0% body fat!

I was into bowling back in La Joya. That was fun.

But the bowling club here does seem like it really attracts the right people.

Hanging back is a very common mistake most ninth graders make. I mean you shouldn't be intimidated.

Wait, are you getting darker than me? Hold on.

- Oh man. You need a mouth guard. - Gym should be illegal.

It's humiliating.

Hey, do you know the Martha clan? They do all these cool projects like feeding the homeless and stuff.

Oh and they dress in different color schemes depending on the season. I mean, I'm not good in fall tones.

And I said I can wear beige instead of orange, but you know.

Oh no, Sordino. Front row.

I got my eye on you.

We're studying American history for the ninth time in nine years.

Every year they say we're going to get right up to the present

but we always get stuck in the industrial revolution.

My family...

has been in this country...

for over 200 years.

We built this place.

We fought in every war. From the first one to the last one.

We paid our taxes. They voted.

So, tell me why my son can't get a job.

Reverse discrimination.

He wanted to be a firefighter.

Went up for the job

but he didn't get it.

What I'm suggesting here is maybe if we had closed our borders

in 1900, then real Americans would get the jobs they deserve.

Young lady.

Um, I think that we're all foreigners, and should just give the country back to the Native Americans.

Now we have a debate, don't we?

Native Americans.

Maybe your son didn't get the job because he wasn't good enough.

- Or maybe he's lazy... or maybe the guy was just better... - Watch your mouth, mister.

That's my son you're talking about.

You know what? That's enough debate.

Everybody take out your book.

Mr. Petrakis, please take your seat.

If the class is debating, than any student has a right to say what's on his mind.

I decide who talks in here, Mr. Petrakis.

You opened a debate. You can't close it just because it's not going your way.

- Watch me! Take your seat, Mr. Petrakis. - The constitution does not recognize different

levels of citizenship based upon the time spent in the country.

As a citizen and a student, I'm protesting the tone of this lesson

as racist, intolerant, and xenophobic.

Sit your butt in that chair, Mr. Petrakis. And watch your mouth.

I tried to get this debate going and, uh, you people turn it into a race thing.

Sit down, Mr. Petrakis, or you're gonna go down to the principal's office.

Dave Petrakis is my new hero.

Hey, Rach.

How's it going?

Good.

I know.

Look...

I was wondering if we could...

Boni va cheri.

"Exchange students are ruining our country."

- Sordino. - Yo, fresh meat.

- What? - Can't I say hello?

I'm sorry, it's just you can't be standing here.

Alone.

You're just too pretty.

I'm not alone. My friends are inside.

Well... would you like to go dance with me?

Sure.

There is no point talking to my ex-friends.

Our clan "The Plain Janes" has been absorbed by rival groups.

Nicole hangs out with the jocks. Rachel went all "Euro".

Ivy straddles two crowds... the Goths and "The Marthas".

And then there's me...

I'm clanless.

Nice, Petrakis. Look live, Missy.

It's impossible to listen to Miss Kane. Her voice sounds like an engine that won't turn over.

- Plus she laughs at her own jokes. - Alright, we're beginning our unit on genetics and reproduction.

In case you thought your genes came from JC Penny...

Ah, oh no, these genes are actually different.

Now you'll want to cut your apples into four... boys, I'm going to take points off your grade...

What are you doing? We need that.

Heather has found a clan: "The Marthas".

Very Connecticut, very prep.

I suspect money changed hands.

I like your costume.

So, what are you guys?

- Ever heard of the 1920s? - We're flappers at a speakeasy.

Andy Evans. 8 o'clock.

Em, I think he's looking for you. Fact, he called her last night.

Fact, he's gorgeous. Hey, could you grab me an iced tea?

- Hello, ladies. - Hey, what's up?

- Did you bring me a taco? - Of course.

Just kidding.

No, take it.

- What is that? - Just kidding.

- Did you bring my barrette? - Ah, you know, I forgot it.

Maybe you should wear it to the house.