Lean On Me - Confronting Truths About Impact and Significance
Joe Clark:
Don't talk to me about saving those kids. The mayor wants to save his budget. And you wanna save your ass!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Well, so what? You want the truth?
Joe Clark:
Yeah, Frank. Let's have some truth.
Dr. Frank Napier:
The truth is that for all your talking, all your Crazy Joe routine, what have you ever done? Nothing. You're nothing but an insignificant man. It's like you were never born. Your life hasn't made one bit of difference, and neither has mine. Wanna take that to the grave?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Lean On Me - School Security and Drug Dealer Access Concerns
Dr. Frank Napier:
Don, the man has a legitimate problem. How's he supposed to keep drug dealers out of his school if their buddies can just push open the exit doors and let em walk on in?
Mr. Rosenberg:
He's got a point, sir.
Mayor Don Bottman:
Rosenberg, this doesn't concern you.
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Lean On Me - Conflict Between Friends and Responsibilities
Dr. Frank Napier:
You know, all your shit comes down on my head.
Joe Clark:
Aw, Frank, look--
Dr. Frank Napier:
No, you let me talk. It's like you're a big bird with radar, and I'm tired of getting hit!
Joe Clark:
Is this my fault?
Dr. Frank Napier:
This is nothing! I've got union lawyers threatening me, and there's talk of a walkout!
Joe Clark:
Well let em! They're not teaching anything down there anyway!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Then it's your job to do something about it!
Joe Clark:
Not one of them has a personal stake in that school, Frank, not one!
Dr. Frank Napier:
The Fire Chief was just here; he says it's illegal to bar those doors. Mrs. Barrett is organizing a parents group to try to get you removed, since you insulted them at that meeting the other night when you suggested that they "get off welfare"!
Joe Clark:
Oh, I didn't mean that...
Dr. Frank Napier:
Cause the fact is quite a few of them need it.
Joe Clark:
I wasn't talking to all of them, Frank. Now look, you came and recruited me, man. You disappoint me, brother, you disappoint me.
Dr. Frank Napier:
The disappointment here is you!
Joe Clark:
Me?!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Yes!
Joe Clark:
Look, you know who I am. You've known me 30 years! You knew what I would do! You know how I operate!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Nigga, can you keep quiet!? The fact is you're screwing up! You're alienating everybody! Look at you; you have no life, your wife left you...I oughta walk out on you myself!
Joe Clark:
Well, go ahead! Bail the hell on out!
Dr. Frank Napier:
But I said I would back you up!
Joe Clark:
That's what you said, Frank! That's what you said!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Brother, I will go through the fire with you! But you are not taking care of business! This shit you're pulling now, you've just gone plain loco! Now, you suspend Darnell! What the hell was that?
Joe Clark:
Darnell is symptomatic of the disciplinary problems that we have in this entire-
Dr. Frank Napier: [''Clark waves his hand in acknowledgment.'']
He is a good, strong, young black teacher! So, he...dumped that desk right on top of your head? Well, right on! Good for him! You will reinstate that man, you hear?! And then you fire Mrs. Elliott. Why?! Because she didn't want to kiss your ass?! Well, I wouldn't either! How about that?!
Joe Clark:
Mrs. Elliott has an ego problem!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Yeah, well, you lost the best teacher we had! We couldn't get her back now if we wanted to.
Joe Clark:
I don't have time for Mrs. Elliott's problem!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Well, you better make time!
Joe Clark:
We are being crucified by a process that is turning blacks into a permanent underclass here, Frank! A permanent underclass!
Joe Clark:
Nuh-uh, see? Nobody wants to talk about that. Nobody! Mrs. Elliott's missionary zeal about Mozart has nothing to do with our problem! Nothing! What good is Mozart going to do a bunch of children who can't go out and get a job?!
Dr. Frank Napier:
Joe, your personal battles are gonna cost us the war. Worry about the test scores.
Joe Clark: [''screams'']
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I'M WORRIED ABOUT, FRANK?!
Dr. Frank Napier:
End of discussion! Debate is over; you will write a formal apology!
Joe Clark:
I will what?!
Dr. Frank Napier:
A formal apology! For your treatment of Mrs. Elliott and Darnell and for your vicious and thoughtless insults to the women of this community! You will kowtow; you will step and fetch!
Joe Clark:
Frank, if you think you can get me...!
Dr. Frank Napier: [''Slams a fist on his briefcase''; Savagely grabs his briefcase and heads for the door, then turns back to a speechless Clark]
Get used to it; it's the way of the world! If you're so hot on discipline, then goddammit... start by accepting mine! Because contrary to popular opinion, I'm the Head Nigger In Charge! Come on, let's go get something to eat.
Joe Clark: [following him to the door and walking out with him]
You really think you're bad, don't you?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Lean On Me - The Weight of Insignificance and Legacy
Dr. Frank Napier:
The truth is that for all your talking, all your Crazy Joe routine, what have you ever done? Nothing. You're nothing but an insignificant man. It's like you were never born. Your life hasn't made one bit of difference, and neither has mine! Wanna take that to the grave?
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.
Lean On Me - Burden of Responsibility Weighs Heavily
Dr. Frank Napier: [to Joe]
All your shit comes down on me. It's like you're a big bird with radar. And I'm tired of getting hit!
Quotes sourced from Wikiquote (© Wikiquote contributors), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Modified for formatting/length.