Lean On Me - Confrontation Over Authority and Respect
Thomas Sams:
Hey, Mr. Clark, what did they get you for?
Ms. Levias:
What's the charge? What's this all about?
Leona Barrett:
It's about someone finally standing up to this man instead of taking his orders like a maid.
Ms. Levias:
How dare you speak about people like that? Who do you think you are?
Joe Clark:
Mrs. Barrett, if you think you can-
Leonna Barrett: [holds up the tape recorder]
SHUT UP! You're finished! The school board's gonna hear this at 7:00, and we're gonna vote your black ass out.
Thomas Sams: [''calling after Barrett''; grabs his crotch at her]
Yo, bitch! Vote on THIS!
Joe Clark: [''turning back to Joan'']
Sams, you go to class! Ms. Levias, you're acting principal now. I expect you to perform as I would.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Lean On Me - A Stinky Surprise Awaits Inside
Joe Clark:
Let's see what you got in here.
Thomas Sams:
You don't want to go in there, Mr. Clark, it stinks!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Lean On Me - Teenagers and the Illusion of Knowledge
Joe Clark:
Now, let me tell you something: The trouble with being a teenager is you don't know nothin'. The problem with teenagers is you think you're smarter than people who've already been down the road you're traveling. You know what I'm tryin to say to you, boy? DO YOU?!
Thomas Sams:
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: [Sams shakes his head without making eye contact; Clark picks Sam's head up, yells]
Did you tell your father I threw you out of school? Look at me, DAMN IT!
Thomas Sams: [sobs]
No, sir.
Joe Clark:
Why not? No guts, huh? Afraid of what he's gonna say to you, aren't ya?
Thomas Sams:
My father doesn't live with us anymore, sir.
Joe Clark:
Oh, is that what you're doing now? Go around feeling sorry for yourself, boy? Huh? Go on. Get outta here! You're wasting my time!
Thomas Sams: [crying]
Please let me back, sir. I have to get back in school. I can't go home and tell my mom I got kicked out of school.
Joe Clark:
Now why should I let you back into my school, Sams?
Thomas Sams:
Cause I'm gonna do better, sir.
Joe Clark:
How?
Thomas Sams:
By doin my work.
Joe Clark:
What else?
Thomas Sams:
And stayin out of trouble.
Joe Clark:
What have you been thinking about all this time? Why should I believe you now?
Thomas Sams:
Cause I changed my ways.
Joe Clark:
I don't believe you, Sams. I don't think you could reform if you wanted to. Go on, jump!
Thomas Sams: [sobs]
No, I don't wanna jump!
Joe Clark: [Sams hangs his head in shame; Clark picks up Sam's head up again]
Yes, you do! You smoke crack, don't ya? YOU SMOKE CRACK, DON'T YA?! LOOK AT ME, BOY! DON'T YOU SMOKE CRACK?!
Thomas Sams:
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark:
You know what that does to you? Huh?
Thomas Sams:
No, sir.
Joe Clark: [taps Sam's head with his finger]
It kill your brain cells, son. It kills your brain cells! Now when you're destroying your brain cells, you're doing the same thing as killing yourself. You're just doing it slower! Now, I say if you wanna kill yourself, don't fuck around with it! Go on and do it expeditiously! Now go on and jump! JUMP!
Thomas Sams: [sobbing in tears]
No! I don't wanna kill myself, sir!
Joe Clark:
You're quite sure about this, are you?
Thomas Sams:
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark:
All right, Sams, I'll tell you what I'm gonna do: I'm gonna go back on my own word just this once and let you back into my school -- cause you still don't know nothing about nothing. But you understand this, boy: You're not gonna get a moment's rest. I'm gonna be on your case every minute; waiting for you to mess up just this much, so I can throw you right back out again. Now, you understand me? Do you understand me?
Thomas Sams:
Yes, sir.
Joe Clark: [calms down]
Alright, I'll see you downstairs.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.