Community

Community S04E06 Advanced Documentary Filmmaking

My name is Kevin, or so they tell me.

Actually, they told me my birth name is Benjamin Chang,

but I can't remember anything before six months ago.

But by using a special, shiny glass

called a mirror,

I've estimated that I'm 15 years old,

although I have no way of knowing.

Changnesia is a fascinating and extremely rare disease

on the forefront of the psychological landscape.

Compared with your garden variety amnesia,

Changnesia is immeasurably more complex.

Its varied and seemingly random symptoms,

its resistance to both traditional and new age medicine,

why Changnesia affects the memory

but not the ability to make forced puns...

These are all things we can study now that someone finally has it.

I first met Chang when I hired him as a Spanish teacher at Greendale.

Then he became a disgraced student,

psychopathic music major,

homeless vent dweller, security guard, keytarist,

power hungry warlord, and now, Kevin.

It's sad to see him like this.

Well, it's mixed.

He was pretty terrible before.

I'm developing a theory which some find controversial.

Perhaps Chang actually used to be Kevin,

went crazy, and became Chang.

And then, at some point,

Chang hit his head, went un-crazy,

thereby reverting back to regular old Kevin again.

That makes no sense.

Science tells us

hitting his head would only cure him

if hitting his head was the original cause.

Told you it was controversial.

Here at Greendale, we accept all students,

whoever they may be or have forgotten they were.

But assisting in Kevin's recovery

has put a financial strain on the school.

That's why we are appealing

to the Macguffin Neurological Institute for this $40,000 Grant,

so we can continue to fight this terrible disease

and hopefully, one day, pay for this documentary.

How was that, Abed? That's too beggy?

No, that was great.

But I could use a new camera, with a smoother zoom.

Oh, okay. Well, just be sure to get my good side, okay?

This documentary needs to be convincing.

This needs to be the hoop dreams of things people care about.

We rolling?

The dean wants a propaganda film,

but I intend to explore all sides of this serious issue,

including those who don't think it's a serious issue.

- Hey, Jeff. - What are you doing?

Making a documentary on Changnesia.

- You gotta be fucking kidding me. - Got it. Beautiful.

All right, let's get one more for safety.

Jeff, back to one. Jeff?

I'm telling you, we should have sprung for the name brand glitter.

Look, cheap glitter, expensive glitter.

Money talks, people.

Guys, did you hear?

The history of ice cream class had another heart attack.

Three more, and we're all in.

Yes.

What's the Macguffin Institute?

Fine. I'll tell him.

But one day, you'll all be old and slow and lose at things,

and when that day comes,

I won't remember what I'm doing now.

Lord, the Macguffin institute is coming to Greendale on Friday

because they might give the school money to study Changnesia.

Changnesia isn't a disease. It's a con.

You're seriously helping this lunatic?

He kept the dean in a dungeon.

He tried to kill us. He ate his twin in utero.

That was Chang. This is Kevin.

They're the same idiot.

How would you know? Have you ever even spent any time with him, Jeff?

I was reluctant to accept Kevin at first, too, but...

he's just so sweet.

The world is brand new to him.

He approaches everything with the wonderment

of a small child or a cartoon alien.

Whoa.

This makes things smaller.

No, no... Bigger.

Oh, bigger.

Well, enjoy your collective delusion. I'm going to go get a sandwich,

which, unlike Changnesia, is real.

Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

We want to know how you feel about the Macguffin people visiting.

I need it on camera.

- It's stupid. - What's stupid?

- The whole thing. - Okay, put it together for me.

"The whole thing is stupid." All right, thanks, buddy. I'll cut it together.

- Shirley. - Hmm?

You don't seriously think Chang is Kevin, do you?

No, I believe the good lord made Chang Chang. Kevin is a choice.

Thank you. I'm seriously worried about the rest of the group.

Not only have they drunk the Kevin kool-aid,

they're in the study room right now, making banners, debating glitter...

Well, I'd love to keep talking about this, but I gotta get to work.

No, Shirley, you've got to help me stop this.

You're the only sane person left.

Welcome to Shirley's sandwiches, where the food is Kevin-ly.

- You hired Chang? - Hmm?

The customers love Kevin.

I think it's because he's a good listener.

Most words are new to him, so it's all still fascinating.

I'm Kevin. And you are?

Not calling you Kevin.

Hi, not calling you Kevin.

What are you having?

- None of this. - Okay.

Uh, listen.

I don't care what he calls himself, he's a hard worker.

We're all broken people, Jeffrey, we all deserve a second chance.

Like how I gave Andre a second chance.

It doesn't mean I forgot. I just forgave.

Chang didn't sleep with a stripper. He tried to kill us.

Why does everyone keep forgetting about that?

But he didn't. And you used to be a sleazy lawyer.

What if Greendale never gave you a second chance?

What Shirley said really made me think.

I mean, all my friends believe this guy.

What does it say about me that I don't?

Hmm? Yes?

Ugh, and cue wet blanket Winger

to tell us that we're all wasting our time.

Actually, no.

I had a really good conversation with Shirley,

and I realized I've been acting like a jerk.

If it's not too late,

I'd love to help out in any way I can.

Jeffrey, that's amazing.

I knew you'd come around.

All right, Abed, get us in panning singles.

And can you say "powwow" instead of "conversation"?

It just sounds more you.

All right, action. Okay, you going to make an entrance? Great.

What does it say?

It says I have gullible friends who will believe anybody,

and I need to make that anybody me.

By exposing Chang in front of the whole school.

Wow. Much like the classic documentary

Capturing the Friedmans,

my story just took a completely unexpected turn.

Jeff, if you want this done right, I'm going to need a steadicam for Garrett.

That's showbiz.

We were all pretty happy when Jeff came around.

He became really gung-ho about Abed's documentary,

and had a lot of great ideas

about how to impress the Macguffin people.

And that's why Pierce

should host the reception.

He speaks their language.

Finally, somebody's making some sense.

I've got a blackface senor Wences bit

I've been workshopping.

Perfect.

Annie, we need to find out

what happened to Kevin before he showed up at Greendale.

What hellish experiences did he overcome during those missing months?

Do you think you can use your forensic knowhow to do some investigating?

Investigating? Obvi.

Can I help?

If you're willing to learn, sure, partner.

"Partner." I like that.

I'm going to call you "Houlihan."

"Partner" and "Houlihan."

Okay.

The postman found Kevin here.

He said he was soaking wet and smelled like fish.

I know it's not a lot to go on...

Um, it's almost too much to go on.

Look, Sullivan's trout farm is just 1/4 mile away.

Who do you think you're dealing with, Winger?

I don't know, Houlihan. Seems sort of thin.

In an investigation, one dude always has to go opposite the other dude.

That's how they get things done.

Well, you guys can work it out.

- Yeah, we will. - No, we won't.

- Britta, Shirley... - Oh, that's me.

I want you to take this camera

and follow Chang around for his day-to-day.

Really get into the life of a functioning Changnesiac.

I want you to go inside his home, work, pod.

Just get everything.

Ooh, that's great advertising for my growing business.

Okay, I'll do it. And with my photography skills...

Jeff, thank you.

When the dean told me you were going to help me,

I couldn't believe it.

A cool, smart lawyer like yourself

reaching out to a little nobody like me?

I never told you I was a lawyer.

No, you didn't.

Shirley said it, remember?