- Good morning, Mr. Z.
- Good morning, Howie.
- I'm sorry, Mr. Zelinka.
- Oh, it's quite all right, Mr. Davis.
Next Olympics, you'll get
the -meter gold for sure.
But for now, practise on the track.
What dedication.
Still rehearsing Romeo and Juliet.
And we finished that play
a month ago.
That Mr. Zelinka
certainly is a character, ain't he?
I wish all my teachers
were characters like him.
He's terrific.
Well, second day on the job
and you're still in good spirits.
Well, we always whistle
while we work.
No sooner will it dry
and they'll have it covered
with graffiti again.
Well, I hope so. Otherwise,
we're gonna be out of a job.
A man with a sense of humour
about his work is a rarity.
I admire your attitude, Jonathan.
The feeling is mutual, Mr. Zelinka
Excuse me, Mr. Zelinka.
Is that a hairstyle, Miss Wilson,
or an affliction?
It's amazing the length young people
will go to upset their parents.
What a zinger.
I mean, no wonder they call him
Ivan the Terrible.
The kids wouldn't want him
any other way.
They love him.
Well, I spent last night
grading your test papers.
Gives you some idea
of what an exciting evening I had.
Especially some of the answers
you gave me.
Times I wonder
what you do here in class.
So do we.
Jerry Michaels, we can always
depend on you for a bit of levity.
And in your test paper--
Here.
For your information, Mr. Michaels,
Death of a Salesman
is a play, a great play.
And it was made into a movie
and adapted for television,
but it was not, and I hope to God
never will be, a music video.
Miss Morris and Miss Lindstrom,
would you be so kind as to pass out
these test papers for me?
Here we go.
Special delivery.
Oh, does that mean
you wanna play Post Office with me?
Sorry, I only handle first-class mail.
If there are any questions
regarding your test scores,
see me after class.
Class dismissed.
- An F? I don't deserve an F.
- Oh, I agree with you, Jerry.
Unfortunately,
that's as low as I can go.
I don't think I should fail.
Why don't you grade on the curve,
like my other teachers do?
Oh, I refuse to do that.
Grading on a curve is an excuse
for an entire class to fail together.
Getting kids through school
without teaching them anything.
You've just got it in for me.
You're always on me.
Because I know you're bright,
but you just won't apply yourself.
You waste your time
playing the class clown.
You can't go around
blaming everyone else
because you're not taking responsibility
for your life.
Oh, wait a minute, Howie.
I wanna talk to you.
Yes, sir?
- Another A, Howie. Congratulations.
- Well, thank you, sir.
But I'm still not hearing
enough from you in class.
How come?
Well, I guess
I just don't feel comfortable
standing in front of other people.
I get nervous.
I understand. But try anyway.
That's the way
to get over nervousness.
Besides, I want the others
to hear some of your ideas.
- You write so well on your tests.
- Well, thanks. I'll try.
And the main thing.
You didn't do your homework again.
Why not?
I don't know. I'll do it tomorrow.
Oh, you keep saying tomorrow,
but you don't do it. Why not?
I don't know.
Howie, you write so well
on these tests.
What do I have to do
to motivate you to do your homework?
I know, it can be boring,
but later in life, you'll have a job,
and some parts of that may be boring.
You'll have to do them, anyway.
You see, doing homework
is good training.
It teaches us responsibility.
Even Jerry Michaels
does some homework once in a while.
Okay, sir. I promise I'll do it.
If you don't, no matter how good
your test scores are,
I'll have to flunk you.
I know.
There you go,
and make sure your parents sign it.
Here Susie.
Here's the activity schedule.
It looks like Thursday,
the lecture hall is booked.
Is there some way we could get
even an hour in there somehow?
Well, morning?
- Or Wednesday it looks free--
- Well, how about lunch?
- Is it free during lunch?
- Oh, yeah.
You'll take your lunch hour?
Well, we really need to get in there
that day.
Oh, I see you got a retirement notice
from the Board of Education too,
Mr. Zelinka.
Have you been steaming open
my mail again, Ms. Minotti?
Mr. Zelinka, no.
I just received the same notice myself
from the board.
Why, I'm turning this month,
just like you.
- Happy birthday.
- Thank you. Same to you.
Oh, I'm looking forward to retiring.
I'm going to travel around the world.
What about you?
Have you made any plans?
No, no. I knew it was coming,
but not this soon.
I guess I was trying
not to think about it.
Well, you can't fight city hall.
Mr. Zelinka can't retire.
He's my favourite teacher.
He was my favourite teacher
when I was a student here too.
He still is. Lincoln's
not gonna be the same without him.
I'm really gonna miss him.
We all are.
And they're going to retire him
at the end of the semester.
No more Mr. Zelinka.
I'm not so sure I'm gonna miss him.
Ivan the Terrible
is always on me about responsibility.
Hey, come on, you're lucky to have
a teacher like Mr. Z. He cares.
We should do something nice
for him.
- You mean, like buy him a present?
- Yeah, and--
How about
a surprise retirement party?
Hey, now that's a really great idea.
Yeah.
Well, yeah, yeah, he'd like that.
Yeah, I could be the MC.
Yeah, and you could ruin it all
with your dumb jokes.
When do you think
we should have it?
Excuse me. I couldn't help
but overhear your conversation.
I thought you might wanna know
it's Mr. Zelinka's birthday this Friday.
- Are you sure?
- Yeah, I'm positive.
Well, all right, then. Friday it is.
Hey, we'd be glad to help you
in any way we can.
Thanks, we could use
all the help we can get.
And we wanna make this
a great party.
We gotta show Mr. Z how much
we appreciate all he's done for us.
Let's make this a retirement party
he's never gonna forget.
Yes, this is Ivan Zelinka--
Lincoln High.
Fine, fine. Oh, he's fine.
About this retirement notice
you sent me.
Thank you very much.
But you see, I'm not ready to retire.
Yes, I'll be in a couple of weeks,
but I don't feel it.
I don't think I look it, and I--
Yes, I know about the rules,
the retirement age
for state employees.
But isn't there some kind
of an extension I can get?
Some sort of an appeal I could file?
A letter?
But you don't think
it would do any good, eh?
Yeah, I understand. Rules are rules.
All right, thank you very much.
Oh, Mr. Carlyle,
could I speak to you for a moment?
Well, I'm late for a PTA meeting.
What is it?
It's about that retirement notice
I received
from the Board of Education.
Yes, I heard about it.
Congratulations.
Thank you, but you see,
I don't want to retire.
- You don't? Why not?
- Because I like teaching.
I think I still have a lot to give,
and I thought if you could back me
with the board,
maybe they'd let me stay on
a little longer.
Ivan, that is so altruistic and noble,
that's so like you,
but you've been teaching
for years.
Why don't you relax,
take a nice long trip like Mrs. Minotti?
- Oh, Roger, I--
- I'd love to talk about your plans.
Right now,
I'm late for that PTA meeting.
Nothing like parents
who've been kept waiting.
Good luck to you, old boy.
- So.
- Yeah?
We decided to have it in the gym.
Yeah, we could hang up
streamers and balloons,
make it look really nice.
That's great. Sounds like you got it
all worked out.
- Except for one minor detail.
- What's that?
How to get Mr. Zelinka there.
That's where we need your help.
Well, he's been talking a lot
about that Shakespeare Festival
they're having in the park that night.
I could say I've got two tickets for it.
Yeah, that's a great idea.
He loves Shakespeare.
And that I forgot the tickets
in my gym locker, and there we are.
- All right.
- Great.
You know, you're really sneaky.
Have you ever worked for the CIA?
Hey, everybody, they're here.
- Everybody hide.
- Hide.
For he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow
For he's a jolly good fellow
Which nobody can deny
Yeah.
Look, Mr. Zelinka, candles.
One for good luck
for your retirement.
Speech, speech, speech.
Speech, speech, speech.
Thank you, thank you.
I know you all meant well
and I appreciate your thoughtfulness,
but you see, I don't want to retire.
To what?
This school,
teaching has been my whole life.
And why should I and a lot
of other people be forced to retire
because some bureaucrat said
we had to at ?
It's computers.
Computers have no compassion.
When your age and name come up,
that's it. It's over.
I'm sorry, really sorry.
I know you meant well
and I appreciate it,
but I just wouldn't be any fun
at this party.
If you don't mind, Miss Hancock,
I think I'll just walk home.
I'm telling you,
what Mr. Z said is right.
Why should he be forced to retire?
We've gotta do something.
But what can we do?
I'll tell you,
if you believe in Mr. Zelinka,
you should let the Board of Education
know how you feel.
- What good will it do?
- Plenty.
I mean,
that's what America's all about.
Petitions, sit-in,
fighting for what you believe in.
- Don't take this sitting down.
- Yeah.
- Let's picket the Board of Education.
- Right.
Wait a minute.
Mark's got the right idea,
but I think you should start
with a petition first,
saying how you all feel about Mr. Z.
We can get the whole school
to sign it.
- Yeah, parents and teachers too.
- I don't think it'll do any good.
Hey, it's gotta do some good.
We gotta keep Mr. Zelinka here
where he belongs.
I'm gonna get the teachers
on our side.
Yeah, Jerry, we'll tell them
if they don't join us
that you'll go to their class
and tell them all your bad jokes.
I'm gonna go start writing that petition.
Hey, thanks for your advice, guys.
- Bye-bye.
- Bye.
- Have a little writer's block there?
- Yeah.
I don't know, I just can't get the words
to come out right
to say what I really I wanna say
about Mr. Zelinka.
Well, you really like him, don't you?
Yeah. Yeah, I've never had a teacher
like him before.
I can't wait to get to his class
in the morning,
and then I hate when the bell rings
and I have to leave.
You gotta be the first student
in the history of the world
to ever say that.
Yeah. I know the other guys
would think I was weird if I told them,
but Mr. Z has such a special way
of explaining things, you know?
I mean, it's like when he's reading
a play or something to us,
he puts so much feeling into it.
I feel like he's doing it just for me.
You ever tell him how you feel?
No, I couldn't do that.
I have a hard time saying how I feel.
Well, you didn't have any trouble
saying how you felt just now.
That's what you ought to write
in your petition,
the way you feel about Mr. Z.
Good luck with it.
Oh, God.
- What do you think?
- I think it's a great idea, Susie.
I'm proud of you.
You think you can get
some of the other teachers to sign?
Well, yes,
I'll get the whole darn faculty to sign.
Everybody loves Ivan Zelinka.
Great.
- Bye-bye.
- Bye.
Miss Hancock is gonna try
to get all the other teachers to sign.
If you'd sign it, Mr. Carlyle,
it would really make an impression
on the Board of Education.
I bet it would, but what kind?
I'm the principal of this school, Julie.
I can't go around
signing student petitions.
I have a certain reputation to uphold.
But, Mr. Carlyle,
this isn't just any petition.
Oh, I know what it is
and I'm against it.
I like Mr. Zelinka as much
as anyone does. He's a fine teacher.
But he's reached retirement age.
That's the system.
But Mr. Zelinka
doesn't want to retire.
Look, Julie,
Mr. Zelinka has been teaching
for a long, long time.
He deserves to rest.
It's time to bring in a younger teacher
to take his place.
No one can ever take
Mr. Zelinka's place.
Well, someone is going to,
and I don't want any petition
to the Board of Education.
I don't want them to think
I'm heading up
a bunch
of revolutionary rabble-rousers.
I forbid your petition
on school property.
Do I make myself perfectly clear?
- Boy, was he mad.
- Mr. Carlyle's a pain.
I think he's jealous of Mr. Zelinka,
because he knows
how much we love him.
- What are we gonna do?
- I think you should do it anyway.
But he said absolutely no petition
on school property.
Well, if I were you,
I'd do it off school property.
Yeah, why not?
Excuse me,
could you sign this petition
asking the Board of Education
not to retire Mr. Zelinka?
- You got it.
- Great.
I like that old guy.
- All right.
- All right, thanks. Thanks a lot.
Hey, oh, excuse me,
would you sign this petition
to save Mr. Zelinka's job, please?
- Oh, sure, Mr. Z's the best.
- Great.
Thanks. Bye-bye.
Didn't I tell you no petitions
on school property?
How dare you disobey me like this?
I'll have you all expelled.
Look, excuse me, Mr. Carlyle,
but the sidewalk is not school property.
That has nothing to do with it.
It's a school matter,
I'm the principal of this school,
and you'll do as you're told.
Kind of out of line, isn't it?
- What did you say?
- I said you're out of line.
I mean, these kids have rights.
This still is America, you know.
- Mister...
- Gordon.
Yes, Mr. Gordon,
perhaps I should remind you
that I'm the principal
and you are a maintenance man.
Mr. Carlyle, I think
maintenance people have rights too.
Along with the students,
the older teachers.
I can't tell you
not to sign that petition,
but I can tell you
I strongly disapprove of your signing it.
And let me remind all of you
how nice it is to teach at Lincoln
compared to some
of the high schools downtown.
Have a nice day, Miss Hancock.
Yes?
We have a petition we'd like to present
to the president of the board.
Oh, I'm sorry,
he's very busy right now.
Just leave it with me
and I'll see that he gets it.
We'd like to give it to him ourselves.
Well, I'm sorry,
that just won't be possible.
The board's in session now.
Good, we'll walk in,
give it to him in there.
- Come on, kids.
- You can't do that.
Well, either you get him out here
or in I go.
Well, you wait right there.
I'll get him.
You're really rad, Mark.
Rad?
Oh, yeah, the absolute raddist.
Hello, I'm Bill Simenton,
president of the school board.
I understand you have a petition
that just can't wait.
Yes, sir.
We're from Lincoln High School,
and it's about Mr. Ivan Zelinka.
Yeah, it was signed by all these kids
to keep Mr. Zelinka on as a teacher
so he wouldn't be retired.
Well, that's very impressive.
Very impressive.
I know about this petition.
Mr. Carlyle phoned me
and the board has already taken
some action on this case.
Of course we appreciate
very, very much
all the effort that you went to
getting all the signatures.
That is the democratic process,
isn't it? Very admirable.
Unfortunately, the board's decision
on retiring Mr. Zelinka is final.
I'm awfully sorry,
but those are the rules.
However,
we thank you for your interest.
Mr. Zelinka must be very proud
to have students like you.
Good afternoon.
Well, I guess it's true.
You can't fight city hall.
Hey, I know you're discouraged,
but this is no time to be giving up.
But it all seems so hopeless, Mark.
What are we gonna do?
Plan B.
Plan B?
Plan B.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
Looks like they really love
their Mr. Z.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
Guess there's no accounting
for taste these days.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
Break this up this minute
and get to your classes right now.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
I said right now,
or you will all be expelled.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
You can't expel
the entire student body, Mr. Carlyle.
Just watch me. I will not have
this kind of demonstration
in front of my school.
It's not just your school.
It's their school too.
My advice to you, Miss Hancock,
is to mind your own business.
This is my business, Mr. Carlyle.
This is my school too.
I believe in what these kids
are fighting for.
Mr. Zelinka's right to keep on doing
what he loves doing. Teaching.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
I strongly advise you not to join
those students, Miss Hancock.
Advise or thr*aten, Mr. Carlyle?
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
Well, you've really botched this one,
Roger.
Now you've got the TV cameras
covering this mess.
Give me the bullhorn, will you?
May I have your attention, please?
Now, this concerns Mr. Zelinka.
- May I have your attention?
- Quiet.
Now this concerns Mr. Zelinka.
Thank you, thank you.
I'm Bill Simenton,
president of the Board of Education.
Now I know that we've had
a little difference of opinion here,
but you have made your feelings
known to us and I'm glad of that,
because that is the American way
of doing things.
And I'm here to tell you that if you end
this demonstration right now,
the board will hold a special meeting
to hear your side of things
and to reconsider their decision
on Mr. Zelinka.
So why don't you kids
go back to your class
and get the education
that your parents are paying for?
And we'll conduct this meeting
in a more orderly manner
at the board meeting tomorrow,
okay?
We, the undersigned students
of Lincoln High,
ask you to reconsider your decision
to retire Mr. Ivan Zelinka.
Mr. Zelinka is the best teacher
we ever had.
We can't wait to get to his class
in the morning
and we hate it when the bell rings
and we have to leave.
You leave his class educated,
smiling and feeling glad to be alive.
He's a very special teacher
who cares about us,
and we care about him.
Please let him go on teaching.
Don't retire Ivan Zelinka.
And it's signed
by all of these names.
One thousand and twenty-seven,
every kid at Lincoln High.
Thank you, Howie.
The board appreciates
your involvement with strong feelings
for Mr. Zelinka.
I was in Mr. Zelinka's class,
and he is a wonderful teacher.
But we must face the fact
that at his age,
he has reached a point in time
where these duties
are just too difficult for him.
After all, he is years old.
That's just not true.
Age has nothing to do
with a person's capabilities.
People have done great things when
they were a lot older than Mr. Zelinka.
I'll prove it to you.
I looked this up
in the encyclopaedia this morning.
Winston Churchill was when he
became prime minister of England
for the second time
and when he won
the Noble Peace Prize.
Our own Ronald Reagan was
when he was in office.
And Grandma Moses
started her new career as an artist
when she was years old,
became world-famous,
and painted pictures
one year after her th birthday.
Thank you, Susie, for all
the extra research you've done for us.
And it's a perfectly
persuasive argument.
However, the fact is that
is the mandatory retirement age
in this state.
We can't break the rule
for just one individual.
So the decision of the board stands.
Mr. Zelinka will be retired.
Now if there are no other things
to discuss, this meeting is adjourned.
Excuse me, Mr. Simenton,
I'd like to say something.
- Who are you?
- My name is Jonathan Smith.
I'm a maintenance man
at Lincoln High School.
Well, excuse me, Mr. Smith,
but we have been here a long time,
and we would like to go home
because we are tired.
And frankly,
I don't think that a maintenance man
can add very much
to this discussion.
If you'll excuse me,
I'm also a citizen and a taxpayer.
I pay your salary.
I think that takes precedence
over what I do for a living.
I was just wondering whether or not
you were aware of the fact
that the Age Discrimination Act
was changed last year.
The retirement age used to be .
It is no longer .
A lot of cities and states
seem to be ignoring that change.
I imagine
that's what happened here.
Let me tell you,
if you insist upon retiring Mr. Zelinka
because of his age,
you're gonna find yourself
in a lawsuit
with the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
and I think
you're gonna lose that lawsuit.
But, of course,
I'm only a maintenance man.
We seem to have been caught
with our proverbial pants down.
In the light
of these new developments,
perhaps the board's decision
was a bit hasty.
However, I must remind you
that it is still the board's right,
I might say duty,
to determine a teacher's competency.
Therefore, Mr. Zelinka
will be given a written test
to see if he is still able
to conduct a class at his age.
If he is, he may continue.
If he is not, he will be retired.
Meeting adjourned.
All right.
What the hell
do we have legal counsel for?
Shouldn't we have been made aware
of this?
It was an oversight, I suppose.
I don't like being made
a laughing stock of.
- Neither do I.
- Oh, be quiet, Carlyle.
If that old man passes this test,
the local press
is going to have a field day. See to it.
See to what?
See to it that he can't pass the test.
Hello?
No. No, no, no,
you must have the wrong number.
Jonathan, Mark, come in.
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
We thought we'd come by
rather than call you on the phone.
Oh, were you afraid I'd slit my wrists
when I heard the news?
No, not at all.
They said
you can continue teaching.
- I can't believe it.
- Yeah.
- They did have one stipulation.
- What?
That I have to simonize Carlyle's car
once a week?
No. They want you to take
a competency test.
- A competency test?
- Well, it's just a formality.
Take the test,
you're right back to teaching.
You mean, after years of teaching,
I have to take a test?
No way.
No yuppie board's going to sit
in judgement on Ivan Zelinka.
I'd rather retire
than face the humiliation.
- Ivan, listen-
- No.
Now, what are you two doing in this,
anyway?
- We're just trying to help.
- I didn't ask for your help.
Now, please, just get out of my house
and leave me alone.
Go on, get out.
I can understand
why he feels the way he does.
Making him take a test to see
if he can do what he's been doing
for all those years.
The man has got some pride,
you know?
Come on, pride's got nothing to do
with it. He's scared.
- Scared of what?
- Of not passing the test.
Oh, come on, Jonathan,
that's ridiculous.
It is? He's years old.
He's been told
he's too old to do the job.
He's starting to doubt himself.
His confidence has been shaken.
- He doesn't wanna take the test.
- He's gotta take the test.
He's the best teacher I ever saw.
I wish I'd had a teacher like him.
The kids need him. Now, we've gotta
convince him to take that test.
- Hey, I'm not so sure we can.
- Who, then?
Maybe someone that knows him
a lot better than we do.
Hello, Howie?
Yeah, Jonathan Smith.
Look, Howie, I'd like to talk to you
about Mr. Zelinka.
Oh, Howie.
Excuse me, Mr. Zelinka,
I know it's late,
but I wondered if I could talk to you.
Well, come on in.
Oh, I'll turn that off.
- Now, what's on your mind?
- Well, Jonathan called me tonight--
Oh, Howie,
if it's about the test, don't bother.
My mind is made up.
It's an insult. I'm not going to do it.
So I'm afraid
you came here for nothing.
Well, if there isn't anything else,
I think I'd like to be alone.
- There is something else.
- Well?
I wanted to tell you
why I never do my homework.
Oh, I think we both know that,
Howie.
No, you don't.
See, you think it's because I'm lazy,
and that's not it at all.
See, I like your class so much.
I mean, it's the first time
I ever really did like a class.
You really care about me.
You talk to me like I'm important.
Well, you are important, Howie.
But you see,
I never felt that way till I met you.
I just love being in your class.
Then why don't you do
your homework?
Because I figured that if I didn't do it,
that you'd have to flunk me
and I'd get to be in your class again.
Is that the truth?
Yeah.
Why didn't you ever tell me
this before?
Because I was scared to.
Sometimes it's hard to tell the truth
when you're scared,
isn't it, Mr. Zelinka?
I know that's why
you're not taking the test,
because you're scared,
and I know what that feels like.
That's nonsense.
Pardon me, sir, but it's not.
Look, I was just honest with you.
Why can't you be honest with me?
All right.
I'm scared.
I'm afraid those people
have the truth.
I'm just an old man
who doesn't know when to quit.
Yeah, but don't you see
they're not right?
Why do you think
the kids have done all this,
the petitions and the picketing?
Because they're sorry for me.
They did it because
you're the best teacher in the school.
They did it because you care
and that makes them care.
- It's too late, Howie.
- No, it's not.
Mr. Z, remember what you told me
about being scared?
About getting up
in front of the class?
You said that you have to try.
That's the only way
to get over being scared.
Giving me back my own platitudes.
That's hitting below the belt, Howie.
Well, I figured that you could take it.
And I'll tell you what,
I'll make you a deal.
You take the test,
and I'll start doing my homework.
What do you say?
You've just made me an offer
I can't refuse.
- Good morning, Mr. Zelinka.
- If you say so, sir.
Mr. Arnold will be with you
during the test.
Now, the test itself
consists of both true and false
and multiple choice.
And we have allotted you three hours
for the test.
- Three hours?
- Oh, yes.
Well, of course,
it covers a wide variety of subjects.
But I'm sure
that a man of your background
will have no trouble at all with it.
You'll begin the test at :
and we will pronounce the results
in chamber at about : ,
just prior to lunch.
- That's about it.
- Shall we get started?
- Good luck.
- Thank you.
Well, if you'll excuse me,
I have a board meeting to attend.
Mr. Arnold?
Yes?
The whole second section of this
is chemistry and biology.
That's correct.
It covers many subjects.
But my teaching
for the past years has been--
Mr. Zelinka, the clock is running.
I'd get started if I were you.
Eleven-thirty.
I wonder how he's doing.
It's rigged.
- What?
- The test.
They rigged it so he wouldn't pass.
- How do you know that?
- Oh, Mark.
Oh, yeah, I'm sorry.
Well, what are you gonna do?
The only thing we can do
in a case like this.
What's that?
Cheat.
Mr. Arnold?
Yes, Mr. Zelinka?
I'm finished.
You've completed the entire test?
Well, there were a couple of sections
I couldn't answer at all,
but I did the best I could.
I'm sorry to hear that.
If you're through, you may go.
Just leave your papers on the desk.
Mr. Zelinka, what are you doing?
I don't know.
Mr. Zelinka, I thought
you were through with the test.
So did I.
Well, are you or aren't you?
I guess I'm not.
- How'd you do?
- I don't know.
Well, we're gonna find out
soon enough.
Come on,
we gotta get in the boardroom.
A bunch of the kids skipped class
to hear the results.
They're waiting for you
in the boardroom.
Are you all right?
I don't know.
Well, of course we understand
your situation, Mr.Thompson,
and the entire board hopes
that your wife
will soon make a speedy recovery.
And so
we will delay any further discussion
of the closing
of the Clark Street Elementary
until Mr. Thompson
completes his report.
Our last piece of business
for this morning
will be the results
of Mr. Zelinka's competency test.
Mr. Zelinka,
will you come up here, please?
Mr. Arnold?
Mr. Arnold, the report, please.
Mr. Zelinka scored a . .
Order. May we have order?
Are you sure about that score,
Mr. Arnold?
It's the highest score
anyone ever achieved
on this particular test,
and I'm quite sure.
Congratulations, Mr. Zelinka.
This meeting is adjourned for lunch.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
- Congratulations, Mr. Z.
- Thank you, Howie.
I'll expect to see your homework
in the morning.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.
No, no, Mr. Z won't go.